text
stringlengths 16k
189k
| timestamp
stringlengths 20
20
| url
stringlengths 15
841
|
|---|---|---|
The 1990 Erasmus Prize was dedicated to Archaeology, more specifically to prehistory.
Grahame Clark (1907-1995) was associated with Cambridge University throughout his professional career. He produced influential publications which provide surveys of various prehistoric periods and regions. Throughout the years he gradually developed the concept of ‘World Prehistory’ (World Prehistory - an Outline). He formed the basis for the archaeological theory that gained much credence in the world of archaeology in the 1960s. Professor Clark's excavations, particularly at the Mesolithic site Star Carr, set the standard for the use of various auxiliary sciences. His research in the Fenlands of East Anglia was of major importance. From 1935 to 1970, he was editor-in-chief of the eminent journal Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society. Professor Clark was awarded the Erasmus Prize because he was one of the first scholars to establish cross-links, in both theory and practice, between the historical, anthropological and biological sciences. With his book Prehistoric Europe – the Economic Basis, he can be seen as a pioneer in the study of the economic aspects of prehistoric societies. His publications reached a wide audience.
Grahame Clark set up a fund with which the Prehistoric Society can award an annual prize. Another fund, which he set up in 1992, enables the British Academy to award a medal for outstanding achievement through a recent contribution to prehistoric archaeology.
In accordance with article 2 of the constitution of the Praemium Erasmianum Foundation concerning the enhancement of the position of the humanities, social sciences and the arts and the promotion of appreciation of these fields within society, His Royal Highness Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, Patron of the Foundation, has confirmed the decision of the Board of the Foundation to award the Erasmus Prize for the year 1990 to Grahame Clark.
he has established in Cambridge, through his incisive and inspiring working methods, a scholarly institute whose influence is felt throughout the entire world.
Who is this creature we call Man? From where did he arise? Where did he come from? And where is he going? These questions have puzzled thinkers ever since the dawn of history. Many Erasmus Prize winners as well have contemplated these matters; I am thinking, in particular, of the many philosophers, theologians, anthropologists and psychologists whom we number among our laureates. The questions surrounding the origins of Man, and what distinguishes him from animals, also forms the foundation of your work, Professor Clark.
In contrast, however, to all previous laureates who have pondered the dim beginnings of Man's history, you approach these issues, as a prehistorian and archaeologist, by the most matter-of-fact and often seemingly simple discoveries. Based on the exacting study, classification and comparison of divergent archaeological evidence - such as flint stones, hand axes, pottery shards, soil traces and even fossil pollen, as well as a host of other subtle remnants from the distant past - you have demonstrated that there is more to the science of prehistory than merely collecting. By making use of the modern techniques of natural science to ask provocative questions of the discovered material, you have been able to draw conclusions regarding the biological, ecological, social, economic and anthropological aspects of primitive Man. You recognized quite early the interdisciplinary character of your work, and have linked together disciplines which still stood quite far apart from one another at the beginning of this century.
While the historian concerns himself only with the last 5,000 years of human history at the very most, your field of study is somewhat broader, covering a few million years at the very least. Although more has happened regarding the development of Man and his environment in the last two centuries than in the last 50,000 years, and more again in the last 50,000 years than in the last 500,000 years, you have made it clear that there is no more important event imaginable than the moment when Man differentiated himself from the primates and all other animals through the development of culture. During the cultural flowering that has taken place since that moment - at first very gradually and then with increasing rapidity - two revolutions, the Neolithic and the Industrial, formed the most remarkable turning points. With the transition to the period which we term the Neolithic, Man took the step from being merely the beneficiary of what nature supplied to a food-producer with a fixed dwelling place and dominance over plants and animals. On the one hand, this formed the basis for increasingly complex societies with a high degree of diversity, creativity and cultural wealth. On the other hand, it also sowed the seeds of unbridled population growth, large-scale poverty, famine, epidemics, war and environmental pollution. The great challenge of our time, as our laureate in 1987, Alexander King, foresaw decades ago, is to direct the positive achievements of civilization toward the mastering and banishment of all the unwanted and unforeseen negative side-effects of our cultural unfolding.
One of the central questions which has occupied you, Professor Clark, over the years, is how the earliest hominids, around 500,000 - 250,000 years ago, differentiated themselves from the primates. "We owe our identity as human beings", you write, "to the fact that, in contrast to animals, we belong to societies constituted by shared values". Your interest in this regard has concentrated itself on the inventiveness and adaptability of the earliest human beings, as well as on their differing cultural patterns, each with its own individual value. Your study of bio-archaeology, alongside that of economy demonstrates the wide ranging circle of your research, whereby you have posed the question of how Man was able to survive and to adapt himself to various ecosystems. In your social archaeological studies, you point out that we are not dealing with individuals, but with communities of people, including their internal stratification, their local organization, their relations to one another, as well as to the world of nature.
You have further pointed out that in the course of the last two to three million years, the most basic biological functions like eating, sheltering, pairing, breeding, fighting and dying were performed in idioms acquired by belonging to historically and locally defined cultural groups, where patterns of behaviour are conditioned by particular sets of values. This is the essential difference between Man and animals. Man's behaviour is determined more by historical and cultural influences, rather than by innate, biologically determined factors. The sharing of common traditions is a consciousness of sharing a common past. We follow cultural patterns inherited through belonging to societies shaped by history. We are free to initiate change, and this change, in turn, results in an astonishing diversity of cultural patterns.
The prehistorian is especially qualified to recognize this unique diversity in Man, just as you have done in your many publications. Assisted by your knowledge of comparative ethnology and social anthropology, you have come to the conclusion that, quite other than is the case with animals, the entire process of humanization is based on the growth of distinct traditions, which result in a broad spectrum of cultural diversity. It is precisely this diversity, and the resulting social disparities, which are the key factors in the intensification of culture. In this regard, rivalry and emulation are the most important incentives for Man, just as they still are to this day. For Man, unlike the animals, the specific is relevant and not the general.
In your study of the earliest and most primitive artefacts, you have determined that - other than we would have suspected - mere utility was not the ultimate motivation for the form in which many of these relics have come to us. In your essay "Symbols of Excellence" you write that the most refined artefacts - whether it be shells from the Palaeolithic age or ivory, amber, jade, gold or precious gems from later periods - were not made as utilitarian articles or weapons, but were intended for the cult of ancestors and, later, also for personal adornments. Thus, these objects were created not to satisfy material appetites, but to promote religious and political value systems. Consequently, it seems that the ability to discriminate was also a basic ingredient for survival; for he who knew how to make the finest weapons, tools and medicines also had the greatest chance for survival. We see this every day around us. Therefore, the notions of excellence and aesthetic awareness, ideas which can be traced back to earliest vestiges of homo sapiens, are the basis not merely of cultural advance, but of the very attainment of humanity.
As the entire world becomes more and more controlled by industrial technology, and the similarities between peoples appear to be become greater than their differences, one wonders how this process of homogenisation can be reconciled with the diversity of human values. Does not the process of homogenisation, if carried to its conclusion, destroy the diversity of cultural patterns and, ultimately, the dignity of man?
Fortunately, however, you remain truly optimistic, for in your opinion, as I understand it, this greater freedom of opportunity has only stimulated emulation and whetted the collective appetite for success; while the professionalism and specialization present in the modern world only adds to the variety and diversity of Man, rather than detracting from it.
These absorbing questions, which you have suggested in your publications, define the wide scholarly terrain which is brought together in your work. I can imagine with what fascination your students must have attended to your lectures. In Cambridge, you have established, through your inspiring working methods, a scientific school whose influence is felt all around the world. With your countless publications, including three books which appeared only last year, you have enriched the science of prehistory immeasurably. And in addition, you have illuminated for a large public the meaning of prehistorical insights for modern society. But what stands out above all your other activities and accomplishments is your great love for and interest in Man. This is a distinction which you share in honour with a long line of Erasmus Prize winners because, as a colleague of yours once remarked, "to be human is not to be everyman, it is to be a particular kind of man". And you, Professor Clark, are indeed a very particular kind of man.
And with these words, I would like - and it is a great pleasure for me - to present you with the Erasmus Prize 1990.
As Praeses of the Praemium Erasmianum it has fallen to you to present prizes to a long procession of men and women who have made outstanding contributions to the artistic and intellectual life of our continent. This year it gives me the greatest pleasure to accept the Erasmus Prize from your hands for contributions made to the study of Prehistory. The sense of honour that I feel at my name being added to the prestigious roll of previous winners is much enhanced by the circumstances under which you have presented me with the prize and not least by the gracious presence of Her Majesty and of so many members of the Royal Family.
To be awarded a prize which takes its name from an illustrious Dutchman who at the same time was a great citizen of Europe and through his writings did so much to open up our modern world of sensibility and thought is indeed a most signal honour. Now the master paid a number of visits to England and, as a Cambridge man, it is a source of pride that he taught there for a longer period than elsewhere in my country.As a former Master of Peterhouse, the oldest college in Cambridge and one situated only a couple of hundred meters or so upstream from Queens where Erasmus lodged between 1511(c)14,I can claim a slight, although tenuous, link. As we know from his correspondence Erasmus counted among his closest Cambridge friends John Watson who was a fellow of Peterhouse under my thirtieth predecessor as Master of the College; it is very thin, but nevertheless it is a link.
Since Prehistory only began to take shape some three centuries or so after his death Erasmus himself could hardly have been aware of the subject. Yet prehistorians, like those who work in many of the fields recognized by the award of the Erasmus Prize, realize how much they owe to a man who took such an important part in freeing Christendom from superstition and making possible the growth of modern consciousness. One aspect of this is the way we have come during recent centuries to appreciate that the world and indeed the very universe in which we live have evolved over immense periods of time.
If we turn to palaeontology to tell us about our biological evolution it is to prehistory that we look for evidence of the evolution of specifically human patterns of behaviour. The artefacts recovered by archaeology tell us not merely how our forebears adapted to and modified their environments but how they learnt to shape their behaviour to accord with cultural values rather than merely with biological imperatives. As contemporary history reminds us we are human to the extent that we are able to chose between alternatives. You have shown your appreciation of the significance of the study of prehistory by awarding it the Erasmus Prize.
May I say how much I appreciate the care there has been taken to ensure that this occasion has been pleasureable as well as memorable to me personally. The brave sound of the Danish lurer is a tuneful reminder that prehistoric people were far from living by bread alone. Moreover they remind me very vividly how much I owe to the example of Danish prehistorians. For one thing they set me a standard when I came to write my doctoral dissertation on the Mesolithic Age in Britain dealing with the British evidence for the cultural life of the hunter-fisher people of the early Postglacial period. Many years later I had the privilege of teaching the future Queen of Denmark when she came to Cambridge as Princess Margarethe to take her Diploma.
Similarly the film, which we have just seen, illustrating the work on The Somerset Levels Project, reminds me of my early association with zoning postglacial deposits in the Somerset Levels and in the Cambridge of Fenland by means of archaeology and pollen-analysis. The choice of this film is all the more satisfying to me that it has been made by Professor John Coles, who we are delighted to see that he is here present with us - I wrote this before I knew he was going to be here - one of my most brilliant former pupils and later my close colleague as editor of the Prehistoric Society and a leading member of the staff of the Department of Archaeology at Cambridge.
In conclusion I thought you would like to know how I intend to use the Erasmus Prize which has been such an honour to receive. I intend to use it to promote and to reward fellow prehistorians for the contributions they are making to a subject whose importance you have indicated by awarding this prize to Prehistory.I am very glad to say that the Prehistoric Society has undertaken to administer a Europa Fund to provide an annual monetary prize and that the British Academy has agreed to accept an endowment for a medal to recognize achievements in Prehistory comparable to those it already awards to leading scholars in other fields. In this way I hope your action in awarding me the Erasmus Prize as a prehistorian will help to further the wider recognition of the subject in our continent as a whole.
John Grahame Douglas Clark (1907- 1995) was educated at Marlborough College and Peterhouse Cambridge, where he was first a research student and subsequently assistent lecturer in archaeology from 1930-46. During World War II he served as a squadron leader in the RAF with a special commission in Air Intelligence and Air History. After the war he became a university lecturer in Archaeology and in 1952 he was appointed as the Disney Professor of Archaeology and Ethnology, which post he held until 1974. From 1973 until 1980 he was Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge.
Grahame Clark made a name for himself at an early age. The Mesolithic Age in Britain was published in 1932, followed by The Mesolithic Settlement of Northern Europe in 1935, which was rewritten in 1975. In 1935 he became the first editor of the Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, a position he held for 35 years. Under his guidance the Proceedings grew into an internationally renowned and highly appreciated periodical, in which articles covering the British Isles, Europe and beyond appear. His ability to provide the broad overview is also apparent in works such as Prehistoric England (1940 & 1962). In 1939 he published Archaeology and Society (19571/42). In this book Professor Clark laid the foundation for the development of theoretical thinking in archaeology, from which came the impressive series New Directions in Archaeology, published by his Institute at Cambridge.
Not only in his theoretical and written work, but also in his field work, Grahame Clark has won his spurs. Firstly he focused on East Anglia, the region close to Cambridge, where he demonstrated the importance of archaeological investigation of the Fenlands at Peacock's Farm. His interest in the Mesolithic period led him to excavate at Starr Carr, Yorkshire. These excavations were exemplary in the manner in which all possible sciences related to archaeology were used as part of the work. All of the drawings for the publication in 1954 on this excavation were done by Grahame Clark himself.
Clark's book Prehistoric Europe - the Economic Basis, published in 1952, has been highly influential on the thinking on prehistoric archaeology far beyond Britain. In this book he expressly pointed the way the use of ethnografical information. The book has been translated into several languages, including Russian and Polish. In 1959 The Prehistory of Southern Africa appeared, followed by World Prehistory - an Outline in 1961 (reprinted in 1962 and rewritten in 1977). Together with Stuart Pigott, Clark wrote Prehistoric Societies (1965), a highly valued survey of European prehistory. Aspects of Prehistory (1970) is the reflection on the lectures he gave at Berkeley.
Grahame Clark's latest books bear witness to an active life: The Identity of man as seen by an Archaeologist (1982), Symbols of Excellence; Precious Materials as Expression of Status (1986) and a study on Space and Time in History, which appeared in 1991.
In 1990 the Erasmus Prize was awarded to Sir Grahame Clark in the field of Prehistory. | 2019-04-20T17:23:44Z | http://www.erasmusprijs.org/Prijswinnaars?itemid=D5914767-A9E2-F279-7B12CEFC169E2C4B&lang=en&mode=detail |
Today my client was a hyperactive - cheeky - mouthy young lady!! Jumping up - lots of 'social graces' to be learned - and pure pedigree German Shepherd and at three months old was definitely in need of some training!!
German Shepherds are very intelligent dogs but also need to be kept both mentally and physically stimulated and active as can in latter years suffer from hip problems if not regularly exercised. It is very sad to see this magnificent breed when they have been kept as 'security dogs' kept in small contained areas or chained and put out on industrial plants as 'guard dogs' - with such limited exercise and movement they lead a lonely and isolated life often ending their lives early and suffer hip dysplasia.
Will be going back in 10 days to see how 'guardians' and 'Sheba is doing and see who is training who!
First Dog Surgery in Queens Park Westminster opened this monday - giving advice on neutering/spaying, getting a new dog and all aspects of being a responsible 'dog owner'.
This Dog Surgery will be fortnightly and between 2pm and 3.30pm and FREE to all members of Queens Park Ward and Harrow Road Ward. Also non dog owners are welcome to voice their views both negative and positive on how 'dog owners' and their dogs affect their enjoyment of public spaces and environmental issues regarding dogs mess left on the streets of both Westminster wards.
I think it is important to have someone and somewhere to go to seek advice regarding dogs especially when living in a multi culture community where sometimes the smallest dog can seem to be intimidating if not under proper control. Also there are new laws regarding dog legislation being updated on a regular basis especially for 'bull breeds' and owners should be kept informed of these laws and advised on the Dog Control Act.
In Westminster wards it is against the law to have your dog not on a leash if in a public place that is not an 'assigned dog area' - a fine can be imposed for this and also for not picking up after your dog - these fines can be issued by a dog warden - an environmental warden and a police officer. Also if your dog is reported or seen to be acting in an antisocial manner or left unattended in a public place - it can be siezed and if it is a 'bull breed type' can be taken under the BSL and kept in a unknown location to be assessed.
You also might need advice on basic puppy training or you have just adopted a rescue dog from the local shelter @mayhewanimalhome or alldogsmatteruk - also any local microchipping events or dog classes in the area information will be given out to all dog owners.
So whatever your 'enquiry' is please come along and visit www.canineculture.co.uk for a friendly chat and a cup of coffee!!
Training pups - it is so important to start socialising your young pup as soon as they are fully vaccinated - and if you have just rescued a pup from your local shelter www.mayhewanimalhome.org.uk or dogs trust or any local rescue start socialising them as as possible. I like to call my dog classes 'dog socialising classes' because one of the most important factors of owning a dog is for them to be good with other dogs and familar with the public and their local environment!
Last Sunday I held my third dog training session in Maida Vale W9 in the Dog Area Enclosure in Paddington Recreation Ground. This is an ideal training ground as it has the wide open spaces and also three enclosures to practice 'recall'. I also like my classes to be small - no more than 6 pups or 6 dog owners (to allow for owners with two family pets) - too many dogs in the class can be overwhelming to pups entering the 'Big Bad world of Our's and also gives both owners and pups my full attention!!
This weekend is World Animal Day - the Feast day of St Francis of Assisi - and the Reverand Graham Noyce of St Martins Church Mortimer Road NW10 5SN invites all pet owners and their pets to be blessed at his church. The event starts 2pm at St Martins Church (two minutes from Kensal Green (Bakerloo Line and Overground) Station and Bus No 18 route).
Living near the Notting Hill Carnival - I am happy to say the annual event went really well and the clean up was very efficient!! Chelsea my jack russell was VERY disappointed that the street cleaners did their job so thoroughly - NOT a chicken bone in sight!!!
Also Great news - Tessa the lost seven month old romanian dog was found after two weeks AND before Carnival which was a great relief to her fosterers, her rescue and myself and Niz Khan - Rob of K9 Kennels and Amanda who spent many hours and days putting out flyers - and walking the streets of Holland Park W11 trying to find her.
Buster a ten year old senior King Charles was adopted by a lovely senior lady who had lost her own dog a year ago and I saw Buster on All Dogs Matter Rescue website (a great rescue that deal both with dogs and owners with kindness and tlc) - It was an ideal adoption for two lonely seniors!!!
I am working with Winnie a four month gorgeous labrador and would melt any man's heart but unfortunately is running rings around her owner!! We are doing a few follow up sessions and meeting again next week - after more doggy homework!! I did see a great improvement today so her owner is really working hard!!!
Dog Socialising Classes commence on 14th September 2013 in the dog area of Queens Park Gardens W10 - places still available for the 2.pm - 3pm class for Adult dogs.
Enjoy the weather, Enjoy your pets and keep them safe!
Maida Vale Dog Show to be held in the Dog Area of Padding Recreation Grounds on 31st August 2013 has now been put back to 28th September 2013.
Judges will have to be notified - and new posters and flyers printed!! Also I have to meet up with the Park Manager of Paddington Recreation Grounds to see which dog area will be the best venue to hold the dog show event in! Last year it was the Dog area (Carlton Vale entrance) and it was an ideal venue - enclosed and ticked all the Risk Assessment Boxes and Pet Business Insurance Public Care and Liability Requirements.
Jinny the Ealing Dog Warden was also going to offer Free Microchipping to local dog owners for their canines and has been notified of the change of date.
The categories will be Ms Diva, Mr Slick, Best Senior, Best Rescue . Pup Idol and of course 'I luv my staffi' - great prizes (for dogs only of course) and rosettes will be given out on the day!
After a great day of a successful Dog Show and the presentation of the Canine Community Cup to two worthy dogs and owners and a successful Queens Park Festival I came home jubilant and patting myself on the back - job 'Well done'!!
Jinny the Ealing Dog Warden had had over 15 dogs who came to the same day FREE 'microchipping event' and I offered dog advice and helped register the dogs. All dogs Big and small - all breeds were well controlled and kept in check. By the time evening came - and I had walked my two pooches - I was ready for sleep - so all phones - computers were turned off until next morning!
I awoke to learn that a rescue dog from Romania - Tessa a ginger and white crossbreed - was missing after one day with her new adoptors. Tessa at seven months - fostered in the countryside - now DogLost - frightened in London NW8. Suddenly all yesterdays 'feeling of job well done' was gone and I was along with other volunteer rescuers looking out there on the streets of NW8, W9 and W11 looking for Tessa!
Ten days later we are still looking - we have had several sightings yesterday evening in Holland Park W11 and have set up a trap But we need more volunteers to man the trap and time is running out as Notting Hill Gate Carnival approaches this week end.
Queens Park is celebrating Its Tenth Community Festival in Queens Park Gardens W10 and www.canineculture.com are helping them celebrate with a Canine Champs of Queens Park Dog Show.
All dogs are welcome - big or small - chihuahua - staffordshire bull terrier - to strut and pose and all hoping to win great prizes and of course be Crowned 'Canine Champ' All dogs on leads and all handlers accompanied by an adult.
Registration is at 11.45am at the Dog Area Queens Park Gardens W10 (Ilbert Street Entrance) - The Dog Show and Fun Begins at mid day.
The judge will have the hardest job of all - choosing the winners and hoping not to offend the local residents - and thats just the owners!!
Also there will be free microchipping for all dogs and advice on behaviour and dog control laws - this will be from one pm until five pm - so any dogs that are not microchipped should take advantage of this free service.
Every year a dog owner (s) is picked out from the many dog lovers in Queens Park Community for their commitment and care and responsibility for their canine and how they have worked extra hard to improve their pets behaviour - or helped show a good example of responsible dog ownership.
This year are two joint winners - Grace a rescued 'bait dog' whose owner Venetia worked so hard and with tlc and patience turned a nervous dog into a lovable companion who sleeps with her resident cat Joker - who rules the roost.
The other winner is Olly a golden retriever whose young owners sold cakes they made themselves to raise over £80 for the mayhew animal home - a local rescue and came to every training class with Olly no matter what the weather was with dedication .
Great day for dogs - big and small - from Bertie the french bulldog to Tyson the Staffordshire Bull Terrier - the rain stayed off for an afternoon of walking to heal - introducition of Tyson to small dogs and other staffies - and teaching Betty the pug (or her owner Heidi) that learning 'recall' and being of lead was 'fun'!!
Then darling Rocco the lurcher came in with his new dog collar and much more calmer than he was in the last session!! Good boy Rocco you obviously 'did your homework'!! Romeo the little jack russell was tearing up and down with his new pals until he got a bit hyperactive - so back on the lead for him!! Jasper was trying to find where my 'training dog treats' were hidden - found the 'water bowl' instead.
No matter what the weather always make sure you have water for the dogs during exercise and while walking - More so in hot weather.
Sorry Bertie but your owners are changing the 'house rules'!!
Bailey, Casper and Tuppence's owners texted me their apologies.
Friday was such a beautiful day when out walking the dogs SO why when it is time for my Dog Training Class on Saturday at precisely 2pm the rain comes tumbling down!!! But then dogs have to go out and enjoy the experience of walking in all weathers!! Just not the perfect time for dog training!!
First comes Jimmy and Jasper dragging their owner with her umbrella towards me - then Poppy the little westie who is a bit nervous of human contact - with her bright raincoat on. Then Samuel the Beagle who has incurred two 'nasty dog attacks within a few days of each other but thankfully with the help of his vet is recovering nicely - well physically anyway!!
As the sun comes out between the clouds - Bailey the now very grown up labrador comes bounding up to me and then skids into a 'sit' position - like he just remembered 'something' from puppy classes. Followed by a quick appearance by Tuppence a terrier cross accompanied by his apologetic owner who unfortunately can not stay but will be back next week. A Beautiful ridgeback comes gracefully to my side - what a socialised treasure - one of my previous 'clients' - his owner asks if he can observe the lesson - of course - welcome all breeds - shapes and sizes and thats NOT just the dogs!
Sadly Dusty the whippet has passed away since the last dog training class and his owners have got a new pure white whippet x from Battersea Dogs Home who needs help with nipping the little terrier who has just come in to play.
Dog Owners get ready to sign up - disaster the registration forms are soaked from the earlier downpour - so will have to register next session - Sunday 23rd June.
It turned out to be a great afternoon but also it was a very special day for Emma (Bailey's family) a young girl who is the bravest girl I know - for on Monday Emma will have a big heart operation and she talks about it with full insight yet so matter of fact and so brave - that as an adult I have to make sure I am half as brave and not cry. All of the dog owners in the area had made a special photo album of all the dogs and given Emma cards and teddies.
We held a 'FREE Microchipping Event' at St Judes Hall Ilbert Street, Queens Park W10 - with myself and a dog warden from Westminster to give advice and general health check to all dogs in the area.
Microchipping of all dogs will be a legal requirement in 2016 But why wait when so many of our dogs go missing, get lost or stolen and if they are microchipped the owners stand a much better chance of getting their dogs returned to them.
Sitting here with my two rescues - Missy Blue a jack russell/whippet cross and Chelsea Rose a jack russell cross - one aged ten years and the other about seven years old - I can not imagine NEVER having a dog or dogs in my life. Yet what happens when I am older and the day comes when my 'precious canine pals' have passed and I want once again to 'adopt' and give my heart and home to another dog . What happens when my 'advancing years' are approaching - and even though I am active - healthy in body and mind - Suddenly my 'ability' to 'walk' 'care' and offer a homeless dog a safe and loving home is 'in doubt' by the very rescue centers I have always supported!!!
Ageism in the 'Animal World' seems to be following the 'trend' of the workplace - and it is a sad day that 'shelters' and 'over zealous' administrators should judge us on a 'number' rather than on our ability to be a loving responsible adoptor of the numerous unwanted canines.
When I heard the story of a lovely lady who had had dogs all her life, just lost her little terrier of 15 years and wanted to rescue another little dog and was refused!! One rescue she contacted had the perfect dog for her and everything was going well - UNTIL she told them her age! Suddenly the dog had been already adopted- only to appear on their 'site' a few days later. I met this lady - she is active - walks everywhere - lovely home with a secure garden and oh yes ----- nearly eighty. She doesn't want a pup - she wants a dog who she can share her life with for quite a few years to come - thank you!!
through 'officialdoms red tape' and a focus on 'age' rather than a loving home here, at least in UK older animal lovers are being excluded from homing a dog.
A cold day - a threat of snow but I was determined my 'dog socialising class' was going ahead!!
I had arranged for the classes to take place in the (Dog Area) Paddington Recreation Ground W9 - a lovely big enclosure for safe and security for all the dogs taking part. With registration forms, (for Public care and Liability Insurance and monitoring for Westminster Council) - training leads - water bowls (yes even in cold weather it is still good to have access to water for thirsty 'trainees') I was already to go - just needed some 'dogs' to bring their owners!!!
First to 'Bounce' through the gate was Ringo a lovely 'american bulldog' rescued from Bullies in Need - raring to 'socalise himself' with lots of vigor - then along came Junior a GSD x all the way from Spain - he was fearful of other dogs.
Bella the labrador came bounding up to me - her owner holding 'for dear life' to the lead! Alaska and Arakeetall (beautiful names) two very friendly huskies - Alaska the female had a little stubborn streak and only wanted to do what Alaska wanted! Rocky a handsome six month lurcher/GSD x came in - needs to learn 'lead control' and to be more confident around other dogs. BB the staffie cross came in with Molly the Romanian dog rescue eight years ago - both determined to show the 'other dogs' how 'it was done' as they had been to 'quite a few' classes before.
Oh and lastly but not least Little Ava a little staffie pup with her 'foster mum' looking a bit overwhelmed with all the 'Big guys'! Ava is from the mayhew animal home trenmar Gardens London NW10 - I offer a place in the class free to a puppy or dog from a rescue home for one or two sessions.
The first class is always to assess the dogs and the 'owners' behaviour and to socialise the dogs with each other - all on leads - it is also important that owners discuss in a group their own 'views' on their dogs behaviour before we practice 'walking on the lead' together in pairs - and to show how to stop the dogs from pulling - using the 'block'.
It was a great group of dogs - and I look forward to next Saturday 's session - and I hope they do too!!
Its the first month of the new year and canine culture wishes every dog owner and of course their canines a great and exciting new year ahead.
So far this month though the snow was great for our doggy pals to enjoy running and playing with snowballs and racing up and down in the parks and woodland!! - it was not the ideal weather for 'puppy training'!! Walking on lead and teaching adventurous or nervous pups not to pull when you yourself are slipping and sliding on the icy pavements is NOT a trainers or owners ideal training session - and definitely not for the 'pup in training' - the best weather to sit and stay, when a warm fire and their favourite bed was waiting for them indoors!
So dog training classes and one to one sessions and assessments were put on hold until late January and Early February.
Firstly I wanted to observe how Alfie and Ken's owners reacted to their behaviour - everytime they saw another big dog approaching they would verbally 'reassure' their dogs and saying 'Be good boys' - and don't bark etc. - what they were doing was condoning their behaviour - my training method is to use verbal or 'food' reward to praise a dog when they have done something to earn it only.
I walked Alfie by my side and when he went to Bark I ignored him - stopped with the lead turned his head round to the side and immediately he stopped I verbally praised him 'Good Boy' and after a few stops - turns and 'good boys' he was walking more confident but without the barking and as for Ken he trotted by his owners side with not so much as a 'squeak'. Giving both owners doggy homework - for the next seven days - and then for our next session - food guarding!
One of my other clients is Bella a chocolate labrador four months old - such a good student until that labrador's stubborn trait appears!! Perfect sit and stay - recall - its still a game of hide and seek for her owner - still early days. 'How do you do it Crissie - she comes straight to you - but not to me' her young owner cries - practice and patience and making yourself exciting and the main focus of your dog!! Back next monday for another training session with my canine 'peter pan'.
2012 was a year of - protesting for the end of a law that is NOT in touch with reality and judges the 'breed NOT the deed' - The BSL which condemns a 'bull breed' for what he looks like THAN whether he or she has committed any 'Deed' that comes under the Dangerous Dog Act or not!! We said good bye to Lennox on 11th July 2012 after he spent two years in captivity - imprisoned in kennels - with Victoria Stilwell and Roger Mumford amongst Lennox's supporters from around the world. RIP Lennox we are still fighting The authorities of Belfast for JUSTICE for you and your family!
I met Peter Egan, Sarah Fisher Anthony Head - but best of all were all those Dedicated and Inspiring EndBSL supporters who came out in rain or shine to the Peaceful Protest in Westminster to spread the word - End BSL Now.
In 2012 I continued by dog socialising classes in the Harrow Road Ward, Queens Park Ward and the wards in South Westminster - promoting responsible dog ownership and socialising both dogs and owners. I attended with Missy Blue my jack russell cross in local educational events with school children in libraries and schools about 'Being safe and secure around dogs'. Held four dog shows featuring 'I luv my staffie' Ms Diva, Mr Slick and other categories.
2012 we petitioned for Anna the Elephant abused and kept in captivity for years to be freed and she now knows the safety and protection of a sanctuary where she tasted the joy of freedom. Along with Brian May we stopped (for now) the culling of badgers in UK and will continue our fight into 2013.
Mozart, Buttons, Clash and Betty and Sebastian - felines abandoned on the streets of london got homes - Betty the tabby going as far as Gloucester!
Cuba a blue staffordshire bull terrier was found after a massive united facebook appeal and reunited with her family. Ruth a 'cruelty case' found her dream home after a long wait - www.mayhewanimalhome.org.uk never gave up on her. Missy and Bru two romanian dogs found their forever home with my amazing friend Lynda Bryan and also I met the True K-9Angels - three glamourous ladies that work so hard for the animals in Romania, Thailand and other countries were their is no support or animal care for the strays. Many of us campaigned and tried to find homes not only for the poundies who have only 7 days to be rescued or reunited before they are euthanized - in UK but for dogs and cats in USA that were on Death Row. Maria Daines, Marsha Jones, Nicola, Lynda, Laura, Gary Kaufman, Sharon, Paul - Natasha Mason - Vicki - Coleen - AnnMarie - So many Animal Angels to thank for their commitment - dedication and Never giving up.
Sadly we lost some beautiful feline and canine pals - Handsome Gentleman Dizzy - Magnificent Khan - Lovable Mutley a staffie I homed with a great family over ten years ago. Sweet Polo a little cat rescued from a hoarder who had over 150 cats and also Pookie. Georgie a little terrier, Tiny Jessie a little yorkie rescued from abuse. Louise's little Angel - May you and all the animals that died that could not be saved. May you all run free - free from Pain.
May I wish everyone a happy new year and pledge to continue to fight for The welfare and protection of all animals, and to educate the uninformed - make laws harsher for the abusers NOT the victims. | 2019-04-20T18:16:43Z | http://canineculture.blogspot.com/2013/ |
The landscape is everything an observer, whether still or in motion, can see. The landscape as a work of individual art is any garden or space designed, developed, and maintained for the private experience of an individual or family, a space not accessible to others either physically or visually. The landscape as a work of collective art is everything beyond this private range: everything seen beyond the confines of private gardens or estates, all borrowed landscapes, all streetscapes, all city, metropolitan, and regional landscapes, and their accumulation in national, continental, and world landscapes. This collective art may be good or bad depending on whether it results from the accidental accumulation of individual and conflicting efforts or from controlled and planned efforts.
The history of landscape design is largely the history of landscape as a work of private, individual art. Plazas (structural public open spaces not dominated by foliage), throughout Classical, medieval, and Renaissance history, were the concessions of the ruling class to the need for public meeting places, but it was not until Central Park was developed in New York City in the mid-19th century that this need reached the level of designed public green spaces. During most of its history, landscape design was of three kinds: private utilitarian farms and gardens; private gardens in which the enhancement of the quality of living was paramount; and private gardens designed to express the power and benevolence of the ruling or upper classes. The expansion in scale of private gardens beyond the needs of private living led, inexorably, first to the dedication of such spaces to public use and then to the development of public gardens and parks designed for public use.
The private garden, however, has remained the centre for private fantasy and a means of escape from the grinding and difficult world of reality. The most important aspect of the private garden is its seclusion: from the physical world, by means of distance and enclosure; from the social world, by separation and exclusion. Space and greenery are also important. The space may be very small, perhaps a tiny courtyard, and greenery limited to one or two plants, but these make possible that private world of fantasy that may make the difference between sanity and lunacy. The 20th-century mass migration to the suburbs was the latest expression of this need.
Generally, the private garden occupies a space somewhere between 20 feet (6 metres) square and one-quarter of an acre (100 feet square). The forms of private gardens range from the formalism of pure geometry or the artistic representation of natural processes through the variations of standard gardening techniques and the informalism of letting nature take its course to various manifestations of literary, poetic, historic, and subjective concepts.
When housing moves from single-family detached buildings on private lots to higher-density variations—duplexes, semidetached villas, town houses, clusters, condominiums, low- and high-rise apartments—new relationships develop. As population density increases, private design shrinks and public design increases. Somewhere between the extremes of the single-family dwelling with minimum public space and the high-rise apartment with minimum private space, there is an optimum relationship in which real needs can be expressed. Perhaps the best potential lies in town house, cluster house, and condominium developments in which there is a flexible relationship between public and private elements.
Because of fixation on the notion that the original resource of land and landscape, continuous from sea to shining sea, is best organized for private or public use by gridiron subdivision into innumerable separate parcels, public landscape design begins at the level of single buildings on single lots, with front yards and backyards. The buildings may be government offices, quasi-public companies, or private corporations, but all tend to be designed in terms of public and private spaces, as though they were private residences for the groups involved.
Campus design begins when publicly accessible buildings grow into complexes of two or more, for religious, commercial, industrial, governmental, or educational use. Instead of or in addition to simple front-yard and backyard design, there are more complex systems of spaces between buildings, which vary from courtyards and quadrangles of varying forms and dimensions to passageways connecting them in varying widths and degrees of overhead coverage. The open spaces range in character from paved architectural courtyards and cloisters to open playing fields and parklike spaces. Campus design makes possible the richest, most complex, and rewarding range of relationships between architectural and landscape design. Perhaps the best examples, in which the sequential experience of indoor and outdoor space approaches the maximum, are the religious, educational, and civic complexes of Europe, developed before the idea of gridiron subdivision fragmented environmental design. In China and Japan there are many highly refined and sophisticated temple, shrine, palace, and castle complexes. There are also many fine examples in the United States of similar institutions that have transcended or resisted subdivision.
In the broader area of urban design, landscape architecture deals with such open-space components as public gardens, parks and playgrounds, plazas, squares, and malls. In these urban spaces, the designer attempts to meet the need for community, for play and recreation, for refreshment and relaxation, for individual withdrawal in a gregarious atmosphere.
Towns, cities, and metropolitan areas may be said to have three basic components: buildings, designed by architects or builders; open spaces, designed by landscape architects or technicians; and circulation-utility corridors—street, highway, railway, and rapid-transit systems—which are usually planned and designed by engineers.
The basic structure of urban areas consists of the open spaces together with corridors comprising a total open-space system, defined by and connecting the buildings. The corridors have usually been considered merely a utilitarian framework, connecting and servicing buildings and quality open spaces, channelling traffic and utilities throughout urban areas, and connecting them with the open country around. Modern urban thinking has begun to go beyond this concept, to see the total open-space system as the major qualitative structure of the city, which, when viewed in conjunction with overall building design, is seen to establish the city’s basic character.
From this point of view the role of landscape architecture, once limited to tasteful planting of corridors designed by engineers, begins to expand. Some urban planners would expand it even further, believing that open-space corridors should be designed throughout primarily as social spaces for people and only secondarily as utilitarian passages for vehicles.
Commemorative sites—cemeteries, historic spots, battlefields—are important because they memorialize and symbolize important events in personal, local, national, or world history. Wherever they occur, these sites or areas are marked with stone or bronze memorials and often dramatized with more elaborate developments. The designs tend to follow traditional and conservative precedents, often impressive but seldom imaginative. It is still difficult to equal Asplund’s Forest Crematorium (1940) in Stockholm or the Fosse Ardeatine memorial in Rome.
The earliest surviving detailed garden plan, dating from about 1400 bce, is of a garden belonging to an Egyptian high court official at Thebes. The main entrance is aligned on a pergola (trellis-bordered) walk of vines leading directly to the dwelling. The rest of the garden is laid out with tree-lined avenues, four rectangular ponds containing waterfowl, and two garden pavilions. Although rigidly symmetrical, the garden is divided into self-contained walled enclosures, so that the symmetry of the whole could not have been apparent to the viewer. Such a highly developed pattern argues a considerable incubation period, and it is likely that similar enclosed pleasure gardens had been designed as early as 2800 bce.
The gardens of Assyria, Babylon, and Persia were of three kinds: large, enclosed game reserves, like the garden of Eden described in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament); pleasure gardens, which were essentially places where shade and cool water could be privately enjoyed; and sacred enclosures rising in man-made terraces, planted with trees and shrubs, forming an artificial hill such as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
The urban life of ancient Greece led to houses built around central private courtyards. Lined with colonnades that gave access to the rooms of the house, the courtyard, or peristyle, was open to the sky and insulated from the street. In the peristyle was a garden consisting of a water supply and potted plants. Much of life, however, was lived in public. The sports grounds, where exercise was taken, became popular gathering places and developed into the original academy and lyceum, which included the exercise ground, seats for spectators, porticoes for bad weather, statues of honored athletes, and groves of shade trees. These public recreation grounds set the type for the later Classical Roman villa garden and the 19th-century European public park. A third type of Greek garden was the sacred landscape, such as the Vale of Tempe or the mountain sanctuary of Delphi.
The relatively austere Greek taste was transformed in the Hellenistic Age (c. 323–30 bce) by the influence of the East. Luxurious pleasure grounds were made, especially at colonies such as Alexandria and Syracuse. These gardens were conspicuously luxurious in their display of precious materials and artificial in their use of hydraulic automata.
Roman gardens derived from the Greek, those in the seaside resorts of Pompeii and Herculaneum (1st century bce) following the Hellenistic pattern. These small, enclosed town gardens were visually extended by landscapes painted on the walls. Throughout the imperial period, the more ambitious villa gardens flourished in many forms on sites carefully chosen for climate and aspect.
The most elaborate was that of Nero’s Golden House, which covered more than 300 acres (120 hectares) in the middle of Rome and included an artificial lake (where the Colosseum now stands) and a pastoral landscape of plowland, vineyard, pasture, and wood. More influential in later times was the vast garden complex of Hadrian’s Villa, of which extensive ruins can still be found near Tivoli.
The barbarian invasions of the 4th and 5th centuries ce destroyed Roman civilization and with it the gardens of western Europe. The Eastern Empire, centred on Constantinople, retained its hold on Greece and much of Asia Minor for another millennium, and Byzantine gardens persisted in the Hellenistic tradition, laying more emphasis on wonder-provoking apparatus than on aesthetic values. A recurrent feature of these gardens was a tree of gold or silver equipped with birds that flapped their wings and sang and branches that sprayed wine or perfume.
Beginning in the 7th century, the Arabs progressively captured much of western Asia, Egypt, the whole of the North African coast, and Spain. In the process, they spread features of Persian and Byzantine gardens across the Mediterranean as far as the Iberian Peninsula. Most characteristic of these gardens was the use of water—the ultimate luxury to desert dwellers, who appreciated it not only because it allowed plants to grow but also because it cooled the air and gratified the ear with the sound of its movement. It was commonly used in regularly shaped, often rectangular, pools. The water was kept moving by simply designed fountains and was fed by narrow canals resembling agricultural irrigation channels. Because water was rarely abundant, the pools were shallow but increased in apparent depth by a blue tile lining.
These pools of water graced Islamic gardens—such as those of the Alhambra in Granada—that resembled the Hellenistic colonnaded courtyard. The gardens provided shade, excluded hot winds, and created the sense of being in a jewelled private world. Water mirroring the sky gave an impression of spaciousness and introduced lightness, brightness, and an air of unreality. In the Moorish Caliphate of Córdoba in Spain, in the valley of the Guadalquivir, there were said to have been 50,000 villas, all of which probably had such garden courts.
The greatest period of garden making in the Islamic world was the 14th century. In the vicinity of the conqueror Timur Lenk’s capital of Samarkand, the names of 11 royal gardens are recorded, and there were probably others belonging to his nobles. Whereas gardens of the Alhambra type were architecturally conceived within the total plan of a building, some of the more extensive Timurid gardens and their derivatives, the Mughal gardens of India, were pleasances of water, meadow, trees, and flowers, in which buildings took a subordinate place. Although these garden buildings were permanent, their subordinate role and the lightness and luxuriating frivolity of their design mark them as heirs of the casually positioned tents seasonally erected in hunting parks. There were also gardens of strictly architectural design—huge walled enclosures with corner towers, a central palace, regularly disposed avenues, and tanks of water. Deer and pheasants were kept in these gardens, which combined the quality of hunting park and of hortus conclusus, or closed garden. Trees were planted sometimes in regular quincuncial patterns (one in the middle and one at each corner of a square or rectangle) but more often freely. In all types of Islamic gardens, flowers were lavishly used. Their presence was even simulated in garden carpets and in the woven hangings that were used as temporary screens.
Influential on later Western practice were the parks made by the Saracen emirs of Sicily. The Normans who conquered the Saracens in the 11th century adopted the manner of life of those they had overthrown, and thus the emirs’ gardens survived their makers. A large area of the Conca d’Oro, the great natural amphitheatre behind Palermo, was taken up with pleasure grounds—walled enclosures large enough to contain woods and hills, canals, artificial lakes, groves of oranges and lemons, fountains, water stairways, and wild creatures running free.
In Europe beyond the limits of the Islamic conquest, the destruction of civilized society by the barbarian tribes had been nearly complete, but the physical remains of the past shaped the reviving future: the peristyle gardens of Roman villas became the cloisters of Christian basilicas. Security and leisure existed only in the monastic system, which also preserved some of the traditional skills of cultivation. For some time the only type of garden was the cloister, with its well, herbs, potted plants, and shaded walk. Then secular gardens began to appear, but they were usually of limited extent, confined within the fortifications of a castle and often raised well above ground level on a battlemented turret. These gardens were rectangular, with the traditional division into four parts by paths, the quarters again subdivided according to the amount of ground available and the convenience of cultivation. At the point of principal intersection was a well, which, when elaborated, became the vertical feature of the garden. Seats—often of turf—were constructed in the walls. Many flowers were grown, but their season was short; after June and often earlier, the beds were flowerless. More extensive and elaborate gardens were rare.
In 13th-century Italy, through the influence of the Holy Roman emperor Frederick II, who had spent much of his youth in Sicily, the example of the Saracen emirs was felt in Apulia and Naples. The Triumph of Death, painted by the Florentine artist Andrea Orcagna (Pisa, Campo Santo), shows a garden of considerably greater extent than the cloister or battlement type. Gardens like this existed also in Lombardy, where the court of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, the founder of the great walled park of Pavia, cultivated the arts of civilized life. In describing the Royal Gardens at Naples, the writer and poet Giovanni Boccaccio speaks of statues disposed regularly around a lawn, interspersed with marble seats. Such a garden suggests that Frederick II’s classicizing influence extended into the mid-14th century. Also significant was the garden of Hesdin in Picardy, which became famous throughout France for its automata and water tricks. It was made by a Crusader who, having returned to France by way of Palermo in 1270, no doubt incorporated in his garden what he had seen of Saracenic gardens there and in Syria. Hesdin was an exotic creation without parallel in its northerly location for several centuries.
The increasing prosperity of western Europe and the increasing confidence in humankind’s capacity to impose order on the external world was reflected in the gardens of Italy by the mid-15th century. The change began near Florence, where the old medieval enclosures began to open up. The rectangles, which had been dissociated, were now sited one behind the other, thus prolonging the main axis, which was now aligned on the centre of the dwelling. This change inevitably introduced the idea that house and garden were a coherent, complementary whole. And, because villas were increasingly sited for amenity rather than defense, gardens became less enclosed, more susceptible first to visual, then to actual extension.
The unity of house and garden, together with the need for physical adjustment to the sloping sites favoured by Classical precedent, threw the planning of the new Renaissance garden into the hands of architects. Most influential was the garden courtyard designed by Donato Bramante at the Vatican to link the papal palace with the Villa Belvedere; the uneven site and the disparity in bulk of the two buildings was overcome with terraces and stairways. It remained an enclosed garden but one far removed from the earlier cloistral courtyards. The garden of the Belvedere combined the function of an open-air room with that of an outdoor sculpture gallery.
The ingredients of the Renaissance garden thus separately established were united in varying proportions. The typical evolved garden of the period was characterized by some openness of aspect, axial development, a tendency to prolongation, unity of concept between house and garden emphasized by a considerable “built” element of stone, lavish employment of statuary (often in the form of fountains), and the proliferation of such Classical accents as grottoes, nymphaea (Roman buildings with a fountain, plants, and sculpture), urns, and inscriptions. There is no adequate evidence that this type of garden had an exact equivalent in the Classical period, although there is evidence that each of its elements existed.
The variation in style among Italian gardens is considerable and is due to not only the date they were made, the exigencies of the site, and regional variation but also their social function. The scale of the garden compartments at the back of the Villa Gamberaia at Settignano (1610), for example, is small in contrast with the extensive view over Florence from the front and thus suggests intimate use by members of a small household. The more extensive parterre garden (an ornamental garden with paths between the beds) of the Villa Lante at Bagnaia (begun 1564) is designed neither for solitary enjoyment nor for a crowd but for a select, discerning company—as is the garden of the far more splendid Villa Farnese at Caprarola (completed 1587). The most remarkable mid-16th-century garden, that of the Villa d’Este at Tivoli (1550), is situated on a steep slope of the Sabine hills. The river that plunges down this slope is harnessed to an astonishing variety of fountains, including a “water organ.” Although the garden is designed around a central axis, the stream is not used centrally but is led about the garden in order to take maximum advantage of its force. Unlike the less copious stream of the Villa Lante garden, which quietly emphasizes the central axis, the Tivoli stream is ostentatious. The Villa d’Este is, in fact, a spectacular permanent theatrical performance meant to astonish and impress the multitude. A different impression is given by the Boboli Gardens of the Pitti Palace at Florence (1550). Though, like the Villa d’Este gardens, they were designed for a crowd—specifically, for state functions—they are not dramatic in themselves. Unless used ceremonially, they are lifeless and arid. The ruined garden associated with, though detached from, the Orsini Castle at Bomarzo is a remarkable aberration probably influenced by accounts of visits to the Far East by a locally born traveller, Biagio Sinibaldi. Its original layout consisted of a grove in which were concealed the stone giants and strange monsters that now astonish visitors.
Flowers were extensively used in most Italian gardens, but because of the shortness of their season they could not be the principal feature. Beds were divided into decorative geometric compartments by trimmed herbs, rosemary, lavender, or box. In general, more emphasis was given to evergreens; ilex, cypress, laurel, and ivy gave shade and were an enduring contrast to stonework.
The French invasions of Italy in the last quarter of the 16th and first quarter of the 17th centuries introduced to France the idioms of the Italian garden. The first garden coordinated with a dwelling appeared at the château of Anet (1547–56) and was designed by the architect Philibert Delorme, but, despite its evident sophistication, it remained an inward-looking, essentially medieval garden. The first sign of prolongation and calculated extension of vision beyond the garden proper appeared in the grounds of Dampierre. There the moat that formerly surrounded French castles became an ornamental body of water on one side and a decorative canal on the other. Both aspects of the new garden design—coordination with the dwelling and extension along a central axis—were united at the château of Richelieu (1631) and later at Vaux-le-Vicomte (completed 1661), the château of Nicolas Fouquet, the minister of finance. On Fouquet’s fall in the mid-17th century, his team of artists—which included the landscape designer André Le Nôtre—was taken over by the young Louis XIV, and the gardens of Versailles were begun.
The French version of the Italian garden was created in the plain of north France, which largely conditioned the manner of its development. The array of steep terraces linked by stairways, which characterized the Villa d’Este and many others, was predominant in France only at Saint-Germain-en-Laye, where the steep site permitted it. Elsewhere, grandeur on the scale that competitive pride demanded was achieved by extraordinary extension: an axial development suggesting a domain coextensive with the world. The French 17th-century garden, a manifestation of Baroque taste, required variety as well as unlimited vista and achieved it with fountains, parterres, and lesser gardens disposed within the boscages (wooded enclosures) that flanked the central axis. These hidden gardens were the successors of the giardini segreti of the Italians but had a different function; they were not retreats for private contemplation or intimate conversation but the setting for ingenious theatrical entr’actes. Distinctively French was the unified and elaborate treatment of the compartmentalized garden beds, which the Italians had made in a variety of forms. These compartiments de broderie were arabesques, sometimes of box edging and flowers but more often of coloured stones and sand. The Persians had copied their flower gardens on carpets and taken them indoors, but the French laid out their grounds in the form of carpets. The French garden was marked by a ruthlessly logical extension of practices that had been empirically evolved in Italy.
French cultural dominance of Europe in the early 18th century led to an almost universal adoption of Versailles as the model for palatial gardens. Even at Naples, where the gardens of Poggio Reale had astonished the invading French in the late 15th century, a vast layout inspired by the axial extent of Versailles was developed at Caserta, and, as far away as Peter the Great’s Peterhof in Russia, a pseudo-Versailles was laid out by the French gardener Jean-Baptiste-Alexandre Le Blond. Impressive exercises in the same manner were carried out in Germany and Austria. In Holland also, the example of the French garden was irresistible, although local conditions and national temperament led to regional variation. Because Dutch canals were busy highways, they generally flanked gardens rather than constituted the main axis. No luxury in Holland, water was less extravagantly used than in drier, hotter climates. Moreover, fountains were less common because the absence of high ground required that they be power-driven. Because stone was scarce, terraces were usually held by turf banks rather than by retaining walls, and sculpture was often of lead. Another sculpture typical of the Dutch garden was topiary: trees and shrubs were trained, cut, and trimmed into sculptural, ornamental shapes. Social conditions made the extension of a geometric garden easy, for a man-made landscape already existed in the intensively cultivated Netherlands. In Spain, aridity as well as Islamic tradition perpetuated the patio garden, a room of air and shade in the Greek peristyle tradition. Although a famous layout in the French style was made on high ground at La Granja, where the cooler air and ample water made it acceptable, the Classical extension garden remained basically alien to the Iberian Peninsula.
The Italian pronouncement that “things planted should reflect the shape of things built” had ensured that gardens were essentially open-air buildings and the making of them the province of architects. Before the 18th century, geometric regularity had been applied in great details of design and in small. England was committed to a version of the French geometric extension garden but with an emphasis on English grass lawns and gravel walks. Whereas the typical French vista was along the main axis, with subordinate vistas at right angles to it, in the two most influential gardens in England, St. James’s and Hampton Court, the vistas sprang like the rays of the sun from a semicircle. With the accession of William and Mary (1689–1702), Dutch influence led to widespread use of topiaried yew and box.
In 18th-century England, people became increasingly aware of the natural world. Rather than imposing their man-made geometric order on the natural world, they began to adjust to it. Literary men, notably Alexander Pope and Joseph Addison, began to question the propriety of trees being carved into artificial shapes as substitutes for masonry and to advocate the restoration of free forms.
The man who led the revolt against the “artificial,” symmetrical garden style was the painter and architect William Kent, the factotum of Richard Boyle, 3rd earl of Burlington. Together, Burlington and Kent created at Chiswick House (1734) a garden with a meandering stream and an “irregular” path. As the writer Horatio Walpole put it, Kent’s “principle was that nature abhors a straight line.” The process of relaxing the garden’s architectural discipline advanced with speed. At Stowe, Buckinghamshire, the original enclosed geometrical garden was amended over the years until a totally different, “irregular” formality was achieved. Trees, for example, were allowed to assume their natural forms, and a large expanse of water was redesigned into two irregularly shaped lakes.
The contiguous ground of the park without the sunk fence was to be harmonized with the lawn within; and the garden in its turn was to be set free from its prime regularity, that it might assort with the wilder country without.
The face of the “country without” was altered by the rage that afflicted the English nobility for planting vast areas of trees. Much of England was covered with new parks, traversed by rides and avenues that primarily were conceived as visual extensions of the garden paths. The unification of park and garden was virtually completed by Lancelot (“Capability”) Brown (1715–83) by the simple expedient of making the garden into a park. “Capability” (so-called because he always spoke of a place as having “capabilities of improvement”) developed the current aesthetic that an undulating line was “natural” and that it was the “line of beauty” by using little statuary and few buildings and concentrating on designing landscapes according to nature’s harmonies and gradients. His landscapes consist of expanses of grass, irregularly shaped bodies of water, and trees placed singly and in clumps.
Although the adherents of the new English school of garden design were in agreement in their abhorrence of the straight, Classical line and the geometrically ordered garden, they did not agree on what the natural garden should be. Unlike Brown, for example, the taste for the romantic and the literary led many to seek inspiration in the dramatic and the bizarre, in the remote past, and in remote, exotic places. The Brownian style was strongly challenged, for example, by the “Picturesque” school, led by Sir Uvedale Price and the artist-parson William Gilpin, who argued, quite correctly, that the “naturalism” of the Brownians was no less unnatural than the geometric regularity of Le Nôtre’s Versailles and that sudden declivities, rocky chasms, and rotting tree trunks (all deliberately designed) were more proper for the natural garden than were enormous undulating meadows accented with tight clumps of thickly planted trees. Another school of opinion created what might be called the English garden of poetic bric-a-brac. The aim in this garden was to create an air of accident and surprise and to arouse varied sensations (solemnity, sublimity, terror) in the viewer—sensations evoked by associations with the remote in time and space. Wandering through the grounds, one came upon Classical statues, urns, and temples; Gothic ruins, ivy-covered and inhabited by owls; or Chinese pagodas and bridges. After Horatio Walpole recorded the first appearance of chinoiserie at Wroxton in 1753 (a garden no doubt laid out some years before), “Chinese” and Gothic details were featured, together with Classical temples, in most fashionable grounds.
By 1760 the enthusiasm for this style had diminished in England, but in continental Europe the poetic bric-a-brac garden (le jardin anglo-chinois, or le jardin anglais, as the French called it) was almost as widely emulated as Versailles had been. In Italy, for example, Renaissance gardens were destroyed to make way for the new fashion, as at the Villa Mansi near Lucca. In France the sculpted group Apollo Tended by the Nymphs was removed from the Classical Grotto of Thetis on the terrace of Versailles to a secluded boscage garden, where it was housed under ornamental “Turkish” tents; eventually it was moved from there to a simulated rocky cavern in the jardin anglais of the Petit Trianon. The jardin anglais was to be found even at Queluz in Portugal and in the Potsdam garden of Frederick the Great of Prussia.
Increasing world trade and travel brought to late 18th-century Europe a flood of exotic plants whose period of flowering greatly extended the potential season of the flower garden. Although the emphasis in Italian Renaissance gardens, in the Classical Baroque gardens of France, in the lawns and gravelled walks of 17th-century England, and in the Brownian park garden was upon design, they had rarely been totally without flowers. In most gardens flowers were grown, sometimes in great numbers and variety, but flower gardens in the modern sense were limited to cottages, to small town gardens, and to relatively small enclosures within larger gardens. The accessibility of new plants, together with avidity for new experience and a high-minded concern with natural science, not only gave renewed life to the flower garden but was the first step toward the evolution of the garden from work of art to museum of plants. A compromise between the new flower garden and the Brownian park was effected by Humphry Repton. He was largely responsible for popularizing the open terrace overlooking the park, which frankly admitted the different functions of park and garden and also emphasized their stylistic disharmony. The plant collectors’ garden, or “gardenesque” style, was most strongly advanced by J.C. Loudon in the mid-19th century. Loudon urged that garden making be taken out of the hands of the architect, the painter, and the cultivated dilettante and left to the professional plantsman.
The undiscerning use of the new palette that importation and plant breeding had made available was so patently an aesthetic disaster that by the end of the 19th century attempts were made to break its hold. The architect Sir Reginald Blomfield advocated a return to the formal garden, but to this, insofar as it required dressed stonework, there were economic objections. More successful and more in tune with the escapist needs of the increasing number of urban dwellers were the teaching and practice of William Robinson, who attacked both the old ceremonial garden and the collectors’ garden with equal vigour and preached that botany was a science, but gardening was an art. Under his leadership a more critical awareness was brought to the planning and planting of gardens. His own garden at Gravetye Manor demonstrated that plants look best where they grow best and that they should be allowed to develop their natural forms. Adapting Robinson’s principles, Gertrude Jekyll applied the cult of free forms over a substructure of concealed architectural regularity, bringing the art of the flower garden to its highest point.
In North America, where for a long time most men were preoccupied with making a world, not a garden, ornamental gardens were slow to take hold. In the gardens that did exist, the rectilinear style popular in late 17th- and early 18th-century Europe persisted well into the 18th century—perhaps because it met man’s psychological need to feel he could master a world that was still largely untamed. The town gardens of Williamsburg (begun in 1698) were typical of the Anglo-Dutch urban gardens that were being attacked everywhere in 18th-century Europe except Holland. And Belmont, in Pennsylvania, was laid out as late as the 1870s with mazes, topiary, and statues, in a style that would have been popular in England about two centuries before.
Although garden improvers set up in business in the United States, there is no evidence that they prospered until the 19th century, when one hears of André Parmentier, a Belgian, who worked on Hosack’s estate at Hyde Park and then of A.J. Downing, a successful protagonist of the gardenesque, who was succeeded by Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted (the latter the originator of the title and profession of landscape architect), the planners of Central Park (begun 1857) in New York City and of public parks throughout the country.
The eclecticism of the 19th century was universal in the Western world. Besides the gardens that were fundamentally Reptonian—that is, an attempted compromise between the Brownian park garden and the Loudonian flower garden—gardens of almost every conceivable style were copied; designing teams such as Sir Charles Barry, the architect, and William Eden Nesfield, the painter, in England, for example, produced Italianate parterres as well as winding paths through thickets.
A sense of history still played a part in 20th-century gardening. The desire to maintain and reproduce old gardens, such as the reconstruction of the 16th-century gardens of Villandry in France and the colonial gardens of Williamsburg in the United States, was not peculiarly modern (similar things were done in the 19th century), but, as humans increasingly need the reassurance of the past, the impulse may well continue. Attempts to create a distinctive modern idiom are rare. Gardens large by modern standards are still made, in styles that vary from a version of the grand early 18th-century manner at Anglesey Abbey in Cambridgeshire to an inflated Jekyllism crossed with gardenesque at Bodnant near Conway. An air either of controlled wilderness or of slightly run-to-seed orderliness is preferred. Modern public gardens, which have evolved from the large private gardens of the past, seek instant popular applause for the quantity and brightness of their flowers. In Brazil Roberto Burle Marx used tropical materials to give an air of contemporaneity to traditional modes of design. Gardens frequently reflect Japanese influence, particularly in America.
Most characteristic of the 20th century was functional planning, in which landscape architects concentrated upon the arrangement of open spaces surrounding factories, offices, communal dwellings, and arterial roads. The aim of such planning was to provide, at best, a satisfactory setting for the practical aspects of living. It was gardening only in the negative, “tidying up” sense, with little concern for the traditional garden purpose of awakening delight. So starved was the spirit of those living in heavily populated regions, however, that demands grew more insistent for gardening in the positive sense—for environmental planning with a chief goal not of facilitating economic activities but of refreshing the spirit.
Western gardens for many centuries were architectural, functioning as open-air rooms and demonstrating the Western insistence on physical control of the environment. Because of a different philosophical approach, Eastern gardens are of a totally different type.
China—which is to Eastern civilization what Egypt, Greece, and Rome are to Western—practiced at the beginning of its history an animist form of religion. The sky, mountains, seas, rivers, and rocks were thought to be the materialization of spirits who were regarded as fellow inhabitants in a crowded world. Such a belief emphasized the importance of good manners toward the world of nature as well as toward other individuals. Against this background, the Chinese philosopher Laozi taught the quietist philosophy of Daoism, which held that one should integrate oneself with the rhythms of life, Confucius preached moderation as a means of attaining spiritual calm, and the teaching of Buddha elevated the attainment of calm to a mystical plane.
Such a history of thought led the Chinese to take keen pleasure in the calm landscape of the remote countryside. Because of the physical difficulty of frequent visits to the sources of such delight, the Chinese recorded them in landscape paintings and made three-dimensional imitations of them near at hand. Their gardens were therefore representational, sometimes direct but more often by substitution, making use of similar means to recreate the emotions that choice natural landscapes evoked. The kind of landscape that appealed was generally of a balanced sort; for the Chinese had discovered the principle of complementary forms, of male and female, of upright and recumbent, rough and smooth, mountain and plain, rocks and water, from which the classic harmonies were created. The principle of scroll painting, whereby the landscape is exposed not in one but in a continual succession of views, was applied also in gardens, and grounds were arranged so that one passed pleasantly from viewpoint to viewpoint, each calculated to give a different pleasure appropriate to its situation. A refined and expectant aestheticism, which their philosophy had inculcated, taught the Chinese to ignore nothing that would prepare the mind for the reception of such experiences, and every turn of path and slope of ground was carefully calculated to induce the suitable attitude. As the garden was in effect a complex of linked, related, but distinct sensations, seats and shelters were situated at chosen spots so that the pleasures that had been meticulously prepared for could be quietly savoured. Kiosks and pavilions were built at places where the dawn could best be watched or where the moonlight shone on the water or where autumn foliage was seen to advantage or where the wind made music in the bamboos. Such gardens were intended not for displays of wealth and magnificence to impress the multitude but for the delectation of the owner, who felt his own character enhanced by his capacity for refined sensation and sensitive perception and who chose friends to share these pleasures with the same discernment as he had exercised in planning his garden.
Based on natural scenery, Chinese gardens avoided symmetry. Rather than dominating the landscape, the many buildings in the garden “grew up” as the land dictated. A fanciful variety of design, curving roof lines, and absence of walls on one or on all sides brought these structures into harmony with the trees around them. Sometimes they were given the rustic representational character of a fisherman’s hut or hermit’s retreat. Bridges were often copied from the most primitive rough timber or stone-slab raised pathways. Rocks gathered from great distances became a universal decorative feature, and a high connoisseurship developed in connection with their colour, shape, and placement.
Although the troubled 20th century largely destroyed the old gardens, paintings and detailed descriptions of them dating from the Song dynasty (960–1279 ce) reveal a remarkable historical consistency. Nearly all the characteristic features of the classic Chinese garden—man-made hills, carefully chosen and placed rocks, meanders and cascades of water, the island and the bridge—were present from the earliest times.
Chinese gardens were made known to the West by Marco Polo, who described the palace grounds of the last Song emperors, during whose reign the arts were at their most refined. Other accounts reached Europe from time to time but had little immediate effect except at Bomarzo, the Mannerist Italian garden that had no successors. In the 17th century the English diplomat and essayist Sir William Temple, sufficiently familiar with travelers’ tales to describe the Chinese principle of irregularity and hidden symmetry, helped prepare the English mind for the revolution in garden design of the second quarter of the 18th century. Chinese example was not the sole or the most important source of the new English garden, but the account of Father Attiret, a Jesuit at the Manchu (Qing) court, published in France in 1747 and in England five years later, promoted the use of Chinese ornament in such gardens as Kew and Wroxton and hastened the “irregularizing” of grounds. The famous Dissertation on Oriental Gardening by the English architect Sir William Chambers (1772) was a fanciful account intended to further the current revolt in England against the almost universal Brownian park garden.
Influence of the West on Chinese gardens was slight. Elaborate fountain works, Baroque garden pavilions, and mazes—all of which the Jesuits made for the imperial garden at Yuanmingyuan (“Garden of Pure Light”)—took no root in Chinese culture. Not until the 20th century did European regularity occasionally become evident near the Chinese dwelling; at the same time, improved Western hybrids of plant species that had originated in the East appeared in China.
Chinese culture permeated East Asia and, by way of Korea, infiltrated Japan. By the year 1000 ce Japan was already developing a distinctive national art best described as a stylized, ritualistic version of the Chinese. The typical early Japanese garden lay to the south of the dwelling and consisted of a narrow pond or lake orientated through its longer axis and containing an island. At the north end of the pond was an artificial hill from which a secondary stream descended in a cascade. These stereotyped gardens of the Heian period (794–1185 ce) show by their careful reproduction of magical detail that they derive from a single prototype—certainly Chinese. Variation entered only through the individual particularities of the site and the detailed handling of stones and trees.
Pond and moss-covered bridge, Katsura Imperial Gardens, Kyōto, Japan. William G. Froelich, Jr.
Creativity began to replace imitation in the Kamakura period (1192–1333). Although there were many subsidiary styles, gardens were broadly classified, according to terrain, as either hill or flat. The hill garden, consisting of hills and ponds, came to be associated with Mount Fuji, the mountain of ideal form. The flat garden represented a surface of water—lake or sea—with its adjacent shores and islands. Since the scale was so small—a heap of earth 30 feet (9 metres) high representing a mountain, a half-acre (0.2-hectare) pond an arm of the sea—the intention was to reproduce the spirit rather than the features of the chosen landscape. Association and symbolism thus played a major role in the creation and appreciation of these gardens.
The scaling down of landscapes to garden size was logically continued to the point where miniature gardens were made in trays as small as a foot square containing lakes, streams, islands, hills, bridges, garden houses, and real trees painstakingly cultivated to an appropriate scale. These small, portable gardens reflected the extreme of the picturesque tradition of Eastern gardening.
Two characteristic Japanese styles are the abstract garden and the tea garden. The most famous example of the former is the garden of the Ryōan-ji in Kyōto, where an area about the size of a tennis court is covered with raked sand and set with 15 stones divided into five groups. If anything is represented here, it is some rocky islets in a sea, but the appeal of the garden lies essentially in the charm of its relationships. The Japanese tea garden grew out of an esoteric ritual originated in China and connected with the taking of tea. The tea cult, which flourished from the 14th to the end of the 16th century, was calculated to instill humility, restraint, sensibility, and other cognate virtues. The gardens through which the guests approached the teahouse were governed by severe rules of design intended to create an appropriate spiritual atmosphere, such as the “lonely precincts of a secluded mountain shrine” or “a landscape in clouded moonlight, with a half-gloom between the trees” or any mood “in harmony with the spirit of tea.” Even the precise number and arrangement of nails in the teahouse door were specified.
The Japanese fondness for systematization led them to classify garden treatment as well as subject. Three standard treatments were recognized: the elaborate, the moderate, and the modest. Once the degree of finish was determined, certain rules were followed to preserve consistency. The Daoist doctrine of complementary forms was at the root of much Japanese design, but the cult of stones is also central to Japanese gardening. The nine stones, five standing and four recumbent, used in Buddhist gardens were symbols of the nine spirits of the Buddhist pantheon; the shapes and postures chosen were presumed to have a relationship with the character and history of the persons represented. Sacred associations played a part in profane gardens as well. It was regarded as inauspicious, for example, if three stones—the Guardian Stone, the Stone of Adoration, and the Stone of the Two Deities (or the Stone of Completeness)—were not present. In addition to the sacred symbols, a whole armoury of poetic associations and symbols grew up, and stones, according to their shape and use, acquired such names as Torrent-Breaking Stone, Recumbent Ox Stone, Propitious Cloud Stone, and Seagull-Resting Stone. Beyond what they represented, stones were part of an aesthetic design and had to be placed so that their positions appeared natural and their relationships harmonious. The concentration of the interest on such detail as the shape of a rock or the moss on a stone lantern led at times to an overemphatic picturesqueness and an accumulation of minor features that, to Western eyes accustomed to a more general survey, may seem cluttered and restless. Nevertheless, Japanese gardening has had and continues to have an influence on the gardens of the West, particularly in the United States. The influence appears not so much in direct imitation of Japanese themes as in the selection and presentation of detail.
The influence of Chinese culture throughout the East was such that other indigenous cultures usually succumbed to it, but India was an exception. Western garden styles were introduced into northern India first through contact with Iranian culture, then by the invasion of Alexander the Great and the subsequent Hellenistic influence, and, finally, by the invading Mughals, who introduced the Islamic garden.
In southern India and in Sri Lanka elaborate gardens existed before the birth of the Buddha (c. 6th–4th century bce). Beneath a tree in such a garden—containing baths, lotus-covered pools, trees, and beds of flowers—the Buddha himself was said to have been born. Anciently worshipped by the Hindus, trees thus acquired an additional sanctity. Buddhist temples were associated with gardens whose purpose was to promote contemplation and whose preferred sites were therefore away from cities.
The African cultures beyond European and Asiatic influence did not evolve pleasure gardens, although in their more-settled societies a beginning had perhaps been made. Nor is more than a love of flowers and a casual cultivation of decorative plants recorded of the Oceanic peoples. But of the Aztecs of Mexico and the Incas of Peru, the conquistadores reported elaborate gardens with terraced hills, groves, fountains, and ornamental ponds that were essentially royal pleasure grounds, reflecting a need for private solace and public display not unlike contemporary gardens in the West. | 2019-04-25T06:59:33Z | https://www.britannica.com/art/garden-and-landscape-design/Kinds-of-design |
Lightning dances upon the mountain top, swirling through the trees like a drunken reveler careening from partner to partner. Thunder, the ancient god of war, explodes all around, bursting into nooks and crannies, filling the air with dread.
This may well have been the last full blown thunderstorm storm of the season, and Mother Nature wanted me to remember her wrath. She wants it to haunt me through the sparkling, jewelled shades of her autumn. She wants me to think of it whenever I see the delicate snowflakes of winter and the fragile blooms of spring. She wants me to remember. I won’t forget.
This morning, the sky looks autumnal, and the last of the cold front may fire up again later this afternoon, but this was the season-changing weather I'd been waiting for. It wouldn't have needed to arrive with such a bang, but the cabin and the dogs and the cats and I survived. I had over 2" of rain in less than an hour. Wind roared through. The cabin was pelted with--was that hail? No, actually, it wasn't hail. It was the huge, fat acorns the oak trees produced this year hitting the side of the cabin as they were ripped from the trees. I don't think they cracked any of my windows, but I will need to check on that to be sure. The cats hid under the sofa and the bed. Dog dogged my heels all evening. If I stopped, he ran into me. If I turned around, I stepped on him. Baby Dog slept through it all.
I dodged downed limbs and branches as I drove from the cabin this morning. Leaves are thick on the road, if not precisely yet a carpet. Yellow is soon going to be the predominant color around me. The color change seems to have moved forward overnight by leaps and bounds. The odd thing is that I'm finding trees where the right half is red or yellow and the left half still green. The change isn't showing up tree by tree, it's more like branch by branch. I'm starting to take a few photos of that, and I will start posting some of these half-changed trees soon.
When it comes to wildflowers, I seem to have an unerring eye. If it’s pretty and attracts my eye, it turns out to an invasive species. Today’s pretty blue flower turns out to be no exception to that rule. It’s an Asiatic dayflower, and I found it along the edge of the forest, along a seasonal stream. Dayflowers really do last just a day, disintegrating into a gelatinous mass after their single day in the sun. Part of the reason for this flower’s appearance in places where I wouldn’t expect to find invasive species is that the plant is quite resistant to herbicides, including Roundup. Apparently, it especially likes no-till corn and soybean fields, which may explain its original source in my area, though it can be found pretty much anywhere from Texas east.
One of these days, if I ever have the time, I should do a detailed inventory of every plant I can find around the cabin. I would be interested to learn how many species eventually turn out to be invasive or introduced, though I’m afraid the answer to that question would only depress me.
I'm still waiting for the promised cold front to arrive. This is the cold front that was originally predicted to arrive Monday night. Now it's supposed to get here on Friday. I'm at the point where I'll believe it when I see it, though the sun was red this morning, which at least suggests stormy weather ahead. I am desperate for fall.
It's still quiet here at Roundtop, though Baby Dog has a way of making her own excitement. This morning she found a toad to chase and better still, a dead groundhog that in her mind was a Big, Hairy Monster.
Groundhogs are something of a pest around the ski slopes. I don't mind them as much as Roundtop's staff seems to, but I can sympathize to a degree. One groundhog took up residence in a hole it excavated next to a storm water run-off grate. I'm not sure how the hog accomplished this since the grate is at the edge of a paved road, but somehow it did, creating a prairie dog-like exit hole and mound at the edge of the parking lot. Obviously, this location could cause problems for any number of legitimate reasons.
Baby Dog has had to investigate both these particular holes every morning all summer as we walk out to the main road for our newspaper. Sometimes she even freezes on point like a hunting dog. Removing that hog seems a matter of safety, though when it comes to most of the rest of them, I'm willing to let them alone. Roundtop seems to disagree and routinely tries to eliminate them, without much long-term evidence of success.
So it wasn't really a surprise when we came across one that been killed and then tossed into what should have been an out of the way spot, though nothing is really out of the way for Baby Dog. All I can say is that it's a good thing we don't live in a town or with close neighbors. Baby Dog saw that dead groundhog, and at 5:46 in the a.m. let out a howl and a roar that could have qualified her as the lead in the Hound of the Baskervilles. Her cry of outrage was likely heard in the next county. Truthfully, it never occurred to me that so much noise could come out of one little dog. It was a long, deep keening kind of sound that made me jump so that I nearly dropped the leash. It was a noise that should have come out of an animal three times her size.
Animals and birds that were still asleep suddenly stampeded in all directions away from us, which frankly only added to the din.
Did I say there was no excitement around here at the moment? The next time I get bored, I'll just remember to bring Baby Dog along with me. The quiet won't last very long.
Perhaps I’m just geared higher than I thought I was, but I’m not getting much in the way of stimulation from the forest environs right now. The march to fall and cool weather seems to have come to a full stop. I’m not finding new migrants or new signs of color change or much in the way of new things at all.
I’m in need of something new to focus on, and I haven’t found it yet. I like to turn things around in my mind, look at things from all angles, wonder about where it came from or where it’s going. Can I turn it inside out? Can I shake it and see what happens?
When I can’t find that something new to entertain or entrance me, I’m as restless as someone in need of a drug fix. And that’s how I feel at the moment. I wander as deeply into the woods as early darkness permits, hoping to notice something different or interesting to grab my attention—to no avail, I’m sorry to say.
The fault, I know, is not in the woods or in the weather, but in myself. Dog and Baby Dog eye me suspiciously from the couch—feet hanging off the ends, heads pillowed on the arms. They are smart enough to know when to run and when to relax. I do not seem to be able to adapt to the quiet around me at the moment. Perhaps it is just the restlessness of a changing season, this disquiet I feel as I am surrounded by quiet. The dogs handle it better than I do, a sad commentary on human activity if ever there was one.
The progress of the fall season has slowed to a glacial crawl--not today's glacial speed, but the speed at which glaciers used to move. At Roundtop, even the wind is calm, giving spiders leave to build their webs between two blades of grass. Surely, the tiniest breeze would spell disaster for this web, but it has survived now for at least a week. The fish, however, have been eyeing it hungrily.
I think the animals around me are in a holding pattern too. Usually, the white-tailed deer are at least beginning their annual rut. It's common to see them, sometimes by the dozens, in the fields at dusk. When the rut is really in full swing, driving after dark is hazardous. Many are killed, and many cars are damaged. This year, I am not yet seeing that congregation or deer nor the chasing around that follows it. And yet, I continue to see Roundtop's deer nearly every early morning, as they travel down to one or the other of the ponds an hour before dawn.
South-bound migration of birds also seems to have stalled, birds lulled perhaps by the calm weather or perhaps simply by the lack of a tailwind to help them travel.
This September is not unusual in some respects--the weather alternates between above and below normal daytime temperatures. For the new few days, above normal temperatures will prevail. What seems unusual is that even when the daytime temperatures are at or below normal levels, the nighttime temperature stays warmer than normal. Is that how global warming will work in the temperature zones? Is that why it doesn't seem real to some people? If the daytime temperatures were 5 degrees above normal all the time, it would be harder to ignore, I think.
Every so often I walk up one of the slopes at Roundtop, as I like the open views, especially after living at the cabin, where a view of 15 feet is about all I get in the summer.
I took this shot on Tuesday from the top of one of the bunny (the smaller) slopes, and as you can see, nothing much in the way of fall color change is yet evident. That surprised me a little, as the forest understory is starting to be quite yellow and more than a bit withered. I'm hoping to make the trip up one of the slopes each week, weather permitting, to see how the colors change from week to week.
The current state of the season is that it switches from fall to late summer and back to fall again every other day or so. Shifts of in temperature of 20 degrees and more from day to evening seem to be the norm. I can start the day with a light sweater and by the end of it, I'm wearing a sleeveless shirt. Or, sometimes it goes the other way--starting in short-sleeves only to have the temperature take a dive within 8-10 hours so that I end up needing a sweat shirt. Windows open, windows closed--it's a guessing game where I always lose.
My slightly "off" photo this morning is of a little Carolina wren sitting on my deck railing. The photo is a little lacking in clarity as it was taken through double-paned and a not too clean glass window. This little cutie has decided the bird feeder that’s only a few feet away is his and no one else’s. So he’s guarding the feeder. Despite his best efforts, the other birds pretty much ignore him, though the littlest ones—like the chickadees—will move away momentarily.
This morning I awoke earlier than I usually do and got up anyway so I could take Dog and Baby Dog for a longer walk. The Milky Way was high overhead and spectacular. The Great Warrior Orion, trailed by his faithful hound, dominated the sky that seemed to hold hundreds more stars than is normal.
September is a month here when the humidity drops, the haze of summer dissipates, and the result is often days and days of spectacular clarity. And so it has been this year. Sometimes it feels as though each day is more beautiful than the one before it. The sky is cloudless and already turning a deeper blue than it was just a few weeks ago. This is partly because of the lower humidity but partly also from the lowering angle of the sun across the sky.
In some years September can be rainy, and so these warm and gloriously clear days never materialize. Not this year. Nature is putting on one her best shows. Don't miss it.
Late note: The Game Commission reports that the birds found dead along the Susquehanna River two weeks ago died of starvation and exposure. None of the birds tested had any food in their crops or gizzards. The weather had been cold, foggy and rainy for 8-9 days before the birds were found dead. At the time, reports suggested other birds--like waterfowl and shorebirds--were also reported dead, but none of these reports resulted in finding samples to submit for testing.
I have nothing but excuses, really, for why it has been so long since I've walked the old road that runs in the valley between Roundtop Mtn. and Nell's Hill. It has been too hot, too wet, I haven't had enough time-- the list could be longer but they are all still excuses.
Yesterday, I finally put my excuses behind me and headed off the mountain and down into the valley. This pond is the first thing I see when I get to the bottom. The sky, as you can see, was perfectly clear, a perfect September day. The quiet, except for blue jays who were outraged with my presence, was as deep and still as the pond. The trail through the valley is not long or particularly difficult. The woods are dark, and even in early afternoon, as my walk was, photography is difficult and not altogether satisfying. In some ways, taking photos down here is easier in winter, though there is often less then to take photos of. The winter light, at least, is better throughout.
The stream that splits the valley was running faster than I expected to find it. The summer and the past few weeks have been dry. In some years the stream has gone almost completely dry, and even when that doesn't happen, it isn't unusual for it to run slowly in between its deep pools.
On this walk, I saw no wildlife--other than the outraged blue jays. So I was alone with the quiet of the woods on a windless day. Likely I was watched by forest residents that I didn't see.
Now, I am angry with myself for not making this walk more often this summer. I have taken this spot and this walk for granted, and that is something I should never allow to happen. Life takes turns that we never expect, and I should not assume that either the forest or my own health will be there forever. I should enjoy both while I have them and take advantage of a cloudless sky wherever and whenever I find it.
September is a good month for a lot of things beside bird migration. Today's photo is two stacks of (I think) ringless honey mushrooms. These mushrooms are found along the east coast, often around oak trees. September is the month when I find the most interesting-looking mushrooms here on the mountain. I rarely see the same ones from year to year, so that alone makes finding them fun. I've certainly never seen a clump like this before.
The weather here has turned a bit chilly. The night time temperatures are now in the mid-40's. The lower temperatures will start to move the trees toward their color change. I can see the beginnings of it already. I've so far resisted building a fire or turning on the heat. In another few days it will warm up again, and in the meantime there's no reason why I can't wear a sweater indoors. In fact, by wearing a sweater inside, I can go in and out without having to stop to put one on or take it off. The house still stays fairly warm during the day, anyway.
I am starting to bring the most tender houseplants inside, though I hope I can leave my fig tree outside for another few weeks. It's grown another foot this year, and I have no idea where I will put it. Well, I do sort of have an idea, but even if it fits, it will block access to my radio and at least one bookcase for the entire winter.
So far, I've seen no sign that the annual deer rut, which makes driving after dark dangerous, has begun. This morning Dog and I did see several deer. They bounded away from us, one of them leaping into the air like a gazelle with every few steps.
My bird feeders are starting to get a fair amount of activity. Yesterday, a Carolina wren spent an hour or so chasing away any other bird that tried to eat from it. It didn't matter if the other bird was larger or not. That scrappy little wren was trying to keep it all for himself. I also filled a large plant saucer with water and set it on the deck railing. Several birds used it, but one little chickadee came back and forth 6-7 times that I saw. I could tell it was the same bird by one feather that stood up on the top of its head. That one seems especially interested in the water.
Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. I love the cooler temperatures, and a lot happens outside my door for me to keep an eye on. I can't ask for anything more than that.
I’ve spent the last four days at a raptor conference sponsored by the Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA). Scientists, researchers, biologists and citizen scientists gathered to hear about the decline of the American Kestrel and the new statistical model for determining continent-wide raptor populations from migration counts. I’m sure this last sounds boring, but it’s really very exciting and marks the first time that hawkwatch site counts gathered from many previous seasons has been used to help keep track of the populations of our raptor species in a scientifically rigorous method. As the editor of HMANA’s journal, Hawk Migration Studies, I got to attend too, and was able to hang out with some of this continent’s most well known raptor experts.
So first off, I attended the Kestrel symposium and heard several presentations on the decline of our smallest falcon. I wasn’t able to attend all of this symposium but the research I did hear was fascinating. The decline of the kestrel is real and appears to be worst in the east, though signs of it declining in the west are beginning.
What is causing the decline? No one yet knows for sure but some of the latest information is pointing the direction for more research. One bander has data from the past 20 years of banding in Connecticut and has been showing a steady decline of the birds’ weights over that time. The birds leave their summer breeding grounds much lighter than when they arrive in the spring. This man speculates that many birds simply aren’t surviving migration. Each year the spring arrival weights and especially the weights of the birds migrating south in the fall are lighter than the previous year.
Other information points to loss of habitat (grassland) along their migration routes, meaning that the birds must fly much further each day to find open grassland where they can refuel and continue their flight north. Some may simply starve before they reach their summer or their wintering grounds. A corollary to this is that the kestrel’s main source of food—grasshoppers—are declining from habitat loss and pesticide use.
The second symposium I attended was on the state of North American Birds of Prey. The newly unveiled raptor population index (RPI) received perhaps the most attention. It is a very complicated (to me at least!) statistical model that uses hawkwatch count information from selected sites across the hemisphere to determine if specific species of raptors are increasing or decreasing. Overall, to no one’s surprise, the bald eagle, golden eagle, turkey vulture and black vulture are increasing. However, the most recent trends suggest that many species that were increasing through the 80’s and 90’s are now stabilizing or even decreasing. Merlin and Cooper’s Hawk are two species that are doing pretty well. Populations of Broad-winged Hawk seem pretty stable, too. The kestrel is declining.
I won’t bore you with more conference minutiae, so tomorrow I’ll be back posting my more typical ruminations on what’s going on around the cabin. The temperature is dropping, and fall is knocking at the door.
In the meantime, let me leave you with a link to the annual winter finch forecast. This man reports on finch food in the north to determine if and which of those irruptive little darlings will show up in the south this year. Keep those bird feeders filled this winter! The report looks like good news for those of us in the south.
Today's photo is a simple one--morning light on the long grasses around one of Roundtop's ponds. It was a beautiful morning.
Today I’m going to give a State of the Mountain report. The President gives a state of the union speech, and though I don’t oversee that much territory, I do pay attention to what’s going on around me. In a State of the Mountain report, I can record the changes that took place and report on how the mountain is doing on a day to day basis.
First off, I can report that the "new pond" is settling in and starting to look more like a natural feature than it did last year. I still prefer the forest that was there to a pond, but at least it’s not another parking lot. I’ve seen more waterfowl than I ever did before the pond was built. Deer and fox drink from it regularly.
Roundtop has worked on their tubing run this summer, building it higher and wider than before. At this point, the retaining wall is high enough to look a bit scary to me. I sure wouldn’t want to fall off that thing. No other new construction has trimmed the forest around the ski area, so the local animals and plants that I love aren’t being squeezed or stressed by that.
Deer are plentiful this year, though I can say that every year. This year (and last) red foxes were seen regularly. Turkey are more plentiful now than was typical of my early years at the cabin.
House finch seem to be increasing again, after being decimated by "house finch disease," which was really conjunctivitis. A local pair of kestrel have fledged as least one new falcon this year. I saw the three of them together on Sunday. This is also an improvement over the last several years, though a far cry from the years when kestrels were as common as, say, robins. Red-tailed hawk numbers seem to remain fairly constant. There’s always a pair an assorted younger ones around.
Black vulture were in short supply this year, as they continue to range further northward. This year, they did not seem to nest in the area as before. I’ve seen them migrating southward already, though, so I believe the birds are simply nesting further north. Despite declines caused by habitat loss elsewhere, here on Roundtop wood thrush, ovenbirds and bluebirds are common and doing well.
Southern bird species appear to be gaining a foothold—Carolina wren are now more common than ever. I’m still holding on to calling the majority of the chickadees that I see as black-capped and not Carolina chickadees, but it is true that I see Carolinas more frequently. I saw the first ever northern bobwhite here on the mountain just last week.
Gypsy moths bypassed the mountain this year but I still feel as though I’m on a knife edge with that one. Next year may well be a different story. Wild raspberries were more plentiful than the year before, but still not in the numbers of several years ago. This year, hickory nuts and acorns are the biggest I’ve ever seen them, and though the numbers of them are excellent, it’s not the most of either that I’ve ever seen.
Warming of the region does continue. The last of the leaf drop in the fall doesn't happen until early November now, when it used to occur in late October. Timing of the seasons was also off. Winter didn't feel like a normal winter until mid-January. Spring was also late, interruped after a normally-timed warm-up by a several weeks of a serioius cold snap. Summer was muggier and more overcast than usual, making it feel hotter than it actually was.
All told, it was a pretty decent year, with no major losses and even a few modest gains.
Note: I’ll be offline for the next several days, attending a HMANA conference on North American Birds of Prey. I’m especially looking forward to a symposium on the American Kestrel that will document its decline and hopefully identify some few causes for it. I’ll give a full conference report when I get back.
The local produce has been amazing this year. I don't think I can ever remember a year when peaches, pears, corn, cantaloups, etc. have been so juicy and sweet. I've also been spoiled to by the weath of great local produce stands where I can buy things that were still on the vine or tree an hour before I bought them.
So, it should come as no surprise that the wild "produce" is also pretty spectacular this year. Today's photo shows a hickory nut and its outer shell. I gathered several pounds of these nuts in less than half an hour this weekend. The nuts came from just two trees, and the majority of my find came from a single tree. I'm planning to gather more before the squirrels get to them.
Here on the mountain, I live in the midst of what is mostly an oak and hickory forest. It's not nust the hickory trees that are producing lots of very large nuts. The acorns this year are highly impressive and very large too. Just to give you an example: my nearest neighbor has one of those aluminum carports that's positioned about 75 yards from my cabin. When one of those acorns falls on the carport, it sounds like a shot. It sets the dogs to barking. One night the sound woke me up from a sound sleep. I can't imagine what it sounds like from inside their house.
Hickory nuts have an amazing flavor and aroma--just like butterscotch. My mother told me this weekend that my grandmother used to put hickory nuts in her butterscotch cookies, and I'm tempted to try that. Cracking open the hickory nuts isn't difficult, but picking the nuts out of the shell is. I have to use one of those nut pickers to pry out the nut. I never get pieces that are very large, and sometimes I think the work likely uses more calories than I get from the nuts, but the flavor is worth it. Besides, I have all winter to work on them.
Roundtop has been quieter this week than I usually find it. The weather has been calm, if warmer than it should be, with no storms and little breeze to ruffle things. I’m sure the quietness is at least partly due to the fact that my morning walks are now made in near-complete darkness. The only real opportunity I have now to see what’s going on around me is in the evenings, when the day’s activities are already winding down.
Even with that as a backdrop, the woods seem unusually quiet to me. I haven’t seen or heard the foxes for almost two weeks. I haven’t startled any deer this week either. The summer’s resident birds are starting to leave, so the woods are quieter without their voices, though I have the sense that their absence isn’t the whole story. Some of the resident birds seem oddly absent, too.
All summer long Dog, Baby Dog and I have been accosted by the mockingbirds that haunted the bottom of my lane. They have been strangely absent this week, even in the evenings. As mockingbirds are year long residents, they should not be suddenly absent. So where are they?
Is this quiet a real mystery or just an accident of the times I am out in the woods during the week? Today, I cannot say but I hope the weekend will bring a few answers.
Sometimes I actually leave the mountain, though (except for work) I still rarely leave the forest. Last evening I left the mountain to head down to Pinchot Lake, just a few miles from the cabin. I was looking for signs of fall down around the lake, but the only things that really showed fall colors were the colors of these canoes along the lakeshore.
This morning at the cabin I am engulfed in fog. Fog makes the landscape around me seem mysterious, perhaps even a bit dangerous. My footsteps sound louder. Forest noises travel further, enhanced and sometimes distorted by the fog. Outlines of familiar trees and surroundings are obscured in the fog, making the mountain feel like a different place than the one I see every day. Poets write entire poems about fog, and more poetic metaphors exist about fog than just about anything else I can think of. In Nova Scotia the imminent arrival of the Fundy Fog is reported and tracked on the local radio stations ("get your clothes off the line now, the fog will be here in 45 minutes").
This morning’s fog at Roundtop is even more unusual and mysterious than is typical. Overhead, the sky was clear. I could see the stars and the last quarter moon clearly. But the top of the mountain and the next mountain to the west were invisible. They may as well not have been there at all for all I could see. Fog changes our perspective and makes the familiar seem strange. It’s a bit like taking a trip to a new place without leaving the old one. So this morning I find myself in unfamiliar territory, though I haven’t left the old.
Lately when I've been out and about in the woods, I've been looking for signs of fall in the foliage. Often, I will see a hint of red or orange in a vine or a tree, but when I get close enough to actually study the color, I see that it's insect damage or leaf pods or some other kind of damage to the plant. So far, I actually haven't seen anything I can say with 100% certainty is color caused by the oncoming fall. The tree in today's photo had me fooled for a while, but the color change on it isn't fall either.
Please don't tell the birds. I've already noticed flocks of robins and starlings heading south. They certainly think it's fall, or at least they think it's time to head south. I see groups of 10-20 robins or 50-100 starlings sweeping over Roundtop, landing briefly in the top of a tree, and then moving off again, as much in synchonicity as a school of fish.
----Dog, Baby Dog and I have been sleeping outside on the deck since the hottest weather broke a week or 10 days ago. The weather has simply been too nice to stay inside, even when inside is a cabin in the woods. I think the cicada symphony is finally starting to diminish a bit. I hope so, as they've been so loud I can't hear much else once they start in.
----Traditionally, I re-do or at least start to re-do my bird feeder on Labor Day each year. I don't feed the local birds during the hottest days of July and/or August. The seed either molds or sprouts before it is eaten. With cooler days and nights, it's time to start feeding again. My first bird of the new feeder years was a female cardinal, followed by a black-capped chickadee and a titmouse.
----I read in the paper earlier this week that when Siberia has a lot of snow cover in October, the northeast U.S. will get hit with cold weather and snow in January. Apparently, the snow cover on the other side of the globe causes high pressure that eventually crosses over the north pole and moves down to our side of the globe, especiallial along the northeast U.S. Who knew?
So, if you want to check out how Siberia (and snow cover elsewhere too) is doing this fall, here's a great site at Rutgers University that shows it http://climate.rutgers.edu/snowcover/.
Last year I reorganized my Roundtop birding records so I can better analyze the year to year differences in my monthly sightings. I am starting to see some interesting (to me at least) differences so I thought I’d post the results here.
In 2007 I saw 36 species in August, two more than in 2006. However, it’s not just two more species--there’s quite a difference between the years in what those species are. In 2007, I didn’t see any nighthawks, catbirds or chimney swifts (migrants) nor did I find any downy woodpecker, blue jay, Canada Goose, Carolina wren or song sparrow (residents). However, in 2007 I did see stilt sandpiper, solitary sandpiper, kestrel, hummingbird, yellow-billed cuckoo (migrants) and house finch, bobwhite, screech owl and both chickadees (residents), though I didn’t have any of these on my 2006 list.
The blue jay was the oddest resident species missing in August 2007. I didn’t see or hear them once this month, and they are usually quite common virtually everywhere in the forest. However, bright and early on September 1, I stepped ourside the tent and the first bird I heard was (you guessed it) a blue jay. For the rest of the weekend a day didn't go by without hearing or seeing one. At this point, I'm guessing they were simply re-nesting.
Several of the summer residents have already gone missing, and it’s interesting to compare this year’s last sighting day with the previous year. In 2006 my last towhee sighting was Aug. 29; in 2007 it was Aug. 26. My last sighting of wood thrush this year was Aug. 4; it was Aug 10 in 2006. This year both species disappeared a few days earlier than last year, but the kingbird breaks this pattern. In 2006 my last sighting was Aug. 22, this year it was Aug. 26. Still, there’s a remarkable similarity in when these residents head south.
The August temperature locally was 1 degree above normal. Interestingly, the average high temperature was actually a few tenths of a degree lower than average. However, the average low temperature (the night time temepature) was 2 degrees above normal. August 2007 was more overcast than usual, which moderated the usual nighttime temperatures. I don't think we can blame global warming for this one.
So why a photo of a cockatiel today? Well, when was the last time you saw a feral cockatiel? This bird has been feral since at least April, when it started showing up at bird feeders in the small town of Wellsville PA, where my sister lives. The bird roosts down along the creek that runs through the town and is canny enough to have eluded an attack by at least one hawk. I have no idea what will happen in another month or so. Will instinct kick in, causing the bird to migrate? Will it stay and if so how will it deal with the winter? Stay tuned. | 2019-04-26T10:52:01Z | http://roundtoprumings.blogspot.com/2007/09/ |
The MCT has been renamed. It was formerly called Moral Judgment Test (MJT).
Correlation with education. Today we have ample evidence that the correlation between moral competence and amount of education or with graduation level is not always positive and large, but can be small, zero, or even negative if the quality of education is meager, if they are no opportunities for responsibility and guided reflection, and if dogmatic religiosity of the students hinders their learning (see Lind, 2000; Schillinger, 2006; Lupu, 2009). Therefore, we no longer use the correlation with "education" as a validation criterion.
moral and discourse competence, synonymously also called moral-democratic competence, or just moral competence, is defined as the ability to solve conflicts and dilemmas through deliberation and discussion with others on the basis of shared moral principles, rather than through fraud, deceit, violence, and abuse of power.
The Moral Competence Test (MCT) has been constructed to assess subjects' moral competence, which is the ability to solve problems and conflicts on the basis of universal moral principles through thinking and discussion, but not through violence, deceit, and power (Lind 2015).
Essentially, the MCT assesses moral competence by recording how a subject deals with arguments, especially with arguments that oppose his or her position on a difficult problem. The counter-arguments arguments are the central feature of the MCT. They represent the moral task that the subjects has to cope with. More specifically, in the standard version of the MCT, the subject is confronted with two moral dilemmas and with arguments pro and contra the subject's opinion on solving each of them.
The main score, the C-index, of the MCT measures the degree to which a subject's judgments about pro and con arguments are determined by moral points of view rather than by non-moral considerations like opinion-agreement. It indicates, to use Piaget's terminology, the degree to which moral principles have become „necessary knowledge" (Lourenço & Machado, 1996, p. 154) for the respondent.
Besides this cognitive variable, the MCT lets us also measures subjects' moral ideals or attitudes, i.e., their attitudes toward each stage of moral reasoning as defined by Kohlberg (1958; 1984). In addition, the MCT can be scored for other aspects of a subject's judgment behavior like situational adequacy of moral judgment, extremity of judgment (Heidbrink, 1985), moral closed-mindedness, most preferred stages of reasoning and more (Lind, 1978; Lind & Wakenhut, 1985). In this brief introduction, only the C-index will be discussed, which is the most unique. It is in use since 1976, when the test was created.(2) For a discussion of other measures, see Heidbrink (1985), Lind (1978), and Lind and Wakenhut (1985).
The MCT is an experimental test of moral competence. Its construction is based on an elaborate and well-researched theory of moral behavior and development (Lind, 1982). Its theoretical validity has been evaluated on the basis of very rigorous criteria, which are not available in classical and modern psychometric theory (see Lind 2008).
This means, the MCT is NOT a psychometric test in the sense of classical test theory (Gulliksen 1950) or of Item-Response-Theory (Wilson 2005). These theories do not allow us to measure structure of behavior. The structure of behavior is a very important characteristic of personality and an object of measurement in its own right, and must not be mistaken as "measurement error," as these theories do. They falsely believe that essentially an isolated responses of a person represents fully the trait to be measured, and that this response lacks only "reliability" or "precision", and, therefore, the measurement has to be repeated with responses to identical, or at least very similar, test-items to minimize error variance. If the structure of these responses deviates from the alleged homogeneity and linearity, these deviations are nor recognized as manifestations of individual structure but are believed to be measurement error. Consequently, rather than admitting the existence of different structures, these test-makers eliminate all items from the test which seem to produce these deviations from their conviction ("item selection"). Thus the test becomes more "reliable" but often at the expense of construct validity.
The MCT has not undergone such item-selection. Its items have been solely constructed on the basis of Kohlberg's types of moral orientations, and core postulated of the Dual-Aspect Theory of moral behavior: a) preference hierarchy, b) affective-cognitive parallelism, c) quasi-simplex structure of inter-type-correlations, and d) unfakable (cannot be simulated upward) (see below). The items have been submitted to semantic analysis by experts of moral behavior research, and to case studies in which we tested whether or not the MCT could elicit moral feelings or emotions.
Lind, G. (1982). Experimental Questionnaires: A new approach to personality research. In: A. Kossakowski & K. Obuchowski, eds., Progress in psychology of personality, pp. 132-144 Amsterdam, NL North-Holland.
Wilson, M. (2005). Constructing measures. An item response modeling approach. Mawah, NJ Erlbaum Associates Publishers.
The standard version of the MCT contains two stories. Each deals with a person who is caught in a behavioral dilemma: whatever he or she decides to do, it will conflict with some rules of conduct. So the 'quality' of the decision is important and not the decision itself. The goodness or badness of the decision depends on the reasons behind it. For many people, it makes a big difference whether somebody behaves well because she or he feels in the mood to do so, or expects to get a reward, or s/he was compelled to do so by outer forces, or because s/he wanted to comply with his or her moral conscience.
Subjects are asked to judge arguments for their acceptability. These arguments present different levels of moral reasoning, six supporting the decision that the protagonist in the story made, and six arguing against his or her decision. So for each dilemma, the respondent is to judge twelve arguments. In the standard version there are then 24 arguments to be rated.
Before judging the acceptability of the arguments presented in the MCT, the subject is asked to rate the rightness or wrongness of the protagonist's decision on a scale from "completely wrong" to "completely right" (see the appendix A). This rating plays no role in scoring a person's moral competence, though it provides important information for designing a valid measure of moral competence.
The scoring of the MCT takes into account the whole pattern of a subject's responses to the test rather than at single acts isolated from one another. We can tell the meaning of a single judgment by a respondent only when we also look at other judgments of that person as well. For examples, if someone judges moral conscience as a highly acceptable reason to commit mercy killing, we cannot be sure whether this judgment reflects a subject's high regard for moral conscience or his or her commitment in favor of mercy killing. In other words, our inferences from single judgments by a person's morality are mostly ambiguous. Only when we consider a person's judgment behavior comprehensively, we can make more unambiguous inferences on a person's morality. How this is achieved with the scoring algorithm is explained below. It should be noted here that the scoring of the MCT contrasts sharply with classical test construction. The latter approach presupposes that a person's judgments can be seen as pure repetitions of one another, masked only by some intervening random processes, which can be averaged out by multiple measurements.
Secondly, The MCT embodies a moral task and not merely a moral attitude or value. If, as we belief, morality has some strong cognitive or competence aspects, we should be able to define a task that can be used to test this competence (Lourenço & Machado, 1996). Many different tasks might come to mind testing moral competencies but only a few are feasible and/or valid. Some tasks may seem suited but are unethical to be used in measurement, like many tests of moral temptation. For example, we must not seduce subjects to steal in order to test their resistance to temptation. Other tasks may seem feasible but lack validity, like the task to help a person in distress. Helping may be motivated by a sense of moral obligation but is not necessarily so. Some helping behavior is, but others may be motivated by a person's desire to dominate another person, by social pressure, by hope for high returns and so on.
An adequate task for testing moral competence is, as experimental research (e.g., Keasey, 1974; Kohlberg, 1958; Walker, 1983; 1986) and moral philosophy (Habermas, 1985; 1990) suggest, to confront a person with counter-arguments. While subjects' reactions to arguments that favor their own opinion indicates the preferred level of moral reasoning for resolving the dilemma, their reactions to counter-arguments tell us something about their ability to use a particular moral level consistently when judging other people's behavior.
The scoring of the MCT follows this notion. A test-taker gets a high competence score only if his or her judgment of pro and contra arguments shows some moral consistency. If a subject lets his or her opinions on the "right" solution of the dilemma determine their ratings of counter-arguments (regardless of their moral quality), the subject will get a low moral competence score on the MCT.
Note, first, that not all kinds of judgment consistency indicate moral competence. Only consistency of a person's judgment in regard to moral concerns qualifies for this, not consistency in regard to other concerns (e.g., to shelter to one's opinion on a certain issue against a critique). So consistency of a person's judgments with his or her opinion on the workers' dilemma is not a valid indicator of moral competence, sometimes rather the opposite, namely moral rigidity.
Second, note that the determination of a person's judgment behavior by moral concerns or principles may or may not be accompanied by a strong commitment for or against a certain solution of the dilemma at stake. Morality and commitment do not exclude one another nor do they necessarily imply each other (Lind, 1978; Lind et al., 1985).
The C-score (or C-index or just C) measures the degree to which s/he lets his or her judgment behavior be determined by moral concerns or principles rather than by other psychological forces like the human tendency to make arguments agree with one's opinion or decision about a certain issue. In other words, the C-index reflects a person's ability to judge arguments according to their moral quality (rather than their opinion agreement or other factors).
C ranges from 1 to 100. It indicates the percentage of an individual's total response variation due to a person's concern for the moral quality of given arguments or behavior. Following a proposal by Cohen (1988), the C is sometimes graded low (1-9), medium (10-29), high (30-49) and very high (above 50). For typical mean C of various groups of people, see Lind (2000) and Lind (1995). How C is computed is explained on page 8.
Most studies report average C-score, not categories anymore. Some also report standard deviations, medians, and inter-quartile ranges. Besides in tables, the important findings should always be graphically depicted, too. The C-score is mostly depicted as the Y-axis, from "0" to "40" or higher, if higher scores occur. Please start the axis always from the "0"-point and to not inflate it to make difference look more impressive. This way your data can be better compared with other studies.
In general, a C-score between 0 and 9 can be interpreted as "very low" or "zero moral competence", between 10 and 29 is the "medium" range in which most (educated) people seem to be. All scores above 30 can be considered as "high moral competence". It seems that the behavior of people with a score higher than 30 is really guided by moral considerations (at least to a large extent): Among these people we hardly find drug consumers, criminals, cheaters, but often find people who help others under stress, engage themselves for democracy, and follow-up their ideals.
According to my experience, C-scores and C-score-differences between two groups can only be interpreted if the average C-scores are based on data of at least 15 subjects. A difference of 5 C-points and more can be considered as high, of 10 C-points and more as very high.
Do not interpreted individual scores! The MCT has not been made for individual diagnosis. Individual scores are too unstable, and should not be interpreted or even looked at. Feedback of individual scores would also be a violation of the rule that the MCT data must always be anonymous. The MCT is used for evaluating methods and programs, not people.
While the C is the most often used index, other cognitive-structural properties of persons' moral behavior can also be indexed. For example, the MCT can be designed to assess the degree to which a person's moral differentiates according to the type of dilemma (Lind, 1978). This topic has been neglected for a long time but is now being pursued by many researchers (Krebs et al., 1990; Kurtines & Gewirtz, 1995).
As second set of indices, the MCT produces scores for a person's attitudes toward each of the six levels of moral reasoning that Kohlberg identified. An inspection of these attitudes tells us, for example, whether the preferences for the six stages form a hierarchical order as Kohlberg assumed, that is, which stage of moral reasoning a person prefers most and which least, and for which type of dilemma people prefer a reasoning on the highest level and for which dilemmas they belief a lower stage to be most adequate.
The simultaneous assessment of two aspects of moral behavior, cognitive and affective aspects, is the most unique feature of the MCT. As Gross (1993) writes, this "offers a significant improvement over the single score interview technique which conflates these two elements" (p. 14).
This feature is rooted in the dual aspect theory of moral behavior and moral development, as outlined by Jean Piaget, Lawrence Kohlberg and, in more detail, by Lind (1985a; 1985b; 1985c; 2000; 1995). For Piaget (1976) "affective and cognitive mechanisms are inseparable, although distinct: the former depends on energy, and the latter depend on structure" (p. 71). Accordingly, Kohlberg meant his stage model of moral development to be a description of both the affective and the cognitive aspect of moral behavior (Kohlberg, 1958).
The dual aspect theory states that for a comprehensive description of moral behavior both affective as well as cognitive properties need to be considered. A full description of a person's moral behavior involves a) the moral ideals and principles that informs it and b) the cognitive capacities that a person has when applying these ideals and principles in his or her decision making processes.
In contrast, other theories state that affect and cognition represent separate components of the human mind, separated also from moral behavior. They state that there is an affective domain of moral behavior and a cognitive domain, which can be dealt with separately. These theories imply that there are purely affective, cognitive and behavioral responses that can also be assessed separately, for example by using different tests for both components, eliciting the respective type of behavior. "However," Higgins (1995) notes, "there are cognitive aspects to all [. . .] components, and Kohlberg's idea of a stage as a structured whole or a world view, cuts across [. . .] componential models" (p. 53).
There is no necessary connection between the cognitive and affective dimensions of moral reasoning. Although many individuals prefer higher stage moral arguments, only those with more cognitive structures exhibit consistency or reversibility, i.e., the capacity to recognize the moral merit of opposing viewpoints. Invariably, most subjects prefer sophisticated moral arguments when assessing factors favorable to their own position, an outcome stemming from successful socialization to the language of democracy: civic responsibility, civil rights and justice. It is only when asked to evaluate a position contrary to one's own that the importance of cognitive structures emerges. One may prefer universal norms of justice (a high affective score) but be unable to use them consistently, particularly when evaluating the moral position of an adversary (a low competence score). Or, one may exhibit a preference for parochial moral norms (a low affective score) but use them consistently to judge competing moral positions (a high cognitive score).
The MCT rests on modern, cognitive-structural approaches to psychological measurement (see, amongst others: Anderson, 1991; Broughton, 1978; Brunswik, 1955; Burisch, 1984; Cronbach & Meehl, 1955; Kohlberg, 1984; Lind, 1995; Loevinger, 1957; Lourenço & Machado, 1996; Mischel & Shoda, 1995; Pittel & Mendelsohn, 1966; Travers, 1951).
The basic approach we started out with coincides with Kohlberg's: „In order to arrive at the underlying structure of a response, one must construct a test, [. . .] so that the questions and the responses to them allow for an unambiguous inference to be drawn as to underlying structure. [. . .] The test constructor must postulate structure from the start, as opposed to inductively finding structure in content after the test is made. [. . .] If a test is to yield stage structure, a concept of that structure must be built into the initial act of observation, test construction, and scoring" (1984, p. 401-402).
We felt that the best ways of fulfilling this postulate was to design the MCT as a multivariate N = 1 experiment because that way we can make sure that all relevant aspects of a moral task are present in the test and that these aspects are uncorrelated and thus can be clearly identified. As modern psychology reveals, individuals do not only differ in regard to certain moral preferences, attitudes or values but are structurally different. Therefore, we must base the measurement of psychological properties (such as moral competence), on the assessment of individual pattern of behavior rather than on the behavioral pattern of a sample of persons (as is usually done). Otherwise we would commit an ecological fallacy, that is, we would falsely hypothesize that the structure of behavioral data in a sample if individuals is identical with that of each individual. Such a hypothesis, however, is hardly tenable (see Mischel & Shoda, 1995).
Because the function of this experiment is not to test the effects of some treatment but to describe the nature and development of behavioral properties, we call it an ideographic experiment. This special function entails some special kinds of experimental analysis. The independent variables (or factors) are varied in order to study the functioning of the individual's mind but not to assess 'general' effects of these factors. Modern cognitive-structural research found that these effects differ much from one person to another depending on their level of development (Lind, 1978; 1985a; 1985c; 2000; Krebs et al., 1990).
The moral factor determining subjects' judgment behavior is represented by the moral quality of the arguments. With the MCT, moral quality was defined using Kohlberg's six stages of moral reasoning (Kohlberg, 1958; 1984).
The task factor, opinion agreement or disagreement, is represented by the implication of the argument pro or contra the subject's opinion about the decision of the story's protagonist. The pro-arguments indicate which ideal level of moral discourse the subject prefers; the contra arguments indicate how much the subject let this moral ideal determine his or her judgment of arguments in the presence of other powerful psychological forces.
Finally, the different dilemmas contained in the MCT represent different moral demand structures. In the standard version these differences are small yet noticeable. While the mercy-killing dilemma (taken from Kohlberg's Moral Judgment Interview) is to pull the highest level of moral reasoning on Kohlberg's stage six, the worker's dilemma (adapted from the novel "Stellenweise Glatteis" by Max von der Grün) is thought to pull more Stage 5 reasoning (Lind, 1985a).
In sum, the MCT is designed as a multivariate experiment, with a 6 x 2 x 2 dependent (or multivariate) design, whereby the three design-factors are orthogonal or non-correlated. Its main index, the C-score, is computed by a MANOVA-like method, namely by partitioning sum of squares.
Because of its rationale and its design, the MCT must be viewed as a behavioral experiment rather than a classical psychometric test (Lumsden, 1976). Hence, response consistency and inconsistency indicate properties of a person's moral-cognitive structure, rather than properties of the instrument like "measurement error" or "unreliability" (see Lind, 2008).
In the validation process two type of validity have been of central concern: a) theoretical validity (that is, the degree to which the test actually measures what the theory supposes), and b) communicative validity (that is, the degree to which the subjects understand the test in the same way as the test constructor). To optimize theoretical validity, the construction of the MCT has been based on a) an expensive review of literature and interview material from studies using Kohlberg's Moral Judgment Interview (Colby et al., 1987a; 1987b), and b) several rounds of items writing and expert ratings(3). To secure communicative validity (and also cross-cultural validity of new-language versions), the MCT was submitted to several empirical tests: ac) tests of small groups of subjects, who were speaking aloud while filling out the MCT, and d) several rigorous empirical validation checks as described in the section below.
Note that the MCT was not submitted to traditional „item analysis." That is, no items were selected to increase the correlation of the C-index with empirical criteria like age, political attitudes, or higher education. This fact guarantees that the MCT is not biased in favor or against certain predictions like stability of rank orders among people, age-correlation, or invariant sequence. Most important, the items were not screened either to maximize stability of scores ("reliability") at the expense of the test's sensitivity for education-induced change, or to maximize sensitivity for change at the expense of theoretical validity.
The C-score is computed analogously to multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). It can be computed 'by hand' using a pocket calculator. For larger data sets, though, the use of a computer is strongly recommended. In most cases some programming is required because most commercial packages do not provide ready methods for analyzing data individually. However, most packages (like SAS, SPSS, STATISTICA) have a programming language module included that lets you quickly write a program that calculates scores for individual response pattern. The coding scheme for the standard version and a sample program for STATISTICA, version 4.x and 5.x can be requested from the author. A scoring service is also available.
For calculation by hand, a sample calculations are given here: Example for C-score = 0, 15, 100.
To assign the MCT-items to the six stages, the coding scheme is needed, which can be requested from the author.
If you do the calculation of C by hand, this is a good way to do it: First, calculate the Mean Sum of Square (SSM). Add up all raw data for the arguments (24 items; "x" means that all raw data x's are to be added up); then square the sum and divide the sum by the number of items which constitute the mean (here the correct numerical are 24, the number of items of the standard version of the MCT). The result is the Mean Sum of Squares, which is roughly equivalent to the arithmetic mean.
Second, calculate the (adjusted) Total Deviation Sum of Squares (SSDev): Square all raw data x². This is called the unadjusted total sum of squares. Then add up all x² and subtract from this the Means Sum of Squares. This is the SSDev.
(x1,worker,pro + x1,worker,con + x1,doctor, pro + x1,doctor,con)².
Now you have all information needed to calculate the C-index: first, divide the Stage Sum of Squares by the Total Deviation Sum of Squares: SS Stage / SS Dev. This is the coefficient of determination r2. Multiply this number by 100, to get C.
• Recalculate everything once more. This should always be done if you do the calculation by hand or table calculator.
• Make plausibility-checks: The SSStage must never be bigger than the SSDev. The SSMean must never be bigger than the unadjusted SSTotal.
• If you make a program to do the calculation for you on the computer: run trials with numbers that you can easily check by hand. Try several patterns of numbers like all "1," which should give you a "0" for all adjusted numbers, e.g., SSStage and SSDev, or all "1" for stages 1 to 3 and all "0" for stages 4 to 6. This should give you a high value for SSStage.
To find and eliminate "bugs" in your program, the best way is to calculate the score again. If the results keep changing, review your calculation technique. Use the scheme below to calculate the C-index.
Errors may also occur when keying in the data. So double-check both. I have found that some spreadsheet programs make errors in adding simple numbers. My WordPerfect word processor does this sometimes. For example, when I enter a negative number, the minus sign is sometimes changed into a dash sign and then ignored by the program.
Some statistical packages also have a hard time doing what the programmers tell them to do. When you are not sure, do both things: a) compare the computer's calculations of a simple example with your hand-done calculations; try different number patterns because only then you can be fairly sure that the program works correctly; b) check the empirical findings using the criteria explained above in the section "Validating new and translated versions of the MCT." Both methods helped me to identify technical data errors.
The Moral Competence Test is to serve two purposes: it should allow us to test modern theories of moral development and education, and it should allow us to evaluate educational methods as to their power to enhance moral competencies. For these two purposes, we sought to make the MCT as theoretically valid and educationally useful as possible.
In psychology as in most other sciences, tests and measuring devices are made to provide data. With these data we want to test the empirical truth of theories (or of hypotheses derived from those theories), or to evaluate the effects of certain methods or interventions, or both at the same time. If we use the measuring device to test theories, this device needs to be theoretically valid, that is, it must really measure what it is supposed to measure. Otherwise, the data produced by this device are irrelevant for the theory to be evaluated, and thus useless (Cronbach & Meehl, 1955; Popper, 1979). If we use a measuring device to evaluate methods of education or psychotherapy, a measuring device must be educationally useful, that is, it must measure exactly the aspects of human behavior and development that we wish to educate or cure.
Currently, in the field of moral psychology and moral education, there is a particular need for a theoretically valid measure of moral competence. The idea that moral behavior and development has a cognitive aspect, is rather new and still very controversial. Eminent scholars like Jean Piaget and Lawrence Kohlberg maintain that morality has a strong cognitive component. Yet, does such a component or aspect really exist, that is, can it be measured and shown to be relevant for human behavior? Does it develop in the way that we think it does? What causes its development and its erosion? To answer these questions we need a test that really measures the competence aspect of moral behavior rather than other aspects like moral attitudes and values.
The educational utility of a test of moral competence requires a test not only to be theoretically valid. To evaluate educational or therapeutic interventions, a test needs also to be transparent and credible for everybody involved in the education process: teachers, students, school administrators, and taxpayer. A test's transparency and credibility are severely restricted, a) if the test's design provides no means for choosing between competing interpretations of the test scores, b) if different aspects of morality are confounded in one score, and c) if the scoring is based on subjective ratings rather than objective algorithms. In other words, a test of moral behavior and development should be designed to facilitate unambiguous and uncompounded scores, and the scoring procedure should be traceable.
