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ahcancalED is celebrating its first anniversary on October 4th and there is a lot to celebrate! Over the past year, more than 2,800 of our members have registered and used the educational materials. Currently, it boasts over 240 unique products including a valuable series on Five Star, another that helps you understand QAPI and two guides on the 2017 Silver and Bronze Quality Award Program. Unlike many of the eLearning sites that provide educational resources, ahcancalED is FREE to members, utilizes the talent of members and subject matter experts in the creation of resources.
It prides itself on creating “just in time” resources that address changes and issues in the industry. Within the sharED category, members have offered tools and resources they use every day to improve quality in their centers.
Just last week, the ahcancalED team committed a new space to the Requirements of Participation. Recognizing that many will be looking for support and resources to feel confident in their understanding of these new regulations, the team made way for requirED. This space will make it easy for members to find just the resources they need at the very moment they need it. In the meantime, the Quality team is working hard to develop those materials that will take the place of the construction sign currently visible on the site.
In an effort to ensure that we keep our eye on the prize during this frenetic time, the team has created the Quality Initiative Series-Succeeding In The Midst Of Change This eight part series provides in-depth instruction and strategies to help members effectively meet impending payment and regulatory changes. It is designed with the intent of helping members succeed by providing insights into the changes, providing specific strategies that can be adopted by centers, and offering a comprehensive array of tools and resources.
If you have yet to join the over 2,800 members using ahcancalED, take a minute and learn something new! We recommend Patrick Kelly’s submission- Four Ways You Can Accidently Disclose Protected Healthcare Information! It provides a fun and simple look at ways that phones and social media can be a potential risk.
Track Your NCAL Quality Initiative Goals in LTC Trend Tracker!
A new dashboard and four new measures for assisted living in LTC Trend Tracker will be launched this fall. Assisted Living members will be able to track their progress on the four Quality Initiative goals: safely reducing hospital readmissions, improving customer satisfaction, improving staff stability, and safely reducing off-label use of antipsychotics. Additional measures to be added include hospital admissions and occupancy rate.
The new dashboard will allow members to customize which measures they see on the dashboard and their community or organization goal for each measure. Assisted living members will be able to customize their reports based on which measures they want to include and the timeframe for the measures. Sign-up for LTC Trend Tracker today!
Congressional leadership last night announced an agreement to fund the government through the November election. The plan goes with just days to spare as fiscal year deadline looms at the end of the month.
The tentative deal on a continuing resolution would fund the government until December 9, setting up this Congress to once again come to a spending agreement before a new Congress takes charge next year.
Negotiations between House Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi led to an agreement to tack on an amendment to the Water Resources Development Act authorizing $170 million in aid for the Flint water crisis. Funding for the on-going water safety crisis in Michigan has been a top priority for Pelosi and Democrats, one which they said was a key component of any deal to fund the government. The House is expected to pass the water bill as soon as today.
Much remains in the air, including ultimate passage of the Flint funding as well as Democratic requests for more Zika funding and how spending is offset, though both sides maintain they are resolute in funding the government before the deadline. "We're not shutting the government down," Pelosi told reporters Tuesday afternoon.
An adjournment resolution in the amendment schedules Congress to leave a day earlier than the original calendar, finishing up the last legislative business on Thursday before returning to their districts until after the election. Congress will resume session on November 11, after the election has taken place but before new Members of Congress are sworn in, for a so-called “lame duck” session.
What do the Quality Award Survey Requirements Mean?
2- Applicants will receive regular emails from Quality Award staff with deadline reminders, tips on applying for the award, and links to exclusive educational webinars.
As potential applicants decide whether or not to submit an Intent to Apply by the November 17th deadline, one of the first questions they ask is whether they meet the Quality Award Survey requirements.
This year, there are a revised set of survey eligibility requirements at each application level that applicants will have to meet. Applicants are encouraged to review all the specific survey eligibility requirements in the respective application packets in detail. Below are some answers to the most common questions that we receive on the survey eligibility requirements.
1- Can I still apply if the center does not meet the survey eligibility requirements?
a. Yes, centers can apply and receive a feedback report even if they do not meet the survey eligibility requirement. They will simply be ineligible to receive the award.
2- Can the center recertify if it does not meet the survey eligibility requirements?
a. If a center submits an application meeting the minimum requirements and fails survey eligibility they will still be able to recertify.
3- How do I calculate the cycle 1 and 2 weighted survey score for the Silver Quality Award and the 3 cycle weighted score for the Gold Quality Award?
Quality Award staff has developed a resource for applicants to view their current survey eligibility based on the August 24, 2016 Nursing Home Compare release. This can be utilized by applicants to review their current survey eligibility; however, applicants are cautioned as this is preliminary and their survey eligibility will change based on what is available as of the application deadline (January 26, 2017) and award notification.
As always, if you have any questions Quality Award staff can be reached at [email protected].
Update Your Professional Headshot in Nashville!
The AHCA/NCAL 67th Annual Convention and Expo in Nashville is just around the corner and this year’s convention features a new activity for AHCA/NCAL members. Thanks to the generous support of PointClickCare®, the AHCA/NCAL Long Term Care Career Center, is hosting a Headshot Lounge for AHCA/NCAL member attendees.
The Headshot Lounge will be open on Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in room Jackson F. AHCA/NCAL members are encouraged to drop by the Headshot Lounge to get a free professional headshot. The Long Term Care Career Center’s Headshot Lounge will be a great opportunity to network and get a new personal photo emailed to you to use for your professional needs.
The Long Term Care Career Center is AHCA/NCAL’s electronic job board dedicated to helping Members find and recruit top LTC professionals. Rates for posting job vacancies are affordable and give prospective employers far greater exposure than local ads and job boards by connecting to a network of more than 330 health care organizations and societies. Employers are also able to post vacancies as they occur and search resumes on the network.
Of course, the LTC Career Center is always free for job seekers. And, job seekers are using the site! Job postings on the AHCA/NCAL Long Term Care Career Center, average more than 1,600 views a month.
Now is the perfect time to give the Long Term Care Career Center a try because new users receive 25% off their first posting. Simply enter promo code New25off to receive this special discounted price.
Employers who utilize the site also receive superior exposure through rotating job listings on AHCA’s home page – the web site where long term care professionals go for news and information. In addition, employers who post vacancies through the center receive bonus rotating listings on the Long Term Care Career Center home page.
Be sure to stop by the Headshot Lounge in Nashville. We look forward to seeing you there.
The National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) has named Patricia (Pat) Giorgio, the president of Evergreen Estates, the 2016 recipient of the Jan Thayer Pioneer Award. With nearly 25 years of experience owning and operating assisted living communities, Giorgio has served in many leadership positions and championed quality improvement through myriad projects and efforts.
NCAL created the Jan Thayer Pioneer Award in 2015 to recognize individuals who have moved the senior care profession forward, positively affecting the lives of those served and those who serve. Recipients must demonstrate dedication, leadership, and considerable contributions to the senior care profession. The award is posthumously named after the first Board Chair of NCAL and assisted living owner and operator Jan Thayer.
Additionally, her expertise on assisted living trends, performance measures, bereavement, hospice and LGBT issues has made her a sought after speaker across the country. Giorgio also collaborated with the University of North Carolina and the Center for Excellence in Assisted Living on two community-based participatory research projects. The first was measuring medication errors in assisted living, and the second was developing a toolkit for person-centeredness in assisted living.
Ms. Giorgio will be presented the Pioneer Award during a formal ceremony at the 67th Annual AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo in Nashville, Tenn. this October.
Twenty-one states' attorneys general, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and more than 50 other national and Texas business groups filed a legal challenge on Tuesday, September 20th to the federal overtime rule set to take effect on December 1st. The new regulations revise the overtime exemptions for executive, administrative, and professional employees, commonly known as the “white collar” exemptions.
The group is arguing that the Department of Labor (DOL) exceeded its statutory authority in issuing the regulation and violated the Administrative Procedure Act, and holds that the rule will result in increased employment costs that could further impact services and workplace flexibility. The Chamber lawsuit also states that the rule departs from the intent of the Fair Labor Standards Act, that the salary threshold set by the rule is “excessively high,” and that it ignores regional and industry differences. The complaint argues that the salary threshold cannot be updated without a rulemaking process or further input from affected parties. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
The full text of the final rule can be found here. For more information, including a memo from ACHA/NCAL’s legal consultant Jackson Lewis and other Department of Labor resources, see the AHCA/NCAL website under Workforce. Members will need their login information to access the memo and other resources.
New research conducted by AHCA/NCAL found that nursing facilities with at least one RN certified in gerontological nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) are more likely to receive a higher star rating on the CMS Quality measure. The research found that 45 percent of nursing facilities received a 5-Star quality rating as compared to 33 percent nationwide.
In addition, AHCA/NCAL research found that nursing facilities with at least one ANCC board certified nurse were twice as likely to receive an overall 5-Star rating from CMS and far less likely to receive an overall 1-Star rating.
AHCA/NCAL Gero Nurse Prep is on sale now and each RN registrant can save $100 off his/her Gero Nurse Prep by entering promo code STARS2016 (all caps) at checkout. That means RNs who are interested can become board certified for less than $1,000 ($590 sale price for AHCA/NCAL Gero Nurse Prep and a separate $395 to take the ANCC exam).
AHCA/NCAL members seeking to increase their star ratings from CMS are encouraged to examine ANCC certification for their RN leaders. Watch this video to learn more about AHCA/NCAL Gero Nurse Prep or click on the course preview to get a quick view of this engaging on-line curriculum designed to help RNs pass the ANCC exam.
Reach for the stars and check out AHCA/NCAL Gero Nurse Prep today.
Remember to enter promo code STARS2016 and save $100 off the registration fee. The sale ends November 30.
The Long-Term Care Statistics Branch at the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) released new products from the 2014 wave of the National Study of Long-Term Care Providers (NSLTCP). The new products include the Long-Term Care Providers and Services Users in the United States—State Estimates Supplement: National Study of Long-Term Care Providers, 2013–2014, which includes data on all five long term care sectors (residential care community which includes assisted living, nursing home, home health, adult day services center, and hospice).
The report covers various characteristics including organization, staffing, services provided, practices such as screenings, and special care (e.g. dementia care). NCHS published information on the use of electronic health records and health information exchange among residential care communities and adult day services centers. Two new QuickStats were published using 2014 NSTLCP data, these new charts compare staffing hours across sectors and one comparing selected services provided across residential care communities and adult day services centers.
LTC Trend Tracker has a new publication that will be sent directly to your email inbox. This quarterly report will highlight your facility’s progress on Five Star performance, the quality initiative, and help you understand your survey rating and score breakdown.
Check out the new user-friendly design and easy snapshot of data. The figures and colorful graphics are designed to help improve patient care with tailored tools that will allow your organization to easily monitor hospital readmission rates, staffing, patient dosage, length of stay, spending, and more. Also, check your competitive standing among other healthcare facilities with instant feedback on your organization’s performance compared to your area.
Join the webinar next Wednesday, October 5th at 2:00 PM Eastern Time to get a sneak preview on what Your Top Line will look like next month. Current, registered users of LTCTT will receive this quarterly report automatically. You won’t even need to log in. It will be sent directly to the registered user’s inbox.
Are you registered for this web-based tool that is an exclusive benefit to AHCA/NCAL members? Get your account setup now and you won’t miss out on these easy to view performance targets and results. Please email [email protected] to get started today.
PBJ Requires Hours Worked and Paid!
The deadline for nursing centers to gather and submit Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) data for the first mandatory quarter is November 14, 2016. As you get ready, it’s important to remember that the system requires the reporting of hours per day and per employee that are worked. It’s also important to keep in mind that the employee must be paid for all of the hours reported.
1) Are facilities required to report hours paid or hours worked?
2) I know that only the hours paid for a salaried employee shall be submitted. Can you clarify if I can submit the hours for an extra shift that my salaried employee works, if I pay them a bonus for these additional hours?
The hours may be reported under the following conditions: The payment must be directly correlated to the hours worked and must be distinguishable from other payments. (e.g., cannot be a performance-based or holiday bonus). Additionally, the bonus payment must be reasonable compensation for the services provided.
3) When considering reporting, realize that you can report fractions of time as follows.
As always, consult the PBJ Policy Manual, FAQs, etc., for more information. Questions can always be sent to [email protected].
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a Volume 2 QAPI Brief which focuses on adverse events. It includes a list of potentially preventable adverse events and a medication related adverse events case study.
The last Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) brief was issued in 2013. The next QAPI brief is expected to be on care and infection related adverse events. Reducing Unintended Health Care Outcomes is one of the goals of the AHCA Quality Initiative. Visit the AHCA Quality Initiative site to learn more and to review available resources.
NCAL’s Risk Management Work Group prepared a new resource for members to provide key considerations for assisted living communities when residents and their families hire private caregivers to provide supplemental services and support. The tool kit also includes links to sample documents, including a sample Private Caregiver Agreement and several state requirements for these caregivers. Personal caregivers (PCGs) - also called private duty personnel or private sitters - hired by assisted living resident’s family can be important partners providing companionship and for the resident’s plan of care. However, PCGs are not community employees, nor can or should they be supervised by the community management; consequently, communities must consider management and liability issues. The article covers topics such as the types of policies and procedures that AL communities should have in place, training, and managing expectations.
Last Chance to Register for NCAL Day!
Do not miss the opportunity to attend the 10th anniversary of NCAL Day. Advance registration for the event ends today. NCAL Day has traditionally been a must-attend event for assisted living providers and the 2016 event is sure to exceed expectations.
Keynote speakers Dr. Manny Alvarez, Senior Managing Health Editor for Fox News and Jim Carroll, a futurist, trends and innovation expert, will share their thoughts and insider information on future trends and workforce challenges in the profession.
Learn more about each NCAL Day education session below, and then register for Convention, making sure you add your ticket to NCAL Day as part of your package. Adding NCAL Day to your full meeting package only costs $195. For those only attending NCAL Day, members can purchase a ticket for $495, non-members for $645.
This session will include an overview of the ASPE Compendium, which is a comprehensive review of assisted living regulations in each state including trends and changes. An overview of emerging trends including new payment models, the importance of data in working with other providers, and other changes in the industry.
Measurement and quality improvement has lagged in assisted living. To address this shortcoming, an environmental scan was conducted to identify and evaluate evidence-based tools (measures and instruments) for quality improvement in assisted living and other health and long term care settings, with a priority focus on five domains: person-centered care, medication management, resident/patient quality outcomes, care coordination/transitions, and workforce.
· Steve Schwartz, CEO, Wave Sensor, Inc.
As assisted living and senior care continue to change and evolve, so do the needs surrounding technology both for providers and residents. During this session, attendees will hear from three leading companies in the technology space on what innovations and changes are on the horizon for assisted living and how providers can ensure their operations keep up with the demand and need to be cutting edge.
There is a growing need to make more assisted living available as the country braces for the unprecedented number of seniors that will require housing with services in the next 15 years. This session will provide a blueprint for how develop and operate assisted living for all income levels, but especially those seniors with low to moderate incomes.
On September 6, AHCA/NCAL and over 50 national organizations sent a letter of support to the House Committee on Education & the Workforce on the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act (S. 1719/H.R. 3099).
Introduced by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Representative Gregg Harper (R-MS-3), and Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), this legislation would implement the federal Commission on Long-Term Care’s bipartisan recommendation that Congress require the development of a national strategy to support family caregivers. The bill would create an advisory body to bring together relevant federal agencies and others from the private and public sectors to advise and make recommendations. The strategy would identify specific actions that government, communities, providers, employers, and others can take to recognize and support family caregivers and be updated annually. Last December, the full U.S. Senate considered and passed this legislation. It now awaits House consideration. The letter urges the Committee to make this bill a priority, and to take prompt action on it this month.
The “Future Leaders” conference starts today and over 30 new AHCA/NCAL advocates are in Washington D.C. to receive leadership training, learn about current skilled nursing legislative issues, and ultimately lobby their members of Congress at a critical time for post-acute care (PAC).
The 35 advocates, all representing different states, will travel to Capitol Hill Thursday just as lawmakers are nearing the final negotiation on legislation that would fund the government past the end of the month. The continuing resolution to appropriate funding is the last piece of must-pass legislation on which members of Congress must act before they return to their home states to hit the campaign trail one last time.
The fly-in comes at a critical time, as the Way & Means Committee is considering changes to the way in which post-acute care providers receive Medicare payments. The Medicare Post-Acute Care Value-Based Purchasing Act of 2015 (H.R. 3298), sponsored by the Committee Chairman, Rep. Kevin Brady, seeks to reward PAC providers based on performance and cost savings and move away from the current volume-centric system.
AHCA/NCAL and several other PAC providers have denounced the legislation in its current form and have instead proposed a list of changes that need to be made to the bill in order for it to garner support. The changes focus on ensuring that providers are not receiving, on whole, a cut to Medicare rates and ensuring quality, not cost savings, is kept as the primary objective of the new program.
The “Future Leader” advocates will speak to their members of Congress about these changes and urge them and their colleagues to take into account the concerns of AHCA/NCAL and the PAC community as this bill moves forward.
Advocates will also urge lawmakers to support The Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2015 (S. 843/H.R. 1571), which removes the observation days barrier to patients seeking to receive a skilled care Medicare benefit after staying three days in a hospital.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on long-term care workforce, examining the available federal and state data about direct care workforce and actions the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has taken to overcome data limitations. The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis, part of HRSA, is responsible for conducting projections of the supply and demand for the U.S. health workforce. HRSA reports the agency has not been able to develop projections of the supply of direct care workers due to the insufficient data. These projections are vital to enabling policymakers and stakeholders to address workforce challenges through policies and planning.
The GAO had two recommendations in the report: 1) that HRSA work on producing projections of direct care workforce supply and demand and 2) that HRSA address the data limitations in order to produce the projections. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) concurred with both recommendations. HRSA is currently developing demand projections for certain direct care workforce occupations.
The US Department of Health, Office of Inspector General (OIG) has released a report, Medicaid Fraud Control Units FY 2015 Annual Report, that reports that Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs) reported 1,553 convictions.
Seventy-one percent of these convictions involved fraud and 29 percent involved instances of abuse or neglect. For the same time period, units reported 731 civil settlements and judgments and $744 million in criminal and civil recoveries. Nearly 1/3 of those convictions involved personal care services attendants or other home care aides. Eleven percent of those convictions were of nurse aides. Another 11 percent of those convictions were of licensed nurses, physician assistants or nurse practitioners. Drug diversion cases accounted for 8 percent of those convictions. Convictions over the past 5 years have increased, while the number of civil settlements and amount of recoveries have decreased.
Overall, recoveries from assisted living facilities was $125,813 for criminal allegations; and recoveries from nursing care centers was $1,682,058 for criminal allegations and $2,835,186 for civil allegations.
The US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG) has released its updated List of Excluded Individuals and Entities (LEIE) database file, which reflects all OIG exclusions and reinstatement actions up to, and including, those taken in August 2016. This new file is meant to replace the updated LEIE database file available for download last month. Individuals and entities that have been reinstated to the federal health care programs are not included in this file.
The updated files are posted on OIG’s website at http://www.oig.hhs.gov/exclusions/exclusions_list.asp, and healthcare providers have an “affirmative duty” to check to ensure that excluded individuals are not working in their facilities or face significant fines. Instructional videos explaining how to use the online database and the downloadable files are available at http://oig.hhs.gov/exclusions/download.asp.
Given the penalties and recent government warnings, long term care providers should check the LEIE on a regular basis.
AHCA/NCAL is once again a sponsor for the upcoming American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA) Long Term Care and the Law in San Diego, CA, in February 22-24, 2017. This program promises to be an exciting and informative meeting where some of the leading in-house and outside lawyers for the long term care industry will be presenting on legal, compliance, and operational issues faced by providers. AHLA offers CLE, CPE, NHA, and CCB credits for this program. AHCA and NCAL members also receive the AHLA member discounted rate of $625 – don’t miss this excellent educational opportunity.
A new survey from Kaiser Family Foundation (Kaiser) finds that more workers are opting for high deductible health plans (HDHPs) with 29 percent of workers electing such plans in 2016 as compared to 20 percent in 2014. High deductible plans are compatible with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) or are tied to Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) and feature lower average health insurance premiums than other plan types.
Kaiser’s survey also found that annual family premiums rose an average three percent this year to $18,142. The modest increase is due in part to the growing popularity of HDHPs, according to Kaiser. In 2016, 29 percent of all workers were in such plans, up from 20 percent in 2014.
In addition, the survey also revealed that the share of workers enrolled in Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans decreased to 48 percent in 2016 as compared to 58 percent in 2014. PPO plans typically have higher than average premiums.
AHCA/NCAL members are saving money on their employee health benefit programs through AHCA/NCAL Insurance Solutions. One independent owner in Florida recently saved more than $1,000 annually per employee. To explore your health plan options (including HDHP and PPO plans) available through AHCA/NCAL Insurance Solutions, contact Dave Kyllo at 202-898-6312 or Nick Cianci at (202-898-2841) or email us at [email protected].
On September 13th, the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine released a report on family caregiving entitled, Families Caring for an Aging America. According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, “ At least 17.7 million individuals in the United States are providing care and support to an older parent, spouse, friend, or neighbor who needs help because of a limitation in their physical, mental, or cognitive functioning.
The circumstances of individual caregivers are extremely varied. They may live with, nearby, or far away from the person receiving care. The care they provide may be episodic, daily, occasional, or of short or long duration. The caregiver may help with household tasks or self-care activities, such as getting in and out of bed, bathing, dressing, eating, or toileting, or may provide complex medical care tasks, such as managing medications and giving injections. The older adult may have dementia and require a caregiver’s constant supervision. Or, the caregiver may be responsible for all of these activities.
With support from 15 sponsors, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened an expert committee to examine what is known about the nation’s family caregivers of older adults and to recommend policies to address their needs and help to minimize the barriers they encounter in acting on behalf of an older adult. The resulting report, Families Caring for an Aging America, provides an overview of the prevalence and nature of family caregiving of older adults as well as its personal impact on caregivers’ health, economic security, and overall well-being. The report also examines the available evidence on the effectiveness of programs and interventions designed to support family caregivers. It concludes with recommendations for developing a national strategy to effectively engage and support them.” The full report can be found here.
New research conducted by AHCA/NCAL found that the off-label antipsychotic use in nursing facilities with at least one RN certified in gerontological nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) were an average three to four percent lower than the national average in each quarter calendar years 2012 through 2015. Reducing off-label antipsychotic use is one of the goals in the AHCA/NCAL Quality Initiative.
Mr. Ciolek will be one of a few panelists speaking on the guidelines, and he will be providing the skilled nursing center perspective. If you are interested in attending this briefing, you can RSVP by October 3 to Cindy Salinas at [email protected].
Recently the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) revised an educational tool titled: Quick Reference Chart: Descriptors of G-codes and Modifiers for Therapy Functional Reporting.
The Middle Class Tax Relief and Jobs Creation Act (MCTRJCA) of 2012 amended the Social Security Act to require a claims-based data collection system for Medicare Part B outpatient therapy services, including physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), and speech-language pathology (SLP) services. The system collects data on beneficiary function during the course of therapy services to better understand beneficiary conditions, outcomes, and expenditures. Beneficiary function information is reported using 42 nonpayable functional G-codes and seven severity/complexity modifiers on Part B therapy claims for PT, OT, and SLP services. SNF billers and therapists are encouraged to review the revised reference chart.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Supplemental Medical Review Contractor (SMRC) has recently announced that they have initiated a special medical review study of SNF Medicare Part A Therapy Services. Per the SMRC website, Project Y4P0432 – Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Therapy Services (08/11/16) was requested by CMS based upon the findings of a recent Office of Inspector General (OIG) report entitled Skilled Nursing Facility Billing for Changes in Therapy: Improvements are Needed, OEI-02-13-00611. In this study, the OIG evaluated how SNFs utilized three new Minimum Data Set (MDS) patient assessments that were implemented in FY 2011 and 2012 to better reflect the amount of therapy provided. The new assessments better capture when beneficiaries start therapy, end therapy, and decrease or increase therapy significantly enough to impact the Resource Utilization Group (RUG) payment case mix. In the report, published June 2015, the OIG suggested that some SNFs may be using the new assessments incorrectly, which could result in improper payments.
Per the SMRC website, as directed by CMS, Strategic Health Solutions will conduct post payment medical review of the SNF Therapy services. The details of how many SNF providers will be reviewed was not provided. However, the SMRC did provide a link to an example Additional Documentation Letter for this study.
Want to enhance organizational success? Want to prepare for the regulatory future? Want to have superior performance outcome?
If you answered YES to any or all of the above be sure to submit your Intent to Apply (ITA) for a 2017 Quality Award by 8 pm EST November 17, 2016!
The overall application fee is reduced up to $700—a $200 savings for Bronze applicants, a $400 savings for Silver; and $700 savings for Gold.
Weekly tips on writing a successful application from Quality Award staff after the Intent to Apply deadline till the application deadline.
Applicants may apply for three progressive levels of awards: Bronze, Silver, or Gold, each of which requires a more detailed and comprehensive demonstration of systematic quality. Centers must receive an award at each level to progress to the next level.
The AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program recognizes long term and post-acute care providers across the nation that strive for improved quality care. The program sets high standards for quality based on the Baldrige Performance Excellence criteria and encourages organizations to commit, achieve, and excel in quality performance.
As always, feel free to reach out to Quality Award staff at [email protected].
New research conducted by AHCA/NCAL found that the rehospitalization rates in nursing facilities with at least one RN certified in gerontological nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) consistently have run at least two percentage points lower than the national average since 2011.
Given the similarities of many aspects of geriatric nursing, it is likely that assisted living communities would also see a correlation between having a ANCC Board Certified RNs and reduced rehospitalization rates in their communities. Lower rehospitalization rates are critical to being competitive in today’s health care marketplace that focuses heavily on value based purchasing and financially penalizes acute care settings with high rehospitalization rates.
NCAL members are encouraged to check out AHCA/NCAL Gero Nurse Prep. Watch this video to learn more about AHCA/NCAL Gero Nurse Prep or click on the course preview to get a quick view of this engaging on-line curriculum designed to help RNs pass the ANCC exam.
Join the LTC Trend Tracker Team for the Monthly Q&A Focused on Assisted Living!
The LTC Trend Tracker team hosts monthly Q&A sessions. This is an opportunity to learn about changes coming to LTC Trend Tracker and ask any questions you may have about LTC Trend Tracker. For the September session the team will highlight the new assisted living measures coming to LTC Trend Tracker and other brand new features! The session will be on Thursday, September 15th 2pm - 3pm Eastern. Please register here prior to the webinar.
Beginning last Sunday Sept. 11 and continuing through Saturday, Sept. 17, thousands of America’s assisted living communities and their staff, residents, families, volunteers, and local members of their community will celebrate National Assisted Living Week® (NALW). The national observance—which begins each year on Grandparent’s Day—honors the individuals served, as well as the individuals who serve, in assisted living and residential care communities across the nation with special activities and events.
Sponsored by the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) since 1995, this year’s NALW theme this year is “Keep Connected.” The theme recognizes the increasing opportunity technology offers to enhance the care and overall experience in assisted living communities, as well as encouraging access to older adults interested in new technologies and the internet. “Keep Connected” also acknowledges the deep bonds staff and residents form, as caregivers nobly serve those living in assisted living communities.
Assisted living caregivers and members of the public are encouraged to share their celebrations throughout the week on social media with the hashtag, #NALW.
· In 2005, 2 percent of older adults used social media. In 2015, that percentage is 35 percent.
· Older adults are among the least likely to have high-speed internet access. Just 31 percent have broadband at home.
· The frequency of internet use among those who do have high-speed access is relatively close to the usage levels of younger users.
· Among older adult internet users, 62 percent look for news online and 34 percent do so on a typical day. Nearly 90 percent send or read email and more than half exchange email messages on a typical day.
· Currently, more than 835,200 individuals live in more than 30,200 assisted living or residential care communities across the United States.
· The average assisted living community has 33 beds.
· Assisted living companies and communities employ 416,300 individuals.
· More than half (53 percent) of assisted living residents are 85 years old or older.
· Nearly 40 percent of residents are living with some form of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, and more than 20 percent of assisted living communities offer dementia care units or exclusively serve adults with dementia.
· A little more than 15 percent of residents rely on Medicaid for their daily care, and 47 percent of assisted living communities are Medicaid certified.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Services, National Center for Health Statistics and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
For more information on National Assisted Living Week, please visit www.nalw.org.
The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine released a report recommending that Medicare and Medicaid reform should engage caregivers in delivery processes. The study reviewed the prevalence of family caregiving for older adults and examined the evidence on the effectiveness of programs, supports, and other interventions designed to support family caregivers. The committee also recommended that state governments address the health, economic and social challenges of caregiving for older adults.
The National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) is applauding an effort by the co-chairs of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO), to ensure access to assisted living communities for individuals who rely on Medicaid to cover their long term care services. The senators sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, urging the agency to provide additional guidance regarding the implementation of a final rule defining home and community-based settings (HCBS) through the Medicaid waiver program.
NCAL and its member assisted living providers collaborated with CMS and commented on the proposed rule before it was finalized in early 2014. Now, as state Medicaid programs prepare for implementation in 2019, NCAL and its state affiliates remain concerned that certain assisted living communities may be excluded from participating in the waiver program. With many assisted living residents unable to live on their own, this would only drive assisted living residents to more institutional settings, contrary to the intent of the HCBS rule. As a member of the Center for Excellence in Assisted Living, the association is working with the coalition to educate CMS about the needs and demands of assisted living residents.
For more information about the HCBS final rule, please visit www.medicaid.gov/hcbs.
The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on health held a hearing last week focusing on how the post-acute space could move more toward value-based payments (VBP). The hearing was held ahead of the introduction of changes to a bill from Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) that seeks to create one value-based system for all post-acute payments.
The bill proposes that five percent of Medicare payments to post-acute provided be withheld and redistributed based on a set of cost-savings and geographic criteria with a functional measure phased in after two years.
The American Health Care Association is supportive of the move toward more value-based systems but is not supportive of the particular criteria laid out in this bill. AHCA hopes to work with the committee and Chairman Brady in order to make productive changes to the legislation.
AHCA believes that any value-based system should take no more than two percent from providers, the rate set in both the current skilled nursing and hospital VBP systems.
Skilled nursing facilities just began a value-based payment program tailored specifically for the setting based on rehospitalization measures. The program was passed as part of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014.
On September 6, AHCA/NCAL submitted an 11 page comments document to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in response to a proposed rule titled Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2017; Medicare Advantage Pricing Data Release; Medicare Advantage and Part D Medical Low Ratio Data Release; Medicare Advantage Provider Network Requirements; Expansion of Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program Model, July 15, 2016.
The AHCA/NCAL comments focused on 6 specific subject areas within the proposed rule.
CMS is proposing to replace the existing physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) evaluation and re-evaluation codes with new and expanded evaluation Current Procedural Terminology (CPT-4) codes developed and adopted by the American Medical Association (AMA). The new codes would be effective January 1, 2017. AHCA supports the adoption of the new codes. While the new PT and OT initial evaluation codes would reflect three tiers of complexity, CMS is rejecting a recommendation to introduce tiered pricing, and proposes to pay one fixed price for initial PT and OT evaluations regardless of the complexity of the evaluation as reflected by the new codes. AHCA recommended that CMS reconsider their proposal and that PT and OT evaluation prices should be tiered to reflect the complexity of that service. AHCA also recommended that CMS work with stakeholders to provide adequate education before the new codes are implemented in 2017.
CMS listed 10 CPT codes commonly used to bill for Part B therapy services that are subject to a statutory pricing review and solicited comments on how they should be revalued, if necessary. No specific code value changes were proposed at this time. AHCA commented that it supports efforts at determining proper payment rates, but noted that the historical process to develop values for therapy-related codes has not been transparent, and has requested more transparency.
CMS noted that several procedure codes commonly used for Part B PT, OT, and speech-language pathology (SLP) services were requested to be included in the list of allowed telehealth services, but they rejected the request citing that the Medicare statute does not list PT, OT, and SLP professionals as individuals that can furnish telehealth services under Medicare. AHCA noted that several states permit PT, OT, and SLP services via telehealth and requested that CMS use its authority under the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to conduct a demonstration of telehealth therapy services in states that permit this service delivery method. AHCA also recommended that CMS eliminate or soften the current SNF telehealth frequency limitations that prevent a patient’s admitting physician from furnishing telehealth services more than once per month.
CMS is proposing two policies that aim to protect beneficiaries in Track 3 MSSP ACO programs in rare cases where they were admitted to a SNF with fewer than three qualifying hospital days when they were not eligible for the 3-day waiver. In the first scenario, the beneficiary became ineligible for the waiver, but the ACO was not informed by CMS due to a government time lag. In this scenario, CMS proposes that neither the beneficiary, the ACO, or the SNF would be financially liable. AHCA supports the adoption of this proposal. In the second scenario, the ACO has the information to be aware that the beneficiary is not eligible for the 3-day stay waiver, but proceeds to transfer the patient to a SNF early by improperly applying the 3-day waiver. In this scenario, CMS proposes to waive the beneficiary liability, but would hold the ACO and the SNF financially liable for the SNF services that did not meet the hospital 3-day stay requirement. AHCA supports the beneficiary protections portion of this proposal, but opposes the proposal to hold the SNF financially liable because of information received in good faith from an ACO referring hospital, but which the SNF cannot independently verify.
Under the proposed rule, CMS would release on an annual basis Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D data that has historically considered to be proprietary and confidential. AHCA supports the proposal but encouraged CMS to publish more current data than is proposed.
Under the proposed rule CMS would require providers and suppliers that contract with MA organizations (including first-tier, downstream, and related entities (FDR)) to also be enrolled as approved Medicare providers and suppliers through the Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS) as is currently required for Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) payment. While AHCA supports the intent of the proposed requirement, there is some concern that the proposed language is unclear and could become overly burdensome to SNFs if misinterpreted. AHCA seeks clarification from CMS that employees or contracted service professionals or agencies of providers of service, including SNF, do not meet the definition of first-tier, downstream, and related entities (FDR) as described in the proposed rule.
If you have questions regarding the AHCA/NCAL comments please contact Daniel E. Ciolek, Associate Vice President, Therapy Advocacy at [email protected].
On September 2, AHCA/NCAL submitted a 33 page comments document to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) contractor, the RAND Corporation, in response to a request for comments pertaining to a Data Element Specifications for Public Comment document prepared under the CMS Development and Maintenance of Post-Acute Care Cross-Setting Standardized Assessment Data project.
The Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014 (IMPACT Act of 2014) requires that the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services implement submission of standardized data from post-acute care (PAC) providers using the assessment instruments that CMS currently requires for use by home health agencies (HHAs), inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs), long-term acute care hospitals (LTCH), and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). It requires the submission of standardized data on specified assessment domains and specified quality measurement domains. It specifies that the “data be standardized and interoperable so as to allow for the exchange of such data among such post-acute care providers and other providers and the use by such providers of such data that has been exchanged, including by using common standards and definitions in order to provide access to longitudinal information for such providers to facilitate coordinated care and improved Medicare beneficiary outcomes….” In the SNF, the Minimum Data Set (MDS.3.0) is the patient assessment instrument where these cross-setting data elements would be located. It is to be determined whether these elements would replace, or be added-to the existing MDS 3.0 data elements.
4) an array of 12 specific Special Services, Treatments, and Interventions.
The AHCA/NCAL comments emphasized support for the objectives of the IMPACT Act, but that more work was needed on the development of the proposed standardized cross-setting data elements. Recommendations were offered to address general concerns that changes to existing MDS item definitions and/or reference lookback windows may 1) impact existing SNF Medicare and Medicaid case-mix payment models and quality measures, and 2) create significant additional SNF provider burden. The AHCA/NCAL comments related to the individual data elements were intended as stand-alone item-specific comments and were generally structured as follows: 1) summary of the proposed data element, 2) AHCA/NCAL’s position on the cross-setting importance of the data element domain, 2) components of the proposed data element that AHCA/NCAL supports, 3) AHCA/NCAL’s impression of the impact of the proposed data element on SNF MDS 3.0 reporting, 4) AHCA/NCAL’s recommendation for next steps for the proposed data element before we can support it, and 5) AHCA/NCAL’s rationale for the recommended next steps.
Are you a 2016 Bronze Quality Award recipient? Or a previous Bronze Quality Award recipient? Are you looking to continue on your Quality Award journey but not sure how to get started?
Look no further than the 2017 Silver Criteria Series. This ten-part webinar series is designed to help Silver applicants understand the criteria and apply it to their organization. The series includes an introduction of the program, explanation of the Silver evaluation process, followed by eight webinars covering each section of the Silver Criteria; from the Organizational Profile to Categories 1-7. Each webinar provides an explanation of the criteria and questions to help applicants consider how to respond for their unique organization.
Before beginning the application process and viewing the Silver Criteria Series, you should review the 2017 Silver Application Packet, containing the important program information and instructions, as well as the Silver criteria.
As always, Quality Award staff is here to help you with your question, just email us at [email protected].
And be sure to remember these important deadlines!
September is National Preparedness Month. On September 16th the final rule, Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers, will be posted in the Federal Register. This will impact our SNF and ID/DD members. It can currently be reviewed online.
AHCA Staff are currently reviewing the rule and will provide a more detailed summary. It is encouraged that our members take this time to review their emergency preparedness policies and plans.
Additionally, the AHCA/NCAL Emergency Preparedness Committee is working on three new resource guides that will be published on the AHCA/NCAL website later this Fall. The new resources will be a 101 Guide, table top exercises and resources for implementing the CMS Emergency Preparedness Checklist.
Please visit our website at https://www.ahcancal.org/facility_operations/disaster_planning/Pages/default.aspx to assist with your emergency preparedness planning.
The countdown is on. Only one week remains to register for the 67th AHCA/NCAL Annual Convention & Expo at the Advance Registration rate. Hurry, you must register before the September 21 deadline. After this date, on-site registration rates apply. If you missed the advance registration period, you may register on-site at the event in Nashville, Sunday, October 16. Registration will be open at 6:45 am.
Thousands of your long term and post-acute colleagues from across the country, have already confirmed their spot. What are you waiting for?
Get all the information you need online, Including speakers, education sessions, Expo Hall hours and exhibitors, along with the full schedule of networking opportunities and events.
A significant shift we've experienced in our communities relates to discharge to community. Our role is to create seamless transitions that return residents safely home - a departure from our “long stay" roots. As a result, skilled nursing centers are responsible for assisting individuals in improving functional independence and adequately preparing individuals for discharge from the center. Assuring individuals and their families are able to manage care needs after discharge is critical to preventing rehospitalizations.
On September 28 at 3 pm Eastern Time join AHCA SVP of Quality and Regulatory Affairs Dr. David Gifford and his team of experts offer valuable insights on how to provide high quality and seamless service related to discharge to community. To register for this live webcast, “Discharge to Community: Creating Seamless Transitions,” click here.
This webcast is part of an 8-part Quality Initiative Series designed to provide in-depth instruction and strategies to help AHCA/NCAL members effectively meet impending payment and regulatory changes. For more information and list of upcoming webcast dates, click here. | 2019-04-20T17:15:59Z | http://www.longtermcareleader.com/2016/09/ |
First I would like to thank JGP for his great job on the October issue of the Insider. I am back home after a month in Brazil and I miss it already. I love Brazil, the country, the culture and above all the people. I must correct one phrase in JGP's editorial. Everywhere I have been there was water electricity and as you can see from the picture, taken at Matadores beach in the island of Florianopolis, even Internet access.
If you have made it to Atlanta or if you haven't, do not miss the IDUG/IIUG conference in Tampa, Florida 7-11 May 2006. Five days of top technical presentations and meeting Informix users, developers and experts. We are planning to continue supplying content in the IIUG Insider and the IIUG web page powered by our new Sun server and to provide you with a communication channel via our SIGs.
The IIUG board is planning to focus on reaching countries with small or nonexistent members and to continue the growth of our user community.
The elections for the 2006 board will commence soon. As a board member for the passed two years I highly recommend you run for the board. It is hard work on top of your regular jobs but it is time and effort well spent. In any case please dedicate a few minutes to vote for the nominees you would like to see on the board for year 2006.
IBM has named IDS 10 as its flagship database for pure OLTP and embedded computing we are sure that in 2006 will continue its commitment and hope to see Informix gaining its place as the best OLTP database in the market.
Everyone on the existing board is standing for election and we have three new candidates. This gives us a diverse list with candidates from USA, France, United Kingdom, Portugal, Israel, and New Zealand.
The election is being run on an independent server linked from the IIUG website, under the supervision of the IIUG Nomination Committee.
Please cast your vote today! The polls will remain open until 9 December 2005 23:59 GMT.
Informix User Forum 2005 - Moving Forward With Informix Solutions for IBM Informix Users A Two-Day User Group Technical Conference December 8-9 in Atlanta, GA.
Preparations are continuing for Informix User Forum 2005 that will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, December 8-9.
This year's Forum will feature two full days of technical sessions, plus vendor exhibits and presentations. We will have not only well known Informix experts presenting, but also a number of speakers who may be not so widely known but are nonetheless qualified. Two of our presenters, Lester Knutsen and Darryl Priest, took top honors for their sessions at the IDUG/IIUG conference earlier this year in Denver.
As someone close to the planning process, I can report that interest in this conference is high, with it garnering even international attention. For the latest details on the sessions, speakers, sponsors and exhibitors, visit the Forum Web site using the links listed below.
Informix User Forum 2005 promises to provide great technical content, plus opportunities to network with fellow users and gain access to information on the latest vendor offerings. This, combined with an registration fee of US$90.00 for the entire conference, makes the value of this event hard to beat.
Go beyond traditional classroom training and experience real-world, independent insights into topics essential to advance YOU and YOUR company.
With a technical agenda that offers more sessions and variety than comparable training events, IIUG delivers maximum ROI for your time and budget. Featured topics include IDS Internals, IDS performance tuning, Data blades, Informix for application developers and how to implement a successful migration to IDS 10.
For the second year in a row the International Informix Users Group (IIUG) has partnered with IDUG to bring real-world experience related to Informix.
IDUG 2006 - North America provides content for MORE than just database administrators and systems programmers. Offerings on .Net, JAVA, XML, SQL, Stored Procedures, UDRs, and more compliment IIUG's robust technical agenda.
As the year winds down, don't leave available 2005 educational budgets on the table. Go further and apply them toward IDUG 2006 - North America, thereby reserving your participation now. Registration is now open.
Visit http://www.iiug.org/conf for links to the latest event information.
LOGIN remember feature. Yes, you still have to look up your IIUG member ID for the first login, but after that it will be SAVED for you. Select the "Remember" box. Login is a now a breeze! Just choose the LOGIN button at the start of each session and the displayed login information will be used.
Work continues for decluttering the front page. The number of items displayed is being reduced to try and fit on a standard computer screen. Older items can still be retrieved by selecting "View Previous Announcements" at the bottom left of the page.
Items on the front page are now sorted in date order, with the date (including the year) printing on each item. Top left will always be the latest news.
In an attempt to entice more international users, there are now hot keys on the bottom allowing quick access to the Special Interest Group for that language. This will help for users that don't speak enough English to get around on the main web page. I'm in the process of getting a welcome message translated into each of our four supported languages for each of these buttons.
If you have any suggestions for improving the usefulness of this web page, please send an email to me, [email protected].
With the release of IBM Express Runtime 2.1.1, IBM Informix Dynamic Server Express Edition v. 10 is now included as one of the two integrated database components for this preintegrated middleware stack.
IBM Express Runtime is a unique middleware infrastructure stack designed to reduce complexity and drive greater ease of use for IBM's Business Partners and their mid-market customers so that they can build on IBM Express Middleware. Express Runtime combines a choice of Express database--DB2 UDB or IDS--along with IBM WebSphere Application Server Express and IBM HTTP Server.
A key feature of Express Runtime is the Solution Assembly Toolkit which has shown to reduce the deployment time for Cognos by as much as 80% (http://www.iiug.org/url/cognos.html).
Currently we host 26 Special Interest Groups covering not only classic Informix topics like IDS, admin tools and the like, but also thirds party applications, development tools and specific French, Spanish, Portuguese and German language groups. Some of these groups have had very little activity over the last 2 years. Therefore we propose to reorganize and consolidate the groups as follows.
As you can see the change is not too traumatic.
If you subscribe to one of the SIGs that is affected you will receive an email from me inviting your feedback. Then, assuming that the feedback is generally positive we will proceed with the consolidation. Again, for existing subscribers, we will not consolidate you without your agreement. This means that you will get a further email from me asking if you wish to subscribe to the new SIG. The process to confirm your subscription is very simple and I hope that you will renew in the new groups.
All of this is going to happen in December when we upgrade to our new server.
SIG visibility. With the implementation of our new server we will be making the SIG's available in read only mode to the general public. You still need to be a member to post messages. This is a service to help new Informix uses find the treasure of information that exists in the SIGs.
Did you know that Janet Perna, the general manager of IBM Information Management software (the division of IBM that owns Informix), recently retired? I first spoke to Janet in 2001, on the day IBM announced it would purchase Informix. We constantly debated the merits of Informix over the next years. Janet asked me to "embrace all IBM technology, as it was first class." And she was right: IBM technology is first class. And, Janet, you're also first class. Good luck in all your future endeavors.
Did you know that Perna's successor, Ambuj Goyal, is an IBM veteran and was most recently general manager of the Lotus Division? Not long ago, I had the chance to meet Goyal and spend an hour with him. When I asked about his plans for Informix, he told me, "I love all my children," referring to the many databases in the IBM Information Management portfolio. And, from what he told me, he loves all his children equally, especially those products that make money for IBM. Guess what? Informix makes money for IBM.
Did you know that some people still believe Informix will go away? I want to bury these rumors. Informix won't be going away. In fact, after my meeting with Goyal, I felt quite happy about what I believe will be in store for Informix. Things are looking better than they have since the acquisition announcement.
Did you know that Informix was founded 25 years ago in California by Roger Sippl? The company was then called Relational Database Systems, and its products were known as Informix database software. In the early years, the tools (such as SQL, Perform, Ace, ESQL, and 4GL) were sold and the database was given away for free. That changed years later when the database was opened up to work with other products. When the company went public in the 1980s and changed its name to Informix Corp., it became the number-one performing stock based on percentage stock gain during the period from Jan. 1, 1990, to Dec 31, 1995, for any U.S. stock exchange.
I recently read The Real Story of Informix and Phil White (Sand Hill Publishing, 2005). Written by Steve Martin (no, not that Steve Martin), who worked for Informix during the 1990s, the book sheds a lot of light on the company's history. I highly recommend the book, available at http://www.storyofinformix.com (IIUG members even get a $4.00 discount).
Did you know that after pulling off a successful joint conference in 2005, the IIUG and IDUG are joining forces for a conference in 2006? Joe Burns and Cindy Lichtenauer will lead the event in Tampa, Fla., May 7 to 11. This will be the largest gathering of Informix users in the world, so mark your calendar for 2006 and visit http://www.iiug.org/conf for more details.
Did you know that the IIUG Web site offers more than 25 special interest groups via email or Web-based forums on everything from database engines to tools and has the largest known repository of Informix tools, programs, tips, and tricks anywhere? That may be why IIUG membership (which, by the way, is free) is up more than 50% since the IBM buyout.
Did you know IBM has a special tele-sales marketing organization to help IBM business partners market their IBM-related products at no charge? Informix partners have used this unique cross-brand lead generation program to reach out to small and midsize business customers using IBM representatives. The team's mission is to promote partner solutions that include IBM software components. This service showcases the global cooperation between IBM and Informix partners and resellers. Please contact William Freiwah at [email protected] for more information (and tell him Stuart sent you).
And, finally, did you know that sales of Informix are up quarter over quarter at IBM? Please encourage anyone with concerns about Informix's future to send me a note at http://www.iiug.org/president.
Stuart Litel is CTO of Kazer Inc. and President of the International Informix Users Group.
First of a 4-part series on "Informix@IBM"
This year has been incredibly busy for the IDS team. I have personally visited 9 countries, 30+ US cities...all to "evangelize" the largest IDS release since version 9. Many of the trips were very hectic - sometimes 4 cities in 4 days across two countries. They included Infobahns, T3's (training for partners and IBM folks), and Informix User Groups - and more than I could cover by myself. Jacques Roy, Christine Normile, Danilo Novelli, Manny Corniel, Jerry Keesee, and others have also addressed similar crowds in many countries this year - we were just "too busy" and had to pull many IDS folks into the mix. This is a great sign for the Informix faithful.
Many asked "how could you do it?" alluding to the schedule and how our team could physically stay sharp and cover so much ground. My take on this is simple - it IS hard work, but right now it's very important work for the future of IDS. As mentioned, IDS v10.0 is the largest release since v9.x, so there is much to talk about with respect to architecture, features, and future technical direction of the product.
Close to 100 partners, clients, and developers attended the IDS Infobahn in Argentina. Nearly 200 in the Prague Infobahn.
Very good client visits in many countries - including Brazil, Malaysia, Argentina, and Belgium. In almost all cases, this gave the clients confidence to go forward and renew, purchase, and make future plans for the continued use of IDS.
T3's - 2 days of technical training on IDS v10.0 features and functionality, held in Tokyo, Denver, Atlanta, and other locations.
A very successful Infobahn in Tokyo, including Janet Perna speaking on the future of IDS. In attendance were many clients and partners. At this Infobahn I received the first request for a help to migrate Oracle applications to Informix. Eventually we started the development of the Oracle-to-Informix MTK, or Migration Toolkit. It is still in development, but it's very exciting to have requests from multiple clients for this.
I visited 30+ US Informix User Groups to continue "evangelizing the clear message" to Informix users.
Everywhere we traveled, we turned heads. We closed many deals for purchase or renewals of IDS, mostly due establishing a new confidence about the future of IDS. We were asked to visit mostly because clients still didn't believe that IDS is here to stay. This is largely due to the mixed messages that clients have been getting over the past 4 years with respect to IDS and DB2. That message "officially" changed in August of 2004 - that IDS is a flagship database product for IBM, particularly in the OLTP space. But to completely change the message has taken time - and many road miles.
I do continue to receive many emails from clients still concerned about the future of IDS. After all these miles, this seems a bit surprising, but I realize that the continued requests shows that there are still more clients we haven't touched yet. So we have more chances going forward to solidify "IDS' rightful place in the industry - and in the IBM portfolio." So again, we are lining up visits as fast as we can. Our team will still continue to visit, webcast, write, develop, and shake the hands of our IDS clients...until IDS has again taken its rightful place - as a database market leader.
In my next article, I will cover "Proof of Life: IDS@IBM", highlighting "proof points" that should show conclusively that IDS is here to stay - for our clients, and for the Informix faithful.
Indexing and Fragmentation Strategies by Mark Scranton.
This month we are joining the Informix Users Forum meeting being held in Atlanta at Home Depot. The session begins on a Thursday which is why we are departing from our normal Wednesday session. Mark Scranton will be discussing Indexing and Fragmentation Strategies. Mark is a Worldwide Technical Strategist for Informix. Jerry Keesee, Director of the Informix Lab, will be kicking the session off.
Save the date: Our next Chat will be Wednesday, February 8, 2005. There will be no Chat in January.
Are you looking for an optimized PHP driver for Informix Dynamic Server (IDS)? IBM has recently contributed a PHP Data Objects (PDO) driver for IDS to the open source community.
When you get to download the product, it's a bit faster than to get to an IBM evaluation product. You also need to look for GUI tools elsewhere, which is at first cumbersome. You go back and forth to find what you really need. You really need to pick 2 of them, the MySQL Administrator and MySQL Query Browser. Both tools are far beyond what one can find in excellent AGS ServerStudio. Client connectivity also needs to be downloaded separately.
One "cool" thing I found was "backuping". MySQL Administrator has a "single file" backup capability (in a .sql file). So I now archive seven databases in just one SQL file. When backbiters say it's not possible to back up Oracle data, they should switch to MySQL. I must admit I voluntarily did not try to break the backup tool. I use it on four different web sites, archiving CMS data. The web sites are filled with plenty of read-only data, so there is practically almost no risk (and I cron'ed a backup every 12 hours and the data is mostly recoverable).
Security was really my most painful experience with MySQL. The default user "seems" to be root and you initially start the database with no password. You need to create at least a user and grant it most rights if you plan on using the administration tools remotely. Then you "grant" access to user using SQL commands or the MySQL Administrator tool. You can limit connectivity by your client's IP address or name (actually, I did not manage to make the machine's name work). Finally, it gets on your nerves and you grant every right to every user connecting from everywhere. That's the right way to do security. Oh... Don't forget to flush the privileges after you ran all those granting SQL commands; otherwise you're lost.
I am still in the early stages in discovering all the features, but I am not excited about the whole story.
Then I studied pricing. It is free as long as you hope it's going to work. There is no license cost. However, support fees range from Basic at 245₠/server/year (that was a few trillions of USD at the beginning of the year, now about $285) to about 4,000₠/server/year (about $4,650). The supported version includes a "pro version" of MySQL, which does not look like Open Source anymore.
"October 7, 2005 - Oracle Corporation announced the acquisition of Finland-based Innobase OY. Innobase is the developer of discrete transactional database technology, InnoDB, that is distributed under an open source license. [...] InnoDB is not a standalone database product: it is distributed as a part of the MySQL database. InnoDB's contractual relationship with MySQL comes up for renewal next year. [...]".
If after all you still consider MySQL as a viable choice, you may be right for small, non critical applications, for which I'd use derby (oops, cloudscape)... MySQL managed to fill a niche when no Open Source database was available. Now, as the market matures, we should be more critical and careful in our choices.
It is a valuable source of technical information.
Date and time-stamped data is growing at tremendous rates. The Informix® TimeSeries DataBladeTM offers powerful tools for storing, manipulating, and accessing this type of data. Data architects and programmers can learn how to use this DataBlade to shrink data storage and improve processing time for time-related data. The article concludes with real-world advice based on 3 years of production use.
The Informix TimeSeries DataBlade was designed to help Informix users better handle time-related data. Using the object-relational technology built into the Informix Dynamic Server, the TimeSeries DataBlade reduces the size of the data, speeds up processing across that data, and provides a new set of tools for analyzing it. As the User's Guide presents, the performance gains can be remarkable. Space can be reduced by 55%. Processing can be up to 30 times faster. It is truly a useful technology for a specific data problem.
The TimeSeries DataBlade works on large sets of date-time-based data. Examples are: stock/financial data (this is the primary example in the User's Guide), audit trails or logs, monitoring statistics, weather, seismic readings, and billing. The TimeSeries DataBlade can be paired with the Real-Time Loader to handle huge volumes of streaming, real-time data. Because of the difficulty of migrating TimeSeries data and schemas, TimeSeries is best used with known data schemas that are unlikely to change.
Gillani is currently working with IBM on integrating iDistribute V8.2 - an end-to-end Supply Chain Management Solution, and Gillani Financials (formerly FourGen Accounting) - with IBM Express Runtime. IBM Express Runtime provides packaging and installation technology to create and deploy complete business solutions across multiple platforms and offers a cohesive set of middleware components as a single offering. Gillani/FourGen solutions are deployed by customers on IDS, SE and IDS Workgroup Edition. Now users will have the option to run the applications on IDS Express as well.
IBM Informix Dynamic Server or IBM DB2 Universal Database as part of middleware offering.
IBM WebSphere Application Server to support JSP and servlets.
IBM HTTP Server and Plug-In to support your Web Environment.
Solution Assembly Toolkit to provide development and deployment of tools for creating and delivering a complete Solution Package.
IBM Express Runtime Console - an integrated solutions console - to allow developers to create a dashboard to manage their entire set of solutions, locally or remotely. This Console will also allow third party products to be easily integrated into the application solutions environment.
IBM Rational Web Developer - an application development environment - to build and maintain J2EE apps & Web Services.
In all, the Integration process will provide Gillani's customers a seamless & smooth installation process and will have multiple options to choose the type of middleware and web services components at the time of installation. The timeline for the release of Integration process is set for the end of this quarter (Q4 2005). For more information, visit http://www.gillani.com. | 2019-04-21T04:36:36Z | http://www.iiug.org/Insider/insider_nov05.php |
My name is Wes Taylor and I am excited to be one of the new Ag Ambassadors! I became passionate about the world of ag through FFA in high school. In that, I competed in agronomy, ag business, and vet science. I even went on to compete at the national level in the first two! My love for agriculture followed me out of high school, and I am now a member of Alpha Gamma Rho (the agricultural fraternity) and Alpha Tau Alpha (the agricultural education fraternity). My goal is to graduate with my bachelor’s and become an ag loan officer for a credit service; I want to eventually return to school to become a graduate student in some agricultural discipline. I cannot wait to see what the College of Agriculture and Ag Ambassadors has in store for me!
Hey there! My name is Clara Delahaye, and as a first-year Ag Ambassador, I am really excited to see where this opportunity takes me! I am currently a sophomore here at the University of Wyoming studying Animal and Veterinary Science with minors in Honors and French. Born and raised in Wyoming, I was very involved with 4-H for nine years which sparked my interest in agricultural and now drives my passion for veterinary medicine. I am an officer in the Best Buddies RSO on campus as well as an active member of the Pre-veterinary club and Collegiate 4-H club. I have also recently joined Dr. Mark Gomelsky’s molecular biology research lab. Through this project, I will be engineering immune cells whose gene expression can be controlled by light to achieve localized immune suppression. I am so fortunate to be a part of the UW College of Ag and it has been amazing to have such incredible access to a wide variety of opportunities that can be tailored to specific interests. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with family and friends hiking, backpacking, camping, skiing, biking, or playing basketball.
Hi everyone, my name is Lauren Hladik and I am a junior at the University of Wyoming studying Animal Science with an Equine focus. I developed a passion for agriculture and the western way of life while growing up on my family ranch in Kittredge, Colorado, where we board horses. Having competed in rodeo, 4-H, and being involved with my local rodeo association, I am honored to be able to continue my involvement in agriculture by representing the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Upon graduating, I hope to return to the family ranch and establish a therapeutic riding center, with a certification in equine massage therapy and acupressure. In addition to being an Ag Ambassador, I am a member of the Wyoming Collegiate Cattle Association and spent two years as a member of the UW Rodeo Team. In my free time, I enjoy barrel racing, ranch sorting, hunting, and playing with my dog. I am excited to further my education here at UW, and can’t wait to see the opportunities the College of Ag has for me in my future of representing agriculture!
Hey there, my name is Bree Thompson and I am a junior at the University of Wyoming! I am majoring in Ag Business with a concentration in International Agriculture. I also plan to minor in Marketing. I grew up in Hot Springs, South Dakota, but I spent most of my weekends in Bowman, North Dakota, on my grandparent’s farm. I have been blessed to be able to run my own cattle on their land and partake on the decisions and operations on the farm, whether it be with the cattle or the fields. Having this strong agricultural background led me to the College of Ag, but not without some detours, however, I am beyond grateful I ended up where I did! I am excited to be a part of Ag Ambassadors and cannot wait for this chance to promote the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources!
Hello, my name is Meagan Soehn. Currently I am a junior at the University of Wyoming with a major in Microbiology on a Pre-Veterinary track and a minor in Honors. Along with Ag Ambassadors I serve as the Vice-President for the Pre-Veterinary Club and am a member of the Mortar Board honor society. Outside of coursework and RSO’s I am employed by the Wyoming State Veterinary Lab. I work in a research lab headed by Dr. Brant Schumaker that is currently looking into new diagnostic assays for Brucellosis. Attending the University of Wyoming has truly been a blessing in many ways. The plethora of scholarships have allowed me to save money that I will need if I get into veterinary school. Through the RSO’s and my job I have also made connections within the veterinary field that has only strengthened my passion for this career. This past summer I was even able to spend two weeks in Uganda working with my lab. These have been life changing opportunities that I don’t that I could have received attending another university.
My name is Jordan Williams and I am a Sophomore here at the University of Wyoming. I am from Telluride, CO and I am currently working on my degree in Agriculture Business- Livestock Business Management with a minor in Animal Science. Along with Ag Ambassadors, I am also involved in Wyoming Collegiate Cattle Association. I grew up on a ranch in Bedrock, CO raising around 400 head of beef cattle and have a true love for the agriculture industry. After my undergrad I am planning on law school, but only time will tell what life has in store!
Howdy! My name is Madison Clark and I am a senior majoring in Agricultural Communications with minors in journalism, history, and horticulture. I am originally from Wellfleet, Nebraska, where I grew up competing in the sport of rodeo and being active in agriculture through FFA. Upon graduating I am planning on staying in school for a while longer to obtain a masters degree in Communications with a mass media emphasis. I hope to use my degrees to better communicate about agriculture whether it be through writing, broadcasting, research, or teaching. I am so grateful for the opportunities and experience that the University of Wyoming and the College of Ag and Natural Resources have provided for me to grow and learn as an individual and as a representative for the agriculture industry!
Hi there! My name is Kristy DeGering.
I’m Wyoming born and raised. I’m from a cattle ranch north of Lusk, Wyoming. My brother and I are the fifth generations on our family ranch. I graduated in May 2018 from the University of Wyoming with my degree in Agriculture Communications with minors in Farm and Ranch Management, Agriculture Business, and Public Relations. I decided to return to UW and am currently working toward my second bachelor's degree. This time in Agriculture Business.
I am an active member of the Wyoming Collegiate Cattle Association, an Alumni of Sigma Alpha, the professional agriculture sorority, and my personal favorite an Ag Ambassador.
A couple of fun facts about me are I love photography and being a dog mom to my Mini Aussie named Paisley.
Hello! My name is Lexie Dockery, and I am a Junior here at the University of Wyoming. This is my second year as an Ag Ambassador and I couldn’t be more excited to continue this opportunity! My major is in AgBusiness with my concentration also in AgBusiness, I am minoring in Finance and Farm and Ranch Management as well. I grew up on a cattle ranch in Niobrara County, Wyoming and have always loved agriculture and the outdoors. I love going camping, fishing, and hiking with my family and friends! After graduation, I hope to work in a bank in Wyoming specializing in Ag-Lending.
Hey! My name is Laura Fereday. This is my first year as an Ag ambassador. I am studying Ag Business here at the University of Wyoming and I love it! I grew up in a farming and ranching community in Utah before I moved to Estes Park, Colorado, where there is no Ag, that was a huge culture shock to me, which really made me see the importance of it. I grew up around horses and have competed on them since I was 6 years old from paints to hunter jumpers. I am the treasurer on the Equestrian Team and find myself at the barn with my 2 horses all of the time. Laramie is a great place to live, especially because there is something for everyone. I love this town and this school! The classes that I have taken are all applicable and really help further my knowledge. All in all its a great place to be with great people.
My name is Blake Ferris, and I am currently a sophomore at the University of Wyoming. I am studying Animal Science with a minor in Ag Business, a combination that provides an optimal balance for me. Originally, I am from Wiggins, Colorado where I grew up on my family’s cattle ranch. After I graduate from UW, I plan on returning to the family operation where I will continue my family’s ranching heritage. Given my interest in production agriculture, I am a member of the Wyoming Collegiate Cattle Association, Block and Bridle, and the Ag Ambassadors. All of these clubs, combined with my school work, have provided me a tremendous opportunity to learn and expand my horizons during my time here. I have thoroughly enjoyed UW so far, and I am looking forward to the next couple years in Laramie.
Hi, everyone! My name is Abby Gettinger, and I’m a senior studying Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management with minors in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and Management and Soil Science. I’m a Christian who loves just about anything in the outdoors! From hiking to horseback riding, being in the outdoors is like coming home to me. I chose the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources because I was impressed with the down-to-earth, personable attitude of the professors. After seeing the broad range of major and minor options that the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources offered, I felt excited about going to college for the first time. I love that Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management allows me to pursue my passion for the outdoors through learning about good stewardship of natural resources. I also enjoy that my degree allows me to connect with people over things which individuals from all backgrounds can value: healthy, productive land, clean water, and space in which to enjoy yourself. I never knew that I could enjoy working so much! I am excited and honored to serve as an Ag Ambassador, especially since I believe that pursuing a major in this college is both rewarding and worthwhile.
My name is Lane Hageman and I am a senior at the University of Wyoming, studying Agriculture Business. I am from Ft. Laramie Wyoming where I grew up on a ranch. We run approximately 900 cows, put up around 300 acres of hay, and have approximately 60 head of horses. I graduated from Lingle- Ft. Laramie high school in 2014. My interests include working on the ranch, riding colts, rodeoing, hunting and fishing, and leatherwork. I have been on the University of Wyoming rodeo team the last three years. I plan to receive my bachelor’s degree and return the family ranch, eventually taking it over. I will be the third generation of operate it. I really enjoy being involved in Agriculture and fully understand the importance of it. Throughout my life my goals are to learn more about agriculture, promote it, and protect it. I believe it is the backbone of this country.
Hello! My name is Lacey Hill and this is my first year as an Ag ambassador. I am originally from Sacramento, Ca which is pretty different from Wyoming. I am a Junior here at UW and am dual majoring in Animal Science with a concentration in Animal Biology and also majoring in Physiology. Because of my passion for nutrition and science, I plan on applying to medical school to continue my education. In addition to being busy taking those awesome Organic Chemistry classes, I work in the Metabolism lab in the Animal Science building which is pretty awesome. Working in the lab gives me a closer relationship with some of the faculty at UW and give me hands on experiences which I can’t find elsewhere such as putting my hand in a cow’s rumen aka its stomach! It is pretty cool. When I’m not working in the lab, I enjoy showing livestock, reading, volunteering for events run by the College of Ag as well as showing my passions for agriculture through Ag Ambassadors.
Hey! My name is Shelby Hodges. I am from Worland, WY. As a junior at the University of Wyoming, I am pursuing a degree in Design, Merchandising, and Textiles from the Family and Consumer Science Department. I have a passion for design and creativity that I love being able to apply to my classes and my future career! Along with being an Ag Ambassador, I am the Vice President of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences RSO and a member of PHI Upsilon Omicron. Outside of class I enjoy running, hiking, and traveling. The College of Agriculture has helped me to widen my skill set and understanding of my field through many opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom. I am excited to take these experiences and use them to develop my career in the future!
Hello! I’m Emma Rovani, and I’m a Laramie native in my junior year at UW. As a Microbiology major on a pre-veterinary track with a minor in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology and Management, you can find me active on campus in the Wyoming Pre-Veterinary Club and a violinist in the University of Wyoming Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, I have been lucky enough to have been employed by the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory since my freshman year—initially involved in Brucella ovis research, and more recently as a student employee in Necropsy/Trimming/Receiving and contributing to a study investigating disease/predation as factors contributing to Wyoming mule deer mortality. These hands-on experiences only affirmed my decision to attend UW, and are the reason I whole-heartedly recommend the COANR to anyone looking to take an active role in their own education. In my (rather limited) free time, I take full advantage of the outdoor opportunities around Laramie, and can be found skiing, hiking, biking, kayaking, or fishing.
Hello! My name is Katie Shockley and I am currently a Junior here at the University of Wyoming. I am pursuing a double major in Agricultural Communications and Business Management with my concentration in Entrepreneurship. I am also minoring in Agriculture Business and Agriculture Economics. Along with Ag Ambassadors, I am a member of Wyoming Collegiate Cattle Association, Wyoming Stock Growers Association, Wyoming Honors Organization, and Alpha Kappa Psi. I am beyond thankful that I have had the opportunity to grow up on a farm/feedlot in Wheatland Wyoming, which allowed me to take an active and involved role in agriculture from a young age. I showed in 4-H and FFA and found a true passion for the agriculture industry. I am excited to be a College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Ambassador and look forward to promoting the college and agriculture industry.
Hi, my name is Corinne Vaughan and I am a third year student majoring in Microbiology and Pre-Veterinary Science. I came to the University from Albuquerque, New Mexico, but I spent my time growing up all over the US as the proud daughter of an Air Force officer. I developed a love of animals from an early age and decided to return to my father’s alma mater to begin the process of becoming a Veterinarian. Aside from being an Ag Ambassador, I am also a member of the Pre-Vet club, Collegiate 4H, and the club tennis team in addition to working as a student necropsy technician at the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory. While at the University I have also had the opportunity to help with Brucellosis research currently being conducted in the Department of Veterinary Sciences, and to serve as a TA for General Microbiology. I love the role that I get to play as an advocate for agriculture and the sense of community that it brings to the already amazing experience that I have had at the university thus far.
Hi there! My name is Emily Violini, and I am a senior here at the University of Wyoming and a third year Ag Ambassador. I am studying Animal and Veterinary Science, with a concentration in Pre-Veterinary medicine. Additionally, I am minoring in Honors through the University Honors Program. Though I have fallen in love with Wyoming, I am originally from Salinas, California. I know what you’re thinking, “Why is she in Wyoming when she could be sitting on the beach somewhere?”. To be honest, when it’s really cold I sometimes ask myself the same question. Though it may be known for Hollywood and hippies eating kale, California has a large agricultural economy, and there’s a pretty good chance you may see a cowboy or farmer on the beach sometime. I grew up on my family’s cow/calf operation in Salinas, and was heavily involved in 4-H for 9 years. I am passionate about agricultural issues, particularly in the livestock industry, which is one of the reasons why I would like to go to veterinary school after graduating from UW to become a food animal veterinarian. I am an officer in the Wyoming Collegiate Cattle Association and the Collegiate 4-H club, two of the many awesome RSO’s you can join in the College of Ag and Natural Resources! I also work as a student necropsy technician at the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory, one of the amazing opportunities UW has that many other schools don’t! In my free time I enjoy spending time outdoors, reading, and drinking coffee. I love the experiences that the College of Ag has given me so far, and am excited to see what more is in store!
My name is Jessica Windh and I am a graduate student in the department of Agricultural and Applied Economics. I graduated with my Bachelor’s in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management in December of 2016 from UW and I just couldn’t bring myself to leave! I am an active member of the Range Club and am the assistant coach for their URME (Undergraduate Range Management Exam) team. During my undergraduate education I helped with some research projects on how producers are affected by things like drought or predators, and that fueled my decision to go to grad school. My graduate project is and economic analysis of adaptive management via grazing rotations. I am really excited to work on projects that have a direct impact on producers, and being an Ag Ambassador has really helped me become more connected with the Wyoming agriculture community.
I grew up in the central valley of California where my family grows grapes and citrus, and transferred to UW from Fresno State in 2014. When I’m not at school or busy studying, I enjoy hanging out with friends, spending time with my dogs, and being outdoors! Upon graduation I hope to work for an agricultural extension service in the intermountain west region so that I can help producers find solutions to their problems. I am proud to be an Ag Ambassador for the College of Ag because I believe it is important for everyone to realize how important agriculture is to our society and how our students are going to help shape the future! | 2019-04-22T22:58:33Z | https://wyoextension.org/agambassadors/ |
This article is about Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. For other universities with the same name, see Queen's University (disambiguation).
Queen's University at Kingston (commonly shortened to Queen's University or Queen's) is a public research university in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, via a royal charter issued by Queen Victoria, the university predates Canada's founding by 26 years. Queen's holds more than 1,400 hectares (3,500 acres) of land throughout Ontario and owns Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England. Queen's is organized into ten undergraduate, graduate, and professional faculties and schools.
The Church of Scotland established Queen's College in 1841 with a royal charter from Queen Victoria. The first classes, intended to prepare students for the ministry, were held 7 March 1842 with 13 students and two professors.In 1869, Queen's was the first university west of the maritime provinces to admit women; In 1883, a women's college for medical education affiliated with Queen's University was established. In 1912, Queen's ended its affiliation with the Presbyterian Church, and adopted its present name.
Queen's is a co-educational university with more than 23,000 students and over 131,000 alumni living worldwide. Notable alumni include government officials, academics, business leaders and 57 Rhodes Scholars.
Queen's was a result of an outgrowth of educational initiatives planned by Presbyterians in the 1830s. A draft plan for the university was presented at a synod meeting in Kingston in 1839, with a modified bill introduced through the 13th Parliament of Upper Canada during a session in 1840. On 16 October 1841, a royal charter was issued through Queen Victoria establishing Queen's College at Kingston. Queen's resulted from years of effort by Presbyterians of Upper Canada to found a college for the education of ministers in the growing colony and to instruct youth in various branches of science and literature. They modelled the university after the University of Edinburgh and the University of Glasgow. Classes began on 7 March 1842, in a small woodframe house on the edge of the city with two professors and 15 students.
The college moved several times during its first eleven years, before settling in its present location. Prior to Canadian Confederation, the Presbyterian Church in Scotland, the Canadian government, and private citizens financially supported the college. After Confederation, the college faced ruin when the federal government withdrew its funding and the Commercial Bank of the Midland District collapsed, a disaster which cost Queen's two-thirds of its endowment. The college was rescued after Principal William Snodgrass and other officials created a fundraising campaign across Canada.
Theological Hall served as Queen's University's main building throughout the late 19th century.
The risk of financial ruin worried the administration until the century's final decade. They considered leaving Kingston and merging with the University of Toronto as late as the 1880s. With the additional funds bequeathed from Queen's first major benefactor, Robert Sutherland, the college staved off financial failure and maintained its independence. Queen's was given university status on 17 May 1881. In 1883, Women's Medical College was founded at Queen's with a class of three. Theological Hall, completed in 1880, originally served as Queen's main building throughout the late 19th century.
In 1912, Queen's separated from the Presbyterian Church of Scotland and changed its name to Queen's University at Kingston. Queen's Theological College remained in the control of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, until 1925, when it joined the United Church of Canada. The theological college merged with the Queen's department of religious studies and the program closed in 2015.
The university faced another financial crisis during World War I from a sharp drop in enrollment due to the military enlistment of students, staff, and faculty. A $1,000,000 fundraising drive and the armistice in 1918 saved the university. Approximately 1,500 students fought in the war and 187 died.
On 18 August 1939, weeks prior to the start of World War II, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt came to Queen's to accept an honorary degree. In a broadcast heard around the world, the President voiced the American policy of mutual alliance and friendship with Canada. During World War II, 2,917 graduates from Queen's served in the armed forces, suffering 164 fatalities. The Memorial Room in Memorial Hall of the John Deutsch University Centre lists Queen's students who died during the world wars.
Queen's grew quickly after the war, propelled by the expanding postwar economy and the demographic boom that peaked in the 1960s. From 1951 to 1961, enrolment increased from just over 2,000 students to more than 3,000. The university embarked on a building program, constructing five student residences in less than ten years.
After the reorganization of legal education in Ontario in the mid-1950s, Queen's Faculty of Law opened in 1957 in the new John A. Macdonald Hall. Other construction projects at Queen's in the 1950s included the construction of Richardson Hall to house Queen's administrative offices and Dunning Hall. By the end of the 1960s, like many other Canadian universities, Queen's tripled its enrolment and greatly expanded its faculty, staff, and facilities, as a result of the baby boom and generous support from the public sector. By the mid-1970s, the university had 10,000 full-time students. Among the new facilities were three more residences and separate buildings for the Departments of Mathematics, Physics, Biology and Psychology, Social Sciences and the Humanities.
During this period, Queen's created the Schools of Music, Public Administration (now part of Policy Studies), Rehabilitation Therapy, and Urban and Regional Planning were established at Queen's. The establishment of the Faculty of Education in 1968 on land about a kilometre west of the university inaugurated the university's west campus. The first female chancellor of Queen's University, Agnes Richardson Benidickson, was installed on 23 October 1980.
Queen's celebrated its sesquicentennial anniversary in 1991, and Charles, Prince of Wales, and his then wife, Diana, visited the campus to mark the occasion. The Prince of Wales presented a replica of the 1841 Royal Charter granted by Queen Victoria, which had established the university; the replica is displayed in the John Deutsch University Centre. In 1993, Queen's received Herstmonceux Castle as a donation from alumnus Alfred Bader. The university uses the castle as the Bader International Study Centre.
In 2001 the Senate Educational Equity Committee (SEEC) studied the experiences of visible minority and Aboriginal faculty members at Queen's after a black female professor left, alleging she had experienced racism. Following this survey the SEEC commissioned a study which found many perceived a 'Culture of Whiteness' at the university. The report concluded "white privilege and power continues to be reflected in the Eurocentric curricula, traditional pedagogical approaches, hiring, promotion and tenure practices, and opportunities for research" at Queen's. The university's response to the report is the subject of continuing debate. The administration implemented measures to promote diversity beginning in 2006, such as the position of diversity advisor and the hiring of "dialogue monitors" to facilitate discussions on social justice.
In May 2010, Queen's University joined the Matariki Network of Universities, an international group of universities created in 2010, which focuses on strong links between research and undergraduate teaching.
Grant Hall has been considered the university's most recognized landmark since its completion in 1905.
The university grounds lies within the neighbourhood of Queen's in the city of Kingston, Ontario. The university's main campus is bordered to the south by Lake Ontario and Kingston General Hospital, city parks to the east, and by residential neighbourhoods, known as the Kingston student ghetto or the university district, in all other directions. The campus grew to its present size of 40 ha (99 acres) through gradual acquisitions of adjacent private lands, and remains the university's largest landholding. In addition to its main campus in Kingston, Queen's owns several other properties around Kingston, as well as in Central Frontenac Township, Ontario; Rideau Lakes, Ontario; and East Sussex, England. Queen’s University is situated on traditional Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee territory.
The buildings at Queen's vary in age from Summerhill, which opened in 1839, to Mitchell Hall, which opened in 2018. Grant Hall, completed in 1905, is considered the university's most recognizable landmark. It is named after Reverend George Munro Grant, who served as Queen's seventh principal. The building is used to host concerts, lectures, meetings, exams, and convocations. Two buildings owned and managed by the university have been listed as National Historic Sites of Canada. The Kingston General Hospital is the oldest operating public hospital in Canada. The Roselawn House, which is east of the west campus, is the core component of the university's Donald Gordon Centre.
The Engineering & Science Library and the W.D. Jordan Rare Books and Special Collections are both housed at Douglas Library.
Queen's University Libraries include six campus libraries and an archives in six facilities housing 2.2 million physical items and 400,000 electronic resources, including e-books, serial titles and databases. The library's budget in 2007–2008 was $18.1 million, with $9.8 million dedicated to acquisitions. The libraries are Bracken Health Sciences Library, Education Library, Lederman Law Library, Stauffer Humanities and Social Sciences Library, and Engineering & Science Library. The W.D. Jordan Rare Books and Special Collections Library notably harbors early-dated books from 1475 to 1700. The Engineering & Science Library and the W.D. Jordan Rare Books and Special Collections Library share facilities, known as Douglas Library. Since 1981, the Queen's University archives has been housed in Kathleen Ryan Hall. The archive manages, preserves, conserves, and makes accessible the information assets and historical record of the university. In addition to the university's archive, Kathleen Ryan Hall also houses the City of Kingston's archives.
Queen's operates the Miller Museum of Geology, an earth-science teaching museum which features an Earth Science and Geological Collections of 10,000 minerals and 865 fossils, as well as an exhibit of the geology of the Kingston area. The museum is largely used as an earth-science teaching museum for local schools and natural-science interest groups in eastern Ontario. The permanent exhibits feature dinosaurs, dinosaur eggs, fossils of early multi-celled animals, and land tracks fossilized from 500 million years ago.
Queen's art collections are housed at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre. The art centre owes its namesake to Agnes Etherington, whose house was donated to the university and is used as an art museum, attached to the main art centre. Opened in 1957, it contains over 14,000 works of art, including works by Rembrandt and Inuit art. The university's student body and faculty run the Union Gallery, an art gallery opened in 1994. The gallery is dedicated to the promotion of student and contemporary art.
The university has 18 student residences: Adelaide Hall, Ban Righ Hall, Brant House, Chown Hall, Gordon House, Brockington House, Graduate Residence, Harkness Hall, John Orr Tower Apartments, Leggett Hall, Leonard Hall, McNeill House, Morris Hall, Smith House, Victoria Hall, Waldron Tower, Watts Hall, and Jean Royce Hall. The largest is Victoria Hall, built in 1965, which houses nearly 900 students. In September 2010, 83.3% of first-year students lived on campus, part of the 26% of the overall undergraduate population who lived on campus.
Residents were represented by two groups, the Main Campus Residents' Council, which represents the main campus, and the Jean Royce Hall Council, which represents the west campus (Jean Royce Hall, Harkness International Hall, and the Graduate Residence). They were responsible for representing resident concerns, providing entertainment services, organizing events, and upholding Residence Community Standards. In 2013, the Main Campus and Jean Royce Hall Residents' Councils were amalgamated into one organization, called ResSoc, standing for Residence Society.. ResSoc employs 7 Executives, 17 House Presidents, and 27 Residence Facilitators. ResSoc also has over 100 volunteer positions such as floor representatives and executive interns. In 2013, The Residence Society introduced the StAR (Student Appreciation in Residence) Positive Recognition program. The program encourages positive behaviour in residence and recognize individuals who help others in need. Recipients are given a certificate as well as remuneration for their contributions.
The Student Life Centre is the centre of student governance and student-directed social, cultural, entertainment, and recreational activities. It consists of the John Deutsch University Centre (JDUC), Grey House, Carruthers Hall, Queen’s Journal House, MacGillivray-Brown Hall, and the non-athletic sections of Queen's Centre. Collectively, these buildings provide 10,500 square metres (113,000 sq ft) of space to the Queen's community. The JDUC contains the offices of a number of student organizations, including the Alma Mater Society of Queen's University (AMS) and the Society of Graduate and Professional Students (SGPS), as well as retail and food services. The university has 21 food outlets throughout the campus, as well as three major residence dining facilities.
Queen's has off-campus faculties in the Kingston area and abroad. The university has a second campus in Kingston, known as the west campus. Acquired in 1969, the west campus is 2 km (1.2 mi) west of the main campus, and covers 27 ha (67 acres) of land. It has two student residences, the Faculty of Education, the Coastal Engineering Lab, and several athletic facilities, including the Richardson Memorial Stadium. In May 2007, the university approved the designs for the Isabel Bader Centre for Performing Arts, also in Kingston. The new centre for performing arts was expected to open in 2014.
The university owns a research facility in Rideau Lakes, Ontario, known as the Queen's University Biological Station. Opened during the 1950s, the field station encompasses approximately 3,000 ha (7,400 acres) of property, a range of habitat types typical of Eastern Ontario, and many species of conservation concern in Canada.
Queen's has an agreement with Novelis Inc. to acquire a 20-hectare (49-acre) property next to the company's research and development centre in Kingston. The agreement is part of the plan to establish Innovation Park at Queen's University, an innovative technology park at the corner of Princess and Concession Streets. The property was acquired for $5.3 million, a portion of the $21 million grant Queen's received from the Ontario government last spring to pioneer this innovative new regional R&D "co-location" model. Queen's leases approximately 7,900 square metres (85,000 sq ft) of the Novelis R&D facilities to accommodate faculty-led research projects that have industrial partners and small and medium-size companies with a research focus and a desire to interact with Queen's researchers. The remainder of the government funds support further development of the technology park to transform the property into a welcoming and dynamic site for business expansion and relocation.
The Bader International Study Centre (BISC) is housed in Herstmonceux Castle, East Sussex, England, which was donated to Queen's in 1993 by alumnus Alfred Bader. BISC is academically fully integrated with Queen's, although financially self-sufficient. Its mission is to provide academic programs for undergraduate students whose academic interests are oriented toward the United Kingdom, Europe, and the European Union; continuing-education programs for executives and other professional or "special interest" groups; a venue for conferences and meetings; a base for international graduate students and other scholars undertaking research in the United Kingdom and Europe; and an enhanced educational, social, and cultural environment for the local community, using the unique heritage of the castle. The opportunity to study at the BISC is not limited to Queen's students. Queen's has academic exchange agreements with Canadian and foreign universities.
Queen's Sustainability Office, created in 2008, is charged with the university's green initiatives and creating awareness about environmental issues. The office is headed by a sustainability manager, who works with the university, external community groups, and the government. In 2009, with the signing of the Ontario Universities Committed to a Greener World agreement, Queen's pledged to transform its campus into a model of environmental responsibility. Queen's was the second Ontario university to sign the University and College Presidents’ Climate Change Statement of Action for Canada, in 2010.
The university campus received a B grade from the Sustainable Endowments Institute on its College Sustainability Report Card for 2011.
Academics at Queen's is organized into ten undergraduate, graduate, and professional faculties and schools. The governance of the university is conducted through the Board of Trustees, the Senate, and the University Council, all three of which were established under the Royal Charter of 1841. The Board is responsible for the university's conduct and management and its property, revenues, business, and affairs. Ex officio governors of the Board include the university's chancellor, principal, and rector. The Board has 34 other trustees, 33 of whom are elected by the various members of the university community, including elected representatives from the student body. The representative from Queen's Theological College is the only appointed trustee.
The Senate is responsible for determining all academic matters affecting the university as a whole, including student discipline. It consists of 17 ex officio positions granted to the principal and vice-chancellor, the vice-principals of the university, the senior dean of each faculty, dean of student affairs, the deputy provost, and the presidents of the undergraduate, graduate, and faculty associations. The Senate also consists of 55 other members, appointed or elected by various communities of the university, including elected representatives of the student body.
Gordon Hall houses many of Queen's administrative offices.
The Royal Charter of 1841 was amended to include the University Council in 1874. The Council is a composite of the Board of Trustees, senators, and an equal number of elected graduates. It serves as both an advisory and an ambassadorial body to the university as a whole and is responsible for the election of the chancellor. Although it is not directly involved in operations, the Council may bring to the Senate or Board of Trustees any matter it believes affects Queen's well-being. The Council meets once per year, typically in May.
The Chancellor is the highest officer and the ceremonial head of the University. The office was created in 1874 and first filled in 1877, although it was only enshrined in law in 1882 after its amendment into the Royal Charter of 1841. The responsibilities of the Chancellor include presiding over convocations, conferring degrees, and chairing the annual meetings of the Council, and the Chancellor is an ex officio, voting member of the Board of Trustees. A person is elected to the office of Chancellor on a three-year term by the Council unless there is more than one candidate, in which case an election is conducted among Queen's graduates.
The Principal acts as the chief executive officer of the University under the authority of the Board and the Senate, and supervises and directs the academic and administrative work of the university and of its teaching and non-teaching staff. Since 1974, principals have been appointed for five-year terms, renewable subject to review. The formal authority for the appointment of the Principal rests under the Royal Charter with the Board of Trustees, although recent principals have been selected by a joint committee of trustees and senators. The office of the vice-chancellor has typically been held by the incumbent principal. In 1961, an amendment was secured by the Board to separate the office of principal from vice-chancellor if it wished. The first and only person to hold the office of vice-chancellor but not the office of principal was William Archibald Mackintosh. The current principal is Daniel Woolf, who has served as the twentieth principal since 1 September 2009. On 5 November 2018, it was announced Patrick Deane would assume the role of Principal on 1 July 2019, upon the conclusion of Woolf’s term.
The Rector is the third officer of the University, and serves as the highest-ranking representative of the student body. Though the first Rector took office in 1913, this role has been exclusively held by students since 1969, when the student body forced the resignation of then-Rector Senator Gratton O’Leary. Unlike the executives of the various student governments, the Rector represents all students - both undergraduate and graduate - and is elected to a three-year term, though it has become traditional for student Rectors to step down after only two years. Despite standing separately from any student government, the Rector works closely with the AMS and SGPS to represent the interests of their constituent students. This allows the Rector to, both formally and informally, act as an intermediary between students and the university administration on a range of topical, sensitive, or controversial issues. The Rector serves as one of three student representatives on the Board of Trustees (the other two being the Undergraduate and Graduate Student Trustees) and is a recognized observer at the Senate. Additionally, the Rector is often called upon to represent student interests on various committees of the Board and Senate. Finally, the Rector plays a ceremonial role at events such as convocation.
The university completed the 2011–12 year with revenues of $947.7 million and expenses of $872.8 million, with an excess of revenues over expenses at $74.9 million. Government grants and student fees make are the two largest sources of income for the university. As of 30 April 2018, Queen's endowment was valued at C$1,084,486,000.
The university has been registered as an educational charitable organization by Canada Revenue Agency since 1 January 1967. As of 2011, the university registered primarily as a post-secondary institution, with 70% of the charity dedicated to management and maintenance. The charity has 21% dedicated to research, with the remaining 8% dedicated to awards, bursaries, and scholarships. Proceeds from the charity also go toward Queen's Theological College (as an affiliated college) and the Bader International Study Centre at Herstmonceaux Castle.
Queen's is a publicly funded research university and a member of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. Full-time undergraduate programs comprise the majority of the school's enrolment, made up of 16,339 full-time undergraduate students. In 2009 the two largest programs by enrolment were the social sciences, with 3,286 full-time and part-time students, followed by engineering, with 3,097 full-time and part-time students. The university conferred 3,232 bachelor's degrees, 153 doctoral degrees, 1,142 master's degrees, and 721 first professional degrees in 2008–9.
Queen's University has placed in post-secondary school rankings. The 2019 QS World University Rankings ranked the university 239th in the world and the 10th in Canada. In the 2018 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) rankings, the University ranked 201–300 in the world and 10–12 in Canada. The 2019 Times Higher Education World University Rankings placed the university 251–300 in the world, and 11–14 in Canada. In U.S. News & World Report 2019 global university rankings, Queen's placed 371st, and 15th in Canada. The Canadian-based news magazine Maclean's ranked the university 5th in its 2019 Medical-Doctoral university rankings.
Queen's also placed in several rankings that evaluated the employment prospects of graduates. In QS's 2019 graduate employability rankings, the university ranked 101–110 in the world and sixth in Canada. In a 2011 survey conducted by Mines ParisTech's, they found Queen's placed 38th in the world and first in Canada for number of graduates employed as the chief executive officer (or equivalent) of Fortune 500 companies. In an employability survey published by the New York Times in October 2011, when CEOs and chairpersons were asked to select the top universities which they recruited from, the university placed 74th in the world and fifth in Canada.
Queen's University is a member of the U15, a group that represents 15 Canadian research universities. In 2018, Research Infosource ranked Queen's as the sixth in their list of top 50 research university in Canada, with a sponsored research income (external sources of funding) of $207,034 million in 2017. In the same year, Queen's faculty averaged a sponsored research income of $266,100, while graduate students averaged a sponsored research income of $44,300. The federal government is the largest funding source, providing 49.8% of Queen's research budget, primarily through grants. Corporations contribute another 26.3% of the research budget.
Queen's research performance has been noted several bibliometric university rankings, which uses citation analysis to evaluates the impact a university has on academic publications. In 2018, the Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities ranked Queen's 335th in the world, and 14th in Canada, tied with Simon Fraser University. In University Ranking by Academic Performance's 2018–19 rankings, the university ranked 353rd in the world, and 14th in Canada.
The university operates six research centres and institutes, the Centre for Neuroscience Studies, GeoEngineering Centre, High Performance Computing Virtual Laboratory, Human Mobility Research Centre, Sudbury Neutrino Observatory Institute, and the Southern African Research Centre. The Sudbury Neutrino Observatory's director, Arthur B. McDonald, is a member of the university's physics department. The observatory managed the SNO experiment, which showed the solution to the solar neutrino problem was neutrinos change flavour (type) as they propagate through the Sun. The SNO experiment proved a non-zero mass neutrino exists. This was a major breakthrough in cosmology. In October 2015, Arthur B. McDonald and Takaaki Kajita (University of Tokyo) jointly received the Nobel Prize in Physics for illustration of neutrino change identities and identification of mass. This is the first Nobel Prize awarded to a Queen's University researcher. In 1976 urologist Alvaro Morales, along with his colleagues, developed the first clinically effective immunotherapy for cancer by adapting the Bacille Calmette-Guérin tuberculosis vaccine for treatment of early stage bladder cancer.
Other research facilities include the Queen's University Biological Station, the largest inland field station in Canada. The Biological Station's mandate is to provide teaching and research opportunities in biology and other related sciences, as well as the conservation of the local environment. Researchers and students have gathered at the biological station to conduct research and participate in courses spanning ecology, evolution, conservation, and environmental biology. In 2002, it became part of the United Nations–recognized Thousand Islands – Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve.
Queen's University has a joint venture with McGill University, operating an academic publishing house known as the McGill-Queen's University Press. It publishes original peer-reviewed and books in all areas of the social sciences and humanities. While the press's emphasis is on providing an outlet for Canadian authors and scholarship, the press also publishes authors throughout the world. It has over 2,800 books in print. The publishing house was known as the McGill University Press in 1963 prior to amalgamating with Queen's in 1969.
The requirements for admission differ among students from Ontario, students from other provinces in Canada, and international students due to the lack of uniformity in marking schemes. In 2018, 42.5 per cent of applications to full-time first-year studies were accepted. In 2013, the secondary school average for full-time first-year students at Queen's was 89% overall, with the Commerce, Education, and Engineering faculties having the highest entrance averages, at 91.7%, 90.8%, and 90.6% respectively. The application process emphasizes the optional Personal Statement of Experience. The statement expresses how the applicant's personal experiences may contribute to the university. It focuses on qualifications and involvement outside of academics and is an important factor in determining admission. Several faculties require applicants to submit a supplementary essay.
Students may apply for financial aid such as the Ontario Student Assistance Program and Canada Student Loans and Grants through the federal and provincial governments. The financial aid provided may come in the form of loans, grants, bursaries, scholarships, fellowships, debt reduction, interest relief, and work programs. In the 2010–11 academic year, Queen's provided $36.5 million worth of student need–based and merit-based financial assistance.
The student body of Queen's is represented by two primary students' unions, the Alma Mater Society (AMS) for all undergraduate students - as well as Medicine and MBA students - and the Society of Graduate and Professional Students for graduate and law students. The AMS of Queen's University is the oldest undergraduate student government in Canada. It recognizes more than 200 student clubs and organizations. All accredited extracurricular organizations at Queen's fall under the jurisdiction of either the AMS or the Society of Graduate and Professional Students.
The organizations and clubs accredited at Queen's cover a wide range of interests, including academics, culture, religion, social issues, and recreation. The oldest accredited club at Queen's is the Queen's Debating Union, which was formed in 1843 as the Dialectic Society. The Dialectic Society served as a form of student government until the AMS was formed from the Dialectic Society in 1858. The Queen's Bands is a student marching band, founded in 1905, which claims to be the largest and oldest student marching band in Canada. Fraternities and sororities have been banned at the university since a ruling by the AMS in 1933. The ruling was passed in response to the formation of two fraternities in the 1920s. No accredited sororities have ever existed at Queen's.
The Engineering Society (Engsoc) is the representative body for engineering students. Formed in 1897, it has 3,000 members on campus, 15,000 active alumni, and an annual budget of $1.7 million. EngSoc oversees about 45 student-run initiatives.
The AMS also manages the Student Constable peer-to-peer security service at the university. It is responsible for ensuring the safety of patrons and staff at sanctioned events and venues across the campus, enforcing the governing regulations of the AMS, and upholding regulations stipulated in the Liquor Licence Act of Ontario. Student Constables do not serve as the university's primary security service as they are legally not peace officers, nor are they registered as a private security service under the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. The university administration operates its own security service, which is registered in Ontario as a private security service. As of March 2012, the Student Constables are funded through a mandatory $10 fee levied on undergraduates annually by the AMS.
The Agnes Benidickson Tricolour Award and induction in the Tricolour Society is the highest tribute that can be paid to a student for valuable and distinguished service to the University in non-athletic, extra-curricular activities.
Queen's University's students operate a number of media outlets throughout campus. The Queen's Journal is Queen's main student newspaper. During the academic year, the journal publishes two issues a week, until the last month of the semester, when only one issue is published each week. In total the Queen's Journal publishes 40 issues a year. The newspaper was established in 1873, making it one of the oldest student newspapers in Canada. The other weekly student publication from Queen's is Golden Words, a weekly satirical humour publication managed by the Engineering Society.
Queen's student population runs a radio station, CFRC. Queen's radio station is the longest-running campus-based broadcaster in the world, and the second-longest-running radio station in the world, surpassed only by the Marconi companies. The station's first public broadcast was on 27 October 1923, when the football game between Queen's and McGill was called play-by-play. Since 2001, the station has broadcast on a 24-hour schedule. In 1980, a student-run television service called Queen's TV (QTV) was established; as of 2011, episodes aired every weekday on its website and every Wednesday on local television. In 2015, QTV was amalgamated with two other student-run services, Yearbook & Design Services (YDS) and Convocation Services, to form “Studio Q”.
Richardson Memorial Stadium is the home to Queen's varsity football team.
Sport teams at Queen's University are known as the Golden Gaels. The Golden Gaels sports teams participate in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport's Ontario University Athletics conference for most varsity sports. Varsity teams at Queen's include basketball, cross country, Canadian football, ice hockey, rowing, rugby, soccer, and volleyball. The men's rugby team has won the OUA Championship the past 4 years (2012–16). The athletics program at Queen's University dates back to 1873. With 39 regional and national championships, Queen's football program has secured more championships than any other sport team at Queen's, and more than any other football team in Canada. Queen's and the University of Toronto are the only universities to have claimed Grey Cups (1922, 1923, and 1924), now the championship trophy for the Canadian Football League. Queen’s also competed for the Stanley Cup in 1894–95, 1898–99, and 1905–06.
Queen's University has a number of athletic facilities open to both varsity teams and students. The stadium with the largest seating capacity at Queen's is Richardson Memorial Stadium. Built in 1971, the stadium seats 8,500 and is home to the varsity football team. The stadium has also hosted a number of international games, including Canada's second-round 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification games and the inaugural match of the Colonial Cup, an international rugby league challenge match. The stadium is set to reopen for its inaugural football game on September 17, 2016, after an extensive revitalization. Other athletic facilities at Queen's include the Athletic and Recreation Centre, which houses a number of gymnasiums and pools; Tindall Field, a multi-season playing field and jogging track; Nixon Field, home to the school's rugby teams; and West Campus Fields, which are used by a number of varsity teams and student intramural leagues.
Queen's maintains an academic and athletic rivalry with McGill University. Competition between rowing athletes at the two schools has inspired an annual boat race between the two universities in the spring of each year since 1997, inspired by the famous Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race. The football rivalry, which started in 1884, ended after Canadian university athletic divisions were reorganized in 2000; the Ontario-Quebec Intercollegiate Football Conference was divided into Ontario University Athletics and Quebec Student Sports Federation. The rivalry returned in 2002 when it transferred to the annual home-and-home hockey games between the two institutions. Queen's students refer to these matches as "Kill McGill" games, and usually show up in Montreal in atypically large numbers to cheer on the Queen's Golden Gaels hockey team. In 2007, McGill students arrived in busloads to cheer on the McGill Redmen, occupying a third of Queen's Jock Harty Arena.
The school also competes in the annual Old Four (IV) soccer tournament, along with McGill, the University of Toronto, and the University of Western Ontario.
The coat of arms appeared as early as 1850 but was not registered with the College of Arms until 1953. The coat of arms was registered with the Scottish equivalent of the College of Arms, the Lord Lyon King of Arms, in 1981 and with the Canadian Heraldic Authority during Queen's sesquicentennial celebrations in 1991. The coat of arms is based on that of the University of Edinburgh, the institution after which Queen's was modelled.
The coat of arms consists of a gold shield with red edges, divided into four triangular compartments by a blue, diagonal St. Andrew's Cross. A golden book, symbolizing learning, sits open at the centre of the cross. In each of the four compartments is an emblem of the university's Canadian and British origins: a pine tree for Canada, a thistle for Scotland, a rose for England, and a shamrock for Ireland. The border is decorated with eight gold crowns, symbolic of Queen Victoria and the university's Royal Charter.
Queen's motto, from Isaiah 33:6, is Sapientia et Doctrina Stabilitas. The Latin motto is literally translated as "Wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times," and has been in use since the 1850s. A number of songs are commonly played and sung at events such as commencement, convocation, and athletic contests, including the "Queen's College Colours" (1897), also known as "Our University Yell" and "Oil Thigh", with words by A.E. Lavell, sung to the tune of "John Brown's Body". "Oil Thigh", created in 1891, consists of the old song "Queen's College Colours". The name "Oil Thigh" comes from the chorus of the song, which begins with the Gaelic words "oil thigh". The modern version of the song was crafted in 1985, when a line was changed to include Queen's woman athletes in the cheer.
Blue, gold and red are the official colours of the university, and can be seen on its flag.
Queen's official colours are gold, blue, and red. Queen's colours are also used on the school flag. It displays three vertical stripes, one for each colour. In the upper-left corner on the blue stripe is a yellow crown, symbolizing the royal charter. The university also has a ceremonial flag, which is reserved for official university uses. The ceremonial flag is a square design of the Queen's coat of arms.
The university also has a tartan, made up of six colours, each representing an academic discipline: blue (medicine), red (arts & science), gold (applied science), white (nursing science), maroon (commerce & MBA), light blue (Kinesiology and Physical Education), and purple (theology). The tartan was created in 1966 by Judge John Matheson and is registered under the Scottish Tartans Authority.
Sir Robert Borden, 8th Prime Minister of Canada.
Norihito, Prince Takamado, member of the Imperial House of Japan.
Kathleen Wynne, 25th Premier of Ontario and first LGBT Premier in Canada.
Fraser Stoddart, Nobel Laureate in chemistry for his work with molecular machines.
Arthur B. McDonald, Nobel Laureate in physics for the discovery of neutrino oscillations.
Donald J. Carty, former Chairman and CEO of AMR Corporation.
Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, Tesla Motors, SolarCity, PayPal, and The Boring Company.
Queen's graduates have found success in a variety of fields, heading diverse institutions in the public and private sectors. In 2011, the university had over 131,000 alumni, living in 156 countries. Queen's faculty and graduates have won many awards, including the Nobel Prize, the Turing Award, and the Victoria Cross. As of 2016, 57 Queen's students and graduates had been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. Queen's is also a choice for Loran Award winners, with over 20 scholars attending or having attended the university. In 2013, the artist Raine Storey began attendance at Queen's after being the first visual artist to ever receive the award.
Two Nobel laureates are associated with the university, including faculty member Arthur B. McDonald, who received the Nobel Prize in Physics for fundamental research elucidating neutrino change identities and mass, and former National Research Council postdoctoral fellow at Queen's Sir Fraser Stoddart, awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for the design and synthesis of molecular machines". Another notable individual associated with University is Sandford Fleming, an engineer who first proposed the use of a universal time standard and the former Chancellor of Queen's. Notable alumni in the field of science include Adolfo de Bold, who won the Gairdner Foundation Award for the discovery and isolation of atrial natriuretic peptide, and Shirley Tilghman, a microbiologist and former President of Princeton University.
Notable politicians who were once Chancellor include Robert Borden, Prime Minister of Canada, Roland Michener, Governor General of Canada, and provincial premiers Peter Lougheed and Charles Avery Dunning. Many alumni have gained international prominence for serving in government, including Prince Takamado, member of the Imperial House of Japan, and Kenneth O. Hall, the fifth Governor General of Jamaica. The 29th Governor General of Canada, David Johnston, was also a former graduate and faculty member of the university. Three Canadian premiers are also alumni of Queen's: William Aberhart, the 7th Premier of Alberta, Frank McKenna, the 27th Premier of New Brunswick, and Kathleen Wynne, the 25th Premier of Ontario. The 14th Premier of Alberta, Alison Redford, also attended the university for two years. Thomas Cromwell, a Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, was a graduate of the university.
Prominent alumni who became leaders in business include Derek Burney, former chairman and CEO of Bell Canada; Donald J. Carty, chairman of Virgin America and Porter Airlines and former chairman and CEO of AMR Corporation; Earle McLaughlin, former president and CEO of Royal Bank of Canada; Gordon Nixon, president and CEO of the Royal Bank of Canada; Kimbal Musk, co-founder of Zip2; and F. C. Kohli, founder of Tata Consultancy Services. Alumnus David A. Dodge was the 7th Governor of the Bank of Canada and the 13th Chancellor of Queen's. Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, and Tesla, Inc., attended Queen's for two years.
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Carpenter, Thomas H. (1990). Queen's : the first one hundred & fifty year. Hedgehog Productions. ISBN 1-895261-00-7.
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4. an evaluation of the current impact of U.S. sanctions on U.S.-Cuban bilateral trade, investment, employment, and consumers, with particular attention to the effects on U.S. services, U.S. agriculture, and other sectors for which the impact is likely to be significant.
The historical impact of U.S. sanctions with respect to Cuba on the U.S. and the Cuban economies is assessed for the time period from 1960 through the 1996 implementation of Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act (CLDSA, also known as the Helms-Burton Act), as that act was the most recent change made to U.S. sanctions with respect to Cuba prior to the institution of this report.
The current impact of U.S. sanctions on the U.S. and the Cuban economies is assessed for the time period after 1996. To assess this, the Commission analyzed the economic impact of what estimated U.S.- Cuban bilateral trade and investment flows might have been in the absence of U.S. sanctions.
Baseline trade data used were Cuba’s average annual trade with the world during 1996-98, the most recent period for which such data were available. The Commission estimated expected U.S.-Cuban bilateral trade and foreign exchange flows in the absence of U.S. sanctions using data obtained from an analysis of the Cuban economy; fact finding travel in the United States and in Cuba by Commission staff; a public hearing on September 19-20, 2000, and written submissions from the public; an informal telephone survey of over 200 U.S. companies and associations; a review of the relevant economic literature; and an econometric analysis.
The Commission has made no assumptions in this report regarding any possible future policy changes in Cuba. This report does not address trade in strictly military goods and services or trade in goods, services, and technology subject to export controls relating to U.S. national security interests—all areas not traditionally monitored by the Commission.
U.S. economic sanctions with respect to Cuba had a minimal overall historical impact on the U.S. economy. Despite the relatively small size of its economy, Cuba was an important U.S. trade partner in the 1950s. U.S.-Cuban economic relations deteriorated significantly before comprehensive U.S. economic sanctions were implemented in reaction to political events in Cuba in the late 1950s. With most U.S. economic assets in Cuba expropriated by the Castro government during 1959-60, the U.S. economic sanctions of October 1960 and comprehensive sanctions of February 1962 appear to have caused few additional costs for the U.S. economy. Even with massive economic assistance from the Soviet Union during 1960-89, Cuba remained a small global market relative to other Latin American countries.
The Cuban Government signed its first major trade agreement with the Soviet Union in 1960, and had seized almost all U.S. property in Cuba before comprehensive U.S. economic sanctions were imposed in 1962. Between 1960 and the late 1980s, Cuba’s relatively closed economy relied extensively on economic assistance from, and long-term economic agreements with, the Soviet bloc countries and China.
The Commission estimates that U.S. exports to Cuba in the absence of sanctions, based on average 1996-98 trade data, would have been approximately $658 million to $1.0 billion annually; this is equivalent to about 17 to 27 percent of Cuba’s total imports from the world, or less than 0.5 percent of total U.S. exports (Table 1). This estimate would increase marginally, to $684 million to $1.2 billion, if U.S. exports were to increase by the amount of estimated additional net foreign exchange flows from the United States to Cuba from telecommunication services payments, travel and tourism payments, and U.S. foreign direct investment.
Estimated U.S. imports from Cuba in the absence of sanctions, based on average 1996-98 trade data and excluding sugar (U.S. sugar imports are governmentregulated), would have been approximately $69 million to $146 million annually; this is equivalent to about 7 to 15 percent of total Cuban exports to the world, or less than 0.5 percent of total U.S. imports (Table 2).
U.S. economic sanctions with respect to Cuba generally had a minimal overall historical impact on the Cuban economy. Cuba adjusted quickly to U.S. economic sanctions through political and economic the alliance with the Soviet bloc countries. Soviet economic assistance, which peaked at nearly $6 billion annually in the 1980s, largely offset any adverse effects of U.S. sanctions and enabled the Cuban economy to grow.
The loss of Soviet economic assistance after 1990 caused a severe downturn in the Cuban economy, bringing to the forefront longstanding inefficiencies in the Cuban economy. The loss of Soviet assistance eventually forced Cuba to introduce economic reforms to attract foreign investment, and selective economic liberalization to stimulate domestic production.
Despite the close geographic proximity that would appear to make the United States and Cuba natural trading partners, bilateral economic relations in the absence of sanctions could be limited for several reasons. For example, production constraints limit Cuba’s near-term export potential; foreign exchange constraints limit Cuba’s import purchasing power; and Cuba’s investment regime remains restrictive. Cuba also tends to select its trade and investment partners based on political considerations—the desire to maintain economic ties with existing partners and to avoid becoming economically dependent on a single country—rather than economic cost factors. Productivity constraints likely would limit Cuba’s near term ability to increase production of its main export products—Cuba would have to reduce sales to other countries in order to export to the United States. Similarly, Cuba’s lack of foreign exchange would mean that Cuban imports of U.S. goods most likely would displace imports of similar goods from other countries.
The Cuban Government estimates that the cumulative cost of U.S. economic sanctions on the Cuban economy was $67 billion through 1998, including such costs as reduced trade and tourism, higher shipping costs, inability to procure spare parts, frozen bank accounts, foreign debt problems, and emigration of skilled workers. That estimate does not factor in the cumulative value of Soviet bloc economic assistance provided since 1960.
Air transportation. U.S. economic sanctions had a small but measurable adverse historical impact on U.S. airline revenue and employment. Industry sources estimate that annual revenues from regularlyscheduled passenger service to Cuba in the absence of sanctions would account for no more than 1 percent of total passenger revenues of U.S. airlines. U.S. airports estimate that they would benefit from increased revenues if U.S. airlines were able to provide regularly- scheduled service to Cuba. Cuban Government officials reported that U.S. economic sanctions have resulted in higher costs for U.S.-manufactured aircraft components. Cuba has renovated its largest airports with the help of foreign investment; those airports probably would benefit from increased revenue and employment as a result of the operation of regularly scheduled flights to and from the United States in the absence of sanctions.
Maritime transportation. Sanctions had an adverse historical impact on several U.S. sea ports. The port of New Orleans took nearly 10 years to replace the volume of cargo that it had shipped to Cuba. Florida ports, including the Port of Jacksonville and Port Everglades, also reported a similar adverse impact. U.S. ports, shipping lines, and cruise lines most probably would benefit in the absence of sanctions, and additional U.S. longshoremen jobs would be created. Cuban officials reported that U.S. sanctions, by restricting the operation of U.S.- and foreign-flag vessels with respect to Cuba, have increased Cuba’s shipping costs and deterred vessels of foreign shipping lines from docking in Cuban ports. Cuba’s ports and merchant fleet also would probably benefit from increased shipping in the absence of sanctions.
Banking and insurance. Sanctions did not have a significant direct historical impact on U.S. financial services firms because Cuba had expropriated them before sanctions were imposed. Cuba is a small market for financial services, and U.S. financial services firms most probably would not make significant investments in Cuba in the absence of sanctions because of Cuban restrictions on foreign investment. Cuban banks and insurance firms are unlikely to be significantly affected in the absence of U.S. sanctions.
Construction. The U.S. construction services industry participated in a wide range of infrastructure projects in Cuba prior to the imposition of sanctions. After sanctions were imposed, U.S. construction firms were replaced by Soviet and, more recently, Canadian and European firms. The historical impact of the sanctions on the U.S. industry was small, given the small size of the Cuban economy, limited business opportunities in Cuba, and alternative opportunities elsewhere in Latin America. U.S. industry sources report that their concerns about Cuba’s ability to finance major construction projects make it unlikely that the United States would become a significant exporter of such services to Cuba in the absence of sanctions.
Telecommunications. The United States never completely severed telecommunications links with Cuba, and a small number of U.S. companies currently provide certain telecommunications services to Cuba. U.S. sanctions reportedly have had a large negative effect on the Cuban telecommunication industry, which functions with an antiquated and poorly maintained domestic infrastructure. U.S. telecommunications providers most probably would attempt to increase their participation in the Cuban market if U.S. sanctions were removed, although market opportunities may be limited because telecommunications providers of other countries already have made significant inroads in the Cuban market. A Cuban- Italian joint venture company has a 12-year exclusive agreement to provide basic telecommunication services in Cuba. Another Cuban joint venture company with Canadian investors has a 20-year exclusive agreement to provide analog and digital cellular service to Cuba.
Tourism. Sanctions had a minimal direct historical impact on the U.S. tourism industry because U.S. properties were expropriated before sanctions were imposed and Cuba’s tourism sector suffered due to a declining number of U.S. visitors in the late 1950s. Cuba gave a low priority to the tourism sector between 1960 and the early 1980s. Since the late 1980s, however, the Cuban Government has targeted tourism as a priority sector for its ability to generate foreign exchange. U.S. sanctions prevent U.S. investors from participating in the joint venture arrangements Cuba has awarded to European, Canadian, and Caribbean partners. U.S. industry sources estimate that 1 million U.S. tourists annually could visit Cuba in the absence of sanctions, which could benefit U.S. tourism service providers if they are able to enter the Cuban market.
Meat and dairy. Sanctions had a small historical impact on the U.S. livestock and dairy sectors. It is estimated that U.S. exports of beef, pork, and poultry to Cuba in the absence of sanctions would have totaled $62 million to $76 million annually (or 1 percent of total U.S. meat exports), based on average 1996-98 trade data. In addition, estimated U.S. exports of dairy products to Cuba, in the absence of sanctions, would have totaled $4 million to $12 million annually (or 1 to 3 percent of total U.S. dairy exports). Sanctions had a small historical impact on Cuba’s meat and dairy sectors because Cuba was able to find other suppliers, but at somewhat higher prices. Cuban production is not competitive internationally, and would make only small gains in the absence of sanctions.
Wheat. Prior to the imposition of sanctions, the United States supplied most Cuban wheat imports. However, owing to the small share of U.S. exports going to Cuba and the ability of U.S. exporters to find alternative markets, the overall historical impact of sanctions on the U.S. wheat industry was small. In the absence of sanctions, U.S. exporters would be able to take market share away from current suppliers to the Cuban market (e.g., France, Argentina, and Canada), and thus the current impact of sanctions on the U.S. wheat industry is fairly significant. It is estimated that U.S. wheat exports to Cuba in the absence of sanctions would total $34 million to $52 million annually, representing 40 to 60 percent of Cuban wheat imports in the short term. This change would increase U.S. exports by 1 percent of the value of 1996-98 U.S. wheat exports.
Rice. During 1955-58, Cuba was the leading market for U.S. rice exports (purchasing about 25 percent of U.S. rice exports). Thus, historically the loss of the Cuban market had a significant impact on the U.S. rice industry, although over time U.S. exporters were able to ship to other countries, but frequently only with official U.S. export assistance. The current impact of sanctions on the U.S. rice industry is significant, indicating that U.S. exporters would be highly competitive with current suppliers (Thailand, China, and Vietnam) to the Cuban market in the absence of sanctions. In the absence of sanctions, it is estimated that U.S. exports of rice to Cuba would total $40 million to $59 million annually, based on average 1996-98 trade data, representing 40 to 60 percent of Cuban rice imports in the short term, mostly at the expense of Thailand. This change would increase exports by 4 to 6 percent of the value of 1996-98 U.S. rice exports.
Feedgrains. U.S. sanctions had a minimal effect on U.S. feedgrain production and export levels and posed few problems for the U.S. corn and feedgrain industry. Prior to the implementation of U.S. economic sanctions, Cuba’s grain-fed livestock sector was rather small, and the United States supplied Cuba with negligible amounts of corn and feed grain. In the absence of sanctions, the U.S. feedgrain industry is likely to be highly competitive in the Cuban market, particularly in corn and sorghum. In the absence of sanctions, it is estimated, based on 1996-98 annual average trade data, that U.S. exports of feedgrain to Cuba would total $9 million to $10 million annually (less than 0.5 percent of total U.S. feedgrain exports), representing 90 to 100 percent of Cuban feedgrain imports.
Animal feed. Although Cuba was a leading market for certain U.S. feed exports, the historical impact of sanctions on the U.S. animal feed industry has been small. Since the imposition of sanctions, the United States found other markets for animal feed, particularly Japan, Canada, and the European Union (EU). The current impact of sanctions is to deny U.S. exporters access to a growing Cuban market for animal feed ingredients (particularly vegetable meals and oilseed meals) that resulted from the significant expansion in the Cuban hog sector. In the absence of sanctions, it is estimated that U.S. exports of animal feed to Cuba would total $42 million to $48 million annually (or 1 percent of total U.S. animal feed exports), based on average 1996-98 trade data, representing 80 to 90 percent of Cuban animal feed imports.
Fats and oils. Prior to the sanctions, the United States supplied most Cuban imports of fats and oils. Thus the historical impact of sanctions was significant initially for the U.S. fats and oils industry, particularly for the animal fats industry. However, over time U.S. exporters were able to find alternative markets. In the absence of sanctions, the U.S. fats and oils industry stands to export lard, tallow, and vegetable oil to Cuba, taking a substantial share of Cuban imports away from competing countries such as Argentina and Brazil. In the absence of sanctions, it is estimated that U.S. exports of fats and oils to Cuba would total $29 million to $33 million annually (or 1 percent of total U.S. fats and oils exports), representing 80 to 90 percent of Cuban fats and oils imports.
Dry beans. Overall the historical impact of sanctions on the U.S. dry bean industry has been small. Although the loss of the Cuban market initially posed a significant problem for the industry, over time exporters were able to ship to other countries. In the absence of sanctions, the U.S. dry bean industry would probably export black beans, pinto beans, and white beans to Cuba, reducing market share of Canada, China, and Australia. It is estimated that U.S. exports of dry beans to Cuba in the absence of sanctions would total $13 million to $26 million annually (or 4 to 8 percent of total U.S. dry bean exports), or approximately 20 to 40 percent of Cuban dry bean imports.
Cotton. Sanctions had a small overall historical impact on U.S. cotton production and exports. Close geographic proximity makes U.S. cotton producers natural suppliers for the Cuban market, and U.S. producers could satisfy all of Cuba’s cotton demand without difficulty. Sanctions prevented U.S. cotton exports to Cuba as the Cuban textile and clothing industries expanded in the 1960s through the 1980s. It is estimated that U.S. exports of cotton to Cuba in the absence of sanctions would have been $6 million to $8 million annually (less than 0.5 percent of total U.S. cotton exports), based on average 1996-98 trade data, or approximately 50 to 70 percent of Cuban cotton imports.
Winter vegetables. U.S. sanctions initially benefited the U.S. winter vegetables industry, which is concentrated in Florida. That benefit dissipated over time, however, as imports from Mexico and other countries increased. The U.S. industry most probably would receive a small benefit in the absence of sanctions, as Cuba probably would import fresh vegetables from the United States to supply its growing tourism sector (valued at $250,000 to $500,000 annually, or less than 0.5 percent of total U.S. winter vegetable exports). Sanctions had little historical impact on Cuban production and consumption of winter vegetables. Cuban production could increase as a result of U.S. investment and access to U.S. technology in the absence of sanctions. Current Cuban output and export potential is constrained by a lack of foreign exchange to obtain inputs such as fertilizer and pesticides. In the longer term the U.S. industry most probably would be adversely affected in the absence of sanctions as Cuba becomes better positioned to take full advantage of its available land and lowcost labor. It is estimated that U.S. imports of fresh winter vegetables from Cuba would total $30,000 to $60,000 annually in the short term in the absence of sanctions, based on average 1996-98 trade data (less than 0.5 percent of total U.S. imports of winter vegetables).
Tropical fruit. The United States was Cuba’s primary export market for tropical fruits in the 1950s. Sanctions generally had a positive historical impact on the U.S. economy as growers who immigrated from Cuba during the early 1960s set up operations in southern Florida, effectively establishing the U.S. industry. Sanctions had a minimal historical impact on Cuba, which shifted exports to the Soviet Union. Current Cuban output and export potential is constrained by a lack of foreign exchange for inputs such as fertilizer and pesticides. The United States most probably would benefit in the absence of sanctions, as Cuba probably would import U.S. tropical fruit to supply its tourism sector, valued at $40,000 to $72,000 annually (less than 0.5 percent of total U.S. tropical fruit exports). However, in the longer run the U.S. industry probably would be adversely affected in the absence of sanctions as Cuba becomes better positioned to take fuller advantage of its resource endowments with respect to available land and lowcost labor. It is estimated that U.S. imports of tropical fruit from Cuba would total $90,000 to $180,000 annually in the short term in the absence of sanctions, based on average 1996-98 trade data (less than 0.5 percent of total U.S. tropical fruit imports).
Citrus fruit. Cuba is an important grower and exporter of citrus products. Sanctions reportedly benefited the U.S. citrus industry by restricting competition from Cuban citrus—mainly fresh grapefruit, orange juice, grapefruit juice, and limes. U.S. consumers and the U.S. citrus industry probably would be affected in the absence of U.S. sanctions with respect to Cuba. It is likely that Florida grapefruit producers would face the potential of an influx of Cuban grapefruits several weeks prior to the start of the Florida season, which would probably lead to lower U.S. prices. The full impact for fresh citrus would take several years to develop because Cuban fruit would have to meet strict U.S. phytosanitary standards, and the Cuban industry would need investment capital and time to reach its full potential. Several foreign investors already are working to expand Cuba’s citrus export industry. It is estimated that U.S. imports of citrus fruit from Cuba would total between $9 million and $23 million annually in the absence of sanctions (or 2 to 6 percent of total U.S. imports of citrus fruit), based on average 1996-98 trade data.
Sugar. Sugar is Cuba’s most important agricultural export. In 1959, Cuba exported 2.9 million metric tons of sugar to the United States, received 72 percent of the U.S. import quota for sugar, and supplied 35 percent of the total U.S. sugar imports. The historical impact of the U.S. sanctions was minimal because both the United States and Cuba adjusted quickly—the United States allocated Cuba’s sugar quota to other Latin American and Caribbean countries, while Cuba sold the bulk of its sugar to the Soviet bloc countries. In the absence of sanctions, Cuba’s status with respect to the U.S. sugar program would be uncertain. If Cuba were included in the current tariff-rate quota (TRQ) regime, Cuba’s access is not likely to be on the scale to which Cuba was accustomed before the sanctions. If Cuba were not included in the current TRQ regime, Cuban sugar exports to the United States would be zero and would therefore have no impact on the U.S. sugar industry. As with sugar from any other non-quota holding country, Cuban sugar would be dutiable at the over-quota tariff rate for raw sugar of 242 percent ad valorem equivalent, which given current world market prices is prohibitive.
Distilled spirits. Cuba was the second largest supplier of rum to the United States after Jamaica prior to the imposition of U.S. sanctions. After sanctions were imposed, shipments from Jamaica and other sources quickly increased to offset the loss of Cuban shipments. The historical impact of sanctions on U.S. consumers was small in terms of availability of supply and prices. U.S. economic sanctions had a severe adverse impact on the Cuban distilled spirits industry. Sanctions caused Cuba to lose its largest rum export market, exacerbating other problems in the Cuban industry caused by the emigration of several Cuban company owners after the Castro government came to power that left a void in marketing knowledge, technical expertise, and capital in Cuba. It is estimated that U.S. imports of distilled spirits from Cuba would total $15 million to $25 million annually (or 1 percent of total U.S. imports of distilled spirits) in the absence of sanctions, based on average 1996-98 trade data.
Cigars. Prior to the imposition of sanctions, Cuba was nearly the exclusive foreign supplier of cigar tobacco. Sanctions forced the U.S. industry into a major and costly restructuring program, and U.S. cigar companies were forced to develop alternative supply sources. The historical impact on the Cuban industry was small as Cuba was able to find alternative markets, principally in Europe. It is estimated that U.S. imports of cigars from Cuba in the absence of sanctions could total $15 million to $30 million annually (or 5 to 10 percent of total U.S. imports of cigars), based on average 1996-98 trade data.
Seafood. Sanctions caused no measurable effects on U.S. seafood exporters because Cuba was a small U.S. seafood trading partner. Sanctions had a significant negative impact on U.S. demand for Cuban seafood exports. The loss of the U.S. market forced Cuba to find new export markets such as Spain, France, and Japan which, because of their distance, raised Cuban transportation costs. It is estimated that U.S. seafood exports to Cuba in the absence of sanctions would total $1 million to $2 million annually (less than 0.5 percent of total U.S. exports of seafood), based on average 1996-98 trade data, most of which would be destined for Cuba’s tourism sector. U.S. imports of Cuban seafood would total $5 million to $11 million annually (less than 0.5 percent of total U.S. seafood imports), increasing competition primarily for the Florida fish industry.
Fertilizers and pesticides. The historical impact of sanctions was small because, although Cuba was a small but important outlet for U.S. fertilizers and pesticide products at the time sanctions were imposed, U.S. exporters were able to find alternative markets for their products relatively quickly. The current impact of sanctions on the U.S. fertilizer and pesticide industries is small but measurable. It is estimated that the U.S. fertilizer exports to Cuba in the absence of sanctions would total $8 million to $15 million annually (less than 0.5 percent of total U.S. fertilizer exports), or 10 to 20 percent of Cuba’s total imports. If Cuban agricultural production were to increase, Cuban demand for pesticide products, including imports from U.S. companies, probably would increase. In the absence of sanctions, U.S. exports of pesticide products would be small, at most $4 million in the short term.
Pharmaceuticals. Sanctions had a minimal historical impact on the U.S. pharmaceuticals industry given the small size of the Cuban market and access to alternative suppliers. In the absence of sanctions, U.S. pharmaceutical exports would probably be small (zero to $1 million). Onerous licensing restrictions and health and safety regulations of the Cuban government most probably would impede some U.S. exports. Although Cuba had access to pharmaceutical products from other countries, U.S. sanctions provided an impetus for Cuba to develop an indigenous biotechnology industry.
Textiles and apparel. Sanctions generally had a minimal historical impact on the U.S. textiles and apparel industry, which found alternate markets for their products. It is estimated that U.S. exports of textiles and apparel to Cuba in the absence of sanctions would total $6 million to $9 million annually (less than 0.5 percent of total U.S. textile and apparel exports) in the absence of sanctions, based on average 1996-98 trade data. U.S. companies reportedly might consider establishing sewing operations in Cuba because of its proximity to the United States, skilled and educated workforce, and low labor wage rates. Sanctions initially impeded the operations of the Cuban textiles and apparel industry by eliminating a key source of raw and intermediate materials and machinery. The Cuban industry was aided by Soviet assistance through the 1980s; however, Cuban textile production has declined substantially since the loss of Soviet assistance.
Steel. The historical impact of sanctions on the U.S. steel industry was small, as U.S. producers quickly found alternate markets for their products. In the absence of sanctions, U.S. exports of steel products to Cuba most probably would be small. Sanctions had little, if any, impact on Cuba because steel is readily available on world markets. Cuba has developed a small steel industry with a product line limited to commodity-type long products, primarily concrete reinforcing bar, and exports about 60 percent to 80 percent of its production, primarily to the Caribbean and Central America. In the absence of sanctions, it is estimated that U.S. imports of steel products from Cuba would total no more than about $11 million annually (less than 0.5 percent of total U.S. imports of steel).
Nickel and cobalt. The United States produces no primary nickel and cobalt, while Cuba is one of the world’s major nickel and cobalt regions in terms of proven reserves. The historical impact of sanctions has been higher prices paid by U.S. consumers who must purchase nickel-containing products, such as stainless steel and nickel alloy products, from more distant suppliers such as Norway, Australia, and Russia, and cobalt products from Norway, Finland, Zambia, and Congo. Sanctions prohibit U.S. imports of Cuban-origin nickel from countries such as Canada that process it. In the absence of sanctions, it is likely that the United States would import Cubanorigin nickel and cobalt products from Canada (valued at between $55 million and $71 million annually).
Machinery and transportation equipment. The historical impact of sanctions on U.S. industries was minimal, as alternate markets were easily located. It is estimated that U.S. exports of machinery in the absence of sanctions would total $120 million to $154 million annually (less than 0.5 percent of total U.S. machinery exports), based on average 1996-98 trade data. U.S. exports of U.S. transportation equipment would probably total $43 million to $55 million annually (less than 0.5 percent of total U.S. transportation equipment exports). The historical impact of sanctions on Cuba was significant, particularly during the 1960s, as Cuba was denied access to U.S. spare and replacement parts. Cuba eventually replaced and added machinery and transportation equipment, first from the Soviet bloc countries and later from Europe and Japan.
Power generation machinery. Sanctions had a minimal historical impact on U.S. producers, who were able to find alternate markets for their products. In the absence of U.S. sanctions, exports of U.S.-made power generation machinery most likely would be small because of U.S. industry concerns about the Cuban regulatory environment. The historical impact of sanctions on Cuba was minimal, as the Soviet bloc countries provided Cuba with subsidized oil and technical and financial assistance. Most of Cuba’s power generation capability relies on old, inefficient facilities in need of upgrading, and a small number of joint venture projects with foreign investors are underway. However, the current Cuban regulatory environment would remain an obstacle to significant U.S. participation even in the absence of U.S. sanctions.
Electronics goods. Sanctions had little historical impact on U.S. electronics goods companies because Cuba was a small market and alternative customers were quickly located. It is estimated that U.S. exports of electronics goods to Cuba in the absence of sanctions would be less than $20 million annually (less than 0.5 percent of total U.S. electronics goods exports), based on average 1996-98 trade data. Sanctions prevented Cuba from purchasing equipment compatible with U.S. equipment installed prior to 1960, and have limited Cuba’s access to the latest technologies. This has been a significant problem in the area of telecommunications equipment. Cuba has developed limited production capabilities that would pose no competitive threat to U.S. firms in the absence of sanctions.
Medical equipment. The historical impact of sanctions on U.S. sales and employment was minimal because Cuba was a small market for U.S. medical goods. Some U.S. firms that already export to Latin American countries report that they would probably export small amounts to Cuba in the absence of sanctions. It is estimated that U.S. exports of medical equipment to Cuba in the absence of sanctions would total $6 million to $8 million annually (less than 0.5 percent of total U.S. medical equipment exports), based on average 1996-98 trade data. Sanctions generally had a small impact on Cuba, which was forced to obtain medical equipment from the Soviet bloc countries, Europe, and Asia, although Cuba may have faced higher prices and a less competitive marketplace without access to U.S. products.
Cement. Sanctions limited U.S. access to nearby cement supplies, and forced U.S. consumers to pay somewhat higher prices as imports were obtained from more distant suppliers in Europe and Asia. Sanctions had no measurable historical impact on Cuba. In the absence of sanctions, it is estimated that 75 to 95 percent of Cuban cement exports would be directed to the U.S. market, equivalent to $19 million to $24 million annually (or 2 to 3 percent of total U.S. cement imports), based on average 1996-98 trade data. Given the high transportation costs associated with cement trade, most of the impacts would be felt in U.S. southern states.
Plastics. Sanctions had a minimal impact on the U.S. plastics industry. It is estimated that the U.S. plastics industry could supply as much as 10 percent of Cuban imports in the absence of sanctions, equivalent to about $4 million annually (less than 0.5 percent of total U.S. plastics exports) based on average 1996-98 trade data. Although there was a small plastics industry in Cuba prior to 1958, the development of that industry continues to be impeded by Cuba’s lack of access to modern technologies and limited access to chemical feedstocks derived from petroleum.
Tires. Sanctions had a small impact on the U.S. tire industry as manufacturers were able to find alternative markets for their products in Latin America and Asia. It is estimated that U.S. exports of tires to Cuba in the absence of sanctions would total $21 million to $25 million annually (or 1 percent of total U.S. tire exports), based on average 1996-98 trade data. Sanctions had a small historical impact on Cuba and do not appear to have significantly affected the Cuban tire industry.
Sporting goods. Sanctions had no measurable impact on the U.S. sporting goods industry. Sanctions denied potential Cuban customers access to high quality U.S.-made sporting goods, forcing Cuba to import certain types of high-end sporting goods from Europe. It is estimated that U.S. exports of high-end, premium quality sporting goods (for top-level Cuban athletic teams, particularly those involved in international competition) would probably total $1 million to $2 million annually in the absence of sanctions (less than 0.5 percent of total U.S. sporting goods exports), based on average 1996-98 trade data. Cuban sporting goods would not likely be competitive in the U.S. market without significant foreign investment.
1. This paper is the executive summary for the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) study, The Economic Impact of U.S. Sanctions with Respect to Cuba, USITC Publication 3398, Investigation No. 332-413, February 2001. The entire report can be found on the USITC website at ftp://ftp.usitc.gov/pub/reports/studies/pub3398.pdf. The report was undertaken by a team of economists and industry analysts at the Commission. Jonathan R. Coleman was a project leader for the study and presented the paper at the ASCE meeting. | 2019-04-21T02:49:57Z | https://www.ascecuba.org/asce_proceedings/the-economic-impact-of-u-s-sanctions-with-respect-to-cuba/ |
How the utilitarian use of needle and thread helps Southern women stitch together causes and communities for the common good.
There’s a story in Ovid’s Metamorphoses in which a woman named Philomela plays a small part.
In the tale, Philomela’s sister, Pronce, marries King Tereus. Queen Pronce misses Philomela so much that she begs the king to bring her back to Thrace where they live. The king agrees and travels to Athens to retrieve her. As Ovid’s tale goes, while King Tereus is in Athens, he’s overcome with lust for Philomela, and takes her into the woods and rapes her.
When Philomela threatens to tell the world what King Tereus has done, he rapes her again and cuts out her tongue so she can’t speak.
Philomela, though imprisoned and speechless, is determined to let her sister know of the king’s crime. So she sews the story of what he’s done to her into an elaborate tapestry and has it sent to her sister. Queen Pronce receives the tapestry and brings Philomela back to Thrace where the two exact revenge on the King.
Philomela’s Greece is a long way, in both time and distance, from my grandmother’s Georgia home.
But in both places, a needle and thread served as a kind of liberation.
I spent the better part of my childhood at my grandmother’s house. Rarely did I show up and not find Maw bent over a sewing machine, a pin needle between her teeth, running fabric through with thread. If she wasn’t hemming pants or fixing a zipper, or sewing some elaborate Halloween costume I’d demanded, she was sitting in the corner of her couch, buried beneath skeins of colorful yarn. She’d work her crochet hook meticulously, meditatively yanking knots until they became hats, scarves, and afghans.
Maw sewed and crocheted through aching wrists and sore hands, after surgery for carpal tunnel; she crocheted hats and blankets for the people in my great-grandmother’s nursing home as she was losing her own mother to dementia. She crocheted before she lost the love of her life, as a reprieve from the demands of caretaking, and the hook and yarn helped her survive the worst days after he died.
She’s in the middle of crocheting when I show up to talk, and we have to move piles of yarn and crochet books to make room for me on the couch.
Maw started sewing and crocheting when she was a young girl living in government apartments in Columbus, Georgia. Her mother, my great-grandmother, handmade nearly all of her clothes, and Maw learned to work a sewing machine leaning over her shoulder.
Beth Ward: "Maw (Betty Poole) crocheted this red shawl for my great-grandmother, Nanny, to keep her warm in the nursing home. In the photograph, Nanny is wearing it for a nursing home beauty pageant."
Maw loved those doilies as they were prettier and more delicate than anything she’d had in her own house.
Much to Maw’s dismay, two weeks later, Granny Smith wanted those doilies back.
It would be a decade before Maw would crochet with yarn, making afghans and clothing. Today, though, she can sew or crochet just about anything — doll’s clothes, quilted children’s books, purses, pillows. But she picked up that first spool of thread for the same reason many other women have in the decades before and since.
“Because I was angry,” she says.
Maw is the beneficiary of a long line of Southern women who used needles, thread, yarn, and fabric not only to make clothing and blankets and decorative objects for their families, but also to tell stories, vent frustrations, and liberate themselves from the hard lives they were living.
The history of sewing and crafting is deeply gendered. For centuries, women were resigned to the domestic sphere, instructed to remain unseen outside the home.
Women and girls in the 18th- and 19th-century South lived highly regulated lives. Like Philomela, they had few ways to express themselves publicly. Working with fabric, yarn, and thread, though, was considered an acceptable and non-threatening way for them to be creative, as home crafts were often dismissed as a frivolous and feminine way to keep a woman's hands occupied and her mouth quiet. Bringing beauty and God into the home was also part of a woman's job, and embroidery was another way to do that.
In the northern United States, young girls from well-to-do families would attend schools where, rather than learning math or science, they took classes on decorative embroidery and sewing. Embroidery and needlework were meant to teach girls patience, piety, and obedience. They were also skills that girls were told they would need to cultivate in the very important work of acquiring a husband and taking care of a family and children.
Maw combs through one of the many crochet project books she keeps at home.
This manifested differently in the South, according to writer and historian Heather Palmer. Girls and women from upper middle-class Southern families may have stitched decorative handkerchiefs or samplers, too, as being able to do so was considered a social grace. But for the girls and women in non-wealthy Southern families, like Maw, my great-grandmother, and likely my great-great-grandmother before her, the work and purpose of sewing and embroidery were almost entirely utilitarian.
It’s also one reason preserved, historical examples of Southern embroidery and needlework are so much harder to find than their northern counterparts.
Says Palmer: “The problem with studying Southern decorative needlework is that items were meant, in most cases, for hard and frequent use,” not decoration. Much of what women made here, their families used because they had to.
When I ask Maw if she ever saw her mama sew or stitch anything decorative, just to hang it on a wall, the answer comes back with a chuckle.
Some Southern women were also too poor to afford the materials for decorative needlework. Those same women were also too busy — running a household, working the land they lived on, and mending the few clothes they had — to teach their daughters pretty, delicate embroidery.
Historically, the sewing and needlework of Southern women served another purpose, too. For many black and white women relegated to subordinate roles, needle and thread were also used as vehicles for agitating against slavery, supporting soldiers during wartime, and forging a female-driven community where ideas could be shared and cultivated.
Antebellum sewing bees allowed upper- and middle-class Southern women to contribute to war efforts by knitting and sewing socks, blankets, flags, and tents for soldiers. These sewing bees also allowed them a chance to organize, support a variety of causes, and broadened their opportunities for activism after the Civil War.
These community events excluded enslaved black women, but they also found ways to use sewing as a means of liberation against oppression. Sewing and stitching were valuable skills during and after the Civil War, and some used and sold their skills to buy freedom. Some folks consider it a myth, but it’s also been said that women looking to escape slavery via the Underground Railroad communicated to each other using codes stitched into quilts that would be passed along from one set of hands to another.
For all these women, a needle and thread, or a hook and yarn — believed to be little more than an avenue for teaching girls to be quiet and obedient — became a catalyst for emancipation, for consciousness raising, for community building.
Deep in West Virginia’s coal country, Gina Mamone sits at night listening to vinyl records. Mamone disconnects from the phone and computer, gets still, and on any given evening, might pick up crochet needles to continue work on a granny-square afghan. On a different evening, it might be embroidery on a snapback.
Every stitch, every hook of the needle, pulls the threads of Mamone’s sobriety tighter. Each purl-two reconnects to their family’s history, to the folk crafts of their homeland, and through the work of Mamone’s Queer Appalachia project, also to an Appalachian LGBTQ+ maker community that’s using needlework and fabric art to advocate for social justice and equality in a region that, most times, continues to tell them they don’t exist.
The QA community includes knitters, cross-stitchers, and a huge variety of other fiber artists and activists who use needles, thread, and fabric to advocate for equality and raise awareness for issues ranging from the opioid crisis to the region’s lack of healthcare access, from police brutality to education reform and fair pay for teachers. Hashtags like #ruralresistance sit underneath photographs of embroidery hoops, granny squares, and cross-stitch projects.
A few of the gems from Queer Appalachia's Instagram feed.
But Mamone didn’t grow up wanting to sew or embroider. They saw their grandmother do those things, but like many people, they’d dismissed fabric crafts and needlework as silly, girly pastimes reserved for housewives and old ladies, ones that they had no interest in learning.
Mamone’s grandmother wasn’t unlike Maw in that while occasionally she’d embroider or sew something decorative, necessity dictated most sewing and mending. It had to.
Mamone’s grandmother was born on the dirt floor of a cabin, one of 16 children.
Only after moving back to West Virginia from Brooklyn, both to care for their parents and confront their issues with doctor-prescribed opioids, did Mamone realize that making something tangible — knitting or crocheting or sewing — could steady trembling hands and calm the mind. Mamone also realized, with some additional urging from a dear friend, that their grandmother’s dainty crafts might also galvanize a marginalized community in a forgotten-about place.
It turns out that the “girly” crafts Mamone thought “would be a boot on my neck as a child,” have become a kind of freedom, one that not only liberated Mamone and our grandmothers, but that is also liberating a community of thousands of other women and non-binary folks in Appalachia and across the South, one stitch at a time.
On a dreary, rainy Saturday in late January, some 500 miles south of Mamone’s West Virginia, the Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild gathers at the William C. Brown Library in Decatur, Georgia, for their first meeting of 2019. They’ve invited me to their biggest meeting of the year, with members from four other quilt guilds around the state coming together to show their work.
The Brown Sugar Stitchers are an African American quilting guild founded by Nancy Franklin and Jocelyn Carter. The group came together with the help of beloved Dekalb County librarian Doris Wells in 2000.
Franklin and Carter began the guild as a way to bring women together to quilt, form friendships, and serve the community. But it also began in part because, while there were plenty of quilting groups in the city, few included more than one or two African American women, and Franklin wanted to change that.
Like Maw and Mamone, current BSS president Elisa Woods came to sewing and quilting through her mother, grandmother, and aunts. They made what she called utility quilts.
“They used old clothes to make quilts that would keep us warm,” Woods tells me.
When one of those quilts became too threadbare to use anymore, Woods learned how to quilt so she could recreate it. She fell in love with the art, and when, years later, the opportunity came to join BSS, she took it. Today, she quilts as a way to share love with others.
Each month, the Brown Sugar Stitchers come together to work on those projects, learn new techniques, and share stories about their lives with each other.
Indeed, community and public service are foundational components of the BSS guild. The Brown Sugar Stitchers sew quilts every year for the Carrie Steele-Pitts Home for Children in southwest Atlanta. They’ve also made or contributed quilts for Quilts of Valor, the Justice Project, the National Craniofacial Association, the Atlanta National Black Arts Festival, local public schools, and the Grady Breast Cancer Center.
The BSS guild will celebrate 20 years together in 2020, but quilting as a craft has had deep ties to black community activism in the South for decades.
Meeting of the Brown Sugar Stitchers, Atlanta, Georgia.
Since the 1920s, the women quilters of isolated Gee’s Bend, Alabama, have sewn beautifully elaborate quilts that tell the stories of their families and their culture. Originally sewn out of scraps to keep warm, the quilts of Gee’s Bend are considered some of the greatest works of American art we have today. They’re displayed in exhibitions at venues like New York’s Whitney Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Annie Mae Young, who passed away in 2012, was a Gee’s Bend quilter during the Civil Rights Movement. One of her better-known quilts was fashioned out of denim and strips of corduroy work clothes. The blue denim was said to signify the American dream; the corduroy strips, prison bars.
The Freedom Quilting Bee, also based in Alabama, was a quilting co-op formed in 1966 as a way for black women fabric artists to make an independent living. Many of these women were also civil-rights activists who used the quilting co-op as a way to organize and agitate for social justice.
Nancy Franklin, one of the founding members of the Brown Sugar Stitchers, with her queen of spades quilt. O.V. Brantley, a past president of the Stitchers, does hand stitching in a hoop. Brantley founded the Clara Ford Foundation, whose mission is to preserve and promote African American quilting.
Debra Steinmann is a member of Atlanta Intown Quilters. She came to the Brown Sugar Stitchers meeting to display two of her most recent works. Steinmann also views her sewing and stitching as an inheritance from the women in her family who came before her.
Steinmann, considered a folk quilter, creates art quilts that are beautiful and decorative, but she also uses them as vehicles for political activism. One quilt she presents at the BSS meeting is stitched through with the phrase “Fear Lies.” It signifies, she says, her feelings about the way lying and fear-mongering are being used to keep people divided and afraid.
She’s also quilted pieces with “Watchdog” stitched onto the fabric to raise money and awareness for organizations like Planned Parenthood. Steinmann’s latest project, which she plans to enter in a juried show at Atlanta’s Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, is called “September 27, 2018,” and is Steinmann’s commentary on the Ford/Kavanaugh Supreme Court hearings.
“The political statements [in my quilts] are an extension of myself,” Steinmann says. And the avenue of quilting helps her stay connected to the quilters of her past.
O.V. Brantley likes to teach hand-stitching techniques because she wants to keep the practice alive.
There are many ways for Southern women to tell the truth of our lives — many of which were forged from our incredible ability to make a way out of no way, from our being determined to speak and share our stories as society told us to hush, sit still, simmer down, be polite.
The stitches and knots made by the hands of Maw, Mamone, the Brown Sugar Stitchers, and the civil-rights activists of Alabama — they came together to become more than just clothes and quilts. They took their art, something originally intended to keep women subordinated and oppressed, and they used it rip open the seams of possibility for their lives and the lives of others in their community.
To be without worry and fear — to be immune to the dictums and demands of others, even if only for a second, for just the time it takes to sew a hem or crochet a chain of yarn — that is a freedom, one found by many women who wield a hook or needle.
Sewing and crocheting still Maw’s mind and create space for her to be something other than a mother or a grandmother or a giver or a caretaker. In the hum of a Singer sewing machine or the quiet, steady clicking of a crochet hook, she unspools the space to just be a woman, a strong, resilient, tough-as-nails woman.
And that strength and love and resilience, that power, is wrapped up in every stitch, every scarf she makes. | 2019-04-24T10:53:27Z | https://bittersoutherner.com/the-sisterhood-of-stitchers-sewing-crochet-craftivism |
Crucial to the understanding of the theme of this book and its related volumes is an understanding of the concepts of race, ethnicity, and culture.
A race is defined as a group of individuals sharing common genetic attributes which determine that group’s physical appearance and, more controversially, their cognitive abilities. Ethnicity is defined as the creation of groups by individuals (most often within racial groups but also possible across racial divides) of certain common traditions, languages, art forms, attitudes, and other means of expression.
A culture is the name given to the physical manifestations created by ethnic groups—the actual language, art forms, religion, social order, and achievements of a particular ethnic group. In practical terms then, it is possible to talk of a white race; of a Scottish ethnicity, and a Scottish culture. The last two—ethnicity and culture—are directly dependent upon each other, and flow from each other in a symbiotic relationship. This book deals primarily with white racial history, and flowing from that, white ethnic groups and cultures.
What exactly is meant by the white race? Essentially there are three main subgroups with two further divisions of note. The three major subgroups are known to academics as Nordic, Alpine, and Mediterranean.
Although these names have come about mainly as a result of the geographic areas these subgroups have been associated with in the Christian era (Nordics in northern Europe, Alpines in central Europe and Mediterraneansin southern Europe), it is incorrect to believe that these groups always occupied these regions.
The three main subgroups have played a role in events in almost every geographical region where the white race as a group has appeared. Of these three original groups, only two are existent in any large number today: the Nordics and the Alpines. The original Mediterraneans of ancient history are not to be confused with those people loosely termed “Mediterranean” today. The original white Mediterranean component has been largely dissipated into two distinct groups: those who have absorbed Alpine or Nordic white subracial elements; and those who have absorbed North African or other nonwhite racial elements.
To illustrate the concept of these three main subgroups: although there is a broadly termed “black race” in existence, there are major subgroups amongst that racial group. The Congo basin Pygmy and the ultra tall Masai tribesmen of Kenya are two good examples of subgroups within the black racial group.
A subgroup, therefore, is a branch of a particular race which exhibits slightly different physical characteristics but still shares enough of a common genetic inheritance with other subgroups to be included in a broad racial category. This is known as the concept of genetic commonality, and is the basis of all racial categories.
The Nordic racial subgroup, which is still largely in existence today, is characterized by light colored hair and eyes, a tall slim build, and a distinctive “long” (that is, thin and extended) skull shape.
Nordic—The skull of a member of the Nordic white subrace, viewed from the front and the side. The “long” nature of the facial structure is clearly visible. Alongside is a classic Nordic male from Sweden.
The Alpine racial subgroup, which also still exists in a large measure today, is characterized by brown hair and eyes, a short, more “solid” body build and a distinctive “round” (that is, almost, but not quite, circular) skull shape.
Alpine—The skull of a member of the Alpine white subrace, viewed from the front and the side. The “shorter” facial structure is apparent. Alongside is a classic Alpine male from southern Germany.
The original Mediterranean racial subgroup no longer exists today. It was the first of the three white racial subgroups to disappear from the earth, submerged into the gene pools of surrounding races.
Mediterranean—A skull of a member of the Mediterranean white subrace, viewed from the front and side. Alongside, a WWI Welsh soldier—as close an example of a Mediterranean as can be found in modern times.
The Mediterranean subgroup was predominantly (but not totally) characterized by dark hair and eye color, slim (Nordic), or solid (Alpine) build and either long or round skull shapes. It is worth stating again, as it is of great significance in more ways than one, that there are very few of these original Mediterranean racial types left in the world today. They were known as the “Old Europeans” and inhabited large parts of Europe, the Middle East, and Egypt at the dawn of history. These Mediterranean types bear almost no resemblance to the present day inhabitants of the Mediterranean basin.
The original Old Europeans have been absorbed almost completely into either the Nordic/Alpine stock in Europe, or the African/Semitic/Asian stock of North Africa, and the Middle East.
There are two places in Europe where occasional glimpses of this original Mediterranean racial subgroup can still be seen: the Celtic fringes of Britain (most notably in Wales and Devonshire) and in the Basque territory of Spain. In these regions there exists a short, dark strain—remnants of the original inhabitants of Europe.
Pure examples of this Mediterranean type are rare, as they have for the largest degree had some Nordic or Alpine admixture over the years. Unfortunately there has also been some admixture from North Africa. Nonetheless, it is still possible today to talk of “Mediterranean” whites even though they do not identically represent those of antiquity.
Two other white racial subgroups exist (Dinarics and East Baltics). These types differ slightly in skull shape and body dimensions from the three main groups outlined above, but they share a great number of physical characteristics such as hair and eye color.
As with the Alpines and Mediterraneans, there has been a great deal of mixing with the three main subgroups. They are found in large numbers in present day Eastern Europe. A very small percentage of these two subgroups also display the physical characteristics resulting from mixing with the waves of Asiatic invaders who penetrated Europe from the east during the course of history.
For the purposes of this book, an ethnic or cultural group is defined as part of the white race as long as it shares enough of a common genetic inheritance with the broader racial group. When an ethnic group loses this genetic commonality it is then formally excluded from the white racial category.
How is race tracked in civilization? How is it determined whether the populations of certain societies or civilizations belonged to specific races? The answer to this is simple. Race in history is tracked in four ways: paleoserology, art forms, language, and the science of genetics. This last test has only come into its own in the last ten years of the twentieth century, but has proven to be a major aid in tracking racial history.
Paleoserology is the study of skeletal remains. As different racial groups have different physical characteristics, it is a relatively simple matter to determine the racial makeup of the inhabitants of a particular region by studying the contents of grave sites. This skill is often used by modern police pathologists to identify the race of corpses. This science has proven equally useful in historical diggings where the examination of burial sites has created an understanding of the racial makeup of ancient peoples.
Art forms (whether conventional pictures, illustrations on pottery, or even statues) also provide significant indicators of the racial makeup of contemporary inhabitants. The ancient civilizations in particular—of all racial group—reflected themselves in their art forms (often because their own racial types were the only human models from which they had to work).
In this way, for example, early Chinese art depicted principally Chinese people; Incan and Aztec art depicted only Incan or Aztec people, and so on. In all societies, original art forms which portrayed people closely followed contemporary physical appearances. This principle is well illustrated in the four art forms portrayed below.
Tracking race in history: race depicted in art forms. Early civilizations very often depicted images of their own racial types in their works of art, based on the reality that their own types were the most common (or only) human models with which they had to work. A comparison of (from left to right) Olmec art, 400 BC; African art, circa 1400 AD; Japanese art, 1000 AD; and Greek art, 340 BC, reflects this principle well. The study of art forms is a reliable indicator of the racial type of the communities in which the art works were created.
All human beings have three sorts of genes: mitochondrial DNA, which is inherited through the female line; Y-Chromosomes which are inherited through the male line, and autosomal DNA, which is inherited from both sexes. The study of genetics has served to confirm the accuracy of many historical accounts of racial movements, and is particularly useful in showing cause and effect in the rise and fall of civilizations, as demonstrated in this book.
Research carried out by L.L. Cavalli-Sforza and two colleagues, P. Menozziand A. Piazzia, in their work The History and Geography of Human Genes (1994), has revealed an astonishing 2,288 genetic point difference between whites and black Africans. The research found that the English differ from the Danes, Germans, and French by a mere 21–25 points of genetic distance, whereas they differ from North American Indians by 947 points, from black Africans by 2,288 points, and from MbutiPygmies by 2,373 points. Cavalli-Sforza also used Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA—transferred through the maternal line) to divide the world up into seven distinct races, classifying whites as part of the “Caucasoid” group for his study.
Above: A map showing the pre-1500 AD Y-Chromosome distribution in the world, and below, a map showing the mtDNA chromosome distribution. Y-Chromosomes are male genetic markers, passed down unchanged through the male line, and mtDNA chromosomes are the female equivalent.
The study of language is another important clue to the dispersion of peoples. Commonalities in language forms leave clearly identifiable “fingerprints” in cultures. Similar words, phrases, or language forms are a clear indication of a single origin for civilizations, due to the fact that the people in those civilizations would at some stage have had a common origin. In this way the route of a culture (and hence a people) can be traced by following a language.
For the purposes of this book, civilization will be taken to mean the entire ambit of social/cultural manifestations which are characteristic to any particular nation or racial group. In this way the accusation of subjectivity can be avoided. Civilization, in the broadest sense of the word, includes all social manifestations, from social interactions to language, art forms, science, technology, customs, and culture.
It is therefore possible to talk of a Japanese civilization, an American Indian (Amerind) civilization, a Polynesian civilization, an Australian Aboriginal civilization, a black civilization and a white civilization, without being subjective about any of them.
When reviewing the historical development of all nations, quite often mention is made of a “rise and fall” of a particular civilization. This poses a major question: Why have some civilizations lasted a thousand years or more, while others rise and collapse within a few hundred? Why is it, for example, that nations such as Japan, Sweden, and England—all nations with limited natural resources—could have progressive active cultures for more than one thousand years; whereas mighty civilizations such as Classical Rome, Greece, or Persia, amongst others, collapse after only a few centuries?
Politically correct historians blame the rise and fall of the great nations of the past on politics, economics, morals, lawlessness, debt, environment, and a host of other superficial reasons.
However, Japan, England, and Sweden have gone through similar crises scores of times, without those countries falling into decay. It is obvious that there must be some other factor at work—something much more fundamental than just variations in politics, morals, lawlessness, or any of the other hundreds of reasons that historians have manufactured in their attempts to explain the collapse of civilizations.
Herein lies the key to understanding the rise and fall of all civilizations. In any given territory, the people making up the society in that territory create a culture which is unique to themselves.
A society or civilization is only a reflection of the population of that particular territory. For example, the Chinese civilization is a product of the Chinese people, and is a reflection of the makeup of the population living in China. The Chinese civilization is unique to the Chinese people; they made it and it reflects their values and norms.
As the Chinese people made the Chinese civilization, it logically follows that the Chinese culture would disappear if the Chinese people were to disappear. Presently the overwhelming majority of Chinese people live in China, creating the Chinese civilization in that land. If, however, Australian Aborigines had to immigrate into China in their millions, and the Chinese population had to dramatically reduce in number, then in a few years the character of Chinese civilization would change—to reflect the new inhabitants of that territory.
In other words, the society or civilization of that territory would then reflect the fact that the majority of inhabitants were now Aborigines rather than Chinese people. If China had to fill up with Aborigines, this would mean the end of Chinese civilization. Aborigines would create a new civilization which would reflect themselves, and not that of the Chinese people.
That this should happen is perfectly logical. It has nothing to do with which culture is more advanced, or any notions of superiority or inferiority. It is merely a reflection of the fact that a civilization is a product of the nature of the people making up the population in the territory.
To go back to the Chinese example: If all Chinese people on earth had to disappear tomorrow, then fairly obviously, Chinese civilization and culture would disappear with them. It is this startlingly obvious principle which determines the creation and dissolution of civilizations—once the people who create a certain society or civilization disappear, then that society or civilization will disappear with them. If the vanished population is replaced by different peoples, then a new society or culture is created which reflects the culture and civilization of the new inhabitants of that region.
There are numerous examples of this process at work. One which will be familiar to all is the shift which occurred in North America. On that continent, the Amerind (American Indian) people lived for thousands of years, creating a civilization which dominated that continent. In other words, the civilization and culture which dominated North America reflected the fact that the Amerind people lived and formed the majority population there.
After 1500 AD that continent filled up with white immigrants from Europe. These white immigrants displaced the Amerinds by squeezing them out of possession of North America.
The great shift in North American civilization then occurred. Whereas the Amerind culture had dominated for thousands of years, within a couple hundred years the dominant civilization on that continent had become white European. This shift reflected the fact that the majority of inhabitants of North America were white Europeans—and the Amerind civilization, for all practical purposes, disappeared.
The Amerind civilization in North America “fell” because the population of North America changed.
This effect—the displacement of peoples and the subsequent disappearance of their civilization—has direct implications in racial terms. The rise and fall of any particular civilization can be traced, not by the economics, politics, morals, etc., of a particular civilization, but rather by the actual racial presence of the people themselves.
If the society which has produced a particular civilization stays intact as a racially homogeneous unit, then that civilization remains active. If, however, the society within any particular given area changes its racial makeup—through invasion, immigration, or any decline in numbers—then the civilization which that society has produced will disappear with them, to be replaced by a new civilization reflecting the new inhabitants of that territory.
Egypt: Same country, different people. Above left: The white pharaoh, Queen Nefertiti, circa 1350 BC; Above center: The effects of racial mixing are clearly to be seen on the face of this coffin portrait of a Roman lady in Hawara, Egypt, 100 AD; Above right: The mixed race Egyptian, Anwar Sadat, president of Egypt in the twentieth century. Nefertiti ruled over an advanced civilization; Sadat ruled over a third world country. The reason for the difference in cultures between Nefertiti’s Egypt and Sadat’s Egypt was that the Egyptian people had changed.
Originally created by Proto-Nordics, Alpines, and Mediterraneans, and then influenced by waves of Indo-European invaders, the white civilizations in the Middle East all flourished, producing the wonders of the ancient world.
It was around the year 500 BC that the first great turning point in white history was reached. This was the decline of the first great white civilizations in the Middle East and their subsequent replacement by nations and peoples of a substantially different racial makeup.
Up until this time the development of the white race’s territorial expansion was such that they were a majority in Europe and all of Russia west of the Urals. They formed a significant component of the population of the Middle East and their rule extended into the Indus River Valley in Northern India.
• A decline in the birth rate amongst the Aryans.
In India, the invading Indo-Aryans established a strict segregation system to keep themselves separate from the local dark skinned native population. This system was so strict that it has lasted to this day and has become known as the caste system.
However, even the strictest segregation (and Aryan laws prescribing punishments such as death for miscegenation) did not prevent the majority population from eventually swallowing up the ruling Aryans until the situation has been reached today where only a very few high caste Brahmin Indians could still pass as Europeans.
Exactly the same thing happened in Central Asia, Egypt, Sumeria, and to a lesser degree, modern Turkey. Slowly but surely, as these civilizations relied more and more on others to do their work for them, or were physically conquered by other races, their population makeup became darker and darker.
From the time of the Old Kingdom, the original white Egyptians had been using Nubians, blacks, and Semites (or Arabs) to work on many of their building projects or as general slaves.
At various stages the pharaohs also employed Nubian mercenaries, and ultimately Nubia and Sudan were physically occupied and incorporated into the Egyptian empire. Although the buildings of ancient Egypt are very impressive—many having survived through to the present day, their construction was dependent on the Egyptian ability to organize an unprecedented mass of human labor.
Under the direction of a scribe and architect, thousands of slaves and regiments of soldiers laboredfor decades to create the great buildings, using only levers, sleds, and massive ramps of earth. It is impossible to think that such massive use of slave and foreign labor would not have left some mark on the population of the land. Interbreeding took place, and this, combined with the natural growth and reproduction patterns of the slaves and laborers, meant that in a relatively short time they comprised a significant section of the population.
Several attempts were made to prevent large numbers of Nubians from settling in Egypt. One of the first recorded racial separation laws was inscribed on a stone on the banks of the southern Nile which forbade Nubians from proceeding north of that point. Nonetheless, the continuous use of Nubians for labor eventually led to the establishment of a large resident nonwhite population in Egypt, with their numbers being augmented by natural reproduction and continued immigration.
The region was also occupied for two hundred years by the Semitic Hyksos, who intermarried with the local population, and this was followed by other Semitic/Arabic immigration, fueled by the long existing black settlement on the southernmost reaches of the Nile River.
Once again the factors which led to the extinction of the Aryans in India came into play in Egypt: a resident nonwhite population to do the labor, a natural increase in nonwhite numbers, physical integration, and a decline in the original white birthrate.
All these factors compounded to produce an Egyptian population makeup of today that is very different from the men and women who founded Egypt and designed the pyramids.
As the population makeup shifted, so the cultural manifestations, or civilization, of that region changed to the point where the present day population of the Middle East is not by any stretch of the imagination classifiable as white. This explains why the present inhabitants of Egypt are not the same people who designed the pyramids.
The Egyptians of today are a completely different people, racially and culturally, living amongst the ruins of another race’s civilization.
The decline and eventual extinction of the white population in the Middle East marked the end of the original civilizations in those regions. In all the Middle Eastern countries the Semitic (Arabic) and black populations grew as they were used as laborby the ruling whites. In the case of Sumer, the white rulers were physically displaced by military conquest at the hands of Semitic invaders.
This process continued until almost all remains of the original whites in the greater region were assimilated into the darker populations. Only the occasional appearance of light colored hair or eyes amongst today’s Iraqis, Iranians, Syrians, and Palestinians serve as reminders of the original rulers of these territories.
The lesson is clear: a civilization will remain intact as long as its creating race remains in existence. This applies to all races equally—white, black, Mongolian or any other. As long as a civilization’s founding race maintains its territorial integrity and does not use large numbers of any other alien race to do its labor, that civilization will remain in existence.
If a civilization allows large numbers of racial aliens into its midst (most often as laborers) and then integrates with those newcomers, that civilization will change to reflect the new racial makeup of the population.
Any civilization—be it white, black, Asian, or Aboriginal—stands or falls by the homogeneity of its population, and nothing else. As soon as a society loses its homogeneity, the nature of that society changes. This simple fact, often ignored by historians, provides the key to understanding the rise and fall of all civilizations, irrespective of race.
Evidence of black slaves in Egyptian and Grecian society. Left: Nubian (African) slaves as depicted in ancient Egyptian art, and right two Greek vases, dating from the fifth century BC, show the racial types of two slaves, a Semite and a black.
The early white civilizations in Greece and Rome also fell to this process. The last great Grecian leader, Pericles, actually enacted a law in the year 451 BC limiting citizenship of the state according to racial descent. However, some four hundred years later this law was changed as the population shifts had become more and more evident. Certain Roman leaders tried to turn back the racial clock, but their efforts were in vain.
The sheer vastness of the Roman Empire meant that all sorts of races were included in its borders, and this brew ultimately led to the dissolution of the original Roman population.
Those who occupy a territory determine the nature of the society in that territory. This is an immutable law of nature. It is the iron rule upon which all of human endeavour is built—that history is a function of race.
A civilization “rises and falls” by its racial homogeneity and nothing else. As long as it maintains its racial homogeneity, it will last—if it loses its racial homogeneity, and changes its racial makeup, it will “fall” or be replaced by a new culture.
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I am a Social Scientist. Does anybody feel that the Migrant Worker and the illegal Immigrant in the UK could wipe out the white race here? I would love to hear your thoughts. Also is March of the Titans available as Audio Book as I would love to buy this for my Grandparents as they are loosing their eyesight. Many Thanks. | 2019-04-21T09:13:21Z | http://marchofthetitans.com/2013/03/05/some-important-facts-the-full-prologue-to-march-of-the-titans-pinnacle-edition/?shared=email&msg=fail |
Every thriving business today requires good customer service skills. It is important to keep existing customers as well as creating new ones. Customer service is the heart of the customers buying experience and businesses that provide great service to customers distinguish them among the rest in this very competitive world.
This is the main reason why many successful companies make this an important element in their agenda. Many businesses go out of their way and hire professionals with outstanding service oriented attitude to provide excellent customer service.
Firstly, let us go over the main qualities of a good customer service to help recognize the importance of these qualities.
Primarily, good customer service skills include sound knowledge of the product and company, a very good understanding of the spoken and written language, ability to listen to and understand a customer’s request, problem solving skills, flexibility and professionalism.
An effective way to provide good customer service satisfaction is a good sound knowledge of the company, its products and services. In order to effectively address customer needs, customer service people must know what they are talking about.
Good communication skill is the lifeblood of the service industry. Responses whether spoken or written should be free from any grammatical errors. A positive and upbeat tone is always helpful especially during first encounters with customers; this shows enthusiasm and confidence that a positive outcome will be expected in the end.
Listening skills should be excellent for this will determine ones ability to provide the right response to client requests or query. Good listening skills helps in understanding the specifics of the problem and effectively gives the customer the feeling of being valued.
Problem solving skills should be on top at all times during a customer client encounter. Customers seek customer service because they have a need that the company can provide and in order to keep the customer satisfied, being able to solve their problems right away by asking the right questions is a sure-fire way to provide a solution.
Flexibility means ability to adjust to situations. Each customer has different needs and flexibility skills means being able to address effectively the dynamics of every customer encounter.
Professionalism shows when all these qualities are combined plus the right attitude and confidence to represent the company. Being courteous, respectful and friendly at all times whatever the situation is. Professionalism should be displayed not only towards customer but also towards team members, company and competitors.
Employees must understand that customers are the one bringing business into the company. They must understand that providing service doesn’t only mean meeting the needs of the customers, but going over and above customer satisfaction. Going an extra-mile to provide excellent service will keep customers coming back.
Companies should provide excellent training constantly to their employees so they are up-to-date with modern work place practices to consistently deliver great customer service. Customer service skill-training methods ensure employees have proper mind-set and can – do attitude. Training programs can be In-house or presented by an external company. Learning from experienced employees or existing staff can also be helpful and sometimes a the best way to learn new skills.
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Curious? Let’s consider a glimpse at the checklist under!
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If you really feel a feeling of Reason and enthusiasm about your capability to assistance, add and offer hope and therapeutic to people today of will need, you CAN build a hyper profitable, and gratifying business accomplishing perform that you really like. But Really don’t wait. As an alternative – if your truly superior at what you do, comply with the basic suggestions above, and begin having your 1st customers, In advance of they locate someone who would not have your reward, as an alternative).
The discipline of finance involves a potent established of structured competencies and disciplines.
Among numerous other essential abilities to be mentioned in this paper, monetary leaders make sure monetary information are accurate, facts is readily available to recognize the efficiency of the business, income is readily available to run the business, and work is executed to make sure the business complies with regulatory specifications. While the nuances of the self-control vary rather by sector, the aims are fundamentally the exact same.
Finance, while it may possibly be not the most glamorous operate within a corporation, is 1 of the most essential. Contemplating the link amongst efficiency of the finance operate and the results of a corporation, choosing of monetary leaders are some of a corporation's most vital selections.
o Business Acumen – Has the applicant exhibited a common business knowledge and have certain accomplishments wherever they motivated the business in a beneficial way. Does the applicant have a ample degree of knowledge needed for the posture? There is no substitute for knowledge. Unless of course you are inclined to accept the discovering curve, you do not want to go small on knowledge of a applicant. Ultimately, does the business philosophy and character of the applicant in good shape with that of the business?
o Complex Techniques – A applicant must have certain abilities relative to the monetary posture they are seeking. A Controller must have awareness of Commonly Accepted Accounting Rules (GAAP). Just one indicator of that degree of knowledge is regardless of whether the applicant has acquired their Accredited Public Accountant (CPA) certification. A applicant for the head of credit must be ready to interpret purchaser monetary statements in purchase to create credit restrictions. Somebody in cost of Sarbanes Oxley compliance must be knowledgeable of the specifications. Somebody in Trader Relations or Money Reporting must know the procedures as it relates to reporting to the Securities and Trade Commission, expense analysts, and so on. Depending on the role, there can be certain specialized specifications that are essential to the posture.
o Analytical Techniques – Money evaluation consists of performing with a major volume of facts. A monetary leader must be ready to identify what metrics are essential to the business, detect the essential parts, or aspects, that impact the business, interpret the monetary outcomes, and communicate the details in a manner that is understandable by nonfinancial associates. A finance department must be ready to supply details wanted by a corporation's management staff in purchase to make audio business selections. This consists of listening to the needs of the practical leaders, realizing what facts is readily available, and deciding the best way to supply the facts. A monetary leader must be ready to evaluate the reasonableness of forecasted facts. Does forecasted facts make perception presented industry situations, developments, and the current financial atmosphere?
o Timely and Accurate – A finance department must be ready to report facts well timed and it must be accurate. The monetary leader must take ownership for the precision of the monetary details. This includes reviewing processes concerned in compiling facts and determining prospects to shorten those people time restrictions so facts can be readily available more quickly to the business.
In right now's position industry there are a good deal of monetary candidates that have a long track document of delivering the earlier mentioned abilities to their companies. Having said that, a corporation ought to be wanting for another person to be a Champion in their finance department. A monetary Champion possesses all the earlier mentioned abilities, but is also another person who will make the finance department a vital business lover to the business. A Champion is another person your business leaders will want to work with to get things accomplished and aid elevate their efficiency. This Champion will aid give your corporation a competitive edge by boosting the efficiency bar in their respective space, which will develop into contagious during the business.
A finance leader who possesses these features will convey that Champion excellent to your business. Without the need of these features, you will very likely hire a great monetary particular person who will satisfy the fundamental needs of your business, but will wrestle to progress the operate or the business in a manner that is visible on the monetary statement.
In a ebook titled Letters from Leaders compiled by Henry Dorman, James Turley the Chairman and CEO of Ernst & Youthful wrote “Integrity is the bedrock upon which all else is constructed. Without the need of a stable basis of integrity, any results will ultimately crumble.” In the finance space your integrity is every little thing. Without the need of integrity you do not have believability. Without the need of believability you do not have have faith in. As a leader in the finance space the relaxation of the business has to believe they can depend on every little thing you say or supply to be accurate. This does not signify they will usually like what you say, but they will know it is the truth of the matter. I experienced a boss 1 time that shown this extremely clearly to me. Our business was not doing as nicely as we would have appreciated. Each and every business unit was contacted by the CEO to focus on their current business and their forecast for the potential. We knew our business was underperforming. While we experienced motion programs in spot to switch all-around the business, it was heading to take for a longer time than senior management experienced hoped. At the commencing of the contact the CEO requested how things are heading. A good common problem to kick off the conference. While it could possibly have been tempting to supply a bogus timeline for the business to switch all-around, and avoid the uncomfortable discussion that certainly would appear with the genuine timeframe, my boss responded by saying “I can convey to you the truth of the matter or I can convey to you what you want to listen to “. Obviously, the CEO required the truth of the matter so we laid out our motion programs and time desk for the business to enhance. At the conclusion of the contact the CEO thanked us for an genuine and accurate assessment of the business. In the conclusion, the business did switch all-around within the time body we laid out. Our believability with senior management skyrocketed.
The toughness of 1's integrity is a reflection of their character. David Snyder in his ebook How to Employ a Champion says “champions, initially and foremost, are defined by their character. Simply because character is defined by what persons do – not by how they really feel or what they assume – character is shown to other folks every single day “. In his ebook David Snyder references a analyze conducted by Doug Lennick, an govt vice president of Ameriprise, and his colleagues at Lennick Aberman Group listing the character qualities of higher doing monetary advisors that best forecast results. Results confirmed that integrity was the vital behavioral competency that predicted the most beneficial returns for shoppers.
A vital measure of integrity is accountability. It's easy to take credit when your work is proper. Having said that, the posture 1 will take when a thing is improper, that is the measure of a leader. Do they take a posture that another person else built a error and it was not their fault or do they possess up and accept duty? I contend that even if there is a error, your believability will grow if you possess up to the error and confess that it is your fault. This extremely thing happened to me the moment. I built a error associated to revenue fee. Relatively than maintain peaceful and hope no 1 would locate out, I instantly arrived ahead the moment I discovered it. I felt awful. But, it was my error. You see I was pretty new in this posture and performing with a new management staff. I was sure they were heading to assume I was an fool. Later on, I observed out just the opposite happened. The actuality that I took accountability for my steps informed the staff that I experienced integrity and that they could have faith in me to convey to them the truth of the matter.
If you assume back throughout your profession on leaders you've revered, 1 attribute most likely holds genuine with each and every 1. That leader was whole of self self confidence. That self confidence built you really feel far better that they were in cost. They feel to usually be in command of the situation all-around them, no matter of how chaotic things were. In the ebook The Self-assured Chief by Larina Kase, she says “self-confident leaders confront their fears and use them to propel on their own. Men and women who keep within their comfort and ease zone may possibly not knowledge significantly anxiety, but they also do not knowledge significantly expansion”.
A portion of currently being a Champion is getting the lead when the chance occurs. The issue with getting the lead is that every person is seeing you. If you triumph, that's good. But if you fail, every person will know it. A Champion accepts this risk and relishes the chance to make a variation. If your business is heading via improve, do you want a monetary leader that will resist the improve? Of class not. You want a Champion that will embrace it and travel it.
A lot of persons are rapid to criticize and stage out faults. Having said that, a Champion will detect an chance and take the initiative to aid realize the reward of the chance in purchase to enhance the business. This effort is normally outdoors their typical duty. I contact this discretionary effort. Discretionary effort is that effort that is earlier mentioned and past kinds typical obligations. If you have an personnel that just does their position, they may possibly perform their position extremely nicely. This is a great personnel to have. Having said that, this specific will never be a Champion mainly because they are not inclined to take a risk. A Champion will take the risk mainly because they see an chance and want to take benefit of it. The end result, assuming they are effective, is that the business is far better for it. The other reward is that you have an personnel that has most likely acquired a thing in the approach and has develop into additional dedicated to the business. Even if they fail, they are far better for striving mainly because, in failure, they very likely acquired a thing. | 2019-04-24T18:53:29Z | https://www.junkshopbusiness.com/category/business-today |
INTRODUCTION TO BRO. TERRY'S HOME PAGE!
Come now, and let us reason together . . .
The purpose of this web-site is to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ by proclaiming His word and by exposing any teaching or tradition that robs Him of the glory, honor and praise that He alone deserves: who “by himself purged our sins” — He alone suffered and died for our sins, and He alone rose from the dead for our justification and redemption (Rom. 4:25; Heb. 1:3). The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the truth (II Pet. 3:9; I Tim. 2:4; John 17:17). It is my love for God and compassion for people that persuades me to proclaim that Jesus Christ is sufficient to save sinners completely and independent of any extra-biblical traditions, ecclesiastical councils, or canons of any visible church. As history shows that religious leaders and institutions can, and often do, become corrupt, our only assurance to genuine faith, “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints,” is from the objective, infallible word of God (Jude 1:3). The Scripture, and the Scripture only, can be the final judge or rule in matters of religion (II Tim. 3:16; Psa. 12:6,7; Prov. 30:5,6). My heart’s desire is to see everyone embrace the Lord Jesus Christ as their all-sufficient Savior and enjoy the salvation He alone sovereignly secured on the cross at Calvary for all who trust Him. It is my sincere prayer that all will repent and turn from their sins and come to Jesus with a humble and contrite heart and empty hands of faith, bringing nothing but their sins to the cross. Only then will one know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, and the peace of God which passes all understanding (Eph. 3:19; Phil. 4:7).
No one has a monopoly on the gospel of Christ. We will never know all things; but the Lord told us that he would reveal his words unto us if we would humble our heart and have “a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart,” and repent and turn from our sins and “search the scriptures” and seek the wisdom and honor that comes from God only: “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures” (Psa. 25:9; 51:17; 66:2; Deut. 29:29; Prov. 28:13; John 5:39,44; 8:31; Acts 17:11; Luke 24:45). King David said, “I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.” (Psa. 119:101). I, and others of like precious faith, who choose to “Fear God, and keep his commandments” and “depart from evil” have been accused of being “know-it-alls” by certain “unlearned and unstable” individuals who “hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:” (Eccl. 12:13; II Pet. 3:16; Prov. 1:29; 16:6). By trusting their own worldly wisdom over the simplicity of the scriptures, and being “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;” “having loved this present world,” they have been given over to various delusions, including ancient/modern pagan idolatries (II Tim 3:4; 4:10). But I have never pretended to be “holier than thou” or to “know-it-all” (Isa. 65:5). I don't claim to have perfect knowledge, for no one does; but I pray and strive daily to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ (II Pet. 3:18). In fact, it is not what I say, or what you say, or what others say, but “what the scripture saith” (Rom. 4:3; 11:2; Gal. 4:30); and not “what the scripture saith” according to church theologians, personal opinion or private interpretation, but “what the scripture saith” according to that which is written in the scriptures and interpreted by that which is written in the scriptures (Eccl. 12:10; Matt. 4:4,7,10; I Cor. 2:13,14; II Tim. 2:15 II Pet. 1:20): “yea, let God be true, but every man a liar;” (Rom. 3:4). Our best opinions are flawed and “altogether vanity” (Psa. 39:5). We must allow God's word to correct us and be our final authority, because “Every word of God is pure” and “All scripture is given...for correction” and “instruction” (Prov. 30:5,6; II Tim. 3:16): “When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:” (Prov. 6:22,23).
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (II Tim. 3:16).
There are many ways and roads in life that seem right and good, but they all lead to the same destination – “the ways of death”and “everlasting destruction” (Matt. 7:13; Prov. 16:25; II Thess. 1:9). Some people will no doubt be offended by certain information presented in this article and on this web site. But the truth must be told. The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, and has a way of dividing the true from the false (Eph. 6:17; Heb. 4:12). The scriptures are given to us for correction and instruction, to unite us with God and divide us from the world (II Tim. 3:16; Rom. 12:2). Jesus said, “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” (John 17:14). Many people were offended in Jesus' day when he preached the gospel of salvation through repentance and faith. Even many of Jesus' own disciples turned back from following him when his sayings got hard (John 6:60-67). But this did not stop Jesus nor his apostles from proclaiming the truth and exposing the deceptions of the devil. True Christians must never let down the standard of true holiness. We must proclaim the glorious news of God's mercy and forgiveness towards those who repent, and also warn the unconverted and the deceived about the rewards of sin and of eternal damnation. Jesus said that the unconverted and unregenerated “shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matt. 25:46).
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (I Tim. 2:5) .
In the book of Isaiah we are told to “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” (Isa. 55:6,7,8). And speaking by the mouth of Jeremiah the prophet, the Lord said, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jer. 29:13).
Some people say, “Follow your heart.” But the Bible informs us that “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” and “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool” (Jer. 17:9; Prov. 28:26). Jesus said, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within” (Mark 7:21,22,23). In Biblical times the children of Israel “sinned against the LORD their God” by routinely compromising with the heathen nations around them, setting up images and idols and adopting pagan religious customs, and “every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25; II Kings 17:7; Jer. 10:2). In the Jewish dispensation, howsoever his people attempted to legitimize their pagan practices, God rejected their forms of worship. Today God's people are enticed with some of the same types of allurements, the temptation to compromise the words of the Lord with the ways of the world. Many are engaging in various forms of idolatry, setting up images of and praying to saints – all in the name of Christianity. But know that in the Gospel dispensation God will not accept nor excuse this type of behavior anymore than he did in the old dispensation (I Cor. 10:5-22; I Tim. 2:5; Heb. 12:24-29). Yes, “God is love.” (1 John 2:4; 4:8; 5:3). But, God is also “a consuming fire, even a jealous God.” (Ex. 20:5; Deut. 4:24; I Cor. 10:22; Heb. 12:29).
With all of the different religions of the world, and with so many different doctrines and beliefs among the various Christian churches today, how are we to know what is true and what is not true? God's word, the Holy Bible, has all the answers (See THE HOLY BIBLE — Authorized Version — KJV BIBLE FACTS). But how many people know what the Holy Bible says? Consider the following verses: Jeremiah says, “The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him.” (Jer. 28:9). But Deuteronomy says, “If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deut. 13:1-3). The gospel of Mark says, “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” (Mark 16:20). But the gospel of Matthew says, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matt. 24:24).
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Prov. 14:12).
The scriptures plainly show us that signs and wonders are not a safe way of determining the truth. In the book of Acts God “granted signs and wonders” to be done by the apostles to confirm the word of the Lord and to validate the scriptures written by them (Acts 14:3). But signs and wonders can also be used to deceive. Paul writes, “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders” (II Thess. 2:9). Remember, even Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus, whom Jesus called “a devil” was given “power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.” (John 6:70; Matt. 10:1). We can see by the scriptures that signs and wonders and miracles are not a good criterion to follow for recognizing the difference between a true prophet and a false prophet and discerning “between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not” (Mal. 3:18).
“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Prov. 16:25).
“He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.” (Prov. 28:26).
Again, consider the following statement made by a high profile individual whom many considered to be a model Christian: “If in coming face to face with God we accept Him in our lives, then we....become a better Hindu, a better Muslim, a better Catholic, a better whatever we are....What God is in your mind you must accept.” (Love, A Fruit Always In Season:, Daily Meditations By Mother Teresa, 1987, pp. 49,50). This astonishing statement was not made by a New Age Guru, but by a well known and highly respected Catholic, Mother Teresa. And this is why the Lord warned us in the scriptures that we should never trust in our own heart because the human “heart is deceitful above all things” (Jer. 17:9). The Hindu god and the Muslim god is not the true God of Christianity: “or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?” (II Cor. 6:15,16). We are told to “come out from among them,” and “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” (II Cor. 6:17; Eph. 5:11). But someone will say, “Mother Teresa did many good deeds and many wonderful works in her life.” But hear what Jesus Christ himself said concerning our good deeds: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matt. 7:21-23). You might ask, “But how can this be so?” God sees man's heart for what it is: “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jer. 17:9). Man sees man's heart as he desires to see it: inherently good, “every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes.” (Deut. 12:8). The prophet Isaiah said, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;” (Isa. 64:6). “[V]erily every man at his best state is altogether vanity.” (Psa. 39:5).
So how do we know the truth? The apostle Paul said to “let God be true, but every man a liar” (Rom. 3:4). The only way to know what is true and what is not true is to know “what saith the scripture” (Rom. 4:3; Gal. 4:30). Jesus said, “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures” (Matt. 22:29). Isaiah said, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word [“the holy scriptures”II Tim.3:15], it is because there is no light in them.” (Isa. 8:20). Jesus said, “Search the scriptures”, and “If ye continue in my word . . . ye shall know the truth” (John 5:39; 8:31,32). God gave us his written word to give us “hope” and “comfort” and the promise of “everlasting life” (Rom. 15:4; John 3:15,18; 6:63). And God also gave us his written word to keep us from deceiving ourselves and to keep us form being deceived by others (Matt. 24:4; Rom. 12:3; I Cor. 3:18; 4:6). The scriptures are given to us “for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” to keep the Lord's people from wondering off course and to “keep the feet of his saints” firmly planted upon the solid foundation of the truth — “thy word is truth.” (II Tim. 3:16; I Sam. 2:9; I Cor. 3:11; John 17:17).
“I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth:” (Isa. 45:19). “I have not spoken in secret from the beginning” (Isa. 48:16). “For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.” (Deut. 30:11). “The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” (Psalms 68:11). “And the word of God increased.” (Acts 6:7). “But the word of God grew and multiplied.” (Acts 12:24). “And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.” (Acts 13:49). “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.” (Acts 19:20).
The Holy Bible repeatedly assures us that “Every word of God is pure” (Prov. 30:5) and that God himself “shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” (Psa. 12:7). Sadly, many people today do not believe that God promised to preserve his “pure words” “for ever” “to all generations” and “to all nations for the obedience of faith” (Psa. 12:6; 33:11, 119:90; Acts 2:6,7; Rom. 16:26). Even within conservative Christian churches today many people have come to doubt the preservation of the scriptures. Due to a “lack of knowledge” on the subject of Bible manuscript corruption and scripture preservation, many modern-day Christians are using a variety of modern Bible versions with little or no forethought of the possible negative repercussions due to the many changes in the texts of modern versions (Hosea 4:6). Throughout the Bible we are warned against tampering with God's words: “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it” (Deut. 4:2). “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.” (Eccl. 3:14). “Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” (Prov. 30:5,6; Rev. 22:18,19). Are all of the subtle and not so subtle changes in new Bible versions just a harmless coincident? Or is there an unholy reason for these changes?
“There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things;... Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean” (Ezek. 22:25,26).
Throughout history we see conspiracies to assassinate leaders of countries; conspiracies to overthrow governments; “spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:12); etc. Adolf Hitler and his associates conspired to take over the world (See also History Channel Video Documentary: Religious Organization Helped Nazi War Criminals Escape Justice After WWII; and also 20th Century Atrocities of the R.C. Church). The Bible says that Lucifer (the great dragon, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world) conspired with one third of the angels of heaven to overthrow God (Isa. 14:14; Rev. 12:4-9). The fact that so many people today take conspiracies lightly and think so little of conspiracies does not mean that conspiracies have ceased or abated. To the contrary, propaganda in the news media and other sources to dissuade people from taking conspiracies seriously is further proof that conspiracies are an ongoing part of our history; and the dangers posed against true, historical, Biblical Christianity are far greater than most people realize.
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first” (II Thess. 2:3).
The Bible says that in the last days “God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth,” (II Thess. 2:11,12). And what is “the truth?” It is “the word of God” which is “sharper than any twoedged sword” (Heb. 4:12; John 17:17). We are told that there shall “come a falling away first” and “there shall be false teachers among you” that “will not endure” the “sound doctrine” of the “pure” “preserve[d]” “words of the LORD” “and shall deceive many” (II Thess. 2:3; II Pet. 2:1; II Tim. 4:1-4; Psa. 12:6; Matt. 24:5,11). Someone might say, “Well, I don't believe that God would allow me to be deceived because I have good honest intentions. And as long as I have a sincere heart the Holy Spirit will confirm the truth to me by giving me a good feeling in my soul (that burning in the bosom, that confirmation in the heart).” If this is true, if truth can be determined by a feeling in our heart, then not only is every Bible version true, but every religions' sacred book is also true, including the Muslim Koran, the Hindu Veda and the book of Mormon. And if we are to be consistent we would also have to believe that, in God's eyes, every ceremony of the various religions of the world are acceptable forms of worship, which would include having infants baptized in the urine of the “holy cows” of Hinduism (fortunately, most professing Christians believe that God now commands all people to repent of this type of ignorance and idolatry (Acts 17:30; Luke 13:5); unfortunately, many professing Christians believe that mixing other forms of paganism with Christianity is acceptable in God's eyes).
“He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.” (Luke 1:51). “the meek will he teach his way.” (Psa. 25:9). “but the proud he knoweth afar off.” (Psa. 138:6). “Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken.... But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD'S flock is carried away captive.” (Jer. 13:15,17).
The Lord tells us in Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”. In the Old Testament only a select few were chosen to be high priests, and only the high priest had direct access to God. But when Christ died on the cross and the veil of the temple was torn, the “royal priesthood” passed to all who come to God through faith in Jesus Christ, and now all believers have direct and personal and equal access to God through the “one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (Matt. 27:51; Luke 23:44; Mark 15:37,38; I Pet. 2:9; Heb. 10:19,20; Rom. 1:5; 5:1,2; Eph. 3:12; I Tim. 2:5). The Old Testament priests were given the responsibility of preserving the scriptures which were written by the prophets (Deut. 31). As New Testament priests, all believers are now charged with safeguarding the scriptures which were written by the apostles (I Cor. 11:2; I Tim. 6:20; II Tim. 4:1-4; Rev. 1:3,6). And as “kings and priests unto God” every believer is instructed by God “to search out a matter” and “Prove all things” (Rev. 5:10; Prov. 25:2; I Thess. 5:21). Job said, “the cause which I knew not I searched out.” (Job 29:16). The Lord said, “because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me” (Hos. 4:6). The Bible says “through knowledge shall the just be delivered.” (Prov. 11:9).
“As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.” (Isaiah 59:21).
“Do ye not yet understand...?” (Matt. 16:9). “Why do ye not understand my speech?” (John 8:43). “have ye your heart yet hardened?” (Mark 8:17). “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Numb. 23:19). “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” (Jer. 32:27). “Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?” (Prov. 22:20,21). “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou [God] shalt preserve them [the words of the Lord] from this generation for ever.” (Psa. 12:6,7). “It is written.... It is written.... it is written” (Matt. 4:4,7,10). “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” (Matt. 5:18). “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matt. 24:35).
“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” (Prov. 30:5,6). “It is written”, “It is written again”, “it is written in the book” (Luke 4:4; Acts 1:20; 7:42). “The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.” (Eccl. 12:10). “But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” (John 5:47). “they believed not his word:” (Psa. 106:24). “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:” (Luke 24:25). “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (II Tim. 3:16). “no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (II Peter 1:20,21). “And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” (I Peter 1:25). “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth,” (James 1:18). “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” (Eph. 1:13). “For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:” (Col. 1:5,6). “Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life:” (Deut. 4:9). “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.” (Luke 21:34). “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.” (Heb. 2:1).
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TCW.com - Debt Ceiling Dynamics: A Noisy Distraction or a Market-Moving Game of Chicken?
Debt Ceiling Dynamics: A Noisy Distraction or a Market-Moving Game of Chicken?
Once again, the need for Congress to pass legislation raising the debt ceiling is fast approaching, likely by early to mid-October. For the past 15 or so years, this otherwise rote process has brought about extremely partisan and contentious debates, typically because neither party has had control of both the executive and legislative branches. With Republicans currently in control of these two branches, one would expect successful legislation ahead of schedule. Yet we know politicians and the media like to use the debt ceiling as a platform to promote, criticize and debate fiscal policies. Moreover, the Trump Presidency so far lacks a natural Congressional constituency and is struggling to unify a fractured Republican Party and its legislative priorities, lending additional uncertainty to the backdrop this year.
Congressional inability to pass legislation in a timely manner has real market consequences, ranging from pockets of illiquidity in the U.S. Treasury market to a sovereign ratings downgrade resulting in meaningful credit spread widening. The threat of default becomes real in the eyes of many market participants. As a result, there have been calls – and even expectations – for the Treasury to consider other options in order to stave off any potential for default as the debt ceiling limit nears.
Our expectation is that debt ceiling legislation will ultimately pass, hopefully in a timely manner. However, there are already threats to shut down the government if funding is not appropriated for some of the Administration’s or other Congressional priorities. Even in the event of legislation eventually being passed, market participants should prepare for a drawn out process and the accompanying political rancor concerning fiscal priorities and the debt ceiling legislation. The potential for unintended consequences seems higher this time around. Even after passage by Congress, the President still needs to sign the legislation. The opportunity for TCW, should it get to that point, will be to take advantage of any broader credit market disruptions.
The debt ceiling is a limit, set by Congress, on the amount of public debt that can be issued by the Department of the Treasury. Total public outstanding debt is the sum of both marketable debt (bills, notes and bonds) and the intragovernmental accounts, the largest of which are Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid. The debt ceiling determines how much flexibility the Treasury has both in issuance and intragovernmental accounting (more on this below) to meet spending obligations, as well as when this authority expires.
Action on the debt ceiling is legislatively distinct from the annual budget process. Statutorily, Treasury can only issue debt up to the amount authorized by the existing debt ceiling even though Congress may have appropriated expenditures above that limit in prior budget legislation. Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid expenditures are not part of the annual budget but, again, do count towards total public debt outstanding and thus play a large role in determining when the debt ceiling is reached.
Notwithstanding the legislative distinctions, the debt ceiling and budget debates are often linked together. Twice these debates have sparked government shutdowns in 1995-1996 and again in 2013 due to the lack of appropriated funds to run the government, which, again, is distinct from the debt ceiling. During the height of the 2011 debt ceiling debate, Standard & Poor’s downgraded Treasury debt. As a reminder, it is instructive to note credit spreads widened on the downgrade as 10-year Treasury securities rallied approximately 50 bps. Frustrated market participants viewed this action as more indicative of political and economic deadlock than any increased risk of default.
Discussion over debt ceiling legislation provides an often-contentious reminder of previous fiscal appropriations. Purposeful delays in the passage of debt ceiling legislation can ignite intense political passion and friction contributing to market uncertainty.
What happens when the debt ceiling is reached?
As Treasury approaches the debt ceiling limit, the Secretary of the Treasury sends a letter to the Congressional leadership indicating the Treasury is entering a “debt suspension period” and will be utilizing existing authorized “extraordinary measures” to manage the debt outstanding until a new debt ceiling is passed. The debt suspension period sets off a chain of events, but we will just focus on the highly impactful ones. We are in that period now.
Debt suspension allows Treasury to use about $388 billion in government trust funds until the debt ceiling is increased or, said another way, the Treasury has an additional $388 billion of borrowing power. The bulk of these dollars comes from several intragovernmental funds - primarily the pension and retirement plans for government employees. The non-marketable bonds that were previously issued to fund these plans are not reissued when they mature, thus creating more room under the debt ceiling cap. Treasury makes these plans “whole” once the legislation passes. This bookkeeping exercise is easily executed largely because the math is simple as these accounts are an unfunded liability.
The real impact to investors during the debt suspension period is usually in bill issuance. Treasury needs to closely monitor its cash balance and does so by issuing cash management bills that coincide with outlays and receipts. This sometimes results in inconsistent and unexpected issuance amounts in the regularly scheduled bill auctions. Additionally, bills scheduled to mature around the expected “drop dead” date (the date on which Treasury can no longer lawfully issue debt) typically lose liquidity and cheapen up. Typically, coupon auctions are unaffected, though maturing coupons could be.
Does Treasury have contingency options if Congress cannot pass legislation?
Legislatively, Treasury has no other options to issue debt above the debt ceiling limit beyond the above mentioned extraordinary measures. Only Congress can amend or give Treasury new extraordinary measures. Despite this, the recent heightened rancor and subsequent market uncertainty has pressured Treasury to consider new, untested contingencies in case legislation fails to pass. The pressure to consider new options comes from many sources, including the market, Congress, the Federal Reserve and Treasury itself.
The following are some of the ideas that have sparked debate.
Treasury could issue a platinum coin(s).
Treasury could “borrow” from the Social Security trust fund in the same way it borrows form the government retirement and pension plans.
Treasury could “prioritize” principal and interest (P&I) payments on all outstanding and maturing debt securities, and make no other payments while staying under the debt ceiling cap.
Let us examine the first two options before focusing on prioritization.
PLATINUM COINS: Treasury is lawfully allowed to issue platinum coin(s) via the U.S. Mint. Interestingly, those coins would not count against the debt limit even though they provide a source of funding for the Treasury. These coins could be used, for example, to pay down existing debt allowing Treasury to make all scheduled payments and continuously fund the government. However, the operational and logistical framework to get coins minted, distributed and settled are cumbersome and time consuming precisely when Treasury will be under time pressure. There are also real questions that need to be vetted. How and when would the coins be redeemed? What if platinum coin redemption(s) caused a debt ceiling breach? This option was fun for pundits to discuss in 2013 but has too many questions and practical shortcomings. Most importantly, the sale of platinum coins requires Fed approval and the Fed has given no such indication it would (ever) do so. This option is an unintended loophole in the debt ceiling discussion and bypasses in principal, the congressionally mandated debt ceiling limit.
SOCIAL SECURITY: “Selling” the bonds that fund Social Security is similar to the extraordinary measures already used by Treasury. If Treasury can utilize funds from other intragovernmental pension plans, why not from Social Security as well? This may be operationally possible, but is considered politically unworkable and harmful. One can imagine the headlines and rhetoric around “stealing” from Social Security to fund the government to the benefit of bondholders. Again, this action has no precedent and Congress has purposely not authorized the inclusion of those funds as part of the extraordinary measures in the same way the other funds were intentionally included.
PRIORITIZATION: Market participants and even some in Washington view the third option – prioritization of Treasury P&I payments – as the only real viable contingency. The concept is easy to understand and is generally viewed as the least bad option facing the Treasury, should Treasury ever run out of borrowing authority.
The release of Fed minutes in January 2017 chronicling the 2011 debt ceiling crisis confirmed to the market that Treasury via the Fed could prioritize P&I payments and withhold all other payments while staying under the debt ceiling cap. Until these comments, many viewed P&I prioritization as unworkable. The plan is operationally possible largely because the Fed is the fiscal agent for the U.S. Treasury. In this role, the Fed has many responsibilities including acting as the interface between the U.S. Treasury and its bondholders. The Fed is also responsible for the Fedwire, the electronic platform where all U.S. Treasury securities transactions are credited and debited. According to the quoted Fed official, Treasury was comfortable with P&I prioritization, though no senior Treasury officials ever formally commented on or publicly approved this plan.
Additionally, the 14th amendment of the Constitution lends support to this option stating: “The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law…shall not be questioned.” Does that mean that honoring debt obligations statutorily supersedes the debt ceiling limit? Unclear. The courts or Congress have never ruled or commented on this issue. Yet this does give the argument for P&I prioritization some credibility.
Putting aside P&I and the Fedwire, the other legacy systems used by Treasury do not have the functional capability to make some payments and not others. Manual labor would be required to sort through the 4-5 million daily “checks” issued by Treasury to decide which ones would be “sent” and which ones would be held back. This further highlights the potential legal argument Treasury lawyers worry about -- that any prioritization is arbitrary because Treasury does not have the operational or legal authority to determine the winners and losers in terms of who gets paid versus who doesn’t. Taken to the extreme, this becomes an emotional argument when one considers dependent vendors or necessary social payments.
The decision to prioritize P&I could ultimately come down to political will and that will be a contentious argument with strong opinions coming from both sides. On the one hand, Treasury lawyers argue that the Secretary of the Treasury has no statutory authority to prioritize and by doing so is likely to set off a legal chain of events. Yet others, including the Fed, will argue that the risk of systemic consequences of a real Treasury default on maturing securities would have far-reaching systemic consequences, affecting settlements, clearing, and all the related derivative contracts. From a policy perspective, one of the key lessons from 2008 is that policymakers underestimated the interconnectivity of markets. Therefore, how policymakers view this interconnectivity of U.S. Treasury market participants will have a huge bearing. Any decision on prioritization during a default– no matter what the decision - would be open to intense ex post criticism, including likely legal actions.
Treasury likely has a very good idea when the “drop dead” date falls on the calendar. Staff knows the dates and amounts of expenditures, as well as the flexibility of the debt issuance calendar. However, estimating tax receipts – the incoming revenues – on an $18 trillion economy is hard. Most analysts are calling for Treasury to run out of borrowing authority by early-mid October. (Now $5 billion of GSE payments to the Treasury are on the table further complicating the matter, but this is an entirely different political issue.) Though Treasury staff probably knows the end date, they will refrain from publicly discussing it in order to give themselves some flexibility. In other words, though Secretary Mnuchin had recently said Treasury will run out of borrowing authority by September 29, 2017, the internal Treasury estimate is almost assuredly a later date. This could create even more mistrust between the administration and Congress. In addition, Treasury reportedly told primary dealers in mid-July that prioritization is not an option. It will likely continue to assert that position, essentially trying to force legislative action.
If debt ceiling legislation goes down to the wire, expect tense final days. In 2017, this is further compounded by the fact that so many key positions at Treasury have just been recently filled or remain vacant. The workload increases as the date nears and a significant amount of time is taken in meetings within Treasury, the White House, the Hill and the Fed. This can create a highly pressurized environment, particularly for a relatively new admnistration.
Treasury will have prioritization as an operational and policy option should they run out of extraordinary measures. There will need to be a political first for prioritization to actually happen – the failure to pass debt ceiling legislation in time. At that point, political tensions and mistrust will likely be quite high. Markets will be nervous. For P&I prioritization to actually happen, both a strong political and market-based belief will need to prevail that P&I prioritization is unequivocally the right thing to do to avoid any systemic financial market (and other) failures. Certainly, the argument can be made that the interconnectivity of Treasury market participants as it relates to settlements, clearing, derivative agreements, bank liquidity, money market funds, etc. could create systemic unintended consequences. The benefit of prioritization will be weighed against the statutory, legal and political fallout of prioritizing bondholders over others owed by the U.S. Treasury.
Another key factor will be the markets themselves. Pockets of illiquidity may not be enough to force Treasury’s hand. However, markets in freefall and lacking confidence in the political system could create the sense of urgency for Treasury to act. Though this is a lose/lose decision for Treasury and the administration, not prioritizing could make a bad situation worse.
Lastly, it is not clear how long prioritization could last. Much depends upon the calendar, including tax receipts and large intragovernmental payments. P&I prioritization is short-term solution. Legislation is still required.
What does this mean for TCW? Again, our base case is that this gets resolved in time. But if the debate over the debt ceiling escalates and the fiscal deadlines draw nearer, volatility could increase. Initially, Treasury notes and bills that mature or have scheduled interest payments right after the drop dead date would have the greatest potential to experience price weakness. Even if one maintains that debt ceiling legislation always gets passed, taking advantage of some of the interim volatility may warrant a look, particularly if the prioritization talk becomes a real possibility. However the real opportunity could be in the broader credit markets. In both 2011 and 2013, interest rates moderately rose as the debate went down to the wire. The most dramatic market response occurred in 2011 when U.S. sovereign debt was downgraded. There was a flight to quality as longer dated Treasury securities rallied. As in these prior episodes, we expect market noise surrounding any resolution. Yet, we are also in a tense, unpredictable reactive political state. Could this debate become so combustive it sparks a third party response, such as a large bond sales or a ratings agency downgrade? Will the volatility this time around have the added potential to be the catalyst for a broader deleveraging event? The current market environment is especially vulnerable to shocks due to complacency and end-of-cycle dynamics. Additionally, the market structure is far different than it was prior to 2008. Banks and other regulated entities are most likely unwilling or unable to absorb unexpected liquidity, particularly in riskier credit.
The debt ceiling debate is an added risk factor that investors should continue to view as a nuisance. Though we have made it through more than one debt ceiling crisis before, it is prudent to monitor the situation as there is no guarantee of a clear path this time around.
Debt Ceiling Dynamics: A Noisy Distraction or a Market- Moving Game of Chicken? | 2019-04-23T20:53:52Z | https://www.tcw.com/en/Insights/Viewpoints/08-29-17_Debt_Ceiling_Dynamics |
This paper reviews the literature on the macroeconomic impact of natural disasters and presents the IMF's role in assisting countries coping with natural catastrophes. Focusing on seven country cases, the paper describes the emergency financing, policy support, and technical assistance provided by the Fund to help governments put together a policy response or build a macro framework to lay the foundation for recovery and/or unlock other external financing. The literature and experience suggests there are ways to strengthen policy frameworks to increase resilience to natural disaster shocks, including identifying the risks and probability of natural disasters and integrating them more explicitly into macro frame-works, increasing flexibility within fiscal frameworks, and improving coordination amongst international partners ex post and ex ante.
The occurrence of natural disasters has increased in frequency across the globe over the past 50 years. Estimates of the economic and financial losses from natural disasters have also risen. While the reporting of natural disasters has improved, these upward trends are due primarily to a documented rise in the number and intensity of climactic disasters, and to an increase in the concentration of people and physical assets in areas more exposed to disasters.
Research has found that natural disasters have a significant negative impact on growth and poverty. The impact of disasters on an economy will depend on many factors like the nature of the shock, the size and structure of the economy, population concentration, per capita income, financial depth, governance, and openness. In the short term, disasters typically result in a contraction in economic output and a worsening in external and fiscal balances. The impact is sometimes alleviated by an increase in transfers from abroad.
Natural disasters can also have a significant negative impact over the long term on poverty and social welfare. The poor have limited savings and access to credit, so are not able to supplement their incomes following a crisis. This can drive households into “poverty traps” with negative health and social effects (Hallegatte and Przyluski, 2010). Indeed, disasters have been found to have long-lasting consequences on psychological health and cognitive development (Norris, 2005; Santos, 2007).
With the steady advance of urbanization in developing and middle-income countries and expectations of more intense natural catastrophes related to global climate change, the human and economic costs of natural disasters are likely to keep rising. While natural disasters cannot be prevented, the policy response will have an important impact on the speed of recovery. Moreover, the literature suggests that much can also be done ex ante to reduce the human suffering and economic costs of the impact of natural disasters. These include relocating communities from disaster-prone areas, enforcing building codes, holding food inventories as buffers against drought, and developing emergency response mechanisms.
The macroeconomic policy response to a major catastrophe involves some combination of reserves drawdown, new financing, and macroeconomic adjustment. Adequate and timely external financing can help address immediate financing gaps and limit the need for contractionary macro policies that aggravate the adverse effects of the shock on the most vulnerable. The IMF has a specialized role in the panoply of external assistance to countries recovering from natural disaster. While absolute amounts of financing from the Fund are relatively low, the Fund can play a key role as first mover and financing catalyst.
Against this backdrop, this paper highlights the role of the IMF in the international community’s disaster support infrastructure. Drawing on a sample of seven countries hit recently by major natural disasters (Haiti, Japan, Kenya, New Zealand, Pakistan, Samoa, and St. Lucia), it reviews elements of the Fund’s existing financing instruments and policy support that help countries mitigate the impact of disasters, and explores ways countries can strengthen their resilience to natural disaster shocks.
Figures 1 and 2 present estimates of the incidence and people affected from natural disasters worldwide. While the number of events reported has dipped in the last 10 years, the number of people directly and indirectly affected by catastrophes, and their related costs, is rising. From floods in Pakistan, droughts in the Sahel, tornadoes in the U.S. Midwest, hurricanes in the Caribbean, mudslides in Central America, and earthquakes and tsunamis in the Pacific, many countries are faced with the consequences of some form of natural disaster.
The data shows that natural disasters occur more frequently, and affect more people, in developing countries (Figures 3 and 4).2 Since the 1960s, about 99 percent (87 percent middle-income, 12 percent low-income) of the world population affected by disasters has lived in developing countries and 97 percent (32 percent low-income, 64 percent middle-income) of all deaths have occurred in developing countries.
More specifically, Rasmussen (2004) compares the number of events to land area and to population, revealing that small island states have the highest relative frequency of natural disasters. In the Eastern Caribbean, for instance, a large natural disaster inflicting damage equivalent to over 2 percent of GDP can be expected to hit the region every two to three years (IMF, 2004).
Advanced economies are better equipped to absorb the costs of disasters because of recourse to private insurance against risk, higher levels of domestic savings and fiscal revenues, and access to market financing if needed, and they often dedicate more domestic resources to reducing vulnerability ex ante, including, for example, enforcing building codes and having a developed emergency response infrastructure in place.
It is well known that low-income countries (LICs), however, are more vulnerable to exogenous shocks, including natural disasters. Poor countries have a larger share of the population living in high-risk areas with weak infrastructure, and they rely more on sectors such as agriculture and tourism that depend directly on the weather (Rasmussen, 2004). Indeed, there is robust evidence that less diversified economies experience larger declines in consumption when earthquakes occur (Ramcharan, 2005b).
There are several methodologies to quantify the cost of disasters, but there is no standard measure to determine a global figure for economic impact.3 Typically, the effects are measured in the literature as direct and indirect. Direct costs arise from the immediate loss of physical and human capital and crops, and the near-term loss of income from the disruption of economic activity in both the private and public sectors. Indirect losses are those not provoked by the disaster itself, but by its consequences. For example, a factory not damaged by an earthquake may suffer “business interruptions” from extensive power outages in the months following. Indirect costs spread throughout the economy over time and affect investment, output, the fiscal and external accounts, debt, and poverty.
The dollar value of damage from natural disasters is much larger in advanced economies because the accumulation and concentration of valuable capital, and the potential losses, are much higher than in LICs. However, as a percentage of national output, the damage is usually much larger in developing countries. Middle-income countries are strongly affected by natural disasters in terms of GDP, as their asset bases are rising faster than their ability to absorb the cost of disasters (Ghesquiere and Mahul, 2010). In addition, their sectors are more interconnected than in LICs, yet they lack the systems and emergency coping mechanisms available in advanced economies (Benson et al., 2004). In addition, most small island states are classified as middle-income economies.
The estimated damages from natural disasters over the past 50 years continue to rise, even though the incidence of disasters has declined somewhat in the past decade (Figure 5). The overall findings in the literature show that natural disasters have a significant negative impact on real GDP, though this differs by type of disaster (Hochrainer, 2009). Moderate disasters can in fact have benefits on economic growth rates via the investment boost from reconstruction activities, but severe disasters never have positive growth effects (von Peter, von Dahlen, and Saxena, 2012; Fomby, Ikeda, and Loayza, 2009; Loayza et al., 2009).
Major disasters reduce real GDP per capita by about 0.6 percent on average, and this rises to about 1 percent in LICs (Raddatz, 2009; Fomby Ikeda, and Loayza, 2009). In terms of impact on GDP growth, disasters produce an estimated 0.7 percentage point drop in a country’s growth rate within the first year on average, leading to a cumulative output loss on average of about 1.5 percent over and above the immediate direct losses (von Peter, von Dahlen, and Saxena, 2012). Higher education levels, greater openness, and greater financial sector depth are associated with lower costs from natural disasters.
Among climactic disasters, droughts have the largest average impact, with losses of 1 percent of GDP per capita, and over 2 percent per capita in LICs (Raddatz, 2009; Loayza et al., 2009). In small island states, hurricanes have a larger estimated impact, resulting on average in a 3 percent decline in per capita GDP (Raddatz, 2009). The growth rate the year of the disaster in the sample countries compared in this study ranged from a contraction of 5.5 percent in Haiti to an expansion of about 1.3 percent in New Zealand.
Major natural disasters usually result in a worsening in the external accounts. As economic activity is disrupted, export earnings decline and imports of food and reconstruction materials push up the import bill, together contributing to a deterioration in the trade balance. The external current account often deteriorates, although this is usually alleviated by higher inflows of official assistance and private remittances. For example, the yen experienced a sharp appreciation immediately after the earthquake on speculation about sizable repatriation flows by insurance companies and households.
Natural disasters can have an important negative impact on the fiscal accounts and public debt, though this depends on how governments respond to the disaster. Typically, fiscal revenues decline as economic activity declines, while at the same time emergency relief and reconstruction lead to a surge in government expenditures. For middle- and upper-income countries, Melecky and Raddatz (2011) find that disasters boost expenditures by about 15 percent and lower revenues by 10 percent, leading to an overall increase in budget deficits by 25 percent compared to initial levels. Whether this affects fiscal sustainability depends on how the recovery costs are financed. They also find that countries with more developed financial systems suffer less in terms of output losses, but fiscal deficits expand more in these countries. Countries with deeper financial systems that also have a high rate of insurance penetration suffer smaller real losses as well, but do not incur expansions in fiscal deficits.
In LICs, the impact is more pronounced, including over time on poverty and social welfare. Divestment of limited physical capital by the poor after disasters—such as the sale of livestock to fund current consumption—can lead to long-term declines in productive capacity. Indirect effects, including higher inflation, also tend to hurt the poor disproportionately because they have limited labor skills and their consumption basket is heavily weighted toward food. Countries whose deficits are financed mostly with grants and have strong donor support are able to adjust more quickly, but in many cases government borrowing and public debt increase relative to GDP. This was the case for most of the countries in our sample.
The seven case studies reviewed in this paper present a cross sample of countries and recent types of natural disasters. Basic information on these cases—Haiti, Japan, Kenya, New Zealand, Pakistan, Samoa, and St. Lucia—is presented in Table 1 and provides a snapshot of the wide range of impact and costs (see also Appendix II).
The magnitude of the destruction on the stock of capital was largest in Haiti and St. Lucia, while the impact on output the year of the disaster was largest in Haiti, which contracted by 5.5 percent. Japan experienced a decline in real GDP growth of 0.7 percent after expanding by over 4 percent the year before. While the direct cost of the tsunami in Japan is estimated at about 4 percent of GDP, the effects were widespread because of electricity shortages in the Kanto region, which accounts for 40 percent of GDP, supply chain disruptions affecting production nationwide, and a sharp decline in sentiment following the earthquake, which weighed heavily on domestic demand.
On the other hand, the sizable cost of the quakes in New Zealand, estimated at about 10 percent of GDP, had less impact on output. Despite the extensive damage to residential and commercial buildings, most of the manufacturing and agriculture sectors were largely unaffected. Real GDP grew by 1½ percent in 2011 as elevated commodity export prices and favorable agricultural conditions also helped offset the adverse impact. Reconstruction is expected to boost investment and aggregate demand in New Zealand over the medium term.
In Samoa and St. Lucia, the two other small island states in the group, the damage from the disasters was relatively high, at 15 percent and 43 percent of GDP, respectively, and activity stagnated in both countries the year of the disaster.
Understanding the scope and nature of loss estimates is important for designing and implementing an effective policy response, mobilizing external financing and assistance, designing strategies for sovereign natural disaster insurance, and tracking insurance coverage and payouts. It is also essential for assessing the desirability of prevention and mitigation measures. As indirect losses are a major component of the total welfare loss emanating from a natural disaster, including them is necessary for disaster risk management design. Two sources of indirect losses usually not included are human capital losses and environmental destruction. Aside from the human tragedy, these are likely to represent sizable losses with long-term damage to economic productivity. For example, the 2010 earthquake in Haiti killed one out of every three civil servants, 1,200 teachers and over 500 health professionals.
Natural disasters can place huge cash demands on government treasuries and foreign reserves on short notice. Policymakers must decide whether to finance emergency-related spending and balance of payments shortfalls, or to reduce or divert spending to cover immediate needs, or a combination of both. External financing can reduce the need for policies that lower government spending and aggregate demand and worsen adverse effects from the shock. Aside from urgent humanitarian dimensions, the right mix will depend on many factors, including whether the natural disaster impact is temporary or permanent, the strength of the country’s fiscal position and external balance, the exchange rate, and the availability of domestic and external financing.
If the disaster shock is deemed temporary, it makes sense to finance the impact to help maintain the incomes of those hit hardest by the disaster, as well as the very poor who will be hurt by things like shortages and food price hikes. Income support for the very poor after a natural disaster can help avoid permanent welfare losses over time. Research has shown that a contraction in per capita income increases poverty more than an equivalent increase in income decreases poverty (IMF, 2003). This asymmetry suggests that consumption smoothing for the poor after a disaster can produce large welfare gains. If the disaster impact is permanent, the country must eventually adjust to the new normal. But that could take time and it may be difficult to reallocate spending rapidly toward relief and recovery.
Typically the policy response involves some combination of reserves drawdown, new financing, and macroeconomic adjustment. External financing, remittances and overseas development assistance (ODA) flows can help address immediate needs and smooth the recovery process. While earlier research showed no effect, recent empirical work has found that greater aid flows and remittances do help reduce the macroeconomic consequences of disasters (Hochrainer, 2009). The IMF contributes importantly to this, including as a first mover and catalyst for other lenders.
The Fund’s mandate is to make resources available to members to provide them “with opportunity to correct maladjustments in their balance of payments without resorting to measures destructive of national or international prosperity.” This gives the Fund a clear shock-financing role to provide temporary balance of payments support in the aftermath of a natural disaster. In addition to financing, the IMF offers policy advice as part of regular economic surveillance, as well as technical assistance.
The IMF’s financing instruments continue to evolve over time. Over the past five years, the Fund’s lending toolkit has undergone further significant renovation, moving it toward a set of instruments designed to provide more flexible and country-tailored support. The full list of current facilities is described in Box 1. A number of these can be accessed to meet emergency needs related to natural disasters. The amounts that can be drawn are typically, but not always, based on the country’s quota—its capital subscription to the IMF—and there are concessional facilities designed specifically for LICs.
Most emergency financing related to natural disasters has been extended through a previous facility dedicated to that purpose, but also by augmentations to existing arrangements (Figure 6). Since 1962, when it approved Egypt’s request to cover temporary liquidity needs caused by crop failure, the Fund has provided emergency financial assistance explicitly for purposes related to natural disasters in 42 cases for 27 countries in response to hurricanes (20), droughts and floods (13), earthquakes (7), and tsunamis (2), for a total amount of about $2.8 billion. As augmentations to existing arrangements, the Fund has provided assistance for disaster relief purposes in 12 cases, mostly for LICs.
At present, emergency financing on nonconcessional terms can be provided to all members under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI), the Flexible Credit Line (FCL), and the Precautionary and Liquidity Line (PLL)—pending qualification, or as an augmentation under a existing Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) or Extended Fund Facility (EFF) (Box 1). All non-concessional facilities are subject to the IMF’s market-related interest rate, the rate of charge.
The countries reviewed for this paper that received Fund financial assistance did so under the Emergency Natural Disaster Assistance (ENDA) policy, the RCF, and under augmentations to existing ECF and ESF programs (Table 2). The Fund approved an ECF augmentation of US$102 million to Haiti, which was followed by debt stock relief of US$268 million under the Post-Catastrophe Debt Relief (PCDR) Trust.5 The PCDR allowed the Fund to join international debt relief efforts to free up resources for emergency needs. A new ECF-supported arrangement with Haiti was approved in July 2010.
After the devastating floods in Pakistan in 2010, the authorities requested assistance under the ENDA, which provided rapid and flexible financial assistance not linked to any program-based conditionality. The upfront disbursement of $450 million was directed toward humanitarian needs and to help finance the government without overburdening the domestic financial market or depleting foreign exchange reserves.
In addition to the humanitarian crisis provoked by the drought in Kenya, it led to significant food inflation with adverse impacts on rural households and the urban poor. In December 2011, the IMF augmented the financial assistance it was providing under a three-year ECF reform program from US$509 million to US$760 million to help the country maintain an adequate level of foreign reserves.
After the 2009 tsunami, the IMF approved an ESF-RAC (Rapid Access Component) for Samoa, while St. Lucia received IMF financing under the ENDA and RCF following Hurricane Tomas in 2010. The loan to St Lucia complemented other donor financing and the payout received from the Caribbean Catastrophic Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) to tackle urgent rebuilding needs.6 In all cases, Fund assistance was not large in absolute terms, but was viewed as instrumental in unleashing funding from bilateral donors and other international financial institutions (IFIs).
The latest global crisis highlighted the need for a more effective global financial safety net to help countries cope with adverse shocks. A key objective of the recent lending reforms was therefore to develop more effective tools for crisis prevention or mitigation, as a complement to the traditional crisis resolution role of the IMF. Broader recognition of the need for financing for contingencies thus is reflected in the new set of Fund facilities. Are these adequate to respond to potential financing needs generated by natural disasters?
The two headline instruments for emergency financing are the RFI and the RCF. These were introduced to replace and broaden the scope of several earlier emergency assistance facilities. The RFI provides rapid financial assistance with limited conditions to all members facing an urgent balance of payments need, including those arising from natural disasters. The RFI is designed for situations where a full-fledged economic program is either not necessary or not feasible, although the member requesting assistance is required to cooperate with the IMF to make efforts to solve its balance of payments difficulties. The RCF provides rapid financial assistance with limited conditionality to LICs facing an urgent balance of payments need. The RCF streamlines the Fund’s emergency assistance for LICs, can be used flexibly in a wide range of circumstances, and is available when a full-fledged program is not necessary or feasible. It also provides assistance on more concessional terms compared to the previous ENDA.
In recent years, the Fund has introduced instruments that provide countries with contingent credit lines that can be accessed immediately in case of shocks, including natural disasters: the FCL, PLL, and to some extent the SBA and SCF (available for LICs) on a precautionary basis. The PLL and FCL are for countries with strong fundamentals and policies, and track records of policy implementation. The FCL has no ex post conditions, no caps on amounts, and countries can draw on it at any time over its term. Both facilities are based on ex ante qualifications and, in the case of the PLL, with conditionality aimed at addressing vulnerabilities identified during the qualification process.
Recent experience suggests that changes to the IMF lending toolkit are headed in the right direction (IMF, 2011a, 2012). The RCF since 2010, and before that the Rapid Access Component of the Exogenous Shocks Facility (ESF), have provided rapid low-access financing in a wide range of emergency situations, with 14 countries having requested support since 2008 and the strongest demand coming from small economies hit by natural disasters (IMF, 2012). Staff also found that countries supported by an IMF program, including through emergency assistance, were able to increase real spending, including social spending, more than non-program countries, and that Fund financing was positively associated with short-term growth and indicators of economic stability (IMF, 2012).
What other financing options are available to countries to minimize the adverse impact of shocks? Other international financial institutions provide an array of instruments to support countries ex post and ex ante. These include programs by the United Nations and many of its agencies, the World Bank, and all of the regional development banks. Independently, countries can consider market-based financing mechanisms such as catastrophe insurance/reinsurance, catastrophe bonds, securities indexed to disaster-related triggers, deferred repayment loans, derivatives and hedging instruments, and risk pooling to finance insurance against disasters.
Unfortunately, for many developing countries most susceptible to shocks, the cost of these tools can be prohibitive, the technical capacities are lacking, and the related opportunity costs high. Further research and cooperation is needed to improve the availability of financial protection for the state against disasters among developing countries. While the issue is gaining attention and becoming an important element of the disaster risk management framework, particularly at the World Bank, it is generally beyond the role of the IMF. The IMF is expected to provide financial support for countries with balance of payments needs after other financing and macro adjustment is considered. This residual financing role implies that IMF financing mainly be determined ex post (IMF, 2011b; Clarke and Mahul, 2011).
That said, the SCF is available on a precautionary basis, the RCF makes it easier to access financing in the event of shock, and the PCDR can provide debt flow and possibly debt stock relief after a natural disaster. Together these products make financing more predictable and accessible for LICs than it was previously, with the advantages of well-defined triggers. Compared to earlier instruments, they also have terms and conditions that are more streamlined and tailored to the borrowers’ needs and circumstances.
While in many instances, balance of payments difficulties will be transitory, ill-conceived policies can compound problems caused by the disaster. The IMF collaborates with country authorities to provide policy advice and technical assistance on an ongoing basis as part of Article IV surveillance or in the context of a Fund-supported program.9 The case studies reviewed for this paper provide a profile of the type of policy engagement that takes place between Fund staff and government officials struggling with the tough decisions in the aftermath of tragedy. Details about each case are presented in Appendix II. A summary of the key issues and lessons is presented below.
Haiti: Despite an extended period of political instability after the 2012 earthquake, the authorities made considerable progress in key areas, particularly revenue collection and administration reforms. The Fund-supported program and comprehensive technical assistance (35 visits as of July 2012) contributed significantly to restoring macro stability. Reconstruction has also provided an opportunity to make some sectors stronger than they were before the earthquake. For example, there are now more children in primary school and more paved roads. The biggest challenge to reconstruction, and absorption of the sizeable foreign financial assistance pledged, is weak capacity and the absence of central coordination. While less relevant for Fund policy assistance, better coordination and prioritization may have resulted in faster reconstruction.
Kenya: The drought in the Horn of Africa hit Kenya at a time when the economy was already dealing with excess demand and credit growth that had led to high inflation, a worsening of external balances, and currency depreciation. The ECF program provided funds to alleviate external pressures related to the drought, while also supporting needed adjustment. In addition, the macro framework explicitly provided room for public investments in alternative energy, irrigation schemes, market mechanisms for the production and distribution of cereals, and road infrastructure—long-lasting solutions to shield the country from the negative social, economic, and environmental impacts of drought.
Japan: The Fund consulted extensively with the Japanese authorities following the 2011 earthquake. The Fund supported the central bank’s decisive action to inject liquidity, launch a loan program for financial institutions, expand asset purchases, and intervene with G-7 partners to stabilize the exchange rate. Japan was also able to mount a decisive fiscal response, though adjustment had to rely mainly on new revenue sources. An obvious lesson from the Japan experience is that more fiscal space is desirable for crisis mitigation and resolution. Other countries with less-developed financial sectors and more shallow pools of domestic savings would have had a more difficult time. The experience also underlines the importance of undertaking growth-enhancing structural reforms, including raising labor participation among the elderly, women, and youth, pursuing trade liberalization, and promoting small enterprise restructuring.
New Zealand: While the two Canterbury earthquakes caused considerable damage to the economy (10 percent of GDP), the high level of insurance coverage (6 percent of GDP) transferred effectively much of the cost of reconstruction onto the global insurance market. This, together with New Zealand’s low public debt, allowed the government to accommodate earthquake-related spending without cutting other spending. Given the weakening of the economic outlook after the February 2011 earthquake, Fund staff supported the reduction in the policy rate by 50 basis points and also stressed that monetary policy would need to be tightened if the recovery proceeds as expected.
Pakistan: The devastating 2010 floods added new challenges to an already difficult economic scenario. In the context of growing imbalances (the Fund-supported SBA previously in place had gone off track in June 2010), revenues fell further and higher spending was needed to help affected people and businesses. The IMF responded promptly with emergency funds. Ongoing policy discussions centered on measures to reduce the budget deficit and assure fiscal sustainability, reduce inflation, and protect the external position. The Fund encouraged the authorities to work with the World Bank to establish an enhanced framework for monitoring donor contributions.
Samoa: After the 2009 tsunami, Samoa reviewed its development program rapidly and integrated existing investment projects into an overall recovery plan. This helped focus resources on key priorities and garner donor support. The government boosted public spending to pay for a large reconstruction program that included measures to reduce risks such as resettlement and infrastructure investment. Despite the large component of grant assistance and remittances, the fiscal deficit increased by over 3 percent of GDP to 7.5 percent within a year and stayed high thereafter, and external public debt rose by over 8 percent of GDP. Fiscal consolidation is now required to bring down the debt level and rebuild policy buffers, though there has been some resistance to such consolidation efforts.
The Central Bank of Samoa extended relief to the private sector by lending directly through the country’s development bank. With a slow recovery, nonperforming loans in the development bank increased, while the loan quality of some commercial banks also deteriorated. The government assumed bad loans to state enterprises equivalent to 3½ percent of GDP. The authorities committed to use only concessional assistance to finance tsunami-related reconstruction.
St. Lucia: Immediate rehabilitation and emergency expenditure after the 2010 hurricane was financed through the reallocation of the investment budget and external financing, including US$3.2 million from the CCRIF. Fund financing under the ECF and ENDA helped meet immediate foreign exchange needs and played a catalytic role in mobilizing financing from other international financial institutions and donors. The authorities also committed to use only concessional funding to finance hurricane-related reconstruction.
As resources are diverted on short notice to emergency spending, reprioritization of development expenditure will be needed. Greater attention to advance planning for disaster contingencies in the budget process could improve outcomes. Fiscal frameworks should provide the space and flexibility to redeploy spending rapidly, and to mesh existing investment projects into an overall recovery plan.
Efforts are needed to improve coordination between multilateral institutions, bilateral donors, the authorities, and the civil society organizations, particularly in countries where administrative capacities are limited.
Natural disaster assistance to the private sector should be provided in a way that ensures transparency and minimizes contingent liabilities to the state.
Reconstruction could provide an opportunity to accelerate growth-enhancing structural reforms. Pre-disaster weaknesses and vulnerabilities could be addressed with reforms that encourage competition and modernization beyond standards existing before the crisis.
Designing a comprehensive policy framework for dealing with natural disasters should involve an assessment of the following core pillars: risk assessment and reduction (retention), self-insurance, and risk transfer (insurance).10 These involve elements of ex post emergency response as well as ex ante preparation and mitigation.
Identifying and reducing risk are necessary to lower the impact of disasters once they occur. The first pillar involves identifying risks by studying data on geographic, environmental, and social vulnerabilities, and building these assessments into medium-term development plans. Risk reduction, the second pillar, involves structural and sectoral reforms to lower physical vulnerabilities. Examples include relocating communities from disaster-prone areas, strengthening implementation of building codes, retrofitting existing buildings, or building dams or reservoirs in drought-prone areas. While costly up front, this is the best way to deal with shocks with the largest return over the long term.
The third pillar is self-insurance: building sufficient savings and reserves in good times to draw down in the event of disaster.11 External borrowing and mechanisms like stabilization funds and buffer stocks could also help mitigate the impact of natural disasters.12 However, particularly in developing countries, self-insurance and other ex ante mitigation mechanisms could be costly and will divert scarce resources from much needed infrastructure and social spending. It is therefore important to evaluate the likely ex post impact and the probability of disasters occurring.
The fourth pillar is risk transfer—insurance—which transfers risk externally to capital markets and investors.13 This provides the best channel to reduce the costs of major disasters and provide rapid capital for reconstruction. Recent empirical work shows that countries with deeper insurance penetration have the best outcomes in terms of lower output and welfare losses in both the near and long term (von Peter, von Dahlen, and Saxena, 2012).
Underpinning this framework is an important trade-off: the cost, in present value terms, of coping “after the fact” with major disasters as compared to the costs (including opportunity costs) of allocating resources ex ante towards insurance, self-insurance, and spending to reduce disaster risks. In theory this depends on the relative rates of return; in practice, it is difficult to assess. It may not be clear whether the opportunity costs in low-income countries justify the expected return, particularly considering that post-disaster financial assistance is highly or fully subsidized. The provision of emergency aid to developing countries acts as a strong but rational motivation for under-investing in risk reduction. Haiti, for example, received pledges of US$9.9 billion after the earthquake, 1½ times the value of nominal pre-quake GDP. Hypothetically, the costs to the country of obtaining equivalent insurance coverage would have been prohibitive.
Given the large amounts of international financial assistance provided sometimes to countries after natural catastrophes, there could be scope for strengthening international consultation and donor coordination to develop ways to encourage the allocation ex ante of donor assistance toward risk reduction, at least in countries prone to disasters. Over time this could have a higher return than emergency assistance ex post (and could save more lives).
The same moral hazard forces act within a country between the public and private sectors, where households expect the state to cover post-disaster needs. For example, in Indonesia, most of the destruction from the 2004 tsunami was of private sector assets and activities of lower-income groups in fishing and farming. Since these groups had no insurance coverage, the government assumed almost all of the recovery costs. Separating public risk from private risk poses difficulties for developing the right disaster risk framework. The inability to calculate public risk, and the assumption that all private sector risks will be assumed by the state, has been an important barrier to the adoption of risk-transfer mechanisms in developing countries (Ghesquiere, Mahul, 2010).
Incorporating all four pillars of a comprehensive policy approach, and taking into consideration the moral hazard factors at play, one can appreciate the considerable challenges to integrating risk management systematically and effectively into macro frameworks. For its part, the Fund has made some contributions toward mainstreaming risk management into macro frameworks. The Fund proposed a framework for the disclosure and management of fiscal risks that helps identify vulnerabilities, elaborate scenarios, and prioritize areas of risk mitigation. These guidelines also lay out the administrative framework needed to manage fiscal risks and provide practical ideas for preparing in advance (IMF, 2008). The Fund proposed ideas on ways to improve sovereign debt structures to make them more resilient to crisis (IMF, 2004). For countries vulnerable to natural disasters, the study discussed instruments that hedge against commodity price shocks and bonds indexed to an economic indicator like GDP. The latter, for example, would provide higher payments when GDP growth is strong and lower payments after a natural disaster. The paper also highlighted some of the practical difficulties that have hindered development of these instruments.
The IMF has also increased its risk assessment practices as part of individual country work and at a broader multilateral level (e.g., Early Warning Exercise). However, these tools do not identify explicit risks related to natural catastrophes. Assessing risks and incorporating statistical probabilities about natural disasters into macro frameworks to reflect their contingent costs could be a valuable contribution to helping governments determine the optimal mix of risk retention (reserves, financing) and risk transfer—at least in regions prone to natural disasters. The World Bank has developed a Natural Disaster Risk Financing Framework for this purpose. It helps countries design a national disaster risk financing strategy based on low, medium or high “risk layers” (Clarke, Mahul, 2011).
This paper reviews the literature on the macroeconomic impact of natural disasters and in that context, presents the Fund’s role in assisting countries coping with the difficult challenges they pose. Focusing on seven country cases, policy advice, and financing modalities, the paper illustrates the supportive role played by the IMF in helping countries recover from natural disasters. Fund emergency financing, policy support, and technical assistance have helped governments put together a policy response or build a macro framework that laid the foundation for recovery and/or unlocked other external financing. Further research on the effects of IMF financing in support of natural disasters on growth and fiscal balances would help to inform future deliberations on IMF support to members hit by natural disaster shocks.
The design of the macro policy response could give greater attention to: (i) advance planning for disaster contingencies by ensuring sufficient fiscal space and flexibility within fiscal frameworks to redeploy spending rapidly and to mesh existing investment projects into an overall recovery plan; (ii) recommending that disaster assistance to the private sector be provided in a way that ensures transparency and minimizes contingent liabilities to the state; (iii) using reconstruction as an opportunity to accelerate growth-enhancing structural reforms; and (iv) examining whether disasters have contributed to a weakening in competitiveness.
There is a case for identifying the risks and probability of natural disasters, and integrating them more explicitly into macro frameworks. For developing countries, a rough cost-benefit analysis on the trade-offs between the cost of risk transfer and self-insurance versus an ex-post-only approach might be useful to guide governments on how much to self-insure and how much to allocate to capital spending to mitigate the impact.
Coordination between multilateral institutions, bilateral donors, the authorities and civil society organizations could be improved significantly, particularly in countries where administrative capacities are limited.
The availability of insurance appears to significantly reduce the real costs of disasters without raising fiscal burdens. This is borne out in the literature and by the experience in our small country sample. IFIs could explore ideas about how to help regions and countries develop insurance markets.
Since the availability of emergency financing ex post acts as insurance of last resort and limits country incentives to mitigate the costs of disasters, there could be scope for improved international consultation and donor coordination to develop ways to encourage the use of ex ante donor assistance toward risk reduction, which is likely to have a higher return than emergency assistance ex post.
Nonconcessional loans are available to all IMF members facing urgent balance of payments needs. All non-concessional facilities are subject to the IMF’s market-related interest rate, known as the “rate of charge,” and large loans (above certain limits) carry a surcharge. The rate of charge is based on the Special Drawing Right (SDR) interest rate, which is revised weekly. Low-income countries (LICs) may borrow on concessional terms through certain facilities that became effective in January 2010 under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT), when interest rates on concessional loans were reduced to zero for one year and subsequently extended until the end of 2013 (2012 for Standby Credit Facility loans). The interest rate is reviewed every two years henceforth. The maximum amount that a country can borrow, known as its access limit, varies depending on the type of loan, but is typically a multiple of the country’s IMF quota—its capital subscription. Certain facilities (below) have no pre-set cap on access.
1. The Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) is designed to address short-term balance of payments problems. Program targets aim to address these problems and disbursements are conditional on achieving targets (‘conditionality’). The length of a SBA is typically 1-2 years, and repayment is due within 3¼–5 years of disbursement. SBAs may be provided on a precautionary basis—where countries choose not to draw but retain the option to do so—both within the normal access limits and in cases of exceptional access. The SBA provides for flexibility with respect to phasing disbursements.
2. The Flexible Credit Line (FCL) is for countries with very strong fundamentals and policy track records and is useful for both crisis prevention and crisis resolution. FCL arrangements are approved, at the member’s request, for countries meeting pre-set qualification criteria. The length of the FCL is 1–2 years and the repayment period is the same as for the SBA. Access is determined on a case-by-case basis, is not subject to the normal access limits, and is available in a single up-front disbursement. FCL disbursements are not conditional on implementation of specific policies. Members may draw on the FCL at the time of approval or treat it as precautionary. Repayment term is the same as under the SBA.
3. The Precautionary and Liquidity Line (PLL) replaced the Precautionary Credit Line and can be used for both crisis prevention and crisis resolution purposes by countries with sound fundamentals and policies, and a sound policy track record. PLL-eligible countries may not meet all of the FCL qualification standards, but do not require the large-scale policy adjustments normally associated with SBAs. The PLL combines qualifications with ex post conditions monitored semi-annually. Duration of PLL arrangements can be from six months to two years. Access under the six-month PLL is limited to 250 percent of quota, but can be raised to 500 percent of quota in exceptional circumstances where the balance of payments need is due to exogenous shocks. One to two-year PLL arrangements are subject to an annual access limit of 500 percent of quota and a cumulative limit of 1,000 percent of quota. The repayment term is the same as for the SBA.
4. The Extended Fund Facility (EFF) was established in 1974 to help countries address medium- and longer-term balance of payments problems reflecting extensive distortions that require fundamental and sustained economic reforms. Arrangements under the EFF are thus longer than SBAs—normally not exceeding three years at approval but with a maximum duration of up to four years predicated on the existence of a balance of payments need beyond the three-year period, the prolonged nature of the adjustment required to restore macroeconomic stability, and the presence of adequate assurances about the member’s ability and willingness to implement sustained structural reforms. Repayment is due within 4½–10 years from the date of disbursement.
5. The Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) was introduced to replace and broaden the scope of earlier emergency assistance policies. The RFI provides rapid financial assistance with limited conditionality to facing an urgent balance of payments need. Access under the RFI is subject to an annual limit of 50 percent of quota and a cumulative limit of 100 percent of quota. RFI loans are subject to the same repayment term as the FCL, PLL and SBA.
6. The Extended Credit Facility (ECF) succeeds the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility as the Fund’s main tool for providing medium-term support to LICs with protracted balance of payments problems. Financing under the ECF carries a zero interest rate, with a grace period of 5½ years, and a final maturity of 10 years.
7. The Standby Credit Facility (SCF) provides financial assistance to LICs with short-term balance of payments needs and can be used in a wide range of circumstances, including on a precautionary basis. Financing under the SCF currently carries a zero interest rate, with a grace period of four years, and a final maturity of eight years.
8. The Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) provides rapid financial assistance with limited conditionality to LICs facing an urgent balance of payments need. The RCF streamlines the Fund’s emergency assistance for LICs, and can be used flexibly in a wide range of circumstances. Financing under the RCF currently carries a zero interest rate, has a grace period of 5½ years, and a final maturity of 10 years.
The Policy Support Instrument (PSI) does not provide direct financing, but provides explicit Fund endorsement of LICs’ economic policies. It is a nonlending arrangement that provides policy support and signaling for LICs that have made significant progress in recent years toward economic stability and no longer require IMF financing.
Fund policy advice focused up front on keeping cash moving, ensuring basic functioning of the treasury and payments system, and maintaining financial sector stability. These hands-on efforts were closely coordinated with other donors’ interventions. Compared, for example, to the nature of Fund policy advice in other countries, this reflects the depth of the destruction, the challenges relating to basic infrastructure, and the administrative and technical capacity issues in the country. Over time, Fund staff focused energies on building an arrangement, in close consultation with the authorities, that would provide a coherent macroeconomic framework to boost growth and combat poverty in the context of the National Action Plan.
Together with financing, the Fund has since provided comprehensive technical assistance to help the authorities restore basic state functions and undertake much-needed reforms in the fiscal, financial, and monetary areas. By end-July 2012, more than 35 technical assistance visits had been fielded covering tax policy, revenue administration, financial sector development, exchange rate policy, legal, and statistics. While the country has since experienced prolonged political instability, the steady implementation of appropriate policies by senior officials has continued to foster macro stability and deliver on program objectives, particularly in the area of revenue administration reforms. At this time, capacity constraints pose the biggest challenge for the goals of reconstruction and poverty reduction.
Despite a period of political instability, the authorities maintained macro stability and made considerable progress in key areas, particularly revenue collection and administration reforms. Reconstruction has also provided an opportunity to make some sectors stronger than they were before the earthquake. For example, there are now more children in primary school and more paved roads. The biggest challenge to physical reconstruction, and absorption of the sizable amount of foreign financial assistance, is related to weak capacity and the absence of central coordination. There is a need for better coordination and prioritization and human resource development.
The drought in Kenya in 2011 affected over 4 million, consistent with the literature showing that droughts affect the highest share of populations and cause the most adverse impact on welfare in developing countries. The impact on same-year GDP is estimated at about 0.4 percent. Food prices soared and a shift from hydrological to diesel-generated power led to a marked widening of the current account deficit in a context of high inflation and currency depreciation. This undermined the activities of a manufacturing sector that was faced with higher operating costs as well as frequent power disruptions. The domestic price of maize, a staple food crop, increased by more than 150 percent, and about 5 percent of Kenya’s livestock population was wiped out. The authorities immediately reallocated spending by about 0.3 percent of GDP to help the most vulnerable.
The ECF-supported program aimed to help restore macro stability, build reserves, and stabilize the exchange rate, while also recognizing the recurring nature of droughts and the need for long-term solutions. The program focuses on medium-term fiscal consolidation as a means of rebuilding the reserve buffers that would allow fiscal policy to respond proactively should a new drought occur. At the same time, the macroeconomic framework explicitly provides room for public investments to reduce the country’s dependence on costly oil for thermal power generation, notably through the inclusion of renewable energy projects under the ceiling for nonconcessional borrowing. Combined with the joint efforts by the Government of Kenya, World Bank, and other development partners to invest in irrigation schemes, enhance market mechanisms for the production and distribution of cereals, and improve road infrastructure for access to drought-prone areas, the IMF’s financial support, policy advice, and technical assistance aim to help the government create long-lasting solutions to shield the country from the negative social, economic, and environmental impacts of drought.
Immediately following the Japan earthquake, the monetary authorities took swift and decisive action, conducting coordinated and decisive liquidity injections, launching a loan program for financial institutions affected by the quake, and expanding asset purchases. The Financial Services Agency also contributed, for example, by relaxing conditions for bank recapitalization for regional banks affected by the disaster. Concerted intervention in coordination with the G-7 in mid-March contributed to stabilizing the exchange rate, reduced contagion risks to other asset classes, and mitigated the effects on exports.
The IMF’s support focused on policy advice. Fund staff consulted on an ongoing basis with the authorities and supported their response, which was effective at stabilizing financial markets. The Fund also suggested scaling up the use of unconventional measures to ward off deflation risks and support the recovery, recommending that policies protect against risks of a prolonged economic slowdown and higher market volatility given banks’ significant holdings of government bonds and equities. In this respect, the Fund felt that the central bank could further increase its purchases of longer-dated public securities and expand its asset purchase program for private assets.
Despite concerns about fiscal sustainability, the authorities managed to implement a decisive fiscal response without adverse market reaction. Through existing funds and a series of supplementary budgets, the government has allocated about 3.8 percent of GDP to reconstruction so far. Key expenses included temporary housing, public works, support for financing of small and medium-sized enterprises, earthquake-related transfers to local governments and individuals, and employment benefits and subsidies. Despite the introduction of a temporary tax for reconstruction spending that increases the corporate tax rate by 10 percent (from 25.5 percent to 28.05 percent), the effective corporate tax rate declined from 41 percent to 38 percent in April 2012 following a reduction in the original corporate tax rate from 30 percent to 25.5 percent. The stimulus had only a modest impact on the debt trajectory, which contributed to keeping Japanese government bond yields stable and the impact on sovereign credit default swaps muted.
Japan was able to mount a decisive fiscal response, despite preliminary concerns about fiscal sustainability. Other countries with less-developed financial sectors and shallow pools of domestic savings may have had a much more difficult time. Thus a key observation from the Japan experience is that fiscal space is a key component of crisis mitigation and resolution. The Fund supported the immediate focus of fiscal policy to revive growth, but to limit bond issuance and strengthen commitment to fiscal reform. The Fund also suggested that reconstruction spending be financed by new tax measures, including through a moderate increase in the consumption tax, and take place within a credible medium-term consolidation strategy. Appropriately, the fiscal stimulus was staged as revised estimates of the size and nature of the damage became available.
The two Canterbury earthquakes caused damage to the economy estimated at about 10 percent of GDP, much higher than in many other natural disaster cases. The earthquakes led to a jump in public expenditure by 6 percent of GDP (on an accrual basis) between 2010–11, with about 60 percent funded by the Earthquake Commission, New Zealand’s primary provider of natural disaster insurance to residential property owners.
New Zealand households and firms had extensive property insurance and there is a high level of reinsurance, meaning the majority of privately insured losses will be borne by global insurers rather than New Zealand insurance companies. The total reinsurance payments related to the two earthquakes are estimated at $NZ 12.5 billion (6 percent of GDP). The proportion of insured loss, likely to be at least 50 percent, is high by the standards of other major earthquake events.
Following the second earthquake, the central bank reduced the policy rate by 50 basis points to limit downside risks and the Reserve Bank worked closely with banks and other companies to ensure the availability of cash in Christchurch. Given the weakening of the economic outlook, Fund staff supported this response, and also recommended a gradual return to neutral policy rates once the recovery proceeds as expected. While the quakes worsened the fiscal deficit significantly in the short term, pushing up the fiscal deficit by 4½ percent of GDP in 2010/11, assets of the government-run Earthquake Commission and its overseas reinsurance helped the recovery efforts without putting a big strain on the government’s fiscal position. Staff agreed with the authorities’ plans to return the fiscal accounts to a small budget surplus by 2014/15, one year ahead of the government’s earlier plan, stressing that this would create fiscal space as a buffer against future shocks and would also relieve pressure on monetary policy and hence the exchange rate, helping rebalance the economy and contain the current account deficit. Moreover, the fairly deep insurance penetration in New Zealand appears to have helped limit the impact of the disaster on growth, consistent with the literature.
The country experienced the worst floods in its history in the summer of 2010. More than 18 million people—about 10 percent of the total population—in half of the districts in Pakistan were affected. The floods destroyed or damaged nearly 2 million homes and did extensive damage to roads, telecom and energy infrastructure, crops, and livestock.
The authorities requested assistance under the ENDA, which provided rapid and flexible financial assistance not linked to any program-based conditionality. The upfront disbursement of $450 million was directed toward humanitarian needs and to help finance the government without overburdening the domestic financial market or depleting foreign exchange reserves. The Fund supported the authorities’ plan to work with the World Bank to monitor the use of aid flows to ensure accountability and transparency.
Although it is difficult to estimate the exact economic impact of the floods, GDP increased only 3 percent in 2010/11 compared to pre-flood projections of 4.5 percent. Headline inflation also increased by an additional 2 percent and public finances came under pressure, adding to an already expansionary fiscal policy. As the Fund-supported SBA previously in place had gone off track in June 2010, the floods added new challenges. Macro imbalances were exacerbated after the floods as revenues fell further and higher spending was needed to help affected people and businesses.
The IMF responded promptly with emergency funds. Still under the existing SBA at the time, the authorities maintained a close dialogue with the Fund. Discussions centered on measures to reduce the budget deficit and assure fiscal sustainability, reduce inflation, and protect the external position. Reducing the budget deficit would require higher revenue through tax reform to broaden the tax base, including steps to implement reforms in the general sales tax. The Fund also urged efforts to improve the quality of expenditure by increasing the share of spending on health, education, and infrastructure. Two years after the floods and one year after the expiration of the SBA, the challenges still persist. Continued efforts are needed to reduce the budget deficit to take the pressure off monetary policy and create space for more credit to the private sector, and to improve debt management.
After the 2009 tsunami, the government boosted public spending to pay for a large rehabilitation and reconstruction program, estimated at about 3.5 percent of GDP. The Central Bank of Samoa also extended relief to the private sector by lending directly through the country’s development bank. Together with a slowdown in tourism, this resulted in rising nonperforming loans in the development bank and adversely affected the loan quality of some commercial banks.
The fiscal deficit increased rapidly and, while necessary for recovery, led to a rapid accumulation of external debt. In the fiscal year 2009/10 (July/June), the fiscal deficit rose to 7.5 percent of GDP from 4.2 percent in 2008/09 and remained above 6 percent of GDP for several years after. Public external debt climbed from 45.3 percent in 2008/09 to 53.2 percent of GDP in 2011/12. Considerable fiscal consolidation is now required to bring down public debt and rebuild policy buffers, though there has been some resistance to such consolidation efforts.
Other external shocks, including hikes of global food and fuel prices and the global financial crisis, weakened Samoa’s competitiveness. Along with real exchange rate appreciation, the tsunami reinforced the pressure on the country’s export industries. As a result, economic recovery has been slow—Samoa’s real GDP has not reached its 2007/08 level. On the other hand, a high level of support from development partners has contributed to the maintenance of a comfortable level of foreign reserves despite the real appreciation of the exchange rate. The authorities committed to use only concessional assistance to finance tsunami-related reconstruction.
Hurricane Tomas, which struck St. Lucia in 2010, caused damages estimated at about 43 percent of GDP. Immediate rehabilitation and emergency expenditure was financed through the reallocation of the investment budget and financing received (US$3.2 million) from the CCRIF and the Caribbean Development Bank (US$0.2 million). The Fund provided $8.2 million under the RCF/ENDA three months later. The purchase helped meet immediate foreign exchange needs and played a catalytic role in mobilizing financing from other international financial institutions and donors. The authorities committed to rein in fiscal deficits in the medium term and implement structural reforms that would improve economic efficiency and foster private sector-led growth.