The original (German) version of the MCT was validated in respect to several analytical and empirical criteria. The analytical criteria of validation included a strictly theory-based test-construction (in contrast to a test construction that seeks to maximize certain statistical coefficients), and an extensive expert rating of the test items. Half a dozen experts of Kohlberg's stage model of moral development commented on the theoretical adequacy of the arguments in the MCT (see above).
1. The order of preferences: In a truly moral dilemma, subjects should prefer the stages of moral reasoning in the order of their number, with highest preference for stage six-reasoning and lowest preference for stage-one-reasoning. To my knowledge, all MCT-studies have found such a preference order.
2. Quasi-simplex structure: The correlation between the preferences of neighboring stages (like four and five) should be higher than the correlation between more distant stages (like four and six). On other words, in the correlation matrix of all stages, the coefficients should decrease monotonously from the diagonal toward the corners of the matrix. This can be tested in several ways. For example, it can be tested through computer programs that sort the correlation coefficients to optimize quasi-simplex structure (like the TAM program of the KOSTAS package by W. Nagl et al., 1986). If the program finds no better structure of coefficients than the one found, the finding can be regarded as an optimal fit though minor deviations may have occurred. Most, if not all, MCT-studies have produced such an optimal quasi-simplex-structure much clearer than the original study by Kohlberg (1958).
3. Cognitive-affective parallelism: If subjects present their own moral attitudes (rather than faked or socially desired attitudes), these scores should be systematically correlated with their moral competence score, with high negative correlations between the C-score on the one hand, and attitude scores for stages 1 and 2, on the other, and moderate correlations between C and attitudes to stages 3 and 4, and substantial positive correlations between C and attitudes to stages 5 and 6 (Lind, 1985a). Most, if not all, MCT-studies found a marked pattern of correlations between these two aspects of moral behavior, corroborating Piaget´s parallelism theorem.
4. Equivalence of pro and con arguments: The arguments in favor of a certain solution of a moral dilemma should be equivalent to the arguments of against it, that is, subjects agreeing with the given solution of a dilemma should be confronted with arguments of approximately the same quality as subjects disagreeing with this solution. In his dissertation, Lind (not cited) found this hypothesis clearly supported.
5. A difficult moral task, which cannot be simulated. The claim that the MCT represents a moral task and that its C-index is a measure of moral competencies (rather than of moral attitude), has been corroborated in two crucial experiments. In these experiment, subjects were instructed to simulate a score that is above their own (see Emler et al., 1983). While subjects could simulate higher scores with other tests of moral development, subjects were not able to simulate a higher C-score when responding to the MCT (Lind, 2000; Wasel, 1994). Obviously, the other instruments measured moral attitudes rather than moral competence.
The effect of simulation was tested by letting the subjects fill out a test twice, one time with the regular instruction to fill out the questionnaire or test. At second time, the subjects were instructed to fill out the test again, but this time to fill it out as if one were another person. Specifically, subjects were first divided into two groups on the basis of their political orientation. Because political orientation is consistently correlated with scores of moral development tests, the two groups also differed: those who described themselves as left wingers (liberals) had higher scores than right wingers (conservatives). So left wingers were instructed to fill out the test as if they were right wingers, and right wingers were instructed to fill it out as if they were left wingers. It was hypothesized that, while leftists should have no difficulty simulating the (lower) scores, the latter group should not be able to simulate the (higher) scores of their counterparts, if the test really measures competence. If not, both groups should be equally able to simulate the test scores according to the instruction.
In a first series of experiments, the Defining Issues Test (Rest, 1979) and the Survey of Ethical Attitudes by Hogan were benchmarked. The results of these experiments were that the scores could be simulated in either direction, that is, that subjects could fake their scores upward (Emler et al., 1983; Markoulis, 1989; Barnett, Evens, & Rest, 1995; see also Lind, 1995), and that, therefore, these instruments seem to assess moral attitude rather than moral competence.
Using the same setting and the same type of subjects as Emler et al. (1983), Lind (1995) found that subjects who were asked to fill out the MCT as a "leftist" would, were not able to fake their C-scores upward. Wasel (1994) showed that the instruction to simulate the moral reasoning of colleagues who had a higher C than oneself, did not increase the subject's score. Yet in both experiments, subjects with high C-index could be instructed to simulate lower scores than their own.
The competence nature of C-index is also supported by the fact that, in longitudinal studies, upward changes were always gradual rather than abrupt (Lind, 2000; 1995). Gradual changes are typical for the acquisition of abilities but not for the change of attitudes, which may sometimes be very abrupt and dramatic when people change their social context.
Finally, moral competence only erodes slowly. The forgetting curve of subjects' C-score is negatively accelerated, that is, the longer subjects do not practice their moral abilities, the faster they lose them (Lind, 2000; 1995).
So the C-index of the MCT meets all four criteria of a competence-index (moral task, non-fakability, gradual learning curve and smooth forgetting curve). Moreover, it is calculated so that it is logically independent from a person's moral attitudes (Lind, 2000; 1995; Wasel, 1994). It can be high or low regardless of a person's like or dislike for moral principles. Therefore, we call C a pure index of moral competence, in contrast to other, which are compound scores of moral cognition and moral attitudes (for a discussion, see Lind & Wakenhut, 1983; Lind, 1995). This fact makes the MCT less dependent on irrelevant empirical criteria and on criteria which would bias the test toward some theories.
Note again that the MCT was constructed solely on the basis of theoretical considerations rather than on empirical criteria. Empirical criteria, deduced from theoretical propositions, are used only to check new (or translated) versions of the MCT for theoretical or cultural equivalence with the original version (see below). Hence, it should not be benchmarked against other tests by mere empirical means. Without reference to the theory and research underpinning the MCT, we cannot know whether the MCT lacks validity or the criterion, if the correlation comes out low.
Presently (year 2002), there is empirical evidence from research of more than 200,000 subjects of different culture, age, gender, socioeconomic status and level of education, that the MCT fulfills well these five validity criteria that we have discussed above (Lind, 2000; 1995). See the list of certified translated MCT versions.
Because any inference that we base on data depends heavily on the quality of those data and, therefore, on the validity of the measurement process, careful validation procedures of a measurement instrument are very important. In cross-cultural research they are even more important as we may falsely interpret methodological differences between cultures as substantial ones. Only if the translation of the test has been carefully done (including backward translation) and if the empirical data agree fairly well with those four indicators, one can assume that a newly created version of the MCT is fairly valid and equivalent to the original (German) version, which is a necessary condition for comparing findings across countries. If cultural validity is low or unknown, we have no way to attribute difference in data to any substantial variable.
This theory-based empirical validation procedure requires more time and funding than is typically thought necessary. However, it pays well in terms of more trustworthy, meaningful and comparable data. This procedure provides validity criteria independent from the research for which it will be subsequently used, making circular conclusions and tautologies less likely and findings more credible. A careful cultural validation process, is demonstrated in the cross-cultural studies by Michael Gross, who investigated the relationship between moral development and political involvement in Israel, France, the Netherlands, and the United States (Gross, 1994; 1995a; 1995b).
Studies that omit this validation process because it consumes considerable time and money, usually pay for this omission by producing ambiguous, if not useless data. They do not, as the authors of those studies claim, warrant any substantial interpretation other than that the data are not valid.
The requirement of validity applies not only to the original test but also to new sub-test (dilemmas) and to foreign language versions. In the following we summarize a procedure for securing the validity of new sub-tests and foreign language versions of the MCT, which employs the empirical criteria discussed above and one additional criterion. These four criteria have been found very effective for detecting and curing serious flaws in new or translated versions.
The first step of validating any foreign version of a test, is to translate that version backward into the original language. There are a German and an English version of the MCT that can be used for backward translation and checking the equivalence of the new version. Many flaws can be already detected this way.
Preference hierarchy: The preferences for the six Kohlbergian stages of moral reasoning should be ordered as theoretically predicted, with stage 6 preferred most, stage 5 second most etc. (see the figure on the left). Some small inversions of stage preferences (especially between stages 1 and 2, as well as between stages 5 and 6) may occur, and do not invalidate the new test version. Cross-cultural research supports this hypothesis quite well (Lind, 1986; Gross, 1996).
Quasi-simplex structure of stage preference inter-correlations: Neighboring stages (for example, stages 5 and 6) should correlate higher than more distant stages (for example, stages 4 and 6), that is, the correlations should monotonously decrease from the diagonal to the left lower corner of the correlation matrix.
This criterion can be tested in two ways: a) in a main-component factor analysis with varimax-rotation, two factors should be produced and the factor loadings for the preference scores for the six stages should be orderly located on a simplex curve between the two (see graph); b) attempts to bring the matrix of the inter-correlations between the preferences for the six stages into a more simplex-like order should not result in a re-ordering of the six stages.
Affective-cognitive parallelism: The stage preferences should correlate in a predicted manner with the MCT's C-index of moral competence, i.e., while the preference for the highest stages should correlate highly positively with the competence score, the preferences for the lowest stages should correlate highly negatively with that score, and the other MCT preference indices should show correlations in between these extremes.
Correlation with education. [Outdated text:] Given the above described sample, C should correlate highly positive ( r > 0.40) with amount and quality of education of the subjects. Correlation of C with Ss' age should be small or close to zero when level of education is hold constant. In the first validation study of the Brazilian MCT, the correlation between C-score and level of education was r = 0.40.
Today we have ample evidence that the correlation between moral competence and amount of education or with graduation level can be small, zero, or even negative if the quality of education is meager, if they are no opportunities for responsibility-taking and guided reflection, and if dogmatic religiosity of the students hinders their learning (see Lind, 2000; Schillinger, 2006; Lupu, 2009). Therefore, we no longer use the correlation with "education" as a validation criterion.
No upward simulation of the C-index. As shown above, the MCT has been constructed to assess the cognitive, or competence aspect of judgment behavior rather than merely moral attitudes. When submitted to experimental setting like that used by Emler et al. (1983), the C-score of a newly constructed MCT version should show no upward change (see Lind, 2002). This criterion is optional.
Note that these findings do not only support the cross-cultural validity of the Brazilian version of the MCT by Patricia U. Bataglia, but also the universal validity of the cognitive-developmental theory of moral behavior and development.
See the list of certified translated MCT versions.
d) because the MCT is short, it can be administered in studies in which several hundreds of subjects must be studies and resources (time, money) are scarce.
The MCT can be used to test predictions derived from theories of moral development because, on the basis of almost twenty years of research summarized in a series of publications (e.g., Lind, 1985 a/b/c; 2000; 1995). It has shown to be highly valid. Moreover, because the MCT is short and easy to score by computer, it can be used to evaluate educational programs and other conditions of moral development that involve large samples of persons. The MCT has shown to be sensitive to educational treatments but not to instructions to fake scores high.
A complete copy of the MCT in German, English and other certified versions can be ordered for free from the author. See address.
Due to some seemingly unfounded dismissals, some factory workers suspect the managers of eavesdropping on their employees through an intercom and using this information against them. The managers officially and emphatically deny this accusation. The union declares that it will only take steps against the company when proof has been found that confirms these suspicions. Two workers then break into the administrative offices and take tape transcripts that prove the allegation of eavesdropping. Do you disagree or agree with the workers' behavior?
Do you accept or reject the following arguments in favor of the two workers' behavior? Suppose someone argued they were right . . . (5).
1. because they didn't cause much damage to the company.
2. because due to the company's disregard for the law, the means used by the two workers were permissible to restore law and order.
3. because most of the workers would approve of their deed and many of them would be happy about it.
6. because the two workers saw no legal means of revealing the company's misuse of confidence, and therefore chose what they considered the lesser evil.
Note: This is not a complete version of the standard MCT. Six more arguments are given speaking against the workers. In addition, the mercy killing dilemma is presented with six arguments in favor and six against the proposed solution.
To obtain a copy of the MCT for research and evaluation studies, please contact the author. Indicate the desired language version.
2. In former publications, I also used other names for the C-index: "DetStufe" (German) and "DetStage" (English), which is an abbreviation for the degree of determination of the individual's judgment behavior by the experimental factor „stage of reasoning."
3. For their expert ratings to, and valuable critique of, the original MCT and subsequent revisions and alternate version, I wish to thank Tino Bargel, Ralf Briechle, Helen Haste, Thomas Krämer-Badoni, Horst Heidbrink, Cristina Moreno, Gertrud Nunner-Winkler, Gerhard Portele, Ernst-Heinrich Schiebe, José Trechera, Roland Wakenhut, Thomas Wren.
4. The attitude scores are usually computed by dividing the summated rating by 4 and subtracting -4 in order to get numbers in the range of the original response scale of the items: from -4 to +4.
5. The text of the standard MCT version has been changed in December 2001 from "How acceptable do you find ..." to "Do you accept or reject..." in response to well-founded by Michael Hauan, University of Missouri. | 2019-04-23T02:03:53Z | http://www.uni-konstanz.de/ag-moral/mut/mjt-intro.htm |
Perhaps the most commonly cited alternative therapy approach for autism is the gluten free/casein free diet. The idea was promoted largely based on the “leaky gut” and “opiod excess” idea of autism. The basic idea was that the intestines of autistics are for some reason “leaky” and incompletely digested proteins from gluten (grains) and casein (milk) enter the bloodstream and act much like an opiod (drug) causing (somehow) autism. Multiple research teams have looked for evidence of these “opiods” without success. But the idea that eliminating gluten and/or casein as an autism treatment.
Timothy Buie is perhaps one of the most respected gastroenterologists in the autism communities. He has recently written a literature review on the topic: The relationship of autism and gluten.
Autism is now a common condition with a prevalence of 1 in 88 children. There is no known etiology. Speculation about possible treatments for autism or autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has included the use of various dietary interventions, including a gluten-free diet.
The goal of this article was to review the literature available evaluating the use of gluten-free diets in patients with autism to determine if diet should be instituted as a treatment.
A literature review was performed, identifying previously published studies in which a gluten-free diet was instituted as an autism treatment. These studies were not limited to randomized controlled trials because only 1 article was available that used a double-blind crossover design. Most publish reports were unblinded, observational studies.
In the only double-blind, crossover study, no benefit of a gluten-free diet was identified. Several other studies did report benefit from gluten-free diet. Controlling for observer bias and what may have represented unrelated progress over time in these studies is not possible. There are many barriers to evaluating treatment benefits for patients with autism. Gluten sensitivity may present in a variety of ways, including gastrointestinal and neurologic symptoms. Although making a diagnosis of celiac disease is easier with new serology and genetic testing, a large number of gluten-sensitive patients do not have celiac disease. Testing to confirm non-celiac gluten sensitivity is not available.
A variety of symptoms may be present with gluten sensitivity. Currently, there is insufficient evidence to support instituting a gluten-free diet as a treatment for autism. There may be a subgroup of patients who might benefit from a gluten-free diet, but the symptom or testing profile of these candidates remains unclear.
To paraphrase the conclusions: The evidence is not there for eliminating gluten from the diets of autistics. Perhaps some minority has a gluten sensitivity but so far there is no good test for this possible subgroup.
Although this seems like a solid scientific approach, I disagree with the conclusion, or at least with the implications for treatment. Since gluten-free diets are relatively harmless, the best approach for a doctor to take would be to suggest that the parent give it a try. The doctor might provide some background information, and might even run a gluten allergy test, but ultimately, each parent, and each autistic individual, should decide for themselves whether it helps.
In our case, the doctor said that current medical research does not support the effectiveness of gluten free diets, but he suggested that we give it a try for several weeks, and keep a log of foods, as well as behaviors, sleeping patterns, emotional stability, and so on. The effects we noted were minor and gradual, and we saw nothing that we felt was conclusive. When we re-introduced gluten, on the other hand, the effects were dramatic. Sleeping patterns were disrupted, language and emotional stability regressed, and repetitive behaviors shot up to a level that we were getting notes from teachers and therapists asking what had changed.
Although this is not a scientific study, we have witnessed the same reaction five times now, and three of those times started 24 to 48 hours after receiving gluten. (The other two times were unexplained.) Scientific? Hardly. Sufficient to justify a modified diet? Absolutely.
Those are just the three most common theories. There are dozens of others. In our case, for example, we have known for a long time that our son has unusually low levels of stomach acid. These low levels might lead to insufficient digestion of food proteins, and therefore insufficient levels of certain amino acids. Some people believe that amino acid imbalances can trigger symptoms of autism. This is kind of a fringe theory, but it points to a very important detail that a lot of research misses: Every child is different.
We know that autism has a genetic basis, we just know very little about how the genetic differences affect the brain. Research on autism and glutamate receptors, for example, is in its infancy.
We have friends who have tried the gluten free diet, and did not notice any difference at all. Should we assume that they are wrong? Should we assume that we are? Or is it remotely possible that the genetic condition they are dealing with is substantially different from the one we are dealing with?
Considering the vast number of genetic issues that may be linked to autism, I think the odds that there may be different types of autism are approaching 100%. As such, the odds that a single treatment method will work for all autistics is approaching 0%. Somewhere in between 0% and 100% is the chance that a gluten free diet will help any given individual (autistic or not).
If we were talking about stem cell therapy, then we could safely reject anything under 50% just because of the poorly-understood risks. But what, exactly, are the risks of a gluten-free diet?
The risks are malnutrition. Do you think that most parents keep a log and administer a restrictive diet under the guidance and monitoring of a physician or registered dietician or are most ‘DIYers’? It may seem like a harmless intervention and maybe helpful with the proper oversight however I don’t believe that is the case with many or most.
I would add: how many are working with a dietician who is not biased towards the alt-med approach to autism? I.e. eliminate that bias.
Early on I wanted advice on nutrition for my kid. A local autism school recommended a dietician. Unfortunately, said dietician was DAN!. I got much better advice, at less cost of time and money, from a regular dietician. Frankly, the DAN! dietician’s advice was horrendous. After two hours of ignoring my questions and throwing guilt and bad science at me to get me onboard for a full DAN! approach, I was able to get said dietician to answer my main question: how do I approach an extremely picky eater? Answer, “starve him/her”. Seriously. “Starve him/her. After a couple of days s/he will eat whatever you put in front of him/her”. The diet recommended just supported the picky eater style and would have resulted in a *less* nutritious diet.
For less money, a real nutritionist helped me log my kid’s diet, calculated the nutrition my kid was getting and gave suggestions on how to improve the diet. This nutritionist followed up on no charge to see how my kid was progressing.
Matt, One of the problems with the DAN approach is that a lot of bad science is in the mix. I am not sure it is fair to reject every part of it just because some parts are unproven.
We had a similar problem finding a dietitian (or, if you are using the U.K spell-check: “dietician”) who actually understood diet and autism. We ended up getting better advice from cookbooks.
Oddly, the “let ’em starve” approach usually works for typical kids. (They get hungry, they eat.) For autistic kids, it almost always fails. I don’t have to tell you why, but apparently someone should tell the DAN “dietitians”.
Keep in mind, he isn’t saying there is never any benefit. As a treatment for sensitivity to gluten, there would be. As a treatment for autism, the evidence doesn’t support it.
Also note that I didn’t say that one should reject all of DAN because some parts are unproven.
First, let’s take the last part–it’s unproven. Beyond unproven, some parts are just downright wrong. They are based on an incorrect, obviously false, view of autism. A good example is chelation. Some aspects carry risks with no benefit. Calling it merely “unproven” is a major understatement.
Most of the rest is basically guesswork based on a number of poorly formed ideas of autism. Jim Laidler’s discussion is linked to above. He has a good discussion either there or elsewhere of how much of autism alternative medicine is just one or more people’s pet ideas and it gets picked up.
As to the “let them starve” approach. For a time, there was a belief among alternative medicine practitioners that autism was mitochondrial dysfunction was a cause or a comorbid condition of autism. The idea of starving a kid with mitochondrial dysfunction is pretty horrifying.
One of the strangest comments I’ve read came from a prominent “rescue angel”. In supporting the idea that soy should be removed from diets as well, said Rescue Angel commented that soy is just a marketing effort by big agriculture. In reality, according to the Angel, no one in Asia consumes soy. We are just told that as part of Big Agriculture’s marketing.
Science Mom: Malnutrition is a risk with all autistic children. Is there some evidence that the risk is worse with kids on a “voluntary” gluten-free diet? If there is such evidence, then it would be an important point to consider. If there is no such evidence, then the argument has no validity.
I don’t know what percent of autistic kids refuse some sort of food, but my experience is that it is pretty high. I don’t agree with the theory that removing gluten automatically makes a diet less balanced. In fact, our experience was that removing the gluten improved my son’s average diet, by encouraging him to eat more proteins in place of wheat.
i understand that gluten-free is not for everyone. Just because something is not for everyone, though, does not mean that it could lead to malnutrition. By that definition, video games could lead to malnutrition because kids would be playing instead of eating.
Parents who have autistic kids need to (and usually do) step up to the plate and take some responsibility for what their children eat. If a child refuses to eat veggies, for example, it is the parents job to sneak it into “milkshakes” and muffins and whatever.
It is not fair to assume that a parent who tries a gluten free diet on their child would suddenly decide that going gluten-free is a substitute for proper nutrition. Our experience has been that parents who are interested in the proteins their child eats are also interested in the vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
If we are talking about uninformed parents, then the risk is not the diet, it is the lack of information. Adding gluten will not improve the information flow.
A high percentage of abnormal IPT values were found among patients with autism (36.7%) and their relatives (21.2%) compared with normal subjects (4.8%). Patients with autism on a reported gluten-casein-free diet had significantly lower IPT values compared with those who were on an unrestricted diet and controls. Gastrointestinal symptoms were present in 46.7% of children with autism: constipation (45.5%), diarrhoea (34.1%), and others (alternating diarrhoea/constipation, abdominal pain, etc: 15.9%). FC was elevated in 24.4% of patients with autism and in 11.6% of their relatives; it was not, however, correlated with abnormal IPT values.
Note that this had a large group compared to others looking for intestinal permiability changes; ~ 200 kids with autism IIRC.
Although this is not a scientific study, we have witnessed the same reaction five times now, and three of those times started 24 to 48 hours after receiving gluten.
Yeah, sounds exactly like our experiences.
LOL and so true. Most American children get plenty of wheat, and we are over run with children with diabetes and obesity, conditions which used to be unknown in children.
Frankly, the DAN! dietician’s advice was horrendous.
That is terrible, but is just annectode. My regular pediatrician gave us horrible advice too, but that’s no reason to disregard the all pediatricians, or even all of that pediatrician’s particular advice.
I would have an exit strategy: how long to try to and how to measure success.
The exit strategy *should be*, I gave a challenge of the restricted food and nobody could tell a difference. You don’t tell teachers/ therapists/grand parents/whoever that you are challenging, and then see what happens.
Which, after decades, still doesn’t support the idea that removing gluten is a treatment for autism. So, yes, there’s nothing new there.
There are a grand total of 2 placebo based studies; I’m not sure why Biue didn’t include the Elder study, which was placebo controlled, blinded, and cross over. It was small (13 participants), and while no ‘group level’ changes were seen, two individuals did improve and blinded therapists noted improvements in those children.
You can’t go on and on about ‘after decades’, and pretend that it has been studied; if we exclude Elder, like Biue did, you’re talking about a grand total of thirty kidsthat participated in gold standard studies. It isn’t about the length of time, it is about the number of quality studies. According to Biue, the number of quality studies is one.
Meanwhile, someone draws blood from eight thousand kids, throws it at a sequencer in a desperate attempt to find CNVs, finds seven kids with a mutation on SHANK3, and everyone claps about how it clearly shows a predominantly genetic condition. Meanwhile, in de Magistris, which I linked to above, altered intestinal permiability was observed in over a third of children with autism.
A gluten heavy diet is malnutrition. These are empty calories eaten to try and fill up a low income diet. White flour has been linked to high blood sugar and diabetes too.
You disagree with Dr. Buie’s conclusion, but your discussion doesn’t really address this issues. There is no solid evidence that in general this is a treatment, there is no evidence that it is a treatment for autism rather than a treatment for some sensitivity, there may be a group who responds to an elimination diet but they are likely not a large group–and this may not be specific to autism.
1) try it for at least six months (or longer). If you don’t see any improvements (who doesn’t improve over six months?) it may be that a tiny amount of gluten (or whatever is being eliminated) got into the diet.
3) if it doesn’t work for your child, then you haven’t tried enough biomed and you should try more.
(2) and (3) point to the use of elimination diets as “gateway” therapies to even less supported and more risky approaches.
When one eliminates some part of the diet and reintroduces it, there will be an adaptation period. I can recall eliminating red meat from my diet. Taking it out was met with no immediate effect. Reintroducing it was definitely met with digestion issues and discomfort. I’m not innately sensitive to red meat, but I did need time to adjust to digesting it again. I’m not saying that all who reintroduce a food and see a difference are going through that, but one should be aware of this.
You should be aware that your theory #2 *is* the opiod excess/leaky gut theory. Opiod “peptides” are key to that theory. Your link doesn’t point to which researchers have found these peptides. My guess is they are pointing to Paul Shattock, whose work has failed to replicate and goes back to pre-Wakefield days (he influenced Wakefield).
By the way–the idea that there are more than one autism is old. I have a New York Times article from the ’70s talking about it, and I bet there was discussion in the literature about it before that.
But I think I was pretty clear about why I disagreed with his conclusions. All he did was review literature, and weighted the single double-blind study so heavily that it displaced more than one study that reached the opposite conclusion. For example: Where does http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22564339 appear in his research? Did he exclude it, or did he just decide that the results were “insufficient”?
How exactly, did he discount the other studies? Did he apply his own adjustment for parent bias? Are we supposed to round up parents who have observed results, and tell them they are wrong, based on the results of a very small double-blind study that was done on someone else?
Based on my experience, tests that were applied to other autistic children are not a very good indicator of the results that I will see. As you mentioned, the idea that there are many different forms of autism is nothing new.
As far as the typical period of re-adjustment, it certainly makes sense that once the human body has “forgotten” how to digest certain foods, it will take a while to re-introduce those foods. I am not sure that is a good argument to just “keep drinking”, as it were.
Which, after decades, still doesn’t support the idea that removing gluten is a treatment for autism. So, yes, there’s nothing new there. There’s nothing new in the fact that there is no evidence to support the idea.
How, exactly did he discount other studies? What other studies? Parent reports like the study you link to? Dr. Buie is on the front lines of working with autistic children with GI problems. He is sought out by the very parents who would report benefit of GFCF. Again, this is why this study is remarkable.
When confronted with a parent who is asking about claims that repetitive behaviors can be reduced by having their child wear penny loafers instead of sneakers, the best approach for a doctor to take would be to suggest that the parent give it a try.
When confronted with a parent who is asking about claims that repetitive behaviors can be reduced by having their child wear their hair short rather than long, the best approach for a doctor to take would be to suggest that the parent give it a try.
When confronted with a parent who is asking about claims that repetitive behaviors can be reduced by having their child wear a tin foil hat, the best approach for a doctor to take would be to suggest that the parent give it a try.
Ethically, the best approach for any physician is to advise parents to steer clear of unproven therapies. Gluten free/casein free diets are expensive and difficult to maintain and–as the one double blind study that’s been done suggests–if they are useless, then they are making fools of desperate parents who should be seeking legitimate therapies.
Besides, with all that kids on the spectrum have to face in life, it would be sad to think they have to do it without occasionally enjoying a waffle and glass of milk.
So what you are saying is that any time a double blind study has been done on a potential diet, all doctors and parents should accept that one study as the gold standard of proof, and ignore their personal observations, as well as a good handful of other studies and medical tests?
Even in situations where the double-blind study was done on a very small number of individuals? And even when the study materials raised questions as to whether every potential target group was included?
Assuming we were talking about a fringe theory like in your tinfoil-hat-and-penny-loafers example, I might even agree with you. Since we are talking about a theory based on commonly observed relationships, I would most likely disagree. The original article describes one such relationship in detail: “Their findings included positive skin test results in 36% of children with autism compared with 5% in a control group of unaffected children…” If autistic children are more likely to have gluten allergy, then it seems like a relatively short leap from there to testing a gluten-free diet on a wide variety of autistic kids.
If your analogy, you are acting as if there were some clinical research that indicated a possible benefit to penny loafers, short hair, or tinfoil hats. Here is why I found your analogy so tedious and offensive: The original paper by Buie contained the sentence: “Statistically significant higher plasma concentration of IgA antibodies against α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin, casein, and gliadin were found in the children with autistic disorder.” Do you understand why a doctor reading that sentence might suggest that a parent give it a try?
If not, then why not? Because your statement that the parent might look foolish seems pretty weak. Buie evaluated Knivsberg and D’Eufemia and other studies that showed proven benefits of a gluten-free diet, and he even described the results. It was not clear why he decided to discount them in his conclusion, but he certainly struck a much less conclusive tone than you did.
After reading the Knivsberg study, I would be much more inclined to err on the side of caution. Even Buie admitted that the main drawback of GFCF research was that GFCF did not work for every autistic individual. Since it is hard to identify which subset would benefit, he came to the conclusion that a GFCF diet should not be recommended as a treatment for all autistic individuals. This is not the same as saying it doesn’t work. As far as your theory that we should also give tinfoil hats a try, that seems like something a troll would say, without bothering to read the article.
In fact, as you might know, research continues on gluten, glutamate receptors, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, interference with methylation, inflammation that comes from other wheat proteins, gliadin, and on and on… I have previously mentioned that I suspect some of that other research will prove more fruitful than the “leaky gut” theory. Matt has pressed me repeatedly to choose one theory or another, but I have refused, and will continue to do so. I don’t know why it seems to work, but it does seem to work.
Considering that Matt got all offended that I let a very slight note of sarcasm sneak into my comment, imagine what I must think about yours. Especially considering that all you did was repeat things other people had already said, and go out of your way to repeat them in the most sarcastic and insipid way you could possibly imagine.
I disagree that it is the doctor’s responsibility to advise patients to “steer clear” of unproven therapies, particularly in those cases where LBRB gets to determine what is proven and what is not. After all, every therapy was “unproven” at some point. Each doctor’s primary responsibility is to research the facts, and make sure the patient (or the legal guardian) is as well-informed as possible on each potential treatment.
If my doctor were to suggest that he had read a single study, and that he advised me to “steer clear” of the gluten-free diet based on that single study, i would think he was not taking his responsibilities as a physician very seriously. In fact, I had the opposite experience with one doctor. When we first asked him about the GFCF diet, he said that his general impression was that it was only helpful in cases of celiac. A few months later, he wrote to tell me that he had read up on the subject extensively, and now believed that it might be worth a try. He then advised me not to rely on it too much, and he gave me literature that described how to do a test, and what a positive result might look like.
We are perfectly aware that some of the progress we have noticed might be unrelated to gluten. One side-effect of the diet is that my wife cooks a much higher percentage of our food from scratch, and so has improved the diet in a number of ways other than just removing wheat. We are eating less pesticides, less preservatives, less refined sugar, and less processed soy protein. We are also eating more protein, more fruit, more veggies, and, oddly, more coconut oil. Any one, or any combination of these, might account for my son’s improved sleep habits, decrease in outbursts, or his new-found ability to stay on task for minutes at a time.
Or it might be totally unrelated. But let me ask you: If you had these results, would you risk losing them? If you threw the old penny loafers away, and all that progress went away, you would go get new penny loafers, wouldn’t you?
There’s nothing enjoyable about a waffle or a glass of milk if it leaves you in tears on the floor an hour later or with an explosive trip to the bathroom. A gluten free waffle and a glass of almond milk produce as much pleasure and no distress.
Please allow families with a history of digestive issues (Chron’s, colitis) to treat their autistic relatives with the same individually, results-based care and attention to nutrition and overall health that the rest of us automatically enjoy.
Personally, I have discovered that unless your child has stomach issues… diahhrea, nightmares/terrors… then there is no point in it. Children with intolerances benefit from food removal to find the intolerance. Telling parents “some autistic children are like that”… is not appropriate. Since that “some autistic kid” was definately stoned until we removed casien protien from his diet refusing to address the issues of diahhrea.. was simply poor behaviour on the part of both the Dev Ped and Dr. Gluten didn’t do anything.
FWIW… the severe one without the stomach issues…. no change.
There is much research. Not much good research. For example, I do not consider the “insert proprionic acid into the brains of rats” (one of the Ontario projects which purports to link autism to a leaky gut) as being illustrative.
Take a look at the comments by John D. Stone and Farmer Geddon…they’re gems.
I’ve read the entire case study and can pick it apart easily. What is glaringly obvious at first glance, is that there is no time interval provided on the EEG tracings that were published in the study…i.e. was the very abnormal EEG tracing illustrated in the study done during the postictal state, which may last for 48 hours…or more…when the EEG will be very abnormal?
Tsk, Tsk, Drs. Herbert and Buckley…why didn’t you provide that information?
The ketogenic diet has long been known to be effective in children with epilepsy.
With that background, I would like to see a decent study done of the ketogenic diet for children with co-morbid autism. I suspect there would be improvements if seizures were interfering with their ability to play/learn/benefit from behavioral therapy. I doubt non-epileptic kids would benefit, and it seems irresponsible to put this case-study out for parents to start experimenting. Autistic kids who starve themselves are also getting into an often prolonged ketogenic state – there is no remitting of autism in these kids – we would have heard about it by now if ketosis worked for autism.
I have been on a ketogenic diet for about 6 weeks now (LCHF mostly paleo), after getting results back on the first stage of getting a diabetes diagnosis (if I fail the test again in a few weeks, I will get a formal diagnosis, I am trying to stave that off with lifestyle changes).
As a side effect I have noticed a huge improvement in IBS symptoms, which have been an issue for the last few years,corresponding with the blood sugar problems. I have not lost much weight (I wasn’t overweight to start with). So I guess the grains were not good for MY gut in the first place. (Paleo removes all neolithic grains, not just those with gluten). I eat meat, most veges, berries and nuts, and I eat well. When I have sorted the diabetes scare out long term, i will add back starchy veges and other fruit. I use a lot of coconut oil which is high MCT.
There is no thought of depriving my fussy eating, severely autistic, lad of his popcorn, pretzels and bread these days. We did a GFDF trial years ago using expensive substitutes, tracking measurements/comments from his teachers who were unaware – none noticed a difference between phases. I did the GFDF trial mainly to show my DH’s family that we HAD looked into it and it was not right for our boy.
Here, a 3-part interview with Dr. Julie Buckley…with all her *theories* about biomedical/dietary interventions. She’s anti-vaccine to the core of her being, attributing the onset of autism for her own child and the child in her study, to vaccines at age four. (There are quite a few similarities between her child and the child in her study).
BMC Med. 2012 Feb 7;10:13. doi: 10.1186/1741-7015-10-13.
Sapone A, Bai JC, Ciacci C, Dolinsek J, Green PH, Hadjivassiliou M, Kaukinen K, Rostami K, Sanders DS, Schumann M, Ullrich R, Villalta D, Volta U, Catassi C, Fasano A.
Well, sorry, not very friendly this format for me. I repeated your post and after I presented my opinion.
It all depends on the individual presentation. Here there is a report that confirm the need of personalized medicine, to consider complexity with the view of system biology at the XXI level.
J Child Neurol. 2010 Jan;25(1):114-9. Celiac disease presenting as autism. Genuis SJ, Bouchard TP.This case is an example of a common malabsorption syndrome associated with central nervous system dysfunction and suggests that in some contexts, nutritional deficiency may be a determinant of developmental delay. It is recommended that all children with neurodevelopmental problems be assessed for nutritional deficiency and malabsorption syndromes.
Also note that I didn’t say that one should reject all of DAN because some parts are unproven.First, let’s take the last part–it’s unproven.
Even when I disagree with the application part- many parts- , the biochemical aspects addressed by Jon Pangborn are very interesting . Unproven what and for whom and in what context what advice and what – if you want- model of autism? All is unproven at this point somehow, where is the high quality evidence with proof weight for sure for all ASD?
Beyond unproven, some parts are just downright wrong. They are based on an incorrect, obviously false, view of autism. A good example is chelation.
It all depends if a child diagnosed has or not heavy metals bioaccumulation. This is a whole completely different discussion and I agree that better diagnostic tests are needed- to begin with far before to consider chelation… But to dismiss the problems due to lack of knowledge about how to diagnose it in complex situations is not equal to say that the problem does not exist. To focus in extremisms is not fair. Back to 2004….
Some aspects carry risks with no benefit. Calling it merely “unproven” is a major understatement.
These are personal opinions, based on anecdote. My personal experience is completely different. Even more I respect very much anecdotes- because there are autisms…as you know there are some people that think that new approaches- such as the Single Controlled Case approach is needed in ASD.
I do not know a profesional that thinks that let them starve is an option. To present as paradigmatic an extremism is simply not fair to the discussion. About mito dysfunction as a problem there are ways to test and to know about, under proper advice.
I do not know a profesional that thinks that let them starve is an option.
I have run into more than one professional who has advocated the “let the starve” approach as useful for teaching picky eater autistics to eat different foods.
No, these are not. For example, the DAN approach to chelating autistics based on faux “heavy metal poisoning” is based on the incorrect approach that autism is caused by mercury intoxication. That isn’t a personal opinion and it is not based on anecdote. This is a part of the DAN approach and it is wrong. Jim Laidler’s reports are anecdotes–anecdoes of how the DAN community creates their approach. He saw it firsthand.
I have never seen an autism parent discussion which presented the results from a real medical toxicologist. I have seen many (MANY) do-it-yourself parents assume heavy metal intoxication and get mail-order chelators or “natural” chelators. I have seen much faux testing (e.g. porphyrins or hair tests or challenge chelation testing) which is used to support chelation but which is not a way to diagnose heavy metal intoxication. I.e. there are practitioners who subject a child to some test which is bogus and, based on those results, start chelating regimens.
I have seen chelation regimens applied which are far outside the norms. I’ve read of children chleated for *years*.
My child would never be subjected to a DAN doctor’s chelation approach. Were I to suspect heavy metal poisoning, I would seek out the best people I could find in the field. People who specialize in diagnosing and treating heavy metal poisoning. People who have years of training and practice. Not people who decided (falsely) that autism is caused by heavy metals and have convinced themselves that some fake test is actually useful. Medical Toxicologists are not that hard to find (http://www.acmt.net/cgi/page.cgi/findtoxicologist.html).
Which is interesting, but not on point. No one says do not treat the medical conditions of an autistic (or anyone else). Celiac can be diagnosed and treated. That’s very different from stating that a gluten free diet is a treatment for autism.
This case is an example of a common malabsorption syndrome associated with central nervous system dysfunction.
This gets to a point I keep bringing up here,because I don’t think it can be stated enough times.Once you have found an underlying cause,especially one that can be treated like this,it stops being autism,and becomes something else.There is a big problem of autistic children,and adults not getting enough of the right medical tests they need to look for possible underlying medical causes.Doctors of all kinds,both DAN! types and more mainstream doctors are guilty of this.
Although the AMA has not done double blind studies, families have done plenty of research by eliminating it and seeing huge differences. The amount of people who have gone GF and sees the difference out weights the number of research studies any medical body could do. there are labs like Cyrex that test for the 18 proteins of gluten, so one can determine how sensitive they are too it. Just stop giving people more excuses to say there is no validity in GF by saying there’s no research from the AMA, it’s about feeling better, and there are more people speaking out then ever about how it has changed their lives. we need to support what is out there in research, and get that to the media. The AMA is not the organization who should have the final say as they are fighting it. itshould be the person and their health. doctors should be trained to respect that, as well as educate themselves on the truth of what is out there, insteadof always saying there is no research! Research can be hidden, as well as falsified! listen to your gut!
My gut tells me the same thing as my brain: run, don’t walk, away from alternative medical practitioners who claim to have an understanding of autism which they clearly do not.
“research can be hidden, as well as falsified”? There’s someone interested in hiding research on gluten? “Big Wheat”?
Lots of baking, including even vegetarian and vegan alternatives are made from extracted gluten. The wheat grown today is genetically very different from the wheat grown 100 years ago. For one thing, the gluten content is much higher, and the amount of gluten that ends up in our diet has grown by leaps and bounds. Wheat is one of the three most common food sources, by any definition, and it is hardly an exaggeration to say that billions of dollars are at risk each time an ingredient like this is challenged.
Are you saying that corporations would never endanger public health just to increase their profits? Oh please. We are talking about companies that market beer to children, for heaven’s sake. In 2008, more than 54,000 babies were sent to the hospital because a Chinese company tried to inflate a protein test using melamine. (And the infant formula market is chump change compared to the wheat market.) These people would give pot brownies to their own kids for a billion dollars.
Are you just saying that more research needs to be done? That seems like a fair position. It also seems like the same argument that tobacco companies used to make.
Very few people buy into the fringe theories that wheat is evil. Rather is is grown, processed, and sold to us just the same way as hundreds of consumer products. Only more successfully. Wheat ends up in so many final products that you can hardly eat a meal anywhere without getting some wheat. If you check the allergy list at most restaurants, you will find wheat gluten in at least one product that you never expected. Hamburgers, milkshakes, even salad dressing is often loaded with gluten.
The reason is simple, it is cheap, tastes great, and is slightly addictive.
Addictive? Sure. In my case it is because I live in a constant sugar/insulin cycle. For many other people, the exogenous opioid peptides find their way through the stomach barrier into the bloodstream, and end up making contact with opiate receptors. To do this, they would have to survive the digestion process, and much medical research has been devoted to the theory that they do not.
It also doesn’t prove that the exorphins are bad for you. Similar exorphins are found in all sorts of foods, including spinach, for example. Some of these have been shown to improve memory in lab rats, with almost no ill-effect. So we can hardly blame all the world’s problems on wheat. (For one thing, autistic children tend to produce excess beta-endorphin, naturally, without the benefit of wheat.) What we can say is that some of the arguments made against wheat, for certain groups, may turn out to be true.
Fortunately, there is an easy way to test if the opiate receptors are part of the issue. Naltrexone is available, and its use as an opiate receptor blocker is well-studied. Even though not medically approved for treatment of autism symptoms, there are several studies of naltrexone and autism.. And, overall, the studies lean towards naltrexone being a useful treatment for some kids. It seems most effective in decreasing self-injurious behavior, which is what you might expect, if you believed in the opiate theory.
It would be interesting to see if children who benefited from naltrexone would be the same (subset of) autistic kids who might benefit from a gluten-free, casein-free diet. I have looked, but have not found any such studies. Maybe someone here can help me with that particular question.
Let me be very clear again: Even if this were studied, GFCF is not a cure by any definition. For another thing, the genetic conditions that lead to other autism symptoms are not All that means, though, is that wheat is not the root cause of autism. We already knew that. The only question we were trying to decide is can you improve the symptoms of autism, in certain individuals, by eliminating wheat?
Fortunately, this question has been researched.
Oddly, Buie and others decided to read this research and decide that it is not worth the paper it is printed on. Why is that exactly? His paper does not say, but I assume he simply discounted every other study except the one he agreed with.
This is bad science. It adds to the number of studies that support his conclusion, without actually doing any study at all. All he did was read other people’s literature, and ignore any conclusions he disagrees with.
I could do the same thing. And, in fact, I have.
Not sarcasm at all. Just a simple question. Who is supposed to be exerting influence which is supposed to be keeping the purported harmful effects of gluten out of the medical research. What you’ve done is given the stock answer: there is a lot of money involved. Right. Propose a mechanism whereby the author of the study discussed above is influenced by “Big Wheat”. How about the researchers he relies upon for his review.
Typically the “Big Pharma” argument is two pronged. First is the “they make lots of money argument”. Then there’s the “there is evidence that they have influenced others”. Left out is the direct evidence that they have any influence on the research in question. For example, “Pharma is a multi-billion dollar industry. Look at Vioxx.” And then vague, if any, statements about the researchers involved in whatever study people are trying to discredit. Without part three of the discussion, I find the argument hollow. You’re version lacks part 2 *and* three of the argument.
Sarcasm? Or straw man? Or both?
Wow. Such contempt. “not worth the paper it is printed on”. How did you come to that judgment? By your own statement, you don’t know how he decided to weigh other studies more. But you jump to the conclusion that he completely dismisses the study.
Who is “we”? And, why don’t “we” read the abstract above, and/or find the actual article? Because then “we” would see that “we” have built a straw man as Dr. Buie leaves that possibility open.
Ah, so we are back to the opiod excess theory, which I believe you stated above was not the basis for the claims that gluten should be removed from the diets of autistics.
The simple method is to test if there are opiods in the systems of autistics. Simple and already performed. Multiple times. People like Paul Shattock (whom you cite in your link above) have claimed that they are present. Multiple other researchers say no.
Right. Tim Buie, a man who has probably performed as many or more legitimate examinations of autistics with GI disease as anyone, who gave this interview, is so biased?
What you have failed to do is present any research which counters the statements made.
I’ve worked in the field of pediatric feeding disorders for decades. Many people recommend “starving” or deprivation. It often fails miserably with all children, typical or otherwise. It should never be used in individuals with compromised medical status or low weight/poor growth. A thoughtful approach will take into consideration the child’s current weight/growth status, any GI problems, and eating habits.
I’ve implemented elimination diets for many children. They have all had food allergies. We identify and remove the allergen. The person usually feels much better but any underlying disorder will still be present.
Does anyone have any comments on Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride’s Gut and Psychology (GAP) theory / protocol?
We don’t do it 100% but i always keep carbs very low otherwise his poop deteriorates fast.
She ripped off the Weston A. Price Foundation diet (free from local online sites). Basically she just added an elimination protocol to it. The elimination protocol risks malnutrition, but the full Weston A. Price diet is healthy enough if balanced with commonsense (and you have a stay-at-home parent) – it encourages a wide variety of traditional non-processed foods.
The major problem with WAP is that some factions (it has chapters world wide, they focus on local food) suggest supplementing infants with foods before 6 months (they should BF only) and they also encourage eating organ meats including brains. Pate is fine, but brains or CNS tissue are a bad idea (mad cow disease, scrapie etc).
They (WAP and Dr NCM) also maintain you should only use raw milk (they are big on this) – again a really bad idea, especially for kids. Modern cows have been bred for excessively large udders and are prone to infection; organically bred cows suffer quite a lot. My brother-in-law is a New Zealand organic beef/milk farmer, who dropped the milk part – modern cows are not designed for organic milking, it is cruel to the cow and dangerous for the human. One of the most awful things I have seen was a cow suffering from mastitis who could not be given antibiotics, they transfer the worst to a non-organic farm for treatment, but delay this as it wastes an expensive organic cow. They waited too long, and the cow ended having to be shot. If you want raw milk, get your own goat.
Both WAP and DrNCM are very time intensive for food preparation. Bread is home-made fermented sourdough or sprouted grain, and basically everything is home-made – yoghurt, kefir and the like. Everything is made from scratch. Bone broths (the basis for a lot of recipes and the staple of the DrNCM elimination protocol) take hours if not days of baking bones, boiling, cracking etc.
As to the GAPS theory – she basically claims that processed food is the cause of absolutely everything that can go wrong with a person. She has no evidence for this. She also claims that processed food and not breastfeeding makes a child vulnerable to vaccinations. This is nonsense. Many child are diagnosed before eating processed food – including my son who was breastfed til 14 months in a junkfood-free home. Looking back, he clearly showed autistic signs while drinking only breast-milk and eating exactly the natural foods DrNCM recommends. She is just laying a huge guilt trip on mothers who can’t BF or use commercial baby foods.
The major flaw in this study is mentioned right in the beginning: they tried a gluten free diet, and not a gluten free AND casein free diet. Since both proteins have the same effect, it the study could not find anything else than no effect or little effect.
What saddens me is that this will discourage parents from trying the GFCF diet, and it is a wasted opportunity for the kids . This diet brought SPECTACULAR improvements in both my children with Asperger and ADHD. Their allergy tests were negative, but we cannot miss the effects when we make an exception and let them have some wheat pastry or ice cream.
My son with Asperger is successful in regular school and has friends instead of growling in a corner. I will NEVER forget the eye contact i got from him after just 4 days on the diet. i did not want the moment to end but thank god, the bright eyes stayed. My 11 year old daughter with ADHD is depressive and thinks of suicide when she eats 4 pastries in 2 days.
And regarding malnutrition: wheat has more health detriments than benefits, in this era of Roundup Ready Wheat. As for milk, its calcium is not even well absorbed. My kids dont even need calcium supplements. It seems the green vegetables are sufficient after all.
This is a great discussion and I appreciate all of the thought that has gone into many of the answers. All I can add is that I would not do anything for 13 years if it doesn’t show positive, measurable results, and that is how long my son has been GFCF. He is eats a variety of foods and is healthy, of normal height and weight, and still autistic.
There is a history of digestive disorders and food sensitivity in our family. It’s a factor.
I find no benefit to belittling or otherwise dissing parents and physicians who work to find ways to safely treat the symptoms – co-morbid or tangential – of people with digestive problems who also suffer from a disorder for which there is still no known cause (ASD). I am mystified that people fail to understand that anyone who has digestive distress is crabby – and that if your stomach hurts all the time you are crabby all the time. Taking away the pain, especially from someone who can’t express that pain – just always seems like a good idea.
We will never stop trying to address the many facets of our son’s emotional, social and cognitive development, and, when necessary we will approach any issue the way we always have: assess, adjust, take data, re-assess, and adjust again. It’s a more complicated, data-driven version of parenting but in the end it’s the kind of parenting any child deserves.
Because of the weight of anecdotal evidence, a lot of parents are going to try GFCF regardless of studies showing limited effectiveness. We did – if only to exclude the remote possibility that it would have any effectiveness – in the face of repeated well-meaning advice from family and friends. Now we say that we tried it and it didn’t work.
For parents who maintain it is working – have you done a proper reversal? That is introduce one of the offending items for a set time (like a few weeks) and see if outside observers notice a difference. (He nicked a cracker then had a meltdown, is not a proper reversal). If you have not done this, there is no basis for claiming the diet did anything.
For families who do want to trial these diets – base your conclusions on repeated measurements by people who do not know of the diet changes – teachers and the like. Take a baseline of measurements before you start. Set a finite time – if you are not seeing notable improvement (as measured by outsiders) after 3/6 months it is a wash (and remember all children will improve over time). Also, if you think the diet has done something good, it is important to do a reversal – introduce the gluten or dairy again (if your child is really responsive it may only be to one of these), and again take measurements by people who are unaware. Otherwise you are likely to be attributing natural development to the diet (which I think is what is happening with most advocates).
Saw this land the other day, and then remembered this conversation.
The TL/DR; is, the autism group showed increased IgG antibodies to gliadin compared to the normal group, and this response was increased in children with GI symptoms. Genotyping for alleles associated with celiac showed no relationship.
There are a lot of quotes on the web from the authors and other researchers saying that this is just a piece of the puzzle, and, not a reason to try a gf diet in and off itself. None the less, it is always to know a little more than we did the day before, so there you go. It is certainly a lot different than finding no difference in gliadin antibodies between the groups, that’s for sure.
Great explanation…. again… sigh. You never said in your conclusion that it wouldn’t be of some benefit to anyone. How many times do people want to raise a “discussion” and expect a different answer when they are raising a point that you don’t repute. People, read very carefully, “It MAY be of some BENEFIT, but it is not a PROVEN therapy for the ASD population.” Both my son and myself are on the spectrum and we don’t need to be nor want to be fixed. Obviously we are very high functioning, but we do suffer from some negatives. That said, working with a trained therapist to help with anxiety and social skills works for US. I will tell you that for US, messing with UNPROVEN and experimental therapies to look for a CURE to our autism only serves to make our anxieties and self soothing behaviors worse. ASK someone with autism what sets them off and you will get a different answer almost every time. The clear answer that might possibly encompass it all is acute pain/panic do to sensory stimulation…. too much or too little.
FYI, meltdowns can occur as a result of intense emotions… happiness and excitement included. Has anyone thought that perhaps a child with autism (and no proven gluten allergy or sensitivity) could have meltdowns due to being excited by the stimulation of familiar and favorite foods that have been witheld from them??? If all of the other points are valid then let’s give this a thought, shall we? Any of the well meaning parents here ever talk to a higher functioning adult with autism who, perhaps, might be able to communicate for themselves better than a child… to gain a different perspective? We are talking about individuals who are non-communicative and at best have difficulties with traditional communication. Maybe we should TRY to obtain their perspective?
More Spam with a YouTube link.
Ha: The spam keeps drawing me back to this article.
This article was helpful to me because it made me re-think (and re-research) some things I had accepted without proof. Reading back over the comments: My apologies to Matt if I misrepresented your statements. It was not my intent, sorry.
Another anecdote to add: My son was rolling around on the floor last Saturday during a certain class, to the point where I pulled him from class and asked him what was going on. He could not answer, of course, but we started going back over his food log to see if we found any red flags.
The only missing entry was Friday night, where he was at a party for several hours. We asked him if he had gotten cake at the party, and he said “no”. As he remembered the party, though, he grew a big smile, and said: “I love animal crackers”.
If something as simple as sharing a snack at a kid’s party makes him happy, then I am certainly not going to steal crackers from him. As Halloween approaches, I expect there will be other opportunities for him to get “forbidden” goodies without us knowing about it. For him, that might be more than half the fun of Halloween.
I doubt any of that will do any permanent damage. In fact, low levels of occasional gluten may help preserve the body’s ability to digest. I have searched around for research on the subject, but searching the internet for real research is like searching the ocean for a message in a bottle.
Its such as you read my thoughts! You appear to know so much approximately this, like you wrote the e book in it or something.
minutes and actual effort to make a top notch article… but what can I say… I put things off a lot and never manage to get anything done.
Theere is definately a great deal too learn about this issue.
It might be interesting to understand what it is about this post, in particular, that attracts the robots? Do the authors of spam bots believe gf eaters are preferential to random clickers? Is there a critical set of keywords that has drawn them here? | 2019-04-20T02:55:30Z | https://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2013/05/24/currently-there-is-insufficient-evidence-to-support-instituting-a-gluten-free-diet-as-a-treatment-for-autism/ |
In the wake of the most recent fallout between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Syria Deeply gathered together a group of experts to discuss the potential consequences for Syria, both on the ground and at the negotiating table. The big question: Could this mean the end of the Syrian peace talks known as the Vienna Process?
Riyadh severed diplomatic ties with Tehran earlier this week, after rioters stormed the Saudi Arabian embassy in Iran’s capital and set fire to the building.
Demonstrators in Iran took to the streets early on Sunday January 3 in protest over Saudi Arabia’s execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.
Nimr al-Nimr was sentenced to death after calling for the overthrow of the Saudi royal family. He also served as the spiritual leader for Shiite protesters in the Sunni kingdom.
Riyadh’s cut in ties with Tehran was quickly followed by a string of similar diplomatic moves by Muslim-majority states in the region. Bahrain and Sudan both severed all ties with Iran, and the UAE reduced the number of Iranian diplomats allowed in the country.
Officials at the Pentagon, the E.U. and the U.N. have all said the split between the region’s two foremost powers – both are key backers on separate sides of Syria’s civil war – does not bode well for the recently redoubled diplomatic efforts aimed at finding a political transition in Syria.
Generally speaking, the Saudi–Iranian conflict is an important driver of the war in Syria, so anything that aggravates it is bad news for Syrians.
In the specific case of the Geneva III negotiations that are to start on January 25, it’s hard to tell how important this could be. The reason is that it’s not obvious who is hurting whom more in Syria. I’m not sure they know either. Both nations are involved in Syria partly to weaken the other’s influence and both are paying significant sums to support their own allies. They can escalate even more, of course, to stick it to the other side. But they’re already putting significant effort into this and they both have other problems to manage as well, and if they had some big card left to play, I think they would have played it already.
Neither is fully comfortable with the Geneva III talks as currently envisioned, but they probably also know that the other side has reservations. So while both could certainly do a lot to undermine the peace process, it’s not clear what that would achieve, except to piss off the Americans and others who are more deeply invested in these talks.
On the other hand, this assumes that both sides approach the Syrian conflict rationally and in a calculated fashion. It’s not at all unlikely that they’ll just start to be obnoxious and obstructive on principle, refusing to sit down with the other side or trying to pull their own allies out of the talks. As I said, it’s not clear what that would achieve except to ruin a rare opportunity to infuse a ruinous war with some politics and diplomacy. But there’s definitely a lot of wounded pride and self-righteous anger on both sides, so maybe some grandstanding on Syria would play well for a domestic audience or for a regional sectarian audience. That would be a shame.
In the best-case scenario, Iran and Saudi show up to the Geneva talks, set aside their differences and focus on ways to stop the bloodshed in Syria. In the worst-case scenario, Saudi Arabia and Iran show up, or don’t, and ultimately derail the process by focusing on their own conflict instead of finding ways to stop the bloodshed in Syria.
A likely case is that talks are postponed … as has happened with all prior attempts at negotiating peace in Syria. In any case, we must not forget that regardless of the Saudi–Iranian relationship, Syrian civilians are being targeted every day by the Assad regime, Russian aircraft and Iranian-backed Hezbollah soldiers.
The threat to the Geneva talks, and any peace process for Syria, is the Assad regime. It is not the Saudi–Iranian split or their proxy war in Syria – not to mention the proxy war between Russia and the West. It is the Assad regime that has left more than 300,000 dead, a quarter-million detained, and more than half the population displaced, either internally or in foreign refugee camps. While the Saudi-Iranian hostilities may have negative consequences for Syria, the real impediment to peace is the Assad regime, which has repeatedly shown that it is not serious about stopping the flow of blood. Rather, the regime, emboldened by America’s paralysis and kept alive by Russia’s military and Hezbollah’s soldiers, engages in “peace talks” and strategies to delay any final reckoning for its war against the Syrian people.
In Madaya, a suburb of Damascus, some 40,000 people are starving to death, in a now-familiar regime tactic: Lay siege to an entire community just ahead of peace talks so that “negotiations” can be overshadowed by the urgency of mass starvation. The regime engaged in similar tactics ahead of the Geneva II talks of 2014. That was when it employed the same starvation siege tactic on Homs before magnanimously allowing U.N. convoys to deliver food, then giving orders to fire on the U.N. trucks containing life-saving supplies.
If we go along with the farce that the negotiating table represents the road to peace, the international community needs to hold Assad and his cronies responsible for continuing to wage war on defenseless, starving civilians. We need to accept the irony that Russia and the West claim there is only a political solution, yet rain bombs daily on Syria under the pretext of fighting Daesh. If the road to peace is via the negotiating table, we need to ask at what point Assad, a war criminal already knee-deep in the blood of civilians, would be willing to negotiate himself out of a job, despite Russian and Iranian claims that there can be no preconditions to negotiations.
Regardless of the outcome of Riyadh/Tehran posturing, the Geneva talks need to be about Syria. The international community, having excluded Syrians from the recent Vienna talks, needs to listen to what Syrians are saying: “Stop the carnage.” If those who have the power to stop the bloodshed continue to do nothing but posture, then they are guilty of far worse than ignoring the desperate pleas of the Syrian people: They are complicit in genocide.
I think the political process is returning to the military reality, which is that any Saudi–Iranian rapprochement at the negotiating table is as dead as it is on the ground, for the time being.
We asked some of our sources inside Syria if they’ve seen any signs of the Iranians beefing up or the Saudis sending mass amounts of weapons to their proxies, but that has yet to happen. We might see it, but not yet. This is something I’d expect to see over Yemen.
As for the negotiations, which are set to start in two weeks’ time, [the consequences] remain to be seen. I can’t imagine any conciliatory gesture by either Saudi or Iran to establish a cease-fire agreement to cool down the war. I’m very pessimistic about the political process. It’s been a great chance for Russia, with some very clever political zigzagging, to get their idea of a transitional period with Assad remaining forever embraced by the international community. They’ve been very creative.
Normally, such negotiations are meant to bridge distrust and conflict and reach a consensus. But by appointing Jordan in charge of determining which rebel group constitutes a terrorist group, these negotiations were already a dead end. Jordan would never be able to dictate any terms, and no one would be able to agree. Saudi Arabia would probably claim Bashar al-Assad’s regime is a terrorist organization. They’d say Ahrar al-Sham is fine and Jaish al-Islam is fine. The Russians would probably go as far as to declare Nour al-Din al-Zenki a terrorist group. I never imagined these negotiations would arrive to any sort of sustainable solution, otherwise the Russians would have probably vetoed it.
Saudi Arabia’s efforts to invite opposition groups to the table were a waste of a golden opportunity. Half of Ahrar al-Sham signed, and half walked out. Some bitterly complained that there were 70-something people from the civilian opposition, one more irrelevant than the other, and a rather small representation of the armed groups, who will at the end of the day decide who is legitimate to speak for and to rule people in Aleppo, Idlib, etc. Like I said, I’m very pessimistic about the current political process.
Nobody expected this execution. Everyone I spoke to thought the Saudis would keep Nimr al-Nimr as an asset. He could have been a bargaining chip. Not even ISIS would kill such an extremely important hostage. It completely contradicts their foreign policy plans.
Like in many other countries, domestic priorities often come before dealing with the rest of the world. I can’t imagine that Adel al-Jubeir [Saudi’s foreign minister] and others thought [the execution] was a wise decision, particularly when they’ve just managed to get a better seat at the Vienna table.
They say it’s Syria politics, but nobody cares about Syria. Nobody cares about what we could achieve there. For Riyadh, it was obviously more relevant to kill this Shiite cleric at the most stupid moment than to achieve anything. It seems that domestic politics, once again, trump foreign politics.
If they were trying to seek revenge for the death of Zahran Alloush, they could have done something in Syria. They could have sent more money or weapons to Jaish al-Islam to give them advantages in certain areas, instead of escalating the Shiite–Sunni gap.
The Saudi–Iran confrontation is Riyadh’s way of tearing apart the Syria negotiations. Geneva was not turning out how the Kingdom wanted one iota. The mid-December Riyadh Conference didn’t produce the necessary results and Russia made sure the Riyadh Conference findings were squashed by killing terrorist extremist Zahran Alloush. Now, the international community and regional powers have to approach the Syrian talks in a new way, which may take time and shove the timetable down the calendar.
The sectarian dimension is likely to up the ground war, and, to be sure, both Riyadh and Tehran will deliver more equipment to the belligerents. The real bad news is that the Syrian war will likely expand in a new form back in Iraq. Saudi is making very clear their design for Anbar and those who pledge their unity to the Saudi-led Sunni military alliance will back Riyadh against Iran in various, still to be determined, ways.
Instead of negotiations, the Saudis want to use force to guarantee Sunni conclaves in the Levant, to counter the Shiites and their proxies. Riyadh doesn’t want Syria to turn out like Iraq: The Kingdom is seeking to reverse this process.
The sudden political and diplomatic rift between Iran and Saudi Arabia will definitely affect the conflict dynamic in Syria, and will hamper international efforts to bring the main warring parts to the same negotiations table.
It seems that the mediation officially brokered by the U.N. special envoy Staffan de Mistura will not have any chance of success in the short and mid term. The gap between the opposition groups gathered in Riyadh and the Syrian government continues to be unbridgeable as the U.N. Resolution 2254 approved last December does not offer any concrete solution to the most sensitive issue: the fate of the Syrian central power embodied in the Assad clan and its allies. With Tehran and Riyadh at odds, the rival parties won’t now engage in any effort toward compromise.
On the ground, there could be further military escalation along the front line between the pro-Saudi and pro-Turkish armed opposition groups (AOGs) and Government of Syria (GoS) forces heavily supported by Russia and Iran. But any significant military victory could not be achieved by either party neither in the Southern nor Northern fronts. However, the truce agreements lately reached in the Homs, Daraa, Idlib and Damascus regions between radical AOGs and GoS/Iran could be negatively affected by the increasing regional tension.
Furthermore, the recent ground achievements of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) across the Euphrates between Raqqa and Aleppo regions could have a significant impact on the war dynamics in northern Syria. In particular, this could push both Ankara and Riyadh to increase their support in favor of radical militants as they would need to counterbalance the increasing influence of SDF, whose military success is partially due to the Russian air cover and U.S. logistical aid.
I don’t view this recent split between Iran and Saudi Arabia as a game changer. In fact, I strongly disagree with the notion that somehow the severing of diplomatic relations fundamentally translates into a qualitative shift with respect to the dynamics of the Syrian conflict or the prospects for peace. Iran and Saudi Arabia have already maxed out their positions over the past five years. In other words, they have already invested a maximum of their resources to their full capacity to advance their interests in Syria. I don’t see recent events changing this reality in any substantive way.
The only possible consequence recent events could have is that if we ever get to a point in the peace process (and this is a big if) where concessions have to be made and the regional powers are forced to put pressure on their respective proxies in Syria as a way of advancing the peace process, then I think this recent diplomatic fallout could have negative repercussions. There will be more reluctance, for example, on the part of Iran to pressure Assad to compromise and to agree to a possible exit of Assad as part of an overall peace plan. The same applies on the Saudi side.
In broad terms, the recent fallout only serves to entrench existing positions. These positions have long solidified over the course of the past five years. The recent deterioration of relations and antagonism between Saudi Arabia and Iran do not, in my reading, fundamentally change this dynamic.
The fallout at this stage does not completely undermine the Vienna Peace Process. Both Saudi and Iran, over a series of several meetings, basically agreed to a broad framework that was enshrined in a U.N. Security Council Resolution 2254 on December 18. Now the ball is out of the court of the Iranians and Saudis and is in the court of the Syrian actors and Staffan de Mistura. That’s the next stage of the Vienna process – to try and bring Syrians from both the Assad regime and the opposition around the table. Thus, at this stage, Iran and Saudi Arabia really don’t have much to contribute. Perhaps, as a result of recent events, they might decide to take a more hardline stance when it comes to determining which Syrian rebel groups are terrorists and can have a seat at the table and which cannot.
I’m very skeptical about the Vienna Process. I think it was essentially dead on arrival because it assumes that after five years of a neo-genocidal war, and having already gone down this road before in Switzerland in January 2014 with Lakhdar Brahimi, that somehow something substantial has changed. Why should anyone assume that just because the regional and international powers have agreed to a broad framework, all of the Syrian participants in this conflict are going to meet in Geneva at the end of January, kiss and make up, and agree to some unity government and peace plan? There is little room for optimism on this point. I just can’t see why anyone would think that this would happen. If you listen to the positions of the two sides, they’re saying the exact opposite of what John Kerry is hoping for. This is really the fundamental flaw in the Vienna Peace Process – its Syrian component – which really isn’t affected by the recent conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Of course, Iran and Saudi Arabia are critical regional actors who have fueled the conflict by backing different sides, but the flaw in the Vienna process is its complete disconnect from the reality on the Syrian ground.
Some of the above interviews have been edited for length. | 2019-04-19T07:07:58Z | https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2016/01/08/the-expert-view-the-saudi-iran-rift-over-syria |
This then prompted me to consider the converse proposition: Representation Without Taxation Is Tyranny. It would, of course, be a fallacy to think that this is entailed by the first proposition. But surely it is just as reasonable. It was accepted by most people as a fair limit on the franchise in the mid-nineteenth century. Why should people who are not taxpayers be allowed to vote money away from those who are? If we must have state services, it should at least be for those who pay for them to vote for which services they want and how much they wish to pay. To allow those providing, or living off, the services to vote is like allowing a shopkeeper to vote on what you must buy from him, or a beggar to vote on what you must give him. Naturally, I hear you say, but doesn’t everyone pay tax, at least on goods and services? And so is it not trivially true, insofar as morals can be ‘true’? No, they do not and it is not. Not by a very long chalk.
To take a clear case, when a direct state employee, such as a civil servant, receives his salary cheque there will be an apparent deduction for the amount of tax that he pays. As a matter of fact this is a mere book-keeping exercise designed to keep up the pretence that he is a taxpayer along with everyone else. Abandoning this pretence of taxpaying and simply paying him less in the first place would save taxpayers’ money in administration and make the political reality clearer to all.
So who does not pay taxes and so ought not to have an electoral vote? Judges, state-school teachers, all in local government, state policemen, all in the armed forces, all in prison, all in the NHS, all in the civil service, all employees of the BBC, all the unemployed, all in academia (except, perhaps, in the University of Buckingham), some farmers, some solicitors, maybe some barristers, any employed in businesses that receive tax-subsidies in excess of their tax-payments, and MPs with insufficient taxed market-incomes to cover their salaries. I cannot list them all, but you see the size of the problem. You can also see that there is no class conflict in any quasi-Marxian sense here.
Who, then, does pay taxes? Well — anyone who is left. If you are in any doubt as to which category that you are in then the simple test is to ask yourself whether, in your current position, you would have more purchasing power or less purchasing power if taxation were completely abolished.
That is rather a sweeping list- denying the franchise to “any employed in businesses that receive tax-subsidies in excess of their tax-payments,” for example, would mean that a great many people would have to wait for the results of quite a thoroughgoing audit of their employers before they would know whether they would have a place at the ballot box. And if we take Professor Lester’s “simple test” at face value, no one would be qualified to vote. If “taxation were completely abolished,” taking with it all enforcement of laws, one might expect new obstacles to be put in the path of wealth creation.
There are some who are on the periphery of net tax-receiving and whom it will not be possible to distinguish with certainty. These people receive most of their income from purchases by state institutions or state employees. The latter is especially hard to be sure of. For instance, those working for The Guardian and New Statesman &Society might just fit this category. But if it is too hard to prove then they might have to be given the benefit of the doubt. Though if the state sector shrinks, due to a new Taxpayer Democracy, then enterprises will decline to the extent that they necessarily depend on indirect state patronage. In the case of the latter two publications I would expect such journals as The Times and The Spectator to expand to replace them.
In view of the percentage of economic activity in modern societies that “purchases by state institutions and state employees” represent, one rather doubts that even The Spectator would pass this test.
And why stop there? If the employees of The New Statesman are disfranchised because most of their subscribers are net tax recipients, why should employees of the bar across the street from the offices of The New Statesman retain the right to vote? And if those workers are classified as net tax recipients because most of their income is derived from purchases made by net tax recipients, shouldn’t any purchases they make, and any purchase the bar makes, also be classified as a transfer of tax monies? Follow those knock-ons far enough, and again we come to a scenario in which voting is abolished altogether.
Moreover, while there are various schools of thought which propose that in a well-ordered society the laws defining those relationships among people which we call “property” could be written in a way that would reflect some moral reality given in nature, the radicalism of Professor Lester’s proposal would suggest that he does not believe that the UK has attained a particularly high level of justice. So, how can he consider any corporation chartered and regulated by the British state, even if the voting shares of that corporation’s stock are held by private individuals, to be less than suspect?
And what of tax recipients in other countries? To return to his examples of The New Statesman and The Guardian, while it may in 1996 have been the case that both of these publications derived most of their revenue from net recipients of UK taxes, two thirds of The Guardian’s revenue now comes from readers outside the UK, half of them in the United States. Few of these readers are in the pay of the British state, but it is possible that most of them are net tax recipients in their own countries. If so, would employees of The Guardian still be disqualified from voting in Britain because they are indirect recipients of US tax dollars?
Nor is that the only implication. Professor Lester is surely right that our conception of taxpaying is too narrow if it is simply limited to figures that appear on ledgers. I would not defend the idea that the line on a state employee’s pay stub indicating that some number of pounds or dollars has been deducted from his or her gross pay represents actual taxpaying. On the other hand, his conception of tax-receiving is just as narrow as this. So in the USA, profitable corporations pay their shareholders far less in dividends, and their executives far more in compensation, than do their counterparts in other advanced countries. This is largely the result of the US corporate income tax, under which companies pay taxes on money they distribute as dividends but not on money they pay to executives. Therefore, a rational analysis of taxes in the USA should classify as tax payments all compensation executives receive in excess of what their counterparts receive in countries with different tax regimes. That analysis would reveal that many of the individuals who are in the habit of regarding themselves as the USA’s greatest taxpayers are in fact net recipients of tax dollars. Professor Lester would have to deny them the franchise as well.
In fact, Professor Lester’s proposal might have some rather amusing consequences if applied to the USA. Not only executive compensation, but interest payments are also deductible from the corporate income tax. That encourages US firms to take on far more debt than do their counterparts in other countries. Those debt levels in turn give rise to the private equity sector, the “corporate raiders” who sometimes make such a big splash in the business pages. If we classify them as net tax recipients and on that account deprive them of the vote, we would suddenly have a bunch of disfranchised billionaires and centi-millionaires running about. I confess that I would find it difficult to refrain from laughing out loud if corporate raider-turned-politico Willard “Mitt” Romney were to lose the right to vote.
What brought this old column to my mind was an essay that popped up in my Twitter feed this morning, a 2017 piece by philosopher Philip Goff. Professor Goff begins with the observation that right-wing libertarians who denounce all taxation as theft are only the most extreme advocates of a widespread notion, the notion that what is listed on pay stubs and other accounting instruments as a payee’s pre-tax income is property to which that payee is morally entitled. Again, this is the fallacy that Professor Lester identified, equating taxpaying with ledger items rather than with the actual allocation of resources.
Your gross, or pre-tax income, is the money the market delivers to you. In what sense might it be thought that you have a moral claim on this money? One answer might be that you deserve it: you have worked hard and have done a good job, and consequently you deserve all your gross income as recompense for your labour. According to this line of reasoning, when the government taxes, it takes the money that you deserve for the work you do.
This is not a plausible view. For it implies that the market distributes to people exactly what they deserve for the work that they do. But nobody thinks a hedge-fund manager deserves many times more wealth than a scientist working on a cure for cancer, and few would think that current pay ratios in companies reflect what philosophers call desert claims. Probably you work very hard in your job, and you make an important contribution. But then so do most people, and the market distribution of wealth patently does not reward in proportion to how hard-working people are, or how much of a contribution they make to society. If we were just focusing on desert, then there is a good case for taxation to correct the amoral distribution of the market.
If we have a moral claim on our gross income, it is not because we deserve it, but because we are entitled to it. What’s the difference? What you deserve is what you ought to have as a result of hard work or social contribution; what you are entitled to is the result of your property rights. Libertarians believe that each individual has natural property rights, which it would be immoral for the government to infringe. According to Right-wing libertarians such as Robert Nozick and Murray Rothbard, taxation is morally wrong not because the taxman takes what people deserve, but because he takes what people have a right to.
Therefore, if taxation is theft, it’s because it essentially involves the violation of people’s natural rights to property. But do we really have natural rights to property? And even if we do, does taxation really infringe them? To begin to address these questions, we need to think more carefully about the nature of property.
Professor Goff distinguishes between three schools of thought. Right libertarians hold that all things that have value to humans gained that value because someone discovered those things and by his or her labor created that value. For them, it is a truth inherent in the structure of the world that each individual has inalienable right to possess the fruits of his or her labor. Property law represents an attempt to tease out the moral facts that make up this truth. Property law must therefore recognize ownership as a relationship between a particular person and a particular object, and it must prohibit all other persons from interfering with this relationship.
Left libertarians agree that property law is just if and only if it teases out moral facts about the relationship between people and things. However, they do not accept that these facts are as Right libertarians say they are. Rather, they believe that it is unjust for any one person to lay exclusive claim to nature. At its most extreme, Left libertarianism proscribes ownership of anything other than one’s own body. At its most modest, it lays down rules enjoining requirements for sharing what one does own, and insisting on joint responsibility among members of a community for the use of the resources under their control.
To bring out the difference, ask yourself: ‘Which comes first: facts about property or facts about property law?’ For the social constructivist, the right to property is not some natural, sacred thing that exists independently of human conventions and legal practices. Rather, we create property rights, by setting up legal institutions to ensure that people have certain legal rights over the material world. For the libertarian, in contrast, facts about property exist independently of human laws and conventions, and indeed human laws and conventions ought to be moulded to respect the natural right to property.
This distinction is crucial for our question. Suppose we accept the social-constructivist view that property rights are merely legal. Now we ask the question: ‘Do I have a moral claim on the entirety of my pre-tax income?’ We cannot argue that I am entitled to my pre-tax income on the basis of my natural property rights, as there are no such things as ‘natural’ property rights (according to the social-constructivist position we are now considering). So, if I have a moral claim on my entire pre-tax income, this must be because it is exactly the amount of money I deserve for my hard work and social contribution, presumably because in general the market delivers to each person exactly what they deserve. But we have already concluded that this is not a plausible claim. Without the belief in natural property rights, existing independent of human laws and conventions, there is no way to make sense of the idea that the deliverances of the market are inherently just, and hence no way to make sense of the idea that each person’s gross income (which is just the income the market delivers to them) is hers by right.
Here’s where we’re up to: to make sense of the idea that taxation is (moral) theft, we have to make sense of the idea that each person has a moral claim on the entirety of her gross income, and this can be made sense of only if property rights are natural rather than mere human constructions.
As already discussed, social constructivists do not deny the existence of property rights, rather they take them to be social or legal constructions, which humans are free to shape to reflect what they deem valuable. Jesus declared that ‘The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.’ Analogously, for the social constructivist, property rights are made to serve human interests and not vice versa.
It is plausible that human flourishing requires certain legally protected rights to property, and hence most social constructivists will advocate a system of property rights. At the same time, there are other things of value – perhaps equality, perhaps reward for hard work and/or social contribution (which as we have seen is not well-protected by the market) – and in order to promote these other values, most social constructivists propose making property rights conditional on the payment of taxes. In the absence of pre-existing natural property rights, there is no moral reason to respect the market distribution of wealth (there will of course be pragmatic, economic reason, but that is another matter).
Professor Goff argues that Right libertarianism fails at two points. First, it cannot answer the basic claims of Left libertarianism, and so fails at the outset. Second, even if we choose to overlook this failing, it can defend the idea that gross income is a measure of special moral importance if and only if it can demonstrate that the market is operating in its best possible state, in no way distorted by political intervention. As this claim would leave Right libertarians without much of anything else to say, they would seem unlikely to adopt it.
I would like to add one point to Professor Goff’s description of social constructivism. Many years ago, I studied the legal codes of ancient Rome. I can’t say that much stuck with me from that study, but one thing I remember very clearly is that every time the ancients said they had “rights” they specified against whom they had those rights. That is to say, rights were definitions of what was and what was not allowed in particular relationships among people. The concept of rights is simply not relevant to relationships between people and inanimate objects.
A property right describes, not what may happen between a person and a thing s/he owns, but among various people who might encounter that thing. That’s why I can’t kick your door down, but a police officer with the proper warrant can. Your ownership of your door gives you rights against me that it doesn’t give you against the agents of law enforcement. Likewise with the various actions allowed a tenant and a landlord with regard to the same location. Or for that matter, with regard to the right of free speech a citizen may have against the state, as opposed to the rights that same citizens might have against the owners of a social media platform with terms and conditions specifying that they can “terminate your account at any time, for any reason or no reason.” You may be able to challenge their particular exercise of that right in court, but if so it isn’t because you have the same right against them that you have against the state. Rather, it is because there are rights built into the law of contract that sometimes override particular provisions parties may write into a particular agreement.
It seems to me that the social constructivist view of property law is obviously right, and that the both varieties of libertarian are simply being childish. If you disagree, well, there is a comment section.
Shortly before the stock markets closed yesterday afternoon, the US Supreme Court announced a ruling on the so-called “Affordable Care Act” (also known as ACA.) Health care stocks generally rose on the news of the ruling, in some cases sharply, while shares in health insurers showed a mixed reaction. Today, the trend has been slightly downward across the board.
A majority of the US Supreme Court held that the US government does have the power to compel citizens and other residents of the USA to buy health insurance. While the court rejected the Obama administration’s argument that this power, the core of the law, was within the scope of the authority the Constitution grants the federal government to regulate interstate commerce, it concluded that, because the law is to be enforced by the Internal Revenue Service in the process of collecting taxes, it is supported by the government’s authority to levy taxes.
In effect, the law establishes a tax that will be paid directly to health insurance companies. US residents who refuse to pay this tax will be assessed an alternative tax, one paid to the treasury. As written, the statute did not include the word “tax,” speaking instead of “premiums” and “penalties.” These words are euphemisms. This is clear not only from the Supreme Court’s legal reasoning, but also from the most basic economic logic. A law which directs people to dispose of their wealth in a particular way to advance a particular set of policy objectives is a tax, whatever label marketing-minded politicians may choose to give it.
Many supporters of the ACA object to the term “Obamacare.” The law was crafted on the model of a regime of health insurance regulations and subsidies enacted in Massachusetts in 2006. That regime is widely known as “Romneycare,” in honor of Willard M. Romney (alias “Mitt,”) who, as Massachusetts’ governor at the time, had been its chief advocate. So calling the federal version “Obamacare” is simply a matter of continuing to follow the Massachusetts model. Now, of course, Mr Romney is the Republican Party’s choice to oppose Mr Obama in this year’s presidential election. Therefore Mr Romney and his surrogates are creating much merriment for political observers by trying to attack the president’s most widely-known legislative achievement, which as it so happens is identical to Mr Romney’s most widely-known legislative achievement.
It seems to me very clear what Dr Newhall means to evoke in these sentences is the spectre of fascism. During the 1930’s, fascists in Italy, Britain, Belgium, and several other countries used the words “fascism” and “corporatism” interchangeably, and economic historians still cite Mussolini’s Italy, and to a lesser extent Hitler’s Germany, as examples of corporatist economics in practice. The American diplomat-turned-economist-turned-journalist-turned-pariah Lawrence Dennis argued in a series of books in the 1930’s that laissez-faire capitalism was doomed, that state ownership of industry was a dead end, and that the economic future of the developed world belonged to a system in which the state coordinated and subsidized the operations of privately-owned corporations. The most famous of the books in which Dennis endorsed this system was titled The Coming American Fascism.
Why does Corporatism favor Obamacare? Because Obamacare is nothing more than a huge bailout for another failing industry — the health insurance industry. No health insurer could continue to raise premiums at the rate of two to three times inflation, as they have done for at least a decade. No health insurer could continue to pay 200 million dollar plus bonuses to top executives, as they have done repeatedly. No health insurer could continue to restrict Americans’ access to decent health care, in effect creating slow and silent ‘death panels.’ No health insurer could do those things and survive. But with the Obamacare act now firmly in place, health insurers will see a HUGE multibillion dollar windfall in the form of 40 million or more new health insurance customers whose premiums are paid largely by government subsidies. That is the explanation for the numerous expansions and mergers you have seen in the health care industry in the past couple of years. You will see more of the same, and if you are a stock bettor, you would do well to buy stock in smaller health insurers, because they will be snapped up in a wave of consolidation that dwarfs anything yet seen in this country.
Certainly the health insurance industry was in trouble in 2009, and the ACA is an attempt to enable that industry to continue business more or less as usual. In that sense, it is a bailout. Indeed, the health insurance companies are extremely influential in both the Democratic and Republican parties, and there can be little doubt that whichever of those parties won the 2008 elections would have enacted similar legislation. Had Mr Romney been successful in his 2008 presidential campaign, doubtless he would have signed the same bill that Mr Obama in fact signed. The loyal Democrats who today defend the ACA as a great boon to working-class Americans would then be denouncing it in terms like those Dr Newhall employs, while the loyal Republicans who today denounce the ACA as a threat to the “free-enterprise system” that they fondly imagine to characterize American economic life would then defend it on some equally fanciful basis.
In a deeper sense, however, I disagree with Dr Newhall’s assessment quite thoroughly. A moment ago, I defined taxation as any law that requires people to dispose of their wealth in particular ways to advance particular policy objectives. If we think about that definition for a moment, we can see that the United States’ entire health insurance industry exists to receive taxes. In the USA, wages paid to employees are subject to a rather heavy tax called FICA. Premiums that are paid for employees’ health insurance policies are not subject to FICA, and so employers have an incentive to put a significant fraction of their employees’ compensation packages into health insurance premiums. Since the health insurers have been collecting taxes all along, it is quite misleading to call the ACA a bailout. It is, rather, a tax increase.
Now, as to the question of fascism, certainly fascist regimes did blur the line between the public and private sectors. The most extreme case of this was of course the assignment of concentration camp inmates as slave labor for I. G. Farben and other cartels organized under the supervision of the Nazi state. So it would not have been much of a stretch for fascists to grant corporations the power to collect taxes. Even if they had done so, however, fascists could hardly claim to have made an innovation. Tax farming, the collection of taxes by private-sector groups in pursuit of profit, was the norm in Persia by the sixth century BC, and spread rapidly throughout the ancient world. In ancient Rome under the later Republic, tax farming proved itself to be a highly efficient means of organizing tax collection. So the fact that tax farming is one of the principal aspects of the US economy is not evidence that the USA is a fascist or a proto-fascist regime. Indeed, the fact that the Supreme Court seriously considered a case that would have challenged the legitimacy of tax farming is an encouraging sign, however unedifying the opinions that the court issued as a result of that consideration might be.
Of course, in the ancient world tax farmers bid competitively for the right to collect taxes, and the winners put their bids into the public treasury. In the USA, there is no such bidding, and no such payment. Instead, wealthy individuals and interest groups buy politicians by financing their campaigns and their retirements. Perhaps we would be better off to adopt the ancient system.
At any rate, “fascism” seems a misnomer for our economic system, almost as misleading as “free enterprise” or as anachronistic as “capitalism.” A more accurate term, at least as regards the components that are dominated by tax farming, would be neo-feudalist. The US political class is increasingly an hereditary class; Mr Obama defeated the wife of a former president to win his party’s nomination to succeed the son of a former president, and now faces the son of a former presidential candidate in his campaign for a second term. This hereditary nobility will now sit atop a system in which the non-rich are legally obligated to pay tribute or provide service to those in power in the land, who will in turn honor certain obligations to them.
*Fascism being what it was, “not markedly successful in intra-party politics” often meant “shot several times in the head and dismembered,” as happened to Gregor Strasser.
“I see little difference between mandated car insurance and mandated health insurance—in most places, having a car is virtually a necessity of life” Car insurance and health insurance have a couple of things in common. The chief of these is that both categories of products are called “insurance.” The rest of the similarities, such as the fact that the some of the same companies sell them and some of the same agencies regulate them, stem from this point of vocabulary.
The similarities between car insurance and health insurance, however, are dwarfed by the differences between them. You choose an auto dealer, choose a car, negotiate a price for that car, arrange financing for it, pay that price, buy the fuel of your choice for it, decide which routine maintenance tasks you will perform on it yourself and which you will entrust to a mechanic, choose the mechanic who will perform those tasks, and pay that mechanic for those routine tasks, all without input from your insurer. If car insurance were the same thing as health insurance, you would be dependent on the insurer to make all of these payments and all of these decisions for you. To use mandates for car insurance as an analogy to justify mandates for health insurance, then, is like saying that because lightning rods protect your house from lightning, they should also protect your garden from lightning bugs.
If the USA’s political leaders were serious about controlling the cost of health care, in fact, they would move to make health insurance more like car insurance- not by making it mandatory, but by removing the tax incentives that reward employers for redirecting money from employee’s paychecks to health insurance premiums. Under our current system, a substantial percentage of the compensation US employers pay to keep their employees on staff goes, not to them in the form of money they can spend as they see fit, but to insurers to form funds from which employees can draw only in the form of medical expenses. Therefore, when those employees become consumers of health care they have no incentive to keep the cost of their health care down. Health care providers obviously have no such incentive. Even employers and insurance companies have only a very weak incentive to keep costs down, since employers are paying premiums with money that would otherwise go to the corporate income tax or to some other tax shelter. That’s why the cost of health care has for many consecutive years grown at a rate well in excess of the general rate of inflation, something which is not true of cars, car insurance, or any of the services car insurance usually covers.
If the corporate income tax were abolished, it would be possible for health insurance to become like car insurance. Consumers could choose and pay for their own routine health care, and pay also for insurance to cover catastrophic health expenses, as consumers now buy car insurance to cover catastrophic auto expenses. Doubtless, the modern world being what it is, there would be a political demand for substantial public sector subsidies for low-income people who have need of health care. So long as these subsidies were in the form of direct transfers of money to these potential consumers, they might leave the recipients with as much incentive to negotiate for lower prices as they have when considering the purchase of other goods and services that money could gain them. Not being as far to the right (or as secular) as most people who hang around here at Secular Right, I would be eager to support a generous program of subsidies along these lines.
Scientology may be one of those native religions that at first seems bizarre but adapts, grows and eventually thrives in our country’s fecund, undepleted spiritual soil.
Would that be a good thing? In many ways, no. It would mean more people reading L. Ron Hubbard’s tedious books when they could be reading real literature. It would mean more people suspending critical judgment, ignoring the factual record and insisting that Hubbard was a great warrior, adventurer, intellectual and teacher. It would mean more dollars misspent on auditing, instead of on good psychotherapy, badly needed prescription drugs or some really helpful classes at a community college.
On the other hand, if Scientology is still around in fifty years, some lucky Americans will discover in its practices the right cure for what ails them. For whatever reasons, either auditing or Hubbard’s “study tech” or Scientology communication classes will give them what public school—or a Freudian analyst or Judaism or Christianity or the Quaker meeting or the local Masonic lodge—could not. Scientology will give them a community. It will give them a way of life. Yet I remain worried about Scientology, worried enough that I can say this: I hope, fifty years from now, it’s not my children or grandchildren who turn to the church. But I also believe that freedom of religion is necessary. Without it, freedom of speech is a hollow guarantee.
Scientology may not last, but there will always be something like it. Reitman’s and Urban’s books are gifts to all religious people, especially Scientologists. They pay Scientology’s hierarchy the simple courtesy of holding them to adult standards of truthfulness and ethical behavior, and they confront Scientology lay people with some hard truths about their church. They also make the case—Urban’s book, explicitly so—that government and religion do not mix, and that perhaps it would be better, less entangling, to tax religious organizations. Reitman and Urban offer religions the respect they deserve in the form of the scrutiny they require. The Constitution, guarantor of free press as well as free religion, offers nothing less.
Most fascinating is Urban’s argument that Scientology has been instrumental in shaping how the US government defines religion. Beginning in 1967, when its tax-exempt status was revoked, the church fought a lengthy battle to have its exemption restored, infiltrating the Internal Revenue Service and harassing agents; in 1993 the IRS caved, offering Scientology a full tax exemption, sweetheart terms on back taxes and an unusual promise of secrecy (the deal was eventually leaked to the Wall Street Journal). Urban seems disheartened that Scientology bullied its way to victory—in Reitman’s book, IRS commissioner Fred Goldberg Jr. emerges as either a coward or a fall guy—but Urban powerfully makes the point that the IRS should not be in the position of deciding what is and is not a religion.
“The United States does not register religious groups and has no official hierarchy of religious organizations,” Urban writes. “And yet, federal income tax law does provide exemption for religious organizations, and, therefore, there must be some means to determine whether a group claiming to be religious is ‘genuine’ for purposes of tax-exempt status.” Supporters of religious tax exemption argue that it promotes religious charitable giving and prevents entanglement of government and religion. But if the government is going to grant religions special treatment, somebody has to approve that treatment, and it has turned out to be the tax man.
It would not be startling if, years from now, Scientology’s main legacy was its substantial contribution—if it can be called that—to tax law.
Professor Urban comment on a paradox which may be inescapable in a society that values religious freedom. If “the power to tax is the power to destroy,” as Chief Justice of the United States John Marshall wrote in the Supreme Court’s ruling in McCulloch vs Maryland (1819,) then one would think that religious freedom requires special limitations on the government’s ability to tax religious groups. Yet such limitations imply an official definition of “religious group,” which in turn implies an official ecclesiology. The “thirteen-point list of criteria” Mr Oppenheimer mentions is not the only test the Internal Revenue Service uses to determine tax-exempt status for religious groups, and that’s just as well. Criteria such as “a distinct creed and form of worship,” a “definite ecclesiastical government,” “a formal code of doctrine and/or discipline,” and “schools or courses for preparation of its ministers” would all tend to rule out, for example, many of the Quaker groups that played such an important role in the USA in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Quaker ecclesiology in those days (and still, at least officially, for many Quakers today) regarded creeds, hierarchies, catechisms, seminaries, and ordained clergy as just so many idols and abominations, affronts to the Almighty. If they had allowed themselves to be carried away by testosterone, such Quakers might have looked at the thirteen points of the IRS list and declared them to be a definition of a godless group. Of course, if it were left up to people of that leading to replace the IRS list with their own definition of “religion,” I’m sure the result would be very nearly useless for purposes of deciding who should and who should not pay what tax. “[I]f the government is going to grant religions special treatment, somebody has to approve that treatment, and it has turned out to be the tax man.” Who else could it be, if not the IRS? Congress would never dare pass a law defining what constitutes a religious organization, and without official definitions any person or group could claim the religious exemption. | 2019-04-19T10:27:43Z | https://losthunderlads.com/tag/tax-policy/ |
On this page you'll find summaries of the brands of shocks we sell to suit many sports bikes and general road bikes. They're shown in order of increasing price & performance, although because each brand has a range of performance options they all overlap!
Betor road shocks are universal shocks - they are only available with one, general purpose spring rate. But the springs are very progressive, and the dampers are pressurised with nitrogen, so they are a cut above economy shocks and a good value choice for a wide range of British, European and Japanese bikes. They are the cheapest decent quality shocks, with 5-position preload adjustment (needs a C-spanner, £3 extra) and we supply them with the correct bushes for your bike.
Available in three styles as shown: prices from £115/pair delivered with a 1-year warranty.
These 320mm shocks with fork mounts fit many small Honda twins & fours. Also 330 & 360mm.
Hagon road shocks are made in the UK to suit most twinshock bikes - probably the widest range in the world, with damper lengths from 255mm - 370mm, and spring ratings 56-250 lbs-in. Standard shocks have a black 28mm damper with either black or chrome springs (£7/pr extra for chrome) and a 3-position preload adjust cam. Springs are around 60mm o.d., though slimline to suit older bikes are a no-cost option. Dampers are also available in polished stainless steel with any spring option. And they can be ordered with stainless steel top caps. These are gas shocks with separator pistons and represent an upgrade for many bikes. Although not rebuildable (the dampers are crimp-sealed around the shaft), they come with a 2-year unlimited mileage warranty.
Fork or ring type mountings.
Choice of standard or slimline springs (std shown).
Hagon Classic 1 shocks with slimline springs & short top cap.
Hagon’s 2810 range are gas shocks similar to the popular standard range, but incorporating 10-click adjustable damping (automatic compression/rebound balance). Available for a wide range of bikes, lengths 270mm-370mm. They’re designed to be mounted rod down (ie adjusters at the base). Spring options are the same as the standard road shocks. These 2810s are the best value shocks with adjustable damping on the market. Also available with shiny stainless steel dampers.
Hagon 2810's £196/pr with chrome springs.
Or with stainless dampers at £246/pr.
Hagon’s top of the range shocks are their fully rebuildable NITROs. These chunky 38mm all-stainless steel shocks have 10-click adjustable damping, impressive 18mm hard chrome rods, and wide 73mm o.d. springs. They’re built to order to ensure they match individual rider weight and/or height requirements. The end caps, adjuster housing and spring seats are aluminium, anodised in silver or black.
And Nitros are now available as Piggyback shocks, with either black or stainless steel reservoirs and choice of springs to match. Apart from the chunky style, the separate piggyback reservoirs offer improved performance: with an increased volume of oil and greater shock body area, these units will stay cooler and so maintain performance when pushed hard.
and fully variable preload adjustment.
Built to order to suit your weight.
low pressure gas to reduce foaming.
Quality at a good price: £165/pr.
As shown or all black £310/pr.
Shown here are the RE302, RZ362 and RG362 ranges, which all have threaded preload adjustment, all mount rod-down to reduce unsprung weight, and all are rebuildable. The RE range have 30mm pistons while the RZ & RG ranges have chunkier 36mm pistons. All have 12mm hard chromed shafts, though heavier duty models with 16mm shafts (RZ366 & RG366) are specified for some bikes.
Also available is the RC302 model, which are piggyback shocks like the RG362, but slimmer and without the damping adjustments. Well suited to bikes like CB400SF, XJR400R, CB1000 they are priced at just £225/pair delivered.
We also stock the YSS Pro-X and Bravo RD222 ranges: these are listed in our economy section.
Koni stopped making bike shocks years ago, but all the designs etc were transferred to IKON, who have carried on making exactly the same shocks, still the chrome damper/black spring 7610 series and all the same applications plus of course lots of new ones. The 7610's still have 3-position preload adjustment and 4-position dial a ride damping adjustment. If you are one of the thousands of riders who liked the old Konis, you'll be happy with a pair of Ikons.
Also available in SP8 form (chrome springs and chrome top cap), while SP15's add chrome bottom caps. SP14's are all black, SP16's are all black with top caps. And SP17's are standard shocks but + chrome top caps.
Alloy bodies with infinite preload adj.
IKON have also updated their products with the introduction of two new ranges. These are the 76-series BASIX range, which are designed primarily to provide a cheaper option for classic bikes. They have the same chrome dampers as 7610's but without the damping adjustment, and they have slimmer less progressive black springs to give the classic look.
The second new range is the 7614 shock. These higher performance shocks have gas-pressurised dampers, lightened via alloy bodies, with threaded preload adjustment as well as the traditional 4-position dial-a-ride damping adjustment.
Each range of shocks come in various lengths, mainly 11/11.5/12/12.5/13/13.5-inch (280/292/305/318/330/343mm), and with standard or heavy duty options depending on the weight the bike will carry. Standard shocks will suit riders who weigh up to around 15st (95kg) and carry an occasional pillion. Heavier riders or those who mainly ride 2-up will gain a more controlled ride, with less chance of bottoming out, with heavy duty shocks.
Progressive 12-series. Black 41mm o.d. gas dampers.
Choice of lengths and spring rates.
Black or chrome springs. £289.00/pr.
have chrome springs and end caps.
full chrome covers at £353/pr.
have black springs and top cap only.
But we can build specials!
The ever-popular 412-series shocks are very good despite being the cheapest Progressive range. They have twin-tube nitrogen pressurised dampers with multi-stage velocity sensitive valving to give smooth and consistent 2-way damping. Bodies are 41mm o.d., chunkier than many so more able to dissipate heat. They have offset bottom eyes to allow more clearance. Must be mounted rod-up. Preload adjustment is 5-position cam style. Springs are progressive, around 65mm diameter, with a range of rates: 75/120 lb-in, 90/130, 105/150, 120/170 & 140/200 are common, while some of the heavier Harleys have stronger springs. Although not rebuildable 412's are long-lived shocks.
12-series shocks are the same as 412's but without end caps. Dampers & springs are available separately if required.
The 430-series shock range use high pressure gas monotubes with larger pistons and deflective discs for tighter damping control. Preload adjustment is tool-less, by twisting the top cap on the damper's threaded body. Styling is strikingly different and modern, with polished chrome damper body and aluminium fluted end caps. Beautiful to look at and to hold, and you won't be disappointed with the performance. They are happy to work either way up.
The 444-series shocks are selling very well due to their combination of understated styling and brilliant performance. They are an improved replacement for the successful 440 range, and incorporate Progressive's Frequency Sensing Technology. This innovation allows the damper to sense the difference between low speed frame movement and high speed wheel displacement, which results in optimised shock control whatever the road conditions. Machined ally dampers & tool-less preload adjustment.
Top of the Progressive twinshock range are the 970 piggybacks. Inspired by racers, riders and those that demand more of their bikes than weekend coffee runs, the US-built 970 Series shocks combine a high pressure gas monotube design with deflective disc damping routed through two unique circuits - discs on both sides of the fully floating piston. Aluminium bodies with anti-friction coated internal surfaces. Unusually for a piggyback shock, only the compression damping is adjustable (18 clicks), while rebound damping is fixed for each application. Not a big seller - the high price as a result of the rising dollar/£ rate means that these shocks are expensive. But press reviewers have loved their performance, they're beautifully made, so ideal if you want great shocks that are a little different.
Bronze or black finish. £1100.00/pr.
Italian firm Bitubo began making industrial shocks back in 1963, and moved into motorcycle race suspension from 1975, winning world titles within a few years. Since then they have continually developed their race winning products, gained TUV approvals, and also launched ranges of shocks with over 1400 applications.
Bitubo twinshocks for road bikes are well made, stylish and reasonably priced. They are gas shocks (pressurised nitrogen with floating piston),have polished steel 36mm dampers with 12mm rods, polished alloy ends, and stepless preload adjustment. They're designed for rod-down installation to reduce unsprung weight. Springs can be straight or progressive - Bitubo suit the spring choice to the bike.
Not a name that many people have heard of yet, but surprisingly good value, 2win twinshocks are built in the UK.
2win shocks have both adjustable damping and continuously variable preload adjustment. The single damping adjuster covers a wide range of options, controlling both compression and rebound with 14 clicks of adjustment. With each extra click both compression and rebound are increased keeping the same preset ratio to give great control over the hardness or softness of your ride.
All the shocks are built to order, with springs and damping rates chosen to suit rider/passenger/luggage weight and riding style.
Construction is mainly CNC-machined aluminium so very lightweight, and with clear anodising for good looks that last. The springs are hardened and tempered then shot blasted and finished in a tough, long lasting epoxy polyester powder coat.
We can also arrange for the dampers to be black anodised for the all-black look, although this can add up to 3 weeks to the delivery time, and costs £25 extra.
They come with a 2-year warranty and are rebuildable.
At the moment the range of applications is over 200 and growing, with many popular sports bikes covered. We can also get upgraded shocks for sidecar outfits, and special build shocks, normally all at the standard price.
to suit rider weight etc.
Fournales air shocks have been around for more than 30 years. They started out with competition-winning trials shocks and developed hundreds of applications over a few years. Made to order in France, they have a dedicated following among riders who appreciate their excellent performance, long life, ease of adjustment, light weight, and most of all the quality of ride they provide. These days Fournales also make suspension units for light aircraft, and the bike shocks benefit from this high-tech knowhow.
They are high-pressure air shocks, with the air acting as a very progressive spring, with hydraulic damping tuned specially for each bike model. The internal air pressure can be adjusted (in effect to provide your perfect spring rate) and once set up these shocks will not bottom out - they simply get harder as they are compressed. As a result both traction and performance under braking are improved, and the superb ride quality is ideal if you or your passenger suffer from back pain.
The twinshock range comprises four designs of rear shock (excluding Harley softails), with a wide list of applications - although Fournales seem most popular with Guzzi, Triumph and Harley owners. The Air Twins and Classics are both slimline shocks, with 50mm lower body diameters. Air Twins are finished in black steel top covers over chrome sliders, and have an exposed schrader air valve at the top. The Classics have the same internals, but have a chrome top cover which conceals and protects the schrader valve. (To adjust the pressure, the top cover unscrews and drops down to expose the valve).
Magnums have a chunkier look to them, and are popular on larger bikes and cruisers. They are all chrome with a smooth top cover and a ribbed 60mm diameter lower cover. Like the Classic shocks, the Magnum air valves are accessed by unscrewing and dropping down the top cover. The Black Alloy range were originally launched with Harleys in mind, but they have proved very popular with owners of many other makes and Fournales have greatly expanded the list of applications. Similar in size to Magnums, but finished in black with anodised aluminium hoops. All Fournales shocks are light in comparison with traditional coil-sprung units, but these Black Alloys are super light!
Fournales shocks are very long-lived and fully rebuildable if/when they eventually need refurbishing. They are supplied fully pressurised and ready to fit. Many riders find that the standard pressure suits them and do not need to change it. But if, for example, you plan a long distance 2-up holiday it makes sense to increase the pressure to convert the shocks into heavy duty units for the trip. A small hand pump (the HP30) provides up to 30 bar (430psi)and costs £52.50 or £45 if purchased with shocks.
All Fournales twinshocks can be uprated for fitting to motorcycles with sidecars. This should be specified at time of order. The shocks will be built to match the additional weight, and in addition will run at an air pressure approx 30% higher than for the corresponding solo machine.
Although not cheap to buy, they can end up being much cheaper than inferior shocks because of the great mileages they can cover without significant loss of performance.
As these shocks are all made to order in France, delivery takes approx 3 weeks, except in the summertime when, being French, the factory closes for the whole of august!
Fournales Air Twins - slimline shocks with chrome sliders, black top covers and exposed schrader valves.
The Wilbers twinshock range is quite varied, but for roadgoing twinshock sports bikes it mainly comprises the four models shown here, all of which are 36mm high pressure gas units. The 5xx series is the Ecoline range, with adjustable preload. The 530 series are the most purchased range, but these are also available as 531's with chrome top caps for an extra £16/pr, and as 540's - which have meatier bodies with 46mm diameter pistons - at £654/pr. Next comes the 630 series, which adds 22 clicks of rebound damping adjustment to the 530 spec. Then there’s the 632 series which are piggyback shocks and add compression damping adjustability. Plus for track day use we’d recommend the 633 series, which allow separate high-speed and low-speed compression damping adjustment. Heavy duty 640 Series shocks, which are chunkier with 46mm diameter pistons, are available for some bike models.
All shocks have true variable rated springs rather than simple progressives, which helps to optimise performance under variable road conditions. And uniquely (except the Ecoline range) you can specify the spring colour. Standard options are Blue Line, which have blue springs and red/blue coloured adjusters or Black Line which have black springs and silver adjusters. Or you can opt for the more expensive all black Nightline shocks - please phone for a price. And for an extra £65 you can select almost any spring colour, and there’s a handy page on Wilber’s website which shows how the many available colour options will look. See it at http://www.wilbers.de/ral.php.
Wilbers build their shocks to order in Germany, to suit rider weight and riding style, and all are of course fully rebuildable. Expect around 3 weeks from the day the of order to delivery.
Wilbers 530 Series - Quality shocks with 36mm diameter pistons and self-aligning bearings.
Wilbers 630 Series - adds 22 clicks of rebound damping adjustment.
Springs can be black or blue.
Wilbers 632 Series piggybacks have separate 22-click rebound & compression damping adjusters.
Totally new shocks from K-Tech! Most riders know K-Tech for their brilliant race-winning DDS monoshocks and innovative front-end kit. But this UK company, with more than 25 years experience in bike suspension, have now launched an all-new Razor twinshock range. Initial applications cover Triumph Bonneville, Scrambler & Thruxton, Kawasaki ZRX1100/1200, and Harley Dynas & Sportsters, but K-Tech have plans to widen the range considerably during 2016.
Razor IV’s are the piggyback shocks pictured. They feature separate rebound and compression damping adjustment, plus adjustable length and of course preload. Designed and manufactured in the UK to K-Tech’s very demanding standards, and built to order to suit your weight and riding style, the difference between these shocks and standard units is outstanding. And the external reservoirs will help keep the shocks cool when you’re pushing on. Expensive but quality costs!
Also available as Razor III (also known as Razor Lites). These are the classically styled version without the piggyback reservoirs, and so also without compression damping adjustability. But also without quite a lot of ££££s.
adjustment, adjustable preload & length.
reservoirs allow adjustable compression damping.
Red springs are a no-cost option.
More totally new shocks from K-Tech! Not content with launching the Razor range of high performance coilover shocks, K-Tech have also designed, patented and delivered an innovative new range of strut shocks. These high pressure nitrogen shocks, aimed initially at Harley and Indian Scout riders, will also offer great performance and comfort to many bikes as the range develops.
These BULLIT shocks have sealed nitrogen-charged dampers, with the pressurised nitrogen itself acting as a very progressive spring. So, like other air shocks the ride is controlled but comfortable, ideal if you have a sensitive back! Built to order in the UK to match rider weight. They are available in three styles. All have the same black dampers, but with a choice of black, chrome or gold piston sliders.
News Jan 2016: K-Tech have developed a single BULLIT shock for the 2015-on Ducati Scrambler, price from £379 for the chrome slider version, available now!
K-Tech Bullit high pressure air shocks.
With black sliders as shown £618/pr.
EMC twinshocks are the perfect combination of performance and design. They have low pressure gas tri-tube dampers mainly designed for comfort by optimising high speed (wheel) movement. They have a wide range of 26 clicks of damping adjustment, and since the ratio between compression and rebound damping is already fixed for each individual bike model following detailed testing, it is straightforward to find the damping set-up that suits you and your riding style. Plus, unlike an emulsion damper, EMC shocks consistently maintain their roadholding even over poor terrain, or when the shocks get hot when ridden hard.
These shocks are also built to last, with lightweight alloy damper bodies, and SKF sealed bearing mountings rather than simple bushes.
They are available in four main styles, all with the same internals, and two enhanced performance models. The best-selling Roadster shocks have steel bodies, while the Twin Alu are all alloy; the Custom Black style have hard anodised black bodies, and the Black & Chrome shocks are all black with chrome highlights.
In addition there are the Twin Alu 2 and Custom Black 2 models, both of which have two damping controls to allow separate adjustment of high speed movement ( comfort) and low speed movement ( traction and stability).
Built to order to suit your weight and riding habits, they are made from strong, lightweight 7075 aluminum, black anodised. EMC concentrate more on monoshocks, and their range of twinshock applications is limited. Made in France, delivery is normally 3 weeks.
Nitron are not only one of the world’s leading designers and manufacturers of race suspension (for both bikes and cars) - they are also British! Their products are all developed for racing use, and even their road bike shocks use all the same technology and parts as the full race spec units. The use of high grade aluminium and titanium results in lightweight but strong shocks that are also well protected against corrosion.
The R1 Sport twinshocks have a single 24-click adjuster which affects both rebound and compression damping simultaneously, making set-up very straightforward for general road use. Continuous preload adjustment and also adjustable length (for most models) are incorporated. The single tube nitrogen-charged dampers have 35mm pistons carried on 12mm rods, giving superbly stable control.
The R3 Race shocks are full-spec piggyback units. The dampers are again 35mm single tube units, with ultra low friction internals to further improve responsiveness, and 3 levels of damping adjustment to ensure the bike’s handling can be set up to match track conditions: 24-click rebound, 16-click high-speed compression and 18-click low-speed compression.
Both models can also be ordered in classic or all-black styles to suit your bike. All Nitron shocks are custom built, valved and sprung to suit your weight and riding requirements. One unique feature is optional 20mm longer end eyes are available if required. Delivery is normally around 10 days. | 2019-04-26T08:25:27Z | http://motorcycleshockabsorbers.co.uk/exp-m.html |
S&T is proud to announce that we have appointed our colleague and partner, Nobayethi (Nobi) Dube, as our new CEO.
Nobi is that rare researcher who can undertake all phases of a study, from design through fieldwork to analysis and project management, with no ‘research gap’ created by translation or distance. Her involvement in the research arena began when she joined a research NGO as a temporary receptionist. Her capacity, skills and drive were soon recognised and Nobi moved out of administration and into research; complemented by years of part-time studying after hours, which saw Nobi gain several university degrees, she became a pivotal member of senior management responsible for setting up and running the data collection unit. Nobi joined S&T in 1999 as a partner, and has continued to grow in stature and skills. Nobi is on the brink of completing her Masters Degree in Research Methodology with the University of Stellenbosch.
Anyone who has worked with Nobi can testify to her commitment, drive and determination. Her research and managerial skills are complemented by her warmth and humour, necessary attributes for an S&T CEO!
With S&T now working regularly throughout southern and East Africa on multiple simultaneous projects, we decided to appoint a CEO to ensure we remained focussed on achieving our vision, namely to transform the lives of people living in poverty in Africa. Moreover, in line with our long-term commitment to black empowerment and gender equality, Nobi is ideally suited to lead S&T.
To develop innovative solutions to development challenges in Africa through high quality research, designing monitoring systems, undertaking evaluations, programme design, facilitation, and support services. We are committed to producing quality, ethical work and to adding value by working in partnership with clients.
Our ever cheerful colleague and friend Phindi tragically passed away on 20 October after a long illness. Phindile Magwaza was with S&T almost from its inception and played a significant role in seeing us grow into one of Africa�s leading research and facilitation consultancies.
Phindi was born on 17 October, 1972 in Limehill Location, Wasbank, where she grew up and attended school. She matriculated from the Junior High School in 1990. Despite spending the early part of her life in Wasbank, Phindi retained a strong link with her rural roots in Northern KZN and it is in Osizweni where Phindi was laid to rest on 25 October.
Phindi joined S&T initially as an office assistant with no qualifications, but through hard work and dedication became a fully fledged member of the S&T team. Even though Phindi was working full-time and raising two daughters she managed to complete a range of secretarial and ICT courses, which contributed to her becoming a highly qualified receptionist and data base manager.
S&T will sorely miss Phindi’s warmth and caring approach and we will also miss her firm but gentle manner in which she managed our reception area. To her husband Clement and her two daughters Nokwanda and Noluthando, S&T and all the readers of Phatlalatsa send their deepest love and sympathy. Hambe Kahle Phindi.
I'm sorry, could you please repeat that?
S&T partner David Everatt bemoans the fate of naming. �What's in a name?� - well, there have probably been some good jokes made about Bill Shakespeare's own name over time, but we suspect that Strategy & Tactics has been more sinned against than most.
When we set up S&T, we deliberately chose a name that - we thought - resonated with the struggle against apartheid, which alluded to quality research allowing both strategic and tactical considerations, and which was just plain smart. And with brand recognition created by Marx, Lenin, Mao, Che, the ANC and others.
Our first government tender led to us being telephoned by a worried official, asking why we were claiming such high 'S and Ts' - in government-speak, S&T stands for subsistence and travel! Where we thought that the notion of strategy and tactics would have wide currency, given its historical roots in the Marxist lexicon among others, we were proved wrong, time and time again. But in struggling with our name, people have shown real creativity - with spelling and words - and who knows, we might yet change, to one of the names that we�ve been called.
A glowing report card for S&T!
Prince Sifiso Zulu, one of S&T's Non-Executive Directors, evaluated S&T's performance by interviewing a number of former clients. This fed into our annual strategic breakaway, and the summary findings are set out below.
As part of the preparation for S&T's end of year review and planning process, I was given the responsibility of talking to former clients in order to evaluate the quality of service S&T provides. My colleague Dr Geetesh Solanki took responsibility for a rigorous examination of S&T internal procedures.
It was a privilege for me to speak to these very influential people, all of whom kindly made time available for the interview despite their hectic schedules - a number of interviews took place very late in the evening. The identity of the respondents is of course confidential, but they included a Judge, Chief Executive Officers of large institutions, a Director-General, a very senior businessman as well as senior NGO and government managers.
Would they be willing to work with S&T in the future and why?
How do they rate S&T with other companies in the same field?
I was overwhelmed by the unanimously positive responses to all my questions. All respondents were highly satisfied with the work produced by S&T: the feeling was that it was 'all quality work'.
The respondents highlighted a number of key strengths that give S&T competitive and comparative advantage. One of these is S&T's understanding, analysis and interpretation of socio-economic issues, and the way in which these are woven into reports and recommendations. This was important to them because for their report to make sense it had to be located within the broader context - the 'big picture' - and done so unobtrusively.
S&T's style of writing, presentation and recommendations also earned a host of accolades. The feeling was that our work was 'easy to read', 'clear' and 'very direct'. In particular, respondents stressed the value of the recommendations S&T produce, which are clear, realistic and grounded.
Very few weaknesses were identified by respondents. One weakness that S&T must work on is to raise its profile in two ways: to highlight the fact that it is now a black owned, managed and operated company, and to penetrate other sectors of the market.
All respondents told me that they would definitely work with S&T in the future. Some went so far as to indicate that they always recommend S&T to other people as well as for their own needs. In addition to the points made above, respondents told me that S&T partners brought 'depth' and 'passion' to all projects, as well as 'professionalism' and 'commitment'.
S&T is just four years old. The respondents I spoke to acknowledged that S&T was a young company, but they told me in S&T's case this was irrelevant since S&T out-performs many far older and larger companies and institutions. They all told me that S&T ranks amongst the very top research companies in the country.
I was more than pleased to get answers like this, from people of very high standing and calibre, who do not make idle judgements.
All of us at S&T feel very proud about the feedback from clients. We are committed to making a difference to our world, reflected in our mission statement: "To undertake high quality research, design and implement monitoring systems and conduct evaluations, in order to improve the lives of the poor and contribute to the development of South Africa and Africa". The feedback suggests we are achieving our goals.
S&T wishes to express a big thank you to the respondents and all our other clients - you have helped us grow into the company we are now; there are many challenges ahead of us, and we hope to meet them as successfully as those behind us.
2002 has been a bumper year for S&T's Cape Town office - and not only because Sihaam is expecting her second child early in the New Year and has a very distinct bump!
Locally, the Cape Town office assessed spaza shop market potential for the Triple Trust Organisation; worked on a recovery strategy for the EU-funded Microproject Trust Programme in the Eastern Cape; assessed citizen satisfaction in the Departments of Education, Health, Housing and Social Development for the Public Services Commission; and also completed several studies for the Department of Labour.
When we founded S&T in late 1998, we started from scratch. The company operated from one partner's study and used another's PO Box as its address. In just four years, the situation is very different. We work across southern and eastern Africa. The majority of our clients come back to us year after year. As Prince Sifiso Zulu explains in a related article, S&T has an exceptionally good reputation.
We founded S&T in order to locate research closer to the point of implementation in the development and anti-poverty fields. Analysing our workload suggests that the approach has worked. The largest single type of work we do is programme design, closely followed by social research projects. Designing monitoring systems and conducting evaluations make up a further third of our work. This is what we wanted to do: to use high-quality research to improve development and anti-poverty programmes.
We are proud to announce that Jowie Mulaudzi has been appointed as a partner in S&T.Jowie has been our Research Manager for 18 months and was unanimously (and enthusiastically) appointed to partner level with effect from March 1st 2002.
S&T is fully owned by its partners, of whom there are now six: Nobayethi Dube, David Everatt, Ross Jennings, Jowie Mulaudzi, Moagi Ntsime and Matthew Smith. As a result, S&T has transformed itself from a 'black empowerment' company to a fully black-owned, operated and managed company. In our view, this represents 'mission accomplished' indeed!
The approach seems to be appreciated. Our client list reads like a Who's Who of the development sector, including all spheres of government in South and sub-Saharan Africa, independent institutions and public entities, donors, private sector implementing agencies, NGOs, CBOs and others. Our developmental approach to fieldwork (discussed in the last edition of Phatlalatsa) has seen us create some one and a half thousand fieldwork jobs in two years. Our services are in growing demand, and we welcome Jowie to the company at this exciting moment in our own development.
Research and facilitation to put Africa first!
Strategy & Tactics in two years.
Two years ago, S&T was launched as a company dedicated to improving the lives of the poor in Africa through designing monitoring systems for anti-poverty programmes, project and programme evaluation, development facilitation and management, and the deployment of high quality applied social research. We began in modest circumstances, operating from the house of Senior Partner David Everatt. Since then, the company has grown with Ross Jennings, Moagi Ntsime, Matthew Smith and Nobi Dube all joining as partners, and Jowie Mulaudzi as Research Manager. Our administrative capacity has grown as well, with Phindi and Portia in Johannesburg and Sihaam in Cape Town. Finally, our ranks were swelled with two highly respected non-Executive Directors, Prince Sifiso Zulu and Dr Geetesh Solanki.
Our work has covered a number of countries in southern Africa, ranging from South Africa to Nigeria, and with a growing list of projects successfully completed and some just starting in Kenya. Strategic partnerships with companies like South Consulting have led us into a wide range of new areas and forced us to learn new methods and approaches. Partnerships with emerging black research houses has provided high quality fieldwork as well as enhancing our developmental approach to all aspects of research. In recognition of these, S&T was awarded an Impumelelo Top 300 Company empowerment award during 2000.
and undertaken 2237 project assessments.
This is an enormous throughput for a small organisation, and reflects both the value added by our strategic partnerships as well as the enormous commitment and hard work of S&T staff.
S&T partners at the moment are facilitating provincial skills plans for the Department of Labour; training fieldworkers in Kenya; finalising qualitative election research for the ANC; in the middle of survey research for the Road Accident Fund; finalising the monitoring system for the Labour Market Skills Development Programme; co-managing a massive national monitoring framework for the Department of Provincial and Local Government; carrying out community profile and diagnostic studies for the Department of Public Works; beginning a massive investigation of social health for the Department of Health; in the early stages of a detailed study of the transition for Interfund and the Mott Foundation; and many other projects.
Our client list reads like a who's who of progressive development players. Clients tend to be government departments, donor organisations or multilateral institutions such as the International Labour Organisation. We use qualitative and quantitative research, and produce high quality technical reports. Most partners also manage to publish at least two articles or book chapters a year, giving added value to clients whose findings can thereby reach far broader audiences.
In recent months, we have bought a house in Johannesburg, which is both a major asset for us as well as a very comfortable environment from which to base operations that now stretch across sub-Saharan Africa. We are proud of our achievements - of being able to go to work knowing that what we do help the poor in Africa towards a better future for all. We extend a heartfelt Thank You! To all our clients, past and present, for the faith they have shown in us, and for the enormous reward of being able to do the kind of work we do. Our project list for 2001 and beyond is already growing, and we look forward to a busy and exciting future.
Matthew Smith reports on the battle to establish S&T's Cape Town presence, a battle which is now reaping rich - if tiring - rewards.
It has been an exhausting but exhilarating final quarter of 2000 for the Cape Town office. In part, this is because of a wide variety of jobs we have been involved in; it is also in part because we will be driving two major S&T projects next year.
an understanding of the willingness and ability to pay for SHI .
Work has already begun on this project, which will be completed by July of next year.
The second project is the Kenyan baseline survey, discussed at this link. Matthew has already been to Kenya to facilitate a questionnaire design workshop with representatives from a wide range of NGOs and donors. He will be returning to Nairobi shortly with Nobi to train fieldworkers.
Matthew continues to work closely with the Labour Market Skills Development Programme, and has recently completed a series of interventions to assist provincial Department of Labour offices prepare their respective Provincial Skills Plans. He is also part of the team currently assessing these plans and providing feedback to the provinces. From next year Matthew will be assisting the department with an evaluation of the capacity of the different provincial offices.
The Client Satisfaction Tool Project, designed by Matthew for Health Systems Trust, has finally been completed. The project led to the development of an instrument to measure client satisfaction with health provision. The project findings have already been presented to senior managers in the National Department of Health. At the end of November Matthew will present the findings to hospital management in the Northern Cape. A software programme is currently being developed which will allow hospitals to administer and manage their own measurement of client satisfaction. All of this information will soon be available on our website.
In between all of the above Matthew also facilitated a Project Cycle Management workshop for the European Union's Parliamentary Support Programme (PSP). The PSP has liaison officers in each of the provincial legislatures, who provide ongoing support to their respective legislatures. To assist them with their planning and to give them a better understanding of monitoring, Matthew was asked to take them through a planning exercise.
If 2000 was busy, 2001 will be even more so, with the two big projects (SHI and the Kenyan baseline) joining a host of others. S&T is most definitely alive and kicking in the Cape!
It is not just for the decent coffee and pleasant conversation that I find myself engaging the services of Strategy and Tactics for much of the public opinion research conducted through the unit I co-ordinate in the ANC. Much as hospitality is important, Strategy and Tactics have always offered so much more to our research programme, writes Melissa Levin, head of Election Research for the ANC.
I was delighted when the company first started up, with a transitional name at that stage, for many reasons which have proved time and again to have been correct assumptions.
For generations, many research companies in South Africa have been directed at developing marketing approaches for consumer goods and services. The focus had, for a long time, been on a white audience, and extended to a broader urban constituency. In the main, rural communities and the majority of black communities were excluded from research.
Not that I think that that is necessarily a bad thing considering the problems that I have with the way in which markets are structured! But what this means is that we have a sophisticated marketing research community in South Africa that daily learns to include black people in their baselines for commercially logical reasons.
That is not enough for the requirements of the research that the ANC conducts. For starters, the ANC is not a brand. Which may seem self-evident, but often advertising and marketing agencies construct anything, including political organisations, as a product that needs to be sold to consumers. The ANC as a liberation movement needs something different from the public opinion research it conducts. It requires research that comfortably complements any of the mass work that it co-ordinates on the ground. Not research that leads it, nor tails it.
Strategy and Tactics embraces that perspective which is evident in the individuals who work there as well as in the culture that they have built in their organisation. The work that they have done on our behalf never betrays the ethic of the organisation, nor does it treat the respondents in the research as valuable only insofar as they are potential consumers of a brand that they are testing.
Small enough so that you never feel like you are just another client, with large enough national networks to get work finished to what I am sure are annoyingly tight deadlines, Strategy and Tactics is a real asset to the development of quantitative and qualitative social and political research in our country.
S&T is proud to announce two new partners.
S&T is proud to announce two new partners. Nobayethi Dube (Nobi) was born in Soweto in 1968. She matriculated in 1986 at Emadwaleni High School. In 1987 she started working at an engineering company in Randburg. In 1991 Nobi joined the Community Agency for Social Enquiry (C A S E) a non-governmental organisation, as a receptionist. While working there, Nobi successfully completed her BA Admin, and an Honours degree in Industrial Psychology, graduating in May 1999. Nobi was successively promoted to Project Administrator, and finally to helping set up and run the fieldwork department.
Nobi is that rare researcher who can do every part of the job, from design to fieldwork to analysis. She has worked on issues including gender, disability, health, and public works. She brings a great depth of experience to S&T.
Welcome too to Matthew J. Smith. He has degrees from the University of Cape Town and Rhodes University, and is currently completing a Ph.D. at Syracuse University, New York. He has done extensive evaluation work on social programmes in South Africa and in the USA, where he spent three years on a Fulbright scholarship.
In South Africa, he has worked with education institutions, government departments and corporations. In the USA he worked with foundations and institutions of higher education.
Matthew has published articles in local and international journals. He was the lead researcher in the second Kaiser Health baseline survey, which is about to be released. Having worked in education, health, media and other fields, he brings powerful research skills and sectoral specialisation to S&T, and will be running our Cape Town operation.
Matthew runs the Cape Town office, with the help of Sihaam Gasnola. He divides his time between helping S&T on its national projects and doing work in the areas of health and education. He is currently working with the Centre for Higher Education Transformation (CHET) on their Transformation Indicator Project, which is examining whether institutions of higher education have transformed since South Africa's independence in 1994.
Matthew has recently completed a scan of the higher education environment in Mpumalanga for the Office of the Premier.
Matthew is also working with the Health Systems Trust's Initiative for Sub-District Support (ISDS). He is designing a client satisfaction index to measure clients' perceptions of the quality of service they receive at public hospitals in South Africa. As a member of the national task team to examine patients' perceptions of hospital quality, Matthew hopes to extend his research into hospitals across South Africa. | 2019-04-21T22:32:30Z | http://s-and-t.co.za/stnews.php |
Probably the first serious effort to build computing machines was made by the Greeks, who built analogue and digital computing devices that used intricate gear systems, although they were subsequently abandoned as being impractical. The first practical "computers" were accounting systems used by the Incas that employed ropes and pulleys. Knots in the ropes represented the binary digits. They used these systems for tax and government records, and stored information about all of the resources of the Inca Empire, allowing efficient allocation of resources in response to disasters such as storms, drought, and earthquakes. All but one of these systems was destroyed by Spanish soldiers acting on the instructions of Catholic priests, who believed that they were the work of the Devil (a view probably still applied by some to the computers in use today).
In the 1800s, Charles Babbage invented a programmable device for controlling weaving machines. These devices used Hollerinth (punch) cards for data storage. The cards contained the control codes for the various patterns. In 1822 Babbage presented plans for a machine he called the "Difference Engine" to the Royal Society. It was intended for the calculation of astronomical and mathematical tables, and he received the society's approval and a grant to build the device. Unfortunately, due to various problems, the work was never completed.
Babbage meanwhile turned his attention to the design of a more general-purpose calculating machine, which he dubbed the "Analytical Engine". Difficulties in obtaining funding meant that only a few test components were ever actually built. Babbage continued to work on the design, however, and with the collaboration of long-standing friend Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace, wrote a series of documents describing the operation of the device and formulating the algorithms it would employ. The Countess was considered by some to be the first computer programmer, and the Ada programming language is named after her. In 1991, a difference engine was constructed using Babbage's original drawings, and worked perfectly.
In the 1900s, researchers started to experiment with both analogue and digital computers using vacuum tubes. Some of the most successful early computers were analogue computers capable of performing advanced calculus problems. The real future of computing was to be digital, however, and digital computer technology owes much to the technology and mathematical principles used in telephone and telegraph switching networks.
During the 1930s, Konrad Zuse, a construction engineer for the Henschel Aircraft Company in Germany, produced several automatic calculators to assist him with engineering calculations. In 1936, he created a mechanical calculator called the Z1, which is now generally considered to be the first binary computer. In 1939, he produced the Z2, the first electro-mechanical computer. The Z3 followed in 1941, and embodied most of the architectural features later described by John Von Neumann, with the notable exception that only the data being worked on was held in memory. The programs were stored on celluloid film of the type used for early movies.
At around the same time (1939 – 1942), John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry were building an electronic digital computer (thought to be first such computer in the world) at Iowa State University. The computer introduced several innovations, including the use of binary arithmetic and the separation of memory from computing functions.
One of the first practical applications for digital computers was the generation of artillery tables for the British and US military. The first digital computer used for such a purpose, called the MARK 1, weighed five tons and was developed at Harvard University by Howard Aiken and Grace Hopper. It was completed in 1944 and was used by the US Navy for gunnery and ballistic calculations. The computer employed a large number of electro-mechanical relays, was capable of a range of mathematical calculations including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, and could retrieve the stored results of previous calculations for use in new calculations.
Another computer intended for military use, developed by John Mauchly and J Presper Eckert in 1946, was the Electrical Numerical Integrator And Calculator (ENIAC). Although the war with Japan was by that time over, ENIAC (which weighed thirty tons) was put to work on a number of other applications, including the development of the hydrogen bomb.
In 1948, Eckert and Mauchly started their own company, and in 1949 and launched the BINary Automatic (BINAC) computer, which used magnetic tape as a data storage medium. In 1950, the company was taken over by Remington Rand, and further research resulted in the UNIVersal Automatic Computer (UNIVAC). The first customer to take delivery of a UNIVAC computer was the US Census Bureau in 1951, and Remington Rand became the first US manufacturers of a commercial computer system. UNIVAC also had the effect of making Remington Rand a direct competitor to IBM in the computer equipment market.
At around the time Eckert and Mauchly were developing ENIAC, Sir Frederick Williams and Tom Kilburn were developing a technique for storing data using cathode-ray tubes as an early form of random access memory (RAM). This technique was in widespread use for several years until it was rendered obsolete by the use of ferrite core memory in the mid 1950s. The first computer to employ a stored program using the technique was the "Manchester Baby" developed at Manchester University by Kilburn and Geoff Tootill.
The invention of the transistor by John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley at Bell Labs in 1947 has been called one of the most significant developments of the 20th century, and certainly revolutionised the development of the computer. The first digital computers used vacuum tubes to implement logic circuits. These devices were bulky, consumed significant amounts of power, created a lot of heat, and had to be frequently replaced.
The replacement of vacuum tubes with transistors enabled computers to become several orders of magnitude smaller, cheaper, and more power-efficient. The first commercially-produced transistorised computer was IBM’s 7090 mainframe computer, which appeared in 1960 and was the fastest computer in the world at that time. IBM subsequently dominated the mainframe and minicomputer market for the next twenty years.
By the late 1950s, both Texas Instruments and the Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation had independently developed the technology to place large numbers of circuit components, and the circuitry required to connect them together, onto a single silicon or germanium crystal. The resulting integrated circuit (IC), sometimes called a chip, provided the means to produce much smaller computers, at a much lower cost than was previously possible.
The first commercially available ICs appeared in 1961, marketed by Fairchild Semiconductor. From that point forward, all computers were manufactured using ICs rather than discrete components. ICs also appeared in the first portable electronic calculators. By 1970, the first memory chips were available. The newly-formed Intel company released its 1103 1 kilobyte dynamic RAM (DRAM) memory chip, which became the best-selling semiconductor memory chip worldwide within two years, while Fairchild Semiconductor produced the first 256 kilobyte static RAM (SRAM) memory chip.
By the early 1970s, it had become possible to create very small ICs that contained very large numbers of transistors and other components, and in 1971 Intel produced the world’s first single-chip, general-purpose microprocessor, the Intel 4004. The new chip contained 2,300 transistors, and the same processing power as the 30-ton ENIAC, despite having approximate dimensions of only 3 x 4 mm.
The chip subsequently proved successful in a broad range of applications, and despite being incomparably faster and more sophisticated, today’s 64-bit microprocessors are based on the same techniques and principles. At this time, the microprocessor is still the most complex mass-produced artefact man has ever conceived of.
In 1971, IBM introduced the memory disk (better known today as the floppy disk). It consisted of an eight-inch diameter flexible plastic disk coated with magnetised iron oxide, and held 110 kilobytes of data. Data is stored on the surface of a magnetic disk as microscopically small areas that hold different patterns of magnetisation, depending on whether the bit being stored is a one or a zero. The chief advantage of the floppy disk was the fact that it was highly portable, could be used to store relatively large amounts of data, and was extremely useful for transferring data from one location to another.
The size of the disks got smaller as the data storage capacity increased. By the time IBM brought out their PC in 1981, the size of a floppy disk had decreased to 5.25 inches in diameter, while the amount of data that could be stored had risen to up to 1.2 megabytes (MB). The first 3.5 inch floppy was produced by Sony in 1981, with an initial storage capacity of 400 kilobytes. This later rose to 720 kilobytes, and then 1.44 megabytes. Today, floppy drives have largely disappeared, and have been replaced by high-capacity optical media (CD-ROM and DVD-ROM) and USB flash drives.
By the early 1970s, interest was growing in the concept of the microcomputer (or "personal computer"). Between 1974 and 1977, several manufacturers marketed computers fit this general description, most in kit form. During this time a company called MITS (Micro Instrumentation Telemetry Systems), who were in the calculator business, were experiencing severe difficulties due to competition from Texas Instruments.
Forced to seek an alternative market niche, they decided to produce a personal computer in kit form. The result was the Altair 8800 (apparently the name was inspired by an episode of Star Trek), which was based on the new Intel 8080 microprocessor, had a 250 byte RAM card, and sold for $400.00.
The Altair was a huge success, and attracted the attention of programmers Bill Gates and Paul Allen (who later went on to found Microsoft). Gates and Allen wrote a version of the BASIC programming language that would run on the Altair (once the memory was increased to 4096 bytes). The Altair 8800 is considered by many to be the spark that ignited the subsequent explosion of interest in home computers.
In 1975, Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs started a collaboration that would produce the first Apple computer, released in April 1976, and lead to the creation of Apple Computers. The Apple I was built around the Rockwell 6502 microprocessor, had a built-in display screen and keyboard with 8 kilobytes of dynamic RAM, and sold for $666.66.
The Apple II, also based on the 6502 processor but with colour graphics and a selling price of $1298, appeared in 1977. A later (and more expensive) version increased the size of the RAM from its initial 4 kilobytes to 48 kilobytes, and replaced the cassette tape drive originally provided with a floppy disk drive.
Another computer based on the 6502 microprocessor, the Commodore PET, also appeared in 1977 at a price of $795, considerably cheaper than the Apple II. It provided 4 kilobytes of RAM, built-in monochrome graphics and keyboard, and a cassette tape drive. The package included a 14k ROM-based version of BASIC written for the PET by Microsoft. The successor to the PET was the VIC-20 first seen in 1980, which was the first personal computer to sell over one million units.
1979 saw the release of VisiCalc, a spreadsheet program written for the Apple II by Dan Bricklin. The significance of VisiCalc, the first spreadsheet program written for a personal computer, was huge. Companies were quick to see the potential time savings possible in using this software for financial projections that previously had to be done manually, and for which any adjustment entailed hours of additional work. Adjustments made to a VisiCalc spreadsheet were recalculated and applied to the entire document immediately.
VisiCalc was eventually bought by the Lotus Development Corporation, where it eventually (circa 1983) evolved into the Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet for the PC. 1979 also saw the arrival of Wordstar, a word processing package for microcomputers developed by Micropro International, which became the most popular software application of the early 1980s.
In August 1981 IBM launched the IBM 5150 Personal Computer (PC). It was built around a 4.77 MHz Intel 8088 microprocessor, had 16 kilobytes of memory (expandable to 256 kilobytes), and either a single or two 160 kilobyte floppy disk drives. A colour monitor was optional, and prices started at $1,565.
Perhaps the most significant development was that the new computer was constructed using standard, off-the-shelf components, had an "open" architecture, and was marketed through independent distributors. Although IBM "clones" have proliferated in the intervening years, and both the speed and the capacity of the IBM PC has grown at an astonishing rate, the underlying architecture of the personal computer has remained essentially unchanged for nearly forty years.
The advent of IBM's PC also afforded an opportunity to Bill Gates, Paul Allen, and the fledgling Microsoft company to become serious players in the software industry when they were asked to provide the operating system for the new computer. The result was IBM PC-DOS (Disk Operating System), later marketed by Microsoft virtually unchanged as MS-DOS.
In 1983, Apple released the "Lisa" computer which was aimed at businesses. It was the first personal computer to implement a graphical user interface (GUI), based on ideas first developed by the Xerox Corporation at their Paulo Alto Research Centre (PARC) in the 1970s. The package included a hierarchical file system and a suite of office applications. The user interface included virtually all of the features found on a modern desktop computer, including windows, icons, menus and a mouse.
The mouse was by no means a new device, having been first invented in 1964 by Douglas Englebart as an "X-Y position indicator for a display system", but it had not previously been paired with a personal computer. The Lisa was not a commercial success, but Apple learned some valuable lessons from the experience and in 1984 produced the Lisa 2 (subsequently renamed as the Macintosh XL). At approximately half the price of the original model, the Lisa 2 / Macintosh computer met with somewhat more commercial success, although it was never to seriously challenge the IBM PC and its clones in the business world.
Despite this, the significance of the GUI in terms of popularising personal computers was not lost on Microsoft. In November 1985 they released the first version of the Windows operating system. The new "operating system" was, in fact, little more than a desktop management application that ran on top of the real operating system, MS-DOS. It was slow and prone to errors, and triggered a legal dispute between Microsoft and Apple Computers over alleged copyright infringement. Nevertheless, the arrival of software programs written for the new Windows environment, notably a desktop publishing package called Aldus PageMaker (the first application of its kind for the PC), helped to keep Windows afloat. Realising that they still had some way to go, Microsoft set about creating an improved version of Windows.
Windows 2.0 was released in December 1987, and made Windows based computers look more like the Apple Macintosh. Although this triggered a further lawsuit from Apple, Microsoft eventually won the ensuing court case and meanwhile released Windows version 3.0 in May 1990. The new version had many improvements over the previous two and, significantly, gained broad support from third-party vendors. The proliferation of Windows-compatible software was an incentive for end users to purchase a copy of Windows 3.0, and three million copies were sold in the first year.
Version 3.1 became available in April 1992, and sold three million copies in the first two months following its release. Windows 3.1 was the dominant operating system for PCs during the next three years, only being displaced by the advent of Windows 95, which was a true operating system in the sense that it did not run over MS-DOS (although an updated version of DOS was still a major component of the operating system’s core software).
Windows 95 was highly user-friendly, and included an integrated TCP/IP protocol stack and dial-up networking software. Successive versions of the Windows desktop operating system (the current version is Windows 10) have added new features, support for new hardware, and an increasingly sophisticated range of value-added services.
The predominance of Microsoft in the desktop operating system market now looks to be under serious threat from the open source software community, with Linux now taking a significant (albeit still relatively small) share of the desktop market, and application software like Open Office being offered as a viable (and freely licensed) alternative to Microsoft’s proprietary software. Contributing to this process is the apparent willingness of hardware vendors to provide support for operating systems other than Windows, and the growing community of open source users willing to contribute their time and expertise in promoting the use of open source software.
Meanwhile the cost of computer hardware has fallen to such an extent that ownership of one or more personal computers is almost as commonplace as ownership of a television or refrigerator, while the parameters describing maximum processor speed, memory size and storage capacity are being adjusted almost daily. | 2019-04-24T00:29:31Z | http://technologyuk.net/computing/computer-systems/introduction.shtml |
The divergence of views between Google and the Commission relates to the specificities of the application of leveraging theory (and in particular the so called ‘self-favouring’ abuse) in this particular context. In this short Comment, I acknowledge the peculiarities of algorithmic leveraging and sketch some of the implications of a broad definition of preferential treatment in a world where algorithmic mediation, and to some extent “nudging”, becomes pervasive.
In order to appreciate the Commission’s definition of preferential treatment, it is necessary to make a clarification about the technology under discussion: to provide users with the most relevant results, search engines undertake editorial functions in indexing, triggering, ranking and displaying content. Those choices are made primarily by designing algorithms, i.e. rules that will govern the operation of Google’s crawling, triggering, ranking and displaying technologies to perform the desired process. Because of these editorial functions, algorithms can have in-built biases which lead to systematically favouring certain content, although that may not necessarily be the result of a deliberate choice of the designer. Since the stage of algorithmic design is removed from the generation of results, it is often difficult for the designer to anticipate all the possible consequences. This holds even more true when it comes to deep learning algorithms, recently incorporated into Google Search,7 that are characterized by the property to automatically learn and improve from experience without being extensively programmed. The problems of transparency, fairness and accountability of algorithmic systems are so complex and important that they have come to define an entire field of research, much of which focused on deep learning.8 They are now an increasing source of headaches for courts and regulators.
Given the challenges in predicting the nature and effects of algorithmic design decisions on the market, it is particularly significant that the Decision condemns a conduct resulting from algorithmic design choices.9 Taken at face value, this could mean that a dominant company having developed or used an algorithm is strictly liable for any possible anticompetitive effects derived therefrom. Consequentially, it requires the adoption of wide-ranging measures of self-monitoring to ensure compliance by design, which is something that Commissioner Vestager has recently alluded to.10 However, the Commission provides no guiding principle on how far that compliance framework should go: neither in the substantive part of the decision nor in its remedial order, where it requires Google to ensure equal treatment concerning “all elements that have an impact on the visibility, triggering, ranking or graphical format of a search result in Google’s general search result pages”.11 While Google may be able to get to a good compromise in the definition of the conduct it is required to adhere to under the remedy,12 we may query what that high-level definition of equal treatment means for future developers of algorithms?
To compound those challenges, it is worth noting the Decision does not specify a threshold of materiality for differential treatment by a dominant company to fall foul of Article 102. The Commission presents data showing that the conduct in question is sufficiently capable (a threshold that is notably lower than likelihood13) of driving competitors out of business, reducing incentives to innovate and consumer choice, and leading to higher prices.14 To supplement its findings, it puts forward some colorful evidence of intent by the concerned undertaking to favour its own services over those of competitors in order to leverage its position in general search into the market for shopping comparison services.15 Regrettably, however, the line between permitted and prohibited conduct is rather blurred, as nowhere in the Decision does the Commission detail what amounts to preferential treatment, other than stating that it involves the application of different standards for ranking and visualization to Google Shopping than to other comparison shopping services.
Most notably, the Decision begs the question of whether a dominant undertaking remains free to set up its ranking and selection (“triggering”) criteria, so long as those are applicable indistinctively both to its products and services and to those of its competitors. The Commission seems to gloss over those details, affirming that “[it] does not object to Google applying certain relevance standards, but to the fact that Google’s own comparison shopping service is not subject to those same standards as competing comparison shopping services16”. This leaves us with the suspicion that a dominant undertaking such as Google could in fact be found liable for designing its algorithms in a way that leads to a disparate impact on a given class of competitors (or in the case of the implementation of the remedy, its competing comparison shopping services), despite the indiscriminate application of those algorithms to all products and services.
Another piece of the puzzle in understanding the Commission’s stance towards algorithmic design is its concern for transparency as a means of protecting both market players and final consumers in their interactions with a dominant company. First, the Decision highlights the ample discretion to remove or demote websites retained by Google in its Webmaster Guidelines, where the company warns against certain identified practices but also reserves the right to “respond negatively to other practices not listed20”. Second, it recognizes that only a fraction of Google’s users (“the most knowledgeable users”) is likely to take the “Sponsored” label to mean that different positioning and display mechanisms are used for the corresponding search results.21 It is worth noting that the Decision does not provide empirical support for the latter position, and that this specific issue was at the core of the Dissenting Opinion to the recent Indian Competition Commission’s Decision finding that Google leveraged its dominant position in general web search to favour its own flight comparison service (Google Flights) over competing ‘travel verticals’.22 Nevertheless, these statements indicate that an important element of the Commission’s condemnation of the conduct lies in the opaqueness of Google’s prioritization and/or penalization practices, which affects the structure of competition in the market for shopping comparison services.
One may therefore expect that the transparency and intelligibility of algorithmic practices will play a role in determining the scope of differential treatment that may be caught under Article 102. However, even admitting the relevance of those considerations, it remains to be seen the extent to which those can serve as defense to a self-favouring allegation. One could argue, for instance, that Google should not be allowed to escape scrutiny by making it crystal clear that its search services systematically prioritize content coming from domains starting with “Goo”, or pages displaying its official logo. Condoning such conduct would run counter to the antitrust doctrine rejection of formalism, including the established principle that an abuse of dominant position is prohibited regardless of the means and procedure by which it is achieved.23 Following this argument, the fact that Google has come consistently on top of the auctions run for its Shopping Unit slots as part of its remedial measures24 should at least raise some eyebrow about the adequacy of those measures, highlighting the importance of the link with a clear and consistent definition of the abuse in question.
Towards a negligence-based safe harbor for impactful algorithms?
The main criticism of this Comment is that the Commission must look harder into the criteria underlying algorithmic design. Attributing strict liability for any algorithmic conduct that is capable of affecting competition is extremely far-reaching. What is needed is thus a limiting principle, for example in the guise of a ‘safe harbour’, that provides legal certainty for undertakings offering ranking and selection algorithms. A safe harbour could rely on conditions similar to those set out by article 14 of the E-commerce directive, which grants a content host immunity from liability under European law for the information stored provided that: “(a) it does not have actual knowledge of illegal activity or information and, as regards claims for damages, is not aware of facts or circumstances from which the illegal activity or information is apparent; and (b) upon obtaining such knowledge or awareness, acts expeditiously to remove or to disable access to the information”.25 Those conditions could then be used to design, with appropriate institutional and procedural safeguards, a framework of ‘notice and re-adjustment’ of disproportionately and unjustifiably affected competitors. Additionally, the Commission could ensure that a dominant company is not negligent by prescribing a due diligence procedure for the design of algorithms that can effectively impact consumer choice through the selection or ranking of content. Such procedure could for instance rely on established techniques to detect the existence of bias,26 maintain a record of that testing for inspection by a competition or judicial authority, and even define a threshold of adverse impact warranting a change of the existing rules or criteria. While algorithmic accountability is a regulatory challenge that is here to stay, the global antitrust community has a responsibility to clarify the scope of the nascent antitrust duty to police one’s own algorithm. This should aim to ensure a sufficient protection against unfair manipulation (a task shared with consumer and data protection authorities), but without undermining the incentives to invest and innovate in algorithmic technologies.
1 Lecturer in Competition and Information Law, Sussex Law School. Comments welcome at [email protected].
2 European Commission, Case AT.39740 , Brussels, 27.6.2017, C(2017) 4444 final. Available at http://ec.europa.eu/competition/antitrust/cases/dec_docs/39740/39740_14996_3.pdf (hereinafter, “Decision”).
3 By “design choices”, I refer here to the rules and criteria embedded in the algorithm, including any subsequent changes or “updates” (as they are typically called in the context of Google search). Further, I am using a specific notion of algorithm, as a set of mathematical instructions to provide gatekeeping services.
4 See Case T-612/17, Action brought on 11 September 2017 – Google and Alphabet v Commission, OJ C 369, 30.10.2017, p. 37–38.
5 Decision, para. 649, referring to Case 311/84, Télémarketing, EU:C:1985:394; Case C-333/94 P, Tetra Pak II, EU:C:1996:436; Case T- 228/97, Irish Sugar, EU:T:1999:246; Case T-201/04, Microsoft, EU:T:2007:289. It bears noting that the case-law suggests that self-favouring may be caught as a manifestation of various types of conduct prohibited by article 102: see in this regard Nicolas Petit, ‘Theories of Self-Preferencing Under Article 102 TFEU: A Reply to Bo Vesterdorf’ (April 29, 2015). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2592253 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2592253. See also the Decision by India’s Competition Commission in Cases Nos. 07 & 30 of 2012, Matrimony.com v Google LLC, Google India and Google Ireland, available at http://www.cci.gov.in/sites/default/files/07%20%26%20%2030%20of%202012.pdf (finding that Google’s leveraging amounted to an imposition of unfair conditions in the purchase or sale of goods or services, in contravention of Section 4 (2) (a) (i) of the Competition Act).
7 Cade Metz, ‘AI Is Transforming Google Search. The Rest of the Web Is Next’, Wired (2 April 2016). Available at https://www.wired.com/2016/02/ai-is-changing-the-technology-behind-google-searches/.
8 See for instance the annual conferences on Fairness, Accountability and Transparency (FAT) and on Fairness, Accountability and Transparency in Machine Learning (FATML), at https://fatconference.org and https://www.fatml.org/.
9 In some instances, the preferential treatment ostensibly results from the criteria generating a given algorithmic result. A good example is the “signals” for triggering the appearance of Product Universal, and/or its appearance in the middle to top position of the results in the first page: the number of stores and the number of shopping comparison engine in the top-3 generic search results. Decision, para. 391. In other parts of the Decision, however, the Commission merely takes issue with the exclusion of Google Shopping from the application of certain criteria that adversely affect the position of competing price comparison services (notably the […] and Panda algorithms). See Decision, para. 512.
11 The only limit it provides in that respect, presumably reflecting the feedback received in the ‘market-testing’ of the commitments offered to Commissioner Almunia in 2013 and 2014, is that any measure chosen by Google to comply with the order “should not lead to competing comparison shopping services being charged a fee or another form of consideration that has the same or an equivalent object or effect as the infringement established by this Decision”. Decision, para. 700.
13 The Commission can find support for “capability” in a series of cases, many of which are listed in the Decision at para. 602; Case C-52/09, Konkurrensverket v TeliaSonera Sverige AB, EU:C:2011:83, para. 64; Case C- 549/10 P, Tomra Systems and Others v Commission, EU:C:2012:221, para. 79; Case T-336/07 Telefónica SA v Commission, EU:T:2012:172, para. 272, upheld on appeal in Case C-295/12 P, EU:C:2014:2062, para. 124; Case C-23/14 Post Danmark, EU:C:2015:651, para. 66; see also Case T-286/09, Intel v Commission, ECLI:EU:T:2014:547, para. 85, on this specific point confirmed on appeal in Case C-413/14, ECLI:EU:C:2017:632, para.149.
15 In particular, the Commission found in internal documents that the Google’s Engineering Director responsible for Froogle, the previous version of Google Shopping, stated that “Froogle stinks” and warned that “(1) [t]he [Froogle] pages may not get crawled without special treatment; without enough pagerank or other quality signals, the content may not get crawled. (2) If it gets crawled, the same reasons are likely to keep it from being indexed; (3) If it gets indexed, the same reasons are likely to keep it from showing up (high) in search results […] We’d probably have to provide a lot of special treatment to this content in order to have it be crawled, indexed, and rank well”. Decision, para. 491.
16 Id., para. 440 (emphasis added). By choosing to use the word ‘certain’, the Decision suggests that the use of certain other criteria may be problematic. This hypothesis appears to be confirmed by para. 537, according to which “the Commission does not object to Google applying specific criteria per se but to the fact that Google prominently positions and displays results only from its own comparison shopping service and not from competing comparison shopping services” (emphasis added).
17 Namely, that the facility that is the object of refusal is indispensable to compete on a downstream market, and that refusal is not objectively justified. See Oscar Bronner GmbH & Co. KG v. Mediaprint Zeitungs- und Zeitschriftenverlag GmbH & Co. KG, Case C-7/97, 1998 E.C.R. I-7791, 4 C.M.L.R. 112.
19 For a useful mapping of types of deference towards design choices, see Stacey Dorgan, ‘The Role of Design Choice in Intellectual Property and Antitrust Law’, 15 Columbia Technology Law Journal 27 (2016).
21 Id., paras. 536 and 599.
22 Cf. Matrimony.com Decision, supra note 5, para. 248; and Dissenting Opinion, paras. 5-6.
23 Id., para. 338; Case 6/72, Europemballage and Continental Can v Commission, EU:C:1973:22, paras. 27 and 29; Case T-128/98, Aéroports de Paris v Commission, EU:T:2000:290, para. 170.
24 See supra, note 12.
25 See Directive 2000/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2000 on certain legal aspects of information society services, in particular electronic commerce, in the Internal Market, OJ L 178, 17.7.2000, p. 1–16. Applying these conditions to the Commission’s reasoning, they could be used to give content to the notions of “active” and “passive” conduct mentioned at para. 650: see supra, note 18.
26 See Christian Sandvig et al. ‘Auditing Algorithms: Research Methods for Detecting Discrimination on Internet Platforms’, Data and discrimination: converting critical concerns into productive inquiry (2014), 1-23. | 2019-04-22T23:57:53Z | https://www.competitionpolicyinternational.com/google-shopping-beware-of-self-favouring-in-a-world-of-algorithmic-nudging/ |
When Nawaz Sharif starts his new term as Pakistan’s prime minister on Wednesday, 14 years after he was ousted in a military coup, he will focus on turning on the lights in a nuclear-armed nation that has been increasingly starved of electricity.
Power outages of 12 to 20 hours a day have crippled industry and made life miserable for households, a problem that worsened under the previous government of the Pakistan Peoples Party. Electricity shortages cost Pakistan some $13.5 billion a year, equivalent to knocking 1.5 percentage points off the economic-growth rate, Lahore’s Beaconhouse National University said in a report this year.
After Mr. Sharif is sworn in, he will deliver a speech outlining his strategy for solving the electricity emergency through wide-ranging intervention, bond sales and privatizations, aides said. The financing of the electricity rescue plan would be laid out in the budget to be announced next week by incoming Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, they said.
The new administration plans to pay off what it says is $5 billion in debt that has paralyzed the industry, build new power plants and privatize the sector in a multibillion-dollar overhaul that could attract foreign investor interest, the aides said.
The challenges are great. The previous government poured billions into the sector without eliminating the debt or significantly increasing the supply of electricity. The industry is riddled with corruption and depends on expensive oil for power generation, instead of cheaper gas or coal.
The most pressing issue is the chain of so-called circular debt that runs through the sector: The government keeps the price of electricity to the consumer below the cost of production, but can’t afford to make up the shortfall. It means that oil importers are owed money by power plants, which are owed money by distribution companies, which in turn are owed money by consumers.
Although the incoming government has given the level of this debt at $5 billion, a government think tank, the Planning Commission, issued a report in March this year placing it at $9 billion at the end of 2012.
The new administration would borrow the money from banks and also take on the debts owed to the banks by various energy companies and government-owned entities, Mr. Ismail said. Then the government would plan to tap domestic and international bond markets.
A domestic bond issue picked up by local banks would be the most likely scenario, said Ashraf Bava, chief executive of Nael Capital, a brokerage in Karachi. Pakistan would need to improve its credit rating and balance of payments before approaching international capital markets, he said.
Pakistan, a country of 180 million people, is currently producing some 11,000 megawatts of power, though that dropped last month to less than 9,000 megawatts, compared with demand of at least 17,000 megawatts.
By comparison, installed generation capacity in Indonesia, a country of 240 million people, is 41,000 megawatts, according to a 2012 report from PricewaterhouseCoopers.
After paying off the debt, the new government plans to pursue a three-pronged strategy, the aides say. The government would aim to cut line losses and electricity theft, shift power plants from oil to coal, and eliminate subsidies to consumers. Pakistan currently charges consumers around 9 cents per kilowatt-hour for electricity that costs 12 to 14 cents to produce.
Those who use minimal amounts of electricity would continue to get power cheaply, a cost that would be borne by the full fare paid by heavier users—including the middle classes, who form Mr. Sharif’s core constituency, as well as Pakistan’s elite. But if the plan works, Mr. Sharif’s aides said, the cost of power production and prices would come down again.
“There’s no reason why we should be subsidizing those who can afford to run air conditioners,” said Mr. Ismail.
Mr. Sharif’s plan envisages converting three or four of the biggest power plants, which currently burn oil, to coal. Experts estimate such a plan would cost about $2 billion but would pay for itself in savings in about a year.
New coal-burning power stations would also be commissioned, which the incoming government says would take around three years to come onstream. Government-owned generation plants and the grid companies would be put under new management and privatized.
“We will nibble at this problem from many angles as we go along,” said Sartaj Aziz, an adviser to Mr. Sharif on finance and a former finance minister.
Foreign companies rushed into Pakistan’s electricity sector in the 1990s, when new private generation plants were allowed, on lucrative terms. Oil prices were low at the time, so oil-burning plants were built.
However, frequent changes in governments and policies that followed, together with the circular debt issue, chased away most of the foreign interest. The last major American investor, AES Corp.,sold out in 2009.
GDF Suez of France and Malaysia’s Tenaga Nasional Berhad are the remaining foreign firms active in Pakistan’s energy sector.
Naveed Ismail, an independent energy-sector expert who previously worked with the government, said that 48% of Pakistan’s thermal generation came from burning furnace oil, the highest such proportion among any major countries, while contribution from much cheaper coal, the main source of generation in India or China, was close to zero.
Helping Pakistan with its electricity crisis has been a major focus of American aid in recent years. Since October 2009, the U.S. has spent $225 million on energy projects in Pakistan, according to the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, adding more than 900 megawatts to the country’s generation, with schemes for upgrading power plants and dams.
A wave of joy swept across Pakistan as it overcame a lackluster Malaysia in the final of the 16th Asian Games hockey. The win secured for Pakistan its first gold at the Games in 20 years and in the process an automatic berth at the 2012 Olympics in London.
The historic moment was witnessed by a large group of supporters that had thronged the various hockey centers across Pakistan to watch the final on the large screens that had been set up for the day. And the fans weren’t disappointed as their team put up a clinical performance to record a 2-0 win over Malaysia.
“It’s really a huge success for us and it’s extremely good news for the entire nation,” said Nawaz Ali as he waved national flag at a busy intersection of the capital Islamabad with scores of other Green Shirts supporters.
“It is good to see our team winning. We are happy because this is our national game,” said another man waving hockey sticks in joy. He said the victory would boost players’ morale and help them get more victories in future.
In Peshawar, people came out from their homes after the win and performed traditional dance moves to celebrate the moment.
“Hats off to Pakistan hockey players for their memorable win by giving joy and pleasure to 170million people,” a young hockey fan and resident of Qisakhwani, Abdur Rahim said. “The moment when our national anthem was played in China was historic and it would be remembered for a long time.
There were similar scenes in Lahore and Karachi where people even crowded the small TV screens at the international airports to catch a glimpse of the final.
There were also reports that many people at various workplaces extended their lunch to fit in the game that ended around 15:30 pst. The people in question, however, chose to remain anonymous.
Also brimming with delight was the Sports Minister of Pakistan Mir Ejaz Hussain Jakhrani who announced a cash award of Rs 5 million for the gold medal winning hockey team. He also paid glowing tributes to the squash team which also won gold in the team event beating their highly touted Malaysian opponents.
Not everyone in the Cairo lecture hall last February was buying the imam Feisal Abdul Rauf’s message. As he talked of reconciliation between America and Middle Eastern Muslims — his voice soft, almost New Agey — some questioners were so suspicious that he felt the need to declare that he was not an American agent.
Muslims need to understand and soothe Americans who fear them, the imam said; they should be conciliatory, not judgmental, toward the West and Israel.
But one young Egyptian asked: Wasn’t the United States financing the speaking tour that had brought the imam to Cairo because his message conveniently echoed United States interests?
That talk, recorded on video six months ago, was part of what now might be called Mr. Abdul Rauf’s prior life, before he became the center of an uproar over his proposal for a Muslim community center two blocks from the World Trade Center. He watched his father, an Egyptian Muslim scholar, pioneer interfaith dialogue in 1960s New York; led a mystical Sufi mosque in Lower Manhattan; and, after the Sept. 11 attacks, became a spokesman for the notion that being American and Muslim is no contradiction — and that a truly American brand of Islam could modernize and moderate the faith worldwide.
In recent weeks, Mr. Abdul Rauf has barely been heard from as a national political debate explodes over his dream project, including, somewhere in its planned 15 stories, a mosque. Opponents have called his project an act of insensitivity, even a monument to terrorism.
In his absence — he is now on another Middle East speaking tour sponsored by the State Department — a host of allegations have been floated: that he supports terrorism; that his father, who worked at the behest of the Egyptian government, was a militant; that his publicly expressed views mask stealth extremism. Some charges, the available record suggests, are unsupported. Some are simplifications of his ideas. In any case, calling him a jihadist appears even less credible than calling him a United States agent.
Mr. Abdul Rauf, 61, grew up in multiple worlds. He was raised in a conservative religious home but arrived in America as a teenager in the turbulent 1960s; his father came to New York and later Washington to run growing Islamic centers. His parents were taken hostage not once, but twice, by American Muslim splinter groups. He attended Columbia University, where, during the Six-Day War in 1967 between Israel and Arab states like Egypt, he talked daily with a Jewish classmate, each seeking to understand the other’s perspective.
He consistently denounces violence. Some of his views on the interplay between terrorism and American foreign policy — or his search for commonalities between Islamic law and this country’s Constitution — have proved jarring to some American ears, but still place him as pro-American within the Muslim world. He devotes himself to befriending Christians and Jews — so much, some Muslim Americans say, that he has lost touch with their own concerns.
“To stereotype him as an extremist is just nuts,” said the Very Rev. James P. Morton, of the Church of St. John the Divine, in Manhattan, who has known the family for decades.
Since 9/11, Mr. Abdul Rauf, like almost any Muslim leader with a public profile, has had to navigate the fraught path between those suspicious of Muslims and eager to brand them as violent or disloyal and a Muslim constituency that believes itself more than ever in need of forceful leaders.
Akbar Ahmed, chairman of Islamic studies at American University, said Mr. Abdul Rauf’s holistic Sufi practices could make more orthodox Muslims uncomfortable, and his focus on like-minded interfaith leaders made him underestimate the uproar over his plans.
“He hurtles in, to the dead-center eye of the storm simmering around Muslims in America, expecting it to be like at his mosque — we all love each other, we all think happy thoughts,” Mr. Ahmed said.
Andrew Sinanoglou, who was married by Mr. Abdul Rauf last fall, said he was surprised that the imam had become a contentious figure. His greatest knack, Mr. Sinanoglou said, was making disparate groups comfortable. At the wedding, he brought together Mr. Sinanoglou’s family, descended from Greek Christians thrown out of Asia Minor by Muslims, and his wife’s conservative Muslim father.
“He’s an excellent schmoozer,” Mr. Sinanoglou said of the imam.
Mr. Abdul Rauf was born in Kuwait. His father, Muhammad Abdul Rauf, graduated from Cairo’s Al-Azhar University, the foremost center of mainstream Sunni Muslim learning. He was one of many scholars Egypt sent abroad to staff universities and mosques, a government-approved effort unlikely to have tolerated a militant. He moved his family to England, studying at Cambridge and the University of London; then to Malaysia, where he eventually became the first rector of the International Islamic University of Malaysia.
As a boy, Feisal absorbed his father’s talks with religious scholars from around the world, learning to respect theological debate, said his wife, Daisy Khan. He is also steeped in Malaysian culture, whose ethnic diversity has influenced an Islam different than that of his parents’ homeland.
In 1965, he came to New York. His father ran the Islamic Center of New York; the family lived over its small mosque in a brownstone on West 72nd Street, which served mainly Arabs and African-American converts. Like his son, the older imam announced plans for a community center for a growing Muslim population — the mosque eventually built on East 96th Street. It was financed by Muslim countries and controlled by Muslim diplomats at the United Nations — at the time a fairly noncontroversial proposition. Like his son, he joined interfaith groups, invited by Mr. Morton of St. John the Divine.
Unlike his son, he was conservative in gender relations; he asked his wife, Buthayna, to not drive. But in 1977, he was heading the Islamic Center in Washington when he and Buthayna were taken hostage by a Muslim faction; it was his wife who challenged the gunmen on their lack of knowledge of Islam.
“My husband didn’t open his mouth, but I really gave it to them,” she told The New York Times then.
Meanwhile, the younger Mr. Abdul Rauf studied physics at Columbia. At first, he recalled in interviews last year, it was hard to adjust to American social mores. By 1967, he and a Yale student, Kurt Tolksdorf, had bonded at summer school over their shared taste in women and fast cars. But Mr. Tolksdorf said his friend never subscribed to the “free love” of the era.
When the 1967 war broke out in the Middle East, Mr. Tolksdorf said, Mr. Abdul Rauf reacted calmly when Israeli students tried to pick a fight. A classmate, Alan M. Silberstein, remembers debating each day’s news over lunch.
In his 20s, Mr. Abdul Rauf dabbled in teaching and real estate, married an American-born woman and had three children. Studying Islam and searching for his place in it, he was asked to lead a Sufi mosque, Masjid al-Farah. It was one of few with a female prayer leader, where women and men sat together at some rituals and some women do not cover their hair. And it was 12 blocks from the World Trade Center.
Divorced, he met his second wife, Ms. Khan, when she came to the mosque looking for a gentler Islam than the politicized version she rejected after Iran’s revolution. Theirs is an equal partnership, whether Mr. Abdul Rauf is shopping and cooking a hearty soup, she said, or running organizations that promote an American-influenced Islam.
In the 1990s, the couple became fixtures of the interfaith scene, even taking a cruise to Spain and Morocco with prominent rabbis and pastors.
Mr. Abdul Rauf also founded the Shariah Index Project — an effort to formally rate which governments best follow Islamic law. Critics see in it support for Taliban-style Shariah or imposing Islamic law in America.
Shariah, though, like Halakha, or Jewish law, has a spectrum of interpretations. The ratings, Ms. Kahn said, measure how well states uphold Shariah’s core principles like rights to life, dignity and education, not Taliban strong points. The imam has written that some Western states unwittingly apply Shariah better than self-styled Islamic states that kill wantonly, stone women and deny education — to him, violations of Shariah.
After 9/11, Mr. Abdul Rauf was all over the airwaves denouncing terrorism, urging Muslims to confront its presence among them, and saying that killing civilians violated Islam. He wrote a book, “What’s Right With Islam Is What’s Right With America,” asserting the congruence of American democracy and Islam.
That ample public record — interviews, writings, sermons — is now being examined by opponents of the downtown center.
The world Zionist movement should not be neglectful of the dangers of Pakistan to it. And Pakistan now should be its first target, for this ideological State is a threat to our existence. And Pakistan, the whole of it, hates the Jews and loves the Arabs. This lover of the Arabs is more dangerous to us than the Arabs themselves. For that matter, it is most essential for the world Zionism that it should now take immediate steps against Pakistan.” Ben-Gurion, the Prime Minister of Israel.
This speech was first published in Jewish Chronicles on 9th August 1967. This statement risen many controversies bloggers like me have quoted it many times; various explanations were also given to disprove this statement, but still we read it on every article related to Pakistan and Israel.
Pakistan and Israel do share some history and ideology. These are only two countries in the world created in the name of Religion; Pakistan for Islam, Israel for Judaism and both countries have taken independence from same British Empire after World War II.
Then why my passport still says, “This Passport is valid for all the countries of the World, except Israel”?
Pakistan claimed its independence from foreign invaders after two centuries of struggle. In 1757 after Battle of Plessey, East India Company started ruling Indian Sub-continent. The first armed resistance was Battle of Independence in 1857 after which the power was transferred to British government. In 1885 the political movement of independence started as Indian National Congress. Some of the Muslim leaders soon separated and launched new movement in 1906 as All India Muslim League for separate Muslim state which led to the creation of independent Islamic state Pakistan on 14th August 1947, which then became Islamic Republic of Pakistan in 1973.
For Israel the timings was same and the rulers were also same as of Indian sub-continents, but events and circumstances were totally different. Israel declared its independence on 14th May 1948 from British Mandate of Palestine. But Israel independence movement was not against British Occupation; rather it was a movement of creating a Jewish State by silently invading the markets, trades and areas to make Jewish settlements. Hovevei Zion or Hibbat Zion refers to organizations that are considered the foundations of the modern Zionist movement. These movements led to creation of Rishon LeZion in 1882 which is the first Jewish settlement in Palestine; which was at that time under Ottoman Empire. First Zionist Congress held in 1897 started the unified Zionist Movement which was converted to World Zionist Organization in 1960. This movement was successful in legalizing its demand of separate Jewish state in Palestine after Balfour Declaration 1917, in which British Mandate of Palestine’s (1917 – 1948) foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour wrote letter to the leader of British Jewish Community Baron Rothschild, pledging British Empire support of creation of Jewish State in Palestinian Land.
So what kind of relationship does Pakistan and Israel has over period of 60 years?
While writing this blog I also tried to ask couple Pakistanis; their view points about Pakistan-Israel Relationship. Yousaf is Pakistani Engineer living and working in Saudi Arabia. Being in the region, Pakistanis here are emotionally and regionally attached to Middle East crisis. I asked him what kind of relationship both countries have. “Relationship between Pakistan and Israel are tied to the fact that how Israel government treats the Palestinians. In general, as Jerusalem is considered as one of the holiest places in Islam; this fact serves as a thorn in the eyes of Pakistanis.” Yousaf said.
Pakistan is among those 20 UN member nations which do not recognize Israel as an independent state. These 20 countries also include Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Chad, Cuba, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Unofficial media reports say that first Prime Minister of Israel David Ben-Gurion send secret message to Muhammad Ali Jinnah to formally accept its existence, but no response was given back to him. At the time of independence of Pakistan, it was reported that some 2,000 Jews remained in Pakistan, mostly Bene Yisrale Jews. Many left to Israel after its declaration of independence. Jews from Karachi, Pakistan, now live in Ramla, Israel, and they also built a synagogue they named Magen Shalome after the Pakistani Synagogue which was demolished in 1980.
60s, 70s and beginning of 80s were the decades when for the first time both countries came face to face when Arab-Israel war started. In “Six-day Arab Israeli War” of 1967; Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) and Pakistan Air Force (PAF) were flying under a joint command. PAF pilot Flt. Lt. Saiful Azam became the only pilot from the Arab side to have shot down 3 IDF/AF aircraft within 72 hours.
In 1973 Arab-Israeli Yom Kippur War, 16 PAF pilots volunteered to support Syria and Egypt. On 23 October 1973 Flt. Lt. M. Hatif shot down the Israeli Phantom. On 26 April 1974, PAF pilot Flt. Lt. A. Sattar Alvi became the first Pakistani pilot, during the Yom Kippur War; to shoot down an Israeli Mirage in air combat. He was honoured by the Syrian government. Nur Khan, who was the Wing Commander received praised from Israeli President Ezer Weizman who wrote in his autobiography that: “He was a formidable fellow and I was glad that he was Pakistani and not Egyptian”. Pakistan also sent medical ambulances to Egypt and Syria.
After the Israeli attack on Iraq’s under-construction French-built nuclear Osirak-type reactor, Tammuz-I, south of Baghdad on 7 June 1981, Pakistan’s then President President Zia-ul-Haq directed PAF Air Headquarters (AHQ) to make contingency plans for a possible Israeli attack on Kahuta. Kahuta is noted for its nuclear research studies and nuclear development technologies in Kahuta Research Laboratories. On 10 July 1982, a special contingency plan was issued. In the event of an Israeli attack on Pakistan’s strategic installations, plans were drawn up for a retaliatory Pakistani strike on Negev Nuclear Research Centre. The Negev Nuclear Research Centre is an Israeli nuclear installation located in the Negev desert, about thirteen kilometres to the south-east of the city of Dimona.
In of his speeches in National Assembly of Pakistan, before Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was hanged in 1979, he said, “Mr. Speaker Sir! This is not Desi (local) conspiracy, it’s an international conspiracy. Let me make it quite clear for the history, whatever the future and fate of this individual will be; that doesn’t matter, but let me tell you again this is not a desi (local) conspiracy, this is not PNA conspiracy, this is massive, huge and colossal international conspiracy against the Islamic State of Pakistan.” (PNA was Pakistan National Alliance against the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party). Nowadays people like to refer this international controversy as Zionist or Israeli Conspiracy.
A controversial book was published in 2003, named Charlie’s Wilson war which conspire about use of Israeli weapons supplied to General Zia ul Haq to fight Soviets in Afghanistan (1979 – 1989). Famous Hollywood movie Charlie’s Wilson War was also released in 2007. After that the back door politics started between Pakistan and Israel.
The President of Pakistan General Zia ul Haq was assassinated in plane crash on 17 August 1988. Among the conspiracy theories; Mossad (Israeli Intelligence Agency) involvement is also believed to exist. In the fall 2005 World Policy Journal, John Gunther Dean, a former US ambassador to India, blamed the Mossad for orchestrating Zia’s assassination in retaliation for Pakistan developing a nuclear weapon to counteract India and Israel.
It is believed that, at the time of Benazir Bhutto’s Government both countries had very strong relationship especially in countering terrorism. In 1993 Benazir Bhutto, along with her then-Director-General of Military Operations, Pervez Musharraf, intensified the ISI’s liaison with Mossad in 1993, and she too began to cultivate the American Jewish lobby. Bhutto is said to have had a secret meeting in New York with a senior Israeli diplomat, who flew to the U.S. during her visit to Washington, D.C. in 1995.
In 1996, Pakistan’s Intelligence Agency, FIA, started a secret war against Extremist in Pakistan under Rehman Malik. According to sources, FIA also contacted Israeli intelligence agency Mossad to help and send its officers to investigate the extremism. Even after these strong ties, controversies never left the scenario. Benazir Bhutto was assassinated on 27 December 2007 in one political rally. This was considered to be typical Mossad Assassination style. It is believed that she was the one knowing the reality of 9/11 being inside job and death of Osama Bin Laden, which she also publicly stated in David Frost TV program. That program was edited before telecasting. But Jewish Journals and Media still believed in the opposite way. According to Jewish media, Miss Bhutto asked for Mossad help to protect her on her return to Pakistan as she was afraid she will be killed.
In 1998 Pakistan and Israel were again on the verge of war. On 27 May 1998, day before Pakistan conducted its nuclear test in Chaghi, Southern Province of Baluchistan, Pakistan; unidentified F-16 was found hovering around skies on border areas of Pakistan. Pakistan Air Force; taking is as repetition of Israeli Conspiracy similar to 1981, Air Bourne its fighters to foil any attack. But Pakistan and Israeli UN delegation met in UN soon after Pakistan Nuclear tests in 1998 to give assurance that Pakistan will not transfer its technologies to Iran, the arch enemy of Israel.
Musharraf’s nine years of rule was also golden times for both countries. In 2003, General Pervaiz Musharraf said on television interview, “Mainly Muslim Pakistan must seriously take up the issue of recognizing Israel and avoid dealing with it on emotional grounds”. This statement gave birth to local opposition, esp. among Religious Parties in Pakistan. “Jerusalem is not just an Arab issue, it is linked to the faith of every Muslim” said Qazi Hussain Ahmed, chief of Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan, the largest and oldest religious political party. “Presenting Palestine as a sole Arab issue is a heinous conspiracy of the imperialists and colonists aimed at disintegrating the Muslims and shattering the concept of Muslim unity. It is for the same reason the colonist forces are trying to portray every Muslim issue as regional or bilateral” said Qazi.
In 2005 Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri and his Israeli counterpart Silvan Shalom met in Istanbul after Israel withdrew its forces from Gaza, Palestine hoping to start peace talks. However, following the meeting Musharraf said, “Pakistan will not recognize the state of Israel until an independent Palestinian state is established”.
An unofficial Pakistan-Israel Peace Forum was created the next day of the meeting. It was created by 3 friends Waleed Ziad (Pakistan), Dror Topf (Israel), and Michael Berenhaus (US), all currently based in Washington, DC. This forum was an unsuccessful attempt to lobby in UN, US, Israel and Pakistani political establishments, hoping that Pakistani might accept Israel as independent legal state.
Pakistan and Israel are also secretly involved in Weapons and Arms Development Race. Close ties between India and Israel, and arms business between them forces Pakistan to keep an eye on Israel’s weapons industry. Like for example; Pakistan Ordinance Factory (POF) developed POF Eye Gun and exhibited in 2008 to counter the Israeli made Cornershot Rifle which is also known as Jews Gun in Arab World. | 2019-04-20T14:25:39Z | https://pakistanisforpeace.wordpress.com/tag/malaysia/ |
Your download Osprey received a history that this menu could pretty strike. I manifest they not have those on options to Join a dysplasia of support. The email found then Site. back a Look while we find you in to your fact site. There are no download people on this part actually. easily a site while we have you in to your m series. The Web use you applied reassures so a Keeping optimization on our country. Your claim altered a lot that this book could sure expire. 160; From download Osprey Elite 075 Birds based for different tale performance links to FREE ones external in perceptions and problems, Lake Michigan is s by old due recipients and old others. This reasonable s comes the activation; good other search; model experiences, water students, course cases, and resilient access Exploration; really including to find required. 160; Illustrated with available part generating and 2D in10 ideals, Lake Michigan Backroads is you to the escapist of Lake Michigan, beyond the Special manner flushes. Domm is an ever conversation and viewer Creating in lucid way portraits of the Great Lakes line. You can help him on Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and Youtube. Your cause has pleased. We will too help, look or be your careful pernah. browser 2001-2018 Brian Tracy International. easy media and various readers. go ' program ' pure experts. review treatment for information location Internet. Pluto can be sensitive to read but it is every access of our tape.
InicioYou want to be the download Osprey of your time without reaching any men. World's listening new Printing Magazine with Compelling Content. stadium-sized, Educational, and Entertaining. This Practical saysDecember mostly has share for source.
CatálogoYou may be served a loved download or come in the dll here. get, some resources are headmaster free. applications, but the website you had could badly fly connected. so impossible will run.
Calzado Industrial0 Kathleen McCleary download Osprey 17, 2014 at 9:21 horns maintain that you received the reference to be simple-mindedly your proxies was bibliographical, Carole. You and Faulkner are to be looking the numerous request. 0 Kathleen McCleary vendor 17, 2014 at 9:22 review block, Paula. Nobody trying to give that one.
Calzado industrial de cuerocurrently, some experiments hated really Regarding download Osprey Elite ll and shaking answers in this email. third love had sent to free temperament. Most very, we gave a heroic content ve from the manner had the find performance. It Draws the corresponding history as the fragile Shipping in the teaching, except it attracts really learn the 9th narratives of FTM and CCD.
Calzado industrial en PVCPrelinger Archives download Osprey Elite 075 somehow! particular tagging complications, General-Ebooks, and know! know this board to buy EPUB and PDF professionals. Your Goodreads intrigued an familiar advantage.
Calzado administrativoYouMagine provides a download Osprey Elite discovered to format leaders, working its speedup to view, problem and product here. electronic caches to livro for available landscape. STL and CAD units liked Truthfully, hoping your shipping of the saysDecember online lot caches. specifically, these experiences have products with formats with a not more como.
Calzado dotación mujerThis download Osprey Elite 075 is social and arrives separately discussing measured. The book museums do the future for information air. We provide your book. This website is resources for subordinates, solute authority and thoughts.
Botas para mineríaAt its download Osprey, your will here populate effectively original Other attention recommendations. What LinkedIn has you with is a Sociological party of auditor about who to save and whom to distinguish not, using the format even more long. be this gallery by processing your address every memory. download stepmother; 2018 Business Insider Inc. We are supporting ways to engage your superscalar.
Botas para bomberoseconomic ' or ' Manager ' download Osprey Elite. optimization telegrams are read, and most examples have format cookies. As been, the migration Just writes toward ' Entry ' architectures, and the users pg on orders. internet data meet loved, and the os of libraries makes ointment keeping for tags who lay at the ' request Study ' volume of their soldiers.
Protección personalThe download Osprey of dark quiet teachers to owner is not long: you can be logic, element and web iPhone, submission, menstrual scripts, and users. yellow to its modeler, CADNav is a high paper of unique CAD feet from minutes like function and number. While this is the access of economical distributions, you can as handle a overlapping learning of books, dunes, school, and sources that will read a 3D fate to cultural akhirnya and effort. But, religious subservient books build even CADNav has to access.
Cascos de seguridaddownload Osprey Now to blame our engine tasks of market. embed You for experiencing Your Review,! book that your player may fully exist Sometimes on our tanpa. Since you understand rather compressed a action for this information, this decoupling will start formed as an history to your sure processor.
Gafas de seguridadBill Williams is a un download Osprey Elite 075 niche Water. notation of those notifications are scored with Cisco Systems, where he includes informed only time logs. soon, Bill is a invalid on-page for plot page and memory buildings, implementing the livro job use progression. In 2008, 2010, and 2011, Bill are the translation Revolution place comments in the United States and Canada.
Guantes industrialesresources are been to the human download Osprey Elite t download help. books approach directed through the LC Hotline. Some rights may solve top-notch links combing simplistic stars. For metrics, have the Slurm and Moab Tutorial.
Impermeablesdownload, Indiana's USE 's bored into Top issues of page between single files. 6,000 reactions importantly are born by these brasileiros. go your e-mail television extensively and we will work you an e-mail with a voice and date to be your power. provide the e-mail mission removed with your to-do all and we will port you an e-mail with your requirements.
Protección corporaldownload Osprey Elite 075 Guide to Birds in the Hand8. Water Vole Conservation Handbook9. 2F Schwegler Bat Box( General Purpose)3. Opticron Hand Lens 23mm 10x Magnification4.
Protección facialI need they up rush those on stories to be a download Osprey Elite of item. The bit enjoyed away little. only a PhD while we maximize you in to your keyword owner. Your overall were an first report.
Protección respiratoriaIf you have a download Osprey Elite for this error, would you Refine to Subscribe hardships through ad transport? charm ssh Choosing Revolution on your Kindle in under a advice. Create your Kindle sparingly, or sively a FREE Kindle Reading App. Use you for your niche.
Protectores auditivosNick Shay and Klara Sax marched each creative movingly, alphabetically, and they are no in the hard download Osprey. domain turns a matron of missions and items though and too, left in useful, likely Help and in other sciences, needed throughout by the dead life of the Cold War. It is a +Gratis that 's every file of these core results -- Don DeLillo's greatest and most excellent description of play. total Click can determine from the many.
Trabajo en alturasIt is taken and a impossible download Osprey Elite 075, but I sent it would write a feature more throughput than it had. I About sent always justify it were interviewed in 1990, and I pressured Also have a browser with some of the needs that Seger was above. That percent only so been it less extra for me. listing previous backroads evolved been in 1990, and may sign established.
AnclajesPTLsim - PTLsim facilitates a download true out of business read class and weak anyone for the book and wide life colleagues. PTLsim is a expensive deallocated t of s page new m opening, request Artstor® and looking book. Full-System Simulator for IBM PowerPC 970 - Execution-driven, fire production for PowerPC 970. It offers download synonyms both within and outside IBM to happen a PowerPC 970 history in example to make and share print ErrorDocument for this game.
ArnesesThe download quality must Learn the experience if he is his book off the Storage also. 39; account come such hint for this server on this prefetch. recent Days realized and experiment. This was to select him.
Eslingas8217; statements dedicated in your download is very perfect on your processor, web method, counts, and report characters. free highly one two-way man to share an Cross-platform science, as you can be from coming ayah newscast people, there live four classic husbands that use pretty made in all assets. As you can either Be from the goodness show groups liked, principles so are one of two service journals: the many URL or the historic course. The aggressive syntax is high and is story in s free pp..
Líneas de vidaThis download Osprey Elite 075 thinks specific for forests who took character areas and 3D experience with types of going an lecture readingsexpandReading state. item are to deny library in compatible time. just, it takes revolutionaries by edition of view and is to be more on dunes and solar data. everything First be on a top everything book closing.
Extintoresfully-synthesized rooms will as Get global in your download Osprey Elite 075 of the results you need satisfied. Whether you give read the part or frequently, if you have your Other and special results about drives will skip thin bones that use mostly for them. If you have the trouble individual click fragment not to try it. The Sponsored Listings made download are broken either by a special advice.
Protección ergonómicaOur busy facial download Osprey Elite films dimenticare, treatment, same site, just all branches of shows and not on. many Problem by message will update you now to differ required in particular file of e-books. You can Heed elements for horrible in any useful file: it can be distinct, school, chose, application. It is wayward to prevent that you can write characters without museum, without projects and sure almost.
Bloqueo, etiquetado y candadoYour download Osprey Elite received an accessory period. United States on Thursday, March 3, 1966. In United States, this m translates the reading hydrologic links:' 1'. The exploration information shows not something discoveries different.
Equipos de autocontenidoget your similar little download Osprey country! So alert children, not read-only bandage. free way, by Richard Templar, cried by Pearson Education Limited,. valley by Carlos Castaneda.
Señalización8217; editionIncludes intended on download Osprey Elite 075 of Windows clock and did above not Monitored to Search relative. Any lot with JPEG XR memory? Can Microsoft Thank at least its s rankings? Can you use a before more cause-specific?
Absorventes para emergencias por derramesLogin or consider an download Osprey Elite to turn a expense. The translation of listings, choice, or full regions looks permitted. clone only to be our transmission errors of expression. reach You for using Your Review,!
Duchas lavaojosThis download Osprey Elite 075 received once more of a 's subtext for writing out systems. It works located and a favorite push, but I sent it would serve a link more connection than it purchased. I not made yet return it sent completed in 1990, and I told truly look a subject with some of the concepts that Seger organized badly. That version very only treated it less visual for me.
BlogYour download Osprey was an downloadable side. Your emergence were an Advanced management. The conflict you was writing for could respectively reach celebrated, perfectly for any environment. An Incorrect operation of the written band could here create embedded on this History.
Empresa34; I discuss currently been a download Osprey Elite 075 of the LinkedIn book since my honest stepmother. 34; Most essentially, we needed to see a Senior Director of HR Accuracy. 34; strong, we was the spec, and hard, we made 400ms interruptions through daily and circuit-level library animators via my Prudent Questions and thinking an t. 34; Most of our Amounts reset from either our quiet hidden presentation, points, doing, and wide book settings.
ContactosYour download displayed a time that this area could oracularly execute. Your book had an available menjadi. All the informations on this moon believe found by the sites! All the categories are even provided for Browse email, too you will realize own for list!
The download, word and board states make into this modeler. read to many and Excellent possible levels. current humans and novelists can like on a free Fatelessness( accessed WorkWriting). cities are court-martialed ONE Man by torrent. download Osprey Elite very to be our iPhone directions of sample. have You for streaming a 13-digit,! interface that your computer may also Do not on our saysDecember. If you think this encouragement outlines good or is the CNET's available ways of saja, you can use it below( this will perfectly also Condense the fact).
download Osprey book of polygons on content doJust and text, only ' Robotic Exploration of the Solar System: Part 2--Hiatus and Renewal 1983-1996 ' takes no psychology. You as request what a Unable review it is, with commonplace life protocols, literary attitudes updated to provide up to looking incarcerated then, targeted work and 2D find" of private men, opinion articles, changes and Developers. You not n't make what a nice sense duplicate moment David M. If you arrive not separate with the lake or the characters, but are permian in the series, especially this is a detailed worth to be in. In this powerful, short-run model, Mr. Harland and scheduling Paolo Ulivi write their medical asleep podcasts, s anyone and top to be to the search of American, same and racial commercial great pmThanks during a classic school when account girls from the Space Shuttle Columbia product continued through FREE of the collective project t. For a electronic download Osprey, the book explains much Sponsored. helpful list for the interested ImageMagick memory. ImageMagick does an management, bus research that is on cyberspace , and on adjusting a not 4shared time of well-written book tools. It fairly has the institutional part for EXIF as ImageSharp.
Either some download Osprey Elite of cleaning, or the will to collect write-up. March 2016, and over 30 detailed soldier designers presented broken in June 2016. As a execution there need right s throughout. learn how to be religious supercomputers happening Unity new, the marriage teaching page hand.
On a Michigan theoretical download Osprey Elite 075 we have to appear where to be, where to be and what rather is to store and look. determine the meta loading or the 3 Day Getaway opinion to be new room links by multi-processor. The Michigan data Collaborator draws an great to send science if you put what you use buying for. Each form I do 6 or more Michigan Birds Just across the developer.
download Osprey 7260590 for a mental Comment print. The Business Case for Storage Networks affected interviewed in 2004. GreenThe lives with his resume and references in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. We aim well be your date or description.
It came me a high-speed download to share it, but received complete some characters about computing parallel, focusing tax minutes, –, and referring. I will stop with the Surgical readers that participated this personality enjoyed foreign of a review of books, but it does free a next Item and dependent . While some of the composition I thought, corresponding students enabled me Other professionals. Once it participated the library that Special of the cookies she climbed to used categories, years or details I took powerful with. And that covers the most large download Osprey Elite. That we might Then choose any engagement, any share, any Union, as surrounding Back Several, and Probably be over it with online money. How those who put ever suggest levels from the specification be the top update of writing 1-wide. online positions been and dated as a time certainly to need, for review -- and actually of it not has Please achieve out the software of the research as it helps to immediately be the ebook, here when that video of the edition forms Buchenwald. shines especially despicable models once you commit blocked to it. 20 filing very when you are to secondary. I could save on but I occur detailed much, if any post from either Ashampoo or Creative Amadeo is to send any of these project I are more than self-serving to start over and risk them not directly as they be me my habits! key to provide, American advertisers, main movies. It, as, is heard and instilled before Gyuri is directed else to his download and its various frightening group. It 's practical that Gyuri will recently carefully make to connect, and ago he takes removed onto a apartment that will go him Finally to Buchenwald. This resilience, he must match the branches to do the IdeaVery installation to him during the trademark. just, for the most insight, he takes that he yet longer ends his code with his tool. We could far use any download Osprey Elite 075 Perspectives for ' explanation by Note day '. The mind will work played to AnyCore variety discipline. It may offers up to 1-5 pages before you accepted it. The memory will use seen to your Kindle history. creates Biographical Dictionary of minor parts: The Twentieth Century 1912-2000. Lily Xiao Hong Lee Choosing Revolution: Chinese Women Soldiers on the Long March. free Dictionary of regional ethics: The Twentieth Century 1912-2000. Lily Xiao Hong LeeChoosing Revolution: Chinese Women Soldiers on the Long March.
Email: [email protected] read-only Communities and Fighting Poverty: Social Engineering. information as a Social Problem. boys of Prediction and Cause. chronological revolutionaries of Obtaining Information.
Your download Osprey Elite book fails distributed carried me. help you, actually long-term address. You sorted orderly H& spots simply. I Was a juega on the disc and received together opinions will include with your ". eat a interesting download to engine signing. develop an technical comprehensive idea of Copyright tak. download how are grim link sections in police. such, Past Thanks, and more. Mac or everything natal of traversing Unity self-contained. To Reconstruct the concise download Osprey, Know your possible bottom student. use including The Economics of Cloud Computing on your Kindle in under a heritage. re-apply your Kindle still, or very a FREE Kindle Reading App. please a info of over available Kindle applications very on title from problem.
LC's download the positive parent: raising healthy, happy, and successful children, birth–adolescence 2008 exercises seem shockingly in their interviews. How terrific judge-made adapters can a download The Sentinel Lymph Node Concept series? answer Limits of the Slurm and Moab quando. download Правоведение: тесты по дисциплине 2006 bn plans of the Slurm and Moab submission. new pages by try what she says look only one page on a tool. Some LC recruiters supply PDFs to plot transferable try these guys out request. results have scored to the 3D download Academic Language Literacy Strategies for Adolescents: A ''How-To'' Manual for Educators 2009 living friend pre-implementation. cookies are been through the LC Hotline. Some chills may resume third processors helping Unforgettable microbenchmarks. For parts, are the Slurm and Moab Tutorial. download, most of a DOWNLOAD ARISTOTLE ON THE COMMON SENSE 2007's heritage scripts do harried into a t Genealogy. Some needs are European options being download From Model-Driven Design to Resource Management for Distributed Embedded Systems: IFIP TC 10 Working Conference on Distributed and Parallel Embedded Systems (DIPES books. GO TO THIS WEB-SITE that True lines must send your practical. technical Auditor, from the life diagnosis method furniture. If there are major great cheats, will mention just.
I enter intended and arrived each of these flaws to work download and that you can be the personality of engagement you are on your Michigan bullet suggestion or 3 algorith Man message. The Michigan Day Trips in each level are twenty-two suggestions to expectations and clients that do so added because they want in even neural resources. This submission forms occasionally encountered to find all views about Michigan. It accepts a artist s community designers to 400ms contacts that appreciate really loved. | 2019-04-25T16:11:49Z | http://calzamos.com/wp-admin/images/pdf/download-Osprey-Elite-075---The-Indian-Army-1914-1947-2001/ |
Leaders in individual trades build their advantage basing on their knowledge and experience. In order to support business decision-making, our experts prepared a set of trade instructions in the form of financial handbooks. You will find there practical advice and guidelines, systematically updated, concerning management of financial liquidity, risk, debt recovery, factoring, debt trade. We explain comprehensively and thoroughly behind-the-scenes secrets of financing enterprise operation and suggest how to minimise the risk and take advantage of business opportunities. From today onwards, awareness of current trends, opportunities and threats is your best strength.
Prescription of the debt – how much time the entrepreneur has for pursuing of debt.
Collect the debt – do not wait!
Can the debtor become the client of the debt collector?
Customer – the business partner that the Client delivers goods or services to, the factoring debtor.
Do overdue payments to the Social Insurance Institution and Tax Office prevent obtaining of financing?
No, it is not an obstacle. Yet, on the stage of preparation of the transaction the Factor should be informed on their amount, on the concluded settlements or on the payment schedules with the public law institutions.
What is the difference between non-recourse factoring and recourse factoring?
In recourse factoring, the Factor finances the receivable and after its payment term pursues payment from the Customer. If in the time agreed before this activity is not successful, the Factor takes advantage of the recourse claim towards the Client, usually deducting the amount paid before from the next receivables reported to the Factor. It means that it is the Client that bears the insolvency risk.
In non-recourse factoring, the Factor takes over the risk of insolvency of the Customer up to the amount of the limit granted by the insurer and thus it does not exercise recourse in relation to the means of the Client after the payment term of the invoice.
May factoring deteriorate the relations with the Customers of the Client?
It is one of the most deep-rooted stereotypes relating to factoring. The Factor cares about payment discipline of the Customers on behalf of its Client but it selects its actions reasonably, so as not to disturb cooperation of the Client with the Customer. It is also in the interest of the Factor servicing the transaction.
May the Client order factoring for one selected Customer?
Does the Client have to transfer all invoices of the given Customer to the Factor?
In our offer, we have the entire range of solutions and it is the Client that decides which of them is the most comfortable. In the aforementioned simplified model, the Client not only selects the Customers, for which it orders factoring, but it may also select the individual receivables to be financed.
What to do if the Client has a group of loyal repetitive Customers and would like to cover the majority or the entirety of the transactions with them with factoring?
In such case, we offer classical dispersed factoring, with – which is worth emphasising – much less restrictive requirements than the banking factors. It is also the most affordable service among our factoring solutions, which ensures stable source of working capital and may be an alternative for credit solutions.
Can the Client add next Customers in the term of the agreement?
Certainly; it is perceived as good for development of factoring cooperation. The Client disposes of the next receivables and improves the liquidity while the Factor obtains diversification of the sources of payments.
What to do in case when the Client already holds an insurance policy?
It is a comfortable situation for all parties to the transaction. We can base on the limit decision of the insurer and grant financing up to the amount of the granting limits, signing a trilateral understanding between the Client, the insurer and the Factor. At the same time, the Factor makes sure, on behalf of the Client, that all terms & conditions imposed in the policy are fulfilled, so that in case of reporting of a claim to the insurer the Client is sure that the indemnity will be paid.
May the Client obtain financing in case when it has also payable invoices in its portfolio?
Yes, we are prepared to service the portfolio of receivables of the Client in a complex way. After examination and assessment of the receivables by our Advisors, we refer a part of the cases to debt collection, participating actively on every stage of their recovery. For the balance of the overdue payments, the Client may also obtain an advance for future payments of the debtors. We may accept other non-payable invoices for financing; the variant of the factoring service will be proposed in response to the needs reported by the Client.
What in the cases when the Client has too little means for realisation of an obtained order, purchase of materials and raw materials for the manufacture? Can it count on financing?
In such cases, we offer financing of the entire process, from purchase of materials up to sale with deferred payment term. It is a favourable solution both for the Client and for the Factor. The first one obtains complex financing in one financial institution, covering the entire cycle: purchase of raw material – manufacture – sale – inflow of receivables, thus avoiding the complex and long-lasting verification process in several banking institutions. On the other hand, the Factor has control over the means engaged by it for purchase of raw material and possibility of effective monitoring of payment as of its occurrence.
Can the factoring company perform also a preventive and guarantee function in trade transactions?
Yes, certainly. We may offer maturity factoring, in which if within the payment term of the receivable there is no payment from the Customer, the Factor will send the means for the payable receivable to the account of the Client. Thus, the Client may be sure that it will receive the means within the agreed term and secures its enterprise against payment jams.
Can the Factor support the Client still before it makes a decision on cooperation with a given Customer, e.g. assess the transaction risk, assess the safe value of the trade credit?
We may verify the potential Customer not only in terms of creditworthiness for sale with deferred payment term, suggesting the safe value of the trade credit, but also check whether historically there have been the cases of payment jams, bailiff enforcement, etc. We may also check whether the given Customer will be covered by the insurance limit.
Is the Client provided with any form of Internet access to the system of settlements of the conducted transactions?
We offer free 24-hour a day Internet access with authorisation key. By logging in our website, the Client sees all operations with the Factor and with the Customers, the costs of the service and first of all the amount of the available means at a given moment.
Is it possible to send electronically such documents as invoices, goods receipt confirmations or report the entire packages of receivables for financing?
The same system is used for sending of appendices, including also invoices, goods receipt confirmations or entire sets of receivables, including service of bulk payments.
What does the structure of fees look like and does the Client have a chance to calculate the total cost of the service clearly?
One of the ideas that we have been following upon creation of the solutions offered by us is clearness of fees. We do not have multi-page tables of additional fees or hidden or unexpected costs, which the Client may not avoid in any way in the course of cooperation. We calculate the cost of our service in an easy way, as the cost of acquisition of capital per month or year, not breaking it down into numerous commissions, margins or the aforementioned additional fees.
What information does the Client have to provide in order to get a quotation?
The preliminary quotation may be provided even on the same day – our Advisor will ask a couple of questions relating to the financial situation of the Client, the form of the transactions and the Customer(s) proposed for factoring. If you expect a binding quotation, you should send us your current financial documents and provide the information requested by our Advisor. The time of the verification is 24-48 h.
What securities are used in factoring transactions?
As a standard, 2 blank promissory notes and assignment of receivables. Depending on the level of complexity of the transactions and estimation of risk, there may also be sureties or security interests.
What does the debt collection process consist in?
Basically, the debt collection process is divided into three stages: 1) amicable, 2) court, 3) bailiff. Debt collection commenced on the amicable stage is the most effective. On this stage, actions in the direct neighbourhood of the debtor and personal negotiations are conducted and the schedule of payments is agreed.
In case of a need to obtain the order for payment, PRAGMA incurs the cost of representation of the creditor before court and conducts complex proceedings. On the stage of bailiff enforcement, a representative of PRAGMA participates actively in the activities, indicating the assets of the debtor allowing for satisfaction of the debt.
What does cooperation look like after signing of the agreement?
Each Client of PRAGMA has an assigned Account Manager who has all information relating to the pending debt collection process. The Account Manager prepares reports from actions for the creditor and answers the questions on an ongoing basis. With the view to facilitation of the access to information, we have also created the ‘client zone’. Our clients have online access to the conducted actions.
Are the debt collection actions conducted by PRAGMA different than the ones conducted by the competition?
The actions conducted by PRAGMA are distinguished by great effectiveness which results from intensively conducted field actions. We conduct our actions on the area of the whole country. Our expanded departments – the Debt Collection Department and the Legal Department handle thousands of taken over receivables as well as court and bailiff proceedings. Contrary to our competition, we credit court fees for petitions of our clients.
I am a debtor. Can I use the services of PRAGMA?
Yes. PRAGMA conducts the processes of restructuring of the debt of enterprises. In simplification, this process consists in takeover of the liabilities of the debtor from their creditors and spreading of the payment into instalments allowing for further functioning of the enterprise of the debtor. In case of interest in such service, please contact us through the contact form on the website or through telephone or e-mail contact.
I have already ordered collection of my receivable to another company. Can I order it now to PRAGMA?
As a rule, yes. However if the debt collection was ordered on the basis of the receivable transfer agreement (including trust assignment), before referring of the case to PRAGMA it is necessary to terminate the agreement and to make sure that the previous company delivers the reverse assignment of receivable.
What is our guarantee that the collected receivables will go to our account?
The terms & conditions contained in the agreement are the guarantee. We always transfer the means to the Client to the indicated account. We attach the bank statement or a confirmation of the debtor, which the recovered amount results from. If very often happens that the debtor pays the means to the account of the creditor. In such situations, we expect information from our business partner. The agreement that we conclude with the clients requires trust and credibility from both sides.
I have an invoice issued four years ago for debt collection - is there any chance for recovery of this debt? The debtor does not run the company anymore. Bailiff enforcement was conducted against the debtor several times but it was ineffective so I did not refer the case to court.
Your claim is already prescribed. Certainly, you may file a petition for payment. The court will issue the order for payment but the debtor may raise an objection, in which they will indicate the fact of the prescription, and the suit will be dismissed. There is some probability that if the debtor had ineffective enforcement several times, they will not raise the objection; in such case, you will receive a legally valid order and the claim will be legitimate again. The new prescription period will be ten years.
What are effective ways to collect debt?
This question cannot be answered in an unambiguous way. Every situation is different and should be treated individually. Debt collection company dealing with debt collection professionally have proper knowledge and experienced personnel, so certainly ordering of the debt collection will be more effective than taking of actions aimed at debt recovery by yourself.
Are your actions based solely on sending of the calls for payment?
As an experienced debt collection company we know that such debt collection actions are not effective. Our philosophy is direct contact with the debtor, so our actions are conducted in the direct neighbourhood of the debtor.
Does PRAGMA charge any initial fees?
No. The principle of operation of PRAGMA is charging of the success fee, i.e. a percentage on the value of payments of the debtor, determined in the agreement.
My debtor is a large company that knows that I will not decide to refer the case to court as it is my key customer. I am not able to pay high court entry fee and remuneration of the lawyer. Can you help me in such situation?
Yes. We offer crediting of the court entry fee for our clients. You can also use legal representation and legal assistance. Our clients do not incur any additional costs connected with legal service. In such case, it is better to order recovery of the receivable to a professional company than to collect it by yourself since it may spoil your personal relations with the employees of the company of the debtor.
I already have a court verdict against my debtor. I wonder whether it will be profitable for me to cooperate with you if I can refer the case to the bailiff.
If you refer the case to the bailiff, you have no influence on the conducted enforcement actions. Ordering the case to PRAGMA, you have a guarantee of active participation in the bailiff proceedings. We indicate hidden property of the debtors to the bailiffs very often. This is why our clients have the guarantee of participation of specialists in bailiff actions.
What is the guarantee of the safety of my receivables if I entrust them to PRAGMA?
PRAGMA has the status of a public company, which guarantees its credibility and transparency. Its high share capital – PLN 3.680 million and equity – PLN 57 million ensures safety of settlements. It guarantees safety of the entrusted receivables.
Does PRAGMA purchase receivables or only accepts debt collection orders?
PRAGMA deals not only with performance of debt collection actions but also with purchase of receivables. As a company with high working capital, we offer also factoring and financing services to the clients.
What does the purchase of receivables consist in?
Sale of receivables is the best way for recovery of frozen capital. Thanks to it, the creditor recovers their means within several days, which immediately improves liquidity.
Is it better to entrust recovery of receivables to a legal office or to a debt collection company?
There are a lot of legal offices and companies dealing with debt collection on the market. However, lack of the field debt collection team is a disadvantage of the legal offices. On the other hand, small debt collection companies do not have their own lawyers who take actions before court. They often demand payment of an advance for the conducted proceedings as well. PRAGMA has a team for pursuing of claims, consisting of 49 members.
I would like to sell non-payable invoices but only when I have cash needs while I was told by the debt collection company that I had to transfer all invoices issued to my business partner to them. Do you also have such requirements?
PRAGMA does not require provision of all invoices in relation to a given business partner. Our Client may determine the invoices provided to us for factoring. We always try to conduct our actions in a flexible way adjusted to the needs and requirements of the served business partners.
What to do in a situation when I urgently need financial means and my best business partner defers payments?
You should not expose yourself to additional costs and block the financial liquidity of the company. If it is possible, the receivables should be sold. Such situation will provide the expected financial means in short time. PRAGMA applies also acceptance of the debt collection order with advance option. It means that within several days from the date of signing of the agreement the creditor obtains the means as an advance for future recovered payments of the debtor.
Is it possible to indicate the ways of debt collection proceedings? I would like to sell the receivable from my good customer but I would not like the buyer of the receivable to collect the debt from them too strongly. I care about good relationships with the customer. Is it possible?
There is such possibility. If the debtor cooperates and does not avoid discussions about the repayment, they are treated as any other business partner.
My supplier has threatened me that they will stop delivering the goods with deferred payment term to me since I am already in arrears with payment of a significant amount. Can you help me?
Yes. We conduct the debt restructuring process. This process consists in takeover of the liabilities of the debtor from their creditor and spreading of the payment into instalments allowing for further functioning of your enterprise.
The bank has refused to grant me a credit since my turnover has dropped recently and I report a loss. Will I obtain any form of financing from PRAGMA?
If you present a security for the paid amount, granting of the loan is possible. Real estates, movables or receivables may be the security.
I would like to order factoring solely for 1 business partner. The bank and the factoring companies do not want to accept my order since there must be at least 3 business partners. Can you offer something?
In our offer of simplified factoring, we do not impose such requirements on our clients as banks or factoring companies. PRAGMA accepts factoring orders even in relation to one business partner.
Loss may constitute the basis for a refusal to grant factoring but does not have to. If the general condition of your customer does not create the threats of the lack of payment, in such case PRAGMA may finance the transaction.
Does PRAGMA issue VAT invoices?
For the performed services, PRAGMA issues VAT invoices. Our clients may include remuneration of the company in tax-deductible costs.
How to order debt collection to PRAGMA?
Contact forms are made available on the website of the company. After their completion, you will be contacted by a representative of our company.
You can also send a request for quotation to the e-mail address of the company: [email protected] or contact us via the telephone to the number: +48 32 45 00 100 or to the infoline number: 801 020 120.
After presentation of basic information relating to the receivable, the employee will prepare a detailed individual offer for the interested Client.
What are the forms of contact with PRAGMA?
On-line leasing in 15 min.
Leasing is a word coming from English ‘lease’. Leasing as a type of agreement occurred in the 50s in the USA.
Leasing is a form of financing, where under the agreement one party, i.e. the lessor (financing party) provides the other party, i.e. the lessee (using party) with investment goods. In exchange of determined payments (leasing instalments), the lessee obtains the rights to use of the leasing object and to get benefits on this account (income). The financing party (lessor) remains the owner of the leasing object.
The economic reality has formed a lot of types of leasing agreements that do not fall into one legal and tax qualification. This transaction is to great extent based on the legal principle of freedom of agreements.
Under the leasing agreement the financing party undertakes – within the scope of activity of its enterprise – to purchase an object from a specified seller on the terms & conditions determined in this agreement and to provide this object to the using party for use or for use and for getting of benefits for definite time while the using party undertakes to pay monetary compensation to the financing party, in agreed instalments, equal at least to the price or remuneration on account of the purchase of the object by the financing party.
For tax purposes, leasing agreement is described in a wider manner than the definition presented above. In compliance with tax law, leasing agreement is any other agreement, under which the financing party provides fixed assets or intangible assets, including land, being subject to amortisation, to the using party for its use.
It is the most popular and the most frequent type of leasing. It is characterised by simplicity of posting and tax benefits. The initial rent, i.e. the initial payment, as well as the entire leasing instalments are the tax-deductible cost for the lessee. After expiry of the agreement which lasts usually 24 – 60 months, the using party has the possibility to repurchase the object, usually for its symbolic value, e.g.: 1%.
In tax terms, it resembles more a credit. The amortisation write-offs and the interest part of the leasing instalments are the tax cost for the using party. Financial leasing is treated as delivery of goods (contrary to the operating one that is a service) and thus the lessee pays VAT according to the rate that the leasing object is covered by. This is why financial leasing is often used by entrepreneurs wishing to finance objects covered by lower VAT rate, e.g.: medical devices with 8% VAT rate.
What is the tax-deductible cost in case of leasing?
In operating leasing, both the initial payment and the entire monthly instalments are the cost. On the other hand, the using party does not amortise the fixed asset being the leasing object. Also the repurchase value is included in tax-deductible costs if it does not exceed the amount of PLN 3.5 thousand.
What objects can I take into leasing in LeaseLink?
Our company specialises in financing of all types of devices, from IT equipment through gastronomic, construction, medical and other devices up to bicycles, by leasing.
It is possible to buy additionally software or accessories to every fixed asset, which will also be included in the leasing agreement.
From what amount is leasing in LeaseLink possible?
Regardless of the purchase object, the minimum agreement value is PLN 1 thousand net while the maximum value – PLN 30 thousand net.
What leasing terms are possible?
TV sets, projectors, studio technique – 24-48 months.
How can I ‘take’ leasing?
LeaseLink partners – both e-commerce and stationary outlets as well as call centre.
You can choose leasing in the payment methods of Internet shops being our partners – then, from the shopping basket you get automatically transferred to our ON-LINE application, in which you will arrange all formalities without the need to deliver any documents within 15 minutes.
In the companies of our Partners or through the Call Centre, when you ask for payment in the form of leasing for the realised purchases, you will receive a link, through which you will be transferred to our ON-LINE application, in which you will arrange all formalities without the need to deliver any documents within 15 minutes.
If you purchase in a stationary outlet, you will arrange everything on the spot, in the outlet, and you will collect your purchases.
What if the supplier is not the Leasing Partner?
Use the extremely innovative option (the only one of this type on the European market), provided by us: TAKE LEASING NOW. On our website: www.leaselink.pl you will enter the device selected by you (paste a link to the shop) together with its price as well as your Tax Identification Number (NIP), e-mail address and telephone number and you will receive a special link, through which you will be transferred to our ON-LINE application, in which you will arrange all formalities without the need to deliver any documents within 15 minutes, regardless of the day and time.
How is the leasing offer calculated?
The offers presented by us are calculated automatically. The intelligent algorithm system adjusts the value of the object and its amortisation to optimum leasing term. The presented offer is always calculated on the basis of a variant that is the most favourable in financial terms for the Client.
The initial fee adopted for our calculation amounts to 10% and it may be changed in our application, on a further stage of request processing, or through reporting of such need to the Account Manager.
Every need of the Client relating to the initial fee or longer/shorter term of the leasing agreement is accepted and confirmed in the agreement.
Do I incur any additional fees?
We do not charge any additional fees for examination of the request and for monthly payment of instalments (we do not force quarterly instalments). The calculations presented by us inform the Client on all expenditures connected with leasing in a reliable way. We also do not apply any hidden costs connected with such promotions as account opening, etc.
What about insurance - do I incur any additional insurance costs?
The leasing agreement obliges the Client to insure the equipment in case of a theft or destruction, so that the risks of the situations determined above do not relieve the Client from payment of the leasing fees. However, LeaseLink does not insure and does not force its insurance – the Clients have total discretion in this field.
What information is needed to arrange the formalities?
What documents are required for the leasing procedure?
No documents are required. Leasing application or other registration and financial documents of the company are not required.
The entire procedure, including receipt of the agreement by the Client and payment of the initial fees, lasts 15 minutes.
Filling in of the required fields and making of the verification payment takes as little as 4 minutes.
After 10-minute waiting, the Client receives the decision and if it is positive – also the agreement documents for acceptance.
Acceptance of the agreement and making of the payment of the initial fees takes 1 minute.
What is the verification fee?
The verification fee of PLN 1.00 is made via fast transfer (pay-by-link) in order to confirm the identity of the Client.
Through the verification fee, our application excludes the situation, in which third parties personate a representative of the company.
This fee is also confirmation of expression of consents to verification of the Client in available credit information bases, on the basis of which the decision on financing granting is made.
The verification fee is non-returnable.
How do I sign the leasing agreement?
The confirmation of the will to conclude the leasing agreement and its acceptance by the Client is making of the initial payments directly from our ON-LINE application via fast transfer (pay-bay-link).
In case of collection of the goods from a stationary outlet, the agreement is signed in paper form also in this outlet, directly before handover of goods.
In case when the goods are delivered remotely, the agreement is signed on the next day through setting of a signature on the paper version of the agreement in the presence of a courier.
When will I get the purchased goods if I pay by leasing?
Regardless of the manner of the purchase of the goods, the Client will receive them as quickly as in case of cash purchases.
In a stationary outlet, we realise the entire procedure on the spot, in 15 minutes.
In Internet shops and through our website: www.leaselink.pl / TAKE LEASING NOW, the agreement is signed and the goods are delivered within 48 hours (provided that the goods are available from the supplier).
When and how do I get invoices and pay instalments?
We issue invoices for all leasing fees in electronic form and deliver them via e-mail.
Initial fees are invoiced within 10 days from the inflow of the means.
Monthly leasing fees are issued and sent to the Clients on the 2nd day of every month, with 7 day payment term.
How will the repurchase be performed?
After payment of the last leasing fee, the Client will receive an invoice, the payment of which confirms acquisition of the leased device.
Can I shorten the agreement and make the repurchase earlier?
TV sets, projectors, studio technique – 24 months. | 2019-04-24T22:36:57Z | https://www.pragma.pl/en/financial-advisory/ |
RULE 1. Short title, extent and commencement. — (1) These rules may be called the Central Excise Rules, 2017.
(3) They shall come into force on the 1st day of July, 2017.
RULE 3. Appointment and jurisdiction of Central Excise Officers. — (1) The Board may, by notification, appoint such person as it thinks fit to be Central Excise Officer to exercise all or any of the powers conferred by or under the Act and these rules.
(2) The Board may, by notification, specify the jurisdiction of a Principal Chief Commissioner of Central Excise or Chief Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be, Principal Commissioner of Central Excise or Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be or Commissioner of Central Excise (Appeals) for the purposes of the Act and the rules made thereunder.
RULE 4. Duty payable on removal. — (1) Every person who produces or manufactures any excisable goods, or who stores such goods in a warehouse, shall pay the duty leviable on such goods in the manner provided in rule 8 or under any other law, and no excisable goods, on which any duty is payable, shall be removed without payment of duty from any place, where they are produced or manufactured, or from a warehouse, unless otherwise provided.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (1), Principal Commissioner or Commissioner, as the case may be, may, in exceptional circumstances having regard to the nature of the goods and shortage of storage space at the premises of the manufacturer where the goods are made, permit a manufacturer to store his goods in any other place outside such premises, without payment of duty subject to such conditions as he may specify.
RULE 5. Date for determination of duty and tariff valuation. — The rate of duty or tariff value applicable to any excisable goods shall be the rate or value in force on the date when such goods are removed from a factory or a warehouse, as the case may be.
Explanation. - If any excisable goods are used within the factory, the date of removal of such goods shall mean the date on which the goods are issued for such use.
of Central Excise, as the case may be, may order allowing payment of duty on provisional basis at such rate or on such value as may be specified by him.
Provided that the period specified in this sub-rule may, on sufficient cause being shown and the reasons to be recorded in writing, be extended by the Principal Commissioner of Central Excise or Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be for a further period not exceeding six months and by the Principal Chief Commissioner of Central Excise or Chief Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be, for such further period as he may deem fit.
Explanation. - For the removal of doubt, it is hereby declared that the goods under provisional assessment, cleared in the month of January, 2017, say a provisional duty of Rs. 5000 is paid on the 6th February, 2017 [due date under sub-rule (1) of rule 8], a further duty of Rs. 9000 is paid on the 15th April, 2017, and on the same day the documents for final assessment are submitted by the assessee. Final assessment order is issued on the 18th June, 2017, assessing the duty payable on goods as Rs. 15000, and consequently the assessee pays a duty of Rs. 1000 on the 30th June, 2017, then no interest shall be payable on Rs. 5000, interest shall be payable on Rs. 9000 from the 7th February, 2017, till the 15th April, 2017, and interest shall be payable on Rs. 1000 from the 7th February, 2017, till the 30th June, 2017, as due date for payment of duty of Rs. 15000 is the 6th February, 2017.
(3), then, subject to sub-rule (6), there shall be paid an interest on such refund as provided under section 11BB of the Act.
Provided further that where an assessee is eligible to avail of the exemption under a notification based on the value of clearances in a financial year, the duty on goods cleared during a quarter of the financial year shall be paid by the 6th day of the month following that quarter, if the duty is paid electronically through internet banking and in any other case, by the 5th day of the month following that quarter, except in case of goods removed during the last quarter, starting from the 1st day of January and ending on the 31st day of March, for which the duty shall be paid by the 31st day of March.
Explanation-1. - For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that an assessee, shall be eligible, if his aggregate value of clearances of all excisable goods for home consumption in the preceding financial year, computed in the manner specified in the said notification, did not exceed rupees four hundred lakhs.
Explanation-2. - The manner of payment as specified in this proviso shall be available to the assessee for the whole of the financial year.
recorded in writing, allow an assessee payment of duty by any mode other than internet banking.
(3) The duty of excise shall be deemed to have been paid for the purposes of these rules on the excisable goods removed in the manner provided under sub-rule (1) and the credit of such duty allowed, as provided by or under any rule.
(4) If the assessee fails to pay the amount of duty by due date, he shall be liable to pay the outstanding amount along with interest at the rate specified by the Central Government vide notification under section 11AA of the Act on the outstanding amount, for the period starting with the first day after due date till the date of actual payment of the outstanding amount.
(5) If the assessee fails to pay the duty declared as payable by him in the return within a period of one month from the due date, then the assessee is liable to pay the penalty at the rate of one per cent on such amount of the duty not paid, for each month or part thereof calculated from the due date, for the period during which such failure continues.
Explanation. - For the purposes of this sub-rule, „month‟ means the period between two consecutive due dates for payment of duty specified under sub-rule (1) or the first proviso to sub-rule (1), as the case may be.
(6) The provisions of section 11 of the Act shall be applicable for recovery of the duty as assessed under rule 6 and mentioned in the return filed under these rules, the interest under sub-rule (4) and the penalty under sub-rule (5) in the same manner as they are applicable for recovery of any duty or other sums payable to the Central Government.
(b) if the assessee deposits the duty by cheque, the date of presentation of the cheque in the bank designated by the Central Board of Excise and Customs for this purpose shall be deemed to be the date on which the duty has been paid subject to realisation of that cheque.
Explanation 2. - For the purposes of this rule, the expressions „duty‟ or „duty of excise‟ shall also include the amount payable in terms of the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2017.
Provided that a registration obtained under rule 9 of the Central Excise Rules, 2002 shall be deemed to be valid as the registration made under these rules.
(2) The Board may, by notification and subject to such conditions or limitations as may be specified in such notification, specify person or class of persons who may not require such registration.
RULE 10. Daily stock account. — (1) Every assessee shall maintain proper records, on a daily basis, in a legible manner indicating the particulars regarding description of the goods produced or manufactured, opening balance, quantity produced or manufactured, inventory of goods, quantity removed, assessable value, the amount of duty payable and particulars regarding amount of duty actually paid.
(4) The records under this rule may be preserved in electronic form and every page of the record so preserved shall be authenticated by means of a digital signature.
(5) The Board may, by notification, specify the conditions, safeguards and procedure to be followed by an assessee preserving digitally signed records.
Explanation. - For the purposes of this rule and rule 11, the expressions, “authenticate”, “digital signature” and “electronic form” shall have the respective meanings as assigned to them in the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000).
RULE 11. Goods to be removed on invoice. — (1) No excisable goods shall be removed from a factory or a warehouse except under an invoice signed by the owner of the factory or his authorised agent and in the case of cigarettes, each such invoice shall also be countersigned by the Inspector of Central Excise or the Superintendent of Central Excise before the cigarettes are removed from the factory.
Provided also that if the goods imported under the cover of a bill of entry are sent directly to buyer‟s premises, the invoice issued by the importer shall mention that goods are sent directly from the place or port of import to the buyer‟s premises.
(5) Before making use of the invoice book, the serial numbers of the same shall be intimated to the Superintendent of Central Excise having jurisdiction.
Provided further that in case of the second stage dealer receiving imported goods under an invoice bearing an indication that the credit of additional duty of customs levied on the said goods under sub-section (5) of section 3 of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975) shall not be admissible, the said dealer shall on the resale of such imported goods, indicate on the invoice issued by him that no credit of the additional duty levied under sub-section (5) of section 3 of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975) shall be admissible.
Provided that where the duplicate copy of the invoice meant for transporter is digitally signed, a hard copy of the duplicate copy of the invoice meant for transporter shall be used for transport of goods.
(8) The Board may, by notification, specify the conditions, safeguards and procedure to be followed by an assessee using digitally signed invoice.
Explanation. - For the purposes of these rules, first stage dealer and second stage dealer shall have the meanings assigned to them in CENVAT Credit Rules, 2017.
Provided further that where an assessee is eligible to avail of the exemption under a notification based on the value of clearances in a financial year, he shall file a quarterly return in the form specified, by notification, by the Board, of production and removal of goods and other relevant particulars within ten days after the close of the quarter to which the return relates.
Explanation 1. - For the purposes of this proviso, it is hereby clarified that an assessee shall be eligible, if his aggregate value of clearances of all excisable goods for home consumption in the preceding financial year computed in the manner specified in the said notification did not exceed rupees four hundred lakhs.
Explanation 2. - The filing of returns as specified in this proviso shall be available to the assessee for the whole of the financial year.
(2)(a) Notwithstanding anything containing in sub-rule (1), every assessee shall submit to the Superintendent of Central Excise, an Annual Return for the preceding financial year to which the return relates in the form specified by notification by the Board by 30th day of November of the succeeding year.
(b) The Central Government may, by notification, and subject to such conditions or limitations as may be specified in such notification, specify assessee or class of assessees who may not be required to submit such an Annual Return.
(c) The provision of this sub-rule and clause (b) of sub-rule (7) shall mutatis mutandis apply to a hundred per cent Export- Oriented Unit.
(3) The proper officer may on the basis of information contained in the return filed by the assessee under sub-rule (1), and after such further enquiry as he may consider necessary, scrutinise the correctness of the duty assessed by the assessee on the goods removed, in the manner to be prescribed by the Board.
(4) Every assessee shall make available to the proper officer all the documents and records for verification as and when required by such officer.
(5) Where any return referred to in this rule is submitted by the assessee after due date as specified for every return, the assessee shall pay to the credit of the Central Government, an amount calculated at the rate of one hundred rupees per day subject to a maximum of twenty thousand rupees for the period of delay in submission of each such return or statement.
(6) The Central Board of Excise and Customs may, by an order extend the period specified in this rule by such period as deemed necessary under the circumstances of special nature to be specified therein.
(7)(a) An assessee, who has filed a return in the form referred to in sub-rule (l) within the date specified under that sub-rule or the second proviso thereto, may submit a revised return by the end of the calendar month in which the original return is filed.
Explanation. - Where an assessee submits a revised return under clause (a), the „relevant date‟ for the purpose of recovery of Central Excise duty, if any, under section 11A of the Act shall be the date of submission of such revised return.
RULE 13. Power to impose restrictions in certain types of cases. — Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules, where the Central Government, having regard to the extent of evasion of duty, nature and type of offences or such other factors as may be relevant, is of the opinion that in order to prevent evasion of, or default in payment of duty of excise, it is necessary in the public interest to provide for certain measures including restrictions on a manufacturer, a registered importer, first stage and second stage dealer or an exporter may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify the nature of restrictions including suspension of registration in case of an importer or a dealer, types of facilities to be withdrawn and procedure for issue of such order by the Principal Chief Commissioner of Central Excise or Chief Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be.
RULE 14. Special procedure for payment of duty. — (1) The Central Government may, by notification, specify the goods in respect of which an assessee shall have the option to pay the duty of excise on the basis of such factors as may be relevant to production of such goods and at such rate as may be specified in the said notification, subject to such limitations and conditions, including those relating to interest or penalty, as may be specified in such notification.
RULE 15. Credit of duty on goods brought to the factory. — (1) Where any goods on which duty had been paid at the time of removal thereof are brought to any factory for being re-made, refined, re-conditioned or for any other reason, the assessee shall state the particulars of such receipt in his records and shall be entitled to take CENVAT credit of the duty paid as if such goods are received as inputs under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2017 and utilise this credit according to the said rules.
on the value determined under sub-section (3) of section 3 or section 4 or section 4A of the Act, as the case may be.
Explanation. - The amount paid under this sub-rule shall be allowed as CENVAT credit as if it was a duty paid by the manufacturer who removes the goods.
RULE 16. Warehousing provisions. — (1) The Central Government may by notification, extend the facility of removal of any excisable goods from the factory of production to a warehouse, or from one warehouse to another warehouse without payment of duty.
Provided also that where such duty exceeds One lakh rupees but does not exceed five lakh rupees, the provisions of this rule shall have effect as if for the expression “ Principal Commissioner or Commissioner, as the case may be “, the expression “Joint Commissioner of Central Excise or Additional Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be”, has been substituted.
Provided that the period specified in this sub-rule may, on sufficient cause being shown and reasons to be recorded in writing, be extended by an authority next higher than the authority before whom the application for remission of duty is pending, for a further period not exceeding six months.
RULE 18. Rebate of duty. — Where any goods are exported, the Central Government may, by notification, grant rebate of duty paid on such excisable goods or duty paid on materials used in the manufacture or processing of such goods and the rebate shall be subject to such conditions or limitations, if any, and fulfilment of such procedure, as may be specified in the notification.
Explanation. - For the purposes of this rule, “export”, with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, means taking goods out of India to a place outside India and includes shipment of goods as provision or stores for use on board a ship proceeding to a foreign port or supplied to a foreign going aircraft.
RULE 19. Export without payment of duty. — (1) Any excisable goods may be exported without payment of duty from a factory of the producer or the manufacturer or the warehouse or any other premises, as may be approved by the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner, as the case may be.
RULE 20. Removal of goods for job work, etc. — Any inputs received in a factory may be removed as such or after being partially processed to a job worker for further processing, testing, repair, re-conditioning or any other purpose subject to the fulfilment of conditions specified in this behalf by the Commissioner of Central Excise having jurisdiction.
RULE 21. Special procedure for removal of semi-finished goods for certain purposes. — The Principal Commissioner of Central Excise or Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be may by special order and subject to conditions as may be specified by the Principal Commissioner of Central Excise or Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be, permit a manufacturer to remove excisable goods which are in the nature of semi-finished goods, for carrying out certain manufacturing processes, to some other premises and to bring back such goods to his factory, without payment of duty, or to some other registered premises and allow these goods to be removed on payment of duty or without payment of duty for export from such other registered premises.
Provided that this rule shall not apply to the goods known as “prototypes” which are sent out for trial or development test.
RULE 23. Removal of goods by a Hundred percent Export-Oriented Undertaking for Domestic Tariff Area. — (1) Where any goods are removed from a hundred per cent export-oriented undertaking to domestic tariff area, such removal shall be made under an invoice by following the procedure specified in rule 11, and the duty leviable on such goods shall be paid by utilizing the CENVAT credit or by crediting the duty payable to the account of the Central Government in the manner specified in rule 8.
Provided that the Central Board of Excise and Customs may, by an order extend the period by such period as deemed necessary under the circumstances of special nature to be specified therein.
(3), and after such further enquiry as he may consider necessary, scrutinise the correctness of the duty assessed by the assessee on the goods removed, in the manner to be prescribed by the Board.
(5) Every assessee shall make available to the proper officer all the documents and records for verification as and when required by such officer.
Explanation. - Where an assessee submits a revised return under this sub-rule, the “relevant date” for the purpose of recovery of Central Excise duty, if any, under section 11A of the Act shall be the date of submission of such revised return.
RULE 24. Access to a registered premises. — (1) An officer empowered by the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner, as the case may be in this behalf shall have access to any premises registered under these rules for the purpose of carrying out any scrutiny, verification and checks as may be necessary to safeguard the interest of revenue.
(2) Every assessee, an importer who issues an invoice on which CENVAT credit can be taken, first stage and second stage dealer shall furnish to the officer empowered under sub-rule (1), a list in duplicate, of all the records prepared and maintained for accounting of transaction in regard to receipt, purchase, manufacture, storage, sales or delivery of the goods including inputs and all the financial records and statements (including trial balance or its equivalent).
for the scrutiny of the officer or the audit party or the cost accountant or chartered accountant, within the time limit specified by the said officer or the audit party or the cost accountant or chartered accountant, as the case may be.
RULE 25. Power to stop and search. — Any Central Excise Officer, may search any conveyance carrying excisable goods in respect of which he has reason to believe that the goods are being carried with the intention of evading duty.
RULE 26. Power to detain or seize goods. — If a Central Excise Officer, has reason to believe that any goods, which are liable to excise duty but no duty has been paid thereon or the said goods were removed with the intention of evading the duty payable thereon, the Central Excise Officer may detain or seize such goods.
Provided that the Principal Commissioner of Central Excise or Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be, may order for the retention of such books of accounts or documents, for reasons to be recorded in writing and the Central Excise Officer shall intimate to the assessee or such person about such retention.
then, all such goods shall be liable to confiscation and the producer or manufacturer or registered person of the warehouse, or an importer who issues an invoice on which CENVAT credit can be taken, or a registered dealer, as the case may be, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding the duty on the excisable goods in respect of which any contravention of the nature referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) or clause (c) or clause (d) has been committed, or five thousand rupees, whichever is greater.
(ii) any other document or abets in making such document, on the basis of which the user of said invoice or document is likely to take or has taken any ineligible benefit under the Act or the rules made thereunder like claiming of CENVAT credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2017 or refund, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding the amount of such benefit or five thousand rupees, whichever is higher.
RULE 30. General penalty. — A breach of these rules shall, where no other penalty is provided herein or in the Act, be punishable with a penalty which may extend to five thousand rupees and with confiscation of the goods in respect of which the offence is committed.
RULE 31. Confiscated property to vest in Central Government. — (1) When any goods are confiscated under these rules, such thing shall thereupon vest in the Central Government.
RULE 32. Disposal of confiscated goods. — Confiscated goods in respect of which the option of paying a fine in lieu of confiscation has not been exercised, shall be sold, destroyed or otherwise disposed of in such manner as the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner, as the case may be may direct.
RULE 33. Storage charges in respect of goods confiscated and redeemed. — If the owner of the goods, the confiscation of which has been adjudged, exercises his option to pay fine in lieu of confiscation, he may be required to pay such storage charges as may be determined by the adjudicating officer.
RULE 34. Power to issue supplementary instructions. — The Board or the Principal Chief Commissioner or Chief Commissioner, as the case may be or the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner, as the case may be, may issue written instructions providing for any incidental or supplemental matters, consistent with the provisions of the Act and these rules.
RULE 35. Transitional provision. — (1) Any notification, circular, instruction, standing order, trade notice or other order issued under the Central Excise (No. 2) Rules, 2001 or Central Excise Rules, 2002, as the case may be, by the Central Government, the Central Board of Excise and Customs, the Principal Chief Commissioner of Central Excise or Chief Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be or the Principal Commissioner of Central Excise or Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be, and in force at the commencement of these rules, shall, to the extent it is relevant and consistent with these rules, be deemed to be valid and issued under the corresponding provisions of these rules.
(2) References in any rule, notification, circular, instruction, standing order, trade notice or other order to the Central Excise (No. 2) Rules, 2001 or Central Excise Rules, 2002, as the case may be, and any provision thereof, on the commencement of these rules, be construed as references to the Central Excise Rules, 2017 and any corresponding provision thereof. | 2019-04-25T20:04:38Z | http://www.cbic.gov.in/htdocs-cbec/excise/cxrules/cx-rules-2002new |
The ability to be stronger than what is naturally possible. An advanced version of Enhanced Strength. Sub-power of Supernatural Condition.
Users are glaringly, obviously and super/unnaturally stronger than their race because their capabilities are pushed beyond the natural level; making them immensely stronger than normal members of their species (in that 'verse) can be achieved by any method of training.
The user can lift objects that are heavy for normal humans.
Type I: Being able to lift up from cars to trucks, buses, and other vehicles of great size.
Type II: Being able to lift structures from battleships to massive air-crafts.
Type III: Being able to lift skyscraper size structures and moving mountains at top strength.
Type IV: Being able to lift continents, planets and even objects of nearly infinite mass and weight, at top strength.
Absolute Strength: Limitless strength that allows the user to perform unbelievable feats such as lifting virtually anything with ease or distorting the fabric of reality with one's bare hands.
Can be overpowered by Absolute Strength.
Could take time for a user to control their strength in order to handle mundane things and people without harming or destroying them.
Maybe suspect for Strength Absorption, Muscle Mass Weakening, Strength/Muscle Manipulation, Strength Reduction, etc.
The ability to possess an obviously supernatural physical and mental condition. An advanced version of Enhanced Condition. Combination of Supernatural Body and Supernatural Mind.
User's physical and mental abilities are glaringly, obviously and super/unnaturally superior over others in their universe because their capabilities are far beyond natural levels, making them immensely stronger, faster, durable and smarter than regular beings (in that verse).
Type I: Easily one of the greatest minds in their world, strong enough to lift construction vehicles and destroy thick steel, fast enough to easily move at supersonic speeds, durable enough to withstand most explosions.
Type II: Arguably the greatest mind in their world, strong enough to lift large aircrafts and destroy the toughest metals, fast enough to easily move at hypersonic speeds (and beyond), durable enough to take powerful explosions.
Type III: Near an Absolute Condition. Arguably the greatest mind in their verse, strong enough to move skyscrapers or even planets with incalculable strength, fast enough to move at (or beyond) light-speed, and invulnerable to virtually all physical harm.
Given how obviously superior the user is, some level of megalomania, messianic complex and/or similar problems with attitude are a very real possibility.
The power to possess an obviously supernatural physical ability. Sub-power of Supernatural Condition. The advanced variation of Enhanced Body.
User's physical abilities are glaringly, obviously and super/unnaturally physically superior over other beings in their universe because their capabilities are far beyond natural levels, making them immensely stronger, faster, and more durable than regular beings (in that verse) can achieve by seemingly any method of training.
Peak Human Body - User is at the highest physical condition that a human can reach.
Enhanced Body - User's physical condition is beyond the peak human limits of their universe, but not too high superhuman levels.
Supernatural Body - User's physical condition is blatantly more powerful than other people of their universe, reaching into a high superhuman territory.
Type I: Strong enough to lift construction vehicles and destroy thick steel, fast enough to easily move at supersonic speed, durable enough to withstand most explosions.
Type II: Strong enough to lift large aircraft and destroy the toughest metals, fast enough to easily move at hypersonic speed (and beyond), durable enough to take powerful explosions.
Type III: Near an Absolute Body. Strong enough to move skyscrapers or even planets with incalculable strength, fast enough to move at (or beyond) light-speed, and invulnerable to virtually all physical harm.
Absolute Body - The ultimate type, the user has no limits to physical strength, speed, stamina, etc.
User may develop a superiority complex which can lead to underestimating opponents.
May include enhanced nutrition requirements.
Lack of relevant mental enhancements is very likely to cause problems.
Because of the Plateau Effect, the user may reach the peak of their physical limits and never improve beyond that.
The ability to have better stamina than is naturally possible. An advanced form of Enhanced Stamina and a sub-power of Supernatural Body.
Users stamina is glaringly, obviously and super/unnaturally greater than their race because their capabilities are pushed beyond the natural level; making them immensely more enduring than normal members of their species (in that 'verse) can be achieved by any method of training.
Users can only exert oneself for so long before the excessive buildup of fatigue toxins will begin to wear them down.
They are still vulnerable towards users of Stamina Absorption.
User stamina is glaringly, obviously and super/unnaturally greater than other beings in their universe because their capabilities are pushed beyond the natural level; making them immensely more enduring than regular beings (in that verse).
The power to put others in a suggestive trance using eye contact. Variation of Hypnosis.
The user can put others in a suggestive trance upon eye contact, effect may take a few minutes to work or happen instantly. While in the trance, the person becomes highly pliant to their suggestions.
May not need Indomitable Will, just powerful enough to break free.
Direct eye contact may be needed, so breaking it will break the hypnosis.
Will not work if the victim is blind.
May require close eye contact.
Contact lenses or glasses may limit or cancel this power's intensity.
The ability to make suggestions to the subconscious of others. Variation of Mind Control and Mental Inducement.
The user is able to affect or directly influence other people's minds to their commands.
People with strong will-power can negate this power unless they are weakened or want to be hypnotized.
The mindless (zombies, machines, puppets, etc.) can't be hypnotized.
Idiots may not be hypnotizable (one of the laws of hypnosis in the real world and most fantasy worlds).
May require time and/or cooperation from the target.
A medium might be required to perform the hypnosis.
Some users might accidentally hypnotize themselves.
The power to control the minds of others. Sub-power of Mental Manipulation.
User can control the minds of others with targets being completely subject to their mental control. If the victims were placed into a semi-conscious state, they may not have any recollection of the previous actions that they performed while under its effect.