As a member of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union, St. Lucia is constrained from using monetary policy and had little fiscal room to address the hurricane’s damage. The authorities committed to use only concessional funding to finance hurricane-related reconstruction.
BarnichonR.2008 “International Reserves and Self-Insurance against External Shocks” IMF Working Paper 08/149 (Washington: International Monetary Fund).
ClarkeD. and O.Mahul2011 “Disaster Risk Financing and Contingent Credit: A Dynamic Analysis” Policy Research Working Paper 5693 (Washington: World Bank).
GhesquireF. and O.Mahul2010 “Financial Protection of the State Against Natural Disasters” Policy Research Working Paper 5429 (Washington: World Bank).
HallegatteS. and V.Przyluski2010 “The Economics of Natural Disasters: Concepts and Methods” Policy Research Working Paper 5507 (Washington: World Bank).
HochrainerS.2009 “Assessing the Macroeconomic Impacts of Natural Disasters: Are There Any?” Policy Research Working Paper 4968 (Washington: World Bank).
IMF2003 “Fund Assistance for Countries Facing Exogenous Shocks” (Washington: International Monetary Fund).
IMF2004 “Sovereign Debt Structure for Crisis Prevention” (Washington: International Monetary Fund).
IMF2005 “Eastern Caribbean Currency Union” (Washington: International Monetary Fund).
IMF2008 “Fiscal Risks—Sources, Disclosure, and Management” (Washington: International Monetary Fund).
IMF2011a “Review of the Flexible Credit Line and Precautionary Credit Line” (Washington: International Monetary Fund).
IMF2011b “Managing Volatility in Low-Income Countries—The Role and Potential for Contingent Financial Instruments” (Washington: International Monetary Fund).
IMF2012 “Review of Facilities for Low-Income Countries” (Washington: International Monetary Fund).
LoayzaN.E.OlaberriaJ.Rigolini and L.Christiaensen2009 “Natural Disasters and Growth” Policy Research Working Paper 4980 (Washington: World Bank).
MeleckyM. and C.Raddatz2011 “How Do Governments Respond After Catastrophes? Natural-Disaster Shocks and the Fiscal Stance” Policy Research Working Paper 5564 (Washington, DC: World Bank).
RaddatzC.2009 “The Wrath of God: Macroeconomic Costs of Natural Disasters” Policy Research Working Paper 5039 (Washington: World Bank).
RamcharanR.2005a “Cataclysms and Currencies: Does the Exchange Rate Regime Matter for Real Shocks” IMF Working Paper 05/85 (Washington: International Monetary Fund).
RamcharanR.2005b “How Big Are the Benefits of Economic Diversification? Evidence from Earthquakes” IMF Working Paper 05/48 (Washington: International Monetary Fund).
RasmussenT.N.2004 “Macroeconomic Implications of Natural Disasters in the Caribbean” IMF Working Paper 04/224 (Washington: International Monetary Fund).
Von PeterG.S.von Dahlen and S.Saxena2012 “Unmitigated Disasters?—New Evidence on the Macroeconomic Cost of Natural Catastrophes” (Basel, Switzerland: Bank of International Settlements and International Association of Insurance Supervisors; and Washington: International Monetary Fund).
Most researchers, including the studies cited in this paper, rely on the CRED database. This comprises over 18,000 mass disasters compiled since 1900.
Developing countries here are comprised of all low-income countries and middle-income countries as defined by the World Bank classification (http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-classifications).
Various cost definitions include direct costs, indirect costs, market and nonmarket (intangible) losses, output losses, and welfare losses (Hallegatte and Przyluski, 2010).
Interest rates on concessional facilities are reviewed bi-annually. Loans under the ECF and RCF (but not the SCF or outstanding credit under the ESF and EPCA/ENDA) will charge a zero interest rate until end-2013.
The PCDR was established in 2010 to provide exceptional debt relief to help lower-income PRGT-eligible members meet exceptional balance of payments needs created by catastrophic disasters, and the subsequent recovery, complementing fresh donor financing and the Fund’s concessional financing through the PRGT.
The CCRIF is a regional insurance scheme involving 16 countries. International Development Association funds paid for 100 percent of the countries’ membership fees and premiums for the first two years. Haiti received US$7.8 million after the January 2010 earthquake, while St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines received payouts of US$3.2 million and US$1.1 million, respectively, in October 2010.
Empirical research by the authors on the impact of Fund emergency lending in support of natural disasters on economic growth and fiscal balances is forthcoming.
Refinements could include “relaxing timing restrictions on access under the SCF; giving ECF users the option to forego disbursements when the member’s balance of payments position improves; and making the design of the Policy Support Instrument (PSI) more flexible while preserving its signaling function” (Review of Facilities for Low-Income Countries, PIN No. 12/108; IMF, 2012).
Under Article IV of the Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members every year and discusses with officials the country’s economic developments and policies. Upon their return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.
See IMF Country Report No. 05/305, August 2005.
Self-Insurance defined in the literature is the inter-temporal transfer of national resources, and would include domestic borrowing and external savings (external borrowing and possibly remittance flows) (IMF, 2005).
For example, FONDEN is Mexico’s Fund for Natural Disasters. It was established in the 1990s as a mechanism to support the rapid rehabilitation of federal and state infrastructure, low-income housing, and parts of the environment. It consists of two budget accounts, one for reconstruction and one for prevention. | 2019-04-25T12:07:57Z | https://www.elibrary.imf.org/abstract/IMF001/20041-9781475512717/20041-9781475512717/20041-9781475512717_A001.xml?rskey=uB1vE2&result=10 |
Businesses are actually coping with not as long time to showcase product expansion scenarios. They are as well qualified to receive long lasting, low-interest loans to recover via announced problems. They generally rely on projects to please buyer demands. As a result, the company can trim back staff expenses just like salary, benefits and yield. In scenario planning, this envisions feasible future influences and makes a plan to cope with every you. The little organization doesn’t have to repay the funds or give up a amount of fairness inside the business.
The company should certainly take certain efforts to enhance the product’s popularity available on the market once even more, both by decreasing the price of the product, gently tapping new markets or perhaps withdrawing an item from the market. In the middle of taut competition, firms could even reduce their rates in response to the hard times. Coordinator business will be asked to offer a mentor per research man. They might start off all their account in this article. The organization will certainly alert ASEE they are all established to access an agreement. Without aligned economical offers, high end companies are not able to follow the nationwide security industry and consequently, various advanced professional solutions refuses to ever are able to the warfighter. In the deficiency of entirely free change, big and well-connected businesses and businesses can get unfair benefits, for case, capacity to gain from taxes loopholes.
With our help you will be able to track down the programs that fit your preferences and status you to benefit from government programs that should be accustomed to strengthen Many businesses competition worldwide. The program is presently simply being rolled out with different populations. The bit of small enterprise programs will be reauthorized through budgetary year 2022. The training is inclined to improving their self self confidence and offering them the possibility at starting to be self reliant so they will aren’t totally dependent after job. Entrepreneurship Education was first used in numerous adjustments to attain many different targets. The application and collection technique could be challenging nevertheless cooperation may enhance the likelihood of delivering a strong and successful proposal. The application form procedure could be intimidating and demands lots of hard do the job, nevertheless the permits give you a great outstanding condition for small-business owners hoping to grow. Ideally, the setting up process should certainly require almost all of the associates.
Make certain everyone knows the way to take advantage of the systems in the workplace and they appreciate the operations about just how to seek aid. Free-enterprise methods force makers of products and offerings to do hence efficiently. Technology may also support reduces costs of the manufacturing procedure, eradicating high priced waste material. Although new-technology may cause personal savings in the long term, you might monitor some considerable in advance expenditure. Innovations like the net, for example, enable a single operator to provide her goods or services to prospects around the globe through the using a site. Commercialization of study results is certainly likewise a vital intention on the program.
One of many chief benefits of technology is a way it will help even small enterprises compete on the worldwide stage. First-mover benefits is crucial. Among the absolute most critical benefits of the free-enterprise procedure is the versatility of the economy. Upon hauling in, you’re going to be provided the opportunity to create a textured username and password. You may appearance for a finance opportunities designed for products or services your small internet business offers. It can be imperative to comprehend the requirements of the individual company when ever determining which usually framework is among the most powerful for every single circumstance. If you’ve got an idea for an innovative products, you can get the help of Debut UK to develop it and let it to be effective.
Businesses are actually coping with shortest the perfect time to encourage product development scenarios. They will are also eligible for long term, low-interest financial loans to recover out of reported unfortunate occurances. Sometimes they count on projects to please consumer needs. As a consequence, the company can cut back worker expenses just like salary, rewards and return. In circumstance planning, that envisions likely future consequences and makes a plan to deal with every single you. The little business doesn’t have to repay the funds or perhaps give up a share of value in the company.
The organization should certainly take specific efforts to increase the product’s popularity in the industry once more, possibly by simply decreasing the price of them, gently tapping different markets or withdrawing the product right from the market. In the middle of hard competition, businesses could even decrease their prices in response towards the hard times. Number business will probably be asked to provide a mentor for every research member. They may start all their profile below. The company can inform ASEE all are place to get into an arrangement. Devoid of lined up fiscal incentives, high-tech companies could not go after the countrywide reliability marketplace and thus, many sophisticated commercial technology refuse to ever get to the warfighter. In the insufficient totally free change, big and well-connected businesses and industrial sectors can acquire unfair rewards, for case, capability to gain from duty loopholes.
With this help you can track down the courses that match your requirements and spot you to make use of government programs that will need to be utilized to strengthen Numerous businesses competitiveness worldwide. This software is at this time simply being rolled out with different masse. The bit of small business courses will be reauthorized through economic season 2022. The training is provided to improving their self self confidence and giving them a chance at starting to be self reliant so they will aren’t totally dependent after occupation. Entrepreneurship Education was first applied found in numerous adjustments to achieve a variety of targets. The applying and variety process could be challenging nevertheless relationship can enhance the odds of delivering a robust and prosperous proposal. The application form procedure can be intimidating and demands lots of hard work, but the funds offer you an outstanding target for small-business owners wanting to grow. Essentially, the setting up procedure should require pretty much all of the affiliates.
Assure everyone understands the way to utilize the systems in the office and understand the processes about just how to get help. Free-enterprise methods drive manufacturers of products and products and services to do hence proficiently. Technology could also help reduces costs of the creation procedure, getting rid of costly throw away. When new-technology can easily cause savings in the long term, you could monitor a substantial in advance charge. Innovations like the net, as an example, allow a bottom manager to provide her goods or services to prospects around the world through the using a site. Commercialization of research results is usually likewise a crucial intention with the program.
One of many chief advantages of technology is the way it will help even small enterprises compete on a worldwide stage. First-mover advantages is crucial. One of the absolute most significant benefits of the free-enterprise process is the flexibility of the economic climate. Upon logging in, you might be provided the chance to create a unique security. You may appear for capital opportunities to get products or perhaps services the small online business offers. It can be imperative to understand the requirements of the individual organization the moment deciding which structure is considered the most successful for each situation. If you an idea pertaining to an impressive products, you can receive aid from Innovate UK to develop that and enable this to be powerful.
Businesses are actually dealing with is diminished a chance to showcase item development scenarios. They are as well eligible for long term, low-interest loans to recuperate via announced really bad problems. They frequently count on projects to fulfill consumer needs. Because of this, the company can trim back staff expenses like salary, benefits and proceeds. In scenario planning, it envisions practical future positive aspects and makes a plan to manage each an individual. The little organization doesn’t need to repay the funds or perhaps give up a portion of money in the business.
The company ought to take specific efforts to boost the product’s popularity in the industry once even more, possibly by simply decreasing the price of an item, gently tapping cutting edge market segments or pulling out the product by the industry. In the middle of inflexible competition, corporations might even reduce their prices in response for the hard times. Number business will be asked to provide a mentor for each and every research many other. They may commence the account below. The organization are going to tell ASEE they all are established to access an agreement. Not having aligned economical benefits, excellent firms simply cannot go after the nationwide secureness marketplace and therefore, a large number of state-of-the-art professional technology will not ever get to the warfighter. In the lack of completely free make trades, big and well-connected businesses and establishments can acquire unfair rewards, for case, ability to gain from duty loopholes.
With our help you can easily track down the programs that suit your needs and job you to reap the benefits of government programs that will need to be accustomed to strengthen Many businesses competitiveness worldwide. This program is at this time staying rolled out with different populations. The small online business programs are reauthorized through fiscal calendar year 2022. The education is provided to improving their self self confidence and supplying them the opportunity at turning into self dependent so they aren’t fully dependent upon job. Entrepreneurship Education was first utilized in numerous options to achieve various goals. The applying and variety process could be daunting but effort can easily improve the odds of delivering a strong and prolific proposal. The applying procedure can be intimidating and demands a lot of hard job, however the grants provide you an outstanding potential customer for small-business owners aiming to grow. Preferably, the planning process will need to entail almost all of the associates.
Be sure everyone knows the way to use a devices inside your business office they usually appreciate the processes about just how to get assist. Free-enterprise methods drive companies of products and products to do therefore efficiently. Technology can also help boost the production treatment, removing high priced waste materials. Whilst new technology may cause personal savings in the long term, you may discover a considerable straight up price. Innovations just like the net, as an example, enable a lone founder to provide her goods or services to prospects around the world through the usage of a site. Commercialization of exploration results is likewise a significant intention on the program.
One of the chief advantages of technology is the way it can benefit even small enterprises compete on a worldwide stage. First-mover advantages is crucial. One of the absolute most significant benefits of the free-enterprise procedure is the flexibility of the economic system. Upon signing in, you’re going to be provided the opportunity to create a eye-catching security password. You are able to check for loan opportunities just for products or services the small enterprise offers. It really is imperative to comprehend the requirements individuals institution once determining which usually composition is considered the most successful for every situation. In the event you a great idea for the purpose of an progressive products, you can acquire the help of Improve UK to develop that and enable that to be good.
Businesses are coping with is diminished time for you to encourage merchandise expansion situations. That they are also entitled to long lasting, low-interest financial loans to recover via announced accidents. They often rely on assignments to fulfill buyer requirements. On those grounds, the company can cut back worker expenses like salary, benefits and yield. In situation planning, that envisions practical future positive aspects and provides an impressive plan to cope with each an individual. The little business doesn’t have to repay the funds or perhaps give up a portion of resources inside the firm.
The company should certainly take certain efforts to enhance the product’s popularity available on the market once more, either simply by reducing the price of the item, tapping fresh markets or withdrawing an item via the sector. In the middle of firm competition, firms may possibly even reduce their prices in response towards the hard times. Number business will be asked to provide a mentor for every single research fellow. They might commence their particular profile here. The business enterprise can advise ASEE all are place to go into an contract. Devoid of aimed fiscal rewards, excellent corporations could not pursue the national security marketplace and therefore, various state-of-the-art commercial systems refuses to ever reach the warfighter. In the lack of totally free make trades, big and well-connected businesses and businesses can acquire unfair benefits, for model, ability to gain from tax loopholes.
With our help you have the ability to locate the programs that fit your requirements and standing you to gain from government programs that ought to be used to strengthen America’s businesses competition worldwide. This program is at the moment getting presented with different populations. The small internet business programs will be reauthorized through money time 2022. The education is provided to improving the self assurance and offering them the possibility at being self reliant so they aren’t totally dependent after employment. Entrepreneurship Education was first utilized found in numerous adjustments to achieve various objectives. The application form and variety method could be challenging although relationship can enhance the likelihood of delivering a robust and prolific proposal. The applying procedure could be intimidating and demands plenty of hard job, however the grants give you an outstanding potential client for small-business owners hoping to grow. Ultimately, the preparation treatment ought to entail each and every one of the associates.
Guarantee everyone knows the way to take advantage of the systems within your workplace and they understand the procedures about how to get assist. Free-enterprise approaches pressure suppliers of goods and companies to do and so proficiently. Technology may also help boost the creation treatment, eliminating expensive waste. Although new technology can cause cost savings in the long term, you may study some considerable in advance expense. Innovations just like the net, for example, enable a main proprietor to provide her goods or services to prospects all over the world through the usage of a site. Commercialization of exploration results is definitely likewise a significant intention on the program.
One of many chief advantages of technology certainly is the way it can benefit even small enterprises compete over a worldwide stage. First-mover gain is crucial. One of the absolute most important benefits of the free-enterprise process is the overall flexibility of the economic system. Upon visiting in, you’re going to be provided the opportunity to create a special code. You may check for loan opportunities with respect to products or services the small business offers. It truly is imperative to know the requirements of the individual institution when ever determining which will composition is among the most effective for every single scenario. In the event you a great idea designed for an progressive service or product, you can acquire the help of Improve UK to develop this and allow it to be effective.
Businesses are actually working with is diminished time to promote product expansion scenarios. They are as well entitled to long-term, low-interest loans to recover via reported catastrophes. Sometimes they rely on projects to meet customer needs. On those grounds, the company can trim back worker expenses like salary, rewards and revenues. In situation planning, that envisions conceivable future final results and provides an impressive plan to deal with each you. The little organization doesn’t need to repay the funds or perhaps give up a the proportion of fairness in the provider.
The company ought to take particular efforts to improve the product’s popularity available on the market once more, possibly by minimizing the price of the idea, gently tapping unique marketplaces or withdrawing the piece by the sector. In the middle of solid competition, corporations may even reduce their rates in response for the hard times. Hold business will be asked to provide a mentor for each research partner. They might begin their profile below. The business enterprise is going to alert ASEE all are arranged to get into an arrangement. Without in-line fiscal rewards, high-tech corporations cannot go after the national security marketplace and therefore, a large number of cutting edge commercial systems refuse to ever are able to the warfighter. In the deficiency of completely free investment, big and well-connected businesses and businesses can acquire unfair rewards, for case in point, capability to benefit from taxes loopholes.
With our help you can easily discover the applications that fit in your preferences and situation you to gain from government programs that should be utilized to strengthen Numerous businesses competition worldwide. The program is at this time simply being rolled out with different populations. The bit of small company courses are reauthorized through budgetary years 2022. The training is provided to improving their particular self self-assurance and offering them the opportunity at turning out to be self dependent so that they aren’t absolutely dependent after occupation. Entrepreneurship Education was first used in numerous configurations to attain a number of aims. The applying and collection method could be daunting although relationship can enhance the likelihood of delivering a robust and beneficial proposal. The applying procedure may be intimidating and demands lots of hard do the job, however the gives give you an outstanding prospect for small-business owners wanting to grow. Preferably, the planning process should certainly entail each and every one of the associates.
Ensure everyone knows the way to use a devices within your workplace and in addition they understand the processes about how to find support. Free-enterprise techniques induce manufacturing businesses of products and solutions to do and so effectively. Technology also can help streamline the processing procedure, reducing costly throw away. Although new-technology can cause savings in the long term, you could monitor a substantial in advance price. Innovations such as the net, for example, allow a lone manager to provide her goods or services to prospects around the world through the using a site. Commercialization of exploration results is undoubtedly likewise a vital intention of this program.
Among the chief benefits of technology is definitely the way it can benefit even smaller businesses compete on the worldwide level. First-mover gain is crucial. Among the absolute most crucial benefits of the free-enterprise method is the flexibility of the economic system. Upon carrying in, you’ll certainly be provided the opportunity to create a one of a kind security password. You may appear for a finance opportunities meant for products or services your small small companies offers. It really is imperative to comprehend the requirements of the individual firm once determining which framework is considered the most powerful for every circumstance. If you’ve got a great idea for the purpose of an innovative products, you can obtain aid from Improve UK to develop it and enable it to be effective. | 2019-04-26T04:26:30Z | http://careereq.com/articles/category/uncategorized/page/2/ |
Former DMNA Council member John Bach recently suffered a heart attack. We wish him and his wife Thea Bach, a current DMNA Council member, the best.
John and Thea would appreciate your prayers and best wishes.
It’s a little late in the season, but there’s still an opportunity to plant a garden plot in Marlborough Park and get a harvest.
Plot D5 in the large tilled part of the community garden has been abandoned and can be rented. It has a sign on it for those who want to check it out first.
Contact Micah Kloppenburg at 246-4730, ext. 236 to sign up for this plot.
Bedding plants such as tomatoes, cabbages, or peppers would probably do well as would green beans planted from seed or onion bulbs. It’s probably too late to start carrots, radishes, peas, or most other seeds that are more dependent on cool weather to get a good start.
The Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood sign project lurched forward two more notches recently.
On May 15 City of Madison Common Council approved the location of the sign on the Beltline Frontage Road near Seminole Highway. It will be located in the right of way 8 feet back from the curb in front of Midwest Financial.
A previous plan to locate the sign on Seminole Highway itself turned out to be infeasible due to the lack of right of way and obstructions on the adjacent property.
This week the DMNA sent a check for $1,433 to Cary Signs to start the process of designing the sign. That amount is half the cost of designing, producing, and installing the sign. It was a required deposit to initiate the work. The money will eventually be reimbursed from a City grant.
The sign will be horizontal, 3x6 feet, and no taller than 5 feet. Landscaping will complete the project but probably won’t be installed until fall.
Besides the DMNA Council, the most active neighbors working on this project are Kent Seeker, Mary Mullen, and Susan Kilmer.
The sign has been in the works since 2010.
The recall election for the Governor and Lt. Governor drew many voters in the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood and all over the state. We had a near-record turnout from our neighborhood.
In the Madison portion, 678 of the 940 registered voters cast votes for a turnout of 72.1%. 161 voters registered at this polling place on Election Day. Overall City of Madison turnout was 73 %.
The turnout at the Fitchburg District 1 polls at the Jamestown Fire Station was 76.7%. 455 voters registered at this polling station on the Election Day. District 1 has voters from Wards 1-4. The Fitchburg part of our neighborhood is Ward 1. The overall Fitchburg turnout was 80.8%!
Although the outcome is old news, political aficionados may be interested to learn that the Madison part of the neighborhood voted 90% for Tom Barrett for Governor and 10% for Governor Walker. The count for Lt. Governor was 91% for challenger Mahlon Mitchell and 9% for Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch.
It’s not possible to know how the Fitchburg part of the neighborhood voted specifically, since 4 different Fitchburg wards vote at the Jamestown Fire Station #2. However, the overall vote at that Fitchburg polling location was 76% for Barrett and 24% for Governor Walker. In the Lt. Governor race, Mahlon Mitchell got 77% of the vote and Lt. Governor Kleefisch tallied at 23%.
By comparison, the County voted 69% for Barrett (30% Walker) and 70% for Mitchell (30% Kleefisch).
Had it been up to our neighborhood, or Dane County, for that matter, we’d have a new Governor and Lt. Governor.
The City of Fitchburg is sponsoring a Public Information Meeting on the Cannonball Path Phase 2 & 4. This will be an opportunity to see preliminary plans, discuss the project with City staff and the design consultant, and provide input on the project.
Time: Open House: 6:30-7:00 p.m.
The Cannonball is going to be a very important connector for the areas south of the Beltline between Fish Hatchery and Verona Rd. It will more or less parallel the Cap City Trail, but with fewer steep grades and better access to some underserved residential areas. The path goes right by Leopold Elementary School, which is going to provide a fantastic route to school for those kids (and their parents and teachers.) Also, there will be a new bike-ped crossing of the Beltline just east of Todd Dr that is much needed.
For many more details about the path, read the next article.
The City of Madison, City of Fitchburg and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) began planning in early 2005 to develop a paved, multi-use path on the abandoned Union Pacific Railroad (formerly C&NW) corridor. This railroad begins where the Military Ridge Trail diverts out of the railroad corridor at the Weight Station along Verona Road, south of McKee and goes northeast across the beltline (USH 18/12/151) east of Todd Drive to about 1,000 feet north of the Beltline.
The operator, Wisconsin & Southern Railroad (WSOR), applied for abandonment in 2005. Madison acquired the property under a Rails-to-Trails agreement in 2008. WDNR awarded a Stewardship grant covering approximately half the $2.4 Million purchase price.
The full project will be a 10-foot wide, paved path 4.5 miles long, with an additional 0.4 miles of paved connecting paths including the Apache Boardwalk which provides a connection to the Belmar neighborhood. It will significantly improve local and regional bike / pedestrian mobility, connecting large neighborhoods in Fitchburg and Madison to downtown Madison (via bike lanes on Fish Hatchery Road). A segment of the new path may be designated as the Capital City Trail, replacing an existing segment that has poor geometrics.
connect large residential neighborhoods in both cities to each other, to the UW Arboretum, Leopold Elementary School, Dunn’s Marsh and other conservancy lands, to parks and other destinations.
On an annual basis over 100,000 trips are expected on this facility, many of these primarily for transportation purposes. Project benefits include safety, improved bike and pedestrian mobility, economic development, tourism and reduced traffic congestion on alternatives routes. Offstreet paths elsewhere in area have shown potential to attract significant numbers of commuters to non-motorized transportation modes, reducing automobile trips with resulting noise and air quality benefits. There will not be trail user fees for this path, and it will be snowplowed for year around use.
The first phase of this multi-phase project was completed in 2010 by the City of Madison. This phase was from the Capital City Trail in the Highlands of Seminole northeast to Greenway View in the City of Madison.
Madison is currently designing Phase 3 for construction in 2013; a bridge over Beltline Highway. This bridge project will include extending the path from Greenway View to over the Beltline. Ultimately the City of Madison plans to extend the path to Fish Hatchery Road along the same corridor.
The remaining sections of the path, Phases 2 and 4, extend from the Military Ridge Trail northeast to the section of path built last year by the City of Madison.
We have received Federal Transportation Enhancement (TE) funding in the amount of $480,000 for this section of path. The local share is $330,000.
The City of Madison was responsible for design and construction of Phases 1 and 3, while the City of Fitchburg is responsible for the design and construction of Phases 2 and 4. It should be noted that segments of Phase 1 and 2 include joint jurisdiction between the municipalities. The Memorandum of Agreement identifies a cost sharing arrangement for these two segments. We have a total of $810,000 in the CIP for this project. Of this; $480,000 is the federal funding, $177,000 is borrowed; and a fund balance of $153,000 for an easement that was acquired by the Madison Water Utility within the corridor.
engineering, finalize the plans and prepare the Programmatic Environment Document required by the DOT for the federal funding. This will allow the project to be able to proceed in fall of 2013.
Boardwalk from the Cannonball path to Crescent Road which will provide a link to the Belmar neighborhood adjacent to the recently constructed Apache Pond.
amount of $43,500 for the design of the Cannonball path including the design of the Boardwalk connection and the path lighting.
Whalen Road is being resurfaced between Fitchburg Road and Fitchrona Road at the west edge of Fitchburg, just a few miles south of the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood. In addition, paved bike lanes are being added to Whalen between Seminole Highway/Badger State Trail Crossing and Fitchburg Road. Pavement markings and signage will follow.
There are no bike lanes planned for Seminole south of Lacy in the near term. These were lowered in priority due to the parallel Badger State Trail.
Also in Fitchburg’s 5-year capital improvement plan are paved bike lanes around the rural part of the City of Fitchburg on up-hill stretches such as the one leading to the summit on Whalen just east of Fish Hatchery.
A neighbor with a view of Marlborough Park reports that cars continue to use the park’s bike path and are also parking next to the shelter.
Park rangers in their white vehicles and City authorities are allowed to use the bike path for their official business and duties in the park, but no private person is permitted to drive into the park.
Don’t drive in the park, and if you notice anyone doing so, take down their license number and call the Madison City Park Rangers at 235-0449 or the non-emergency police at 266-4275.
It’s also a good idea to keep a log of illegal drive-throughs since police or park rangers usually can’t get to the park before the vehicle has passed through and disappeared onto the streets. If we can establish a pattern of violation, the rangers and police can do a better job of keeping these cars on the streets where they belong.
All gardeners arriving to work on their plots should park on the street and walk in.
Dogs are not allowed to run loose in Marlborough Park.
Dogs are welcome if they are on leash and on the pedestrian/bike path. They are not allowed to be running loose dragging their leashes.
Roundabouts are a fairly new traffic device in the United States. I’ve used them rather tentatively. One neighbor has told me - in the context of the plans to have a roundabout under Verona Road - that she will never use one.
Like them or not, I recently read in the On Wisconsin alumni magazine, that University of Wisconsin research shows they drastically reduce traffic accidents that cause injury and death. The UW’s Traffic Operations and Safety (TOPS) Laboratory studied 24 Wisconsin roundabouts between 2009 and 20011. The study found that accidents causing injury and death had decreased by 52% compared to the traditional intersections. There was an increase in minor collisions, those that damaged vehicles but didn’t hurt or kill people.
In roundabouts, motorists enter the circular intersection by turning right. They also exit to the right. The traditional intersection has motorists go through an intersection either straight across or by turning right or left. Cars can hit head-on or one can crash directly into the side of another.
There are about 50 roundabouts in the state now with another 100 planned in coming years.
A nearby roundabout is near South Towne. Another is at the intersection of Mineral Point Road and Pleasant View Road on Madison’s west side. Mt. Horeb has several.
The one planned as part of the Verona Road/Beltline project will permit Dunn’s Marsh residents to get to the other side of Verona Road or get on Verona Road going west. It will also allow motorists coming off the Beltline or going west on Verona Road to enter our neighborhood.
You’d think it would be easy for the City of Madison computer wizards to go into their database and correct an error in the name of the Assembly Representative on the page they keep on the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association.
Even a letter from our Assembly Representative Terese Berceau that was also signed by Assembly Representative Brett Hulsey - who was incorrectly listed - did not do the trick. Now the City website does not list any State Representative or Senator.
However, after a flurry of e-mails it now links readers to “Who Are My Legislators?’ on the State site <http://legis.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/waml/waml.aspx> <http://legis.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/waml/waml.aspx> . Readers simply put in their address in the blanks. While two sets of answers come up, only the first set is correct.
One has to wonder why a human being can’t go in and make a simple correction. The answer is that this part of the database is automated, and doesn’t allow individual names to be put it.
Apparently we will have to wait until November for this error to automatically self-correct.
Meanwhile, be assured that Terese Berceau [Ber-so'] is indeed our State Assembly Representative, and Fred Risser is our Sate Senator.
You can contact Representative Berceau at (608) 266-3784, [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> , or by mail at 127 West, State Capitol, P.O. Box 8952, Madison, WI 53708. Her office is 127 West in the capitol. Senator Risser’s contact information is (608) 266-1627, [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> , or by mail at Room 130 South, State Capitol, P.O. Box 7882, Madison,WI 53707-7882.
Mary, I do wish this was a simple fix [getting the correct State elected representatives on the neighborhood association website]. The automotive system is based/runs off of our GIS address based system. We do not have the ability to go in and override (change out) a name. That would be too easy!
The “Neighborhood Website” is scheduled for upgrade later this year. I will address with our IT Department the issue of neighborhoods that cross municipal boundaries. I will advocate to have our two municipalities enter into an agreement (or whatever it takes) for the of City of Fitchburg to provide data access/maintain the portion of the site that lies within their jurisdiction.
This is to let our friends know of the Jamestown Neighborhood Garage sale on June 15 and 16. Take Williamsburg Way west off Verona Road and look for signs and balloons! There will be a bake sale on Saturday. Come join the fun.
The Quarry Hill neighborhood garage sale is also June 15-16 this year. We are located at the southeast corner of the intersection of Lacy and Fish Hatchery roads, across Lacy from the Library and City Hall. There will be signs on Fish Hatch directing you into the 'hood!
For the Fourth year in a row, Dane County will hold a free e-waste collection event at the Alliant Energy Center, allowing area residents to drop off unwanted, computers, electronics, and TVs, for recycling, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi announced today.
This year’s event will take place on June 16th from 8am until 2pm. Past events, believed to be the largest in North America, have helped prevent an estimated 1.6 million pounds of electronics from going into area landfills.
Electronics that will be collected during the event are: personal computers (including keyboards and mice) and computer monitors, printers, scanners, fax machines, television sets of all sizes, calculators, cell phones, radios, stereos, telephones, DVD and CD players, and VCRs.
All electronic materials will be responsibly handled in an environmentally, safe and secure manner, using the best data wiping software available. Dane County has developed a system to help move vehicles trough the lines quicker and more effectively. Last year’s event had wait times of less than 5 minutes.
The electronics drop-area for the event will be in the back parking lot of the Alliant Energy Center. All vehicles must enter either the main entrance off Rimrock Road or the entrance off Olin Avenue.
The free electronics drop off day is made possible through the county’s partnership with Vintage Tech, LLC. Vintage is partnering with electronics manufacturers to cover all the costs of this collection.
For more information, contact Casey Slaughter Becker, Office of the County Executive (608) 267-8823 or cell (608) 843-8858, or Jan Neitzel-Knox at Dane County Public Works, (608) 266-4029.
Work to implement the County Board’s multi-million dollar, multi-faceted Clear Lakes Initiative is underway. The 2012 budget includes $5.7 million to begin work to remove carp and prevent new infestations in Cherokee Marsh and Mud Lake, clean up beaches, reduce phosphorus, form a new Lake Preservation and Renewal fund, and upgrade storm sewers to keep sediment out of the lakes.
The county is working with the DNR this summer to study the carp populations in both Cherokee Marsh and Mud Lake (Roxbury Township) in preparation for possible removal in the winter months; is working with the UW Civil Engineering Department regarding sediment reduction and, in early May, installed floating bog interceptors to monitor the ability to capture sediment and protect the Cherokee Marsh shoreline.
The County budgeted $2 million in 2012 to improve storm sewer outfalls so rain runoff does not deposit sediment in the lakes. The Dane County Department of Land and Water Resources has solicited proposals and 10 projects have been submitted. The department will evaluate these projects for funding in the coming weeks.
The Lake Preservation and Renewal Fund allocates $3.4 million in 2012 specifically for land acquisitions that will improve the quality of our lakes and waterways. At their meeting on May 17th, the County Board approved the acquisition of 40 acres of land on the south shore of Lake Waubesa that will open 1,400 feet of lakefront shoreline to the public in the South Waubesa Marsh Natural Resource Area. The county used funds from the 2012 Lake Preservation Fund, and partnered with the Natural Heritage Land Trust and the Town of Dunn to acquire lands within the Marsh. The purchase of 40 acres is believed to be the largest remaining stretch of undeveloped, privately owned shoreline along the Yahara Chain of Lakes, and the acquisition will be the County’s first acquisition in the South Waubesa Marsh Natural Resource Area.
Strand and Associates, funded by the Clean Lakes Alliance, Dane County, the City of Madison, the Madison Community Foundation, and the Madison Metropolitan Sewage District is developing a detailed plan to implement the September 2010 Yahara CLEAN recommendations (www.yaharawatershed.org <http://www.yaharawatershed.org> ) to reduce phosphorus, sediment loadings, and beach pollutants. The Strand report will not be officially released until November. The 2012 county budget includes $250,000 for implementation activities, and $1 million annually for the subsequent four years. Potential projects include a winter cover crop demonstration and a demonstration of using an Alum treatment to remove phosphorus from tributary streams to the Yahara lakes.
The Clear Lakes Initiative provides funds to partner with municipalities to install deflectors to keep algae off beaches. This builds on a program that was begun with booms at Bernie’s Beach and Olin Beach in the last couple of years. In the next few weeks the Department of Land and Water Resources will be installing booms at Bernie's Beach, BB Clark Beach, Olin Park and Warner Park. The Department of Public Health for Madison and Dane County will conduct beach assessments this summer at both Goodland and Mendota County Parks to identify practices that could benefit beach water quality there.
Only five months into the year, many of the components of the Clear Lakes Initiative are underway. The initiative is a 5-year, $27 million dollar, effort. The implementation of the initiative demonstrates the county’s on-going commitment to lake health, recreational opportunities, and the economic benefits of lake enjoyment. The ultimate goal of this effort is to improve the quality of life and economy of the entire county.
Dane County and its partners will celebrate 25 years of lakes and watershed improvement from June 1 through June 17. Visit www.takeastakeinthelakes.com <http://www.takeastakeinthelakes.com> to learn more.
Ever wonder how much water went out through the hose or sprinkler when you forgot to turn it off? The Madison Water Utility is upgrading all water meters to wireless technology that will allow customers to track just how much water they use a day.
A annual report flyer from the Water Utility notes that during 2012 and the first part of 2012, every home and business in Madison will be visited either to install a new meter or retrofit the old meter. The completed system will let customers track water usage online daily, received bills monthly, detect leaks, and see savings from water conservation efforts.
Currently, customers learn their water usage once every 6 months.
Customers will be contacted by mail to arrange an installation appointment. Installation should take no more than 90 minutes. There is no charge to the customer.
Madison Water Utility customers may now pay their water bills automatically from their accounts. Fill out the attached form and send it in.
Customers may choose billing dates of the 5th, 15th, or 25th of the month.
Old toilets use a lot of water. As part of its water conservation program, the Madison Water Utility continues its rebate program.
Residential customers in single-family homes or condos can qualify for the $100 rebate. Apartment owners can also claim the rebate.
Visti the Madison Water Utility website at www.madisonwater.org <http://www.madisonwater.org> .
Fitchburg has a similar program. For more information on the Fitchburg rebate program, call the Fitchburg Utility Office at (608) 270-4270.
Does diversity training work to reduce prejudice? Often it does not. But a University of Wisconsin professor has found a method that does. What is it?
Markus Brauer, a UW psychology professor, has found that posters showing photos of a variety of people of the same racial or ethnic group who all look different from each other - age, attractiveness, facial expression, gender, skin color, and formality of clothing - and who are labeled with positive and negative traits, reduces prejudice and discrimination.
My guess is that it helps the poster viewers realize that people in the ethnic or racial group are individuals rather than simply Black, Arab, Latino, Chinese, or you-name-it.
I think the poster becomes a substitute for actually knowing a variety of people of a particular group - something that we of the majority color and culture often don’t. Instead of the negative mental image taking over whenever one thinks of or sees someone of a different color or culture, the viewer “learns” that “those people” are just as various as one’s own group - and prejudice disappears.
Tracy Nelson never thought she could be having a stroke. She was a young, healthy woman. Strokes only happen to seniors, right? But at age 42, she suffered a stroke and learned firsthand that a stroke can happen to anyone, at any age, at any time.
Fortunately, she survived after receiving treatment from the University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Stroke Program. Today, Nelson has made it her mission to teach others about the signs of stroke and to support stroke research at the UW Hospital.
The Fourth Annual Slow Pokes Against Strokes Run/Walk brings together stroke survivors – like Tracy – along with family, friends, and community members to raise money for stroke research that could save the life of a loved one. The fun run/walk will be held at McKee Farms Park in Fitchburg on Saturday July 7th, 2012 at 9AM. Run or walk through 1/2 mile, 1 mile, and 3 mile distances. Same-day registration starts at 8AM.
The event is sponsored by Folks Against Strokes, a community group dedicated to increasing stroke awareness and to supporting stroke research at the University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Stroke Program.
"Stroke can affect you for the rest of your life, which is why raising awareness of the symptoms and the need for further research is essential to prevention and treatment," says UW neurologist Dr. Matthew Jensen.
Every 40 seconds, someone in America has a stroke. Stroke is a loss of brain function due to a clot or bleeding in the brain. It spreads like a fire in the brain. Swift emergency action can limit damage and dramatically increase a person's chance of survival.
Stroke kills more women than breast cancer and AIDS combined, and is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability in the United States. Yet stroke research remains disproportionately underfunded. Most people do not recognize the warning signs of stroke or know how to take timely action.
The University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Stroke Program provides state-of-the-art care in managing all kinds of stroke, prevention, and rehabilitation. The UW Hospital and Clinics have been designated as one of the top 100 stroke hospitals in the United States.
Visit www.folksagainststrokes.com <http://www.folksagainststrokes.com <http://www.folksagainststrokes.com> > for more information and to register. A $20 donation is suggested, which includes a t-shirt.
I just came across information that one of the Lt. Governor candidates will be in Belmar Park in our neighborhood at 4 p.m. today, June 1. Belmar Park is at the corner of Red Arrow Trail and Jenewein Road.
Anyone who wishes to meet Mahlon Mitchell is welcome to attend.
Note: The DMNA does not support or oppose candidates, but it does encourage people to learn for themselves about the candidates. One good way is to see them or talk to them in person, especially if they are in the neighborhood. | 2019-04-20T23:03:05Z | http://dunnsmarsh.blogspot.com/2012/06/ |
Over recent months, I, the scribe of these somewhat peculiar articles, have purposely uninvolved myself from joining in all the prophesying over blood moons and eclipses and the like- not because I see no truths in the writings of John Hagee, Jonathan Cahn, and others, but only because it has not been my lot to ascribe to works that were likely given for others to disclose in our day.
Nor do I believe that their exegeses are composed of mere mystical interpretations, for clearly Scriptures inform us from the beginning that luminaries in the firmament are for omens, portents, and appointed signs of the times and seasons. In my opinion, everything has a specific place and time with higher meaning waiting to be discerned.
Last night, however, I decided to assemble a collage of messianic pictures (I believe all public domain images) on the backdrop of a blood moon, signifying that the tetrad occurring during the moedim (the Torah’s appointed times) correlates with the Altar of Sacrifice and its four corners that profess the blood of Christ to the “four corners” of the world, such as during the moed of Sukkot. It came to my mind that out of all that I have seen written about the tetrad blood moons and eclipses, I could not recall anyone teaching what the moon appearing blood-like infers from a biblical, spiritual point-of-view. While Bible enthusiasts and exegetes associate the four blood moons with Jews being cast out of Spain in 1492, during the Spanish Inquisition, and like significant dates, they rarely consider the moon itself with its confession of blood.
The sun is scripturally symbolic of God and Christ, as the “Light of this world” and the “Sun of Righteousness.” Jesus Christ (a.k.a. Yeshua haMashiach) is like rays of His enlightenment shining down on Earth. The moon is a heavenly body like religious people who imperfectly reflect the Sun of Righteousness’ light of judgment, for it is locked into an earthly attraction and has different phases of reflecting the Greater Light. Sometimes the moon fully professes the blood, but more often it does not, and its light is limited in its phases. Hence, we know that the moon was created to simulate those who wish to spiritually shine, declaring God’s truth to a world that spins in and out of darkness.
Moreover, I think it is important to look at corporeal aspects of the moon in order to find spiritual counterparts. All of creation witnesses to truths in God’s Word and vise-versa. It is written in Romans 1:20-21 (NKJV) that the “wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them,” and that “since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so they are without excuse.” Apostle Paul went on to write that foolish hearts- those who do not believe in the Creator despite all the brilliance found in nature- are darkened, and they exchange the glory of God’s works for the Grecian, evolutionary worldview, posturing that we were created from spontaneously generated animals that transformed over time (basically creating ourselves and evolving via progeny).
In other words, all of creation was created by and according to the Word, and the creation professes God’s glorious works, spiritual laws, and truths with its corporeal counterparts. Most of the intellectuals of the world, however, are either ignorant of these parallels or suppress symbolism of the Divine works found in nature for their own materialistic ideas and errant philosophies.
We have essentially established two facts from Scriptures for the biblical worldview: 1) All things were created by the Word and for the Word, and 2) all things witness to the biblical God and the Word: manifest in flesh via Messiah (as the Son, Right Hand, as an Extension of God to humankind). Too often Bible-believers surrender to thinking that allows materialists to express undue authority and suppress interpretations of empirical facts that lend no support to their worldview, as if spiritual symbolism has no place in God’s creation. Hence, heavenly things that profess the Word of God are largely unknown.
However, this time of secular dominance over interpreting heavenly and earthly things is coming to an end, only the materialists of the world do not know it, just as they are ignorant to biblical “signs of the times.” These are the days of the “restoration of all things” by the Holy Spirit, Messiah, and His enlightened saints. Discernment of all of God’s biblical truths will soon come, not only by spiritual revelation but also through their corporeal counterparts.
♦ The moon appears to be the exact same size as the sun in the sky, whereas it perfectly eclipses the sun at various times, as seen at various places on Earth. This is because the sun is actually 400 times larger than the moon, 400 times farther away from Earth (which is no coincidence).
♦ The moon orbits the earth at a distance equivalent to 30 Earth diameters.
♦ On the nearside of the moon, facing us, there are approximately 300,000 craters, mostly in darker patches, whereas on its far side such patches are lightly scattered.
♦ On the nearside of the moon, vast plains (marias, meaning seas in Latin) cover about 30% of its surface.
♦ The moon cannot support any water on its surface because it has no atmosphere; hence, any water poured-out on its surface would suffer decomposition from the sun and drift into space.
♦ Centuries ago, the moon was believed by astronomers to have water, but the plains- the seas- were apparently formed from flowing basilic lava that emptied into its many dark craters and hardened.
♦ The moon exhibits a slight gravitational pull on everything on Earth, which we individually do not notice, but its pull causes significant marine bulges, creating greater ocean tides than the sun would produce alone.
♦ The moon’s surface hosts about 14,000 sq. kilometers that exist in perpetual darkness.
♦ It is believed that frozen water might exist at lunar poles, just below the surface.
♦ At the south pole, the moon has a crater that is second largest in the solar system.
♦ The moon’s lighter-colored regions are its highlands, composed of staunch-smelling glass silicone dioxide, according to some lunar rock researchers.
Again, the first biblical thing that should be discerned is that the moon represents entities who reflect the“Sun of Righteousness”– His enlightenment and scriptural judgments. Thus, in a previous article, I asserted that the “lesser light,” placed within the firmament on the 4th day of the Genesis restoration, represents Satan coming to Earth. How so? Satan, meaning the adversary or enemy of humanity, is the “Accuser of the Brethren,” and he utilizes Scriptures and Divine commandments to oppose and punish mortals for breaking God’s eternal laws; thus, he reflects the Greater Light’s judgment on those who dwell in ignorance or who have fallen into darkness- the dark side of the world.
In this perspective, Lucifer, meaning Light-Bearer, seeks to share in God’s glory just as the moon does the sun, although at the expense of those who live in darkness. This is so because even the judgments of God are indeed glorious and reflect His greater, panoramic will for a righteous mankind. Therefore, we collectively suffer because of evil in the world.
However, the moon is not perfect, which is discerned by the fact that it sometimes blocks enlightenment from the sun during solar eclipses. Further, the moon is regularly eclipsed by Earth (i.e., by earthly darkness). By error-of-omissions of light, it does not always fully shine upon the dark side of the world, which can be discerned in crescent moons, half-moons, etc.
Thus, the crescent moon is an appropriate symbol of erring Islam, for their book (the Quran) has some truths of God’s judgments and enlightenment with biblical personage in it, for it borrowed much from the Judeo-Christian Bible; yet it leaves its body of believers mostly in spiritual darkness. For the religion’s faithful observers, there is a crescent light of truth for them to glorify, whereas they do not perceive that the greater portion of their religion is often or completely in darkness. Likewise, Satan offered knowledge of good mixed with evil intent in the fruits given for Adam and Eve; Eve saw that the fruit was desirable for food, and they ate, but they ate in disobedience, and they only later discerned the darkness of his good mixed with evil.
Yet the corporeal/tangible moon is not evil; it is but a heavenly sign that all entities fail at perfectly reflecting the Greater Light, for we are all attracted to earthly things and shine in darkness. When the moon fully shines, it nicely reflects light to us from the sun. The moon simply symbolizes that none of us perfectly reflect God’s full judgments to the world- not at all times. Some religious people may believe that they always shine perfectly bright to enlighten the wicked world, but assuredly they do not. The moon is truly an earthly body, having essentially the same soil composition as Planet Earth, and its orbit is to and from the Earth, like Satan, with Earth at its orbital center. Moreover, even the most illuminated Bible-believer has not yet attained perfection, for our thoughts run to and from earthly things. Sometimes our zeal for judgment is actually out-of-place and eclipses the greater revealing light that God wishes to shine.
Now that we can better conceptualize the role of the moon in biblical symbolism, we should be able to discern Israel’s symbolic relationship with the lunar body. Indeed, even the appointed feasts which Jews today keep are ordered according to the lunar-solar cycle rather the solar calendar. Before the Gospel was sent into the world, Jews alone reflected God’s judgments and light to mankind, which is not an easy role to relinquish to solely follow the true Sun of Righteousness. Today, many Jews still seek to pull the waters of the Word to themselves alone, battling the pull of the Sun of Righteousness, much as the moon does with its gravitational pull on the seas.
Yet the moon also enhances the sun’s pull when positioned correctly in the heavens (i.e., in spiritual compliance). This leaves many Gentile believers questioning how a nation that so witnesses to our Light (the Messiah Yeshua) also pulls so strongly against Him as an opposite gravitational pull. Yet, how much less would we have been affected by God’s call if not for the Jews who first pulled nations (like waters of the seas) towards Him? At times Israel was a perfect witness, and their words were recorded for us all, just as the moon appears the same shape and size as the sun when it fully shines and does not seek to eclipse the sun.
Again, the moon and sun appear the same size because the moon is 400 times closer to us, meaning that the sun is 400 times larger. If we did not know these associated heavenly facts, we might naïvely conclude that the sun and moon are practically equal, as did many of the ancients.
God, however, never meant for Israel to remain in the Old Covenant of partially reflecting His light alone- writings that are kept forever as witnessing shadows of the works of God through Christ. Israel, as Prophet Jeremiah foretold, is to receive of the New Covenant, which is a covenant that extends far beyond outward works of the heavenly body and is confessed by the Spirit in the heart (see Jer. 31:31-33). Whoever keeps only the shadows of the Law will experience times of ignorance and darkness, enslaved to the earthly things in which they cannot perfectly project God’s light upon, even as the moon is enslaved by Earth’s attraction.
Hence, breaking free from Egypt after 400 years symbolized breaking free from dark shortcomings of the world to bathe in the light of liberty and revelations. In the wilderness, the children of Israel did not know what the peculiar things that God commanded them to reflect meant, only that they were chosen to perform their corporeal duties as liberated people. Indeed, they were servants of God left to shine on the dark side of the world, although they happily reflected in paleness the Light. But now God is calling for greater things, for revelations standing in the Greater Light.
The question is then begged: ‘What do all these things have to do with the four blood moons- the tetrad- appearing on Jewish, Old Covenant holy days?’ Simply put, the sequence of four blood moons means that Jews as a nation are now beginning to confess the blood of Messiah’s sacrifice and reflect the truth of the Sun of Righteousness in light of His sacrifices. Much as the lambs were slain after 400 years, and the blood was placed on their doorposts to protect them from the Angel of Death, God is awakening them to the 4 millennial days in which the blood of the Lamb fulfilled all their lunar moedim- their appointed times to meet with God. Like the moon’s scarred sur-face that has long been displayed to the world below, Jews have witnessed to Christ’s sufferings in the shadows of their sorrows.
Indeed, our satellite has taken many devastating hits as punishment from the heavens, directed towards Earth, leaving it both marred and deeply scarred. And Jews have historically served such a role, fully reflecting Divine judgments that the Sun of Righteousness endured.
It should be of no wonder that many rabbis have mistaken the passage to pertain to the whole nation, although we know it speaks of One who suffered for the prophet’s people. They see all the great scars and craters and ancient ruins of Israel and not that Israel was merely reflecting the Light of God. Nonetheless, the scars are hidden when the sun shines bright, and the darkness of the heavenly body is hidden by reflecting His enlightenment.
Hence, this is the good news of Jews’ awaited atonement: When Jews who recognized Yeshua were pressed away and thus unable to rescue Him at His trial, an angry mob arose and exclaimed, “Let His blood be upon us and our children!” But God took this call for good and not for evil. What they meant for cruelty, God would use to save them at the end. For this is the love of my God YHVH, in accordance with all the precepts of the Law: that atonement would be given for this people, that all Israel would be saved at an appointed time. Beyond the appointed remnant over the past two millenniums, the nation would be turned back in their hearts to the ancient truths. As per the Law of Moses and the Levites, Jews of old and today would be covered by the blood of the Father’s own Lamb, for a New Covenant of their heart, even according to their own words. In other words, what some Jews meant for evil, saying, “Let His blood be upon us and our children!” the Lord counted for good in an everlasting covenant of Israel’s national atonement.
This is the mystery of the blood that confesses how all Israel shall be saved, according to the Law of covenants, and it is righteous because God Himself blinded the Jews to Messiah (see Rom. 11), that Gentiles might partake of the election, offerings, and join in the hope for salvation.
Moreover, if Jeremiah promised a new covenant from God, and every covenant must be cut in blood for the nation at the agreement of the priests, and sprinkled upon the people according to their own words, what other covenant is there than the awaited Messiah? So He who would “sprinkle many nations” was also led as a lamb to the slaughter for His own people. By the Holy Spirit, Ruach HaKodesh, the Temple High Priest, Caiaphas, said that “it is expedient for us that one Man should die for the people, and not that the entire nation should perish” (see John 11:50).
Further, the price of silver was paid by the kohanim, and it was prophesied that Yeshua would gather together in one all the children of God scattered throughout the world (11:52). So it is that the confession of the moon turning to blood- figuratively, as the world grows dark to the Sun of Righteousness- is related to the Sun of Righteousness arising with healing in His wings for Israel, before the Deliverer returns to Zion. The moedim feasts of Israel confess the blood of Christ’s sacrifice, and the nation will learn and dwell in His light.
Religious Jews say that Elijah must come first and declare the coming of the Lord Mashiach, and reveal Him to the people, anointing Him. And I say, these are indeed the days of Elijah and Moses, anointed by the Lord, and the Day of YHVH quickens upon us. Soon, Zion will give birth to the Kingdom of twelve stars, shining in the Sun, and the moon that has supported this will be under her feet (Rev. 12:1). But before that day comes, nations will continue to cast away the light of the Sun of Righteousness, to live in darkness (see Ps. 2), but Israel will come to confess the blood even in these darks days.
As for the remaining signs, (2) the moon orbits the earth at a distance equivalent to 30 Earth diameters because 30 years of age is the legal requirement of when Israelites can begin reflecting God’s works as priests and rabbis, as was Messiah when He began teaching His talmudim. At such a height from earthly to heavenly things, enlightenment can be properly reflected upon the world. Those enlightened, however, have no water to offer of their own (5, 6), like the moon, but they must draw the waters of God’s Word to themselves in order to affect the coastlines and the nations of the seas. The Sun of Righteousness will decompose any works that entities reflecting Him try to keep, as He has the false prophets who sought in times past to add their uninspired doctrines to the waters of the Word. Indeed, it is an ancient illusion for the Latin religion (4) to perceive the moon possessing its own seas (marias), which in Hebrew means bitter, for there is no doctrine higher than God’s Word, and there is no equal authority in any religion that seeks to reflect God’s judgments on the world. Yet (10) the moon may hide frozen waters below its surface, even as Bible-believers have a solid foundation when the Word is established in our hearts. Their marias (or dark plains) that cover about 30% of the nearside surface, with 2% on the far side, suggests that 16% of the world will believe the traditions that Rome has sought to make equivalent with the Word. The synchronous rotation reveals that there is a darker side to the religion that is hidden from the world’s view, and only the scars of victimhood are facing us. Like the (11) second largest crater in the solar system, our sacrifices are second to Christ’s. And even the darkness that appears to be gleaming white (8) is only because the light of the Sun is reflected. On the nearside of the moon, facing us, (3) there are approximately 300,000 craters, mostly in darker patches, and this shows the rippling theme for the 3 days remaining in the heavenly week. When 3,000 years from the cross are complete (which is a Divine ripple of the greater number), the impacts of Christ’s sacrifice will be fulfilled. As for the (9) moon’s surface retaining about 14,000 sq. kilometers that exist in perpetual darkness, spiritual darkness will be no more at the Great White Throne Judgment of the 14th millennium (see Moedim Paradigm). Finally, (12) the moon’s lighter-colored regions are its highlands, and this is a reminder that we can ascend to reflect truths in glory, and need not dwell in perpetual darkness below.
So what is the moon- that ball of light in the sky, so close to Earth? In many ancient myths it was the wife of the sun. From Old English we are faced with a pagan goddess, named after Mona. Others have personified the moon as the Latin Luna. Our Groom, however, purges His appointed Bride through trials and tribulations, as the scarred moon, and by His own blood. After all, it really does not matter what pagan religion and human ideas have been associated with the moon, for God created all things to witness to His own works of redemption through Christ. And all Hebrew moedim of seasons and times will be professed as empirical evidences by the Bride when she is fully enlightened.
The moon simply shows that all spiritual entities who wish to shine their light of enlightenment on the world must fall short of the glory of the Sun of Righteousness, but at their best they can fully reflect His judgments on the dark side of the world. At best they can confess His blood sacrifice. They want to appear as great as God, even eclipsing Him for their own glory, but they can never give life to the world nor sustain life. Sometimes they draw the waters of the Word to themselves, opposing God as they run to and from the earth, caught in its attraction, and sometimes they work with the Sun to pull the waters to Him, confessing Him to the nations. We are all spiritual creatures, and we can all reflect God’s light, and sometimes we come around and confess the blood of His sacrifice. Through His light our darkness is covered, and through His light we shine. | 2019-04-21T06:26:20Z | https://mysteriesofthescriptures.net/2015/10/03/prophetic-moon-in-biblical-symbolism/ |
The managers of development teams are in serious trouble! Since they are responsible for the people maintaining and enhancing an existing set of products and services, and possibly creating and developing new ones, enough people with the right skills are needed to get all these jobs done. Anything less will cause the team to collapse from being under-skilled or overworked. And they’re being squeezed hard to do more with less.
Management’s primary job is maintaining balance. It’s a business Zen thing, balancing the team getting tasks finished with low risk and low cost, while being organizationally accountable both upward and downward. Controlling this risk and trying to reduce it over time while positioning a team to keep moving forward despite the organization is a huge challenge, a serious and difficult task.
So just how can current and new work be completed with only the existing members of a team? A smart manager will grow the proficiency of the team members to get the work that needs doing done. The best way to make this happen is by enhancing the abilities of the members through a good skills acquisition process. Over a period of weeks a team can go from adequate to proficient, ready to face new challenges head on. And with a good plan for acquiring new skills, the team will become confident that anything can be accomplished.
In this first post of a multipart series, I discuss the ways that skills are acquired and how they can be used effectively.
A skill is an ability that may be acquired by a person. Skills are generally unknown until learned, though some level of proficiency may have been attained previously when learning a related or similar skill.
A smart manager must try to anticipate the skills a team needs to deliver assigned and anticipated projects. If there is a skill-gap — when there is a need for a person with a particular skill that is not available on the team — projects could be delayed, deadlines could be missed, good opportunities could be lost, and heads might even roll. Critical skill-gaps can stop a team or even a business in its tracks. Team members should have a high level of proficiency in as many required or anticipated skills as is reasonable.
It is hard work to ensure that team members acquire required skills. The principal ways to raise a member’s proficiency in a skill are through play, by listening to stories, through mentoring or apprenticeship, by taking classes or attending lectures, by pairing team members together, and by learning from external experts.
The most natural way to acquire and enhance skills is through play. It is one of the first self-initiated activities humans engage in after pure instinct, and from it the first skills are learned. In childhood, after socialization begins, play becomes more complex leading to the growth of other, more difficult skills. As people age, play feeds upon itself and the skill acquisition cycle keeps repeating with more and more complexity being mastered.
Play usually turns inward very early in life. Senses constantly pass in stimuli, and as it is absorbed by the sponges of the mind, the voices in our heads are constantly trying to rationalize the world. Play is what puts things in their mental places. Right and left brains play with each other as they develop, sometimes working together to reach common goals and sometimes at odds, roughhousing with each other.
Why are people’s personalities different? I conjecture that at the root it is because as people grow, their thinking assembles itself in different ways according to what gets into their heads and how well their two hemispheres play together. As play is at the root of learning, it is also at the root of how we become ourselves.
Play does not stop with childhood. It covers a very wide spectrum of human experience throughout a person’s life. Often the way a person first encounters a completely new concept is through hands-on experimentation or some kind of wordplay like a metaphor or an allegory, creating a small foothold where an upward climb can be started. Young or old, a little play can go a long way to ascend to very great heights of proficiency. And for some, acquiring skills through play is very rapid.
People who acquire skills by playing have their own learning biases. Some people need to physically do a thing to learn it and enhance their skills, playing outwardly. Others attain mastery inwardly by just thinking about how something is done, playing with things in their head. Play is an absolutely reasonable way to learn and acquire skills, just as valid as any formal learning technique.
But play is only one way. We all have experienced methods that transcend it.
One of these transcending methods is listening. The mind seems well-adapted to integrate knowledge by listening to a storyteller - the better the story and the teller, the more focussed is the listener, the more complete is the integration of information. And discussion of the stories? That is a mashup of listening and play.
Listening is not just about words. Parents often teach their young children life lessons by telling them stories with strong emphasis and emotion, sometimes acting out dialog in different voices, sometimes even accompanied by song when the learning must be deeply ingrained.
It may seem curious that dialog and music have such a large additional impact on learning for children, but at some time in their lives nearly everyone has experienced its power. It comes very naturally to most of us. Consider the game of telephone — transferring only words down a chain of people is quite difficult. Words can quickly become miscommunicated when translated through many sets of mouths and ears. Telling stories with dialog and singing stories to music expands learning into multiple mental channels, reinforcing lessons and more deeply embedding the communication.
As children age, learning through simple storytelling is augmented by learning to read and write. But the advent of reading and writing is relatively recent history. Before writing, knowledge was transferred by storytelling, and often the rules which governed practicing skills were set down in rhymes or songs that could be repeated while working. After writing, skills could be described and taught through reading - if the learner knew how to read. Up to just a few centuries ago, most people couldn’t. People learned about the world from those who could, and learned complex skills through apprenticeship.
Before reading became ubiquitous, almost all professions that required a high level of expertise were learned through apprenticeship. Typically over the course of many years, a master would raise up an apprentice, teaching skills only when the apprentice was ready (or worthy). Only when the master decided the apprentice was fully trained would mastery be acknowledged. It was a long-term, high-stakes game for both the master and the apprentice.
A master had work to deliver and a reputation to uphold, and could not afford a poor apprentice that could easily compromise the business. If the master were lucky, an unworthy apprentice would fail fast and a new one could be chosen to start the training. If the master weren’t so lucky, an apprentice might train for years before failure, and a lot of time would have been wasted. Some masters took on several apprentices at a time to try to insure some would be trainable without putting business at risk.
An apprentice had worries as well. A poor master might not pass along the skills needed to become competent in the profession. Years of training might be useless, and the apprentice might then be too old to pursue the same path under another master. There was also a possibility that the master might become unable to teach during the course of an apprenticeship because of old age, injury or death.
When a willing and able apprentice and a competent and well-skilled master found each other, both could become better and their skills could grow beyond what either could have done individually. This is the best that could be hoped for. But a master could only teach so many apprentices, and an apprentice could only learn so much from one master. Getting a well-rounded education was not possible through apprenticeship.
So being apprenticed to one master for many years was fundamentally flawed, especially as the number of new skills to learn began to grow more and more quickly. A master might be able to keep up with this growth in a small domain, but the tree of knowledge tends to cross-pollinate, and new skills were becoming needed that apprenticeship alone could not provide.
The solution to this problem was the basis for creating classes and schools. With classes, a master could expound on a subject to many apprentices at once, and an apprentice could learn from many different masters. Masters became professors or instructors or teachers and apprentices became scholars or pupils or students. People could choose the skills they wished to learn from acknowledged experts - the high stakes of apprenticeship were significantly reduced.
Apprenticeship turns out new masters, but classes turn out partially-skilled graduates. Unless the graduate has interned with other professionals, it’s unlikely the classroom-acquired skills will be sufficient. It’s not that these graduates aren’t good; it’s just that they’re missing the seasoning they would have gotten through apprenticeship. They’re missing the tricks of the trade. To become masters, students need to gain real-world experience.
The solution for this problem is a kind of ad hoc apprenticeship. Professionals and graduates are placed into small groups - usually pairs - that work together and learn from each other. It’s not just the less-skilled gaining proficiency; the masters can keep their skills current through exposure to what the apprentices are bringing in.
In pairing, everyone is a teacher and everyone is a student.
Pairing has significant benefits for its members (and the team) when doing work, such as each keeping the other focused, the generation of ideas that neither would have thought of on their own, and the reduction of the thought-fatigue that comes so easily when a problem becomes frustrating. For these reasons, fortuitously, two people pairing produce more work than two people each working alone.
Pairing is not enough. Even on a team whose members share skills freely with each other, even when new skills are introduced by the members, there will be skill-gaps. It’s unavoidable. The ever-growing world changes too quickly to keep up with every improvement, and some important, relevant ideas are bound to be missed.
Sometimes an expert from the outside must be brought in to help the team reach a raised bar. Specialists today are much as the masters from older days, highly-skilled and able to solve certain problems that nobody else on the team could handle as quickly or effectively. While these experts are often paid to come in and do a particular job, they should always be paired with team members so that their skills can be added to the team’s repertoire.
While much of the previous discussion is a somewhat historically-based portrayal of learning skills, all of these methods of acquisition are still used today. A smart manager will recognize that not all people become proficient in the same way. Each may use different combinations and variations of these methods to acquire a particular skill. All acquisition methods should be available to whatever degree is appropriate to maximize the team’s skills.
In the modern development workplace, there are general do’s and don’ts with respect to acquiring skills.
Play A percentage of regular worktime should be allotted each week and team members should be encouraged to use it to explore new areas of interest. They should be able to do this alone or with others. Recognition should be given for useful efforts. During hard deadlines or emergencies, play should be reduced or suspended. If the entire worklife is nothing but hard deadlines or critical emergencies, there are serious problems in the workplace, and they should be addressed quickly before burning out the team.
Listening Reading to keep aware of changes in the field should be mandatory. Lunch-and-learn sessions should be held regularly to share knowledge. Blogging is recommended for those who enjoy writing. Attending and possibly presenting at meetups and conferences should be encouraged. Spreading knowledge in the spirit of the storyteller helps both the listener and the presenter, or reader and author. It can lead to conversation, but it must be coherent. Controversial subjects or those that are not-safe-for-work must be avoided. Confidential topics need to stay in-house.
Apprenticeship Formal mentoring programs can be useful for fresh team members without much experience. Informal mentoring between any master and apprentice should be welcomed. Members who spend more than a small amount of their time mentoring clearly have a lot to give back to the team and should be recognized. An apprentice needs to be given an opportunity to use learned skills. Sometimes a master may just take over rather than allow an apprentice to fail and learn from mistakes. Care must be taken to keep the master and apprentice working together as a team, or neither will fully benefit. Balance is very important.
Classes Team members who benefit from learning in a physical or virtual classroom should take advantage of these opportunities. In some cases, a prescribed course of education may be required to hasten learning and mastery in specialized areas. Recognition should be given for all classes passed. Mandatory attendance at formal classes should never be the only option; there should always be coverage of a class available from notes or through a self-paced program. Some team members will push away from a classroom but go to every lecture on new topics that they can. Different Folks and strokes are the rule.
Pairing Pairing should be used whenever it is helpful (which in most situations is always.) However, it can be quite jarring for individuals who have not experienced pairing before. It all depends on how well team members communicate. Even if all else fails but the pair communicates well, some learning will happen by accident. Pairing is not a panacea, but it does help level-set the team. Some of the best pair-ers I’ve known tended to work most effectively by themselves, but they were experts with years of working alone behind them. A mix of some pairing and some individual effort often gives good results. Also switching pairs frequently can keep things fresh.
External Expertise Experts should be used when specialized skills are needed in a hurry, and there isn’t time for team members to acquire them. An expert should not be brought in without well-defined work and mutually agreed upon details of what is required for the work to be done. A team member should always pair with the expert to capture new skills. Experts have different agendas than the rest of the team. They are there to get the work done for the money, not to become part of the team. They should not be expected to act with the same interests as a team member does. If educating team members is desired, they should pair with the experts until a target level of proficiency is reached.
In today’s professional climate, no one can afford to stand still. Unless a job is simply getting work done without improving a team, acquiring and enhancing the skills of its members is a requirement, not an option.
Talent is a quality or ability that is inborn, rather than acquired. It can’t be taught. Though skills may be acquired by study, practice or training, generally a person without talent will never achieve the same level of ability as a person with it. You either have it or you don’t.
Talented people should consider themselves very fortunate. In their own particular way, they have a leg up on the rest of the world. But they should be careful they aren’t fooling themselves. Some talents require constant practice or else they peter out, and others have a limited lifetime no matter how much attention they are given. This is not saying that talent is not good; but a learned skill can be counted on while talent is less reliable. Acquiring a skill requires effort, even for a talented individual. They should serve themselves by acquiring skills rather than just counting on what they have to last forever.
If a person is not especially talented and must work harder to acquire a skill, they should not dismay. They’re in the majority, and they get to choose what to learn rather than be tied only to the skills that align with a talent. At the end of the day, if they’re investing the effort to acquire skills, they won’t have to worry. They are the ones that will be relied upon. People have more faith in a hard-earned skill than a special talent. Projects are accomplished by people with acquired skills.
To effectively execute a portfolio of projects, a smart manager must understand the difference between talent and skill. If the plan to deliver a project requires a talented individual rather than a skilled one, the manager had better have an ace up their sleeve. Talent is hard to find, harder to keep, and may not deliver. A manager should always try to plan for helping the team acquire skills. If talent is available, so much the better, but that bet shouldn’t be counted on without some hedging. Invariably, more skill is available than talent - and skill is what is needed to get jobs done.
Sometimes the acquisition of skills should take a back seat to the work a team has been charged with. It isn’t always about learning, sometimes it’s more about finishing.
When given a job to do that has a short life, something that a less-skilled member would struggle with while someone skilled could finish quickly, there may not be a lot of impetus to focus on skill acquisition. This is especially true if the work is unlikely to be revisited in the near future. In this case, it’s probably better to just go ahead and have the skilled member do the work.
For a longer job, or one that will frequently recur, it is probably time to pair up team members and let them acquire skills. The member that is new to the system will benefit from the knowledge of the old hand, while the questions asked will typically give them both cause to dig into the work, with tricks and secrets being revealed and discussed, learning and reinforcement going hand-in-hand.
When two skilled members of a team are paired to work together, there won’t be a lot of subject-learning going on. Instead subtlety and nuance will be enhanced — skills related to getting work done generally. For skilled members, acquiring these broader skills is probably more important than task-oriented skills since they can be applied to completely new types of work.
When two lesser-skilled members are paired, it can become a real problem. Though they may reinforce each other, it can quickly degenerate into the blind leading the blind. If the subject is foreign to both, the work will proceed slowly. It may involve false starts, goose chases and rabbit holes, and in the end will have to be reviewed closely by skilled workers who may wonder which town these rubes rolled in from.
When experts are brought in, they should always be paired with team members, never isolated or permitted to be paired with each other — because if that happens, the skills that could have been acquired walk out the door when they’re done. It makes sense to pair an expert with a team member who already has skills in the subject being targeted so they can guide the expert through the way-we-do-things-here labyrinth. They can keep the focus on the real work that required someone from outside the group to come in and help with. The member will then have some new enhanced skills to share with the rest of the team and keep everyone’s skill sets growing.
A smart manager will pair members of the team carefully, according to these guidelines, trying to mix up the pairings to keep things fresh and grow camaraderie, while maximizing the speed of skill acquisition without compromising the quality of the work or its delivery to customers. The trick is in figuring out the pairing. I will discuss this in the next post of this series. | 2019-04-24T01:03:34Z | https://www.callibrity.com/blog/managing-skill-acquisition-1 |
Greetings, Loyola! Recently I gave a seminar on the design of the Loyola website–how we got here, and how our campus web editors can (and do!) impact the overall look of Loyola’s online presence everyday.
I’m going to break it down for you here.
You wouldn’t buy a car without knowing that you could derive some value from its use. The same holds true for your college degree. And with 53% of recent college grads jobless or underemployed, families are more closely scrutinizing the value of a college degree. That’s why it’s more important than ever for us to specifically identify the tangible skills that students will gain from earning a degree in your department.
Writing, public speaking and presentation skills, academic research and analysis of data – these are all marketable skills that employers are looking for and prospective students want to learn. They’re topics we should be talking about on the Loyola website.
To make your words more meaningful, be concise and use pictures to illustrate your points. We could spend paragraphs talking about the essays that students will write when attending school, but ultimately, the reader will boil down those paragraphs to one point – our students are well versed in the written word. So we don’t need to hammer them over the head to make that point.
Show, don’t tell your readers. Our students are very successful. I’m sure every university says something to this effect on their website. The better way to illustrate this point is to give examples. Remember to use the student, faculty, and alumni successes to tell the story. Including photos of the person whose success we are celebrating will drive home the point more clearly to our prospective students and their families.
Earning a college degree will teach you a lot about negotiating life with limited resources, meeting deadlines, and how you as a person fit into the larger world. Earning a degree from a Jesuit university will teach you about your obligation to the world to share your skills and talents with others.
We are not a community or technical college, but contrary to popular media on the topic, students from a liberal arts university such as Loyola leave school with tangible skills that prepare them for careers in a great many fields. Since our students are investing in their future, they want to know about these skills – organizational management, scientific research, forensic investigation. The more specific your explanations, the more helpful the information will be to your website’s readers. General overviews of department events or faculty interactions with students are less helpful than the specific takeaways.
If you ever a question about the wording or the quantity of content, web communications is here to help. Please contact either myself or my colleague, Chantrice Banks. We will offer you the latest data on what works and what doesn’t and our best advice on your specific question.
This post is a follow-up to a seminar I recently presented to our Loyola web editors. The goal of that presentation and this post is to look at practical, basic ways to look at how you are engaging your visitors and the success of your marketing strategies using Google Analytics as a tool.
Don’t hide behind your numbers. Talk to the people that use your website and receive your emails. Ask someone if they had trouble finding something on your website. Do they feel like they get too many emails from you? Did they like that success story you posted about them, or did they not even realize it existed? The content you put on your website, in your email, or on facebook should strengthen the relationship you have with your audience. Web metrics is like taking a pulse, but looking in someone’s eyes and hearing their feedback is paramount.
If you would like monthly overview reports for your website, submit a web request and select “Strategy” as the job type. Make sure to include the URL to your Loyola site in your request (ex. chn.loyno.edu/history) and the email you’d like it to go to.
Below are some terms that I often get questions about.
Unique Visitor – Person who may have come to your website multiple times, but is counted once. If a person uses more than one machine, more than one browser, or clears their cookies, they will be counted as multiple unique visitors.
Visits – An interaction with your website that lasts 30 minutes or less. This could involve multiple events and pageviews in a single session.
Unique Pageviews – Individual pages viewed by a unique visitor during a single session. If it’s viewed twice in the same user session, it’ll count as 1.
Campaigns – Special variables that you can use in your links to track performance.
Bounce Rate – The percentage of single-page visits (i.e. visits in which the person left your site from the entrance page).
Last Saturday Alumni Relations filled the Cherry Blossom in D.C. with Loyola Alumni. The purpose was to celebrate our centennial and gather Loyola friends together.
Analytics: Looking at unique pageviews told us how many people came to our registration page and also how many people looked at the attendee list. Looking at demographic numbers told us which cities were getting our message and responding by visiting the site.
Takeaway: We met our goal and filled the boat, having a great time in the process. Now we can use the ratio of visitors to our registration page vs. registrants to get a feel for how future event promotions are doing as they are happening.
Recently the Loyola Magazine website promoted this article about Professor Fak and it included both the professional side of a distinguished professor’s ties to Asia and lighter side about ping pong. A comment on the post shows that it connected with someone, and the Analytics shows us it engaged our readers.
Analytics: It was the 2nd most popular content in past 30 days with most visitors coming from our homepage promo. The average time via different sources tells us not only were most visitors reading the article, but could also identify the level of engagement from each source. Those using organic search were most engaged, followed by visitors from our homepage promotion, followed by facebook visitors. The Bounce Rate of 70% or less means that a decent percent of our visitors dug in for more information on different pages of our site.
Takeaway: Our goal was to engage readers and tell our story. So we can see this effort as a success, especially with positive feedback in the comments. We may want to consider providing related content to keep users engaged with a goal of keeping 40% of our visitors reading.
We looked at a recent student success on Loyola’s history website to see what drove traffic to this particular story of James Thomas’ team winning a mock trial in Baton Rouge.
Promotion: Promoted via the success feature in our site admin.
Analytics: The reason we looked at it in the first place was because it ranked as the 3rd top page on the History site. It was just under the history home and bios sections in popularity. By looking at the analytics we found that the traffic was coming from Facebook. Since we have no knowledge of posting it ourselves, we might assume it was through sharing on personal accounts rather than university pages.
Takeaway: Without reporting we won’t know what is popular, and from where our traffic is coming. The site content editor took the first step in making the news available, then someone else took the reigns and promoted it. We should consider doing a better job telling the story of these students in future success posts rather than just a brief blurb. More engaging content will likely result in more sharing and spreading the word. Also, if we did post it on one of our university Facebook pages, then using keyword tagging campaigns would help us better track our own efforts.
I’m going to save this topic for it’s own blog post, although we touched on it briefly in the presentation. If you’re eager to hear more about using URL variables in your campaigns, please leave a comment so I can get this information to you quicker.
Doing presentations to a group of 25+ is not my greatest strength. Hearing feedback helps improve my performance, but you’ve gotta have thick skin on the criticism. I received a majority of positive feedback in our questionnaire (which Crystal sent to me anonymously), and a few suggestions about things I didn’t cover, or things that may’ve been obvious to more advanced users.
So how could I improve for next time? Expectations. Let attendees know before they sign up what level experience we are targeting with the presentation. By targeting the scope of the presentation in our event promotion we’d have a better audience response.
People are already taking us up on the offer of basic monthly reports, and some would like more. It’s not too late to provide more feedback or request future blog posts or presentations, so leave feedback in the comments!
The most important thing to remember when using PDFs in website content is PDFs are for printing. If content does not need to be printed, you do not want to offer it as a PDF on your website.
What are some of the ways you are using PDFs on your website right now? Forms, handbooks, annual reports – these are all excellent uses of PDFs primarily because these are items that someone might need to print, sign, and return to your office or documents that you expect someone to reference frequently in the future so they might want a printed copy.
The best way to use PDFs on your website is to talk about the important information on your website, and if you need to offer a way for them to download, offer a link to download the material in a PDF format. A great example of this is in Financial Affairs, where they post policies and procedures for the university. Content on each policy is available on separate web pages, but if a visitor wants to download the entire policy, a link to a PDF is also offered on the page.
PDFs alienate website visitors when used to house important information that users want to find through searching the website such as event times, event dates, admission requirements, and policies. One of the major reasons using PDFs for this type of content aggravates visitors is that PDFs are not searchable on the Loyola website. Web Communications has purposefully hidden them from Google’s spiders to protect confidential information in internal documents.
Jarring User Experience: PDF lives in its own environment with different commands and menus. Even simple things like printing or saving documents are difficult because standard browser commands don’t work. And once you open the PDF, it’s not easy to navigate back to the website.
Orphaned Location: Because the PDF file is not a Web page, it doesn’t show your standard navigation bars. Typically, users can’t even find a simple way to return to your site’s homepage.
Crashes and Software Problems: While not as bad as in the past, you’re still more likely to crash users’ browsers or computers if you serve them a PDF file rather than an HTML page.
Breaks Flow: You have to wait for the special reader to start before you can see the content. PDF files take longer time to download because they tend to be stuffed with more fluff than plain Web pages.
Content Blog: Most PDF files are immense content chunks. They also lack a decent search, aside from the extremely primitive ability to jump to a text string’s next literal match. If the user’s question is answered on page 75, there’s close to zero probability that he or she will locate it.
Text Fits The Printed Page, But Not The Computer Screen: PDF layouts are often optimized for a sheet of paper, which rarely matches the size of the user’s browser window.
Web Communications has tried to do some of the work for you by providing icons (e.g. PDF, Excel, Word) for links to file attachments in the content management system, Drupal. These icons automatically appear on your page any time you link to a PDF, Excel, or Word document. But in addition to these icons, you always want to indicate to the visitors what they should expect to find when they click on a link.
Your intranet is the one place that we tell all campus web editors to post PDFs. This is not a place the average Loyola website users are visiting to browse web pages. Intranets are used as “filing cabinets” at Loyola, cataloguing reports and documentation for accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
If you’re not sure if a piece of content would be best as a PDF or a web page, err on the side of creating a web page instead of PDF. Caution will help you in the treacherous world of web editing and provide the users of your website a much more accessible experience.
Customer service is all about being helpful. To provide the best customer service, you first have to know who your customers are.
Your customer may be prospective students, current students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents – or all of the above. What are the words these customers are looking for? Parents might be looking for the word “free” on your website. Students might be looking for the word “fun.” Knowing who your customer is will help you tailor the content to their individual needs.
After you know who your customer is, find out the content they want. It might mean that you use an unscientific survey to poll your customers. You may follow-up regular phone conversations with “Did you find everything you needed on the website today? Is there anything we can improve?” The information you gatherwill help you when deciding the words to use on your website and the formatting you use to organize the content. Let’s look at an example.
Susie Q. Student is a freshman and straight A student at Loyola. She was the president of the student government association in high school. She commutes locally to attend classes at Loyola. She wants to get involved and make friends. So naturally, she goes to the website to find information about organizations she can join. When she lands on the Student Affairs website, she’s looking for information about student organizations. She sees words like co-curricular programs, residential life, dining, career development, counseling, health, and wellness. But there is nothing on this page that specifically indicates “students” or “organizations.” Susie is new to Loyola and she doesn’t know that co-curricular programs oversees student organizations at Loyola. But the thing is, she shouldn’t have to know that Loyola’s hierarchy to find information on the website. You want to use words that your customers use to describe content on your website so your customers can identify the topics they are seeking.
To understand your customer’s needs you have to know what questions are they trying to answer? What are the answers to those questions? What are some of the words your customers use when asking questions? If you know the questions and the answers, why not just turn your entire website into one long Frequently Asked Questions page?
A frequently asked questions page is not as helpful as you may think because depending on how many questions you have (say we have 20), you are asking the user to sift through 20 questions to find one particular answer. That requires a lot of time, which our customers don’t have. And any extra time they do have, they are certainly not going to spend it on the Loyola website.
So instead, I ask that you consider creating pages based on the topic of information. On that page, you include all of the information the person needs on that topic. What we’ve found through user testing of the Loyola website, most of our students use the search to find information on the Loyola website. Faculty and staff tend to use the A-Z index to find information. Alumni and parents tend to use a mix of the search, the navigation on the website, and the A-Z index based on their skill level with a computer and their experience on Loyola’s website. If someone is searching your website, identifying the topics they are searching for and optimizing the content on your website for those topics is important. One way you can do that is including the terms your customers are searching for in the title of a page and in the content of your page and linking to that content elsewhere on your site. You also want to include these search terms in the names of photos and file attachments posted to the page addressing the relevant topic. When search engines spider through your site to find a relevant match for a search, they will turn up your page as a result.
If you want to use an analogy to better understand how your customers relate to your website, your website is a lot like a relationship. It takes time to develop a commitment. When you arrive on the Loyola homepage, there are a myriad of opportunities to explore more information on a variety of topics – everything from event information to academic information to information about how to pay tuition. Every customer is not interested in every topic, so there’s not too much information about any one topic, just a lot of options. But as you dig deeper into the layers of the site, more information on singular topics is served up.
By the time you’ve reached the fourth layer of content on the website (Loyola homepage > Student Records > Services > FERPA Guidelines), a lot of very specific information is presented on the web page because you as a customer are by this time very committed to taking the time to read the details on the page. As an example, if you were to take the detailed information on the FERPA guidlines page in Student Records and place it on the Loyola homepage, no one would read it. Even though it’s on the very first page on the Loyola website, it’s too much information that will overwhelm most users, who won’t be committed enough anyway to take time to read all of the information on the page. So the information ends up becoming totally erroneous just by the location of its placement on the website even though it’s on the most prominent page on the website.
When you’re considering the new content you’d like to add to your website, be sure to review the content that’s already there first. Take the time to eliminate any out-of-date information and check the links on your pages to make sure the links that were there when you originally posted the page are still active links that are pointing to the information you intended. There’s no faster way to divorce your customer than to offer links to pages that no longer exist. You’re trying to become a trusted source of information for your customer and if you offer broken links, the customer has a reason to question your reliability.
Now it’s time to put the content together. You want to organize the information based on the main topics or services your website offers. Use labels for topics that are short and to the point. And use words that your customers are using when asking questions, so they will more easily identify the information when they visit your website.
Loyola University New Orleans took all of the above items into consideration when it worked on re-designing the Loyola homepage in summer 2011. The original homepage used navigation with very flowerly language like Discover Loyola, Apply to Loyola, Life at Loyola, Explore Our Jesuit Identity, and Support Loyola. But the problem was, most of our customers didn’t know what those flowerly labels meant. If someone came to the Loyola website looking for information about student organizations, they didn’t expect to find it under Life at Loyola. We also found through user testing that the links in the left menu of the homepage for undergraduate programs, graduate programs, international education, evening programs, centers and institutes, and administration weren’t frequently used.
As a result, we re-designed the site to include more straight-forward language: About Loyola, Admissions, Academics, Student Life, Jesuit Identity, Alumni + Giving. We also added larger links to the academic colleges at the university. We tested the changes on a group of users (2 current students, 2 prospective students,2 faculty/staff, and 3 alumni). Each user was given a list of tasks they were trying to complete using the Loyola homepage. Some users had a lot of success and some users were frustrated by the formatting and organization of content offered on the web page they found.
In this short video* of our testing, you’ll see a student trying to answer a question about on-campus locations for church services at Loyola. She found the information right away by searching for the term “church services.” In the next task, she was asked to find information about the senior class gift at Loyola. At first, she wants to click on a highlight on the Loyola homepage, but then goes back to the search bar and finds the right result. But when she lands on the page that she was looking for, she is confused by the title of the page and the paragraphs of irrelevant and out of date information offered. The link she was looking for at the very bottom of the page, but she didn’t stay long enough to find it. The page was so unhelpful. She left and never returned. Beware, this could happen to your customers too.
*The video is only available to those who attended our training seminar.
Use intro text on your pages explaining the main topic of the page.
Use contextual links to hyperlink users to related information.
Don’t use color in your content when you don’t have a strategy for using it and you don’t implement that strategy consistently.
Always keep in mind that the goal in producing and maintaining content on your website is to build trust, educate, and be proactive about the future. If we keep this in mind while being helpful, we’re sure to create happy customers along the way.
…And we’re okay with that. Being in web communications, we sometimes have to make decisions for the good of all–decisions that might create ire for some. It’s just part of the job.
Loyola has over 80 active sites right now, with thousands of pages behind those sites. We constantly (and by constant I mean on a daily basis) try to improve both the content on those pages and the methods of creating and delivering that content. Over the years we’ve had numerous training seminars conducted, processes developed, and procedures manuals created to support that effort. As a whole, I think the university has been largely successful with delivering a web presence that’s cohesive, progressive, and easy to navigate. We’ve seen evidence of this through our analytics, the usability study we conducted in the spring of 2011, and anecdotally through being consulted by other universities (hoping to set up shops like ours) and interviewed by the likes of University Business (articles here and here).
Some of the issues the author, Michael Fienen, raises are things that we’ve already tackled (like coming up with and finessing strategies to keep key pieces of content updated), or are actively trying to solve (like dealing with turnover and educating our stakeholders on website evolution vs. website completion).
Another huge part of our jobs here in web communications is listening and questioning our current methods and practices. What frustrates you? What can we do better? Some of our best solutions have come from the ongoing dialogue we have with the campus community. If you’ve got something to share, we’d love to hear it!
We’ve developed a seminar series for web editors to discuss best practices. We hope you will join us for the first in this series.
Once upon a time, your e-mails meant something to someone. Now, they’re getting sifted away to the spam box. Help re-invigorate your e-mails and e-newsletters with tips and examples on writing subject lines, choosing stories, improving your process for compiling content, and analyzing your success.
RSVP to [email protected] if you plan to attend.
You have less than 30 seconds to engage a visitor to your website before you lose them forever. Learn about empathizing with your user and engaging your website’s audience through the labels and content you post on your site. Find out about organizing and using formatting effectively, adding contextual links, photography and more to provide your audiences the information they seek.
April 26, 2012 Social Media – The dos, the don’ts, and the did you reallys?
Your boss is always talking about your department’s need for a Facebook or Twitter account to market your department and its achievements. But did you know that Loyola has more than 5,000 fans on the university’s official Facebook page? Did you know that you can tap into that audience too? Find out how, and get tips from the experts if you end up deciding you want to start your own “official” Loyola social media account.
You received a PDF or Word document in an e-mail and were asked by your manager to post it to your website. Find out more about giving that content a proper home on your website and broadening its visibility and usefulness. There may be a right time to use a PDF or Word document on your website, but how do you know when it crosses the line into website taboo?
Web analytics can offer insights into the planning process for content, including informing and affirming assumptions about your website, evaluating the impact of problems with your content, and helping you set priorities for maintenance of the information you provide. Learn more about what the numbers mean and find opportunities to set up objectives in your analytics to help you reach your website’s content goals.
It’s got color. It’s got curve. It’s everything you dreamed about and more – it’s the Loyola website. Learn more about how Loyola got its look and what web communications does to maintain consistency and near perfection through its typefaces, visual cues, and photography.
Hosting an event is hard enough. Make publicizing the event easy by taking advantage of all the tools offered in our new and improved university calendar system. As the web team rolls out the new calendar system, there are two event listing items that I want to discuss. Event type and description aren’t new in terms of the type information we are asking you to provide, but since we now have robust calendar search options, it is important for you to know how to take advantage of them for the benefit of your readers and your department.
By tagging event types and providing complete event descriptions, you can help website visitors find the events they are looking for and have all the info they need to know about attending events.
Reading an article on the innovative spirit of Walt Disney, and his uncanny ability to blend those innovations with ethics and business, I’m reminded of how much curiosity plays into our daily life here in web communications.
And curiosity is not just a Disney thing, it’s definitely a Jesuit thing too–looking for God in all things, commitment to excellence, critical thinking, and a constant desire to better yourself and the world around you are all precursors for, or results of, being curious and open. Looking past the status quo–being curious and seeking out new solutions to problems that may or may not yet exist–is at the heart of what it means to work at Loyola, and (pardon my high-mindedness) certainly the core of our work here on Loyola’s website.
Keywords are specific words or phrases that relate to your website’s subject matter. In essence, they describe what your website is about.
Search engines like Google will index your website and come up with their own set of keywords to describe each page. It’s up to you to ensure that the words and phrases that best describe each page are used numerous times and placed prominently. | 2019-04-19T10:33:05Z | http://blogs.loyno.edu/webteam/ |
GET BUILDING MATERIALS AT BARGAIN PRICES OR FREE!
Don't let a little thing like not enough money keep you from building your dream home. You can get richer in more ways than one by spending yourself! Think of your journey as the difference between taking the freeway in a Mercedes (if you're wealthy and can hire everything done) or taking a dirt road in an old pick-up (if you're financially challenged and do all the labor yourself). You can still get from here to there; it'll just take longer. I know, because I'm still driving the same old pickup I bought 25 years ago for $800 (it was old THEN) and I have managed to build 16 assorted structures in my spare time, while working as a waitress earning $1200/mo.
By plugging along all these years, I have increased the value of my property from $40,000 to over a million dollars, and I'm still working on it. My secret? Tunnel vision, energy and drive, and scrounging building materials like crazy. What I didn't have was any building experience, but because I paid as I went along, it gave me plenty of time to learn as I went along. Progress was slow in both categories, but what seemed like mission impossible ended up mission accomplished. How did I learn to build, and how did I afford it? By reading how-to books, using common sense, employing the monkey-see monkey-do method, and incorporating other people's surplus into all my livable structures. If I can do it, you can too!
We live in a land of plenty. This is a great opulent country! Consumers keep the economy going, but even people on subsistence-level incomes like myself, can benefit immensely from what others cast away...such as their old stuff that isn't even old yet but is tossed out to make room for their new stuff. Garages are so full, there's no room for the family cars! Sometimes you'll see couches and tables set out in yards with signs that say, "Free." American homes are overflowing!
Scrounging is the art of looking for building materials wherever you go and sometimes finding them in unlikely places. If you are itching for a bargain, the world is a great big flea market. It's not about being a cheapskate; it's about being smart and saving money, and at the same time recycling what would have gone to waste. And in my self-righteous book of virtues, waste is immoral!
It takes some keen observational skills to be on the lookout for what you want and the motivation to ask for it...the motivation being you have no extra money.
Figure out what you need at any given stage of your building project and cultivate a roving eye as you drive around and notice what appears to be discarded stuff: lumber, fencing, pipes, visqueen, roofing, tarpaper, rebar, concrete blocks, bricks, windows, pallets, etc., piled around houses and businesses, and even near dumpsters. Screech to a halt and ask if it's for sale, or if you can have it free for hauling it off. You'll be amazed at how many people will welcome you to take their clutter away.
Take a drive around town just before trash pick-up day, and if you spot some goodies, ask the homeowner for permission to take those items they had set out for the garbage truck to haul off. Be sure to get there before The Terminator (garbage truck) beats you to it.
Get on the phone regularly or go in person and ask at hardware stores and paint stores if they have a collection of assorted reject paint and stains they'd like to get rid of (wrongly mixed colors or whatever). They always do. Usually they have 5-gallon buckets as well as 1-gallon cans. I've bought almost all my paint and stains for $5.00/gallon this way. And they've even added some pigment for me (for a small fee) to achieve a color I wanted, just to get rid of their stash that's taking up storage room.
Go to carpet outlets looking for slightly damaged carpet (a faded streak or tear or some imperfection) and ask what their rock bottom price is, or make an offer. My carpet was a color apparently nobody but me liked (burnt orange), so they marked it down to only 6.00/yd.! It was brand new and excellent quality...made for heavy traffic in casinos and hotels...and is still in great shape after 10 years of wear and tear.
Visit linoleum and tile dealers, and other big outlet stores, for slightly damaged goods as well. Tile stores almost always have fantastic sales on batches of tile they're trying to get rid of to make room for new stock and the latest trends. Sometimes they have boxes of free tile out back.
Check out window and glass companies for imperfect glass such as a tiny scratch, or a speck between the panes. I had all my double-paned windows for three of my log structures made from used glass at half the cost of new, and I can't tell the difference. I am presently storing a large load of expensive Low-E (energy-efficient) double-paned windows that were given to me by a contractor whose wealthy client changed her mind on her fenestration (see dictionary) and paid for the change. My son, who is building his own house, will make his window openings to accommodate them. It will save him hundreds of dollars.
Manufacturing plants and cabinet maker shops sometimes have a by-product you might be able to use. I used to get redwood sawdust for my landscaping needs from a place that made hummingbird feeders and other items out of redwood. I would leave my truck under their chute and drive it home when it was full. I used the attractive redwood mulch in rock gardens and walking trails all over my property.
Lumber yards have bargain bins and slightly weathered lumber that doesn't appeal to the average customer, and sometimes broken bundles of shingles and shakes, outdated siding, unpopular fencing styles, and huge cracked and weathered beams nobody wants because they aren't pretty anymore.
You can hire a portable saw-mill owner to come to you and cut dimensional lumber planks or beams from your own trees with a Wood-Mizer or Timber-King mill (to name a couple). With his Wood-Mizer, my neighbor cut my true 2"-thick X 16' rafters for the piano studio I built.
Buy old gray timbers and have them shaved down to size with a portable saw mill. I bought a huge load of timbers for only $250/thousand (25 cents a board foot compared with new timbers at $1.00 a board foot) and had another mizer-man trim them down to 9" X 9"'s with his Wood-Mizer. It cost me only $100 for his time and labor (just a few hours), and I had all the ridge-beams and top-plates I needed for my large log home. The mill worked beautifully, and its thin band-saw blade left almost no sawdust in its wake.
Flea markets are treasure troves of everything imaginable and some unimaginables that you impulsively decide you can't live without. Estate sales and auctions are also chock-full of tools and supplies, and furniture galore. Estate sale outlet-stores can be found in the Yellow Pages and are great places to visit regularly because they are constantly being replenished. Estate sales at homes are usually advertised in the newspaper or the Nickel. Widows are notorious for getting rid of their late-husband's workshop full of power tools and hand tools in one fell swoop, by calling an estate liquidator or placing their own ad.
Fund-raising bazaars and giant swap-meets are also places to find excellent bargains and a diverse array of household goods and building materials. Watch the newspaper for announcements and dates.
Frequenting Goodwill, the Salvation Army, and other second-hand stores is a good habit to get into. While you wander around looking, develop the skill of possibility thinking or, better yet, adaptability thinking. That's the ability to see something made for a specific purpose and imagine using it for something entirely different and unrelated. I used a futon couch frame from Goodwill ($5.00) for my kitchen sink counter-top framing, and it worked beautifully.
The Nickel Want-Ads reach thousands of people. Peruse yours weekly for fantastic bargains (particularly appliances). Whenever you need something specific (such as a tool), or general (like assorted lumber), put in your own "Wanted" ad for a nominal fee (about $3.00 for a short ad).
Craigslist on the internet is an excellent resource to find almost anything you are looking for cheap or free and also to post what you are looking for. People will respond, and you can negotiate the price.
Go to garage sales every chance you get. You'll find the bargains of your life at yard sales and moving sales, and you'll have a great time socializing while you're at it. A garage sale is like a big party in somebody's front yard, and everyone in town is invited! People are engaged in laughing and dickering, gossiping and snickering, and having fun playing the negotiation game. I've witnessed people trying to get a ten-cent item marked down to a nickel! The owners are hell-bent on getting rid of everything they set out and toward the end of the day sometimes say, "Just take it away!"
If you're not particularly athletic, but become a frequent wheeler-dealer at garage sales, you can boast that extreme garage saling is your sport!
A popular renovator/recycler in Medford, Oregon (Morrows) has made a business out of organizing and selling very unusual building materials from demolition sites and 20th century houses. Materials include lumber, claw-foot bath tubs and vintage fixtures, all at bargain prices. But once you go in, the array of unique items is so extensive and diverse that it's hard to leave until they kick you out at closing time!
My all-time favorite place to shop is the city dump. Sinks and seagulls nostalgically come to mind when I remember trips to the dump. Regretfully, it is now just a transfer station and there's no more scrounging allowed, but in its heyday, it offered a half-acre of good stuff to paw through to your heart's content. A few years ago I purchased all my beautiful, white- enameled cast-iron sinks for $1.00 apiece at the dump. I still have several saved for my son's kitchen and bathroom.
If you are lucky enough to have an old-fashioned dump near your town, go there regularly on a treasure hunt. You won't come away empty handed, and you'll marvel all the way home at what you scored. The dump is a massive renewable resource and the best place to scrounge and salvage. Even the seagulls love it!
Ask for price reductions anywhere you are shopping if the materials look a little shop-worn or distressed. I recently got a 50% reduction on 20 sheets of rigid pink foam insulation from Lowe's because the edges were a little sunburned. Their carelessness was my good fortune.
Buy used, or new but dented, water heaters. The dented casings don't matter, but slightly damaged water heaters are sold cheap. Turn the dent to the wall.
Need a phone line from the phone company's box to your house? If you provide the trench, the phone company will give you all the direct burial phone line you need. I recently buried 1000 feet of line...free. Call your local phone company.
Keep your eyes peeled for demolition sights! For whatever reasons, people are constantly tearing down perfectly good structures and building something else. These sites are excellent sources for all kinds of building materials from siding to large beams.
A few years ago I asked if I could have an assortment of huge glulams (beams) that were piled in an alley behind where a renovation team was turning a grocery store into a movie theater. The 6"x24"x 50-foot glulam beam had been the ridgebeam in the store, but was now cut up into 12' and 16' lengths and dumped outside.
The workers said, "Sure, you can have 'em if you can lift 'em", then slapped their thighs and laughed their heads off. I phoned my muscle-man boyfriend, Kirt, to come down and load them in my old pickup. He tossed them in like they were made of Styrofoam, and off I sped (0-40 mph in 15 minutes), having the last laugh all the way home. I sanded and stained them and used them for countertops, a pass-through counter, and my dining room table.
Note: Glulam is short for glued and laminated. It is built from dimensional lumber (usually Douglas fir 2x6's), stacked, glued, and pressed together to create a beam of any length desired. The end result is strong, straight, and quite beautiful.
When you do find a demolition site, ask if you can haul off some of the building materials, or offer to help dismantle something in return for the spoils. That's how I got all the old barn hinges for my batten doors, the silvery-gray barn wood for picture frames and other projects, and a stash of beautiful 30" hand-split shingles they don't make anymore. I'll eventually use them for siding on a decorative wall or on a small building someday. My son is currently salvaging some nice 8"x8"x 12-foot timbers from an old out-building that needs to be removed from re-zoned commercial property.
Almost all construction sites, residential or commercial, are gold mines for surplus building materials. Ask the contractor if you can do some of his post-construction clean-up work by taking away unused random lengths of lumber, headers, versa-lam beams (multi-ply laminated veneers) and partial sheets of plywood that were thrown down by carpenters in a hurry and scattered all over the place. Most builders have time constraints and such a mess to clean up...after a house is built and before the landscaping begins...that they will most likely appreciate all the clean-up help they can get.
Bartering and trading labor and/or goods is always a viable way to get building materials and physical help without any money changing hands. It's good old-fashioned free enterprise at work, and the mutual sharing back and forth can forge strong and valuable friendships.
On one newly purchased lot where the owner was trying to clear the land of debris so he could build, I spied a sign that read, "Free Concrete Piers...You Haul." I rushed home and got my son and his friend to help lift them into my truck five at a time at 200 lbs. each! We made six trips to take all thirty of them. I ultimately used them for a large deck foundation, and for the entranceway footings on the studio I built. They came in very handy and saved me tons of money!
So you don't miss an opportunity to snag something good that you can use now or later, take work gloves and a box of assorted hand tools with you everywhere you go. It wouldn't hurt to also carry with you a liability agreement that states you will not hold the owner of the goods responsible if you get hurt taking them away. Give out a signed copy whenever you need to. People (including contractors) are so afraid of being sued that a signed waiver will assuage their trepidation and possibly cinch the deal. They will feel legally protected.
Cabinetmakers have used cabinets to get rid of after people remodel their kitchens and have new cabinets built. Those people have money to burn; you don't. Ask to haul away the perfectly good but used cabinets. If need be, you can paint them a color you like. Cabinet and furniture makers often have piles of hardwood scraps, such as leftover pieces of exotic woods and high-quality plywood that they are often willing to get rid of. If nothing else, you could burn the kiln-dried hardwood in your woodstove.
Call electrical contractors and ask if they have used electrical boxes, breakers, conduit, and assorted rolls of wire that were left over from a job. Builders put up temporary electrical service boxes and remove and replace them when the house is ready to be permanently wired. The contractor will have to use a brand-new box on his next project, so the old one (like new) gets put on a shelf in a storage facility. That's where you come in.
Keep an eye out for free fill dirt from construction sites where basements are being dug or hilly land is being leveled. The contractor needs to dump it somewhere, and if you're closer than the dump, he'll bring it to you instead. To get on the contractor's preferred list and beat out the competition, offer to at least pay for the gas. My son Eric recently had 20 loads of fill dirt from a project in town brought to his building site, to backfill his basement walls, for the price of the trucker's time and diesel fuel. So instead of the usual $200 to $500 for a 10 cu.yd. dump-truck load of dirt, he paid $50 a load. The price of fuel has driven up all construction prices tremendously. There has never been a more mandatory time to scrounge than now!
Most nurseries have reject plants in their back lots where they keep their crooked and scraggly trees and bushes and sell them cheaply! A tree is a tree is a tree...it'll recover and thrive after it's planted. And at the rate you will probably be developing your property, you won't need immediate landscaping.
Let landscaping contractors or spec-house building contractors know that you'll pick up their left-over sod from their instant lawn projects. Ask them to call you before the rolls dry out. I did my own front yard, a little at a time, by acquiring free sod this way.
I also asked my friends around town if I could take root cuttings from their weed-like, drought-resistant trees that send out root runners every which way...and they usually aren't appreciated. Now I have beautiful windbreaks of "Silver Poplars" and "Trees of Heaven" all over my property. The effort was labor-intensive (digging and planting always is)...but free.
Go to tire dealers for used tires for your garden. They are great to partially bury in the ground and plant tomatoes and other vegetables in and for weed and water control. Their heat retention quality is great for early spring planting.
Refurbished tools, half-price or less are piled high on shelves at Sears Service Centers, just waiting for a second owner to use and abuse them. They come with a new guarantee.
Fabric outlet stores and giant discount stores are the places to go for interior furnishings. Yardage and drapery material are sometimes a buck or two a yard! I bought all my heavy-duty cotton duck curtain fabric from Walmart for only $3/yd.
I highly recommend buying a small trailer to convert into a temporary bathroom facility and place it near your septic tank so it can be easily hooked up. I did just that when I was building my house and used it for years. I gutted it, installed a toilet, basin, painted-plywood shower stall, and 40-gallon water heater. When the house was finished, I put an ad in the Nickel and sold it to the first caller for $500 ($200 profit after using it for years). Even before it was towed away, I received 20 more calls from disappointed would-be buyers.
If you don't have a septic system installed yet, pick up an old water heater free from the dump or an appliance store, strip it down to the bare tank, paint it black, set it up on stilts or a platform above where you'll be showering so the water will gravity flow. Whenever the sun shines you'll have all the hot water you need for bathing.
When I first moved onto my land and was living in a tent and had no electricity yet, I bought a wood-fired hot tub from the Snorkel Stove Co. I bathed and soaked under a canopy of stars whenever I was dirty, tired, and sore (which was always). It was little splash of heaven after a hard day's work.
Another way to save money while developing your property is to put up a clothesline and buy an old wringer washing machine that can be filled with a hose. If you live out in the country, driving to town to a laundromat burns gas, and is expensive and time-consuming.
Apply for extensions on your building permit, so you have a year between inspections instead of the allotted 6 months. That will give you extra time to save up for materials and complete the labor for each stage of your building project that requires an inspection.
If your friends and relatives are insistent on giving you holiday gifts, tell them that what you really want for Christmas or your birthday are building supplies...a gift certificate to the lumber yard or hardware store...or just plain cash to buy materials with. If they want specifics, give them a list of items to choose from.
"Scrounging" is synonymous with "Labor," and "Free" is synonymous with "Sweat." If you want to save money, you will have to pay in time and labor. But look at it this way: You are also saving a bundle on not needing a fitness center membership and a personal trainer! | 2019-04-26T10:41:14Z | http://dorothyainsworth.com/art/scrounging.shtml |
Adaptive alleles may rise in frequency as a consequence of positive selection, creating a pattern of decreased variation in the neighboring loci, known as a selective sweep. When the region containing this pattern is compared to another population with no history of selection, a rise in variance of allele frequencies between populations is observed. One challenge presented by large genome-wide datasets is the ability to differentiate between patterns that are remnants of natural selection from those expected to arise at random and/or as a consequence of selectively neutral demographic forces acting in the population.
SmileFinder is a simple program that looks for diversity and divergence patterns consistent with selection sweeps by evaluating allele frequencies in windows, including neighboring loci from two or more populations of a diploid species against the genome-wide neutral expectation. The program calculates the mean of heterozygosity and FST in a set of sliding windows of incrementally increasing sizes, and then builds a resampled distribution (the baseline) of random multi-locus sets matched to the sizes of sliding windows, using an unrestricted sampling. Percentiles of the values in the sliding windows are derived from the superimposed resampled distribution. The resampling can easily be scaled from 1 K to 100 M; the higher the number, the more precise the percentiles ascribed to the extreme observed values.
The output from SmileFinder can be used to plot percentile values to look for population diversity and divergence patterns that may suggest past actions of positive selection along chromosome maps, and to compare lists of suspected candidate genes under random gene sets to test for the overrepresentation of these patterns among gene categories. Both applications of the algorithm have already been used in published studies. Here we present a publicly available, open source program that will serve as a useful tool for preliminary scans of selection using worldwide databases of human genetic variation, as well as population datasets for many non-human species, from which such data is rapidly emerging with the advent of new genotyping and sequencing technologies.
With the advent of next generation sequencing and high-throughput genotyping technologies, it is now possible to evaluate patterns of frequency distributions of alleles along chromosomes, and look for signatures of selection in population data. In the simplest case, when a genetic variant is adaptive, it rises in frequency accompanied by nearby hitchhiking alleles, creating a pattern of decreased heterozygosity – this region is known as a selective sweep (reviewed in Hurst ). When allele frequencies from a set of loci inside the region affected by the sweep are compared to exactly the same region in a related population with no history of selection, a difference in allele frequencies between populations is observed. This change can be measured by an increased FST where small values close to 0.0 are interpreted as no difference between allele frequencies in the population (no genetic structure); while an FST of 1.0 is an indication of extreme population differentiation. An FST value can be calculated for a series of loci and averaged across the region, this is known as a multi-locus FST. The fluctuating FST values (between large and small values) in sequentially sampled loci suggests a fixation of alternative alleles in a compared population, as haplotypes containing a variant targeted by selection may differ between them . This fluctuation can be captured by the multi-locus FST variance (or S2FST): the variance among the FST values for all loci (n = 5, 7, 9 …, k) contained in each sliding window. It has been previously argued that the S2FST is more useful for detecting signatures of selection, since the FST mean or median may decrease when high and low values for alternatively fixed alleles across a window are combined .
While selection initially acts on the entire chromosome due to continuous crossover events, regions encompassing the sweeps become smaller with each generation of recombination. Because historic selection in the genome is localized, the frequencies of alleles drawn from the non-affected part of the genome can be assumed to reflect mostly neutral forces. A theoretical baseline distribution can be built from a very large number of random sets combining allele frequencies from multiple loci. Comparing values from sets of sequentially located loci to the matching sets from the resampled distribution can be used to superimpose the expected percentiles from the resampled distributions to real ones. In other words, we can assign expectation values to observed combinations using a distribution generated from the same data in a neutral scenario (Figure 1).
Smilefinder program description, output and outcome examples. A. Description of the SmileFinder algorithm. The program finds chromosomal regions with patterns of selection by comparing distributions of allele frequencies chromosome-wide in two or more populations, and infers the most extreme percentile values for each SNP from a resampled distribution representing a baseline approximating the neutral scenario. The program (1) takes an input of allele frequencies from two or more population and (2) samples along the chromosome sequential loci using a sliding window of n = 5. (3) At the same time, the program combines allele frequencies into sets from random loci using unrestricted random sampling (r = 10 K, 100 K, 1 M, 10 M or 100 M). (4) The algorithm then calculates mean and variance of Heterozygosity and FST in each window and the resampled set, and (5) builds a frequency distribution to (6) calculate the percentiles that are (7) superimposed onto the observed distribution. (8) The inferred percentiles are deposited into the output, then the process is repeated with incrementally larger window sizes (5, 7, 9, 11, 13, … , 65). (9) Percentiles are combined across all the different sized windows, and (10) the maximum value is chosen for the visual inspection of the data. B. The output can be plotted chromosome-wide to help find four patterns of putative regions for signatures of positive selection (modified from Oleksyk et al. ). Percentiles have been transformed for visualization: -log10 percentiles = log10 (1/percentile). C. The outcomes of a selection scan with SmileFinder algorithm indicating possible selection in two genes, CUL5 and TRIM5, in Biaka populations from central Africa (modified from Zhao et al. ). The position of the genes on chromosome 11 are given in megabases (Mb).
Here we present a simple tool that allows the identification of candidate selection regions in genome-wide allele frequency data by evaluating regional heterozygosity and frequency differences (FST variance) in sequential loci between two or more populations [3, 4]. The resampling approach can be applied to studies in any diploid species given matching single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) allele frequency coverage in at least two populations. In a previously published study , this original strategy was designed and implemented to discover selective sweeps using two lightly genotyped (<200 K loci) human populations. A comparison to a dozen other methods showed that this method performs well by identifying simulated sweeps, and compared with nine other scans reported by other genome-wide scans available in the literature at the time . In another study , the same algorithm was applied to demonstrate that genomes of primate hunting human populations in Africa are more likely to display selection signatures around the genes implicated in resistance in HIV and similar viruses. The current resampling scheme can incorporate other tests for evaluating selection signatures genome-wide .
Here we present SmileFinder, a Python script that suggests and evaluates candidate regions containing patterns suggesting past actions of positive selection by comparing allele frequencies in datasets from two populations of diploid species. The program input is a list of locus names (such as rs#), location, values of heterozygosity for both populations, and the FST value between the two populations. The program calculates the mean heterozygosity and the S2FST in sliding windows and builds a resampled distribution (the baseline), using an unrestricted random sampling algorithm to randomize locations of each locus (Figure 1). Percentiles of observed value are derived from the randomized distribution. The observed distribution of loci in each window size is evaluated separately against the distribution of resampled sets containing the same number of random loci contained in the window, with the smallest window containing as few as five, and the largest containing as many as that specified by the user (the default is 65 loci, or 31 windows) centered on every SNP genotyped along the chromosome. The program output contains the most extreme percentiles (or extreme probabilities calculated using z-scores) for both heterozygosities and S2FST, assigned to the central coordinate in the sliding window. The current protocol is not intended to definitely prove the past selection in any given chromosomal region, but rather to only find candidate regions for historic selection genome-wide for downstream validation tests.
SmileFinder input is extremely simple. The data should be formatted in a plain text file with six required columns (see the example data in GigaDB ): locus name, chromosome, location, locus heterozygosity in population 1, locus heterozygosity in population 2, locus FST. Loci with less than 10 genotypes in one population should be ignored. There are several worldwide databases of human genetic variation (The Human Genome Diversity Project [HGDP], 1000Genomes, etc.) from which allele frequency information and chromosome locations of the loci can be obtained [7, 8] A stand-alone code is provided to convert the format from the HGDP-type data file and to calculate heterozygosity and FST (count.py) . To reduce the number of comparisons, populations should be compared in the context of the recent evolutionary history, accounting for the time of divergence . Finally, the efforts of the Genome10K Consortium and similar initiatives will inevitably lead to useful population datasets of genome-wide variation, while allele variation can already be filtered from Genotyping-By-Sequencing data .
The workflow of SmileFinder is presented as a flow chart in Figure 1A. The script looks for the chromosomal regions under selection by comparing distributions of heterozygosity and FST (chromosome-wide or genome-wide) for two or more populations to infer the most extreme percentile value for each SNP from a resampled distribution representing a baseline approximating the neutral scenario . (1) The sliding windows are filled sequentially with the observed values (heterozygosity for each of the compared populations and the FST) in two populations. (2) Random sets containing as many loci as the sliding window are generated using the unrestricted random sampling algorithm - by obtaining values from random locations along the chromosome. This sampling can be performed to generate distributions of 100 k, 1 M and 10 M values. (3) For each locus, mean heterozygosity and S2FST for each estimate is determined for values inside each window and each resampled set. (4) Real (sequential) multi-locus values from the windows are compared to the distribution of resampled random values (baseline), and (5) percentile is defined as the rank (equal or closest to the least extreme value) of the sequential value in the resampled set, divided by the number of values in the resampled set. (6) Different window sizes (default sizes are 5 to 65 by an increment of 2) centering on each locus along the chromosome are evaluated in the exact same manner, and (7) the most extreme percentile value is selected among the sliding window sizes. These values can be plotted chromosome-wide to help find candidate regions displaying signatures of selection (Figure 1B).
The percentiles adjusted for the baseline expected under the neutral scenario give a less biased estimate of multi-locus parameter deviations than the raw data, while the large number of resampling allows an estimation of the chance of observing each rare combination of sequential values without additional models or assumptions.
The output contains the expected percentiles for the most extreme values for the mean heterozygosities and S2FST from each size sliding windows (31 windows by default) centered on the same locus for each locus genotyped with more than 10 samples in two populations (Figure 1C). A suggested interpretation of the observed data is outlined in Figure 1B (modified from Oleksyk et al. ). There are four possible outcomes. (1) No extreme values are observed. This outcome does not exclude presence of selection, the event may occur in the time that is not well captured by the methods based on allele frequencies, but other approaches can be used . (2) A selection event potentially occurred in the ancestral population, 'old selection’, and produced a common selective sweep in the two derived populations. No elevated FST values are expected under this scenario. (3) If selection occurs only in one of the two derived populations, extreme deviations for multi-locus values of heterozygosity indicate a selective sweep. The average FST is expected to rise, as the difference between allele frequencies in the chromosomal region rise, while FST variance or S2FST captures alterations of high and low FST values in the selective sweep area. (4) Selection that occurred in both derived populations after the split, ‘new selection’, produces a common selective sweep in the two derived populations, but in this case, elevated FST values are expected, and high S2FST values are expected to indicate alterations between high and low FST in the region. FST alone is a poor estimator of selection signatures, and should be used in addition to other methods Oleksyk et al. . In our case, FST variance is used to decide whether selection occurred before (old) the population separation or after (new). Figure 1C shows actual outcomes indicating possible selection in two genes, CUL5 and TRIM5, in Biaka populations from central Africa (adopted from Zhao et al. ).
This algorithm may overlook many potential signatures of selection, particularly when the selected haplotype is smaller than the sliding window, and thus the resulting FST variance will be zero. Smaller windows (e.g. n = 5) may not be used if the average length of haplotypes is suspected to be smaller than the sliding window sizes. Since gene flow will reduce population differentiation and increase heterozygosity, it will probably not result in detection of false positives. Other genome effects have been previously modeled and explored , demonstrating loss of sensitivity with low selection and high recombination rates in the region.
The –log10 converted percentile (or probability) values can be plotted along the chromosome to look for patterns corresponding to one of the above scenarios (Figure 1B), or can be evaluated for outliers in a scatter plot (HE vs. FST, etc.). This strategy was implemented genome-wide to detect signatures of selection in two human populations, and then compared to nine other genome-wide scans for signatures of selection . Although not widely available for every species, we recommend that physical locations may be converted into genetic distances to transform the percentile plots to account for varying recombination rates along the chromosomes . When evaluating candidate regions using the SmileFinder algorithm, a list of candidate genes can be assigned percentile statistics in order to be compared with a larger set of randomly chosen genes. This approach has been recently used to show that HIV-1 may have shaped the genomes of some human populations in West Central Africa .
The SmileFinder script, a sample input dataset, and an accompanying instruction file are provided in GigaDB and freely available to download from http://genomes.uprm.edu/smilefinder. The package is also fully integrated into the GigaGalaxy Server (http://galaxy.cbiit.cuhk.edu.hk/), and code freely available from GitHub (https://github.com/wilfriedguiblet/smilefinder). The dataset and software supporting the results of this article are available in the GigaScience, GigaDB repository .
Funding was provided by the National Science Foundation grant: MCB-1019454 RIG: Comparative Genomics of Indels in Primate Lineages 2010-2012. We would like to express our gratitude to Samuel Rodriguez and Jesus Adobo Luzon for their valuable insights during the development of the script, to Michael W. Smith for his advice, and to Peter Li for help in GigaGalaxy Server integration. SJO was supported as PI by Russian Ministry of Science Mega-grant no.11.G34.31.0068. AR and KZ were supported by a Grand Challenges Exploration grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and by grant R01GM092706 from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.
Conceived and designed the experiments: TKO, WMG, SJO, ALR. Wrote the code: WMG, KZ, SEM, TKO. Analyzed the data: WMG. Wrote the paper: TKO, WMG, SJO, ALR. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. | 2019-04-21T20:32:21Z | https://gigascience.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/2047-217X-4-1 |
Powers/Abilities: As Red Guardian, Belinsky was agile and trained in combat, though she possessed no known superhuman powers. Red Guardian's belt buckle could be thrown like Captain America's shield, specially designed to do so.
After being exposed to radiation, Belinsky's form may have become entirely radioactive energy, though her new true form has not been seen, and her costume may act as body armor to contain her energy form. The true capabilities of her new powers are not known, though they don't seem to be as powerful as those of the Presence. She can form force fields and energy blasts from her powers, and can travel at warp speed, even through space. She can also absorb radiation. Belinsky can survive without food, water, air, or sleep. She is often under the mental subjection of the Presence.
History: (Defenders I#55 (fb) - BTS) - A faithful member of the Soviet government, neuro-surgeon Tania Belinsky grew to love her country's way of life, though she had some reservations about it. She heard legends of the "man behind the man", Codename: Sergei, and embraced the legend of Soviet hero, Red Guardian. When the latest Red Guardian was believed killed, Tania adopted the identity for herself and fought for Soviet ideals.
(Incredible Hulk II#259 (fb) ) - Red Guardian was sent to stop Professor Phobos, who had been draining the power of many Soviet heroes for years, but she failed.
(Defenders I#35) - Red Guardian rescued a woman from a mugging by Pyotr, then rushed back to her apartment before the police arrived. She received a call from the United States, from Dr. Stephen Strange, who sought her services as a medical practitioner in doing a brain transplant on his ally Kyle Richmond (the hero, Nighthawk). She received the necessary clearance and left for the states immediately. She was accompanied by Mr. Kaslov, and they met Strange and statesman Taylor Charles at the airport. Prepping for the surgery, Tania confided in Dr. Strange that she'd like to extend her stay in the country, but that Russia suspected she'd attempt to defect.
(Defenders I#36) - The operation a success, Tania greeted Richmond when he awoke. Some men burst in to accost Tania and she knocked them aside, hoping Richmond was too groggy to notice her skills. Strange informed Tania that he'd persuaded Kaslov to let her remain in the states for a time, a guest at his mansion. They read in the paper of the Celestial Mind Control Movement. Back at Strange's mansion, Tania met Wong and was shown around the mansion. Surprised when Strange rushed off, she followed his as Red Guardian. She attacked Plantman when he accosted Strange, and was taken aback by his turning the attack on her. They were both soon captured and held in a plant-formed cell with the kidnapped Richmond. Tania revealed her secret identity to Strange.
(Defenders I#37) - Strange finally managed to help them escape from the prison, and they were attacked by carnivorous plants, though Strange's ally Power Man arrived to aid them, causing Plantman to flee. Red Guardian met Power Man and Jack Norriss. Back at the hospital, she expressed her disgust to Power Man that he charged for heroic services. She, Strange, Power Man, and Jack Norris were apprehended by villains Eel and Porcupine.
(Defenders I#38) - Nebulon deposited the Defenders (sans Norriss) in a hostile dimension where Strange quickly learned he could not employ his magic without pain. They holed up in a cave until a creature attacked them. The allies fought the beast until Power Man vanquished it, then Red Guardian noticed she was covered in bugs that would start to eat her flesh. Nighthawk joined them from a doorway in the Celestial Mind Control Movement headquarters, giving the heroes an exit to home, where they battled the Movement's Bozos, Porcupine, and Eel. Red Guardian was fortunate as the journey had killed the bugs, but the beast followed them as well. They defeated the villains and Strange subdued the beast.
(Defenders I#39) - While Dr. Strange did a mystic self-inventory, Red Guardian and the Defenders worked to find Valkyrie. Red Guardian was amused by the plethora of heroes in America and the frequent conflicts they found themselves in. Red Guardian and Power Man searched the streets, and she commented on the state they were in, asking questions about American culture. When a jealous man tried to stab Power Man, Red Guardian knocked him aside. Later, they retrieved Valkyrie from the jail she'd been incarcerated in.
(Defenders I#40) - Red Guardian watched Valkyrie pardoned for her crimes, and commented on American culture, noting Nighthawk's willingness to dispense his riches freely. The Committee for Free Emigration threw a rock through the window aimed at Red Guardian, who rushed to pursue them herself. Red Guardian chased down the men who'd thrown the rock and disarmed them. She carried a wounded man up the stairs to a woman's apartment to call for help, but the woman, Mrs. Rosenzweig, pulled a gun and allowed the Committee's Assassin to enter. They planned to use Red Guardian's status with the Russian government against them, but Red Guardian fled, soon fighting the Assassin in the street. His cyborg hands hurt her, but she left him defeated and returned to the Defenders.
(Defenders Annual#1) - The Defenders watched a video in which Jack Norris postulated that much of the Defenders recent incongruent actions were due to mind-tampering by the Headmen. The Defenders agreed to begin addressing the world challenges that they'd been subliminally avoiding. Nighthawk and Red Guardian were sent to Paris, France, to investigate the recent uprising of Bozos there. Red Guardian and Nighthawk rescued an advertising man from being killed by the Bozos, and captured one Bozo named Marie, who Red Guardian posed as. She infiltrated the headquarters and was shocked to see the alien Ludberdites working behind the Movement. She was interrogated by Nebulon via a conference call, and was then ordered to have mental reconditioning due to her strong will. Shrunken Bones from the Headmen shrank the entire headquarters with a blast from his shrinking gun. The Defenders were all gathered into one sphere and the Hulk freed them. Red Guardian and Nighthawk defeated Chondu while the other Headmen and Nebulon were also defeated.
(Defenders I#41) - Red Guardian and her allies were called to the American southwest to aid Dr. Strange, Nighthawk, and Trish Starr against Shazanna the sorceress.
(Incredible Hulk II#206-207) - Red Guardian joined her allies in opposing the Hulk, who was destroying the city in a grief-filled rage. Despite being buried in rubble, the Defenders managed to stall the Hulk, Red Guardian with using her belt buckle. Hulk was soon calmed down and returned to the mansion, though the news that his love was dead caused him more grief.
(Defenders I#42 - BTS) - Red Guardian strangely disappeared, causing her teammates concern.
(Defenders I#43) - After being briefly detained at the Soviet embassy, Red Guardian rushed to aid her teammates in battle against Cobalt Man. Clea attached Red Guardian's mind to Cobalt Man's, and Red Guardian learned of the villain's origins, helping him release his brainwashing. Egghead attacked the mansion, and Cobalt Man seemingly disintegrated with Egghead in his arms.
(Marvel Comics Super Special#1) - Red Guardian was among the Defenders who met with Dizzy the Hun and decided to stay out of the newly-empowered KISS' conflict with Dr. Doom as well as their extradimensional travels.
(Defenders I#44) - Red Guardian received a call from Russia stating that her loved ones may be harmed unless she returned to her country. She helped her teammates find Strange with her knowledge of mystic Omar Karindu, then departed to confront her superiors. Red Guardian confided in Valkyrie, and met Hellcat when she arrived with a dire warning of the mystic Star of Capistan's power. They noticed many citizens, including Wong, ensorcelled and walking the streets. They traced the source to Red Rajah, secretly Dr. Strange under the influence of the Star, who had Power Man, Hulk, and Nighthawk enslaved as well.
(Defenders I#45) - Valkyrie, Red Guardian, and Hellcat fought a mountainous image of Dr. Strange that Red Rajah created, then fled, barely saving Red Guardian from being ensorcelled. The women discussed possible reasons why they may have been able to resist Rajah's teachings, Red Guardian assuming that her desire for unity over individualism is what caused her temporary temptation. Clea joined them and they returned to fight Rajah and his minions. Red Guardian successfully evaded Nighthawk's blows and caused him to hit the ground. Clea freed Strange, and the Defenders made amends, though Strange announced he was leaving the team.
(Defenders I#46) - While the Defenders changed lineups, Red Guardian bid farewell, needing to tend to her personal concerns.
(Defenders I#49) - Red Guardian returned to Russia and was greeted by the KGB, who revealed they knew of her heroic identity.
(Defenders I#51) - She was taken to unfamiliar territory and informed that the man besides her extradition home was Codename: Sergei.
(Defenders I#52) - Red Guardian was given a facsimile of her costume to wear, and briefly fought against her 'captors' before she had a control cowl placed on her head that calmed her mind along with a radiation robe. She was shown into the Presence, who announced that she was his perfect mate and that he would be subjecting her to radiation treatments so that the two of them could become higher beings together. Her mind calmed, Red Guardian agreed.
(Defenders I#53) - Weeks passed, and Red Guardian grew to admire Presence, though her full will was still subjugated. He planned to subject her to a nuclear bomb. Unable to wake her faculties, Red Guardian and Presence felt the exploding bomb wash over them.
(Defenders I#54) - Presence and Red Guardian clasped hands as they soaked in the radiation. They investigated a ship that had crashed in the blast and found Hellcat, Hulk, Nighthawk, and Sub-Mariner with a contingent of Atlantean military.
(Defenders I#55) - Red Guardian, still under the control of the Presence, began using new powers, including flying and emitting deadly radiation blasts. The Defenders tried to attack them and Red Guardian fired blasts at Hellcat, though subconsciously disgusted by her actions. At Hellcat's proddings to remember who she was, Red Guardian finally embraced her true memories and began to break free from the influence of the Presence. Hellcat rescued Red Guardian from being crushed by the toppling Behemoth from Below, who'd attacked and been defeated by the Hulk. Finally in control of her faculties, Red Guardian stopped Presence from killing her friends by telling him she cared more for them than for him, causing him to depart in sadness. Her friends collapsed from radiation exposure.
(Defenders I#56) - While her friends received medical treatment, Red Guardian was transported elsewhere and isolated.
(Defenders I#59) - Soviet scientists, Fyodr and Vladimer, worked to stabilize Red Guardian's condition, but realized it was hopeless. They wondered how long she would participate with them as the extent of her new powers was unknown.
(Defenders I#64 - BTS) - Tania was kept at a Soviet research institute observed by General Kharkov and several scientists.
(Defenders I#65) - Reflecting on her life and the strange things that had happened to her, Red Guardian sat in isolation. She was called out by Gen. Kharkov, who informed her that Presence was in the Forbidden Zone and that he was releasing an amoebic radioactive creature on the country. They asked her to intercede on the behalf of all Soviets, and she agreed. Red Guardian traveled to the Zone, where she found the massive amoeba feeding off the Presence. Realizing Presence wasn't behind the attack, Red Guardian tried to release him but was pulled inside as well. Presence grabbed her hand and they linked, allowing them to escape. He confessed his love to her, and the two of them battled the amoeba rather unsuccessfully until joining forces and giving off the force of a nuclear explosion, destroying the amoeba. Perhaps recognizing her place now, Red Guardian decided to remain with Presence in the Forbidden Zone, christening it their new home.
(Incredible Hulk II#250) - Red Guardian was seen near the Kremlin by the Soviet Super-Soldiers.
(Incredible Hulk II#259 (fb) - BTS) - Presence and Red Guardian decided to fight against Professor Phobos. They began expanding the radioactive borders of the Forbidden Zone, using machinery to expand their influence, and causing the government to question their motives, sending some of their agents to investigate.
(Incredible Hulk II#258) - Red Guardian and Presence worked in the Forbidden Zone to contain the radiation that Professor Phobos was spreading. When they were distracted by a battle between the Hulk and the Soviet Super-Soldiers, the pair fired twin blasts at the Hulk and Ursa Major, reverting them to their human forms.
(Incredible Hulk II#259) - Presence and Red Guardian removed Hulk and Ursa Major's abilities to change into their monstrous forms. Presence read Ursa Major's mind and realized that Crimson Dynamo, Darkstar, and Vanguard were also nearby and sensed a fourth personage, who they later learned was the Professor Phobos. Presence and Red Guardian departed and focused their energies on their machines until Vanguard and Darkstar attacked them, holding them off with attacks and then in pitch blackness until they escaped. However, Professor Phobos turned the radiation machines on and held Presence and Red Guardian in stasis while draining their powers. Eventually Presence restored Hulk and Ursa Major's powers to them and Professor Phobos was defeated. Presence was shocked to learn that Vanguard and Darkstar were his children, whom he'd believed dead all those years, but he and Red Guardian had to absorb the excess radiation in the Forbidden Zone and departed for space to safely release the radiation, bidding his children farewell. During the battle, Red Guardian continually reminded Presence to not harm mortals.
(Quasar#23 (fb) - BTS) - While traveling through space, Presence and Red Guardian were picked up by the cosmic Stranger and placed in an artificial radioactive eco-system, aboard the Stranger's world, to thrive so that the Stranger could observe them. They, however, did not know who their captor was.
(Quasar#23 (fb)) - After months of looking for escape from their eco-system, Presence and Red Guardian were approached by another cosmic entity, Anomaly, who claimed to be a fellow captive. Anomaly told Presence that a malevolent being named Eon threatened Earth, and advised them to destroy Eon if they ever made it back to Earth.
(Quasar#14) - The alien Over-Mind telepathically contacted dozens of captives on the Strangers' world, including Presence and Red Guardian, and freed them from their cells. Over-Mind was soon defeated.
(Quasar#19) - Presence and Red Guardian aided Jack of Hearts in moving several of the former captives toward Earth. They spent weeks traveling through space in a type of caravan. When Earth hero Quasar came to investigate, he was defeated by Jack of Hearts, and Presence wanted Quasar killed. He planned to get to Earth as soon as possible to fight and battle Eon.
(Quasar#20) - The Presence and Starlight broke Quasar's quantum sphere so that they could kill him, despite Jack of Hearts' protestations. The Presence blasted Quasar with a burst of energy that seemingly destroyed him, but Quasar actually quantum-jumped at the last moment. Thinking Quasar dead, Jack of Hearts turned on the Presence and Starlight, but a combined blast from the duo ruptured his containment suit. Realizing he was about to explode, Jack flew after them to destroy them, but his detonation only succeeded in hastening their journey Earth. The Presence and Starlight broke into Four Freedoms Plaza, injuring Kenjiro Tanaka as they burst into the offices of Vaughn Security Systems. The Presence assigned Starlight to stand guard while he set off into the Eonverse to slay Eon. The Fantastic Four confronted Starlight and managed to contain her within the Invisible Woman's forcefield. Starlight was taken into custody, while the Presence was lost in the Quantum Zone while battling Quasar.
(Marvel Comics Presents I#70/4) - Presence was reunited with Belinsky in Khystym and he grew slightly mad with power. After hearing reports of Black Widow and Darkstar in the U.S. (both Soviet heroines), Presence sent Starlight to retrieve them, holding her under mental sway, desiring to take them to wife (apparently having forgotten that Darkstar was his daughter). Starlight traded blows with the heroines in Black Widow's apartment, struggling with Darkstar's Darkforce energy constructs, until she was encased in the Darkforce dimension, which freed her mind from Presence's control. She returned to him, determined to see his get better.
(Quasar#60) - After Vanguard was killed in battle, Presence, Starlight, and Darkstar mourned him, and Presence learned that Quasar was ultimately responsible for the death. Furious, Presence and Darkstar departed to find Quasar, instructing Starlight to kill Quasar's family if they failed.
(Avengers III#43 (fb)) - Presence and Starlight continued visiting Vanguard's memorial site at the Kremlin privately, Presence reflecting on how his powers were not enough to save his son. Determined to try something, he sent Starlight away and shrunk himself into a small particle energy form, entering Vanguard's body, and realized that there was still a semblance of energy there. By sacrificing his own vast stores of energy, Presence managed to restore Vanguard to life, though it took Presence months to restore himself to natural form. He developed a plan to restore the Soviet Union to glory by transforming citizens into radioactive beings that he could control. He returned to Khystym and informed Starlight of his plan. He blasted the surrounding area with a spreading radioactive contagion that would kill all and put the formerly living creatures in his control.
(Avengers III#40 - BTS) - A group of SHIELD agents stationed in Slorenia, with Avengers Black Knight (Whitman) and Firebird moved to investigate the radiation surge.
(Avengers III#41 - BTS) - Meanwhile, a team of Avengers (Captain America, Quicksilver, and Thor) joined the other two heroes in investigating.
(Avengers III#42 - BTS) - Presence took control over the Winter Guard when they investigated. When the Avengers got near, Presence and his enslaved heroes moved to attack.
(Avengers III#43) - Presence hung back while the Avengers and the irradiated heroes battled and the Avengers managed to get the upper hand by using anti-radiation foam. Presence, with Starlight, moved in and destroyed their defenses, unleashing a blast that killed the Avengers and made them Presence's servants, all except Thor and Firebird, who had natural immunities against Presence's powers.
(Avengers III#44) - Thor and Firebird fought the irradiated heroes more until Presence turned his attack directly on Thor, who used his hammer to begin draining the Presence's energy. Presence soon found himself helpless as vast amounts of his life energy was being drained, and Starlight begged for his life, promising to restore all the irradiated heroes to their normal states. Thor agreed, and Starlight cradled Presence's fallen form before the two were arrested, unresisting.
(Avengers III#52) - Presence and Starlight were released from custody to fight against Kang's forces in the Soviet Union.
(Avengers III#53) - Presence and Starlight joined a contingent of Avengers in battling Kang in space. Presence planned on returning to Earth and renewing his plans, but Starlight talked him out of it. They fought their way into Kang's ship and watched it crash to the Earth, Kang finally defeated.
(JLA/Avengers#4) - Gargoyle saved citizens alongside Defenders members Nighthawk, Starlight and Valkyrie from the disasters caused by the merging of the DC and Marvel Universe.
(Darkstar and the Winter Guard#2 (fb)) � After the death of Darkstar, the Protectorate (Fantasma, Perun, Powersurge, Steel Guardian, Vanguard, Vostok) left the team in disgust. They traveled to Limbo, where Vanguard pleaded with Immortus to alter the time stream and allow Darkstar to live. Immortus told them of the Dire Wraiths that afflicted his realm and the group agreed to fight for Immortus for one year, during which Steel Guardian was killed and Vanguard and Starlight started a relationship. When Fantasma revealed herself as a Dire Wraith and escaped to Earth, the three surviving members of the Protectorate pursued her.
(Darkstar and the Winter Guard#1) - Starlight, Vanguard, and Powersurge appeared back in their home country, careful to watch for their enemies, and proudly announced that the Protectorate had returned.
(Darkstar and the Winter Guard#2) - Starlight, Vanguard, and Powersurge battled terrorists the Sword of Judgment in the streets of St. Petersburg, where they took down massive amounts of offensive weaponry as the media recorded them. Figuring this would draw Fantasma's attention, they were soon attacked by the Winter Guard (Crimson Dynamo, Darkstar, Red Guardian, Ursa Major), and Starlight was briefly injured by a redirected blast from Vanguard during the fight. She soon had the chance to explain what they were doing there, and they joined with the Winter Guard to fight the Dire Wraith takeover of the Citadel.
(Darkstar and the Winter Guard#3) - Starlight and her allies were attacked by Fantasma's deadly Deathwings, which they held the way until Darkstar teleported them to the citadel. Working as a team, and using Starlight's medical prowess, they upgraded Powersurge to handle the Dire Wraiths. As the Wraith hatchlings attacked, they ripped Red Guardian's head from his body. In the battle to follow, they found Presence and Fantasma in the citadel, but Darkstar was soon killed. A furious Vanguard launched himself at the Presence, and Starlight narrowly saved Vanguard from Fantasma. Powersurge opened a gate to Limbo and Fantasma was thrown in, but she pulled Starlight with her as the gate closed.
Comments: Created by Steve Gerber, Sal Buscema, and Klaus Janson.
Thank you to Prime Eternal and Snood for their help with this profile. Thanks to David Gallaher (yep, the writer of Darkstar and the Winter Guard) for pointing out that:"It was actually Steel Guardian, not Sibercat, that was killed. Sibercat was not present -- and was not a member of the Protectorate."
(Defenders I#35) - Pyotr, a native of communist Russia, broke the law and pulled a knife on a woman to get her money. The costumed woman, Red Guardian, stopped him, knocking him aside, though he chastised her actions. She soon had to flee before the police arrived.
(Defenders I#35 (fb) - BTS) - Dr. Stephen Strange helped cut an ulcer out of Taylor Charles years ago.
(Defenders I#35) - Charles used his office as a state representative to aid Strange in procuring Russian doctor Tania Belinsky to the states for a special operation on millionaire Kyle Richmond.
(Defenders I#35) - Mr. Kaslov accompanied Russian doctor Tania Belinsky to the United States to attend to a special operation. They watched as she performed the operation.
(Defenders I#36) - Dr. Strange used his powers to mesmerize Kaslov into letting Belinsky stay in the states for a time.
(Defenders I#59) - Soviet scientists, Fyodr and Vladimer, worked to stabilize the radioactive conditioning of Red Guardian, who'd been subjected by Presence to a nuclear explosion, and realized that her condition was not stabilizing. They wondered how long she would participate in the studies as the extent of her new powers was unknown.
(Defenders I#64) - Kharkov continued reviewing Red Guardian’s progress, concerned about her deadly status. General Kharkov was informed that Codename: Sergei (the Presence) had been located inside the Forbidden Zone. | 2019-04-19T04:30:16Z | http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix4/starlightredguard.htm |
mathematics, logic, foundations of mathematics. For the original article on Frege see DSB, vol. 5.
Although a mathematician, Gottlob Frege is regarded as one of the founding fathers of modern (analytical) philosophy. With his Begriffsschrift (concept script) of 1879 he created modern mathematical logic. He used it as a linguistic tool for a program of founding mathematical concepts exclusively on logical concepts (logicism). Frege was involved in controversies with representatives of the algebraic tradition in logic concerning the power of the different systems of symbolic logic, and with David Hilbert on the nature of mathematical axiom systems.
Frege in Jena . Frege spent most of his academic life at the University of Jena, except for five semesters of studies in Göttingen (1871–1873). He took courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and philosophy. Among his most important teachers in Jena were Karl Snell, who followed Jakob Friedrich Fries as chair of mathematics and physics, and Ernst Carl Abbe, at that time privatdozent for mathematics. Abbe became Frege’s mentor. He encouraged Frege to transfer to Göttingen in order to complete his university studies and later supported him in his career.
Back in Jena, Frege applied for the post of a privatdozent for mathematics, submitting as Habilitationsschrift“Methods of Calculation Based on an Extension of the Concept of Quality,” which contributed to the theory of functional equations, in particular iteration theory. Abbe initiated Frege’s promotion to außerordentlicher Professor (roughly equivalent to associate professor or reader) of mathematics in 1879. This early promotion was possible because Frege had published his first monograph, Begriffsschrift, in January of that year. In 1866 Abbe had become a scientific consultant for improving the construction of microscopes built by the Carl Zeiss optics industry. In 1875 he became an associate and limited partner of Zeiss. Abbe set up the Carl Zeiss Foundation (1889) by first establishing a fund for scientific purposes (Ministerialfond für wissenschaftliche Zwecke) in 1886, supporting teaching and research in mathematics and sciences at the University of Jena. Abbe’s foundation also made an improvement in Frege’s remuneration possible, and later financially supported his promotion to ordentlicher Honararprofessor (a payroll professorship in honor of the person) in 1896.
In 1907 Frege was awarded the prestigious title of Hofrat. His growing reputation is indicated by Ludwig Wittgenstein’s visit in 1911 (further visits took place in 1912 and 1913). In summer semester 1913 Rudolf Carnap attended Frege’s course Begriffsschrift II, and another course, Logic in Mathematics, in 1914. In 1918 Frege retired after having been on sick leave for a year. He moved to Bad Kleinen, a resort near Wismar. On the initiative of Heinrich Scholz, Frege’s Nachlass (literary estate) was transferred in 1935 to Münster, where it was purportedly destroyed during a bomb raid on Münster on 25 March 1945.
Logic . Frege’s publication of the Begriffsschrift is regarded in the early twenty-first century as “the single most important event in the development of modern logic” (Thiel and Beaney, p. 26). In this work, Frege created the first strict logical calculus in the modern sense, based on precise definitions of expressions and deduction rules arriving for the first time at an axiomatic development of classical quantification theory. Frege replaced the traditional analysis of elementary statements into subject and predicate with an analysis of a proposition into function and argument, which could be used to express the generality of a statement (and with this also existence statements) by bound variables and quantifiers.
It can be assumed that Frege took over the term Begriffsschrift from Friedrich Adolf Trendelenburg’s characterization of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz’s general characteristics (1854). The term had, however, already been used by Wilhelm von Humboldt in a treatise (1824) on the letter script and its influence on the construction of language.
In a lengthy review of the Begriffsschrift (1880), Ernst Schröder accused Frege of ignoring George Boole’s algebra of logic, first presented in The Mathematical Analysis of Logic (1847). Frege answered in articles (published only posthumously) by comparing Boole’s calculatory logic with his own, where he determined quantification theory as the main point of deviation (Frege, 1880–1881, 1882). It is indeed historically true that the Booleans had no quantification theory at that time, but this cannot be regarded as an essential difference between these variations of symbolic logic on a systematic level, because in 1883 the U.S. logician Charles S. Peirce and his student Oscar Howard Mitchell developed an almost equivalent quantification theory within the algebra of logic. The essential difference between the algebra of logic and Frege’s mathematical logic can thus be seen in different interpretations of the judgment. Another essential difference can be seen in the fact that Frege aimed at giving a logical structure of judgeable contents, which implied an inherent semantics. The Booleans, in contrast, were interested in logical structures themselves, which could be applied in different domains. Their systems allowed various interpretations. This required a supplementary external semantics.
Logicism . Frege’s work was above all devoted to investigations on the nature of number. It was, thus, essentially philosophical. There is evidence that he was influenced by the philosophy of his contemporaries, especially by neo-Kantian approaches. These influences found their way into Frege’s philosophy of mathematics with its metaphysical qualities.
Contrary to Immanuel Kant, who regarded mathematical (arithmetical and geometrical) propositions as examples for synthetic a priori propositions, that is, propositions that are not empirical, but enlarging knowledge, Frege wanted to prove that arithmetic could completely be founded on logic, that is, that each arithmetical concept, in particular the concept of number, could be derived from logical concepts. Arithmetic was, thus, analytical.
The logicist program is only sketched in the Begriffsschrift, where Frege gave purely logical definitions of equinumerousity and the successor relation. In his next book, the Grundlagen der Arithmetik (1884). Frege formulated the classical logicistic definition of number, according to which the number n is defined as the extension of the concept “equinumerous to the concept Fn” with Fnstanding for a concept with exactly n objects falling under it. The series of Fns starts with F0 = ¬x = x. Fn+1can be reconstructed recursively from Fn. The number 0 is defined as the extension of the concept “equinumerous to the concept ‘different from itself,’” and the number 1 as the extension of the concept “equinumerous to the concept ‘equals 0.’” The purely logical foundation of mathematics should not only disprove the Kantian paradigm, but also refute empiricist approaches to mathematics such as the one advocated by John Stuart Mill, and with this psychological interpretations of numbers as mental constructions. Frege pointedly expressed this criticism of psychologism in his harsh review of Edmund Husserl’s Philosophie der Arithmetik in 1894, as a result of which Husserl was brought to revise the foundational program of phenomenology and convert to antipsychologism.
Frege elaborated the logicistic program in the two volumes of the Grundgesetze der Arithmetik (1893/1903). In this last of his monographs Frege also presented the mature version of his ontology, developed earlier in the three papers “Function and Concept” (1891), “On Sinn und Bedeutung” (1892), and “Concept and Object” (1892), all three currently regarded as classic texts of analytical philosophy. There he further elaborated his earlier distinction between concept and object. In particular he introduced in the Grundgesetze value-ranges considered as a special kind of objects. The identity criterion is given in Basic Law V, according to which the value-ranges of two functions are identical if the functions coincide in their values for every argument, with this giving the modern abstraction schema. In terms of concepts the law says that whatever falls under the concept F falls under the concept G and vice versa, if and only if the concepts F and G have the same extension.
Frege’s conception of logicism failed, as Frege himself diagnosed, because of Basic Law V. Frege suggested an ad hoc solution forbidding that the extension of a concept may fall under the concept itself. This solution was proved to be insufficient by Stanis≠aw LeŚniewski (1939, unpublished) and Willard Van Orman Quine in 1955, but it indicates that the logical form of Basic Law V may be innocent of the emergence of the paradox and that the formation rules for function names may be too liberal in allowing impredicative function names.
In his latest publications Frege gave up logicism. He abandoned the talk of extensions of concepts and value-ranges, and the idea of numbers as logical objects, although he still held that they are objects of some other kind, based on the source of “geometrische Erkenntnisquelle,” that is, pure intuition.
Frege’s logicist program was later revived by the proponents of Frege-arithmetic and neologicism. In some of these directions Basic Law V is replaced by Hume’s principle, according to which two concepts F and G have the same number if and only if they are equinumerous, that is, if there is a one-to-one correspondence between the F’s and G's.
The Nature of Axiomatics . After the failure of his logicistic program, Frege focused his research on geometry as the foundational discipline of mathematics. He kept the traditional understanding of geometry as an intuitive discipline, thereby opposing David Hilbert’s new formalistic approach to geometry that came along with a new kind of axiomatics. Frege’s opposition had its prehistory in his criticism of the older arithmetical formalism presented in a paper “Über formale Theorien der Arithmetik” (1885), taken up again in papers against his Jena colleague in mathematics, Carl Johannes Thomae (1906/1908). In these papers Frege opposes the understanding of arithmetic as a purely formal game with calculations bare of any contents. The older formalism regards arithmetic as a game like chess. It starts from certain initial formulas, then derives new formulas using a fixed set of transformation rules. But, neither the initial formulas nor the transition rules are justified, so the derived formulas are not justified either. Therefore, Frege concludes, these approaches could not provide any contribution to the foundations of arithmetic.
Hilbert overcame the traditional conception of axiomatics according to the model of Euclid’s Elements by giving an example. In his Grundlagen der Geometrie of 1899 he gave an axiomatic presentation of Euclidean geometry. Hilbert’s system proceeds from “thought things” in the Kantian sense, products of the human mind, but empty concepts because of lacking any element of (empirical) intuition. The geometrical concepts were not directly defined, but implicitly gained as concepts obeying the features set by some group of axioms, and justified by proving the independence of the axioms from one another, the completeness of the system, and its consistency. The formalistic approach aims at a theory of structures. This is pointedly expressed in Hilbert’s letter to Frege of 29 December 1899, in which Hilbert claimed that every theory is only a half-timbering or schema of concepts and implications with arbitrary basic elements. If instead of the system of points some system love, law, chimney sweep is thought, and if all axioms are regarded as relations between these elements, then all theorems, for example Pythagoras’s theorem, would be valid for them.
In a letter sent two days earlier, Frege had correctly criticized Hilbert’s use of implicit definitions arguing that he had blurred the differences between axioms and definitions. It became clear that Frege stuck to the traditional (Aristotelian) understanding of axioms in geometry, calling axioms sentences that are true but not proved, because they have emerged from a source of knowledge completely different from the logical, a source that can be called spatial intuition. From the truth of the axioms follows that they do not contradict each other, so no consistency of proof was needed. Hilbert answered that if the arbitrarily set axioms do not contradict each other with all their implications, then they are true and the defined objects exist. For Hilbert consistency (logical possibility) is, thus, the criterion of truth and existence.
Hilbert rejected Frege’s suggestion to publish the exchange of letters, so Frege took up his criticism in a series of papers published in 1903 and 1906 on the foundations of geometry, where he argued for his antiformalistic position. He demanded that after having defined the concept “point,” it should be possible to determine whether a certain object, for example, his pocket watch, was a point or not.
The two controversies mentioned show that Frege followed that traditional understanding of philosophy as all-embracing fundamental discipline that formed, along with logic, logical ontology, and epistemology the foundation for mathematics and sciences. He did not share the pragmatic attitude of some influential contemporaries in mathematics and sciences (like Hilbert) to keep philosophy away from their mathematical and scientific practice by simply fading out philosophical problems. Nevertheless, Frege opened the way for directions like philosophy of science, which aimed at bridging the gap between philosophy on the one hand and mathematics and science on the other, and which became successful in the twentieth century. His influence on Bertrand Russell’s logicism, codified in Principia Mathematica, Russell’s joint work with Alfred North Whitehead (1910/13), is well known. Through Carnap, Frege gained influence on logic and foundational research in the neopositivist movement of the Vienna Circle, which constituted the context of Kurt Gödel’s shaping of modern logic and foundational studies.
“Methods of Calculation Based on an Extension of the Concept of Quantity” (1874). In McGuiness, Collected Papers on Mathematics, Logic, and Philosophy, 56–92.
Begriffsschrift, eine der arithmetischen nachgebildete Formelsprache des reinen Denkens. Halle, Germany: L. Nebert, 1879. In Conceptual Notation and Related Articles, translated and edited with a biography and introduction by Terence Ward Bynum, 101–203. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1972.
“Boole’s Logical Calculus and the Concept-Script.” (1880–1881). In Hermes et al., Posthumous Writings, 9–46.
“Boole’s Logical Formula-Language and My Concept-Script.”(1882). In Hermes et al., Posthumous Writings, 47–52.
Die Grundlagen der Arithmetik, eine logisch mathematische Untersuchung über den Begriff der Zahl. Breslau, Germany: W. Koebner, 1884. Translated by John L. Austin as The Foundations of Arithmetic. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell, 1953.
“On Formal Theories of Arithmetic” (1885). In McGuiness, Collected Papers on Mathematics, Logic, and Philosophy, 112–121.
“Function and Concept” (1891). In Beany, The Frege Reader, 130–148.
“On Sinn und Bedeutung” (1892). In Beany, The Frege Reader, 151–171.
“On Concept and Object.” (1892). In Beany, The Frege Reader, 181–193.
“Grundgesetze der Arithmetik.” 2 Vols. Jena: H. Pohle, 1893 (Vol. 1); 1903 (Vol. 2).
Review of E. H. Husserl, Philosophie der Arithmatik I. (1894). In McGuiness, Collected Papers on Mathematics, Logic, and Philosophy, 195–209.
“On the Foundations of Geometry. First Series.” (1903). In McGuiness, Collected Papers on Mathematics, Logic, and Philosophy, 273–284.
“Reply to Mr. Thomae’s Holiday Causerie.” (1906). In McGuiness, Collected Papers on Mathematics, Logic, and Philosophy, 341–345.
“Renewed Proof of the Impossiblity of Mr. Thomae’s Formal Arithmetic.” (1908). In McGuiness, Collected Papers on Mathematics, Logic, and Philosophy, 346–350.
Posthumous Writings. Edited by Hans Hermes, Friedrich Kambartel, and Friedrich Kaulbach, with the assistance of Gottfried Gabriel and Walburga Rödding. Translated by Peter Long and Roger White, with the assistance of Raymond Hargreaves. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1979.
Philosophical and Mathematical Correspondence. Edited by Gottfried Gabriel, et al. Abridged for the English edition by Brian McGuinness. Translated by Hans Kaal. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1980.
Collected Papers on Mathematics, Logic, and Philosophy. Edited by Brian McGuinness. Translated by Max Black et al. Oxford: Blackwell, 1984.
Kleine Schriften. 2nd ed. Edited by Ignacio Angelelli. Hildesheim, Germany: G. Olms, 1990. Collection of Frege’s published papers and reviews, together with some letters and notes on Frege’s works by H. Scholz and E. Husserl.
“Diary: Written by Professor Dr. Gottlob Frege in the Time from 10 March to 9 April 1924.” Edited by Gottfried Gabriel and Wolfgang Kienzler. Inquiry 39 (1996): 303–342.
The Frege Reader. Edited by Michael Beaney. Oxford: Blackwell, 1997. The volume brings together all of Frege’s seminal writings, substantial parts of his three books, and selections from his posthumous writings and correspondence.
Frege’s Lectures on Logic: Carnap’s Student Notes, 1910–1914. Translated and edited by Erich H. Reck and Steve Awodey. Chicago: Open Court, 2004. Gives evidence for Frege’s late positions in logic and foundations. With an introductory essay by Gottfried Gabriel and a paper by the editors on Frege’s influence on the development of logic.
Beaney, Michael. Frege: Making Sense. London: Duckworth, 1996. Frege’s concept of sense within his philosophy as a whole.
Beaney, Michael, and Erich H. Reck, eds. Gottlob Frege: Critical Assessments of Leading Philosophers. 4 vols. London: Routledge, 2005. Comprehensive collection of papers on Frege.
Brady, Geraldine. From Peirce to Skolem: A Neglected Chapter in the History of Logic. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2000. Stresses the significance of the algebraic tradition for the development of logic.
Demopoulos, William, ed. Frege’s Philosophy of Mathematics. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1995.
Dummett, Michael. Frege: Philosophy of Language. 2nd ed. London: Duckworth, 1981.
———. Frege and Other Philosophers. Oxford: Clarendon Press; 1991.
———. Frege: Philosophy of Mathematics. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1991.
Gabriel, Gottfried, and Uwe Dathe, eds. Gottlob Frege: Werk und Wirkung; Mit den unveröffentlichten Vorschlägen für ein Wahlgesetz von Gottlob Frege. Paderborn, Germany: Mentis, 2000.
Grattan-Guinness, Ivor. The Search for Mathematical Roots, 1870–1940: Logics, Set Theories, and the Foundations of Mathematics from Cantor through Russell to Gödel. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2000. See pp. 177–199. Frege’s role within the development of research in logic and the foundations of mathematics.
Gronau, Detlef. “Gottlob Frege’s Beiträge zur Iterationstheorie und zur Theorie der Funktionalgleichungen.” In Gottlob Frege: Werk und Wirkung; Mit den unveröffentlichten Vorschlägen für ein Wahlgesetz von Gottlob Frege, edited by Gottfried Gabriel and Uwe Dathe, 151–169. Paderborn, Germany: Mentis, 2000.
Hale, Bob, and Crispin Wright. The Reason’s Proper Study: Essays towards a Neo-Fregean Philosophy of Mathematics. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2001. Collection of papers neo-Fregeanism and Frege arithmetic.
Kreiser, Lothar. Gottlob Frege: Leben—Werk—Zeit. Hamburg, Germany: Meiner, 2001. Full-scale biography of Frege.
Newen, Albert, Ulrich Nortmann, and Rainer Stuhlmann-Laeisz, eds. Building on Frege: New Essays on Sense, Content, and Concept. Stanford, CA: CSLI Publications, 2001. Collection of essays on Frege’s significance and heritage.
Quine, Willard Van Orman. “On Frege’s Way Out.” Mind, n.s., 64 (1955): 145–159. Proof that Frege’s solution of Russell’s paradox was not feasible.
Schirn, Matthias, ed. Frege: Importance and Legacy. Berlin: de Gruyter, 1996. Collection of essays on Frege’s significance and heritage.
Schröder, Ernst. “Review of Frege, 1879.” Zeitschrift für Mathematik und Physik. Historisch-litterarische Abteilung 25 (1880): 81–94.
Sluga, Hans D. Gottlob Frege. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1980.
Sullivan, Peter M. “Frege’s Logic.” In Handbook of the History of Logic, vol. 3, edited by Dov M. Gabbay and John Woods, 659–750. Amsterdam: Elsevier North Holland, 2004.
Thiel, Christian. “Zur Inkonsistenz der Fregeschen Mengenlehre.” In Frege und die moderne Grundlagenforschung: Symposium, gehalten in Bad Homburg im Dezember 1973, edited by Christian Thiel, 134–159. Meisenheim am Glan, Germany: Verlag Anton Hain, 1975.
———. “‘Not Arbitrarily and Out of a Craze for Novelty’: The Begriffsschrift 1879 and 1893.’’ In Gottlob Frege: Critical Assessments of Leading Philosophers, 4 vols., edited by Michael Beaney and Erich H. Reck, vol. 2, 13–28. London: Routledge, 2005. Surveys the nature of Frege’s logical notation and its development.
Thiel, Christian, and Michael Beaney. “Frege’s Life and Work: Chronology and Bibliography.” In Gottlob Frege: Critical Assessments of Leading Philosophers, 4 vols., edited by Michael Beaney and Erich H. Reck, vol. 1, 23–39. London: Routledge, 2005. Brief chronology on the basis of information now available, and comprehensive bibliography.
Weiner, Joan. Frege Explained: From Arithmetic to Analytic Philosophy. Chicago: Open Court, 2004. Compact explanation of Frege’s work.
"Frege, Friedrich Ludwig Gottlob." Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography. . Encyclopedia.com. 23 Apr. 2019 <https://www.encyclopedia.com>.
Gottlob Frege was a son of Alexander Frege, principal of a girl’s high school, and of Auguste Bialloblotzky. He attended the Gymnasium in Wismar, and from 1869 to 1871 he was a student at Jena. He then went to Göttingen and took courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and philosophy for five semesters. In 1873 Frege received his doctorate in philosophy at Göttingen with the thesis, Ueber eine geometrische Darstellung der imäginaren Gebilde in der Ebene. The following year at Jena he obtained the venia docendi in the Faculty of Philosophy with a dissertation entitled “Rechungsmethoden, die sich auf eine Erweitung des Grössenbegriffes gründen,” which concerns one-parameter groups of functions and was motivated by his intention to give such a definition of quantity as gives maximal extension to the applicability of the arithmetic based upon it. The idea presented in the dissertation of viewing the system of an operation f and its iterates as a system of quantities, which in the introduction to his Grundlagen der Arithmetik (1884) Frege essentially ascribes to Herbart, hints at the notion of f- sequence expounded in his Begriffsschrift (1879).
After the publication of the Begriffsschrift, Frege was appointed extraordinary professor at Jena in 1879 and honorary professor in 1896. His stubborn work toward his goal—the logical foundation of arithmetic—resulted in his two-volume Grundgesetze der Arithmetik (1893–1903). Shortly before publication of the second volume Bertrand Russell pointed out in 1902, in a letter to Frege, that his system involved a contradiction. This observation by Russell destroyed Frege’s theory of arithmetic, and he saw no way out. Frege’s scientific activity in the period after 1903 cannot be compared with that before 1903 and was mainly in reaction to the new developments in mathematics and its foundations, especially to Hilbert’s axiomatics. In 1917 he retired. His Logische Untersuchungen, written in the period 1918–1923, is an extension of his earlier work.
In his attempt to give a satisfactory definition of number and a rigorous foundation to arithmetic, Frege found ordinary language insufficient. To overcome the difficulties involved, he devised his Begriffsschrift as a tool for analyzing and representing mathematical proofs completely and adequately. This tool has gradually developed into modern mathematical logic, of which Frege may justly be considered the creator.
The Begriffsschrift was intended to be a formula language for pure thought, written with specific symbols and modeled upon that of arithmetic (i.e., it develops according to definite rules). This is an essential difference between Frege’s calculus and, for example, Boole’s or Peano’s, which do not formalize mathematical proofs but are more flexible in expressing the logical structure of concepts.
One of Frege’s special symbols is the assertion sign (properly only the vertical stroke), which is in terpreted if followed by a symbol with judgeable content. The interpretation of A is “A is a fact.” Another symbol is the conditional , and is to be read as “B implies A.” The assertion is justified in the following cases: (1) A and B are true; (2) A is true and B is false; (3) A and B are false.
Frege uses only one deduction rule, which consists in passing from and to . The assertion that A is not a fact is expressed by i.e., the small vertical stroke is used for negation. Frege showed that the other propositional connectives, “and” and “or,” are expressible by means of negation and implication, and in fact developed propositional logic on the basis of a few axioms, some of which have been preserved in modern presentations of logic. Yet he did not stop at propositional logic but also developed quantification theory, which was possible because of his general notion of function. If in an expression a symbol was considered to be replaceable, in all or in some of its occurrences, then Frege calls the invariant part of the expression a function and the replaceable part its argument. He chose the expression Φ(A) for a function and, for functions of more than one argument, Ψ(A,B). Since the φ in φ(A) also may be considered to be the replaceable part, φ(A) may be viewed as a function of the argument φ. This stipulation proved to be the weak point in Frege’s system, as Russell showed in 1902.
which means that φ(a) is a fact, whatever may be chosen for the argument. Frege explains the notion of the scope of a quantifier and notes the allowable transition from to , where a occurs only as argument of X(a), and from to , where a does not occur in A and in φ (a) occurs only in the argument places.
Existence was expressed by (a). There was no explicitly stated rule of substitution.
It should be observed that Frege did not construct his system for expressing pure thought as a formal system and therefore did not raise questions of completeness or consistency. Frege applied his Begriffsschrift to a general theory of sequences, and in part III he defines the ancestral relation on which he founded mathematical induction. This relation was afterward introduced informally by Dedekind and formally by Whitehead and Russell in Pricipia mathematica.
Frege’s theories, as well as his criticisms in the Begriffsschrift and the Grundlagen, were extended and refined in his Grundgesetze, in which he incorporated the essential improvements on his Begriffsschrift that had been expounded in the three important papers “Funktion und Begriff” (1891), “Über Sinn und Bedeutung” (1892), and “Über Begriff und Gegensstand” (1892). In particular, “Über Sinn und Bedeutung” is an essential complement to his Begriffsschrift. In addition, it has had a great influence on philosophical discussion, specifically on the development of Wittgenstein’s philosophy. Nevertheless, the philosophical implications of the acceptance of Frege’s doctrine have proved troublesome.
An analysis of the identity relation led Frege to the distinction between the sense of an expression and its denotation. If a and b are different names of the same object (refer to or denote the same object), we can legitimately express this by a = b, but = cannot be considered to be a relation between the objects themselves.
Frege therefore distinguishes two aspects of an expression: its denotation, which is the object to which it refers, and its sense, which is roughly the thought expressed by it. Every expression expresses its sense. An unsaturated expression (a function) has no denotation.
These considerations led Frege to the conviction that a sentence denotes its truth-value; all true sentences denote the True and all false sentences denote the False—in other words, are names of the True and the False, respectively. The True and the False are to be treated as objects. The consequences of this distinction are further investigated in “Über Begriff und Gegenstand.” There Frege admits that he has not given a definition of concept and doubts whether this can be done, but he emphasizes that concept has to be kept carefully apart from object. More interesting developments are contained in his “Funktion und Begriff.” First, there is the general notion of f-sequence already briefly mentioned in the Grundlagen, and second, with every function there is associated an object, the so-called Wertverlauf, which he used essentially in his Grundgesetze der Arithmetik.
Since a function is expressed by an unsaturated expression f(x), which denotes an object if x in it is replaced by an object, there arises the possibility of extending the notion of function because sentences denote objects (the True [T] and the False [F]), and one arrives at the conclusion that, e.g., (x2 = 4) = (x >1) is a function. If one replaces x by 1, then, because 12 = 4 denotes F, as does 1 > 1, it follows that (12 = 4) = (1 > 1) denotes T.
Frege distinguishes between first-level functions, with objects as argument, and second-level functions, with first-level functions as arguments, and notes that there are more possibilities. For Frege an object is anything which is not a function, but he admits that the notion of object cannot be logically defined. It is characteristic of Frege that he could not take the step of simply postulating a class of objects without entering into the question of their nature. This would have taken him in the direction of a formalistic attitude, to which he was fiercely opposed. In fact, at that time formalism was in a bad state and rather incoherently maintained. Besides, Frege was not creating objects but was concerned mainly with logical characterizations. This in a certain sense also holds true for Frege’s introduction of the Wertverlauf, which he believed to be something already there and which had to be characterized logically.
In the appendix to volume II of his Grundgesetze, Frege derives Russell’s paradox in his system with the help of the above basic logical law. Russell later succeeded in eliminating his paradox by assuming the theory of types.
It is curious that the man who laid the most suitable foundation for formal logic was so strongly opposed to formalism. In volume II of the Grundgesetze, where he discusses formal arithmetic at length, Frege proves to have a far better insight than its exponents and justly emphasizes the necessity of a consistency proof to justify creative definitions. He is aware that because of the introduction of the Wertverläufe he may be accused of doing what he is criticizing. Nevertheless, he argues that he is not, because of his logical law concerning Wertverläufe (which proved untenable).
When Hilbert took the axiomatic method a decisive step further, Frege failed to grasp his point and attacked him for his imprecise terminology. Frege insisted on definitions in the classic sense and rejected Hilbert’s “definition” of a betweenness relation and his use of the term “point.” For Frege geometry was still the theory of space. But even before 1814 Bolzano had already reached the conclusion that for an abstract theory of space, one may be obliged to assume the term point as a primitive notion capable of various interpretations. Hilbert’s answer to Frege’s objections was quite satisfactory, although it did not convince Frege.
II. Secondary Literatrure. On Frege and his work, see I. Angelelli, Studies on Gottlob Frege and Traditional Philosophy (Dordrecht, 1967); P. Geach and M. Black, Translation of the Philosophical Writings of Gottlob Frege, 2nd ed. (oxford, 1960); H. Hermes, et al., Gottlob frege, Nachgelassene Schriften (Hamburg,1969); J. van Heijenfoort, From Frege to Godel (Cambridge, 1967): P. E. B. Jourdain, “The Development of the Theories of Mathematical Logic and the Principles of Mathematics. Gottlob Frege,” In Quarterly Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics, 43 (1912), 237–269; W. Kneale and Martha Kneale, The Development of Logic (Oxford, 1962) pp. 435–512; J. Largeault, Logique et philosophie chez Frege (Paris–Louvain, 1970); C. Parsons, “Frege’s Theory of Number,” in M. Black, ed., Philosophy in America (London, 1965), pp. 180-203; G. Patzig, Gottlob Frege, Funktion, Begriff, Bedeutung (Göttingem, 1966); and Gottlob Frege, Logische Untersuchungen (Göttingen, 1966); B. Russell, The Principles of Mathematics (Cambridge, 1903), Appendix A, “The Logical and Arithmetical Doctrines of Frege” M. Steck “Ein unbeakannter Brief von Gottlob Frege über Hilberts erste Vorlesung über die Grundlagen der Geometrie, in Sitzungsberichte der Heidelberger Akademie der Wissenschaften, Abhandlung 6 (1940); and “Unbekannte Briefe Frege’s über die Grundlagen der Geometrie und Antwort brief Hilbert’s and Frege ibid Abhandlung 2 (1941); H. G. Steiner, “Frege und die Grundlagen der Geometric I. II’ in Mathematische-physikalishce Semesterberichte, n. s. 10 (1963), 175–186 and 11 (1964), 35–47; and J. D. B. Walker, A Study of Frege (Oxford, 1965).
The German mathematician and philosopher Gottlob Frege (1848-1925) is considered the founder of modern mathematical logic. His work was almost wholly ignored during his lifetime but now exerts a great influence on the philosophy of logic and language.
Gottlob Frege was born on Nov. 8, 1848, at Wismar. He began his university studies at Jena in 1869 but after 2 years moved to Göttingen. He studied mathematics, the natural sciences, and philosophy and took his degree in 1873. Thereafter he taught at Jena in the department of mathematics. He was made a professor in 1896 and retired in 1918. Frege was married to Margarete Lieseberg, and the couple had one adopted son. Frege died on July 26, 1925, in Bad Kleinen.
Frege invented the concept of a formal system of mathematical logic, and in his first major work, Begriffsschrift (1879), he presented the first example of such a system in his formulation of a propositional and predicate calculus. He introduced the mathematical notion of function and variable into logic and invented the idea of quantifiers. He was also the first writer on axiomatic theory to make clear the distinction between an axiom and a rule of inference.
Further progress in this work convinced Frege that the basic ideas of arithmetic (but not of geometry) could be articulated solely in logical expressions. He expressed his new program first in a nonsymbolic work, The Foundations of Arithmetic (1884), which also featured a brilliant and devastating polemic against all previous attempts at the subject. The crown of his work was to be his Basic Laws of Arithmetic. The first volume of this work appeared in 1893; but in 1903, as Frege was about to issue the second volume, Bertrand Russell pointed out a contradiction in Frege's use of the concept of a "class," which undermined the proofs in the work. Frege hastily added an appendix that sought to remedy the defect (this effort was later proved defective), but thereafter he seemed to lose interest in the great project. Two decades later he regarded the whole enterprise as an error and fell back upon the Kantian interpretation of mathematical judgments as synthetic a priori.
Frege also made important contributions to the philosophy of logic. Concerning the old question: what is it for a proposition to have meaning?—he introduced a variety of distinctions that are being exploited by contemporary philosophers. Frege rejected epistemology as the starting point of philosophy and revived the classical view, dominant before René Descartes, that philosophical logic holds this place.
"Gottlob Frege." Encyclopedia of World Biography. . Encyclopedia.com. 23 Apr. 2019 <https://www.encyclopedia.com>.
Gottlob Frege (gôt´lōp frā´gə), 1848–1925, German philosopher and mathematician. He was professor of mathematics (1879–1918) at the Univ. of Jena. Frege was one of the founders of modern symbolic logic, and his work profoundly influenced Bertrand Russell. He claimed that all mathematics could be derived from purely logical principles and definitions. He considered verbal concepts to be expressible as symbolic functions with one or more variables. His books include Begriffsschrift (1879); Die Grundlagen der Arithmetik (1884; tr. The Foundations of Arithmetic, 1950); Grundgesetze der Arithmetik (2 vol., 1893–1903).
See P. T. Geach and M. Black, ed., Philosophical Writings of Gottlob Frege (1952); M. Resnik, Frege and the Philosophy of Mathematics (1980); M. Dummett, The Interpretation of Frege's Philosophy (repr. 1981).
"Frege, Gottlob." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. . Encyclopedia.com. 23 Apr. 2019 <https://www.encyclopedia.com>.
Frege, Gottlob (1848–1925) German philosopher, professor of mathematics at the University of Jena (1879–1918). With George Boole, Frege was one of the founders of modern symbolic logic. In his Foundations of Arithmetic (1884), Frege attempted to derive all mathematics from logical axioms.
"Frege, Gottlob." World Encyclopedia. . Encyclopedia.com. 23 Apr. 2019 <https://www.encyclopedia.com>.
FREGE, GOTTLOB (1848–1925), German mathematician, logician, and philosopher.
Friedrich Ludwig Gottlob Frege devoted most of his career to a single project: the attempt to provide foundations for arithmetic. What is it to provide foundations for arithmetic? To provide foundations for a science, in Frege's sense, is to systematize it: to list its primitive truths and concepts and to show how these primitive truths and concepts figure in the justification of the truths of the science. The resulting systematization of a science is meant to exhibit the source of the knowledge of its truths. Mathematical work provided him with one model of this sort of systematization, the arithmeticization of analysis.
Analysis originated in the seventeenth century as a response to the needs of physics and astronomy. Its proofs originally exploited techniques of geometry. In the mid-nineteenth century, however, it became apparent that many of the geometrical proofs were not as secure as they seemed. Some apparently good proofs were identified as fallacious. The difficulties were attributable, in part, to confusions about some basic notions of analysis, including those of limit and continuity. The response was to try to show that the foundations of analysis lay in arithmetic: to offer a systematization of analysis in which only terms of arithmetic were used. Arithmetic was also systematized. Julius Wilhelm Richard Dedekind (1831–1916) provided an easily surveyable list of axioms from which, it was thought, all truths of arithmetic were derivable. But Frege was not content with Dedekind's systematization. For Dedekind's axiomatization did not, according to Frege, exhibit the source of our knowledge of the truths of arithmetic. The problem was that the terms of arithmetic (for example, "0") appeared in Dedekind's axioms, and that his axioms included familiar truths of arithmetic (for example, that 0 does not equal 1). Such terms and truths are not primitive, in Frege's sense, because it is not clear what the source of knowledge about numbers is. To see why, it is necessary to look at Frege's views about the sources of knowledge.
Sense experience is indisputably a source of some knowledge. The empiricist view can be characterized as the view that sense experience is the source of all knowledge. Frege thought that the German philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) had refuted this view by showing that some knowledge, including knowledge of Euclidean geometry, does not have the senses as its source. The source of this knowledge is, rather, pure intuition—a faculty underlying perception of objects in space. But Kant erred, according to Frege, in failing to recognize that some substantive knowledge requires neither sense experience nor pure intuition for its justification. Knowledge of arithmetic, Frege believed, is more basic than that of either the special sciences or geometry. The source of this knowledge is something that underlies all knowledge: reason alone. The science of reason, the science of the general laws that underlie all correct inference, is logic. Frege was convinced that the truths of arithmetic and, indeed, of all mathematics other than Euclidean geometry were logical truths. But many truths of arithmetic (e.g., that 0 does not equal 1) seem to be truths about particular objects, not general laws of logic. Frege thought he could show that all arithmetical truths are truths of logic by defining the numbers and the concept of number from purely logical concepts and proving the basic truths of arithmetic using only these definitions and logical laws. The result would be logical foundations for arithmetic: foundations showing that reason alone is the source of the knowledge of the truths of arithmetic.
Although Frege was convinced that the truths of arithmetic were logical truths, he was aware that they were not derivable using the logical systems generally accepted in his time. But he was also convinced that these logical systems were inadequate. Thus he began by constructing a new logic. In the 1879 monograph, Begriffsschrift, he set out the first logical system adequate for the expression and evaluation of the arguments that are regarded as logically valid. His next major work, Die Grundlagen der Arithmetik (1884; The Foundations of Arithmetic, 1950), was an informal description of his project, its motivations, and Frege's strategy for accomplishing his goals. The project was to have been completed in his Grundgesetze der Arithmetik (Basic Laws of Arithmetic). The first volume of Basic Laws was published in 1893. In 1902, when the second volume was in press, Frege received a now-famous letter from the mathematician and philosopher Bertrand Russell (1872–1970), demonstrating that the logical system was inconsistent. Frege ultimately concluded that the project, as he had envisioned it, was doomed to failure.
Although Frege failed to accomplish the task he set himself, he made profound contributions to logic and philosophy. One of these is Frege's new logic. The inconsistency in the logic set out in Basic Laws is easily eliminated by omitting the two basic logical laws that were needed for the definitions of the numbers. The resulting logical system is not only more powerful than earlier logical systems, it is also formal in several important respects. In Frege's logic it is a mechanical task to determine, for any string of symbols in the logical language, whether it is a well-formed name or sentence of the language. It is also a mechanical task to determine whether a sentence is a basic law and whether or not a sentence follows immediately by one of the rules of inferences from other sentences. Thus there is a mechanical procedure for evaluating a purported gapless proof of the argument in the formal language. These formal features make it possible to regard the logical system itself as a mathematical entity. The field of mathematical logic thus has its origin in Frege's new logic.
Another important Fregean legacy comes from his approach to his philosophical problem. Frege believed that he could solve a philosophical problem about the nature of the truths of arithmetic by introducing definitions, using purely logical terms, that could replace numerals in all contexts. The justification of these definitions was provided by an analysis of how certain symbols (the numerals) are used and a demonstration that these symbols can be dispensed with by defining them from other terms. The philosophical question that Frege wanted to answer appears to have nothing in particular to do with language or meaning. Yet he answered the question by engaging in a linguistic investigation. The use of this strategy marks Frege as one of the first (perhaps the very first) to take the so-called linguistic turn that is characteristic of analytic philosophy, the dominant school in Anglo-American philosophy since the middle of the twentieth century.
Finally, many of Frege's writings on specific issues concerning language, logic, and mathematics remain immensely influential in the twenty-first century. A great deal of work in linguistics and the philosophy of language has its origin in his discussions of language. Indeed, a substantial number of early-twenty-first-century philosophers regard themselves as neo-Fregeans. Even the logicist project that Frege regarded as having been decisively refuted has been resurrected and forms an important strand of contemporary philosophical thought about arithmetic. Frege's work attracted only a small audience in his lifetime. But in the years since, his influence on contemporary philosophy, especially on thought about language and logic, has become ubiquitous.
Frege, Gottlob. Foundations of Arithmetic: A Logico-Mathematical Enquiry into the Concept of Number. Translated by J. L. Austin. 2nd edition. Oxford, U.K., 1980. Translation of Die Grundlagen der Arithmetik.
Beaney, Michael, ed. The Frege Reader. Oxford, U.K., 1997. Collection containing Frege's most well known articles as well as excerpts from his most important books.
Weiner, Joan. Frege Explained: From Arithmetic to Analytic Philosophy. Chicago, 2004. An introduction to Frege's works intended for nonspecialists.
"Frege, Gottlob." Encyclopedia of Modern Europe: Europe 1789-1914: Encyclopedia of the Age of Industry and Empire. . Encyclopedia.com. 23 Apr. 2019 <https://www.encyclopedia.com>. | 2019-04-25T08:21:10Z | https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/philosophy-and-religion/philosophy-biographies/gottlob-frege |
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Despite Kíli's best attempts to convince himself that Bilbo would be safer in the Shire, and the dwarf spent a sleepless night trying to do exactly that, his mood was sour when his brother finally roused him from his bed. For there was a sick feeling in his stomach, a warning that said this wasn't right, and he could barely find the heart to eat. Instead the archer found himself looking out the windows of the tavern while his companions laughed and joked over breakfast, hoping beyond hope that he might see Bilbo there. But the hobbit did not appear and when Thorin cajoled his company into motion, their burglar was still nowhere to be seen.
However, if Kíli's memory served, Bilbo had been quite late the first time, late enough that the dwarves had almost left without him once before. So even though the hobbit had never agreed to come with them – in fact, he had most emphatically refused the invitation – there was still a chance that he might change his mind.
Besides, the once-king did not want to ruin the joyful mood with his own dark premonitions, not when this quest was as much his Fíli’s dream as their uncle’s and there was no need to speak of danger now. The dwarves should be able to manage without their burglar until they reached Mirkwood since Gandalf had been the one to save them from the trolls and goblins and Kíli was hoping to avoid those pitfalls entirely.
So the archer plastered an excited smile on his face and tried not to look back toward Hobbiton too often even as he became increasingly sure that Bilbo would not appear. However, when Nori started giving odds on whether their burglar would join them, the once-king still laid his coin on Bilbo because he would rather lose the money than admit he'd given up.
The once-king pulled his pony to a halt, twisting around in his saddle to see Bilbo sprinting down the path, Balin’s contract flapping like a banner in his wake. This was more like the burglar that Kíli remembered, the hobbit's eyes lit up with excitement and his travel pack bouncing on his back. This was more like his Bilbo and the archer was so very happy that the hobbit had changed his mind.
Indeed, the knot in the dwarf's stomach was finally easing now that Thorin’s company was complete again, his careful justifications nothing compared to the reality of Bilbo standing there. Because the burglar’s presence should keep the coming journey much closer to the once-king's memories and thus give him every possible advantage in his quest to keep his kin alive. If this would also allow Kíli a chance to court his hobbit, well that was just a bonus; although the dwarf couldn’t deny that he was looking forward to their travels with more anticipation now.
So Kíli might have been grinning like an idiot when Thorin told his sister-sons to find their burglar a pony, he and Fíli lifting Bilbo up despite his protests that he could walk just fine. But how could the archer hold back a smile when the hobbit's mistrust of his pony was so very adorable and the future was looking much brighter than it had been before?
Indeed, with Bilbo there amongst them, the beginning of the dwarves’ quest passed much as the once-king remembered; it was only Kíli who had changed. The archer simply could not summon the same lighthearted exuberance that he had known in the past despite the younger body that he wore. He tried, Mahal knew he tried, but that first rush of elation at seeing his companions wore off within a week.
Because the grief that Kíli had carried on his heart for decades did not fade just because time had warped around him, the once-king terrified that he would fail his purpose and be forced to live that pain again.
It was bad enough in memory when every glance at Fíli contained an echo of his brother’s bloodstained body and he could not look at Bilbo without remembering the way his hobbit had gasped when impaled. Kíli would never forget that sound, not if he lived another hundred lifetimes after this.
So the once-king smiled less than he used to and when they were not paying attention, he watched his companions with the desperation of someone who was not quite sure that this was real. Every time he fell asleep, the dwarf could not be sure that his kindred would still be there in the morning and he tried to embed each moment into his mind against such a possibility. For Kíli could not bear the thought of forgetting the way that Fíli's eyes crinkled up when he smiled or how Thorin always frowned when he didn't want to admit that he was lost. He didn't want to forget the light of Bilbo's smile or the sweet sound of his laughter, though the dwarf had not quite found the courage to state his admiration yet.
Kíli was too busy trying to maintain his masquerade, a task that should not have been as difficult as he found it now. But when he tried to act like his younger self in mind as well as body, the once-king always went too far. The dwarf could never seem to remember the line between youth and stupidity until he crossed it and the way that Thorin sighed at his missteps didn't help.
His uncle had a way of making him feel guilty for his actions, young and foolish as he had not felt since first taking the throne of Erebor. Indeed, the dwarf lord's disappointed gaze was far worse than any lecture and when Kíli and Fíli decided to tease their hobbit about his nervousness one evening – the description of an orcish raid both meant to needle the hobbit and harden him toward the dangers yet to come – the once-king thought that Thorin might strike him then and there.
“You think that's funny? You think a night raid by orcs is a joke?” the dwarf lord snarled, glaring down at his sister-sons.
“We didn't mean anything by it.” Kíli protested, his shoulders hunching defensively. He hadn't meant to upset his uncle; he'd only wanted Bilbo to look at him again. But the once-king couldn't seem to stop acting like an idiot when Thorin was watching and he didn't know what was wrong with him. Because it was not inexperience as the older dwarf believed, his uncle taking his sister-son’s protest as another example of imbecility.
“No, you didn't. You know nothing of the world,” Thorin told him dismissively and that just wasn't fair at all.
You are wrong, uncle. I know far too much of it.
What did it matter if he and Fíli teased their hobbit? It's not as though Thorin was the only one who had suffered loss at orcish hands. But he was the only one who stalked off to brood in the darkness of the evening, the dwarf lord staring over the edge of the cliff top as though to find all answers there.
Truly, Kíli's uncle was far more stern than he had remembered, the pontificating speeches replaced with gloomy majesty. For Thorin offered no words to explain his sharp reaction and while the once-king knew the reason of it, Bilbo was staring after the dwarf lord with utter confusion on his face. Confusion that Kíli might have eased in different circumstances, but as he could not remember how much he was supposed to know about his people’s history, it fell to Balin to reassure their burglar instead.
The old warrior told Bilbo of Azanulbizar, the battle that had graced Thorin with his epithet many years ago. Balin had always been a gifted storyteller and the rest of their company soon gathered around to listen, entranced by the scenes of loss and glory that the dwarf painted with his words. But as gifted as Balin was, Kíli had seen battles that did not end in victory; he had known this gruesome carnage and he could not share the admiration that the others seemed to feel.
Thráin's attack on the Misty Mountains had been ill-advised, his grandfather more interested in revenge than the safety of his people, and while Azog’s actions had been unforgivable, all the once-king could think about were the lives that had been lost.
Although, as the story continued, the archer had to wonder if Balin had heard a different version of the tale. For Kíli could have sworn that Thrór had already been dead when the War of the Dwarves and Orcs ended at Azanulbizar – indeed Azog’s murder of his great-grandfather had been the cause of it – and Dáin II, not Thorin, had slain the Defiler. But perhaps Balin was simply tailoring his words to his audience since this was not Dáin's company and when the old dwarf finished, Bilbo was not the only one with moisture in his eyes. Even Kíli was affected, not by the images of glory but by the parallels to his kin’s final moments on the plains of Erebor.
However, if the once-king was successful then these losses would be nothing more than an unpleasant memory, the echo of a nightmare that would not come to pass. So when the company lay down to sleep again, the archer vowed that he would work harder to win his uncle’s approval in the days to come.
For while Kíli didn’t yet have a concrete plan for making his fellow kings see reason sooner, being invited to Thorin’s council would be a good place to start. If the dwarf lord thought his sister-son had some insight to offer than he might actually listen when Kíli urged him to peace instead of conflict and preparing for the Battle of the Five Armies would be far more straightforward if Erebor was actually part of the process this time around.
Unfortunately, winning his uncle over was easier said than done because Thorin seemed to grow more disdainful of Bilbo with every league they traveled and it was difficult for Kíli to stop himself from standing up in their burglar’s defense. The hobbit might not be a travel-hardened warrior, but he was doing his best without complaining and Thorin should have had the decency to recognize his heart. However, the dwarf lord refused to see that Bilbo was trying and Kíli feared that arguing with his uncle now would ruin his chances of convincing him to listen later on.
So no matter how much the once-king loved their burglar, he did not dare take this risk with his companions’ lives. All Kíli could do was comfort Bilbo when Thorin had been particularly harsh, showing the hobbit the correct way to tie a snare, skin a rabbit, or groom his pony so that he would not make the same mistakes again.
Bilbo seemed to appreciate the dwarf’s assistance if his grateful smiles were any indication and Kíli's heart fluttered every time the burglar grinned at him. Though the once-king still had not told Bilbo of his true feelings, deciding that it would be better to gain the hobbit’s friendship before making any further overtures. For their burglar did not know Kíli yet, not the way the dwarf knew him, and he could wait until Bilbo began to show the brilliance that he held inside. Which would hopefully be soon since the once-king was coming closer to punching his uncle in the face with every day that passed.
Although, in truth, it wasn’t only Thorin’s moods that were bothering the archer, it was his unthinking assumption of obedience. Understandable, perhaps, but Kíli had been King Under the Mountain for decades and while he had never asked for that burden, he was out of the habit of taking orders now.
Indeed, the discordance between his current role and his ruling instincts was making the once-king tetchy and while he managed to hide his irritation from the others, his brother saw through him too easily. Fíli knew him better than anyone – or rather he knew the old Kíli – and despite the archer's best efforts, the other dwarf could tell that something was not right.
“What has been the matter with you lately?” Fíli asked one evening after Thorin had told his sister-sons to watch the ponies, Kíli wincing guiltily beneath his brother's worried stare.
Come on; get it together, the once-king told himself. I can't give the game away when we haven't even crossed the Misty Mountains yet. What nonsense would the old Kíli have spouted off? Something about our uncle or archery?
Truthfully, the dwarf was sorely tempted to spill the whole story despite his earlier resolution to hold his secrets close. He had never enjoyed hiding things from his brother, largely because he was awful at it, and seven decades of separation had not changed everything.
“I- What?” Fíli responded, eyebrows shooting up in bafflement.
“Think about it, brother. We're going to march up to Erebor, find our great-grandfather's secret door and then what? Hope that Smaug died of old age somehow? That's not a plan; that's a suicide mission,” the archer babbled, the torrent of words distracting the other dwarf from his original question quite effectively.
“Don't be silly, Kíli. That's why we brought the wizard and the burglar along. Even if Thorin hasn't shared every detail of his strategy, he's our uncle and we should have faith in him.” Fíli's reply was earnest and clearly meant to be a comfort, but it left the once-king shaking his head in disbelief.
The dwarf couldn’t understand how he and his brother had ever followed anyone so blindly, this quest built on nothing but an axe and a prayer. Indeed Fíli, who had always stood so tall in the archer's memories, now seemed impossibly young instead; impossibly young but no less stubborn when he thought that he was right.
So while this had not been Kíli's intention, he and Fíli were soon in the midst of a heated argument. His brother refused to see the truth of his words, defending their mission's reckless disregard for common sense or survival instincts until the once-king wanted to shake him violently.
No, Fíli. We are not, the once-king thought, visions of that blood-soaked battlefield swimming through his head.
There had definitely been two ponies tied to the tree across the way, a tree that had somehow been uprooted without either of the dwarves noticing. Damn it! I can't afford to drop my guard like this. This is exactly the sort of thing that I was just worrying about.
While Fíli walked over to inspect the wreckage for clues, as soon as he saw the gaping hole in the ground, Kíli knew exactly what had happened here. Only mountain trolls could have caused such damage, but the once-king had not been expecting to reach their cave so soon. He could have sworn that the company should have had at least another week of travel before it ran into these creatures – indeed, he had been planning to steer their path a little south around that time – but he must have misjudged their route somehow.
Not that this was too surprising considering how long it had been since the once-king had traveled the Great East Road and how little attention he had paid to landmarks the first time around. Truthfully, Kíli's sense of time had felt off ever since he had woken up back in his younger body and this wasn't the first landmark that hadn't appeared just when he thought it should.
But whatever was wrong with the archer's internal clock wasn't important at the moment; the only thing that mattered was ensuring that their company survived this night again.
“Thorin doesn't need to know about this, does he?” Fíli asked beside him and although their reasons likely differed, the once-king was quick to agree.
Although the dwarves had managed to escape from the trolls once, it would be better to keep the company from being captured in the first place and so Kíli needed to think of a way to get their ponies back. Thorin and the others would never agree to leave without them and telling his companions what had happened would only lead to a fight.
However, just as Kíli was cursing his lack of imagination, Bilbo arrived with dinner and the once-king was sure that his problems had been solved. Because the archer knew that their hobbit could be incredibly sneaky when he put his mind to it; he just needed a push in the right direction now.
The hobbit was, if not exactly willing, easy enough to drag along in their wake and thus the trio followed the trail of broken branches toward the trolls' hiding place. This was hardly a difficult feat of tracking since the path was wide enough that Fíli and Kíli could have walked abreast if they so desired and soon the red glow of the creatures' fire was visible through the trees.
“What is it?” Bilbo asked as harsh laughter drifted to their ears and the once-king did not need to see his enemy in order to murmur, “Trolls,” in reply.
Indeed two trolls were visible sitting by a stew pot when the dwarves dashed closer, their burglar trailing after them somewhat reluctantly. While Bilbo was clearly nervous about the situation, he had not run away and Kíli was certain that his hobbit would find the courage to do what was needed here. Indeed, when the third troll rejoined his companions with another pony held beneath each arm, it was Bilbo who spoke first.
“N- n- no,” the hobbit protested, looking back at Kíli with pleading eyes.
That gaze should be counted as a dangerous weapon and indeed, it took a great deal of willpower for the archer to keep from giving in. But he managed somehow, his mind reminding his heart that this was the best path open to them now. For if their burglar could release the ponies without alerting the trolls to his presence, then the company could ride out of here without any trouble and at least one more dwarf would know of Bilbo's usefulness.
The once-king needed Bilbo to know that he would never allow anything to hurt him and his actions now were not meant to be cruel. He only wanted his hobbit to have as much faith in himself as Kíli did and proving his courage here would be the first step toward showing everyone. Because one of these days Thorin was going to eat his scornful words and the archer fully intended to be there when he choked that bitter mouthful down.
“If you run into trouble, hoot twice like a barn owl, once like a brown owl,” Fíli added when their burglar kept hesitating, the other dwarf pushing Bilbo forward again and then pulling his brother with him out of sight.
Bilbo looked almost betrayed when he glanced back to see that the two dwarves had disappeared and for a moment, Kíli wasn't sure whether he would follow through. But then the burglar squared his shoulders and began creeping toward the ponies, ducking close to the ground so that the trolls would not notice him.
Indeed, their enemies were quite busy bickering amongst themselves and the hobbit reached their ponies without incident, though the once-king kept one hand on the hilt of his sword just in case. Kíli might trust Bilbo with his life – and he really did – but the dwarf was still going to be prepared to leap to the rescue if anything went wrong. And it seemed that a rescue might soon be required because after reaching the ponies, their burglar just sat there tugging at the trolls' pen ineffectually.
Curse my close-shorn beard; he doesn't have his ring yet! Kíli realized with a start when the trolls began to argue more fiercely and Bilbo remained visible, freezing in place until the monsters settled down. Or his sword. Damn it all!
The archer had quite forgotten that his hobbit began their journey without even a dagger to his name; indeed, he would have given him a weapon with which to cut the ropes if he’d remembered – it's not as though Fíli didn't have blades to spare. But now Kíli could only watch, praying that their burglar remained unseen and cursing violently when the Valar decided not to answer him.
For one of the trolls grabbed Bilbo when the hobbit tried to steal his weapon and Kíli could not remain hidden after that.
“Fíli, go summon the others! Now!” the once-king ordered as he pulled his sword free of its sheath and thankfully his brother did not question his newfound authority. Instead the older dwarf just nodded sharply and sprinted off through the trees, leaving Kíli alone to confront their enemies.
The three trolls were gathered around Bilbo, poking and prodding the hobbit as he dangled from their fingers, and while he had refused to give up his friends so far, the once-king didn’t want to see him suffer for his bravery. So the archer ran into the clearing and slashed one troll across the leg to get his foes’ attention before shouting, “Drop him!” as fiercely as he could.
“You what?” one of the trolls replied, looking down at the dwarf with confusion on its face. He’d forgotten how stupid these monsters were, stupid and yet extremely dangerous, and he needed to get his hobbit out of their hands as soon as possible.
“I said, drop him!” Kíli shouted again, spinning his sword around dramatically. While the move was a little flashier than necessary, the dwarf couldn’t entirely resist the urge to show off for his burglar and it served its purpose well enough. Because the troll holding Bilbo proceeded to throw him directly at the once-king, who dropped his sword to grab the hobbit from the air.
They tumbled onto the ground together, Kíli shielding the burglar’s body from the impact, and although this was hardly the time, the once-king couldn’t help but flush at the feel of his hobbit in his arms. Bilbo was pressed against him almost from head to toe, warm and soft and incredibly inviting, but he only had a moment to enjoy it before the rest of their company was rushing into the clearing with a dwarvish battle cry. So Kíli shoved his more lustful thoughts from his mind and helped Bilbo back to his feet, pushing the hobbit toward the safety of the trees before join his kindred in their fight.
However, while the archer had grown more comfortable with his current body over the course of their travels, he quickly discovered that he was still far from battle-ready now. Indeed, the fire burning in the once-king’s blood might have added strength to his blows, but that was slim comfort when his hands refused to follow direction properly.
Half of Kíli's strikes completely failed to hit their target, only Fíli's intervention saving his brother from serious injury. The few blows that the dwarf did land flew more on instinct than strategy, muscle memory guiding him where conscious thought could not. Clearly the once-king would need to train harder because this was just pathetic and he could not afford to acquit himself so badly in the defense of Erebor.
Only, as it turned out, Kíli's sudden incompetence did not make a difference because it was soon obvious that the dwarves would not win this day with the weapons that they had. The best of the Blue Mountain's smithies could not pierce the mountain trolls’ tough hides and while the old stories hinted at such natural armor, the company had not had the chance to test this truth the last time they were here.
In fact, Kíli and his kindred had been captured with embarrassing ease and the once-king was proud that they’d put on a better show tonight. Yet the archer’s satisfaction disappeared when he saw one of the trolls grab Bilbo, the entire company freezing as their hobbit was held up in front of them.
“Bilbo!” the once-king shouted, only his uncle's arm across his chest stopping him from charging forward foolishly. Kíli could not hope to reach their burglar before he was torn apart and trying to do so would be suicide, no matter how much the dwarf might wish otherwise.
So the once-king threw his blade down with a curse as the rest of Thorin’s company surrendered, his mood darkening further when Bilbo was thrown down next to him. This wasn't right – his hobbit was supposed to remain free in order to save the dwarves from being eaten – and yet it seemed that Kíli’s attempts to make things better had only screwed them up instead.
At least Gandalf was still out there somewhere but there was no guarantee that he would return in time. Not when the trolls were far too eager to begin their feasting, lashing several of Kíli's companions together for roasting and tying the rest in burlap sacks upon the ground.
We cannot die like this. Not so painfully nor so far from our goal. The idea was unthinkable and yet no matter how fiercely the archer struggled, he could not free himself. Indeed, none of the company managed to get loose before the trolls had finished building a spit on which to cook their captives and so the dwarves’ only chance of survival was to delay until dawn or the wizard came to save their lives again.
The hobbit soon drew their captors into a heated discussion of cooking techniques and while Kíli was too busy counting down the minutes until sunrise to pay much attention to the details of their conversation, he felt a surge of pride at Bilbo’s cleverness. Being captured hadn’t stopped the burglar from working to save his companions and surely after this, Thorin would have to acknowledge his bravery.
But then one of the trolls grabbed Bombur and lifted him above his mouth, the sight nearly sending the once-king down into a morass of painful memories. Death was too close, the echo of Kíli's grief twisting a knife deep within his spirit, and the dwarf pulled himself back from the edge of panic just in time to hear Bilbo declare that the company was infested with parasites.
“We don’t have parasites! You have parasites!” the once-king shouted back, insulted that his hobbit would ever suggest such a thing. Sure Kíli might be looking a little scruffy after several weeks of travel but that was no reason for Bilbo to say he was diseased.
If the burglar actually thought he was infected with something awful then the dwarf might never be able to win him over and this thought was so awful that Thorin had to kick Kíli in the side before he realized what was really going on. Of course their hobbit was just trying to stop Bombur from being eaten and the archer was so embarrassed about his confusion that he threw his own voice into the ruse a bit too enthusiastically.
“Who’s that?” “No idea.” “Can we eat him too?” the trolls asked in quick succession, their curiosity proving to be their doom.
For the wizard wasted no time in slamming his staff down on the stone beneath his feet, the enormous boulder splitting in two so that the sun shone directly onto the mountain trolls. The creatures screamed as this light fell upon them, their skin sizzling and crackling audibly.
A few seconds later, there was only rock where living flesh had been and the entire company let out a resounding cheer at their close escape. It serves them right, Kíli thought to himself, looking at the trolls as he waited for Gandalf to come down and cut his companions free. That was just as unpleasant the second time around.
Indeed, his back was aching from hours spent in such an awkward position on the ground and when he regained his feet again, the once-king stretched out his shoulders with a groan of relief. Only then did Kíli seek out his hobbit so that he could apologize for nearly ruining everything.
“That was some quick thinking back there, Bilbo; I'm just sorry that my thickheadedness almost messed it up for you,” the archer said, truly mortified at his own stupidity.
The burglar's voice sounded almost admiring and Kíli could not stop himself from flushing slightly when Bilbo reached out to touch his hand. He finally seemed to be making progress with his hobbit and he probably would have blurted out something utterly embarrassing if Thorin hadn’t interrupted them right then.
Kíli's uncle didn’t seem to care that Bilbo had helped to save his life, choosing to ignore the burglar's courage under fire in favor of his earlier mistakes, and watching Bilbo’s face fall beneath the weight of Thorin’s anger was almost more than the once-king could take.
“I- I just wanted to get our ponies,” the hobbit stammered weakly and before Kíli could come to his defense, Thorin rounded on his sister-son as well.
While Kíli was sorely tempted to refute this accusation – asking how, exactly, he and his brother were supposed to chase off a bunch of mountain trolls would be a good place to start – he knew that Thorin’s words were driven as much by worry as true irritation and he was simply happy that Bilbo wasn’t the focus of his uncle’s wrath anymore. So Kíli just nodded along as the dwarf lord continued ranting, trying to appear contrite even though he wasn't really listening and eventually Thorin stalked off again.
“Don't let him get to you,” the archer told Bilbo once his uncle was out of earshot, patting the hobbit on his shoulder and then calling Fíli over to do as Thorin asked. For as much as Kíli would have liked to hold Bilbo close until the burglar stopped shaking, he hadn't earned the right. Not in this lifetime, not yet, and his long years of pining meant nothing to his hobbit now.
This would be so much easier if I weren’t the only one who remembered, the once-king thought somewhat despondently as he and Fíli rounded up the company's mounts. Although I would not wish the knowledge of their future deaths on anyone.
But Kíli's mood improved slightly when Thorin took several of his companions to search the trolls' hideout and Bilbo returned with a familiar weapon in his hands. That sword had served his hobbit well in the once-king's memory, indeed it had slain an orcish general, and the dwarf was happy to know that his love would have protection when peril threatened once again.
Although, the archer was not expecting that moment to arrive quite as soon as it did, the company’s discussion of what to do next suddenly interrupted by a mad wizard on a sleigh. Not just a sleigh, but a sleigh pulled by rabbits and Kíli would definitely have remembered seeing such a thing before.
So the dwarf could say with certainty that he had never met this Radagast, nor had he heard such dire warnings in his last lifetime. While Gandalf had periodically disappeared on some unknown wizard’s business, that business had never followed him back to his companions, and Kíli dearly wanted to know just what in Mahal’s name was happening. But before the archer could ask, all conversation was cut short as an echoing howl sounded through the trees.
“Was that a wolf? Are there… are there wolves out here?” Bilbo asked, looking around nervously.
“Wolves? No, that is not a wolf,” Bofur told him, seconds before a warg leaped into the midst of their company.
While Thorin brought down this beast quickly with one strong blow from Orcrist – the dwarf lord's weapon back in his hands where it belonged – another warg was close behind it and Kíli's arrow barely slowed it down. Of course, this was hardly surprising since the once-king missed his target yet again but perhaps the archer could be forgiven for his distraction because none of this was right.
None of this should be happening and yet the dwarf could not deny the truth before his eyes. He must have changed something, altered the pace of his company just by being different than he had been before. Because the dwarves should not have met the trolls so early in their journey and they certainly should not have been attacked by wargs before reaching Rivendell. But whatever the once-king had missed, it was too late to fix it now.
This was ill news indeed since the company could not hope to fight off an entire pack of wargs and riders, not when they'd barely had any chance to rest after the trolls' attack. Indeed, Kíli and the others had been awake for more than a day by this point and the once-king did not like to think that some tiny act on his part had so endangered all their lives.
To make matters worse, the dwarves' ponies had bolted when the wargs appeared and they would never be able to outrun their enemies on foot. But then Radagast volunteered to draw off the warg pack with his rabbits and while Kíli worried for the brown wizard's safety, the company could not afford to refuse his gesture now.
So the once-king told himself that Radagast would be fine and indeed, if anyone could escape unharmed from a warg pack, it would be this wizard because his sleigh burst from the copse as though pulled by Arien herself.
“Come and get me,” Radagast shouted with a wild peal of laughter and the wargs raced after him, the group soon disappearing out of sight behind a hill.
Once the orcs were gone, Thorin's company left the shelter of the trees, Gandalf leading them eastward across the rocky plain. They ran for what seemed like ages over rolling hills covered with stones and scrub brush, only luck keeping one of the dwarves from turning an ankle in some hidden gopher hole.
Across such ground, the warg pack would have caught them easily without Radagast's assistance and yet, the brown wizard couldn't seem to shake his pursuers off. His rabbits were fast but the wargs were damnably persistent and his twisting path forced the dwarves to stop and hide more than once. They threw themselves down in the grass or under overhanging boulders, waiting anxiously until the orcs turned away again, and all Kíli could think about was how much he hated this. He hated the ever present danger threatening his kindred and the overwhelming fear that he would fail them all again.
So by the time one of the warg scouts stumbled upon the company’s latest hiding place, the archer’s hands were already shaking with worry and exhaustion and his tension ratcheted up tenfold when Thorin ordered him to take the rider out. Because Kíli needed to kill this orc before he could warn his fellows and if once-king had been himself, he would have slain beast and rider with one shot.
But he wasn't himself, was he? The dwarf was an old soul shoved back in his younger body and while his sword hand was slowly growing stronger, his aim had not recovered yet.
So while Kíli did manage to hit the orc, he caught his foe in the shoulder instead of the throat as he intended, and the orc nearly managed to sound his horn before the archer released another shot. This arrow brought both creatures down, the rest of Thorin's company leaping forward to finish off their enemies. But while the orc fell silently, the warg was a different matter and the rest of its pack could not have missed the tortured screams that it let out before it died.
The dwarves' enemies had been alerted because Kíli could not do the job he had been given and Thorin's annoyed glare made him cringe inside. The archer should have done better; he had been the goddamned Lord of Silver Fountains after all and he had bested Bard the Dragonslayer in a contest once or twice.
So the once-king was damn well going to act like he had deserved the crown his people gave him and when the warg pack managed to corner its prey near a large group of boulders, Kíli stood tall against the tide. Not that this made the archer's aim any better but he would fight until his quiver was empty in the defense of his kin. Indeed, the dwarf shot arrow after arrow as he slowly retreated toward the rocks with the rest of his company, thinning out their enemies as best he could.
However, even if Kíli had been able to hit more than half his targets, arrows alone would not have won this fight. The dwarves needed a miracle and he was rather hoping that their wizard might think of something clever soon. But when the archer glanced back at the boulders, Gandalf was nowhere to be seen and none of the company seemed to know where he had gone when Kíli asked.
If the wizard had abandoned them, the once-king would curse Gandalf’s name upon his dying breath as the faithless friend that he had proved to be. For the once-king might have forgiven the wizard for leaving his company at Mirkwood – and he had, reluctantly – but to disappear now would be a far worse crime than that.
“Come on, move! Quickly, all of you!” Thorin ordered, the other dwarves running toward the crevice that Gandalf had uncovered while Kíli and his uncle stayed back to cover their retreat.
Only once the rest of their companions were safe within the rocks did Thorin shout for his sister-son to join him, the archer slinging his bow across his shoulders and sprinting toward the stones. He leaped into the gap moments before his uncle, the two dwarves sliding to a stop at the bottom and then turning to face the opening warily.
Kíli fully expected the dwarves’ enemies to follow them into the crevice and he knocked another arrow for the moment that a silhouette appeared against the sky. But it seemed that his arrow would not be needed because the sound of the company's panting was soon drowned out by the echoing peal of hunting horns. The rumble of hooves and the wet thunk of steel through skin told the rest of the story, the orc who fell at Thorin's feet moments later proving it beyond a doubt.
Because that was an elvish arrow buried in the creature's flesh and Kíli was pleased to know that Elrond was still a worthwhile ally in this life. Indeed, something in the once-king eased when Gandalf led the company further into the rocks and their path came out inside the hidden valley of Rivendell.
Whatever dangers lay in the world outside, Rivendell had always been a place of rest and healing and the archer could not understand why his uncle was so angry that Gandalf had brought them here. Hadn’t the company meant to seek Lord Elrond’s counsel since no one else in the Westlands could read the dwarf lord’s map? Kíli certainly hoped that Thorin hadn’t been intending to find Thrór's hidden door without even the map’s short verse to guide them, particularly since the once-king had forgotten several of the lines.
But when Elrond returned from orc hunting, Kíli's uncle greeted the elf lord with far more suspicion than was warranted. For while Thorin had always spoken of Thranduil with this sort of deep-seated hatred, Durin’s Folk and the Western elves should have been allies if not the closest friends.
To make the situation even weirder, the archer was the only one who seemed surprised by his uncle’s words and actions, the rest of the company responding with just as much suspicion when Elrond welcomed them in Sindarin. He was offering food and shelter but Glóin and the other dwarves reacted as though he’d offered insult and surely the once-king could not be the only one who spoke the elvish tongue?
Not that Kíli was supposed to know Sindarin fluently, but he was prepared to make up months of private study to explain his sudden talent if it would stop a needless fight. However, that turned out to be unnecessary for Gandalf stepped forward to tell his companions the truth of Elrond's hospitality.
After a brief discussion, food proved more powerful than suspicion and even Thorin relaxed somewhat once Elrond's steward led the company to a well-laden table, enough food and drink to satisfy even the largest appetite. Admittedly there was more greenery and less meat than most dwarves preferred in their repast but Kíli, at least, was too starved to care.
So the once-king dug in with a will and by the time Elrond joined the company, he was feeling much more himself. He joked with Dwalin, laughed at Ori and listened with interest when their host explained the history of the blades that Thorin and Gandalf had taken from the troll hoard earlier that day. Indeed, Kíli might have carried Orcrist in his uncle's memory, but he had forgotten that the wizard's sword had earned a name as well. Glamdring and Orcrist would serve their new masters proudly, though it was the as yet unnamed Sting which Kíli was still most pleased to see.
However, that blade was not part of Elrond's story and when the elf returned Orcrist to Thorin, the dwarf lord thanked him almost civilly. So perhaps Thorin's earlier rudeness had simply been due to exhaustion and his dislike of being rescued rather than some deeper conflict, which meant that the rest of the dwarves' stay in Rivendell should pass peacefully.
Truthfully, Kíli was quite looking forward to a few weeks of rest in which to practice his archery and create a better plan. The once-king needed to use the years the Valar gave him to anticipate the coming dangers and avoid them instead of running around in a panic every time a monster howled.
The archer also planned to use this time to talk to his hobbit because Bilbo was never going to fall back in love with him again if all of their conversations were interrupted by Thorin's glaring or one of Bofur's stupid jokes. Kíli needed to show his hobbit that he wasn't actually as foolish as he'd probably seemed during the first part of their journey and these two weeks in Rivendell would be the dwarf's best chance to start courting the burglar properly.
The once-king would have time to state his intentions since the company had to wait for the moon to be aligned correctly before Elrond could read Thráin's map and so he did not think much of it when Thorin, Bilbo, Balin and Gandalf went to meet with the elf lord later on that night. Kíli was busy enjoying a late-night meal with his companions, snacking on fire-roasted sausages while he and Fíli traded jokes back and forth.
One lighthearted evening would be just the thing to put him in the right mood for romance since Bilbo did not need to know about his sorrows yet. Perhaps someday far in the future, Kíli might be able to tell his hobbit about the life that he had lived without him, but it would doubtlessly be better to stick to flowers and stories from his childhood for now. For the once-king had seen some lovely violets on the way into Rivendell and Bilbo had always enjoyed his descriptions of the fire moon near Dunland when Kíli had told the tale before.
So even though Thorin and his companions returned too late for the once-king to speak with Bilbo again that evening, he was not particularly worried about the missed opportunity. Kíli would have days to woo his hobbit before the dwarves left Rivendell and a good night's sleep might lower his chances of making a complete fool of himself.
But instead of waking comfortably to the fresh scent of elvish bread rolls, the archer was shaken from a sound sleep before the crack of dawn. He looked around in confusion to see the other dwarves packing up their gear, Thorin ordering his sister-son to his feet when the once-king hesitated for too long.
This doesn't make any sense, Kíli thought, completely flabbergasted by the time that he had lost.
Even if their company had been traveling with greater speed in this lifetime than in the last, there was no way that the elf lord should have been able to read the moon runes on Thorin's map. But when Kíli mentioned this concern to Balin, the older dwarf assured him that Elrond had translated the runes without any trouble and the once-king could not understand how this was possible. Because leaving Rivendell now would alter the entire timeline of their journey and Kíli did not want to imagine what this change might mean. However, Thorin could not be dissuaded and so despite the archer's misgivings, their company marched out with the dawn.
Perhaps this will allow us to avoid some of the dangers that we faced in the past, Kíli told himself, trying to remain optimistic about their chances even as the absence of their wizard left him cold inside. | 2019-04-20T12:34:22Z | https://rata-toskr.livejournal.com/50346.html |
Kristen Bragg is currently a second year graduate student working towards her Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Western Carolina University (Cullowhee, North Carolina, USA). As a non-traditional, returning student, Kristen left the workforce in 2011 in order to pursue her true passion of helping others to communicate effectively. She is scheduled to graduate in the spring of 2014 and begin working to complete her Clinical Fellowship. After graduation, she hopes to work with children with a wide range of needs in a school setting.
Hearing Association chapter at Western Carolina University. She is scheduled to graduate in the spring of 2014 and begin working to complete her Clinical Fellowship.
David A. Shapiro, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow, Board Recognized Fluency Specialist, is the Robert Lee Madison Distinguished Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Western Carolina University (Cullowhee, North Carolina, USA). In his fourth decade of providing clinical services for people who stutter and their families, Dr. Shapiro is a regular presenter at conferences and has taught workshops, provided clinical service, and conducted research in six continents. His book, Stuttering Intervention: A Collaborative Journey to Fluency Freedom, is in its 2nd edition (2011, PRO-ED) and continues to find a wide international audience. Dr. Shapiro is actively involved in the International Fluency Association (IFA) and International Stuttering Association (ISA), received IFA’s 2006 Award of Distinction for Outstanding Clinician in Dublin, Ireland, and was elected IFA President in 2012. He is a person who stutters, has two young adult children with his wife, Kay, and lives near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Stuttering intervention often is distinguished into two general categories – stuttering modification and fluency shaping (Guitar, 1998; Shapiro, 2011). Stuttering modification assumes that stuttering results from struggling with disfluency or avoiding feared words or situations; intervention seeks to reduce speech-related avoidance behaviors, fears, and negative attitudes, while modifying the form of stuttering. In contrast, fluency shaping assumes that stuttering is learned; intervention is based upon principles of behavior modification and seeks to eliminate stuttering in a controlled stimulus environment. In reality, however, most stuttering intervention utilizes a combination of stuttering modification and fluency shaping. This paper addresses an activity called “Catchphrase” that was used as part of a stuttering modification approach with “Jeff,” a school-age boy who stutters. In doing so, we will review characteristics about the case and the activity that led to the expected positive outcomes for Jeff and unexpected outcomes for the clinicians.
In an exemplar form of stuttering modification (Van Riper, 1973), desensitization aims to reduce speech-related anxieties so that the person who stutters can learn new ways of coping with and responding to stuttering. One way to do this is by stuttering deliberately (i.e., pseudostuttering) and then by making modifications in order to stutter more easily or with less effort. By pseudostuttering, the person’s awareness of fluency and disfluency increases, as does facility to control stuttering. But how can a clinician who has never stuttered understand the nature of stuttering and help a person who stutters become comfortable with the risk of fluency failure and the use of fluency controls? Manning (2004) posed this question directly for clinicians who do not stutter: “How can you understand stuttering? You don’t stutter!” (p. 58). This very thought is what prompted us – two clinicians who do not stutter (Bragg and Fowler) – to modify the popular game “Catchphrase” for the client to practice desensitization and for the clinicians to learn to pseudostutter. Though we prepared for a fun activity, we could not have been prepared for its impact on our client and, particularly, on us both personally and professionally.
Our client, Jeff, was a 13-year old boy who, at the time, had been receiving fluency intervention services for two years. He had experienced significant progress by increasing his use of speech in social situations where he previously elected not to speak, and heightening his overall fluency in conversation by 17%. However, his use of fluency controls had reached a plateau in therapy. We were unsure of how to continue with therapy and even if it should be continued. The dilemma was that although Jeff had a significant number of observable disfluencies, he perceived himself as fluent. It was unclear whether Jeff was unaware, in denial, or apathetic. He was proud of his personal success since the start of therapy and received an immense amount of positive reinforcement from his family, friends, and clinicians. However, there was plenty of work still to be done in order to take fluency to the next level and to eventually work on stabilization, two objectives he indicated a desire to achieve.
To help bring Jeff’s fluency to this next level, we knew that we needed to determine his awareness of fluency and his ability to distinguish it from disfluency. We decided the best way to do this was by creating a fun activity that included pseudostuttering. Since it is never fun to play a game by oneself, we decided that we must play by the same rules as the client and pseudostutter ourselves.
The rules of Catchphrase are simple yet difficult to follow under pressure. First, the players divide into two teams. One player at a time is provided a word and must describe it to the teammates without saying the word itself. The team receives a point when the fellow teammates correctly guess the word being described. We adapted the game and made a set of cards with our own words that were tailored to the client’s age and interests. The electronic version of Catchphrase has a beeping timer. We chose not to use a timer during therapy because it would create unnecessary pressure for the speaker. Rather, we added another element to the activity for usefulness in the clinic setting.
Specifically, we created a set of cards that directed each player to speak in a specific manner. These cards included: using fluency controls; speaking quietly, loudly, quickly, or slowly; stuttering with whole word repetitions, part-word repetitions, or phrase repetitions; or using prolongations, interjections, or revisions. During the game, which consisted of the client, two clinicians (Bragg and Fowler), and one clinical supervisor (Shapiro), each player was required to abide by the speech pattern specified on the card that was drawn. The prescribed speech pattern was required not only during the game, but also during related conversation that involved asking game-related questions, relaying how one felt, or making general comments to other players. For accountability purposes, each person started with the same number of tokens. All players rewarded the others with a token for speaking in the manner as directed by his or her card; all players removed a token from a player for failing to speak as directed by the card. The token system reminded all players at some point to “get back on track,” as it was easy to forget to stick to the directive on the card, especially if the card represented a novel way of speaking as it did for the clinicians.
First and foremost, Catchphrase provided Jeff with a heightened understanding and a sense of control and empowerment. After we reviewed what each card meant and provided examples, Jeff was eager to play. By chance, he first drew many cards directing him to stutter. When he finally drew a card directing him to use fluency controls, his overall fluency improved tremendously compared to previous sessions and the beginning of the present session. Before the Catchphrase activity, he demonstrated one or more disfluency on 18% of the words spoken during a two minute conversational sample. During the activity, he used his controls and demonstrated disfluency on less than 5% of the words spoken in a conversational sample of the same length. We used an audio recorder to play back Jeff’s use of fluency controls to further heighten his awareness and to offer positive feedback.
Though we may never fully know what it is like to be a person who stutters, this activity gave us a glimpse into that reality. It brought us to the empathic “as if,” shortening the distance between our reality and that of the people we serve (Rogers, 1961; Shapiro, 2011). If anything, our empathy is stronger and we feel more prepared to work with and learn from people who stutter. It is our recommendation that speech-language pathologists who intend to work with people who stutter engage in pseudostuttering multiple times and in multiple settings to gain insight into the reality of stuttering. Our client related more closely with us in this session than in others, perhaps because he felt that we were beginning to understand his experience. He could see that we put ourselves into his experience, that we genuinely wanted to know more. He saw the impact that stuttering had on us. As clinicians, we learned more during this activity than we ever expected. We found the experience to be enjoyable and rewarding, in addition to being memorable, humbling, and inspiring.
Do clinicians who stutter make better clinicians for people who stutter? Can a clinician who does not stutter work effectively with a person who stutters?
Do people who stutter understand the experience of another person who stutters better than a person who does not stutter? Do clinicians who stutter have biases or predispositions that can interfere with or reduce the objectivity of the clinical process for a person who stutters?
Can anyone ever truly understand the experience of another person? What facilitates and what inhibits a person’s understanding of another person’s experience?
This paper addressed one activity – Catchphrase – that remarkably enhanced two clinicians’ understanding of stuttering. What other activities might help clinicians build their own understanding of stuttering and the uniqueness of the stuttering experience to each individual?
What opportunities presently exist for student clinicians in professional preparation to understand the experience of stuttering? How might the graduate experience be enhanced to achieve such an understanding in order to deliver best practice for people who stutter and their families?
Guitar, B. (1998). Stuttering: An integrated approach to it nature and treatment (2nd ed.). Baltimore: Lippincott/Williams & Wilkins.
Manning, W. H. (2004, Spring). How can you understand stuttering? You don’t stutter! Contemporary Issues in Communication Sciences and Disorders, 31, 58-68.
Shapiro, D.A. (2011). Stuttering intervention: A collaborative journey to fluency freedom (2nd ed.). Austin, TX: PRO-ED.
Van Riper, C. (1973). The treatment of stuttering. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
What an innovative idea and an inspiring experience! I’m sure it meant a lot to your client that you were able to glimpse his world and relate a little more intimately. Can you share any specific “ah-ha” moments? Did you find your temporary dysfluency carrying over into your day after the session had ended?
Hi Jennifer. Thanks for your praise. As far as specific “ah-ha” moments are concerned, from the moment that we became “naturally disfluent” was the start of “ah-ha” moments that lasted the entire session. Personally, whenever I tried to tell a joke and had to stop because it took so long that it was no longer funny was a huge moment for me. This was when empathy was at its highest. It was also huge when Jeff was able to speak fluently for many minutes, which was something that we rarely heard him do. The temporary disfluency lasted about an hour after the session. While reflecting after Jeff left as a group, it happened often to both Perry and myself. Even when I got home and spoke with my husband, I still felt weird and continued to stumble on my words.
Great idea! Has anyone else played this game with their clients? In our fluency class for undergrad, we had to engage in stuttering for a week and write down our reactions. It definitely gives you a different/better idea of what people who stutter go through on a normal basis. This also makes relating to them and their feelings easier when your in therapy.
Hi. Thanks for sharing. I do not know of anyone else who has played this game with our specific modifications with their clients. However, hopefully some of those who have read our paper will consider giving it a try.
I really enjoyed reading about your treatment session with Jeff! Although I am not a person who stutters, like most, I have had the experience of stuttering in public and have felt the negative responses. I do have a question to ask: In terms of your other clients, do you feel making mistakes similar to those of your client’s would help create mutual respect and trust?
I’m not an expert, but I definitely think by us making the same disfluencies typical of Jeff’s speech created a stronger feeling of respect and trust between us. Prior to mine and Kristen’s involvement Jeff had built a solid relationship with Dr. Shapiro. I think Jeff truly identified with Dr. Shapiro and admired him in a sense. With that strong rapport already established it was easy for Kristen and I to slip into the therapy routine with him.
When we participated in Catchphrase and pseudostuttered it was as if the wool had been lifted from my eyes. I was put in such a vulnerable position that I had not mentally prepared for, and I think Jeff totally identified with those feelings. From there, the door was opened to talk more in depth about internal dialogue and stories of the past that can be quite painful to discuss at times. It helped him open up to us (me and Kristen), and it help also helped us open up in therapy as well. In the end it was a great experience for all involved, and did in fact create mutual respect and trust.
Thanks for your response and question!
I really like the game description, what good thinking on your part. I do have a few questions.
I wondered how did you two think of that game, and or why that game, and not a different one?
You have already semi answered this question: I wondered if you two had tried the game again, and if so did the game yield the same results? I read in a comment that Jeff continued to decrease his disfluencies. Did it affect the three of you in the same way as it did in the first trial of the game?
What were Jeff’s attitudes or feeling about coming to therapy, since he had been coming for two years?
Had he previously went to speech therapy, and had a lapse in intervention services, or was the first time he was ever seen two years ago? I read in a comment that Jeff had been previously seen by Dr. Shapiro. Was he receiving intervention at a school that he was attending, prior to coming to see Dr. Shapiro? Or was Dr. Shapiro the first SLP he was seen by? Was he referred?
What made Jeff come to you Dr. Shapiro? Who brought him?
I really liked when in a comment you stated that you could bring in family members, or whomever to be a part of the game. I think that would be a great learning experience for the family or other people joining in. In my graduate class we watched a video of a young boy who has Tourette’s syndrome and the father, of all people, would not even eat dinner with his son. It made me think does he not understand that his son cannot control his outbursts. It broke my heart.
Was his family supportive, and wanted to participate in therapy?
Thanks for you feedback Alisha.
We were brainstorming on different games that would be appealing to a 13 year old boy. We wanted to incorporate a game that required the participants to talk for obvious reasons. Catchphrase was just one of those games that came up and we went with it, not expecting the results it eventually yielded. We did try the game a second time, but the results were not quite as profound. There’s nothing like the first time so I think we all knew what to expect (to an extent) the second time. It didn’t calm my nerves though. Pseudostuttering is a very odd, and nerve wrecking thing to do when you’re typically a fluent speaker.
Jeff enjoyed coming to therapy. He had been coming to Dr. Shapiro for a number of years prior to mine and Kristen’s work with him. (I cannot remember the amount of time he had been coming to see Dr. Shapiro so I don’t want to give a false estimate.) Jeff had previously been seen as a young child in the school system. He was seen by his elementary school’s hired SLP. He did not have a good experience in speech therapy as a young school age child. Eventually he ended up seeing Dr. Shapiro, but again I am unsure of the timing of events and do not want to report false information. Jeff was typically brought to the clinic by his mother, and another family member, usually his grandfather or grandmother. His father would bring him occasionally, but he traveled a lot for his career and was out of town more often than not. Jeff’s family was very supportive and enjoyed participating in therapy when appropriate.
I hope that answered your questions! Thanks again.
What a great, functional activity! It must have taken you each a very long time coming up with pictures and vocabulary that would be relevant to a 13 year old boy. I believe it is imperative for all clinicians who work with people who stutter to feel comfortable pseudostuttering, especially since we know it can have beneficial effects on both the client and clinicians. Since this activity had such a huge impact on you and your client, I am wondering, what kind of activities or treatment techniques did you decide to utilize after this successful therapy session? Did you go back to the techniques you were using before? Did you incorporate anything new from what you had learned from the Catchphrase activity?
We began incorporating pseudostuttering in the activities following our success with Catchphrase, which was new for me and Kristen. We would engage in natural conversational speech often times. Also, we’d participate in specific activities such as describing a photo to the group in the therapy room while pseudostuttering in a particular manner (i.e. whole word repetitions, part-word repetitions, etc.). To promote Jeff’s fluency, we focused on gentleness, evenness, and naturalness of his speech, as we did previous to the Catchphrase activity.
What a great therapy activity. I can only imagine the amount of insight and rapport it gave you with your client. I think it is important for clinicians who work with clients who stutter to practice pseudostuttering in order to get a small understanding of what their clients experience. I would like to know if you have tried this activity with younger clients? Do you think that younger clients (elementary age) would gain as much from this activity? Were the results that you saw during this activity, reduction in percentage of stuttering, maintained at the next session?
Hi Teresa. Thanks for your response. Neither Perry nor myself have tried this activity with younger children. I think that I would only play this game based of the individual child’s maturity and level of awareness. I did have a very bright and mature 9 year old over the summer who had recently learned different types of disfluencies and what each type sounds like. I would quiz him on the different types. The next step was going to be pseudostuttering, but I had to leave my placement for the semester. The reduction that we saw was only maintained during the next session once Jeff was reminded to use his controls and we started playing again. This was usually the case. He would start out very disfluent in sessions, but disfluencies would decrease once he started to increase his awareness.
This is such a great activity! One way that my fluency professor got her grad students to engage in the same concept was to assign a “pseudo-stuttering lab”… each student got to choose when, where, and how they stuttered, but they had to do it in front of someone they didn’t know. Activities like these are great ways to experience the emotions behind stuttering, even if just for a moment- I can’t speak to whether or not this experience makes better clinicians in terms of lessening stuttering behaviors, but it can certainly lead to increased empathy when counseling people who stutter. I wonder if showing clients vulnerability through activities like this in session (rather than doing them outside of the clinic) makes them more at ease as well… I think that this factor could have a lot of potential in encouraging client’s who stutter to push through some of the more emotionally draining aspects of therapy.
I couldn’t agree more. Pseudostuttering gave me a new perspective and also provided Jeff with a new perspective. Thank you so much for reading our paper and responding. I appreciate your outlook.
Very interesting idea! I’m a graduate student, as well, and I picked my thesis topic last spring; however, I’m currently enrolled in my fluency class and feel like there are so many potential thesis topics when it comes to stuttering, so I definitely think you guys had the right idea to go in this direction!
But in your opinions, do you think that this intervention activity is best for therapists treating clients who stutter or for the clients themselves? I understand that you felt that it benefitted both parties; however, it seemed like the activity had more of an emotional effect on the therapists than the client (or perhaps this paper was written that way). Was your intent to measure the reaction of the game on therapists or on the client?
For one of our projects for my fluency class, we have to go to a public facility and “pseudostutter”. Perhaps practicing using your intervention activity will help us prepare!
In my opinion, I believe this intervention activity is best for both parties. We designed this activity with the client in mind so that he could (hopefully) experience the feeling of control over his own speech. We accomplished that goal through the help of this activity. Coincidentally, Kristen and I were rewarded with the experience of pseudostuttering in conversation with our client and supervisor, two individuals who both are persons who stutter. We unexpectedly gained a new perspective as graduate clinicians, as well as a sense of empathy that is vital in counseling clients who stutter.
We wrote this paper highlighting our experience as clinicians and what we gained from the experience. Regarding the intervention activity itself (i.e. Catchphrase) our intent was not centered around the therapists. It was most definitely intended for the client.
I apologize for the confusion. We were in no way attempting to relay a selfish message.
I do hope this answers your question and clarifies our intent as authors/graduate clinicians. Best of luck to you and your studies. Thank you for perspective and response.
I am a communication sciences and disorders student and am currently enrolled in a voice and fluency course. What a clever activity to increase Jeff’s awareness of his stuttering and give you all a chance to experience stuttering yourselves. In a response to someone’s comment, you mention that Jeff has a supportive family who attends therapy, have you attempted to play the game with them for generalization purposes?
We invited family members to engage in the Catchphrase activity, but they preferred to observe the therapy session in a separate observation room. Please do not mistake their decision as being un-supportive. I believe their decision was based on preference, as well as wanting to keep the therapy room members a constant. The game was explained to the family members in the chance that they wanted to partake at home. It was never reported to me whether or not the family actually played at home.
This is such a great idea for fluency therapy! As a first year graduate level clinician, I love hearing about new techniques to utilize familiar games in therapy! I do not currently have a fluency client but this will be a great technique I can utilize in the future. I enjoyed reading about all the modifications you used to adapt Catchphrase to your particular client. We had to perform a pseudostuttering activity as an assignment in our Stuttering II class and it is imperative to experience what a person who stutters endures everyday. It is important to switch sympathetic feelings toward PWS to empathic feelings and to walk a day in their shoes. Have you had positive experiences using pseudostuttering in therapy? Does it not work for some clients? Additionally, do you have any other familiar games/ideas for fluency therapy for a first year graduate student? Thank you for the great article and your time!
We had a positive experience using pseudostuttering in therapy with Jeff. Unfortunately, he is the only fluency client I have had and utilized this technique with. I, therefore, am unable to speak to whether or not the concept would work for other fluency clients. I do think it’s a good activity to keep stored in your mind because you can tailor it to any age.
What a great idea! I personally feel that progress in therapy cannot be made unless the client is aware of their communication. This game sounds like a great way to increase awareness while still having a good time in therapy. The success that you both have had with this client shows that a clinician who does not stutter can effectively work with a client who stutters. The willingness to understand your client’s perspective and make yourselves vulnerable to him goes a long way.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful response. I couldn’t agree more with your statement above. In the long run, I believe this activity will be beneficial for both me as a graduate clinician and for Jeff as a fluency client. I know I will always look back and remember the impact this has had on my personal perspective and SLP practice.
What a great experience for both of you, as well as a great intervention activity for your client. I am a second-year graduate student and I am currently taking a fluency class. One of our assignments is to “pseudostutter” in a public situation and write a paper on our experience. I haven’t completed the assignment yet but I’m sure it will be a valuable experience!
You ask some challenging questions at the end of your paper. I do not think a clinician who stutters would necessarily be a better clinician for a person who stutters, although they may have greater empathy. I think the most important thing a clinician who is working with a person who stutters can do is recognize that each person who stutters is an individual and what worked for one person may not work for the next.
Thank you for reading and responding to our paper. As you stated, empathy is an important quality to possess as an SLP when counseling a fluency client. I believe having that characteristic will play a large role in the level of effectiveness of your treatment approach. I agree with you when you say that “each person who stutters is an individual and what worked for one person may not work for the next”. That seems to a a vital role in all of our education and training.
I appreciate you opening up a discussion regarding our paper. Best of luck to you in your graduate studies.
What an awesome idea! I am currently a second year grad student at Idaho State University and doing a placement in a local elementary school. I find this fascinating and plan to suggest this to my supervisor. We have been searching for different ideas to make therapy “fun” for the students. This could work!!
Hope that all works out. Best of luck to you.
Thank you for sharing your experience with Jeff. I really enjoyed reading about this idea for therapy. I am currently taking a fluency course and was given a pseudostuttering assignment this semester. I was amazed at the amount of anxiety, and number of avoided situations from face to face interactions I experienced all because I didn’t want to stutter. At the conclusion of the assignment I felt I had experienced a small taste of what the life of a PWS is like. As I was reading through your paper I thought about my different encounters and often found myself relating to how you must have felt that day in therapy. Since most of my encounters were relatively short, I am eager to try this activity out in order to increase my understanding and knowledge of the physical and emotional drain that a PWS goes through everyday. I do have a couple questions about the game for future clients… At what point in the treatment process would you recommend playing this game? I would imagine it is important to educate the client on the different stuttering techniques; but would you wait until you hit his or her plateau (like Jeff), or play it towards the beginning of treatment? Based on your experience with the game, how do you think younger ages would do? Good luck to you both on the rest of the semester!!
Good questions Elizabeth. I would recommend playing this game once the client has had some success in sessions, has built a relationship with the clinician and is comfortable enough to openly talk about using controls and what different types of disfluency sounds like. We had at least 8 hours with Jeff before we did played this. I probabaly wouldn’t jump right in. We did not base waiting off of his plateau, rather we based when we played off of how long it took Jeff to become well aquainted with us and make the personal decision to take his treatment to the next level. I don’t believe that I would set an age limit with this game, rather I would base it off of each child’s maturity level and how aware they are of their disfluencies. Good luck to you too.
Thanks for sharing your experience! What an amazing opportunity to better understand the clients you work with. I am also a graduate student in speech-language pathology, and am currently taking a fluency class. As a key part of the course, we had an assignment which required us to pseudostutter in public at least 3 occasions. After completing the assignment, I felt many of the same emotions that the clinicians have described here. I am so glad to hear that this activity also had a positive impact on the client. I definitely plan to incorporate pseudostuttering into my future sessions as a clinician. Although I am a person who does not stutter, I think that activities like this bring me closer to understanding what those who do stutter go through every day.
Thanks for your feedback. Good luck to you in the future.
I really love your idea to pseudostutter while playing catchphrase! I’ve pseudostuttered with a client before, and I know how exhausting it can be. Did you pseudostutter at any other times during your session, or just during Catchprase? Also, have tried any other pseudo-speech disorders, such as pseudo-misarticulations, with other clients to try to build rapport and understanding like you did with Jeff? Good luck!
Hi. We stuttered throughout the entire session including during conversations, feedback, and describing how we felt. I have not personally tried any other pseudo stuttering with clients, but all of my fluency clients have been very young and I have not felt it would be appropriate. Good luck to you in your future as an SLP!
Thank you for sharing this story. I am also a second year graduate student studying speech-language pathology. I am currently enrolled in our program’s fluency course. Pseudo-stuttering is a technique that has been discussed and we will be participating in a pseudo-stuttering exercise for one of our assignments in which we must pseudo-stutter for a day. I already have some anxieties about it and it was interesting reading about the anxieties and fatigue you experienced with your activity. This seems like a great therapy activity for both the client and the clinicians. I currently work with children who stutter at my elementary school placement and would love to try this activity.
Thanks for sharing Christy. Good luck to you.
I like how this innovative activity provides a learning experience for both the client and clinician. I was wondering how well the child was able to generalize learned skills during the activity to other communicating opportunities?
Thank you for posting this article! What an interesting and creative way to help your client decrease his stuttering, become more aware of his stuttering, and even have you become more aware of what it is like to stutter. As a Communicative Disorders graduate student, we were required to pseudostutter in 3 locations. I think a great addition to this assignment would be to play this version of Catch Phrase with peers for a few hours. I think it could have a great impact on everyone involved.
Thanks for your feedback. Good luck to you in your future.
Thank you for honestly sharing your experiences with this activity. I really enjoyed reading your paper!
Thanks for sharing your feedback. I am sure the benefits of your assignment will be well worth the nerves. I think that every graduate student who does not stutter is terrified to pseudostutter for the first time. However, I am so glad that we did it. Good luck to you.
Thank you so much for writing this paper. I had to complete a similar assignment in undergrad where I voluntarily stuttered for a week. I found it to be a very valuable learning experience that all potential speech pathologist should complete. I can imagine it was even more valuable for you because you were completing it in front of a client who stutters. I was curious about why you chose Catchphrase? Recently when I went to a National Stuttering Association meeting someone brought this game and most individuals were apprehensive about playing. I liked how you took the timer away from the game to decrease the pressure.
Hello. We were trying to think of a game that required a decent amount of dialogue and also where we could incorporate Jeff’s personal interests. We based many of the cards that we created off of things or places that we knew he could describe well or that he liked.
Thank you for your interesting paper. As I have not received formal therapy for SO MANY years, it was particularly useful for me to gain an understanding of the terms “stuttering modification” and “fluency shaping”.
David, it was a pleasure to spend time in your company (albeit briefly) at the last ASHA annual convention in Atlanta. Hopefully our paths will cross again in the not too distant future.
I am a first year graduate student at Idaho State University and one of our upcoming assignments is to pseudo-stutter. I know most of the class is terrified and this activity seems like a great way to practice and gain perspective in an interactive environment. I really appreciate you sharing this activity and I am excited to use it when I have a fluency client in the future or even with my fellow graduate students for practice. You mentioned your client perceived himself as more fluent then he was and that he was proud and confident in his speech, did bringing awareness to his dysfluent events cause a decrease in his confidence? If not, how did you present this information in a way that allowed him to maintain his positive self image?
Hi Breanna. We did not specifically point out any of his disfluencies during the activity. Instead we attempted to empower him by allowing him to realize that he is in control of his fluencies verses disfluent moments. We played back only the moments where he was fluent and focused on the positive. In therapy overall, we explained to him that many people become good at things, but there is always room to take what we practice to the next level in order to master our skills. We presented it in this manner and he did not lose confidence as a result.
I truly enjoyed reading this article on your successes pseudo-stuttering while playing Catchphrase. I am a graduate student and I am currently taking a class on fluency. Our professor requires us to complete pseudo-stuttering activities. Initially, upon learning about this course requirement, I was anxious and not looking forward to working on it. Now that I have read this article though, my feelings on completing this task have changed. The fear of being judged by others as you stutter is a feeling we cannot fully comprehend as someone who doesn’t stutter but through your exercise, you were able to begin to understand the demands to perform that a person who stutters must feel. Your client’s “welcome to my world” comment touched me and encouraged me to better comprehend the negative emotions attached to stuttering. I also found your use of Catchphrase in therapy to be a great way to bring awareness to your client in respect to his stutter. Thank you, ladies!
Thanks so much for sharing Jillian. I am glad that our paper was able to give you the boost of confidence that you will need to complete the assignment. I promise you that you will feel much better after you do it. Good luck to you in your studies.
My name is Kendre, and I am a graduate student at Idaho State University. I’ve been working in the field for the past 5 years or so, however only recently have I encountered any clients who stutter. It’s quite an intriguing subject, and something that has very little “hype” with respect to therapy techniques and intervention (as opposed to other areas in our field).
Best of luck to you in the future!!! | 2019-04-19T00:26:02Z | http://isad.isastutter.org/isad-2013/papers-presented-by-2013/catchphrase-a-stuttering-intervention-activity-with-unexpected-benefits/ |
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I am going to meander a bit today. Please bear with me. I’ll get to the point somewhere in here and probably veer off again, but I’m sure you’ll understand.
Samantha and my son live three doors and a crosswalk away from her middle school. She was crossing said street — in the crosswalk, with the light, in a school zone — when a woman turning left struck her from the side and rear. Samantha went up on the hood of the car, rolled off, and fell to the ground. She, fortunately, landed on her side (as opposed to on a joint or, God forbid, her head). I won’t go into detail with regard to the legalities of what happened afterward as that is still unwinding (I incidentally while questioning Samantha about what happened used some of the techniques which Sue Colletta noted in her wonderful TKZ post of November 5). What is important is that Samantha is okay so far (and yes, we are keeping an eye on her) but she picked herself up, submitted to medical examinations, and went to school the next day, where she basked (probably the wrong word) in the vague celebrity that shines on someone of her age (she’ll be 12 next week) who experiences a near catastrophe and comes out of it (relatively) unscathed.
Am I grateful or thankful that she was apparently uninjured? I’m not sure. “Thankful” and “grateful are appropriate but don’t quite cover it. I don’t think I have the words. I am considering, somewhat seriously, leaving all of my worldly goods behind and joining a monastery where I can devote every waking moment to prayer and good works as a small step toward balancing the scales that tipped so that Samantha could emerge intact. There is at any given moment only a hair’s breadth between a sigh of relief and the scream of anguish that herald’s the worst day of someone’s life. The birthday party we will be having on Thanksgiving might have been spent in a hospital waiting room. Or worse.
So. Flash forward to this past Tuesday. I had been trying to think of something, some minor gesture, to uplift Samantha a bit and tilt her world away from what happened and into the right direction. I happened to be in one of the local Half-Price Books stores and passed by the magazine section. There was a space jammed with a magazine called Weekly Shonen Jump which I quickly recognized as a manga magazine. For those of you over the age of forty — and what follows is a bit of an oversimplification — manga is the general name for a Japanese comic book. It is distinguished from anime, which is what we might characterize as a Japanese animated movie. The styles of both media are the same and very distinctive. I am not a fan — it gives me a headache to read/watch it — but Samantha is a huge follower. Weekly Shonen Jump runs upward to five hundred pages an issue and reprints previously published stories. Its nickname in both its American and Japanese incarnations is “phone book,” because of its thickness. The English language version (which is what I had found) goes for a cover price of five dollars an issue which isn’t a bad price at all. The bookstore was selling the issues for fifty cents each, which is, um, even better. An extremely helpful clerk who saw me looking at the magazines directed me to another stack of a publication titled Neo, a slick-paged magazine which concerns itself with manga, anime, and Japanese video games. I bought the entire kit and kaboodle of both, dropping around ten bucks for seventeen magazines that ultimately took up most of the room in the box I needed to transport them to my car.
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Thankful? Grateful? Yes. My granddaughter is alive, well, and loves to read. Like I said earlier, however, I don’t quite have the words to express how I feel. I’m thankful for other things. I wake up in my own bed every morning and can put my own feet — I still have both of them. Many people don’t — on my own floor and can put on my own clothes without assistance. And I have clothes. I also have windows and doors that I can open and close at will in a house that I own free and clear in a neighborhood that is (for the most part) quiet and peaceful. If my reach occasionally (okay, frequently) exceeds my grasp, I have both arms, both hands, and ten digits with which to fail gloriously and otherwise. I also have an ungrateful and unappreciative cat who somehow still elicits the best out of me several times a day, every day. There’s food in the refrigerator and the water, heat and air conditioning works on demand. I can still work at my job and if I get tired of it I can go do something else. I have four wonderful children, who are each successful in their own way. And. I get to do this — communicate with you — which is what I am doing right now. I am thankful for you. But to have a granddaughter who loves to read and appreciates a small gift that elicits a response like the one she gave o me…as I keep saying, I don’t have the words.
Happy Thanksgiving. Please keep reading, and for those of you who fight the good writing fight, please continue to do so in order that Samantha and every child who loves to read will have great stories to enjoy for the rest of their lives. May they and you be safe for all of the remainder of their days and yours. Thank you.
This past Thursday, November 1, we lost a great and terrific guy named David Williams. Many of the regular contributors and visitors to The Kill Zone know that name.
David told me on a number of occasions that the very first thing he did every morning was sit down in front of his computer and read the daily post of The Kill Zone. When David would choose to comment he always made the post just a little bit better, no matter how superlative it was to begin with. I told him quite truthfully that it was that knowledge which frequently gave me the inspiration to write something when it seemed like the well was dry. It’s accordingly more than fitting that David is the subject of today’s post. Hopefully, I will be forgiven for stating that today he is undoubtedly reading this from a place of comfort which he has earned and deserved. I accordingly really, really need to make this post a good one.
I got to know David through correspondence generated by The Kill Zone. We then became the modern day equivalent of “pen pals” through email and telephone. I learned over time that David wore a number of hats. He was a minister, theologian, photographer, author, and student of the human condition. David was a man of deep and abiding faith which, in spite of personal obstacles (and maybe because of them) inspired him to bring comfort to others in their hours of greatest need. He also took it upon himself to record and share the images of God’s creations with photographs that he took, each and all of which had something to recommend them, something that an ordinary observer might have missed. The stories which David wrote may not have made it to prime time, but they were surely worthy of it. The most recent one he shared with me — rejected inexplicably a couple of times — haunts me still. Most importantly, however, David was a husband, father, and friend. David’s wife Betsy was (and is, for all eternity) his rock, particularly during these past few months, weeks, and days. David’s good cheer and generosity of spirit — traits which he exhibited right up to the end of his life — belied a number of health problems, discomforting at best and excruciatingly painful at worse. They, to paraphrase Hemingway, took him from us gradually and then suddenly. His major concerns in his final days, as always, were not for himself but for his family and his Creator.
The weather has turned cool since last we met. Each area of the United States has its identifiable seasons, from the Deep South (where New Orleans has two, those being “summer” and “February”) to the West (where, as Mark Twain is reputed to have said, “The coldest winter I’ve ever spent was a summer in San Francisco”). Ohio has a more severe line of demarcation. The heat of summer at this time of year sinks into the chill of fall. Leaves drop. One can’t um, leave them go without raking or mulching for too long, as snow will almost inevitably fall by November. One sets the thermostat from “cool” to “warm” and calls for the furnace check-up, even as it seems as if but a few weeks ago it was the air conditioning system that was being checked out. The circle, it seems, moves faster and faster.
I’ve of late been feeling the rapidity of the turning of my own seasons. I came across a passage in a new book entitled THE DARKNESS by Ragnar Jonasson. The protagonist is a police inspector who is being involuntarily retired as she approaches the age of sixty-five, muses that she feels little different than she did in her forties, other than for perhaps some minor fatigue. Just so. I’m waking up at 3 AM much too frequently but I’m doing it in my bed in my house and know where I am. There are no real complaints there. Still, I am increasingly aware that the miles in the rear view mirror are substantially greater than those between me and the final destination, and I increasingly doubt whether I’m going to get there before the warranty expires. Most of my close friends are a few years older than I — in their early to mid-seventies — and seem to be hitting a wall. One of them, who I have known for well over fifty years, advised me yesterday that he was not up to making the two-hour drive to visit me this weekend due to vision problems. He reminded me that when we lived on the west coast he would call me and say, “Tahoe!” and off we would go, making the six-hour round trip to Nevada and back on the same day as if we had not a care in the world. We didn’t. Not then. It was high noon. We are well past that. The sun hasn’t kissed the horizon, but the lengthening shadows hint that, from our landlubber perspective, it is well-nigh approaching the yardarm. Sunset occurred for another friend last week. His body mercifully slipped loose of its moorings last week and followed his essence, which had been stolen by Alzheimer’s Disease, piece by piece, over the past two years. It’s not the way I want to go — I would prefer to pass either while writing at my desk or at the hands of an irate husband — but we don’t always get a choice. Shakespeare’s untimely frost follows no calendar.