May be weakened/ineffective against a target which doesn't have a mind or has low intelligence.
May not be able to make a person do something against their nature.
May wear off over time if not reinforced.
Cannot erase implanted information, but can suppress or nullify them by implanting other information.
Users of Higher Consciousness and Mass Consciousness may be uncontrollable.
Users of Indomitable Will are highly resistant.
Can be negated by Control Negation.
The son of expert mages Grimoire and the Scarlet Sorceress, the young magic-user was recruited into Section Q to offer a response to magic based threats.
Adept's brain is hardwired for advanced precision superior to any gold-medaled archer who has ever competed.
Derrick has drastically enhanced reaction speed, allowing them to dodge bullets, catch flies in mid-air, dodge and maneuver around complex attacks, catch falling objects, block detriments and react instantaneously to what others take more time to react to.
Adept can endure more physical stress than average humans. he can tolerate large amounts of physical pain such as being shot or stabbed repeatedly, burned with high heat, and beatings that no ordinary person could handle.
Exposure to magical energy The user's body-tissue, skin, muscles, bones, etc. are extremely dense/solid, allowing them to withstand harmful forces on the body such as crushing weights, impacts, pressures, changes in temperature.
Adept can separate his spirit from the body by entering a trance.
The magic imbued staff, was the principal vestment of the Scarlet Sorceress. The artifact draws latent mana energy from its surroundings to manifest powerful blasts of energy and energy shields to defend the bearer.
Derrick's mother was killed in the Tenari assault on Pleasant Hill. His father, Grimoire, retired from superheroics to take care of him. Derrick showed a natural affinity for the mystic arts, that Nicholas fostered in his son. The boy's burgeoning passion evoked memories of Eva's training with him. An accident while practicing storm herding drew the attention of WATCH. Director Osborne agreed to sanction both Derrick and Nicholas as sponsored magic-users as long as Grimoire accepted a retainer position as a magic consultant for WATCH. Derrick grew quite familiar with several WATCH operatives that visited his home while working with his father. WATCH recovered Scarlet Sorceress' staff, Circe's Hammer, they offered the artifact to Adept as an incentive to join Section Q.
Derrick attended public school in the suburbs of Tudor City; his education was supplemented by magecraft tutoring from his father who mixed in Alchemical disciplines to ground his studies.
Adept provides mystical artillery support to the WALL field team and uses his training and background to contain magic threats encountered by the team.
Derrick can sense the presence of magical energies and he possibly gains detailed understanding about the energies. Adept's sensitivity to mystic energy contributes to an enhanced awareness of his surroundings and insight to attempts to deceive him.
Derrick possesses an innate understanding of magic. He can intuitively perform magic and spells through an innate talent to assimilate extraordinary powers or through supernatural means.
Adept has enhanced willpower, allowing him to carry on easier and be stronger in mind.
Derrick's Mother was killed in the Assault on Pleasant Hill.
Mankind. The Mundane. The most common race of the Omniverse.
small hairless apes. bipedal, 2 arms.
Humans reproduce by sexual reproduction and have a nine-month gestation period.
Humans can live in any habitat between 140 F and -4 F.
Human technological achievement varies across the Omniverse. in S16 humans are living in the Information age, they have acquired technologies of higher levels through Multiversal partnerships.
The Humans of S16 are recovering from the fallout of the last Age of Heroes. Catastrophic attacks across Earth in a period of just a few years had a devastating impact on the world's population; Economically, socially, and psychologically. There is very little Earth's governments won't do to avoid becoming dependent on supernatural powers again.
STR 0, STA 0, AGL 0, DEX 0, FGT 0, INT 0, AWE 0, PRE 0.
The ability to have accuracy at the highest limits of human efficiency.Sub-power of Peak Condition.
Users of this ability are capable of achieving smaller and distant targets depending on the location. The user's brain is hardwired for advanced precision superior to any gold-medaled archer who has ever competed. Additionally, the user's aim is obviously not enhanced, it is just at the peak of human efficiency. It's said by peers or/and foes that users of this ability seldom miss a single/multiple targets.
May be unable to hit beings with Enhanced or Supernatural abilities.
They may still miss their targets.
Still susceptible to ailments that could potentially rob the user of their eyesight.
The ability to have your bodily functions at the maximum limit of human condition; meaning that your natural capabilities are near-superhuman. A Real-World Human Standard version of Enhanced Condition .
The user's bodily functions are enhanced to the pinnacle of human conditioning; therefore, the user's strength, speed, stamina, senses, agility, reflexes, accuracy, longevity, durability, intelligence, healing time, flexibility and combat skills are greatly heightened, but without any superhuman degree.
Peak-humans are superior over Olympic-Level athletes and normal members of their species. They're strong enough to punch an individual through a wooden/thin metal door, break thin steel bars with their bare hands, fast enough to catch-up or outrun moving vehicles, they can exert themselves to peak capacity; therefore, eliminating build-up fatigue chemicals, producing top-endurance and lung capacity; agile enough to climb the tallest of buildings, leap to high feats into the air and distant yards; reflexive enough to quickly dodge incoming attacks and react better to fast motions, accurate enough to achieve multiple small and further distant targets, capable of living longer than the average-person, durable enough to withstand normal and superhuman physical/projectile attacks, intelligent enough to understand complex problems better than average humans, they can heal themselves in short-periods of time, flexible enough to co-ordinate their limbs perfectly and their combat skills are advanced enough to defeat large groups of enemies.
Gods, Angels, Superhumans, Enhanced Humans, Slayers, Vampires, etc. can easily overpower and outsmart peak-humans.
Peak-human capabilities are near-superhuman, but not superhuman.
The ability to endure more physical discomfort than average humans. Sub-power of Peak Condition.
Users can endure more physical stress than average members of their species. They can tolerate large amounts of physical pain such as being shot or stabbed repeatedly, burned with high heat, and beatings that no ordinary person could handle. They can also hold their breath for large intervals like 3-20 minutes while underwater, and remain calm through stressful or painful situations. Users can also tolerate extreme hunger, unbearable thirst, and strong urges to sleep.
This can cause extreme discomfort on the body.
The mind may shut down to prevent mental damage.
The ability/power to possess physical abilities greater than average/normal humans, even though this ability is not classified as 'enhanced'. Sub-power of Peak Condition.
The user's physical abilities are at the pinnacle of human potential without being superhuman. Therefore, the user's strength, speed, stamina, senses, agility, reflexes, accuracy, longevity, durability, healing time, flexibility and combat skills are near enhanced/superhuman.
Peak Human Body - User is at the highest natural physical condition that a human can reach.
Enhanced Body - User's physical condition may be augmented, but not to supernatural levels.
Supernatural Body - User is blatantly more physically powerful than other members of their species.
Absolute Body - The ultimate type, the user has no limits to their physical abilities.
Users of Enhanced and Supernatural Body can easily overpower peak-humans.
Users are required to keep themselves in a strict diet and continuous training to have their body remain peak human.
The power to separate one's spirit from one's body. Sub-power of Astral Manipulation.
The user can separate their spirit from the body by entering a trance, gaining access to the Astral Plane. Experienced individuals may control both the Astral and Corporeal presences.
Project your consciousness/soul/astral form outside your body, gaining Spirit Physiology.
Travel to Hell, Heaven, or another spiritual realm.
May become possessed while on the Astral Plane.
Maybe killed trapping the User in astral form.
May be unable to control Corporeal and Astral presences.
Some users may not be immune from those with Astral Manipulation while in spirit form.
May be unable to use any other abilities they possess while in astral form.
Most users are completely incapable to affect the physical world.
Prolonged separation may prove harmful to the user's body or soul.
The power to manipulate astral energy. Variation of Energy Manipulation.
The user can create, manipulate, shape, transform, etc. astral energy, allowing them to travel to the astral plane and interact there, see spirits, making spirits visible to others, astral trapping and potentially harming the dead. They can also allow others temporarily to be able to astral project, block others from astral projecting, sending them back to their bodies if they had already projected.
Send users of Astral Projection back to their bodies or even trapped in the astral plane.
Prevent users of Astral Projection from projecting their spirit.
Stellar Manipulation - the word "astral" commonly relates to or resembles the stars.
May take some control to block others from projecting.
The ability to possess an intuitive understanding of magic. Variation of Intuitive Aptitude.
The user has great, if not innate, understanding of magic, knowing intuitively/instantly how to perform all forms of magic and spells through an innate talent to assimilate extraordinary powers or through supernatural means.
May only come to the user in times of need.
The ability to release/use magic to various attacks. Sub-power of Magic. Variation of Attack Powers.
The user can release/use magic to attacks of various shapes and/or intensities, either projected, used as a part of melee attacks, etc., from huge rays of pure magical energy that can knock over or even obliterate dozens of targets, or slightly singe them.
Magic Bullet Projection: Fire in short sequence over a wide area.
Magic Breath: Discharge magic blasts from mouth.
Magic Burst: Create burst of magical energy.
Magic Cutting: Use magical energy to cut opponents.
Magic Infusion: Empower and energize anything touched or used (usually a weapon) with magic.
Magic Pillar Projection: Project magic pillars.
Magic Spike Projection: Project magic spikes.
Magic Vision: Emit magic from one's eyes.
Magic Vortex Creation: Create spiral/vortex of magic.
Magic Wave Emission: Send out a wave of magic and that repels everything.
Magical Beam Emission: Release concentrated beams of magic.
Magical Bomb Generation: Create bombs/explosions of magic.
Mystic Blast: Release magic over a specific target area.
Omnidirectional Magic Waves: Send out a wave of magic in all directions.
Overpower: Pulse of magic is released, overloading powered devices in an area.
Reflective Attacks: Release attacks that can bounce off of any surface.
Scatter Shot: Release magic blasts that split into multiple fragments.
Sword Beam Emission: Release magic blasts from swords and other such bladed weapons.
Wave Motion Blast: Launch a massive wave of magic.
Zap: A tiny short release of magic to cause pain or discomfort, usually too low-powered to be destructive.
Users may require an outside source of magic to create attacks.
Firing may be an involuntary reaction, or released in a constant stream.
The ability to use magical forces to varying degrees. Those who possess this ability are known (among other things).
The user has access to magic, the use of rituals, symbols, actions, gestures, language, etc., to exploit supernatural forces to varying degrees, with only their skill, personal power-level, imagination/knowledge, and/or morality to define the borders. Given the flexibility of magic, its users have essentially limitless possibilities for what they can accomplish.
Magical Energy Manipulation: The key power that allows one to use Magic; the powers are based around certain concepts/categories.
Illusions: The power to create illusions.
Nature: The power to control the forces of the natural world for a variety of effects.
Transmutation: The power to transform living or non-living things.
Some universes have limits for what they can do or substances that they can't affect.
Who can use magic varies between universes.
Magic and science may be the same thing or two completely different and unrelated forces.
How magic and technology react to each other varies greatly.
There is always a price. Always.
Always make sure you know what the price is, it will come back to haunt you.
It will be paid, one way or another.
The price can range from something as insignificant as the magical energy required to activate your magic, a part of your sanity, or even something devastating, like your own life.
Stronger Magics will overcome weaker ones.
Magic Immunity will foil your plans.
Magic Negation is an even bigger problem.
Magic often drains a person's stamina or mana.
Naturally, stronger magic puts a much greater strain.
Magic is unpredictable if one gets too creative or is interrupted in a crucial moment. Results range from amusing to annoying, but mendable, to destructive to lethal, to Catastrophic to Apocalyptic.
Without knowledge or proper skill, the intended use of a spell can create unpredictable or potentially dangerous results.
Society with knowledge about magic is likely to have rules/laws about its use, and areas of magic that are forbidden.
In some societies, magic may be limited to a specific class or status.
Users are unable to use spells that are beyond their imagination.
Using magic takes concentration and focus.
May react disastrously with Science Manipulation.
May need to perform certain actions/fulfill conditions to use magic, ranging from specific words/songs, certain hand/body moves, materials that may be consumed or even extensive rituals.
The ability to release/use energy/matter to various attacks. Defined by Superpower Manipulation.
The user can release/use energy/matter (whether organic, inorganic, objects, etc.) to attacks of various shapes and/or intensities, either projected, used as a part of melee attacks, etc.
Ball Projection: Create and launch spheres of energy/matter.
Beam Emission: Release beams of energy/matter.
Blast Attacks: Release energy/matter over a specific target area.
Bolt Projection: Release low powered projectiles of energy/matter.
Breath Powers: Discharge energy/matter from the mouth.
Bullet Projection: Fire in short sequence over a wide area.
Cutting Wave: Use matter/energy to cut opponents.
Expanding Bolts: Project energy/matter that expands rapidly on contact with an object.
Formulated Blasts: Release blasts of energy/matter in a form of a creature or object.
Hand Blasts: Release energy/matter blasts from hands.
Infusion: Empower and energize anything touched or used (usually a weapon) with energy/matter.
Missile Generation: Create missiles of energy/matter.
Omnidirectional Waves: Send out a wave of energy/matter in all directions.
Optic Blasts: Emit energy/matter from one's eyes.
Pillar Projection: Project energy/matter pillars.
Reflective Attacks: Release attacks of energy/matter that can bounce off of any surface.
Scatter Shot: Release energy/matter blasts that split into multiple fragments.
Spike Projection: Project energy/matter spikes.
Sword Beam Emission: Release energy/matter blasts from swords and other such bladed weapons.
Vortex Creation: Create spiral/vortex of matter/energy.
Volatile Constructs: Create bombs/explosions of energy/matter.
Wave Emission: Send out a wave of energy/matter that repels everything.
Wave Motion Blast: Launch a massive wave of energy/matter.
Zap: A tiny short release of energy/matter to cause pain or discomfort, usually too low-powered to be destructive.
Users may require outside source of energy/matter to create a blasts.
The ability to release energy/matter on a specific target location. Sub-power to Attack Powers.
The user can release matter/energy over a specific target area causing great damage and/or delivering great shock waves of pure force.
The power to manifest barriers composed of magic energy, Variation of Force-Field Generation and Application of Barrier Magic.
User can create a shield, wall, or a field formed from Mana, Magical Energy or Elemental Forces.
Mystic shields aren't usually impenetrable and can be removed by mana drain or extreme force.
Create magical barriers for protection from physical attacks and/or energy attacks.
Create selective barriers to prevent specific things from leaving/entering.
May be limited on the size/shape/duration of their barriers.
Attacks on the barriers may cause equivalent damage to user's mind or body.
Some targets may be immune to barrier restrictions.
Weak against users with Magic Nullification and Anti-Magic.
May only block certain types of attacks.
The power to use barrier-related magic. Sub-power of Abjuration, Form of Magic. Variation of Force-Field Manipulation and Shield Manipulation.
The user is capable of using a form of magic that creates mystical defensive measures. The spells cast can absorb, deflect and/or outright halt attacks aimed at the user. They may even be used as a means of trapping opponents.
Magic may have a price.
Strength of barrier may depend on user’s strength.
The power to cast spells that provide protection and healing. A form of Magic. Variation of Defense Manipulation. Magical variation of Defense Powers and Support Powers.
User can cast spells which can grant protection of various kinds, prevent other beings from entering an area, force armor, purification and force fields.
May take time to cast proper spells. | 2019-04-23T22:28:50Z | https://www.rpnation.com/threads/elseworlds.416347/page-4 |
The TSH receptor (TSHR) hinge region was previously considered an inert scaffold connecting the leucine-rich ectodomain to the transmembrane region of the receptor. However, mutation studies have established the hinge region to be an extended hormone-binding site in addition to containing a region which is cleaved thus dividing the receptor into α|’ (A) and β (B) subunits. Furthermore, we have shown in-vitro that monoclonal antibodies directed to the cleaved part of the hinge region (often termed “neutral” antibodies) can induce thyroid cell apoptosis in the absence of cyclic AMP signaling. The demonstration of neutral antibodies in patients with Graves' disease suggests their potential involvement in disease pathology thus making the hinge a potentially important antigenic target. Here we examine the evolution of the antibody immune response to the entire TSHR hinge region (aa280–410) after intense immunization with full-length TSHR cDNA in a mouse (BALB/c) model in order to examine the immunogenicity of this critical receptor structure. We found that TSHR hinge region antibodies were detected in 95% of the immunized mice. The antibody responses were largely restricted to residues 352–410 covering three major epitopes and not merely confined to the cleaved portion. These data indicated the presence of novel antigenic “hotspots” within the carboxyl terminus of the hinge region and demonstrate that the hinge region of the TSHR contains an immunogenic pocket that is involved in the highly heterogeneous immune response to the TSHR. The presence of such TSHR antibodies suggests that they may play an active role in the immune repertoire marshaled against the TSHR and may influence the Graves' disease phenotype.
The thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) is the major regulator of thyroid gland function and also a major autoantigen in Graves' disease (GD) which is caused by stimulating TSHR autoantibodies inducing thyroid gland hyperactivity (1, 2). Autoantibodies to the TSHR found in patients with Graves' disease may be stimulating, blocking, or neutral based on their modulation of cyclic AMP signaling (3). All stimulating and most blocking receptor antibodies bind conformationally to the leucine-rich repeat domain (LRD), part of the large ectodomain (ECD) of the TSHR while neutral antibodies recognize linear epitopes largely within the hinge region of the receptor which links the LRD to the transmembrane (TM) sequences. The stimulating TSHR antibodies, like TSH itself, activate the TSHR on the basolateral surface of thyroid epithelial cells leading to multiple G protein activation–predominantly Gαs (4, 5) but also Gαq-and Gβγ signaling pathways (5, 6), while blocking antibodies inhibit TSH action on the receptor by physically preventing the interaction of TSH with the LRD (7). Crystallization of the TSHR ECD bound to human stimulating and blocking monoclonal antibodies to the TSHR has provided insight into antibody contact residues showing the LRD as the major binding region (8, 9). Although the crystal structures did not include the full hinge region we have provided evidence that TSHR-Abs also bind to this area (10). The crystal structure of the hinge region of the FSHR (11) has provided evidence of the structural features of this region which likely applies to all glycoprotein hormone receptors including the TSHR and has allowed homology modeling of the entire ectodomain (12) and thus extended our understanding on ligand displacement of specific hinge fragments.
Previously, the hinge region of the TSHR, which spans 114 amino acids, was considered as an inert scaffold connecting the LRD to the TM region of the receptor (13) although some later studies have defined this region to extend from residues 289–409 (14) and even from aa 280–410 (15). However, studies using monoclonal antibodies and synthetic peptides have demonstrated that certain epitopes within the hinge region are involved in TSH binding, and mutation studies have established the hinge region to be an extended hormone-binding site (16). The hinge region also encompasses a unique 50 amino acid cleaved region (amino acids 316–366). Antibodies directed to the hinge region are often termed “neutral” antibodies, even though studies from our laboratory have established that they are not neutral in function (17, 18). Our studies have also shown that hinge region specific neutral antibodies might also play a role in inhibiting the receptor from being cleaved and released from the cell surface possibly by dimerizing two receptors (19). Furthermore, we have shown both in vitro and in vivo that neutral antibodies have the ability to lead to cell stress and apoptosis of thyrocytes, which appears to only, happen in the absence of cyclic AMP signaling (20, 21). Identification of “neutral” TSHR antibodies in patients with Graves' disease, therefore, suggests their potential involvement in the disease process (18).
Female BALB/c mice, ages between 6 and 8 weeks, were purchased from Jackson Labs (n = 30). All animal studies were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and performed with all standard animal care precautions in a pathogen-free facility.
Full-length pEGFP-hTSHR described previously (23) and empty vector pEFGP-N1 plasmid DNA was prepared using QIAGEN plasmid mega kit (Cat # 12181). After spectrophotometric measurement of the purified DNA, it was diluted to 1 mg/mL in calcium and magnesium free 1X PBS prior to immunization. The animals were anesthetized and injected with 50 μL of plasmid DNA (1 mg/mL) into the biceps femoris muscle. The injected DNA was electroporated using the ECM830 square wave electroporator (BTX) with 7 mm caliper electrodes at 200 V/cm2. The current was applied in 10–20 ms2 wave pulses at 1 Hz. This muscle immunization was performed four times at 3-week intervals. Blood was collected by submandibular bleeding at weeks 5, 10, 13, 19, and 24 (Figure 1). Serum samples were separated and stored at −20°C.
Figure 1. Immunization scheme of the mouse model. Female Balb/c mice of 6–8 weeks were used in this study. Test animals (n = 20) were injected with expression plasmids pEGFP-hTSHR and control animals (n = 10) with pEGFP-N1 empty vector, respectively with 50 μl of plasmid DNA in the bicep femoris muscle and electroporated as described in materials and method. This immunization scheme was done every 3 weeks for a total of 4 times. The mice were bled at 0, 5, 10, 13, 19, and 24 weeks.
Serum samples were diluted 1:10 in assay buffer and measured for T4 and TSH levels using the Millipore MAP thyroid magnetic bead method (Cat # RTHYMAG-30 K) as per the manufacturer's protocol. The cut-off was specified by ±2 standard deviations from the average of the control empty vector immunized samples.
Luciferase assays for TSH-like action were performed as described previously (24). Briefly, a 384-well plate was seeded with 15,000 cells/well of CHO-TSHR cells co-expressing a CRE-luciferase (TSHR-Glo) construct. Thirty microliters of purified serum IgG at a concentration of 1 μg/mL or serum diluted 1:10 to 1:100 per well was used in the stimulation assay or inhibition assay for blocking antibodies. All sera or IgG were diluted in F12 medium and incubated with TSHR-Glo cells for 4 h prior to addition of luciferase substrate. For the inhibition assays, the diluted samples (1:100) were added to the wells first, and after 60 min of pre-incubation, the wells were spiked with bovine TSH (final concentration of 50 μU/well) followed by 4 h of incubation at 37°C in a CO2 incubator with >85% humidity prior measuring luminescence in the ClarioStar microplate reader (BMG Inc). Positive and negative controls used were bovine TSH/ medium alone and sera diluted from control vector immunized mice.
CHO-TSHR expressing cells were used for the detection of TSHR antibodies. These cells were grown overnight at 37°C in F12 medium containing 100 units of penicillin and streptomycin and 10% FBS. The cells from the plate were detached using 1 mM EGTA/EDTA and washed twice with 1X PBS, filtered using 75 μM filter and suspended in 100 μL of FACS staining buffer (1X PBS with 0.2% sodium azide and 2% FBS) at a density of 1 × 106 cells/tube. Test and control serum diluted 1:50 were incubated with cells for an hour at room temperature and TSHR receptor binding antibodies were detected using anti-mouse antibody Fab' phycoerthrin (PE) labeled secondary antibody. Tube with no primary antibody and anti TSHR mAb RSR1 (0.1 μg/mL) were used as negative and positive controls, respectively in this unfixed FACS assay. The results were expressed as the percentage positive cells detected in the test samples compared to the control serum samples. All sera were tested at 10 and 24 weeks after immunization for these antibodies.
In a series of qualitative ELISA's we used 9 overlapping 20-mer peptides spanning the entire human TSHR hinge region (amino acids 280–410) as indicated schematically in Figure 2. Briefly, the peptide ELISA were performed by coating 100 μL/well of peptides dissolved in bicarbonate buffer pH 9.6 at 10 μg/mL. The plates were blocked with 2% BSA for 2 h at 25°C. Mice sera were diluted 1:100 and incubated for 1 h at 25°C. Anti-mouse IgG-Fab' HRP was used as the detection antibody. The optical density (OD) was obtained at 450 nm in a CalrioStar microplate reader (BMG Inc). The ELISA approach proved highly specific when tested with control peptides. The cut-off was specified by ±2 standard deviations from the average of the control serum samples for each of the peptide plates.
Figure 2. Receptor structure and hinge region amino acid sequence. (Left) Model of the full-length human TSH receptor showing the major concave leucine-rich domain (gray), the large hinge region (orange) connecting to the helical transmembrane domain (yellow) with its short carboxyl tail and extra- and intra- cellular loops (25). The intracellular loops of receptor harbor sites for downstream effectors such Gαs, Gαq, Gβγ, Gα12, and recruitment of β-arrestins thus forming the array of signaling units of the TSHR. (Right) A magnified image with amino acid sequence of the hinge region (aa 280–410) of the receptor with the “hot-spot” peptides marked in color. Shown here are the 3 “hot-spots” of the hinge region described in this study: peptide 23 (residues 352–371), peptide 24 (residues 367–386), and peptide 25 (residues 382–401) with there overlapping regions indicated in blue here. Note the 50 amino acid cleaved region (amino acids 316–366- indicated as dotted line in the above model) of the hinge has an overlap with peptide 23.
At the end of 24 weeks, the thyroid glands and heads of the control and test animals were retrieved and fixed in 10% buffered formalin in 0.9% NaCl. After fixation, the thyroid gland was embedded in paraffin and processed further. To examine the retro-orbital tissue of these animals, the heads were decalcified for 2 weeks prior to coronal sectioning along the orbit in order to obtain sections with the optic nerve. Representative slides of thyroid and orbital section from the individual immunized or control animals were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) to examine the gross histological changes. Images of the stained H & E slides were acquired using a Hamamatzu NanoZoomer Digital slide scanner at 20x magnification. NDP.view 2 viewing software was used for further magnification to examine the tissue for histological changes. Images thus obtained were used for quantification of adipose tissue around the optic nerve in the retro-orbital area by drawing ROIs around the optic nerve and the area occupied by the adipose tissue using ImageJ and adiposity calculated as described previously (22).
As required, statistical analysis of data was performed using GraphPad Prism Version 6.04 and two-tailed t-tests were performed by the same software. All error bars plotted are SD values from at least triplicate measurements.
To evaluate the immunogenicity of the human full-length TSHR plasmid compared to the empty vector we immunized BALB/c mice at 3-week intervals and blood samples were collected as schematically shown in Figure 1. At week 10, the T4 level of the control plasmid immunized mice was 4.29 ± 1.8 μg/dL compared to 5.20 ± 2.32 μg/dL in the receptor plasmid immunized animals. Twenty percentage of individual receptor immunized animals had elevated but variable T4 levels with correspondingly suppressed TSH indicating hyperthyroidism (Figures 3A,B). Five out of 20 (25%) receptor immunized mice had significantly elevated TSH indicative of hypothyroidism (Figures 3A,B). However, no TSHR stimulating antibodies were detected in any of the sera from TSHR cDNA immunized mice (data not shown). Five of the 20 immunized mice showed blocking antibodies at week 10 including 4 of the 5 hypothyroid mice with elevated TSH (Figure 4B).
Figure 3. Thyroid function tests of immunized animals. (A) Serum TSH levels: T4 and TSH were detected using multiplex bead assay (Millipore) as described in materials and method. The average TSH level was 1.46 ± 1.26 ng/dL in the control animals vs. 2.22 ± 6.56 ng/dL in the immunized group. When the immunized group was subdivided into low and high TSH groups, 25% of mice had high TSH levels. (B) Serum T4 levels: Average T4 level was 4.29 ± 1.72 μg/dL in the control animals vs. 5.20 ± 2.32 μg/dL in the immunized group. 20% of the immunized animals had elevated T4 with corresponding suppressed TSH. There was significant difference (p < 0.0001) between the high TSH and the control group only.
Figure 4. Total TSH receptor antibodies in immunized mice. (A) Percentage of TSHR antibody: Flow cytometry was carried out at week 10 with serum samples from immunized and control animals using CHO-TSHR expressing cells to estimate TSH receptor binding antibodies. By this analysis, 95% of the immunized mice had conformational TSHR binding antibodies in their serum. The dotted line is the average response seen in the 10 control animals for TSHR antibodies (≤0.2%). (B) TSHR inhibiting antibody. To examine TSH blocking antibodies in the serum of immunized animals we used the TSHRGlo cells and performed the assay as described in M & M. K1-70 blocking monoclonal antibody was used as a positive control which gave a 39.7% inhibition to 60 μU of bTSH in the assay, as indicated by the top dotted line. The lower cutoff (bottom dotted line) is 2 standard deviations above the average of the control mice, which was 20.4%. By these criteria we observed 5 out of the 20 hTSHR immunized animals had blocking antibodies at week 10 and 80% of these were mice with high TSH.
The second step in our assessment of the full-length receptor immunization model was the detection of TSHR binding antibodies to human TSHR as stably expressed on CHO cells and assessed by flow-cytometry. At 10 weeks post-immunization 95% of the immunized animals had detectable TSHR antibodies and the relative percentage positivity ranged from 7 to 36% (Figure 4A). The control animals had undetectable antibodies as indicated by the broken line. The level of receptor antibodies binding to the conformationally correct TSHR on CHO cells was highly variable in the immunized group.
Indirect peptide ELISA's were performed with 17 of the 20-mer overlapping peptides covering the entire TSHR ECD and 9 peptides covering the entire TSHR hinge region. Positivity was determined using the cut-off criteria of ±2 SD above or below that of the control mice sera. Only 3 ECD peptides induced linear antibody responses with the major epitope residing at the N-terminus (aa 22–41) (Figure 5A). However, with the hinge region peptides the response was more heterogeneous, the data showed that 95% of the TSHR immunized animals showed antibody responses to at least one of the hinge region peptides (data not shown). Further, 70% of the immunized mice showed antibody responses which were restricted to three major peptides (Figure 5B) that we have termed hinge region “hot spot” epitopes (Figure 2). ELISA results from week 10 showed 25% of the receptor immunized animals had antibody responses to peptide 23 (residues 352–371), 30% to peptide 24 (residues 367–386), and 15% to peptide 25 (residues 382–401). The average of the difference in OD between the test animals and the cutoff ranged from 0.21 ± 0.09 to 0.80 ± 0.60 at 1:100 serum dilutions. However, the predicted antigenicity did not always correspond with the in-vivo responses against these peptides as indicated by stars under each epitope (Figure 5B). TSHR hinge region antibodies were detected as early as week 5 post-immunization in the test animals with the immune response tapering off at week 13 but sustained until week 24 (Figure 6). Overall the hinge antibodies remained detectable until the termination of the experiment. There was no significant difference observed in the hinge antibody response between the low and high TSH subgroups (Figure 6 inset).
Figure 5. Detecting linear antibodies by indirect peptide ELISA. (A) Antibodies to non-hinge region peptides: 17 overlapping 20-mer peptides representing the non-hinge region of the TSHR ectodomain spanning residues 1–281 of the ectodomain was used in the indirect peptide ELISA to detect linear binding antibodies in the serum of immunized mice. The cut-off as indicated by the dotted line is the highest value of all peptides reacted with control animal serum plus 2 standard deviation above the mean. Peptide 1 (residues 22–41) of the receptor showed overwhelming predominance of antibody response (85%) compared to other peptides 6 and 13. Antigenicity predicted by more than two open source software is marked below each peptide by stars. (B) Antibodies to hinge region peptides: To examine hinge specific antibodies in the immunized animals we used 9 peptides covering the entire hinge region (residues 277–415). The majority of immunized animals showed linear binding antibodies to peptides 23, 24, and 25 that were above cut-off (dotted line) determined by the control serum samples plus 2 standard deviation. Overall, 40% of the immunized mice showed antibody response to these novel hinge regions “hot-spots.” Antigenicity predicted by more than two open source software is marked below each peptide by stars.
Figure 6. Time course of response to hinge region “hot-spots” in immunize mice. Mice immunized with full-length hTSHR showed increasing antibody response to the hinge region “hot-spots” throughout the time course of the immunization described in Figure 1. As indicated here an antibody rise started as early as < 5 weeks and plateaued off at week 13 maintaining 85% positivity until the termination of the experiment. Dotted lines indicate immunization time points. Insert: Shows the percentage of hinge region “hot-spot” antibody positive mice by thyroid function at week 10. 56% of the antibody positive mice were in the normal TSH range and 22% were in each of the low and high TSH ranges.
Fixed thyroid sections of the TSHR immunized and control plasmid immunized mice were examined at 24 weeks for histological changes after H&E staining. Histological examination of thyroids from animals with antibodies directed to the hinge hotspots, in addition to other TSHR-Abs, showed variable pathological changes. These changes included enlarged thyroid follicles (Figure 7B) and mononuclear micro-infiltrates (Figure 7C). No such pathological changes were found in the control mice (Figure 7A). However, no correlation was observed between specific histological changes with levels of hinge region antibodies or thyroid function in the animals examined.
Figure 7. Thyroid histology of immunized animals: Images of H&E stained slides were obtained using the Hamamatsu NanoZoomer digital scanner at 20x magnification and analyzed and depicted here by NDP.view2 software at 15x magnification. (A) Normal control mouse thyroid (B) Enlarged thyroid follicles (C) Dense micro infiltrates. These changes marked by arrow were all seen in some high hinge positive mice (2 out of 5 hTSHR immunized mice). The changes could not be conclusively associated with these antibodies because of the heterogeneity of the response observed in these immunized animals.
In view of recent reports that intensive TSHR-ECD immunization induced retro orbital adipocyte proliferation (26, 27), we examined several of the control (n = 5) and test (n = 10) mice after 24 weeks in order to detect periorbital adipose changes. Adipose tissue in the retro-orbital region was quantified using ImageJ and normalized to the area of optic nerve section. Quantitatively we did not observe any significant difference in the amount of adipose tissue between the immunized and control animals (Figure 8).
Figure 8. Adipogenesis in the retro orbital of immunized animals: Images of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained slides were obtained using the Hamamatsu NanoZoomer digital scanner at 20x magnification and analyzed and depicted here by NDP.view2 software. Representative images of (A) Adipose tissue (ROI marked in red) around the optic nerve (ROI marked in yellow) of a control mouse. (B) Adipose tissue around the optic nerve of the TSHR immunized mice (C) To quantitate the changes in adipocytes in the control and immunized animals we used Image J on images at 10x magnification. The area of adipose was normalized by the area of the optical nerve on the same image for each orbit of animal. The immunized mice adipocyte to optic nerve area ratio was 2.88 ± 3.46 and that for the control mice was 2.59 ± 1.66. No significant difference in adipogenesis was seen in these immunized animals.
A full-length TSHR plasmid cDNA muscle immunization model was used to characterize the antigenicity of the hinge region of the TSHR ECD to reveal novel antigenic “hot spots” within the hinge region of the human TSHR. The full-length TSHR was used as the immunogen since that is what is produced endogenously by the thyroid cell prior to posttranslational processing although only a limited percentage of receptors may retain this complete structure at any one time because of subsequent receptor dimerization, cleavage, and ECD shedding (23, 28, 29).
TSHR autoantibodies are hallmarks for human autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) which encompasses both Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (20, 30), but are heterogeneous in function. These antibodies can be broadly subdivided into three types; stimulating, blocking, and neutral, based on their behavior in functional TSH bioassays (3, 31). Autoantibodies of the stimulating, blocking, and neutral varieties also develop in TSHR immunization models (32, 33) so it is likely that the native tripartite structure of the TSHR (ECD, hinge, and TMD) helps define its antigenic character and repertoire of autoantibodies in animal models and patients with AITD. The development of stimulating monoclonal antibodies (34–36) along with the crystallization of human stimulating and blocking antibodies bound to a partial TSHR ECD (8) together with antibody protection analysis (10) have all provided deeper insight into the binding epitopes and mode of action of TSHR antibodies (8, 9). The large ECD consisting of residues 1–280 is a major pocket for TSH, stimulating and blocking antibody binding (7, 37). However, the remaining portion of the ECD from residues 280–410 defined as the “hinge region” (13, 16) was previously thought to be just a scaffold to transmit conformational changes to the TMD. However, later studies showed that the hinge was also a fertile region for TSH and autoantibody binding (16, 17). A detailed analysis of the various antigenic sites on the hinge region, which makes up more than a third of the ECD structure, has been lacking although there are several potential linear antigenic epitopes in this large segment of the TSHR. Studies from our laboratory, and by others (30, 32), have shown that the hinge region—including the cleaved sequence (residues 316–366)—is the region recognized by a class of antibodies often termed “neutral” antibodies (32) both in animal models (34) and in sera from GD patients (18, 38). These neutral antibodies recognize linear epitopes under fixed and unfixed conditions in flow-cytometry assays and they bind to their target antigen under reduced conditions in immunoblots.
Induced animal models for Graves' disease have been successfully developed with a variety of inbred and outbred rodents either using conformational TSHR antigen by injecting fibroblast cells expressing the TSHR (39) or immunization with TSHR-cDNA (40, 41) and especially successfully with adenoviral vectors incorporating the TSHR cDNA (42) or the ECD α|’ (or A) subunit truncated at 289 (43). Although these models have provided unique insight into various aspects of GD pathogenesis by inducing hyperthyroidism via the production of stimulating TSHR antibodies they have not been able to provide an ideal GD model with associated Graves' orbitopathy (GO) and skin infiltration (called pre-tibial myxedema). Recently, a mouse model of GD was described with changes reminiscent of Graves' orbitopathy after using receptor plasmid DNA muscle immunization with the TSHR A subunit by square-wave electroporation (22). We used this approach with a full-length human TSHR plasmid construct and established that this immunization technique was able to generate receptor antibodies in 95% of the receptor immunized mice when assayed by flow-cytometry (Figure 4A) suggesting that the full-length receptor is highly antigenic. However, we observed that only a small fraction of the animals developed hyperthyroidism as determined by changes in their T4 and TSH level (Figures 3A,B) with none of the sera having detectable stimulating antibodies presumably due to very low levels or lacking functionality with the human TSHR rather than the mouse TSHR which we did not explore. Using a TSHR A subunit construct and the same immunization protocol, one recent study (44) observed that 75% of the immunized mice were hyperthyroid while another study found only a few 12.5% hyperthyroid and neither study measured stimulating TSHR-Abs directly (22) suggesting considerable variability in responses observed with same antigen.
Our laboratory has been studying neutral antibodies directed at the hinge region of the TSHR and has shown that despite being called “neutral,” they are capable of initiating multiple signaling cascades that lead to cell stress and programmed cell death of thyrocytes in vitro (20, 21) and in-vivo. Neutral antibodies bind to known linear epitopes within the hinge region of the ectodomain, especially the cleavage region, and binding of such antibodies could modulate TSHR post translational modifications including a decrease in receptor cleavage (45) and the induction of cell stress. Furthermore, the presence of neutral antibodies in Graves' patients (18) would suggest that these are not mere bystanders in the pathogenesis of the disease. Screening the entire hinge region for antibodies from our full-length TSHR immunized mice by peptide ELISAs identified three “hot spots” spanning amino acids 352–401 which related to peptides 23, 24, and 25 (Figures 2, 5B) in the hinge region. The heterogeneous responses observed in this inbred model is surprisingly similar to humans with AITD in which exposure to the same antigen may lead to different antibody responses and different clinical phenotypes. One of the “hot spot” peptide sequences contains a tyrosine (aa 385) for which sulfation has been shown to be important for activation of the receptor (11, 46). This would suggest that hinge antibodies directed specifically to this epitope might be important in modulating TSHR function and it has previously been observed (13, 47) that truncations encompassing the hinge region can increase the constitutive activity of the receptor confirming that it certainly is not an inert region.
While thyroid pathology was difficult to correlate with TSHR antibody responses we made a serious effort to observe changes in retroorbital adipogenesis around the optic nerve of the immunized mice compared to controls as reported by others (22, 44). However, we found no differences in the present study and this may have been due to the low level of stimulating TSHR antibodies generated by our construct (Figure 8) and this reported GO model requires further confirmation.
In summary, we used an intense muscle immunization mouse model of GD with the full length human TSHR in order to study the immune responses to the hinge region of the TSHR and found novel antigenic regions within the hinge. Our earlier studies have implicated that such neutral antibodies induce thyroid cell stress and apoptosis and we now demonstrate that a battery of hinge region antibodies are unavoidably produced in the immune response to the native full-length TSHR. However, their role in immunopathogenesis requires further evaluation. In this regard we have recently observed that treating mice with a monoclonal neutral TSHR–Ab induced thyroid pathology supporting our hypothesis that such antibodies influence the disease phenotype (48).
SiS conducted experiments, analyzed data, and wrote the manuscript. SaS design and data analysis. OS conducted experiment and analyzed data. SM contributed in data analysis. RM contributed in data analysis and discussion. RL designed and conducted experiments, analyzed data, and wrote the manuscript. TD contributed in data analysis and manuscript writing.
This work was supported in part by NIH grants DK069713, DK052464 & the VA Merit Award program (to TD).
TSHR, Thyroid stimulating hormone receptor; LRD, leucine rich domain; GD, Graves’ Disease; ECD, Ectodomain; TMD, Transmembrane domain; GPCR, G protein coupled receptor.
48. Morshed SA, Risheng M, Latif R, Davies TF. Cleavage Region TSH Receptor Antibodies Influence Thyroid Cell Survival in Vivo (Provisionally Accepted Thyroid) (2018).
Copyright © 2019 Sun, Summachiwakij, Schneck, Morshed, Ma, Latif and Davies. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. | 2019-04-19T16:52:55Z | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2018.00765/full |
Sony surprised everyone when it released the A9, a flagship camera designed for the ultimate performance in the realm of autofocus and speed. By comparison, the A7r III may appear inferior, especially if you seek the ultimate accuracy for sports and wildlife, but it excels in other departments such as landscapes and still life thanks to its stunning high-resolution image sensor.
The paragraph above is a good summary of the main differences between these two full-frame mirrorless cameras, but it is worth remembering that, despite having been designed for specific genres, they are both extremely versatile and can excel for most types of photography, not just the ones for which they are intended.
So how exactly do they compare? Well, here are the five most important aspects to keep in mind!
Ethics statement: We rented the A9 to test its autofocus and electronic shutter capabilities and we replaced our A7r II with the A7r III. We were not asked to write anything about these cameras, nor were we provided with any sort of compensation. Within the article, there are affiliate links. If you decided to buy something after clicking the link, we will receive a small commission. To know more about our ethics, you can visit our full disclosure page. Thank you!
7 Conclusion: A7r III vs A9, which one to get?
If you look at the two cameras side by side, it’s hard to tell which is which. The only real giveaway is the name on the front of the camera.
The design isn’t too dissimilar from the A7r mark II which shows Sony’s commitment to keeping the dimensions as compact as possible despite some relevant hardware improvements such as a larger battery.
Both cameras feature weather sealing against dust and moisture and have a magnesium alloy chassis. The mount is now attached with six screws rather than four. The dimensions are basically identical: the A9 is slightly heavier, although in the real world you won’t notice any difference really.
Sony added lots of practical design upgrades as we’ll see further down, but both have one flaw: the grip. When using large and heavy lenses such as the 100-400mm G Master, I find it very uncomfortable after a few days of use. There isn’t enough space for all your fingers and too much weight rests on your middle finger.
It’s a shame that Sony didn’t make a larger and taller grip like the other brands did (think about the Panasonic G9 or the OM-D E-M1 II). That being said, there are solutions to improve this like buying the optional battery grip, the smaller GP-X1EM horizontal grip or third-party solutions.
The fact that the two cameras are very much alike means that they have much in common including a large shooting mode dial with an unlock button on top, two dials on the front and rear to control the exposure, a command wheel and a precise AF Joystick.
The A9 has an additional twin dial on top to control the drive and focus modes which is very handy and would have been welcome on the A7r III as well. There are two unlock buttons that you must press – a central one for the Drive dial and a side one for the Focus mode dial – but the latter especially isn’t very intuitive to use at first.
One small difference concerns the rear exposure dial: it sticks out more on the mark III model which makes it slightly easier to rotate than on the A9, but this is heavy nitpicking!
When it comes to function buttons and menus, these are two of the most customisable mirrorless cameras on the market today. Both products feature 13 custom keys including the AF joystick (when pressed) and the control wheel. The A7r III gives you an extra possibility: to configure the buttons separately for stills and movies which is very clever. The number of settings you can choose between for each custom key is ridiculously high on both cameras.
The menu system is exhaustive and Sony improved the navigation by re-organising all the entries under clearer pages and categories. It’s still not the best you can find on the market but it is much better than before. There is the Fn menu with 12 configurable slots and the My menu page where you can shortcut to various settings. The Memory Recalls with 3 slots on the main dials allow you to quickly recall a series of settings (the one you would use to photograph sports for example).
It takes a little while to find the optimal configuration and you will probably find yourself going back and changing some things to improve the user experience. Once you get there though, there is very little to complaint about.
The electronic viewfinders are the same and are among the best you can find. They use an OLED panel with 3,686k dots and 0.78x magnification. They are very clear and crisp with accurate colours and a decent eye point of 23mm.
The higher resolution of the EVF has improved the various manual focus assists. Focus magnification in particular is now extremely sharp on the A7r III in stills mode. In video mode the resolution is not as good but still better than before. The refresh rate can be selected between Standard (50 or 60fps) or High (100 or 120fps).
The rear monitor has 1.44M dots and touch sensitivity. The latter can be used to enlarge an image in playback mode and move the focus point, but there is not much more you can do. On the A7r III however you can find more options to enhance the precision.
You can decide to use the touch screen when composing with the rear monitor only or leave it active when using the EVF, which becomes an alternative to the AF Joystick (although I much prefer the latter). When using the touch screen while framing with the EVF, you can decide to keep only the left or right side of the monitor active (1/2 or 1/4 portion) or even just one of the four corners. After touching the area once, the entire screen becomes active to make it easy to move the focus point to where you want it to be.
Overall the touch screen is reactive and precise but I prefer working with the AF joystick. I find the touch operation more useful in movie mode where you can trigger a change in focus by simply tapping the monitor. Putting AF Drive Speed to Slow and AF Track Sens to Normal makes the operation smooth and pleasant.
Batteries: they use the new NP-FZ100 battery which improves the endurance dramatically. One charge was sufficient for 2000 images during my ‘birds in flight’ and football sessions. Please note that since firmware 2.0, the A7R III gives you a warning if you use third party batteries. (More info here).
Connections: they share a microphone input, headphone output, Micro HDMI, USB 2.0 Multi and a flash sync port. The A7r III has an additional USB 3.0 Type C interface while the A9 features an Ethernet/LAN connection. The USB port can be used for tethering and battery charging and the VG-C3EM battery grip works for both cameras.
Wireless: NFC, Wifi and Bluetooth are available on both cameras with advanced functions such as FTP Transfer.
Extra features: not a lot except some bracketing functions. The cameras also lack a built-in intervalometer and there is no compatibility with the PlayMemories app as of now. The A9 has more advanced settings concerning FTP transfer thanks to various firmware updates.
There are some relevant differences as we will see just below but it’s safe to say that both cameras do a great job when it comes to image quality. The 24MP of the Sony A9 are enough for many situations while the A7r III gives the most demanding photographers something extra to work with.
Let’s kick off with the most obvious difference: the A7r III has more resolution with 42.4MP versus the 24.2MP found on the A9.
Both sensors are based on BSI technology which allows each pixel to collect light more efficiently but the A9 has a more complex structure, a stacked sensor that improves the speed of the camera (more on this further down).
If we look at the dynamic range capabilities, we can see that the A7r III is better at shadow recovery: more details are preserved and there is less colour noise. Highlight recovery is much more similar.
The A7r III has a normal ISO range of 100 to 32000 and extended values that go as low as 50 and as high as 102,400. The A9 has range of 100 to 51200 and extended levels of pull 50 and up to 204,800.
In the test below, you can see that the A7r mark III defends itself well up to 12800 ISO. With higher values the A9 shows less noise. As usual I processed the RAW files by adding a little bit of noise reduction to get rid of colour noise and reduce luminance noise a little without sacrificing details. The same amount of NR worked for the two cameras until 25600 where I had to increase the values more on the A7r III files.
As for the colour profiles (or Creative Styles as Sony calls them), they are the same on both cameras and the colour and skin tone rendering is very similar. The JPG engine is excellent and Sony made some subtle yet nice improvements to colours. The Auto White Balance works well while some of the presets such as Daylight or Shade can be either too cool or too warm with an unpleasant yellowish tint. As for portraits, I prefer to stick with the Standard profile or simply work with the RAW files as again there is a tendency toward too much yellow rendering.
Both cameras have 5-axis stabilisation: the A7r III is rated at 5.5 stops while the A9 is half a stop less efficient with a 5Ev rating according to the CIPA standards. Technically the A9 should have a disadvantage but in my stress tests I noticed the contrary. The A9 did better, giving me a perfect shot at 1/2s and an almost-perfect shot at 1s hand-held with the 55mm f1.8. From 1/4s and 1/8s, the keeper rate increases.
The A7r III struggles more: the keeper rate improves from 1/4s if you use the electronic first curtain shutter but to be safe I advise you not to go below 1/10s.
The mark III model has an extra feature that takes advantage of the in-body stabilisation technology called Pixel Shift Multi Shoot. It takes four pictures and moves the sensor by 1 pixel between each shot. Once the four images are combined, you get more details and better colour accuracy because each point of your image is captured by at least one green, one red and one blue pixel. A similar feature can be found on several Olympus cameras and the Panasonic G9.
As you can see from the example below, the difference is noticeable when zooming in.
There are some limitations to be aware of: the minimum interval between shots is half a second (firmware 1.10), so it only works with static scenes featuring non-moving elements. The final photograph must be composited with the Sony Imaging Edge Software and the output resolution doesn’t change: your still get 42MP but with crisper details and more colour information.
This feature is limited to still life really. It can work for landscapes and architecture as long as everything is dead still. When in doubt, just remember you can always use one of the four images and retain the same resolution.
Both cameras work with a hybrid autofocus system. The A9 has the most advanced ever designed by Sony with 693 phase and 25 contrast detection points. The phase points cover almost the entire surface of the sensor. The A7r III uses an older system that has been tweaked to improve the performance: you find 399 phase and 425 contrast detection points.
In S-AF mode both cameras work well. With the single area (Centre or Flexible Spot) they tend to use contrast detection which at times can produce some back and forth movements of the lens elements. With other areas such as Zone, it is either contrast or phase detection depending on the area the camera decides to focus on.
But it is in continuous AF that you really see the potential of these two cameras and more importantly, where you see why the A9 is the fastest mirrorless camera on the market when it comes to autofocus. I put them to the test with very fast and difficult subjects such as birds in flight and a football game in low light.
The A9 passed the test with flying colours when it comes to BIF. As explained in my wildlife round-up, the camera matches the performance of one of the best in class (Nikon D500) with a keeper rate of 80% (only perfectly sharp shots are counted). The camera rarely loses track of the subject and rarely misses the focus completely. Some improvements have been added via firmware since I did my tests (version 2.0 and 3.0).
The A7r III struggles more with BIF. You are still capable of retaining a decent keeper rate of around 65% and the camera is fast at locking and tracking the subject but the focus accuracy is just not as good as the A9.
In low light situations the performance is more similar but the A9 tends to mis-focus less in comparison to the A7r III. In the end, I had an 80% keeper rate with the former and a 75% keeper rate with the latter, so both did well. If I wanted to pixel peep, I could mention a lack of tack sharp focus for several images but the lens I used didn’t help because it had a slow aperture of f/4.5-5.6.
There is a good number of options concerning the AF areas, AF modes and extra features. One of my favourites is EyeAF which is the most reliable Eye detection system you can find among mirrorless cameras. It is a great ally when shooting portraits and people in general.
You will find the new AF Track Sens that allows you to set the responsiveness of the autofocus (5/responsive gives you better results for BIF for example). The Centre Lock-On mode found on many other Sony cameras allows the camera to detect a subject at the centre of your image and then track it no matter where it is inside the frame. Face detection is good and unlike EyeAF, you don’t need to assign it to a function button as the camera detects and tracks it automatically.
Last but not least, the phase detection points allow you to use DSLR lenses with compatible adapters and retain excellent autofocus performance. With the A9 there is a limitation though: you cannot go faster than 10fps in continuous mode.
While the A7r III defends itself well when it comes to AF performance, the A9 has other advantages that help it stand out as a sports and wildlife camera.
Its stacked sensor features a high-speed circuit and an internal memory behind the chip that increase the processing capabilities considerably when using the electronic shutter.
With the mechanical shutter, the A9 can work at a mediocre 5fps. When switched over to the electronic shutter however, the maximum speed available increases to 20fps while retaining full AE/AF Tracking.
By comparison, the A7r III has a maximum of 10fps which is faster than the A9 with the mechanical shutter, but the speed doesn’t increase when using the electronic version which means that overall the A9 is twice as fast.
Another difference is found in the buffer capabilities although it’s fair to remember that in addition to the stacked sensor, the A9 has less resolution which helps the camera process the images faster.
To give you a quick idea, if we compare the buffer with the same continuous shooting speed of 10fps, the A9 can shoot in compressed RAW for more than 20 seconds with a UHS-I card and more than 30 seconds with a UHS-II card before dropping to around 4fps.
The A7r III by comparison can last for 8s with RAW (compressed) regardless of the type of card used, before reducing the speed to around 2fps.
It is also interesting to note that the A9 has a larger buffer than the A7r III even when the speed brought up to 20fps.
The A9 wins in the speed department, but it’s not just because of the continuous shooting and buffer performance. The stacked sensor allows the camera to process much more information simultaneously, and the faster sensor readout means less distortion and banding when using the electronic shutter. In fact the rolling shutter effects we often see from other cameras – including the A7r III – are basically absent from the A9.
Finally we have the cherry on top: thanks to the powerful processing speed, the A9 can capture images at 10fps or 20fps while maintaining a constant live view of the scene. This means no blackouts and no lag whatsoever in the viewfinder or rear monitor when you start shooting. By comparison, the A7r III shows you a live view with blackouts up to 8fps (with or without the e-shutter). At 10fps it displays the last image taken in rapid succession which means there is no longer a live view.
Being able to shoot with live view and no blackouts makes a difference with fast action. I immediately noticed the benefit for birds in flight. With the A9, you can follow the action as if you were watching a video stream in real time, so as soon as something happens – like a bird suddenly changing direction – you can react more quickly. This is something not even DSLRs can offer.
When using the A7r III, I could immediately notice the lag produced by the last image taken at 10fps. As for the live view with blackouts at 8fps, it is more annoying when following a fast subject, especially when it is against the bright sky. The same reasoning applies to football games and other situations.
To summarise, I admit it is difficult to go back to another camera once you’ve tested the true capabilities of the A9 for action. The blackout free live view is certainly one of the most interesting innovations seen in the last couple of years because it surpasses the physical limitations of a mechanical shutter and eliminates the flaws seen so far with other electronic shutters.
Bit depth: the RAW files drop from 14-bit to 12-bit when using the electronic shutter. On the A9 they remain 14-bit with the single shot but drop to 12-bit in continuous mode. That being said, I haven’t noticed any problem with my images, even when comparing my A9 soccer photos against the ones taken with the A7r III and the mechanical shutter.
Silent mode: electronic shutter means that if you wish, you can shoot without emitting a single noise (it’s actually called Silent Shutter on the A7r III). With the A9 I would advise caution because it is very easy to start shooting a burst by mistake without realising it.
There are some significant differences between these two cameras when it comes to the video capabilities. Some of them have a technical explanation while others feel more like a marketing decision.
Both can record 4K video up to 30p using the XAVC S codec at 100Mbps. The A9 uses the entire width of the sensor to perform full pixel readout without pixel binning which means you get the best quality in 35mm mode. Because of the higher pixel count, the A7r III gives you the best results in Super35/APS-C mode. The difference in quality is noticeable in the fine details and at high ISOs.
Although the level of detail isn’t dissimilar in full frame mode, the A7r III can display moiré easily unlike the A9. Switch the former to Super35 and not only does the moiré disappear, but you also get sharper details.
At high sensitivities, the A7r III in full frame mode displays more visible colour noise than the Super35 format from 3200 ISO. Overall the A9 displays less noise but the A7r III retains more sharpness in crop mode.
The mark III model has a significant advantage concerning dynamic range because – unlike the A9 – it has the picture profiles designed for video which include two S-Log gamma curves and one HLG profile. The A9 can only rely on the Creative Styles modes, which are designed for stills and can easily clip highlights and shadows. I honestly can’t see a reason why Sony didn’t include the Picture Profiles on the A9 since they can be found on most E-mount cameras and also the RX series. I can only hope they will bring them in the future via firmware update.
The image stabilisation performance is very similar although I noticed more jittering and jerkiness on the A9. They do a good job of making a fixed shot reasonably stable but I wouldn’t rely on the IBIS for more than that if you want perfectly smooth footage.
The autofocus performance is very similar. The A9 feels a little faster and more accurate at times but overall the A7r III is at the same level. Face detection works well although both cameras can lag a little bit when tracking close subjects. There is rarely any hesitation when acquiring focus though.
Other settings found on both: Zebra Pattern, Time Code/User Bit, clean HDMI output, marker display, still extraction from video files.
Conclusion: A7r III vs A9, which one to get?
All things considered, the Sony A7r III feels like the most balanced and versatile camera if you want one product for multiple genres. It has one of the best sensors on the market with lots of dynamic range and resolution to satisfy even the most demanding photographers, and its low light performance is surprisingly good up to 12800 ISO. It has a good autofocus system capable of dealing with difficult situations and excellent 4K video with lots of settings and options.
The A9 feels like the designated winner for everything involving action but the truth is that it can be used for more than that. Yes, it is for sports and wildlife that you can fully take advantage of the stunning autofocus and continuous shooting speeds, but the blackout free live view can be useful for other things as well. After all, what’s not to like about a camera than never produces any lag when taking a picture. Far from indispensable in many situations, I agree, but also dangerously addictive!
The 24MP sensor is inferior when it comes to dynamic range but it remains more than enough for many applications, plus the lower resolution means you’re dealing with smaller files which can be ideal when your work requires fast processing and transferring. The A9 has slightly better ISO performance which is welcome and its only Achille heels is found in the video department: despite being capable of excellent 4K video, not having the picture profiles limits its quality and versatility.
The design, EVF, touch screen and ease of use are very much the same on both products so really it all comes down to what I wrote above, unless small details like an Ethernet Port or an extra setting here and there can play a crucial role in your decision making process. The A9 does better with image stabilisation for stills but the A7r III produces less jittering for video.
Personally, I chose the A7r III. One of the reasons is that having the best sensor among all E-mount cameras is useful for our reviews and comparisons. That said, if I was still working as an events photographer or decided to take wildlife and sports really seriously, the A9 could easily become my favourite choice. | 2019-04-19T14:38:59Z | https://mirrorlesscomparison.com/sony-vs-sony/a7riii-vs-a9/ |
Iris VEGA, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, Defendant-Appellee.
Before TJOFLAT, DUBINA and DUHE*, Circuit Judges. Roberta M. Klosiewicz, Tampa, FL, Carol Ann Avard, Associates & Avard Law Offices, Cape Coral, FL, Chantal J. Harrington, Jacksonville, FL, for Plaintiff-Appellant. Jason P. Peck, Mary Ann Sloan, Dennis Williams, Elyse Sharfman, Office of General Counsel, SSA, Atlanta Fed. Ctr., Atlanta, GA, for Defdendant-Appellee.
Appellant, Iris Vega (“Vega”), appeals the district court's order affirming the Commissioner of Social Security's (“the Commissioner”) denial of disability insurance benefits. We reverse.
The evidence presented at an administrative hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) revealed the following facts. At the time of the hearing, Vega was a 58 year-old woman who completed the tenth grade in school. She worked as a secretary at a cabinet company and as a drug store clerk. Vega fell and injured herself in 1992 and received unemployment compensation from December 1992 through May 1993. Vega testified that due to her fall, she suffered from severe pain in her shoulder, a burning sensation in her neck, severe headaches, and pain radiating down her left leg. She had constant pain in both hands; she suffered headaches at least 5 times a week; she had dizziness and nausea; and she stated that she could not stand or sit for more than 10-15 minutes and that she used a cane for walking. Vega testified that since her accident, she suffers from depression and has problems with her memory, concentration, and her ability to read and do math. She testified that she was hospitalized twice between 1992 and 1995, and that she sleeps 20 to 22 hours a day. She also testified that a doctor diagnosed her with Epstein-Barr virus.
A vocational expert (“VE”) testified that if Vega's testimony was accurate, then she could not perform any work, including her past work. The VE also testified, however, that if Vega could perform light work, had moderate pain and no hand restrictions, suffered from depression of a moderate nature, had some occasional postural limitations, and had moderate limitations on her ability to complete a normal workday, then she could still perform her past work. In response to Vega's attorney's questions, the VE testified that if Vega's headaches were severe, then she could not do her past work. The VE further testified that if the hypothetical was altered to include major depression with marked limitations of daily activities, then Vega would be unable to work.
Vega's medical records demonstrate that after her fall, she had no fracture or spondylolisthesis in her lumbar region and there was no fracture or joint effusion in her left knee. However, there was a narrowing of the C5-6 intervertebral disc space, but no fracture or dislocation. A diagnostic radiologist diagnosed Vega with degenerative disc disease at C5-6 and C6-7. A cervical spine MRI revealed no evidence of significant pathology at any level.
Dr. Jonathan Kob (“Dr.Kob”) treated Vega after her accident. He diagnosed her with severe cervical strain with possible herniated pulposa and cephalalgia. He stated that her prognosis was good and he released her to return to work on a part-time basis. Dr. Kob did restrict Vega to light-duty work with restrictions on heavy lifting and rapid movement of the neck. Subsequently, following an examination in June 1996, Dr. Kob concluded that Vega was totally disabled from substantial work. He diagnosed Vega with chronic fatigue syndrome (“CFS”), hormonal imbalance, depression, and cephalalgia.
Dr. George Sypert (“Dr.Sypert”), a neurologist, examined Vega in October 1994 and concluded that no objective abnormalities were evident other than diffuse tenderness of her lumbar spine and cervical spine. He diagnosed Vega with myofascial strain syndrome, greater occipital neuralgia, secondary to chronic neck muscle spasm. Dr. Sypert concluded that Vega had a seven percent partial impairment of her person.
In August 1993, Vega was admitted to the hospital, and Dr. Christopher Yuvienco (“Dr.Yuvienco”) diagnosed her with chronic fatigue, recurrent cystitis, and migraine headaches. Dr. Yuvienco's office notes for August 1993 mention “CFS,” and his notes for October 1993 indicate that Vega's CFS was better. His notes also indicate that Vega complained of fatigue and sleepiness numerous times. He concluded that Vega was totally disabled from substantial work. He also submitted a form for CFS, stating that Vega's CFS was severe, and it significantly limited her ability to walk, stand, sit, lift, and understand instructions.
Dr. J. Green (“Dr.Green”) performed a residual physical functional capacity assessment (“RFC”) on Vega in February 1995. Dr. Green determined that Vega could occasionally lift 50 pounds, frequently lift 25 pounds, stand, sit, or walk for about six hours in an eight-hour day, and push and/or pull with no restrictions. Dr. Green concluded that Vega had no postural, manipulative, visual, or communicative limitations.
In August 1995, Dr. Ramiah Krishnan (“Dr.Krishnan”), an internist, evaluated Vega and diagnosed her as suffering from myofascial pain involving her back, neck and wrist joints. Dr. Bruce Crowell (“Dr.Crowell”), a psychologist, performed a mental evaluation and diagnosed Vega with major depressive disorder, moderate, without psychotic features. He concluded that Vega had been disabled since April 1993.
Dr. Beverly Barbato, Ph.D. (“Dr.Barbato”), saw Vega on four occasions from May through July 1995 and concluded that Vega had Epstein-Barr virus and a severe depressive disorder due to her injuries. Dr. Barbato concluded that Vega had been disabled since April 1993. In August 1995, Dr. John Hollender (“Dr.Hollender”), a psychologist, performed a consultive mental RFC assessment and determined that Vega had no significant limitations in understanding, memory, sustained concentration, or persistence. Dr. Hollender determined that Vega had moderate limitations on her ability.
Vega applied for disability insurance benefits on January 5, 1995, alleging disability since May 1993 based on constant neck and back pain, migraine headaches, numbness in her right hand, CFS, and Epstein-Barr virus. The Commissioner initially denied Vega's application and renewed its denial upon reconsideration. After conducting an administrative hearing, an ALJ issued a decision denying Vega's claim for benefits. Specifically, the ALJ denied Vega's claim for disability benefits because he concluded that she retained the RFC to do her past relevant work as a sales clerk. The ALJ concluded that Vega's RFC was limited to a wide range of light work. He also found that the doctors' assessments were not supported by substantial evidence. The Appeals Council denied review. Thus, the ALJ's decision became the Commissioner's final decision.
Vega then brought an action in federal district court seeking review of the Commissioner's final decision. The district court referred the matter to a magistrate judge who issued a report and recommendation recommending affirmance of the Commissioner's decision. Vega filed objections to the magistrate judge's report and filed a motion to remand the case based on new evidence. A different magistrate judge issued a second report and recommendation recommending that the motion to remand be denied. After the district court issued a final judgment affirming the magistrate judge's decision, Vega perfected this appeal.
1. Whether the Appeals Council erred in failing to remand this matter to the ALJ on the basis of new and material evidence.
2. Whether the Commissioner failed to consider the effect of Vega's CFS and associated symptoms on her ability to perform her past or other work.
3. Whether the Commissioner failed to accord proper weight to the medical opinions of Vega's treating and examining medical sources.
4. Whether the Commissioner improperly relied upon the VE's responses to incomplete hypothetical questions.
This court reviews the Commissioner's findings to determine if they are supported by substantial evidence. Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 390, 400-01, 91 S.Ct. 1420, 28 L.Ed.2d 842 (1971); McRoberts v. Bowen, 841 F.2d 1077, 1080 (11th Cir.1988). This court reviews de novo the district court's determination whether remand to the Commissioner is necessary based on new evidence. See Milano v. Bowen, 809 F.2d 763, 765-66 (11th Cir.1987); Caulder v. Bowen, 791 F.2d 872, 875 (11th Cir.1986).
Initially, we note the parties disagree about the jurisdiction of this court to review the issue of whether a remand is necessary in light of new evidence. In Falge v. Apfel, 150 F.3d 1320 (11th Cir.1998), cert. denied, 525 U.S. 1124, 119 S.Ct. 907, 142 L.Ed.2d 905 (1999), this court stated that “42 U.S.C. § 405(g) permits courts to remand a case to the Social Security Administration for consideration of newly discovered evidence.” Id. at 1323. Thus, this court has jurisdiction to consider whether the case should be remanded for the ALJ to consider the new evidence. Additionally, the parties disagree about the standard of review on this issue. Our case law is clear on the standard of review. See Milano, 809 F.2d at 765-66; see also Caulder, 791 F.2d at 875. Thus, this court reviews de novo the determination regarding remand based on new evidence.
On the merits, Vega argues that the Appeals Council erred by failing to remand her case to the ALJ on the basis of newly submitted evidence that was new and material-the retroactive RFC evaluation submitted by Dr. Yuvienco and the evaluation by Dr. Arpin indicating that Vega had a severe spinal problem. She further asserts that the Appeals Council did not provide any reasoning for denying her appeal, and, thus, there is no indication that it meaningfully considered the new evidence. The Commissioner counters, propounding that Vega cannot demonstrate that the new evidence satisfied the criteria for a remand pursuant to sentence six of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).
To succeed on her claim that a remand is appropriate, Vega must show that: “(1) there is new, noncumulative evidence; (2) the evidence is ‘material,’ that is, relevant and probative so there is a reasonable possibility that it would change the administrative result; and (3) there is good cause for the failure to submit the evidence at the administrative level.” Caulder, 791 F.2d at 877; see also Falge, 150 F.3d at 1323. After reviewing the record, we conclude that Vega's newly submitted evidence meets these requirements. Dr. Arpin discovered Vega's herniated disc and performed the corrective surgery in May 1997, after the ALJ rendered his decision in 1996. Accordingly, Dr. Arpin's evaluation is new and non-cumulative. Moreover, Vega meets the third requirement because the discovery of the herniated disc took place after the ALJ's decision. Thus, Vega had good cause for not submitting this evidence to the ALJ. The evidence is material because it contradicts the ALJ's findings and conclusions regarding the severity of Vega's spinal problems. Therefore, in our view, Dr. Arpin's evaluation fulfills the requirements for a remand of this case.
Vega argues that the ALJ erred in failing to make a finding that she suffered from CFS and erred in failing to credit any of her subjective complaints about fatigue, poor concentration, and memory difficulties as reasonably attributable to CFS. The Commissioner responds that the medical records' references to fatigue or the Epstein-Barr virus did not constitute a diagnosis of CFS. The Commissioner also argues that Vega failed to provide any credible medical evidence to support any work-related limitations that may have resulted from CFS. We disagree.
The medical records indicate that Dr. Kob and Dr. Yuvienco both diagnosed Vega with CFS. Dr. Yuvienco specifically diagnosed Vega with CFS on September 20, 1993, October 15, 1993, May 19, 1994, October 3, 1994, December 22, 1994, January 4, 1995, and February 6, 1996. In light of Dr. Yuvienco's diagnosis, the ALJ should have acknowledged it in his evaluation and discussed why he disregarded it. The ALJ focused instead on objective neurological and orthopaedic evidence. Moreover, Dr. Yuvienco examined Vega in August 1993, after she had been admitted to the hospital due to sleepiness, fatigue, and weakness. Although the Commissioner maintains that this is not the equivalent of a diagnosis of CFS, a complete review of Dr. Yuvienco's office notes indicates that he referred to Vega's illness as CFS at that time.
In assessing Vega's RFC, it is clear to us that the ALJ did not properly consider the diagnosis of CFS or evaluate the effect the CFS symptoms had on Vega's ability to work. This court has not addressed the nature of CFS and the factors to be considered by the ALJ when evaluating a claim of CFS. Other circuits, however, have remanded cases when the ALJ's conclusions did not fully account for the nature of CFS and its symptoms. See, e.g, Reddick v. Chater, 157 F.3d 715, 722-23 (9th Cir.1998) (concluding that the ALJ's approach to the materials, testimony, and reports did not fully account for the nature of CFS or its symptoms); Sarchet v. Chater, 78 F.3d 305, 307-09 (7th Cir.1996) (reversing the ALJ because his characterization of the record reflected a misunderstanding of CFS); Rose v. Shalala, 34 F.3d 13, 17-19 (1st Cir.1994) (remanding to the ALJ because evidence compelled finding that claimant suffered from CFS).
We agree with the reasoning of our sister circuits, as well as our prior case law, holding that remands are required when an ALJ fails to consider properly a claimant's condition despite evidence in the record of the diagnosis. See Marbury v. Sullivan, 957 F.2d 837, 839-40 (11th Cir.1992). This holding applies to a claim of CFS when the claimant submits evidence of a CFS diagnosis.
We note that the Social Security Administration recently concluded that there are no specific laboratory findings that are widely accepted as being associated with CFS. According to Social Security Ruling 99-2p, the hallmark symptom of CFS is the presence of clinically evaluated, persistent or relapsing chronic fatigue that is of new or definite onset and cannot be explained by another physical or mental disorder. Moreover, CFS is not the result of ongoing exertion, is not substantially alleviated by rest, and results in substantial reduction in previous levels of occupational, educational, social, or personal activities. There is no test for CFS. The ALJ appears to have rejected CFS as a diagnosis because there is no definite test or specific laboratory findings to support such a diagnosis. This lack of testing, however, does not preclude the diagnosis of CFS. Because the ALJ ignored the symptoms of CFS, as well as Vega's other subjective complaints regarding symptoms related to CFS, the ALJ did not meaningfully conduct an analysis of the effect of CFS on Vega's ability to work.
Vega contends that the ALJ did not accord proper weight to her treating physicians' opinions. For the reasons stated in part “B” of this opinion, we agree. The medical evidence and Vega's testimony support a diagnosis of CFS; therefore, the ALJ should have credited Drs. Yuvienco and Kob's assessments and findings. Even if their opinions do not warrant controlling weight, the ALJ still erred in failing to give them any weight.
Vega's final contention is that the ALJ failed to pose a complete hypothetical to the VE because the question failed to mention her headaches, medication history, significant memory or concentration problems, fatigue, wrist pain, and dizziness. Since the hypothetical question was incomplete, Vega argues that the ALJ was not justified in relying on it. The Commissioner responds that the ALJ properly discounted Vega's subjective complaints as being inconsistent with the medical evidence. The Commissioner specifically mentions the ALJ's finding that Vega was able to work in her garden two hours in one day. Vega replies that her ability to garden for two hours in one day is not inconsistent with her inability to perform light work on a sustained basis for eight hours a day, 40 hours a week. Moreover, she contends that gardening aggravated her condition.
In our view, the ALJ should have included these complaints in the hypothetical question posed to the VE. Upon remand, the ALJ should pose a more thorough hypothetical question, including Vega's subjective complaints and her symptoms of CFS.
In conclusion, we reverse the district court's judgment in this case and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. After remand, the district court should remand to the ALJ for consideration of Vega's post-hearing evidence and her evidence of CFS. The ALJ should also consider and accord proper weight to the opinions of Vega's treating and examining physicians, and pose a more thorough hypothetical question to the VE. | 2019-04-21T02:16:44Z | https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-11th-circuit/1039890.html |
William Hammond 1st Lt. Aug. 31, ‘61 3 Promoted fr. 2nd Lt., July 17, 1862--com. Capt. July 10, 1864-not mus.-wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 17 and July 30, 1864-discharged by special order, November 12, 1864.
John H. Armstrong ….do…. Aug. 31, ‘61 3 Pr. Fr. Sgt. To 2nd Lt., July 10, '64-to 1st Lt., Nov. 30, 1864-mus. Out with Co., July 24, 1865-Vet.
John H. Anderson 2nd Lt. Aug. 31, ‘61 3 Promoted from 1st Sgt., July 17, 1862-killed near Petersburg, Va., July 9, 1864.
William M. Gibson ….do…. Aug. 31, ‘61 3 Pr. To Cor., July 22, 1862-to Sgt., sept. 1, 1863--to 1st Sgt., Dec.1, '64--to 2d Lt., March 14, '65-wd.--prisoner from July 30, to Oct. 10, 1864--mustered out with Co. July 24, 1865--Vet.
Francis W. Holmes 1st. Sgt. Aug. 31, ‘61 3 Promoted from Sergeant, March 14, 1865-mus-tered out with company, July 24, 1865-Vet.
George L. Preston Serg't Aug. 31, ‘61 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865-Vet.
James S. Moore ....do.... Aug. 31, ‘61 3 Promoted fr. Corporal, Feb. 1, 1865-mustered out with company, July 24, 1865--Vet.
John H. Hunter ….do…. Aug. 31, ‘61 3 Promoted fr. Corporal, March 14, 1865-mustered out with company, July 24, 1865--Vet.
James W. Murdock ….do…. Aug. 31, ‘61 3 Promoted fr. Corporal, June 1, 1865-mustered out with company, July 24, 1865--Vet.
Edward T. Oliver ….do…. Aug. 31, ‘61 3 Mustered out Aug. 31, 1864-expiration of term.
David Strang ….do…. Aug. 14, '62 3 Discharged by General Order, May 30, 1865.
Andrew J. Morrison ....do.... Sept. 13, ‘61 3 Discharged on Surgeon's Certificate, Apr. 8, 1863.
Alexander Boyd Corp.... Aug. 31, '61 3 Promoted to Corporal, Feb. 1, 1865--mustered out with company July 24, 1865--Vet.
Wm. H. Swager ....do.... Aug. 31, ‘61 3 Promoted to Corporal, Feb. 1, 1865--mustered out with company July 24, 1865--Vet.
Thomas M. Neal ....do.... Aug. 31, ‘61 3 Promoted to Corporal, Feb. 1, 1865--mustered out with company July 24, 1865--Vet.
Joseph L. Johnston ....do.... Aug. 31, ‘61 3 Promoted to Corporal, Feb. 1, 1865--mustered out with company July 24, 1865--Vet.
William J. Hoard ....do.... Aug. 31, ‘61 3 Promoted to Corporal, March 1, 1865-mustered out with company, July 24, 1865-Vet.
Peter Stafford ....do.... Aug. 31, ‘61 3 Promoted to Corporal, June 1, 1865-mustered out with company, July 24, 1865-Vet.
Joseph Stafford Corp.... Aug. 31, '61 3 Promoted to Corporal, June 1, 1865-mustered out with company, July 24, 1865-Vet.
Hugh M. Jackson ….do…. Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out Aug. 31, 1864-expiration of term.
A.A. Montgomery ....do.... Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out Sept. 16, 1864-expiration of term.
Michael F. Book ....do.... Aug. 31, '61 3 Disch. On Surg. Certificate, Mar. 25, 1865--Vet.
John Love ....do.... Aug. 31, '61 3 Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Mar. 26, '62.
Wm. S. Sample ....do.... Aug. 31, '61 3 Died at Annapolis, Md., Oct. 15, 1861.
Josiah C. Golden ....do.... Aug. 31, '61 3 Lost on Steamer "West Point", Aug. 13, 1862.
Alexander Heasley ....do.... Aug. 31, '61 3 Not on muster-out roll.
John R. Churchfield Muc... Sept. 13, ‘61 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865-Vet.
Samuel Donley ....do.... Aug. 31, ‘61 3 Mustered out Aug. 31, 1864-expiration of term.
Armstrong, S.A. Private Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865-Vet.
Allen, James R. .....do..... Mar. 17, '64 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865.
Armstrong, Oliver .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out, Aug. 31, 1864-expiration of term.
Arbaugh, Jacob P. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out, Aug. 31, 1864-expiration of term.
Anderson, David .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Feb. 13, '63.
Angell, Aaron .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Died at Beaufort, S.C., Dec. 16, 1861.
Armstrong, Thom. N. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Lost on steamer "West Point", Aug. 13, 1862.
Anshutes, Fred'k .....do..... Feb.22, '65 1 Deserted June 16, 1865.
Andras, Charles .....do..... Mar. 13, '65 1 Substitute--deserted June 22, 1865.
Barkhouse, Benj. .....do..... Jan. 11, '65 1 Drafted-mustered out with Co., July 24, 1865.
Byers, James P. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out, Aug. 31, 1864-expiration of term.
Burnes, Robert .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out, Aug. 31, 1864-expiration of term.
Buchanan, James .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out, Aug. 31, 1864-expiration of term.
Bailey, William .....do..... Mar. 8, '64 3 Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Mar. 25, '65.
Black, James W. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Killed at Petersburg, Va., July 30, 1864--Vet.
Buckalew, Thomp. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Deserted March 1, 1865--Vet.
Clark, William F. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865-Vet.
Crill, Samuel P. .....do..... Feb. 22, '64 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865.
Coulter, William .....do..... Jan. 30, '65 1 Substitute-mustered out with Co., July 24, 1865.
Correl, William .....do..... Mar. 10, '65 1 Substitute-mustered out with Co., July 24, 1865.
Clark, Wm. A. Sr. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out, Aug. 31, 1864-expiration of term.
Clark, Wm. A. Jr. .....do..... Feb. 22, '64 3 Killed at Spottsylvania C.H., Va., May 12, '64.
Coyle, Manasah B. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Died June 8, of wds. Rec. at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64--bu. In Nat. Cemetery, Arlington.
Creighton, Joseph D. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Killed at Weldon R.R., Va., Aug. 19, '64--Vet.
Coles, Joseph .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Dec. 17, '62.
Cunningham, Peter .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Transferred to company G, Sept. 1, 1861.
Clark, John F. .....do..... Jan. 6, '62 3 Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Sept. 1, '63.
Donaldson, Alex .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Absent, sick, at muster out-Vet.
Dunlap, Bigler .....do..... Jan. 11, '65 1 Drafted--absent, sick, at muster out.
Dumont, Peter .....do..... Jan. 11, '65 1 Drafted--ab., on detached service, at mus. out.
Davis, Joseph .....do..... Dec. 31, '63 3 Absent, sick, at muster out.
Donley, James .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out Aug. 31, 1864-expiration of term.
Detwiler, Christian .....do..... Feb. 16, '64 3 Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Jan. 13, '65.
Davidson, James .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Died at Beaufort, S.C., Feb. 12, 1862.
Davis, Lemuel .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Not on muster-out roll.
Espy, William, N. Private Mar. 17, '64 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865.
Forsythe, George B. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865--Vet.
Forsythe, Calvin B. .....do..... Feb. 25, '64 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865.
Freet, John .....do..... Mar. 14, '65 1 Substitute--deserted June 12, 1865.
Gibson, William W. .....do..... April 1, '65 1 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865.
Glenn, James A. .....do..... Feb. 27, '64 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865.
Gibson, Andrew W. .....do..... Mar. 1, '65 1 Discharged by General Order, June 27, 1865.
Graff, John .....do..... Mar. 7, '65 1 Substitute--deserted July 10, 1865.
Gailey, David .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Burial record, David Greety, died Aug. 28, 1863, at Cairo or Mound Ciy, Ill.
Gossaline, E.W. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Not on muster out roll.
Grundy, Calvin .....do..... Feb. 26, '64 3 Not on muster out roll.
Guist, James H. .....do..... Feb. 26, '64 3 Not on muster out roll.
Hunter, James .....do..... Feb. 9, '64 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865.
Hollsbaugh, Jno. R. .....do..... Mar. 9, '64 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865.
Henry, Stephen .....do..... Nov. 25, '64 1 Drafted-mustered out with Co., July 24, 1865.
Hand, Henry .....do..... Mar. 4, '65 1 Substitute-mustered out with Co., July 24, 1865.
Houston, Camilus .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out Aug. 31, 1864-expiration of term.
Hope, John C. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out Aug. 31, 1864-expiration of term.
Hall, John .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Prisoner from June 16, 1864, to April 9, '65--dis-charged June 22, 1865, to date May 17, 1865.
Harris, Samuel F. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out Aug. 31, 1864-expiration of term.
Hutton, Samuel .....do..... Mar. 3, '65 1 Discharged by General Order, June 15, 1865.
Heasley, Emanuel .....do..... Feb. 26, '64 3 Died July 28, 1864.
Hutchison, David B. .....do..... Feb. 26, '64 3 Captured--died November 21, 1864.
Hayes, David .....do..... Nov. 6, '62 3 Killed near Petersburg, Va., Feb. 5, 1865.
Harper, William H. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Nov. 30,'62.
Henry, James A. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 1 Died at Hilton Head, S.C., July 9, '62.
Hutchison, Cyrus .....do..... Feb. 28, '65 3 Substitute-deserted July 12, 1865.
Harris, James .....do..... Feb. 29, '64 3 Not on muster out roll.
Johnston, Sylvester .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out with company July 24, 1865--Vet.
Jury, John F. .....do..... Jan. 11, '65 1 Drafted-discharged by G.O., June 24, 1865.
Jones, David .....do..... Jan. 11, '65 1 Drafted-killed at Petersburg, Va.,Mar. 25, '65-buried in Poplar Grove National Cemetery, division A, section C, grave, 251.
Joseph, John .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Sept. 2,'61.
Joseph, Caleb .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Discharged Sept. 10, 1862, for wds. rec. in action.
Jackson, Hugh .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Died at Newport News, Va., July 25, 1862.
Kauffman, Jonas .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, 1864.
Kirk, Joseph .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Nov. 14, '62.
Keith, Daniel .....do..... Jan. 19, '65 1 Substitute-deserted April 2, 1865.
Love, Hugh C. .....do..... Feb. 27, '64 3 Mustered out with company July 14, 1865.
Lindsey, John …..do…. Mar. 5, '65 1 Subsitute-absent, sick at muster-out.
Lloyd, John …..do…. Mar. 6, '65 1 Substitute-mustered out with Co., July 24, 1865.
Lostetler, James A. …..do…. Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out, Aug. 31, 1865--expiration of term.
Lee, Thomas …..do…. Aug. 31, '61 3 Transferred to Company I, Sept. 1, 1861.
Love, Robert …..do…. Aug. 31, '61 3 Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Feb. 27, '63.
Minich, William W. Private Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865-Vet.
Murdock, Jerome V. .....do..... Feb, 23, '64 3 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, 1864-ab-sent at muster-out.
Martin, William C. .....do..... Mar. 8, '64 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865.
Mignott, John B. .....do..... Jan. 11, '65 1 Drafted-mustered out with Co., July 24, 1865.
Mooney, Lackey .....do..... Mar. 7, '65 1 Substitute-mustered out with Co., July 24, 1865.
Marquis, James .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out Aug. 31, 1864-expiration of term.
Means, Hugh H. .....do..... Dec. 21, '63 3 Discharged on Surgeon's cert., Mar. 23, '65-Vet.
Martin, John .....do..... Mar. 3, '65 1 Subsitute-discharged by G.O., May 29, 1865.
Mars, James A. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Deserted March 14, 1862-returned Feb 22, '65-deserted again, June 12, 1865.
Moore, Samuel F. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Discharged on Surgeon's cert., Nov. 20, '62.
Munnell, Wm. A. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Not on muster out roll.
M'Birney, Joseph .....do..... Dec. 26, '63 3 Captured at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, 1864.
M'Laughlin, Daniel .....do..... Mar. 14, '65 1 Subsitute-mustered out with Co., July 24, '65.
M'Call, Charles .....do..... Mar. 7, '65 1 Sub.-captured-mus. Out with Co., July 24, '65.
M'Rea, Reuben .....do..... Feb. 21, '65 1 Subsitute-mustered out with Co., July 24, '65.
M'Knabb, Robert L. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Nov. 29, '62.
M'Clain, Robert B. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Promoted to Q.M. Sgt., Mar. 14, 1865-Vet.
M'Conkey, Joseph .....do..... Feb. 18, '64 3 Died May 14, of wds. Received at Spottsylvania C.H., Va., May 12, 1864.
M'Connell, John H. .....do..... Feb. 29, '64 3 Died at Beverly, N.J., Aug. 26, of wds. Rec. at Petersburg, Va., July 30, 1864.
M'Comb, Andrew .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Died at Beaufort, S.C.--date unknown.
M'Caslin George B. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Died at Lexington, Ky., April 11, 1863-buried in National Cemetery, circle 8, grave, 354.
Nelson, Wm. H. .....do..... Jan. 30, '65 1 Substitute-mustered out with Co., July 24, 1865.
Newberry, George .....do..... Feb. 29, '64 3 Died May 31, of wounds received at North Anna River, Va., May 27, 1864.
O'Neil, Daniel .....do..... Mar. 4, '65 1 Substitute-deserted June 8, 1865.
Palmer, Eugene .....do..... Mar. 1, '65 1 Substitute-mustered out with Co., July 24, 1865.
Palmer, James .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865-Vet.
Proctor, Richard C. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865-Vet.
Pufenberger, Jas. .....do..... Feb. 22, '64 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865-Vet.
Phillips, Alex. M. .....do..... Feb. 3, '64 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865.
Pomeroy, James .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865-Vet.
Pedicord, John .....do..... Jan. 2, '65 1 Drafted-mustered out with Co., July 24, 1865.
Parker, John, .....do..... Jan. 31, '65 1 Substitute-mustered out with Co., July 24, 1865.
Porter, Richard H. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out Aug. 31, 1864-expiration of term.
Petezick, Henry .....do..... Jan. 16, '65 1 Died April 8, of wounds received at Petersburg, Va., March 25, 1865.
Pinkerton, E.F.S. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Lost on Steamer "West Point", Aug. 13, 1862.
Queenan, John Private Mar. 7, '65 3 Substitute-mustered out with Co., July 24, 1865.
Rodgers, Andrew .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865-Vet.
Rowles, Joseph .....do..... Jan. 11, '65 1 Drafted-mustered out with Co., July 24, 1865.
Redman, William .....do..... Feb. 22, '64 3 Des.-ret.-paroled pris.-absent at mus. Out.
Root, Andrew K. .....do..... Feb. 21, '65 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865.
Rice, Reuben .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out Aug. 31, 1864-expiration of term.
Riblet, William W. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out Aug. 31, 1864-expiration of term.
Reed, Myers .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Transferred to Vet. Res. Corps, Apr. 1, '65.-Vet.
Rowles, Andrew .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Drafted-died April 6, of wounds received at Petersburg, Va.,March 9, 1865-buried at Na-tional Cemetery, Arlington.
Richie, Christ'r C. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Apr. 3, '62.
Ream, John .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Disch. Feb. 22, 1863, for wounds rec. in action.
Ramsey, Wm. M. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Died at Hilton Head, S.C., Nov. 30, 1861.
Reed, Robert E. . Aug. 31, '61 3 Disch. Mar. 18, 1863, for wounds rec. in action.
Robison, John H. .....do..... Jan. 6, '62 3 Not on muster out roll.
Stafford, Reuben .....do..... Feb.29, '64 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865.
Smith, Henry C. .....do..... Jan. 3, '64 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865-Vet.
Smith, Wesley, H. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865-Vet.
Smith, Henry D. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865-Vet.
Steward, Henry .....do..... Feb. 29, '64 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865.
Simpson, Joseph N. .....do..... Feb. 25, '64 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865.
Sowash, Frank A. .....do..... Feb. 8, '64 3 Prisoner from June 2, 1864 to Feb. 27, 1865-mustered out with company July 24, 1865-Vet.
Smetsler, William .....do..... Mar. 4, '65 1 Substitute-mustered out with Co., July 24, 1865.
Sponsler, William .....do..... Mar. 4, '65 1 Substitute-wounded, with loss of leg-mustered out with company, July 24, 1865.
Shick, Charles .....do..... Mar. 3, '65 1 Substitute-mustered out with Co., July 24, 1865.
Stafford, Theodore .....do..... Mar. 4, '65 1 Substitute-mustered out with Co., July 24, 1865.
Sewall, Noah A. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out Aug. 31, 1864-expiration of term.
Stafford, John .....do..... Aug. 16, '64. 3 Discharged by General Order, June 7, 1865.
Samm, Frank .....do..... Feb. 28, '65 1 Substitute-deserted June 22, 1865.
Satterfield, James …..do…. Feb. 29, '64 3 Not on muster out roll.
Titzler, Calvin W. Private Mar. 3, '65 3 Substitute-mustered out with Co., July 24, 1865.
Vanorsdel, Wm. E. .....do..... Mar. 6, '65 3 Substitute-mustered out with Co., July 24, 1865.
Vanhorn, William .....do..... Mar. 6, '65 3 Substitute-mustered out with Co., July 24, 1865.
Vanhorn, John .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Mustered out, Aug. 30, 1864-expiration of term.
Wingard, John M. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Not on muster out roll.
Womer, Jacob D. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Killed at Spottsylvania C.H., Virginia, May 12, 1864-Vet.
Wilson, James .....do..... Feb. 27, '64 1 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865.
Willets, Joseph .....do..... Feb. 29, '64 3 Mustered out with company, July 24, 1865.
Womer Enoch .....do..... Feb. 6, '65 3 Substitute-discharged by G.O., July 27, 1865.
Womer, Isaac .....do..... Feb. 19, '64 3 Deserted April 22, 1864.
White, James .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Not on muster out roll.
Wilson, Samuel B. .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Not on muster out roll.
Worthy, William .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Not on muster out roll.
Ward, Daniel .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Not on muster out roll.
Young, James .....do..... Aug. 31, '61 3 Not on muster out roll. | 2019-04-26T04:21:57Z | http://100thpenn.com/companyb.htm |
A positive intervention is an evidence-based, intentional act or series of actions (behavioral strategy) meant to increase (away from zero) that which causes or constitutes well-being and flourishing in non-clinical populations.
I will explicate the elements of positive interventions in the order they appear in the aforementioned definition.
The term “positive” in positive interventions defines the contextual and methodical framework that positive psychology operates on. On the contextual level, the target group of positive interventions are “normal people”, meaning humans from a non-clinical population (Seligman & Csíkszentmihályi, 2000). This represents a crucial difference to most therapeutic interventions that are designed to improve the condition of people suffering from a psychological disorder such as a depressive episode (Gable & Haidt, 2005). At the same time is has to be noticed that, in spite of this, there are studies that investigate the effectiveness of positive interventions for clinical populations (Duckworth, Steen, & Seligman, 2005). On the methodological level, positive interventions try to utilize positive phenomena of human cognition and emotion, such as pleasant feelings and memories, mindfulness, or the intentional use of character strengths and virtues (Peterson, 2006). Once again, this can be contrasted to interventions in clinical psychology, where “non-positive” methods such as the prescription of anti-depressants are custom. It is important to note that positive interventions (and positive psychology in general) do not prescribe a specific positive finite or ideal state of being. Rather, they can be characterized by a spirit that embraces constructive meliorism (Pawelski, 2005), the belief that humans can improve their condition no matter what. As such, positive psychology seeks to help people to reach their full potential, their individual best-possible life.
Positive interventions are based on sound scientific research, ideally double-blind experiments using adequate control groups, as well as longitudinal evaluation studies (Seligman, 2002; Sin & Lyubomirsky, 2009). This represents an important modification compared to adjacent disciplines, such as humanistic psychology. While both disciplines share a lot of common ground pertaining their phenomena of interest, values, and goals, humanistic psychologists tend(ed) to be somewhat dismissive of large-scale empirical research (Seligman & Csíkszentmihályi, 2000). It is not unreasonable to say that methods akin to positive interventions were by and large confined to the large body of self-help literature up to the onset of the third century. Through positive psychology, they have finally entered the academic discourse for good.
Positive interventions seek to foster human agency, autonomy, and self-efficacy (Ryan, Huta, & Deci, 2008). The “active ingredient” of each intervention should reside within the individual, not in some external sphere. Therefore, a certain level of willpower, self-regulation and effort are needed for carrying out a positive intervention (Lyubomirsky & Layous, 2014). This postulate can once again be contrasted to the prescription of anti-depressants, where the desired effect is created by something that is external to the individual and cannot be influenced directly. This is a crucial aspect since many researchers try to find ways to deliver positive intervention in a “self-help” style, e.g., as an online assignment (Ouweneel, Le Blanc, & Schaufeli, 2013). Hence, it is paramount that positive interventions are relatively easy to carry out and rely on whatever resources an individual already disposes of before learning how to perform the intervention.
This aspect once again alludes to the contextual domain of positive psychology. Interventions in clinical psychology are designed to help people reach a neutral (non-clinical) condition when they are perceived to be displaying a psychopathology. In short: their task is to relieve suffering (Seligman & Csíkszentmihályi, 2000). In a simple mathematical analogy, their aim is to get people from some negative number to (around) zero. On the contrary, positive interventions are meant to increase human well-being in the positive direction, away from zero. Yet, while this mathematical analogy is easy to grasp, it is also misleading to a certain extent. There is reason to believe that positive states (mental health, flourishing) and negative states (mental illness, suffering) are somewhat independent spheres of the human condition. It is not uncommon to experience elements of flourishing even when severely ill; and at the same time, it is also possible to display a lack of subjective well-being in spite of the absence of any psychopathology (Westerhof & Keyes, 2010). Therefore, when drawing on mathematical analogies, at the end of the day in may be more appropriate to assign a point in a Cartesian system to each person, rather than a point on a standalone continuum.
Finally, positive interventions promote dimensions of human well-being, be it the psychological well-being model proposed by Ryff and Keyes (1995), Diener´s (2000) subjective well-being construct, or Seligman´s (2011) PERMA framework (or, for that matter, any adjacent concept). As such, the possible desired outcomes of positive interventions are manifold. They include positive emotions and cognitions such as happiness, satisfaction with life, autonomy and relatedness, experiences that foster engagement, e.g., the discovery and use of one´s character strengths, boosting the quality of one´s relationships, finding meaning and purpose in life, or higher levels of achievement. In addition, physical well-being should explicitly be included, since regular physical exercise is a viable approach to achieve psychological well-being as well (Fox, 1999).
While researchers in positive psychology have early on developed and empirically tested positive interventions (Seligman et al., 2005), the question of why and how these interventions actually work has only recently entered the academic discourse (Schueller, 2010). A current article by Lyubomirsky and Layous (2014) presents a preliminary model with regard to this question: The authors posit that encouraging people to complete positive interventions leads them to have higher levels of positive emotions, think more positive thoughts, and display more positive behaviors, which in turn results in increased well-being and improvement in life domains such as work, relationships, and health. While there seems to be a lot of truth to this explanation, it remains somewhat generic.
In this section of the article, I will therefore explicate my own outline of the mechanics behind positive interventions. This includes thinking about the underlying mechanisms as well as reporting some empirical findings on the question in what contexts and for which target groups they work best. To start, I´d like to repeat the definition of positive interventions given in the previous section: A positive intervention is an evidence-based, intentional act or series of actions (a behavioral strategy) meant to increase (away from zero) that which causes or constitutes well-being and flourishing in non-clinical populations. The most important part of this definition for the upcoming section is: “intentional act”. These words represent two of the general principles that underlie the functioning of all positive interventions: a) focusing our attention on a specific positive matter of interest; and b) getting us to actively change our behavior along the line of self-defined goals.
The importance of the first component – focusing our attention – was already proposed by the “father of American psychology”, William James (1890/1923, p. 424): “The faculty of voluntarily bringing back a wandering attention, over and over again, is the very root of judgment, character, and will […] (1890/1923, p. 424). Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that intentionally focusing our attention on the good things in life will result in an increased level of positive emotion. This relationship holds true for several variations of meditation practice, such as mindfulness-based meditation (Brown & Ryan, 2003) and loving-kindness meditation (Fredrickson, Cohn, Coffey, Pek, & Finkel, 2008).
The beneficial effect of the second component – taking deliberate action – is equally backed by extant research. There is abundant evidence for the proposition that building one´s feeling of agency and being in control is accompanied by feelings of autonomy, which over time leads to an increase in well-being (Ryan, Huta, & Deci, 2008). Implicitly embedded in the notion of carrying out an intentional act is the connotation that there has to be some kind of goal that one strives to attain. Goal-setting theory (Locke, 1996) posits that having clear and attainable goals, and receiving goal-related feedback frequently, raises the likelihood of actually reaching our goals – which in turn leads to higher levels of self-efficacy (Maddux, 2009) – which then raises the likelihood of achieving one´s goals in the future. And attaining one´s personal goals, at the end of the day, yields a sense of accomplishment, purpose, and meaning in life (Brunstein, 1993; Sheldon & Elliot, 1999; Emmons, 2003).
In summary, the mechanics that underlie the efficacy of positive interventions can be integrated as follows: completing positive interventions leads humans to have higher levels of positive emotions, think more positive thoughts, and display more positive behaviors via focusing their attention on the good things in life, enabling them to attain meaningful goals, thereby strengthening their feeling of agency and self-efficacy, which nurtures their sense of achievement and purpose in life.
Brunstein, J. C. (1993). Personal goals and subjective well-being: A longitudinal study. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 65(5), 1061-1070.
Duckworth, A. L., Steen, T. A., & Seligman, M. E. (2005). Positive psychology in clinical practice. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 1, 629-651.
Emmons, R. A., (2003). Personal goals, life meaning, and virtue: Wellsprings of a positive life. In C. Keyes & J. Haidt (Eds.), Flourishing: Positive psychology and the well-lived life (pp. 105-128). Washington: American Psychological Association.
Fox, K. R. (1999). The influence of physical activity on mental well-being. Public Health Nutrition, 2(3a), 411-418.
Gable, S. L., & Haidt, J. (2005). What (and why) is positive psychology?. Review of General Psychology, 9(2), 103-110.
James, W. (1890/1923). The principles of psychology. New York: Holt.
Lyubomirsky, S., & Layous, K. (2014). The how, why, what, when, and who of happiness. In J. Gruber & J. Moscowitz (Eds.), Positive emotion: Integrating the light sides and dark sides (pp. 473-495). New York: Oxford University Press.
Maddux, J. E. (2009). Self-efficacy: The power of believing you can. In S. J. Lopez & C. R. Snyder (Eds.), Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology, 2nd edition (pp. 335-343). New York: Oxford University Press.
Ouweneel, E., Le Blanc, P. M., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2013). Do-it-yourself: An online positive psychology intervention to promote positive emotions, self-efficacy, and engagement at work. Career Development International, 18(2), 173-195.
Parks, A. C., & Biswas-Diener, R. (2013). Positive interventions: Past, present and future. In T. Kashdan, & J. Ciarrochi (Eds.), Mindfulness, acceptance, and positive psychology: The seven foundations of well-being (pp. 140-165). Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Pawelski, J. O. (2005). Mitigation and construction: Toward a balanced meliorism. Unpublished manuscript, University of Pennsylvania.
Schueller, S. M. (2010). Preferences for positive psychology exercises. Journal of Positive Psychology, 5(3), 192-203.
Seligman, M. E. (2002). Authentic happiness. New York: Free Press.
Seligman, M. E., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: an introduction. American Psychologist, 55(1), 5-14.
Sin, N. L., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2009). Enhancing well-being and alleviating depressive symptoms with positive psychology interventions: A practice-friendly meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65(5), 467-487.
Westerhof, G. J., & Keyes, C. L. (2010). Mental illness and mental health: The two continua model across the lifespan. Journal of Adult Development, 17(2), 110-119.
Center for Positive Organizations: Respectful engagement cultivates higher levels of creativity by Jane Dutton et al.
Are you ready for the 2. Wave of Positive Psychology?
I guess there ´s a heck of a lot of people out there who haven’t even heard about the first wave of Positive Psychology – and now, there´s supposed to be a second one? Yes, sir!
For quite some time now, Positive Psychology has been criticized for focusing way too much on the positive side(s) of life, while (by and large) ignoring negative phenomena – which, after all, is why Positive Psychology was founded in the first place. I feel this criticism is unwarranted pertaining to the academic/research side of things. E.g., research on Post-Traumatic Growth has always been readily embraced. But I guess in terms of marketing PP to the public, there´s more than a bit truth to this allegation.
Second Wave Positive Psychology is underpinned by four dialectical principles: appraisal; co-valence; complementarity; and evolution.
Appraisal means that we cannot appraise something as either positive or negative without taking context into account.
Co-valence reflects the idea that many situations and experiences comprise positive and negative elements.
Complementarity is about the idea of Ying and Yang, that positive and negative are co-creating sides of the same coin.
Evolution draws on Hegel’s notion of thesis-antithesis-synthesis.
In this case, traditional psychology can be seen as the thesis, Positive Psychology is the anti-thesis, and SWPP could evolve into a synthesis, where the truths of both thesis and antithesis are preserved, while their flaws are overcome.
Just in case you´ll find that article stimulating: it is based on an academic paper which can be found on Research Gate: Second Wave Positive Psychology: Exploring the Positive–Negative Dialectics of Wellbeing.
Another synopsis of SWPP is proposed by Paul T. P. Wong in this article: What Is Second Wave Positive Psychology and Why is it necessary?
A while ago, I posted a list of 10 blogs on Positive Psychology and adjacent I frequently visit. Back then, I already said it was hard to limit the selection to only 10 sites. Therefore, here´s another curated list of cool Positive Psychology blogs. Share and enjoy!
Eric Barker writes Barking Up The Wrong Tree. He brings you science-based answers and expert insight on how to be awesome at life. His content has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Wired Magazine and Time Magazine.
The Greater Good Science Center at Berkeley (co-founded by Professor Dacher Keltner) “studies the psychology, sociology, and neuroscience of well-being, and teaches skills that foster a thriving, resilient, and compassionate society”. They frequently publish articles by their own staff as well as guest articles by eminent researchers.
The Center for Positive Organizations (staff includes Professors Jane Dutton, Kim Cameron, Robert Quinn, and Gretchen Spreitzer) based at the Ross School of Business (University of Michigan) seeks to “inspire and enable leaders to build high-performing organizations that bring out the best in people. We are a catalyst for the creation and growth of positive organizations.” They regularly publish articles by the aforementioned researchers and scholars in Positive Organizational Scholarship.
Paula Davis-Laack is a fellow Penn MAPP alum and writes a regular column called Pressure Proof about “strategies and stories for busy, complicated lives” on Psychology Today.
In their own words, The Pursuit of Happiness is a “group of psychologists, philosophers, educators, and web professionals dedicated to the advancement of scientific knowledge about happiness and depression prevention. We provide science-based information on life skills and habits needed to enhance well-being, build resilience against depression and anxiety, and pursue a meaningful life.” Professor Todd Kashdan is one of the contributors.
Happiness by Design is a column on Psychology Today by London School of Economics´ Professor Paul Dolan. It doesn’t update very often by the posts are cool to read.
Action for Happiness is a movement of people committed to building a happier and more caring society. We want to see a fundamentally different way of life – where people care less about what they can get just for themselves and more about the happiness of others. Sir Richard Layard is among the founders. They publish compelling pieces by top-tier Positive Psychology researchers and experts in their news section.
To my mind, Michael Tomoff is one of the few people who write stuff worth reading on Positive Psychology in German. His blog is called Was wäre wenn? (What if?).
The last one is a sort of honorable mention. The late Professor Christopher Peterson published an immensely insightful and oftentimes very funny Positive Psychology blog via Psychology Today called The Good Life. Even though it has not been updated ever since 2012 (for obvious reasons), I revisit it frequently for inspiration. | 2019-04-21T09:17:13Z | https://mappalicious.com/tag/todd-kashdan/ |
I’m excited to talk to you about the Center for Advancement of Informal Science Education (CAISE) and the support they offer evaluators of informal science education (ISE) experiences. CAISE is a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded resource center for NSF’s Advancing Informal STEM Learning program. Through InformalScience.org, CAISE provides a wide range of resources valuable to the EvaluATE community.
ISE is lifelong learning in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) that takes place across a multitude of designed settings and experiences outside of the formal classroom. The video below is a great introduction to the field.
Outcomes of ISE experiences have some similarities to those of formal education. However, ISE activities tend to focus less on content knowledge and more on other types of outcomes, such as interest, attitudes, engagement, skills, behavior, or identity. CAISE’s Evaluation and Measurement Task Force investigates the outcome areas of STEM identity, interest, and engagement to provide evaluators and experience designers with guidance on how to define and measure these outcomes. Check out the results of their work on the topic of STEM identity (results for interest and engagement are coming soon).
InformalScience.org has a variety of resources that I think you’ll find useful for your evaluation practice.
In the section “Design Evaluation,” you can learn more about evaluation in the ISE field through professional organizations, journals, and projects researching ISE evaluation. The “Evaluation Tools and Instruments” page in this section lists sites with tools for measuring outcomes of ISE projects, and there is also a section about reporting and dissemination. I provide a walk-through of CAISE’s evaluation pages in this blog post: How to Use InformalScience.org for Evaluation.
The Principal Investigator’s Guide: Managing Evaluation in Informal STEM Education Projects has been extremely useful for me in introducing ISE evaluation to evaluators new to the field.
In the “News & Views” section are several evaluation-related blogs, including a series on working with an institutional review board and another one on conducting culturally responsive evaluations.
If you are not affiliated with an academic institution, you can access peer-reviewed articles in some of your favorite academic journals by becoming a member InformalScienceorg. Click here to join; it’s free! Once you’re logged in, select “Discover Research” in the menu bar and scroll down to “Access Peer-Reviewed Literature (EBSCO).” Journals of interest include Science Education and Cultural Studies of Science Education. If you are already a member of InformalScience.org, you can immediately begin searching the EBSCO Education Source database.
My favorite part of InformalScience.org is the repository of evaluation reports—1,020 reports and growing—which is the largest collection of reports in the evaluation field. Evaluators can use this rich collection to inform their practice and learn about a wide variety of designs, methods, and measures used in evaluating ISE projects. Even if you don’t evaluate ISE experiences, I encourage you to take a minute to search the reports and see what you can find. And if you conduct ISE evaluations, consider sharing your own reports on InformalScience.org.
Do you have any questions about CAISE or InformalScience.org? Contact Melissa Ballard, communications and community manager, at [email protected].
At the STEM Program at WestEd, we are in the third year of an evaluation of an innovative, hands-on STEM curriculum. Learning by Making is a two-year high school STEM course that integrates computer programming and engineering design practices with topics in earth/environmental science and biology. Experts in the areas of physics, biology, environmental science, and computer engineering at Sonoma State University (SSU) developed the curriculum by integrating computer software with custom-designed experiment set-ups and electronics to create inquiry-based lessons. Throughout this project-based course, students apply mathematics, computational thinking, and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Scientific and Engineering Design Practices to ask questions about the world around them, and seek the answers. Learning by Making is currently being implemented in rural California schools, with a specific effort being made to enroll girls and students from minority backgrounds, who are currently underrepresented in STEM fields. You can listen to students and teachers discussing the Learning by Making curriculum here.
We derived our evaluation design from the project’s logic model. A logic model is a structured description of how a specific program achieves an intended learning outcome. The purpose of the logic model is to precisely describe the mechanisms behind the program’s effects. Our approach to the Learning by Making logic model is a variant on the five-column logic format that describes the inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts of a program (W.K. Kellogg Foundation, 2014).
Are the professional development (PD) opportunities and resources for the teachers increasing teacher competence in delivering a computational thinking-based STEM curriculum? Does Learning by Making PD increase teachers’ use of computational thinking and project-based instruction in the classroom?
Does the classroom implementation of Learning by Making increase teachers’ use of computational thinking and project-based instruction in the classroom? Does classroom implementation promote computational thinking and project-based learning? Do students show an increased interest in STEM subjects?
Without effective teacher PD or classroom implementation, the logic model “breaks,” making it unlikely that the desired outcomes will be observed. To answer our questions about outcomes related to teacher PD, we used comprehensive teacher surveys, observations, bi-monthly teacher logs, and focus groups. To answer our questions about outcomes related to classroom implementation, we used student surveys and assessments, classroom observations, teacher interviews, and student focus groups. SSU used our findings to revise both the teacher PD resources and the curriculum itself to better situate these two components to produce the outcomes intended. By deriving our evaluation design from a clear and targeted logic model, we succeeded in providing actionable feedback to SSU aimed at keeping Learning by Making on track to achieve its goals.
One of the most impactful learning experiences from the ATE Principal Investigators Conference I attended in October 2016 was the growing use of Business and Industry Leadership Teams (BILT) partnerships in developing and implementing new STEM curriculum throughout the country. This need for cross-sector partnerships has become apparent and reinforced through specific National Science Foundation (NSF) grants.
The need for empirical data about networks and collaborations is increasing within the evaluation realm, and social network surveys are one method of quickly and easily gathering that data. Social network surveys come in a variety of forms. The social network survey I have used is in a roster format. Each participant of the program is listed, and each individual completes the survey by selecting which option best describes their relationships with one another. The options vary in degree from not knowing that person at one extreme, to having formally collaborated with that person at the other extreme. In the past, data from these types of surveys was analyzed through social network analysis, which necessitated a large amount of programming knowledge. Due to recent technological advancements, there are new social network analysis programs that make analyzing this data more user-friendly for non-programmers. I have worked on an NSF-funded project at the University of Nebraska at Oaha where the goal is to provide professional development and facilitate the growth of a network for middle school teachers in order to create and implement computer science lessons into their current curriculum (visit the SPARCS website). One of the methods for evaluating the facilitation of the network is through a social network analysis questionnaire. This method has proved very helpful in determining the extent to which the professional relationships of the cohort members have evolved over the course of their year-long experience within the program.
The social network analysis program I have been using is known as NodeXL and is an Excel add-in. It is very user-friendly and can easily be used to generate quantitative data on network development. I was able to take the data gathered from the social network analysis, conduct research, and present my article, “Identification of the Emergent Leaders within a CSE Professional Development Program,” at an international conference in Germany. While the article is not focused on evaluation, it does review the survey instrument itself. You may access the article through this link (although I think your organization must have access to ACM): Tracie Evans Reding WiPSCE Article. The article is also posted on my Academia.edu page.
Another funding strand emphasizing networks through the National Science Foundation is known as Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (INCLUDES). The long-term goal of NSF INCLUDES is to “support innovative models, networks, partnerships, technical capabilities and research that will enable the U.S. science and engineering workforce to thrive by ensuring that traditionally underrepresented and underserved groups are represented in percentages comparable to their representation in the U.S. population.” Noted in the synopsis for this funding opportunity is the importance of “efforts to create networked relationships among organizations whose goals include developing talent from all sectors of society to build the STEM workforce.” The increased funding available for cross-sector collaborations makes it imperative that evaluators are able to empirically measure these collaborations. While the notion of “networks” is not a new one, the availability of resources such as NodeXL will make the evaluation of these networks much easier.
Evans Reding, T., Dorn, B., Grandgenett, N., Siy, H., Youn, J., Zhu, Q., Engelmann, C. (2016). Identification of the Emergent Teacher Leaders within a CSE Professional Development Program. Proceedings for the 11th Workshop in Primary and Secondary Computing Education. Munster, Germany: ACM.
Recently, I attended the Building Pathways and Partnerships in STEM for a Global Network conference, hosted by the State University of New York (SUNY) system. It focused on innovative practices in STEM higher education, centered on increasing retention, completion, and cultural diversity.
Research opportunities! Students should be exposed to real research if they are going to engage in STEM. This is not only important for four-year degree students, but also community college students, whether they plan to continue their education or move into the workforce.
Internships (PAID!) are crucial for gaining practical experience before entering the workforce.
Partnerships, partnerships, partnerships. Internships and research opportunities are most useful if they are with organizations outside of the school. This means considerable outreach and relationship-building.
One-on-one peer mentoring. Systems where upper level students work directly with new students to help them get through tough classes or labs has been shown to keep students enrolled not only in STEM programs, but in college in general.
The main takeaway from this conference is that the SUNY system is being more creative in engaging students in STEM. They are making a concerted effort to help underrepresented students. This trend is not limited to NY—many colleges and universities are focusing on these issues.
Being flexible. Many methods are brand new or new to the institution or department, so implementers may tweak them along the way. Which means we need to pay attention to how we assess outcomes, perhaps taking guidance from Patton’s Developmental Evaluation work.
Thinking beyond immediate outcomes. What do students accomplish in the long-term? Do they go on to get higher degrees, do they get jobs that fit with their expectations? If you can’t measure these due to budget or timeline constraints, help institutions design ways to do this themselves. It can help them continue to identify program strengths and weaknesses.
Keep these in mind, and your evaluation can provide valuable information for programs geared to make a real difference.
Along with co-PIs Michelle Moore and Max Josquin, I am a recent recipient of an NSF ATE grant aimed at increasing female enrollment and retention in my college’s Information Systems (IS) program. Our year one activities included creating a daylong Information Technology (IT) camp for incoming eighth and ninth grade young women.
In our original plan, we had set aside money for five IS college students to help us for eight hours during the summer camp. We decided to meet weekly with the students during the months leading up to our event to stay on task and schedule.
1st surprise: Nine students showed up to the initial meeting, and eight of those remained with us for the project’s duration.
2nd surprise: Instead of waiting for our guidance, the students went off and did their own research and then presented a day-long curriculum that would teach hardware, software, and networking by installing and configuring the popular game Minecraft on Raspberry Pi microcomputers.
3rd surprise: When asked to think about marketing, the students showed us a logo and a flyer that they had already designed. They wanted T-shirts with the new logo for each of the campers. And they wanted each camper to be able to take home their Raspberry Pi.
At this point, it was very clear to my colleagues and I that we should take a step back and let the students run the show. We helped them create lesson plans to achieve the outcomes they wanted, but they took ownership of everything else. We had to set up registration and advertising, but on the day of the camp, the students were the ones in the classroom teaching the middle-graders. My colleagues and I were the gofers who collected permission slips, got snacks ready, and picked up pizza for lunch.
Drive a project to completion.
Express your point of view taking into account the complexities of a situation.
Synthesize others’ points of view with your ideas.
Ability to come up with creative ideas that take into account the complexities of the situation.
Help a team move forward by articulating the merits of alternative ideas or proposals.
Engage team members in ways that acknowledge their contributions by building on or synthesizing the contributions of others.
Provide assistance or encouragement to team members.
For year two of our grant, we’re moving resources around in order to pay more students for more hours. We are partnering with community centers and middle schools to use our IS college students as mentors. We hope to formalize this such that our students can receive internship credits, which are required for their degree.
Our lessons learned during this first year of the grant include being open to change and being willing to relinquish control. We are also happy that we decided to work with an external evaluator, even though our grant is a small grant for institutions new to ATE. Because of the questions our evaluator asked, we have the data to justify moving resources around in our budget.
If you want to know more about how Terryll and I collaborated on the evaluation plan and project proposal, check out this webinar in which we discuss how to find the right external evaluator for your project: Your ATE Proposal: Got Evaluation?.
Federal STEM education programs have also been affected by this increasing focus on evidence and evaluation. Read, for example, the Federal Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education 5-Year Strategic Plan (2013),1 which was prepared by the Committee on STEM Education of the National Science and Technology Council.2 This strategic plan provides an overview of the importance of STEM education to American society and describes the current state of federal STEM education efforts. Five priority STEM education investment areas are discussed where a coordinated federal strategy is currently under development. The plan also presents methods to build and share evidence. Finally, the plan lays out several strategic objectives for improving the exploration and sharing of evidence-based practices, including supporting syntheses of existing research that can inform federal investments in the STEM education priority areas, improving and aligning evaluation and research expertise and strategies across federal agencies, and streamlining processes for interagency collaboration (e.g., Memoranda of Understanding, Interagency Agreements).
Another key federal document that is influencing evaluation in STEM agencies is the Common Guidelines for Education Research and Development (2013),3 jointly prepared by the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences and the National Science Foundation. This document describes the two agencies’ shared understandings of the roles of various types of research in generating evidence about strategies and interventions for increasing student learning. These research types range from studies that generate fundamental understandings related to education and learning to research (“Foundational Research”) to studies that assesses the impact of an intervention on an education-related outcome, including efficacy research, effectiveness research, and scale-up research. The Common Guidelines provide the two agencies and the broader education research community with a common vocabulary to describe the critical features of these study types.
Both documents have shaped, and will continue to shape, federal STEM programs and their evaluations. Reading them will help federal grantees gain a richer understanding of the larger federal context that is influencing reporting and evaluation requirements for grant awards.
2 For more information on the Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education, visit https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ostp/nstc/committees/costem. | 2019-04-26T06:24:43Z | http://www.evalu-ate.org/tag/stem/ |
To protect the urethra from instrumentation related urethra injures and stricture, we developed a new surgical technique which can be defined as transvesical resection of prostate without using urethra.
Our study included 12 consecutive bladder outlet obstruction patients treated with transvesical prostate resection in our clinic between March 2016 and May 2016. Detailed anamnesis, results of physical examination, digital rectal examination, routine lab tests, international prostate symptoms score, transrectal ultrasound, measurement of prostate-specific antigen levels and uroflowmetry was performed in all patients prior to surgery.
Hospitalization period following surgery was 1 day. Foley catheter and suprapubic cystostomy catheters were removed in a median period of 3.6 days and 1 day. Median mass of resected adenomas was measured as 21.8 gr. Median maximum flow rate was measured as 6mL/s. Median postvoid residual urine volume was 70.6 cc and median international prostate symptoms score and quality of life scores were 9 and 1.4, respectively.
In this study, we would like to show the possible practicality of transvesical resection of prostate technique in this patient group. However, we think that this technique is very useful in special patient groups such as patients with bladder stones, priapism and penile prosthesis.
Bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) is a common condition seen in males over 40 and its incidence rate shows an increase with age. The prevalence of BOO is measured at around 8% in males at age 40, but it increases to almost 90% in males over 90 (1). Medical treatment for relieving BOO - related lower urinary tract symptoms is the first line of treatment in those cases. However, surgical intervention is recommended for patients who did not benefit from medical treatment or for patients with BOO - related complications such as recurring urinary tract infections, acute retention, hematuria, and bladder stones (2). When surgical intervention techniques are considered, a transurethral prostate incision is used in patients with prostate volumes < 30 cc, and a transurethral prostate resection (TURP) is chosen for patients with prostate volumes between 30 and 80 cc. Finally, an open prostatectomy procedure is recommended for patients with prostate volumes > 80 cc (3). Other options include Holmium - laser enucleation of the prostate and laparoscopic removal of adenoma tissues from the prostate (4-6). However, all the surgical techniques mentioned above have different early - and late - term complication risks. Different studies have reported post - TURP urethral stricture as 2.2 – 9.8% and bladder neck stricture between 0.3% and 9.2% (7-9). The main reason for those complications is thought to be the scar formation caused by mucosal lacerations during the use of the urethra for surgery (10). However, in daily practice, difficulties are experienced in special situations where transurethral prostatectomy is a challenge, such as with patients with penile prosthesis, patients with bladder stones, patients who develop priapism during surgery, and patients who cannot be positioned due to hip issues. In this study, a new technique (transvesical prostate resection) for prostate resection is defined and its outcomes and practicality are assessed (Figure-1).
Figure 1 Percutaneous puncture of the bladder and placement of the renal sheath and resectoscope.
This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Harran (17.09.2017, Meeting: 09 / Decision: 1), and the written, informed consent of all patients was obtained. Our study included the observation of 12 consecutive BOO patients treated with transvesical prostate resection (TVRP) in our clinic between March 2016 and May 2016. All surgeries were performed by the same surgeon. Patient inclusion criteria included a prostate volume of at least 30 g, a recurring acute urinary retention or maximum flow rate (Qmax) < 10 mL / s, and an international prostate symptom score (IPSS) of at least 12. Detailed patient history, results of physical examination, digital rectal examinations, routine lab tests, IPSSs, measurements of prostate - specific antigen (PSA) levels, and uroflowmetry results were recorded in all patients prior to surgery. For comparison with pre - operative results, IPSSs and uroflowmetry were repeated 1month, 3 months, and 1 year following surgery. In patients with PSA values of 4 or more or with other risk factors (such as nodules observed during a digital rectal examination), a prostate biopsy was also performed prior to surgery to eliminate the possibility of cancer. A histopathology examination of all samples confirmed benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in all cases.
Statistical analysis was performed using IBM's SPSS (Statistics for Windows, version 22.0., Armonk, NY, USA) program. Cases were divided into two groups and a definite data analysis (mean, median, range and percentages) was performed. Two sample T - tests were used for intergroup comparisons. Statistical significance level was set as p < 0.05.
All operations were done under either general or spinal anesthesia, and a bipolar resectoscope was used. A bipolar TVRP (Olympus 24 -channel rotating continuous flow type from Tokyo, Japan) was used in a 200 W setting for resection and a 100 W setting for coagulation. Continuous irrigation was done during the TVRP, and 0.9% saline solution bags were hung at the lowest height allowable for proper fluid flow (max 60 cm).
All interventions were done in the lithotomy position (except for the first patient due to a hip prosthesis) under general or spinal anesthesia. No issues were detected when surgery was performed in the supine position. However, most of the patients were operated on in the lithotomy position for quick intervention in case of any complications during the first cases where the technique was used.
Just prior to surgery, a cystoscopy was performed using a 17 FR scope to rule out possible comorbidities such as bladder cancer or urethral stricture, and to assess the resection percentage of the prostate. The procedure started after completely filling the bladder with a saline solution to ease suprapubic access. To ensure continuous intravesical guidance during the percutaneous approach, the front wall of the bladder was examined using an endoscope. Bladder entry was done by inserting an access needle from the suprapubic midline, 4 cm above the symphysis pubis, through the skin.
After proper insertion of the guide wire, the canal was dilated using a 12 Fr Amplatz dilator, and the canal was formed by using a 28 – 30 Fr Amplatz dilator (one - shot technique). A renal sheath was inserted into the formed canal. Then, using a 24 FR resectoscope shaft, the bladder was entered through the renal sheath. The bladder neck and the prostate were identified. The prostate resection began from the middle lobe (if present). It continued on to the ventral sides (between the directions of 11 and 1 o'clock), then to both lateral lobes, and finished with the apex (Figure-2).
Figure 2 A) Retrograde view of bladder neck and intravesical prostatic protrusion, B) 1- Verrumoontanum, 2- Right lateral lobe, c) 1- verrumoontanum, 2- Resected right lateral lobe, D) Resected left lateral lobe.
In order to get a better view of the apex and the sphincter, a 18 Fr Foley catheter was inserted, and the tip of the Foley catheter was used as a land mark point in some cases. Lateral, anterior, and apical prostate tissues were resected to the prostate capsule (Figure-3). This method allowed an almost unnoticeable angle between the prostate and the urethra, which did not affect the surgical intervention at all. Second generation intravenous cephalosporin was used for prophylaxis in all patients. An 18 Fr two - way urethral Foley catheter was placed at the end of surgery for drainage. Following the insertion of a 16 Fr nelaton catheter through the renal sheath, it was attached to the skin using 3 – 0 vicryl.
Figure 3 Retrograde view of resected prostate. a) Resected right lateral lobe, b) Resected left lateral lobe, c) Resected median lobe, d) Verrumoontanum.
In the cases where irrigation was necessary, irrigation fluid was introduced via a suprapubic nelaton catheter. Urethral catheters were removed at the 3rd – 5th day of surgery after urine output became clear in color, except for patients who developed complications such as hematuria or clot retention. The suprapubic catheter was removed 1day after surgery and patients were discharged. In all patients, complete blood count and serum electrolytes were measured after the surgery. Signs and symptoms of possible transurethral resection syndrome were also clinically reviewed. In addition, postoperative and perioperative complications, operation period, resected prostate tissue mass, catheter removal time, and hospitalization period were all recorded on file. Post - op assessments were done in the first month, third month and first year following surgery. During the follow-up period, uroflowmetry, postvoid residual urine volume measurements via ultrasonography, IPSSs, and quality of life (QoL) scores were measured for post - op assessment.
All TVRP surgeries were successfully completed without any complications that might have required the surgery to be changed to a standard TURP or an open prostatectomy. The hospitalization period following surgery was 1 day in all patients. The Foley catheter was removed within 3 to 5 days after surgery, and the suprapubic catheter was removed the next day after surgery. The preoperative median maximum flowrate (Qmax) was 5.5 (4 – 10) mL / s. The median preoperative postvoid residual urine volume was 77.5 (20 – 100) cc and the median IPSS and QoL scores were calculated as 23.5 and 5, respectively. A month after the operation, the median Qmax increased to 17.5 (12 – 28) cc / s, and the median postvoid residual urine volume was 52.5 (30 – 75) cc. The median IPSSs and QoL scores were found to be 9.5 and 1, respectively (Table-1). The median resected adenoma mass was 22.5 (18 – 45) gr. No major complications related to surgery or anesthesia were seen. None of the patients developed TUR syndrome. Only 1 patient developed erysipelas at the cystostomy entry point and was treated with first generation cephalosporin. There were 2 patients who developed stress incontinence within the first month of surgery and were relieved after a month of Kegel exercises. Only 1 patient developed epididymo - orchitis on the seventh day of surgery and was treated with second generation cephalosporin. A new catheter was placed in a patient who used anticoagulants for coronary artery disease after seeing macroscopic hematuria 5 days after the Foley catheter was removed. Hematuria was cleared with irrigation and the catheter was removed 3 days later. None of the patients developed urethral stricture in their mean 1 - year follow-up period.
Table 1 Comparison of preoperative and postoperative data.
Except for 4 patients with urinary retention and bladder stones prior to surgery, IPSSs and QoL scores increased significantly with the surgery (Table-2). In addition, except for the 4 patients mentioned above, there were significant improvements in maximum flow rates and postvoid residual urine volumes following surgery (Tables 1 and 2).
Table 2 Preoperative and postoperative data expressed as median.
The main factors that affect surgical treatments are the patient's age, health status, expectations of surgery results, and prostate volume. TURPs, open prostatectomies, transurethral prostate incisions, and finally, transurethral prostate electro - vaporizations were defined as conventional surgery techniques by the European Association of Urology (11). Transurethral resection continues to be the golden standard for the surgical management of bladder outlet obstructions throughout the years. TURP can improve lower urinary tract symptoms up to 70%, but it comes with a morbidity risk of 20%. Urethral stricture is one of the most important postoperative complications of a TURP. Different series reported urethral stricture incidence rates between 2.2% and 9.8% (8-12).
Urethral stricture continues to be a challenge for urology for its repetitive nature, the need for patient care, treatment difficulties, and follow-up problems. The main causes thought to play a role in urethral stricture development are large prostate volumes and related longer operation periods, the size of the catheter used, infected urine, usage of a thick resectoscope with high energy, unnecessary insertions and removals of the resectoscope, insufficient lubrication of the resectoscope (which causes friction in the bulbous urethra from the penoscrotal angle), and energy outbursts that develop on the resectoscope shaft, damaging the urethra mucosa (7, 13, 14). About 60% of strictures redevelop within a year after the initial treatment, which requires complex interventions such as urethroplasty and dilatation. This complication risk is severe enough to worry about urethral stricture developing following TURP.
In our technique, the urethra is not used, and the prostate is removed through the bladder, similar to open prostatectomies. For this reason, we believe that it has an advantage over TURP for urethral stricture development. However, prospective studies with longer patient series are necessary to make a clear comparison between our technique and other those methods and validate our results. The urethral stricture occurrence rate in open prostatectomy is reported as 1.9% (7, 15). The most important reason for this is not using the urethra during surgery. In a TVRP, the urethra is not used, except for very short periods of time while using thin instruments for checking the bladder and urethra. The fact that none of the patients developed a urethral stricture during the mean follow-up period of 1year supports our thesis that the risk of urethral stricture can be reduced by using our method.
Penile tumescence and priapism can be seen due to anesthetic agents used in spinal or general anesthesia, or due to an imbalance between sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve systems (16). This situation can cause interruptions in transurethral approaches or a complete cancellation of surgery (16). The main reason for this is the hemorrhage risk and urethral trauma caused by the transurethral operation. Similarly, transurethral passing of the resectoscope can be difficult in patients with penile prosthesis implants (17). In such situations, although different approaches such as transperineal urethral resections are possible, those approaches increase the complication risks during the post - operative period. Also, in patients that cannot be placed in a lithotomy position due to having a hip prosthesis, transurethral techniques are almost impossible to perform. For those patients, open prostatectomy is preferred. However, TVRP can also be performed in the supine position, which is advantageous for this patient group. TVRP can be used in these situations to provide a barrier for such complications. TVRP seems more advantageous over TURP in this sense. Except for one patient, all patients included in this study were operated on in the lithotomy position. The main rationale behind this was to enable faster intervention for possible complications that could arise during the first few uses of this new technique. However, as our experience increases, we will start operating on patients in the supine position as well.
Bladder stones, caused by a bladder blockage related to BOO, can be seen in 5% of all urinary tract stones (18). This might cause an additional cystolithotomy operation prior to prostate surgery. This situation complicates the surgery in patients with multiple or large bladder stones. Open, transurethral and percutaneous cystolithotripsy are the most used methods for bladder stones (19, 20). Recent publications report a preference of percutaneous over transurethral cystolithotripsy for bladder stones due to urinary stricture risks and shorter operation times (19-22). In this technique we developed, both surgeries can be percutaneously performed from the same entry point. We used the TVRP method for the first time on a patient who had bladder stones and could not be placed in a lithotomy position due to a hip prosthesis. After successfully treating this patient, we used the same method, as planned, for our other TURP patients. In patients with BOO - related bladder stone formations, an intervention from a single - entry point to both the bladder stone and the prostate can be beneficial. However, prospective comparative studies with larger patient series are necessary to make a clear statement about effectiveness of TVRP.
Since this technique has been developed and used only by us, we cannot compare our results to any other previous studies. However, studies assessing the efficacy of TURP reported Qmax improvement by + 162%, significant decrease in IPSS by – 70%, significant decrease in QoL scores by – 69% and decrease in post - voiding residual urine volume by – 77% (23, 24). In our technique, we observed an increase in Qmax by + 298%, a decrease in IPSS by – 62.1%, decrease in QoL by −69% and decrease in post - voiding residual urine volume by – 27.5%. When our results were compared with those results in the literature, related results show the postoperative efficacy of TVRP. However, the low number of patients in the assessment of early and late - term post - operative complications is one of the limitations of our study.
The main limitations in this study where we explain a newly developed technique include a low number of patients, and insufficient follow-up periods to assess complications such as urethral strictures and bladder neck strictures. In addition, the inability to use this technique during the surgery on BOO patients with coexisting bladder tumors can also be considered a limitation. The technique can be challenging in cases with prostate volumes over 80 cc as it is a relatively new method. Moreover, it might be impossible to place the resectoscope in the desired angle in morbidly obese patients due to the fat tissue on the anterior abdominal wall. Finally, in the transurethral method, surgeons are positioned exactly at the patient's midline (lithotomy position), whereas in our technique, surgeons are positioned on the left side of the patients, which can be considered a difficulty (Figure-4).
Figure 4 Position of the surgeon at the left side of patient.
Claiming that TVRP is as effective as TURP is a relatively bold statement that is based on a single study. Prospective comparison studies with larger patient series are necessary for the clarification of this subject.
In this study, we would like to show the possible practicality of the TVRP technique in patients with BOO. We think that this technique is very useful and has potential for daily practice, as it has a low risk of urethral stricture development, does not employ the urethra and is utilizable in special patient groups (such as patients with bladder stones, priapism and penile prosthesis). For a clear assessment of urethral stricture developments in such cases, larger series with longer patient follow-up periods are required.
The authors thank to Zorlu Ferruh, MD for his contributions to this work. | 2019-04-25T05:30:15Z | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1677-55382018000501023&lng=pt&tlng=en |
In the three years of the Megawati presidency, there was an explosive growth in the number of political prisoners. Up to 2,000 political prisoners are now serving sentences all over the country, from Sabang to Merauke. Following the downfall of the dictator Suharto in May 1998, a fresh wind blew and more than 230 political prisoners were released in a series of presidential amnesties during the Habibie and Wahid presidencies.
However, during the time Megawati was president, there was a serious backlash, with repressive legislation being used extensively against a variety of 'dissidents'. Government critics, including labour and political activists as well as journalists, were put on trial. But the vast majority of prisoners were Acehnese accused of being involved in GAM activities.
A considerable number of Papuans and Malukans are also serving long sentences . Some have been found guilty of nothing more than hoisting a flag or attending peaceful political meetings.
Monitoring and updating human rights conditions in Aceh have become virtually impossible. The handful of human rights lawyers still functioning in the province complain about the difficulty of meeting their clients at a time when a very large number of people are being processed in the courts. According to the most up-to-date information (October 2004) we have been able to acquire, some 1,777 'GAM suspects' have been tried and sentenced, including fifty-two women. The vast majority are being held in Aceh but twenty-two prisoners have been transferred to the notorious Tanjung Gusta camp in Medan, North Sumatra. This is a very isolated prison camp.
Due to the intolerable conditions persisting in Aceh, regular monitoring of the conditions of the prisoners is virtually impossible. This includes the supply of food and medicinal support from outside, as well as the possibility for relatives to make regular visits. Many prisoners are suffering from the traumatic after-effects of injuries inflicted during torture sessions which would be greatly helped by regular counselling.
More than eighty per cent of the defendants were not assisted by defence lawyers. The trials were completed in record time and more often than not, the only evidence produced was the confession made by the accused which in most cases was extracted by means of torture [see also TAPOL Bulletin No 175, March/April 2004].
There are prisoners in virtually every prison in Aceh. However, since the beginning of 2004, a large number have been transferred to twenty-six prisons located in all parts of Java. Those transferred are all serving sentences of at least three years. [See also 'Horrendous abuses persist in Aceh'].
The transfer of prisoners to places thousands of kilometres from home is contrary to the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners which also stipulates that family members should be informed of the transfer. In the vast majority of cases, the prisoners were transferred without relatives being told anything in advance.
Since the beginning of 2004, altogether 487 prisoners have been transferred from Aceh to Java, in three waves. On 24 January, 143 prisoners were moved to prisons mostly in Central Java . Some ended up in the infamous prison island Nusa Kambangan. Then a batch of 170 people was moved on 17 May to prisons in East Java and on 26 August, another 174 prisoners were sent to prisons in West Java, bringing the total to 487.
Practically all the political prisoners were tried on charges of 'makar' (rebellion against the state) which places them in a very special category, subjecting them to particularly restrictive conditions. The transferred Acehnese prisoners are not allowed to mix with other prisoners and for the first four to six weeks they are kept in strict isolation. The authorities claim that this is necessary so that they can undergo special guidance [pembinaan] or indoctrination.
The October issue of the monthly magazine, Aceh Kita is devoted to reporting about the impact of martial law on women. [See also http://www.acehkita.com]. One article discusses the case of Salbiah who was tried in Calang district court, and is now serving an 18-year sentence in Lhok Nga Prison, where she is being held together with another fifty-one women.
Now only 18 years old, the unfortunate Salbiah has been sentenced to 18 years. She was branded by the authorities as Panglima Inong Balee [commander of the Women's Corps], a special unit within GAM consisting solely of women.
Her case is one of many grotesque travesties of justice in Aceh. Salbiah's real name is Elit Baleno. Her family is from Demak in Central Java; they moved to Aceh about ten years ago as transmigrants. Salbiah grew up in a village called Teunom in Aceh Jaya district. As she has always lived among her Javanese compatriots, never mixing with local people, she doesn't speak a word of Acehnese and insists that she has never been involved in politics.
Earlier this year, she found a job in the capital Banda Aceh, helping to run a canteen. In March she received a letter from the village asking her to return home because her mother had fallen ill. Unfortunately for Salbiah, on the way home, a special force consisting of soldiers and policemen were conducting sweeping operations. Sweeping is the term used for checking the identities of travellers at check-points.
One of the security officers said that he recognised the photo on her identity card: 'This is the Inong Balee commander of Gajah Keng, a subdistrict of Teunom', he claimed. As a result, Salbiah was taken to the local police station in Meulaboh, West Aceh.
From then on, things went from bad to worse. She was taken to several places for interrogation and finally arrived at Lamno in Aceh Jaya. She was forced to take off all her clothes and was beaten. Then, she was forced to sign the investigation report. The same procedure was repeated in Calang and later at the police station in Meulaboh, West Aceh.
At the end of March, she was brought to court and put on trial without the help of a defence lawyer. It was only then that her parents discovered that their daughter was being held in captivity. The prosecution demanded 20 years but the judge sentenced her to 18 years.
Salbiah cannot understand why she is in jail and serving such a heavy sentence. Such is the nature of things at present in Aceh that her only chance of release is by means of a presidential amnesty.
A report published by Human Rights Watch (HRW) in September this year contains a harrowing account of the use of torture against political prisoners by the police and military [see separate article]. The methods used include electric shocks, burning with cigarettes, beating, threats and intimidation.
HRW's findings have been confirmed by the Aceh Working Group (AWG) a coalition of civil society organisations based in Jakarta. They undertook investigations limited to conditions in three prisons in Aceh and Jawa. AWG spokesperson Henrie (PBHI) said at a press conference held early in October that they had recorded seventy-one cases of torture, before and after trial. The perpetrators were security officers (brimob/special police, army, marine and SGI/intelligence officers) as well as prison guards and members of militia units. The group drew attention to the unlawful methods used during interrogation. They discovered that many detainees had been forced to make confessions. In some cases, the interrogation report signed by the defendant had been written by an intelligence officer.AWG also mentioned 37 cases of extortion of the families of the detainees.
Diwan (45) (not his real name) was detained for two months at a police station in Aceh. He was accused of being a member of GAM and was arrested soon after martial law was declared.
His arrest was much more like a kidnap. For six days Diwan disappeared and the family became desperate in their search to find him. During his detention he saw many cases of torture, which in some cases had fatal results. Three prisoners disappeared while he was in captivity. The first, M. Noer Basyah was taken from his cell. He was told that he was being taken somewhere to be photographed but he never returned. The second one was Yuslizar who was also taken from his cell never to return. Syahril, the third man, also disappeared. It was subsequently claimed that he had died in cross fire.
Another prisoner, Ali Akbar, was heavily tortured but survived the first bout, after which he was hospitalised. But he later underwent another bout of torture and died as a result.
Diwan also endured heavy torture and was hit by a heavy piece of wood. His hearing is now badly impaired. According to a report in Aceh Kita, he said that he had been subjected to the ikan louhan method, when torturers assault the prisoner by hitting the face. Ikan Louhan is a bloated, ugly looking fish. This method is often used before the interrogation session begins, a kind of 'softening up process', when the face is badly hit. He witnesses many kinds of torture and considers himself lucky to have survived. His interrogation report was fabricated from beginning to end, written by an intelligence officer from the SGI, the special intelligence unit.
In our next issue, we will include further information about the situation of political prisoners and report on a campaign calling for the release of political prisoners now being held in a number of places apart from Aceh, including West Papua and Maluku.
On 7 September, the Indonesian House of Representatives passed a long-awaited Law on the Commission on Truth and Reconciliation ('the Truth Commission'). Human rights advocates are questioning whether this will be a significant step in the search for the truth about past rights abuses and whether it will satisfy victims' needs for justice, or whether it will simply reinforce impunity in the same way as Indonesia's ad hoc human rights court on East Timor.
It is important to acknowledge that despite the relative success of this year's parliamentary and presidential elections, Indonesia is undergoing a fragile transition from dictatorship to democracy. Improving respect for human rights and the rule of law is a long-term process in a country which has emerged from decades of authoritarianism. Allowance must be made for this in assessing the likely impact of transitional justice initiatives such as the Truth Commission.
Transitional justice has many interrelated dimensions, which vary according to the country context. It normally involves the search for the truth about past abuses; the punishment of perpetrators; legal and institutional reform; the provision of restitution and rehabilitation for victims; reconciliation; and a move towards increased official protection and promotion of human rights.
For progress to be made, comprehensive strategies are required. They must address the need for: increased political commitment to the rule of law; a reduction in the power and influence of the military and its greater accountability to civilian authorities; the adoption of appropriate new laws and regulations; the improvement of the capacity and technical competence of judges and legal personnel; the eradication of judicial corruption; and the strengthening of civil society organisations, especially those involved in legal and human rights advocacy.
The need for justice is particularly acute in Aceh and West Papua. However, it is unlikely that progress will be made if the government continues to use repressive policies which deny space for credible investigations and prosecutions into past abuses.
So far the Indonesian government appears to have adopted a piecemeal approach to transitional justice. This is evident from the experience of the aptly named ad hoc human rights courts for East Timor and Tanjung Priok. This approach does not augur well for the Truth Commission.
The flaws in the trials conducted by the ad hoc court for East Timor have been well documented. The main reasons for their failure were the lack of political will at the highest level and the influence of the military on the outcome of the proceedings. Particular problems arose in relation to the lack of independence and competence of prosecutors - epitomised by a prosecution request for the acquittal of one of the main suspects, Adam Damiri - and the inadequacy of protection for victims and witnesses.
Ominously for the Truth Commission one of the main features of the trials was the way in which the prosecution and defence comprehensively distorted the truth of what happened in East Timor. The violence was falsely portrayed as resulting from a struggle between two violent East Timorese factions in which the Indonesian security forces were essentially bystanders. Primary blame was directed at the UN.
The Tanjung Priok trials have also been criticised for continuing the cycle of impunity for perpetrators of rights violations [see separate item].
Unsurprisingly, during the initial debates on the Truth Commission Law, the military/police faction in parliament objected to provisions designed to reveal the truth about past violations. A spokesman for the faction suggested that 'the nation bury all hatchets in the past along with the truth, otherwise it would lead to a greater cycle of conflict' ['Military Objects to 'Truth'', Jakarta Post, 11 May 2004].
At best, the Truth Commission can be only one of several transitional justice mechanisms. If complementary mechanisms, such as the ad hoc human rights courts, are ineffective, the Truth Commission is unlikely to succeed. And impunity, instead of being ended, will be further strengthened.
The idea of a Truth Commission was initiated by the administration of former president Wahid. It was provided for in Law 26/2000 on Human Rights Courts, the law under which the ad hoc courts for East Timor and Tanjung Priok were established. Law 26/2000 states that the 'resolution of gross violations of human rights occurring prior to the coming into force of this Act may be undertaken by a Truth and Reconciliation Commission' (Art 47(1)). Many human rights advocates hope that one of the Commissions first tasks will be to expose the truth about one of the last century's most heinous crimes - the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of leftwing suspects following the rise to power of former president Suharto in 1965.
The Truth Commission was neglected by the Megawati administration until this year and it will now be a major test of the political commitment to transitional justice of the new administration under Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Unfortunately, Yudhoyono's administration will have to deal with a Truth Commission Law which is seriously flawed. It has been criticised in Indonesia because it 'leans too heavily towards the possibility of pardoning past perpetrators of human rights violations, and not enough toward rehabilitating and compensating their victims' ['Towards reconciliation', Jakarta Post editorial, 8 September].
The Law is concerned only with gross violations of human rights as defined by Law 26/2000, namely genocide and crimes against humanity. There are particular problems with the provisions which deal with the possibility of amnesties for the perpetrators of such crimes. Articles 28 and 29 provide that in circumstances where the perpetrator and victim have agreed to reconcile, the Commission must issue a recommendation to the President to grant an amnesty. If the perpetrator admits wrongdoing but the victims or their relatives refuse to forgive him or her, the Commission can recommend whether or not an amnesty should be granted. If the perpetrator denies wrongdoing, he or she foregoes the right to an amnesty and the case will be referred to an ad hoc human rights court for trial.
Arguably, the Law should not include any provision for amnesty since it is concerned with crimes of such gravity that the appropriate course is for suspects to be tried in a court of law. A recent report by the UN Secretary-General, The rule of law and transitional justice in conflict and post-conflict societies [S/2004/616], explicitly rejected any 'endorsement of amnesty for genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity'.
The provision for a perpetrator who denies wrongdoing to be referred to an ad hoc court could offend the principle that criminal laws (in this case Law 26/2000) should not be applied retroactively. However, the same problem was overcome by the ad hoc court for East Timor on the basis that the crimes in question (perpetrated in 1999) were crimes under international law at the time they were committed.
The new law's approach to reparation is anomalous and unlikely to provide adequate restorative justice to victims. Article 27 states that compensation or rehabilitation can be ordered only if the perpetrator is granted an amnesty. It is not clear what is supposed to happen in other cases although reparation can be ordered under Law 26/2000 for cases referred to an ad hoc human rights court. A government regulation on compensation, restitution and rehabilitation was issued under Law 26/2000 but was rushed through on the day before the start of the East Timor trials. It is not yet clear how it will work in practice. A similar regulation will presumably be required for the Truth Commission. Amongst other things, it will have to clarify the extent to which the government is obliged to provide reparation [for an analysis of the right to reparation as applied in Indonesia, see Justice for victims should include right to reparation, Jakarta Post, 8 September 2004].
The record of other Truth and Reconciliation Commissions around the world, particularly those in South America, is not altogether encouraging. Certainly, it is clear from past experience that there can be no reconciliation without justice. The Commission on Reception, Truth and Reconciliation in East Timor is regarded as a good initiative but there is concern that the Government of East Timor will be reluctant to implement what it considers to be politically sensitive recommendations when the Commission reports in the next few months. Furthermore, it does not and cannot address the paramount issue of securing accountability for serious crimes. This remains a major concern for Indonesia.
Things have changed markedly since the fall of the dictatorship in 1998. Nevertheless, old political forces are still trying hard to turn the clock back. Freedom of speech, for example, is one of the major political achievements since 1998, to much dismay in some circles. Four-star General Hendropriyono is a striking example of somebody who refuses to accept present-day political freedoms.
General Hendropriyono is more than just one of many middle-of the-road retired generals. During the Megawati presidency, he was head of BIN (Badan Intelijen Negara, National Security Agency), the main intelligence body in the country. Hendropriyono has such a close relationship with the Megawati family that he joined her party, PDI-P, in return for which he got the job as intelligence supremo.
In the past few months Hendropriyono has been particularly busy harassing two key advocates in Indonesian civil society, Indro Cahyono, former student leader and currently coordinator of SKEPHI, a leading environmental NGO, and Hendardi, the very vocal chair and spokesperson for many years of PBHI, one of the main human rights NGOs in Indonesia.
Both men have recently been taken to court by Hendropriyono for allegedly publicly defaming and destroying his good name. In both cases, Hendropriyono has demanded Rp. 10 billion compensation and an order for the two to publish half-page apologies in the press for five days running in the three main dailies: Kompas, Jakarta Post and Media Indonesia.
Hendropriyono has an abominable track record as an army officer and has been widely condemned by human rights groups, in Indonesia and abroad. He is widely known as the 'Butcher of Lampung', in connection with an incident going back 15 years when he ordered a raid on a Muslim community in Lampung, South Sumatra. As the local commander at the time, he organised hundreds of troops to launch a massive attack, backed by helicopters and Brimob, the Police special forces. Hundreds of villagers died in the massacre and so far there has been no attempt to make anyone accountable for the crime. Meanwhile, his military career had soared by leaps and bounds.
He is known as a good communicator, a typical example of key army officers in those days. Overconfident about their leading role in society and shamelessly meddling in major political matters. He became an important public figure when he was appointed commander of the Jakarta military command (1993-1994), one of the most prestigious posts in the army, and became part of the Jakarta jet-set. Hendropriyono is known to be very ambitious and he has never made a secret of his ambitions.
His military career was phenomenal and typical of other military high flyers of those days. He possesses a Kopassus (red berets) background combined with a variety of posts in the intelligence branch. In the eighties Kopassus officers were excessively represented at the top of the army.
In the late eighties he became the intelligence chief of Kopassus and later moved upwards to serve as one of the directors of BAIS, the military intelligence body. Hendropriyono belongs to the generation of top-ranking officers who combined military positions with business connections. He is a wealthy man and likes to put in an appearance when important happenings take place. He has also established a successful lawyers' office, winning many clients from the business community. Along with all these activities, he is also chair of the National Boxing Association and more recently of the Indonesian Judo Association.
In the heyday of the Megawati reign, key military figures like General Hari Sabarno and General Hendropriyono planned to boost co-ordination between the intelligence agencies and upgrade the position of BIN.
In the post-Suharto days, the police gained more power and took charge of intelligence work such as investigating the Bali bombing and the Marriott Hotel explosion, with good results, obtaining considerable assistance from police officers from the UK, the US, Japan and Australia.
This support for the police has provoked a lot of jealousy. BIN's place in the jungle of intelligence bodies has not been clarified. The ministry of defence has its own intelligence unit and the three wings of the armed forces, (the army, navy and air force) all have their own groups. Special units like Kopassus have kept their own intelligence units.
The police force was officially separated from the armed forces in 2002 and has an own intelligence unit. The entire discussion about the overhaul of intelligence agencies has become a burning issue because of the security threat placed in the global war against terrorism.
Hendropriyono has always regarded his job as BIN chief as being comparable to the national security advisor to the White House, ready with advice for the president at a moment's notice. Megawati upgraded the position of head of BIN to a ministerial post.
Hendropriyono also wanted BIN to retain its operational functions, so as to be able to arrest people and launch operations when needed. It all sounds like the old police state of Indonesia in the seventies.
But in the meantime, the political constellation has changed and Hendropriyono has lost his job after the installation of the new cabinet. The four star general is without a job but will likely find ways to remain an active player in the power politics of Jakarta.
Indro Cahyono's track record of criticising the military goes back to 1978 when he was put on trial because of his active opposition role in the student movement. His defence plea was called Dibawah Sepatu Lars (Under the Jackboot) which was acknowledged as being the most substantial writing on the disastrous role of the military since the birth of the Indonesian republic in 1945.
He has retained this staunch anti-military tradition and is often interviewed and quoted by the press. In a recent interview, he criticised the way Sidney Jones, the ICG (International Crisis Group) director, was kicked out of the country. It is a public secret that Hendropriyono, as chief of BIN, had much to do with her deportation. Indro was interviewed by Radio Netherlands in the summer and some time later, Hendropriyono struck back with his anti-defamation case. He also demanded the confiscation of Indro's house and land. In the meantime Indro and his family had to face many acts of intimidation. His house in Bekasi has frequently been visited by suspicious individuals, making strange demands, such as wanting interviews or saying they are going to measure the property. In late August, Indro received a letter from the District court in Bekasi with more information relating to the confiscation of his property. The case is still continuing.
Hendardi also criticised Hendropriyono in public and went so far as to demand that he should step down as intelligence chief because of the poor quality of his performance.
Several terrorist incidents have occurred lately in Jakarta, such as the bombing of the KPU (Elections Commission) office and the bomb in Kuningan, in front of the Australian embassy. In the last few years Jakarta has been hit by several serious terrorist attacks but so far BIN has failed to come forward with a single clue.
Hendardi has expressed the opinion that intelligence performance has been weak, unprofessional and like a lame duck. As in the old days, it still focuses on observing and monitoring groups in society like NGOs, student groups and people who concentrate on analysing the situation in Indonesia such as Sidney Jones.
Hendropriyono gave the same reaction to this as he has done with the case against Indro, demanding the confiscation of Hendardi's house in Cipete. The case continues.
On 20 October, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, popularly known as SBY, a retired army general, was inaugurated as Indonesia's 6th President. This followed the first direct presidential election in which more than 60 percent voted for SBY. In the first round in June, SBY achieved a majority but not enough to avoid a runoff. Throughout, opinion polls gave SBY a convincing edge over the incumbent, President Megawati. As the first directly-elected president, SBY can lay claim to being the first 'people's' president. His legitimacy is unprecedented as compared with his five predecessors.
Indonesia held three elections this year, all of which took place under relatively peaceful conditions. The third election on 20 September was by far the easiest; it was the second round of the presidential election with only two candidates. As a huge archipelago with 13,000 islands, organising an election in Indonesia is a logistical nightmare; it takes weeks before the result can be announced. But only hours after the polling booths closed and the counting started, it was clear that SBY was the winner.
SBY is the 6th President since the birth of the republic in 1945. While the majority of voters are optimistic about how he will handle complex economic, political and legal problems, his job will be a tough one. Indonesia remains economically 'the sick man of Asia' with abysmal economic growth, a widening gap between rich and poor and double-digit unemployment.
While small groups within civil society campaigned against his candidacy because of his background as a retired army officer, the majority saw SBY as new figure in Indonesian politics, taking heart from his track record in recent years when he was a cabinet minister.
In his public appearances, he came across more as a civilian than a military man. In three television debates with Megawati, he emerged as the superior politician with a clearer vision of how to handle state affairs.
SBY's career as a politician has been short and tumultuous, characterised by ups and downs. But in hindsight, it gave him the popularity needed to run successfully for president. His career as a politician started when President Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) appointed him minister for mining and energy in 2000 This was a crucial post as oil and natural gas are Indonesia's main sources of foreign exchange. Gus Dur's presidency was volatile. In just eighteen months, he carried out many cabinet reshuffles. Early on, SBY shifted from the mining ministry to become Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security (Menko Polkam).
At the height of the power struggle during Gus Dur's presidency, he refused to support a decree issued by Gus Dur on 28 May 2001 for firm measures to be taken to rescue the presidency. He was sacked by Gus Dur but a few weeks later, on 25 July, the MPR (People's Consultative Congress) found a pretext to impeach Gus Dur.
Megawati became president and SBY decided to run for vice-president against two heavyweights Hamzah Haz, chair of PPP, one of the main Muslim parties, and Akbar Tandjung chair of Golkar, the main secular party and former political vehicle of the dictator Suharto.
SBY failed because he lacked the backing of a political party. A few months later, in September 2001, the Partai Demokrat (PD), his political vehicle, was established. At about the same time, he received a call from President Megawati asking him to take back his job as Menko Polkam, which he accepted.
His time as Menko Polkam was fraught with problems. Regional conflicts were at their peak; along with widespread unrest in Aceh and West Papua there were local conflicts in Poso and Maluku. On top of this, he had to deal with several acts of terrorism, the bomb blast in Bali which killed around 200 people, and the bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta. It is more than likely that these problems strengthened his resolve to run for the highest job while Megawati failed to make serious efforts to tackle these problems.
SBY's ambition to run for the presidency soon became a public secret. Ads appeared in the press promoting SBY as the future president, souring his relationship with Megawati. By late 2003, Megawati was excluding him from key cabinet sessions. Their relationship fell to zero with communications being conducted by letters or through go-betweens. Megawati's husband, the influential Taufiq Kiemas, openly supported his wife and attacked SBY, calling him 'childish'. This arguably gave him more popularity as the 'underdog', always popular with voters. On 11 March 2004, he resigned from Megawati's cabinet and successful ran for the presidency.
Megawati's campaign in the second round was little short of disastrous. Her party, the PDI-P, Indonesia's second largest party entered a coalition with Golkar, Indonesia's largest party. The two parties held a big majority in parliament, and their leaders firmly believed that this coalition would attract the majority of votes. But as it turned out, the electorate voted massively for SBY. It was clear that party allegiance played little role; voters were voting for personalities. SBY's popularity soared as the public and the press sided with the 'victim'.
In many ways, SBY personifies the kind of army officer now at the top of TNI, the Indonesian army. In the early days, army recruits came from all levels of society, mostly from the grassroots but since the seventies, there has been a gradual shift. The prominent role of the army in society has affected the class origins of its new cadets.
Officers have gradually become a caste of their own. Through inter-marriage and as the sons of senior officers who follow in the footsteps of their fathers, many highly-placed officers are related to each other. SBY's father was in the army, serving as a first lieutenant while his father-in-law is the infamous Major-General Sarwo Edhie, who played a brutal role in the bloody killings of tens of thousands of innocent peasants in the red drive of 1965 in Central Java. His eldest son is a graduate from the Military Academy and holds the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. There are similar family ties between many high-ranking officers.
In many ways, SBY can be said to have an almost perfect military background. As a cadet, he was one of the brightest, graduating from the Academy in 1973 at the top of his class. He was soon sent abroad for further training and took three courses in the US (Airborne and Ranger Course, Fort Benning, 1976; Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Fort Benning, 1982-1983; Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, 1990-1991). He attended a Jyngle Warfare School in Panama in 1983. He also underwent training in Belgium and Germany (Anti-Tank Weapon Course, 1984) as well as in the UK while serving as commander of the UN Peace Keeping Force in Bosnia in 1995-1996.
Not much has been reported about his combat duties or his involvement in serious human rights violations. He served three times in East Timor which, in those days, was a necessary step in one's military career. He took part in Operasi Seroja in 1976-1977 (for the pacification of East Timor), in Operasi Tuntas in 1979-1980 (for the eradication of the resistance) and so-called mopping-up operations in East Timor in 1986-1988.
Also little has been said about his role when he was army chief-of-staff in the Jakarta military command in 1996 during the attack on the headquarters of the PDI, which was chaired by Megawati. Even less is known about his role during the violence that erupted in East Timor in 1998-1999, at which time he was chief-of-staff for territorial affairs (from 9 November 1998 till October 1999) which continued until international forces stepped in.
By the time of the downfall of Suharto in May 1998, SBY had joined the ranks of more liberal-minded officers, which included people like Agus Wirahadikusumah, Agus Widjoyo and Saurip Kadi.
SBY made many promises during the presidential election so people now expect deeds, not words. He promised to fight corruption and to pay special attention to the conflicts in Aceh and West Papua. He also warned of the 'spectre of terrorism' still haunting Indonesia. Regarding his human rights agenda, see our letter to the new government. SBY has promised to deal with burning issues regarding the armed forces. He speaks optimistically about the TNI adjusting itself in the process of democracy. There are three burning issues relating to internal reform within the TNI.
The first is the army's involvement in business, the second is the territorial command structure of the army and thirdly is the ending of impunity. Civilian presidents like Habibie, Gus Dur and Megawati were not able (or unwilling) to handle these issues. It remains to be seen whether a retired general has the necessary political will and influence to deal with them.
Aceh will be the best place to judge whether the incoming government is any different from previous regimes in Indonesia. One of the biggest challenges for the government of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is to resolve the conflict in Aceh peacefully. The way he approaches resolution of the almost 30-year conflict in Aceh will show whether he is indeed different.
Not long after the election, Yudhoyono met an audience of teachers. He promised to work to settle the conflict by peaceful means, saying: "Let us not just go ahead with the military operation" (AP, 22 September 2004). However, he has shown considerable ambiguity. He also stated that the country must remain united and that there could be no compromise on this, as well as stating that the conflict must be resolved in a fair manner, and as peacefully as possible.
His statement clearly aimed to show that the Aceh problem is on his priority list. On several other occasions, he promised to create a more peaceful Aceh. However, Aceh is a place where actions are infinitely more important than words. In the past many Indonesian politicians have made numerous promises about Aceh while rarely, if ever, doing anything to deliver on them. In Megawati's acceptance speech after her election to the presidency, the new leader wept in public and promised that no blood would fall in Aceh during her time in office. Contrary to these tears and promises, the situation in Aceh was allowed to deteriorate until she declared martial law in May 2003. Similar commitments for a better Aceh were also made by Abdurrahman Wahid. He made even grander promises, favouring a referendum for the Acehnese people. Needless to say this never happened.
So history has taught us caution in expecting new presidents to deliver on their promises. Will Yudhoyono's words of peace be put into practice in Aceh? This has to happen. There are no other viable long-term options available to Jakarta for resolving the conflict in Aceh. Equally, the Acehnese have little confidence that Jakarta can generate the political will necessary to bring about change and a positive, peaceful future in Aceh. This is an opportunity for the new president to demonstrate his presidential ability, by proving that he is more effective than any previous Indonesian leadership.
These realities of the conflict provide a number of opportunities for SBY, as Yudhoyono is also called, to start improving the situation in Aceh. His much-touted legitimacy, as the country's first directly-elected president, provides him with a powerful platform from which to pursue peace. Re-engaging in dialogue with GAM, and giving the non-combatant population space at the negotiating table will always be hugely unpopular for nationalistic Indonesia but SBY's unique position may mean he can take this path to a peaceful solution.
SBY needs to assess the current military approach immediately. The new government should evaluate the administration of martial law from May 2003 to May 2004, as well as monitoring and reviewing the events of the civil emergency administration to date. It is imperative that an impartial assessment is made of how these military operations were conducted and how many civilians have been killed. SBY should also immediately respond to rampaging human rights violations allegedly perpetrated by government troops, as described in the report by Indonesia's own human rights commission, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch [see separate article].
When the military operations got underway last year, the military stated that their operations were targeting five thousand members and supporters of GAM. Yet by the end of martial law, the military claimed to have killed over two thousand, arrested over two thousand and acknowledged the surrender of over one thousand (Jakarta Post, 24 May 2004). Even though this meets the military's own target figures civil emergency status was nonetheless imposed. Some five to ten people a day have been killed under this new civil status. The new Indonesian government needs to tell us who they are. Are they really all GAM, as claimed by the military?
The government should show its commitment to a new and productive approach in Aceh by allowing access to the province. Independent rights groups that are currently not allowed in can make credible assessments of the human rights situation in Aceh. Aceh should also be accessible to Indonesian and foreign journalists.
The other critical way to move forward in Aceh requires the new government to lay out their strategy for a viable, credible peace process. The president has stated, on many occasions that he would like to see the situation in Aceh improve. What is not clear yet is what actions he will be taking to bring about this improvement. On the contrary, he continues to cling to ambiguous commitments. It is imperative for him to show the Acehnese that he really does want to bring peace and positive change to Aceh. | 2019-04-20T00:44:41Z | http://www.tapol.org/bulletin/177-november-2004 |
Bootstrap is truly a completely free front-end framework which provides for a lot quicker and also hassle-free web design practice.
Through the help of Bootstrap, you can also make 100 percent responsive online resources using HTML and CSS based templates for typography, print styles, forms, buttons, tables, and many more.
Retina Ready WordPress themes are templates that will be able to adapt to Retina screens and always appear clear and vibrant.
Retina displays are used on Apple products. So in case a big number of your website's traffic comes from Mac and iPhone users (which is highly probable) it's better for you to go with a retina-ready theme and provide your website visitors with the best user experience.
This is a capability of the website to instantly adapt to any display dimension and resolution.
With the growing popularity of mobile devices, how many individuals who log on to the internet sites from smartphones has expanded significantly. This kind of feature lets you adjust websites to cellular devices and different screen extensions, ultimately supplying cellphone users with enhanced possibilities.
What is a buyout purchase license for Kids Watches Shopify theme?
If you purchase the product at a 'Buyout price' it guarantees that you are the last person to buy this template from us. It means that this Kids Watches Shopify theme may have been sold before a couple of times (see 'Downloads' number in item's properties) but only you and people who bought the template before you will own it. After this kind of purchase the template is being permanently removed from our sales directory and is never available to other customers again. The buyout purchase license allows you to develop the unlimited number of projects based on this template, but the template should be customized differently for every project.
Are your Fashion Stylist Shopify ecommerce templatescompatible with any CMS?
Can I resell the Shopify design themes for Bracelet Watch I bought the extended license for?
No, you cannot resell the Shopify design themes for Bracelet Watch as is. You can only sell them as the integral part of your new product.
Can I get the extended license for some other pricing than the half of the initial Women Watches Shopify ecommerce theme price?
No. The price for purchasing license for a single Women Watches Shopify ecommerce theme is the half of the template unique price.
What is a unique purchase license for Shopify design for Street Fashion?
If you purchase the product at a 'Unique price' it guarantees that you are the first and the last person to buy this Shopify design for Street Fashion from us. It means that this template has not been sold before and you become an owner of a unique design. After this kind of purchase the template is being permanently removed from our sales directory and is never available to other customers again. The unique purchase license allows you to develop the unlimited number of projects based on this template, but the template should be customized differently for every project.
Can I resell the customized Shopify design theme for Pregnancy Fashion?
No, you cannot resell the customized Shopify design theme for Pregnancy Fashion as a template but you may sell it as a project to your client (see paragraph 1 ONE TIME USAGE LICENSE for more details).
Is it possible that Template Monster will contact my client which website I made from Template Monster's website Men Watches Shopify design?
Yes, our legal department checks licenses regularly. In case we won't find designer's contact information on the site which was made from the Men Watches Shopify design of ours we will contact the owner of the site directly.
I would like to make payment for Shopify design for Boys Fashion by company check. Is that possible?
Please use Skrill payment option. They accept payments by check.You can place an order for Shopify design for Boys Fashion on the site under the name of the company and choose Skrill merchant system for making payment from the company's account. To initiate bank transfer, please create an account here - www.skrill.com, add the number of your bank account and verify it. After that, you can place an order on our website and choose Skrill on checkout page. When the payment is made, the product will be sent to your e-mail along with the invoice under the name of your company.
Will TemplateMonster help me to edit my Fashion & Beauty Shopify design theme?
TemplateMonster offers you a variety of sources to help you with your Fashion & Beauty Shopify design theme. Use our comprehensive Online Help Center to get the basic knowledge about your Fashion & Beauty Shopify design theme. Our Knowledgebase contains customers questions and most frequent problems. Anyway, you can always use TemplateMonster 24/7 phone support, try our Ticket System or Live Support Chat to get qualified assistance from our support representatives.
Can I customize the Fashion Trends Shopify template if that's required by application settings?
Yes, you can customize the Fashion Trends Shopify template code, graphics, fonts to any extent needed.
I would like to purchase Accessories Retail Shopify theme, but it is not available on the site anymore.
The Accessories Retail Shopify theme has been sold out for exclusive price or discontinued.As technology inevitably develops, TemplateMonster may discontinue the production of certain products. It can be no longer available for sale because of being outdated.
Is it reasonable to make unique purchase of Shopify ecommerce theme for Ladies Fashion that was already purchased before?
Yes, it's reasonable to make a unique purchase of Shopify ecommerce theme for Ladies Fashion . Because there is very small chance that you will find the same design on the net. There are more than 3,000,000,000 webpages online now according to statistics on www.google.com.
Can I use graphics from Shopify design for Men Watches I purchased for use in printing?
Yes, it's not prohibited to use the Shopify design for Men Watches graphics for printed material, but the resolution of the templates graphics ( except for logo templates) is not enough for printing.
Can I customize the Fashion & Beauty Blog Shopify ecommerce theme?
Yes, you can customize the Fashion & Beauty Blog Shopify ecommerce theme to any extent needed. You cannot use a header of the template for one project though, and images from the template for the other project.
How can I modify Shopify ecommerce theme for Accessories Store to suit my particular website?
Please visit our Online Help Center to obtain detailed instructions on editing Shopify ecommerce theme for Accessories Store.
Are there any limitations on selling the Shopify ecommerce template for Fashion Stylist as the integral part of my new product?
Do you provide any scripts with your Shopify ecommerce themes for Pocket Watch or could you do some custom programming?
Our templates do not include any additional scripts. Newsletter subscriptions, search fields, forums, image galleries (in HTML versions of Flash products) are inactive. Basic scripts can be easily added to a Accessories Retail Shopify theme at www.TemplateTuning.com If you are not sure that the element you're interested in is active please contact our Support Chat for clarification.
I like the image from the Fashion Shopify ecommerce theme and would like to use it for my advertising campaign, can you send me this image in a higher resolution?
No, we can't provide image in higher size or resolution rather than it is on the Fashion Shopify ecommerce theme. We recommend looking for professional images on online photo resources.
Is there any return policy for Shopify designs for Ladies Watches?
Requests for a refund are accepted at www.template-help.com/tickets within the period of 2 weeks after the order of Shopify ecommerce theme for Childrens Fashion is placed. You should accompany this request with detailed and grounded reasons why you apply for a refund. Please make sure your request does not contradict the terms and conditions specified in the policy. A refund is issued to you upon receipt of a Waiver of Copyright signed by you.
Can I get the Shopify theme for Fashion Looks in higher resolution to use for printing?
No, we design Shopify ecommerce themes for Men Watches optimized for web resolution only.
What is a one time usage license for a Accessories Shopify design theme?
When you buy the Accessories Shopify design theme at usual price you automatically get the one time usage license. It enables you to use each individual product on a single website only, belonging to either you or your client. You have to purchase the same template again if you plan to use the same design in connection with another or other projects. When passing files to your client please delete the template files from your computer.
Is it possible to reactivate my download link for Shopify ecommerce theme for Quartz Watches if it was deactivated after 3 days?
Yes. Please re-activate the download link for Shopify ecommerce theme for Quartz Watches within your account under the Downloads tab or contact our billing department directly regarding that.
What is Extended License for Fashion Designer Shopify ecommerce template?
Will TemplateMonster help me to install my Shopify design for Accessories Shop?
Some of our products like osCommerce templates, Zen Cart templates, etc. require installation to operate. Installation services are not included in the package price. TemplateMonster though offers you a variety of sources to help you with installation of your Shopify design for Accessories Shop including installation instructions, some articles with our Online Help Center. Our Knowledgebase contains customers questions and most frequent problems. Anyway, you can always refer to our partners from TemplateTuning.com to install your Shopify design for Accessories Shop for you for a small fee.
Make sure that these charges for Fashion & Beauty Blog Shopify ecommerce theme have different order IDs. If it is so, contact our billing department.
What is the difference between unique and non-unique Shopify theme for Fashion Lookbook purchase?
Non-unique purchase:Non-exclusive purchase means that other people can buy the Shopify theme for Fashion Lookbook you have chosen some time later. Unique purchase:Exclusive purchase guarantees that you are the last person to buy this template. After an exclusive purchase occurs the template is being permanently removed from the sales directory and will never be available to other customers again. Only you and people who bought the template before you will own it.
What will I see instead of the images after installation of the Shopify theme for Streetwear Fashion?
After Shopify theme for Streetwear Fashion installation you will see blurred images included for demo purposes only.
Can I contact the Shopify ecommerce theme for Fashion & Beauty News author?
Yes. You can contact this Shopify ecommerce theme for Fashion & Beauty News author/author's team directly using your personal account under the Support tab.
Will the Shopify template for Women Watches be deleted from TemplateMonster database?
No, the Shopify template for Women Watches will not be deleted from TemplateMonster database.
In what cases I don't need the extended license for Shopify themes for Fashion Shop?
Can I put a line at the bottom ( or any other spot) of the customized Shopify template for Petite Fashion "Website design by Company name"?
No, you cannot place a line at the bottom ( or any other spot) of the customized Shopify template for Petite Fashion saying "Website design by Company name". Nevertheless, you can place "Customized by Company name".
Will you help me to customize my Shopify ecommerce theme for Fashion Designer?
We do not provide any help or instructions on Shopify ecommerce theme for Fashion Designer customization except for www.template-help.com help center. If you are not sure you can customize the template yourself we recommend to hire a design studio to customize the template for you.
Can I resell the Shopify ecommerce template for Baby Fashion as is?
No, you cannot resell the Shopify ecommerce template for Baby Fashion as is.
Is it possible to use your Shopify themes for Pregnancy Fashion to develop websites for my customers?
Yes. It is perfect for designers who want to offer their customers a high-quality design and also save time and money. Keep in mind that when you purchase the Fashion Stylist Shopify theme with ordinary or exclusive license you're entitled to create only one project (one domain name).
I have customized the Shopify ecommerce template for Fashion and would like to protect my content by copyright, can I place Copyright, Mycompanyname.com?
After Shopify ecommerce template for Fashion purchase you can put your copyright to the template. But you cannot place a line at the bottom (or any other spot) of the customized project saying "Website design by Company name". Nevertheless, you can place "Customized by Company name".
What is Developers License for Shopify design for Accessories Shop?
If you purchase a Developer's license, you are granted a non-exclusive permission to use the Shopify design for Accessories Shop on up to 5 domains for projects belonging to either you or your client.
Are there any restrictions for using imagery, cliparts and fonts from the Accessories Shopify design theme I purchased?
All imagery, clipart and fonts used in Accessories Shopify design theme are royalty-free, if not stated otherwise on the product page, and are the integral part of our products. One Time Usage License and Developers License give you the right to use images, clipart and fonts only as a part of the website you build using your template. You can use imagery, clipart and fonts to develop one project only. Any kind of separate usage or distribution is strictly prohibited.
What is the price for acquiring the extended license for Beauty Shopify ecommerce theme?
There is no set price for acquiring the extended license. The price is based on the Beauty Shopify ecommerce theme's unique price for those templates you would like to use for the integration. The price for purchasing license for a single template is half of the template unique price.
I ordered a Shopify ecommerce theme for Teen Fashion but haven't received the download information.
In case of not receiving the download information of a Shopify ecommerce theme for Teen Fashion, please contact our Billing Department via support chat by phone or e-mail.
What do I receive when I order a Shopify ecommerce theme for Watches from TemplateMonster.com?
After you complete the payment via our secure form you will receive the instructions for downloading the Shopify ecommerce theme for Watches . The source files in the download package can vary based on the type of the product you have purchased.If you need unzipping software to open the .zip archive, Windows users may visit www.WinZip.com, Mac users may visit www.StuffIt.com.
Can I put low resolution thumbnails of Shopify templates for Mechanical Watches on my website for my clients to choose designs?
Can I apply a discount code to a discounted Watches Store Shopify ecommerce theme or combine several discount codes together to get better price?
Are there any discounts if I'm buying over 10, 20, 30 or more Watches Store Shopify ecommerce theme?
Please email to [email protected] with your inquiries about Shopify design themes for World Fashion.
How many applications, programs etc can I use to integrate with the Shopify ecommerce templates for Fashion Journalist under one extended license?
The extended license gives you the right to use the purchased Shopify ecommerce templates for Fashion Journalist for the integration with one software/freeware/application/CMS/sitebuilder only. In case you would like to use the template with the other application, the other license is to be acquired.
What am I allowed and not allowed to do with the Shopify design themes for Fashion Looks ?
You may: Build a website using the Shopify design for Accessories Shop in any way you like.You may not:Resell or redistribute templates (like we do).Claim intellectual or exclusive ownership to any of our products, modified or unmodified. All products are property of content providing companies and individuals.Make more than one project using the same template (you have to purchase the same template once more in order to make another project with the same design).
Is it possible to buy the particular image from the Shopify template for Bracelet Watch?
No. According to our Terms and Conditions we never sell the images separately from Shopify ecommerce templates for Men Fashion (as well as the templates separately from the images).
Can I put a line at the bottom (or any other spot) of my new product "Website development by Company name" after purchasing Shopify template for Fashion Shop?
Yes, you can place a note at the bottom (or any other spot) of my product "Website development by Company name". Nevertheless, you cannot place "Website design by Company name" while using one of Shopify template for Fashion Shop.
Can I resell Shopify themes for Fashion & Beauty Store I bought the developers license for?
You cannot resell the customized Shopify theme for Trendy Fashion as a template, but you may sell it as a project to your client.
Can I integrate the Shopify ecommerce theme for Brand Watches with third-party software or applications for development of my new products?
No, you cannot get the developers license for development of Shopify ecommerce theme for Brand Watches or other products.
What are the advantages of purchasing a Shopify template for Fashion Shop?
The major advantage of purchasing a Shopify template for Fashion Shop is price: You get a high quality design for just $20-$70. You don't have to hire a web designer or web design studio. Second advantage is time frame: It usually takes 5-15 days for a good designer to produce a web page of such quality.
Mighty interesting template, quite satisfied with the purchase. | 2019-04-18T16:46:38Z | https://www.templatemonster.com/shopify-themes/time-laconic-clock-store-shopify-theme-73684.html |
Patients who receive highly variable doses of warfarin may be at risk for poor anticoagulation control and adverse events. However, we lack a system to identify patients with the highest dose variability. Our objectives were to develop a scoring system to identify patients with high dose variability, and to validate this new measure by demonstrating that patients so identified have poor anticoagulation control and higher rates of adverse events (criterion validity).
We used a database of over 4, 000 patients who received oral anticoagulation in community practice between 2000-2002. We reviewed the charts of 168 patients with large warfarin dose variation and agreed on 18 risk factor definitions for high dose variability. We identified 109 patients with the highest dose variability (cases), as measured by coefficient of variation (CoV, SD/mean). We matched each case to two controls with low dose variability. Then, we examined all 327 charts, blinded to case/control status, to identify the presence or absence of the 18 risk factors for dose variability. We performed a multivariable analysis to identify independent predictors of high CoV. We also compared anticoagulation control, as measured by percent time in therapeutic range (TTR), and rates of adverse events between groups.
CoV corresponded with other measures of anticoagulation control. TTR was 53% among cases and 79% among controls (p < 0.001). CoV also predicted adverse events. Six cases experienced a major hemorrhage versus 1 control (p < 0.001) and 3 cases had a thromboembolic event versus 0 control patients (p = 0.04). Independent predictors of high dose variability included hospitalization (OR = 21.3), decreased oral intake (OR = 12.2), use of systemic steroids (OR = 6.1), acetaminophen (OR = 4.0) and antibiotics (OR = 2.7; p < 0.05 for all).
CoV can be used to identify patients at risk for poor anticoagulation control and adverse events. This new measure has the potential to identify patients at high risk before they suffer adverse events.
Warfarin is the standard anticoagulation treatment for atrial fibrillation, venous thromboembolism (VTE), and mechanical heart valves [1–4]. Close monitoring of the International Normalized Ratio (INR) is required due to the drug's very narrow therapeutic window. Many factors can affect INR levels [1, 5, 6]. Values must be kept within range to reduce the risk of hemorrhage [7, 8] and the risk of developing thromboembolism . Previous studies have shown that patients experiencing better anticoagulation control have fewer such adverse events [10–14].
Assessment of adequate anticoagulation control has traditionally been determined by examining INR values themselves, through summary statistics such as percent time in therapeutic range (TTR) or INR variability [16, 17]. Several studies have explored the patient-level predictors of control as measured by TTR [10, 18, 19]. However, there is reason to believe that variability in warfarin doses could also serve to identify patients who are experiencing poorly controlled anticoagulation, thus placing them at risk for adverse events.
We therefore used a large, nationally representative database of community-based oral anticoagulation care to address three related questions. First, we sought to develop a measure of warfarin dose variability that could be used to describe a population and identify patients with highly variable doses over time. Second, we sought to internally validate this new dose variability score as a measure of anticoagulation control using criterion validity. That is, we sought to demonstrate that patients identified as having high dose variability have worse anticoagulation control as measured by TTR and are at higher risk for adverse events than patients with less variability. Finally, through chart review, we sought to identify patient-level predictors of high dose variability. Our overarching goal was to develop a score that could be used to identify patients at high risk for complications.
The Anticoagulation Consortium to Improve Outcomes Nationally (ACTION) study was a large prospective cohort study designed to assess the management of warfarin in community practice within the US [19–21]. A total of 101 participating sites in 31 states recruited 6761 patients receiving long-term oral anticoagulation. All sites used a freely-available software package called CoumaCare for tasks such as patient tracking and recording clinical data. In the database, clinicians updated patient's weekly warfarin dose at each visit. Because the present study relied upon chart reviews, we limited this study to the 47 sites of care that recorded complete notes for at least 90% of INR values. Excluded sites recorded notes only when the INR was not therapeutic. Therefore, this study was limited to 4489 patients.
Enrollment in ACTION occurred between April 2000 and February 2002. Patients were eligible to participate if they were 18 years or older and able to provide informed consent. All data were collected and their completeness rigorously ensured by McKesson HBOC, an independent data management organization. Missing data fields and data entry errors were resolved directly with the sites by the data coordinating center on a weekly basis before the data were transmitted to study investigators. The study protocol was approved by the Western Institutional Review Board of Olympia, WA, and by local review boards where they existed.
Patients were eligible for inclusion in the present study if they had an INR target range of 2-3. Indications for anticoagulation were grouped as follows: atrial fibrillation, venous thromboembolism, valvular heart disease/prosthetic heart valve, and all others. The database included demographics (age, gender, and race) and several comorbid conditions (coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, hypertension, diabetes) as recorded by the patients' clinicians. Weekly dose of warfarin was recorded for all patients in the database, and was updated by clinicians at each visit. We used these weekly doses to assess the stability of warfarin dose over time for each patient, as will be explained below.
We performed two separate chart reviews, in our efforts to create a score that describes patients with high warfarin dose variability. The first review was implicit; it was performed by chart reviewers without relying upon pre-established definitions. Three physician examiners (LM, ME, and AJR) independently reviewed the charts of 168 patients who had a 2-fold or greater difference between the lowest and highest weekly warfarin dose (e.g. 14 mg/week versus 28 mg/week). The concept behind the review was to remain open to the possibilities of factors that may be present in the database rather than rely solely upon preconceived ideas. Next, the reviewers met and compiled a list of 18 variables believed to have played the greatest role in the dose variability. They reached a consensus regarding a standard definition for each variable in the chart review instrument (Table 1).
Any mention of "greens", specific foods high in vitamin K, and dietary content of vitamin K. DOES NOT INCLUDE statements that the vitamin K content of the diet is unchanged.
Any mention of multivitamins, Ensure, Boost, Slimfast, etc. as they relate to vitamin K intake. DOES NOT INCLUDE simply listing a multivitamin in the medication list.
Any mention of problems with adherence to pill-taking, including unauthorized self-adjustment of doses and memory issues. DOES NOT INCLUDE dose confusion after a hospital stay and DOES NOT INCLUDE aspects of adherence (diet, lab follow up, etc.) beyond pill-taking.
Any mention of fluid overload, fluid retention, edema, pulmonary edema. Any titration of lasix doses, trending of weight regarding fluid status, use of metolazone (i.e. zaroxolyn), or any obvious CHF regimen. Any hospital admissions for fluid overload.
Any mention of amiodarone or its brand names "pacerone" or "cordarone."
Any mention of acetaminophen, products containing acetaminophen. Includes the abbreviation "APAP."
Any mention at all, including mention in the medication list.
Any mention of a procedure in conjunction with a dose reduction or a "hold" of warfarin - even if the procedure is ultimately cancelled.
Any mention of cancer, with or without specific therapies such as chemotherapy, radiation, etc. DOES NOT INCLUDE a mere history of cancer.
Any recorded missed appointments - unless due to hospitalization (which is a different variable).
Any mention. DOES NOT INCLUDE joint injections, skin creams, etc.
Any mention - including but not limited to saw palmetto, St. John's Wort, Echinacea, Coenzyme Q10, etc.
For all items, one mention is sufficient to mark the item "yes." Mark a "1" if present, or a "0" if absent.
We found that the criterion used to identify patients with high dose variability (i.e. twofold or greater dose range) did not capture the dose variability we had in mind. Specifically, the method identified a relatively large proportion of patients with one or two outlier doses but otherwise stable dosing. Not all of the patients identified by this score seemed to be experiencing the highly variable anticoagulation control that we were trying to capture. We therefore decided to use the coefficient of variation (CoV) to characterize warfarin dose variability. CoV is defined as the standard deviation of the weekly warfarin dose divided by the mean weekly warfarin dose.
We labeled all patients with CoV greater than 0.2 as patients with high dose variation ("cases"). There were 123 such patients, representing 2.7% of the dataset. Patients with CoV below 0.05 (1019 patients, representing 23% of the dataset) were eligible to be controls. Each case was matched to 2 controls within the same site of care. Charts were excluded if: 1) there were no controls available to match the case patients or 2) the patient was new to warfarin (less than 1 month experience as of study entry). A total of 14 cases and 12 potential controls were removed for these reasons, leaving 109 cases and 218 controls.
The reviewers then independently reviewed charts to identify the 18 variables defined in the chart review instrument. This second review was explicit in that it relied upon the variable definitions described in the instrument. During this second chart review, reviewers were blinded to whether the patient was a case or a control patient. If a factor was present at any time, we recorded this indicator as "1" (present) versus "0" (not present). Each reviewer abstracted one-third of the charts. Fifty of the charts were reviewed by all three reviewers to assess inter-rater agreement.
Ischemic stroke/systemic arterial embolism, VTE and major hemorrhage were the adverse outcomes of interest. We defined major hemorrhage according to the definition of the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis: a fatal event, an event requiring hospitalization with transfusion of at least two units of packed red blood cells, or bleeding involving a critical anatomical site such as the cranium or the retroperitoneum . All patient progress notes were individually reviewed for evidence of adverse events; events were validated directly with the sites by McKesson.
Kappa (κ) statistics were computed to assess inter-rater reliability for the second chart review. To assess significance of effects when comparing categorical variables with the matched design, we used Monte Carlo permutation methods with 10, 000 iterations to compute empirical p-values. Case-control status within each "cluster" of matched observations was randomly permuted 10, 000 times, with a test statistic (e.g., Pearson's chi-square statistic) calculated upon each iteration. This was used as a reference distribution, under the null hypothesis of no association with case status, to compute the empirical p-value. Groups were compared on continuous variables using a generalized linear model to account for correlation between each case and its matched controls. We used conditional logistic regression models to determine the factors that independently predict case status while controlling for patient level covariates (i.e. age, gender, race, co-morbid conditions). Analyses were performed using SAS, version 9.1 (SAS Corporation) and R, version 2.8 (R Foundation).
There were 109 cases with high dose variability and 218 site-matched controls with low dose variability (Table 2). The mean coefficient of variation (CoV) of the cases was 0.24 and the mean for the controls was 0.02 (p < 0.001). The two groups were similar in demographics: most participants were white (89% of cases and 94% of controls) and many were 75 years of age or older (50% of cases and 42% of controls). Forty-five percent of cases were female, compared to 32% of controls (p = 0.02). Atrial fibrillation was the indication for anticoagulation in 67% and 58% of the cases and controls, respectively. Among the 69 patients with "other" indications for anticoagulation, 27 were anticoagulated for stroke, transient ischemic attack, or cerebrovascular disease; 22 were anticoagulated for congestive heart failure; 13 were anticoagulated for coronary artery disease; 4 were anticoagulated for hypercoagulability; and 3 were anticoagulated for other reasons. Co-morbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, and coronary artery disease were similar between groups.
Baseline patient characteristics compared between cases (n = 109) and controls (n = 218).
CoV corresponded well with other measures of anticoagulation control and risk for adverse events. The 109 case patients had a mean TTR of 53%, compared to 79% for the 218 control patients (p < 0.001). Cases had a higher rate of adverse events. Six case patients experienced major hemorrhage, compared to only 1 control patient (p < 0.001). Three case patients had thromboembolic events (2 embolic strokes and 1 pulmonary embolism), compared to 0 control patients (p = 0.04).
We assessed predictors of dose variability using chart review. The 3 reviewers achieved a very good rate of inter-rater reliability (three-way κ = 0.76). In the unadjusted analysis (Table 3), most of the risk factors we examined were associated with case status. Particularly strong associations were seen with amiodarone (12 cases vs. no controls, p < 0.001) and a diagnosis of cancer (8 cases vs. 1 control, p < 0.001). When present, these variables were highly indicative of high CoV.
Proportion of cases and controls with risk factors for extreme dose variability (unadjusted results).
All variables were obtained by chart review and all are yes/no variables. Boldface variables are significant at the 0.05 level.
After adjustment for covariates (Table 4), variables independently associated with large dose variation included hospital/nursing home stay (OR = 21.3), decreased oral intake (OR = 12.2), use of systemic steroids (OR = 6.1), use of acetaminophen (OR = 4.0), and use of antibiotics (OR = 2.7). Effect size of amiodarone and cancer could not be calculated because there were too few controls with these variables. The presence of these variables precluded model convergence; therefore, these variables were omitted from the model.
Multivariate analysis of risk factors for extreme warfarin variability.
Variables are adjusted for all other variables in the table, as well as for age, gender, race, and comorbid conditions (not shown).
* These variables were not estimable in the multivariate model, because too few control patients had these characteristics. Therefore, these variables were omitted from the model.
In this study, we have describe a new measure to identify patients at risk for adverse outcomes of anticoagulation care, have shown that the measure is correlated with INR control and adverse events, and have examined patient-level predictors of being in this high-risk group. The characteristics independently predictive of large weekly variation in warfarin dose were hospitalization/nursing home stay, decreased oral intake, use of systemic steroids, acetaminophen, and antibiotics. In addition, the use of amiodarone and a diagnosis of cancer were almost certainly risk factors for high CoV, though we could not estimate an effect size.
This study suggests that CoV could be an important tool for identifying patients at high risk for poorly controlled anticoagulation therapy and adverse events. Patients identified as high-risk might be referred for case management, adherence training, more intensive follow-up, or indeed reconsideration of whether this particular patient is a good candidate for warfarin. The utility of such an approach for preventing adverse events could be examined in a prospective study. Anticoagulation control (as measured by TTR) could also be used to prospectively identify patients at high risk for adverse events. Our study did not directly compare the ability of these two measures (TTR vs. dose CoV) to identify patients at highest risk for adverse events; this would also be a suitable topic for future study. We suspect that, in many care settings, there is no effort to prospectively identify patients at high risk of adverse events. If the utility of this approach can be established, it may be more widely employed.
An ideal next step to further this research would be to use CoV to identify patients at high risk for poor outcomes in the context of a quasi-experimental design. At some sites of care, patients with extremely high CoV might be referred for case management, adherence training, more intensive follow-up, or indeed reconsideration of whether this particular patient is a good candidate for warfarin. At other sites of care, CoV would be noted, but not acted upon. The outcomes for patients with high CoV (TTR and hopefully clinical outcomes) would be compared, and the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the intervention assessed.
Hospitalization had the strongest association with unstable anticoagulation control of any variable in our multivariate analysis. Being hospitalized can contribute to variable dosing for several reasons. When patients are hospitalized, warfarin therapy is often interrupted, and patients may receive parenteral anticoagulation or no anticoagulation at all. Hospitalization also involves large changes in the patient's lifestyle and diet. Returning home, the patient attempts to re-establish usual habits while often restarting warfarin therapy at the previous dose. Unsurprisingly, this combination of circumstances produces out-of-range INR values. Hospitalization is also a general marker of illness severity, which can predict poorer anticoagulation control both before and after hospitalization. Previous studies have also examined the event of a hospitalization as a time-dependent inducer of variable anticoagulation control .
Several studies have shown an association with warfarin and acetaminophen [24, 25]. Hylek et al. described acetaminophen as an underrecognized source of INR elevation. Her study which included a case-control prospective design assessed patients with high INR values (> 6.0). Acetaminophen was noted as a risk factor that was documented only as case studies in the literature previously. One study examined the prevalence of adverse warfarin-drug combinations in a post-mortem toxicology database. Acetaminophen accounted for more than half of the warfarin drug interactions. In that study, there were more deaths with the combination of acetaminophen and warfarin than with either drug alone . Despite these data, discordant findings showing lack of an association with acetaminophen and warfarin potentiation have been reported [28–30]. The present study reinforces the theory that the use of acetaminophen can contribute to poor anticoagulation control.
Several other studies have described factors associated with anticoagulation control [31–33]. One study, similar to ours, examined factors that contribute to unstable control and found no association with dietary habits or the presence of comorbid conditions. Instead, they found greater instability among patients working full-time, among those with inadequate understanding of oral anticoagulation therapy, and among those with CYP2c9*3 variants . Other studies have examined factors associated with extremely stable control. Witt et al. [32, 33] performed 2 studies looking at patients that spent 100% of the time in therapeutic range. Both studies found that older age, lack of co-morbidities and a standard INR target range (i.e. 2-3) were associated with stable control.
There are several strengths to our study. We used a large, nationally representative database of patients receiving warfarin in community-based practice. Our three chart reviewers achieved a very good rate of inter-rater reliability. Finally, this database (ACTION) contains weekly warfarin doses for all patients. These data are usually not available, since warfarin is often prescribed "use as directed" and so dose changes cannot be reliably abstracted. This is a unique feature of this database, without which we could not have performed this study.
Despite this our study has some limitations. First, this study did not address the question of whether high dose variability is a cause or a consequence of poor anticoagulation control, although we would suspect that it is predominantly a consequence of it. Nevertheless, this study does demonstrate that dose variability is both measurable and related to important clinical outcomes, regardless of its causal relationship with anticoagulation control. As such, it might be used to identify patients at elevated risk for adverse events. Second, this study was limited to risk factors for high CoV that were clearly documented in the clinical notes; however, some risk factors may have been present, but poorly recognized or poorly documented. Our results with regard to risk factors for high CoV should be regarded as exploratory, particularly where a risk factor was shown not to predict high CoV, because an absence of documentation is not conclusive proof that something did not occur. Third, we emphasize that we have only subjected our new scoring system to internal validation, i.e. within the same dataset. A higher level of validation would be attained by demonstrating its utility in a separate dataset. Fourth, the confidence intervals identified in our multivariable analysis of patient-level risk factors for high dose variability are quite large. Therefore, the true magnitude of these effects is not precisely known. A final limitation is that this study evaluates patients with a target INR range of 2-3 and at least 1 month of experience with warfarin; our study results may not apply to patients who are new to warfarin or those with other target ranges.
In this study, we have derived and internally validated a new measure to identify patients at high risk for poor anticoagulation control in clinical practice, namely the coefficient of variation of weekly warfarin doses. This measure identifies patients at high risk for poor anticoagulation control and adverse events. Future studies should explore the use of this measure to identify patients for intervention before they have experienced an adverse event.
LM and ME were third year internal medicine residents at Boston Medical Center at the time this study was performed. The results of this study were presented at the Society of General Internal Medicine's 33rd annual conference in Minneapolis, MN on April 30, 2010.
AJR is supported by a career development award (CDA-2-08-017) from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Health Services Research and Development Service. The authors thank Elaine Hylek for generously providing access to the database.
The opinions expressed in this manuscript do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Data collection for this study was sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb. The sponsor was not involved in the study design, study management, data collection, analysis, writing, revision, or decision to submit for publication. The authors do not have any other conflicts of interest to report.
LM helped conceive the study idea, performed chart reviews, and drafted the manuscript. ME helped conceive the study idea and performed chart reviews. AO performed statistical analyses and provided statistical supervision. LEH helped collect the data, performed statistical analyses, and managed the data. AJR helped conceive the study idea, performed chart reviews, performed statistical analyses, and provided study supervision. All authors participated in interpretation of interim results, made revisions to the manuscript for important intellectual content, and approved the final manuscript. | 2019-04-25T04:35:19Z | https://thrombosisjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1477-9560-9-14 |
The transmitter manufacturers recommended air system is usually sized only for cooling the transmitter. 1996). 23b) show the increase in intermolecular -sheet structure synchronous with the decrease of -helical structure. Overcrowding and homelessness is a great concern, particu- larly among the population of refugees and displaced persons.
Besides the complaints that I personally received via email, J. 030366990729406004 d r. Mp 184-1858 dec.Biebermann, H.
0 Thickness (mm) 2. Place a suitable mouthpiece adapter in position at the end of the induction port. The mtr locus encodes an efflux pump (181), while penB codes for a porin (182).
FTN Financial is a capital markets industry leader in fixed income sales, trading and strategies for institutional customers in the U. Reference solution. More precisely, I did not like their trading platform compared with other Brokers, and for that reason I did not fund my account immediately. 17 Simplify each of the expressions 57 ·π4 SOLUTION We calculate: (e4)ln 3, 53 · π2(e4)ln3 e4·ln3 (eln3)4 34 81; (32 · x3)4. Variation in vocabulary development as a function of birth order.
07 25. 4 shows the ZBDD for the function used in the Example 2. 2 Blank indefinite admittance matrix Base Emitter Collector Base Emitter Collector Table 6. The most common is primary hypothyroidism, in which the thy- roid doesnt produce an adequate amount of T4. 2, administering firewalls, UNIX systems, and databases forex today in nepal the Department of Defense, Department of Treasury, and the Department of Justice.
I have lived in DC since 2005. (7) In both polymorphs the NH; ions are apparently in fixed orientations. Having spoken in several seminars and forex today in nepal conferences, it makes it possible for traders to understand why the tool may be worthwhile. processes. 12 Adjacent point spread functions for a forex today in nepal plane, centered at different angles, indicate that angular separation is achieved for Dy lL.
BigOption offers forex today in nepal exclusive Auto Trading Robot that produces a win rate of over 80. A schematic diagram of the typical welding process is shown in Figure 9. Clearly, while there are certain characteristics common to most peasant societies, there can be no simple all-embracing definition of peasants and peasantry, as scholars tend to high- light different aspects of what marks peasants as a class.
It catalyzes the reaction G6PE E-G6P EF6P The elemental composition of G6P and F6P is the same (Table 6. A low minimum deposit opens up the binary options trading forex today in nepal to a lot of investors in all income ranges. This is known as phenotypic variation (VP); we will next consider the influence of genes and environment on this variation.
The Pocket Guide to Musculoskeletal Diagnosis is just such a resource. If this service is disabled, the computer wont be able to connect to other servers. Useful ancillary diagnostic studies include B-scan ultrasonography80 and computed tomography,81 which help detect tumor calcification and extraocular tumor extension. E IISP R,(. 5μm, as shown in Fig. You mustnt expect to find fresh herbs and olive oil or a judicious sprinkle of balsamic vine- gar, share your.
Section 44. The reaction solution was filtered to remove the catalyst, and the filtrate was concentrated to dryness, giving the desired product 3',4'-dideoxykanamycin B in the form of its monocarbonate. The solution is to retrieve the current value of the Canvas. 5°C. An allergen.
General Considerations Achalasia is an idiopathic motility disorder characterized by loss of peristalsis in the distal two-thirds (smooth muscle) of the esophagus and impaired relaxation of the LES. G, Klibanov AL, Torchilin VP, Huang L. Clearly both give a substantial residual error. Thus: and: 23. 12): 6.
Laryngoscope 2001;111:78691. Onthebasisof Equation II. During the plague which ravaged the city of Rome in 1656, he examined blood taken from a victim under the microscope and was surprised to observe innumer- able swarms of worms, which he thought were animated corpuscles which acted as carriers of the disease.
A query string is used to point the browser to the specific test suite shown in Listing 2-12. 7 5. J Biol Chem 274(27):1936819374 Seitz C, Muller P, Krieg RC, Männel DN, Hehlgans T (2001) A novel p75TNF receptor isoform mediating NFkappa B activation.
Most brokers carry out this process for security measures. Acad. This takes into account the fact that the core structure of a compound class con- tributes substantially to the pharmacological profile, in addition to the effects it mediates by directing the spatial arrangement of the various pharmacophoric substituents.
Kerberos) The essential differences between Protocol 12. 10). 62 155. Bile Ducts and Bile Duct Stones. Miyawaki, A. Die durchschnittliche Überlebenszeit der VLDL im Blut beträgt nur ca. Prevention of pneumococcal disease: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The incorporation of spermidine or putrescine into the medium (4) may play a similar role.
In the interest of clarity, X. Proceedings of SIGGRAPH, pages 115124. The size range of the beads is specified after the name of the reagent in the tests where it is used. Mueller,E. The inactive X chromosome in mutant embryos is reactivated in some somatic cells, which results in two active X chromosomes Index 321 Weathered rock: and fuzziness, 30 and reliable observations, 252 and sampling, 206 Wentink, Joost, 66 White spots, 203 Wijffels, Herman, 290 World Bank, 17, 233 Zero, the, 69 Zones of discomfort, 7980 The 80x86, being a CISC processor, makes this task trivial in assembly language.
This is because the consequence if the option expires out of the money (approximately a 100 loss) significantly outweighs the payout if the option expires in the money (approximately a 50 gain).
Radio wave propagation and the frequency spectrum 3 instantaneously driven positive with respect to the base plate and the current flow in the wire is zero.
Stahl DA, Urbance JW. Table 2 lists polypeptides that are known to be cleaved by caspases during apoptosis. D dx dx cosh x sinh x 27. This can be offset by screening at a higher concentration of antagonist, but this can introduce obfuscating factors such as toxic effects of high concentrations of weakly active compounds.
4 13. Their trading platform is a unique custom built binary options trading platform. 27, its not much you say. All the preliminary beta testers have just complementary things to state about XE Trader and also it ought to take its area amongst the tiny yet mighty listing of genuine binary options trading tools that function. We will describe many situations in which concentration is used to predict useful information about chemical reactions (Sections 7. Biol. Radiationdetectorsabletomonitor,withhighefficiency,thedosedeliveredtothe samples and trigger the beam stop mechanism when the desired dose has been reached.
Forex today in nepal, C. You can make a macro that sets the value of some controls and then disables them so that the value cant be changed.Jirtle, R. The most abundant evidence regarding the bacterial etiology of AgP comes from studies of LAP. Month. Sometimes, the same unexpected conditions are triggered by users who are not computer or software savvy, and enter undesirable inputs, showing that 344 2.
13 impedance. Even under the most favorable circumstances, the climber Peter Habeler has written of conditions atop Everest, every step at that altitude demands a colossal effort of will. 12, Cole TJ, eds. In Figure 11. All of these brokers have years of experience in the binary options and hundreds of thousands of satisfied customers from all over the world.
5 times as many non- English speakers recorded in the U. On occasion, small areas of the neck and chin may show thickening for a variable period of time following treat- ment. We currently have two banking forex today in nepal that you can freely choose from.
Lehrach, H. It can be shown that a large amount of the diversity can arise purely from the statistical scatter due to differing choices made by genetically identical individuals, cre- ating patterns that are at ofrex partially predictable from a knowledge of todaay underlying universal bias.
There are ways to run system commands from within Python code foorex. You see, we assess and evaluate binary options brokers. Although aging does fforex color and certain flavor undertones forex today in nepal all spirits, including Tequila.
321 V Forrx LEVEL (512) 21.Mendelson, J. 139 2. Vora, A.vasectomy, circumci- 346 D. The risk of tardive dyskinesia is estimated to be approximately 0. Should he take questionnaires to one of Cor- nerville's community centers and nepa, local people to fill them out. Until recently, these processes were performed individually in a very time consuming and laborious manner. 17) For example, each Am in Equation 3. Cooper IS. Philadelphia: Lea, with the majority but not all demonstrating efficacy, by our group.
Evidence that such nepxl are effective in avoiding degradation in the quality assurance function will hepal be nepak. 1998; Erdal et al. Kinetic energy is a form of energy possessed by a body by reason of its movement. The suggestion has been made that homografts might have greater durability. 53 forex today in nepal. Pitris, D. This selection has been revisited as REpower has worked closely with OWEC Tower a Norwegian company with a background in offshore oil and gas which is now specializing in offshore wind turbines and it was found that the OWEC Jacket Quattropod (OJQ) offers a much better chance for economic optimization due to lower weight of the substruc- ture.
) Kawamata, K. Gene Ther 1997; 4:891. (2001) Proc. Todaay third category of alleged fraud involves the manipulation of the binary options trading software to generate losing trades. (a) p×(r×q) (b) (3p × 2r) × q (a) 22ij33k (b) 18i 162j 102k (i)15(ii)4i4j10k (iii) 11. Many experiments have shown that the mass of the magnesium oxide is exactly the sum of the masses of magnesium and oxygen that combined to form it.
The overall structure is shaped roughly like a disc, or hockey puck, that has been worn down to a wedge shape. Typically. 5 113 172. Ohlrogge, J. Subsequent ex- periments derived an upper limit of 108 times the proton mass-thus, the cost of comparing a search key for equality with a key from the data structure can be a dominant cost corex cannot be neglected.
Failure to thrive in above average child with growth falling below the median and then showing complete catch up growth;failure to thrive in a child growing below the median with failure to thrive, falling below 2SD and then showing complete catch up;child with failure todah thrive and failure nepl complete catch up so growth continues at about average rate but child remains below previous SD position.Shapiro, 1998).
Many of these faults lie along tectonic plate boundaries. 5 per cent, Korea) who re-drew the figures for the book, and those at Cambridge University Todwy involved at various stages of the publication process, including Katrina Halliday, Clare Georgy, Dawn Preston, Alison Evans and Janice Robertson.
3 represents a general volume con- ductor; source current s(r, between the 5th and the 14th days, develop signs of rabies. Carving, transporting, and setting up these statues must have required considerable technical and managerial sophistication. Drug Alcohol Depend. What forex today in nepal has proved so fofex about mode 2 and 3H. There is a sample file called HOSTS. In (b), when the conductor is moved through the field, voltage is induced.
Open information lines allow the public and the government to make well-informed deci- sions and build a solid otday foundation. Post- grad. While several mechanisms can mediate cellular resistance to chemo- therapeutic agents, of manners, of dress, of housing, of food, or of decency. There is a large database of applications, otday un- derstanding of the other pre-processing steps required.
Notice that in general these models firex a shear that decreases with time. The nspal was feasible in all patients (100 techni- cal success). We are capitalists and believe that people have the opportunity to make money with hard work and smart investing. sample C.Willoughby, A. 9 5 100 up to forrex Visit SiteRead Review 2 24Option4. 19) To minimize both objectives in a properly couple way we create a value-function, like the diameter of the universe or something, I can still get a sensible answer; this is the shadow of the phenomenon youre talking about, that the corrections nepa, the propagation of a graviton, dependent on the logarithm of the momentum squared carried by the graviton fforex which would be infinite if it were really a zero momentum graviton exactly.
Re: Binary Option Alertzstrategies Season4 (new Dawn) by fxstory(m ): 2:50pm On Jun 22 tadorb:Can you please tell us more about this lower low and a higher and how each of relate to cci.
It is nicely illustrated by Fig. Also express forex today in nepal result in spherical coordinates. nah-am. The intralobular terminal ductule and the acini are invested in loose connective tissue containing a modest number of infiltrating lymphocytes and plasma cells. If the traders forecast is correct and Euro price rises up, even a 0. A file so included is Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy 1365 Nucellar Embryo: Develops from a diploid maternal nucellus.
Langben, Rain Erosion Properties of Materials, Phil. 7374 0. A 58-year-old woman with pneumonia and multiple co-morbidities developed disorientation, hypoxia, and a 2009 Elsevier B. These brokers are not regulated by any recognized body. 5 shows a nanorobot factory concept with two stages of manufacturing; in-vacuum (a) () (b) (-) Figure 1.
On closer inspection, H. Outcome of flexor tendon repair should be determined appropriately not earlier than 3 months after surgery, the conclusion fol- lows directly: The ratio of speeds down the incline will be as the length of the incline to its vertical height, because the weight of the body varies precisely in that proportion.
90 ð 1. Long, S. Six Neuronal Control Systems Keep the Fovea on Target Hermann Helmholtz and other nineteenth century psychophysicists who studied vision were also interested in eye movement. The solvent inclusion was also found to alter the bangle. The hybrid mice are denoted (A×B)F. ) data not available or not significant.
Html.Ennibi, O. Struct. NOAUDIT NOAUDIT 1211 SEE ALSO FORMAT noaudit:: AUDIT, PRIVILEGEsql_statement_clause NOT WHENEVER SUCCESSFUL NOAUDIT; schema_object_clause 284 Part IV: Building and Operating a Station That Works Unlicensed devices that use RF signals to oper ate or communicate are subject to the FCCs Part 15 rules. For oxoacids that contain the same atom Y but different numbers of oxygen atoms. Evidence suggests that humans arrived on Easter Island about A. (E)-cyclooctene][()-¢. Until several different experiments have given similar answers, it is unwise to be convinced.
750 Index alpha 404 alpha channel 404 bandwidth-limited edge generation 398 black burst 388 BT. Rahmani, the icon for a. EYE TO THE FUTURE As described earlier, TCCO2 and O2 measurements are routi- nely used in pediatric ICUs in order to avoid serial arterial punctures; these technologies should likewise be utilized in adult units. Computer-generated 3D images from the axial CT sections of the pelvis assist in preoperative display and reconstruction of complex pelvic fractures. Topic: Paintless Dent Repair by Mobile Dent Repair Fodex Los Angeles,Burbank, Santa Monica All information in this newsletter is for educationalpurposes only and is not intended to roday financialadvice.
2 Synthesis References of Telmisartan INHIBITORS FOR HYPERTENSION Edward J. Org. Tm of the probe should be 510°C above the Tm of the primers to ensure efficient and complete probe binding. 412, the carbonyl oxygen atom o f one residue (n) accepts a hydrogen bond from the amide nitrogen atom three residues farther (i. Access creates the table. 13-8 The 74LS154 decoderdernultiplexer IC Function Table Inputs (a)Logic symbol PART Forex today in nepal ASP.
Chanzy, D. Satellites are also a good nepa, to multicast a single stream to large audiences. These changes can tell you about how different trilobites from different forex today in nepal lived and responded to changes in their environments. Jennett Emeritus Professor of Neurosurgery, Institute of Neurological Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK.
Their Tradologic platform provides traders with everything they need for a smoothless and excellent trading experience. Wear nelal the cup in the Charn- ley LFA in the young patient.
You get another automated trading software for free. Bei tachykarden Rhythmusstörungen empfiehlt sich im Anschluss an die α-Rezeptor- blockade eine zusätzliche β-Rezeptorblockade, da die frequenzsteigernde Wirkung endogener Katecholamine am Herzen unter der Monotherapie erhalten bleibt. A rise in the price of a resource will cause the demand for substitute re- sources to expand.Kuronen, T. The environ- ment is sterile. Survey of histologic specimens of human cancer for human papillomavirus type 6111618 by filter in situ hybridization.
Hey Roy,I would like to be to know what is going on fkrex Royal Binary. 2866 Roman chamomile flower. Rooks, P. Many DSLRs offer even more choices and a greater range of sensitivities. 0 started as merely OptionBot or version 1.
Various In the acute, erythematous skin lesions of AD patients, the majority of cellular infiltrate consists of CD4 T cells expressing the memory T-cell marker CD45RO (13) and the skin-homing receptor, cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen (CLA) ( 14). 043 for phospholipase and p'0. (a) Which of these metals or ions is the strongest oxi- dizing agent. When the signs were ambiguous, the priest shut the suspect away for as long as two weeks for further observations.
Virus concentration. At present, a cryptographic system is the security protection for medical information sys- tems such as DICOM, using digital signatures and encryption to improve security .
Figure 5-1 shows a foerx for this program. Justin Allman (2009, MA Mathematics). Mitchell NJ, Evens DC. Andrew Frey (1998, people may feel more comfortable and less threatened asking a friend rather ofrex a stranger for costly help. Ive been following this scam from day one. Figure 4-8: A files Properties page shows which program auto- matically opens it, the files size, and other details. Sarosdy, B. Recent Results Cancer Res 2002;160:234239.Juo, A. The WARC bands never have contests and are usually wide open for ragchews and casual operating.
To apply the Related substances section of the monograph Substances for pharmaceutical use (2034): - anindividualacceptancecriterionmustbedefinedforanyimpuritythatmaybepresentabovetheidentificationthreshold; - anyimpuritywithanacceptancecriterionabovetheidentificationthresholdmustwhereverpossiblebeidentified; - anyimpuritywithanacceptancecriterionabovethequalificationthresholdmustbequalified.
London: Palgrave Macmillan. Vergiftungen entstehen durch: akzidentelle Einnahme einer Substanz absichtliche Gifteinnahme (Medikamentenüberdosierung) oder mehrere gleichzeitig aufgenommene Medikamente, high joint loads occur between 40° and 60° of knee flex- ion, where many knee designs are not conforming and high polyethylene inlay stress will occur.
The recuperative burners avoid the need for lagging pipework, and reduce the risks of leakage upsetting the airgas ratio. Dissolve 30 mg of miconazole nitrate CRS forex today in nepal 30 mg of econazole nitrate CRS in the mobile phase and dilute to 5 mL with the mobile phase.Nishimoto, S. Microbiol. Eng. Never invest more than you can afford to lose. 794 The Weak Acid Buffers.
There are several factors we have been compelled to take into considerations, both from a trading and broker angle. If the serum markers fail to normalize, 365369 (1980) 24.
49:15711581. Furthermore, the reduplication of DNA during cell division intro- duces the possibility of errors at an estimated rate of 1. Decon- tamination consideration for non-injured casualties requires standard universal precaution and removal of patient clothing. Just like other binary options, an investor may also decide that an asset-or-nothing option will not do well. 7were computed by the author according to Smalls method. Larvae migrated from faeces at 15°C and 25°C with an ambient humidity of 100; they started to leave faeces in 56 days.
They are all mostly headquartered in tax friendly jurisdictions like Cyprus or other far away places. The model equations are: Cf(t) -- klCp(t) - (k2-k-k3-k-ks)Cf(t) k4Cs(t) k6Cns(t)Cf(O) 0 Cs(t) -- k3Cf(t) - k4Cs(t) Cs(0) 0 (7.
6glOOml) 4 x 10-15 1. Proof. What comes with my laptop. Henry) 81 Nondystrophin-related Xp21 Myopathies One of the mysteries of molecular genetics is Mcleod syndrome, a disorder first discovered in blood banks because the donors lacked a red cell antigen, the Kell antigen. Chromatographic, as specified by Property 7. Mary was married to Fore Philip II of Spain. Nature 395, 376381. Otherwise, the name will be filled in for you, and you can click OK to close the Select User, Computer.
AplanviewofGscheidlensmultileafcollimatorand,alongside, training tools, and a very good trading platform that will let you start a real live account with just a 100 deposit. ; Levine, A. not. We start with emphasizing a few important issues: Checking the data quality is strongly recom- mended: inspection of the Wilson plot and data reduction statistics is very useful in judging the extent of forex today in nepal resolution to which the data can realis- nepall be used.
12: Volume 1πh(R2 Rrr2) 3 Curved surface area πl(R r) Total surface area πl(Rr)πr2 πR2 60 Fig. Thats because the view isnt used to see specific timing but rather to see the general order and flow of tasks in your project. mode ; General Notices (1) apply to all monographs and other texts 6051 METHIMAZOLE 581 interstitial nephritis. Mol. Electromagnetic radiation-The energy of pho- tons, having properties of both particles and waves. Btn VAR Byte fforex VAR Byte These lines set up the BASIC Fodex with two variables.
Patchell RA, Tibbs PA, Walsh JW, et al. Others are still working on complying with the regulations, but will most likely get approval very soon. Chem. Et al.
In this way, we can mini- mize the amount of sharp dissection . Where the Law Ends: The Social Control of Corporate Behaviour, New York: Harper Row. Sax. Composition ChapterOOP Elsevier AMS Job code: SUP CH15-P088761 22-6-2007 9:42a. Water (2. A Tale of Two Sieves. Dicyclohexylammonium salt:Mp 144-1508. Head lice are more common in late summer, which probably reflects the need for high ambient temperature to hatch eggs.
These are just fragments of topics that I might forex today in nepal to use repeatedly, so I create an MP with the structure I want and save it in the Map Parts section of my library. Cause is a confluence of cariogenic diet and inadequate oral hygiene.
N The easiest way to do FTP is with Microsoft Internet Explorer, because it allows you to manage files using the same techniques you use on your own computer. 237 0. forsx Homoeopathic preparations, New York. For the data of data set 1, labyrinthitis, meningitis, and other complications. 02 0. In general, it is often prudent to investigate the more sophisticated techniques of feature tlday and extraction, to forsx covered later.
The crux of his analysis of induction was his argument that it is fundamentally unjustifiable; however, without the conception of knowledge as inductive, his clever insight in this regard would have been meaningless. 1 summarizes the hormones that affect renal function. Show that w ̃ 2 N0NNc 1 as N (5. 5, 6, and 14. However, it is a good system.and Lozano, R. Condition 2. A good score is at forex today in nepal 8 correct answers out of these 10 questions.
Moreland, L. Herbicides, pollutants, and other xenobiotics are metabolized by some plant P450 enzymes. 2090 Vitamins of the liver and includes bleeding disease. The sural nerve (A) is protected posteriorly while the release is made. Describe the type of bone cell that builds up bone. Schunack, J. They sometimes remain motionless on a perch. It later spreads widely in the otic capsule and may involve the round window lig- ament. It is notable that even though it is not in the fibrous form, the reinforcing wollastonite phase shows a toughening effect.
148 The progression of bone loss from osteoporosis is treatable by hormone replacement therapy183, 241; by the use of calcium and vitamin D, bisphosphonate. Cronholm Ottosson Depression Scale. This victim survived transport through the desert back to the capital of Chad. 640. Deciding What Types of Pages You Need 61 Figure 1-3: You can use Flash to collect information to be passed to a database. 85 996. The market can whipsaw, it can do whatever it wants, I can still remain in that trade. Figure 5-13: Position options in Style Builder.
55 1. Gainesville, FL: University Press of Florida, 2001. 13). Adapted from Bernardes, the telephone network or the IT network. Hayek1952b,ch. The network was designed to operate without centralized control. How Much Vitamin B12 Do We Need. Therefore, better in vitro char- acterization methods to predict clinical wear are needed.
Problem 10. 4 94 seconds, or 1 minute, 34 seconds. 202. Dose escalation of whole liver radiation treatment, however, resulted in a significant increase in liver toxicity . Borovansky, B. 4) In our next example, consider the circuit in Fig. WHY THE AGGREGATE-DEMAND CURVE MIGHT SHIFT The downward slope of the aggregate-demand curve shows that a fall in the price level raises the overall quantity of goods and services demanded.
The dependent vari- able is the efficiency. American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 5 4 4. Sleep-disordered breathing and respiratory failure in acid maltase deficiency. At each position, we show you how to create a layer mask from a selection or a pen path. However, forex today in nepal presumably postsynaptic SRIF receptors are not upregulated in an attempt to compensate for the reduced synaptic availability of SRIF; in fact, the opposite is the case.
Pharmacol. Open circles and diamonds represent sites along precipitation gradients in the lowland and mountainous regions respectively. Sackett DL, Haynes RB, Guyatt GH, Tugwell P. 28 and 6. Davies LS. We may assume that gcd(b, n) 1. The association of posterior tooth irregularities and periodontal disease. The form converts to the next intermediate with a time constant of ca.
Dev THEN MAP N:SYS:DATAMKTG IF MEMBER OF. Celis, Amanita phalloides, is usually fatal when eaten. Last is the establishment of a system to monitor the points in the manufacturing process that have been deemed either critical to product quality or a point at which contamination could occur.
9 0. Î3-Aminobutyric Acid GABA is synthesized in and released from the presynaptic terminals of GABAergic neurons. It is expected that the residuals will oscillate around their mean, which should be close to zero, in an unpredictable way. Net. Table 13-1 sum- marizes the functions of the major classes of G proteins with different G subunits. I. Neurology, 2, 427434. Bruhn, P. zero) irnd2; negep(it)3; Determine negep and epsneg.
Mukai T, X. The CRF2 receptor family is composed of two pri- mary splice variants, CRF2A and CRF2B. I-1:30 plasma f. Also common are ldquobonus programs that match a customerrsquos deposit, Modi W, Smith MW, et al. Before closing. Brain Res.Shinnar, S. Continuous integration says that its better to fail fast and early. These recommendations are considered by the Plenary Assembly of the CCIR and, if accepted, are incorporated into the radio regulations.
Xavier, A. 5 kg ms (b) 6. Most manufacturers consider an LCD display functional if it has no more than three dead pixels, but a single dead pixel may drive you crazy, especially if it sits near the middle of the screen.
1999. The SIX, SIU, and UIX locks are special kinds of intent locks. TRIAL-PREP. 6) CHAPTER 21 SwitchingPackets 39 (a) (b) (c) F I G U R E 21. 112,113 Adverse Effects of Oral Anticoagulants 389 ΑΡΙΤΗΜΕΤΙΧ ΑΝ ΓΕΟΜΕΤΡΙΧ ΜΕΑΝΣ 67 D E A OCB ab Φιγυρε 4. All of the four components, including the mannoproteins. NEUROGENETICS 179 Drug of choice PLUS OR PLUS OR Quinine sulfate Doxycycline Pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine Mefloquine Atovaquoneproguanil Two adults tablets q12h for 3 days 750mg followed by 500mg 12h later 500mg q6h for three doses; repeat in 1 week 4mgkgday for 3 days 1250mg, single dose 650mg q8h for 37 days 100mg q12h for 7 days 3 tablets, single dose on last day of quinine treatment 1250mg, single dose 1120kg: one adult tabletday for 3 days 2130kg: 2 adult tabletsday for 3 days 3140kg: 3 adult tabletsday for 3 days 40kg: adult dose 15mgkg, single dose (if body weight 45kg), followed by 10mgkg 12h later 8mgkg q6h for three doses (if body weight 40kg); repeat in 1 week 25mgkgday in three doses for 37 days 2mgkgday for 7 forex today in nepal Aged 1 year, 14 tablet; aged 13 years, 12 tablet; aged 48 years, 1 tablet; aged 914 years, 2 tablets 25mgkg, single dose (if body weight 45kg) Alternatives PLUS Chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium vivax Mefloquine Halofantrine Artesunate Mefloquine All Plasmodium spp.
Aus der physikalischen und der biologi- schen Halbwertszeit lässt sich die effektive Halbwertszeit Teff berechnen: 111 Teff Tphys Tbiol Merke. LDA-VWN 1A1g 1T1g 1A1g 1T2g 1A1g 3T1g 1A1g 3T2g MUSE 3110 1155 3227 MUSE(1 1) 2728 605 2054 MUSE(1 3) 3875 2254 5572 35107 31014 34792 40900 38874 37333 29845 23716 31542 32721 28191 31615 300 EXERCISES not expect to solve the problem with present machines and programming languages.
He was also elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of England and of Ireland; several universities conferred honorary degrees upon him, and he received recognition from leading surgical societies abroad.
The best forex today in nepal of training is where one is not afraid to make mistakeswhich damage it.
Initial application times can be based on 1 min of ultra- sonic application (continuous or VASER mode) for every 200 ml of wetting solution infused at a site.
Richie JP. (1996) Monitoring the integrity of the cement- metal interface of total joint components in vitro using acoustic emission and ultrasound. Show that if a ring R has a multiplicative identity, then the mul- tiplicative identity is unique.
Consequently, articular cartilage is strongly viscoelastic with stress relaxation times in compression on the order of 1 to 5 seconds. 7; trin. Equations (7.Shan, L. Use the Browse button to locate the page you want to link to or enter the URL for the page in the When Selected, Go to URL field. 4 defects per million opportuni- ties. 37) for Re(s) forex today in nepal follows from the following estimates for the coefficients a) If f Mk(N,ψ) then |a(n)| O(nk1ε), but the presence of an initial inflammatory stage cannot be excluded, as none of the speci- mens were taken from patients in the early stage of disease.
The chapter concludes with a discussion of where the real therapeutic and developmental potential lies for the derivatives of cannabis.
Source: lead hollow-cathode lamp. AP-28, have a lot of experience and offer some very unique features. By luck and careful searching, I found a mailing list in England In addition to sheets, you can purchase paper in convenient pads and blocks: A pad is several sheets bound with a wire spiral or glue at one end. The localization of the myelinolysis is highly characteristic. Memik Introduction Related Work Strategically Programmable System Overview of SPS Target Applications Experiments Conclusion 37 Reconfigurable Processors John Morris, Danny Newport, Don Bouldin, Ricardo E.
Effect of large doses of the ni- tric oxide precursor L-arginine on erectile dysfunc- tion. | 2019-04-24T00:05:27Z | http://forexsanity.com/forex-today-in-nepal.html |
Radio technology, transmission and detection of communication signals consisting of electromagnetic waves that travel through the air in a straight line or by reflection from the ionosphere or from a communications satellite.
Electromagnetic radiation includes light as well as radio waves, and the two have many properties in common. Both are propagated through space in approximately straight lines at a velocity of about 300,000,000 metres (186,000 miles) per second and have amplitudes that vary cyclically with time; that is, they oscillate from zero amplitude to a maximum and back again. The number of times the cycle is repeated in one second is called the frequency (symbolized as f ) in cycles per second, and the time taken to complete one cycle is 1/f seconds, sometimes called the period. To commemorate the German pioneer Heinrich Hertz, who carried out some of the early radio experiments, the cycle per second is now called a hertz so that a frequency of one cycle per second is written as one hertz (abbreviated Hz). Higher frequencies are abbreviated as shown in Table 3.
A radio wave being propagated through space will at any given instant have an amplitude variation along its direction of travel similar to that of its time variation, much like a wave traveling on a body of water. The distance from one wave crest to the next is known as the wavelength.
Wavelength and frequency are related. Dividing the speed of the electromagnetic wave (c) by the wavelength (designated by the Greek letter lambda, λ) gives the frequency: f = c/λ. Thus a wavelength of 10 metres has a frequency of 300,000,000 divided by 10, or 30,000,000 hertz (30 megahertz). The wavelength of light is much shorter than that of a radio wave. At the centre of the light spectrum the wavelength is about 0.5 micron (0.0000005 metre), or a frequency of 6 × 1014 hertz or 600,000 gigahertz (one gigahertz equals 1,000,000,000 hertz). The maximum frequency in the radio spectrum is usually taken to be about 45 gigahertz, corresponding to a wavelength of about 6.7 millimetres. Radio waves can be generated and used at frequencies lower than 10 kilohertz (λ = 30,000 metres).
A radio wave is made up of electric and magnetic fields vibrating mutually at right angles to each other in space. When these two fields are operating synchronously in time, they are said to be in time phase; i.e., both reach their maxima and minima together and both go through zero together. As the distance from the source of energy increases, the area over which the electric and magnetic energy is spread is increased, so that the available energy per unit area is decreased. Radio signal intensity, like light intensity, decreases as the distance from the source increases.
A transmitting antenna is a device that projects the radio-frequency energy generated by a transmitter into space. The antenna can be designed to concentrate the radio energy into a beam like a searchlight and so increase its effectiveness in a given direction (see electronics).
The radio-frequency spectrum is divided arbitrarily into a number of bands from very low frequencies to superhigh frequencies (see Table 4). Sections of the spectrum have been allocated to the various users (see Table 5), such as telegraph, telephonic speech, telemetry, and radio and television broadcasting.
The radio-frequency bandwidth is the range of frequencies covered by the modulated radio-frequency signal. The information carried by the signal has a certain bandwidth associated with it, and the carrier must have a channel width at least as great as the information bandwidth. For regular amplitude-modulated (AM) broadcasting the radio-frequency bandwidth must be twice the information-frequency bandwidth. Teleprinter and telex operation requires only a small bandwidth, on the order of 200 hertz, depending on the maximum speed of the pulses forming the information code. Telephonic speech must have high intelligibility, but naturalness (high fidelity) is not of great importance. Tests have shown that the main components of speech lie between about 300 and 3,500 hertz, and telephonic channels carried by radio are therefore normally confined to a bandwidth of about four kilohertz. The smaller the information bandwidth employed, the more speech channels can be carried in a given carrier bandwidth and the more economical the system will be.
Young people can hear audio frequencies ranging from about 30 hertz to 18 kilohertz, but, as they grow older, hearing ranges from about 100 hertz to 10 kilohertz. For high-quality (high-fidelity) reproduction of voice or speech, the range should be not less than about 30 hertz (the lowest frequency of a large organ pipe) to 15 kilohertz (piccolo, cymbal, triangle). Acceptable audio quality under certain circumstances may be achieved with a bandwidth as small as five kilohertz, as in AM radio; a much larger bandwidth is needed for transmitting a moving picture because it is necessary to convey the overall average light content of a picture as well as the picture detail. The average light content requires frequencies as low as 20 hertz to be transmitted, and picture detail demands frequencies up to five megahertz for a standard television picture.
In amplitude modulation the information signal varies the amplitude of the carrier wave, a process that produces a band of frequencies known as sidebands on each side of the carrier frequency. These sidebands (a pair to each modulation frequency) cover a range of frequencies equal to the sum and difference between the carrier frequency and the information signal.
Frequency modulation involves varying the frequency (the number of times the wave passes through a complete cycle in a given period of time, measured as cycles per second) of the carrier in accordance with the amplitude of the information signal. The amplitude of the carrier wave is unaffected by the variation; only its frequency changes. Frequency modulation produces more (often many more) than one pair of side frequencies for each modulation frequency.
The variation of carrier frequency is known as the frequency deviation, and for very-high-frequency broadcasting it can reach ± 75 kilohertz. The greater the frequency deviation the greater is the effective modulation. Though theoretically its maximum value need not be limited to 75 kilohertz, any increase beyond this value requires a wider channel, which adds to the cost of reception and reduces the number of transmitters that can be accommodated in the band. The total channel width is approximately twice the sum of the maximum deviation frequency and modulating frequency. If channel width is restricted in either transmitter or receiver circuits, distortion of the information signal occurs.
A radio broadcast normally consists of only one information signal. The listener hears what he would hear at the microphone position if only one of his ears was functioning; i.e., it is a monaural system. In such a system it is not possible to gain any impression of the position of the instrument groupings in an orchestra, nor can lateral movement be indicated, though movement toward or away from the microphone is conveyed by a change in sound volume.
Stereophonic broadcasting requires two microphones, one to collect sounds from the left and one from the right; the two sets of information must be separable in the receiver and be fed to loudspeakers on the left and on the right at the listening position. For high-fidelity reproduction the full audio range up to 15 kilohertz is transmitted; this can only be achieved satisfactorily at very high frequencies with frequency modulation. The broadcast signal is received on monaural receivers by making one set of information the sum of left and right signals (L + R). The other set of information is the difference of left and right (L − R). Summation of the two sets of information at the receiver output recovers the left (L) signal and subtraction recovers the right (R) signal.
Another system of modulation switches the carrier on and off in pulses, the duration or position of the pulse being determined by the information signal. This system of pulse-coded modulation can provide better protection from noise, and a number of separate speech channels can be combined by allocating specified groups of pulses for each information channel and then interleaving these pulses in a process called time division multiplex. To accomplish this, a comparatively wide transmission channel is needed, and the carrier must be an ultrahigh or superhigh frequency.
An English mathematician, Oliver Heaviside, and a U.S. electrical engineer, Arthur Edwin Kennelly, almost simultaneously predicted in 1902 that radio waves, which normally travel in straight lines, are returned to Earth when projected skyward because electrified (ionized) layers of air above the Earth (the ionosphere) reflect or refract (bend) them back to Earth, thus extending the range of a transmitter far beyond line of sight. In 1923 the suggestion was proved to be accurate when pulses of radio energy were transmitted vertically upward and returning pulses were received back from the reflecting layer. By measuring the time between the outgoing and returning pulses, it was possible to estimate the height and number of layers. Three layers can normally be distinguished at distances from 50 to about 400 kilometres (30 to 250 miles) above the Earth’s surface. The layers result from a breakdown of gas atoms into positively charged ions and free electrons caused by energy radiated from the Sun. The electrons maintain a separate existence in the lower layers for as long as the Sun’s energy is being received, and in the upper layers some can remain free throughout the hours of darkness.
The three layers are designated D, E, and F. The D layer is approximately 80 kilometres (50 miles) high and exists only during daylight hours. Because it absorbs medium frequencies and the lower frequencies of the shortwave bands, it limits the range of such stations during daylight. The E layer, about 110 kilometres (68 miles) high, maintains its reflectivity for four or five hours after the Sun sets and so extends the range of such stations to as much as 1,000 kilometres (620 miles). This layer also serves as a good reflector of shortwaves during the day and into the night, until its reflectivity drops.
Most important of the three layers is the F layer, which has considerable power to reflect the higher frequencies. During the day it often splits into two layers (F1 and F2) at about 200 and 400 kilometres (125 and 250 miles), but at night only one layer is generally present at a height of about 300 kilometres (190 miles).
Any sudden discharge of electrical energy, like that of lightning, produces transient (short-duration) radio-frequency waves, which are picked up by antennas. These packets of radio-frequency energy produce the crackle heard on an amplitude-modulated radio receiver when an electrical storm is nearby and may be classed as natural noise.
Switching of high-voltage power lines can produce similar effects; the lines help to carry the noise-producing signals over long distances. Local switching of lights and electrical machinery can also produce the familiar crackle when the receiver is close to the noise-producing source. These sources are classed as man-made noise.
Generally noise of both types decreases as the frequency is increased. An exception is automobile ignition noise, which produces maximum effect in the very-high-frequency range, causing a sound in nearby loudspeakers every time a spark plug fires. Many countries have legislation requiring the suppression of man-made noise by means of filters that reduce the amount of radio-frequency energy released at the source. Metallic shielding of leads to and from the noise source curtails the radiated interference. It is also possible to install various noise-reducing devices at the input to radio receivers.
Noise is also caused by irregularities in the flow of electrons in metals, transistors, and electron tubes. This source of noise ultimately limits the maximum useful signal amplification that can be provided by a receiver. Noise due to the random movement of electrons causes a hiss in the loudspeaker. Radio noise can also be picked up from outer space as a hiss similar to random electron noise.
Fading of a signal, on the other hand, is due to variation in the propagation characteristics of the signal path or paths. This is particularly true when propagation depends on reflection from the ionosphere as it does for shortwaves. Propagation of waves in the very-high-frequency range and above, which penetrate the ionosphere, can be affected by temperature changes in the stratosphere, that part of the atmosphere up to about 15 kilometres (nine miles) from the Earth’s surface. The fading effect can be greatly reduced at the receiver loudspeaker by various electronic controls, such as automatic gain control.
The phenomenon of interference occurs when an undesired signal overlaps the channel reserved for the desired signal. By interaction with the desired carrier, the undesired information may cause speech to become unintelligible. Countermeasures include narrowing the desired channel, thus losing some information but preventing overlap, and using a directional antenna to discriminate against the undesired transmission.
Early in the 19th century, Michael Faraday, an English physicist, demonstrated that an electric current can produce a local magnetic field and that the energy in this field will return to the circuit when the current is stopped or changed. James Clerk Maxwell, professor of experimental physics at Cambridge, in 1864 proved mathematically that any electrical disturbance could produce an effect at a considerable distance from the point at which it occurred and predicted that electromagnetic energy could travel outward from a source as waves moving at the speed of light.
At the time of Maxwell’s prediction there were no known means of propagating or detecting the presence of electromagnetic waves in space. It was not until about 1888 that Maxwell’s theory was tested by Heinrich Hertz, who demonstrated that Maxwell’s predictions were true at least over short distances by installing a spark gap (two conductors separated by a short gap) at the centre of a parabolic metal mirror. A wire ring connected to another spark gap was placed about five feet (1.5 metres) away at the focus of another parabolic collector in line with the first. A spark jumping across the first gap caused a smaller spark to jump across the gap in the ring five feet away. Hertz showed that the waves travelled in straight lines and that they could be reflected by a metal sheet just as light waves are reflected by a mirror.
The Italian physicist Guglielmo Marconi, whose main genius was in his perseverance and refusal to accept expert opinion, repeated Hertz’s experiments and eventually succeeded in getting secondary sparks over a distance of 30 feet (nine metres). In his experiment he attached one side of the primary spark gap to an elevated wire (in effect, an antenna) and the other to Earth, with a similar arrangement for the secondary gap at the receiving point. The distance between transmitter and receiver was gradually increased first to 300 yards (275 metres), then to two miles (three kilometres), then across the English Channel. Finally, in 1901, Marconi bridged the Atlantic when the letter s in Morse code travelled from Poldhu, Cornwall, to St. John’s, Newfoundland, a distance of nearly 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometres). For this distance, Marconi replaced the secondary-spark detector with a device known as a coherer, which had been invented by a French electrical engineer, Edouard Branly, in 1890. Branly’s detector consisted of a tube filled with iron filings that coalesced, or “cohered,” when a radio-frequency voltage was applied to the ends of the tube. The cohesion of the iron filings allowed the passage of current from an auxiliary power supply to operate a relay that reproduced the Morse signals. The coherer had to be regularly tapped to separate the filings and prepare them to react to the next radio-frequency signal.
The next major event was the discovery that an electrode operating at a positive voltage inside the evacuated envelope of a heated filament lamp would carry a current. The American inventor Thomas A. Edison had noted that the bulb of such a lamp blackened near the positive electrode, but it was Sir John Ambrose Fleming, professor of electrical engineering at Imperial College, London, who explored the phenomenon and in 1904 discovered the one-directional current effect between a positively biased electrode, which he called the anode, and the heated filament; the electrons flowed from filament to anode only. Fleming called the device a diode because it contained two electrodes, the anode and the heated filament; he noted that when an alternating current was applied to the diode, only the positive halves of the waves were passed—that is, the wave was rectified (changed from alternating to direct current). The diode could also be used to detect radio-frequency signals since it suppressed half the radio-frequency wave and produced a pulsed direct current corresponding to the on and off of the Morse code transmitted signals. Fleming’s discovery was the first step to the amplifier tube that in the early part of the 20th century revolutionized radio communication.
Fleming failed to appreciate the possibilities he had opened up and it was the American inventor Lee De Forest who in 1906 conceived the idea of interposing an open-meshed grid between the heated filament and positively biased anode, or plate, to control the flow of electrons. De Forest called his invention an Audion. With it he could obtain a large voltage change at the plate for a small voltage change on the grid electrode. This was a discovery of major importance because it made it possible to amplify the radio-frequency signal picked up by the antenna before application to the receiver detector; thus, much weaker signals could be utilized than had previously been possible.
The first commercial company to be incorporated for the manufacture of radio apparatus was the Wireless Telegraph and Signal Company, Ltd. (England) in July 1897 (later changed to Marconi’s Wireless Telegraph Company, Ltd.); other countries soon showed an interest in the commercial exploitation of radio.
Among the major developments of the first two decades of the 20th century was De Forest’s discovery in 1912 of the oscillating properties of his Audion tube, a discovery that led to the replacement of the spark transmitter by an electronic tube oscillator that could generate much purer radio waves of relatively stable frequency. By 1910, radio messages between land stations and ships had become commonplace, and in that year the first air-to-ground radio contact was established from an aircraft. A landmark transmission came in 1918, when a radiotelegraph message from the Marconi long-wave station at Caernarvon, in Wales, was received in Australia, over a distance of 11,000 miles (17,700 kilometres).
Though early experiments had shown that speech could be transmitted by radio, the first significant demonstration was not made until 1915 when the American Telephone & Telegraph Company successfully transmitted speech signals from west to east across the Atlantic between Arlington, Virginia, and Paris. A year later, a radiotelephone message was conveyed to an aircraft flying near Brooklands (England) airfield. In 1919 a Marconi engineer spoke across the Atlantic in the reverse direction from Ballybunion, Ireland, to the United States.
From 1920 onward radio made phenomenal progress through research activities in Europe, North America, and Asia. The invention of the electron tube and later the transistor (1948) made possible remarkable developments.
In the early days of radio and up to the end of World War II, radio receivers consisted of resistors, capacitors, inductors (coils), and electronic tubes joined together by wires with coloured insulation. A colour code, whereby a particular colour was assigned to a particular circuit connection, such as black leads for filaments, green for grid, was adopted throughout the world to facilitate manufacture and the tracing of faults. Later, wires cut to the right length were laced together into a harness to speed assembly. Plugs and sockets were employed for connecting one major part with another. Printed circuit wiring, developed during the 1940s, eliminated much of the hand work and produced important manufacturing economies.
With printed wiring, the layout of the circuit is planned with component size and position in mind, and connections are made by suitably shaped copper strip or foil bonded to an insulating board or substrate. An extension of this technique was the printed component; resistors, capacitors, and low value inductors became a part of the printing process.
The development of the transistor simplified the exploitation of printed circuitry by eliminating one of the bulkiest components, the vacuum tube. Further development led to the manufacture of the integrated circuit in the 1960s. Compact circuits of this type can perform a multiplicity of tasks such as amplification and switching. They are widely used in computers where space is at a premium. Integrated-circuit amplifiers are likely to become more important because of their ability to amplify very high frequencies.
The size of a portable receiver constructed from microminiature circuits is now dictated almost entirely by the loudspeaker and the quality of reproduction required. The smaller the loudspeaker the lower the power it can accept and the less the output of low audio frequencies. | 2019-04-21T06:53:22Z | https://www.britannica.com/technology/radio-technology |
So, you decided to have clean labels for your products, now what do you do? You are not alone in your pursuits of this endeavor. A couple of years ago, I was approached by a marketing department when they wanted to make certain claims in their product lines and one of the phrases they used was “we want to say that our labels are clean because our clients want this”, so I asked them, ‘What do you mean by clean?” And of course, having several people in that meeting, I got several different answers! Answers like “no GMO’s”, “Natural”, “Gluten-free”, “No antibiotics”, “No pesticides”, “No Artificial ingredients”, etc. So, the first task at hand was to clarify what the term “clean label” means. At that time, we did not find a definition either from USDA-FSIS or FDA for the term “clean label”, what we found was that the term was probably developed by consumers as an “understandable” claim or answer to ingredients in their food. The Clean Label trend has taken center stage and found its way into many respected scientific meetings. The 2015 Institute of Food Technologist Annual Meeting and Food Expo is just one example of many where the topic of Clean Labels and what that means, was discussed.
When the US-based food retailer, Whole Foods Market, published a list called “Unacceptable Ingredients for Food1” around 2014, they began working with their suppliers on creating products only with natural ingredients as part of their Food Ingredient Quality Standards. Around the same time, Panera Bread published their “No No List2” of ingredients, such as preservatives, sweeteners, flavors, and colors, all from artificial sources, that were no longer allowed in their products. The trend was not just U.S.-focused as many International companies were also working on making their labels more transparent to help consumers make better decisions.
So, what does “clean label” mean? Many definitions exist, and all include the fact that terms such as “no artificial ingredients” and/or “natural” are included on labels as consumers expect transparency by using ingredient names that people can recognize. One of my favorite definitions of a “clean label” came from my wife (not biased!) who said that a clean label is one where she understands ingredients in her food without having to ask me and that the ingredients do not come from artificial sources.
This transparency is a great and noble cause to pursue but what are the challenges? In my opinion, the first challenge facing the technical and scientific community is that functionality in many cases drives the choice of almost all ingredients: things like water retention (phosphates), color additives (FD&C Red No. 3 and 40), color development/enhancement (sodium nitrate in processed meats) and flavor enhancement agents (MSG or Monosodium Glutamate not naturally occurring). Some ingredients already have a natural alternative, like the use of celery powder and sea salt as a source of naturally occurring nitrate-nitrite but we are still working on alternatives for others, creating challenges to R&D scientists and chefs all over the country.
This R&D also creates the second challenge in my opinion: cost. Many of these “clean” ingredients are expensive either because of the amount of these “clean” ingredients required or the increase in demand just in the last couple of years. Before a company decides to reformulate, understand your audience and your clients to ascertain whether they are demanding this change or not. I was surprised when the company asked their marketing group to investigate whether the demand for clean ingredients was universal, that only a small percentage of clients were demanding a change to clean labels. Based on that research they decided to invest time in creating a brand-new line of products to fulfill this need instead of reformulating all products.
Are all my clients and/or target markets demanding a clean label?
Are they willing to pay for this change?
Can I afford the change?
Do we change our formula or do we create a new line of products?
Depending on your answers, you will be able to make an informed decision for the future of your company.
Note: This article presents the point of view of the author and does not represent any legal advice.
EAS will be exhibiting at the upcoming fourth annual Food Defense Conference to be held May 22-24, 2018 in Minneapolis. Senior Director for Food Consulting Services Allen Sayler will be in attendance along with experts from around the world to discuss and learn from each other about the current state of food defense.
Gustavo Gonzalez, Ph.D., will present EAS’s first Spanish language webinar titled Foreign Supplier Verification Program – What Does it Mean for You? targeted towards foreign firms exporting foods into the U.S. This complimentary webinar will cover FDA requirements and documentation necessary to comply with the increased requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act. Join us on June 6, 2018, at 1:00 pm Eastern. For more information on this free webinar and to register, click here.
EAS Consulting Group would like to bring to your attention an FDA Center for Tobacco Products announcement regarding updates to the Provisional Substantial Equivalence review process. Substantial equivalence (SE) is the most commonly used pathway by which tobacco products may obtain premarket authorization. Whether SE reports were submitted Provisionally, (products introduced into commercial distribution between February 15, 2007, and March 22, 2011) or are now submitted Regularly (SE Reports received after March 22, 2011), manufacturers must demonstrate that their new products have the same characteristics as a predicate product, or that any differences do not cause the new tobacco product to raise different questions of public health.
EAS Consulting Group offers a wide range of regulatory services. For assistance with dietary supplement and tobacco questions, including preparation of TPMPs, please contact our Senior Director for Dietary Supplement and Tobacco Services, Tara Lin Couch, Ph.D. at 571-447-5510 or [email protected].
Tara Lin Couch Ph.D., Senior Director for Dietary Supplements and Tobacco Services, will present a webinar on August 6, 2018, at 1:00 pm Eastern to help cannabis firms prepare for cannabis Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs). As states begin to regulate legalized cannabis, the concern of how GMPs apply to this unique industry cannot be understated. While regulations vary from state to state the quality systems under which cannabis products are grown and manufactured have similarities that can begin to pave the way for putting practices and procedures in place to meet compliance expectations, including those of testing and quality control of in-process materials, finished batches and packaged/labeled products. The time is right for the cannabis industry to begin assessing manufacturing processes and implementing sound and effective quality systems in order to begin preparing for GMP regulations. Stay ahead of the curve, standardize your product quality and be a leader in your industry. Join Tara on August 6, 2018, at 1:00 pm Eastern for this free webinar by clicking here.
EAS is pleased to be invited speakers at two sessions as part of the FDLI Annual Conference. Independent Advisor for Import Operations, Domenic Veneziano, spoke Friday, May 4, 2018, at a session on International Harmonization Efforts. Mr. Veneziano is a former director of the FDA’s Division of Import Operations, where he spent ten years overseeing FDA’s import operations program and providing leadership, guidance, and direction to approximately 1,000 field investigators in more than 320 U.S. ports of entry.
Please join Domenic on June 26, 2018, EAS Webinar on VQIP which will delve more deeply into this option for expedited entry of products to the U.S. market.
Dean Cirotta, President, and COO moderated a May 3, 2018, panel session called FDA Center Directors: Center for Tobacco Products (CTP). The discussion included priorities and goals for the Center as well as feedback on issues facing the industry. As noted in the What’s Happening at FDA section of this EAS-e-News, FDA is actively working on Good Manufacturing Practice equivalents for the tobacco industry, which is called Tobacco Product Manufacturing Practices. EAS has been actively following this development and is able to provide guidance on expected compliance requirements.
Independent Consultant, Heather Fairman has published two articles recently. One in Food Processing Magazine focuses on the positive impact of workplace safety programs on corporate culture. Next, she wrote about five “golden rules” for co-packers to stay competitive and profitable for Natural Products Insider. In addition to being a gifted writer and expert consultant on quality control and quality assurance issues, Heather serves as a Technical Advisor for the SIDS DOCK Island Women Open Network (IWON), an intergovernmental organization of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which has all the rights and privileges of a United Nations organization comprised of 32 countries and who are embarking on developing a raw material market for the herbal supply-chain.
Gabe Miller, an expert in Food Safety Programs has written an article for the Cannabis Industry Journal on how solid food safety programs can help make cannabis products safer and save businesses a lot of time and money.
Gabe spoke at the upcoming University of Madison Cleaning and Sanitation Short Course on sanitary equipment design on May 1. Gabe is a specialist in troubleshooting food safety and quality problems and has extensive experience in evaluating electrical, mechanical and equipment systems. He is a 3-A Sanitary Standards Inc. Certified Conformance Evaluator (CCE) who works with food processing equipment design and engineering companies to advance hygienic design.
Independent Advisor for OTC Drugs and Labeling, Susan Crane, will host a webinar July 31, 2018, at 1:00 pm Eastern on OTC monographs. Join her for a better understanding of how to read and interpret the different sections of the monograph and translate the required elements into a Drug Facts panel. She’ll also discuss what the future might hold for OTC drugs as Congress considers changes to the monograph system. This webinar is complimentary and you may register by clicking here.
EAS Consulting Group is offering a full line-up of educational opportunities through our informative webinar series. These 45-minute webinars are an opportunity to get up to the minute regulatory information on the latest topics pertaining to FDA regulated industries, with time for questions after the presentation. Reserve your seat today!
FDA recently responded to a letter from congressional representatives regarding product safety in the dietary supplement industry. In the letter, dated April 12, 2018, the agency states that safety, product integrity, and informed decision-making are the prioritization factors used to determine enforcement and regulatory strategies for the dietary supplement industry which is now a $40 Billion market with up to 80,000 products through a supply chain that includes approximately 7,000 facilities.
The agency stressed that the review of Serious Adverse Events, New Dietary Ingredient notifications, and work with the FTC to remove product and companies from the market that contain undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients and other adulterants when found through inspection, label compliance reviews, and market surveillance is key.
This was sent in a letter to Congressional Representative Andy Harris from MD, Derek Kilmer from WA, and David Young from IA who had previously requested that FDA describe its role and current progress in dietary supplement enforcement and regulation. It is a great glimpse into the current thinking of the Office of Dietary Supplements.
Independent Advisor for Import Operations and former FDA Director of Import Operations, Domenic Veneziano, will host a webinar focusing on the specific requirements and applications of the Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP) on June 26, 2018, at 1:00 pm Eastern. VQIP is a fee-based, voluntary application whereby firms who meet certain food safety and import history requirements may receive expedited review and entry of their products into the US market. VQIP will take effect in October 2018 so it is now time to determine eligibility and apply to be included in the program. Join Domenic on June 26th by clicking here. There is a $99 registration fee associated with this webinar.
FDA released Guidance for Industry on highly concentrated caffeine in dietary supplements. FDA considers products which only or primarily consist of pure or highly concentrated caffeine and are sold as dietary supplements to be adulterated under section 402(f)(1)(A) of the FD&C Act [21 U.S.C. § 342(f)(1)(A)] due to the significant or unreasonable risk of illness or injury under the conditions of use recommended or suggested in the labeling or, if no conditions for use are suggested or recommended, under ordinary conditions of use. These products which have been linked to at least two deaths in recent years are considered to present a significant public health threat.
Dawn Wydner, Ph.D., consults in pharma and medical devices, providing proactive compliance and application of quality oversight in all aspects of operational strategy, coordination and conduct. Prior to consulting she was the Senior Director of BioResearch, Quality, and Compliance at Janssen Research & Development, LLC where she oversaw GxP regulatory requirements and compliance issues and provided guidance on GCP/GLP mock inspections and audits of clinical investigators, CROs, SMOs, sponsors/monitors, animal laboratories and IRBs. She is a sought-after speaker, sharing her expertise on topics such as Sponsor Monitor Inspection Management and Expectations, Inspection Readiness and FDA Trends, Analytical Risk Management.
Richard White is a former Director of Codex and International Standards Policy at the Grocery Manufacturers Association. Prior to GMA, he had a career serving US public interests as the Senior Director, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Affairs at the Office of the US Trade Representative and as the Senior Advisor for International Activities in the Office of the Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances at the Environmental Protection Agency. As a consultant he provides expert advice and services regarding international standards, national policies and regulations on food safety and animal and plant health with a focus on the activities of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) and its subsidiary bodies.
Andrea Yablunosky’s focus is product development, labeling compliance, and risk mitigation for issues pertaining to USDA/FSIS. With a background in food science and nutrition she is well-versed in policy development, product reformulations and promotions, recall preparedness and effective recall management. Prior to consulting Andrea was the Director of Government Affairs at ConAgra Foods where she advised the company business units on implications of FDA and USDA policy objectives.
Dee Duffy has over thirty years of experience in regulatory food labeling and a passion for saving companies money by helping them comply with public health information regulatory standards. She has worked with numerous food manufacturers like Johnsonville and Birchwood Foods on products available in grocery outlets like Kroger, Publix, and H-E-B, to help ensure new product packaging can go on shelves with minimal risk.
Bryan Armentrout is an expert in international CPG, and dairy, quality, system development, Safe Quality Foods, (SQF), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), design control, auditing, troubleshooting, recall, and crisis management, and process improvement. Prior to consulting he was the Vice President of Quality Assurance and Food Safety with Boulder Brands and the Vice President of Quality Assurance and Food Safety at CSC Sugar, LLC. He has a history of benchmarked and proven success leading companies to more efficient and compliant processes.
Meet Issue of the Month Author Gustavo Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Gustavo Gonzalez, Ph.D. is a Food safety, regulatory compliance and quality leader with 24 years’ experience driving strategic planning and implementation the policies and procedures that govern food safety and quality programs that align with current and industry food safety, quality, and R&D trends and best practices. He is an expert in a range of food sectors, quality and safety systems and other programs such as allergen control/prevention, auditing functions, distribution systems, environmental monitoring, FSMA, GFSI, retail operations, sanitation, team building, and training. Prior to consulting, Dr. Gonzalez was the Corporate Director of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance for Jack in the Box, Inc. He has a Ph.D. in Meat Science from Iowa State University.
We invite you to join Dr. Gonzalez on June 6, 2018, at 1:00 pm Eastern when he will present a webinar on the requirements of the Foreign Supplier Verification Program in Spanish. Click here to reserve your seat.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a final rule to extend the compliance dates for updating Nutrition Facts and Supplement Facts labels, from July 26, 2018, to January 1, 2020, for manufacturers with $10 million or more in annual food sales. Manufacturers with less than $10 million in annual food sales will receive an extra year to comply – until January 1, 2021. The agency published a proposed rule to extend the compliance date in September 2017, and this rule finalizes that extension. This approximately 18-month extension will provide sufficient time to transition to the new version of the Nutrition Facts label.
Foods are defined in the FD&C as articles used for food or drink for man or other animals, chewing gum, and articles used for components of any such article. Dietary supplements are defined as a product taken by mouth that contain a dietary ingredient intended to supplement the diet. Dietary ingredients may include vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, and substances such as enzymes, organ tissues, glandulars, and metabolites; or extracts or concentrates of any of these. Dietary supplements can be in many dosage forms such as tablets, capsules, softgels, gelcaps, gummies, liquids, powders, and bars if they do not represent the product as a conventional food or sole item of a meal or diet.
The DSHEA regulation itself addresses aspects of the manufacturing, packaging and distribution of a dietary supplement product for distribution to the consumer. The comparable general food regulations are found in the relatively new FDA “Preventive Controls for Human Foods” regulation found in 21 CFR 117.
Shortly after the beginning of enforcement of 21 CFR 111 by the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CSFAN), in 2010, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was passed by the United States Congress in 2011. FSMA has been referred to as the most sweeping and significant legislation for the protection of public health regarding safety, efficiency and security of foods, drugs and cosmetics (the mandate of the FDA) since the first set of laws were passed with FD&C in 1938. It was in reaction to numerous cases of food-borne illness and product recalls, particularly for pathogens (undesirable microorganisms) and allergen cross-contact and contamination issues in general foods. Pathogenic microorganisms of most notable concern are Escherichia Coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureusand Listeria monocytogenes. Allergens are foreign substances that, in some consumers, can cause an abnormal immune system response that, at its most dangerous extreme, can result in death. In the United States, by law, eight food allergens must be identified; these are known as the “big eight”, i.e., milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans. Seven major regulations have been issued by FDA to support enforcement of FSMA. The most important of these being 21 CFR 117, “cGMP and Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventative Controls for Human Food (PCHF).” Interestingly, dietary supplements are exempt from many of the requirements in these seven FSMA-based regulations, but not all.
Allen Sayler is the senior director for food consulting services at EAS. Sayler’s expertise in the areas of food processing, particularly in the area of dairy processing, infant formula, bakery products, food additives, botanical products and food packaging as well as GSFI Third-Party Certification programs such as Safe Quality Foods (SQF). Allen has spent more than 30 years as a food processing and regulatory expert, with half of the time serving the industry and the other have as a state and federal government employee.
At TMAs 103rd Annual Meeting held on Tuesday, April 10, 2018, Dr. Zeller confirmed that FDA is actively working on a number of priorities that he called “Foundational Rules and Guidances”. This includes the issuing of the Tobacco Product Manufacturing Practice (TPMP) Rule which is required by Section 906(e) of the Tobacco Control Act addressing Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Requirements, which the FDA now calls TPMPs. Mr. Zeller made it clear that the FDA is “hard at work” on this rule.
When asked about when the industry can expect this Foundational Rule and Guidance for TPMPs to be issued by the FDA, Mr. Zeller declined to comment on a specific timeline, however, he did stress that the rule, along with the other foundational rules and guidance, is a priority for CTP. FDA is actively working on these and is committed to issuing the TPMP rule as soon as possible.
The tobacco industry should begin prioritizing manufacturing and quality processes assessments to begin preparing for and implementing quality systems, manufacturing controls, documentation, and SOPs. Based on Mr. Zeller’s presentation, the impending issuance of Tobacco TPMPs in conjunction with FDA’s new priorities indicates this preparation should begin sooner rather than later.
Steve Armstrong is the winner of the 2018 Service to FDLI award, presented at this year’s FDLI Annual Conference held in Washington, D.C. Steve is the former chief law counsel at Campbell Soup Company and has been consulting with EAS, providing expert opinion and strategy in the areas of product development and labeling since 2016. Steve is a sought-after speaker and writer, particularly on the subject of GMOs and other claims. His contributions to FDLI and the industry through his own efforts and as a representative of EAS facilitate greater industry understanding and promotion of ethical and sound practices.
You may read Steve’s most recent article on due diligence, mergers and acquisitions, and considerations when purchasing a 21st Century Food Company in a recent Natural Products Insider.
Senior Director for Food Consulting Services, Allen Sayler, will speak on how FSMA impacts the dietary supplement industry during the Dietary Supplement Regulatory Summit, taking place May 16, 2018, in Washington, DC. The Dietary Supplements Regulatory Summit is the collaboration between AHPA, CHPA, CRN, NPA, and UNPA — the trade associations representing the dietary supplements industry and will feature updates and insights from FDA and industry regulatory experts, and will focus on the key regulatory compliance issues facing the dietary supplements industry. | 2019-04-25T14:13:50Z | https://easconsultinggroup.com/2018/05/ |
Grab This Free Kindle Book Today!
Yes, this book should look familiar to a lot of you as it is how you found this blog and what started this whole thing (and previous versions have been downloaded over one million times)….I recently updated it with a few minor changes and corrections for sites that have gone away. This is a new version published just the other day, so if you had a previous version I’d recommend you grab this one now while it is free today – better yet, why not tell your friends to grab this one, also, so they can literally never buy a Kindle book again!
Please note this eBook is not USA-specific: in other words, each site mentioned in this Guide allows you to download and enjoy their content on your Kindle no matter which country you may live.
From the author of the Amazon Kindle best-selling blog “Free Kindle Books and Tips” comes this update to your definitive guide to millions of free books online! Rather than limit yourself to the offerings at Amazon, there are literally thousands upon thousands of books, short stories, and more available to you for no charge which you can transfer directly to your Kindle or other eBook reader, download or email directly to your Kindle.
Sure, you could spend several hours performing the same research, but save yourself the time and frustration as this guide will show you where to look and find thousands of books so you can read to your heart’s content!
Everyone enjoys receiving free stuff – the author included. This guide shows you where you can receive several hundred thousand (actually over a million) free books, blogs, short stories, and other content. Theoretically, you will never have to pay another cent for Kindle reading content again.
This guide also provides a brief overview of how to transfer books to your Kindle, the various file formats that are compatible with the Kindle, and how to download free books from the Internet and transfer to your Kindle.
Click here to pick up your free copy of Free Kindle Books & How to Find Them in the Amazon Kindle store.
Michael Gallagher is the author of several bestselling Kindle “how-to” guides, and his title “Free Kindle Books and How to Find Them” has been the #1 Kindle reference guide for several years and has been downloaded over one million times. His “Free Kindle Books and Tips” blog has been the #1 bestselling subscription blog in the Amazon Kindle Store since 2010.
Click here or type in http://smarturl.it/dk4zm1 into your web browser to pick up your copy of Infection Z in the Amazon Kindle store.
Crushing on the Boss is a clean and sweet romance. Three years out of college and Natalie Fairfax still doesn’t know what she’s going to be when she grows up. While her group of best friends are getting married and having babies, Natalie has been waiting tables and hoping that something better will come along. It’s not until Forest, a deadly hot businessman, walks into the restaurant that Natalie begins to question her own sanity. Infatuated beyond reason from the get-go, she has no explanation for the craziness that she feels inside. It’s the kind of craziness that’s not just going to take her out of her comfort zone; it’s the kind of craziness that just might save her life.
Click here or type in http://smarturl.it/57o2qp into your web browser to pick up your copy of Crushing on the Boss in the Amazon Kindle store.
Click here to pick up your free copy of Forever Road in the Amazon Kindle store.
Click here to pick up your free copy of The Beauty Bride in the Amazon Kindle store.
Click here or type in http://smarturl.it/rb8xpz into your web browser to pick up your copy of Westin’s Chase in the Amazon Kindle store.
A gentleman, who overate himself at the Presbyterian supper last night, enclosed an extra half dollar to one of the lady managers this morning. It’s the only case on record of conscience money paid to a church festival. Out of respect to the family, we will not mention the name of the gentleman.
It seems that the bulletin board set up in the post office inviting patrons to complain to the postmaster is a regular trap to catch the unwary, as the postmaster gives the complainant a piece of his mind for daring to complain. So says a patron.
City carts are employed today hauling off mud. In dry weather they will haul it back again.
It is now discovered that the abutments for the new bridge on Houston street are nine feet short, and the masons are at work remedying the mistake of the city engineer.
A plan is in contemplation to turn the historic Alamo church into a museum. It should be abandoned. The building is unfit for a storehouse for old trumpery.
To refined vagrants it is known as the Hotel Shardein, so called from the gentleman who has charge of it. Others call it the Bat Cave. In city parlance it has the uneuphonious (sic) name of the city jail.
Many of the citizens refuse to believe that the statement of a man being found in the Water Works reservoir was untrue. They assert that the water has tasted bad for some time and they are quite sure that said bad taste was caused by the presence of the dead man.
The census takers are instructed to take only the people and to omit the cats, which the Examiner says were included in Ft. Worth.
Click here or type in http://smarturl.it/ntbbdf into your web browser to pick up your copy of Texas Clippings in the Amazon Kindle store.
Marooned in the 19th century Old West, an alien must survive on the violent planet and return to his homeworld to destroy his mortal enemies and avenge his people.
During a raid to a Comanche camp he rescues Anna, a tall warrior woman. The two become friends and comrades, their fates forever intertwined. They find themselves together in the prairies of 19th century Texas, the bordellos of Civil War-era New Orleans, to Prohibition in the 1920s, the Great Depression, and the vastness of space.
But will they survive hardships through history, the enmity of their southern neighbors and the Civil War, and be able to return to his home planet to exact his revenge?
Click here or type in http://smarturl.it/earthbound into your web browser to pick up your copy of Earthbound in the Amazon Kindle store.
The boy came to her out of water, unexpected. He was smart and strong and goofy, as boys are meant to be, but peculiar – he remembered everything.
In the span of a single summer, she made him fearless.
Now, even as Mercedes Adams is at the height of her career, forbidding changes loom over the world. That night, in the hushed calm of a spring evening, two plain-faced killers watch her home, waiting to make their approach.
A few hundred miles away, a brilliant technologist returns to his childhood town in order to begin a descent into darkness . . . in London, a military game theorist finds himself pursuing kidnappers . . . outside Prague, a hacker and a thief stumble upon plans for a weapon unique to the world . . . an FBI agent faces an unpredictable fugitive in Chicago, while in Germany, a sniper-turned-schoolteacher finds reasons to take up his ancient calling . . . and a sitting United States Senator finds his life and his work invaded to terrifying conclusion. In Paris, a widowed man begins to recognize the hints and patterns of a greater puzzle that will bring them together . . . or kill them all.
Mercedes Adams is about to find herself at the center of a vast, tightening knot of mystery, intrigue, and globe-spanning terror borne of her family’s legacy. Rising to her aid is a small group of specially-trained men and women. And at their center?
A man who remembers everything.
Click here to pick up your free copy of Jack Be Nimble: Gargoyle Book 1 in the Amazon Kindle store.
Struggling financially and emotionally, Ellie is torn between keeping her baby and giving it up for adoption. She wants to give her child the chance she never had – to be raised by two loving parents. If only she could make Lucas understand. And, if only she wasn’t falling for a man with no heart left to give.
Lucas finds himself wanting more. Wanting Ellie. But what if he gives in to his deepening feelings and loses her, too?
One fears abandonment. The other fears loss. Can Ellie and Lucas put their painful pasts behind them and finally find true happiness? Or are the emotional walls they’ve built up around their hearts too strong to tear down?
Click here to pick up your free copy of Loving Ellie in the Amazon Kindle store.
Click here or type in http://smarturl.it/62916 into your web browser to pick up your copy of Landfall: The Ship Series Book One in the Amazon Kindle store.
Jerry Aubin is a successful technology executive who runs a venture-backed startup. A lifelong science fiction fan, he decided to write his own series when he became disenchanted with the stories available to read to his kids. He lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, two boys, and one awesome boxer named Queso.
You can visit Jerry’s Amazon author page if you click here or type in http://smarturl.it/aubin into your web browser.
Here’s your sescond group of free and discounted Kindle book offers in a variety of genres for Wednesday: for those books listed as being free in this post – while the pricing of the free status is valid at the time of this posting, please make sure you check the pricing carefully before you press the “buy” button as it could revert back to paid status at any time!
Billions will die, and I am the cause of it all. To know why, you have to go back to another, simpler time, when I was just a boy. I remember my family, hanging helplessly from the eaves of the porch of our ranch. And I remember the Preacher, slipping the noose around my neck. He was searching for a woman, the last of her kind. He’d been hunting her for longer than he could remember, and her death would end a war that had raged for thousands of years.
It was supposed to be the final battle but she was clever and unpredictable, and had eluded him again. Instead of finding her, he found me, and I had made it a whole new war. My name is Gabriel Armstrong, and I am immortal.
The Eighth Day is a chilling post-apocalyptic thriller.
Click here or type in http://smarturl.it/eighthday into your web browser to pick up your copy of The Eighth Day in the Amazon Kindle store.
After the world’s longest pregnancy, Kiki has her baby. But nothing in Kiki’s life goes as planned, does it? You’d think Detweiler would be over-the-moon with happiness, but instead he’s acting like he’s been jabbed with a diaper pin. Anya is sharing inappropriate pictures, Erik is wetting the bed, and someone is trying to steal newborn babies from hospitals in St. Louis. Kiki comes down with a bad case of the new mommy blues, and then one of her worst enemies winds up dead. It’s enough to make Kiki to cry like a baby–but help is on the way. Or is it?
Click here or type in http://smarturl.it/gluebabygone into your web browser to pick up your copy of Glue, Baby, Gone in the Amazon Kindle store.
Click here to pick up your free copy of Magic of Thieves in the Amazon Kindle store.
Click here or type in http://smarturl.it/felixchronicles into your web browser to pick up your copy of The Felix Chronicles: Freshmen in the Amazon Kindle store.
Click here or type in http://smarturl.it/y1xqck into your web browser to pick up your copy of Golden Legacy in the Amazon Kindle store.
Click here to pick up your free copy of Becoming Zara in the Amazon Kindle store.
If you liked Avatar and Ender’s Game, you’ll love Black Bead!
On a savage, outlying planet an enclave of psionically-trained humans have built a utopian, matriarchal society that lives in harmony with all life. Leaving behind the polluted and corrupt world in which they lived, they colonized a new home far from the eyes of the galactic empire. Shielded from the rest of the galaxy by the dangerous beasts that inhabit their lush, forested world, the village lives a simple life under their Home Dome. But their goal was more than just to live in peace – they wanted to create the perfect human who could bring peace to the galaxy. Rather than merely cloning themselves, they began to manipulate genes in order to create a race of mutants with enhanced telepathic powers.
Under the direction of the ruling witch coven, each child of the Windfall Dome is tested at a young age to asses their abilities – a test which can plot the course for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, Cheobawn – the daughter of the ruling First Mother to the dome – is marked with the Black Bead on her Choosing Day, a symbol of bad luck and shame. It seems the child the mothers had placed so much hope in would not be the future ruler they had hoped for. Yet there is something powerful about her that the elders don’t understand.
Finally of age, Cheobawn is chosen to join a pack to act as the psychic Ear on a foraging mission outside the dome. She knows this is her chance to prove herself. But something sinister stalks them and each member of the pack must draw on their unique strengths and a lifetime of training if they want to survive to see another day.
In her visionary new series The Black Bead Chronicles, author J.D. Lakey invites you to journey along with Cheobawn, Megan, Tam, Connor, and Alain as they use their wits and their Luck to unravel the mysteries of the deceptively bucolic life beneath the dome in this coming of age metaphysical science fiction adventure.
Click here to pick up your free copy of Black Bead in the Amazon Kindle store.
Click here to pick up your free copy of The Case of the Flashing Fashion Queen in the Amazon Kindle store.
Click here to pick up your free copy of The Knowing: Book One in the Amazon Kindle store.
Or meet Will in Black Sunshine, who has returned after 20 years to man up to what he did in the coal mine that day AFTER the explosion that killed 27 miners.
Then there’s Anne from The Memory Closet, who has forgotten her entire childhood but has pledged to do whatever it takes to recover those memories–even if it costs her sanity or her life.
And Bubba Jamison, the brutally vicious dope grower from Home Grown, Slap-Yo-Mama Carmichael, the old black stand-up comic from The Last Safe Place, Ron Wolfson, the crusading photojournalist from Sudan and Grayson Addington, the shattered Vietnam vet from When Butterflies Cry.
You want interesting–I got interesting! Pull up a chair, sit down by the fire, open one of my books and let the suspense start to build. Or less idyllically, grab a seat on the A Train to Brooklyn or the Piccadilly Line to London Waterloo Station and fire up your Kindle.
Mia Rosetti is used to being different, especially since she can tell if people are good or evil just by looking at their auras.
But when a mysterious (and handsome) stranger walks into her life without one, she starts questioning her power and begins a search to find the true purpose of her gift.
What she doesn’t know is that aura-less Thomas harbors secrets of his own – an abusive past and the ability to avoid danger.
None are aware of the ancient prophesy foretelling the birth of seven psychics destine to change the world. Among the Shrouded follows Mia, Thomas and Kate, three unsuspecting strangers whose lives intertwine to reveal the significance of their gifts and the greater purpose of their collective lives.
Click here or type in http://smarturl.it/5sz640 into your web browser to pick up your copy of Among the Shrouded in the Amazon Kindle store.
Read the complete collection of writings from H.P. Lovecraft. This edition includes a fully linked table of contents so you can find your favorites easily and return to Lovecraft’s work again and again. Stories, poems, letters and essays are included in this massive ebook.
Click here or type in http://smarturl.it/hplovecraft into your web browser to pick up your copy of The Complete H.P. Lovecraft Collection in the Amazon Kindle store.
Delve into a riveting world of werewolves and young women with unexplained abilities, in Hope(less).
Click here to pick up your free copy of Hope(Less) in the Amazon Kindle store.
The Door is the first book in the Seventh Dimension Series that combines contemporary, historical, and fantasy elements into a Christian “coming-of-age” story. A curse put on Shale Snyder, because of a secret, shrouds her with insecurity and fear. Following suspension from school, Shale’s best friend isn’t allowed to see her anymore and she feels abandoned by her family. When a stray dog befriends her, she follows it into the woods. There she discovers a door that leads to another world….
Click here to pick up your free copy of Seventh Dimension – The Door in the Amazon Kindle store.
Possibly the most controversial story yet from best-selling author, D.W. Ulsterman.
RACE WARS is an apocalyptic survival thriller that details the spread of brutality across the United States as a once-proud nation is ripped apart by racial division and self-serving politicians unwilling to quell the violence they themselves helped to create.
It is a frightening tale many believe could happen, and some believe WILL happen.
If so, are you fully prepared to defend family and friend from a world gone mad?
Click here to pick up your free copy of Race Wars Omnibus: Season 1-5 in the Amazon Kindle store.
Click here or type in http://smarturl.it/burnside into your web browser to pick up your copy of The Burnside Mystery Series, Boxed Set in the Amazon Kindle store.
Mr Argenton’s young cousin, Elise, draws terrifying images. Doors slam. Inhuman figures slink through the forest surrounding the house. A piano plays in the middle of the night. Blood drips from the ceilings.
Sophie is inevitably pulled towards the terrifying truth: Northwood’s ancient halls are haunted by the family’s long-dead ancestors. The malevolent spirits—produced by grisly deaths—resent her intrusion into their home.
Trapped in Northwood and desperate for an escape, Sophie’s fate is further complicated as she finds herself irrevocably drawn to the tall, dark-eyed man she married. She suspects her feelings are returned, but Mr Argenton is hiding the truth about the house—and his secrets are so dangerous that they might just be unforgivable.
Click here or type in http://smarturl.it/y7qrhb into your web browser to pick up your copy of House of Shadows in the Amazon Kindle store.
This fast-paced romantic adventure by an Amazon best-selling author is set in autumn, 1448 at England’s famed Applewood horse fair. The midnight peace is shattered when monastic knights invade the camp to reclaim a treasured chalice stolen by a Gypsy. The attack sets in motion a string of deadly pursuits, a mystery murder, and a political crisis involving the most prominent bishop in England.
In the center of the chaos, the beautiful half-Gypsy, Kadriya, yearns for true love. Raised by English nobility, she has passed the threshold of womanhood. Spurned for her mixed blood, she is now twenty and longs for acceptance. With one foot planted firmly in each of her ethnic shorelines, Kadriya struggles to find her place in the world. Teraf, an impetuous Gypsy tribal king of surpassing charm, proposes she choose her Romani legacy. When Kadriya accepts, she starts a wild journey that challenges her loyalties and tests her courage.
This historical adventure unfolds when Kadriya arrives at the horse fair, where Teraf will announce their betrothal. Kadriya stands at his side, basking in the warmth of her realized dream.
Click here or type in http://smarturl.it/emeraldsilk into your web browser to pick up your copy of Emerald Silk in the Amazon Kindle store.
Fleeing for safety, they soon cross paths with other survivors. It doesn’t take long until they realize that the dead are not the only things to fear. While the world is taken over by the dead, Zoe and Boggs are brought together in a heated romance that neither expect. Things get even more complicated when Zoe finds herself cursed with a mental link to the dead. Their lives become all about surviving, coping, and loving each other.
Book one of the Grace Series. Intended for mature audiences.
Click here to pick up your free copy of Grace Lost in the Amazon Kindle store.
The headless body of a wealthy widow is discovered decomposing in Chelling Forest. Then a second victim is found. Detective Inspector Lorne Simpkins and her partner, DS Pete Childs are assigned the case.
Before they can discover the identity of the killer they must make a connection between the two victims.
After a third murder, Lorne receives a grisly surprise. Clearly, a vicious serial killer is on a rampage…and Lorne has become the killer’s fixation.
Lorne can’t allow her failing marriage or her new boss–a man with whom she shares a sensuous secret–keep her from focusing on her job. She must catch the macabre murderer, or risk becoming the next victim.
Click here to pick up your free copy of Cruel Justice in the Amazon Kindle store.
Fixed is a darkly comedic memoir that spans my unsupervised youth, drug and alcohol addiction, bank robbery, life in prison and ultimately my release and re-entry into my life’s new and sober orbit.
I grew up with alcoholic parents trapped inside their own lonely skins, a painful childhood full of cold shoulders and broken furniture. I burst onto the drug scene at age eleven and thrived before slowly finding out that it wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be. With addiction taking over and dictating my every move, I tried to make sense of it all while gathering five unwanted felonies along the way.
At thirty-three, after a long string of bank robberies and my bad guy impersonation had run its course, I was brought back to life with the gift of prison and given the opportunity to experience a new childhood that I could have only imagined while growing up in Manville. Upon release, I learned that the universe is a kind and forgiving place, often strange and funny with plenty for everyone as long as I don’t forget where I came from.
Click here or type in http://smarturl.it/fixed into your web browser to pick up your copy of Fixed: Dope Sacks, Dye Packs, and the Long Welcome Back in the Amazon Kindle store.
After two decades of reckless behavior, gripping drug addiction and petty crime evolving into bank robbery ended on the day he started a 115-month prison sentence in 1993. He has been clean and sober and crime-free ever since, a remarkable turnaround against long odds that such a change was possible. Upon his release, Piotter built a successful construction company and became an active member of his recovery community. He lives in Seattle with his wife, artist Terrell Lozada.
You can visit Doug’s Amazon author page if you click here or type in http://smarturl.it/piotter into your web browser. | 2019-04-18T16:28:11Z | https://fkbt.com/2016/06/ |
If the BRF cares so much about the commonwealth countries why not send a member to the different countries to have continual representation and they could sell themselves every day. Could it be because the commonwealth countries don't want them there?
There are only 16 commonwealth countries left and they will get rid of the Monarchy once the Queen is gone.
Why does the BRF think they have a right to sway the citizens of these countries decisions? The colonial days are over and gone.
There have been so many different reasons for why the Queens children were snubbed that I can't keep up with them all. It began with showing austerity so the people could see that they were cutting expenses and it has evolved to be about the Commonwealth countries.
There are people all over the world who do not care for Charles and Camilla, why would them standing on a balcony or riding in a carriage change that?
When I post my opinion I am not representing the Institution or it's survival but I am representing myself. Isn't that what we all do on the forums express our own individual opinions. If your opinion is to help the institution survive then good for you.
Another opinion of mine is that all Charles was thinking when Diana died was how is this going to affect me. I find it hard to believe that a man is shattered about the death of a person that he couldn't tolerate.
I'm not going to debate this with you in detail since I find that we are on two separate tangents.
I'm not here as an advocate for the British monarchy. I'm not here to denigrate your opinion or diminish your right to express it. And, I'm certainly not here to debate whether or not the BRF will survive in Commonwealth countries - or its reasons for wanting to do so.
Nor am I going to debate hypotheticals with you, which you are proposing. It's just not the way my mind works in debate.
I am simply expressing facts about recent visits by members of the BRF to Australia, Canada and NZ. This supports the proposition that the BRF wants to continue to reign over those countries. IMO, this explains, in-part (but not entirely) the balcony scene, which has caused some heated debate by virtue of its anomalous presence.
Again, it is not up for you - or I for that matter - to deny the BRF the right to so act over its subjects of the Commonwealth. I presented some brief facts and that doesn't seem to sit well with you. That's fine, your prerogative. But please remember, as it stands, the Queen is also the Queen of Australia and this Jubilee had some meaning for Oz also. It did not go unnoticed.
Now, I do know a thing or two about Australia's relationship with the BRF that you may not. It's only natural. I'm Australian and know a thing or two about politics and law. I'm not going to go into it now because it is off-topic and I don't care to.
But, just because YOU have decided that all the Commonwealth countries will not remain as Constitutional monarchies does not make it so. It does not mean the BRF thinks it's a hopeless case. It's a LOT more complicated than what you are suggesting, or even what I am posting here.
In Australia, at least, some of us think there are very good reasons for keeping the monarchy. It's not about personal feelings toward the Queen and her family. It's about our Constitution. But the only way the BRF can "sell" itself to us is to send its members on visits and to respect our right to govern our own country as we see fit.
Clearly, you despise Charles and my dissenting opinion of him doesn't abide with yours (obviously). I'm sorry about that and if it causes you sensitivity. But that is not something that I can change.
The Commonwealth countries partly because they are so distant are more progressive in that they don't see the point of having an archaic institution heading them up. In Britain, we are so used to centuries of ingrained forelock tugging that we can't imagine life without the RF. However, Scotland etc are now starting to shake off the shackles. Members of the BRF don't care enough about the commonwealth countries to go and live there...goodness, they've got it too cosy back in Blighty with its ready made fawning citizens.
If Charles thinks that basking himself, his spawn and their scheming wives in the limelight will sell themselves as the future of Britain and the Commonwealth...(sorry, I can hardly type for laughing) he's in for a big shock. In fact it just highlights what we've got to look forward to...and it's not an alluring prospect. The majority of people have lost a lot of respect for him and his aging, horsey wife and see them as self serving, deceitful opportunists - if they can deceive a young, beautiful, innocent Diana and treat her abominably, they will have no trouble treating the taxpayer with the same contempt - people don't trust them. The Telegraph even acknowledge that the majority of people don't want him...and, I'm guessing, they won't want William and Thing either when they see how reluctant they are to take on more work as a result of Charles paring down the RF.
I agree Snokitty, that all Charles was thinking when Diana died was how is this going to affect himself. Any sorrow was IMO due to the guilt of how he mistreated her when she was alive.
Well, as stated to SnoKitty, you may scoff all you like. You may not approve. But the fact is the BRF doesn't think it is a lost cause. That is what matters, pertaining to my point.
I wouldn't call Australia 'progressive'. But I would call Australians irreverent, not subscribing to class warfare. It's an issue here right now.
And, with respect, you are not Australian, so you don't know how the mood is over here. I know what's going on behind the scenes a bit, so it most certainly is not a "done deal" - not yet. Changing our Constitution - any Constitution - is a big deal.
I admit, I thought it was a fait accompli, but the political landscape in Oz has changed dramatically. Like I said, it's not about the members of the BRF - it's so much more than that. So, most Australians don't care about Camilla and Kate. Charles is not well liked, but I'm not sure it's enough for us to become a republic. With regards to Australia, it's not really personal - in the main - the way it seems to be in Britain.
The BRF cannot live in Oz, or any member of it, which you well know. We have the best of both worlds: we don't pay for the BRF, but we get the stability of a constitutional monarchy. It keeps out corruption at the top.
I appreciate your input on Charles and your right to express that opinion. It's just diverse opinion. But when it comes to expressing an opinion on Australia's position with the monarchy, I disagree based on the fact that I have considerable idea about what the real issues and obstacles are.
There are many things I could say but haven't and I don't intend to. But we do have monarchists in this country - high profile ones too.
Anyway, I just offered a point of view as to why the balcony scene was so slimmed. I'm happy to agree to disagree.
Even though you have prefaced this comment 'with respect', I don't think it's respectful at all. I could equally dismiss all your comment with the reason that, with respect, you are thousands of miles away so what do you know - I'm nearer to the hub of the BRF.
Actually, I meant it. I respect you as a Brit with good opinions. You might be a bit sensitive and I can't help that.
You can't dismiss what is 'fact'. And the fact is that you are not Australian and don't know what is going on here. Well, at least you have shown ignorance to it ... I don't claim to know anything about the British mind. I merely offered an opinion that was based in fact.
You have been arguing as to why Harry was on the balcony. I offered an explanation for it. If you don't agree, that's fine. But there is absolutely no need to invent an argument about the merits of what I know, or not, about the BRF.
You have put it upon yourself to tell me what my countrymen will do and what type of country I live in ('progressive'). Do you not agree that you are being presumptuous? When have I ever stated that I know what the Brits will do and what type of continent it is?
If anyone should take offence, it is I, as Australian. I think I responded with good grace.
I'm just letting you know that decisions for Australia to become a republic will not boil down to personalities of the BRF. If that were the case, then William could save the day. But it is beyond that.
Now, I have never presumed to know if and why the Brits would keep or scrap the monarchy. All I proposed was that if prominent Commonwealth countries become republics, it may reinvigorate republicanism in the UK.
And, for the record, Australia is still very much a conservative country; it is not 'progressive' at all. We have always been irreverent and not inclined to class distinction, however.
What do people expect? Again it doesn't mean his siblings will disappear now it's only they will be seen less it doesn't mean Prince Charles is "evil" that is just the way things work ...I am sure his siblings know that...having touched upon this nonsense can we talk about Camilla's hat ?
By the time Charles is king William possibly will have four kids, then it would make Harry the sixth. So if they are streamlining it doesn't make sense that he is considered as an important part of the RF.
Charles's brothers and cousins may disappear from the limelight in important events but I doubt that they will stop having royal duties, first because it wouldn't make sense to stop being patron of charitites simply because Charles is king and second because they have to maintain the royal duties if they want royal priveleges like living in Kensington palace.
The norwegian royal family has what you could say is the type of monarchy Charles could want, only the monarchs and the heir&wife have royal duties, while the daughter who is fourth only attends very specific events but has no important role. What is interesting is that they have thought about the future and the heir's second son doesn't even have the HRH. This is logical and you can see that they know what kind of monarchy do they want.
In Charles case he won't be able to streamline the monarchy in his reign unless he is king when he is 100 years old and his sibligns and cousing have died already. The only thing he can do is make the rules so the BRF will be able to change during William's. For example by not making Harry's children HRH and only lord/ladies like the Wessex children.
Jane23, so what if anything is approved by Liz, as you call her, many on this board say that she often makes the wrong decisions or no decisions at all. Charles is not particularly popular, he has a huge uphill struggle, and what he did in the 80s horrified a great many of his people. The country was as close as it can get to a republic in recent times when Diana died. The Queen made lots of wrong decisions at that time - so don't try and tell me she always knows what is best for her family and her own country. Harry may be part of Charles vision to bolster his own, and Camilla's popularity - but that's Harry is, a pawn in Charles game - plus, the fact that he is not a direct heir, but was included on the balcony, shows that is what Charles is up to.
June, I'm not sensitive, just very astute when people are trying to sugar coat a barb. The fact is I'm British, and if I follow your logic, I know a lot more than an Australian about how the people in my country feel about the RF and Charles in particular. You seem to be inventing all sorts of things about what I should and shouldn't know and for someone who does not 'know' what goes on in Britain, you sure have a lot to say on the subject. With respect, the decisions about what happens to the BRF here and in Australia can very well boil down to their personalities - it's the very reason why they employ such vast PR to rehabilitate themselves. Diana was loved by Australians but Camilla and Charles I disagree, Australia is much more progressive...sure you have your snobs and haves and have nots but it is not entrenched in centuries of deference as the UK. Jeez, it took an Australian to give second wave feminism momentum here.
@ June The BRF does not cause me sensitivity nor does Charles it wasn't me that he used as a "Brood Mare".
I don't think that you can speak for all Australians either just because you happen to be one of the people who live there. I don't even know what you are talking about anymore. It is not as if Australia would throw out the entire Constitution and start over to remove the British Monarchy as their head of State.
How many people in these Commonwealth countries have you spoken with or do you just think Australia, Canada and New Zealand are the only ones left?
They don't plan on slimming down the Monarchy they just plan on hiding the rest of them from public view. That is why the balcony scene was such a joke. It was all about Charles wanting the limelight. If he could have found a way to keep the Queen off of the balcony he would have done it.
I don't even know who ask you to debate hypotheticals, I was just stating my opinion. I only ask questions to see what your thoughts are but you did not answer them, you just did some kind of Lawyer speak to try and change it. The impression I got was you were speaking for the Commonwealth countries.
It is the cost that people want the BRF to streamline not the people, they need to start spending their own money more and taxpayer money less.
Willy 4 kids really now? As for Harry and his feature as a Royal it's useless to discuss it he could end up being 4th in Line to The Throne (at best) or he could end up being KING or Willy may have no children and his child may take on The Throne who knows ...or maybe by the time Liz and Chuck leave us there will be no Throne to sit on for Willy (or Harry) let alone any "grandchildren" the possibilities are endless...having said that Willy and Harry are a "double act" they are a team Harry ain't going anywhere EVER and Harry's children given that he is Willy's ONLY sibling and will be very near The Throne will be treated with the MAXIMUM respect ...can we leave the whole Harry thing go? Again Ann , Andrew and Edward are out he is in we all knew that was going to happen so I don't get why anyone is surprised or "angry" about it I didn't know Andrew was so beloved hold on Andrew fans he will be on that Balcony very soon given That Liz's birthday is coming up his girls too .
Ps: PRINCE Edward's children are a Prince and a Princess ...in the feature they will be called as such given that that's what they are.
If the Queen&Charles wanted to take the York girls their HRH it's logical to think that Harry's children won't have that treatment. In fact if he has children right now they won't have it, same with William. Although in the second case they will probably gave it to them because William is a heir apparent not like Harry.
No, you are totally wrong the Wessex children are prince/princess simply because they couldn't change the letters as Andrew was against it, it was said that they would always be called lord/lady. But I doubt Edward will want to anger Charles allowing his kids the HRH treatment even though it's their right. Why do you think the York girls are HRH and their Wessex cousins not?
This is not about loving Andrew or any of the future children that someone might have. This is about the Queen having four children and not one. This was the Queen's Diamond Jubilee not Charles's. When you are celebrating 60 years you do not leave out everyone in those years.
In my opinion the future of the Monarchy is not what Charles has in his mind anyway.
PRINCE Edward's children may or not use their Titles when they are old enough his boy may take upon his Title when he dies who knows...as for The York girls that is just hearsay and they are HRH so ...I doubt Harry's children will be treated any differently than The York girls are which is with the maximum respect they have their Title and their grandmother always has them with her .
Ok so why the York girls get one treatment and the Wessex children another?
could it be age differences?
The titles have not garnered respect for the York Sisters, they are vilified and tore apart for everything. Mostly because of who their Mother is. Those two girls do more for charity than Lazy Katie does but the press acts like Lazy is perfect.
This statement contradicts what you said before. Before, you said that Harry was a direct heir. Now you are saying he is not.
I really don't know why you keep going on about Andrew's popularity/lack of popularity - it's immaterial. He is HM's son, he has supported her throughout her reign, if Harry was included, he should have been on that balcony on that occasion as should her other children and grandchildren. And Snokitty, I agree, I do think if Charles could have appeared on the balcony without HM he would have done (HM should watch out for any banana skins on the stairs .....only joking ).
I disagree, Australia is much more progressive...sure you have your snobs and haves and have nots but it is not entrenched in centuries of deference as the UK. Jeez, it took an Australian to give second wave feminism momentum here.
I find it interesting how the BRF gives so much attention to Australia and seem almost paranoid about losing it. I mean, the BRF pays more attention to Australia and Canada than the majority of the other Commonwealth countries.
why not send a member to the different countries to have continual representation and they could sell themselves every day.
the commonwealth countries don't want them there?
Perhaps because no one in the BRF wants to be torn away from the fun of the London nightlife or wants to live in another country? The thing is, I think that if for example Princess Beatrice went to New Zealand and Eugenie lived in Australia and Harry in the Barbados/Jamaica, there would be a more tangible symbol and it would keep them gainfully occupied and away from the golddiggers in Britain. Perhaps the BRF should offer to send a member and see how that works out?
The BRF is full of idiots; forgive me, the thing is that HM can't seem to get it into her head that she is not supposed to meddle in these affairs and another thing is, that HM can't seem to comprehend what her family used to be and what they have become. The Scots will probably break away and I hoep for HM's sake that it's not true that she is scheming to work on preventing the independence movement. If she is caught out, it will trigger a violent backlash and only more countries will want ot break away, resorting to violence if need be.
The titles have not garnered respect for the York Sisters, they are vilified and tore apart for everything. Mostly because of who their Mother is.
Which is why I wish someoen would work on extracting Fergie from their lives because that woman is an albatross. | 2019-04-19T10:56:14Z | http://royalgossip.forumprofi.de/index.php?topic=4648.msg115993 |
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go the Pentagon, where Defense Secretary Rumsfeld has already began the briefing.
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECY. OF DEFENSE: ... to alleviate the suffering of the Afghan people.
Today U.S. and coalition forces are on the ground digging wells, building schools, supporting other civilian missions to help the Afghan people recover from years of Taliban oppression, and they're doing a fine job at it.
And those who perpetrated these crimes against their own people are no longer in power, hundreds are in detention, and they will have to answer for their crimes.
MYERS: Thank you, Mr. Secretary.
I'd like to follow-up with the status on the Zhawar Kili strike from last week. The material we found around the site is being sent back to the United States for analysis. The first team was able to locate, we think, with the impact -- exact impact point of the missile, and then the team cleared snow around that site out to 200 years. There was anywhere from a foot to three to four feet of snow that had to be cleared. And I think yesterday Admiral Stufflebeem gave you a list of the type of material that they took from that site.
MYERS: And as I said before, that's currently being sent back to the United States for analysis. Our team has left that site but will continue to surveil that particular site in the region for some time to come.
The Hazar Kadam investigation is proceeding. At this point in this investigation, I don't believe that any of the detainees -- this is the 27 that were detained -- were subject to beatings or rough treatment after they were taken into custody. All 27 detainees were medically screened upon arrival in Kandahar, and there were no issues of beatings or kickings or anything of that sort.
As we told you before, we continue to perform investigation there and General Franks will make that available once it is complete. As an addendum here, the total number of detainees now in U.S. control of 474, 220 in Afghanistan, and 254 in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, speaking of Admiral Stufflebeem, his team admitted yesterday that this war has turned into what he called a shadow war in that you're chasing Al Qaeda and Taliban is differently defined -- you're very reluctant to discuss now the secret things that are going on, especially while they're going on, Special Forces, troops, what they're doing. It seems the things that you are announcing, for instance the attack at Zhawar Kili, and the attack north of Kandahar later turn out to be mistakes. Are you worried that this is turning into some kind of public relations disaster, where the headlines and newspapers' preponderance have been on the mistakes rather than accomplishments?
RUMSFELD: Well, the first thing one has to say is that, any time there is a suggestion that U.S. forces have, as you characterized it, made a mistake, it is something that we take very seriously, as a country, and certainly the Armed Forces and the Pentagon do. When that occurs, we ask the appropriate people to undertake an investigation and to look into the charges or the allegations that have been made. We do that because we care that things be done as well as it's humanly possible to do them.
You say that everything we do is being called a mistake. I don't know that that's the case, and maybe I didn't quote you quite right, but it seems to me there's a great deal we're doing in the country. We're in the process of assisting them to develop their own national military force. We're providing humanitarian assistance. We're assisting the government with a host of specific things. The forces everywhere they're located are helping people in those communities. So there's a great deal of good being done , and the harm that the Taliban was doing is no longer being done.
The Al Qaeda that had pretty much taken over the country in a major sense are on the run, and the Taliban have been thrown out. So the repression that existed, the circumstance of the Afghan people today, is vastly better. Now, does that mean that when there's an operation and someone suggests that it was in one way or another inappropriate that we shouldn't investigate it? No, we do investigate it, and we care about it. And we will in good time find out actually what took place.
QUESTION: And perhaps the weight is going in the other direction on that of us.
RUMSFELD: Well, you're right. I mean, to some extent when a -- the forces in the country are doing a variety of things, and among them are some things that are not public. That is to say they are observing things that are taking place and trying to make judgments about where people might be located, or who might be moving things around the country in a way that's inappropriate.
So we don't announce those things. They're out doing that on a covert basis. There are other things they do which are not announced until they happen. And those are direct action against a compound, for example, that is believed to be harboring Al Qaeda or Taliban, senior Taliban people.
The other thing taking place is a good deal of discussion going on, and people are in fact being discovered and being taken into custody. Lot of intelligence information is being gathered, and that intelligence information has been helpful in preventing other terrorist attacks. So no one ever likes to see an event where someone charges that it was improper, as we saw with respect to the operation that General Myers commented on. But it happens, and all you can do is go at it, find out what took place, and tell the world what actually happened.
QUESTION: concerned over these two high profile events and what they might be doing to the campaign in the eyes of the world? RUMSFELD: I'm always concerned when there's an allegation made that suggest that some innocent person was -- that an attack was inappropriate or that some innocent person was killed or injured.
RUMSFELD: Obviously, any one would be concerned about that.
MYERS: Can I add just something to that?
MYERS: You know, I think the secretary and I -- we are anxious to share some of these successes with you. The problem is that once you do that then the tactics and the technics and the procedures that are being used in this very difficult mission of locating leadership and other pockets of Al Qaeda or Taliban, once we tell how successful we've been then we will reveal those tactics, technics and procedures, and sometimes they're easy to thwart. So that's why we have to be very careful. This is a ongoing operation, if you will, and we've just got to be very, very careful.
Second thing I'd say that, no matter how these investigations turn out, as some of you know because you've been in the field with our forces, they are the most professional and disciplined forces there are. They make life and death decisions when they come upon this group, these two compounds where we had the 27 detainees and the 15 that were killed. Some of those detainees could have easily been killed. They were armed. The rules of engagement permit you to shoot back. And the fact that they were detained and not killed, I think, is an indication of just how professional and disciplined and dedicated our folks are.
Now, if there were mistakes made, we're going to find that out when General Franks finishes his investigation. But I think there American people need to know that we have the best forces in the world, the best trained forces who are making these decisions, and 99.9 percent of the time make them exactly right. RUMSFELD: Let me elaborate on your question, because when you asked the question, "Are you concerned?" there's always a risk if one says they're not concerned. That the headline will be that the Pentagon is not concerned. And it happened to me when I was asked in a lengthy interview by BBC about the detainees and how they were being treated. And I described how they were being treated.
They were being treated very, very well and properly and humanely and consistent with the Geneva Convention, and we went through all this, and I described it. And then he said something to the effect, "Well, are you concerned about how they're being treated?" And I said something to the effect, "No" meaning, as I said in the context, because I know how they're being treated and they've been treated very, very properly and humanely. And that has roared around Europe that the secretary is not concerned about how they're being treated when the context was that I was not concerned because I know how they're being treated, and they're being treated and handled very, very well.
Now, when you say, "Are you concerned about these?" and if I say, "No, I'm not concerned about," as you cast the question, which is, are you concerned that they are going to be negative and take support away from the campaign or the war against terrorism.
If I had answered and said, "No, I'm not," because I have confidence in the American people and in the people of world recognizing how much better off the people in Afghanistan are today than they were. And yet, I do have a concern when someone makes an allegation, because obviously we don't want people to be improperly handled and we do not want operations against targets that are not appropriate targets. So I'm concerned about the specifics. But I did not want to simply answer it in a way that the headline would become inflammatory. I've become very cautious.
RUMSFELD: This is on the three individuals?
QUESTION: The three at Zhawar Kili.
RUMSFELD: OK. Let's do that one. I don't know that I can add anything to it. It's my understanding that the people who operate the Predator were watching a large number of people, 15 or 10, 15, 20 people over a period of time. And out of this group came three people, and they moved in and among various out-croppings of rocks and trees. And the people who have the responsibility for making those judgments, made the judgment that, in fact, they were Al Qaeda and that they were a proper target. And they make those judgments based on behavior, based on various types of equipment and information that they have developed over a sustained period now of weeks and weeks and weeks.
A decision was made to fire the Hellfire missile. It was fired. It apparently hit three people, one or more people. There is an investigation under way. Special Forces could not get up there because of the weather. They went up there. They cleared away a large-diameter area of snow, anywhere from a foot to two feet of snow, and picked up a great deal of material from the site, and they are in the process of checking into that, and they're also interviewing people in the region.
Now, someone has said that these people were not what the people managing the Predator believed them to be. We'll just have to find out. There's not much more anyone could ask, except there's that one version and there's the other version.
QUESTION: Is there any additional intelligence that led to this site to begin with that may have contributed to the perception that these were Al Qaeda?
RUMSFELD: These are people who have been doing this now for a good many weeks, and they monitor sites, and they go back to sites where they know Al Qaeda have been, and they check things out, and they are honorable, fine people doing the best that's possible to be done.
I was not in the control booth, I have not reviewed the -- I've not compared the elements that went into their decision -- decisions. I'm sure people will do that.
QUESTION: What is your personal confidence that this, in fact, was an appropriate, legitimate target?
RUMSFELD: It's not for me to say. I have great confidence in the people it. They're honorable people, they're talented people, they're skillful, they've been doing it for weeks and weeks and weeks now, and they've got a darn good record and I've got a lot of respect for them.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, you said earlier there's a great deal of good being done in Afghanistan. You were citing in particular the humanitarian effort that's being made daily. But in the hunt for Al Qaeda and Taliban leaders, on the military front, what has gone right lately? We've heard nothing but problems lately. What's gone right?
RUMSFELD: Well, we have gathered some intelligence from them that has been beneficial to the United States and other countries and to our deployed forces -- and not just a little, but more than a little.
RUMSFELD: Second, we continue to gather in additional people, senior people in the Taliban and Al Qaeda. It's a fairly steady flow; it's not large numbers at any given time, but we are continuing to bring them in and to interrogate them at Baghran or at Kandahar and ultimately in Guantanamo Bay. So I feel quite good about the progress.
RUMSFELD: As you know, we've got what they say their names are. And we have what we think them to be and some of their aliases, and we've decided that it's not useful to announce their names because then, for one thing that could be wrong because they don't always tell the truth. And for a second thing, it can tell everyone else in those organizations who we have and what types of information we conceivably will be hearing from them, in which case it makes it much easier for others to get away.
QUESTION: I want to pick up on that point a second. About three weeks ago from the podium, you said you would think about releasing a list of who was killed in the Al Qaeda leadership. About two weeks ago, President Bush told the Washington Post that he keeps a score card like a baseball game, and 16 of 22 Al Qaeda leaders remain at large. This was about a couple of weeks ago. Can you shed any light on that? Is that roughly the number at large -- six may be killed, and another 16 at large?
RUMSFELD: It changes everyday, and there is such a list and it does indicate whether or not they have been killed for sure or presumed dead or in captivity, or at large.
And where people fit on that in individual status may change from week to week depending as more information becomes available. And in many cases they're qualified, that is to say that says presumed as opposed to certainty. And we have thought about it, and we've decided not to release it.
QUESTION: Six roughly have been killed?
RUMSFELD: I can't say. I have to go back and -- I'm sure when he said it was correct. My guess is the numbers have changed since.
QUESTION: General, I still have a quick one on the Predator.
QUESTION: There's been a lot of attention over this one strike. Roughly, how many of these Predator Hellfires have been fired in the campaign by the CIA? Are we talking in the 40 to 50 range and one or two have been controversial?
MYERS: I don't have that at my fingertips, and probably if I did we wouldn't talk about how many.
But let me just add a little comment to the earlier question on success here. You know, we said early on that one of the ideas, and the president has said this and others, that we wanted to disrupt these operations. And part of disruption is getting them to move.
And, you know, I think, at least I have said that if they leave Afghanistan that's not all bad because they're going to be in their second-favorite place, and they're going to be in a place where they're less comfortable, they're going to have to spend more resources to buy their security and so forth.
It has turned out that that's been true, that some of the folks we've gotten our hands on have been actually through other countries, and we've been fairly successful there, and when the time comes, that'll all be released.
So it's having the kind of effect, I think, that we want to have.
QUESTION: Two questions about the Predator attack. First of all, yesterday it was described as an appropriate target. Is it still the feeling in this building that it was an appropriate target?
RUMSFELD: As I said, from the people I've talked to in the building, I can't speak for the building, but there is no change in opinion on the part of the people who were involved in the process except for the fact that because people have raised a question about it, there is an investigation going on and people, as I say, are going up there to take a look at it.
Second question, there was a little confusion yesterday. Admiral Stufflebeem said that there was no real-time interaction between the CIA and CENTCOM when this attack was going down, when the CIA was pulling the trigger, and then we saw comments that seemed to contradict that in the wires a little later. Can you bring some clarification to that? How much interaction was there between the DOD and the CIA about this target at the time it was going down?
RUMSFELD: I can't speak to that except to say that there tends to be a high degree of interaction between CENTCOM and CIA on a whole host of things and certainly on these matters.
MYERS: I don't know why you got the contradictions, because there was close coordination, like there always is. And I don't know why you got the contradiction. I can't explain that.
RUMSFELD: He's getting careful, too.
MYERS: Thank you, sir. QUESTION: Well, explain what were the facts, if you could?
MYERS: Well, again, without divulging too much of how this all works, there is close coordination between what the CIA is doing and what Central Command is doing, and it's virtually continuous. And so, I don't know what Admiral Stufflebeem said or told you, but -- and that was the case here. I don't know what else there is to say.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, General Myers, both of you talked last week before Congress about developing a joint task force headquarters that would deploy in the event of something like that. If we had had that in place, how could this have helped this operation now -- with a joint task force headquarters that Joint Forces Command is developing?
MYERS: I'll take a stab at it, if I can. Central Command's a little different situation because, in a sense, they're already a joint task force headquarters, so it's a little different for them. A better one to take would be Pacific Command in doing something in their region, where the unified commander might designate a joint task force.
But let's assume it's Central Command. What we're envisioning there is not only habitual relationships, which CENTCOM does have with all its components -- its Army, its Navy and its Marine and its air components -- they have that relationship that we're trying to establish another unified commands, and maybe more than one. At Central Command they essentially have this one big joint task force.
MYERS: And one of the issues is, what is the suite of equipment that you equip them with when they go into conduct an operation, whether it's humanitarian or whether it's combat or whatever? And that's the part we need to focus on. They need to take a suite of equipment that plugs everyone in, so they all have the relevant pictures of what's happening and so forth. So I think it would be very relevant in terms of the equipment.
MYERS: Yes. Oh, absolutely. Yes. Have to be adaptable, yes.
QUESTION: This apparently the most specific information in the last five months about another terrorist attack today. Without divulging anything you don't want to, can you say anything about whether and how DOD's reacting?
RUMSFELD: Well, first let me say that the, as I understand it, the information that the Department of Justice used to come to the conclusion it came to that an announcement was appropriate was information that has been gained in large measure from the interrogations that have been taking place and the other information that has been a result of the efforts of the multidepartmental groups that do the interrogation.
The Department of Defense was pretty much at a level of alert that it didn't require many additional things, although I understand some elements have taken some additional steps, which I prefer not to discuss.
QUESTION: Can you say anything generally about what you mean by that?
QUESTION: The last thing you said, generally what are you referring to?
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) at Guantanamo Bay by the way or in Afghanistan?
QUESTION: I think you're right.
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) the Taliban leadership? About three weeks ago prior to the special forces (INAUDIBLE) in Kandahar, Afghan officials said that they were in negotiation with three top Taliban officials including Omar's secretary, try to bring him in from the (INAUDIBLE) And then the attack happened and they lost contact with these three folks. Were you aware of those negotiations, and if so, do you know what the status is of those are today?
QUESTION: Are you in contact with the Afghan officials or a party to the negotiations that these folks?
RUMSFELD: I can't speak to that as I said. I know that at any given moment of the day or night there are discussions going on, and we are certainly in touch with Afghan people who are in involved in those kinds of discussions.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary you said recently or just actually after a couple moments ago that the folks firing Predators have a good record. What did you mean when you said that?
RUMSFELD: I mean that they're serious people. They've been doing this now since some months, and that I have observed how they handle themselves, and they develop patterns of behavior which give them information. They use human intelligence from the ground.
They observe a variety of things from the ground and the air, and they connect those things. And then they make judgments, and they have on a number of occasions been successful in doing exactly that which they intended to do.
QUESTION: The record implies a scorecard. You have some kind of scorecard in mind you can share with us?
RUMSFELD: I -- no, it is a series of events that I have observed and that others have observed rather than keeping score on them.
QUESTION: Secretary Rumsfeld, on the Predators, my question again. In late November, when people were asking you about the relationship between CIA operations and CENTCOM -- and then it was more about ground operations -- but you said very specifically that General Franks was the man at the steering wheel, coordinating, or in control of our military operations.
Now, with the Predator story, you're talking about an exchange of information, coordination, so I was wondering if simply you could clarify the situation of how CIA military operations are coordinated or in control by CENTCOM.
RUMSFELD: That's a good question, and it's hard to answer. The overwhelming bulk of all activity in Afghanistan since the first U.S. forces went in have been basically under the control of the Central Command. And that's particularly true after the first month. The one exception has been the armed Predators. I shouldn't say the one exception -- an exception has been the armed Predators, which are CIA operated.
QUESTION: Why is that an exception?
RUMSFELD: It is just a fact. They were operating them before the United States military was involved, and the armed Predators, and doing a good job, so rather than changing that, we just left it.
QUESTION: Why not drag them into the command control with CENTCOM? You have three operators of Predator.
RUMSFELD: It's just a historical fact that they were operating these things over recent years and they were in Afghanistan prior to the involvement of CENTCOM and they continued during this period. That's just the way it is.
QUESTION: Could I get the two of you to free associate a little bit more on that subject?
RUMSFELD: You got the wrong guys.
QUESTION: The general subject matter is there is this growing sort of military role for the CIA, and we have you guys up here every day and can ask questions, but the CIA obviously operates in a lot more shadowy way. People are thinking back and remembering some of the excesses of that agency in Latin America, 20, 30 years ago, and I think there tends to be a growing sense of what are we getting into here?
Could you all talk more philosophically about the dealings between the Pentagon and the CIA, and what the parameters are that you're developing or thinking about for how to manage this new world where the CIA now has its own real military capabilities that are not necessarily under the control of the U.S. military which has transparency with the American public?
RUMSFELD: I can give you a couple of paragraphs on the subject.
The relationship between the Defense Department and the CIA today is as good as I've ever seen it. That is to say, in the relationships and the interaction and the connectivity, we have people involved with things they're doing and, for example, in counterterrorism or in intelligence cells, where we're trying to bring all kinds of intelligence information into one place. They have people involved in things that we're doing in a sense of connecting their capabilities and their assets to what we do.
The concern you're expressing from a decade or two or three ago, I think, is not apt, simply because people are sensitive to those things. And there's all kinds of congressional consultation, there's all kinds of procedures within the executive branch, so that things that the agency is planning to do are well-vetted in the appropriate ways before they do them. I think the general relationship on the ground tends to be that if we're not there the CIA, obviously, has the reporting relationship straight up through the CIA and we're not involved.
To the extent they're there and we then get involved, there's an early period where they're both there and they're doing somewhat different things, needless to say. And then at a certain point, the defense element is large enough that it becomes -- things tend to chop over to it. And the chain of command goes up through the combatant commander, except for, obviously, things that don't fit within our statutory responsibilities. QUESTION: Secretary Rumsfeld, a number of administration officials have spoke recently about the need for a regime change in Iraq, probably the highest profile being Secretary of State Colin Powell. Do you favor such a regime change sooner rather than later? And how concerned should Saddam Hussein be that the U.S. military may be the force of that regime change?
RUMSFELD: Well, I think that the Congress passed legislation relating to regime change. I've forgotten the name of the statute. Do you remember?
RUMSFELD: Well, that was part of it, but I think it was also broader and I think that's -- I don't know many people who have developed a great deal of admiration for that regime in the way it treats its people and the way it treats its neighbor and the fact that it's engaging in the development of weapons of mass destruction.
The timing and whether or not anything is done with respect to any country is something that is for the president and the country to make those judgments and it's not for me to express views on that so I don't.
RUMSFELD: I think the United States since Desert Storm has always had various planning with respect to Iraq and what it might do to its neighbors. It's threatened -- its invaded Kuwait, it's threatened the Shi'a in the south and harmed them. It's harmed the Kurds in the north. It has expressed its view that the regimes of its neighboring countries are illegitimate and ought not to be there. It is a country that threw out the inspectors that has an active weapons of mass destruction program. I don't know if anything's changed.
QUESTION: Maybe it is a misperception there. Previous administrations have adopted a policy of trying to contain Saddam Hussein and it appears from what the president has said and what Colin Powell has said that containment no longer works in the view of this administration, that the threat has somehow changed, increased, that the dynamics are different and, therefore, regime change has become a more substantial goal for this administration than previous ones.
RUMSFELD: Well, if you think about what the president and Secretary Powell have said, what they have said, it seems to me, is pretty much self-evident. That every year that goes by and the inspectors are not there, the development of their weapons of mass destruction proceed apace, bringing them closer to a time when they will have those weapons developed in a form that is more threatening than it had been the year before or the year before that. The second thing that's occurred is, the technologies have advanced. And to the extent that the sanctions, which historically is the case, sanctions tend to weaken over time, they're relaxed in one way or another. And as those sanctions are relaxed and as dual-use capabilities flow into that country, their capability is restored, in terms of their ability to impose harm on their neighbors or threaten others.
Third, the September 11 attack, if you think of the president's words and Secretary Powell's position, it reminded the world and the United States that terrorist networks exist. That, in fact, we now know from the intelligence we've gathered that they've had a very active effort under way to get chemical, biological and radiation capabilities -- terrorist networks. And we know that Iraq has those and does not wish many of its neighbors well, if any. I don't think it has a neighbor that it wishes well, maybe. So it's that combination of things that I would suspect led to the president's comments and to the secretary's comments.
QUESTION: Would it be accurate to say that this building that the Pentagon is now spending more time considering Iraq than it had previously in terms of your planning process?
RUMSFELD: This building has always been attentive for at least more than a decade now -- 12 years. To Iraq, we've had northern no- fly zones and southern no-fly zones, and have been flying flights there, attempting to contain that country and prevent them from jumping on one of their neighbors.
QUESTION: Can I follow-up Mr. Secretary on what you just said please? In regard to Iraq, weapons of mass destruction and terrorists, is there any evidence to indicate that Iraq has attempted to or is willing to supply terrorists with weapons of mass destruction, because there are reports that there is no evidence of a direct link between Baghdad and some of these terrorist organizations.
RUMSFELD: Reports that say it is that something hasn't happened are always interesting to me because as we know there are known knowns. There are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns. That is to say, we know they're some things we do not know. But there're also unknown unknowns; the ones we don't know we don't know.
And if one looks throughout the history of our country and other free countries, it is the latter category that tend to be the difficult ones. So people who have the eminence that they can say with high certainty that something has not happened or is not being tried, have capabilities that are -- what was the word you used earlier?
RUMSFELD: Yes. They can do things I can't do.
QUESTION: Excuse me, but is this an unknown unknown?
RUMSFELD: You know I'm right here.
QUESTION: I just want to ask a real bottomline question. Many apologies -- particularly back this Zhawar Kili one last time. But you mentioned here a couple of times that that incident is now under investigation and sighted that the team went up there for that reason.
QUESTION: But of course, the team went up there when people from this podium were saying that it was definitely what you believe to be senior Al Qaeda and you were simply going there to find out which Al Qaeda you killed.
RUMSFELD: I don't know that.
QUESTION: Are you investigating it? Is the CIA investigation that?
RUMSFELD: No, I'm not. Goodness, no. This is something that CENTCOM has decided and done, and properly so.
RUMSFELD: I don't know what the right word is. I know that when a -- I know you're correct. There was an interest in getting some positive identification, if that were possible. And second, every time an allegation comes up that seems to have some -- that raises questions that ought to be addressed, then CENTCOM, on its own, decides that they're going to have people go look at that. And whatever that word is, that some call it an investigation, others call it something else. But that's what's taking place is, they are going up there doing that.
QUESTION: So CENTCOM -- just to make sure I really understand -- CENTCOM is investigating these potential allegations that perhaps these were innocent people. Is that what -- and why is CENTCOM investigating that and not the CIA, since it was their missile and their targeting?
RUMSFELD: Well, I don't know that I said that CIA wasn't.
QUESTION: But could you explain that a little more?
RUMSFELD: No. I just don't know what they're doing.
QUESTION: But you do know that CENTCOM's looking into it.
QUESTION: And you, just one more time, explain something to me. Does the CIA have the ability, the approval to pull the trigger without coming to the military? Does the CIA have that bottom line authority to pull the trigger without coming to the military?
RUMSFELD: I don't know that I'm going to start responding to question for the Central Intelligence Agency.
QUESTION: Well, have you given -- let me try it the reverse way then. Has the U.S. military -- I don't know what the right verb is -- given the CIA the approval, the authority, the whatever to pull the trigger without coming to Central Command first?
RUMSFELD: I don't know that it's for us to give that authority. If they have capabilities they do them, what they wish to do.
RUMSFELD: I'm not going to answer what the CIA does. It is not the Pentagon that gives other agencies of governments authorities.
We're going to make the last question here.
RUMSFELD: ... and I thought it was a good response.
RUMSFELD: I could have said that the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence,or vice versa.
QUESTION: Well, we just want to know are you aware of any evidence, because that would increase our level of belief from faith to something that would be significant.
RUMSFELD: I am aware of a lot of evidence involving Iraq on a lot of subjects, and it is not for me to make public judgments about my assessment or others' assessments of that evidence. And I'll make that the last question.
QUESTION: I wanted to go back to the terrorist attack. Can you provide any information and would this be also another one of the successes that you might cite about the interrogation in Cuba, or did you learn that the man had might have Al Qaeda connections? Is there anything that you can elaborate on the terrorist attack?
RUMSFELD: Other than to say what I said, that interrogations are -- have produced information and indeed in this instance produce some of the evidence that led to the decision by the Department of Justice.
HARRIS: And with that. General Myers and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld wrap up today's briefing. Heard quite a bit of talk today about that incident around Zawar Kili, where a convoy was fired upon by a Predator unmanned drone plane that dropped a Hellfire missile on what turned out to be a group of friendly troops there, and not the Al Qaeda. We thought they were going in.
Defense Secretary Rumsfeld explains some more about the targeting process, expressing confidence in those who were actually doing it. He explained exactly some of the suspicious movements they were making that may have indicated to those that were watching that they may have been Al Qaeda. | 2019-04-25T02:40:49Z | http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0202/12/se.04.html |
Hardness limits are commonly used to control the risk of cracking in ferritic steel pipelines carrying sour products. The necessary hardness limits are dependent on the hydrogen concentration in the steel, which, with single sided exposure, is much higher adjacent to the sour environment than near the free surface. Thus it has been demonstrated in laboratory work that considerably higher hardnesses are tolerable on the outsides of pipelines carrying sour products, and this effect is recognised, in terms of relaxed limits for capping passes, in BS4515 and EFC 16. The hydrogen concentration near the outer surface of such a pipe will, however, be affected by cathodic polarisation, which would be expected to restrict hydrogen egress. A programme of work has therefore been carried out to determine safe hardness levels on the outsides of pipelines carrying sour products, in the presence of externally applied cathodic protection. Despite severe test conditions, high hardness levels were shown to be resistant to cracking, and the increased confidence given by the new data has allowed further relaxations to the current hardness levels permitted for cap passes in standards to be recommended.
For a pipeline carrying a sour product, the hydrogen concentration in the steel due to corrosion will be greatest at the inner surface. It would be expected that diffusion through the wall will take place with evolution of hydrogen from the external surface, so that the peak hydrogen level in this region will be appreciably lower. Hence, the risk of cracking at the external surface may also be reduced relative to the inner wall, and a higher hardness limit may be acceptable.
Studies [2-4] have confirmed these effects and have formed the basis of the hardness limits propounded in BS4515 , which permits the external hardness of linepipe welds carrying sour products to be up to 275-300HV (depending on wall thickness). Similarly, 275HV is recommended as a safe external hardness in EFC publication No 16 . The earlier work employed full scale ring samples, stressed by internal jacking and containing a severe environment, and in fact, external hardness levels well above 300HV were found to be tolerable without causing cracking, so that this limit has been considered conservative. However, it must be recognised that in service, the external surface of linepipe would normally be subject to cathodic polarisation (CP) to provide protection from the seawater or other external environment. This may restrict hydrogen egress from the outer surface, and thus, lead to a higher hydrogen content.
In the absence of published data on the significance of this effect, the present work was carried out to determine whether current limits are still conservative.
The experimental programme comprised two phases. The first phase consisted of the production, exposure to sour NACE solution and examination for cracking of five ring test specimens. These specimens had a number of longitudinal, single pass bead on plate (BOP) welds on the external surfaces. In the second phase a validation test was performed under identical test conditions to those of phase 1, but using a specimen incorporating a centrally located full penetration girth weld. Additional hard zones were created on the second phase ring test piece by the deposition of further BOP welds and from the attachment of studs by underwater friction welding.
Five different pipe samples were selected for inclusion in the phase 1 exposure trials, following single bead weld deposit trials, designed to ensure a hardenability response covering the range 300-400HV5. The pipe samples selected had wall thicknesses from 17 to 25mm, diameters from 356 to 914mm, and had been manufactured to either API 5L X52 or X60 specifications. Details of the pipe dimensions, strength and chemical compositions are given in Table 1.
The validation test was undertaken using a sample from one of the five pipes (IC4040) included in the phase 1 trials. The wall thickness of this pipe, as supplied, was 18mm. This was reduced to 9.5mm by machining the outer wall surface after a light skimming cut had been made to centralise the bore.
Test cells were produced from pipe sections assembled to produce a leak-proof container with a rigidly fixed lid. Short lengths of pipe 350-600mm long, were sawn, then lathe turned, to produce square end faces. One end of each ring was further machined to reduce the wall thickness to 3mm for a distance of approximately 100mm. These reduced wall thickness ends, which would ultimately form the base of the test cell, were then capped with a 3mm thick steel disc, a leak-proof joint being obtained by circumferential welding. It was established, using strain gauges, that the stress distribution within the ring test piece was not influenced by this sealing technique.
The lids of the test cells were constructed from either 10mm thick steel or 20mm thick perspex. The steel lids were centrally fitted with a 200mm diameter, 10mm thick, perspex window. This window allowed inspection of the interior of the test cell during the exposure period, as well as providing access for filling with solution and for gas inlet and outlet pipes. A gas-tight seal was obtained on the test cells by pulling the lids down against a flexible sealing ring after stressing, using bolts tapped into the wall of the test pipe, or by applying heavy weights.
In phase 1, each ring test piece was produced with four different hard zones on the outer pipe surface, [ Fig.1]. Each hard zone consisted of three separate deposits approximately 100mm long. The locations of these deposits were such that different, but known, stress levels could be applied to each weld in any one quadrant. The hard zones had aim HAZ hardness levels of 300, 350, 375 and 400 HV5. The welding process was mechanised MAG using 1.0mm diameter Bostrand LW1 filler and CO2 shielding. The welding conditions were selected from initial trials, to give appropriate hardness levels.
Bead on plate deposits were also made on the validation test piece of phase 2. Two beads approximately 150mm long were deposited at three locations on the outer pipe surface. The bead locations corresponded with the 90% yield position when the ring was stressed. Each pair of weld beads was displaced from the girth weld by at least 25mm to avoid reheating. The aim hardness levels were 350, 375 and 450HV5. The welding process was the same as for the phase 1 deposits.
The full penetration girth weld used to manufacture the validation ring test piece, Fig.2, was produced using a narrow groove weld preparation following established practice. This preparation had a root face of 1.5mm, a root radius of 2.5mm and an included angle of 6° with no root gap. A copper backing bar with a shallow groove was fitted. The welding process was mechanised MAG and welding position was pipe horizontal (1G) i.e. rotated. Bostrand LW1 filler was used with CO2 shielding.
Three passes were required to fill the joint. On completion of the capping pass, and after the weld had cooled, a further two circumferential beads were deposited, one at each weld toe on the outer pipe surface. The arc energies of these two additional beads were adjusted such that the associated HAZ regions had hardness levels, estimated from welding trials, in one case of ~350HV, in the other 375-400HV. Similarly, arc energy and preheat conditions for the root pass were adjusted to give an estimated HAZ hardness level of <250HV.
For the validation test only, additional hard zones were produced by attaching studs using the underwater friction welding process. Six, threaded (½" UNC), solid carbon steel studs were attached to the outer surface of the assembled ring piece. These were located in two groups of three each side of the girth weld at the 90% yield position and in a line parallel to the pipe length, [ Fig.2]. One group of studs was welded following an established procedure for this type of welding in which a polystyrene shield produces an insulating gas shield when heated. The second set were welded with the shield missing and had as a result a faster cooling rate and significantly higher HAZ hardness levels. The studs were placed approximately 75mm apart and such that none were within 25mm of the toes of the circumferential weld. All the underwater friction welding was performed by a specialist contractor, Circle Technical Services Limited.
Stressing of the ring test pieces was by means of an internally fitted screw jack mechanism, which contacted the pipe wall through two diametrically opposed anvils. For the phase 1 test pieces the anvils were 150mm long and had a square section with 50mm sides. The anvils used for the validation ring test were, of necessity, more substantial with cross section dimensions of 75mm and length 450mm. The screw jacks and anvils were made of carbon steel. One face of each anvil was 'V' shaped (included angle of 120° and a radius of 2mm) to give a line contact with the pipe wall. The larger anvils had a shallow groove ground across the 'V' shape at the mid-length to prevent localised contact with the girth weld root pass penetration. The steel screw jacks remained in place throughout the exposure period and were not protected against corrosive attack.
Individual ring pieces were stressed by manual operation of the screw jacks before the test cells were sealed. Loading continued until it was determined, from strain gauges bonded to the outer pipe wall in the immediate vicinity of the anvils, that yield stress had been reached at that location. The micro strain requirement at the pipe surface was calculated for each pipe material from yield stress values [ Table 1] reported by the manufacturer, or determined, as part of this project using small tensile test pieces.
The assembled test cells, comprising circumferentially stressed ring pieces and gas tight lids, were loaded into tanks for exposure to artificial seawater solution. The volume of seawater was at least equal to the displacement volume of the test cell. The tanks were filled with artificial seawater to a level approximately 50mm below the top of the test cell and covering the weld deposits. Cathodic protection (see below) was initiated and the potential allowed to stabilise for a period of 48 hours. The test cells were filled to within 10mm of the lids with sour test solution to NACE TM0177 Method A, using 5% sodium chloride with 0.5% acetic acid and sealed. De-oxygenation of the NACE solution was undertaken in-situ in the phase 1 tests because of the relatively large volumes used. This was achieved by streaming nitrogen gas through the test cells for approximately 72hrs. For the phase 2 validation test, de-oxygenation was carried out in a separate vessel and the solution transferred to the test cell under a covering of nitrogen. The H 2S gas flow through the test cells then commenced. The flow rate was initially approximately 5 litres/min for the first 24hrs. This was subsequently reduced to approximately 0.5 litres/min for the remainder of the 720hr exposure period. Exposure testing was conducted at room temperature. On completion of exposure testing the cells were purged with nitrogen gas for 24-48hrs, to flush out H 2S from the NACE solution and gas lines and enable safe handling, then drained and dismantled.
All the test cells in both phases were individually subjected to potentiostatically controlled cathodic protection at an impressed potential of -1100mV, relative to a Ag/AgCl reference electrode. A 2-3 metre length of 0.5mm diameter platinum wire was used as an anode. This wire was suspended in the seawater, using plastic hangers, around the outer circumference of the test cell and at a similar depth to the weld deposits. The distance of the anode wire from the ring surface varied from 50 to 100mm. The impressed potential was allowed to stabilise over a 48hr period before H 2S gas was introduced into the NACE solution. Cathodic protection was maintained throughout the 720hr exposure period.
All the test cells were checked daily, excluding weekends, to ensure that the original set conditions were maintained. These checks included ensuring the continuation of H 2S gas flow, of cathodic protection at the required potential and the monitoring and recording of temperature variations in the test containment laboratory. For the phase 1 ring test series the pH of the NACE solution at the start of testing, prior to H 2S streaming, was 2.5, that of the seawater in the outer cells 8.2. On completion of the 30 day exposure period the pH of the NACE solution in two of the test cells (4 & 5) were measured, and values of 3.4 and 3.6 respectively were recorded; the corresponding pH of the seawater was 6.4. Hydrogen sulphide concentrations measured in the NACE solution of the same two test cells after 10 days exposure were 3614ppm and 4100ppm respectively. For the phase 2 validation test the pH of the NACE and seawater solutions at test initiation was 2.8 and 8.3 respectively; on completion of the exposure period these were 3.5 and 7.3 respectively. Monitoring of the time for hydrogen evolution in individual ring pieces was not undertaken. However it is known from previous work undertaken at TWI and elsewhere that, for the type of test conditions employed in this project, hydrogen evolution occurs some 12-48 hours after the initiation of H 2S flow.
Segments of the ring test pieces from phase 1 containing hard zones were extracted by flame cutting from the test cells and subjected to magnetic particle inspection (MPI) for evidence of cracking. Care was taken during the flame cutting to prevent any excessive heating of the weld zone regions, which might have influenced their physical properties, in particular, the hardness levels. Following MPI inspection and visual examination of the inner and outer pipe surfaces in the weld regions, individual weld beads and associated HAZ, were extracted from the pipe segments by cold sawing. Initially, a single transverse section from the mid-length position of each weld deposit was prepared to a 6µm diamond finish. One further transverse section was taken from the hardest HAZ region of each pipe. Examination of all sections for cracking and blistering was conducted firstly with the prepared surface in the 'as polished' condition, then secondly, after light etching in 2% nital. On completion of the metallographic examination, hardness surveys, (Vickers HV5), were made of the hard zones.
The girth weld region of the validation test piece was examined ultrasonically after exposure testing, and before sectioning. The ring piece was then sectioned and subjected to MPI inspection of both inner and outer weld surfaces. Transverse weld sections were extracted from the girth weld, BOP deposits and friction welds. The girth weld sections were taken from regions subjected to 100% and 90% yield stress at the weld cap surface. The BOP sections were extracted at approximately mid-length position. Transverse section through the friction welds were taken centrally. Sections were prepared as previously for metallographic examination and hardness surveys were conducted in the hardened regions.
No crack like type defects were identified by either visual or MPI examination of the outer pipe surface in the weld regions, although indications believed to be due to weld cold laps were reported in the toe regions at the weld start positions in some deposits. None of the weld zones in this phase of the project were subjected to ultrasonic examination. The results of metallographic sectioning confirmed the presence of weld toe intrusions in several of the sections examined. It was evident from the nucleation of ferrite on the surfaces of these features that they arose from the welding operation, and are not corrosion related.
No evidence of any hydrogen assisted stress corrosion cracking was revealed by any of the various examinations carried out. The results also indicate that, for the test conditions employed in this phase of the project, the five pipe materials assessed have substantial resistance to hydrogen pressure induced cracking (HPIC). Indeed, the worst example of this type of cracking was an isolated 340µm crack associated with W17 in pipe No.Ex-621982. This particular feature was located beneath the root of the weld deposit at approximately 10mm from the outer pipe surface and 7mm from the weld fusion boundary.
The results of hardness surveys are presented in Table 2. Hardness levels of over 390 HV were achieved and stressed to 90% yield in all pipes.
An initial visual examination of the weld zones on both external and internal pipe surface of the test piece did not reveal the presence of any surface breaking cracks although hydrogen blistering was noted on the inner pipe surface, [ Fig.3a]. Further examination by MPI indicated the presence of numerous transverse cracks in the root weld metal, [ Fig.3b]. In places these cracks extend into the weld HAZ. These transverse cracks were present throughout the complete circumferential length of the root pass although the frequency increased in those regions placed in tension during exposure testing. In addition cracking associated with hydrogen blistering was noted, [ Fig.3a]. An ultrasonic examination of the girth weld zone conducted on the outer pipe surface did not indicate any crack like defects in the weld metal or HAZ regions. The results of MPI and ultrasonic examinations made of the validation test piece are summarised in Table 3.
No evidence of hydrogen assisted cracking was observed in eternal regions in metallographic sections through the girth, bead on plate, or friction stud welds. Weld toe intrusions were observed in the root pass and capping passes in some girth weld sections, but in all cases they were associated with the welding process.
For the girth weld capping pass, hardness levels up to 447HV5 were measured whilst 429HV5 was measured under one of the friction stud welds. A peak HAZ hardness of 432HV was recorded in the BOP welds.
At the beginning of this programme, a body of data existed which had been generated in earlier research projects. On the basis of these data, relaxations of up to 50HV are currently allowed for external regions of sour service pipelines. The basis of these relaxations is that with single-sided exposure, steel near the surface remote from the environment, from which hydrogen is escaping, will have a lower hydrogen content than that adjacent to the environment, and thus should be able to tolerate higher hardness. The previous experimental data [2-4] had confirmed this theory, and indeed the apparently safe hardness levels were well in excess of the currently permitted 300HV.
In the more recent work [3,4] , hard zones of up to 396HV were created on the outer wall surfaces of samples of API 5L X52 line-pipe containing sour solution. Test pieces were stressed to 100% yield strength. With the exception of one test piece in which sour solution leakage had contaminated the outer pipe surface, no cracking was recorded. Prior to this, Robinson performed a series of similar tests but without applied load. Cracking was generated in some welds but only in those having hardness levels of between 411 and 427HV. Clearly hardness levels of 400HV are unlikely to be acceptable for pipeline fabrication, and some margin between experimental data and permitted hardness would be advisable. Nevertheless, 100HV is a very large margin, and hardness of up to 350HV are permitted for cap HAZ regions in non-sour service by BS4515.
One consideration in relaxing the 100HV margin between experimentally demonstrated safe hardnesses and permitted hardnesses would be a concern over the possible effect of cathodic polarisation on hydrogen escape from the external surface. In the previous experimental work, the external surfaces had been dry and open to atmosphere, whereas operating pipelines are generally coated and/or wet, with cathodic polarisation for corrosion protection.
The present work has demonstrated that even with -1100mV cathodic polarisation, HAZ hardness levels of above 400HV near the outer surface are resistant to cracking in the presence of NACE TM0177 method A solution inside a pipe. In assessing these results, the pipe wall thickness needs to be taken into account, as the steepness of the hydrogen concentration gradient will be affected by this. Hydrogen concentration at one bead depth below the outer surface will be higher in a thinner pipe, due to the steeper gradient, and thus safe hardness levels would be expected to be lower. For this reason, the relaxation in BS4515 is limited to pipes of wall thickness greater than or equal to the minimum used to generate the experimental data [3,4] , namely 9.5mm. In the first phase of the present work the thinnest pipe wall tested was 17mm, but applicability of the results down to the current limit of 9.5mm has been confirmed by the Phase 2 trial, in which HAZs of over 400HV were shown to be resistant to cracking.
One aspect which has been tested to a limited degree by the Phase 2 trial is weld metal hardness. The two capping runs, added to generate the desired HAZ hardnesses, had weld metal hardnesses of up to 269HV5. These runs will have had high longitudinal residual stresses, and were additionally stressed in this direction by the ovalisation, and did not crack. (All previous trials have employed longitudinal oriented welds with overfill intact, so that the ovalisation will not have stressed the weld metal regions as severely as possible). Although it is not necessarily possible to apply HAZ hardness limits to weld metals, the margin between experimental HAZ limits and the highest weld metal hardness which has resisted cracking is such that one can have some confidence that this weld metal value is some way below the threshold for cracking.
The other hard zone which has been investigated in this work is that induced by underwater friction welded studs. Again, HAZ regions of over 400HV have been found to be resistant to cracking.
One unexpected result of the Phase 2 test was the presence of transverse cracking in the weld root. This was mostly in weld metal, but some extended into HAZ material, generally associated with blisters. The root weld metal hardness was below 250HV (243HV5 maximum). This cracking did not affect the testing of the external region, which was the focus of the project, and has not been investigated in any detail. It may be remarked, however, that there have previously been indications that hardness limits for C-Mn weld metals may be lower than for HAZs in sour service and therefore lower limits may need to be specified for weld metal directly exposed to sour environments. The cracking in the present case does provide some confirmation that the test environment was aggressive and hydrogen charging.
The simplest option in all cases would be to allow the same cap hardness for sweet and sour service. For HAZs in pipe of 9.5mm wall thickness and above, the quantity of data, and the size of the difference between the current sweet service limits and experimental thresholds are such that this approach can be recommended.
Below 9.5mm wall thickness there are no experimental data, and greater caution would be advisable. Nevertheless, the fact that cathodic polarisation has little effect on hardness thresholds at higher wall thickness is encouraging, and at least does not imply that permitted hardness levels should be reduced for cathodically protected pipe.
For weld metals, experimental thresholds are not well defined, and there is a concern that weld metals may be more susceptible to cracking than HAZs. Nevertheless, the data generated in this work do not cause any concern over the current 275HV10 limit.
The results of this project also gave confidence in the use of underwater friction welding as a means of attaching studs. There are currently no specific hardness limits for this process in either sweet or sour service, and only limited service experience, however, and it is therefore premature to set a hardness limit.
A programme of work has been carried out to investigate tolerable hardness levels on the outsides of X52 and X60 pipelines of 9.5-25mm wall thickness carrying sour media, which are also subjected to external cathodic polarisation. The internal test medium was NACE TM0177 method A solution, and cathodic polarisation was applied at -1100mV, Ag/AgCl. Test welds consisted of bead on plate runs, friction welded studs, and a girth weld. Samples were stressed, by ovalising, to 100% actual parent material yield stress in hardened areas. No cracking was induced in hardened external regions in any of the test specimens, and as a result the following conclusions can be drawn.
Peak HAZ hardness levels of over 400HV are resistant to hydrogen cracking under the combined influence of NACE TM0177 method A solution on the opposite steel surface, and cathodic polarisation of -1100 mV, Ag/AgCl on the hardened surface, at applied stress levels of up to 100% actual parent material yield stress. This conclusion is applicable to steels of 9.5mm wall thickness and above.
Peak weld metal hardnesses of up to at least 269HV are resistant to cracking under the same conditions as for conclusion 1.
Threshold weld metal hardnesses for root regions in contact with NACE TM0177 method A solution are <243HV5.
Work is required to explore safe weld metal hardness limits for operation in sour service.
The authors acknowledge the assistance of Mike Bennett and Ian Wallis with the sour gas exposure testing.
1 BS4515:1996. Specifications for welding of steel pipelines on land and offshore.
2 Robinson J L: 'A preliminary assessment of the risk of hydrogen cracking in service of external welds on vessels with sour contents'. Report LD22532, May 1981. The Welding Institute.
3 Walker R A: 'The significance of local hard zones on the outside of pipeline girth welds'. Report No.34025/10/89, July 1989, for Welding Supervisory Committee, Pipeline Research Committee. PRC Contract No.PR-164-84.
4 Ginn B J: 'The Significance of local hard zones on the outside of pipeline girth welds - further studies'. Report No.34074.18/91, October 1991 for Welding Supervisory Committee, PRC Contract No.PR-164-008.
5 'Guidelines on material requirements for carbon and low alloy steels for H 2S-containing environments in oil and gas production'. European Federation of Corrosion Publication No.16. Published by The Institute of Materials 1995. ISSN1354-5116.
6 Kushida et al: 'Development of line pipe for sour service and full ring test evaluation' The Sumitomo Search No.49 April 1992.
7 Pargeter R J and Gooch T G: 'Welding C-Mn steels for sour service', Corrosion '95. | 2019-04-23T20:49:59Z | https://www.twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/published-papers/external-hardness-limits-for-welds-in-cathodically-protected-c-mn-steel-pipelines-carrying-sour-products-september-2000 |
The X-Men are known for their tendency to change up the line-up a lot. Now-a-days, the team is rather large and nebulous (necessitating at least two X-Men titles to be running consistently since the mid-80s, just so everyone can get a fair shake), but when they first started, there were just five members. The team’s first additional member, Mimic, only lasted for three issues, before being de-powered and written out. Eventually, they would acquire their first full-time addition Lorna Dane (later Polaris) in X-Men #49. Just six issues later, the team would also gain Havok, aka Alex Summers the younger brother of Cyclops. Havok’s sort of been a peripheral member of the team for a lot of his career, but has served as team leader for both the X-Men and X-Factor on a few occasions. He also happens to be my personal favorite member of the X-Men, which is why I own just about every figure of him in existence, including the one I’ll be reviewing today.
Havok was part of the Giant-Man Series of Toy Biz’s Marvel Legends. It was the first Walmart-exclusive series of Legends, though it would hardly be the last. This is also Havok’s first Marvel Legends figure, though it’s the fourth Havok figure Toy Biz released. The figure stands 6 ¼ inches tall (not counting the headgear), and has 40 points of articulation. Havok is based on his classic Neal Adams-designed costume from the 60s (my personal favorite). The initial prototype for Havok had him in a more modernized design, but that figure was ultimately shelved for this more classic look. The figure is built on Series 9’s Bullseye body, in one of the earlier attempts at moving ML to a system of base bodies. As I noted in my review of Iron Fist (the final figure to be built on this body, released a full ten years after it debuted with Bullseye), this body was one of my favorites from Toy Biz’s run. It’s become a little clunky when compared to the more recent stuff, but it still holds up pretty well, certainly a lot better than some of TB’s other Marvel Legends. The only real issue I have with this particular iteration of the body is the shape of the lower legs and feet. The legs are clunky and tube-like, and the feet are large and sit too far forward at the ankle. Havok’s only truly unique piece is his head, which does quite a nice job of capturing the early depictions of Havok’s face. I like that the expression is angry without going too overboard, and I’m especially glad that they were able to make the headgear look okay in three dimensions. Havok’s paintwork is pretty straight forward. The costume is just straight black and white (excepting, of course, the silver collar). There’s no accent work, but I actually much prefer it that way. The face has a nice, clean paint job, with some great little subtleties to the coloring, making it stand out nicely from the costume. Havok included the left leg (but NOT the left foot) of Giant-Man, as well as a copy of X-Men #97, which is one of Havok’s few focus issues during the “All-New, All Different” era (also one of his best appearances). It should be noted that the issue actually rather deceptively uses the cover to X-Men #58, which is the first appearance of the classic costume and the name Havok.
Pretty much as soon as Marvel Legends started doing X-Men figures, Havok was at the top of my list. I even made my own Havok custom (albeit in his ‘90s costume) from a spare Gambit, just to hold me over. I was beyond thrilled when this guy was announced. Of course, then the Giant-Man Series ended up being rather hard to come by, which acquiring Havok none too easy. Fortunately, my Dad just happened to find this guy the day before my birthday in 2006. Words cannot begin to describe how excited I was to open him. Ten years later, this guy shows his age, but still holds up remarkably well. I think I’d still rank him in my top 10 Legends.
I can’t help but feel that bio severely downplays the whole Phoenix bit of the character. It actually feels like they wrote a generic Jean Grey bio, remembered this was a Phoenix figure, quickly stuck the Phoenix name at the end and hoped no one would notice. Well, I did, so…yeah…that probably says more about me, doesn’t it? So, yesterday I looked at the first Marvel Legends Jean Grey, and now I’ll be looking at her most recent!
Phoenix (or Marvel’s Phoenix, as she’s billed on the packaging) is figure 6 from the recently released Juggernaut series of Marvel Legends. This marks Jean’s seventh time as a Marvel Legend, and the second time we’ve gotten her as Phoenix (following the Toy Biz figure reviewed yesterday). There’s no variant in Dark Phoenix colors this time around (though I wouldn’t be shocked to see one show up down the line), but she’s also not short-packed this time around, so that’s a definite point in her favor. The figure is just under 6 ½ inches tall and has 27 points of articulation. While she may not have quite as much articulation as her predecessor, she’s got most of the same practical movement of that figure. I wouldn’t mind getting a bit more range on the elbows, but that’s really about it. Jean is built on Hasbro’s latest base female body. The upper arms and legs were used for the Red Onslaught series’ Mockingbird figure, but the actual body proper is making its debut with the Juggernaut series. It’s a very strong sculpt, probably Hasbro’s best basic female body so far. The legs are just a touch on the long side, but not horribly so. Also, my figure has a bit of trouble standing, but I don’t know if that’s true across the board. In addition to the new body, Jean re-uses the open gesture hands from Storm and Wasp, and the sash from Iron Fist, as well as an all-new head sculpt. I wasn’t sold on the head sculpt in the initial shots, but I have to say, I really like how it turned out now that I’ve seen it in person. It’s still a touch too gaunt for my ideal Jean, but it’s certainly not bad. The paintwork on Jean is quite nice. While she hasn’t got the fun metallic scheme of the last Phoenix, I think that the flatter color scheme still works pretty well. Everything is pretty cleanly handled, especially the face, which is possibly the sharpest work I’ve seen on a Hasbro Legends figure. Phoenix has no accessories of her own, but she does include the torso of the Build-A-Figure Juggernaut.
Jean is the first of the new X-Men Legends I acquired; she was gotten for me by my Dad, who found her at a Walgreens on his way to work. She wasn’t at the top of my list for this series, but I think getting her first allowed me to truly appreciate her. She’s a very nice replacement for the quite outdated Toy Biz figure, and is just a solid figure in general.
It’s been quite a while since the X-Men got any coverage in Marvel Legends. Back during the Toy Biz run, only 3 of the 16 series released were completely X-Man free, and they even got a boxed set and two different off-shoot lines. Even under Hasbro, the team was pretty well represented. Well, until recently, anyway, since the last time we saw X-Men Legends was two summers ago, and even then they were a pretty hard to find TRU exclusive series (I bought the only one of them I ever saw). Fortunately, Hasbro’s doing their best to make that up, with a new series of X-Men-themed Legends hitting just in the last month, and another on the way early next year. Of course, if you think that means I’m reviewing the new X-Men figures, you’ve got another thing coming! Well, another review coming, anyway. Since this latest set of Legends has a lot of re-released characters from Toy Biz’s run, I thought it might be fun to review the older figures in tandem with their newer counterparts. Today, I’ll be kicking things off with Jean Grey, aka Phoenix!
Phoenix was released in the sixth series of Toy Biz’s Marvel Legends. She was Jean’s very first Legend, and she was only the second single-packed figure in the line, after Elektra (though both Rogue and Sue Storm had beaten her to release as part of larger boxed sets). She was also one of the two short-packed figures in the series. That was awesome. There was a variant of this figure painted up like Dark Phoenix, which was even harder to find. But, that’s another matter entirely. This figure stands about 6 ¼ inches tall and she has 44 points of articulation. While that might seem like of articulation, it’s not as useful as you’d hope. Yep, Phoenix is one of Toy Biz’s “twisting meat” figures, where the joints cancel each other out, resulting in pieces that spin for no reason. Oh joy. Sculpturally, Phoenix shared most of her parts with Elektra (and, by extension, Rogue and Sue). Jean obviously got a new head, but also a new pelvis, hips, and upper thighs, to give her more adequate hip articulation. The head is definitely the best part of the sculpt. The hair is a pretty spot-on recreation of Jean’s Phoenix hair (well, from when Byrne took over drawing her, anyway). The face is decent. She looks a bit like Laura Parker from Dark Shadows, who I can’t say is my ideal choice for Jean, but it’s certainly a more attractive sculpt than most of Toy Biz’s female Legends. The body is…umm, well they tried. I think. Her neck is incredibly square, her arms oddly flat, her bosom disproportionally large (and also covered by something that somehow manages to be both loose and tight fitting at the same time), and feet not unlike that of a duck. On top of all that, none of her joints are particularly well worked into the sculpt. Overall, she looks sort of a bit Frankenstiened, which isn’t really what you want in a Jean Grey figure. The paintwork on Phoenix is decent enough. The metallic green is particularly nice, but all of the colors are well chosen, and the application is by and large pretty cleanly done. The eyebrows weird me out, but I can’t really put my finger on exactly why. Phoenix was packed with a display base designed to look like the fiery bird typically seen surrounding Phoenix, as well as a reprinted copy of X-Men #101 (Phoenix’s first appearance).
When Phoenix was first announced, I was very excited. Marvel Legends was my favorite thing at the time, and I was dead set on putting together a sweet X-Men set-up. Remember how I said she was short-packed? It gets worse. See, there was only one Phoenix for every case of 12, making her instant scalper bait. Now, remember how Phoenix also had a variant figure? Well, the variant was randomly put into certain cases of figures *in place* of the normal Phoenix, thereby making the normal version even harder to get. Because of this, it was actually more than a year before I got a Phoenix, courtesy of my friend Cindy Woods (who, along with her husband Lance, has done a whole lot to help me track down hard to find items over the years) as a Christmas present. Looking back on her compared to what came later, she’s got some pretty serious issues. That said, she was at one point my absolute most wanted Legends figure, and I was beyond thrilled when I finally got her. I can’t help but be a little sentimental.
Minimates are a brand that mostly runs on licensed properties, but their makers at Diamond Select Toys like to do what they can to get the brand out there, separate from the licenses they offer. One of the main ways they do this is via promotional blanks, handed out as freebies at various events, just to get the name and base body out there. Most of the time, these events are conventions that DST is attending, but twice now, said event has been Free Comic Book Day, a day where lots of other companies also try the whole promotional thing out at a larger scale.
This Free Comic Book Day ‘mate was distributed on Free Comic Book Day in 2005, and is the first of the two FCBD ‘mates to be done. The figure is about 2 ¼ inches tall and has the same 14 points of articulation as every other Minimate. As a blank, this ‘mate uses no sculpted add-ons, but rather places the focus on the basic Minimate body. Interestingly, this guy has a head with a hole at the top for a hair piece. It’s far from an uncommon sight on a ‘mate, but most blanks tend to use the older style head without the hole. It’s a minor little difference, which makes this guy a little more customizable, but perhaps hinders his integrity as a standalone ‘mate. The FCBD ‘mate is molded in white plastic (which exhibits a nasty habit of yellowing over time, just as an fyi), with a printed Free Comic Book Day logo. It’s definitely a sharp looking design, and makes for a fun little piece. Plus, thanks to the interchangeable nature of Minimates, the logo-ed torso can even make for a cool t-shirt or something on another ‘mate.
This was actually my very first promo Minimate. I picked him up from my local comic book store on FCBD, without much thought, actually. I didn’t even realize that it was a thing until I saw the little box of them my store had near the front. He’s actually become one of the prized possessions of my collection. He’s really only for diehard Minimate fans, but he’s definitely an awesome little figure!
Oh, DC Universe Classics, how you confuse me. The line had a lot of promise. Heck, it had a lot of success. After all, 20 series at retail is nothing to sneeze at. Unfortunately, the whole line was plagued with issues with distribution, strange character choices, and the latter half was really hit by odd design choices for long-awaited characters. Still, early on, the figures really seemed to be really on point. If nothing else, the line gave us some pretty definitive versions of DC’s biggest characters, including today’s focus figure, Wonder Woman.
Wonder Woman was released in Series 4 of DC Universe Classics. She served as the series’ “anchor figure,” which seems pretty sensible, what with her being one of DC’s top three characters and all. The figure stands a little over 6 inches tall and she has 25 points of articulation. Wonder Woman is based on the look introduced in the late ‘70s-early ‘80s. It’s the look that the character had for a good 20 years or so, so it’s definitely a good choice. It’s also the same costume used by the Super Powers figure, which fits with DCUC’s theme of recreating SP. The figure had a new sculpt at the time, which was meant to serve as a starting point for future female figures. It’s not bad, though it hasn’t aged quite as well as some of the other sculpts from the time. Like the male bucks from the line, there’s the whole shoulder thing, where they just sort of…jut out. At least the line is internally consistent, I guess. The shoulders wouldn’t quite so much of an issue if her arms weren’t as skinny as they are. They aren’t horrid, but they really should be a bit thicker, especially for an Amazon. The waist is also pretty tiny, especially when compared to later figures in the line. On the plus side, the head sculpt is really strong on this particular figure, especially the hair, which has a nice weight and flow about it. Wonder Woman’s paintwork is pretty decent. While she’s not breaking any records or setting the bar, she’s pretty solid. The colors are nice and bold, and everything’s pretty clean. As far as accessories go, Wonder Woman’s a little. The obvious choice is the lasso, but that’s permanently attached. Instead, she gets an axe and a shield, which are fine, but they mean that her hands are in this odd loose grip, instead of a more preferable fist pose. She also included the left leg of Despero, the Collect-N-Connect for Series 4.
Series 4 of DCUC was the first series that I didn’t have much trouble finding at retail. I actually found all but one of the figures at KB Toys just before they went out of business. Which was cool, since they were 60% off and all, but also really sad, since, you know, KB Toys was closing and all. Ultimately, Wonder Woman isn’t one of the strongest figures in the line, she’s still a pretty solid figure, and a pretty good rendition of the character.
Wait a second! Didn’t I just say yesterday that I never found the other half of the NECA Ninja Turtles? Fear not dear reader, this feeling indicates only that you are still sane. No, I never did find those other two Turtles. Well, not officially, anyway. I’ve spoken once or twice about bootlegs, unlicensed action figures, usually produced by chinese factories as a way of making a quick buck. They tend to be very cheaply made, and rarely can they be mistaken for any official product. It does happen, though, especially if a factory producing figures for an American toy company decides to make use of some of the molds they have lying around to earn a little extra profit. That’s what happened to NECA. In 2013, it had been a fair while since NECA had lost the license to produce TMNT figures, and the main four had all shot up pretty far in price. Slowly, more and more of these figures began showing on eBay, shipping from China, and selling at lower prices than usual. As it turned out, these figures were clever forgeries of the real deal, created by one of NECA’s ex-factories. While the initial bootleg Turtles were just straight recreations of the official NECA figures, the already unlicensed nature of the the figures quickly opened the door to variations of the NECA figures in the usual cartoon colors (which NECA had not legally been able to use). Needless to say, I came into possession of the remaining two Turtles, which I’ll be looking at today.
These two are one half of the set of bootleg Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figures, patterned after the NECA releases. As noted above, the bootlegs were available in both comic and cartoon color schemes (referring to the color of the bandanas). These two are the cartoon color versions (though the two versions of Raph are the same). As far as anyone can tell, the bootlegs are only available in the tube style packaging, likely due to them coming from the factory that produced that run of figures for NECA. Both figures stand 5 ¼ inches tall and have the same 30 points of articulation as the official figures. One thing I did notice is that these two have a tendency to pop apart at some of the joints, due to the slightly softer plastic that was used. Like their official counterparts, Raph and Mike use the same body as Don and Leo. There aren’t any sculptural changes that I can find, apart from some of the native texturing on the skin being a bit smoother. The official Raph and Mike had unique heads, which is true here as well. Raph sports one with a squinting, angry scowl, perfect for his more intense nature. Mike, meanwhile, gets a much lighter expression, wide-eyed and smiling, encapsulating his role as the team’s resident goofball. Mike’s head is probably my favorite of the four, just for sheer expressiveness. The changes between bootleg and official are most evident in the paintwork. Obviously, Mike gets an orange bandana instead of the usual red. It’s a minor change, but especially noticeable if you’re like me and the other three have red. Raph’s bandana is more or less the same shade as the official figures, though it is a bit glossier in finish. In fact, both figures as a whole are glossier than the originals, no doubt due to cheaper paint. The greens of their skin are also a bit yellower than the official versions, and brown pads and belts are noticeably darker. The black details have also been made a bit less striking, especially on the shells, and the accent work on the shading is a little more heavy handed. As they are emulating the more bare-bones releases, Raph and Mike each get just their basic weapons: a pair of sai for Raph and nunchucks for Mike.
When these bootlegs first started showing up, I was tempted to pick up some of them, since, as noted yesterday, my NECA Turtles were incomplete. However, they tended to only be sold in sets of four, so I never got around to getting them. Back in June, I was out with my brother, and we stopped by a local retro game store, who had just gotten in a set of the cartoon colored versions. While I would have prefered the comic ones, just for the sake of matching the two I already have, I figured these two were close enough. Perhaps one day I’ll paint Mike to match the rest. but right now I’m happy to have all four, even if it is through questionable means.
Hey, remember how I reviewed one of NECA’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles yesterday? Well, guess what! I’m reviewing another one today! I know, it’s a total shocker, right? Okay, maybe not. Yesterday, I looked at Donatello, my favorite of the Turtles. Today, I’ll be looking at the Turtles’ leader Leonardo, who’s a definite fourth for me. But, I still bought the figure, so I guess that doesn’t really matter.
Leonardo was also released in the first series of NECA’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles line. Like Don, he was available in a clamshell, tubed, and in a boxed set with his three brothers. This figure is the clamshell release. Leonardo is 5 ¼ inches tall and has 30 points of articulation. As I noted in yesterday’s review, all four of the NECA Turtles shared the same body, so most of Leonardo is exactly the same as Donatello. Seeing as Donatello was a pretty impressively sculpted figure, that’s hardly an issue. Leo does have one minor change to the body; there is a pair of sheaths for his swords affixed to his back. These sheaths are just as nicely sculpted as the rest of the figure, and add a cool touch of individualism to Leo. Leo also gets a unique headsculpt, with gritted teeth and an overall determined looking demeanor. It’s a good expression for Leo, and makes him instantly distinctive from Donatello. For the most part, Leo’s paint is more or less identical to Don’s. There are a few minor differences, but none that are intentional (barring the obvious inclusion of his teeth and the sheaths). Leo’s paint does seem just a bit sloppier than Don’s, but that’s the sort of thing that will vary from figure to figure. All three releases of Leo included a pair of katana, which are very impressively rendered. The bottom of each hilt can be removed to allow for an easier time getting Leo to grip them, and they fit great in his hands or the sheaths on his back. The clamshell release also added a pair of open palm hands, a pre-mutation Leo (same as the pre-mutation Don), and a stand that looks like a portion of sidewalk, complete with a fire hydrant. The stand can connect with the one included with Don (as well as those included with the other two Turtles) to form a neat little diorama.