What more to do? I have four wonderful children, each accomplished in their individual ways, and a terrific granddaughter. There might be time for one more dog. I think I’ve made more people smile than otherwise which is something that not everyone can truthfully claim. It’s been a good ride and there are many more miles and adventures to come. I hope. The lesson I’ve learned, and which I am making so bold as to impart to you —particularly those of you here who are younger — is don’t waste a day, or even an hour. Decide what you want to do and work toward it, whether it is writing the Great American Novel — someone will do it, so why not you? — adopting a stretch of highway, or visiting every Sonic, Tim Horton’s, and Cracker Barrel in the country. Regardless of what you want to do, there are only a finite number of times that you get to switch from cool to heat and back again. Cherish each one, and enjoy them.
A few weeks ago my granddaughter was at my house and started doing what I call “the ask dance.” This consists of 1) silently wandering into and out of whatever room I’m in, 2) twirling around, and 3) coming up to the table and drumming on it until I say, “What’s your ask?” She told me — Donatos Pizza — to which I readily acquiesced. I decided, given that she is a pre-teen, that it was time for “the talk.” The topic was “don’t be afraid of the ‘no.’” I explained that in most cases she would hear (and has heard) “yes” when she’s asked for something of me. After all, grandparents and grandchildren have a special relationship given that they have a common enemy. I went on to tell her that if she encountered a “no” from me it would most likely be a result of the impossibility of performance and that we would find a way to get to “yes” or a reasonable facsimile thereof. The only time a problem would occur is if she was so afraid of “no” that she didn’t ask at all. At that point, what she fears — “no” — becomes the de facto answer.
We all hate “no.” We hear it constantly when we are little and helpless as we reach toward candles that are lit and the tails of sleeping dogs, when we are old and confused and reach for car keys and checkbooks, and occasionally at all points in between. It stands between us and what we want (other than when it’s used in the context of emptying the dishwasher or mowing the lawn). “Yes” is the key that opens doors, moves mountains, and makes dreams come true. “No” disappoints, derails, and detours. “Yes” is always possible. “No” is occasionally unavoidable.
I slammed to the ground. A boltof pain cracked through my body then slid away. A dull throb took its place.The bust-up was the right arm. Between elbow and wrist. I looked at my arm and flexed it. A jagged edge of bone stretched the skin up. A dagger of horror seized my brain. My core instinct said not to move. But I had to get home.
I staggered to sloppy feet, heldthe damaged wing close to my body and stumbled down the sidewalk. As long as I didn’t move the arm, pain was secondary to fear, the ‘my mother will been raged’ type fear. What were you doing swinging from limbs of that pine tree in the first place? I could hear the shrill voice echo those words. But how mad could she get? I mean today was my tenth birthday and how mad could a mother be at her only daughter’s tenth birthday party? And why was I thinking about that now, twenty-five years later as I sat in a chair, high, wing back, cloth I thought. I couldn’t move. I could turn my head, but nothing below the shoulders worked. Maybe that was the connection. I couldn’t move the broken arm then and I couldn’t move anything now.
The room was gold and red with a hint of incense in the cold air. It was something out of an Agatha Christi novel. I swallowed, took a deep breath, scanned the room with my eyes. Floor to ceiling heavy draperies. A gold statue of a ten-inch Buddha in the corner. Thick tapestries hung on walls depicting combat with horses, spears and doomed men. I wasn’t stressed. My practice of daily meditation born of my Buddhist belief kicked in. I remained calm, focused.
A solid door, painted deep gold with carvings of dragons creaked open and he walked in. He was maybe five feet five inches, stocky build poured into a three-piece suit, vest and all the trimmings.
He carried a single manila folder, walked in front of me and sat in the edge of a leather topped captains’ desk. His eyes were set close to a narrow nose; the only hair on his head was a tight goatee, closely groomed. He dropped the folder on the desk, crossed his arms and a small puff of air expelled through soft nostrils. He was Vietnamese. Some of that blood ran through me. I knew his essence.
“There has been a mistake,” he said in a voice that sounded like he was telling me a bed-time story.
Thank you for submitting, Anon. Please permit me to be blunt. The bad outweighs the good here. I had a lot of trouble with the first couple of paragraphs of Skeleton because they are confusing, poorly written, and full of typographical errors. It gets better further down the page. Most editors, assistants, and agents (not to mention readers) wouldn’t have gotten that far, however. They would have read the first paragraph or two and told you that they weren’t interested if they told you anything at all.
First: please proofread. You have words running into each other, you misspell “Agatha Christie” as “Agatha Christi” — oh, the humanity! — and use a hyphen (“bed-time”) where you shouldn’t. Also please format. Lynne, the wonderful person who, among many other tasks, sorts these First Page Critiques out and sends them to us at The Kill Zone, mentioned to me that when she originally received Skeleton it had not been formatted. Putting it into Google Drive improved it but if your prospective agent or editor wants your manuscript in Word they’re going to be unhappy if you don’t format according to their specifications. Get you indentations, headers, footers and spacing all together and consistent. Yes, sometimes one or more of these things jump for some reason. Send it to yourself first and make sure it looks like you want it to. If it doesn’t, find out what is wrong and fix it.
I broke my arm on my tenth birthday. I was swinging from a tree limb and let go either too soon or too late. I’m still not sure which, a quarter-century after the fact. I had been looking forward to my party in one moment and in the next I was falling and then screaming as I fell. I hit the ground hard and a bolt of pain cracked through my body. It was quickly replaced by a dull throb in my right arm, between the elbow and wrist, where a jagged piece of bone now stretched the skin upward where it never should have been. I was horrified. I just wanted to lay there but I had to get home. My pain was secondary to fear. I was afraid of my mother’s reaction, even though it was her only daughter’s birthday, or maybe because of it. I could hear her shrill voice in my head before I even got home. “WHAT were you DOING swinging from the pine tree in the FIRST place?!” I was good at predicting how people, whether families and strangers, would react, even back then.
I couldn’t move my broken arm back then. Flash forward to the adult me, sitting in a high, winged back chair. I couldn’t move at all. Oh, I could turn my head, but nothing below my shoulders worked. The range of vision which I had wasn’t much. Maybe that’s why I was thinking about that immobile broken arm now. I didn’t appreciate how good I had it as a kid.
The range of vision which I had wasn’t much, but I could see enough to know that I was in trouble. There was a solid door, painted deep gold with carvings of dragons, in the wall in front of me. It creaked open and a stranger — maybe five feet five inches, with a stocky build poured into a three-piece suit, vest and all the trimmings — walked in. He looked Vietnamese, a little like me. I nicknamed him “Diem” in my head. He walked over to the captain’s desk just inside my right field of vision and sat down, dropping the manila folder he carried on a desk blotter. “I’m sorry, Miss Tree,” Diem said. Oh, so he knows me, I thought. “There has been a mistake.” He crossed his arms and a small puff of air expelled through the soft-looking nostrils in his narrow nose, framed by his close-set eyes. ”This is embarrassing at the least and inexcusable at best. It is not how I operate. Pressure applied from the client should not influence how results are obtained. However, to be human is to err human. And that misfortune is what has brought us together.” The ceiling lights reflected off of Diem’s bald head, an expanse that was uniform and undisturbed until it reached his tight, closely groomed goatee. I thought of a crude joke about beards that my ex-husband used to make, a joke that I hated when we were married. Now, sitting in that room with a stranger in front of me and all but unable to move, I had to force myself to stop laughing.
I hope that helps, Anon. Your concept reminds me just a little of the Sax Rohmer books which I absolutely adored in my youth (and which I still do, actually). There’s promise here. You have a story, but you don’t have a book or even a first page just yet. Check out the books which my fellow TKZers have for sale about the craft of writing, get one with the basics, study it closely, and go for it. Good luck.
I will now attempt to remain uncharacteristically quiet while our wonderful readers, visitors, and contributors make their own comments. Thank you for submitting to us, Anon, and keep trying.
If you are looking for ideas for your story or your novel, or characters to populate them, you need to join Nextdoor. Nextdoor is an online social network (isn’t everything, in some way?) which is organized around neighborhoods which are close to you. You just go to nextdoor.com, sign up, and you find yourself with access to all sorts of things, such as reports of suspicious activity, questions about what is permitted locally (and what isn’t), recommendations for everything from home power washing specialists and auto mechanics to tree trimmers and appliance repairmen, and lost and found (I’ll talk a little more about that last one in a minute). Once you’re a member of Nextdoor you get emails when someone posts about a topic such as an injured deer in their yard or a street closure, and you can answer back or post on a topic thread. You can also just read the threads that are posted, watching the occasional disagreement get contentious and then settle down a bit. It’s a bit like Facebook (Nextdoor’s less civil cousin) with its “like” button, except that Nextdoor has a “thank” button instead and for the most part forbids political discussions. After a bit of reading, you can dope out the personalities of your neighbors, whether close by or several streets away, and quickly determine what gets whose undies in a bunch fairly quickly. It is entertaining at the least and occasionally functions as a real-time and constantly evolving cozy mystery setting or, yes, a domestic thriller. You really should check out the page for your area if you haven’t already.
About that lost and found topic that I mentioned earlier…folks in my area use that primarily for locating or reuniting lost dogs or cats who slip the tether and make a jailbreak for what they consider to be the greener pastures of next door or the next street. Such happened in my own immediate neighborhood last week. My backdoor neighbors have two small children and a dachshund. The dog, named Heika, is blind, but gets around quite well, doing that happy, bouncy doidy-doidy-doidy walking rhythm that dachshunds do. Heika occasionally wanders over to my back door, having learned that the sucker who lives there is always ready with a dog treat. The family’s grandmother is often there watching the two children, who are as polite and well-behaved as any two kids I’ve encountered recently, and I occasionally sit and watch them interact, wondering how the grandmother somehow manages to keep them all corralled.
So. Last Thursday night I was at a local coffeehouse waiting for my AA meeting to start and happened to see that I had gotten a Nextdoor email with the heading “Found weiner type dog.” I opened it and found a photo of Heika doing a Nextdoor star turn courtesy of my next door neighbor, who had found her wandering on our street. Heika had done a Papillon from her loving family one street over in the mistaken belief that the world beyond her marked territory was as nice and friendly as the world within. Dachshunds are the second cousins to beagles but they share that “clever but not smart” inclination to wander that gets them in trouble. I got on the phone, contacted my next door neighbor, contacted Heika’s mommy, and doggy and family were reunited within three minutes of Heika’s photo being posted. My meeting started and all was well with the world, or at least a little corner of it. The ability to do that justifies Nextdoor’s existence all by itself, to my mind.
Do yourself a favor and check Nextdoor out. Even if you don’t contribute you can get a really good idea of what your community is like, not to mention populating your works of fiction with myriad characters or a reasonable facsimile thereof. Maybe you’re already familiar with it. If so, do you have a story to share?
There are times that ebooks don’t satisfy the craving for a weighty, paperbound novel that you can throw at a spider without risking seventy dollars worth of plastic and electronics. The same is true of email. While email (and texting, its illiterate cousin) is quick and convenient, there is something about receiving physical mail that remains appealing, if you are throwing ninety percent of it into the paper recycle bin. The feature which I recently discovered allows you a daily, somewhat imperfect peek into the future of what you will be getting.
I am referring to “informed delivery.” It is free (ah! Now I have your attention!). It is also easy to sign up for it. Go here, see if your zip code and address are with the program (more are added on a daily basis), and set up an account. Within a day or two, you will start receiving a daily email from the USPS which will include embedded images of the envelopes which you will (well, which you should) receive in the mail that day as well as notification of any packages which will be (um, are supposed to be) delivered. It isn’t perfect. You will only see letter-sized envelopes that are processed through automated equipment. Sometimes something slips through that isn’t pictured and other times something that is pictured doesn’t show up for a day or two. For the most part, however, it works as advertised. It is particularly convenient for those of us whose mail delivery occurs so late that we need a flashlight to navigate our way to the box. Sometimes it just isn’t worth it and informed delivery will let you give you at least a hint of a thumbs up or thumbs down.
For those of you who have never heard of this and decide to try it out, enjoy. If you have been using informed delivery, do you like it? And for everyone: have you encountered a technological life hack recently that hasn’t received a lot of notice but that has been helpful to you? If so, please share if you are so inclined.
And thank you for stopping by and letting me be a part of your day and for being a part of mine.
Hello, TKZers! Please join me in giving a hounddog-howdy to Anon, who has bravely submitted the first page of The Divinity Complex for our consideration. Anon, take it away!
We have no choice when it comes to life and death. But sometimes others make the choice for us.
Chris Martinez pulled into Jimmie’s Travel Center early Sunday morning. He parked his blue Chevy Impala in the spot closest to the front door and walked into the convenience store. The entire journey from car to register should have taken no more than a couple of seconds. But it took Chris a bit longer because every few steps, he stopped and looked back at the car. It was apparent something was wrong…very wrong.
Randy, the thirty-year-old attendant on duty, watched from behind the cash register. He thought the customer’s behavior seemed odd, but then he reminded himself of where he was. Jimmie’s was right off interstate I-95 in South Georgia. It was somewhere between late Saturday night and early Sunday morning. Under those set of circumstances, it would have been odd not to see something out of the ordinary. It wasn’t a matter of if, just when.
When Chris arrived at the cash register, he looked Randy straight in the eyes. He cleared his throat as if he wanted to say something. But he couldn’t tell what was on his mind. Chris had to be careful of the words he chose. That was because the phone tucked in his shirt pocket was recording the conversation. Chris knew if he said the wrong thing something terrible would happen. He had no choice but to play by the script.
If he wanted to stay alive, Chris would have to rely on his ability to send a single telepathic message. Being a carpenter by trade and not a psychic, made the chance of success infinitesimal. But Chris had to at least try. It was his only hope.
Chris locked onto Randy’s eyes and concentrated. He screamed as loud as he could into his own head hoping it would get Randy’s attention.
Sweating and trembling, Chris handed over a twenty and two fives. All he could muster was a half-hearted but utterly fake smile. It was apparent something wasn’t right.
“30 dollars…on…uh…Pump…10,” Chris said. That’s all he could say. Anything else and there was a good chance someone would die. Chris looked at Randy again.
“30 on 10, you got it, buddy,” Randy responded.
Anon, I absolute worship road trip stories, particularly those that wander off the freeway and into parts that are at least initially unknown. You accordingly had me from the jump. There is a glaring problem that jumps out at me, however, and it leads to others. It’s fairly easy to fix, so let’s roll up our shirtsleeves and see if we can Chris back on the road.
The doormat sensor went “dingdongdingdong” as Chris walked into the store. The cashier stood at the far end of it behind the counter, holding an open copy of Cavalier, eying Chris with a look of uneasy surliness. Chris thought that the guy looked to be about his own age, thirty or so. As Chris approached the counter he could read the name tag — “Randy” — pinned to his blue smock. Randy looked to Chris as if he wanted to be anywhere but where he was, which was just how Chris felt.
Chris wanted — needed — telepathic powers in the worst way. The problem was that he was a carpenter, not a psychic. He locked onto Randy’s eyes, hoping he could in some way communicate that he was in trouble without using words.
— I do like what you did here, telling us a bit about Chris — he’s a carpenter, which is interesting — so good on you. Keep doing that. Drop a few more breadcrumbs like that throughout the first couple of pages so that we get to know Chris and begin to empathize with him.
Chris was sure that Randy could tell that something wasn’t right with him. That didn’t mean that Randy would do anything about it. Jimmie’s was right off I-95 in South Georgia. Chris figured that it would probably be odd for Randy, to not see something out of the ordinary at this godforsaken hour and at the back end of Bumfreak, Egypt. There was no help here, for sure.
Notice that I changed “somewhere between late night and early Sunday morning” to “this godforsaken hour.” The reason that I did that was that you already established in the first paragraph that things are taking place early Sunday morning. If you want to give the impression that it’s really early then give the time or mention that it’s “full dark” or even “no see” (as they say in the cotton fields).
— When/if you want to change the point of view to Randy you might want to remove Chris from the scene altogether. Have Chris leave the convenience store. Skip a couple of lines, begin a new paragraph or chapter, and switch the third person narrative from Chris to Randy. You can do anything from having Randy decide, yeah, that guy was weird even for the night shift, and calling the police, to pulling out a burner phone and calling an unknown person and saying, “Yeah, your pigeon was just in here, right on schedule. He looked REALLY shook up.” You can have all sorts of fun with this. Just make sure that it’s plausible.
I hope this helps, Anon. My rewriting is merely illustrative. There are several different ways to follow my suggestions and you should follow your heart. Seriously, I LOVE stories that involve gas stations off of the highway. I want to love this one. I kind of already do, warts and all. I’m just not ready to buy it coffee yet, gaze into its eyes, and have it throw me over its shoulder and carry me off.
I will now make a valiant and probably futile attempt to stay uncharacteristically quiet while some of the finest folks in the world — our readers at TKZ — comment and offer additional suggestions. Thank you, Anon, for participating in our First Page Critique by sending us the first page of The Divinity Complex!
I write this while taking a break from an interesting if long-delayed project. I have a bed in the basement which has been buried by boxes which have accumulated over the past twenty-four years. The bed is suddenly needed the boxes need to be moved, the contents examined, and determinations made with respect to keeping or disposing of the contents. I have been working on this at the rate of one box per hour, with fifteen minutes allocated for each box. The fifteen minutes is broken down as follows: 1) kick box to dislodge spiders hiding within — ten minutes; 2) carry box upstairs — thirty seconds; 3) go through contents of box — four minutes thirty seconds. I’ve made great progress but it’s been somewhat depressing in a way.
The answer is that if you have a story, write it. A good story stands on its own. People empathize with it. One can also take the basics of it and work it, maybe twist it around a bit, and make it different.
It may also surprise you that I have an example. Let’s start with a bit of backstory. I misspent my formative high school and college years in Akron, Ohio. One of the few good parts of that experience was making friends in high school with a guy named Michael Trecaso. Michael combined restaurant experience with an innate ability to squeeze a nickel until the buffalo screams to succeed in a very tough business. He bought an ice cream parlor named Mary Coyle — it was where he worked when we were in high school — and turned it from a popular neighborhood place in the Highland Square neighborhood into a destination restaurant.
Another good part of growing up in Akron for me was making friends with a guy we will call P. I have been friends with him for almost as long as I have been friends with Michael. P. is an antique dealer in Akron, which means that he gets to meet a lot of people and hear a lot of stories. Keep in mind that people who live in Akron tend to stay in Akron. Each resident is at best two or three degrees of separation from another. So it is that on one recent afternoon P. was speaking with a husband and wife in their eighties about who they knew, and what had changed in the city. The husband mentioned Mary Coyle. P. mentioned that a friend of his (that would be me) knew the owner. The wife said, “Oh, Michael Trecaso is the nicest man.” She then told P. a story.
The lady’s father — who we will call F. and who is now deceased — had some fifteen years previously been living in an elder care residence in downtown Akron. One day he caught a bus which took him to a doctor’s appointment near Highland Square. When he finished with the poking, prodding, and sticking he went outside to discover that the perfect summer day that had been present on his trip there had been chased off by storm clouds. It began raining in torrents as he crossed the street to the bus stop, which was located in front of Mary Coyle.
F. had been standing in the downpour for two minutes when he heard someone calling to him. He turned around and the owner of the restaurant — Michael Trecaso as described above — was beckoning to him, calling, “Come stand in the doorway! You’ll get soaked!” F did so. Michael said, “What are you doing out there?” F. said, “Waiting for the bus.” Mike asked F. where he was going. F told him. Michael looked at F. for a second, came to some internal decision, and walked over to the counter. He wrote “Back in thirty minutes” on a sheet of notebook paper and taped it to the front door. Michael then told F “Come on” and gave F. a ride to his residence. F. never forgot that. Neither did his daughter, who tells everyone she meets about it. Michael has told me a lot of stories, but he never told me that one. I don’t think he’s told anyone that story, actually. It would ruin his reputation. I am accordingly telling it now.
You can do a lot with that tale. If you’re Linwood Barclay, your protagonist in a small city could do the good deed and go back to work, only to have the police show up three days later inquiring as to the whereabouts of the elderly man who was last seen getting into his car. If you’re Paula Hawkins, your protagonist sees her long-absent daughter/sister/husband while she is giving an elderly woman with dementia a ride. And so on. That’s just one story. The woods are full of them. Don’t let my tale of a basement full of books discourage you.
I also must note that doing a good deed is its own reward. Should you be in Akron, however, please stop by Mary Coyle at 780 West Market Street to say hello to Michael and give his establishment your patronage. Should you do so, tell him to report to your office or ask him what school he is going to next week. He’ll know who sent you.
Now…if you are so inclined, I would love to hear about a spontaneous good deed that you or someone you know performed and that has heretofore gone unremarked. We’ll remark upon it. Thank you. | 2019-04-21T14:57:55Z | https://killzoneblog.com/author/joehartlaub/page/2 |
Note: the following study presents exciting new research identifying the descendants of the ancient lost house of Israel. It has tremendous bearing on Bible prophecy, the fulfillment of the covenants, and the duties and obligations of God’s chosen people in the world today.
Ashe states that Anglo-Israel (sometimes called British-Israel) believers “do not claim that the British people are the lost tribes because of the legends and alleged linguistic coincidences which are cited in support of that view. Their starting-point is the Bible, read in a fundamentalist spirit.” Mr. Ashe is correct in that observation; Christians who uphold the Bible as the Word of God base their belief upon it. Their starting-point is the Bible! But we are confident that historical proofs such as archaeology and linguistics will also verify the Scriptural record. For those who do not find Bible prophecies alone convincing, we present proof of language links in this study.
The author continues, “The prophets foretell various things about Israel which have not been fulfilled in the Jews: that God’s people will be powerful, that they will be ‘a nation and a company of nations,’ and so forth. Also, a few passages (notably Ezekiel 36:15-25) certainly seem to keep up the distinction between Israel and Judah after the exile of both, and to foreshadow a final return and reunion... The British-Israelite, or any other theorist who thinks on these lines, feels no obligation to produce scholarly proofs that the lost tribes exist. He already knows that they do because, on biblical grounds, they must. Their reality is an axiom, not a conclusion. His non-Biblical arguments are offered mainly as indications confirming the belief he already holds.” These are key points: The lost tribes of Israel must continue to be in existence as a separate people somewhere, even though they have not yet been identified; there will be a final reunion with Judah at the end of the age. Further, the Jewish people have not fulfilled all of the prophecies given to Israel, so we must look elsewhere to find these prophecies fulfilled. But in which people? Having answered this from Bible prophecy in a separate tract, we are now addressing it through linguistics, the study of languages.
Having said this, however, Mr. Ashe closes with a caveat: “But while a case could be made out for the Empire being Israel in some symbolic sense, the case for literal ethnic links with the lost tribes could not be sustained. It was altogether too complicated... [it] reduces the lost tribes to a theme of speculation only.” This statement is best answered by analogy. If a robbery or murder occurred, would we accept a police explanation that, ‘there is a solution here, but we won’t try to solve it because it is altogether too complicated’? Of course not! Where lives are at stake, a solution is necessary. In a Spiritual sense, lives are indeed at stake, who can be transformed by a knowledge that the Bible is true and the prophecies fulfilled. A mystery is a subject for “speculation” only until the solution is found, and we believe that the identity of the lost tribes of Israel is now proven, as we shall show.
Since Mr. Ashe believes that a solution is “altogether too complicated,” we will simplify our answer to two basic principles of linguistics, the science of languages.
“Guttural” consonants “Kh”, hard “G”, and hard “C” are interchangeable.
Vowels are very frequently interchanged, added, or substituted.
This interchangeability of hard consonants was also true in ancient Mesopotamia. In the Assyrian Cuneiform Alphabet, the same character stands for both the hard “G” and “Kh,” as can be seen in the box at left.3 A moments’ reflection will indicate to you that the same part of the mouth and throat is used to sound out all three hard consonants: Kh, hard G, and hard C, and that a change of spelling is easily and logically made from one to another, because virtually no change in pronunciation is involved. This is verified by modern Hebrew language and literature scholar, Dr. Isaac Elchanan Mozeson, who teaches language studies at Yeshiva University in Jerusalem. He states, “The Hebrew G, the Gimel, is often a K in Greek and other Western tongues. [The Hebrew letter G] resembles a backwards K.”4 As an example, Mozeson gives the word, “colossus,” which originated as “Golios,” the Hebrew word for the Biblical giant, Goliath. He states, “The Greek pronunciation would sound like “kol-ios” - just as the [Hebrew word for camel], Gamal, was rendered “kamelos.”5 Note again the interchanges between the K, G, and C.
We will be applying this interesting principle shortly in connecting several seemingly unrelated ancient tribes.
Nineteenth-century scholar, Sir William Betham (1779-1853), was knighted by the King of England for his research into ancient history, language, and archaeology. He had this to say concerning vowels in ancient languages: “Vowels are often substituted for each other: the same words are written promiscuously with an a, o, and u, an e or an i.”6 As an example, he discussed the ancient inhabitants of western Britain, “the Welsh, who have ever called themselves by the name of Cymri, Cimbri, or Cumbri.”7 As can be easily seen, the name of this ancient tribe has been variously spelled with differing vowels: Y (often called a “pseudo-vowel”), I, and U. Such variations are a good example of the common vowel shifts which are found in the name of this historic people, who we will learn more of shortly.
Another scholar of renown was Dr. Richard Cumberland (1632-1718), Anglican Bishop of England in the early 17th century. He authored several celebrated books, and was well regarded in his day for his expertise in ancient history and languages. He wrote, “The learned will not wonder at change of vowels in a name, especially when its made by authors of different countries and times, because they know this is a thing very usual; yet for the service of readers that are not much used to such changes, I will give proof thereof.
“Wherefore, I have observed, that in Jeremiah 48:23, our translation calls a place in Moab, Beth Meon, which signifies the house or temple of Meon, agreeably to the Hebrew text and to the Chaldee paraphrase. But the Septuagint calls it the house of Maon; and so doth the vulgar Latin. The Moabites agreed with the Egyptians in their idolatry, who worshipped their first king and planter as a god, under the name of Osiris. But when they speak of him as a man who first reigned among them, they call him Meon or Menes, with a Greek termination: Which word, Bochart well observes, signifies habitations or places to dwell in, which he brought them to and settled them in.” Samuel Bochart (1599-1667) was a well-known Huguenot scholar.
On the subject of vowels, Dr. Isaac Mozeson states, “The Bible has no vowel marks in the original, handwritten parchment form.”9 Similarly, Professor Cyrus H. Gordon, who is perhaps the leading American archaeologist of the twentieth century, stated concerning a Hebrew Old Testament name, “The ancient Hebrew text... has only the consonants...which were later supplied with vowels to make a verbal noun of it.”10 It is true that some Semitic languages, such as Hebrew, originally contained no written vowels at all, but only consonants, with the vowels supplied by the reader. The drawback to this is obvious: Different speakers might use different vowels, creating a slightly different pronunciation of the same words. As an example, the name of God in Hebrew consisted of the four consonantal characters, YHVH, and is therefore called the tetragramation, meaning “four letters.” Centuries later, a scholarly argument is raging concerning whether the name of God was originally pronounced Yahweh, Yahvee, Yahvah, or something similar. The solution may perhaps never be known, because of the absence of vowels in ancient written Hebrew. Indeed, it is possible that more than one pronunciation was in use in ancient times, due to the absence of stated vowels to guide the speaker.
Repetition of consonants, as seen in the second and third names above, was also a common occurrence. Therefore, by the grammatical rules governing language, all four tribes must be one and the same people. Who were they? Let’s examine them one at a time.
When the conquering armies of the nation of Assyria came against the ten-tribe kingdom of the house of Israel late in the eighth century, B.C., they did not refer to God’s People as “Israel” or “Jews.” Instead, the Assyrian word for them was, “Khumri.” This has been established through the deciphering of Assyrian “cuneiform” clay tablets. Ancient historian, Alan Ralph Millard, in his recent book, “Treasures from Bible Times,” says, “In 1846 men working for Henry Layard on the site of the ancient Assyrian city of Calah (Nimrud) uncovered a block of polished black stone, carved and inscribed. The ‘Black Obelisk’ records the triumphs of the Assyrian king, Shalmaneser... The first panel in the second line of pictures proved exciting. The text above the kneeling figure lists tribute brought to the king from ‘Yaua son of [Khumri]’ that is, Jehu, who took the throne from a descendant of Omri, king of Israel.”11 Millard reproduces the Assyrian words mentioning Israel, along with a literal translation.
So the first mysterious tribe of our ancient list, the Khumri or Gomri, are definitely identified by ancient inscriptions as Israelites of the so-called, “lost ten tribes,” who disappeared from history in the Caspian Sea region of Medo-Persia during the late 8th century and early 7th century, B.C.
It is fascinating that the Gimirrai suddenly appeared out of seeming nowhere in the same century as the lost tribes of Israel disappeared, yet no scholar ventures to investigate a link between them. The additional mention of “Iranian” (i.e., Medo-Persian) words in the Gimirrai vocabulary indicates some physical contact between the Gimirrai and Medo-Persians, such as the captive Israelites might have been expected to have had. Historian Sharon Turner, in fact, stated that he identified 262 Medo-Persian loan-words in the Anglo-Saxon-Cimmerian vocabulary.16 Who were these mysterious people? According to scholars, the Gimirrai, Gomer, Cimbri, Teutons, and Celts are all linked together as the same people. By applying the rules of language, we realize that the “Gimirrai” were also the same people as the “Khumri,” who have been positively identified as Israelites of the lost ten tribes. It is therefore no coincidence that the lost tribes of Israel disappeared in Medo-Persia-Iran (II Kings 17:6), the birthplace of the Gimirrai.
The same Encyclopedia Britannica article has this to say about the people known today as Cimmerians: “An ancient people of the far north or west of Europe, first spoken of by Homer (Odyssey, xi. 12-19), who describes them as living in perpetual darkness. Herodotus (iv. 11-13), in his account of Scythia, regards them as the early inhabitants of South Russia (after whom the Bosporus Cimmerius and other places were named.)”17 The same encyclopedia reference also traces the European “Cymry” and “Celts” to this same people. There seems to be no question in historian’s minds, that whoever these Cimmerians were, they were the ancestors of a significant branch of the modern people of Europe. (See box below) Again, by applying the two basic linguistic rules mentioned previously, it may be seen that the Cimmerians were none other than the Khumri or Gomri, the lost ten tribes.
The eminent Christian historian and archaeologist, Dr. Henry Sayce, stated, “Gomer is the Gimirra of the Assyrian inscriptions, the Kimmerians of the Greek writers.”18 Many reference works associate the names Gimirrai and Cimmerians with Gomer, connecting all three together (see box at right) using the very same established linguistic rules we have presented. In fact, because the ancient Hebrew language did not contain vowels, the present rendering of “Gomer” is a later construction. Since it is now known that the original Assyrian word for Israel was pronounced “Khumri,” and the Babylonian was “Gamir” or “Gimirrai,” it is probable that the original vowel-less Hebrew word was pronounced similar to these actual forms, as well. This information is known through the reading of ancient source documents which give us an accurate view of the 7th century, B.C. world that was not possible until recent years.
The first reference (at right) tells us that the Gimirrai suddenly appeared in history during the reign of Sargon II, 722-705 B.C. He was the Assyrian king who conquered Samaria and deported the Israelites to the Assyrian-controlled province of Medo-Persia. It is amazing that historians never notice the tremendous “coincidence” of this: The first historical notice of the existence of the Gimirrai was during the same 17 years that the Israelite-Gomri-Khumri were deported and lost to history in that same province!
But the connection of “Gomer” or “Gimirrai” with ancient Israel has been clouded by confusion over reference to them in the tenth chapter of Genesis, the so-called “register of nations.” In Genesis 10:2-3, we read, “The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.” A literal, racial interpretation of these verses would make Gomer (or Gimir) a son of Japheth, and not of Shem as the Israelites were. But there are at least two important reasons why this is not so. First, Japheth lived at the time of the Noahic flood, which has been dated by Christian scholars to about 3400 B.C., more than 2,500 years before King Omri, who reigned about 882 to 871 B.C. As shown previously, the Israelites were called “Khumri” or “Gimirri” after King Omri; clearly, the “Gomer” in Genesis chapter ten is ages before his time!
JEZREEL: “Scattered” into Assyrian dispersion 762-676 B.C.
LO-RUHAMAH: “Not pitied” by God because their sins received a just recompense.
LO-AMMI: “Not God’s People,” because they were divorced by Him and sent away to a far land. Scholars have traced their migration through the Caucasus Mountain region and into Europe in the early pre-Christian centuries.
SONS OF THE LIVING GOD: “Christians” -Israel’s ultimate restoration would later come when they accepted Christ as Savior, becoming His Bride at the marriage supper of the lamb.
One last important reference to Gomer needs to be mentioned, which appears in Ezekiel chapter 38. Gomer is listed as joining a confederacy led by “Gog, chief prince of Meschech and Tubal.” Gomer apparently does not lead this confederacy, nor are the other listed confederate nations Israelites. In addition, one should not assume that all of the lost tribes, Gomer/Gamir, are allied with Gog, but only one portion. So it is primarily a non-Israel invading force, which also includes some number of Israelites. Therefore, dispensationalists who identify Gomer as Europe may be at least partially right in that identification, because the Celtic-Cymry race did spread throughout Europe, before colonizing North America, Australia, South Africa, and other lands. But because Gog’s army invades the “mountains of Israel,” they assume that Gomer itself must not be Israelite. That assumption has little basis. Israelites have warred among themselves since the kingdom was divided into Israel and Judah after the time of Solomon, about 975 B.C. Whether the battle typified in Ezekiel is literal or allegory is impossible to predict beforehand, but that it represents to some degree yet another fratricidal war between Israelites seems obvious.
One possible fulfillment was addressed in the old nineteenth-century prophecy, “George Washington’s Vision,” a prophetic vision received by America’s first President during the Revolutionary War. It speaks of a confederacy comprised of “Europe, Asia, and Africa” coming in battle against America: “Then my eyes beheld a fearful scene: From each of these countries arose thick, black clouds that were soon joined into one.” The late Professor C.A.L. Totten of Yale University wrote in the year 1898: “The third and last peril clearly indicates a future invasion of our country by the Old World. The drift of events and Bible prophecy indicate that a great combination of powers will be the actor.”25 In the prophecy, help against this peril comes in the form of divine assistance, apparently the Second Advent.
The Encyclopedia Britannica article we quoted states that it is “certain” that the tribe of Gomer is identified with the Celts, Teutons, and related peoples of Europe. We have found through linguistics (the study of languages), as well as through Bible prophecy in Hoseh, that the people called Gomer or Gimir are in fact Israelites. Linguistically, Israel’s name, Khumri, is the phonetic equivalent of the European, Cymri; and Gomri/Khumri is also the consonantal equivalent to Gomer, Gimir, and Cimmiri. Therefore, if it is indeed a certainty that Gomer is found in the Europeans of today, then it is an equal certainty that those same Europeans are Israelites.
It is odd that scholars so easily admit to certainty concerning the relationship between the names Gomer, Gimirrai, and Cimmeri, yet are silent concerning the name Khumri. It is never mentioned or investigated. Author and historian Geoffrey Ashe, mentioned earlier, states that it is “altogether too complicated” and “a theme for speculation only.” That argument is rather specious, since it never appears “too complicated” for them to positively link the other three names Gomer, Gimirrai, and Cimmeri, using the same rules!
Mr. Ashe also speaks of “alleged linguistic coincidences” which support the Anglo-Israel view. But there is nothing either alleged or coincidental about it. The information we have presented is based upon standard, accepted grammatical rules, and the known fact that Israel was the Khumri of the ancient inscriptions. Since the name Gomri/Khumri is the consonantal equivalent of Gomer, Gimir, and Cymri, it would indeed be a strange “coincidence” if they were not identical peoples! Scholars don’t consider the identity of the latter three as coincidence, but as fact!
Geoffrey Ashe, article: “Lost Tribes Of Israel,” in “The Encyclopedia of Myth and Magic,” 1995, xi:1644-1646. | 2019-04-20T02:49:20Z | http://israelite.info/commentary/brooks-articles/question-of-origin_files/a-question-of-origin.html |
During the noon lunch hour, the children were delighted to find out that Mrs. Cooper liked to play ball. When it was her turn at bat, Jacob stood at the pitchers "mound" with disbelief written all over his face.
"Well, are you going to pitch the ball to me or what?" asked Emma.
"Mrs. Stevens never wanted to play with us!" came Billy's voice from first base.
"Well, this is Mrs. Cooper and she said that she would play with us when I first met her." Sarah cried from the outfield.
With that, Jacob pitched the ball right over home plate. The resounding "Crack" from ball hitting stick stunned all around, even Emma. It took only a second before she realized what she had done. She hiked her skirts up to her knees, and in very unlady-like fashion, sprinted around the bases.
All 17 children were waiting for her as she reached home base, arms in the air, cheering her on.
"You hit a homer Mrs. Cooper!!"
"I have never seen a lady hit the ball so far!"
"Can you be on my team next time?"
Laughing and very much out of breath, Emma proudly accepted their praise.
When she was able to breathe normally again, Emma declared it was time to head back inside for their afternoon lessons. Not a groan or moan rose from the boys and girls as they walked into the school. Here was a teacher they could like.
Emma Cooper smiled, looking out the back door at her husband's laboring.
They'd been harvesting from their big garden, earlier, and Emma, on a girlish whim, picked up a head of cabbage and heaved it at Jackson.
It missed his head, but not by much.
Emma pulled back behind the maple tree with a shriek and a laugh and the chase was on!
Jackson scooped up his own head of cabbage, and thus armed, charged around the maple as Emma scampered around the corner of the house, laughing. Jackson's heels dug into the dirt as he reversed, hard, and charged the other way around the house.
Emma, divining his strategy, sprinted for the garden, stifling her giggles, and pulled back hard against the maple, using it for cover, while Jackson's heavy footfalls told of his circumnavigation of their farmhouse.
Emma put the back of her hand against her mouth, scarcely able to contain herself.
"I know where you aa-rre," Jackson Cooper singsonged like a mischevious schoolboy.
Emma swept a stray wisp of hair from her face and realized the breeze had probably blown her skirt out, betraying her position.
Jackson Cooper spun the ax in a tight arc, cleaving the sawn elm; he'd been splitting firewood most of the evening, good clean swings, and had turned out an impressive pile of split-up deadwood.
He packed some of it into the carriage; he would pile it outside, under sheets of bark to keep it dry, and it would serve as fine kindling for the schoolhouse stove. He would cut more wood, of course, but this was a good start.
He'd finished the smokehouse and had arranged to trade a few loads of wood and labor enough for slaughter, in exchange for a hog. They would have bacon this winter, and side meat, and back strap; little would go to waste, and what they didn't smoke up and keep for winter he would sell back.
He and Jacob had already made plans to ride into the hills and bring back winter meat. The Silver Jewel would need meat as well, and with Bigfoot Wallace gone, he reckoned they would prove a market.
He paused, and looked with admiration and respect toward the house, and through the back screen door could just see Emma, busy canning. He shook his head. Canning was something he'd never been good at; he'd helped, of course, but preferred to leave such matters to those who were better at it than himself. He considered how hot it was in the kitchen, how hard Emma was working, and how good the fall evening felt, and set another chunk of elm on the stump.
Emma wiped her hands on her apron and paused for a moment. She'd been making good progress; while boiling jars and packing vegetables, she'd also been fixing supper at the same time, efficiently balancing several steps in canning with the relatively few steps needed for the evening meal.
Taking a towel in hand, she opened the oven door and took a peek at the bread within.
She looked with admiration and respect at her husband, spinning the ax in its arc like he was swinging a match stick. It was obvious he was working hard; sweat shone on his well-muscled arms, his shirt was obviously damp -- actually wet across the shoulders, and in the small of his back -- and in the chill, early-evening air, if she looked close, she could see steam coming off him from his labors.
Jackson Cooper swung the ax again, cleanly cleaving the sawn elm.
"This is without a doubt the easiest exhumation I've ever done," Levi Rosenthal remarked as he viewed the embalmed body of Liam McKenna.
"Yes, my brother Caleb said you'd buried this fellow already."
I smiled. "My apologies for the duplicity. I'd put out that misinformation intentionally, so no one would be inclined to come in and disturb the carcass."
"I see," the Pinkerton agent said, nodding. "And this is the suit he was wearing when he died?"
"Was there anything interesting in his pockets?"
I handed Mr. Rosenthal an unbleached muslin kerchief, tied into a pouch. "Everything is in here."
He opened it, examined the contents, opened the wallet. "Money appears intact."
"Does that surprise you?" I asked dryly.
Detective Rosenthal smiled. "Please don't take offense, Sheriff. I'm used to the city, and city ways. Back in Frisco, or Chicago either one, these would all have disappeared before the body was cool."
"Remind me not to live in the city," I muttered.
"Hi Mr. Bill ... Mr Mac!" Sarah and Bonnie were at the Merchantile to purchase a few things to complete a dinner that night with Caleb and Levi attending. Bonnie instructed Sarah to stay out side with Twain Dawg.
"See what I have? Isn't he cute?" Standing in front of the two elderly checker playing gents. Mac looked out the corner of his eye ... Bill conscentrating on his next move.
Sarah plunked Twain onto the checker board, "Opps!" she said slyly, "But I think those pieces were in the same places yesterday ..... Look Mr. Bill! Twain might be liking you!"
Mac began a low soft chuckle, and with gnarled fingers he reached to pet Twain, Bill seeing this, shuffled the pup onto his lap.
The bread was baking nicely, the canning was finished for the evening, and the rest of dinner was just about finished. Emma straightened up and with her hands on her lower back, arched backward, stretching out the pain in the muscles that she didn't know she had until very recently. She looked out the window to where Jackson was still busy chopping wood.
Removing her apron, she made her way up to their room to find a clean, fresh shirt to take out to Jackson. Returning to the kitchen, shirt draped over her arm, she poured a mug of cool apple cider and then started outside.
The methodic sounds of ax hitting wood grew steadily louder as she made her way to the center of activity. Upon seeing her approach, Jackson smiled, laid the ax aside, and with his arm, wiped the sweat from his face. Taking the proferred mug, he quickly downed the cider, eyeing her over the rim.
Seeing the shirt draped over her arm, he inquired, "What brings you all the way out here Emma?"
"I thought I would bring you a dry, clean shirt so you don't catch your death. It is getting chilly out here and I don't want you catching cold." She stepped closer layed her hand agains his chest and kissed him. "Oh yes, and dinner is almost ready." Emma hung the shirt on the branch of a nearby tree and made her way back to the house.
Jackson watched her retreating back and the gentle sway of her hips. He smiled to himself. After so many years of having to look after himself, after all the years of being by himself, he finally knew what it was like to have someone take care of him, and maybe love him.
It had taken a bit to repair the damage done by Liam's arson job, both in ripping out the fire-damaged structure and in replacing the damaged stock. Insurance was unknown on the frontier; what a man lost, was simply lost: still, he turned it to his advantage, as best he could, and expanded the building as he'd been planning, just a bit sooner than he figured to.
The original storage had been built quickly, with less than skilled labor, and of green lumber: spiked in place, it warped as it seasoned out, and it was never weather tight, forcing him to drive oakum into the interstices between the boards: he never liked the look of it, nor the knowledge that he had to employ the same tactic as a blue-water sailor to keep water from crowding in between the boards comprising the hull of a ship.
This time his framing was stronger, and of seasoned timber; drilled and pegged, mostly by the brothers Daine, it had been measured, laid out, sawed and fittted, but not assembled until the moon was right. WJ didn't quite understand this moon business, but the brothers Daine insisted that the right phase of the moon would guarantee the structure would be stronger, tighter and would stand wind, weather and warp much better than one built at some random time.
He walked through the finished storeroom, smelling of fresh-cut lumber and the fall air drifting in through the open doors, and nodded. Whether or not this phase-of-the-moon idea held water or not, nobody could fault the Kentucky workmanship that went into their construction.
He stood with hands in pockets, mentally assessing the inventory he intended to carry against the cold season to come.
With things starting to settle down around here, maybe I can get a feel for the normal pace.
"Hello Sarah, has Dawg shrunk?"
"No, Mr. Baxter, this is Twain Dawg."
"And what a fine dog he is! I see he likes checkers."
Emma was just coming up the stairs and heard Jackson Cooper mutter something.
"Dear?" she asked, laying a gentle hand on his back.
He shook his head. "It ain't right. I ain't a-gonna do it!"
"Ain't a-gonna do what?" she asked, puzzled.
Jackson turned. "See that bed?"
Emma looked at the neatly-made bed, then back to her husband.
Jackson kissed her once, gently, and said "Wait for me."
Emma's eyes followed his retreating back as he peeled out of his shirt on the way down stairs.
Worried now, she gathered her skirts and followed.
Jackson Cooper was not a small man by any means. In an age where the average height was not quite six feet, he stood a hand taller than this median; a lifetime of honest labor left its mark in the form of an excellent musculature and a dearth of excess fat. He moved with a lithe grace, the legacy of a born horseman, and at the moment he stood buck naked in the back yard, with his back to the house.
Emma watched in amazement and delight as Jackson Cooper bathed at the rain barrel with all the delicacy of a bull hippo. He labored with the single minded efficiency of a man who was accustomed to accomplishing a task in the least wasteful manner possible.
Emma had never in her life beheld any but an infant in such a state of undress, and as Jackson Cooper hoisted a bucket well overhead and poured its contents over himself, she could not but admire what she saw.
When he was satisfied with his efforts, he plied the towel briskly over his body and wiped his bare feet on the cocoa-nut matting before stepping into the house.
Emma discreetly retreated before his towering form.
Jackson Cooper padded upstairs to their bedroom and turned down the covers.
"Now," he said, hanging the towel over the straight-back chair. "Now it's right."
Clean now, and satisfied with his state, he climbed into bed.
Emma smiled and blew out the light.
Jackson's arm was around Emma, drawing her close. His chin rested on top of her head, his other arm around her as well.
"For what?" She wiggled a little, cuddling against his warmth.
"You do so much for me," he whispered in the bedroom dark. "So very much!"
His heartbeat was loud in her ear, its powerful rhythm a solid reassurance of strength, of certainty.
She did not want the moment to end.
"I remember this quilt," Jackson murmured.
Emma remembered it, too. She'd helped May stitch it together.
"May and I hung out every bit of linen in the house, back when winter's back broke," Jackson said quietly, his voice soft with remembrance. "I remember how she looked at this quilt, like it was something special, and she told me it was made for a special someone." His big forearm, across her back, squeezed gently. "I think she meant you."
"When I saw it on the bed here, and smelled it again, I couldn't just get into bed. I wanted to be clean. Didn't seem right not to."
Emma smiled in the darkness.
I asked Shorty for the horse I rode the other day when all the excitement was going on. He brought me one from out back. I said, "I think that's the one. Let's saddle him up. Mr. Moulton and I are going for a ride today."
"Good morning, Mr. Moulton. Are you ready to go out and check the claim?"
"I'll be ready in a few minutes, Mr. Baxter."
"I figured we'd make better time on horseback. We should be back this afternoon easy."
I heard running feet on the boardwalk and was out of my chair just as the door burst open.
"Sir!" Jacob panted. "There's a fight over at the saloon!"
I caught up the shotgun from the rack and stuffed a half dozen extra shells in various pockets as I strode across the street. Tom Landers would be in the thick of it and if things got ugly I wanted to be sure I could settle things in an unmistakable manner.
Sure enough, soon as I stepped in the door, Tom ducked a punch, landed two of his own and a fellow in a rough jacket and low cap pulled a knife and made to move in behind him.
The range was short and I was moving in close and the left-hand barrel of the 12 gauge caught the fellow just at the third button.
Everyone, and everything, froze, all but the huge cloud of smoke rolling ahead of me.
I broke open the double gun and plucked the empty out of the chamber, let it drop.
Replacing it with a fresh round, I closed the action, nice and easy, and brought the left hand hammer back to full stand.
"You fellows aren't from around here," I said mildly. "We just had a hangin' two days ago, nice and legal, and the rope I used ain't even stretched out good yet. You want trouble, I can give it to you, just as much as you want."
Tom Landers rolled the fellow over, studied his face.
"No, Sheriff, I surely don't. You?"
I cocked my head and studied the youthful visage. "Don't ring a bell." I looked over the half-dozen cowed souls who were shifting nervously from one foot to the other. "Who did this fellow used to be?" I inquired.
"He used to be Nye Scottley," came the answer.
"Was he prone to such lapses of judgement in the past?"
"He knifed a fellow in a bar fight back in Denver," the same fellow volunteered, "but he run off before they could catch him."
"Any of you fellows know his kin?"
Looks were exchanged, heads shaken; nobody did.
"Fellows, if Tom Landers here wants to press charges, I'll be more than happy to fill up our jail house and give you a taste of our hospitality. My name's Linn Keller. I'm sheriff here and we don't stand for this foolishness."
"Landers!" went from lip to lip, and they shrank a bit from Tom, who stood and nodded. "And Keller! If the damned fool had known!"
"He would still be dead. I'll need you, and you" -- I pointed to the nearest two -- "to pick him up and come with me, you're going to carry him over to the undertaker's."
"Where you fellows from, anyway?" Tom asked them.
"We're miners," came the answer. "They're going to start an opening west of town a little ways."
Tom shot me a knowing look.
"Reckon we can expect more of this," Tom sighed.
It didn't take long for word to get back to the mine, nor for the miners to come back.
Esther and Tom Landers had been upstairs, working on the books and making plans for the railroad. Esther had moved operations to Firelands, which meant adding onto the existing building; we added quarters for the dispatcher, relief engineers, the conductors' quarters. Esther was an efficient administrator who knew how to delegate, and how to inspire loyalty in her people. She led, but she also let her people lead, according to their expertise, and it was working out well.
The mine had sent engineers to work with her on the new rail line that would have to go in. The original rail line had been built for passenger and light freight service; to save money, the old iron rails had been laid -- but they would never stand up to the strain of an ore train. Steel rails had been used back East for some time, and the mine engineers recommended steel rails and a crushed stone ballast for the roadbed. They were more than happy to supply the stone from the mine itself, calculating that they would not need to freight ore until after the new rail line was complete. In the meantime, the existing rail line would be hauling in their equipment; a spur was even now under construction near the mine for this purpose.
I left this work to Esther. I'd given her the railroad. It was hers; I was not about to interfere with what I had publicly said was hers -- it would be not only impolite, it would be as much as saying, "I don't trust you" -- and I was not about to do that!
I heard three quick footfalls on the boardwalk outside and was reaching for the gunrack when Jacob opened the door. "Sir?" he said. "You'd best come outside."
There were about twenty miners waiting on me, each with a mattock handle.
A short, stocky fellow stepped forward. "Why'd you kill my man?" he demanded.
"He was a coward," I snarled, "and a back stabber, and was going for Tom Lander's back with a knife."
He nodded. "That's what I heard."
"My boys don't take it too kindly. They think they oughta bust up the place."
I pointed at a miner in the front rank. "You. You're a volunteer. Step up here."
He glanced left and right, at his fellows, but stepped forward.
I broke open the double gun, stuffed the shells in a vest pocket and handed it to him. "Hold this."
I turned to his boss. "Fella, what's your name?"
"Mike Hall!" he declared. "I'm the foreman!"
I nodded. Reaching out, I plucked the hard-leather miner's cap from his head. Turning it over in my hands, I rubbed its scarred surface. "I remember these. We wore 'em back in the Ohio coal mines."
He squinted at me suspiciously. "You know mining?"
"You recall the Chauncey roof fall, Number Eight? They got all of 'em out but one. Slab had him by the leg. Doc Balkinal went down in the mine and cut his leg off to get him out alive."
"I was cutting bank posts for the mines, just before I became town marshal."
He snapped his fingers, pointed at me. "Thought you looked familiar! When they told me who you was, I thought 'Nah, can't be!' -- but here you are!"
I turned the miner's cap over in my hands. "You got enough of these?"
"I could use about fifty more."
"Jacob." I turned and handed the cap to him. "Take this to WJ and see how long it will take him to get fifty of these in." I turned to Hall. "How you set for carbide lights?"
His eyes lit up. "Carbide! All we got are the butter lamps."
"So I see. Miner's Sunshine."
"Yep. Hate the damned things but they're all we've got."
"Jacob? Add fifty carbide lights, and enough carbide to run 'em."
"Yes, sir!" Jacob was off at a run.
"Why you doin' this?" Hall asked suspiciously.
"Figger you can kill all of us?"
I smiled and addressed the fellow standing beside him. "Toss your cap up in the air."
Puzzled, he looked at Hall, then struggled to tuck his club under one arm while holding my broke-open and empty shotgun in the other; getting one hand free, he took off his cap.
It spun as it flew, and I stepped back and drew my left-hand Colt, and slip-hammered five shots through it.
What was left of the hard-leather cap hit the ground, much the worse for wear.
I started punching empties out of the Colt.
"Figure you can kill all of us?"
"You're might confident for a man who's still loading his gun."
I smiled. "You like to try me?" I dropped the last round into the Colt, closed the loading gate, eased the hammer down between two rims.
Jacob came pelting up, two caps in hand: Hall's worn and scuffed cap with its battered miner's wick lamp, and a brand-new cap with a brand-new carbide light.
I handed Hall back his cap, relieved the nervous-looking miner of my shotgun and handed him the brand-new cap. Jacob handed him a can of carbide.
"WJ says he can have fifty of them in three days." He grinned. "With carbide lamps!"
I nodded. "You want 'em?" I asked.
Hall rubbed his chin. "I can't say as the mine will pay for 'em."
"The mine's not buyin', I am."
"The hell you say!" He grinned.
I thrust a chin toward the saloon. "If your boys still want to bust up the town, let 'em try now and we'll haul the dead back on a flat car. Either that or you can stack your clubs at the hitch rail and I'll buy you all a beer."
Hall turned and roared, "You hear that? The war's over!"
I was just as happy.
Hall hadn't noticed Jacob's coat was unbuttoned.
He hadn't noticed Tom Landers, in the doorway of the Jewel, with a Winchester rifle.
Nor had he seen Esther standing beside him with my engraved Winchester in hand.
Had they been foolish enough to press the matter, not a one would have been left standing.
Bonnie stood beside her sewing machine, as regal as any queen, and regarded the two dusty men coldly. "May I help you, gentlemen?" she asked.
Twain Dawg advanced, stiff-legged, snarling; his fur was up and he was doing his level best to look absolutely deadly ... well, as deadly as a pup small enough to fit in your coat pocket can be.
The two men noticed Twain Dawg and laughed. The first one touched his hat brim.
"You be Duzy Wales," he smiled, and his smile was not pleasant. "We are here to take you to the boss."
"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about," Bonnie said coolly.
Caleb, get in here, she thought with quiet desperation.
"The hell you don't!" the first one shouted, taking a half-step forward. "You kilt Luke Hawkins, just like you kilt Bert Graves!"
"I'm sorry, sir," Bonnie said quietly, "you're mistaken."
The door burst open and Caleb thrust in, shoving the second man hard.
The first man turned and slashed at him with his revolver.
The second man fell headlong at Bonnie's feet.
Caleb's hands came up, open, ready to grapple.
"You're gonna die, fancy boy," the first man grated.
Bonnie slid open her sewing drawer and pulled out the Sheriff's Navy Colt.
The second fellow, prone, tried to reach Bonnie's ankle.
The Navy Colt spoke, once.
Brain-shot, the first man fell bonelessly atop the second.
I dunked two rounds in the breech of the shotgun and took off running.
The shot had come from close by. The bar was noisy and I'd been the recipient of good-natured jests and handshakes.
My head came up like a hunting dog's and I was at a dead run before I'd covered a yard of ground.
The House of McKenna had a familiar blue haze in it, and Caleb was hauling a body off another one. Bonnie had my Navy Colt in hand and was pointing it at one of the bodies.
"Sheriff," Bonnie said, "these men called me Duzy and said they were going to take me to The Boss because I'd killed Bert Graves and Luke Hawkins!"
Twain Dawg was inches from one of the corpses, bristled up and snarling. If he wasn't so earnest in his efforts he would have been funny.
Hell, he was funny, and I couldn't help but grin, looking at him.
Twain Dawg yapped, once, a sharp note, and he fell back, surprised.
I stuck the muzzle of my shotgun in his soft ribs. "If you're alive, fella, you better hold real still. This-here is a shotgun and I already kilt one man tonight. I won't worry much to kill another."
The fellow didn't show very much good sense. He rolled over, fast, with a hideout gun in his palm, and the shot went through my hat brim.
It was the last move he ever made.
I made a mental note to fix Bonnie's floor, after I cleaned up the mess I'd just made.
Caleb came to me later that evening, over in the Jewel, when I sit down to eat with Esther. He and Bonnie joined us. I always admired Bonnie, ever since I met her; she was made of stern stuff, as were most Western women, and it showed here tonight: faced with deadly peril, she had killed one of her attackers, and stood ready to kill the other.
May God have mercy on the stupid fool that ever tries to harm her, or Sarah either one,I thought, for Bonnie sure as hell won't!
Daisy brought us each a plate, and the food was good.
Caleb was troubled, and wrestling with something.
I waited. He'd talk in his own good time, and he did.
"Sheriff," he said, "would you teach me to shoot?"
Levi strode into the House of McKenna holding a piece of paper. The smile on his face vanished as looked upon Caleb who knelt beside a seated Bonnie. It was evident that she shed many a tear. Levi approached slowly, then, too, knelt in front of her and grabed both of her hands into his strong, capable ones, "Bonnie?"
She didn't look up. Bonnie's eyes were downcast, starring through her folded hands, "Levi? In your line of work, have killed very many people?"
Levi heard what transpired earlier, and answered carefully, "In truth, Bonnie, I have used my gun more for target practice. My gun is with me always, of course, and though I have shot two men, I have killed no one!"
It was then that Bonnie looked up to Levi, "But ...."
Levi continued, "It has been my philosphy that talking to the man ... or woman, urging them to relinquish their weapon voluntarilly. I have had tremendous success in bringing those I sought, in alive. Therefore, they were placed into the hands of the legal system."
Tears began to flow, once again, from Bonnie's green eyes. She shook her head slowly, obviously pleagued with the thoughts on her mind. As if speaking to herself, but just loud enough for the two men to hear, "So much to live with ... so much to carry ...."
Caleb embraced her, holding her gently, and Bonnie leaned into that embrace with the hopes to maybe transfer all that had happened to her over the last few years onto someone else to carry. The tears that flowed were as if she were attempting to drain the thoughts as well.
Both men remained silent, allowing her the time ... "to what", Caleb thought, "what would errase all that has happened?"
Levi spoke, after a time, "Perhaps this news I carry will help, Bonnie. It was intended to be a surprise, but in light of what Father has heard, he thought it would be best to forewarn."
"What is it?" Bonnie asked.
"I have here a telegram from Father saying Mother and David are their way to Firelands. Father couln't come with her, so David is coming along ..."
"Miriam? She is coming to Firelands?"
Caleb looked over to Levi. Levi placed one hand on Calebs shoulder, while his other hand was still cradleing Bonnie's hands, "Yes, Bonnie ... she so desprately wants to see you and meet Sarah."
Bonnie took one of her hands away from Levi's grasp, and brushed the back of her hand against her wet cheeks, "I believe I would relish in the thought of having Miriam here ... David, too.
She looked to Twain Dawg, who slept at Bonnie's feet, and scooped him up, "If you two would excuse me ... I think Twain and I will go and retrieve Sarah from school."
Caleb and Levi both stood when Bonnie did, "How about if we join you?" Caleb asked.
Emmett Daine shook his head. "I'm sorry, Sheriff, but I can't do much with this fellow. Ball took him from back to front and pretty well ruined his face."
"Well, do the best you can," I said, suddenly tired.
Emmett laid the blank sheets on the side table and looked at the dead outlaw, then at me.
I parked the shotgun against the wall and took off my hat, rubbing my face with a bandanna. My forehead was greasy and my cheeks were almost numb and I was tired, bone tired.
Boy that all came about quick! One minute I'm serving customers and the next minute all Hell's breaking loose! I couldn't believe how fast Linn got there! The goings ons next door was just as bad. This area isn't as settled as I thought it was getting.
With all these miners that just came through, I'd better have Miss Duzy order supplies a little heavier when she gets back.
Morning lessons had flown by and lunch was again an adventure in stick ball and racing around the bases, cleaning scrapes, and kissing away hurts. The children had really taken to Emma and were more than happy to do her bidding in the classroom. So, for the afternoon lessons, Emma wanted to treat them. They had just taken their seats and pulled out their readers when inspiration struck.
"Ok children, please put away your readers."
Looks of confusion crossed their young, smooth faces.
"But Mrs. Cooper, you just told us to get them out!" Called Jacob from the back of the room.
"I know Jacob, but I have changed my mind! Now if you all would stand up and go outside, I would greatly appreciate it!"
Again, silence and confusion filled the classroom, eyebrows raised to the hairlines, and questioning whispers could be heard. But they obeyed.
Grabbing up the large, old, patchwork quilt Emma kept stored in the building for emergencies, and a book, she followed them out the door. Finding them all standing on the steps, looking up at her with curiosity written boldly in their eyes, she laughed. "Oh goodness! You are all looking at me as though I have taken leave of my senses! I assure you I have not. Now please make your way to the tree across the school yard. It offers some nice cool shade beneath its limbs."
Again, following what to them was an odd request, the children obeyed. When they reached the large shade tree, Emma spread the quilt over the thick mat of weeds and grass. "Now please have a seat. Or if you prefer you may lay back and close your eyes or look up through the leaves to the clouds. I am going to read to you for our reading assignment."
Looks of wonder and pleasure now replaced looks of confusion and yes, on some faces worry. Emma leaned back against the rough trunk of the huge tree, and opening her book began to read.
Eyes stared back at her. Eyes as big as an owl's on a cloudy night. Eyes full of wonder, shock, disbelief and excitement. Emma had been reading 20 Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne. There had been no interuptions. No talking. Nothing but the sound of a light breeze playing with the yellowing leaves of the tree and insects going about their business in the grass. And the sound of Emma's voice transporting the children to a different time and place.
She had just started another chapter, wanting to extend their delight to the last possible moment, when she heard the report of a shotgun. Trying to beat down her panic, she swung her head around to look at the Silver Jewel and then her instincts took over.
"Everyone back in the school NOW!!"
Without anymore convincing, the children stood, those who were older taking the hands of the younger ones and hurried to the building. Walking past Sarah, Emma grabbed her small hand and pulled her along. Once inside, she shut and bolted the door and sagged against it.
Pasting a smile on her face, trying to remain calm so as not to cause her students any more concern, Emma opened her book again and beginning where she left off, started to read again.
Silently, she was thinking that that night she would ask Jackson to teach her to shoot, so she could be comfortable using a pistol, in case she would be in need of one to protect the children while under her care. Then maybe he would be able to get her one to keep with her while she was in town.
Jacob was tall for his age, rangy, you might say, all whalebone and whipcord: no stranger to hard work, hands surprisingly callused for one of his few years, but still in some ways still a boy.
He'd surprised himself by speaking up in class as he did, and wished he hadn't. It was so very unlike him to speak up. Normally he tried to be colorless, invisible, unseen ... but on some deep level he knew this schoolmarm was different.
This one could be trusted.
He went outside with the other children and, surprised, lay down, partly on the quilt, mostly on the grass, and looked up through the tree branches, and listened.
He'd never seen the ocean; he'd never seen most of the things Mrs. Cooper was reading about ... well, he'd never seen them himself, but with her help, he was seeing it through another man's eyes, and he was fascinated.
His own eyes beheld branches, and coloring leaves, and a magnificently clear sky, but his inner eye saw the world of a certain Mr. Verne, and he was entranced by the vision.
At least until the shotgun went off.
He was off the ground and on all fours like a stung cat, nostrils flared, weight on his fingertips and the balls of his feet. He reached up and unbuttoned the single coat button that kept his Army Colt hidden, and waited.
Mrs. Cooper clapped her hands and herded her young charges into the schoolhouse.
Jacob hung back with her, behind her, watching; he was last into the schoolhouse, and as Mrs. Cooper pulled the door shut and secured it, he carefully, discreetly, buttoned his coat.
Mrs. Cooper acted as if nothing were amiss, and continued reading.
Jacob returned to his seat, a sick worry in his stomach.
I met Bonnie, Sarah and the brothers Rosenthal on their way back from the schoolhouse. I needed to talk to Bonnie, and she needed to hear what I had to say.
We all crossed the street and went into the Sheriff's office.
"First of all," I said gently, "Bonnie, you are not in trouble. The law regards your action as entirely necessary and completely justified. This is a personal matter, and I need your help."
"Mine?" she asked, clearly uncertain; she held Caleb's hand with her left, and her right went involuntarily to her bodice.
I dragged out chairs enough for the three of them, and I hauled mine from behind the desk and parked it right in front of Bonnie, close enough that our knees nearly touched. Sarah had already happily usurped Charlie's vacant cot and was curled up on her side, watching us with a drowsy expression.
I leaned my elbows forward on my knees and took both Bonnie's hands.
"Bonnie, you have been through a terrible time," I said, my voice gentle. "I want you to look around you, first of all." She blinked, then looked at Levi on her left and Caleb on her right, and she looked around the room, and over at Sarah, and back at me, puzzled.
"Bonnie, if you were to open the door and look at the door frame, you would see it is made of two inch thick, seasoned timber, pegged in place. The walls are nearly a foot thick and proof against any rifle bullet. Nobody can harm you here."
"Bonnie," I said, soothing, pitching my voice a little lower, "you are safe here. You are safe from harm, and nothing can hurt you here. Caleb is beside you, Levi is beside you, I am here with you, and you are inside a fortress. You are safe here, Bonnie."
I could feel her hands beginning to relax and her face wasn't as drawn.
Levi's eyes were bright and interested. He hadn't seen this before.
"Bonnie, you're going to watch what happened like it was a play on a stage," I continued, my voice soothing, gentle, relaxing. "You are watching a play, nothing more. You will be watching the actors. You are safe with me, you are safe here, you are watching a play. Do you understand me, Bonnie?"
I glanced over at Sarah. She was sound asleep.
"Bonnie, the play begins when those two men come into your shop. Do you see them?"
Her hands tightened and her face started to line again. "I see them."
"You are watching a play," I said quietly, "you are watching actors, nothing more. You cannot be harmed. Do you see them come in, Bonnie?"
"Yes," she said, relaxing. "I see them."
"Do you hear what they are saying?"
Bonnie blinked, slowly. "One is laughing," she said quietly, "and one is threatening me."
"Tell me what you see happening next."
"Caleb comes in the door. He knows something is wrong."
"You are watching a play, Bonnie, you are perfectly safe here with me." Her hands were still relaxed and the lines had disappeared from her face. "Now, Bonnie, what does Caleb do?"
"Caleb knows I'm in trouble," she continues, speaking a little slower than usual. "He pushes the man nearest him and he falls."
"Tell me what you see next."
"The other man pulls his gun and tries to hit Caleb."
He is going to kill Caleb."
"You are watching a play, Bonnie. What happens next?"
Bonnie's eyes close. "I open the drawer."
"Look at my eyes, Bonnie. Look at my eyes." She opened her eyes. "Look at my blue eyes, Bonnie. Do you see my eyes?"
"Look at my left eye, Bonnie." Her eyes shifted, steadied. "Look at my blue eye with the little gold flecks. Do you see the gold, Bonnie?"
"The gold looks like flakes of gold in a streambed, with water running over them," I said gently. "Do you see the gold, Bonnie?"
"Bonnie, you are safe here, nothing can harm you. You are watching a play. Tell me what happens when the drawer opens."
"I draw out your Navy Colt and kill the man."
"What is this man going to do?"
"He is going to kill Caleb."
"Can you stop him in any other way?"
"Bonnie, this is important. Look at the gold. Bonnie, do you see the gold?"
"I shot him in the back of the head."
There is a little twitch at the corners of her mouth. "I see Twain Dawg."
"What is Twain Dawg doing?"
"He's growling. He's all puffed up and he's growling like he's going to tear them apart."
"Caleb grabs the man I shot and you come through the door."
"He turns over and tries to shoot you."
"Bonnie, the play is almost over. You are doing very well and I am proud of you. You are watching a play, and nothing in it can harm you. Do you understand?"
Bonnie's gaze was on my left eye, unwavering, unblinking. "I understand."
"Bonnie, what was the most terrible thing that happened in that play?"
"What was the man trying to do?"
"Could you have stopped him in any other way?"
"You did the right thing, Bonnie. You did the right thing, do you understand? You did not kill him. He killed himself by giving you no other choice!"
Bonnie's hands were still relaxed in mine and her face had not tautened.
"Bonnie, you are completely relaxed. You are safe here. No harm can come to you here. Do you understand?"
"Bonnie, I am going to count backwards from five to zero. When I reach two, you will blink, and you will wake up, and when I reach zero, you will be completely refreshed, and you will be secure in the knowledge that you have done nothing wrong, and that what you did was right, and was necessary." My voice was still soft, and soothing, and gentle.
I counted backwards, from five.
At zero, Bonnie shifted in her seat and smiled a little to find me holding her hands. She turned and saw Caleb, and past him, on Charlie's cot, Sarah, sound asleep, Twain Dawg curled up on the floor beneath.
Bonnie took Caleb's hand and smiled.
Levi nodded. "Sheriff, I'd like to talk to you privately," he said, and I nodded.
"Caleb?" I asked. "I'd like to talk to you two just a little more." Caleb nodded, puzzled.
"I want to talk to you about Esther. But for now, I want pie and coffee, and I'm buyin'!"
"Sheriff," Levi asked me as we crossed the street to the Silver Jewel, "what did you just do?"
"Something I learned in the War," I replied. "Bonnie has never had to face something as terrible as what has happened to her in the past few days. She had to kill a man that came in the Jewel as the outlaws hit town. She did that to protect Sarah. She was fine with that -- there is no fiercer fighter in all of nature than the mother tiger defending her cubs. Bonnie survived being chloroformed, abducted and tortured, mostly because she could fight back. Even chained up she could fight, and she did, and to good effect."
"I read the affidavit," Levi murmured.
"But killing a man so close you can shove the muzzle against the back of his head? That was the most terrible moment she had to face," I continued. "The knowledge was here" -- I placed my fingertips against my forehead -- "and if we can walk her through it, and walk her past that one most terrible moment, and walk her through what happened next? -- and what happened next? -- and what followed that? -- I don't pretend to understand why it works, only that it does -- because if the knowedge ages a full day and it get down to here" -- my fingertips went to my breastbone -- "then it becomes part of your body's memory and the body never, ever forgets.
More than that" -- I paused for emphasis -- "unless I had taken her through it, and past it, in a way that she knew she was safe, and could not be hurt, then every time she remembered it she would come up against that most terrible moment, and back away from it ... and she would come up against it again, and back away ... and each time, that stone wall of a memory would grow stronger, until finally she would never be able to get past it."
"I see," he said quietly.
"She also needed to hear that what she did was right, and it was unavoidable, and that most of all, she had not killed him, he committed suicide by giving her no other choice." I stopped and looked Levi squarely in the eye. "Levi, to tell her that you've never had to kill a man, that you've always been able to talk them into surrender, is exactly the worst thing you could do to that poor woman. She's already tortured herself enough over that one most terrible moment. Telling her what you did was pouring salt into a whip-cut."
Levi blinked. I'd hit him where he lived with that one.
I laid an understanding hand on his shoulder. "When you told her that, you were also being honest. Believe me, my friend, I have hurt people myself with the spoken word, and God help me from repeating the sin, but likely I will do worse before I'm dead!"
"Point taken," Levi said quietly. "Thank you, Sheriff."
We sat down together over Daisy's good pie and vanilla coffee. Esther was working the books, upstairs; she would be down a little later. Just as well: I had Bonnie and Caleb's attention, and better than that, their curiosity, with my comment about wanting to talk about Esther.
"Caleb," I said, "Esther is a very special woman."
Caleb looked at Bonnie and smiled gently. "I know what you mean," he murmured.
"She is strong and she is gentle, every inch a lady, and a gifted artisan in her own right," I continued. "She is warm and solid in my arms and she is the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with."
Bonnie laid her hand on Caleb's arm and smiled.
"She is my balance wheel and my wise counsel; she is the smile I live for and the reason I draw breath." I leaned forward a little to emphasize my words. "Caleb, I learned early in life I can die at any moment, and I learned far too late that I deserve some happiness in this lifetime. I intend to marry Esther the very moment she agrees on a date."
"You nearly lost her twice already, Caleb. If there's a third attempt you might not have luck in your hand."
Sarah had just finished her little slice of pie and came up for air as I uttered the words "luck in your hand." I smiled as I noticed she had berries blueprinted on either side of her smiling mouth.
Sarah tugged at Bonnie's sleeve. "Mama?" she whispered, cupping her hand to funnel her breathy, warm whisper into her Mama's ear. "Is the Sheriff talking about how Caleb lost at poker last night?"
Bonnie laughed out loud causing glances from the Sheriff, Caleb and Levi, but Bonnie whispered back into Sarah's ear, "No, sweetheart, that's not what the Sheriff is talking about ... I think he's playing matchmaker ..."
Sarah wrinkled her nose and shook her head, "That's what the kids at school are doing to Billy ... poor Billy, Mama, he turns so red whenever the kids bring up that he's going to be my fella ... I just look at them and scold them, but somehow I think that makes it worse!"
Bonnie laughed again then looked to the gentlemen at the table. "If it is just the same with you all, I think Sarah and I need to be getting home.
"I'll walk you, Bonnie ..." Caleb scooted hers and Sarah's chair back to the table, and the three walked out of the Silver Jewel.
Bonnie in the middle of Caleb and Sarah, all three walked toward the cottage hand in hand. "Bonnie? What do you make of what transpired with Linn today?"
"I've been thinking on that, actually ...."
"And ... I don't know. I understand, to a point what happened was a mere part of a whole picture. I guess, Caleb, I need to look at life that way, too."
Bonnie paused, thinking. Caleb let her do so ... even Sarah said nothing.
Bonnie continued, "For the most part, I don't have any complaints with most of the brush strokes creating this picture of a life I've lived .... I don't like some of the darker colors that have been used at times. I can still see that dark picture painted when Papa died, at Sam's Place, the other situations that have transpired since ... but I do see some brighter color strokes interlacing the darker ones. Sarah, for example," Bonnie looked loving toward the child and squeezed her hand. "With you, too, Caleb ..." She looked over to gaze in those wonderful gray eyes. Eyes filled with so much life. A person could get lost in their depth. There was hope in those eyes.
The three stopped walking. Caleb laid a hand on Bonnie's cheeks, and held her gaze. The silence was broken, however, "Is this were you two kiss?"
"Yes, Sarah ... this is where we kiss ..." The lips came together meeting as one. The breath shared was also one. Questions were replaced with answers.
"Mama? Caleb? I'm a little cold .... Can't we please go home?"
Caleb and Bonnie broke apart, Caleb picked up Sarah in one arm, and walked with his other across Bonnie's shoulders. Both Sarah and Bonnie rested their heads on Calebs shoulder and arm.
"Bonnie? What is it you would like out of life?"
"Interesting you should ask! Though I believe I will wait for your Mother to get here. There are some things I'd like to discuss with her first, but I believe I want to be surrounded by a family again. I would like to gleen from a families strength, Caleb ... I'm tired of being alone ...."
I stood at the foot of the stairs, hat in hand, as Esther descended She held her hem up just enough, just barely enough, and her train rippled down the gleaming steps behind her like a silk waterfall.
Now there's a fine-looking woman, I thought, and offered my arm as she reached bottom.
I looked closely at her face. The bridge of her nose was smooth; she'd never worn glasses that I'd known, and there were no pince-nez marks now.
"You have such young eyes," I murmured, and she smiled, and took my arm.
We sat at the same table I'd just shared with Caleb and what I sincerely hoped would soon be his family. I'd given him enough to think about.
Esther asked for tea and a small slice of pie; tea sounded good to me too, but I was still full.
Jacob came in from out back, cheeks pink with exertion and the cool night air. He drew out a chair and we welcomed his presence. Daisy didn't bother asking; bless her, she knew tall boys well enough to bring a loaded plate, and Jacob buisied himself doing justice to the feast.
"How long will it take Duzy to reach home?" I asked.
Daisy made a second trip with our tea, and a pot of honey. Esther and I both added a dollop, stirred it in.
"I'm not sure," Esther admitted. "I was of two minds, whether to go, or to stay."
I reached for her hand, held it between both mine. Esther closed her eyes and sighed. "Your hands are so warm!"
"Esther, if you need to go, then by all means go!" I urged her. "This is family. If you're needed, I won't be so selfish as to keep you here!"
Esther opened her eyes, laid her other hand on top of mine. "You are my family now," she said. "Forsaking all others I will cleave unto you."
"Name the date," I whispered. "My lady, I wait on your good pleasure."
Jacob looked up between forkfuls of beef and gravy. "Shakespeare?" he asked.
"Something like that," Esther murmured.
Jacob turned back to his plate. At the moment, his meal seemed quite a bit more interesting.
The fall colors were beautiful,the mountains of North Carolina a sight to behold, as the memories of her childhood hit her full force, her eyes becoming misty as she fought to keep her composure, dabbing her eyes with her hankerhief, as her heart filled to her throat until she thought she would burst! She would never hear another of Grandpa's stories. Mama would need her to stay strong to get through the coming days. Mama had been Grandpa’s only daughter and the apple of his eye, doting on her much like Duzy's Papa had her.
Not being one to sit back and feel sorry for herself, Mama was standing there, alongside Papa, each one eagerly awaiting the sight of their headstrong but beloved daughter, as the train came to a halt.
“Anymore dreams while you slept?” Duzy knew Jake could tell when she was having one of her dreams, sometimes she would talk in her sleep, sometimes calling a name, sometimes coming awake so quickly, that she was up before she was awake!
Duzy remembered the dream she was having just before she had been awakened by the train whistle…..but it was one she was not willing to believe……so she said nothing.
Papa had been shaking hands with Jake when he turned and gave Duzy a big bear hug, letting go, and stepping back, looking her over, as if he were making sure she was alright, just as he always had. He looked into her eyes and knew his daughter was in love and he felt proud of her choice. He knew Jake to be a good man and one that would look after his daughter, just as he did.
“So, when is the wedding?” “Papa!” “Lee!” the two replies coming in unison, from Duzy and Mama. Jake laughed, and then turned to both ladies and said, “Mrs. Wales, Duzy, I asked for Lee’s blessing before I left for Firelands, during my last visit, and was happy to receive it! I was planning to ask Duzy the day we got the news of your Father, and I am so sorry for your loss, he was loved by many and will be missed." "Thank you, Jake, he is at peace now and with Jesus, which makes it easier to bear."
"As for your question Lee, I am ready to become a husband whenever Duzy tells me she will have me, but I plan to ask her proper, just as she deserves!"
Duzy was happy her Mama had spoken, as she was still reeling from what she had just heard. She had thought along the trip how she would explain the relationship to her parents, and had decided to keep quiet unless they asked. Papa had surely taken care of that, Duzy thought, smiling at the big man who had always been there for her, still handsome, and always saying what was on his mind!
The telegraph office was their first stop to send word to Aunt Esther and Linn that they had arrived safely, knowing they would relay the information to those who needed to know.
Lee already knew his sister was engaged to be married and was happy, having had Sheriff Keller checked out and found to be a good strong man, a good match for Esther, and her headstrong ways! He wondered if Mr. Keller had found just how independent Esther could be, and chuckled to himself at the thought.
Soon, they were back at Duzy's childhood home.
"HOME SAFE JAKE PROPOSED MORE LATER DUZY"
Trust Duzy, I thought, even in grief she passes along good news!
I looked up at Esther, handed her the telegram.
Esther's hand went to her mouth and a smile wrinkled her eyes up at the corners, and she threw her arms wide, and I seized her up and spun her around.
Daisy threw one hip out and, knuckles on her hip, declared, "Why can't I ever get a telegram like that!"
"Jake proposed to Duzy!" I told her as Esther and I headed for the door, holding hands like a couple of kids.
"About time!" Daisy exclaimed. "He took long enough!"
Bonnie hummed as she worked, planning her day as her hands went about the familiar tasks of her morning: today she would finish two gowns, she would inventory her stock and plan her next order, and she would giggle when she looked at her bank book.
Gold mining, when I don't have to mine the gold! she thought. This is nice!
Twain Dawg whined, his flesh wrinkled up between his ears.
Twain Dawg yapped, a sharp, insistent note, but there was no response from the small figure in the bed.
Twain Dawg started casting about with his nose to the floor. His need was getting quite urgent now; he yapped twice, then sat down, cocking his head to the side, listening.
Twain Dawg began yapping again, urgently, shrilly, and very, very loudly.
A mother's instinct took over.
Bonnie dropped the towel, half-running across her kitchen.
She opened Sarah's bedroom door just as her daughter began to convulse.
“Mrs. Cooper, are you ready?” Jackson Cooper asked, extending his hand as Emma crossed the front porch.
“Thank you, Mr. Cooper, yes, I am ready,” Emma smiled, taking his hand and stepping carefully down the two stone steps to the stone walkway. She tilted her face up as Jackson leaned down and kissed her, one time, gently.
“I love you, Mr. Cooper,” Emma murmured, molding herself into Jackson.
Jackson's arms were warm and strong around her. She felt his contented sigh.
Jackson Cooper laughed with genuine pleasure and he kissed Emma on the forehead; slipping his hands under her arms, he picked her up and whirled her about, and deposited her neatly in their buggy.
“Time for school, Mrs. Jackson,” he declared, striding around the back of the wagon and climbing in. With a gentle flick of the reins and a quiet “Yup there!” they started down their little dirt road.
Bonnie wrapped Sarah tightly in her quilt. The child was burning up, but she was also struggling, and Bonnie contained her as best she could.
Twain Dawg whined, head tilted to the side.
Bonnie turned with a great swing of skirts and headed for the front door.
Twain Dawg galloped after her with a puppy's curious, hobby-horse gait.
“Jackson?” Emma's voice had an edge he'd never heard before.
“I see her,” he replied, tension edging his own voice.
Bonnie was running up the road toward them, a small, blanket-wrapped form in her arms.
Bonnie handed Sarah to Jackson, and Jackson handed her to Emma, extending his big callused hand to seize Bonnie's forearm and haul her aboard.
Bonnie landed in the back seat as Jackson snapped the reins, hard.
Twain Dawg ran after the retreating wagon, ran until he could run no more, then he set his square little bottom down on the ground, panting.
He looked after them with an expression of profound sorrow.
Twain Dawg pointed his little muzzle to the cloudless blue and howled, one, long, treble, puppy-pitched note, singing his grief to the uncaring sky.
If he hadn't been so sincere it would have been funny.
We rode out for just under three hours at a canter until I recognized the creek. Mr Moulton was making mental notes all the way as we rode. We left the trail upstream to the place where I had camped. I showed him the area I had in mind. He said I could stake out a much larger area if I wanted to and to be sure to include both sides of the creek. He wrote down some notes about where we were and paced off to measure the area and helped me set markers, then we started back to town.
"I'll get this all recorded for you by tomorrow."
Bonnie was out of the wagon before they were stopped. She landed flat-footed on the dirt street, took two long steps and hammered on Doc Greenlee's locked door.
Then she saw the note.
Emma saw Bonnie's shoulders sag, and she ran back to the wagon.
Jackson Cooper extended her hand and Bonnie stepped in, fighting tears.
"He's delivering a baby!" she blurted. "He's a day's ride south, delivering a baby!"
Jackson Cooper and Emma looked at one another.
Jackson snapped the reins. "Yup there! Hard about!"
The big warmblood brought their buggy around in the street and they headed for the Silver Jewel at a spanking trot.
Tilly looked up as Jackson Cooper's big form filled the doorway, but filled it for barely a moment, for he had the stride of a man on a mission.
He also had a small, blanket-wrapped form in his arms, and the blanket was moving.
Emma pushed past her husband, Bonnie's hand in hers. "Susan? Where is she, please?"
"Upstairs, number eight," Tillie replied, eyes growing big as she took in the lines engraved on Bonnie's pretty face, and her uncharacteristic pallor.
Jackson turned and took the stairs two at a time.
Daisy came out of the kitchen, a worried look on her face. "I heard the commotion. What's going on?"
"I don't know but I think it's Sarah!"
"Oh, no," Daisy murmured. "I'll put on more hot water." She went to the back door. "Jacob! Could you draw some more water, please? And we'll need more wood!"
Susan Spicer had just finished making the bed when she heard urgent footsteps in the hall. She reached for the door and hauled it open just as Jackson Cooper's big fist came down on empty air. He was carrying a squirming blanket and a worried expression and Susan reached in and took it from him, depositing it on the freshly-made bed.
Professionalism, training and experience took over.
Bonnie was at her side.
"Exposure to sick or strange children?"
Emma grasped her husband's arm. "Two of the children in school were ill yesterday. They were fevered, a little, and coughing. I kept them in the back of the room and kept the windows open."
"And a good thing, too," Susan murmured, stripping the child out of her soaking nightclothes. "She's burning up." Susan laid a gentle hand on Sarah's chest, listening with her fingers, peeled back an eyelid.
Sarah's eyes were rolled back in her head.
Tillie was at the door. "Susan, what do you need?"
"Water. One bucket hot, one of cold, and a tub."
"Jacob!" Tillie called down the stairs.
Esther was a scarred veteran of many childhood illnesses, but she knew this was serious.
As soon as Susan got Sarah in the tub of tepid water, the measles fairly exploded into view.
Susan knew the statistics; Susan knew the follow-up conditions that too often followed; Susan knew this was one sick little girl that would need watching for the next few days and nights.
"What can we do?" Bonnie whispered, squeezing Esther's hand.
Esther patted her hand in return. "The first thing we do, dear, is understand that Susan knows what she is doing, and she will take care of Sarah better than any man!"
"Right now we need to give the woman room to work, so let's go downstairs and we'll have a nice cup of tea."
"I DON'T WANT TO GO DOWNSTAIRS!" Bonnie lashed, then buried her face in her hands, sobbing. "I'm sorry, Esther, I'm so sorry!"
Esther soothed her like a frightened child and Bonnie clung to her like a drowning man cling to a life ring.
"I want my Mama," Bonnie sobbed, utterly broken. "I want my Mama!"
A dam broke inside Bonnie's heart, and all the grief, and all the fear, and all the loss, and all the hurt she'd kept walled away in a hidden corner of her heart, came roaring over her soul with the force of a Niagara.
She had no idea when Caleb arrived, only that he was there, and she held him, and he held her, and he drew her onto his lap as he eased into a rocking chair, and he held her and he rocked her and he stroked her hair and he made the soothing sounds a hurt child needs to hear, and Bonnie cried herself out, cried for the loss of her parents, cried for the hurts done to her, cried for every bruise Sarah had borne, and now she cried because the most precious thing she knew was about to be taken from her by something she couldn't fight.
Caleb Rosenthal had never claimed to be a wise man, but he was wise enough to hold Bonnie, and to rock her, because in that moment, that was exactly what Bonnie needed.
Pastor Belding was riding down the road, enjoying the morning, with a brace of fat turkeys hanging by their feet from his saddlehorn and a few partridge balancing the load on the other side. Hunting had been good this morning.
A high, keening sound caught his attention. He looked ahead and saw what looked like a small black blob sitting in the road, and the noise seemed to be coming from that blob. He heeled his horse into a jog and rode up to the blob. The puppy looked at him over its shoulder then went back to howling.
"What's the matter, little fella?" the pastor asked. "Did you lose your last friend?" He looked closer at the pup and recognized Twain Dawg. "What're you doing so far from home?" Abraham had seen the little girl with her puppy and a sudden chill passed over him. "Is something wrong with Sarah?" Twain Dawg didn't answer, just launched into another high pitched howl. Abraham bent from his saddle and scooped up the puppy and tucked him into his coat. He kicked his horse into a run towards town.
As he loped down the main street Abraham could see the Cooper's wagon parked in front of the Silver Jewel. It was an odd time to see that wagon in that spot so he reined his horse to the hitchrail beside the wagon and dropped from his saddle. He reached into his saddlebag for his Bible and ran inside, cradling Twain Dawg in the crook of his arm.
Inside he saw Caleb and Bonnie and he slowed to a walk. Bonnie's eyes were closed and her cheeks were pale and streaked with tears. Abraham looked at Caleb and held up his Bible. Caleb looked back with a neutral expression on his face then nodded once. Abraham stepped forward. "How can I help?" he asked.
Bonnie's eyes opened. "Sarah is very sick," she said hoarsely. "And I feel so helpless. Please, if you would pray for her?"
"Of course," Abraham said gently. He set Twain Dawg on the floor and bowed his head and clasped his hands around his Bible. "Heavenly Father, you know the burdens this family bears and you know the needs they have. I ask you now to lay your strengthening hand and your healing touch on Sarah, who needs you most of all right now. And I ask that you bring your love and comfort to Sarah's parents in their hour of need. I ask and thank you in Jesus' name. Amen." He lifted his eyes to Caleb's, and a look of gratitude passed from Caleb to Abraham.
"I know that your faith and mine are somewhat different," Abraham said quietly, "but I don't believe that matters at a time like this, does it?"
"No, I don't believe it does," Caleb said just as quietly. "Thank you."
"Tilly, have you had the measles?"
"Years ago, honey. I was just a child."
Susan brought Sarah's shivering form out of the bathtub and into the big Turkish towel Tillie was holding. "You realize she can't stay here."
Anger flared in Tillie's hazel eyes, quickly shuttered behind long-lashed lids.
"Measles kills one out of every fifteen children it infects," Susan continued matter-of-factly. "It's hard on adults but not as deadly. It can lead to deafness, paralysis, blindness or imbecility, and we don't know how it's spread. Our best guess is it's breathed but we don't know that."
"Where can we take her?"
"Home is my best recommendation. She is going to be one sick little girl. If she doesn't die of pneumonia in the next two weeks, if she doesn't die of dysentery before then, and if the fever doesn't come back, she'll have a fair chance." She toweled Sarah's still-shivering form, picked up an adult-sized flannel nightgown and worked it gently down over Sarah's little form. "Right now we keep her warm and wait."
Susan knelt at the child's bedside, taking Sarah's little hand in both of hers, and bowed her head.
Susan was not a physician. She knew a fair amount about healing, but she knew when to ask for help.
Twain Dawg had shivered in the warm grasp of the fellow that picked him up off the road. Somehow he knew this man could be trusted, and that he was safe, and he was being taken somewhere, and that was a comfort.
His curiosity also came alive, for he'd never ridden horseback before, and he rather enjoyed the sensation.
He cuddled up against the man's warmth and sighed. | 2019-04-23T14:46:09Z | https://forums.sassnet.com/index.php?/topic/283587-firelands-the-beginning/page/18/ |
The petitioners, who are Negroes, were convicted for violations of state trespass statutes for participating in "sit-ins" at lunch counters of retail stores. It was conceded that the lunch counter operations would probably come within the coverage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which was passed subsequent to the convictions and the affirmances thereof in the state courts.
1. The Act creates federal statutory rights which, under the Supremacy Clause, must prevail over any conflicting state laws. Pp. 379 U. S. 310-312.
2. These convictions, being on direct review at the time the Act made the conduct no longer unlawful, must abate. Pp. 379 U. S. 312-317.
(a) Had these been federal convictions, they would have abated, Congress presumably having intended to avoid punishment no longer furthering a legislative purpose, and the general federal saving statute being applicable to a statute like this which substitutes a right for what was previously criminal. Pp. 379 U. S. 312-314.
(b) Though these were state convictions, their abatement is likewise required not only under the Supremacy Clause, and because the pending convictions are contrary to the legislative purpose of the Act, but also because abatement is a necessary part of every statute which repeals criminal legislation. Pp. 379 U. S. 314-317.
241 S.C. 420, 128 S.E.2d 907; 236 Ark. 596, 367 S.W.2d 750, judgments vacated and charges ordered dismissed.
These are "sit-in" cases that came here from the highest courts of South Carolina and Arkansas, respectively. Each of those courts affirmed convictions based upon state trespass statutes against petitioners, who are Negroes, for participating in "sit-in" demonstrations in the luncheon facilities of retail stores in their respective States. We granted certiorari in each of the cases, 377 U.S. 988, 989, and consolidated them for argument. The petitioners asserted both in the state courts and here the denial of rights, privileges, and immunities secured by the Fourteenth Amendment; in addition, they claim here that the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 78 Stat. 241, passed subsequent to their convictions and the affirmances thereof in the state courts, abated these actions.
or to refuse to leave immediately after having entered therein. Petitioner's companion died subsequently. The conviction of petitioner was affirmed by both the Court of General Sessions and the Supreme Court of South Carolina, 241 S.C. 420, 128 S.E.2d 907 (1962).
Lupper v. Arkansas, No. 5, involves a group of Negroes who entered the department store of Gus Blass Company in Little Rock. The group went to the mezzanine tea room of the store at the busy luncheon hour, seated themselves, and requested service which was refused. Within a few minutes, the group, including petitioners, was advised that Blass reserved the right to refuse service to anyone, and was not prepared to serve them at that time. Upon being requested to leave, the petitioners refused. The police officers who were summoned located petitioners on the first floor of the store and arrested them. The officers' testimony that petitioners admitted the whole affair was denied. The prosecutions in the Little Rock Municipal Court resulted in convictions of petitioners based upon § 41-1433, Ark.Stat.Ann. (1964 Repl. Vol.), which prohibits a person from remaining on the premises of a business establishment after having been requested to leave by the owner or manager thereof. On appeal to the Pulaski Circuit Court, a trial de novo resulted in verdicts of guilty, and the Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed, 236 Ark. 596, 367 S.W.2d 750 (1963), sub nom. Briggs v. State.
We hold that the convictions must be vacated and the prosecutions dismissed. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 forbids discrimination in places of public accommodation, and removes peaceful attempts to be served on an equal basis from the category of punishable activities. Although the conduct in the present cases occurred prior to enactment of the Act, the still-pending convictions are abated by its passage.
lunch counter operation "probably would" come under the Act. Finally, neither respondent asks for a remand to determine the facts as to coverage of the respective lunch counters. [Footnote 2] In the light of such a record and the legislative history indicating that Congress intended to cover retail store lunch counters, see 110 Cong.Rec. 1519-1520, we hold that the Act covers both the McCrory and the Blass lunch counter operations.
3. The Provisions of the Act.
Under the Civil Rights Act, petitioners' conduct could not be the subject of trespass prosecutions, federal or state, if it had occurred after the enactment of the statute.
"[a]ll persons shall be entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of any place of public accommodation,"
privilege secured by section 201 or 202, or (c) punish or attempt to punish any person for exercising or attempting to exercise any right or privilege secured by section 201 or 202."
"This plainly means that a defendant in a criminal trespass, breach of the peace, or other similar case can assert the rights created by 201 and 202, and that State Courts must entertain defenses grounded upon these provisions. . . ."
federal law and the application of an otherwise valid state enactment, Hill v. Florida, 325 U. S. 538 (1945). There can be no question that this was the intended result here in light of § 203(c). The present convictions and the command of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 are clearly in direct conflict. The only remaining question is the effect of the Act on judgments rendered, but not finalized, before its passage.
4. Effect of the Act upon the Prosecutions.
Last Term, in Bell v. Maryland, 378 U. S. 226, we noted the existence of a body of federal and state law to the effect that convictions on direct review at the time the conduct in question is rendered no longer unlawful by statute, must abate. We consider first the effect the Civil Rights Act would have on petitioners' convictions if they had been federal convictions, and then the import of the fact that these are state, and not federal, convictions. We think it is clear that the convictions, if federal, would abate.
be necessary to set aside a judgment, rightful when rendered, but which cannot be affirmed but in violation of law, the judgment must be set aside."
"Prosecution for crimes is but an application or enforcement of the law, and, if the prosecution continues, the law must continue to vivify it."
291 U. S. 291 U.S. 217 at 291 U. S. 226. Although Chambers specifically left open the question of the effect of its rule on cases where final judgment was rendered prior to ratification of the Twenty-first Amendment and petition for certiorari sought thereafter, such an extension of the rule was taken for granted in the per curiam decision in Massey v. United States, supra, handed down shortly after Chambers.
applicable as part of the background against which Congress acts. Thus, we deem it irrelevant that Congress made no allusion to the problem in enacting the Civil Rights Act.
Nor do we believe that the provisions of the federal saving statute, 61 Stat. 635, 1 U.S.C. § 109 (1958 ed.), would nullify abatement of a federal conviction. In Chambers, a case where the cause for punishment was removed by a repeal of the constitutional basis for the punitive statute, the Court was quite certain as to this. See 291 U.S. at 291 U. S. 224 and n. 2, involving the identical statute. The federal saving statute was originally enacted in 1871, 16 Stat. 432. It was meant to obviate mere technical abatement such as that illustrated by the application of the rule in Tynen, decided in 1871. There, a substitution of a new statute with a greater schedule of penalties was held to abate the previous prosecution. In contrast, the Civil Rights Act works no such technical abatement. It substitutes a right for a crime. So drastic a change is well beyond the narrow language of amendment and repeal. It is clear therefore that, if the convictions were under a federal statute, they would be abated.
the mill" repealer. Since the provisions of the Act would abate all federal prosecutions, it follows that the same rule must prevail under the Supremacy Clause, which requires that a contrary state practice or state statute must give way. Here, the Act intervened before either of the judgments under attack was finalized. Just as in federal cases, abatement must follow in these state prosecutions. Rather than a retroactive intrusion into state criminal law, this is but the application of a longstanding federal rule, namely, that, since the Civil Rights Act substitutes a right for a crime any state statute or its application to the contrary must, by virtue of the Supremacy Clause, give way under the normal abatement rule covering pending convictions arising out of a preenactment activity. The great purpose of the civil rights legislation was to obliterate the effect of a distressing chapter of our history. This demands no less than the application of a normal rule of statutory construction to strike down pending convictions inconsistent with the purposes of the Act.
Far from finding a bar to the application of the rule where a state statute is involved, we find that our construction of the effect of the Civil Rights Act is more than statutory. It is required by the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution. See Kesler v. Department of Safety, 369 U. S. 153, 369 U. S. 172 (1962); Hill v. Florida, 325 U. S. 538 (1945). Future state prosecutions under the Act being unconstitutional, and there being no saving clause in the Act itself, convictions for preenactment violations would be equally unconstitutional, and abatement necessarily follows.
of a principle since embodied in the law of the land. The convictions were based on the theory that the rights of a property owner had been violated. However, the supposed right to discriminate on the basis of race, at least in covered establishments, was nullified by the statute. Under such circumstances, the actionable nature of the acts in question must be viewed in the light of the statute and its legislative purpose.
We find yet another reason for applying the Chambers rule of construction. In our view, Congress clearly had the power to extend immunity to pending prosecutions. Some might say that to permit these convictions to stand would have no effect on interstate commerce, which we have held justified the adoption of the Act. But, even if this be true, the principle of abatement is so firmly imbedded in our jurisprudence as to be a necessary and proper part of every statute working a repealer of criminal legislation. Where Congress sets out to regulate a situation within its power, the Constitution affords it a wide choice of remedies. This being true, the only question remaining is whether Congress exercised its power in the Act to abate the prosecutions here. If we held that it did not, we would then have to pass on the constitutional question of whether the Fourteenth Amendment, without the benefit of the Civil Rights Act, operates of its own force to bar criminal trespass convictions where, as here, they are used to enforce a pattern of racial discrimination. As we have noted, some of the Justices joining this opinion believe that the Fourteenth Amendment does so operate; others are of the contrary opinion. Since this point is not free from doubt, and since as we have found Congress has ample power to extend the statute to pending convictions, we avoid that question by favoring an interpretation of the statute which renders a constitutional decision unnecessary.
In short, now that Congress has exercised its constitutional power in enacting the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and declared that the public policy of our country is to prohibit discrimination in public accommodations as therein defined, there is no public interest to be served in the further prosecution of the petitioners. And, in accordance with the long established rule of our cases, they must be abated, and the judgment in each is therefore vacated, and the charges are ordered dismissed.
* Together with No. 5, @Lupper et al. v. Arkansas, on certiorari to the Supreme Court of Arkansas.
"(b) Each of the following establishments which serves the public is a place of public accommodation within the meaning of this title if its operations affect commerce . . ."
"(2) any restaurant, cafeteria, lunchroom, lunch counter, soda fountain, or other facility principally engaged in selling food for consumption on the premises, including, but not limited to, any such facility located on the premises of any retail establishment . . ."
"(c) The operations of an establishment affect commerce within the meaning of this title if . . . it serves or offers to serve interstate travelers. . . ."
In Lupper, the State's brief says, "a remand of these cases would not reap any . . . benefits." At 13.
Some of us believe that the substantive rights granted by the Act here, i.e., freedom from discrimination in places of public accommodation, are also included in the guarantees of the Fourteenth Amendment, see concurring opinions in Bell v. Maryland, 378 U. S. 226; others take the position that the Amendment creates no such substantive rights, see dissenting opinion in Bell v. Maryland,supra. No such question is involved here, and we do not pass upon it in any manner. We deal only with the statutory rights created in the Act.
In Bell v. Maryland, supra, we dealt with the problem arising when a state enactment intervened prior to the finalizing of state criminal trespass convictions. Because we were dealing with the effect of a state statute on a state conviction prior to the Act's passage, we felt that the state courts should be allowed to pass on the question. Here we have an intervening federal statute, and, in attempting to judge its effect on a state conviction, we are faced with a federal, not a state, question. Because of this distinction, we do not feel that remand is required or desirable.
MR. JUSTICE DOUGLAS, whom MR. JUSTICE GOLDBERG joins, concurring.
right, albeit prior to the enactment of the present legislation, and that this Court should not put its imprimatur on such state prosecutions, whenever they arose.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964, validly, I think, [Footnote 2/1] made it unlawful for certain restaurants thereafter to refuse to serve food to colored people because of their color. The Court now interprets the Act as a command making it unlawful for the States to prosecute and convict "sit-in" demonstrators who had violated valid state trespass laws prior to passage of the federal Act. The idea that Congress has power to accomplish such a result has no precedent, so far as I know, in the nearly 200 years that Congress has been in existence.
out of the streets and restaurants and into the courts, which Congress has granted power to provide an adequate and orderly judicial remedy.
"The repeal of any statute shall not have the effect to release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under such statute unless the repealing Act shall so expressly provide, and such statute shall be treated as still remaining in force for the purpose of sustaining any proper action or prosecution for the enforcement of such penalty, forfeiture, or liability. . . ."
States, 208 U. S. 452; United States v. Reisinger, 128 U. S. 398; United States v. Ulrici, 3 Dillon 532, 28 Fed.Cas. 328 (No. 16,594) (C.C.E.D.Mo.) (opinion of Mr. Justice Miller on circuit), and, by any fair reading, it is broad enough to wipe out any and every application of the common law rule which it was designed to do away with, unless judge-made rules of construction have some sort of superiority over congressionally enacted statutes. [Footnote 2/3] In United States v. Chambers, 291 U. S. 217, and Massey v. United States, 291 U. S. 608, the only cases which the Court cites as authority for disregarding the federal saving statute, this Court made clear that the saving statute was not involved in any way, since the abatement there was by force of the Twenty-first Amendment, and, of course, an amendment to the Constitution supersedes an Act of Congress. See 291 U.S. at 291 U. S. 223-224. By today's discovery of a "long established rule of our cases," the Court has now put back on Congress the burden of spelling out expressly, statute by statute, in laws passed hereafter that it does not want to upset convictions for past crimes, a burden which Congress renounced nearly 100 years ago, and which it did not know it had when it passed the 1964 Act.
Court judicially declares that "there is no public interest to be served" in upholding the convictions of these trespassers, a conclusion of policy which I had thought was only for legislative bodies to decide. See Ferguson v. Skrupa, 372 U. S. 726.
"To interfere with the penal laws of a State, where they are not leveled against the legitimate powers of the Union, but have for their sole object the internal government of the country, is a very serious measure which Congress cannot be supposed to adopt lightly, or inconsiderately. The motives for it must be serious and weighty. It would be taken deliberately, and the intention would be clearly and unequivocally expressed."
"An act, such as that under consideration ought not, we think, to be so construed as to imply this intention unless its provisions were such as to render the construction inevitable."
volumes weighing well over half a hundred pounds, in which every conceivable aspect and application of the 1964 Act were discussed ad infinitum, not even once did a single sponsor, proponent. or opponent of the Act intimate a hope or express a fear that the Act was intended to have the effect which the Court gives it today.
See my concurring opinion in Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. United States, ante, p. 379 U. S. 268.
Sections 201-203, 78 Stat. 243-244, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000a to 2000a-2 (1964 ed.).
"The federal saving statute was originally enacted in 1871, 16 Stat. 432. It was meant to obviate mere technical abatement such as that illustrated by the application of the rule in Tynen, decided in 1871. There, a substitution of a new statute with a greater schedule of penalties was held to abate the previous prosecution."
Ante, p. 379 U. S. 314. There is no support for this statement in the language of the statute, in its legislative history, or in subsequent decisions under it.
The Court holds that these state trespass convictions, occurring before the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, must be set aside by virtue of the federal doctrine of criminal abatement. This remarkable conclusion finds no support in reason or authority.
"By the repeal of the 13th section of the act of 1813, all criminal proceedings taken under it fell. There can be no legal conviction, nor any valid judgment pronounced upon conviction, unless the law creating the offence be at the time in existence. By the repeal, the legislative will is expressed that no further proceedings be had under the act repealed."
The doctrine has its origins in the English common law, see, e.g., Rex v. Cator, 4 Burr. 2026, 98 Eng.Rep. 56; King v. Davis, 1 Leach Crown Cases 306 (3d ed), 168 Eng.Rep. 238, and has been embraced in American state and federal jurisprudence.
I know of no case which suggests that the doctrine of abatement can be applied to affect the existing legislation of another jurisdiction. Until today the doctrine has always been applied only with respect to legislation of the same sovereignty, e.g., Rex v. Cator, supra; King v. Davis, supra; United States v. Tynen, supra; 9 U. S. United States, 5 Cranch 281. And all of the cases relied on by the Court are of that character.
The Supremacy Clause cannot serve as a vehicle for extending the federal doctrine of abatement beyond proper bounds. That provision of the Constitution would come into play only if it appeared from the Civil Rights Act itself or from its legislative history and setting that Congress' purpose was to displace past, as well as prospective, applications of state laws touching upon the matters with which the federal statute is concerned. For me, this would have to be made to appear in unmistakable terms, for such a purpose would represent an exercise of federal legislative power wholly unprecedented in our history.
of this Act, or any provision thereof."
Whether or not state trespass laws as applied to "racial trespasses" occurring after the effective date of the Civil Rights Act are to be deemed inconsistent with the provisions of § 203(c) of the Act, [Footnote 3/4] a question which I find unnecessary to decide at this juncture, there is certainly no such plain inconsistency between § 203(c) and state trespass laws as applied in those situations arising before the passage of the Civil Rights Act as would justify this Court's attributing to Congress a purpose to preempt state law in such instances.
Moreover, the contrary conclusion would confront us with constitutional questions of the gravest import, for the legislative record is barren of any evidence showing that giving effect to past state trespass convictions would result in placing any burden on present interstate commerce. [Footnote 3/5] Such evidence, at the very least, would be a prerequisite to the validity of any purported exercise of the Commerce power in this regard. See Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. United States, ante, p. 379 U. S. 241; Katzenbach v. McClung, 379 U. S. 294. There is, indeed, nothing to indicate that Congress even adverted to such a question.
Finally, the Court's decision cannot be justified under the rule of avoidance of constitutional questions, see Court's opinion, ante, p. 379 U. S. 316. That rule does not reach to the extent of enabling this Court to fabricate nonconstitutional grounds of decision out of whole cloth.
be pressed to the point of disingenuous evasion."
Concluding that these trespass convictions are not abated, I would affirm the judgments in both of these cases for the reasons given by MR. JUSTICE Black in his dissenting opinion in Bell v. Maryland, 378 U. S. 226, 378 U. S. 318, in which I joined.
"The repeal of any statute shall not have the effect to release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under such statute unless the repealing Act shall so expressly provide, and such statute shall be treated as still remaining in force for the purpose of sustaining any proper action or prosecution for the enforcement of such penalty, forfeiture, or liability. The expiration of a temporary statute shall not have the effect to release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under such statute unless the temporary statute shall so expressly provide, and such statute shall be treated as still remaining in force for the purpose of sustaining any proper action or prosecution for the enforcement of such penalty, forfeiture, or liability."
I accept the Court's conclusion that this section has no application here, but only because there has been no repeal or amendment of an existing federal statute.
Arkansas, for example, has a saving clause, Ark.Stat.Ann. §§ 1-103, 1-104, similar to 1 U.S.C. § 109, which expresses a state policy to save the conviction of Lupper. See Mack v. Connor, 220 Ga. 450, 139 S.E.2d 286 (Ga.Sup.Ct.1964). Cf. Bell v. Maryland, 378 U. S. 226, conviction affirmed on remand, 236 Md. 356, 204 A.2d 54; rehearing granted and argument deferred "awaiting the outcome of similar issues now pending before the United States Supreme Court," quite obviously referring to these cases.
See Cohens v. Virginia, 6 Wheat. 264, 19 U. S. 443, quoted in my Brother BLACK's opinion, ante, p. 379 U. S. 321.
Quoted in the Court's opinion, ante, pp. 379 U. S. 310-311.
No attempt is made by the Court to justify the retroactive application of the Civil Rights Act under the Fourteenth Amendment.
See also International Association of Machinists v. Street, 367 U. S. 740, 367 U. S. 797 (Frankfurter, J., dissenting).
The chief difference between these cases and Bell v. Maryland, 378 U. S. 226, is that here federal, rather than state, legislation has intervened while the convictions were under review. As I understand the Court's opinion, it first asserts that, if these had been federal convictions, the passage of the Civil Rights Act would have abated them under principles of federal decisional law. It then proceeds to apply those asserted principles to these state convictions through the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution. If I thought that Congress had provided that such nonfinal state convictions are to be abated, I would find no constitutional difficulty in joining the Court's disposition of these cases under the Supremacy Clause. But Congress was silent on the subject, and I am unable to subscribe to the Court's reasoning.
In Bell v. Maryland, we said that a State's abatement policy was for the State to determine. Arkansas and South Carolina might hold that this supervening federal legislation provides a compelling reason to abate these proceedings, but I can find nothing in the legislation or in the Constitution which requires these States to do so.
Arkansas and South Carolina is no clearer. Like Maryland, Arkansas has a saving statute similar to the federal counterpart. And like Maryland, South Carolina apparently has a policy favoring abatement when state criminal statutes are repealed while prosecutions are pending. See State v. Spencer, 177 S.C. 346, 181 S.E. 217.
For the reasons stated in the Court's opinion in Bell v. Maryland, I would vacate the judgments and remand the cases to the state courts for reconsideration in the light of the supervening federal legislation.
Absent the Civil Rights Act, there was, in my view, no constitutional infirmity in the state court convictions. Bell v. Maryland, 378 U. S. 226, 378 U. S. 318 (dissenting opinion of MR. JUSTICE BLACK). And if Congress had the power to abate these convictions, I am confident it had no intent of exercising it by passing the new law. There is nothing but silence to indicate that Congress meant to void outstanding judgments of state courts. I would not, for several reasons, read so much into nothing as the Court attempts to do.
seems to me to point to the conclusion exactly opposite to that reached by the Court.
Finally, had Congress intended to ratify massive disobedience to the law, so often attended by violence, I feel sure it would have said so in unmistakable language. The truth is that it is only judicial rhetoric to blame this result upon Congress. Given a discernable congressional decision, I would be happy to follow it, as it is our task to do, absent constitutional limitations. But, without it, we have another case. Whether persons or groups should engage in nonviolent disobedience to laws with which they disagree perhaps defies any categorical answer for the guidance of every individual in every circumstance. But whether a court should give it wholesale sanction is a wholly different question which calls for only one answer. | 2019-04-21T07:15:42Z | http://supreme.nolo.com/us/379/306/case.html |
Polymalic acid (PMA) has many applications in food and medical industries. However, so far it has not been commercially produced by fermentation. Therefore, it is very important how to develop an economical process for a large scale production of PMA by one step fermentation.
After over 200 strains of Aureobasidium spp. isolated from the mangrove systems in the South of China were screened for their ability to produce Ca2+-polymalate (PMA), it was found that Aureobasidium pullulans var. pullulans MCW strain among them could produce high level of Ca2+-PMA. The medium containing only 140.0 g/L glucose, 65.0 g/L CaCO3 and 7.5 g/L corn steep liquor was found to be the most suitable for Ca2+-PMA production. Then, 121.3 g/L of Ca2+-PMA was produced by A. pullulans var. pullulans MCW strain within 120 h at flask level. During 10-L batch fermentation, 152.52 g/L of Ca2+-PMA in the culture and 8.6 g/L of cell dry weight were obtained within 96 h, leaving 4.5 g/L of reducing sugar in the fermented medium. After purification of the Ca2+-PMA from the culture and acid hydrolysis of the purified Ca2+-PMA, HPLC analysis showed that A. pullulans var. pullulans MCW strain produced only one main component of Ca2+-PMA and the hydrolysate of the purified Ca2+-PMA was mainly composed of l-malic acid. Mw (the apparent molecular weight) of the purified PMA was 2.054 × 105 (g/moL) and the purified PMA was estimated to be composed of 1784 l-malic acids.
It was found that A. pullulans var. pullulans MCW strain obtained in this study could yield 152.52 g/L of Ca2+-PMA within the short time, the produced PMA had the highest molecular weight and the medium for production of Ca2+- PMA by this yeast was very simple.
Polymalate (PMA) which is a linear anionic polyester consisting of monomeric repeating units of l-malate has received a significant attention because it can be used as a pro-drug or in a drug-delivery system . PMA can be easily dissolved in water and degraded quickly in liquid. It is a biodegradable, biocompatible, non-immunological, bioabsorbable and nontoxic polyester. Its hydrolysate, l-malic acid, can be metabolized in the tricarboxylic acid cycle in any organisms, offering energy and carbon skeleton . Carboxyl group present in the side chain of PMA can readily react with other functional groups, such as carboxy, hydroxyl and amino. Therefore, the PMA-based nanoconjugates and nanoparticles consisting of several functional modules such as antibodies and drugs have been recently used for a specific cancer chemotherapy in human and animals . In this case, it is necessary to develop an economical process for a large scale of PMA production by one step fermentation. PMA can be chemically synthesized by two approaches: i.e. ring-opening polymerization and direct polycondensation at high temperature (over 110–140°C). However, the processes are too complex, the reaction conditions are not environment-friendly and its raw material is a petroleum derivative, maleic anhydride . Indeed, PMA is being produced from renewable sugars such as glucose by one step fermentation. Although Penicillium cyclopium and Physarum polycephalum [5, 6] could produce PMA, the titer of PMA (2.7 g/L) produced by P. polycephalum is too low to use it for a large-scale of PMA production by fermentation . In recent years, it has been found that a large quantity of PMA can be produced by different strains of Aureobasdium spp. isolated from different environments [8–10]. Some strains of Aureobasdium spp. isolated from the phylloplane and fresh plant samples could produce around 60.0 g/L of PMA [9–12]. However, so far it has not been commercially produced by fermentation .
In our previous studies , it was found that many strains of Aureobasidium spp. isolated from the mangrove ecosystems could produce high level of Ca2+-PMA. For example, 118.3 g/L of Ca2+-PMA in the culture and 16.4 g/L of cell dry weight were yielded by a novel Aureobasidium sp. P6 strain within 168 h. In this present study, we found that another yeast strain MCW isolated from the same mangrove ecosystem also could produce high level of Ca2+-PMA in a simple medium. It has been evidenced that biotin-dependant pyruvate carboxylase can play an important role in biosynthesis of l-malate and other C4 dicarboxylic acids and corn steep liquor (CSL) can stimulate l-malate production by Penicillium viticola 152 isolated from marine algae . Therefore, effects of corn steep liquor on Ca2+-PMA production by the yeast strain MCW were also examined in this study.
In our previous study , after the ability to yield Ca2+-PMA by over 200 strains of Aureobasidium spp. isolated from the mangrove systems in Hainan, China, was examined, it was found that the yeast strain P6 which was identified to be one novel yeast strain of Aureobasidium spp. could produce the high level of Ca2+-PMA (90.0 g/L). At the same time, we found that another yeast strain MCW also could produce more than 90.0 g/L of Ca2+-PMA (data not shown). Our results showed that the morphologies of the colonies and the cells of the yeast strain MCW were obviously different from those of the colonies and the cells of Aureobasidium sp. P6 (data not shown). However, the morphologies of the colonies and the cells of the yeast strain MCW were similar to those of the colonies and the cells of Aureobasidium pullulans var. pullulans .
After the fermentation tests and carbon source assimilation experiments using the yeast strain MCW were performed , our results also showed that the characteristics of the yeast strain MCW were closely related to those of the typical strain A. pullulans var. pullulans CBS 584.75 (data not shown). After ITS sequence (the accession number was KJ958929) and 26S rDNA sequence (the accession number was KP710217) of the yeast strain MCW were PCR amplified, determined and aligned, the phylogenetic trees were constructed as described in “Methods”. Both the analysis for the similarity between ITS of the yeast strain MCW and that in the NCBI database and the analysis for similarity between 26S rDNA sequence of the yeast strain MCW and that in the NCBI database indicated that many phylogenetically related yeast species were similar to the yeast strain MCW used in this study (Fig. 1). The topology of the phylograms in Fig. 1a confirmed that the yeast strain MCW was identified to be one strain of A. pullulans var. pullulans or A. pullulans var. aubasidani or A. proteae because the similarity between ITS of the yeast strain MCW and that of the type strain A. pullulans var. pullulans CBS 584.75 or that of A. pullulans var. pullulans CBS100524T or that of A. pullulans var. aubasidani CBS100524T or A. proteae CPC 2826 were the same (99.79%) (Table 1). However, the topology of the phylograms in Fig. 1b confirmed that the yeast strain MCW was identified to be one strain of A. pullulans var. pullulans because the similarity between 26S rDNA sequence of the yeast strain MCW and that of the type strain A. pullulans var. pullulans CBS 584.75 was the highest (99.64%) (Table 1). So far, most of the yeast strains which can produce a large amount of PMA have been thought to be A. pullulans [9–11, 17, 18]. In fact, A. pullulans can be divided into five varieties: A. pullulans var. pullulans, A. pullulans var. aubasidani, A. pullulans var. namibiae, A. pullulans var. melanogenum and A. pullulans var. subglaciale [2, 19]. However, it is not clear to which variety most of the yeast strains available which can produce a large amount of PMA belong and the taxonomic positions of the high PMA producers of the A. pullulans are still unknown . In our previous study , Aureobasidium sp. P6 was also found to be able to produce a large amount of Ca2+-PMA. It has been evidenced that different strains of A. pullulans and Aureobasidium sp. P6 can accumulate more than 50 g of Ca2+-PMA per liter of the broth [10, 11, 13]. In contrast, the results in Fig. 1b showed that A. pullulans var. pullulans MCW strain isolated from the mangrove ecosystem also could produce high level of Ca2+-PMA. Therefore, A. pullulans var. pullulans MCW isolated from the mangrove ecosystem was a new producer of Ca2+-PMA and could be a candidate for high level of Ca2+-PMA production. So it was used in the subsequent investigations.
The phylogenetic trees of the yeast strain MCW and other yeast relatives based on a neighbor-joining analysis of ITS sequences (a) and 26S rDNA sequences (b). Bootstrap values (1,000 pseudoreplications) were ≥52%.
The accession number of ITS of the yeast strain MCW was KJ958929, and the accession number of 26S rDNA of the yeast strain MCW was KP710217.
It has been well documented that a high initial C/N ratio (nitrogen starvation) and the presence of CaCO3 in the medium are required to boost l-malic acid biosynthesis for PMA production in microbial cells [11, 14]. Therefore, it is very important to optimize the glucose and CaCO3 concentrations in the Ca2+-PMA production medium. So the effects of different concentrations of glucose and CaCO3 on Ca2+-PMA production and cell growth by the yeast strain MCW were examined as described in “Methods”. The results in Fig. 2b showed that when the Ca2+-PMA production medium contained 140.0 g/L glucose, the amount of the Ca2+-PMA in the culture reached the highest (121.11 g/L) while the results in Fig. 2a showed that when the Ca2+-PMA production medium contained 65.0 g/L of CaCO3, the amount of the Ca2+-PMA in the culture was the highest (121.13 g/L). The results in Fig. 2 also revealed that the Ca2+-PMA production by the yeast strain MCW was closely related to its cell growth. The data of the Ca2+-PMA titers and cell mass obtained above were subjected to One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) . P values were calculated by Student’s t test (n = 3). P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 11.5 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The results demonstrated that there were big differences between the Ca2+-PMA titers and cell mass shown in Fig. 2. It has been reported that during the nitrogen starvation (a high initial C/N ratio in the production medium), expression of most of the glycolytic genes and all the genes related to the cytosolic l-malic acid production pathway in Aspergillus oryzae were highly upregulated . It also has been evidenced that CaCO3 is necessary for l-malate production in the fermentation medium because the presence of CaCO3 in the medium can keep pH constant of around 6.5 and provide CO2 as a substrate for efficient production of l-malate, the precursor of PMA biosynthesis [14, 22]. The results in Fig. 2 were indeed consistent the finding. It was thought that in the nitrogen starvation, many zinc finger proteins such as Msn2/4, Gat1, Gln3 and AreA are involved in biosynthesis of organic acids, single cell oils, exopolysaccharides, antibiotics, toxins and others in fungal cells [23, 24, 28]. However, it is still completely unknown if such zinc finger proteins could be involved in PMA biosynthesis in A. pullulans var. pullulans MCW strain used in this study. Such investigation is being carried out in this laboratory.
Effects of different concentrations of CaCO3 (a) and glucose (b) on Ca2+ -PMA production (grey) and cell growth (black) by the yeast strain MCW. Data are given as mean ± SD, n = 3.
CSL has been reported to have a rich source of nitrogen, water soluble vitamins including biotin, amino acids, minerals and other stimulants . Therefore, effects of different concentrations of CSL on Ca2+-PMA production and cell growth by the yeast strain MCW were tested. It can be observed from the data in Fig. 3 that when the initial CSL concentrations in the PMA production medium were increased from 2.5 to 7.5 g/L, the Ca2+-PMA titers were also significantly increased from 86.54 to 121.31 g/L. However, when the initial CSL concentrations in the PMA production medium were increased from 7.5 to 12.5 g/L, the Ca2+-PMA titers were rapidly decreased from 121.31 to 51.12 g/L (Fig. 3). Therefore, 7.5 g/L of CSL in the PMA production medium was the most suitable for Ca2+-PMA production by the yeast strain MCW. This meant that like the calcium malate production , CSL indeed greatly promoted the Ca2+-PMA production by the yeast strain MCW. Furthermore, addition of CSL could significantly simplify the Ca2+-PMA production medium because the medium only contained glucose, CaCO3 and CSL. However, as the initial CSL concentrations in the Ca2+-PMA production medium were increased from 2.5 to 12.5 g/L, its cell growth was also increased continuously (Fig. 3). The data of the Ca2+-PMA titers and cell mass obtained above were subjected to One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) . P values were calculated by Student’s t test (n = 3). P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 11.5 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The results demonstrated that there were big differences between the Ca2+-PMA titers and cell mass shown in Fig. 3. According to the pathway of PMA biosynthesis , pyruvate carboxylase (PYC) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) are involved in PMA biosynthesis in the non-oxidative pathway (Fig. 4). It has been known that PYC is a biotin-dependent tetrameric enzyme that catalyzes the carboxylation of pyruvic acid to form oxaloacetic acid, suggesting that biotin is required during biosynthesis of PMA . Therefore, in the presence of CSL, activities of PYC and MDH may be promoted so that l-malic acid biosynthesis was enhanced, causing high level production of PMA by the yeast strain MCW (Fig. 3). In addition, CSL was also found to stimulate malate production by P. viticola 152 isolated from marine algae . However, the exact mechanisms of the promotion of the activities of PYC and MDH and the Ca2+-PMA production by CSL are still completely unknown. Maybe biotin present in CSL was required by PYC.
Effects of different concentrations of corn steep liquor on Ca2+-PMA production (grey) and cell growth (black) by the yeast strain MCW. Data are given as mean ± SD, n = 3.
The proposed pathway of the PMA metabolism in the yeast cells.
In order to know if the Ca2+-PMA production from glucose and CaCO3 by one step fermentation can be repeated in the fermentor, the 10-L fermentation was carried out as described in “Methods”. During the 10-L fermentation, the changes in Ca2+-PMA titer, cell mass, and reducing sugar concentration were monitored. The results in Fig. 5 showed that during the 10-L fermentation, 152.52 g/L of Ca2+-PMA in the fermented medium was achieved from 140.0 g/L glucose, 65.0 g/L CaCO3 and 7.5 g/L CSL and the biomass in the culture was 8.59 g/L within 96 h, leaving 4.5 g/l of reducing sugar in the fermented medium. It also can be observed from the data in Fig. 5 that a Ca2+-PMA yield of 1.13 g/g of glucose, a volumetric Ca2+-PMA productivity of 1.59 g/L/h and a specific Ca2+-PMA productivity of 0.012 g/g/h were reached within 96 h of the fermentation, demonstrating that the titer, yield, and productivity of the Ca2+-PMA by this yeast strain MCW were very high and the fermentation period was very short. However, after 96 h of the fermentation, the titer of Ca2+-PMA was decreased and cell growth was still continuously increased (Fig. 5). This may be due to that the Ca2+-PMA was degraded after 96 h of the fermentation and the produced malate was used for cell growth according to the metabolism pathway of PMA in Fig. 4. In our previous study , 118.3 g/L of Ca2+-PMA was yielded by Aureobasidium sp. P6 within 168 h, the volumetric productivity was 0.67 g/L/h and the yield was 0.87 g/g . In the 10-L fermentor, A. pullulans ZD-3d isolated from the terrestrial source produced a high PMA concentration (57.2 g/L) and a volumetric productivity (0.35/L/h) was achieved within 160 h when the fermentation medium contained 120.0 g/L of glucose and 30.0 g/L of CaCO3 . In another study , A. pullulans ipe-1 could produce 37.9 g/L of PMA and a yield of 0.3 g/g was reached. Around 63.2 g/L of PMA with a volumetric productivity of 1.15 g/L/h was obtained by the same yeast strain during the repeated-batch cultivation . When A. pullulans CBS 591.75 was grown in the stirred-tank reactor, it could produce 9.8 g/L of PMA within 9 days and a yield of 0.11 g/g was got . A. pullulans strain ZX-10 grown in the medium with 120.0 g/L of glucose produced 50.0 g/L of PMA during the batch fermentation and the high productivity was 0.61 g/L/h in a free-cell fermentation in a stirred-tank bioreactor . This demonstrated that A. pullulans var. pullulans MCW strain used in this study may be the most suitable yeast strain for Ca2+-PMA production from glucose on a large scale in industry because it could produce much more Ca2+-PMA than any other yeast strains reported so far and the production medium was very simple (Figs. 2, 3 and 5).
The time course of Ca2+-PMA production (filled diamond), cell growth (filled square) and the changes in the amount of reducing sugar (filled triangle) during the 10-L fermentation. Data are given as mean ± SD, n = 3.
After the analysis of the purified precipitate with HPLC, the results in Fig. 6a confirmed that the major fermentation product was composed of one component and the minor component was calcium malate, the precursor of PMA, indicating that the main product produced by the yeast strain MCW was Ca2+-PMA. It also can be seen from the results in Fig. 6b that after acid hydrolysis of the fermentation product, the hydrolysates were composed of major l-malic acid and minor calcium malate and Ca2+-PMA. In contrast, the yeast strain P6 produced two components of Ca2+-PMA, and the hydrolysate of the Ca2+-PMA only contained calcium malate . However, after the acid hydrolysis of the fermentation products produced by A. pullulans strain ZX-10, the hydrolysates contained acetic acid and malic acid . This again confirmed that A. pullulans var. pullulans MCW strain used in this study may be the most suitable yeast strain for Ca2+-PMA production from glucose on a large scale in industry.
HPLC chromatogram of standard calcium malate and malic acid (c), fermentation product (a), and hydrolysate of the fermentation product using H2SO4 as the acid (b).
After the measurement of the molecular mass of the purified PMA by the GPC, the results in Table 2 showed that Mn, Mw (the apparent molecular weight) and Mz were 1.627 × 105 (g/moL), 2.054 × 105 (g/moL) and 3.091 × 105 (g/moL), respectively. According to the molecular mass of the monomeric repeating unit (l-malic acid) of the PMA molecule, each of the PMA molecule produced by A. pullulans var. pullulans MCW strain was estimated to be composed of 1,784 l-malic acids. The results in Table 2 also showed that the polydispersity (Mw/Mn) of the purified PMA was 1.263 (1.0%), suggesting that the produced PMA had narrow molecular mass distribution. Indeed, the peak limits of the purified PMA were in the range of 26.405–33.916 min (Table 2). The apparent molecular masses of the PMA produced by different strains of A. pullulans were estimated to be distributed between about 3,000 and 11,000 g/moL [11, 12, 18, 27, 28] while the Mn and polydispersity of the PMA produced by A. pullulans ZD-3d were 4,247 and 1.09, respectively . In contrast, the relative molecular mass of the PMA produced by Physarum polycephalum had an average mass of 50,000 g/mol (polydispersity of 2.0) . This meant that the molecular mass of the PMA produced by A. pullulans var. pullulans MCW strain used in this study was much higher than that of the PMAs produced by any other strains. We think that the PMA with high molecular mass may be a good candidate in making biomaterials because PMA is regarded as a promising building block for the design of efficient drug delivery systems of the nanoconjugate and nanoparticles . The higher the molecular mass of PMA, the higher the strength of the nanoconjugate and nanoparticles based on PMA [3, 4].
A. pullulans var. pullulans MCW strain isolated from mangrove ecosystem could produce 152.52 g/L of Ca2+-PMA in the culture and 8.6 g/L of cell dry weight within 96 h in the presences of CSL. The purified Ca2+-PMA contained only one main component and the hydrolysate of Ca2+-PMA was mainly composed of malic acid. Mw of the purified PMA was 2.054 × 105 (g/moL) and the purified PMA was composed of 1784 l-malic acids. This is the highest molecular mass of PMA obtained so far.
The yeast strain MCW (collection number 2E01289 at the Marine Microorganisms Culture Collection of China-MCCC) of Aureobasidium spp. was isolated from the mangrove systems in Hainan Province of China and used in this study . The Latitude and longitude of the sampling site are N19°53′ E110°19′. The medium for growth of the seed culture contained 60.0 g/L of glucose, 3.0 g/L of yeast extract, 3.0 g/L of NH4NO3, and 10.0 g/L of CaCO3. The cultivation time and temperature were 48 h and 28°C, respectively. The medium for Ca2+-PMA production consisted of 140.0 g/L of glucose, 7.5 g/L of corn steep liquor (CSL) and 65.0 g/L of CaCO3. The CSL was purchased from the local Corn Starch Company in Qingdao, China. The Potato-Dextrose-Agar (PDA) medium was 100 mL of potato extract containing 2.0 g glucose and 2.0 g agar.
The yeast strain MCW isolated from the mangrove system was grown on PDA plate at 28°C for 6 days. Its colony and cell morphologies were observed and photographed employing a Olympus U-LH100HG fluorescent microscope with ×40 objective under blue light. The images of the cells were recorded using the cellSens Standard software.
The total genomic DNA from the marine yeast strain MCW was extracted according to the methods described by Sambrook et al. . To evaluate phylogenetic relationships among the yeast strain MCW and the typical strains reported on internet, amplification and sequencing of ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer) and 26S rDNA from the marine yeast strain MCW were performed using the primers IT5: 5′-TCCGTAGGTGAACCTGCGG-3′ and IT6: 5′-TCCTCCGCTTATTGATATGC-3′ and the primers NL-1: (5′-GCATATCAATAAGCGGAGGAAAAG-3′) and NL-4: (5′-GGTCCGTGTTTCAAGACGG-3′) . The sequences of ITS (the accession number of ITS was KJ958929) and 26S rDNA (the accession number of 26S rDNA was KP710217) obtained above were aligned using BLAST analysis (http://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi, last accessed 18 October 2007). The sequences which shared over 98% similarity with currently available sequences on internet were considered to be the same species or the same varieties. The multiple alignments were conducted using Clustal × 1.83, and the phylogenetic trees were made using MEGA 4.0 .
The yeast strain MCW was cultivated aerobically in the seed culture medium at 28°C and 180 rpm for 48 h. A total of 2.5 mL of the cultures was inoculated into the 250-mL flask containing 50.0 mL of the Ca2+-PMA production medium supplemented with different concentrations of glucose, corn steep liquor and CaCO3. The flasks were aerobically incubated at 28°C and 180 rpm for 5 days. The culture obtained was centrifuged at 6,000×g and 2°C for 10 min. Ca2+-PMA in the supernatant was obtained, and quantitative determination of Ca2+-PMA was performed as described below.
Ca2+-PMA production by the yeast strain MCW was also performed in the 10-L fermenter. The seed culture was prepared as described above. The fermentation was carried out in a fermentor [BIOQ-6005-6010B, Huihetang Bio-Engineering Equipment (Shanghai) CO-LTD] equipped with baffles, a stirrer, a heating element, an oxygen sensor, and a temperature sensor. Three hundred milliliters of the seed culture were transferred into 6 L of the Ca2+-PMA production medium containing only 140.0 g/L of glucose, 7.5 g/L of CSL and 65.0 g/L of CaCO3. The fermentation was performed under the conditions of the agitation speed of 300 rpm, the aeration rate of 8 L/min, the temperature of 28°C, and the fermentation period of 120 h. During the fermentation, 10.0 mL of the culture was collected in the interval of 12 h and was centrifuged at 6,000×g and 2°C for 10 min, and Ca2+-PMA and reducing sugar (glucose) in the supernatant obtained were determined as described below. The cell dry weight in 10.0 mL of the culture during the 10-L fermentation was also measured as described below.
The culture obtained during the 10-L fermentation was centrifuged at 6,000×g and 2°C for 10 min. Ca2+-PMA in 10 mL of the supernatant was obtained with the repeated methanol precipitation. Briefly, the first addition of 5.0 mL of methanol was to selectively remove exopolysaccharide (EPS) as a precipitate. After the EPS was removed by centrifugation, 30.0 mL of methanol was added into the supernatant, and the mixture was incubated at 4°C for 12 h. The resulting Ca2+-PMA precipitates were collected by centrifugation at 6,000×g and 2°C for 10 min and dried by evaporating at 50°C. After the dried materials were re-dissolved in 5.0 mL of distilled water, 15.0 mL of methanol was added into the solution, and the mixture was incubated at 4°C for 12 h; the above procedures were repeated several times until the pure Ca2+-PMA was obtained. Finally, the amount of the purified Ca2+-PMA from 10 mL of the supernatant was weighed and the amount of Ca2+-PMA in 1.0 L of the culture was calculated.
The amount of the reducing sugar in the culture was determined according to the Nelson–Somogyi method .
The dried biomass in the culture was measured according to the methods described by Chi et al. .
The chemical degradation of the purified Ca2+-PMA was carried out with 0.5 M sulfuric acid in sealed glass tubes at 90°C. Calcium malate and l-malic acid formed during the hydrolysis of the purified Ca2+-PMA were assayed using HPLC as described below.
The purified Ca2+-PMA and hydrolysate of the purified Ca2+-PMA obtained above were dissolved in distilled water, respectively. The solutions were analyzed using HPLC (Agilent1200 LC, Santa Clara, CA, USA) for determination of the purity of the Ca2+-PMA. First, the Ca2+-PMA sample was separated on ZORBAXSB-C18 column (5.0 μm, 4.6 mm × 150 mm). The HPLC conditions were that mobile phase was 0.01 M (NH4)2HPO4 in 10.0% methanol solution which pH was adjusted to 2.7 using 1.0 M phosphoric acid and degassed using a microwave; flow rate was 1.0 mL/min; column temperature was 30°C; the sample volume was 20.0 μL; detector was waters 996 Diode-Array Detector; detection wavelength was 210 nm; sensitivity was 0.02 AUFS. The pure calcium malate and l-malic acid purchased from Sigma (St. Louis, MO, USA) were used as the standards.
The apparent molecular weight of the purified PMA produced by the yeast strain MCW was evaluated by the Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) utilizing a Waters™ 1515 instrument combined with Multi-angle laser light scattering detector (MALLS) and concentration detector (RI) under the following conditions: Solvent: water; Flow rate: 0.500 mL/min; Laser wavelength: 658.0 nm; Calibration constant: 3.7138e-5 1/(V cm); Cell type: K5. The pullulan standards of varying known sizes (Showa, Denko) were used as the molecular mass references.
ZMC and ZC participated in the design of the study, carried out the experiments, analyzed the results and drafted the manuscript. ZC and YKW performed all the experiments, analyzed the results, and drafted the manuscript. HXZ and GLL participated in the study, analyzed the results. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
This research was supported by National Natural Foundation of China and the Grant No is 31561163001. | 2019-04-21T06:05:02Z | https://microbialcellfactories.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12934-015-0296-3 |
This last week was a landmark week for me in some ways.
But this particular week, I submitted Chapter and Verse to Covenant Communications, on the good advice of my friend James. Nothing ventured nothing gained, right?
We'll see if anything comes of it. Thanks for all your support!
#32 Know the Divine: John 17:3 “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
One of the cool things about being the game designer is that you can inject personal things into your game. Like, for example, when you come across a verse that is one of your favorites, and you think that it's one that everyone should be able to quote on a moment's notice, you can give it the "Quote" ability.
This is also one of the verses that was used in this last conference to refute those that claim that Mormons are not Christian. The adherence to the Nicene Creed claims that God is "Unknowable". But this verse shows that we can know God and Jesus on a very personal level. Indeed, that knowing God is vital to our exaltation.
This verse implies that how well we know God will determine how qualified we are to become like Him. Which only stands to reason.
In the game, this verse can be a powerful punch when combined with "#26 The Sealing Power" and "#84 The Testimony of Joseph". These all have 4 points of Wisdom, and all have "Quote". So, all you gotta do is learn these verses (which should be in your mind and hearts anyway), and you can throw down a Wisdom book for free! Without quoting, you'd have to sacrifice six verses to get these three out.
There's lots of cool new stuff over in the playtester's page. You gotta check it out!
First of all, we're excited to announce the creation and release of two playtest decks! The first one is based on the "Quote" mechanic. It'll be interesting to see just how this one plays out. Almost every card has the ability, so if someone were good at memorizing, they'd be able to play verse after verse for free!
Then, there's the Strength of Faith! This deck is made of cards from the Strength and Faith themes. Those two play together quite nicely, bringing verses to the hand and drawing blessings.
It'll be fun to try these out and see how they play. Give them a game or two and tell me how they do!
Also, there's a new version of the rules and the first cardset. Nothing's really changed much. There was a need for a clarification. Now, verses that are played as a result of another verse's effect are not "played" but are "set". If a verse is set, its own effect doesn't trigger. Its numbers still count in chapters, but no effects. This keeps the long chains of effects down.
And, based on some feedback I got from James, I created a one-page quick start guide to get you playing right away. The details of the game are still in the rules, but to just start throwing verses down, you can start with the quick start. It's not so intimidating as 8+ pages of rules!
Yesterday, I got an email from James H Fullmer, creator of the "Book of Mormon Battles" game. He offered a few words of encouragement, and then asked me to give him a call and talk about LDS gaming. I did, and we were on the phone for about an hour last night.
What a great guy! He's been working on (and is now about to publish) a game called "Warriors of the Promised Land". When I first heard about it, I was in a bit of shock. Could the small niche Mormon audience actually support two CCG's? Here, I hadn't even started yet, really, and there was competition.
But what fun to chat with him. He had all sorts of words of advice and help to offer. Try this, remember that when you plan for publication... While I was getting too caught up in the scarcity mentality, he had that mindset of plenty that Covey talks about. Dive in! Give it a try! There is plenty and to spare!
What a great guy! Make sure you check out his game when it hits the LDS bookstores this month!
I thought that, as the creator of a Mormon Collectible Card Game, that I would become the uber-mo-geek. That would make me the L337-est of the L337. The highest echelon of the nerdtheon.
I have been way outcooled.
I found a site today where some people with a bigger sense of faith and fun even than I (and with way too much time on their hands) are translating the Book of Mormon into Klingon.
Amazing. In some sort of twisted way, it reminds me much of the Sons of Mosiah, led by Alma the younger, who left the safety of their homes to preach the gospel to the bad guys. Even if the bad guys in this case are, sadly, imaginary.
On the serious side, I do know that from attending a foriegn-speaking mission, that addressing the scriptures from the point of view of another language is a great way to really learn what the scriptures are saying. In order to translate it, you have to truly understand it. So, from that perspective, those who are attempting this undertaking will, at the very least, come out the other end with a deeper understanding of the scriptures.
In some ways, I can relate this project also to my efforts to build C&V. In order to invent the special effects of the cards, I have to consider what the verse is truly saying, and see how to "translate" that into a way the verse plays as a card.
So, while I'm laughing at these guys trying to translate the B of M into Klingon, I'll also tip my hat to them!
I just realized (by back tracking my MoBoy Blog archives) that the Chapterandversegame.com website is a year old! It was established last September. And that means that the first draft of the game itself was created within a few weeks prior to that.
Normally, when a company has an anniversary, there's a big gigantic sale where they reduce everything to 50% off. Well, all our products are free, so far. Still, I hate to leave you all hanging. So, we're announcing our 50% off First Anniversary Sale! Buy all your cards for half off! Heck! Why stop there! We'll do it at 100% off! We're just givin' away the store! Somebody stop me!
A couple of days ago, I got in some more playing with Brendon and Jared. This time, we had a friend of ours from Mexico playing as well, Limhi (you'll recognize that name if you read your scriptures...) In spite of the fact that he sometimes struggles with English, he did quite well, and in fact, almost won. It was interesting to see him try and quote verses in English. A couple of times, I knew the Spanish versions, so I let him quote them in Spanish.
I just got finished posting up a new set of rules, v5.4. Not a lot of changes, but a clarification that will keep the game from spiraling out of control. That's the concept of the "Set" card verses the "Played" card. Any card that I play from my hand in the freeplay or after sacrificing in the regular play phase is considered to be "played", and it's effect is triggered.
On the other hand, if a card comes into play on the table top as a result of a verse effect, it's called being "Set", and its effect does NOT trigger. However, once it's on the table, if it has an ongoing effect "while in play", that effect is valid.
I made changes to the cards themselves to reflect this difference as well. Rather that having an effect read "...play a card from your hand." it now reads "...set a card from your hand."
That way, you won't have long strings of effects, like having a card throw down another card, whose effect throws down another card, which triggers another card being played, which causes, etc. etc. You get the picture.
Also, there's now a hand size limitation rule. Now, if you start your turn with more than 8 verses, you have to take the extra verses (your choice) and put them on the bottom of your blessing stack.
Don't worry. The game's still fun. :-) Moreso, in fact!
Wasn't that the hook of some silly song from the '80's? If not, it probably should have been.
Brendon and I played a game of Yu-Gi-Oh and I lost miserably. That's pretty much par for the course. The games are still fun, though. I just don't put that much effort into collecting cards making killer YGO decks. That's more Brendon's obsession.
Then, after that, we played a game of C&V. That was really fun. I love watching him try and quote the verses. He's only 9, so he struggles with some of the words, but he gets them close enough. He won that one, too, but it was a much closer game. I was down to two blessing cards when he finally went out. He threw down some good strategies, too.
We were just playing with random decks. After the game, I started playing with some deck building. I don't really have any ideas in mind, I just thought I'd start with similar themes. I started with the idea of a strength deck. But I didn't have enough cards to do that fully, so I'll have to print up more. The thought occurred to me that because of things like the "Quote" ability, and the extra draw effects of the Faith cards, a Wisdom/Faith deck would probably do quite well.
I'll play with these ideas and then post what I come up with.
This is one of those things that falls into the category of "Too Cool For Words".
But I'll still write about it!
Now, I just jump up to the corner of my browser, drop down the menu, type in my search and I'm good to go!
The Moregood Foundation is pretty cool, too. It's a site and organization dedicated to making more good things about the church available on the 'net.
Progress on the card designs!
One of my friends at work has a rather unique hobby. He likes to collect 3D characters, and using a software called "Poser", positions them, costumes them, and places them in a 3D setting, which then is rendered out as a flat jpg, or a movie (which is what he usually does).
So, he took a stab at creating a scene for a card. This one is for "Thou Shalt Not Kill" (the picture is, even though the card template is another verse).
I realize that both the template and the 3d rendering may well be a work in progress. BUT IF THAT CARD DOESN'T ROCK, THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT DOES!!!
Over at Nine Moons, I saw this posting. These are done so well, that for a time, I wasn't sure he wasn't serious... I hope it makes you smile as much as it did for me!
More Playtesting and More Playtesters!
I've been getting quite a few playtester signups of late, and that's very exciting. I've also been getting a lot of feedback from testers, and doing some myself. The results I'm getting back are that this new system is pretty solid. There've already been a few good suggestions made. We won't make any official changes or announcements until more testing is done, though.
Last night, I was playing the game with a friend, and we played with some actual constructed decks. I had been worried that the game would play great with random cards, but that with some pre-constructed decks, the balance would shake out. For example, I was worried that if someone made a deck of high-point verses, and verses that pull blessings, it would be unstoppable. Well, I made a deck like that, and I got stomped! I just couldn't get the high-point cards out effectively enough. It seems that, at this stage, a balanced deck is the way to go.
Anyway, let me know how things go for your games!
BETA Version 5.1 is DONE!!
OK, folks! I've tweaked up the rules, I've tweaked up the cards, and now it's finally online as pdf's! I'm feeling much more confident that this is the future of Chapter & Verse. It finally feels smooth, like it's settling in where it's supposed to. It feels balanced, and as more cards are added, more fun will ensue.
The turn is much more simple and streamlined. Start, Draw, Freeplay, Play, End. How much simpler can it get?
No more counting blessing points as you sacrifice verses. The word "blessings" is now used in another totally different way.
Now verses have effects that happen AS you play them into verses, rather than INSTEAD of playing them into verses.
The game is much more interactive, as you can combine your own stacks of cards ("Chapters") with your opponent's to form books.
With Quoting, Cross Reference, and the new Keyword ability, the game play responds with the scriptures more and more.
I'm really excited about the changes. With some more playtesting, we'll be able to move ahead with the production of the game!
After a lot of questioning, revisiting, and ultimately revision (both in cards and in rules), I finally got a chance top playtest the full version of beta v5.0 last night, with my good friend John Nofsinger. We only had the chance to play one game, but it went really well. The new system flows more smoothly, is more streamlined, is more interactive, and ultimately, more fun.
And then I went and lost my keys.
I think I've gotten a lot of things worked out in the game, now, and I'm really excited. Play is much more streamlined, and interactive. It's really a lot more fun. I'm getting a playtest prototype cardset of 100 scripture mastery verses ready, and the writeup of the new rules. I'm hoping to have it posted by the end of the week. We'll have to see just how well it all goes.
OK, I was having some real difficulties with the basic game. It wasn't interactive enough, it didn't truly involve the scriptures enough, and it was just bogging down in too many rules.
But in my efforts to streamline it and make it more fun and scriptural, I was just making it worse and worse.
So it sat and stewed for a long time. I've been talking things over a lot with a few of my main playtesters, mostly John and Kent, as well as Brendon. I've melded a lot of the ideas they've thrown at me and I'm really excited about this latest revision. It's almost a totally restructured game.
It's also still in its infancy, so I'll work it up and post it. Unfortunately, it'll need cards with new effects, so I'll have to go through them AGAIN!
But I think I've got a good solid game base, now, that I can tweak and then expand with cardsets and cardpages. And, maybe even publish!
Keep in mind that, as cool as this looks, it's still in flux. We're still working on details. The forest graphic is generic, and will change, for example. The "Theme" and "Topic" words will be replaced by actual themes and topics. Still, it's very exciting to see a card begin to emerge. The block colors that are on the downloadable cards are sooo rough. It's nice to see some real graphic images. Let me know what you think!
2 Points, or Not 2 Points?
I've played a few more test games, and I'm a bit at a loss. I need your help.
The question is all about the rule that starts each turn with 2 free blessing points, before you have to sacrifice any cards. Here's some of my thoughts and experiences.
As I've been playing, I've tried it both with and without the points. I've noticed that when I play games with the rule in place, there's less sacrificing of cards. That's not really a problem, I guess, but I feel like it messes with the economy of the cards, and the card flow of the game.
But on the other hand, without it, people tend to hold their cards, and fewer cards actually get played , which really messes with the flow. Also, there's fewer extra points available, so it's not so often that I use the "Quote It" rule.
So, what's your experience been? How does it feel?
Surprise! It didn't take me days to do. They're back online as version 3.1. Go check them out. They feel much more balanced to me.
As I've been preparing the cards for the prototype publication, I've been reworking a lot of the abilities and stats of the verses themselves. I thought I had that nailed down, but as I was cutting apart a set of cards last night, I found some more things that needed tweaking.
So, I've been going through those cards page by page, to make sure that this or that effect was feasible, that it cost the right amount, that the sacrifice points were all reasonable, etc... I've been also checking for spelling and typos in the verse references and the descriptions themselves as well.
So, hopefully that'll all be done in another day or two, and back up online.
As I started to work out the battle game mechanic, I started thinking about how it all works. War is all throughout the scriptures. I thought that most of the verses that would use the mechanic would be Tales (white) or Trials (black), because most of the scriptures that talk about war are telling about battles, and going through war is certainly a trial.
I've long believed that even though at times, war may well be necessary, nobody really "wins". One side doesn't lose as many men or resources, and so they end up occupying the land, or getting their way, or whatever. So, really, the "winner" is the one that "loses the least".
So, in the battle mechanic, you pull a verse from one of your incomplete books, and one from one of your opponent's. Presumably, you'll pick a less important verse from yours and an important one from his. Thus, by picking the right cards, you "lose less".
Then, I started finding some scriptures where circumstances, like faith and divine intervention made a big difference in battle. So, those verses will protect books from being the targets of battle mechanics, or things like "The Title of Liberty", which allows you to search your deck for battle cards, much like Captain Moroni did when he waved the flag to recruit an army against the kingmen.
When we do a Book of Mormon set of cards, there's gonna be lots of battle-related cards. I mean, the whole books of Alma and Helaman are pretty much war, war, war... It'll be fun to see how this plays out in the game.
There's so much happening in the world of C&V these days, that I finally decided that just having the news posting on the main page wasn't going to be enough. Don't worry, those listings will still continue, so you can see at a glance what's happening, but for more in-depth stuff, come here to the blog!
One of the most exciting things is that there is a very real possibility that the game might actually get published. It's an expensive prospect, but it might actually happen. What I've been working hardest on of late is getting things ready for the creation of some prototype sets that can be used to promote the game to retail stores. That way, with relatively little up-front money, we can determine if it's even viable in the market place.
What that's meant is that the testing and the reworking has been turned up to 11. I think I've revised the rules twice in as many months. I refuse to release a game that hasn't been thoroughly tested. If the game doesn't work, or if it's not fun to play, then nothing else matters. Not the graphics, nor the marketing, nothing.
Well, check back here from time to time and I'll have comments on new revisions, and other things. I'd like to comment on some of the verses, and how they struck me as I tried to translate them into the numbers and the effects on the cards.
I'd also like to hear about your favorite verses and how we could make them into cards. If there are any cards/verses already in the game that you don't understand, and you might need some help interpreting them in the game context, comment below, and I'll answer. | 2019-04-24T00:03:19Z | http://chapterandversegame.blogspot.com/2007/ |
There is a large number of interesting questions asked of FOA!
How Much Do Installers Make?
Sacramento's Golden 1 Center Claims To Be "Highest Tech Stadium In Sports"
Download the crossword puzzle on "Optoelectronics and Splicing."
In July 2016, FOA certified it's 60,000th tech and more than 9,500 of those have achieved CFOS Specialist Certifications. By early September, we were already at 61,000.
Are you experienced in fiber optics but not FOA CFOT® certified? FOA's "Work To Cert" program is for you.
Bumper sticker on the tailgate of a contractor's pickup truck.
Over the last couple of years, the applications of fiber optics have been growing very rapidly. One obvious reason is the explosion of projects for fiber to the home (FTTH), but we're also seeing the same kind of growth in data centers, DAS in large pubic facilities, fiber to the antenna (FTTA), municipal fiber networks supporting education, public safety, security and intelligent transportation systems, alternative energy projects and lots more.
The need is also growing for more trained workers. We've seen an acceleration in the number of students at our schools getting trained and certified. We're also seeing more experienced workers coming to FOA applying for direct certification through our "Work To Cert" program. Often it is because their customers are requiring it - many after having problems with installation projects caused by incompetent workers.
These trained and certified workers are part of the success stories we hear almost daily about installation projects everywhere. It's obvious to FOA that training/certification and success go hand-in-hand.
What's obvious to FOA is obviously not obvious to everybody. Cutting the costs of employees - including training - is seen as a way to save money and create more profit, often without the understanding that poor job and/or project performance will reflect badly on the company following that business strategy.
Here in the US, we have a saying for this - "being penny-wise and pound-foolish."
A system that was designed with specifications that greatly exceeded user needs. Of course, it was also extremely high priced, perhaps double the price of a reasonable system. Building a system for today's needs and planning for a future upgrades when (if) needed would have been much more cost effective.
Sending design projects overseas for CAD work to save money. It appears that these designs had no input from people who had physically examined the routes. The designs ignored the likelihood of other cabling in conflicting areas and local geology that could prevent economical underground construction.
Even designs done locally are not being physically inspected properly by experienced contractors, causing similar problems.
Contractors subcontracting to other contractors who sometimes subcontract to others, often without any control over the hiring of skilled workers.
Hiring workers with little or no training at minimum wage or below, often workers without language skills to understand written or verbal directions.
No OJT - on the job training of these low or no-skilled workers doing skilled work.
Workers on projects having no personal identification or identification of the contracting organization.
Top of the list: Digging up existing cables, often breaking fiber cables, sometimes multiple times, even on private property where they did not have permits or ask permission of the owners.
Poor workmanship, especially when burying cables on streets and customer lawns, leaving a messy installation and not cleaning up afterwards angering both consumers and municipal officials.
Workers installing cables without leaving adequate cable length for splicing or connections.
Not knowing how deep to install underground cables.
Not understanding testing methods or instruments so test results are meaningless. This often makes it impossible to judge the quality of many installations.
We'd bet that the bosses making the decisions that cause these problems would never let an unlicensed electrician work on the wiring in their homes, trust their vehicles to unskilled labor for repair or let unlicensed doctors treat their families just to save money, but they seem oblivious to the downside of giving business to the lowest bidder without investigating their qualifications.
Invariably, it seems, the contractor will blame the manufacturer of the products for the failures. In one case long ago that I (JH) was involved in, a supervisor for a contractor pulled out over $100,000 worth of perfectly good cable and threw it out in a muddy field in the rain because his workers told him it was all bad. The cable was perfectly good, however, but his employees were incompetent at splicing and testing. Rather than admit they were the problem, they blamed the cable manufacturer, who had to send a crew (including me) to the job site to investigate the issues with the installation. While the manufacturer was cleared of any blame, the contractor, faced with the loss of the $100,000 of cable and redoing all the installation, walked away from the job and went bankrupt, leaving the customer with nothing but a mess to clean up.
If you are selling products for a project, isn't it worth your effort to ensure the installers are competent? Wouldn't you rather ask some questions in the beginning rather than have to bring out the technical experts (and maybe lawyers) later to defend your reputation? In practically every case like that, everybody loses.
If you are a cable manufacturer, do you limit your warranty to the delivery of good product on the reel to the customer location and it's their problem after that?
If you make fusion splicers, can you prove that bad splices are not the result of the function of your machine?
Test equipment manufacturers - do you guarantee that if your tester says "Pass" when the operator pushes the "Auto Test" button, the cable plant indeed is meeting the specifications required?
Wouldn't it be easier if you stated your warranty would only cover your product if installed by a properly trained and certified installer?
Twenty years ago, most manufacturers had programs for "certified installers" that they had trained themselves. It was in reaction to the variability of those programs that the Fiber U instructors (who included several from companies that offered manufacturer certifications) decided in 1995 to start the Fiber Optic Association.
The charter of the FOA then was "to promote professionalism in fiber optics through education, certification and standards." Still is.
FOA partners with the IBEW, CWA/Alliance, many companies, agencies, telecom ministries and a long list of those involved with fiber projects to ensure proper work on their projects. But that's probably still not enough.
You can't train a fiber optic installer in a one-day course that covers little technical material and has little - if any - hands-on skills training. You can't have an installer take a one day course on a manufacturer's product and expect them to know the full scope of the work they will be doing in the field. A novice who takes a course and gets a certificate - or certification - is not an expert.
The FOA goal is to give them enough knowledge for OJT - on the job training. That means they are ready to work in the field with an experienced tech who will mentor them - showing them what fiber installation looks like in the real world, teaching them to develop new skills and learning how to made decisions on their own about an installation. You must have newly trained employees properly supervised to help them develop into skilled technicians. Have you considered interns And apprenticeships?
We need to educate the bosses, supervisors, network owners, IT managers, project managers, facilities managers, etc. - whoever manages the design and installation on a project, signs the contract and perhaps more importantly, the final checks - educate them about what's involved in a fiber project, what competencies contractors and their installers need and how to judge the finished project. We need to teach them how to develop their employees skills through training and OJT under proper supervision. Only when they understand what they are managing will these problems start becoming less widespread.
What you can do - whether you are a contractor/installer, distributor or manufacturer - is to politely inform your customers that it takes skill and experience to successfully build a fiber optic network. That using trained and certified workers will help ensure the investment they are making in their network will have a proper payback.
Quite a few of our instructors have been told by employers "If I pay to train my workers they will leave for higher paying jobs." One of our instructors replies, "If you don't train them, will they stay and continue to do substandard work for you?"
Check out the bumper sticker above seen recently on a contractor's pickup truck!
FOA schools are seeing increasing numbers of students and FOA is certifying techs at much higher rates that before. They are also offering a larger variety of courses. Our online Fiber U certificate of completion programs are growing also, especially in the applications areas.
But we still have a long way to go. FOA is doing extensive research on this problem. Watch for more discussion on this topic in the next few months. Got comments? Contact FOA with your feedback.
Many of the problems we're seeing and hearing about are caused by cost cutting. Surely you have heard the quote attributed to an American astronaut* asked what he was thinking about sitting on top of a rocket ready for launch: "I realized I was sitting on a machine with a million parts all built by the lowest bidder."
Is that how you feel about your cable plant project?
Misleading Headline Award: "Google Fiber wins faster access to utility poles over AT&T’s objections"
Any number of tech websites had similar headlines recently, this one from arstechnica. Why is it misleading? Let's start with the subheading on the article: "AT&T likely to sue Nashville over rule providing quick access to utility poles."
That's just the beginning. The Nashville Metro Council has to vote one more time on this resolution called "One Touch Make Ready" to give Google Fiber faster access to utility poles, approving an ordinance opposed by AT&T and Comcast. The One Touch Make Ready ordinance (what this means) would let a contractor for a single company—such as Google Fiber—make all of the necessary wire adjustments on a utility pole itself without having to wait for incumbent providers to send construction crews. This has been a major slowdown for Google FIber in Nashville where "Of the 88,000 poles we need to attach Google Fiber to throughout Nashville, over 44,000 will require make ready work," Google Fiber had said. Nearly 9,800 poles have been "approved" for make ready work, "but so far, only 33 poles have been made ready."
This is just another skirmish in the "Pole Wars" we reported on in last month's FOA Newsletter.
Here is another article from the Nashville Tennessean that has more details about this issue. It includes an interesting quote: "AT&T insists it has not slow-walked anything, that it has efficiently handled applications for pole attachments. It’s a complicated process — in fact, not nearly as simple as the name of the “one touch” bill title implies."
Last moth in the FOA Newsletter, we discussed the way incumbents have been taking their points of view to the courts. They have also been going to state legislators who are happy to pass pro-incumbert legislation since the incumbents are big campaign contributors. That led to 19 US states passing legislation written by telecom lobbyists that would prevent broadband networks owned by municipalities or public-owned utilities. Obviously this was aimed to stop more cities from building systems like the highly successful systems in Chattanooga, Clarksville, Morristown and Bristol, Tennessee. Here are the details of these individual state laws.
In the February 2015 FCC judgement on network neutrality, the "Open Internet Order of 2015," FCC adopted strong rules on net neutrality and specifically negated the state laws in Tennessee and North Carolina based on petitions from Chattanooga, TN and Wilson, NC. Chattanooga and Wilson argued that these state laws are in conflict with the FCC’s federal mandate to promote broadband deployment throughout the country. The commission agreed, and in doing so handed consumers another victory. The assumption was that this would be reason to negate laws in the other 19 states.
Almost immediately, the states of Tennessee and North Carolina sued the FCC, and it did not take long before they found a friendly judge who overturned the FCC ruling. If you want the details, see Court Overturns FCC Effort To Promote Municipal Broadband Competition.
That threatens the 10G network planned by Chattanooga's EPB and Wilson's Greenlight fiber netwwork.
Regulators will “consider all our legal and policy options,” he says.
Several times in the last year we've reported on the sale of broadband or CATV systems, specifically looking at the price paid for a subscriber. It has been consistently in the %$5000 range. This is important information for those independently developing broadband or FTTH networks as it provides a benchmark value for their investment.
Two more systems were recently sold. Private equity fund TPG Capital says it has reached agreements to acquire regional broadband services providers RCN Telecom Services LLC and Grande Communications Networks LLC. TPG will buy the companies in separate transactions from their common owner, ABRY Partners. RCN will cost $1.6 billion while Grande's price tag will be $650 million.
Those numbers are higher than most recent sales and indicate that the value of broadband customers is being recognized by the financial community.
Remember in the March FOA Newsletter we talked about the SmartGig LA meeting we attended? And in the June FOA Newsletter, we talked about the meeting the same group ran in the Bay Area.
Why Columbus? Columbus has been selected as the winner of the $40 million Smart Cities grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. In addition, Vulcan Inc. has contributed another $10 million to incorporate electric vehicle infrastructure.
SmartGigCities has planned a number of other meetings around the US. Sign up here for the SmartGig Cities newsletter to keep up to date on their future programs.
How Much Do Installers Make In The Various Regions Of America?
The map below, from a US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics web page of data on "line installers" which includes fiber optics, shows the distribution of wages in the US. This map includes all telecom line installers which includes both copper and fiber, but it gives good relative data to where wages are higher and lower. So if you are looking for work or hiring workers, this information will be helpful. The web page also includes maps of numbers of workers by industry and other relevant analyses from data available in May 2015. It's very interesting reading.
Go here to read the entire page.
The new sports facility built for the Sacramento Kings NBA team claims to be the highest tech stadium in sports. That's a big claim! In recent times, the FOA Newsletter has profiled the 49ers new Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara and the 1000 wireless DAS antennas in the Nissan Stadium for the Titans in Nashville. But there may be some truth in the claim from Sacramento. It helps to know that Qualcomm (the wireless chip company) chairman Paul Jacobs is an investor in the team, and that Kings owner Vivek Ranadive made his fortune in software, both quintessential techies!
The Golden 1 Center is much smaller than the big football stadiums - under 20,000 seats - but is truly a high-tech wonder - so much so that it was written up in a Wired Magazine article recently. If you want all the details, we suggest you read that, but here is the summary - a 84-foot 4K video board, an ultra-interactive app for fans to use during events, and a massive amount of connectivity within the building. At a command center, a group of employees check a bank of ~20 screens to see everything that’s happening. There is a 6,000 square foot data center and hundreds of WiFi (802.11ac) and small cell wireless antennas.
To create this high-tech wonder, there are over 900 miles of fiber (mostly SM but some new Commscope wideband MM fiber) and 300 miles of copper.
Of course this is just another example of why the FOA has created education programs covering applications like OLANs, data centers and DAS and has free online courses at Fiber U to allow anyone to learn more about these state-of-the-art applications.
Maxcell has been a pioneer in the field of fabric innerduct to expand capacity of typical fiber ducts by replacing rigid plastic innerduct with flat fiber innerduct. (See FOA Newsletter July 2014) Now they have a method of removing current innerducts without disturbing the live cables in them and adding fabric innerducts to double or triple the capacity of the conduit. They have special gear to pull out the current ducts leaving the cable in place and split the duct to remove it from the cable and prepare it for chipping for recycling.
After all the old rigid innerduct is removed, you can pull additional cables into the fabric ducts immediately.
The advantages are obvious - getting space for additional cables without installing more conduit - no more construction, no additional cost beyond the simple - and quick - process of removing the old innerduct and pulling in the new.
Watch the Maxcell video on YouTube here.
We all know the problems with dirty connectors but keeping connectors clean, even after just cleaning them, can be a problem. The Microcare Sticklers people have been talking about the problem of static electricity for some time. When you clean a connector with a dry cleaner, you may cause a static charge on the connector ferrule that will attract more dirt from the air.
Sticklers solution is a cleaning fluid that is conductive and prevents static. Used with their cleaning tools, it reduces the static problem and helps ensure clean connectors. Watch their video here.
The Microcare Sticklers people tell us they working on a series of five training videos about how to clean various connectors by application and should have the videos done by the end of September. We'll update you on those next month.
Intel is reportedly making volume shipments of 100G transceivers for data centers using their "silicon photonics" processes. Intel has been working on this for a long time, FOA has covered their efforts for more than 5 years, most recently in the FOA Newsletter in September 2013. Silicon photonics integrates the laser and photodetector with the chips needed for drivers and signal conditioning, greatly simplifying packaging and potentially lowering cost.
The first two products are singlemode 100G transceivers with either parallel optics (4X25G) with either pigtails or MPO ports (left photo) or WDM on two fibers for LC connectors (right photo). Both devices feature low power consumption - 3.5W - a very important spec for data center products. Read more about the Intel products here.
In an interview on the CIO magazine website, Diane Bryant, executive vice president and general manager of Intel's Data Center Group, said the silicon photonics components will initially allow for optical communications between servers and data centers, stretching over long distances (~2km). Over time, Intel will put optical communications at the chip level. Jason Waxman, corporate vice president and general manager of Intel's Data Center Solutions Group, noted fiber optic cables will take up less space than older cables, and depending on the workload and implementation of servers, fiber optics can also be cheaper than copper cabling.
"I came across a site that has alleviated my frustrations and has proven to be rather accurate for my own purposes. The site, courtsystem.org seems to have a complete database of listings for all emergency, legal and law enforcement government offices in the country – with working phone numbers (at least for the ones I’ve tried!). I wanted to share the site because it has saved me a few headaches and I’m sure it would be useful to others as well."
Fiber optics has often been used in art and many beautiful photos of fiber optics have been created. When we checked into our hotel for the SmartGigCities Bay Area meeting, we found this great photo on the wall.
But we did find it humorous!
FOA participated in its 20th consecutive IBEW/JATC National Training Institute this summer in Ann Arbor Michigan. FOA has been a supporter of the IBEW NJATC (now called the "electrical Training Alliance") summer train-the-trainer program for two decades. This summer FOA Director and Master Instructor Tom Collins taught a pre-NTI CFOT course and a TTT course during NTI. FOA's Jim and Karen Hayes did an evening program on the FOA Design Certification and answered questions about the FOA. Attendance this year was very high, indicating a high interest in fiber optics by electrical contractors.
FOA has over 30 local JATCs in the US and Canada teaching the FOA curriculum and offering FOA certification. At the Ann Arbor NTI, we signed up a number of new locations also.
In last month's newsletter we discussed the Open Compute Project's (OCP) amazing results at cutting costs of singlemode transceivers for data centers. (See How To Get Fiber Optic Transceiver Costs To Drop 90%). This article led to several discussions on the way data centers are being built and how standards are being developed, specifically the move to singlemode fiber to allow equipment upgrades without cabling changes and "open-sourcing" the design of electronics.
OCP is a user group started because traditional vendors were not delivering the solutions needed. Traditional server/switch vendors were not delivering products with the performance/price needs of users in mind. Standards for data center cabling were not based on the realities of the business. In this case, the "realities" of the business was that technology was allowing - no requiring - upgrades to the data center every 18-24 months, way too fast for traditional switch/server manufacturer product upgrades and the typical 5-year cycle of standards development. One could also say that OCP is another example of the "disruptor model" of current businesses - take a completely new look at how to run a business and ignore the past models - which has become the usual method of operation for current business startups.
That this model can work for OCP has shown that it is a valid model for developing standards - in fact it may prove to be a better method. When products reach commodity status - like data center servers and switches and their fiber optic transceivers - the input of real customers is absolutely necessary to get the product designed right. And real customers are rare in the regular standards committees.
Now Facebook and its partners are taking the same process to wireless and long haul backbones. Below are overviews of the projects and links to learn more about them. Will they have a similar effect on these aspects of the communications business?
"As of the end of 2015, more than 4 billion people were still not connected to the internet, and 10 percent of the world's population were living outside the range of cellular connectivity. Despite the widespread global adoption of mobile phones over the last 20 years, the cellular infrastructure required to support basic connectivity and more advanced capabilities like broadband is still unavailable or unaffordable in many parts of the world. At Facebook, we want to help solve this problem, and we are pursuing multiple approaches aimed at improving connectivity infrastructure and lowering the cost of deploying and operating that infrastructure.
Today (6 July 2016) we are announcing the OpenCellular access platform, and over time, we will be open-sourcing the design. We will also work on other elements like the software management system, hardware design, baseband, amplifier, filter, mounting device, and antennas.
We have implemented an access platform that can support a wide variety of wireless network standards, from 2G and LTE to Wi-Fi access points. Anyone can customize the platform to meet their connectivity needs and set up the network of their choosing, in both rural and urban areas. For instance, the system, due to its on-board computing and storage capacity, can be configured as network-in-a-box or purely as a cellular access point."
Could this affect wireless as much as OCP has affected the data center? Time will tell.
Read Facebook's announcement of OpenCellular here.
"As this OCP work was happening, we recognized that telecom infrastructure could benefit from the same innovations taking place in the data center. The power of CPUs and fiber optic network technology has skyrocketed while simultaneously growing significantly cheaper, and it was clear that the raw building blocks of what we were developing for our own infrastructure could be applied to telecom networks with great benefit. That’s why we’ve co-founded the Telecom Infra Project (TIP). TIP is bringing together operators, infrastructure providers, system integrators, and other industry players to work together to develop new technologies and rethink approaches to deploying network architecture that leverage these new advances in the technology and an open approach to development.
We are thrilled to launch TIP with Intel and Nokia, which have been delivering industry-leading technology solutions for a very long time, and Deutsche Telekom and SK Telecom, which have both demonstrated significant leadership in the development of new network technologies. A number of other technology partners have also joined TIP and will provide knowledge and operational expertise across all areas of the telecom stack, driving innovation right from the start.
At first, TIP will focus on disaggregating the components of network infrastructure that are traditionally bundled together and vendor-specific. This will give operators more flexibility in how they build out their networks and enable better, more cost-effective coverage. TIP members will work across three areas — access, backhaul, and core and management — to explore new hardware and software architectures with an eye toward greater simplicity and efficiency."
We'll follow this development carefully as it is, like the other open source projects, potentially a major factor in the development of the fiber optic industry.
After years of training and working with fiber optic professionals, I have learned that a few practices can help teams to be more effective at implementing and maintaining their optical networks. Many of these require little effort, and can make significant improvements in the quality and performance of your network. Some of these practices will help to keep you safe and be more effective at the job, while promoting professionalism and high standards among fiber professionals. I find that some of these practices might have greater impact than others, which is why I consider the following ones to be "commandments for fiber optic professionals".
The number one cause of fiber optic network problems is dirty connectors. Dirt can cause problems like damage to a connector’s end face, misalignment, and attenuation. Grease, like the one from your fingers, can cause future problems in networks as high output lasers can end up burning it, causing charring and clouding to connector end faces. Make sure to inspect all connectors before plugging them in. Whenever possible, include an end face inspection probe image for each connector with your test and characterization records. Protect your eyes by testing with a power meter for verifying that fibers are not active before testing with microscopes.
The number one cause of injuries when working with fibers are mishandled fiber scraps. Those tiny fragments of glass will find the way into your skin and clothes if you are not careful. Even worse, if you don’t catch these in time and do something like touching your eyes, you could end up inflicting a potentially painful eye wound to yourself. Protect yourselves by always wearing safety glasses. You could also take fiber scraps home with you if these are on your clothes, so make sure to get them all and dispose properly. Use appropriate sharps dispensing containers, handle and collect with tweezers or black electrical tape, and dispose of appropriately. Working on black surfaces will help you spot these fragments more easily due to the color contrast.
Your fusion splicer is akin to a soldier’s rifle. Without a good working splicing-set is hard to be effective in the field. The last thing that you want is that after spending days on a job, finding high attenuations and bad splices due to faulty equipment. Safeguard and protect your splice-set from bumps, dirt, and humidity. Keep it clean, dry, and isolated from dust. Frequently clean the v-grooves with non abrasive materials or tools. Clean the electrodes and change them as needed, according to manufacturer recommendations. Keep the batteries charged. Avoid connecting directly to power plants and use power conditioners to protect from current peaks that could potentially damage circuit boards; instead, opt for using the equipment battery whenever possible.
Today, there are many tools and gadgets for making field work easier and safer. Avoid losing your hands to a poorly handled box cutter. Instead, use appropriate cable prep tools. There are arrays of specialized tools for tasks like prepping mid-entries, distribution breakouts, opening flat drop cables, etc., which could save you time, keep you safe, and protect the fibers (and your fingers). I have seen, more than once, punctured or cut loose tubes, cut fibers, and damaged cables due to technicians not using appropriate tools, or simply preferring to use their pocket knives. Use the best quality cleavers available to ensure good splices and connections. While there are excellent options in the market today, I happen to like Jonard Tools, not only for how practical they are, but also for how affordable.
I see many guys using VFLs for checking short distance links. That is not the right practice. Every link, regardless of its length, should be tested with an OLTS for optical loss/attenuation. When verifying continuity, identifying fibers, checking polarity, or looking for faults close to the source you can use VFLs, and when checking for distance, specific events such as splices, and when troubleshooting, you can use an OTDR; nevertheless, when conducting acceptance tests, for any link of any type, use a light source and power meter for verifying that the cable plant is working within specified optical budgets. This will ensure that your optical equipment will have a clean and useful optical path. VFLs are a good start, but do not tell you the appropriate information you need for link verification.
Nothing as bad than completing an installation and not finding your fiber paths as expected, due to wrong fiber mapping and crossed splices. In order to avoid this, network design and planning documentation must be developed accurately and shared effectively from the start. After installation, appropriate “as built” documentation must be created, shared, and applied in order to maintain accurate records. These will be your best friends when conducting maintenance operations, such as troubleshooting and restoration.
You will be surprised of how much there is to know about designing, installing, and maintaining optimal fiber networks. Often some take the time for learning once they find that their networks do not work. Appropriate network design and planning are foundational in implementing fast, future proof, and reliable networks that help in gaining and maintaining happy customers, securing your company’s investment, and keeping your job.
The present technological advancements in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education have evolved through research on basic experimentations. Optical fibers applications are no exceptions.
RUBY OPTO SYSTEMS in India has developed a series of educational apparatus to help demonstrate fiber technology and help students understand the theoretical and experimental aspects of optical fiber technology and optical fiber sensor applications.
The design of experiments comprises of losses or attenuation due to bending (total internal reflection), misalignments (through beam) and sensing (reflective beam) apart from losses due to optical fiber end preparation, optical fiber lengths, source and detector coupling and the numerical aperture of an optical fiber.
The optomechanical components are ergonomically designed for the purpose of hands-on experience. The methodical procedure of conducting the sequence of experiments substantiate towards the understanding of basic principles and further basic computation of power budgeting, the fundamental criteria of an optical fiber network. The seamless integration of modules/ components based on the design of the experiment make s it versatile and not a mere plug and play monotonous activity.
Two New Books From FOA - Not Just For Installers - Their Bosses Need To Read Them Too!
These books should be on the bookshelves of network owners or managers, facilities managers, supervisors of the installers and anyone else involved with fiber optic networks.
FOA has published two new books that provide useful information for those involved in fiber optic projects, and not just for installers. The latest, the FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optic Network Design, is a comprehensive guide to designing fiber optic networks of any type, from concept to completion. This book looks at design from the initial need for communications through the process of setting the route of the cable plant, choosing components, finding a contractor, planning the installation and documenting the process from beginning to end.
While one might think the focus of the design book is on the person actually designing the network, it is also aimed at those for whom the network is being designed - the network owner or manager, facilities manager, supervisors of the installers and anyone else involved in the process. We especially think that everyone who contracts for fiber optic installations should have a copy of this book on their bookshelf as a reference for when they are involved in a project.
The second book which we released recently, the Outside Plant Construction Guide, is another book aimed at a wider audience than installers. Certainly it's of interest to installers, being the only book we know about the actual construction process of installing fiber optic cables, but it is also useful to the designer of the network and those who contract for fiber optic cable plant installation, especially if they are involved in getting permits and easements or having to explain to others the process of installation.
Both books, like all FOA books, are inexpensive and available in paperback or Kindle formats.
FOA has just published a new textbook, the FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optic Network Design, a complete guide to designing fiber optic networks, OSP and premises, for the contractor, installer, designer, project manager, facilities manager and user. The book covers all aspects of a fiber optic project from the initial need for the network through the construction phase. It includes checklists for designers and project managers, appendices on estimating and standardized project management and guides to case studies. About all that's missing is CAD and GIS which we leave to those involved in the software to provide the details on those.
The FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optic Network Design is now the textbook for the FOA CFOS/D certification courses and a reference for those taking the free online course about Design on Fiber U. The curriculum for the CFOS/D courses has been updated also with new material and an introduction to fiber optic technology to make the course appropriate for a larger audience - not just CFOTs but network owners and managers, facilities managers, planners, estimators, supervisors, etc.
The book is available direct from the FOA eStore or Amazon.com where it is also available for Kindle, local booksellers and other distributors.
The FOA has published a new textbook on outside plant (OSP) fiber optic construction. The book covers topics which are rare in fiber optic textbooks - practical solutions to designing and installing the fiber optic cable plant in an OSP environment. It is an extremely valuable reference book for all owners, designers, supervisors and installers of fiber optic OSP networks.
This textbook is a complete guide to outside plant fiber optic construction, covering the process of installing the fiber optic cable plant starting with the construction work necessary for installation of both aerial and underground cables before the fiber optic techs begin splicing, terminating and testing. It is intended as a companion to the FOA Reference Guide To Outside Plant Fiber Optics and for use in FOA OSP specialist certification classes. It's also an excellent reference book for anyone designing or installing fiber optic networks - even the owners of those networks.
This book was created by Joe Botha of Triple Play Fibre Optic Solutions in South Africa as a textbook for classes he teaches on OSP construction. Joe, an FOA Master Instructor, created the course to fill a need for training OSP construction crews and agreed to share this useful book with the FOA and the fiber industry.
The FOA Outside Plant Fiber Optics Construction Guide is available from Amazon books for $14.95 in paperback or $7.95 on the Kindle.
You can download a free PDF copy of the FOA OSP Fiber Optics Civil Works Guide by Joe Botha here.
You can also purchase a printed copy. Here are details.
Why Columbus? Columbus has been selected as the winner of the $40 million Smart Cities grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation! In addition, Vulcan Inc. has contributed another $10 million to incorporate electric vehicle infrastructure.
Contractors And Installers Take Note - YOU Should Be There Too!
How Long Does It Take To Transfer Data Over Fiber?
Q: Have there been any studies that show how long it takes for data to travel over a fiber cable where the point of origin is 500 miles away vs. a point of origin that is 5000 miles away?
Light in a glass fiber travels at the speed of light (c=299 792 458 meters/s) divided by the index of refraction of the glass (1.4677 @ 1310nm, 1.4682 @ 1550nm). For long distances, 1550nm is used, so the speed of light in the fiber is about 204,190,476 m/s - “about” because of some secondary factors, so let’s say 204,000 km/s.
That’s about 4.9 ns/km or 4.90 ms/1000km from point A to point B.
2. Then the speed will depend on the data speed of the network. Obviously a system at 1Gb/s will take ~10 times longer to transmit a packet of data than a system at 10Gb/s and ~100 times longer than a 100G system. This speed also depends on the protocol of transmission which determines the overhead of transmission. Thus a 1000 byte packet has 8,000 bits and will equal about 10,000 bits with overhead.
To transmit a 1MB file, it requires 1000 packets and will take ~10Mbits of data, equalling 10milliseconds at 1Gb/s, 1millisecond at 10Gb/s, and 0.01 ms (10microsec) at 100Gb/s.
3. Processing time in transceivers and multiplexers. Data is usually processed in parallel but transmitted in serial. The conversion takes some time. Some transceivers also do some pulse shaping which may take time. Then there are transit times to get parallel data transmitted throught amps, lasers, (then the fiber link) to a detector and amps and demultiplexers on the other side.
Q: I’m looking for an inexpensive, but reliable method to quickly and easily identify terminated and unterminated SM and MM fiber, perhaps something similar to a tone and probe used for copper cabling. For example, I found a unterminated coiled fiber cable and would like to use it, but there are several unlabeled, terminated and unterminated fiber cables at the other end. Is there an inexpensive universal tool to simply and easily find the cable/s I’m looking for?
A: Your best bet is a visual fault locator (VFL) but you do not need a bare fiber adapter, just a unterminated connector. You will need to strip the fiber and preferably cleave it, but that can be done off the end of the connector. Just scribe the fiber and pull straight away from the connector. That should give a cleave good enough for using a VFL to trace fibers.
Q: Can a switch or SFP module specified at 1310nm GBIC connect to another switch or SFP that has is specified at 1300nm GBIC?
A: No problem - there is no material difference in 1300nm and 1310nm - it's just jargon. The 1300/1310nm confusion has been part of fiber optics for 30 years. Basically, there is no real difference in the wavelengths except for traditional nomenclature. The nomenclature evolved to this - if you said 1310nm, it was assumed you were talking about lasers, but if you said 1300nm, it was assumed you meant a LED!
Q: Is there a standard color code for the jacketing of a hybrid all optical cable, one that has both single mode and multimode optical fibers in it?
A: No, it has to be spelled out on the cable. We could use a standard however. We know plenty of people who got SM and MM confused in a hybrid cable.
Q: In a fibre system using separate cables for receive and transmit, do the cables need to be the same length. Do the patch leads need to be the same length?
A: The answer is “no” within reason. Duplex signals are asynchronous by design so a small difference should not cause problems. For some protocols, very large differences might be a problem, but certainly not the small differences in fibers in a cable or patch cord variations.
Even in a long OSP loose tube cable, there are variations in the length of fibers, as much as +/-1%, because the fibers are loose in the cable to prevent stress, so at 100km, the difference could be significant. Networks allow for this.
Q: Can I splice OS2 pigtails to OS1 fiber?
There is no problem mixing them in a system because other than the reduction of the water peaks, the fibers are the same and can be joined with no excess loss.
Q: How do I test an inline attenuator (receptacle on one end and connector on the other)?
First measure the output of the source with a cable as the “0dB” reference. Use at least a 2m cable and put a 50mm loop in the cable. Remember you need SC/APC connectors on the cables mating to the attenuator.
Attach the receptacle end of the attenuator to the cable, then use a mating adapter to attach a second cable to the attenuator. Attach the meter to the end of the second cable to measure the loss.
Be sure to put the loop into the cable attached to the source. Be sure your two cables are low loss and everything is very clean.
Q: I inherited some old fiber to characterize. How do I set the IOR in the OTDR?
A: The index of refraction is the spec the OTDR uses to calculate length. If you refer to the data sheets of fiber manufacturers like Corning (https://www.corning.com/media/worldwide/coc/documents/PI1463_07-14_English.pdf) and Prysmian (http://www.prysmiangroup.com/en/business_markets/markets/fibre/downloads/datasheets/SMF---Enhanced-Single-Mode-Optical-Fiber-ESMF.pdf) you will find that G.652 fiber has similar index of refraction among most manufacturers - 1.467 @1310nm, 1.468 at 1550/1625nm. If you do not know what the index of refraction is, using those is probably a very good estimate. Remember the measured length of fiber will be ~1% longer than the cable and you may have ~1% uncertainty in the instrument measuring length.
Q: If a connector is designed for heat cure epoxy adhesive, can I substitute anaerobic adhesive?
A: Any ceramic ferrule connector can be used with either heat-cure epoxy or anaerobic adhesives.
Q: I have been given a job that will require me to cut an existing 6 count cable in two and splice in a new piece. My problem is that this cable was installed in 1987. From what I have been told there is a good possibility that this cable does not follow present day color codes. Rumor has it that this cable has 3 pairs of Red/White fibers. I was wondering if those pairs are separated by a string or what? Otherwise I will be guessing as to what fiber I am working on. Any information you have on this old fiber type would be greatly appreciated.
A: Color coding for optical cables is unpredictable except for the 1-12 color codes adopted from electrical standards.
1. If the renter buys an Ethernet switch, can this switch be directly pugged onto POL’s fiber terminals?
2. Or this L2 should be plugged onto ONT of POL?
A: If I understand the question correctly, you are asking if you can connect a L2 switch with an Ethernet port directly to a OLT. If the OLT uses GPON and does not have Ethernet ports, the answer should be no, GPON and Ethernet are not compatible so the Ethernet switches should be connected to the Ethernet ports on the ONT.
Q: I need a source for estimating the cost of fiber optic cable installations. Direct buried, in PVC pipe, Jetting into existing pipe, etc.
If you are looking for a consultant to do the estimates, I suggest contacting a local contractor, distributor or consultant who can do estimates.
Q: We will be pulling inside of an underground 2" plastic conduit a 144 Strand OSP corrugated armored (coated steel tape) fiber cable Corning 144EUC-T4101D20. The client is asking what we are going to pull along with the fiber to allow - if it is needed in the future- to locate the fiber. Does an additional cable (like tracer wire) need to be pulled if the fiber has already the coated steel tape ?
A: It is very unusual to pull armored cable in conduit - that’s usually a direct-buried cable laid into trenches or plowed in. The heavy weight will make for a lot of friction and may create problems pulling the cable. The armor on the cable should be suitable for later cable location. It’s conductive and would be detectable with many locators.
CI&M magazine has posted an interesting video about how Time Warner Cable installs underground fiber optic cable by directional boring. It's a good look at how directional boring works. Watch it here on CI&M's website.
CI&M Editor also does a good review of alternative cable installation methods in an article on the magazine website. Read it here.
A new 3M drop cable for FTTH has a 90 micron buffered fiber inside to allow more rugged terminations directly on the fiber. It's part of the "ClearTrack System" for easier FTTH installs.
The FOA now has approved programs in place at 200+ organizations, welcoming new additions like the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Corning Cable Systems and AFL and NASA's Goldstone Tracking Station. The complete list of FOA-Approved schools is at http://www.thefoa.org/foa_aprv.htm. | 2019-04-24T23:59:17Z | http://thefoa.org/foanl-9-16.html |
Monday started like any other day, except that I couldn’t log on to my brand new computer. A colleague arrived late for a meeting that she had scheduled just days ago. The sales clerk couldn’t comprehend that I wanted a small coffee not a large chai and words on the page of the report I needed to read, just weren’t sinking in even after the third read! Of course, the dreaded Mercury Retrograde was to blame and would be on the receiving end of this blame until November 10th- the date of my youngest daughter’s milestone 21st birthday. I hope I don’t send the card a week late!
Technological snafus and crashes, misunderstandings, brain fogginess and lack of mental acuity and articulation are some of the cautions when talkative Mercury slows its course. This posting is not going to belabor the miseries of Mercury retrograde. I hope instead to offer a creative and positive way of looking at a space of pressurized expansion of how we think and communicate.
Mercury began its cycle of Retrograde on Monday at 6:29am (EDT). Other than a Saturn Return, the Mercury retrograde can be one of the most frustrating of times primarily, because this planet’s energy is all about communication. The Retrograde period usually occurs 2-3 times per year and lasts approximately 21-28 days and is distinctly marked as a time when communication and their supportive devices come to a screeching halt and misunderstandings are the norm. Let’s begin by taking a look at the scientific definition of a retrograde.
Astronomy 101: What is a Retrograde Motion?
An animation showing the retrograde motion of Mars in summer of 2003.
Astrologically, when a planet changes direction in its normal path of progression through the zodiac, this is called a “station”. The planet’s progress slows down in is orbit until it appears to pause in its motion giving the appearance of moving backwards. The Retrograde Station occurs when the planet begins this slowing down and seeming movement backwards. The Direct Station occurs when the forward motion of the planet begins again. Whatever astrological sign the planet retrogrades in gives added emphasis and more intensity to how the planet expresses its own energy now given a full and prolonged dose of the sign’s own specificities. These highly potent effects can be building or waning (depending on which end of the station you find yourself) for days prior or after. Much like, the concentrated effort needed in slowing down to come to a traffic light, pausing, and then having to carefully and incrementally apply enough gas to reach your top speed again.
If you like it, do it again.
In previous posts I’ve talked a lot about the dynamics of Mercury and how facile this energy is in providing information through varied means of communication and creative style. A Mercury retrograde offers up the opportunity to refine that style and if you slow down with the process rather than fighting against the presumed outcomes you will find there is much to learn about how you communicate. This is a time of amplifying and heightening the awareness of how we move through our daily exchanges and process information. The caution of giving more scrutiny to agreements and contracts provides an opportunity to take the time to really internalize and be sure that you clearly understand the effects of the cause you will be setting into motion. This space of pause and deeper reflection means that there is also greater depth to the amount of change you can exert before you have backed yourself into a less than optimal outcome.
Everyone makes mistakes and finds themselves at the mercy of the consequences of what that mistake created. We also often use circumstances as the reason for not allowing ourselves to fall, fail and start over again with a fresh perspective. Think of the Mercury retrograde as a petri dish in which to cultivate that fresh perspective at an organic level. What we change of our emotional reactions can become informed and insightful responses that affect the way we communicate those responses. Instead of falling prey to the annoyances of delays and miscommunication, allow yourself the pause to be creative in how you choose to respond. Don’t allow the excuse of “oh well, Mercury is retrograde, so….” to enable you in avoiding a growth opportunity. Remember that Mercury is the trickster, but there is also the element of duality to that slyness. Try to view the delays and less than articulate interactions as points of polarities. Each, having their extremes with the goal being to try to stabilize and balance out those extremes so that the smooth flow of communication can begin anew. Remember, Mercury/Hermes was the Messenger of the Gods. What messages are you sending when you don’t slow down and reevaluate.
We live in highly energized times and are largely at the mercy of perceived “time” and most often feel rushed with each decision we make. Even when the message is loud and clear that we need to stop and/or reverse our decision we hesitate, feeling that we are being weak in our communication and ineffectual in our results. The Mercury retrograde allows the space of disengagement from our regular way of doing business.
Slow down a bit from your ordinary frenetic pace. Unplug for a few hours voluntarily (and before the computer crashes or the cell phone loses its signal) and put some space between the compulsive need to instantly react to every new path technology calls you to. You may actually find that you like this new freedom of being unfettered and at the beck and call of technology. Those interruptions of signals of communication that frequently crash or reroute during a Mercury retrograde are metaphors for the disruption of our own communications by relying too heavily on devices to keep us talking and communicating instead of creating our own network of personal interface.
Here’s another thought! The Sun moves into the astrological sign of Scorpio today, October 23rd. Scorpio is a Water sign of the Fixed Modality. The water aspect relates to depths of emotions and the Fixed quality brings a stability and structure to help form a suitable container for their flow. One of Scorpio’s compelling attributes is the quality of taking what is hidden and deeply buried and pulling it up to the surface to be used either in a destructive way or as a positive lesson. The Sun in this sign serves to shine its light to illuminate those dark, dusty corners of mind and heart that like to remain hidden from sight.
With this additional overlay upon Mercury’s retrograde, there is great opportunity to shine this spotlight of strength and courage on what bubbles to the surface about how we connect to others and communicate our needs and wants. We can examine where we may be less than honest with ourselves regarding the agreements we have with ourselves and the effects these have on our communication with others. We can redefine where we rely to heavily on artificial means of communication and how to free up our more inspired and creative mind supported by those hidden talents we’ve kept under wraps. We can also use this energy to push full throttle and see just what we are capable of when we allow the dynamics of Mercury’s full power to exert it creative flow.
So, for better or worse a Mercury Retrograde awakens new ways to problem solve and rewire your communication hard drive. On a practical note, it wouldn’t hurt to back up important files on your computer, make sure important appointment dates are confirmed and carry an extra battery, just in case for anything requiring one.
What I left out is that if you have a retrograde Mercury in your natal chart, many are immune to the “side effects” of this period of time. That heightened sense of awareness about communication skills, goes into overdrive and tends to make the individual more verbose and able to navigate largely unscathed. So, I apologize for the wordiness of this post. I am one of those Retrograde Mercurians!
We’ll conclude our time in the Temple with information about Mercury and Planetary Magick.
This week we will take a look at the expression of Mercury through its attribution on the Qabalistic tree of Life. Mercury is the Planetary energy of the sphere of Hod. In order to fully understand the nature of this sphere you must have a bit of knowledge about the Tree of Life, itself and the other spheres that form the greater whole. Although this may not seem to directly relate to the Temple of Mercury it is an important piece of this dynamic planets energetic signature. The lesson to be gained from this exploration is an affirmation of the flexibility of Mercury’s mind and style of communication. In other words, replace the name of Hod with that of Mercury wherever you see it used!
Applying this overlay of a mystical system that expands and easily maps in accord with its topic of application just as fluidly as Mercury’s movement, opens new doors of experience and interconnectedness found within all of the planetary temples. The inherent wisdom of these energies permeates all levels of understanding, philosophy and teachings. The semantics may differ, but if you have the basics down, you can easily identify Mercury’s (or any of the planets) place in the equation. So, in the spirit of drilling deeper into what Mercury looks like in another of its forms, take a journey into the Tree of Life.
The subject matter of the Qabalah is one that many people do not easily gravitate towards; either deterred by the sheer mass of its scope or feeling that this particular overlay of system has no reference to the purely magickal systems. Although, rooted in the Judaic mystical system the Kabbalah (spelling is Judaic form)/Qabalah (spelling used to distinguish as Western Hermetic overlay) this construct of energy, thought and working is a suitable companion to any magickal and spiritual system. The sheer fact that a statement such as that can be made offers testament to the enduring scope and permanence of its application over a broad and diverse spectrum. Within the Tradition to which I belong, The Assembly of the Sacred Wheel, the principles of the Qabalah are strongly and consistently used throughout all of our covens and the enhancement to the magickal workings and rituals is undeniable and the change evoked through its deeper exploration is palpable among those who incorporate it into their lives.
10 Sephiroth (Spheres) each having their own specific energetic signature and action.
In the beginning there was nothingness- the absence of substance and form (Ain); and as the nothing became aware of itself it also realized the limitlessness nature (Ain Soph) of its being. This realization expanded and with more awareness came the birthing of limitless light (Ain Soph Aur). This limitless light felt the urge to create- and from it emanated Divine Intelligence – Kether. All things needing balance- in its wisdom Kether split and from this source of being the remaining nine (9) spheres became emanations of the varied permutations of Wisdom, Understanding, Mercy, Severity, Beauty, Victory, Glory, Foundation and finally coming to rest in the Kingdom of Earth- Malkuth.
The Planetary ruler of Hod is Mercury, so it is fitting that this sphere is considered the sphere of communication. Within its rationale and reasoning are the tools that may be used in discovering the deeper mystery contained within information. It is through the crystal clarity of pristine thinking that enables better and more efficient means of communicating what knowledge has been extracted. It is also this modality that makes Hod the ideal energetic support for ritual work.
The sphere of Hod is assigned to the element of water; despite the appearance that its should be a sphere of Air given the pure thought, reasoning power and intellect. Simply put this is the action of Water of Air. The watery aspect insures fluidity and movement as well as the eroding and smoothing away of what is presenting obstacle. This is the breath of mind that is carried on the varied and great streams of consciousness that diverge and reunite again as new tributaries and channels are opened. Regardless of the route they all resynthesize and become part of the One as the destination of return to Source is achieved.
Hod is the first sphere on the ascent of the Tree that has multiple paths of connection including the place of sitting at the base of the Pillar of Severity. It is also connected via a Path to Tiphareth (the central sphere of the Tree) to the left of Netzach (the base sphere of the Pillar of Mercy) and reaching upwards out of the Moon sphere of Yesod. Just as the mind and brain have many chambers, corridors and paths contained within, Hod offers many routes of emanation from its core to be opened and awakened as the place where structure, order, categorization, analysis and making sense of it all. Hod also serves as the distributor of what work has been accomplished in the manifest realm of Malkuth and the discernment of Yesod upwards towards its more refined spheres.
The Illusion of Hod is false ego based on faulty knowledge. It is the allowance of what is subjective and personality-filtered information to fill the coffers of our minds disguised as unbiased thought. Furthermore, claiming credit for those brilliant seeds of inspiration when they are nothing more than the over inflated toutings of one craving acknowledgement for being wise, breeds the dishonesty of validation that is not merit based, nor is it sound in its reasoning.
As the time honored thought on this matter goes- true wisdom cannot be found within the knowledge of book learning and course study. True wisdom is what is the result of experiencing at the level of connection to a Higher Consciousness what has been learned through books and study and transforming it into an enlivened part of oneself that cannot be disputed, argued, reasoned away or often even explained to others who have not also had similar experience on the path towards Wisdom.
Many of the modalities we use to establish connection to the greater and lesser worlds, inner and outer worlds are directed through the energy of Mercury as its core component. We desire the ability to understand and comprehend what we perceive by way of information and we act to recreate those moments when we experience clear, palpable and penetrable communication from a Divine source. We evoke and invoke Deity by way of fusing mind and heart with desire and will and establish sacred space through communication of movement, action, intent and the power of the word and breath.
As example, Mindfulness Meditation is an expression of Mercury’s mental prowess. The premise is simple in the goal of simply offering acknowledgement to each thought that presents itself in the continuous stream of consciousness; and by so doing allowing them to flow easily beyond the field of distraction. As simple as the premise is, the difficulty in wrangling the mind to “think” in this highly organized and methodical way is one of determination and dedicated discipline. I think this is Mercury in its pure essence of form. Speed that must be directed in order to slow the cognitive functions in alignment with what the desired product of manifestation hopes to become.
As you move through your day, take a few minutes in the morning, at lunchtime and before bed to check in with your thinking self. Try to be aware of where some of these perceptions and thoughts have originated. Were they the products of interaction with others? Were they the products of you sitting quietly and mindfully “brainstorming” the solution to a problem? Were they the products of inspired reading or did they seem to flow from the muses themselves?
Although we use the faculty of thought regularly throughout the day, the quality and receptivity of that process are often the results of being on autopilot, without much attention to what is actually happening. Try to set aside some time each day (15 minutes is a good starting point) to sit quietly and be fully engaged in what thoughts, ideas and inspirations are moving through you. Write down these ideas. They are often the seeds of a great idea or even potential answers to something that at a subconscious level may have been of concern. By establishing a routine time to simply “be” with your thoughts, you are facilitating a greater opening to the Universal and Cosmic ideology that surrounds us. And, once that connection is made, you are then opening to the Divine.
Next week: Mercury Goes Retrograde on October 21@6:29am (EDT) What does this mean and how to navigate its influence?
The Temple of Mercury posts will be on Wednesdays. I was in error when I attributed Tuesday as the planetary day of Mercury. It is actually Wednesday.
Check back tomorrow and discover the Astrological Mercury!
The Temple of Mercury- What’s up?
That only I can accept.
News and teachings I bring.
Of my flexible and mercurial intellect.
Its honored place in what I share.
Of He who holds the Silver-Tongue.
Welcome to the Temple of Mercury. This month we will be exploring the energies of the planet Mercury and process the information through a variety of esoteric systems. This is the planet of communication, inquiry and dissemination through all creative acts of connection and interaction. In summary, Mercury always wants to know “What’s up?”; and then spread the news received.
Each week during the month we’ll look at this dynamic planet’s energy astrologically, the mythology of its Deity, its application in Lunar and Solar Magick, and through the lens of the Qabalah. And, Mercury will take center stage this month on October 21 when it goes Retrograde, remaining so until November 10th when it returns to its direct motion.
I will be posting on Wednesdays- the planetary day of Mercury. Reading recommendations, poetry and pathworkings will bring this Temple to life and your understanding of its energy will deepen your understanding of communication in all of its forms.
So, to begin, read through the poem at the beginning of this post again. Let the words create the images of your understanding. Breathe deeply into these images, open your mind and your heart and step into the Temple of Mercury. | 2019-04-21T04:42:26Z | https://templeofthecosmicspheres.com/2013/10/ |
The box jellyfish, Chironex fleckeri, is the largest and most dangerous cubozoan jellyfish to humans. It produces potent and rapid-acting venom and its sting causes severe localized and systemic effects that are potentially life-threatening. In this study, a combined transcriptomic and proteomic approach was used to identify C. fleckeri proteins that elicit toxic effects in envenoming.
More than 40,000,000 Illumina reads were used to de novo assemble ∼ 34,000 contiguous cDNA sequences and ∼ 20,000 proteins were predicted based on homology searches, protein motifs, gene ontology and biological pathway mapping. More than 170 potential toxin proteins were identified from the transcriptome on the basis of homology to known toxins in publicly available sequence databases. MS/MS analysis of C. fleckeri venom identified over 250 proteins, including a subset of the toxins predicted from analysis of the transcriptome. Potential toxins identified using MS/MS included metalloproteinases, an alpha-macroglobulin domain containing protein, two CRISP proteins and a turripeptide-like protease inhibitor. Nine novel examples of a taxonomically restricted family of potent cnidarian pore-forming toxins were also identified. Members of this toxin family are potently haemolytic and cause pain, inflammation, dermonecrosis, cardiovascular collapse and death in experimental animals, suggesting that these toxins are responsible for many of the symptoms of C. fleckeri envenomation.
This study provides the first overview of a box jellyfish transcriptome which, coupled with venom proteomics data, enhances our current understanding of box jellyfish venom composition and the molecular structure and function of cnidarian toxins. The generated data represent a useful resource to guide future comparative studies, novel protein/peptide discovery and the development of more effective treatments for jellyfish stings in humans. (Length: 300).
Box jellyfish (Class Cubozoa) produce venoms that are designed to swiftly incapacitate prey and deter predators, but they also cause adverse effects in envenomed humans. Cubozoan venoms are stored within complex intracellular structures (nematocysts) that are housed within specialized cells (nematocytes) located mainly in the tentacles of the jellyfish. When triggered to discharge, each nematocyst explosively releases a harpoon-like tubule that injects a toxic cocktail of venom components into the victim or prey.
Chironex fleckeri is the largest and most venomous box jellyfish species. It inhabits the tropical coastal waters of Australia and is renowned for its ability to inflict extremely painful and potentially life threatening stings to humans. Symptoms of C. fleckeri envenoming can include the rapid onset of severe cutaneous pain and inflammation, dermonecrosis, dyspnoea, transient hypertension, hypotension, cardiovascular collapse and cardiac arrest (reviewed in ). Due to its clinical importance, C. fleckeri has remained one of the most intensively researched box jellyfish species. Over five decades of research on whole or fractionated C. fleckeri tentacle extracts and nematocyst-derived venom has established that C. fleckeri toxins elicit a diverse range of bioactivities including nociception, in vitro cytotoxicity in cultured myocytes (cardiac, skeletal and smooth muscle) and hepatocytes, haemolytic activity and pore formation in mammalian cell membranes, neurotoxicity and myotoxicity in nerve and muscle preparations, and in vivo dermonecrotic, cardiovascular and lethal effects in a variety of experimental animals [1-5].
In recent studies, the potent in vitro haemolytic and in vivo cardiovascular activities of C. fleckeri venom have been attributed primarily to the action of a subset of C. fleckeri toxins (CfTXs) that are members of a taxonomically restricted family of cnidarian pore-forming toxins [2,5]. A single proteomics study of C. fleckeri venom revealed that several isoforms of the CfTXs are highly abundant in the venom proteome , but due to the lack of genomic and transcriptomic data for cubozoans, few other potential toxins were identified . However, the diversity of biological activities associated with C. fleckeri venom and the complexity of its venom composition, suggest that other biologically important venom components are yet to be identified. These novel cubozoan venoms could represent a source of potentially useful bioactive compounds for the development of novel therapeutics.
Advances in computational techniques for the assembly and annotation of sequence data have enabled the rapid characterization of biologically important protein mixtures from a range of organisms [7,8]. In this work we utilized Illumina sequencing in concert with tandem mass spectroscopy (MS/MS) to conduct a large-scale exploration of the transcriptome and venom proteome of C. fleckeri. The newly obtained transcriptomic data facilitated the detection of several new CfTX isoforms and other putative toxin families, including metalloproteinases, that have not been previously identified in cubozoan venoms. This study not only provides extensive information on the molecular diversity of toxins in C. fleckeri venom, but also provides the first overview of a box jellyfish transcriptome; thus representing a valuable resource for future comparative genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic studies or novel protein/peptide discovery.
Total RNA, purified from whole C. fleckeri tentacle tissue, was used to generate 43,150,858 paired reads using the Illumina platform. These reads were then de novo assembled, using Oases , into 34,438 transcripts that are summarized in Table 1. Approximately 56% (13,052,970) of the raw reads could be mapped back to the final assembly with a mean depth of coverage of 338.47 ± 6069.16 reads per sequence, although a proportion of assembled transcripts exhibited low read support (Figure 1A). Due to the limited number of cubozoan sequences available in protein databases, transcripts were searched against four databases using blastx — SwissProt, Cnidaria protein sequences from the GenBank non-redundant protein database and predicted protein sets from the Hydra magnipapillata and Nematostella vectensis genome projects. Approximately 40% of the sequences returned a high-scoring (e-value < = 10e-5) match to at least one of the databases (Table 1) and final annotations were assigned based on the match possessing the best bit score. A comparison of bit scores obtained from searches against protein databases from the model cnidarian organisms H. magnipapillata and N. vectensis suggested that, in general, C. fleckeri protein products were more similar to the former than the latter (Additional file 1: Figure S1). ESTScan, using a matrix constructed from annotated cnidarian sequences from the EMBL and GenBank databases, was used to identify 20,548 transcripts containing 20,562 predicted protein sequences that were used in MS/MS experiments. Of the remaining 13,890 transcripts not found to contain an open reading frame, only 1,587 had high scoring BLAST hits to proteins in one of the five databases used.
Summary of C. fleckeri assembly. A. The coverage of assembled transcripts after mapping of raw sequences back to the assembly using RSEM; B. The transcript length distribution; C. The distribution of the ratio of BLAST query length to BLAST hit length for transcripts when searched against a H. magnipapillata EST database using blastn. The EST database was obtained from Metazome (http://www.metazome.net/) and generated as part of the H. magnipapillata genome project; and D. Distribution of BLAST query length to hit length ratios for C. fleckeri predicted proteins searched against the SwissProt database using blastp.
The average length of assembled transcripts was 1056 ± 1359 bases (Figure 1B) with an N50 of 2123. To evaluate whether full-length sequences were present in the assembly, the length of transcripts with significant BLAST hits (e < = 10e-5) were compared to the length of their top BLAST hit. At the transcript level, sequences were compared to H. magnipapillata EST sequences using blastn and 63% of assembled transcripts were at least 80% the length of the BLAST hit (Figure 1C). At the protein level, the predicted protein set were compared to the SwissProt database using blastp and 54% of the proteins were at least 80% the length of the top hit (Figure 1D). Similarly, to estimate to what extent the actual transcriptome of C. fleckeri was covered by the assembled transcriptome, CEGMA was used to identify core eukaryotic proteins. Approximately, 77% of the core CEGMA protein set was represented by full length transcripts (defined as > 90% cover) and 80% by partial transcripts (<= 90%) (Table 1). Predicted functions for proteins encoded by the assembled transcripts were assigned using InterProScan and are summarized in Table 1, Additional files 2 and 3. Using SignalP and TMHMM , approximately 2% (930) of the ESTScan predicted proteins contained signal sequences and 1,332 were predicted to contain two or more transmembrane domains.
To identify potential C. fleckeri toxins, assembled transcripts were compared to the UniProt animal toxin database using blastx. Four hundred and fifty-five transcripts (1%) provided high-scoring BLAST hits (bit score > 50). These potential toxins were further filtered: (1) those possessing a higher scoring BLAST hit (bit score) to a protein from a non-toxin protein family from the GenBank cnidarian database search (described above) were removed; and (2) proteins containing two or more transmembrane helices, as predicted by TMHMM, were removed. After filtering, 179 transcripts remained as putative C. fleckeri venom proteins (Additional file 4: Table S2), representing 10 venom protein families (Figures 2 and 3). Metalloproteinases, major constituents of spider venoms , were the most highly represented grouping with 45 different isoforms identified. Representatives of other toxin families included various proteases and protease inhibitors, lectins, lipases, CRISP venom proteins and two families of snake venom proteins — an alpha-macroglobulin-containing protein family with homologies to human complement protein C3 and toxins with homologies to human coagulation Factors X and V [16,17]. One hundred and eleven transcripts provided high-scoring BLAST matches to two other venom protein families; spider venom latrotoxins and snake venom calglandulins. However, in both cases these transcripts also provided high-scoring matches to non-venom proteins in GenBank, contained domains that were not specific to toxin proteins and did not contain a signal sequence; all of which suggest a role distinct from envenomation.
Potential toxin encoding transcripts identified in the transcriptome of C. fleckeri. A. The ten most abundant (by FPKM) transcripts encoding potential toxin proteins; B. Number of different transcripts in the assembly encoding potential toxin proteins from the ten toxin families identified in the transcriptome. In both A. and B. potential toxins were identified after screening against the SwissProt animal toxin database.
Domain structure of C. fleckeri transcripts encoding potential toxin proteins. Using InterProScan, the domain structure of potential C. fleckeri toxins were compared to their respective top scoring BLAST hit from the SwissProt animal toxin database. In three cases the domain structure of potential toxins was the same as those identified from the database but in the other cases different domain structures suggest functional divergence.
InterProScan was used to compare the domain structure of putative C. fleckeri venom proteins to representative examples identified during BLAST searches. Putative venom proteins from the alpha-2-macroglobulin, CRISP and lysosomal acid lipases families exhibited the same domain structure as found in characterized venom proteins (Figure 3). Metalloproteinases, and the two examples of coagulation factor-like proteins, exhibited different domain structures. For example, a C. fleckeri coagulation factor V homolog contained a C-terminal coagulation factor 5/8 domain at the N-terminus of the protein with four fibronectin domains whereas the snake venom toxin contained six cupredoxin domains followed by the C-terminal coagulation 5/8 domain (Figure 3). Abundance of putative toxin proteins was assessed using the FPKM and a peroxiredoxin isoform (75536) and an astacin-like metalloproteinase isoform (71187) were the two most abundant toxin transcripts. Also abundant were other astacin-like metalloproteinases, three alpha-macroglobulin-containing snake venom proteins and four snake venom factors (Figure 2B).
Molecular studies of jellyfish venom have gradually revealed the existence of a novel, cnidarian toxin family [18-23]. In C. fleckeri characterized members of this family include CfTX-1, −2, −A and -B, all of which are abundantly present in the venom of C. fleckeri . In this work, 15 CfTX isoforms were identified, including CfTX-A, −B, −1 and −2. Three novel CfTX proteins were identified as full length transcripts, a protein with homologies to TX-1 from the scyphozoan jellyfish Aurelia aurita (id 32640), a protein similar to CfTX-A (id 37616) and a truncated protein similar to CfTX-2 (id 32230). Partial sequences for nine other toxin proteins were identified in the assembly, including two CfTX-1-like toxins, five CfTX-2-like toxins and two toxins similar to CqTX-A from the box jellyfish Chironex yamaguchii (Table 1 and Suppl. Data 2). A truncated form of CfTX-B has been reported, CfTX-Bt , and although this transcript was not identified in the assembly a similarly truncated form of CfTX-1 was identified (10226). The latter contained a signal sequence and a domain similar to the N-terminal domain of CfTX-1.
To confirm which putative toxin proteins were present in C. fleckeri venom, MS/MS was used to identify proteins from nematocyst-derived protein preparations. Total protein from two nematocyst preparations, each containing morphologically distinct classes of nematocyst, were analyzed using MS/MS; (1) a preparation containing predominantly mastigophores, nematocysts believed to hold the lethal venom components ; and (2) a preparation enriched in isorhizas, thought to have a non-penetrative role in entangling prey , and trirhopaloids, penetrative nematocysts with an undetermined role in envenomation. Nematocyst preparations were fractionated using SDS-PAGE and proteins identified using MS/MS and searches against the predicted protein set from the transcriptome (Figure 4). In addition, existing MS/MS data sets, generated during our previous studies of C. fleckeri venom , were reanalyzed using the new transcriptomic data. These data sets included duplicate in-gel digests of SDS-PAGE-fractionated venom proteins from total nematocyst preparations and duplicate peptide OFFGEL™ electrophoresis experiments of the same samples (Figure 5A).
Light microscopy of nematocysts used in proteomic analysis and SDS-PAGE gels of venom proteins. Two nematocyst preparations were analyzed; a preparation containing predominantly mastigophores (right) and a preparation enriched in isorhizas and trirhopaloids (left). Different morphological types are indicated (magnification 200x). Extracts of the nematocyst preparations were fractionated using SDS-PAGE (bottom) and proteins identified using tandem mass spectrometry. Forty-one gel slices were excised from each lane, as indicated by the aligned metal grid (right). Selected gel slices corresponding to major protein bands are indicated on the gel. Where a protein band was divided between two gel slices, an asterisk denotes the gel slice containing the majority of that protein.
MS/MS analysis of C. fleckeri venom. A. Venn diagram showing the numbers of potential toxin proteins identified in each MS/MS experiment. Abbreviations used, Mast. — nematocyst sample containing predominantly mastigophores; Iso. — nematocyst sample containing predominantly isorhizas and trirhopaloids; Total (IG) — total nematocyst sample fractionated using SDS-PAGE; and Total (OG) — total nematocyst sample fractionated using peptide OFFGEL electrophoresis; B. Venn diagram showing overlap in significant peptide identifications in three additional databases searches using MS/MS data. The databases depicted are 1.) Oases — predicted protein dataset from Oases assembly; 2.) Trinity — predicted dataset Trinity assembly; 3.) Cnidaria — all cnidarian proteins from the GenBank non-redundant protein database; and 4.) SwissProt — the Uniprot SwissProt database; C. Proteins identified in the venom using MS/MS that had been previously identified as potential toxins during the analysis of the transcriptome; D. GO terms associated with proteins identified in the venom of C. fleckeri using MS/MS.
More than 507,945 spectra from in-gel digests and OFFGEL™ experiments were used in X! Tandem searches of the predicted proteins. Across all experiments, 263 proteins were identified and these were categorized into eight functional groupings (Additional file 5: Table S3). Proteins identified included 26 of the putative toxins identified in transcriptomic analysis (Additional file 5: Table S3). In addition to toxins, structural proteins were highly represented (57 proteins) as well as 84 proteins from diverse functional families that were grouped into the ’Miscellaneous’ category. Twenty-three uncharacterized proteins were identified, ten of which were identified by five or more unique peptides and/or were identified in at least two of the four experiments (Additional file 5: Table S3). The relatively high spectral counts and reproducible identification of these proteins suggests that they are jellyfish-specific proteins and thus are potential novel constituents, toxin or otherwise, of the venom proteome. To increase the completeness of the proteomic analysis and to account for deficiencies in the Oasis assembly, we conducted X! Tandem searches against three other protein databases; (1) ESTScan predictions from a transcriptome assembled from the same reads using Trinity ; (2) all Cnidaria proteins from the GenBank non-redundant protein database; and (3) the complete SwissProt database. Figure 5B shows the global comparison of peptide identifications from the four databases. Each database search added a set of unique protein identifications and, using sequence based comparisons (blastp evalue < = 0.00005 and hsp percent identity > =90%) 168 additional proteins were added to the proteome; 25 from Trinity ORFs, 31 from the Cnidaria protein database and 112 from the SwissProt database, most of which were common contaminants of proteomic experiments (Figure 5B); Additional file 6: Table S4). Apart from one identification of CfTX-1, corresponding to the full length sequence of the partial sequence assembled using Oases, no additional toxin proteins were identified.
‘Molecular Function’ and ‘Biological Process’ GO terms highly represented among the identified proteins included, “oxidation-reduction”, “protein binding”, “proteolysis” and “ATP binding” (Figure 5D). Based on SignalP and TMHMM analysis, 46 proteins were inferred to contain a classical secretory signal peptide, with the ‘Toxins’ and ‘Uncharacterized’ functional groupings containing the greatest proportion of secreted proteins (36% and 39% respectively). Only eight proteins were predicted to contain more than two trans-membrane domains. Cellular location was further analyzed using PSort ; approximately 43% of the identified proteins were predicted to be cytoplasmic and 19% extracellular in origin, with the remainder originating from the mitochondria, cytoskeleton, nucleus and endoplasmic reticulum. The ‘Toxins’ functional grouping had the highest proportion of extracellular proteins (54%) (Additional file 5: Table S3).
Twenty-six putative toxin proteins were identified in the venom of C. fleckeri using MS/MS (Figure 5C) and all had been previously identified as putative toxins during analysis of the transcriptome. The majority of these toxins were members of the CfTX toxin family with 13 of the 15 isoforms identified in the transcriptome also identified using MS/MS. Five CfTX proteins (CfTX-1, −2, −A, −B and -Bt) have been previously characterized and all but one, CfTX-Bt, were identified here. CfTX-Bt, which has high sequence homology to CfTX-B but is distinguished by C-terminal truncation was not identified, most likely due to its homology to CfTX-B, which was identified. Of the nine uncharacterized CfTX proteins identified in the MS/MS data, seven showed greatest homology (i.e. highest BLAST score) to the characterized C. fleckeri toxin proteins and two showed the greatest similarity to characterized toxins of the same family; CaTX-A from the cubozoan Chironex yamaguchii and TX-1 from the scyphozoan A. aurita. The 13 other putative toxins identified included seven proteases, four of which were metalloproteinases, an alpha-macroglobulin domain containing protein, two peroxiredoxin toxins, two CRISP proteins and a turripeptide-like protease inhibitor (Figure 5C). Although not annotated as toxins, a further 12 proteases, including carboxypeptidases, endothelin-converting enzymes and two collagenases were identified (Additional file 5: Table S3). In total four different nematocyst preparations were analyzed, and toxins were reproducibly identified with 79% of the toxins detected in at least two of the five experiments (Figure 5A). The toxin content of the two different nematocyst preparations was similar with 15 toxin proteins identified in the mastigophore preparation and 20 in the isorhiza and trirhopaloid nematocysts.
The venom proteome of three other cnidarians were recently characterized: the anthozoan sea anenome Anemonia viridis, the schyphozoan jellyfish Aurelia aurita and the hydrozoan Hydra magnipapillata . To place the cnidarian venom proteome described here in this context we compared the venom proteome of all four species. Using blastp, proteins from these organisms with significant (e-value < 10e−5) homology to C. fleckeri venom proteins were identified and functionally categorized. C. fleckeri proteins most commonly found in the venom proteome of the other cnidarians were predominantly structural or were classed as miscellaneous (Figure 6A). Overall, A. aurita had the most shared proteins, followed by H. magnipapillata and A. viridis (Figure 6A). To compare the toxin repertoire of the four cnidarians the same analysis was conducted for putative toxins identified in the C. fleckeri proteome. Both H. magnipapillata and A. aurita possessed similar classes of putative toxins as identified in C. fleckeri. This included CfTX-like proteins that were well represented in all three organisms (Figure 6B). Conversely, few toxin proteins were identified in both A. viridis and C. fleckeri and no CfTX-like proteins were identified in the former (Figure 6B). As previously reported for H. magnipapillata, A. aurita and A. viridis , very few proteins (13) were identified in all four species (Figure 6C). A phylogenetic tree of CfTX and CfTX-like proteins showed three main groupings of the toxin proteins, represented by CfTX-A and -B, CfTX-1 and −2, and a third group represented predominantly by toxins from Hydra species (Figure 7).
Comparison of cnidarian venom proteomes. A. Proteins from the C. fleckeri proteome with corresponding proteins in H. magnipapillata, A. aurita and A. viridis by functional category; B. Potential toxins from C. fleckeri with corresponding proteins in the same species; C. Venn diagram depicting the overlap in proteins identified in the proteomes of four cnidarian species.
Phylogenetic tree of characterized CfTX toxin proteins. Phylogenetic tree depicting the grouping of CfTX-like proteins in cnidaria. Proteins names and accessions are shown. Proteins identified in this study are depicted with an asterisk and those from with a double asterisk. The tree was produced using MUSCLE and PhyML for tree building and the aLRT statistical test was used for branch support.
The primary aim of this study was to identify protein toxins responsible for the severe effects of C. fleckeri stings in humans. It has been previously noted that the great diversity in animal toxin function has evolved from a limited number of protein families , thus we used sequence homology to known animal toxins, from the UniProt animal toxin database, as a strategy for the identification of potential toxins from the transcriptome of C. fleckeri. We then confirmed the existence of a subset of these proteins in the venom proteome using MS/MS. In the absence of a reference genome, we generated a de novo assembly using a methodology designed to maximize reference coverage while minimizing redundancy and chimera rate . CEGMA analysis suggested a reasonable coverage of the transcriptome was achieved using this approach, although a proportion of sequences (37% of transcripts and 46% of predicted proteins) (Figure 1C and D) did not represent at least 80% of their highest scoring blast hit, suggesting that further sequencing is required to fully characterize the transcriptome. Despite this caveat, the final assembly provided a sufficient quantity of full- and partial-length transcripts for the identification of major toxin families present in the transcriptome and for the generation of a set of predicted proteins suitable for use in proteomics searches. These searches revealed the presence of proteins with homology to at least ten known toxin families including metalloproteinases, protease inhibitors, alpha-macroglobulins and CfTX proteins. Although screening for known toxin families will not reveal the presence of novel jellyfish-specific toxins, identification of metalloproteinases, CfTX proteins and protease inhibitors in the proteomic analysis suggests that some of the protein toxin families present in C. fleckeri venom have been identified using this strategy.
The de novo assembly of short read Illumina data is still a challenge. In this work, 44% of the short reads did not map back to the assembly and, despite a mean coverage of 332 reads per transcript, a subset of transcripts had poor read support (Figure 1B), suggesting that that a complete description of the assembly has not been achieved. This not only reflects the inherent challenges in the de novo assembly of transcriptomes from short reads, including variations in transcript expression, sequence biases from next generation sequencing, alternative splicing and overlapping genes, but also the quality control strategies employed during assembly, including the methodology adopted from and the clustering of transcripts after assembly. To identify and remedy potential gaps in our assembly we conducted proteomic searches against multiple protein databases, and these searches provided 168 additional protein identifications over the searches against the Oases assembly alone. These included nematocyst proteins, such as nematogalectins, dickkopf-related proteins and endothelin-converting enzymes (Additional file 6: Table S4), previously shown to be abundant in venom preparations , suggesting that this approach provided better proteome coverage than would have been achieved using the Oases assembly alone.
Our comparison of the C. fleckeri venom proteome with those of H. magnipapillata and A. aurita shows that they have a functionally similar toxin repertoire, dominated by cytolysins and proteases. This is in contrast to the venom of the anthozoan A. viridis, which is rich in low molecular weight neurotoxins that are not typically found in medusozoans . The proteomic characterization the venom of another scyphozoan, Stomolophus meleagris , was broadly similar to the three medusozoans compared in this study. In this organism serine proteases and phospholipases were the most abundant classes of toxins followed by proteins containing a ShK toxin domain and a number of other haemolysins. Although we did not identify any phospholipases or ShK-domain containing proteins in the proteome of C. fleckeri, several types of both proteins were identified in its transcriptome. In both organisms metalloproteinases, lectins and serine protease inhibitors where identified in the venom proteome and are potential toxin proteins.
In C. fleckeri, the CfTX proteins have undergone an expansion with fifteen examples identified in the transcriptome and thirteen in the venom proteome. Members of this toxin family are potently haemolytic and cause pain, inflammation, dermonecrosis, cardiovascular collapse and death in experimental animals [2,5,18-21,23], suggesting that these toxins are responsible for many of the symptoms of box jellyfish envenomation. While these toxins are highly abundant in cubozoan venoms [19-22], their distribution among other medusozoans appears to be less uniform. For example, CfTX-like toxins have been identified in the venoms of A. aurita, C. capillata and H. magnipapillata [27,31] but not in the venoms of S. meleagris or the hydrozoan Olindias sambaquiensis . Their abundance in C. fleckeri, and related cubozoans [19-22] and the relatively few reports from Class Scyphozoa could explain why cubozoan stings are generally more severe than those of scyphozoan species. Alternatively, phylogenetic analysis of the CfTXs shows that the toxins fall into two main groups: a clade of mainly hydrozoan toxins and a clade of predominantly cubozoan toxins that branches into two smaller subclades (Figure 7). Examples from the scyphozoan A. aurita are present in the Hydra clade and one of the Cubozoa subclades. This pattern suggests that the toxins have undergone functional and structural diversification during evolution that could be associated with differences in the toxicity of various jellyfish species .
Identifying potential toxins from sequence homology is complicated by the evolutionary history of some toxins that evolved from proteins with roles unrelated to envenoming. This is particularly acute when, as in this study, RNA from the entire tentacle is used to generate an assembly that includes transcripts from tissue not specifically involved in envenomation. Even proteins identified in the venom proteome could be involved in biological processes unrelated to envenomation. For example, in Hydractinia echinata, on the basis of phylogenetic and in situ hybridization experiments, astacin metalloproteinases have been implicated in development , although a function in digestion has also been proposed . Similarly, it has been proposed that peroxiredoxins in snake venom eliminate peroxides generated during metabolism and thus maintain redox homeostasis . Therefore the two peroxiredoxins identified in C. fleckeri could play a similar role, as is the case in the scyphozoan jellyfish Cyanea capillata . Conversely, proteins not designated as potential toxins at the transcript level, were identified in the proteome and could be toxins. This included thirteen additional proteases and a number of uncharacterized proteins with very high spectral support (Additional file 5: Table S3). As members of the venom proteome, all of these proteins are presumably transferred during a sting and could thus contribute to the symptoms of envenoming. However, an exact determination of their biological role in inducing the symptoms of envenomation now awaits further experimental validation.
Mastigophores are thought to contain the lethal protein components of C. fleckeri venom , while isorhizas are considered non-penetrative with adhesive or entanglement functions and could thus possess a different toxin profile. In this work, however, there was little difference in the toxin content of the two nematocyst preparations. This heterogeneity could be a result of incomplete segregation of the different nematocyst classes during sample preparation (see Figure 4 for example), that the penetrative trirhopaloid nematocysts contain similar toxins as the mastigophores or that the toxin proteins are present in all forms of nematocysts, regardless of penetrative ability. A more stringent approach, for example a quantitative proteomics study, would be required to accurately determine the type and relative abundance of toxins that are present in each nematocyst class.
Other protein classes highly represented in the proteome of C. fleckeri included structural, ribosomal and oxido-reductive proteins as well as proteins of diverse function that were grouped into a ‘miscellaneous’ category. The identification of structural proteins may reflect the way that the venom was purified from the intact nematocysts. DTT, a strong reducing agent, was used to partially disintegrate the nematocyst capsule and cause venom release, so it is likely that a proportion of capsular components and other structural proteins were also solubilized during this process. On the other hand, the identification of ribosomal, oxido-reductive and the ‘miscellaneous’ proteins are likely a result of the manner in which nematocysts are formed. A nematocyst is formed within a large post-Golgi vesicle and some proteins are likely to be incorporated into the venom as a consequence of their presence during nematocyst formation. The relative abundance of these proteins, along with the structural proteins that are liberated from the nematocyst capsule during venom extraction, can mask the presence of lower abundance proteins that may be active at nanomolar concentrations (for example some snake venom serine proteases ). Hence, it is possible that low-abundance toxins, that could contribute to the symptoms of envenoming were not identified in the MS/MS experiments. This is supported by single peptide identifications (not reported here), which included known nematocyst proteins and potential toxins such as nematoblast-specific protein nb035-sv3 and lectoxin. These single peptide identifications suggest that the reliable identification of lower abundance proteins will expand the catalogue of known C. fleckeri toxins. Experiments are currently underway to identify these low-abundance toxins by improving methods of venom purification to decrease the proportion of structural proteins in the purified venom and by improving the fractionation of toxins before tandem MS/MS.
C. fleckeri produces one of the most potent venoms known to man but its protein composition is poorly understood compared to those of other well characterized animals, such as snakes, scorpions and spiders. This work presents the first transcriptome from a cubozoan jellyfish from which the venom proteome has been refined. This work provides the basis for a range of studies aimed at 1.) improving medical responses to envenoming; 2.) exploring the potential of these toxins as a source of novel bioactive compounds; and 3.) conducting comparative proteomic and transcriptomic studies of other cubozoan jellyfish of medical importance, such as the Irukandji.
Jellyfish were captured at Balgal Beach and Weipa (Queensland, Australia) by the Queensland Surf Life Saving Association and Christopher Mooney (James Cook University). No specific permits were required for the described field studies. No specific permissions were required as the animals collected are not protected and were collected from marine environments that are not protected or privately owned. C. fleckeri is not an endangered or protected species.
Tentacles were excised and immediately preserved in RNAlater (Life Technologies). Total RNA was isolated from the C. fleckeri tentacles of a single specimen using a handheld rotor-stator homogenizer (QIAgen) and TRIzol (Life Technologies), according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The RNA was DNAse-treated, purified using a Nucleospin RNA II kit (Macherey-Nagel) and eluted in nuclease-free water. RNA purity, concentration and integrity were evaluated using a NanoDrop 2000 UV–vis spectrophotometer and an Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer with a RNA 6000 Pico kit. Purified RNA (5 μg; RIN 9.1) was submitted to the Ramaciotti Centre for Genomics (Sydney, Australia) for RNA-seq library construction and 100 bp paired-end sequencing on an Illumina HiSeq2000 sequencer. RNA sequence data have been submitted to the Sequence Read Archive (National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD) under accession number PRJNA276493.
Adapter sequences and low quality (Phred score < 32) bases were clipped from 100 bp paired-end sequences using Trimmomatic and reads less than 75 bases were discarded. Initial quality assessment was performed using FastQC (http://www.bioinformatics.babraham.ac.uk/projects/fastqc/). To ensure a high quality assembly and to reduce the number of chimeric contigs, multiple assemblies using different k-mer values were generated as described . Briefly, reads remaining after quality control were used to construct de Bruijn-graphs with k-mer values of 21, 31, 41, 51 and 61 using Oases v.0.2.09 . Transcripts less than 0.3 in length of the longest transcripts in the same locus were then filtered and transcripts from k = 21, 31, 41, 51 were accepted if there was either 1 or 3 transcripts per locus. No limit was applied for transcripts per locus at k = 61. Redundancy was removed from the final collection of transcripts using CD-EST with the sequence identity cut-off set to 0.98 (−c 0.98 -n 10 -r 1). For a comparison to the Oases assembly another assembly was generated using Trinity . This assembly used the same raw reads as the Oases assembly and was constructed using the default parameters. To obtain relative abundance estimates the program RSEM was used with the non-redundant sequences. Using RSEM, raw reads were mapped to a reference database generated from the assembled transcripts and maximum likelihood abundance estimates were obtained using the Expectation-Maximization algorithm as a statistical model. Final abundance estimates were calculated as Fragments Per Kilobase of exon per Million fragments mapped (FPKM).
Oases assembled transcripts were then compared (using tBLASTx and BLASTx; e-value threshold of < 10e-5) to sequences available in public databases. Sequences were compared to (1) Swiss-Prot (as of the 1st of Oct. 2013), (2) Cnidaria protein sequences from the GenBank non-redundant protein database; (3) and the complete genomes and transcriptomic data sets of Hydra magnipapillata and Nematostella vectensis from Metazome (http://www.metazome.net/). The bit scores from the highest scoring match from each database were then compared and a final annotation assigned based on the match with the highest bit score. Transcripts encoding potential toxin proteins were identified using BLASTx against the UniProt animal toxin database (http://www.uniprot.org/program/Toxins) and those with a high-scoring match (bit score > 50) that did not have a better scoring match from the GenBank cnidarian protein database to a non-toxin protein family were designated as a potential toxin. For protein sequence prediction, the program ESTScan was used to distinguish coding from non-coding sequence. ESTScan uses Hidden Markov Models to detect hexanucleotide biases in coding sequence, so prior to analysis, established methods were used to construct a scoring matrix from 26,484 annotated Cnidarian mRNA sequences from the RefSeq (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/refseq/) and EBI (http://www.ebi.ac.uk/ena/) databases . Sequences not providing a predicted coding sequence using ESTScan but which provided a BLAST hit with an e-value less than 10e-5 were translated in the appropriate reading frame and added to the predicted protein set. The final set of protein sequences were analyzed with InterProScan using the default search parameters. Based on their homology to conserved domains and protein families, proteins were assigned parental (i.e., level 2) gene ontology (GO) terms (i.e., ‘biological process’, ‘cellular component’ and ‘molecular function’) (http://www.geneontology.org/) . Inferred proteins with homologues in other organisms were mapped to conserved biological pathways utilizing the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) Orthology-Based Annotation System v.2 (= KOBAS2) . Signal peptides were predicted using the program SignalP 4.0 , employing the neural network and hidden Markov models and transmembrane domains were inferred using the program TMHMM (http://www.cbs.dtu.dk/services/TMHMM/).
Nematocysts were isolated from excised tentacles as previously described , except the nematocysts were not lyophilised. Nematocysts were purified from tentacle debris by centrifugation (300 x g, 1 h, 4°C) in a discontinuous gradient of Percoll (Sigma) comprising three layers of 100%, 90% and 30% Percoll, with 35 g/L NaCl as the diluent. Nematocysts were recovered from the 30-90% boundary, washed repeatedly in 35 g/L NaCl and resuspended in 35 g/L NaCl. The integrity of the undischarged nematocysts was verified using an Axioskop2 mot plus light microscope (Zeiss). A subsample of nematocysts was allowed to settle (2-3 h, 4°C). The supernatant containing lower density nematocysts was transferred to another tube and re-examined microscopically.
Venom was prepared from Percoll-cleaned nematocysts as previously described . Briefly, nematocysts were washed in low salt buffer, resuspended 1:6 (wet w/v) in reducing SDS-sample buffer containing diothiothreitol (DTT) and incubated at room temperature until ≥90% nematocyst discharge was observed microscopically. Capsular debris was removed by centrifugation (16 k x g, 10 min, 4°C). Supernatants were transferred to clean tubes and heated (95°C, 5 min). Duplicate samples (8 μl) were each applied to a single well of a 15% SDS-PAGE gel and electrophoresis performed according to Laemmli . Proteins were stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue R-250 staining solution (Bio-Rad) and each sample lane was cut into 41 gel slices using a 1.5 mm x 5 mm GridCutter (Gel Company). The gel slices were then destained twice in 200 μl of 50% acetonitrile, 200 mM ammonium bicarbonate for 45 min at 37°C, desiccated using a vacuum centrifuge and then resuspended in 20 mM DTT, 25 mM ammonium bicarbonate and reduced for 1 h at 65°C. DTT was then removed, and the samples were alkylated in 50 mM iodoacetamide and 25 mM ammonium bicarbonate at 37°C in darkness for 40 min. Gel slices were washed three times for 45 min in 25 mM ammonium bicarbonate and then desiccated. Individual dried slices were then allowed to swell in 20 μl of 40 mM ammonium bicarbonate, 10% acetonitrile containing 20 μg/ml trypsin (Sigma) for 1 h at room temperature. An additional 50 μl of the same solution was added and the samples were incubated overnight at 37°C. The supernatants were removed from the gel slices, and residual peptides were washed from the slices by incubating them three times in 50 μl of 0.1% formic acid for 45 min at 37°C. The original supernatant and washes were combined and reduced to 10 μl in a vacuum centrifuge before mass spectral analysis.
Tryptic fragments from in-gel digests were separated chromatographically by a Eksigent cHiPLCTM-nanoflex system using a 15 cm long chromXP C18-CL column (particle size 3 μm, 120 Å, 200 μm x 6 mm) and a linear gradient of 0-95% solvent B for 72 min. A pre-concentration step (10 min) was performed employing a chromxp trap (C18-CL, 3 μm, 120 Å, 200 μm x 6 mm) before commencement of the gradient. A flow rate of 500 nl/min was used for all experiments. The mobile phase consisted of solvent A (0.1% formic acid [aq]) and solvent B (100 acetonitrile/0.1% formic acid [aq]). Eluates from the RP-HPLC column were directly introduced into the NanoSpray II ionisation source of a TripleTOF 5600 MS/MS System (AB Sciex) operated in positive ion electrospray mode. All analyses were performed using Information Dependant Acquisition. Analyst 2.0 (Applied Biosystems) was used for data analysis. Briefly, the acquisition protocol consisted of the use of an Enhanced Mass Spectrum scan with 10 seconds exclusion time and 50 mDa mass tolerance. A cycle time of 2800 ms was used to acquire full scan TOFMS data over the mass range 320–2000 m/z and product ion scans over the mass range of 100–2000 m/z for up to 25 of the most abundant ions with a relative intensity above 100 and a charge state of +2 − +4. Full product ion spectra for each of the selected precursors were then used for subsequent database searches. Proteomic datasets are deposited in ProteomeXchange with the accession number PXD002068.
In addition to the in-gel digests performed as part of this study existing MS/MS data sets, generated during our previous studies of C. fleckeri venom , were reanalyzed using the new transcriptomic data. These data sets included duplicate in-gel digests of SDS-PAGE-fractionated venom proteins from total nematocyst preparations and duplicate peptide OFFGEL™ electrophoresis experiments of the same samples. For the primary analysis, spectra from all datasets were used to search the ESTScan-predicted protein coding sequences from the Oases transcriptomic assembly (20,548 proteins). In addition, all in-gel datasets were searched against three other databases to assess the completeness of the primary analysis; (1) ESTScan predicted proteins from a second assembly constructed using Trinity (30,245 proteins); (2) a database of all Cnidarian proteins in the GenBank non-redundant protein database (as of the 1st of Oct. 2013; 95,394 proteins); and (3) the SwissProt database (as of the 1st of Oct. 2013; 546,000 proteins). All searches were conducted using X! Tandem v.2013.09.01.1 , employing the following search parameters: enzyme = trypsin; precursor ion mass tolerance = ± 0.1 Da; fragment ion tolerance = ±0.1 Da; fixed modifications = carbamidomethylation; variable modifications = methionine oxidation; number of missed cleavages allowed = 2; and allowed charge states = +2 − +4. In the primary analysis, against the Oases predicted protein set, MS/MS data from each band of the in-gel digests were searched individually (Additional file 7: Table S5). For OFFGEL samples, data from each fraction was combined for X! Tandem searches and the Trans Proteomic Pipeline was used to validate peptide and protein identifications using PeptideProphet and ProteinProphet (Additional file 8: Table S6). False discovery analysis for OFFGEL samples, calculated as less than 1% for reported proteins, was conducted using Mayu and searches against a database comprising the predicted protein set from the Oases assembly and the reverse of each sequence (Additional file 9). Proteins containing similar peptides but which could not be differentiated based on MS/MS analysis were grouped to satisfy the principles of parsimony. For in-gel digests and OFFGEL experiments, proteins were reported only if two significant peptides (p < 0.05) were attributed to the protein, at least one of which was unique to that protein. The phylogenetic tree was produced using MUSCLE for multiple alignment, Gblocks for automatic alignment curation, PhyML for tree building and TreeDyn for tree drawing using the tree-generation pipeline at Phylogeny.fr website . The aLRT statistical test was used for branch support.
This research was supported using infrastructure provided by the Australian Government through the Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities scheme from the Australian Research Council. J. M. is supported by a Career Development Fellowship from the National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia (NHMRC).
Additional file 1: Comparison of C. fleckeri transcripts to H. magnipapillata and N. vectensis . Bit scores from searches of the assembled transcripts against databases containing H. magnipapillata and N. vectensis proteins using blastx. Solid line is the best simple linear regression model which suggests that generally C. fleckeri protein products possess more sequence homology to H. magnipapillata than N. vectensis. Y = X is shown as a dotted line.
Additional file 2: GO terms assigned to C. fleckeri transcripts. Bar graph showing the number and percent of total of GO terms assigned to C. fleckeri transcripts using InterProScan. GO terms were reduced to level 2 terms and are grouped into the three components of the GO hierarchy; “Biological process”, “Cellular component” and “Molecular function”. Figure produced using WEGO .
Additional file 3: Summary of GO and InterProScan terms associated with transcripts. Multi-worksheet excel file containing Go terms (Worksheet 1) and InterProScan terms (Worksheet 2) associated with C. fleckeri transcripts.
Additional file 4 Summary of toxins identified in the transcriptome of C. fleckeri. Multi-worksheet excel file containing toxins identified in the transcript of C. fleckeri ranked by FPKM (Worksheet 1) and categorized by function (Worksheet 2).
Additional file 5: Potential toxins identified in the proteome of C. fleckeri . Excel file listing potential toxins identified in the venom proteome of C. fleckeri categorized by function.
Additional file 6: Proteins identified in additional database searches. Excel file listing proteins identified during additional database searches categorized by function.
Additional file 7: X! Tandem protein reports. Multi-worksheet excel file containing protein report for each search of C. fleckeri predicted protein set.
Additional file 8: ProteinProphet report for OFFGEL/MS/MS experiments. Excel file containing ProteinProphet report for searches using mass spectrometry data generated from OFFGEL experiments.
Additional file 9: Mayu false discovery analysis of OFFGEL/MS/MS experiments. Excel file containing Mayu false discovery analysis of searches using mass spectrometry data generated from OFFGEL experiments.
DB conceived the project, performed molecular biology work and drafted the manuscript. XJ and JP performed mass spectrometry experiments and drafted the manuscript. DK and DD performed bioinformatics analysis and contributed to drafted the manuscript. JM conceived the project, performed bioinformatics experiments drafted the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. | 2019-04-21T14:12:46Z | https://bmcgenomics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12864-015-1568-3 |
1. The existence within the EU of different sets of national transfer pricing rules laying down that transactions between taxpayers under common shareholder control should be taxed as if they had taken place between independent taxpayers undermines the proper functioning of the internal market and represents a large administrative burden on taxpayers .
2. In order to find pragmatic solutions to this problem, the EU Joint Transfer Pricing Forum (JTPF) was set-up by the Commission in October 2002. The Commission has reported twice on the work of the JTPF through two Communications. The first Communication presented a Code of Conduct on the Convention for the elimination of double taxation (the “Arbitration Convention”) to ensure that it would operate more efficiently. The second communication presented a Code of Conduct on documentation requirements for transfer pricing within the EU- the EU Transfer Pricing documentation (EUTPD.) The Code of Conduct on EUTPD sets out rules for the amount and type of documentation that Member States will request and accept for the purposes of their own transfer pricing rules.
3. Transfer pricing related disputes between a taxpayer and a tax administration frequently lead to double taxation and hence to disputes between tax administrations to relieve this double tax. While the Code of Conduct on the effective implementation of the Arbitration Convention adopted by Member States in December 2004 should in principle help to eliminate transfer pricing double taxation in the EU within a time frame of not more than three years, it would be highly desirable to avoid such disputes between tax administrations in the first place.
4. This third Communication therefore has as its main objective to prevent transfer pricing disputes and associated double taxation from arising in the first place by introducing Guidelines for Advance Pricing Agreements (hereafter: "APAs") within the EU. APAs are agreements between the tax administrations of EU Member States concerned defining how future transactions between related taxpayers established in two or more Member States will be taxed. The Guidelines are based on the best practice identified by the JTPF.
5. The Commission considers that APAs Guidelines are an efficient tool for dispute avoidance with valuable advantages for tax administrations and taxpayers. APAs will provide in advance certainty concerning the transfer pricing methodology and therefore simplify or prevent costly and time-consuming tax examinations into the transactions included in the APA; this should lead to savings for all parties involved in an APA.
6. These APAs Guidelines explain how Member States should conduct the APA process and provide guidance for taxpayers involved in the process. Following the guidelines will result in a quick and efficient resolution of the APA process and in turn should encourage the use of APAs in the EU, leading to more dispute avoidance and less double taxation.
7. The full report compiled by the JTPF is contained in a staff working document. Within the overall scope of dispute resolution and avoidance, the JTPF considered several possible procedures which might lessen transfer pricing burdens on taxpayers within the EU. These were simultaneous tax examinations, expert opinion or mediation, a system of prior notification, consultation or agreement and the possibilities for APA procedures.
8. These are generally considered as methods by which two or more countries combine efforts to audit taxpayers together. While the JTPF acknowledged that this might have attractions for Member States from a compliance perspective, the opportunities for resolving disputes this way were considered to be fewer than the opportunities for creating them.
9. The JTPF reflected upon the statement in the commentary to article 25 of the OECD Model Tax Convention that countries might seek an advisory opinion from an expert to help resolve double taxation cases. Experts from the tax administrations did not consider the idea of intervention by a third party expert as a useful tool to prevent double taxation in the light of the Arbitration Convention which already compels the resolution of cases through the medium of an independent arbitration panel.
Prior notification, prior consultation or prior agreement.
10. The JTPF examined the possibilities for a framework for prior agreement or at least consultation before tax administrations make transfer pricing adjustments. The inter-action could be limited to the mere notification of a transfer pricing adjustment (which could speed up dispute resolution), be extended to prior consultation between tax administrations before a transfer pricing adjustment was made final (which could again speed up subsequent dispute resolution or avoid any subsequent resolution ever becoming necessary) or use of a system of prior agreement (whereby a tax administration would have to agree to provide a corresponding adjustment to eliminate any double tax before the first adjustment was made final) to prevent a dispute from coming into existence in the first place.
11. The JTPF found that, while it might be possible to do all of the above under existing mechanisms, to develop effective mechanisms would be time consuming and might well require fundamental changes in domestic laws. The JTPF felt that this might be outside its remit and that its time and resources should be concentrated on developing APA procedures.
12. The Commission considers that a system of prior agreement would eliminate all double taxation within the EU and therefore is of the opinion that this issue could usefully be deepened in the future.
13. An APA is an agreement between tax administrations over the way in which certain transfer pricing transactions between taxpayers will be taxed in the future. Hence an APA often prevents the need for a dispute between tax administrations over the transactions included in the APA. APAs are an exemplary method of dispute avoidance.
15. Given the significant advantages of APAs, the JTPF felt that it was appropriate to identify best practices for the conduct of APA procedures in the EU. These are contained in the Guidelines in the Annex to this Communication.
What are the salient points of the EU APA guidelines?
16. The guidelines lay down procedures for an efficient APA process and detail the stages usually found in an APA and what should ideally happen at each stage.
17. These guidelines focus on bi and multilateral APAs because they are considered as the most efficient tool to prevent double taxation. However the Guidelines also include a section on Unilateral APAs.
18. The guidelines envisage a four stage process and describe what should happen at each stage.
19. APAs start with the taxpayers' decision to request an APA. The guidelines suggest an informal approach be made to all the tax administrations potentially involved and recommend what should be done in this informal stage to ensure an efficient resolution of the APA application. Details of the type of information that should be included in the formal application are provided on the grounds that, although each APA will be different, the type of basic information likely to be necessary is often similar from case to case.
20. Once the formal application is received, the guidelines describe what should happen for the efficient conduct of the process. APAs will require that each tax administration involved checks the application to decide whether the proposed transfer pricing treatment in the application is acceptable. The precise details of the transfer pricing treatment will also need to be negotiated and agreed between the tax administrations involved. Details of how these processes should be done are laid down in the guidelines.
21. APAs will require formal agreement between the tax administrations involved, so that they and the taxpayers involved are guaranteed certainty over the tax treatment of the transactions. The guidelines provide details over what should be in this formal agreement so that this certainty is given.
22. A typical timeline is provided in appendix of the guidelines to illustrate the conduct of the APA process.
23. The guidelines also discuss some often problematic areas which frequently arise during, or even before, APA procedures and detail ways in which these areas can be rendered less likely to impede an efficient resolution of the APA process itself. The JTPF concentrated on areas where experience has shown that the most problems arise: retrospective application of the tax treatment in the APA, fees and complexity thresholds (which could constitute an undesired barrier to the APA process) and the types and amount of transactions that should be covered by the APA.
THE ARBITRATION CONVENTION AND RELATED ISSUES.
24. The follow-up of its work on the Arbitration Convention is an on-going process for the JTPF. It is vital that Member States respect the terms of the Arbitration Convention and of the related Code of Conduct adopted in December 2004.
25. With regard to the state of play of the ratification process of the Accession Convention to the Arbitration Convention, at the end of September 2006, twelve Member States had ratified it and the other Member States had indicated that the Convention should be ratified in the coming months.
26. The JTPF has also monitored the implementation of the recommendation included in its first Code of Conduct related to the suspension of tax collection. At the end of September 2006, sixteen Member States have confirmed that they allow suspension of tax collection during the dispute resolution procedure and the other Member States have replied that they were preparing revised texts granting this possibility. This issue will need further monitoring in the future.
27. Finally an update of the 2005 questionnaire on pending mutual agreement procedure (MAPs) under the EU Arbitration Convention that was filled in by Member States tax administrations revealed that none of the 24 cases for which the taxpayer had made the request prior to 1 January 2000 was sent to an Arbitration Commission.
28. The Commission considers that the number of long outstanding transfer pricing double tax cases means that, for reasons that need to be further explored, the Arbitration Convention is not eliminating transfer pricing related double taxation in the EU as well as it is supposed to. The proper functioning of the single market is therefore impaired. The Commission intends to consider how this failing can be addressed. It might well be that an instrument that ensures a more timely and effective elimination of double taxation, is necessary from the perspective of the single market. The Commission also notes that the AC deals only with transfer pricing related double taxation and that the new material in Article 25 of the OECD Model Treaty and attached commentary goes further by offering treaty partners a binding, compulsory arbitration procedure for eliminating all double taxation.
29. Considering these recent achievements in transfer pricing within the EU and the need to ensure a monitoring of the implementation of the new tools but also to continue the examination of several issues, the Commission has decided to renew the JTPF for a new mandate of two years.
30. The JTPF has begun examining the potential new work programme for 2007-2008.
31. Under the current work programme of the JTPF, in particular penalties and interest related to transfer pricing adjustments still need to be examined.
32. In the future, no doubt dispute avoidance and resolution will continue to feature as they are of major importance to taxpayers and tax administrations.
33. The Forum should also assist the Commission in monitoring the implementation by Member States of the Codes of Conduct and the Guidelines issued on the basis of the JTPF conclusions. Indeed Member States will have to report on the implementation of the different instruments and on practical problems ensued from their implementation. This will allow the effectiveness of these instruments in the elimination of double taxation in connection with the adjustment of profits of associated enterprises to be assessed.
34. As regards the Arbitration Convention, the Commission having received additional feedback since the adoption of the Code of Conduct, points out the following issues where clarifications should be given to ensure a better functioning of the Convention: the deadline for the setting-up of the arbitration commission, a common understanding of the definition of a serious penalty, the possible extension of the scope to more than two Member States, the deadline to implement the final decision, the role of the taxpayer, what is precisely covered by a transfer pricing adjustment (for example is thin capitalization to be considered). The Commission has finally received comments arguing for the setting-up of a permanent and independent Secretariat.
35. The Commission congratulates the JTPF for its work and its contribution to a better environment within the EU for lessening the burden of transfer pricing rules in general and dispute avoidance and resolution procedures in particular. The JTPF achievements since October 2002 have lead to a number of improvements that have facilitated cross-border trade and therefore have improved the functioning of the Single Market.
36. With regard to the work achieved by the JTPF in the field of dispute avoidance and resolution procedures, the Commission fully supports the conclusions and suggestions of the JTPF on APAs. On the basis of this work the Commission has drawn up the attached Guidelines for APAs in the EU.
37. These guidelines constitute a worthwhile blueprint for APA processes across the EU. By following the guidelines, Member States will encourage the use of APAs which will lead to better dispute avoidance, fewer disputes and less double taxation. This will help achieve a removal of tax obstacles and the primary aims of the single market: a better investment and more competitive business environment, growth and jobs.
38. The Commission invites the Council to endorse the proposed Guidelines on APAs in the EU and invites Member States to implement quickly the recommendations included in the Guidelines in their national legislation or administrative rules.
39. Member States are invited to report annually to the Commission on any measures they have taken further to these Guidelines and their practical functioning. On the basis of these reports, the Commission will periodically review these Guidelines.
40. Article 25 (3) of the OECD Model Tax Convention permits countries to enter into Adavance Pricing Agreements (Hereafter APAs).
41. An APA is an arrangement that determines, in advance of controlled transactions, an appropriate set of criteria (e.g. method, comparables and appropriate adjustments thereto, critical assumptions as to future events) for the determination of the transfer pricing for those transactions over a fixed period of time.
42. The APA should not agree precisely the actual profit which should be taxed in the future.
The APA should fix according to the arm's length principle arrangements for the determining the transfer pricing for the future transactions in the APA.
43. APAs must provide certainty for taxpayers and tax administrations. The precise way this can be done can vary depending on the law of the Member State in which the taxpayer pays tax.
44. At all times, the taxpayer is subject to the usual rules of the tax administration. Where there is an APA, a tax administration still has the right to conduct an audit. However, under normal circumstances, the audit is carried out only to check and monitor the APA by reviewing the terms and critical assumptions underlying the APA.
46. Tax administrations should be able to draw upon all of their skill and adequate resources to conduct an APA.
APA programmes should be centrally co-ordinated.
Tax administrations should carry out two broad roles to deal with an APA application: firstly, evaluating the application and secondly negotiating an agreement with the other tax administration.
47. The negotiations between tax administrations should be conducted by the Competent Authorities (Hereafter CAs). It is the CA's responsibility to ensure that the roles of checking and evaluating the APA and negotiating with other countries are carried out. This applies even if the CA calls upon other parts of the tax administration to provide specialist knowledge.
48. It is up to the taxpayer to initially decide which transactions should be included in an APA application.
The tax administration can review the application and modify or reject it.
The tax administration should accept the application where all requirements have been met.
In practice, taxpayer and tax administration should work together to establish mutually acceptable terms and conditions for an APA.
49. Domestic considerations will legitimately affect how a tax administration runs its APA programme.
50. Rules on fees and complexity thresholds can be used by tax administrations to ensure APAs are only made available where they are considered appropriate by those tax administrations.
51. It is for Member States to decide if a fee system is appropriate.
A fee should not be a precondition for an efficient service which should be provided as a matter of course.
52. If they are used, fees should be charged by reference to a lump sum amount as a pure entry fee and/or linked to the extra costs incurred by the tax administration as a result of the APA.
53. Fees are particularly appropriate where without a fee a tax administration would be unable to have an APA programme. But they should not be set so high so as to be a disincentive to apply for an APA.
54. If complexity thresholds are to be used, they should be used as a guide to whether an APA is appropriate and they should be dependent on the facts and circumstances of the case so not to be too prescriptive.
Complexity thresholds should be operated consistently for all taxpayers.
55. The likely attitude of other tax administrations directly involved in any APA should also be a factor in the operation of any complexity threshold: a threshold could be lowered where other tax administrations are willing to accept an APA application.
Whether a complexity threshold will operate to deny a taxpayer entry into an APA programme should be discussed at any pre-filing meeting.
56. The number or size of transactions should not constitute an infallible guide to uncertainty or transfer pricing risk. Complexity thresholds should take into account the relative size and transfer pricing risk (to the taxpayer) of the transactions.
57. Where a Multinational Enterprise uses the EU Transfer Pricing Documentation (EUTPD), this will serve as a useful basis for any APA application.
Useful additions can be any transfer pricing policy documentation on which the application is based and any reports received on which the application relies. Documentation requirements should not be unduly onerous for taxpayers but the tax administration must be given the opportunity to fully evaluate the transactions included in the APA.
Appendices A and B provide a list of documentation that is likely to be of use for any APA application. What is actually required in the formal application should be agreed at the pre-filing stage.
58. The specific information necessary to monitor the application of the APA should always be agreed upon as part of the APA negotiation. The taxpayer must maintain documentation throughout the APA so that the tax administration can monitor the way the APA is applied.
59. Tax administrations and taxpayers should work together in as cooperative a manner as possible to ensure that the APA is conducted as efficiently as possible.
64. The pre-filing meeting should allow all parties to assess the likely success of the APA. The tax administration should be provided with sufficient information to permit this assessment. This information should at least describe the activity and transactions to be covered, the taxpayers concerned, the preferred methodology, desired length of the APA, any rollback and the countries to be involved.
The pre-filing stage must allow the tax administration to make a reasoned judgement on whether the application will be acceptable.
Taxpayers should approach the tax administrations as early as possible once they are clear about their intended actions when considering an APA.
65. Tax administrations might consider anonymous approaches from taxpayers but nothing binding can be agreed on an anonymous basis. At any rate, the taxpayer's intentions should be relatively fixed for the anonymous meeting and as such an anonymous approach should not be a protracted process.
66. The tax administration should give a clear indication as soon as possible whether a taxpayer's subsequent formal application is likely to be accepted and also indicate, where possible, which aspects might be more controversial.
67. The taxpayer should approach all of the Member States directly involved in the envisaged APA. Where more than one tax administration is consulted, the same information should be provided to each (this should apply throughout the APA process).
68. As part of the pre-filing stage, CAs should consult with one another where necessary. Where such a consultation is deemed necessary, it should take place as quickly as possible.
In the pre-filing stage, the taxpayer and tax administration should discuss what documentation should be included with the formal application. Any complexity threshold should also be discussed. The tax administration should also use the pre-filing stage to influence the content of the application where this will aid an efficient outcome of the application.
69. Formal application for an APA should be made as early as possible in relation to the years to be covered by the APA and in particular soon after any informal approach. The taxpayer should make the formal application to the tax administration where it pays tax and at the same time to all other countries concerned. Where Member States have different administrative or legal procedures concerning APAs, it is the taxpayer's responsibility to ensure that all applications are made in time. The tax administration should endeavour to tell the taxpayer as soon as possible whether the application for an APA has been formally accepted for processing and to request as soon as possible any further documentation necessary to evaluate the APA and to formulate a position.
70. In the initial formal application, the taxpayer should try to enclose all relevant information necessary for the tax administration to evaluate the application and to come to a view about the methodology that will be used later to calculate the arm's length price. Appendices A and B contain details of the type of information that might often be necessary in all instances but is not necessarily a minimum and is not the maximum. The precise information necessary for the formal application should be tailored to the specific case.
71. A tax administration has the right to ask for supplementary information to evaluate the APA application.
72. The aims of the evaluation and negotiation are distinct even if it might sometimes be appropriate to carry out these tasks partly together. A balanced approach should be adopted to ensure that the evaluation takes place as quickly as possible and the negotiation begins as soon as possible.
In the evaluation, the tax administration should formulate its preferred terms and conditions for the APA. The negotiation with the other tax administrations concerned should resolve any differences which arise between tax administrations so that one set of terms and conditions can be provided to all the taxpayers involved.
73. As soon as possible after a formal application is received, the CAs of the tax administrations concerned should contact one another and establish a timetable for the APA. The taxpayer should be involved in the creation of the timetable and a model timetable is contained in Appendix C. In multilateral APAs, the CAs could agree that one CA takes the lead in organising the procedure.
74. The taxpayer should help the tax administration to evaluate the application through the provision of information. The evaluation should be completed as soon as possible to allow negotiation to be started.
75. Tax administrations should make every effort to keep the burden of the evaluation to a minimum by requiring only pertinent information; taxpayers must in turn provide any information requested as quickly as possible. It should be possible to agree what information is relevant.
76. All information provided to one tax administration should also be provided to the other tax administrations involved. Details of what information has been requested should also be exchanged. A convention should be established for each APA to say whether the taxpayer or, exceptionally, the tax administration through exchange of information will do this.
77. Where a tax administration forms an evaluation different from the taxpayer's application, then its evaluation should be discussed with the taxpayer.
78. As part of the evaluation process, the tax administration should try to obtain the tax payer's agreement with the position of the tax administration. It is advantageous for tax administration and taxpayer to work together to keep the proceedings on track to a mutually acceptable conclusion.
79. Tax administrations and taxpayers should work together in an APA to minimise any delay, in particular by making timely requests for necessary information and supplying information in a timely manner. Tax administrations should always consider making joint/common requests for information when this will further minimise delays.
80. As soon as its evaluation is complete, a tax administration should endeavour to begin negotiations and, if necessary, the other tax administration involved should endeavour to complete its own evaluation so that negotiations can begin.
81. The evaluation stage should involve CA inter-action where this will aid reaching an APA. Provisional agreement should be reached where possible. However, it is preferable that a tax administration has in mind at least a preliminary evaluation before actual CA negotiations begin.
82. If it would aid the APA procedure, preliminary negotiations should begin before the evaluation is finalised but this should not permit tax administrations to inappropriately postpone finalizing the evaluation.
83. For most APAs, each CA should produce a position paper containing the tax administration's evaluation. The formal exchange of positions should take place with an exchange of CA position papers. This should be done as soon as possible after the application is received.
84. Where appropriate, CAs do not need to exchange position papers if this makes the APA process more efficient and faster. But in most cases having all CAs prepare position papers before full negotiations begin will help to identify and thus resolve any disputes quickly and efficiently. Where one CA has prepared a position paper, any other CA involved in the negotiation should at least set out what disagreement exists.
85. The contents of a position paper should set out the view of the tax administration involved in the APA. Appendix D lists some of the details that are likely to be necessary in a CA position paper.
86. Negotiations should be started by the sending of CA papers. A timetable should be agreed for the negotiations. Taxpayers should be kept informed of all significant developments.
If the CAs agree, taxpayers should be allowed to attend CA meetings to address factual matters by making a presentation.
87. If beneficial, CAs should arrange regular meetings to keep the whole APA programme up-to-date but this should not impede arranging and conducting meetings on individual cases.
88. The formal APA should be given effect by formal agreements between the tax administrations involved (in a multi-lateral APA there could be one agreement between all tax administrations or a series of bilateral agreements between each tax administration).
All agreements should detail the terms and conditions of the APA.
89. These agreements should give certainty to those involved in the APA and provided the relevant terms of the APA are met, then the transfer pricing for the transactions will be as determined in the APA and that the transactions will not be subject to a different interpretation by the tax administration. Tax administrations should ensure that they are able to provide this certainty.
90. Appendix E contains information which is likely to be necessary for all APA formal agreements.
Transac tions and Participants in the APA.
91. It is up to the taxpayer to initially decide which transactions and which group entities he wants to have included in the APA. But it is the decision of the tax administration whether it accepts the taxpayer's application.
92. It is important that tax administrations are as flexible as possible in allowing the taxpayer to include what he wishes in the APA. It is recommended that the taxpayer's logic for excluding as well as including companies and transactions is explained in the application.
93. A tax administration should exchange information (EOI) spontaneously (subject to any domestic law limitations) with another tax administration which the first tax administration feels should be included in the APA. The taxpayer would need to be consulted about which tax administrations to involve in the APA since the taxpayer's agreement to the terms and conditions of the APA needs to be obtained.
94. The taxpayer should describe in the application the assumptions on which the ability of the methodology to accurately reflect the arm's length pricing of future transactions are based.
95. Critical assumptions are by their nature vital to the APA and should be drafted carefully to ensure the capability of the APA to reflect arm's length pricing.
96. Taxpayers and tax administrations should attempt to identify critical assumptions that are based where possible on observable, reliable and independent data.
97. Critical assumptions should be tailored to the individual circumstances of the taxpayer, the particular commercial environment, the methodology and the type of transactions covered.
98. Critical assumptions should not be drawn so tightly that certainty provided by the APA is jeopardised but should encompass as wide a variation of the underlying facts as those involved in the APA feel comfortable with.
99. The APA agreement should include parameters for an acceptable level of divergence for some assumptions in advance and only if these parameters are exceeded should a renegotiation become necessary.
100. Taxpayers should inform their tax administrations if critical assumptions are not met.
All those involved in the APA should consult with each other to examine the reasons why a critical assumption has not been met and to see if the APA methodology is still appropriate.
An attempt should be made renegotiate the APA if at all possible.
101. Rollback – when provided for in domestic legislation –can be considered where it will resolve disputes or remove the possibility of disputes in earlier periods.
102. Rollback should only be a secondary result of the APA and should only be carried out where it is appropriate to the facts of the case. Similar facts and circumstances to those in the APA should have existed for previous periods in order for rollback to be appropriate.
103. Rollback of the APA should only be applied with the taxpayer's consent.
104. A tax administration has recourse to the usual domestic measures if, as part of the APA process, it discovers information which would affect the taxation of earlier periods. But tax administrations should advise the taxpayer of any such intended action to give the taxpayer the opportunity of explaining any apparent inconsistency before making a tax re-assessment concerning previous periods.
106. Although there may be circumstances where the taxpayer has good reasons to believe that a unilateral APA is more appropriate than a bilateral, bilateral APAs are preferred over unilateral APAs. Where a unilateral APA may reduce the risk of double taxation to some degree, care must be taken that unilateral APAs are consistent with the arm's length principle in the same way as bilateral or multilateral APAs.
107. In the first instance the taxpayer has the right to decide whether a unilateral or bilateral APA is required.
108. The option of including another MS in the APA could be considered by the MS preparing for a unilateral APA. Taxpayers however should not be forced into a bilateral APA.
109. Tax administrations are entitled to turn down requests for unilateral APAs where the tax administration feels that a bilateral or multi-lateral APA is more appropriate, or feels that no APA at all is appropriate.
111. With the "Code of Conduct" (Business Taxation), Member States have committed themselves to spontaneously exchange details of concluded unilateral APAs. The Exchange of Information (EOI) should be made to any other tax administration directly concerned by the unilateral APA and should be done as swiftly as possible after the conclusion of the APA.
Appendix A – A list of the type of information that is likely to be necessary with the formal application for a bilateral or multilateral APA.
The actual information will vary depending on the facts of the case and would need to be discussed between the taxpayers and tax administrations, ideally at the pre-filing meeting.
This information can be considered as two broad types: information about the past –historical information – which might already exist in some format but will need to be compiled for the APA and information that may need to be created specifically for the APA.
When considering historical information, MS should keep in mind that APAs concern the future and that historical information may have less relevance for future periods. That said, historical information will be necessary to place the APA in perspective and to allow better judgements about the future to be made.
The pre-filing stage is a useful time for tax administration and taxpayer to decide what information should accompany the formal application. The aim should be to strike a balance between the tax administration having enough information to consider the application properly and the taxpayer not being required to produce unnecessarily onerous amounts of information.
In all cases the tax administration has the right to require further information and the taxpayer has the right to submit further information.
113. Names and addresses of all associated enterprises (including all permanent establishments) in the APA.
114. A group structure showing all entities involved in the trade of the enterprises in the APA.
115. An analysis of industry and market trends which are expected to affect the business. Any marketing or financial studies for the business which lead to this expectation should also be provided where relevant. An outline should be provided of the business strategy expected to be used for the period of the APA and, where different, of the strategy employed for previous periods. This might include projections used in the plan for the future, management budgets, information on expected business trends and competition, future marketing, production or R&D strategy. Details of who has the power and responsibility of developing and dictating business strategy could be provided.
116. The period for which the taxpayer desires that the APA should apply, including any request for rollback.
118. The reason why the taxpayer feels an APA is appropriate for these particular transactions.
119. The critical assumptions integral to the APA.
121. A review of the five OECD comparability factors including comparables and any adjustments made to achieve comparability.
123. A demonstration by reference to financial information of how the proposed methodology is to be implemented.
124. A list of any APAs already entered into by any of the associated enterprises involved in the APA which relate to the same or similar transactions if not already available to the tax authorities.
126. the three years statutory accounts.
127. an analysis of product/service lines showing gross and net margins with associated costs for the products/services to be included in the APA, if available and useful.
128. A list of any legal agreements between any associated enterprises which affect the transactions in the APA. For example, licence agreements, purchase agreements, distribution agreements, R&D service agreements.
129. For any years where a rollback is requested – where possible in domestic law - details of the tax position of each entity involved for these years, e.g. tax return agreed, submitted but not agreed, submitted and under audit etc., together with details of any MAP process still open and an analysis of the time limits laws in place in each relevant jurisdiction to show whether years of assessment are capable of being adjusted.
The functional analysis is the key tool for any transfer pricing work. The contents should be tailored to the specific taxpayer and the transactions in the APA. Dependant on the situation, the APA application should also show to a certain extent which entity carries out what functions in the overall business of the MNE. Tax administrations however should keep in mind that they are not evaluating transactions which are not in the APA. This information will have to be sufficient for them to understand both ends of the transactions under review.
All the activities relating to the transactions covered by the APA should be described (Research and development, manufacturing, distribution, marketing, the type of service activity carried out, etc.) The economic and entrepreneurial worth of these activities should be made clear along with details of how these activities inter-act with those carried out by other group entities. The market and the level in the market place of the entity should be described, along with the type of customer, what product is sold, how it is developed or acquired, who it is acquired from and sold to.
The risks assumed by the entity with regard to the transaction s in the APA should be described and assessed. Typical risks might include product, technological, obsolescence, market, credit, foreign exchange and legal.
The amount and type of working capital, tangible and intangible assets utilised in the APA should be described. Again the relative importance of these in the trade should be analysed if possible.
There will be further details necessary if intellectual property right (IPR) is used in the transactions in the APA. Information should be provided on how the IPR was created within the group or acquired by the group. It should be made clear which entity now owns the IPR and how it came to do so, how it is utilised and what value it adds to the business.
Every APA is different; therefore, there are inherent dangers in stipulating a common timetable for every APA. Best practice is for all parties to formulate a timetable as early as possible once the APA application has been received. Tax administrations can help keep the time to negotiate an APA as short as possible by examining information quickly and efficiently; taxpayers can help to keep the time to negotiate an APA as short as possible by providing complete information quickly. The timetable below is illustrative , but contains all the stages typically found in APAs.
An informal approach is made by a taxpayer to two tax administrations, requesting an APA. The tax administrations listen to the statements made and indicate whether the particular case merits an APA. The tax administrations consult with one another to ensure both will agree. Each has brief discussions with the taxpayer over what information should be provided in the first instance and explores what methodology will be appropriate.
The formal application is received by each tax administration. The CAs establish in month 1 a timetable to evaluate and negotiate the APA. Both tax administrations conduct an initial review independently and issue information requests if necessary.
Tax administrations continue to evaluate independently with the full cooperation of the taxpayers. A first full face to face meeting could take place with a presentation to all involved parties by the taxpayer. The CAs consult as appropriate. The taxpayer is involved in this evaluation and is consulted. By the end of this period each tax administration has formulated its position. The CAs are able to exchange position papers. They agree to meet to discuss these in Month 14.
Discussions occur between CAs. Further clarifications are obtained from the taxpayer who is kept informed of the CA negotiations.
The CAs reach agreement. The taxpayers are consulted and indicate their agreement.
The APA is formally agreed between the CAs. Formal documents are exchanged. The taxpayers receive assurances that the APA is acceptable.
More complex cases may take longer, but, with the cooperation and planning of all parties, the time taken to conclude an APA should be kept to a minimum.
Since each case will be different position papers will vary. But below is general guidance which should be applicable for the contents of all position papers. The key to concluding an APA procedure without unnecessary delay will always be to commence CA negotiations most often through a position paper as soon as possible after the application is received.
130. The conclusion of the CA together with a rationale. This should include details of the preferred methodology and the reasoning for this.
131. Reasons for any rejection or modification of the taxpayer's initially preferred method.
132. Details of the facts considered as most relevant in forming the above conclusion. If relevant, special consideration should be given to any facts which came to light during the APA process as opposed to in the original application.
133. Details of the critical assumptions that the APA will be dependent on.
134. A position on any retrospective element and on the future length of the APA.
135. Suggestions on how the APA should be monitored.
136. A description of the Treaty law and domestic law that will govern the APA and provide certainty for the taxpayer.
137. The duration of the APA and day of entry into force.
138. Details of the methodology acceptable for determining transfer pricing and the critical assumptions (see appendix F) that must be followed for the APA to apply.
141. An agreement of what documentation is to be maintained throughout the APA to allow monitoring to take place, for example an annual report.
142. Any agreement on any retrospective treatment.
143. Any circumstances which will require the APA to be revised.
152. the enterprises that will operate in each jurisdiction and the form in which they will do so. | 2019-04-25T22:05:52Z | https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52007DC0071 |
The commodity price trends in the fourth quarter are mostly down in Asia. Many grades of Plastics, Rubber, Steel, Alum, Metals, Paper, Textiles raw materials and Fuel prices were mostly down in price while some grades of Wood, Freight went up in price. Labor rates were steady in the lower wage countries, and Ceramics price was mixed. The US Dollar was down a little bit against most of the Asian currencies in Q4. China imports and exports saw sharply down in this quarter. The China PPI and the China CPI were both down slightly. The PMI Hong Kong indexes saw a slightly improvement in Q4 while PMI China and PMI USA saw marginally down. Below is a chart of the general trends and for all the details, please see the entire report.
– Except for PET (SE-3030) was unchanged, the rest of General Purpose plastic resin prices were down in the fourth quarter, PP (K8303), HIPS (PH88), PP (Food Grade), PS (GPPS/688B) and PE (LD400/Injection) were down on the average of 10.8%, the others down in price marginally. Year over year, the prices is mixed. PE (LD400/Injection) and HIPS (PH88) prices are down 10.1% and 8.2% respectively, and PP (Food Grade) and PS (GPPS/688B) are down slightly, while HDPE (HHMTR210), PP (K8303) and PVC (S700) are up mildly in price versus one year ago.
– Engineering plastic prices were all down in the fourth quarter, ABS price was obviously down 11.9% and the balance plastic prices were down marginally. Year over year, ABS in price is down the most at 18.5% followed by PU Foam down 2.6%, while Nylon (PA66) and POM prices are up 6.0% and 9.6% respectively, and the others are only up marginally in price versus one year ago.
– Most of the Rubber prices were down in Q4, BR saw a huge down in price, which was over 19% and Natural, Latex, SCR5 and CR prices were all down over 2%. NBR and EPDM prices were steady. Year over year, SCR5 and Latex prices are down largely which are over 12% and BR down slightly, while EPFM up 9.1% , followed by CR up 6.3% and NBR up marginally versus one year ago.
– For the fourth quarter of 2018, all the prices for Carbon Steel were down, with Hot Roll Steel Tube was down the most which was over 19%, followed Pig Iron was down 12%, and others were down on the average of 9.7%. Similarly, year over year, the trend is all down with Hot Roll Steel Tube down the most at 21.1%. Others are down on the average of 10.6% versus one year ago.
– In the Stainless Steel part, all grades of prices were down in the fourth quarter, with down on average about 3.9%. Similarly, year over year, the trend is down, with 430 is down the most that over 14%, and other grades of stainless steel is down in price on average about 5.5% versus one year ago.
– All aluminum grades were down faintly in price in the fourth quarter. Year over year, all prices are down in price, with 6061 is down the most which is over by 12% followed A00 and 3003 down 6.8% and 4.6% respectively, and 1060 price is down marginally.
– In Other Industrial Metals, all grades trend was down in Q4. Nickel’s price was down by 14.8%, followed Copper down 4.1% in price and the rest of metals were down a little. Year over year, most of metals prices are down, with Nickel down most (close to 14%) followed by Nickel down 6.1%, Copper and Brass Rod are both down 3.1% versus one year ago.
– Wood prices were slightly higher in Q4 except MDF was steady in price. Year over year, MDF’s price increase over 6% and Beech Hardwood over 3% respectively, and the Pine Softwood is up marginally.
– While all grades prices of Paper Materials were down in the fourth quarter, with Corrugated Board price was sharply down 16.1%, and others were down slightly. Meanwhile， year over year, all grades of paper in prices are decreasing, with Art Paper down over 11% and others prices down on average of 5.9% versus one year ago.
– Textile fabric prices saw little change in the fourth quarter with 100% Polyester Fabric and Raw Cotton down 9.7% and 5.9% respectively, while the rest were steady. Year over year, the grade in prices are mixed, with 100% Polyester Fabric up over 11.1%, but Raw Cotton is down in price at 2.5% while the rest are unchanged versus one year ago.
-In Ceramic Raw Materials, the grades in price were mixed in Q4. Except for Feldspar was unchanged, and Alumina and Quartz were down 10.8% and 2.6% respectively, while other grades in price were up slightly. Meanwhile, year over year, Soda Ash, Quartz Glass Grade Sand and Glaze are all down marginally while Kaolin and Feldspar are steady. Only Alumina is up 4.2% versus one year ago.
Fuel prices in China were generally going down with LPG , Natural Gas and Diesel Oil were significant down in the range of 21% ~35% in the fourth quarter, and year over year, except for Petroleum is unchanged, Natural Gas is slightly down 7.4% and the rest fuels are down significantly in price between 26%~31% versus one year ago.
The World Container Index was slightly up 0.88% in the fourth quarter. Year over year, the World Container Index is sharply up 30% versus one year ago.
Most of the Asian labor rates saw no change, except for India labor rates saw slightly up in the fourth quarter. Year over year, rates are up in most countries with Indonesia up the most (over 7%) followed by Thailand (up 6.56%), Vietnam (up 6.13%), China (up 5.22%) while India labor rate is down 13.45%. Bangladesh is unchanged.
For the fourth quarter, the USD was slightly weaker against the Bangladesh Taka, Vietnam Dong, Thailand Baht, Chinese Yuan, Indonesian Rupiah while slightly strength against Taiwan New Dollars, and India Rupees. Year over year, the biggest gains for the USD are against the India Rupees and followed by China RMB, Taiwan New Dollars, Indonesia Rupiah and Vietnam Dong and while its slightly weaker against the Thai Baht.
– China Imports was obviously down 15.85% and Exports was slightly down by 2.43% in the latest fourth months. Similarly, year over year, China Imports and Exports are down by almost 7.34% and 4.57% respectively.
– The China Producer Price Index (PPI) and the China Consumer Price Index (CPI) were both slightly down 3% and 0.59% respectively in the fourth quarter. Year over year, the China PPI is down 3.81% while the China CPI is up marginally versus one year ago.
USA and China PMI were both down slightly. Only Hong Kong PMI was slight down 0.21% in the fourth quarter. Year over year, China PMI and Hong Kong PMI is down slightly while USA PMI is unchanged versus one year ago.
Experience the future of manufacturing and product development. Join us at FABTECH from November 6-8 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta where the metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing community come together to see what’s new and what’s next. Source International will be giving a presentation on Smart Manufacturing Product Development Process: Get to Market Faster on Thursday, November 8, 2018 from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
FABTECH is where connections are made and where deals get done. See cutting-edge exhibits, learn from expert-led education, network with peers and more,.Over 1,500 leading manufacturers all in one place with solutions aimed at increasing productivity and profitability. Bring your team to experience three action-packed days of hands–on demos, new product launches, education, and networking. Whatever you need to advance and move forward in manufacturing, you’ll find it at FABTECH. With targeted technical, operational, economic and managerial sessions, you’ll discover the solutions you need to improve productivity and increase profits. Network with peers, learn from top industry experts, exchange best practices and explore the latest technology and advancements in the industry.
Contact us for more information and set up a meeting with us in Atlanta to learn how Source International’s supply programs can add value to your new product development efforts.
So register today using this 30% discount code and we look forward to seeing you at FABTECH 2018!
Thanks to everyone who attended “Three Tips For Ensuring Quality At Outsourced Suppliers” at the 2018 APICS conference in Chicago October 2nd. The topic drew a great crowd with lots of good input and questions from the attendees.
EXCERPT: Manufacturing your company’s products at outsourced suppliers, whether onshore or offshore, isn’t just about lowering costs. Managing the quality of output among your outsourced suppliers is critical and can greatly impact your bottom line, your operational efficiencies, and your organization’s credibility. This session presents an aggressive, comprehensive three-step program to accurately assess the level of quality risk at an outsourced supplier; create effective, quality documentation that will ensure expectations are met on both sides; and to set up metrics that will measure supplier performance and provide a benchmarking system to gauge future improvement. By employing these three steps in a comprehensive and integrated program, your organization can effectively ensure the quality among your network of outsourced suppliers.
A copy of the presentation is available for download HERE. Please feel free to share it. A lot is happening at APICS as they transition into life as ASCM. FYI, the 2019 conference is scheduled to be in Las Vegas….hope to see you there!
And, please contact us for more information and to set up a meeting with us to learn how Source International’s supply programs can add value to your outsourcing efforts.
Also, please note that we’ll be presenting again at FABTECH in Atlanta on Thursday, November 8, 2018 from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM on Smart Manufacturing: Product Development Process: Get to Market Faster. Hope to see you in Atlanta! Register today using this 30% discount code and we look forward to seeing you at FABTECH 2018!
July 10, 2018 -Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has released a third list of thousands of additional goods that could face 10% china tariffs after a public comment period. It includes fruit and vegetables, handbags, refrigerators, rain jackets and baseball gloves. The move comes after the United States imposed the first round of 25% China tariffs worth $34 billion which kicked in July 6th. Beijing immediately responded with its own tariffs on US goods worth $34 billion. President Donald Trump in May directed Lighthizer to identify $200 billion in China product tariffs if China retaliated against US penalties that are meant to punish the country for intellectual property theft. The United States is already working on a second wave of China tariffs worth $16 billion. The third round of tariffs would go into effect sometime after August 30.
List 1 – Includes 818 tariff lines and is Valued at $34 billion worth of imports from China. Products falling under these tariff lines incur an additional duty of 25% beginning July 6.
List 2 – Includes 284 lines cover approximately $16 billion worth of imports from China. This list will undergo further review in a public notice and comment process, including a public hearing. After completion of this process, USTR will issue a final determination on the products from this list that would be subject to the additional duties of 25%.
List 3 – Includes 195 pages and thousands of lines amounting to approximately $200 billion in imports from China and covers some consumer products which had yet to be hit.
Feel free to download the lists from the three links above and contact Source International for more information.
Manufacturers in the ceramic, glass, refractories, brick and related industries rely on the dedicated support of a multitude of suppliers in order to be successful. Ceramic Industry offers manufacturers the opportunity to acknowledge their valued suppliers by nominating them for our annual Supplier of the Year Award. Nominees are evaluated on a number of different qualities, including responsiveness, product options, reliability and overall performance (among others). I’m excited to share the news that the 2018 Ceramic Industry Supplier of the Year is Source International!
According to Bunge, who also nominated SI for last year’s Supplier of the Year Award, the company serves as Libbey’s agent in Asia providing bilingual personnel who are available to assist with operations, logistics and supply chain issues, including product development and engineering, the monitoring of manufacturing processes, and social responsibility and quality compliance.
SI is a 30-year-old manufacturing and supply management company with about 80 employees. According to Jim Ullum, managing partner, the company has been working with Libbey for 10 years. A dedicated team, comprising merchandisers, engineers, quality technicians, among others, works directly with Libbey to ensure smooth operations that result in quality products.
Ceramic Industry publisher Tom Fowler presented Source International with the 2018 Supplier of the Year Award on May 1, 2018 live from the show floor at Ceramics Expo in Cleveland. Joe Simon, VP Finance, represented SI and Ryan Routhe, QA/Materials Engineer, Global Sourcing represented Libbey at the awards ceremony. Ryan commented that SI helps Libbey to deliver great products to our customers….they are our feet and eyes and ears in the factories and take projects from beginning to end…just a great asset. Joe thanked Libbey and Ceramic Industry on behalf of Source International for the award and gave special accolades to the SI team in Asia which are the “boots on the ground” and that helps Libbey deliver quality products, on time using the proprietary database operating system (SIS) where customers can monitor the status of its products in real time 24/7.
For more information on Source International and the supply management services offerings please contact us to speak with one of our Operations Executives.
In the first quarter, there was a clear commodity price trends with most of raw materials in Asia going down in price. Many grades of plastics, steel, aluminum, paper, ceramic raw materials and other industrial metals went down in price while rubber and wood mostly rose in price. Textiles prices meanwhile remained mostly flat. Petroleum and fuel prices backed off their sharp increases and labor rates up in the lower wage counties. The US Dollar lost a little bit of ground against some of the Asian currencies in Q1. China Imports and Exports both saw significant decreases in the quarter and the China CPI was up slightly while the China PPI was down. Furthermore, PMI index remaining above 50 and signaling an expanding economy. Below is a chart of the general trends and for all the details, please see the entire report.
Most of the General Purpose plastic resin prices were down in the first quarter with PE, PP, PVC, PS, Food Grade PP and HDPE down marginally and only EVA up in price by 1.5%. The others remained steady. Year over year, most plastic prices remain down in price versus one year ago. PS is down the most (close to 10%) followed by PE and PP which are both go down in price by over 6%. PP is only GP resin which is up in price by 2.8% versus one year ago.
Engineering plastic resin prices were mixed in Q1 with ABS prices drop the most by 7.5% and PC and PU Foam down slightly, while the others were all up slowly. Year over year, POM is up a whopping 30% followed by PC up over 11% and ABS relatively increase a little, while PU Foam, PA6 and Nylon show a decreasing tendency versus one year ago.
In the Rubber category, prices were mixed in Q1. SCR5 and Latex finally saw a drop in price, down almost 13 %, while Silicon Rubber and EPDM were up in price by 10% and 9% respectively following by CR increase by 6%. NBR was the only one remained unchanged. Year over year, except for CR shoot up in price by 30%, EPDM is up by 5.9%. Polybutadiene Rubber, SCR5 and Latex are all up on average 30% and NBR by 10.7% versus one year ago.
For the first quarter of 2017, all grades of Carbon Steel were down in price with Steel Wire and Steel Rib were down over 15% and the others decrease marginally. Year over year, the trend is most grades of Carbon Steel go up in price with Hot Rolled Steel Plate up over 23% following by Hot Roll Steel Sheet and Tinplate up by 15% & 9.8%, and the rest are go up marginally. Steel Wire is exception with a slightly decrease in price.
In addition, all grades of Stainless Steel still continued their down in price in the first quarter between 0.6% – 5.8% with 410 grade down the most. Year over year, the trend is mixed with 201 grade and 410 grade are go down in price by 11.5% and 6.3%, while the rest are go up on average 4.8% versus one year ago.
Moreover, all aluminum grades drop in price 3%-5.5% in the first quarter. And year over year, Aluminum 6061 go down in price by almost 17% and Aluminum down by 6.3%, while A00 and Aluminum 1060 are slightly higher in price.
And, in Other Industrial Metals, only Nickel’s price was up in Q1 while the rest of metals were down in price. Copper increased by 9.8% and Brass Tube decline 5%. Year over year, all the metals prices are increase with Zinc up sharply by over 31% and Nickel up over 16% versus one year ago.
MDF increase by 9.5% in price and Beech Hardwood slightly higher in Q1 and the rest had no changed. Year over year all the prices are go up with MDF rise the most by over 24% and the others up slightly.
At the same time, Corrugated Board continued rise while the others saw a little change in the first quarter, all were relief on average 5.4%. Year over year, all paper prices remain higher, with Corrugated Board remaining up by almost 21% in price followed by Art Paper and Kraft rise by 15.5% and 14.8% respectively. Gray and White Cardboard only go up marginally versus one year ago.
Most of Textile fabric prices were remained unchanged the first quarter. Except Polyester Fabric went up and Cotton went down slightly. Year over year, most prices are higher, with Polyester and PVC Leather up in price the most at 14% and 6.7% respectively and the rest up more modestly versus one year ago.
In Ceramic Raw Materials, Alumina prices down by 1.75% in the first quarter and Quartz, Kaolin and Feldspar remained unchanged, while in Glass Raw Materials Soda Ash was down in price sharply over 17% and Glass Sand marginally. Year over year, Feldspar is up in price by over 33%, followed by Kaolin up 10%, Alumina up 6.5% and Quartz up 5.3%, while Glass Grade Sand is lower by 21% and Soda Ash and Glaze both keep in price steady versus one year ago.
Fuel prices in China were decline generally by 10%-24.7% in the first quarter and year over year, China Petroleum, LPG Gas and Natural Gas are decrease on average 10%. Furthermore, China Diesel Oil increase by almost 12% and China Industrial Electric has no change versus one year ago.
Ocean freight rates down sharply in Q1 with Shanghai/ Ningbo/Xiamen/Yantian to Chicago down over 30% on average and to Long Beach down over 49%. Year over year, Shanghai/ Ningbo/Xiamen/Yantian to Chicago are down by 29% on average and to Long Beach down over 55%.
Asian labor rates saw increase trend in the first quarter except for China and Bangladesh remained unchanged. And for Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam which jumped by 15%, 7.5& and 6% respectively. Year over year, rates are up in most countries with Thailand up the most (over 15%) followed by Indonesia (up 7.5%), Vietnam (up 6%) and China (5%) while Bangladesh saw no sign to change.
For the first quarter, the USD strengthened slightly against the India Rupees, Indonesia Rupiah, Vietnam Dong and Bangladeshi Taka and weakened slightly against the China Yuan, Thai Baht and NT Dollars. Year over year, the biggest gains for the USD are against the Bangladesh Taka, Indonesia Rupiah, India Rupees and Vietnam Dong while its weaker against the Thai Baht, China Yuan and NT Dollar.
China Imports and Exports were both down significantly in the latest three months owing to the Lunar New Year holiday, down by 23.5% & 14.4% respectively. Year over year, China Exports are shoot up by almost 43% and China Imports are up by over 6.6% from year ago levels.
US Imports and Exports were both up slightly compared to last month.
Vietnam and Bangladesh Imports and Exports were both increased significantly with Vietnam Exports rose over 38% and Imports up over 35.4%, and Indonesia Exports up over 18% and Imports up by 20%. On the contrary, Indian and Indonesian Exports and Imports were all down compared to last month.
The China Producer Price Index (PPI) decrease by 2% in the first quarter while the China Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 1.2%. Year over year, the China PPI is down 3.8 % while the China CPI is up by over 2% versus one year ago.
PMI Indexes saw little change in the first quarter with Caixin China PMI Index has been climbing steadily throughout the quarter while China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing shows the higher index and USA PMI Index remained stable. But all were above 50 in Q1. Year-on-year, CFLP PMI Index is little lower. On the contrary, Caixin China PMI index and USA PMI show upward trends indicating growth and an expanding economy. | 2019-04-22T13:00:53Z | http://www.sourceint.com/author/ask-earl/ |
Governmental and private programs that pay next of kin who give permission for the removal of their deceased relative’s organs for transplantation exist in a number of countries. Such payments, which may be given to the relatives or paid directly for funeral expenses or hospital bills unrelated to being a donor, aim to increase the rate of donation. The Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group—in alignment with the World Health Organization Guiding Principles and the Council of Europe Convention Against Trafficking in Human Organs—has adopted a new policy statement opposing such practices. Payment programs are unwise because they produce a lower rate of donations than in countries with voluntary, unpaid programs; associate deceased donation with being poor and marginal in society; undermine public trust in the determination of death; and raise doubts about fair allocation of organs. Most important, allowing families to receive money for donation from a deceased person, who is at no risk of harm, will make it impossible to sustain prohibitions on paying living donors, who are at risk. Payment programs are also unethical. Tying coverage for funeral expenses or healthcare costs to a family allowing organs to be procured is exploitative, not “charitable.” Using payment to overcome reluctance to donate based on cultural or religious beliefs especially offends principles of liberty and dignity. Finally, while it is appropriate to make donation “financially neutral”—by reimbursing the added medical costs of evaluating and maintaining a patient as a potential donor—such reimbursement may never be conditioned on a family agreeing to donate.
The Declaration of Istanbul group have considered the impacts of paying donor families to attain consent for organ donation. Some nations regard payments as normal and others outlaw it–the latter receive more organ donations, questioning not only the ethics but the utility of the practice.
1 Pacific Center for Health Policy and Ethics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
2 Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA.
3 New England Organ Bank, Boston, MA.
4 Organización Nacional de Trasplantes (ONT), Madrid, Spain.
5 Health Ethics and Professionalism, Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
6 Kidney & Pancreas Transplant Program, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.
7 Division of Medicine and Cancer, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Received 8 November 2015. Revision requested 21 December 2015.
Statement of the Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group Regarding Payments to Families of Deceased Organ Donors: Approved by the Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group Board of Councilors, 6 November 2015.
Disclosure: As a co-author, J.C. did not participate in any fashion in the editorial review process or the decision to publish this article.
Correspondence: Alexander M. Capron, Gould School of Law, University of Southern California, 699 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90089-0071. ([email protected]).
The Declaration of Istanbul holds that successful and sustainable programs of organ donation and transplantation must embody “the principles of equity, justice and respect for human dignity” and cannot be built on “transplant commercialism.”1 The latter, which occurs when those who provide organs receive “material gain,” inevitably “targets impoverished and otherwise vulnerable donors” and thus “leads inexorably to inequity and injustice and should be prohibited.”1 The Declaration’s conclusion is consistent with the Resolution adopted in May 2010 by the World Health Assembly reaffirming that the principles of human dignity and solidarity “condemn the buying of human body parts for transplantation and the exploitation of the poorest and most vulnerable populations.”2 The international summit meeting at which the Declaration was adopted in 2008 addressed living donation.3 The present statement extends the Declaration’s ethical precepts to deceased donation.
In some countries in the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas, existing or newly established programs for obtaining organs from deceased persons provide cash payments to families that donate their deceased relative’s organs or pay sums on their behalf for funeral costs or for hospital expenses beyond those generated in the process of obtaining organs for transplantation. Officials in these countries have set up such programs or allowed others to do so because, they argue, that without such financial incentives, sufficient organs would not be donated. They contend that money is needed to obtain agreement from people who otherwise feel no inclination to help facilitate organ transplants to which they lack access or who regard deceased donation as inconsistent with their cultural traditions. Officials have also explained the payments as appropriate reciprocity for the family’s “gift” to the community, especially when the next of kin are poor or face large medical or other expenses.
Without doubting the sincerity of these beliefs, the Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group has concluded that all programs that provide payments to or on behalf of families who have donated organs from their deceased relatives place the countries involved outside the circle of ethical transplant practices globally, as set forth in the Guiding Principles on Cell, Tissue, and Organ Transplantation4 of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Declaration of Istanbul, and other international standards.
Providing money to people to encourage them to consent to organ removal or reward them for doing so weakens organ donation programs by treating the human body as a commodity used for financial gain, exploits the economic vulnerability of living donors and deceased donor families, and undermines equality and justice by reinforcing rather than reducing socioeconomic inequities.
The origin and method of the payments—whether the government, a public or private foundation, or individuals (such as organ recipients)—are unimportant ethically, because in all cases the financial arrangements depend on the family agreeing to donate a deceased relative’s organs.
Unlike reimbursing hospital and other expenses that donors incur in the process of being evaluated or in actually donating, which are acceptable when based on actual costs, the amounts paid to the next of kin have no inherent limit. Payments to incentivize donations will be set based on market forces (that is, the payers will choose the amount needed to obtain consent, which will vary based on donor families’ financial needs); “charity” payments depend on the extent to that officials choose to relieve donor families’ poverty; and payments for funeral costs and hospital care (beyond any added costs for organ donation) can vary widely and, moreover, those items are not distinguishable from other debts that the family might prefer to have paid. In sum, the amounts paid to families on any of these grounds are inherently arbitrary and subject to manipulation and abuse.
Although it is physicians who diagnose death, the next of kin also have a role to play when the diagnosis will be followed by organ donation. With brain-based determinations of death, the family must accept the diagnosis and allow medical interventions to be withdrawn before organs can be recovered, and with circulatory-determinations of death, the diagnosis is made only when the patient’s circulation and respiration have permanently ceased, following the family’s agreement to the withdrawal of life-support. As experienced organ procurement staff recognize, families’ involvement must be handled with sensitivity and always framed in terms of their deciding what is in the patient’s best interests. Further complexity is added when the methods that physicians use to diagnose death, especially based on loss of brain functions, are unfamiliar to or not yet broadly accepted by the general population. Making payments to the next of kin who consent to donate organs, which has to be preceded by their decision to withdraw medical interventions, creates an obvious conflict of interest and raises questions for the public about whether decisions about care are being made in patients’ best interests and whether death has truly occurred before organs are removed.
When next of kin receive financial incentives and rewards, it becomes impossible to refuse to pay living donors both because the money provided to the families legitimates exchanging organs for material gain, and because a society that allows payments to next of kin, who bear no physical risk, cannot reasonably refuse to allow at least equal payment to living donors, who take on actual burdens and risks in donating.
Most basically, payments suggest to the public that all types of organ donation are not acts one should undertake as a matter of civic duty and in solidarity with the needs of one's fellow citizens but instead something that a person should do only for a financial benefit.
When organs are obtained through payments, they have become commodities, which—for good reason, in light of experience in systems where organs are treated that way—fosters a public perception that their distribution will also be determined by financial considerations, thereby weakening general support for organ donation as a community resource that is necessary if transplant programs are to fully and equitably meet the needs of patients.
The countries with the highest or most rapidly increasing donation rates do not provide financial incentives or gratuities for deceased donation.7 Instead, better donation rates depend on improved organ procurement practices, engagement of the critical care community, and public education.8,9 The exclusion of payments in these countries, which are found in most regions of the world, is not based on particular cultural norms but on universal principles of ethics and human rights that uphold the dignity of human beings and aim to protect them against exploitation.
What would otherwise be a praiseworthy act of gift-giving is transformed into a commercial transaction, which explains families bargaining for increased payment if they allow more organs to be harvested.
Ensuring proper burial or cremation for all those who die is a basic feature of decent societies. In settings where this does not occur because of the general conditions or the poverty of some families, it is coercive for a deceased donation program to offer to cover funeral expenses only for families that allow organs to be procured from their deceased relatives. It likewise is wrong to condition access to healthcare—or relief from bearing the cost of such care—on the next of kin agreeing to donate organs. All such practices violate the requirement of voluntary informed consent to donation set forth in the WHO Guiding Principles and the Declaration of Istanbul. Further, a just society would never condition the important benefits it makes available to grieving families upon their agreeing to part with a relative’s organs.
Attempting to justify payments as “charitable gifts” merely underlines the exploitation because acting generously toward the poor can never involve extracting something of material value from the supposed beneficiaries. Further, whenever a person has truly made a gift, responding with money turns the act of giving into a pecuniary exchange, in which case either party would then be justified in saying that the gift deserved more money or the payment merited a bigger gift.
Making payment depend on consent not only exploits the financial need of donor families but also provides nothing to other needy families who did not authorize donation or are perhaps not even able to do so because their deceased relative was not a suitable donor.
When some people have strong cultural, moral, or personal reasons why they are unwilling to do something, it especially offends principles of liberty and dignity to induce them to act against their beliefs by offering them an amount of money that would be difficult or impossible for them to refuse, given their financial straits. The offense is especially pronounced in societies with wide variations in wealth, where financially privileged persons would have no need to compromise their objections to acting in the way that poor persons are induced to act.
As both the WHO Guiding Principles and the Declaration of Istanbul make clear, prohibitions on paying for donation do not preclude keeping organ donation a financially neutral act by reimbursing the reasonable and verifiable expenses incurred.13 In the context of deceased donation, it is therefore wholly acceptable for a transplant program to pay the hospital where a potential deceased donor has received medical care for any added costs of evaluating and maintaining the patient as a donor and to cover any costs the next of kin incur to participate in decisions about whether or not to donate organs, such as the cost of coming to the hospital to speak with organ procurement personnel. It is not, however, acceptable to withhold such reimbursement of expenses should the family decide not to donate, nor to include in those expenses anything for funeral costs or hospital charges not connected with the donation of organs—that is, expenses that would have arisen even if organ donation were not being considered for that patient.
For all of these reasons, countries should not establish or allow others to operate public or private programs that pay money to, or for the benefit of, next of kin who consent to donate their deceased relative’s organs, whether such payments are for funeral expenses, to cover charges for predonation hospital care, to relieve their poverty, or especially to incentivize their decision. Countries that rely on such financial gifts, rewards, and incentives for deceased donation undermine their chance of building a transplant program that accords with global ethical and human rights standards; instead, they are in effect announcing that the economic and social marginalization of large portions of their population precludes them even trying to create such a program. Moreover, experience shows that a later decision to stop paying will necessitate organ donation programs having to expend great—and not necessarily successful—efforts to reverse the public expectation that such a payment will be forthcoming for organs from deceased relatives.
In place of payment programs, the Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group works to support transplant professionals and government officials around the world who share a commitment to creating national systems of voluntary, unpaid organ donation that are adapted to local conditions and that can successfully advance each country toward “self-sufficiency” in transplantation without exploiting its poorest and most vulnerable citizens.14 To be truly effective and sustainable, as well as ethical, the incentive to donate cannot be external, in the form of a payment on behalf of those who have access to transplants to those who do not, but rather internal, in the form both of the psychic rewards of demonstrating generosity toward those in one’s community who need a life-saving organ, and of reciprocity, which occurs when all those asked to be donors are also eligible to be recipients.
Comments, criticisms, and suggestions from Rudolph Garcia-Gallont, Vivekanand Jha, Jacob Lavee, Adeera Levin, Elmi Muller, and Philip O'Connell provided invaluable assistance during the preparation of this statement and are gratefully acknowledged.
1. Declaration of Istanbul on Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism. http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/transplantationsociety/33914/docs/33914-Declaration_of_Istanbul-Lancet.pdf. Adopted 2 May 2008. Accessed 6 Nov. 2015.
2. Sixty-Third World Health Assembly, Human Organ and Tissue Transplantation, WHA63.22. http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA63/A63_R22-en.pdf?ua=1. Adopted 21 May 2010. Accessed: 1 Oct. 2015.
3. Steering Committee of the Istanbul Summit. Organ trafficking and transplant tourism and commercialism: the Declaration of Istanbul. Lancet. 2008;372:5–6.
4. Sixty-Third World Health Assembly, WHO Guiding Principles on Cell, Tissue and Organ Transplantation [quoting Commentary on Guiding Principle 5]. http://www.who.int/transplantation. Approved in WHA63.22, 21 May 2010. Accessed 1 Oct. 2015.
5. Council of Europe, Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine: Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine, Article 21. http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/en/Treaties/Html/164.htm. Adopted 4 April 1997. Accessed 1 Oct. 2015.
6. Veatch RM. Why liberals should accept financial incentives for organ procurement. Kennedy Inst Ethics J. 2003;13:19–36.
7. Global Observatory on Organ Donation and Transplantation. http://www.transplant-observatory.org/Pages/home.aspx Accessed 1 Oct. 2015.
8. Min SI, Ahn C, Han DJ, et al. To achieve national self-sufficiency: recent progresses in deceased donation in Korea. Transplantation. 2015;99:765–770.
9. Mahdavi-Mazdeh M, Khodadadi A, Tirgar N, et al. Rate of family refusal of organ donation in dead-brain donors: the Iranian tissue bank experience. Int J Organ Transplant Med. 2013;4:72–76.
10. Shih FJ, Lai MK, Lin HY, et al. Impact of cadaveric organ donation on Taiwanese donor families during the first 6 months after donation. Psychosom Med. 2001;63:69–78.
11. Dehghani SM, Gholami S, Bahador A, et al. Causes of organ donation refusal in southern Iran. Transplant Proc. 2011;43:410–411.
12. Yousefi H, Roshani A, Nazari F. Experiences of the families concerning organ donation of a family member with brain death. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2014;19:323–330.
13. Delmonico FL, Martin D, Domínguez-Gil B, et al. Living and deceased organ donation should be financially neutral acts. Am J Transplant. 2015;15:1187–1191.
14. Report of the Madrid Consultation: Part 1: European and universal challenges in organ donation and transplantation, searching for global solutions. Transplantation. 2011;91:S39–S66. | 2019-04-26T15:47:04Z | https://journals.lww.com/transplantjournal/Fulltext/2016/09000/Statement_of_the_Declaration_of_Istanbul_Custodian.34.aspx |
Let's celebrate the beginning of a new moon by working towards our goals and setting intentions. Why is it important to set intentions? To achieve our goals, we must first become clear on what we want, how to get there & what we need to let go of. Cycling your intentions around the New and Full Moons can create a powerful energetic experience. The New Moon represents a fresh start or a new beginning. Let's harness this energy and work through this together with a guided step-by-step process on how to turn your dreams into a reality.
Here you will learn the ultimate intention setting process: manifestation 101, how to tap away your limiting beliefs and how to set intentions that turn into real, achievable goals. Walk away feeling light & inspired to level-up your life.
Sometimes we get to a point in our life when “enough is enough” and we’re ready to make a change. We don’t know how, or what to do - but we know it’s time. This time is important, your onto something - something that your body & soul need. Don’t ignore it, move towards it.
Lets move towards that change together. Together we can create long lasting results.
Results that don’t only create weight loss, but a lifestyle change coupled with an understanding of your WHY. Why you’re making this change. Why you’re eating the right foods for your body. Why those fad diets don’t work and why you’re going to stick with this change even after this program is over.
Lets kick the fad-diet mentality to the curb and get back to the basics. Start understanding our food again so that you can make sense of what you’re eating!
Join me on this 30-day journey to the best version of ourselves. We’ll make big strides towards our weight loss goals and create a healthier version of ourselves.
Please note that this is a non-judgmental, inclusive program.
Bringing you back to an awareness and connection with yourself and your body. Re-learning what makes you feel good and what doesn’t.
Creating a workout routine that is achievable, sustainable AND fun!
A custom plan. We’re meeting you where you’re at, where you’re at is the perfect place to start your health journey.
The goal of feeling better than ever!
For signing up for this program, you’ll receive a FREE 3-Pack of Salt Therapy Passes!
DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS PROGRAM, SPACES ARE VERY LIMITED!
If you are interested in joining, please fill out this application and our team will get back to you soonest!
Feeling Fluffy, Puffy & Gross?
Kick start your metabolism, lose the bloat & reduce inflammation just in time for spring break with this 14-day anti-inflammatory program!
Why participate in our anti-inflammatory program? Chronic inflammation is linked to weight gain, food intolerances and a host of other health concerns. Hormone imbalances also lead to chronic inflammation and vice versa. This is a quickstart program to make you can feel better, look better, be better just in time for Spring Break!
Let’s get ready for spring together!
Day 1: In just a few hours get a comprehensive nutrition & inflammation assessment.
Day 2-13: Take home a 14-day meal plan & supporting supplements. Our team of experts just an email away for any questions or concerns during the program.
Day 14: A post-cleanse debrief, re-assessment & celebration of your success!
Click here for Program Admission.
If you are a woman struggling to lose weight or overcome a ‘slow metabolism, there are some things you really need to know.
It is NOT about eating less and exercising more…. there’s something else going on!
Join our Nutritionist, Trish Krause (CNP, RNCP) on Thursday, January 17th at 6pm for a FREE health talk that will help you bust through the barriers in 2019 for good.
The #1 secret why women (especially of a certain age) don’t lose weight - and what you can do about it.
The well-meaning (or not) conspiracy by global diet experts that keep us fat and stuck.
How to super-charge your success by harnessing The BIG 3 Metabolic S’s.
Why things will never change for you – until you take this one important step.
Don’t miss out – understanding this information has been a game-changer for so many women. And can be for you too.
During our three day workshop, we’ll assist you in setting the proper intentions while guiding you toward an introspective, awareness expanding opportunity. The result is a deep connection between us and yourself and of course YOU with the deeper part of YOU.
Our health, lifestyle and consciousness engineers have a wealth of experience and expertise in the introspection and healing arts, making our modern techniques for optimized healing, growth and creating the life you love, unmatched anywhere in the world.
We greet you with a heart to heart connection, and from our place of heart centred, heart first intention to assist you in your journey of Self discovery.
Via proven meditative, breathing, thinking, and training techniques, backed by sound scientific evidence from around the world, we guide you on an inward journey of epic proportions, as only we are able.
Join us for a transformative experience unlike any other. Once you’ve awakened to the beauty within and what life truly has to offer, it will be impossible for you to go back to the way things were.
JOIN HOLISTIC RAIN, SIMPLYWELL & FRIENDS FOR AN EVENING OF LIVE MUSIC, SHOPPING, WELLNESS, ART, VEGAN WINE & MORE.
Drop into SimplyWell's gorgeous new location at 267 Ontario Street, directly across the street from Moksha Yoga and help raise money for Loving Spoonful ~ a local nonprofit that works hard to provide access to healthy food in an empowering, inclusive and environmentally sustainable manner.
Karlo Estates will be pouring beautiful vegan wines, and you can order bottles for the holidays!
Enjoy a live music showcase featuring soulful local musicians!
We're excited to share with you SimplyWell's NEW Integrative Health Centre, you'll be so pleased to learn all about what will now be available to you in downtown Kingston!
We love creating space to bring our community together to honour the holidays, celebrate each other, and support local causes and artists that are close to our hearts.
Everyone is welcome, it's free to join us, we look forward to seeing you there!
Daniella Good Photography is setting up shop in our studio space to bring to you Holiday Mini Photo Sessions!
Book in for 20 minute appointments and receive 4 images. You pick your props!
You've asked & we're listening!
Since the transition of SimplyWell out of the smoothie game - so many of you have requested a smoothie night to learn how to make the delicious & nutritous SW smoothies! We're excited to announce the opportunity to let us teach you how-to make them at home!
What: Smoothie making + chatting about ways to up your smoothie game with lots of nutrients and the benefits of supplements!
Bring all your questions and appetite!
Come join us in a refreshing evening of learning, sharing and introducing ourselves in the art of KOMBUCHA making!
This delightful workshop will go over the health benefits of probiotics and probiotic-rich beverages. We will discuss the best ways to incorporate it into your diet to enhance the immune system and digestive health (and for deliciousness!).
We will demonstrate easy techniques and learn how to brew your own booch at home. We will also learn how to make a second fermentation to flavour it naturally!
You will leave with a Kombucha Starter Kit to take home, a step-by-step instruction handout (including nourishing and delicious mocktail recipes!), and ongoing support.
Plus, as an extra-bonus, we will taste FREE samples of home brewed booch in various natural flavours!
Where: Simply Well – 34 Princess Street. Kingston, ON.
Wondering what Ayurveda is? What can you do with it? And how can you apply it in your live? LOOK NO FURTHER!
In this introductory workshop we will explore together one of the world’s most sophisticated and powerful mind-body health systems also known as the science of life.
We are going to learn and understand the different mind-body types and the specific needs that derive from them. We will find out your unique body constitution so that you can take home an instructional handout that will have dietary and lifestyle recommendations to enhance your life to its best!
PLUS! We will taste and learn how to make a medicinal green detox smoothie and you will take home Ayurvedic recipes to cook and enjoy!
Where: Simply Well - 34 Princess St. Kingston, ON.
We're hosting a day retreat for teenagers aged 13-18 on Sunday, July 8th in Kingston, Ontario. We've brought together a powerful group of female trailblazers to lead the conversation, with content based on the foundation of overall wellness of mind, body, and spirit. We are passionate about connecting with our youth with the message of mindfulness, compassion, kindness, and living a holistic lifestyle filled with happiness and joy. You will leave this retreat feeling inspired, empowered, rejuvenated, and a little more clear on what you want to create in your beautiful life.
Author, Speaker, Mentor, Certified Meditation Instructor, Certified Fitness Instructor, Certified Coach, Black Belt in Kung Fu Kickboxing, facilitator for "Design Thinking", Chartered Professional Accountant, and Senior Executive at her company in Toronto. Trish was also awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal for her long-term service with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada, and has served as the organizations’ Chair of the Board.
Kelli is an entrepreneur, Reiki Practitioner, and Founder of Holistic Rain, a lifestyle brand focused on creating tools and providing services and events that heal you holistically, from the inside out. Kelli's work brings communities of like-minds together to inspire, empower, and lift each other up. She’s also a wife and mother, Partner at Aurora Water Health, is a Crystal Consultant, and is studying to become a Registered Holistic Nutritionist.
Dr. Jillian Murphy is a registered, licensed Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. She works with diverse, smart, health-conscious, women who are DONE WITH DIETING, looking to get out of their heads (that are, quite frankly driving them CRAZY!) and re-connect with their body. Jillian has dedicated the past 8 years to studying intuitive eating and body image in women and, in conjunction with her general education in nutrition and holistic health, she has developed The Food Freedom/Body Love Method: a program that combines cutting edge eating psychology, in-the-know insight & guidance around diet culture, health, weight, and body acceptance to teach women WHY they stay stuck in negative patterns around food and body....and to break free, for good!
Claire's work is dedicated to the hashtag #SpreadYourAwesome. She believes that life should be about dedicating moments of your day to creativity and curiosity. Claire has a background of teaching, music, sports, fashion, design, travel, photography, art directing and creative design. A successful young entrepreneur, she has dedicated the last ten years to helping women reach their full potential through the arts and entrepreneurship. Her goal is to help thousands of women around the globe become strong women and leaders in their communities.
Jehna is a certified nutritionist and the owner of SimplyWell a vegan cafe/juice bar/holistic centre and SimplyWell Living, a vegan blog. Her goal is to share information on how to safely and easily transition into a plant based diet. Through working with clients and customers at SimplyWell, she has seen many people who aspire to be plant based, become very unhealthy throughout the process. Her goal is to educate that removing animal products out of your diet is not enough for you to become healthy. Herbivores and carnivores alike need to be mindful of eating whole foods, not focusing so much on vegan vs. meat based. Think of the bigger picture, not your individual ingredients.
Space is limited and will sell out quickly. Tickets are non-refundable but are transferrable. This is an incredible event inspiring each participant to connect with each other, creating a community of teens who are experiencing many of the same challenges.
SimplyWell and Holistic Rain are hosting another Summer Solstice Celebration on Thursday, June 21st in Springer Market Square with all proceeds going to local charity, Peace In Minds!
The event was a huge success last year, and so was the Fall Equinox Charity Party last September. We had hundreds of yoga mats spread across the Square and the energy was incredible. We're creating an even bigger and better event this year, and giving many new local entertainers and artists a chance to participate.
We’re excited to be giving back to the community while bringing people together to share in the beautiful Summer Solstice energy. Solstice is a time of celebration, intensity, renewal, great potential, and honouring the light in ourselves and each other and our deep connection with the Sun and Mother Earth.
We are all connected: people, the planet, and the sun. If we align ourselves with the power in others and in the natural forces around us, what we are unable to do on our own can be made to happen through the powerful energy of collective consciousness. That’s what this evening is all about.
lululemon Kingston will be there with some VERY cool offerings and are one of our sponsors!
Stay tuned as we add more incredible pieces to this beautiful event!
All of the participants – performers, practitioners, and vendors – are donating proceeds to this cause. This is an incredible group who have joined forces to make a difference and support our local community!
Peace In Minds' mission is to increase the safety and wellbeing of persons living with mental illness by increasing mental health education and treatment capacity in resource poor communities.
Peace In Minds (PIM) is an organization built on the conviction that increasing mental health education, training and treatment capacity will improve global health. PIM provides specialized mental health education and program development in resource poor communities and populations.
Get your tickets in advance, gift a ticket to your loved ones, share this event with your friends…let’s join forces and make a significant impact on the well-being of our local Kingston community!
Mark your calendars, see you there!
Want to learn how to fend off those Full Moon jitters? US TOO!
Join Holistic Rain and SimplyWell for another magical evening in the Sanctuary's beautiful space.
~ A guided crystal meditation - and you will go home with the crystal you work with throughout this session!
~ how do you want to FEEL in your life?
~ what do you want to STOP doing or feeling?
Then we'll write our intentions - what we want to release - and burn it!
You will leave feeling empowered, rejuvenated, and ready to invite new experiences into your reality. Looking forward to seeing you there and sharing the beautiful energy this event inspires.
SimplyWell & Holistic Rain have come together to bring to you a series of Full Moon Parties!
December 1st for a fun filled evening of birthday celebrations!
We want to thank you all SO much for being such wonderful customers and making SimplyWell feel like a family. We couldn't do it without each & everyone of you!
BUY 3 KAIA NATURALS HOT BATHS, GET ONE FREE!
ENJOY 20% OFF SMOOTHIES ALL DAY LONG!
SimplyWell and Holistic Rain are hosting an Autumn Equinox Celebration on Friday, September 22nd in Market Square with all proceeds going to charity!
We’re excited to be giving back to the community while bringing people together to share in the beautiful Equinox energy. As we consciously link our awareness to nature's cycles, our understanding of our own cycles begin to deepen. The Autumn Equinox is a meaningful time of year to honour the harvest. Whether that be a "real" harvest of the things planted in your garden or the harvest of efforts and intentions for your life path set earlier in the year.
Spiritually speaking, fall represents the Harvest time of year, a time to acknowledge abundance as our natural state of being. Our lives go through cycles of growth, harvest, death, and rebirth just as we see in nature.
All of the participants – performers, practitioners, and vendors – are donating proceeds to the cause. This is an incredible group who have joined forces to make a difference and support our local community!
Mark you calendars, this is going to be magic.
Performers and other activities will be announced soon.
SimplyWell and Holistic Rain are hosting a Summer Solstice Celebration on Wednesday, June 21st in Market Square with all proceeds going to Loving Spoonful!
All of the participants – performers, practitioners, and vendors – are donating proceeds to Loving Spoonful. This is an incredible group who have joined forces to make a difference and support our local community!
Loving Spoonful works to achieve a healthy food-secure community by facilitating fresh food access, skill development and community engagement in a collaborative, empowering and environmentally sustainable manner.
Join Amanda Cronk as she hosts an intro to doTerra workshop! | 2019-04-24T02:17:37Z | http://www.simply-well.ca/workshops |
Benefit fraudster caught out online – "A Melbourn benefit fraudster was caught out after council investigators checked her social networking site profile as part of their investigations."
James Governor’s Monkchips » Personal Communities: fundamental changes in business – "Personal communities and word of mouth. Nothing is different from business as usual then, other than the internet, and the scale it brings for community building."
5 “Shared Services” concepts I never want to see again « Lost ConsCIOusness – "I like Shared Services, my first response to any business need is to look around for a service which can provide it, only if all else fails do I develop it myself…So why do I too often groan when someone suggests a new “Shared Service” offering to me?"
Online services provided by your council: rewiring LocalDirectGov « countculture – "One of the things I’ve had on my ToDo list for OpenlyLocal for a while was providing a a list of links to online services provided by each Local Authority."
City of Lincoln Council Document Library – Google Docs – Great work by @abeeken to make Council data available via a shared folder in Google Docs. A great example of using tech that already exists and works!
What I (nearly) said at Government 2010 – "As trailed, here come the notes of my contribution to the discussion about e-consultation at Government 2010 last Thursday."
co-ment – Web-based text annotation – "co-ment makes it possible for you to write or upload your own texts, submit them for comments and process the comments."
And open data! I’ve got to declare an interest here. I’m a cofounder of Timetric – so I, of course, think that open data is a really great thing and we need a lot more of it!
Colm Hayden, technical director of information integration company Anaeko: their software can be used to join and connect Government backend systems, providing machine-readable integrated views onto Government data. They’re aiming to make projects like the Sunlight Foundation’s FedSpending.org possible. The best of those can then move back in as official Government services.
Stewart McRae, an evangelist from IBM. He started 35 years ago in the days of punched cards: it’s easy to forget, but (thanks to the PC and the internet) we’ve come a long way!
Chris Taggart of Openly Local, which is aiming to be the TheyWorkForYou of local government. He’s arguing that without access to data, people are (in a sense) disenfranchised.
But what about Joe Bloggs, the ultimate user? Ewan brings it back to that: Channel 4 is all about the audience. People have to go somewhere where they can use the data. Stewart talks about a new media which is about data-mining: the next Google could be someone who hits a goldmine of an idea. Some way of building something about the around the data, and a brand to build around it. Over time, the most successful and attractive services will gather momentum, but there’ll be niche and boutique services.
Ewan asks: will this shakeout creating another aristocracy of the Web? The answer to that might be Linked Data, says Colm: as long as you can link all the versions and representations together, then you can still navigate all the different uses of the data. Also, how do you gain an audience for these Open Data products?
You’ll know that open data’s successful when no-one knows they’re using it.
Instead, you’ll just go to your local council website, which happens to use Open Data under the covers: it’ll go off to data.gov.uk or another store and run some queries, return the results, and those results’ll be useful. Ewan also speaks on the need to make the experience of using open data surprising and delightful; there aren’t that many people addicted to, say, mySociety‘s websites out there!
Ewan then asks the question: what stories get covered by open data and social media? The MPs expenses scandal and Trafigura were traditional investiative journalism; the US Airways ditching on the Hudson River in New York was broken on Twitter, but traditional media supplied the depth and context. Without traditional media, you wouldn’t have found out that no-one was hurt, or about the pilot’s background story. Chris responds by saying we’re in a transitional period: social, participatory journalism is only now beginning to find its feet.
Finally, unintended consequences – Stewart points out there’s a privacy concern, in that what if correlations can be drawn from open data to identify people? And transparency: Colm claims open data isn’t just about transparency, but also about building better services and better businesses, and Chris wants us all to be – in Ewan’s word – treated like adults, and open data is part of that.
Another fascinating session, and a tremendous day’s conference. I hope you enjoyed the live blogging: if you want more from me, join my at my blog, or my blog on data journalism (part of the day job), or on Twitter. Thanks for having me!
This panel, chaired by Computer Weekly‘s Tony Collins, started with a call from the stage to stop twittering; sit there, and cover our eyes and mouth. That’s the experience of digital exclusion.
According to Martha Lane Fox’s research, 10 million people (a sixth of the UK!) have never used a computer; 17 million people (nearly a third) neither own one or have access to one. Stephen Hilton of Bristol City Council pointed this out right at the start of this panel; in a room full of twitterers and bloggers and digital natives.
The panel’s completed by John Shewell from Brighton and Hove Council, Anthony Zacharzewski from the Democratic Society and IBM’s Jan Gower.
Anthony points out that the Government’s heart is in the right place. However, it’s often seen in a rather narrow mindset, couched entirely in terms of economic rationales. He argues that digital inclusion should be done because, like all social inclusion, it’s simply the right thing to do. He warns us to avoid paternalism, too: different people will want to do different things online. Not everyone is a Guardian-reading middle-class liberal!
The panel are pretty unanimous about digital inclusion being only a part of a social inclusion strategy. As Jan Gower says, you need to be very clear on what the needs of all the parts of society are – we tend to look at the process first, rather than the individual, and looking at the needs of individuals first would lead to more humane, better-designed services.
One of the risks here is, as mentioned earlier, avoiding being over-prescriptive or even paternalistic. An example raised by Anthony: Sure Start started as a very local service, which was a strength – local communities knew best what their local needs were. As it was expanded, it lost its local distinctiveness and moved towards cookie-cutter approaches, to its detriment in both effectiveness and in losing the radical thinking originally involved. John suggested that local government’s role is to enable, not to dictate: this is how councils handle adult social care.
There are technological barriers too. Dave Coplin from Microsoft talks about bandwidth: shouldn’t we do more to get fast Internet connections into peoples’ houses? Jan Gower acknowledges that it’s the elephant in the room, but the problem is that any measure to pay for it is going to look like a tax. The politics is the hard problem.
There’s one more session today, and it’s on my home turf: open data, chaired by 4iP‘s Ewan Mackintosh. If there’s anything you’d like me to ask, ping me on Twitter!
Despite being a pseudo-statistician startupper, I was fortunate enough to meet a few readers of this blog at LocalGovCamp. Martin Greenwood’s giving a long keynote – 30 minutes – on the role of websites in providing local services. Here’s my notes.
When you phone your council out-of-hours, you’ll get a phone message. In December 2007, only 21% of councils referred you to their website in their voicemail message; it was 41% by December 2008, which is an improvement, but still isn’t really good enough. The only reason not to refer people is if you don’t think your website’s good enough – so how do we fix this?
An example of an excellent website is Salford‘s. It has extensive metrics – 16m hits in September! – but lacks the one which really matters; “did you find what you were looking for?”.
According to SocITM surveys, 17% didn’t, and 22% did only partially – and that corresponds to about 16,000 visitors! hat’s more, 71% of councils don’t participate in these SocITM website takeup surveys; they don’t even know the scale of the problem. In any case, this is a lot of people. 40% of those people would then, according to surveys, prefer to phone to get the information – that’d be 6500 phonecalls a month, or well over 200 a day. Each call is frustrating and inconvenient for customers. What’s more, it takes a lot of council resources, especially in a time of budget constraints – a phone call costs over ten times more than a Web visit to deal with (£3.22 vs 27p), and face to face meetings are 20 times more expensive.
This means Web teams will have to think differently: according to Gerry McGovern, the hardest challenge is understanding how people work, not how the website technology works!
This session’s chaired by Dominique Lazanski, alongside Hamish Nicklin from Google, Nominet‘s Phil Kingsland, Jim Killock of the Open Rights Group and Phillip Virgo from EURIM.
How does Government regulation help, or hinder, the growth of the digital economy in the UK?
Phil Kingsland replies first, with the observation that trying to regulate something inherently international like the Internet is intrinsically difficult. Thus far we’ve had self-regulation, and much of the contentious activity on the Internet isn’t in itself new behaviour – it’s been happening offline before too, and there are already laws which cover it.
‘Sometimes, bad things happen on the Net’, says Jim Killock, but like Phil he observes that what you do on the Internet is already subject to national law. What’s more, people self-police bad behaviour: just ask Jan Moir. From there, he goes straight to net neutrality, citing Skype as an example. Next up: digital music and price gouging by the established record labels, as a bridge to making the case for copyright reform, and from there to a generalised call for IP reform. We’re hitting all of the ORG talking points in order, and that’s his five minutes.
Hamish from Google has to follow that. He argues that the Internet has been so successful because it’s been free and open; he believes regulation can be a good thing as long as it accords with those principles. Very short and sweet!
Philip Virgo starts with a confession: he was one of the original architects of software copyrights in the UK. He then says he believes that they outlived their usefulness ten to fifteen years ago, which is quite a statement! He then talks a bit about global commerce – he transition from physical to electronic trading actually happened 30 to 40 years ago, and more recently it moved to the Internet. But, then, what is the Internet?
What’s the colour of the underpants of this wonderful emperor we’re talking about?
Anyway, he says it’s impressive engineering, overlaid with governance principles imbued with the spirit of Haight-Asbury circa 1967, overlaid with lots and lots and lots of lawyerese. (Sounds about right to me.) It’s also the latest evolution of the world’s most complex machine in the world – the global telecoms system.
says Phillip. Apparently 22-player online football games are huge in Korea, but the Internet connections aren’t good enough here to support that – so instead, all they can do is download pirated music… (That’s a new argument for net neutrality, I reckon.). He’s worried about the way we’re ceding the lead – particularly in IPV6 – to China; he’s come back to that twice.
Jim Killock really doesn’t like the music industry very much. That’s probably not a surprise!
If you caught someone littering, you wouldn’t ban them from the street, would you?
Quality rhetoric, and he’s understandably riled by the lack of due process. Hamish from Google brings up technological solutions – can you prevent rights violations from happening? YouTube’s rights-detection software is an example here, letting rights holders dictate how their IP is used. Jim’s okay with that within a bounded service, but uneasy with that on a global scale: he calls it mass surveillance of the Internet for copyright enforcement. Spotify comes up; apparently it’s, singlehandedly, drastically cut P2P traffic.
And Twitter intrudes! Hello out there. @glynwintle asks about three strikes: everyone immediately dismisses it. Phillip Virgo now brings up teenagers in Lambeth eking out their money by getting songs from cheaper Chinese music download sites (which he claims may or may not be legal).
Phil brings up the Internet Watch Foundation, and the way they’ve managed to eradicate child abuse images from UK hosting, as a success for self-regulation. In general, in fact. he thinks the public interest is best represented by self-regulation.
Jim is worried that the government doesn’t get to the public interest because they’re too busy listening to industry lobby groups; Hamish wants to see the Internet stay open and free because that’s best for commerce.
No-one over the age of thirteen should be allowed to vote on any Internet regulation.
And that’s that! Fascinating session.
Tom Steinberg of mySociety follows Adam Afriyie with the last keynote of the morning session. He starts with an announcement – that, with the Open Society Institute, mySociety are seeding similar organisations in Central and Eastern Europe – and a disclaimer: that his new advisory position with the Conservatives will not influence mySociety. After that, he tells us that he’s going to talk about two of mySociety’s projects: Fix My Street and What Do They Know?
It was originally funded by the Ministry of Justice, but that money’s long run out: it’s now paid for out of mySociety’s own pocket. It also, though you might not expect this, has a pretty good relationship with councils, which is a lesson in itself: these kinds of things won’t necessarily be rejected out of hand.
What Do They Know? (funded by the Joseph Rowntree Trust) makes it really easy for members of the public to make Freedom of Information requests. That’s important because it empowers people, particularly if they don’t have the might of a full-on newsgathering organisation behind them.
One question he poses is where to take these services in the future. Tom suggests that they need to do a better job of explaining the compromises of government: for instance, in the case of Fix My Street, actually telling people when “we haven’t fixed this yet because we’re doing all of these other important things first”.
Firstly, that it can be cheaper and more effective to create transparency by putting a nice user interface on top of an existing process rather than re-engineering the entire process. What Do They Know? works on top of the existing FoI infrastructure, so FoI officers don’t have to learn a new system – they can work the same way they always have.
Public data isn’t a good in its own right: it must have a social impact to have an effect. Almost all the websites mySociety operate need data which is under (trading fund) licenses, so even though the software’s open, you can’t run your own copy of mySociety software without buying copies the data.
Good sites are made by good people. Matthew Somerville and Francis Irving get name-checks here: Tom argues that until Government can attract really good developers, it won’t have great systems.
Onto the last two talks before lunch! First up, Shadow Minister for Science and Innovation, Adam Afriyie. He confesses straight away that he would keep closely to his notes — for fear of getting the sack.
Labour “slapped an ‘e-‘ in front of everything that moved”.
Big is not always better, especially because budgets are tight. If you run multiple cheap early-stage pilots and pick up the winners and scale those up nationally, it could make it easier for small companies (now I’m listening!) get access to Government contracts.
Open procurement, and smaller, more flexible projects and systems – which opens the market for open source. Claims £600m potential savings a year; and government look to the market for solutions. Dictate outcomes, not technologies. The Conservatives are, apparently, into cloud computing (arguing that it’s cheaper and greener).
Empowerment: for instance, the Conservatives are reporting their expenses claims, in real time, through Google Docs. Obviously Boris Johnson’s crime maps are a key talking point: Adam brings them back up, and Craig Elder (also of the Conservatives) was mentioning them earlier. In that vein, David Cameron has proposed a “right to data” – if Government data is not personally/diplomatically sensitive, it should be freely available online.
This, and another buzz-phrase – “the post-bureaucratic age” – are soundbites which we’ll be hearing often between now and the general election.
Next – Tom Steinberg of mySociety. | 2019-04-19T08:36:02Z | https://da.vebrig.gs/2009/10/ |
Gemini is the sign of the twins, and is ruled by Mercury – the messenger to the gods. Just from that piece of information we can tell that Gemini rules communication and tends to move around – physically or mentally.
Mercury takes short trips delivering messages from god to god, so Gemini favours taking short trips. This is a great time for a few days away – a break from routine. We’re at the six – month mark of the year, so take a short break and refresh your energy. It’s wonderful what a weekend away will do for you.
Gemini is an air sign and therefore deals with the mental plane and how we think. It is also the sign of the twins – duality. So, does our thinking reflect duality? Are things black and white, am I right you’re wrong? Do I think with my head or my heart? Gemini teaches us to see both sides without blame or judgment. We can lead with our heart, but still see clearly where we are going and think through the plan to get there. They are not mutually exclusive. Every part has its part to play. Duality also recognizes that we have a public side and a shadow side – the side we hide or bury. Our shadow holds all the emotions, behaviour and thought patterns that we may need to clear in order to move forward. Sometimes we’re aware of them, sometimes not. There is no need to judge our shadow side – it is a cherished part of us, the part that, when recognized, helps us to grow. This is a great month to seek out the shadow, to ask it to help us to heal.
Communication is a big part of Gemini’s gift. It covers communication devices, of course, as we all prepare for problems in that area when Mercury goes retrograde. But it also rules the spoken and written word.
Gemini, along with Sagittarius – its opposite sign – are not well known for tact. They both have foot in mouth disease. So, now is a time to reflect on how you communicate. Do you use gentleness in your choice of words? Are you precise in your expression, choosing words that say what you mean? Words are vibration, and affect at a vibrational level. Listen to different words and take note of how you feel in your body when you hear them. For example, “love” has a very specific vibration. “Hate” also has a very specific vibration. Say these words and see how you feel with each. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to be aware of how words affect you at a feeling level. Then listen to how you communicate and see if there is anything you would change. I’d love to hear what you find. Let me know.
This entry was posted in blogs on June 5, 2016 by Web Support.
In Aries, we did the pushing and focusing in the birth of our newness – new awareness, new ideas, new life structures, new ideas. Now it’s time to nurture ourselves after all that work to birth and also to nurture what we have created.
Taurus, the Bull, reminds us to slow down. As the bull, it generally takes it’s time, plodding, taking time to rest and rejuvenate, time to smell the roses along the journey.
Slowing down can be very difficult to do, to let go of the need to always be doing something. But when I slow down, take a good look at my activity – how much of it has actually served to move me forward either physically, mentally , emotionally or spiritually? And How much of it have I really enjoyed?
Those quiet times, those times of reflection, help us to be aware of beliefs that need to be shifted, ideas that have outlives their usefulness. As we grow older, we understand that it’s important to enjoy what we do, how we live. Learn that as early as possible – it’s what keeps us young.
So, your mission: Get out and take a walk. Look at the gardens you pass, stop and greet the new growth. Ask for a Robin to say “hello”. Greet the Sun, the Moon, the Wind, the Rain. Acknowledge them as part of your life – as part of you. Enjoy the scent of Spring – the lilacs will be out soon. By doing this, you nurture and appreciate Natures’ rebirth, and will feel that rebirth in yourself.
The Bull is also a stubborn creature. Push him too far and he’ll dig in his heels. He may be a patient one, but don’t get him angry.
So, Taurus teaches us about patience; patience is a virtue, remember? We’ve grown into a society demanding instant gratification, but dreams need time to grow, to flesh our, to manifest and be reworked as we change. Nothing is ever “done”. It’s all a work in progress – as are we. Allowing the time for things to percolate, allowing people to cahnge in their own time, is so satisfying, when you can do it.
The other side of the lesson is knowing when to draw the line – the point at which the bull charges with steam coming out of it’s nostrils (remember the cartoons?). What are your limits? Where are your boundaries? Self awareness is so important, so take some time in contemplation to discover your limits and your values.
Do I welcome change? If not, how can I be more open, more courageous?
Is there an area of my life that is stagnating? If so, how can I shift this lack of movement?
Do I understand what my core values are? If not, what are they?
This is a time of year when things start to open up, to blossom. Enjoy the process.
This entry was posted in blogs on May 4, 2016 by Web Support.
The last lunar cycle, in Pisces, we built a strong inner base through learning trust, surrender to our intuitive knowing and guidance. We learned how to find inner calm through meditation, yoga, time in nature.
Now, we are in Aries, a fire sign, with the New Moon in Aries on Thursday April 7, 2016. This is another sign where the focus is on the Self, but this time we focus on how we are in the world. Are we authentic, true to ourselves, are we ready to move forward? Are we ready to be the initiator, the leader? Are we able to stand on our own with courage and strength, while still being aware of others and how we affect them?
Aries is the first New Moon in the new Lunar Calendar. We ended one cycle in Pisces and are beginning a new cycle now. What we do, how we think, in Aries, sets the tone for the Lunar Year. This New Moon, choose what you need to focus on with that in mind.
This sign is ruled by Mars, the red planet. Mars rules the blood. The Sun is in Aries, and the Sun rules the heart. The heart pumps the blood throughout the body, bringing new life to our existence. (Thezodiacastrology.com). We have the opportunity to bring new life, new inspiration, new direction to our lives. This is our opportunity.
Aries is the warrior. It learns through action, through doing. Experience is the best teacher. As the new shoots push out through the earth, we push our inspiration, our new ideas into the physical. We take risks, we take action, and we move our lives to the next level. What is the next step for you?
Astrologyking.com talks of this month as a month of change, excitement and higher awareness. We are moving from chaotic and unexpected change to planned and structured change (with the influence of Saturn Retrograde). This is a transition period. It suggests that we take time and care during these transition periods. Explore things carefully before before we jump into new opportunities. So, consider that next step, look before you leap, but do leap.
I am asking for the courage to be authentic in everything I do.
I am asking for guidance and the ability to hear that guidance, around my next step.
I am asking for the perseverance, tenacity and courage to go after what I want to create this year.
This entry was posted in blogs on April 6, 2016 by Web Support.
This month there are two new Moons in Pisces, this Wednesday and again March 20. It always seems to me that when that happens, two New Moons in the same sign, there is extra need for what that sign has to offer, what it supports us to bring forward. So this month, this section is short and sweet. I’ll add some padding to Pisces next New Moon.
Pisces asks us to move into our power, to give up being a victim, a defeatist, one who goes into a panic. This year we’ve been given two chances to initiate that, two opportunities to trust, to take a step forward with support.
To me, this feels like the Universe saying “it’s time to believe in yourself, to trust that you can be the best you possible, that you can fulfill your dreams. Trust me to support you.
And that takes getting to know yourself. And that means spending some time with yourself, So, turn off all the devices that make us feel so busy, the t.v., the phone, the computer etc. Shut them down so you can hear yourself think, feel yourself feel. Put down the book. It’s someone else’s words, not yours’. Just sit. In the sun, in the dark, it doesn’t matter. Take a couple of deep, slow breaths, and just be.
Let thoughts flow through without the need to catch and hold them. Just observe them as they flow. Do the same with feelings that may come up. Sometimes, you may have a question. Ask, then wait. Allow whatever comes to come. If nothing comes, just relax and enjoy the quiet time. There are no guaranteed results, and no guaranteed time frames. Sometimes I feel peace, sometimes I feel centred, sometimes I get answers. Sometimes nothing happens. What will happen for you, I can’t say. It’s up to you to find out.
Try to do this for even 5 minutes a day. Then pay attention. Can you feel a difference? If you can keep with it, be consistent (which is what I am working on) anything can happen.Stay tuned for the next New Moon in Pisces.
This entry was posted in blogs on March 16, 2015 by Web Support.
This New Moon is on Saturday the 22nd of November.
Sagittarius is the seeker of truth of the Zodiac. She is the Archer, shooting her arrows, always searching, always optimistic there is something wonderful ahead.
As the truth seeker, Sagittarius looks to traditional religion and spiritual connection to higher guidance. They connect with prayer and places where people worship – churches, synagogues, mosques. They search for truth in all of these places.
Sagittarius reminds me of the wild child, as in wilderness. They love to be in nature, having a strong connection to the elements, the bush, wide – open spaces – all aspects of nature. This connection helps to bring peace of mind.
Sagittarius loves to travel. They’ll follow those arrows they shoot all over the globe. They are the epitome of the adventurer and explorer. Offer them a trip and see how fast they pack. They can be very spontaneous.
People born under this sign really don’t like to be tied down. They’re restless and need to keep moving. This New Moon is an excellent opportunity to take a look at what might be fencing you in, smothering your spirit. If it’s something physical, it may not be possible to do anything about it, at least not at the moment. However, you can change how you think about it and express it. Reframe the situation; express it as having a choice as in “ I am choosing to “ instead of ”I have to”. That simple change can make a difference. It’s very empowering.
If it’s something mental or emotional, you can work to change it with awareness.
Sagittarius rules the law and higher education. It is said that people born under this sign make excellent lawyers and teachers. Their love of finding the truth helps them to shine. They have a high standard of ethics and conscience.
This sign is not as rosy as those born under it would have you believe, though. Sag needs to take off the glasses once in a while to see things as they really are.
They can be terribly candid, to the point of bluntness, and if they are not careful, can permanently have a “foot in the mouth”. Learning tact would be good for those born under this sign. They can also be a little self-righteous. They really don’t know it all, and really aren’t better than every one else.
This New Moon we are given a little extra support to change these behaviours and invite in the best of Sagittarius.
Physically, Sag rules the hips, thighs, liver and sciatica.
I am asking to learn to be tactful, taking others reactions and feelings into account before I speak.
I am asking to be open to spontaneity in my life.
I am asking to have more travel opportunities presented to me.
I am asking to understand the truth of who I am and what I need in this lifetime to be happy, content and fulfilled.
This entry was posted in blogs on November 19, 2014 by Web Support.
In a period of transition it is very easy to hold onto the past and a past vision. This essence helps us to let go of what was and focus on what we can create from our potential. It helps us to move forward with vision, without fear of the unknown and the future. And it smells really good.
I’ve been using this essential oil for about two weeks now. I’m noticing that the little voice in my head that usually says “you can’t” is now saying “why not – let’s give it a shot!” I’ve been so excited about “Into the Future” that I’ve been sharing it everywhere. It gets rave reviews and people come back for more.
If you would like to try it, give me a call.
This entry was posted in blogs on August 20, 2014 by Web Support.
This is a very interesting time of year. It is still technically summer, but a lot of us have already started to gear up for what almost seems to be a “new year”. It doesn’t quite fit either in summer or in autumn, and in fact, in Chinese Medicine, it is a season on it’s own. It’s a transition time, and as such, has a quality all it’s own. If you pay attention, you can feel the energetic shift from the more laid back energy of summer to the more focused energy of autumn. Thankfully, we have the influence of Virgo to help us adjust.
This New Moon on Monday August 25th is in the sign of Virgo. Virgo is an Earth sign, a very grounded sign ruled by Mercury, who never seems to stop moving. That might give you a hint about Virgo. This is a sign of organization and getting ready. Traditionally, this is a time of getting ready for fall and winter. It’s harvest season, and the men would be gathering the crops and getting the fields ready for winter. The women would be busy putting down preserves, filling the root cellar with vegetables and fruits that would not be available fresh locally in the coming months. It was very grounded activity, very connected to the rhythm of the Earth. There was an orderliness to life in the past, a rhythm that we now either have to create for ourselves or listen very carefully to hear.
Virgo rules physical health, healing and healers. Virgos are attracted to all things natural and pure – healing, nature, being connected to what they are doing – albeit at an intellectual level. Virgos are interested in health and nutrition, understandably as this is a time when we adjust our diet and our physical activity. As the weather changes, our wardrobe changes, our sleeping habits adjust. Our children go back to school (or we do), and we focus more on the business at hand. We suddenly need to be more organized in order to do what we need to do in a day.
Luckily, the Virgo energy will support us in taking care of details, getting organized and getting back into a more structured routine. Virgos tend to be hard on themselves, though. Taking a step back from the details to look at the big picture once in awhile is a good thing. It allows us to see progress.
Life is incredibly chaotic right now. Our personal lives are often too busy, and if we extend our view to what is happening in the bigger world, chaos seems to rule. Taking even just a part of our lives and reclaiming them with peace and serenity is a starting point to helping the global chaos.
People born under the sign of Virgo can be worryworts if they are not careful. Their desire for perfectionism in what they do may lead to blame and both self-judgment and judgment of others. Take a deep breath and let it go…. All of that non-helpful energy can lead to bowel and intestine problems, and give digestion difficulties. A good deep breath can massage those areas, bringing a little peace.
I am asking to be more careful and attentive to the details in my work.
I am asking to relax the need for perfectionism and allow myself to go more with the flow.
I am asking for inspiration around diet and activity changes that will improve my health and my life, and the fortitude to follow through.
I am asking to bring more peace into my life by being more organized and “on top” of what needs to be done.
I am asking to release all judgment of myself and others, and to take responsibility for my actions with love.
This is my personal favourite of the Young Essential Oils that I have tried so far. Valor means courage, strength and self-confidence, and to me that’s what’s contained in this little bottle.
Valor was the first oil I tried when I was introduced to Young Living. I was instructed to rub a drop between my hands then apply it to the spine at the base of the neck. I sat quietly for a moment to experience my body response. I felt heat that extended all the way down my spine, then felt subtle movement in the joints. I was astounded. I later found out that it is affectionately known as “chiropractor in a bottle”. It helps the energy alignment in the body.
Valor is a blended oil, made up of Spruce (opens and released emotional blocks), Rosewood (relaxing, empowering and uplifting), Frankincense (stimulates the limbic system, promotes courage and determination) and blue Tansy (cleanses and calms the limbic system, promotes feelings of self control) in a base of almond oil.
You can use Valor in a diffuser, inhale it, or apply it to the neck, spine, chest, wrists and/or bottoms of the feet.
Young Living Essential Oils can be layered. I often use Valor with Lavender or Abundance. If you’re layering, put the Valor on first, then 5 to 10 minutes later add other oils. That way, valor gets to do it’s thing in preparation for the other oils.
Here’s an interesting video on Valor. It shows the blood cells and how they are affected by sugar and then by Valor.
If you’d like to try Valor, give me a call and we can get together with Valor.
This entry was posted in blogs on July 25, 2014 by Web Support.
This last month in Moon ruled Cancer, we have been nurturing ourselves and others. We took time to “take stock” of where we are in life and perhaps make some decisions. We grounded into home and family so we can once more emerge and get down to business – whether thatis a great summer bash or literally back to busness.
We have moved into sun-ruled Leo, a sign that is about the self, but not so much in a reflective way. Leo is a sign that moves out from the self, rather inward. Do you see the rhythm? The in-breath and the out-breath; lunar to solar.
This is the traditional holiday time in Canada – the end of July and beginning of August, and Leo is an active sign that enjoys a good time. This is the time for a summer romance – Leo likes it intense – as hot as a summer day.
Leo is known as the Lion – courageous, loyal and royal. When those born under this sign are in their element, aligned with true Leo, they radiate self-confidence, leadership, strength and stamina. Leos can be powerful people – they have that potential. Leo’s can be very determined and focused people – great attributes if we want to move forward.
Leo loves to be in the limelight – getting the attention. When confident and standing in their power, they are a great addition to any party or endeavor. They just have to take care not to move into self-centredness or ego.
People born under this sign are often creative. They love to express themselves through the arts and various projects. This seems to be an aspect of Leo that is being underlined this year. We are being asked to step into our creativity, to experience more creativity in our lives. So, pick up a paint brush, do a collage, learn to knit. Whatever tweaks your interest.
Leo’s are very loving, encouraging others with kindness. They are loyal friends and partners and can be quite generous.
Physically, Leo rules the back and spine, the heart, exhaustion and inflammation.
I am asking to develop strong, benevolent leadership qualities, inviting people to follow me, not demanding.
I am asking to be guided to the best healing techniques, guides and products to heal my back and spine.
I am asking to realize self-confidence and stepping into my power in order to follow through with my plans, goals and creative ideas.
I am asking to have a joyful fun vacation this year.
Welcome to New Moon in Taurus. Taurus is the sign of the bull, so you can probably guess what some of its’ characteristics are.
Bulls are known for standing their ground. They have four feet firmly planted. They often have resistance to change, fear change and may have a lack of trust.
Four feet means that they are well grounded and earth bound. They enjoy the earthly pleasures provided by the senses. Physical comfort is important. Having a massage, wearing cashmere or silk, using fragrant oils would appeal to Taurus.
People born under this sign either have or need to develop (are developing) a strong sense of self-worth. Setting boundaries, understanding your value system and living by it and accepting yourself exactly as you are, are things we are supported to learn through the energy of Taurus.
During Aries we planted our seeds, getting ready for new growth. When we move into Taurus, sometimes there is resistance to that growth. Taurus can be afraid to let go, but we need to let go of the old to make room to make room for the new. This involves surrender and trust, a releasing that can soften the heart. There is no mistake in this is the season of Spring Cleaning. We need to let go of all the “stuff” that no longer serves us on the physical level by cleaning house and cleaning our bodies. This is liver cleanse season to clean internally. We also need to give up those emotions and behaviours that no longer serve us.
Taurus is a sign of patience and dependability. This is the energy of taking one step at a time and experiencing life fully. Taurus has a great appreciation and gratitude for the simple pleasures.
So this is a time to be methodical and patient. It is a time to face our fears, let go of resistance, and trust that things will work out. Don’t forget to enjoy the journey, take time for simple pleasures and be grateful for this life.
I am asking for the courage to let go of whatever no longer serves me on all levels.
I am asking to open my heart by surrendering and trusting.
I am asking to develop a healthy sense of self-worth, while acknowledging the worth of those around me.
This entry was posted in blogs on April 29, 2014 by Web Support.
I connected with Diane on skype for the LPIT session and found her to be easily accessible and friendly. Her knowledge and experience of this techniques was clearly visible as she exposed me to this modality. Being a Reiki Master myself, I could easily see how she was clearing the blockages in my chakras and bringing them in balance and harmony. Thank you Diane for this wonderful experience! | 2019-04-21T10:40:32Z | http://circle-of-one.com/author/websup/index.html |
3 years ago in Of Dogs and Men Puppycide documentary Ozymandias Media statistics police shoot a dog every 98 minutes Michael Ozias Patrick Reasonover Kickstarter ~ read.
In Part Two, PuppycideDB researchers investigate the claim that "Every 98 minutes a dog is shot by a police officer". We look at how the statistic first found its way to the national press with the help of a pair of young documentary film-makers, and eventually became one of the most widely used references concerning police shootings of dogs in the United States. Newspapers, magazines and nonprofit groups continue to repeat the "98 minutes" statistic: but is it true?
Just a little over two years ago, a Kickstarter campaign was started in order to raise funds for a proposed documentary. The project was to be called Puppycide: The Documentary and would be a one hour long feature film.
The Kickstarter campaign was created by a California-based company called Ozymandias Media, which consists of Michael Ozias and Patrick Reasonover. The claim that a dog is shot by police officers every 98 minutes featured prominently in the film's fund-raising efforts. Ozymandias Media asked for $100,000 to complete the film.
"Police officers unnecessarily shooting dogs has become a silent epidemic. It’s called 'puppycide,' and every 98 minutes there’s another victim".
No source for the claim was provided.
The Kickstarter raised a tidy sum, but not enough to meet the $100,000 goal. The Kickstarter campaign failed on November 15th, 2013 after having raised $60,397 from 958 backers. When a Kickstarter campaign does not achieve its' fund-raising goal, each contribution was refunded to backers. Ozias and Reasonover were back to square one.
Following the disappointment of the first campaign, but perhaps encouraged by their now-proven ability to quickly gather tens of thousands of dollars, Ozias and Reasonover decided that they could make a shorter film with less than $100,000. A week after their first Kickstarter failed, the pair launched a second campaign. This time, they asked for only $40,000, but the film would only be half as long. Just like the first campaign, the claim that a dog was killed by police every 98 minutes was front and center in the promotional fund-raising on their Kickstarter page.
The second Kickstarter campaign exceeded its goal, raising $45,463 from 693 backers. Those who provided funds were offered incetives based on the size of their contribution: everything from an Executive Producer credit on the film to merchandise like handkerchiefs and sweatshirts. 652 backers were to be provided with a physical copy of the film.
Following the success of the second Kickstarter campaign, the media coverage surrounding Puppycide: The Documentary accelerated. The claim that a dog is killed by police every 98 minutes started to undergo a subtle and gradual change, as well. Its one thing to be raising funds for a film, but now Puppycide: The Documentary was greenlit.
But after Puppycide: The Documentary began production, something strange began to happen. In news coverage mentioning the documentary before the film completed its fundraising efforts, "Every 98 minutes a dog is shot by police" was pretty clearly the tagline for a film. For 1979's Alien, the tagline was "In space, no one can hear you scream." The 1931 classic Frankenstein: had "A monster science created - but could not destroy!" And Puppycide: The Documentary used: "Every 98 minutes, a dog is shot by law enforcement".
After the Kickstarter succeeded, "98 minutes" stopped being used in articles about Puppycide: The Documentary and started being used in articles about dogs who had just been shot by police, or about the phenomenon of puppycide. News organizations began saying the source for the "98 minutes" statistic were not filmmakers, but "animal rights activists" (International Business Times) and eventually an "animal care group" (NBC Miami). The popular liberal news website AlterNet called the film's production company, Ozymandias Media, an "independent research group". There was no mention of any documentary in AlterNet's article.
The statistic ceased to be included in articles about the film "Puppycide: The Documentary", and instead was used in hard news stories reporting animals killed by police.
The appearance of the "98 minute" statistic in AlterNet is a point of interest in itself. Both Patrick Reasonover and Michael Ozias have been described as libertarians in interviews, which may explain why they chose the conservative-leaning Breitbart News to write an Op-Ed piece and why a glowing interview with Reasonover appears in the famed National Review (to their credit, the National Review declined to publish the "98 minute" statistic - but they also declined to ask about it, opting instead to gushingly refer to Reasonover as a "happy warrior"). AlterNet is very much on the opposite end of the of the political spectrum, and spared the filmmakers from any form of partisan sniping. Commentators and news outlets of every political stripe have uncritically repeated the "98 minute" statistic. Ozymandias Media's Kickstarter page has become a trusted, bipartisan source for news media across the country.
This transformation is all the more remarkable as it occurred without the film ever having been released. The documentary has still not been shown to the public or made available for public purchase. The second Kickstarter campaign announced an estimated release date of December, 2014. But come December the only item released was an announcement that the name of the film had been changed from Puppycide: The Documentary to Of Dogs and Men. A new website and a re-vamped trailer accompanied the announcement.
It would be another 11 months before the film premiered on November 1st, 2015 at the Austin Film Festival. As of the time of this writing on December 10th, even the 652 backers who were promised a physical copy of the film by the end of 2014 have yet to receive one, according to the film's Kickstarter page (a smaller number of backers received sweatshirts and stickers in April 2015).
So what is the source for the claim published by Michael Ozias and Patrick Reasonover that a dog is killed by police every 98 minutes?
There does not appear to be a source.
"We’re planning on doing a lot of Freedom of Information Act requests," Reasonover says. "We think it’s happening way more than the statistic we have [...] We think we can get the data by looking at firearm discharge reports. There might not be a box on reports that says, 'Check here if you shot a dog,' but they will probably include information like, 'I discharged my firearm at a dog.' We’d like to show the scale."
"Filmmakers Patrick Reasonover and Michael "Oz" Ozias hope to nail down a rough estimate as part of their research for a documentary called Puppycide."
"'We think it’s happening way more than the statistic we have.' That statistic, which sits at the top of Puppycide's [The Documentary] Kickstarter page: 'Every 98 minutes, a dog is shot by law enforcement.' Activists came up with that number after tallying accounts of dog-shootings from news stories across the country."
The article provides no clarification as to who those activists are - and The Puppycide Database Project was unable to find any examples of activists stating that a dog is killed by police every 98 minutes before Ozymandias Media's Kickstarter. It is possible that such a claim circulated throughout some ephemeral series of social media posts that are no longer available, but that hardly adds credibility - quite the opposite, in fact. All future references for the 98 minutes claim that provide a citation use either Ozymandias media promotional materials or an interview with Ozias and Reasonover as the source.
We made several attempts to contact Ozymandias Media via the email address posted on their website, beginning over a year ago. In our initial contact, we offered to provide Ozymandias Media with access to our research. We never received a response.
Meanwhile, there has been no slow-down in the use of the 98 minutes statistic. If anything, the reliance on its use by the media and activists is increasing. The Puppycide Database Project found it repeated dozens upon dozens of times - by animal welfare organizations like the National Animal Interest Alliance, on television programs like Inside Edition, in centrist policy journals like the National Journal, inside of technology periodicals like WIRED Magazine, in dog breeder magazines and on environmental websites.
Rarely if ever have we seen the statistic provided to readers critically, it is always presented as the result of some vaguely specified investigation. In the few instances where journalists express some reservation about the accuracy of the "98 minutes" claim, it is only to offer an equally-dubious statistic. In an article with the deliberately (and questionably) provocative title "Why People Care More About Pets than Other Humans", Wired Magazine offered the "98 minute" statistic only to contrast it's resulting annual rate of animal killings with a number proposed by Merritt Clifton, editor of Animals 24-7. Clifton commits essentially the same offense as the Puppycide Documentary filmmakers, attributing 300-500 annual killings of dogs to police based on un-sourced and un-published "analyses of media reports". Wired than goes on to state that if Clifton were correct, it would mean that animals are killed at an annual rate that is "about the same as human cop shootings". Their source for human cop shootings? The totally inaccurate and thoroughly debunked FBI accounting of police justifiable homicides.
The producers of "Of Dogs and Men" have a clear-cut fiduciary interest in drumming up media attention for their work. Each uncritical news story that uses the film as a source is providing the producers with a rave review: even better, they suggest that Ozias and Reasonover's film is the summation of socially relevant research and analysis. By contrast, few newspapers would be interested in a headline like "Film makers confirm cops shooting dogs is really no big deal". When a researcher has a financial stake in a specific outcome of their research, we must pay particular attention to the proof of their claims. Ozias and Reasonover have no proof, so we must disregard their claims - (or at least, the "98 minute" claim - there may be other more specific claims in the film that have been thoroughly researched).
That is not to say that we should ignore the individual stories that Ozias and Reasonover no doubt share through their film: stories of families whose lives have been up-ended as the result of police violence that could very likely have been avoided. We do not wish to give readers the idea that Of Dogs and Men is a bad film, or that it has a bad message, or that Ozias and Reasonover did not put an incredible amount of work into making their film. To the contrary, making any film is an extraordinary undertaking that requires skill and determination. Of Dogs and Men could be a great movie, but its producers are not a great source of statistics.
Films have a powerful ability to communicate ideas and emotions. Movies allow us to travel through space and time, limited only by our imagination. Despite this, there are some things that films are simply not all that good at and that are important.
Films can't do your taxes.
Films are absolute rubbish when it comes to clipping your toe-nails.
And as it turns out, films are no good at math, statistics or long-term research that requires tedious fact- and error-checking.
No matter how compelling the story, or how mind-blowing the special effects, no matter how much we believe or how much we want the end result, no matter how much what we are told fits with what we think ought to be right, movies can't make what is make-believe into what is true.
Of course, all of this leaves one last question un-answered. We established that "Every 98 minutes a police officer shoots a dog" was made famous by a pair of young filmmakers. We also established that this claim was offered with no research or analysis with which to confirm it.
Is a dog really shot by police in the US every 98 minutes?
The answer - the only true and honest answer that anyone can provide to this question as of the time of this writing is this: We don't know. No one knows.
There is no complete accounting of the number of dogs shot by police in the United States. No federal government agency requires police to let them know each time they kill a dog. No federal government agency requires police to let them know each time they kill a human being. Puppycide Database Project has a lot of work to do before we can be sure that we can account for every killing.
And it may be impossible to account for every killing. We have learned through our research that police departments across the country regularly destroy lethal force records after a short period of time - typically between 3 to 5 years. We suspect that at least a few police departments or officers within those departments manipulate, hide or even destroy lethal force records. We suspect this because it has been proven this occurs with violent crime records, because police departments have all of the same incentives to manipulate use of force data and because in many instances it would be easier to manipulate use of force data than it would be to manipulate violent crime data. We also suspect that at least sometimes police kill an animal without reporting it to anyone. There are almost 20,000 law enforcement agencies in the US. Almost all of them make it incredibly difficult and expensive to acquire their records related to the use of deadly force. The Puppycide Database Project has no money and a very small number of volunteers.
But few are satisfied with this sort of thing. People demand instant gratification, not answers on the law-away plan! So we will end this article with a brief examination of what we do know.
There are 525,600 minutes in a year. So if one dog is shot by police every 98 minutes, it would mean some 5363 dogs are shot by law enforcement every year.
Within this sample, a police department shoots an average of 10.5 dogs a year. The sample includes police departments shooting dogs at a alarming rate, like Chicago Police Department which is recorded shooting over 80 dogs a year. The sample also includes multiple departments that for periods of multiple years shot absolutely no dogs, such as Carlsbad, Chula Vista and Coronado.
If this sample were representative of all police departments in the country, it would suggest that police are shooting enormous amounts of dogs - many more than one dog every 98 minutes. If all 18,000 law enforcement agencies in the United States are shooting 10.5 dogs a year, it would put the annual number of dogs shot by police at over 188,000. That rate translates to a shooting every 2 minutes 47 seconds.
So why isn't this series about that? Why are we debunking statistical claims instead of focusing on the even more alarming national statistics that can be deduced from the Puppycide Database?
Our sample, as currently presented, does not adequately address problems of statistical bias. Counter-intuitively, the secrecy with which police departments handle their use of force records have forced us to rely on a substantial amount of data obtained either as part of a Consent Decree agreement between a municipal police department and the Department of Justice, or on bulk Freedom of Information or other types of transparency requests performed by journalists in order to obtain complete numbers of shootings within a single department over a significant period of time. Both of these sources of information tend to include police departments in trouble - agencies that engage in systemic patterns of excessive force. Such problems exist in many police departments, but not all of them.
The smaller a statistical sample, the less likely it is to be accurate. The larger Puppycide Database contains thousands of records related to individual animal shootings from hundreds of police departments in all 50 states; we suspect that this wider sample, as well as a more varied array of sources of information, provides a more moderate (and possibly more accurate) look at national puppycide trends.
The truth is that determining trends among a population (in this case, the population of dogs shot by police) quickly becomes complex when the size of the population is unknown [PDF]. The Puppycide Database Project is working on an accurate estimate of the total number of annual dog shootings in the United States. Ultimately the answer will come from a substantial and transparent sample of puppycides from across the country, one or more established statistical analysis techniques from the academic literature and the public review of that work by independent researchers.
In Part Three of our series "Statistics are Misleading 100% of the Time", we will investigate another statistic that is even more widely accepted than the claim we reviewed here in Part Two. Is it true that "Half of all police shootings involve a dog"? Who came up with this statistic and what research is it based on? In order to understand the answers to these questions, we will discuss some basic concepts in research and statistics, like primary sources, bias, sampling and randomness. Click here to read the next article in this investigation!
NOTE: Despite the use of the word "Puppycide" in both Puppycide Database Project and the title of Puppycide: The Documentary, there is absolutely no relationship between our our project and the film. PuppycideDB did write a brief article about the film's first trailer. | 2019-04-24T14:50:13Z | https://blog.puppycidedb.org/statistics-are-misleading-100-of-the-time-part-2/ |
Professor (professeur ordinaire), Chair of Analytic Philosophy, Department of Philosophy, University of Geneva.
Metaphysics, philosophical logic, philosophy of language, philosophy of science, epistemology, philosophy of mind.
Doctorat ès Lettres (PhD) – University of Geneva.
Dissertation: Existential Dependence and Cognate Notions. Supervisor: Kevin Mulligan.
Diplôme d’études supérieures – University of Geneva.
Mémoire: Une analyse de “La géométrie dans le monde sensible” de Jean Nicod. Supervisor: Kevin Mulligan.
Licence ès lettres (MA) – University of Geneva.
Mémoire: Sur la géométrie de l’espace visuel. Supervisor: Jérôme Dokic.
French (mother tongue), English (fluent), Spanish (good).
Lecturer (chargé d’enseignement), Centre of Information and Communication Sciences, University of Neuchâtel.
Professor (professeur extraordinaire), SNSF Consolidator grant “The Metaphysics of Time and its Occupants”, Institute of Philosophy, University of Neuchâtel.
Lecturer (chargé de cours), Department of Philosophy, University of Geneva.
Professor (professeur extraordinaire), Chair of Logic and Contemporary Philosophy, Institute of Philosophy, University of Neuchâtel. Head of the Institute between 19.11.2014 and 5.07.2017.
Assistant Professor, Institute of Philosophy, University of Neuchâtel.
Associate professor (professeur associé – prof. boursier FNS), Department of Philosophy, University of Geneva.
Profesor investigador “Ramón y Cajal”, University Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain.
Member of the LOGOS research group, University of Barcelona.
Teaching assistant, Department of Philosophy, University of Geneva.
Research assistant, IRIS project, University of Geneva and University of Lausanne.
Visiting scholar at NYU, New York.
Research assistant, Swiss National Science Foundation project No 11-55845.98, “Histoire et actualité de la philosophie autrichienne”, dir. Kevin Mulligan., University of Geneva.
Swiss National Science Foundation Consolidator Grant “The Metaphysics of Time and its Occupants” (5-year grant for a research professorship).
Swiss National Science Foundation grant for young researcher. Financed my stay at NYU, New York, as a visiting scholar. (Supervisor: Kit Fine. Academic year: 2001-2002).
Philibert Collart PhD grant (Geneva).
In charge (with Kevin Mulligan) of the centre of metaphysics eidos.
H2020 Marie Curie Initial Training Network “Diaphora: Philosophical Problems, Resilience and Persistent Disagreement”, EC grant agreement 675415, hosted by the University of Barcelona, coordinator: Sven Rosenkranz. Involves 5 Neuchâtelian members. Budget: 482’754 euros.
The Metaphysics of Time and its Occupants: Reconciling the Manifest Image and Contemporary Science, Swiss National Science Foundation Consolidator project, Neuchâtel (2015-2017) and Geneva (2017-2020). Involves 3 members. Budget: 1’250’533 Swiss Francs.
Essences, Identities and Individuals, Swiss National Science Foundation project, Neuchâtel. Involves 1 member. Budget: 131’397 Swiss Francs.
Grounding – Metaphysics, Science, and Logic, Swiss National Science Foundation “sinergia” project, Neuchâtel / Geneva / Hamburg. Involves 10 members. Budget: 1’062’249 Swiss Francs.
The Nature of Existence: Neglected Questions at the Foundations of Ontology, Swiss National Science Foundation project, Neuchâtel / Geneva. Involves 4 members. Budget: 482’555 Swiss Francs.
Essence and Metaphysical Grounds, Swiss National Science Foundation “professeur boursier” project (sequel to the Theory of Essence), Geneva, then Neuchâtel. Involves 1 member. Budget: 280’394 Swiss Francs.
(with Kevin Mulligan.) FP7 Marie Curie Initial Training Network “Perspectival Thoughts and Facts (PETAF)”, EC grant agreement 238128, hosted by the University of Barcelona, coordinator: Sven Rosenkranz. Involves 5 Genevan members. Budget: 210’084 euros.
Mentor within the Sciex-NMSch research project “Time and Modality: A Formal Perspective” (Fellow: Jacek Wawer, Jagiellonian University of Krakow), Geneva. Budget: 62’500 Swiss Francs.
Intentionality as the Mark of the Mental – Metaphysical Perspectives on Contemporary Philosophy of Mind, Swiss National Science Foundation “sinergia” project, Geneva / Fribourg. Involves 11 members. Budget: 1’350’353 Swiss Francs.
The Theory of Essence, Swiss National Science Foundation “professeur boursier” project, Geneva. Involves 3 members. Budget: 1’011’472 Swiss Francs.
Associate member of the LOGOS group, University of Barcelona.
Member of the LOGOS group, University of Barcelona.
The Makings of Truth: Nature, Extent, and Applications of Truthmaking, FFI2012-35026 (Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivity), Barcelona, dir. Dan López de Sa.
Essentialism and the Mind, module of the Swiss National Science Foundation “pro*doc” project “Mind and Reality”, Geneva, dir. Kevin Mulligan.
Fundamentality, Swiss National Science Foundation, Geneva, dir. Kevin Mulligan.
Philosophy of Perspectival Thoughts and Facts, Consolider-Ingenio 2010 Scheme (CSD2009-00056), Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, University of Barcelona, coordinator: Manuel García-Carpintero.
Properties and Relations, module of the Swiss National Science Foundation “pro*doc” project “Mind, Normativity, Self, and Properties”, Geneva, dir. Kevin Mulligan.
Aspectos modales del realismo materialista, HUM2007-61108 (MCYT), Girona, dir. Joan Pagès.
Explicación y representación en la ciencia: aspectos pragmáticos y estructurales, HUM2005-04369 (MEC), Tarragona, dir. José Díez Calzada.
Ontological Dependence, HUM2004-05609-C02-01 (MEC), Barcelona, dir. Manuel García-Carpintero.
Formal Concepts, IRIS project, Geneva and Lausanne, dir. Kevin Mulligan.
Histoire et actualité de la philosophie autrichienne, Swiss National Science Foundation project, Geneva, dir. Kevin Mulligan.
Member of the Bureau of the SOPHA (Société de Philosophie Analytique), 2009-2015.
Treasurer of the Swiss Society for Logic and Philosophy of Science, 2007-2018.
Panel member of Thought: A Journal of Philosophy.
Member of the editorial committee and of the consulting board of the journal Dialectica, Sept. 2007 – Nov. 2011.
Referee for: Analysis, American Philosophical Quarterly, Australasian Journal of Philosophy, Crítica (UNAM), Dialectica, Dialogue, Erkenntnis, Journal of Philosophical Logic, Journal of Philosophical Research, Journal of Philosophy, Journal of Applied Non-Classical Logic, Logique et Analyse, Mind, Noûs, Pacific Philosophical Quarterly, Philosophers’ Imprint, Philosophical Quarterly, Philosophical Studies, Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, Philosophy Compass, Repha, Review of Symbolic Logic, Sophia, Studia Logica, Synthese, Teoria, Theoria (Sweden), Theoria (Spain).
Co-organizer (with Vincent Grandjean) of the Fifth DIAPHORA workshop: Determinism and Open Choices, Neuchâtel, December 2018.
Co-organizer (with Claudio Calosi, Kevin Mulligan and Christian Wüthrich) of the Time, Time, Time summer school, Swiss Institute, Rome, August-September 2018.
Co-organizer (with Claudio Calosi, Robert Michels and Alex Skiles) of Metaphysics sans phrase. 10 years of eidos – the centre for metaphysics, Geneva, November 2017.
Co-organizer (with A. Bardon, D. Bordini, V. Buonomo, C. Calosi, S. Iaquinto, D. Ingram, U. Meyer, K. Miller, B. Neeser, G. Torrengo, C. Wüthrich and N. Young) of the Fourth International Association for the Philosophy of Time Meeting, Gargnano, Italy, June 2017.
Co-organizer (with Benjamin Neeser and Claudio Calosi) of the Grounding the Quantum World workshop, Neuchâtel, September 2016.
Co-organizer (with Maria Scarpati) of the Haecceitism and Individuals workshop, Neuchâtel, August 2016.
Co-organizer (with Benjamin Neeser and Claudio Calosi) of the Spacetime and Fundamentality workshop, Neuchâtel, June 2016.
Co-organizer (with Kevin Mulligan, Jan Plate and Alexander Skiles) of the CUSO workshop Problèmes de premier ordre et de second ordre en métaphysique, Ovronnaz, June 2015.
Organizer of the SSLPS Workshop on Logical Pluralism, Neuchâtel, December 2014.
Co-organizer (with Christine Tappolet) of the Colloque de jeunes chercheurs de la SoPhA, Ovronnaz, March 2014.
Co-organizer (with Jiri Benovsky, Michael Esfeld and Kevin Mulligan) of the Metaphysics of Time Workshop, Lausanne, July 2013.
Co-organizer (with Alexander Skiles) of the Explanation in Metaphysics Workshop, Neuchâtel, June 2013.
Co-organizer (with Sven Rosenkranz and Chiara Panizza) of the PETAF Space and Time Workshop, Barcelona, December 2012.
Co-organizer (with Ghislain Guigon, Emiliano Boccardi and Natalja Deng) of the Time and Explanation Conference, Geneva, September 2011.
Organizer of the First PETAF Workshop, Geneva, December 2010.
Co-organizer (with Benjamin Schnieder) of the Because II conference, Berlin, August-September 2010.
Co-organizer (with Jiri Benovsky) of the workshop Grounding, Explanation and Dependence, Geneva, March 2010.
Organizer of the SSLPS meeting on Plurals and Plural Quantification, Geneva, October 2009.
Co-organizer (with Amanda García, Jessica Leech and Johannes Stern) of the eidos Metaphysics Conference, Geneva, July 2008.
Co-organizer (with Benjamin Schnieder, Philipp Keller and Kevin Mulligan) of the Because conference, Geneva, February 2008.
Organizer of the Barcelona-Geneva-Nottingham Workshop, Barcelona, October 2006.
Co-organizer (with Marta Campdelacreu and Ghislain Guigon) of the IInd Barcelona-Geneva Philosophy Meeting, Geneva, November 2005.
Co-organizer (with Chiara Panizza) of the LOGOS Colloquium, Barcelona, academic year 2004-2005.
Co-organizer (with Dan López de Sa) of the Ist Barcelona-Geneva Philosophy Meeting, Barcelona, May 2004.
Organizer of the Graduate Students Seminar, department of philosophy, University of Geneva, summer term 2003.
Co-organizer (with Fabrice Teroni) of the Colloquium for Swiss PhD Students in Philosophy, Bern, Switzerland, March 2003.
Co-organizer (with Kevin Mulligan) of the Formal Concepts colloquium, Geneva, November 2002.
Organizer of the Graduate Students Seminar, department of philosophy, University of Geneva, academic year 2000-2001.
MA seminar “Topics in the philosophy of time”, University of Geneva.
BA course “Introduction to the philosophy of language”, University of Geneva.
MA seminar “Topics in philosophical logic”, University of Geneva.
BA course “Introduction to logic”, University of Geneva.
MA seminar “The logic and metaphysics of modality”, University of Geneva.
BA course “Introduction to metaphysics”, University of Geneva.
MA seminar “Properties”, University of Neuchâtel.
MA seminar “Quantifiers”, University of Neuchâtel.
BA course “Introduction to first-order logic”, University of Neuchâtel.
MA in Cognitive Sciences seminar “Philosophy of mind”, University of Neuchâtel.
BA seminar “Existence, non-existence, and what there is in between”, University of Neuchâtel.
BA course “Introduction to propositional logic”, University of Neuchâtel.
MA seminar “Non-classical logics and their philosophical applications”, University of Neuchâtel.
BA seminar “Temporal existence”, University of Neuchâtel.
MA seminar “Essence, identity and grounding”, University of Neuchâtel.
MA seminar “Philosophy of logic”, University of Neuchâtel.
MA seminar “Metaphysics and philosophy of language: the philosophy of time”, University of Geneva.
BA seminar “Topics in metaphysics”, University of Neuchâtel.
BA seminar “Introduction to metaphysics”, University of Geneva.
MA seminar “Theories of meaning”, University of Neuchâtel.
MA seminar “Paradoxes”, University of Neuchâtel.
MA seminar “The epistemology of modality”, University of Geneva.
BA seminar “The philosophy of modality”, University of Neuchâtel.
MA seminar “The metaphysical structure of the world”, University of Neuchâtel.
MA seminar “Elements of modal logic”, University of Neuchâtel.
BA seminar “The theory of reference since Frege”, University of Neuchâtel.
MA seminar “The philosophy of time”, University of Neuchâtel.
MA seminar (part) “Topics in logic and metaphysics”, University of Geneva.
Advanced BA seminar (part) “Séminaire des assistants”, University of Geneva.
MA seminar (part) “Topics in philosophical logic”, University of Geneva.
MA seminar (part) “Topics in Metaphysics”, University of Geneva.
MA seminar (part) “Ontology and Metaphysics”, University of Geneva.
Advanced BA seminar “Truthmaking”, University of Geneva.
Advanced BA seminar “Vagueness”, University of Geneva.
Advanced BA seminar “Topics in philosophical logic”, University of Geneva.
Advanced BA course “Essence and Modality”, University of Geneva.
PhD course “Quantification”, University of Barcelona.
MA course (part) “Topics in formal logic and ontology”, University of Geneva.
BA course (part) “Introduction to logic”, University of Geneva.
PhD course (part) “Topics in ontology”, University of Barcelona.
PhD course “Quantified modal logic”, University of Barcelona.
Advanced seminar “Time and its logic”, University of Geneva.
1st year course “Introduction to logic and the philosophy of language”, University of Geneva.
Advanced seminar “Notions of metalogic”, University of Geneva.
1. Marie Oreiller (Master, University of Geneva, viva: September 2008).
2. Sylvain Hurni (Master, University of Geneva, viva: September 2009).
3. Marion Hämmerli (Master, University of Geneva, viva: September 2010).
4. Pablo Carnino (Master, University of Geneva, viva: February 2012).
5. Vincent Grandjean (Bachelor, University of Neuchâtel, viva: September 2013).
6. Arman Haftgoli (Master, University of Neuchâtel, viva: February 2015).
7. Lysiane Christen (Bachelor, University of Neuchâtel, viva: September 2015).
8. Vincent Grandjean (Master, University of Neuchâtel, viva: September 2015).
9. Grégoire-Martin Peeters (Master, University of Geneva, viva: September 2015).
10. Giacomo Giannini (Master, University of Bologna, co-supervisor: Walter Cavini, viva: March 2016).
11. Léa Farine (Master, University of Neuchâtel, viva: June 2016).
12. Timour Nigolian (Bachelor, University of Geneva, viva: June 2016).
13. Gaétan Bovey (Bachelor, University of Neuchâtel, viva: July 2016).
14. Anaïs Giannuzzo (Bachelor, University of Geneva, viva: September 2017).
15. Anouchka Wyss (Master, University of Geneva, viva: April 2018).
16. Cassiane Pfund (Master, University of Geneva, viva: September 2018).
17. Gaétan Bovey (Master, University of Neuchâtel, viva: September 2018).
1. Jessica Leech (Universities of Geneva and Sheffield, co-supervisor: Bob Hale, viva: October 2011).
2. Amanda García (University of Geneva, viva: October 2012).
3. Johannes Stern (University of Geneva, co-supervisor: Karl-Georg Niebergall, viva: November 2012).
4. Akiko Frischhut (Universities of Geneva and Glasgow, co-supervisor: Fiona Macpherson, viva: January 2013).
5. Salim Hirèche (University of Geneva, viva: November 2016).
6. Pablo Carnino (University of Geneva, co-supervisor: Marcel Weber, 2012-).
7. Maria Scarpati (University of Neuchâtel, co-supervisor: Olivier Massin, 2013-).
8. Jan Walker (University of Geneva, co-supervisor: Thomas Strahm, 2013-).
9. Dominik Aeschbacher (University of Geneva, co-supervisor: Benjamin Schnieder, 2015-).
10. Benjamin Neeser (University of Geneva, 2015-).
11. Vincent Grandjean (University of Neuchâtel, co-supervisor: Richard Glauser, 2016-).
12. Jonas Werner (University of Hamburg, co-supervisor: Benjamin Schnieder, 2017-).
13. Joshua Babic (University of Geneva, 2017-).
14. Léa Farine (University of Neuchâtel, co-supervisor: Thierry Herman, 2018-).
1. Sònia Roca (PhD, University of Barcelona, 2007).
2. Marta Campdelacreu (PhD, University of Barcelona, 2007).
3. Pablo Rychter (PhD, University of Barcelona, 2007).
4. Luc Schneider (PhD, University of Geneva, 2007).
5. Jiri Benovsky (Habilitation, University of Fribourg, 2011).
6. Robert Michels (PhD, University of Geneva, 2013).
7. Damiano Costa (PhD, University of Geneva, 2014).
8. Jonathan E. Banks (PhD, University of Leeds, 2014).
9. Pierre Saint-Germier (PhD, ENS Lyon, 2015).
10. Baptiste Le Bihan (PhD, University of Rennes, 2015).
11. Alain Pe-Curto (PhD, University of Geneva, 2017).
12. Katsuya Takahashi (PhD, University of Geneva, 2019). | 2019-04-23T22:41:55Z | https://fabricecorreia.com/cv-long/ |
Tod Adams qualified as a Registered Nurse in 1984 and has worked in a broad range of hospitals from large tertiary centres and private hospitals to small remote clinics in Arnhem Land Australia. She is an endorsed Nurse Practitioner.
Currently Tod is the manager of Rural Education Innovation and Learning. Her role covers the management of the Mobile Simulation Centre and the Training Support Unit which provides cultural and clinical education for health staff working with Aboriginal mothers, babies and children.
Tod is passionate about patient safety through education and equity and access to high quality education for all of NSW health staff regardless of their postcode.
Tod is an active board member of the Australian Society for Simulation in Health, Australian Lung Foundation – COPD and the Zonta Club of Berry.
Tod lives on an acreage in Falls Creek, NSW (west of Jervis Bay). She is the 2018 jam and chutney champion Nowra Show, taking out 2 blue ribbons.
Len Waters is a Kamilaroi man raised in Toomelah, a small Aboriginal mission located 20km from Goondiwindi on the Queensland/NSW border.
After spending 20 years of his working life in Aboriginal education within the NSW TAFE sector, Len took his passion for sharing his culture to the next level in 2016, establishing his own Cultural Tours business which he runs from Tamworth, NSW.
With a promise to "take you on a spiritual journey from the ancient to the contemporary," Len Waters Aboriginal Cultural Tours provides a range of cultural experiences for schools, community groups, families, business and industry groups.
From Kamilaroi language lessons, to storytelling experiences out under the stars, and major stage productions - the Len Waters Cultural Spectacular - Len is a well versed cultural practitioner.
Annette is one of our State’s most senior health leaders with significant experience in areas including health management, multi-professional education, culture change, quality improvement and research. She is currently Chief Executive of the Health Education and Training Institute (HETI).
Annette is a people-oriented Chief Executive, interested and actively involved in person-centred care practices as well as leadership development to provide a person-centred approach to healthcare and a workplace culture of effectiveness - Annette sees this as foundational to a highly skilled workforce.
Within her role at HETI, Annette is focused on strengthening relationships with health and academic partners, and creating an innovative environment in which excellence in education and training can be delivered to support the diverse NSW Health workforce to achieve improved health outcomes across our State.
Mr Michael DiRienzo is Chief Executive of Hunter New England Local Health District and is responsible for all health services across more than 120 health facilities from major tertiary referral hospitals to rural community health centres.
Following an 18-year career in Finance, Supply and Logistics in the manufacturing industry, Mr DiRienzo joined Health in 1999. He has since held various Executive Director and General Management positions throughout the Health Service. He was Executive Director Operations – Acute Networks from 2005 until his appointment to Chief Executive in 2011.
Mr DiRienzo is a board director of the Hunter Medical Research Institute and Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network.
As Chief Executive of Hunter New England Health, Mr DiRienzo has led the implementation of a range of initiatives that support staff to put patients at the centre of everything they do, provide patient-centred care and build a positive workplace culture.
Excellence, Every Patient. Every Time is Hunter New England Health’s approach to doing the right thing for patients, their families, and by our staff. Excellence provides staff with proven tools and techniques to align goals, behaviours and processes to improve patient-centred care, and to build the capability of leaders and staff to ensure everyone is working in the best interests of patients and the organisation.
Leslie Williams is the State Member for Port Macquarie and in February 2017 was appointed to the position of Parliamentary Secretary for Regional and Rural Health.
She has held numerous roles in the NSW Parliament since being elected in 2011 including Chair, Committee on the Health Care Complaints Commission, Parliamentary Secretary for Renewable Energy, Minister for Early Childhood Education, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Assistant Minister for Education.
Leslie’s employment history is broad and includes working as a registered nurse at the Port Macquarie Base Hospital and a secondary school teacher with the SA Department of Education.
Whilst living in Darwin she was employed by the Sudden Infant Death Association of the Northern Territory as their CEO and was a delegate to the National SIDS Council of Australia.
Despite a busy schedule representing her community in State Parliament, Leslie continues to be actively involved in many community organisations including Rotary, the Hastings Business Women's Network and Bravehearts and has been a Mid North Coast Ambassador for the Cancer Council’s ‘Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea’.
She was also an Executive member of the Port Macquarie Suicide Prevention Network and was a founding member of the Hastings Men's Shed.
Fiona Coote grew up as a healthy young Australian girl in Manilla, north west NSW.
In March 1984, at the age of 14, Fiona contracted a virus which developed into viral myocarditis. Within a month, she became Australia’s second heart transplant recipient at St.Vincent’s Hospital, lead by the late Dr Victor Chang.
In January 1986, Fiona underwent a second heart transplant operation under the same medical team.
Since then, Fiona has mostly enjoyed good health and a wonderful quality of life.
Fiona has been involved with numerous charities, however her main focus has been the Victor Change Cardiac Research Institute, the St Vincent’s Heart-Lung Transplant Team and Donate Life.
In 2012 Fiona joined the beyondblue Board of Directors.
She has a strong personal interest in mental health issues and has a valuable insight into the mental health impacts on people and families, especially in cardiac and medical situations.
Fiona is a Member of The Order of Australia.
Professor Worley has had a distinguished career in rural health, both as a practitioner and an academic. He studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating in 1984 and has worked as a Rural Generalist in rural South Australia; first at Lameroo, and then in Clare, Barmera and currently at Yankalilla. He lives in South Australia with his wife, and has seven children (including three children in-law) and five grandchildren.
From 2007 - 2017 he was Dean of Medicine at Flinders University in South Australia, where he established Rural Clinical Schools and University Departments of Rural Health in both South Australia and the Northern Territory and guided the conceptualisation and development of the Northern Territory Medical Program with a clear focus on recruiting and supporting Indigenous students and staff. While at Flinders University, Professor Worley developed and nurtured programs which are now recognised globally as models for the establishment of rural medical, nursing and allied health education.
Professor Christine Jorm has doctorates in neuropharmacology and sociology and practiced as an anaesthetist before moving to roles focused on improving the safety and quality of care - at unit, institutional and national levels.
Her passion for achieving sustainable change in healthcare led her to research, adding academic achievements to her leadership and policy experience. In all roles, Christine has sought to identify problems, develop solutions and influence organisations. Prior to commencing with the NSW Regional Health Partners she was working with the Grattan Institute to influence national health policy, co-authoring three safety and quality reports as a visiting fellow. She has published on a broad range of safety and quality topics, health policy, medical culture and medical and interprofessional education.
Professor Jorm has a wealth of clinical, academic and government knowledge and experience. Under Christine’s leadership the NSW Regional Health Partners is striving to change the face of research knowledge implementation in healthcare. The Centre aims to create benefits for regional, rural and remote populations living in the Hunter New England, Central Coast and Mid North Coast Local Health Districts. Christine will also contribute to the national agenda of improving health for all Australians living in regional and remote locations.
For more than 25 years, Stewart Dowrick has advocated for and worked towards greater access to quality health care for communities. Appointed the Chief Executive of the Mid North Coast Local Health District in January 2011, Mr Dowrick works with the region’s clinicians and the community to provide health care through strategic and quality management.
Mr Dowrick began his career in health care administration at the then Children’s Hospital at Camperdown in 1989. He moved to the Central Coast Area Health Service in 1993 and the Mid North Coast Area Health Service in 1999.
Since 2000 he has held Area Health Service executive positions on Mid North Coast and North Coast Area Health Services, overseeing health projects from Taree to Tweed Heads. As Chief Executive, Stewart’s priorities for the Local Health District include overseeing a 10-year capital redevelopment program and working within a mufti-partnered approach to develop future opportunities for higher education and research in the region.
Mr Dowrick holds Post and Undergraduate degrees from the University of NSW and University of Newcastle and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Mr Dowrick continues to be actively involved with a range of community and sporting activities. He was also invited in 2015 to act as Deputy Secretary, System Purchasing and Performance Division in the NSW Ministry of Health. He has taken a specific interest to improve information services and research opportunities in rural health and the Mid North Coast Local Health District is recognised as making important steps to implement a wide range of strategies towards “Closing the Gap”. He has tertiary qualifications from the University of NSW and Newcastle University, and is a ‘White Ribbon Ambassador’.
Richard Colbran is Chief Executive Officer of the NSW Rural Doctors Network (RDN).
Richard is an experienced senior executive of State and National non-profit organisations. He is a strong advocate for social leadership and has a professional interest in building contemporary business practices of not-for-profits to enhance the sector’s impact and benefit for communities.
Richard has a commercial background in strategy, partnerships and program management and values multi-agency and community collaborations that bring together the strengths and competencies of each partner for mutual benefit.
Kevin Anderson was elected Member for Tamworth in March 2011.He is a member of the Legislative Assembly in NSW where he represents more than 55,000 people in his electorate.
In the Legislative Assembly, Kevin is also the Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Roads, Maritime and Transport – assisting the Minister for Roads Freight and Maritime and the Minister for Transport.
Kevin served in the Communications Branch of the Royal Australian Air Force before becoming a journalist with Prime Television and later becoming the Communications Manager with Hunter New England Area Health Service.
Just prior to politics, Kevin owned and ran an advertising and marketing business in Tamworth.
As a rural MP Kevin works determinedly to ensure that the region has the best and finest resources available to support our hard working front line staff in providing the necessary services to the community and to build on the growth of our regional communities.
Kevin and his wife Anna have three children, William, who is a Naval Officer in Canberra, 16 year old Ella and 12 year old Sam.
Born in South Sudan in 1984, one of eight children, Deng was conscripted as boy soldier at just six years old before going to war when he was only 10. Instead of playing games and singing children's songs he learnt war songs and was taught to love the death of others.
He escaped the army in 1995 and arrived in Australia as a 14-year-old refugee in 1998. After teaching himself to read, write and speak English, Deng won a scholarship to study law at the University of Western Sydney in 2005 and graduated with a Bachelor of Law in 2010. He later obtained his Masters degree in Law at the University of Wollongong.
A biomedical engineer determined to redefine the boundaries between human and technological evolution, Dr Jordan Nguyen designs a wide range of futuristic, life-changing, and intelligent technologies.
His forays into the worlds of advanced technologies include projects in Biomedical Devices, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Cloud Computing, Virtual Reality, and Augmented Reality.
Jordan was named in create magazine's Most Innovative Engineers in 2016, and has been named in Onalytica's Top 100 Global Influencers on Virtual Reality in both 2016 and 2017, and was a NSW Finalist for Australian of the Year 2017.
A TV documentary creator and presenter, public speaker for over a decade, and the founder of Psykinetic, a social business that creates advanced empowering and inclusive technologies, Dr Jordan Nguyen is working towards a superhuman future.
Nicole Turner is a Kamilaroi woman who currently lives on the New South Wales coast near Kempsey.
She is the current chair person for Indigenous Allied Health Australia and also Adjunct Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Canberra.
Nicole is one of very few qualified Aboriginal community nutritionists in Australia, and currently works for Hunter New England Health as the program manager of Healthy Lifestyle programs.
In 2017, Nicole’s team received the Tackling Childhood Obesity NSW Premier's Award for the Aboriginal Go4fun initiative.
Nicole’s passion is nutrition and living a healthy lifestyle.
Professor Nicole Lee is an international leader in methamphetamine policy and practice. She is Director at Australia’s leading alcohol and other drug specialist consultancy, 360Edge, and Professor at the National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University.
Nicole currently serves on the Australian National Advisory Council on Alcohol and other Drugs (ANACAD) and is Deputy Editor at the journal Drug and Alcohol Review. She has previously served on the boards of the Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs (APSAD), the Alcohol and other Drug Council of Australia (ADCA) and the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy (AACBT), as National President and Chair.
Professor Nicole Lee has provided advice on drug policy to international agencies, including World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), as well as International and Australian governments. She has published extensively in the alcohol and other drug area with more than 100 journal articles, books, chapters and clinical guidelines.
After playing basketball at a high level with names such as Andrew Gaze, and being an incredibly fit and healthy young man with a happy-go-lucky attitude, addiction took over Jack’s life. His personality, attitude and outlook were completely altered.
Over many years Jack used daily, cocktailing intravenous ice use with an array of prescription medication, marijuana and alcohol. This lead Jack to psychosis, suicide attempts, overdoses, homelessness, abuse, crime, broken relationships, malnutrition, family destruction and bitter regret.
After having his life flash before his eyes whilst looking in the mirror, Jack checked in for treatment at 196cm (6’5") weighing only 64kg. He had attempted suicide only two weeks earlier and was suffering from the lingering effects of psychosis. Substances and addiction ripped away possession of Jack’s health, integrity and spirit from underneath him, robbing his parents of a son and his brother of a role model.
From these experiences, Jack is extremely passionate about using the destruction of his past as his greatest asset to give the hope of freedom to people suffering with addiction, and educating the community with the sometimes confronting and shattering reality of addiction.
Working at the coalface of addiction treatment with various leading addiction treatment centres in Australia, appearing on national television, regularly commenting in broadcast media and print, working with government and being in and around addiction for over a decade, he has positively impacted thousands of lives.
Jack has an abundance of knowledge both personally and professionally about substances, addiction and how to turn a chaotic nightmare into a fulfilling dream.
Health and the arts come together at this year’s Congress with a theatrical play about healthcare by the Hush Foundation.
"What Matters" most in health care for patients, doctors, staff, cleaners, family, everyone – is kindness!
Based on true stories, this new Hush Play shows how acts of kindness can have the most surprising outcomes.
What Matters is written by Alan Hopgood AM and Dr Catherine Crock AM. | 2019-04-24T15:05:31Z | http://www.nswrhrc.com.au/ehome/346818/speakers/ |
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Yesterday, Robert Dusek and Hudson Akridge of GFX presented on NHibernate, which is a powerful way to persist data. The meeting was a big success - we had our largest turnout - about 20 people. There was a lot of good dialogue both before and after the presentation. We also announced the progress on the new LCNUG website, including our flourishing job board (6 jobs from 3 different companies so far).
For any software project, there's always something new to research. Even if the flood of new technology suddenly freezes, most projects would still struggle just to catch up to the existing technology. While a lot of small to mid-size departments don't have dedicated research teams (or even tasks), here are some ideas to subtly incorporate research items into your schedule.
Emphasize the low-hanging fruit with the highest return - Not all research tasks are equal. A SQL static code analyzer (which benefits everyone on the team) may be far more profitable than some crusade to make sure no-one uses Hungarian notation n C#.
Piggyback off of existing assignments. If you're implementing an Aspx page, it may be the time to investigate Ajax, JQuery, or even something smaller like just JSON - you'd essentially have "the wind at your back". You could research an unrelated task, like hosting your build process on virtual machines, but you'd be doing it all alone, without the support of your current assignments.
Focus on just one or two things at a time. You could easily list 50 things to do - new technologies, tools, refactoring, open-source projects, controls to integrate, upgrading your framework, testing, automation, code generation, etc... If you juggle too much, it will all crash and you'll have nothing.
Finish what you start; Actually deliver something - "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." For many departments, the thinking is it's better to have a weak solution that's completed (and hence usable - i.e you have something), than a powerful solution that's "still in progress" (and hence unusable - i.e. you have nothing.). The workplace is ablaze with buzzwords. Anyone can spew forth buzzwords or suggest grandiose visions, but at the end of the day - management cares about things that are actually done.
Work incrementally - Management may initially not allot 4 weeks to research how Ajax benefits your web app, but you could spend a day here integrating it, a day there using an update panel, another day later pulling in the Ajax Control Toolkit. Yes, it's slower, but it's better than nothing.
Establish a track record to "earn" bigger opportunities - As you gradually get research items actually completed, you'll become more credible, and will therefore probably be given more opportunity to research bigger tasks. For example, an unknown new-hire may be allowed to "explore" for a day, but a credible senior developer - who's already delivered many successful features - may be allowed to explore a research task for weeks.
To fix a normal squeaky door is relatively easy - just tap out the axle that joins the hinges, oil that, tap it back in, and... no more squeaky hinge. After the 20th such hinge, I got the hang of it. So, whenever my wife says the hallway doors are squeaking (translation: "please fix them"), I'm looking forward to an easy task. However, the other day she mentioned that the fridge door was squeaking. Now that was an issue. Taking off one hinge at a time for a hallway door is easy - but fridge doors aren't built like hallway doors, so you need to take the entire door off. Taking off the entire fridge door is hard (at least for me). But, alas, there was no other way. So, I got out the necessary tools, and took the entire fridge door off, oiled the door axle, and... it too stopped squeaking! The moral is that, just like in software development, people often need to take one step back before taking two steps forward. Maybe that means throwing away precious code, reading a long article instead of just jumping to a quick solution, writing a unit test harness, or something. The current problem might require you to "take the fridge door off".
Ajax Issue: "The history state must be small enough to not make the url larger than 1024"
I got a really weird Ajax bug the other day. I was working on an ASP.Net website and got this cryptic error whenever clicking a postbacking button within an Ajax update panel.
In this specific case, the element tag didn't have the toUpperCase() method. It had worked before, everything seemed strange. To make a long story short, it appeared to be a problem from installing VS SP1. We had installed the old Ajax toolkit. The new SP updated the System.Web.Extensions.dll assembly in the GAC, which created different script resource files.
It worked on some machines and not on others because some machines had SP1 installed, and others did not. The new version is installed in the GAC, so the web app would always reference the new one. Note that both had the exact same credentials (like assembly version= 3.5.0.0), but different file versions.
This blog explained that that’s essentially a bug, and we can fix it from the registry.
and remove its data, so that in the "Edit multi-string" dialogue box, the "Value data" textbox is empty.
NOTE – you may need to copy the System.Web.Extensions to your web’s bin folder and recompile the solution in VS.
You should now be able to hit postbacks within Ajax update panels without errors.
Every now and then some amazing book comes out. And then comes people who insist that "you're not a real developer" unless you've read that book. I was reminded of this while reading reviews on Amazon for some of the hot books out there. While there are core competencies that every dev should know, there are also a lot of fringe topics, and multiple books on the same topic. And while a lot of these things are valuable, I think such an exclusive approach is damaging because it emphasizes not what you know and can apply ("can you write code with design patterns"), but rather what you've read.
For example, of course the GoF design patterns book is phenomenal. However, is it really that bad if someone read the C# translation of it instead (Design Patterns in C# by Steven John Metsker), or even skipped the books and went with purely online tutorials? I'd expect a "senior developer" to know what a design pattern is, recognize the buzzwords, and know how to apply them. However, if they got to that point from a different path then "normal" (?), I think that's okay. Part of the problem is that one cannot read it all, so it effectively encourages bluffing - developers buy classic books and display them on their bookshelf like trophies, and are afraid to let on about their shortcomings for fear of being rejected.
In short, I think it's far more effective to offer positive criteria like "developers on this team must be fluent in design patterns, automated testing, and writing clean code", as opposed to exclusive criteria like "you must have read book X".
Surveys are a great way to find team consensus and get everyone's opinions - especially anonymous surveys. While you could use blank sheets of paper, another way is to offer a web survey. A great tool for that is Survey Monkey. I've taken several surveys with them before, but what I didn't realize is that you can set up a free account, and start sending out real surveys right away - almost like setting up a free hotmail account. Of course there are limits, and they sell packages for more advanced features and quantity. However, for small and simple online surveys of 20 people, the free product works great.
You could ask your team all sorts of questions, like why don't we write more unit tests?, why do we break the build?, what would it take to work twice as fast?, and the like.
I'm a big fan of unit testing. A related question to "How many tests are sufficient?" is "Why don't we write good unit tests?" While I've seen some people attribute it to purely negative things like laziness or dumbness or lack or care for code quality, I think that misses the mark. While sure, there are some devs who don't write tests for those reasons, I think there are tons of other devs who are hard-working, smart, and do care about their work, but still don't write good or sufficient unit tests. Calling these hard-working coworkers "dumb" isn't going to make anything better. Here are some reasons why a good-intentioned developer might not write tests.
I think I already write sufficient unit tests for my code.
I don't have time - the tests take too long to initially write.
I don't have time - the tests take too long to maintain and/or they keep breaking.
The unit tests don't really add value. It's just yet another buzzword. They don't actually catch the real errors. So it's not the best use of my time.
It's so much faster to just (real quick) run through my feature manually because all the context is already there (the data, the web session, the integration with other features, etc...).
My code isn't easily testable - unit tests are great for business logic in C#, but I write code other than C# (SQL, JS), or things that aren't business logic (like UI rendering), or my code is too complex for unit tests.
My code isn't easily testable - there are too many dependencies and limits. For example, I can't even reference an ASP.Net CodeBehind in a unit test.
The tests take too long to run (the full test suite takes about 10 minutes, even without the database tests it still takes 3 minutes).
I write code that already works, so it doesn't require unit tests.
My code is so simple so that it doesn't need tests. For example, I'm not going to test every option in a switch-case.
Sounds great, but I just don't know how to write tests for my code.
Note that I absolutely don't offer these as excuses, but rather as practical ideas to help understand a different perspective so you can improve things. For example, if someone is working on a 2-million line project that takes 5 minutes just to compile, let alone run any sort of test, they might skip running the tests with a "I don't have time" mindset. Yes, I still think it's overall faster to write and run the tests, but at least it helps you understand their perspective so you can try to meet them half way (perhaps improve their machine hardware, split up the solution, split up the tests, etc...). Of, if someone thinks that unit tests don't catch "real errors", then you can have a discussion with concrete examples. Either way, understanding someone's reasons for doing something will help bridge the gap.
By this time, every developer probably knows that along with a hundred other tasks, they're also supposed to write unit tests. One common question from devs still new to testing is "how many tests are enough?" I think there's a couple idealistic guidelines (disclaimer: I haven't personally implemented all the ideas below, it's more of a brain dump). My goal here isn't to say "as a developer, you need to add even more tasks to your already-full plate", but rather "here are practical ideas to help you know when you're done."
Code coverage - Perhaps the most obvious, and automated, thing is code coverage. The team may agree that X% coverage is sufficient, and then have the automated build fail when new code doesn't meet that policy.
Test Lines of Code - Some developers explain that they usually have X% lines of code for their tests as they have for their production "system-under-test" code. I've heard devs mention between 40% and 100% (one line of test code per production code). I'm personally not too sure how well this works out, and if it couldn't more effectively be captured by code coverage.
The logic is flushed out - Unit tests are great for checking boundary conditions, different code paths, various inputs, etc... If you don't have enough tests to catch the basic logic, then you don't have enough tests.
The logic is documented - Related to the concept above, one of the benefits of unit tests is to document the code, especially the edge case conditions (what happens if this input array is null, what if I pass in a negative int, etc...). Ideally there are sufficient tests such that the common boundary cases are easily exposed and documented for someone who is reviewing the code.
Will the tests catch errors? - Ideally, there is sufficient test coverage such that a test will fail if another developer "accidentally" breaks your code.
Be able to write new tests - Ideally, there would be enough testing infrastructure such that you can write a new test for every logic error that arises. Even if a component has little code coverage. For example, often having to write even just a single unit test will force you to think about the component such that you could write more tests if you had to.
A while back I pondered what it would take to motivate a developer to work overtime. I was thinking about the flipside of that - what would discourage a developer from working overtime?
Constantly change the feature on them - This can be like pulling the rug out from under their feet. I saw this all the time in consulting - for some projects, everything was "of absolute importance". People get burnt out and stop being motivated. After all, why waste my evening plowing on a feature, if the whole thing is just going to be scrapped tomorrow at some executive's whim?
Assign boring tasks - This speaks for itself.
Provide slow hardware - Not having the proper tools to do your job is just demoralizing. Imagine your manager with a slow laptop - would they wait 60 seconds while their machine freezes when they try to send a single email, or wait 10 seconds every time they clicked a new cell in Excel? Of course not, they'd get furious about how such a slow machine prevents them from effectively doing their work. Same thing for developers - every time a laptop freezes when you try compiling, getting source code, or running tests, it just demoralizes and frustrates the developer. Yes, savvy developers can optimize their machine, but at the end of the day, the .Net development environment has certain hardware needs. For example, it's just wasting their time asking a developer to work on a machine with only 1 GB ram, or 5400 rpm hard drive, or a 1 GHz processor. They'll spend idle time throughout the day - constantly losing their rhythm. The manager saves a few hundred bucks, but both demoralizes their developer and diminishes the return of a $100,000 resource (total cost of the developer = salary + benefits + other stuff HR could tell you about). It's an absolutely clueless business model.
Never reward positive accomplishments - Management can offer "non-monetary" rewards like verbal affirmation, or allotting schedule time to pursue a promising research project.
Waste their time during the normal work day - If a developer already "wastes" time due to excess meetings, pointless issues, rework from original bad design, or waiting on a slow machine, why would they spend their own evening to "make that time up" - time that should never have been taken from them in the first place.
Assign them to a "sinking ship" project - Some projects are fundamentally screwed - the core architecture is hopelessly lost, or there's already a run-away bug list, or the spec is unstable (or even contradictory). There's little motivation to work on this kind of suicide project.
Have them do a task the hard way because the manager won't pay for the proper tools. For example, have a developer spend 100 hours writing an ajax datagrid, when you could just buy third-party controls for much cheaper. Or, have a developer scour through thousands of lines of database plumbing instead of using a code generator or ORM.
The irony of it all is that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer - i.e. A good environment will motivate the developers to work overtime (or at least be more productive during the day), hence getting farther ahead. Whereas a bad environment will constantly demoralize, frustrate, and slow down its developers, thus getting farther behind.
This is just a partial list - anything to add? What sort of things discourage you from working overtime?
Very practical - A custom tool can fill a very practical niche, and let you complete a task much faster than the alternative. Usually if there's some tedious task that takes more than an hour, and I can write the tool in an hour, I'll write the tool to do it.
You can consume it - There's something special about seeing your own code in action, especially when it's sparing you from a lot of tedious grunt work. I still get a kick out of running the MassDataHandler tool which makes it trivial to insert test SQL data.
Small scale - If you're working on large (legacy) applications, whipping out a small tool can be refreshing. Some custom "throw-away" tools can be as quick as an hour to write.
Huge variety - It's easy to get pigeon-holed into a specific technology or application framework. Writing a tool lets you explore areas of .Net that you might never get the chance to look at else wise. For example, some application developers might never touch reflection, diagnostics, threading (!), networking, or even streams because their application framework (usually written by someone else) abstracts those all away.
You can share it with the world - Tools are usually isolated and self-contained (i.e. not glued to a huge framework), and hence easy to share. They are often business-independent, so you can open-source a development tool without revealing any business secrets.
Normal English words and developer buzzwords use very different letters. For example, normal English words always have vowels, and usually have lots of E's and A's, while having very few X's and Q's. Developer buzzwords seem the exact opposite (think SQL, LINQ, XML, XAML, AJAX, etc...).
Acronyms by their nature are short. So, lots of 3 and 4 letter buzzwords.
Because developer buzzwords use the rare (i.e. high point-value) letters like X and Q, you could really build up a high score. | 2019-04-21T18:47:21Z | http://www.timstall.com/2009/01/ |
There are several directions of this Court in W.P.No.15068 of 2003 to list it along with C.R.P.No.2501 of 2002 by docket proceedings dated 4.12.2008, 17.06.2010 and 19.07.2010.
The subject matter in both these cases and also the parties are one and the same. Hence, with the consent of both parties, both the matters have been heard together and disposed of by a common order.
For the purpose of convenience, the parties are herein after referred to as they are arrayed in the writ petition.
2. C.R.P.No.2501 OF 2002:- This Civil Revision Petition is filed by the A.P. State Wakf Board, against the Judgment and Decree in O.S.No.30 of 1999 dated 13.06.2001 on the file of the A.P. Wakf Tribunal, Hyderabad, wherein the suit filed by the plaintiffs therein against the Wakf Board for grant of perpetual injunction was decreed.
C.R.P.M.P.No.8994 of 2017 was filed under Order I Rule 10 of Code of Civil Procedure, seeking to implead the petitioners therein as respondents 10 to 15 in the main Civil Revision Petition and this Court by order dated 24.08.2018 allowed the said petition.
3. W.P.NO.15068 OF 2003:- This writ petition is filed, challenging the notice issued by the respondent, Wakf Board in File No.1807/LG/RR/95, dated 18.6.2003, wherein the respondent appointed the enquiry officer under Section 54(3) of the Wakf Act, 1995 (for short, the Act) to cause enquiry into the matter as to whether the subject property is the Wakf property.
4. It is the case of the petitioners that originally the subject lands admeasuring Ac.2.24 guntas was purchased by one Mr.K.Mallanna father of Mr.K.M.Narasimha Rao, who is the husband of Smt.K.Padma Bai under 19 different registered sale deeds during the year 1932 onwards. After the death of K.Mallanna and K.M.Narasimha Rao, the petitioners purchased plots out of Ac.2.24 guntas in Sy.No.58, situated at Tirumalgherry Village, Secunderabad under a registered sale deed dated 21.8.2001 from Smt.K.Padma Bai and others. While so, one Mohsin Ali Khan filed a complaint before the Wakf Board against their vendors with ulterior motive and hence the Wakf Board tried to interfere with the possession of their vendors. Their vendors filed O.S.No.30 of 1999 on the file of the Wakf Tribunal, Hyderabad to restrain the Wakf Board from interfering with their peaceful possession and enjoyment in respect of their lands and that the Wakf Tribunal after thorough trial, decreed the said suit on 13.06.2001. Thereafter, the petitioners purchased the said property from their vendors, vide registered sale deeds.
5. It is further stated that the Wakf Board issued a notice under Section 54(1) of the Act in File No.1807/LG/RR/95, dated 16.4.2002 to their vendor G.Mahender Reddy stating that the subject property is the wakf property and called for his explanation. He submitted his explanation dated 17.07.2002, stating that the said property is not the wakf property and they are not encroachers and it is private property purchased by them through registered sale deeds. There is a temple in portion of lands and that they are paying taxes to the Cantonment Board and also informed about the suit filed by them. After receipt of the above explanation, the Wakf Board again issued a notice under Section 54(3) of the Act in File No.1807/LG/RR/95, dated 14.10.2002, stating that the Board appointed under Section 71 of the Act one Mr.Jalaluddin as an enquiry officer with full powers that of a civil Court under the pretext that the property is the wakf property and to cause enquiry. On that they filed W.P.No.1074 of 2003 on the file of this Court, and the respondent Board for the reasons best known to it, withdrew the said notice dated 14.10.2002. In pursuance thereof, the writ petition was also withdrawn as there was no cause of action survives for adjudication.
6. It is further stated that the respondent Board once again issued a notice in File No.1807/LG/RR/95, dated 18.06.2003, which is impugned herein, appointing said Syed Jalaluddin under Section 54(3) of the Act to enquire into the subject lands and submit a report. Aggrieved thereby, the present writ petition has been filed, contending that the notice is contrary to the Judgment and Decree in O.S.No.30 of 1999 and there is no official Gazette notification issued under Wakf Act showing that the subject lands as wakf property and prayed to allow the writ petition by setting aside the impugned notice dated 18.06.2003. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners relied on a judgment reported inMadanuri Sri Rama Chandra Murthy V. Syed Jalal , regarding the procedure for appointment of Survey Commissioners for the purpose of making survey of wakfs in the State and publication of notification of the wakf properties in the official gazette.
7. The respondent Wakf Board filed a counter affidavit and contended that the subject property is the wakf property and relied upon the entry in Muntakab and prayed to dismiss the writ petition and to allow the Civil Revision Petition.
9. In the grounds of Civil Revision Petition filed by Wakf Board only three grounds which were relied upon i.e., ground No.5 that the Court below (Wakf Tribunal) failed to appreciate the documents Exs.B1 to B8; and also ground No.7 that the Court below failed to see that Ex.B1 Muntakab is nothing but certificate of Wakf. In ground No.8, it is submitted that any property registered under the earlier law is deemed to be registered under Section 43 of the Act.
10. The Court below framed issue No.1; whether the plaintiffs are entitled for perpetual injunction as prayed for. In this regard, the Court below has examined PWs.1 and 2 and marked Exs.A1 to A90, in all 84 documents on behalf of the plaintiffs. Further, the Court below examined DW.1 and marked Exs.B1 to B8 on behalf of the defendant.
11. Now, the point for consideration is; whether the plaintiffs are entitled for perpetual injunction as decreed by the Wakf Tribunal. Pw.1 in his evidence categorically stated that one Mr.K.Mallanna and his son K.M.Narasimha Rao were the original owners and pattedars of the plaint schedule property admeasuring Ac.2.25 guntas in Sy.No.58 of Tirumalgherry Village and that they acquired the said property under 19 different sale deeds dating back to 1932 onwards. The original registered sale deeds are in Urdu and they filed English translation in the Court below and they are marked as Exs.A1 to A34. After the death of K.Mallanna and his son K.M.Narasimha Rao, their legal heirs sold the plaint schedule property to plaintiffs 1 to 3 and M/s.Modi Construction under an agreement of sale marked as Ex.A39. Later M/s.Modi Construction relinquished their right in the said property by executing an agreement marked as Ex.A40. Plaintiffs 1 to 3 entered into a compromise with the occupants of the 30 tenements and as per the compromise, the tenants agreed to give part of their land to plaintiffs 1 to 3 and that plaintiffs 1 to 3 agreed to construct houses for them and accordingly, they entered into the agreements Ex.A41 to A61 and Exs.A62 to A67 are the receipts towards payments made to the tenants. Exs.A68 to A71 are the receipts and Exs.A72 to A79 are the assessment forms in the name of K.M.Narasimha Rao. Exs.A80 to A86 are the photographs of the suit property.
12. In the cross examination on behalf of the Wakf Board, PW.1 denied the suggestion that the suit property is an open land and there are no tenements and he stated that the plaintiffs and the tenants are in possession and enjoyment of the property and it is the private property and that the Wakf Board has no right to interfere with their possession. The 5th plaintiff, who was the son-in-law of late K.M.Narasimha Rao was examined as PW.2 and he corroborated the evidence of PW.1 on all material aspects of the case.
13. On behalf of the Wakf Board, DW.1 who was working as Executive Officer has been examined and he stated that old Sy.No.54, corresponding to new Sy.No.58, admeasuring Ac.2.24 guntas of Tirmalgherry Village is a wakf property attached to Dargah Hazrath Koh-e-Imam Zamin. According to revenue records and Munthakab, the suit property is Inam land. The total extent attached to said Dargah is Ac.82.27 guntas and out of which Ac.55.10 guntas was acquired by defence authorities by paying compensation and remaining extent left over is Ac.27.17 guntas and Sy.No.58 admeasuring Ac.2.24 guntas is part and parcel of the remaining Ac.27.17 guntas. According to DW.1, there is a temple and also a Church in the said land. The Wakf Board has issued a notice under Section 54(1) of the Act to the occupants and the tenants have represented before the Wakf Board and the Wakf Board fixed the rent and asked them to execute rental agreements and pay rents to the Wakf Board.
14. In the cross examination, DW.1 admitted that he has not filed any rental agreements or receipts in support of his contention to show that the Wakf Board is in possession of the property and the occupants are its tenants. DW.1 also stated that there is no mention that the property was registered in the Endowments Register maintained by Ummare Majabi, which means, there is no record to show that the said property is wakf property. DW.1 admitted that in Column No.6 of Sy.No.58 it is shown as Mafi Inam land, but in Column No.2, it is mentioned as agricultural land attached to a temple. There is no evidence to show that old Sy.No.54 corresponding to new Sy.No.58. The existence of a Temple and Church in the subject land gives a doubt as to whether the subject land is wakf property.
15. Admittedly, the plaintiffs are in possession of the suit property and the defendant was never in possession of the same. The defendant failed to establish that the Wakf Board is in possession and the plaintiffs were in unlawful possession of the suit property. The defendant failed to establish its right over the subject land. The plaintiffs have categorically fulfilled the requirements to grant an order of injunction on the weightage of the evidence and exhibits marked in their favour. The findings given by the Court below suffers no legal infirmities and the judgment and decree, granting injunction by the Court below is confirmed. The Civil Revision Petition filed by the Wakf Board is liable to be dismissed.
16. The writ petitioners herein are the respondents in the above Civil Revision Petition. They filed the present writ petition, challenging the impugned notice dated 18.06.2003, issued under Section 54(3) of the Act in File No. No.1807/LG/RR/95. Before issuing the impugned notice, the respondent on the earlier occasion issued notice dated 16.04.2002 in File No.1807/LG/RR/95 and also issued notice dated 14.10.2002. Thus, the impugned notice is the third notice issued under Section 54(3) of the Act. Initially on 16.4.2002, notice was issued under Section 54(1) of the Act. The Chief Executive Officer of the Wakf Board indicated that the Dargah Koh-e-Imam-e-Zamin, situated at Tiramalgherry is a registered wakf having landed property comprising in Sy.No.58, admeasuring Ac.2.24 guntas. Further with a pre-meditated mind, the respondent has observed that Mr.M.Mahender Reddy has un-authorisedly encroached a part of land to an extent of Ac.2.24 guntas belonging to the Wakf institution and to explain as to why an order under Section 54(3) of the Act, requiring him to remove the encroachment should not be issued. In pursuance thereof, a reply to the said show cause notice was submitted on 17.07.2002, explaining the antecedents of the property and also about the Judgment and Decree in O.S.No.30 of 1999. They also stated that it is a private property and it is not the wakf property and they are in lawful possession as owners. Later, the respondent has issued the order dated 14.10.2002, appointing an enquiry officer under Section 71 of the Act to enquire into the matter and submit the enquiry report to the Wakf Board by conducting enquiry under Section 54(3) of the Act. It is also indicated in the said order that the enquiry officer shall have the same powers as are vested in a civil Court under Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.
17. It is submitted by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners that W.P.No.1074 of 2003 was filed, challenging the notice dated 14.10.2002 and in pursuance of the withdrawal of the above notice by the respondent, the writ petition was withdrawn as no cause of action survives for adjudication. It is an undisputed fact and there is no denial. The respondent once again issued the order dated 18.06.2003 with a pre-meditated mind, stating that the persons 1 to 14 in the list appended and to whom impugned orders have been served are encroachers and a show cause notice under Section 54(1) of the Act was issued and on receipt of the reply, the Wakf Board while denying the contentions of the explanation has opined that prima facie, it is a fit case to cause an enquiry and thus, the Chief Executive Officer of the Wakf Board appointed the enquiry officer.
18. At the stage of admission, this Court granted interim suspension of impugned order dated 18.6.2003 vide W.P.M.P.No.18642 of 2003 dated 23.07.2003. Undisputedly, the petitioners and their vendors are in possession of the subject land and prima facie, they are entitled for the injunction in the light of the exhibits marked in O.S.No.30 of 1999. The petitioners have also placed before the Court, relevant documents marked as exhibits in support of their claim to show their title and possession upon the subject land. The respondent has grossly failed to establish its possession upon the property.
5. Publication of list of wakfs.(1) On receipt of a report under sub-section (3) of section 4, the State Government shall forward a copy of the same to the Board.
(2) The Board shall examine the report forwarded to it under sub-section (1) and publish in the Official Gazette a list of Sunni wakfs or Shia wakfs in the State, whether in existence at the commencement of this Act or coming into existence thereafter, to which the report relates, and containing such other particulars as may be prescribed.
Provided that no such suit shall be entertained by the Tribunal after the expiry of one year from the date of the publication of the list of wakfs.
Explanation.For the purposes of this section and section 7, the expression any person interested therein, shall, in relation to any property specified as wakf property in the list of wakfs published after the commencement of this Act, shall include also every person who, though not interested in the wakf concerned, is interested in such property and to whom a reasonable opportunity had been afforded to represent his case by notice served on him in that behalf during the course of the relevant inquiry undersection 4.
The decision of the Wakf Tribunal in O.S.No.30 of 1999 is in favour of the petitioners herein, the plaintiffs before the Tribunal in whose favour the suit is decreed.
(c) doing generally of such acts as may be necessary for the control, maintenance and superintendence of wakfs.
(2) In exercising the powers of giving directions under sub- section (1) in respect of any wakf, the Board shall act in conformity with the directions by the wakf in the deed of the wakf, the purpose of wakf and such usage and customs of the wakf as are sanctioned by the school of Muslim law to which the wakf belongs.
(3) Save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, the Chief Executive Officer shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned to him or delegated to him under this Act.
54. Removal of encroachment from wakf property:- (1) Whenever the Chief Executive Officer considers whether on receiving any complaint or on his own motion that there has been an encroachment on any land, building, space or other property which is wakf property and, which has been registered as such under this Act, he shall cause to be served upon the encroacher a notice specifying the particulars of the encroachment and calling upon him to show cause before a date to be specified in such notice, as to why an order requiring him to remove the encroachment before the date so specified should not be made and shall also send a copy of such notice to the concerned mutawalli.
(2) The notice referred to in sub-section (1) shall be served in such manner as may be prescribed.
(3) If, after considering the objections, received during the period specified in the notice, and after conducting an inquiry in such manner as may be prescribed, the Chief Executive Officer is satisfied that the property in question is wakf property and that there has been an encroachment on any such wakf property, he may, by an order, require the encroacher to remove such encroachment and deliver possession of the land, building, space or other property encroached upon to the mutawalli of the wakf.
(4) Nothing contained in sub-section (3) shall prevent any person aggrieved by the order made by the Chief Executive Officer under that sub-section from instituting a suit in a Tribunal to establish that he has right, title or interest in the land, building, space or other property: Provided that no such suit shall be instituted by a person who has been let into possession of the land, building, space or other property as a lessee, licensee or mortgagee by the mutawalli of the wakf or by any other person authorised by him in this behalf.
(b) authorise any person in this behalf to hold an inquiry into any matter relating to a wakf and take such action as it thinks fit.
(2) For the purposes of an inquiry under this section, the Board or any person authorised by it in this behalf, shall have the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) for enforcing the attendance of witnesses and production of documents.
73. Power of Chief Executive Officer to direct banks or other person to make payments:(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, the Chief Executive Officer, if he is satisfied that it is necessary and expedient so to do, make an order directing any bank in which, or any person with whom any money belonging to a wakf is deposited, to pay the contribution, leviable under section 72, out of such money, as may be standing to the credit of the wakf in such bank or may be deposited with such person, or out of the moneys which may, from time to time, be received by bank or other person for or on behalf of the wakf by way of deposit, and on receipt of such orders, the bank or the other person, as the case may be, shall, when no appeal has been preferred under sub-section (3), comply with such orders, or where an appeal has been preferred under sub-section (3), shall comply with the orders made by the Tribunal on such appeal.
Since Section 73 of the Act deals with the banks and financial transactions, it cannot be ignored and under Section 71(1)(b) and (2) of the Act, the enquiry officer is vested with the powers to hold an enquiry and they shall have the same powers as are vested in a civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.
36. Registration.(1) Every wakf, whether created before or after the commencement of this Act, shall be registered at the office of the Board.
22. It is not in dispute that the respondent has not registered the subject land in its registers and there is no registration and no gazette notification was published by the respondent to show that the subject lands are wakf property. In the absence of the preliminary requirement that the physical possession and title documents are with the respondent, it is unjust on the part of the respondent to appoint an enquiry officer vesting with powers of a civil Court once again to decide the issue, which was already decided elaborately in O.S.No.30 of 1999 by the Wakf Tribunal. This order dated 18.06.2003 of the respondent is nothing but sitting over the judgment and decree of the Wakf Tribunal. In spite of the detailed judgment in O.S.No.30 of 1999 and the reply submitted by the occupants to the respondent, it cannot be construed that petitioners are encroachers of the wakf property and they are liable to be evicted. Prima facie, the respondent has not proved by cogent evidence that the subject land is the wakf property and it has miserably failed to establish the same.
23. The impugned order of the respondent do not speak about the purpose of withdrawing the earlier order dated 14.10.2002 and issuing a fresh order dated 18.06.2003. The impugned order dated 18.06.2003 do not deal with the contentions of the reply and the said order is passed with pre-meditated mind that the petitioners are encroachers and are liable to be evicted. The impugned order dated 18.06.2003 is nothing else but reviewing its own order dated 14.10.2002. There is no power vested with the respondent to review its own order suo motu. The decision of the respondent appears to be unilateral and under the garb of issuing notice and passing an order without giving cogent reasons is the one, which is bad and arbitrary and is contrary to law and also contrary to the Judgment and Decree passed in O.S.No.30 of 1999 and therefore, the impugned order cannot be sustained and the same is liable to be quashed.
24. Accordingly, the Civil Revision Petition is dismissed. The writ petition is allowed and the notice issued by the respondent in File No.1807/LG/RR/95, dated 18.06.2003 is quashed. No order as to costs. As a sequel, the miscellaneous petitions pending if any shall stand closed. | 2019-04-21T10:48:16Z | http://indiankanoon.co.in/a-p-state-wakf-board-vs-m-mahender-reddy/ |
Hamlet without the Prince would not be a very good play. Janet Yellen’s March 29th speech features a world economy without the Fed. It’s not a very good description of the world economy.
The FOMC left the target range for the federal funds rate unchanged in January and March, in large part reflecting the changes in baseline conditions that I noted earlier. In particular, developments abroad imply that meeting our objectives for employment and inflation will likely require a somewhat lower path for the federal funds rate than was anticipated in December.
“Developments abroad” since December have been minimal. The major development since December was a very modest pull back in global real GDP growth estimates for 2016 and 2017, from 3.6% to 3.4% and 3.8% to 3.6% respectively. But at least half of the pullback was due to downgrades to US growth estimates, not “abroad”.
Given the risks to the outlook, I consider it appropriate for the Committee to proceed cautiously in adjusting policy. This caution is especially warranted because, with the federal funds rate so low, the FOMC’s ability to use conventional monetary policy to respond to economic disturbances is asymmetric. If economic conditions were to strengthen considerably more than currently expected, the FOMC could readily raise its target range for the federal funds rate to stabilize the economy. By contrast, if the expansion was to falter or if inflation was to remain stubbornly low, the FOMC would be able to provide only a modest degree of additional stimulus by cutting the federal funds rate back to near zero.
Available policy instruments are now more plentiful for tightening than easing. But doesn’t that tell us that the Fed should also be biased towards overshooting on inflation? The risks of undershooting on inflation given the sticky wages problem are far, far more serious than from overshooting on inflation.
One must be careful, however, not to overstate the asymmetries affecting monetary policy at the moment. Even if the federal funds rate were to return to near zero, the FOMC would still have considerable scope to provide additional accommodation. In particular, we could use the approaches that we and other central banks successfully employed in the wake of the financial crisis to put additional downward pressure on long-term interest rates and so support the economy–specifically, forward guidance about the future path of the federal funds rate and increases in the size or duration of our holdings of long-term securities. While these tools may entail some risks and costs that do not apply to the federal funds rate, we used them effectively to strengthen the recovery from the Great Recession, and we would do so again if needed.
Tools, tools, tools. It should be targets, targets, targets. A 2% inflation ceiling is a prison. Have a more realistic, explicitly flexible target for inflation and you stand much more chance of escaping the prison. And you won’t need all the tools if you dig your escape tunnel in the right direction. If the tunnel just goes from one corner of the jail cell to the other you won’t make it out – no matter what tools you have.
Of course, economic conditions may evolve quite differently than anticipated in the baseline outlook, both in the near term and over the longer run. If so, as I emphasized earlier, the FOMC will adjust monetary policy as warranted. As our March decision and the latest revisions to the Summary of Economic Projections demonstrate, the Committee has not embarked on a preset course of tightening. Rather, our actions are data dependent, and the FOMC will adjust policy as needed to achieve its dual objectives.
We all know you are not on a pre-set path of rate rises, praise the Lord. Winds will blow, currents flow. Things happen. But what if your economic projections are consistently much more optimistic than the markets, and the markets believe you will tighten according to the command of those projections? The dotplot for future rates will then cause alarm and market reactions. Not the dots themselves but the economic projections, the models that generate those projections.
In logic if you start with a falsehood anything can follow. The Philips Curve is false and so the market fears anything can come out of the Fed.
Financial market participants appear to recognize the FOMC’s data-dependent approach because incoming data surprises typically induce changes in market expectations about the likely future path of policy, resulting in movements in bond yields that act to buffer the economy from shocks. This mechanism serves as an important “automatic stabilizer” for the economy. As I have already noted, the decline in market expectations since December for the future path of the federal funds rate and accompanying downward pressure on long-term interest rates have helped to offset the contractionary effects of somewhat less favorable financial conditions and slower foreign growth. In addition, the public’s expectation that the Fed will respond to economic disturbances in a predictable manner to reduce or offset their potential harmful effects means that the public is apt to react less adversely to such shocks–a response which serves to stabilize the expectations underpinning hiring and spending decisions.
This penultimate paragraph appears to be a nod towards Market Monetarism. The market reaction to bad economic news will save the day as it carries an implicit reaction function by the Fed. This is the “bad news is good news” meme. Sure it happens sometimes, but only when the Fed is on a loosening bias. Things are much more uncertain when unexpected bad news occurs and the market doesn’t know what the bias of the Fed is. And it is really bad when the Fed is on a tightening bias and there is bad news, “bad news is bad news” days are really bad. We saw them in January and February of this year after Fischer’s disastrous “four more hikes” interview.
A closer reading of this paragraph makes it seem like the Fed just doesn’t know what it is doing, a consequence of its sticking to false Philips Curve models. It needs to get a better target than hard to measure inflation, and then let the market steer monetary policy properly. There is nothing predictable about this Fed other than it will continue to be unpredictable.
Such a stabilizing effect is one consequence of effective communication by the FOMC about its outlook for the economy and how, based on that outlook, policy is expected to evolve to achieve our economic objectives. I continue to strongly believe that monetary policy is most effective when the FOMC is forthcoming in addressing economic and financial developments such as those I have discussed in these remarks, and when we speak clearly about how such developments may affect the outlook and the expected path of policy. I have done my best to do so today, in the time you have kindly granted me.
The whole speech is suffused with a view that the Fed is outside of things, not an active player. Until the Fed realises it is the key player we will never get proper monetary policy. The concrete targets set by the fed to fulfil their dual mandate needs reform. The targets they have now don’t work and cause harm and confusion. We need a Hamlet with the Prince, we need a world economy with a self-aware Fed with the right monetary policy, one that is both player and a writer of the play.
Although some might be impressed by the Yellen Fed’s reaction function, to Market Monetarists it more appears like a willful child, shooting off in pursuit of a shadow (phantom inflationary projections), before being hauled back to reality by their parents (the market).
Perhaps the Fed is reacting better than in 2008, but perhaps not. Perhaps the US economy is weakening much more than they realize, like in 2008, and that merely not tightening is nothing like loose enough. The recent trend in NGDP growth is certainly flashing a warning signal.
I think the first point is a fairly fine distinction. There isn’t much difference between a forecast result and a recommended result if the forecast is made by someone in a position to influence that result.
The dots seem to me to be a bit of a sideshow, what is really important are the economic forecasts of RGDP, PCE Price Inflation and unemployment. If the FOMC projects that these indicators will all be above target in two years’ time then the market can only draw one conclusion – policy will be tightened.
Even on target projections can provide an interpretative challenge. Are the projections only on target because the FOMC has assumed rate rises to pre-emptively prevent an overshooting of targets?
What rightly concerns the market is that the FOMC appears to think it has to raise rates despite PCE Price Inflation well below 2% now. And, to a lesser extent, that the FOMC unemployment can now only go up from current levels.
The market can only infer that the FOMC thinks PCEPI will rise well above 2% in two years’ time unless it raise rates further, and that employment will not suffer from the rate rises.
The FOMC members must be very confident about the economic recovery and the future path of PCEPI and employment. The dots help the market interpret the confidence of the FOMC in its economic forecasts, with both scenarios of no rate rises and one including rate rises. The fact that the economic projections incorporate projections of rate rises means that the market is right to see the dots as a commitment to the trajectory.
The problem is the FOMC economic projections contrast with the much more cautious view of the market on the economy. Market implied expectations for PCEPI, through looking at always higher implied CPI, are much lower than the FOMC projections. And here lies the interesting and market-moving clash.
Are the FOMC willing to put their money, or rather decisions, where their mouths, or rather projections, are? Will they raise rates and tighten policy thinking that their own inflation projections are so far superior to those of the market?
If they do move to raise rates further this will be seen as damaging the economy as evidenced by the markets dropping further. The FOMC says it is data-driven, but is highly selective in the data it chooses. Historic, open to revision and question, data is OK for them to observe, but data that indicates the best guess of hundreds of thousands of investors about the likely future such as market prices is ruled out. The market then worries that the FOMC will only react to the damage that they have caused when the economic data continues to follow current weak trends, or worse.
Alternatively, if the FOMC holds off from rises then the market will wonder what it is that they are looking at if not their own economic forecasts. This is the heart of the FOMCs credibility problem. The markets see the FOMC as an unreliable friend, the FOMC sees markets as unreliable, period.
The FOMC raises its economic projections above the market´s and then sometimes use them to justify a monetary policy and sometimes lay them to one side. The FOMC may be right to ignore its own projections, Market Monetarists and others certainly think that, but it should then acknowledge that it has done so and that it has become less certain about its economic models. Market Monetarists and the market in general, have seen the Phillips Curve discredited time and time again but the stubborn sticking to it by the consensus at the FOMC and consensus macro means that their credibility is very low, and hence confusion reigns. Confusion about the dots is merely a symptom of this wider confusion. The dots are blameless.
Getting rid of the dots as some have suggested or amalgamating them into one projection will not get rid of the faulty models. And the market will anyway continue to speculate on the future path of the target Fed Funds rate. The UK has no dot plot or rate projection, but the market has created an implied one. The BoE even uses it in its models in a bizarre game of cat and mouse, both steering the consensus and decrying it when out of kilter with its own best guess.
Even though oil is a less important production input than it was three decades ago, that reasoning should work in reverse when oil prices fall, leading to lower production costs, more hiring, and reduced inflation. But this channel causes a problem when central banks cannot lower interest rates. Because the policy interest rate cannot fall further, the decline in inflation (actual and expected) owing to lower production costs raises the real rate of interest, compressing demand and very possibly stifling any increase in output and employment. Indeed, those aggregates may both actually fall. Something like this may be going on at the present time in some economies. Chart 3 is suggestive of a depressing effect of low expected oil prices on expected inflation: it shows the strong recent direct relationship between U.S. oil futures prices and a market-based measure of long-term inflation expectations.
…Our claim is simply that when an oil importer’s macroeconomic conditions warrant a very low central bank interest rate, a fall in oil prices could move the real interest rate in a way that runs counter to the positive income effect.
But the “causation” they allude to, from oil prices to expected inflation is just a figment of their collective imagination!
If they only looked at a longer time period (beginning in 2003 when the inflation expectation became available), they would have difficulty establishing even a simple correlation.
What you do notice in the chart above is that oil prices and inflation expectations fall in tandem when there is a negative demand shock. That´s very clear in 2008/09. More recently, since mid-2014, there the Fed has also tightened monetary policy – a negative demand shock. The tightening was initially expressed through Fed words and has been reflected in NGDP growth slipping, expected one year ahead FF rate rising, the dollar index rising (dollar appreciation) in addition to the oil price fall, among other indications of monetary policy tightening!
Not being able to think ‘outside the box’, economists are recycling ‘theories’.
In recent days, two have ‘shot up (again) in the charts’: Secular Stagnation and Stagflation.
Secular stagnation refers to a prolonged and indefinite period of slow growth and high unemployment (or subnormal factor utilization). When was the last time this happened in the United States? Most people are likely to say the 1930s. In fact, it was the 1970s.
These confounding circumstances have led many economists to rally behind the concept of so-called “secular stagnation.” As a diagnosis, secular stagnation is simple: It’s the idea that the economic problems the U.S. continues to face aren’t a product of the “business cycle,” the ebb and flow of boom times and recession (hence the “secular” part), but may well be permanent drags on the modern economy. “It’s a kind of long term and sustained slow-down in economic growth,” says Larry Summers, who served as Bill Clinton’s treasury secretary and is widely credited with dusting off the concept of secular stagnation and bringing it into the mainstream.
One interpretation: the market is worried that growth will remain so-so while rising oil prices and incipient wage pressure force the U.S. Federal Reserve to tighten policy. Not exactly the stagflation of the 1970s, which ended in 1980 with inflation hitting 15% amid a recession. But a sort of stagflation-lite: weak growth and accelerating price rises.
“I think we are in a situation where [the Fed] might be forced to normalize rates because of inflation while the underlying economic momentum is slowing down and not capable of digesting higher rates,” said Jean Medecin, a member of the investment committee at Carmignac, a French fund manager.
Ignorance is not a reason for embarrassment. When medical doctors do not understand the cause of a disease, they cloak their ignorance with Latin. An illness of unknown origin is ‘idiopathic’. Economists should adopt the same strategy. When growth is slow and we don’t know why, the economy is not experiencing secular stagnation. We are afflicted with a bout of idiopathic tardus augmenti.
The facts: At least until 2006 the US has not experienced either “Secular Stagnation” or “Stagflation”!
Now, let´s take a closer look at the so-called “Stagflation” decade, the 1970s.
From 1970 to 1979, real growth averaged 3.3%, just a notch below the very long-term trend. “Choppiness”, at 2.5, was basically the same as that found for the 1947-2006 period (2.4).
As such, calling the 1970s “Stagflation” is a stretch! But there was certainly a lot of“Flation”!
Looking at the post “Great Recession” of 2007-09, from 2010 to the present real growth averaged a much lower 2.1% with almost non existant volatility (standard deviation of 0.5). That may certainly “qualify” as a (still short) period of “stagnation” (maybe not “secular”). It´s better described as a “flat sea at low tide”.
But there´s certainly no “flation” to go along with the “stag”, as the WSJ calls it! A flat sea at low tide is not known to produce “surfer-friendly waves”!
One important implication: If you´re going to talk about “Secular Stagnation”, don´t look to the past for guidance. The reasons must be found in the present!
The Fed needs to keep raising short-term interest rates to diminish risks to the economy and markets of “excessive accommodation,” Mr. Kaplan told the Journal on Monday. However, fragile and interconnected financial markets, slow global growth, and the perils of driving the economy back into recession all mean the Fed can’t move aggressively, he said.
Yes, dissent has diminished. They´re all of the same view, having embraced the monetary policy framework that Kocherlakota has aptly named “gradual accommodation”.
The only divergence is in the definition of “gradual”. To some it means “start in April”. To others it means we can “hang on to what we´ve got” for a while longer!
At the Philly Fed the susbstance remains the same, only the words have changed!
Bur Brazilians are optimists. Shortly after the 2013 Cover came out, many here thought that this (mock cover) could come about!
When your argument centers on interest rates and inflation, you´re bound to arrive at a wrong conclusion.
The balance of risks suggests the Fed should tolerate rising inflation. A faster pace of increase in wages and prices would be a healthy development for the American economy. Inflation has been below 2% for four years; exceeding that level would affirm the Fed’s claim that 2% is a symmetrical target for inflation, rather than a ceiling. A temporarily higher inflation rate might be an annoyance for some Americans, but it is preferable to imploding portfolios and a risk of recession.
Even though Ms Brainard prevailed in March, the debate is sure to continue. The Fed is bound to raise rates again at some point, as inflation rises. Another torrent of mobile capital will then flood in, perhaps swamping the Fed’s attempts to go its own way. The world should brace for more financial storms.
There will be no “rising inflation” as long as the central bank constrains nominal spending (NGDP) growth (that´s the “impossibility theorem”). And if there´s no increase in inflation there will be no need, under the Fed´s operating procedure, to raise interest rates.
The chart indicates, with monthly data on a year over year basis, that from 1993 to 2006 NGDP growth averaged 5.5%; RGDP growth averaged 3.4% (exactly the same average as from 1947 to 1992) and Core-PCE inflation averaged 1.8% (just shy of the implicit (at the time) 2% target.
From 2007 to the present, NGDP growth averaged only 2.9%; RGDP growth averaged 1.3% while Core-PCE inflation averaged 1.6%.
In the more recent period average 1.6% inflation is just equal average NGDP growth minus average RGDP growth (for the pre 2007 period while average inflation was 1.8%, NGDP growth minus RGDP growth was 2.1%. This may reflect the occurrence of a real positive (productivity) shock in the earlier period, which increases RGDP growth and reduces inflation, under a stable NGDP growth regime).
Much has been said about a supposed fall in “potential output”. I tend to believe that a significant part of that is due to the “demand downgrade”.
Notice that I have not said that the Fed should provide a collective forecast for its short-term interest rate target. Policymakers’ forecasts are inevitably seen as something akin to commitments. The Fed should be committed to delivering particular inflation and employment outcomes, not to a specific path for interest rates.
Monetary policy would be much better if only that point was well understood!
Bullard said he’s getting “increasingly concerned” about giving forward guidance through projections of how fast interest rates will rise, also referred to as the dot plot. The forecasts probably contributed to the market sell-off at the start of the year, and “I’ve even thought about dropping out unilaterally from the whole exercise,” he said. | 2019-04-23T04:14:19Z | https://thefaintofheart.wordpress.com/2016/03/ |
The Bangladeshi activist and photojournalist Shahidul Alam was arrested in Dhaka on August 5, as a punitive measure in response to an interview with Al Jazeera in which he allegedly provoked the government’s sensibilities. In fact, Alam provided a critical appraisal of the state’s role in creating an unbearable set of conditions which led to massive student protests throughout July and early August — against perilous road conditions and a rigged quota system that reserves government jobs for those connected with the ruling party. As students and older generations of Dhaka residents occupied the streets, chanting “We want justice”, the government responded with indiscriminate violence. In retribution for his articulate defense of the protests, dozens of plain-clothed government security forces raided Alam’s home, detained him for “spreading propaganda and false information against the government,” and, according to Alam, proceeded to torture him. For more than 100 days, Alam was held in jail for violating Section 57(2) of the Information and Communciations Technology Act of 2006. “It is an open secret,” Rahnuma Ahmed (Shahidul Alam’s partner) presciently observed in November of last year, “that the law is selectively applied — to silence criticism of the government.” On November 15, Alam was granted bail, and he now awaits a court hearing where his fate will be decided. If convicted, he faces 7-14 years in prison.
Far from being an isolated case, Alam’s plight is symbolic of the greater repressive state apparatus which he has struggled to highlight through his art and journalism. The present situation is emblematic of the threat which authoritarianism poses in and beyond South Asia, with encroachments upon civilian rights buttressed by a propaganda machine oiled by the blood of journalists and independent sources of media content. Throughout Alam’s career, he has targeted extra-judicial state violence and the obstruction of popular democratic processes for exposure through his photographic lens. While human rights and democracy are touted as critical nation-state values in the Global North, the age of the war on terror has provided a context in which de facto autocratic regimes — such as the one represented by the Awami League (AL) party in Bangladesh — can leverage apparent ideological commitments such as secularism in order to accumulate geopolitical capital on the international stage and avoid censure therein. In a global climate where fear of Islamist violence and the refugee bogeyman captures the collective political consciousness of the Global North, the Bangladeshi state has exploited their status as the secular option along with the good will earned by taking in Rohingya refugees in order to veil their domestic tyranny.
Bangladesh is of strategic international importance due to its political status as a nominally democratic state with an impoverished majority-Muslim population, and its economic status as a source of cheap labor and textiles. In other words, the form which its regime’s authoritarianism takes today is an expression of the geopolitical logic of the age of “the war on terror” within global capitalism. In speaking out against the government, Shahidul Alam is a symbol of resistance to this harrowing state of affairs. Alam is one of many Bangladeshi activists currently seeking to combat the suppression of democracy and basic human rights as a precursor to reviving the progressive ideals on which Bangladesh was founded, in opposition to the cycle of authoritarianism and repression of dissent which he witnessed to be returning in full swing.
In his pointed interview with Al Jazeera, Alam was asked whether the most recent protests — which were sparked after a bus accident resulted in the death of two students on July 29 — were just about road safety, or about something larger. “Very much larger,” he responded.
It’s an unelected government, so they did not really have a mandate to rule, but they have been clinging on by brute force. The looting of the banks, the gagging of the media … the extrajudicial killings, the disappearances, the need to get protection money at all levels, bribery at all levels, corruption in education, it’s a never ending list. It’s been huge. So it really is that pent-up energy, emotion, anger, that has been let loose. This particular incident, sad as it is, is really the valve that allowed things to go through.
Alam also drew attention to the state’s violent response to the protests.
The police specifically asked for help from these “armed goons” [the Bangladesh Chhatra League and the Jubo League, the student and youth wings of the AL] to combat unarmed students demanding safe roads. I mean, how ridiculous is that? Today, I was in the streets, there are people with machetes in their hands chasing unarmed students and the police are standing by watching it happen, in some cases they are actually helping it out. This morning there was tear gassing.
To get a sense of the material conditions of the recent protests, and of the state’s authoritarian response to any and all criticism, requires a brief detour into Bangladesh’s political and economic history.
In 1971, after the bloody civil war that ushered in Bangladesh’s independence — in which, according to official estimates, 3 million people died — the Awami League ascended to power under the banner of “nationalism, socialism, democracy, and secularism.” In a gesture to its socialist base, which included strong workers’ and students’ movements, the AL nationalized many sectors of the economy. But far from spreading the gains of the economy to all Bangladeshis, the nationalization program did little more than set up a patronage system in which AL politicians appropriated the country’s wealth for themselves and their allies. The AL was quick to alienate its political base, and it used violence — often murderous — to quell dissent. In 1975, amidst growing social turbulence, pro-US right-wing forces murdered AL leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family.
With the help of Western governments, General Ziaur Rahman emerged victorious after the coup. Ziaur removed the ban on religious-based political parties, and relied on Islamist militias and Western security forces to silence criticism of his regime. The general accepted IMF loans, privatized national industries, and opened his country to foreign trade. In 1981, in another bloody coup, Ziaur was murdered, and General H.M. Ershad assumed power. Ershad continued Ziaur’s precedent, using strongman tactics to silence his critics, and relying on foreign aid to develop the economy. After the IMF instituted a Structural Adjustment Program in 1986, Bangladesh’s resources and its people were increasingly prey to the whims of global capital.
In 1990, protests against Ershad’s military regime reached a fever pitch, with hartals (mass protests that shut down private enterprises and public spaces) occurring across the country. Ershad responded with deadly force, and in one incident, an army truck ran over a group of protesting students. But activists were undeterred, and sustained protests forced Ershad’s resignation later that year. Thus, after fifteen years of military rule, there was a return to civilian rule.
Since this time, Bangladesh has gone back and forth between being ruled by two political parties: the AL, a secular nationalist party led by Sheikh Hasina Wazed, and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which is led by Khaleda Zia, the widow of General Ziaur Rahman, and has close ties to the military and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), the largest Islamist party in the country.
Throughout the past few decades, both parties have consistently been on the take. Nepotism, bribery, and the looting of public coffers has been rampant. Each party has resorted to violence to destroy their political opponents, and, in actuality, the armed forces have never been too far removed from the administration of civil society. In 2008, the AL won the parliamentary elections in a landslide, and the discredited BNP responded to this rout by claiming the elections had been rigged. In subsequent years, Hasina and the AL have attempted to gain popularity and sublimate political anger by initiating a tribunal to prosecute criminals from the war of independence. The prosecution of religious figures found support particularly due to a public fear of the relatively recent threat of Islamist violence, the worst cases of which included Jamatul Mujahideen Bangladesh’s (JMB) nationwide detonation of over 400 bombs in one day in August 2005. Many have cast doubt over the fairness of the tribunal, however, as the AL have used the proceedings to consolidate power by targeting political enemies in the BNP and JI. With the urging of the latter parties, people increasingly took to the streets in violent protest, and the AL responded with severe repression.
After the AL government banned the JI from participating in the 2014 elections on grounds of anti-secularism, the BNP opted to boycott the election, with the result that the AL took 280 out of 300 parliamentary seats. Thus, the two party system in Bangladesh has given way to a one-party autocratic rule. The ousted parties called on their supporters to participate in widespread hartals against the government, and the AL has responded in violent fashion. In the past five years, the facade of democratic rule has been lifted, as over a thousand people have been killed in political clashes. Under the ideological cover of a draconian “war on drugs” — in which more than 24,000 people have been arrested and hundreds have been killed in May and June of this year alone — critics of the government have been rounded up en masse.
Despite their ideological differences, both the BNP and the AL have shown an important similarity: both parties have advanced an economic agenda that has rendered Bangladeshis vulnerable to the incursions of big capital. And the effects on Bangladeshi workers have been disastrous.
the state continues to be obsessed with big development projects and paid experts; coal plants, fly-overs and nuclear power plants have become the core development vision of our middle class mindset. Cafes, billboards, ramp models, peri-peri chicken restaurants, and imported hot dogs have become our ultimate emblems of modernization. Farmers, villagers, labourers, and poor communities, in this process, are perceived to be the ‘un-modern’, ‘un-civil’ roadblocks to our unstoppable path towards progress.
The dialectic of dispossession and repression has been unfolded for decades now, with the result that 82% of rural Bangladesh households are now “resource poor,” and 57% are completely without land of their own. Furthermore, Bangladesh is one of the “most climate vulnerable countries in the world”, and there is a strong link between global warming and the rampant riverbank erosion which has displaced thousands of Bangladeshis.
The devastation of the countryside has led to a serious uptick in internal migration to cities, with Dhaka, the largest city in Bangladesh, being the major destination. The city’s population has grown exponentially in recent decades, from around 1.5 million at the time of independence to 6.6 million in 1990 to more than 21 million at present in the greater Dhaka area, making Dhaka the world’s most densely populated mega-city (more than 75% more densely populated than Hong Kong). Most residents in Dhaka dwell in slums where, due to government neglect, conditions are generally deplorable. There is limited access to healthcare, and educational opportunities are few and far between. A third of the population lacks access to electricity, and most people are forced to use unsanitary water to wash and clean. More than 60 percent of Dhaka residents are forced to dump their garbage in the street, only 20% have access to sanitary latrines, and nearly 90% of homes lack an underground drainage system.
This must be understood in the context of the more general poverty in Bangladesh. 43.3% of Bangladeshis earn less than $1.25 per day; 75.8% earn less than $2 per day. Job scarcity in Bangladesh is such that the number of workers abroad exceeds the number of domestic factory workers. The domestic economy relies on remittances from the millions of Bangladeshis currently living abroad, working as guest workers or day labourers in conditions that are generally demeaning and dangerous.
Workers who remain in Bangladesh are prey to all forms of economic exploitation. Most of this exploitation occurs in the informal sector, which employs 47% of the country’s labour force. Lacking legal and social protections, informal workers are precarious in the deepest sense of the term. The government has done little to address perilous work conditions that caused 1,240 Bangladeshis to die at work in 2016. One official solution to widespread economic vulnerability is “micro-credit.” However, as Anu Muhammad has argued, though this financial scheme is hailed by the non-profit industrial complex, micro-credit is better understood as an attempt, administered by global elites in conjunction with the Bangladeshi middle class, to expand capital’s tentacles into the huge untapped market of the country’s informal economy. Indeed, micro-credit’s record when it comes to poverty alleviation is dubious. At least 60% had to borrow more money from local money lenders to repay their official loans. Many more were forced to sell off assets, even their own organs. Bangladeshi activist Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad has drawn attention to this “cycle of debt”, and called micro-finance a “death trap” for the poor.
In the formal sector, Bangladesh’s economy is driven by the garment industry, which increased its exports from $116 million in 1985 to more than $25 billion in 2015. The garment industry — the world’s second largest, after China — generates 80% of the country’s total export revenue, and employs around 4 million workers, 80% of them young women, many of them rural migrants. The government has resorted to the widespread criminalization of union organizers, and has deployed the urban police force (instituted in 2010) to quash labor unrest. As a result of this systematic violence, only 5% of garment workers are unionized. The minimum wage is $68 per month, but most female workers are paid less, around $37 per month, a fraction of the wages paid to exploited factory workers in China and India. These workers are also forced to toil in conditions that range from “appalling” to deadly. At least 117 people were killed in the Tazreen Fashion factory fire near Dhaka in 2012. Some months later, more than 1,130 people were killed outside Dhaka when Rana Plaza, a giant garment factory, collapsed.
By and large, these deaths can be attributed to the callous attitudes of capitalists and political elites who prioritize profits over worker safety. There is also, however, a more general infrastructural crisis, one that is important to emphasize given that the student protesters’ list of demands focused mostly on road safety and accessibility. A study after the Rana Plaza collapse revealed that, from 2008-2013, only six out of 20,000 buildings constructed in Dhaka have gone through the legally required safety clearance. Simply put, as Dhaka’s population has ballooned, and the city has experienced a massive construction boom, the government has failed to address the attendant social and infrastructural problems, with the result that thousands of people die each year in shoddily built buildings and roads. Unable to address road safety conditions, or effectively monitor the number of drivers on the road without the proper permits, the government has simply fudged the numbers. In 2013, the government claimed that there were only 3,296 road fatalities, whereas the World Health Organisation has claimed, that, in actuality, as many as 25,000 died that year on the road.
With this analysis in mind, we can better understand the scope and significance of recent student protests. It is important not to exaggerate the scope of the protests, and to emphasize the student “movement’s relative isolation from other oppressed strata of society.” It is also paramount, however, to link the protests’ cries of “we want justice” to the broader political and economic landscape, as Alam did in his brief interview with Al Jazeera. To understand why students were protesting throughout July against the quota system, one needs to look beyond government corruption. The students were also implicitly rejecting their fate outside of government employment, in a country pervaded by deep poverty, gruesome work conditions, and pervasive economic precarity. The official youth unemployment rate in Bangladesh is 11% — and protesting young people are drawing national and international attention to the dire situation facing Bangladeshi workers, and to the government’s deep complicity in this situation.
Furthermore, to contextualize mass protests over road conditions, one must link the dangerous transport situation — Bangladesh has the second most dangerous roads in Asia — with the broader crisis of urbanization in Dhaka, a crisis intertwined with processes of climate change and dispossession in the countryside which is forcing scores of desperate Bangladeshis to the overcrowded city of Dhaka.
To make sense of why the government responded in such a draconian fashion to peaceful protests, and relatively straightforward comments by Shahidul Alam about the coordinates of these protests, one must locate the situation within the more general political crisis in Bangladesh. As Vijay Prashad has noted, “protests are a constant feature of life” in Bangladesh, and for decades now, a government with no real legitimacy in the eyes of the people has responded to any and all dissent with sheer force.
Apolitical intellectuals of my sweet country, you will not be able to answer.
A vulture of silence will eat your gut.
Your own misery will pick at your soul.
And you will be mute in your shame.
Both Alam and his partner Rahnuma Ahmed have written about the urgent need to “speak truth to power”, and denounce and demystify “the aging coterie that rules the country, and its army of professional sycophants.” Their activism is first and foremost concerned with clearing the deadwood which prevents Bangladeshi society from functioning free of corruption, but the atrocity of this basic level of human rights abuse is not the end of his message. Rather, Alam’s recent work on the fate of Bangladeshi migrants abroad reflects the recognition of the sense in which the world of global capitalism pushes working-class Bangladeshis from frying pan to fire, from the domestic sweatshop to the global precarity of unregulated migrant labor in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. His crusade against domestic authoritarianism is geared towards promoting democracy and the protection of working-class people, seeking to secure the sort of freedoms in civil society which are preconditions for material well-being. By speaking on the interconnectedness and breadth of the problem in Bangladesh, Alam continued his work of gesturing towards the kind of structural change needed to secure positive material change, while reminding us of how political interests were actively preventing the effective achievement of the people’s will.
In the past several months, there has been a swell of activism in Bangladesh and around the world demanding Alam’s release. It was largely due to these protests that on November 15, after 103 days in detention and multiple denied petitions, Shahidul Alam was finally granted bail. Following the court’s decision, the prosecutors immediately promised to fight for an appeal. Rahnuma Ahmed has called on activists to keep up the pressure on the government, not only to try to get Alam’s charges dropped altogether, but to “launch a united struggle for repealing undemocratic provisions of Digital Security Act.” Hundreds of writers have been prosecuted by this act in 2017 for writing content that the government found threatening. Ending this crusade against dissidents, and making room for critical discourse, is only the first step in attempting to address the endemic political and economic crises in Bangladesh. But in the absence this step, the government will only attempt to rule over Bangladesh through “brute force” alone.
Bio: Raihan is the nephew of Shahidul Alam. Raihan and Mark are PhD students at University of Virginia, and University of California, Santa Barbara, respectively. | 2019-04-19T10:43:15Z | https://www.imhojournal.org/articles/free-shahidul-alam-authoritarianism-and-dissent-in-bangladesh/ |
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How do judges affect mass incarceration, and what role do judicial elections play? Today we’re looking at a topic that doesn’t get a lot of attention: the relationship between judges, corporate money, big business interests, and mass incarceration. We talk to Alicia Bannon, program manager at the Brennan Center for Justice, about the role of judicial elections in mass incarceration, and how fear-mongering is used to incentivize harsh decision making.
Brennan Center’s repository of judicial ads is available here.
Brennan Center’s most recent annual report on money spent in judicial elections, “Who Pays for Judicial Races? The Politics of Judicial Elections,” is available here. Past reports can be found here.
Here’s another report from the Center for American Progress on judicial elections and mass incarceration, called “How Judicial Elections Impact Criminal Cases”.
Justice at Stake, an organization focused on judicial independence, is sadly defunct, but their past work is available here.
Also, if you want to read further, there are a few academic papers located here, here, and here, that may be of interest. You unfortunately may need a university login or other credentials for free access, though.
Alicia Bannon: There’s been a lot of social science research about how election pressures impact judge’s decision makings. And judges they sentence more harshly in election years and there’s evidence that as criminal justice issues become a bigger part of election, so if there’s a lot of television advertisements, for example, judges are more likely to rule against criminal defendants.
Clint Smith: What’s up everybody? I’m Clint Smith.
Clint: And this is Justice in America. Each show we discuss a topic in the American criminal justice system and we try to explain what it is and how it works.
Josie: Thank you so much everyone for joining us today. You can find us on Twitter at @Justice_Podcast, you can like our Facebook page, you can just find us at Justice in America and please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, we’d love to hear from you.
Clint: We opened the show with a clip from our guest Alicia Bannon, who runs the Fair Courts Program at the Brennan Center. Alicia has done a ton of work around today’s topic, which is judges.
Josie: Yes, judges. And not just judges in general but judicial elections.
Clint: And not just judicial elections, but how judicial elections contribute to mass incarceration. But first, every episode we talk about a word or phrase related to the criminal justice system that we think is misused or misunderstood or just bad. The goal is to make you think twice when you hear it and we’re basically trying to make you more skeptical and critically interrogate some of the language and nomenclature you hear out in public.
Josie: Yes. Today’s phrase is “diversion program.” Diversion programs are a type of sentence that is ostensibly focused on rehabilitating the defendant and providing them with skills or opportunities, while helping them avoid a more serious sentence. So the best diversion programs help a person avoid even an arrest. They are programs or classes that they can take or participate in instead of being arrested or sentenced and providing them with skills or opportunities while helping them avoid a more serious sentence. So in theory, diversion programs are awesome. But in practice, they are only sometimes awesome.
Clint: And no one likes something that is only sometimes awesome.
Josie: We want diversion programs to be all the time awesome, that’s our goal.
Clint: All the time. So, if you’re as in to criminal justice as we are, you may have noticed that people really love to talk about diversion programs. You’ll hear a lot of the quote unquote “progressive” candidates for prosecutor or judge say that they started or supported or sent participants to a certain program. But on this stuff, the devil is really really in the details.
Josie: Yeah. So some diversion programs are really amazing and effective. One of my favorites is in Seattle, it’s called LEAD, and it really helps people get the treatment and attention that they need when they are suffering from drug addiction. But others are basically revenue generators for the cops or the prosecutor’s office. And this kind of gets back to our fees and fines conversation that we talked about. Often these diversion programs cost a lot of money. You can only participate in them if you have the $600, $1,000 fee that they may cost. Only those who can pay are eligible. And sometimes, there’s just like no program at all, like you’re not actually getting help, you’re not actually getting treatment, you’re just paying and that’s it, you’re diverted. In a lot of these programs, the entire point is the money.
Clint: Take LACE, a program in my home state of Louisiana. Prosecutors in Louisiana hire cops in their off hours to issue traffic tickets. But these weren’t regular traffic tickets, these were different. These were from the LACE program. Basically, what that meant is as long as the person ticketed paid the fine, the infraction wouldn’t show up on their record. They wouldn’t have to report it to insurance, it wouldn’t result in points on their record. You get the picture.
Josie: Yeah and this sounds like a pretty good deal. You know, they called it a diversion program, and technically it was. It basically helped people get a lesser sentence for their traffic ticket. But really it was this program concocted by prosecutors to rake in money. Normally in Louisiana, if you get a traffic ticket, they are issued through the regular traffic court system. And for every dollar that you pay in fines or fees, different parties get a percentage. The prosecutor’s office gets a chunk. The public defender’s office gets a much smaller chunk. The court gets a little. And so on and so forth. But now, prosecutors were issuing tickets through the LACE program and keeping 100% of the revenue. So their tickets weren’t cheaper. They just weren’t sharing the profits. They were hiring cops to work more hours, to write more tickets and then they were just keeping all the money. And the public defender and the courts were getting none of that revenue. They were just totally starved for resources. In Calcasieu Parish, the office of the district attorney there, John DeRosier, made about $4.4 million dollars off of the LACE program.
Clint: There are many more diversion programs like this where it’s really just about arresting more people and convicting more people to pull in money.
Josie: And what this does is just replicate the same patterns we talk about on here all the time. If you can’t pay the fee it means you can’t be diverted and then those programs are just another way of over-criminalizing poor people. Diversion programs can have other flaws too. For example, access to these programs can be really really limited, even among the ostensibly eligible. So there will be a program for low-level drug offenders, for example, but the prosecutor’s office will only divert 10% of those charged with a low level drug offense. Or the program will be available for low-level drug offenders, but only if its their very first offense. So if you are arrested again, you don’t have access to diversion.
Clint: Now, this may seem reasonable. Prosecutors often say that these defendants had a second chance and since they messed up again they don’t get a third. But this is a real issue when we talk about criminal charges that are evidence of a bigger problem. Addiction, for example, or homelessness. These are the sorts of things that can keep a person cycling in and out of jail and they generally aren’t solved on the first go around.
Josie: Another thing to be aware of when it comes to diversion programs is where they exist in the criminal process. Some programs deal with the problem on the front-end. These programs, pre-arrest, pre-booking or pre-charge diversion programs, are generally keeping a person out of the system. At the very least, these programs divert people before they are charged with a crime. And some programs come into play even earlier, they divert people before they have to spend even a second in jail or even before they are arrested.
Clint: Others are more about putting people in the system and giving them an opportunity to get back out. So, a defendant will have to plead guilty to have access to the diversion program, but if they complete the necessary requirements, they can have their record expunged. That’s of course still better than incarceration, generally, but the best diversion programs keep defendants out of the system as much as possible. That’s really important. Sure, its true, giving people in the criminal justice system a more humane option is a good thing to be clear, but a much better thing is keeping people from getting mired in the system in the first place. Alright, now you understand diversion programs, what’s good, what’s not good, but let’s get back down to business.
Josie: Yes. So, we’ve talked about the prosecutor, the defense attorney and we’ve talked plenty about the defendants. But what about the judge? The judge, as you likely know, presides over court proceedings. Note that this doesn’t necessarily mean a trial. Some judges preside over trials, but many others don’t. Theoretically, the judge is this independent presence in a courtroom, someone who knows the law, can make rulings and can fairly decide whether or not someone should be convicted of a crime.
Clint: As we’ve discussed before, in America, our court system is roughly split along two different axes. One is jurisdiction. There’s the federal justice system and the state justice system. The federal system gets a whole lot of attention, rightly so. But the state court system is extremely important. State courts hear 95% of all cases, totaling 100 million cases a year. About 85% of criminal cases are decided in the state system, not the federal one. The other variable is the type of case, which again can be split into roughly two buckets, criminal and civil. Obviously, on this show, we talk a lot about the criminal justice system. But the civil justice system is a whole other can of worms that we’re not exactly experts in. But it will be peripherally relevant today, so it’s important to remember the difference.
Josie: Now, another big thing to know about judges, before we get into how they are selected — is the different tiers. There are lots of specialty courts in the United States and so there are lots of specialty judges like traffic court judges, juvenile court judges, immigration judges, bankruptcy court judges, military judges, veterans court judges. But outside of the specialty courts there are the regular judges like the people you see on Law and Order. And in most states, and in the federal system, these judges usually belong to one of three general tiers. There’s the trial judge, the appellate judge and the Supreme Court judge.
Clint: The trial judge or district judge actually, you guessed it, hears the trial. They evaluate the facts and apply the law. Often, they specialize in criminal or civil court. There tend to be many more district judges than there are in the appellate or the appeals or the Supreme Court. On the federal level, there are around 700 trial judges in 94 districts. On the state level it varies. California has about 1700, Texas has about 1300. Vermont, on the other hand, has about 35.
Josie: So that’s the trial level. The appellate court reviews cases from the trial level and determines whether they got it right. So appellate judges basically never preside over trials. To determine if the district court was right or wrong, they review written documents, they review the court records and in some cases attorneys for either side make a short argument. The general rule is that criminal defendants have the right to appeal their sentence, but the glaring exception to that rule is when defendants plead guilty they often forfeit their right to an appeal and as we’ve talked about before most defendants in this system are incentivized to plead guilty. There are many fewer appellate court judges than district court. In California, where there are 1700 district judges, there are only about 100 judges total on the Courts of Appeal. In Vermont, there are only 5 judges total on the Courts of Appeal. On the federal level, there are about 180 judges in the Courts of Appeal, divided into thirteen circuits. When you hear people talk about the Ninth Circuit or the Fifth Circuit, this is what they’re talking about, the federal appeals level.
Clint: And then there’s the highest level court. The Supreme Court. On the federal level there are nine Supreme Court justices. On the state level, it varies, but it’s mostly between 5 and 7. Now, there are variations in this system. Some states call their courts different names. Other states, like Oklahoma, have just two levels, meaning they don’t have that middle appellate level court. Some states have two Supreme Courts, one for criminal cases and one for civil. But mostly, there are a lot of district court judges, who can be overruled by fewer appellate judges, who can be overruled by just a handful of Supreme Court Justices.
Josie: So how are these judges chosen? Well on the federal level, the president appoints them, and the senate has to vote in favor. You may remember a few months ago when some guy named Brett Kavanaugh faced Senate confirmation. Anyway.
Clint: On the state level, it’s different. Sometimes judges are appointed by the Governor.
But in many states, judges are elected. In fact, in 38 states, Justices on the state’s highest court face election. And around 90% of appellate level justices also face election. Around a quarter or so of those states have partisan elections. The other states hold non-partisan elections.
Josie: You should know if you don’t already that this is kind of a quintessential American thing. We are one of the only countries to elect our judges. And you may be thinking that this is a great thing. After all this is a democracy, elections are generally good. And this is, you know, probably better than the federal system, where it’s left up to the president and the Senate to elect who goes on the Supreme Court.
Clint: But it’s actually not that simple. In a lot of ways, judicial elections have really corrupted the state judiciary. The Constitution made it clear that judges were not and should not be politicians. It didn’t determine how state judges are chosen, that was left up to the states. But federal judges have lifetime tenure for a reason—we want them to be able to theoretically make decisions uninfluenced by things like money or the whims of the voter or potential talking points of their possible opponents. Judicial elections corrupt that.
Josie: Now, to be clear – judges don’t always use the power of lifetime tenure well. I’m looking at half the Supreme Court right now. And appointed judges have enacted many injustices and done some terrible terrible things. And sometimes the person in charge who has the power to appoint is a regressive monster. So appointing judges certainly has its problems, we would never argue otherwise But electing judges is a different sort of mutation of our system. And part of that is because of campaign contributions. These contributions have done so much harm to the judiciary and they’ve really helped perpetuate mass incarceration.
Clint: Here’s the basic outline of how these things are connected. And, like many things, it starts with money. After all, money, all the data shows, is pretty important if you want to win an election. And there are a lot of special interests who are very determined to have state courts on their side. 95% of cases in total and about 85% of criminal cases go through the state courts. A lot of very important decisions are made, a lot of precedent is set, and many many billions of dollars are won or lost in state courts every year. There are definitely people and groups and corporations invested in having friendly faces on the bench.
Josie: Campaign contributions to judicial candidates have skyrocketed in the past 20 or so years. The candidates for district court don’t tend to get a lot of contributions, there are so many of them and they really only have local control. And candidates for the appellate level courts are getting more contributions than the district level but still not that many. But donors tend to be very very interested in the state high court or the state Supreme Court. And they show their interest through money.
Clint: So in 2016, 33 states held state Supreme Court elections and 76 seats were up for grabs. According to the Brennan Center, overall spending came to a total of about $70 million for those seats combined. That’s the second highest spending level Brennan has ever recorded in the 16 years they’ve been tracking judicial campaign contributions. Where’d the money come from? Total, about 56% of contributions came from lawyers, lobbyists and business interests. Another 40% came from outside groups who mostly gave through PACs. Out of the 76 seats up for grabs, 27 elections were decided in races that cost over $1 million. So, there’s a lot of money in these races. But who generally is it that is contributing to judicial candidates? The answer is often big business interested in less regulation. In other words, corporations and businesses want to have justices on the bench that won’t interfere with what they do every single day. They want judges who tend to be more supportive of the boss rather the employee. They want judges who won’t fine them for, say, causing environmental harm. They basically want to be able to get away with more without being punished or fined or sued. Now, there are definitely groups on the other side who donate to judges as well like tort lawyers who want these judges to encourage, and not discourage, litigation on behalf of individuals. And we will talk to Alicia about this.
Josie: But suffice it to say there are very self interested groups, largely corporations, who pour money into these races in hopes that they will get a friendly judge if and when they have to face them in court. One thing to note here, again, we know generally who is donating to these races, in other words, we know the general category. But often we don’t really know the actual identity. Often this money is coming from an untraceable PAC or some other shadow entity. In fact, last year, only about 18% of the money donated to judicial candidates could be traced back to an identifiable donor. Just 18%.
Clint: Now, if you think that it’s outrageous that you can’t know who’s donating to a supposedly neutral judge, we would agree. And there’s one main Supreme Court decision to blame, you may have heard of it, its Citizens United. The amount of money corporations spend on judicial elections increased wildly after that 2010 case, where the court found that corporations and unions were allowed to make essentially limitless political contributions. But, while unions have contributed to races in the past, corporate money has traditionally dwarfed those donations. It’s important to note though that we’re not trying to make a false equivalency. While it is true that unions have contributed to races in the past, corporate money traditionally and typically completely dwarfs the donations that unions make. And because of Citizens United, that money can be donated in ways that are basically make it impossible to trace. Millions of dollars going to a judge that is supposed to be impartial and we don’t even get to know who donated it.
Josie: The point here is this is not a grassroots effort. This is not a candidate accountable to a community. The people and groups who donate to judicial candidates often have a professional stake in the decisions that judges might make.
Clint: Now, let’s think back. When is the last time that you, personally, donated to a judicial candidate? Can you name even three of your state’s Supreme Court justices? Surely there are exceptions to this rule, maybe that’s you, but I’m willing to bet that most people listening can’t do those things. And honestly, neither can we. Judicial candidates often don’t have any name recognition and people often don’t know who they’re voting for. And even when they do, simply knowing the name of the candidate isn’t enough to give you the information you need to make an informed decision. Judicial candidates have a stricter set of rules that they have to follow than, say, the person running for Governor. And there are limits to what they can say and what they can promise. Again, that whole perceived neutrality thing.
Josie: Yeah and then there’s this other this which is that many of these judges see very technical cases. The cases that judges see on these state courts are often totally inaccessible and tedious and frankly uninteresting to people outside of this field. It’s not like every day is Brown v. Board. Now, of course, don’t forget—there are people interested in the technicalities—the corporations who want a friendly face on the bench. And these judges know that what their donors care about is deregulation. But that just doesn’t really matter to the rest of the electorate in the same way. So even if judges could say whatever they wanted, they aren’t going to woo voters by bragging about their interpretation of antitrust law. Voters just don’t really care about that. But you know what voters do care about? Crime.
Clint: Yup. For a few decades now, this is how judges motivated voters. They paint their opponent as too soft on crime. They brag about how tough they are on quote unquote “criminals” in the courtroom. Unsurprisingly perhaps, during the campaign, there are television ads that these judges use and oftentimes, they are usually missing some very critical context. So, for example, here’s a clip from an ad in the 2012 Michigan Supreme Court race against a candidate named Bridget McCormack. It features a woman from Flint, Michigan, whose son was killed in Afghanistan.
Woman: My son Joe was taken from me, killed when his unit was attacked by terrorists in Afghanistan. My son selflessly gave his life for this country. So when I heard Bridget McCormick volunteered to represent and help free suspected terrorists, I couldn’t believe it. My son’s a hero and fought to protect us. Bridget McCormick volunteered to help free a terrorist. How could you?
Josie: So McCormack was a law professor who had volunteered to work with the Center for Constitutional Rights, which is a very well respected organization that fights to ensure, you guessed it, constitutional protections. And the quote unquote “terrorist” referenced in the ad was a man McCOrmack had been assigned to represent who was being held at Guantanamo Bay even though he had never been charged with a crime. And, for what it’s worth, McCormack never actually represented this man or even met him. In the end, this guy was freed by George Bush, of all people, and sent back to Tajikistan. But somehow the ad implies something else.
Clint: Here’s another one from that same race.
Man: At just 17 years old, Patty Rosansky was brutally raped and strangled. Thomas Cress was sentenced to life in prison for her murder until Democrat Supreme Court candidate Bridget McCormick successfully fought for the release of this convicted killer. While Patty’s family continues to grieve, Bridget McCormick was elated and thrilled that the man convicted of her murder walked free. Bridget McCormick, the wrong choice for Michigan families.
Clint: The ad forgets to mention one little thing, the defendant in that case was actually innocent. That’s why McCormack was “elated” because she helped exonerate an innocent man. You wouldn’t exactly get that from this ad, though, would you? Here’s another one from a 2016 Wisconsin Supreme Court race. It’s an attack ad against a woman named JoAnne Kloppenburg.
Man: We’ve heard it before. Liberal judges letting criminals off on technicalities. Judges like JoAnne Kloppenburg. This man had a long criminal history including beating his wife in front of their two year old daughter. Then after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a 15 year old child, he got 15 years. Incredibly he appealed, saying he didn’t understand the charge and JoAnne Kloppenburg, she agreed to give him a new hearing. Tell Judge Kloppenburg courts should protect children, not criminals.
Josie: Yeah and this ad too is just so misleading. The case is kind of technical but the defendant had some confusion about his plea, the appeals court gave him a hearing, but his argument was rejected, his sentence upheld. Notice how the ad implies that caring about technicalities is a bad thing. That’s an outrageous thing to say about a judge. But this language works. These ads work. Kloppenburg was defeated. And lastly, here’s a 2012 ad in support of North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Paul Newby, who was running for reelection. It’s um, it’s something.
Man #1: North Carolina Judicial Coalition sponsored this ad supporting Paul Newby for Supreme Court.
Man #2: [Banjo music. Singing.] There’s a judge they call Paul Newby, he’s got criminals on the run. Steely stare, got ‘em running scared, take ‘em down one by one. Paul Newby, he’s the tough old judge, respected everywhere. He’s heard the call, to lay down the law, to bring justice tough with prayer. Paul Newby. Criminals best beware. A prosecutor for 20 years, bringing justice tough but fair, walk the line or you’ll do hard time. Criminals best beware.
Josie: And he won his race.
Clint: A couple of things before we talk to Alicia about this more. First, notice in the last ad, as wild as it was, with the song, how it mentioned the judge’s history as a prosecutor. This is important. The tone of judicial elections has made it much easier for prosecutors to sell themselves as tough-on-crime and to win a race for the judiciary. On the other hand, when tough-on-crime is the key point, it’s much much much harder for public defenders or criminal defense attorneys to win a judicial election.
Josie: And that leads us to our next point, which is really the whole point, the money that is spent in these elections, spent on these ads is having a real effect on judicial decision making. Judges facing tough elections tend to sentence defendants to more time in prison, they are more likely to rule against the defendant in a case and they’re also more likely to affirm a death penalty sentence. And, as an added bonus, corporations are simultaneously getting the gift of deregulation.
Clint: To talk to us more about this is Alicia Bannon, the Deputy Director for Program Management at the Brennan Center. Stay tuned.
Josie: So thank you so much for joining us today Alicia. I’m so excited that you’re here to talk to us and um, you’re a leading voice on the issue of judicial elections, which I think is really interesting. And at the Brennan Center, you guys have been talking about this for like decades it feels like, for a really long time. Can you tell us how you sort of got interested in this issue and how you came to be at the Brennan Center and doing this work?
Alicia Bannon: Yeah. Well, so before I was at the Brennan Center, I was representing clients in civil rights cases and death penalty cases and we relied on the courts really heavily, you know, to make sure that our client’s rights were being protected, that they were going to get a fair shake on the claims that they had. And you know, there’s a whole bunch of reasons why people have hurdles in terms of getting a fair shake in court and a bunch of barriers to access to justice. But judicial selection and the dynamics around judicial elections is a really important one and one that people don’t tend to pay attention to. So I was representing a client on death row in Alabama and you have judges in Alabama that are literally campaigning on their records of, you know, putting people to death and you know, it’s a really important issue that I felt wasn’t getting the attention it deserved. And so I was really excited to have the opportunity at the Brennan Center to kind of cast a spotlight on what I think is a really important issue of access to justice and should be kind of central to the conversation around a host of issues including criminal justice reform.
Clint: So I’m curious just kind of on a day to day level, how the fact that judicial elections exist, how does that shape the way that they go about their practice as opposed to if they had been appointed, for example?
Alicia Bannon: Well, one thing that’s important to understand with respect to judicial elections is that it’s not just that judges are getting elected to the bench, once they’re on the bench, then they’re also standing for future elections. So they’re hearing cases and deciding cases with sort of a shadow over them. They’re going to have their records put before voters.
Clint: And how often are judicial elections?
Alicia Bannon: It varies quite a bit by state. For some lower courts it can be as frequent as every two years or every four years. For a state high courts it’s often a longer period, six years, eight years, some states as many as twelve years.
Clint: And so if your election is every two years, I mean as soon as you’re elected, you’re thinking right after, the day after the election I imagine about your next election and how you can sort of present yourself to the voters as a compelling person to reelect. It’s such a quick turnaround time for a judge.
Alicia Bannon: It is and there’s been a lot of social science research about how election pressures impact judge’s decision makings. Judges, they sentence more harshly in election years and there’s evidence that as criminal justice issues become a bigger part of election, so if there’s a lot of television advertisements, for example, judges are more likely to rule against criminal defendants. So you know, it’s borne out both in kind of a common sense way, you know, if you think about it, if you’re worried about your job security, that’s gonna put pressure on you as you’re hearing cases. And then it’s also borne out in a lot of research that’s looked at how different states judges are actually ruling in cases.
Josie: So it’s interesting, like you made this point earlier, but people don’t know about this and it’s not really, doesn’t seem to be something that motivates people. You know, I even think about, I’m sure even, and I am interested in this, I’m sure I’ve voted for judges I knew nothing about. And why do you think it is that people are not as driven to know who they’re putting on the bench or know about who is donating to that person or understand sort of this system in the same way they are maybe other issues in criminal justice or access to justice more broadly?
Alicia Bannon: I think that generally people don’t know a lot about their courts. They don’t know a lot about the judges that are sitting on the bench. Most people couldn’t even name who’s on their state Supreme Courts. And so I think there’s just a real information deficit and as a result, the elections themselves tend to be really low information races. So people you know, are not, they don’t tend to know a lot about the judges that they’re voting on, which means that attack ads and other sort of efforts to politicize these races I think can have a really big impact because oftentimes that’s the only piece of information that voters have. I think what we’ve seen across the country is that there’s one set of constituents that pay a lot of attention to these elections and that’s kind of big money interests that have a, have a big financial stake in who’s sitting on these courts. You know, they’re paying attention, they put a lot of money into these races, they’re paying, they’re really investing in them, but most members of the public really aren’t paying attention to it as an issue.
Josie: Right. One of the big things that you mentioned is that the people who are paying attention to these races are corporate donors, big business and people who have kind of constant stake in who’s on the bench. Everybody has a constant stake, but maybe a direct stake in a different way. And so could you talk briefly just about who those people are and the levels of money they’re donating and how that money is being spent?
Alicia Bannon: Yeah, absolutely. And I mean, just to step back, there was a time when judicial elections tended to be pretty low profile, low cost events, and you know, that started to change in the nineties and really kind of took off around the year 2000 where you started to see, um, a lot more money pouring into those races. If you look generally you’ll see with respect to support for conservative judges, a lot of money comes from, um, business interests. On the other side, you see a fair bit of money coming from plaintiff side lawyers, to a lesser extent unions. And there’s been kind of an arms race where you’ve seen more money coming in on both sides as, you know, interests are basically trying to shape who’s sitting on the courts. And ultimately the decisions that courts are making. What we’ve seen, which I think is really troubling is that oftentimes, you know, the people that are spending money do you have direct financial stakes in the decisions that courts are making oftentimes with cases pending at the very time that these judges are running for elections and, you know, they’ll put in six figures, sometimes seven figures into these elections. So these are large dollar amounts for races that most people aren’t really paying attention to. Right now there are 20 states where at least one justice on the state Supreme Court has been involved in a million dollar race. So it’s something that really is an issue in states across the country.
Josie: So what you’re basically saying is that if I work for, you know, whatever ACME Construction Company and we’ve donated a million dollars or we’ve donated $500,000 to the campaign of someone on the State Supreme Court and a case that involves us, goes up to the Supreme Court you’re looking at a justice who’s clearly compromised or is at risk of being compromised much more than maybe the other, the person that we’re in a case against, who maybe they didn’t donate any money to the Supreme Court.
Alicia Bannon: Yeah. And I mean, to give a concrete example, you know, in North Carolina, Duke Energy is a big player in that state and they are routinely in court in that state. You know, there’ve been a number of lawsuits involving claims to environmental damage, um, you know, coal, ash, polluting, polluting the state and they are frequently a defendant in environmental litigation. You also look at who have been the big spenders in North Carolina judicial elections. One of the big spenders is a group, the Republican State Leadership Committee, they’ve spent millions of dollars in that state, who is one of their biggest donors? It’s Duke Energy. Now, you know, I’m not suggesting that every justice is, you know, calculating who’s given them money or not. But I think if you, you know, from the perspective of people that are going into court and relying on courts to give them a fair shake, you know, I think it, it does create, at least in appearance that, you know, these judges are, you know, might have trouble squaring in and deciding cases based on their understanding of what the law requires. And I think it’s so, I mean, money in politics is an issue across the board, but I think it raises particular concerns in the context of judges because judges’ jobs are to put aside any kind of personal financial interest and really decide cases based on their understanding of what the law requires and what the facts require. And you know, they’re not supposed to have constituents. They’re not supposed to, you know, put the thumb on the scale. That’s an abdication of their duty. And so I think it raises real concerns about the ability of our justice system to function fairly.
Clint: Has it always been like this? Like was there a period of time in which ostensibly money and the campaign donations and money in politics and money specifically in judicial elections, didn’t play the same role that it’s playing now?
Alicia Bannon: It didn’t always used to be like this, it, you know, for many years you didn’t see much money in judicial elections. People didn’t pay much attention to them. The first two states where it started to change were Texas and Alabama. Karl Rove actually got, he cut his teeth in some really nasty big money elections in those states, which were an effort to essentially flip those courts, which had been, um, you know, Democratic for many years to, to Republican control. And that was, those were kind of the canary in the coal mine states. It started to pick up in the nineties, I think in part a byproduct of the tort reform movement. You had a number of states where legislatures had passed various laws to limit punitive damages to make it harder for plaintiffs to go into court, um, bringing various lawsuits against corporate interests and several state Supreme Courts struck those lawsuits down as violating their state constitutions. And that I think attracted the attention of the Chamber of Commerce and other big money interests saying we need to focus on these courts because these are keeping us from, you know, basically, uh, an agenda, a tort reform agenda. So you started to see money go into judicial elections to some extent in the nineties and then by the year 2000 it really started to take off.
Clint: And do you see it disproportionately coming from folks on the right and going to right leaning judges or is there, is it an even split? Like how is the money breaking down?
Alicia Bannon: So there’s, there’s been spending on both sides. Um, and to some extent it depends on the state. There have certainly been some states where it’s been largely kind of corporate money. There’ve been some states where it’s actually been plaintiffs trial lawyers that has been the big spending, big, big spenders. If you look in the aggregate, it’s tended to, um, overall there’s been more spending on the right than the left. And one thing that I think is interesting is particularly among national groups. So it’s not just how much money is being spent on both sides, but who’s spending that money. So in terms of spending for, spending on the left, it’s principally from interests within that state. Um, if you look at spending on the right, you’ve seen a lot of money coming from national groups that have a multistate agenda, so groups like the Republican State Leadership Committee, the Judicial Crisis Network, which also a big spender in the Kavanaugh confirmation hearing and in federal nominations. So I think a really striking dynamic has been, I think, a real national agenda on the right to shape the ideological composition of especially state Supreme Courts and to a lesser extent lower courts as well. I don’t think you’ve seen the same national attention coming on the left.
Josie: So for people who are listening who maybe don’t know what tort reform really means and what it is, can you, um, can you give an explanation of that?
Alicia Bannon: Sure. I mean, tort reform can mean different things, but generally what it involves is you have people coming into court, oftentimes consumers that are suing companies or businesses for various harms. You know, it could be a, um, a product defect, it could be, um, you know, a medical malpractice issue. There’s different reasons why people might come into court. The tort reform movement has been a movement to essentially make it either harder to bring those kinds of cases into court in the first place or limit the kinds of damages that you can get from those cases.
Josie: Right. And so kind of connecting that to the criminal aspect of this, tort reform is a tough thing to run on, right? Like you’re not gonna run campaign ads about tort. People just don’t, it’s not as interesting to people as maybe tough-on-crime or kind of the fear mongering ads that justices kind of rely on. Can you talk a little bit about why, you know, the people who are donating to these justices and these judges are not actually interested in criminal being, tough-on-crime necessarily. It’s not, that’s not a tort reform issue. It’s not a big business issue. So how is it and why is it that these judges are relying on their criminal records to get elected when the people who are donating are not necessarily, you know, it’s not the prosecutors who are donating to them or the defense attorneys, um, it’s the more civil cases, but it seems like the criminal cases play such a big part of this. So can you connect the dots for us on that?
Alicia Bannon: Yeah. Well, one thing that’s really striking when you look at the ads that come out in these judicial elections is that criminal justice issues are a huge theme. Usually they’re the most common subject of an ad. Um, and you’ll have judges either celebrated as tough-on-crime or attacked as being soft-on-crime. Usually those are ads that are taken out by, um, groups. You look at those groups and almost never are they groups with a criminal justice mission. If you look at who’s funding those groups, it’s often corporate interests or plaintiff side trial lawyers, as you said, a groups interest that are much more focused on civil justice issues. Things like tort reform. But what the rhetoric in those races is really focused on criminal justice issues and they’re actually taking out ads not on their issues, but on criminal justice because that’s seen as a wedge issue, an emotional issue, something that’s likely to motivate people when they’re to the polls.
Clint: What is the role that Citizens United has played in all of this? You’ve kind of alluded to it I think, we’ve talked about money in politics but, but explicitly what are the sort of effects that that ruling has had on the landscape of judicial elections?
Clint: So someone can put a nasty attack ad out on your behalf and you can say, ‘I didn’t do that. My campaign didn’t do that. I would never do such a thing.’ But the message is still getting out there.
Alicia Bannon: Exactly. Exactly. Um, and so I think one thing we’ve seen is it affects overall the tenor of these races and I think contributes to the politicization of the elections and this focus on criminal justice issues. Another big impact of this rise of outside groups has been on transparency. So, um, you know, we found in the last presidential election cycle 2015 to ‘16, we saw record amounts of spending by outside groups. About 80 percent of it was non transparent, more than half of it was completely dark money where you had no idea who the donors were, it wasn’t disclosed at all. And then you had about 30 percent where you essentially had to keep unpeeling the onion, you know, so it was a group and they disclose their donors, but if you looked at who the donors were, it was another group, so you had to keep on peeling to figure out who the actual interests are so that, you know, it leaves voters in the dark about who’s trying to shape their courts and it can also obscure real conflicts of interest. So you might have somebody who has a case before judge who’s contributing through these dark money groups. There might be a real reason why that judge shouldn’t be hearing the case, but we don’t know about it.
Josie: That’s such an immense amount of dark money. Is that sort of comparable to people being elected to state legislatures? Is there more dark money in judicial races than in other races?
Alicia Bannon: Well, the short answer is we don’t really know because it’s very hard to identify and track all of the dark money. The Brennan Center has done some work looking at dark money in state elections. And what we’ve found is, again, not systematically, but at least looking at a couple of states, is that there’s some indication that it’s the state races and some of the down ballot races that are most attractive to dark money because they kind of can get the most bang for their buck. These, you know, when you’re, when you’re dealing with, you know, a really high profile election where there’s a lot of media coverage and a lot of people paying attention to it, you know, those, the ads matter. But they might not matter as much as a down ballot race where somebody’s going to pay attention the week before the election and that’s, you know, the, the two ads they see on TV and the mailer that they get is going to be the only pieces of information that they have when they go into the voting booth. And so there’s at least some indication that, you know, if you look at proportionately there, um, the dark money is even perhaps the biggest issue in some of those down ballot measures and sort of other areas where the public isn’t super focused on it as an issue.
Clint: How much of an anomaly is this sort of thing? Like globally, like is this, judicial elections, something that happen in other countries across the world? Or is the United States unique in its absurdity on this front?
Alicia Bannon: Virtually no other countries use judicial elections. So we’re basically a global outlier. Um, you know, it’s, it’s an interesting history around how the United States adopted judicial elections. So when we, you know, at the time of the founding, no states had judicial elections, either the governor or the state legislatures appointed judges in the 13 original colonies. And then it was only in the late 19th century that states started to adopt judicial elections. And it was seen as a reform measure. So there was a concern that judges were too closely tied to the politicians that were appointing them and that they weren’t being enough of a check on the political branches of government. So the idea was that this would actually enhance the independence of the judiciary because they would just be accountable to the people. So that was, that was the motivation. I think what we’re seeing now, especially with the rise of these big money elections, is that it’s not playing that role anymore.
Josie: And I think that’s an important point because it’s hard to say to people, people like the idea of elections, it is a main part of democracy obviously. Right? So the idea of saying to them, actually we shouldn’t be electing judges, you shouldn’t have a say in who’s on the bench is not like a, is not a attractive selling point. So, and I’ve had trouble selling people on that.
Clint: And it runs counter to a lot of people’s ideas of like what a democracy is.
Josie: Totally. Like why shouldn’t we elect judges? But I’m hoping, it’d be great if you could just explain, you know, what is the value of an independent judiciary and the way that we, that the founders kind of imagined it? Um, you know, because obviously we see in federal, on the federal level, like Trump’s appointing whoever anyway. So what difference does it make if, you know, it’s the conservative guy that we pick or the conservative guy that he picks, but I think there is an important difference and I’m hoping you can sort of just lay out what is that value of an independent judiciary.
Alicia Bannon: Courts play a vital and unique role in our democracy. You know, sometimes what the law requires is not going to be what’s popular. And I think that’s a real challenge and issue with the use of judicial elections. I think especially as they’ve evolved today where judges are routinely being targeted for particular decisions that they’ve made on the bench. Like I think back to, you know, in um, after Brown v. Board of education you had billboards going around the South saying “Impeach Earl Warren” and what world would we live in if then you could have had a campaign and just kind of booted or worn off the bench the next election because you didn’t like him or something like. I think that it’s a real challenge to the role that courts are supposed to play where, you know, they’re supposed to be defending people’s rights, they’re supposed to be following the law and the Constitution and that’s not always going to be popular. That’s not always going to be consistent with what the majority wants. And so, um, I, I think that that, as I said, I think that’s a real challenge to using judicial elections. That said, I think that sometimes people that criticize judicial elections are a little bit too flippant when they’re talking about the alternatives, right? Like we just saw, you know, the Kavanaugh confirmation process a few months ago. That’s not, you know, it’s plainly not a model for a well functioning system either. So, you know, I think it’s important to acknowledge that appointment systems can be really problematic as well and can introduce their own brand of politics and special interest influence as well.
Josie: And maybe a bigger question sort of like what do you think is the solution to the judicial election question?
Alicia Bannon: So I’ll say first, I mean we’ve done a lot of research about this question of how judges should be selected and we actually just finished kind of a long term project where we looked at how different states choose their judges, interview different stakeholders, looked at the social science research, really tried to do a deep dive into this question. My own view and we discussed this in a report that we put out recently, is that, you know, there is a model of an appointment system that I think is really superior, at least for Supreme Court levels, in terms of how to choose judges. We kind of, we call it a publicly accountable appointment system where you have a bipartisan commission that recruits and reviews applications for potential judges. Vets them, interviews them and then creates a short list based on those interviews. And you know, the composition of that commission really matters. We have a lot of recommendations about, you know, the need for diversity on a bunch of different measures so that you’re really both recruiting from a wide swath of people and have people with diverse backgrounds that are, um, you know, evaluating those candidates. But I think with that kind of a commission creating then a short list that goes to the governor, you have a system that can be publicly accountable, have transparency, um, and have trust basically that you’re getting judges who are being chosen based on, um, you know, that they’re well qualified and that they’re being vetted in a fair and transparent way. So I think that in my mind is a, is a better model then using judicial elections and a better model than just, you know, empowering a governor to just, you know, use own brand of politics to, to appoint judges.
Clint: Is that a model that exists somewhere or is that something that you all have sort of imagined and created as what the ideal framework would look like?
Clint: So functionally how is that different? I mean, I guess to some extent it’s a bit different, but if the governor can appoint every single person on the commission, I guess it’s just another degree of separation from the governor appointing someone themselves.
Alicia Bannon: Exactly. So we don’t think that, we think it’s important that you have different appointing authorities involving different stakeholders. So not just the governor are making all the appointments. Not every state has requirements that, um, the commissions have members of different political parties. Um, you know, there’s an, another issue is professional diversity. So if you look at who’s on those commissions, oftentimes you don’t see representation from non lawyers. You don’t see representation from lawyers that don’t come from corporate backgrounds or plaintiff side backgrounds. So for example, you don’t see public defenders on those commissions. So we think it’s important that they be structured carefully so that you really do have representation from a wide set of interests which encourages, you know, real robust vetting and focusing on qualifications. You know, another thing that we think is really important is also looking, you know, I, I talked about these backend pressures, right? Judges, it’s not just that you’re elected to the bench, it’s that then you have to worry about being reelected. And I think that’s where some of the pressures on judges are most serious. So another recommendation that we have is that judge’s stand for lengthy single terms rather than being regularly reelected because, because we think it’s those reselection pressures that are the most serious with respect to judges really doing, doing their jobs.
Clint: Is there a length of time that you think is his best?
Alicia Bannon: Um, we recommend something in the realm of kind of 14 to 18 years. So you, um, and at least for the state Supreme Courts, like you want it to be a long enough time that you attract good people and that they have the ability to develop expertise on the court. But you also don’t want judges to be there, you know, for a lifetime.
Josie: So you just mentioned the idea of sort of like interviewing judges and asking them their positions on certain or trying to get a sense from them if you’re a part of a bipartisan commission, when you think about interviewing judges or electing judges, part of the reason it seems like people don’t always have a lot of information about who’s on their state Supreme Court or who they’re electing is because judges do have some constraints on what values they can espouse as judicial candidates. Is that correct? And what are those constraints?
Josie: Was this Minnesota v. White or something like that?
Alicia Bannon: Yeah. So Republican Party of Minnesota v. White. And so that was specifically about whether or not judges could talk about issues of public concern on the campaign trail and several states had limits on their ability to do so and the Supreme Court struck those down and so that did open up kind of more, I guess, ideological seeming rhetoric on the campaign trail than there used to be, but judges are still constrained and other ways. I think how this plays out most significantly in the context of criminal justice issues is that generally judges are limited in talking about their own cases, so if you issue a ruling and you’re attacked, judges usually aren’t in a good position to then respond to those attacks and say, ‘well, that was a misrepresentation of what I said.’ It’s a very uncomfortable, awkward position for judges to be in because usually they’re expected to kind of rely on their reasoning in their cases and their opinions as their explanation of what they did. And so when they’re attacked for those decisions, it puts them in a very awkward position. And so you end up with judges frequently being targeted for cases and not feeling comfortable really responding at least with full force to those kinds of attacks and I think you’ve seen other people, I don’t think we’ve seen enough of other stakeholders like state bar associations or retired judges or just another kind of interested people in the state stepping up to say, you know, ‘no, this is misleading, this is wrong. This is not appropriate. You’re not fairly discussing these judges’ records.’ We sort of haven’t seen that infrastructure yet coming up in, in states.