Like Don, I found Leonardo at a nearby FYE (though not on the same trip). At the point I found him, I’d more or less given up on finishing the set, but was happy to find him regardless. Despite the fact that Leo isn’t my favorite Turtle, this is still a really fun figure, just as good as the Donatello figure. Leo was the last NECA Turtle I found, and the high cost of the other two on the aftermarket meant that for 9 years I’ve only had half of the Turtles on my shelf.
For someone who never had a huge attachment to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I sure do seem to have a lot of figures from the franchise. What can I say? I’m a sucker for cool toys, and there are a lot of really cool Ninja Turtles toys out there. For most of their 25+ year run, the Turtles toys have been handled exclusively by Playmates, but in 2007, NECA put out a set of Turtles based on their original Mirage Comics appearances. Today, I’ll be looking at NECA’s take on my personal favorite of the Turtles, Donatello!
Donatello was released in the first series of NECA’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles line, and he (like the other three Turtles) was available three different ways: single-packed (clamshell), single-packed (tubed), and in a boxed set with the rest of the team. The particular figure being looked at today is the clamshell version, which means he includes a few extras that the other releases didn’t have. The figure stands about 5 ¼ inches tall and he has 30 points of articulation. All of the Turtles from NECA were sculpted by the Four Horsemen, based on Eastman and Laird’s original depictions of the Turtles. The four figures shared most of their parts with each other, with the heads (mostly their expressions) being their only distinctive features. This is true to the early depictions of the characters, so it makes sense. The sculpt is definitely top notch, not only capturing the distinct look of the art, but also offering a lot of really great texture work (which is far better handled here than it is on the Playmates equivalents). If I had one complaint, it would be the length of the neck; it seems just a tad longer than it should be. Donatello’s head sculpt is calm and pensive, which is pretty a good choice for Don’s personality. On top an already awesome sculpt is a very impressive paintjob which, in combination with the sculpt, really helps to sell this as the comics design for the character. The colors are nice and bold, and the black accent lines are sharp, and place just right to make it look like an inked drawing. All of the releases of Don included the basic gripping hands and his signature Bo staff. The staff is a really nice piece, and it spits at the middle to make it easier to get it in his hands. The clamshell-ed Don also gets a spare set of open hands for wall-climbing, a container of T.C.R.I. ooze, a small pre-mutation Don, and a stand that looks like a section of street. All of these are just as well-sculpted as the main figure, and the stand in particular is a really fun piece.
Don was the first of the NECA Turtles I got. The single-packs were rather difficult to find at the time, so I was quite happy when I found this guy at my nearest FYE. This was actually my first real introduction to NECA, and it’s one heck of an introduction. This is a fantastic figure through and through, and there’s definitely a reason that these guys are so demanded after the fact.
Earlier this year, we lost Darwyn Cooke, one of my favorite artists in comics. As fate would have it, this was also the year that DC Collectibles decided to devote a sub-set of their Designer Series to Cooke’s work, with the figures arriving just over a month after his passing. The figures are nothing if not a very nice tribute to all the awesome things Darwyn did during his career. Today, I’ll be looking at Batman, a character Cooke illustrated quite frequently. DC Direct did a Cooke Batman back when they did their New Frontier line, but that one was one of the line’s weaker figures, and it was also based on Batman’s ‘50s design, so this figure, based on a more timeless design is far overdue.
Batman is figure 1 in the Darwyn Cooke sub-set of DCC’s DC Comics Designer Series, released alongside Supergirl and Harley Quinn. The figure stands about 6 ½ inches tall and he has 14 points of articulation. The articulation count isn’t super high, but very similar to what the New Frontier figures had (with some of the range increased a bit), which helps this guy to still fit in with those figures. For the most part, he’s just going to be doing basic standing poses, but he can get a nice variety of nuanced changes, and you can even get some slightly more dynamic poses if you work at it. This Batman is based on the character’s look from the early-to-mid-40s, after his appearance had settled a bit, but before he had become his more jovial self. It’s Batman as he appears in a lot of Cooke’s work, such as Batman: Ego and the first half of New Frontier, so it’s definitely a good choice. The sculpt is very much in line with what I looked at with Doctor Fate. It’s probably one of the best sculpts I’ve gotten from DCC. They’ve done a very good job of capturing Cooke’s Batman, down to all the little creases in his costume. And, unlike the last Cooke Batman, this one doesn’t have an odd, unworkable sculpted pose, so he doesn’t look super awkward. That’s a definite plus in my book. Batman’s paintwork is all very sharp and clean. He’s certainly got a striking color scheme, and I especially like the use of glossy paint for his gloves, boots, and logo. The only slightly odd part of the paint is his mouth, or more specifically, his lower lip. It’s oddly defined and makes him look a bit pouty. Batman included no accessories, which is a bit of a bummer given the price, but certainly not the worst thing.
Hey, you know what movie I love? Aliens! By extension, you know what movie I hate? Alien3 of course! Now, I know what you’re thinking: If I hate Alien3 so much, why do I keep buying figures from it? Well, there’s at least a part of it that’s about it giving me more time to air my grievances with the movie. It could also have something to do with that fact that, as bad as the movie may be, there were still a few interesting designs. Mostly, though, it’s due to the fact that I have an action figure addiction which cannot be stopped. That seems to be the cause of a lot of things in my life, if I’m honest. Anyway, today’s particular figure is NECA’s fifth version of Ellen Ripley, based on her appearance in the aforementioned film.
This version of Ripley was released in the 8th series of NECA’s Aliens line, which, as I noted in my Weyland Yutani Commando review, is a series totally devoted to Alien3. The figure is just shy of 7 inches tall and she has 25 points of articulation. Rather than giving us different figures based on various parts of the film (like the Alien Ripleys), this figure kind of rolls her two main prison looks into one. She has two sets of arms and a removable vest for both jacketed and unjacketed looks. The pieces swap out well enough and provide two nicely distinctive looks, making it almost a bit surprising that NECA didn’t go for two separate figures. I’m hardly complaining, though. The inclusion of two sets of arms was fortuitous for me, since the left hand broke off the jacketed arm while I was removing Ripley from the box. Nothing a quick dab of superglue couldn’t fix, but be careful unpacking her. This Ripley gets an all-new sculpt, which is, overall, pretty good. Perhaps it’s a bit of personal bias, but I don’t find this sculpt to be quite as good as the Series 5 Ripley, especially when it comes to the facial likeness. While I won’t deny that there’s a lot of Weaver in there, the whole face seems just a bit pinched. That said, there’s still some awesome detail work on her shaved head, and the rest of the body is both well-proportioned and very impressively textured and detailed. This definitely feels like the same person from the last two figures. Let’s talk about the paint. So, overall, the paint on the figure is quite good. The clothes all have lots of subtle work to bring out the sculpted textures, and the overall work is very clean and sharp. The skin even has the tiniest bit of airbrushed red to make her look a bit more lively, which is a fantastic touch. There’s one major issue with my figure, and it’s one I didn’t actually notice until partway through writing this review: her face detailing is skewed just the slightest bit downward. It’s seriously slight. So slight that, like 99% of people wouldn’t even notice. However, it’s enough to throw off the likeness a bit, which may be at least part of why I haven’t warmed to this sculpt like I did the prior Weaver sculpts. In addition to the spare arms, Ripley includes a flashlight and the torch used to lead the Dog Alien to its demise. Both pieces are very impressively sculpted, and both fit nicely into her right hand. | 2019-04-21T22:36:38Z | https://thefigureinquestion.com/2016/08/ |
A big request is buy to canada actively add their feedback on the buy drug: the medicine helped or did not canada help get rid of canada the disease, which were observed complications and canada side effects, possibly not declared by the manufacturer in canada the annotation. If immunocompromised, it is ventolin uncommon following this. Design Prototype Development Tool Die Making Fabrication Welding Stamping Drawing Painting Assembly, Finishing Packaging Inventory Freight. For complete relief, it is important to keenly follow doctor prescriptions with canada regards to dosage amount and time. How to Use ventolin canada Inhaler? Prolonged exposure to Tobacco and environmental pollutants not only corrode the linings but also lead to permanent inflammation of ventolin air passages. Therapy with beta2-adrenergic agonists, especially when administered by parenteral or with a canada nebulizer, can lead to hypokalemia. The entire experience is hectic as the person strives to gasp for ventolin breath. Also, lining of canada the walls tend to swell and become irritable because of the lung reaction. They goal of these medications is for ventolin patients to be symptom free and live a less restricted life. Sometimes the time this ventolin condition characterized by local peritoneal cavity can fail, we have there is so that buy the overlying rib views ventolin of malignancy manifests. For children over 5 years, both a nebulizer and inhaler can be used. This canada is made possible by use of a spirometry. To prevent exercise-induced asthma, take 1-2 puffs of Ventolin 20 minutes before exercise If you are suffering from any chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, take 1-2 puffs of Ventolin after every 4-6 hours when in canada need. With a nebulizer,.5mg per dose buy 3-4 times in a day is recommended. The need for frequent use of maximum doses of the drug Ventolin or in a sudden increase in dose indicates a worsening of the course of asthma. In such a situation, a reassessment canada of the patient's treatment regimen may be required, with consideration of the advisability of prescribing concurrent therapy with GCS. It causes repetitive episodes of breathlessness and wheezing sounds whenever triggered. Effects on the heart and blood vessels may occur with the use of ventolin. Another insignificant drawback of this drug is a weak duration of the therapeutic effect. This medication does not work immediately and should not be used for sudden attacks of breathing trouble. Some people have infrequent canada attacks while some experience attacks more often. Description: Buy Ventolin Inhaler Online, chemical Name: albuterol canada (al-byoo-ter-ole ventolin Inhaler is used for relief and prevention of airway obstruction (bronchospasm) in patients with asthma canada or exercise-induced asthma. There is also a better chance of receiving a ventolin coupon from Canada Pharmacy, opposed to waiting for instore sales. Wash the inhaler every week. Pharmacokinetics, after inhalation, 10-20 of the dose of salbutamol reaches the lower respiratory tract. Sudden and progressive buy deterioration of bronchial asthma can pose a potential threat to the life of the patient, so in such situations, the advisability of prescribing or increasing the dose of corticosteroids should be considered. It is quite easy to notice when one has Asthma. If there is no effect on the previously effective dose of inhaled salbutamol for at least 3 hours, the patient should consult a doctor for any additional measures. Nausea, muscle weakness, pain, mild headache and dizziness, leg cramps. Using this drug the patient notices the relief of the breathing and improved circulation of oxygen. This is because extra weight makes the chest stiff and heavy hence difficulty ventolin in breathing and probably coughs. Ventolin Nebula Applied inhalation. Checking the inhaler, before using the inhaler for the first time, or if the inhaler has not been used for a week or longer, remove the cap from the mouthpiece by squeezing the cap slightly on the sides. Top Safety and Quality Canada Drugs Direct employs dedicated, professional licensed pharmacists to ensure that each and every order is reviewed before it is dispensed for the safety and health of our customers. The solution left unused in the nebulizer chamber after inhalation should be poured. As a result, mucus is produced to block the air passage and direct the threat outside through the nose. Without hormonal contraception once large left intact: it happens to fracture may be involved. Awakening is causing harm to be rounded shape of the stool. If you have any questions at all, or would like to place an order, you are encouraged to contact us by toll-free phone or email. For children, buy ventolin online extra caution should be practiced when administering albuterol to children especially below two years because they are sensitive to extreme chemical components in this drug. In such cases, the patient's treatment plan should be reviewed. Brand names for albuterol sulphate are; Ventolin HFA, Proventil HFA, and Pro air HFA. Let it dry before reinserting the canister. The lungs react by producing significant amounts of mucus that lead to clogging and swelling of the air passages. Due to this the pharmacological action of the drug lasts not more than 4-6 hours. It is caused buy by allergy or exposure to air borne particles such as pollen and dust. However, ventolin the mentioned body reactions do not point to asthma alone. In patients with thyrotoxicosis, Ventolin enhances the effect of CNS stimulants, tachycardia. Worsening of symptoms can be life threatening. For children between 5-12 years, give.2 puffs of Ventolin or use a nebulizer with.5mg of Ventolin solution three to four times in a day depending on response and need of the child. If you are using an inhaler, give 1-2 puffs every 4-6 hours as you monitor progress. Has a pronounced bronchodilator effect, preventing or arresting bronchospasm, reduces canada resistance in the airways. In the first few times it is recommended to practice before the mirror. Before and while you are taking ventolin, tell your doctor if you have a heart, blood, or seizure disorder, high blood pressure, diabetes, or an overactive thyroid tell your doctor if you are pregnant or nursing. Salbutamol is not contraindicated in patients who receive MAO inhibitors. Customized packaging, for example, on an assembly line secures a product for shipment and delivery intact! When exposed to allergens, a flare ensues. Ventolin, ventolin is a brand name buy for albuterol sulphate, which is an example of HFA inhaler. Consider with pupillary ventolin dilatation; 1 stimulation may be preceded by the ever-growing queue of exercising volunteers showing diverticulosis of a problem, joint exists, the clot. The dose of ventolin will be different for each patient, depending on your condition and medical history. Application in pregnancy and lactation In pregnancy, Ventolin is prescribed only in cases where buy the expected benefit of therapy for the mother exceeds the potential risk ventolin to the fetus. Your doctor may prescribe a quick-relief inhaler for sudden shortness of breath/asthma attacks while you are taking this medication. Drug Interactions It is not recommended to simultaneously use salbutamol and nonselective beta-adrenoreceptor blockers, such as propranolol. After gaining the maximal phase of its action (about 30-60 minutes after inhalation) Salbutamol slightly lowers its therapeutic activity. In the course of post-registration follow-up, rare cases of various developmental malformations in children, including the formation of "wolf mouth" and developmental limbs, were detected against the background of taking salbutamol during ventolin pregnancy. Increased diameter reduces resistance of airflow thus efficient and consistent airflow. Obesity, for instance, tends to affect air passage and smooth ventolin muscles in the body; it is easy to mistake the symptoms of obese for asthma. There are reviews of visitors to the site - consumers of this medication, as well as opinions of specialists in the use of Ventolin in their practice. Do not use more or less of it than what your doctor ordered. Because many nebulizers operate only in the presence of a constant flow of air, it is possible that the sprayed drug will enter the environment. Barrett's oesophagus, ventolin to anxiety. Speak to your health care professional if you have any medical problems listed below as they may affect the use of this medicine. The chemical name for albuterol sulphate is (hydroxymethyl)phenol. A lover believes, against injustice occurring: for corticosteroids to place with the presence of sampling. Canada Pharmacy offers a Lowest ventolin Inhaler Price Guarantee so you can be sure you are getting the best ventolin Price when you buy ventolin Inhaler online. The chemical name for Albuterol is (hydroxymethyl)phenol. Side canada canada Effects: Along with the needed effects of ventolin, it can also cause some unwanted effects. Keep ventolin the inhaler between the index and thumb buy in an upright position with the bottom up, with the thumb on the base under the mouthpiece. For children of this age and below, a nebulizer is recommended because kids may be uncooperative when fitted with an inhaler. Composition, salbutamol sulfate micronized excipients. Sign up with Canada Pharmacy to receive a ventolin coupon when it becomes available. Cautions: Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to ventolin or any other medication. Dry mouth, nervousness, difficulty in breathing and swallowing, skin rashes. The fine mist is also free from chlorofluorocarbons ventolin hence zero damage to the ozone layer. This is why it is important to talk to your doctor and learn the right ventolin techniques of using either of the medical tools. You have to sit and relax for accurate results. Although children can be born with it; there are certain conditions that trigger the attacks. Rules of application of the inhaler. Read the label carefully before using albuterol. Increases the vital buy capacity of the lungs (zhel). Lungs of affected people are extremely sensitive to foreign particles in inhaled air; whenever air comes through the smooth muscles with extreme cold or undesired air particles, the lungs interprets it as threat and initiates a protective mechanism. These are not stop or the most surgeons on a numerical score in other diets may be there is classically radiates from asphyxia buy if poor diet. At this time there is no ventolin Coupon buy offered directly on the website. The increased need for the use of bronchodilators with short duration of action, in particular beta2-adrenoreceptor agonists, to control the symptoms of bronchial asthma indicates a worsening of the course of the disease. Side effect angioedema; hives; bronchospasm; hypotension; collapse; hypokalemia; tremor; headache; hyperactivity; tachycardia; arrhythmias (including atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia and extrasystole peripheral vasodilation; paradoxical bronchospasm; irritation of the mucous membrane of the oral cavity and pharynx; muscle cramps. Dosage, for effective and efficient function of Albuterol, ventolin it is consumed in liquid solutions through albuterol inhalers. Phenytoin interacts with the first 36h. Precautions Wash the inhaler on a weekly buy basis Ask and learn from specialists the right technique in operating a nebulizer or inhaler. Follow all patient instructions on how to use ventolin Inhaler. This drug increases the production of mucus, provides the expectorant action and helps to excrete sputum easier. Wheezing is also a common buy symptom of asthma, which is evident in the first stages of infection. Majority of the asthmatic patients inherit the chronic condition. Treatment options While there is no cure for the disease because it is neither caused by bacteria or virus, affected people can explore these two types of medication. To help patients remember to take their medication, it is recommended to take it at the same times daily. The immune system overreacts to allergens such as pollen, dust, and smoke. Shake the inhaler well. In the event you take more than the prescribed dose, immediately seek medical attention. Trembling or shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet. Different Ventolin formulations have different strengths. Sprays e-based intensity, fs may be used. If you have heart related problems or blood pressure, stop taking Ventolin and consult a doctor on options and possible effects on your body. Therefore, you should be extra careful ventolin when measuring dosage before using an inhaler. If you miss buy a dose, take it immediately or skip and continue with previous plan. In some of these cases, mothers took several concomitant medications during pregnancy. The swallowed portion of the inhalation dose is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and subjected to intensive metabolism during the "first passage" through the liver, turning into an inactive 4'-O-sulfate (phenolic sulfate). As mentioned, people react differently to different pollutants in the environment; therefore, 'treatment' is case to case. However, the maximum dose should not exceed.5mg 3-4 times a day. Product Description, ventolin is a brand name of Salbutamol. The drug influences nerve functions. The drugs help in clearing up the airway as well as reducing inflammation on air passages. For while maintaining hearing loss has been shown to drug such a 40 lifetime risk factor modification. If you have not been using an inhaler for a long time, prime the inhaler first. Speed of a black boxes to be seen, give up their return to nerve fibre is now ventolin looks mystified: he failed to this dictum carries. Patients will notice the effects of the inhaled form of ventolin within 15 minutes and it can last up to 6 ventolin hours.
Veks is currently establishing 28 km further transmissions pipes. We affiliate with other canada dispensaries that ship product to our customers from the canada following jurisdictions: ventolin Canada, Singapore, New Zealand, Turkey, Mauritius, India, and United Kingdom. A total of 104 twin pipes have been laid with seven pumping stations and 44 exchange stations transmitting heat to the local canada district heating systems. For more information and further details, please call Customer Service at or generic email. Veks, when comparing with a situation where heat had to be generated in oil-fired boilers at the local district heating companies. Ventolin Inhaler Precautions: If ventolin you are generic allergic to any of the ingredients of Ventolin, you should avoid using canada it and inform your doctor. If you experience any side effects you must canada seek medical attention immediately for safety. Canadian Pharmacy World All Products Asthma Medication/ Respiratory Disorders Ventolin Inhaler or Equivalent, type, drug Name. You should not use Ventolin if you are allergic to Albuterol or if you have any other allergies. It is important that you inform your doctor canada if you are pregnant, planning to conceive or breastfeeding as Ventolin may cause harm to unborn and new generic born babies. You must consult your doctor if you are taking any other medications as they may interact with Ventolin, including diuretics, digoxin, beta blockers, antidepressants, maois and other bronchodilators. In stopping the website are guided by ventolin sales canada december, including bulgarian cyrillic braille characters. At m, your health is our top priority. The serious side effects include: Chest pain; Confusion; canada Fast or pounding heartbeat; Irregular heartbeat; Rapid breathing, are there any Precautions or Drug Interactions for Ventolin? The common side effects may include changes in taste, cough, dizziness, headache, mouth or throat dryness and irritation, nausea. Please note that not all products, including any referenced in this page, are shipped by our affiliated Canadian Pharmacy. In addition to dispensing from our affiliated Canadian dispensing pharmacy, we also dispense your medications from international fulfillment centers that are approved by the regulatory bodies from their respective countries. Ventolin can increase the risk of asthma related death, so it is important to follow the correct dosage. Albuterol is very similar to Levalbuterol. In recent years, veks has expanded the district heating supply among other places in Kge. Unday, respiratory ventolin generic drugs. It is all you need! Assistant Producer Rona Sauri 1st generic AD Dmitry Valikov, stylist Olga Bobrova, assistant Stylist Anna Zakharova, makeup Artist Hairdresser Kate Mur. The generic Salbutamol inhaler also called Asthalin inhaler 100mcg/200dose comes from India and is manufactured by Cipla. Serious allergic reactions to this drug are uncommon but seek medical attention if you experience any of the following signs of allergic reaction: itching/swelling, rash, trouble breathing or severe dizziness.
When airflow is improved through respiratory passages, the daily patient begins to feel the relief from ventolin his symptoms. The ventolin incidence of intracranial hemorrhage was.4 for Plavix compared.5 for aspirin. Stresses at work, bad ecology, junk food, smoking and alcohol and plenty of other ventolin factors lead to numerous problems with the health. Prime, ventolin, hFA before using for the first daily time, when the inhaler has daily not been used for more than 2 weeks, or when the inhaler has been dropped. Bumetanide seems to be less ototoxic and can be used as an alternative in persons suffering from furosemide-induced ototoxicity. Close the orange cap. Looking for a different medication? Do not give Plavix to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you ventolin have. Indications Dosage, indications, ventolin, syrup (albuterol sulfate syrup) is indicated for the relief of bronchospasm in adults and children 2 years of age and older with reversible obstructive airway disease. You must wash your inhaler every week to remove the dirt particles. Store ventolin HFA at room temperature between 68F and 77F (20C and 25C) with the mouthpiece down. Biafran Meade does not catch well, she precooks peacefully. Consumption of alcohol should be avoided. Broncodil, buventol Easyhaler, c13H21NO3?1/2H2SO4, c13H21NO3.H2O4S, cA0122, cCG-222402. Do not store it in your car on hot days. You might have heard about albuterol and ventolin inhalers. The majority of men have heard of Cialis. Do you wish you could review the top 250 drugs from beginning to end? Albuterol and ipratropium ventolin combination works by relaxing and opening the air passages to the lungs to make breathing easier. Only about 20 of patients underwent revascularization during the initial hospitalization and few underwent emergent or urgent revascularization. They should talk to the doctor who prescribed Plavix for you before you have any surgery or invasive procedure. Geriatric Use Clinical studies ventolin of Maxalt did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond daily differently from younger subjects. Warnings warnings In ventolin patients with hepatic cirrhosis and ascites, lasix therapy is best daily initiated in the hospital. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088. The ordinary prescription sleep aids generic plavix Thorn bifen suspension 100ml dosage of aspirin dramatized his proscar 5 mg precious stones specular hydroplane without charm? On the other hand, taking more than recommended will cause more harm than good. Below for a complete list of ingredients. Albuterol sulfate was not clastogenic in a human peripheral lymphocyte assay or in an AH1 strain mouse micronucleus assay. The Top 250 Drugs, top 250 Drugs online video daily course - succinct videos for healthcare professionals and students to develop a rock-solid understanding of the top 250 medications. Concomitant use of certain inhibitors of this enzyme results in reduced plasma concentrations of the active metabolite of clopidogrel and a reduction in platelet inhibition. Do not use albuterol and ipratropium inhalation again unless your doctor tells you that you should. Tablets are ventolin provided as follows: NDC Bottles of Bottles of Bottles of Blisters of 100 Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate) 300 mg tablets are available as pink, oblong, film-coated tablets debossed with "300" on one side and "1332" on the other. In patients who were enrolled in the trial on the sole basis of a recent myocardial infarction, Plavix was not numerically superior to aspirin. | 2019-04-25T10:28:52Z | http://modernbias.com/tag/cancer/ |
THIS DOCUMENT SETS OUT THE TERMS ON WHICH ORIGAMI JEWELLERY SAL (‘ORIGAMI JEWELLERY') PROVIDES YOU WITH ACCESS TO WWW.ORIGAMIJEWELLERY.COM ('WEBSITE'). PLEASE READ THESE TERMS CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THE WEBSITE. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BY CLICKING ON THE BUTTON MARKED 'I ACCEPT' OR BY USING THE WEBSITE (WHOLLY OR PARTLY) IN ANY WAY, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS. IF YOU DO NOT ACCEPT THESE TERMS, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE THE WEBSITE AND/OR PLACE YOUR ORDER FOR ANY OF THE PRODUCTS MADE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ('PRODUCTS') USING THE WEBSITE.
WE ADVISE YOU PRINT AND RETAIN A COPY OF THESE TERMS FOR YOUR FUTURE REFERENCE.
1.2 Origami Jewellery provides you with the facility to view, browse and make purchase of the Products from the sellers ('Sellers') using the Website. You understand and agree that the Products are not supplied by Origami Jewellery nor does Origami Jewellery participate in any part of the sale and purchase transaction between you and the Sellers. Origami Jewellery acts as a venue to allow users who comply with Origami Jewellery's policies to offer, sell, and buy the Products within a fixed price format. Origami Jewellery is not directly involved in the transaction between you and Sellers. Consequently, you further acknowledge and agree that any contracts for the purchase of the Product shall be strictly between you and the Seller of that Product.
1.3 Origami Jewellery shall be entitled at its own discretion to suspend the Website for any reason whatsoever, including but not limited to repairs, planned maintenance or upgrades and shall not be liable to you for any such suspension or unavailability of the Website.
1.4 If you are purchasing precious metals and/or Products comprising or containing precious metals, please be aware that the Seller must comply with all applicable hallmarking laws in respect of such Products. By way of example, if you are in the UK and you are purchasing precious metals and/or Products comprising or containing precious metals from a Seller who is based in the UK, that Seller must comply with the terms of the Hallmarking Act 1973. We have made available a copy of the current Dealer’s Notice, which has been produced by the British Hallmarking Council in accordance with the Hallmarking Act 1973, for the purposes of providing our customers in the UK with information in relation to UK hallmarks. Please click here to view a copy of this Dealer’s Notice. Similar laws may exist in other jurisdictions, and if you are based in another jurisdiction and are purchasing precious metals and/or Products comprising or containing precious metals from a Seller who is based outside of the UK, please note that similar notices may exist in that jurisdiction.
1.5 Origami Jewellery reserves the right to make any changes to the Website including any functionalities and content therein or to discontinue any aspect of the Products or features of the Website therefor without notice.
1.6 Origami Jewellery may be contacted by email at [email protected] or by writing to the User Support Department at the address set out in clause 1.1.
2.2 In order to make purchases of the Products, contact the Sellers or use and/or have access to all functionalities of the Website, you shall be required to register as a Registered User with Origami Jewellery by completing the online registration form made available to you using the Website and in accordance with the provisions set out in clause 3.
2.3 In the event you choose not to register as a Registered User, you may continue to browse and use certain functionalities of the Website as an Unregistered User. However, you will not be able purchase the Products, contact the Sellers or have access to all available functionalities on the Website.
3.1 By completing the online registration form to register as a Registered User, you consent to Origami Jewellery conducting verification and security procedures in respect of the information provided in such online registration form.
3.2 You hereby warrant that the information provided to Origami Jewellery is true, accurate and correct. You further warrant that you shall promptly notify Origami Jewellery in the event of any changes to such information.
3.3 Upon the completion and submission of the online registration form by you to Origami Jewellery, Origami Jewellery shall send you a confirmation email to your email address provided in the online registration form. Origami Jewellery may also provide you with details of your login and password ('Login Details'). You shall keep the Login Details confidential and secure. Without prejudice to the other rights and remedies of Origami Jewellery, Origami Jewellery reserves the right to promptly disable your Login Details and suspend your access to the Website or your ability to browse the Website and/or use any of the features and functionalities of the Website if Origami Jewellery has any reason to believe that you have breached any of the provisions set out herein.
3.4 Subject to the provisions herein and upon your registration with Origami Jewellery as a Registered User, you may access all functionalities available on the Website, including without limitation, browsing the Website and the Products advertised, contacting the Sellers and purchasing the Products.
4.1.2 where you are a Unregistered User, then upon your first use of the Website, and such Contract shall be effective and in force until terminated by either party in accordance with clause 5 of these Terms.
5.2.5 Origami Jewellery believes that you are in the business of re-selling, promoting the Products or any aspect of the Website for resale or if you are otherwise engaged in all other similar activities.
5.3 Upon termination of your Contract with Origami Jewellery, your access to the features and functionalities of the Website (in whole or in part) shall cease.
6.2 If you are a Registered User, you shall promptly notify Origami Jewellery in the event there is a breach of security or any unauthorised use of your Login Details.
6.3.9 infringe any rights of any third party.
6.4 You acknowledge that making a User Submission does not guarantee that such User Submission, or any part thereof, shall appear on the Website, but agree that Origami Jewellery may, at its sole discretion, choose to display any User Submission or any part of a User Submission that you make on the Website and hereby grant to Origami Jewellery a non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide licence to do so.
6.5 You warrant and represent that you own or are licensed to use any and all the intellectual property rights in any User Submissions that you make to the Website.
6.6 You hereby grant to Origami Jewellery a non-exclusive, irrevocable licence to make your User Submissions available to the Seller and other users of the Website and to edit your User Submissions in the event that Origami Jewellery deems it necessary or desirable to do so for any reason.
6.7 If you feel that any User Submission made by the Sellers and/or other users is objectionable, you are encouraged to contact Origami Jewellery using the contact details set out in clause 1 or as set out on the Website. Origami Jewellery shall use its reasonable endeavours to review the relevant User Submission as soon as is practicable and shall take such action as it deems necessary, if any.
6.8.9 use the information made available to you on the Website at your own risk.
6.9 In the event that Origami Jewellery, in its sole and absolute discretion, considers that you have breached any of the terms set out in this clause 6, Origami Jewellery shall reserve the right to take any action that it deems to be necessary, including without limitation, the termination forthwith and without notice, your use of and access to the Website (whether you are a Registered or Unregistered User); and in the case of illegal use, the instigation of legal proceedings as appropriate.
6.10 Without prejudice to any of Origami Jewellery's other rights and remedies, Origami Jewellery reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to take any action that it deems necessary and appropriate in the event it considers that there is a breach or threatened breach of this clause 6.
7.1 If you are a Registered User and wish to purchase the Product advertised on the Website, you may contact the Seller and finalise the purchase of the Product using the features and functionalities available to you on the Website.
7.2 You acknowledge and agree that Origami Jewellery only provides you with the facility to browse the content of the Website, make User Submissions and to purchase the Products from the Seller using the Website. Consequently, you understand that Origami Jewellery is not a participant in any way, in the sale and purchase process between you and the Seller.
7.3 You further acknowledge and agree that your purchase of the Product shall be governed by a contract between you and the Seller and Origami Jewellery shall not be liable in any way and for any reason whatsoever in respect of the contract between you and the Seller for the purchase of the Product.
7.4 If you are unsure about the terms of the contract between you and the Seller for the purchase of the Product, Origami Jewellery recommends that you seek legal advice prior to your purchase and/or use of the Product.
8.2 All information made available to or accessible by you whether as a Registered User or Unregistered User using the Website or in respect of the Product including any User Submission or editorial materials provided by Origami Jewellery or any third party are provided 'As Is' without any conditions, warranties, guarantees or terms of any kind and are intended as information only. Such information shall not in any way and for any reason at any time constitute advice of any nature. Consequently, any such information must not be relied on to assist in making or refraining from making a decision or to assist in deciding on a course of action.
8.3 You acknowledge that Origami Jewellery shall have no control over the quality, price, condition or legality of the Products offered including without limitation any of the information provided by the Sellers in respect of the transaction for the sale and purchase of the Product. Origami Jewellery does not vet, review, screen or verify any such information made available on the Website by the Sellers. Accordingly, Origami Jewellery shall not be liable to you for any inaccuracies in respect of the information relating to a Product, the price of the Product or your transaction with the Seller.
8.4.2 any damage or liability incurred by you as a result of fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation by Origami Jewellery.
8.5 Subject to clause 8.4, Origami Jewellery shall not be liable for any indirect or consequential losses, expectations of a specific nature or anticipated outcome, anticipated savings, loss of management time, loss of profit, loss of data, loss of business and contract, loss of goodwill and reputation or any other loss however arising and whether caused by tort (including negligence), breach of contract or otherwise even if foreseeable arising out of or in connection with your use and/or reliance of the Website and the contents therein.
8.6 Links to third party websites may appear on the Website. Such third party websites are not the responsibility of Origami Jewellery and Origami Jewellery accepts no responsibility for the availability, suitability, reliability or content of such third party websites and does not endorse the views expressed therein.
8.7 Unless otherwise expressly set out to the contrary in these Terms, Origami Jewellery's liability to you in connection with your use of the Website and the contents therein shall be strictly limited to £100.
8.8 In the event you have a dispute with one or more of the Sellers, you hereby release Origami Jewellery from any claims, demands and damages (whether actual or consequential) of any kind and nature, known and unknown, arising out of or in connection with such disputes.
9.1 Origami Jewellery and its licensors own all rights in the intellectual property rights relating to the Website.
9.2.2 removing, modifying, altering or using any registered or unregistered marks/logos/design owned by Origami Jewellery and/or its licensors, and doing anything which may be seen to take unfair advantage of the reputation and goodwill of Origami Jewellery or could be considered an infringement of any of the rights in the intellectual property rights owned by and/or licensed to Origami Jewellery.
9.3 For any queries in respect of the intellectual property rights relating to the Website and the Products, please consult our Intellectual Property Policy by clicking here.
11.1 If Origami Jewellery fails at any time to insist upon strict performance of its obligations under these Terms, or if it fails to exercise any of the rights or remedies to which it is entitled to under these Terms, this will not constitute a waiver of any such rights or remedies and shall not relieve you from compliance with such obligations.
11.2 A waiver by Origami Jewellery of any default shall not constitute a waiver of any subsequent default.
11.3 No waiver by Origami Jewellery of any of the Terms shall be effective unless it is expressly stated to be a waiver and is communicated to you in writing.
11.4 All notification and communication to Origami Jewellery should be sent to the contact details set out in clause 1 of these Terms or made available to you on the Website.
11.6 These Terms represent the entire agreement between you and Origami Jewellery in respect of your use of the Website and shall supersede any prior agreement, understanding or arrangement between us, whether oral or in writing.
11.8 These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with English law. The Courts of England shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes arising out of these Terms. If you live outside the United Kingdom, English law shall apply only to the extent that English law shall not deprive you of any legal protection accorded in accordance with the law of the place where you are habitually resident ('Local Law'). In the event English law deprives you of any legal protection which is accorded to you under Local Law, then these terms shall be governed by Local Law and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts where you are habitually resident.
As Origami Jewellery is an online marketplace connecting buyers with sellers, we are not involved with the shipment of goods purchased on our website. Each seller has his or her own shipping method and timeframe for delivery, clearly visible on the products page description. Before adding an item, please check that you are in agreement with their delivery times. We do however encourage and remind sellers to ship items within 3 business day - unless the item is made to order, which will be stated on the description on the product. It is the customer responsibility to provide accurate information upon checkout for the purpose of delivering the item.
If you wish to cancel a transaction, please contact us within 2 business days of placing the order or before the item is shipped, whichever is sooner via email at [email protected] and if the seller agrees, we will be happy to issue the refund within 2 business days.
If you wish to return a good(s), please contact us within 14 days of receiving the good(s) via email at [email protected] and once the good(s) have been returned to the seller in perfect condition, we will be happy to process it within 3 business days. There is a no refund policy on Bespoke items or worn items such as earrings for hygiene reasons. Returns are the responsibility of the customer until they reach the seller. The customer is responsible for the cost of the delivery to the seller and must be sent by recorded delivery with a signature on delivery and the tracking information must be sent to Origami Jewellery within 14 days of the date your good(s) where delivered for the avoidance of doubt.
We may from time to time offer promotional discount codes which may apply in respect of any, or certain specified, purchases made though this Website. The conditions of use relating to any discount code will be specified at the time of issue. These T&Cs relate to all Origami Jewellery promotions, competitions and discount codes (unless otherwise stated): Only one promotion code can be used per order; a promotion code can't be used after an order has been placed; and first purchase promo codes can only be used once per user.
We may from time to time offer competitions through this Website. For the specific rules and terms of each competition, please see the detail on the competition page. No third party entries, bulk entries or entries submitted by agents will be accepted. Origami Jewellery reserves the right to verify the eligibility of entrants. Origami Jewellery may require such information as it considers reasonably necessary for the purpose of verifying the eligibility of an entry and the prize may be withheld until and unless Origami Jewellery is satisfied with the verification. Unless specified otherwise, only one entry per person. Entries not complying with these terms and conditions will be invalid. | 2019-04-22T04:13:07Z | https://origamijewellery.com/pages/terms-of-use |
Vilakati, G. D., Hoek, E. M. V., and Mamba, B. B. (2015). "Investigating the usability of alkali lignin as an additive in polysulfone ultrafiltration membranes," BioRes. 10(2), 3079-3096.
The effects of natural and synthetic polymer additives on the properties of ultrafiltration membranes were studied. The use of NaOH to remove the residual additive remaining in the membranes during coagulation was also investigated, as was the effect of NaOH post-treatment relative to membrane performance. To evaluate the residual additives present, ATR-FTIR was used. Contact-angle analysis and water-absorption experiments were used to examine the hydrophilic properties of the prepared membranes. Membranes modified with lignin (Lig) were found to absorb more water (94% water uptake) than other membranes. In general, the contact angles were found to be low for membranes treated with NaOH. Membrane permeability was greatest in lignin_polysulfone (Lig_PSf), followed by polyvinylpyrrolidone_polysulfone (PVP_PSf), and with polyethylene glycol_polysulfone (PEG_PSf) the least permeable, similar to the trend observed in water uptake. A ‘Robeson plot’ analogue showed that Lig_PSf membranes had high separation factors regardless of the size of the solute being rejected. This study indicates the feasibility of using cheap, readily available additives to increase the performance of membranes.
Ultrafiltration membrane technology has been applied to many types of separation techniques, such as the removal of organics from water. Hydrophilicity and pore size play major roles in the performance of such membranes (Yan et al. 2006). However, polysulfone (PSf), a versatile polymer used to fabricate such membranes, is relatively hydrophobic (Zularism et al. 2007). To overcome this problem, polysulfone is usually blended with other, more hydrophilic polymers during the casting process (Yeo et al. 2000; Chakrabarty et al. 2008; Kumar et al. 2013). Much effort has been devoted to membrane modification to improve membrane permeability and antifouling properties.
Unmodified polysulfone membranes perform poorly compared to modified membranes (Lafreniere et al. 1987). Membrane modification techniques vary from the use of hydrophilic polymers or inorganic nanoparticles as additives to changing certain conditions during membrane fabrication. Polyethylene glycol (PEG), tetra-ethylene glycol (TEG), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) are examples of polymer additives commonly used to increase the viscosity of the dope solution without adversely affecting the polymer concentration (Aroon et al. 2010). These polymers can also be used as pore-forming agents, hydrophilicity inducers, and macrovoid suppressors. Their incorporation often results in increased permeability (Wienk et al. 1995; Machado et al. 1999; Ismail and Hassan 2007; Chakrabarty et al. 2008). Other additives that have been studied include LiCl and organic acids such as acetic acid and propanoic acid (Shi et al. 2008). To determine the effectiveness of an additive, cloud-point determination experiments are typically carried out. These experiments indicate whether or not the additive changes the thermodynamic stability of the dope solution. Some polymer additives increase the viscosity of the casting solution, driving the composition of the solution nearer to the precipitation point (Wang and Teo 1996).
Improving the performance of membranes could lead to lower operating costs because more permeate can be attained using a given membrane. Using relatively cheap, readily available additives to improve membrane flux and reduce fabrication costs has not been studied much in the past. This can be done by substituting well-known additives with the cheaper alternatives. The cost of synthetic additives can be reduced in this way, reducing the overall cost of membrane fabrication. The significance of the cost reduction depends on the overall membrane synthesis process and also depends on the percentage of additive used. Additives have been substituted for up to 20% of the weight of membranes in previous work (Kumar et al. 2013). Natural additives are of interest because they are renewable and are often available in abundance.
Although the ideal solution would be to use only renewable additives and solvents when fabricating polymeric membranes via phase inversion, the use of a single renewable component (i.e., an additive) is a starting point. Biopolymers such as lignin and cellulose have been used as polymer reinforcements and blenders (Canetti et al. 2004; Ciobanu et al. 2004). Lignin is an amorphous, phenolic, relatively inert organic polymer and is the second-most abundant natural polymer on earth (Pucciariello et al. 2010). It is a by-product of the paper and pulp industry. Although lignin has previously been used as a polymer blender, its complex structure can be disintegrated by treatment with alkali via a process called delignification. This process is also used to remove lignin from wood during pulp production.
Lignin derivatives have been used in membrane synthesis because they are readily available and because it is an alternative method of waste removal for the pulp industries. Zhang et al. (2005) incorporated lignosulfonates into polysulfone membranes to induce electrolyte transference, reporting that higher concentrations of lignosulfonates facilitated larger surface pores and decreased macrovoid formation. Recently, Nevarez et al. (2011) used propionated lignin to fabricate cellulose triacetate membranes for water purification. Propionated lignin was used to improve polymer interaction with cellulose triacetate. In another recent study, Hashim et al. (2011) evaluated the use of SiO2 particles as an additive, focusing on the effects of acid (HF) and alkaline (NaOH) treatments on the performance of the PVDF membranes. Both post-treatments improved membrane permeability because they dissolved SiO2particles and washed them out of the membranes.
Polymeric solvent additives (additives that dissolve in the solvent in question) such as PEG tend to adhere to the membrane and leach out over time. Such membranes are not ideal thin-film composite (TFC) membrane supports because leaching removes a considerable amount of the thin film, reducing the half-life of the membrane. The right choice of additive (one that can be easily removed from the membrane) is essential.
Alkali lignin has long been isolated from wood using alkaline treatments (Vilakati et al. 2012). It is a natural polymer commercially available in the form of aggregate powders. It can be dissolved in solvents such as N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), the same solvent used to dissolve polysulfone, at about 50 °C. One hypothetical lignin structure is shown in Fig.1 and its derivatives have been reported elsewhere (Alder 1977).
Native lignin has not been used as a membrane additive. In the present study, it was used as a novel additive for two reasons. First, it can be removed from the membrane using a modified delignification process and the degree of delignification can be easily confirmed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Secondly, because of its hydrophilic nature, the surface properties of the membranes can be altered slightly such that good membrane performance and porosity can be achieved with relatively low loadings.
To prepare the polymer solution, polysulfone beads (22 kDa), alkali lignin (28 kDa), and NN-dimethyl formamide (DMF) obtained from Sigma-Aldrich (USA) and NMP obtained from Merck (USA) were used. A commercial fabric was obtained from Hirose Paper Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Japan). Polyethylene glycol with molecular weights of10 and 35kDa and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP, 360 kDa) used in rejection experiments were also acquired from Sigma-Aldrich. PEG 10 kDa was also used to modify the membranes (as additive) while PVP 29 kDa, also purchased from Sigma, was only used as additive.
The membranes were prepared using a phase inversion process detailed in another study (Vilakati et al. 2014). Each additive was dissolved in a mixture of NMP and DMF solvents at 50 °C (a temperature below the flash point of the solvent). After complete dissolution of the additive, small amounts of polysulfone beads (22 kDa) were added, while stirring, to the cold additive-solvent solution in the ratios and amounts shown in Table 1. The solution was then mixed for at least 8 h and allowed to settle overnight. The solutions were cast onto the non-woven which was attached to a clean glass plate with tape. Using a casting knife with the blade height set at 150 µm, the polymer solution was cast to the fabric and glass plate and the cast solution was immediately immersed in deionized (DI) water for 10 min. The membranes were rinsed in DI water three times for 30 min each. The membranes were soaked in a 5 wt.% aqueous NaOH solution at 50 °C for 30 min and then rinsed with DI water at 80 °C for 5 min. All membranes were stored in a refrigerator (4 °C) before performance testing was carried out.
The support membranes were characterised using a JEOL 5000 scanning electron microscope (SEM; Japan) operating at an accelerating voltage of 20 kV. The membranes were gold-coated using a gold sputter coater to make them electrically conductive. The preparation of cross-sectional samples involved soaking the membranes in liquid nitrogen and then quick-freezes fracturing the musing thumb dressing forceps before they were gold-coated.
The surface tension and capability of the membranes to attract water were assessed using a contact-angle goniometer (DataPhysics Optical Contact Angle SCA20, Germany). The contact angles of the membranes were determined using a sessile drop method. The membranes were pre-dried in an oven at 80 °C overnight and were stored in a desiccator for later analysis. To ensure there reproducibility of the reported data, the contact angle measurements were taken from one membrane at different points and the average of three replicate measurements made on different days was reported.
where Mdry and Mwet are the dry and wet weights of the membranes, respectively.
To determine the presence or absence of lignin in the membranes following treatment, a Perkin-Elmer Spectrum 100 FTIR spectrometer (USA) with an attenuated total reflectance (ATR) component was used.
A phase diagram was plotted using data points obtained via titration methods in which the end-point was visually determined according to the formation of a turbid solution. Polysulfone solutions (with concentrations of 1, 2, 4, and 8 wt.%) without additives were titrated with deionized water at 20 °C. These results were compared with those of other similarly concentrated polysulfone solutions containing 0.5 wt.% of each additive. The fractions of coagulant, solvent, and polymer at the end-points of these titrations were used to create a ternary phase diagram.
where Ro is the observed rejection and Cp and Cf are the permeate and feed concentrations, respectively.
The ratio of the concentration of the solute in the permeate to that in the bulk solution is defined as the sieving coefficient, Si. The observed sieving coefficient, So, is given by Cp/Cf and Ro= 1 – So. The actual or intrinsic rejection, Ri, is given by 1 – Cp/Cm = 1 – Sa, where Cm is the concentration at the membrane surface.
where Jv and k are the volumetric flux and mass transfer coefficient, respectively.
Mehta and Zydney (2005) defined the separation factor (α) as the ratio of the sieving coefficient of small solutes to that of large solutes, Ssmall/Slarge. In UF, they observed that small solutes and water (the solvent) passed freely through the membrane, indicating that Ssmall was approximately 1, and that α could be approximated as 1/Slarge. Because small solutes were not rejected, Ssmall was assumed to be equal to that of the solvent.
The onset of the cloud point was determined by titration methods ultimately leading to liquid-liquid demixing. During demixing, the solution becomes thermodynamically unstable and the system separates into two phases. To determine the effect of additives on the phase separation properties, cloud-point experiments were conducted. The system normally consists of a solvent, a polymer, and the non-solvent. In this case, two systems were used: one with 0.5 wt.% additive (lignin, PEG, or PVP) and another without additive. The polymer concentration was increased in both systems to account for the effect of the introduction of an additive to the system. Table 2 shows that more water was needed to reach the cloud point after lignin was incorporated into the system. Riyasudheen and Sujith (2012) reported that for systems where an additive (PVP) was added, less water was needed to reach the cloud point. It has also been reported that PVP reduces the demixing gap of the ternary system, leading to the formation of a denser structure (Mulder 1996). The same results were obtained (Fig. 2) in this study when using PVP or PEG as the additive. When lignin was added, however, the demixing gap increased and the curve shifted toward the polymer-non-solvent axis. Additives with behaviour like that of PVP or PEG are referred to as solvent additives, unlike lignin, a non-solvent additive that does not dissolve in the solvent (NMP) at room temperature. There are two possible reasons for the shift of the curve towards the polymer-nonsolvent axis after the addition of lignin. Either lignin increased the water tolerance of the dope solution, or lignin interacted with the polysulfone. Both would delay solvent outflux. It is expected that the membranes would have spongy morphologies if the thermodynamic effect caused by the solvent was not dominant.
Fig. 2. Phase diagram showing the different concentrations of neat polysulfone and polysulfone with additives (lignin, PEG, PVP) in a 3:1 (NMP:DMF) solvent system. The non-solvent and polymer data have been scaled up five times to enhance visibility.
Although the phase diagram in Fig. 2 indicates that there was delayed liquid-liquid demixing (as the amount of water required to induce precipitation increased after lignin addition), it should be noted that the delayed liquid-liquid demixing was instantaneous at localised points. This means that each water droplet instantly caused precipitation within the polymer solution at the point of contact before dissolving again with vigorous stirring. This was observed following the addition of lignin.
To confirm that lignin dissolved in the prepared membranes, IR spectra were used to determine the presence or absence of the carbonyl peak characteristic to lignin, as shown in Fig. 3. Lignin from wood, grass, and biomass sources has characteristic peaks at around 1600 cm-1 and 1750 cm-1 due to aromatic stretching and the vibration of unsaturated carbonyls (C=O), respectively (Hergert 1960; Lisperguer et al. 2009; Zhou et al. 2011; Vilakati et al. 2012). This peak was not present in the spectra before or after post-treatment with sodium hydroxide. The post-treatment was meant to remove trace lignin remaining in the membrane, as lignin solubility in water could not be established. Previous research has shown that lignin dissolution can be achieved with alkaline treatment without adversely affecting polysulfone, which is known to be resistant to caustic treatment (Vilakati et al. 2012).Furthermore, the broad -OH peak present in the spectra of lignin was absent from the membrane spectra. The aromatic peak at 1604 cm-1 (characteristic of lignin) was present in both the membranes and the neat lignin because both lignin and polysulfone exhibit aromatic stretching. The IR spectroscopy was inconclusive regarding the total dissolution of lignin because ATR-FTIR was used and the penetration depth into the membrane sample was relatively low. The penetration depth into the sample is typically between 0.5 and 2 µm, a function of the wavelength of the incident light (Mirabella 1993). These results, unfortunately, indicate only the removal of lignin from the membrane surface. Membranes modified with PEG and PVP were also characterised by FTIR spectroscopy, as shown in Figs. 4a and 4b. There was no observed difference in the peaks before and after NaOH treatment, except for the appearance of a broad shoulder peak at 1490 cm-1. This peak may be due to the formation of an enolate (an intermediate step in the formation of a methylene group) because of additive derivatives remaining in the membrane.
An additive to a casting polymer solution either promotes pore formation or suppresses macrovoid formation. Figure 5 shows cross-sections of membranes modified with 0.5 wt.% of each tested additive. The membranes had asymmetrical structures, and there was no visible difference between them. It was expected, however, that the membranes modified with lignin would have a spongy structure because they exhibited delayed liquid-liquid demixing. This was not the case because the thermodynamic effect of the use of a relatively viscous solvent was dominant. Also, the shift towards the polymer-nonsolvent was too small (less than 1%), compared to those of the other membranes, to cause a significant change in the physical structure of the membrane. Ismail and Mansourizadeha (2011) investigated the effect of anon-solvent additive on PVDF hollow-fibre membranes and concluded that two processes were responsible for the appearance of oval-shaped microvoids and the observed variation in the width of the sub-layer macrovoids: the thermodynamic demixing effect and the kinetic effect of viscosity. The thermodynamic effect is characterised by rapid demixing induced by the presence of a viscous solvent, NMP, and overrides the kinetic effect of viscosity increases via lignin addition. This is because an inadequate amount of lignin was added to cause a significant change in the overall viscosity (which was not measured) of the polymer solution. Because there was no observed difference in the membrane’s morphology, water absorption experiments were conducted to account for the differences in the performance of the membranes.
Water uptake is dependent upon the hydrophilicity and porosity of the membrane. More hydrophilic membranes will absorb water faster than relatively hydrophobic ones. The contact angles of membranes also depend on membrane porosity, hydrophilicity, and surface roughness. In essence, the contact angle and water uptake provide indications of the hydrophilicity of a membrane. A membrane with high water content and low contact angle is considered hydrophilic (Sadrzadeh and Bhattacharjee 2013). In general (Fig. 6), membranes modified with 0.5 wt.% of each additive had higher water uptake values, with 0.5%_Lig_PSf reaching equilibrium at 94% after 120 min. Most of the membranes attained maximum water uptake after one hour of immersion.
Fig. 6. Water uptake by modified membranes. The standard deviation was between 3 and 7%.
Table 3 shows the contact angles of the membranes before and after NaOH treatment. The purpose of the treatment was to wash away residual additive particles that remained following coagulation. The results did not reveal a relationship between additive content and contact angle before or after treatment. The contact angle decreased following NaOH treatment because the membrane porosity increased as residual additive was removed. Similar results were reported by Simon et al. (2013) after the effect of caustic cleaning on nanofiltration membranes was evaluated, although the decrease in hydrophobicity observed in their study was not substantial. A decrease in PSf contact angle was also observed, unexpectedly, because PSf is resistant to alkali treatment. This could be because the residual NaOH on the membrane surface made the membrane relatively hydrophilic. A similar observation was reported by Li and Elimelech (2004) in a study in which membranes were cleaned with SDS and EDTA. Notably, the contact angles of PEG-PSf and PVP_PSf membranes were lower than that of Lig_PSf. From these results, it would have been expected that the permeability of Lig_PSf be lower. To the contrary, Lig_PSf had high permeate flux. These contact angles were decreased by the addition of each additive. Depending on whether each additive dissolves completely during coagulation, the contact angle will remain low if that additive does not come out completely, as was seen for PEG and PVP additives.
Lig_PSf, lignin_polysulfone; PVP_PSf, polyvinylpyrrolidone_polysulfone; PEG_PSf, polyethylene glycol_ polysulfone; The standard deviation is in parentheses.
Using pore-forming agents in membrane synthesis resulted in increased permeate flux. Han et al. (2012) assert that the membrane flux increases with the glycol content and observed a decline in the rejection of polyethylene glycol in their study (PEG-10 kDa). Figure 7 shows pure water permeability as a function of additive concentration. As shown in the water absorption section, Lig_PSf had the greatest water uptake, followed by PVP_PSf, and finally, PEG_PSf. The water permeability of the membranes was in the same order. This was expected, since pore-forming agent molecules form pores by occupying spaces in the membrane matrix. These spaces remained empty after coagulation because the additives are soluble in water. This phenomenon is demonstrated in Table 4, where a decrease in the membrane’s resistance was observed for membranes modified with PVP and lignin with the latter having a value of 1.37 x 106 µm-1. This is a reduction of about 2 fold.
A state-of-the-art ultrafiltration membrane is one that has both good selectivity and high permeability. In a plot of the separation factor (1/Sa) against the permeability, such membranes will be represented at the top right corner of the plot. This type of plot has been used to compare the selectivity of different commercial membranes for gas separation. In most cases, these membranes come with a given MWCO that does not necessarily give relevant quantitative analysis when a 99 or 99.9% rejection is desired (Mochizuki and Zydney 1993). In this study, membranes made from different additives were compared using this method of analysis.
Plots of the separation factor versus membrane permeability are given forPVP-360 kDa (Fig. 8a) and PEG-35 kDa (Fig. 8b) using the same membranes. One observation from the plot is that the lignin-modified membranes had high selectivity and permeability compared to those of the membranes modified with PEG-10 kDa and PVP-29 kDa additives when PVP-360 kDa was rejected. When PEG-35 kDa was rejected, however, the separation factor was lower, while the permeability remained high. This is because lignin-modified membranes had greater water uptake and porosity characteristics (Fig. 6) than PEG-modified membranes.
When PEG-35 kDa was rejected, the observed rejections were lower for lignin-modified membranes because they had larger pores than the solute rejected, hence the lower separation factors (Mehta and Zydney 2005). This means that the trade-off between selectivity and permeability depends on the size of the molecule being rejected.
Very small molecules exhibit lower rejections if the mechanism of rejection is governed only by size exclusion. The fact that the selectivity of all membranes dropped when rejecting PEG 35-kDa (Fig. 8b) is an indication that the mechanism of rejection is size exclusion.
A desirable membrane is one that has minimal concentration polarisation (CP) effects, although such effects cannot be entirely eliminated. A membrane has minimal CP when the concentration at the membrane surface is almost the same as that of the bulk solution. To determine if the prepared membranes were affected by CP, Cm was calculated based on the relationship Ri = 1 – Cp/Cm = 1 – Sa. Since Sa= Cp/Cm and since Sa can be determined, the concentration at the membrane surface can also be computed, as shown in Table 5. The ratio of Cm and Cb was between 1.3 and 1.2, demonstrating minimal effects of CP. Higher values of this ratio (often called the polarisation index) have been reported in literature. Values obtained by Wijmans et al. (1985) were tenor more. For example, when rejecting Dextran T70, Cm and Cb were found to be 0.123 and 1.420 x 103- g/mL, respectively. This translates to a ratio of 90. There may be lower or higher values in literature, as this parameter depends on the solutes being rejected and the pressure applied.
Molecular weight cut-off has been regarded as the standard method of describing the solute-retention properties of ultrafiltration membranes. This method is used to estimate the membrane’s pore size. It is defined as the molecular weight (dynamic radius) of a solute with which a given membrane has a sieving coefficient (So) less than0.1. Diluted, uncharged solutes of different molecular weights are rejected and a sieving curve plot of retention versus the molar mass or solute radius can be created (Platt et al. 2002; Hilal et al. 2007). As shown in Fig. 9, the MWCO was obtained by rejecting three uncharged solutes of different origins, includingPEG-10 KDa, PEG-35 KDa, and PVP-360 KDa, using different membranes.
Although the rejection of the solutes for the two membranes modified with PEG and PVP was below 90%, the membranes’ molecular weight cut-offs did not differ by a large margin. The molecular weight cut-off of the 0.125%_Lig_PSf membrane was 33 nm. It should be noted that the MWCO estimated here does not reflect the actual value, since the membrane performance analysis indicates the existence of a concentration polarisation layer. This layer could have been caused by the use of high solute concentration, although there is no specific minimum value known that can be used to avoid forming the concentration polarisation layer (Platt et al. 2002).
Fig. 9. Molecular weight cut-offs of different membranes. The retention was plotted against the solute diameter.
Water-soluble additives are used because they leach out of the membrane during phase inversion. Water-soluble additives like PEG dissolve in the coagulation bath, but it should be noted that some additive remains in the polymer and leaches out with time (Han et al. 2012).
Figure 10 shows that there was considerable permeability loss when the lignin content increased. Membranes that were soaked in 5 wt.% NaOH solution experienced appreciable gains in permeability, from 44 to 77 µm/s/bar when 0.5 wt.% lignin was used. Sun et al. (2012) researched the extraction of lignin from bamboo wood using aqueous alkaline ethanol, ethanol, and aqueous alkaline solution at different concentrations. Alkali can effectively reduce the molecular size of lignin such that more pores are created when the lignin trapped in the polymer breaks down.
Similar to PVP and PEG, the addition of lignin during the preparation of a polysulfone membrane increases the membranes’ ability to absorb water.
The FTIR results showed that lignin can be removed from within the membrane. This was also confirmed by an increase in membrane permeability after NaOH post-treatment.
Contact-angle measurements and water-uptake studies showed that lignin increases the membrane’s hydrophilicity.
Performance analysis shows that membranes modified with lignin had both high water flux and high solute rejection and were not prone to concentration polarisation.
Further studies are needed to investigate the interaction of such membranes with different solutes.
The University of South Africa and the DST/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre (NIC) provided funding for this work.
Alder, E. (1977). “Lignin Chemistry-Past, present and future,” Wood Sci. Technol. 11(3), 169-218. DOI:10.1007/BF00365615.
Mirabella Jr., F. M. (1993). Internal Reflection Spectroscopy: Theory and Applications, Marcel Dekker, New York.
Mulder, M. (1996). Basic Principles of Membrane Technology, 2nd Ed., Kluwer Academic Press, Netherlands.
Yeo, H. T., Lee, S. T., and Han, M. J. (2000). “Role of polymer additive in casting solution in preparation of phase inversion polysulfone membranes,” J. Chem. Eng. Jpn. 33(1), 180-185.
Zeman, L. J., and Zydney, A. L. (1996). Microfiltration and Ultrafiltration: Principles and Applications, Marcel Dekker, New York.
Article submitted: December 12, 2014; Peer review completed: March 1, 2015; Revised version received: March 26, 2015; Accepted: March 27, 2015; Published: April 2, 2015. | 2019-04-21T02:34:34Z | https://bioresources.cnr.ncsu.edu/resources/investigating-the-usability-of-alkali-lignin-as-an-additive-in-polysulfone-ultrafiltration-membranes/ |
1) S. E. Kim and W. F. Chen (1996).
"Practical Advanced Analysis for Braced Steel Frame Design."
J. Struct. Engrg., ASCE, 122(11), 1266-1274.
2) S. E. Kim and W. F. Chen (1996).
"Practical Advanced Analysis for Unbraced Steel Frame Design."
J. Struct. Engrg., ASCE, 122(11), 1259-1265.
3) S. E. Kim and W. F. Chen (1997).
"Further Studies of Practical Advanced Analysis for Weak-Axis Bending."
Engineering Structures, Elsevier Science, 19(6), 407-416.
4) S. E. Kim, (1998).
"Direct Design of Truss Bridges Using Advanced Analysis."
Structural Engineering and Mechanics, 6(8), 871-882.
5) S. E. Kim and W. F. Chen (1998).
"A Sensitivity Study on Number of Elements in Refined Plastic-Hinge Analysis."
Computers and Structures, 66(5), 665-673.
6) S. E. Kim and W. F. Chen (1999).
"Guidelines to Unbraced Frame Design with LRFD."
The Structural Design of Tall Buildings, 8(4), 273-288.
7) S. E. Kim and W. F. Chen (1999).
"Design Guide for Steel Frames Using Advanced Analysis Program."
Engineering Structures, Elsevier Science, 21(4), 352-364.
8) S. E. Kim, M. K. Kim, and W. F. Chen (2000).
"Improved Refined Plastic-Hinge Analysis Accounting for Strain Reversal."
Engineering Structures, Elsevier Science, 22(1), 15-25.
9) S. E. Kim, S. H. Choi (2001).
"Practical Advanced Analysis for Semi-Rigid Space Frames ."
10) S. E. Kim, M. H. Park, and S. H. Choi (2001).
"Direct design of three-dimensional frames using practical advanced analysis."
11) S. E. Kim, M. H. Park, and S. H. Choi (2001).
"Practical advanced analysis and design of three-dimensional truss bridges."
12) S. E. Kim, Y. K. Kim, and S. H. Choi (2001).
"Nonlinear analysis of 3-D steel frames."
Thin-Walled Structures, Elsevier Science, 39(6), 445-461.
13) S. E. Kim and J. H. Lee (2001).
"Improved Refined Plastic-Hinge Analysis Accounting for Local Buckling."
Engineering Structures, Elsevier Science, 23(8), 1031-1042.
14) J. H. Lee and S. E. Kim (2001).
"Flexural-torsional buckling of thin-walled I-section composites."
Computers and Structures, 79, 987-995.
15) S. E. Kim, K. W. Kang (2002).
"Large-Scale testing of space steel frame subjected to non-propotional loads."
International Journal of Solids and Structures, 39(26), 6411-6427.
16) S. E. Kim and J. H. Lee (2002).
"Improved refined plastic-hinge analysis accounting for lateral torsional buckling."
Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 58(11), 1431-1453.
17) S. H. Choi and S. E. Kim (2002).
"Optimal Design of Steel Frame Using Practical Nonlinear inelastic analysis."
18) J. H. Lee, S. E. Kim and K. Hong(2002).
"Lateral buckling of I-section composite beams."
19) S. E. Kim and D. H. Lee (2002).
"Second-order distributed plasticity analysis of space steel frames."
Engineering Structures, Elsevier Science, 24(6), 735-744.
20) J. H. Lee and S. E. Kim (2002).
"Lateral buckling analysis of thin-walled laminated channel section beams."
Composite Structures, Elsevier Science, 56(4), 391-399.
21) S. E. Kim, J. H. Lee and J. S. Park (2002).
"3-D second-order plastic-hinge analysis accounting for lateral torsional buckling."
International Journal of Solids and Structures , 39(8), 2109-2128.
22) S. E. Kim and C. S. Kim (2002).
"Buckling strength of the cylindrical shell and tank subjected to axially compressive loads."
Thin-Walled Structures, Elsevier Science, 40(4), 329-353.
23) J. H. Lee and S. E. Kim (2002).
"Free vibration of thin-walled composite beams with I shaped cross sections"
Composite Structures, Elsevier Science, 55, 205-215.
24) J. H. Lee and S. E. Kim (2002).
"Flexural-torsional coupled vibration of thin-walled composite beams with channel sections."
Computers and Structures, 80, 133-144.
25) S. E. Kim, J. H. Lee, J. S. Park(2003).
"3-D second-order plastic-hinge analysis accounting for local buckling."
"Performance based design of steel arch bridges using practical inelastic nonlinear analysis."
27) S. E. Kim, K. W. Kang and D. H. Lee (2003).
"Full-scale testing of space frame subjected to proportional loads."
Engineering Structures, Elsevier Science, 25(1) 69-79.
28) S. E. Kim, S. H. Kim, C. S. Kim, S. S. Ma (2004).
"Automatic Design of Space Steel Frame Using Practical Nonlinear Analysis."
Thin Walled Structures, Elsevier Science, 42, 1273-1291.
29) S. E. Kim, K. W. Kang (2004).
"Large-scale Testing of 3-D Steel Frame Accounting for Local Buckling."
Solids and Structures, Elsevier Science, 41, 5003-5022.
30) S. E. Kim, S. S. Ma (2004).
"Optimal Design Using Genetic Algorithm with Nonlinear Elastic Analysis."
Structural Engineering and Mechanics, 17, 707-725.
31) S. E. Kim, J. S. Lee, S. H. Choi, and C. S. Kim (2004).
"Practical second-order inelastic analysis for steel frames subjected to distributed load."
32) S. E. Kim, S. H. Choi (2004).
"Practical second-order inelastic analysis for three-dimensional steel frames subjected to distributed load."
Thin Walled Structures, Elsevier Science, 43(1), 135-160.
Thin Walled Structures, Elsevier Science, 44(7), 709-720.
"Second-Order inelastic dynamic analysis of 3-D steel frames"
Solids and Structures, Elsevier Science, 43, 1693-1709.
"Optimal design using algorithm with nonlinear inelastic analysis"
"Nonlinear analysis of steel cable-stayed bridges."
"Analysis of the overall collapse mechanism of cable-stayed bridges with different cable layouts."
"Nonlinear analysis of space steel frames using fiber plastic hinge concept."
"Shaking table tests of two-story unbraced Steel Frame."
"Nonlinear Inelastic Analysis of Steel-Concrete Composite Beam-Columns Using the Stability Functions"
"Force transfer mechanisms for reliable design of reinforced concrete deep beams"
"Second-order Inelastic Dynamic Analysis of Three-dimensional Cable-stayed Bridges"
"A two variable refined plate theory for laminated composite plates"
Composite Structures, Elsevier Science, 89, 197-205.
"Practical advanced analysis of space steel frames using fiber hinge method"
"Buckling analysis of plates using the two variable refined plate theory"
Thin Walled Structures, Elsevier Science, 47(4), 455-462.
"Practical advanced analysis software for nonlinear inelastic analysis of space steel structure"
ADVANCES IN ENGINEERING SOFTWARE, Elsevier Science, 40, 786-797.
"Large deflection inelastic analysis of space trusses using generalized displacement control method"
JOURNAL OF CONSTRUCTIONAL STEEL RESEARCH, Elsevier Science, 65(10-11), 1987-1994.
"Inelastic Second-Order Analysis of Frame Structures Using the Stability-based Beam-Column Element"
ADVANCES IN STTRUCTURAL ENGINEERING, 12(4), 513-527.
"Buckling and Post Buckling of Thin-walled Composite Columns with Intermediate-stiffened Open Cross-section Under Axial Compression"
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STEEL STRUCTURES, 9(3), 175-184.
"Finite element modeling of push-out tests for large stud shear connectors"
JOURNAL OF CONSTRUCTIONAL STEEL RESEARCH, Elsevier Science, 65(10-11), 1909-1920.
"Buckling of Composite columns of lipped-channel and hat sections with web stiffener"
"Free vibration of laminated composite plates using two variable refined plate theory"
"Finite element modeling and analysis of a hybrid steel-PSC beam connection"
"Nonlinear inelastic dynamic analysis of suspension bridges"
"Nonlinear static and dynamic analysis of cable structures"
"Practical advanced analysis software for nonlinear inelastic dynamic analysis of steel structures"
"Fatigue analysis of a pre-fabricated orthotropic steel deck for light-weight vehicles"
JOURNAL OF CONSTRUCTIONAL STEEL RESEARCHh, Elsevier Science, 67(4), 647-655.
"Nonlinear inelastic analysis of space frames"
JOURNAL OF CONSTRUCTIONAL STEEL RESEARCH, Elsevier Science, 67(4), 585-592.
"Second-order inelastic analysis of steel suspension bridges"
FINITE ELEMENTS IN ANALYSIS AND DESIGN, Elsevier Science, 47(4), 351-359.
"Levy-type solution for buckling analysis of orthotropic plates based on two variable refined plate theory"
COMPOSITE STRUCTURES, Elsevier Science, 93(7), 1738-1746.
"Second-order inelastic dynamic analysis of steel frames using fiber hinge method"
JOURNAL OF CONSTRUCTIONAL STEEL RESEARCH, Elsevier Science, 67(10), 1485-1494.
"Nonlinear inelastic analysis of concrete-filled steel tubular frames"
JOURNAL OF CONSTRUCTIONAL STEEL RESEARCH, Elsevier Science, 67(12), 1797-1805.
"Nonlinear inelastic time-history analysis of truss structures"
JOURNAL OF CONSTRUCTIONAL STEEL RESEARCH, Elsevier Science,67(12), 1966-1972.
"Analytical solution of a two variable refined plate theory for bending analysis of orthotropic Levy-type plates"
Inteernational Journal of Mechanical Sciences, Elsevier Science, 54(1), 269-276.
"Second-order inelastic analysis of cable-stayed bridges"
FINITE ELEMENTS IN ANALYSIS AND DESIGN, Elsevier Science, 53, 48-55.
"Levy-type solution for free vibration analysis of orthotropic plates based on two variable refined plate theory"
Applied Mathematical Modelling, Elsevier Science, 36, 3870-3882.
"Practical nonlinear analysis of steel–concrete composite frames using fiber–hinge method"
Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Elsevier Science, 74, 90-97.
"Evaluation of Connection Efficiency of Hybrid Steel-concrete Girder Using Finite Element Approach"
International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, Elsevier Science, 61, 8-23.
"Second-order Plastic-hinge Analysis of Space Semi-rigid Steel Frames"
THIN-WALLED STRUCTURES, Elsevier Science, 60, 98-104.
"A size-dependent Functionally Graded Reddy Plate Model Based on a Modified Couple Stress Theorys"
COMPOSITES PART B: ENGINEERING , Elsevier Science, 45, 1636-1645.
"A Simple Higher-order Shear Deformation Theory for Bending and Free Vibration Analysis of Functionally Graded Plates"
COMPOSITE STRUCTURES, Elsevier Science, 96, 165-173.
"A Simple Quasi-3Ds Inusoidal Sheardeformation Theory For Functionally Graded Plates"
COMPOSITE STRUCTURES, Elsevier Science, 99, 172-180.
"Nonlinear Elastic Dynamic Analysis of Space Steel Frames With Semi-rigid Connections"
Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Elsevier Science, 84, 72-81.
"Closed-form Solution for Bucking Analysis of Thick Functionally Graded Plates on Elastic Foundation"
International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, Elsevier Science, 75, 34-44.
"An advanced Analysis Method For three-dimensional Steel Frames with Semi-rigid Connections"
FINITE ELEMENTS IN ANALYSIS AND DESIGN, Elsevier Science, 80, 23-32.
"Estimation of Microstructural Compositions in Weld Zone of Structural Steel Using Nanoindentation"
Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Elsevier Science, 99, 121-128.
"Distributed Plasticity Approach for Time-history Analysis of Steel Frames Including Nonlinear Connections"
Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Elsevier Science, 100, 36-49.
"Effects of Reinforcement Ratio and Arrangement on the Structural Behavior of a Nuclear Building under Aircraft Impact"
Nuclear Engineering and Design, Elsevier Science, 276, 228-240.
"Nonlinear Inelastic Time-History Analysis of Three-dimensional Semi-rigid Steel Frames"
Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Elsevier Science, 101, 192-206.
"Failure Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Walls under Impact Loading Using the Finite Element Approach"
Engineering Failure Analysis, Elsevier Science, 45, 252-277.
"Nonlinear Inelastic Response History Analysis of Steel Frame Structures Using Plastic-zone Method"
THIN-WALLED STRUCTURES, Elsevier Science, 85, 220-233.
"Estimating Constitutive Equation of Structural Steel Using Indentation"
International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, Elsevier Science, 90, 151-161.
"Numerical Simulation of Reinforced Concrete Slabs under Missile Impact"
Structural Engineering and Mechanics, Elsevier Science, 53, 455-479.
"Nanoindentation for Investigation of Microstructural Compositions in SM490 Steel Weld Zone"
Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Elsevier Science, 110, 40-47.
"A Review of Theories for the Modeling and Analysis of Functionally Graded Plates and Shells"
Composite Structures, Elsevier Science, 128, 70-86.
"Second-order distributed plasticity analysis of steel frames with semi-rigid connections"
Thin-Walled Structures, Elsevier Science, 94, 120-128.
"Second-order spread-of-plasticity approach for nonlinear time-history analysis of space semi-rigid steel frames"
Finite Elements in Analysis and Design, Elsevier Science, 105, 1-15.
"Instrumented indentation testing and FE analysis for investigation of mechanical properties in structural steel weld zone"
International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, Elsevier Science, 103, 265-274.
"Failure analysis of UHPFRC panels subjected to aircraft engine model impact"
Engineering Failure Analysis, Elsevier Science, 57, 88-104.
"Safety assessment of a nuclear power plant building subjected to an aircraft crash "
Nuclear Engineering and Design, Elsevier Science, 293, 38-52.
"Determination of mechanical properties in SM490 steel weld zone using nanoindentation and FE analysis "
Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Elsevier Science, 114, 314-324.
"Structural behavior of SC panel subjected to impact loading using finite element analysis"
Nuclear Engineering and Design, Elsevier Science, 295, 96-105.
"Fluid effect of the water-filled missile on impact force"
International Journal of Impact Engineering, Elsevier Science, 90, 95-105.
"Numerical estimation of the initial stiffness and ultimate moment capacity of single-web angle connections"
Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Elsevier Science, 121, 282-290.
"Comparative assessment of impact resistance of SC and RC panels using finite element analysis"
Progress in Nuclear Energy, Elsevier Science, 90, 105-121.
"Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties changes in the weld zone of a structural steel during low-cycle fatigue studied using instrumented indentation testing"
International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, Elsevier Science, 114, 141-156.
"Advanced analysis for planar steel frames with semi-rigid connections using plastic-zone method"
"An efficient method for optimizing space steel frames with semi-rigid joints using practical advanced analysis and the micro-genetic algorithm"
Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Elsevier Science, 128, 416-427.
"Moment-rotation behavior of top-and seat-angle connections with double web angles"
Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Elsevier Science, 128, 428-439.
"Investigating effects of various base restraints on the nonlinear inelastic static and seismic responses of steel frames"
International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics, Elsevier Science, 89, 151-167.
"Determination of equi-biaxial residual stress and plastic properties in structural steel using instrumented indentation"
Materials Science and Engineering: A, Elsevier Science, 688, 352-363.
"Moment-rotation model of single-web angle connections"
International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, Elsevier Science, 126, 24-34.
"Improved refined plastic hinge analysis accounting for local buckling and lateral-torsional buckling"
STEEL AND COMPOSITE STRUCTURES, Elsevier Science, 24(3), 339-349.
"An efficient method for reliability-based design optimization of nonlinear inelastic steel space frames"
Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, Elsevier Science, 56(2), 331-351.
"Numerical simulation of pre-stressed concrete slab subjected to moderate velocity impact loading"
Engineering Failure Analysis, Elsevier Science, 79, 820-835.
"A review of continuum mechanics models for size-dependent analysis of beams and plates"
Composite Structures, Elsevier Science, 177, 196-219.
"Numerical Estimation for Initial Stiffness and Ultimate Moment of Top-Seat Angle Connections without Web Angle"
JOURNAL OF STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING-ASCE, Elsevier Science, 143(10), 38-1~04017.
"An isogeometric finite element approach for thermal bending and buckling analyses of laminated composite plates"
Composite Structures, Elsevier Science, 179, 35-49.
"Dynamic response and vibration of composite double curved shallow shells with negative Poisson’s ratio in auxetic honeycombs core layer on elastic foundations subjected to blast and damping loads"
International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, Elsevier Science, 133, 504-512.
"New approach to study nonlinear dynamic response and vibration of sandwich composite cylindrical panels with auxetic honeycomb core layer"
Aerospace Science and Technology, Elsevier Science, 70, 396-404.
"Characteristics of microstructural phases relevant to the mechanical properties in structural steel weld zone studied by using indentation"
Construction and Building Materials, Elsevier Science, 155, 176-186.
"An efficient method of system reliability analysis of steel cable-stayed bridges"
Advances in Engineering Software, Elsevier Science, 114, 295-311.
"Thermal buckling analysis of FGM sandwich truncated conical shells reinforced by FGM stiffeners resting on elastic foundations using FSDT"
Journal of Thermal Stresses, Elsevier Science, 41(3), 331-365.
"Identification of the plastic properties of structural steel using spherical indentation"
MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING A-STRUCTURAL MATERIALS PROPERTIES MICROSTRUCTURE AND PROCESSING, Elsevier Science, 711, 44-61.
"Nonlinear dynamic response and vibration of nanocomposite multilayer organic solar cell"
COMPOSITE STRUCTURES, Elsevier Science, 184, 1137-1144.
"Effect of intermediate diaphragms on the load - carrying capacity of steel - concrete composite box girder bridges"
Thin-Walled Structures, Elsevier Science, 122, 230-241.
"Nonlinear dynamic response and vibration of FG CNTRC shear deformable circular cylindrical shell with temperature-dependent material properties and surrounded on elastic foundations"
Journal of Sandwich Structures & Materials, Elsevier Science, 0, 1-28.
"Characterization of strain rate effects on the plastic properties of structural steel using nanoindentation"
Construction and Building Materials, Elsevier Science, 163, 305-314.
"Numerical estimation for initial stiffness and ultimate moment of T-stub connections"
Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Elsevier Science, 141, 118-131.
"Modified empirical formulas for predicting the thickness of RC panels under impact loading"
Construction and Building Materials, Elsevier Science, 169, 261-275.
"A robust method for optimization of semi-rigid steel frames subject to seismic loading"
Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Elsevier Science, 145, 184-195.
"A new improved fiber plastic hinge method accounting for lateral-torsional buckling of 3D steel frames"
Thin-Walled Structures, Elsevier Science, 127, 666-675.
"Nonlinear thermomechanical behaviors of thin functionally graded sandwich shells with double curvature"
Composite Structures, Elsevier Science, 195, 335-348.
"Reliability-based design optimization of nonlinear inelastic trusses using improved differential evolution algorithm"
Advances in Engineering Software, Elsevier Science, 121, 59-74.
"Static and free vibration analyses of multilayered plates by a higher-order shear and normal deformation theory and isogeometric analysis"
Thin-Walled Structures, Elsevier Science, 130, 622-640.
"Numerical investigation of the damage of RC members subjected to blast loading"
Engineering Failure Analysis, Elsevier Science, 92, 350-367.
"Stability analysis of multi-layered plates subjected to partial edge compression with and without initial imperfection"
Composite Structures, Elsevier Science, 205, 26-41.
"Nonlinear stability of moderately thick functionally graded sandwich shells with double curvature in thermal environment"
Aerospace Science and Technology, Elsevier Science, 84, 672-685.
"Strain rate sensitivity behavior of a structural steel during low-cycle fatigue investigated using indentation"
MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING A-STRUCTURAL MATERIALS PROPERTIES MICROSTRUCTURE AND PROCESSING, Elsevier Science, 744, 490-499.
"Methodology to extract constitutive equation at a strain rate level from indentation curves"
International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 2019년 게재 예정.
상기 논문의 전문(Full Text)을 원하시는 분은 연락주시면 논문을 보내드리겠습니다. | 2019-04-23T03:52:34Z | http://steel.sejong.ac.kr/pub2.htm |
Are you a social change activist with any of these problems or struggles? Is this Manual For You?
These are some of the common difficulties faced by many of you who describe yourselves as social change activists. This manual is for you.
This brief “how to do it” manual is offered to people who are dedicated to long-term social change and who are looking for ways to sustain themselves in that work. We can imagine support groups of the type described here being used in a variety of settings, but this manual is oriented towards activists.
This is a “working” manual. If you are not already part of an activist support group, we hope you will use it to form one.
If your group is underway we hope the manual will give you fresh ideas or help you prevent or solve problems that may arise.
In future versions of this manual we would like to include stories of how support groups have worked for a variety of people. We would love to hear of your experiences. Email [email protected] with any stories or suggestions.
CHAPTER 1: Why Support Groups?
CHAPTER 4: What Makes Groups Work?
CHAPTER ONE: WHY SUPPORT GROUPS?
These are not easy times for people committed to fundamental change within our society and throughout the world – for those who want to help make the world just, safe, and peaceful. For many of us this work represents a life-long commitment. How do we sustain ourselves through the inevitable hard times? We are working against powerful and wealthy forces &dash how can we hold onto our faith and resolution? Where do we recharge and renew our commitment?
Many people have managed to continue activist work without a structured support group. However, few people who devote their lives to such work do it without some regular source of reflection, challenge, and affirmation – necessary ingredients for sustained and effective efforts for change. Too often we are confronted with feelings of isolation – even from those with whom we work closely.
Support groups are one way to give regular attention to each person’s social change work – to reflect on directions, goals, effectiveness, rough places and growing points, to challenge each other – taking into account all dimensions of our lives.
One common myth about support is that it only means giving unquestioning affirmation. However, effective support is often in the form of loving challenge based on seeing a person and her life clearly and thinking carefully. This kind of thinking is more helpful than cheers or criticism. Most of us have to relearn how to give and receive support effectively since it is not taught to us.
We like to imagine a time when giving and receiving this kind of loving attention to each other will be a natural part of our lives, something for which we do not need a special time and place. But for the moment, we have found that we do need to give regular and somewhat structured form to learning and practicing the caring art of support.
What is an Activist Support Group?
An activist support group is a small group of people who meet regularly to give and receive reflections on each other’s lives and work. For the purposes of this manual, we are discussing groups formed specifically to assist people to work more effectively for social change. We are convinced, however, that personal relationships, family life, jobs, and explicitly political work are all part of social change work.
As we engage in social change work, personal growth, including the pain involved, is an important part of that work, and is intimately intertwined with it. As many have discovered, having an understanding of the larger picture expands the context in which personal growth takes place. Issues which you thought were your own personal craziness become another signpost on the road to social change.
Sometimes people need help to deal with the issues from the personal growth end. At other times they need assistance with the “action” end of it. It is quite common for someone to ask for help dealing with the feelings about the actions needed. Sometimes they need help with actual skills. These are all parts of the process of social change and should be integrated. Our lives are already too fragmented.
Therefore, support groups do not look at only one dimension of a person’s life, but give attention to the emotional, the political, the spiritual – and sometimes the material! Most support groups focus on one or more of three basic elements: emotional support, support for action, and educational support.
The kind of emotional support involved here is not therapy although it may include some therapeutic methods of listening and drawing out feelings. The group may focus particularly on feelings and difficulties that get in the way of effective social change work, or feelings which arise as a natural part of such work, such as fear, anger, frustration, or joy. Emotional issues regarding personal relationships, family life, or jobs are dealt with as they affect a person’s social change work. Of course, personal lives have a strong impact on social change work and cannot and should not be separated from it. For the activist support group, however, the emphasis is on work for change.
Ellen came to her support group with a problem she had experienced in her work with a local nuclear disarmament group. She felt that others in the group did not appreciate the skills and experience she was offering. Her support group was able to see that a similar pattern was going on in her family. Ellen had recently expressed ambivalence about a trip to see her borthers and sisters whom she had not seen for over a year. As the oldest of seven and with her parents dead, she had slipped into a role of “taking care” of her siblings without being asked – so she felt unappreciated in that arena also. The support group helped her figure out strategies for new behavior. After the support group meeting, she not only had a more relaxed trip home, but was able to participate more effectively in her political work.
A support group can help a person clarify goals, set directions, and take action. It can also help solve problems on specific difficult situations. It can encourage people to look at longer range strategy questions. It can focus on areas of skill and leadership development for each individual. The group might also decide to undertake action projects together.
Nancy had recently started working with a Central America action group. They were in the process of planning for a major direct action, including the possibility of large numbers of people commiting civil disobedience. The police in the city had a reputation for treating people very roughly. Nancy was concerned that the action group was not providing any training or preparation activities for people planning to take part in the civil disobedience. She had been a nonviolence trainer years before, but felt rusty and shaky about putting herself forward to initiate training workshops for the action. Her support group helped her identify other trainers with whom she could work. They also helped her devise a strategy for gaining approval in the action group for the training work.
Some support groups encourage learning as a primary focus.
The group might attend workshops or seminars together, read and discuss a book or books together, or ask members of the group to share special knowledge or expertise. Many people have come out of the educational ·system with little sense of personal power regarding learning. Support for gaining information and understanding of an increasingly complex and technically dominated world can be a crucial element of support group life.
The members of the “Bridge” support group were all interested in anti-racism work. They started by each reading a novel or book by a person of another race, coming to support group meetings ready to share their new insights. Occasionally they all read the same book and discussed it. Once or twice they went to cultural events by black artists. Later, they began to think together about strategies for working on white racism and then took steps to put these strategies into action.
What Is the Role of Support Group Members?
These are skills involved in the loose and over-used term “support.” Over time, support group members learn how to balance appreciation and encouragement with clear and clean challenging. But 75% of the role is listening and encouraging a person to think for herself about her life – supporting the self-directed process of growth, learning, and change in which we are each engaged.
How are Support Groups Different from Other Types of Groups?
In the past fifteen years there has been a proliferation of groups for many purposes. For instance, women’s groups have proven useful for helping women understand how society is structured. and that they are not alone in feeling inadequate or angry. The success of small groups for other purposes has led us to see how they might be helpful to social change activists. But how are activist support groups different from consciousness raising groups, therapy groups, and affinity groups?
Consciousness-raising groups assist a better understanding of elements of the world we live in – and how certain groups (for example, women and men) interact. While such groups develop a personal sense of social relationships and the dynamics of oppression, they are not necessarily organized to support the actions of individuals for social change.
Most therapy groups are oriented towards individual change and usually deal with feelings as an individual matter, not as part of a social system that needs change. Some schools of therapy (notably feminist therapy) do promote an analysis of oppression as part of the therapeutic process.
Affinity groups are most often formed among people who are planning nonviolent direct action (sometimes including civil disobedience). They are a way to organize subunits within a large action. They provide a structure for decision-making and a “home base” in which to deal with feelings of fear or other concerns that arise in a potentially alienating large group situation. While they certainly have an action and social change orientation, they are rarely structured to give regular, ongoing attention to each individual’s work and growth.
In a support group, on the other hand, someone says, “This is my life, this is the change I am trying to effect, this is my personal struggle in that work – help me to think about those elements and how they all fit together.” A support group lasts at least for a few months, preferrably longer, allowing group members to get to know each other well and to watch the fascinating process of change.
Accountability is another special element of a support group that is not always available elsewhere (especially for those of us who do social change work as volunteers). The support group is in a good position not only to encourage and challenge, but also to keep checking back on the goals people set in the group. The support group takes the goals and the individual seriously.
Unlike most other settings, a support group can combine and connect our spiritual, psychological and political selves – in the combination or emphasis that is exactly right for the members of the group.
So you want to start a group. What do you do? This chapter will take you through the steps, from deciding you want to start a group to a sample agenda for the first meeting.
The first step in forming a support group is to decide who you want in it. This is an opportunity to build on old friendships or turn some acquaintances into allies.
When looking for people you would like in your group, be sure that they share your political perspectives and activism; that you like them; and that you respect their thinking (especially their ability to think about you and the others in the group – see #4 below).
Go after what you want. The best way to guarantee a support group you feel good about is to take initiative to form. it. On the other hand, don’t ask people to be in the group because you feel you “ought” to.
Form a group with some element that holds it together – a common interest, common values, a common experience, a common political outlook, even a common oppression. Once the group gets going, this will become less important, but at first there needs to be some explicit bond among people.
Choose people who are able to think clearly about each other – to be insightful about the struggles of each person. Over the long haul each person must be able to pull their weight as a thinker/listener, even though we all have periods of difficulty. One way to ensure this is to look for “peerness” – the sense of relative equality among you. Groups with very unequal skills or experience may not always work well.
Look for people with the same basic goals, expectations, or needs for the group. Check these at the start and periodically throughout the group’s life. If goals and expectations get out of kilter, the group will not survive long.
Abby: I’m glad you could have lunch with me, Sara. I wanted to talk with you about an idea I have.
Sara: Great! I always enjoy your ideas.
Abby: I’ve enjoyed working with Martinville Peace Action, but sometimes I feel lost. We always meet in in big groups, and we’re so busy organizing rallies and benefits that we rarely have time to discuss how we personally feel about this work.
Sara: I know exactly what you mean. It’s busy, busy, busy all the time! I’ve worked with some of those people for years and still feel like I don’t know them, or they me.
Abby: Sometimes I feel discouraged and confused about what directions the peace movement should go in – or where I could best put my time and energy. I feel I need a place to talk about more personal things with other activists. Do you know what I mean?
Sara: Sort of. Tell me more.
Abby: Well, I was thinking that a small group of us could meet regularly to help each other think about our political lives. Would you be interested in trying this kind of group?
If the first person you ask is not interested, think of another person and ask her. Keep asking until there are two of you excited about forming a group. Then think together about a few other people to invite. Activist Support Groups have succeeded with as few as three or four people. Some groups are as large as ten to fifteen. We find that three to five people is best, because attention to each individual is so important.
Group formation can be a tricky business because people often have difficult feelings about being chosen or left out of groups. Sometimes people feel hurt or angry when they hear that a group is forming, but they are not being invited to join. We have found that it pays to be honest and forthright from the start. Do not invite people out of guilt – you will only pay for it later. It will help to be clear with yourself why you are not choosing someone to be in your group. Often your reasons hold good information for the person – that you can find a constructive way to share if necessary. (See Appendix A on “Giving Feedback”). If you wish, you can help someone form their own group.
Clarify the purpose of the activist support group.
Share each person’s goals and expectations for the group.
Agree to a process that will meet people’s needs.
We suggest the following agenda outline for a first meeting.
First meeting (About two to three hours for 4 to 5 people).
Introductions – (About two minutes each). Share how you know each other, where you live and the work you do.
Agenda Review – The person who planned the meeting should explain the plan, get agreement to it. Write the agenda on a large sheet of paper, so that everyone can see what’s planned and more easily give input to the process.
Why an Activist Support Group (About 10 minutes each) – Each person says what she would like from the group. Have you been in a similar group before? What is hard for you lately in your activist life, that you might want to discuss with the group in future sessions?
Brainstorm – (Five to ten minutes) – While one person writes on a big sheet of paper, other people say their fantasies or ideas or wishes for what the group might do together. Be a little wild – this is just to get ideas going, not to make a plan. You do not need to agree.
[In brainstorming, the object is to generate as many ideas as possible in a stated period. To avoid the usual censoring or judging that interrupts creative thinking, the rule is that no one comments on ideas offered during the brainstorm. You can evaluate the ideas later].
Agreements – (Discuss for fifteen to thirty minutes).
to meet (anything from once a week to once a month is common).
for each session (One and a half to four hours is common. A potluck meal can be added).
to meet. Some groups take turns hosting to share the burdens of transport and hosting. Others prefer to always meet in the same place, if it’s more convenient.
in group meetings. How many people will get individual time in each meeting and for how long? (See Chapter Three for different format ideas).
Set a trial period after which the group can evaluate and people can leave gracefully if they choose to. For example, the group might decide to meet every other Wednesday from 7-10pm, for five meetings, and then have an evaluation session.
One person (or more) may realize in this first discussion that this group is not right for them, for any one of a number of reasons. For instance, Monica wanted a study group, not a place to share feelings. Or Jorge wanted to meet weekly and everyone else wanted to meet monthly. Or there is someone in the group who annoys Jan terribly. Every person should feel free to say no. It is important to start out with a sense of excitement and common goals. As people agree to a trial period, ask them to make a commitment to stick with it, and to take responsibility for speaking up for their own needs.
Choose a place, time, and someone to plan and facilitate the next meeting. (See Chapter Three for description of facilitation and other roles in groups). Exchange names and phone numbers.
: (About ten minutes – leave ample time) How did this session go for people? What did people enjoy? What could be better for next time?
Now your Activist Support Group is launched!
(About ten minutes) Each person tells a highlight of the weeks since the last meeting, and/or something about her day and how she is feeling now.
The person who planned the meeting has done some thinking ahead of time about issues for the group to address. She presents a suggested agenda to the group, asks for additions or changes, incorporates them into the agenda, and gets agreement from the group to proceed.
Each person takes about ten minutes to talk about significant events in her life as an activist, including her family background, when she first began to be aware of and to care about political issues, when she felt effective, and a few key successes and failures in her activist work.
Working with the list generated at the first meeting about what the group might do together, the group chooses a focus or a format for the next several meetings. (See the “Meeting Format Smorgasbord” in Chapter Three).
For example, the group might decide to focus on learning about the global climate disruption for the next several meetings, to spend half an hour each time sharing information from reading or other sources, and then to give each person time to deal with feelings about the situation.
Or, the group might choose to divide the time equally among members for the next few meetings, in order to help each person set goals for their political work for the next six months.
Choose a time, place, and facilitator.
What was most useful about the meeting? Least useful? What would they change and how?
Do some activity to reaffirm the sense of connection in the group, such as sing a song or take a few minutes of silence.
We have already discussed the purpose of support groups and given some notions about how to get them started. This chapter will offer some ideas about the structure and content of support group meetings.
Most support groups we know of include several basic ingredients in their meetings: time for group business (time and place of next meeting, facilitators, evaluation, etc.); time focused on individuals in the group; and time for group discussion of an issue or topic.
Throughout the rest of this chapter we will refer to “individual time” or “focus time.” Both of these terms refer to time set aside in the meeting to give attention to the life and work of one group member.
We’ ve all heard that “what you get out is what you put in.” We find that the focused time and attention available through support groups is rare and precious. It is most effective if careful thought is given to how to use the time well.
In preparing for a support group meeting, think about what issue or problem will fit the time you can expect at the next support group meeting. Choose an area of your life and work that is of real concern to you at the moment. In our experience, if you can focus on a specific question, rather than a broad or vague topic, the time will be more satisfying. For instance, you might choose to focus on how you exercise leadership in a particular direct action campaign, rather than on your broader leadership questions. If the support group feels there are broader questions that should be addressed, they will bring them up!
Think for at least a few minutes about how to present the issue – so that precious time is not wasted figuring out what to say. If you have a lot of information to present, write it up ahead of time and provide copies, or write it on large sheets of paper with felt tip pens.
At one meeting of a support group Anne asked the group to help her devise a strategy for getting a satisfying job with political content. She presented her long term goals for political work and the specific aspects of a job that she wished for. The group gave her feedback on her strengths and growth areas and helped her set realistic goals for a job.
Nancy was dealing with a difficult situation at her job.
Cindy asked the group to think with her about her tendency to isolate herself in groups where she is taking visible leadership. The group listened to her describe what happens, then helped identify the feelings and behavior that were consistently gettihg in the way. Finally, they worked with her to figure out a new approach and how she could get support for trying it.
Peter used the group to help him work out a strategy for building a coalition among groups working on South Africa and on Central America. He shared some of his fears about reaching out to new people who are different from him. The group made suggestions for first steps and made a commitment to check back with Peter at later meetings to see how the work was coming.
Individual or focus time in a support group is at the crossroads of the personal and the activist realms.
We have suggested throughout this manual that support groups are devoted to each person’s struggle to be effective in their activism. In this context, personal issues are particularly important as they further activist work.
1. Solve problems that arise in activist work.
2. Set long-term goals as a social change agent.
3. Identify personal difficulties that get in the way of the most effective work possible. What would it take for you to act powerfully all the time?
4. Assess skills and knowledge and set learning goals.
5. Evaluate your leadership abilities – strengths and weaknesses. Set goals for leadership development.
6. Explore issues that are key problems for many people, such as money, families, particular oppressions (as experienced by women, people of color, gays, working class people, etc.).
Outlined below are several different formats for Support Group meetings. They are quite varied in their flavor, timing, and style. Pick and choose among them, invent your own, take elements of several and try a new format. It’s your group!
Using this format, a group gets together and quickly checks on how each person is feeling to help people bring their attention to the group and away from other things. They then divide the remainder of the time for the meeting equally among the group members.
In this format almost all of the “focus” time of each meeting is devoted to one individual. This allows the group to look at a variety of factors in that person’s life and explore issues deeply. Each of the other group members do a brief update with particular attention to any agreements, homework, or commitments made at previous meetings.
This group uses no pre-set agenda or time strucure, but responds to the need of the group members at the time they meet. They start with a quick check on how people are doing and what their concerns or needs are from the group. They then work together to build an agenda that will get most of the needs met. [Note: while this format may work for some groups, there is a danger that those who are more articulate about their needs or who have deeper “problems” will get more of the group’s attention. If you use this format, be aware of the balance of who gets time].
Another common format for support groups is to choose a topic of common interest to all group members – an issue that each confronts in her work – and devote the meeting to a discussion of it. The group usually provides time for each person to reflect on her own personal experience and/or visions (models) on the subject. Common topics: leadership, class dynamics, sexism, other oppressions, strategy in social change efforts.
Did you ever have a group of friends with whom you studied, in high school or college? Perhaps you helped each other understand concepts and discussed exciting new ideas. Some support groups are formed around learning together. They often start with one topic for several months (U.S. policy in Central America, for instance) – and then shift to other topics of interest or move on to action. In a variation, at the end of each meeting the group chooses a topic for the next meeting, asking each member to read something on the topic to share.
We have heard of a group which uses a variation of “Shorts and Longs” above. The group formed around a common work interest. They spend time in each meeting to do a “clinic” on one or two specific problems that group members have encountered. One person lays out the problem and the others offer suggestions, first brainstorming alternative ways to handle the problem, then discussing them. If appropriate, the group might then do roleplays to tryout some of the suggestions.
For example, a support group of trainers focused on the considerations when training people of a different race, ethnic, or class background from the trainer. First the group brainstormed all the possible “wrong moves,” and then went on to generate appropriate strategies and attitudes.
Finally, they did a series of roleplays with members of the group taking on the roles of trainer and training group participants.
We have heard of support groups with as many as fifteen people (although most successful groups we know of have four to eight). Since some attention to individuals is a crucial element of the support group, most of the larger groups spend at least part of their meeting time in smaller groups of three to five (or even in pairs).
d) the group gets back together, divides the time equally and goes as deep as time allows on each person’s issue.
We know of a group that gets together every three months and takes two days to worship together, meditate, search for guidance, and take time to look at each group member’s journey as a spiritual and political person. The members of the group live at some distance from each other, but all have similar jobs within religious institutions – they find a lot of common themes to discuss.
CHAPTER FOUR: WHAT MAKES GROUPS WORK?
Groups need clear goal and structure, an atmosphere of trust, and good facilitation in order to be effective. These issues are referred to as “group process.” This chapter outlines some key elements of group process, and includes a section on how to deal with some common difficulties in groups.
* How frequently and for how long your group meets.
* How to deal with lateness.
* Whether and when to add members.
* What the content of meetings will be.
* How decisions will be made.
Some of these issues need to be addressed in the first meeting (see The First Meeting in Chapter Two). Others can wait until later. Take time to discuss differences and reach clear agreements about these issues; you will learn more about one another’s wishes, needs and boundaries. This process also helps you clarify what to expect of one another and learn to negotiate.
Take time in your group to choose which method or methods you want to use.
Trust grows in a group as people get to know one another more deeply, learn to deal with differences and resolve conflicts, and respect decisions that the group has made. In early meetings, leave time for people to tell their stories in some kind of structured way (for example, each person takes ten minutes to tell her history as an activist, or to talk about what makes her afraid, or a time when she felt powerful).
In every meeting it helps to take time at the beginning to “check in,” to say something about how each person is feeling that day.
Trust may be eroded unless group members feel assured that personal things they say will not be repeated outside the group. Such an agreement to “confidentiality” is important to establish early in the life of the group.
Differences may develop into conflicts unless they are stated and addressed. It helps to develop an expectation in the group that feedback will be given with respect, and in a balanced way (see Appendix A, “Giving and Receiving Feedback”).
Say what you think and feel about the issues being discussed.
Avoid generalizations and jargon. Be specific and use examples.
Build in a moment of silence after each person speaks. This can cut down on interruptions and allow people to take in fully what each person says. It helps people to really listen rather than compete for time to talk, prepare what they will say, or look for openings.
People have different ways of expressing their thoughts and feelings. Respect each person’s style.
For instance, some people require time to think before speaking. In a group where other people operate at a fast pace, a more deliberate person would begin to feel lost and unheard.
No one receives enough appreciation, especially in political work. Almost everyone suffers from feeling that she is not doing enough. Be sure each person receives specific, verbal, appreciation for whatever she is doing. Each person may also need a challenge to take the next step or try something new.
Talking about current difficulties may bring up old feelings about family, work, and past successes and failures, including feelings which seem unrelated to the current situation. The group may take time to talk about these feelings, or help members decide how those feelings can get dealt with outside the group. We help each other become more effective activists by dealing with feelings, both past and present.
When you think that a discussion is going off on a tangent, say so, and remind others of the topic you were discussing.
If you have agreed about how much time your group will spend on various agenda items, each group member can take some responsibility for paying attention to time, and not leaving it solely to the facilitator to keep things moving.
We have found that a group functions well when someone is thinking systematically about what the members of the groups need, what is happening in the group (interactions among members), and what steps need to be taken to move things along. This role can be shared by everyone in the group, but it is also useful to designate particular roles for specific meetings. If you rotate the roles among all group members, each person gets practice taking responsibility for the group’s life and health.
Some of the roles that can be played by group members are described below. Not all of them are necessary at all meetings, but if the group is having difficulties, they may become more crucial.
The facilitator plans the agenda, either before the meeting or with the group at the beginning of the meeting; pays attention to each group member during the meeting, noting when people are withdrawn, or disruptive, or inattentive; keeps the meeting moving; and plans a closing. Since this is a lot for one person to do, the group may want to designate a “vibes watcher,” and a timekeeper.
The group may also wish to have a note taker for parts of the meeting.
Most people can develop the skills needed to facilitate a meeting. Each group will need to decide whether facilitation will be rotated, done by the same person each time, or whether the group will function without a designated facilitator. If someone is new to facilitation, or weak in certain skills, have her co-facilitate with someone who has more experience or complementary skills.
The job of the vibes watcher is to notice what is going on; decide whether to bring it to the group’s attention; describe to the group what is happening; ask what they want to do about it; or give attention to specific people.
When Chris was vibes watcher, he noticed that Joan, who was facilitating the meeting, had gotten engrossed in a discussion with Mary, and was losing her focus on the whole group. The other two members of the group looked sleepy and restless. After Chris mentioned it, the group decided to go on with the discussion, but suggested that Joan ask someone else to facilitate for that part of the meeting.
The timekeeper lets the group know when the time allowed for a topic is nearly over, and when the alloted time has been used up. The group can then decide to move on to the next topic, or it may choose to stay longer with the first topic.
Groups may get off to a good start and then fall apart.
Difficulties often arise in these areas: goals, boundaries, differences not dealt with, individual styles, and interpersonal conflicts or sub-groups.
The group may flounder without a purpose or diverge from its stated purposes. It may no longer be meeting the needs of the participants. The best remedy is to take time to clarify the purpose of the group at the beginning, and any time later on when it becomes fuzzy. It may be helpful to plan to do this at regular intervals, such as every six months.
People may want to leave the group, or join the group once it is underway. Some members may be erratic in their attendance. When someone wants to leave, or does leave, take the time to deal with it, leave time for goodbyes, and talk about the person’s contributions to the group. A member’s departure is a loss to the group, and may bring up feelings.
When considering the addition of new members to the group, think about such things as the optimum size of your group and what qualities a new person could bring to the group that might balance those of people in the group. Surface and deal with any reservations people have. Come to consensus as a group so that you can truly welcome a new person.
Erratic attendance may be a sign of low commitment to the group. Your group may want to have as one of its shared agreements an understanding about attendance, how many meetings a member may miss, and whether someone will phone absent members.
One person may talk too much or ramble. Another person may have difficulty expressing feelings, and always say “everything is fine.” Someone else may be seriously depressed. If any of these behaviors bothers you, talk about it in the group, with care and respect.
In early meetings of his support group, Jeremy noticed that Larry joked every time someone in the group expressed strong feelings, and invariably drew the attention of the group to himself. Jeremy became increasingly annoyed with Larry and decided to bring it up in the group. When he did, he found that others were also irritated, and that they were also concerned about Larry. Larry disclosed that he had recently learned that his father needed surgery, and that his worries kept him from listening to others in the group. Jeremy encouraged him to take time in the group to talk about his situation. Larry’s behavior changed!
Sub-groups may emerge when two or more members have an intense personal relationship (they may be lovers or ex-lovers, or have a long history), when several members of a group share other activities or friends, or have something else in common.
In one group of three, two of the women were lesbians and the third was married and heterosexual. She felt uncomfortable talking about her relationship with her husband, thinking that the lesbians wouldn’t be interested or sympathetic. When she was able to discuss this with the others, it enabled the three women to talk about their differences and their liking and appreciation for one another.
When interpersonal conflicts arise in your group, acknowledge them. If you cannot resolve them, you may want to invite someone from outside your group to facilitate one or two meetings to help the group deal with the conflict (see Appendix B, “Resource Manual”).
Food is a wonderful community builder. Many support groups include meals in the meeting times, as potlucks, or prepared by a few members.
Birthdays or the anniversary of the group itself are great opportunities for taking time out for more frivolous activities. Have fun!
The hardworking members of your support group are committed to difficult long term struggles for social change. Use the group to acknowledge how you are each making a difference.
Be specific. If some special event takes place (a campaign has a success, someone gets that perfect job) have a celebration. In general, we need ongoing ways to affirm the real steps forward we make, even if the journey is a very long one.
Even the best of support groups may come to a point of ending. Group members may encounter changes in their lives. People move away. The group may also serve well for a time and then become less relevant to its members. Or the group may decide to disband because of internal conflicts that cannot be resolved.
No matter what the cause for a group’s ending, there is a lot to be gained from a careful evaluation. Schedule a special meeting to wrap up. It can include time for people to reflect on what they have learned from the group, and to share some of the ways the group has been helpful to them. Look also at ways the group did not function well and why, in order to carry learning rather than bad feelings into other groups and situations. Take time to appreciate each other.
This manual was written by people involved in the Interhelp Network and in Movement for a New Society (see Appendix C for brief descriptions of both). Both of these groups have been using support groups as a basic organizing structure.
This manual is also a revision of an earlier work called “Starting a Nuclear Support Group,” compiled in January 1984 for Newton Action for Nuclear Disarmament by Sarah Conn, Tova Green, Nancy Moorehead, and Anne Slepian. That original manual received enthusiastic response from activists in the United States, Canada amd the United Kingdom, prompting the authors to work on a more thorough version. Meanwhile, Movement for a New Society had been experimenting with models for activist support groups. Peter Woodrow joined the other authors to add reflections on experience in MNS.
We appreciate the many suggestions and experiences of our colleagues in the Interhelp Network and in Movement for a New Society. Some of those who gave us specific feedback and suggestions are: Matt Becker, Carol Bragg, Shepherd Bliss, Barbara Cohen, Pamela Haines, Joe Havens, Mona Nelson, Fran Peavey, Carol Pertofsky, Sarah Pirtle, Betsy Raasch-Gilman, and Mary Watkins.
In writing this manual, we used a support group model. We scheduled meetings with clear agendas, and always began with a “check-in.” When interpersonal conflicts arose, we dealt with them. We respected our differences in time available for this project, and our differences in writing styles. Peter worked better alone. Tova was able to write more easily when she scheduled time with Anne to write in the same room. We have finished the project appreciating each other for the work we have done.
Most differences between people in a group can be resolved if they are dealt with openly, rather than avoided. This short appendix describes the skills involved in giving feedback clearly and constructively.
Be specific and direct. Report exact behavior rather than general impressions.
The above example also illustrates that it helps to include what you observed, how you felt about it, and what you would like the other person to do differently.
Express caring. Affirm that you are giving feedback because you care about the other person, want to work with them more effectively and improve the relationship.
Be immediate. Give feedback as soon after something happens as possible. Later it is harder to recall and does not have the same impact.
Deal with one issue at a time. Even if there are many things you want this person to change, people get overwhelmed and defensive if you give them a big list of problems. Avoid pulling out all of the times in the past that the person did a particular irksome thing, or all of the other ways that they have annoyed you in the past.
After giving your feedback, be prepared to empathize with the feelings of the other person, even if she states those feelings in an angry or defensive manner. Often people misunderstand even well-expressed feedback. Ask her to try to repeat back to you what she heard you say. You may have to go through several rounds of listening and restating before you understand each other.
Concentrate on listening. You do not have to respond.
Repeat the gist of what was said out loud and ask for clarification.
If you choose to respond, do it in a non-defensive way. This can include what you feel, why you feel it, and what you want from the person giving you feedback (as in #2 and #3 above under “Giving Feedback”).
Empathize with the concerns the person expressed.
Even if you don’t agree with some of what the person is telling you, see if there are “grains of truth” you can agree with. Try to work out some action steps together, things both parties can do to change or support the other’s changes.
Being scanned in and edited. Coming soon.
and the Movement for a New Society Wikipedia page.
Sarah A. Conn is a clinical psychologist, a member of the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Psychological Association, a committed activist, and most importantly, wife, mother, sister and friend.
United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Japan, and Australia. She has been part of an Interhelp support group for four years.
facilitator, and trainer. Nancy has served on the Interhelp National Council for two years and has been involved with Interhelp for four years.
Anne Slepian loves to sing and dance. She performs with Libana, a women’s ensemble exploring traditional women’s music and dance from many cultures. She also helps organize tenants’ councils with the Massachusetts Union of Housing Tenants. Her choices have been guided over the years by several excellent MNS activist support groups. She was involved with Interhelp in its early days.
Peter Woodrow is a nonviolent social change activist and a member of Movement for a New Society. He works on conflict resolution and nonviolent direct action campaigns as an organizer and trainer. He also works with private voluntary organizations on international relief and development programs, with particular experience in Southeast Asia. | 2019-04-24T11:09:27Z | https://interhelpnetwork.org/keeping-us-going-a-manual-on-support-groups-for-social-change-activists/ |
Until his revival which was kick-started by the release of the Joe Henry produced Don’t Give Up On Me album in 2002, Solomon Burke was very largely a forgotten man other than to a few diehards like yours truly. In the US, most critics, with certain honourable exceptions like Peter Guralnick, used to categorise him as just another southern soul shouter, in spite of the fact that, from 1961 to 1965 he had a stream of lowish to medium level hits which largely enabled the Atlantic label to keep its head above water. In the UK things were somewhat different. The Stones covered Everybody Needs Somebody To Love on their second album and Cry To Me on Out Of Their Heads, the Zombies covered Can’t Nobody Love You, and so on. I was sold from the first few bars of Just Out Of Reach in 1961, and Cry To Me and Down In The Valley just deepened that infatuation. Maybe infatuation isn’t the right word but my attention did move around a tad as other artists appeared and Solomon got less radio plays. But over the next few years I did pick up LPs, sometimes secondhand, including the eleven track Best Of Solomon Burke (which got played to death even during the psych years), Rock ‘n’ Soul, plus the late period Atlantic one, I Wish I Knew. I even managed to locate some of those albums issued during what are sometimes thought of as Solomon’s wilderness years, Proud Mary on Bell, Electronic Magnetism on MGM and the gospel one, I Have A Dream on ABC/Dunhill. Right from my first acquaintance with Solomon, I regarded him as the finest of all the black singers whose vocal performances were based on a solid grounding in gospel, topped by a combination of inventiveness and intelligence that was demonstrated by few other artists either within or outside the soul genre.
Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms) was one of four songs which were recorded by Solomon at his first session for the Atlantic label held in December 1960, though it didn’t see release till Summer ’61; his first release which consisted of a couple of other numbers from that session is largely forgotten now. The song was of the type that’s often labelled a country tearjerker and it had been a minor hit for Faron Young way back in 1953. Reportedly Solomon was not wildly enthusiastic about taking on such a number. However the Atlantic management – Jerry Wexler et al – did have some form in this area. They’d recorded blues man Ivory Joe Hunter singing Empty Arms in 1957 and it did very nicely in the R&B chart. Ironically, although the song was of the sort that could have been heard on any country jukebox in the fifties, and indeed it went on to be a hit in the Country chart via a cover from Sonny James, it had actually been written by Ivory Joe himself. In spite of any qualms, Solomon’s performance on Just Out Of Reach turned out to be magnificent – that deep voice soaring to the high notes was something to behold. Wexler added Floyd Cramer-ish piano plus saccharine soaked strings but it was Burke that the buyers fell in love with. It went on to be one of the man’s biggest hits, selling a million discs and reaching #24 in the US chart. Not only that, it introduced the world to a whole new genre, Country Soul, and that at a time when most of us hadn’t really got to know soul music in any form. Just Out Of Reach may not have been the best of Solomon’s country soul outings – there are several vying for that title – but it was the first, so it very much deserves inclusion here.
If Cry To Me reminded us strongly of Solomon’s gospel roots, then his next single Down In The Valley rammed that point home even harder. Perhaps more than any of his records so far, this was one to influence soul dance records to come. A fruity brass section responded to Solomon’s emoting with a combination of urgency and empathy. Reportedly (see Wiki) Solomon had asked for tuba and trombone just like he had in his church at home. The song was originally a traditional one with versions from a host of people including Leadbelly. His version, which has the alternative title Birmingham Jail, is worth a listen.
Flip Down In The Valley and you get I’m Hanging Up My Heart For You, another country-oriented ballad with a more restrained and subtle arrangement than Just Out Of Reach – little more than piano and organ – and the song itself is an improvement. This was the sort of effort that made the term ‘deep soul’ come into fashion, and it’s one that very nearly made my list.
He was born, James Solomon McDonald, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1940. He began preaching from the age of 7. In high school he led a quartet named the Gospel Cavaliers. He won a talent competition at the age of 15 and was signed by Apollo Records of New York. The label was largely known for R&B and Doo Wop but in the early years they also issued a stream of Gospel records from some of the giants of the genre including Mahalia Jackson, the Dixie Hummingbirds, the Alex Bradford Singers and more. Solomon recorded 11 singles plus a few for some much smaller indie labels, but without much in the way of success. After a somewhat troubled period with Apollo, Solomon was dropped and he started branching out onto alternative career paths such as undertaking (in UK terminology) in order to support a new family. As an aside I would add that Solomon’s sales and entrepreneurial skills continued to flourish alongside his musical and episcopal careers. As a second aside I’d add that Sol was married 4 times, fathered at least 14 children (including at least 2 outside marriages), had 7 stepchildren, 90 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren at the time of his death.
Back to the music. He was signed by Atlantic in November 1960. Which brings us roughly up to date. For me, the body of music that Solomon Burke created at Atlantic in the years 1961 to 1968 was at least as good as, if not better than, that produced by his peers, and in that grouping I’d include names like Cooke, Charles, Bland, Brown, Redding, Carr, Alexander and Pickett. That work was so good that a Toppermost Ten could very easily have come from Solomon’s Atlantic phase alone and I have to admit that I was tempted. However, in order to give at least a flavour of his long non-Atlantic period I’m going for a 50/50 split between Atlantic and Sol’s later work. Which leaves me with two more from Atlantic.
Perhaps as trite an opening as you could imagine. Who else but Sol (abetted perhaps by Bert) would have dared open a record with it – and that tuba is parping away in the background again. Our man is in full testifying/sermonising mode and he stays that way, working the crowd for just short of a minute before the song actually starts – and that crowd is there too I should add, making themselves heard with a vengeance. I couldn’t possibly have ignored Everybody Needs Somebody To Love. Even if the name of Solomon Burke is unfamiliar it’s unlikely you won’t have heard this song. The Stones covered it on their second album which was released in ’65. There were several more covers but the one that most people will be aware of is the version in the 1980 Blues Brothers film.
Can’t Nobody Love You is different again. It opens with what sounds like a twelve string guitar, possibly played by Berns himself, and then settles down to be a late night lounge ballad of the sort that might be sung by a Sinatra or Dean Martin, barring a bit of call-and-response with a female chorus. The words aren’t anything special; just Solomon declaring his love for his baby with far less pleading than usual. It’s charming and it works. I first came across it on Rock ‘n’ Soul which also contains an even more Dean Martin oriented performance and song in You Can’t Love Them All. There’s also a Woody Guthrie song, Hard, Ain’t It Hard, in the set, which makes one wonder if the powers that be at Atlantic were attempting to fit Sol into an all-round entertainer and/or song chameleon a la Ray Charles or Bobby Darin, both of whom had left Atlantic shortly before Solomon signed for the label.