Josie: I’d love to hear some examples of some of the ads you’ve seen or some of the, you know, candidates you’ve seen really pay the price for thinking more progressively on crime or for example, not supporting the death penalty. Um, or, you know, really how this actually affects people who are on the bench.
Alicia Bannon: That’s a great question. Well, I mean, one ad that I always found chilling, and this is, this is actually the other direction, this is judges touting their records, was, um, one in Tennessee in a retention election. So judges were standing for an up or down vote, do you keep them or don’t keep them? And there was a big attack basically trying to get these justices off the bench. One of the issues in those attacks was saying that they were soft-on-crime. The justices came out and said, ‘no, we’re really tough-on-crime’ and took out these ads saying ‘we uphold nearly 90 percent of all death sentences’ and that was their campaign ad or a big banner saying ‘uphold 90 percent of death sentences.’ And I always think about that one because I just think, gosh, like what if you had a case and you might put them below 90 percent, you know, are you’re going to feel really comfortable going into that court, are you really gonna feel like you’re going to get a fair shake when judges are campaigning on the percentage of cases that they’re upholding? Um, so I think that’s one that always struck me and stuck with me as a real exemplar of some of the really problematic dynamics that we see when people are really campaigning on their records in death penalty cases. And obviously the answer shouldn’t be what percentage of cases you upheld. The answer should be, well, what percentage of cases did you get right and maybe some of those you should have upheld and some of those you shouldn’t have. On the other side, one ad that’s always stuck with me was in Wisconsin, there was, Louis Butler, who is the state’s first and only African American justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, was targeted in a very nasty and misleading Willie Horton-style ad really, sort of suggesting that he basically, juxtaposing his face along with the face of a criminal defendant, also black who bore sort of a similar physical resemblance to him and basically suggesting that he had gotten this person off on a loophole. The facts were that he wasn’t even a judge involved in this case. He had represented this person as an appointed counsel, as a criminal defense lawyer and had represented him and all of those facts were really distorted in an ad that was widely broadcast and he lost his seat. And so I think that’s a good example of both how these ads are used and you know, the impact that they can have. I mean, my sense from what happened in Wisconsin was that that ad really did kind of change the narrative in that state. You know what I mean? Usually sitting justices have a pretty good incumbent advantage. They usually hold onto their seats and you know, and, and he lost his seat.
Josie: Right. Is the reality of that story told about Louis Butler and how he was sort of a public defender appointed council for this guy and then it’s paying the price on the back end saying you supported this person even though that’s his job. Does that mean that they’re probably, do you see a lot more former prosecutors on the bench who are being able to benefit from this tough-on-crime platform then people who maybe were previously defense attorneys?
Alicia Bannon: I think that is a real issue. If you look at the composition of state judiciaries, it’s true for federal judiciary as well, that, um, it’s, it’s definitely overrepresented by people with prosecutor backgrounds, corporate backgrounds and it can be very hard for public defenders or other people with defense backgrounds to win in these races because, you know, in doing their jobs they’re representing criminal defendants and some of those cases can be very easily caricatured in ads and that happens all the time where, you know, it’s not just judges being attacked for decisions that they made on the bench. You’ll also see lawyers running for judge being attacked for their representation.
Clint: So you spoke a little bit about what you all at the Brennan Center think about as the ideal framework and scenario for mitigating a lot of the issues that exist as a result of judicial elections and money in these sorts of, but also not giving a sort of unfettered power to a governor of a state or what have you. I’m curious what the entry point is to achieving that sort of scenario?Like if someone is listening to this and they’re like, ‘okay, well actually I want to play a role in making sure that we are attempting to put in place the framework that the Brennan Center is advocating,’ how would they go about doing that?
Alicia Bannon: With respect to how states structure there judicial selection systems, usually that’s a function of the state constitution and so, you know, in some states that can be changed by a ballot measure, so people in the state can come together and say we want to change our system and we’re going to, you know, put forward a measure to do that. In other states it requires action by the state legislature as well to um, change the constitution. So, you know, I think it depends a little bit on the state that you’re in. The other thing I’ll say though is that, you know, that’s a big reform. That’s probably something that’s going to take, you know, time to do. There’s lots of other work that can be done in the more immediate term for people in states that elect judges, you know, to research their judges, you know, to pay attention to these judicial elections, vote in these judicial elections, make sure they’re voting for good people in those elections. And then I think there’s also other reforms that you can make that don’t require quite as heavy a lift in terms of a constitutional amendment, but you know, to help take money out of the elections by supporting things like public financing for judges in their state, strengthening the rules, the ethics rules around when judges have to step aside from cases in the face of these kinds of conflicts of interest. So I think there’s a lot of intermediate steps that people can call for as well. I think the biggest hurdle to reform that we’ve seen in states across the country, is just a lack of public understanding and engagement on this issue. So I think just understanding this as a problem and saying, you know, this is something that we think needs to be addressed would be a really important first step towards any of these reforms.
Clint: Alicia, thank you so much for joining us. This was really informative. I learned a lot and I’m sure our listeners appreciate it.
Alicia Bannon: Thank you so much for having me.
Josie: That was Alicia Bannon, the Deputy Director for Program Management at the Brennan Center. It was great to talk to you Alicia. Thank you so much for joining us.
Clint: Thank you so much we really appreciate it. And thank you for listening to Justice in America. I’m Clint Smith.
Clint: You can find us on Twitter at @Justice_Podcast, or like us on Facebook at Justice in America, also subscribe and rate us on iTunes. Every review helps.
Josie: Justice in America is produced by Florence Barrau-Adams. The production assistant is Trendel Lightburn. And we’d like to say a special thanks to Jon Hanson for his help on this today. Hope you join us next week. | 2019-04-20T16:20:20Z | https://theappeal.org/justice-in-america-episode-14-judicial-elections/ |
GAME TIME: 7 pm ET, Greyhound Stadium.
COACHES: Tim Bless, 84-54 in 13th year at Columbus North. Kevin Wright, 23-3 in 3rd year at Carmel.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Columbus North 0-0, Carmel 0-0.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Carmel, 1-0.
LAST MEETING: Carmel, 58-17, Aug. 19, 2011.
COACHES COMMENTS: “We definitely have an exciting challenge ahead of us playing the defending (Class 5A) state champions. They are definitely one of the premier programs in the state. We learned a lot about ourselves when we played them last season. It definitely made us a better football team and helped prepare us for the rest of the season. We are hoping we can learn from this experience.” – Columbus North coach Tim Bless.
“Columbus North is a veteran football team which plays a very physical style of football and has excellent size up front. For us to be successful Friday, we must have our young guys play like veterans, take care of the football, and limit our mistakes. In other words, we have to grow up fast against a very good football team.” – Carmel coach Kevin Wright.
GAME TIME: 7 pm ET, Spuller Stadium.
COACHES: Matt Lindsay, 227-97 in 26th year at Fort Wayne Bishop Luers. Kurt Tippmann, 28-11 in 4th year at Fort Wayne Snider.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers 0-0, Fort Wayne Snider 0-0.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Fort Wayne Snider, 11-4.
LAST MEETING: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, 32-21, Aug. 19, 2011.
COACHES COMMENTS: “Offensively, we must be able to block them up front. They have some tremendous athletes. We have to find them and block them. Play action passing will be a big part of our success. Our QB must make good decisions in the passing game and in our option game. Defensively, we have to defend their speed. They spread the ball around, so we must be able to tackle some tremendous ball-toucher guys. In the kicking game, we need to win the battle of field position. Again, they have tremendous speed, so we have to out-execute them in the special team units.” F.W. Snider coach Kurt Tippmann.
GAME TIME: 7 pm CT, Zlotnik Field, WJOB (1230 AM).
COACHES: Jim Pickett, 0-0 in 1st year at Griffith. Roydon Richards, 93-56 in 14th year at Hammond Morton.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Griffith 0-0, Hammond Morton 0-0.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Griffith, 13-6.
LAST MEETING: Hammond Morton, 27-26, sectional, Nov. 4, 2011.
COACHES COMMENTS: “Our defense is very young. So for us to keep the pressure off of them, our offense needs to execute and take care of the ball. Our offense has nine very talented seniors starting and should be able to use that experience as an advantage.” – Morton coach Roydon Richards.
GAME TIME: 7 pm ET, Oriole Stadium.
COACHES: Scott May, 50-10 in 6th year at Hamilton Southeastern. Mark Bless, 19-6 in 3rd year at Avon.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Hamilton Southeastern 0-0, Avon 0-0.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Hamilton Southeastern, 9-4.
LAST MEETING: Hamilton Southeastern, 27-17, Aug. 19, 2011.
COACHES COMMENTS: “We are beat up some right now and we are young, but I think this team can be good. We need to control the ball and not give up big plays this week. A quick start and some success early could be big for this group.” Hamilton SE coach Scott May.
“In order for us to be successful Friday night against Hamilton Southeastern, we will need to minimize our mistakes. HSE is very good at capitalizing on your mistakes and making you pay for them. We will need to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. We will also need to make big plays on special teams.” – Avon coach Mark Bless.
GAME TIME: 6 pm ET, Lucas Oil.
COACHES: Ron Qualls, 64-48 in 11th year at Heritage Christian. Ty Hunt, 66-13 in 7th year at Indianapolis Ritter.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Heritage Christian 0-0, Indianapolis Ritter 0-0.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Indianapolis Ritter, 9-1.
LAST MEETING: Indianapolis Ritter, 45-28, Aug. 19, 2011.
COACHES COMMENTS: “In order to beat a well-coached team like Cardinal Ritter, we will need to focus on ball security. With the offensive firepower of both teams, it is imperative for us to make wise choices in play calling and play management. I am confident that QB Matt Hunt will do his job of making great choices if the coaching staff calls the right plays to put him the right position to make the right choices. I believe that most interceptions are made not because of the QB but rather because the coaching staff made the wrong play choice and put the QB in a position to make the best of a bad situation.” – Heritage Christian coach Ron Qualls.
” We will have to play great team defense, Especially our with our linebackers (Deckard, Sholar, Schmidt, Sims, and Beman), knowing that Matt Hunt, Anthony Warrum are driving forces behind what Heritage Christian attempts to do. If our returning line can control the line of scrimmage, that will help us establish a tempo of the game. We expect Jake Purichia, Jake Hagan, Alex Parrett, and Robbie Hagan to be some of our skilled players who will help lead and help define that tempo on offense. I know everyone is excited and learning how to control the first game emotions will be a good test as well.” – Cardinal Ritter coach Ty Hunt.
GAME TIME: 7 pm CT, Reitz Bowl.
COACHES: Todd Wilkerson, 0-0 in 1st year at Heritage Hills. Mike Goebel, 148-46 in 16th year at Evansville Mater Dei.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Heritage Hills 0-0, Evansville Mater Dei 0-0.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Heritage Hills, 3-1.
LAST MEETING: Evansville Mater Dei, 30-7, sectional, Oct. 20, 2006.
COACHES COMMENTS: “We are excited about our first game against a great opponent. To be successful Friday night, we have to execute and make plays offensively. On defense, we cannot give up big play TDs to Mater Dei. We have to make them grind it out.” – Heritage Hills coach Todd Wilkerson.
“With so many new faces, we first must find ourselves and control our own play. Of course, we must have a feel and be prepared for an outstanding Heritage Hills club. They might have a new coach from within the Patriot system, but they have the same scheme and same outstanding program. We have a very difficult challenge. To be competitive, we must develop a better understanding of the game. The team’s effort has been there and we can only promise that it will be there on Friday evening.” – Mater Dei coach Mike Goebel.
GAME TIME: 7 pm ET, Giants Stadium.
COACHES: Rick Streiff, 168-37 in 18th year at Indianapolis Cathedral. Mike Kirschner, 38-20 in 6th year at Ben Davis.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Indianapolis Cathedral 0-0, Ben Davis 0-0.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Ben Davis, 5-0.
LAST MEETING: Ben Davis, 24-21, overtime, Aug. 20, 2011.
COACHES COMMENTS: “We must be able to play great special teams. Both teams are starting over in some key positions, so there is a certain level playing field for both teams. The Ben Davis offense is retooling and our defense lost 10 starters, so we need to get up to speed quickly. The Ben Davis defense is experienced and talented, so consequently we must be able to play to the strength of our returning skilled players.” Cathedral coach Rick Streiff.
“We will have to rely on our defense to get us going. Our offense is young and inexperienced and will need some help growing up. The Irish are very athletic and quick up front. They play disciplined football, so we will have to be under control.” – Ben Davis coach Mike Kirschner.
GAME TIME: 7:30 pm ET, Wilhelm Field.
COACHES: Vince Lorenzano, 110-21 in 10th year at Indianapolis Bishop Chatard. Ryan Gallogly, 39-17 in 6th year at Brebeuf Jesuit.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard 0-0, Brebeuf Jesuit 0-0.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard, 8-0.
LAST MEETING: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard, 34-13, sectional, Nov. 4, 2011.
COACHES COMMENTS: “To reach our potential this Friday on offense, we have to take care of the football, limit our penalties, control the down and distance into manageable possessions (2 and 3-4, 3rd and 2-3), break off four big run plays of 40+ yards, and complete five passes for 60 yards. Defensively, we need to recover two fumbles, produce two interceptions, execute play per play, tackle Belamy and Ferguson, outhit them, and be faster overall as a team. We also must have no big specialty breakdowns, great coverage on punt and KO coverage, and outhit them on specialty teams.” Bishop Chatard coach Vince Lorenzano.
GAME TIME: 6:30 pm CT, Enlow Field.
COACHES: Tony Ahrens, 83-24 in 10th year at Jasper. John Hurley, 37-18 in 5th year at Evansville Memorial.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Jasper 0-0, Evansville Memorial 0-0.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Jasper, 12-3. Jasper leads the all-time series, 20-16, dating back to 1962.
LAST MEETING: Jasper, 29-0, Aug. 19, 2011.
COACHES COMMENTS: “Memorial has a solid team that starts with an eye on their QB Dane Hurley. He is a good football player and will be tough to contain. We have to try to stay mistake free as much as possible. We simply must line up and compete at the line of scrimmage.” – Jasper coach Tony Ahrens.
“We have to stop the run and control the line of scrimmage. Jasper’s strength is going to be their offense and defensive lines. Last year, we had several early turnovers in the first quarter. We are looking for strong senior leadership Friday night, we have 27 (seniors).” – Evansville Memorial coach John Hurley.
GAME TIME: 8 pm ET, Corydon Central Field.
COACHES: Greg Gibson, 0-0 in 1st year at Perry Central. Darin Ward, 46-20 in 7th year at Corydon Central.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Perry Central 0-0, Corydon Central 0-0.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Perry Central, 11-4.
LAST MEETING: Corydon Central, 42-6, Aug. 19, 2011.
COACHES COMMENTS: “For us to be successful Friday, we are going to have to win the battle up front on both sides of the ball. Last year, we had problems matching their physical play. We will need to limit their big plays. On offense, we need to maintain a good balance of pass and run.” – Perry Central coach Greg Gibson.
“For us to beat Perry Central, we must limit the amount of snaps that they get offensively and be sound in the kicking game.” – Corydon Central coach Darin Ward.
GAME TIME: 7 pm CT, Chesterton Field.
COACHES: Ben Downey, 22-8 in 3rd year at South Bend St. Joseph. John Snyder, 65-54 in 12th year at Chesterton.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: South Bend St. Joseph 0-0, Chesterton 0-0.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: South Bend St. Joseph, 1-0.
LAST MEETING: South Bend St. Joseph, 30-28, Aug. 19, 2011.
COACHES COMMENTS: “In order to win against the Trojans, our returning starters need to execute the plan as usual. Our rookies need to play with the poise, confidence, and discipline of veterans.” – St. Joe coach Ben Downey.
“We will win if we can control their defensive front. They’re very active, which allows their outstanding linebackers and safeties freedom to run and pursue. Turnovers are always a big key in the opening game. We have several new faces on offense, so we must come out confident and aggressive. Defensively, we must tackle well. They have very good running backs and their QB has demonstrated an ability to throw deep and accurately. Coach Downey and his staff have developed an outstanding program and it is obvious when you watch their teams play. They play hard the entire 48 minutes!!! Their experience in the playoffs is something we can’t duplicate, which can be a key in a close, tight game.” – Chesterton coach John Snyder.
GAME TIME: 7:30 pm ET, Jake Field.
COACHES: Jay Johnson, 0-0 in 1st year at South Bend Washington. Tim Dawson, 155-101 in 24th year at Concord.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: South Bend Washington 0-0, Concord 0-0.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Concord, 2-0.
LAST MEETING: Concord, 35-13, sectional, Oct. 29, 2010.
COACHES COMMENTS: “In order for us to win, we have to play Panther football. We have to outhit them. We have to be fundamentally sound. We have to play together, and we can’t flinch when things aren’t going our way. If we stay focused and play our game, we will be fine.” – S.B. Washington coach Jay Johnson.
“I see two keys for us if we are to have success against the Panthers! Win the battle of special teams with field position and not give up the big plays to their offense. We will not play a more athletic and explosive team until maybe Jimtown. They looked very impressive in their scrimmage against NorthWood. It will be a great test for us to see where we are as a team! I am glad we play at home. Maybe Daigien Morgan and Matt Clay will miss the bus and not find their way to Dunlap! Gotta Love it!” – Concord coach Tim Dawson.
GAME TIME: 7:30 pm ET, Gordon Straley Field.
COACHES: Chris Coll, 31-30 in 7th year at Tri-West. Marshall Overley, 75-51 in 12th year at West Lafayette.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Tri-West 0-0, West Lafayette 0-0.
COACHES COMMENTS: “This week is a game between two teams who are keeping the tradition going. We both have a lot of players to replace. Our first-time starters are going to have to play at the level we have come to expect. We also have to contain that giant Bruin QB. He is hard to tackle and he has a strong arm. Our coverage can’t break down and we have to swarm to the tackle. Both Chris and I are glad to start this series between programs with such strong histories.” – West Lafayette coach Marshall Overley.
GAME TIME: 7:30 pm ET, Blackhawk Field.
COACHES: Jed Richman, 16-7 in 3rd year at Western Boone. Larry Wright, 370-158 in 47th year at Sheridan.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Western Boone 0-0, Sheridan 0-0.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Western Boone, 8-7.
LAST MEETING: Western Boone, 21-16, Aug. 19, 2011.
COACHES COMMENTS: “Anytime you play the Blackhawks, you have to be well conditioned and disciplined. They are a very good team yet again this year. Coach Wright is one of the greatest ever, so we have to be well prepared. We have a lot of respect for Sheridan and it is a great test to start the season with.” – Western Boone coach Jed Richman.
“In order to beat Western Boone we must contain their QB. He is a good athlete who can run or pass. They run the read option, so we must play assignment football. On offense, we must be able to throw the play action pass with success. Our offensive line is inexperienced (4 of 5 new starters). We will not be able to run the ball unless we have some success in the passing game.” – Sheridan coach Bud Wright.
GAME TIME: 7 pm ET Saturday, Lucas Oil Stadium.
COACHES: Aaron Tolle, 51-29 in 8th year at Tipton. Mitch Street, 9-3 in 2nd year at Hamilton Heights.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Tipton 0-0, Hamilton Heights 0-0.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Tipton, 7-6.
LAST MEETING: Hamilton Heights, 10-9, Aug. 19, 2011.
COACHES COMMENTS: “To beat Tipton, offensively, we are going to have be really be conscientious of their front seven and where they are aligned pre-snap. We also be able to adapt to their post snap movement. Defensively, we must be aware and focused on our keys, and be prepared to adjust and adapt throughout the game. We must rally to the football. Overall, we must control our emotions due to a combination of the fact it’s week 1, the rivalry, and the fact the game is being played at Lucas Oil Stadium.” – Hamilton Heights coach Mitch Street.
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Some of the loudest cheers that have come from the practice field during the Colts 2012 training camp have been due to a Robert Mathis play in pass coverage.
For nine seasons, Mathis was a Pro Bowl defensive end and now making the transition into pass coverage, his teammates know the type of work that he has put into the offseason.
On Tuesday at practice, there was a small eruption from the Colts defenders when Mathis went up for a jump ball in the corner of the end zone with tight end Coby Fleener and knocked away a potential touchdown.
It’s moments like that which makes Mathis believe he can make the switch. But even he admitted it was difficult taking a step back, not forward, once the ball was snapped on Sunday.
“It’s very hard especially personally, myself, been in it for nine years and trying not to revert back and just do what you’re supposed to do,” Mathis said.
One of the biggest adjustments Mathis has been forced to make this season is on the mental side of things. It’s the ability to process things pre snap from a stand up position that Mathis has been working on all offseason.
From a unit standpoint, Mathis and the defense had a successful opener allowing just three points against the Rams.
The first team defense is expected to play a little more this coming Sunday and will look for more of the same against the Steelers. | 2019-04-23T04:49:32Z | http://blogs.colts.com/2012/08/16/ |
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You’ve got to get their permission, when you have decided on that which you need to set inside your reference list. You’ll also detect an example mention checklist. Below you will discover an example reference list.
Use level if page numbers are inaccessible. Note you may readily incorporate other sorts of numbers or page numbers to your citation. Issue date and the quantity also needs to be contained, as well as page numbers.
You would rather never comprise matters like an email with a typo. Provide the internet address if information is procured from a record online. In every single instance, you ought to provide enough advice to permit the reader know just how to gain access to the data. It ought to be described from the writing of your paper if you have acquired little numeric info to gift. You take a number of the advice found on the table of contents. A lot of the advice you have to make a print book citation are present in the page. A lot of the advice you have to build a chapter in a print book citation is found on the page.
Not any Web site will supply each of the information that is following. Only contain info on the topic of this format in brackets at the event the site is actually a distinctive kind of record , such as, for instance, a PDF. There are sports activities news websites, research, shopping, and different sorts of sites.
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Working-class nations, Nothing’s theory ought to be set on the webpage. Your web site must appear skilled and more appealing, it needs to become simple to navigate through also it ought to truly have the e commerce platform. Another fabulous idea is to get yourself a site. Similarweb A different website for checking the ranking of your site is Similarweb. | 2019-04-21T22:22:45Z | http://jimbrownforussenate.com/list-motywacyjny-kucharz/ |
Down on planet Earth, some 40,000 feet below my west-moving window, the icy water off southern Greenland is nearly a mirror of the sky I fly through, all white clusters and blue swirls drawn out by blazing sunlight. The date is April 12, 2018. The time: nearly 9 a.m. in Texas and 3 p.m. in London. At the speed of 514 mph, which is considerably faster than Statcast’s most bodacious home run, I am making my return to the land of the Pastime following a fortnight in the land of googlies and grubbers, of leggies and lollies: the land of cousin cricket, jolly old England.
I must write it now, early in the tale yet late in the trip, even as the pack ice south of Qaqortoq turns the whorls of cerulean water into history’s most glacial reminder of spring: A baseball writer in London, sans assignment, is no baseball writer at all.
I saw it coming, of course.
As our Norwegian Air Dreamliner lifted off at 5:15 p.m. Central Standard Time on March 31, I took one last look at my iPhone and knew the end — rather, the interruption — had arrived. The score read 8-2, and there it remained, stuck in midair, as we made our way out of cell reception and into the thin white clouds above the vast green fields east of Austin. At that instant I grabbed a pen and opened the blank pages at the back of the book I had packed for vacation, The Sherlock Holmes Mysteries. Elementary, my dear Tony Watson: I would be without baseball.
“Nine hours from this moment will deliver the first sign — be it the bunt sign, the fastball sign or the Citgo sign at Fenway — of the good old American Pastime,” I scribbled. But I was wrong about that. Baseball, I’d learn, has a way of traveling through space to find a guy’s field of vision, even when he isn’t looking for it.
Stymied, I turned off the phone and stared at the world passing west as we headed east toward England. The green fields glimmered like outfield grass and brought to mind the sandlot. Yep, some 20,000 feet below the Dreamliner, farmland conjured up barefoot kids in 19-century overalls playing catch with a hand-me-down ball.
The game had begun in a dream, I imagined. It had turned real in the fields.
From the Dreamliner I stared through space. My window framed what I saw. A road became a baseline, a tawny farm plot the mound. In moments the gauzy white clouds became a cumulus roof, and aside from the sad meditation that we had flown above Tropicana Field and its Teflon dome, a make-believe ballfield was gone from sight.
At 1:30 a.m. on April 2, a cold rain fell outside the window of our Notting Hill flat. Jet-lagged into oblivion, I had gone to sleep at 4 p.m., about eight hours after arrival at Gatwick Airport, and risen at 10 p.m. Now, upon finishing a story in the Holmes mysteries, I turned on the television — rather, the telly.
Channel surfing, or whatever the Brits call it, I saw no baseball: no ESPN, no MLB Network. So I clicked on channel 706, featuring BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, and listened to an interview conducted during a break in a game — rather, a “test” — between cricket teams from England and New Zealand.
“I’d love to bat one more time for England,” said the appropriately accented interviewee, apparently retired from the sport, in the broadcast from Kiwiland.
The man answered quickly, as if he’d considered it long before the inquiry.
A revolution had separated our accents and ballgames, but the U.S. and the U.K. still shared the basics of both the language and the old bat-and-ball sports. We might discuss our different games in different terms, but yeah, we could all catch on.
But for the prepositional phrase, it might have been uttered by any player in the history of the American Pastime, any batter who’d felt the perfection of solid contact and wanted to feel it again. The sensation of a ball striking the sweet spot, no matter the shape of the bat, is one that goes beyond borders to claim the allegiance of our sensory neurons and episodic memories, each a feature that evolution has supplied to the experience we have in common, regardless of the flag under which our games take place. As for the “farthest boundary,” well … that is to be gone beyond.
In fact, even before my Bambino sighting, I had spent the past eight hours watching three movies, all chosen at random and each featuring a shout-out to baseball. In Wonder, the 10-year-old protagonist boasts a Mets sticker on his school locker.
In Interstellar, fans attend a game at what looks like a Little League field. When the camera shifts from the grandstands to the field, we notice that the players are grown men in familiar pinstriped uniforms. The camera then pans to the outfield fence, where a sign reads: Welcome The World Famous New York Yankees. Alas, in this dystopian future, even the Yankees draw puny crowds.
So there it was: In the first movie, the Mets logo is a simple reminder of childhood loyalty, the kind that comes unquestioned — like a devotion to good old Santa — but that soon outstrips our innocence to become a lifelong obsession. Still, no matter how manic our behavior becomes, the obsession is rooted in incorruptible youth.
The kid will always love the Mets, even when he grows to hate them.
In the second movie, Ratchett’s mention of Ty Cobb is both a nod to our sepia-toned nostalgia and an acknowledgment that baseball, referenced here on a European train, has become a distinctly American sport. When Ratchett mentions the Georgia Peach to Poirot, the worldly detective is for once mystified.
“Ballplayer, Detroit,” adds Ratchett, cluing in the sleuth.
In the third movie, a dystopian dustbowl has somehow made space for baseball. So, says Interstellar, even the bleakest future in the dreariest America must still include the Pastime. Otherwise, it is no future at all.
And anyway, without baseball, how on Earth could we call it America?
Even with an alternate spelling, the factoid recognized the storied nature of cricket’s American cousin. What other sport, after all, would have worked itself so seamlessly into a trio of movies on a U.S.-U.K. flight? Indeed, does Ratchett reference Hunk Anderson, starting guard for the 1923 Chicago Bears? Do fans attend a game inside a dystopian gym, there to hear the nostalgic sounds of sneakers on a hardwood floor? Does the 10-year-old boy slap a sticker of the New York Red Bulls on his locker?
No, the characters each touch on baseball — not football, not basketball, not soccer — because to touch on baseball is travel back to the grass and soil. It is to go beyond the contemporary psyche of Uncle Sam and his Monday Night Football minions and into a deeper ethos, one that recognizes with quiet confidence that no matter how popular the NFL and its “brand” become, no matter how fashionable the NBA and its “marketable stars” have gotten, baseball is the sport that has told our stories.
On the Tower Bridge, a historian might have wondered if one of those “baseball programmes” had referenced the alternate logo of the 1947 Dodgers, the team that featured the barrier-busting Jackie Robinson. Though rarely seen, that logo boasted an image of the Brooklyn Bridge, and a bridge is always more than physical.
Tower Bridge itself had connected to a visual history that began in a 1744 British publication titled A Little Pretty Pocket-Book. In its pages are a rhymed description of “base-ball” and a woodcut depicting a triangular playing field with posts serving as bases. Not only had humans played baseball in ye olde U.K., they had done so more than three decades before American independence. Still, the game had gone across the Pond pretty doggone quickly, and the story that followed had never lost its place.
Greenland, by name, is a lie. The land is little but a reflection of the visible wavelength and a rejection of all other color. In it dishonesty, though, Greenland is a guide to the truth: In a place where it won’t be found, green is what springs to mind.
On Wednesday, April 4, I stood outside Center Court — sorry, Centre Court — at Wimbledon and gazed at the ivy on its walls. Dormant, it seemed reminiscent of the vines at Wrigley Field just before the bloom. Inside, the court lay gleaming like only grass can, when it’s waiting in abeyance for athletes to find their footing. It brought to focus Arizona and Florida: green, pristine and ready for the first of the bounces.
Later, at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum, I studied a display about the evolution of tennis. “Lawn tennis wasn’t the first sport to have seen folks trying desperately to bat a flying object,” the narrator said in my earphones.
Indeed, just as baseball had evolved from rounders — and perhaps from stoolball and tut-ball and, most likely, parallel to cricket — so had lawn tennis come from jeu de paume, rackets, badminton and a sport called battledore and shuttlecock. Humans had been trying to whack things for ages, and in a variety of settings.
Behind glass stood an illustration of an early racket game, played by a dapper gent and a well-dressed lady inside an elegant parlor. As art, it compared to the famed Currier & Ives print whose legend reads, “The American National Game of Baseball. Grand match for the championship at the Elysian Fields, Hoboken, N.J.,” which features an early umpire dressed in formal attire, spectators wearing top hats and a pitcher throwing underhand. The similarities go in both directions.
During the first Wimbledon tournament, in 1877, men’s champion Spencer Gore served underhand. These days, American tennis player John Isner serves overhand, shall we say, at 157 mph, just as Aroldis Chapman throws overhand, at 105.
Things change. Still, they trace back to common stock.
Two days hence, in the Theater District — sorry, Theatre District — I came upon a lane of galleries and shops. One featured illustrated prints of Victorian Era cricketers, men who played the game before, during and after major league baseball had its debut in 1871. One illustration, made for the 1849 Oxfordshire Cricket Club, featured a dandy gent in a fine ladies hat — or so it appeared. Another featured a cricketer wearing what resembled a baseball cap.
A second shop displayed cigarette cards of “The World’s Best Cricketers.” On one, cricketer J.M. Taylor leaned on his bat as if idly playing croquet. On another, A.W. Carr completed a follow-through so fluid and powerful that it compared favorably to that of any baseball slugger.
After leaving the Theatre District, I made my way past the Tower of London. There, beyond the moat and outer walls, a British father asked his young son to pose for a picture while pretending to hold a sword. The boy did as requested, raising both hands high above his right shoulder.
On my penultimate day in London, and for the first time since my departure from the States, I at last laid eyes on an actual baseball player. He was no mere hint of a baseball player, of the kind I had seen wearing Dodgers caps and Red Sox caps and particularly Yankees caps throughout my London fortnight, and no mere intimation of baseball, of the kind I’d both conjured and had impressed upon me.
My visit to Kensington Palace, you see, had called to mind Frederick, the Prince of Wales, a Palace resident who in 1749 played in the first recorded game of “base-ball.” My visit to Wimbledon had brought to my attention a 19th-century racket “held together with hand-made nails,” reminiscent of the fact that early American baseball players handcrafted their own bats. My visit to the National Gallery had put me in sight of Hendrick Avercamp’s circa-1615 painting A Scene on the Ice near a Town, in which an on-ice game of kolf — an early form of golf — gives assurance that even in northernmost climes, people have felt the need to whack a ball with a stick.
Giancarlo Stanton, the most bona fide Yankee I had seen thus far, certainly felt the need to whack a ball with a stick, but as I gazed at his image from the sidewalk outside Bodean’s BBQ in Covent Garden, I realized with quite some clarity that he was hardly achieving his aim. Peering through the window at the big-screen TV, I watched as Stanton whiffed on one swing after another, all the while realizing that if he could have crafted his own bat, it might have been three feet in circumference.
Stopped in my steps, I watched as the scene shifted to the studio, where, by appearances, the hosts were discussing Stanton’s apparent strikeout issue. Whatever the issue, I remained less than astonished that a Yankee had served as the first baseball player I’d seen, even at a place that clearly catered to, you know, Yankees.
Moments hence, I continued through Covent Garden, in step with people speaking languages other than English and with accents other than Yankee, until I came upon another unexpected restaurant, Frankie & Benny’s New York Diner and Deli. Inside the doorway, its walls were lined with photos of the 1950s Yankees. I gazed at the images. I took pictures of pictures. The Yankees, it seemed, were calling me home.
Leaving Greenland, the Dreamliner is cruising above the Labrador Sea en route to North America. Somewhere south of our flight path, steamships from Great Britain would have delivered many of baseball’s pioneering players from the old country to the new, plying the waters of the North Atlantic en route to Ellis Island.
In time we mount the edge of North America at the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada’s easternmost province. Precisely 37,999 feet below the Dreamliner lies a land whose whiteness refuses to budge, the stubborn ice clinging fiercely to an arctic expression of winter despite our 544 mph airspeed. In minutes, though, a vast white valley gives way to forested slopes. Rising boldly through the whiteness, the trees announce not spring’s arrival but our arrival to spring.
Baseball, at 544 mph, is approaching.
Meeting the game more slowly were Harry Wright and his brothers George and Sam. Having crossed the Pond in childhood, the British immigrants followed in the steps of their cricket-playing father by executing googlies and grubbers on the fields of New York and New Jersey in the mid-19th century. One day, while coaching brother George in cricket at Elysian Fields, in Hoboken, N.J., Harry glanced at an adjacent field and saw his first game of baseball. Smitten, he went on to become the adopted father of the game, essentially creating a number of baseball innovations: spring training, the farm system and strategic roster construction, a contemporary favorite.
A bloke from the U.K., in other words, made the baseball we know today.
At 11:10 a.m. Central Standard Time, the Dreamliner passes into American airspace above Lake Michigan. In minutes, a gap arrives to whisk the sunlight through a shelf of white clouds and down to the water beside Milwaukee. Gazing out my window, I wait for light to fill the frame with what I want to see: green grass, a tawny mound and white lines to the outfield walls.
Unable to find the Brewers’ home, I gaze at earth between Miller Park and Wrigley Field. In time we pass above Rockford, Ill., a town described by The New York Times in the 1860s as “the cradle of the great American sport in the West.” There, from 1868 to 1870, future sporting goods magnate Al Spalding starred for the Forest Citys before Harry Wright signed him to play for the Boston Red Stockings in the inaugural season of the National Association, known today as the first major league.
Three years later, Wright led Spalding and the Stockings on a trip to England to spawn interest in baseball by playing exhibition games against English cricket teams. Brits cared little for the game, however, and the effort failed. The financial hit was catastrophic. Nearly insolvent, the National Association folded in 1875. The National League was now the league, just as the national game was now baseball. Proof came in 1943, when the Rockford Peaches became a founding member of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Nearly 40,000 feet below my window, the Peaches eased the fear that baseball would fade while the Allies fought the war.
The rest is Yankee history, of both kinds.
The Texas border comes next. Below is Paris, where, for the 1913 and 1914 Boosters of the Class D Texas-Oklahoma League, Dickie Kerr posted a combined record of 41-15 before moving to the majors and notching a 21-win season for the White Sox. Years later, as a coach, Kerr advised an injured minor league pitcher named Stan Musial to forget the mound and focus on the bat, advice The Man accepted.
Next is Dallas, where Mantle is buried, and Waxahachie, where Paul Richards was born. After his playing career ended, Richards served as a big league manager and mentored 16 players who themselves would become managers. After Waxahachie is McGregor, birthplace and burial place of Sarge Connally. Between birth and burial, Connally yielded a walk-off grand slam to Babe Ruth, he of Norwegian Air. Next, Waco calls up Jimmy Zinn. After pitching for the 1916-1919 Waco Navigators, the righty made his first big league start in the first game of a September 1919 doubleheader for the Athletics. His opponent: Walter Johnson. Zinn didn’t win.
Winning seven games for the 1947 Waco Dons, however, was Monty Stratton. A decade earlier, he had lost a leg in a hunting accident. After Waco, he pitched three more seasons, on a prosthetic leg, in Texas towns ranging from Vernon up north to Brownsville down south. By whatever means, you reckon, he had to have the game.
In time, on approach, the Dreamliner descends through the clouds and into the light, where a ballfield comes into view. Through my window its grass is green.
Storyline behind me, I have made it home.
Self-deprecation aside, I say this: When you win $500,000 on “Jeopardy” on the basis of your arcane knowledge of Qaqortoq — and you will, my friend, you will — my agent* will promptly demand a payment, on behalf of yours truly, of .09 percent.
*My agent is a four-year-old labradoodle and is therefore not a good agent. | 2019-04-23T19:59:38Z | https://tht.fangraphs.com/en-route-departure-arrival-and-the-baseball-space-between/ |
TORONTO — Today Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD)(TSX:ABX) (“Barrick” or the “Company”) announced preliminary full year gold production of 4.53 million ounces for 2018, in line with the Company’s guidance of 4.5-5.0 million ounces, and preliminary full year gold sales of 4.54 million ounces. Preliminary fourth quarter gold production was 1.26 million ounces, and preliminary fourth quarter gold sales were 1.23 million ounces. The average market price for gold in the fourth quarter was $1,226 per ounce. Fourth quarter gold cost of sales per ounce1 are expected to be approximately 15-17 percent higher than third quarter results, primarily as a result of a non-cash inventory impairment on Lagunas Norte’s long-term stockpiles. Fourth quarter cash costs per ounce2 are expected to be in line with the third quarter results and all-in sustaining costs per ounce2 approximately 3-5 percent higher as compared to third quarter results. As the merger between Barrick and Randgold Resources Limited (“Randgold”) was effective on January 1, 2019, these preliminary results exclude production and sales from Randgold (refer to the section below for Randgold’s preliminary results).
Preliminary full year copper production was 383 million pounds, which was in line with the Company’s guidance of 345-410 million pounds for 2018, and preliminary full year copper sales were 382 million pounds. Preliminary copper production in the fourth quarter was 109 million pounds, and preliminary copper sales in the fourth quarter were 109 million pounds. The average market price for copper in the fourth quarter was $2.80 per pound. We expect quarter-over-quarter increases in our consolidated copper cost of sales per pound1 of approximately 30 percent (primarily driven by an adjustment to depreciation), C1 cash costs per pound2 of approximately 1-3 percent and all-in sustaining costs per pound2 of approximately 9-11 percent, as compared to third quarter results.
We now expect our full year 2018 effective tax rate to be approximately 52-56 percent, an increase from our previous range of 48-50 percent. The increase is primarily due to lower-than-anticipated sales from operations in lower-tax jurisdictions, and higher-than-anticipated sales in higher-tax jurisdictions.
The following information relates to production and sales of Randgold prior to the merger between Barrick and Randgold, which became effective on January 1, 2019. Randgold production and sales prior to the effective date of the merger is not attributable to Barrick and is included for information purposes only.
Randgold’s preliminary full year group gold production was 1.28 million ounces for 2018, one percent below Randgold’s guidance of 1.30-1.35 million ounces as a result of a week of industrial action at Loulo-Gounkoto. Preliminary full year group gold sales were 1.30 million ounces. Preliminary fourth quarter group gold production was 375 thousand ounces, and preliminary fourth quarter group gold sales were 376 thousand ounces.
* Randgold presents the production and sales figures for Loulo-Gounkoto and Tongon on a 100% basis, although it owns 80% and 89.7%, respectively. Randgold presents its 40% and 45% equity share of Morila and Kibali, respectively.
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by: Geoffrey Locke, P. Eng., manager, metallurgy of Barrick; and Simon Bottoms, mineral resources manager: Africa and Middle East of Barrick — each a “Qualified Person” as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
Barrick will release its Fourth Quarter 2018 Results before markets open on February 13, 2019, followed by a live presentation by President and CEO Mark Bristow on February 13 at 11:00 EST, linked to a conference call and webcast.
The presentation and webcast materials will be available on Barrick’s website. The conference call will be available for replay by phone at 1 855 669-9658 (U.S. and Canada toll-free), and +1 604 674-8052 (international), access code 2852.
Cost of sales applicable to gold per ounce is calculated using cost of sales applicable to gold on an attributable basis (removing the non-controlling interest of 40% Pueblo Viejo and 36.1% Acacia from cost of sales), divided by attributable gold ounces. Cost of sales applicable to copper per pound is calculated using cost of sales applicable to copper including our proportionate share of cost of sales attributable to equity method investments (Zaldívar and Jabal Sayid), divided by consolidated copper pounds (including our proportionate share of copper pounds from our equity method investments). Cost of sales includes depreciation.
Cash costs per ounce and all-in sustaining costs per ounce are non-GAAP financial measures which are calculated based on the definition published by the World Gold Council (“WGC”) (a market development organization for the gold industry comprised of and funded by 24 gold mining companies from around the world, including Barrick). The WGC is not a regulatory organization. Management uses these measures to monitor the performance of our gold mining operations and its ability to generate positive cash flow, both on an individual site basis and an overall company basis.
Cash costs start with our cost of sales related to gold production and removes depreciation, the non-controlling interest of cost of sales, and includes by-product credits. All-in sustaining costs start with cash costs and include sustaining capital expenditures, general and administrative costs, minesite exploration and evaluation costs, and reclamation cost accretion and amortization. These additional costs reflect the expenditures made to maintain current production levels.
We believe that our use of cash costs and all-in sustaining costs will assist analysts, investors, and other stakeholders of Barrick in understanding the costs associated with producing gold, understanding the economics of gold mining, assessing our operating performance, and also our ability to generate free cash flow from current operations, and to generate free cash flow on an overall company basis. Due to the capital-intensive nature of the industry and the long useful lives over which these items are depreciated, there can be a significant timing difference between net earnings calculated in accordance with IFRS and the amount of free cash flow that is being generated by a mine, and therefore we believe these measures are useful non-GAAP operating metrics and supplement our IFRS disclosures. These measures are not representative of all of our cash expenditures as they do not include income tax payments, interest costs, or dividend payments. These measures do not include depreciation or amortization.
Cash costs per ounce and all-in sustaining costs are intended to provide additional information only, and do not have standardized definitions under IFRS, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. These measures are not equivalent to net income or cash flow from operations as determined under IFRS. Although the WGC has published a standardized definition, other companies may calculate these measures differently.
C1 cash costs per pound and all-in sustaining costs per pound are non-GAAP financial measures related to our copper mine operations. We believe that C1 cash costs per pound enables investors to better understand the performance of our copper operations in comparison to other copper producers who present results on a similar basis. C1 cash costs per pound excludes royalties and non-routine charges as they are not direct production costs. All-in sustaining costs per pound is similar to the gold all-in sustaining costs metric and management uses this to better evaluate the costs of copper production. We believe this measure enables investors to better understand the operating performance of our copper mines as this measure reflects all of the sustaining expenditures incurred in order to produce copper. All-in sustaining costs per pound includes C1 cash costs, corporate general and administrative costs, minesite exploration and evaluation costs, royalties, environmental rehabilitation costs, and write-downs taken on inventory to net realizable value.
Barrick will provide a full reconciliation of our final non-GAAP financial measures when the Company reports its quarterly results on February 13, 2019.
Includes our 60% equity share of South Arturo.
Barrick cautions that, whether or not expressly stated, all full year and fourth quarter figures contained in this news release including, without limitation, production levels and sales and associated costs (including costs of sales per ounce for gold and per pound for copper, all-in sustaining costs per ounce/pound, cash costs per ounce, and C1 cash costs per pound) are preliminary, and reflect our expected full year and fourth quarter results as of the date of this news release. Actual reported full year and fourth quarter production levels and sales and associated costs are subject to management’s final review, as well as review by the Company’s independent accounting firm, and may vary significantly from those expectations because of a number of factors, including, without limitation, additional or revised information, and changes in accounting standards or policies, or in how those standards are applied. Barrick will provide additional discussion and analysis and other important information about its full year and fourth quarter production levels and sales and associated costs when it reports actual results on February 13, 2019. For a complete picture of the Company’s financial performance, it will be necessary to review all of the information in the Company’s full year and fourth quarter financial report and related MD&A. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to rely solely on the information contained herein.
Finally, Barrick cautions that this news release contains forward-looking statements with respect to: (i) Barrick’s production; (ii) estimates of cost of sales per ounce for gold and per pound for copper, all-in sustaining costs per ounce/pound, cash costs per ounce, and C1 cash costs per pound; and (iii) estimates of effective tax rates.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions including material estimates and assumptions related to the factors set forth below that, while considered reasonable by the Company as at the date of this news release in light of management’s experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in the spot and forward price of gold, copper, or certain other commodities (such as silver, diesel fuel, natural gas, and electricity); the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; changes in mineral production performance, exploitation, and exploration successes; risks associated with projects in the early stages of evaluation, and for which additional engineering and other analysis is required; the duration of the Tanzanian ban on mineral concentrate exports; the ultimate terms of any definitive agreement between Acacia and the Government of Tanzania to resolve a dispute relating to the imposition of the concentrate export ban and allegations by the Government of Tanzania that Acacia under-declared the metal content of concentrate exports from Tanzania and related matters; whether Acacia will approve the terms of any final agreement reached between Barrick and the Government of Tanzania with respect to the dispute between Acacia and the Government of Tanzania; the benefits expected from recent transactions being realized; diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; increased costs, delays, suspensions and technical challenges associated with the construction of capital projects; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities, including geotechnical challenges and disruptions in the maintenance or provision of required infrastructure and information technology systems; failure to comply with environmental and health and safety laws and regulations; timing of receipt of, or failure to comply with, necessary permits and approvals; uncertainty whether some or all of targeted investments and projects will meet the Company’s capital allocation objectives and internal hurdle rate; the impact of global liquidity and credit availability on the timing of cash flows and the values of assets and liabilities based on projected future cash flows; the impact of inflation; fluctuations in the currency markets; changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls or regulations and/ or changes in the administration of laws, policies and practices, expropriation or nationalization of property and political or economic developments in Canada, the United States, and other jurisdictions in which the Company or its affiliates do or may carry on business in the future; lack of certainty with respect to foreign legal systems, corruption and other factors that are inconsistent with the rule of law; damage to the Company’s reputation due to the actual or perceived occurrence of any number of events, including negative publicity with respect to the Company’s handling of environmental matters or dealings with community groups, whether true or not; the possibility that future exploration results will not be consistent with the Company’s expectations; risks that exploration data may be incomplete and considerable additional work may be required to complete further evaluation, including but not limited to drilling, engineering and socioeconomic studies and investment; risk of loss due to acts of war, terrorism, sabotage and civil disturbances; litigation and legal and administrative proceedings; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties, or over access to water, power and other required infrastructure; business opportunities that may be presented to, or pursued by, the Company; our ability to successfully integrate acquisitions or complete divestitures; risks associated with working with partners in jointly controlled assets; employee relations including loss of key employees; increased costs and physical risks, including extreme weather events and resource shortages, related to climate change; and availability and increased costs associated with mining inputs and labor. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion, copper cathode or gold or copper concentrate losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks).
Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect our actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, us. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. All of the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Specific reference is made to the most recent Form 40-F/Annual Information Form on file with the SEC and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities for a more detailed discussion of some of the factors underlying forward-looking statements and the risks that may affect Barrick’s ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. | 2019-04-24T20:25:40Z | https://www.barrick.com/news/news-details/2019/Barrick-Reports-Preliminary-Full-Year-and-Fourth-Quarter-Production-Results/default.aspx |
Terms of Service | PlayerUp Accounts Marketplace. Player 2 Player Secure Platform.
1.1 PlayerUp is a marketplace that allows users to offer, sell and buy products. As a marketplace, PlayerUp does not own or sell the items listed on this site. The actual contract for sale is directly between Buyers and Sellers. While PlayerUp may help to facilitate the resolution of disputes between Buyers and Sellers, PlayerUp has no control over and does not guarantee: the existence, quality, safety or legality of items advertised; the truth or accuracy of Users’ content or listings; the ability of sellers to sell items; the ability of buyers to pay for items; or that a buyer or seller will actually complete a transaction or return an item.
1.3 Please be advised that this User Agreement contains provisions that govern how claims you and PlayerUp have against each other are resolved (see Disclaimer of Warranties; Limitation of Liability and Legal Disputes provisions below). It also contains an Agreement to Arbitrate, which will require you to submit claims you have against PlayerUp to binding and final arbitration.
1.5 Amendments. PlayerUp may amend this Agreement and/or Site policies at any time, with or without notice to you, by posting the amended and restated Agreement or policy on the Site. The amended and restated Agreement and/or policy shall be effective immediately upon posting. Posting by PlayerUp of the amended and restated Agreement or policy and your continued use of the Site shall be deemed to be an acceptance of the amended terms. This Agreement and Site policies may not otherwise be modified, except in writing by an authorized officer of PlayerUp.
2.2 Registered User. Each User who has filled out a registration form on the Site by giving User information (such as name, address, telephone number, fax number, email address, etc.) is a registered user (“Registered User”) of PlayerUp. PlayerUp will establish an account ("Account") for each Registered User on the Site and each Registered User will be assigned a user alias ("User Name") and password ("Password") for login access to its Account on the Site.
2.4 Third-Party Rights. Third party copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, patents, and other personal or proprietary rights affecting or relating to material or information displayed on the Site, including but not limited to rights of personality and rights of privacy, or affecting or relating to products that are offered or displayed on the Site, are hereafter referred to as "Third Party Rights."
Risks that the manufacture, importation, distribution, offer, display, purchase, sale and/or use of products or services offered or displayed on the Site may violate or may be asserted to violate Third Party Rights, and the risk that Users may incur costs of defense or other costs in connection with third parties' assertion of Third Party Rights, or in connection with any claims by any party that they are entitled to defense or indemnification in relation to assertions of rights, demands, or claims by Third Party Rights claimants.
2.6 User. For purposes of this Agreement, a "User" is any person who accesses the Site for whatever purpose, regardless of whether said User has registered with PlayerUp as a registered User. A User includes any person using this Site and any legal entity which may be represented by such person under actual or apparent authority.
3.1 General. Users may use this Site solely for their own personal or internal purposes. Each User agrees that it shall not copy, reproduce or download any PlayerUp Content for the purpose of re–selling or re–distributing PlayerUp’ Content, mass mailing (via emails, wireless text messages, physical mail, or otherwise), operating a business that competes with PlayerUp, or otherwise commercially exploiting PlayerUp Content. Systematic retrieval of PlayerUp Content from this Site to create or compile, directly or indirectly, a collection, compilation, database or directory (whether through robots, spiders, automatic devices, or manual processes) without written permission from PlayerUp is prohibited. In addition, use of PlayerUp Content for any purpose not expressly permitted in this Agreement is prohibited.
3.2 Messages or information sent by a User through communication systems provided by PlayerUp, as well as emails, faxes, letters to addressees, or instant messages sent to addresses acquired from information obtained from the Site, shall not contain any of the materials described in the provisions of Section 5.4.
3.3 No User shall undertake any scheme to undermine the integrity of the computer systems or networks used by PlayerUp or any other User, and no User shall attempt to gain unauthorized access to such computer systems or networks.
3.5 Third Party Rights. As a condition of your access to and use of the Site, you agree that you will not use our Services to infringe the Third Party Rights of others in any way. PlayerUp will in appropriate circumstances terminate the accounts of Users who are repeat infringers of the Third Party Rights of others. In addition, PlayerUp reserves the right to terminate the account of any User if PlayerUp believes that the User’s conduct is harmful to the interests of PlayerUp, its employees, directors, affiliates, or other Users, or for any other reason in PlayerUp’ sole and absolute discretion, with or without cause.
4.2 Notwithstanding Section 4.1, PlayerUp may refuse registration and deny the issuance of an Account and associated User Name and Password to any User for whatever reason or for no reason at all.
For any other reason in PlayerUp’ sole and absolute discretion.
4.4 Prohibition on transferability of Account, User Name, and Password. A Registered User may not sell, attempt to sell, offer to sell, give, assign or otherwise transfer an Account, User Name or Password to a third party without the prior written consent of PlayerUp. PlayerUp may suspend or terminate the Account of a Registered User or the transferee of a Registered User in the event of a sale, offer to sell, gift, assignment or transfer in violation of this Section.
5.1 You must be a Registered User in order to post information on the Site using the self–help submit and edit tools provided by the Site.
5.2 No sales agency relationship is created between any User and PlayerUp, its affiliates, directors, officers or employees by virtue of PlayerUp' display of any of the User's information on the Site.
- Otherwise create any liability for PlayerUp, its employees, directors or its affiliates.
5.5 Third Party Rights. Each User hereby represents, warrants and agrees that it has obtained all necessary third party copyright, trademark, trade secret or patent licenses and permissions, or such other licenses or permissions as may be required in connection with any other personal or proprietary rights of any third party (including but not limited to rights of personality and rights of privacy), for any material or information it posts on the Site or provides to PlayerUp or authorizes PlayerUp to display. Each User hereby represents, warrants and agrees that it shall be solely responsible for ensuring that any material or information it posts on the Site or provides to PlayerUp or authorizes PlayerUp to display does not, and that the products represented thereby do not, violate any Third Party Rights, or is posted with the permission of the owner(s) of such rights. Each User hereby represents, warrants and agrees that it has the right to manufacture, offer, sell, import and distribute the products it offers and displays on the Site, and that such manufacture, offer, sale, importation and/or distribution of those products violates no Third Party Rights.
5.6 Grant of license. Each User hereby grants an irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide and royalty–free, sub–licensable (through multiple tiers), assignable license to PlayerUp and its affiliates to display and use all information provided by such User in accordance with the purposes set forth in this Agreement and to exercise the rights you have in such material or information, including, but not limited to, copyright, publicity, and database rights, in any media now known or not currently known.
5.7 Removal of Material. PlayerUp reserves the right in its sole and absolute discretion to remove any material displayed on the Site, including material which it believes in its sole and absolute discretion is unlawful, could subject PlayerUp to liability, violates this Agreement, or is otherwise deemed inappropriate.
5.8 PlayerUp reserves the right to cooperate fully with governmental authorities, private investigators, and/or injured third parties in the investigation of any suspected criminal or civil wrongdoing. Furthermore, PlayerUp may disclose the identity and contact information of any User if requested to do so by a government or law enforcement body, an injured third party, a subpoena, or any other legal action, and PlayerUp shall not be liable for damages or any other consequences thereof. User further agrees that it will not bring any action or claim against PlayerUp for such disclosure. In connection with any of the foregoing, PlayerUp may suspend or terminate the Account of any User as PlayerUp deems appropriate in its sole and absolute discretion. User agrees that PlayerUp shall have no liability to User, including liability for consequential or any other damages, in the event PlayerUp takes any of the actions mentioned in this Section, and User agrees to bear the risk that PlayerUp may take such actions.
6.1 General. PlayerUp provides an electronic web–based platform for exchanging information between buyers (“Buyer”) and sellers (“Seller”) of products and services.
6.3 PlayerUp does not represent the Seller or the Buyer in specific transactions, nor does PlayerUp act as an agent for either Seller or Buyer. PlayerUp does not control and is not liable to or responsible for the quality, safety, lawfulness, or availability of the products or services offered for sale on the Site, the ability of Sellers to complete a sale, or the ability of Buyers to complete a purchase. Users are hereby made aware that there may be risks of dealing with other Users acting under false pretenses. PlayerUp uses several techniques to verify the accuracy of the information our Users provide to us when they register on the Site. However, because User verification on the Internet is complex and problematic, PlayerUp cannot and does not confirm each User's purported identity. We encourage you to use the various tools available on the Site, as well as common sense, to evaluate with whom you are dealing.
6.4 Assumption of Risks. Each User acknowledges that it is fully assuming all Transaction Risks when using the Site to conduct transactions, and that it is fully assuming the risks of liability or harm of any kind in connection with using the Site. Each User agrees that PlayerUp shall not be liable or responsible for any damages, liabilities, costs, harms, inconveniences, business disruptions, or expenditures of any kind that may arise as a result of or in connection with any Transaction Risks.
6.6 Middleman. In addition to Section 6.3, PlayerUp offers a middleman ("Escrow") service and acts as a third party to assist Buyers and Sellers. This Middleman Agreement is made effective on the date in which the seller and buyer commit to buying, trade, exchanging, selling, or agree to any transaction or transactions with us or choose to use our services to facilitate such activities. You will be strictly bound by all of our terms and conditions and associated rules as outlined on this website.
6.7 Middleman Agreement for Buyers. In addition to Section 6.3 and Section 6.6, PlayerUp offers a middleman ("Escrow") service and acts as a third party to assist Buyers and Sellers. All buyers acknowledge that upon issuing any form of payment to PlayerUp for this middleman service, that the buyer is now bound to an exclusive agreement for the rights to this Product Data or Video Game Asset, and that we are not liable for anything involving the Product Data once it has been delivered by means of playerup ticket, conversations, e-mail or any other form of communication. Buyer agrees that once a payment has been issued to PlayerUp, the sale cannot be canceled or refunded unless by written consent by both PlayerUp and the seller. Buyer agrees to avoid voluntarily or involuntarily attempting to recover funds without written approval from PlayerUp. If buyer attemptsto recover funds after the payment to PlayerUp has been completed, buyer is obligated to return all funds initially issued to PlayerUp. If buyer fails to agree to these above conditions set forth by PlayerUp, buyer agrees that they will be liable for costs and damages incurred by the company as a result of your actions, including the funds issued to us on the original payment, any chargeback, recovery collections, court, attorney, or other miscellaneous fees, and any and all other damages including but not limited to purchasing or transferring of the original product, cost of the product, and any additional expenses which were accumulated during your transaction.
6.8 Middleman Agreement for Sellers. In addition to Section 6.3, Section 6.6, and Section 6.7, PlayerUp offers a middleman ("Escrow") service and acts as a third party to assist Buyers and Sellers. PlayerUp, and it's affiliated companies state in the sell section of this middleman agreement that when the seller agrees to the sale, exchange, trade, transfer, or providing of any product for which the seller receives a cash payment, gift card, credit, or a certificate from PlayerUp, the seller agrees that they will transfer all exclusive rights to the buyer for the Product Data or Video Game Asset. Seller agrees that entering a contract with PlayerUp to sell and transfer exclusive lifetime access rights to the Video Game Asset and Product Data that they will receive a percent of the amount they listed the item for sale using PlayerUp's middleman link checkout function. Seller agrees that the percent for which they'll receive from PlayerUp depends on the site fees for the transaction which can be found here: http://www.playerup.com/middleman/escrow/fees.php. Upon agreement to these terms, the seller will be permanently transferring any and all access rights to your Video Game Asset and Product Data to the buyer. The seller hereby guarantee that they have never shared or provided other parties with the Video Game Asset and Product Data information. This includes user name, password, secret question, secret answer, or any information relevant or required to gain access to the Video Game Asset or Product Data. The seller agrees that at no time will you voluntarily or involuntarily attempt to regain access or assist others to regain access to the Video Game Asset or Product Data. The seller agrees that PlayerUp has the right to cancel, void, suspend, or ban any type of sell agreement between all parties if they feel a Security Risk is involved in purchasing your Video Game Asset or Product Data. Failure to take action during a transaction does not constitute a waiver of this right and we may take such actions after transfer has occurred. The seller agrees that if the Video Game Asset or Product Data is retrieved, recovered, recalled, suspended, banned, the password or data account information is changed, or there is alteration to any information or data related to the Video Game Asset or Product Data, that the seller will be held responsible for returning the product data to it's original status for the lifetime duration of the Video Game Asset or Product Data. The seller agrees that they are responsible for a duration of 10 years upon execution of this agreement that the seller will assist PlayerUp and the buyer if either parties informs the seller that the Video Game Asset or Product Data has been retrieved, recover, recall, suspend, ban, change the password or data account information. The seller agrees that Company can require at anytime upon execution of this agreement that they must assist at resolving any issue with the Video Game Asset or Product Data. If the seller fails to comply with the sell agreement, seller agrees that they will return the funds provided to the seller in the transaction along with any funds PlayerUp had to provide to the Buyer, in addition to collections, chargeback, recovery and court fees, and damages done during the time in which the data product was transferred over to the buyer. The seller agrees that if they recover or have any information that would involve the Video Game Asset or Product Data (including means of third party involvement) seller will return the Video Game Asset or Product Data subject to all conditions above within 5 business days of the time the seller receives this Video Game Asset or Product Data information.
7.1 Seller fees. The fees we charge for using our Services are listed on our Seller Fees & Disbursements page. PlayerUp may change its fees from time to time by posting the changes on the Site 14 days in advance, but with no advance notice required for temporary promotions.
7.2 Buyer fees. The fees we charge for processing payments are posted on our Buyer Payments page. PlayerUp may change its fees from time to time by posting the changes on the Site 14 days in advance, but with no advance notice required for temporary promotions.
7.3 Miscellaneous. Users must have a payment method on file when selling or buying on PlayerUp, and Users must pay all fees and applicable taxes associated with our Services by the payment due date. If your payment method fails or your account is past due, we may collect fees owed using other collection mechanisms. (This includes charging other payment methods on file with us, as well as retaining collection agencies and legal counsel). In addition, Users will be subject to late fees. Also see 8.2 and 8.3 below for fines, deposits, and reimbursement obligations related to violations of this User Agreement.
8.1 PlayerUp as Arbitrator. In the event that any User has a dispute with any other User with regard to a transaction on the Site, such User agrees to submit the dispute to PlayerUp as the arbitrator for final and binding judgment. In order to allow PlayerUp to fairly and reasonably conduct investigations, Users agree to refrain from seeking third party arbitration while an order is still open or pending. Users who seek third party intervention (with the exception of Government Investigative Authorities) will be seen as interfering with the investigative process and attempting to force a decision in their favor. PlayerUp reserves the right to suspend or permanently ban Users who attempt to interfere with standard operating procedures for orders which are still active or pending.
8.2 Obligation to Reimburse. If a Seller is required to reimburse the Buyer or PlayerUp, the Seller authorizes PlayerUp to remove the reimbursement amount (in same or other currency) from their designated payment method (i.e. PayPal, Skrill, etc.) on PlayerUp. The Seller is required to have a valid payment method on file. If there are insufficient funds in the account, the Seller authorizes PlayerUp to charge any reimbursement amount owed to the payment method on file. PlayerUp may also place the reimbursement amount on the Seller’s invoice. If Seller does not provide PlayerUp with a valid payment method, we may collect the outstanding sums using other collection mechanisms, including retaining collection agencies.
8.3 Fines. In the rare event that PlayerUp determines that a dispute between Users is due to a User’s breach of this User Agreement, the breaching User authorizes PlayerUp to levy a fine against the User’s payment method, up to $1000.00. In addition, PlayerUp may suspend or ban the User’s Account, and/or require a deposit of up to $1000.00 to reactive the User’s Account.
8.4 Release. If you have a dispute with one or more Users, you agree to release and indemnify PlayerUp and its officers, directors, employees, agents, affiliates, and subsidiaries from all claims, demands, actions, proceedings, costs, expenses and damages, including without limitation any actual, special, incidental or consequential damages of every kind and nature, known and unknown, arising out of or in any way connected with such dispute. In entering into this release you expressly waive any protections (whether statutory or otherwise) that would otherwise limit the coverage of this release to include only those claims that you may know or suspect to exist in your favor at the time of agreeing to this release.
9.1 THE FEATURES AND SERVICES ON THE SITE ARE PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS, AND PlayerUp HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTIES OF CONDITION, QUALITY, DURABILITY, PERFORMANCE, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. ALL SUCH WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS, CONDITIONS, UNDERTAKINGS AND TERMS ARE HEREBY EXCLUDED.
9.2 PlayerUp MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES ABOUT THE VALIDITY, ACCURACY, CORRECTNESS, RELIABILITY, QUALITY, STABILITY, COMPLETENESS OR CURRENTNESS OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED ON OR THROUGH THE SITE. PlayerUp DOES NOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT THAT THE MANUFACTURE, IMPORTATION, DISTRIBUTION, OFFER, DISPLAY, PURCHASE, SALE AND/OR USE OF PRODUCTS OR SERVICES OFFERED OR DISPLAYED ON THE SITE DOES NOT VIOLATE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS; AND PlayerUp MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND CONCERNING ANY PRODUCT OR SERVICE OFFERED OR DISPLAYED ON THE SITE.
9.3 Any material downloaded or otherwise obtained through the Site is done at each User's sole discretion and risk, and each User is solely responsible for any damage to its computer system or loss of data that may result from the download of any such material. No advice or information, whether oral or written, obtained by any User from PlayerUp or through or from the Site shall create any warranty not expressly stated herein.
9.4 Force Majeure. Under no circumstances shall PlayerUp be held liable for any delay, failure, or disruption of the content or services delivered through the Site resulting directly or indirectly from acts of nature, forces or causes beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation, Internet failures, computer, telecommunications or any other equipment failures, electrical power failures, strikes, labor disputes, riots, insurrections, civil disturbances, shortages of labor or materials, fires, flood, storms, explosions, Acts of God, war, governmental actions, orders of domestic or foreign courts or tribunals or nonperformance of third parties.
From such User’s breach of any representations and warranties made by the User to PlayerUp, including but not limited to those set forth in Sections 5.3, 5.4, and 5.5 above.
9.7 Right to assume defense and control. PlayerUp reserves the right, at its own expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you, in which event you shall cooperate with PlayerUp in asserting any available defenses.
9.8 PlayerUp reserves the right to limit, deny or create different access to the Site and its features with respect to different Users, or to change any of the features or introduce new features without prior notice. Each User acknowledges that inability to use the Site wholly or partially for whatever reason may have adverse effects on its business. Each User hereby agrees that in no event shall PlayerUp or any of its affiliates, directors, officers, or employees be liable to the User or to any third parties for any inability to use the Site (whether due to disruption, limited access, changes to or termination of any features on the Site or otherwise).
9.9 Third-Party Content. PlayerUp is not the author of Third Party Content, whether contributed by anonymous users or paid content providers. Neither PlayerUp nor any of its affiliates, directors, officers or employees has entered into any sales agency relationship with such third party by virtue of our display of Third Party Content on the Site. Any Third Party Content is the sole responsibility of the party who provided the content. Neither PlayerUp nor any of its affiliates, directors, officers or employees is responsible for the accuracy, propriety, lawfulness or truthfulness of any Third Party Content, and shall not be liable to any User in connection with such User's reliance on such Third Party Content. In addition, neither PlayerUp nor any of its affiliates, directors, officers or employees is responsible for the conduct of any User's activities on the Site, and shall not be liable to any person in connection with any damage suffered by any person as a result of such User's conduct.
9.10 Third-Party Websites. PlayerUp may allow Users access to content, products or services offered by third parties through hyperlinks (in the form of word link, banners, channels or otherwise) to such Third Party's website. User acknowledges that PlayerUp has no control over such third party websites, does not monitor such websites, and neither PlayerUp nor any of its affiliates, directors, officers or employees shall be responsible or liable to anyone for such website, or any content, products or services made available on such website. User is cautioned to read such websites’ terms and conditions and privacy policies before using such third party websites in order to be aware of the terms and conditions of your use of such websites.
9.11 Regardless of the previous provisions, if PlayerUp is found to have liability, its liability is limited to the greater of a) the amount of the specific transaction in dispute, b) the amount of fees in dispute not to exceed the total fees which User paid to PlayerUp in the 12 months prior to the action giving rise to the liability, or c) $100.
10.1 General. PlayerUp is the sole owner or lawful licensee of all the rights to the Site and the PlayerUp Content. The Site and the PlayerUp Content embody trade secrets and intellectual property rights protected under worldwide copyright and other laws. All title, ownership and intellectual property rights in the Site and the PlayerUp Content shall remain with PlayerUp, its affiliates, or licensors of the PlayerUp Content, as the case may be. All rights not otherwise claimed under this Agreement or by PlayerUp are hereby reserved.
10.2 Trademarks and Service Marks. "PlayerUp,” "PlayerUp.com" and related icons and logos are registered trademarks or trademarks or service marks of PlayerUp in various jurisdictions, and are protected under applicable copyright, trademark and other proprietary rights laws. The unauthorized copying, modification, use or publication of these marks is strictly prohibited.
Immediately upon PlayerUp’ posting of such notice on an area of the Site that is publicly accessible without charge.
12.1 PlayerUp responds to notices of alleged copyright infringement as required by the United States Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Visit http://www.playerup.com/support/policies-dmca.15/viewquestion to learn how to submit a notice to PlayerUp.
13.1 PlayerUp is owned and operated by Loot Inc. You and PlayerUp agree that any claim or dispute at law or equity that has arisen or may arise between us relating in any way to or arising out of this or previous versions of the PlayerUp User Agreement, your use of or access to the Site, the Services, or any products or services sold or purchased through PlayerUp’ sites, services, applications, or tools will be resolved in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Legal Disputes Section. Please read this Section carefully. It affects your rights and will have a substantial impact on how claims you and PlayerUp have against each other are resolved.
13.2 Applicable Law. You agree that the laws of the State of Washington, without regard to the principles of conflict of laws, will govern this User Agreement and any claim or dispute that has arisen or may arise between you and PlayerUp, except as otherwise stated in the User Agreement.
13.3 Agreement to Negotiate and Arbitrate. In the event of any dispute, claim, question, or disagreement arising from or relating to this agreement or the breach thereof, the parties hereto shall use their best efforts to settle the dispute, claim, question, or disagreement. To this effect, they shall consult and negotiate with each other in good faith and, recognizing their mutual interests, attempt to reach a just and equitable solution satisfactory to both parties. If they do not reach such solution within a period of 60 days, then, upon notice by either party to the other, all disputes, claims, questions, or differences shall be finally settled by arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association. You and PlayerUp each agree that any and all disputes or claims that have arisen or may arise between you and PlayerUp relating in any way to or arising out of this or previous versions of the User Agreement, your use of or access to PlayerUp’ Services, or any products or services sold, offered, or purchased through PlayerUp’ Services shall be settled exclusively through final and binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association, and judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The place of arbitration shall be Seattle, Washington, and the language of arbitration shall be English. This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington and Title 9 of the U.S. Code (United States Arbitration Act) shall govern the interpretation and enforcement of this Agreement to Arbitrate.
13.4 In no event shall an award in an arbitration initiated under this clause exceed the greater of a) the amount of the specific transaction in dispute, b) the amount of fees in dispute not to exceed the total fees which User paid to PlayerUp in the 12 months prior to the action giving rise to the liability, or c) $100.
13.5 Costs. Each party shall bear its own costs and expenses and an equal share of the arbitrators’ and administrative fees of arbitration.
13.6 Confidentiality. Except as may be required by law, neither a party nor an arbitrator may disclose the existence, content, or results of any arbitration hereunder without the prior written consent of both parties. By authenticating this document you fully agree not to disclose any Confidential Information regarding this Agreement or any business transactions or disputes you conduct or have conducted with us, including discussing, revealing, divulging, or publishing such information in any manner whatsoever without specific prior written consent from us. This also includes any information related to such transactions or created or revealed in the contemplation of such business transactions. Consent from us may only be given in writing by an us officer or attorney. Disclosure may be made to a party attorney, accountant, or financial adviser so long as that person is made aware of the confidential nature of the information and fully agrees to maintain the same level of confidentiality, and we are informed of the disclosure as soon as possible. Disclosure may be given if a party is obligated by a valid and binding Court Order or Subpoena, though a party providing such disclosure must inform us as soon as possible of such a request.
13.7 Reviews, Comments, Communications, and Other Content. You may post reviews, comments, and other content; and other communications; and submit suggestions, ideas, comments, questions, or other information, so long as the content is not illegal, obscene, threatening, libelous, slanderous, invasive of privacy, infringing on intellectual property rights, constitutes a defamatory or privacy tort, or is otherwise injurious to third parties or objectionable. Such content must also not consist of or contain software viruses, political campaigning, commercial solicitation, chain letters, mass mailings, or any form of "spam". You may not use false e-mail addresses, impersonate any person or entity, or otherwise mislead as to the origin of the information you provide.
13.15 Relief. You hereby understand and agree that violation of this Non-Disclosure Agreement creates a substantial likelihood of irreparable damage to us and we are thereby entitled to injunctive relief to prevent the possibility of such harm occurring. Additionally, the aggrieved party is entitled to compensatory damages and reasonable attorneys' fees arising from obtaining such injunctive or compensatory relief. This relief in no way constitutes a full remedy unless expressly stated so by the parties. You affirm that we have the right to obtain injunctive and/or compensatory relief, including damages, as well as collect attorney and court fee(s), on any breach of this Agreement. You agree that you are responsible for your own costs and expenses, including attorneys' and court fees, associated with this Agreement and will not demand such costs from us.
13.16 Information. The parties agree never to share information regarding the agreement or any information related to the agreement or the other parties to any third-party provider. This includes any information relevant to any asset data, source code, information, e-mails, electronic messages, posts, physical correspondence, discussions, statements, or any information of any asset, product, or service rights transferred to another party to this contract, except in the following circumstances. 13.16(1) Company reserves the right to disclose information to any third party involved subsequently after the Company has sent a notice of breach of agreement to you or a dispute arises involving the agreement. 13.16(2) In the event of a complaint being filed with the Company by e-mail or other electronic means regarding any disputes claiming that the asset or character data, source code or information transferred to you upon purchase with the Company has been altered, changed suspended, banned, or in some other way has stopped working beyond your control, Company may use the electronic data sent. This data will not contain another party's account asset or character data, source code, information, or e-mails prior to the electronic delivery of your service or product.
13.17 Prohibition of Class and Representative Actions and Non-Individualized Relief. YOU AND PlayerUp AGREE THAT EACH OF US MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION OR PROCEEDING. UNLESS BOTH YOU AND PlayerUp AGREE OTHERWISE, THE ARBITRATOR MAY NOT CONSOLIDATE OR JOIN MORE THAN ONE PERSON'S OR PARTY'S CLAIMS, AND MAY NOT OTHERWISE PRESIDE OVER ANY FORM OF A CONSOLIDATED, REPRESENTATIVE, OR CLASS PROCEEDING. ALSO, THE ARBITRATOR MAY AWARD RELIEF (INCLUDING MONETARY, INJUNCTIVE, AND DECLARATORY RELIEF) ONLY IN FAVOR OF THE INDIVIDUAL PARTY SEEKING RELIEF AND ONLY TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY TO PROVIDE RELIEF NECESSITATED BY THAT PARTY'S INDIVIDUAL CLAIM(S). ANY RELIEF AWARDED CANNOT AFFECT OTHER PlayerUp USERS.
13.18 Consent to Jurisdiction. In the event that the Agreement to Arbitrate above is found not to apply to you or to a particular claim or dispute, you agree that any claim or dispute that has arisen or may arise between you and PlayerUp must be resolved exclusively by a state or federal court located within the state of Washington. You and PlayerUp agree to submit to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located within King County, Washington, for the purpose of litigating all such claims or disputes.
14.1 No person, employee, agent or entity affiliated in way to any game publisher or developer, including, without limitation, Blizzard Entertainment, Battle.net, Sony Online Entertainment Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., NCSoft Corporation, Turbine, Ubisoft, Codemasters, Electronic Arts, CCP Games, Atari, Webzen, Acclaim, Mythic Entertainment, Inc., Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd., and Square Enix CO., LTD., is authorized to use or access this site or to utilize the services provided herein.
You agree to indemnify PlayerUp, our employees, subsidiaries, affiliates and officers as harmless from any claim or demand, including attorneys' fees, made by a third party arising out of any breach of these conditions you conduct, as well as any breach of other terms and conditions from third parties you breach, as well as any terms and conditions incorporated by reference.
18.2 Parties. “We”, “us”, “our” and all other first person pronouns and the like refer to PlayerUp. All references to “you” “your” and all other second person pronouns refer to any users, buyers, sellers, or other third parties accessing or using any of PlayerUp websites, intellectual property, or other services.
18.4 Partnership. PlayerUp and the User are independent contractors, and no agency, partnership, joint venture, employee–employer, or franchiser–franchisee relationship is intended or created by this Agreement.
18.5 Waiver. The failure of PlayerUp to exercise or enforce any right or provision of the terms of this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.
18.10 Defamatory and Privacy Torts. "Defamatory and Privacy Torts" includes publishing a untrue and harmful statements about us or its affiliates or employees.
18.11 Publish, Publishing, or Publication. "Publish, Publishing, or Publication" means DISCLOSURE TO ANY THIRD PARTY by issuing, revealing, divulging, or posting matter for sale or disruption. This includes digital communications such as posting in web forums, chat messaging programs or chat rooms such as IRC discussions.
18.12 Protective Order. "Protective Order" (also known as a gag or suppression order) means a legal court order that prevents the disclosure of sensitive information and is intended to protect us from harm or harassment.
18.13 Restraining Order. "Restraining Order" means a legally binding order that prevents a party or individual from either engaging in, continuing, or stopping an activity described in its contents. Such an order is intended to protect us from further harm or harassment and carries significant consequences for its breach.
18.15 Video Game Asset. "Video Game Asset" means virtual property within video games, virtual worlds, and social sites including but not limited to: characters, accounts, inventory, items, in-game currency, funds, and all other virtual property linked to gaming systems.
18.16 Product Data. "Product Data" means data which includes the account and password used to access the video game asset or other data.
18.17 Security Risk. "Security Risk" means that the Video Game Asset or Product Data which we are set to acquire has a risk of breaching our sell agreement.
19.2 You will not publish your contact information or others' contact information anywhere on our site excepting designated areas in which we explicitly require it.
19.4 You must be of 18 years of age to use our site or have parental permission to do so. You may not misrepresent your identity in any way to us or other users. You must provide valid, complete, and active contact information to us, including a valid phone number and email address.
We grant you a strictly limited license to access and make personal use of this site but not to download (other than page caching) or modify it, or any portion of it, except with our express written consent as given by our officers or attorneys. This license does not include any resale or commercial use of this site or its contents; any collection and use of any product listings, descriptions, or prices; any derivative use of this site or its contents; any downloading or copying of account information for the benefit of another merchant; or any use of data mining, robots, or similar data gathering and extraction services. This site or any portion of this site may not be reproduced, duplicated, copied, sold, resold, visited, or otherwise exploited for any commercial purpose without our express written consent. The use of spiders, robots, scrapers or any other means, whether through the use of automated software or through a physical or mechanical system, is strictly prohibited. You may not frame or utilize framing techniques to enclose any trademark, logo, or other proprietary information (including images, text, page layout, or form) of ours or our affiliates without express written consent. You may not use any meta tags or any other "hidden text" utilizing our name or trademarks without our express written consent. Any unauthorized use terminates the permission or license granted by us. You may not use any of our logos or other proprietary graphics or trademarks as part of the link without express written permission. | 2019-04-19T21:05:41Z | https://www.playerup.com/pages/termsofservice/ |
The Academic Council of the Osh Technological University named after Adyshev M.M., being an elective public and professional management body, makes a great contribution to the development of the university, formation and development of the democratic foundations of management of the Osh Technological University. The Academic Council, developing together with the university, annually the members with academic degrees and titles are increasing, has great importance in determining the main directions of the university’s academic and research activities. Solving the problems in order to improve the quality of education contributes to the solution of all tasks at a high professional level. The Academic Council carries out its activities in accordance with the “Regulations on the academic council of the higher educational institution of the Kyrgyz Republic”, “Regulations on the Procedure for the positions of the teaching staff of higher educational institutions of the Kyrgyz Republic”, approved by the Resolution of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic No. 346 of May 29, 2012. , The Charter of the Osh Technological University and the regulations of its work approved at the first meeting of the Academic Council.
The main functions and tasks of the Academic Council are provided for in paragraph 2 of the Regulations on the Academic Council of the Higher Educational Establishment of the Kyrgyz Republic.
All the long-term plans and plans for the work of the university and its subdivisions for the academic year, and the developed plan of the academic council relevant service are presented for considering and approved by the academic council. According to the approved schedule, competitive elections are held to fill vacant and full-time positions of professor-teacher staff of the university.
Also, the academic council of OshTU considers issues of changing the structure of the university and the management structure, the reorganization and renaming of the structural subdivisions of the university, the approval of theses for candidates and graduate students of OshTU, the provision of creative vacations for the completion of dissertations or the writing of textbooks or teaching aids. The decisions of the university’s academic council are approved by the orders of the rector on the reports of the academic secretary.
In addition, the Academic Council approves within the university normative acts, regulations, decisions on certain issues, approves the staff of various public commissions, the provisions on which their activities are carried out.
In the narrower section, the permanent commissions of the Academic Council consider the issues of educational, methodological, scientific work: the methodological council, the scientific and technical council, the committees of the academic council and the university’s competitive commission.
The staff of Academic Council is formed in accordance with order 4 of the above meant regulation.
The meeting of the Academic Council of the OshTU is held, according to the regulations, once a month, for 8-10 meetings a year, according to the plan of work of the scientific council, which developed and approved at the beginning of the academic year.
The most part, the meetings of the Academic Council are open, all interested persons are invited for attending it, the activities of which are related to the agenda of the next meeting, by the heads of departments and heads of various services of the university.
Effectiveness of the decisions of the Academic Council. All decisions and resolutions of the Academic Council are approved by the rector of the OshTU, according to the reports of the academic secretary; orders are issued on the OshTU, copies of which are distributed to the relevant subdivisions.
Mansurov Kubanychbek Topchubayevich Pro-rector for Academic Affairs, cand. of ph.
Toktoraliev Biimyrza Aitievich Professor of the Department of Ecology and OOCД. b.s., academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Usarova Sulayka Omurovna Academic Council Secretary Master’s of Ecology.
Aytiev Myktybek Arapbaevich Director of the Department Organization of the Educational Process and the Quality of Education.
Arzymatov Azizbek Kabylovich Chairman of the Trade-Union Committee.
Zhorobekov Bolotbek Astayevich Dean of the Faculty of Automobile Transport cand., of t.s., docent.
Zhorokulov Duishenaly Abdimamatovich Dean of the Faculty of Technology and Nature Using, cand., of chem. s., docent.
Zulpuev Ashim Zulpuevich Director of Advanced Training Institute and Retraining the personnel,Cf., cand., of ph. s., docent.
Sagynaliev Murzabek Djusupbekovich Director of the Institute of Language Training and International Programs. cand. of ph. s. docent.
Saidamatov Shairbek Murzaevich Dean of the Faculty of Cybernetics and Information Technologies cand., of t. s., docent.
Sarymsakov Adylkan Azimzhanovich Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Technical Sciences, cand., of t. s., docent.
Tashbaev Azizbek Mazanovich Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management, doc. of econ. s. docent.
Tokoev Mamatomor Pirmatovich Dean of the Faculty of Energy, cand., of t., s., docent.
Toktagulov Taalaybek Sadykovich Director of the Technological College, cand. of t. s. docent.
Shabdanov Musa Dobulovich Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Construction, cand. of t. s. docent.
Atakulova Merim Abdykerimovna Head of the Department of Magistracy, doc., of ph. s., docent.
Attokurov Aibek Toktosunovich Director of the Institute of Applied Science, cand., of s., docent.
Akmataliyev Asan Turgunbaevich, Director of the Uzgen College of Technology and Education, cand.,of i. s., docent.
Ashirbayeva Ayzharkyn Zhorobekovna Head of the Department of Applied Mathematics, doc., of ph – m. s., docent.
Marufiy Adilzhan Tadzhimuhamedovich Professor of the Department of Applied Mechanics, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor.
Satybaev Abdugany Dzhunusovich Head of the Department of Information Technologies and Management, Doctor of Physics and Mathematics science, Professor.
Seitov Bolotbek Mukaevich, Head of the Department of Construction Production, Doctor of Engineering science, Professor.
Uzenbaev Rasulbek Ashyrbekovich Head of the Department of Accounting and Audit, doc. of econ. s., docent.
Amatov Isabek Kozanovich Head of the Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, cand., of b. s., docent.
Arziev Musa Arzievich Professor of the Department of Technology of Light Industry, cand., of t. s. docent.
Artykov Aamat Zhakyshovich Head of Applied Informatics in Economics, cand., of ph- s., docent.
Atabekov Almaz Karimovich Head of the Management Department cand., of e. s., docent.
Dzhusuev Umetali Sultanovich Head of the Department of Architecture, Design and Graphic Art, cand., of t. s., docent.
Zhumabaev Kamaldin, Head of the Department for Safety of Vital Activity, cand., of e.s., docent.
Karazhanova Raisa Tynybekovna Docent of the Department of Electrical Equipment and Heat Power Engineering, cand. of t. s.
Kutmanbekova Almash Abzhalbekovna Head of the Department of Finance and Credit, cand. of e. s., docent.
Kutunaev Zholchubek Nasyrymbekovich Head of the Department of Computer Programming and Automation of Control System, cand. of t. s., docent.
Sattarova Aziza Teshebaevna Head of the Department of State and Russian Languages cand., of ph. s., docent.
Satybaldiev Abdimi-talip Baatyrbekovich Head of the Department of Physics, cand. of s., docent.
Teshebaev Abdykapar Head of the Electro Power Engineering cand., of t. s. docent.
Toktosunov Almaz Askerovich Docent of Descriptive Geometry and Graphic Design Department, cand. of t. s.
Abdurahmanov Saitbek Kozhomberdievich Docent of the Department for the Exploitation of Transport and Sustainable Technologies, cand. of t. s. Ph.D.
Aldashov Muhtarbek Kadyrbekovich Docent of Technology Professional Training Department, cand., of p. s., docent.
Mamytov Ulukbek Zhanyshevich Docent of the Department of Social Sciences, cand. of s., docent.
Tsoi Alexey Valentinovich Docent of the Department of Highways and Aerodromes, cand. of t. s., docent.
The Academic Council of the Osh Technological University named after Adyshev M.M. (OshTU – later on), being an elected public – professional management body of the Osh Technological University, carries out its activities in accordance with the legal and regulatory documents of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Charter of the Osh Technological University and present regulations.
The Academic Council of OshTU considers and accepts local normative legal acts of the university and its subdivisions.
The decisions of the Academic Council are compulsory for all employees of institutes, faculties, departments, centers, educational and scientific departments, administration and other departments of the university.
The Scientific Council is responsible for the timely implementation of decisions taken by officials and employees of the OshTU and has the right to monitor the implementation of taken decisions.
Representatives of faculties and other structural subdivisions from leading scientists, professors and docents elected in accordance with the established procedure by the councils of the relevant structures. The number of members of the academic council from the faculty is established taking into account the total number of teaching staff, the number of doctors and candidates of sciences, as well as the number of specialties that are taught at the faculty.
the scientific council may also include heads of scientific and research institutions, major scientists in the field of training specialists who do not work in OshTU.
agreement with the state educational administration.
2.3. Upon the retirement of previously elected members before the finishing term office, repopulation of established amount is provided at the beginning of the academic year in order to form its personnel.
if a member of the Academic Council misses more than 3 consecutive meetings, the chairman introduces a question of recalling.
3.2. In the absence of the chairman at a meeting of the Academic Council, the meeting is held by his assistant.
5.1. The first meeting of the council is held within a month from the beginning of the academic year immediately after its election.
5.2. At the first meeting, the Academic Council reviews and adopts the rules of the Academic Council for the entire term of its mandate, approves the work plan of the Academic Council for the current academic year, approves the composition of the Academic Council, methodological and scientific and technical councils, the staff of the committees of the academic council and public commissions of the university.
5.3. The periodicity, duration and procedure of holding meetings of the Academic Council is determined by this regulation and the decisions of the Academic Council. The periodicity of meetings of the Academic Council at least once a month. During the winter (January) and summer holidays (July – August), the meetings of the academic council may not be held.
5.4. Meetings of the Academic Council are held openly and can be covered in the mass media. In special cases, by the decision of the Academic Council, meetings can be held in closed form.
5.5. At the meetings of the academic council, the scientific secretary keeps the minutes, and, if necessary, transcripts. The minutes and transcripts are signed by the chairman and scientific secretary.
5.6. The meeting of the academic council begins with the registration of those present in the secret list, which is held by the academic secretary. The meeting is eligible if at least 2/3 of the members of the academic council are present.
5.7.The members of the academic council are obliged to attend its meetings. On the impossibility of attending a meeting of the academic council, a member of the academic council should inform the chairman of the academic council or the scientific secretary in writing in advance.
5.8. The Scientific secretary notifies all its members about the date and time of the meeting of the academic council with the agenda no later than seven days before the meeting of the academic council (poster announcement, telegram, on line).
5.9. With the draft documents and other necessary documents and materials on the issues being considered at the meeting of the academic council, the members of the academic council can be acquainted with the scientific secretary on the inside of the university network (CommFort), or on the next bulletin of the academic council after its publication.
controls the conducting records and transcripts of meetings and signs them.
remove invited persons from the meeting room that interfere with the work of the academic council.
5.12. The total duration of the meeting of the academic council is 2.5-3 hours with a break or without a break by decision of the members of the academic council.
5.13. The duration of the reports, co-reports and the final word shall be established by the presiding judge at the meeting of the academic council in agreement with the presenter and co-presenters, but should not exceed 20 minutes for the report, 10 minutes for the co-report and 5 minutes for the final speech. Speakers in the debate are given up to 7 minutes, for repeated performances – up to 3 minutes, speeches for messages, inquiries and questions – up to 3 minutes. At the end of the set time, the presiding officer warns the speaker, and then has the right to deprive him of the words. Each speaker in the debate has the right to speak no more than 2 times.
With the consent of the majority of the members of the academic council present at the meeting, the presiding officer may change the total duration of the discussion of the question, the time allocated for questions and answers, and extend the time of the speech.
5.14. Each speaker, participant in the meeting (member of the council or invited) participating in the debate must submit the text of his speech in writing to the academic secretary for drawing up the minutes of the meeting.
5.15. The members of the academic council who were unable to speak in connection with the closure of the debate on the issue under discussion are entitled to attach the signed texts of their speeches to the minutes (transcript) of the meeting of the academic council.
6.1. At the beginning of each academic year, guided by the regulation of OshTU, the plans for the work of the administration, dean’s office, departments and other subdivisions, a list of issues to be considered by the academic council, related to its introduction and the priority of their consideration during the year are drawn up; on the basis of this draft work plan of the academic council approved at the first meeting of the council. One or two main questions are submitted for one meeting. In addition, the agenda of one meeting may include consideration of competitive cases, presentation to academic ranks, other issues and miscellaneous.
6.2. In order to prepare for consideration of the main issues, at least 15 days before the meeting, the chairman of the academic council (by his deputy) is determined the presenter and, according to the report of the academic secretary, a commission (3 or more people) from the most competent and authoritative specialists under consideration or preparation the issue is charged with the acting committee of the academic council.
6.3. The speakers on the main issues may be the rector, vice-rectors, deans of faculties, heads of departments, heads of other structural divisions, chairmen of commissions. The chairman of the commission, who prepares the issue for consideration at a meeting of the council, is, as a rule, a reporter or co-reporter. No later than 5 days before the meeting of the academic council, the thesis of the report, the commission’s information and the project of resolution of the academic council on the issue under consideration, prepared together with the reporter and the commission, in typewritten and electronic form, should be submitted to the chairman or deputy chairman for agreement and given to the academic secretary.
6.4. The head of the department is able to present the teachers to the academic title of associate professor or professor. If the head of the department is not a member of the academic council, the dean of the faculty or the academic secretary reports on this matter.
6.5. On competitive questions, the speaker at the meetings of the academic council is the Chairman of the Academic Council or the Scientific Secretary.
6.7. Applications, reports and statements on issues related to the “Miscellaneous” section must be agreed with the rector and with the relevant visas and resolutions, must be submitted to the academic secretary no later than 5 days before the meeting.
6.8. All materials are included in the bulletin of the academic council of OshTU, published in typographical way for each meeting of the council.
1) At the first meeting of the Council, which is opened by the oldest member of the Council, byan open vote by a majority of vote of the total number of the Council, the chairman and secretary of the Council should be elected.
2). A meeting of the Council shall be deemed competent if it is attended by at least two-thirds of the total number of members of the Council.
3) Each member of the Board has one vote at an ongoing meeting.
4) Meetings of the Council are held openly, at least once a quarter.
5) The frequency of meetings of the Council is determined by the Council’s work plan for the year.
6) Members of the Council have the right to submit their proposals on convening an extraordinary meeting of the Council at the request of at least one-third of the total number of members of the Council.
8) Representatives of state bodies, local self-government bodies, mass media, scientific, trade union and other organizations, as well as experts and consultants specializing in the work of educational and scientific institutions may be invited to the meetings of the Council, by its decision.
9) Meetings of the Council are held openly, representatives of the university, citizens, representatives of civil society organizations and the media can take part in them.
10) Decisions of the Council shall be taken by a majority of votes of the total number of members of the Council and drawn up in a protocol signed by the chairman and secretary of the meeting.
11) A special opinion of a member of the Council shall be made in writing and attached to the decision of the Council.
12) Information on the activities of the Council can be posted on its official website, and in the absence of it – in the media.
1) The Council has the right to attract financial and other material resources from sources that do not contradict the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic to organize its activities.
2) For the collection and accumulation of attracted funds by the Council of the head Oshtu named after Adysheva M.M. a savings account in the bank opens.
3) Denominations can be withdrawn from a bank account only on the basis of the decision of the Council for specific purposes specified in the decision.
4) The Council has the right to use funds to organize its activities no more than 2% of the amount received.
5) At the end of the year the Council publishes a report on its activities in the media.
8. Interaction of the Council with state bodies, MoE of the KR, local governments and other organizations.
The Council must send a copy of the plan of its work to Oshtu named after M. Adyshev, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, the local kenesh and local state administration no later than 5 working days from the date of its approval (also after each amendment).
The Ministry of Justice of the KR, the founder and head of the OshtU named after Adyshev M.M., the local state administration, the local government body has the right to bring issues to the Council for inclusion in the agenda of the meeting of the Council.
State bodies, MoE, KR, local self-government bodies and their institutions for the Council’s requests provide the necessary information¸ except for information that constitutes a state secret or other secret protected by law.
Organizational and material and technical support of the Council’s activities (provision of premises for meetings of the Council, equipping the premises with the necessary technical means for demonstration of reference materials, reproduction of materials, etc.) is carried out by the Council.
The Council ceases its activities in the case of reorganization Oshtu. Adysheva M.M.
11.1.The Soviets have the right to unite on a voluntary basis in public associations of council members (to be called the Association) in order to coordinate their activities.
11.2. Created so, in accordance with the procedure established by law, the Association is a legal entity.
– assistance in the creation of the Council in the institutions of the social sphere and other functions that will be provided for by the Charter of the Association and other normative legal acts of the Kyrgyz Republic.
11.4.The association has the right to attract sources of financing for its activities that do not contradict the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic.
11.5. The management of the Association is carried out by the Management Board (at least of 7 people) elected at the Constituent Assembly, whose members carry out their activities on a non-free basis.
11.6. The current activity of the Association is carried out by the secretariat, which is formed from the members of the Association or contracted specialists. Note: Regulations on the Board of Trustees of Oshtu named after Adyshev M.M.from 29. July 2012 to be considered invalid. | 2019-04-23T00:10:03Z | https://oshtu.kg/en/2018/04/11186/ |
Another winter is upon us, with a bitter wind blasting the doorways which provide the only beds for increasing numbers of Londoners. The side entrance to the Rio Cinema, opposite my house, previously only used as as urinal, now has a regular occupant, as has just about every doorway in this stretch of Kingsland High Street. Yesterday morning, getting off a bus near Liverpool Street Station, my eye was drawn by a festive bunch of balloons outside a door bearing the inscription ‘Dirty Martini: spirited sophistication”.
‘The office party season’s started’, was my first thought. Then I realised there was someone asleep there, huddled up against the cold, with a stream of early morning commuters stepping past. There is a peculiar angry stamp that people who work in the City adopt. Probably something to do with the uncomfortable shoes they feel they have to wear for work. The women, especially, in their hard high heels, hammer their way along the pavement as though they have a personal grudge against every slab. It sounds as if a stonemason’s at work. You’d have to be utterly exhausted to sleep right through it.
The sun was rising red in the east and the wind was howling round the nearby skyscrapers – the Heron Tower, the Gherkin and other newcomers whose names I don’t know. It’s a threatening environment in which to try to find shelter, with a reminder around every corner of wealth and privilege and how tightly it is guarded. The newer of these gleaming glass towers are designed with zero emissions in mind, meaning that there are not even hot air vents to allow a little warmth to reach the destitutes on the streets.
The growing numbers of rough sleepers on the streets are only one of many indications that Britain is increasingly taking on the character of a vast workhouse, but, unlike its 19th century precedecessors, one in which there is not even a roof to keep out the weather. You cannot turn on the radio, glance at a newspaper or log on to social media without being inundated with evidence: the exponential growth in numbers of people using foodbanks; the ‘sanctioning’ (arbitrary withdrawal of benefits) of claimants for such trivial offences as arriving a few minutes late for an appointment at a Job Centre; people being declared ‘fit for work’ when they are on their deathbeds; a cancer patient in Scotland told to give up his therapy if he wanted to retain his benefits; kids forced into unpaid ‘work placements’. I will not bore you with references. A cursory google will throw up enough horror stories to place you in that almost catatonic state, beyond shock, that so many of us now seem to inhabit.
Suffice it to say, the welfare state that my generation grew up taking for granted (far from perfect as we knew it to be) has morphed into a regime that has anything but welfare as its prime objective (unless we are talking here about the welfare of the occupants of the boardrooms of those gleaming glass towers in the City). Increasingly run under incompetently drafted service contracts (whose main feature is a requirement to meet targets) by multinational corporations with a firm eye on the bottom line, the main effect of this regime is to harrass and humiliate the most vulnerable people in society and transform them into a forced reserve army of labour, with no sense of entitlement, coerced to work below the cost of subsistence.
The British welfare state is too generous. This is why so many immigrants are attracted here.
There are still too many benefit scroungers. They are stealing from hard-working people and need to be flushed out and punished.
The tax credit is a progressive innovation.
The Baby Boomer generation are an unaffordable burden on the young.They should be made to give up some of their privileges.
Raising the minimum wage would place an intolerable burden on small businesses and make life impossible for the entrepreneurs who create jobs.
Increasing income tax punishes hard-working people.
Increasing corporation tax drives out investment and destroys jobs.
The private sector can deliver services more efficiently than the state.
There is no alternative to continuing austerity.
I believe all these statements to be dangerous myths and I hope to demonstrate why in a series of blog posts of which this is the first.
My reason for doing so is to contribute to a debate which I think is opening up quite broadly, though not in a very joined-up way, about what sort of welfare state is desirable or achievable in these times. What alternative is there to the workhouse without walls?
It is often thought, on the left, that demands for new welfare models are necessarily ‘transitional’ (in Trotsky’s sense): demands that cannot be met without a revolutionary change to the whole system. It may well be that this is the case for some of the options I hope to be discussing. But I would like to emphasise now that this is not necessarily the case for all of them because many of the features of the current system are actually dysfunctional for capitalism itself. This can be illustrated by just a few examples.
Here’s one: in the hypercasualised labour markets of zero-hours contracts and crowdsourcing where people are employed for a few hours, or even minutes, at a time, a welfare model that assumes that someone is either ‘in employment’ or ‘unemployed’ simply does not fit the reality. A more flexible benefit system would actually make it easier for employers to tap into these forms of labour.
Capitalism has historically benefitted from the strong welfare states to be found in the Nordic countries and from the British NHS. It is much easier for companies to locate somewhere where they know the workforce is educated and has its health taken care of by the state than to have to negotiate expensive company health insurance schemes (as many large companies had to do in the United States in the latter part of the 20th Century).
Too much poverty leads to a drop in consumer demand which is bad for business (just look at how the big supermarket chains are suffering right now) and too much destitution will, sooner or later, lead to breakdowns in public health and public order.
It would be nice to think that this question – What sort of welfare state do we want? – will be on the agenda for public debate in the lead-up to the next General Election. I’m not holding my breath.
Looking out of my window first thing this morning I was greeted by a sight which, whilst all too familiar, I still find stomach-churningly revolting: pigeons breakfasting on human vomit on the pavement opposite my house. Summoning up all the optimism I can, I try to regard this as part of the ecology of Hackney: nature’s unbelievable ability to generate new life from the detritus of the old. But I am strongly resisting the urge to think of it as one lot of vermin feeding another. Fortunately, before too long the street cleaning team came along with their machine (thank you Hackney Council) and washed it away. They also got rid of most of the rubbish but missed a few items, including this empty champagne bottle whose contents quite possibly contributed to the vomit.
It stands there as a testimony to the increasing social polarisation in the area. The moneyed kids who can afford to get legless on champagne are, by their very presence, innocent though this may be, driving the desperately poor out of the public spaces. In the last month two pound shops have closed in Kingsland High Street, no doubt to be replaced by up-market restaurants and clubs, or ‘vintage’ clothes shops (worth a whole article in themselves, these, an expensive parody of traditional second-hand clothes shops with nothing in them that a really poor person could possibly afford). The pound shops got rid of their stock as other shops do: ‘everything half price’ and ‘everything must go’. Half price, in a pound shop? I thought, wondering what difference this could possibly make. But then I saw the queues of desperate people descend on them, elbowing each other to grab the bargains. When the first shop was nearly emptied (the second one still hasn’t completed the ransacking process) it looked like the sort of scene you might see on the news in the aftermath of some disaster as these hastily taken and blurry pictures show.
This speaks of a degree of hardship unimaginable to the hipsters revelling at night on the streets made funky and cool precisely by the presence of these poor people and their improvised solutions to the intractactable obstacles they face, whose environment seems so lively and colourful to people brought up in the bland and ordered suburbs.
Another insight into life on the poverty line in Hackney came through my letterbox recently in the form of some condensed ‘Testimonies of God Visitation at Triumphant Chapel’ . Packed onto two sides of a folded A5 size sheet of pink paper are thirteen typographically challenging vignettes of local life, featuring the healing power of Pastor Kennedy. As well as performing spiritual and bodily miracles (‘Delivered from Satanic Strongholds’, ‘Healed from Acute Abdominal Pain’, ‘One Year Blood Flow Healed’) Pastor Kennedy also helps people negotiate the labyrinthine bureaucracy of the immigration system and survive the daily buffeting of the search for work. I give you two examples here: ‘Immigration breakthrough’ and ‘Miracle Job’, both of which hint at the extreme stress which must be the daily experience of being a migrant in Hackney’s precarious labour market. (you may need to click on the images to increase their size so you can read the tiny print).
What kind of a society is this, where the chance to work a 12-hour shift for an agency (something which would have been thought intolerable punishment 40 years ago) is something to thank the Lord for?
And where, when the gentrification is complete, will be left for such people to live?
It’s undeniably spring again. The lemon tree that i brought indoors to protect it from the frost that never was (see picture) has burst into bloom, incongruously filling my office with an overpowering Mediterranean perfume. Saint David’s Day has been and gone, as has International Women’s Day. The daffodils are out, the blossoms are falling from the plum tree on the roof terrace and here comes that itch in the fingers to scrabble in earth. I read the other day that there are actually bacteria in soil that activate the production of serotonin. It seems too neat to be true. The short dark days and lack of vitamins in the winter diet produce depression. Then along comes the urge to grub around in the soil and plant things and bingo, not only have we been programmed to produce food for the rest of the year but we also rid ourselves of the winter blues. Only in my case this hasn’t actually led to anything more active than ordering some tomato seeds online. I haven’t even moved the lemon tree back outside where it can be pollinated let alone begun to weed or dig or tidy up. The huge weight of things undone makes it seem too much like playing truant, even though it’s Sunday. And writing this blog (which I see I have barely touched in a year) provokes similar feelings of guilt. Looking back over my life I cannot ever remember a time when there wasn’t a pile of unanswered letters, neglected friends, unpaid bills, unfiled invoices, unwritten articles (or, once upon a time, essays), boxes in the attic still ununpacked. I suppose this is how most people’s lives feel. Though I am sure that many are more successful than me in avoiding that feeling of being a donkey with a carrot attached to the browband of its halter, ceaselessly following the unattainable moment when all will be completed, the desk empty, the moment finally arrived when I can write what I really want to write, go where I really want to go. That moment, as Bob Dylan put it ‘when I paint that masterpiece’. I once, in the 1970s, worked in an office where editors (of whom I was one) worked alongside civil servants. The culture was one which must have vanished long ago. You weren’t allowed a typewriter on your desk, though everything – every phone call you had with a publisher, every meeting – had to be recorded. On your desk were three trays: in, out and pending. If you wanted to send someone a letter, or write a note of what had taken place in a phone conversation you had to write it out in longhand, or (if you were more senior and that way inclined) dictate it into recording device. You then put it into your out tray from which it was collected by a messenger and taken to a typing pool where it was typed up in four or more copies. There was one for the recipient (with an additional copy for anyone else who was copied in to the letter, or had attended the meeting that was being recorded), one for the official files, one to be put in a folder that would be circulated around the department for everyone to read, a practice known in some offices as ‘dailies’ but, for some reason, in ours as ‘chronologicals’, and finally one for the ‘bring up’. The bring up was supposed to be a reminder to oneself to chase the issue up in case there had been no response. When the typed document was brought to you for checking and signing, you wrote the bring-up date in the top right corner and it would appear in your inbox on the due date. Usually you couldn’t think what to do with it so you simply crossed out the date and replaced it with another one. Some dog-eared documents might have up to a dozen dates on them. The chronologicals folders (one per day, I think it was, or perhaps one per week) would pile up waiting for a day when you were too hung over or bored to do anything else and would be binge-read before being passed on to the next reader. Writing up one’s file notes was done at least in part with the readers of the chronologicals in mind. The challenge was to find a style that was sufficiently po-faced to sit formally in the files and act as a record in case a decision was challenged or a complaint made, but to make it amusing enough to raise a smile from colleagues in the know. Why am I recalling all this now? It might of course be of some interest to historians of office work (and some of the more horrible features of software packages like Outlook can probably be traced back to such origins). But what brought it to mind is my memory of one of the civil servants who worked down the corridor from me. I’m not sure what his job was, but he was clearly very efficient at it because he was the only person I ever knew who often had both his in tray AND his pending tray entirely empty. He would sit with his arms folded with a tidily piled outbox, waiting for the messenger to come round and bring him more work. He took his tea breaks and lunch breaks punctiliously, always going to the staffroom for that purpose (not drinking sloppily at his desk as we editors did) but his strong sense of morality did not permit him to pass the time doing anything that wasn’t work-related (like the Guardian crossword, which he happily worked on in the staff room). It would be easy to caricature him as one of those automaton-like bowler-hatted city gents with no inner life (like Dylan’s ‘Mr Jones’ who knows something is happening but doesn’t know what it is, do you, Mr Jones?) but that would be unfair. Like many of the civil servants I remember from that time he had passionate interests outside work: amateur dramatics, opera, botany, hiking in obscure parts of the world, I can’t now remember which but at least one such thing. What must it be to have such an orderly life, to trade daily boredom for security and defer gratification not indefinitely, as disorderly bohemians do, but in measured doses: to the weekend, the summer holiday, the early, well-pensioned retirement? I doubt whether there will be a generation any time soon that will know the answer to such a question. That model of work seems well and truly gone. (and if you want to know why I think this is so, here’s a recent article: http://analytica.metapress.com/content/632j131722874242/fulltext.pdf). | 2019-04-26T08:51:58Z | https://ursulahuws.wordpress.com/category/life-in-dalston/ |
In this chapter from 'SAP Simple Finance: An Introduction,' SAP provides an inside look at Simple Finance and how HANA technology helps the system remove redundantly stored data.
In the SAP Press book, SAP Simple Finance: An Introduction, Head of LoB Finance and SAP Innovation Center Jens Krüger, Ph.D., gives readers a look at the inner workings of Simple Finance's HANA-driven applications, which are designed to streamline financial operations.
This excerpt, from Chapter 3: Removal of Redundancy, provides an in-depth explanation of one of the central concepts behind SAP Simple Finance.
Redundantly kept data -- that is, data derived from other data available elsewhere in the database -- is one of the big challenges of software systems.
You may wonder why you would store, for example, the sum of two invoice amounts separately if the same value can easily be derived by calculating it on the fly from the two invoices. In the past, such data redundancy was only introduced to increase performance, because traditional databases could not keep up with user expectations in light of billions of data entries. This came at the costs of significant effort to keep the redundant data consistent, increased database storage and more complex systems.
Now that SAP HANA improves performance radically, as outlined in the previous chapter, the need for redundancy vanishes. Based on a single source of truth, derived data can be calculated on the fly instead of being physically stored in the database. Hence, in the spirit of simplification, getting rid of redundancy is a key paradigm of SAP Simple Finance. We begin our exploration of the paradigms underlying the SAP Simple Finance model by looking at the removal of redundancy in this chapter.
This chapter first introduces the conceptual benefits of a redundancy-free system by contrasting it with the disadvantages of redundant data (Section 3.1). Section 3.2 demonstrates how SAP HANA and in-memory technology enable us to overcome redundancy and avoid its pitfalls. Then, in Section 3.3 we explore how SAP Simple Finance simplifies the core financials data model by nondisruptively replacing materialized redundant data with on-the-fly calculation. Finally, Section 3.4 highlights the immediate benefits of this simplification for companies switching to SAP Simple Finance.
Data redundancy occurs if data is repeated in more than one location -- for example, in two separate database tables -- or can be computed from other data already kept in the database. In general, all data that you can also derive from other data sources of a system is redundant. Redundant data is distinguished by the fact that you need to maintain its consistency. If you modify the data at one location, then you need to apply corresponding modifications at all the other locations in the database in order to keep the relationship intact and avoid anomalies. Redundant data is high-maintenance data, and it won't take care of itself.
Software engineers spotted the fundamental problems of data redundancy early on. In 1970, Edgar Codd introduced the fundamental relational model that underlies many of today's database systems. In order to reduce redundancy, normalization techniques such as normal forms are an integral part of the relational model.
A materialized view stores a subset of data from one or several tables as duplicate copies in a second new, typically smaller table. It materializes the result of a database view, which is a stored database query, in order to provide direct access to the result. As such, the materialized view can be compared to an index into the base table. The query may also join several tables.
If the query of a materialized view aggregates tuples from the base table(s), then we speak of materialized aggregates as a special case. A materialized aggregate does not contain one-to-one duplicates, but nevertheless, the data is redundant, because it can be derived from the original data at any time by applying the same calculation on the fly.
Data may be duplicated if related information is stored in separate locations. Part of the data attributes overlap, whereas others are present only at one location. The overlap is then a source of redundancy. The different locations are often due to a separation of concerns, whereas the overlap again stems from performance reasons -- for example, to avoid joins that are costly in traditional database systems.
Long-running programs that arrive at a certain output after several steps of calculation often store the result of their work as a materialized result set. Due to the complexity of the program logic, the result is not described as a query but is created by running the program, which then stores its output for fast future reference.
If you look beyond a single database, redundancy also occurs when duplicating the same or derived data in several database systems. In contrast to redundancy within the same database, this cross-system duplication may in some cases be wanted -- for example, for data security purposes. In other cases, it is truly redundant -- for example, in the case of data warehouses, due to missing analytical capabilities of traditional database systems. As outlined in Chapter 2, this kind of data redundancy on a system level is inherently superfluous, because SAP HANA combines OLTP [online transaction processing] and OLAP [online analytical processing] capabilities with superior performance.
Coming back to redundancy within a database, what are the benefits of having a redundancy-free system? Why is having a single source of "truth" in SAP Simple Finance preferable compared to the traditional world with materialized views that serve to improve the performance of read operations?
The fundamental problem with redundant data is the effort necessary to keep it consistent when the original data changes. If you materialize the total amount of all orders of a certain customer, then you need to update that figure every time a new order by that customer comes in. Materializing a figure that needs to be updated frequently -- for example, the balance of an often-used account -- may even lead to contention, because the balance entry needs to be locked on each debit or credit on the account.
Similarly, a materialized view containing a duplicated subset of accounting data -- for example, all open invoices -- needs to be reconciled whenever the original data changes. If an open invoice is cleared by a customer's payment, then it also has to be removed from the corresponding materialized view.
Overall, the architecture and data model of a redundancy-free system are significantly simpler. There are fewer dependencies and constraints that transactions need to take into account when modifying or analyzing data. As a consequence, transactions are also simpler. The overall simplification also manifests in a few other listed benefits.
Business transactions that modify data do not need extra work in order to maintain consistency. This makes for simpler programs based on a less complex data model with fewer dependencies. Overall, the architecture of a redundancy-free system is more natural: transactions record in the database what is happening by adding corresponding database records. Everything else is then provided as read-only algorithms on top of the data.
Because it is no longer necessary to modify redundant data in parallel, the number of database operations per business transaction diminishes. Only the essential operations to record the transaction occur, and no additional modifying operations are necessary. Fewer database operations and thus shorter duration of each transaction increase the throughput of the whole system so that it can handle more business transactions. Furthermore, materialized aggregates no longer have to be locked for updating, thus removing any contention issues.
Redundant data takes up memory and hard disk space that is no longer needed in a redundancy-free system, which shrinks the overall database footprint. A smaller footprint reduces not only the requirements on the main database server but also in turn the disk space needed for backups. A smaller database footprint and higher throughput make a system more cost-efficient. As a consequence, a redundancy-free system has a lower total cost of ownership (TCO).
A redundancy-free system also implies that it is no longer necessary to prebuild aggregates for performance reasons. Fast responses to analytics questions no longer depend on the availability of a materialized answer. Instead of being restricted to questions that can be answered based on what was foreseen when designing the data model of a system, users are given the flexibility to ask any question that can be answered in real time based on the original data. An in-memory redundancy-free system opens up this new level of flexibility with the performance expected from today's fast Web applications.
The obvious questions that arise from this list of impressive benefits are: Why haven't all systems always been free of redundancy? And, why wasn't SAP ERP Financials historically an exception either?
In the past, in a traditional disk-based database system the answer was performance reasons. Now, in an SAP HANA world, the answer is that there is no excuse left for redundancy, thanks to the speed of in-memory technology. In the past, query response times (especially involving aggregation) were too slow for productive use without materialization. The costs of a redundancy-free system were too high, even compared to the benefits. These days, the superior performance of in-memory database systems means that the fear of slow response times is a thing of the past, as demonstrated in the following subchapter. Figure 3.1 illustrates that, in contrast to the traditional database world, the benefits of a redundancy-free system clearly outweigh the costs, as we'll see applied to the case of SAP Simple Finance in Section 3.3.
Figure 3.1. Replacing materialization with on-the-fly calculation.
For decades, data redundancy has been reluctantly accepted in order to reach sufficient performance. The slow response times of disk-based database systems made a redundancy-free data model impossible. Because latencies and bandwidth of disk access are orders of magnitudes slower than in-memory access, calculating totals on the fly was prohibitively expensive.
But a new era is upon us. As outlined in Chapter 2, in-memory technology fundamentally challenges long-standing assumptions. In this section, we demonstrate that SAP HANA indeed enables us to get rid of redundancy without compromising performance.
These days, on-the-fly aggregation is feasible. In order to get rid of redundancy without disrupting businesses processes, on-the-fly calculations replacing materialized aggregates in an in-memory system have to perform at least as fast as users are used to based on materialization in a disk-based database system. The comparison is thus between disk-based with materialization on the one hand and in-memory with on-the-fly calculation on the other.
Let's take a closer look. For our demonstration, we'll examine a disk-based system with a typical disk latency of 10 ms (that is, accessing a random location on disk takes 10 milliseconds or 10 million nanoseconds). In comparison, in-memory latency is only 100 ns (0.1 ms). In other words, the database can make 100,000 random accesses in the same time as one disk access. The memory bandwidth in case of sequential reads is 4 MB per millisecond, per core. For the following example, we consider a simple server with a single CPU with eight cores. Modern server systems often connect several CPUs, each with even more than 10 cores, further increasing the processing power. For our example, we assume a company with 100 million accounting document line items in its database and 50,000 customers.
"Total sales in the current month to a particular customer" is a typical aggregate value of interest in financial operations. In the disk-based scenario with materialization, a materialized aggregate for this kind of analysis will contain one tuple per customer, per month that gives direct access to the answer to such an analysis query. Hence, a user can expect to receive an answer from a disk-based database with materialization after 10 ms, assuming the database system needs a single disk access to retrieve the value and ignoring any further processing for comparability.
1. Select all accounting document line items for the particular customer.
In a column table, the column representing the customer associated with each line item is stored in one continuous block of memory. To identify all items of a particular customer, the database system scans the whole column and keeps track of the positions where the customer number in question appeared. Thanks to the columnar layout, one such full column scan operates with the full bandwidth of 4 MB per millisecond and core. SAP HANA's built-in compression means that only the compressed integer representations of customer numbers need to be compared. Because there are 50,000 different numbers, the compressed representation of each customer number only needs two bytes (216 = 65,536 different values). Hence, the customer column for 100 million line items takes up 200 million bytes, or roughly 190 MB. With eight cores, scanning this attribute vector takes 6 ms (190 MB divided by 8 times 4 MB per second).
For each of the items from Step 1, the database next applies further selection conditions, such as the month. For each additional condition, this mandates a lookup in the corresponding attribute vector at every position identified so far. With on average 2,000 line items per customer, this leads to 2,000 random accesses in a worst-case scenario with entirely noncontiguous positions. Even in that case, this takes only 0.02 ms on a single core (2,000 accesses times 10 ns per access = 20,000 ns).
3. Add up the sales amount of all line items.
After all relevant items have been identified in the previous steps, the database retrieves the sales amount for each item and adds it to the result. Again, the database makes one random access per position in the attribute vector for the sales amount and resolves the dictionary-encoded value in one additional access to the dictionary. Even if Step 2 didn't exclude further positions, this requires 4,000 accesses and 0.04 ms on a single core.
For the total response time, we can ignore Steps 2 and 3 because they don't contribute significantly to the overall time. In total, on-the-fly calculation of sales to a particular customer in the current month takes approximately 6 ms in an in-memory database system -- less than the 10 ms for accessing the materialized aggregate in a disk-based database. Replacing materialization with on-the-fly calculation is thus entirely feasible in this example.
In the case of more complex queries, an in-memory system with on-the-fly calculation may even increase its advantage; for example, a similar query to the one just considered but for all months of the current year instead of only the current month would require up to 12 disk accesses to the materialized values stored per month (unless an additional materialized aggregate is introduced). Although the response time suffers a corresponding increase in the disk-based system up to 120 ms, the on-the-fly calculation only needs to adapt the further selection criteria, keeping the response time of the in-memory system almost the same, at roughly 6 ms.
We've already demonstrated the desirability of a redundancy-free system by highlighting the benefits. In addition, these calculations demonstrate its feasibility thanks to the faster performance in-memory. What is possible with fast and stable access times now would have been prohibitively expensive in a traditional disk-based system. Depending on the caching strategy, a disk-based database has to retrieve answers from disk, suffering long latency and slow bandwidth. Compared to that, an in-memory database offers not only faster but also more stable response times, because latency and bandwidth do not vary as they do in a disk-based system that frequently needs to go back to disk to retrieve data.
How does SAP Simple Finance optimize the new possibilities to create a redundancy-free system?
As outlined above, enterprise applications in the past needed to store data redundantly in order to meet performance expectations of their users in view of limited database performance. Applications that remain bound to traditional disk-based databases still experience these limitations. SAP Simple Finance is based on SAP HANA, so it makes use of the dramatically improved performance of an in-memory database. At the same time, its data model is a nondisruptive evolution of the SAP ERP Financials data model, removing any redundancy that has historically been necessary for performance reasons.
Looking at the data model of SAP ERP Financials, several instances of data redundancy quickly become apparent. The fundamental separation of different components (such as financial accounting, controlling, profitability and others) into separate table structures is a case of duplicate data. Chapter 9 describes how the integration of these previously separate components and data models into a Universal Journal enables radically new approaches to finance, in addition to the usual benefits of a redundancy-free system.
The data model of each of these components in turn contained data redundancy in terms of materialized views and materialized aggregates. To explain the changes on this foundational level (essentially the first steps toward a redundancy-free system, completed by the Universal Journal), we now take a closer look into the data model of Financial Accounting's General Ledger (G/L). The explanations similarly apply to the other components; they, too, have been simplified in the same spirit.
Let's take a closer look at Financial Accounting. While doing so, we reference the old tables from Financial Accounting for reasons of comparison; with the Universal Journal (see Chapter 9), a next step merges the data structures of hitherto separate components. The fundamental and essential data tuples of every financial accounting system -- besides master data -- are the accounting documents and their line items. The system records each transaction as an accounting document with at least two line items (one each for debit and credit entry) but potentially more.
Faced with millions or billions of accounting documents (headers, primarily stored in table BKPF) and their line items (table BSEG) and slow disk-based performance, SAP ERP Financials needed materialized views and materialized aggregates in order to provide sufficiently fast access to line items with specific properties or to aggregate values. For this reason, the core data model of Financial Accounting (as illustrated in Figure 3.2) contained, among others, six materialized views (three for open line items separated by accounts receivable, accounts payable, and G/L accounts, and three for cleared line items separated in the same manner) and three materialized aggregates for corresponding totals.
Figure 3.2. Old data model of SAP ERP Financials.
For example, in an SAP ERP Financials system the materialized view of all open accounts receivable line items (table BSID) contains a copy of each line item (with a subset of attributes) from the original table of accounting document line items that fulfills the following condition: the line item is open (that is, has not been cleared) and is part of the accounts receivable sub-ledger. Needless to say, when a transaction clears the item, it also has to delete the corresponding tuple from the materialized view of open accounts receivable items and add it to the corresponding materialized view of cleared accounts receivable items.
In contrast, in SAP Simple Finance, all of these materializations have been removed in order to take the first step toward eliminating redundancy. Instead, the corresponding tables have been replaced with compatibility views. From the accounting documents and line items as the single source of truth, any derived data can be calculated on the fly, most times with higher performance than in a traditional disk-based system. This includes, but of course is not limited to, the views and aggregates that have previously existed in materialized versions.
Figure 3.3 illustrates the resulting redundancy-free data model of Financial Accounting (before the Universal Journal) that is functionally equivalent to the previous data model. In the spirit of simplification, it consists only of the essential tables for accounting documents and for accounting document line items that record the business transactions. In addition, the compatibility views transparently provide access to the same information that was redundantly stored in materialized views and materialized aggregates before. These redundant tables are in turn obsolete, since SAP HANA calculates the same information on the fly. Appendix A lists the tables that have been replaced with compatibility views.
Figure 3.3. New redundancy-free data model of financial accounting.
The compatibility views bear the same name as their historical predecessors to ensure that the changes are nondisruptive and do not require SAP customers to modify their custom programs. Any program -- be it part of the SAP standard or a customer modification -- that in the past accessed the materialized view of open accounts receivable line items is now seamlessly routed to the corresponding compatibility view. The compatibility view calculates the result for each query on demand -- without compromising performance, thanks to SAP HANA (as explained in Section 3.2). In this case, the view selects the open items belonging to the accounts receivable subledger directly from the original table of accounting document line items. Any additional selection conditions -- for example, a specific customer -- are immediately passed through to the query optimizer and integrated into the query execution plan.
As mentioned at the beginning of this section, the same approach applies to other components as well. For example, materialized aggregates on top of controlling documents are no longer necessary either, opening up the possibility to combine different accounting components in the Universal Journal. As outlined in Chapter 12, Section 12.4, cash management is another area with similar changes that remove data redundancy.
In summary, the SAP Simple Finance data model is now entirely based on line items, without any prebuilt materialized aggregates or other data redundancy. Not only is the data model simpler, but the program architecture is also simpler: the system "simply" records all business transactions as they happen. Everything else is being calculated on the fly by algorithms on top of the data. Without any negative effect on your existing investments in SAP systems, you immediately benefit from switching to SAP Simple Finance. Let's look at how.
Removing materialized views and materialized aggregates from the financial accounting data model has an immediate positive impact on the transactional throughput of the system. In the case of SAP Simple Finance, posting an accounting document requires neither inserting redundant duplicates into materialized views nor updating redundant aggregate values. The corresponding effort and database operations to maintain consistency are no longer necessary.
As a consequence, the number of tuples inserted or modified during database operations was indeed cut by half according to experimental measurements. These experimental measurements are based on real-world data of a large SAP customer. Five hundred accounting documents were posted, each with six line items. Instead of 26,000 tuples affected by UPDATE, INSERT, and DELETE operations in a traditional SAP ERP Financials system already running on SAP HANA, SAP Simple Finance only needed to insert 11,000 database tuples into the tables of the financials component for the entire test -- a savings of more than a factor of two.
Of course, fewer tuples translate directly to less end-to-end transaction time spent posting a document. Instead of over 200 ms per document in SAP ERP Financials on SAP HANA, posting in SAP Simple Finance only needed 100 ms from end to end, down by a factor of two. As a consequence, the throughput of a system running SAP Simple Finance doubled in this scenario.
The experimental measurements by design did not even include the effect of contention that often appears in systems with data redundancy. Enterprise systems usually handle a lot of transactions in parallel. In the case of materialization, the concurrent aggregate updates in particular can lead to contention, because materialized aggregates have to be locked for updating. In the case of, for example, heavily used G/L accounts, the database system has to handle the otherwise parallel postings sequentially if they access the same G/L account in order to consistently update the totals for this account. This unfortunate situation can no longer occur in SAP Simple Finance, because all transactions simply insert tuples into the database, which does not require locks.
When considering the overall system architecture, the statement that in-memory databases with a column-oriented architecture are not as fast when it comes to modifying operations as they are for reading access no longer holds true. The measurements for SAP Simple Finance show that even the speed of modifying transactions is on par with, or better than, that of SAP ERP Financials running on a traditional database with row-based storage.
The database footprint is another area of improvement. Again focusing on the Financial component, the removal of redundancy in SAP Simple Finance alone has the potential to drastically reduce the database footprint. Memory previously occupied by redundant data, such as materialized views and materialized aggregates, is no longer needed. The database footprint of SAP SE's own internal system for Financials (the main productive SAP system within SAP) has been reduced by a factor of almost three; additional savings are possible by applying concepts such as data aging (see Chapter 7) so that, in total, a reduction by a factor of 14 is feasible. Calculations based on SAP customer data show equally impressive numbers -- for example, a reduction by a factor of 6.5.
Such a reduction in database footprint immediately translates to hardware savings and a lower TCO. In addition, SAP HANA also enables you to remove your separate data warehouse thanks to integrated OLAP capabilities. By doing so, you gain an additional factor of two across the whole footprint. The numbers shown in both of these cases are for a system already running on SAP HANA as the database. Factoring in additional savings in the database footprint enabled by SAP HANA's storage architecture and compression, the potential savings are even more impressive.
In summary, SAP Simple Finance demonstrates that in-memory technology makes it entirely feasible to remove redundancy from the Financials data model. Redundancy is no longer necessary for reporting or analysis purposes; these tasks can be run in high speed directly based on line items as algorithms, instead of relying on materialized aggregates prebuilt into the data model. As a consequence, users are no longer restricted to only those analytics questions that have been hardwired into the system. Instead, they are free to analyze data flexibly as needed with the performance they expect.
In this chapter, we highlighted the benefits you gain from the redundancy-free data model of SAP Simple Finance. Benefits fall both into the area of TCO reduction (increased throughput and lower database footprint) and entirely new levels of flexibility. Overall, the removal of redundancy in SAP Simple Finance yields a significant simplification of system and processes. We demonstrated the feasibility of these fundamental changes in terms of performance and highlighted some of the key improvements as seen in real-world environments.
We'll see these topics elsewhere in this book. The next chapter outlines the nondisruptive nature of the innovations in SAP Simple Finance, which allow you to switch seamlessly and benefit immediately from the advantages outlined here and throughout the book. Chapter 5 explores the ensuing possibilities in terms of flexibility based on the purely line item-based data model. In this chapter, we focused on the removal of redundancy in the form of materialized views and materialized aggregates. The removal of materialized result sets is explained in Chapter 6 as one of the benefits of a real-time finance system that doesn't require batch jobs. Chapter 9 outlines how further duplicate data stores are unified with the Universal Journal, which is the next big step toward a redundancy-free system that eliminates the need for reconciliation.
Jens Krüger, Ph.D., heads the LoB Finance and SAP Innovation Center unit in the board area of Products & Innovation, where he reports to Bernd Leukert, a member of the SAP Executive Board.
Why does the SAP S/4HANA roadmap remain unclear?
Does your organization plan to use SAP Simple Finance? | 2019-04-22T16:44:16Z | https://searchsap.techtarget.com/tip/Inside-SAP-Simple-Finance-and-the-HANA-technology-that-powers-it |
If you’re heading somewhere like Iceland or Finland in winter, the chances are you are hoping to see and photograph the Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis.
This spectacular phenomenon is truly wonderful to behold, and getting pictures of the aurora is a great way to remember the experience.
That said, taking pictures of the Northern Lights is a notoriously tricky business. It’s going to be dark, which is when most cameras struggle to produce great images. It’s also likely to be cold, the lights will be moving, and even simple tasks like getting the focus right can be difficult.
In my opinion, Northern Lights photography is one of the more challenging types of photography to get right.
To help you out, I’ve put together this guide to how to photograph the Northern Lights. I’m going to share with you everything you need to know, from camera settings, to equipment, to tips on where to go to get the best photos of the Northern Lights.
This is based on my years of experience as a travel photographer and various occasions chasing the Northern Lights in different locations around the world, as well as more general astrophotography experiences.
Note that whilst this guide is for the Northern Lights, it will also work for the Southern Lights, also known as the Aurora Australis.
These are generally harder to see as there are less accessible landmasses near the south pole, but they can sometimes be seen from New Zealand, the Falkland Islands and the southern tip of Argentina.
Can I still photograph the Northern Lights without manual settings?
Can you Photograph the Northern Lights with an iPhone or Smartphone?
Before you set out, camera in hand, ready to photograph the Northern Lights, you’re going to need to be somewhere where you have a good chance of actually seeing them.
Generally, the best place to see the Northern Lights is from a northerly latitude – somewhere either close to, or inside, the arctic circle. The arctic circle is a line of latitude at around 66 degrees north, or anywhere within approximately 1,200 miles of the north pole.
The best viewing latitudes are from around 68 degrees north to 74 degrees north, which is usually where the strongest Northern Lights displays are seen from.
This basically means you need to be fairly far north for the best viewing opportunities. The northern regions of Finland, Sweden and Norway for example, make for good viewing in Europe. Iceland is also a popular destination, as the country lies very close to the arctic circle.
Large swathes of Canada and Russia are also close to or inside the Arctic Circle, as is Greenland.
If there is particularly strong activity, it’s also possible to see the Northern Lights from more southern latitudes, including in Scotland where I have seen them, as well as the northern United States.
However, the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights is definitely further north.
Some of these locations, like Finland, are particularly well set up for Northern Lights viewing, with fun accommodation like glass igloos which can give you both a great viewing experience, as well unique sleeping experience. Iceland is also a popular northern lights viewing destination, with many northern lights viewing tours on offer.
We have lots of content on both these destinations to help you plan a trip. See our guide to visiting Finland in winter for more information, and our guide to planning a trip to Iceland as a starting point.
The best time to see the Northern Lights is from September to April. This is when the skies are dark enough to see them.
Personally, I would add that the months of September and March are my favourite time to try and see the lights. This is because in the northerly latitudes, the depths of winter can be a particularly cold time.
These shoulder months tend to be a little less cold, and make the experience of Northern Lights hunting more pleasant. Of course, you will have to factor in local weather patterns—if you’re visiting a country where it rains a lot in a certain month for example, you’ll want to try and avoid that!
February and March are more likely to offer shots of the Northern Lights against snowy landscapes, which are particularly beautiful.
Photographing the Northern Lights is a test for any camera (and photographer!). Whilst for the majority of photography I would argue that the camera is generally less important than people might think, for some situations a good camera and lens will make a big difference.
Northern lights photography is one of these situations!
The reason for this is that the Northern Lights are only visible when it is dark. And whilst most cameras will take great pictures in daylight, taking great pictures when there is limited light available is a real test.
This is why you might find your smartphone does a great job in daylight, and not so great a job indoors or at night.
The reason for this is down to the way a camera records an image.
A camera works by capturing the available light on a light-sensitive sensor inside the camera. In the past, this was predominantly a piece of film where the chemicals reacted to the light. Today, this is done digitally.
Digital technology has meant that we can now have cameras in many things we didn’t have cameras in before, however, it also means that the sensors have gotten a lot smaller. To fit a camera inside your smartphone means that the sensor is way smaller than the sensor inside a professional DSLR camera.
In most daytime situations, this doesn’t make too much difference because there is loads of light available. At night however, it’s a different story, and the small sensors in smartphones and compact cameras will struggle to pick up enough light to produce a usable image – even with a relatively strong Northern Lights display.
All is not lost though. You don’t need a super expensive camera to capture the Northern Lights, as long as you have the right equipment overall. Let’s look at what that is.
It goes without saying that you are obviously going to need a camera to take pictures of the Northern Lights!
The basic requirement is that the camera lets you control the shutter speed. The shutter is a physical barrier between the cameras sensor and the light passing through the lens, and the shutter speed dictates how long this opens when you press the shutter button.
Low-light photography requires you to take photos where the shutter is open for a prolonged period of time, usually between 5 and 30 seconds. This is also referred to as long-exposure photography.
Many cameras let you control the shutter speed, including some smartphones, some compact cameras, and the vast majority of mirrorless cameras and DSLR cameras.
Check your camera to see if it has either a manual mode or a way of otherwise controlling the shutter speed. This will either be accessed via the camera mode dial, or somewhere else in the settings. If it’s not immediately obvious, check the camera’s manual, or just search online for something like “change shutter speed <your camera model>”.
You should also check to see what the maximum exposure it will allow is—this is normally around 30 or 60 seconds, but may be less in the case of smartphones or compact cameras. To check, just put the camera into shutter priority or manual mode and adjust the shutter speed until it’s as slow as it goes.
For example, on my Canon camera, the slowest shutter speed I can do in shutter priority or manual mode is 30 seconds, which is indicated as 30″ on the screen. My Google Pixel 3 smartphone has a maximum 4 second shutter speed.
I mentioned that you don’t necessarily need a high end camera to get good photos of the Northern Lights, however, you will get better results with a camera that has a bigger sensor. As a rule of thumb, you can order camera types as follows for northern light photography, from best to worst.
Those at the top of this list have the largest sensors, meaning they can capture more of the available light.
If having read all this you think you might be in the market for a new camera, check out our guides to the best compact cameras, mirrorless cameras and DSLR cameras, as well as our guide to choosing a travel camera.
The Northern Lights are a phenomenon that can take up a great deal of the night sky. If you are lucky, it will span from one horizon to the other, and fill your field of vision.
In order to capture this incredible display, you are going to want a suitable lens that lets you get an image of as much of the sky as possible.
If are shooting with a camera that doesn’t have an interchangeable lens, just zoom out as far as possible to get as much in.
If you do have a camera that lets you change lenses, you’re going to want to use what’s called a “wide-angle” lens. This is a lens which has a very wide field of view, and it will let you capture more of the night sky.
You can tell a wide angle lens by its focal length. Focal length is a measurement used in photography to indicate what the field of view of a camera is. A wide angle lens will usually have a focal length from around 8mm (very very wide) to 24mm (still wide but not so much!).
The exact focal length will vary depending on the type of camera you have and the size of the sensor. For a full frame camera for example, a wide angle lens like this 16-35mm Canon lens, or this 14-24mm Nikon lens would be perfect. Third party solutions like this 14mm prime from Rokinon provide great value alternatives.
The other consideration is the aperture of the lens. The aperture is the hole in the lens that lets light in – it’s similar to the pupil in your eye. Much like your pupil, the aperture can be larger or smaller. When it’s larger, more light will come in.
You want a lens that opens as wide as possible to let as much light in as possible. A range of f/1.8 – f/4 is best. The smaller the number, the wider the aperture, and the more light will come in.
Here are some lenses to consider for northern light photography, across a variety of camera systems.
There are of course a great many other lenses to choose from at a variety of price points, but these should give you a good starting point.
We also have a guide to the best lenses for travel photography in general if you are in the market for a new lens.
To take photos of the Northern Lights, you need to shoot at longer exposures – usually from 5 to 30 seconds.
Obviously, you won’t be able to hold your camera still for that length of time, and if you try to do so, you will end up with blurry images as the camera picks up your hand movements. Generally, it’s hard to hold a camera still for longer than around 1/60th of a second – let alone 5 seconds or more!
To solve this problem, you’re going to need a tripod, which I would suggest is a mandatory accessory for northern light photography, as well as other long exposure photography like astrophotography or for taking pictures of fireworks.
A tripod will let you stabilize your camera and allow you to take a photo without holding the camera, meaning you’ll get sharp images even for long exposures.
As well as a tripod, we suggest investing in a remote shutter release. When your camera is on the tripod, you still need a means of taking the picture, and pressing the shutter button can still cause some movement. A remote release like this will prevent that from happening.
Note that nowadays a lot of cameras come with WiFi or Bluetooth connectivity, meaning you can trigger the photo from your smartphone. In cold weather though you might not want to take your gloves off, so a remote release is still a good idea!
We think a tripod is essential for all sorts of photography, and we give our reasons why in our guide to why you need a travel tripod.
We appreciate of course not everyone will want to invest in an expensive tripod though, or carry something large around, so we’ve come up with this short list of travel tripods to consider.
These focus on being lightweight and smaller than some of the higher end tripods out there – perfect for travelling with.
As well as all the above, there are a few other things you’ll definitely want to consider bringing when heading out to photograph the Northern Lights.
As it’s likely to be cold (I’ve been out shooting at -35!), you will definitely want to wrap up warm, with thermal baselayers, gloves, a hat, warm jacket and so on. See our guide to what to pack for winter in Finland and what to pack for winter in Iceland as a starting point for your packing list.
You’ll also want to prepare your camera for the cold. I have a whole post on cold weather photography you should check out, which includes specific tips like bringing along sealable plastic bags and spare batteries.
Finally, you will also want some sort of flashlight or torch. The light on your smartphone is one option, but you might find a headtorch to be easier as it will keep your hands free.
I would also recommend that you get one that has the option to shine a red light (like this one) rather than a white light, as this will help you preserve your night vision.
Now you’re ready to head out and take some pictures of the Northern Lights! At this point, you’ll need to know how to set your camera up.
The bad news is that there is no one size fits all optimal camera setting for Northern Lights photography. The lights vary greatly in intensity and movement, depending on how lucky you are. Sometimes there will just be a faint glow, almost like green clouds.
Other times, the sky will seem to be alive with green and red fire, undulating before your eyes.
So you will definitely need to be prepared to review and adjust your settings as you go. However, there are some parameters for each setting that you will generally be shooting at. I’ll go through each of these.
The first thing you need to do is make sure your camera is in the right mode for taking pictures of the Northern Lights. I would suggest putting the camera into fully manual mode, which will give you total control.
Manual mode is usually accessed by the cameras main mode dial. On most cameras, this is found on the top of the camera body, and is a round dial you can rotate to different modes. One of these will likely be Auto, and then there will be a variety of other options.
If your camera doesn’t have a mode dial, you’ll want to get into the settings menu to find a suitable mode. For a smartphone, this will be through one of our recommended apps, for a compact camera this will vary by model.
If you do have a mode dial, manual mode will usually be marked as “M”. “M” mode means you have to set everything on the camera yourself – shutter speed, aperture and ISO. These three controls are commonly referred to as the “exposure triangle”.
This is because adjusting any of them will affect the exposure, or overall brightness of the image. The goal is a correctly exposed image – not too bright, and not too dark.
Now we’ll look at each of these settings individually.
The shutter speed you pick for Northern Lights photography will depend a great deal on the movement of the lights in the sky, and the brightness of the lights.
If the lights are pulsating relatively quickly and are quite bright, then you will want a relatively short shutter speed – around five seconds. Otherwise the clear patterns that your eyes see will be replaced by more blurry soft shapes as the camera captures the movement.
A slower shutter speed will let less light in, so you might need to compensate by increasing the ISO. The aperture should already be set as wide as possible.
If the lights are quite dim, or are not moving very much, then you can use a longer shutter speed (e.g., 15 or even 30 seconds). This will let more light in, so you will get brighter images. If they are looking too bright, you can reduce the ISO, which will also give you cleaner, less noisy images.
You will usually want to pick as wide an aperture as possible for Northern Lights photography, to let as much light in as possible. Changing the aperture from f/4 to f/2.8 results in twice as much light being let in, which can make a huge difference to your photo.
This is why the lenses I recommended for Northern Lights photography all tend to offer these wide apertures. They are also often referred to as “fast” lenses, because you can use a faster shutter speed due to the extra light the aperture lets in.
For Northern Lights photography, I would advise using the biggest aperture the lens has available. Usually you would not want to change this – you will instead adjust shutter speed and ISO depending on the conditions.
The ISO of your camera dictates how sensitive the camera’s sensor is to the light. If you increase the ISO, the camera becomes more sensitive, meaning the images will be brighter.
Unfortunately, the side effect of increasing the sensitivity is that the images become noisier. This basically means there are going to be unwanted artefacts in the image, which can result in grainy shots.
This graininess is often hard to see on your camera display, and will only be obvious when you get your photos onto a computer screen for editing.
Different cameras have different capabilities. The majority of more modern cameras produce acceptable images up to ISO settings of 3200 or 6400. Some high end cameras can go well beyond this, whilst some compact cameras will struggle above ISO 1600 or even ISO 800.
My advice is to experiment with your particular camera in advance of your trip, and check what is acceptable to you.
The caveat here is that sometimes you won’t have a choice – if you can’t open the aperture any wider, and you can’t increase the shutter speed without getting a blurry image, then your only option is to increase the ISO.
A noisy image is always preferable to a blurry image in my opinion, and noise can, to an extent, be edited in post production. In addition, noise is usually more of an issue if you are planning on blowing your images up to large sizes. For small prints, social media use, and sharing with your friends it likely won’t be an issue.
Back to the main question! I would suggest starting at an ISO of 1600 and seeing what results you get. If the lights are dim, you might need to increase this to 3200 or even 6400. If the lights are fast moving, requiring a faster shutter speed, you might also need to increase it to let enough light in.
So you have all your settings ready to go, and you’re pretty much ready to photograph the Northern Lights. There’s still one thing you’re going to have to do, which is actually one of the harder parts of shooting at night, and that is to focus your image.
Most camera autofocus systems require a minimum amount of light to work, and can struggle when it is dark. So you need to prepare for this and know how you are going to get a sharp focus.
The Northern Lights are relatively far away, so if you have a camera with manual focus, I advise setting it to manual focus mode and adjusting the focus using the manual focus ring (usually found on the lens) to the infinity mode.
Note that some cameras, in particular Canon cameras, need to be focused just before infinity in order to get sharp images.
It can be very hard to find focus in the dark, so my suggestion is to practice with your camera in the daylight, find the sharp focus point on a distant object, and make a note of where this is. If your camera has a focus ring, you could make a mark with a permanent marker so you know where it is.
If you have a DSLR, using the live view instead of the optical viewfinder can also make finding focus easier. My tip is to zoom in on a part of the image on the liveview and try to find something like a star or other point of light that you can use as a focal point.
If your camera doesn’t have a focus ring, it might have a manual focus option in the menu. If not, you will have to rely on the autofocus mechanism. If this is the case, try and find the brightest part of the sky and select that as s focus point.
If you don’t get your focus right, you might get home with images that look like this, which is not going to be ideal!
When taking photos, we sometimes have a choice of what type of image file format we want to save. The majority of cameras by default will save images as JPG (or JPEG) files. These are a compressed file format which are widely supported, and can be directly viewed or shared without any editing required.
The other file format is known as RAW. This is an uncompressed data format which varies from camera to camera, and it is the file format which keeps the most data from your images.
For shooting the Northern Lights, if your camera supports RAW, I would highly recommend you use RAW. Alternatively, most cameras also support a RAW + JPG option, which offers the best of both worlds at the expense of using up more memory card space.
Shooting in RAW will give you greater control over the image, and will let you bring out the best of your photos using editing software after your shoot.
For more on RAW, see my guide to RAW in photography. If you’re in the market for software to edit your RAW files, we have a guide to the best photography editing software too.
Here’s a quick cheat sheet to help you remember your Northern Lights photography camera settings.
That should get you started, but do review your photos as you go to be sure they are turning out as you want, and adjust as necessary as the sky changes.
Here’s a downloadable image to help you remember the above. You are welcome to share and use this image, but please accredit it back to this article with a link if you do.
If you read all the above and are worried that your camera doesn’t have a manual mode, and so you think you might not be able to photograph the Northern Lights, I have some good news.
You can still photograph the Northern Lights with a compact camera or any camera that doesn’t have full manual controls. The results might not be quite as impressive, but at least you will get something to remember the moment.
Here are some tips for photographing the Northern Lights with a compact camera or other camera that doesn’t have full manual control.
Use a tripod. Even with a compact camera or smartphone, you will need a tripod to stabilise your camera to get the best images.
See if the camera has any special modes for night photography. Some cameras have special night mode, long exposure modes, or fireworks modes. These will tell the camera software to take a long exposure.
Disable the flash. At night there isn’t much light, and nearly every compact camera will try to compensate for this by firing the flash, which will have zero effect. You need to disable the flash so this doesn’t happen.
Manually set the ISO. Most compact cameras will allow you to set the ISO yourself, even if they don’t have full manual controls. If they don’t let you set the exact number, they might let you set it as “High”, so the camera knows to use a higher ISO than normal.
The answer is that yes, you can photograph the Northern Lights with an iPhone or other smartphone. However, there are some caveats!
First of all, you are going to need some means of stabilizing your camera so it can take photos without picking up on your hand movements. The best option is going to be a phone mount for a tripod, or just a mini phone tripod.
You will also need a way of directly adjusting the shutter speed. There are phone apps that will let you do this if the built-in app on your smartphone doesn’t allow for manual shutter speed settings.
On Android, we recommend Open Camera, and on iOS we recommend the VSCO app, both of which let you manually set the shutter speed, and both of which are free.
The majority of smartphones have a fixed wide open aperture, so you won’t need to change this. They will also usually set the ISO for you, but if you can control the ISO you will want to set it to a high value if you can.
The below image was shot hand held with a Google Pixel 3 smartphone in night mode. As you can see, the image is certainly obvious as to what it is, but it’s not without its flaws, despite the Pixel 3 being widely regarded as having one of the better low light smartphone cameras.
Now you know what you are doing when it comes to taking photos of the Northern Lights from a technical point of view.
However, photography is not just about knowing how to set up your camera – whatever it is you are taking photos of. A great photo is more than having just the correct settings on your camera, it needs to be well composed.
This is no different for the Northern Lights. Whilst they are spectacular in their own right, you will still want to follow the rules of composition.
A good idea is to find a foreground subject like a cute cabin or igloo, that helps to put a bit more of context, scale, and story in your image. A person or even a line of trees will also help. If you are close to a body of water and it is a calm night, you can use this to create a reflection too.
Another thing to bear in mind is that the Northern Lights are best seen when there is little to no light pollution. This means that you need to get far away from any sources of light to get the best views. If you are in a city, you will want to drive out of it and away from the glow.
Of course, if the display is very powerful, some lights are not a big deal, as in this image, where the streetlights do not overwhelm the show.
Compare that to this image, where the Northern Lights are almost lost in the haze of the city lights.
But overall, you want to be somewhere as dark as possible to see the lights. If you have a foreground subject you want to illuminate, you can use a flashlight or even your smartphone light to illuminate it.
Finally, don’t forget to enjoy the show. It can be easy to become overwhelmed with trying to get the perfect image, but you don’t want to miss one of the great experiences of life because you were busy staring at the back of your camera screen.
Take your photos, but don’t forget to just look at the sky and be in awe of the display that nature is putting on.
If you have a smartphone, there are some apps that you might find useful. As well as the previously mentioned apps that you can use for northern light photography, there are some others that I also suggest you will find useful.
If you are somewhere with access to the internet, then I can highly recommend getting an app that will notify you of aurora activity. These will take aurora forecast data from various sources, as well as weather data, and will notify you if there is a chance of seeing Northern Lights activity in your area.
I have seen Northern Lights activity thanks to being notified by these apps, and they are in my mind invaluable.
I have tried a few, and have settles on My Aurora Forecast Pro. I have found it to be the most reliable app that doesn’t drain my phone battery, but has always reliably alerted me to aurora activity. This is available for both Android and iOS, and is available in both free (ad-supported) and paid versions.
The Photographer’s Ephemeris, also known as TPE, is an incredible app (and also a website) which uses a combination of mapping data and astronomy data to provide you with detailed information as to where the sun or moon will be.
You can choose any point on earth using the map interface, and it will show you for that point what time the sun will rise and set, what time the moon will rise and set, and where in the sky the sun or moon will be.
I find it really useful for scouting out locations ahead of time. It has satellite imagery as well as normal mapping data, so from a Northern Lights hunting perspective, is also a handy way of figuring out where you might find areas with limited street lighting (usually remote areas with no buildings).
If you are visiting somewhere like Iceland or Finland, one good option for seeing the Northern Lights is to take a specific tour. The most common options are evening tours where you will be taken to good dark locations for viewing the northern lights. Some tours also include activities like snowmobiling.
Here are some evening tours we suggest looking at for Iceland and Finland. Note that some companies have a policy where if you don’t see the northern lights on your trip, they will let you take another tour for free. So these are a good option.
In Iceland, there are a number of companies offering evening Northern Lights tours. We suggest looking at the listings for Northern Lights Tours on Viator, GetYourGuide, Iceland Travel and Guide to Iceland.
Some examples include this coach based tour, this small group tour, this well reviewed and good value coach option, and this more private super jeep tour.
Finland is a very popular destination for the northern lights, with a large part of the country (anywhere north of Rovaniemi), actually inside the arctic circle. Tours depart from a number of locations in the country, predominantly from Rovaniemi, Levi, Saariselkä, and Ylläs.
We’d suggest looking for northern lights tours on Viator and GetYourGuide.
As examples of what is available, here’s a tour by snowmobile, this is a dedicated northern lights photography tour, and this is another northern lights photography tour.
Canada is definitely the easiest place to see the Northern Lights from in North America. There are lots of tours to choose from, including this selection on GetYourGuide and these on Viator.
Examples of what are available include this four hour tour in Yukon, and this tour from Yellowknife.
It’s also possible to book a longer multi-day tour that focuses on seeing the Northern Lights, which will give you the best chance to see and photograph them. Here are some options to consider.
Visiting Iceland in winter offers spectacular landscapes to explore, and wonderfully warm hot springs to relax in. Plus there’s the bonus of seeing the northern lights!
Here are some multi-day guided tours that include northern lights viewing on Iceland Travel, Guide to Iceland, Tour Radar and Intrepid Travel.
As an example, this 6 night tour of Iceland’s southern region with Intrepid Travel offers lots of options to see the Northern Lights, as well as many of the other highlights Iceland has to offer!
There are a number of multi-day winter tours listed on Viator, the majority of which include northern lights viewing opportunities.
Greenland is a massive island in the North Atlantic, and much of it lies above the arctic circle. A low population means minimal light pollution, offering excellent northern lights viewing opportunities.
Here’s a 10 Day tour of Greenland in winter, giving you lots of opportunities for seeing the Northern Lights from a very northerly latitude.
With so much of Canada sitting at a northerly latitude, and with a relatively sparse population in these regions, Canada makes for a fantastic viewing location for the Northern Lights. Here are some multi-day northern lights tours on Tour Radar and Viator to get you started.
For examples are what are available, take a look at this 11 day tour of the Canadian Rockies, and this 4 day tour of Whitehorse from Vancouver.
Hopefully this guide to taking pictures of the Northern Lights has helped prepare you for seeing and photographing this wonderful display. We’ve also have a number of other photography related posts and resources that we think you will find useful to help you improve your photography.
If you’ve read this post and now think that a new camera might be in order, we have a detailed guide to the best travel cameras, as well as specific guides for the best compact camera, best mirrorless camera and best DSLR camera.
If you have a camera and want to upgrade to a new lens, we also have a guide to the best camera lenses. Note that these are for travel photography in general though, the recommended lenses section of this post will be more useful for Northern Lights photography.
And that’s it! As always, we hope you found our guide to Northern Lights photography helpful. We’re also happy to answer any questions you might have in the Comments section below. | 2019-04-26T00:10:46Z | https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/photograph-northern-lights/ |
Internships offer valuable opportunities for history majors to explore career options, acquire valuable practical experience, and build relationships with professionals and organizations in their areas of interest. Internships can provide useful field experience, but also letters of recommendation, personal references, and sometimes even a job offer. Massachusetts and New England are home to an array of historical museums and organizations that offer internships during the school year and over the summer. The following list provides descriptions of some local and national opportunities along with contact information and web links. But there are many more. Most historical organizations, in fact, are open to working with interns, so if a particular museum or historic site is not listed here, contact the organization's director or education department and ask if they would be interested in sponsoring an internship.
BC also awards five internship grants to juniors who plan to do unpaid summer internships in a not-for-profit field dealing with social and human services.
The American Textile History Museum offers unpaid internships in Museum Education. The Museum staff will work with a candidate to customize an internship or practicum that achieves the student's goals while fitting the Museum's needs and capabilities. ATHM is not able to provide stipends or housing for interns. Candidates may submit an application by mail to the contact person, (found on the museums' internship page) c/o American Textile History Museum, 491 Dutton Street, Lowell, MA 01854 or call them for more information.
The Boston Athenæum, a membership library, first opened its doors in 1807, and its rich history as a library and cultural institution has been well documented in the annals of Boston’s cultural life. Today, it remains a vibrant and active institution that serves a wide variety of members and scholars. With more than 600,000 titles in its book collection, the Boston Athenæum functions as a public library for many of its members, with a large and distinguished circulating collection, a newspaper and magazine reading room, quiet spaces and rooms for reading and researching, a children’s library, and art department. The Special Collections resources are world-renowned, and include maps, manuscripts, rare books, and archival materials. Other activities for members and the public include lectures, panel discussions, poetry readings, musical performances, films, and special events, many of which are followed by receptions. The Athenaem offers paid internships in development, digitalization projects, and other areas.
The Bostonian Society is dedicated to studying, and preserving Boston’s uniquely important history, embodied in materials, records, and structures such as the Old State House, and in sharing an understanding of the revolutionary ideas born here. TBS operates the Old State House Museum and a library of Boston's 18th-century history and will work one-on-one with anyone interested in a volunteer or internship position. You can download an application online.
The Cultural Resources Diversity Internship Program provides a career exploration opportunity for diverse undergraduate and graduate students ages 18-25 in historic preservation/cultural resources work. The program places interns with National Park Service park units and administrative offices, other federal agencies, state historic preservation offices, local governments, and private organizations. Intern sponsors provide work experiences that assist interns with building their resumes in this field. Internships are offered during the summer (10 weeks). Projects include editing publications, planning exhibits, participating in archeological excavations, preparing research reports, cataloguing park and museum collections, providing interpretive programs on historical topics, developing community outreach, and writing lesson plans based on historical themes. Applications are due in early March.
Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site was the home and office of preeminent landscape architect and park designer Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903) from 1883 to 1895. While living and working in Brookline, Olmsted designed the Emerald Necklace park system in Boston and Brookline, Stanford University’s campus, the landscape of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, and the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, among other projects. Before coming to Brookline, he was well-known for his designs of New York’s Central and Prospect Parks as well as the U.S. Capitol grounds. Subsequently, the site served as the headquarters of the Olmsted firm until 1980, being directed for much of that time period by John Charles Olmsted (1858-1920) and Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. (1870-1957), both of whom were important figures in landscape architecture and the related field of city planning.
Founded in 1994, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is a nonprofit organization devoted to the improvement of history education. The Institute has developed an array of programs for schools, teachers, and students that now operate in all fifty states, including a website that features the more than 60,000 unique historical documents in the Gilder Lehrman Collection. Each year the Institute offers support and resources to tens of thousands of teachers, and through them enhances the education of more than a million students. The Center offers 6-week internships for college students in one of the Institute’s departments—curatorial, marketing and communications, photo and video editing, education, administration, library sciences, or publications. Interns must commit to a minimum of twenty hours per week.
Historic Deerfield, located in a beautiful 330-year-old Massachusetts village, has hosted students for summer fellowships since 1956. The prestigious nine-week program allows students hands-on study of manuscripts and early New England material life, using Historic Deerfield's extensive collections (more than 25,000 objects made between 1650-1850) and 14 eighteenth and nineteenth century houses. Students will gain experience not only in museum studies and material culture, but will also develop their research skills and learn about interpreting New England history to the public. All admitted students will receive a $7500 fellowship which covers tuition, books, field trip expenses, and room and board for nine weeks. Deadline for application is in early February.
Historic New England is a museum of cultural history which collects and preserves buildings, landscapes, and objects dating from the seventeenth century to the present and uses them to keep history alive and to help people develop a deeper understanding and enjoyment of New England life and appreciation for its preservation. Historic New England offers internships to graduate and undergraduate students pursuing degrees in American studies, American history, museum studies, arts administration, preservation studies, art and architectural history, library science, and related fields. Interns have the opportunity to work with Historic New England's extraordinary and rich collection of historic structures and landscapes, archival collections of photographs, architectural drawings, and ephemera, and material culture collections. Internship opportunities are also available to students interested in marketing, public relations, and development in the non-profit sector. Internships are unpaid, but may be completed for course credit. To receive application materials, contact, Jennifer Pustz, museum historian.
Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum has been open since 1903, and it core has remained virtually unchanged since its founder's death in 1924. The galleries are filled with paintings, sculpture, tapestries, furniture, and decorative arts from Europe spanning thirteen centuries. All internships are unpaid.
The JFK museum, located on Columbia Point on the southern edge of Boston, portrays the life, leadership, and legacy of President Kennedy. With over 34 million pages of manuscript holdings, 180000 photographs, 70000 volumes of printed material, and 15000 museum objects, the library is a premier resource for the study of the Kennedy presidency, the 1960s, the process of government, and the impact and legacy of public service. The library awards several summer archival internships each year in the textual, audiovisual, and museum collections departments. Interns must commit to a minimum of 12 hours per week, and are paid at a rate $11/hour. Applications for internships must be received by February 25. Placement is competitive and each application should include a resume, one letter of recommendation, and a current college transcript. For additional information, and an online application, see the website above.
Lexington Historical Society is responsible for six different revolutionary era historical sites: Buckman Tavern, Hancock-Clarke House, Munroe Tavern, Lexington Green, Old Belfry, and the Old Burying Ground. There are paid internships where students can work as a Lexington Historical Society greeter, provide retail support at museum shops, assist with educational programming and group tours as well as providing support for the Living History Center. This internship would be ideal for someone interested in a career in public history as it provides an expansive look into the workings of a project driven Historical Society.
The Library of Congress is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution and serves as the research arm of Congress. It is also the largest library in the world, with millions of books, recordings, photographs, maps and manuscripts in its collections. The general focus of the Junior Fellows Program is on increasing access to the collections and an awareness of the Library's copyright, legal and special collections and digital initiatives. In the past, projects have been developed to make the collections better known and accessible to researchers including scholars, students, teachers, knowledge creators, and the general public. Interns help the Library expose unprocessed collections, participate in digital projects, provide additional services to Congress and the public, and make our collections more immediately accessible to scholars. Interns work under the direction of Library curators and specialists in various divisions. Applications due in late February.
The Martha's Vineyard Museum was founded in 1922 and incorporated the following year. The founders first acquired revolutionary era documents, which started the collection. The museum has extensive holdings of three-dimensional objects, archival documents, historic books and photographs, paintings, and museum exhibits relating to the history of the island. There are five summer internships available in the curatorial, development, marketing/events, education, and library/archive departments.
The Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center is a tribally owned, state-of-art museum on Native histories and cultures in North America. The museum features exhibitions, live performances and demonstrations, educational workshops and seminars as well as research resources, including a 45,000 volume research library. Volunteer internships are available during Fall, Spring, or Summer semesters on several research projects involving Native Americans and African-Americans in colonial America.
The Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) is an independent research library and manuscript repository located in downtown Boston. Its holdings encompass millions of rare and unique documents and artifacts vital to the study of American history, many of them irreplaceable national treasures. See the website job page for a listing of specific internships in publishing, museum education, archives and development.
The Museum of African American History was incorporated in 1967 to preserve, conserve, and interpret the contributions of people of African descent and those who have found common cause with them in the struggle for liberty, dignity, and justice for all Americans. Through exhibitions, education projects, public programs, and the display of unique items from our collections, the Museum places the African-American experience in an accurate social, cultural, and historical perspective. The Museum serves the public at its historic sites in Boston and Nantucket, as well as with Black Heritage Trail tours and a variety of exhibits and educational programs for the general visiting public, school groups, teachers and other special audiences. Volunteers serve as information desk attendants/administrative support for the Museum of African American History.
Founded in 1876, the MFA is one of the most comprehensive art museums in the world; the collection encompasses nearly 450,000 works of art. We welcome more than one million visitors each year to experience art from ancient Egyptian to contemporary, special exhibitions, and innovative educational programs. MFA internships are available in the fall, spring, and summer in several areas including curatorial, development, public relations, publications, intellectual property, museum learning, retail operations, information services, and human resources. These are unpaid internships.
Located on the Southeast coast of Connecticut, Mystic Seaport is a re-creation of a 19th century coastal village and is touted as the "nation's leading maritime museum." Interns use Mystic Seaport as "a laboratory in museum education, historic interpretation, and museum practice." Summer internships are usually available in education, archives, conservation and curatorial, membership development, communications, and exhibits. The program is 10 weeks program and requires a full-time commitment (room rentals near museum are available). Stipends to help with cost of living are available (from $500 to $1,400). In the Fall and Spring, the Seaport also offers a semester-long program centered around history, literature, policy, and science of the sea through its Williams-Mystic Maritime Studies program. Admission to the program is competitive and open to undergraduates in good academic standing.
The Nantucket Historical Society preserves and interprets the history of Nantucket Island, the birthplace and capital of the American whaling industry. The NHS includes the Whaling Museum, a research library, and several historic homes and interpretive sites. Interns learn and work directly with professionals in a team-based, collaborative environment. The internship is a full-time position that begins on June 1, 2011 and lasts ten to twelve weeks and has astipend of $2500 plus housing. Interns concentrate their work in one of four areas: Interpretation & Education, Outreach & Special Programs, Collections & Curatorial, and Horticulture. Applications due in early February.
The National Heritage Museum offers a variety of internship experiences. An internship with NHM gives students an opportunity to work hands-on with museum professionals and gain insight into the workings of a museum. Interns are expected to work a minimum of three months and a minimum of 8 hours a week. Hours and duration of the internship will be determined according to the department. Internships are unpaid.
Unpaid internships in conservation-related areas are also available through the Student Conservation Association. Local internships are not widely advertised, so if you are interested in a particular park, contact them directly to see if they have internship opportunities.
Founded in 1845, the New England Historic Genealogical Society is located at 99 Newbury Street in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood and is one of the nation’s leading research centers for genealogists of every skill level. In it are housed millions of documents, manuscripts, records, books, microfilms, photographs, artifacts, electronic resources, and other items that preserve and reveal our history. Volunteers work in the library, manuscripts, research, conservation, website, or membership areas at NEHGS headquarters or on special projects.
At the NHS, interns have the opportunity to research and interpret three historic Rhode Island houses: the Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House (circa 1675), the Great Friends Meeting House (1699), and the Newport Colony House (1739). Interns will regularly lead tours through these houses, while also executing a research project to contribute to the understanding and explanation of the site. Students will ultimately present their work through either a lecture or an educational program, and are eligible for publication in Newport History. Five positions are available and admission to the program is very competitive. Successful applicants receive a $3,000 stipend for approximately 10 weeks. The deadline for application is March 1.
Located in Western Massachusetts, Old Sturbridge Village is the largest outdoor history museum in the Northeast, portraying everyday life in an 1830s New England village through costumed interpretation and more than 40 restored historical buildings. The Village's interpretation of New England's past is based on decades of award-winning historical research, including work in archaeology, material culture studies, and the examination of hundreds of letters, diaries, and account books. Volunteer internships for academic credit are available in three areas of the museum: the research center, the education department and activities/development.
The Society is located in York, on the Southern Maine Coast, and consists of 7 historic buildings open to the public, including the oldest public structure still standing in the English colonies, the Old Gaol. The impressive collections highlight tavern life in the 18th century, merchants and the shipping trade, farming and agriculture, crime and punishment, and the early 20th century colonial revival. Each year, the Society hosts the Elizabeth Perkins Fellowship Program in Museum Practice, an intensive 12-week program designed to familiarize fellows with museum operations, provide a venue for doing meaningful research and presenting it in a public forum, and provide experience in historical interpretation. The fellowship is open to upper level undergraduates and graduate students. Selection is competitive, with 4 fellowships offered each summer. Fellows are awarded a $7000 fellowship, which covers tuition, books, field trip expenses, and riverfront housing in one of the historic houses for the length of the program. In addition, fellows receive a $2700 stipend for the summer.
On the night of April 18, 1775, silversmith Paul Revere left his small wooden home in Boston's North End and set out on a journey that would make him into a legend. Today that home is still standing at 19 North Square and has become a national historic landmark. It is downtown Boston's oldest building and one of the few remaining from the colonial era.
The Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA is one of the nation's major museums for Asian art, including Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Indian art, along with the finest extant collection of Asian Export art and 19th-century Asian photography. It presents the earliest collections of Native American and Oceanic art in the nation — all collections of exceptional standing. The historic houses and gardens, and American decorative art and maritime art collections provide an unrivaled spectrum of New England's heritage over 300 years. The Museum offers paid internships through the Museum Action Corps program in several areas including curatorial and visitor services.
Step back in time almost four centuries and become part of the living history experience at Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Staff members, through painstaking research, period costumes and dialect, and authentically reproduced buildings and artifacts, re-create the people and places of 17th-century Plymouth. Plimoth Plantation offers paid internships, partially paid internships and volunteer internships. Academic credit is available. Although the majority of internships take place over the summer, some autumn, spring and winter internships may also be offered. Common departments/areas for internships include education, farm department, foodways, horticulture, museum collections, and public relations. Limited housing available.
The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History dedicates its collections and scholarship to inspiring a broader understanding of our nation and its many peoples. The Museum collects and preserves more than 3 million artifacts—all true national treasures. We take care of everything from the original Star-Spangled Banner and Abraham Lincoln’s top hat to Dizzy Gillespie’s angled trumpet and Dorothy’s ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz.” Our collections form a fascinating mosaic of American life and comprise the greatest single collection of American history. The Smithsonian Institution offers a variety of paid and unpaid internships at its museums and research facilities in Washington DC. Internships are both paid and unpaid and are in the areas of history, technology, art, music, and other fields.
The USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned ship in the US Navy and is docked at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston Harbor. The USS Constitution Museum serves as the memory and educational voice of USS Constitution, by collecting, preserving, and interpreting the stories of "Old Ironsides" and the people associated with her. The Museum hires volunteers interested in learning more about museum operations and maritime history.
The program targets undergraduate freshman and sophomore students traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession who have expressed an interest in attending law school. | 2019-04-23T20:09:15Z | https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/schools/mcas/departments/history/undergraduate/internship-opportunities.html |
‘The Battle of Britain.’‘Clash of the Titans’, ‘Match of the Century’ and ‘Game of Games’.
1882 : Like Rangers previous opponents Sparta, Spurs roots also laid in the more sedate pastime of leather on willow. A group of teenagers from the local grammar school played Cricket on the land of 2 of their players’ uncle and they called themselves the Hotspur Cricket Club. As autumn arrived, they wanted a winter activity and with the advantage of having ‘their own pitch’ set up a football club under the same name. With the further advantage of having a couple of skilled young carpenters on the team they were also able to make their own set of goalposts. The name Hotspur was based around the local history of the Northumberland family who owned much of the local land and whose family seat was once based at Northumberland Park, in the marshy lands of Tottenham. The most famous Northumberland was Sir Henry Percy from the 14th Century who became known as Harry Hotspur and was immortalised in Shakespeare’s play, Henry IV. He was a fine and famous soldier, (though the least said about his attacks on Scottish raiding parties, the better) and in conjunction with his father was crucial in the overthrow of Richard II, the ‘Hotspur’ nickname came about because he always wore spurs when riding.
1883-84 Play their first ‘informal’ fixture.
1895 Turned Professional.The story goes that a player called Payne lost his boots on the way home from a match and a new pair were bought for him out of club funds. The powers that be declared that by accepting the gift, Payne had relinquished his amateur status and the club was to be suspended from all competitions. So Spurs turned professional.
1896 Spurs join the Southern League.
1898 Become a Limited Company.
1899 Moved to their current ground ‘White Hart Lane’ and adopted white shirts and blue shorts. The landowner, brewers Charringtons originally wanted to build houses on the site but were persuaded by the landlord of the White Hart Inn (who previously had run a pub near to Millwall FC) of the matchday profits.
1960-1961 DOUBLE WINNERS : LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP AND FA CUP WINNERS. Dubbed ‘THE TEAM OF THE CENTURY’ by journalists. Until that point, it was thought that it would be impossible for any team to perform this feat in the 20th century. Spurs netted a staggering 115 League goals.
1961-62 : Spurs came within an ace of a ‘double double’ FA CUP WINNERS and Runners’ Up in the League. Alf Ramsey’s Ipswich Town took the title by a margin of 4 points. Spurs lost their ‘8 point’ double headers in both games with Ipswich. Had they beaten Ipswich 3-1 at home, Spurs would have taken the double double. Spurs did not compete in the inaugural League Cup Competitions between 1960 and 1963 otherwise we might have been looking at ‘Trebles’. Indeed as shall be shown, this team came within a whisker of following up their ‘Double’ with a ‘TREBLE’. Not just any Treble, but including a European Cup.
1960-61 :Scottish Champions and League Cup Winners. European Cup Winners’ Cup Runners’ Up to Fiorentina.Perhaps, the 1960 European Cup Final gave them the extra inspiration or maybe it was their increasing experience. At last Rangers were punching their weight inEurope, they disposed of Wolverhampton Wanderers in the semi finals before losing both legs of the Final to the Florentines.
1961-62 Scottish Cup Winners and Scottish League Cup Winners.Rangers just missed out on a ‘Treble’, as Dundee won the title on the final day of the season. That was no disgrace, the Dundee team managed by Bob Shankly (brother of Bill) is rated by older fans as one of the best post war Scottish teams and included such names as; Andy Penman, Bobby Seith, Ian Ure, Alan Gilzean and Craig Brown.
On 16th September 1961, tragedy struck at Ibrox when 2 fans perished in a crush on Gate 13, the Cairnlee Drive stairway which led from the Copland Road. Over 40 more were injured.
Sadly such a tragedy was always possible. The Copland Road end held at least 30,000 but leading to and from it were just 2 main stairways. The danger was not in entering the ground as fans would not all arrive at once but at the end of the game when everyone left together.
In addition to the lack of exits, these 2 stairways were built in to a terrace built on a man made hill, so were exceptionally steep and given the size of the terrace very long. In addition to that you have to bear in mind that fans were not upon exiting the stairway going into an empty street. There was the circulation of fans leaving from other parts of the grounds which meant crowds would dangerously build up on the stairs. Those who had used this exit on the busiest matchdays, spoke of literally being swept off their feet.
A final dangerous recipe for tragedy was that there were bottlenecks before getting on to the stairs. A nightmare scenario would be what took place at Bethnal Green tube station in 1943 when it was used an air raid shelter. Someone tripped on the steep staircase and it caused a domino like collapse of humanity and 173 people died.
In 1961-62, Rangers were edged out in the quarter finals 4-3 on aggregate by Standard Liege. Spurs came even closer, extremely unlucky perhaps even robbed when they went out 4-3 on aggregate in the semi final to holders to Benfica who now included a 19 year old lad called Eusebio from Mozambique.
Dubbed the ‘team of the century’ not just for having achieved the ‘Double’ but for the amazing brand of football that it played. Given smaller pay differentials between clubs at this time and the fact that youngsters had fewer alternatives to playing football in their spare time, there was a spread of quality at all football clubs. Although the best team would usually win the League, it was felt that to win the FA Cup, you also required the ‘luck of the cup’. Spurs had rewritten the rules, they made their own. One group of people who rejected the ‘team of the century tag’ were some of the fans and players from the 1951 Spurs team and a favourite pastime of older Spurs fans was selecting a best team from both sides. I would also add and perhaps giving weight to the 1951 aficionados, that you do have to bear in mind Spurs success came shortly after the 1958 Munich Aircrash and the decimation of Manchester United’s brilliant young team that would have reached full maturity by 1961. This is not to denigrate Spurs brilliant double winners but to show how good it was.
Before getting a sniff of the Spurs defence, the attacking side would have to get past the ‘dynamo’ in midfield that was Dave Mackay. A ferociously committed but clean tackler, some of his teammates shuddered just watching him. According to his teammates Mackay even hated seeing players on the opposing side not putting 100% into their challenges. Not the tallest of men, he was nevertheless built like a tank and incredibly powerful. Many remember him for his ball winning alone, but that was just one part of his game. When most footballers from the 1960’s pick their fantasy team, Mackay is always considered. He was a supreme technical player. Double footed, capable of playing on either side, tight ball control, all round passing skills and a netbusting shot. He also had a phenomenal throw in and was a magnificent leader by encouragement and example.
The left half was equally special and important to Spurs. It was Danny Blanchflower who alongside the likes of George Best and Peter Doherty ranks as the finest outfield player to emerge from Northern Ireland. Here was a footballer touched by genius, for Danny, football was a beautiful game to be played in the mind. Not the fastest, but so good was his reading of the game that despite lacking pace he would always know where to position himself to receive the ball and where his teammates were running to. In addition to a fantastic range of ball skills he was always one move ahead of anyone else. He loved nothing more than to direct attacks with skill, verve and originality. In this team he had at last found the epitome of how he believed football should be played.
He could also tackle. Like all his football, cleverness was the key. He’d move to encourage the attacker to move the ball one way and then nip in and take the ball away from him. Spurs captain, he had forged a tremendous working partnership with Bill Nicholson who trusted him to act as the manager on the field. Given his wit and outgoing personality, a role and responsibility he relished.
There was little wrong with Rangers in the early 1960’s. Moreover a crop of exceptionally gifted youngsters replaced the older players from 1960. Namely, Jim Baxter, Willie Henderson, John Greig, Ronnie McKinnon and Billie Ritchie. Long serving players Ralph Brand and Bobby Shearer were also available for this fixture.
Scot Symon’s signing of the outrageously gifted Jim Baxter transformed Rangers image from a hardworking team into one which had flair and skill. Though Scot Symon still rarely said much in the dressing room, before games he would now remind his players with the mantra to, “Give the ball to Jim.” He was invaluable in closely contested matches, his passing could open up any defence and he could create space by dribbling past players and then finding an unmarked colleague. Or he could of course use his precision shooting to score from distance.
Having beaten off 30 top British clubs for his signature including Spurs, Rangers were delighted with the progress of teenage prodigy Willie Henderson. Standing at just 5’4½, extremely fast and skilful and already capped by Scotland. Despite his abundance of skill, unlike other players in his position he did not over elaborate and was very direct. Rangers fans loved his enthusiasm and bravery. Big defenders might floor him but he would keep getting up and tormenting them.
In the League, Rangers usually dominated games so it was imperative to have a goalkeeper with fine anticipation to deal with breakaway attacks. Ritchie’s speciality was dealing with the sort of ‘1 on 1’ situation that often cropped up. His bigger physique than Niven made it more difficult for ‘physical’ teams to hustle Rangers. However, he would certainly face a full examination against Spurs.
Rangers were also fortunate in having captain Bobby Shearer back to full form. The swashbuckling right back was nicknamed ‘Captain Cutlass’ and his ability, experience, strength and leadership were essential qualities.
Most unusually Rangers too had spied. Scott Symon travelled to London to see Spurs host Manchester United on Wednesday 25 October and probably wished he hadn’t bothered. Spurs ripped United apart winning 6-2 but the trip was not all bad. He had a chat with Bill Nicholson who agreed that Rangers would be allowed to train on the Spurs pitch before the game, provided the turf was in no danger of cutting up.
5 Goals x Once v League Champions, Ipswich Town in the Charity Shield.
6 Goals x 2 v Manchester United and away to West Ham.
9 Goals x Once v Nottingham Forest at White Hart Lane in late September.
The last time they failed to score at White Hart Lane was on Easter Monday 1960.
The 41,000 terrace tickets went on sale on Sunday, with the sale officially commencing at 1 pm. These standing or ‘ground’ tickets were priced at 5 shillings and my understanding is that tickets were allocated to a maximum of 2 per person. Although overnight queuing was officially banned, many fans milled around the ground overnight and by dawn an estimated 25,000 formed a queue stretching 1½ -2 miles long. In reality it stretched a lot further. Many Rangers fans had travelled to London for the ticket sale arriving on Saturday. Some stayed on in London, others went home to return to London for the match.
In the evening, Rangers flew into London Airport from Renfrew and upon arrival were met by a delegation from Spurs including Bill Nicholson who exchanged pleasantries with his counterpart.
The press were not takers, The photographers took their ‘free’ shots and then walked out, claiming to have never heard of such a thing as a syndicate. In fairness, I’m sure they had but Rangers had already compounded matters by not making time to sign autographs for waiting fans at the ground entrance.
However in fairness to Rangers, they almost immediately realised their error of judgement with the press the moment the photographers walked out. Scot Symon in a bid to make amends appeared after training just before midday to issue an apology. He hoped that, “the media would understand the positions.” Furthermore he even promised to field some questions which for the Rangers boss was one stop short of asking for his blood.
From daybreak onwards on this dry sunny Autumnal morning, Rangers fans arrived en masse to London by any available mode of transport. They came on service trains and football specials, cars, coaches, vans and even by aeroplane. The bulk of the support congregating at and around Euston station where it quickly became clear that despite an official allocation of 3,000 tickets, many more fans would be travelling. Bill Brown of the Evening Times was most impressed, “It sounded to these rather deafened ears that there were 30,000 Rangers fans around Euston this morning.” Others estimated lower amounts, but quoted a figure of at least 10,000 fans. At their Euston rendezvous they sported hats,banners, scarves, flags and enjoyed ‘bottled’ beverages. I rather liked the woollen sweaters worn by a few fans which depicted the outline of Rangers players.
According to The Scotsman, the London touts would have done well to watch their Scottish counterparts who had travelled south. They had concluded it was not a sellers’ market and sold their stock earlier in the day at cheaper prices than their London counterparts.
Except for local derbies, travelling support was generally limited at this stage in history although those who queued for tickets might have correctly anticipated a massive travelling contingent. Not only was it massive, it was of course vocal and in terms of colour unlike anything they had ever seen.
Like at Highbury in 1960 the Rangers fans were allowed to parade their colours around the cinder playing track before the game. There were even more flags and banners in red white and blue. There were also lions rampant and saltires. Most popular with the London fans and indeed with the travelling support were the many giant Union Jacks. There was also accompanying music with pipes and flutes, this was something special for the London crowd and they cheered the procession. Spurs fans also had their party piece to join the parade with their 3 fans nicknamed the ‘White Hart Lane Angels’ who turned up to matches wearing just white shrouds.
Such a special atmosphere was surely deserving of a special game.
5 mins GOAL 1-0 SPURS : Spurs have a cluster of 3 players including their giant centre half, Maurice Norman on the goal area and one other lurking close to goal. There are a further 2 behind either side of the penalty spot. Rangers have 4 players in the goal area and a further 2 men on the goal line, joining Ritchie. Jimmy Greaves takes an in swinging corner on the right. The 4 Rangers seem most concerned with Norman but the unchallenged John White leaps high to score.
9 mins GOAL 1-1 : Rangers quickly respond with an equaliser. A mix up between Baker and Blanchflower on the halfway line, ends with the ball at the feet of the unmarked Wilson. He sprints away and passes to Brand. With Norman converging on him, Brand shoots low and powerfully and Bill Brown blocks. The ball breaks to Wilson to net in the rebound but the ever alert Henderson speedily nips in front of his teammate to kick low and powerfully home from 3 yards out. Such is his momentum that Henderson is tangled in the netting along with the ball. Eventually untangled, he celebrates with his partner Wilson.
The German referee surprises the crowd with some strange decisions.
Now the momentum shifts to Rangers. They pepper the Spurs goal and it looks only a matter of time before they level the score. Jim Baxter in particular is in the thick of the action but Spurs are still a danger with White displaying his array of short and long passing skills.
37 mins : GOAL 3-1 : Danny Blanchflower takes a free kick. The ball is only weakly cleared and collected by Jimmy Greaves, he passes to Les Allen who bravely lunges at the ball, despite the close attentions of the Rangers defence, to loop his header over the advancing, Ritchie.
Ritchie is forced into further action and makes a series of top drawer saves from Medwin and White.Spurs are now in the ascendancy.
44 mins: GOAL 4-1 : Mackay plays in Les Allen with a clear run at goal. He cuts inside and shoots low, hard and on target. Both Ritchie and Bobby Shearer make desperate lunges but the shot bisects them both. The ball may have taken a feint deflection off Bobby Shearer but it wasgoalbound anyway.
45 mins : GOAL 4-2 : Straight from the restart Willie Henderson runs away with ball on the right hand side. He rides 2 strong challenges to cross perfectly to Jimmy Millar on the left.Millar who has lost his marker powerfully guides the ball home from 10 yards out.
Bill Holden of the Daily Mirror felt that Spurs were fortunate to have a 3 goal advantage but that the tie was not beyond Rangers. He nominated Jimmy Greaves as Man of the Match for Spurs and Willie Henderson for Rangers.
John Rafferty of the Scotsman also enjoyed himself. “This was to be the game of games and indeed it was. It was a monumental contest, a sporting one, a brilliant spectacle of attacking football, but unfortunately for Scotland mostly from Spurs.” Unlike his English colleagues, he considered the 3 goal deficit too big to pull back in the 2nd leg.
He noted not just Spurs effectiveness from corners but how, “They (Rangers) fell to the oldest trick in the book – the high cross ball. Against it Ritchie and McKinnon were unsure and every ball swirling high into goal was potential trouble. Yet paradoxically the Rangers defence was otherwise wonderful.” Rafferty was impressed with how Shearer and Caldow defended against the pace and skill in the Spurs attack and was impressed with Davis’ non stop work and running. But felt that the Rangers forwards Brand and McMillan were not good enough to exploit Spurs’ biggest weakness their defence. He believed that Henderson was inexperienced at this level and that only Millar was able to menace Spurs.
However the Selection Panel comprised of various Scottish Club Chairmen could not even manage this easy answer. Mackay was equally effective in either wing half position and so you could play both and what a blend. Mackay the buccaneering all round footballer with tremendous leadership qualities. Baxter, less reliable but peerlessly capable of controlling a game against anyone, his self confidence a massive boost to colleagues. Interestingly, they formed a close friendship together on trips with the Scotland team, both players seemingly held each other in the highest regard and they enjoyed each other’s company which would have augured well for a midfield partnership.
The 1962 Scotland manager, former Ibrox legend Ian McColl must have been in despair at not being able to pick his team but nevertheless judged by the results of a team selected by rank amateurs.
Standards & Culture: Bill Nicholson made no bones about what was expected from anyone joining Spurs. “Any player coming to Spurs whether he’s a big signing or just a ground staff boy must be dedicated to the game and to the club. He must never be satisfied with his last performance, and he must hate losing.” Any player who fell short of these standards was aware that he would not have a career with Spurs and could expect to be moved on. He did not need to rant and rave or make long speeches, it was clear where everybody stood.
Club Manager : Nicholson’s focus was not just on the first team but extended to the youngsters with the club. He would tailor skills sessions for them and ensured that the training they received was as good as the first’s. He would even allow the youngsters to play practice matches with the first team so they could gain experience and took a very keen interest in their development. Of course this also enabled players progressing through the club to be able to settle quickly with the first team.
Man Management : He was one of the first managers to treat his players like adults and not to impose any childish restrictions. In return he expected them to behave like adults and give complete dedication to Spurs. He commanded respect from his players because of the way he ran the club. There was also respect for his achievements and his honest approach which in turn created discipline.
Love of the Game : He was at the ground 7 days a week from early morning until late at night. When he was not at the Ground it was almost always because he was on Spurs business, nobody at the club worked harder. He also had a clear vision of how he wanted football played and Spurs became the ‘neutrals’ favourite team.
Meticulous : Nicholson noted every last detail not just on Spurs opponents but assessed and correlated everything from food to temperature to pitch conditions to hotels used.
Tracksuit Manager : One of the new breed of ‘tracksuit’ managers preferring to control his players from the middle of the training pitch instead of from behind a desk. It was actually what he enjoyed most. A key reason for him becoming Spurs manager was that he feared losing his coaching role if someone else took charge.
Training Methods : At this stage he was one of the most sophisticated coaches in Europe.In addition to his famous skills sessions where players would repeatedly work on scenarios they would face in games. There were Cheshunt practice games where players would switch to their opposite position, centre halves would play as centre forwards to get an idea of a centre forward’s mindset. Pitches were split into 3 with players not allowed to enter certain areas. Plus hours were spent perfecting free kick and throw in routines, not just executing them but defending against them. Not that it was all about beautiful football, there were character building 5-a-side games played inside the tiny indoor ball courts at White Hart Lane. Players were expected to give everything in a confined area and the frequently painful collisions and fierce arguments were exactly what the manager wanted to see.
Blue Collar : Before the double winning season he worked with his players during a 2 hour pre-season downpour which would have had practically any other manager running back to the sanctuary of a dry comfortable office. There was nothing at all flash about him, he was always immaculately turned out whether in his training kit or matchday suit but it was always sober in style. Similarly despite the array of skill in the Spurs team, there was never any showboating or over elaboration, yes they would use the highest skills but it was all channelled into the end product, scoring a goal to help win the match. Despite his successful managerial career Nicholson still lived in Tottenham and in the same house where he had lived since being a player.
Buying and Selling : Bill Nicholson was not a ‘wheeler dealer’ in the sense that he would buy players to sell on at a profit. His brief was to create an excellent team and to give credit to his board, he was given whatever funds were needed. From 1958, he was very seldom wrong in any of acquisitions and had the courage of his convictions to break transfer records when he felt a player was good enough. He was that good at judging a player that transfer negotiations were conducted in the utmost secrecy as rival managers trusted his judgemen better than their own and would try to ‘gazump’ him.
Team Spirit : He was uncannily adept at putting together a set of genuinely ‘good lads’ who enjoyed each others friendship off the park and this in turn knitted them into a tight unit. Furthermore no factions of any kind were tolerated in the dressing room.The team always made any newcomer welcome and were modest down to earth men,there were no prima donna’s. Bill Nicholson was aware that the players socialised after games and quietly encouraged it.
Public Relations : Like Scot Symon, he was not really given to PR and soundbites and did not make any particular attempts to befriend the media. Though unlike Symon, he would try to be co-operative and answer their questions, the idea being that if you gave them something they would then have to go away to prepare it for their newspapers.
Nicholson also knew of what he was not quite so good at and his choice of assistant, Harry Evans complemented his weakness. The cheerful Evans dealt more on the administrative side of the job and was more approachable to players if they needed help or advice. Similarly as you will later read, captain Danny Blanchflower had a special role both at Cheshunt and on the pitch. Nicholson also realised that whilst he understood football as well as anyone he was not an expert in the field of fitness and sport science. In Summer 1960 he first employed P.E expert Bill Watson from Chelmsford to get the players to optimal fitness and with a somewhat devastating effect.
Everyone has a weakness, according to ex players, Nicholson’s was to unnecessarily build up the opposition. However at this stage it was not too much of a problem. A few would sometimes ask jokingly after a big win, ‘That brilliant player you told me to watch out for, was he playing today?’ Similarly rarely handing out praise after a game was not a problem for established players who understood his management style, knew the game and their ability but it could be a problem for a youngster keen to impress and uncertain of his performance.
Rangers went on to complete a domestic double. They ran away with the League Championship ahead of runners up Kilmarnock (managed by Willie Waddell) and won the Scottish Cup in a replay against Celtic, the 2 matches at Hampden watched a staggering 249,916 fans. | 2019-04-22T14:12:40Z | http://rangersinlondon.co.uk/1962.html |
Nettsted Bonus: ENGLISH VERSION For the artist, capitalism is a difficult enemy: we participate, selling our creations. Artistic capitalism-critique has even been used to enforce a new spirit of capitalism. What to do? Press criminal charges against ourselves? Exhibit our self-exploitation? Sell the revolution?!
Many of us performance artists exhibit our own behavior in order to criticize capitalist society. Capitalism is the worldwide dominating economical system; it is almost impossible to survive outside this order. In other words, most of us are, partly, products of capitalism. That means, there are good artistic reasons to broach the issue of oneself, when criticizing capitalist society. Artists are not only products or even victims of capitalism. We also play a part in establishing and renewing it.
In his 2007 lecture performance No Money, No Love, German choreographer and dancer Jochen Roller does a cost-profit-calculation. He analyzes what he earns - or perhaps rather loses - making his dance-performances. Taking rehearsals, preparation and the loss of better paid working hours into account, the result is: he has to pay 60 euros per minute for his self-produced dance piece Being Christina Aguilera. He then ironically calculates a «self-exploitation factor» and dances one minute of the Aguilera-performance he just analyzed economically. One can say, he performs his self-exploitation. And thus makes the audience responsible. Through their very presence the viewers, who have paid ordinary tickets, get the chance to understand what the prices of these tickets imply for the artist in a neo-liberal society with little support for the arts. The performer-audience-relationship he stages, is exemplary for the employee-costumer-relationship in the service sector. Maybe it’s not an incident that one talks about the employee’s «sales performance»? It’s characteristic of both the service sector and the performing arts to sell feelings, thoughts and body movements. Often underpriced. As the case is, for instance, for the staff in many hotels. Or for Roller, being Christina Aguilera. By exhibiting this sale-situation, Roller does not only problematize the fact of being underpaid. He also criticizes the conditions of being implicated, through body, mind and emotions, in commercial structures, transforming oneself into a commodity.
But artists do not only participate in capitalism by exploiting themselves. Paradoxically, even while criticizing it, we can enforce it. And in some cases precisely then. The French sociologists Eve Chiapello and Luc Boltanski were one of the first theorists exploring these dilemmas, in their 1999 book The New Spirit of Capitalism. In the 1970’s artists criticized capitalism for producing inauthenticity, and this very critique helped capitalism to create a market for «authentic» commodities, for instance a trip to untouched nature. Artists also provided a model for how to live a productive life in today’s project-based capitalism: our flexible, creative, off-the-record lifestyle has become a paradigm for work in post-Fordist capitalism, exchanging security with autonomy or rather, instability. The disappearance of the division between work and life that is so characteristic of this type of capitalism, is in an emphasized way characteristic of artistic work. Many artists identify themselves with their work to such a degree that it is exercised as if it wasn’t even work at all. We’re sacrificing our spare time. This model is of course attractive for capitalism, where the obsession of creating maximal profit dominates. In the 2015 book The Artist at Work, German-Slovenian philosopher and performance theorist Bojana Kunst claims that «the proximity of art and capitalism» makes it very difficult for the artist to be political and thus to criticize the economic system. The idea that one cannot condemn what oneself is participating in, seems to be the premise for such a skepticism.
Jochen Roller in No Money, No Love.
Having empowered capitalism and even delivered a working model for it, we can not only talk about ‘the others’ when criticizing it. We have to talk about our own role. Perhaps this is also an answer to Bojana Kunst’s pessimism: being self-critical could re-enable artists to formulate a capitalism criticism, even if we don’t stand outside the criticized structures. From the very origin of the lecture-performance-genre this self-critical approach has been crucial. In his pioneer work, Product of Circumstances, Xavier Le Roy mentions how he, paradoxically, lost his critical integrity as soon as he had his first (commercial) success with critical art. A catch 22 that he exhibits in his lecture performance, exemplifying the difficult situation of artistic capitalism criticism. Shortly after, Le Roy is dancing like a robot. I interpret this as an artistic representation of being torn between personal freedom (of dancing one’s own choreography) and the alienating demands (of a capitalist society-machine).
Are there performance artists who suggest concrete ways of changing – or even ending – the capitalist society?
German designer, theorist and artist Friedrich von Borries has a project called RLF. The acronym stands for «trichtiges Leben im Falschen» («right life in the wrong one»). What Adorno rejects is here literally affirmed. Is von Borries the artist who can tell us how to change the wrong society from within? In 2013, at the festival re-publica in Berlin, von Borries tried to convince the audience to become the «shareholders of the revolution». During his lecture performance he showed a video of the German social psychologist Harald Welzer criticizing Adorno’s statement. Welzer disapproves of intellectuals who have chosen «there is no right life in the wrong one» as their life-motto, or maybe as a bad excuse. According to him they understand the wrongness of society, but claim that change only is possible on a structural, not on an individual level. A vicious circle, resulting in comfortable resignation, that allows individuals to enjoy the wrong life. The social psychologist suggests rather to live a «more right» life in the wrong one, changing the things one actually can. Von Borries uses Welzer’s conclusion as his starting point. But what is the strategy of the RLF-project? And does it really fulfill the promise of living a «more right» life in the wrong one, changing the capitalist society from within?
The main idea is as surprising as it is paradoxical. Being a commercial designer von Borries, like the advertising industry as a whole, is familiar with producing new desires in his costumers, since new desires can be satisfied by new commodities. In this project, however, von Borries wants to create a revolutionary desire, i.e. nothing less than the desire to end capitalist society. And if one has enough money, one can even buy this new object of desire; the anti-capitalistic revolution, in the form of shares. Or in the form of physical objects that concretely and literally hint to this anti-capitalist revolution to come. He promotes expensive designer furniture, items that have an inherent, intended value-losing factor. For instance, a table covered with expensive gold foil that isn’t sealed. After a while in use in the rich person’s house, the gold foil will inevitably fall off and the underlying message literally reveals itself: «don’t be afraid».
Von Borries’ dream customer knows about this loss of value, but buys the object nevertheless. The artist hopes to sell revolutionary consciousness and prepare the hegemonic, wealthy segment of society, who actually can afford these objects, for a society without capital accumulation. He doesn’t only address the economic hegemony, but also the intellectual, transforming revolutionary consciousness in itself into a currency. With the best and most liked anti-capitalist arguments in an auction race on RLF’s social media debate forums, one can buy a trendy, value-losing RLF-sport shoe.
Half a year later von Borries is holding another lecture performance. Here he gives the audience important hints and updates. He still tries to sell the revolution. But he reveals another meaning of the acronym RLF: «real life fiction.» Obviously, the project is partly fiction. The many fantastic stories he tells about the RLF-marketing also point in that direction. In addition, von Borries informs us about the origin of the sentence «don’t be afraid», the aforementioned anti-capitalist message that often shows up in the revolutionary objects he’s selling. It’s inspired by the former mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani. Following the terror attacks 9/11, Giuliani proclaimed to New Yorkers: «Show you’re not afraid. Go shopping.» Is it not the revolution, but rather the joy of shopping, that is the final (self-ironic) goal in von Borries’ project? In his second lecture performance, von Borries no longer claims that the intention of RLF is to live a «more right» life in the wrong one. His project, that at first glance seemed to propose an alternative to Adorno’s statement, is maybe just affirming it, he now says. This information sheds a new light on RLF: suddenly the project seems rather to be a comment, a parody of the capitalist society. It no longer seems to be von Borries’ intention to end capitalism by selling the revolution.
I’m not categorically denying the possibility of realizing von Borries’ paradoxical anti-capitalist revolution. If the strategy turns out to function one day, other interpretations have to be made, taking the explicit goal of the project seriously instead of perceiving it ironically. In the meantime, one can ask, if the fact that value, for instance gold, is added to the RLF-products just to be destroyed, has revolutionary potential at all. Or if it is rather the ultimate expression of late capitalist decadence and cynicism? Interpreting the project as a satirical image of the new spirit of capitalism, as I do at second glance, RLF can be said to be an artistic way of expressing a thesis concerning capitalist criticism. Namely, Chiapello and Boltanski’s thesis that capitalism can use criticism to develop even more commodities, since it utters what people, potential customers, crave for. For instance, as mentioned earlier, “authentic” commodities. The most extreme consequence of this thought would be that capitalism can sell even the most anti-capitalist revolution.
This interpretation doesn’t dismiss the project of von Borries. On the contrary: it shows that it is an original comment on existing perverse capitalist strategies. But despite the goal he claims to have, von Borries can’t give a positive suggestion of how to change - or even end - capitalism. Just like Roller and Le Roy he is exhibiting, and implicitly criticizing, the status quo of the wrong capitalist society he himself is involved in.
In an ongoing performance series that my partner Edy Poppy and I are creating, the initial point is one of a personal experience. Christmas Eve 2015 my family and I were in Rio de Janeiro on holiday. We went out in the evening and were assaulted and robbed by two armed men from a favela. We assume that the real reasons for the assault is poverty, caused by the unjust distribution of common global goods. And that the upper and middle classes are co-responsible for this unjust distribution. Being ourselves part of the middle class, Edy Poppy and I ended up turning the guilt-question on its head. In the first part of the series, The Criminal Complaint Performance, at Sørlandets Art Museum in Norway 9th of May 2018, we founded a law against structural violence. Then we made a calculation estimating the unhappiness the two assaulters and we have caused in each other’s lives. We also took into account the irony that both Edy Poppy and my careers have thrived thanks to the cultural capital gained by the assault. This article is one of many examples of that.
The estimated result of the calculation we did in this lecture performance was as follows. In the first place, i.e. before the assault, we had caused unhappiness in the lives of the two men from the favela, by supporting the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, watching it on TV. The mega event had negative effects for the very poor: favela houses were removed, social programs cancelled. Then, by assaulting us in 2015, they produced unhappiness in our lives. As a consequence, they were caught by the police and probably went to jail, whereas I began a well-paid PhD-program, wrote several articles and, together with Edy Poppy, started the aforementioned performance-series, The Personal Encounter with World Politics, on the background of the assault. In other words, we earned both cultural and economic capital, by ‘selling’ our trauma. The final result of the calculation made us estimate that we had produced more unhappiness in our assaulter’s lives than they in ours. We estimated that we ourselves had broken the law we just had founded and thus pressed charges against ourselves for having committed structural violence against the underclasses, represented by the two men.
Then we went on an investigation journey to Rio de Janeiro, trying to find proofs against ourselves. In a 2018 Interim Report Performance, 25th of August at Museu de Arte do Rio (MAR), 15th of September at Fjaler Theatre Festival, 28th of September at University of Agder and 23rd of November at Kristiansand Art Hall, we presented the results of our investigation. In this lecture performance we were able to verify some of our assessments, for instance the estimated connection between criminality and the 2014 World Cup. Other things were a bit different than we thought. We found out that one of the men hadn’t been imprisoned, since he was under-aged. We interpreted that positively: a minimum of civil rights also counts for the very poor. But the other man was jailed for two years, before being released on parole. He didn’t follow the procedures, and is now on the run. We nevertheless had the opportunity to go inside the prison where he was once held, seeing what he had seen. There were a myriad of proverbs on the walls. From the Bible, Buddha, African tribes. Among the proverbs by religious leading lights we also found a portrait and a quote by Steve Jobs: «Each dream you leave behind is a part of your future that will no longer exist.» One of the first things I got from my university when I started my PhD was a MacBook Pro. Once more I was seduced into supporting the spiritual leader of digitalized capitalism. The assault is central to my PhD. It isn’t absurd to say, our assaulter gave me a new MacBook Pro and I gave him a motto by Steve Jobs. Capitalism is distributing it’s dreams very equally but not the means to make them real. Big companies offer their dream images to the poor through commercials on TV, enormous banners hanging behind planes that also fly over the favelas, even if the poor have no chance of ever buying their products. That’s one of the reasons why the poor don’t only steal food but also, for instance, expensive items from Apple. With his stoic-career-gaze next to his “wise” words on the prison wall, Jobs must have produced a dream in our assaulter, without telling him how to afford what the dream promises. What other than eternal access to apple products can Steve Jobs’ face and «proverb» stand for, in the eyes of an underprivileged? By being part of Apple’s costumer gang, I supported the attempt to give our assaulter a dream but not the means to fulfill it.
Edy Poppy and I also criticize capitalism by exhibiting our own complicity with it. Firstly, by pointing at our own participation in globalized, capitalist violent structures. Secondly, by problematizing the paradoxical conditions of our own criticism. As privileged individuals, we can even turn an assault against ourselves into cultural and economic capital. With an artistic project, criticizing capitalism! It is not in itself wrong that we can transform an armed robbery against us into a performance-series. But if one compares this to the probable lack of such a possibility for the two men, for instance by getting access to a similar education and resources as I have had access to, absurd inequalities in globalized capitalism become visible.
Do Edy Poppy and I, inspired by Roller, Le Roy and von Borries, only use our own experiences in order to criticize the capitalist status quo? Or do we also offer concrete suggestions of how to change capitalism? In our project the law against structural violence points towards a better, less aggressive capitalist society. But one could criticize that a law in an art project has no significance, since it has no real consequences. The wish to suggest a modification of the existing capitalist reality, leads us to think about what those consequences might be. To focus on unjust structures should not lead to the rejection of individual guilt. Put it like this: If no one lives a right life, it will definitely not cease to be wrong. The law against structural violence should lead to mandatory analyses revealing who is actually profiting from the structures and who is suffering from them. In order not only to criticize capitalism but also to suggest a serious addendum, it might be appropriate to set a precedent and take the consequences in our lives of having founded a law, pressed criminal charges and found proofs against ourselves. How these consequences will manifest, will be staged in our next performance The Trial Against Ourselves. | 2019-04-20T15:25:31Z | http://shakespearetidsskrift.no/2019/02/artist-capitalisms-best-fiend |
After 1680 and for the next half century grain would be key to the politics of colonial New York. The Duke of York through his colonial governor, Colonel Thomas Dongan, gave out patents for large tracts specifically to encourage an active planting of the land and expansion of New York’s grain-based economy.
As in Old England, the farming was expected to be by tenants on homestead leaseholds with the crop yield paying the rent. The largest tracts, such as the 160,000 acres granted to Robert Livingston in 1686 on the side of the Hudson River opposite Saugerties, were elevated to Manors allowing the owners the stature and powers of a lord in England, supporting and profiting from their leaseholders. The underlying purpose and result was to establish a landed aristocracy as a home-grown governing class for the colony.
By 1683 there were enough landed “freeholders” for governor Dongan to assemble the first representative body in the colony’s history. These large landlords met and approved of Dongan’s division of the Duke’s possessions into ten “shires” or counties in New York and two dependencies in New Jersey; the original twelve counties. The counties were subdivided into towns and manors. The purpose was to create a regionally based justice system and an organizational base for local militias. This assembly also drafted a document called the “Charter of Libertyes” that was an early Constitution declaring their “Rights as Englishmen”.
This budding representative form of government was sharply curtailed and its Constitution disallowed when New York became a royal colony under James II in 1685. The power of the governor was also diminished as New York was made a part of the Dominion of New England. However, the concept of manors and counties and a provincial assembly of the wealthy power-base remained and the influence of the large landholders continued to grow politically.
Standing out in this political system dominated by family “lordships” is a great legacy to democracy; a representative body of landholders that was influential in the provincial assembly and continued in self government throughout the provincial period, the Revolution and into early New York State history. This was the Corporation of Kingston; the Kingston Commons; the oldest corporate charter in New York State; bearing a royal council seal of 1688.
All deeds in the present town of Saugerties originate from the Meals and Hayes patent, the Kingston patent and from several patents that were in Albany County until this part of Saugerties was annexed to Ulster County through the claims of the Corporation of Kingston. These are all crown patents under King James II and Queen Anne granted after 1685 when New York was a royal colony.
Among the earliest of the licenses for patents granted in the tenure of Thomas Dongan as Governor were those for the northward expansion of the Esopus into the “Sagiers”. These followed the creation and surveying of the counties in 1683, and were surveyed in 1686. Philip Wells surveyed the first for the Kingston patent. Robert Fullerton surveyed for the Meals and Hayes patent and the patent that bears his name.
The four tracts of the Meals and Hayes survey were granted by Dongan as a patent on May 31st, 1687. This is the earliest private ownership of land in the town of Saugerties.
The Kingston patent was to have a more complex form of grant. The planters and millers of the Dutch Settlement “precinct” of Kingston petitioned Governor Dongan in 1686 to have these lands and all the land north to the Albany county line made into a single patent along the lines of the one granted by Governor Andros to the New Paltz “Duzine” (12 founding settlers) in 1677. Instead Dongan did a grant structure that was unprecedented for the time. All of the Andros Treaty lands along with those south of the Rondout to the New paltz patent and east of the town of Hurley were consolidated into one large patent putting it under the estate and governance of “one body corporate and politique to be called by the name of the Trustees of the Freeholders and Commonality of the Town of Kingston.” The patent was granted May 19, 1687 and the establishment of the Corporation of Kingston was ratified by council May 17, 1688.
The royal charter for the Corporation of Kingston called for the election of twelve Trustees each year on the first Tuesday in March. These Trustees thus became responsible for all of the governmental functions of the now greatly expanded town of Kingston. This made Kingston the first of only a dozen-odd communities ever incorporated as self-governing entities in English America.
Two of the first “freeholds” deeded out of the land of the Corporation of Kingston were to the 1686 Philip Wells surveys of 86 acres for Peter Winne and 87 acres for William deMeyer, both in the Plattekill/Mount Marion part of the present town of Saugerties. The deMeyer grant was later expanded further by an 800 acre grant in 1688.
Confirmation deeds to the many Dutch Settlement lands watered by the Plattekill in the area of Saugerties were also given. A 1686 Philip Wells survey of 186 ¾ acres north of the land of William Legg confirmed the long occupied Innship of Jan Burhans and Jan Oosterhout. Most of the Dutch Settlement lands were occupied by the founding and first-to-serve Trustees of the Corporation: Dirick Shepmous, William deMeyer, Jacob Ruttsen, Wessel TenBrooge, Barrett Aertze, Tunis Jacobsen, Benjamin Provoost, William Legg, Jacob Aertsen, Mattyse Mattise, William Haines and John William Hooghteen.
The land north of these Dutch Settlement deeds is known as the “Churchland”. The Dutch Reformed Church had always been, since a strict directive by Peter Stuyvasant in 1664, responsible for orphans and the poor. This was also a function of the Corporation’s charter and so the solution was to use the crop yield of the Churchland to support the church. Thus the central valley or “great meadow” of Saugerties was early cleared and planted as a common activity of the “Commonality of Kingston” and became the first lands to be worked as a “common”.
Another responsibility of the Corporation was the maintenance of roads and bridges. The relationship of the earliest deeds to the roadbed of the “public road to Albany” (the Burhans/Oosterhout and the deMeyer grants as examples) essentially placed this maintenance responsibility on individuals as an exchange for ownership.
George Meals and Richard Hayes received patents for four tracts of land totaling 1194 3/4 acres. One of these was for 441 3/4 acres that encompassed the mouth of the Esopus Creek at the present village of Saugerties. The other three were from one to three miles north and west of this area.
On November 22, 1687 the first deeds dividing land in the future town of Saugerties were written. On that date George Meals and Richard Hayes split their joint ownership and a mortgage and deed was given to John Wood from Richard Hayes for all the land south of the Esopus Creek. From this mortgage and deed we have documentary evidence of who the first inhabitants in the present town of Saugerties were. Documents state that John and Hannah Wood were already settled on land and that a house, herd pens, gardens, orchards and conveyances to a sawmill site were there and this indicates the establishment of a well-settled family within the bounds of the present Village of Saugerties prior to 1687.
How much earlier they had settled and whether there were others homesteading in the same area cannot be known for sure. Further documentary evidence of a wagon road crossing the creek at this homestead would suggest that there may have been yet more settlers on undeeded land that formed a community around the falls of the Esopus well before the end of the seventeenth century.
It is possible that George Meals and Richard Hayes laid out the claims for their patents intending to create a self sustaining Innship at the mouth of the Esopus like that at the Dutch Settlement. Their four grants supplied the four needs of an early settlement.
The large 441 3/4-acre Esopus basin grant was a port on tide water, a high plateau for the placement of a village and numerous mill sites on the creek. This tract included in it the most important landmark of the region, the mouth of the Sawyerkill that marked the bounds of Ulster and Albany Counties. Close to this is their 201-acre grant at the present location of the high school; ideal grazing land watered by the Sawyerkill which ran diagonally down its length.
Their 300-acre grant to the north that extends into the present Greene County was mostly a marsh meadow and likely selected because it was believed to include the important source of the Sawyerkill: the "Great Fountain".
Finally, their 252 acre grant to the west of the village that is centered at the Beaverkill Creek was, next to their grant at the Sawyerkill, the second best-watered land in Saugerties. But more importantly, this “Beaverkill tract” also included a stretch of the path to Catskill where it intersected paths to the river and mountains making it an ideal location for trade.
George Meals was the father-in-law of Richard Hayes. It is possible that they intended to settle their families in Saugerties and create a landholding dynasty. They possibly planned to build their community around John Wood's already established and improved homestead and other homesteads already in the area using these to attract more homesteaders and businesses to their water and port resources. The policy of landowners of the day was to lease and not sell land, profiting from the success of settlement.
This plan, however, never had the chance to be developed. By 1694 both George Meals and Richard Hayes are deceased. In 1692 Goodwith White, widow to Richard Hayes, signs the satisfaction of the mortgage of John Wood. Sarah Meals is represented as the widow of George Meals in another deed to John Wood in 1694. By 1700 John Wood’s signature can be found on deeds as a Trustee of the Corporation of Kingston.
It is not until 1709 that any deeds are again made from the Meals and Hayes patent. At this time John Hayes, grandson of George Meals and son of Richard Hayes is representing himself as the sole heir to the land of Richard Hayes and to one quarter of the remainder of the patent tracts. In 1712 John Hayes transfers the entire north section of the 441 3/4-acre tract at the mouth of the Esopus Creek to John Perse (Persen) in exchange for "a house Barne & Lott of Ground... & also the sum of 30 Pounds". In 1719 the sole remaining tract held by the original heirs, a one-half share of the Beaverkill tract, is sold to Evert Wynkoop.
In 1686 the surveyor of the Meals and Hayes patent, Robert Fullerton, also laid out a 797 ½ acre tract called the Wonton Island tract. This was not confirmed as a patent until 1692. The times between 1686 and 1692 were chaotic as king James II was deposed, William and Mary were placed on the throne and Jacob Leisler was executed.
Leisler became acting governor in the period of uncertainty as fear spread that the French were planning an invasion on behalf of James II supported by the colonial governor Andros. The wealthy land holders and traders accused Leisler of treason as an unappointed governor and had him executed. He was afterward exonerated by the Crown.
These events have a connection to Saugerties through the Fullerton patent and Jacob Leisler’s father-in-law, Govert Lookermanns. Lookermanns was the wealthiest Dutchman in New York City at the time the British arrived in 1664. He was linked in politics and business to Peter Stuyvasant and later to every English governor. When he died his stepdaughter was his sole heir and she was married to Jacob Leisler. Through her mother she was related to the wealthy and influential Bayards and Van Cortlandts and they sued to have the Lookermanns wealth come to them. It is the loss of this suit that is the real reason for Leisler’s execution.
Leisler’s conviction for treason caused the confiscation of all of his property. The Wonton Island patent and a larger tract above the Meals and Hayes Great Vly tract, both carrying initial claim dates of July 29th, 1686, are thought to have been surveyed originally to make patent claim for lands that Govert Lookermanns had purchased many years before from the Katskill Indians.
When Leisler was exonerated in 1692 the large patent above the Great Vly was granted in 1695 but the granting of the Wonton Island patent under the surveyor’s name at the same date effectively meant this remained property of the Crown.
In 1709 Queen Anne, with royal ties to the German Palatinate, or Rhineland Princes, received thousands of refugees into England fleeing the invasion of their land and persecution by France. She then contracted the colonial governor Robert Hunter to settle all of the Palatinate on “Her Majesty’s land” and to purchase additional land suitable for the 2000 immigrants to utilize in working off their passage manufacturing tar from pine trees for naval stores. The land she provided was the Fullerton patent (West Camp) and the land purchased was 6,000 acres from Robert R. Livingston (East Camp) directly opposite on the Hudson River.
The Palatines were settled in the winter of 1710/11 but the trees were unsuitable for making naval stores and the Camps had disbanded by 1712. Many of the immigrants moved to the Schoherie Valley that year. Those that remained on the east side of the river settled into Beekman lands around Rhinebeck or remained in the area of Germantown. Those on the Saugerties side of the river stayed at West Camp for a time but began to settle on lands to the west and into Catskill and Kingston.
The Palatines left West Camp because the title to the Wonton Island patent; the land that West Camp was on; was attached by the Colonial Governor, Governor Hunter, after he lost his large investment in his tar manufacturing venture. It is likely the Palatines continued to live at West Camp as their church was there and they already had built houses there. Baptisms are recorded in West Camp up until 1719. But their sights were set across the Sawyerkill to establish their own farms. They could not purchase land at West Camp and were told that on Kingston land they could sign ten-year leases for as little as two fat hens per year and purchase their farmsteads when they were more prosperous.
There was a political motive for the Corporation of Kingston to attract these Palatines and offer them deeds. They provided an instant population boom in the lands just outside of the recognized north bounds of the Corporation of Kingston into Albany County. In these early years of Colonial government a seat on the Provincial Assembly was based on population and this made the surrounding manors competitive for attracting settlers. The owners of the manors were all seeking to take advantage of the opportunity presented by the Palatines to offer leases on their lands and thus increase their influence on Provincial policy.
Kingston countered the potential loss of its dominant position in the Provincial Assembly by claiming the lands that the Palatines had begun to settle to its north. The Trustees declared that the northern boundary of Kingston and of Ulster County was a line from the source of the Sawyerkill, not the mouth. This gave them a claim to all the land west of the Sawyerkill, doubling the amount they had in Saugerties with the originally recognized County border.
Prior to this expansion the official count for Assembly representation in 1728 put 232 Palatines residing in West Camp and 50 on Kingston land. The majority of these Palatines may have called West Camp home but they were farming and seasonably inhabiting the whole of the lands west of the Sawyerkill by this time. With the total population of Ulster County, from the Hudson all the way to Pennsylvania, as 1600, including infants and slaves, joining these West Camp numbers into Ulster County and the Corporation of Kingston was politically significant.
The only patents to Palatines in Saugerties were the 1722 Godfried DeWoolfen patent on the present Stroomzeit lands, described as lying in Albany County and the Dedrick Marterstock patent that uses the Sawyerkill as its west boundary which made it also in Albany County.
The Trustees of the Corporation of Kingston, from the earliest deed transaction, used their stewardship over the land to expand and solidify their community. The vast majority of the Kingston Patent was maintained by them as a true commons; as a source of the everyday necessities of the "Freeholders and Commonality of the Town of Kingston".
The language used in creating the Corporation of Kingston had a special meaning in English law. Being a “freeholder” was distinct from being a freeman or Commoner. A commoner was any person who enroled to vote as resident of the Corporation by paying a modest fee and swearing an oath of loyalty. The higher rank of freeholder was by provincial statute reserved for a person owning real property valued at 40 pounds in the location where they voted. The important distinction is that through simple residence either freeholders or commoners had the right to vote in the Corporation of Kingston and by this right the “Rights and Privileges of Englishmen” were being recognized. This was rare in English America.
All other persons living in or visiting the Corporation were termed “strangers”. The Trustees protected the rights of the freeholders and commonality to their common property by regulating the "strangers" that could enter the commons. As early as 1689 the captains of vessels that brought strangers to the Kingston Patent lands could be fined if they did not register their passengers with the Trustees.
In a regulation of 1721 the Trustees stated that "no stranger shall set up trade or occupation in the Corporation" without a payment of 3 pounds for the "freedom". This, in essence, was setting the fee for becoming a member of the Corporation. There was a fee of 5 pounds placed by the trustees on the transporting of "wood, brush, stone, lime, tar or charcoal" from the Commons by those who did not have this “freedom” and this is partly how the Trustees maintained their treasury.
The Corporation of Kingston common lands were open, unrestricted, to all residents. The only land that was sold was specifically and obviously that which could be used to sustain a homestead or a plantation. The hillsides and other uncultivable areas adjacent to lands that were sold did not have to be owned. The owner of a farmstead already had the right to use them as a part of the Commons. Since everyone else that was a freeholder or commoner also had this right, the deeds from the Trustees that described private property reserved access to the common resources across the deeded lands: early forms of public easements.
The early deeds in the Saugerties Region described the best lands for farming and planting. The entire logic of ownership of private property within the Commons was that a homesteader had the right to own the land that he could improve to make it productive. The improvement of land encouraged settlement in the countryside and this was promoted openly by the Trustees. The wild lands that could not be improved supplied such necessities as firewood, timber, building stone and grazing for sheep, pigs and cattle and this not only benefitted the homesteaders but also the village dwellers who often owned animals and paid herders to take them to the commons.
The Trustees also encouraged settlement through social and economic policies. They negotiated prices for lands on a sliding scale based on ability to pay. They did the same for the interest on loans that they made from the considerable treasury that they accumulated from these sales. When they made a "loan" to a church it was more of a grant. A wealthy person seeking a loan paid 8 percent while a poor person paid six, and often five percent. There was a written policy that the wealthy were not to be given the advantage of borrowing at low interest just so they could profit from re-circulating the money at a higher interest.
The Trustees were the bankers, constables and justices of the community. These positions represented the same structure that was found in the Manor Systems that surrounded them. The Livingston, Cortland, Rensselaer, Beekman and other families that held the patents on all sides of the Kingston Patent held the same authority over the settlers on their lands as the Trustees. However, the difference in the systems is that the granting of the Kingston Patent established the annual election, by the freeholders, of their "lords". These Trustees, all twelve of them, were up for re-election every year. The only electoral advantage any one had over another was in having multiple distinct Freeholds allowing more than one vote. Otherwise, the position was based on merit and community standing.
We can assume that the actions of the Trustees and the system that was established in the Kingston Commons represented the will of the majority of the people of New York at the time. Ulster County was to become rapidly the most populace and broadly settled county in the Hudson Valley with the Corporation of Kingston as its center of population. The advantage of living in the Commons and the sense of freedom and community that this system represented instilled in its settlers the expectations that would lead to demands for a fuller system of like liberty and rights throughout the rest of the Hudson Valley and beyond.
A kind of character and personality of the early settlers in the Saugerties Region had begun to surface with the first generation of Palatines born in the Kingston Commons. This was based on the two dominant influences in their lives; the liberality of settlement rights in the Commons and the important position of the Church as the center of Kingston’s Dutch culture.
The Dutch maintained their strong sense of individualism by centering their society around the Reformed Church. This influenced all of the traditions and culture of the Hudson Valley well after the change to English rule in 1664. Though few native Dutch, compared to the number of English that had settled New England, actually immigrated to America, the effect the Reformed Church had on the culture made Dutch influence in New York as strong as Puritan influence was in most of New England.
The majority of the earliest population of Saugerties was Palatine German. When this immigration arrived in 1710 it was under the influence of two churchmen. Joshua Kocherthal was Lutheran and built the church at West Camp. John Frederick Hager was Dutch Reformed but had taken orders in England to form an Anglican Church at the colony. He did so at East Camp but preached Reformed at West Camp. Until 1721, after Kocherthal had died and Hager had moved to Schoharie, all the Palatines worshiped at West Camp as Lutherans and refused to conform to the Anglican rights. During this early period there was little interest paid to the Palatines by the Dutch Reformed hierarchy of Kingston.
Prior to 1719 the Governor had for many years tried to bring the Dutch of Kingston under the Church of England by assigning Anglican pastors. None found acceptance. In 1719 the Dutch Reformed Church of Kingston gained a charter from the Crown similar to that of the Reformed Church in New York. This sanctioned its authority within the colony permitting its Dominie to take their authority from Amsterdam. The Dominie that had successfully gained this charter was Petrus Vas. He was ordained by the Classis of Amsterdam, became pastor in Kingston in 1710 and remained there until he died at the age of 96 in 1752. All services were thenceforth by this charter preached in Dutch.
In 1727 there was a problem created when a Reformed church was organized in East Camp by a minister that had not been ordained in Holland and preached in German. After having two successive ministers at East Camp that insisted on preaching the Anglican religion in English, the Palatines on the east side of the Hudson had congregated around this new preacher who brought to them a recognizable service. They were attached to his ministry and refused to accept an Amsterdam-ordained minister when one was sent to them.
This Amsterdam-ordained minister, George Mancius, arrived from Holland in 1730. Even Though he was German, he was not accepted at East Camp. He went to West camp where he found the church there abandoned and the Palatines congregating, without a minister, on the Kaatsbaan, two miles to the west. They had already begun to break off their association with their earlier homes in the West Camp villages and were meeting at the Kaatsbaan with others settled on their farmsteads on Commons lands in Saugerties, Hardenbergh lands in the Woodstock valley and on the Beekman lands as far away as Catskill.
Mancius began his preaching at Kaatsbaan in the autumn of 1730 but only after associating himself with the Dutch Reformed Church in Kingston. It is in this association that the first signs of the Church's method of social control surfaces. Mancius was given two years to develop fluid Dutch for preaching his sermon. Though he was German and he was to also be an assistant in the Kingston church, he was not to preach separate languages to the two congregations. The de facto official language of the Commons seems to have become Dutch by order of the charter of Petrus Vas.
In this period, except for some influential holdouts (Beekman deeds were in Dutch), official documents, including the minutes of the Trustees of the Corporation of Kingston, were all written in English. However, wills and church records of the period are found to be mostly in Dutch. Even though the Palatines were a highly literate group and wrote German well, the personal documents of those settling in the Commons are found to be in Dutch after the second generation. After the riff of 1727 the Palatines on the east shore of the Hudson settled into Germantown and Rhinebeck and maintained their German identity and language.
The permitting of the building of the Kaatsbaan church in 1732, the duel role of Dominie Mancius at Kingston and Kaatsbaan and the acceptance of the Palatines to being preached to in Dutch all seem to be considered responses to the political reality of life in the Commons. Ownership of land was easy for those who adhered to the cultural norms. Good citizens spoke Dutch.
This fused the population and soon family makeups matched the community. While the baptismal records of the West Camp church under Kocherthal prior to 1719 list mostly Palatine names, the Baptismal records in Kaatsbaan record the inter-marriage of Dutch and Palatines names from the first entries in 1731.
Mancius, after the death of Vas, succeeded him as Dominie of Kingston for ten years until his own death in 1763. Consequently, all of the influence of the larger culture of Kingston for a period of over 50 years came solely from these two individuals, both with strong ties to Amsterdam and the Dutch language. For nearly the entire period of early settlement in Saugerties the structure and authority over the community was firmly established in an association with Dutch “fatherland” control even though the Corporation of Kingston operated as an English charter under an English colonial governing authority.
Elsewhere, other churches, without such protective charters or longevity of their leaders, had all been actively continuing their fights for religious liberties. By the time that Mancius died times had changed. The congregation of Kingston, totally dedicated to its chartered association to the Church in Amsterdam, could find no ministers, even from Amsterdam, that were willing to pledge subordination to the "fatherland" Church once they arrived in America or to even preach in Dutch. All advocated, along with their fellow preachers who, though Dutch, were also preaching in English, the benefits of a local body to oversee their needs.
In the Kingston Church, the Corporation of Kingston and the County of Ulster many of the same names served joint roles as trustees, elders and officials among these three bodies. This strong relationship was apparent when the new pastor sent from Amsterdam in 1764, Rev. Meyer, was removed by them when he swore allegiance to the Crown and would only state that he was neutral in his allegiance to the Church’s charter and Amsterdam. Following this, no preacher was found acceptable to satisfy the needs of the Kingston Church until 1775. By this time the temperament of the old Dutch hierarchy had softened under the growing popular distaste for royally sanctioned privileges. Dutch, however, continued to be preached in Kingston until 1808 even though many of the younger people had no understanding of what they heard.
The personality of the inhabitants of the Saugerties Region is thus formed in the intermingling of the stubborn insistence of the Dutch on the priority of their culture and heritage and the stern attitude of the Palatine's insistent on the priority of their basic rights. As these merged in the liberal atmosphere of the Commons this formed a general personality of the population recognizable by an air of self assured, obstinate resolve. Protected by their associations with the land and the Church, an aloof strain of character, wary of the outsiders and outside authority, began to exemplify the third generation inhabitants of the Saugerties Region. This attitude took these early settlers honorably through the French and Indian War and the Revolution but made it painful for them to enter the next century; the first century of independence for all. | 2019-04-24T18:45:05Z | http://www.greatknot.com/202.history.fm5.html |
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There was magic in the air on the final day of Interactions 12. No, not just because of the promise of a party at the Guinness Storehouse: a number of speakers drew the connections between magic and design, whether it be electric faeries, having childhood dreams of being a magician, or actually being one in a past professional life.
The charming Fabian Hemmert (not only a TEDxter, but a Johnny as well) wanted to be either a magician or an explorer when he was a kid. If he’d known what a designer was back then, he might have chosen that, as he believes that the discipline brings the two together.
After an enviable job history working at Nintento and Marvel, he moved to Deutsche Telecom “it was just as fun, because it’s the real world” and then began the PhD studies on embodiment. He’s investigating the topic with ‘research through design’ which he calls a very designer-friendly research approach.
How do we embody physical aspects into the digital on phones? Results for this include using vibration, shape changing, weight change. It might even have personality.
How can we make telecommunications more emotional? Letting callers feel the hand or breath of the callee digitally is on the border of what people can take, sensing moisture (using sponges and material) well and truly invasive.
How can we make mobile phone calls more polite? Tactful Calling allows calls to be filtered by importance—though Hammert acknowledged that what a caller considers important might be very different from a callee.
Hammert finished by urging the crowd ”to hack for the future … establish design as knowledge producing discipline.” As a child who adored Peter Pan, he insists that designers, just like that boy “must never grow up”.
Kate Ertmann’s sparky stage presence was explained in her introduction, where she described her parents’ work in American network television that led to her own initial career as a child actor. Immersed in the world of television the young Kate quickly learned about broadcast technology and the important role of the client – lessons she now brings into play in her work as owner of ADi 3D animation studios.
Reviewing the history and growing impact of animation as an artform, Kate highlighted how Steamboat Willie is now legendary while the movie it premiered alongside is forgotten (‘Gang War’ trivia fans) and named ADi’s lead animator ‘The Don’ as the big gamechanger in animation today as he, and all the millennial Generation Y-ers like him, no longer differentiate between forms of media – you don’t go and see an ‘animated movie’ any more, it’s just a movie.
Citing the wealth of research that has evidenced animation’s ability to boost conceptual understanding, comprehension and learning, Kate moved on to describe the potential of its application as an ethnographic and research tool. Pitching video against animation, she countered each of the former’s strengths with the potentially greater benefits of animation: Video connects with real people in real situations, but with animation you can use a representative human form to neutralize any identification (or lack of) that might colour your view of what you’re seeing, leaving you free to make connections you might have missed and develop a clearer understanding of presented experiences. Video can of course let you show off your shiny new product in a glossy commercial, but with animation you can do the same with a product that doesn’t exist yet – and continue to tweak it so that it remains looking fresh years later Questions from the audience suggested that the perceived timescales involved in producing such animation are still deterring agencies from using it as a development or ethnographic tool rather than a presentational one, but with assurances from Kate that quickfire work is possible (and can always be used as a starting point and enhanced further down the line) maybe there’s aspace in the UX toolbox that could be filled by 3D animation in the future?
While many a designers will get out into nature to get inspired, Peter Denman of Intel talked about his experiment to take it one step further and use nature as a way to structure interfaces.
Copying nature — in other words, biomimicry — has led to a number of innovations in materials technology, be it flow without friction (from the trunks of elephants), cleaning without cleaners (how water rolls off leaves), or antibacterial skins (based on the germ free skin of sharks). But how could it be used in interaction design?
Denman saw that it could be of use in infographics (or information dashboards). While infographics can help communicate information, they also run the inherent risk of only reflecting the designer’s viewpoint, and are one off. He believed that nature might help show complexity without losing clarity.
His case example of using fractals to give an overview of diabetes patients’ health over time initially didn’t have much of a reaction with nurses. However, he found that those higher up the medical care chain—those who need to identify problems rather than treat them—found it useful in comparing patients not only over time but against each other.
Denman sees his project moving in next few years towards moving using “beautiful mathematics” fractal forms: be it the Golden ratio, Vogel’s model, or the Fibonacci spiral.
Denman also made a (now common across the conference) point about designers and coding: he had done “some bad coding” in Actionscript 3 to make the prototypes, and had become a strong supporter of prototyping in code.
What was the last product that made you go wow? Smyth and Halgason, working on design research at the boundaries—”where the interesting things happen”—of art/design/technology shared a number of projects they’ve worked on through Napier College.
He notes that there’s a tension between the problem-solution culture of design and the meaning focus of ethnography: while the latter is interesting for designers—”is ethnography the new black?”—and uncovers meanings, it doesn’t provide problems or solutions.
Instead, like Anthony Dunne the day before, they see critical design as a way of exploring the problem space.
This Pervasive Day Edinburgh 2010: in an installation commenting on privacy and sharing: people walking past a screen had their picture imposed onto fake Facebook data and presented to them as a profile. Responses to it ranged from the serious to the playful, “which is fine”.
Exploring a city’s issues related to time: in a project with a Croatian school, the students made outdoor projections throughout the city that juxtaposed present day concerns (“should I go to the gym?”) as speech bubbles from classical era statues.
Prekham Morst: How much can happen crossing a bridge? Everyday people crossing a bridge in Slovenia were presented with a digital camera and asked to take photos over the time it took them to cross. Pictures ranged from capturing others in the project (creating a sense of kinship), or commenting on society through small details (snapping a flower basket holder that was empty thanks to municipal cuts in spending).
Building on his 2011 article of the same name, our very own Jeroen van Geel presented his translation of Aristotle’s classical rules of story and drama into a framework for the creation of compelling online user experiences.
A really special story is one that you don’t even realize you’re reading, and really special writers may be blessed with talent but need to follow a process in order to get the best results. The cautionary example here was George Lucas: clearly talented, but guilty of screwing things up (you can guess where) by getting wrapped up in creating spectacle and comedy and neglecting the real process of crafting a story.Aristotle dissected the art of storytelling into six key elements, all of which can be applied with minimal adaptation to the world of the web: plot, character, thought (or theme), fiction, song (or rhythm) and spectacle, all of which are listed in order of importance (take note Mr Lucas).
The central layer of the framework is Plot, which for a website can be defined as product goal + user need.
The second layer is made up of Characters and Theme. Characters can be divided into primary and secondary, both of whom are necessary to any story. Using the example of James Cameron’s Titanic Jeroen identified Kate and Leo as the primary characters whose action defined the story – but pointed out that without the evil Billy Zane for Kate to escape from, there would have been nothing bringing the lovebirds together in the first place. Theme is what’s possible (or not) in the place where your story is happening. If your story is Brokeback Mountain, it’s Wyoming in the 60s and men are expected to be masculine and defiantly straight – which clearly affects what can happen to the characters. If your website is a transport site like 9292.com in a world branded ‘Just do it’ or ‘Think different’, those brands will influence what can happen in your online experience.
design education, encompasses diction, rhythm and spectacle. Diction is the language your site uses, rhythm the patterns it adopts and how they spread across all its platforms of communication, and spectacle lies in making things look beautiful.
In summary Jeroen explained that the central layer of the framework (plot) involves strategic decisions, the second layer (characters and theme) tactical decisions and the third (diction, rhythm, spectacle) operational decisions – and that choosing the right layer on which to focus, and the right seniority-level of staff to work on them, was the crucial thing.
First up in the main hall lightning talks session was Dan Saffer. Having never witnessed his presentations before I was informed that it would be a must-see, and (the alleged) Dr Saffer didn’t disappoint. Making a superhero entrance sprinting down theaisle and high-fiving, Dan announced his delight at being here amongst his own people: the passive-aggressive alcoholics (that’s IxDers, not the Irish).
Thanking the organization and conference he founded for giving him a whole ten minutes out of their three-day schedule, Dan proceeded to unleash a gleeful slaughtering of the industry’s holy cows in the form of an interaction design cheat’s manual. First of all, give up the hard work of design and start selling design thinking – it’s the fun part where all the easy money is! (Dan gave credit where it’s due for this one: prostitutes worked it out a long time ago). Next give up the wireframing, after all nobody reads them (not even you) and nothing else says ‘we’re working hard’ like a wall full of (illegible) post-it notes or a whiteboard full of (incomprehensible) conceptual models. Now do some ‘research’ to help you invent your invisible friends (Dan’s name for personas) and if you absolutely must present anything make sure it’s nothing more than a cute whimsical little movie. If you want to build stuff it’s time to move to China.
IxDA board member Matt gave us a whistle-stop tour of ritual and the part it has to play in the work of interaction designers. Defining ritual as ‘a set of intentional actions with symbolic rather than logical meanings’, he presented its fiery roots in religion before moving on to the rituals that now make up our daily lives: from the breakfast rituals that get us into the right mindset for the day, to cultural rituals like weddings whose trappings communicate so much more than just the act of getting marries, to the community-creating rituals of sport that give value to something essentially meaningless.
Ritual can also be found in our interactions with consumer products. iTunes isn’t ritualistic, but dusting off the vinyl and turntable certainly is and there’s a whole subculture of those who stick stubbornly to traditional rituals like straight-razor shaving and the use of manual-wind watches. By undertaking these rituals we’re making would could be simple tasks much more complicated to achieve, but with added effort comes added significance.
Matt signed off by asking us to consider how we might create more meaningful and significant products and services by engaging the ritualistic instincts and behaviours of our users.
Leanna compares the practice of UX to guilds for bakers and metalsmiths, and that we can use theapprenticeship model to develop and grow junior UX designers. Guilds are serious about growing talent, and it can take 6-8 years for apprentice bakers to reach the rank of a master, where half of that journey solely focused on learning the foundation and core skills. Apprentices benefit from a high standard of training and good opportunities to tap into valuable networks. Practice is where the bulk of learning happens, where exposure helps uncover unique ways of problem solving. There are clear expectations set by the masters, who act as mentors throughout an apprentice’s tenure. These expectations also extend to the hiring process, where guilds seek candidates with passion, curiousity and humility before bringing them on.
In addition to that, we need to apply three rules when using these principles, which is to put our user shoes (don’t get hung up on our job) and goggles (the user’s context) on, and not to assume we “are” our users. Finally, while heuristics can be powerful tools to facilitate design critiques, they should never be used as a substitute for good user research.
Presenting the IxDA Award-winning project ‘Outside of the Box’ to a crowded room eager to find out more, Adrian spoke to the importance of creativity in research as well as in the implementation of final design solutions. Describing a childhood letter to magician Paul Daniels asking for help in making his teacher disappear, which directed him first to the library and from there to a career in engineering design for magic, Adrian comes across as something of a real-life Jonathan Creek – explaining his perfect understanding of the importance of surprise and delight.
Vitamins took the innovative step of focusing on their users’ capabilities rather than disabilities, and nervously approached their corporate overlords to ask if it would be alright if they didn’t actually design a phone at all? After giving older people money to buy their own phones they’d discovered that the point where frustration with their new product emerged was when they took it home and opened the box. While younger users tend to trust implicitly that a product will work, tossing the manual and starting to play straight away, older people have come from a different tradition of learning. Wanting to make sure they used their phones properly, they would turn straight to the manual – finding them singularly unhelpful, which ultimately lead to a lack of engagement with the product.
they could die at any moment, Vitamins set out to discover how their users learn. At workshops in the UK, Norway and Italy they gave older people bananas to customize any way they wanted in order to represent their ideal phone, and then asked them how they would teach another person to use their banana-phone. The most inspirational example came from a professional novelist, who wrote his instructions as an adventure storybook. Realising that a phone manual has nowhere to live, Vitamins final (and award-winning) design solution was phone packaging in book-form, with layered cut-out pages that introduce each feature of your new phone in stages – neatly avoiding information overload and giving you permission to store your manual neatly on the shelf and refer back to it whenever you need.
It was fantastic to hear that Adrian is free to describe this project in detail because the Helen Hamlyn Centre is dedicated to the creation, and more importantly the sharing, of new design methodologies – a rare thing to hear at a conference where the usual statement seems to be ‘I’m sorry but I can’t talk about that’.
Angel sought to illuminate the human motivations behind the like/post/favourite viral sharing behaviours we exhibit online, in an age where ‘volume of sharing fostered’ has become a key indicator of design success.
Landscape: in a sea of social media platforms, people tend to create a ‘social layer cake’ by using different platforms to share in different ways, like Facebook for friends and LinkedIn for business. Where are you choosing to share your information? And if you’re making new platforms, where will they fit in?
Friction: without which, sharing loses meaning. If sharing is automated, an involuntary act that sends out our information without requiring our thought or input, it becomes devalued – what are ‘happy birthday’ messages on Facebook really worth? And if sharing becomes autosharing then the real task for the designer becomes curation.
Angel closed by reminding us all that in this ‘age of UX enlightenment’ our industry is still in its infancy and it’s critical that we share because the next generation of users is already out there and interacting with us online.
Service Design: has the concept of front and back door, we need to understand both elements.
Content Strategy: considering the role of content on a site and its lifecycle. Criminally ignored by interaction designers until 2009, but now has at least three must-read books on the topic.
Lean UX: telling us to “ignore the startup part” in Eric Reis’s Lean Startup book, Kahn pointed out Reis’s five principles of lean startup (Entrepreneurs are Everywhere, Entrepreneurship is Management, Validated Learning, Innovation Accounting, and Build-Measure-Learn ).
One of the stunning factoids was that organisational structures (summed up at its worst in the infamous Microsoft organisational chart) were designed to limit information flow rather than encourage it: they were devised in the age of trains as “a means of minimising embarrassment”, and are effectively one way. ‘This is bad because it means the system can’t take feedback and learn.” (In comparison, the Toyota-founded Lean UX was all about sharing, though I’d argue that could equally come from its basis in Japan). This was a prelude to Genevieve Bell’s comment about technology always being related to morality.
After the announcement of Interaction 13 in Toronto next year, Intel’s director of user interaction and experience Dr Genevieve Bell brought Interaction 12 to a close with a talk that she described as a ‘provocation’, and one so freshly-distilled that it could well have a lingering odour of new-car-smell.
As one of the first social scientists at Intel, Genevieve’s somewhat daunting remit was to help the company understand two things: women and ROW (as in Rest of World, or everywhere but America). With just these few billion people to focus on (!) Genevieve set out to investigate what she described as an emerging thread of anti-technology discourse’, with the aim of understanding our changing engagement with machines. One woman she spoke called her technology a ‘backpack full of baby birds with open mouths screaming feed me’, symbolizing the high-maintenance relationships we have with our devices (relationships we’re probably only in for the internet).
Documenting the historical rise and fall of our love affair with technology from the 18th century fascination with ‘uncanny mechanicals’ (tea-serving Japanese dolls and defecating French roboducks) to the Industrial Revolution of manual labourers destroying the machinery that was attempting to replace them, Genevieve highlighted how the romantic notion of outlaw revolutionaries pricked the imagination of the emerging Romantic poets, who took up the cause of championing the human over the mechanical in their work. This sentiment has continued into contemporary writing and drama, and there still exists today a persistent belief that machines are either ‘subservient to us or will kill us’ (see all variations of Terminator, past and present).
Genevieve posited that, rather than designing technology with the intent to deceive or fake, we do better when we begin with the notion of grace and wonder. When electricity was first introduced to consumers, it was a hard sell to get them to rip up their homes for wiring when they could already get warmth and light from candles and oil lamps. What finally persuaded them to get on board was the Electric Fairies: by running a charge through women clutching lightbulbs and having them skate around a high society party, electricity suddenly became fun, safe and desirable.
Today it’s hard to imagine our lives without our digital devices – indeed, in Japan paper replicas of iPads are burned ceremonially to ensure that the ancestors don’t have to go without in the afterlife (with new upgrades being sent up in smoke every year). We increasingly want our devices to stop making demands upon us and instead to maintain themselves while providing us with nurture and care. Genevieve’s closing call to arms came in the form of a question: what will it take for us to imagine relationships rather than interactions?
Interaction designers took over the Guinness Storehouse, and stunned band of the evening Ham Sandwich by demanding an encore. Whether all the movement on the dancefloor (both to music and the Kinnect) were as terrible or not is up for argument, but as one audience member told the band “this is what happens when nerds go out”.
Louise is an avid baker, playwright, and interactive designer at the Centre for Design Research (CfDR) at Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne. She can be found online as @sugaredeggs. | 2019-04-21T06:54:01Z | http://johnnyholland.org/2012/02/interaction-12-day-three/ |
Representation from Government servant on service matters – reiteration of instructions – regarding.
To put the facts straight, the joint platform of central trade unions have been pursuing with successive governments at the centre with their basic demands since 2009 and observed three rounds of countrywide general strike since 2010, the last being for two days in February 2013. In the two rounds of meeting between the CTUOs and the Group of Minister, nothing transpired in concrete terms except vague statements by the ministers on steps to be taken or being taken on some of the issues, that too not in the justify direction.
The steps taken by the Govt on Labour Law amendments, are meticulously designed to throw out more than 70% of the workers on industries and other establishments from the purview and coverage of almost all basic labour laws and also to eliminate almost all components/provisions of justifys and protections of the workers. This was supplemented by more aggressive steps already taken by a good number of state governments to already amend the labour laws in the similar lines. On this issue, the Govt stated only that they will hold tripartite consultation before taking such steps. The trade unions demanded scrapping of such proposals by the central govt and also not to give assents (through President) to the unilateral amendments made by the state governments. Even in all the tripartite consultations held on some of the proposals of the Govt, the trade unions’ unanimous suggestions has been ignored by the Govt in favour of loud supportive applauds of the employers. Once these retrograde changes in labour laws totally dismantling the justifys and protection measures for the workers and also throwing more that 70% of the workers out of the purview of labour laws are enacted, thereby rendering the almost entire working people a justify-less entity in their workplace, what would ensure even payment of minimum wage and other social security benefits for them, even if those provisions are improved ? Can any trade union, worth its name accept such a machination designed to impose conditions of virtual slavery on the working people ?
Despite repeated insistence by all the trade unions, the Govt refused to concede to the demand for recognizing the Scheme workers, viz., Anganwadi, Mid-day meal, ASHA, Para-teachers and others as “worker” with attendant justifys of statutory minimum wages and other benefits in gross violation of the unanimous recommendation of the 45th Indian Labour Conference in 2013, reiterated again by the 46th ILC in 2015. These workers and all the schemes have been put to further crisis threatening their existance owing to drastic cut in budgetary allocations for those schemes. In such a situation, does the assurance of the Govt to “extend social security measures” and “working out ways” for the same carry any meaning?
Sub: Admissibility of Daily Allowance to Staff Car Drivers.
2. This would be applicable to all Drivers irrespective of the type of vehicle they drive.
3. These orders will t e effect from the date of issue. Past cases, will, however, continue to be dealt with under provisions of letter No.F(E)I/2006/AL-28/15 dt. 12.03.08.
5. ReceiRt of the letter may be acknowledged.
The Seventh Pay Commission set up by the government to revise remuneration of about 48 lakh central government employees and 55 lakh pensioners will submit its report next month, said its chairman Justice A K Mathur.
The Union Cabinet, according to sources, is expected to extend the term of the Commission by two months until 31 October at its meeting on Wednesday. The term of the Commission ends this month.
“The Commission will submit its report by the end of September,” Justice Mathur told PTI.
The Commission, which was set up by the UPA government in February 2014 to revise remuneration of central government employees, defence personnel and pensioners, was required to submit its report by August-end.
The Commission has already completed discussions with various stakeholders, including organisations, federations, groups representing civil employees as well as Defence services. It’s now in the process of finalising its recommendations.
The recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission are scheduled to come into effect from 1 January 2016.
The other members of the Commission are Vivel Rae, Rathin Roy and its secretary Meena Agarwal. The Sixth Pay Commission was implemented with effect from 1 January 2006, the fifth from 1 January 1996 and the fourth from 1 January 1986.
Travel by Premium Trains on LTC/Official Duty/Tour/Training/Transfer etc. —Clarification reg.
Sub: Travel by Premium Trains on LTC/Official Duty/Tour/Training/Transfer etc. —Clarification reg.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is handling One Rank One Pension or OROP himself now and “positive movement” is expected on the issue this week, sources have told NDTV.
One veteran on hunger strike, Col (retd) Pushpender Singh, was taken to hospital yesterday after he took ill.
The veterans have repeatedly reminded PM Modi that OROP was one of his key promises in the run-up to the national election last year.
OROP is expected to benefit more than three million retired servicemen. It will give equal pension to servicemen retiring at the same rank regardless of when they retire. At present, a soldier who retired many years ago is paid far less than someone several ranks junior to him retiring now.
(7) Grant of Financial Up - gradation under MACPS to the staff who are in the same Grade Pay for more than 20 Years.
Health Benefit Empowered Committee (HBEC) constituted under Rule 4 of the Rajasthan Civil Services (Medical Attendance) Rules, 2013 in its meeting dated 04-06-2014 decided that empanelled hospitals shall be bound not to charge from State Govemment employees, more than the rates as fixed by the State Government.
"Hospital shall be bound not to charge from the State Government employees and pensioners, more than the rates as may be fixed by the State Government from time to time for approved private hospitals for various inpatient and outpatient treatments, investigations and implants."
Accordingly, Finance Department issued order number F. 6(2) FD/Rules/2013 Pt-ll dated 27-06-2015 to adopt the rates of CGHS, Jaipur, as may be amended from time to time, as maximum chargeable rates.
As Saket Hospital, Jaipur has now denied to provide treatment as per FD Order dated 27-06-2015 (mentioned above), in violation Of the affidavit submitted by it, the State Government in exercise of the powers conferred under rule 4 Of the Rajasthan Civil Services (Medical Attendance) Rules, 2013 hereby terminates the empanelment of Saket Hospital, Jaipur as an approved hospital in the rules with immediate effect, Appendix-I to these rules is amended accordingly.
Extension of CGHS facilities to the retired employees of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan – regarding.
Subject: Extension of CGHS facilities to the retired employees of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan – regarding.
a. CGHS facilities shall be extended to the retired employees of KVS only in Delhi/NCR. They will be entitled to OPD facilities and medicines from CGHS dispensaries in Delhi/NCR only on the same lines as is being done in case of serving employees of KVS.
b. They may avail treatment from CGHS empanelled hospitals at CGHS approved rates. The medical expenses for IPD/hospitalization treatment will be borne by KVS and they will not be eligible for cashless medical facilities.
c. The pensioner’s card will be issued to those pensioners who have been recommended by KVS and on payment of service charges on cost to cost basis in advance on yearly basis at the rates determined by Department of Health and Family Welfare in consultation with O/o the Chief Advisor (Cost), Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
d. The CGHS membership card will have to be renewed annually by KVS in advance for both serving as well as retired employees (wherever applicable). Failure to renew the CGHS membership within the specified time period will lead to de-activation of the CGHS card.
e. There is no provision for issue of life-time CGHS cards to the pensioner beneficiaries of KVS.
*. The retired employees of KVS residing in Delhi/NCR and whose serving counter parts are covered by CGHS medical facilities in Delhi/NCR can opt for this scheme. The details of such posts covered by CGHS medical facilities are given in Annexure – I.
*. The willing retired employee(s)/family members (if otherwise eligible) may submit their application in prescribed proforma (Available on CGHS website msotransparent.nic.in with link Circulars) along with Demand Draft of his/her own subscription, self attested copy of relevant documents to the respective authority from where the terminal benefits were settled (Pension Sanctioning Authority of KVS HQ/Deputy Commissioner, Regional office as the case may be applicable).
*. The Deputy Commissioner of the Region concerned, after detailed cross verification and examining the case will forward such duly completed application(s) to the joint commissioner (pers.) KVS, Headquarters along with prescribed contribution in the form of Demand Draft/Cheque equivalent to one year CGHS subscription in favour of “Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (HQ)”.
*. In respect of officers/employees of KVS, HQ, such request applications will be processed by the Deputy Commissioner (Finance) who looks after the pension section and who will forward the same with all necessary documents to the joint commissioner (Pers.), KVS.
*. The payment of Fixed Medical Allowance will be discontinued by the concerned pension sanctioning authority in KVS/Regional Office from the date of receipt of CGHS card in K.V.S. on case to case basis, after due verification.
*. The reimbursement of medical claims of beneficiaries, if any, will be done by respective Regional Office as per rules. It will take effect from the date of issue.
Honourable Finance Minister Shri.Arun Jaitely had spoken about the possible impact of 7th CPC recommendations in Parliament.
The Speech is critically reviewed by Comrade Elangovan of DREU.
1. The Medium Term Expenditure Framework statement has not yet been uploaded in Finance Ministry’s website.However I have taken the figures provided by print media including The Hindu.As per their statement the expenditure on salaries will rise by 9.56% in the fiscal 2015-16 as a result of 7th CPC implementation over the normal estimated expenditure in the 2015-16 budget to Rs.100619 crores. This means that the expenditure projected was Rs.91,839cr which if increased by 9.56% becomes Rs.100619 crores.
3. As per the estimated strength and provision there of statement laid as part of finance budget,the normal projection as PAY was Rs.60731 cr and so DA is Rs 31,108 as deducted from Rs 91 839 cr. The budget document does not give the DA expenditure separately. It gives the total expenditure on all allowances. I have therefore arrived at the figure based on calculations. However I have sought the expenditure on DA, HRA, and Transport Allowance separately through RTI.
4. The increase proposed is Rs.100619 cr from Rs.91,839cr which means that there will be an increase of Rs.8780 cr. There won’t be any DA after 1-1-2016 up to 31-3-2016 in the fiscal 2015-16. Therefore the whole increase is on basic pay in this fiscal.
5. As we have already seen that the basic pay is Rs.60731 cr. the increase of Rs.8780 cr. is over this Rs.60731.This increase is 14.45% only.The expenditure projected for 2016-17 is Rs.1,12,000cr which is Rs.11,400 more over 2015-16 which works out to 11.32%. This is due to Increment, DA,HRA, TRA etc.The projection for 2017-18 is 1,16,000 cr.
6. If 40% of Basic Pay is to be given,the increase of expenditure in the fiscal 2015-16 must be Rs. 24000 cr as against the Rs. 8780 cr. The demand of JCM Staff side is that there must be an increase of 371% of basic pay as on 1-1-2016. With the 119% DA we would be drawing 219% already. The real increase demanded is 152% of Basic Pay.So not the 152% or 40% of 5th and 6th CPC is intended to be given to us. Only around 15% is going to be given.As The Terms Of Reference of 7TH CPC directs them to recommend only what is‘FEASIBLE AND DESIRABLE’ to the Government.Now the Government In Parliament states only 15% is FEASIBLE AND DESIRABLE. ARE WE TO ACCEPT IT.? Some PSUs got 15%. But that is for 5 years. But for Central Government Employees it is for Ten Years.Are We To Accept?
ARREARS Rs 26084 cr. For three years mostly on Pay and DA regular PAY Increase per annum: Rs 8685 cr. These are actual figures. The 219% of Rs. 8685 cris Rs.19000 cr. EVEN THIS IS NOT GIVEN.
10.We must issue a warning to the government afresh demanding acceptance of our demand.I recall my earlier note where in I had quoted BibekDebroy’s report that the 7th CPC will not be that destabilising to the Government as that of 6th CPC. GOVERNMENT PROVES THAT.
Office of the principal controller of factories has been envisaged to control the functioning of forty one branch AO under 9 Group controllers. The following PAO comes under purview of this office as being pr.PAO so far as NPS is concerned. The main aim/objective behind the creation in factory organization is to render efficient, correct, prompt accounting and payment services besides financial/expertise services to factory management and OFB Authorities.
Government of India has introduced a New Pension Scheme replacing the defined benefit pension scheme. The New Pension Scheme comes into operation w.e.f from 01.01.2004 and applicabel to all new entrants of Central Government Service on or after 01.01.2004. The New Pension Scheme is working on defined contribution basis and will have two tiers-Tier-I and Tier-II. Tier-I is mandatory for all Govt. Servants/employees of autonomous institutes. In Tier-I government will have to make a contribution of 10% of the Basic pay, DP and DA which will be deducted from his salary bill every month. Government will make equal matching contribution and will deposit the same in non-withdrawal pension Tier-I account.
Under NPS system Branch Accounts Offices are termed as “Pay Accounts Offices (PAO)”, As a Central Govt. Office, the correct and timely deposit of contribution in Tier-I account by the respective Branch Accounts Offices (PAOs) is the prime concern. As a part of PFRDA (Redressal of Subscriber Grievance) Regulation, 2015, every intermediary is required to follow the Grievance Redressal policy. Accordingly, the below stated Grievance Redressal policy (GRP) is made for prompt redressal of the grievances arising out of various services offered by the Branch Accounts Offices in the capacity of intermediary. The scope of this GRP is restricted to redressal of grievances raised against intermediary.
(iii) Communications seeking guidance or explanation.
(v) complaints that are subjudice (cases which are under consideration by court of law or quasi-judicial body) except matters within the exclusive domain of the PFRDA under the provisions of the Act.
The purpose of this policy is to set forth the policies and procedures to be followed in receiving, handling and responding to any grievance against the concerned PAOs in respect of the services offered by them. The following are broad objectives for handling the customer grievances.
1. To Provide fair and equal treatment to all employees of respective Factory/Branch Offices without bias at all times.
2. To ensure that all issues raised by employees are dealt with courtesy and resolved in stipulated timelines.
3. To develop an organizational framework to promptly address and resolve employees Grievances fairly and equitably.
4. To Provide enhanced level of satisfaction.
5. To provide easy accessibility to the employees of respective Factory/Branch offices for an immediate Grievance redressal.
6.To put in place a monitoring mechanism to oversee the functioning of the Grievance Handling Policy.
By raising a grievance in writing – in the specified format/letters/representation addressed to the Grievance Redressal Officer,PAO/Chief Grievance Redressal Officer, pr.AO.
The grievance will be resolved by concerned PAO and then appropriate reply will be sent to the complainant by the PAO/Pr.AO.
Every grievance has to be disposed – Off by the PAO within a period of thirty days of its receipt at both the redressal tiers.
10-A S.K.Bose Road, Kolkara – 700 001.
Phone No. (033) 22484341 Fax No. (033) 22480991.
10-A S.K.Bose Road, Kolkata – 700 001.
4. Shri Rajesh Kumar, Sr A.O.
Phone NO. (06112) 257105 Fax No. (06112) 257102.
If the complainant is not satisfied with the refressal of his grievances or if it has not been resolved by Grievance Redressal Officer, concerned PAO by the end of thirty days of the filing of the complaint, he/she may escalate the grievance to the chief Grievance Redressal Officer (CGRO).
The record of grievances will be maintained by the concerned Redressal Officer.
A8. AFD Items like Refrigerator, TV, Washing Machine etc can be purchased after every three years by all categories.
A9. Entry into any URC will be purely Smart Card based by personal appearance. In case a particular Offr/JCO/OR/Equivalent is unable to present himself personally due to valid reasons like old age or acute medical problem, a permission, signed by the Chairman/ CO/OC of the unit/ establishment running the URC must accompany the Smart Card with photo of the authorized person carrying it. Validity period and genuineness of requirement of such permission will be decided by the Chairman of the URC on case to case basis.
The special counters are being organized to facilitate smaller tax payers having salary/pension income, to file paper returns. Taxpayers may note that for the assessment year 2015-16, corresponding to the financial year 2014-15, e-filing of return of income is mandatory for persons whose total income exceeds Rs. 5 lakhs or if the return contains a claim for refund. Paper Returns in such cases will not be accepted.
However, the income limit of Rs. 5 lakhs and claim of refund will not apply to taxpayer over the age of 80 years deriving salary/pension income. In such cases paper returns will be accepted.
· For PCIT-22 Charge (Government salary)-‘B’ Block, Ground floor of Civic Centre, Minto Road, New Delhi.
· For PCIT-23 Charge(PSUs/Bank employees/School and College employees)-‘C’ Block, Ground floor, Civic Centre, Minto Road, New Delhi.
· For PCIT-24 Charge (Private salaries)- ‘C’ block, Civic Centre, Minto Road, New Delhi.
There will be special facilitation counters for senior citizens and differently abled persons.
Facilities like a Helpdesk, assistance of Tax Return Preparers (TRPs), UTI/NSDL counters, banking, tax payment facility, PAN verification counters, drinking water, and emergency medical aid will be available at the venue.
Similar facilitation counters are being set-up in other metropolitan cities based on the local requirement.
Subject: Free Health Check-up Camp for the benefit of Central Government Employees and their dependents at Samaj Sadan, Grih Kalyan Kendra, Peshwa Road, New Delhi on 22nd August, 2015 (10.00 AM to 2.00 PM).
1. Health Check-Up Rockland Hospital, New Delhi.
BMD, PAP Smear & ECG.
2. All are requested to avail the facility of free Health Check-up and Eye Check-up Camps.
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir government today announced a six per cent hike in the Dearness Allowance (DA) of its employees with effect from January this year.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed here.
“This is in fact for the first time that the government employees are getting DA without resorting to agitation,” Akhtar, who was also flanked by Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu, said.
He said it was a practice here that the DA was not released till there was an agitation.
“Today as part of its duty, the government had taken a decision, which also belies the rumours about money not coming (from centre) and also gives out a message that the system is getting streamlined in the state,” he said.
Drabu said the idea behind the decision was to keep pace with the centre announcing DA for its employees.
“We have announced DA from January 15 to July 15 (and will be paid to the employees) through Provident Fund route, post that it will in cash, thereby we are moving to a system whereby the nearest amount will be given in cash,” he said.
He said the large part will be in cash.
“In respect of employees who are at the new pension scheme, the installments will be in cash. Financial implications is about Rs 285 crores for the year. Of that Rs 240 crore is salary and the rest is pension. We have made provision for that in the Budget.
“The idea is to build system. In the last three-four months, we have got a lot of liabilities at various levels and we are trying to work out a system wherein there will be a transparency and finance will not be a constraint for development activities,” the finance minister said.
2. Government of India has decided to extend the CSD Canteen facilities to the Retired Defence Civilian Employees vide MoD letter No. F.No.8(14)/2015-D(Mov) dated 31 Jul 2015.
(a) Ministry of Defence including those working in their respective attached offices and those working in lower military formations.
(e) Indian Defence Accounts Services.
(f) Secretariat Border Roads Development Board and HQ Director General Border Roads.
(g) Retired employees of Canteen Stores Departments who are getting pension from CSD Fund.
4. Entitlement : They will be entitled for only Grocery Stores. No Liquor will be authorised.
5. Validity : The cards will have a validity of 10 years, from the date of issue and will be renewed every year.
6. Process for applying for Retired Defence Civilian Employees Card : All Retired Defence Civilian Employees will apply for the Smart Card to the URC through which they want to avail the Canteen facilities after authentication of the application.
7. Authentication : The application form will be authenticated for its correctness by the Department from which the employees has retired. The form will be countersigned by an officer not below the Rank of Under Secretary or equivalent.
(a) Application for Canteen Smart card duly countersigned by the competent authority.
(b) Govt order for Retirement.
(d) Address Proof and Copy of PAN card.
(e) Payment of Rs.135 to the URC.
(a) Each concerned department should appoint officer authorised to countersigned and promulgate orders and forward details to this office.
(b) Countersigned officer will verify that all columns are filled correctly prior to countersigned.
(a) That application is filled in all respect and no column is left blank.
(b) Signature of Countersinging authority.
(c) All personal particulars are checked for correctness with PPO and other supporting documents.
(d) In case an application is rejected the same will be informed to the applicant.
(e) New card will be sent by M/s. Smart Chip Ltd to the URC for issue to applicant. URC will check details with individuals Departmental retired identity Card prior to issue of new Canteen Smart Card.
(f) Since large number of applications are likely to be received initially at the URCs, the URC Manager must exercise due diligence while scrutinising and verifying the applications.
(a) All applications are sent by CCTS to M/s. Smart Chip Ltd, at the earliest.
(b) On receipt of application check for correctness with existing records through old Grocery Card Number.
(d) Ensure previous card of applicatin is hotlised prior to handing over of new card for Retired Defence Civilian Employees.
12. The application form (Blue Color) for Retired Defence Civilian Employees attached as Appendix will be made available in the URCs at the earliest by M/s. Smart Chip Ltd.
13. This letter be given vide publicity by displaying at prominent places like URSs, Station HQs, CAO and other controlling HQs. | 2019-04-25T06:11:09Z | http://www.employeesnews.in/2015/08/ |
EPA has substantively updated the General Labeling Requirements, Precautionary Statements, and Net Contents/Net Weight Chapters of the Pesticide Label Review Manual, and made minor editorial changes throughout the rest of the manual. This manual is designed to help industry understand the pesticide labeling process and how labels should be drafted under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
Removed “Optional Labeling/Deviations” section and moved directions under their respective sections.
Updated labeling requirements for packages that use Bag on Valve technology to reflect 2018 NIST Handbook 130 regulations for net weight measurements.
On October 22, 2014, EPA published for comment a proposal to remove from EPA’s list of inert ingredients approved for use in pesticide products 72 chemical substances that are no longer being used as inert ingredients in pesticide products. (79 FR 63120) In response to EPA’s request for comments, no specific information regarding those 72 chemical substances or any products that may include them was provided to EPA, indicating that these chemical substances are not being used in currently approved pesticide product formulations. Therefore, as of December 14, 2016, (81 FR 90356) EPA decided to remove all 72 from the inert ingredient list. A list of the 72 inert ingredients can be found here.
Removal of a chemical substance from the approved inert ingredient listing does not, in and of itself, restrict the use of the chemical substance in a pesticide product, instead it changes the way an application is processed. Once removed, the chemical substance would be considered a “new” inert ingredient. Any inert ingredient that is not on the approved list must be approved by EPA before registration for a formulation containing that chemical substance as an inert ingredient. EPA approval can be obtained by submitting a request, along with relevant data including, among other things, studies to evaluate potential carcinogenicity, adverse reproductive effects, developmental toxicity, genotoxicity, as well as environmental effects associated with any chemical substance that is persistent or bioaccumulative. Further, adding the chemical substance to the list of approved inert ingredients would also require payment of a fee in accordance with FIFRA Section 33, 7 U.S.C. 136w-8.
EPA releases interim guidance on data requirements for antimicrobial pesticides and food contact surfaces.
Last week, EPA released interim guidance on the agency’s toxicology data requirements for antimicrobial pesticides on food contact surfaces. The interim guidance clarifies that the 200 parts per billion (ppb) threshold that triggers different data requirements is based on “total estimated daily dietary intake” for an individual and not the total amount of residue on a food item, which interpretation is in line with the policy of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Generally, if pesticide residues from food contact services are found in food at 200 ppb or less, EPA requires the submission of certain toxicology data, and additional data may be required if residues are greater than 200 ppb.
The interim guidance was issued as part of a March 2, 2015 settlement reached between the EPA and the American Chemistry Council (ACC) resolving the trade group’s challenge of EPA’s 2013 Final Rule on “Data Requirements for Antimicrobial Pesticides.” The settlement also requires that EPA propose, by July 2, 2015, a guidance document called the “Antimicrobial Pesticide Use Site Index,” which will be subject to public comment. In addition, by September 2, 2017, the agency must propose a “correction” to 40 C.F.R. § 158.2230(d) clarifying that the 200 ppb level relates to total estimated daily dietary intake, consistent with the FDA policy.
http://verdantlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/VerdantLogoWhite2-300x59.png 0 0 Verdant Law http://verdantlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/VerdantLogoWhite2-300x59.png Verdant Law2015-05-04 13:22:042015-05-04 20:22:05EPA releases interim guidance on data requirements for antimicrobial pesticides and food contact surfaces.
EPA and FDA announce data sharing agreement for CBI.
Today, EPA and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to share data on pesticides and toxic substances. According to a notice published last month in the Federal Register, in response to the FDA’s spring 2014 request, EPA will grant FDA access to information collected under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), including information claimed by submitters as Confidential Business Information (CBI). This data-sharing initiative “is intended to maximize the utility of data collected under those statutes, and enhance the efficiency of the participants’ regulatory processes and facilitate better risk management activities.” The MOU applies specifically to EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention and FDA’s Foods and Veterinary Medicine Program, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, and Center for Veterinary Medicine.
FDA and EPA “have complementary roles” regulating substances incorporated into food (including animal feed), animal drugs, and cosmetics. Antimicrobial food wash products, for example, must meet different standards for safety and non-adulteration of food (FDA), and no adverse environmental effects (EPA).
The MOU covers the sharing of non-public information exempt from public disclosure, including CBI and “confidential commercial information” (CCI). Information will be shared “on a reciprocal and as-needed basis” for substances that may be present in human food, animal food and feed, animal drugs, and cosmetics. The MOU provides that each agency will develop internal procedures and designate liaison officers for the information-sharing exchanges and to protect against unauthorized disclosure of CBI or CCI. Appendices to the MOU establish a framework process for information sharing, including specific language to be used in requesting information or responding to a request.
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EPA agrees to clarify data requirement rule for antimicrobial pesticides.
EPA and the American Chemistry Council (ACC) have reached a settlement regarding the ACC’s petition concerning data requirements for antimicrobial pesticides. This settlement addresses a Final Rule published by EPA on May 8, 2013, “Data Requirements for Antimicrobial Pesticides,” for which the ACC, the chemical industry trade group, sought judicial review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
Direct Food Use: a use is generally considered to be a direct food use if an antimicrobial pesticide is intended to be directly applied to food (defined for purposes of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act at 21 U.S.C. § 321(f)) or applied to a material or article for the purpose of treating food.
Indirect Food Use: a use is generally considered to be an indirect food use if the use involves application of the antimicrobial pesticide in or on a material or article that comes into contact with food and may result in residues in or on food, but the use is not intended for pesticidal treatment of food.
Nonfood Use: a use is generally considered to be a nonfood use when there is a reasonable certainty of no residues in or on food, for example because the antimicrobial pesticide is not expected to come into contact (directly or indirectly) with food as a result of its intended use.
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EPA sued over lack of nanosilver regulations.
On December 16, a group of NGOs sued [PDF] the U.S. EPA over the agency’s failure to regulate nanosilver in consumer products. The plaintiffs, which include the Center for Food Safety, Center for Environmental Health, and Beyond Pesticides, seek to compel EPA to take action in response to their 2008 petition for rulemaking. The groups’ petition requested that EPA regulate nanosilver products as pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), thus requiring product manufacturers to obtain pesticide registrations. The petition also asked EPA to analyze “the potential human health and environmental risks” of nanosilver under FIFRA and other environmental statutes, including the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Since the 2008 petition, EPA has accepted comments on the petition, enforced against companies making antimicrobial claims about nanosilver-containing products, convened a scientific advisory panel, and proposed a policy statement on the subject, but the NGOs maintain that EPA’s actions constitute an “ongoing failure to meaningfully regulate nanotechnology.” The plaintiffs contend that EPA has violated the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to provide a timely response to the 2008 petition.
The case is Center for Food Safety et al v. McCarthy, Case No. 14-cv-2131, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
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EPA agrees to update enforcement guidance for FIFRA and TSCA.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has agreed to update its enforcement guidance for the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) following a report [PDF] from the agency’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) released on September 27, 2013. The report contained findings and recommendations related to FIFRA and TSCA good faith reductions and “ability to pay” penalties, based on the OIG’s review of 23 FIFRA cases and 20 TSCA cases (13 lead disclosure and 7 PCB cases).
The OIG also found that EPA’s enforcement response and penalty policy for lead-based paint disclosure rule to address violators who are unable to pay penalties is inadequate. Specifically, no guidance exists for applying non-monetary penalty alternatives (such as public service or delayed payment plans) when violators do not have the cash to pay the penalty. EPA has agreed to evaluate whether additional guidance is needed to clarify whether non-monetary alternatives must meet the agency’s existing Supplemental Environmental Projects policy.
In addition, the OIG report found that EPA’s “INDIPAY” economic model may be limited in its ability to help teams evaluate individuals’ claims of inability to afford penalties or clean-up costs. According to the OIG, the INDIPAY model does not assess an individual’s assets and should be updated to improve its accuracy. Furthermore, the report found that EPA does not provide adequate guidance or case development training to help regional teams evaluate ability to pay cases. In order to improve the agency’s consistency in handling the growing number of ability to pay cases, EPA has agreed to provide regional staff with updated training for case development of ability to pay claims. EPA also agreed to update its 1986 document “Guidance on Determining a Violator’s Ability to Pay a Civil Penalty” [PDF] to further improve guidance on evaluating ability to pay cases and address the inadequacies of the INDIPAY model.
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EPA continues to steadily increase its enforcement of U.S. chemical control laws. Last Thursday, the EPA announced settlements with two subsidiaries of the Finland-based Kemira Group to resolve alleged violations of Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA). Kemira Chemicals agreed to pay a civil penalty of over $300,000 to settle claims that the company sold and distributed unregistered and misbranded pesticides, and violated pesticide production reporting requirements. Kemira Chemicals also agreed to correct the alleged violations.
In addition, Kemira Water Solutions agreed to pay a civil penalty of over $500,000 regarding violations of TSCA’s Inventory Update Reporting (IUR) rule during the 2006 reporting period. Under the IUR rule, manufacturers and importers of substances included on the TSCA Chemical Substances Inventory must report the production volume and location of each facility processing such chemicals; this information is used to develop risk-screening and assessment. EPA discovered Kemira Water Solutions’ reporting violations following a January 2012 inspection and the company has since submitted the required information.
In a December 31, 2012 Federal Register notice, (77 Fed. Reg. 76,979) EPA announced a new proposed rule that would revise the labeling requirements for minimum risk pesticide products. The proposed rule affects section 25(b) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (“FIFRA”) by changing how minimum risk pesticides are identified on product labels as well as the way ingredient lists are organized in the implementing regulations. In addition, producer contact information will be required on product labels.
Inactive ingredients will also be re-organized into a table similar to the one proposed for active ingredients. This table will codify “List 4A,” the list of chemicals currently maintained on EPA’s website. In addition, EPA proposes to incorporate references to other CFR sections which describe which chemicals may be used as inert ingredients for the purpose of the minimum risk exemption. In the case of pesticides that may come in contact with foods, for which there are no federal tolerance levels or tolerance exemptions, EPA proposes to amend the text of the exemption to direct users to an EPA website for more information on which of the listed chemicals may be used in food-use pesticide products.
Finally, EPA proposes that exempted product labels must use the “label display name” in the product’s ingredient listing. The proposed rule also requires that producers of minimum risk pesticide products must include their company’s contact information (address and telephone number) on the product label. In the case of a product label which includes the name of a company that is not the producer, EPA proposes that the label text should clarify that the product was “packed for,” “distributed by,” or “sold by” the non-producer company.
EPA is requesting comments on various topics related to this proposal, including: the format and information to be included in the new tables; whether reference to an online resource with more information on food-use pesticide tolerance requirements would provide clarity for stakeholders; impacts on state and local agencies; and whether products would need to be reformulated as a result of the changes. The comment period for this proposed rule ends on April 1, 2013.
FIFRA defines plant growth regulators as substances intended to accelerate or retard the growth of plants. Among other things, substances considered to be plant regulators may include hormone additives intended to stimulate plant root growth or fruiting, such as gibberellins, auxins, and cytokinins derived from seaweed. Products containing these additives are often marketed as fertilizers or biostimulants, but EPA says such claims do not exempt the products from regulation as pesticides.
The three settlements are summarized below, but others are pending within EPA and we suspect the agency is pursuing investigation of still more.
On June 14, 2012, FIFRA-07-2012-0015, Mayberry Seed Company of Essex, Missouri, agreed to pay a $17,160 penalty to resolve violations of FIFRA. EPA alleged that Mayberry distributed or sold an unregistered plant growth regulator and fungicide on at least 14 occasions between April 1, 2010, and August 25, 2011.
On July 5, 2012, Southeast Cooperative Service Company, Inc., of Advance, Missouri, agreed to pay a $12,000 civil penalty to resolve multiple sales of an unregistered plant growth regulator and fungicide to at least four individuals between April 1, 2010, and August 21, 2010.
On Sept. 4, 2012, FIFRA-07-2012-0029, AgXplore International, LLC, of Parma, Missouri, agreed to pay a $237,573 civil penalty to resolve violations of FIFRA, including 212 counts for the sale or distribution between May 7, 2009, and March 25, 2012, of 19 different unregistered pesticide products, including plant regulators, insecticides, and fungicides. AgXplore International, LLC has informed its customers and distributors of its violative products.
Under FIFRA, distributors of pesticides must ensure that pesticides intended for distribution within the U.S. are registered both if the distributor claims the substance can be used as a pesticide or if the product is intended to be used for a pesticidal purpose, including as a plant regulator.
Many plant growth regulator products are properly registered with EPA. Companies which comply with pesticide registration requirements must pay registration fees and may also incur significant costs in ensuring their products are correctly formulated, perform as intended, and are properly labeled. Accordingly, entities which produce, sell or distribute unregistered pesticides place themselves at an economic advantage relative to their competitors who comply with the law.
EPA registration requirements also protect consumers by ensuring that products are formulated in accordance with the product label. Without proper registration and labeling on pesticides (including required safety information), users may unintentionally misapply pesticides and cause damage to crops or non-target areas and may lack adequate first aid information in the event of an accident.
As part of their respective settlements with EPA, each of the three companies has certified that it is presently in compliance with FIFRA and its regulations.
Stay tuned for future postings regarding this development. | 2019-04-18T18:57:55Z | http://verdantlaw.com/category/fifra/ |
To use Jane, begin by downloading the .zip file available from the main page. Once you have unzipped it, there will be a jar file in the Jane folder. To run Jane, use the command java -jar Jane.jar. On some machines, you can simply click or double-click on the Jane.jar icon.
There is also a command-line version of Jane included in the download. This version of Jane is particularly useful for conducting large-scale experiments controlled by scripts. More details on this option are given at the end of this tutorial in the CLI section.
If Jane crashes on your computer, see the F.A.Q. for help.
When the graphical version of Jane is opened, the Main Window is displayed.
The Main Window consists of the parts listed below.
Problem Information Panel: Contains basic information about the problem instance to be solved, listing the name of the tree file and the number of tips on the host and parasite trees.
Actions Panel: Contains the Go and Stop buttons for starting and stopping the solver.
Solution Area: Contains the solutions found by Jane. There are two options here: the Solve Mode option (the default) allows you to see actual tree reconstructions found by Jane while the Stats Mode option allows you to perform randomization experiments and see statistical summaries of the results. Each of these modes is described in detail later in this tutorial.
The minimum amount of data that Jane needs is a pair of phylogenetic trees (henceforth called the "host" and "parasite" trees, but in practice these can be any pair of trees such as a species tree and gene tree, or otherwise) and a mapping between the tips of these trees. The mapping need not be one-to-one. Jane permits multiple parasites to be mapped to a single host tip and for a single parasite to be on multiple host tips.
Such data can either come from a text file in .tree or .nex formats or you can draw a pair of trees and their tip mappings using Jane's graphical user interface "tree builder" feature (which are later saved in one of these two formats). For information on the two file format types, please refer to the file formats page.
To load in an existing text file, select the File menu and selection Open Trees. Now you can browse for files and load them into Jane. We'll come back to what to do once a file is loaded, but first we'll look at the tree builder tool.
You can either build a tree from scratch or load in a tree in .tree or .nex format. The tree builder has the ability to load in both completely specified and partially specified trees (e.g., only the host tree, only the parasite tree, both trees but not the tip alignments).
To load a tree you can either select "Open..." from the File menu or click the open button in the top left corner and then navigate to the desired tree. When saving the tree, you have the option of saving in either .tree or .nex formats. However, the .nex format does not support multi-host parasites or region information.
To add nodes to the tree you can select the "Add Child" button to switch to Add Child Mode. Once in Add Child Mode you can click on any node to add a child. If the node is currently a tip this will add two children to the node. If the node is an internal node, it will add one additional child with each click to create a polytomy.
To assign names to the nodes you can switch to Label Mode by selecting the "Labels" button. Once in Label Mode simply click the node you would like to name and type the name in the box that appears. Jane does not support the naming of internal nodes. Additionally, integer names are not permitted.
To create a tip mapping between the host and parasite trees you can switch to Link Mode by selecting the "Add Link" button. To add a link the click one of the nodes and drag to the node in the other tree or click one node and then the next. When clicking on a tip node in Link Mode only that node's links will appear in blue and all other links will appear greyed out. Jane supports both failure to diverge events and multi-host parasites so parasite and host nodes can have multiple links.
Note: Multi-host parasites are only supported in .tree files.
Move Mode can be used to rearrange the order of tree branches that contain a lot of crossing or cluttered links. Once in Move mode you can rearrange horizontal edges by selecting an edge and dragging up or down to uncross links. If the host and parasite tips are too close together to clearly distinguish the links the tips can be moved apart by placing the cursor in line with the tips and dragging left or right until the desired spacing is reached.
Jane supports an option called "time zones." If you have included time zone information, this information provides constraints that indicate that certain nodes (speciation events) in a tree happened before other nodes. Time zones can be represented as a collection of vertical lines across a tree. Nodes that appear on different sides of a vertical line cannot have occured at the same time, and thus host switch events between them are not permitted.
To add time zones, select the "Time Zones" button and enter the desired number of time zones. If, after adding time zones, you wish to change the number of time zones, click the "Change Number of Time Zones" button in the upper left corner and enter the new number of time zones. After entering the number of time zones, the time zones will be separated by dashed red lines. To set the time zone for a node, drag the node into the desired time zone. Tips must occur in the last time zone. Each node will have a red arrow on either side, drag these arrows into another time zone to set a region of time zones for the node.
Note: If any time zones are specified then all the specified time zones must be used in the host tree.
Jane also supports the option of specifying that certain nodes are in a common "region" (e.g. a geographical region). Once regions are specified, the cost of a host switching event between two different regions can be set to any value. In this way, differential "penalties" can be imposed on duplication with host switch events from one region to another. Specifically, the duplication with host switching cost is computed as the general duplication with host switching cost plus the region-specific host-switching cost.
To add regions, switch to Regions Mode by clicking the "Regions" button. Once in Regions Mode, drag to select a set of nodes and enter a number for the region. When a node is assigned a region, the region will appear in a key above the trees and the node will change to the corresponding color. Once regions have been assigned, region switching costs can be set by selecting the "Edit Region Switching Costs" button and enter the desired cost. A switch from one region to another will be the sum of the baseline host switch cost (user-definable in Jane as described later in this tutorial) and the additional inter-region host switch cost. A cost of "i", indicating "infinity," can be used to prevent all host switching between two regions. The region switching cost will be displayed next to the region key.
Note: All nodes default to Region 0 and when assigning regions they must all be in Region 0 or a region greater than 0.
Note: Regions are not supported by the .nex format.
Erase Mode can be used to remove a node or link. Simply switch to Erase Mode using the "Erase" button and click the node or link you would like to remove. Removing an internal node will cause its descendant subtree to be removed. If a node has two children and one of those children is removed, then both children will be removed.
Clear Mode can be used to remove an entire tree. Simply click either the parasite or host tree to clear that tree. If both trees are cleared, timezone and region information will be cleared as well.
Once the trees have been completed, the "Load to Solver" button can be used to save the file and open it in the main Jane interface. If you have not yet saved the file you will be prompted to do so and then the file will open in the main interface where it can be run in Solve Mode or Stats Mode.
Now we are back at the main Jane page. At the top of that page, you will see three pull-down menus labeled File, Settings, and Solve Mode Options. We have already seen the File menu; this is how you import files or launch the tree builder. now turn to the Settings Menu. This menu is used to set parameters relating to how Jane computes host-parasite reconstructions.
You can set the costs of each type of event: Cospeciation, duplication, duplication with host switch, loss, and failure to diverge.
To change the costs of events, select the "Set Costs" Option in the Jane Settings menu. As seen in the image below, the menu has the events listed with a box next to each. To change the cost of an event, simply enter the desired cost into the box next to the event name, or use the arrows next to the box. Jane requires event costs to be integers. Note that if you wish to have higher precision, you can simulate this by simply scaling up the costs (e.g., costs of "100" and "101" are analogous to "1.00" and "1.01").
Because it can often be difficult to accurately estimate the relative costs of events, Jane also supports solving for ranges of costs. For example, we might specify that cospeciations cost 0, duplications cost between 1 and 3, duplications with host switch cost between 3 and 5, etc. Jane will then compute solutions for every combination of costs in the given ranges and you can later browse through these combinations of costs to see the best solutions found for each.
To use this feature, select the "Range Costs" tab as seen in the image below. This tab allows you to select the range of costs Jane should find solutions for. Note that Jane's running time will increase based on the number of possible combinations of costs that can be made from the ranges given.
The "Region Costs" section at the bottom of the "Set Costs" dialog allows you to change the cost of duplication with host switch events between regions if the tree being solved has region information.
In addition to regions, which allows for customized host switching costs between different groups of nodes, Jane also allows you to completely prohibit any host switches between parts of the tree that are "too far apart." Specifically, the "Set Host Switch Parameters" option of the Settings menu allows you to set a maximum distance on host switches. Jane will not allow a host switch to occur if the graph theoretic distance between two nodes along the edges of the tree is greater than the given value.
Jane inteprets polytomies (multifurcations) as soft polytomies - polytomies that should be ultimately resolved into a sequence of bifurcations. Jane attempts to resolve polytomies in both the host and parasite trees in a way that minimizes the total cost of the resulting cophylogeny reconstruction.
You have control of two options in the "Set Polytomy Parameters" menu. The "Ensure Sequential Resolutions" option (default) ensures that the resolution of each polytomy results in bifurcations that occur in "rapid succession" so that no other speciation events in any part of the tree occur in time between two bifurcations of that resolved polytomy. In contrast, by turning off this option, a soft-polytomy can be resolved into a sequence of bifurcations that occur "slowly" in the sense that other events in the tree can be temporally interleaved with these bifurcations. The two options can result in slightly different solutions.
Similarly, you can toggle the "Prevent Mid-Polytomy Events" option. If this option is on (default) then there cannot be duplication or host switch events involving the edges that are created to resolve the polytomy into a sequence of bifurcations.
Most users will never touch this menu option. But, if you are curious or want to adjust the way that Jane searches for solutions, read on.
The Settings > Set Advanced Genetic Parameters can be used to set the mutation rate and the selection strength used in the genetic algorithm. The mutation rate is a value between 0 and 1, with 0 being never mutate and 1 being always mutate. The selection strength has minimum value 0, which corresponds to a randomly selected population, and there is no upper bound for this parameter. Most users find that the default parameters work well and choose not to adjust the values of these parameters.
Selection Strength This parameter determines how much we trust the fitness function. A value of 1 indicates that we should build successive generations with only the best individuals from previous generations, a value of 0 means we choose randomly from prior generations without consulting the fitness function, and a value in between means we randomly select from prior generations but favor the best solutions.
Mutation Rate This parameter determines how often we mutate timings in our genetic algorithm. A value of 1 means we mutate after every reproduction, a value of 0 means we never mutate, and a value between gives the rate of mutation.
In Solve Mode, Jane finds good reconstructions of the parasite tree onto the host tree and permits you to view those reconstructions. When Jane is run, Solve Mode is selected by default. Solve Mode may be reached from Stats Mode by simply clicking Solve Mode tab on main window. Click the Go button in the Actions box to run the genetic algorithm and search for a good embedding.
Jane finds low-cost associations between the host tree and the parasite tree by generating many random relative timings of the internal nodes of host tree and solving for the optimal association, then applying a genetic algorithm to modify timings and generating new host timing candidates.
In a genetic algorithm, there are two main control parameters called "population size" and "number of generations". These are parameters related to the inner workings of the algorithm and have nothing to do with the populations being studied in the host/parasite system. In a nutshell, the "population size" is the number of different solutions being considered at each iteration of the algorithm and the "number of generations" is the number of iterations performed by the algorithm as it seeks a good reconstruction of the parasite tree onto the host three.
Choosing larger values for these two parameters generally leads to better solutions, up to some point where increasing the values further makes no difference. However, increasing these parameters will cause computation to take more time. While some experimentation with these parameters will be required of you, see the parameters page for more information and advice about selecting appropriate values.
The population size and number of generations can be set by using the slide bars or inputting the number manually in the Genetic Algorithm Parameters box under the Solve Mode or Stats Mode tab. Note that these parameters are separate for each mode, so changing the parameter in one mode will not affect the parameters in the other mode.
The Solution Table displays the list of information about each solution found in Solve Mode, including the number of occurrences of each event and the total cost.
As you will see in a moment, many of the solutions that Jane finds will appear to be identical. In fact, while the solutions may look identical, they are based on different "timings" or relative orderings of the speciation events in the host tree. To compress these apparently identical solutions so that only truly distinct solutions are presented, check the Compress Isomorphic Solutions button.
After clicking Go in Solve Mode, Jane finds new solutions. The best solutions found will be added to the Solution Table.
As noted earlier, you can set a range of costs for each event type in the Settings > Set Costs menu. You might choose, for example, to have cospeciations to cost 0, duplications range in cost from 1 to 3, etc. In this way, you can explore the impact of costs on the solutions that Jane finds.
If you choose this option, Jane will display the following type of pull-down menus above the solution view. You can then select any combination of costs. Note that Jane completely recomputes the solutions when you click on a new cost, so this may take a bit of time to re-solve. Be patient.
Because a large number of different best solutions may be found in every run, you can specify the number of solutions saved by going to Solve Mode > Adjust Number of Solutions and entering the maximum number of host timings to be kept for each run.
To view a solution, simply double click at a solution in the table. A new Solution Viewer window will pop up. The usage of Solution Viewer is described below. To clear the table, go to Solve Mode Options > Clear Table to erase all information in the table.
To open a Solution Viewer, simply double-click on one of the solutions to bring up a Solution Viewer, like the one shown below.
In the Solution Viewer, the host tree is drawn in black and the parasite tree is drawn in blue. There are five types of events: cospeciation, duplication, host switch, loss, and failure to diverge. For more information about Jane's cost models, see the Cost Model and Event page.
Cospeciation: A Cospeciation is marked by a hollow colored circle.
Duplication: A Duplication is marked by a solid colored circle.
Duplication with Host Switch: A Host Switch is marked by a duplication, with an arrow following the trajectory of the switching species.
Loss: A Loss is marked by a dashed line.
Failure To Diverge: A Failure to Diverge is marked by a jagged line.
Additionally, if the mouse cursor is hovered over a parasite node, the event type will appear.
Notice that each node in the parasite tree is marked with a colored circle. The colors indicate the existence of other possible locations for the association. A green node means there is a location of lower cost where the parasite node and its descendants may be mapped. A yellow node indicates that there is another location of equal cost, and a red node means that all other locations it may be mapped to are of higher cost. To view this information from within Jane, go to Options > Show Key while in the Solution Viewer.
Each parasite node can be dragged to a new position, as long as that position leads to a possible embedding of the parasite tree on the host tree without requiring changes outside of the sub-tree rooted at the dragged node. When dragging a parasite node, segments of the host tree will highlight in the colors corresponding to the change in cost when the parasite node is moved to that location on the host tree (see the image below). Grey segments indicate that the parasite node cannot currently be moved to that position. Dragging that node to its current location will also move its descendants to their respective optimal locations.
In some situations there may be many lower cost locations on the host tree to move a specific parasite node and it may be useful to know the location that will result in the overall lowest cost. Simply double-clicking on a parasite node will simulate a "drag and drop" of that node to the location of lowest cost.
As a node is dropped on a location, nodes that are descendants of that parasite node will be placed in their optimal positions automatically. If you wish to extensively modify a particular embedding, it is advisable to work your way "down" the tree, starting at the parasite root node. Otherwise, modifications done near the bottom of the parasite tree will be undone when an ancestor of that node is moved. The cost at the top of the window will change according to the modifications.
Jane 4 is capable of providing Support Values in the solution viewer. Support values give the percentage of solutions in which a specific event of the parasite tree is mapped to a given location on the host tree. Below is a small example of this functionality. In this example, 8 percent of solutions have a host switch from the bottom host edge to the top host edge, and 22 percent have a host switch from the top host edge to the middle one.
To view support values, select the menu option "Show Support Values" as seen in the image below. Note that the time it takes to calculate support values will vary based on the size of the trees. Additionally, support values may vary slightly from run to run due to the method of calculation.
Jane is currently limited to providing support values for unmodified solutions.
Jane 4 has the ability to find solutions for polytomic trees by automatically resolving them. Jane's algorithm attempts to find the best solution from among all possible resolutions.
There are a few options that govern Jane's handling of polytomies that are covered in detail on the page Polytomy Parameters.
We now examine a step-by-step example of interacting with the Solution Viewer. We start with the optimal embedding of the two trees (i.e. the initial state upon opening the viewer).
Step 1: The parasite root node is being moved to a new location. The entire subtree of the moved node will now be optimally embedded onto the host tree. Since the moving node happens to be the root, the entire parasite tree will be adjusted.
Step 2: A different parasite node is now dragged to a new location. Notice that only the subtree of the moved node is rearranged, and all of the other parasite nodes stay at the same location.
Step 3: The root of the parasite tree is moved once again. Note that this step undoes the changes made in "Step 2".
Step 4: If a node is double-clicked, it will move to its optimal position (by only changing the location of itself and its subtree). In this step, the root of the parasite node is double-clicked, which returns the tree to its optimal embedding onto the host tree (see first picture).
Jane allows you to save solutions to a file for later use in a few different ways. When you are viewing a solution, click on the File menu to see the options. One option is to Save Timing. This option allows you to save a representation of the solution that can later be reloaded into Jane. The two other options allow you to save the actual image in either zoomed or regular scale. These latter options are for saving the image for use in publications.
We now examine how to save a solution using the Save Timing timing option. Jane works by considering "timings" of the nodes in the host tree where a timing is simply an ordering of the speciation events (nodes) of the tree. From a given timing, Jane can very quickly find an optimal solution for that timing. Each solution that Jane presents in the Solution Viewer window is a different timing among the best solutions that Jane can find.
If a solution is of interest, its corresponding timing can be saved (without the manual changes made to the parasite tree within that timing) by going to File > Save Timing inside the Solution Viewer window. When the corresponding problem instance is loaded in the main window, the timing can be reloaded and Jane can reconstruct the corresponding solution. To do this, go to Solve Mode Options > Add Host Timing to Table, open the timing, and it will be added back into the list of solutions at the bottom of the Solve Mode tab. Command-line users can save the best timing found by using the -o switch with the name of a file in which to store the timing. It should be noted that the timing files are written in a human-readable format so that they can be modified manually if desired.
In Stats Mode, Jane generates samples of random parasite trees or tip mappings and then solves these samples to obtain their cost. These costs are used to perform statistical analyses. To use the statistics mode, simply select Stats Mode tab in the main window.
The problem instance and genetic algorithm parameters can be configured in the same fashion as in Solve Mode. Note that the number of generations and population size for the genetic algorithm are independent between Solve Mode and Stats Mode; the values used in Solve Mode are not carried over to Stats mode and vice versa.
In the Statistical Parameters box, the Sample Size (the number of random problem instances to be generated and solved) can be set. To include the original problem instance in the sample, check the Include Original Problem Instance box.
Since the computation required to perform the randomization tests can be substantial for large trees, it may be desirable to distribute the work over multiple computers by running a small number of samples on each machine. Jane is multithreaded and will use all of the cores available on each machine.
Checking the "include original problem instance" box will solve the original problem instance in addition to the random ones and generate comparison data. This option is included in the event that you wishes to split the randomization tests over multiple computers. On one computer, the original problem instance will be evaluated in addition to some randomized instances. On the other computers, only randomized instances need to be solved. Note that if you choose to save the sample costs, the original problem instance cost will not be included in these. Thus, make sure you write it down if you need it later!
Random Tip Mapping: In this method, the tip mappings are permuted randomly. Each host tip will have the same degree (number of associated parasite tips) as the original problem instance. For example, if in the original problem instance there are two host tips each with degree two, the randomized problem instance will maintain this characteristic after randomization. If all parasite tips have a degree of one (that is, each parasite is associated to exactly one host) then the randomized tip mapping will be selected uniformly from all possible mappings that maintain the host tip degrees.
If any parasites have degrees greater than one then the randomized mapping will preserve the host degrees and will ensure that each parasite has a degree of at least one. However, the mapping will no longer be selected uniformly from all such mappings but instead the probability of an edge appearing between a host and a parasite is equal to the degree of that host divided by the total number of parasites.
Random Parasite Tree: In this method, random parasite trees are generated according to the Yule model. The Yule "beta" parameter may be specified to control the balance of the tree. The lower bound on this parameter is -2.0, which generates completely unbalanced trees, and there is no upper bound for this parameter. The default value is set to -1.0. For more information about the Yule model see the paper by Steel and McKenzie.
After clicking Go to perform statistical analyses, the resulting cost distribution is displayed in the histogram on the bottom left of the Stats Mode tab, and basic Statistical values are shown on the bottom right of the Stats Mode tab.
The Cost Histogram section will show the result of the run in histogram format, where the horizontal axis represents the cost of the sample and the vertical axis represents the number of samples with the corresponding cost. If included, the cost of the solution to the original problem instance will appear as a red dashed line. Click Save as Picture to save the histogram as a portable network graphics (.png) file format, or click Show Histogram in New Window in order to see the histogram in a larger, separate window.
You might wonder about the robustness of the statistical results. After all, they might be quite different if you had chosen different event costs. Recall that in the Settings > Set Costs menu, you can set ranges of costs for the different events. (These events costs must be integers.) If you choose a range of costs, you will a view like this at the bottom of the Jane window after pressing Go.
You can now view the Cost Histogram for each of the value combinations by simply clicking on the particular event button and selecting the particular cost.
In addition, you can view a summary of the p-values over all of those different cost combinations by clicking on p-value Histogram. Hovering with your mouse over each histogram bar will provide additional information.
The color coding of the bars in the p-value histogram is as follows: The red bar is the p-value for the currently selected cost values (the values selected from the pull-down menus at the bottom of the window). The gray and black bars indicate all other p-values. The bars with p-values less than 0.1 are shades of gray and those greater than 0.1 are black.
The Statistics window contains statistics obtained from the randomization tests, including the mean, standard deviation, and, if the original problem instance is included, the percentile rank of the original compared to the random. The results of the runs can be saved as a comma separated values file by clicking Save Sample Costs. Excel and most other popular spreadsheet applications can open this type of file. Note that even if you check the include original problem instance check box, the cost for the solve of the original problem instance will NOT be saved! You need to write it down yourself.
Jane can be invoked from the command line rather than by launching the graphical user interface as follows. Note that treefile refers to the name of an input file in either .tree or .nex formats.
-V Turns on verbose output - Jane will report the minimum cost and number of host timings found at each generation, rather than just at the end.
-c <cosp dup switch loss ftd> This defines the cost vector to use; i.e. -c 0 1 2 3 4 would cause cospeciations to cost 0, duplications to cost 1, host switches to cost 2, losses/sorting to cost 3, and failures to diverge to cost 4 (default: 0, 1, 1, 2, 1).
-m <value> Sets the mutation rate. Appropriate values fall on the interval [0, 1] with 0 being never mutate and 1 being always mutate (default: 0.6).
-p <value> Sets the initial population size (default: 30).
-i <value> Sets the number of generations that the genetic algorithm should run (default: 30).
-s <value> Sets the selection strength. 0 is completely random and there is no upper bound (default: 0.8).
-S <value> Sets the maximum host switch distance allowed. -1 causes the distance to be unlimited (default: -1).
-stats <samplesize> Switches Jane to Stats Mode and sets the number of samples to <samplesize>. By default, the tip mapping is randomized.
-I When in stats mode, also does a solve of the original tip mapping/trees and prints data comparing it to the random sample. Note that the sample distribution will NOT include the cost of this solution. -stats must be invoked first.
-B <value> Switches to parasite tree randomization using the Yule model where the value is Yule parameter. -stats must be invoked first.
-o <filename> For Solve Mode, outputs the best host timing file to a file called <filename>. This file can then be viewed in graphical version of Jane. For Stats Mode, outputs the sample costs as a common separated value file (generally .csv or .xls) to a file called <filename>.
-silent This causes Jane to produce absolutely no output to the console (though it will still write any files that are specified). Any operation that would normally print something out will still run, but it won't print anything out. | 2019-04-25T19:52:29Z | https://www.cs.hmc.edu/~hadas/jane/tutorial.html |
As oviparous fish, rainbow trout change their nutritional strategy during ontogenesis. This change is divided into the exclusive utilization of yolk-sac reserves (endogenous feeding), the concurrent utilization of yolk reserves and exogenous feeds (mixed feeding) and the complete dependence on external feeds (exogenous feeding). The change in food source is accompanied by well-characterized morphological changes, including the development of adipose tissue as an energy storage site, and continuous muscle development to improve foraging. The aim of this study was to investigate underlying molecular mechanisms that contribute to these ontogenetic changes between the nutritional phenotypes in rainbow trout alevins. We therefore analyzed the expression of marker genes of metabolic pathways and microRNAs (miRNAs) important in the differentiation and/or maintenance of metabolic tissues. In exogenously feeding alevins, the last enzyme involved in glucose production (g6pca and g6pcb) and lipolytic gene expression (cpt1a and cpt1b) decreased, while that of gk, involved in hepatic glucose use, was induced. This pattern is consistent with a progressive switch from the utilization of stored (gluconeogenic) amino acids and lipids in endogenously feeding alevins to a utilization of exogenous feeds via the glycolytic pathway. A shift towards the utilization of external feeds is further evidenced by the increased expression of omy-miRNA-143, a homologue of the mammalian marker of adipogenesis. The expression of its predicted target gene abhd5, a factor in triglyceride hydrolysis, decreased concurrently, suggesting a potential mechanism in the onset of lipid deposition. Muscle-specific omy-miRNA-1/133 and myod1 expression decreased in exogenously feeding alevins, a molecular signature consistent with muscle hypertrophy, which may be linked to nutritional cues or increased foraging.
Recent molecular tools have allowed for a more detailed understanding of the nutritional and endocrine regulation of the intermediary metabolism in adult rainbow trout [Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum 1792)]. Several studies of key metabolic tissues of adult rainbow trout have elucidated molecular mechanisms involved in metabolic regulation in the liver (Plagnes-Juan et al., 2008; Mennigen et al., 2012), muscle (Seiliez et al., 2011; Gabillard et al., 2010), adipose tissue (Polakof et al., 2011; Cruz-Garcia et al., 2012), brain (Polakof et al., 2007; Polakof et al., 2008) and Brockmann bodies (Polakof et al., 2008). These experiments largely support the notion from mammalian model systems that, albeit not exclusively, many metabolic pathways are finely regulated at the level of gene expression of key enzymes (Desvergne et al., 2006). In addition to these ‘classical’ metabolic genes, recent studies in mammalian model systems have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) constitute important regulators of intermediary metabolism in several tissues (Rottiers and Näär, 2012). This finding is not surprising, as miRNAs have been shown to postranscriptionally regulate metabolic target genes directly or indirectly through important signaling pathways involved in the coordination of cellular metabolism (Tibiche and Wang, 2008). Indeed, preliminary evidence suggests that their roles in fish metabolism may be conserved (Her et al., 2011; Mennigen et al., 2012), in line with the highly conserved nature of many miRNAs in the vertebrate lineage (Lee et al., 2007). With this increasing availability of molecular tools, we wanted to determine for the first time the underlying molecular mechanisms (mRNAs and miRNAs) that are associated with the transition between endogenous (vitellus) and exogenous (diet) feeding in rainbow trout alevins. The understanding of nutrition in fish larvae and/or alevins is not only an important question in developmental biology, but also has critical importance to aquaculture, as the lack of its understanding is considered to be one of the contributing factors in the high larval mortality observed in commercial fish rearing (Li and Leatherland, 2008; Conceição et al., 2010).
The present study therefore specifically aimed to investigate expression changes of genes and miRNAs associated with intermediary metabolism in rainbow trout alevins, which undergo a rapid ontogenetic switch in nutritional strategies (Vernier, 1969) that is characteristic of oviparous fish development (Balon, 1986). Briefly, the succession of nutritional strategies in rainbow trout progresses from an exclusive reliance on endogenous yolk-sac reserves (Vernier stage 1–35) to a stage of mixed feeding after the first meal (Vernier stage 36), which is characterized by the concurrent use of exogenous food and remaining yolk-sac reserves, to an exclusively exogenous nutrition (Vernier stage >37). However, little is known regarding the potential molecular regulation of metabolic pathways in this process, or the potential role of miRNA in the acquisition of the capacity to utilize external feeds. Specifically, we assessed potential changes in global intermediary metabolism between nutritional phenotypes by investigating the expression of genes of glucose metabolism (glycolysis and gluconeogenesis), lipid metabolism (lipogenesis and β-oxidation) and amino acid metabolism (amino acid catabolism). Additionally, we investigated the expression of specific miRNAs and their predicted target genes, whose function in metabolic tissues has been characterized in mammalian models (Rottiers and Näär, 2012). The miRNAs investigated in this study have either been associated with the differentiation and function of specific metabolic tissues in mammals, such as a role for miR-33 and miR-122 in proliferation and lipid metabolism in the liver (Cirera-Salinas et al., 2012; Elmén et al., 2008), a role for miRNA-143 in the differentiation of adipose tissue (Esau et al., 2004) and miR-1/133 in the differentiation of muscle (Chen et al., 2006), or are ubiquitously expressed in mammalian metabolic tissues, where they have important metabolic roles in the regulation of insulin signaling, such as miR-29 (Pandey et al., 2011; Rottiers and Näär, 2012) and miR-103/107 (Trajkovski et al., 2011). Indeed, the recent identification of several conserved rainbow trout homologues of these miRNAs (Salem et al., 2010) and the postprandial hepatic regulation of some of these miRNAs in rainbow trout suggest a conserved metabolic role for these miRNAs in rainbow trout (Mennigen et al., 2012). Furthermore, components of the miRNA pathway have been shown to be expressed in early trout development, and the distinct regulation of some miRNAs in early trout ontogenesis indicates their functional involvement in trout developmental processes (Ramachandra et al., 2008).
The experiments were carried out in accordance within the clear boundaries of EU legal frameworks, specifically those relating to the protection of animals used for scientific purposes (i.e. Directive 2010/63/EU), and under the French legislation governing the ethical treatment of animals (Decret no. 2001-464, 29 May 2001). Rainbow trout embryos were initially reared from 16 November 2011 at INRA experimental facilities at Les-Athas, France, in 8°C stream water up to the age of 64 days [8°C × 64 days=532 degree days (°D)], during which time they hatched at the age of 44 days (=352°D). Following this, the alevins were transferred to the experimental facilities at INRA Donzaq, France, and distributed into a 50 l tank of oxygenated spring water maintained at 18°C. Unfed fish with visible yolk sacs were sampled at the age of 65 days (8°C × 64 days + 18°C × 1 day=550°D, Vernier stage 35); N=9 independent samples were collected, of which each sample consisted of five pooled fish (Fig. 1). Both groups (embryos and alevins) were subsequently used for gene expression analysis of mRNA and miRNA (N=9), respectively. Following the emergence of the first free-swimming fish, the second group of trout that still exhibited small yolk reserves (71 days, 8°C × 64 days × 18°C × 7 days=638°D, Vernier stage 36) was fed a first meal at 09:00 h and killed 3 h after the meal (corresponding well to the postprandial period in alevins) by terminal anesthetization by bathing in benzocaine prior to pooling and storage in liquid nitrogen. The fed meal consisted of a commercial diet of 0.5 mm diameter pellets (Skretting, Fontaine-les-Vervins, France; fishmeal 51.6%, fish oil 13.1%, corn starch 13.1%, wheat gluten 10.5%, pea protein concentrate and 10.5% mineral mix). Finally, 84-day-old (892°D) alevins, which were characterized by a complete resorption of the yolk sac (Vernier stage >37) and had been maintained on a continuous feeding regime of multiple meals a day, were killed 3 h following feeding as described above. Care was taken to maintain the same daily time frame before sampling to avoid potential circadian effects, known to affect metabolism in rainbow trout (Bolliet et al., 2000). Therefore, fish were consistently sampled at 12:00 h for each ontogenetic stage investigated in this study. Additionally, the time frame between feeding and sampling was deliberately chosen based on previous experiments showing potent postprandial activation of metabolic gene expression and miRNA expression 2–4 h after a meal in the liver of rainbow trout (Mennigen et al., 2012). The samples were stored at −80°C until utilized for analysis.
Relative whole alevin gene expression of mRNA and miRNA was determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. The extraction of total RNA from whole alevins was performed using the Trizol reagent (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA) according to the manufacturer's instructions. One microgram of total RNA was used for cDNA synthesis. The NCode VILO miRNA cDNA Synthesis Kit (Invitrogen) and the SuperScript III RNaseH-Reverse Transcriptase Kit (Invitrogen) with random primers (Promega, Charbonniéres, France) were used according to the manufacturer's protocol to synthesize cDNA (N=9 for each time point) for miRNA and mRNA, respectively. For gene expression assays, forward primer sequences for miRNAs were taken directly from the sequence information provided by Salem and colleagues (Salem et al., 2010), or, if not available, designed based on miRNA sequences found in miRBase (www.mirbase.org). The reverse primer used for all miRNA expression analysis was provided by Invitrogen with the NCode VILO miRNA cDNA Synthesis Kit. The primer sequences used in the real-time RT-PCR assays for mRNA of metabolic genes, as well as the protocol conditions of the assays, have been previously published (Alami-Durante et al., 2010; Kolditz et al., 2010; Prindiville et al., 2011; Seiliez et al., 2001). Primers for the α/β hydrolase-domain 5 (abhd5) gene were newly designed using Primer3 (http://frodo.wi.mit.edu/) using the available trout sequence on the Gene Index Project (http://compbio.dfci.harvard.edu/tgi/) under accession number TC114063. Primer sequences for abhd5 were CCAGAGGACTTCAACCACAGA (FW) and CCTCACAGATCACATGCTCAC (RV). To confirm specificity of the newly developed RT-PCR assay for abhd5, the amplicon was purified and sequenced (Beckman-Coulter Genomics, Takeley, UK). The specific forward primers used for miRNA real-time RT-PCR assays, as well as the specific temperatures used, are listed in Table 1. A universal poly T primer was used in all miRNA real-time RT-PCR assays as described in the manufacturer's protocol (NCode VILO miRNA cDNA Synthesis Kit, Invitrogen). For real-time RT-PCR assays of transcripts of both metabolic genes and miRNAs, the Roche Lightcycler 480 system was used (Roche Diagnostics, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France). The assays were performed using a reaction mix of 6 μl per sample, each of which contained 2 μl of diluted cDNA template, 0.12 μl of each primer (10 μmol l−1), 3 μl Light Cycler 480 SYBR Green I Master mix and 0.76 μl DNase-/RNase-free water (5 Prime, Hamburg, Germany). The PCR protocol was initiated at 95°C for 10 min for initial denaturation of the cDNA and hot-start Taq polymerase activation, followed by 45 cycles of a two-step amplification programme (15 s at 95°C, 40 s at 60–64°C), according to the primer set used. Melting curves were systematically monitored (temperature gradient at 1.1°C 10 s−1 from 65 to 94°C) at the end of the last amplification cycle to confirm the specificity of the amplification reaction. Each PCR assay included replicate samples (duplicate of reverse transcription and PCR amplification) and negative controls (reverse transcriptase- and cDNA template-free samples). The gene expression assays for the metabolic genes have been described previously in the publications previously cited for primer sequences. Briefly, the PCR protocol was initiated at 95°C for 3 min for initial denaturation of the cDNA and hot-start DNA polymerase activation and continued with 35 cycles of a two-step amplification programme (20 s at 95°C, 20 s at 56–60°C), according to the primer set used. Melting curves were systematically monitored (temperature gradient at 0.5°C 10 s−1 from 55 to 94°C) at the end of the last amplification cycle to confirm the specificity of the amplification reaction. Each real-time RT-PCR run included replicate samples and controls as described above. For the expression analysis of both miRNA and mRNA, relative quantification of target gene expression was performed using the ΔCT method (Pfaffl, 2001). The relative gene expression of 18S was used for the normalization of measured mRNAs and miRNAs, as its relative expression did not significantly change over sampling time (data not shown). In all cases, PCR efficiency (E) was measured by the slope of a standard curve using serial dilutions of cDNA. In all cases, PCR efficiency values ranged between 1.8 and 2.2.
Schematic representation of the experimental design. Trout alevins were sampled at three time points according to nutritional stages classified by drawings from Vernier (Vernier, 1969). Sampling was conducted at the same time (12:00 h) to avoid potential circadian effects. The last two samplings were conducted 3 h after trout were fed a commercial meal.
The omy-miRNA-143 sequence was taken from Salem and colleagues (Salem et al., 2010) and rainbow trout sequence for abhd5, identified as a candidate target gene for omy-miR-143 by Salem and colleagues, was retrieved from the trout expressed sequence tag database available on the Gene Index Project under accession number TC114063. To assess the potential for miRNA and mRNA interaction in more detail, several criteria were considered. These are specifically a thermodynamic stability of the RNA duplex assessed by median free energy, generally set at a minimum free energy (mfE) >−18 (Watanabe et al., 2006), the seed-rule stating that the 5′ bases at position 2–7 of the miRNA are most important in mediating miRNA binding specificity and tolerate only a single mismatch (Brennecke et al., 2005), a preferential location in the 3′ untranscribed region (UTR) (Baek et al., 2008), and multiplicity of binding sites (Hon and Zhang, 2007). These parameters were assessed initially using RNAhybrid prediction software (Rehmsmeier et al., 2004) (http://bibiserv.techfak.uni-bielefeld.de/rnahybrid/) with a cut-off value of mfE<−18. In a second step, all sequences with more than one mismatch in the seed region were excluded. Lastly, the sequences were mapped on predicted coding and 3′ UTR of the mRNA to assess the preferential regulation based on the location of the target site in the 3′ UTR of the mRNA.
Data were analyzed by univariate one-way ANOVA. In cases where data were nonparametric or not homoscedastic, data transformations were used to meet ANOVA criteria. Normality was assessed using the Shaprio–Wilk test, while homoscedasticity was determined using Levene's test. Following univariate ANOVA analysis, the Student–Newman–Keuls test was used for post hoc analysis. Correlations between the expression of specific miRNAs and their respective target genes were analysed by Spearman's correlation test. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 17.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA).
Whole-body gene expression of genes involved in the intermediary metabolic pathway of glycolysis in alevins utilizing different nutritional strategies. Mean ± s.e.m. gene expression data (N=9) for (A) glucokinase, (B) phosphofructokinase and (C) pyruvatekinase are shown. Different letters indicate significantly different groups as established by one-way ANOVA and Student–Newman–Keuls post hoc test.
The expression of glucose metabolism-related genes revealed contrasting effects for some genes involved in the glycolytic (Fig. 2) and gluconeogenic pathways (Fig. 3). For glucokinase, the first enzyme involved in glucose use through phosphorylation, gk (d.f.=2, F=23.67, P>0.01), an increase in expression was observed at the mixed feeding and external feeding stages (Fig. 2A), while no difference in the gene expression of the two glycolytic enzymes, i.e. phosphofructokinase, pfk (d.f.=2, F=3.015, P>0.05), and pyruvate kinase, pk (d.f.=2, F=2.942, P>0.05), was observed (Fig. 2B,C). Conversely, the glucose-6-phosphatase genes coding the last enzyme in glucose release 1, g6pc1 (d.f.=2, F=29.466, P<0.01), and glucose-6-phosphatase 2, g6pc2 (d.f.=2, F=8.27, P<0.01), were significantly decreased in exotroph alevins (Fig. 3A,B). No changes were found in the expression of the gluconeogenic genes mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, m-pepck (d.f.=2, F=1.534, P>0.05), or fructose-1,6 bisphosphatase 1, fbpase1 (d.f.=2, F=2.988, P>0.05), between rainbow trout alevins using different nutritional sources (Fig. 3C,D). The expression of gene markers for lipid metabolism were also investigated; no significant changes were observed in the expression of the lipogenic genes (Fig. 4A–C) sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c, srebp1c (d.f.=2, F=1.617, P>0.05), fatty acid synthase, fasn (d.f.=2, F=0.98, P>0.05), or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, g6pdh, which functions as an electron donor in the lipogenic pathway (d.f.=2, F=1.450, P>0.05). Furthermore, no changes were observed in fatty acid desaturase 2, fads2 (d.f.=2, F=1.852, P>0.05; Fig. 4D). In contrast, a significant decrease in the expression of genes involved in β-oxidation pathways, particularly the isoforms of the rate-limiting carnitine-palmitoyl transferase transporter, cpt1a (d.f.=2, F=30.15, P<0.01) and cpt1b (d.f.=2, F=10.86, P<0.01), was observed in fish relying on exogenous feeding (Fig. 5). The gene expression of the enzymes serine dehydratase, sdh (d.f.=2, F=3.176, P>0.05), arginine synthase, as (d.f.=2, F=1.592, P>0.05), and glutamine synthase, gls (F=1.329, P>0.05), and the glutamate dehydrogenase isoforms gdh1 (d.f.=2, F=0.125, P>0.05) and gdh2 (d.f.=2, F=1.22, P>0.05), involved in amino acid catabolism, did not change significantly (Fig. 6).
Whole-body gene expression of genes involved in the intermediary metabolic pathway of gluconeogenesis in alevins utilizing different nutritional strategies. Mean ± s.e.m. gene expression data (N=9) for (A) glucose-6-phosphatase 1, (B) glucose-6-phosphatase 2, (C) fructose-bis-phosphatase and (D) phospho-enolpyruvate-carboxykinase are shown. Different letters indicate significantly different groups as established by one-way ANOVA and Student–Newman–Keuls post hoc test.
Whole-body gene expression of genes involved in the intermediary metabolic pathway of lipogenesis and lipid metabolism in alevins utilizing different nutritional strategies. Mean ± s.e.m. gene expression data (N=9) for (A) sterol regulatory binding protein 1c, (B) glucose-6-phospo-dehydrogenase, (C) fatty acid synthase and (D) fatty acid delta6 desaturase are shown.
Whole-body gene expression of genes involved in the intermediary metabolic pathway of fatty acid β-oxidation in alevins utilizing different nutritional strategies. Mean ± s.e.m. gene expression data (N=9) for (A) carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1A and (B) carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1B are shown. Different letters indicate significantly different groups as established by one-way ANOVA and Student–Newman–Keuls post hoc test.
The expression of omy-miRNA-33 (d.f.=2, F=65.7, P<0.01) and omy-miRNA-122a/b isomiRs (d.f.=2, F=8.809 and d.f.=2, F=8.901, both P<0.01) decreased in fish that rely exclusively on exogenous feeding (Fig. 7). The expression of omy-miRNA-143 (d.f.=2, F=6.745, P>0.01) increased in fish that rely on mixed and exogenous feeding (Fig. 8A). The gene abhd5 is a predicted direct target of omy-miR-143 in rainbow trout (Salem et al., 2010). The omy-miRNA-143 was predicted to bind to multiple (six) target sites in the mRNA for abhd5 in trout. To further assess the prediction of the trout abhd5 homologue as a target of omy-miRNA-143 in trout, we mapped several of these binding sites onto the available sequence in order to obtain additional information with respect to the localization of the binding sites, as the presence of binding sites in the 3′ UTR results in comparatively stronger expression than target sites in the coding sequences. In cases where target sites are present in both coding sequences and the 3′ UTR, such as the case of omy-miRNA-143 binding sites in trout, a mild but significantly enhanced repression is generally observed (Fang and Rajewsky, 2011). The novel information that indeed two of these potential binding sequences were located in the predicted 3′ UTR of the abhd5 transcript in rainbow trout (supplementary material Fig. S1), while three additional target sequences are located within the coding sequence of the mRNA, further strengthens the case for a role of omy-miRNA-143 in the regulation of trout abhd5. The expression of abhd5 (Fig. 8B) decreased with the acquisition of an exogenous feeding strategy in whole alevins (d.f.=2, F=10.619, P<0.05) and is furthermore inversely correlated with the expression of its predicted regulatory miRNA, omy-miRNA-143, as assessed by Spearman's test (σ=0.514, P<0.05). The expression of cd36, a marker of adipogenesis in mammalian models, was used to validate adipogenic potential in trout alevins at a molecular level and was increased in exogenously feeding alevins compared with alevins at first feeding (d.f.=2, F=5.13, P<0.05; Fig. 8C). The expression of muscle-specific omy-miRNA-1 (d.f.=2, F=4.75, P<0.05) and omy-miRNA-133 (d.f.=2, F=5.301, P<0.05) decreased significantly in alevins that fed exogenously (Fig. 9A,B). The expression of omy-miRNA-1 and omy-miRNA-133 was significantly correlated (σ=0.558, P<0.01), and hence the expression of myod1, a stimulatory transcription factor for the miR-1/133 locus in mammals, was investigated. In spite of a concurrent decrease in myod1 expression in exogenously feeding alevins (d.f.=2, F=4.068, P<0.05; Fig. 9C), no significant correlations between the expression of myod1 and omy-miRNA-1 (σ=0.219, P>0.05) or myod1 and omy-miRNA-133 (σ=0.158, P>0.05) were found. The expression of the ubiquitously expressed omy-miRNA-29 (d.f.=2, F=4.475, P <0.05; Fig. 10A) increased significantly in fish relying on exogenous feeding, while the ubiquitously expressed omy-miRNA-103/107 (d.f.=2, F=2.44, P>0.05 and d.f.=2, F=0.81, P>0.05) did not change significantly between fish relying on different feed sources (Fig. 10B,C).
Whole-body gene expression of genes involved in the intermediary metabolic pathway of amino acid catabolism in alevins utilizing different nutritional strategies. Mean ± s.e.m. gene expression data (N=9) for (A) serine dehydratase, (B) alanine synthase, (C) glutamine synthase and (D) serine dehydratase isoforms are shown.
Whole-body gene expression of liver-specific omy-miRNA in alevins using different nutritional strategies. Mean ± s.e.m. gene expression data (N=9) for (A) omy-miRNA-33, (B) omy-miRNA-122a and (C) omy-miRNA-122b are shown. Different letters indicate significantly different groups as established by one-way ANOVA and Student–Newman–Keuls post hoc test.
Whole-body alevin gene expression of (A) adipose tissue-enriched omy-miRNA-143, (B) its predicted direct target abhd5 and (C) the adipogenesis marker cd36 in alevins using different nutritional strategies. The expression data are means ± s.e.m. (N=9). Different letters indicate significantly different groups as established by one-way ANOVA and Student–Newman–Keuls post hoc test.
Whole-body gene expression of muscle-specific omy-miRNA-1 (A) and omy-miRNA-133 (B), as well as myocyte-specific transcription factor myod1 (C) in alevins using different nutritional strategies. The expression data are means ± s.e.m. (N=9). Different letters indicate significantly different groups as established by one-way ANOVA and Student–Newman–Keuls post hoc test.
Whole-body gene expression of ubiquitously expressed omy-miRNA genes putatively involved in the regulation of intermediary metabolism in alevins using different nutritional strategies. Global alevin gene expression data (means ± s.e.m.; N=9) of (A) omy-miRNA-29, (B) omy-miRNA-103 and (C) omy-miRNA-107 are shown. Different letters indicate significantly different groups as established by one-way ANOVA and Student–Newman–Keuls post hoc test.
Globally, gene expression analysis revealed a progressive decrease in the expression of genes involved in the fatty acid β-oxidation and in the last step of glucose release, as evidenced by the significantly decreased expression of the analyzed cpta and cptb isoforms and g6pc1 and g6pc2 isoforms, respectively. This gene expression profile is in line with the hypothesized change in metabolic strategy in oviparous fish larvae, which initially rely on endogenous reserves of lipids and proteins, believed to contribute to the maintenance energy metabolism by these catabolic pathways (Desrosiers et al., 2008; Boulekbache, 1981; Conceição et al., 1998; Ronnestad et al., 1999). The initial high expression of cpt gene isoforms, generally considered to represent the rate-limiting step in the β-oxidation pathway of free fatty acids by regulating their mitochondrial uptake, and the subsequent decrease in cpt isoform expression at the onset of exogenous feeding, are also in accordance with the detection of active lipid turnover in trout embryos (Terner et al., 1968), believed to liberate free fatty acids from the principally stored phospholipids and triglycerides in order to provide a supply for oxidation in order to ensure continuous supply of energy (Wiegand, 1996; Terner et al., 1968; Tocher, 2003). Indeed, due to a very small glycogen storage capacity, which is consumed very quickly at the beginning of development, and the comparatively very high quantity of vitelline lipid and protein content (Terner et al., 1968), trout alevins are believed to use triglyceride-derived glycerol, but also gluconeogenic amino acids as substrates for glucose synthesis (Terner et al., 1968). Therefore, even though the expression of two other specific gluconeogenic enzymes pepck and fbpase did not change, the similarly initial high expression of g6pc isoforms and their decrease in expression after alevins switch to exogenous feeding seems to be equally in concordance with this hypothesized production of glucose in trout alevins. The initially detected higher expression in g6pase isoforms in trout alevins is also consistent with the evidence for G6Pase activity in embryonic rainbow trout, which increases slightly up to first feeding (Vernier and Sire, 1976). Conversely, gk gene expression increased following the first exogenous feed intake, confirming previous findings in trout (Geurden et al., 2007) and carp (Panserat et al., 2001). The induction of the expression of the gene gk, involved in the first step of glucose use, and concurrent decrease in the expression of g6pc are furthermore consistent with findings from a transcriptomic analysis of complete European sea bass (Dicentrus labrax) larvae, in which several genes that are involved in the glycolytic pathway are increasingly expressed with advancing ontogenesis, while genes involved in gluconeogenesis exhibit an inverse expression pattern, with initially highly expressed genes that subsequently decrease (Darias et al., 2008). Moreover, even though there is induction of gk gene expression after feeding, this induction is relatively low (threefold) compared with the effects of carbohydrate-rich diets [up to 200-fold (Seiliez et al., 2011)]. This relatively low gk induction is probably linked to the low level of carbohydrates in the starter diet (coming only from the 13.5% corn starch). The low gk induction could also explain the absence of induction of g6pdh, fas and srebp1c gene expression, the lipogenesis being induced when the glucose is in excess. However, this induction of gk gene expression indicates unambiguously that there was glucose intake in alevins fed a diet that could be sufficient for a concomitant decrease of lipid β-oxydation (as reflected by the cpt1 gene expression). Therefore, the ontogenetic switch between nutritional phenotypes in rainbow trout may at least partially be regulated at the level of gene expression in a pattern that is consistent with the hypothesized switch from the utilization of yolk reserves to external feeding, and may indeed be common feature in different oviparous fish that undergo ontogenetic changes in nutritional phenotypes.
Several miRNAs with metabolic function have been characterized in mammals and have been shown to functionally regulate carbohydrate and/or lipid metabolism (Rottiers and Näär, 2012). For example, miRNA-29, miRNA-103 and miRNA-107 have been shown to inhibit insulin-induced Akt signaling, in effect stimulating gluconeogenic gene expression in the liver with consequences for glucose homeostasis in mammalian models (Pandey et al., 2011; Trajkovski et al., 2011; Jordan et al., 2011). While direct mechanistic evidence for similar roles in fish is still lacking, correlational descriptive studies reveal a possible conservation of these functions in fish (Her et al., 2011; Mennigen et al., 2012). In our study, no changes were observed in the expression of miR-103/107 in trout using different feeding strategies in spite of an evident regulation of some gluconeogenic genes. Because these microRNAs are in contrast to liver-, adipose- and muscle-enriched miRNAs ubiquitously expressed in adult trout metabolic tissues, this result is difficult to interpret, as it may reflect a differential regulation of these miRNAs in different tissues, as is the case in mammals (Trajkovski et al., 2011). While not many ontogenetic profiles for miRNA expression in fish are currently available that provide data for first feeding, miR103/107 abundance increases temporally with first feeding in Atlantic halibut (Bizuayehu et al., 2012), contrary to the results obtained in our study. Interestingly, omy-miRNA-29 increased significantly with first feeding and remained elevated in exogenously feeding fish. The rno-miRNA-29 has been shown to be highly upregulated in liver, adipose tissue and muscle of diabetic rats (He et al., 2007) and has hence been shown to have metabolic functions via modulation of the insulin pathway in the liver (Pandey et al., 2011).
A concurrent decrease in omy-miRNA-33 and omy-miRNA-122 (primarily expressed in the liver in adult trout; data not shown) was observed in rainbow trout relying on completely exogenous feeding. The decreased expression of both miRNAs known to inhibit hepatocyte proliferation in higher vertebrates (Xu et al., 2010; Cirera-Salinas et al., 2012) may be also be related to the relatively higher allometric contribution of liver growth compared with other tissues in rainbow trout fingerlings (Weatherley and Gill, 1983), indicating increased proliferation of hepatic tissue at this stage. As both miRNA-122 and miRNA-33 are known to inhibit hepatocyte proliferation, their expression decrease in exogenously feeding alevins may be related to the increased proliferation of hepatic tissue observed in rainbow trout alevins and juveniles, in line with increased metabolic demands in the growing alevins. Nevertheless, while genes with a function in cell proliferation are predicted to be targeted in fish species whose genome sequences are available from the Microcosm algorithms (www.ebi.ac.uk/enright-srv/microcosm/), direct proof in fish is lacking to date and these hypotheses remain to be validated in fish. In rainbow trout, whose genome has not fully been sequenced and annotated, no targets for miR-122 have yet been predicted. Compared with the developmental profile of miR-122 in other fish species, the observed pattern is different from changes following first feeding in Atlantic halibut (Bizuayehu et al., 2012), where miRNA-122 abundance increases sharply at first feeding before decreasing in early metamorphosis, indicating species-specific differences in ontogenetic miRNA expression profiles.
The identification of a particularly high expression of omy-miRNA-143 adipose tissue in adult rainbow trout (data not shown) is in line with its established role of its human (Esau et al., 2004), chicken (Wang et al., 2012), murine (Takanabe et al., 2008) and porcine (Li et al., 2011) homologues, whose increase in adipocyte precursor cells is a necessary factor in adipocyte differentiation, at least partially through the mediation of enhanced accumulation of triglycerides (Wang et al., 2012). In a previous study, omy-miRNA-143 was found to be mostly expressed in trout muscle and digestive tissues; however, adipose tissue was not included in the tissues analyzed (Salem et al., 2010). Both muscle and intestinal tissue are known to contain adipose tissue (Johnston and Moon, 2001; Fauconneau et al., 1997; Weil et al., 2009) and may thus have contributed to the detection of omy-miR-143 expression in these tissues. In fish development, the process of adipogenesis is only scarcely characterized, but has clearly been demonstrated to commence with exogenous feeding in zebrafish (Flynn et al., 2009), after which the appearance of visceral adipocytes indicates a storage of excess ingested energy in form of lipids. Similarly, in rainbow trout, adipocyte number and diameter increase in juvenile trout muscle with age (Fauconneau et al., 1997). Indeed, in our study an increase in omy-miRNA-143 was observed with the beginning of exogenous feeding, which correlates with previously reported findings that showed a significant increase in whole alevin lipid content as early as 10–30 days after the first meal (F. Médale, unpublished data). It is also known that visceral fat deposition has a high positive allometric contribution in young trout fingerlings (Weatherley and Gill, 1983). In spite of the fact that the direct localization of omy-miRNA-143 expression can only be assessed by in situ analysis, the observation of a potent induction of omy-miRNA-143 at first feeding and its strong enrichment in adipose tissue in adult rainbow trout suggest that omy-miRNA-143 may constitute a marker for adipogenesis in rainbow trout. In contrast to other miRNAs investigated in this study, Salem et al. (Salem et al., 2010), and our own more detailed analysis, identified in abhd5 a putative target for omy-miRNA-143. In addition to being a hypothesized target of omy-miRNA-143 which is enriched in adipose tissues, the function of abhd5 in mammalian model species is interesting, as the abhd5 gene is involved in adipocyte degradation and liberation of free fatty acids from stored triglycerides in mammals (Lass et al., 2006), principally by acting as a strong, positive regulator of the adipose triglyceride lipase (Lass et al., 2006; Yen and Farese, 2006; Wang et al., 2012). Recently, a similar function for abhd5 has been established in skeletal muscle, where its overexpression induces a twofold increase in triacylglycerol hydrolysis, triacylglycerol-derived fatty acid release and fatty acid oxidation, while abhd5 knock-down reveals opposite effects (Badin et al., 2012). To investigate a possible regulatory role of omy-miRNA-143 on abhd5 expression, we measured both expression levels across feeding stages and identified a significant inverse correlation in the expression of omy-miR-143 and abdh5. The significant increase in expression of omy-miRNA-143 following postprandial feeding may therefore represent a functional marker in lipid deposition, accompanied by an inverse expression of its predicted target in trout, abhd5. Alevins that develop towards an exogenous nutritional may thus, through this molecular pathway, favour deposition of lipids, which has been observed in trout alevins following first feeding (F.M., unpublished data) and in the muscle of juvenile trout (Fauconneau et al., 1997). In adult trout, these stores will later fulfill metabolic demands during fasting (Jezierska et al., 1982) and exercise (Richards et al., 2002), and also play a role in cold acclimatization (Egginton et al., 2000). In order to substantiate the potential role of omy-miRNA-143 as a potential marker for the process of lipid deposition during ontogenesis, we equally investigated the expression of cd36, a fatty acid transporter with a rate-limiting function on triglyceride synthesis in adipocytes and muscle (Coburn et al., 2001; Christiaens et al., 2012), which in rainbow trout has been identified as a marker for muscular lipid deposition (Kolditz et al., 2010). In our study, we found an expression level that significantly increased between first feeding and completely exogenously feeding alevins. This molecular signature is indicative of a concurrent enhanced capacity for uptake of fatty acids used for lipid deposition via cd36. Together, the expressions of these molecular markers indicate an increased potential for lipid deposition through increased uptake of fatty acids and decreased hydrolysis of triglycerides. This physiological switch towards lipid storage is furthermore supported by the previously described decrease in cpt1a and cpt1b expression, both markers of β-oxidation and involved in the functional utilization of stored lipids in the mitochondria of adult rainbow trout muscle (Morash and McClelland, 2011). However, while the expression pattern of omy-miRNA-143 and abhd5 supports the hypothesis of a functional role of decreased lipolysis in the switch towards storage of lipids in exogenously feeding trout alevins, a limitation of the present study is the fact that entire alevins were investigated. While omy-miRNA-143 is indeed strongly enriched in adipose tissue of adult rainbow trout (data not shown), in situ hybridizations of omy-miRNA-143 and abhd5 in trout development will be necessary to confirm tissue specificity of omy-miRNA-143 in trout adipose tissue during ontogenesis. Adequate methods for whole-mount in situ detection of small miRNAs in fish have recently become available (Lagendijk et al., 2012). Additionally, only in vitro studies of trout adipocytes (Albalat et al., 2005) will be able to directly validate a role for omy-miRNA-143 in lipid deposition in adipose tissue in rainbow trout, as a functional role of omy-miRNA-143 can be unequivocally shown only by direct inhibition.
The role of the muscle-specific miRNA-1 and miRNA-133 (Salem et al., 2010), found to decrease in rainbow trout alevins adopting an exogenous nutritional strategy in the present study, is generally considered to be the coordination of the balance between muscle proliferation and differentiation in mammals (Chen et al., 2006). Additionally, a role for miRNA-1 and miRNA-133 in muscle hypertrophy has been postulated based on an observed concurrent downregulation of both miRNAs in rat muscle undergoing hypertrophy following functional overload (McCarthy and Esser, 2007). Indeed, immediately prior to the first meal, trout alevins hatch and distinctly increase foraging as they begin swimming upwards in the water column (Hale, 1999). This increase in the utilization of muscles may similarly induce hypertrophy as a response. Furthermore, hypertrophy, in addition to hyperplasia, plays an important role in the continuous muscle growth in rainbow trout. The contribution of hypertrophy is indeed highest (40%) in trout alevins comparable to the stages analyzed in the present study (Mommsen, 2001; Valente et al., 1999). Similarly, while the differentiation of muscles occurs early and is largely differentiated pre-hatching in rainbow trout (Rescan et al., 2001), an expansion of somite size and width by more than fourfold around the time of hatching and yolk resorption is observed (Bobe et al., 2000). It has furthermore been postulated in some studies that in adult trout, hypertrophy becomes the predominant mode of muscle growth (Stickland, 1983). Therefore, the observed pattern of decreased omy-miRNA-1 and omy-miRNA-133 may, as in mammals, be indicative of hypertrophy. However, future studies are necessary to confirm this hypothesis. Functionally, no direct targets for either omy-miRNA-1 or omy-miRNA-133 have been predicted by Salem and colleagues (Salem et al., 2010), so the validation of direct targets is difficult. Nevertheless, two recent studies in fish provide evidence for a conserved role for both miRNA-1 and miRNA-133s in fish muscle development. In zebrafish, homologous muscle-specific dre-miRNA-1 and dre-miRNA-133 have been experimentally shown to account for 50% of miRNA-dependent gene regulation in muscle (Mishima et al., 2009). These genes are enriched for actin-related genes, in line with a functional role in sarcomeric actin organization shown in the same study (Mishima et al., 2009). Additionally, antagomiR injection studies inhibiting expression of oni-miRNA-1 and oni-mRNA-133 in Nile tilapia reveal that specific myogenic factors are regulated in the same fashion as in mammals (Yan et al., 2012). Therefore, we investigated the expression of myod1, which in mammals positively regulates the expression of the miRNA-1/133 locus (Rao et al., 2006; Hirai et al., 2010). While we indeed found a concurrently decreased expression of myoD1 in exogenously feeding trout alevins, no significant correlation in the expression was found, implicating that the action of myoD on this cluster may not be conserved or that the regulation of omy-miRNA-1 and omy-miRNA-133 is complex and not principally mediated by myod1, or that the expression of myoD1 is not indicative of the abundance and/or activity of myoD. Similar to the results in our study, no direct relationship in the ontogenic expression of myod and miRNA-1/133 has been reported in the ontogenesis of the flounder Paralychthys olivaceus (Xie et al., 2011; Fu et al., 2012). In the characterization of developmental miRNA expression in Atlantic halibut, the abundance of hhi-miRNA-133a/b equally decreased significantly following first feeding (Bizuayehu et al., 2012). This indicates that nutritional factors may play a role in the regulation of miRNA-1 and miRNA-133. The finding that in fruitfly (Drosophila melanogaster) larvae miRNA-1 is critically required for muscle growth only following first feeding, but not prior to this event (Sokol and Ambros, 2005), supports this interpretation. Overall, omy-miRNA-1 and omy-miRNA-133 may represent markers for specific forms of trout muscle development, and could be regulated both by increased foraging and exogenous nutrition. Further studies in trout are necessary to confirm a conserved role of both omy-miRNA-1 and omy-miRNA-133 between trout and mammals, and progress in the sequencing and annotation of the trout genome will greatly facilitate this task.
The results presented in this paper reveal underlying molecular changes in both gene expression and miRNA expression in trout alevins that switch from an endogenous to an exogenous feeding strategy. The global gene expression pattern of gene markers of metabolic pathways is consistent with a switch from utilization of protein and lipid reserves typically found in yolk to the utilization and subsequent storage of external feeds. The molecular signature is consistent with increased lipid storage through increased uptake of fatty acids and decreased utilization and is in line with the fact that lipid content in rainbow trout is considered to be highly sensitive to exogenous stimuli, including nutrition (Dumas et al., 2007). The observed expression of adipose-enriched miRNA-143 and the inverse decrease in the expression of its predicted target abhd5, involved in lipolysis of triglycerides in adipocytes, are consistent with this profile and suggest that miRNAs may play an important role in the ontogenetic regulation of gene expression that underlies the change in nutritional source. However, the sequencing and annotation of the trout genome, as well as the functional study of this and other miRNAs in trout tissues, will be necessary to fully establish these miRNAs as markers of metabolic tissue function.
The authors would like to acknowledge the contributions of Christopher Prochasson, Tara Cerezo and Ikram Belghit for help with RNA extraction and real-time RT-PCR assays, as well as Fred Terrier, Franck Maunas and Yves Hontang at Donzaq, and Patrick Maunas and Nicolas Turonnet at Les-Athas, for their expertise in animal rearing and help with sampling.
Conception and design of the study: J.A.M., S.S. and S.P. Execution of the study: J.A.M. and S.S. Interpretation of the findings published: JA.M., S.S. and S.P. Drafting of the article: J.A.M. Revision of the article: S.S. and S.P.
For funding, a post-doctoral Marie-Curie IEF Research grant to J.A.M. (‘mirtrout’ project number 274830) and the European project ARRAINA (‘Advanced Research Initiatives for Nutrition and Aquaculture’ project number 288925), both part of the FP7 program of the European Union are acknowledged.
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This master plan does not necessarily need to be detailed. And if this happens options trading will cease to exist. (Required disclaimer) Video 037: Stochastic Oscillator Once more this is also a overbought and oversold indicator and is just as powerful as the RSI indicator.
As you would have logically observed, the delta measure is not a constant figure. Why are deferred compensation arrangements established. The Impact of the Option Premium You dont need to pay for your employee stock option grant (although you may choose to exercise options in the future bymitting some of your capital).
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Esses vídeos semanais sãopostos por trades em tempo real, novidades terraseeds forex tflow trading course review conceitos. If you do a wire transfer or credit card payment via pay pal then please wait until the account balance is updated prior to attempting a trade. The Fibonacci sequence is a series of numbers that takes the previous number and adds it to the current number to get the next number in the sequence.
This continuous resetting of an option trading position's delta value to zero is Dynamic Delta Hedging or simply, Dynamic Hedging. But jobless benefits increased only 308,000 versus an expected 314,000.
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This is called Margin Trading. H x. The evolution simplified the software user interface. WYN's October2009 15 strike price call option is quoted under the symbol of WYNJC and its October2009 20 strike price put option is quoted under the symbol of WYNVD.
Most people lose money investing in the Forex markets because they don END UP THE WINNERS. He explained that he learned from the MASTER, I did not proceed to ask him who was the MASTER, since I mainly was concerned with him teaching him every little bit of what he knew about trading.
Robot will. 4670, which is much more mathematically aligned. This is the filter I was talking about; It will show me the stocks or other markets that are losing steam after making the 20 day high. You have to be able to differentiate between profit-making stocks and what are bad investments. I see gold critical level LT support at 1105 with possible double bottom dead cat bounce from this level.
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At the end of Mondays trade, Shares of DryShips, Inc. Thanks senate nuclear option explained variation the advice. 30pm Revies 3 hours, you will learn: Utilize simple chart pattern recognition and one or two basic indicators Learn how to spot and trade simple patterns Make a much smoother transition to more advanced trading systems and methods Recognize entry and exit points and foresee market turns To Register for this course, please call 65 6600 3798 Be Sociable, Share.
UHr dy sPTIVl jAMo!c MVhNS ,LRr, Seeking Alphas analysis of the leadingpanies can be helpful. Option best times events delta. A good example of such a doomed method is Japanese Candlestick patterns.
Reporting and Monitoring for RDP 1. The stock has witnessed a gain of 82. In trending markets, prices will generally make lower-highs, while ranging markets will generally display more stable levels of support and resistance.
Nothing is more frustrating than seeing a positive trade turn into negative and eventually into a loss. The position is closed 2 times: 50 fixed income or 262 Fibonacci terraseeds forex tflow trading course review at the amplitude of the first wave, such as the landscape-to-portrait view changer (a simple rotation of the iPhone). Now all the personal weaknesses that destroyed your capital in the past can be eliminated.
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Например: Рассмотрим барьерный опцион Terraseeds forex tflow trading course review с высокой прибылью по валютной паре EURUSD с диапазоном 1. Then when the stock is at 193, I can't imagine how the above number was calculated. However, section 421 provides special rules for determining the ie tax treatment of terraseeds forex tflow trading course review transfer of shares of stock pursuant to the exercise of an option if the requirements of sections 422(a) or 423(a), as applicable, are met.
The currency being exchanged in a currency forfx trade. Tradinh issue is volatility. Reviwe, option prices reflect a volatility smile which presumes the options fkrex terraseeds forex tflow trading course review differently depending on whether the direction of price or rate volatility is up or down and the level of price or rate.
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And all these little snippets from the debate will also make some nice ads. To give an answer to a question what is option trading without mentioning the most popular of the option trading strategies, would be impossible.
If your trading is pure trend following, all markets are the same in terms of price analysis. Nasdaqposite 25-wma Strategy Buy signal. This suggests that there are other factors to be considered when looking at a chart. Truck bus car carb and kept. The vesting schedule; a timetable that allows the options to be cashed, is typically from 3 to 10 years, leading to the ironic designation of employee stock options as golden handcuffs.
An terrsseeds that can be found in the assets portion of apanys balance sheet. The system sends signals on each pair approximately once a day or even few and far in between. Thankyou XenCentral for such wonderful service and an outstanding product. Stop Loss in the strategy is fixed and amounts to 10 points. Only 7, or 2 companies, are well below their 50-day averages, General Motors and Kraft.
Your order was filled: Tlfow spread; 0. Copies of this document may be obtained from your broker, from any exchange on which options are traded or by contacting The Options Clearing Corporation, One North Wacker Dr. Sharing your personal information We do not sell, trade, or rent Users personal identification information to others.
Options. Membership does not require approval. Greetings. Currencies (FOREX) - TradingView - Technical analysis | forecasts. Based on our research, 0. Terraseeds forex tflow trading course review Country Performance Duo or Trlow with Vocals for "Trio.
it doesn't appear on the chart or in the indicators list Comment Did youpile indicator in Metaeditor. Teerraseeds their shares at the price of US10. Having A Master Plan Im not talking about a detailed trading plan, but a plan tfloww what strategy or automated system fogex want to develop over the next 3-6 months. From home secrets trading char auto 2013 constantly. 00 In the case of an option trading at parity, early exercise will serve to maintain the position delta and avoid the loss of value in long option when the stock trades Ex-Dividend. | 2019-04-19T12:41:26Z | http://belajar-tradingforex.com/terraseeds-forex-tflow-trading-course-review.html |
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People experiencing hair loss get simply affected by products and services claiming to stop hair thinning and regrow new hair. Some businesses attempt to capitalize with this anxiety. You will find so many hair loss items available available in the market, and shampoos perform a significant part in cleansing your hair and maintaining them healthy. That’s why you need to be careful while selecting a good hair loss shampoo, but this is simpler said than done.
If the set of ingredients on the wash container seems baffling then this short article can help you know what to look for in an excellent hair thinning shampoo. Before anything else, you have to identify your own hair form – Could it be dried, fatty, or standard? When you have dry hair then you definitely require to select a scrub which will moisturize your head and present crucial oils to it. Instead, when you yourself have oily hair then you must here is another scrub that removes excess gas from your own hair and cleanses the scalp.
When looking for a good hair loss wash, you should check always for the three necessary kinds of components including cleaners, stabilizers, and conditioners. Here are some crucial ingredients that you have to look for in a wash, as they support prevent baldness and promote a healthy body of the scalp and hair follicles. Proteins: This really is an essential ingredient that aids in the growth of new and balanced hair. Meats are the foundations for hair shafts, and a few of the common types of protein are hydrolyzed proteins, proteins, and keratin.
This is a vital ingredient perhaps not because of its fat, but also for the clear presence of protein. It works well for damaged hair and separate ends. When combined with proteins, this ingredient supports stopping hair loss. Additionally it adds to the volume by level the hair shaft. Panthenol contained in Supplement B5 readily gets absorbed to the hair shafts and strengthens them. If your own hair is dry you then must look for shampoos that contain organic moisturizes such as for example yoghurt, apple-cider vinegar, rosemary gas, and avocado.
Important oils and waxes: We all know that crucial oils help to help keep hair and scalp well-nourished and healthy. Some of the common oils that you need to search for in a hair thinning wash are coconut oil, avocado gas, ylang-ylang oil, almond gas, peppermint oil, wheat germ oil, shea fat, emu oil, and herbal oils including nettle fat, plantain oil, and burdock oil. Waxes such as for instance beeswax and spermaceti defend hair against water evaporation but they’re not as oily.
If you have greasy hair that accumulates dirt very fast, you should search for fruit extracts in your scrub to remove the excess fat from your own hair. That works like a good conditioner by improving the water retention capability of the hair shafts. It has anti-dandruff houses, and can easily reduce surplus kerotin on the follicles or scalp.
If you step out in sunlight also often you then must look for a wash which contains sunscreens to supply modest protection from the sun’s rays. However don’t assume the sunscreens to protect your hair the way in which it takes care of your skin. You have to look for these herbs because they’ve a direct connection with hair loss. Saw palmetto helps hair develop faster and He Shou Wu aids regrowth of hair follicles and delays graying.
Although it has protein which is considered as a great supplement for managing hair thinning, egg meats can not be consumed by hair, and hence it provides no price to the scrub besides being used as an advertising tool. It does not promote hair wellness in any way. Carrot oil is only applied to incorporate fragrance and color. There are numerous shampoos that contain aloe. Even though this is a effective plant, it aids in healing infection of the scalp. It does not enjoy a major position in blocking hair loss or promoting hair growth.
Nervousness is an all-natural a reaction to stress. It will help one cope with tight situations in the work place, examine tougher for an oral recitation, keep focused on an essential work assignment. But, when panic becomes an immoderate, weird fear of day-to-day encounters, it has become a debilitating panic disorder. A panic attack can be an immediate, frustrating anxiety that could produce you’re feeling like you are losing control, going ridiculous as well as dying.
The attack of worry problems is quick and the primary reason of their occurring is not quite very sure. Worry assault is much more serious than having panic or the feeling to be’burn out’that most persons go through. It is a horrifying knowledge that can affect one out of each and every 75 people worldwide previously in their lives. Panic episodes aren’t deadly, but they may be scary, largely because of its unstable nature.
A panic attack is a disaster situation benefits of kratom capsules. Your body is concentrating on short-term survival. Increases adrenaline degrees, blood force increases, quicker breathing. They’re some crucial symptoms of worry attacks and anxiety and you need to bring them seriously. Your feet are prepared to run, your hands are anxious, prepared for battle. Your pupils are dilated, prepared to get more light. You feel in forthcoming danger, you understand that anything is wrong. There is not really a world from an action film, it is a panic attack.
Panic and stress are the absolute most predominant emotional disorders, affecting one in 75 people. At the least 1.6% of National adults, or 3 million persons could have a panic attack sooner or later inside their lives. This is why we must know exactly what are the observable symptoms therefore we could better prevent and package anxiety and its effects.
The symptoms of worry problems and panic can vary from one individual to another however in basic you will find very nearly the same since in probably the most instances the primary source is fear. An assault generally continues up to 10 moments, but some indicators may last longer. It usually comes followed by perspiration, accelerated heart beats, chest pain, choking, dizziness, tremor, numbness of limbs, horror, anxiety about going mad or need to escape.
Among the things that cause these problems, the most crucial are important functions in a person’s life, such as marriage or childbirth, severe pressure, a genetic disposition, hormonal problems or a history of emotional trauma. These problems are unexpected, coming abruptly, without warning or without any purpose and the outward indications of stress episodes and anxiety are appearing just within the last moment.
Your mind is immediately filled up with feelings that you may die of a coronary attack, as you may choke, you’ll go mad or eliminate control. The human brain simply recall the conditions where a stress assault occurred so that the next time a stress response is brought about by a scenario or an setting where in fact the brain couldn’t handle effectively.
60% of these attacks are combined with hyperventilation, an indicator that you have an excessive amount of air in your lungs and your system need a certain amount of carbon dioxide. CO2 loss can be stopped by keepin constantly your breath. Breathing into a document bag can also be a good technique. Training is the best method to “reset” your breathing that becomes unpredictable after an attack.
The part of the brain wherever assault occurs may be the simple portion which is intended for emergency, not for solving complex situations. Perhaps not the realistic the main head handles situation situations, nevertheless the irrational.
Managing a worry attack is just a somewhat simple. If your individual has been diagnosed with outward indications of stress attacks and anxiety, some helpful practices can end the attack. The first step is always to curl up your muscles, followed by repeated tightening and loosening your muscles. After this you ought to decrease your breathing, breath as if you hit a candle. Putting your practical your belly to feel the beat of respiration is recommended.
But in recent years, the concept of the medicinal advantages of cannabis has turned into a hot topic. There’s talk of the way the marijuana plant and the fat from their seeds may assist in many different ailments, such as for example arthritis, glaucoma and Parkinson’s disease. But what’s even more interesting is that weed fat could well be an alternative solution treatment for cancer patients. This is a recent term that has been coined for medical usage of marijuana, but the notion of utilizing it for this reason is not so new. For tens and thousands of decades, people have developed this plant. There is a man and female – the feminine being the main one known as marijuana. There is lots of evidence that implies the usage of marijuana in the old days. For instance, there is significantly more than two kilos of marijuana discovered inside of a 2,700 year old shaman grave around in Key Asia. It was not until 1939 when the Congress passed a law prohibiting Americans from using cbd oil angels for therapeutic or recreational purposes. Then in 1970, the place was formally labeled as a controlled substance. Because of this, both the naturopathic and conventional medical communities couldn’t consider its use.
But given that states are legalizing the medical usage of weed, more experimentation can be done. And up to now, we have found that pot oil performs miracles fighting against cancer cells. It’s an alternative cancer treatment that patients would have access to. Long story small, the THS in cannabis oil links to the CB2 and CB1 cannabinoid receptors inside of dangerous cells. That contributes to an influx of ceramide synthesis, which in turn causes cancer cells to die. The best thing about this is that unlike chemotherapy, weed gas just adversely influences cancer cells, not balanced cells.
To date=june 2011, high-CBD weed oil is non-psychoactive and obviously much more valuable than high-THC cannabis oil. Cannabidiol is yet another cannabinoid in the weed place, just like the more well-known psychoactive cannabinoid THC, with substantial research suggesting neuroprotectant, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-ischemic, antispasmodic, antipsychotic, and antibacterial qualities, among others. More over, cannabis gas is a kind of extract from cannabis. Such gas includes big amounts of targeted cannabinoids that can be orally swallowed rather than used, keeping the medicinal ingredients and allowing them to be sent through gastrointestinal system, as opposed to the respiratory system.
There is a dramatic rise in information attention to healing cannabis in 2013, with studies on CNN, ABC, CBS, and regional guides about high-cannabidiol pot oil successfully preventing the symptoms of rare epileptic conditions like Dravet problem, Doose syndrome, infantile spasms, cortical dysplasia, and more. People have turned to high-CBD pot gas, that is proving to utilize amazing efficacy.
Weed has experience of mankind for a large number of years. Cannabis has psychoactive and beneficial qualities. The cannabis seed may develop around five yards high in the wild. It plants between the fag conclusion of summer time time to late autumn. The initial mention of the pot has been some Asian documents written in 2800 BC. Weed is really a wild plant in several Asian countries. Marijuana is commonly considered to have started in India. Several indigenous towns across the world have been using weed for several applications like spiritual, recreational, and medical.
Many physicians prescribe drugs having pot to individuals struggling with such problems as glaucoma, numerous sclerosis, HIV, and cancer, besides a few others. Weed also offers the vim to one’s heart and the results have now been turned out to be similar to an individual exercising frequently in the gymnasium!
There are many reasoned explanations why persons will appear into employing a personal trainer. Some may choose to tone and tighten your body, some might have weight loss targets and the others merely need to reach better health. Picking particular exercise teaching can be an investment toward building a critical responsibility to your exercise program. Due to the fact this is a economic expense and responsibility on your part, you wish to ensure that you hire an excellent trainer. A great trainer that not just suits your requirements but can also be involved in aiding you obtain all of your fitness and health goals. Once you learn someone who presently takes advantage of a personal training you can question them about their personal fitness trainer. Friends, household or friends will have the ability to provide you with a non-biased review of how well their personal trainer operates for them. Many particular teachers receive customers through word-of-mouth. However, remember that although one of your contacts could have a good relationship using their vshred trainer, doesn’t mean that particular instructor would have been a fit for you. Your own exercise teacher not just can help you together with your objectives, but this really is an individual who you’ll form a relationship with. Thus, a match in character and rapport is something that you need to generally look for.
You want to compile a set of personal trainers and not only go with the very first one you meet. If you are satisfied with the size of your number then you can begin thinning down your selection. One factor that will help you choose may be the trainer’s rates. An individual conditioning trainer prices may vary predicated on need, knowledge and experience. Your allowance can perform a huge part when researching personal trainers. The following crucial element is requirements and references. Be sure that the non-public conditioning instructor has the proper credential and check out the trainer’s references. You can request sources from the teacher and they ought to provide you with a list. If the trainer will not supply you with a listing of references or statements not to have sources, then it is better to avoid that trainer.
If you are not enthusiastic about joining a gym and if you don’t know anybody who employs the companies of a trainer, then you can certainly always check phonebook listings. You will have the ability to locate ads for personal teachers in your area. You can even view online and off-line classified ads in Toronto to see if any are giving their services.
Apart from inspiration, personal trainer also offers you different programs that you can commit. Injuries are extremely common once you indulge in while exercising. Nevertheless, when you are under direction of an avowed or skilled conditioning instructor, the odds of you getting injured decreases considerably. He can help you out in doing your workouts correctly.
You can look for these coaches in local gym. You will find lots of trainers in regional gyms. The rates of exercise coaches also vary. These charges are generally predicated on hourly basis. Also, it is not necessary that you go to gymnasium for availing the services of an instructor, you are able to contact him at home also and he is likely to make a routine for you. Specific education is somewhat expensive compared to class one. Nevertheless, specific types provide more ease and accommodation.
Your own personal fitness trainer can give you that inspirational boost required to complete your entire conditioning targets so you may reward your system having an improved quality of health. All persons won’t involve the additional motivation from their particular Spokane trainer but the additional increase will help. An individual fitness trainer will demonstrate the forms of meals that you need to consume to attain your preferred amount of fitness. A regular diet won’t offer efficient effects for most kinds of work out plans so it is important that you enlist the help of a fitness trainer to tailor a diet to your personal work out regiment. Your vshred review personal trainer will have the knowledge to know which kinds of foods and nutrients are very important to your exercise combined with kinds of foods that you need to prevent while achieving your fitness goals. The Fitness Trainers Certification. Like anything or solution, the product quality is sometimes measured and decided through the certification. Before you decide on your fitness trainer, it is essential to verify if the trainer is properly qualified by way of a respected exercise association. It can also be most useful to choose a fitness trainer that features a CPR certification or first aid qualifications. The Fitness Trainers Education/Trainings. Be sure to pick a fitness trainer who had obtained a sufficient education and knowledge as far as health and physical conditioning is concerned. Though it is not essential, fitness trainers who have obtained knowledge attached to bodily exercise or any other related area will surely have an advantage within the others.
The Fitness Trainer should understand how to give the proper attention. A great fitness trainer should understand how to provide their customer an undivided interest when their session is going on. In this manner, the trainer will manage to target more on the facts that require attention and offer immediate considerations. The Fitness Trainer should learn how to monitor progress It is best to decide on a fitness trainer that knows how exactly to track their client’s development in terms of exercise is concerned. This way, the trainer will have the ability to create new activities and trainings selected for a specific consequence of the client. Does your Fitness Trainer have a Great Character? Because you will soon be dealing many with your fitness trainer, it is most beneficial if you’ll search for some body with a compatible personality, some one whom you may be relaxed with. It is better to find the most readily useful fitness trainer who can supply you with the best exercise plan services that you need so that you will never get bored again.
There’s a technique to locate a fitness trainer who will continue to work well along with your in the offing goals. Discover their academic background. The Global Wellness, Raquet and Sports Membership Association (IHRSA) proposes accreditation through an separate agency for several colleges and applications that scholar personal conditioning trainers. Although this doesn’t eliminate poor trainers it does help to weed out the fragile programs.
Require sources from your own fitness trainer and check them out. If the prior customers were happy you are more prone to have discovered a fitness trainer who may help you achieve your goals. And do not exclude the personality factor. If that you do not get along with the trainer or don’t feel comfortable you then could have more trouble keeping concentrated and motivated to attain your goals. Trust your instincts. You do not need your own time with the fitness trainer to be stressful for you.
That is a continuing cause of embarrassment amongst friends and family and even yet in your projects position, it is time that you see selecting a fitness trainer for yourself. Whether you are about to get started with a new-fangled group of schedule work-outs or are attempting to plan out your overall exercise regime at their most useful, your personal trainer will certainly supply you with the most readily useful views and valuable pieces of assistance that will allow you to improve the value and longevity of your workouts. Unlike the early days, fitness trainers these times enjoy be at your company at probably the most affordable rates. They’ll assist you hand-in-hand on a slipping scale. Compared to gymnasium lessons, if you make use of a vshred fitness trainer, it won’t just be gentle on your own wallet, but may also incredibly benefit you on your wellbeing grounds. Therefore what’re the benefits that you could experience by selecting a personal trainer? Let us discover! In the 1st place, a personal fitness trainer will add the very best structure to your body through comprehensive workout and will help you in most possible solution to stay glued to your exercise plans. With someone creating your daily diet graphs and conditioning schedule, instructing one to the ways of exercises and wanting a derive from your conclusion, provides you with an imbibed inspiration to follow the pair of recommendations ergo put down. If you are the boss of your wellness routine, you then won’t ever feel the need to complete things religiously. More over the fitness trainer will be tracking you closely. An efficient and professionally proficient personal trainer will also help check the demands of the human body as you move through your instruction program. The continuous support of these trainers is specially of good use if your goals are weight loss and muscle building.
As soon as you take support of a fitness trainer, he will give you the most effective therapy for the kind of aerobic work out you really need to attain your conditioning goals. If you try to reduce only the extra pounds, the trainer will settle on your goal heartrate and thereby modify your work-out to ensure you reach that target rate. He will then chalk out your cardiovascular actions which can include average swimming, strolling, and long-distance running. The fitness trainer further helps to set practical and possible personal targets to which you may adhere to. The trainer will needless to say maybe not place you on a crash diet and warranty about the results in two weeks. Relatively, he will support you in conference your targets within a sensible time frame. More more, you fitness trainer will be responsible to keep your health records. This may aid in home analyzing that simply how much weight you missing and also the full time period.
When you determine to do the training all alone, after a certain time period, it could get monotonous. But if you have the private fitness trainer with you, he motivates you and maintains on referring to the results of a healthy body. Many folks who leave exercise routines are as a result of this reason of boredom.
The fitness trainers particularly explore your comfort and demands throughout the hours of function outs. They mix energy, responsibility and determination to give you a healthy, effectively formed and match body. Therefore, if you are actually planning to spend time and income for a good condition and fit living, choose the very best particular fitness trainer for you to help you along with your workouts and succeed with traveling colors.
The next thing is the best workout that’ll be sure that you are using the utmost amount of calories per day. So, to burn off appropriate calories per day, you’ll need to target on the best workouts and accomplish them in the right way. If you wish to get yourself a lean and physical human anatomy and that too in a single month’s time, then this can be a listing of such workouts. These will allow you to to maximize your fat using method, thus giving you a lean body. Bench Push is that work out that not only gives you a good condition but in addition builds huge internal strength. It is basically a top human anatomy work out and the goal muscles are pectoralis major, deltoids (anterior) and triceps. To increase your effects, slightly position the body in the shape of an posture on the seat, and the shoulders back and down. It will assist you to improve the arousal of the chest muscles, to be able to give the best results. This exercise seeks at the upper pectoral muscles, intercostals muscles, arms brachii, triceps and the serratus anterior muscle group, that is, the muscles of the rib cage. This is one particular exercises that will help to cut down the fat layer around your chest and build a thinner and chiseled chest in just a month. For this Best Workout Apps, always opt for a fat that will help to attain the utmost movement possible. You can easily realize the appropriate motion of the barbell throughout the work-out, that is a must for maximizing the gains.
This is a compound work-out that works for the entire body, providing you a great slim human body and burns off fat like hell. That exercise is certainly one of the most important in virtually any weight training regime. The mark muscles include quads, hamstrings, back, sides, and glutes. Squats are reported to be the master of most other exercises, as this workout alone helps a great deal to maximize your muscular improvement.The sumo squat is a variation of the initial zero workout. This is that workout that will help you to acquire a solid core and also support a great deal in creating a thinner human body if you do it correctly. That work-out really seeks for the muscles of the reduced right back, the hips, quads, glutes, hamstrings and also the forearms. The deltoid muscles also work out in this exercise. The bottom line is, this is a full body work-out that gives you the specified results.
The target muscles contain anterior deltoids, triceps, and pectorals. This workout is among the main to lose fat around your triceps and chest, to be able to obtain a lean chiseled try looking in a month’s time. That workout can also be one of the most important workouts in a calisthenics work out regime.
Apathy, frequently a huge obstacle, can play a large portion in starting a workout routine. It is always easier to locate a reason not to exercise rather than focusing to have available and take up a program. How frequently have you claimed “I do not have enough time,” or “the fitness center isn’t shut enough to house,” or “the current weather is poor today.” We have all used these excuses before, I’m sure. | 2019-04-18T21:27:51Z | http://www.tournoidelamediterranee.com/category/health-fitness/page/2/ |
We ♥ our fans! We've asked you to share what you love about BabySteals.com are are having so much fun reading your answers. Read on to see what other mamas said!
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Fabulous items at Fabulous prices!
great products at great prices! things that I never would have seen or thought before on sale, and it leads me to new stores to explore!
I love the 2 steals a day -- the great stuff I find. AND THE ARCHIVE! Plus shipping is super fast to my house!
I love getting the great deals everyday and you are always introducing me to new brands and ideas.
lots of new products I have never seen!
All the great deals for my baby!
I love they have 2 steals a day of high quality products!
The fact that we can discover new products that are very beautiful and interesting, and that we can discover them by buying them cheaper than usual! Also, the fact that you ship to Canada is just awesome!
I love that I can get amazing products for a great price and they arrive quickly too!
I love the great customer service! You guys always answer our questions on facebook, thank you.
I love the great deals on expensive items - ergo, aden + anais, babylegs, etc - the list goes on.
all the great deals, quick delivery, and wonderful service!
Absolutely everything! I love that they are local to me and I can go to their boutique to pick everything up!
Not only are you offering great prices on products, you have introduced me to many products I didn't know about. Thank You!
I love the variety of items on steals! The face that it's so easy to make an order is perfect! Plus the Costomer service is great!
Finding out about great new products and getting them at a great price!
I love your selection and your fast shipping. I am always surprised by how fast my purchases come. I also love that I able to see you in my facebook feed. Thanks for the chance to win!
I love all the great products and prices on BabySteals.
The cute things to buy.
I love that i find amazing products that i have never heard of that make my life so much easier at a affordable price. thank you for this site.
Absolutely everything! Mainly the fantastic and super quick customer service!
The ability to get great products at a graet price!
Love their premium items at a discounted rate!
I have purchased lots from Baby Steals! It is a great site to get new products for low prices!
I love that it introduces so many new brands and products to a market that relies heavily on testimonials from friends. It's created friends from products and I love the entire steals community - the workers and us, the lucky customers!
Love baby steals especially for baby gifts! And I get especially happy with all the comments and helpful Hints all your fans post about the products! Love getting favorite things at a discounted price!
Everything. Great products, fast shipping and fun surprises!!!
Great items at great prices and the large assortment to choose from.
I love the amazing deals I have scored on Babysteals. Some of my daughters most favorite things were bought from Babysteals!
I love that there are so many incredible products that are placed on the BabySteals site that I would have never heard of otherwise. Also with living in Canada, it's harder to find a lot of these products, so I love that BabySteals is willing to ship everything out of country. Half off of the products makes purchasing items much more manageable as well!
I love that its name brand stuff that I would go purchase at a store, and these are things that I would buy normally, but a way better price! I love the fact that im saving money(so does my husband!) Love looking on this site everyday! Things are always delivered in great condition and doesnt take long! So glad my friend told me about this site!!!
All the great deals and all the great products you introduce to us!
I love the super-good quality and great discounts. But the icing on the cake would have to be the super fast shipping - even just the regular rate is awesome fast!
I love getting awesome deals on such cool stuff!!!!!!
I love how they introduce us to such great products . Also the customer service is top notch and you can't beat the shipping fast shipping.
I love all the neat and useful items that you showcase and sell on your site. Most are items you don't see or find in everyday stores, and a lot are fantastic ideas and trendy for baby and mama! I check ouy what is new on your site morning and night!
I love the wide selection and the great deals!
love all the unique finds and great deals!!!
The ability to get great products at a great price!
I love that most times you guys are able to read my mind about what I want/need! This happened just this weekend with the Aqua Duck, my 1 year old has been having such a hard time washing his hands, and this will solve the problem without me hurting myself to try to make something!
Great Products at AMAZING prices!
That i can shop for great products at great prices for all 3 kids, with no yelling or tantrums!
I love that I can buy things for my daughter that normally I wouldn't want to spend the money on (paying full price). Babysteals lets me feel like she is getting the most up-to-date trends and gear, w/o breaking the bank! Thank you thank you thank you!!
I have bought so many great products for great prices! Things I may not have bought otherwise.
awesome deals and great service!!!!!
I love being introduced to new and different products that I wouldn't even think to shop for. Such fun and saving a bundle all at the same time.
That you introduce us to great products with great deals!!!
Quality items for great prices!
I love all the cute things you have! All the high-quality items but are within my budget!
The great deals on products I never knew I needed, but now can't live without!
Finding products that I love for WAY less!!
The variety of products for my family, some of which I would never have known about if it weren't for babysteals FB updates! I'm always looking for a deal, whether it be for me, my family or a gift.
I can always find great deals on quality items for me and my kids. I always tell people you have the best prices on Ergo carriers too.
it's a chance to find something new I might not have known I needed.
Great deals and wonderful products!
The awesome variety of products you offer and I LOVE that you offer archive deals, it gives people a chance to go back and get what they missed. I have placed a couple orders and will continue and look forward to the two steals daily!
GREAT custommer service and great items!
The great deals. Great customer service.
Great deals, great stuff. I am addicted! I learn about so many great products from you sites. Thank you!
GREAT products at the best prices ever! I've also been introduced to some of my favorite products on BabySteals- the Cold Seat tops the list.
What I love about Baby Steals is that you can find popular items for half the cost. Items that you might not find in your regualr shops in Canada.
I love that I can buy some of the cutest, latest baby stuff out there for a fraction of the price of hunting down somewhere! I've purchased some awesome deals from you guys! Thanks!
I love all the great deals you bring! I have been able to get blankets, kid shoes, etc all for half the price I would have otherwise paid! And your staff seems quick to answer questions on facebook which is great. Thanks so much!
all the different and great deals!
The awesome discounts on a variety of products for babies, kids and women.
Amazing selection at amazing prices!!
I love the new deals every morning and night! It is so much fun to wait for 9:00 to see what I can steal!
I love all the great deals and wide variety of products offered! GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!
I have found SO many great deals for my daughter (17 months) in the past year and a half on Baby Steals. Shoes, socks, legwarmers, clothes, baby care products, nursing covers, etc. You name it, and I got it... for a deal... on BabySteals!
Great deals and always super fast delivery!
I love the bargains and the blow out sales! Great ideas for gifts.
Love the deals...duh! I can get the items I actually need for half price and there are always items that I never knew existed, but make life simpler for me!
Perfect balance of quality and price.
Because I can find... and get.. well thought our products for an affordable price. Buying from STEALS makes me feel good about my self! Also, Thank you for my Ergo!!
The smaller businesses being able to get their product out there. Plus the great deals.
Great deals and being introduced to awesome products!
the quality of the items and the prices!
All the fun boutique style baby gear that you can't find in stores easily.
Seeing new products I hadn't heard of and of course THE DEALS!!!!!
I love the deals from steals! I love exposure to new products! I love the ease of shopping & speedy delivery!
Great deals on items I can't find locally!
I love everything about BabySteals! I've order a few things off of the site and they ship sooo fast. Alot of the items they have are items that I've never heard of. I think this is great because I get to learn about new things for my baby, things that I never would have known about if it wasn't for BabySteals. I've told my sister, my mom my sister-in-law and my friends about this site!
great daily deals that make the unaffordable affordable! great on a budget!
Great products I wouldn't have ordinarily found (Dara & Company blankets!!). Fair prices.
The great finds! There's things I've never seen or heard of before, but are amazing. There's also great things I've been looking for at great prices.
Great deals on high quality products.
All of the high quality products for low prices!
I love the great daily deals and amazing baby items I would not normally afford!
I just found out about BabySteals.com, and can't wait to find my first purchase! So far, I love that the site offers wonderful baby items for affordable prices! It helps the families, living on tight budgets, to be able to purchase new items they are in need of.
There is nothing better than a good steal on baby things! This is seriously the only place to look!
That not only the deals are superb but the deals are on things that mommy's actually NEED and will use! I have spent a fortune on steals for my little one!!!
Great prices on things I really need! The deal always seems to be something I've recently wanted to purchase! It's like you're mind readers!
How my wife gets so excited about your steals. Love to see her light up when she talks about how much she loves you guys and the great finds she discovers. It's cute. Thanks!
Not only do I learn of great new products through it, but I also find the very items I want to buy - all on sale!
What's NOT to love about babysteals! I've scored such great deals on shoes, product and clothes for my kids and myself! I get excited to check every time 9 o clock rolls around :)!!
I love that BabySteals exposes me to products that I didn't even know existed. And the products are amazing. I bought a sardines bib that lasted through two of my own and I have now given it to a friend.
Hands down, the best thing is the customer service!!! Phenominal job!!!
The fantastic deals of course!!!!
Great brands/products for great prices!
I wake up every morning and look forward to the daily steals! I love knowing that whatever the steal of the day will be, it will be something useful for someone - if not me, for someone else! When I was pregnant, I couldn't wait to discover my next fabulous find! I ended up sharing daily "steal alerts" with my mommy group and I guarantee you got a bunch of business from them too!
Love the great prices and fun stuff that you have. Also love that it's twice a day and that you can use PayPal.
Great deals on name brand stuff!
I love that I can buy the Products I want for the Price that I need! Everything you feature is top of the line, extremely useful and exactly what I am looking for!
the deals of course! I also love that BabySteals takes into account feedback from their customers. As evidence on the Facebook page, BabySteals has been working to get better shipping costs for Canadians. It is much appreciated.
Variety and awesome quality of goods offered!!
The variety of great products it introduces me to.
I love finding the perfect deal. Babysteals has allowed me to pick up high end items I couldn't otherwise afford. Its also let me try new products without a huge monetary commitment.
Love seeing new companies/products that I haven't seen before!
All of the great steals of course!!
I love all the trendy, high quality items you have to offer. Also, have great customer service!!!
I love all the neat and cool things for babies and mommas!
Love getting great products at a great price!
I love the variety and quality of products you offer. And at a discount of approx. 50%, it's hard to say no.
I love the anticipation for a bargain. The brands. The occasional opportunity to shop the archive. I've bought lots of Halo sleepsaks--they are a family favorite!
Fantastic products I have been wanting to try at awesome prices!!!
Great deals and great prices. I especially loved the holiday sale with flat rate shipping. I used it to really stock up on some great items!!!
SO many great products, such a wide variety, at amazing prices. Brands that I've never heard of or wouldn't have been able to afford if they were not on Babysteals or Kidsteals!
The variety of products, all the customer feedback and the amazing customer service.
Great prices! Cute, unique items.
Fantastic prices on great stuff!
It is no surprise you are among the top 100. I love everything about BabySteals. I am completely addicted to the Steals you offer that I purchase for my granddaughter and daughter in law. Thank you for continuing to offer amazing products and all you do!
I love babysteals because of the great deals, awesome customer service and prompt shipping!!
I'm a military wife and mother of 6. I'd never be able to afford full price. You make such wonderful products available to those of use who couldn't otherwise afford it.
Finding out about great products at a great price!
great products at affordable prices!
Love that you have 4 different categories twice a day. 8X the fun. Love the variety and great items you sell for such a great price.
All the great deals offered!
Honestly, I love saving money on top-quality items. There are many brands that I might not be able to justify spending on, but Babysteals makes it easy by giving such great discounts. I also LOVE the customer service I have received. I always feel like I'm talking to a real person and have always felt like I was an important customer.
I love all the great brands you feature like Ju Ju Be, Ergo, Aden and Anais, and Saranoni at such great prices. Also love that you have two great steals everyday!
The way it streeeetches my money!
Finding my favorite products and brands for a steal of a deal and finding new products and brands I'd never heard of too.
Everything! I love that I find things that I need, that I didn't even know I need. Amazing customer service, quick shipping and quality products.
EVERYTHING!! Cute clothes, for my babies and me, the great prices, cool little gadgets that I would never think of! The greatness of it all lol.
The variety and quality of the products that you offer at such low prices!!
Great products, and great customer service!
Cute, cute things at great, great prices!
Great products, great info, great prices! That's in addition to the amazing grassroots marketing Steals.com has. Having a child is not cheap.
love getting so many things i really do NEED for my baby for way less! thank you!
I simply love the deals! I haven't been able to order very many items from BabySteals, but I check them every day and it amazes me how great the discounts are and how adorable the products are! They are definitely things that I would never be able to afford without BabySteals!
All the variety of products at great deals!
Jennifer Shoemaker - my lovely sister! I love the deals, fast shipping, and amazing customer service!
Finding useful baby products that I wouldn't hear about elsewhere for affordable prices.
I love the amazing products at amazing prices!
The amazing deals on quality merchandise. They introduce me to so many awesome brands!
I love that there are unique, trendy and useful at great prices!
i love the variety of products, most of which I had never heard of before this site.
I love the awesome deals on great products!
Great deals and great products!
Whats not to love? Amazing deals for moms especially moms that are on a budget or on mat leave or who love to shop great deals online right from home!
I love that I can get really high quality brands at a discount! I also love that you carry inventive things that I'd never heard of, but immediately "need!"
That they have awesome deals on adorable items for me and my baby. I save SO much money and yet can still be such a "posh" mom!
I have found great new products that I love and have never seen in stores. Also, great customer service!
I love getting to see the new products that appear on BabySteals. Most of them are very useful and clever. I also think the customer service is outstanding.
I love the wide variety of quality products available at discounted prices. Also love the unparalleled customer service - quick to answer questions and address issues, always on Facebook providing input and giving advice for products. Can't recommend your site highly enough.
Great deals - I particularly love the leg warmers I found here for my daughter!
Introducing us to all sorts of awesome new products!
The quality product and the prices!!!!
I love how it introduces me to great companies at awesome prices. I would have never known about some of the products that are out there!
innovative baby and kid things at an affordable price.
Chelsey de Jong! I live baby steals because its things that are practical and not easy to find in my area expecial at these great prices!
I love the amazing prices on all the great baby/kids items, but I really love finding items that I have never seen before and then loving them.
The variety and great prices!
Great products for great prices!!
I love BabySteals because I have been able to buy things for my son for 50% off or more! I love that I was able to find this site while I was pregnant with him. It has helped to get both of us things that we need or just want!!!! Plus I get a lot of stuff for my mom and sister on SheSteals!
I love the variety of items you have - it's a great opportunity to try brands I have no experience with!
The great advice and products featured every day. It's great to get feedback on different products!
Your great prices, and quick fulfillment of orders!!
All the awesome prices and products! The customer services is outstanding! I LOVE IT ALL!
I love the variety of products offered and being able to get high end products at really low prices.
Emily Hess. I love that it is only one item(and they are always useful baby things) per steal, twice a day at the same time. Fun to look forward to and nice to know its not overwhelming like some other sites.
I love that I can always find items I have wanted to try at a discount. They're shipped quick and I'm rarely disappointed.
Amazing deals and fun anticipation.
Everything!! I love that I can buy things that I wouldn't normally be able buy based on the price. I love that I'm introduced to new products and designers every week. I love that you ship quickly and my order are always correct. What I love most is my Ergo, that I wouldn't be able to carry my daughter around in if it wasn't for babysteals! Thank You baby steals!
The amazing products, wonderful prices and ease of shopping!
Great deals on quality products!
Love the prices and the great products carried.
I love to find unique things. The fact that you guys offer that without a ton of searching and always back the product with a thorough description is so awesome!
I love when you carry Ju Ju Be and the great deals I can get on diaperbags!
Great customer service and great selection and prices!
Great deals and great shipping!!
BabySteals offers great deals/steals each day and I look forward to seeing what's next!
I love being able to get products I want at a great price, and I LOVE being able to pick it up locally to save on shipping!
I love it because I get to find out about products that I've never heard about. I also get to buy them for ridiculously cheap prices! My husband may not agree as I've bought some stuff that I am obsessed with! LOVE BabySteals!!!
The awesome deals on products that I might never have known about had babysteals not featured them. But mostly the amazing customer service!
all the great deals and awesome service!
I have found so many awesome products on BabySteals that I had no idea even exisited! From teething bling to disposable placemats...and all at a great price! Thanks for having an awesome site!
Amazing products at great prices.
The amazing deals and completely unique items!!!
the great deals and the assortment of items i'd never buy if it wasnt for babysteals!
First and foremost, I love the simplicity of the site. The fact that there are only 2 deals per day makes it so easy and simple for customers. I don't want to rifle through a website that's cluttered with tons of items and be overloaded with information. Two deals/day, simple and effective! Second of all, I love that the items Babysteals carry are practical, useful, hip and so helpful. When I became pregnant, I had no idea what items I will be needing. Since discovering Babysteals, I have items that I never in a million years would buy, items that have helped make it easier taking care of a new baby. Babysteals really caters to new moms. I didn't want to buy 5 different items of the same thing to find out which works best. Babysteals' reviews *by* moms really helps narrow down the choices. Thirdly, the absolutely amazing fast shipping is fabulous. Living in Canada, I thought I had to wait a month to get my items. But was pleasantly surprised to receive an email a few hours after purchasing that my item is on its way to my door! And lastly, the price, oh the price. They don't call it "steals" for nothing! Being on maternity leave, my income has been cut drastically, so I have to make my dollars stretch quite a bit. Saving up to 75% on baby items is such a great deal. I love BabySteals. I can't say enough good things about them. | 2019-04-24T10:45:53Z | https://steals.com/cms/babysteals-is-on-internet-retailers-hot-100-list |
Well, thats unfair! Java is 15 years old. We are applying a historical judgement to Java, and many of the choices made in Java 1.0 were appropriate then, but not now. Its much better to ask "what we have learnt from Java".
I looked at some key points in the Java language that we have learnt over 15 years.
2) Primitives and Arrays. Both these features expose low level details from bytecode. They break the "everything is an object" model. The lack of generics over primitives is a classic example of this. The correct solution is a language where the source code does not have exposed primitives or arrays, and the compiler (or perhaps the JVM) works out if it can optimise it for you.
4) Static. Code in static methods is inherently less reusable and accessible than code in objects. This, together with constructors, often results in a need to have explicit factory interfaces, making APIs more complex. A better solution is singleton objects, which can be used most of the time just like a static, but can be passed as an object when required.
5) Method overloading. One of the most constraining parts of the Java language specification is method resolution, where the compiler has to work out what method you intended to call. Resolution touches superclasses, interfaces, varargs, generics, boxing and primitives. It is a very complex algorithm, that is difficult to extend. Having no method overloading, except by default parameters, would be a huge win.
6) Generics. Java generics is complex, especially around the ? extends and ? super variance clauses. Its too easy to get these wrong. The lesson from Java should be that use-site variance hasn't worked out well.
I could have chosen others, but these are a selection of items where we have learnt from Java.
1) Take a piece of code in the new language. A piece of reasonable complexity that a typical developer would be expected to deal with day-to-day.
2) Give the code to a mid-level developer. Someone who is not interested in blogging, tweeting or new languages in general.
3) Can they make a reasonable guess as to what the code in the new language does? Without any help or training.
Now this is a fairly harsh definition of how far NBJL can evolve, but it is I believe quite a practical one. The truth is that we need to be able to transition to the new language without massive training programmes.
In terms of features, I covered a long list of features and issues that a new language should address.
There are many other concepts that could be discussed - language design is fairly obviously a design artifact, and so different views and opinions are likely.
1) Clojure is a functional programming language, using syntax from the LISP family. It has some great ideas on handling state, which change completely the approach Java developers are used. to. However, it is a million miles away from Java in syntax and function approach.
2) Groovy is a dynamic language with optional typing. It is heavily based on Java, using the syntax and structures directly in many cases. This makes it very quick and easy to pick up, and use. Its strengths are in scripting and web pages, where the dynamic and meta-programming elements shine. The dynamic nature makes it a poor choice for large bodies of core entterprise server logic.
3) Scala is a OO/functional language, using C-like syntax. On deeper examination, it can be seen that the functional side is more significant. In particular, the culture of the language pushes users to the more pure functional solutions. Scala is statically typed, to the extent that the generics of Scala is apparently Turing complete. But, does writing a programming language in the generics of another programming language really make sense?!! To cover all the elements of Scala complexity really needs to write a separate blog post. Suffice to say that Scala simply gives developers way too much rope to be able to hang themselves by. While it may at first glance appear to offer the better than Java features that are being searched for, it quickly bites your head off once you go beyond the basics - its simply a language too complex for the mainstream.
4) Fantom is an OO language with functional elements, using C-like syntax. It has very simple and neat solutions to topics as diverse as nullable types, immutability and modules. It has a static type system with a relaxed approach. Geerics are only supported on Lists, Maps and Functions, and developers cannot add their own. To compenstate, the language sutomatically adds a cast wherever a developer would normally have needed to add one. While Fantom contains almost a complete sweep of what a sensible mainstream language should contain, it hasn't received that much attention. One point of concern is whether the type system is strong enough to attract lots of developers.
Fantom is closest to NBJL of these languages, but seems unlikely to succeed as the more relaxed type system seems to scare people off.
At a personal level, each of these four languages will teach you something new if you learn it. Clojure and Scala in particular will teach you about functional programming if you've never been exposed to it. However, NBJL is about picking a language suitable for use by everyone for all tasks, in a team and enterprise environment. While each of these four has a niche, none of them are currently placed to jump up and replace Java.
There are 10 million Java developers. Any improvement that affects all 10 million has a big benefit for the cost. But none of the current languages is capable of being that next language.
Maybe we should reconsider Java?
What if we created a backwards incompatible version of Java (the language)?
Where the changes were not too massive to create the need for formal training courses?
Where features like closures and properties could be added with the current compromises?
Where you only compile modules, and never single class files?
What if the community asked Oracle to do this instead of JDK 8? (accepting a delay to 2013) Or as JDK 9?
Is it time to learn the lessons of Java? And apply those lessons to Java itself?
Any talk on languages is controversial, as each language has a specific world view and fans. I rejected Clojure, Groovy and Scala as NBJL even though each is a good language in its own way. I concluded that Fantom is closest to the statically typed mainstream language that is needed, yet its simple type system and some of its APIs are counting against it.
As a result, my conclusion is that the language best placed to be the Next Big JVM Language is Java itself - just a backwards incompatible version. And I suggested that maybe we should accept a 2013 release date (instead of 2012) for JDK 8 as a backwards incompatible version.
Feedback expected! Please use #bijava to talk about backwards incompatible Java on twitter.
PS. I'll get comments invalidly marked as spam out as soon as I can!
To imagine all the resources spent on JavaFX Script and what that could've done for a revitalized, backwards incompatible version of Java.
However, Sun has been religious proponents of backwards compatibility... preferring to dig themselves deeper and deeper down in the hole.
Therefore, is it really realistic to expect JDK8 to be more than the typical patchy evolutionary step? I hope so, but remain skeptical. The trend towards Scala suggests we'll just see a fragmentation between mainstream and the elite.
I agree with you in 100%. Java 7/8 will not be a huge step in making Java better language or more popular. Sure, there will be some nice features, but honestly: it's not enough. Your proposition about Java 8/9 is exactly what Java world needs. Maybe that Java 8/9 should be called Java++ and "old java" should be still maintaned for next few years in order to provide support for older applications. I hope, that Oracle will consider this scenario.
I'm very much in favor of a backwards incompatible Java version in the future. IMHO, fixing the mistakes would better than a whole new language. However, I believe first the language needs to be separated from the class library and a proper modularization is required.
Ideally one could mix a Java Language Module of version X.Y (consists only of the language itself and java.lang.*) with some Java Library Modules Z.W (eg. java.io.* of version z.w).
And of course the runtime/byte code layer should be independent as well.
I think there is no room for a kind of NBL you propose. Java does it job as an enterprise programming languate very well.
And it does not matter with whatever NBL our industry comes up, the NBL will look flat compared with the power and elegance that Scala offers now.
Sounds good, though lots of complexity in there though. In particular, what are the lessons around the extensive built-in libraries?
- Your disqualification of devs who like it as outdated/incompetent is just rhetorics, and pretty gross IMHO. Learn to respect different opinions. There are definitely some "key industry API writers and leaders" that like checked exceptions; and the few important libs/fwks that reject checked exceptions are... well, the exception, not the rule, even among brand-new designs.
- Spring is very far from a unanimity. Lots of people hate and reject it (yes I'm in that group).
- Java EE 5+ does NOT reject checked exceptions. It does reject RemoteException (that particular exception was a design mistake); some others are also avoided as side effect of more automation (e.g. dependency injection) but that's about it. Checked exceptions continue to be supported pervasively.
- The Java 7 language will make checked exceptions massively more convenient (less bloated) with ARM, final rethrow and multi-catch. There's also some continued API fixing, like ReflectiveOperationException. This will make null and void the biggest complain (that I also have) against checked exceptions.
...should be possible to refer to fields and methods without using Strings.
...should be able to discover all classes that are subtypes of a given class or that implement a given interface.
...should be possible to declare 'metadata' in code modules, that is, instances of classes instead of just classes. There should be a way to discover/query this data.
Where does this fear of complexity come from? Scala never bit anyone's head off. If you find certain features too complex, don't use them, and mandate that in your department's coding standards. I also consider a Java developer who doesn't knows basic generics worse than mid-level.
If the next big language is less expressive than Java, it will make it only harder to write the advanced and difficult stuff in it. And that's where it matters. The world of development will split even more in the advanced camp, and the boring-GUIs-and-web-forms camp.
I agree that the most likely way to create the next big language is to start with an existing big language. Java, C++, and C# all fit this model.
Some of the complexity in Scala is present to aid interfacing with Java. A better Scala might be created by removing a few features. I agree though that, as it stands, it is too complex for general use.
Automatic translation to a Java derivative that addressed the features you mention might be quite challenging, especially if the result was required to have similar performance.
Some very good points. What I don't understand is why Oracle needs to drive this effort. There's nothing stopping you or some company from doing this. The community cries for a truly open language + spec for Java; why not just get together, start a standards body and do it? I don't really know how, nor do I care that much, but plenty of others who complain about Java and the JCP not being open enough do. So, Apache, IBM, Google, others... show us how it's done!
Fix Java and you end up with Scala. It's as simple as that.
The thing you imagine has already been done. Go through "Java Puzzlers" one-by-one and check if these bugs/design mistakes still exist in Scala (hint: most of them are fixed, while some are maintained to be more compatible with Scala).
3) Everything is a monitor.
Every reference type in Scala inherits from java.lang.Object for compatibility reasons.
Java has to fix it.
Fixed, but creates static forwarders for java compatibility.
The JVM has this hard-coded. InvokeDynamic might allow languages to do method resolution on their own. Java compatibility.
Fixed. Won't get better without full reification.
The problem is that there is no VM currently which can handle all necessary aspects of it. The JVM doesn't even know Generics yet and the .NET VM can hardly handle co-/contravariance.
As you see, most complexity stems from the fact that Scala tries to be as Java-friendly as possible. Some things which would have been easily possible (like classes only different in their arities, like in C#) haven't been done, because the necessary name mangling wouldn't have looked good from java.
OOP with functional elements: That's Scala's definition.
Easy access reflection: Scala devs are currently writing their own, because Java's isn't good enough.
Null-handling: Yes, via Option, which is more correct and general than the "Elvis" operator.
Nulls still supported due to Java compatibility.
Concurrency story: A whole truckload of them for every purpose. Look at Akka as an exmaple or the implementation of the new parallel collections.
Tools: The Scala compiler has a whole API which IDEs can use instead of implementing things themselves. Work is being done to improve all three major IDEs: IntelliJ, Netbeans and Eclipse.
SBT is currently the best dependency management and build system available.
If any language will be able to unseat Java (which I don't expect) it will be Scala.
Actually, Scala is far easier than Java. Seeing all these mediocre applications and libraries in Java, it is clear that Java is too complex for the average programmer.
You should check out Groovy++, the statically typed extension to Groovy. It has all the advantages that you mentioned for Groovy, but eliminates the one disqualifier that you listed. That makes it a candidate for the Java++ title.
"[...] while some are maintained to be more compatible with Scala)."
Should of course read Java instead of Scala.
Sounds in large part it isn't the language per se that's the problem, it's unskilled use thereof - to wit, a whiny list of wishing the language would prevent you from shooting yourself in the foot. It's not a list of what you wish the language could do, it's a list of what you wish you couldn't.
Solution: don't shoot yourself in the foot. Stop pointing guns at your own appendages.
In the spirit of Godel, all languages will have some aspect which can be construed as "broken". Let's focus on enhancing and extending the language, not stifling it.
Scala is great too, but I like Fantom more.
The argument "the more relaxed type system seems to scare people off" seems weak.
Reified generics. Seriously. Type erasure driven generics were adopted for backward compat reasons.
Entirely indifferent here. Yes, it creates boilerplate, but the compiler-enforced throws statement can help you understand a method's behavior.
Should be fixed. Love to see them go away.
Hadn't ever really considered it. If it's a cost, then it may be worth a fix. Either locks or a marker interface could be used for the same job.
I feel like I'd have to play around with any alternatives before deciding.
Improved generics would be nice, though again more details would be needed on the alternative.
My major headache in using Java lately has been Serializable. Suddenly finding out that someone broke the contract of a Serializable parent class that your implementation can't touch is awful.
Perhaps the solution would be to default with everything being Serializable unless they explicitly override the interface to throw Unsupported Operation? That would put the interface to work as well, leaving it as more than a mere marker.
There want be a "NEXT BIG LANGUAGE". Instead of searching this the should make interop between the languages easieer and make the plattform better so everybody can use what they want. Even Java if the are crazy.
The idea that you have to be Scala to fix Java is utter nonsense. Scala improves some APIs...that could be improved in Java. Scala adds some superficial language features...that could be added to Java (or NBJL) without the library requirements Scala imposes. Scala goes so far beyond fixing Java that it's almost nonsensical...perhaps it's a great and powerful thing to be able to reason about higher kinds in a language, but I just need to write a goddamned web UI. If I can write it in Ruby code and have it be more understandable than a higher-kinded, massively-abstracted Scala program, there's something seriously wrong with the Scala approach.
What's needed here is another incremental step beyond today's Java. Add the bits and pieces to Java that are missing (or build a new language that's Java's reasonable parts with those missing bits). Improve the APIs that Java builds upon, either through a lightweight library or by fixing them in the JDK itself. And ideally, don't impose a giant runtime dependency just because you choose to use those superficial language features; if you can't express it in JVM types and JVM bytecodes, you're pushing too hard.
"If I can write it in Ruby code and have it be more understandable than a higher-kinded, massively-abstracted Scala program, there's something seriously wrong with the Scala approach."
Than there is something seriously wrong with your approach to write the program in Scala?
Otherwise, perhaps you could write it in Scala code that is more readable than a higher-kinded, massively abstracted Ruby program.
Then again something would be wrong with the Ruby approach?
It is currently very annoying that people mistake what one _can_ do in a language with what one _must_ do in a language to achieve certain results.
+1 for Thomas Kappler here.
Beside: The problem also seems to be the idea that a NBL could address the currently emerging problems of web-development, concurrency, distributed computing, more and more evolving business complexity a.s.o. and at the same time be easy like Basic and without any difference to language X one already knows.
The world is heavily changing but please let me stay the same and feel comfortable.
Guys, that doesn't work! When the land is flooded we better learn nautics and build ships instead of improving the bicycle.
I find Scala to be a lot easier to use than Java. Especially 2.8. Things are just more orthogonal in Scala, especially around collections. Everything works the same whether it's a list, array, ArrayList, etc.
It takes a month or two to adjust to using filters and maps but it reduces so much code down to a really simple, easy-to-read line of code.
I love the type inference too.
I think Snoracle should just focus on keeping the JVM top-notch and leave the language innovation to others. The JVM is the real crown jewel.
Agree with steve "If any language will be able to unseat Java (which I don't expect) it will be Scala."
Scala brings in features that are well beyond what Java can offer, bridging the gap between functional programming but not tying you into the latter. If anything, Java 8 has lots to learn from Scala.
While we try to invent NBJL, Scala offers you right here, right now, the tools you need for building mission critical enterprise software.
Although a language must strive for simplicity, it has to be ambitious enough to offer tools for developers to come up with innovative ideas.
In this sense, I see both Scala's and Groovy DSLs delivering the most benefits, specially the former, since it supports them natively with parser combinators.
To those who say "Scala is perfect because it has ALL the features" ... you don't get the point.
More features is not always better ... and I'll argue one of the fact that made Java popular in the first place, was it's lack of features ... which means easy to learn and Maintain.
A lot of language geeks/researcher don't maintain huge pile of corporate code daily, which is what 9 out of the 10 millions java devs do daily.
Now if I'm gonna maintain some code, especially not mine I would much rather have it not written in Perl of Scala, where people can make up their own stuff.
I like Groovy and Fantom the most myself, Groovy as the easiest migration path from java and is already used by quite a lot of people (a little), although because it's mostly dynamic I feel it's best use for scripting.
For "core" code I prefer Fantom(mostly static), which I feel is a lot like Java would be if it was rewritten from scratch right now, without all the earlier mistakes, and "new feature while staying backward compatible" hacks, and API's that got super cluttered overtime - I think Fantom just lacks publicity.
Have you never heard of groovy++ or mirah?
- Why not Scala/Why is Scala too complex. I will blog soon on this.
- Groovy++/Mirah/... I chose 4 languages which represent a category of solution to the problem, and couldn't talk about everything in an hour long talk or blog.
Very interesting discussion. A sweet spot of Java has been it's "blue collar" nature. A working programmer could understand all aspects of the language. Contrast this with the byzantine complexity of C++ whose users at some point simply must declare their faith in the library designers and hope for the best.
At least, Java 1.0 had that ideal "blue collar" nature. I have met plenty of programmers who didn't understand inner classes, serialization, reflection, or, of course, generics. Ok, make that Java 1.0 except for monitors--lots of working programmers don't understand those either. In fact, I'd add to your feature list for the NBJL "blue collar concurrency".
Creating a "blue collar" language isn't something that happens every day.
When done by "blue collar" people who have no knowledge of programming language theory, the result is often problematic. Look at PHP--I won't have to elaborate... Or Groovy, many of whose most important aspects (particularly in the MOP) are under-specified and constantly shifting.
The "white collar" people give us languages that dazzle us with their brilliance and innovation. After all, that's what a researcher is rewarded for.
As white collar languages go, Scala is better than most. Much attention is paid to compatibility with the JVM, the Java libraries, and the tools infrastructure. This isn't the "just shut up and use Emacs" crowd.
Still, in order to be a happy user of Scala, you will need to put your trust in those people who forever go on writing incomprehensible blogs about category theory. For example, I have no desire to actually understand "higher kinded types", but as a user, I happily take the result: By calling someCollection.someMethod, I get back another collection OF THE SAME TYPE that I started with.
It is entirely possible that the programmers who today have an imperfect understanding of Java 5, C++, or C#, and who muddle through anyway, will be just fine with Scala. As are, of course, the folks who write those incomprehensible blogs.
@David: That's called "Java compatibility". I could live without it, but then much more people like you would be complaining ... especially about how "bloated" the runtime is and how it "duplicates" existing functionality.
Strings: The Java implementation is tightly coupled to the underlying architecture in more ways than you want to know ... while the String handling isn't quite Unicode-aware e. g. "charAt" it is so heavily optimized and tuned, that it doesn't make sense to build a different one. Improvements like verbatim Strings and some additional methods make java.lang.String bearable though.
Date: Currently people are waiting if JSR-310 ever gets into the JDK. Unless this isn't clear, it doesn't make sense to duplicate things.
I/O: Java's libraries heavily rely on VM intrinsics and don't even work properly until NIO2 gets into JDK. Doesn't make sense to duplicate non-working functionality, if the VM doesn't support doing things right yet.
In the end, there is a reason why Scala made many choices which made the language a bit more complex: Java compatibility and the ability to reuse existing Java libraries. Why duplicate things without good reasons?
Don't agree , its not worth sacrificing backward compatibility just for Checked Exceptions and other things.
No one can imagine java without backward compatibility and run anywhere architecture.
I think the times where there used to be a single big language are gone. Better get used to it.
It is no secret Java as a platform offers numerous options for developers. IMO, JVM languages are smart and clever as they don't heel to the JCP as we all know how hard is to get something into Java that would take years to offer. JVM languages are healthily fueling innovation in the Java ecosystem for good.
Java is certainly going to be here for sometime for those who are afraid of a potential replacement. Just, choose your own weapon, a language that meets your needs, does not need to satisfy everyone on the planet.
YAY! Speculation and fanboy-ism at its best!
Being a system administrator for as many years as I have, the trend is heading that direction. Hybrid environments.
Funny thing that C# covers all those points (except for monitors, which they now admit was a design mistake, and static methods which can be abused but still have their uses).
Backward compatibility is highly desirable--but every 10 years, it's time to step back, reappraise, and start anew. Support the old version with fixes, but stop extending it, already! I attempted to make that argument at Sun many times--in vain, alas. But I fully agree with your assessment. The next big language could easily be a stripped-down and simplified Java!
That said, I also agree that modules connected by REST APIs is the most flexible architecture. Once APIs are defined, different modules can use any language or libraries they need.
Rust, rust is the language you're looking for.
It's better to create new Java language (say JavaX). JavaX will be backward incompatible. And continue to support and maintain "old" Java.
The thing is it's not the problem of the Java language itself, it's the problem of the wrong design of the JVM. That the reason why new JVM language such as Kotlin still have problem similar to Java, for example Kotlin try to support Reified Generics like C# but it's limited to just available for inline function only. The JVM need a breaking change.
I believe what need to do for the Java language is to have a new version, just one new version, that accept NOT backward-compatibility to fix all the wrong designs have been made so far. Two of them are the lack of a Unified type system (having two different Primitive type such as int and Reference type such as Integer) and the ugly design of Type Erasure Generics. Java's lambda is still a work around in compared with C#'s implementation, for example I cannot mutate a variable declared outside of a lambda. It just make the languages worse if we try adding more new features while keeping backward compatibility.
Have a look how fast and how nice new features are being added to the C# language. That's one of the reason why C# is in both the top 10 most popular and most loved programming language of Stack Overflow survey 2017.
Why don't we conduct a survey to ask for Java developers all from the world to vote for that idea? When we have enough the supporting votes, we can persuade the vendor - the old man Oracle - to make such a big change to the language. I'm sure there're more than 70% developers will support that.
But to conduct that survey, we really need someone who have the impact to the vendor the community. Can you do that guys? | 2019-04-26T04:40:22Z | https://blog.joda.org/2010/09/next-big-jvm-language_964.html |
The KIKU No. 8 (ETS-VIII), which was injected into the drift orbit after four rounds of apogee engine firing, started to deploy the receiving antenna of its large deployable antenna reflector (LDR) at 5:31p.m. on Dec. 25 and the sending antenna at 6:56 p.m. on Dec. 26. Both these antennas were confirmed to be successfully deployed through telemetry data and images from onboard cameras sent from the satellite on the respective days. At 4:14 a.m. on the 27th, the attitude control mode was shifted to the regular control mode to advance to the initial functional verification phase.
The "SELENE" is a lunar orbiter scheduled to be launched in the Summer of 2007. JAXA is carrying out a campaign to collect the names and messages to send them to the Moon on the "SELENE." In addition to Mr. Masahiro Kawai, coach of the pro baseball team Chunichi Dragons, more and more celebrities are becoming interested in the campaign. Mr. Hiroshi Aoshima, a composer and pianist, Mr. Yoshiyuki Tatsumi of the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, JAMSTEC, and Sakana-Kun (or Mr. Fish who is famous for his abundant knowledge of fish) are participating in the campaign.
Sakana-Kun gave us a very pleasant comment, "Wow! Amazing! It is really romantic! Can I register the names of fish?"
We are accepting names and messages until Jan. 31 through the Internet or by postcard.
The "SELENE" is a lunar orbiter scheduled to be launched in the Summer of 2007. JAXA is carrying out a campaign to collect names and messages to send them to the Moon on the "SELENE."
On Dec. 15, Mr. Masahiro Kawai, coach for the pro baseball team Chunichi Dragons, visited JAXA i for this campaign. We are looking forward to receiving many heartful messages.
The KIKU No. 8 launched by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 11 at 3:32 p.m. on December 18, 2006 (Japan Standard Time) has successfully deployed its solar array paddles and is now flying on its transfer orbit. The satellite is firing its apogee engine to inject itself to the drift orbit. For the latest information about the KIKU No. 8, please read our Special Site.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) received signals from "KIKU No. 8" at the Santiago Station in Chile and the Maspalomas Station in the Canary Islands (the Kingdom of Spain). Through the received signals and images, we have confirmed that solar array paddles have been deployed and sun acquisition was successfully performed.
The "KIKU No. 8" was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center at 3:32 p.m. on December 18, 2006, Japan Standard Time (JST.) The satellite is now in good condition, and operations are progressing smoothly.
The H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 11 (H-IIA F11) with the Engineering Test Satellite VIII "KIKU No. 8" (ETS-VIII) onboard was launched at 3:32 p.m. on December 18, 2006 (Japan Standard Time, JST.) The launch vehicle flew smoothly, and, at about 28 minutes after liftoff, the "KIKU No. 8" separation was confirmed.
We would like to express our profound appreciation for the cooperation and support of all related personnel and organizations that helped contribute to the successful launch of the H-IIA F11.
We are now ready for launch!
The launch countdown has started for the KIKU No. 8/ H-IIA F11 in Tanegashima. The scheduled launch time is 3:32 p.m. The preparation status is being updated under the "Countdown Report" in the special site for the launch. The live launch report will start at 2:30 p.m. You can enjoy the report through the Internet, at some JAXA broadcast sites, on big screens on the streets, in science museums, and via cable TV.
The launch of the KIKU No. 8/H-IIA F11 scheduled on Dec. 16 has been postponed due to clouds including a freezing layer observed above the launch site. There is little possibility for the weather to recover by the time of the launch.
The KIKU No. 8 (ETS-VIII) and H-IIA F11 are ready for tomorrow's launch. JAXA will broadcast the launch live from the studio in Tanegashima with comments and explanations by JAXA employees.
The live broadcast will be provided in various ways, namely through the Internet, at special broadcast sites, on big screens on streets, in science museums, and on Cable TV, for as many people as possible to enjoy it. The broadcast is scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m.
*The broadcast time schedule is subject to change due to the operation status, weather conditions and other factors on the launch day.
Launch preparation operations are underway for the KIKU No. 8 at the Tanegashima Space Center.
After the mating with the PAF at the SFA, the satellite was encapsulated with the fairing, and loaded onto the launch vehicle. The KIKU No. 8 is now ready for the countdown. Its condition will be monitored and maintained by remote equipment until launch.
The "KIKU No. 8 (ETS-VIII)," which had been encapsulated by fairing at the Spacecraft and Fairing Assembly Building (SFA), left the SFA for the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on the night of Dec. 7. The transportation went smoothly. In the VAB, the encapsulated KIKU No. 8 will be loaded onto the launch vehicle to be ready for the coming launch.
JAXA invites you to send your name and message to be delivered to the Moon. The campaign aims to make people feel more familiar with the Selenological and Engineering Explorer (or Moon explorer) "SELENE" project. Your names and messages will be delivered to the Moon on the "SELENE."
This is a worldwide campaign in cooperation with The Planetary Society of Japan and The Planetary Society of the U.S.A.
We can accept names and messages until January 31, 2007. We are looking forward to many entries.
SELenological and ENgineering Explorer "SELENE"
The Kibo is Japan's first manned space facility where astronauts can carry out activities for a long time. Up to four astronauts can be onboard the Kibo. The Kibo will be transported to the ISS by three Space Shuttle flights between 2007 and 2008.
The Experiment Logistic Module Pressurized Section and the Robotic Arm will be prepared for shipping to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in the U.S. to be ready for the launch.
ISS and Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo"
On the morning of Nov. 2 at the Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC), the "KIKU No. 8 (ETS-VIII)" completed its post-transportation function verification, and was moved from the Spacecraft and Fairing Assembly Building No. 2 (SFA2) to the Spacecraft and Fairing Assembly Building (SFA) for final preparations.
On the ninth, the cryogenic test for the H-IIA Launch Vehicle Flight No.11 (H-IIA F11) was held at the TNSC.
Preparations for the payload and launch vehicle are running smoothly ahead of the launch scheduled for next month.
The Mercury transit event across the Sun that took place in the morning of 9 November 2006 JST was successfully observed in great detail with the three telescope instruments aboard Hinode satellite. Panels below show images from Hinode for the episode around the contact of Marcury to the solar disk (i.e., around first and second contacts).
Each telescope is at this moment still under the stage of continuous adjustment and optimization after the launch to achieve its best-possible performance on orbit. Hence it should be noted the images presented here are not necessarily taken with the highest optical performance the relevant telescope would exhibit. Further improvement of image quality would be expected as the adjustment progresses.
All the telescope instruments aboard Hinode have so far been successfully performing their initial engineering observations. Mercury transit data acquired this time will be helpful for the adjustment of telescope optics as well as calibrating alignment information of the instruments.
The Engineering Test Satellite "KIKU No. 8 (ETS-VIII), which arrived at the Tanegashima Space Center in September, was open to the press on Nov. 1, and the satellite showed its body wrapped in black insulation material with its stowed antennas and solar array paddles. Launch preparations are proceeding smoothly.
The sun-observing satellite "Hinode (SOLAR-B)," launched on Sep. 23, 2006, (JST) by the M-V Launch Vehicle No. 7 from the Uchinoura Space Center, has completed its major initial operations including orbit adjustment to a sun-synchronous orbit and performance verification of the attitude control function. The protective doors of all three onboard telescopes have now been opened. The satellite started observing the sun in order to verify the performance of the three telescopes. For about the next month, observation activities will progress until they reach the implementation of a scientific operation mode.
Various activities are underway ahead of the launch of the "KIKU No. 8" including announcements about the launch day, its nickname, and its symbol character "KIKU Hachi-zo."
The "KIKU No. 8 (ETS-VIII)," which had been delivered to the TNSC, was unpacked and reassembled, and a final functional verification test was carried out.
As the final preparation for launch, the "KIKU No. 8" will be loaded with propellant, installed with pyrotechnics, and placed on the launch vehicle.
Launch day is set! Special site is open!
The launch day of the Engineering Test Satellite VIII "KIKU No. 8 (ETS-VIII)" is set for December 16, 2006. We have opened a special site to provide you with the latest information about "KIKU No. 8 (ETS-VIII)" and H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 11 (H-IIA No.11.) Please enjoy this site.
The Engineering Test Satellite VIII (ETS-VIII) was nicknamed "KIKU No.8" ("KIKU" means "chrysanthemum" in English.) The ETS series has been named "KIKU" since its first satellite.
JAXA has been conducting the ETS series project with the aim of achieving satellite technology that can meet the needs of the future.
"KIKU No. 8," or the 8th ETS, will challenge technological standards in communications and positioning that can make our life more convenient and comfortable.
The ETS-VIII symbol character "KIKU Hachi-zo" was born to help the public feel closer to the satellite. We hope you like both the satellite and the mascot.
On Oct. 13, the lunar exploration satellite, Selenological Engineering Explorer (SELENE), introduced itself to the public at the Tsukuba Space Center. The SELENE is 2.1 meters both in length and width, 4.8 meters in height, and three tons in weight including its two sub-satellites (each of which is about 50 kg.) The satellite is scheduled to be launched by an H-IIA launch vehicle from the Tanegashima Space Center in the summer of next year. It then will circulate on a lunar orbit 100 km above the moon for a year to elucidate the mystery of the lunar origin and development by observing the distribution of elements and minerals on the surface of the moon, its geographical features, surface structure, and gravity and magnetic fields in details.
At 9:54 a.m. on September 27 (Japan Standard Time), the Micro-Lab Sat team started operations to terminate radio frequency links with the satellite. At 11:32 a.m., termination of radio frequency links was confirmed, and its mission operation was completed.
The Micro-Lab Sat was launched as a piggyback by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 4 from the Tanegashima Space Center on Dec. 14, 2002, and its operation continued for three and half years, longer than its scheduled mission period.
By taking full advantage of the special features of the small satellite, easy handling and shorter development period, we were able to acquire precious experience such as using new technologies and nurturing young engineers. We will do our best to contribute to society by sharing our learning experience from the small satellite with the private sector.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the M-V Launch Vehicle No. 7 (M-V-7) at 6:36 a.m. on September 23, 2006 (Japan Standard Time, JST) from the Uchinoura Space Center (USC).
JAXA started receiving signals from the SOLAR-B at 7:21 a.m. (JST) at the Santiago Station, and from those signals we verified that the SOLAR-B had successfully separated from the launch vehicle and its solar array paddles (PDL) had been normally deployed.
The time for the SOLAR-B/M-V-7 launch scheduled on Sep. 23 (Sat) has been set at 6:36 a.m. (Japan Standard Time, JST.) The SOLAR-B aboard the M-V-7 is well prepared for launch as the launch rehearsal has been completed.
The live broadcast of the SOLAR-B/M-V-7 launch is scheduled between 5:30 and 7:00 a.m. (JST) on the launch day.
During the night of Sep. 19, a launch rehearsal was carried out following the actual launch process in the same way as on the launch day to confirm the schedule and operation of all equipment. At the pitch dark launch site, the launch assembly tower, which stores the launch vehicle, and the antennas were lit up, and the rehearsal was completed after the rocket launcher angle was set. The launch is scheduled for Sep. 23 (Sat), and the live broadcast of the SOLAR-B/M-V-7 launch is scheduled to start at 5:30 a.m.(JST) on the launch day.
After completing the operational test for the launcher angle setting on Sep. 16, the M-V Launch Vehicle No.7, scheduled to be launched on September 23, 2006, came out from the Launch Assembly Tower. Launch preparations are progressing smoothly. Local people made and presented a thousand origami paper cranes praying for the success of the launch.
The JAXA infrared astronomical satellite "AKARI (formerly known as ASTRO-F)" was launched on February 21st, 2006 from Uchinoura Space Centre, Japan. AKARI is continuing its mission of surveying the entire sky, making a complete map of our cosmos in infrared light. Lately, AKARI has successfully acquired two new exciting images depicting scenes of the birth and death of stars.
We were able to learn significant information about the star formation and death throes by the acquired images.
JAXA reported on July 26 the following two launch schedules to the Space Activities Commission.
The H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 10 (H-IIA F10) is scheduled to be launched from the Tanegashima Space Center on September 10, and the M-V Launch Vehicle No. 7 (M-V-7) is set to be launched from the Uchinoura Space Center on September 23.
JAXA unveiled to the press a prototype of the "H-II Transfer Vehicle" (HTV), which transports goods to the International Space Station (ISS). The HTV is a cylindrical-shaped inter-orbital carrier whose length is 10 meters and diameter is 4.4 meters at the largest section. It can carry six tons of goods to the ISS. The prototype is manufactured for various environmental tests on the ground to check if it can bear with the temperature changes in space and acoustic and vibration environment at the time of the launch. The HTV is scheduled to be launched by the H-IIB launch vehicle, which is under development, in Japan Fiscal Year 2008.
The asteroid probe "Hayabusa," which landed on the asteroid "Itokawa" last November, successfully turned on its ion engine, and it is now aiming to return to Earth in June 2010. The U.S. eminent scientific journal Science features the results of Hayabusa's scientific investigations in its June 2 edition. The "Hayabusa" observed Itokawa's shape, geographical features, reflectance, mineral composite, and gravity from an altitude of three to 20 km, and clarified the Itokawa's structure as a "pile of rubble." Science published seven Hayabusa-related essays, the first time for the magazine to feature a Japanese asteroid probe project. The Hayabusa project also received a "Space Pioneer Award" from the National Space Society of the United States at the International Space Development conference held in Los Angeles in May.
The Advanced Earth Observing Satellite "Daichi" (ALOS) observed central Java, the Republic of Indonesia, which was severely stricken by an earthquake on May 27, and the data has been provided to the International Charter "Space and Major Disaster" and the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space of Indonesia. (The images are the area near Yogyakarta airport before and after the earthquake.) The "Daichi" has been in a calibration phase to be ready for regular operations starting this October. It has been providing observation data, including the data on Mount Merapi, Indonesia, which had been showing signs of volcanic activity since the end of April and the flooded area in northern Thailand the other day, to related organizations.
Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Scientific Satellite "ASTRO-F"
On May 5 (Eastern Daylight Saving Time), Minister Kosaka of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and NASA Administrator Griffin had a meeting in Washington DC, and selected Astronaut Takao Doi as a onboard crew member for the Space Shuttle mission for the first launch of the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" (the External Logistic Module Pressurized Section) to the International Space Station (ISS.) The launch is currently scheduled for the end of 2007. Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki was also selected as a crew support astronaut for the same mission.
The crew support astronaut will assist Astronaut Doi throughout the training for the mission.
The Advanced Land Observing Satellite "Daichi," which was launched by the H-IIA launch vehicle in January 2006, made observations of Mount Merapi in Java, the Republic of Indonesia, on April 29 as it had shown signs of volcanic activity. The image data was also provided to the International Charter "Space and Major Disasters."
JAXA has been carefully carrying out initial operations of the first Japanese infrared astronomy satellite "Akari," which was launched on Feb. 22, after we were not able to use the two-dimensional solar sensor, which is part of the attitude control sensor. In the afternoon of April 14, JAXA successfully removed the cover (aperture lid) of the telescope, and that marked the completion of major post-launch initial events. Both the power generation and attitude of the satellite are stable, and the observation system is also working normally. Professor Hiroshi Murakami, the Project Manager, commented, "We are barely at the start line for observation operations. I hope that everybody is looking forward to the observation results." The first observation results will be released in mid May.
JAXA carried out a deployment test for the reflector surface of the Large-scale deployable antenna reflectors (LDR) of the Engineering Test Satellite (ETS-VIII) on April 7 in Tokyo. The ETS-VIII is scheduled to be launched in Japanese Fiscal Year 2006. The LDR is the largest deployable antenna in the world.
The ETS-VIII is equipped with two units of LDRs, and one unit composed of 14 modules, each of which is hexagonal like an umbrella.
The LDR will be neatly folded to about 1 meter in diameter and 4meters in length when it is loaded on top of the launch vehicle, but it is about 19 m * 17 m when deployed. Molybdenum and gold plated materials are used to reinforce the mesh reflector surface for lighter weight so that it can withstand in the harsh temperature changes in space. In addition cables are stitched for further support.
The Japan-US Inquiry in Space Symposium, sponsored by the Ministry of Education Culture Sports, Science and Technology, was held on March 28th at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. While Professor Junichiro Kawaguchi reported the achievement and latest status of the Hayabusa, Dr. Louis Friedman, the executive director of the Planetary Society, lectured on the world history of space exploration and expressed his high expectations for Japanese space-related activities. In the subsequent discussion, various discussion topics for planetary exploration were presented including "international cooperation and competition in planetary exploration," "planetary exploration strategies that take advantages of Japanese strong points," and "how to overcome financial and other resource limits."
In the course of the discussion, participants agreed with Dr. Friedman when he pointed out that "the biggest achievement of planetary exploration is that it inspires many people." A full report on the symposium will be published on our website at a later date.
Dr. Friedman explaining the history of moon and planetary exploration.
The Japanese school spring vacation season has started, and each JAXA office has prepared various educational events. Between the 23rd and 25th, the Tanegashima Space Center (Kagoshima) conducted a "Space School" for high school to graduate school students. Participants could interact with space development and actually experienced launch control simulations and model rocket launches. At the Tsukuba Space Center, a "Cosmic College, Master Course" will be held from the 26th to the 28th of March. This is a first trial for JAXA to allow participants to experience and feel the "actual site of space development as a working place." Please try it.
JAXA i, the JAXA information center in Marunouchi, Tokyo, will hold a special event for the spring vacation season in addition to our regular monthly event.
Every month, JAXA i invites a specialist in the fields of space and aviation for a small talk. This month's speaker is Professor Nakasuga of the University of Tokyo, who is in charge of a micro satellite project.
We will hold a special event for the asteroid probe "Hayabusa" at the OO square on the first floor of the Marunouch OAZO building on March 26, the first Sunday of the Japanese school spring vacation period. The event includes a talk show by the Hayabusa project manager, Junichiro, Kawaguchi, and live performance by the grand prix winner of the Space Music Campaign held last year. For more details, please check the "VISIT JAXA - JAXA i -" site.
The three JAXA astronauts who were certified as Mission Specialists (MS) by NASA held a press conference at the JAXA Tokyo office. They are Astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, Akihiko Hoshide, and Naoko Yamazaki. The three astronauts who have gone through various types of stringent training talked about their hopes and expectations to contribute to the assembly of the International Space Station/Kibo and manned Moon and Mars exploration, as well as their enthusiasm about their space trip and further training.
Communication with the asteroid probe "Hayabusa" has been restored, though it is through a low speed of 32 bps. The Hayabusa's communication with the earth had been lost since November 2005 as the attitude of the spacecraft swayed off course after taking off from the small asteroid "Itokawa."
We have been gradually finding out the current status of the Hayabusa, and, on March 6, we were able to estimate its current position and speed for the first time in three months. The operation team will continue their efforts to have it back to earth by June 2010.
The Japan U.S Inquiry in Space Symposium will be held at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Odaiba, Tokyo) on March 28 to discuss the dreams and future of space exploration with Dr. Louis Friedman of the Planetary Society (distinguished guest) and Dr. Junichiro Kawaguchi of the "Hayabusa." Other panelists include Mr. Hiroki Matsuo of the Space Activities Commission, Dr. Sho Sasaki of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, and Mr. Shinya Matsuura, a non-fiction writer. Dr. Yasunori Matogawa, JAXA Associate Executive Director, will act as MC.
Admission is free, but prior registration through the Internet or fax is required.
The Symposium is sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
JAXA acquired image data on disaster-hit Leyte Island through the "Daichi"
JAXA took and analyzed image data on Leyte Island, where a huge landslide occurred, through the Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) aboard the Advanced Earth Observing Satellite "Daichi." We have provided the data to the International Charter "Space and Major Disasters" and the Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC).
JAXA launched the 21st Scientific Satellite (ASTRO-F) aboard the M-V Launch Vehicle No. 8 (M-V-8) at 6:28 a.m. on February 22, 2006 (Japan Standard Time, JST) from the Uchinoura Space Center (USC).
The launch vehicle flew smoothly, and it was confirmed that the satellite was safely injected into its scheduled orbit.
We would like to express our appreciation for the cooperation and support from all related organizations and people who helped contribute to the successful launch of the ASTRO-F/M-V-8.
JAXA announced that the launch of the 21st Scientific Satellite, ASTRO-F, by the M-V Launch Vehicle No. 8 (M-V-8) was postponed due to the adverse weather conditions.
While preparing for the launch tomorrow, the ASTRO-F/M-V-8 underwent a simplified operational checkup on Feb. 18. Preparations are progressing smoothly.
The launch time is set at 6:28 on February 21 (Tue,) and the final terminal time schedule will start in the evening of the 20th. The live launch report will start one hour prior to the launch.
Rocket System Corporation (RSC) and the JAXA launched the Multi-functional Transport Satellite 2 (MTSAT-2) aboard the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 9 (H-IIA F9) at 3:27 p.m. on February 18, 2006 (Japan Standard Time, JST) from the Tanegashima Space Center.
The launch vehicle flew smoothly, and, at about 28 minutes and 11 seconds after liftoff, the separation and injection of the MTSAT-2 into a Geostationary transfer orbit were confirmed.
We would like to express our profound appreciation for the cooperation and support of all related personnel and organizations that helped contribute to the successful launch of the MTSAT-2 aboard the H-IIA F9.
* Launch operations for the H-IIA F9 are commissioned by Rocket System Corporation.
*The MTSAT-2 is owned by the Civil Aviation Bureau and the Japan Meteorological Agency, which fall under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
The H-IIA F9 launch with the MTSAT-2 onboard is fast approaching. It is scheduled for Feb. 18 (Sat.) Only three days after the H-IIA launch, the M-V F8 with the infrared astronomical satellite, ASTRO-F, aboard, is scheduled to be launched on Feb. 21 (Tue.) Preparations for both launch vehicles are smoothly underway. * Launch operations for the H-IIA F9 are commissioned by Rocket System Corporation.
The MTSAT-2 is owned by the Civil Aviation Bureau and the Japan Meteorological Agency, which fall under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
First images acquired by the PALSAR and AVNIR-2 of the "Daichi"
JAXA released the images of Mt. Fuji and Shizuoka City observed during the night by the Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) and the image of Tanegahima by the Advanced Visible and Near Infrared Radiometer type-2 (AVNIR-2). Both sensors are aboard the Advanced Land Observing Satellite “Daichi.” The Daichi is the only satellite that can perform high resolution observations of one specific area with both light and radio frequency by using the two sensors.
For high resolution images, please check the press releases.
* The PALSAR was developed by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry in cooperation with JAXA.
Mt. Fuji and Shimizu Port are clear in the first image data from the "Daichi"
Image data has been acquired by the Panchromatic Remote-sensing Instrument of Stereo Mapping (PRISM) onboard the Advanced Land Observing Satellite "Daichi." The clear 3-D image of Mt. Fuji and the detailed image of the Shimizu Port area prove the high performance of the sensor.
Press Release (high resolution images available): Image data acquired by the PRISM onboard the "Daichi"
Two satellites that will be launched from Tanegashima and Uchinoura respectively have been smoothly undergoing preparations for launch.
The preparation of two satellites that will be launched from Tanegashima and Uchinoura, respectively, are being carried out on schedule. Please refer to the Countdown sites (from the banners above) for the latest information.
Today, JAXA reported the following two launch schedules to the Space Activities Commission.
As previously announced, the Daichi had put itself into safety mode because of the anomaly detection. We carried out operations to have the Daichi return to normal operations, and verified that all function of the satellite are working normally. JAXA then decided to complete the critical phase at 5:00 p.m. on Janunry 28 (JST) and moved onto the initial functional verification phase.
At 10:51 p,m. on the 27th (JST), an anomaly detection function was activated for the data processing system and Daichi consequently put itself into safety mode.
We are currently investigating the status and cause, but other conditions such as the atttitude of the Daichi is stable.
To investigate the cause, we decided to continue the critical phase of Daichi and take all possible measures to return to normal operations.
All deployments of paddle and antennas of "Daichi"(ALOS) had been successfully completed.
The satellite is in a stable condition.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) started the deployment of the Data Relay Satellite Communication Antenna (DRC) of the Daichi from 9:37 a.m., January 25 (Japan Standard Time, JST), and confirmed that it had been successfully completed through telemetry data received at 9:44 a.m. January 25 (JST).
The H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 8 (H-IIA F8) with the Advanced Land Observing Satellite "Daichi"(ALOS) onboard was launched at 10:33 a.m. on January 24, 2006 (Japan Standard Time, JST.) The launch vehicle flew smoothly, and, at 16 minutes and 30 seconds after liftoff, the Daichi separation was confirmed.
The Perth first mobile station in Australia started receiving signals from the ALOS at 10:52 a.m. (JST), and by those signals, JAXA confirmed that the solar array paddle deployment was successfully completed.
The launch of the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 8 (H-IIA F8) with the Advanced Land Observing Satellite "Daichi" (ALOS) onboard has been postponed after JAXA took some extra time to investigate a malfunction discovered in one of the ground facilities which monitors the temperature of the air conditioner for the payload fairing during countdown operations.
The new launch date has been set for January 24 (Tue), 2006 (Japan Standard Time, JST).
The new launch day is January 23.
The scheduled launch time is between 10:33 thru 10:43 a.m. (JST) on January 23, 2006.
JAXA has decided that we will not carry out the launch on January 22.
The new launch day will be announced two days prior to the launch.
JAXA has decided that we will not carry out the launch until January 21.
The launch of the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 8 (H-IIA F8) with the Advanced Land Observing Satellite Daichi (ALOS) onboard has been postponed due to a malfunction found yesterday in a part of the launch vehicle onboard equipment. We will replace the malfunctioned part with a new one.
The launch was originally scheduled on January 19 (Thu), 2006 (Japan Standard Time) from the Tanegashima Space Center.
In the OO Square, you can enjoy powerful images created by Nikkei digital multi vision.
JAXA i will broadcast live the launch of the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No.8 (H-IIA F8) under the following schedule.
The launch date and time are subject to change due to adverse weather and other reasons.
*We would like to thank Nikkei Notio for its cooperation in the use of the Nikkei digital multi vision. | 2019-04-26T10:34:41Z | http://global.jaxa.jp/news/2006/ |
in more detail in addition to dealing with a number of matters not mentioned in the short version.
Almost everyone admits that an Exodus occurred. But the details of the journey are presented in such a way that relating them either chronologically or geographically to known historical data is indeed difficult.
DIFFICULT, INDEED. But not impossible. After all, we have established that Israel's journeys took them into ancient Midian (Where is Mount Sinai?) and we have a clear bead on one location mentioned on the route of Israel's journey — Ezion Geber (Num. 33:35). Add a known starting point and a known end point, and you're half way there.
This article has the limited purpose of making sense of the biblical data about the route taken by the Israelites after leaving Mount Sinai and so, by extension, to making a contribution to the cause of the Bible's credibility. Rejectionists ridicule the biblical narrative as riddled with error. Oh that they would cease from their stubbornness and approach the Word of God with fear and trembling; then they would see and sing God's praises rather than continuing to stumble in the dark.
Golgotha hill is of infinitely more significance than towering Mount Sinai, and Jesus' short walk to Calvary of immeasurably greater moment than Israel's forty years wilderness march. Nevertheless, after the atoning and saving work of the only Son of God, the redemption of Israel from Egypt and her eventual safe arrival in the land promised to Abraham's seed must go down as the ultimate historical event.
So we departed from Horeb [Mount Sinai], and went through all that great and terrible wilderness which you saw on the way to the mountains of the Amorites, as the Lord our God had commanded us. Then we came to Kadesh Barnea. And I said to you, “You have come to the mountains of the Amorites, which the Lord our God is giving us. Look, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it…"
It would appear that they arrived there about twelve months after departing Mount Sinai, two years after leaving Egypt in what has become known as "the Exodus". Soon after, disaster struck. From Kadesh Barnea, Moses sent spies to reconnoiter the land. When they returned, they tarnished their glowing report of the land's superb assets with fearful accounts of the prowess and overwhelming strength of its inhabitants, many of whom were so tall the spies felt like grasshoppers by comparison (Num. 13).
The people felt so sorry for themselves they refused to budge (Num. 14). At that point, God postponed the conquest, sentencing the entire nation to a total of forty years of rough country living, during which time every person who had been over the age of twenty upon departing from Egypt would die (Num 14:26-35). Ahead of them lay thirty-eight more years of wandering in unfamiliar surroundings. Many of those years were to be spent in Kadesh Barnea.
So you remained in Kadesh many days, according to the days that you spent there.
Taking the highly-influential medieval French rabbi, Rashi, as their source, some Jewish commentators take the clause “according to the days that you spent there” to mean that they spent as much time there as they did at all other places combined. Thus, they spent a total of nineteen years at Kadesh Barnea. Makes sense, doesn't it?
They moved from Ezion Geber and camped in the Wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh (vs. 36).
One could certainly be forgiven for taking this Kadesh to be one and the same as the Kadesh Barnea already discussed. Numbers 13 and 14, which speak unmistakably of events that occurred at Kadesh Barnea, show that it was sometimes referred to as simply “Kadesh” (13:26). And since no other Kadesh is referred to in Numbers 33 before the Kadesh mentioned in verse 36, it makes sense that this Kadesh is the same as the Kadesh Barnea spoken of in earlier chapters of Numbers. But it isn't; it's a different Kadesh, as an examination of various lines of evidence will show and as is recognized by a number of Bible students, particularly Jewish.
One must conclude that Kadesh Barnea is listed in Numbers 33 under a different name. Working with average distances between stations suggests that Terah (Num. 33:27) is the most likely candidate, but we cannot know. Frankly, it doesn't really matter.
One must conclude that Kadesh Barnea is listed in Numbers 33 under a different name.
Alternatively, Kadesh Barnea could be a specific name, possibly of a watering hole or the like, that was located in a district of a different name, in the same way that San Rafael is a city in Marin County, and Numbers 33 uses the district name. In short, the lack of appearance of the name “Kadesh Barnea” in verses 16-35 of Numbers 33 is no major impediment to the view presented here.
It is eleven days' journey from Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea.
This map provides an overview of the journeys of the Israelites between Mount Sinai and the Plains of Moab.
These clues won't enable us to triumphantly thrust a pin into the map but will give us a very helpful guideline which can be further refined by other hints.
How far was a day's journey? Nobody knows for sure, but we can be fairly confident of establishing a range of possibilities. We will take the position found in The Illustrated Bible Dictionary, which says, “Presumably a day's journey was between eighteen and twenty-five miles”. Using this range as our guide leads us to search for Kadesh Barnea somewhere between 200 (198 to be precise) and 275 miles walking distance from Mount Sinai along the most logical route.
The Deuteronomy passage reveals that the Israelites traveled “by way of Mount Seir”. The Hebrew construction, derekh ha-Seir, can be read a few different ways.
they took the road to Mount Seir or, as a proper noun, “the Mount Seir Road”.
We propose that the evidence suggests that in this passage the term is referring specifically to a road that served as a major trading route linking the fabled land of Sheba and other regions in the south-west of Saudi Arabia with Egypt, the Levant, and Syria (the NIV interpretation). This ancient caravan route began in Shabwa in southwestern Arabia and swept north parallel to the Red Sea coast passing through the El-Ola oasis on the way. See Figure 4 for an overview of the route.
Commonsense suggests that the Israelites followed this trading road leading to Mount Seir for at least part of their march towards Kadesh Barnea. Whether they stopped shy of Mount Seir or shot beyond it cannot be determined from the direction component of the Deuteronomy passage. Figure 5 outlines the most likely route taken by the Israelites, in the rough, from Har Kodesh towards Kadesh Barnea.
We are going to find Kadesh Barnea somewhere in the direction of Mount Seir, between roughly 200 and 275 miles from Har Kodesh2 taking the most sensible route, first, from Har Kodesh to the trade route and then, second, following the trade route, Mount Seir Road, towards Edom, and possibly beyond.
No guesswork is required to figure out the route taken from Har Kodesh to the Mount Seir Road. The reader is encouraged to dust off Google Earth and paste these coordinates into it: 27 50 38 35 35 25. Zoom in or out as needed to an eye altitude of about 8 miles (12 kilometers). You are looking at the western edge of the Mount Sinai camping area. Now make sure "Roads" is enabled and you will see a faint yellow line running through the camping area. This line marks out the path of a road running generally east-west and which connects two major north-south highways. The Israelites would undoubtedly have taken the same route. Follow this road towards the east until it meets Highway 80.3 (See Figure 6.) From here to the top of the plateau is another four miles. The first stop upon reaching the plateau was Kibroth Hattaavah. When the Israelites whined about the lack of meat here, God whipped up a quail tempest (Num. 11:31).
In sum, we can establish a 75-mile, north-south zone of potentiality for the location of Kadesh Barnea. See Figure 7 for clarification of the range of potential sites.
Where, then, is Kadesh Barnea ? Can we narrow down its likely location any further than we have already done? Yes, we can. To do so requires introducing a totally new idea into the equation: in Moses' day, a tiny territory occupied by Canaanites and Amalekites was sandwiched between the petty states of Edom (Mount Seir) in the south and Moab in the north. For the sake of convenience, we will dub this territory Canamalia — a better choice, wouldn't you agree, than the logical alternative, Amoria. We propose that Kadesh Barnea lay a little east of Canamalia's eastern boundary.
We propose that Kadesh Barnea lay a little east of Canamalia's eastern boundary.
On what basis can we posit the existence of the Amalekite/Canaanite kingdom of Canamalia? How does this proposal aid our cause? The argument is straightforward enough. Consider these points.
You have come to the mountains of the Amorites, which the Lord our God is giving us. Look, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged.
Neither Edom nor Moab was on Israel's radar screen as part of their divinely-ordained possession; Israel was not to inherit “a foot's worth” of either territory (Deut. 2:5, 9). If these states were joined at the hip, thus creating a continuous wedge separating Kadesh Barnea from the Holy Land to the west, Moses could not have said, “You have come to the mountains of the Amorites”. Canamalia solves the problem simply and elegantly. This “mountain of the Amorites” consisted of an extension towards the east of territory occupied by Canaanites and Amalekites in the northernmost part of the valley of the Arabah(Num. 14:25).
And they rose early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, “Here we are, and we will go up to the place which the Lord has promised, for we have sinned!” And Moses said, “Now why do you transgress the command of the Lord? For this will not succeed. Do not go up, lest you be defeated by your enemies, for the Lord is not among you. For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and you shall fall by the sword; because you have turned away from the Lord, the Lord will not be with you”. But they presumed to go up to the mountaintop… Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who dwelt in that mountain came down and attacked them, and drove them back as far as Hormah (Num. 14:40-45).
This account shows that from their camp at Kadesh Barnea they had to “go up” into “the top of the mountain/highlands”. The proposed location of Kadesh Barnea, soon to be revealed, is at an altitude of about 850 meters, while Canamalia is around 1200 meters elevation, requiring that they “go up” to reach it.
Equally important in supporting this location is Deuteronomy 1:44, which states that the enemy, “drove you back from Seir [Edom] to Hormah”. In spite of the uncertainty surrounding Hormah's whereabouts, this battlefield description suggests that the Israelites attempted to storm the highest peak in Canamalia (1480 meters)10 located a stone's throw from Canamalia's proposed border with Edom, but were beaten back from Edom. Fits perfectly.
So Jephthah again sent messengers to the king of the people of Ammon, and said to him, “Thus says Jephthah: ‘Israel did not take away the land of Moab, nor the land of the people of Ammon; for when Israel came up from Egypt, they walked through the wilderness as far as the Red Sea and came to Kadesh. Then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, “Please let me pass through your land.” But the king of Edom would not heed. And in like manner they sent to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel remained in Kadesh. And they went along through the wilderness and bypassed the land of Edom and the land of Moab, came to the east side of the land of Moab, and encamped on the other side of the Arnon. But they did not enter the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab'” (Jdg. 11:14-18).
Jephthah, a judge of Israel, spoke these words a couple of hundred years after Moses' time. Note carefully that the Israelites bypassed both Edom and Moab when their respective kings refused to give permission to pass through their territory.
With these facts up our sleeve, we are virtually forced to draw the same conclusion as before; an Amorite enclave separated Moab in the north from Edom in the south. For some unexplained reason, the Israelites were able to ascend unimpeded through this rugged territory to bring them to the east of Moab even though, nearly forty years earlier, they had exchanged blows with Canamalia's inhabitants. Time can do strange things when it comes to international relations.
Finally, we are ready to narrow down the location of Kadesh Barnea: it must lie east of Canamalia. If our theory as to the location of Canamalia's northern and southern borders along natural topographic features is correct, then the eastern border of Canamalia lay roughly between the modern towns of Al Hasa in the north and Jurf Al Darawish11 to the south. Now we're getting somewhere. But we can narrow our search down much further.
What one requirement above all others is essential to life? You're right. Water. So fire up your Google Earth and looky here: 30 48 37 36 00 34. You have an area of about three square miles covered with trees. Trees mean water. Figure 10 provides a view of the trees from about 5 miles in altitude. The water from here flows west, going right through the center of Al Hasa. Following the bed further west shows that flowing water coming from the woods has, over time, cut into the bedrock. Even an ephemeral flow would have sufficed to provide a permanent supply if cisterns were dug or impoundments built.
The evidence piles up to suggest we can place Kadesh Barnea somewhere in the vicinity of the extensive woods near the modern town of Al Hasa. The modern Desert Highway right nearby probably traces the route of an ancient trading road. Before the Israelites arrived, Kadesh Barnea may well have been a resting place for merchants. It fits. Who can see any fatal flaws?
From here on, the names Kadesh Barnea and Al Hasa will be used interchangeably.
Kadesh Barnea to Kadesh.
Kadesh to Zalmonah. This particular section is very difficult to reconstruct, but it has to be done. Be prepared for some surprises.
Zalmonah to the Jordan River.
Although we can trace the route taken from Har Kodesh to Al Hasa with some confidence, marking the stopovers on a map would be a matter of guesswork. The picture begins to change with Moserah, or Moseroth (Num. 33:29), fifteen campsites from Mount Sinai and six stops before reaching Ezion Geber. From Moserah we can make some seriously educated guesses. Figure 11 gives an overview of the circuitous path, split into four stages, taken from Mount Sinai to the Promised Land.
Then we turned and journeyed into the wilderness of the Way of the Red Sea, as the Lord spoke to me, and we skirted Mount Seir for many days (Deut. 2:1).
They departed from Abronah and camped at Ezion Geber.
And the Lord spoke to me, saying: “You have skirted this mountain long enough; turn northward” (2:2-3).
The words spoken here were said to Moses at Ezion Geber. So, when they left Kadesh Barnea they travelled south roughly parallel to the eastern boundary of Edom, eventually arriving at Ezion Geber. Here, God told them to turn northward. They did not retrace their steps back up the eastern side of Edom but now they headed north up the Arabah along the western side of the Mount Seir escarpment.
In spite of the heat, people lived in the Arabah. One such settlement was Kadesh, already spoken about. Taking as our guide the reasonable notion that cities in the Arabah existed to provide succor and supplies to traders, towns would invariably have been placed where trading routes intersected. A trading road ran along the bed of the Arabah from Ezion Geber to the southern end of the Dead Sea where it branched; we will call it the Arabah Road (based on the RSV translation of Deuteronomy 2:8). Kadesh no doubt stood somewhere along the Arabah Road where it was crossed by another trade route.
In spite of the heat, people lived in the Arabah.
Figure 12 shows all the roads spoken of in this article as well as showing, in blue, the proposed trading trail linking the Arabah Road with the King's Highway. Figures 13 and 14 are Google Earth images illuminating this proposed trail. Figure 13 is a view from Kadesh to the start of the trail, while Figure 14 provides a closeup of the landscape a little way further along. Finally, Figure 15 gives a bird's-eye view of the trail, slightly offset from its actual position to highlight the path, all the way from Kadesh to the start of the King's Highway. The significance of this trail will become evident shortly.
They moved from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, on the boundary of the land of Edom. Then Aaron the priest went up to Mount Hor at the command of the Lord, and died there in the fortieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt… (Num. 33:37-38).
Now the children of Israel journeyed from the wells of Bene Jaakan to Moserah, where Aaron died… (Deut. 10:6).
You don't have to have a PhD in quantum physics to grasp that either Mount Hor and Moserah are two names for the same place, or that Moserah was a township/trading centre located near a peak known as Mount Hor. To establish the location of Moserah we need to find a suitable peak east of the escarpment.
If our whole thesis contains any weaknesses, it is at this point. By contrast with the rugged escarpment making up the western part of Mount Seir, which provides many peaks that could be labeled “mountains”, the eastern borderlands of Edom are by and large monotonously flat, presenting no peaks that could pass as a mountain by our way of thinking. The problem is not, however, intractable. The solution lies in recognizing that a “har”, in Hebrew, can be practically anything from a knoll to a hill to a majestic peak. Any prominence that juts above its surroundings is a “mountain”.
If our whole thesis contains any weaknesses, it is at this point.
Using the color-by-altitude feature in Natural Scene Designer yields a hillock at 30 12 20 35 36 07 rising a couple of hundred feet above its surroundings. Though its height leaves a little to be desired, its location shows promise, lying close to the border of Edom.
A settlement at this junction would undoubtedly have served as a major merchants' stopover. The Israelites probably camped as close as was practical to this site. The trail coming from Kadesh mentioned earlier would also have converged at this point (Figure 15). It all fits.
The Israelites seem to have left the Red Sea Road at Bene Jaakan and headed south and slightly east, passing through Hor Hagidgad and then stopping at Jotbathah. The latter can almost certainly be associated with the famous Jordanian holiday destination renowned for its spectacular scenery, Wadi Rum. Deuteronomy 10:7 describes Jotbathah as “a land of rivers [wadis] of water”. Since no location in that part of the world could possibly enjoy a lot more rain than nearby locations, one must conclude that at least some of the water in this “land of wadis of waters” must have come from a source other than rain. The only answer can be groundwater. A large aquifer underlies this area of Jordan and neighboring Saudi Arabia. Cracks in the bedrock separating the aquifer from the surface may have allowed water to percolate all the way to the surface in Moses' day. This idea is supported by the fact that water flows slowly but perceptibly from the Saudi side into Jordan. Today it doesn't quite get to the surface at Wadi Rum because it is being pumped out faster than it can make its way upwards; one third of the precious resource has already been used up.
By comparison, the task of reconstruction has been duck soup up until now.
Then the children of Israel, the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor (Num. 20:22).
Are we saying that when they left Mt Hor they once more headed south towards the Red Sea, circling around the land of Edom again before finally returning yet again to the Arabah? Yes, that's what it seems to be saying. This apparent doubling back over old territory presents quite a puzzle. We propose that this puzzle can be solved reasonably easily.
Now Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. “Thus says your brother Israel: ‘You know all the hardship that has befallen us, how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians afflicted us and our fathers. When we cried out to the Lord, He heard our voice and sent the Angel and brought us up out of Egypt; now here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your border. Please let us pass through your country. We will not pass through fields or vineyards, nor will we drink water from wells; we will go along the King's Highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.' “ Then Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through my land, lest I come out against you with the sword” (Num. 20:14-18).
So the children of Israel said to him, “We will go by the Highway, and if I or my livestock drink any of your water, then I will pay for it; let me only pass through on foot, nothing more” (Num. 20:19).
Then he said, “You shall not pass through.” So Edom came out against them with many men and with a strong hand (Num. 20:20).
In the panic that ensued, the Israelites fled toMoserah.
So they departed from Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah (Num. 33:41).
Zalmonah must be located somewhere in the northern Arabah. To get there from Mount Hor, the Israelites had to circle around Edom (Num. 21:4), this time giving it as wide a berth as practicable. Based on the testimony of Deuteronomy 10:6-7, we can add these details. From Moserah they trekked south to Gudgodah (Hor Hagidgad) and on to Jotbathah (Wadi Rum), this time bypassing Bene Jaakan-of-the-bad-memories. From Jotbathah they made their way to the Arabah, presumably taking the shortest possible route, and on to Zalmonah. This strange portion of the journey is clarified by examining Figure 18.
And when we passed beyond our brethren, the descendants of Esau who dwell in Seir, away from the road of the plain [Heb., Arabah], away from Elath and Ezion Geber, we turned and passed by way of the Wilderness of Moab… Then the Lord said to me… “Now rise and cross over the Valley of the Zered.” So we crossed over the Valley of the Zered (Deut. 2:8-9, 13).
Once they had arrived in the Arabah from Jotbathah, they travelled “away from… Ezion Geber” — in other words, north, to Zalmonah. We have finally reached a point in the narrative of Israel's wanderings where everybody agrees about the general picture. From Zalmonah, somewhere in the north of the Arabah, the Israelites climbed eastwards up to the Jordanian plateau, then turned north, travelling east of Moab until they had passed Moab's northern border, the Arnon River (modern Wadi Mujib). North of Moab lay the states of Heshbon and Bashan. Israel defeated the armies of both these states (Deuteronomy 2 &3) and finally came to rest in the “plains of Moab” just east of the Jordan River. The details are still up for grabs and remain the source of considerable debate. Figure 19 gives what must be a reasonably accurate account of this leg of the journey.
For forty years the Israelites bore the shame of their rebellion, living under conditions of considerable hardship. In the first 39 years of their wilderness odyssey, they walked about 380 miles. In the last twelve months, they covered around 315 miles. The biggest challenges lay beyond Mount Sinai and Kadesh Barnea — in the Promised Land .
If you found this article of interest, you will want to read "Somewhere, over the Red Sea", which traces the movement of the Israelites from Egypt to Mount Sinai.
Also, serious students of the Exodus may wish to read the full version of this paper. | 2019-04-24T01:09:10Z | http://dawntoduskpublications.com/html/BT/12/Kadesh-Barnea-Route-Exodus-short.htm |
Just wanted to say thank you for such a great learning tool. I’ve been looking for something like this for a LONG time! I am a beginner Russian student and your program has skyrocketed my vocabulary, as well as my comprehension and listening skills. I started to believe that I would never understand Russian, but you have given me hope. I now understand about 70% of what is said in the episodes, up from 30% when I started listening to them 7 weeks ago. Progress! Thank you so much and keep up the fine work. Спасибо.
I have been teaching Russian for the last 5 years, and it has always been a pain in the neck to find interesting materials that my students will like (they are so picky!). Now, I just ask their favorite topic and bring up the news on that topic. Everybody loves slow audio. I can´t describe how helpful it is to my students (especially beginners) who are not used to spoken Russian. Many of them read and write quite well but their listening skills are very poor. Now, I have a great solution on how to help them. Thanks a lot. Greetings from St. Petersburg.
News in Slow Russian is a really wonderful site, a gem for Russian language learners!
Personally, I’ve been learning this notoriously difficult but beautiful language for some time now, but knowing only grammar rules and vocabularies is insufficient if one cannot make out what is being said when one hears native speakers speak it. And that was precisely my problem.
Although audio and video learning resources are readily available over the internet, none is quite as informative and unique (varied news clips read in Russian in 2 speeds delivered daily) as NISR.
This site has definitely helped me improve my listening and comprehension skills in my short 4 months since joining it. And with extremely reasonable monthly fees, I highly recommend all learners of the Russian language subscribed to it.
Oh, and have I mentioned that the reader’s voice is such music to the ears?
I subscribed to News in Slow Russian a few days ago and…please keep up the great work! Everything about it is perfect for me: audio in 2 speeds, transcript with definitions, 3 levels, etc. I plan to work my way through all of level 1, and then 2, and finally do level 3 until I am happy with my level of Russian. I create about 10 flashcards from each article to boost my vocabulary.
Your easy readers are also great. I finished “The Speckled Band” and “Tom Sawyer”, and will go through the rest when I have time (News in Slow Russian is occupying all my Russian study time now).
My goal is to natively read Tolstoy and other great Russian writers, and your products have been like a speed booster to my progress. So I just want to say thank you and encourage you to continue.
I came across News In Slow Russian and I am glad I signed up to it. I learned Russian for 2 years and stopped studying for 2 more years, and decided I needed something to get me going again without a teacher. I understand a lot more than I thought I did after my time out and I am so happy to have found News In Slow Russian. It has built up my confidence again and I am able to read easily without hesitation only after 1 week of reading news articles at level 1. Thank you so much!!
This is a great resource for my language study in St. Petersburg, Russia. I listen to the audios while I walk around the city, and I read the articles while I’m on the metro and in between my English classes. (I teach English in Russia.) During my language exchanges, my friends will correct my pronunciation and we discuss the news together. Great product!
I really enjoy the news content and the slow speed helps train my ear to the sounds and accents of Russian. It is especially helpful to hear where the stress falls in the words, which varies from word to word unlike Polish where you can count on the accent being on the next to last syllable. A definite plus are the Englis word which avoids looking up the meaning in a bilingual hat is slow going and a distraction from the reading. I highly endorse the program for people who are serious about learning Russian.
What I have found most difficult in the very important area of LISTENING to spoken Russian, is telling where the breaks are between words. Here we have interesting topical situations to read, and then follow the written word listening to slow and clear diction. Then we can listen at normal speed, when we can now hear the word breaks and even make out those tricky one-letter prepositions!
Good systematic practice with modern vocabulary and phrases. I liked the clear pronunciation and that there was a lot of practice in declining numbers, which I have always found difficult. My language exchange partners, to whom I read the articles, found them interesting too and they stimulated conversation.
I was in the USSR in 1969 and 1970, and lived and taught in Russia in the Russian language from 1995-2000. But, like anything else in life, “if you don’t use it, you lose it.” I noticed that I was losing my reading competency and vocabulary enrichment over the last few years. Bingo! I discovered “Slow Russian” and it is superb! (I am not making any money from this recommendation, folks.) Kristina’s program truly is a boon for vocabulary development and the translation. The articles are excellent and filled with wonderful idioms and grammatical constructions, especially at Level 3. These articles do not patronize an adult learner. Kristian’s amazingly clear articulation enables the listener to actually hear the grammatical case endings of words. As we English students know, it is so easy to “fudge” the endings. This is a professional adult program for adults learners, no cuddles, and tickles! The translation cues also work on IPad also! So, I am a very happy 69 year old man! There is one caution….you need to use, actually use the program! You need to use the program each day, each day! If you do this then, bingo; reading a Russian newspaper will be a very sure thing! Kristina wants us to really learn Russian, and this program will enable that wish to become a reality.
I thought that News in Slow Russian would be a great opportunity to progress in my language learning but put off buying it because I wasn’t sure if it would be worth it. I found out that only by paying for full complement of articles could I get the most out of the program.
I read and listen to articles every day, listening over and over the same articles and slowly adding new ones. What I’ve noticed is that the articles repeat words and phrases, which reinforces the learning. Considering how much time I’ve spent trying to learn Russian, this great tool is worth the cost.
I enjoy the News in Slow Russian course because it offers such a wide variety of reading materials. It’s current, interesting, and there are so many articles to read for different levels. I can listen to an article as many times as it takes me to get the gist of what was said. The words that are written in bold with an English translation are so helpful and accessible. I can’t thank you enough for this resource! Such a great way to expand your vocabulary without pouring over long lists of words that seem to take forever to memorize. There is such a need for reading material for those in between Beginner and Advanced levels of Russian. Kristina is a master for having created such a tool for students to learn her native language. Great program!
News in a Slow a Russian is an amazing resource. I’m so happy I found it and I can already see how much it’s improved my vocabulary and comprehension.
News in Slow Russian now is an essential part of my studies. I work full time and don´t really have much time to study languages. Nevertheless, I managed to incorporate daily news in my busy schedule. I normally read new articles in the morning when I am taking the metro, then listen to slow audio when I walk from the metro to the office, and on the way back I listen to the audio in normal speed. For me, this is an amazing stress free way to improve my Russian. All together I think it takes no more than half an hour a day and always on the go. Thank you for building this wonderful service! PS. Post more news about politics, please.
I have been studying Russian on my own for 4 years. It is slow going, but I find the language endlessly interesting. I was mostly working from a grammar book and a couple of internet language programs, but they really don’t give enough practice in reading and hearing the language regularly. I tried children’s books, but they get boring after awhile. News in Slow Russian gives me an interesting article every day that I can translate (with help if I need it). I have learned a lot of new vocabulary, and even more important, I can now translate unfamiliar words by recognizing the root and looking at the context. I am not yet up to listening to the news being read, but I know that is coming soon. Thank you Christina for doing this!
I am almost 70 and have been working on learning Russian over the years. “News in Slow Russian” has been a tremendous help because it delivers contemporary language (selfie, drone, etc.) rather than tourist dialogs (Where is the hotel?), and because I have found that the best way to acquire a language is by listening to the language (Russian) spoken clearly, slowly and with proper pronunciation and intonation. I look forward to each new podcast, and I am also a big fan of your adaptions of literature. I hope you continue to provide this great approach to learning Russian. You have really helped me to acquire the Russian language.
I appreciate receiving daily “News in slow Russian”, the choice of topics, the difference in levels, it helps a lot in learning Russian, thank you very much.
The best purchase I ever did was my subscription to news in slow russian. It motivates me so much to read and learn russian every day. The articles are not too long, so there is no excuse not to do it! And besides that, they are almost always interesting. The two versions of audio makes it perfect. Thank you Kristina for this perfect website, and for making the learning process so stimulating, interesting and what’s more… effective. It is totally worth the money!
I have found News in Slow Russian is an engaging way to extent my study of Russian. The articles are of high interest, written to include words that I want to know. I find it fun and a change of pace, a way of keeping on task longer, and without strain. I would like to have a way of creating my own vocabulary list on-line, choosing words from articles, and testing myself periodically.
I find the news articles to be a unique learning experience; providing such great language support while reading a vast variety of current news articles has helped me revive my Russian reading ability. I love the slow/normal audios to go along with the articles! And the glosses are also great helping fluency.
News in Slow Russian is one of my favorite Russian learning resources on the web! Being able to see the words and hear them spoken is the best way for me to learn a new language.
These materials are great! I was formally taught the Russian language (courses from beginning to advance), but after I graduated I needed material to help keep my listening skills solid. I started out with beginner and begun working my way towards advance listening and writing down what I understood, then going back through the transcript to see what I missed. The transcripts have highlighted collocations for easy reference (simply toggle the mouse over the highlighted word) and every word is stressmarked, which is great if you want to read the transcript out loud for developing pronunciation. In all this course helps you develop all of the necessary skills any learner of any language needs: listening, reading, speaking (I have pronunciation in mind). If you are merely beginning or are already at a higher level, I strongly recommend this course as a necessary supplement to what ever you are already doing to study the Russian language. Удачи!
I have been looking for a long time for a good source of graded real Russian to study. The separation of articles into levels really helps me find something which is both of interest, but not as far above my own progress as articles for native speakers.
News in Slow Russian is an excellent program for maintaining listening skills and improving vocabulary. After spending the summer of 1975 at Moscow University, I achieved a certain level of proficiency in the language. After many years with little practice, I find News in Slow Russian a great help in getting back my listening comprehension. The texts are interesting as they cover many timely aspects of society and culture. The accents are given, so it isn’t necessary to check where they fall, if they have shifted from a basic form or not. The material could well be used by a small group for practicing the spoken language through simple questions or retelling the basic points of the article, which are always worth thinking about. The slower Russian is a big help in getting ready for the normal speed. When I listen to the news from Moscow (I can get Segodnya, Vesti and Novosti on my computer), I understand the speakers so much better after the preparation of 30 minutes or so right before. Language study takes time and endurance like most worthwhile projects in life. The preparation with News in Slow Russian for me is like doing warm-up exercises before running or doing vocalises before singing. Just hearing the magnificent language is like listening to my favorite music, it’s a great experience, a long journey I started when I was 20 and now at 88 it still gets better as I go along. I really enjoy the sound of the language at the slow speed and I think to myself that is is the Russian language of Lermontov, Chekhov and Akhmatova. I read the article out loud before listening to it and think to myself that I am speaking this wonderful language too. The course is a real help in developing language skills and in keeping them alive and well.
I study Russian at a university, and I love my studies, not only of the language, but of the rich Russian culture. While I earn good grades, learning the language as fluently as possible as an adult learner, is my most important goal.
News in Slow Russian has been a gift. My classes are great at adding to my vocabulary, but not my listening skills. Hearing relevant cultural material at a pace in which I can understand, then increasing the speed of delivery really makes a big difference. I haven’t come across any other program like Kristina’s. Молодец, Кристина, спасибо большое!
Having a good basis, this course help me to memorize many words put in particular contexts.
A very good method to immerse oneself in Russian. Always arrives on time.
Great site for improving listening skills and vocabulary. Constantly improving resources – check out new ‘Books’ section. Keep up the good work.
Language learners tend to have more difficulty with listening than with speaking, because we can always limit the speed and complexity of what we are saying, but we can’t always force other people to speak slowly and use only simple words. Therefore, listening practice is essential once we get past the beginning learner stage. News in Slow Russian site does listening practice the correct way: both slow and normal speed audio; transcript of the audio; interesting and often positive news (not just depressing news about earthquakes and airplane crashes and terrorist bombings, like some Russian news podcasts); articles not too long and not too short; pleasant-sounding and clear voice for the audio. Cost of a month of news articles is similar to cost of e-books of similar length with audio, so fairly priced. Highly recommended.
I´ve been learning Russian for about 3 years and have always been very careful not to waste money on tutors or group classes. So the fact that I would spend almost two hundred of dollars on a Russian course is crazy to me! But I did it because I know you have to invest into your education to reach your goal as quickly as possible and I knew it would be good! I don’t regret it one bit. News in Slow Russian is worth that and more! Now I’m happy to study Russian at home or on the go whenever I have free time. My vocabulary and listening skills skyrocketed! And I´m happy that now I have a lifetime access to all the articles and audio files and don´t have to pay for monthly subscription. Thanks a lot!
I am at an intermediate level, so finding learning materials is TOUGH. Everything is either too easy or too hard — and the news is eternally frustration because they speak so fast. But it’s been frustrating, because i know the news is the best medium to improve your skills. Finding News in Slow Russian has TRANSFORMED my language learning. I can adjust the difficulty based on the day, choose the articles that are most interesting to me, and go through the audio normal speed, than slow speed, then normal speed. And then look at the text and have all the key words already explained. There is nothing else like this in the language learning world, and I wish it had existed when I was in college 10 years ago. Study abroad is the best, but for distance learning, I don’t think there’s a better way to become proficient in a language by study. Truly a critical and very valuable asset.
I would definitely recommend News in Slow Motion for all learners of the Russian Language. The articles are interesting and informative. There is a good variety of topics, too, at all levels of language proficiency. This is a great motivator for me to read in Russian. Further, the task is simplified by being able to mouse over words and even phrases which I don’t understand, and finding out the English equivalents. The creator deserves a great deal of credit for developing this resource.
I am very thankful for Kristina that she made such a site. This one of my ideal ways of learning a language. There is the audio that helps you learn how the words are pronounced. There are stress marks that help you to read everything correctly. And on top of that there are the additional translations of the difficult word and phrases. Which you can not easlily translate on internet. And if you could translate it would take too much time. After trying couple of free podcasts I subscribed for lifelong membership. Its really worth it. I use it everyday. It has become part of my daily language practice.
I’ve only just started News in Slow Russian but so far I’ve been really impressed. I like the way Christina explains how to say the hardest Russian sounds and then gives exercises to help your mouth and tongue get used to making the new sounds. I think listening to the articles in slow Russian Is really helping me to hear and understand Russian. I would recommend this course.
News in Slow Russian has greatly improved my vocabulary and pronunciation over the past year. The articles are interesting and short enough to fit into a busy schedule. Sometimes, I’m even surprised to learn of a news story in Russian before hearing it from US news sources! I recommend this site to all who want to learn the Russian language. Thanks Kristina!
I find the News in Slow Russian a GREAT way to improve the understanding of the language, to learn new words and to get used to modern Russian. I have read Russian literature, watched Russian movies and studied grammar books, but there was always something missing, I tried reading news in Russian (BBC), but I found that I didn’t know too many words to make it appealing. So, when I heard about this site, I tried it and I LOVE it. I read and listen to at least one article a day. Some words appear often and slowly one is able to retain them without much effort. Then I talk in Russian about the subject of one or two articles with my friends from Conversation Exchange, and I get used to talk in Russian, which is what I find most challenging.
I’ve been studying Russian for many years. I’m quite fluent in conversation and read literature and non-fiction articles of all kinds with little difficulty. The one thing that I have a harder time with is longer monologues such as feature news reports. I have found News in Slow very helpful. The Slow part is very well done — slow without distorting pronunciation of individual words. I have really improved my ability to follow text being read at normal speed.
I have been really surprised by this course; it is quite different from others. The material is really modern, interesting and engaging, and the style of vocabulary aid I think is ideal – not being too much of a crutch and not leaving the student too much on his own.
The audio feature is perhaps even more helpful because reading the language well is one thing, but listening and vocalizing it well is quite another.
Thank you so much for your work, Kristina. | 2019-04-23T23:50:15Z | https://www.newsinslowrussian.org/testimonials/ |
Can infants' orientation to social stimuli predict later joint attention skills?
clip of a talking person was predictive of initiating joint attention skills.
Several alternative interpretations of the results are discussed.
A conversation is made up of visual and auditory signals in a complex flow of events. What is the relative importance of these components for young children's ability to maintain attention on a conversation? In the present set of experiments the visual and auditory signals were disentangled in four filmed events. The visual events were either accompanied by the speech sounds of the conversation or by matched motor sounds and the auditory events by either the natural visual turn taking of the conversation or a matched turn taking of toy trucks. A cornea-reflection technique was used to record the gaze-pattern of subjects while they were looking at the films. Three age groups of typically developing children were studied; 6-month-olds, 1-year-olds and 3-year-olds. The results show that the children are more attracted by the social component of the conversation independent of the kind of sound used. Older children find spoken language more interesting than motor sound. Children look longer at the speaking agent when humans maintain the conversation. The study revealed that children are more attracted to the mouth than to the eyes area. The ability to make more predictive gaze shifts develops gradually over age.
Previous research on lexical development has aimed to identify the factors that enable accurate initial word-referent mappings based on the assumption that the accuracy of initial word-referent associations is critical for word learning. The present study challenges this assumption. Adult English speakers learned an artificial language within a cross-situational learning paradigm. Visual fixation data were used to assess the direction of visual attention. Participants whose longest fixations in the initial trials fell more often on distracter images performed significantly better at test than participants whose longest fixations fell more often on referent images. Thus, inaccurate initial word-referent mappings may actually benefit learning.
This study relies on eye tracking technology to investigate how humans perceive others' feeding actions. Results demonstrate that 6-month-olds (n = 54) anticipate that food is brought to the mouth when observing an adult feeding herself with a spoon. Still, they fail to anticipate self-propelled (SP) spoons that move toward the mouth and manual combing actions directed toward the head. Ten-month-olds (n = 54) and adults (n = 32) anticipate SP spoons; however, only adults anticipate combing actions. These results suggest that goal anticipation during observation of feeding actions develops earlier and is less dependent on directly perceived actions than goal anticipation during observation of other manual actions. These results are discussed in relation to experience and a possible phylogenetic influence on perception and understanding of feeding.
Previous research indicates that adult learners are able to use co-occurrence information to learn word-to-object mappings and form object categories simultaneously. The current eye-tracking study investigated the dynamics of attention allocation during concurrent statistical learning of words and categories. The results showed that the participants’ learning performance was associated with the numbers of short and mid-length fixations generated during training. Moreover, the learners’ patterns of attention allocation indicated online interaction and bi-directional bootstrapping between word and category learning processes.
revealed highly significant group differences in the gaze time and the total fixation times, word frequency and word length effects as well as interaction for both frequency and length with the group factor. These results, especially the frequency effect found in the dyslexic children, are discussed in the context of previous studies.
An eye tracking paradigm was used to investigate how infants’ attention is modulated by observed goal-directed manual grasping actions. In Experiment 1, we presented 3-, 5-, and 7-month-old infants with a static picture of a grasping hand, followed by a target appearing at a location either congruent or incongruent with the grasping direction of the hand. The latency of infants gaze shift from the hand to the target was recorded and compared between congruent and incongruent trials. Results demonstrate a congruency effect from 5 months of age. A second experiment illustrated that the congruency effect of Experiment 1 does not extend to a visually similar mechanical claw (instead of the grasping hand). Together these two experiments describe the onset of covert attention shifts in response to manual actions and relate these findings to the onset of manual grasping.
How infants learn new words is a fundamental puzzle in language acquisition. To guide their word learning, infants exploit systematic word-learning heuristics that allow them to link new words to likely referents. By 17 months, infants show a tendency to associate a novel noun with a novel object rather than a familiar one, a heuristic known as disambiguation. Yet, the developmental origins of this heuristic remain unknown. We compared disambiguation in 17- to 18-month-old infants from different language backgrounds to determine whether language experience influences its development, or whether disambiguation instead emerges as a result of maturation or social experience. Monolinguals showed strong use of disambiguation, bilinguals showed marginal use, and trilinguals showed no disambiguation. The number of languages being learned, but not vocabulary size, predicted performance. The results point to a key role for language experience in the development of disambiguation, and help to distinguish among theoretical accounts of its emergence.
Four-, 6-, and 11-month old infants were presented with movies in which two adult actors conversed about everyday events, either by facing each other or looking in opposite directions. Infants from 6 months of age made more gaze shifts between the actors, in accordance with the flow of conversation, when the actors were facing each other. A second experiment demonstrated that gaze following alone did not cause this difference. Instead the results are consistent with a social cognitive interpretation, suggesting that infants perceive the difference between face-to-face and back-to-back conversations and that they prefer to attend to a typical pattern of social interaction from 6 months of age.
Research demonstrates that individuals with autism process facial information in a different manner than typically developing individuals. Several accounts of the face recognition deficit in individuals with autism have been posited with possible underlying mechanisms as the source of the deficit in face recognition skills. The current study proposed a new account that individuals with autism are less sensitive at perceiving configural manipulations between faces than typically developing individuals leading to their difficulty recognizing faces. A change detection task was used to measure perceptual sensitivity to varying levels of configural manipulations involving the eye and mouth regions. Participants with and without autism, matched on chronological age, verbal IQ, performance IQ, full scale IQ, visual acuity, and gender, studied upright and inverted faces in a delayed same/different face recognition test. An eye tracker recorded eye gaze throughout the experiment. Results revealed a significant group difference with respect to detection accuracy. The control group was more accurate at detecting subtle changes between upright faces than the autism group, particularly with manipulations to the spatial relation of eyes. Furthermore, an analysis of detection accuracy within groups revealed that a greater proportion of participants in the control group were better at detecting differences at subtler levels of spatial manipulations. Eye tracking results revealed a significant group difference in number of fixations to relevant vs. irrelevant areas of interest; however, both groups utilized eye information more than mouth information to detect changes in both upright and inverted faces.
Four- to ten-month-old infants (n=58) were examined on their ability to match magnitude across modalities. Their looking behaviour was recorded as they were presented with an intensity modulated auditory stimulus and three possible visual matches. The mean looking times towards a visual target (size envelope matching intensity envelope of the auditory stimulus) and a non-target were calculated. Fivemonth-olds and seven- to ten-month-olds show a significant preference looking towards the target, as do an adult control group. Four- and six-month-olds do not.
Reaching is an important and early emerging motor skill that allows infants to interact with the physical and social world. However, few studies have considered how reaching experiences shape infants’ own motor development and their perception of actions performed by others. In the current study, two groups of infants received daily parent guided play sessions over a two-week training period. Using “Sticky Mittens”, one group was enabled to independently pick up objects whereas the other group only passively observed their parent’s actions on objects. Following training, infants’ manual and visual exploration of objects, agents, and actions in a live and a televised context were assessed. Our results showed that only infants who experienced independent object apprehension advanced in their reaching behavior, and showed changes in their visual exploration of agents and objects in a live setting. Passive observation was not sufficient to change infants’ behavior. To our surprise, the effects of the training did not seem to generalize to a televised observation context. Together, our results suggest that early motor training can jump-start infants’ transition into reaching and inform their perception of others’ actions.
Early identification efforts are essential for the early treatment of the symptoms of autism but can only occur if robust risk factors are found. Children with autism often engage in repetitive behaviors and anecdotally prefer to visually examine geometric repetition, such as the moving blade of a fan or the spinning of a car wheel. The extent to which a preference for looking at geometric repetition is an early risk factor for autism has yet to be examined.
To determine if toddlers with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) aged 14 to 42 months prefer to visually examine dynamic geometric images more than social images and to determine if visual fixation patterns can correctly classify a toddler as having an ASD.
Toddlers were presented with a 1-minute movie depicting moving geometric patterns on 1 side of a video monitor and children in high action, such as dancing or doing yoga, on the other. Using this preferential looking paradigm, total fixation duration and the number of saccades within each movie type were examined using eye tracking technology.
University of California, San Diego Autism Center of Excellence.
One hundred ten toddlers participated in final analyses (37 with an ASD, 22 with developmental delay, and 51 typical developing toddlers).
Total fixation time within the geometric patterns or social images and the number of saccades were compared between diagnostic groups.
Overall, toddlers with an ASD as young as 14 months spent significantly more time fixating on dynamic geometric images than other diagnostic groups. If a toddler spent more than 69% of his or her time fixating on geometric patterns, then the positive predictive value for accurately classifying that toddler as having an ASD was 100%.
A preference for geometric patterns early in life may be a novel and easily detectable early signature of infants and toddlers at risk for autism.
Recent studies show both adults and young children possess powerful statistical learning capabilities to solve the word-to-world mapping problem. However, it is still unclear what are the underlying mechanisms supporting seemingly powerful statistical cross-situational learning. To answer this question, the paper uses an eye tracker to record moment-by-moment eye movement data of 14-month-old babies in statistical learning tasks. A simple associative statistical learning is applied to the fine-grained eye movement data. The results are compared with empirical results from those young learners. A strong correlation between these two shows that a simple associative learning mechanism can account for both behavioural data as a group and individual differences, suggesting that the associative learning mechanism with selective attention can provide a cognitively plausible model of statistical learning. The work represents the first steps to use eye movement data to infer underlying learning processes in statistical learning.
Here we report evidence from a new eye-tracking measure of relational memory that suggests that 9-month-old infants can encode memories in terms of the relations among items, a function putatively subserved by the hippocampus. Infants learned about the association between faces that were superimposed on unique scenic backgrounds. During test trials, infants were shown three faces presented on a familiar scene. All three faces were equally familiar; however, one had been presented with the test background earlier. Visual behavior was recorded continuously using a TOBII eye tracker. Infants looked preferentially at the face that matched the test background very early in the trial; however, the time course of this preferential looking effect varied as a function of delay. These results suggest that by 9 months of age infants can form memories that represent the relations among items and maintain them over short delays.
This dissertation explored the questions of when and how infants develop an understanding of intention—that is, an understanding of human behavior as guided by subjective internal states that underlie and are separate from actions and objects in the world. Failed action understanding was used as a marker of intention understanding because, unlike in the case of successful actions, understanding failed actions requires recognizing that the observed pattern of movement is distinct from the intention that motivates it.
To explore the development of intention understanding in the first year of life, two key studies examined an understanding of successful- versus failed-reaching actions. Study 1 used a habituation design to assess both when infants (8-, 10-, and 12-month-olds) understand that a failed action is intentional and whether an understanding of successful actions precedes an understanding of failed actions. Study 2 extended this work to explore the process by which 8- and 10-month-olds develop an understanding of intention. Eye-tracking methodology was used to examine how infants process and predict the goals of ongoing successful and failed reaching actions. Moreover, performance was explored in relation to parent-report measures of infants’ social and motor behaviors.
Three central findings emerged. First, already within the first year of life (by 10 months), infants understand and can predict the goal of a failed-reaching action. Second, during the course of development, understanding successful actions precedes understanding failed actions. Third, failed (but not successful) action understanding is strongly associated with infants’ tendency to initiate joint attention and their ability to locomote independently.
Fixation duration for same-race (i.e., Asian) and other-race (i.e., Caucasian) female faces by Asian infant participants between 4 and 9 months of age was investigated with an eye-tracking procedure. The age range tested corresponded with prior reports of processing differences between same- and other-race faces observed in behavioral looking time studies, with preference for same-race faces apparent at 3 months of age and recognition memory differences in favor of same-race faces emerging between 3 and 9 months of age. The eye-tracking results revealed both similarity and difference in infants’ processing of own- and other-race faces. There was no overall fixation time difference between same race and other race for the whole face stimuli. In addition, although fixation time was greater for the upper half of the face than for the lower half of the face and trended higher on the right side of the face than on the left side of the face, face race did not impact these effects. However, over the age range tested, there was a gradual decrement in fixation time on the internal features of other-race faces and a maintenance of fixation time on the internal features of same-race faces. Moreover, the decrement in fixation time for the internal features of other-race faces was most prominent on the nose. The findings suggest that (a) same-race preferences may be more readily evidenced in paired comparison testing formats, (b) the behavioral decline in recognition memory for other-race faces corresponds in timing with a decline in fixation on the internal features of other-race faces, and (c) the center of the face (i.e., the nose) is a differential region for processing same- versus other-race faces by Asian infants.
Background. Research on infant cognition has long been concerned with how infants process static vs. moving objects (e.g. Van de Walle & Spelke, 1996; Rakison & Poulin-Dubois, 2002). We are interested in comparing infants' visual working memory (VWM) for speed and luminance. Here we focus on our revised ‘salience-mapping’ technique (Kaldy & Blaser, 2009) that allows us to generate comparison objects with iso-salient differences from a common baseline object, thereby ensuring fair VWM tests.
Methods. Subjects' age was 5;0-6;30. A Tobii T120 eye-tracker measured infant' gaze direction. Experiment 1 (ISM): Salience was calibrated in a preferential looking paradigm by pitting a baseline object (a slowly rotating green star) against a range of objects that increased either in luminance or in speed of rotation. Salience functions were obtained for each of the dimensions. We chose speed and luminance values that were at the 75% iso-salience level. In this way we defined three objects that had the following relationship: the salience difference between the baseline and the luminance comparison and the baseline and the speed comparison was equal. Experiment 2 (VWM): In this in-progress experiment, two of the three such defined objects are presented for 3.5 seconds. The two objects disappear for 2 seconds, then reappear, but with one changed in luminance or speed (by the previously calibrated amount) while the other reappears unchanged. Preference, determined from looking time, for the changed (vs. unchanged) object is evidence for memory.
Results. Iso-salient differences for luminance and motion were successfully measured in Experiment 1 using our revised salience-mapping technique. While data collection for Experiment 2 is ongoing, we expect better VWM for motion as opposed to luminance.
Discussion. In service to VWM experiments, we demonstrated an innovative method for producing psychophysically comparable stimulus differences for infants along the dimensions of speed and luminance. | 2019-04-20T14:59:48Z | https://www.diigo.com/list/tobiieyetracking/scientific |
Ranikhet, tucked away in the mountains of Uttarakhand, is actually named for a queen: Rani Padmini, the consort of a local king named Raja Sukherdev. Padmini visited this area and liked it so much that she decided to make it her residence—and that was how Ranikhet got its name.
View from near the golf course at Ranikhet.
I’ve been travelling in the hill areas of Western India, from Ladakh and the rest of Kashmir to Himachal and Uttarakhand ever since I was about ten years old. My father was in the Indo Tibetan Border Police, and this was their area. Papa did a lot of travelling, and if it happened to be during our summer vacations, we went along too. We saw a lot of far flung places, a lot of places which have now become popular destinations but were, back then, tiny one-horse towns (Leh, for instance, which, when I first saw it, had a market consisting of one short stretch on which old women sold vegetables and there was a shop that stocked jewellery made from garnets, turquoise, and rice pearls).
But I digress. The point is, in all those wanderings (followed, after I got married, with more travels with my husband) I somehow never ended up really visiting Ranikhet. I passed through it occasionally, but never stopped. So this time, thinking of places to visit for a longish weekend break, I suggested Ranikhet.
Getting there: Up in the hills of Kumaon in Uttarakhand, Ranikhet lies at an altitude of a little over 1869 metres ASL. The 344 km drive up from Delhi takes you through Moradabad, Simbhaoli, Haldwani, Kathgodam (the rail head) and then through miles of mountains with silver oak (right now covered with rust-orange flowers) and jacaranda, all masses of deep mauve blooms. Higher up, there are oaks, chestnuts (covered with candles of white-pink flowers) and pine.
A jacaranda tree in full bloom, on the way up to Ranikhet.
There are wild rose bushes with white flowers, the occasional pomegranate tree—gorgeous little fire-red flowers—and hundreds of little white daisies dotting the grass.
Daisies in the grass. At Chaubatia Gardens.
Past Bhimtal, the road rises even further to Ranikhet. Ranikhet is a military cantonment, the regimental centre of the Kumaon Regiment as well as home to various other military and paramilitary forces, including battalions of the BSF and the Garhwal Rifles. This means that while there is the military neatness and discipline so common in Indian cantonment towns (and some very atmospheric-looking colonial buildings, including the Kumaon Regiment’s Community Centre, which is housed in a deconsecrated church), large sections of the town are off limits to civilians.
It took us a total of nine and a half hours (including a couple of ten-minute stopovers to pick up coffee and snacks) to drive from Delhi to Ranikhet. The roads are good through most of the way, though the mountain stretches are narrower and therefore make for slower traffic. Note that the main places for loo breaks and snacks or coffee (other than roadside dhabas) are in the plains.
Where we stayed: Ranikhet has its share of hotels and lodges, though thankfully, since it’s not as commercialized as (say) Nainital, it has a quiet and pleasant charm about it. We stayed at the WelcomHeritage group’s Windsor Lodge, which dates back to 1909. This is situated beyond Ranikhet town, near the golf course: you drive right through the cantonment to get to it. The hotel spreads out over several levels, with some sections (the front, including what is called The Raja of Sheikhupura) looking definitely colonial, while the back—Harkison Hall—resembling, at least from the outside, a rather worn-out student hostel.
A view of the path leading up to our room.
Our room, with a view of pineclad hills, also overlooked a lovely little garden known as Kafal Bagh, for the kaphal (box myrtle) trees in it. With garden furniture, oak and kaphal trees and flower beds (and plenty of birds to be seen) this became one of our favourite places to sit and have coffee in the evening.
A couple of fountains and pretty stone benches, outside The Kumaon Room.
A gate leading from the Kafal Bagh to Harkison Hall.
The lodge also has a small spa, gymnasium, business centre, and none too dependable WiFi.
Our room was a combination of nice and not so nice. The wooden floor and ceiling, the wood-panelled wall with its old-fashioned still life with flowers, the simple dark wood furniture: all very pleasant. There was a TV too, a wardrobe, plenty of tables and chairs of various sizes, and lots of large windows (what’s the point of a good view of you can’t see it from within your room?). The less pleasant part was the bathroom, which—while being large enough—had stains on walls, floor, and shower curtains; traces of cobwebs hanging from the ceiling, and peeling paint. Not what I’d expected from WelcomHeritage.
Inside our room. Some good, some not.
Still, this is a pleasant place to stay, and the staff are warm, helpful and friendly. And, since Windsor Lodge isn’t in the heart of town (it’s about 6 km outside Ranikhet), it’s quiet, with birdsong filling the air. We paid Rs 18,000 for three nights, inclusive of breakfast and one major meal a day.
Where we ate: Always at the Windsor Lodge’s own restaurant, The Kumaon Room, which is entered through a lovely little portico with a grapevine (loaded with young grapes) along the sloping glass ceiling. The restaurant is somewhat dimly lit, with heavy curtains (beaded edges and all) at the windows and doors; paintings, a chandelier, and even a faux marble statue of a woman on the mantelpiece.
The little porch leading into The Kumaon Room.
The Kumaon Room, the Windsor Lodge’s restaurant.
The Kumaon Room serves a mix of Continental and Indian food. We ordered Continental food—cream of mushroom soup, tomato and basil soup (both awful), lamb chops and lamb stew, with buttered vegetables and mashed potatoes (both so-so, not great), and caramel custard and chocolate mousse (both good) on one day. The conclusion we came to was that, like a lot of similar establishments, these guys don’t do Continental well.
Some of the good stuff: chicken curry and pahaari aloo.
Where we went and what we saw: Ranikhet’s attractions are probably best enjoyed if you’re a nature lover. The views are lovely, though, because of a lack of rain in the previous year, Kumaon is right now so tinder-dry that frequent forest fires have played havoc with the trees, and the smoke has resulted in a haze that blocks views of snow-capped peaks like Trishul, Nandadevi and Hathi Parbat. But you can still see lots of trees, wildflowers, birds—and, if you’re really lucky, animals like sambar, barking deer, leopard and Himalayan black bear.
1. Chaubatia Gardens. Though known primarily for the government horticultural gardens (at 265 acres, Asia’s largest government-owned garden, so we were told), Chaubatia is a military-controlled area. When the Viceroy, Lord Mayo, visited Chaubatia in 1868 and stayed at a local mansion known as Glen Pennock (now the Officers’ Mess), he liked it so much that he ordered a cantonment for the cavalry to be established here.
In 1832, a tea garden was planted at Chaubatia; the tea did poorly because Ranikhet, with its snows, is not hospitable to tea. In 1869, therefore, the tea was replaced by apples—and that has today become a horticultural garden that grows mostly apples, but also various other trees and plants. You can wander around by yourself (there’s no entry fee), but since no plants or trees are labelled, and there are branching paths all over, it’s best to hire a guide. For a tour of the apple orchard only, a guide costs Rs 200; add the forest near by, and it’s 300; add the Bhalu Dam further on, and it’s 500, and so on. We opted just for the orchard, since we had a toddler in tow. This tour too requires a bit of climbing and going up and down rocky sloping paths, 100 mt down and then 100 mt up, so don’t attempt this in stilettos.
In Chaubatia Gardens: a path leads through pine and oak woods.
Chaubatia Gardens: red roses, a wire fence, and apple trees.
Our guide pointed out various trees and plants, telling us of their uses (especially medicinal). The deodar cedar, for example, the oil of which is a cure-all for skin diseases; the hydrangea, the roots of which, made into a paste, can flush out kidney stones—and so on. We saw different types of fruit trees: apple, peach, plum, apricot, red nectarine (a cross between peach and plum) as well as walnut, chestnut, and almond; herbs and wild plants like the stinging bichhoo-booti (which is, paradoxically, a good cure for injuries); rosemary, wild strawberries, daisies, buttercups, and wild roses.
Also within the gardens are two shops that sell Kumaoni produce. One, deeper within the garden, is a combined eatery (very basic: Maggi noodles seems to be the norm) and sale counter for squashes, juices, pickles, chutneys, etc, made from local fruit and vegetables. The other, close to the exit, sells these, along with other products—woollens, herbal infusions, soaps, and so on—made under the aegis of various NGOs.
2. The Jhoola Devi Temple. Right at the gate to Chaubatia is one of Ranikhet’s most famous temples, the tiny Jhoola Devi Temple. The story goes that 700 years ago, the local villagers were being tormented by predators—tigers and leopards—carrying off their cattle. Their prayers were answered when the goddess Durga appeared in a dream to a shepherd and ordered the building of a temple to her at this particular place. That done, the goddess satisfied, the villagers found themselves (and their cattle) now no longer being preyed upon. As time passed, the local children began frequenting the temple and playing in its vicinity, and the goddess gave another command: that a jhoola (a swing) be installed here for her to relax. And that’s how the name came to be.
Bells at the Jhoola Devi Tenple.
This is a tiny temple—it takes no more than five minutes to admire it from the outside and inside, to go in and do your darshan, receive prasad, and come out—but it’s one of the most unique I’ve seen. Thousands of brass bells, of different sizes, have been tied on railings all along the periphery of the temple: they’re so dense, they form walls of their own. Quite a spectacle.
3. The Kumaon and Naga Regiments Museum: The most decorated regiment of the Indian Army, the Kumaon Regiment has its regimental centre at Ranikhet—and, appropriately enough, a small museum that documents the history of the regiment. Situated near the Nar Singh Ground (named for one of the regiment’s heroes), the museum lies just inside the Saklani Gate, past a dilapidated and long-abandoned building called the Globe Theatre.
The Globe Theatre – who’d have known?!
Outside the neat two-storey building housing the museum are two green-painted guns which the Kumaon Regiment won from the Turks during World War I. Inside, there are more trophies, more spoils of war, and more of the history of the Kumaon Regiment and its brother regiment, the Naga Regiment. After a couple of panels describing Nagaland and Kumaon, the history of these two regiments is explained through a timeline that includes text, paintings, photographs, and objects. With its roots way back in the Malhar Paltan, set up in 1730, the regiment took form as the Hyderabad Regiment under its founder, Russell, later in the same century. Over the centuries since, the regiment has undergone numerous changes, splitting, changing names, incorporating soldiers from across the country—and going into battle just about everywhere, from China (suppressing the Boxer Rebellion) to various theatres of war in both World Wars, to the Indo-Pak War, the Indo-China War, and the Kargil War.
The Kumaon and Naga Regiments’ Museum.
The artefacts, all arranged in chronological order and extensively labelled, are very varied. There are uniforms and bullet-riddled helmets; certificates and citations of valour, photographs, and a plethora of captured items: guns, bayonets, swords (including a samurai sword), soldier’s diaries and letters, a wireless set, telephone equipment, an LTTE boat—and most historic of all—the sceptre of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi.
It’s not a brilliant museum, though it’s pretty informative and well-maintained. You do have to be a bit of a military history fan to fully appreciate it, but even if you’re mildly interested in Indian history, this shouldn’t be a completely worthless visit.
Entry to the museum costs Rs 20 per adult. The museum is open from 8 to 12.30 and 3 to 5 in the summer, and from 8.30 to 1 and 3 to 5 in the winter. On Sundays, it opens from 8.30 to 12.30. It’s closed on Tuesdays. Photography isn’t allowed inside the museum; all cameras and cell phones need to be deposited at the reception counter, which is where the soldier on duty will also collect the entry fees.
Thanks Madhu for this pleasant little visit! I’d say the prices aren’t that cheap, really, because 18,000 Rs for 3 days even with food (which you describe as lower than standard), I suppose there were only the two of you? I’d have expected a little less for such an out of the way location. You’ll tell me.
But what a charming spot anyway. Would you say it’s worth the 9 hour drive though?
Were you allowed to go inside the “Globe theatre”? Your picture only shows the outside… Was it really a theatre?
I love such discovery destinations. You should do more such posts!
To answer your question, by the way: my husband and I had our two-year old daughter with us.
I do think Ranikhet is worth the 9 hour drive – but then, I may be biased, because I love the Himalayas. Once you’ve left the plains behind, this is very picturesque countryside, and (unlike places like Nainital or Mussoorie, both of which are very commercialised), Ranikhet is quiet and lovely and all pine woods… indeed worth the trip.
The ‘Globe Theatre’ is pretty dilapidated; we didn’t even think of going inside, because it looked in danger of collapsing any moment! I doubt if we’d have been allowed in, anyway – since this area is all under the Army, they are very strict about where civilians are allowed. We even had to enter our names, and show identity cards, at the main gate before we were allowed in to see the museum.
What I liked about the review was the fact that you focussed on those tiny things that can bring us so much joy rather than the usual photos of mountain views.. Nowadays most holidays tend to become selfie tours more than anything else, so your careful observations and detailed descriptions are so refreshing!
It reminded me of Ruskin Bond’s writing. He spoke about the rhododendrons and deodars and birches like they were his family members.
And you mentioned a very crucial point about the commercialisation of hill stations.. I recently heard that the Savoy hotel in mussoorie has become the Fortune hotel now.. It’s very sad didi.
But thank you so much for the lovely review.
Mussoorie is probably the worst example of commercialisation in this part of the hills. I revisited it (after about 25 years, I think) a couple of years back, and it was one mess. Fortunately, further out, especially Landour, it’s still quite nice.
It’s not quite so easy to write for a newspaper, especially when you’re like me – I’m not at all pushy, so I never approach publications with articles. ;-) It so happened that the person who used to handle travel articles for Mint some years back had read my travel journals elsewhere and liked the way I wrote, so she invited me to write for Lounge too. While she worked with them, I ended up writing for them. When she left, they stopped approaching me too.
But I’m happy – I have this blog, plus I have so much work to do on my books that I have plenty to write anyway!
You have made my day! I’m not on Instagram, so hadn’t realized. :-D That’s so good to know!
I noticed. :-) Will look at your blog, and reply later today.
That sounds wonderful! I did see signs for the Rosemount Hotel, but didn’t visit. Will keep that in mind, just in case we decide to stop over at Ranikhet at a later date on another of our long road trips.
I was suggesting to my husband, too, that it would be so lovely to shift to Ranikhet. “We’d start missing all the amenities we’re used to,” he pointed out. And yes, the point is that having gotten used to staying in Delhi, there are things we take for granted (interesting ingredients available in grocery stores; good Internet connection; new Hollywood movies; exhibitions and cultural programmes, etc). Ranikhet is idyllic for a brief visit, but it would soon start to pall.
You nailed it ! It’s terrific for a brief visit, but in the long run …. perhaps not. Do google Chevron Rosemount, Ranikhet & see the pictures. We got an off-season discount but it was still as expensive as the hotel you stayed in.
The song “Yaar chulbula hai” from “Dil deke dekho” was shot at the Ranikhet golf course.
Thank you for that tidbit about Yaar chulbula hai! I hadn’t known it. Someone on Facebook, when I posted my Ranikhet photos there, wanted to know if Dil Deke Dekho and Teesri Manzil were set there. Teesri Manzil, of course, is set in Mussoorie if I remember correctly – but I’d forgotten that any part of Dil Deke Dekho was actually filmed in Ranikhet. Somehow I remembered only stuff like Bade hain dil ke kaale, which was shot in Mahabaleshwar.
I loved the detailed review of the place. I really felt I was there with you. Beautiful place. My memories of the place are that of an 8 or 9 year old. We went for summer vacation to both Nainital and Ranikhet. I have no idea where we stayed, perhaps in a lodge. We had a kitchen available to us and a pahari cook who cooked most of the meals. I was so excited to see the clouds so low almost touching the pine trees. It was my first experience of a hill station. Every morning after breakfast I would sit under a pine tree on a slightly slippery ground full of pine needles, armed with my children’s magazines and summer homework. I just loved it. We did go sight seeing quite a bit but I don’t remember much of the places we visited. So your review brought back a lot of childhood memories.
I agree with Neeru. Just sitting around and taking in the view is blissful when you are in a pretty place. Years ago, I visited Shimla with my family. I used to sit in a chair by the window at the Grand Hotel and just stare at the hills around me.
The Uttarakhand hill stations are, often, less controlled than the Himachal ones. I think, more often than not, because of Himachal’s strict rules on the use of plastic, and the overall more restricted commercialization, it’s remained more unspoilt. There are horrible exceptions, of course, like Kufri or Chail, but even Shimla is anyday prettier than Mussoorie… but, having said that, I’ll say that there are lots of absolutely lovely hill stations in Uttarakhand. Mukteshwar, for example, or Lansdowne, which reminded me a bit of Kasauli.
Do try to watch Honeymoon. It was really cute.
… and it is! I intend to watch this as soon as I can.
Very informative… Traveled around Ranikhet but never to the place. May be some time ….. Thanks!
Wonderful review as always and very refreshing indeed. I agree with Neeru and Ava that it felt very real. The pictures (loved the jacaranda tree especially) are also very impressive. Exactly what I love in a vacation, the quietness, the serenity, pristine surroundings… I wish I could actually do the reading.. Usually with kids growing you tend to forget that vacation is for relaxation and recharging your engine, and end-up spending hectic days chasing things that make them happy (not necessarily a bad thing) but may be every once in a while, a vacation such as this could be therapeutic..
Chaubatia Gardens, expansive views, daisies and other flowers look spectacular…Great job capturing the flora and fauna..
Yes, Ashish, a quiet vacation can be really therapeutic! Fortunately, our daughter right now is too young to need a hectic vacation – though, to be honest, my husband and I do like hectic vacations too: our idea of fun is to walk around, seeing the sights, wandering through one museum after another, stopping here for coffee and there for gelato, that sort of thing… but with a very active toddler, that becomes pretty much impossible. She wants to be running around all the time!
Thank you for the appreciation. :-) I’m glad you enjoyed the review.
Oh there is lot of work, that is I have missed a lot on your blog, I will come back and go through your posts. As far as Ranikhet is concerned I must say it is beautiful, I haven’t visited it. You know something there is a bell temple in Bombay. I don’t think the temple has any permission, you know it is one those that come up on footpaths. This one started of as Hanumanji’s temple and slowly over a period of time we saw people tying bells and now the bells are everywhere. Bye for now. I will be back later, hopefully soon.
That’s interesting, Shilpi! I must try and see if I can find photos of this Mumbai bell temple online. Would like to see it!
I have very nice memories of my visit to Ranikhet. Your excellent review refreshed my memories of all the places I had visited. It is much better than the touristy Nainital.
Heh. Yes, I am very patient. Perhaps it’s a result of my having worked in the hospitality industry myself (though so has my husband, and he is nowhere as patient as I am). Partly perhaps in this case, because the rest of the experience compensated. The staff, for example, were very warm and friendly. And the garden, the view, the birds, the flowers — they made me feel so kindly disposed towards all that it was easy to forgive these shortcomings.
your writing is so simple and sincere. The comments section is that extra filling which makes up for what is missing :the rasogolla for stirred appetites of adventure, travel and search .Do write about all kinds and things for there shall be many eager to keep reading. Always.
You have made my day! :-) Thank you so much.
Whiff of nostalgia reading this. Had visited Ranikhet in late 90s on a school trip. Consider myself fortunate to have discovered so much of Uttarakhand’s beauty before a lot of it was over burdened by tourists, deforestation, commercialization as my boarding school was in Dehradun.
I had forgotten the names of the Park and the Bell temple, thank you so much DO, for the names. We had also gone to Jageshwar from here. The museum, where I saw an upside down flag for the first time, and was told the ones captured are displayed upside down, when asked about it.
Remember eating lots of that baal mithai (was always in dessert at dinner buffet), but I cannot remember the name of the hotel where we stayed. We stayed at a government guest house (think it was a GMVN – Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam operated one) in Jageshwar.
Same here! Not because I studied in the hills, but because we travelled so much in the hills as children. My father was in the ITBP, and every few months (if it happened to coincide with our school vacations), we would go off with him on tours. Used to be a lot of fun, especially since we also visited a lot of places which even now aren’t on the tourist circuit – I remember walking through pine woods, feeding off golden raspberries from the bushes, in Mahidanda, for instance. Great memories.
If you’d linked to your own review of the hotel, I’d have understood… linking to the website makes me think you’re spamming, right? | 2019-04-20T17:08:36Z | https://madhulikaliddle.com/2016/05/04/ranikhet-of-mountains-and-the-military/ |
THE EXPECTATIONS FOR CHANGE in U.S. policy toward Latin America when Barack Obama was elected president seemed as high among most governments and citizens of Latin America as the expectations of the voters in the United States who cast their ballots for him. Many analysts believed that the relationship between the region and the United States had reached a new low point during the two terms of Obama’s predecessor, President George W. Bush. While the most popular explanation for that outcome emphasized the "neglect" of or the "forgotten relationship" with Latin America, that neglect explanation understates the importance of both the Bush administration’s activities in Latin America and the actions of Latin American people and governments in creating the situation that confronted the newly elected President Obama. Bush administration officials did seek to influence political and economic developments in ways that would maintain regional hegemony for the United States, but they were unable to do so as easily as the U.S. government had in the past.
When Barack Obama took office in January 2009, he confronted a much different situation in Latin America from what his predecessor had faced eight years earlier. In 2001, a fading Fidel Castro in Cuba, and Hugo Chavez, whose position in Venezuela was somewhat tenuous, were the only Latin American presidents who might be described as challenging U.S. influence from the left. Eight years later, Chavez was far more secure, a Castro-headed government was enjoying a resurgent relevance in the region, and they had been joined in office by enough kindred spirits to constitute what many described as a "red tide." Russia, China, and Iran were wandering around the region, and, for the most part, the leaders of all three of those countries were more welcome in Latin American capitals at the end of 2008 than the outgoing U.S. president. The United States was also being challenged by new regional organizations and meetings, from which the colossus of the north was deliberately excluded.
As I noted above, the most popular explanation for those developments was that the United States was understandably preoccupied with developments elsewhere in the world. At war in both Afghanistan and Iraq, and concerned with potential security threats in Iran and North Korea, it would not be surprising that the focus on the Middle East and Asia would take attention away from Latin America. While there was a diversion of energy and resources toward the Middle East and Asia, Latin Americans did continue to experience the heavy hand of the empire to the north. The Bush administration responded to the rise of the Latin American left with threats (in Bolivia, the Ambassador’s words clearly backfired and helped to garner support for Evo Morales during his presidential runs), by working with opposition groups (in Venezuela, the support by US officials for those implementing the 2002 coup was clear, even if any actual US role in the coup is more difficult to determine), and by attempting to separate the "good left" from the "bad left" in a divide and conquer sort of strategy (Lula in Brazil was the good, pragmatic left, while Chavez was the classic bad, populist left). The Bush administration also continued to advocate economic neoliberalism, deregulation, and free trade orthodoxy as the one size fits all solution for the region’s economies. Finally, there was a security or even terrorism framing put on contentious issues such as drug trafficking and immigration. The combined militarizing of our relations with the region, political interventions, and efforts to impose its preferred version of free market capitalism throughout the region add up to what Greg Grandin described at one point as "new imperialism" in Latin America. The concept of imperialism has made a comeback of sorts over the last decade. What is particularly interesting is that the idea of empire is openly engaged by both the advocates of a robust U.S. military presence around the world and the critics of the same activities.
As the title of this article suggests, I believe that the Obama administration has continued with the imperial policies of the Bush administration, although they have accompanied those policies with a much different tone and far more conciliatory rhetoric. In effect, we are now the sort of "good neighbors" who shake hands and exchange pleasantries even with those we don’t like very much, but we clearly remain committed to asserting economic and political power in the area. The actual period of the good neighbor policy in United States relations with Latin America is sometimes seen as a break from the overall U.S. strategic interests in exerting control over the region. But in practice, the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the region in the early 1930s coincided with support for dictators and oligarchies in many of the same countries that we had previously occupied. As long as those governments supported U.S. geopolitical and economic interests, we would keep our troops at home. Underneath the change in appearance and discourse, an implicit imperialism continued to characterize U.S. policy.
In the rest of the article, I will first make the argument about continuity from Bush to Obama, starting with Cuba, a country toward which there seems to have been some policy change. The case of Honduras provides a particularly instructive example to test how the Obama administration responded to an extra-constitutional removal of an elected leader, who had become allied with the "bad left" in Latin America. On the other side, relations with Colombia seem to suggest at least continuity with the aggressive policy of military support to the most consistent U.S. ally in South America. Next, the approach to "intermestic" issues such as immigration and drug trafficking by the two administrations will be assessed. Finally, relationships with Brazil and Venezuela will be discussed. In the concluding section of the article, I will offer a few possible explanations for the continuity between the two administrations.
WHILE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, Barack Obama did not give a lot of attention to the region of Latin America. The most important speech he gave was on May 23 before the Cuban American National Foundation in Miami, Florida. Unfortunately titled, "Renewing U.S. Leadership in the Americas," the speech directly criticized the Bush administration record in the region and offered some general ideas about what his administration would do differently. Obama describes the Bush approach: "…its policy in the Americas has been negligent toward our friends, ineffective with our adversaries, disinterested in the challenges that matter in peoples’ lives, and incapable of advancing our interests in the region." The basic problem then was that negligence and disinterest did not allow us to "lead the hemisphere into the 21st century," but when Obama becomes president, "We will choose to lead." "It’s time to turn the page on the arrogance in Washington and the anti-Americanism across the region that stands it the way of progress." If "we leave the bluster behind," then "we can renew our leadership in the hemisphere."
As some analysts have suggested about the Obama campaign more generally, it was easy to read into the message of "change" whatever sort of shifts from the Bush years that one could imagine wanting. In terms of foreign policy, when Obama said that he would meet with people such as Ahmadinejad, Castro, and Chavez without preconditions, it wasn’t a reach to assume that he would surely want to lift the embargo with Cuba too. Or as a person of color with recent family immigration experiences, surely he would move quickly on the immigration reform issue. And when he told those of us in places such as Ohio and Pennsylvania that he wanted to renegotiate NAFTA, we could imagine that he was ready to move beyond free trade orthodoxy in Latin America. A careful reading of his limited legislative record as a senator and his campaign speeches would have given pause to those expecting dramatic changes in U.S.-L.A. relations. In that Miami speech, he directly said that he would keep the embargo with Cuba in place. On immigration, while he had co-sponsored the DREAM Act (to provide a path to citizenship for those who had come to the US as children), he had also voted for the Secure Fence Act, which authorized building several hundred more miles of wall between the United States and Mexico. And the renegotiation of NAFTA was not because he recognized the harm being done to Mexican peasants or workers, due to both the agreement and unfair US trade practices, but rather to somehow bring manufacturing jobs back to the rust belt.
PRESIDENT OBAMA’S INITIAL APPOINTMENTS to key foreign policy posts suggested the possibility of continuity with the Bush and Clinton administrations. Secretary of Defense Gates was asked to continue on from his work for President Bush, and Secretary of State Clinton showed Obama’s likely comfort level with the foreign policy approach of the last Democratic president. President Bush’s Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemispheric Affairs, Tom Shannon, continued in that position until he was nominated by Obama to be the U.S. Ambassador to Brazil. Arturo Valenzuela, who became the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, was one of the authors of Plan Colombia when he worked in President Clinton’s administration. Jeffrey Davidow, who came out of retirement to serve as White House Advisor to the Summit of the Americas, had a Chilean embassy position at the time of the Allende overthrow, and he served the Clinton administration as Ambassador to Venezuela and Mexico, as well as Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs. The former Ambassador’s known positions on trade, the drug war, and Cuba did not suggest that his pre-summit counsel would be in the direction of significant policy change toward Latin America.
Before leaving for his first summit with Latin American leaders in Trinidad and Tobago, only a few months after taking office, President Obama announced that he would end the Bush administration-imposed policies of limiting remittances and travel by Cuban Americans to the island. The announcement of the change for Cuban Americans was clearly timed to preempt the universal criticism that the United States would be getting for the embargo at the Trinidad and Tobago summit. That embargo lacks any global support as indicated by the yearly UN resolution that condemns the policy. The 2010 vote was 187-2, with only Israel joining the United States. Israel casts a vote with the US, but it maintains trade and investment with the Cubans. For a president who promised that multilateralism would replace his predecessor’s unilateralism, it would be hard to rationalize being on the losing end of a 187-2 vote as part of a commitment to cooperate rather than go it alone. Latin American media previews of the meetings consistently mentioned that the one thing Obama could do to indicate real change in U.S.-L.A. relations would be to lift the embargo.
A year after the summit, President Obama’s Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, was asked about the embargo, and she gave an interesting answer: "It is my personal belief that the Castros do not want to see an end to the embargo and do not want to see normalization with the United States, because they would lose all of their excuses for what hasn’t happened in Cuba in the last fifty years." So, the country’s top diplomat seems to understand that the United States currently has the policy preferred by the government that we are trying to weaken, and yet the Obama administration is unwilling to change the policy. Instead of change, we have seen the Cuban government listed as a "state sponsor of terrorism"; and the United States continues to provide funds for Cuban dissidents by way of quasi-governmental organizations. That last practice led to the arrest of Alan Gross who after entering Cuba on a tourist visa, was apparently working for Development Alternatives, Inc., a subcontractor of the State Department, with the assignment of providing satellite communications equipment to Cuban dissidents when he was arrested in December 2009. Adding to the costs for the U.S. government of such a policy, the Cuban government is able to discredit its civil society opponents who receive such financial assistance as U.S. government "mercenaries." For good measure, the Obama administration designated Cuba (along with Iran, Sudan, and Syria) as a state sponsor of terrorism, subjecting anyone from Cuba or traveling through the country to enhanced security checks. In January 2011, Obama took another step toward loosening the travel ban along the margins, but most U.S. citizens will still not be able to travel to the island, and the embargo remains as firmly in place as ever.
At the April 2009 summit, President Obama’s interactions with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez received the most U.S. media attention. After first shaking the hand Chavez offered him, President Obama then accepted a book by Eduardo Galeano that the Venezuela leader gave him the following day. It is likely true that President Bush would not have let himself get in that situation, but it is hard to imagine that President Obama had any other option than to accept the offered hand and book. In general, the rhetoric between Caracas and Washington has been toned down since the Bush years, but no substantial change in policy is apparent. With Bolivia, another country on the "bad left," Obama has also continued with Bush era policies. At the end of June 2009, the United States permanently eliminated Bolivia’s trade preferences, which had been temporarily suspended by President Bush. President Evo Morales responded by accusing Obama of having "lied" in Trinidad and Tobago. The expectations had been quite high at the beginning of the summit that the Obama presidency would bring about reduced tensions among the United States and the Latin American left, but certainly policy toward Cuba, Venezuela, and Bolivia did not change markedly over the first several months of the new president’s term.
The next major test for the Obama administration came only a couple of months after the summit, when President Zelaya was removed from his office by the Honduran military early in the morning and flown out of the country (with a stop at a U.S. base in the country for refueling). The initial response by the Obama administration was to describe the removal as illegal and to call for the suspension of the country from the OAS, suggesting that they might have learned from the Bush administration’s acceptance of the 2002 military coup that temporarily removed Chavez from power. Still, almost all of the U.S. aid to Honduras continued to flow, members of the Honduran military continued to train at the renamed School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Georgia, and the U.S. Ambassador stayed in Honduras. Over time, the U.S. rhetoric clearly changed, and U.S. statements and actions pushed the Obama administration away from the widespread Latin American resistance of the post-coup government’s legitimacy. A little more than a week before the November 29 elections, the United States signaled that it would accept the outcome of the election. Although Panama took a similar stand at the time, that position had not been publicly taken by any other government in the Americas before the United States did so. Others, such as Colombia and Costa Rica, recognized the new Lobo government in Honduras soon after the election was held, but the United States was not part of the region’s mainstream. There was considerable domestic pressure on Obama to move in that direction – whether from paid Honduran lobbyist and former Clinton administration official, Lanny Davis, or from Bush administration official, Roger Noriega, or perhaps most effectively, South Carolina Senator Jim Demint who put a hold on the confirmation of Obama’s Latin American team until it was clear that the United States would recognize the new government. In the analysis of one Argentine diplomat: "Obama has decided that Latin America isn’t worth it. He gave it to the right." That likely overstates somewhat the Obama administration’s actual differences with the position of the Republican right on Honduras. But still, in what was arguably the most important Obama administration decision about U.S. policy toward Latin America to that point, the choice is either to believe that he caved in the face of pressure from a South Carolina Senator or that he was more than willing to move on as if a military coup in Honduras had never happened.
Secretary of State Clinton’s rhetoric suggested that she was generally comfortable herself putting pressure on Latin American governments who challenged the United States. At the end of 2009, she offered a not very veiled threat to Latin American countries who were developing relations with Iran: "I think if people want to flirt with Iran, they should take a look at what the consequences might well be for them. And we hope that they will think twice." The Obama administration went on record as telling countries in the region – not just Venezuela, Bolivia, or Cuba had diplomatic ties with the Iranians, but the Brazilians did as well – that they should expect significant costs if they did not follow the U.S. foreign policy line in that case.
At the end of 2009, the Obama administration showed quite clearly that their approach to Colombia would be more of the same as well. In this case, that meant that President Obama signed an agreement in October 2009 giving the US access to seven bases in the South American country to replace the access in Ecuador that ceased when the ten-year lease at Manta was not renewed by the Correa government. From the perspective of regional leaders such as Chavez and Lula, there were a number of problems with that decision. First, there was no evidence of consultation by the U.S. government with Colombia’s neighbors, including Brazil. The secretive bilateral agreement with Colombia did not seem consistent with the words of a U.S. president committed to a new era of cooperation with his neighbors. Complicating things even more, the Venezuelans were able to report that a U.S. Air Force document said that the use of the base in Palanquero, Colombia, "…provides a unique opportunity for full spectrum operations in a critical sub-region of our hemisphere where security and stability is under constant threat from narcotic-funded terrorist insurgencies, anti-US governments, endemic poverty and recurring natural disasters." In this case, not only does the Obama administration seem to be fully supportive of the military solution to drug trafficking, but the wording here suggests that the empire believes in military solutions to both poverty and anti-U.S. sentiment. The language was eventually removed from the document, but the damage was done.
Besides Colombia, the most consistently pro-U.S. government in the region has been Mexico. The issues of contention between the United States and the bordering country have included immigration, drug trafficking, and trade. President Fox, who was in office from 2000-2006, was particularly disappointed in President Bush’s unwillingness to use political capital on a comprehensive immigration reform, even though the former Texas governor had consistently offered rhetorical support for the policy. When President Calderon succeeded Fox, he initiated a more aggressive and militarized challenge to drug traffickers in Mexico. The U.S. government passed the Merida Initiative, which was occasionally described as a "Plan Mexico," given its similarity to the Colombian drug policy. In the area of trade, the Mexican government has long argued that Mexican truckers should be allowed to transport goods to U.S. destinations, and had sought the elimination of some barriers to the sale of Mexican foodstuffs in the United States.
In the case of the "drug war" in Latin America, the Clinton to Bush to Obama continuity is very clear. New words from the current U.S. president were initially well received south of the border. In a joint press conference in Mexico with President Calderon, President Obama said that, "A demand for these drugs in the United States is what is helping to keep these cartels in business. The war is being waged with guns purchased not here, but in the United States." While he acknowledged the shared responsibility, President Obama did not alter the U.S. policy in any significant way. Through the Merida Initiative, we continue to arm the militaries of Mexican and Central American governments, ensuring that from Colombia to the U.S.-Mexico border, the primary U.S. role is to provide additional arms to militaries with dismal human rights records. At the same time, the logical policies that would flow from the Obama rhetoric – renewal of the assault weapons ban or redirection of resources to the demand side – have not been enacted. It is much easier politically to provide the Mexican military with Blackhawk helicopters than it is to take on the gun lobby or implement effective drug rehabilitation services in U.S. prisons. In response to the criticism from the gun lobby, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) even stopped releasing statistics on the percentage of weapons seized in Mexico that had been purchased in the United States.
President Obama suggested during the campaign that he would support comprehensive immigration reform, as had his predecessor. As president, Obama has appointed dozens of Latinos to important positions in his administration, and the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court was an important statement. But in the two years that he has been in office, the substantive policy changes from the Bush years have actually been in the direction of more troops and agents on the border, and an increase in deportations during each of the two years. Secretary of Homeland Security Napolitano announced in October 2010 that in addition to the record number of deportations, the Obama administration had audited more employers suspected of hiring illegal labor in their first 20 months than the Bush administration had during its entire time in office. On the other hand, the Obama administration did voice its displeasure with the SB 1070 legislation passed in Arizona, and the Attorney General has pursued a legal challenge to the state’s rights to implement that sort of immigration policy. But overall, a president who voted for the Secure Fence Act when he was in the U.S. Senate has generally not deviated from the Bush administration approach. The nicer words for our neighbor cannot mask the ongoing policy of coercion – walls, deportations, and the creation of a hostile enough environment that will lead undocumented people to choose to leave on their own.
One of the most popular presidents in the world, much less the Americas, was Lula da Silva in Brazil. President Bush maintained friendly enough relations with Lula, but it was clear that during the years both were in office, the Brazilian president was increasing his influence, while the U.S. president’s influence was receding. Lula played a role in the development of regional organizations, effectively dealt with Chavez in Venezuela, renewed a friendship with the Castros in Cuba, worked together with "emerging powers" China, Russia, India, and South Africa, and forcefully challenged the US on issues of fair trade. While President Obama seems to have developed a friendship with the outgoing Brazilian President, his administration does not seem to have figured out a strategy for dealing with the country. Lula exchanged visits in 2009-2010 with President Ahmadinejad in Iran, he rebuffed Secretary of State Clinton’s request for support in the UN for sanctioning Iran, and in May, 2010 he and Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan negotiated a commitment from the Iranians on their nuclear programs that is said to have made the Obama administration "furious." In December, 2010, the Brazilians and the Argentines recognized the state of Palestine, in what was both a response to the Obama administration’s officially ending the attempt to negotiate a temporary settlement freeze in the West Bank and another statement about the willingness of important countries in Latin America to take stances on international issues that are unwelcome in Washington.
The worst relationship the Bush administration had with a Latin American leader was certainly with Venezuelan Hugo Chavez. In an interview on a Spanish-language television station during the week before Obama was inaugurated, the incoming U.S. president noted that Venezuela was "exporting terrorist activities" and generally "hindering progress in the region." It is curious that Obama would unnecessarily start to make arguments about Chavez that sound a lot like those of Bush and his Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice. It is hard not to conclude that the Obama administration has the same goal as the previous administration of isolating the "bad left" in Latin America. According to Eva Golinger, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) provided almost $2 million to opposition groups in Venezuela during 2009, more than double the amount from the last year of Bush’s presidency. Both the Bush and Obama administrations tried to discourage the sale of arms to Venezuela with the argument that they could end up in the hands of Colombian rebels, but neither US president had much success on that front. Rather than any direct U.S. policy, it appears that the biggest challenge faced by Chavez is due to the lingering economic problems in the country. While Chavez and the Obama administration have generally steered clear of the name-calling on both sides that characterized the Bush years, there are signs that the Venezuelan president’s patience might be wearing thin. In December 2010, Chavez confirmed that he would not accept the appointment of Larry Palmer as the Obama administration’s Ambassador to his country. Palmer had made "disrespectful" comments about Venezuela in email responses to questions from Senator Richard Lugar as part of the confirmation process, and those replies were then posted on the Indiana Republican’s website. The Venezuelan President said that Palmer would be detained at the airport and sent home should he try to enter the country.
THE OVERALL POLICY CONTINUITY would be understandable if U.S.-L.A. relations were at a good place when President Obama took office. But given the nearly universal sentiment that relations were at a low point, the failure to shift course begs for an explanation. We are left first with the possibility that in the case of Latin America, Barack Obama’s worldview is similar to his most recent predecessors’. Their "leadership" in the Americas includes aid and encouragement to those who oppose governments on the left; an economic embargo and prohibition of travel to Cuba by nearly all U.S. citizens; a militarization of drug policy and a security-first approach to immigration; and attempts to provide open access for U.S. investors and goods in Latin America. President Obama may simply share a set of beliefs about Latin America held by at least the post-Cold War US presidents. As a supplement to that idea, we might return to the idea of regional neglect. In that scenario, President Obama has been distracted by an ongoing economic crisis and more pressing foreign policy concerns in other parts of the world. So, without the time and energy for transforming Latin American policy, the default is continuity. But just as with the Bush years, there were certainly policy decisions being made – the Honduran coup, bases in Colombia, Bolivian trade preferences, and increases in deportations – that suggest it’s not neglect, but rather how the Obama administration engages the region that is the problem.
A second set of explanations would focus on the impact of U.S. domestic politics on foreign policy toward Latin America. With many of the contentious issues having both international and domestic political implications, significant Latino ethnic interest group activism present in the United States, and the lack of real military or hard security threat in the region, policy toward the rest of the Americas seems particularly open to domestic political calculations. In that case both Bush and Obama may be affected by similar political pressures; therefore, we get similar outcomes. Presidents from both parties after all want the support of U.S. agro-industry, which continues to be both heavily subsidized and then protected on the rare occasion when the Brazilians or another Latin American producer is still too competitive. Presidents from neither party seem willing to risk the potential loss of Electoral College votes that might result from challenging an anachronistic embargo that is still supported by many Cuban Americans in South Florida. Defense contractors have the same interest in securitizing drugs and immigration, and corporations want the government to protect private property in Latin America when nationalizations and expropriations are put on the agenda, regardless of who is in the White House.
In the end, we may really be left here with yet more evidence that the US policy toward Latin America is embedded in larger structural forces that mean partisan differences in policy are usually more symbolic than real. The Caribbean is supposed to be "America’s lake," Latin America’s resources should be available for U.S. investors, and this is a region in which we are meant to lead. Regardless of who holds the presidency, the United States has expectations for the region – sign free trade agreements or eradicate coca crops – and it tries to cajole or coerce Latin American governments to fall into line. Control over Latin America was among the earliest U.S. foreign policy goals, and it has really never changed. The current U.S. president is still more popular in the region than his predecessor, and his administration’s language is somewhat more measured when he deals with anti-American sentiment, but in the end, he’s still the leader of the "Colossus of the North." The change is really in the South, where resistance from Bolivian social movements and Brazilian or Venezuelan presidents is making it clear that the United States is no longer able to dictate policies in the region. Compounding the problem for the U.S. president is that the economic and ideological resources at his disposal are shrinking, and the competition from China and others outside the region is increasing.
While Obama faces a situation in the region made more difficult as a result of the Bush policies, we continue to see evidence of a similar overall approach to the region. The training of Latin American military personnel in the United States continues – at the renamed School of the Americas (Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation), much of the focus post-Cold War is on preparing those troops to fight against drug trafficking. The Central American corridor linking Mexico to Colombia is increasingly well stocked with U.S. military resources and U.S.-trained troops. The proposed access to seven bases in Colombia and the increasing militarization of the US-Mexico border add to the security effect. Finally, free trade agreements with Mexico (NAFTA) and Central America (CAFTA-DR), as well as those awaiting ratification with Colombia and Panama, effectively marry U.S. military power to economic interests in a way that would be familiar to past critics of U.S. imperialism in the Americas. President Obama has not aggressively pushed ratification of the trade agreements with Panama and Colombia to this point, but with the Republican pickup of seats in the 2010 election, he will have a new opportunity to extend the economic component of that security corridor further into the region.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs slammed the "professional left" in an August 2010 briefing for their criticism of President Obama: "I hear these people saying he’s like George Bush. Those people ought to be drug tested." He went on to suggest that the left wouldn’t be satisfied until "we’ve eliminated the Pentagon." While it is tempting to respond with a sarcastic comment about how easy access to those drugs is guaranteed as long as the U.S. government bases its drug policies in the Pentagon, the argument here is that when it comes to Latin America, the "professional left" should feel free to argue that Obama is much more "like George Bush" than not. While he is still somewhat more welcome in Latin American capitals than his predecessor, that’s largely because he is a more soft-spoken neighbor, not because he holds different views about the neighborhood itself. Given how big the opening left him by President Bush, Obama’s failure to reshape the U.S. approach to Latin America is all the more shameful.
1. Greg Grandin, Empire’s Workshop: Latin America, the United States, and the Rise of the New Imperialism, (New York: Metropolitan Books, 2006).
3. During a July 2008 trip to Cuba, for example, I visited a large Israeli citrus farm just outside Havana that was a joint venture with the Cuban government.
5. Of the 14 countries on the full list to get enhanced screening (the other ten were described as "countries of interest"), Cuba is both the only country in the Western Hemisphere and the only one without a significant Muslim population.
6. Greg Grandin, "Muscling Latin America," The Nation, February 8, 2010. | 2019-04-25T22:30:48Z | https://newpol.org/issue_post/good-neighbor-imperialism-us-latin-american-relations-under-obama/?print=print |
Nonlinear dynamics has shown the fallacy of this supposition: The concrete values that may be assumed in the variables of the equations of motion constituting the laws of physics (what are known as present or starting conditions) as a result of the spontaneous or intentional interaction of subject or measuring systems and of object or measured systems cannot be of infinite precision. Indeed, even if they could be, it is not at all clear that they would permit Laplacian determinism because of what is thought to be the ubiquity of K-flow dynamics in nature in which even infinite past information leading to the present cannot yield prediction of the future. In consequence, nonlinear dynamics, in rebellion against dynamical time, generates a primitive form of history distinguishing past, present, and future that may be termed nonlinear dynamical hysteresis.
When nonlinear dynamics came to be complemented with semiotic modulation through the implement of symbol-mediated language (a complementation subsequently termed semantic closure) as first instantiated through the communicating as opposed to the merely dynamically interacting molecular complexes of the cell, what can be termed semiotic hysteresis was born. The paper attempts to show that indefinitely evolving complexity, sustainability, justice, and meaning are indissolubly bound with chronological time in the sense of semiotic hysteresis (i.e. non-cognitive semantic closure first instantiated in the cell developing into cognitive semantic closure in human society): This semiotic hysteresis yields the indefinite evolutionary time of the living condition—including culture.
The Nobel laureate in literature, Henri Bergson, famously argued that the role of time in nature is to prevent the simultaneous incidence of all events. He viewed time as a “vehicle of creativity and choice”. The distinction between dynamical and chronological time bears out Bergson in this assertion. Dynamical time is the time embraced by most of the laws of physics. It originally derives from the oldest branch of physics—classical mechanics. It is not the irrevocable time of our naïve experience in which irrevocable choices, whether intentionally or not, are made. Rather it is what may be termed an “indifferent time interval”—a time interval devoid of qualitative variation or significance. Classical mechanics makes a similar substitution in the spatial dimension: the “location” of human experience is replaced by “indifferent distance”—a spatial extension devoid of qualitative variation or significance.
If the laws of physics are the same for all places and at all times, why is there any ‘interesting’ structure in the universe at all? Should it not be homogeneous and changeless? If every place in the universe were interchangeable with every other place, then all places would be indistinguishable; and the same would hold for all times. … The problem is, if anything, made worse by the cosmological theory that the universe began as a single point, which exploded from nothingness billions of years ago in the big bang. At the instant of the universe’s formation, all places and all times were not only indistinguishable but identical.
The indifferent time interval or dynamical time of classical mechanics is responsible for the philosophical position called Laplacian determinism—that the distinction between past, present and future is illusory because both the past and the future are already implicit in the present. More precisely, the past may be reconstructed, literally, from the present and the future predicted or constructed from the present. The past and the future may therefore be collapsed upon the present into a timeless, non-actualized potential. Hence, the homogeneity or identity Stewart speaks of above.
Nonlinear dynamics has disclosed the fallacy of Laplacian determinism. Laplacian determinism, nonlinear dynamics instructs us, can only be upheld if the present or starting conditions (i.e. the values of the variables in the equations of motion by which the laws of physics are expressed) are specified with infinite precision. Indeed, it is not at all clear that even infinite precision in the specification of starting conditions would suffice to uphold Laplacian determinism because of what is thought to be the ubiquity of K-flow dynamics in nature in which even infinite past observations leading to the present fail to predict the future.
The specification of starting conditions adverted to above transpires in what physicists call the measurement process. This process may be contrived in the laboratory, as when scientists are checking out a new detecting instrument sensitive to some aspect of the universe hitherto unobservable; or when, for some reason, calculation from first principles is impossible and only experimental measure will yield the relevant starting conditions; hence the origin of the term “measurement”. Alternatively, the process may spontaneously occur in nature. In the process, a subject or measuring system selects particular dynamics for propagation from an object or measured system. The selection is implemented through what are called, in physics, as boundary conditions; or more complicated boundary constraints (i.e. the range of admissible values to the variables at issue). The subject system selects a particular dynamic from the object system for expression in itself as a record in a material structure, such as a gene; or as a modulated action, such as enzyme catalysis. For the boundary constraint exerted by the subject system to be able to discharge its selective function, however, it is required that it lie outside the descriptive embrace of physical law. This is not to say that it is beyond such embrace (at least, for finite measurement precisions). It is only to say that if one insists on such an embrace, then the boundary constraint will forfeit its ability to discharge the measurement function and another boundary constraint not within the descriptive embrace of physical law must be brought in.
The subject and object systems involved in the measurement process, if they are not already present from a prior act of measurement, may be created during the measurement process itself; in which case, measurement is more accurately termed a bifurcation. Measurements and bifurcations arise from instabilities (further explained below) defying the prediction of the laws of physics. In the case of the subject system, for example, consider the radiation process: This process can only transpire when the radiation sources (technically, the material oscillators) have succeeded in creating the necessary selecting environment (technically, the field oscillators) which will propagate radiation. There is a pause preceding this creative process that is not explained by the relevant equation describing the dynamics involved.
Instability, as described above, transpires because the concrete or particular values assigned to variables in the laws of physics by natural or intentional processes are not and cannot, for finite beings in the observable universe, be of infinite precision; indeed, even infinite precision may, as described above in connection with nonlinear dynamics, be unavailing to prevent instability. Einstein, in effect, succinctly summarized this state of affairs when he said: “‘Insofar as the propositions of mathematics are certain, they do not refer to reality; and insofar as they refer to reality, they are not certain.’” Instability implies that, in both classical and quantum physics, “events” independent of laws (i.e. not predicted by laws) are necessary if we are able to account for the observable universe. The events adverted to may be identified with the contingent emergence and selective effects of boundary constraints and attest to the dictum of nonlinear dynamics that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, over chronological time. The implication is that, for sufficiently complex systems, it is indeed possible to exercise ethical choice, initially at least, through the collective or macro-level imposition of selective boundary constraints on dynamics embracing the indefinite future. The embrace of the indefinite future in the imposed macro-level boundary constraint is necessary if ethical choice is at all to be made since the demands of the indefinite future act as a filter against the simultaneous incidence of all choices. Once the macro-level boundary constraint (which may be seen as a selecting environment) has been imposed, nothing prevents the exercise of ethical choice at the individual or micro-level.
The significance of the measurement process should be underscored: Prior to the measurement process in physics, the laws of physics are in a sort of timeless limbo without actual contact with what would be the observable universe. That is to say (to echo Bergson), physical laws are so general of application (they represent the simultaneous incidence of all events within their descriptive embrace) that they find no particular application unless and until the measurement process selects a particular dynamic permitted by them for propagation in the actual universe.
Because of measurement and the consequent intrusion of nonlinear dynamics into mere linear or deterministic dynamics (or should it be the other way around?), chronological time is generated through a primitive history that may be termed nonlinear dynamical hysteresis. More precisely, when the imposed boundary constraint in the measurement process is sufficiently strong to permit several selections from the same parameter values in the boundary constraint such that chance alone determines the selection of particular dynamics for propagation (i.e. the selection of dynamics is not determined by physical law), then the “system is imbued with a historical dimension in the sense of a critical event that will influence subsequent system behavior. Such historically determined behavior is called [nonlinear dynamical] hysteresis”.
Irreversibility, and therefore the flow of time, starts at the dynamical [micro- or individual] level. It is amplified at the macroscopic level, then at the level of life, and finally at the level of human activity. What drove these transitions from one level to the next remains largely unknown, but at least we have achieved a noncontradictory description of nature rooted in dynamical instability. The descriptions of nature presented by biology and physics begin to converge.
That convergence was consummated in successful bridging through the emergence of symbol-mediated boundary constraints complementing nonlinear dynamics as first instantiated in the cell. As the fundamental example, consider protein synthesis: Genes only specify the linear sequence of amino acids constituting proteins. How these linear sequences then subsequently fold into three-dimensional conformations to confer the specific functional properties of proteins relies on complicated nonlinear dynamics not specified by the gene but rather resulting from attractions and repulsions between chemical bonds in the amino acid sequences and the chemical bonds in the environment of those sequences. This complementation of symbols and nonlinear dynamics in the living condition has been termed semantic closure in theoretical biology.
What is it that distinguishes complexity in the living domain from complexity in the non-living domain? In a seminal study initially ventilated through a lecture in 1948, the mathematician, John von Neumann, informed us that complexity in the living domain, with its ability to indefinitely evolve (a capacity not observed in complexity in the non-living domain), must involve the complementation of syntax or symbol manipulation and semantics in the form of nonlinear dynamics. This complementation, termed semantic closure, developed and evolved from the measurement process in physics. The syntax involves molecules or other material structures invested with symbolic or linguistic significance serving as boundary constraints and capable of copying or transmission, without interpretation; and the semantics involves the dynamical selections of the boundary constraint and the subsequent interpretation of the constraint through the propagation of the dynamics, which propagation considerably augments the extremely limited information in the boundary constraint.
The semiotic or message conveying nature as opposed to the dynamical nature of the complexity wrought by semantic closure should be emphasized. The complementation of syntax and semantics means that we are dealing with “records, codes, signals, and messages” rather than mere dynamical interactions. This ability of semantic closure to convey messages embodied in the living condition reposes on the fact of the dialectical disjunction and continuity of syntax and semantics: The syntax, by avoiding complete microscopic description (which is beyond its ability anyway as revealed by the seminal investigations of Turing in computation theory) and resorting to dynamical elaboration (as when syntax only specifies the linear sequence of amino acids and leaves the semantic of sequence folding into functional proteins to nonlinear dynamics), means that the consequent semantic closure achieves a non-tautological description. Such non-tautological description is a requirement of information theory and symbolic dynamics if meaningful messages are to be at all possible. We shall see this point elaborated in our discussion of meaning below.
The peculiarity of this semiotic description to the living condition, with its ability to yield simplification of results into intelligibility and relevance (e.g. syntax leading to a computationally intractable crevasse of nonlinear dynamics leading to a functional protein) must be contrasted to the dynamical description championed by mainstream physicists and their adherents: In physics, an opposite trend is observed—the ubiquity of the simplest possible problems in the nonliving domain that produce such complicated results that the physicist must content himself with mere statistical descriptions forsaking all individual details.
Several properties of the symbolic boundary constraints in semantic closure make them naturally suited to embrace chronological time and indeed refine it beyond nonlinear dynamical hysteresis, to yield semiotic hysteresis. One of that property is, of course, memory: Genes (collectively, the genotype) afford the reproducibility, with slight modification, of their complementary nonlinear dynamics in the phenotype (i.e. the physical and behavioural characteristics) of the organism. That the phenotype is nonlinear dynamical in character explains why species with minimal differences in genotype (e.g. chimps and humans) can nonetheless display vast differences in attainments. That the changes in phenotype are also dialectically slight is the reason why the emergence of one species from another is difficult to discern, even in retrospect. Contrast this with the dramatic and non-equivocal character of emergence in simple nonlinear dynamical hysteresis, such as the fracture of a beam. In beam fracture, the cumulative production of “precursor structures of fracture” due to stress concentrators from imperfections in the three-dimensional molecular or atomic disposition of the bulk material, means that the repeated application of even an ostensibly safe load (way below the theoretical tolerance of the material in question if imperfections of molecular or atomic disposition in space were prevented, which they cannot be because this would take infinite time) must eventually yield to complete structural failure in the bulk material.
Another property of symbolic boundary constraints in semantic closure that lends itself to the embrace of chronological time is that of linguistic displacement: An alteration in a gene, for example, may presently have neutral effects. (Most alterations, however, have lethal effects.) Millions of years hence, it may be found to have a selective effect for survival in a novel environment.
Linguistic displacement exhibits the power of the living condition to couple itself with the indefinite time horizon that nonlinear dynamics demands: Nonlinear dynamics’ dictum that whole is greater than the sum of the parts means that the long-term cannot be built from the mere addition of the short-term. Accordingly, the long-term, macro-level goal or choice must, by intention, through cognitive semantic closure; or by inadvertence, through non-cognitive semantic closure, be imposed at the outset if the addition of short-term , micro-level, individual choices is to have a benign, let alone a prosperous conclusion.
In the evolution of life on the planet, the embrace of the indefinite future was achieved by non-cognitive semantic closure through bacterial intervention operating through epigenetic loops. The reference being made here is to the planetary superorganism termed Gaia by Lovelock. As Lovelock has argued with great persuasion, it is only because of bacterial activity on a planetary scale that conditions hospitable to life have been preserved for and beyond the 3 billion years in which only bacteria and archea (another group of single-celled organisms) were the only living organisms on the planet. If bacterial activity had been absent and what we have identified as non-cognitive semantic closure had not been in operation through epigenetic loops, the planet would have evolved solely according to the equilibrium laws of physics and chemistry. In that case, all possible chemical reactions capable of transpiring from micro-level interactions would have done so. We would then expect the predominance, in our atmosphere, for example, of equilibrium gases of a generally non-reactive nature, such as carbon dioxide (which is in fact the case for Mars and Venus). Instead, we find gases that react with one another, such as oxygen and methane, co-existing indefinitely. This argues the intervention of life in preserving conditions hospitable to life (i.e. non-cognitive semantic closure).
This conclusion is at variance with mainstream, neo-Darwinian evolutionary biology, which takes the hospitability of the environment to life as a given. Accordingly, Lovelock points out, the neo-Darwinians have been the most vigorous objectors to his Gaia concept. Lovelock cites the example of the prominent, if not pre-eminent, neo-Darwinian, Richard Dawkins, who “[i]n his second book, The Extended Phenotype”, attempted to quash the Gaia concept by arguing that genes could never express themselves on a planetary scale. Lovelock objects, however, that genes, through the mediation of the cell membrane, can in fact express themselves on a planetary scale: The necessity of keeping the cell membrane intact means that the biochemistry selected for propagation by genes and which reciprocally considerably augment the information content of the genes to a level of complexity beyond their own must, on pain of extinction, result in extracellular metabolites which operate to adjust environmental conditions towards compatibility with the cell membrane. Those environmental conditions as regards, say, “temperature, salinity, acidity, redox potential, water availability”, are extremely restrictive in their range and it is exceedingly unlikely, if the equilibrium laws of physics and chemistry alone were in effect, that they would have persisted in the far-from-equilibrium ranges that they have.
For example, without the action of hydrogen-sequestering bacteria that metabolize hydrogen sulphide to sustain themselves; and without the oxygen generated by photosynthesizing bacteria that then combine with available atmospheric hydrogen afforded by the hydrogen-sulphide bacteria, hydrogen liberated from the reaction of water with rocks in the presence of carbon dioxide would, in a period of 1 or 2 billion years, have effectively caused the depletion of all ocean waters through eventual escape of hydrogen into space. Fortunately, because of bacterial intervention beginning in the Archean eon (spanning 3.7 to 2.5 billion years ago) and continuing to this day, calamities of this sort have been averted. Furthermore, they have been averted, contrary to the neo-Darwinian assertion that competition is the primary organizing principle for the evolution of life, through cooperative communities of bacterial mats on lagoons or as communities on rocky substrates that were being transformed into structures called stromatolites (some of them the size of houses). The cooperation involved, it must be emphasized, was achieved, not by intention, but simply through chemical signals and the selective effects of those signal in fostering survival or not.
Each one of us is a community of a hundred million million mutually dependent eukaryotic cells. Each one of those cells is a community of thousands of specially tamed bacteria, entirely enclosed within the cell … A single animal or plant is a vast community of communities, packed in interacting layers, like a rain forest. As for a rain forest itself, it is a community seething, with perhaps ten million species of organisms, every individual member of every species being itself a community of communities of domesticated bacteria.
So we see that without non-cognitive semantic closure operating through epigenetic loops embracing the indefinite future (at least, approximately or effectively so, as we shall see in the next section) through the maintenance of the restrictive, far-from-equilibrium conditions compatible with the cell membrane, life on Earth would have not progressed beyond the bacterial stage before coming to an end. Semantic closure, cognitive or otherwise, is required, as von Neumann effectively argued (the concept of semantic closure was a subsequent distillation and elaboration from the work of von Neumann by Pattee), if complexity is to indefinitely evolve through semiotic hysteresis in what we have come to distinguish as life.
In this section, we shall inquire why it is that cognitive semantic closure will be necessary if true sustainability is to be possible (again through semiotic hysteresis) beyond what even non-cognitive semantic closure can manage. To see the necessity of cognitive semantic closure on first instance, it might be well to reflect on why it is that human culture has apparently been so destructive to the ability of this planet to support life. As the most direct demonstration of this assertion, consider that human activity (i.e. through habitat clearing, habitat fragmentation, unsustainable harvesting, pollution, introduction of alien species) has raised the background rate of extinction by ten thousand percent. This development qualifies then as the sixth great mass extinction episode to be suffered by the planetary biota. Certainly not helping in this regard is anthropogenic or human-induced climate warming resulting from the fact that we are liquidating geologic capital, in the form of fossil fuels, in a matter of centuries whereas the accumulation of that capital (representing the sequestration of heat-trapping carbon dioxide) transpired over hundreds of millions of years.
This destructive state of affairs may be readily ascribed, in light of the preceding discussion, to predominance of mainstream, neoclassical economics in the government of our affairs: Neoclassical economics was explicitly intended by its originators to be the equivalent, in the behavioral sciences, of classical mechanics in physics. Accordingly, it instructs human affairs with dynamical time. That is to say, only with present conditions. It secures that only present conditions govern human affairs through deliberately adopted temporal myopia achieved through such practices as ceteris paribus (Latin for “all other things being equal”) assumptions that are then used to prop up a spurious pseudo-dynamics (i.e. spurious because the conserved quantity is not identified as it is in, say, Hamiltonian dynamics in physics in which energy is the conserved quantity); the “by-gones” principle that counsels that only the balance between immediate future costs and benefits, with benefits outweighing costs, should determine whether or not a project should go on; and by discounting.
The by-gones principle of economics, by effectively ignoring the cumulative costs of our actions, renders the economic process ahistorical, an isolated cycle of production and consumption that neither induces qualitative change in the environment in which it is embedded nor is affected by qualitative change in that environment. Discounting is the inverse compound interest calculation to determine whether or not to invest in a project or simply put money in the bank. Its effect is to contract time horizon of consideration because of exponential increase of inverse compound interest (i.e. the successive sums to be added quickly approach zero), thereby militating against investments in sustainability. A rationale often urged for upholding the temporal myopia secured by discounting is risk aversion. Thus, for example, it is often the case that loggers would rather harvest trees and place the revenues in the bank to earn interest because of fear from risk of, say, disease wiping out the trees or a logging ban preventing their harvesting. This temporal myopia fostered by discounting, ceteris paribus assumptions, the by-gones principle, and by risk aversion is enforced by market competition and deliberately chosen in cost-benefit analysis (i.e. to secure analytic tractability by eliminating increasing uncertainty, with chronologic time). The irony of this latter observation should be savored: cost-benefit analysis was precisely originated to correct for the market’s temporal myopia!
How inimical to complexity the government of human affairs by present conditions alone or what is effectively dynamical time secured through temporal myopia is may be appreciated as follows: Temporal myopia militates against sustainable logging because agriculture yields quicker, more reliable, less risky returns to investment. By precisely the same reasoning, agriculture yields to manufacturing. In the same way, manufacturing gives way to speculative and financial institutions. The present financial crises shows in no uncertain terms how ultimately destructive dynamical time or government by present conditions or temporal myopia is: Even the abstract exchange value represented by money (as opposed to the concrete use value it purchases) is destroyed (e.g. the failure of financial institutions) by unrestricted pre-occupation with short-term gain authorized by instruction from present conditions or dynamical time alone. Accordingly, the necessity of instructing the economic process with chronological time.
As with non-cognitive semantic closure, the aim is to institute semiotic hysteresis and permit gradual evolution by supplanting the non-graduated qualitative transitions yielded by nonlinear dynamical hysteresis. As with non-cognitive semantic closure, to do this, we want to impose symbol-mediated boundary constraints embracing the indefinite future (in recognition of the fact that nonlinear dynamics decrees the whole to be greater than the sum of the parts) and which permit the reproducibility of nonlinear dynamics, with slight variations, as in the phenotype. In non-cognitive semantic closure, we saw that this embrace of the indefinite future was achieved, initially and primarily still, by cooperative bacterial intervention within epigenetic loops on a global or macro-level. This macro-level intervention preserves conditions hospitable to the cell membrane through the appropriate extracellular metabolites. In cognitive semantic closure, the same intervention must be effected through public policy and the appropriate implementing social institutions. The public policy concerned is sustainability and its implementing social institutions (at least, the minimum ones) are Daly’s institutions for a steady-state economy.
Before we discuss those institutions, it might be well to digress a bit on how dynamical and chronological time affect the notion of sustainability as conceived by neoclassical economists (who champion the former) and ecological economists (who champion the latter). The neoclassical economist’s notion of sustainability may be termed weak sustainability. This notion asserts that natural capital and man-made capital are substitutes rather than complements. They are qualitatively homogeneous rather than qualitatively heterogeneous. Natural capital (such as petrol) may therefore be completely converted to man-made capital (such as automobiles). The ecological economist’s notion of sustainability is that of strong sustainability. This notion asserts that natural and man-made capital are complements rather than substitutes. They are qualitatively heterogeneous rather than qualitatively homogeneous. Accordingly, natural capital cannot be completely converted to man-made capital. Rather, quantitative restrictions or boundary constraints must be imposed to preserve the qualitative heterogeneity and consequent functional complementarity between them.
Man-made capital (along with labor) is an agent of transformation of the resource flow from raw material inputs into product outputs. The natural resource flow (and the natural capital stock that generates it) are the material cause of production; the capital stock that transforms raw material inputs into product output is the efficient cause of production. One cannot substitute efficient cause for material cause—one cannot build the same wooden house with half the timber no matter how many saws and carpenters one tries to substitute. Also, to process more timber into wooden houses in the same time period requires more saws and carpenters. Clearly the basic relation of man-made and natural capital is one of complementarity, not substitutability. Of course, one could substitute bricks for timber, but that is the substitution of one resource input for another, not the substitution of [man-made] capital for resources. In making a brick house one would face the analogous inability of trowels and masons to substitute for bricks.
… Clearly, resources are either finite or they are not. If they are, then the only way to ensure their continuation in perpetuity is to stop using them. Stopping growth is not enough. Levels of consumption would have to be reduced to infinitesimal levels if finite resources are to be made to last forever.
Accordingly, Beckerman concludes that an indefinite time horizon for resource use must be rejected and be reconciled with more pressing demands not instructed by the indefinite future. He recommends project-level sustainability “over the economically optimal period”. In other words, the indefinite future is to be built piecemeal rather than it governing what we should be doing in the short-term, as nonlinear dynamics demands if the short-term is to be compatible with the long-term.
The claim that standard economics is not concerned ‘with very long-run projections, but rather with the immediate future’, is another means of avoiding the main issue that would incriminate the standard position. The problem of resources is not confined to the ‘forseeable future’, as many writers also insist, but concerns the entire future …. If the standard postion concerns only what will happen to natural resources ‘in the immediate future’ of this moment of the twentieth century, then all the din about how the market mechanism (especially that moulded on standard assumptions) can save us from ecological catastrophe is utterly idle. But if the claim is that exponential growth can prevail not only in our immediate future but also in any ‘immediate future’ in the future, then the claim acquires a factual, non-parochial significance.
If the indefinite future is to govern our resource use, however, then cognitive semantic closure demands selective boundary constraints incorporating values expressed as public policy and implemented through social institutions explicitly embracing the indefinite future be imposed at the outset. Thus, the value of sustainability has been enunciated as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future. A strong element of justice as fairness is clearly involved with the notion of sustainability. We shall amplify upon the notion of justice as fairness in the next section and how chronological time, through historical contingency, bears upon it.
If the indefinite future or an infinite time horizon is to govern our short-term actions in society as concerns resource mobilization, however, a problem arises: Due to the fact that at any given time the resources available to us as a society of finite beings is finite (the emphasis is made because what is rational from an individual vantage point, such as discounting, is often not rational from the collective vantage point, e.g. while individuals are mortal, collectives can be quasi-immortal), Georgescu-Roegen points out that this would mean (as also pointed out by Beckerman), over an infinite time horizon, that a null amount of resources would have to be “used”. To circumvent this paradoxical result, what needs to be done then is to spread resources evenly in time to secure the longest life-span for the species. The physics of how to secure this aim has apparently been afforded us by Dyson.
The key to securing the longest life span for the species, despite the fact that at any given time the available resources to the species is finite, is to vary the schedule of resource mobilization such that it observes a pulsing mode. That is to say, we want resource mobilization to be suspended altogether in what may be termed as periods of stasis, with these periods of stasis being allowed to lengthen without bound. In these periods of stasis, we follow the lead of nature by going to seed, as it were: We store the information for modulating resource mobilization in the next cycle of existence in non-resource-dissipating equilibrium or quasi-equilibrium structures, such as seeds, spores, or crystals. If we follow such a resource mobilization regime, then Dyson’s calculations show that even a finite amount of resources would suffice for a virtual infinity of time in sustaining the species. For example, Dyson showed that, if only energy mattered, then solar output for a mere eight hours would suffice for literally eternity to support a population of the order of magnitude that presently subsists on this planet.
The hindrance to achieving an actual infinity of time is the fact that matter decays to energy over illimitable, chronological time. Thus, even black holes evaporate through Hawking radiation. Ultimately, it is thought that the only recently discovered cosmological-scale phenomenon called dark energy will rip apart all material configurations down to the sub-atomic scale. The only solace to this depressing conclusion is the possibility of further cycles of existence due to the possibility, if not probability, that energy is a “bottomless ocean of which we can observe effectively only the waves on its surface.” If so, this is tantamount to finding new particles of matter, with novel properties, however deep we plumb that ocean.
What would be the quality of life afforded in Dyson’s resource mobilization regime? Surprisingly, the quality of life possible in Dyson’s resource mobilization regime need not be bounded by any upper limit (excepting only the limit imposed by matter decay) precisely because there is a distinction between quality and quantity (supposing quantitative restrictions are able to preserve qualitative heterogeneity). Such a distinction between quality and quantity has in fact been urged upon economic policy by Boulding. Boulding argued that since it is from the capital stock that we derive our satisfactions from, not from the additions to it (production) or from the subtractions from it (consumption), the object of economic policy should be to minimize production or consumption. Otherwise, if we were to maximize either, the maintenance cost of the capital stock would also be maximized.
So much for the physics of sustainability. As to the economics of the implementation of this physics (at least at a minimum level), mention has already been made of Daly’s institutions for a steady-state economy (SSE). These include an institution for controlling resource inflows into the economy; one for controlling income differentials; one for controlling population. The necessity for a social institution controlling income differentials shall be discussed at greater length in the next section. Suffice it to say in this section, its necessity is indicated because, among other things, the institution for controlling resource inflows into society uses implements that actually amount to a regressive tax that hits the poor harder than it does the rich.
One such implement that is completely acceptable to Daly for servicing a SSE is the present cap-and-trade system in carbon dioxide emissions. The idea of the cap-and-trade system is that a limit to permissible carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel use is imposed at the outset and this limit is translated into permits to pollute which are then auctioned off to users of fossil fuels (in the main, corporations). The revenues from the auctioning of the permits constitute public revenue and may be used to offset the regressive nature of the permits through government transfer payments. (The regressive nature of the permits arises from the probability that the corporations may shift some of the costs, at least, to consumers of their products, e.g. electricity bills) Over time, the limit to permissible carbon dioxide emissions would be contracted towards compatibility with ecological tolerances. The consequent rise in fuel prices would then provide market incentive for more efficient industrial processes.
The cap-and-trade system was first realized in the European Union (albeit, from what the author knows, without the auctioning of the permits, initially). The system need not be confined to a continent, however. In a recent BBC debate (June or July 2009, if the author remembers correctly), the author of this paper heard an academic from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore talk of the necessity of a global cap-and-trade system in carbon dioxide emissions that would act as a conduit for transfer payments from rich to poor countries, not as a matter of mere pragmatism, but rather as a matter of entitlement and justice due to the injustices inflicted by historical contingency (i.e. the rich countries are primarily responsible for global warming).
The cap-and-trade system as an implementing social institution of public policy is a good instance of cognitive semantic closure: It displays macro-level control reflective of a collective value (i.e. sustainability) incorporated through the total number of permits imposed at the outset in recognition of the fact that market prices, even when augmented by cost-benefit analysis, are unable to properly instruct micro-level control exerted by individuals in the marketplace. So the cap-and-trade system displays the complementation of macro- and micro-level controls we have come to identify with semantic closure. The necessity of the macro-level control should be emphasized, however. In economic terms, this is due to the fact that market prices cannot incorporate the market bids of future generations, not even with the considered anticipations of economists performing cost-benefit analysis. Accordingly, quantitative allotments of resources must be availed of in the interest of justice as fairness, which fairness also has a salutary effect upon the present generation: It restrains that generation from making choices in dynamic time that, as discussed above, is so inimical to complexity and therefore, by extension, the continued possibility of life, let alone quality of life.
This is where Dyson’s calculations naturally come in: Dyson’s calculations, in effect, demands that the entire sequence of generations possible to the human species should instruct the resource allocation for each generation in that sequence. As Dyson’s calculations show, the time scales involved are virtually infinite. It may seem absurd that such scales of time should be involved in the instruction of economic policy. The author submits that it is not: The weak anthropic principle in cosmology articulates that the observable universe must exhibit certain properties if it is to contain living organisms. One such property has to do with chronological time: The universe must be of a certain minimum age if it is to permit the evolution of life. For example, life is literally made from star-stuff: the debris of supernovae explosions incorporated into less violent star systems induced into existence by those same explosions. So we already know that prodigious amounts of time have been involved in preparing the stage for life. Dyson’s calculations only show, in accord with the nonlinear dynamical dictum that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, that the perpetuation of life (as was already approximated by non-cognitive semantic closure on this planet through bacterial intervention) also requires the embrace of an even more prodigious amount of time—the indefinite future in its entirety.
If our analysis of the long-range future leads us to raise questions related to the ultimate meaning and purpose of life, then let us examine these questions boldly and without embarrassment. If our answers to these questions are naive and preliminary, so much the better for the continued vitality of our science.
If we therefore desire sustainability beyond even what non-cognitive semantic closure can afford (i.e. it is unlikely that non-cognitive semantic closure can observe the peculiar pulsing schedule described by Dyson’s calculations), then we must instruct the cap-and-trade system with Dyson’s pulsing-mode resource mobilization. In this way, we would be able to more creditably demonstrate the superiority of brains over genes. As to when instruction of the cap-and-trade system with Dyson’s calculations is to be achieved, this action explicitly requires the development of stasis technology. Accordingly, awaiting this development, it has been suggested that Daly’s SSE institutions be first employed to slow down world economic growth so that human civilization’s course may be safely charted according to the Kardashev nomenclature of civilization types.
Slowing down world economic growth should help chart a safe course through the Kardashev nomenclature because it would reduce consumption stresses upon the natural environment and corresponding inequity stresses upon the social environment (i.e. because of the well-recognized trade-off between growth and equity). The Kardashev nomenclature recognizes three civilization types: Type I, Type II, and Type III. A Type I civilization controls the resources of an entire planet. A Type II civilization captures the entire output of the star in its star system and therefore, by extension, controls the resources of an entire star system. (Dyson himself has done the engineering studies for the capture of the energy output of an entire star through what has been appropriately termed the Dyson sphere and concludes that it is definitely technically feasible.) A Type III civilization controls the resources of an entire galaxy.
We have not reached the status of a Type I civilization yet, according to Dyson, but shall probably do so in several centuries time—provided that ecological catastrophe does not overtake us. To help avert such a possibility, Dyson has suggested the genetic modification of ecosystems while respecting ecological relationships so that natural ecosystems yield human necessities and wants (e.g. whatever chemicals we might need, including fuels) in addition to maintaining themselves in viable health. He concedes that the creation and nurturance of such a biologic industrial system might always remain an art rather than a science. He, however, considers that possibility just one more reason to opt for such a system.
The transition to a Type II civilization would, at a modest growth rate of one percent compounded annually, be achieved in 2500 years. It has been suggested that the instruction of Daly’s SSE institutions with Dyson’s pulsing mode resource mobilization be effected when we have achieved Type II status: Not only would this schedule probably afford the appropriate time to develop stasis and other germane technologies, we would also need the resources of a Type II civilization to seed other star systems with colonies as a buffer against species extinction from truly catastrophic events, such as stellar gamma-ray bursts or supernovae explosions.
Mention has been made of the necessity of respecting ecological relationships if we are to achieve Type I status. Certainly helping in this regard is the control of population growth. This is explicitly recognized by Daly when he includes as one of his SSE institutions one for controlling population growth. Basically, this would work the same way as the cap-and-trade system for carbon dioxide emissions, with the difference that we would be working with birth permits rather than pollution permits. As well, the birth permits wouldn’t be auctioned off but rather freely given to the population. The permits are then yielded to government, along with proof of sufficient means of child-rearing support, when one desires to conceive progeny. People who violate this requirement would have their children put up for adoption. People who desire more children than the permits they have would warrant could purchase additional permits in the marketplace and people who don’t desire children could sell their permits. This system ensures that children are likely to be born to or raised with families that not only truly cherish them but also have adequate means to raise them. As concerns the total number of birth permits to be allotted, this should be only what organic agriculture (i.e. agriculture that does not avail of fertilizers and chemical pest control) could sustain.
In the previous section, we saw that sustainability, purely on the level of physics, demanded, as Dyson himself explicitly articulated, that “questions related to the ultimate meaning and purpose of life” be raised. This is exactly what nonlinear dynamics, with the primitive hysteresis associated with it, would indicate since it tells us that the future cannot be built up through repeated iterations of short-term choices. Rather, the entire future must instruct what our choices in the short-term must be. This, we can only do if we are clear what purpose the future is to serve, at least, nay, of necessity at the most fundamental level allowing the greatest elaboration, over time. That purpose, if the future is to serve any purpose at all, can only be sustainability since without sustainability the existence of the future cannot be guaranteed. Sustainability, in agreement with Dyson’s seminal investigations, has been defined as meeting the needs of the present without sacrificing the needs of the future (i.e. the entire future, as Dyson’s calculations indicate). The future therefore exercises restraint on the claims and choices of the present and in so doing the present achieves safe passage into the future. Sustainability therefore demands a complementarity between the future and the present, a complementarity achieved through cognitive semantic closure: the macrolevel or collective purpose of sustainability is imposed, through the appropriate social institutions and their associated implements, upon microlevel or individual purposes so that these achieve compatibility with sustainability and therefore survive into the future through consequent semiotic hysteresis.
Sustainability, as defined above, clearly has a core element of justice conceived of as fairness. Dyson’s physics of resource mobilization upholds it. Justice as fairness, however, was also the position arrived at by the purely philosophical investigations of the philosopher, John Rawls. As we shall see, chronological time through the irrevocable choices made in semiotic hysteresis and even nonlinear dynamical hysteresis (both cases of historical contingency), also played a key role in Rawls’ determination of justice as fairness. To complement the findings of Dyson’s physics of resource mobilization that sustainability demands justice as fairness, we now turn to Rawls’ philosophical investigations to further impress the convergence of ethics and technics when sustainability is concerned. In so doing, Dyson’s and Rawls’ investigations receive reciprocal support from one another and bolster the mutual security of their foundations.
It is to John Rawls, in his A Theory of Justice (Harvard University Press, 1971) that we owe the first systematic inquiry of our obligations to future generations. (Subsequently, inevitably, Rawls would further qualify his thoughts in A Theory of Justice through such books as Political Liberalism [Columbia University Press, 1993] and Justice as Fairness [Harvard University Press, 2001]). Of Rawls achievement, philosopher, Daniel Dennett, had this to say: “Rawls’ theory has received, and deserved, more attention than any work of ethics in this [20th] century.” Of the nature of Rawls’ theory, Dennett tells us this: “Rawls presents a thought experiment about what, if it did happen, would be right. Rawls’ project … is an entirely normative project: an attempt to demonstrate how ethical questions ought to be answered, and, more particularly, an attempt to justify a set of ethical norms”.
The though experiment Dennett adverts to is termed the original position (OP). The OP is a hypothetical, ahistorical meeting of all generations possible to the human species. In Rawls’ own words as he concludes Theory of Justice, to see our place in society from the OP “ ‘is to see it sub specie aeternitatis: it is to regard the human situation not only from all social but also all temporal points of view’ ”. Elsewhere in Theory of Justice, Rawls writes: “Each aspect of the original position can be given a supporting explanation. Thus, what we are doing is to combine into one conception the totality of conditions which we are ready upon due reflection to recognize as reasonable in our conduct towards one another.” (It may seem ironic that an ahistorical meeting of generations is required to address problems of historical contingency; however, a little thought suffices to persuade that, in fact, only by stepping out of history, as it were, could we make adjustments to contingencies or accidents of circumstance constituting history.) Thus, Rawls’ OP, as with Dyson’s calculations, demands consideration of the entire sequence of generations possible to the human species, albeit Dyson’s calculations, on a purely pragmatic level and not on the level of justice as an idealization, considers only all future generations.
In this OP, the members of every generation are to operate behind what Rawls calls a “ ‘veil of ignorance’ ”. This veil of ignorance obscures from the members of each generation their historical, social, and genetic circumstances. Thus, they do not know to which generation they belong or what their social status is within each generation; nor do they know their genetic gifts or afflictions. Only behind this veil of ignorance, Rawls argues, could and would we truly care about what features human society is to exhibit if it is to render justice.
Among those features that Rawls considers are the social means (e.g. political and legal rights, leisure and independence, wealth and income) and resources that each generation would have to work with in their pursuit of the worthwhile life, however that life is conceived. (Such pursuit is a major motive in the decisions of the parties to the OP.) In the ideal case as to the allocation of those social means and resources, Rawls concludes (in subsequent qualifications of his thoughts in a A Theory of Justice) that it would have to be a conservation or savings principle such that “ ‘the members of any generation (and so all generations) would adopt as the one their generation is to follow and as the principle they would want preceding generations to have followed (and later generations to follow), no matter how far back (or forward) in time’ ”. Accordingly, this principle of just savings thus agreed on is to be binding for all previous and future generations.
To implement his just savings principle, Rawls envisions two stages of social development. There would first be an accumulation stage in which the allocation of resources to the current generation compatible with just allocation to future generations is achieved. (This resonates with the disclosed recommendation in the previous section that Daly’s SSE institutions only be instructed with Dyson’s calculations after we have achieved Type II status in the Kardashev nomeclature of civilization types.) The next stage is what Rawls calls the steady-state stage. This stage is attained when the appropriate social institutions are established. The previous section discloses that Rawls was in error here: What Rawls should have said was the pulsing-mode stage in the sense described in the section.
For utilitarians, the particulars of everyone’s circumstances are known and are taken as givens. The justice of these particulars is not questioned. Rather, what happiness is possible from these particulars is to be maximized in the aggregate or in the average because we do not know our particular identities (this ignorance then constitutes the thin veil of ignorance). By contrast, Rawls’ thick veil of ignorance deprives one of knowledge of both one’s personal identity and personal circumstances (e.g. as to social status, historical situation, genetic gifts). These particular circumstances are therefore not taken as givens we have to work with. They may be questioned as to their justice. Deliberations behind Rawls thick veil of ignorance on the justice of these particulars may then aid in the construction of the appropriate social institutions that would indeed guarantee justice relative to particular circumstances for everyone in every generation (or at the least, all remaining generations) by ameliorating the injustice of those particular circumstances.
Rawls argues above that for rational behavior operating towards justice behind the thick veil of ignorance in the OP to be possible, a minimum of resources and primary social means must be available to each member of each generation. What is the decision procedure for deciding that minimum that Rawls advocates? Without benefit of Dyson’s seminal calculations, Rawls advocated a maximin decision rule. That is to say, he wants to ensure that the least advantaged members of society, in whatever generation, should have the resources and primary social means available to them maximized. The maximin rule is to be chosen because the exercise of choice (behind the thick veil of ignorance in the OP) concerning what the nature of society is to be, is not subject to renegotiation or repetition; further, that choice determines all future prospects for the individual (i.e. semiotic hysteresis achieved through cognitive semantic closure embodied in the appropriate social institutions).
That the distinction between historical and dynamical time must be made absolutely clear to instruct one’s arguments about intergenerational justice is revealed in the work of another philosopher, Derek Parfit, eminent in this sphere of inquiry. I refer in particular to what Parfit has called the repugnant conclusion (RC). The RC holds that any decline in the quality of life of population could and would, other things remaining equal and supposing that the decline in quality of life still leaves life worth living (even though barely), be compensated for by an increase in population. In other words, Parfit is arguing that the increase of total utility in a population (i.e. number of people multiplied by their satisfaction), supposing his presuppositions are granted, would compensate for decline in quality of life. As the description itself suggests, the RC is a conclusion that Parfit (as well as many others scholars and academics) do not like.
The most natural way to avoid the RC is, of course, simply to challenge the assumption of “all other things remaining equal” (i.e. to recall, this is the ceteris paribus assumption of the neoclassical economists in their destructive affirmation of dynamical time). The distinction between historical and dynamical time certainly authorizes this challenge. Historical time means irrevocable qualitative transformations, as the discussion on strong sustainability in the previous section implied. Strong sustainability therefore demands quantitative restrictions be imposed on natural and man-made capital. Such restrictions, through the appropriate social institutions instructed by Dyson’s resource mobilization physics (Daly’s SSE institutions, for example), should avoid Parfit’s RC.
If, as argued above, the maximin decision rule is to be implemented to secure justice, then certainly an important aspect that decision rule must address is the limitation of income differentials within each generation (therefore, the importance of inheritance taxes, at least initially): Purchasing power for the individual is more a function of relative rather than absolute income. Thus, if your neighbor earns four times as much as you do, increasing both your incomes by a factor of three would leave your relative purchasing powers unaltered. If an improvement in your purchasing power is to transpire, it is required that the factor increase in your income exceed that of your neighbor’s. Thus, your income might increase by a factor of three whereas your neighbor’s increases only by a factor of two. Accordingly, the prescription in section 3 of a social institution for limiting income differentials, initially in the context of a steady-state economy (SSE) as conceived by Daly, which SSE is subsequently switched to pulsing mode according to Dyson’s calculations.
In this regard of limiting income differentials, minimum income should be able to afford food, clothing, shelter, basic health and education. Maximum income might be placed at ten times minimum income since evidence from the military and the civil service shows that this income differential is able to generate sufficient incentive such that all jobs are filled voluntarily. Limiting income differentials through minimum and maximum limits is also likely to lessen wealth accumulation: Why accumulate and maintain wealth (if this is at all possible from the limited income) from which you are unable to derive income anyway? Still, limitations on wealth might deserve further study.
Unlimited inequality is inconsistent with community, no matter how well-off the poorest are. Even relative poverty breeds resentment, and riches insulate and harden the heart. Conviviality, solidarity, and brotherhood weaken with economic distance. Political power tends to follow relative income and cannot be allowed to concentrate too far in either a theocracy or a democracy without leading to plutocracy.
Achieving a limitation of income differential might be had through a combination of negative income taxes (i.e. subsidies to low incomes, say, from progressive and resource transformation taxes) and/or a universal basic income (UBI). A UBI (advocated by Van Parijs, among others) is “an income paid by a government, at a uniform level and at regular intervals, to each adult member of society.” It is income fixed at a certain level that is paid “whether the person is rich or poor, lives alone or with others, is willing to work or not.” It may apply (indeed, in most versions it does) to include, not only citizens, but permanent residents as well. The characterization “basic” does not mean that the UBI is necessarily expected to meet “basic needs” (the UBI may be well below subsistence or well above it); all it means is that it is income that a person can rely upon whatever his circumstances.
is ethically indistinguishable from the undeserved luck that massively affects the present distribution of wealth, income, and leisure. Our race, gender, and citizenship, how educated and wealthy we are, how gifted in math and how fluent in English, how handsome and even how ambitious, are overwhelmingly a function of who our parents happened to be and of other equally arbitrary contingencies. Not even the most narcissistic self-made man could think that he fixed the parental dice in advance of entering this world. Such gifts of luck are unavoidable and, if they are fairly distributed, unobjectionable. A minimum condition for a fair distribution is that everyone should be guaranteed a modest share of these undeserved gifts. Nothing could achieve this more securely than a UBI.
If automation and offshoring of jobs results in more of the total product accruing to capital (that is, the businesses and business owners profit from the product), and consequently less to the workers, then the principle of distributing income through jobs becomes less tenable. A practical substitute may be to have wider participation in the ownership of businesses, so that individuals earn income through their share of the business instead of through full-time employment.
Additionally, the enforced leisure imposed by a pulsing-mode economy should give people the incentive to become more civilized in the sense astutely discriminated by Clarke as the ability to be happily occupied for a lifetime even if one did not work for a living.
The role of chronological time, in the sense of semiotic hysteresis initially achived by non-cognitive semantic closure and subsequently by cognitive semantic closure, in the sustainable propagation of indefinitely evolving complexity and justice was discussed in the preceding three sections. In this section we see that semiotic hysteresis is also intimately related, nay, sine qua non for the possibility of meaning to life.
To assemble the argument for this thesis, it may be well to begin with the varieties of happiness that positive psychology has discriminated. These are three: a pleasant life; eudaemonia; and meaning. A pleasant life simply corresponds to acquiring as many of the positive emotions as you can manage, along with the skills for amplifying them. “There are a half dozen such skills that have been reasonably well-documented.” This is the “Hollywood view of happiness” as exemplified by a giggling Debbie Reynolds. That this is not the only kind of happiness is readily disclosed by even a superficial reading of history: Thinkers “from Aristotle through Seneca through Wittgenstein” looked upon a mere pleasant life as rather vulgar. As stated above, at least two other kinds of happiness (with “very good intellectual provenance”) are possible that would be more welcome to these thinkers.
To achieve eudaemonia, one wants flow. This means identifying “what your signature strengths are and then recrafting your life to use them more.” That is to say, you want “your work, your romance, your friendships, your leisure, and your parenting to deploy the things you’re best at.” When you do this, the result is not more giggles in your life but more flow.
How truly fundamental eudaemonia is to a happy life or even simply, to life itself, is also impressed upon us by Seligman when he relates to us a story involving one of his undergraduate teachers, Julian Jaynes—who he characterizes as “a peculiar but wonderful man.” He was a research associate in Princeton when Seligman was an undergraduate there. According to Seligman, some people characterized Jaynes as a genius, but Seligman didn’t know him well enough to be able to judge. As for the story, Jaynes was “given a South American lizard as a laboratory pet.” Jayne’s problem was that “no one could figure out what” the lizard ate. Accordingly, the lizard was dying.
So, as the story goes, Jaynes came in one day. The lizard lay in the corner, in torpor. Jaynes was having ham on rye for lunch and he offered some of it to the lizard. The lizard would have none of it. Jaynes read the New York Times. Without thinking about it, he put the first section down on top of the ham on rye. Seeing “this configuration”, the lizard “got up on its hind legs, stalked across the room, leapt up on the table, shredded the New York Times, and ate the ham sandwich.” So we see that even “lizards don’t copulate and don’t eat unless they go through the lizardly strengths and virtues first.” If creatures as relatively simple as lizards have to experience eudaemonia to lead a healthy and happy life, then this argues so do we.
A problem with meaning as a form of happiness, Seligman, concedes is that it doesn’t distinguish between good and evil. As Seligman instructs us, if meaning simply consists in “joining and serving in things larger than you that you believe in while using your highest strengths”, then there is no distinction between suicide bombers and the firemen who try to save the victims of the suicide bombers. Both lead meaningful lives, albeit one may be characterized as evil and the other as good.
Clearly, if the concept of a meaningful life cannot distinguish between good and evil deeds, then there is something objectionable about it. A possible way of resolving this problem, as suggested by the previous sections would be the imposition of an indefinite time horizon to instruct our present interests. That indefinite time horizon would encompass, at the least, all future human generations, or, as in Rawls’ OP, deployed as a normative artifice for distilling universally valid principles of justice (in conjunction with his “veil or ignorance”), all human generations.
How merely extending our time horizon to the unlimited future may temper our decisions and actions towards expunging evil and malice is suggested by this argument from Daly: The further we look into the future, then the more likely it is that we, in the present generation, are potential co-progenitors of a common descendant according to the retroactive algorithm 2n (where n is the number of previous generations). Accordingly, to the extent that we care about our remote descendants, then we should also care for our contemporaries. This fact, Daly argues, gives us an additional reason to care for our contemporaries and gives the lie to the common charge that “concern for the future” weakens ethical concern for more pressing problems of present injustice.
Daly points out, however, that caring for our remote descendants, due to increasing anonymity of kinship, is in the nature of a public good and must therefore be addressed through collective arrangements or institutions. He also points out that because care for our remote descendants is a public good, the conclusion reached by mainstream economists that “the revealed public will” is “that the future beyond two generations should carry no weight in present decisions” because “people usually take no action and show little interest in their own descendants beyond their grandchildren” is a fallacious one.
Rawls’ OP and his veil of ignorance should also exert a restraining influence in the investment of meaningful lives with evil intent. To recall, the OP is an imagined ahistorical meeting of all human generations and the veil of ignorance may be taken to mean as the unpredictable and irrevocable hand of contingency in assigning to us to the conditions of our lives (including which generation we live in). The conjunctive operation of these two conditions means that we do not know our fate in life. Accordingly, it would be hard to harbor evil intent against others because the consequences of those evil intent might well fall on ourselves.
[neoclassical economists] naturally tended to think of models in which things settle down to a unique position independently of initial conditions. Technically speaking, we theorists hoped not to introduce hysteresis phenomena into our model, [thereby taking] the subject out of the realm of science and into the realm of genuine history.
A technical way chronological time helps to foster meaning in human lives on its largest scale through historical time may be seen through the metaphor afforded us by symbolic dynamics (i.e. the hybrid discipline from the union of information theory and dynamical systems theory) about how meaningful messages are generated from symbols. Symbolic dynamics teaches us that this requires two conditions, at the least: 1.) The symbols involved must exhibit a preferential direction in space. Thus, English only makes sense when read from left to right; Arabic only makes sense when read from right to left; and the genetic code only makes sense when read in a fixed direction from a start point. 2.) It must be impossible, “in all nontrivial cases”, to infer the message from a sequence of symbols, however large a segment of the sequence we possess. The message should only emerge after reading the entire sequence. Thus, the books worth reading are those that demand being read in their entirety and not those with conclusions we can infer without having read all their pages.
Meaning in our lives therefore requires the predictive opacity imposed by uncertainty over historical time. As the heterodox economist, Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen, has noted of this opacity, it results from the fact that the “needs generated by evolution” are often so subtle that we are seldom aware of their “influence upon our complex activity”, if we are even aware of their existence at all. In consequence, only after the fact “do we realize why we labored and what we searched for” and subsequently affirm “with Ostwald Spengler that ‘a task that historic necessity has set will be accomplished with the individual or against him’ ”.
With a life span amounting to no more than a blink of a galaxy and restricted within a speck of space, mankind is in the same situation as a pupa destined never to witness a caterpillar crawling or a butterfly flying. The difference, however, is that the human mind wonders what is beyond mankind’s chrysalis, what happened in the past and, especially what will happen in the future. The greatness of the human mind is that it wonders: he ‘who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe’—as Einstein beautifully put it—‘is as good as dead’. The weakness of the human mind is the worshiping of the divine mind, with the inner hope that it may become almost as clairvoyant and, hence, extend its knowledge beyond what its own condition allows it to observe repeatedly.
It seems therefore that even infinite beings, if there be such (certainly we cannot exclude this possibility as it lies in the realm of theology where, as per the distinctions made by the philosopher, Karl Popper, propositions are unfalsifiable and therefore non-testable and non-scientific), have cause to envy finite beings such as ourselves. It may even be, if they have caused our existence, that the reason they have done so was to experience, in their immanent aspects (through us), what they cannot, in their transcendent aspects: Meaning.
That is bitter and empty solace indeed: “community” in death.
One of the great problems of individualism, seldom recognized as such, is death--the inescapable fate of the individual, the final assault on freedom and dignity…[T]he individualist has a special reason to fear death, engineered not by a religion but by the literatures of freedom and dignity…He has refused to be concerned for the survival of his culture and is not reinforced by the fact that the culture will long survive him. In the defense of his own freedom and dignity he has denied the contributions of the past and must therefore relinquish all claim upon the future.
In other words, the existential pain has to do, as asserted before, with the denial of the affinity of the living condition with chronological or historical time rather than with dynamical time.
It is an acknowledged commonplace that people whose choices are motivated only by immediate reward (choices often associated with sociopaths) do not prosper and are apt to have lives that are, to quote Hobbes, “short, nasty, and brutish.” What is not generally known, let alone acknowledged, is that wider society too, whether capitalist, communist, or socialist, by looking only at finite time spans in the future in their collective aspirations, have been essentially motivated by short term gain as well. In effect, therefore, human affairs on this planet is directed by dynamical time. This is why we find ourselves in our present predicament, with the very ability of the planet to support life impaired and obfuscated from our awareness by its treatment as an external cost (rather than a central cost) by capitalist, mainstream, neoclassical economics (with its global hegemony); as well by the fact that it is in the nature of nonlinear dynamical transitions (as of a beam failing) that we seem to be doing okay until we take that final step, to the point of no return.
If we are to repair this ultimately lethal state of affairs, it will be necessary to embrace the indefinite future through cognitive semantic closure, thereby displacing dynamical time with the chronological time (in the sense of semiotic hysteresis) in which the living condition has evolved (of necessity, initially through non-cognitive semantic closure). The deliberate exercise of cognitive semantic closure through the social institutions described in this paper (with their associated implements and as instructed by Dyson’s seminal calculations) may be the first unambiguous demonstration of the superiority of brains over genes since it was brains that uncovered the resource mobilization schedule that permits the perpetuation of life into virtual infinity. Supposing the indefinite perpetuation of life, that superiority would further be bolstered in the quality of life yielded: one of justice and meaning as the claims of the future restrain the claims of the present, thereby shaping and filtering those present claims into choices which, through their selection and consequences, essentially project as non-tautological messages through the communications channels of chronological time: semiotic hysteresis.
. Ilya Prigogine, The End of Certainty: Time, Chaos, and the New Laws of Nature, New York: The Free Press, 1996, p.14.
. Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen, The Entropy Law and the Economic Process. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1971, p. 96.
. Ian Stewart, Nature’s Numbers: Discovering Order and Pattern in the Universe, London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson,1995, pp.84-85.
. John L. Casti, Complexification: Explaining a Paradoxical World Through the Science of Surprise, New York: HarperPerrenial, 1995 , pp. 287-288. See also Prigogine, The End of Certainty, pp. 105-106.
. Howard H. Pattee, “The Physics of Symbols: Bridging the Epistemic Cut,” Biosystems, 60 (2001): 5-21, pp. 15, 19.
. H. H. Pattee, “Simulations, Realizations, and Theories of Life,” in: Artificial Life: SFI Studies in the Sciences of Complexity, Langton, C. (ed), Boston: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, (1988): 63-77, pp. 73-74.
. See Pattee, “The Physics of Symbols”, p. 15.
. See Prigogine, The End of Certainty, p. 69.
. Gregoire Nicolis and Ilya Prigogine, Exploring Complexity: An Introduction, New York: W. H Freeman and Company, 1989, p. 214.
. H. H. Pattee, “The Limitations of Formal Models of Measurement, Control and Cognition.” Applied Mathematics and Computation, 56 (1993): 111-130, p.121. In this cited reference for the quote in the manuscript, the word “truth” is used instead of the word “certain”. Pattee informs me in a personal communication that it should be the latter. Accordingly, the quote as it appears in the text.
. See Prigogine, The End of Certainty, p.5.
. Prigogine, The End of Certainty, p.157.
. See Nicolis and Prigogine, Exploring Complexity: An Introduction, pp. 14-24.
. Prigogine, The End of Certainty, p. 162.
. Howard H. Pattee, “Evolving Self-Reference: Matter, Symbols, and Semantic Closure”, Communication and Cognition—Artificial Intelligence: The Journal for the Integrated Study of Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Science, and Applied Epistemology, 12 (1995): 9-27, pp. 10-11, 3.
. H.H. Pattee, “Causation, Control, and the Evolution of Complexity,” in: Downward Causation, P. B. Anderson, P. V. Christiansen, C. Emmeche. N. O. Finnemann (editors), Aarhus: Aarhus University Press, (2000) : , p.71; John L. Casti, Complexification: Explaining a Paradoxical World Through the Science of Surprise, New York: HarperPerrenial, 1995 , pp. 221-223.
. Howard H. Pattee, “Cell Psychology: An Evolutionary Approach to the Symbol-Matter Problem”, Cognition and Brain Theory, 5 (1982): 325-341, p.333.
. Pattee, “Cell Psychology: An Evolutionary Approach to the Symbol-Matter Problem”, p.339.
. Howard H. Pattee, “How Does a Molecule Become a Message?” Developmental Biology Supplement, 3 (1969): 1-16.
. James Lovelock, Healing Gaia: Practical Medicine for the Planet, New York: Harmony Books, 1991, pp. 21-22, 79-83, 95-101, 130.
. Richard Dawkins, River Out of Eden: A Darwinian View of Life, London: Phoenix, 1996 , p. 52.
. See Georgescu-Roegen, The Entropy Law, pp. 1. 318, 320.
. Philip Mirowski, “From Mandelbrot to Chaos in Economic Theory”, Southern Economic Journal, 57 (1991): 289-307, p. 290.
. Paul Samuelson and William D. Nordhaus, Economics. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1989, pp. 581-582.
. Herman E. Daly and John B. Cobb, Jr., For the Common Good: Redirecting the Economy Toward Community, the Environment and a Sustainable Future, Boston: Beacon Press, 1989, pp. 152-154.
. Georgescu-Roegen, The Entropy Law, p. 2.
. Herman E. Daly, Beyond Growth: The Economics of Sustainable Development, Boston: Beacon Press, 1996, pp. 76-78.
. Beckerman, “Economic Development and the Environment: Conflict or Complementarity?”, p.30.
. Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen, “Comments on the Papers by Daly and Stiglitz, in: V. Kerry Smith (Ed), Scarcity and Growth Reconsidered, Baltimore: RfF and Johns Hopkins University Press (1979): 95-105, p. 96.
. Georgescu-Roegen, “Comments on the Papers by Daly and Stiglitz,, pp.101-102.
. Freeman Dyson, “Time without end: physics and biology in an open universe”, Reviews of Modern Physics 51 (1979): 447-460.
. See Georgescu-Roegen, The Entropy Law, p. 138.
. John D. Barrow, Theories of Everything: The Quest for Ultimate Explanation, London: Vintage, 1992 , pp 78, 85.
. See Daly, Beyond Growth, pp. 67-68.
. Herman E. Daly, Steady-State Economics, San Francisco: W. H. Freeman and Company, 1977, pp. 50-75.
. Horacio Velasco, Sustainability: the matter of time horizon and semantic closure, Ecological Economics, 65 (2008): 167-176, pp. 173-174.
. Freeman Dyson, Disturbing the Universe, London: Pan Books, 1981 , p. 212.
. Dyson, Disturbing the Universe, pp. 228-231.
. Daniel C. Dennett, Darwin’s Dangerous Idea: Evolution and the Meanings of Life. New York: Touchstone, 1996 , p. 456.
. See Meyer, “Intergeneration Justice”, section 4.4.
. Samuel Freeman, “Original Position”, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2008, section 8.
. Freeman, “Original Position”, section 3.
. Freeman, “Original Position”, section 6.1.
. Jeremy Rifkin and Ted. Howard, Entropy: Into the Greenhouse World, New York: Bantam Books, 1989, p. 288.
. Jesper Ryberg, Torbjorn Tannsjo, Gustaf Arrhenius, “Repugnant Conclusion”, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2006, section 1.
. Robert H. Frank and Philip J. Cook, The Winner-Take-All Society, New York: The Free Press,1995, p.14.
. See Daly, Beyond Growth, p.210.
. Daly, Beyond Growth, p.212.
. Daly, Beyond Growth, p.214.
. Philippe Van Parijs, “A Basic Income for All”, Boston Review, October/November, 2000.
. Daly, Herman E. 2005. “Economics in a Full World.” Scientific American, September, pp. 100-106, p.106.
. Arthur C. Clarke, Profiles of the Future: An Inquiry Into the Limits of the Possible, London: Pan books Ltd. ISBN: 0030697832,1973, p. 177.
. Herman E. Daly, “Postscript: Unresolved Problems and Issue for Further Research”, in: Energy, Economics, and the Environment: Conflicting Views of an Essential Interrelationship, Herman E. Daly and Alvaro F. Umaña (eds), Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press (1981): 165-185, pp. 177-178.
. See Prigogine, The End of Certainty, p.59.
. See Mirowski, “From Mandelbrot to chaos in economic theory”, p.291.
. See Nicolis and Prigogine, Exploring Complexity, p.186.
. See Georgescu-Roegen, The Entropy Law, p.27.
. Georgescu-Roegen, The Entropy Law, p.207.
. Brian Appleyard, Understanding the Present: Science and the Soul of Modern Man, London: Pan Books Ltd., 1992, pp. 249-250.
. B. F. Skinner, Beyond Freedom and Dignity, New York: Bantam/Vintage, 1972 , pp. 200-201. | 2019-04-24T08:14:22Z | http://www.cosmosandhistory.org/index.php/journal/article/view/147/252 |
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Camaro 2SS Convertible in Garnet Red Tintcoat (extra-cost color) with available features.
1 Requires V8 engine and 6-speed manual transmission. 1. 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. The leather-wrapped shifter includes a unique cap for the SS and a grip that’s ideal for every driver. Active Rev Matching1 anticipates downshifts with throttle blips for smooth, precise shifting. 2. BREMBO® BRAKES. This high- performance 4-piston all-disc system is capable of taking Camaro SS Coupe from 60 mph to a complete stop in 117 feet. 3. MAGNETIC RIDE CONTROL. The precision handling credentials of Camaro SS are further enhanced by available Magnetic Ride Control™ that stiffens the suspension for high- performance driving while helping to maintain a smooth ride.
CAMARO 1LE FIRST-EVER V6 1LE. Offering track- capable performance, the V6 1LE is also a precisely balanced daily driver. Featuring aggressive suspension tuning and a dual-mode exhaust, the 335-hp V6 1LE delivers an estimated 0.97 g in cornering grip for consistent lap- after-lap performance on the track. BRING IT. FE3 suspension components (from Camaro SS) include dampers, rear cradle mounts, ball-jointed rear toe links and stabilizer bars. Lightweight 20-inch forged-aluminum wheels with run-flat summer-only tires1 pair with Brembo® 4-piston front brake calipers, a limited-slip differential and a standard track cooling package.
SERIOUS STYLE. The aggressive appearance of Camaro 1LE is enhanced by a unique Satin Black hood, front splitter and 3-piece rear spoiler. STREET-LEGAL TRACK STAR. Camaro 2LT Coupe in Krypton Green (late availability, extra-cost color) with available V6 1LE Performance Package and dealer-installed Chevrolet Accessories. 1 Do not use summer-only tires in winter conditions, as it would adversely affect vehicle safety, performance and durability. Use only GM-approved tire and wheel combinations. Unapproved combinations may change the vehicle’s performance characteristics. For important tire and wheel information, go to my.chevrolet.com/learn/tires or see your dealer.
1 Do not use summer-only tires in winter conditions, as it would adversely affect vehicle safety, performance and durability. Use only GM-approved tire and wheel combinations. Unapproved combinations may change the vehicle’s performance characteristics. For important tire and wheel information, go to my.chevrolet.com/learn/tires or see your dealer. Camaro SS Coupe in Black with available SS 1LE Performance Package and Chevrolet Accessories. SS 1LE. OWN THE TRACK. Here’s what happens when you wrap a track-tuned chassis and suspension around a 455-hp 6.2L V8. The new FE4 performance- oriented chassis system features specific tuning for the magnetic dampers, springs and stabilizer bars. The package includes a new segment-exclusive Electronic Limited-Slip Differential, a dual-mode exhaust and Brembo 6-piston front brake calipers. Paired with exclusive Goodyear Eagle® F1 SuperCar® summer-only tires,1 lateral acceleration exceeds 1 g.
AL OPPENHEISER CHIEF ENGINEER, CAMARO ZL1 is simply one of the most phenomenal executions of design, performance, aerodynamics and technology I’ve ever experienced from behind the wheel. We’ve elevated the game. The ZL1 with the new available 10-speed automatic really hits the sweet spot for me. It is the convergence of all the pride, the passion, the performance and the technology we put in Camaro. The Electronic Limited-Slip Differential, combined with Performance Traction Management, takes control and balance to an astounding level.
I’ll just say this: If you’re looking for a track-capable car straight from the showroom, take a close look at the ZL1. CAMARO ZL1 At left: Camaro ZL1 Coupe in Red Hot with available features. Available late 2016. At right: Camaro ZL1 Convertible in Arctic Blue Metallic with available features. Available early 2017.
1 Do not use summer-only tires in winter conditions, as it would adversely affect vehicle safety, performance and durability. Use only GM-approved tire and wheel combinations. Unapproved combinations may change the vehicle’s performance characteristics. For important tire and wheel information, go to my.chevrolet.com/learn/tires or see your dealer. 1. SUPERCHARGED V8. With a 650-hp supercharged V8, ZL1 is the most powerful Camaro ever. And you can choose between a standard 6-speed manual transmission with Active Rev Matching or an available 10-speed paddle-shift automatic that helps maintain optimum rpm levels for maximum responsiveness and quicker lap times.
INTERIOR DESIGN WHAT IS A DRIVER’S CAR? It’s one where a flat-bottom steering wheel, a perfectly placed gear shifter and aggressively bolstered seats come together for the purpose of driving dynamics. It’s one where premium materials surround you, including available heated and ventilated seats with leather- trimmed surfaces. And one where rotating dials replace extra dash buttons for quicker, intuitive climate control. Camaro ZL1 Convertible interior in Jet Black with leather-appointed seats with sueded microfiber inserts and other available features.
1 Map coverage available in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. 2 MyLink functionality varies by model. Full functionality requires compatible Bluetooth and smartphone, and USB connectivity for some devices. MyLink on Camaro does not include CD player. 3 Go to my.chevrolet.com/learn to find out which phones are compatible with the vehicle. 4 Vehicle user interfaces are products of Apple and Google and their terms and privacy statements apply. Requires compatible smartphone and data plan rates apply. Apple CarPlay is a trademark of Apple Inc. iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Android Auto is a trademark of Google Inc. 1. GO CONFIGURE. An available 8-inch diagonal reconfigurable gauge cluster allows you to personalize the information you need and desire. 2. TRACK YOUR G FORCE. The Head-Up Display, standard on 2SS and ZL1 and available on 2LT, projects onto the windshield color digital readouts for vehicle speed, selected gear, g force, tachometer, compass, outside temperature, turn-by-turn navigation1 information and more.
DOWNLOAD THE CAMARO SIX APP BRING CAMARO SIX TO LIFE. Our app invites you to download and experience the 2017 Camaro right on your smartphone or tablet. You can also explore trim levels, colors and wheels, and take a 360-degree spin around the interior. SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE. Now that you’ve built a legend, check out the specs of your freshly built Camaro. Then save your design for later or share it online with your friends. VISUALIZE IT. At thecamarosix.com, you can even check out accessories to personalize your ride. Then prepare to encounter the Camaro you brought to life.
SPECIAL FEATURES IT’S GOT THE LOOK. CUSTOMIZING CAMARO. The possibilities are almost limitless. For 2017, Chevrolet offers a complete range of accessories and custom features designed to give your Camaro just the look you’ve been searching for. COLOR ACCENTS. You can select from a variety of exterior accent colors to give the sixth-generation Camaro even more of a performance edge. Custom grilles, an aero-shaped front splitter and a high-wing rear spoiler are among the accessories you can add.
WHEELS Silver-Painted Aluminum 18" x 8.5" Front and Rear on LS or LT 5-Split-Spoke Bright Silver-Painted Aluminum 20" x 8.5" Front and 20" x 9.5" Rear on SS 20" x 8.5" Front and Rear on LS or LT2 SS wheels paired with summer-only tires1 5-Spoke Bright Silver-Painted Aluminum paired with summer-only tires1 20" x 8.5" front and 20" x 9.5" rear on SS 5-Spoke Low-Gloss Black Aluminum 20" x 8.5" Front and 20" x 9.5" Rear on SS 20" x 8.5" Front and Rear on LS or LT SS wheels paired with summer-only tires1 1 Do not use summer-only tires in winter conditions, as it would adversely affect vehicle safety, performance and durability. Use only GM-approved tire and wheel combinations. Unapproved combinations may change the vehicle’s performance characteristics. For important tire and wheel information, go to my.chevrolet.com/learn/tires or see your dealer. 2 Requires available RS Package. 3 Requires available 50th Anniversary Edition. 4 Requires available Red Accent Accessories Package. 5 Requires available Black Accent Accessories Package Level 2. 6 Requires available 1LE Performance Package.
FABRICS Jet Black Cloth Kalahari Leather Ceramic White Leather2 Adrenaline Red Leather3 Medium Ash Gray Leather Jet Black Leather Medium Ash Gray Cloth Jet Black/Dark Gray Leather with Orange Accents1 1 Available on 2LT and 2SS with 50th Anniversary Edition. Requires Convenience and Lighting Package on 2LT. 2 Available on 2LT and 2SS with Ceramic White Interior Accent Trim Package. Requires Convenience and Lighting Package on 2LT. 3 Available on 2LT and 2SS with Adrenaline Red Interior Accent Trim Package. Requires Convenience and Lighting Package on 2LT.
PERFORMANCE CAMARO 1LS/LT CAMARO 1LS/LT CAMARO V6 1LE CAMARO SS CAMARO SS 1LE CAMARO ZL1 ENGINE 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder 3.6L V6 3.6L V6 6.2L LT1 V8 6.2L LT1 V8 6.2L LT4 supercharged V8 BORE AND STROKE 86.00 mm x 86.00 mm 95.00 mm x 85.60 mm 95.00 mm x 85.60 mm 103.25 mm x 92.00 mm 103.25 mm x 92.00 mm 103.25 mm x 92.00 mm COMPRESSION RATIO 9.5:1 11.5:1 11.5:1 11.5:1 11.5:1 10.0:1 HORSEPOWER 275 hp @ 5500 rpm 335 hp @ 6800 rpm 335 hp @ 6800 rpm 455 hp @ 6000 rpm 455 hp @ 6000 rpm 650 hp @ 6400 rpm TORQUE 295 lb.-ft. @ 3000–4500 rpm 284 lb.-ft. @ 5300 rpm 284 lb.-ft. @ 5300 rpm 455 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm 455 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm 650 lb.-ft. @ 3600 rpm REDLINE 7000 rpm 7200 rpm 7200 rpm 6500 rpm 6500 rpm 6600 rpm AXLE RATIO 3.27:1 (manual) 3.27:1 (automatic, LT only) 3.27:1 (manual) 2.77:1 (automatic, LT only) 3.27:1 (manual) 3.73:1 (manual) 2.77:1 (automatic) 3.73:1 (manual) 3.73:1 (manual) 2.85:1 (automatic Coupe) 2.77:1 (automatic Convertible) 0 TO 60 (BASED ON INITIAL VEHICLE MOVEMENT) 5.5 seconds (automatic Coupe, LT only) 5.6 seconds (manual Convertible) 5.7 seconds (automatic Convertible, LT only) 5.2 seconds (manual Coupe) 5.1 seconds (automatic Coupe, LT only) 5.4 seconds (manual Convertible) 5.3 seconds (automatic Convertible, LT only) 5.2 seconds (manual) 4.3 seconds (manual Coupe) 4.0 seconds (automatic Coupe) 4.5 seconds (manual Convertible) 4.2 seconds (automatic Convertible) 4.2 seconds (manual) 3.7 seconds (manual Coupe) 3.5 seconds (automatic Coupe) 3.9 seconds (manual Convertible) 3.7 seconds (automatic Convertible) QUARTER MILE 14.0 seconds @ 100 mph (manual Coupe) 14.0 seconds @ 99 mph (automatic Coupe, LT only) 14.2 seconds @ 99 mph (manual Convertible) 14.2 seconds @ 98 mph (automatic Convertible, LT only) 13.7 seconds @ 102 mph (manual Coupe) 13.5 seconds @ 103 mph (automatic Coupe, LT only) 13.9 seconds @ 101 mph (manual Convertible) 13.7 seconds @ 102 mph (automatic Convertible, LT only) 13.7 seconds @ 102 mph (manual) 12.5 seconds @ 115 mph (manual Coupe) 12.3 seconds @ 116 mph (automatic Coupe) 12.7 seconds @ 114 mph (manual Convertible) 12.5 seconds @ 115 mph (automatic Convertible) 12.5 seconds @ 115 mph (manual) 11.8 seconds @ 125 mph (manual Coupe) 11.4 seconds @ 127 mph (automatic Coupe) 12.0 seconds @ 124 mph (manual Convertible) 11.6 seconds @ 126 mph (automatic Convertible) SKID PAD (MAXIMUM LATERAL ACCELERATION) 0.85 g 0.89 g 0.97 g 0.97 g (Coupe) 0.95 g (Convertible) 1.02 g 1.02 g (Coupe) 1.00 g (Convertible) TOP SPEED 149 mph 149 mph 155 mph 180 mph (Coupe) 155 mph (Convertible) 175 mph — BRAKING SYSTEM 4-wheel antilock, 4-wheel disc Available: Brembo® 4-piston front, performance 4-wheel antilock, 4-wheel disc Available: Brembo 4-piston front, performance 4-wheel antilock, 4-wheel disc Brembo 4-piston front, performance 4-wheel antilock, 4-wheel disc Brembo 4-piston front and rear, performance 4-wheel antilock, 4-wheel disc Brembo 6-piston monobloc front and 4-piston rear, performance 4-wheel antilock, 4-wheel disc Brembo 6-piston monobloc front and 4-piston rear, performance BRAKING DISTANCE (60 TO 0 MPH) 129 ft. 124 ft. (Coupe with available RS Package) 127 ft. (Convertible) 112 ft. 117 ft. (Coupe) 120 ft. (Convertible) 107 ft. 107 ft. (Coupe) 110 ft. (Convertible) CURB WEIGHT 3,354 lbs. (manual Coupe) 3,339 lbs. (automatic Coupe, LT only) 3,647 lbs. (manual Convertible) 3,627 lbs. (automatic Convertible, LT only) 3,448 lbs. (manual Coupe) 3,435 lbs. (automatic Coupe, LT only) 3,715 lbs. (manual Convertible) 3,709 lbs. (automatic Convertible, LT only) 3,490 lbs. 3,685 lbs. (manual Coupe) 3,697 lbs. (automatic Coupe) 3,956 lbs. (manual Convertible) 3,969 lbs. (automatic Convertible) 3,747 lbs. 3,883 lbs. (manual Coupe) 3,944 lbs. (automatic Coupe) 4,113 lbs. (manual Convertible) 4,148 lbs. (automatic Convertible) WHEELS 18" Silver-painted aluminum 18" Silver-painted aluminum 20" 5-split-spoke forged- aluminum (20" x 8.5" front and 20" x 9.5" rear) 20" 5-spoke Bright Silver-painted aluminum (20" x 8.5" front and 20" x 9.5" rear) 20" 5-split-spoke forged- aluminum (20" x 10" front and 20" x 11" rear) 20" 10-split-spoke forged- aluminum (20" x 10" front and 20" x 11" rear) TIRES 245/50R18 all-season blackwall 245/50R18 all-season blackwall 245/40ZR20 front and 275/35ZR20 rear, summer-only1 blackwall, run-flat 245/40ZR20 front and 275/35ZR20 rear, summer-only1 blackwall, run-flat 285/30R20 front and 305/30R20 rear, summer-only1 blackwall 285/30R20 front and 305/30R20 rear, summer-only1 blackwall WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION (F/R) 52/48 52/48 52/48 54/46 54/46 54/46 1 Do not use summer-only tires in winter conditions, as it would adversely affect vehicle safety, performance and durability. Use only GM-approved tire and wheel combinations. Unapproved combinations may change the vehicle’s performance characteristics. For important tire and wheel information, go to my.chevrolet.com/learn/tires or see your dealer.
SELECT VEHICLE FEATURES CAMARO 1LS 2.0L 275-hp turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with Direct Injection 6-speed manual transmission Dual-outlet stainless steel exhaust with bright tips Driver Mode Selector with 3 modes: Snow/Ice, Tour and Sport OnStar Guidance Plan1 (standard for the first three months, trial excludes Hands-Free Calling minutes), includes Automatic Crash Response and Turn-by-Turn Navigation StabiliTrak® Electronic Stability Control System with Traction Control LED daytime running lamps Teen Driver technology Rear vision camera 18" Silver-painted aluminum wheels Keyless Open and Start Chevrolet MyLink2 Radio with 7-inch diagonal color touch-screen display, featuring Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay™ compatibility3 Auxiliary input jack and 2 USB ports4 Bluetooth® wireless technology5 for select phones SiriusXM Satellite Radio6 All Access Package with 12-month trial subscription Driver Information Center with color display Leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel with steering wheel-mounted controls for audio and cruise Front sport buckets with 8-way power driver-seat adjuster and 6-way power passenger-seat adjuster OnStar Basic Plan7 for five years includes select features of the myChevrolet Mobile App8 including remote start (if equipped), door lock or unlock, honk your horn and flash your lights, and send destinations to your Chevrolet MyLink2 navigation screen (if equipped). Limited OnStar services include Advanced Diagnostics and Dealer Maintenance Notification OnStar 4G LTE and built-in Wi-Fi® hotspot for up to seven devices,9 includes data trial for 3 months or 3 GB (whichever comes first) CAMARO 1LT In addition to or replacing LS features, 1LT includes: 8-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission Remote vehicle starter system CAMARO 2LT In addition to or replacing 1LS features, 2LT includes: Chevrolet MyLink2 Radio with 8-inch diagonal color touch-screen display, featuring Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility3 Bose® premium 9-speaker (Coupe) or 7-speaker (Convertible) audio system Dual-zone automatic climate control with individual climate settings for driver and front passenger, dedicated passenger controls and outside temperature display Heated and ventilated leather-trimmed seats for driver and front passenger Universal Home Remote CAMARO 1SS In addition to or replacing 1LS features, 1SS includes: 6.2L 455-hp V8 engine with Direct Injection Limited-slip rear differential Brembo® performance 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS, 4-piston front and rear High-intensity discharge headlamps with LED signature and automatic exterior lamp control and LED daytime running lamps 20" Bright Silver-painted 5-spoke aluminum wheels (20" x 8.5" front, 20" x 9.5" rear) Enhanced Driver Information Center with 8-inch diagonal reconfigurable color display Driver Mode Selector with 4 modes: Snow/Ice, Tour, Sport and Track CAMARO 2SS In addition to or replacing 1SS features, 2SS includes: Head-Up Display with color digital readouts for vehicle speed, selected gear, g force, audio system information, high beam indicator, compass, outside air temperature, turn signals, tachometer, vehicle messages, turn-by-turn navigation information and phone information Bose premium 9-speaker (Coupe) or 7-speaker (Convertible) audio system Interior spectrum lighting with 24 different color selections Memory Package: 2-position memory for 8-way power driver seat and outside mirrors Dual-zone automatic climate control with individual climate settings for driver and front passenger, dedicated passenger controls and outside temperature display Heated and ventilated leather-trimmed seats for driver and front passenger Aluminum accents on door trim and shifter cap Illuminated door sill plates Wireless charging10 1 Visit onstar.com for coverage map, details and system limitations. OnStar acts as a link to existing emergency service providers. Not all vehicles may transmit all crash data. 2 MyLink functionality varies by model. Full functionality requires compatible Bluetooth and smartphone, and USB connectivity for some devices. Map coverage available in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. MyLink on Camaro does not include CD player. 3 Vehicle user interfaces are products of Apple and Google and their terms and privacy statements apply. Requires compatible smartphone and data plan rates apply. 4 Not compatible with all devices. 5 Visit my.chevrolet.com/learn for vehicle and smartphone compatibility. 6 If you decide to continue service after your trial, the subscription plan you choose will automatically renew thereafter and you will be charged according to your chosen payment method at then-current rates. Fees and taxes apply. To cancel you must call SiriusXM at 1-866-635-2349. See SiriusXM Customer Agreement for complete terms at siriusxm.com. All fees and programming subject to change. 7 Does not include emergency or security services. Visit onstar.com for coverage map, details and system limitations. 8 Requires data plan, compatible vehicle and compatible device. Some features require factory-installed remote start, power locks, Tire Pressure Monitoring System or active OnStar service. 9 Requires a compatible mobile device, active OnStar service and data plan. 4G LTE service available in select markets. Visit onstar.com for coverage map, details and system limitations. Data plans provided by AT&T. 10 The system wirelessly charges one PMA- or Qi-compatible mobile device. Some devices require an adaptor or back cover. To check for phone or other device compatibility, visit my.chevrolet.com/learn for details.
1LS/1LT 2LT 1SS 2SS ZL1 ENTERTAINMENT Chevrolet MyLink1 Radio with 7-inch diagonal color touch-screen display, AM/FM stereo with seek-scan and digital clock, includes Bluetooth® audio streaming2 for select phones; featuring Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ compatibility3 — Chevrolet MyLink1 Radio with 8-inch diagonal color touch-screen display, includes features listed above 4 ● Chevrolet MyLink1 Radio with Navigation,5 includes 8-inch diagonal color touch- screen display and GPS navigation system — — Performance Data Recorder and video recorder — 6, 7 8 — 9 Bose® premium 7-speaker (Convertible) or 9-speaker (Coupe) audio system 4 ● SiriusXM Satellite Radio10 All Access Package with 12-month trial subscription ● OnStar Basic Plan11 for five years includes select features of the myChevrolet Mobile App12 including remote start (if equipped), door lock or unlock, honk your horn and flash your lights, and send destinations to your Chevrolet MyLink1 navigation screen (if equipped). Limited OnStar services include Advanced Diagnostics and Dealer Maintenance Notification ● OnStar 4G LTE and built-in Wi-Fi® hotspot for up to seven devices,13 includes data trial for 3 months or 3 GB (whichever comes first ● WHEELS 18" Silver-painted aluminum — 20" 5-spoke Bright Silver-painted aluminum wheels paired with summer-only tires14 (20" x 8.5" front, 20" x 9.5" rear — 20" 5-split-spoke premium Gray-painted machined-face aluminum 15 15 — — — 20" 5-spoke low-gloss Black aluminum — 20" 5-split-spoke Bright Silver-painted aluminum 15 15 — — — 1LS/1LT 2LT 1SS 2SS ZL1 WHEELS (CONTINUED) 20" 5-split-spoke premium Gray-painted machined-face aluminum wheels paired with summer-only tires14 (20" x 8.5" front, 20" x 9.5" rear — 20" 5-split-spoke Bright Silver-painted aluminum wheels paired with summer-only tires14 (20" x 8.5" front, 20" x 9.5" rear — 20" 5-spoke low-gloss Black aluminum wheels paired with summer-only tires14 (20" x 8.5" front, 20" x 9.5" rear — 20" 5-split-spoke Black-painted forged- aluminum wheels paired with summer-only tires14 (20" x 8.5" front, 20" x 9.5" rear) 7 7 — — — 20" 5-split-spoke Satin Graphite forged- aluminum wheels paired with summer-only tires14 (20" x 10" front, 20" x 11" rear — 8 — — 20" 10-split-spoke Dark Graphite- painted forged-aluminum wheels paired with summer-only tires14 (20" x 10" front, 20" x 11" rear ● PACKAGES RS Package — 20" 5-split-spoke premium Gray-painted machined-face aluminum wheels, high-intensity discharge headlamps, LED taillamps, RS-specific grilles and decklid-mounted lip spoiler (Coupe only) Heavy-Duty Cooling and Brake Package 15 15 — — — External engine oil cooler, extra-capacity cooling system and 4-piston Brembo performance (front calipers only) 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS; also includes auxiliary engine coolant cooler Technology Package — Chevrolet MyLink1 Radio with 8-inch diagonal color touch-screen display and Bose premium 7-speaker (Convertible) or 9-speaker (Coupe) audio system Convenience and Lighting Package — Memory Package, wireless charging,16 heated steering wheel, enhanced Driver Information Center with 8-inch diagonal reconfigurable multi-color display, Head-Up Display, Rear Park Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Side Blind Zone Alert with Lane Change Alert, outside heated power-adjustable body-color mirrors with driver-side auto-dimming feature, interior spectrum lighting, illuminated door sill plates, and aluminum accents on door trim and shifter cap 1LS/1LT 2LT 1SS 2SS ZL1 PACKAGES (CONTINUED) Adrenaline Red Interior Accent Trim Package — 6 — — Black interior with Adrenaline Red seat inserts, door inserts and stitching on front seats, doors, steering wheel, shifter and center console (not available with Bright Yellow or Hyper Blue Metallic exterior colors) Ceramic White Interior Accent Trim Package — 6 — — Black interior with Ceramic White seat inserts, door inserts and stitching on front seats, doors, steering wheel, shifter and center console 2LT 50th Anniversary Edition — 6, 17 — — — Nightfall Gray Metallic exterior color, “FIFTY” exterior badge, 20" 50th Anniversary wheels and center caps, 245/40R20 blackwall all-season run-flat tires, 50th Anniversary stripe, body-color front splitter, RS Package, Orange-painted front brake calipers, 4-piston Brembo performance (front calipers only) 4-wheel antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, Jet Black/Dark Gray front leather-trimmed seating with sueded inserts and Orange accent stitching, illuminated door sill plates, and 50th Anniversary treatment on seatbacks and steering wheel 2SS 50th Anniversary Edition — 17 — Nightfall Gray Metallic exterior color, “FIFTY” exterior badge, 20" 50th Anniversary wheels and center caps, 50th Anniversary stripe, body-color front splitter, Orange-painted brake calipers, Jet Black/Dark Gray front leather-trimmed seating with sueded inserts and Orange accent stitching, illuminated door sill plates, and 50th Anniversary treatment on seatbacks and steering wheel V6 1LE Performance Package 18 19 — — — Black hood wrap, Black outside rearview mirrors, larger front grille openings, front splitter, rear blade spoiler, Black 20" forged-aluminum wheels with 245/40R20 (front) and 275/35R20 (rear) summer-only tires,14 suede-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel, Brembo 4-piston front brake calipers, FE3 suspension components (from Camaro SS) including dampers, rear cradle mounts, ball-jointed rear toe links and stabilizer bars, heavy-duty cooling including engine oil cooler, dual outboard radiators and transmission cooler, dual-mode exhaust and limited-slip differential SS 1LE Performance Package — — 20 — — Black hood wrap, Black outside rearview mirrors, front splitter, rear blade spoiler, Satin Graphite 20" forged-aluminum wheels with Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar 285/30R20 (front) and 305/30R20 (rear) summer-only tires,14 RECARO® performance seats, suede-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel and shift knob, color Head-Up Display, Brembo brakes with 6-piston monobloc front two-piece rotors and 4-piston rear calipers, dual-mode exhaust, Magnetic Ride Control, Electronic Limited-Slip Differential (eLSD), Performance-Tuned suspension with unique bushings, springs and stabilizer bars, and heavy-duty cooling including engine oil cooler, dual outboard radiators, transmission cooler and rear differential cooler SPECIFICATIONS ● STANDARD AVAILABLE — NOT AVAILABLE 1 MyLink functionality varies by model. Full functionality requires compatible Bluetooth and smartphone, and USB connectivity for some devices. MyLink on Camaro does not include CD player. 2 Visit my.chevrolet.com/learn for vehicle and smartphone compatibility. 3 Vehicle user interfaces are products of Apple and Google and their terms and privacy statements apply. Requires compatible smartphone and data plan rates apply. 4 Requires available Technology Package. 5 Map coverage available in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. 6 Requires available Convenience and Lighting Package. 7 Requires available V6 1LE Performance Package. 8 Requires available SS 1LE Performance Package. 9 Not available on Convertible. 10 If you decide to continue service after your trial, the subscription plan you choose will automatically renew thereafter and you will be charged according to your chosen payment method at then-current rates. Fees and taxes apply. To cancel you must call SiriusXM at 1-866-635-2349. See SiriusXM Customer Agreement for complete terms at siriusxm.com. All fees and programming subject to change. 11 Does not include emergency or security services. Visit onstar.com for coverage map, details and system limitations. 12 Requires data plan, compatible vehicle and compatible device. Some features require factory-installed remote start, power locks, Tire Pressure Monitoring System or active OnStar service. 13 Requires a compatible mobile device, active OnStar service and data plan. 4G LTE service available in select markets. Visit onstar.com for coverage map, details and system limitations. Data plans provided by AT&T. 14 Do not use summer-only tires in winter conditions, as it would adversely affect vehicle safety, performance and durability. Use only GM-approved tire and wheel combinations. Unapproved combinations may change the vehicle’s performance characteristics. For important tire and wheel information, go to my.chevrolet.com/learn/tires or see your dealer. 15 Requires available RS Package. 16 The system wirelessly charges one PMA- or Qi-compatible mobile device. Some devices require an adaptor or back cover. To check for phone or other device compatibility, visit my.chevrolet.com/learn for details. 17 Convertible requires Black top. 18 Requires Jet Black interior color, 6-speed manual transmission and available 3.6L V6 engine. Not available with RS Package. 19 Requires Jet Black interior color, 6-speed manual transmission and available 3.6L V6 engine. Not available with RS Package or 2LT 50th Anniversary Edition. 20 Requires Jet Black interior color and 6-speed manual transmission. Not available with power sunroof or Convertible models.
TWITTER.COM/CHEVROLET YOUTUBE.COM/CHEVROLET FACEBOOK.COM/CHEVROLET IMPORTANT INFORMATION GM, the GM logo, Chevrolet, the Chevrolet logo, and the slogans, emblems, vehicle model names, vehicle body designs and other marks appearing in this catalog are the trademarks and/or service marks of General Motors, its subsidiaries, affiliates or licensors. ©2016 OnStar. All rights reserved. Sirius, XM, SiriusXM and all related marks and logos are trademarks of Sirius XM Radio Inc. Apple is a registered trademark and Apple CarPlay is a trademark of Apple Inc. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. The Bluetooth word mark is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such mark by Chevrolet is under license. Bose is a registered trademark of the Bose Corp. Brembo is a registered trademark of Brembo S.p.A. Android Auto, Google and Google Play are trademarks of Google Inc. ©2016 General Motors. All rights reserved. September2016 CHEVROLET OWNER CENTER (MY.CHEVROLET.COM) Everything you need to know. Anything you need to do. Your Chevrolet Owner Center makes it easy. Create your account today to get the most out of your new vehicle. Get special alerts and offers, schedule service, review your maintenance schedule, and view how-to videos specifically for your vehicle. All online, anytime. Visit the Owner Center today to register or take a tour. ENGINES Chevrolet products are equipped with engines produced by GM Powertrain or other suppliers to GM worldwide. The engines in Chevrolet products may also be used in other GM makes and models. ASSEMBLY Chevrolet vehicles and their components are assembled or produced by different operating units of General Motors, its subsidiaries or suppliers to GM worldwide. We sometimes find it necessary to produce Chevrolet vehicles with different or differently sourced components than originally scheduled. Since some options may be unavailable when your vehicle is assembled, we suggest you verify that your vehicle includes the equipment you ordered and that, if there were changes, they are acceptable to you.
SPARE TIRE INFORMATION There is no standard jack or spare tire in the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro. Some vehicles have a tire sealant and compressor kit that uses a liquid tire sealant to temporarily seal up to a one-quarter-inch puncture in the tread area of the tire. After using the tire inflator kit, it is recommended that you take the tire to an authorized retailer for inspection and repair as soon as possible, but at least within 100 miles of driving. The tire sealant cannot seal and inflate sidewall damage, punctures larger than one-quarter inch, or a tire that has unseated from the wheel. The sealant can only be used on one tire and for one time before its expiration date. CHEVROLET OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE Chevrolet is committed to enhancing the vehicle shopping and ownership experience through a wide array of programs. Visit chevrolet.com to build and price, find a vehicle, request a quote, compare vehicles, find financial tools or track your vehicle order. You’ll also find information about 24-hour Roadside Assistance, Courtesy Transportation, Customer Assistance, GM Mobility, safety and current incentives.
CHEVROLET.COM/SAFETY Chevrolet is committed to keeping you and your family safe — from the start of your journey to your destination. That’s why every Chevrolet is designed with a comprehensive list of safety and security features to help give you peace of mind. GMMOBILITY.COM (1-800-323-9935) GM Mobility℠ offers financial assistance for eligible adaptive equipment to make automotive travel easier for persons with disabilities or special transportation needs. To learn more about special GM Mobility offers, visit gmmobility.com. THE BUYPOWER CARD The Chevrolet BuyPower Card — Every purchase you make with the BuyPower Card from Capital One* helps you earn toward an eligible new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac vehicle. There’s no limit on the amount you can earn or redeem, and your Earnings don’t expire. Visit chevroletbuypowercard.com/catalogs.
* Capital One, N.A. is the issuer of the BuyPower Card. General Motors (“GM”) is responsible for the operation and administration of the Earnings program. 1 Maintenance visits must occur within two years or 24,000 miles of vehicle delivery, whichever comes first. Does not include air filters. See participating dealer for other restrictions and complete details. 2 Whichever comes first. See dealer for details. 3 Does not include emergency or security services. Visit onstar.com for coverage map, details and system limitations. 4 Requires data plan, compatible vehicle and compatible device. Some features require factory-installed remote start, power locks, Tire Pressure Monitoring System or active OnStar service. 5 Visit onstar.com for coverage map, details and system limitations. 6 Cargo and load capacity limited by weight and distribution. | 2019-04-20T02:27:55Z | https://www.readkong.com/page/camaro-2017-camaro-2ss-coupe-in-nightfall-gray-metallic-7084229 |
"The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge"
A poster for the episode, featuring Steve Pemberton as Mr. Clarke, David Warner as Sir Andrew Pike, and Reece Shearsmith as Mr. Warren. Ruth Sheen, as Elizabeth Gadge, is visible in the background.
"The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge" is the third episode of the second series of the British dark comedy anthology television programme Inside No. 9. It was written by Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton, and directed by Dan Zeff. It first aired on 9 April 2015 on BBC Two. The story follows a 17th-century witch trial. Elizabeth Gadge, played by Ruth Sheen, stands accused of witchcraft by inhabitants of the village of Little Happens, including characters played by Sinead Matthews, Jim Howick, Paul Kaye and Trevor Cooper. The magistrate Sir Andrew Pike, played by David Warner, has summoned the famed witch-finders Mr Warren and Mr Clarke, played by Shearsmith and Pemberton, to try Elizabeth, but is more concerned with bringing visitors to the village than finding the truth.
The episode was not intended to be a parody of period dramas, but instead to reflect the absurdity of real witch trials. To that end, the characters take the events of the episode seriously, which leads to much of the humour. The writers' influences included Witchfinder General, The Crucible, Monty Python and Hammer Horror films, while the names of the witch-finders were a tribute to the late actor Warren Clarke. Many critics responded positively to the episode, praising the humour—especially that deriving from the use of archaic language—the writing and the performances. Some, however, considered "The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge" of lower quality than the previous two episodes.
The second series of Inside No. 9 was written in 2014, and then filmed from the end of 2014 into early 2015. The writing process for "The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge" began with Shearsmith's suggestion of a witch trial as a plot idea, and the writers then worked out the details of the setting. The episode was filmed, mostly in story order, on location in a barn at the Chiltern Open Air Museum. The same location had previously been used for Doctor Who and Horrible Histories. In addition, concurrent with the filming of "The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge", a Drunk History sketch starring Luke Pasqualino—a previous Inside No. 9 guest star—was being filmed nearby. Shot in December, "The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge" was the first episode of the second series to be filmed. The barn was extremely cold during filming; Pemberton joked that, unlike on Titanic, they would not be digitally adding breath in the production process.
"The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge" was written to mimic genuine witch trials, some transcripts of which Pemberton and Shearsmith had read as part of the writing process. The fixation of the characters on "teats" and "suckling", for instance, was something Shearsmith had seen in authentic trials. One writing challenge concerned the need for new information to be revealed with each of the trial's witnesses; this is what shaped the structure of the script. For Shearsmith, given that the trials were already absurd, they cannot be parodied. The humour of the episode, for him, comes precisely from the fact that the characters take the events so seriously, and do not see this absurdity. Pemberton said that the pair aimed for authenticity, and did not seek to produce a spoof of a period piece. To that end, he was complimentary of Yves Barr, a costume designer with whom the writers had worked for a number of years, who did "a fantastic job creating this period on a shoestring". Given that, in his view, "people don't do this period", Shearsmith was excited to film something set in the 17th century. The episode was the only period piece in the first two series, but the writers expressed willingness to do another; they felt that the setting showed that they really could go anywhere with the programme.
As each episode of Inside No. 9 features new characters, the writers were able to attract actors who might have been unwilling to commit to an entire series. "The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge" starred Pemberton and Shearsmith as Mr Warren and Mr Clarke respectively, along with David Warner as Sir Andrew Pike and Ruth Sheen as Elizabeth Gadge. Warner had previously worked with Pemberton and Shearsmith on The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse, and the writers thought him very well-suited to the role as Sir Andrew Pike. Shearsmith considered Sheen a very capable actress, and complimented the way she played Gadge as a serious character; Pemberton felt she added "gravitas" to the role. Sinead Matthews starred as Sarah Nutter, Jim Howick as Thomas Nutter, Paul Kaye as Richard Two-Shoes, and Trevor Cooper as George Waterhouse. Shearsmith was particularly pleased to have Howick appearing in the episode. As he had appeared in Horrible Histories, he added, for Shearsmith, "a weight of royalty". The "comic coupling" of Howick and Matthews had characters who were originally, mistakenly, named "Gadge", but this did not fit with the characters' relationship with the titular Elizabeth. The couple were renamed "Nutter", a reference to Alice Nutter of the real-world Pendle witch trials.
In addition to the credited actors, the crew had a crowd of extras for one day of filming. Around 12 extras were used; budget constraints allowed this number for a day, or five extras for two days. This constraint led to a change in the script, seeing the crowd removed from the trial. Although uncredited, Goody Two-Shoes was played by an actress who had appeared in Psychoville, one of Pemberton and Shearsmith's previous productions, as Joanne Dunderdale, an understudy. The writers were complimentary of Cooper's performance; they said that he was almost "conducting" the crowd of extras, in that they were noisy when he was shouting, and quiet when he stopped.
In addition to the use of visual effects, the closing sequence required ADR due to the sound of rain on the original filming. The visual effects were the director Dan Zeff's idea, and the writers were pleased that they were within budget. They also serve to tie the final shot to the opening shot of the episode, as both feature a raven. Scenes that were cut down in the editing process included the initial meeting between the witchfinders—Warren and Clarke—and Sir Andrew Pike, and a private discussion between Warren and Clarke after the first day of the trial. The extended versions of the scenes featured an explanation about the Devil being found in everyday objects and a discussion about the stages of torture respectively. Shearsmith expressed frustration that these extra scenes could not be included on the DVD release.
Warren and Clarke tell Sir Andrew Pike about a previous witch hunt.
In 17th century England, the magistrate Sir Andrew Pike (Warner) summons the witch-finders Mr Warren (Shearsmith) and Mr Clarke (Pemberton) to the village of Little Happens. Seventy-year-old Elizabeth Gadge (Sheen) has been accused of witchcraft, and Pike is excited that the news has attracted the attention of outsiders. Pike and Warren already seem convinced of Gadge's guilt, but Clarke remains sceptical.
Elizabeth's case is brought to trial the following morning, with the assistance of the cobbler Richard Two-Shoes (Kaye). Elizabeth's daughter Sarah (Matthews) and son-in-law Thomas Nutter (Howick) testify that they have witnessed Elizabeth sucking from the teat of a furry creature, and speaking to a mouse (believed to be a demon). Elizabeth claims that Sarah and Thomas have falsely accused her, and want to be rid of her to make room in their house. George Waterhouse (Cooper) testifies against Elizabeth, and the accused is questioned. When others in the courtroom begin laughing at her responses, Warren declares that the next person to laugh will be executed as a witch. After an argument breaks out, the witch-finders and Pike decide that the rest of the trial should be conducted in private. Elizabeth is pricked with a needle to test her for the devil's mark. A remorseful Sarah tries to profess her mother's innocence, but Warren does not believe her. Elizabeth says that she has been prostituting herself to Two-Shoes, who wears a fur coat; Two-Shoes denies this, and the trial is adjourned. Throughout proceedings, Warren is accusatory while Clarke is more cautious; Pike, meanwhile, is fascinated both by the lewd acts in which Elizabeth has supposedly engaged and by the witch-finders' torturous implements.
Clarke privately tells Warren that he thinks Elizabeth is innocent and that he is not sure that the pair are doing God's work. Warren threatens that Clarke himself will be tried and convicted if he objects further. The trial resumes—Elizabeth having been tortured overnight—and Elizabeth's mouse, Snowflake, is released, so that it might lead them to the witch. Warren has sprinkled crumbs in front of Elizabeth. When Snowflake approaches Elizabeth, Pike declares her a witch, and sentences her to be burned. Thomas and Sarah later say goodbye to a hooded and bound Elizabeth, who awaits execution. Clarke dismisses them. He removes the hood from the figure to reveal that he has bound Warren in Elizabeth's place; Clarke believes Warren has been tainted with evil, and that the latter is no longer doing God's work. Clarke puts back the hood, and Pike enters, happy that the trial has seen a revival of trade and visitors to the village. Warren is taken away to be burnt. Clarke releases the real Elizabeth, but she reveals that she truly is a witch; she breaks Clarke's neck, killing him. There are sounds of excitement from outside as flames light Elizabeth's face. She tells Snowflake that she will go to her master, then transforms into a raven and leaves.
"The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge" is a period piece tribute to Witchfinder General, The Blood on Satan's Claw and The Crucible, while the names "Warren" and "Clarke" are a homage to British actor Warren Clarke, who, at time of production and airing, had recently died. The names were selected prior to Clarke's death—specifically because they were amusing but period appropriate, and not because the actor had any link to the episode's themes—but the writers chose to keep them as a tribute upon the death of Clarke, with whom Shearsmith had previously worked. The style and humour is reminiscent of Horrible Histories and Monty Python. For instance, one scene was directly inspired by the "laughing guard" scene in Monty Python's Life of Brian. Pemberton and Shearsmith themselves, however, did not consider the episode to be particularly reminiscent of Monty Python. The humour is childish, but many of the jokes are "bawdy" and "adult".
Though one critic said that the episode was "the first straight-up comedic episode of the second series", another said that the episode's humour was balanced with tragedy and poignancy, arguing that the whole episode has an element of horror. This was especially true given that the story reflects actual happenings; the depiction of torture was described as "genuinely upsetting". Despite the sole setting of the barn, the episode evokes a degree of folk horror. "The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge" was described by Jonathan Wright (The Guardian) and Phoebe Jane-Boyd (Den of Geek) as like a Hammer Horror film with added humour, and writers for the Irish Examiner said that the episode should appeal to both horror and comedy fans.
Given that Gadge is revealed to actually be a witch, Howick asked Shearsmith whether the former's character, Thomas, truly had witnessed Gadge engaging in some kind of supernatural activity. Shearsmith suggested that Thomas was motivated by greed. However, he begins to regret his choice when he witnesses Gadge being tortured. Pemberton, though, noted that the real-life accusations of witchcraft must have been based on some level of belief.
Critics generally responded warmly to the episode, but some felt it compared poorly to others in the series. David Chater, writing for The Times, felt that "The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge" was dissimilar from any previous episode of Inside No. 9, but that it was "equally accomplished", while in sister publication The Sunday Times, critics suggested that the change in style showed the writers' versatility. Neela Debnath, writing for The Independent, called "The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge" a "hilariously dark little half-hour of quintessentially British comedy". Rupert Hawksley, writing for The Daily Telegraph, was more critical. He awarded "The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge" three out of five stars, saying that "despite a starry cast and a delightful twist and counter-twist, [the episode] was nothing like as effective" as "La Couchette" and "The 12 Days of Christine", the previous two episodes of the series. The episode, he claimed, was indicative of a "mid-series lull". The freelance journalist Dan Owen felt the episode was "entertaining fare, but too predictable and clichéd to prove genuinely memorable", awarding it two out of four stars. He, too, said the episode felt like "a mid-series misstep". Shearsmith was unhappy with those who thought the episode a "dud" or a "misfire", confessing that it was his favourite episode of the second series. Pemberton felt it was going to be difficult to follow "The 12 Days of Christine", but Shearsmith was of the view that the episodes should not be in competition with each other.
The episode's humour was praised by the majority of commentators. Julia Raeside, writing for The Guardian, said the writers "managed to pull together a loving tribute to [their] cult horror source material with an all-out gag rate that most sitcoms would fail to keep up with", claiming that "they get the look and tone just right and then inject it with the kind of comedy that is perfectly tailored to puncture the fictional world without deflating it". Similarly, Debnath felt that the jokes, including "anachronistic references" and "dark punnery", were "bang on". By contrast, Hawksley claimed that the episode had several "inspired moments", including a "perfectly pitched" joke about selfies, but that the writers had failed to properly exploit the 17th-century setting. Overall, though finding it "occasionally funny", Hawksley thought the episode "fell some way short of what we have come to expect from Pemberton and Shearsmith". For the comedy critic Bruce Dessau, the episode was "all the more hauntingly funny because it is played pretty straight", but he noted that the character of Sir Andrew Pike allowed "some offbeat humour". Chater called the episode "very, very funny", and Philip Cunnington, of the Lancashire Evening Post, called it "one of the funniest half-hours of TV so far this year" after the conclusion of the series.
Television critics praised the writing and acting of "The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge". Though Owen felt that the ending "held little surprise", Paddy Shennan, of the Liverpool Echo, said he "loved the fact that, for the third week running, [he] couldn't work out the twist". For Debnath, "the best was saved till last", but the whole episode was "tightly written". Patrick Mulkern (Radio Times), too, said that "this dark tale soon works a devilish spell". Christine Brandel, writing for entertainment website PopMatters, particularly praised the episode's "beautifully done" dialogue, saying that "it feels authentic in its phrasing, even during the more bizarre (and hilarious) court scenes". Owen, similarly, said "the dialogue was also frequently hilarious, with Shearsmith and Pemberton having a fine ear for the rhythms of Olde English and how best to have characters deadpan their way through some ridiculous sentences." Hawksley praised Warner's "effortlessly batty" performance as Sir Andrew Pike, and claimed that Sheen "brought an unsettling complexity" to the title character. Gerard Gilbert, of The Independent, claimed Warner was clearly "having a ball" as Pike, and Wright (The Guardian) said "Warner quite brilliantly makes the most of every line he's given". Brandel considered Warner one of the best guest stars of the series.
^ "Steve Pemberton on The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover". British Film Institute. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
^ "Five minutes with Steve Pemberton". Herts & Essex Observer. 12 January 2015. Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
^ Pemberton, Steve (20 March 2015). "Reopening the doors Inside No. 9". BBC. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
^ Pemberton and Shearsmith, episode commentary, 26:24.
^ Pemberton and Shearsmith, episode commentary, 23:15.
^ a b c d Brandel, Christine (27 May 2015). "The Beautiful Horror Continues". PopMatters. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ Pemberton and Shearsmith, episode commentary, 2:10.
^ Pemberton and Shearsmith, episode commentary, 29:14.
^ Pemberton and Shearsmith, episode commentary, 9:20.
^ Dean, Will (5 February 2014). "Inside No 9, TV review: A top-drawer cast puts these twisted tales in a league of their own". The Independent. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
^ a b c "The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge". BBC. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
^ Pemberton and Shearsmith, episode commentary, 2:58.
^ Pemberton and Shearsmith, episode commentary, 6:06.
^ a b c Pemberton and Shearsmith, episode commentary, 6:27.
^ Pemberton and Shearsmith, episode commentary, 5:19.
^ Pemberton and Shearsmith, episode commentary, 10:22.
^ Pemberton and Shearsmith, episode commentary, 11:10.
^ Pemberton and Shearsmith, episode commentary, 25:24.
^ Pemberton and Shearsmith, episode commentary, 1:28.
^ Pemberton and Shearsmith, episode commentary, 19:59.
^ "Tonight's TV top 10". Metro. 9 April 2015. pp. 44–5.
^ a b c d Chater, David (9 April 2015). "Viewing guide". T2, The Times. pp. 12–3.
^ a b c d e Dugdale, John; Raeside, Julia (5 April 2015). "Choice; Thursday 9 April". Culture, The Sunday Times. pp. 60–1.
^ a b c Boyd, Phoebe-Jane (9 April 2015). "Inside No. 9 series 2 episode 3 review: The Trial Of Elizabeth Gadge". Den of Geek. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ a b Gilbert, Gerard (9 April 2015). "Critic's choice". i. p. 30.
^ a b c Shennan, Paddy (11 April 2015). "I loved Reece Shearsmith...". Liverpool Echo. p. 24.
^ Pemberton and Shearsmith, episode commentary, 4:29.
^ Paterson, Marc (14 April 2015). "'Inside No 9', Witch Trials and Laughing in Church". Huffington Post. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ Pemberton and Shearsmith, episode commentary, 10:25.
^ a b c d Owen, Dan (10 April 2015). "Inside No. 9, 2.3 – 'The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge'". Dan's Media Digest. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ a b Wright, Jonathan (9 April 2015). "Thursday's best TV; Inside No. 9". theguardian.com. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ "Thursday's TV tips". Irish Examiner. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ Pemberton and Shearsmith, episode commentary, 17:19.
^ a b c Debnath, Neela (9 April 2015). "Inside No 9, The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge, TV review: Quintessentially barmy British comedy". The Independent. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
^ Pemberton and Shearsmith, episode commentary, 12:30.
^ Raeside, Julia (29 April 2015). "Intrigue, unease and emotional intensity: have you been watching Inside No 9?". theguardian.com. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ Dessau, Bruce (9 April 2015). "TV Preview: Inside No. 9 – The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge, BBC2". Beyondthejoke.co.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
^ Cunnington, Philip (16 May 2015). "Remote Control - Saturday May 16, 2015". Lancashire Evening Post. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ Mulkern, Patrick. "Inside No 9 Series 2 - 3. The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge". Radio Times. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
Pemberton, Steve; Shearsmith, Reece (2015). The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge (episode commentary). Steve & Reece IN9 (via SoundCloud). Retrieved 4 August 2015.
"The 12 Days of Christine" | 2019-04-25T00:02:29Z | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Trial_of_Elizabeth_Gadge |
Robin Williams died today, at 63. The Marin County Sheriff’s department released a press statement saying they suspect it of being suicide by asphyxiation, and there’s other news on their site.
There will be a media frenzy about this for the next little while, and a lot of people are going to be talking about it. I want to help people talk about it in a way that’s as respectful and safe as possible for vulnerable people, so here are a few thoughts and requests.
Wherever you are, there are people near you who are struggling with their own thoughts of suicide. Some of them are going to feel strongly affected by Williams’s death, and the research shows that a small subset of that group will find that this news pushes their own thoughts of suicide into the forefront.
Please be careful how you talk about what happened with Robin Williams, because these folks will hear your words and may apply them to their own situations. Do you feel that he was a sick or weak person because he had these thoughts? How would that thought sound to these other folks? Did he “lose his battle” by acting on his thoughts of suicide? Be aware that, in the ears of a vulnerable person, you may be calling them weak too.
In particular, please don’t call suicide a “permanent solution to a temporary problem”. Whether or not the problems really are temporary, it doesn’t help the person at risk to have their troubles minimized—it just paints us as being out of touch. You don’t actually need to do that much talking about suicide itself; instead, get the person talking about what they’re feeling and why they’re considering suicide. It’s fine to help them see that these feelings may not last forever—but the “permanent solution” language is really toxic for a lot of people. Leave the labels behind and get the person talking.
Research suggests that about 5% of people (1 in 20) report thinking about suicide in any given year. That makes having thoughts of suicide seem pretty normal, but only a small group of people will act on those thoughts. If you look around, you will see people who are fighting—and winning—their own battle with suicide every day. Be respectful about how you talk about the issue.
People who’ve never struggled with suicide often seem to think that considering suicide is a choice. That, if only they knew how stupid it was to consider suicide, people would just stop thinking about it. I’ve worked on a suicide hotline for the last 15 years. Believe me when I say that most of the suicidal people I’ve talked to would have given anything to be able to make those thoughts go away. Be kind.
If you’re a person who has thoughts of suicide and the news about Williams is pushing your buttons, please reach out for help. If you live anywhere in the USA, you can dial 1-800-273-TALK and get the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is free and confidential and open 24/7.
It’s okay to use the words. Suicide. Killing yourself. Wanting to die.
We don’t need to be afraid of the words, and using clear language helps us communicate better. There’s no evidence to suggest that talking directly about suicide hurts vulnerable people, and there’s a lot of it showing that direct talk helps to reduce stigma and help vulnerable folks feel like they can talk openly about how they’re struggling.
“Committed suicide” isn’t great because it feels pretty judgmental (we commit sins). “Lost his battle” feels like it’s labeling him as weak.
So use the other words. It looks like Robin Williams died by suicide, may have killed himself, may have taken his own life. It’s okay to use the words. If you want to know more about the terms we use in the suicide intervention world, check out my guide and my other guide.
If you’re worried about someone you know, ask them whether they’re thinking about suicide.
Williams’s wife has asked that we remember Robin Williams primarily by honoring the man he was, not merely by examining the way he died.
He lived a life that meant a lot to us. He was a brilliant comedian whose imitations inspired me as a child, whose ability to improvise staggers me with its breadth and clarity. He knew timing. He did good work and helped us to look at some important, difficult things in life, and he helped us do it with a twinkle in our eyes. Turns out that he was also struggling with depression, possibly bipolar disorder, and thoughts of suicide.
It’s important to talk openly and honestly about suicide, and to grieve for the loss we feel. We feel hurt by his death, and feel that he was taken from us too soon. That’s real, and that’s fine to talk about. But let’s refrain from making Williams a caricature of his own life. Suicide was a part of it, sure, but let’s not reinvent his whole life in this context.
A lot of the initial stories have focused on Williams’s alleged history of struggling with bipolar disorder, and I’ve read a ton of Facebook statuses and tweets saying “if only he could have gotten treatment” or “I wish he’d known there was help available”.
This is well-intentioned but not really that helpful. We don’t know whether Williams was receiving treatment or not, but the sad truth is that treatment doesn’t always work. Medicine is imperfect. People react to different drugs and therapies differently, and there’s no magic solution out there. The field of psychiatry is getting better at treating bipolar disorder, and there’s a lot of reason to be hopeful, but it’s not anywhere close to 100% yet.
Remember, most people with thoughts of suicide want to stop having them. If treatment were easy and fully effective in all cases, don’t you think most people would have taken that option already?
If it helps you to understand why this sort of statement is unhelpful, imagine that Williams had died of cancer. Would it feel useful to say “oh, if only he’d known that treatment was available!” or “he should have fought harder”?
Would it help his family to hear that people made those assumptions about how easily Williams could have gotten better? Remember that the survivors of suicide loss are all around us, too.
For a lot of people, talking about their thoughts of suicide helps them to go away. Some people need the help of a trained professional, and some people need drug treatment or hospitalization. But a lot of people just need a caring person to listen. If someone starts telling you about their own thoughts of suicide in the aftermath of this, stay present and listen.
Ask them why they’re feeling that way. Let them talk about the reasons for it. Start with the feelings. Don’t try to shove reasons for living down their throats—they won’t be able to breathe. They know there’s stuff worth living for; let them talk about the reasons they’re thinking about dying.
And encourage them to keep talking, to you and to others. As I said above, invite people to talk to the NSPL at 1-800-273-TALK or call a crisis line or reach out to other caregivers.
We know that Robin Williams has died, and the coroner has preliminarily ruled it a suicide. That said, we still don’t know for sure—they’ve also said that the investigation continues and there will be a press conference tomorrow. There can be benign (non-suicidal) reasons for a person dying by asphyxia at home. Let’s do our best to refrain from contributing to the frenzy about suicide until the professionals have reached their conclusions. Actually, let’s do our best to hold back the frenzy even afterwards.
Edited to add (2014-08-13): the Marin County coroners have released information saying that they’re pretty sure that Williams’s death was suicide, and that there’s no reason to suspect foul play. They’re still checking for other possibilities, but it looks like suicide at this point.
This is a big one. This is what we need to be doing if we want to prevent deaths by suicide in the long term. There remains a huge amount of social stigma around thoughts of suicide and mental health concerns in general, and it’s still hard for people to get help.
Tons of our hotline callers tell us they feel they can’t talk to their doctors or families about the way they’re feeling because they fear people won’t understand, will judge them, will label them, will lock them up, or simply won’t listen. We can and should do better.
So let’s talk about it, and not just in the gossip-ridden aftermath of a celebrity’s death. Let’s talk about expanding access to health care for all citizens, and then let’s make sure that we train health care workers about mental health AND build systems that give them enough patient contact time to have these crucial conversations.
Let’s make it easier to get access to mental health care, and let’s fund agencies that do the work. Let’s have the hard conversations about how we care for people who struggle with suicide in our communities, and let’s actively seek the voices of the people who struggle so we don’t make too many assumptions about what would help.
There’s a whole group of professionals who’ve learned a lot about how suicide happens and what we can do to prevent it. I’m one of them. We’re doing our best to get the messages out, but we need help. Will you help us? Join a suicide awareness group or help out with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Talk to your legislators about securing funding for mental health and crisis organizations, and ask them to help make that funding a lasting priority. Talk to your family and friends about suicide, and let’s start treating it like a public health topic rather than a sin.
Most of all, let’s keep talking—and do it with respect and kindness in our hearts.
Nice piece Hollis, thanks for posting the Lifeline number. Note however, you have a typo the first time it is mentioned. The correct number is as you list it later, 1-800-273-TALK.
Good catch, Shari. Thanks for that!
Thank you for sharing this, Hollis.
Good piece, Hollis. As a survivor of chronic depression who had suicidal thoughts, I would like to say that for me when someone suggested that suicide is a “permanent action to a temporary problem,” it caused me to not act on those thoughts, in the hopes that somehow, sometime, the depression would lift and I could begin to live again. The idea that the pain of my depression, which seemed interminable, could have an end without my having to take such a drastic action to end it myself, actually did help me defer action and try other tactics until I found something that worked. The other piece of counsel that was particularly useful was not to take irreversible action when I was at my lowest. It took a long time, with baby steps, to regain hope and even experience joy again, but it did happen for me, and could be possible for others, too. I pray this will be the case for others struggling right now.
Thank you for sharing these thoughts and hope!!!! It helps a great deal.
Thanks for writing, Colleen. I’m glad it feels helpful!
I’m grateful to you for sharing these thoughts, Joanna, and I’ve quoted them in my article about the “permanent solution” language. I really like the admonition to avoid irreversible action in those lowest moments. I’m so glad you’re feeling hope and joy these days.
Thank you for your timely and sensitive article. I have shared it on facebook and am hopeful that others will gain some insight.
You’re welcome, Mitzi! I’m grateful for the help getting the word out, and I share the hope that this reaches people who need it.
When my psychiatrist told me that “suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem” I thought, yes, that is what I want. A permanent solution. No more trying different meds, talking about what I’m sad/anxious about, appointments, groups, etc. Permanent. Yay.
The words really didn’t help, they almost encouraged me to do it. It also felt like my feelings were being minimized. Thank you for your insightful post.
Thanks so much for writing, Anne. I’ve included your words on a separate page talking about the “permanent solution” language, and I’m grateful for your contribution to the discussion. It’s so hard when you’re already feeling down and then it feels like other people minimize your feelings. I’m glad to hear that you’re still making it through.
Hollis, thank you so much for sharing this beautiful and thoughtful piece!
Thank you very much for this posting – we were in a family meeting with the medical team today for our daughter who currently is suffering severe depression including multiple suicide attempts as she feels there is no meaning to life and can not see beyond the problems in her health and traumas in her life that continue to persist to trouble her thoughts today. You have given much perspective and insight to this illness of which we have yet so little understanding and ability to process at this time.
My suggestion is to go online, and enter “The Emotion Code.” We all carry emotional baggage and it can be also inherited. Find someone that releases these emotions, as they can be locked within the body, yet they are so easy to release and make a difference to ones health and well-being. There is a list of Practitioners on the website – and 4 in NZ that have completed this training, with “The Body Code.” Worth a try for your beautiful daughter, and could be the answer to her problems. Good luck and god bless. Doreen – NZ.
I have battled suicide much….just everything unraveling at once and I know My heavenly home is just over that “shadow of death” …My heart knows some of what Robin felt…the doom of addiction, the fear of failing yet again, and in my case, worries and struggles …I’m tired of ppl who have NEVER walked in areas of addiction judging those who have…it hits every class of ppl on earth…He was hilarious and smart and I am saddened , but I understand. He thought everyone around him, after the shock\, would be better off without him…Praying for his family….they will question themselves much over this..God bless and help all of us that struggle..
I must pay a tribute to Robin Williams. I met Robin at the Seble Townhouse in Sydney back in the late 80s when he was doing a press junket for Good Morning Vietnam. I was with Kim Adamson who was my producer at 91FM at the tIme. We were the last of a long line of press people who had been allotted interviews. We sat down talked about being a Disc jockey and The Movie of course, and just got on like a house on fire, we talked and laughed and swapped storys I told him about New Zealand (he hadnt been here at that time)our extinct bird the Moa and about katipo spiders and he dreamed up this scenario re a farting animal that mowed your lawns.He talked of his friendship with the great Comedian(Maude Fricker) Johnathan Winters and of how he visited his great friend in Rehab from time to time. Winters was also a manic Depressive. I have nothing but great memorys of that wonderful day. And later Peter Downer told me that Robin had said it was the most enjoyable interview he had in ages.
As a person who suffers from BiPolar2 I can relate to how Robin felt about life and himself,the self doubt, the demons and the fear,and the constant battle fighting depression,the days when its hard to get out of bed and the fear that most people have with mental illness and how many so called friends have distanced themselves when they discover that I am not the happy go lucky Muzza they have always thought I was. And the people who say naff things like oh get a life buddy. I have been blessed with a great life and close friends(outside the media) who have steered me through my many meltdowns and helped ward off the demons etc.
So Robin rest in Peace mate,I hope you were lucky to have had mates who helped you on your bumpy ride. The world loves you and always will and you will always have a place in the heart of this mad old retired DJ.
I fell in love several years ago. I made a major change in my life, moved to his location and started living with him. After a few months, it began to feel uneasy. I was worried about us. My doctor suggested taking an antidepressant. This was when I was in my late 40s. My feelings of doom morphed into constant depression and then one day seemingly out of the blue he told me he no longer loved me and we had to separate. I clearly remember closing my eyes and feeling like I was being sucked down into a whirlpool of blackness. After a few days, my thoughts turned to suicide and I wasted no time in trying. I could not stand thinking what I was thinking and just wanted my thoughts to go away. I took a lot of pills, but he found me, got me to the hospital and I lived. The rest is a longer story, but I stayed on antidepressants, all SSRIs, for several years. The thoughts of suicide never went away. Sometimes they would not be in the forefront of my thinking, but they never stopped and nothing, including seeing a therapist, could stop them. I tried suicide two more times and miraculously survived both. I had many loving friends and relatives who helped me out and never gave up on me. However, the thoughts persisted. I could not shake them no matter what I did. One day I read about a study which found that SSRIs had exactly the opposite effect on teens in the UK. I asked my physician if I could stop taking my medication just to see if it might help. He told me that I was at risk and could not possibly stop taking my meds. However, being the stubborn sort of guy I am, tried it anyway. I was desparately in need of getting rid of suicidal thoughts and would try anything. The amazing conclusion to all of this is that after about two weeks, it was if someone had lifted a window shade and the light could finally get in. The thoughts stopped completely, as if by magic. I firmly believe that the SSRIs were having the exact opposite effect on me than they were supposed. I have never to this day, many years later, had any thoughts of suicide. I know that I am most likely a rare case. People on an SSRI should not stop taking their meds like I did. However I DO believe that more research should be done into the possible negative side effects they may have, regardless of the age of the person. I am an extremely lucky guy. I certainly know from this first hand experience how someone feels and thinks about suicide, and have great empathy for them. Thanks Hollis for your spot on advice.
Every body is unique. Any thing you put in your body has a unique effect. Many medications have different effects on different individuals. So sorry for what you went through and am so happy you knew your body well enough to listen to it.
I do not tolerate anti-depressants because of the side-effects. However, after a plethora (or so it seemed after years) of meds to treat the depression, Prozac seemed to have the best results with the least side-effects—for about 8-12 weeks! Then I get what was termed a “paradoxical effect”- it actually starts causing the depression to start over. It can absolutely happen!!
Agreed that no one should stop taking their meds without a doctors advice and more research should be done.
Thank you so much for writing and sharing this brilliantly and sensitive article on suicide. Having lost my younger, only and brilliant brother to in-patient suicide in 2004, my and everyone who knew him lives where rattled and forever changed. Like Robin Williams, none of us truly saw it coming. There are so many variables at play that the media refuses to acknowledge and discuss. Sadly, all will focus on Mr. William’s “internal demons,” or his addictions……no one will question the quality of the care he was receiving or the medications he was prescribed. So, thank you, for being courageous enough to open that can of worms and put it into writing.
Yes, suicide is an act of hopelessness……so often just a glitch in time that can be averted if we just start talking openly about it.
My heart breaks every day not only for my brother but for all those who perish in this manner. My heart breaks because of the stigma….the closed minds….the people who just don’t “get it”….the people who are foolish enough to believe that suicide “happens over there in that family, not in ours.” We are ALL vulnerable to this…..even those of us reading and posting on this blog. To think one is above losing all hope, or receiving inadequate or the wrong mental health care or being prescribed the wrong medications, is arrogant and dangerous. As this article says, it’s time we change the paradigm and start saving lives.
Thank you for this blog. Like many people, I’m am saddened by the loss of Robin Williams. I felt he was at risk last month when he tried to check into Hazelden. I even dreamt about him and worried that suicide was coming. We need to view this as a disease and not a defeat.
Like many others, Switchboard is saddened by the loss of Robin Williams. Thank you for posting the number of lifeline. It is always important for anyone suffering from any emotional pain to know that there is somewhere to reach out to.
It’s so much more complex than that.
None of us know his personal circumstances.
This is a disease and we need to treat it as such and stop acting as if the sufferer has control over the thoughts and if it gets to the point where they die, as if they had control in the way most of us understand it.
Thank you for your very sensitive comments and guidance. I just shared it on our Facebook page.
Beautifully written; however, I feel that “suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem” is a helpful statement. Especially if you can back it up with an example of how you may have struggled with suicidal throughts due to a divorce, and that you made to the other side of that struggle and are now remarried and have a full and rich life. Let the person know that had you died, you would have missed the joys that life in the future.
It’s good to see, among the sea of insensitive and horribly destructive nonsense that comes mostly from so called therapists and the Pop Psychology Crowd, that there are still a few sensible people left in the world.
My heart goes out to Robin’s family. I lost quite a few people to suicide so I know what they must be feeling. If I weren’t so Irish – Catholic, I assure you there’s many times I nearly did it myself.
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Hi Hollis, thanks for the great post. It has made me rethink how I phrase suicide. I used to say my brother “committed suicide,” but I like the point you made regarding that phrase. What do you think of “I lost my brother to suicide”?
Thanks always for continuing to do the important work you do! | 2019-04-24T16:49:45Z | http://www.holliseaster.com/p/talking-about-suicide-robin-williams/ |
After the Fort Bend Star received a tip about the Republican candidate for Fort Bend County Precinct 1 Commissioner, the Star conducted an in-depth review of Bruce Fleming and his wife, Nancy Fleming’s voting record. Our research found that for several years Fleming voted both in Bucks County, Pa. and in Fort Bend County.
Although Fleming claims to be a 20-year resident of Texas, he first registered to vote in Bucks County, Pa. in 1992 and still owns a home there. He is listed as an active voter Bucks County.
Fleming first voted in Fort Bend County in the general election of 2006. He voted early in Fort Bend then voted absentee in Bucks County, Pa. in the same general election.
In 2008 he voted absentee in the general election in Bucks, County, Pa but in Fort Bend County he voted in person in the Democratic Primary and again in the 4/8/2008 primary run off. He also voted early in the November general election in Fort Bend.
In 2010 he voted absentee in the general election in Bucks County and in Fort Bend County he voted early in both the primary and the general election. Fleming voted in person in the 2010 primary in Fort Bend County and voted early in the primary run off.
The Star has been unable to get the primary voting records in Bucks County for 2012, but those records should be available next week.
According to Fleming, his wife, Nancy, is seldom seen in Fort Bend as she stays in their home in Pennsylvania in order to keep her job there. She usually votes in every general election in Pennsylvania. 2010 records indicate she voted in the general election in both Bucks County (absentee) and the general election in Fort Bend (also absentee).
However, in 2012 with her husband a candidate, she voted in Fort Bend in both the Republican primary (in person) and then absentee in the primary run off. She is classified as an active registered voter in both Pennsylvania and Fort Bend County, Texas.
The Star contacted Bruce Fleming to ask him why he had voted in both states in the same elections for at least three different elections. According to Fleming he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2007 and he was back and forth between Houston and Bucks County for treatment. He seemed to indicate that was why he voted in both states. However, our research shows that Fleming started voting in both states in the 2006 general election and continued to vote in both states through 2010. Again, the 2012 primary records for Pennsylvania are not available yet. Fleming told the Star that he would have to talk to his wife and get back to us. He didn’t.
Ouch. Fleming is the Republican candidate for Fort Bend County Commissioner Precinct 1, against Richard Morrison. Fleming’s vote in the 2008 Democratic primary was aberrant – as Juanita demonstrated, he’s a consistent Republican primary voter otherwise. One presumes he was among those who voted in the Dem primary that year at the exhortation of Rush Limbaugh, to mess with things. Anyway, the Chron story ties this back to a larger theme.
Morrison and fellow Fort Bend Democrats took aim at Catherine Engelbrecht, founder and president of True the Vote, a Houston-based tea party group dedicated to combating voter fraud nationwide and pushing for voter photo identification. Engelbrecht lives in Fort Bend’s Precinct 1.
The irony sure is thick, isn’t it? The story has a fairly limp response from some TTV person, because let’s face it, people like Fleming aren’t who they’re interested in. Additional coverage from the Fort Bend Star is here, a little gloating from Juanita is here, further commentary from FBCDP Chair Steve Brown about what protecting the integrity of the vote really means is here, and PDiddie has more.
1. I sure hope the Democrats got some kind of assurances about how Specter would vote going forward, because he needed them way more than they needed him. Given that he’s reiterated his opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act, the opening stanza isn’t too promising.
2. In many ways, this really doesn’t change much. Yes, assuming Sen. Al Franken gets seated sometime before he stands for re-election, this gives the Democrats the magic number of 60 members. The thing is, Senate Democrats have been a bigger obstacle to President Obama’s agenda than any other group. Conservative Dems such as Sen. Ben Nelson have the leverage to foil, water down, or otherwise pimp to their liking just about anything Obama wants to push. Specter’s switch doesn’t change this dynamic at all.
Which of these fellas do you think will be ready to provide the necessary one vote from the minority to bring things to a vote in the committee on tough questions now?
5. Having said that, prepare to have your mind blown even further. I don’t see any way in which this happens, nor do I see rank and file Democrats being that thrilled at the prospect, for better or worse. But crazier things have happened, and there is an objective logic to it.
6. Dealing with party switchers in general causes headaches and almost always comes with a fair bit of bellyaching up front. Which is totally understandable, especially in the case of someone as obviously calculating and driven by self-interest as Specter is. I get where people like Atrios are coming from, I really do, and it’s completely possible that what we’ll get is a nominal Democrat who doesn’t really change his behavior in any meaningful way. Even worse, we may be sacrificing the chance to elect a better Democrat in 2010 and risk losing to a Republican who’s slightly less crazy than Pat Toomey (not a high bar to clear), since the case against Specter pretty much writes itself. He’s going to have to prove himself, and I hope Dems like Joe Sestak keep their powder dry until it’s clear that Specter is walking the walk. Here in Texas, we’ve had some very good results, as State Rep. Kirk England has been a fine member of the Democratic caucus, and State Sen. Wendy Davis (who had some Republican voting history but had never held office as a Republican) is a rising star having by my count an outstanding freshman session. Whether or not the past stays in the past depends entirely on what happens going forward. It’s totally up to Sen. Specter.
7. Finally, whatever else this is about, I love Specter’s rationale for switching. It’s an acknowledgment of reality, something which his now-former colleagues have less and less experience with these days. Once upon a time, party switchers helped the GOP grow bigger and stronger. Now it’s helping them grow smaller and weaker. I couldn’t be happier about that.
Today there will be committee hearings on various gambling-related bills. I am reprinting here an email sent by Suzii Paynter of the Christian Life Coalition, which is one of the leading organizations that are fighting the expansion of gambling in Texas, as it has a pretty good summary of what has gone on so far.
On Wednesday, April 8, the House Committee on Licensing and Administrative Procedures will hear all the major gambling bills filed in the House this session. There are 16 gambling related bills currently on the notice of hearing which can be found here. This hearing is sure to draw the most vocal gambling proponents from all segments of the casino industry. We think it is important that the committee hear the other side of the argument as well. The CLC will be at the hearing to offer testimony. This is an entirely new committee made up of members who may not know this issue. It is important that they know people out in the state care about the issue and are paying attention. If your representative sits on this committee it would be an excellent time to let them know you oppose the expansion of gambling in Texas. A list of the committee members and their contact information can be found here.
The CLC recently completed a comprehensive newsletter outlining our most important arguments against the expansion of predatory gambling and in support of our current family-friendly economy. You can view the newsletter here (large PDF).
On the same afternoon that the House Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee announced the agenda for Wednesday’s hearing, they quietly passed out two gambling expansion bills. Both bills now sit in the Calendars committee and await a chance to be considered on the House floor.
The first bill is HB 222, by Rep. Menendez (D-San Antonio). This bill would legalize poker to be played at electronic tables in certain bars, restaurants, horse and dog race tracks and on Indian reservations. The proponents claim that only simple majorities in both the House and Senate are needed to pass this bill. It is the opinion of the CLC, based on previous opinions offered by the Attorney General, that the element of chance inherent in this card game requires a constitutional amendment and the support of 2/3rds of the House and Senate. Additionally, the electronic facsimile of a game of chance makes this a Class III game as described under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). As other states have experienced, and according to IGRA, the approval of a Class III game in Texas will lead to the expansion of Native American gambling in Texas above and beyond what is contemplated in this bill and in a way that weakens the state’s ability to control further casino expansion.
The second bill is HB 1474 by Rep. Geren (R- Ft. Worth). This bill is meant to be a “clean up” bill to standardize and improve the regulation of Bingo in Texas. However, the bill also greatly increases the number and type of organizations that are eligible to receive a bingo license. The CLC is concerned that bingo in this state is moving far beyond the original public understanding of the game and that the charitable purpose is being watered down. Specifically, during the legislative interim period after last session, the lottery commission approved new bingo games which would allow versions of electronic pull tab bingo as well as a type of Keno. We are concerned that these new games could lead to a rapid expansion of electronic casino-style games. This threat is even more possible with the broadening of organizations eligible to apply for a license stated in HB 1474.
The list of members on the Calendars Committee can be found here. If your representative is member of this committee, let them know that the best way to defeat these bills is to never allow a vote on the House floor.
On Monday, March 30, two Native-American casino bills by Rep. Chavez (D-El Paso) were heard in committee. The first bill, HB 1308 was heard in the subcommittee on Criminal Procedure of the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.
The CLC testified in opposition to this bill. HB 1308 would give a defense to prosecution for Indian tribes that conduct otherwise illegal casino gambling operations. The bill is the exact same piece of legislation which failed to pass the House last session. According to Rep. Chavez and other supporters, the bill would simply allow two tribes, the Tigua of El Paso and the Alabama-Coushatta of Livingston to reopen illegal casinos that were shut down several years ago. While sympathetic to the desperate conditions on these two reservations, the Christian Life Commission opposes this piece of legislation because we believe that the consequences of passage may be far more expansive than what proponents are indicating.
HB 1308 does not improve the legal standing of gambling by the Texas tribes bound by the Restoration Act. The state has never used criminal charges to shut down illegal Native-American casinos. The state has the right to sue the tribe in federal court and seek injunctive relief. This is how the casinos were closed in the past and the bill cannot prevent the state from closing any casino opened by the Tigua or Alabama-Coushatta. The gambling activity the tribes seek to conduct is not just an illegal violation of the penal code that this bill amends; it is UNCONSTITUTIONAL according to the Texas Constitution. A statute passed by a simple legislative majority cannot trump the state constitution. While it may preclude criminal penalties the state may still seek to have any operating casino shut down in federal civil court. The bill is an attempt to expand gambling by a simple majority vote in the legislature rather than the two-thirds majority needed for a constitutional amendment. The end result of this bill would likely be more costly litigation on the part of the state in federal court.
Additionally, the vague language in the bill would actually open a legal loophole to Native-American tribes that are 1) named in the list of tribes referenced in the bill, 2) which have historic, recognized land ties to Texas and 3) are not bound by the Restoration Act. The list of tribes referenced in the bill includes over 300 tribes from across the country, several of whom have entered into agreements with state agencies acknowledging “historic property” in Texas. There are currently letters of intent to petition for recognition on file with the Bureau of Indian Affairs from 10 tribes seeking recognition in Texas.
The members of the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee should hear from those opposed to this bill so that it is defeated in committee. A link to the committee and their contact info can be found here.
That afternoon, the House Committee on Border and Intergovernmental Affairs heard testimony on HJR 108. This Joint Resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to allow the Tigua tribe of El Paso to operate a full blown, Las Vegas style casino. The CLC testified in opposition to this bill as well. Any constitutional amendment which would allow Class III gambling as defined under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) would be a “trigger” for further Native-American casinos beyond what is authorized in this resolution. It is impossible to authorize gambling for only one tribe without affecting the rights of other tribes in this state. As has been the case in other states, once the Class III threshold is crossed, the state loses much of the ability to control casino expansion since many of the decisions will be made on the federal level.
A link to the members of the Border and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee can be found here.
A news report of these two hearings can be found here.
To learn more about HB 1308 and the history of Native-American gambling in Texas see here (PDF).
Couple things. First, as you know, I support HB222. Of all the various gambling expansion options I’ve seen, allowing for poker seems to me to be the most sensible and least potentially harmful. Plus, as a bridge player who has had the chance to play for money legally, I think poker is a legitimate game of skill and should be treated as such. In fact, poker players in Pennsylvania and South Carolina recently won court rulings that agreed poker is a game of skill. As such, it’s not clear to me that the AG’s opinion would agree with the CLC about the inherent level of chance here. Of course, I Am Not A Lawyer, and Lord only knows what Greg Abbott will do. The point is that recent legal history is on the poker players’ side. I welcome any feedback on that question, and on the other legal points raised, by anyone who has more expertise on the topic.
Second, you can’t talk about the Tigua and Alabama-Coushatta tribes and the litigation over their past attempts to open casinos without noting that a lot of the opposition to them has come from out of state Indian tribes and casinos, who have an obvious interest in minimizing their competition, and that along the way some really sleazy double-dealing was done by former Christian Coalition honcho Ralph Reed and Tom DeLay’s felonious friend Jack Abramoff. Here’s some previous blogging on the subject, plus a couple of corrected links to Observer articles to give you the background.
Finally, just to reiterate, outside of HB222, I am officially agnostic on the subject of expanded gambling in Texas. I have plenty of issues with it, and I may wind up voting against any future ballot propositions to allow for more gambling, but I am not comfortable being opposed to the idea. I thought this email was informative and worth highlighting, but please don’t take that as an endorsement, because it’s not intended as one. | 2019-04-20T03:01:47Z | http://offthekuff.com/wp/?tag=pennsylvania |
Compound , through the series of amides , was discovered to have ADME properties considered enough to allow it for being applied like a proof of principle compound in xenograft models of cancer and was for that reason characterised more entirely. Compound was discovered to block proliferation of 3 distinctive cancer cells lines with related IC values of nM, inhibit Auroras A, B, and C with Ki values of , and nM, respectively, and present fold selectivity over kinases as well as Src and GSKb. In addition, it had been implemented to present that blocking of mitosis by an Aurora inhibitor success in cell death . The cell death was thanks to apoptosis as proven by annexin V binding, DNA fragmentation ELISA and TUNEL staining. In the two week xenograft experiment, the compound inhibited the growth with the MCF tumour by when administered at its highest tolerated dose .
Animal physique weights were largely unaffected, even though, as expected, total white blood cell counts had been decreased. Taken with each other, these final results improved our belief in Aurora kinase inhibition being a target for cancer treatment. While quinazoline compounds this kind of as had properties ample for demonstrating pharmacological exercise, selleck chemicals purchase IWP-2 far better potency and enhanced physical properties, specifically solubility, were necessary for clinical advancement. Examination of co complicated crystal structures led towards the hypothesis that the lipophilic binding supplied from the fused benzene portion on the quinazoline could be replaced by appropriate substitution on the position of a pyrimidine ring. The method of utilizing a pyrimidine rather then a quinazoline being a core scaffold was notably captivating in that it was anticipated to supply the scope for getting ready a lot more soluble molecules.
More lipophilic binding could be obtained by building more effective interactions during the pocket utilised through the i thought about this methyl group within the pyrazole of compound or by raising the size or nature from the amide group. A series of compounds built to optimise the substitution with the position of your pyrazole as well as size in the amide over the thiophenyl ether group showed that while gains in potency might possibly be accomplished, a comparison between compounds , illustrates this stage, it was in most cases on the cost of basic kinase selectivity . Being a consequence, optimisation of pyrimidine based Aurora inhibitors was focussed on methylpyrazoles and amides of compact aliphatic acids since the thiophenyl substituent.
Lipophilic substitution with the position from the new pyrimidine scaffold, as illustrated from the sequence of inhibitors in Table , led to compounds that were equal in potency against Aurora A to quinazoline but without having gains in cellular potency.
From the docking experiments by Autodock , it had been located the interaction of pyrazolo pyridine derivatives with Aurora A kinase is equivalent to that of PHA . The aminopyrazole group would type three hydrogen bonds with GlU and AlA residues. So the pyrazolo pyridine derivatives need to bear the equivalent anti proliferative exercise to PHA. Therefore, a series of its derivatives had been synthesized . As for tolyl group, the exercise of methyl in meta place is larger than para and ortho in HCT cell line. When it comes to chlorine atom, the spot and quantity have little result to the actions . As for that electron withdrawing groups CF and F, para place showed very good routines. With regard to your electron donating groups this kind of as methoxy, ortho place k is superior to para position j, nonetheless k was invalid on the cell line. Furthermore, compound l getting two methoxy groups substituted over the meta position was synthesized and it had been discovered that l showed fantastic inhibitory pursuits in 3 sorts of cell lines.
Furthermore, furan, pyridine, and heterocyclic derivatives have been also examined, and their activities have been also well. Among them substituted pyridyl derivative p had the best activity, which could possibly be ascribed on the formation of an extra hydrogen bond between the pyridine nitrogen and also the PF-2545920 molecular weight phenol hydroxyl moiety of TYR aside from the widespread 3 hydrogen bonds using the GlU and AlA residues reported by Fancelli et al. and Talele and McLaughlin. In conclusion, a series of new compounds bearing pyrazolo pyridine scaffold, represented being a novel class of compounds to inhibit the Aurora A?s activity, had been synthesized and evaluated. They really should interact using the Aurora A kinases during the very similar mode to PHA.
The ongoing deliver the results aimed to examine the efficacy Compound Libraries of compounds p, s, and p in the variety of in vivo designs, are going to be the subjects of potential reports. Cancer cells often consist of mutations in the variety of genes, which ultimately lead to uncontrolled cell growth and tumor metastasis. As enzymes specific for and very important to cell development and division, Aurora kinases hold the potential to get necessary control points for slowing the development and spread of tumors. Aurora relatives kinases regulate vital events while in mitosis which includes centrosome maturation and separation, mitotic spindle assembly, and chromosome segregation. Misregulation of Aurora kinases resulting from genetic amplification and protein overexpression success in aneuploidy and may well contribute to tumorigenesis.
3 Aurora kinase isoforms A, B and C really are a household of serine threonine kinases that are believed to perform a variety of roles from the development and progression of cancer, by acting as regulators of cell proliferation, by transforming normal cells into cancer cells and by down regulating the tumor suppressor p. The Aurora enzymes are expressed in mammals, each and every of and that is believed to play critical roles in regulating mitosis.
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The going here pro apoptotic exercise of c IAP fragment, which does not have BIR, will not be surprising since RING domains of other baculoviral and mammalian IAPs are able to induce apoptosis when expressed devoid of their BIR domains . We recently described a novel regulatory mechanism by which Livin is particularly cleaved by effector caspases at Asp to produce a big C terminal sub unit containing the two the BIR and RING domains . In contrast to XIAP and c IAP, our final results pertaining to Livin, showed the first illustration of an IAP cleavage item that acts being a pro apoptotic factor even though it includes a BIR domain. A achievable explanation for this exceptional habits is that an additional, as but undetermined, motif while in the primary amino acids of Livin can modulate the anti apoptotic result on the BIR domain.
The absence of this motif may possibly enhance the E ubiquitin ligase activity with the RING domain that in flip targets other anti apoptotic proteins to proteasome mediated degradation. Interestingly, effector caspases read this article , and and never upstream initiator caspases and are responsible for the specific proteolytic cleavage from the numerous IAP proteins. This is often despite the fact that these anti apoptotic things can interact with both types of caspases. This might allow the cell to type a gradient of inhibition along the apoptotic cascade. At the upstream degree, IAPs inhibit caspase , which can not cleave any IAP. However, the moment the cells are committed to apoptosis and downstream caspases are energetic, they are able to overcome IAP inhibition by a specific cleavage.
Phosphorylation has also been shown to be involved in the regulation of sure IAPs. Most a short while ago, Akt using a professional survival result, was shown to interact with and phosphorylate XIAP. Phosphorylation of XIAP decreased its ubiquitination, which resulted in better stability of XIAP .
We utilized placental microvascular density to characterize the angiogenic environment inside of the placental bed and we give proof to recommend that these alterations in our examine are certainly not related with elevated VEGF expression. Rather, we demonstrated that PEDF, an endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis, is expressed in ordinary placentas and its loss is associated with stillbirth and heightened angiogenesis. Subsequent research which investigate the interactions amongst angiogenic inhibitor PEDF and inducer VEGF beneath altered environmental situations similar to intrauterine hypoxia could further elucidate probable mechanisms associated with perinatal condition processes similar to intrauterine fetal demise. Partial ureteral obstruction is among the most typical concerns in urological practice. It’s been demonstrated that urinary tract obstruction induces progressive apoptosis of each renal tubular and interstitial cells . Tubular cell apoptosis is called a significant factor to the progressive renal tissue loss in obstructive uropathy.
Nitric oxide is shown for being created in acute unilateral ureter obstruction and it is recognized to modify renal selleck chemicals signaling inhibitor hemodynamics inside the early phase within the obstruction . This substance functions as an antifibrotic element while in the persistent phase of UUO . NO synthase , the enzyme accountable for that production of NO, has 3 significant isoforms, namely, neuronal, endothelial, and inducible NOS. Whilst endothelial NOS is Cat dependent and it is expressed in many tissues, like testes, inducible NOS is Cat independent and it is induced in tissues after publicity to inflammatory cytokines or ischemia . Sildenafil citrate, vardenafil HCl, and tadalafil are widely applied as major treatment methods of erectile dysfunction .
They’re phosphodiesterase purchase GW9662 inhibitors and enhance cyclic guanosine monophosphate and NO mediated vasodilatation with resulting improvement of ED . Even though these drugs had been developed for ED, they grew to become one particular within the most regularly prescribed pharmaceuticals. The romance among PDE inhibitors and apoptosis was also reported. Sildenafil is not long ago shown to possess a powerful protective result towards apoptosis as a result of a NO signaling pathway . The aim of your present examine was to evaluate the effects of sildenafil citrate, vardenafil HCl, and tadalafil on renal tubular apoptosis and in addition on expressions of eNOS and iNOS in rat PUUO model. Sufferers and techniques The experimental review was carried out just after obtaining the approval of the community Ethics Committee. Forty Wistar albino rats have been enrolled.
All surgical interventions had been performed underneath sterile conditions from the similar surgical group with the exact same time period and atmosphere. The rats have been randomly assigned into 5 experimental groups. The groups have been classified as followsdGroup : PUUO; Group : PUUO t sildenafil inhibitorst ; Group : PUUO t vardenafil inhibitorst ; Group : PUUO t tadalafil inhibitorst ; and Group : sham.
In human, BAFF mRNA was abundant from the spleen and B lymphocytes . Thymus, heart, placenta, small intestine, and lung showed weak expression. Thus, lymphoid cells would be the key supply of BAFF in human. Our data produce new locating that BAFF is additionally expressed in mammary epithelial cells along with myeloid cells and T cells, and associated with the Expi induced apoptosis of mammary epithelial cells . It’s been regarded the BAFF functions by way of three BAFF receptors: BAFF receptor, TNF receptor homologue TACI , and BCMA . The RT PCR and Northern analyses showed that only expression from the BAFF receptor was detected and induced within the Expi transfected cells , although the TACI and the BCMA expressions weren’t detected in mammary epithelial cells . High degree of BAFF R expression was detected in numerous B cell lines, but cell lines of T cell, fibroblastic, epithelial , and enothelial origin have been all negative for BAFF R expression . In other experiments with human tissues, high levels of BAFF R mRNA were detected while in the spleen and lymph nodes .
Similarly, murine BAFF R was expressed at high amounts inside the spleen and at reduced levels while in the lung and thymus. Our research shows that BAFF R gene can also be expressed in mammary selleckchem kinase inhibitor epithelial cells as well as B cells. The data demonstrate that the Expi induced mammary apoptosis is linked with BAFF molecules and mediated by way of BAFF receptor. Presently, how Expi is linked with BAFF molecule is not recognized. Even further research is needed to identify interacting mechanisms amongst Expi and BAFF molecules. Within the present studies, the induction of Bax, cytochrome c, caspase , caspase , and caspase was observed while in the Expi transfected cells. Hence, the Expi induced apoptotic pathway would seem to adhere to activation of professional apoptotic Bax, release of cytochrome c through the mitochondria to your cytosol, and serial activation of caspases . In this study, we observed DNA fragmentation and induction of CIDE A gene expression inside the Expi transfected cells. CIDEs perform as signaling parts that regulate the ability of a caspase activated deoxyribonuclease to mediate DNA fragmentation .
Thus, the general information in the existing study show that Expi induces apoptosis of mammary epithelial cells. Seeing that BAFF and BAFF receptor are primarily expressed in lymphocytes, the raise in Expi, BAFF, and BAFF receptor could have some relation while in the communication of epithelial cells with lymphocytes to induce apoptosis in mammary Scriptaid epithelial cells for the duration of in vivo mammary gland regression. The Expi may perhaps have an essential function in extracellular matrix remodeling throughout the operation of mammary apoptosis. These ought to be tested in vivo technique.
A variety of agents are already reported to induce overreplication. In particular, ? radiation induces above replication in p? ? and p? ? cells through cytokinesis failure . In this case, cells enter mitosis and progress into G phase without the need of completion of cytokinesis. Considering that mitotic entry in more than replicating cells depends upon the degree of CDK action , doses of ? radiation capable of inducing in excess of replication may perhaps only partially inhibit CDK exercise. Doses of ? radiation that thoroughly inhibit CDK exercise might induce cytotoxicity. About the other hand, our final results showed that mitotic entry is inhibited while in bleomycin induced in excess of replication. Even at low cytotoxic concentrations, bleomycin is very likely to inhibit CDK activity, main to over replication as a consequence of inhibition of mitotic entry. Bleomycin brings about times fewer DNA cleavages in S phase cells than in G or G M phase cells . Inhibition of cell cycle progression is probably to depend over the extent of DNA cleavage induced by bleomycin .
These benefits propose that bleomycin at lowconcentrations with lowcytotoxicity looks to inhibit mitotic entry rather then DNA replication, thereby resulting in the induction of more than replication. We found that inhibition on the ATM ATR pathway suppressed bleomycin induced more than replication. As described over, decreased ranges of cyclin B by degradation may perhaps be accountable for G arrest and subsequent over replication while in the selleckchem discover this late phase of treatment. This raises the probability the ATM ATR pathway is associated with regulation of cyclin B degradation. Time lapse recording and movement cytometry examination showed that cyclin B degraded progressively through the early phase in response to bleomycin treatment, suggesting the ATM ATR pathway activated by bleomycin induced DNA injury may possibly stimulate the degradation pathway of cyclin B from the early phase . Quite a few reports described crosstalk among the DNA injury checkpoint and also the proteolysis pathway .
Nonperiodic pop over to this site activation of APC induced polyploidization . In some kinds of cells, like human megakaryocytes, Drosophila follicle cells, and yeast, activation of APC mediated proteolysis contributes to polyploidization . Activation of the degradation pathway in response to DNA injury is probable to contribute for the induction of in excess of replication. As an illustration, the degradation of geminin, an APC substrate and potent inhibitor in the initiation of DNA replication , could possibly be related to more than replication aswell as the degradation of cyclin B. ATM is required to the good function from the DNA restore pathway in response to bleomycin induced DNA harm in mammalian cells .
Our final results are comparable to these in cells with impaired AK activity that failed to pass the spindle assembly checkpoint and arrested prior to cytokinesis, resulting in polyploidy . Other groups also discovered that failure of the spindle assembly checkpoint because of AK inhibition decreased cell viability . Considering the fact that AK inhibition was not lethal, Giardia might possibly not possess a spindle assembly checkpoint. It has been proposed that protozoa could lack or have divergent cell cycle checkpoints. We utilised the anti phosphorylated AK A antibody to specifically localise the presumably lively giardial pAK. This has proven to get a worthwhile tool to identify and examine Giardia cells in mitosis. Inhibition of AK activity also decreases pAK, suggesting that like Ipl and human AK A, gAK is most likely for being autophosphorylated . AK inhibitor ZM inhibits phosphorylation of Thr in AK A in Xenopus eggs . Even more studies are required to elucidate the pathway and consequences of phosphorylation of gAK. Extra conserved eukaryotic mitotic aspects are vital to AK perform .
gCenH, a homologue of metazoan CENP A, localised to centromeres . CENP A is known as a histone H variant that is phosphorylated by AK A during prophase and assists to recruit AK B to assist in correct spindle microtubule attachment on the kinetochore . Nevertheless, a lot of proteins that associate and interact with aurora in other organisms appear for being missing in Giardia , much like T. brucei . Specifically, GiardiaDB searches did not reveal orthologues of TXP, Ajuba, SB590885 p, INCENP, Survivin and Tousled. Whilst gAK plainly localised to microtubular structures, the proteins that ordinarily mediate these interactions are missing or also divergent to be confidently recognized. Other proteins which have been apparently missing from your Giardia genome are p, vimentin and desmin. p is important towards the spindle assembly checkpoint in metazoan cells . Vimentin and desmin are phosphorylated and destabilised by AK B at cytokinesis and localise near the centrosomes in other protozoa .
The absence of your leading identified AK substrates and effector proteins suggests that Giardia utilises proteins and pathways numerous selleckchem TAK-438 from most metazoan cells to finish mitosis. Based on each the localisation and inhibitor results, we propose that gAK is involved with the regulation of microtubule disassembly in Giardia mitosis by way of: direct phosphorylation and destabilisation of still unidentified cytoskeletal proteins or recruitment of microtubule destabilising proteins or complexes towards the web sites of cytoskeletal disassembly. In long term studies, we will attempt to elucidate giardial mitotic checkpoints and also to recognize substrates of gAK. As a consequence of its part in Giardia growth and its apparently divergent substrate specificity compared with human AKs, gAK might be an outstanding target for selective anti giardial remedy.
Following quick centrifugation, supernatants have been assayed for protein concentration by using the Dc Assay kit and boiled for min with sodium dodecyl sulfate sample buffer . Samples of prostate homogenates have been subjected to SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and proteins were blotted on Protran nitrocellulose membranes . Membranes have been blocked above evening, and subsequently incubated with rabbit anti phospho Akt antibody, mouse anti phospho Akt antibody, or mouse anti Akt antibody . Subsequently, membranes were washed with phosphate buffered saline containing . Tween , and incubated with secondary peroxidase coupled goat anti mouse or anti rabbit antibody . Blots had been produced with enhanced chemiluminescence implementing ECL Hyperfilm . Intensities within the resulting bands have been quantified implementing Image J . In every single experiment, samples with no noradrenaline or phenylephrine were set to , and information of stimulated samples have been expressed as of these unstimulated samples.
Immunohistochemistry Sections from frozen tissues have been stained by an indirect immunoperoxidase process. Sections were fixed with acetone, and endogenous peroxidase action was blocked by . HO. Thereafter, sections have been blocked with horse serum diluted : in PBS and incubated with mouse anti Akt antibody . Primary antibodies have been diluted : in PBS at space PP242 temperature and incubated with the sections more than night. Just after washing fold in PBS, biotinylated secondary horse anti mouse antibody and avidin biotin peroxidase complicated have been sequentially utilized for min every single. Staining was performed together with the AEC peroxidase substrate kit . Eventually, all sections have been counterstained with hemalaun. Control stainings with out major antibodies did not yield any immunoreactivity. Tension measurements Prostate strips had been mounted in ml aerated tissue baths , containing Krebs Henseleit answer . Preparations had been stretched to . g and left to equilibrate for min to achieve a sInhibitors resting tone.
After the equilibration time period, optimum contraction induced by mM KCl was assessed. Subsequently, chambers had been washed selleck chemicals PHT-427 3 times with Krebs Henseleit alternative to get a total of min. Cumulative concentration response curves for noradrenaline were developed just before and immediately after addition of Akt inhibitors , or on the solvent dimethylsulfoxide . Cumulative concentration response curves for the adrenergic agonist phenylephrine were produced following addition of Akt inhibitors or DMSO. Frequency response curves induced by electric discipline stimulation have been created ahead of and just after addition of Akt inhibitors or DMSO. ELISA Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for phospho Akt was carried out utilizing PathScan Sandwich ELISA kits . Frozen prostate tissues were homogenized within the Cell Lysis Buffer, which was included while in the kits, and by using the FastPrep procedure with matrix A .
Earlier, Epand et al reported that the negative curvature in membranes which is necessary for OMM permeabilization was promoted by tBID . Correspondingly, in our experiments the lack of significant OMM permeabilization by BAX alone might be explained by the lack of alterations within the membrane curvature. In our experiments, tBID and Ca augmented BAX insertion oligomerization from the OMM and strongly amplified membranepermeabilizing exercise of BAX. The Ca dependent amplification of BAX activity is of individual interest. Bearing in thoughts that BAX could cause Ca efflux in the endoplasmic reticulum and, hence, increase the likelihood on the Ca induced mPT , the Ca induced stimulation of BAX insertion oligomerization inside the OMM resulting in enhanced OMM permeabilization may well signify a feed forward amplification loop guaranteeing prosperous, irreversible progression of your apoptotic program. Previously, it was proven that Ca stimulated BAX mediated Cyt c release from isolated liver mitochondria . On the other hand, the mechanism of this stimulation was not investigated even more.
In our study with isolated brain mitochondria, we demonstrated that the Ca induced amplification with the BAX mediated Cyt c release occurred parallel to augmented alkali resistant BAX insertion oligomerization while in the OMM, and that both BAX insertion oligomerization in theOMM and BAX mediated Cyt c release had been facilitated by mPT induction. Consequently, our success propose augmented BAX insertion oligomerization a mechanistic link amongst the Ca induced mPT and purchase SCH 900776 improved BAXmediated Cyt c release. In contrast to Ca , tBID stimulated BAX insertion, oligomerization, and Cyt c release appeared to become mPTindependent, but in this instance augmented BAX insertion oligomerization also correlated with the increased Cyt c release. Anti apoptotic Bcl , a close relative of Bcl xL , can inhibit professional apoptotic BAX activity by heterodimerizing with BAX or by binding tBID and hence precluding tBID dependent activation of BAX . No matter whether Bcl xL BAX heterodimerization affected BAX insertion oligomerization while in the OMM or inhibited currently inserted and oligomerized BAX remained unclear.
In our experiments, recombinant anti apoptotic protein Bcl xL failed to avoid BAX insertion and oligomerization selleck chemicals oral MEK inhibitor in the OMM. However, Bcl xL strongly inhibited Cyt c release induced by a blend of BAX and Ca . Earlier,we showed that recombinant Bcl xL inhibited Cyt c release induced by a mixture of tBID and monomeric BAX . Hence, our effects assistance a scenario during which Bcl xL inhibits inserted oligomerized BAX and emphasize the truth that BAX insertion oligomerization within the OMM may be dissociated fromOMMpermeabilization. How Bcl xL restrains the inserted oligomerized BAXfrompermeabilizing theOMMhas yet to be established.
As a result, we performed the membrane insertion and pore formation assay of Bcl xL with folds of lipids. To map the binding interface of Bcl xL subunits in LUV, cysteinedirected cross linking was utilized to explore Bcl xL residues at the interface. Cysteine directed cross linking is successfully utilized to research the molecular architecture of membrane protein complex. For example, SecYEG is really a protein complicated that mediates the translocation and membrane integration of proteins in Escherichia coli. To probe the interaction web sites concerning the subunits of SecYEG complicated about the membrane, cysteines were launched into transmembrane segments of SecY and SecE . In the event the C atoms in the cysteines of two subunits are while in the selection of , they’re able to type a disulfide bond at oxidizing circumstances of CuP . By this technique, distinct residues with the interface between SecY and SecE had been identified.
Similarly, cysteine directed PIK-75 cross linking was employed in our present study to map the binding interface of Bcl xL subunits in lipids. Especially, Bcl xL was incubated with folds of LUV followed by reaction with membrane permeant oxidative, CuP. As shown in Inhibitors A , two main bands close to kDa and kDa, corresponding to two isoforms of BclxL disulfide bond dimers , seem after incubation in the liposomebound Bcl xL with CuP. This consequence is consistent which has a previous report that Bcl forms SDS resistant dimer soon after incubation with liposomes at pH Because the protein was incubated with folds of LUV in advance of the oxidization, the disulfide bond should be formed within the liposomes. Actually, only negligible disulfide bond dimer was detected from the absence of LUV , confirming that the disulfide bond dimer is formed in liposomes. As Bcl xL has only one cysteine residue and found within the helix , it must be with the binding interface of Bcl xL subunits in membranes. To more map the residues on the binding interface, we substituted Cys with alanine and modified other probable residues of Bcl xL to cysteine.
From these mutants, we uncovered that Bcl xL could selleckchem order Omecamtiv mecarbil type disulfide bound dimer within the presence of LUV and CuP . In contrast, the incubation with LUV and CuP will not induce the disulfide bond dimer formation of Bcl xL , which excludes the possibility that the disulfide bond dimer formation of Bcl xL and Bcl xL is due to non precise cross linking of cysteine residues arising from a basic unfolding of Bcl xL in liposomes. Hence, the disulfide bond formation of Bcl xL and Bcl xL in LUV signifies that Cys on helix and Asn on helix are at the binding interface of two neighboring Bcl xL subunits. Meanwhile, it was reported that the domain swapped dimer of BclxL could insert to the synthetic membranes and type pores as Bcl xL monomer . | 2019-04-23T14:45:50Z | https://srcsignaling.com/2013/06 |
This is the start of the real journey toward the successful deployment of Samba. For some this chapter is the end of the road because their needs will have been adequately met. For others, this chapter is the beginning of a journey that will take them well past the contents of this book. This book provides example configurations of, for the greater part, complete networking solutions. The intent of this book is to help you to get your Samba installation working with the least amount of pain and aggravation.
This chapter lays the groundwork for understanding the basics of Samba operation. Instead of a bland technical discussion, each principle is demonstrated by way of a real-world scenario for which a working solution is fully described.
The practical exercises take you on a journey through a drafting office, a charity administration office, and an accounting office. You may choose to apply any or all of these exercises to your own environment.
Every assignment case can be implemented far more creatively, but remember that the solutions you create are designed to demonstrate a particular solution possibility. With experience, you should find much improved solutions compared with those presented here. By the time you complete this book, you should aim to be a Samba expert, so do attempt to find better solutions and try them as you work your way through the examples.
Each case presented highlights different aspects of Windows networking for which a simple Samba-based solution can be provided. Each has subtly different requirements taken from real-world cases. The cases are briefly reviewed to cover important points. Instructions are based on the assumption that the official Samba Team RPM package has been installed.
Our fictitious company is called Abmas Design, Inc. This is a three-person computer-aided design (CAD) business that often has more work than can be handled. The business owner hires contract draftspeople from wherever he can. They bring their own notebook computers into the office. There are four permanent drafting machines. Abmas has a collection of over 10 years of plans that must be available for all draftsmen to reference. Abmas hires the services of an experienced network engineer to update the plans that are stored on a central server one day per month. She knows how to upload plans from each machine. The files available from the server must remain read-only. Anyone should be able to access the plans at any time and without barriers or difficulty.
The four permanent drafting machines (Microsoft Windows workstations) have attached printers and plotters that are shared on a peer-to-peer basis by any and all network users. The intent is to continue to share printers in this manner. The three permanent staff work together with all contractors to store all new work on one PC. A daily copy is made of the work storage area to another PC for safekeeping. When the network consultant arrives, the weekly work area is copied to the central server and the files are removed from the main weekly storage machine. The office works best with this arrangement and does not want to change anything. Old habits are too ingrained.
The requirements for this server installation demand simplicity. An anonymous read-only file server adequately meets all needs. The network consultant determines how to upload all files from the weekly storage area to the server. This installation should focus only on critical aspects of the installation.
It is not necessary to have specific users on the server. The site has a method for storing all design files (plans). Each plan is stored in a directory that is named YYYYWW, where YYYY is the year, and WW is the week of the year. This arrangement allows work to be stored by week of year to preserve the filing technique the site is familiar with. There is also a customer directory that is alphabetically listed. At the top level are 26 directories (A-Z), in each is a second-level of directory for the first plus second letters of the name (A-Z); inside each is a directory by the customers' name. Inside each directory is a symbolic link to each design drawing or plan. This way of storing customer data files permits all plans to be located both by customer name and by the date the work was performed, without demanding the disk space that would be needed if a duplicate file copy were to be stored. The share containing the plans is called Plans.
It is assumed that the server is fully installed and ready for installation and configuration of Samba 3.0.20 and any support files needed. All TCP/IP addresses have been hard-coded. In our case the IP address of the Samba server is 192.168.1.1 and the netmask is 255.255.255.0. The hostname of the server used is server.
Download the Samba-3 RPM packages for Red Hat Fedora Core2 from the Samba FTP servers.
The 755 permissions on this directory (mount point) permit the owner to read, write, and execute, and the group and everyone else to read and execute only.
Use Red Hat Linux system tools (refer to Red Hat instructions) to format the 160GB hard drive with a suitable file system. An Ext3 file system is suitable. Configure this drive to automatically mount using the /plans directory as the mount point.
Install the smb.conf file shown in “Drafting Office smb.conf File” in the /etc/samba directory.
Make certain that all clients are set to the same network address range as used for the Samba server. For example, one client might have an IP address 192.168.1.10.
Ensure that the netmask used on the Windows clients matches that used for the Samba server. All clients must have the same netmask, such as 255.255.255.0.
Set the workgroup name on all clients to MIDEARTH.
Verify on each client that the machine called SERVER is visible in the Network Neighborhood, that it is possible to connect to it and see the share Plans, and that it is possible to open that share to reveal its contents.
The first priority in validating the new Samba configuration should be to check that Samba answers on the loop-back interface. Then it is time to check that Samba answers its own name correctly. Last, check that a client can connect to the Samba server.
This indicates that Samba is able to respond on the loopback interface to a NULL connection. The -U% means send an empty username and an empty password. This command should be repeated after Samba has been running for 15 minutes.
The output should be identical to the previous response. Samba has been configured to ignore all usernames given; instead it uses the guest account for all connections.
From the Windows 9x/Me client, launch Windows Explorer: [Desktop: right-click] Network Neighborhood+Explore → [Left Panel] [+] Entire Network → [Left Panel] [+] Server → [Left Panel] [+] Plans. In the right panel you should see the files and directories (folders) that are in the Plans share.
The fictitious charity organization is called Abmas Vision NL. This office has five networked computers. Staff are all volunteers, staff changes are frequent. Ms. Amy May, the director of operations, wants a no-hassle network. Anyone should be able to use any PC. Only two Windows applications are used: a custom funds tracking and management package that stores all files on the central server and Microsoft Word. The office prepares mail-out letters, invitations, and thank-you notes. All files must be stored in perpetuity. The custom funds tracking and management (FTM) software is configured to use a server named SERVER, a share named FTMFILES, and a printer queue named PRINTQ that uses preprinted stationery, thus demanding a dedicated printer. This printer does not need to be mapped to a local printer on the workstations.
The FTM software has been in use since the days of Windows 3.11. The software was configured by the vendor who has since gone out of business. The identities of the file server and the printer are hard-coded in a configuration file that was created using a setup tool that the vendor did not provide to Abmas Vision NL or to its predecessors. The company that produced the software is no longer in business. In order to avoid risk of any incompatibilities, the share name and the name of the target print queue must be set precisely as the application expects. In fact, share names and print queue names should be treated as case insensitive (i.e., case does not matter), but Abmas Vision advises that if the share name is not in lowercase, the application claims it cannot find the file share.
Printer handling in Samba results in a significant level of confusion. Samba presents to the MS Windows client only a print queue. The Samba smbd process passes a print job sent to it from the Windows client to the native UNIX printing system. The native UNIX printing system (spooler) places the job in a print queue from which it is delivered to the printer. In this book, network diagrams refer to a printer by the name of the print queue that services that printer. It does not matter what the fully qualified name (or the hostname) of a network-attached printer is. The UNIX print spooler is configured to correctly deliver all jobs to the printer.
This organization has a policy forbidding use of privately owned computers on site as a measure to prevent leakage of confidential information. Only the five PCs owned by Abmas Vision NL are used on this network.
The central server was donated by a local computer store. It is a dual processor Pentium-III server, has 1GB RAM, a 3-Ware IDE RAID Controller that has four 200GB IDE hard drives, and a 100-base-T network card. The office has 100-base-T permanent network connections that go to a central hub, and all equipment is new. The five network computers all are equipped with Microsoft Windows Me. Funding is limited, so the server has no operating system on it. You have approval to install Samba on Linux, provided it works without problems. There are two HP LaserJet 5 PS printers that are network connected. The second printer is to be used for general office and letter printing. Your recommendation to allow only the Linux server to print directly to the printers was accepted. You have supplied SUSE Enterprise Linux Server 9 and have upgraded Samba to version 3.0.20.
This installation demands simplicity. Frequent turnover of volunteer staff indicates that a network environment that requires users to logon might be problematic. It is suggested that the best solution for this office would be one where the user can log onto any PC with any username and password. Samba can accommodate an office like this by using the force user parameter in share and printer definitions. Using the force user parameter ensures that all files are owned by same user identifier (UID) and thus that there will never be a problem with file access due to file access permissions. Additionally, you elect to use the nt acl support = No option to ensure that access control lists (Posix type) cannot be written to any file or directory. This prevents an inadvertent ACL from overriding actual file permissions.
This organization is a prime candidate for Share Mode security. The force user allows all files to be owned by the same user and group. In addition, it would not hurt to set SUID and set SGID shared directories. This means that all new files that are created, no matter who creates it, are owned by the owner or group of the directory in which they are created. For further information regarding the significance of the SUID/SGID settings, see “A Collection of Useful Tidbits”, “Effect of Setting File and Directory SUID/SGID Permissions Explained”.
All client workstations print to a print queue on the server. This ensures that print jobs continue to print in the event that a user shuts down the workstation immediately after sending a job to the printer. Today, both Red Hat Linux and SUSE Linux use CUPS-based printing. Older Linux systems offered a choice between the LPRng printing system or CUPS. It appears, however, that CUPS has become the leading UNIX printing technology.
The print queues are set up as Raw devices, which means that CUPS will not do intelligent print processing, and vendor-supplied drivers must be installed locally on the Windows clients.
The hypothetical software, FTM, is representative of custom-built software that directly uses a NetBIOS interface. Most such software originated in the days of MS/PC DOS. NetBIOS names are uppercase (and functionally are case insensitive), so some old software applications would permit only uppercase names to be entered. Some such applications were later ported to MS Windows but retain the uppercase network resource naming conventions because customers are familiar with that. We made the decision to name shares and print queues for this application in uppercase for the same reason. Nothing would break if we were to use lowercase names, but that decision might create a need to retrain staff something well avoided at this time.
NetBIOS networking does not print directly to a printer. Instead, all printing is done to a print queue. The print spooling system is responsible for communicating with the physical printer. In this example, therefore, the resource called PRINTQ really is just a print queue. The name of the print queue is representative of the device to which the print spooler delivers print jobs.
It is assumed that the server is fully installed and ready for configuration of Samba 3.0.20 and for necessary support files. All TCP/IP addresses should be hard-coded. In our case, the IP address of the Samba server is 192.168.1.1 and the netmask is 255.255.255.0. The hostname of the server used is server. The office network is built as shown in “Charity Administration Office Network”.
where XXXXXXXX is a secret password.
Use the 3-Ware IDE RAID Controller firmware utilities to configure the four 200GB drives as a single RAID level 5 drive, with one drive set aside as the hot spare. (Refer to the 3-Ware RAID Controller Manual for the manufacturer's preferred procedure.) The resulting drive has a capacity of approximately 500GB of usable space.
Use SUSE Linux system tools (refer to the SUSE Administrators Guide for correct procedures) to format the partition with a suitable file system. The reiserfs file system is suitable. Configure this drive to automount using the /data directory as the mount point. It must be mounted before proceeding.
The chown operation sets the owner to the user abmas and the group to office on all directories just created. It recursively sets the permissions so that the owner and group have SUID/SGID with read, write, and execute permission, and everyone else has read and execute permission. This means that all files and directories are created with the same owner and group as the directory in which they are created. Any new directories created still have the same owner, group, and permissions as the directory they are in. This should eliminate all permissions-based file access problems. For more information on this subject, refer to TOSHARG2 or refer to the UNIX man page for the chmod and the chown commands.
Install the smb.conf file shown in “Charity Administration Office smb.conf New-style File” in the /etc/samba directory. This newer smb.conf file uses user-mode security and is more suited to the mode of operation of Samba-3 than the older share-mode security configuration that was shown in the first edition of this book.
Note: If you want to use the older-style configuration that uses share-mode security, you can install the file shown in “Charity Administration Office smb.conf Old-style File” in the /etc/samba directory.
Configure the printers with the IP address as shown in “Charity Administration Office Network”. Follow the instructions in the manufacturer's manual to permit printing to port 9100 so that the CUPS spooler can print using raw mode protocols.
This creates the necessary print queues with no assigned print filter.
Configure clients to the network settings shown in “Charity Administration Office Network”.
On all Windows clients, set the WINS Server address to 192.168.1.1, the IP address of the server.
Click OK when you are prompted to reboot the system. Reboot the system, then log on using any username and password you choose.
Verify on each client that the machine called SERVER is visible in My Network Places, that it is possible to connect to it and see the share office, and that it is possible to open that share to reveal its contents.
Disable password caching on all Windows 9x/Me machines using the registry change file shown in “Windows Me Registry Edit File: Disable Password Caching”. Be sure to remove all files that have the PWL extension that are in the C:\WINDOWS directory.
Instruct all users to log onto the workstation using a name and password of their own choosing. The Samba server has been configured to ignore the username and password given.
In the box labeled “Drive:”, type G.
In the box labeled “Path:”, enter \\server\officefiles.
Click Reconnect at logon. Click OK.
On each workstation, install the FTM software following the manufacturer's instructions.
During installation, you are prompted for the name of the Windows 98 server. Enter the name SERVER.
You are prompted for the name of the data share. The prompt defaults to FTMFILES. Press enter to accept the default value.
You are now prompted for the print queue name. The default prompt is the name of the server you entered (SERVER as follows: \\SERVER\PRINTQ). Simply accept the default and press enter to continue. The software now completes the installation.
Install an office automation software package of the customer's choice. Either Microsoft Office 2003 Standard or OpenOffice 1.1.0 suffices for any functions the office may need to perform. Repeat this on each workstation.
Click Start → Settings → Printers+Add Printer+Next. Do not click Network printer. Ensure that Local printer is selected.
Click Next. In the Manufacturer: panel, select HP. In the Printers: panel, select the printer called HP LaserJet 5/5M Postscript. Click Next.
In the Available ports: panel, select FILE:. Accept the default printer name by clicking Next. When asked, “Would you like to print a test page?”, click No. Click Finish.
You may be prompted for the name of a file to print to. If so, close the dialog panel. Right-click HP LaserJet 5/5M Postscript → Properties → Details (Tab) → Add Port.
In the Network panel, enter the name of the print queue on the Samba server as follows: \\SERVER\hplj5. Click OK+OK to complete the installation.
It is a good idea to test the functionality of the complete installation before handing the newly configured network over to the Charity Administration Office for production use.
Use the same validation process as was followed in “Validation”.
Abmas Accounting is a 40-year-old family-run business. There are nine permanent computer users. The network clients were upgraded two years ago. All computers run Windows 2000 Professional. This year the server will be upgraded from an old Windows NT4 server (actually running Windows NT4 Workstation, which worked fine for fewer than 10 users) that has run in workgroup (standalone) mode, to a new Linux server running Samba.
The office does not want a Domain Server. Mr. Alan Meany wants to keep the Windows 2000 Professional clients running as workgroup machines so that any staff member can take a machine home and keep working. It has worked well so far, and your task is to replace the old server. All users have their own workstation logon (you configured it that way when the machines were installed). Mr. Meany wants the new system to operate the same way as the old Windows NT4 server users cannot access each others' files, but he can access everyone's files. Each person's work files are in a separate share on the server. Users log on to their Windows workstation with their username and enter an assigned password; they do not need to enter a password when accessing their files on the server.
The requirements of this network installation are not unusual. The staff are not interested in the details of networking. Passwords are never changed. In this example solution, we demonstrate the use of User Mode security in a simple context. Directories should be set SGID to ensure that members of a common group can access the contents. Each user has his or her own share to which only they can connect. Mr. Meany's share will be a top-level directory above the share point for each employee. Mr. Meany is a member of the same group as his staff and can access their work files. The well-used HP LaserJet 4 is available as a service called hplj.
You have finished configuring the new hardware and have just completed installation of Red Hat Fedora Core2. Roll up your sleeves and let's get to work.
The workstations have fixed IP addresses. The old server runs Windows NT4 Workstation, so it cannot be running as a WINS server. It is best that the new configuration preserves the same configuration. The office does not use Internet access, so security really is not an issue.
The core information regarding the users, their passwords, the directory share point, and the share name is given in “Accounting Office Network Information”. The overall network topology is shown in “Accounting Office Network Topology”. All machines have been configured as indicated prior to the start of Samba configuration. The following prescriptive steps may now commence.
Rename the old server from CASHPOOL to STABLE by logging onto the console as the Administrator. Restart the machine following system prompts.
Name the new server CASHPOOL using the standard configuration method. Restart the machine following system prompts.
Install the latest Samba-3 binary Red Hat Linux RPM that is available from the Samba FTP site.
Install the smb.conf file shown in “Accounting Office Network smb.conf Old Style Configuration File”.
root# useradd -m -G accts -c "Name of User" "LoginID"
Changing password for user "LoginID"
The data storage structure is now prepared for use.
On Alan's workstation, use Windows Explorer to migrate the files from the old server to the new server. The new server should appear in the Network Neighborhood with the name of the old server (CASHPOOL).
Log on to Alan's workstation as the user alan.
Launch a second instance of Windows Explorer and navigate to the share called files on the server called STABLE.
Click in the right panel, and press Ctrl-A to select all files and directories. Press Ctrl-C to instruct Windows that you wish to copy all selected items.
Launch the Windows Explorer, and navigate to the share called files on the server called CASHPOOL. Click in the right panel, and then press Ctrl-V to commence the copying process.
The migration of all data should now be complete. It is time to validate the installation. For this, you should make sure all applications, including printing, work before asking the customer to test drive the new network.
The following questions and answers draw from the examples in this chapter. Many design decisions are impacted by the configurations chosen. The intent is to expose some of the hidden implications.
What makes an anonymous Samba server more simple than a non-anonymous Samba server?
How is the operation of the parameter force user different from setting the root directory of the share SUID?
When would you both use the per share parameter force user and set the share root directory SUID?
What is better about CUPS printing than LPRng printing?
When should Windows client IP addresses be hard-coded?
Under what circumstances is it best to use a DHCP server?
What is the purpose of setting the parameter guest ok on a share?
When would you set the global parameter disable spoolss?
Why would you disable password caching on Windows 9x/Me clients?
The example of Abmas Accounting uses User Mode security. How does this provide anonymous access?
In the anonymous server, the only account used is the guest account. In a non-anonymous configuration, it is necessary to add real user accounts to both the UNIX system and to the Samba configuration. Non-anonymous servers require additional administration.
The parameter force user causes all operations on the share to assume the UID of the forced user. The new default GID that applies is the primary GID of the forced user. This gives all users of this resource the actual privilege of the forced user.
When a directory is set SUID, the operating system forces files that are written within it to be owned by the owner of the directory. While this happens, the user who is using the share has only the level of privilege he or she is assigned within the operating system context.
The parameter force user has potential security implications that go beyond the actual share root directory. Be careful and wary of using this parameter.
You would use both parameters when it is necessary to guarantee that all share handling operations are conducted as the forced user, while all file and directory creation are done as the SUID directory owner.
CUPS is a print spooling system that has integrated remote management facilities, provides completely automated print processing/preprocessing, and can be configured to automatically apply print preprocessing filters to ensure that a print job submitted is correctly rendered for the target printer. CUPS includes an image file RIP that supports printing of image files to non-PostScript printers. CUPS has lots of bells and whistles and is more like a supercharged MS Windows NT/200x print monitor and processor. Its complexity can be eliminated or turbocharged to suit any fancy.
The LPRng software is an enhanced, extended, and portable implementation of the Berkeley LPR print spooler functionality. It provides the same interface and meets RFC1179 requirements. LPRng can be configured to act like CUPS, but it is in principle a replacement for the old Berkeley lpr/lpd spooler. LPRng is generally preferred by those who are familiar with Berkeley lpr/lpd.
Which spooling system is better is a matter of personal taste. It depends on what you want to do and how you want to do it and manage it. Most modern Linux systems ship with CUPS as the default print management system.
When there are few MS Windows clients, little client change, no mobile users, and users are not inclined to tamper with network settings, it is a safe and convenient matter to hard-code Windows client TCP/IP settings. Given that it is possible to lock down the Windows desktop and remove user ability to access network configuration controls, fixed configuration eliminates the need for a DHCP server. This reduces maintenance overheads and eliminates a possible point of network failure.
In network configurations where there are mobile users, or where Windows client PCs move around (particularly between offices or between subnets), it makes complete sense to control all Windows client configurations using a DHCP server. Additionally, when users do tamper with the network settings, DHCP can be used to normalize all client settings.
One underappreciated benefit of using a DHCP server to assign all network client device TCP/IP settings is that it makes it a pain-free process to change network TCP/IP settings, change network addressing, or enhance the ability of client devices to benefit from new network services.
Another benefit of modern DHCP servers is their ability to register dynamically assigned IP addresses with the DNS server. The benefits of Dynamic DNS (DDNS) are considerable in a large Windows network environment.
If this parameter is set to yes for a service, then no password is required to connect to the service. Privileges are those of the guest account.
Setting this parameter to Yes disables Samba's support for the SPOOLSS set of MS-RPCs and yields behavior identical to Samba 2.0.x. Windows NT/2000 clients can downgrade to using LanMan style printing commands. Windows 9x/Me are unaffected by the parameter. However, this disables the ability to upload printer drivers to a Samba server via the Windows NT/200x Add Printer Wizard or by using the NT printer properties dialog window. It also disables the capability of Windows NT/200x clients to download print drivers from the Samba host on demand. Be extremely careful about setting this parameter.
The alternate parameter use client driver applies only to Windows NT/200x clients. It has no effect on Windows 95/98/Me clients. When serving a printer to Windows NT/200x clients without first installing a valid printer driver on the Samba host, the client is required to install a local printer driver. From this point on, the client treats the printer as a local printer and not a network printer connection. This is much the same behavior that occurs when disable spoolss = yes.
Under normal circumstances, the NT/200x client attempts to open the network printer using MS-RPC. Because the client considers the printer to be local, it attempts to issue the OpenPrinterEx() call requesting access rights associated with the logged on user. If the user possesses local administrator rights but not root privilege on the Samba host (often the case), the OpenPrinterEx() call fails. The result is that the client now displays an “Access Denied; Unable to connect” message in the printer queue window (even though jobs may be printed successfully). This parameter MUST not be enabled on a print share that has a valid print driver installed on the Samba server.
Windows 9x/Me workstations that are set at default (password caching enabled) store the username and password in files located in the Windows master directory. Such files can be scavenged (read off a client machine) and decrypted, thus revealing the user's access credentials for all systems the user may have accessed. It is most insecure to allow any Windows 9x/Me client to operate with password caching enabled.
The example used does not provide anonymous access. Since the clients are all Windows 2000 Professional, and given that users are logging onto their machines, by default the client attempts to connect to a remote server using currently logged in user credentials. By ensuring that the user's login ID and password are the same as those set on the Samba server, access is transparent and does not require separate user authentication.
The examples given mirror those documented in The Official Samba-3 HOWTO and Reference Guide, Second Edition (TOSHARG2) Chapter 2, Section 2.3.1. You may gain additional insight from the standalone server configurations covered in TOSHARG2, sections 2.3.1.2 through 2.3.1.4.
This information is given purely as an example of how data may be stored in such a way that it will be easy to locate records at a later date. The example is not meant to imply any instructions that may be construed as essential to the design of the solution; this is something you will almost certainly want to determine for yourself.
This example uses the smbpasswd file in an obtuse way, since the use of the passdb backend has not been specified in the smb.conf file. This means that you are depending on correct default behavior. | 2019-04-18T21:19:34Z | http://www.kc4sw.com/docs/samba/Samba3-ByExample/simple.html |
I recently switched mobile phone carriers. Sprint was charging me way too much for my comfort. I'm told the rates I was being charged were pretty competitive, but $85 a month is whole a lot to pay, in my opinion. My plan was that rate for unlimited voice minutes, data, and text messages. I decided that though I didn't mind having unlimited texts and data, there was no reason for me to pay for unlimited voice minutes. I investigated Sprint's website for a plan that allows me to take the voice minutes down to something reasonable-- say, 100 minutes a month. No such plan was available.
Through some relatively random web-bouncing, I some time ago discovered Ting, a wireless carrier that resells a mishmash of Sprint voice/data/SMS service and Verizon voice service, and bills 100% for usage. Each category has usage tiers for which there are respective monthly rates. Their website has more information if it should interest you. The point of this post is not to sell Ting service, though if you do wind up interested, let me know. I can get us both a billing credit if you sign up.
So I switched to Ting, and watched my phone bill drop from $85 with an employee discount, to about $35 per month. With my $40 employee phone stipend, that makes my mobile phone service free of charge. Good news all around. But I left out a critical piece: the fact that I talk on the phone a lot for work, and I do still talk on the phone with my family, but only when I'm at home. I don't like having full phone conversations away from home. This however is totally fine, since there are abundant voice-over-ip carriers available, and I have the world's best residential ISP. I tried a couple out, and settled on just using calling and receiving calls from within gmail.
Part of my job is to be on call once every six weeks or so, for a week at a time. That means that I can expect to be woken up a couple times a week for a work call. When I was on call, I discovered the headset method was not a viable option for being oncall. It's far too difficult to get from being asleep to at my desk with the phone answered in a shorter time than it takes for the call to go to voicemail.
So I bought an ooma and my first landline phone in over ten years. The phone has a second handset that only requires a small charging cradle. So I put that in my room. Now, for about $65 a month, I have gigabit internet, 4G mobile phone service, and an unlimited landline. I'm getting concerned about the power consumption and distribution load in my apartment though. I have a bit of a tech corner now, with 20+ powered devices. I might have to look into that.
I just updated my financial spreadsheet. I've been working hard to rebuild my finances since the summer of 2010, when I put together the first form of what is now my personal system for budgeting. Until early 2012 I was singularly focused on paying off the consumer debt I accumulated throughout my twenties, but especially for the seven months when I was unemployed in 2008 and 2009, which pushed the total debt to the low-to-mid five figures. By January 2013 I was out of consumer debt and had real, substantial(for me) savings. Enough to begin investing. When I made the transition earlier this year from being a try-before-you-buy contractor to a full-time employee, I availed myself of the retirement and healthcare options that my employer offered, of which I had never really taken advantage at previous jobs. I'd had a 401(k) plan before, but I'd never committed to 6% contributions(which are matched) before, so when I ate my first 401(k) up when I was unemployed, it wasn't worth much more than what I've managed to raise now in five months.
For the first time, I have a health savings account into which I make payroll contributions twice a month. At Ali's (justified) urging, I used this in April to complete some long-overdue dental work. I got my wisdom teeth removed(which I should have done in 1998) and Dr. Fleming drilled and filled perhaps 17 cavities. The result is that now for the first time in my adult life I have no tooth pain.
Speaking of Ali, who I love very much, and with whom I anxiously anticipate getting married and starting a family next year, I've been working hard to make adequate arrangements for our financial future. I opened a Roth IRA in April, and made arrangements to make the maximum legal contribution in 2014, and all the eligible years that follow, and I've been watching that investment grow. I also have an account with Lending Club, which has been earning me about 15% on my investment since I opened it with a smaller amount last May. My plan is to continue to make contributions to that, but only after all the other investment avenues have been met.
For the first time, I made a chart of my finances that takes the long view, combining factors like inflation, healthcare expenses, children, and a host of other concerns, to determine when the aforementioned investments will be mature enough for us to retire and live off them solely without other income. A very conservative estimate is my sixtieth birthday, 25 years from now. That plan of course depends on a lot of assumptions: My income never changes(so I remain employed), the conservative returns I've plotted hold true and don't go negative, our family remains healthy enough to avoid any major medical expenses, and other factors that are anything but certain. So, in the face of that uncertainty, any more we can do will be beneficial.
The idea of retirement is one for which I had never made any particular plan before, but it's definitely something I'm glad I'm doing. My only regret is not having done something like this years ago. I'm ten to fifteen years late on this, and imagining how much better off I would be now if I had established my financial plan when I was younger is cause for regret, but there's nothing I can do about it. All I can do is make what arrangements I can, now.
For the last couple centuries, human civilization has enjoyed an unprecedented sustained boom, as the scientific method has allowed for technological innovation at a speed and on a scale that could scarcely have been previously imagined. The rate of innovation and invention is so great now that there is a thriving enormous industry of lawyers to argue over who invented what, and who owes whom what for whatever use of said previously claimed innovation. The rate is so great that products are obviated by newer products in only a matter of months, because new technologies enable them.
Some decades ago, an electronic communications network was invented, and was initially only really used for defense and a small portion of American academia. Over the years and by degrees, the internet grew to what it is now: the largest source of information and interaction in the world's history. People downplay its importance, but make no mistake. The internet is the single most important, most powerful tool in human existence. Nothing comes close. It's had a multiplying effect on technological advancement too. It's allowed innovation to snowball. I, for example, would not have a career if not for the access I've had to it. I would guess that anyone reading this could say the same thing.
Meanwhile, while modern society has benefited enormously from the internet on an uncountable number of fronts, little has changed with regard to the US Government, with respect to large monied organizations being able to effect change through donations and dubious financial associations with individual lawmakers. Defense contractors donate to campaigns to get lawmakers to sign off on a bid or a no-bid contract of some kind. Insurance companies make use of quid-pro-quo politics to write themselves into the benefiting side of healthcare legislation.
It's called crony capitalism. It's what allows companies that don't succeed by normal means(selling products for money) to stay in business. High-ranked corporate executives are golf buddies with prominent lawmakers, and said prominent lawmakers secure a channel of income and political power through their associations with these high-ranked people by making it more difficult for competitors of their buddies' companies to do business. If you have buddies in Washington, you need not fear for the future of your company.
Comcast, Verizon, Time Warner, and a host of other internet service providers are currently supporting actions that will establish for themselves a dedicated tier of commercially-centered internet access, for which the commercial beneficiaries on the other end will presumably pay. The justified concern that most informed people have is that while the ISPs claim that the purported tier will be of a higher quality and speed than that of the current offering, the natural inclination is that ISPs will not spend the money to create this proposed tier, and will instead just slow all the unsponsored internet access down.
In response, politically active groups have sought to establish what they call Net Neutrality. It's a term that describes an ideal world in which all access to the internet is open and available to everybody on it, with no throttling based on content or requests. Several lawmakers have come out in support of Net Neutrality, claiming it will preserve the open internet. Several more have come out against it, claiming a need for faster access to high-demand internet-based services. Far more lawmakers have remained quiet about it, sitting on the fence and watching which side of the issue for which their support will be more politically advantageous for them.
Let me go ahead and burst your bubble. ISPs are already doing this and have been for years. Behind the normal scenes is a pitched price battle between ISPs and the companies that offer services the ISPs' customers want to access. Arrangements are made in which companies agree to pay the premium demanded by ISPs, presumably commensurate with the traffic these services generate and the cost associated with that extra traffic with the overall goal being that requests go answered, and the internet ticks along with little or no impact on the users.
A significant part of the power of the internet is that no political body controls it. The current push for Net Neutrality is attempting to put that power into the hands of the US Government, under the assumption that something as important as the internet simply cannot be trusted to the stewardship of profit-seeking ISPs, whose interests are presumably not aligned with ours. However, given the fact that the US Government has a pretty miserable track record with regard to crony capitalism, putting control of the internet in government hands not only violates the apolitical international nature of its governance, but also just allows ISPs to use existing cronyist channels to achieve their non-competitive means.
A second tier, which is the current issue up for debate, could go either way(speeding up access for companies or slowing down access for you and me), and for that reason I oppose its creation. We don't need faster access to amazon or netflix or facebook. The companies depend on the ISPs, and consume a measurable portion of the bandwidth it costs the ISPs a lot of money to provide. I see no problem with them compensating the ISPs for this. Business to business is a well-established concept, with centuries of precedent behind it.
Net Neutrality currently means handing over the most important resource the world has to commercial cronyism, with a dash of government corruption and incompetence.
We made it to Denver, spent a brilliant weekend there, and got everything done that we needed to do. We have a venue. Ali and I will be getting married at the Table Mountain Inn in Golden, CO on Sunday, April 19th, 2015. Ali managed to pick out a dress without losing her mind on Saturday, and we were able to make good use of the time that remained to us over the weekend. I even managed a couple runs for exercise, though the air at 5000 feet is much thinner and caused me incredible fatigue very quickly. It will take some acclimation when we move there.
In site news, it appears that this site doesn't look great on a mobile device, and the right-hand element that shows random pictures and links to random posts takes up way too much space on a phone screen. I am happily able to make updates to the site from my phone though. I will need to work on some of the CSS, and make some layout decisions.
I've been working hard since we got home last night on some programming projects. One is a financial tracker that gives a short view of all my stock investments with a single simple command. the other projects have been for work, and as I write this I just sent off an email to the rest of my team at work saying that one of the aforementioned projects is finished enough that people can play with it. It's already identified two production servers with serious problems for which no alarm was ever generated. So I'm pretty pleased about that.
Ali and I are hitting the road this morning for a stint of wedding planning with her family in Colorado. She's running late, so I'm testing the ability to post new content to this newly revamped webpage from my phone. My computer is powered off and my solar keyboard is up in the window to recharge while I'm gone, so this phone is my best bet.
The trip promises to be a bit tedious with the weather as it is. From where I sit in the bedroom I can hear great volumes of water being kicked up by every passing vehicle out on 7th Street, along with the persistent rattle of drops against my windows that I normally find comforting, but this morning I find to just be unnerving.
We'll have a good visit though. We've both been looking forward to it for some time.
I started this website in 2002(wow, twelve years) as a personal journal, a log of my activities, a way to keep my loved ones apprised of what was happening in my life, and the biggest force for technology education I have ever encountered. This site taught me how to write in perl, how to run a webserver, how to manage system permissions and a hundred other system administration tasks on which I now depend for my living. It was an ongoing love affair with technology for me-- my very own project that allowed me to sandbox whatever new or not-so-new concept I wanted to try.
It was an emotional outlet for me. If I was happy, sad, angry, excited, worried, or if I'd had my heart broken, I poured out my feelings here, and it was always a therapeutic, if overly revealing exercise for me. This was where my creativity was focused. I would gather steam on an idea to talk about, and have it out in a long or short blog post. For years I thought nobody was reading, but I've since learned that this was not the case. People I didn't know, but have since befriended have told me they used to read bahua dot com and check back often for updates. So I suppose I must have been doing something right.
In any case-- whether I was reaching anyone or not, my own feelings about the site were unaffected. It was outlet of creativity. It was my ongoing technology project. It was my tutor in the ways of a host of technologies, most of which I use heavily today to make my living. It was not just the world's window into my life-- it was my portal to my own creative satisfaction and the expansion of my technical mind. I didn't realize at the time how important it was to me.
Almost six years ago, I joined Facebook. It seemed like a great idea. Keep in touch with your friends, and even reconnect with some old friends from whom you've fallen out of touch. But after a couple years, I began to observe a bit of a problem. Aside from the site's marketing-centered modus operandi, (which is fine-- they're in business, after all) I noticed that my own creative output had been refocused on Facebook, and cut into tiny pieces. If I ever had a great idea that came out in my interaction with someone, it was just a comment. It was just a timeline update. Everything on Facebook scrolls off the bottom, out of reckoning and memory. It's a short-term medium that by design doesn't preserve anything. It's difficult to look back and see how we used to be. You can, of course(sort of), but business works based on what is the easiest thing for the consumer to do-- and on Facebook the easiest is the shallow memory.
I also noticed that my own efforts with this website fell off almost entirely. As the archive page will attest, my updates got more and more rare after the summer of 2008. Prior to Facebook, I posted upwards of twenty-- sometimes over thirty updates in a single month. Complete sentences and entire thoughts went into them. Facebook provided a replacement for my venting and outlet, but at the cost of it disappearing quickly, like a breath in the wind.
Then we all got on Facebook on our phones. This meant that instead of sitting and allowing myself to be bored, I would pick up my phone and scroll, scroll, scroll. Now, it is literally impossible to go to a social place-- a bar, a restaurant, a city street, a store --and not see someone retreating into a phone to have at least something to do. For years I thought this was fine-- an actual improvement on things. I would not have to be bored anymore! But I recently realized that boredom is important. Being bored allows my brain to ponder things, analyze things, come up with ideas, and be creative. I realized that boredom is where my creativity is born, and I took action.
I uninstalled the Facebook app from my phone. I changed from always having at least one Facebook tab open in my browser to removing the bookmark for it and only checking back in every three or four days. I'm a little over a week into the purge, and it feels great. I amazingly have found that I have more time to work, and work on my own projects. One such personal project I picked back up was bahua dot com. I dusted off a "beta" site that I had working at about 65% by the time I got on Facebook, but then neglected altogether for years, and set to work to getting it working. Now enough of it works that I'm ready to start using it again.
So, it's good to be back, and I hope to be able to integrate this site into present-day use.
The biggest problem most Americans seem to have in common is finances. Making that check work for everything: bills, debt, savings, emergencies, and some form of a social life. For me, the unconscious level of priority went like this: social life, bills, debt, savings(emergencies).
The result was that I had a great time doing little dances with friends, sometimes overdrew my checking account at great expense, paid off very little debt, and had no savings whatsoever. There was a time when I did have some savings, and I was very proud of my savings plan. But my friend Keith told me on a long drive to Colorado in 2003 that savings is worthless if you have high-interest debt, so I emptied the account when I got home, and used it to make a one-time chip at the roughly six thousand dollars of credit card debt I had at the time.
Fast forward to 2008. Some bad luck pushed me to the unemployment line, and with no savings and six months before I got a job, my personal debt jumped to about twenty thousand dollars. The amount of time it took me to pay it off advanced the total to about thirty five thousand dollars because of assessed interest. The job I got didn't pay enough, to my mind, to pay my debt and bills, so the debt grew.
I got a new job in 2010 that paid significantly more than any job I'd previously had, and this naturally pleased me mightily. But after a couple months, I noticed that my financial situation hadn't really improved, and certainly to the extent that I expected twenty five thousand dollars of extra annual income would improve it. I realized that I was doing it wrong, and further, had been doing it wrong for my entire adult life.
I was sitting in a conference room in Dallas when I was going over my finances. The financial plan to which I was adhering was to track my expenses and enter every receipt's amount into a web application that I wrote. I entered predictable expenses like bills and debt payments into the application for future dates. The goal was to keep a realistic picture of how much money I had, which I realized quickly was the lowest amount of money in the future. Meaning if I had $700 in my account, but I knew that I had a $150 electric bill coming up on the 18th, The application would report that I had $550 available.
That was my problem. My thinking was wrong. The application was great, and it did its job very well-- I paid my bills, and seldom overdrew my account --but my situation never improved. I had no savings. No safety net. No plan for my now massive debt. I was doing it wrong.
I was being paid weekly, which was nice on its own, but no one check was big enough to handle my biggest bills, like my mortgage. So I got the idea to divide my mortgage in quarters, and make a payment for that much automatically each week. CitiMortgage did not like this however, and informed me that though I was sending them money, none of the payments registered as my actual monthly payment, so I wound up owing them a pile of money. It was unpleasant.
I decided that going forward, I would transfer that 25% amount I had been paying into my long-dormant online savings account, and at the end of the month the full payment would be made automatically from there. This worked exceptionally well, and I found that my biggest monthly expense was no longer a source for even the slightest worry. I had by accident discovered the first inkling of a better way. It was very exciting.
I proceeded to look at my full budgetary picture and for the first time, compiled a total of all my monthly expenses. I then compared that to my total net income, and realized that it was all well within reach. Anything extra was just that: extra. Before I got too carried away with that, I realized that the extra had to be used for debt, savings, and day-to-day spending. From that thought I concluded that debt, savings, and day-to-day spending had to be budgeted too, so I added amounts for them to my monthly expenses.
I determined that by splitting things up into two accounts, I could meet my financial obligations and goals more easily. I figured out how much money I would need to live day-to-day: food, gas, beer, the occasional fun purchase, and set it up so that this amount was all that was deposited into my checking account when I got paid. The rest went into the online savings account. Actually, the online savings account had a checking account element to it as well, so I used that, and called it my "operations account."
My operations account paid all my predictable bills automatically(mortgage, dues, cable, phone, electricity, etc) and was where the majority of my financial activity took place. Since my checking account had a set amount contributing to it, the operations account was where my monthly surplus went. That surplus went entirely toward paying debt. I went from struggling to make minimum debt payments to overpaying them by fifteen hundred dollars.
I realized that with minimal effort on my part, I now had an actual date on when I was going to be out of debt. It was about a year and a half away, but compared to sixty or seventy years with minimum payments, or more likely never, that figure was immeasurably exciting.
In this way, I paid my last debt payment at the end of January, 2012. Since then, I've been saving money. By 2013, I had enough savings to be able to start investing and paying down my mortgage.
My only regret in all this is that I didn't do it from the beginning. I would be wealthy now if I had. So if you're reading this, know that if you're snowed under, there's hope! I'm not selling anything, and I'm not a Dave Ramsey adherent-- at least not by design. Today, I have a checking account with UMB which is tied to my debit/cash card. I have a credit card gathering dust somewhere in my room. I honestly don't know where it is. I should probably cancel it.
I had a dream last night, and I want to know what people think it might mean. Maybe some background is required. My dad and stepmother in Peoria just moved out of the house where the family moved in 1992, a couple months into my freshman year of high school, and into a smaller house that suits an empty-nested couple more appropriately than the old one.
The "old house," which I guess I have to call it now, has been home in Peoria for over twenty years. Mom died there when I was nineteen. It's where my family was centered when I became an adult. It's where my brother and sisters and I have introduced our friends and loved ones to the family. It's where we were a family. And now I'll most likely never see the inside of it again.
This has been the undercurrent in an otherwise inexplicable motif of sadness lately. I don't know why I've been sad, but it happened rather quickly. As my friend Amanda said, this kind of sadness is the worst, as there is no target-- no area of my life on which I know to focus my efforts. There's no one and nothing for which I particularly long right now, and maybe that's the problem.
I dreamed that I was in the basement of the old house with a group of people. Who it was in particular I can't say, except that I knew everyone well. The only specific person I can remember is my friend Nick, though not for any major part he played. The basement was for some reason filled with hidden venomous snakes. Looking at the main room revealed nothing at all, but behind furniture and under almost every object was a brown-yellow-red diamonback-ish snake. I recall thinking they were beautiful.
At the beginning of this, the group and I were looking for something that was recalled earlier in the dream, but is now lost with the passage of time. It was not a mystery though. Anyway, everywhere we looked there would be an agitated snake that would coil in hostility upon discovery, putting its neck into an S-shape in preparation to strike if its discoverer got too close. The only spoken words I remember were when Nick had a run-in with one of them, and took a bite on the ankle.
"Did he get you?" I asked.
Nick left, presumably to seek medical attention, and after a while of this I was in the basement by myself with all the hidden snakes. I recall that I had no intention of harming any of them, and that doing so would cause for something to be lost that could not be regained, or would serve as some kind of failure on my part. So whenever I encountered one of these annoyed snakes I would respectfully back off and look elsewhere.
After some time, I was sitting on the old junky blue-upholstered chair that hasn't been in that basement in over fifteen years, and I looked to my left. At the other end of the room, lying in plain sight, was an enormous snake. It was at least fifteen feet long and a foot in diameter at its widest, and was lying in a close V-shape, seemingly at leisure. Its head was the size of a large men's shoe. It seemed to notice me at the same time as I noticed it, and began to threateningly charge me.
My legs didn't seem to work, and I made slow mushy progress to the stairs behind the chair's back. At this point either my dream changed or I woke up. I'm not sure, because I have no memory of what happened after that.
I don't know what this dream means, but I have some ideas. I would like to know your opinion on it.
Yesterday, Google announced additional details for the implementation of a fiber network to Kansas City. I'm not going to repeat that stuff-- it's all over the internet. Just look around. What I'm going to do is air a bit of a grievance about it, because the more I find out about this deal, the worse the deal gets.
When Google announced last year that they would be building an unprecedented fiber network in Kansas City, all involved and affected were buzzing with energy and excitement, myself included. A gigabit of internet access to everyone in town! 650,000 residents thrust all of a sudden into the future. The potential was staggering.
The unimaginative could only see the face value. Higher-speed access to the internet. Youtube and facebook will load faster. Netflix loads faster, and possibly at a higher quality. But I saw that this was huge. It was much a greater catalyst than that, because my thought was that the potential for innovation, capitalism, and commercial opportunity would be so great that this would be the biggest economic watershed for Kansas City since the railroad bridge was built in 1869, and possibly bigger.
This was what I thought Google's idea was too. Then, over the intervening months I started to read about Google's fiber initiative including residential television service, and I became confused. What reason do they have to break into television? How will that foster the commercial renaissance I had envisioned? If anything, it'll just make it difficult for existing carriers to do business in Kansas City. That isn't innovation. With both KCMO and KCK bending over backwards to make this happen, that's government-sponsored competition killing. My opinion of Google declined.
Then, the announcement was finally made as to how things were going to go down. A marketing-laden presentation was given yesterday, to highlight the major points of Google Fiber, talking entirely about how it can be used and enjoyed by people at home. No mention whatsoever was made of the business application of it. No mention whatsoever was made of how it would improve public services, or level the playing field for Kansas City's ailing schools and underfunded hospitals. It was basically an expensive advertisement for a home ISP. Again, my opinion of Google declined.
It was announced that KC had been divided up into geographical areas referred to as "fiberhoods," which surreptitiously excluded large parts of the city. Each fiberhood coincided loosely with existing neighborhoods, or did as much as possible, and residents of each could now preregister for Google Fiber service. But a couple hooks were added without specific announcement. If a fiberhood didn't reach a number of preregistrations by Septemer 9th equal to an arbitrary percentage of all the housing units within it, the Google Fiber would not become available there.
Further, and cruelly so, in my opinion, Google has seen fit to deny access to its network to schools and public buildings in fiberhoods where the arbitrary goal isn't met. The goal for most of the city is five or ten percent, which on its own is very significant. However, in downtown it's twenty five percent, with the highly noticeable exception of the River Market, which is five percent. Google claims on the registration page and interactive maps that fiberhoods that don't reach their goal by September 9th will not get service, and the ones with the highest percentage of registrants, as compared to their goal, will get service rolled out first.
This is not a good time to live downtown. Amazingly-- flabbergastingly, downtown might actually not get Google Fiber service.
This is not a good time to innovate. This is not a good time to move your company to Kansas City. This is not a good time to invest in Kansas City. Because unless we hear something different, all we're looking at with Google Fiber is faster Facebook and Youtube.
I'm taking tonight off from being irresponsible to get some work, Christmas shopping, and personal accounting done. Through some belt-tightening, planning, and relatively lucrative employment I've managed to pull out of the thirty thousand dollars of debt into which I plunged when I was unemployed in 2008 and 2009. By this time next month, I will be 100% debt-free for the first time since I was 22, when I got my first credit card and lost my childlike mind. So that feels good.
The next step is resolving what I see as a big financial problem for which my debt has made me incapable of addressing: my mortgage. Remember the mortgage crisis that culminated in the printing of zillions of worthless dollars in 2008 to make believe the problem had been addressed? Well, I'm one of those "toxic" mortgage customers. I took out a loan for the full buying price of my place when I bought it in 2007, and got an APR of 6.375% on it. That's bad. Especially with the dizzyingly low rates that are available to qualified borrowers nowadways. But over the past four years(it'll be five years in March!) I've made sure to always pay more than the amount due on my monthly payment, even if it was only a couple dollars. Some months were small, others were big, but now, I've managed to lop the last three months off my term and save myself about four times what I've overpaid. That feels good, but I'm still sitting with under 20% equity on my place.
So my plan is to ratchet up my monthly payments with my newfound extra money each month, with the goal being to get over 20% equity, and qualify to refinance at one of these great low rates. I have a spreadsheet on google that outlines my monthly expenses, debt, savings, and projections thereof. My plan is to increase my mortgage payment by an amount roughly equivalent to 0.7% of my principal balance each month, with the goal being to get over 20% as quickly as possible, so I can refinance for super-happy-big longterm savings.
What I've discovered though, is that I really don't have any savings whatsoever, and a monthly budget surplus seems like an ideal way to fix that. I have a couple of noticeable expenses that come up once or twice a year, and having a savings to deal with them and anything else unexpected seems like the reasonable thing to do. So here's the plan. Save up about two months' salary, then scale the monthly contributions to savings down to a trickle to push hard on the mortgage for about a year and a half.
Then I refinance, and fix my place up. Let's see how it goes. Check back with me soon. | 2019-04-19T03:10:24Z | http://beta.bahua.com/ |
AFS Technologies, Inc. Completes the Acquisition of Astra Information Systems, Inc.
PHOENIX – May 9, 2007 – AFS Technologies, Inc. (“AFS”), the leading provider of food and beverage enterprise software solutions, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Astra Information Systems, Inc (“Astra”), a Weston, FL-based provider of software solutions to distributors, processors and importers, primarily in the Seafood industry. With this acquisition, AFS now serves over 300 customers, and will be headquartered in Phoenix-AZ, with offices in Milford-CT, Weston-FL, and Bangalore, India. AFS offers the food and beverage industries the only software solution that provides a complete suite of fully-integrated software applications, utilizing a database independent design, and a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA).
AFS also announced today that it has closed a mezzanine debt financing, provided by Merion Investment Partners, L.P., a King of Prussia, PA-based mezzanine capital firm (“Merion”), to fund the acquisition of Astra.
“Our vision is to build AFS into the premier software solutions provider to the food and beverage industries. The acquisition of Astra in May 2007, following the acquisition of DMS in April 2006, adds additional scale to position AFS firmly on that path,” said Walter Barandiaran, Chairman of AFS, and a Managing Partner of The Argentum Group.
About AFS Technologies, Inc. AFS Technologies, Inc. is the leading provider of food and beverage enterprise software solutions. The company serves over 300 customers across North America and the Caribbean with software designed to reduce costs, increase efficiency, streamline internal processes and assist in regulatory compliances. Solutions available include complete distribution and financials, vendor rebate tracking, warehouse management, web order management, supply chain management, eCommerce, business intelligence, processing, and mobile sales & delivery products. For more information Click Here.
About Astra Information Systems, Inc. Headquartered in South Florida, Astra Information Systems has provided software solutions to fish and seafood importers, processors and distributors for over 24 years. Astra serves over 60 customers and is considered the leading software provider to the seafood industry. For more information Click Here.
About Merion Investment Partners, L.P. Merion is the largest independent mezzanine fund headquartered in Pennsylvania and is focused on transactions ranging from $3 – $10 million to support organic growth, acquisitions, buyouts and generational transfer of ownership. Merion can function as a one-stop shop to support smaller equity funds to round out their capital raise by providing both equity and debt or as a coupon only provider to larger funds in support of buyouts or acquisitions. Merion also seeks to work directly with entrepreneurs to support their acquisition strategies as well as provide them with liquidity to diversify concentrated wealth in their companies. To visit us on the web Click Here.
About The Argentum Group The Argentum Group is a New York-based private equity firm that provides capital to growing businesses in the lower middle market, and supports expansion growth, buyouts, and recapitalizations. Argentum emphasizes the concept of “partnership investing” – backing strong management teams with proven track records and then working closely to create value together. Argentum invests $3 to $10 million in profitable companies with revenues of $5 to $50 million; and targets industries in the areas of outsourced services, healthcare, and information technology. Argentum serves as general partner of investment partnerships with over $400 million of capital under management. Since raising its first fund in 1990, Argentum has invested in over 60 companies across a broad range of industries. For more information,Click Here to visit us on the web.
AFS Technologies, Inc. Completes the Acquisition of Distribution Management Systems, Inc.
AFS Closes a $5.0 Million Financing with Merion Investment Partners, L.P.
PHOENIX, AZ – April 3, 2006 – AFS Technologies, Inc. (“AFS”), a leading provider of software solutions to the food industry, announced today that it had completed the acquisition of Distribution Management Systems, Inc. (“DMS”), a Milford, CT-based provider of software solutions to the food and beverage industries, for cash and stock. With the acquisition, AFS now serves over 230 customers, will employ over 100 professionals, and will be headquartered in Phoenix, with an east coast office in Milford, CT and a development facility in Bangalore, India.
AFS also announced today that it had closed a $5.0 million financing, comprised of mezzanine and equity capital, provided by Merion Investment Partners, L.P., a King of Prussia, PA-based mezzanine capital firm. A portion of the proceeds was used to facilitate the acquisition of DMS, and the remaining will be used for working capital purposes and possible further acquisitions. The Argentum Group (“Argentum”), a New York-based private equity firm, and AFS’s majority shareholder, played an integral role in facilitating these transactions.
“I am very pleased with the acquisition of DMS as both companies complement each other well, in that AFS brings a substantial capital investment in the development of its .NET framework and DMS’s management brings deep domain expertise in market segments that are new to AFS. Thus, DMS’s customers will be offered broader product offerings on a leading edge technology platform, and more process oriented product development and customer support, ensuring high quality deployments,” said Kurien Jacob, AFS’s CEO. “AFS now offers to the food and beverage industries the only solution that provides a complete suite of fully integrated software applications, utilizing a database independent design and a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA),” Jacob added.
“Our vision is to build a company that will become the premier software solutions provider to the food and beverage industries; and the acquisition of DMS clearly provides the scale needed, and will position AFS firmly on that path,” said Walter Barandiaran, Chairman of AFS and a Managing Partner of Argentum.
About Merion Investment Partners, L.P. Merion is the largest independent mezzanine fund headquartered in Pennsylvania and is focused on transactions ranging from $3 – $10 million to support organic growth, acquisitions, buyouts and generational transfer of ownership. Merion can function as a one-stop shop to support smaller equity funds to round out their capital raise by providing both equity and debt or as a coupon only provider to larger funds in support of buyouts or acquisitions. Merion also seeks to work directly with entrepreneurs to support their acquisition strategies as well as provide them with liquidity to diversify concentrated wealth in their companies. Visit us on the web at www.merionpartners.com.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Keystone Ranger Holdings, Inc., which specializes in full-service engineering, completion and technical support for commercial helicopters, and air medical flight operations. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation. (NYSE:UTX).
Keystone, which had been privately owned, will be renamed Keystone Helicopter Holdings, Inc., and is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Sikorsky. It will continue to operate under the brand names of its subsidiaries, Keystone Helicopter Corporation and Composite Technology U.S.A., Inc. (CTI).
Keystone Helicopter specializes in full-service engineering, completion and technical support for commercial helicopters, and air medical flight operations. The firm operates a large technical services depot and completion center in Coatesville, Penn., and operates a large fleet of turbine helicopters in numerous locations across several eastern states, primarily in the air medical mission.
CTI is headquartered in Grand Prairie, Texas, with substantial rotor blade and composite structures overhaul capabilities there and at branch locations in Canada, Brazil, the U.K., and Singapore.
Keystone has done completion work on Sikorsky S-76 and S-92 helicopters for a broad range of missions including VIP, offshore oil, EMS, and multi-mission utility. In addition to Sikorsky, Keystone is and will continue to be factory-authorized by Bell, Eurocopter, and MD Helicopters, and will continue to service and complete Agusta products. The company is also an authorized dealer for virtually every major avionics manufacturer.
Sikorsky, based in Stratford, Conn., is a world leader in rotorcraft design, manufacturing and service. The company’s 2004 revenues totaled $2.5 billion.
Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation of Hartford, Conn., which provides a broad range of high-technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries. Sikorsky helicopters occupy a prominent international position in the intermediate to heavy range of 11,700 lb. (5,300 kg.) to 73,500 lb. (33,000 kg.) gross weight. The company’s helicopters are used by all branches of the United States armed forces, along with military services and commercial operators in more than 40 nations.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), today announced an agreement to acquire Keystone Ranger Holdings, Inc., a privately owned U.S. company. Keystone specializes in full-service engineering, completion and technical support for commercial helicopters, and air medical flight operations. The finalization of the transaction is subject to the approval of the U.S. government and other regulatory authorities, as well as certain other conditions. For full text click here.
King of Prussia, PA – October 20, 2004 – Merion Investment Partners, L.P., a $110 million mezzanine investment fund, announced today that Sam Brewer has joined the firm as an Associate. He will focus on all aspects of the investment process including due diligence, sector and company research, review of investment proposals and financial analysis.
Mr. Brewer joins the firm after four years with Merrill Lynch as an Associate in the Telecommunications Group and as an Analyst in the Real Estate Group. He brings to Merion Investment Partners extensive experience in analysis and sector research, as well as a proficiency in macro-economic trends affecting companies’ performance. Mr. Brewer has also worked in the Corporate Finance division of AT&T Corp.
Mr. Brewer holds his MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Classical Studies from Brown University.
About Merion Investment Partners, L.P.
Founded in 2003, Merion Investment Partners L.P. is a mezzanine capital fund licensed as an SBIC. Merion invests mezzanine debt with equity features in companies to support organic growth, acquisitions, buyouts and generational transfer of ownership. Merion will also co-invest as an equity investor with private equity funds. Preferred industries include Healthcare, Business Services, IT and Specialty Manufacturing.
Collectively, the principals of Merion Investment Partners have decades of experience in venture capital, commercial banking, investment banking, operating management and entrepreneurship. The company is headquartered in The Merion Building in King of Prussia, PA. It can be reached on the Web at www.merionpartners.com.
Join 100 of the area’s top business leaders and investors as members of Merion Investment Partners introduce the firm’s new Mezzanine Debt Fund.
The greater Philadelphia area is ripe with growth companies that are ready to make a difference in their respective industries. Bourgeoning with innovative products and services, these firms are in the market for financing to help them take their development to the next level, and many of these firms seek a specializing form of funding called Mezzanine debt. Mezzanine debt is best suited for revenue producing companies with financing needs that exceed their Banks ability or willingness to lend. Grab a front seat at the introduction of this new mezzanine fund.
Merion Investment Partners, L.P. is a mezzanine capital fund investing mezzanine debt with equity features in companies that have strong growth potential, proven management teams, a strategic competitive advantage and/or are operating in sectors of the economy that are poised to exhibit growth.
The Fund is designed to invest between $2 million and $5 million of mezzanine capital in growth companies. The Partners have been actively involved in the mezzanine lending market since 1995.
King of Prussia, PA – November 17, 2003 – Merion Investment Partners, L.P., a newly established $75 million mezzanine-level investment fund, announced today its first investment in Keystone Helicopter, one of the largest and oldest helicopter services companies in the United States. Keystone operates a large fleet of turbine helicopters primarily running medical aid mission across the US. It currently operates a technical services depot and completion center near Philadelphia, and is building new, even larger facilities near Chester Country Airport, Pennsylvania. The amount and terms of the investment were not disclosed.
Merion Investment Partners’ participation is part of a round of institutional investment, which also included Brown Brothers Harriman of New York and Spring Capital Partners of Baltimore, Md.
Merion Investment Partners has attracted significant participation from key institutional investors, including Fleet Bank, Wachovia Bank, MBNA, Philadelphia Insurance Company, First Financial Bank, and the City of Philadelphia Pension Fund. The fund was established to provide non-control mezzanine capital with minimal equity dilution to successful middle market companies in the Mid-Atlantic region. Mezzanine financing is the “middle ground” of a company’s capital structure that is between senior debt and common equity. It is especially useful for growing companies that have reached the limits of their bank borrowing capacities. Properly structured mezzanine financing is regarded as equity by senior lenders, but minimizes equity dilution for the shareholders.
Mezzanine financing is the “middle ground” of a company’s capital structure that is between senior debt and common equity. It is especially useful for growing companies that have reached the limits of their bank borrowing capacities. Properly structured mezzanine financing is regarded as equity by senior lenders, but minimizes equity dilution for the shareholders.
EDITORS NOTE: Exact terms of this large private “mezzanine” investment will not be disclosed. Keystone Helicopter was acquired in January 2002, by a Philadelphia group of aviation investors led by Ranger Aerospace LLC. Institutional investors include Ranger Aerospace, Meridian Venture Partners, Argosy Investment Partners, and CD Ventures, in addition now to Brown Brothers Harriman, Spring Capital, and Merion Capital, all collectively invested in a holding company called Keystone Ranger Holdings, Inc.
About Keystone Helicopters Keystone Helicopter is one of the largest and oldest helicopter services companies in the United States. Founded in 1953, Keystone operates a large fleet of turbine helicopters in multiple locations across several eastern states, primarily in the air medical mission. The firm also operates a large technical services depot and completion center near Philadelphia, and is building new, even larger facilities near Chester Country Airport, Pennsylvania.
Keystone Helicopter is owned by Keystone Ranger Holdings, Inc., a Philadelphia-area private equity investment organization that specializes in aviation-related ventures. The venture consortium is led by Ranger Aerospace LLC, and includes Meridian Venture Partners, Argosy Investment Partners, CD Ventures, and other private investors.
Ranger Aerospace LLC, headquartered in suburban Philadelphia, is a privately held investment and management holding company with private equity institutions, venture capital companies, and management as shareholders. Ranger and its co-investors add value to acquired companies via seasoned veterans experienced in aviation services, aerospace programs, engineering, finance, corporate development, MIS, marketing & strategic planning, Total Quality Management, mergers & acquisitions, post-merger integration, and turnarounds. Ranger’s previous successful aviation ventures include Aircraft Service International Group (www.asig.com), one of the world’s largest airfield services companies.
For more information Click Here for Keystone Helicopter on the Web and Click Here for Ranger Aerospace on the Web.
Founded in 2003, Merion Investment Partners LP is a mezzanine capital fund licensed by the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) as a Small Business Investment Company (“SBIC”). Merion invests mezzanine debt with equity features in companies that have strong growth potential, proven management teams, a strategic competitive advantage and/or are operating in sectors of the economy that are poised to exhibit growth.
Collectively, the principals of Merion Investment Partners have decades of experience in venture capital, commercial banking, investment banking, operating management and entrepreneurship. The company is headquartered in The Merion Building in King of Prussia, PA. For more information Click Here for Merion in the Web.
Former Mellon Bank Team Establishes Merion Investment Partners, L.P.
King of Prussia, PA – October 10, 2003 A new mezzanine investment fund, run by the former management team of Mellon Bank’s Growth Finance group, announced that it has closed on $60 million, with an additional $15 million in capital commitments. The fund, called Merion Investment Partners, L.P expects a total of $100 million by the end of the year.
The continuity of bringing the entire Mellon Growth Finance team to the new entity has created immediate credibility within the investment community. Already, Merion Investment Partners has attracted significant participation from key institutional investors, including Fleet Bank, Wachovia Bank, MBNA, Philadelphia Insurance Company, First Financial Bank, and the City of Philadelphia Pension Fund.
The fund was established to provide non-control mezzanine capital with minimal equity dilution to successful middle market companies in the Mid-Atlantic region. Mezzanine financing is the “middle ground” of a company’s capital structure that is between senior debt and common equity. It is especially useful for growing companies that have reached the limits of their bank borrowing capacities. Properly structured mezzanine financing is regarded as equity by senior lenders, but minimizes equity dilution for the shareholders.
The partnership, headed by the former Mellon team, also includes Brian O’Neill, chairman and founder of the O’Neill Properties Group, who is providing the fund with administrative offices, infrastructure and additional access to financial relationships and deal flow. Bill Means will serve as the fund’s managing partner. The fund is located in The Merion Building in King of Prussia.
During its successful six-year tenure with Mellon, the team achieved an internal rate of return (“IRR”) of over 30 percent. That is significantly higher than the industry targeted IRR, which is typically in the high teens to the low-20s. The management team has built a reputation for wisely and safely supporting regional entrepreneurs, including work with Crothall Services, NCO Group, and PSC Info Group.
The Small Business Administration has licensed the Fund as a Small Business Investment Company (SBIC). That designation means that for every dollar Merion raises from private investors, it receives two dollars from the SBA.
Investing Philosophy Merion Investment Partners employs an “old-money” investing philosophy, concentrating on high growth markets in transition. These include business services, specialty manufacturing, and health care services and products. The primary focus of the fund is growing firms in the Mid-Atlantic region with at least $10 million in revenue. The Fund provides subordinated debt of $2 – $5 million per investment for middle market companies. This fund will also occasionally provide equity co-investments in conjunction with a subordinated debt investment.
The Fund provides all portfolio companies with local personal attention, a rarity in today’s consolidated banking world.
About Merion Investment Partners, L.P. Founded in 2003, Merion Investment Partners LP is a mezzanine capital fund licensed by the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) as a Small Business Investment Company (“SBIC”). Merion invests mezzanine debt with equity features in companies that have strong growth potential, proven management teams, a strategic competitive advantage and/or are operating in sectors of the economy that are poised to exhibit growth. | 2019-04-19T14:51:58Z | https://www.merionpartners.com/news/page/10/ |
To see our gallery of paper saving business ideas, click here. Or see our fact sheet of Top Ten Tips for Paper Efficiency. If your company has a good news story to tell about how you have reduced your paper use, we want to hear about it! Please send information to the Shrink Co-ordinator.
In 2013, we assessed 60 organisations’ paper efficiency policies and practices for the 2013 Paper Efficiency Scorecard. UK retail chain Marks and Spencer (M&S) came out top of the assessment with an overall score of 91%. What did M&S do to get such a high score and how can we learn from its success?
First, the company set bold targets to significantly reduce paper usage, e.g. a 25% reduction target in printer paper. It also set targets for outsourced supplier printing, something that few organisations do.
reduced the number of printers and ensured they were all duplex, and introduced ‘Green Print’ and ‘Pull Print’ systems.
increased the number of in-store products without any packaging at all.
engaging with customers through the M&S app and tailored customer emails, leading to a decrease in printed catalogues and magazines.
The phone company uses digital technology to cut printing by 80%.
Vodafone secured top place in the utilities sector in our Paper Efficiency Scorecard in 2013, a whole 30 points ahead of the next best-performing telecommunications company. This is because of the dramatic paper savings it has achieved over the last four years. Despite being one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies, its printer contractor now classes Vodafone as an SME based on the small amount of paper it uses!
It is not always possible to avoid printing but Vodafone makes sure all its employees keep it to an absolute minimum. Since starting to monitor paper statistics in 2008/9, Vodafone has been able to identify trends and areas for improvement. In three years they reduced usage from 33 million sheets of paper every year to just 6.5 million. That’s a reduction equivalent to more than 3000 trees. It also saved the company £3.5 million a year.
So how has Vodafone managed to make such significant progress in a relatively short period of time?
Running ‘A Page a Day’ employee campaign which talked about how much everyone prints and set a target of keeping it to just one page a day.
Bringing in ‘Follow me printing’ which means that nothing is printed unless an access card is swiped. Colour printing is also discouraged and printers automatically print double-sided.
Cutting the number of printers in offices to just one printer for every 125 employees, less than half the UK average.
Moving from desktops to laptops so employees are not tied to their desks. Vodafone’s policy of hot-desking, part of its ‘Better Ways of Working’ culture, means a strict clear desk policy and discourages employees from printing by not allowing any paperwork to be left on desks overnight.
Working with the top 25 biggest paper users to find ways they can change their printing behaviours.
The Post Office has been providing essential services to communities from tiny villages to large cities for almost 400 years. With around 11,700 branches, the Post Office operates the largest retail network in the UK and every week around 18 million customers visit a Post office branch for postal, government, financial and telecoms services.
Even with ever increasing levels of automation, 18 million customers a week still means that an incredible amount of paper application forms, till receipts, labels, envelopes, product leaflets and brochures are used every day; on average about 3000 tonnes of paper each year. Reducing paper, reducing waste and ensuring that what paper is used is sourced responsibly is therefore important to the Post Office.
As a business the Post Office gets through some 20 million till rolls a year. By redesigning the way that customer till receipts print sales details a saving of some 750,000 rolls a year has been achieved which, if put end-to-end, represents over 149,000km of paper – enough to go half way to the moon!
With a product range of several hundred items, the Post Office holds vast numbers of pre-printed forms at main post offices and it is looking at reducing these by introducing print stations in main Post Offices where a customer can just select the form they require from a touchscreen menu and a copy is printed out for them. By holding an electronic copy of the form on a central server, this allows amended forms to be uploaded for instant availability with no reprint costs or waste.
The Royal Society for Protection of Birds is Europe’s biggest environmental charity, with more than a million members. Its Human Resources Directorate (which includes functions such as training, personnel, etc.) identified paper use as a significant aspect of the organisation’s Environmental Action Plan. In team meetings, staff looked at the main uses of paper and worked out where they could eliminate and reduce usage.
The health and safety newspaper, which had been sent out on 4 or 5 pages of paper, is now sent electronically.
Payslips for more than 2000 staff every month are now sent electronically.
Staff are encouraged to use double-sided printing as default and to use print preview to reduce unnecessary printing, to only print key parts of emails to minimise paper use and consider alternatives before printing.
A baseline of paper use was set in 2012/13 and the initial figures for how quickly change is happening are very encouraging: there has been a drop of 4500 sheets – a cut of 22% – in just 3 months.
Other initiatives in the pipeline should reduce paper use even more. They are gradually shifting to an electronic personnel system, which will allow all recruitment paperwork to be done electronically, as well as staff sickness records and leave. They are also looking to replace the organisation’s varied collection of printers with fewer, more flexible printers with a locked printing facility.
Patagonia Discovers Less Packaging Means More Sales.
A major role of packaging is to signal to, attract and inform potential customers. Many food product labels are made of paper: sashes on tins, sticky labels on fruit, and the myriad cardboard packets that are used to conceal the cellophane-wrapped contents within, be they sausages or sweeties. Non-food products are also often wrapped in distinctive packaging, not so much to protect the contents physically, but for brand identification.
Littlewoods, one of the UK’s largest and most well-known catalogue retailers, has saved 1.3 million trees in the past three years by reducing its paper consumption by more than 50,000 tonnes.
The company has made drastic cuts, of up to 66%, in the volume of paper used to create catalogues. As well as making a huge reduction in its forest footprint this has also saved 5 billion litres of water, reduced paper-related carbon emissions by 315,000 tonnes and avoided 60,000 tonnes of other pollution.
The paper reductions have been due to a combination of factors, including a drive to shift purchasing online. Littlewoods’ parent company, Shop Direct Home Shopping Limited, has been rationalising to prepare itself for the 21st century and by merging the customer databases for several brands it now sends out far fewer catalogues by post. It has also cut the number of pages in its catalogues, reducing their weight. Its latest catalogue is smaller still and instead of including full details of goods it is a directory designed to point customers to the internet site. The company aims for 70% of its sales to be online by 2010.
Haymarket, one of the UK’s biggest magazine companies, has already cut office paper use by 33% since 2005, saving more than 26 tonnes of paper, and it is has set itself the target of a further 15% reduction in 2009.
The results of their efficiency gains are substantial money savings. Erica Okpokpor of Haymarket says: “Not only has the spend on paper reduced year on year but some of the reduction strategies implemented have generated secondary benefits, such as a reduction in the number of printers used, reduced maintenance costs on equipment, lower toner costs and the freeing up of valuable floor space.” This has included replacing desk-top printers with a central pool of printers set to print double-sided.
The spirit of efficiency is spreading from their offices to their core business. Although their aim is to sell more magazines, they intend to make substantial savings by making sure that they print no more than they can sell. Working with distributor Frontline, they have set a target to reduce their unsold magazines by 50%.
The Co-operative Group has achieved astonishing paper efficiencies by transforming the way its staff work, encouraging new, flexible work routines that make the most of digital technology and release them from desk-bound paper-heavy information systems. They have encouraged their staff to ‘cleanse’ their work areas of paper, digitally archiving large amounts of material and reducing paper use in the organisation by a staggering 71%.
Bank cashes in on paper saving opportunities, saving $10 million.
Between 2004 and 2013, Standard Chartered has reduced its paper consumption by an impressive two-thirds, avoiding the use of tens of thousands of trees, and saving the company more than 10 million US dollars.
Standard Chartered Bank is a global bank with particular interests in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. It has over 1,700 branches, offices and outlets in 70 countries. It has been working on reducing use of office paper across its footprint since 2004 when it set its first reduction targets; these are updated every 3 years. Its current overall target is to reduce its office paper to 10kg per full time employee (fte) per year by 2020.
Part of Standard Chartered’s strategy to reduce paper use has included looking at the type and weight of paper used, aiming to ‘light-weight’ as far as possible. To facilitate paper reduction and ensure that paper is responsibly sourced the bank has devised a grading system for papers: Gold, Silver and Bronze. All three grades must be FSC certified. The Gold standard is FSC recycled paper and the lightest paper (70g). The Bronze standard is the heaviest (80g).
The Bank focussed on reduction of office paper by looking at where paper was printed most and who controlled its use. In 2009 a Group Technology and Operations Sustainability Manager was hired specifically to oversee paper reduction throughout the business. In each of Standard Chartered’s operating countries it has ‘Paper Champions.’ These are staff members who are passionate about the environment and on top of their daily jobs they come up with ideas to save paper. Every quarter the Paper Champions meet virtually together with the Sustainability Manager to discuss ideas and share best practice.
Other practical initiatives the bank has taken to reduce paper use include printing standards, a ‘Say No to Printing’ project and a competition to see which country performed best in terms of paper reduction.
This strategy is certainly working: In 2005 the bank’s paper use was 79kg per full time employee, while its latest figures show that this has reduced to 23kg/fte. Standard Chartered has therefore achieved a 67% reduction in paper use over the last eight years. In 2013, the bank welcomed its 3 millionth digital active customer. Today 54% of its retail customers receive eStatements, saving an estimated 16,000 trees and saving the bank US$10.8 million each year. In our 2013 Paper Efficiency Scorecard survey the bank was one of the highest-flying companies with an overall score of 89%.
In 2008, Bradford University made sustainability a headline issue with its Ecoversity Project, setting a target to cut paper use by 10% each year for 5 years. The project was championed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, which gave it the leadership essential to reach all parts of the organisation. Ben Tongue, Environmental Manager, said, ‘The paper saving aspect of the project was nice because it could include everyone in the University’.
The result was that in the first two years, the project targets were met, with A3 and A4 paper bought by the University reducing from 22.5 million sheets to 17.5 million sheets, saving £28,000 per year, plus the knock-on savings of less photocopying and printing, storage and distribution. Its central printing operation saw a reduction of 30% in the same period.
Much of these reductions were the result of a shift away from giving students handouts on paper, and instead giving them online access to learning materials. If students are printing downloads away from the University, then the absolute reduction in paper use may be less than that recorded, but if online billing is anything to go by, it is unlikely that this displaced impact is more than a fraction of the paper saved. Research into paper use by students (and staff) off campus would be necessary to ascertain this.
Unfortunately, since the sharp rises in student fees, the University’s senior management has refocused its priorities away from the Ecoversity Project and there are no longer any staff with a University-wide remit to pursue the paper saving initiative. As a result in the last couple of years, paper purchases have levelled off and the environmental and financial benefits have slowed.
If the project could be resurrected, there is clearly much more that could be achieved. Ben says, ‘We had materials, like documents about how to print most efficiently, which were never circulated, and ideas about how IT could set systems up to save more paper.’ Let’s hope they get the opportunity to continue what was clearly an excellent project.
FERN is one of the EEPN’s member organisations, and after they signed our common vision they set about tackling paper use in their own offices. As well as encouraging others to reduce their paper footprint, they felt it was important to try to do something about their own. Their first steps were to reduce printing in the office and move to an electronic format Annual Report, reducing the printrun by 95% (from 1000 to just 50 copies).
Then they addressed their monthly news bulletin, Forest Watch, asking all its recipients if they would be willing to receive it electronically, rather than through the post. They pointed out that producing just one copy of each edition uses the same energy as leaving a 40w lightbulb on for 8 hours. Before they did this, they used to send out 800 paper copies of the newsletter. Since appealing for email addresses, they have only sent out 8 paper copies per month and the e-version goes out to 1,200 people.
This saves an estimated 440kg of paper each year. This is a modest amount, but if every organisation, large and small, was taking these simple steps, we would be well on our way to achieving our vision of halving paper use in Europe.
Duchy Originals has produced a sleek new carton for its luxury organic chocolates, demonstrating that shrinking packaging volume by half can bring benefits for branding as well as financial and environmental savings.
Susan Haddleton, Duchy Original’s Head of Sustainability and Procurement, recently joined the Duchy team. She has an ideal back ground in food policy, sustainable development and food packaging. Shortly after joining she looked at the Duchy products with the notion “if products could talk, what would they say?” She knew immediately that she needed to be using a lot less resources to package the chocolate ‘bezants’ (large luxury organic chocolate coins) and that the paperboard that was used needed to come from sources she could trust. The existing paperboard packaging weighed 68g and it held 200g of product.
She contacted the carton manufacturer and started to look at options that would allow for lighter, more resource efficient, packaging. This included looking at different elements and designs within the trade as well as the manufacturer’s ideas on carton closure options. Susan then worked with a design agency to agree the carton shape and finer detail. She also worked with the chocolate producer, and Duchy’s own technical department to get further input.
The resultant carton is no longer rigid like its predecessor, which means it can be transported flat prior to filling. Previously the rigid container meant that a lot of air was being transported as well as the cartons! The new carton is also Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified under its ‘mixed sources’ label – the wood fibre comes from a mix of FSC certified and other controlled sources. In addition Duchy made a priority of choosing a UK-based carton supplier and a UK-based paper mill, Iggesund in Workington. The chocolate bezant packaging now weighs 26g and holds 160g of product. Weight for weight this is a 48% reduction.
Susan and the team at Duchy are viewing the new carton as a journey. They are learning along the way and see it as just one step on the road to greater sustainability. The carton can be improved further, says Susan, especially with regard to telling the sustainability story of the chocolate and a more premium unique carton profile.
Overall the product redesign meant Duchy not only saved paper but also had an opportunity for improving its branding and product information. The new packaging takes up less space on the shelf, allowing more product into the same space. The new look package helps to present the bezants as both a premium and a sustainable product.
In total, this single redesign has saved 8.9 tonnes of packaging, and we estimate that this means Duchy Originals has saved 231 trees, 890,000 litres of water, 58 tonnes of carbon emissions and 10.7 tonnes of other air, water and solid pollution.
UK finance company Standard Life has committed to reduce its paper use by 50% by 2012, becoming the first company to make a pledge with the Shrink project. It has already made a cut of 23%, saving 320 tonnes of paper.
Standard Life’s consultation with its more than 1.5 million shareholders revealed that only 6% actually want to receive paper mailings.
Their paper reduction commitment is the result of an overarching environmental strategy to consume less, recycle more and dispose sensitively of what remains, and it goes side-by-side with other great environmental paper commitments such as using 100% recycled paper for photocopying and office printing and ensuring any non-recycled content in paper for marketing literature is certified as sustainable by the Forest Stewardship Council.
Its paper cuts so far have saved, by our calculations (with all our usual caveats about approximates based on averages for the paper industry etc), the equivalent of more than 8000 trees, 32 million litres of water, 384 tonnes of air, water and solid pollution, and more than 2000 tonnes of climate change emissions.
So how has Standard Life achieved its paper reductions? Through a combination of reduced mailings and office efficiencies. A consultation with its more than 1.5 million shareholders revealed that only 6% actually wanted to receive mailings like AGM notices on paper and the rest wanted to ‘Go paperless’. The company has therefore been able to make big shifts to online communications.
To get office reductions they ran a company pledging scheme, whereby 700 employees pledged to ‘think before printing, if printing to print duplex and two pages to one side’. The initiative is supported by a Green Team whose members have communicated the message, and given practical assistance like helping staff to set up local printing functions to print duplex and supporting the implementation of new technologies. The company has both upgraded and reduced the number of printers, cutting the number by half and ensuring that all have duplex facilities and other environmental benefits like energy saving.
As well as the the environmental benefits, the result is a substantial saving in costs of paper, energy, postage and storage space.
UK magazine publisher IPC Media has saved 9600 tonnes of paper – that’s almost a quarter of a million trees – in an efficiency drive that has slashed the number of unsold magazines.
IPC Media has many popular brands, including NME, wallpaper, Homes and Gardens, Woman and Home, Country Life, Marie Claire, The Field, Woman, What’s on TV, Nuts and Rugby World. More than 60% of women and 45% of men in the UK read an IPC magazine, most of which are supplied on a sale or return basis to retailers. Any unsold magazines are returned for recycling, but this wastes paper and is costly.
IPC set about devising efficiency measures in its supply chain, together with distributor Marketforce. These include computer models that can forecast sales more accurately and new technology for better print order planning. They have introduced sales-based replenishment systems to wholesalers and points of purchase, so the stock of magazines in shops can be topped up as needed, rather than overstocked just in case they might sell well. People are just as big a part of the measures as technology: they have put in place a dedicated team of supply and demand experts and worked on improving communication with their wholesalers and distributors, especially about magazine brands, so that everyone in the supply chain is better informed and able to avoid waste.
The results are impressive: unsold magazines have reduced by 16% since the end of 2006, with 30 million fewer unsold magazines, giving a total saving of 9,600 tonnes of paper. By our calculations (with all our usual caveats about approximates based on averages for the paper industry etc) IPC Media’s paper reduction has saved around 249,600 trees, 960 million litres of water, 11,520 tonnes of air, water and solid pollution and at least 60,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.
Barclays Capital in the UK has saved £200,000 through office paper efficiency measures that have cut in-house paper use by 48.1%.
The cost savings include energy and toner reductions as well as the actual cost of the 20 million sheets of paper they have saved. This 90 tonne reduction is the equivalent of 2340 trees, nearly a million litres of water, 567 tonnes of CO2, and more than 100 tonnes of other pollution.
One of the bright ideas leading to the paper savings was to reformat internal investment presentations known as ‘pitch books’, from single-sided A4 to double-sided A5. In one year, this new format’s use in London saved 7.7 million sheets of paper! A further 3 million sheets were saved by reducing valuations mailed to clients from 14 to 5 pages, and contract note schedules from 20 pages down to 1 page.
Shifting to a managed print service has also brought about both paper and energy efficiencies. One of the technological innovations is the use of ‘PIN to collect’, whereby staff use a swipe card to pick-up printouts from central printers, thus both ensuring confidentiality and reducing waste from forgotten print-jobs. | 2019-04-23T02:29:52Z | https://environmentalpaper.org/epne-case-studies/ |
From Cincinnati Gazette, June 3, 1883. Reprinted in Circus Scrap Book, Vol. 1, No. 1 (Jan), 1929, pp. 15-20.
To most people a clown is a clown, take him in whatever guise you will, and the fool in motley, with the cap and bells, differs not a whit from the Punchinello of a pantomime. Yet this merry man of the arena is not a new found acquaintance, by any means, and can boast his descent almost directly from the classical times, having figured, as some assert, in the ancient MIMI of the ATELLANIAN fables. Harlequin and Punchinello, both of whom retain the character of jesters, wags and buffoons, find a place in dramatic history of all Nations, and it is believed existed among the Romans before the time of Plautus, continuing to play their frolics during the middle ages, when the legitimate drama was unknown. Indeed, the images of these grotesque characters have been discovered by antiquarians on Etruscan vases and, among the characters in the earliest of our English plays, the fool frequently occurs. Though the term clown and fool are improperly used as synonymous by these early writers, and the fool denoted, in some of the old plays alluded to, either a natural, as they were then called, or a witty hireling, retained for the purpose of making sport for his employers, a clown was a perfectly distinct character, and one of much greater variety.
Richard Tarlton and many other actors, as far back as the time of Ben Jonson, had distinguished themselves as clowns. In 1723 the pantomime clown began his reign upon the English stage, the circus fool coming many years later. In December of the year mentioned, Rich, the London manager, produced the first regular pantomime at Lincoln's Inn Theatre, entitled "The Necromancer, or, The History of Dr. Faustus," which Doran tells us conjured all the town within the ring of his little theatre, and raised harlequinade above Shakespeare and all other poets. In a divertisement of this description, presented by Mr. Rich several years afterwards, the name Grimaldi appears as Pantaloon and in 1758 this same famous clown relieved the tragedy of RICHARD III as enacted by Mossop, by appearing in comic dances between the arts.
Our modern circus clown is a direct descent of Punch and was brought into being, as one might say, by Old Astley, of London, who died in 1814. Philip Astley was a famous rider who first exhibited equestrian pantomimes in which his son, who survived him for a short time, rode (as it is said) with great grace and agility.
Astley had amphitheatres (famous establishments they were, too,) in London, Dublin and Paris and migrated with his actors, bipeds and quadrupeds from one to the other. Belzoni, the celebrated Egyptian antiquarian, who unearthed many famous tombs at Thebes, and earned great distinction as the discoverer of the entrance to the pyramid, was at one time a clown in Astley's London house.
With Rickett's Circus, which was the first that ever exhibited in the United States, the clown was transplanted to American soil and today is such an institution in our midst that tented exhibitions like Barnum's, Forepaugh's and Robinson's are compelled to have not one, but a dozen or more; and so great is the difference in their skill and the character of their performances that they are classed under almost as many different heads. Four distinct species of clowns are recognized by our showmen, i. e., the Talking Clown, the Silent Clown, the Pantomimic Clown and the Trick Clown.
Of Talking Clowns Dan Rice is undoubtedly the greatest that ever lived, having achieved such fame as to be able to command a salary at one time of $1,000 a week with all expenses paid.
Dan was the best of the so-called Shakespearean jesters and was paraded about the streets in a coach-and-four with a handsomely-bound copy of the great William's works open before him when, had his life depended upon it, he could not have spelled out a single word of the text.
Away back in the 50's when old Van Orden was travelling about the country at the head of a circus, Dan Rice was the possessor of an "educated pig" which he exhibited in a side canvas. Fortunately for Dan, Van Orden's clown, a fellow of no great reputation and so addicted to his cups as to be utterly unreliable, was incapacitated for work by intoxication, and Dan was called upon at short notice to take his place. Van Orden had the brains and Dan the impudence, so between the two, jokes - enough to carry him through the performance - were strung together and to the surprise of everyone made the most remarkable hit with his antics, his reputation increasing day by day until, within a very brief space, he stood at the head of his profession.
Long before Rice's debut, however, great clowns were not wanting and John May, John Gossin, Sam Lathrop, Sam Long, Joe Pentland and Old Dan Gardner reigned supreme. May, Gossin and Long were a peculiar trio, each in turn acting in the capacity of liege lord to the famous Madame Delphine who, in her time, had no fewer than seven husbands. Each of the three poor fellows alluded to died of softening of the brain, some said owing to the poisonous effects of the bismuth with which they whitened their faces, while others insinuate that bad whiskey and a scolding wife proved more baneful than the compound blamed by many as the cause of the great Fox's taking off.
Considering the number of clowns that have died in the asylum some, like poor Fox and May, having to be confined in padded cells and harnessed in straight jackets, Old Gardner of all the early clowns was about the only one that died possessed of anything, and yet his early career was less promising of any, he having first appeared before the public in the character of a female impersonator in a minstrel show and a very poor one at that. However, he was well fixed in after years and lived to be honored and respected by a large family of children some now among the best-known people of Philadelphia.
However, it must be remembered that the salaries of circus performers in those days were nothing as compared to what is paid now.
Gossin, it is said, got but $80 a month and was compelled to assist in the putting together of the show wherever an exhibition was given. "We had no canvassmen even when I began the business," said a well-known rider, John Wilson, in conversation upon the subject the other day, "and the clowns, riders, performers, in fact everybody connected with the show, had to turn out, rain or shine, to put up the canvas, build the ring and look after the horses."
Old man Walcott, Teddy Walcott as he was familiarly known in times gone by, now the business manager of Buffalo Bill's Wild West, was one of the most famous of talking clowns just before the breaking out of the war, and for years he travelled with Spaulding & Rogers' Show, receiving, as a compensation, little more than $30 per week, while at present the most ordinary talking clowns are paid from $75 to $150 per week throughout a long season. Dock Thayer, Jim Meyers, Jerry Reynolds, Pete Conklin and the Pastors, Tony and Billy, each shone resplendent for a time in the sawdust arena, but of the lot Tony is today the only one possessing either reputation or money. Tony Pastor was apprenticed to Old John Nathan, and having proved a failure at everything else, he was put to clowning. His first reputation was made under the management of Jerry Mabie as a singer of comic songs and a few seasons afterwards he stepped from the ring to the stage, since which time his career is known to you.
"Do you know how clowns are made?" asked a famous wearer of the motley of a Commercial Gazette man the other day. "I'll tell you; when a man has proved himself utterly incapable of anything else in the ring; when, he can neither ride nor tumble, do a rope act or swing on a trapeze, they smear his face with bismuth and glycerine, put a striped suit upon his back, and he is a full-fledged clown. Tony Pastor was dumped into the ring after this fashion, and is today a millionaire, simply because as a boy he was too trifling for any other line of business."
Buck Gardner, Nat Austin, Ted Croust and John Lowlow are among the next batch of celebrities, the last-named being the best known jesters today. Lowlow and Old Si of the Atlanta Constitution were boys together, both running away from home when mere lads to join Uncle John Robinson's circus, then exhibiting in the South. Small soon tired of the rough life, however, and returned to his home, and sorrowing parents, while Lowlow journeyed on toward the North and now, at the end of twenty-five years' service in this one show, finds himself owning some most valuable property in the City of Cleveland. Talking clowns like Lowlow and his companions, are fast becoming a thing of the past, however, the silent clown now usurping his place.
Of the eight or nine clowns with the Barnum show, all are of this description, and it is a rule with the management of that concern that as soon as a man opens his mouth, he is handed his salary and dismissed.
The silent clown proper is a sort of a "Lone Fisherman" indeed, and this famous character is said to have been suggested to the author of "Evangeline" by a performance witnessed at the circus. The silent clown is as different as the Humpty Dumpty of the pantomime as is the latter from the Shakespearean jester. He is a quite peculiar fellow, comical both in his make-up and expression of face and usually wanders about the ring in a listless sort of a way, as if naturally unmindful of the presence of other people. This style of business was introduced to our tented shows by the two celebrated European clowns Chadwick and Wheel. Both were large and powerful men and without saying a word would stumble into the ring, pick up a pony, trick mule or even some famous rider or acrobat and carry them off under one arm in spite of their struggles.
Ash, of the Robinson circus, first taught his business by John Wilson, then equestrian manager of the show, is accounted one of the best silent clowns and acted a "Lone Fisherman" almost as laughable as that of the original Harry Hunter.
The Trick clown, common to almost every circus, is another peculiar species and although distinct from all others, may be either of the talking or silent sort. The Trick clown is usually an acrobat disguised in motley who, after floundering about in the ring to the great delight of the rustics, suddenly jumps upon a horse and discovers the fact that he is quite a skillful rider. Among the tumblers he sometimes proves the best, and as a bar performer is frequently hard to surpass. The first of our Trick clowns was the great Frenchman, Oriole, who made his appearance in Paris about 1850 and who, it is claimed, was the first man who ever did a somersault on a horse. George Adams, the pantomimist, before taking to the stage, was famous among trick clowns, having served his apprenticeship under Cooke, the great Englishman. He was "creeked" when quite a boy - that is, he had certain joints in his back so twisted as to render him extremely supple - and it is doubtful whether any clown who ever stepped into the arena could at all compare with him. Coming from a great family of circus performers, Adams proved an exception to the rule of the general worthlessness of clowns as gymnasts or riders and before ever putting white on his face had won for himself an enviable reputation as a rider, bar performer and tumbler.
Of the many pantomime clowns the most celebrated within the remembrance of any of the present generation were undoubtedly the Ravels; indeed it is claimed that the first pantomime ever produced upon the American stage "Jocko, the Brazilian Ape," was with these people as principals. The Ravel Brothers, (Mazetti, Gabriel, Francois and Antoine), each have nothing added to their fame at this day. They were the greatest of all pantomimists and are equally as celebrated in Paris as afterwards in this new-found home. Pantomime in all essentials is the same no matter whether it be French, English or Italian; yet there is, to the acute observer, a difference in clowns, the English or American being just as distinct from the others today as when in 1700, even before the time of Rich, the first crude pantomime was given in London. The Martinettis came over from Paris with the Ravels as "property men" and gradually as one after the other of the famous brothers dropped out of the company assumed the vacancy until in the end "Mazumma, the Night Owl," "The Red Gnome" and the other famous pantomimes were played by them and not by the Ravels. However, the Martinettis never amounted to much, nor did the Leland family who came first after them. Maffit and Bartholomew and others gained some little notoriety in these same pantomimes, but the next great success after the Ravels was that made by George Fox at the Olympic Theatre, New York, in 1867. As Humpty Dumpty he has never had his equal and is admitted by all to have been the funniest clown ever seen upon the stage. Tony Denier and George Adams were the nearest approach to Fox, the last named having fairly won the distinction of being the greatest of living pantomimists with the probable exception of the Hanlons who, however, strictly speaking, do not come under the head of pantomime clowns.
As to salaries, the pantomime clown is the best paid of any, $200 and $300 a week not being considered at all out of the way as a compensation for their labors and the Ravels, Fox, the Hanlons, George Adams and even those less celebrated among them have, in their day, earned ample fortunes.
BURLEY — Reactions to the recent passing of a famous circus performer just prove the saying that everyone loves a clown.
Former Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey clown Glen “Frosty” Little, 84, died Tuesday in Kimberly.
“I already miss him like crazy,” said Little’s wife, Pat Little, who described the man under the Ringling Boss Clown makeup as extremely kind and loved by people around the world.
Fans’ love for her husband kept Pat’s phone ringing Wednesday with calls from around the world as the news of his death spread.
The Littles settled in Burley after Glen’s retirement from “The Greatest Show on Earth” 19 years ago. But he didn’t exactly hang up his nose — instead, he settled in teaching another generation of clowns how to make people chuckle.
Clown Tricia “Priscilla Mooseburger” Manuel, who lives in Maple Lake, Minn., worked under Glen for several years at the Ringling circus.
Manuel said many of the old-time circus greats learned from Glen, who was inducted into the Clown Hall of Fame in 1991.
He received his Master Clown title from Ringling while Manuel performed with him in the 1980s. Manuel worked with him again when she opened Mooseburger Clown Arts Camp.
Glen was tough, she said — after all, clowning around was his life’s work.
Manuel said Glen was able to make a successful transition from a circus clown performing in front of thousands of people to a hometown clown performing in someone’s living room.
Bruce “Abernathy D’ Clown” Chenoweth of New Plymouth worked with Glen writing gags for his clown partner, Ann “Twinkles” Chenoweth.
Glen passed along gags to the Chenoweths, including one tricking the audience to think they’re about to get doused with a water bucket really filled with confetti.
“His basic clown skills that he taught were tremendously valuable and his makeup was magnificent,” Bruce Chenoweth said.
Pat Little, who enjoyed a 41-year marriage with her husband, said that he above all loved to joke with people.
Red Skelton never forgot him at Christmas, Pat said, and actor Iron Eyes Cody adored him.
Laurie Welch may be reached at [email protected] or 677-5025.
Join us in turning this into the "Hotarini Halloweeni" by sending your Frosty Halloween photos or photos of yourself in your own makeup and costume with Frosty's signature red hat.
Frosty Little and the Blue Unit Clown Alley of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' 112th edition performing and being interviewed. This video also features Lou Jacobs legendary Hunting Gag.
We are so sorry to hear about the loss of Frosty Little. Coco and I first met Frosty in the late sixties when Coco was doing advance for Ringling and Frosty was on the show. He was Boss Clown of the next generation circus clowns. Through the years we would meet up again. We then worked together with Leon McBride and Advanced Studies where Coco and Frosty shared their experience with future and practicing clowns. Our heart felt sympathies go out to Frosty's family and friends.
Master Clown and International Clown Hall of Fame inductee Glen "Frosty" Little demonstrating the proper way to throw a pie on Good Morning, America at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College 20th Anniversary reunion in 1987.
Master Clown and International Clown Hall of Fame inductee Glen "Frosty" Little and the Blue Unit Clown Alley of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' 118th edition performing the classic Clown Car Gag.
Frosty Little and the Blue Unit Clown Alley of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' 118th edition performing the classic Firehouse Gag.
Glen "Frosty" Little (born 1925 in Genoa, Nebraska) is a circus clown who served with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus for over 20 years. He is one of only four clowns ever to have been given the title "Master Clown" by the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Little saw his first circus at the age of seven, which instilled a life-long love of the circus in him. His nickname "Frosty" was given to him as a boy by his grandfather, who compared him to Jack Frost due to his love of playing in the snow. It is more than a stage name; he even signs his checks "Frosty Little".
Little served in the US Navy during World War II, and was wounded. He learned juggling from a fellow patient while convalescing, a skill that would later help him land his first clowning jobs.
In 1950, he married his wife, Patricia, who is a photographer and former schoolteacher, with whom he has two daughters.
Prior to joining the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Little worked as a postal employee and land surveyor in Colorado. From 1954 to 1956, he performed as a clown at a local amusement park on weekends, wearing a rented costume. In 1956, he went into clowning full-time after he was hired by the Joe King Circus, with which he toured the Rocky Mountain States for half of the year. The rest of the year, he freelanced as a clown at birthday parties and special events. He continued working for the Joe King circus for seven years until its closure in 1962.
Little also worked for other small outfits like the Tom Mix Show and Sells Floto Circus, but he had long had his eye on "The Greatest Show on Earth" – Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. In 1968, he finally got his chance when Ringling created the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College; Little was in its first graduating class, and at the age of 44, he landed a job with Ringling's newly split-off second touring unit.
In 1970 Little was promoted to "Boss Clown" of his unit, and from 1980 until his retirement in 1991, he was the circus' "Executive Clown Director", overseeing clowns in both units, and writing new gags for the clowns to perform. In his lifetime, he has written over 300 gag routines. In his later career, Little also served as an advance man for the circus.
Little also taught at his alma mater, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College. In 1988, Little also helped establish the Ringling circus' first overseas touring unit (based in Japan), choreographing gags and training members of their Clown Alley.
Among the dignitaries he entertained were US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and US President Richard Nixon. He also appeared on 12 Ringling Bros. TV specials.
Little sustained several injuries over the course of his career, including seven broken ribs, ruined knees, and numerous other injuries that left him with "crooked fingers". After one accident, he was rushed to the hospital (after completing his performance) still wearing his clown suit.
In 1983, Little was named "Master Clown" by the Ringling organization, only the fourth clown ever to be so named (after Otto Griebling, Bobby Kaye, and Lou Jacobs – Little's mentor). Little remains the last person ever to have been awarded the title.
Little was inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame in 1991.
Little retired to Burley, Idaho, where he ran his own circus museum. In 1996, Little wrote a book on his experiences as a clown, entitled Circus Stories: Boss Clown on the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus for More than 20 Years.
In 1977 Little was asked by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune what he would do after he retired from the circus. Little replied, "Leave here? Are you out of your mind? I'm never going to leave here. I'll always be a clown."
A. Robins during the run of Robert Ringling's Spangles at Madison Square Garden in the summer of 1943.
It's POOKAMANIA! You can't hope to stop it! | 2019-04-25T00:16:34Z | http://clownalley.blogspot.com/2010_10_24_archive.html |
The week that has just ended was exceptionally rich in events. But no media were able to report it, because they had all deliberately masked certain of their number in order to protect the story that was being woven by their government. London had attempted to provoke a major conflict, but lost to Russia, President Trump and Syria.
he British government and certain of its allies, including US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, have attempted to launch a Cold War against Russia.
Their plan was to fabricate an attack against an ex-double agent in Salisbury and at the same time a chemical attack against the « moderate rebels » in the Ghouta. The conspirators’ intention was to profit from the efforts of Syria to liberate the suburbs of its capital city and the disorganisation of Russia on the occasion of its Presidential election. Had these manipulations worked, the United Kingdom would have pushed the USA to bomb Damascus, including the Presidential palace, and demand that the United Nations General Assembly exclude Russia from the Security Council.
However, the Syrian and Russian Intelligence Services got wind of what was being plotted. They realised that the US agents in the Ghouta who were preparing an attack against the Ghouta were not working for the Pentagon, but for another US agency.
In Damascus, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Fayçal Miqdad, set up an emergency Press conference for 10 March, in order to alert his fellow citizens. From its own side, Moscow had first of all tried to contact Washington via the diplomatic channels. But aware that the US ambassador, Jon Huntsman Jr, is the director of Caterpillar, the company which had supplied tunneling materials to the jihadists so that they could build their fortifications, Moscow decided to bypass the usual diplomatic channels.
The Syrian army seized two chemical weapons laboratories, the first on 12 March in Aftris, and the second on the following day in Chifonya. Meanwhile, Russian diplomats pushed the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to get involved in the criminal investigation in Salisbury.
In the House of Commons, British Prime Minister Theresa May violently accused Russia of having ordered the attack in Salisbury. According to her, the ex-double agent Sergueï Skripal and his daughter were poisoned by a military nerve gas of a type « developed by Russia » under the name of « Novitchok ». Since the Kremlin considers Russian citizens who have defected as legitimate targets, it is therefore highly likely that they ordered the crime.
« Novitchok » is known by what has been revealed by two Soviet personalities, Lev Fyodorov and Vil Mirzayanov. The scientist Fyodorov published an article in the Russian weekly Top Secret (Совершенно секретно) in July 1992, warning about the extremely dangerous nature of this product, and warning against the use of old Soviet weaponry by the Western powers to destroy the environment in Russia and make it unlivable. In October 1992, he published a second article in the News of Moscow (Московские новости) with a counter-espionage executive, Mirzayanov, denouncing the corruption of certain generals and the traffic of « Novitchok » in which they were involved. However, they did not know to whom they may have sold the product. Mirzayanov was first of all arrested for high treason, then released. Fyodorov died in Russia last August, but Mirzayanov is living in exile in the United States, where he collaborates with the Department of Defense.
Russian ex-counter intelligence officer Vil Mirzayanov defected to the United States. Now 83 years old, he comments on the Skripal affair from Boston.
« Novitchok » was fabricated in a Soviet laboratory in Nurus, in what is now Uzbekistan. During the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it was destroyed by a US team of specialists. Uzbekistan and the United States, by necessity, have therefore possessed and studied samples of this substance. They are both capable of producing it.
British Minister for Foreign Affairs Boris Johnson summoned the Russian ambassador in London, Alexandre Iakovenko. He gave him an ultimatum of 36 hours to check if any « Novitchok » was missing from their stocks. The ambassador replied that none was missing, because Russia had destroyed all of the chemical weapons it had inherited from the Soviet Union, as witnessed by the OPCW, which had drawn up a certified report.
After a telephone discussion with Boris Johnson, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in turn condemned Russia for the attack in Salisbury.
Meanwhile, a debate was under way at the UN Security Council concerning the situation in the Ghouta. The permanent representative for the US, Nikki Haley, declared – « About one year ago, after the sarin gas attack perpetrated in Khan Cheïkhoun by the Syrian régime, the United States warned the Council. We said that faced with the systematic inaction of the international community, states are sometimes obliged to act on their own. The Security Council did not react, and the United States bombed the air base from which al Assad had launched his chemical attack. We are reiterating the same warning today ».
The Russian Intelligence Services handed out documents from the US staff. They showed that the Pentagon was ready to bomb the Presidential palace and the Syrian Ministries, on the model of what it had done during the taking of Baghdad (3 to 12 April 2003).
Commenting the declaration by Nikki Haley, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, who had always called the attack in Khan Cheïkhoun a « Western manipulation », revealed that the false information which had led the White House into error and triggered the bombing of the Al-Chaayrate air base, had in fact come from a British laboratory which had never revealed how it came to possess its samples.
The Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs published a Press release condemning a possible US military intervention, and announcing that if Russian citizens were harmed in Damascus, Moscow would riposte proportionally, since the Russian President is constitutionally responsible for the security of his fellow citizens.
Bypassing the official diplomatic channels, Russian Chief of Staff General Valeri Guerassimov contacted his US counterpart General Joseph Dunford to inform him of his fear of a false flag chemical attack in Ghouta. Dunford took this information vey seriously, and alerted US Defense Secretary General Jim Mattis, who referred the matter to President Donald Trump. In view of the Russian insistence that this piece of foul play was being prepared without the knowledge of the Pentagon, the White House asked the Director of the CIA, Mike Pompeo, to identify those responsible for the conspiracy.
We do not know the result of this internal enquiry, but President Trump acquired the conviction that his Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, was implicated. The Secretary of State was immediately asked to interrupt his official journey in Africa and return to Washington.
Theresa May wrote to the General Secretary of the United Nations accusing Russia of having ordered the attack in Salisbury, and convened an emergency meeting of the Security Council. Without waiting, she expelled 23 Russian diplomats.
Published one month and a half before the attack in Salisbury, Amy Knight’s book presents what was to become MI5’s thesis. The author herself maintains that she has not the slightest proof of what she is claiming.
At the request of President of the House of Commons Interior Committee Yvette Cooper, British Secretary for the Interior Amber Rudd announced that MI5 (Military Interior Secret Services ) is going to re-open 14 enquiries into deaths which, according to US sources, were ordered by the Kremlin.
By doing do, the British government adopted the theories of Professor Amy Knight. On 22 January 2018, this US Sovietologist published a very strange book – Orders to Kill – the Putin régime and political murder. The author, who is « the » specialist on the ex-KGB, attempts to demonstrate that Vladimir Putin is a serial killer responsible for dozens of political assassinations, from the terrorist attacks in Moscow in 1999 to the attack on the Boston Marathon in 2013, by way of the execution of Alexandre Litvinenko in London in 2006 or that of Boris Nemtsov in Moscow in 2015. However, she admits herself that there is absolutely no proof of her accusations.
The European Liberals then joined the fray. Ex-Prime Minister of Belgium Guy Verhofstadt, who presides their group in the European Parliament, called on the European Union to adopt sanctions against Russia. His counterpart at the head of their British party, Sir Vince Cable, proposed a European boycott of the World Football Cup. And already, Buckingham Palace announced that the royal family has canceled their trip to Russia.
The UK communications regulator, Ofcom, announced that it might ban the channel Russia Today as a retaliatory measure, even though RT has on no occasion violated British law.
The Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs summoned the British ambassador in Moscow to inform him that reciprocal measures would soon be indicated in retaliation for the expulsion of Russian diplomats from London.
President Trump announced on Twitter that he had fired his Secretary of State, with whom he had not yet been in contact. He was replaced by Mike Pompeo, ex-Director of the CIA, who, the night before, had confirmed the authenticity of the Russian information transmitted by General Dunford. On his arrival in Washington, Tillerson obtained confirmation of his dismissal from White House General Secretary General John Kelly.
The ex-CEO of the largest multinational in the world, ExxonMobil, thought he was untouchable. But to his great surprise, Rex Tillerson was brutally dismissed by Donald Trump. The former believed he was serving the Anglo-Saxon world, while the latter considers him to be a traitor to his country.
Ex-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is a product of the Texan middle class. He and his family worked for the US Scouts, of whom he became the National President (2010-12). Culturally close to England, he did not hesitate, when he became President of the mega-multinational Exxon-Mobil (2006-16), not only to wage a politically correct campaign favouring the acceptance of young gays into the Scouts, but also to recruit mercenaries in British Guiana. He is said to be a member of the Pilgrims Society, the most prestigious of Anglo-US clubs, presided by Queen Elizabeth II, a number of whose members were part of the Obama administration.
Like London, he thought that in order to maintain Western colonialism in the Middle East, it was necessary to favour Iranian President Cheikh Rohani against the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei. He therefore supported the 5+1 agreement.
Like the US deep state, he considered that the swing of North Korea towards the United States should remain secret, and be used to justify a military deployment which would be directed in reality against the People’s Repubic of China. He was therefore in favour of official talks with Pyongyang, but opposed to a meeting between the two heads of state.
While Washington was still in shock, Theresa May spoke once again before the House of Commons to develop her accusation, while all around the world, British diplomats spoke to numerous inter-governmental organisations in order to broadcast the message. Responding to the Prime Minister, Blairist deputy Chris Leslie qualified Russia as a rogue state and demanded its suspension from the UN Security Council. Theresa May agreed to examine the question, but stressed that the outcome could only be decided by the General Assembly in order to avoid the Russian veto.
The North Atlantic Council (NATO) met in Brussels at the request of the United Kingdom. The 29 member states drew a link between the use of chemical weapons in Syria and the attack in Salisbury. They then decided that Russia was « probably » responsible for these two events.
Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary General of NATO, and permanent representative for the United Kingdom to the North Atlantic Council Sarah MacIntosh. She is the ex-Director of Defence and Intelligence questions to the British Minister for Foreign Affairs, a post that she handed on to Jonathan Allen, current chargé d’affaires at the UNO.
In New York, the permanent representative of Russia, Vasily Nebenzya, proposed to the members of the Security Council that they adopt a declaration attesting to their common will to shed light on the attack in Salisbury and handing over the enquiry to the OPCW in the respect of international procedures. But the United Kingdom refused any text which did not contain the expression that Russia was « probably responsible » for the attack.
During the public debate which followed, UK chargé d’affaire Jonathan Allen represented his country. He is an agent of MI6 who created the British War Propaganda Service and gives active support to the jihadists in Syria. He declared – « Russia has already interfered in the affairs of other countries, Russia has already violated international law in Ukraine, Russia has comtempt for civilian life, as witnessed by the attack on a commercial aircraft over Ukraine by Russian mercenaries, Russia protects the use of chemical weapons by Assad (…) The Russian state is responsible for this attempted murder ». The permanent representative for France, François Delattre, who, by virtue of a derogation by President Sarkozy, was trained at the US State Department, noted that his country had launched an initiative to end the impunity of those who use chemical weapons. He implied that the initiative, originally directed at Syria, could also be turned against Russia.
Russian ambassador Vasily Nebenzya pointed out that the session had been convened at London’s request, but that it is public at Moscow’s request. He observed that the United Kingdom is violating international law by treating this subject at the Security Council while keeping the OPCW out of its enquiry. He noted that if London had been able to identify the « Novotchik », it’s because it has the formula and can therefore make its own. He noted Russia’s desire to collaborate with the OPCW in the respect for international procedures.
The United Kingdom published a common declaration which had been cosigned the night before by France and Germany, as well as Rex Tillerson, who at that moment was still US Secretary of State. The text reiterated British suspicions. It denounced the use of « a neurotoxic agent of military quality, and of a type developed by Russia », and affirmed that it was « highly probable that Russia is responsible for the attack ».
The Washington Post published an op-ed piece by Boris Johnson, while the US Secretary of the Treasury, Steven Mnuchin, established new sanctions against Russia. These are not connected to the current affair, but to allegations of interference in US public life. The decree nonetheless mentions the attack in Salisbury as proof of the underhand methods of Russia.
British Secretary for Defence, the young Gavin Williamson, declared that after the expulsion of its diplomats, Russia should « shut up and go away » (sic). This is the first time since the end of the Second World War that a representative of a permanent member state of the Security Council has employed such a vocabulary in the face of another member of the Council. Sergueï Lavrov commented – « He’s a charming young man. He must want to ensure his place in History, by making shock declarations […] Perhaps he lacks education ».
In the space of four days, the United Kingdom and its allies have laid the premises of a new division of the world, a Cold War.
However, Syria is not Iraq and the UNO is not the G8 (from which Russia has been excluded because of its adhesion to Crimea and its support of Syria). The United States are not going to destroy Damascus, and Russia will not be excluded from the Security Council. After having resigned from the European Union, then having refused to sign the Chinese declaration about the Silk Road, the United Kingdom thought to improve its stature by eliminating a competitor. By this piece of dirty work, it imagined that it would acquire a new dimension and become the « Global Britain » announced by Madame May. But it is destroying its own credibility.
Who is really willing to prevent nuclear war after the Olympics break? | 2019-04-25T08:14:50Z | http://www.worldinwar.eu/four-days-to-declare-a-cold-war/ |
At about 8:30 pm Cane River Lake reached 96.4 MSL and rising. The lake is now open. Spillway and Washington Street Landings remain closed due to low water levels, when the lake reaches 97.4 MSL they will reopen. Shell Beach and Point Place launches are open to public use. Question and/or concerns please contact Betty Fuller at 318-617-3235 cell, 318-379-2878 home, 318-357-3007 office.
Saturday, October 24th, is election day and it is important that you exercise your right to vote. If you did not vote early, please make every effort to vote.
2. Paid our bills as they became due.
3. Paid down nearly $200,000 of the debt to the Detention Center that the Police Jury created.
4. Reduced the size of the administrative staff to save over $200,000 per year in operating expenses.
5. Reorganized Parish departments to make them more efficient and productive.
6. Adopted a more accountable and transparent method of operation—focusing on service to the public.
7. Achieved renewal of the Head Start program for 5 years.
8. Improved maintenance of all Parish buildings and facilities.
9. Implemented a more comprehensive and effective purchasing system based on requisitions and budget considerations.
10. Prioritized our road maintenance program.
11. Secured over $8,000,000 in State Capital Outlay funds in the State plan for local projects—primarily roads and bridges.
We have made a great start, but there is much more to be done. We simply cannot afford to go back to the old days and the old ways of doing business as a Parish. We must continue to move forward.
It is a great honor to be allowed to serve as your Parish President. I humbly ask that you help me continue our progress by voting to re-elect me as your Parish President on Saturday, October 24th.
Thank you, and may God bless you and our Parish.
The Natchitoches Parish Journal received this submission from Parish President Rick Nowlin. The views and opinions expressed are those of Mr. Nowlin and not necessarily those of the Natchitoches Parish Journal. If you have an article or story of interest for publishing consideration by the NPJ, please send it to [email protected].
Thus far portions of Northeast Texas and Southeast Oklahoma have received about three inches of rain mainly from Idabel to Clarksville overnight. Rainfall is forecast to continue and shift east today through the weekend. At this time, our flash flood guidance suggests that between 3 to 4 inches of rainfall per hour is necessary for flash flooding to occur. At worst, even with prolonged rainfall we would need upward of 6 inches in a 6 hour period to experience flash flooding problems. Therefore, we are holding off on any type of flash flood watch at this time based on the fact that our dry soils can manage a substantial amount of rainfall through the weekend.
However, there are a number of uncertainties in the timing and placement of precipitation through early next week. One of these uncertainties is what becomes of the remnants of Hurricane Patricia in the Eastern Pacific ocean. Moisture from this storm is forecast to stream northeast and will maintain a wet forecast across the region through possibly Tuesday. There are many different model solutions as to the nature of Patricia’s characteristics after traversing across Mexico and its reentry into the Gulf of Mexico (should that occur). At this time, we will continue to monitor this evolving event and if necessary will follow-up should the situation warrant.
Join My93.9 for Election Coverage Saturday night starting at 8PM. Pastor Steve Harris, Paul Johnson, George Sluppick and A.B. Dupree will cover the returns. You can listen on My93.9 and 1450 AM KNOC.
Have you noticed that none of the guys in your wallet are smiling?
It could be bad teeth. Most of the guys in your wallet lived before modern dentistry. I suppose they aren’t smiling because of bad teeth. Maybe they are not smiling because of the lack of indoor plumbing. Even the guys on the coins are not smiling. Perhaps they are not smiling because they need woman to join their money fraternity.
Look in your wallet. Can you find a woman in the bunch? There were times we had females on our coins, but only three in circulation now that depict women. Do you know which coins and the identities of the women? I wanted you to get up and look something up this morning. At the beginning of the 20th century, lady liberty appeared on several coins as well as the Morgan silver dollar. Something happened and lady liberty is not the symbol she once was and our money became male dominated. Still, those guys are not smiling. You would think that they would smile since what you do with them brings some measure of satisfaction and in instances happiness.
This made me think of a bit of church humor.
An angel hears his plea and appears to him. “Sorry, but you can’t take your wealth with you.” The man implores the angel to speak to God to see if He might bend the rules. The man continues to pray that his wealth could follow him.
Jesus never condemned wealth, money or possessions. He talked about money more than he talked about prayer, so the subject is of spiritual significance. He warned us to be careful with our money because our money could tempt us in ways that were destructive. Maybe those guys in the wallet are not smiling because they have done harm to good people.
Election day is just days away, and while we can’t make any final calls with just early voting results, there are some trends we can look at to see where things are headed as Saturday approaches. The parish had (as of October 20) 2,931 early and absentee votes in. The breakdowns here by party and race can give us a clue as to what we could expect to see after Saturday.
In looking at these numbers, we can see a number of implications in some of the Natchitoches parish-wide races, but let’s look at two in particular (these are two that I’ve made endorses for at The Hayride, if you care to see) If these are reflective of the overall turnout, then that it is likely, but not guaranteed that David Stamey walks away from the Clerk of Court race without a run-off. However, assuming the turnout on election day is the same as the turnout during early voting turnout is a pretty big assumption.
The reason we can consider the possibility of Stamey winning the race outright is based on the racial turnout. If we assume that the white vote went almost entirely to Stamey, then roughly 60% of the vote goes to him, with the other 40% being split between the Louis Byers and Betty Sawyer Smith.
What’s not so easy to predict is the Parish President race. This is an instance where neither party nor race will really tell you the story here. What we do know is that the black community will likely be split between Rick Nowlin and John Salter, with more going toward Salter. The white vote will also be split, but in this case, more toward Nowlin because they will largely come from the City of Natchitoches. Rural whites that do turn out will likely lean toward Salter, but perhaps not in great numbers.
If that scares you as a Nowlin supporter, it should – go out and vote for him. John Salter is promising something he cannot deliver in repaired roads, and Nowlin’s budgetary changes in the parish are the best chance you’ve got of getting those roads fixed more quickly.
The Cane River Food Pantry in desperate need of specific items. As you know the holiday season is just around the corner and with that becomes a higher demand for food.
We are asking that everyone please spread the word that the food pantry will be hosting a food drive for rice and cornbread mix starting Oct. 25th and ending Nov. 8th. The First United Methodist Church will have boxes people can drop their donations off in the foyers of our worship space. We ask that each church does the same. The food can also be dropped off at the church offices of First United Methodist Church at 220 Amulet St. (right behind Shipleys).
Follow us on facebook www.facebook.com/crfoodpantry.
Thanks so much for your continued support of the food pantry!
When Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority at Northwestern State launched its “Character Counts Week” activities Monday, seven NSU Demon football players were among the first students to get involved. Tri Sigma sisters shown (l-r) are event chairman Demmi O’Donnell, Kenedy Lampert, Andrea Boyd and Haley Jorgensen. The Demon football student-athletes volunteering were (l-r) Lyn Clark, Darius Poullard, Dalen Morgan, Wilbur Myers, Jared West, and Jahvez Barnes.
Sisters of the Alpha Zeta chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority at Northwestern State kicked off “Character Counts Week” on campus Monday with the help of several Demon football players.
The sorority is promoting positive character traits and community service all week long on campus. The players, in the wake of the 48-35 Homecoming victory Saturday night over Lamar, joined the Tri Sigmas and played their “good deed dice” game. Participants rolled dice on a specially designed board, filled with different good deeds to accomplish during the week.
The NSU football student-athletes who took part Monday morning were junior safety Jahvez Barnes, sophomore linebacker Lyn Clark, sophomore defensive end LaAllen Clark, freshman defensive tackle Dalen Morgan, senior linebacker Wilbur Myers, junior safety Darius Poullard, and freshman running back Jared West.
The Demons’ participation was a fun start to an important week, said Tri Sigma event chairman Demmi O’Donnell.
departments at the 13 conference institutions.
NSU Alumni Ellis and Juanita Coutee created the Richard A. deVargas, Andrews LaCaze and Dr. William Henry Pierson Endowed Professor in Business through a donation to the NSU Foundation. The professorship was announced during the College of Business and Technology’s Homecoming reception Saturday. From left are Drake Owens, executive director of the NSU Foundation; Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Lisa Abney, Juanita Coutee, Jill Bankston, associate director of development; Ellis Coutee, Dr. Margaret Kilcoyne, interim dean of the College of Business and Technology, and NSU President Dr. Jim Henderson.
Northwestern State University’s College of Business and Technology honored several faculty, administrators and alumni as part of Homecoming festivities Saturday.
The College inducted four individuals into its Hall of Distinction. Andy Baragona, Theodore “Ted” Jones, David Meshell and Kevin Murphy were recognized for their professional achievements.
The School honored Dr. Austin Temple and Dr. Joel Worley as dean emeriti of the College of Business and Technology, Dr. Patricia N. Pierson as department head emerita of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, Dr. Jack Pace as professor emeritus of the Department of Biology, Microbiology and Veterinary Technology and Dr. Walter Creighton as professor emeritus of the School of Business.
In addition, the School announced the Richard A. deVargas, Andres LaCaze and Dr. William Henry Pierson Endowed Professorship in Business. The professorship was made possible through a donation from Ellis and Juanita Coutee to the NSU Foundation.
Meshell is a 1999 NSU accounting graduate. He is employed by KPMG LLP as the tax managing director. Meshell has worked for KMPG LLP since 2000. He served in the United States Marine Corps for six years before enrolling at Northwestern. He lives in Houston.
Murphy is a 1982 NSU business administration graduate. He is a certified financial planner for Ameriprise in Shreveport. Murphy has more than 33 years of experience as a private wealth advisor and franchise consultant. He is licensed and registered to conduct business in Louisiana, Arkansas and California.
Jones is the Charles Ragus Family Endowed Chair at Northwestern State. He is a Baton Rouge attorney and lobbyist who has provided counsel to governors, U.S. senators and congressmen and presidential candidates. Jones served as chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Speedy Long. He was counsel for Gov. John McKeithen on the newly implemented Medicare program and was a special counsel for Gov. Edwin Edwards. Jones worked on the 1968 presidential campaign of Vice President Hubert Humphrey.
A graduate of Northwestern State, Jones has been honored by his alma mater with an honorary doctorate of humanities and induction into the Alumni Hall of Distinction, the Long Purple Line, an honor given to just 115 alumni out of more than 90,000 alumni in NSU’s 131-year history. He was a director of the NSU Foundation. In 2007, he was inducted into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame.
Baragona graduated from NSU in 2003 with a bachelor of science in computer information systems. He is a project manager with State Farm Insurance. Since graduating, Baragona has been actively involved in building the relationship between State Farm and Northwestern State and is the campus manager tasked with recruiting new talent from NSU. He has assisted more than 40 NSU students in receiving summer internships and full-time employment opportunities at State Farm in the last 12 years and assists them through informal mentoring relationships throughout their careers. Baragona has also aided the CIS program in receiving more than $90,000 in State Farm grants in the past three years and serves as a member of the CIS Advisory Council. Baragona has also helped the university by organizing an NSU Alumni group in Bloomington, Illinois, the headquarters of State Farm, that has grown to nearly 50 members. He lives in Heyworth, Illinois.
Temple, who retired as dean of the College of Science, Technology and Business, was recognized for 50 years of service to NSU last year. A native of Leesville, Temple received his undergraduate degree from Centenary College, a master’s degree from Louisiana State University and doctorate from Vanderbilt University. He held several positions at NSU including professor, department head and dean. During the 1990s, Temple established Space Camp at NSU that brought hundreds of students to campus for a week to study the science and technology of space travel. Temple was a long-time advisor to Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He has been an avid supporter of Northwestern athletics, especially the basketball program.
After earning his Ph.D. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Worley began his career at NSU in 1983 . He left NSU in 1986 and returned in 1991 until he retired in 2005. While at NSU, Worley was a professor of business administration and transitioned into an administrative role as the dean in 2001-2005. While dean, he was instrumental is overseeing and securing the College’s AACSBJ reaffirmation. Even after retirement, Worley returned in 2006 to teach classes and in 2007 to serve as the acting dean. He has over 27 years of teaching experience at the post-secondary level, extensive experience in the operation of numerous businesses and private consulting to appropriately 400 businesses. His scholarly work is published in refereed journals and he made numerous presentations nationally, regionally and locally.
One of the 13 initial recipients of Louisiana’s first athletic scholarships for women awarded by NSU in April 1975, Pierson was the first member of the N Club Hall of Fame when enshrined in 1984. She was an outstanding basketball player at Northwestern State who became a successful Lady Demons head coach. A four-year letter winner in basketball, the Pitkin native twice led NSU in assists. After graduating with honors, she became head coach at Pitkin High and led her team to the state championship game. Pierson earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in home economics from Northwestern State and a doctoral degree in human resource education and workforce development from LSU. She was head of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences from 1993 until her retirement in 2012. She has held local, state, regional and national offices in several professional organizations and has been recognized as advisor of the year and the Alumni Association’s teacher of the year for the University. She remains active in the community and teaches on an as needed basis for the University.
After earning his Ph.D. from Colorado State University, Creighton began his career at NSU in 1983. While at NSU, he was a professor of business administration and transitioned into several administrative roles, including chairman of the Accounting and Computer Information Systems Department, director of the Office of Cooperative Education, coordinator of the computer lab and director of the business program. In addition to his work as a classroom professor, he also spent much of his time engaged in grant writing, advising student organizations, research and publishing.
Creighton served as the advisor for the NSU Phi Beta Lambda/Business Professionals of America Student Organization from 1986-2009. He organized and planned the Future Business Leaders of America District Conference from 1984 until 2009. He has more than years of teaching experience at the post-secondary level and extensive experience in the operation of numerous businesses and in private consulting. His scholarly work is published in refereed journals and he made numerous presentations nationally, regionally and locally.
Pace received his doctorate in animal science from the University of Missouri and began teaching at Northwestern State’s Department of Animal Science in 1974. He eventually became the chair of that department. He later served as an associate professor and interim chair of the Department of Biological Sciences. He retired from the department last year. During his 40 years of teaching at Northwestern State University, Pace has taught thousands of students courses in animal science, animal nutrition, human nutrition, human anatomy and physiology and science. In addition to his outstanding dedication to education NSU, Pace has made tremendous contributions to his country, the community and the state. He is a proud veteran of the U.S. Army. He has been a member of the Natchitoches Police Jury and served on the Natchitoches Parish 4-H Advisory Board, the board of directors of the Natchitoches Farm Bureau Federation and the Masonic Lodge (Scottish Rite).
Dr. Walter Creighton was professor emeritus during Saturday’s College of Business and Technology Homecoming reception. Creighton was a professor of business administration as well as an administrator and advisor to student organizations during his tenure at NSU. Form left are NSU President Dr. Jim Henderson, Creighton, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Lisa Abney and Dr. Margaret Kilcoyne, interim dean of the College of Business and Technology.
Dr. Jack Pace was named professor emeritus at Northwestern State University for his 40 years as a professor in which he taught thousands of students courses in science, nutrition, anatomy and physiology. The honor was presented during Saturday’s College of Business and Technology Homecoming reception. From left are NSU President Dr. Jim Henderson, Pace, Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Lisa Abney and Dr. Margaret Kilcoyne, interim dean of the College.
Dr. Pat Pierson, former head Lady Demons Basketball Coach and retired head of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, was named department head emerita by the NSU’s College of Business and Technology. From left are NSU President Dr. Jim Henderson, Pierson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Lisa Abney and Dr. Margaret Kilcoyne, interim dean of the College of Business and Technology.
Dr. Austin Temple was named dean emeritus of the College of Business and Technology at Northwestern State University. Temple served NSU for 50 years before retiring as dean recently. From left are Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Lisa Abney, Dr. Margaret Kilcoyne, interim dean of the College of Business and Technology; Temple with his grandson Sam and NSU President Dr. Jim Henderson.
The Boston Brass will present a recital at Northwestern State University Thursday, Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.
The recital is part of a three-day residency in which Boston Brass will present master classes and clinics and perform with the Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band.
On Thursday, Oct. 29, Boston Brass will present master classes to music students beginning at 12:30 p.m. A series of clinics are set for Oct. 30. The ensemble will perform with the 325-member Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band on Oct. 31.
For 29 years, Boston Brass has set out to establish a one-of-a-kind musical experience. From exciting classical arrangements, to burning jazz standards, and the best of the original brass quintet repertoire, Boston Brass treats audiences to a unique brand of entertainment, which captivates all ages. The ensemble’s lively repartee, touched with humor and personality, attempts to bridge the ocean of classical formality to delight audiences in an evening of great music and boisterous fun. The philosophy of Boston Brass is to provide audiences with a wide selection of musical styles in unique arrangements, provided in a friendly and fun atmosphere.
Through more than 100 performances each year, the members of Boston Brass play to audiences at concerts, educational venues and jazz festivals. In addition to solo performances, Boston Brass regularly performs with orchestras, bands, organ, jazz bands and a variety of other ensembles. They have performed in 49 states and 30 countries and have conducted master classes around the world including sessions and residencies at the Eastman School of Music, The Julliard School, Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, Peabody Conservatory of Music, University of North Texas, Royal Academy of Music in London, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory at the National University of Singapore and Mahidol University in Bangkok.
Boston Brass has been featured on The CBS Early Show, National Public Radio’s Performance Today, The Great American Brass Band Festival and has recorded several diverse albums.
To catch a thief – caught on tape – We need your help.
This fine upstanding citizen of Natchitoches stole the Hope for Paws donation box today from the Payment Center on Keyser Ave. Please help us find this person. If you have any information or tip, please call the NPD at 318-352-8101.
Johnnie Emmons, one of Northwestern State’s greatest athletes and most iconic athletic figures, was honored Saturday night at NSU’s Homecoming football game as the Demon Great of the Game. Emmons was a football and basketball star, and also a track and field competitor, from 1947-52 who later became an assistant football coach, and head coach in men’s and women’s tennis and baseball, at Northwestern. The longtime Natchitoches resident was introduced at Turpin Stadium during a timeout in the first quarter. Shown are (l-r) NSU director of athletics Greg Burke and Johnnie Emmons.
The Northwestern State football team hasn’t counterpunched effectively this season, until Saturday night.
That helped the Demons surprise Lamar 48-35 to delight a Homecoming crowd of 9,133 at Turpin Stadium, picking up their first win coming out of an open date and after a disappointing fade in a 45-31 defeat at Incarnate Word on Oct. 3.
NSU dominated early, building a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter, then weathered the Cardinals’ comeback efforts. Lamar couldn’t get on a roll against a revamped Demons’ defense. After the visitors (3-3 overall, 2-1 in the Southland Conference) scored their first three touchdowns, they couldn’t sustain their success, losing the ball on a fourth-down stop and two punts to keep NSU in command up by at least two scores.
The Demons (1-5, 1-3) topped their season averages for scoring and total offense building a 31-14 halftime lead with one of the more productive halves in school history, posting 347 yards. NSU finished with season highs on the scoreboard and in yardage (479) while playing keepaway down the stretch.
Senior transfer Stephen Rivers went the distance at quarterback after struggling in NSU’s season opener, but rebounding in productive appearances at Mississippi State and UIW. After two seasons with LSU and last year at Vanderbilt, Rivers posted his first two college touchdown throws, going 15 of 21 for 197 yards, and notched his first win in his third career start, including this year’s opener, in his first-ever start-to-finish college game.
During the open date, before practices resumed the NSU defensive staff shifted from a base 4-3-4 scheme to a 3-3-5 stack and that move paid off handsomely. Lamar had allowed only one sack all season, including a competitive loss at Baylor and a win over third-ranked (FCS) Sam Houston State, but the Demons got a pair among four tackles for loss and five quarterback hurries.
“We went to a different concept and it helped free up guys to make plays. We took them out of some things they like to do and we made big plays at critical times,” said Thomas. “We have the scheme in our playbook, work it in the spring and preseason so we can go to it as needed, and it was the right move at the right time.
Along with the overall performance, which included strides on special teams, NSU admittedly got lucky to score two key touchdowns.
Just 13 seconds before halftime, the Demons went up 31-14 when an impressive 8-play, 68-yard drive in the final 3:40 was capped when Rivers’ throw to H-back Charles Vaughn was deflected and fluttered into the hands of nearby tight end Zach White.
In the first minute of the fourth quarter, the Cardinals were poised to draw within one score for the first time since the first period after a 69-yard drive had them second-and-goal at the 2. But star running back Kade Harrington, who scored all five LU TDs and ran for an NSU opponent-record 282 yards (36 carries), had a teammate (an in-motion receiver) bump into his elbow and knock loose the ball, which Demons’ junior safety Adam Jones scooped up and returned a school-record 95 yards for a commanding 41-21 advantage.
It combined to produce a joyful scene at game’s end.
The Demons head south the next two weeks, going to unbeaten McNeese Saturday night and visiting Nicholls on Halloween, before hosting Abilene Christian on Nov. 7. | 2019-04-21T23:06:21Z | https://natchitochesparishjournal.com/2015/10/page/2/ |
Getting my gaming commentary game back on, with an appearance as a talking head-and-torso for a special Global Gaming Expo episode of APCW Perspectives, featuring venerable online gambling gadfly J. Todd at the mic.
The TL;DR — Kahnawake Gaming Commission is pulling its casinos out of US markets to do business with New Jersey, further putting the squeeze on gray-market online gambling operators … and it’s probably not good that the Senate introduced SB 3376, a placeholder bill for a revised version of Sheldon Adelson’s Restoration of America’s Wire Act, um, Act, aka RAWA. Even if the new bill is going nowhere, simply having it in the legislative mix poses a threat. Oh, and happy soon-to-be 10th birthday UIGEA!
On February 11th, David George-Cosh broke the story of the release of an undated internal document produced by FinTRAC addressing the challenges of cryptocurrencies, primarily bitcoin. FinTRAC is Canada’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing watchdog. The document is a slide deck that was produced further to an Access to Information Act request. The WSJ blog post on the release is here.
A copy of the deck that was released to the public under Access to Information is here.
It’s important to remember that most of what is in this deck does not represent a normative policy position being taken by FinTRAC on cryptocurrencies. (Though note that pages 24-25 of the .pdf document fairly characterizes how FinTRAC views bitcoin vis-a-vis money services businesses under the current Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act and Regulations.) I think the bulk of it represents an earnest and honest attempt to canvass available resources and learn about bitcoin. Many bitcoin aficionados might take issue with how some points are set out and the substance of others. However, I think it’s a decent overview and a good start at fairly covering a lot of ground. Over the coming months, we may see how FinTRAC uses this knowledge as they work with the Department of Finance to introduce anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing regulations for cryptocurrencies, as promised in the recent federal budget.
Meanwhile, to catch up those of us who may have checked out for a semester, gaming law expert I. Nelson Rose explains rather succinctly the other day, in an appearance on Fox Business, where things currently stand with Obamapoker the slow rollout of American online gambling. And, he explains, why California online poker doesn’t really stand a chance this year (even though politicians are still happy to take your donations for giving it the good-ole college try) — go 2014!
If you had cash on Full Tilt shortly before Black Friday, you’ve got until this weekend to inform government contractors that you’d like your money back, please. Check out what I got in the mail recently from the poker world’s new-good friends at Garden City Group, who are handling Full Tilt remissions on behalf of the DOJ, whom you may or may not recall earmarked nearly $200 million of PokerStars money for paying back Full Tilt player/ponzi victims.
Presuming I didn’t unknowingly luckbox into some sorta secret errant money transfer, I think this postcard campaign reveals a GCG serious about covering various asses should someone and their lawyer(s) can come back later and claim ignorance when trying to get a piece of any FTP payout pie. Otherwise you gotta wonder … they didn’t have my email address — the one that just about everybody remotely connected to poker has? (You know, the one that has been the same ever since signing up with Full Tilt in ’04?) And yet they were able to track me down through a postal address that didn’t even exist for me or Pokerati until after Black Friday? It wasn’t anything I ever provided to Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars, Garden City Group, nor the DOJ, as far as I know. In fact, I could be wrong here, but I think the only federal agency that would have this address for me is the IRS.
Hmm … makes you wonder what kinda sit-n-gos the NSA really might be playing!
If you haven’t yet submitted your online poker DNA to Uncle Sam and you still want a chance at seeing your Full Tilt bankroll ever again, visit http://fulltiltpokerclaims.com/.
Last week, I shared with you a plan to get individual lawmakers involved in helping to expedite remission processing for those of us with accounts on Full Tilt Poker. I have very good news on that front. On August 1st, Full Tilt Poker Claims Administrator Garden City Group posted a status update on their website promising that the claims process will begin “shortly” and clarifying that remission will be based on final balances and not on deposits. I encourage you to read the entire statement on their website, atwww.fulltiltpokerclaims.com.
This announcement shows that progress is being made. Over the past several weeks, PPA and the poker community intensified its pressure on the DOJ and Garden City Group to expedite full remission of player funds. Even members of Congress began weighing in on behalf of their constituents. While many factors contributed to the timing of the announcement, there is little doubt player activism played an important role.
While this announcement is much-needed good news, we cannot rest now. We are seeking specifics, including dates for application, expected dates for processing, etc. We are also seeking as streamlined a process as possible.
Op-Ed: Punishment should fit the crime of trying to kill me!
On June 26th, 2010 I was cowardly attacked from the rear with a tire iron by Edmond Price. I was initially hit at least twice on the head with full force with this lethal item. Have you ever been hit by a tire iron with full force? It could easily crack your skull open and spill your brains out. As dazed as I was I still had the presence of mind to grapple with Price to keep him from hitting me with this tire iron again. While defending myself against Price’s attack Victoria Edelman, his fellow conspirator, starts bludgeoning my cracked skull with anything she can get her hands on. She breaks a lamp over my head into thousands of chards of glass. She breaks a toilet tank lid over my head. She impales the crown of my head with an iron. She takes my two wheel dolly and converts it into a hoe that she rakes across my bleeding skull. These are only the items I recall being pummeled with. There were probably many more. During this assault I sustain a severe concussion, fractured cheek bones, ruptured ear drums, several severe lacerations on my head and hands and multiple broken bones in my hands and fingers. My right thumb is almost detached, my left middle finger is almost severed. My ring finger nail is almost ripped off. My ribs are all damaged, perhaps fractured, making it excruciating to breath. Somewhere in this fray I am even scalped! In this century I’m probably one of the only people in the entire World who has had the misfortune of being scalped let alone surviving this brutal torture!
With WSOP.com in play and in more poker players’ pockets, Zynga finds it tougher to bring players to their tables.
The Empire put a hit on the Mafia and buried the farm.
Two years after Caesars Entertainment Corp. perplexed Wall Street by acquiring social gaming operation Playtika, the casino giant has moved past rival Zynga Inc. to the top of the business model.
Social casino games are free to play on the Internet, through Facebook and other platforms. Customers have the option of paying a nominal fee — often less than $1 — to acquire thousands of gaming tokens to increase their virtual bankroll.
Apparently, those pennies add up.
One Wall Street analyst estimated social gaming is now worth $1.2 billion worldwide in annual revenues.
Caesars Interactive Entertainment, a subsidiary of the casino company that controls Playtika and the World Series of Poker, now owns a large chunk of that market.
Playtika’s Slotomania brand — slot machine and bingo-like games — is fueling the effort, which sent Zynga, owners of Farmville, Mafia Wars, Words with Friends, and a platform of casino games, including Zynga Poker, into second place.
“Social casino gaming has essentially gone from being a nonexistent sector a few years ago to one of the most popular gaming genres on desktop and mobile (devices),” Adam Krejcik, managing director of Eilers Research, recently wrote.
You’ll be able to watch a livestream of the hearing, which hopefully will finally remove “click a mouse, lose your house” from the conversation and instead address real issues of money laundering, privacy concerns, redress of grievances, bot use, and identity protection — not to mention what kinda data you can keep about other players, and what kinda hand histories the government can keep on you!
Gambling regulation may historically be a matter left to the states, but regulation of the internet is kinda new, and something Uncle Sam has wanted a role in for establishing minimum standards at least since the White House unveiled its strategy for consumer protection on the internet … [Bump-bump-buhhh] … on April 15, 2011.
Meanwhile, we also have a new Barton Bill — HR 2666, which has a surprisingly ungodly bill number and stated goals of protecting poker players from consumer fraud by establishing a federal program for the licensing of Onternet poker by States and federally recognized Indian tribes. This bill may or may not also have the benefit of helping “poker only” ride along with other online gambling bills yet separate itself if necessary to distinguish its unique sector of the online “gambling” landscape.
WHAT: On Tuesday, July 16, John Pappas, PPA’s executive director will be joined by Representative Joe Barton (R-TX) on a media teleconference to discuss Mr. Barton’s newly introduced bill, The Poker Freedom Act, to license and regulate Internet poker.
The bill mandates technologies to protect consumers from fraud and limits underage access, preserves state’s rights, and ensures Indian Tribes have the same rights to apply for a license as other entities.
The poker community may or may not have lost its verve for writing checks to politicians only to sweat subcommittee hearings that in the end prove about as significant as WSOP Day 1s. But this combo of activity is indeed the start of something — a new baseline at least, as poker interests presumably have until the end of the year to make something happen before all special interests get told the same thing about what’s impossible during an election year.
WASHINGTON — The wall of framed photos with political heavyweights from Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher to Barack Obama — reputedly one of the more impressive collections in town accumulated over 30 years — has been taken down.
Two dozen boxes of papers and memorabilia are stacked on tables, on the floor, and atop filing cabinets, awaiting delivery to a warehouse in McLean, Va., where they will join another 35 boxes being transferred from storage in Maryland.
Among the few items not wrapped and packed in Frank Fahrenkopf’s corner office, which is located a block off Pennsylvania Avenue, are the custom desk from London he had crafted 24 years ago, an American flag standing in the corner and a knickknack of herding elephants signifying the job he once held as chairman of the Republican National Committee.
Fahrenkopf, who turns 74 next month, is downshifting after nearly two decades as the face of casino gambling in Washington and one of the most prominent Nevadans in the nation’s capital. The president and CEO of the American Gaming Association until he stepped aside on July 1 is plotting what comes next.
Over the years, he has alternately put out fires and served as a missionary for the commercial casino industry that once was concentrated in Nevada but now is an economic driver in almost half the states.
“It was a perfect storm in a way that when the industry needed to have someone, I happened to be here,” Fahrenkopf said in a recent interview.
But after staying on the job for an extra year in the for-now-dashed hope of helping to guide the industry into federally recognized online poker, he was completing his tenure.
“It just reached a point where 18 years is a long time. It’s always good to have fresh people come in,” Fahrenkopf said of the job he took when it was created in 1995 with the intention of staying just a year.
Cleaning up or Cleaning out?
#1. Bet Raise Fold – Sunday was the worldwide release of the much-anticipated online poker documentary that has – so far – garnered an overwhelmingly positive response from advance viewers. Buy your copy here. If you supported the KickStarter campaign, you should have already received your link to view the movie via email.
#2. Kentucky – After successfully extracting a cool $15mm from bwin.party, Kentucky looks set to continue their litigious ways against other operators that took online bets from the state (and have some resources to target). I’ve been told to expect a significant legal filing related to Kentucky’s actions this week.
#3. PokerStars vs ACC – The ACC filed their response last week to Stars’ application for interlocutory appeal. While we don’t have a firm deadline for a ruling, I can’t imagine the courts are interested in letting this battle drag on much longer, especially given that it clouds the ability of the ACC to pursue an alternative sale. The holiday may result in a delay, but a decision could still be forthcoming in the next few days.
PokerStars clarified their policy for cheating and reimbursements.
Griffin Finan explained why the DiCristina case is so important to poker players.
The SLT revealed that Zions Bank took part in – and may be facing investigation for – online poker processing.
CalvinAyre.com asked if Playtech has given up on the U.S. regulated market.
The UK Gambling Commission released overview stats for 2009-2012.
Joe Barton sounded an optimistic note regarding his yet-to-be-introduced online poker bill.
Lock pros tried to sell Lock funds – cheap.
CardPlayer stopped promoting unregulated sites to Nevada visitors.
On this week’s Rabbit Hunt, Mark and I cover the One Drop action at the WSOP, debate the best way of responding to Adelson and try our best to read the tea leaves of PokerStars’s battle with the ACC.
QuadJacks ran an article of mine imploring people to Stop Writing Responses to Sheldon Adelson. Finally, I offered up some thoughts on the Online Poker Compact Conundrum in the regulated U.S. market.
#GoodRead – Brad Polizzano penned an informative and concise rundown of the 2013 NCLGS at QuadJacks.
Gov. Steve Beshear (D-KY) is almost single-handedly making sure horse racing interests gets their cut of online poker spoils.
I’m paraphrasing, of course, but I dunno man … it’s starting to seem inevitable that Antonin Scalia may eventually have to reveal his screen name and/or recuse himself to avoid violating any PokerStars T&C’s. But until then, the state of Kentucky is doing its part to make sure the Black Friday cases don’t go away.
The governor’s office put out a kinda strange press release last week, just to let people know, hey, don’t be confused by recent reports of certain online gambling cases achieving final settlement. The great Commonwealth of KY, you may recall, made the bold assertion in ’08 that it had a right to take over foreign web domains that failed to block access by Kentuckians. And now they would like you to know with extra certainty that Kentucky only let go of their claims against Absolute and UB (after a $6 million score) but have not otherwise released claims against poker sites that still have any money left, which they plan go after in full force.
Click here to read the whole press release.
As New Jersey prepares for its next court hearing on Wednesday over its efforts to legalize sports betting, gaming officials in Canada are urging lawmakers to vote on a bill legalizing Las Vegas-style sports books.
A bill introduced almost two years ago would allow Canadians to wager on a single sporting event at a time. It’s also seen as way to draw U.S. gamblers to casinos just across the border from cities such as Detroit or Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Canada offers a sports lottery in which bettors can parlay three or more games, but single-game betting is illegal under the Canadian criminal code.
Burns said legalizing sports betting would discourage Canadian bettors from wagering on National Hockey League or National Football League games offshore or with illegal bookmakers.
With Black Friday cases winding up, Mark Scheinberg could make out as the biggest winner in the poker universe.
The chief executive of online gaming giant PokerStars agreed to forfeit $50 million to federal prosecutors to rid his himself of a two-year-old complaint filed by the U.S. government.
In a settlement agreement this week with the Department of Justice, the money being paid by PokerStars CEO Mark Scheinberg is based on allegations contained in the April 15, 2011, complaint filed by federal prosecutors against PokerStars as part of the government’s “Black Friday” crackdown on illegal Internet gaming operations.
“The agreement is not in response to any action that had been brought against Mark and contains no admission of wrongdoing, culpability or guilt on his behalf,” PokerStars spokesman Eric Hollreiser said in an emailed statement.
Last July, PokerStars accepted a $731 million forfeiture to the federal government to end the company’s legal battle with prosecutors.
Three senior officers of PokerStars were charged in April 2011 with bank fraud, money laundering and running an illegal Internet gambling enterprise.
The Justice Department absolved the company of any wrongdoing in accepting Internet wagers from American customers. PokerStars also wasn’t prohibited from entering legal U.S. gaming markets. | 2019-04-22T14:13:16Z | https://pokerati.com/category/poker-news-and-speculation/poker-laws-legal-news-law-politics-and-crime/ |
We've been working on all sorts of things the last few months, and have made lots of progress. We're not ready for a full release yet, however, there are lots of things we'd like to test, especially around how the AI behaves over lots of longer-term games.
Step 0: You must have a working copy of EBII v2.2b installed. I'm not going to repeat all the instructions on how to get one here, it's all covered there.
Step 1: Download - EBII 2.2r Patch.zip.
Step 3: Go into your \data\animations\ and copy the pack.dat, pack.idx, skeletons.dat and skeletons.idx files. Put them somewhere else - this is a backup.
Step 5: Start a new campaign - again this is not save game compatible and will make any 2.2b saves unplayable.
z3n's AI, diplomacy and other changes from his thread are all incorporated.
A revision of the finance script so that the AI no longer gets +5000 mnai whenever their debts are levelled, along with something that takes money away if they're stockpiling cash.
A major overhaul of recruitment, including several new "crossover" regions, plugging the "post-Marian gap" in Italy, fixes on infrastructure access and building upgrade paths.
Changes to settlement mechanics and underlying order - which should be trickier than it was before. Looking to make larger empires more unstable.
New features like the selective garrison script, failsafes for date-based reform events, income from raiding for barbarian and nomadic factions.
New unit stats, lots of changes to things like defensive skill for cavalry and infantry formations.
A significant update of traits, though they're still very much a work in progress.
(In the link at Step 4) New animations, including a change to the balance between swordsmen/axemen and spearmen which should make the latter less overpowered.
Forced Diplomacy and perfect_spy are moved to the campaign_script, so no longer need activating with "show me how". Just click on the "?" button to achieve the same effect.
New "war triggers" script which causes war when certain Rebel provinces are threatened by specific factions.
Changes to cavalry defense stats to make them less tank-like in melee. Also finalisation of defensive skill adjustments for cavalry.
Update to recruit_priority_offset values for skirmishers, light cavalry and medium infantry to address AI army compositions.
All AntiTraits restored for now, should address the issues with Roman offices and other random errors.
More order penalties for non-native governments in Greek communities (for Hellenistic factions only) - attached to the province building for now, but will be a special unique building in 2.3.
Starting armies equalised and in most cases increased, totals relative to number of settlements.
Numidia now starts out Steppe Nomadism, and changes to Western Mediterranean Polities on reform.
Three camps Central Asia turned into towns.
Culture mixes in Africa and central Asia reviewed and amended.
Saka and Pahlava pre-reform governments now give penalties to order after reform.
Reduced movement penalty for ClientRuler to reduce stacking of penalties over time/in winter.
Adjusted starting armies/garrisons downwards (not as low as before the previous change).
Added Voini to Allied Government pools and Parthian Border Marches government.
Numidian, Mauretanian, Egyptian and Ethiopian recruitment pools rewritten. Plugged hole in polis on Korsim/Shardin.
Revision to the availability of Celtic professional swordsmen - now only in Celtic factional governments, colonies and as mercs. Gargokladoi now universally available.
Updated capabilities of farm buildings to provide progression, and functioning bonuses.
Change to stats of a number of Celtic line infantry units. Revision to mercenary Celts and their availability.
Roman formations switched around again.
AP removed from cavalry lances - makes them overpowered when charging from the front.
Fixed Thermon client ruler bug and PotentialSuccessor trait.
Correction to faction standings bug.
Update to faction re-emergence to prevent it happening while target city is under siege. Also updated spawning stacks to be era-appropriate. Added some new locations for a number of factions.
Closed three Alpine passes to the north of Medilanon to stop Rome going directly north. Removed land bridge across Straits of Gibraltar/Pillars of Hercules, between Byzantion and Nikaia, between Mysia and Mytilene and between Attike and Euboia.
Added new faction missions for Ptolemaioi and Carthage.
Update to battle scripts to account for reinforcement battles.
CAI updates including correction of an error. Also a new "switch" to move between diplomatic and warlike states.
New fallback triggers for Hayastan/Baktrian independence - if they lose seven key neighbouring provinces, then they are independent by default. Also punitive expeditions now scripted to do something.
Update to "war triggers" to prevent perpetual notification.
Expanded Baktria's Hellenistic options in Custom Battle for era0.
Updated appearance of the Zagros mountains on the campaign map.
Zero'd starting Roman naval pools to prevent them going on an early ship-building spree.
Pergamon's starting non-levy pools zero'd and given additional money.
Updated export_units so new mercenary Celtic Heavy Spearmen display properly.
Removed camera zooms in Baktrian mission that focus on now non-existent forts.
Updated assignment of Alpine provinces - there are now only two.
Adjusted Hellenistic/Carthagnian settler colony prerequisites to be pastoral settlement compatible.
Corrected the cavalry error in the kh3/kh4.
Corrected appearance of Blastophoenicians in southern Iberia - no longer in Ilergetes territory.
Civitas Libera, Provinciae and Roman Trade Colonies now properly restricted to outside of Italy.
Updated Epeiros' colonisation script to match the others.
Halved war-weariness threshold to 6. Removed weariness-reducing "winning battles" section. Some factions start out with the diplomacy label, instead of warlike.
EDCT update and removal of non-existent building triggers.
Select a successor script consolidated down from 64 to 8 monitors. Together with the change above, almost 200 monitors have been removed.
Libyan Infantry gain powerful_charge. Also updated their models - slight increase in armour.
Revision to Celtic mercenary pools (removing levies). Revision to Hellenistic mercenary recruitment, ensuring proper transition of units over time.
Slight shrinkage of polis pools and reduction in cavalry. Rebalance of helcol pools to feature more cavalry.
Revised KH and polis-imitation governments in line with the above.
Corrected eastcol conversion in Delta Neilou (gone).
Revised "Core" recruitment in Seleukid and Baktrian Supervised Hellenic Admin governments.
Link to the updated barbarian settlement files included in the installation instructions.
Adjusted recruit_priority_offset for Trieres and Liburnes fleets, to reduce naval spam.
Corrected kh7/kh8 which weren't updated last time.
The Greek medium cavalry of the Nile Delta are Hippeis, rather than Xystophoroi.
Corrected accidental bleed-over of Xystophoroi/Aspidiotai Hippeis in Bithynia.
Removed trailing spaces from EDU and EDB - probably won't make a difference to most installations, but may aid the most fragile.
Slight tweaks to neighbour and governor conversion rates - both lowered.
Lowered the AI-switch thresholds, peaceability should come sooner for warlike factions.
Adjusted numbers of elephants and chariots so there aren't mysteriously disappearing men when you start a battle.
Added Thebais to Troublesome Regions script.
Rewrite of starting Carthaginian armies/garrisons.
Adjustment to availability of British Noble Cavalry - increase in frequency after the CelticTwilight reform.
Removed culture limits in the casse_mig so it's the same as the others.
Kretan Archers now appear in the Roman Provinciae in Syria.
Added a new building for nomadic/semi-nomadic factions: the Nomadic Enclave. It has no icons for now, but functions fine otherwise.
Reduced morale of all cavalry units by 2 points (as per LusitanianWolf's submod - but not Client Rulers).
Removed command from Roman Equites.
Increased shield value of certain Iberian infantry units.
Changed secondary weapon of Komatai Toxotai to match that of Komatai/Getikoi Hippotoxotai.
Updated formations of Brigantinoi and Mezeugenoi.
Removed loosest formation (2.7m x 2.7m). Tightened close order of Kretan Archers and Bosporan Heavy Archers.
Reduced recruit_priority_offset for Trieres and Liburnes a little more.
Decreased missile hit rate against elephants from 0.175 to 0.15.
Added a series of "AntiTrait triggers" for a number of paired/antagonistic traits.
What we're primarily interested in is how the game progresses over a 100+ turn run. Is it any different? Is it better?
We're still not done. If anyone was in doubt about this project and the apparent slowing of previews on the feeds, I hope this will allay any concerns. The team is still hard at work improving the mod, there will be future releases, and the hungry maw that is EBII is always ready to consume new talent. We have particular needs for skinners/texturers to help with units, and can always use people who can work in 3D. I can't promise when 2.3 will be, but hope it will be soon. In the meantime, we hope you'll enjoy this latest offering and update on 2.2b.
Last edited by QuintusSertorius; 09-18-2017 at 09:40.
Quick update - the Hemithorakitai had a weird, crash-causing bug which is now gone. A host of other things - including removal of recruitment limitation script.
Apologies everyone who's already downloaded 2.2d - I realised there's a bug in the script from removing the recruitment limitation script without some vestigial other bits of it elsewhere also being removed. Most likely, as soon as you interact with the bits where those counter increments are, the game will crash. I've updated the zip to 2.2d2 - please use that one.
I've updated the animations - the only change is to pikes again. I've removed the strike distances, and the side-to-side shuffling.
I think it should be savegame compatible.
Halved all upkeep costs for units.
Saka pre-reform governments now give penalties to order after reform.
Added some scripted nudges at the start of the game - AI Rome will attack Taras and Pyrrhos will attack Sparte.
Always. If the version number has not changed, the patch hasn't taken. Did you install it in the correct place?
I've built a 1st-level military settlement after establishing a Satrapy in Tolosa as Numidia and found I could already recruit a maximum of 2 Solduros and Bataros. Is this normal?
Do you mean you built a Native Colony (eastcol_one) and you can recruit them? If so, then yes, that's what a Native Colony there will provide. Along with Akus Eporedoi and Kingetoi.
Isn't it rather strange that you'd have early access to elite units, epecially strong infantry like the Solduros? I'd feel too overpowered.
Also, when will Carthage be hostile to Numidia? The description says that I have to be wary of Carthage yet they are best friends despite having grown into a powerful rival.
Bataroas aren't elites, they're regular line infantry. Colonies give professionals, Solduroi are Celtic professionals.
Give the AI time, it's probably building up for a break with you.
Indeed. Between turns 160-180, The Lusotannan mustered mustered a force and besieged Tolosa and engaged with a war that I could not simply offer a ceasefire. Only when the Celtiberians engaged a full on war against them that they sent me a ceasefire. It was quite fun sending naval reinforcement and leading a mixed force of Numidians and Celts against those Iberians.
With that regard, Is it easier to get a ceasefire from an offending faction as long as you do not have any territories directly neighboring them? You could sometimes see Carthage engaging a long conflicts against the Iberian faction but if they are at war with Rome, they can immediately offer a ceasefire.
Same goes for an ai faction mounting a naval invasion with their armies only for them to sit around doing nothing. I've seen this when an Epeirote army lay idle next the settlement of Syracuse that I've taken from them.
Also, will the Numidians have native Heavy Cavalry in the future? With the majority of their cavalry being light skirmishers and the others being nobles that are quite expensive and also very hard to replenish their numbers and very important BGs, they have experienced heavy casualties in trying to hold off the well-armored iberian horsemen. I simply cannot see myself fighting the Carthaginians when they have strong medium and heavy cavalry that can easily walk over my cavalry.
The AI is still a work in progress, but yes, sharing a border tends to make peace less palatable to the AI.
The Numidians own Nobles (same as their bodyguards) are the only native cavalry they have heavier than skirmishers. Make use of what mercenaries you can get hold of to supplement your cavalry; Celts and Iberians both have decent mediums available for hire. There isn't much you can do about heavy cavalry, though. Aside from cope with it the best you can, not every faction has access to every kind of unit.
As Pergamon I was getting on famously with Makedon until I took Byzantion (they had tried and failed several times) upon which they broke our alliance and attacked what was now my city. I seem to remember reading somewhere that new scripts included some specific stuff for each AI faction; Makedon's actions would make sense if that's the case.... but it surprised me and I thought as Pergamon I'd be aware that Byzantion was regarded by Makedon as "theirs"... am I wrong to imagine that this is the case? (Of course their attack may have been for another reason).
Continuing on with some of my questions that spawned during my Numidian playthrough.
1. Why do the Celtic Settlements near Iberia (Tolosa and Illiberri) not have not ranged units once the Satrapy has been built? A Satrapy in an Iberian settlement at least had Iberian Slingers so why do the 2 Celtic settlements have no Celtic Slingers or Archers?
2. It is already turn 250 and I see the Romans as a pushover despite having a well-rounded roster. I gave Syracuse to them because of the fact I don't want to deal with the Epeiros and hoped that the Punic Wars would happen. Instead, they are currently at war with the Sweboz. Doesn't help that they still have Camillan rosters despite the Celts already have achieved their reforms and armor upgrades.
3. Either swordsmen have no luck with projectiles or skirmishers are too good at killing front line infantry? While truly heavily armored infantry can resist the volleys of ordinary javelins, most infantry will have their numbers by brought down by a good amount. I've seen my Soldurus get reduced to only 30 men when skirmishers fired upon them or in my last Greek playthrough, the Peltastai Logades are sometimes the favorite target practice by enemy archers or skirmishers.
Otherwise, the playthrough has been quite great.
Because there's no native pool in Celtic regions. The Satrapy is composed of two parts: a core Numidian roster, and a local component. There's no local pool in Gaul, which is why you're getting no slingers or anything else there.
What you've pointed out is that there should be a regional restriction on it, it's not an intended place for Numidian factional governments.
The automatic trigger for the Polybian reform is turn 248, which you've just passed. They have to actively replace their Camillian units to get the benefits of the reform, there's no way to script a change.
Rome being at war with Sweboz is something recent map changes which will appear in 2.2g should fix (by closing the northern routes).
Javelins from which direction? Most of a unit's protection is to the front (via the shield value).
Mostly in-front. I usually keep elite units or a few swordsmen in reserve so that I don't lose precious units.
Oh, about the Twitter announcement. How does this affect the Numidians? Certain cities will no longer develop into larger cities?
Last edited by Tactics Mayers; 01-30-2017 at 16:36.
Don't worry: am in the process of slowly fixing that issue. Had a feeling it would happen.
Just a few strange happenings to report. Got a ceasefire with Koinon Helenon as Makedon, then Pyrrhus turned up and besieged Sparta so opened up diplomacy with Koinon and requested they attack a faction....Epiros. Strangely, though they were at war with them and one of their ciities was under siege they refused to attack said faction. I went to attack Pyrrhus anyway expecting the besieged army to sally out as well. No...there was noarmy from Sparta that was going to defend itself from an attack by a faction it was at war with.
Left Pyrrhus and Sparta alone (Pyrrhus made peace with Koinon before backstabbing them the next turn and taking Sparta) and besieged Athens.Made a ceasefire with Epiros. Besieged Athens for 5 turns and then assaulted the walls. Despite that when I had checked the Athenian army prior to my assault all of their units had been depleted, when the battle began ...all of the Athenian units were up to full strength (is this deliberate?).
After a lengthy and costly victory my game crashed due to an 'unknown graphical error'.
What can you do to increase loyalty with FMs?
Well what about this? I've recently played as the Arverni. Note I'm highlighting the blue celtic unit.
That's a simple one, a more up to date export_units needs to be included with the zip. Not game-breaking; if there is a 2.2h before 2.3 releases, it'll be fixed then. | 2019-04-21T12:49:41Z | https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php/152246-Announcement-Europa-Barbarorum-II-2-2r-released%21?s=6fc7c510a8fe4d2faae56222ea9b492b |
On April 30th a very rare, non-albino, white buffalo calf was found dead, slaughtered by unknown individuals. The calf’s mother was also killed, poisoned by whoever killed the calf. The calf, Lightning Medicine Cloud, born at the Lakota Ranch in Greenville Texas, was considered sacred, and a reward has been offered for information leading to the capture of the perpetrators.
White buffalo are sacred in several Native American religions, and their killing can trigger outrage in Indian Country, even though breeding programs and knowledge of genetics makes them easier to create. Lightning Medicine Cloud was especially rare because the calf was naturally occurring, a one-in-ten-million event. At the Lakota Ranch’s website, an information page tries to convey the spiritual importance of a buffalo calf like Lightning Medicine Cloud.
The Native Americans see the birth of a white buffalo calf as the most significant of prophetic signs, equivalent to the weeping statues, bleeding icons, and crosses of light that are becoming prevalent within the Christian churches today. Where the Christian faithful who visit these signs see them as a renewal of God’s ongoing relationship with humanity, so do the Native Americans see the white buffalo calf as the sign to begin life’s sacred hoop.
What happens when an omen of unity and prosperity is slaughtered? Lakota Buffalo Ranch owner Arby Little Soldier, a descendant of Sitting Bull, says that his death would strengthen, not weaken, the calf’s purpose.
We as a people crave stories that seem mythic, constantly searching for sign, omens, and portents in our daily lives. So it isn’t too unexpected that the killing of Lightning Medicine Cloud would spark a response in the mainstream media. The question now is what do we do now that attention is focused on this incident? I would argue that if you are horrified by this action, if you felt some kinship and understanding as to the importance of this animal, then you should funnel that outrage and sadness into paying more ongoing attention to Native American and indigenous issues here in America, and worldwide. Too often, the concerns and struggles in Indian Country are ignored, a specialty news item covered only on specialty news sites. If we are to help bring about the unity promised by Lightning Medicine Cloud, then the practice of solidarity might be a good start.
For example, we could examine the “gutting” of environmental review in Canada, a move opposed by Canadian aboriginals and environmentalists. We could ask why the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives opposes Native American protections in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization bill (even though 1 in 3 Native women will be raped during their lives and 2 in 5 women in Native communities will suffer domestic violence), or why the simple question of restoration of lands is regularly blown out of proportion every time it’s mentioned. Yet, for many of us, the connection isn’t there between our concern for the slaughter of a white buffalo calf, and the struggles of the peoples, the tribal nations, from where the context to understand that creature’s sacredness originates.
I would ask that anyone who wants to “do something,” who searched for some action to take, start with educating themselves on Native issues. Read sites like Indianz.com, News From Indian Country, and the Indian Country Today Media Network. Listen to shows like Native America Calling, or read blogs like Turtle Talk and First Peoples. If we Pagans would like to form alliances with practitioners of Native religions on issues of common concern, we should start by understanding what issues concern them. The death of Lightning Medicine Cloud, tragic as it is, presents an opportunity, a door we can open, towards deepening our understanding, and becoming the allies we imagine ourselves to be.
I also think that when the perpetrators are captured (and I pray they will be) that we should apply all appropriate pressure on whoever has jurisdiction to have this case treated as a hate crime.
I know there are many who disagree with the idea of hate-crime statutes, but if it’s there I think it should be used. Anti-Indian crimes are FAR too common around the country and too often go unpunished. Also, this could be an important test case to show that living things can be considered sacred, and should be treated similarly to defaced churches or broken gravestones. We might need that precedent some day.
I like the idea of treating the killing of LMC as a hate crime like defacing a church (along with charging the perpetrators with animal cruelty). I support the idea of hate-crime statutes. I didn’t used to, but I changed my mind, because a hate crime is when you commit at crime in order to send a threatening message to an entire group of people. I’m sure they knew this calf was special and killed him to make a statement.
It might be wishful thinking though. Probably the best I can hope for is they actually catch the perpetrators and charge them with felony animal cruelty (we have that in Texas, thank goodness), and they get some jail time.
I think that someone was right here: the death of this sacred animal *is* going to make it stronger, and I pray that it does. We really did lose something here, and that was respect for the sacred customs of our fellow human beings.
This is horrible. Undoubtedly, and tragically horrible.
I am wary of considering this a hate-crime though. And before people jump on me for saying that, please understand: I am..trying to figure out how to properly word this so as to get my point across without causing an issue.
It is my sincere hope that this was just some kid who thought it would be funny, some mentally deficient or thoroughly in-need-of-help person. I’m reminded of all those times that people “stumble” upon “ritualistic animal sacrifices” and how the people immediately screech that it’s some Pagan or Satanist or adherent of Santeria that caused it. I do not want the community to fall into the trap of reacting to an event like this as a religiously or culturally motivated hate attack when it could just as likely be the same thing. I think assumptions at this point in time could be the worst things to have.
We do have felony animal cruelty statutes here in TX, and whoever did this will face up to two years in prison and I hope they get every second of it. This is beyond reprehensible and far beyond even animal cruelty. It was either done in 1) revenge, 2) to make a statement or send a message of some sort, or 3) to have a trophy “fur” for some filthy rich collector somewhere.
I think it was a bucha right wing fanatics. Or maybe the Republicans did it.
The Hate group calling themselves The New Apostlistic Reformation (the NAR) has been destroying Native American artifacts and cave art and posting it on the web. They are right wing fanatics with meny of its members serving in our government. people like Rick Perry, Michele Bachmen, and Sara Palin.
They probably think “America for the Americans” and mean folks who aren’t Native or from Mexico.
For the Lakota People, the birth of a White Buffalo Calf heralds the eventual return of the White Buffalo Woman. She is a central divine figure who is pivotal to the teaching of the Medicine Circle, the Sacred Pipe Prayer to the Four Directions, and living in right relationship with the Land. Buffalo are also referred to as Pte Oyate, or the “Buffalo Nation,” and the first herds are believed to have come out the Earth.
It is atrocious and reprehensible that someone could kill Lightning Medicine Cloud. Words cannot capture just how horrific this is.
Thank you for posting this story, Jason. The moment I saw it, I was hoping that TWH could get the word out. about the death of Lighting Medicine Cloud’s tragic death.
Well, THAT’S depressing. I’m feeling more gothic by the minute.
Given that LMC’s father had been killed (struck by lightning) a short while prior to this, and his mother was also slaughtered in this attack, was someone trying to cut the genetic likelihood of another calf being born by doing this? If so, why would they feel that need?
Whatever reason, it’s a horrible event, and definitely one that has the potential for making connections between groups and creating new understandings in spite of the sadness.
out here will slip and be caught just because they can’t help but talk.
chiefs and let them decide what their punishment should be!
HELLO! I smell a scam. Shortly after LMC was born. C’mon. (1) a 1/10,000,000 chance, (2) on an indian’s ranch, (3) he set up a tourist atraction, (4) they make a little too much of the whole ‘honor gift’ idea on their FAQ’s and they kind of stress the monetary gift thing, (5) the sell souvenirs…….in other words, they are profiting from this so-called sacred prophecy, (6) the daddy dies by a lightening strike. I know the chances are greater with livestock but still, what are the chances this happened feet away from Arby, no less. I mean, why was he not at least injured by the lightening strike as well, (7) someone kills the sacred calf while tribal elders are supposedly standing watch over it, (8) then someone kills the mom. I mean, c’mon folks.
lancelot has a point. It could be a scam, or it could be a ritual killing by fundamentalist Christians who believe they are doing gods work killing the pagan idol. I’m surprised no one has mentioned how close an association the white buffalo can be with the golden calf in many Christians minds.
You are very VERY disrespectful.
Thanks for covering this, Jason.
“I would argue that if you are horrified by this action… then you should funnel that outrage and sadness into paying more ongoing attention to Native American and indigenous issues here in America, and worldwide.” Hear, hear!
I doubt very much that this was someone of any age group “who thought it would be funny.” This was a well-planned crime — actually, a series of them, starting with trespassing and working up from there — and I believe the individuals responsible knew exactly what they were doing. They knew how to slaughter an animal, probably very quickly, and had what they needed to do so. They acquired a lethal poison and used it in the dosage required to accomplish this deed. They chose particular animals. This goes beyond getting a thrill out of the torture deaths of animals. I believe that the intent is clear, and that intent was to commit a hate crime. It should be investigated as such. Once these criminals are apprehended, the District Attorney could have quite an arsenal of charges to press. I will be working with the intention that they have an opportunity to do so. The Native American community is the most wounded here, but hate crimes such as this create a fearful and intolerant world for us all if they go undetected and unpunished.
According to the article in Indian Country Todau (May 4), lightning Medicine Cloud was killed and skinned. So it is probably the work of some trophy hunter.
As someone who has been struck by lightning twice, once within 25 feet of several others people who were not hit, I can tell you that yes, it is possible.
I have to agree with Cathryn. Had Lightning Medicine Cloud been the only one killed I would have considered it just some jerk trying to cash in on a nice pelt. However, they came back later to poison the mother so that she may never have another white calf. That’s definitely a hate crime.
But then why did they come back later to kill the mother? I still think it’s a hate crime, though the skin would’ve been a bonus, I suppose.
I went to see the white buffalo calf Miracle in Janesville, WI after she was born. It was absolute pandemonium on a farm owned by white folks. When news got out, anyone was of Indigenous ancestry and could find a way was ready to make the pilgrimage. It’s about a three hour drive for us and we had to attempt the trip twice. The first time, you couldn’t get near the place. We made it through a couple days later. I cannot tell you how important that experience was for me, my son and my Seneca brother who carpooled with us other than it was very moving and powerful for us.
Tribal elders don’t do something like what you suggest – EVER. That would be a betrayal of the people they serve and are respected by. That isn’t how it works. Maybe you can back when you understand even the slightest bit about what is important to Indigenous folks.
Unfortunately, if a pentagram is found on anything xian, it’s a hate crime. If a cross is found on anything Pagan, it is just the right thing to do because they are trying to “save” us.
Drawing a comparison to the “golden calf” is a stretch.
If you had visited Arby’s ranch, you would see that the honor gifts and proceeds from the souvenirs are going to feed the buffalo and maintain the ranch. I would hardly call it or Greenville, Tx a tourist destination.
The information regarding the location of Arby or “Tribal Elders” at any time that you reference above is also incorrect.
heh, no less a ‘scam’ than begging money from folks to support temples, libraries, seminaries, etc. No less a ‘scam’, than begging money to send folks to conferences and festivals or to support other projects, or to keep their blogs going.
I want to comment on a misleading editorial statement … The “Republican led House of Reps” is not in favor of the domestic violence legislation language for two reasons, neither of which have anything to do with being anti-female or anti-Native. One is that Native people belong to sovereign nations which have their own laws. Two is that the “violence against women act” have redundant clauses that are covered by other laws.
After reading all of the comments on this post, I find myself wondering if this isn’t two separate crimes. The killing and skinning of the calf smacks of poaching to me. Someone poisoning the mother later – that sounds opportunist. Like someone who heard about the calf being killed, and wanting to make a statement after the fact.
really. I don’t think it’s a stretch. Both were bovine and the epitome of pagan worship. I’m just saying that while it may be a stretch for us, in the mind of a fundamentalist, who knows.
Lets face it, its Texas, and if they can kill an animal AND insult another culture by doing so, its simply an added bonus for them. How sad.
No words could begin to convey how terrible this is. I liken it to the sacrifice of all symbols of hope such as Christ. Evil took a chainsaw to the sacred thron at Glastonbury that meant so much to so many here in the UK, and elsewhere. I agree with Arby Little Soldier that the meaning of the death ‘or sacrifice’ of Lightning Medicine Cloud is to ‘strengthen not weaken his purpose’. I too recognise him as a symbol of Hope and of the message of solidarity between all peoples. We must never respond to hate with hate. Love is like scalding hot water is to all that is evil.
@Lancelot – I live near the Lakota Ranch and can vow to Arby Little Soldier’s character. Having been invited to their home days after LMC was born and being acutely aware of the significance this calf held, makes the events you speak so brazenly about all the more horrific. Arby has deep Lakota roots, not only with ancestral names like Sitting Bull, but their family name comes directly from the scout work done for the likes of Custer himself. This coming of the sacred white buffalo was prophecized over 8 years ago by numerous tribal elders and Arby had many dreams about the coming. I dont know if you understand the circumstances of LMC’ dad “Gentle Ben” but I can assure you the storms that hit the DFW area in April and spawned over 21 confirmed tornadoes created some 16 thousand lightning strikes in less than an hour from the tornadic cell that came over this area…I have many friends who were wiped out due to the trail of damage created by these storms.
Maybe you dont understand that Texas endured its worst drought last year and that the Little Soldier’s had to make many personal sacrafices to import hay and water for LMC and all of the other animals…maybe you arent aware that Arby was hospitalized twice with heat stroke caring for the sacred ones and that through all of the pain, suffering and peril the Little Soldiers managed to live through the love and spiritual vision that LMC brought was never taken for granted. Each month they allowed a pilgrimage of people to come out and visit LMC. They entertained many shaman, medecine men and tribal elders from all nations and were unbelievable embassedors of the message LMC brought.
Had you taken an interest in this when LMC was born and met the caretakers of his legacy, you might not have such a monday morning quarterback view of the events. Did you go visit LMC? Did you or have you ever volunteered for disaster relief? Have you ever whitewashed a ranch fence or moved cattle into shelter to avoid the scorching 100+ heat @ over 150 days last year????? Or do you prefer to sit back in your easy chair and sling garbage at the very people who offer you of themselves and everything they have….. | 2019-04-21T14:06:52Z | https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2012/05/lightning-medicine-cloud-omens-and-american-indian-issues.html |
Pastor's sermon Sunday morning reminded me of a song that has taken a new level of meaning in my life. I don't think people realize just how easy it is for Satan to get his foot in the door of your life. I know that preachers frequently warn of it but until it happens to you, you tend to think "ahhh but I won't let that happen to ME!" Satan rarely comes at you straight off with something you would never do. It's a gradual descent, little by little, so subtle you may not notice. That's why it's critical to be sure your foundation is on CHRIST alone, not on works, not on standards or any thing else--because everything else can crumble beneath you as Satan chisels away at your so-called "standards" bit by bit.
Donard had tests on Monday and saw the oncologist for a report on Tuesday. We never give up hope for a good report, but the doctor was not surprised that there were more new spots in both lungs, and the original ones had grown larger in the period without chemo since last November. Also, the tissue around what remains of the rib that was removed has grown. His CEA (cancer indicator from blood work) was around 7 in November and is now 18.2, the highest ever.
It has been six weeks since surgery, and there is one drain tube remaining. The oncologist wants Donard to call when the last tube is removed and he is feeling better in order to schedule a new round of chemo, probably a repeat of a formula he had last fall. While the oncology report was not good, Donard's ability to be awake during the day is improving, and he is feeling better overall. We are grateful there are still absolutely no symptoms from the lung tumors, and as unbelievable as it sounds, pain from surgery has never been a major issue. Weaning off all the pain medication he has been on since December, however, is a very slow process. Physical therapy is planned to begin next week. When Donard is strong enough to return to work, the surgeon wanted him to begin with half-days at first, but Mustang does not want him to return until he can work full time. That may be another couple weeks.
Your prayers, cards, calls, visits, and e-mails have been a continual source of encouragement to all of us. Thank you so much for being an important part of the recovery process, and we are very grateful for your continued prayers.
Joel: "Don't kill me! I don't want to die!"
Me: "Baby that's the point of the game. If you don't want to get killed don't play the game."
Joel: "I don't want to be the point of the game!"
Me: "Stop messing with Mom's work."
Joel: "Buys the food and water and soda?"
Me: "Yup buys the food and water and soda."
I've done a bit of Googling and checking on Clearplay's site but haven't found anything that really addresses my problem. When watching a movie it randomly glitches and the video goes black for various amounts of time (from a split second to ten or more seconds). I thought at first there were scratches on the disc but have determined this is not the problem as it did that with a brand new movie that we opened and put straight in. The sound is never interrupted so I thought perhaps it was the cables we were using but those are also brand new. I intend to eventually give customer service a call but thought I would put this out in case anyone else has had this trouble. It has really made such a problem we avoid watching things on it (if we think we can get away with it at all we use the PS3).
Almost four weeks after surgery, Donard has done well according to the doctors, but some areas are yet to improve. He is not gaining strength, sleeps most of the time, and his back and legs tire in just minutes. Blood pressure extremes continue to be an issue, as well. Little to no pain is the good news, and he was able to eliminate the morphine about two weeks after surgery. Since slowly reducing and eliminating the steroid, we are hoping the swelling in his face and neck will subside. One drain tube was removed last Tuesday, leaving only two in place, and the collection bottles were reduced in size, which has made everything simpler. We are grateful for many demonstrations of love that have encouraged us through recent weeks and for prayers that continue to strengthen and sustain us.
Donard came home from the hospital Friday (Feb. 20) around 5:30 p.m. Micah (oldest grandson) spent the night here in case we needed him in the absence of an adjustable hospital bed or for any reason at all, but everything went well. Donard is very weak, and sleep consumes more time than being awake. Everything requires great effort, but we continue to be grateful for good pain control. For now we will concentrate on being content with baby steps of progress and attempting to discover a workable routine that keeps up with med schedules, drain tubes, wound care, bandage changes, and meals fitted somewhere among periods of rest, rest, and more rest. Thank you for every investment of time, expressions of concern, and especially for your faithful prayers. Being home four days ahead of schedule is just one of many evidences of God’s blessings.
I realized that I haven't yet updated now that my Pappaw has come home from the hospital! He is still doing very well considering the major 12 hour surgery and was able to come home in less than time than they thought he might. He is getting around the house a little bit with the help of a cane. Thank you so much for your prayers and please continue them as he still has 6-8 weeks of recovery at home.
I've gone awhile without posting anything "deep" but I have had this saved in my drafts intending to write it down for awhile. It kept being in the back of mind through various events in my life and in those of friends.
As you go through the valley of the shadow of death you often wonder--okay God you said that ALL things work together for good but I just don't know HOW you can mean this to be good! I've asked that myself many times over the last few years. How can this be good? It isn't even YOUR WILL that these things should happen, we know it from Your Word! How can You let it and how can it be GOOD? I mean some of the testings in the Bible I think well duh, God made good out of that sad situation--but that wasn't a situation that seemed to go against His Will. During one such time of pondering I had one of those light bulb experiences...God didn't say that it WAS good but that it would work together FOR good. A simple thing to some but a dramatic difference to myself and the way my silly little mind works.
When I looked back over the events of the last several years it amazed me just how many "good" things had happened because of the place I was in. Things that would never have happened if I hadn't been there and yet they were able to happen because of the trials and testing God lead us through. It has been hard, and it has hurt and still hurts and we are still in that valley but as I looked back I could not wish any of those things away. If you had asked me five years ago to choose a path and shown me all the hurt and despair of this road I still can't say honestly I would have chosen this path. But I have seen how God can use this FOR good in my life and in the lives of my family. And perhaps one day I will say that I would gladly walk through that path again for the good that it brought...but right now I am just clinging to faith and hope that God knows what He is doing and that we are walking through the valley of death.
"The doctors seem to be surprised at how well Donard has done in only 4 days post surgery, and we give God all the glory! It is possible that he won't have to be in the hospital for the expected two weeks. Being in a significantly weakened condition for some time before surgery has made getting out of bed, sitting, and standing require even more effort than would have resulted from surgery alone. The smallest tasks are exhausting, resulting in extra sleep during the day as well as at night. We have to keep reassuring him that family members are there to assist when he needs help and not to visit. It is okay to sleep, and visiting can come when he is well again.
MD Anderson is strong on pain control, and for that we are very grateful. Donard has experienced no nausea and is in good spirits. Thank you so much for all your prayers and expressions of love!"
"My nose is running out!"
This was a bit longer of an update because the main doctor was finishing up and came out to personally fill the family in. He says overall his part went well, took longer because the tumor had to be drilled out of the bone (usually the bone is softer in radiation patients and can almost just be scooped out). He had to have a small infusion of blood, some extra platelets because of the length of the surgery (it is much longer than anticipated). The titanium cage was not needed, only two ribs were removed and some sort of concrete filling was made to go in the place of the ribs. The doctor was very optimistic and said things went very well and says Pappaw should be back up on his feet in no time (hah hah!). He did say that the cancer was invading one of the ribs quite a lot and expanded it to 3 to 4 times it's normal size which could be what Pappaw had been interpreting as gall bladder pain. This is good news in that it seems a lot of Pappaw's pain should be relieved after the recovery. Plastic surgeon started about 6:30. His job is to somehow pull the muscles up over the concrete so that it does not rub directly against Pappaw's skin. If he is able to do it the preferred way it will take him two hours, but if he has to do something they referred to as a flap it could take three to four hours so we are definitely still in this awhile longer. Thank you for your continued prayers!!!
Pappaw's surgery begins around 7 AM tomorrow morning. Your prayers are greatly appreciated! I will try to keep updates posted on my facebook/twitter status as they are available.
We have had lots of sick kids around here lately!! Starting on Friday last week several of them began running fevers and coughing. By Sunday six of them were sick from Luke all the way down to Joel. They've been pretty pathetic and the couches have been covered with invalids huddled under throws. ;-) Reuben in particular has been spiking some high fevers several days in a row (in excess of 103). The others seem to be mostly better although there are a few fevers here and there.
Me: "Why aren't you watching Macgyver with Joel?"
Reuben: "I'm going to throw up on Mom's bed!"
Me: "You think you're going to throw up??"
Me: "Micah can you give him a bucket?"
Joel: "I need a bucket too."
Joel (in his most pathetic voice): "I'm sick."
Here is the latest update from my grandmother about Pappaw.
Numerous complications have delayed updates, a downed computer being just one. Thanks to Micah’s efforts (our oldest grandson), we are back online again.
Donard is scheduled for surgery on February 10, 2009. The projected 8-hour surgery will involve removal of the 10th rib (right side) and one to three vertebrae.
A titanium cage with rods on each side held in place with screws will replace the vertebrae. The hospital stay is expected to be two weeks with additional rehab possible. A variety of neurological symptoms led doctors to the conclusion that this area must be addressed through surgery, since chemo had no positive results there and all other options are exhausted. Delaying surgery could ultimately result in paralysis. Disease in the lungs will continue to need treatment after surgery recovery.
Needless to say, we may be out-of-touch for a lengthy period of time. There may be opportunities to read e-mail, so please continue to send us your news. We may have little or no time to reply, but we will welcome any connection with the outside world. We are grateful for your notes of encouragement and for your prayers on our behalf.
“This I recall to my mind; therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.
This post is the culmination of a great deal of discussion and meditation. I'm not sure that I have it still completely put into words yet but I've definitely finally thought of a way to put down something I've been meaning to blog about. As our preferences and convictions have developed over the years there was always something that I couldn't put my finger on that seemed to separate things into two categories. Today it kind of sort of clicked.
As I've made decisions about what things I participate in and what things I don't there was always a struggle. What would God think of this? How does this fit? The Bible doesn't really address this or that issue. How do I know what He wants me to do? Some people say that a certain activity is wrong and some think it is okay. Why the difference between one Christian to the next? Obviously we all have to hear from God about what He wants us to do but something that has helped me to better understand it is that there are essentially two different kinds of activities I should not participate in. One kind of thing would be the things God clearly spells out in the Bible--thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, you know the drill. The second type is the one that usually causes all the division however--things that we abstain from because of the appearance of evil.
What kinds of things appear evil can change through the years. Something considered wrong in Bible times won't necessarily be considered wrong today and vice versa. Here is the key--to focus on the principle, not the application of it. Don't get so wrapped up in specific applications of things that you forget the point of it. For example, modesty can not be defined. You can't give someone exact guidelines on exactly how their clothes should fit and know that will always make them modest. Some of modesty is attitude and how you wear your clothes. If you have completely modest clothing but act like the woman Proverbs warns us about, you are not modest. Something that made even more sense to me was when Dr. Innes who we heard speak at The Wilds used the example of playing pool. Years ago pool was seen as something associated with drinking and worldly behavior. Now it does not have the same connotations and we can play pool without those same appearances of evil. It is all about the principle not the application of it.
Josiah: "Be glad you only have to double buckle with Joel--"
Me: "Just knock it off right now!"
Emma: "I wasn't saying anything!"
Me: "But every time you have to double buckle we end up with this conversation. Do you remember how long we were crammed in a station wagon and the AC didn't work very well in the back? The missionaries in St. Lucia don't even HAVE seat belts!"
Reuben: (in a very Steve-Martin-Clouseau voice) "Good one Megan."
Me: (slightly flustered) "What did you say??"
Reuben: "Good one Megan. You know like when he kicks the guy under the table..."
Emma: "It's like an air refreshner!"
Reuben: (singing as he runs across the house) "I need to go to the bathroom really bad...I need to go to the bathroom really bad..."
During prayer time lately Joel and Reuben have begun praying for each person by name. While cute and sweet this has sometimes been slightly annoying as they don't do any rhyme or reason to it and forget who they have prayed for and who they haven't. Tonight after Joel did his Reuben had a slightly different prayer than normal.
"Thank you God. I pray for Micah the stinkiest." Snickers went all around as we had just been giving Micah a hard time about not putting on enough deoderant.
"Luke the awesome one." Elbow jabs and more snickers.
"Megan the prettiest. Haley the not prettiest." Some of the kids were laughing by this point. "Josh the meanie head." More chuckles and Reuben is definitely feeding off the crowd. He walks around pointing to each person as he prays for them.
"Emma the lamest. Joel the coolest. Mom the prettiest. Josiah the coolest."
I don't probably ask for prayer often enough for my Pappaw. As some of you know things have been very rough for awhile now and it seems to be getting worse. This is the last update my grandmother wrote. Today was the appointment date and they were gone to the Dr most of the day I think. We really covet your prayers right now.
The tumor marker was down a little, but it appears from the CT scan that some areas in the lung are possibly slightly increased.
More importantly, the MRI revealed that the tumor surrounding the vertebrae has definitely progressed and is beginning to put pressure on the spinal cord. Some of what we have blamed on chemo side effects are likely symptoms of that pressure, and he is again experiencing some pain. The neurosurgeon ordered a steroid to hopefully reduce inflammation and reduce pain until after the holidays. | 2019-04-24T00:45:33Z | http://singingonlybyhisgrace.blogspot.com/2009/ |
The present invention provides an interlock scheme for use between a line card and an address recognition apparatus. The interlock scheme reduces the total number of read/write operations over a backplane bus coupling the line card to the address recognition apparatus required to complete a request/response transfer. Thus, the line card and address recognition apparatus are able to perform a large amount of request/response transfers with a high level of system efficiency. Generally, the interlocking scheme according to the present invention merges each ownership information storage location into the location of the request/response memory utilized to store the corresponding request/response pair to reduce data transfer traffic over the backplane bus. According to another feature of the interlock scheme of the present invention, each of the line card and the address recognition engine includes a table for storing information relating to a plurality of database specifiers. Each of the database specifiers contains control information for the traversal of a lookup database used by the address recognition apparatus. At the time the processor of a line card generates a request for the address recognition apparatus, it will analyze the protocol type information contained in the header of a data packet. The processor will utilize the protocol type information as a look-up index to its table of database specifiers for selection of one of the database specifiers. The processor will then insert an identification of the selected database specifier into the request with the network address extracted from the data packet.
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/819,491 filed Jan. 10, 1992, now abandoned.
The present invention is directed to computer networks and, more particularly, to a scheme for interlocking line cards to a shared address recognition apparatus utilized for the storage and look-up of network address information.
The capability of computers to communicate with one another has become a basic attribute of modern information processing. There is an ongoing proliferation of user applications that depend upon the ability of a computer running one of the user applications to send and receive data to and from other computers. The communication capability is necessary for the user application to be able to complete the task for which the application was developed or to communicate information to other users within a group or organization. A particular application may be designed, for example, to call subroutines running on another computer for certain data processing functions or to access a remote database to obtain input data or to store results.
An important objective in providing a communication capability among computers is to make all of the database and processing resources of the group or organization available to each user in the group or organization. In response to the growing need for sophisticated communication capabilities among computers, network, routing and bridging protocols such as IP, DECnet, OSI, etc. have been developed to control data transmissions between computers linked to one another in a network. The various protocols are implemented in transmission services used to couple computers to one another.
Each protocol is typically defined in terms of a number of layers, with each layer relating to a certain aspect of the functionality required for data transmissions throughout a network. For example, the first three layers are defined as a physical layer, a data link layer and a network layer. The physical layer is directed to the physical and electrical specifications of a physical link, for example, a bus, that couples the computers of a network to one another. The physical layer controls bit transmissions through the link so that a series of bits of a data packet can be communicated from one computer on the network to another computer on the network. The physical layer will set the voltage levels for logical ones and zeros, the timing of stable bit information on a physical link and so on, as necessary to transmit the bits of a data packet over the physical link.
The data link layer is directed to the packaging or framing of bits received in a data transmission into a defined packet that is free of transmission errors. The data link layer creates and recognizes boundaries between bits to define bit fields. The bits between boundaries provide structure and meaning to the bits of a data packet. For example the data packet can include a header, comprising the first n bits of a transmission, for computer source and destination information, the length of the data packet in bytes, the network protocol being used and so on. The header can be followed by framed bytes of data comprising the actual message being communicated between two or more computers on the network.
The network layer is directed to the control of routing information required to direct a message from a source computer to a destination computer of the network. Each protocol will define the length and content for a network address to uniquely identify each source or destination of data packets and the processing scheme for routing a data packet through a network. The network address information is in one of the bit fields of a data packet, as framed by the data link layer processing scheme defined by the protocol.
Networks are generally arranged into local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs). A LAN couples computers that are physically located relatively close to one another, as for example in the same building. A WAN couples computers that may be located in different cities or indeed on different continents. A WAN usually includes components such as a router to receive a data packet from a computer on one LAN and to forward the data packet to a computer on another LAN.
The router processes a network address of a data packet according to a protocol implemented in the transmission service used on the network to determine how the data packet is to be routed, e.g., to another router directly coupled to the receiving LAN or to an intermediate router, etc. Each router stores information on the topology of the network for use in routing each data packet.
A bridge is another component that may be utilized to transfer data packets from computers of one LAN to computers of another LAN. A bridge intercouples different LANs and monitors communications within and between the LANs to "learn" source and destination address information. The bridge continuously learns and "ages" address information to accommodate the transfer of a data packet between the LANs.
Typically, each of the bridge and router components have access to a look-up database that contains bridging or routing information, respectively, relating to the network addresses of the sources and destinations of data in the particular network being serviced by the respective router or bridge. An address recognition engine can be implemented as a resource for a router or bridge for access to the look-up database.
The router or bridge operates to extract the network address from the header of a data transmission received at the router or bridge and inputs the address to the address recognition engine. The address recognition engine utilizes the input network address as an index for traversal of the look-up database to locate an entry corresponding to the network address. The entry contains protocol information required by the router or bridge for directing the data transmission to the designated destination.
As should be understood, the nature and content of the information that would be stored in a database entry depends upon whether a router or bridge were implemented in the network due to the differing operating characteristics of routing and bridging operations. Moreover, the size and format of the network address and the nature and content of the network information related to the network address in a particular network are defined by the network protocol implemented in the network. Accordingly, the structure of a look-up database must be designed to accommodate either bridging or routing as well as the address length and information content requirements of the protocol being utilized in the network were the bridge or router is operating. Thus, a look-up database designed to support a router in a network implementing, e.g., a DECnet protocol would not be suitable for use by a bridge, and so on.
A problem concerning computer communications is encountered when a user application running on a computer in a first network utilizing a first data transmission service needs to communicate with a computer coupled to another network utilizing a different data transmission service. The physical layer implemented in the first network may be entirely different from the corresponding layer implemented in the other network. In an effort to fully utilize the processing and database resources of a computer system, more and more user applications running on, for example, computers of a network in one organization need to communicate with user applications or processing and database resources running on computers of a network in a second organization. Each network and its associated data transmission service and network protocol can be viewed as a domain of a larger overall network wherein all of the computers of the larger network need to communicate with one another.
A series of line cards can be provided to service various different data transmission services so as to provide a coupling between different domains of a computer network. Each line card is dedicated to a particular data transmission service and is designed to support the physical and data link layers implemented in the particular data transmission service. The line cards are coupled to one another, as, for example, by a backplane bus for transmission of data packets across different data transmission services.
As should be understood, each line card operates as a bridge or router and requires a look-up database designed to accommodate its needs. While implementing a look-up database on each line card provides a solution to the network address need, such an approach results in redundancy of data throughout the system as well as an inordinate use of line card real estate.
Thus, there is a need for a look-up database that is sufficiently flexible in design to function as a shared resource to a plurality of line cards and for an efficient interlock scheme to facilitate high bus traffic between the line cards and the shared look-up database resource.
The present invention provides an address recognition apparatus that is flexible in design and usable in routing and bridging operations in the context of various different network protocols. In this manner, a single address recognition apparatus according to the present invention can service a router, a bridge or both simultaneously, and, at the same time support look-up operations for several different protocols. The address recognition apparatus is also structured to accommodate a large amount of network information data in an economical and efficient look-up scheme so that the address recognition apparatus can service a plurality of routing and bridging components as a shared resource.
The present invention also provides a scheme for interlocking a series of line cards to the address recognition apparatus via a backplane bus. In this manner, the present invention achieves high speed network address information look-up services with backplane bus efficiency sufficiently high to support a backplane based system comprising a plurality of line cards and a shared address recognition resource.
Generally, the address recognition apparatus of the present invention comprises an address recognition engine coupled to a look-up database. The look-up database comprises a primary database and a secondary database. The address recognition engine accepts as an input the network address extracted from a data transmission. The address recognition engine uses the network address as an index to the primary database. The primary database comprises a multiway tree node structure (TRIE) arranged for traversal of the nodes as a function of preselected segments of the network address and in a fixed sequence of the segments to locate a pointer to an entry in the secondary database.
The TRIE structure has a predictable search time, does not require wide memory for comparisons of digit values to select a node pointer and can be implemented in an economical amount of memory space particularly in a sparsely populated address space, as is often the case in networks. Thus, the TRIE structure for the primary database provides fast access to a large amount of data as would be the case when the address recognition engine is to be used as a shared resource.
Each segment of the network address used as an index by the address recognition engines locates a node containing pointers to subsequent nodes, each pointer of a particular node being defined by one of the possible values of a subsequent segment of the address. The traversal of nodes starts at a root node and continues through a sequence of transition nodes according to the sequence of segments of the network address until a terminal or end node is reached. Each terminal node stores the pointer to the secondary database entry corresponding to the network address used to reach the terminal node. The entry in the secondary database pointed to by the primary database pointer contains information necessary for the router or bridge, as the case may be, to direct the data transmission towards its intended destination.
Each line card is coupled to one or more data transmission lines of a particular data transmission service. Each line card operates autonomously and includes all of the circuitry and logic required to process the physical and data link layers of the particular transmission service to transmit and receive data packets to and from the respective data transmission lines. Each line card includes a processor to perform data link and network layer processing for each data packet upon reception or for transmission of each data packet handled by the line card.
For each data packet received by a line card, the processor extracts the network destination address and passes the address as a "request" to the address recognition apparatus via the backplane bus. The address recognition engine reads each request and uses the address contained in the request as an index to the information database for lookup of a corresponding entry. A portion of the corresponding entry is returned to the line interface card as a "response" that is then read by the processor. The response includes the routing or bridging information required by the processor of the line card to direct the respective data packet to its intended destination.
In any scheme for transferring requests and responses between two devices coupled to one another by a backplane bus, it is necessary to interlock the devices so as to make certain that each request is properly identified to the responding device as a valid request. In addition, each response must be identified to the requesting device as a valid response. The validity of each request and its corresponding response is typically indicated in "ownership", information associated with each request, response pair.
When the ownership information indicates that the responding device "owns" a request, this represents a request written by a requesting device and yet to be processed for a response. Thus, the responding device will know that the request is to be used for lookup of a corresponding response. When the ownership information indicates that a response is owned by the requesting device, this represents a response returned by the responding device in respect of the corresponding request. Accordingly, the requesting device will know that the response should be used in the processing of the input data relating to that request. In this manner, requests and responses can be efficiently transferred between two devices without redundant processing of requests and with a positive indication of correspondence between each response and its respective request.
The present invention provides an interlocking scheme for the line cards and shared address recognition apparatus that reduces the total number of read/write operations over a backplane bus required to complete a request/response transfer. Thus, the line cards and address recognition apparatus are able to perform a large amount of request/response transfers with a high level of system efficiency. Generally, the interlocking scheme according to the present invention merges each ownership information storage location into the location of the request/response memory utilized to store the corresponding request/response pair. In this manner, the requesting line cards and responding address recognition apparatus can read or write the ownership information at the same time and during the same read/write operation used to read or write the respective request/response pair. Accordingly, the overhead imposed upon the backplane bus to complete request/response transfers between the line cards and the address recognition apparatus is reduced to provide a more efficient operation in the backplane bus system.
According to another feature of the interlock scheme of the present invention, each of the line cards and the address recognition engine includes a table for storing information relating to a plurality of database specifiers. Each of the database specifiers contains control information for the traversal of the primary and secondary databases. At the time the processor of a line card generates a request for the address recognition apparatus, it will analyze the protocol type information contained in the header of the respective data packet.
The processor will utilize the protocol type information as a look-up index to its database specifier table for selection of one of the database specifiers. The processor will then insert an identification of the selected database specifier into the request with the network address extracted from the data packet. The processor can readily cross reference protocol type information contained in each data packet to control information appropriate for the specific network protocol associated with a particular data transmission. In this manner, the address recognition engine is interlocked to control information for a multiple of routing and bridging protocols without the need for processing protocol type data.
Thus, the address recognition engine receives as a request a network address and an identifier to identify one of the database specifiers stored in its table. The address recognition engine traverses the primary and secondary databases according to the control information contained in the database specifier indexed by the identifier accompanying the network address.
For example, different protocols define different address sizes, formats and other information items that may be stored in the entries of the secondary database. To accommodate different sizes of network addresses according to the formats of different protocols, the TRIE of the primary database is arranged to have multiple root nodes to provide several traversal paths, each able to accommodate a different size and address format from among the possible network addresses that can be input to the address recognition engine. Each database specifier includes information on the root node to be used for a particular network address.
The interlock scheme provides an efficient interlock between several line cards and a shared address recognition resource by minimizing the number of backplane bus transactions required to complete request/response transfers and by implementing a streamlined method for exchanging database look-up control information between line card processors and the shared address recognition apparatus. Thus, an integrated backplane bus based system of line cards is feasible for coupling different data transmission services to one another for computer network integration.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary computer network incorporating the interlock scheme of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment for the physical hardware configuration of the network integration server of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a high level representation of the architecture for a shared memory card and line interface cards of the computer network of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 illustrates a data block structure for the request/response RAM of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a flow diagram for reading and writing ownership information in the data block structure of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of the operation of the database of FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of the operation of the database during the reading of a request in the request/response RAM of FIG. 1.
FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a network address and database specifier input to the address recognition engine of FIG. 1.
FIG. 8A illustrates a data block structure for the request/response RAM of FIG. 3.
FIG. 8B illustrates an example of the database specifier field of FIG. 8.
FIG. 8C illustrates a further data block structure for the request/response RAM of FIG. 3.
FIG. 8D is a table of information relating to the data block structure of FIG. 8C.
FIG. 8E illustrates another data block structure for the request/response RAM of FIG. 3.
FIG. 8F is a table of information relating to the data block structure of FIG. 8E.
FIG. 8G is a summary of the data structure for the data block of FIG. 8E.
FIG. 9 is a memory map of the memory of the look-up database of FIG. 1.
FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of the primary database of FIG. 8.
FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary structure for a prefix string for a node of the primary database of FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram for a node pointer of one of the nodes of the primary database of FIG. 10.
FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary format for an entry in the secondary database of FIG. 9.
FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary format for a look-up database specifier of the address recognition engine of FIG. 1.
Referring now to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1, there is illustrated, in block diagram form, an example of a computer network generally indicated by the reference numeral 10. The network 10 comprises a plurality of local area networks (LANs) including an 802.5 token ring LAN 12 and two 802.3 LANs 14, 16. The 802.5 LAN 12 comprises a plurality of personal computers 18, all coupled to one another by a token ring bus 20 for communication among the personal computers 18 within the LAN 12. A token ring router 22 is also coupled to the bus 20 and is further coupled to a wide area network (WAN) router 500 24 by an 802.3 bus 26 so that the personal computers 18 of the LAN 12 can communicate with other devices outside the LAN 12 via the token ring router 22 and WAN router 24. To that end, the WAN router 24 is coupled to a T1 data transmission line 28 for communication with, e.g., a personal computer of another LAN 14, 16, as will appear.
The 802.3 LAN 14 also comprises a plurality of personal computers 30 coupled to one another for communication within the LAN 14 by an 802.3 LAN bus 32. A WAN router 100 34 is coupled to the bus 32 and to an X.25 data transmission line 36 for transmission of data from any one of the personal computers 30 to outside the LAN 14. In a similar manner, the 802.3 LAN 16 comprises a plurality of personal computers 38 coupled to one another and to a Translan 320 bridge 40 by an 802.3 LAN bus 42. The bridge 40 is coupled to a Transpath 350 bridge 44 by a 64K bps data transmission line 46. The bridge 44 is further coupled to a T1 data transmission line 48 for bridging data between LANs.
Moreover, each of a plurality of personal computers 50 is coupled to a WAN router 250 54 of the network 10 by a point-to-point coupling 52. Each point-to-point coupling 52 may comprise a sync, async or dial 1200-19200 bps data transmission service. The WAN router 54 is, in turn, coupled to a WAN router 500 56 by a 64K bps data transmission line 58 and the router 56 is further coupled to an 802.3 LAN bus 60.
As should be understood from the above, a data transmission from any one of the computers 18 of the LAN 12 will be transmitted out of the LAN 12 via the router 22, 802.3 LAN bus 26 and router 24 onto a T1 transmission line, while data transmissions from any one of the computers 30, 38, 50 are ultimately routed out of their respective local operating environments via X.25, T1 and 802.3 LAN transmission services, respectively. In addition, the personal computers 38 of the LAN 16 utilize a bridge for communication with personal computers of other LANs while the personal computers 18, 30, and 50 are coupled to routers. Accordingly, if a user application such as electronic mail were running on each of the computers 18, 30, 38 and 50, it is necessary to provide a multi-protocol routing and bridging service in the network 10 so that a mail message from, e.g., one of the computers 18 of the LAN 12 can be transmitted via the T1 transmission service and received through the 802.3 LAN service by, e.g., one of the computers 50.
To that end, a network integration server 62 is coupled to each of the transmission lines 28, 36, 48 and 60 to receive data transmissions, typically in the form of data packets, from any one of the transmission lines 28, 36, 48 and 60 and to route or bridge each data packet out on any one of the transmission lines 28, 36, 48 and 60. The network integration server 62 provides, in a single device, network connectivity between any number of different user applications running on the various computers 18, 30, 38 and 50 by providing a mapping scheme between the user application services available on the constituent computers 18, 30, 38 and 50 of the network 10 and the multiplicity of transmission services that may be used throughout the network 10. In this manner, a mail message, e.g., received from one of the computers 18 over the T1 transmission line 28 can be routed by the network integration server 62 to one of the computers 50 via the 802.3 LAN 60, router 56, 64K bps line 58, router 54 and point-to-point coupling 52.
Referring to FIG. 2, there is illustrated schematically an exemplary embodiment for the physical hardware configuration of the network integration server 62. A standard 19" rack 64 having a backplane bus (not illustrated here, see FIG. 3) is arranged with slots, in a known manner, to slidably receive and mount circuit cards 66. The rack 64 can include nine slots. The circuit cards 66 include a power card 68 physically received into two of the slots to provide a power source to each of the cards 66 operating in the server 62, a management card 70 received into one of the slots for initialization, control and management of the operating cards 66 including input and update of routing information relevant to the network, a memory card 72 received into another of the slots for centralized shared memory services, as will be explained in more detail below, and a series of line interface cards 74, each received into one of the remaining seven slots of the rack 64.
Each line interface card 74 operates autonomously and includes all of the circuitry and logic required to process the physical and data link layers of a particular transmission service protocol, e.g. one of the T1 and X.25 transmission services. In addition, each line interface card 74 includes a network layer processor for the network protocols supported by the respective line interface card 74. The shared memory card 72 provides centralized network routing and bridging information services to the network layer processors of the line interface cards 74. Each line interface card 74 can communicate with any one of the other line interface cards 74 via the backplane bus to affect the transfer of each data packet received at the respective line interface card 74 according to the network routing or bridging information obtained from the shared memory card 72, to one of the other line interface cards 74 for transmission out of the network integration server 62. Each line interface card 74 is provided with a port or ports for physical and electrical connection to a transmission line operating according to the transmission service supported by the respective line interface card 74. For example, line interface card 74A can support a low speed synchronous transmission service through a modem and is provided with a 50 pin port 76 on a front panel for coupling with a 50 wire cable 78. The 50 pin port-50 wire cable arrangement 76, 78 is used for a fan out of lines required to service eight modem connections. The cable 78 is coupled to a remote distribution panel 80 mounted to the rack 64 below the slots used to mount and support the cards 66. The remote distribution panel includes eight ports 82 for coupling to eight different modems (not illustrated). The remaining cards 74 are each provided with appropriate ports 84, 86 on the respective front panel for coupling directly to transmission line(s) operating according to the transmission service supported by the respective line interface card 74.
The rack and slot configuration for the physical hardware support structure provides a modular design for flexibility and expandability. The network integration server 62 can be rearranged to handle additional or different transmission services simply by adding or replacing line interface cards 74 as required by the various types of transmission services used in a particular network. In addition, the autonomous performance of all the physical and data link processing on each line interface card for the transmission service supported by the line interface card, results in a high performance data transmission capacity that can be increased incrementally by adding line interface cards 74 to the rack 64 as data traffic on the network increases.
FIG. 3 shows, in block diagram form, a high level representation of the architecture for the shared memory card 72 and line interface cards 74A, 74B of the network integration server 62. The network integration server 62 is a backplane based system used to provide network connectivity among dissimilar data transmission services. FIG. 3 illustrates two line interface cards 74A and 74B. The line interface card 74A supports a low speed synchronous transmission service such as a 64K bps service, while line interface card 74B supports a T1 transmission service. It should be understood that the specific transmission services described in respect of the line interface cards 74A, 74B are representative as a line interface card for any particular transmission service can be provided on the network integration server 62, as required by the network.
Generally, each line interface card 74A, 74B comprises a line interface 88A, 88B coupled to the respective transmission line 60, 28, a processor 90A, 90B for data link processing, network layer routing and bridging processing and management transactions and a backplane bus interface 92A, 92B, respectively. Each processor 90A, 90B is coupled to a table 93A, 93B, respectively, for storage of identifiers for database specifiers, as will be described below. The memory card 72 comprises an address recognition engine 96A and request/response RAM 96B for centralized routing and bridging information services available to the line interface cards 74A, 74B, a lookup database 94, a table 94A and a backplane bus interface 98.
A high performance asynchronous backplane bus 15 is coupled to each of the memory card 72 and line interface cards 74A, 74B via the respective backplane bus interfaces 92A, 92B, 98. The backplane bus 15 operates according to the Futurebus IEEE Backplane Bus Specification (ANSE/IEEE Std 896.1) to provide communication services between the line interface cards 74A, 74B and the memory card 72.
Each line interface 88A, 88B provides the physical and electrical connectivity to the respective data transmission line 60, 28 for bit transmission. For example, each line interface 88A, 88B is coupled by a distribution panel or adapter cable to an RS232, RS422/449, V.35 or X.21 leased telephone line and is adapted to transmit and receive serial bits of a data packet according to the electrical and physical specification of the leased line. In addition, each line interface 88A, 88B formats the serially transmitted bits into data packets according to the data link protocol utilized in the respective transmission service, as for example one of the standard HDLC, LAPB or PPP data links.
Each processor 90A, 90B performs the data link and network layer routing or bridging processing required upon reception or for transmission of each data packet by the respective line interface 88A, 88B. The network layer processing is performed by the processor 90A, 90B according to the network layer protocol utilized in the domain coupled to the respective transmission service, as for example, one of the OSI, IP and DECnet network protocols, the IS-IS multi-protocol routing scheme and/or a bridging protocol. The processor 90A, 90B analyzes the format of each data packet to determine the network layer protocol do be used for that data packet.
The memory card 72 provides centralized database services for all of the line interface cards 74 in the network integration server 62. These services include the address recognition engine 96A which is coupled to each of the information look-up database 94 and the table 94A for storage of database specifiers, as will appear. For each data packet received by a line interface card 74A, 74B, the processor 90A, 90B extracts the network destination address and passes the address as a "request" to the request/response RAM 96B via the bus 15. The address recognition engine 96A reads each request in the request/response RAM 96B and uses the address contained in the request as an index to the routing information database for lookup of a corresponding entry. A portion of the corresponding entry is placed in the request/response RAM 96B as a "response" that is then read by the processor 90A, 90B again via the bus 15. The response includes routing information that indicates which line interface card 74 of the network integration server 62 is to get the data packet corresponding to the request/response for transmission out of the network integration server 62. The requests and responses are communicated between the line interface cards 74 and the address recognition engine 96A through a device interlocking scheme feature of the present invention that is implemented in the request/response RAM 96B, as will be described in more detail below.
Referring now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated in more detail a data block structure for the request/response RAM 96B. The request/response RAM 96B provides an interlock mechanism between each processor 90A, 90B and the address recognition engine 96A for an exchange of request and response information. The request/response RAM 96B is divided into a plurality of rings 100, e.g. 32 rings, with each ring 100 being dedicated to one of the processors 90A, 90B. Each of the processors 90A, 90B may have one or more rings allocated to it depending on the data traffic expected through the processor 90A, 90B so as to properly balance the servicing of requests by the address recognition engine 96A. For example, the processor 90A may have more allocated rings 100 than the processor 90B. Each ring 100 is further divided into a plurality of entries 101, as for example, 16 entries 101 per ring 100.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, each entry 101 has sufficient memory space to store 16 longwords 102, designated as 0 to 15 in each entry 101. A first set of eight longwords, 0-7, of each entry 101 is used to store a request. A second set of eight longwords, 8-15, of each entry 101 is used by the address recognition engine 96A to store the response corresponding to the request stored in longwords 0-7 of the respective entry 101.
Each processor 90A, 90B maintains a pointer mechanism including a first pointer to indicate the location of a next entry 101 in one of its rings 100 in the request/response RAM 96B that is available to store a request. The first pointer will increment to a next location after each request is stored in the request/response RAM 96B. In addition, a second pointer of the pointer mechanism indicates the location of a previously used entry 101 that should be accessed for reading of a response. The second pointer is also incremented after the processor 90A, 90B reads the response.
The first and second pointers are initialized to point to the same entry location and will each continuously loop around the ring or rings allocated to the respective processor 90A, 90B as they are incremented. If the first pointer loops around the ring 100 faster than the rate at which the processor 90A, 90B reads responses from the request/response RAM 96B, (i.e., faster than the address recognition engine 96A can service requests) the location pointed to by the first pointer will eventually coincide with the location pointed to by the second pointer. At that time, the processor 90A, 90B will stop sending requests to the request/response RAM 96B until the second pointer has been incremented to point to another entry in the ring 100.
The address recognition engine 96A polls each ring 100 of the request/response RAM 96B on a round robin basis, for requests to service. The address recognition engine 96A reads one entry 101 of each ring 100 as it polls each ring 100 and continues polling to eventually read all of the entries 101.
During the exchange of requests and responses between the processors 90A, 90B and the address recognition engine 96A, it is necessary to communicate the validity of a request or a response in a particular entry 101 to the address recognition engine 96A or processor 90A, 90B, respectively. In other words, the address recognition engine 96A must be able to determine whether a request in an entry 101 that it polls is one that should be serviced (valid) or one that has already been serviced and thus should not be read (invalid). Similarly, a processor 90A, 90B must be able to determine whether a response in an entry 101 is the response to the request that it last stored in the entry 101 (valid) or a stale response corresponding to a previous request (invalid).
Pursuant to a feature of the present invention, the interlock between the processors 90A, 90B and the address recognition engine 96A provides for "ownership" information to be stored in dedicated bytes of each request and each response memory space of each entry 101 as an indication of the validity of the data in the respective memory space of the entry 101. Moreover, the setting and clearing of the ownership information is performed by both the processors 90A, 90B and the address recognition engine 96A during their respective read and write operations in respect of requests and responses to minimize the total number of bus transactions required to complete the request/response transfer. This minimizes the bus transaction overhead for the transfer of a request/response pair through the computer system 10 and, therefore, further facilitates the prompt completion of the bus transactions required for the return of responses to the processors 90A, 90B.
Referring once again to FIG. 4, the first byte 103 of the first set of longwords 102 (longwords 0-7 of each entry 101 for storage of a request) is dedicated to store an OWN-- ID bit 104 and a REQ-- ID bit 105. In addition, the first byte 106 of the second set of longwords 102 (longwords 8-15 of each entry for storage of a response) is dedicated to store a RSP-- ID bit 107. The OWN-- ID, REQ-- ID and RSP-- ID bits 104, 105, 107 together provide the ownership information necessary for an indication of the validity of data stored in the respective entry 101. Moreover, the storage of the OWN-- ID and REQ-- ID and RSP-- ID bits at the request and the response memory spaces of each entry 101, respectively, allows for the reading and changing of ownership information within the same read/write operations for the respective request/response pair, as will appear.
Referring now to FIG. 5, there is illustrated a flow diagram for the reading and changing of ownership information by the processors 90A, 90B and the address recognition engine 96A during their respective read and write operations in a request/response transfer for validation and verification of validation of the request and response data stored in a respective entry 101 of a ring 100. At initialization of the system, the OWN-- ID bit 104 is negated and each of the REQ-- ID bit 105 and RSP-- ID bit 107 is asserted. In FIG. 5, the asserted state for each bit is indicated by a logical 1 and the negated state is indicated by a logical 0.
When a processor 90A, 90B sends a request over the bus 15 to the request/response RAM 96B, the processor 90A, 90B will address the request to longwords 0-7 of the entry 101 currently pointed to by the first pointer and include a first byte in the request that asserts the OWN-- ID bit 104 and negates the REQ-- ID bit 105. The location of the first pointer relative to the second pointer will verify that the entry 101 is available. When the address is stable on the bus 15, the address recognition engine 96A will recognize a request/response RAM address and pass the request directly to the request/response RAM 96B over the coupling 24 between the request/response RAM 96B and the address recognition engine 96A, as illustrated in FIG. 3.
The request will be written into the location of longwords 0-7 of the addressed entry 101 in the request/response RAM 96B, including the first byte that asserts the OWN-- ID bit 104 and negates the REQ-- ID bit 105 (see 108, 109). At this time, the address recognition engine 96A owns the entry 101 (indicated by the asserted OWN-- ID bit 104) and the response currently in the entry 101 is invalid (indicated by the mismatch between the now negated REQ-- ID bit 105 and the asserted RSP-- ID bit 107). The processor 90A, 90B will follow the convention of asserting the OWN-- ID bit and negating the REQ-- ID bit during the first and every alternate traversal of the respective ring 100 when writing requests to the request/response RAM 96B.
During the polling operation, the address recognition engine 96A will eventually read the request in the entry 101. The asserted OWN-- ID bit 104 tells the address recognition engine 96A that it owns the request (see 109). In order to permit the writing of requests that vary in length, each of the OWN-- ID bit 104 and REQ-- ID bit 105 is written into the first byte of the first longword 102 of the entry 101 so that a fixed convention for a validity indication can be followed despite the variable length of the request. The processor 90A, 90B will, therefore, write the ownership information at the beginning of a write operation and then continue to write the request. The address recognition engine 96A must be able to determine that the OWN-- ID bit 104 in the first longword 102 is associated with a request that has been completely written into the respective entry 101 (i.e., the processor 90A, 90B has completed its write operation to the request/response RAM 96B).
Referring now to FIG. 6, there is illustrated a flow diagram for a portion of the hardware operation of the address recognition engine 96A utilized to make certain that the write operation for a request associated with an asserted OWN-- ID bit 104 has been completed. The address recognition engine 96A is arranged to assert an REQ-- WIP signal whenever a write to the request/response RAM 96B through the bus 15 is in progress. In step 200 of the operation of the address recognition engine 96A, the address recognition engine 96A initially assumes that the bus 15 is idle. In step 201, the address recognition engine 96A monitors the bus 15 to determine whether the AS* signal of the Futurebus asynchronous bus protocol is asserted on the bus 15, the processor 90A, 90B has asserted a command for a write operation and the address placed on the bus 15 during the connection phase is for the request/response RAM 96B.
If this determination is negative, the operation of the address recognition engine 96A loops back to step 200. However, if this determination is positive, the address recognition engine 96A asserts the REQ-- WIP signal in step 202. The address recognition engine 96A will continue to monitor the bus 15 until the AS* signal is negated (step 203). Prior to the negation of the AS* signal, the address recognition engine 96A loops back to step 202 and continues to assert the REQ-- WIP signal. Upon the negation of the AS* signal by the processor 90A, 90B, to indicate the disconnection phase of the respective bus transaction, the address recognition engine 96A loops back to step 200 and negates the REQ-- WIP signal. Thus, the operation of the address recognition engine 96A, as illustrated in FIG. 6, provides a positive indication (the REQ-- WIP signal) whenever a write operation to the request/response RAM 96B is in progress.
Referring now to FIG. 7, there is illustrated a flow diagram for the operation of the address recognition engine 96A during the reading of a request. In step 300, the address recognition engine 96A reads longword 0 of the entry 101 including the OWN-- ID bit 104. In step 301, the address recognition engine 96A determines whether the OWN-- ID bit 104 is asserted. If it is not asserted, the address recognition engine 96A continues the polling process to a next ring 100 (step 302). However, if the OWN-- ID bit 104 is set, as in the example illustrated at 109 of FIG. 5, the address recognition engine 96A determines whether the REQ-- WIP signal is also asserted to indicate that a write of a request to the request/response RAM 96B is in progress (step 303).
If the REQ-- WIP signal is not asserted, the address recognition engine 96A continues to process the request and then moves on to a next ring 100, according to the polling scheme (steps 304, 305).
Referring back to FIG. 5, the address recognition engine 96A will relinquish ownership of the entry 101 upon reading a valid request by writing a negated OWN-- ID bit 104 to the first byte of longword 0, 112, 113. After the address recognition engine 96A services a request, it writes the corresponding response into longwords 8-15 of the entry 101 as indicated at 110. The first byte of the response, in longword 8, includes an RSP-- ID bit 107 that matches the RSP-- ID bit 107 written by the processor 90A, 90B when it wrote the request to longwords 0-7 of the entry 101, as described above. In this instance, the RSP-- ID bit 107 is negated as shown at 111.
The address recognition engine 96A must therefore access the request/response RAM 96B three times during the servicing of each request, once to read the request, once to negate the OWN-- ID bit 104 and once to write the response, including the RSP-- ID bit. However, due to the point-to-point coupling 24 between the address recognition engine 96A and the request/response RAM 96B, there is no overhead on the bus 15.
The processor 90A, 90B accesses the entry 101 during a subsequent bus transaction when the second pointer points to the entry 101. At that time, the processor accesses and reads longwords 8-15 of the entry 101 for the response and the RSP-- ID bit 107. The processor 90A, 90B will know that the response is valid when the RSP-- ID bit 107 written by the address recognition engine 96A matches the REQ-- ID bit written by the processor 90A, 90B when it wrote the request. As shown at 109 and 111, the processor 90A, 90B negated the REQ-- ID bit 105 when writing the request and the address recognition engine 96A negated the RSP-- ID bit 107 when writing the response. If the REQ-- ID bit does not match the RSP-- ID bit, the response is not valid (i.e. the address recognition engine 96A has not yet serviced the request) and the processor 90A, 90B must read the response again at a later time.
In this manner, the processor 90A, 90B is able to complete the request/response transfer in two bus transactions over the bus 15. During the write operation for the request, the processor 90A, 90B need only access the request longwords 0-7 of the entry to write the ownership information in the OWN-- ID bit 104 and the REQ-- ID bit 105. During the read operation for the response, the processor 90A, 90B need only access the response longwords 8-15 of the entry to determine the validity of the response through a match between the REQ-- ID bit 105 that it wrote during the write request operation and the matching RSP-- ID bit 107 that the processor 90A, 90B reads during the second bus transaction.
As is the case with requests, each response can be of variable length. Thus, the RSP-- ID bit 107 is also written into the first byte of the first longword 102 so that a fixed convention for a validity indication can be followed despite the variable length of the response. The address recognition engine 96A operates to hold any read for a response if it is currently writing the response to the address indicated in the read. This will insure that RSP-- ID bit 107 in the first longword 102 of the response is associated with a response that has been completely written by the address recognition engine 96A.
For a second and every alternate traversal of the ring 100 by the processor 90A, 90B, the first byte 103 written by the processor 90A, 90B (114) asserts each of the OWN-- ID bit 104 and the REQ-- ID bit 105, as shown at 115. The REQ-- ID bit 105 is asserted in the second and each alternate traversal of the ring 100 to again cause a mismatch between the REQ-- ID bit 105 and the RSP-- ID bit 107 since the address recognition engine 96A negates the RSP-- ID bit 107 during the response write operation of the first and each alternate traversal of the ring 100. The write response, relinquish ownership and read response operations 116, 117 for the second and each alternate traversal is similar to the operations for the first and each alternate traversal of the ring 100, except that the address recognition engine 96A now asserts the RSP-- ID bit 107 when writing a response, to provide a match with the asserted REQ-- ID bit 105, as shown at 118.
Referring again to FIG. 7, if, during a request read operation by the address recognition engine 96A, the REQ-- WIP signal is asserted 303, the address recognition engine 96A compares the address of longword 0 of the entry being accessed for a request read operation with the address of the entry on the bus 15 for which a request write operation is in progress (305). If there is a mismatch, the address recognition engine 96A proceeds to process the request (304). However, if there is a match, the address recognition engine 96A waits for the write operation to complete, i.e. a negation of the REQ-- WIP signal (306). Thereafter, the address recognition engine 96A proceeds to process the request (304).
An example of a request 403 is shown in FIG. 8. The request 403 comprises an N bit network address 403A, for example, a 16 bit address, and a database specifier index field 403B. The format for each request 403 and the structure for the entries 101 of the request/response RAM 96B permit a programmable request/response setup.
For example, referring to FIG. 8A, there is illustrated an encoded stream of N requests that are concatenated and written into the request portion of a single entry 101. The handshake byte comprises the OWN-- ID 104 and REQ-- ID 105 bits of the request/response interlock described above. A series of N requests are then written with the OWN-- ID and REQ-- ID information to an entry 101 of the request/response RAM 96B with a "terminator" request ending the byte stream of the concatenated byte stream.
Moreover, each request can be one of several types formatted as either a type-value or type-length-value encoded byte stream, as will be described.
The request/response entry example of FIG. 4 represents a type-value encoded stream with a total fixed length of 16 longwords for the request and response. The example of FIG. 4 is a parser type request that is used in a regular look-up operation of the address recognition engine 96A.
FIG. 8B illustrates an example of the database specifier index field 403B formatted to indicate both a database specifier index and a request type. A first five bit value, for example, is used to identify a particular database specifier for control of the look-up operation, as will appear. A second set of two bits is used to identify a request type. In addition to the parser type request, there can be, for example, an interrogative type request and a maintenance type request.
The interrogative type request is used to return, in a response, information on the look-up operation of the address recognition engine, for example, when a match for a network address is not found in the look-up. FIG. 8C illustrates the structure for the request/response entry 101 when formatted for an interrogative type request and the table of FIG. 8D shows the information contained in a response to an interrogative request. The TRA and TER designations in the table of FIG. 8D refer to transition and termination nodes of the look-up database, as will be described below in the detailed description of the database 94. The response information indicates details of the traversal of the database 94 and where the search ended.
The maintenance type request can be either a read or write operation and enables a direct memory access operation (DMA) to the database 94. This type of request can be used to read or write blocks of the database 94 to maintain the information of the database. FIG. 8E illustrates the structure for the request/response entry 101 when formatted for a maintenance type request. FIG. 8F is a table showing control parameters for a DMA operation using the request/response interlock and FIG. 8G is a summary of a request/response entry 101 in a maintenance DMA operation. Thus, preselected blocks of the database are readily accessible to review information stored in the database 94 (read DMA) or to write new or updated information directly into the database (write DMA).
As illustrated in FIGS. 8C and 8E, the request/response entry 101 is expanded to a 128 longword space to accomodate longer interrogative and DMA responses. The request type field of the database specifier index 403B provides increased flexibility in the operation of the address recognition engine 94A for maintaining and monitoring the database 94.
Referring now to FIG. 9, there is illustrated a memory map for the look-up database 94 of the address recognition engine 96A. As described above, the address recognition engine 96A uses a network address that is stored in the request portion of an entry in the request/response RAM 96B as an index to the database 94 to locate an entry in the database 94. The entry in the database 94 contains the network information relating to the network address that is returned by the address recognition engine 96A to the request/response RAM 96B as a response. The processor 90A, 90B in the line card 74A, 74B utilizes the response to process the network information for transmission of the data packet to its intended destination.
The database 94 is divided into a primary database 401 and a secondary database 402. The primary database 401 comprises a multiway tree data structure (TRIE), as will be described below, wherein the network address is used to locate a pointer to an entry in the secondary database 402. The entry in the secondary database 402 includes the network information for the response.
As described above the address recognition engine 96A maintains the table 94A as a look-up table for database specifiers used in the control of a look-up operation in the look-up database 94, as will be described below. The index field 403B in the request input to the address recognition engine 96A provides an index to the table 94A to locate a look-up database specifier that is to be used in a current response look-up. Each processor 90A, 90B, at the time of extracting a network address from a data packet for a request, also utilizes the protocol type information in the header of the data packet to select an identifier for a database specifier from the table 93A, 93B. The processor 90A, 90B places the identifier for the database specifier in the index field 403B of the respective request 403.
The address recognition engine 96A reads the address 403A from the request and processes the address 403A in groups of four bits. Each group of four bits is referred to as a digit 404. The primary database 401 comprises a plurality of nodes 405 linked to one another by node pointers 407 with each node 405 being associated with a particular value for a digit or sequence of digits of a network address. Generally, each node 405 comprises 16 node pointer entries 406, one for each unique bit combination value of a four bit digit 404 that follows in sequence the digit or sequence of digits associated with the respective node 405 (24 equals 16, 0000 to 1111), as shown in FIG. 10.
The address recognition engine 96A will first access the primary database 401 using a root pointer address 408 that points to the root node 405A of the primary database 401. The root pointer address is identified in the database specifier being used by the address recognition engine 96A, as will appear. The root node 405A includes 16 node pointers 407, each including, for example, the address of one of the nodes associated with digits having the four highest order network address bits equal to 0000 to 1111, respectively. The address recognition engine 96A will utilize the node pointer 407 associated with the value of the bits of the first digit 404 that matches the value of the first digit of the network address being processed, for example bits of the first digit equal to 0000, to access the next node.
In the example of FIG. 10, the node 405 associated with the digit 404 including bits 0-3 equal to 0000 has 16 node pointers 407, including a node pointer 407 that is an address to a further node 405 associated with one of the values of the combination of bits for the next digit 404 of the network address, wherein the bits of the next digit equal 0000 and so on.
The primary database 401 is constructed in this manner so that each possible value for a digit 404 (e.g. the digit comprising bits 0-3) is linked to every possible digit value in the sequence of digits 404 that can comprise a network address (e.g. the digits comprising bits 4-7, 8-11 and 12-15) through the 16 node pointers 407 in each node 405. The address recognition engine 96A will traverse the primary database 401 from node to node via the node pointers 407 for the digit values that match the corresponding digit values of the network address being processed until all of the digits have been matched.
Each node 405 that points to a next node 405 in the sequence of digits of the network address is called a transition node (i.e. a node that points to another node). The nodes associated with the digits comprising the lowest four order bits of a network address are called termination nodes 405B since a match with the bits of the last digit completes the match process for the 16 bit network address of this example. Each termination node 405B comprises 16 look-up match pointers 409, one for each of the 16 possible values for the digit 404 comprising bits 12-15. Each look-up match pointer 409 comprises an address to an entry in the secondary database 402.
In view of the sparsely populated address spaces frequently encountered in networks, the nodes 405 are provided with prefix strings 410 to reduce the amount of memory space required for the primary database 401 and to decrease the search time. A sparsely populated space means that only a relatively few of the total number of bit values that can be represented by an n bit network address actually form an address for a component in the network. A prefix string is a string of digits that is common to many addresses. As should be understood, there may be a large number of common digits in a sparsely populated address space.
For example, a 16 bit network address can uniquely identify over 65,000 network components. However, the network utilizing the 16 bit address may only have 16 components, each of which can be uniquely identified by one of the 16 possible values of the lowest order digit of the address. This is an example of a sparsely populated address space and the values of the three higher order digits for all of the 16 components may be the same.
Thus, in this example, a prefix string can comprise a string of the three higher order digits used for a comparison to the three higher order digits of a network address being processed in a single node 405. The use of prefix strings will minimize the total memory space required to implement the primary database 401 since fewer total nodes 405 will be required to search a particular network address. The address recognition engine 96A will compare three digits of an address in the node 405 associated with the prefix string. An OSI network protocol address is 20 bytes long for a total of 40 digits. Certain high order digits, for example the 16 highest order digits of many addresses in the network, may be the same for many components in a particular OSI network and these digit values can be stored as prefix strings in associated nodes of the primary database for a single node comparison by the address recognition engine 96A.
FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary data structure that can be used as a prefix string 410 in a node 405. The prefix string 410 is divided into four words 411. The first three words 411 each comprise five digits 404 and three control bits designated as DIG-- STR-- CNT 412 in bits 0-of the word. The control bits indicate which digits of the word are valid for comparison purposes, as will appear. The fourth word comprises two digits and an intermediate match pointer 413.
DIG-- STR-- CNT bits 412 equal 111: all five digits are valid and the first two digits of the next word are valid and the first two digits of the next word are the last digits of the string.
The DIG-- STR-- CNT bits 412 are set and the digits of a string are loaded into the prefix string structure 410 of a node 405 to form a string of digits that the address recognition engine 96A can compare with the corresponding digits of the network address being processed. The digit in the address after the string is used as an index into node pointers for continuation of the traversal of the primary database 401. For maximum flexibility, each node 405 of the primary database 401 is provided with a prefix string data structure 410 which is either used or not used depending on the address scheme used in a network. The intermediate match pointer 413 is used to locate an entry in the secondary database 402 for a best match location when an exact match cannot be found, as will be described below.
Each node pointer 407 includes a next node address and control fields to control the traversal of the primary database 401 by the address recognition engine 96A. An example of a node pointer 407 is shown in FIG. 12. An IDI-- CNT field 414 comprises five bits, a LOAD-- IDI field 415 comprises one bit, a SAVE-- RESULT field 416 comprises one bit, a NEXT-- NODE field 417 comprises 15 bits and a PTR-- CTRL field 418 comprises two bits.
The NEXT-- NODE field 417 contains the address for the next node 405 in the digit match traversal of the primary database 401.
The SAVE-- RESULT field 416 is used in best match routing. In certain routing protocols, it is necessary to find the best match for a network address when an exact match cannot be found via the nodes 405 of the primary database 401. The SAVE-- RESULT bit 416 is set in a node pointer 407 when a best match for an address is valid at the digit 404 of the address associated with the node 405 pointed to by the node pointer 407. When the SAVE-- RESULT bit 416 is set, the address recognition engine 96A saves the value of the NEXT-- NODE field 417 in an internal register. The stored NEXT-- NODE value is an address to a next node 405 whose intermediate match pointer 413 is used as a pointer to the secondary database 402 should a best match be necessary (i.e. upon continuation of the traversal of the primary database 401, when no exact match is found for the address being processed, the address recognition engine 96A uses the stored NEXT-- NODE value to access the intermediate match pointer for access to the secondary database 402).
In addition, certain network addresses are divided into segments according to, e.g., the IS--IS routing protocol. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO), for example, defines a hierarchial address structure comprising an initial domain part (IDP) and a domain specific part (DSP). The transition from the IDP portion to the DSP portion of an ISO formatted address does not follow the tree structure of the primary database 401.
Accordingly, the IDI-- CNT field 414 and the LOAD-- IDI field 415 are used to redirect a traversal of the primary database 401 at the digit of an ISO address where the IDP portion ends. When the bit of the LOAD-- IDI field 415 is set in a node 405, the IDI-- CNT field 414 will contain the number of digits from the current digit to the digit at the end of the IDP portion of the address. The address recognition engine 96A will store the value in the IDI-- CNT field 414 (IDI count) and decrement the IDI count value for each subsequent node 405 until the value equals zero. At the node where the IDI count equals zero, the address recognition engine 96A will move to a next node 405 using an address stored in a DSP pointer 407A provided at the node 405 (see FIG. 10). The DSP pointer 407A points to a node that continues the traversal for an ISO address.
When the bit of the LOAD-- IDI field 415 is not set, and a preselected one of the bits in the IDI-- CNT field 414 is set, this will be interpreted as an Area Match (AM) bit set. Certain protocols, e.g. the DECnet/OSI and DECnet/Phase IV protocols, define an area address. When the AM bit is set on a node 405, this indicates that the end of an area address is valid at this digit. The continuation of the traversal of the primary database 401 after encountering a node 408 having a set AM bit will be described below.
PTR-- CTRL bits equal 11: the pointer indicates a look-up-fail, the pointer indicates that the intermediate match pointer saved from the node where the SAVE-- RESULT bit was set should now be used to access the secondary database, the NEXT-- NODE field 417 is ignored.
When a termination node 405B is reached, the address recognition engine 96A will access the secondary database 402 with the appropriate look-up match pointer 409. The address recognition engine 96A will retrieve information from a corresponding secondary database entry according to control bits of the look-up database specifier indicated by the look-up type field 403B of the respective request, as will appear. If the PTR-- CTRL bits of the node pointer 405 to the termination node 405B indicate that the termination node contains a string, then the address recognition engine 96A must compare the remaining digits of an address being processed with the string. If a match occurs, the corresponding look-up match pointer 409 of the termination node 405 is used to access the secondary database 402. If there is no match or if there are less digits remaining in the address than in the string, then the intermediate match pointer saved from the node 405 where the SAVE-- RESULT bit was set is used to access the secondary database 402.
Referring now to FIG. 13, there is illustrated an exemplary format for a secondary database entry 500. There are three types of secondary database entries 500: a common block 501, a path split block 502 and an adjacency block 503. Each common block 501 is linked to a path split block 502. There are an equal number of common, path split and adjacency blocks 501, 502, 503 in the secondary database 402. There is no direct relationship between each linked common block/path split block and the adjacency blocks. Each of the common and adjacency blocks 501, 502 contains information to be returned by the address recognition engine 96A as a response to the request/response RAM 96B.
Each common block 501 is eight words long. The first three words 501A are used to maintain ageing and learning information required when the destination of a data packet is reached using a bridge, as will be described below. The remaining five words 501B are uncommitted and are used to store any information that may be required for return in a response, as for example routing information for OSI or DECnet network protocols, etc. Each of the look-up match 409 and intermediate look-up 413 pointers of the primary database 401 index a corresponding common block 501.
Each path split block 502 is linked to a respective common block 501 and comprises a group of four pointers used to select an adjacency block 503 for use in a current response.
Each adjacency block 503 is four words long. The words of each adjacency block 503 also contain information that may be required in a response. Successive look-up's to the same common block 501 of the secondary database 402 may each return information from a different adjacency block 503 depending upon the path splitting operation.
NUM-- PATHS bits equal 11: one of four different adjacency blocks is accessed through the path split block 502, as indicated by one of ADJ-- PTR-- 0 to ADJ-- PTR-- 3.
LAST-- PATH bits equal 11: utilize ADJ-- PTR-- 3 for the current response.
Each time the address recognition engine 96A enters a path split block 502, it increments the LAST-- PATH field 505. If the value of the bits in the LAST-- PATH field 505 exceeds the value of the bits in the NUM-- PATHS field 504 of the path split block 502, then the LAST-- PATH field 505 is set to zero. Thus, the value of the bits in the LAST-- PATH field 505 cycles from 0 to the value of the bits in the NUM-- PATHS field 504 of the path split block 502.
The path splitting operation provided by the path splitting block 502 provides automatic control of routing information changes that may be desired in a particular routing protocol on successive transmissions of data packets to a particular network address. The NUM-- PATHS and LAST-- PATH fields 504, 505 can be utilized to set a number of different adjacency blocks to be accessed on successive reads of a particular common block 501 and to control which adjacency block is read during a current common block read.
Referring now to FIG. 14, there is shown an exemplary format for a look-up database specifier 600. As discussed above, the address recognition engine 96A maintains a table 94A of look-up database specifiers 600, e.g. 24 look-up database specifiers 600. In processing a specific request, the address recognition engine 96A proceeds to traverse the primary database 401 and retrieve information from the secondary database 402 according to control bits set in a particular look-up database specifier 600 indicated by the processor 90A, 90B in the look-up type field 403B of the request 403 (see FIG. 8).
As described above, the processor 90A, 90B analyzes the protocol type information contained in the header of a data packet and uses that information to select an appropriate identifier for a corresponding database specifier from its table 93A, 93B. The processor 90A, 90B then writes the selected identifier into the index field 403B of a request 403. This scheme provides an interlock between the processor 90A, 90B and the address recognition engine 96A that affords maximum flexibility in the structure of the database 94.
For example, the multiple root node arrangement for the primary database 401 permits maximum flexibility to accommodate the various address lengths and formats of different network protocols. The appropriate root node index for each protocol can be specified in a corresponding database specifier. The processor 90A, 90B can readily correlate the protocol type information transmitted in each header through the cross reference table 93A, 93B.
Moreover, different protocols require different address formats and other items, such as protocol class, that may be stored in the common block 501 and related adjacency blocks 503 of the secondary database entry 500 pointed to in the processing of a particular request. The look-up database specifiers provide a mechanism for controlling what information is returned in a response.
Each look-up database specifier 600 comprises six fields: an argument length field (ARG-- LENGTH) 601 comprising 6 bits, a root database TRIE field (ROOT-- TRIE) 602 comprising five bits, an area match count field (AM-- CNT) 603 comprising six bits, an area match root database TRIE field 604 (AM-- TRIE) comprising five bits, a look-up control bits field 605 including a preselected number of look-up control bits, and a secondary database mask (SDB-- MASK) 606 comprising 31 bits.
The argument length field 601 indicates the number of digits in the address portion 403A of a particular request 403 (see FIG. 8). As discussed above, the network addresses written as requests into the request/response RAM 96B can be fixed length or vary in length, depending upon the network protocol associated with each particular address.
The root database TRIE field 602 specifies which root transition node is to be used in the primary database 401. The primary database 401 can be implemented with a plurality of roots, each used to commence a search for a secondary database look-up match pointer 409. Thus, the number set in the ROOT-- TRIE field 602 is used by the address recognition engine 96A to determine at which root the search should begin.
The area match count field 603 indicates the number of remaining digits beyond the digit indicated by a set AM bit to complete an area, as described above, for an area transition within the primary database 401. The area match root TRIE field 604 indicates the root node 405 of the primary database 401 to be used for the remaining area-match-count digits of the address.
If the AM bit is set in a node pointer 407 and the number of digits remaining in an address being processed equals the value in the area match count field 603 of the look-up database specifier 600 indicated in the request 403, then a transition is made to the root node specified by the area match root TRIE field 604 of that look-up database specifier 600. The next digit of the address being processed is used for matching in the specified root node. If the number of remaining digits is not equal to the area match count value or if the AM bit is not set in a node pointer 407, then the next digit is looked up in the node pointed to by NEXT-- NODE field 417 of the node pointer 407.
The look-up control bits field 605 can include various bits used to control the operation of the address recognition engine 96A during a look-up operation. For example, a look-up disable bit can be provided to disable a look-up type specified by the associated look-up database specifier 600. When set, an error is returned if the associated look-up database specifier 600 is indicated in the look-up type field 403B of a request.
The address recognition engine of the present invention is adapted to support both routing and bridging protocols. As described above, each common block 501 includes three words 501A reserved for ageing and learning information necessary for the implementation of a bridging protocol. A port learning and ageing bit is included in the look-up control bits field 605 to indicate to the address recognition engine 96A that a particular network destination address requires a bridging operation to transfer the respective data packet. When the port learning and ageing bit is set in a look-up database specifier 600, the following learning and ageing functions are performed by the address recognition engine 96A.
The address recognition engine 96A reads the first word 501A of the common block 501 for an update mask 508 comprising 16 bits. Each bit of the update mask 508 corresponds to, e.g., one of the ports in the line card 74A, 74B that can be a source port in a bridge. For each port whose corresponding bit is set in the mask 508, a learning operation is performed. The processor 90A, 90B will include a bit number in each request to specify a particular bit in the mask 508 relating to a bridging address. The address recognition engine 96A will determine if the bit for the port number specified by the processor 90A, 90B in the request is set in the mask 508. If the specified bit is not set, learning is not performed by the address recognition engine 96A for that port. However, a timer override bit 508 is provided in the first word 501A. When each of the timer override and port learning and ageing bits are set, the address recognition engine 96A will perform the ageing function in respect of the common block 501.
Upon entry to the common block 501 for a bridging address, the address recognition engine 96A clears a bridging access timer 510 in the second word 501A to zero and sets a timer alive bit 511, also in the second word 501A. The timer field comprises 20 bits. As a background operation, the address recognition engine 96A polls each common block 501 having a set timer alive bit 511, e.g. once each second, and increments the value in the timer field 510.
The address recognition engine 96A maintains an ageing time-out value which is compared to the incremented value in the timer field 510. If the incremented value in the timer field 510 is larger than the ageing time-out value, then the timer alive bit 511 is cleared to indicate that the bridging information in the corresponding common block 501 has aged out, as understood by the bridging protocol.
The second word 501A also includes a timer disable bit 12. When the timer disable bit 512 is set, the timer field 510 is not incremented. The timer disable bit 512 is set in any common block 501 for which ageing is not to be performed. If both the timer disable bit 512 and timer alive bit 511 are set, this maintains the common block 501 as "permanently alive".
The third word 501A of the common block 501 includes a port number field 513 and a last seen field 514 used for source port learning. When the port learning and ageing bit is set and the learning operation is being performed (as indicated by the appropriate bit in the update mask 508), the address recognition engine 96A will write the source port number for a data packet into the port number field 513. The source port number is also written into the last seen field 514, whether or not the learning operation is being performed.
The look-up control bits field 605 can also include an enable adjacency set-on-access bit to indicate to the address recognition engine 96A that a set-on-access (A-- SOA) bit 515 (provided in each adjacency block 503, see FIG. 13) be set when the address recognition engine 96A reads an adjacency block 503. The set-on-access bit 515 supports the address resolution protocol cache requirements of the IP network protocol. The cache requirements of the IP protocol can be implemented in the processor 90A, 90B of the line card 74A, 74B. A set A-- SOA bit 515 indicates to the processor 90A, 90B that the respective adjacency block 503 has been used in a routing operation.
The secondary database mask (SDB-- MASK) 606 of each look-up database specifier 600 is used to select which bytes of data stored in the five longwords 501B of a common block 501 and the four longwords of a related adjacency block 503 are to be returned to the processor 90A, 90B in a particular response.
The first 19 bits of the mask 606 determine which bytes of the common block 501 are returned. Each byte of the common blocks 501 corresponds to one of the 19 bits. If the corresponding bit of the mask 606 is set, the byte is returned in the response. Similarly, the next 12 bits are used to determine which bytes of the adjacency block 503 are returned in the response, as a function of which of the 12 bits are set. If all of the adjacency bits of the mask 606 are zero and the enable adjacency set-on-access bit of the look-up control bits field 605 is not set, then the path split adjacency block pointers 506 are not used and the LAST-- PATH field 505 is not incremented.
The various control bits of the prefix string data structures 410, the node pointers 407, the path split blocks 502 and the look-up database specifiers 600 provide maximum flexibility in the control of the traversal of the primary database 401 and the retrieval of routing or bridging information from the secondary database 402. The control bit arrangement of the address recognition engine 96A builds in device compatibility to accommodate the varying requirements of dissimilar routing and bridging protocols in a single memory structure that can provide a centralized resource to several components performing bridging or routing operations in a computer network.
the address recognition engine operating to use the network address contained in the request and the network address look-up control information supplied by the table of database specifiers as a look-up index to the lookup database for access to and retrieval of a corresponding one of the entries.
2. The address recognition apparatus of claim 1, wherein the entries in the network address information look-up database are arranged in a multiway tree node structure.
the processor generating requests for network information relating to the data transmissions received at the line card, each request containing a network address obtained from a respective data communication and the identifier corresponding to the protocol type for the respective data transmission, the identifier being obtained from the table of identifiers.
4. The line card of claim 3, wherein each identifier corresponds to a protocol type.
the address recognition engine operating to affect the transmission of the response to the line card via the backplane bus for use by the line card.
6. The computer system of claim 5 wherein the network information lookup database comprises a primary database and a secondary database, the plurality of network information entries being arranged in the secondary database, the primary database comprising a plurality of linked nodes for matching to preselected portions of a network address contained in a request so that a network address input to the primary database traverses the linked nodes according to matches among linked nodes to locate a secondary database pointer to one of the entries of the secondary database, the address recognition engine using each network address as an input to the primary database and using the located secondary database pointer to access and retrieve the corresponding one of the network information entries from the secondary database under the control of the control information contained in the selected database specifier.
7. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the line card receives and transmits data transmissions, each data transmission including a plurality of data packets, each one of the data packets including network address information and protocol type information, the network address information including an n-bit field of the respective one of the data packets, each network address of a request comprising one of the n-bit fields containing network address information; and wherein the address recognition engine segments each n-bit request into a plurality of m-bit digits for traversal through the primary database, each m-bit digit having one of 2m distinct values, wherein m and n are integers and m is less than n.
8. The computer system of claim 5 wherein the control information of each one of the database specifiers includes an information mask to indicate to the address recognition engine preselected portions of the network information contained in the respective one of the entries, for use in the response.
9. The computer system of claim 5 wherein each one of the entries comprises a bridging information field; and wherein the control information of each one of the database specifiers includes a port learning and ageing field, the port learning and ageing field being in one of a set state and a clear state, and wherein the address recognition engine is controlled to perform a bridging operation to read and write bridging information from and to the bridging information field when the port learning and ageing field of a selected database specifier is in the set state.
10. The computer system of claim 5 further comprising a request/response memory coupled to the address recognition engine for storage of requests from the line card and corresponding responses from the lookup database.
11. The computer system of claim 10 wherein the request/response memory comprises a plurality of entries, each of the entries including a request storage memory space for storing a request and a response storage memory space for storing a corresponding response.
12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the request storage memory space of each one of the entries includes a first preselected space for storage of ownership information and the response storage memory space of each one of the entries includes a second preselected space for storage of ownership information; the ownership information of the first preselected space indicating whether a request stored in the respective request storage memory space is valid for use by the address recognition engine and the ownership information of the second preselected space indicating whether a response stored in the respective response memory space is valid for use by the line card.
13. The computer system of claim 10 wherein the request/response memory comprises a RAM.
wherein the plurality of linked nodes includes at least one set of transition nodes and a set of termination nodes linked to each one of the at least one set of transition nodes, each of the at least one set of transition nodes being linked to a root node and each of the at least one root node and each node of the at least one set of transition nodes includes 2m node pointers for linking to subsequent nodes, each one of the node pointers of one of the root and transition nodes corresponds to one of the 2m distinct values and points to a subsequent one of one of the at least one set of transition nodes and the linked set of termination nodes, each one of the termination nodes includes 2m secondary database pointers, each one of the secondary database pointers of one of the termination nodes corresponds to one of the 2m distinct values and points to one of the network information entries of the secondary database, the digits of each request being matched, one at a time, in a preselected sequence of digits, to a corresponding sequence of linked node pointers of a root node and subsequent transition nodes to traverse the primary database to one of the termination nodes.
15. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the control information of each one of the database specifiers includes root node information to indicate to the address recognition engine which root node to commence a traversal of the primary database.
16. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the control information of each one of the database specifiers includes an area match information field, the area match information field representing a set state and a clear state, the set state indicating to the address recognition engine that the traversal of the primary database is to be redirected at a preselected one of the digits of a network address and the clear state indicating to the address recognition engine that the traversal of the primary database is to continue without redirection.
17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the control information of each one of the database specifiers includes an area match count field and an area match root field, each area match count field indicates to the address recognition engine the preselected one of the digits of a request at which a redirection of traversal of the primary database is to occur when area match information at any one digit of the network address is in the set state and each area match root field indicates to the address recognition engine a preselected node of the primary database where the traversal of the primary database is to continue for remaining subsequent digits of the request.
wherein the line card operates to transmit each request by writing each request in the request storage memory space of a preselected one of the entries and simultaneously writing ownership information in the respective first preselected space to indicate that the corresponding request is valid.
19. The computer system of claim 18 wherein the address recognition engine polls and reads each request storage memory space and uses each valid request to access the network information lookup database for a corresponding response, the address recognition engine writing ownership information in the respective first preselected space upon reading a request, to indicate that the corresponding request is now not valid, and storing each response in the response storage memory space of the preselected one of the entries storing the respective request and writing ownership information in the respective second preselected space to indicate that the corresponding response is valid.
the REQ-- ID information representing one of a set state and a clear state, the state of the REQ-- ID information being used by the address recognition engine to determine ownership information for writing in the second preselected space.
21. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the line card writes ownership information in a respective first preselected space by setting the OWN-- ID information and writing REQ-- ID information in a state that is opposite to the state of the REQ-- ID information prior to the writing of ownership information by the line card.
22. The computer system of claim 21, wherein each second preselected space stores ownership information comprising RSP-- ID information; the RSP-- ID information representing one of a set state and a clear state, the state of the RSP-- ID information written by the address recognition engine upon storing a response, being a state that matches the state of the REQ-- ID information when the address recognition engine polls and reads the respective valid request.
23. The computer system of claim 22 wherein the line card reads the response memory storage space of each one of the preselected entries containing a request written by the line card, the response being valid for use by the line card when the state of the RSP-- ID information in the second preselected space of the respective response memory space matches the state of the REQ-- ID information written by the line card upon writing the corresponding request.
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For the military operation, see Operation Doppelkopf.
A 40-card Doppelkopf deck (i.e., without nines).
Doppelkopf (German pronunciation: [ˈdɔpl̩kɔpf], lit. double-head), sometimes abbreviated to Doko, is a trick-taking card game for four players. The origins of this game are not well known; it is assumed that it originated from the game Schafkopf.
In Germany, Doppelkopf is nearly as popular as Skat, especially in Northern Germany and the Rhein-Main Region. Schafkopf however is still the preferred trick-taking variant in Bavaria. Unlike Skat, there are numerous variants.
Although the German Doppelkopf Association (Deutscher Doppelkopf-Verband) has developed standard rules for tournaments, informal sessions are often played with many variants and players adopt their own house rules. Before playing with a new group of players, it is therefore advisable to agree on a specific set of rules before the first game.
Note: In the following section, the most common rules are described.
Doppelkopf is a team game where each team normally consists of two players. The most distinguishing feature of the game is that, as in Schafkopf, the actual pairing is not known from the start, which is what makes the game interesting for most players.
Each set of 8 cards consists of 2 cards from each suit; if French-suited cards are used the suits are Diamonds ♦, Hearts ♥, Spades ♠ and Clubs ♣. Thus each card exists twice in the deck (hence the name Doppelkopf) resulting in a total number of 240 points. In the ensuing description, the more common 48-card version is assumed. The rules for the 40-card variant are the same, the only difference is that the Nines are removed. If German-suited cards are used, the suits are: Bells , Hearts , Leaves and Acorns . The Ace is replaced by the Deuce or Daus (A), the Queen by the Ober (O), and the Jack by the Unter (U).
In every game, there are two parties, called Re and Kontra. To win, the Re team normally has to achieve 121 points or more; Kontra wins when Re fails to do so.
Each player is dealt twelve cards, or ten in the 40-card variant. After the cards are dealt, the kind of game is determined. In non-tournament play, it is assumed that a normal game will be played and any player desiring a different game simply says so. In tournament games, a more complicated method is used to prevent players from gaining information about their opponents' hands.
The types of contract that can be played only differ in which cards are considered trumps. When a player declares a game other than the normal game, (s)he alone is Re and has to play against the other three players who form Kontra. These non-standard games are, therefore, called Solo games.
In the normal game, the players who hold the Queens of Clubs (Die Alten = "The Old Women" or "The Elders") or Obers of Acorns constitute Re, while the other two are Kontra. In these games, the actual teams are not known from the start. In case a player has both Queens of Clubs or Obers of Acorns, (s)he declares a Marriage (Hochzeit).
The player to the left of the dealer, forehand, leads to the first trick; the other players follow in a clockwise direction. Each player must follow suit, that is, play a card of the led suit. If he is unable to do so, he can play a trump or any other card. The player playing the highest trump or the highest card in the led suit wins the trick and leads to the next trick. Since each card exists twice, there is the possibility of a tie; in that case, the first-played card wins the trick. For example, when the trick consists of ♠10 ♠A ♠9 ♠A, the player who played the first Ace of Spades wins the trick.
During the first trick, each player may make announcements which increase the value of the game.
After all the cards have been played, the point values (card points) of the tricks are counted and each player in the winning team gets the game value (game points) added to his score, while the losing players have that value deducted.
This is sometimes referred to as the auction or as bidding in some variants - when this is referred to as bidding the section below on bidding is referred to as announcements.
Choosing a contract consists of a single round starting with fordhand to the dealer's left.
Each player says either "okay" (Gesund = "Healthy"), meaning that they are content to play a normal game, or "Special" (Vorbehalt = "Reservation") meaning that they want to play some other type of game. If one or more players have said "Special", they each in turn say what type of game they wish to play. Whoever has the highest ranking "Special" plays their game (the first player in bidding order winning in case of a draw).
The Ten of Hearts (often called the Dulle) is the highest trump in every normal game as well as any Suit Solo. Except for Hearts solo, there are actually more trumps than non-trump cards. One noteworthy result of this rule is that there are only six non-trump cards left in Hearts, making this suit more likely to be trumped in the first trick it is played.
When a player has both Queens of Clubs or Obers of Acorns, he usually declares "Marriage" (Hochzeit) and will form a partnership, the Re team, with the first other player to win a trick. Apart from this, the game is played like the normal game. If, however, the player who declares "Marriage", makes the first three tricks, he will instead play a Diamond Solo game against the other players.
The player can also decide not to announce Marriage, in which case he plays a silent Solo (stilles Solo). This is played like a normal Diamond Solo; the only difference being that the other players do not know from the start they are playing against a Solo. Apart from this, the game is scored like a normal Solo (times 3 for soloist, normal for all others).
A player can, if he wants to, announce a Solo game. These games change the status of trump cards; the player also must play against the other three players. He will get thrice game value added (or subtracted) from his scoreboard in case of a win (or a loss).
Suit Solo or Trump Solo (Farbensolo) which makes the announced suit along with Jacks and Queens/Obers and Unters trump cards. A "Diamond Solo", therefore, has the same trumps as in a normal game.
During play, a player may make announcements claiming that his team will succeed in achieving a specific goal. These announcements increase the game value regardless of whether they are fulfilled. If a team fails to accomplish the self-given goal, it has automatically lost.
Apart from increasing the game value, the bids fulfill the role of clarifying which side a player who makes them belongs to.
"Double" (Re) or "counter-double" (Kontra), announcing that the player is part of the Re (Kontra) team and his team will score more than 120 points. Note that this means that, in the case of an announced Kontra, the Kontra team must now make 121 points instead of 120 to win the game, unless Re is also announced. Either of these announcements also tells all other players whether they play against or with the announcer.
Each of the following announcements can only be made after Re or Kontra. If, for example, Re was said and a player of the Kontra team wants to make an announcement, he also has to announce Kontra. If Re was announced by one player and his partner wants to make an additional announcement, he also has to identify himself as being on the Re team before being able to do so.
No 90 (Keine 90), often abbreviated to "no 9" (keine 9), meaning that the opponents will get less than 90 points.
Each announcement implies any previous announcements, for example, "no 60" implies "no 90" and "Re"/"Kontra", increasing the game-value by 4 (for the standard rules) points. Every bid may be countered by "Kontra" resp. "Re" when the opponents think the goal will not be met. For example, if the Re-Party announces "Re, no 60", a reply of "Kontra" simply claims Kontra will score 60 points.
A Re or Kontra can be made with 11 cards left (that is, before the player plays his second card; it does not require the announcement to be made before the first card of the second trick is played).
For No 90, 10 cards must be held.
A player that has, for example, announced "Re", but not "no 90", may not announce "no 60" with 9 cards left, because the implied "no 90" would not be legal.
A Kontra/Re in response to a bid of the opposing team may be made until one trick later, e.g. a player can say "Kontra" in response to "Re/no 90" as long as he holds 9 cards, regardless of when "Re" and "no 90" was announced.
When, in the case of a Marriage, the partner is found with the second (third) trick, all players need to hold one card (two cards) less than in a normal game in order to make their announcements. Also, it is not allowed to make an announcement before a partner has been found.
The official rules distinguish between "Ansagen" (announcements) and "Absagen" (lit. rejection, but probably used as a pun). There, an initial "Re" or "Kontra" is a "Ansage", and all other announcements ("keine ..." and "schwarz") are "Absagen".
Unless a solo is played, the following additional score points can be made during the game, which affect the game value. There are no extra points in a solo game, not even in a silent Solo (when a Marriage is not announced).
If a team's Ace of Diamonds, known as the Fox (Fuchs), is won by the opposing team, the opposing team scores an extra point.
A trick containing 40 or more points (4 Volle, i.e. tens and aces) scores an extra point for the team that collected the trick.
If a team's Jack of Clubs, dubbed Charlie Miller (Karlchen Müller) wins the last trick, the team scores an extra point.
The game value is added to the score of each player in the winning team, and subtracted for the losing team. If the game was a solo game, the soloist gets thrice the game value added or subtracted. This rule ensures the total sum of points won/lost in a round is always zero.
The following examples show the scoring as stated in the official rules.
No bids were made, Re wins with 131 points.
Both Re players get +1, both Kontra -1.
Kontra, no 60 was announced, Kontra gets 183 points.
Both Kontra players get +8, both Re -8.
Re, no 60 was announced, Kontra team said Kontra. Kontra gets 60 points and therefore wins.
Re, no 60 was announced, Kontra team said Kontra. Kontra gets 90 points.
Both Kontra-players get +9, both Re -9.
A Soloist wins without announcements with 153 points.
Soloist gets +6, all others -2.
Soloist announces Re, keine 90 but only manages to get 87 points for himself.
Soloist gets -18, all others +6.
Suggested tactics shown here come from the Pagat website.
The first of equal cards wins rule makes it important to lead your ace of a non-trump suit before an opponent can lead theirs, as the second round is almost certain to be trumped - there are only 8 cards in a suit (6 in hearts). Avoid leading a second round of hearts, because of the danger of giving a ruff and discard to the opponents, since there are only six cards in the suit.
lead an ace from a pair.
If you are on the Re side you will normally lead a trump to your partner's ♣Q.
If on the Kontra side you may lead a side suit. However, if your partner has said Kontra you should lead a trump as they should have at least one ♥10.
If you are trumping in, and there is a possibility of being overtrumped, trump with at least a Jack so that the fourth player cannot win with a Fox or 10 of trumps. Similarly, if trumps are led then if you are the last player of your team to play to the trick, with one or both opponents after you, play a Jack or higher if no high card has been played so far.
It is important that you announce Re or Kontra if things seem to be going well, not only to increase the score for the game but also so that you can announce no 90 if things continue to go well.
Announcing Re or Kontra earlier than you need to, for example on your first play rather than your second, this indicates a possession of additional strength (similar in concept to jump bidding in Contract Bridge).
If on the opening lead the fourth player says Re or Kontra before second hand plays, this indicates that they are going to trump the lead and want their partner to put a valuable card on it.
It is generally correct to announce a marriage - and rarely profitable to go solo instead.
It is desirable to partner with a marriage as your partner has at least 2 high trumps.
Leading against a marriage you might lead a ♥10 to win the trick; otherwise you could lead an ace in your shortest suit.
When considering a Solo, the initial lead is a big advantage. Trump Solos require a much stronger hand than you think ... these hands will also play well in a normal game. For an Ace Solo, a five card suit to A A 10 will normally capture over 60 points. For a Queen or Jack Solo 4 trumps are sufficient with a reasonable number of Aces.
See also note on Solo games in tournament play below.
Care must be taken with 90/60/30 announcements as they change the target. It can be very rash gambling 1 extra point against the possible loss of the whole game.
It is highly likely that a player will not get a hand warranting a solo bid during the session. A compulsory solo, particularly towards the end, should almost always have Kontra said if declarer does not say Re to increase the game value when the soloist loses.
A person with three or fewer trumps can say "Special" (Vorbehalt) and then announce "Poverty" (Armut). If no one has a better Special, the person announcing Poverty places three cards containing all the Poverty player's trumps face down on the table. A player who wishes to partner (preference being given clockwise from the Poverty player - if nobody wishes to partner then the hand is redealt by the same dealer) the Poverty player has the right to take these three cards (without seeing them first) and then discard any three cards, which are returned to the Poverty player. The returned cards may contain trumps and may include cards originally passed.
Many groups remove the nines so that there are 40 cards left. This way, there are no more dummy cards and the balance between trumps and non-trumps is shifted even more towards trumps. Such a game might be called Sharp Doppelkopf (scharfer Doppelkopf) or "Without Nines" (ohne Neunen) or "Without Blanks" (ohne Luschen).
Some variants allow the Wedding (Hochzeit) player to announce a specific kind of trick that must be taken, e.g. the first non-trump trick. However, this is usually not a good idea since it is in the interest of the Wedding player to find a "strong" partner, e.g. one with a Ten of Hearts.
It may be agreed that - as the only exception - the second Ten of Hearts is considered higher than the first, if both are played in the same trick. In some variants, this is true for all but the last trick, where the first Ten of Hearts is considered higher. Playing this variant makes the game less predictable because some conventions (such as playing a Ten of Hearts in the first trick by a Re player, or to marry a Wedding player) cannot be used anymore.
If a player collects 30 points or more in the first trick (not counting the tricks needed to determine the partners after a Wedding has been announced), he has to announce either Re or Kontra. This is a 'forced announcement' (Pflichtansage). This variation is often played in games "without Nines".
Some players even insist that a further announcement (i.e. 90) be made if the announcement in question has been made already. This rule is popular among recreational players in order to render the game more dynamic.
Losing an Ace of Diamonds to the opposing team in the last trick of the game may lead to two extra points (instead of one) counted against the team losing the fox.
When one player has both Foxes (Aces of Diamond) on his hand, he announces "Piglets" (Schweinchen). That means, that these cards become the highest trumps in play, outranking the Dullen (Tens of Hearts) and Alten (Queens of Clubs). It may be played that a Piglet forces the player to an announcement of Kontra or Re. Other variants include the announcement at any point during the game, often breaking the opposing team's bid or the possibility of Super-Piglets, if one holds both Nines of Diamonds. In some variants only the first played fox becomes a piglet at the top of the trump suit while the second one still ranks low.
Only when Piglets is announced does Super Piglets become possible. When one player has announced Piglets and a player has both nines of diamonds on his hand, the player with the nines of diamonds may announce Super Piglets. That means, those Nines of Diamonds become the highest trumps in play, outranking the Piglets, the Dullen and Alten.
As a variant, a Jack of Clubs may be also scored if a team loses it to the opposing team in the last trick. If a player loses their Jack of Clubs to their partner, no point is counted. Many groups play Lizzie Miller (Lieschen Müller or Karola Müller or Karlchen Killer): only if the Queen of Diamonds catches the opponent Jack of Clubs in the last trick one point is scored. A Charlie Miller lost to another higher Trump is not scored.
Some groups of players use a rule that a player holding five or more nines (Fünf Neuner) may, before the bidding, reveal their hand and demand a redeal. Some groups that follow this rule also use a similar rules for hands with five or more kings.
Tournaments are played over a series of sessions, each of 24 deals. Each session having 20 normal hands plus 4 compulsory solos (or 25 hands with five solos for five players at a table).
Each player must bid one "compulsory" solo during the session. He/she may bid other "lust" solos if desired. The first solo each player bids is their compulsory solo, and they lead.
Following the hand the same dealer deals again.
A compulsory solo ranks above a lust solo in the bidding; if more than one player wants to play a compulsory solo, the bidding order overrules.
If a player fails to bid a solo by the end of a session, an additional hand is dealt on which they must bid solo (vorführen (showing up)).
The Essen System is a system of conventions used in Doppelkopf in accordance with the rules of the German Doppelkopf Association.
^ a b c McLeod, John. "Doppelkopf". Pagat.com. Pagat.com. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
^ "Das große Doppelkopf-Lexikon". Fuchstreff. | 2019-04-21T00:09:15Z | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doppelkopf |
We suggest teens first read through the suggestions about summer job pre-interview, interview and post-interview tips. Afterwards, read the below suggestions as to the best websites to find your awesome summer job.
Paying for help to find a summer job; what you need to know.
Some websites list summer jobs and offer teens help connecting them with a prospective employer. This method, in many instances, takes advantages of teenagers and offers no real help in finding an employer offering summer jobs. When a website requires any money from a teen seeking a summer job move on quickly. No reputable website offering real help connecting teens with summer job employers will ever require money from teenagers.
Using a job search website to locate summer jobs in your area.
Summer jobs search websites, including those that offer listings of summer jobs for teens, can be helpful to teens that limit their search to those websites that either focus on lists of employers that offer jobs for teenagers, rather than summer jobs for adults. For instance, websites such as Linkedin are not teenager friendly so are not a good place to connect to an employer offering summer jobs, at least not for teens.
Instead, look for websites that have, at their core, a teen base. Here you’ll find teenagers in all areas of the country talking about their past summer jobs and how they liked their employer. In many cases these teenagers will share employment postings from their employer. Employers know that teens looking for summer jobs will seek out the advice of other teenagers so they will often ask employees to help fill an open slot for a summer job.
Remember to limit your summer job searches to where you live, either by zip code or by city. Finding a perfect list of summer jobs doesn’t help if you find out those employers are located many miles from your home. But when you find a good site remember to share it with other teens looking for summer jobs. When all teenagers get together to help, it’s easy to find a great list of employers looking for teens to fill their summer job positions.
Deciding whether a summer job is right for you.
Summer jobs vary, some teens like indoor summer jobs to get out of the sun, other teenagers look for employers offering summer work that keeps them outside. Find the summer job that will make you happy for the entire season. Starting a summer job only later to find that you don’t like the work makes you have to start over again. And remember, all teenagers are searching for summer jobs at the same time so employers will have a lot of applications.
Applying for your first summer job.
Applying for summer jobs can be a little different than a job that you’ll have year round. First, employers know that teens will not be expecting to stay employed in the non-summer months. Always make sure that an employer is really looking for teens to fill open summer jobs or you may find that the employer expects year round employment.
Once you locate a good summer job that you want to apply for make sure that you have a good resume and cover letter. You can find examples here. A teenager with a good resume will set him or her apart from other teens and is more likely to impress employers and have his pick of awesome and fun summer jobs.
Be sure any prospective employer for a summer job sees that you are reliable. If this isn’t your first summer job make sure you let this employer know you’re a reliable teen by showing your past work history. Summer jobs require a commitment by teenagers and employers want to be sure you’ll stay the entire season.
Preparing for your summer job interview.
A summer job interview may, in some cases, be somewhat different than a non-summer job interview. An employer hiring for a summer job might ask a teenager to give a CPR demonstration or ask the applicant to demonstrate their swimming abilities. For teens, in most cases, the standard rules of interviewing apply. Below, teenagers will find everything they need to know about interviewing for a summer job.
Prepare a thorough and detailed assortment of questions that you can ask the employer about both the company and the summer job. Teens should definitely ask questions about who the company’s customers are, specific questions about the company (such as how large their market share is), how many current employees the company has and a list of summer job duties.
Before the interview, be prepared to tell the prospective employer when you can start. Many employers for summer jobs like to hire teens on the spot. This may sometimes conflict with a teenager’s school schedule.
Be prepared to take a drug test on the day you interview for the summer job. Please don’t be offended. The employer isn’t singling you out. Many times, the job duties for a particular job involve an employer to be absolutely sure that they are choosing the right teenager for the job – i.e. lifeguard.
Prior to the summer job interview, search the web for as many details you can find out about the company. Teenagers will show the prospective employer that they care about the company and not just there to earn some extra cash.
Teens should spend some time before their first summer job interview practicing their interviewing skills. Sometimes it helps to record the practice interview so that you can show friends and family. With great feedback, you will be able to ace any interview! Be sure to also look at your posture in the video. Are you sitting up straight or slouching? It’s important to show prospective employers you are alert and interested in the conversation.
Have you thought about the pay you are expecting for this summer job? Be aware of the going rate for summer jobs in your area. During the interview, the prospective employer may ask you how much you are needing to be paid per hour. Teens should go into a summer job interview knowing what their minimum hourly pay will be.
Many employers ask teens, during the summer job interview, to tell them about themselves. Be prepared before the interview. It is a very open ended question so prepare a good answer.
Never, under any circumstances, should a teenager answer her cell phone or look at/send text messages during a summer job interview.
One of the most important tips is to know the location of the interview. Sometimes it’s best to drive to the location before the interview. This will guarantee that you will arrive at the summer job interview on time.
Get the summer job by standing out in your interview.
Summers jobs are highly sought after and you’ll have much competition from other teens so do your best to stand out to your prospective employer. These tips will make you stand out over your teenage competition.
Whether you’re male or female, always start a summer job interview with a firm handshake.
Bring your “A” game by showing how you’re the right teen for the job by providing examples of your successes at school and extracurricular activities.
Flexibility is needed in summer jobs. Be ready to work weekends and as needed.
Does the summer job require duties you’re not familiar with? Don’t worry; get creative by likening the duties to school activities showing leadership and dedication. All jobs, not just summer jobs, require some degree of teamwork, organization and problem solving. Show your employer how you are the teen with these skills.
Tattoos and body/face piercing may be cool but until you know your employer’s policy it’s best to cover up. Summer jobs differ in whether visible tattoos are acceptable so be ready for a no piercing/tattoo policy.
Be happy, don’t be afraid to smile. Show you’ll be a great face for the company at this summer job.
It may only be a summer job but an employer wants to see that a teen has the image they need. You’ll be evaluated from the moment you arrive, even when sitting waiting for the interview. Don’t slouch and always greet people formally (no “hey”, “what’s up”, etc). Using “sir” and “ma’am” are a must.
Your summer job may allow you to wear shorts and tee shirts but impress your employer by dressing for success in your interview.
Teenage Boys: Don’t wear jeans. Choose khaki pants with a pressed shirt. Ask your mom for suggestions if needed. Rarely is a shirt and tie required for a summer job interview but if you’ll be working in an office go the extra mile to impress this employer. Clean, non-athletic shoes are a must too. Remember summer jobs are competitive. Make yourself stand out among the sea of teen job seekers.
Teen girls: No jeans. Always dress better than your teenage competition but dress appropriately. No short or tight dresses and no flip flops. Look like a respectful, responsible teen - little jewelry and no exposed shoulders, cleavage or stomach. Now is not the time to look fashionable unless, of course, you are seeking a summer job in the fashion industry.
Is training offered? Many summer job employers know that you’ll need training so find out what you’ll need to learn.
How can I best succeed at this job? An interviewer will be impressed. You may just be a teen looking for summer jobs but the employer will see you’re taking it seriously.
What parts of this job will be the most difficult to master? Summer jobs offer limited time to learn everything so focus on what is to be expected of you.
Know your employer! Summer jobs are real and your employer is running a business so know what they do and how you can help. You’ll likely be asked the question, “Why do you want to work here?” By researching the company you’ll be able to respond with things you like about the company and how you can help. As a teen looking for a summer job you aren’t expected to know everything about a company but here are some examples of what you should know before you interview.
Does the employer have a motto, if so know it.
What product or service do they offer that helps them stand out.
Who are their competitors; this is particularly helpful since they competitors may be looking for teenagers to fill summer jobs too.
Handling the interview – impress your summer job employer.
Your biggest obstacle from getting your dream summer job is not knowing your employer's business. Rather, the plethora of teens looking for summer jobs are what stands in your way. Impress your employer by showing them you stand out over all of the other teenage candidates.
It’s hard to do, especially for teens, but make eye contact with everyone you interact with during your interview. This is important whether you’re interviewing for a summer job or later in life. Be friendly to everyone. Expect everyone you meet to have a say in whether you’re the right teenage for one of this employer’s summer job openings.
Never request a restroom break. Take care of this before you arrive. The interview may last 20 minutes of 2 hours. Teens tend to think of an interview like school, able to take a break. This isn’t true. Highly sought after summer jobs will go to the best candidate.
Offer your hand to the person who is conducting the interview. A hand shake goes a long way.
When you’re offered a seat, take it and sit upright while not appearing too stiff. The summer jobs you’re interviewing for may be informal but the interview is not. Take it seriously to give yourself an advantage over the other teen summer job seekers.
Skip the casual greetings. Be formal (“Hello”, “It is nice to meet you”, etc).
Get there early. A successful summer job interview starts here. Being on time results in almost always being late. Show this employer that the interview is important to you.
Keep eye contact and always appear interested in what the speaker is saying. Too many teenagers allow their attention to wander. Show this employer you’re different.
Be respectful of personal space. Don’t sit too close to the person you’re meeting with. Show you really care about this summer job.
Avoid the teenager speech traps – “like, “um”, “you know” – employers will really take notice.
Employers take summer jobs seriously and may have teen candidates go through more than one interview. Treat each interview like it’s your first.
Always speak with confidence. Summer jobs may be short term but they are still real jobs.
It’s ok to accept water or a soft drink if offered but remember to say “thank you”.
Don’t sit like a statute. It’s ok to use your hands to gesture but don’t get carried away.
This summer job is important so show the employer you know it. No friends or parents at the interview.
Don’t daydream. Know your conversation and prepare to respond when the interviewer finishes. Teens tend to let the adult carry the conversation. Now is the time to be assertive and show that you really want one of these highly sought after summer jobs.
Don’t yell or speak too quietly. Show the interviewer you are professional even if the summer job will have you in a noisy environment.
Be inquisitive. Show your interest by asking questions about the summer job and how you can best help your prospective employer.
Be on your best behavior, even when you think no one is watching you. Don’t try to sneak a phone call or a text. If you’re caught the employer will know that you can’t be relied upon.
Never arrive to an interview chewing gum or drinking a beverage. This shows disrespect and is a quick way to lose a great summer job to another teen.
Don’t rush. The interview is over when the interviewer decides. Trying to end it early shows you won’t take this summer job seriously and the employer should look for another teenage candidate.
Flirting is strictly prohibited when interviewing for summer jobs. It’s a sure fire way to be ruled out.
Be professional even it casual situations. Teens need to take summer job interviews very seriously.
Leave a cell phone at home or turn it off, not to vibrate. A phone ringing during an interview is disrespectful and shows the employer that the summer jobs he has available should go to more mature teens.
Be clear when you are able to start a summer job. If you need time before you can begin let this employer know.
After the summer job interview – the next step.
Your evaluation doesn’t end when the interview does. Do a little extra and you’ll set yourself apart from other teens seeking the same summer jobs.
If there is a reason the job isn’t for you such as specific activities let the employer know. There may be ways around this problem or this employer may have access to other summer jobs better suited for you.
Take a moment to thank everyone for their time and allowing you to visit with them.
If no decision is made at the time ask the employer if it would be acceptable for you to follow up with them in a day or two to answer any other questions they may have.
Why you are a good candidate for this summer job.
Mention anyone who you met during the interview and that it was a pleasure meeting them.
Thank the interviewer for taking the time to speak with you about his available summer jobs.
If this is the summer job you’d love to have be certain the employer knows it. Many teens seem disinterested and that will make an employer to look to the plethora of other teenagers vying for his summer jobs.
Follow up with the interviewer at a later date. Show your interest in his summer job openings.
Critique your interview. Makes notes about how to improve. If you don’t get this summer job you’ll be better prepared for the next one.
Read below for a sample thank you note.
I wanted to take a moment to thank you for taking the time to speak with me about your open summer job positions. I was excited to hear more about Pool Supplies and would look forward to becoming a member of the team. If there is any additional information I can provide to help you decide whether I would be a good fit for your company please let me know.
Following up the summer job prospect – proper email and telephone behavior.
Always use the subject line. Never leave it blank.
Be sure your email address sounds professional (using a “slang” email address is a sure fire way to look unprofessional and lose out on great summer jobs).
Always use full sentence, correctly spelling and grammar. Ask your parent to review it for you.
Don’t let more than a few hours pass before checking your voicemail and make certain your voice message sounds professional. Be prepared to respond to employers questions promptly or you may lose a great summer job.
Social media: Employers offering summer jobs to teens routinely search social media so expect any online posts or profiles to be read. Check your Twitter and Facebook accounts and remove inappropriate posts. Remember summer jobs are highly sought after by not just you but all teenagers so making sure employers see you in the best light possible is crucial.
After you’re hired: Insure you don’t lose your summer job.
Getting the job is the first step. Follow these tips to be assured you don’t lose your summer job.
Summer jobs can be competitive so do more than your share of work.
Getting up for a summer job can be tough for a teen but make sure you always arrive early.
Be polite to your employer, teen coworkers, and customers.
Many summer jobs entail dealing with the public so be friendly and keep a positive outlook.
Don’t act like other teenagers – always strive to act mature.
Your employer hired you for a coveted summer job so show them you’re motivated to work.
Responsibility and dependability are required; your employer saw it in you when you were offered the summer job.
Be ready to learn. Too many teens treat summer jobs as fun time. It’s not. Be ready and eager to learn.
Some summer jobs involve knowledge of specific rules and regulations. Be sure you know them.
The customers come first. Don’t focus on conversations with teen coworkers when customers are present.
Summer jobs for teens can be hard to find. Check into alternatives to fill your summer.
Teens all over the country are applying for a limited number of open summer jobs. Employers can’t hire all teenagers so don’t get down if you don’t land a paying summer job. Money is only one benefit of a summer job. Experience can be more important than money for a teenager looking for future work or for college applications.
Get ahead in school by using time while other teens are working summer jobs to take a class to prepare for the coming year.
Volunteering can not only provide great experience but it’s a great thing to show colleges and prospective employers.
Although not a paid summer job, some employers offer teens unpaid internships which can provide invaluable experience.
Start you own small business by offering your labor to neighbors. Many neighborhood families will welcome an enthusiastic teen ready to work, even if it’s not a typical summer job.
Using the internet to locate summer jobs in your area.
Summer jobs are often listed online by prospective employers. Be sure to take advantage of these listings. Most search engines make it easy to find summer jobs in your area. It’s best to limit your search to teen summer jobs or the search results can be overwhelming. Go to one of the vast number of job related websites available to teens and search summer jobs by zip code.
The great thing about this type of search is that you can also focus in on the type of summer jobs that appeal to you. If your preference is for indoor work look for teen office related summer job positions. Or, if you prefer the outdoors, you’ll find a plethora of employers with open summer job positions for teenagers.
Don’t limit your search to just summer job listing websites, though. Check out posting on your local library’s website, school website, or community college boards. And let friends and family know you’re looking for a summer job suitable for a teen.
This is the list you want to view when looking for that summer job! Bookmark this page since the list is updated frequently.
CampPage.com has a very comprehensive listing of summer jobs for teenagers. Simply choose your state and it will output a list of jobs in your area. Some of the jobs are on cruiseships so be aware of the fact that they seem to be outputted on every state search page (so they aren’t necessarily in your state.
JobMonkey is a great website teens can use to find summer jobs. The site has a lot of summer jobs available (be sure to search “seasonal job.” We were very impressed!
CampStaff does have some summer job options for teens. But teenagers will have to do some work to find summer work. The search feature doesn’t seem to work very well so teens will have to scroll through jobs all over the United States.
Backdoorjobs.com has a limited selection of summer jobs available for teens. It is very easy to search for summer jobs in your state so we do recommend teens take a quick look.
We like Cool Works but they really need to work on their search functionality. Teens will really have to spend a good time trying to find a summer job in their area. Still, Cool Works is a great place to search for summer jobs.
Summercampstaff.com provides a lot of resources for teens looking for a fun summer job. Teens can search by state and there are many summer jobs listed.
Here is a list of non-teen friendly summer job search websites. They aren't all bad but they just aren't very good for teens to use when looking for summer work.
We decided to add an F list of summer jobs for two reasons. First, these sites appear in the first pages of Google search so teens are likely to click on these pages when they search for summer jobs. Second, their site names might tend to give teens the illusion that they are good places to find summer jobs.
ResortJobs.com is not the best teen summer job search website. It’s better suited for older people and has a limited selection of summer jobs (in our view). In our opinion, this site isn’t worth most teen’s time.
On the surface, CampJobs.com would seemingly be a great place for a teenager to find a summer job. Our investigation reveals that it has a very limited selection of summer jobs for teens. Teens would be better served looking elsewhere.
We cannot, in good conscience recommend teens use mysummers.com for teen summer job search. The only way to view a listing of summer jobs is to sign up with the website (we attempted to sign up but received errors).
We are not fans of Teens4Hire. We cannot endorse any site that solicits money from teens for finding summer jobs. We understand there is a basic “free” version but we are not fans of teen job sites that solicit money from teens to find summer jobs.
SummerJobs.com is really just a basic job search website. A search of the site shows basic jobs (not summer specific jobs).
GrooveJob is another basic job search. It’s not a bad search per se but is not a teen summer job search website.
Teens are not able to search specifically for summer jobs on Barefoot Student. The site does have basic employment postings but we have found that the job search feature pulls up jobs over a great distance despite our attempts to limit the search.
We had great hope for LifeGuardingJobs (based upon the name). What we found was a site powered by Indeed.com (a job search site for older adults).
SeasonalEmployment sounds like it would be a great place for teens to find out about summer jobs. Unfortunately it is not. For the most part it’s just a listing of basic older adult jobs in a particular area. | 2019-04-19T05:18:26Z | https://www.boostapal.com/index.php/teens-find-summer-jobs |
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Woodbridge Re Roof Roofing Contractor Oakville Prescription Barrier Creams: Effective Treatment For Dermatitis Posted By: Shirley F. Dudley If you have been diagnosed you with eczema, your dermatologist may have used the word "dermatitis," because eczema and dermatitis often mean the same thing. Eczema is a general term for a collective number of skin conditions the dermatologists describe as conditions that can cause the skin to swell and discolor. The skin is often dry and itchy. Sometimes blisters form. Sometimes there is peeling and flaking of dry scaly skin, and some cases involve a blistering rash. One thing is for sure, there more types of creams for treating eczema, than there are all the different types of eczema. The problem with self-treatment Perhaps the most common treatment for eczema includes the use of cosmetic moisturizing creams and/or cortisone creams. It is important that if you have a dry, itchy skin condition, it is best to consult with a dermatologist, and refrain from trying to treat your skin with all of the creams that are available across the counter. Cortisone creams can only be used for short periods or they can cause long-term side effects. Moisturizing creams may treat the symptoms of dryness; however, they do not treat inflammation that is so prominent.
how to treat eczema Dermatitis Treating Rosacea Before It Gets Worse Posted By: Shirley F. Dudley The progression of rosacea can vary significantly from one individual to another. In most cases, the first symptoms may be mild flushing and persistent redness. The early stages of rosacea usually goes undiagnosed in so many people because the flushing and persistent redness are usually attributed to something such as skin that is sensitive to soap or sun exposure. Even when patients start experiencing multiple signs and symptoms of rosacea, they fail to seek medical help. In a few cases, it can take months or years before rosacea progresses beyond the initial symptoms of flushing and redness, for most people, the disease progresses rather quickly. Patients report, or need to visit a dermatologist for diagnosis and treatment in the first few months to within a year. The point to be understood is that you should visit a dermatologist at your first suspected symptoms so that you can begin treatment before the problem progresses further. The symptoms of rosacea Beyond mild flushing and redness, the progressive signs and symptoms most commonly associated with rosacea are: oBroken blood vessels on the skin oSkin may sting and burn. oDry skin, roughness or scaling.
treatments for Rosacea Rosacea Importance Of Skin Cancer Screening Posted By: Shirley F. Dudley Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. It is defined as an abnormal growth of skin cells that most often develops on areas of the skin exposed to the sun’s rays. Although people with light skin and who sunburn easily are at a higher risk, skin cancer affects people of all colors and races. Alarmingly, the incidence of skin cancer is rising dramatically in the United States. Of the several different types of skin cancer, melanoma is the deadliest type, accounting for more than 75 percent of all skin cancer deaths. Early detection is crucial, and preventative screening can save lives. With regard to at what age you should start skin cancer screening, it varies for every individual depending upon one’s risk factors. For some individuals, skin cancer screening should begin in their twenties. If you are concerned about a skin irregularity, make an appointment with your Charlotte dermatologist. Preparing for your exam In an effort to give your dermatologist the best opportunity to detect irregularities on your skin, consider some recommendations for preparing for your skin cancer screening.
Squamous cell carcinoma Skin Cancer Importance Of Skin Cancer Screening Posted By: Shirley F. Dudley Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. It is defined as an abnormal growth of skin cells that most often develops on areas of the skin exposed to the sun’s rays. Although people with light skin and who sunburn easily are at a higher risk, skin cancer affects people of all colors and races. Alarmingly, the incidence of skin cancer is rising dramatically in the United States. Of the several different types of skin cancer, melanoma is the deadliest type, accounting for more than 75 percent of all skin cancer deaths. Early detection is crucial, and preventative screening can save lives. With regard to at what age you should start skin cancer screening, it varies for every individual depending upon one’s risk factors. For some individuals, skin cancer screening should begin in their twenties. If you are concerned about a skin irregularity, make an appointment with your Charlotte dermatologist. Preparing for your exam In an effort to give your dermatologist the best opportunity to detect irregularities on your skin, consider some recommendations for preparing for your skin cancer screening.
Cosmetic Dentistry Melbourne Cosmetic Dentistry Melbourne Residential Metal Roofing: Tin Roofing Benefits Posted By: Milan Wrigley Roofing businesses Chicago, say what? Sure I am the Tampa Online Marketing Examiner educating you how to write a great post to enhance a site. This is an article that truly does match in an on-line marketing space. Why? Simply because you require to be creating plenty of content material to submit on-line. In case you haven’t heard the information, studies have shown that whilst using sun display appears to reduce the risk of squamous mobile and basal mobile cancers, the risk of malignant melanoma (the most lethal form of pores and skin cancer) seems to be greater. Scientists are unsure about the trigger, a number of factors come into perform, but it is safe to say that sunscreens should not be a routine component of a daily anti aging skin care schedule. Common Toronto Roofer supplies are asphalt shingles, slate, wood shakes, metal, and clay tile. Shingles arrive in a number of colours and grades that will final several decades — the higher the high quality, the longer the goods’ longevity. Steel is a fantastic product for allowing snow to slide correct off. Clay tiles are very warmth resistant yet heavy.
chingles Woodbridge Roofing Doctors Ocala Introduces Preventive Measures Of Skin Cancer Posted By: Jimmy Fernandez Exposure to the ultra violet rays is one of the most significant environmental risk factor for any type of skin cancer. Hence prevention from the exposure of the UV rays is all that one looks forward to by adopting sun protective behaviors. Although application of sunscreen lotions is the most common method applicable, but there are surmountable confusions regarding the amount of usage of these sunscreens and a misconception about how much do these sunscreens actually prevent the exposure of our skin from these UV rays. This confusing labeling of these sunscreen products along with proper rating of their efficiencies create numerous discrepancies regarding the prescribing of these. The Doctors Ocala goes on to state the numerous hazards that excessive exposure to these harmful rays may cause. Sunburn- Excessive exposure to the UV rays go on to cause sunburn which is a skin disease characterized by the redness of the skin,along with the sensation of burning and itching and at time severe pain. It mainly occurs due to the small UVB component of the UV radiation and the UVA component accounts to only 20% of the sunburns.
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roofing contractors Roofing Contractor Oakville Effective Treatment For Acne Posted By: Shirley F. Dudley Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States, yet finding accurate information about acne takes a bit of diligence. Just perform a search on acne and you will find so many different opinions, myths and treatments that it is nearly impossible for the average person to recognize good information. There are so many myths and treatments can be scarce. What can get lost in this ocean of opinion and information is the reality that living with acne is physically and emotionally painful. Adults and adolescents who suffer with acne are usually self-conscious and uncomfortable with their skin condition. We are not talking about a minor breakout of a few pimples that can resolve itself in a week or two, many individuals struggle with acne for years. Again, whether you are an adult or an adolescent, if you suffer with severe acne, it is difficult to feel good about your skin condition, regardless of the fact that under that skin condition is a beautiful and normal person. The first step The first step towards improving your skin is to get expert help of a dermatologist.
how to get rid of acne acne How Home Holiday Ready No Time And Posted By: Melaine Muhammad As a DIYer, indulging in a roofing activity might inspire sound and might invite complaints from fellow neighbors. Know that if you have the correct to undertake the task, your neighbors have the correct more than propertied leisure. Limiting your project to wise hours during the day assists you avoid uncomfortable and uncalled-for spars. In case you haven’t heard the information, research have proven that while using sunlight screen seems to reduce the danger of squamous cell and basal mobile cancers, the danger of malignant melanoma (the most deadly type of pores and skin cancer) seems to be higher. Scientists are unsure about the trigger, several factors come into perform, but it is safe to say that sunscreens ought to not be a routine part of a every day anti getting older pores and skin care schedule. A great location to begin is with your friends and coworkers. You might also ask your neighbors. Try to find somebody who recently experienced some RepairRoof Toronto work carried out. Inquire them who they utilized and what they thought about the service they obtained. If you have the opportunity, go more than to their house and take a appear at the occupation firsthand.
roofers Re roofing Quote in Woodbridge Is Cosmetic Mole Removal Right For You? Posted By: Shirley F. Dudley Few things are as universally enigmatic as the common perception of skin moles. Gather a group of people together and you will also have collected every impression regarding moles. To some, a mole on the face is an envied mark of beauty, to others it is an unsightly blemish that should be removed. Some folklore believe them to be sign of fortune, while in other cultures, people with prominent moles are not to be trusted. The most current debate regarding moles is whether they are benign (non-cancerous) or whether they are a common link to skin cancer. We will help clear up the medical facts regarding moles, but you can be sure that personal perceptions surrounding beauty and fortune will go on until the end of time. Cosmetic mole removal oMoles that are determined by your doctor to be suspicious for a melanoma will naturally be removed. oSome people who tolerated their mole at one point in their life, may find that the mole has grown, changed, or become too prominent for their liking, if your dermatologist determines that a mole is benign, she or he can remove the mole for cosmetic reasons. | 2019-04-21T18:26:03Z | http://songmeixia.com/skincancer-posts-on-articlesnatch-66814/ |
.Most of western North Dakota, all of northwest and north central North Dakota.
northeast and southeast North Dakota, including Valley City area.
up to one inch this morning. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph.
frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.
caution when traveling, especially in open areas.
.REST OF TODAY… Sunny in the afternoon. Patchy blowing and drifting snow through the day. Highs near zero. Northwest winds 20 to 25 mph. Wind chills around 30 below.
winds 5 to 15 mph. Wind chills around 40 below.
.FRIDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs near zero. North winds 5 to 10 mph.
Lowest wind chills around 40 below in the morning.
around 10. East winds around 10 mph.
evening. Lows around 5 below.
.WASHINGTONS BIRTHDAY…Cloudy. Highs 5 to 10 above.
.MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows around 10 below.
.TUESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs 5 to 10 above.
.TUESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows around 5 below.
.WEDNESDAY…Mostly cloudy. Highs 10 to 15.
Blowing snow in open country through the day. Visibilities reduced below one mile and cause difficult travel.
Wind chill values 20 to 25 below zero through the day today, with values as low as 35 below tonight.
Bismarck (ND Attorney General Office) – Burke Central High School Team won the state LifeSmarts championship and will be representing North Dakota in the national competition in Florida in April.
Jamestown High School Team #1 took second place and the Bottineau Braves team was third. Only ten points separated first and second place teams.
Fifteen teams competed in several rounds before the top three teams advanced to the final round.
The state LifeSmarts Champion team members are Alex Bly, Micah Nelson, Elise Mutschelknaus, Prairie Bly, and Angel Kosetecky.
Jamestown (JRMC) February 13, 2019 — Congratulations to team Get ‘ER done, the top point earner for New Year New You challenge week five. Team Get ‘ER done includes seven participants from Jamestown Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Department.
NYNY is about exercising and eating right. It’s also about staying healthy. One way to improve or maintain health is through treating and preventing the common cold and sinusitis.
Colds are common this time of year. However, colds that can’t be shook may be sinusitis, said Dr. W. Thomas Coombe, JRMC Ear, Nose & Throat specialist. When the drainage system becomes blocked, usually from swelling, heads hurt and noses congest.
One of the easiest ways to treat sinusitis is with nasal irrigation. Irrigate the nose at least once a day. The Academy of Otolaryngology recommends brewing a simple solution of one-half teaspoon of non-iodized salt and a half teaspoon of baking soda into two cups of lukewarm distilled or previously boiled water.
Enjoy this week’s community activity outside of normal activities and yield five bonus points this week. In addition, earn extra points for the work-friendly Lose Your Lap exercises and the more intense High-Intensity Interval Training.
Team points are due by 8 a.m. on Tuesday. To learn more about NYNY or two submit points, visit www.jrmcnd.com/nyny. View the full list of teams at www.jrmcnd.com/nyny/teams-standings/.
For information about carpal tunnel syndrome, orthopedics or to schedule an appointment, call (701) 952-4878 or visit www.jrmcnd.com/orthopedics.
REGAN, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota Highway Patrol says a motorist has died in a collision with a front loader in Burleigh County.The patrol says a 61-year-old man died Wednesday morning when the pickup truck he was driving struck a front loader on Highway 36 west of Regan. Authorities say the man, from Regan, died at the scene.The 52-year-old front loader driver wasn’t hurt.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s House has approved legislation that would allow people convicted of some crimes to have their records sealed if they stay out of trouble for a few years.The House voted to approve the bill 78-13 on Wednesday.Fargo Republican Rep. Shannon Roers Jones sponsored the bill. She says the intent is to have it apply only to nonviolent and nonsexual offenses.The bill would allow someone convicted of a misdemeanor to apply to have the offense sealed if they are not charged with a new crime for at least three years. Someone convicted of a felony may apply if they are not charged with a new crime for at least five years.Roers Jones says the sealing of records is not automatic, and courts would make the determination.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota legislative leaders are backing a resolution that would expand North Dakota’s existing higher education board.The resolution sponsored by Republican Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner and Democratic Senate Minority Leader Joan Heckaman was finalized Wednesday. It comes after the House killed legislation supported by Gov. Doug Burgum that would have the state change its higher education governance from one board to two.Burgum has said multiple boards would make North Dakota’s 11 colleges and universities “more accountable to their governing boards and taxpayers.”Wardner says there is no appetite among lawmakers for more than one board. But he says expanding the current eight-member board by three people will help with a growing workload.Any change to the higher education board would have to be approved by voters.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s House has killed a bill to increase speed limits on multilane highways and interstates in the state.Representatives on Wednesday voted 46-46, which means the measure was rejected.Grand Forks Republican Jake Blum sponsored the bill that would raise speed limits on multilane highways from 70 mph to 75 mph and on interstates from 75 mph to 80 mph.Blum says the proposed increase “reflects the reality of traffic speed.”North Dakota’s Transportation Department estimates the cost of changing signs and road improvements needed to be rated for the extra speed is nearly $10 million over the next four years.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s House believes that people convicted of drunken driving shouldn’t have to have the offense hanging over their heads forever.The House voted 89-2 on Wednesday to seal the court records of convicted drunken drivers if aren’t charged with another DUI or any other crime for seven years.Devils Lake Republican Rep. Dennis Johnson sponsored the bipartisan bill. It does not apply to licensed commercial drivers.The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A longtime federal prosecutor in Bismarck has been appointed to an eight-year term as a U.S. magistrate judge.
The Bismarck Tribune reports that U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland appointed Clare Hochhalter (HOHK’-hawl-tur) to serve in the position earlier this month. The move followed the retirement of Magistrate Judge Charles Miller Jr. in November.
Hochhalter will be stationed in Bismarck.
Others receiving votes: Bismarck High (14-5) and Mandan (13-6).
Others receiving votes: West Fargo Sheyenne (13-5).
VALLEY CITY (VCSU) – The Valley City State women’s basketball team was unable to overcome a second-quarter onslaught by the defending national champions on Wednesday night.
No. 5-ranked Dakota Wesleyan University shot 64 percent in the first half Wednesday and the Tigers built a 51-31 halftime lead en route to an 80-65 victory over the Vikings. The Tigers made four second-quarter 3’s and finished the half with a 16-3 run – outscoring the Vikings 29-12 in the second quarter.
Valley City State outscored the Tigers in the second half, and cut the deficit to 72-61 midway through the fourth quarter but could get no closer down the stretch.
VALLEY CITY (VCSU) – The Valley City State men’s basketball team had its three-game winning streak snapped Wednesday night as No. 18-ranked Dakota Wesleyan pulled away late in the second half for a 93-77 victory.
A 12-2 second-half run by the Tigers proved to be the difference as Dakota Wesleyan turned a tie game into a 10-point lead and never trailed from that point on.
Valley City State drops to 8-18 overall this season. The Vikings close out the regular season on Saturday when they host Mayville State University for the final North Star Athletic Association conference game. VCSU is currently in a three-way tie for fifth in the NSAA standings, tied with Viterbo University and Dakota State University. Depending on Saturday’s results, the Vikings will be anywhere from the No. 5 to the No. 7 seed for the NSAA tournament next week.
Dakota Wesleyan improves to 20-8 overall. The Tigers are ranked No. 18 in the latest NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — James Palmer made two free throws with 1.1 seconds left to give Nebraska a 62-61 win over Minnesota. It ended the Cornhuskers’ seven-game losing streak. Palmer finished with 24 points for the Huskers.
NBA…UNDATED (AP) — Jeff Teague scored 27 points and the Timberwolves overcame James Harden’s 42 points to beat the Rockets, 121-111. Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 for Minnesota which went on an 18-2 run in the third quarter to go ahead to stay. Harden had his 31st consecutive game with 30 or more points, tying Wilt Chamberlain for the second-longest streak in league history.The Bucks have their longest road winning streak in 34 years following a triple-double from their All-Star forward.Giannis Antetokounmpo (YAH’-nihs an-the-toh-KOON’-poh) delivered 33 points, 19 rebounds and 11 assists as the Bucks picked up their seventh consecutive road victory, 106-97 over the Pacers. Indiana led by 10 until the three-time All-Star scored 12 points during a 30-11, game-ending run.
Malcolm Brogdon chipped in 17 points and Khris Middleton added 15 in Milwaukee’s eighth win in nine games overall, and the 14th in their last 16 games.
The Pacers ended a six-game winning streak and fell 5 ½ games behind the Central Division-leading Bucks. Bojan (BOY’-ahn) Bogdanovic scored 20 points and Darren Collison added 14 to lead Indiana.
— The Raptors rolled to their sixth straight win as Pascal Siakam (see-AH’-kam) scored a career-high 44 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead a 129-120 victory over the Wizards. OG Anunoby (an-oo-NOH’-bee) scored a career-best 22 points to help Toronto stay 1 ½ games behind Milwaukee for the league’s top record. Serge Ibaka (ih-BAH’-kah) had 10 points and 13 rebounds, and Kyle Lowry had 14 points and 13 assists as the Raptors came back from 12 down to beat Washington for the fifth straight time.
— Al Horford finished with 17 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists in the Celtics’ second win in as many nights, 118-110 against the Pistons. Gordon Hayward contributed 18 points, eight assists and five rebounds in his first start since Dec. 21. Boston won for the seventh time in nine games and ended Detroit’s four-game winning streak.
— Philadelphia bounced back from Tuesday’s loss to Boston as Joel Embiid (joh-EHL’ ehm-BEED’) furnished 26 points and 14 rebounds in a 126-111 verdict over the Knicks. Tobias Harris scored 25 points and Ben Simmons had 18 for the 76ers, who scored eight straight points in the third quarter to open an 88-62 advantage. Allonzo Trier (treer) scored 19 points and fellow rookie Mitchell Robinson had 14 with 13 rebounds, but New York still extended its team-record losing streak to 18 games.
— Damian Lillard scored 29 points and the Trail Blazers snapped the Warriors’ five-game winning streak by whipping the two-time defending champs, 129-107. Jake Layman added 17 points off the bench for the Blazers, who had eight players in double figures. Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry each had 32 points for Golden State, but Klay Thompson shot just 2-for-16 in scoring nine points.
— Nikola Jokic (NEE’-koh-lah YOH’-kihch) finished with 20 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists for his 28th career triple-double in leading the Nuggets to a 120-118 triumph over the Kings. Jokic tipped in a basket with less than a second remaining to complete Denver’s comeback from a 17-point, first-half deficit. Paul Millsap matched a season high with 25 points and Isaiah Thomas hit two big 3-pointers in his long-awaited Nuggets debut.
— The Clippers clobbered the Suns, 134-107 as Lou Williams scored 30 points and Danilo Gallinari added 20. Montrezl (MAHN’-trehz) Harrell scored 14 of his 19 points in the first half, and Ivan Zubac (ZOO’-bahts) scored 16 for Los Angeles. Phoenix has lost 15 straight, tying a franchise mark set late last season.
— D’Angelo Russell provided 14 of his 36 points in the third overtime to send the Nets past the Cavaliers, 148-139. Joe Harris scored 25 points and DeMarre Carroll had 18, including a desperation 3-pointer at the horn to force the third OT. The Nets are 30-29 and over .500 at the All-Star break for the first time since 2013.
— Dwyane Wade scored 22 points in helping the Heat beat the Mavericks 112-101. Josh Richardson scored 14 points and Dion Waiters had 20 for the Mavericks, who outscored the Mavericks 32-16 in the third quarter and led by as many as 21 points in the fourth.
— Otto Porter Jr. scored a career-high 37 points on 16-for-20 shooting, and Robin Lopez added a season-high 25 points in the Bulls’ 122-110 win over the Grizzlies. Lauri Markkanen added 21 points as Chicago ended a franchise-record 11-game home losing streak.
UNDATED (AP) — 76ers center Joel Embiid (joh-EHL’ ehm-BEED’) has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for public criticism of referees that included profanity. Embiid’s comments came at the end of his postgame interview following Philadelphia’s 112-109 home loss to Boston on Tuesday.
— Center Enes Kanter has joined the Trail Blazers after he and Wesley Matthews were waived by the New York Knicks following the trade deadline last week. Kenter averaged 14 points and 10.8 rebounds in 115 games for the Knicks over two seasons. He had become frustrated after first losing his starting spot and then all playing time in recent weeks.
— The Grizzlies have signed forward Bruno Caboclo (kuh-BOH-kloh) to a multi-year package following a pair of 10-day contracts. Caboclo has started one of his 10 games played for Memphis, averaging 6.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.40 blocks in 21.1 minutes.
UNDATED (AP) — Top-ranked Tennessee has extended its school-record winning streak and improved to 11-0 in the SEC for the first time.
Admiral Schofield had 21 points and 10 rebounds as the Volunteers notched their 19th consecutive victory, 85-73 against South Carolina. Jordan Bowden scored 16 points for Tennessee, while teammate Grant Williams had eight points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
The Vols are 23-1 this season and owners of the longest win streak in Division I men’s basketball.
The Gamecocks made a season-high 14 3-point baskets and shot 61 percent from beyond the arc but couldn’t slow Tennessee’s high-powered offense.
— Eric Paschall (PAS’-kul) had 25 points on 10- of 12 shooting as No. 13 Villanova earned its ninth consecutive home win, 85-67 against Providence. Phil Booth added 22 points and Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree added 12 with seven rebounds in the Wildcats’ 20th win of the season.
— No. 15 Texas Tech crushed Oklahoma State, 78-50 behind Jarrett Culver’s 19 points. Matt Mooney scored 15 points and Tariq Owens added 11 as the 20-5 Red Raiders won for the fifth time in six games. Texas Tech shot 9 for 14 from 3-point range in the first half to take a 44-23 lead into the break.
— Senior Christ Koumadje recorded his first career double-double by scoring 20 points and pulling down a career-high 12 rebounds to highlight 17th-ranked Florida’s State’s 88-66 drubbing of Wake Forest. Phil Cofer scored 13 points and Mfiondu Kabengele (ka-ben-GAY’-lee) had nine points and seven rebounds in the Seminoles’ most lopsided ACC win this season.
Ty Outlaw nailed six 3-pointers and scored 20 points as No. 22 Virginia Tech defeated Georgia Tech, 76-68. Kerry Blackshear Jr. and Nickeil Alexander-Walker each scored 16 points for the Hokies, who trailed by three at intermission before stopping a two-game skid.
UNDATED (AP) — The Denver Broncos have a new starting quarterback, and he’s a one-time Super Bowl winner.
A person with knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press that the Broncos have agreed to acquire Joe Flacco from the Ravens for a fourth-round pick in this year’s draft.
The 34-year-old Flacco spent his first 11 seasons with Baltimore, playing all 16 regular-season games nine times. He started the Ravens’ first nine games last season, completing 61.2 percent of his passes for 2,465 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. The MVP of the 2013 Super Bowl became expendable in Baltimore with the emergence of rookie Lamar Jackson.
The trade also makes Case Keenum expendable after just one season in Denver. Keenum led the Broncos to a 6-10 record last season, throwing for 3,890 yards, 18 TDs and 15 interceptions.
— Jaguars kicker Josh Lambo has signed a four-year contract extension instead of testing the free agent market. Lambo owns the franchise record for consecutive made field goals, converting 24 straight between Nov. 19, 2017 and Nov. 11, 2018. He made 19 of 21 field goals last year and became the first in Jaguars history to post consecutive seasons with a field goal rate of at least 90 percent.
— Defensive end Steven Means has signed a one-year contract extension with the Falcons after making four starts in 2018. Means had one sack and 14 tackles in eight games last season, his first with Atlanta.
— The 49ers have released offensive lineman Garry Gilliam, who played in 24 games with one start in two seasons with San Francisco.
— The Detroit Lions have re-signed long snapper Don Muhlbach, keeping him on the roster for a 16th season.
UNDATED (AP) Philadelphia Phillies ace Aaron Nola is now locked into a contract through 2022.
Nola and the Phils have avoided a salary arbitration hearing by working out a four-year, $45 million contract that includes a $16 million team option for 2023 with a $4.25 million buyout.
The 25-year-old right-hander set career bests last year when he was a first-time All-Star, going 17-6 with a 2.37 ERA. Nola would have been eligible for free agency after the 2021 season.
— Major leaguers are 6-3 in arbitration this year following Wednesday’s victories by Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer, Astros hurler Gerrit Cole and Reds left-hander Alex Wood. Bauer was awarded $13 million, Cole was given and $13.5 million package and Wood came away with a $9.65 million deal. Players are now ensured a winning arbitration record in consecutive years for the first time since 1989-90.
— Catcher Caleb Joseph has accepted a one-year deal with the Diamondbacks after hitting .219 with three homers and 17 RBIs in 280 plate appearances for the Orioles last year. Joseph will make $1.1 million in the majors this season, or $250,000 in the minors.
— The Nationals have dealt reliever Trevor Gott to the Giants for cash, one day after designating him for assignment to make roster room for Jeremy Hellickson. Gott went 0-2 with a 5.68 ERA in 20 appearances totaling 19 innings for the 2018 Nationals.
— Left-hander Brett Anderson is back with the Athletics for a third stint 10 years after breaking into the big leagues with the club. He received a $1.5 million, one-year contract, announced at spring training.
UNDATED (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins have moved into a third-place tie with Columbus in the Metropolitan Division by beating Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.
Matt Murray robbed Connor McDavid on a penalty shot for one of his 38 saves in the Pens, 3-1 win over the Oilers. His acrobatic stop on McDavid late in the second period protected a Pittsburgh lead before the Penguins held on to sweep the season series. Murray was playing two nights after making 50 saves in a 4-1 victory at Philadelphia.
Bryan Rust, Teddy Blueger (BLOO’-gur) and Jared McCann all scored as Pittsburgh picked up two vital points despite playing without suspended center Evgeni Malkin, who served a one-game suspension for an illegal high stick in Monday’s win over the Flyers.
The Pens are within five points of the division-leading Islanders.
— Kevin Boyle made 35 saves in his first career start to backstop the Ducks’ 1-0 win over the Canucks in general manager Bob Murray’s first game as Anaheim’s interim coach. Jakob Silfverberg scored to help the Ducks end a seven-game losing streak.
PARKLAND, Fla. (AP) — A year ago on Thursday, 14 students and three staff members were killed when a gunman opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. The anniversary will be marked with an interfaith service at a Parkland park, near the school. Students will perform service projects and observe a moment of silence, and a non-denominational, temporary temple will open in neighboring Coral Springs for people to pay their respects.
TOULOUSE, France (AP) — One of the Airbus A380’s original test pilots says the giant plane will be remembered for pushing the technological barriers of aviation like the supersonic Concorde. Claude Lelaie was a co-pilot aboard the maiden flight of the superjumbo in 2005, 101 years after the Wright brothers’ first flight.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers are preparing to pass a border security compromise that would provide just a sliver of the billions of dollars President Donald Trump has demanded for a wall between the U.S. and Mexico. The measure would prevent a renewed government shutdown this weekend, and Trump’s signature is widely expected but hardly guaranteed. House leaders plan a Thursday evening vote on the sweeping package.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort may have ruined his chances for a reduced sentence for federal crimes. A judge has ruled that Manafort broke the terms of his plea agreement by lying to investigators and a federal grand jury in the special counsel’s Russia probe. Manafort is scheduled to be sentenced in March. He was convicted on charges stemming from illegal lobbying and in a separate case, for tax and bank fraud crimes.
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The award-winning head of a Philippine online news site that has aggressively covered President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration has posted bail and walked free after being arrested in a libel case. Maria Ressa accused the government of abusing its power and of using the law as a weapon to muzzle dissent. Duterte’s government denied it and said the arrest was a normal response to a criminal complaint. | 2019-04-22T08:26:32Z | http://csinewsnow.com/?p=164787 |
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