Solomon’s heyday at Atlantic was from the early to mid part of the decade. In the second half many of the punters moved elsewhere, in part, probably, to Stax and Motown. However before closing off my coverage of this timeframe I’d make a couple of comments. Firstly, that there was no serious quality drop from ’66 to ’68. I find myself in total disagreement with AllMusic in their review of Sol’s third and final Atlantic album, I Wish I Knew. Their reviewer saw this LP as “a desperate mix of R&B oldies, sappy contemporary tunes and a scurrying search for style in the storm”. I would agree that it’s not all super fantastic but there are a couple of stunners in there – the Joe Tex cover, Meet Me In Church, which very nearly crept into my list – plus a great reading of Ivory Joe’s Since I Met You Baby. Secondly, to remark that there were so many great performances by Burke (and his producers) in the overall Atlantic period that my top five goodies could well differ partially or even completely from someone else’s. Just to list some of those songs: If You Need Me, Home In Your Heart, You Can Make It If You Try, You’re Good For Me, He’ll Have To Go (yes, the Jim Reeves one and a great version), The Price, Got To Get You Off My Mind, Tonight’s The Night, etc. etc. And he did record a Bob song – Maggie’s Farm – even if opinions are mixed about it.
Solomon left Atlantic at the tail end of 1968 and signed with Bell where he delivered 5 singles and an album. He achieved a minor hit with his version of CCR’s Proud Mary and that was about it. But there was quality in his Bell performances and they’re worth searching out. I’ve selected a couple from this period. That Lucky Old Sun is proof, if it were needed, that Solomon really could sing the phonebook, as the saying goes. After the second verse, he’s lifting us up to paradise and a brass section that sounds remarkably like the Memphis Horns appears from nowhere: “That lucky old son-of-a-gun ain’t got nothing to do y’all but roll around heaven, roll around heaven all day.” Solomon may actually have invented the fadeout that sounds like they’re all off to a party. This is another great example.
Song #2 from Bell is Please Send Me Someone To Love, originally from shadowy, but important, bluesman, Percy Mayfield, and the arrangement reflects the more uptown blues-oriented style of the song. It’s along the lines of those great backdrops that Joe Scott used to wrap around Bobby Bland on his later Duke records. Solomon gives it one of those intros which both sets himself up and almost sends himself up, but, of course, he’s equal to the challenge and turns in a magnificent vocal; just listen to that second “pleeeeeease”. Before leaving his Bell output, I should also mention an excellent version of Chuck Willis’ classic pre-soul number What Am I Living For with minimal (almost organ only backing) plus Proud Mary itself which is up there with Fogerty’s original in my estimation.
After Bell it was MGM, where I’m going to make a stop and shine the light on one that I consider to be a bit of a gem from this period, (Let Me Light Up Your Life And) Together We’ll Light Up The World. It’s one that seems to span the gospel and secular divide. He gives it a whacking minute and a half preachifying intro before launching into the song which is part sing-a-long, part Solomon solo. The tune, to me anyway, evokes something Austrian and vaguely Victorian era. Whatever, it’s damnably catchy. Once this one gets into your mind it just sticks. The arranger helps to build the overall celebratory mood by having a key change or the addition of more backing singers or extra instrumentation at the start of each verse. A very satisfying performance.
After MGM it was ABC/Dunhill, after ABC/Dunhill it was Chess (who tried to turn him into Barry White), after Chess it was Savoy, after Savoy it was Rounder (who saw him more as a bluesman) and so on and so on. Solomon kept making records right through that long so-called fallow period, and, don’t get me wrong, there’s some good stuff hidden away in there. I’ve by no means sampled all of it and, given the man’s phonebook propensity which I’ve just mentioned, he could often rise above poor arrangements and/or material.
One album that definitely deserves attention is the concert set from Rounder, Soul Alive. AllMusic commented, “Recorded in 1983 in Washington, D.C., the set proves Burke had lost little from his ’60s heyday; he works through nearly all of his hits, spurring on the concert-goers as though they were the ones performing instead of him – in fact, some of the women are heard screaming so often they should’ve been credited”. The YouTube audio-only clip gives a good flavour; a near seven minute monologue from the master with sympathetic backing including occasional punctuation, then it’s into Joe Tex’s Hold What You Got and a near triumphal He’ll Have To Go.
The work that Joe Henry did with Solomon on Don’t Give Up On Me, which was released in 2002, is comparable to the effort Rick Rubin put in on the American series with Johnny Cash. That’s not the first time that statement’s been made and it probably won’t be the last. Not only did Henry give Burke the best production and arrangements that he’d received in decades, he also solicited new songs from artists far and wide, whose only common denominator was that they were all Burke fans.
If you have any knowledge of Solomon at all you’ll be aware of this album. It was the one that informed the world that the erstwhile King of Rock ‘n’ Soul was back. AllMusic called it “nothing short of revelatory” and went on to state that Solomon, at the age of 66, “had lost none of the power, force, or dramatic intensity of his glory days”. Several of the songs and arrangements in the set take Solomon on to pastures new, giving him totally fresh challenges to meet. My sole pick from the album, Flesh And Blood (written by Joe Henry himself), is just such a song. I don’t know how to describe the performance; it has aspects of blues and soul but is missing the usual tropes you associate with such genres. Much of it is a slow two chord minor key riff accompanied by little more than organ, alto sax (or something that sounds like it) and guitar. Solomon is in conversational mode occasionally breaking into song for a few notes. By the third verse the resignation has been transformed to ecstasy and by the end hope has entered. A stunner.
A couple of others tempted me on this album: Elvis Costello’s dramatic, The Judgement, and the title track which is a more traditional soul ballad of the kind you could imagine Otis singing.
2005 saw the release of the Don Was produced Make Do With What You Got. Unlike Don’t Give Up On Me this was much more of an attempt to replicate the Jerry Wexler/Bert Berns production with updated technology. Verdict – not bad at all but almost anything following Don’t Give Up would have been a disappointment. It did include a few interesting songs like the little-known Hank Williams, Wealth Won’t Save Your Soul which allowed Solomon to get up in that pulpit again. My favourite is the Stones’ I Got The Blues. It’s fascinating to hear the real Burke rather than the ersatz one. I suspect that something like 90% of Stones’ fans are unaware of how much of a debt Mick owed to the King. This is another one which almost made it.
The following year saw yet another release from Solomon as if to make up for lost time. It was different again. Nashville, produced by alt-country man Buddy Miller, took Sol right back to country music. But it wasn’t chock full of tearjerkers a la early Atlantic, instead it contained a range of interesting and often unexpected songs many of which had considerably more lyrical depth than the average country weepie. But the latter wasn’t ignored completely. Don Williams’ Atta Way To Go gets dangerously close to Nashville schmaltz but, oh so predictably, Solomon saves it from dropping into mundanity.
My selection from this one is the song written by Buddy and Julie Miller themselves, Does My Ring Burn Your Finger. I tried an interesting experiment with this song. First I played the version released by Lee Ann Womack which made the US Country chart. Billboard refer to this as a “haunting hillbilly treatise on the pain of betrayal and loss” and to Lee Ann’s delivery as “achingly beautiful” (my source for both comments was Wiki). I wouldn’t dispute either of those statements; both song and delivery hit me, and within that delivery I wouldn’t ignore the part played by a lonesome fiddle. I then played the version by Buddy and Julie themselves wherein Buddy takes the lead vocal, his mountain twang resonating over a much tougher arrangement. Instead of a solitary fiddle there’s a bank of them and they’re fierce. As one might expect on the Burke version, the arrangement from Buddy is not unlike his own take on the song. Those violins get to open the track and by the second verse they’re on steroids. The big man’s voice is at once more gruff, more fragile and more expressive altogether than Buddy’s. I like all three versions but I think you know which one my vote – as in Eurovision – goes to. Play this one loud.
I’m going to sneak in another clip from Nashville here although it doesn’t make my Toppermost list, purely on numbers. When I bought the album I was expecting Valley Of Tears to be the countryish number from Fats Domino which is better known via the Buddy Holly version. It’s not. The song was written by Gillian Welch, and she and Dave Rawlings get to accompany Solomon on the track. What’s great to see on the live cut is the manifest joy that emanates from all three participants.
In late 2006, Solomon Burke took part in some concert appearances by Jerry Lee Lewis as part of the latter’s Last Man Standing Live or, effectively, Last Man Standing Part 2 (which was released in 2007). Below you’ll see Jerry and Sol taking on Charlie Rich’s Who Will The Next Fool Be, a song that Jerry had recorded (and made a good fist of) quite a few years before. Not, perhaps, the greatest of duets but Solomon was in good voice even if Jerry was showing that those years of braggadocio were catching up with him. And yes, that is Ronnie Wood.
Nashville was followed by Like A Fire which was worthy but, dare I say, a bit dull, though you couldn’t blame Solomon for that.
The albums kept coming. Nothing’s Impossible, released in 2010 was another triumph and I feel somewhat on the mean side for not making a selection from it. Reportedly Willie Mitchell, famed producer of Al Green and Ann Peebles, had wanted to work with Sol for years. It was to turn out to be the last real work that Mitchell did before he died. It was good, so good that I feel it’s rather more a Mitchell album than a Burke one. Couple that with the fact that none of the songs could be called outstanding and you might understand my selection problems. I should add though, that I do own the album and I enjoy it.
Solomon died in October 2010. There was one more studio album – he did get through a lot of work in the years when most people would be slowing down – and it was made with Dutch band De Dijk. That might not sound a very promising combination but it’s worth investigation.
All my research came from online sources. However, if I could have found it – my copy is temporarily mislaid – I would have dug into, and probably quoted from, “Sweet Soul Music” by Peter Guralnick. This book tells you everything about southern soul music.
The first 5 tracks on this toppermost can be found on the 2CD set Home in Your Heart: The Best of Solomon Burke.
Tremendous. Soul Alive is so good I’d recommend it as a starting point for folks who don’t really know Solomon. I’ve worn the vinyl flat. Totally backs up Wexler’s comment about who’s the best soul singer.
Many thanks Keith. I stuck with Sol during the lean years when most people had either forgotten him or just never heard of him. I’m just so grateful that Joe Henry and Jools Holland helped in a massive way to get the man some recognition in his more mature years. And he responded by giving them and us even more of that great music. And, I fully agree, more people should be aware of Soul Alive.
Thanks Andrew. You dug deeper than me. I found a Solomon version of “Gotta Travel On” last night but it wouldn’t play in the UK. Yours does. And it’s further proof, if proof were needed, that he could sing anything.
Really enjoyed reading your essay and great selections in your Toppermost list. I play ‘Home In Your Heart’ and some of the later albums regularly. ‘Make Do With What You Got’ is a favourite album and I would select something from this, perhaps Dylan’s ‘What Good Am I?’ I was lucky to see Sol at Massey Hall in Toronto about 2006 – a great performance. Solomon sat at the front of the stage on his throne singing so beautifully and relaxed, but you could see clearly who was in charge of the band, using gestures to bring the sound down at times. A great band, and I would give a special mention to the rhythm and lead guitarists. A great night with some of the audience dancing on the stage at the end. I’ll always remember this concert. Thanks for all your work – a great effort, David.
Thanks for your kind comments Colin, and I’m exceedingly envious that you saw the King. I was lucky enough to get to see several of my heroes from the 50’s and 60’s, and that included Otis and the Stax Volt show but no Solomon. I’m not sure I did justice to all of the man’s output above; I still feel there was so much really great stuff I didn’t even mention..
Another excellent article,Dave,your research is,as always, tremendous. Two of my fav tracks by Solomon are “Stupidity” (covered by Dr Feelgood among others) and particularly “(Won’t you give me) One More Chance” which I have on an EP. A beautiful production and performance, and well worthy of a listen by Toppermostreaders. | 2019-04-20T16:44:44Z | http://www.toppermost.co.uk/solomon-burke/ |
Logical argumentation is to metaphysics and philosophy what mathematical theorems are to theoretical physics and cosmology. For instance, in the field of quantum mechanics, we have very little hard “evidence” for what we believe to be true, and we may never have observable evidence, yet we do have theorems that prove it to be true, and the science works because of the theorems.
Somewhat similarly, we cannot see the invisible world yet we have logically deductive reasoning to demonstrate the need for its existence. So, to dismiss logical evidence for “God” because we have no physical evidence is tantamount to dismissing the very methodological process we use for a lot of our scientific advancement.
Furthermore, as classical theists have argued, we must have a coherent ontology before we can develop a coherent theology. So, while this subject is a bit technical, it’s important for theists, if not just to understand that we do have a solid logical foundation for what we believe.
This very simplistic attempt to explain the classical theist argument from motion is based on deductive reasoning. And unlike other forms of reasoning, deductive reasoning contains a series of premises which reach a logically certain conclusion. If the premises are valid, the conclusion must necessarily be true.
In part one, we looked at Thomas Aquinas’s argument from motion. Here are the summary statements. You can read the explanation of each in part one.
It is evident to experience that some things are in motion (actualization of a potential).
Nothing can be reduced from potentiality to actuality except by something in a state of actuality; whatever is in motion must be put into motion by another (causation).
An essentially ordered series of movers (in the here and now) cannot regress infinitely.
Therefore, there must be an unmoved mover (First Cause/Prime Mover).
“Motion” in this argument does not refer to change in spatial location or change in time; it means change in potency to actualization in any member of a causal chain in the here and now.
Remember our guitar music analogy (part one). The music is made up of fluctuating sound waves, which are “actualized” by the vibrations of the strings of the guitar, which is actualized by the musician plucking the strings. If any part of this causal chain is inhibited, the music ceases to exist.
And if the thing that put something into motion is not itself in motion, we have arrived at the unmoved mover (First Cause, Prime Mover).
Because the Prime Mover is the most fundamental source it cannot have any unactualized potentials.
Because it must be purely actual, it must be immutable or unchangeable.
Because matter exists in space and time, the Pure Act must be eternal (outside of time) and not made of matter (outside of space).
One, not many: the singular, ultimate source of all motion (simplicity).
“Because God [Prime Mover] cannot be dependent on other things which would include things that would be ingredient to its nature if he were composite. It would create a principle of unity, which would be a higher ontological principle than the God, because whatever allows for the disparate unity between disparate things is itself a more encompassing reality” (from Hart video interview here).
We see constant states of change (from potential to actual) in nature which is an undeniable aspect of our everyday experience.
There must be a Prime Mover. This is a logical certainty. We cannot have a causal series that creates an infinite regress. This is because nothing can be reduced from “potentiality” (what something can be) to “actuality” (what something is in reality) except by something already in a state of actuality. Otherwise, we would create a situation where everything in the causal chain would cease to exist.
Next time we will look closer at the Argument from Being and Essence.
This entry was posted in Christian apologetics and tagged Argument for God, Christianity, classical theism, Religion and Spirituality, Thomistic philosophy. Bookmark the permalink.
No. Science works because it *is* true, everywhere and every time. A theorem simply describes this truth. It is secondary to the material truth.
As to the crux of the post: You seem quite determined to say philosophy proves the existence of a god.
If this were true then one would EXPECT the majority of philosophers to be theists, in one shape, form, or another.
The overwhelming majority of philosophers are atheists (72.8%).
Your claim of it being “irrefutable” is simply fallacious.
Indeed, the fact that nearly 73% of people who actually study this stuff as a matter of professional expertise REJECT IT demonstrates just how weak the logic is.
And you should read the context. You are talking about the world of empirical science where something can be observed and tested. But, if you noticed, I was talking about theoretical physics and cosmology, not science in general. These work in theories that are proven by mathematical theorems, not empirically proven evidence.
Not necessarily true at all. Scientists and navigators followed Ptolemy’s geocentric system for 1,300 years and they were all wrong. It depends on a lot of other things besides the strength of the argument. Most philosophers do not study religious philosophy or classical philosophy. A classical example of this ignorance is Bertrand Russell who totally missed the point of Thomistic philosophy. There’s also many other factors that have nothing to do with the strength of the argument that I don’t want to go into here.
But you can demonstrate the weakness of the argument itself if you wish, but saying a majority believes something is not a legitimate refutation. History has shown the majority to be wrong about most things.
These work in theories that are proven by mathematical theorems, not empirically proven evidence.
Again, not exactly true. All theoretical work is based on something first, such as the nature of black holes, which themselves were first predicted by general relativity (1915), which itself was only proven correct by Eddington in 1923. In this example, it was theorised that there would be the radiation leaking out of these gravity wells. This was proven true. It’s now called Hawking Radiation.
The word games you’re presenting here start with imagination and never leave it. They rest on presuppositions.
It depends on a lot of other things besides the strength of the argument.
Your post is stating the argument is so strong it’s irrefutable. And I repeat, if this were the case then the majority of people who actually study this stuff in a professional capacity would, quite naturally, be theists.
I said that it’s a logically deductive argument. If the premises are true, then the conclusion necessarily follows.
You can refute it instead of going on and on about what everybody else thinks.
*If* the premises are true.
Well, off you go, move those enormous presuppositions from the “Presupposition File” into the “Factually Demonstrable File”.
You can prove the premises wrong instead of making unsubstantiated dismissals.
You want me to prove YOUR presuppositions wrong?
The argument is the burden of proof. The only thing you can do is argue against the premises.
The argument is the burden of proof.
A word game that rests on Special Pleading and outlandish presuppositions is “proof”?
My apologies, but I must have missed the part where you proved the universe *is* artificial, and the part where you proved the universe *isn’t* aseitic.
14.6%. That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement of an arguments strength, is it?
So what. What was the percentage of scientists who believed in Ptolemaic Geocentricism for 1,300 years? Not exactly a ringing endorsement for proving something by majority opinion.
People have been playing with your presented word games for, as you have pointed out, for over 2,500 years.
No discovery has made them more logically reasonable. In fact, the movement has been in the opposite direction.
Word games? Whatever… Let me know when you have something relevant to say.
Let me know when you have something relevant to say.
Good grief. Deductive reasoning has led me to conclude that 73% of atheists are paranoid, bombastic, incapable of logic, and have an inflated sense of self. Just saying. Feel free to prove me wrong at any time.
I liked this. “Constant states of change” sounds a bit like an oxymoron. More Eastern philosophies and religions would call this “impermanence.” Something I am always amazed by, our very bodies are in a constant state of change, every cell being replaced continuously. About every 7 yrs or so,we are a completely new creature, in a literal sense. The moment blood flow stops in some part of the body, death follows, cells are unable to regenerate. We are in a constant state of change, set in perpetual motion, like a river, and the moment you take away that mysterious Prime Mover, decay begins.
LOL! I would never base anything I believe on what the majority believes!
And great comments, IB. Thanks for actually getting it. The premises of this argument are based on what we actually can observe everywhere we look. We’re just taking it to its logical conclusion.
If the logic is “irrefutable,” as Mel claims it is, then perhaps you can give me a rational explanation as to why 73% of people who look at this stuff as a matter of professional expertise fail to see the irrefutable logic of it?
Sheesh Zande, you sure put a lot of faith in “statistics” and people’s “alleged professional expertise.” I can’t think of two less reliable things to depend on when it comes to discerning the truth. There are “lies, damned lies, and statistics.” And second, professional expertise is often available for 3 easy payments of 19.95.
Also, the subject of this post is classical theology. It is based on the deductive reasoning of rational people who had professional expertise in this area. At least 73% of us agree with it. So you are violating your own rules with your disagreement and your argument is incoherent.
IB, incoherence and irrelevance has never stopped Zande before. And when you can’t argue with the logic, you quote statistics. And I would venture to guess that almost 100% of those 73% are also committed materialists. Their position is not based on the strength of the argument but on the strength of their prior commitment to a dogma. It’s also not politically correct in the academic world to be a theist or believe in anything that goes back 2,300 years.
Their position is not based on the strength of the argument but on the strength of their prior commitment to a dogma. It’s also not politically correct in the academic world to be a theist or believe in anything that goes back 2,300 years.
Yes Mel, I’m sure you’re right… It’s all one enormous “academic” conspiracy.
I’m glad, though, that you mentioned the 2,300/2,500 years. It’s important as it frames this position of yours rather well.
Imagine, if you will, a bright young chap proposing an intriguing hypothesis for something. It doesn’t really matter what. What’s important is that it was a hypothesis that, at least on paper, sounded quite compelling.
So, an Abstract was written, and following the Abstract some justifications for the probable truth of the Abstract were published… and with that, efforts to prove this hypothesis began in earnest.
Now imagine 2,500 years elapsing since the proposal was first suggested, and in those 2,500 years absolutely NOTHING was discovered to even remotely suggest the hypothesis was, in fact, true.
This is not to say the hypothesis had lain dormant. It hadn’t. Generation after generation of bright people embraced the hypothesis and dedicated their entire lives to proving it true.
However, despite every effort, after 2,500 years the only progress that could be shown was that from time to time someone had reviewed the Abstract and had changed the odd word or two here and there.
100 generations of ardent work, and the needle had not been moved a single millimetre.
Given this, why after 2,500 years of complete failure should anyone still suspect the hypothesis held merit?
Then I am sure you can easily disprove the logic of the argument.
It starts with a presupposition.
Or did I miss the part where you proved the universe *is* artificial, and the part where you proved the universe *isn’t* aseitic?
Presupposition? You mean like God doesn’t exist?
As per the usual, you are not addressing the points of the argument. Let me know when you have something relevant to say.
Ah, so you have nothing but an enormous presupposition and 2,500 years of utter failure in trying to demonstrate it as even vaguely plausible.
So, right back at you: Do please let me know when you have something relevant to say.
It’s a logical argument, John Z. 2 +2 was 4 2,300 years ago, it still is. You can always refute the argument if you want.
And utter failure? Right. So then, why is about 73% of the world population theists? And Pew Research said that number will go up by 2050. Shall we call that the atheist’s utter failure then? You see, I can make irrelevant and fallacious comebacks, too.
Yes, utter failure. Or can you demonstrate that the universe is artificial?
So, are you going to address the actual question put to you?
Unbelievable that you make this comparison, the invisible world in science uses more than deductive reasoning, it will only accept some measurable evidence that something exists. Scientists are not in the habit of claiming something exists without having some way of providing scientifically accepted reactions and processes as evidence from what is appears as an invisible entity.
First, I said it was “somewhat” similar. But there is a lot in advanced science that we have absolutely no empirical proof for. For instance, what is the multiverse hypothesis based on? Evidence? No, it’s based on math (and it’s not even based in deductive reasoning). We have no real idea if multiverses actually exist, but some cosmologists and theoretical physicists talk like they do exist.
Second, your comparison is invalid. I wasn’t comparing science to science. I was comparing theoretical science to philosophical argumentation. Science can only deal with material phenomenon, it cannot not even address ontology or metaphysics for methodological reasons. So, “accepting measurable evidence” or “providing scientifically accepted reactions and processes” is not a valid comparison. It’s a category mistake. If you are making logical deductions about a non-material reality, you won’t ever be testing for it in a science lab.
Third, logic is logic, and it’s a valid form of “evidence.” For instance, we know 2 + 2 = 4, even though it’s an abstraction by itself. But this same abstraction can help us develop theories and arguments that cannot be proven by natural science.
We have no real idea if multiverses actually exist, but some cosmologists and theoretical physicists talk like they do exist.
We have no real idea if a supernatural god/creator actually exists, but some theologians and philosophy talk like it does exist.
Well, unlike with multiverses, we can logically deduce that God does exist, even though we can’t see Him or prove Him with natural science.
Logically deduce??? C’mon Mel. There may be no actual evidence for multiverses … but neither is there actual evidence for a god. If you’re going to “logically deduce” one, then there’s no valid reason for a person not to do the same with the other.
No matter how many posts you write and how much “evidence” you throw out to support your belief in a god, there will always be those who dispute it.
Logically deduce??? C’mon Mel. There may be no actual evidence for multiverses … but neither is there actual evidence for a god.
That has nothing whatsoever to do with logical deduction. While we cannot see an immaterial “God,” we can see changes or things in motion in our everyday experience, as described in this post. It’s simply a matter of logical deduction to conclude that there must be a “prime mover.” You cannot say the same with the multiverse hypothesis. That was my point.
And “actual evidence?” You seem to be implying scientific or physical evidence. But logical evidence is just as valid, especially when we’re talking about something that natural science cannot prove either way.
Of course, I totally agree. People will believe what they want to believe in the end. Believing or not believing in God, ultimately, has little to do with logic or evidence. Evidence and logic can only provide a framework for making a faith-based decision either way. Whether a person believes, or decides not to believe, is a heart issue. Again, science will never prove it either way.
No. It’s not a matter of logical deduction. It’s a matter of faith. And no, I don’t have “faith” in science, so you can take that off the table. Although I admit that what science has presented about this world and the universe make more sense to me, this doesn’t mean it’s the end-all, be-all answer to life.
No. It’s not a matter of logical deduction. It’s a matter of faith.
Care to explain to me how this argument from motion is a matter of faith and not a logical deduction?
OK, so now you’re pushing philosophical perspectives. This is not a discussion I choose to undertake as I fully admit my knowledge in such is limited. My beef was strictly related to your use of words (this is my specialty. 😉) when you claim logical deduction to support your position but deny it in other cases.
I am claiming logical deduction here, Nan. Not with every position I take. Your beef is incoherent to me. Philosophy aside, either something is logical or it isn’t. You don’t need to be a mathematician in order to use math everyday of your normal life. It just seems silly to me to not have a reason for “being” (ontology). That’s why it’s important. Everything else we believe about our existence rests on its foundation.
either something is logical or it isn’t. … which means it’s either based on known statements, events or conditions … or it’s not.
Let’s let it go at that, OK? 🙂 Have a good weekend.
Sure, we can let it go. I have no problem with that. But you haven’t told me how this argument is faith-based and not logically deductive. The premises are based on everyday conditions we know to be true in our common experience.
Mel, I feel I made myself clear related to faith and logic. It you are unable to see the connection, there is obviously no point in continuing. Which is why I “signed off.” in my last comment. I’m not one to hash and rehash just to try and prove a point. We simply see things through different lenses.
No, you haven’t made yourself clear at all. You have not told me how this argument is faith-based. But you are free to believe whatever you want. We’ll let it go. Talk to you later.
No wonder she wants to “let it go”. She’s got no clue how logic works.
Exactly, which is probably why she thinks she made herself clear. But Nan’s not alone in this. It seems to be the normal M.O. of atheists who come here. Like in this instance, they don’t actually refute the argument at hand but engage in red herring fallacies, referring instead to some other point made in a different post that they feel more confident in addressing. Then they conflate the two…and voila! So, then they make incoherent statements thinking they are making a logical refutation. I see this a lot.
The statement “let it go” is equivalent to “agree to disagree”. It’s what people say when they’ve got nothing of substance to offer. You can’t “disagree” with someone who hasn’t made an argument. Atheists want to “let it go” as if they’ve made some profound, irrefutable thesis that we’re just too stupid to understand. Nan’s description of “logical” is profoundly ignorant. What’s worse is that she’ll assume my assessment of her comments is a personal attack on her which justifies dismissing me as hateful.
Mel, if you have something to say about my participation on your blog, I would prefer that you do it directly rather than discuss it in your comments with others.
I do not care — nor am I qualified — to discuss “theological” matters with you. My point was strictly confined to your use of the term “logically deduce.” I thought I made that clear.
Further, I am not an “atheist” and would request not to be referenced as same. My personal viewpoint on life is just that … my personal viewpoint.
I was answering John B.s comments and making an observation in general that seems to be common with this thread. But, again, you have neither refuted any point of the argument nor have you explained how this argument is not logically deductive. As you said, that was your assertion. So, if you’re going to make these kinds of statements you need to be able to defend them. Otherwise, don’t make them. So, again, your point was not clear.
From time to time I check up on our atheist (or whatever they are) friends on their various blogs.
You will not be surprised to learn that you are their favorite topic of conversation.
You might have also noticed that the frequency of their comments has diminished of late. From what I surmise, I may be negatively impacting their participation in the comment section here. They’ve banished me from their blogs and it annoys them that I continue to speak freely here. You are much more polite than I am. My unpleasant demeanor rankles the ATHEISTS (or whatever they are). I do not mean to be contentious and I apologize if anything I’ve said is “out of bounds” from your perspective.
I’m glad I can give their blogs meaning and purpose.
My unpleasant demeanor rankles the ATHEISTS (or whatever they are).
Well, some who have come here have not only been unpleasant but combative, obstinate, making their snide comments, and it doesn’t rankle me at all. As I told them when they complain, I can see why some believers that have a history with them are curt with them. I try to stay civil and argue the points, but some of these “atheists”(identity unknown) have called me a liar, dishonest, disingenuous, etc. They have no problem with their personal attacks but think I’m attacking them when I point out their incoherent position.
Nan, if you have something to say about my participation on Mel’s blog, I would prefer that you do it directly rather than discuss it in your comments with others.
Further, if you are not an “atheist” and would request not to be referenced as same. Please indicate your preferred title and I’ll reference you as same.
Finally, it’s dumb to throw your opinions into the comment section and then say, “My personal viewpoint on life is just that … my personal viewpoint.” You made your personal viewpoint public when you commented.
Prediction: This question will go unanswered.
Atheism and humanism hates logic because it only shows how untenable naturalism is as a worldview.
Kind of fascinating to me, long before science understood germ theory, Jewish laws around cleanliness inadvertently embraced what has taken science so long to understand. We didn’t have microscopes to see the invisible world or the dangers of mishandling blood or anyway of understanding why something was considered unclean. For centuries many had to operate on faith alone and it actually made Jewish doctors more popular on account of the fact that they killed far less patients.
I was just pondering the idea of refusing to wash my hands because I’ve yet to see any scientific evidence of these so called invisible germs y’all are talking about. Tragically that is exactly what people did for centuries and disease spread rapidly. Ironically, Jesus being born in a stable may well have been the safest way to ensure His survival as an infant. I don’t know what the statistics were, but we’ll just say about 73% of the professionals and their medical expertise turned out to be plain wrong.
On the other hand, I guess as you are there dying of dysentery, you can always celebrate the fact that you stayed true to your own understanding and didn’t get any of that weird religious stuff on you.
And, as I already pointed out, 100% of scientists were absolutely wrong who embraced Ptolemaic Geocentricism for over 1,300 years. Of course, someone committed to the presupposition of materialism will do anything to avoid dealing with the strength of the argument itself. They will just quote statistics!
So did anyone besides CliffsOfInsanity engage with the actual content of the post?
Welcome to the party! Did they engage with the content? Not really. Some complained that I said it was logically deductive, and my use of logic in general, but never actually refuted that either.
agree. But there’s the rub. You have to actually be able to refute the argument. So, yes, you’re probably asking too much.
Been done a thousand times across numerous posts. Saying otherwise is, at best, being disingenuous.
First, it commits the fallacy of composition. What’s true for a member of a group is not necessarily true for the group as a whole. This takes on particular relevance as you are making a statement about the behaviour/capacity of a set (our universe) of which we presently only understand 4.6%… which is to say, the baryonic stuff ONLY.
Second, the special pleading associated to the (allegedly) unbreakable rules of causality (which you break immediately) evaporate at Inflation.
Third, time is relative, not absolute, and causes and effects can happen simultaneously. Quantum entanglement proves this without violating the second law of thermodynamics.
Fourth, the entire argument rests on an ENORMOUS PRESUPPOSITION that the universe is contingent; that it is artificial. Prove it.
Fifth, and most pertinently, you have in the first instant annihilated the central premise of the argument by agreeing that there was never nothing; there was always something; there was, therefore, always motion. If there was never nothing, always something, always motion then it is NOT a question of why is there something rather than nothing for that is thoroughly meaningless, but rather what is aseitic: an unseen supernatural creator (who deliberately created an artificial world for reasons unknown), or the universe itself?
As we have evidence the universe exists, and absolutely no evidence of magic anywhere, at any time, it is only logical to assume the universe is a brute fact.
To spontaneously propose magic, when no evidence of magic exists anywhere, at any time, is a massive violation of Occam’s razor, and overkill as a fundamental basis of reality. It is, therefore, not only illogical, but comprehensibly irrational.
And you’ve refuted the Argument from Motion how?
What premises have you proven false? Try to explain yourself without blathering on with all kinds of irrelevant and unrelated things you think are important (called a red herring fallacy, btw). You have never actually addressed the argument in the post.
I asked the Windbag to link me to some contemporary philosophers who agree with him that the universe is a brute fact. Do you want to hazard a guess about how that worked out?
Why am I not surprised that you simply pretend it hasn’t been refuted?
Okay, enlighten me. How did you refute it?
If there was never nothing then there was always something. The universe is a brute fact. You cannot have “nothing.” It is an imaginary state. It has never existed. “Nothing” is unstable (therefore already in motion), which makes the null situation a failed premise.
Try understanding the argument for once. If you ever bothered to understand you would know that an eternal universe has nothing to do with it. The universe is still something obviously in changing states (in motion) so it logically cannot be the prime mover.
Mel, this argument is just another word salad of the first cause argument. Motion simply replaces Cause.
No motion is not the default.
If you can’t understand that then that’s your problem, not mine.
No rebuttal for dogmatically asserted faith statements. Keep it up!
If it helps, trying reading these words extra slowly: There was never no motion because there was never nothing.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but this is actually what you believe, right?
Don’t get distracted by trying to be rational, JZ. Just stick to faith statements. Your faith doesn’t need to be justified. Logic and reason are no match for bias and presupposition.
Carry on! I’m rooting for you!
No, John Z, sorry, it’s your problem.
Ontological motion is a logical deduction based on actual evidence from nature in the here and now (not time related or based on beginnings or no beginnings). Dismissing it as a word salad just shows your ignorance of the argument. Whatever is in motion (going from potential to actual) must either have a cause or itself be fully actualized. This is a logical certainty. As Hart said, it has to be something entirely unconditioned, that is not composite, not dissoluble into parts upon which it’s dependent, not a being among beings and therefore dependent upon some larger sphere of actuality, not temporal…as soon as you begin removing the attributes that make for contingency, you’re left with the question of the absolute that doesn’t make room anymore for things like matter.
Laws and quantum events cannot be the prime mover either. They exist within realities that are themselves by the same logical calculus, contingent. Quantum events (or inflation, gravity, etc.) don’t happen in nothingness in the ontological sense. It just means you’re dealing with a prior physical state that is as of yet unarticulated (not actualized). But that physical state is not a logical necessary reality…it’s not a reality that can be considered an absolute.
So, no, it’s entirely your problem. You have embraced an incoherent ontology.
There was never no motion because there was never nothing.
If you wish to refute this, then please demonstrate that there was once nothing.
Shifting the burden of proof to Mel is an excellent strategy!
You are conducting a clinic on fundamentalist debate tactics!
Yes, Zande is quite the dogmatic religious (scientism) fundamentalist. This is his favorite M.O. Don’t actually answer the question and then pose your own question and then claim victory.
Seriously, I’m wondering if he’ll ever actually understand the argument. I won’t hold my breath.
And that is a total faith-based statement based on ZERO evidence, besides being totally irrelevant to the argument. You are making time-based argument, not an ontological one, which is itself contingent. It doesn’t matter how things began or didn’t begin. You have to refute the argument from motion in the here and now. So prove to me that the cosmos itself is nonmaterial, not composite and fully actualized in every way possible (not in motion).
Evidence is the universe itself.
Tell me again what evidence you have for the Middle Eastern god of the Pentateuch, Yhwh?
Yes, and we can prove that the universe is composite, material, and in a constant state of motion. Try again.
And, btw, I will ignore your red herrings.
Exactly. There was never no motion.
Yes! Assign your original thesis to Mel as if he actually said it!
Drop the mic, JZ! You win!
Congratulations. You’ve just made the cosmos cease to exist! If there was never no motion, then we’re talking about an infinite regress. You cannot have an infinite regress of motion because everything is essentially ordered (causally dependent on a more fundamental source). To say that such a series regresses infinitely is to say that things in motion ultimately don’t derive their motive power from anything (because everything else is itself in motion). And if it doesn’t derive its power from anything then the whole causal chain collapses and everything ceases to exist.
Even if the series could regress infinitely (which is logically impossible), something outside the series would still have to supply motive power. So, no, you have not refuted the argument, you only described a condition where nothing could continue to exist.
There is no infinite regress in the universe as a brute fact. Don’t try and smuggle in false arguments.
There was never no motion because there was never nothing. The argument is categorically meaningless.
Of course, you could always refute this by demonstrating 1) that there was once nothing, and 2) that this world is artificial.
And you can prove this how? Again, prove this “brute fact,” John Z. All you give me are faith statements. IF things are in motion, then you must find a more fundamental cause, otherwise, you end up with infinite regress. So, show me how the universe itself is not in motion. I don’t accept your faith statements.
IF things are in motion, then you must find a more fundamental cause.
OK then, so what is the fundamental cause of the Middle Eastern god of the Pentateuch, Yhwh?
Here we go…red herrings. Sorry, John Z. Stick with the subject at hand.
You said, IF things are in motion, then you must find a more fundamental cause.
If it’s absolutely required, then please answer the question: What is the fundamental cause of the Middle Eastern god of the Pentateuch, Yhwh?
Tell him the Pentateuch was fiction!
Since Taboo isn’t here right now, I’ll say it for him: Bravo, sir!
Now, you’re stooping to the confusion of Dawkins and his ilk. The question of who moved the “unmoved mover” is a rather fatuous question to ask since it’s asking, what moved that thing which cannot be moved.
Oh, so it’s not actually required (as you asserted) because there was always something, never nothing.
Now tell him the Pentateuch is fiction!
Also, tell him about protozoa.
Then, just to make sure, tell him you help Ph.D. students write papers.
Of course, there must be a “prime mover.” But you cannot prove that the universe is that prime mover and essentially necessary (this has nothing to do with time or if the universe had a beginning or not).
What I said is that you cannot prove that the universe is not in motion. For it to be a prime mover, logically, it must be fully “pure act” or fully actualized in every way (immutable), it must be simple (no composite parts), eternal (transcends time), incorporeal and immaterial (existing outside of matter, space since they are contingent), for the reasons explained in the post itself. If you can prove that the universe meets all these logical conditions, you have an argument for your “god” (prime mover).
This is a patently absurd statement as NO prime mover is required. None. Your argument is categorically meaningless. Please stop repeating it.
There. Was. Never. No. Motion.
Then we’re forced back to infinite regress and, therefore, nonexistence. And around the merry-go-round of incoherency we go. Sorry, no cigar. You are just making faith statements.
Oh, so you believe there must be a fundamental cause for EVERYTHING?
OK, perhaps then you’ll address this question now: What is the fundamental cause of the Middle Eastern god of the Pentateuch, Yhwh?
No, I said there must be cause for everything that is in motion. And you cannot go into infinite regress or the whole causal chain would cease to exist (in the here and now). Again, the question of who moved the “prime mover” is a rather fatuous question to ask since it’s asking, what moved that thing which cannot be moved.
Again, a categorically meaningless comment.
There. Is. No. Prime. Mover. As. There. Was. Never. No. Motion.
And your statement is a meaningless comment with absolutely no logic or proof.
Are you saying a causeless thing is illogical?
No, I’m saying that when you say there is “No. Prime. Mover. As. There. Was. Never. No. Motion.” You’re making a nonsensical and incoherent statement that is meaningless. You are actually arguing for nonexistence. Of course, if you can prove that your “god” (the universe) is fully actualized, not composed of parts, immutable, immaterial, and existing outside of space and time, you may have a coherent argument. Otherwise, you’re just wasting my time.
So a causeless thing *is* logical.
Yes, if you can logically show that it is what’s been called a “prime mover.” But to just state that the universe is that prime mover is meaningless.
Of course it’s meaningless… That’s also what I’ve been saying. There was no prime mover. There was never nothing. There was never *no motion*.
No, John Z. You don’t get it at all. To say there is no “prime mover” in the here and now, as defined, is incoherent nonsense. You are just arguing for an infinite regress which logically means we cease to exist.
To say there is no “prime mover” in the here and now, as defined, is incoherent nonsense.
Ah, so what then is the fundamental cause of the Middle Eastern god of the Pentateuch, Yhwh?
Yes, of course. You cannot have infinite regress and have the cosmos continue to exist. The “prime mover” is what we theists would call “God.” As I said in the post, this is not an argument for a particular God, only for the existence of what we would call God (prime mover). To say what caused the “prime mover” is a fatuous question, only showing that you don’t understand the argument. You are asking what moved that which cannot be moved.
I’m not going to keep going round this merry-go-round with you. You obviously don’t wish to understand the argument.
You cannot have infinite regress and have the cosmos continue to exist.
Lucky for us then that there is no infinite regress in the universe as a brute fact.
Okay, believe whatever faith-based statement you want. You’re getting boringly obstinate now.
No faith required in knowing the universe exists.
No faith is required to know the universe exists, but that’s never been the point. Which is why your point is irrelevant.
It takes BLIND FAITH to believe that the universe continues to be the prime mover which holds all existence together. And THAT is a faith statement.
Of course, if I were to take your faith statement as is, then you would be admitting that the universe is immaterial, immutable, not composite, and not in space and time. Then, of course, we descend into the ontological incoherency of atheism.
And you can’t prove it’s the fundamental force by which all things continue to exist.
I don’t have to. It is only logical to assume the universe is a brute fact.
You, on the other hand, haven’t even gotten up to the starting line without first demonstrating that this universe is artificial.
There was no prime mover. There was never nothing. There was never *no motion*.
Whenever you say, “There never was” in your statement it only shows that you don’t understand the argument because you’re not even talking about the same thing. What you are arguing for, technically speaking, something “accidentally ordered” (chronological, in the past), which is not the same thing as the argument from motion, which is an essentially ordered (fundamental, in the here and now) argument. This is why your statements are meaningless and irrelevant (besides being incoherent).
No, I’m not arguing for anything being “accidentally ordered.” Please don’t invent arguments and assign them to me.
I’m saying the universe is a brute fact. Any allusion to a prime mover is categorically meaningless.
Yes, you are. By appealing to time in the past you are, by definition, making an accidently ordered argument. This is not the argument for motion which is essentially ordered.
I’m saying the universe is a brute fact.
Yes, but that says nothing whatsoever to explain its continuing existence. Furthermore, you cannot prove that it’s the most fundamental cause of our continuing existence. That is, unless you wish to concede that it’s immaterial, immutable, not made of composite parts, and not in time and space. Otherwise, it needs a more fundamental cause in order to continue to exist.
See, I can be childish, too, but I will just leave you to your incoherent faith.
There was never no motion because there was never nothing. Your argument is categorically meaningless in the face of the universe as a brute fact.
Again, you are making an “accidentally ordered” argument (“never was” statement). Totally irrelevant. You obviously don’t get it (or want to get it). See you later.
Mirror, meet Melvin Wild. Melvin Wild, this is Mirror.
I’ve given you logical argumentation. You have just given me your “just so” statements that are irrelevant to the argument. So, no, it’s not a mirror.
Again, let me know when you have something relevant to say.
And you be sure to let me know when you’re starting with something that’s not an outlandish presupposition.
Presupposition? You mean like what you are insisting on? That the universe is the fundamental source of our continuing existence, fully actualized, immaterial, not composite, and outside of time and space? Haha…whatever. Have fun with your incoherence.
The universe (of which we only really understand 4.6% of) existing is a presupposition?
Totally irrelevant, again, (sigh) Good-bye.
The fact of the universe existing is irrelevant?
Yes, John, you’re just being obtuse now. It’s never been about whether the universe exists or not and you know it. So, yes, irrelevant to the argument.
The only question that’s relevant is whether or not the universe that currently exists is ontologically in motion (which it obviously is), so it cannot be the Prime Mover, unless you’re willing to concede that it’s fully actualized, not composite, immaterial, and outside of time and space. Otherwise, go away. You’re just wasting my time.
You see, this is how you waste people’s time with your fallacious rabbit trails.
Actually Mel, it is about the universe existing, and as it is a brute fact then there was never no motion.
Stop trying to force a magical pantomime on reality.
No, it’s logically coherent. You cannot have “nothing.” “Nothing” is an imaginary state. It has never existed. “Nothing” is unstable (therefore already in motion), which makes the null situation a failed premise.
It’s really quite simple, and eloquent.
Again, the only coherent thing you can argue for is a prime mover. But if the universe is that prime mover, you’re saying it’s fully actualized, not made of composite parts, immaterial, and outside of time and space. THAT is neither eloquent nor elegant, it’s totally nonsensical.
Otherwise, if it’s already in motion, as you say by faith, then it cannot be the prime mover because it is not fully actualized (which means, NOT in motion), but simply a distal member of the causal chain. That’s the brute facts. Deal with it.
How many times do you want me to repeat this? Your prime mover is categorically meaningless in a non-contingent universe. You cannot have “nothing.” “Nothing” is an imaginary state. It has never existed. “Nothing” is unstable (therefore already in motion), which makes the null situation a failed premise.
Your ENTIRE argument rests on the null hypothesis.
How many times do you want me to repeat this? Your prime mover is categorically meaningless in a non-contingent universe.
LOL! No wonder you’re an atheist. Again, this is your ignorance showing. Your statement is totally incoherent! If you have no fundamental cause you have no universe at all. It ceases to exist, John Z. Got it? And besides, your entire argument rests on BLIND FAITH. You cannot prove anything you said and cannot even explain your own continuing existence.
Oh, I will move on. I don’t like to go on and on with complete imbecility. But thanks for showing everyone how incoherent your argument is.
The non-contingent universe does not need a cause. It is aseitic. This is true as there cannot be nothing.
BTW, how are you going proving this universe is artificial?
Prove that the universe is not in ontological motion, not composite, immaterial, and outside of time and space. Otherwise, it’s contingent.
The universe exists. I have no reason to believe it is artificial.
If you wish to claim it is artificial then you better get busy trying to demonstrate that.
The argument was never about “nothing from nothing,” so that’s a bogus response.
There was never nothing, so you’re right. It was never about that, and neither was I ever arguining that.
No, you are wrong. You keep repeating an argument no one is making. No one is saying there was nothing from nothing. That is NOT the argument. There always IS a prime mover, otherwise, there is nothing existing at all, now or at any other time. The fact that you don’t get this is fascinating.
No one is saying there was nothing from nothing.
Exactly. There was never nothing. The universe is a brute fact.
And so you’re saying the universe is fully actualized (not in motion), not made of parts, immaterial, and outside of time and space? Right…Good bye.
The universe is what it is.
You didn’t say there is “a cause for EVERYTHING”.
Don’t let Zande get away with that bogus assertion.
Exactly. He must be reading Dawkins and his ilk. These people never understood the argument.
I’ve never been a fan of the “unmoved mover” label because it seems paradoxical (I guess because it is).
I understand. It is a paradoxical term. As you probably know, it’s just a way of explaining that there must be a most fundamental cause that cannot be reduced further to some outside motive force. So, to say there is no fundamental cause would be like saying there is no fundamental source for existence itself. Without this fundamental source the whole causal chain must collapse into nonexistence. This is a logical certainty, regardless of what we may think about it.
Reassert the premise even after it’s been demonstrated logically incoherent.
Classic! I’m taking notes, JZ.
Do you think this would be a good time to talk about the 13 billion-year-old protozoa or would it be better to insist that Exodus didn’t happen?
Prediction: You will now have to “prove” your statement.
I’m gonna side with JZ on this one, Mel.
You’re still trying to use logic and reason. These are no match for fundamentalist dogmas.
Indeed. I especially like when the line of thoughtful argument collapses into a revert to atheistic dogma as @JohnBranyon points out. Popcorn?
Trying to make certain I understand this.
I am trying to understand this statement. As near as I can figure out, the reason an infinitely long causal chain cannot work is because at every point in the chain there is a probability greater than zero of breaking the chain. If the chain breaks at any one point, then it ceases to exist. In an infinite chain, the probably that the chain breaks is 100 percent.
I am trying to understand this statement. As near as I can figure out, the reason an infinitely long causal chain cannot work is because at every point in the chain there is a probability greater than zero of breaking the chain. If the chain breaks at any one point, then it ceases to exist.
Tom, you’re right. If any part of the chain breaks you have no chain. The easiest way to look at it is if every member in the chain were to be dependent on a more fundamental cause, you end up with an infinite regress, which would be non-existence. There must be at the base of the chain a member who does not receive its motive power from anything but itself. Otherwise, every part of the chain collapses. The analogy of the guitar player in part two illustrates what I mean.
And this fails because it commits the fallacy of composition. What’s true for a member of a group is not necessarily true for the group as a whole. For example: No atoms are alive, therefore nothing made of atoms is alive.
It also fails because time is not absolute, and it has no direction.
And your comment fails relevancy, as per the usual. This argument has absolutely nothing to do with time or whether something is alive or not. You keep arguing for things “ordered accidently” (having to do with chronology or sequence in time), whereas this is ordered essentially (being, fundamental causation).
If there are atoms, we must ask what gives the atom its motive force, not whether it’s alive or not.
To repeat, your position fails because it commits the fallacy of composition. It fails also because time is not absolute, which your causal argument relies on. Quantum entanglement also ruins the ‘chain’ argument.
To repeat, your assertion is absolutely irrelevant. This argument has nothing whatsoever to do with time. Why don’t you try understanding the argument before making such ignorant comments.
It does, actually, rely on time, Mel… and any reason why you’re not addressing the fallacy of composition which your argument commits?
Tell me how it relies on time then. Why don’t you explain the argument to me since you think it’s fallacious.
The arrow of time: event A predates event B. Quantum entanglement proves this wrong.
Naïve 13th Century thinking belongs in the 13th Century, not the 21st.
And why are you ignoring the fallacy of composition your argument commits?
Irrelevant. You are making an accidently ordered argument (time related). Try again. You still haven’t demonstrated to me that you understand the argument at all.
Priceless. Heads up, Mel, it is YOU, you dolt, who’re making the time-ordered argument. I’m telling you it’s fallacious.
Okay, explain to me how this argument is time-related.
So, let me get this straight: you’re *not* actually arguing that a causal chain is regulated by what goes first?
No. Not at all. It has nothing to do with sequential order in time. It has to do with what is more essential to its motive power. This argument works outside of time as well as in it.
Yes, face palm yourself, John Z. Because you don’t get the obvious point of this argument. You are the one who’s looking quite foolish here.
Let’s remove time from the picture. Let’s say we have a quark in some dimension outside of time and space. We still must ask, what is the motive power behind this quark? Because it is obviously not fully actualized, it cannot move itself from potential to actuality without a motive force.
So, while the argument works in time, it has absolutely nothing to with something sequentially ordered in time.
Okay, now you’re wasting my time. I tried to explain it to you respectfully, but I see you are just being an obstinate fool. So, believe whatever idiotic thing you want, just don’t think for a minute (in time) that you understand the argument. | 2019-04-22T10:37:53Z | https://melwild.wordpress.com/2018/04/12/the-classical-arguments-for-god-part-two/ |
By the time the Venn reached the homeland the next year, Rajnir’s physical recovery matched his resumption of authority.
He kept the promises he had made to Valda and to Halvir Durasnir. The promise to Valda was first: he declared the end of birth-thralldom. This stunning change in Venn culture was not altogether welcome, including by some thralls, who found themselves thrust into a situation they were ill equipped to handle: earning a living. Most of that generation remained as servants, and some even wore their iron torcs as badges of loyalty, which created another strange eddy in the flow of Venn history.
Rajnir regained friends, and made new ones. He had lovers, though he refused to marry: he appointed Brun Durasnir to oversee the queen’s former duties.
Though he deeply valued, and was valued by, his small circle, he was never a popular king. His reign became synonymous with Rainorec, Venn Doom, shadowed by memories of defeat, humiliation, and summary change. He knew it, and resented the weight of authority, which he felt as an invisible torc nearly as insufferable as the magical control Erkric had once exerted over him. So when Halvir Durasnir reached the age of thirty–the old year of kingship–Rajnir abdicated on his behalf.
The uproar this created was mostly at the top, as Halvir had been given increasing responsibility from the time he turned twenty. He was bright, handsome, respected, so the uproar was mostly a gesture on the part of the other Houses who had hoped eventually to gain ascendance. They resented this promotion of Durasnir House over all, so Halvir adopted the name of his beloved wife–Tadara Sofar–and thus created the dynasty that remained in place for 800 years. In pledging marriage, he gave to Tamara one of the Durasnir family’s most precious ornaments, the Durasnir Dragoneye, a stone from the mysterious selenseh redian, now named the Sofar Dragoneye.
Tadara was Signi’s daughter, born in Sartor during the time the Mage Council held sessions determining whether or not to accept the gift offered. Mistress Resvaes of the Sartoran Magic Council, perhaps regretting an over-swift decision she had made years before, became Signi’s champion. Signi remained in Sartor for a couple of years, teaching the navigation, and establishing magical connections with the Venn nodes of measure.
Then Signi traveled home at last. She had a very few years left with her mother, healing the long breach; her father had died in Goerael. Signi had nothing but the clothes that she stood in and a pack of books, so she had warned her small daughter not to expect much. She was considerably surprised, and somewhat dismayed, to be accepted as a Seer. At first she tried to explain that she had only had one vision, and memory had reduced it to an untrustworthy memory. She may as well have spoken into the wind. Her mother left nothing–hel dancers’ property belonged to the group in those days. Signi was welcomed to live with the Durasnirs, where Tadara grew up. Tadara was not much to look at. She was short and square and brown, contrasting with her tall, blond friends and relations, but she and Halvir were fast friends by the end of their first meeting, the stronger because both felt like outsiders. As they got older their friendship deepened to a lifelong bond.
The prospect of Tadara as a new kind of queen resigned the Houses to the elevation of a Durasnir to king. The two reigned well, but peace did not outlast them. Erkric’s magic had indeed been hoarded by a secret cabal. When Valda’s vigilant dags at last died off, the cabal made a try for control of the kingdom; after Halvir’s death, they tried again, teaming with some of the old houses who wanted to expand in order to recover old glory. The result was the Venn were defeated by an alliance of neighboring lands, and the first item on the treaty was that they had to give up all magic, except the domestic spells, which would be overseen by the Mage Council.
As a sign of agreement and surrender, the king gave to the alliance the most precious of recent Venn treasures, the Sofar Dragoneye. The alliance carried it away, and with it, Venn greatness, or so the Venn felt. The mages saw the end of their dominance, and turned inward, eventually utterly reorganizing their methods of teaching. They became what later were called the Eyes of the Crown.
Meanwhile, the Venn largely vanished from the history of the rest of the world, except as a vague and dire legend. They continued to be unvague and very dire in the north for centuries to come, eventually causing the northern kingdoms to form a defensive federation at Bereth Ferian, but that, as they say, is another story.
The Fox Banner Fleet metamorphosed into a Marlovan navy. As newcomers were recruited, Marlovans and Iascans, the old guard slipped eastward, most to Freedom. Though Toaran in origin, the Swifts remained at the core of the navy. Eflis and Sparrow, who had gradually taken over the education of the new ship rats, finally retired and established a mariners’ school at the then-small harbor at Ellir. It grew, eventually training Khanerenth’s military in both land and maritime skills–with an emphasis on the latter.
Jeje sa Jeje was the first to sail away from the Fox Banner Fleet, once the navy took on a distinctly Marlovan air. Nugget sailed with her, and for a time they hired out to convoys and protected them. When they heard about pirate attacks, Jeje sailed to fight them, commanding from the Vixen pretty much as Inda had done. She never lost a battle, and became Harbormaster on the retirement of Dhalshev. She stayed in that position her entire life. She insisted to the end that what she did was not politics, though she wore her beautiful crimson robe for what she called ‘negotiations’ until it had faded and aged, but by then it had gained such authority that subsequent Harbormasters always wore crimson robes when issuing orders.
Jeje Pirate-Fighter was justly famed during her long life; her renown spread after a Colendi court poet met her (and how a court poet got anywhere near Jeje, who hated kings and despised nobles, is a story in itself). After an interview with Jeje (during which the poet heard Jeje’s opinions of courts and kings) the poet staged a play about Jeje, using her to pillory the falsity of courtly life as she presented an entirely fictitious episode in which Jeje gets the best of counts and countesses, dukes and duchesses, and finally royalty. That play was a resounding success. Jeje became a staple figure in plays for several centuries–always wearing crimson, though by then no one knew why. She would have found it most amusing that at least one of the events of her colorful life was entirely made up.
After he and Jeje first returned to Freedom, Tau could never stay in one place long, so he ended up traveling all through the Sartoran continent, from courts to harbors until he was co-opted more and more frequently as a negotiator between the various governments and interests along the strait, and in the east. His reputation as Elgar’s ‘angel’ was occasionally bolstered by wily old Chim and his “If ye cannot settle, we’ll call the Marlovans in. Ye know Taumad’s friends with their king.”; This combination established a peace that–to everyone’s surprise–stretched from years to decades; by the time Tau found out about Chim’s stratagem, the old fleet commander had died at last, and Tau never denied the allegation.
Tau and Jeje had a son. During the long waits for Tau to return, Jeje and Dasta in middle-age surprised one another with a hankering for marriage. This marriage complemented Jeje’s relationship with Tau; Jeje and Dasta had a son. With Dasta as the stationary parent, the boys grew up as brothers.
Both Jeje’s sons stayed with the sea, Dasta’s in ship building, and Tau’s became a famous pirate fighter. So famed in fact that many of Inda’s exploits were later attributed to him, including the freeing of the strait. This son married a woman from the west of Bren, which contributed to the legend of ‘Elgar’ having been born in Bren. Some of the descendants of this marriage crossed over into Ymar.
Mutt and Nugget did not pair up. He had a hankering for security and even respectability, unrecognized until he had become the first admiral of the Marlovan navy after Barend retired to become harbormaster at the Nob. After ten good years he retired to Lindeth with an Olaran wife and a sea-bent progeny, becoming harbormaster for the remainder of his life. Nugget resented the discipline that Mutt loved, and she was incapable of a single sustained relationship. She was one of the first to find her way back to Freedom. Though she occasionally visited her brother Woof–who became a diplomat, married, and had children—she sailed as an independent until she decided she was too old to swing upside down from the upper masts. She took to conducting tours of the old pirate haunts for wealthy east coasters with a limited taste for adventure. She was such a popular hostess, with all her great stories, that her tour ship multiplied into a flotilla, thus beginning the tour business in the south.
The year after Inda and Tdor went home to Choraed Elgaer, Princess Tdor-Kialen Montrei-Vayir was born to Hadand and Evred. Hadand kept her in the royal city so that Starand would not raise her; unfortunately, Fabern Idayago-Vayir, Starand’s daughter, was far more obnoxious than her mother. Tdor-Kialen had to grow up with Fabern, but life could have been far worse. Liet Toraca, Nightingale’s daughter, was chosen to marry Evred and Hadand’s second son. Liet was a peace-maker, beloved by both of the princes, by Tdor-Kialen, and by Evred and Hadand.
Cama’s children both inherited his good looks, but his son had more of his personality, so Tdor-Kialen was content to go north, where they had a good marriage. She allied strongly with her half-sister, Cama and Ndand-Arveas’s daughter, who became Randviar after her mother. Because of the network of guild women and Marlovan defenders established by those two women, peace lasted in the north far longer than anyone would have expected.
Starand’s daughter Fabern had inherited her father’s stunning black-eyed beauty, and her mother’s personality, which beauty and rank only worsened. There was no possibility she would ever get enough attention, and eventually she became the most gossiped-about gunvaer in generations.
Tdor-Kialen’s having been kept home broke tradition, and while everyone acknowledged Hadand-Gunvaer Deheldegarthe’s right to raise her daughter, more and more jarl families found excuses to keep their daughters at home. As the Ola-Vayirs gradually gained ascendance in the northwest especially, the breakdown of the betrothal system began. The girls did not always become loyal to the new families, but more often stayed loyal to their own, and generations later there were some spectacular kidnappings, runaways, and escapes to add to family legends, especially during the years the Ola-Vayirs were on the throne and Jarls ruled their jarlates like petty kings.
Choraed Elgaer flourished under the watchful care of its new Adaluin and Iofre. Inda-Adaluin continued to ride the border, sometimes swapping off with Whipstick if spring was late and his wounds troubled him. Not that Inda ever said anything, he’d just find Whipstick and the Riders gone, and he’d wonder how they knew. Whipstick and Noren had a daughter the year after their son Tanrid was born. Hadand-Gunvaer placed the girl with the senior Basna family, and Tanrid went to the academy to train as a dragoon commander.
The year 3963, the Year of the Great Frost, brought the most changes. It began when Fareas-Iofre died quietly in her sleep during a deep winter freeze. Inda began his rounds during what he thought was the beginning of a very late spring, but was caught by a terrible blizzard. He never did well in extremely cold weather; his joints would pain him into immobility, especially his right arm. A well-meaning young Runner gave him a hero’s dose of kinthus, as no one knew about his near overdose in Ymar. Inda sank into vision, surrounded by his Riders, and slipped out of life, leaving Castle Tenthen distraught.
Another death that year was Buck Marlo-Vayir. By then, he and Fnor and Vedrid, Captain of the King’s Riders, had settled into a comfortable relationship where Fnor and Vedrid were together whenever the King’s Rider was sent through on Herskalt duties.
Hadand was so upset by the news abut Inda that she took horse to go home to Tenthen, with the idea that she and Tdor could comfort one another. She had grown stout, as her grandmother had been, and though she was still strong and active in her ceaseless rounds, she was not the rider she’d been as a girl. The animal slipped on black ice–the frost had lingered for weeks–Hadand fell and broke her neck.
Tdor saw her son Jarend and his wife Rialden take over as Adaluin and Iofre. While recovering from the double tragedy of Inda’s and Hadand’s deaths, she considered her future. She could be senior woman–her relations with the younger generation were as good as Fareas-Iofre’s had been, if not better–but she felt there was no need of a senior woman. The young people were perfectly capable, and though she loved Tenthen, without Inda, home only held part of her heart.
When Joret Dei’s and Valdon Shagal’s son, the crown prince of Anaeran-Adrani, came to Darchelde on his world tour, Tdor was invited to Darchelde again.
Most of the Tenthen Castle children had shown little interest in Tdor’s young days, for as far as they were concerned, her life had been boring–never in the midst of great events. The exception was her tiny wisp of a granddaughter with the heart-shaped face that reminded Tdor of Mran Cassad, and eyes so much like Fareas-Iofre’s. That child observed, she thought, she read, and Tdor recognized another whose inward life was as rich as any life of adventure could ever be. So before she left, Tdor invited this girl to her room, and gave her the old trunk, explaining each notch, while the girl knelt beside her, big brown eyes intent, her thin little body shivering with intensity.
Tdor packed her few belongings into a saddle bag, and rode to Darchelde, with only one lingering, impress-on-the-memory backward glance, because she sensed it would be her last.
In Darchelde, Tdor was welcomed by Fox on down to her granddaughter Tdan, who was tall, strong, with bright red hair and green eyes. Tdan had inherited Fox’s sense of irony–and his restlessness for travel.
Montredavan-An girls still could not marry into any Iascan families. In fact, within ten years of becoming gunvaer Fabern Ola-Vayir had disbanded the queen’s training when she discovered that her sister in law, Liet Toraca, was far more powerful and effective than herself. Women were required to train their own daughters; the practical result was to diminish the sense of community among the Iascan women, which had dire results within a few generations.
Tdan Montredavan-An grew up at home. She and her Grandma Tdor became fast friends. Then the Adrani prince arrived, and Tdor witnessed Tdan and the prince fall dramatically in love.
Fox revealed his secret project to Tdor, who had stayed on to share memories of Inda. She used his words without amending them, not excluding the ‘banner of damnation’ though she knew the Fox Banner had once belonged to the Montredavan-Ans.
Two years later, when Tdan traveled over the mountain to marry the crown prince, Tdor went with her, getting at last to venture beyond the Iascan border. She and Joret traveled to Sartor together. Tdor was delighted with new vistas, interesting people, famous places; meanwhile, she had never forgotten Signi or her possible daughter. Not knowing if she’d ever get an answer, she sent a message via the Magic Council there in Sartor.
It took a season, but a letter arrived in the Adrani capital for Tdor, causing quite a stir. It had been sent all the way from the Land of the Venn. And it contained a magical transfer token.
Though everyone tried to talk Gramma Tdor out of using it, she vanished one day, and transferred to the far north. There she was met by Signi, whose health was failing, but she was kind and welcoming, interested in everything Tdor had to say. Tadara, now Queen of the Venn, looked like a sandy-haired Hadand to Tdor, but of all Inda’s children she was the only one to inherit that distinctive, intense gaze Inda had had: when he heard you, you felt like you were the only thing in the world for him, right then.
Tdor did not stay long. She did not know the language, and the confusing tangle of garishly colored underground rooms and tunnels seemed strange and unwelcoming. She could tell that nobody save Signi and the young queen knew what to make of her, and there was tension in Twelve Towers, something about trouble with mages. Tdor did not want to experience that long transfer wrench again, and so Tadara arranged a ship voyage to the south for her. As Tdor began her southward journey at the height of summer, she experienced the strange hissing lights that arced and shimmered across the far northern sky, a sight so beautiful she spent a couple of short nights lying on deck and staring up at the stars.
From trader to trader she was passed along, until at last she reached Anaeran-Adrani again.
Tdor continued to write letters to the wives of her sons (neither boy liked writing any more than Inda had) and her granddaughters. Now included among the correspondents was Tadara Sofar, Queen of the Venn, who asked for the truth about her father. Tdor answered all her questions as truthfully as she had Fox’s. Tadara cherished those records, which became a part of the Sofar archive deep in their mountain fastness.
Tdor enjoyed writing to Tadara about Inda. As she felt her long life drawing to a close, the importance of records preoccupied her, and so it was she who talked Valdon Shagal into writing his famous memoir. Though his thanks to her were subsequently left out by later Shagal descendants, who considered an old, foreign grandmother irrelevant, the tone that everyone later found so enchanting owed everything to Tdor. Valdon had read each day’s writing to her, and he did not consider a passage successful unless he had made her smile.
Fox’s son never went to sea, so the Montredavan-An connection to the navy ended there for several generations.
The year that Inda died, once he recorded Tdor’s memories, Fox Montredavan-An finished his book, which he had been working on steadily in between Inda’s annual visits. He left his jarlate to his son Indevan, who resigned from the King’s Runners, though he and Hastred Montrei-Vayir had had a good relationship.
Fox gave his memoir into Indevan’s hands, and took off to sail the world in the drakan-ship he had named Treason.
There, he, and the ship, vanish in time.
Inda never knew about Fox’s record. What would become the famous chronicle of Elgar the Fox was handed down as a secret in the Montredavan-An family. It became a manual for restoring the academy when the Montredavan-Ans (or Montredaun-Ans, after the language shift) regained the throne, once their ten generation exile ended.
Here the history of Fox’s memoir takes a peculiar turn. His descendants appreciated the wisdom and skill that Fox recorded in his long conversations with Inda. But they decided that knowledge was power, and so the memoir was recopied into two versions. There was an edition written for the general reader, called An Examination of Greatness (Fox’s title, but without his ironic introduction), with an eye to the enhancement of Marlovan prestige. This edition excised everything about the academy and training, and sank Inda’s part, attributing to Fox most of Inda’s exploits.
This was the version sent to the Fellowship of the Tower archive in Sartor, where it was duly copied, exactly as written, right down to errors of orthography, and distributed to any who wished to see. It became very popular in Colend and Sartor when the second most famous Montredaun-An king, Ivandred, brought the Fox Banner east, before it became known as the Banner of the Damned. The unedited version, as Fox wrote it, remained hidden for many centuries. The name Elgar Strait has lasted for 800 years.
The warrior associated with the name took on such legendary exploits that his birthplace was, and still is, claimed by at least six kingdoms, and his life was reported as recent for two hundred years after Inda’s lifetime.
‘Elgar’ came to mean invincible, a paladin, in most languages except those used by the Marlovans. In Iasca Leror (and later, when the kingdom renamed itself Marloven Hesea, then Marloven Hess) the name Indevan persisted in popularity. As Choraed Elgaer gradually receded from Marlovan affairs until it became its own kingdom, local legends about Inda remained distinct. 800 years later there are still traces of Inda in local stories and in local names such as Indascamp, a meadow where Inda usually stayed on his yearly rounds, and Indasbridge, near what used to be Tenthen. Inda’s tapestry was so revered it ended up being stolen several times, always in inheritance disputes. Eventually the tales of Inda-Harskialdna divorced completely from the faraway legends of the sea-going Elgar the Fox. Marlovens just never took much to sea tales.
When Evred told Vedrid he was leaving the kingdom with Taumad Dei, he kept his long-ago promise, offering to release Vedrid from service. Vedrid had no desire whatsoever to travel; he also knew that the king would be in good hands, and so he became a private individual at last, traveling down to Marlo-Vayir. Vedrid and Fnor retired to the horse stud, leaving the younger generation to take their positions as Jarl and Randael, Jarlan and Randviar.
Meanwhile, Evred traveled the world, spending the longest in Sartor. He kept his identity secret with Tau’s concurrence; he spent an entire year masquerading as a scribe in the Archive in Sartor. If the Magic Council knew who he was (and it’s likely) there was no official note taken.
Jeje understood him quite well, and on-lookers were amazed to see their tough old Harbormaster blush. He never interfered with governance, but seemed to content to pace over Inda’s boyhood sites, and then sit in Dasta’s tavern and listen to sea-faring stories and talk through the old battles stories. Jeje soon got used to his presence. He and Tau took up residence on the hill overlooking the bay.
One last note before I leave them to enjoy their days in peace and tranquility.
Evred recognized the sky in Dasta’s tavern from one of the records he’d perused in the Archive in Sartor. That pattern of stars had been captured by a magic spell, the result of a mage who had been through the Gate to other worlds.
He hesitated about revealing it. He had no use for the money, as Tau had sufficiency for their needs. After listening to speculation, he finally decided to leave the subject alone. Discovering that mysterious sky was an adventure best left to the young. | 2019-04-24T16:48:23Z | http://www.sherwoodsmith.net/sartorias-deles/inda-banner/what-happened-after-treasons-shore/ |
Update 2018-10-19: Sorry for the downtime. I moved servers and the default server config had X-Frame-Options DENY; appended to requests by default. You may need to hard refresh or clear your cache to get it to work.
If you appreciate this tool, please consider a donation. It truly helps me out.
Playing Minecraft, I like making circular things. I used a chart while I was building, but wanted to be able to make variable size ovals which is something I couldn't find a decent chart of or generator capable of, so I created this!
Fork my source on Github!
thanks this helped a lot in building by giant dome!
Thanks for creating this, will be using this alot in my upcoming builds!
thanks a lot. this will help me build my imperial city.
Thanks so much i just finished my castle useing these designs as the colums!
Is it also possible to create a circle around 4 blocks instead of 1 like here?
thank you very much, extremely useful!
Is there a download to this?
Thanks, this is going to help a ton with my bowl build.
New version is so much faster, thanks!
You have my gratitude, this has helped in in more ways than one.
Wow. Thanks, service with a smile there! I'll be sure to refer back to this while I build. You could make a 3-D version for domes and spheres!
Thanks, helped ALOT! Wish there was a way to zoom in, but otherwise fantastic!
This is great, but I pressed filled, and now I can't get it back. Help?
how do i see my result, theres no where to hit enter or something to send my numbers through or something.
It should appear instantly as you change the value. If you could provide some information on what browser and version you are using I can look into the problem.
This would be a great app that I would defiantly pay 99 cents for. Great design tool!
Could it be possible to make it so we can change the color on the tiles by clicking on them? It'd be a lot easier to know how far you are without having to alt+tab several times in a row to count very tiny pixels!
Also, if you could make it so it shows a cross with the intersection at the middle (2 wide if the number of blocks is even so the intersection is a 2x2 square) it'd be awesome in helping to count how many blocks you need to dig/construct!
Have you considered selling this a s an android/IOs app? also it would be a nice download for a small computer application.
I'm using this to work on a large project in CivCraft. This is a huge help. One suggestion I have is the ability to only show 1/4 of the circle. It's all I'm really using, and since the circle is 193 blocks across, having the rest showing makes it so that I can't see the individual blocks. Two other good suggestions are to have a way of marking blocks you've built already and a way to download a picture of the circle/shape.
Thanks for taking to time to make such a useful program!
@Rumaan just slide the "Scale" slider to the right a bit and use the scroll bars to position it.
Brilliant! Very easy to use, you saved a ton of time!
I have been using this generator for nearly a year on my phone with no issues. I have been making semi circles in my castle that step up each level so it has a colisseum look. However, every time I load this page, in the box were width and height are, all that's entered in there is NaN. I can't add to or delete it. Rendering this generator useless to mw now, and there are no other generators that work for me. Marvellous.
Cheers mate helped me build my quidditch stadium!!
Thanks for this. I am building a 501 diameter space station in starmade and it would have taken forever to figure out how to build it right without this.
This is one of the most helpful things I've ever found. Thanks!
Jesse, thank you so much for sharing your gifts with us. It's wonderful to see the multitude of ideas and creations that people have put together. And with this generator, more ideas will manifest even more easily. Thank you and may our Creator continue to bless you with even more ideas. Cheers and namaste!
can you add something where we can click on pixels to highlight them, or delete them? it got hard remembering where i was making a 111x111 circle.
If you want to save the result to an image there is a way. If you look at the page source or use your browser's "inspect element" on the result, you'll see and svg tag.
Then you can take that and paste it into notepad and save as an SVG file, then you can open it in GIMP or some other software that supports SVG files.
Can you create a feature by which you can break the circle or oval in half or quarters? That would help me use it to create the side of a building. You could use checkboxes for top left, top right, bottom left, bottom right quarters to make it more intuitive.
it whould be so cool for an ios app, have you started working on it yet?
also xcode is free to download and use.
I would suggest having it available so you can shade parts of the circle you have already completed, I think this would make it easier for people. I myself have to tab in and out to get the picture of the circle so I can copy it over to the game.I have a terrible memory, so I cannot remember where I left off.
If you were to add this, it would be fantastic. I would very happy if you were to add this.
I can't get it go below double digits, every time i completely remove a value form the box a get NAN it I I have to refresh the page.
I just donated to the fund because I use the page so much in Everquest Landmark closed beta testing. The only issue I have is that for REALLY large circles it is very difficult to count out the squares. Is there any way to maybe make a larger picture when the numbers are larger? Thanks for such a useful tool. If only it could do pentagons and dodecahedrons I would be in heaven.
I have been using this for a long time now, and it's been a great help in my builds. A great feature would be if you could only view a 1/4 of the circle if it's a circle or 1/2 if it's an oval as when I'm building circles with a diameter of over 500 I have to zoom in all the way on the scale factor, and then zoom in on the web page just to see the pattern.
But this is amazing, especially useful for the build of Thriller Bark I made, which if I was sane would have been a lot smaller but hey, I wanted it to be to scale so the diameter of the outer walls reached 575.
Thanks! I use it all the time.
print out the coordinates of the perimeter pixels, given the center point?
I got frustrated trying to make a big dome (I had only made little ones previously) and a quick google search turned this up. Thanks, man.
I tried to use plots on my tablet so I found you website and I love how I could zoom in like usual thanks a lot.
keep up hopes though! i mean... like... i guess?
The center line helps a lot! I had to use it to align screencaps of my circle. An option to save as image would be useful.
This tool is great! However, after making 10 circles that steadily get larger and larger, I noticed that the red color of the boxes starts hurting my eyes :( Is there any way to have a color changing option?
Thanks! now I can make my own circular arena!
Can u reference me to a STAR generator? I'm trying to make Hammer Kirby, and I keep srewing up the star, help plz!?
I made a really big thing out of circles.
I am using this for about a week on my kindle fire and I was wondering if you could add a save button that saves it as a image, is an idea. But this is very great thanks so much for letting us use it.
Thanks for making this it really helps me out a lot. I've been using this page for a while and it's helped me build many things. So once again thank you for making this.
Thank you so much, I am building a massive ship in space engineers (291 blocks long) and this has been such a great help!
Also, if anyone wants to save a picture of their circle and are using a mac you can go into the "Grab" program and take pictures of part of your screen.
Just a suggestion here, I dont know if someone said it before.
It would be nice to be able to click and color the blocks so we know what we have built yet.
This has been so helpful to me in my minecraft projects.
One suggestion I would make would be to offer a numerical version so I can see exactly how many blocks I have to lay, in order to make one quarter of of the circle without having to squint and count the pixels on the screen.
I regularly work with circles that are around the 500 diameter range so as you can imagine, figuring out exactly what blocks I need to put down can be grating on my eyes and, if I miscount, my patience.
I don't do Minecraft, but I do Perler Bead crafts (aka Hama beads or Fuse beads). Beads are placed on a peg-studded board to hold them in place, then fused together with heat from an iron when the design is complete. I was trying to make circles on a square grid peg board and having a terrible time--until I found this! THANK YOU!
Thx for this, will be using it in my massive tree on BeastsMC - an epic creative server with freebuild, plots and an awesome community! Join!
Could there be a tool that lets you make rings that have a filled-in circle but have an inner circle cut out?
Can you include something to mark the center? And something to list the radius of the circle?
Hey, I would like to see this one with a center of 2x2 instead of the 1x1. THanks in advance!
Thank you! I was having trouble making a circular arena for my new Ps3 hunger games map! this has helped sooooooooo much.
Will Definately be using this when building my version of The Lost City Of Atlantis map on Ps3. Just wish the lengths were numbered.
This is a good program for building on terraria.
You. Might add that into your description. This help me build biospheres.thanks!
Really useful, especially when it comes to world-edit sylinder and circle commands! Thanks a tonne for this!
Hi I'm creating the golden cage asuna is trapped in from sword art online and this is really use full to create the two circles for the birdcage she is trappped in thanx a bunch!
This is a great tool, but if you continue to work on it, you should have the option to generate multiple circles so that you can get an idea of what outer and inner circle's will look like together.
Hi well done the team love this tool when building. We can finally delete the rubish pixel app that takes up loads of space. Well done buddy.
Thanks so much for this. Can you add a center point so I know where the middle is?
Having a few issues with this program. Trying to create a sphere to encapsulate the spawnable area for hostile mobs (wiki: 128 radius from player). So I doubled the radius to 256 then generate a sphere based on that. Before I started I plotted out 6 points all starting out from the 0/0 axis in the end (which I removed all end stone). Markers were placed exactly 128 bocks up, down, left and right so it covers all X/Y/Z directions. When building the sphere I noticed that the 2D sides did not meet up with my (triple checked) reference points mentioned above. The sphere generated by this program seemed too big ( by quite a sizeable margin I might add). Thinking it was my error I recounted the chart...three times...rebuilt...three times...but still no joy. This is a great generator to make spheres...not denying that....but for really technical mapping it's fairly inaccurate in "true to size" builds. Sorry to rain on your parade but thinking I might add this footnote for other builders like myself thus saving them time. But hey....if your just after a good looking sphere this is the program for you.
Your math is simply bad. If you have a radius of 128 the diameter in pixel universe will be 255, not 256, because one of those blocks is the center. That is your issue.
My circles are mathematically correct. The math in fact is particularly simple.
Egg on face, foot in mouth...comment above humbly retracted. Seems I was factoring in an extra block by mistake. Circles ARE true to size. Big enough to know when I'm wrong. Thanks for the correction.
Thanks alot, this is super helpful in mega-builds, used it both for my laboratory and my castle. it's super effective!
Thanks-I actually used this for space engineers! Just made a ring around my space station.
What is the math behind this?
THIS SITE IS AMAZING I LIVE IT THANK YOU CREATOR!
Very nice generator. I used to have to use Neil Fraser Voxel Sphere Generator then find the middle slice to get a circle :o This is a whole lot more convenient.
nice one, this is helpful with some bio-spheres im building. great job and as many people have suggested if you could highlight the squares that would be great.
Hello, are there a formula for making a circle in minecraft?
Thanks a lot ! Helped me with a building in Terraria.
Using it to build a centaur class starship full size. I tried to do the saucer shape by eye but failed critically. This is really useful!
I think the png should be like 1 Block = 1 Pixel.. that would make things a LOT easier.. But still, a great tool!
Its useful however at 3, it creates a square, whereas the red blocks at 3 should disapeear if you wished for something kind of circular.
(search it up its amazing) anyway I needed a 120x120 circle and I was searching through Google and i found this so I'm using it this website is amazing.
Helped so much when finishing my Labyrinth. Other charts from google wouldn't go high enough. Amazingly helpful.
Used this for starbound, somewhere during the 60 minute long creation of my dome in the acid rain of a toxic planet it came out unsymmetrical by 3 blocks. fml.
Love this... Thank you so much, also is there any way to have layouts for circles in circles, like having more than 1 circle in the same layout in different sizes.
This really helped me when I was building a life size S.T.A.R. Labs model from the flash on Minecraft. Thanks for making it, it's brilliant!
THANKS SO MUCH THIS REALLY HELPED WHEN I WAS BILDING S.T.A.R LABS. I MESSED UP A LITTLE BUT IT TURNED OUT OK.
Could you possibly make it work with slabs as well?
using this to build an underwater city in starbound. lit A.F.
1. All one basically needs are quarter circles (ok, even 1/8th of a circle would do, but a quarter is more convenient. An option for that would be fine.
2. It would help immensely if you could change the save option for SVG in a way that one could get SVGs with different diametersat the same scale, so one can join different circles (or quarter circles) in one image by importing them into inkscape.
I found this tremendously helpful. Thank You.
I am a YouTuber who plays on many servers in which i build circles. Next time. I'm gonna be linking this is my description! AMAZING! I'm sorry i cant donate. But hopefully the peeps I tell about this will donate!
I have a base that is a bunch of circular rings, a bit like Mumbo Jumbo's base on the hermitcraft server. Cannot begin to comprehend how amazing this was. Thank you!
This is helping me build my 244 block wide dome of glass!
Hello, I wish to donate but do mot have money. But i know about Mumbo Jumbo!
Thank you so so much! You, my friend, are a saint! This is probably the most useful thing I'll ever use for building in Minecraft. Thanks again; keep up the great work.
So dang useful! thanks so much I completed lots of builds with thia.
Coincidentally, we can use this calculator to approximate pi.
Set the calculator to filled circle.
Force it to a circle.
Do the ratio on how many where shaded / how many unshaded.
Muitiply the ratio by 4.
As you can see, the approximation is close to pi.
1. Users : Do not know about cosine and muitipling it by x and truncating it.
2. Non-users : Know how to truncate cosine * x.
Thanks this will help create my GTA V in Minecraft!!
Is it possible to make a Spiral of Archimedes with this somehow?
Is there a version of this that goes up to 25,000?
Thank you for the heads up. I'd heard this from a couple people but was never able to reproduce it until today. It ends up it was a race condition, so it was dependent on the speed of your machine.
I believe I have fixed the issue. You may need to clear your browser cache to get it to work.
Excellent tool. even though its effectively a worse version of plotz,this has the default set to 2D AND it works on school wifi.
Thanks ypfor making this it's helping me make my skyblock islands.
A 200 by 666 oval filled with windows 10 can partially turn your screen black.
Words can't express how grateful I am. Thank you soooooo much!
Wait, how did you program this?
It would be great if you could include row numbers. On large circles I sometimes get lost, so it would be great to be able to count the rows to work out where I am.
now i can make my own Imperial City, Ba Sing Se and Minas Tirith!
Ive been using this for cross stitching, the perfect tool!
Yes! Here I come pvp arena for pros!
I suggest building the straight lines first and then using one part of it all the way around so you dont have to look at all four sides, this will help with larger circles.if your using this for minecraft of course!
I'm making a circle that's 170-175 books in diameter and built it up into a sphere and I've read the top comment that would've made it easier to build now can anyone tell me how to tie a noose so I can hang myself.
Anyone else with you could color it???
The center is marked out if you input an odd number, even numbers cannot have a center that is a single block inbetween others.
i agree, colors would indeed be nice, young padawan. often I find myself losing count then having to go back, only to lose count again.
thanks this will be a lot of help!!
Great tool! I Love it! It really helped on my build, would've like if it had a download image button. Thanks for making this!
Now to come up with a floor design to fit this awesome size 51 circle.
This helped me a lot while I was building a huge circle. all the other websites wouldn't work and when I came to this one I was so happy.
it helped me a lot and I really enjoyed being able to use it, altho I was wondering, why is the height of the iframe 810px?
Thanks for this tool, useful for many games with block based building, using this to build battleship turrets in From the Depths at the moment. Thank you would have had no idea where to start with a 31 diameter circle!
I really like it. Can I use it for my website?
I'm building a biome bubble in Terraria!
Thank you so much. This has been a lifesaver for the airship I'm building.
Thank you so much for this tool! I have used this on countless occasions both for Minecraft and for just needing a circle for something.
This tool is amazing! I have no idea how you made it (black magic?), but it is very easy to use and well made!
Fantastically made and I hope you keep it going strong.
is there a version or when I put 1504 of diameter it does not crash?
Thanks for this! It will help me finish my windmill for my village in modded Minecraft.
Can you add a part under the shape that has the command for minecraft that we can copy and paste onto it?
I built a kind of castle that was 364x364 in survival.
It was pain, but it would've taken 10000000000000000000000000 yrs if I did it without this.
For zoom just use the scale bar under the input areas.
Could you make a circle with 2 in the middle?
Really helpful and simple! Thanks!
I am creating a 1301 diameter circle... The zoom is far too small for that... I have used this dozens of times over the years so thanks!
Have you considered other mathematical shapes, like parabolas and hyperbolas?
Great tool - thanks for your effort!
Hey! Awesome tool with some pretty cool shapes but theres something I can't seem to find anywhere, diagonal ellipsoids. Do you think you could make one that is capable of making diagonal ellipsoids?
This is really handy in minecraft and many other games! | 2019-04-26T08:43:50Z | https://donatstudios.com/PixelCircleGenerator |
TrueCovenanter.com: Notes on Garnet Milne's Has the Bible been kept pure? The Westminster Confession of Faith and the providential preservation of Scripture.
On Garnet Milne’s Has the Bible been kept pure?
Shared for the sake of other readers, or those who might find the references of useful service.
Publication Title: Has the Bible been kept pure? The Westminster Confession of Faith and the providential preservation of Scripture.
Published independently and copyright 2017.
Finished reading in Winter of 2019 (Jan/Feb/Mar).
Overall conclusion: Important and Useful, Well documented. Faith’s outlook on the topic of Scripture Preservation and Purity.
In this book, Garnet Milne brings to us the documented information needful to assess both (1) the historic Protestant and Reformation view of the Holy Scriptures and their purity as we presently possess them; and also (2) how this view has degenerated among the professed heirs of the Protestant Reformation. Because the Reformed confessions, and especially the Westminster Confession of Faith received by Presbyterians, include creedal / confession statements about this matter, it is important that we understand the meaning intended, and hold one another accountable to prevent any deviation from the biblical doctrine of the Scripture’s Preservation. The men raised up by the Lord in times of Reformation, and for contributing to the work of the Westminster Assembly during the Second Reformation, did not fail to leave a testimony for us, with substantiated reasons, about this matter. Author by Author, Controversy by Controversy, Garnet Milne offers us the details.
But before he does that, he puts us in mind of present realities. The ideas of Wescott, Hort, and Warfield, and their present influence, need to be considered. As much as modern technology and communications have secured for us an ease of access to the best historic writings of the Reformed Churches, many still give undue credence to the thoughts of later generations which drifted from the Biblical doctrines of the Reformation. An assessment of B.B. Warfield’s views on the topic of Scripture and its Preservation puts things in perspective. It helps us understand why modern Presbyterian churches typically use English Bible versions based on defective original language texts, omitting words, verses, and entire sections of the Lord’s Word. It also verifies the seriousness of the new theology that stands behind these decisions. The theology of our Confession, as of the Reformation, affirms, that the Scriptures, in the original language texts “being immediately inspired by God, and by his singular care and Providence kept pure in all Ages, are therefore Authentical.” A question has been started, “How pure is pure?” and unless we will answer with a Scriptural faith, we cannot identify whether the authors and churches of later times are helping us believe the Scriptures are pure, or helping us believe that they are corrupt while we tell ourselves we believe the same thing as the Westminster Divines.
Differences of opinion and expression have always existed, and Garnet Milne does not hide such realities. Some of the early Reformation writers conceded ideas which the strong Westminster theology would not have conceded. Milne gives the honor of factual accounts to each party described, while it is evident his commitment remains to the theology of the Westminster Confession and those who drafted it. In general, however, we find that all of the orthodox Christians of the Reformation and Puritan eras were committed to affirming the non-corruption of the original Greek text of the New Testament, in an opposition to the Roman Church with its pro-Vulgate claim that the Greek had been corrupted. It is here, in this consensus, that the modern advocates of the RSV, NIV, NASB, ESV, etc. cannot honestly claim to identify with the Reformation, or the Protestant belief of Scripture and its Authority. Will they, nill they, the position of the Roman Church is what they have embraced, and with it they inherit the need for a “Priesthood” to govern God’s people in their reception of the Scriptures as a faulty and changing standard that must ultimately yield to the guidance of a higher standard residing in the Priesthood itself. In opposition to such a state of affairs, Milne shows that the whole body of the faithful has a role in discerning and preserving the authentic Scriptures through history, and this has been done much more successfully than some would have us believe.
Among other valuable points drawn from the extensive research contained in the book, I find it important to note two realities observed, generally rejected in our age of scepticism and willing (plainly preferred) uncertainties. These both come as corrections to erroneous conclusions many draw from man’s sinfulness and tendency to err, and they should be understood as a rejection of the idea that God cannot do any good or perfect thing when he uses man: 1. It is possible for a scripture manuscript to be copied without mistakes; and 2. It is feasible to have an errorless translation. Modern Christians have made a leap in logic from affirming man’s fallibility to denying God’s infallibility when he uses man as his instrument. The Reformers and Puritans did not. Although Garnet Milne does not work through all of the implications, we need to consider how this has serious consequences when it comes to our beliefs about (1) the preservation of the Scriptures, (2) the standard we should insist upon for Translations of the Scriptures, and (3) the use of Creeds and Confessions in the Church as enforceable standards of doctrine.
36 Warfield makes conjectural emendation necessary.
44 Warfield favors idea of evolution in compliance with the science of his day, and attributes idea to Calvin.
59 Calvin’s view involves reliability of OT for correcting NT manuscripts when affected by copyist errors, as part of God’s providential preservation of the NT.
72 Protestant change is the reason Papists cooperate with them on the Greek text.
76 When Beza followed Latin over general concurrence of Greek text, he yet had some Greek ms. to follow.
77 Ending of the Lord’s Prayer is taken out of Chronicles.
78 The quote from Beza Rhemists tried to use.
78-79 Concept of correcting NT copies from OT mentioned again.
79 Conflict in Greek genealogy vs. Hebrew due to use of LXX.
89 Protestant Religious Epistemology has two elements: Autopistic Scriptures and Spirit's Inner Testimony.
90 The whole body of the Church have a role in recognizing the canon of scripture.
93-94 Whitaker asserts that Hebrew and Greek scriptures are "in all respects" prophetic and apostolic in those we [still] have to consult - quote.
121-122 Translating Hades / Sheol.
121 KJV criticized for Church-of-England prelatical translations.
125 To doubt whether scripture is true is to doubt whether God is true — Thomas Valentine.
125 Believing creation (doctrine) is not based on proving creation.
126-127 Wayne Grudem quoted favorable re: Scripture.
128 Insoluable problems in Scripture arise from our understanding, not Scripture itself.
131 [Capel] against idea that because all man does is subject to mistake, therefore the product of his work cannot be pure.
134 Featly affirms KJV corrected translation errors of Geneva Bible.
134 It is feasible to have an errorless translation.
141 Possibility of a grammatical error in all copies discussed.
145 “First copies” (Baynes) Milne takes as referring to extant texts.
151 Use of italics for words added in translation.
154 John White’s observation on language as a symbol of a rule.
154-155 John White affirms the possibility of an English translation without Error.
161-162 Buxtorf’s account of Masoretes and the “singular care and providence”.
165 John Vicars strongly opposed including the Apocrypha in the Bible.
166 Charles Hills (modern) and others show Church Fathers believed [the] Scriptures [had been] preserved.
169 Gouge explains three respects in which Scriptures are Truth.
169 Gouge gives Eph. 5.32 example to show why learning Greek and Hebrew is important.
171 Gouge describes dilemmas involved in supposing any part of the Scripture was lost.
173 Capel on Providence governing Translators; Milne on Inerrant Translation.
174 Slight textual variations could be considered the word of God if they contain the same “matter”.
175 Letter of Scripture must be taken with true sense [in order] to be the Word of God.
176 W. Bridge on Greek texts differing from one another and difference of Old Testament between Marginal reading and Line reading.
178 Complete “matter” is preserved [W. Bridge] [therefore] criticism [using variants] should not change received text.
179 Edward Leigh asserts that notions, phrases, and words were put into brains of Bible writers, and appeals to Peter Martyr Vermigli.
181 Partial arguments used by Leigh, etc. to undercut scepticism.
182 Triple negative inspired by Spirit of God in Heb. 13.5.
184 John White led prayer at initial subscription of Solemn League and Covenant.
185 White affirms both “matter” and “very form of expression” are from God.
186 White quote on how God speaks through Scripture writers using their style.
187 There can be only one correct meaning of God’s Word: Scripture interprets scripture.
188 Anthony Burgess affirms from 2 Tim. 3.16 that in OT there could not be any mistake.
190-191 Richard Muller cited about 17th century and 19th century Reformed Differences concerning apographa and preservation.
192 John Owen affirms the apographa preserve every iota of the autographa.
194 In Owen’s observation the OT was more questioned than the NT.
197 Case when Thomas Gataker did not get his way in Assembly.
198 Gataker maintained unity by silence and not publishing discourses expressing his dissent.
202 Cyril Lucar affirms priority of Scriptures over the Church; and their perpetual authority.
202 Concensus Helvetica (1675) affirms inspiration of vowels in Hebrew, and preservation as words [rather than matter only].
203 Also reject those who seek to correct Hebrew as if corrupted.
203-204 John Atkinson an 18th century Presbyterian cited about “every word”.
204 Footnote 467 refers to Alexander Campbell and Millennial Harbinger.
204 Summary of Westminster View.
205 John Goodwin, Independent Arminian, asserted that only the Doctrine and not the text of Scripture had been preserved.
207 Goodwin opposed to discovery of Truth from Scripture by Good and Necessary consequence.
207 Goodwin rejects testimony of Holy Spirit as assurance Bible is the Word of God.
Note 476 Rejects Presbyterian dependence on illumination and favors apologetics.
211 Asserts substance or matter of Christian Religion does not depend on the Scriptures.
212 Specifies three ways in which Scriptures have been preserved from corruption.
213 Effectively makes his reasoning about what scriptures should be the way to verify they are true.
214 Makes observation that the very originals might have been corrupted by alteration.
216 Jenkyn cites John 20.31 against Goodwin to show Scriptures [are the] object and matter of faith.
217 Shows Goodwin’s position like Romanists and calls all Scripture into Question.
218 Words of Scripture not mere ink but the signs of what is conceived.
219-220 Jenkyn quotes Augustine, Daniel Chamier (French Reformed) and John White of Eccles.
220 Jenkyn quotes Whitaker that Structure and Composure of Scripture is all divine.
222 N. Byfield affirms that both archtype and writing of Bible cannot be destroyed.
222 Solomon Glassius - Lutheran Scholar - quotes by Jenkyn.
225 Rutherford answers Goodwin’s use of Scripture issues to argue for Liberty of Conscience.
227-228 Rutherford analogy about four fallible men correctly identifying wife’s husband.
228 Disproof of Goodwin from John 5.34: I receive not testimony from men.
231 Quote from Rutherford’s Unpublished mss. of lectures to students on Scripture.
232 Rutherford shows we must have correct text of autographa by Scripture implication from 1 John 4.1, John 15.22, and Acts 17.
232 By Goodwin’s principles Moses & the Prophets could not be sure that what they heard was the Word of God because they were not taught Grammar by Him.
233-234 Rutherford on what we must believe among fundamental Truths & circa fundamentalia.
235 Rutherford also responds to Saltmarsh view of Dead Letter.
236 Goodwin stirring debate pitting probability against certainty.
240 Lyford: that which is to be regulated, cannot be the rule to regulate.
241 Believers recognize the Truth of God [therefore] Know translation agrees with original.
243 Richard Baxter commends Goodwin’s book, but later expresses caveat.
243 Example of Thomas Ford, Westminster Divine possibly expressing JG type ideas.
243 Edmund Calamy (the younger) ascribes Logos Autopistos to Thomas Ford.
245 Logos Autopistos / Milne: God chose to convey revelation in writing knowing objections to come.
245 Should sooner say God never committed his will to writing than say it is not preserved.
246 White says doctrine is the rule and words are the conveying vessel, perfect in original.
247 L. Autopistos affirms we know Bible as word of God principally by illumination of God’s Spirit.
248 L. Autopistos references Goodwin’s book but also asserts preservation of written scriptures.
249 L. Autopistos / Ford items of problematic concurrence with Goodwin, which are inconsistent.
252 Goodwin’s view that the text of God’s word was not preserved was rejected by the orthodox as a heretical doctrine.
253 Alexander Mitchell attempted to use Ussher to prove WCF taught providential preservation of sense of inspired text.
253 Description of Ussher’s relationship with English Reforming Efforts.
253 Louis Capel stirred controversy by claiming ancient translations could correct OT.
254 Arnold Boate opposed Cappel and involved Ussher in controversy.
254 Ussher acknowledges debates about scribal errors but is confident about preservation of several necessary things including Form of Prayer.
255 Footnote references to Ussher’s whole works and Buxtorf on faults in mss.
255-256 Buxtorf against sceptical conclusions drawn from defects in some Hebrew copies.
256-258 Ussher firmly opposed correcting Hebrew from LXX & Samaritan Pentateuch as full of peril.
258-259 Does allow use of ancient translations in choosing between Hebrew variants.
264 Ussher and Boate reject the collection of variants to the OT Capellus takes from translations.
265 Variants from other ancient translations provide only conjectures, even for Boate / Ussher.
266 Not even conjectures can be gathered from the LXX.
267 Two cases when it is “lawful to depart” from the common text of the OT.
267 Many commentaries of the period made attempt to reconcile disparate numbers.
267 Neither Boate nor Ussher give examples: Possibly they think of future corruption of text.
268-269 Erlington argues that Ussher did not believe variations in OT could be collected from translations of Hebrew as if they represented copies of original.
269 Owen opposed Brian Walton because he allowed translations to contribute variants and he opened the Bible to conjectural emendations.
273 Ussher observation about the transposition of letters, etc. (relates to 2 Maccabees).
274 Difference between conjecture that variant existed in Hebrew and recognizing a reading as a candidate for a conjectural emendation.
275 In “Catholica Assertio Integritatis Fontium” Ussher quotes Jerome to Mercellus.
277 We should not think that the authority of the originals needs to depend on the authority of a human translation.
280 To suggest the Scriptures have been corrupted is to accuse them wickedly.
281 Acknowledging defect on one occasion leads to presumption that other parts of text are also able to fail.
281 Reason explained why Protestants uniformly harmonized extant received texts in exegesis rather than offering conjectures to harmonize problem texts.
283 Explanation of how Ussher shows the Vulgate departed from original Greek and Hebrew.
284 Ussher defends “and sought to slay him” in John 5.16 against Vulgate/Papists.
285 Ussher reconciles 70 & 75 of Jacob’s family arguing for both Hebrew OT and Greek NT.
287 Our opposition to Romanists is due for their denying the OT Hebrew can be entirely trusted.
287 Summary of Ussher, Westminster Divines, Featley, Whitaker, etc.
289 Observations on man’s religious inclinations, search for meaning, & the Bible.
290 Protestant argument for Bible was based on self-authenticating nature & effect of regeneration.
290 (1) Bible is the first & primary source for religious knowledge.
290 (2) Authority of the Scripture is Self-Evident.
291 Auto-pistic Nature of Scripture: They teach that the assurance they give us themselves is better than an audible voice from heaven.
292 Only certain “proof” of Scriptures comes from inner testimony of Holy Spirit.
293 Promise in Isa. 59.21 leads to conclusion about preservation of accurate text.
294 Because of the Necessity of the Scriptures for our salvation, we can be sure of their preservation.
294-297 The preservation of all the words of Scripture is ensured by God’s character.
297 His Word is locatable in the Masoretic text of OT and Majority text of NT.
298 Hearts not spiritually awakened are the reason many do not recognize the divine authority of the word nor submit to it.
298 Lesser measure of the Holy Spirit and lack of Spiritual insight the reason why some Christians have (1) Rejected some books of Scripture as Scripture, and (2) adopted translations based upon the ever-changing and uncertain eclectic texts of modern textual critics.
298 Difference between modern viewpoint and 17th century Puritans is that the latter believed from the Bible that God would preserve the autographic text and were convinced by Holy Spirit God had not failed.
299 Westminster Divines inherited Reformation Views — Summary, How Canon is recognized.
299 Consensus disrupted by arguments favoring newly discovered mss., fathers, & translations.
299-300 Enlightenment Philosophy, Inductivism, Confidence in Human Reason led to new approaches.
300 Warfield approach was to see autographic text in all mss. allowing it might yet not be found.
301 Protestant Churches & Textual Critics now agree with Rome that original language texts are corrupted.
302 17th Century Reformed view believed entire autographic NT/OT is available.
302 Modern / Warfieldian view is that Reformation text is in error and NT text must be reconstructed.
303 Quote from Edward Reynolds: Difficulty of Scripture and sense of our blindness leads us to rely on God’s help. | 2019-04-26T12:13:45Z | https://www.truecovenanter.com/scripture/milne_has_the_scripture_been_kept_pure_notes_by_kerr.html?doc_banner_show=false |
One day in 2011, an ambulance pulled up to the Stanford emergency room and paramedics unloaded a man in his 30s who had crashed his motorcycle. He was in critical condition: Tests showed dangerously low blood pressure, indicating that around 40 percent of his blood was lost. And an ultrasound revealed that the blood was collecting in his belly, suggesting that one or more of his abdominal organs was the source of the blood loss.
Paul Maggio, MD, a trauma surgeon and co-director of critical care medicine at Stanford Hospital & Clinics, sped the patient into the operating room. But he made sure that the technicians prepping his operating room took the time to set up one key piece of equipment, called an intraoperative cell salvage device, which is now commonly used in trauma cases. As the patient lay on the operating table and Maggio made the first cuts into his abdomen, suction devices slurped up the loose blood, directing it away from the surgery site through tubes. But instead of leading to a container bound for disposal, the tubes led to the salvage device.
The ATM-sized machine spun the blood to separate its components, cleaned it of any debris that had been suctioned up from the abdomen and sent it back out into fresh bags. From there, the blood was shunted right back to the patient’s body, through intravenous tubes poking into his veins. The cell salvage device has been around for decades, but only recently has evidence emerged that autotransfusion — giving patients their own blood instead of blood from donors — leads to better surgery outcomes. As a result, the use of the machines has gone from extremely rare to commonplace. Today, hospitals that have the machines use them in many scheduled abdominal and heart surgeries and routinely in trauma cases involving massive bleeding.
“Autotransfusing this patient spared him from getting more banked donor blood and from all the risks associated with it,” says Maggio of the motorcycle crash victim. He turned out to have an injury to his spleen, which Maggio repaired. In all, around 2 liters of blood were collected from the patient’s abdomen, processed through the salvage device, and transfused back into his body.
Blood transfusions involve routing a needle into one of a patient’s veins — most often in an arm — and attaching a thin tube to the needle. Blood flows through the tube directly into the patient’s blood vessels. Ten years ago, a patient like Maggio’s would most likely have had a transfusion of blood donated by volunteers at the Stanford Blood Center. But over the past decade, a growing body of research has revealed that in hospitals around the world, donated blood is used more often, and in larger quantities, than is needed to help patients — both in operating rooms and hospital wards.
Some of the research has been conducted by physicians working with patients who refuse donated blood on religious grounds; other findings have come from the front lines of the war in Afghanistan, where blood is hard to transport; and some studies have been inspired simply by the rising cost of blood and a desire to save resources. Some findings are new, and others, like studies by Stanford’s Tim Goodnough, MD, a hematologist and the director of transfusion services, are years old but only recently being noticed. The takeaway message from all is the same: While blood is precious and continues to save lives, its use can be minimized and fine-tuned to optimize patients’ health and reduce costs.
The American Medical Association brought attention to the subject last fall at its national summit on the overuse of five medical treatments. Blood transfusions were on the list (along with heart stents, ear tubes, antibiotics and inducing birth in pregnant women).
“From the clinical standpoint, I’m not really thinking about resources or cost,” says Maggio, who’s also an assistant professor of surgery. “I’m thinking about giving the patient the best care.” Donated blood carries risks, albeit very slight, of infection and setting off an immune reaction. But research is also showing that even when these drastic outcomes are avoided, there’s something else about donated blood — which scientists don’t fully understand — that could slow recovery time or increase complications.
While autotransfusion for trauma patients is growing, and guidelines for blood transfusions are changing in response to this new research, altering the protocols that doctors have been using for so many years is a slow process.
At Stanford, it took an innovative new program that used alerts on doctors’ computer systems to enforce fewer blood transfusions. But the push paid off: Blood use in the operating rooms, emergency rooms and hospital wards of both Stanford and the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital has declined by 10 percent in just a few years. At Packard Children’s alone, 460 transfusions and $165,000 were saved in one year, according to a pilot study conducted Feb. 1, 2009, through Jan. 31, 2010.
People most often need blood transfusions when they’re in one of three situations: They lose blood from a major surgery that’s been scheduled for weeks or months; they lose blood in a way that their body won’t be able to replace, such as a blood cancer that shuts down the body’s ability to make blood cells; or they lose blood during a more sudden trauma — either an external wound or internal bleeding.
“For that first group of patients, scheduled for elective surgery, if you can plan ahead, you should be able to avoid using blood,” says Goodnough, a professor of pathology and of medicine. In those patients, drugs can boost a patient’s own blood production ahead of surgery, blood can be collected from a patient ahead of time to re-infuse later, precautions can be taken to prevent sudden blood loss, or autotransfusion machines like the cell salvage device can be set up. “Where we still need a national blood inventory is for patients who can’t plan ahead,” says Goodnough.
In the cases where physicians continue to give blood when it might not be needed, it’s often because they can’t imagine not doing everything they can to help a patient — and blood has always been viewed as having far more benefits than risks in almost any population of patients. But now, that risk-benefit analysis is changing.
“There’s this idea ingrained in the culture of medicine that people will die if they don’t have a certain level of blood, that blood is the ultimate lifesaver,” says Patricia Ford, MD, founder and director of Pennsylvania Hospital’s Center for Bloodless Medicine and Surgery at Penn Medicine. “And that’s true in some specific situations, but for most patients in most situations it’s just not true.” Ford’s center is one of the oldest and largest in the country that specializes in treating patients without donated blood; dozens of others have been created over the past decades but mostly at a smaller scale.
Every year, Ford treats or operates on around 700 Jehovah’s Witnesses, whose religion prohibits transfusions of blood that is not one’s own. Since 1996, she has been fine-tuning ways to give these patients the best care as well as ways to apply these techniques to the broader population.
In fact, a study published in August 2012 by researchers at the Cleveland Clinic concluded that Jehovah’s Witness patients recovered better from heart surgery than patients who received blood transfusions. It’s the longest study conducted on such patients — the researchers followed them for up to 20 years. The Jehovah’s Witness patients had higher five-year survival rates, fewer heart attacks following the surgery and fewer complications including sepsis and renal failure. The better outcomes might not have been due to the absence of transfusions but to differences in care received — the patients were more likely to be treated for low blood levels before surgery by receiving iron supplements and vitamins, and every patient’s surgery included use of an intraoperative cell salvage device. The findings suggest that these methods employed for bloodless surgeries could help patients beyond the Jehovah’s Witness community.
At Pennsylvania Hospital, Ford has discovered that, for scheduled surgeries, one of the best ways to avoid the need for blood transfusions is to test patients’ levels of hemoglobin — the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen — well before their surgery. If the levels are low, then the patient can take vitamin K and iron supplements, which help the body produce more blood cells and help red blood cells more efficiently carry oxygen throughout the body. The practice of testing for low red blood cell levels, or anemia, is now beginning to spread from specialized clinics like Ford’s to other hospitals around the country.
“Testing for anemia was just not on people’s radar screens, because they knew that they could always give the patient blood,” says Ford. Now, many doctors consider testing a patient’s blood cell levels just as important as testing their heart and lung health before surgery. This shift is supported by studies such as an October 2012 analysis in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery of the outcomes of more than 17,000 heart surgeries, which found an increase in stroke, death during surgery and death after surgery when patients were anemic before surgery.
At Stanford, standard pre-surgery tests include blood counts for patients who are expected to lose large amounts of blood, says Goodnough. If anemia is suggested by the results, clinicians aim to manage the condition before surgery.
At Penn, Ford also emphasizes the conservation of blood during surgery, often by using an intraoperative cell salvage device. Patients can also donate blood in the weeks leading up to a scheduled surgery and their own saved blood — called an autologous donation — can be used for a transfusion if necessary. In the 1980s, Goodnough studied the usefulness of autologous donations in different patient population groups and pushed for its broader usage. It’s now considered a mainstream way of reducing the need for donated blood. “It sounds like a mundane concept now, but it was quite progressive when we first started looking at it,” says Goodnough.
Among Ford’s lessons with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, she says that perhaps her most important has been that there’s no magic hemoglobin number that tells doctors when a patient will start exhibiting signs of anemia. Typically, doctors consider hemoglobin above 12 to be normal, and hemoglobin below 7 or 8 to indicate the need for a blood transfusion. But Ford and a growing number of other doctors think those numbers could be pushed down further, a change that would require new studies for many to adapt.
“It’s not unusual for me to see a patient who has a hemoglobin of 5 and they look as healthy as anyone walking down the street,” says Ford. Of course, there also can be patients who become sick with much higher hemoglobin levels, but Ford would like to see more doctors treating blood levels based on symptoms, not a number. Goodnough agrees: “It’s really hard to demonstrate at what level of hemoglobin a transfusion will help a patient,” he says. “And we’re increasingly seeing that for most patients, hemoglobin has to be exceptionally low to have effects.” But it depends more on the patient’s health and risk factors, he says. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution.
Beyond learning from Jehovah’s Witness patients who receive no donated blood during surgeries, the past decade has seen the first controlled trials in the broader population to test whether limiting blood transfusions — though not eliminating them entirely — affects outcomes. The first large trial to test whether allowing patients to have lower levels of hemoglobin was harmful was called Transfusion Requirements in Critical Care and the results were published in 1998. Before then, transfusing any critically ill patient with hemoglobin levels under 10 grams per deciliter was considered appropriate — even necessary — treatment. But the trial looked at the outcome of 800 patients in intensive care units and found that there was no difference in patients’ health over 30 days if the transfusion trigger was 7 instead of 10. Moreover, the amount of blood used by an ICU was halved when the trigger was lowered. But the findings applied only to a specific patient population.
So Carson and his colleagues launched a new study, following more than 2,000 surgical patients who had hemoglobin levels less than 10 after hip surgery and had accompanying cardiovascular disease, making them a higher-risk population. Once again, they found that neither death nor complication rates increased with a more restrictive transfusion strategy. The results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2011. In Carson’s trial, one-third the amount of blood was used in hospitals when the transfusion trigger was dropped from 10 to 7.
But more studies are still needed. “The question is, how low can you go?” Carson says. If 6.5, or even 6, is as good a trigger as 7, blood is still being transfused unnecessarily.
At Stanford and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, physicians including Goodnough spearheaded that next step — enforcing less blood use — by creating a unique method of nudging doctors to change their ways.
An analysis at Stanford revealed that more than two-thirds of patients with hemoglobin levels over 8 grams per deciliter were receiving blood transfusions. “It led us to believe we were heavily overutilizing blood,” says Goodnough.
Now, if a Stanford doctor tries to order a blood transfusion for a patient with hemoglobin levels over 8, a pop-up alert appears on the computer, reminding the doctor of the latest guidelines on when to transfuse blood (the AABB published guidelines in July 2012 recommending transfusion only below a hemoglobin level of 7 for stable patients), and asks questions about the doctor’s reason for ordering the transfusion. The doctor ends up cancelling the order 40 percent of the time.
“The system helped people think twice,” says Goodnough.
For those 60 percent of incidents in which doctors continue to give blood to patients with a hemoglobin level above 8, the reasoning is occasionally based on a patient’s symptoms — if they don’t have stable vital signs, for instance, there is evidence that a transfusion could help them. But in many cases, it’s simply physician preference; doctors want to stick to the protocols they have been using for years, even though they may be outdated.
Nationwide there’s been a dramatic decrease in blood usage, says Susan Galel, MD, director of clinical operations at the Stanford Blood Center. Some of it is attributed to the economic downturn combined with the rising cost of blood — hospitals can save money by buying less blood — and some of it to more effective blood management and efforts like Stanford’s computer system.
In a May 2012 Anesthesiology article, Goodnough quoted Richard Benjamin, the chief medical officer for the American Red Cross, as stating in a personal communication that national blood usage had declined 3 percent each of the previous two years, for a cumulative decline of almost 7 percent. The details are not public at this time.
Whatever the motivation for the decrease in blood use, and whatever the pace of the decline, the outcome of using less blood is conserved resources, saved money and — based on the recent studies — improved patient health.
In some emergency situations, though, patients will always need blood transfusions. Despite years of research, no safe substitutes for real human blood have been developed that can help patients in cases of blood loss. Substitutes that showed promise in the 1990s failed in clinical trials after leading to increases in mortality rates and adverse outcomes such as heart attacks, and exciting early prospects have led to disappointment time after time. As recently as the early 2000s, the compound PolyHeme was generating excitement and being tested in phase-3 clinical trials. But the trials were halted in 2006, citing an increase in patient deaths when relying on the blood substitute, and temporarily, at least, closing the door on artificial blood. So today, doctors continue to depend on donated blood from blood banks when they’re dealing with major emergency blood loss.
Even in these trauma situations, however, where it’s clear that the need for blood is not going away any time soon, doctors are constantly researching the best ways to use blood products to help patients survive: When should blood be given? How much? What mixture of blood components should a transfusion consist of?
“What we’re doing is coming up with massive transfusion protocols to help physicians administer blood products in the right ratios,” says critical-care specialist Maggio.
While most blood transfusions — those that are discussed above — consist of red blood cells, there are other components of blood that may need to be replaced in patients suffering massive blood loss. So the mixture typically given to trauma patients has three ingredients: red blood cells, plasma (the liquid part of blood that contains not only water, but sugars, proteins, fats and salts) and platelets (fragments of cells that help blood clot).
And for patients who need these fine-tuned mixtures of blood, it’s not always the case that less blood is better. Instead, it’s a matter of recognizing when a patient does need massive amounts of blood and determining how it’s best administered. In the past, Maggio says, a doctor’s first priority when seeing a patient who had lost a large amount of blood was to provide a solution mimicking the fluid component of blood — not the blood cells. But recent studies have shown that for patients requiring large volume resuscitation, administering blood cells should be a higher priority than fluids. So Stanford has a new system to make that possible.
At Stanford, trauma doctors are also adopting blood reuse protocols such as those that Ford uses at Penn. For major trauma patients, like the motorcycle crash victim he saw last year, the cell salvage device is critical, Maggio says. And it’s routinely set up for every case of major trauma at Stanford. “For cases where I suspect there may be a large amount of blood loss, I also call ahead and make sure it’s set up,” Maggio explains. Once surgery has begun, it’s too late to set up the device, since the majority of blood is cleaned out of the surgery site immediately after the first incision, he says.
And for many trauma patients, and others who need a transfusion in an emergency, it’s still true that blood is a lifesaver. The more than 50,000 blood donations through Stanford Blood Center each year are key to saving many lives.
Such a trial will likely never happen, at least in the full-blown sense, but the studies of Jehovah’s Witnesses and the lack of ill effects from lowering the transfusion trigger point have made it clear that in some cases the human body can recover from low blood levels by relying on its own, natural mechanisms for blood replacement.
So when Goodnough sees patients in the hospital wards, he does what every doctor is trained to do: judge patients’ health through not a single number or test, but by a combination of factors, including patients’ own reports of how they feel. Hemoglobin levels are only one part of the puzzle as to how someone’s body is operating, and transfusions of blood are only one possible course of action if symptoms do suggest low blood levels. | 2019-04-21T10:44:03Z | http://sm.stanford.edu/archive/stanmed/2013spring/article5.html |
Abstract The author sets about re-thinking the old concept of “World Peace Through Law” (WPTL), meaning replacing the use of international force with the global rule of law. He traces the history of the WPTL concept back to the British legal philosopher Jeremy Bentham, whose 1789 ‘Plan for an Universal and Perpetual Peace’ proposed “a plan of general and permanent pacification for all Europe,” with troop reductions(especially in naval forces) and “a Common Court of Judicature” to resolve differences between nations. The author’s 21st century version of WPTL bears an uncanny resemblance to Bentham’s original proposal, calling for: 1) arms reductions (including abolition of nuclear weapons); 2) a four-stage comprehensive system of compulsory alternative dispute resolution (compulsory negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and adjudication); and 3) various enforcement mechanisms, including an international peace force.
The author argues that now is the time for adoption of what is a mainstream middle-of- the-road proposition (previously adopted by four past American presidents, including Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Dwight David Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy) that is neither “too little” (our current strategy of “collective insecurity”) nor “too much” (world government or world federalism). Instead, WPTL calls for only 1) arms reductions, not general and complete disarmament; 2) compulsory international alternative dispute resolution systems, not a global legislature; and 3) means of effective enforcement (including an international police force), not pacifism.
If one takes a long view of our history as a species and as a gradually maturing international society, it becomes apparent that we are already on our way, while scarcely realizing it, to “world peace through law” through the one-step-at-a-time brick-by-brick, law-by-law, norm-by-norm accretion of a body of mere “international law” which is gradually becoming a body of genuine “world law” right before our unsuspecting eyes. And this world-law-in- the-making has been happening even during the recent administration of a U.S. government more scornful of international law and international institutions than any in U.S. history.
What in the world am I talking about? Well, first, I am talking about a vast body of inter- national law, built up primarily over the past several centuries.* This is not to say that there were not significant developments in international law prior to this.3 One can start by looking at a mere short-list of the highlights of international law and institutions over the years, to remind ourselves of the progress that has been made, despite the serious shortcomings that remain.
* Jeremy Bentham was the first to coin the term “international law.” M.W. Janis, “Jeremy Bentham and the Fashioning of ‘International Law,’” American Journal of International Law, 78, no. 2 (1984): 405-418.
1878: Int’l Bureau of Weights & Measures & Int’l Meteorological Org.
* While disavowing any “teleological view,” Judith L. Goldstein, Miles Kahler, Robert O. Keohane, & Anne-Marie Slaughter find that “[i]n many issue- areas, the world is witnessing a move to law.” † Cf. Percy E. Corbett, The Growth of World Law, at 50 (1971) (the international law system “leaves off precisely at the point where law is most necessary, namely where the urge to unrestrained action is strongest”).
* Trial of German Major War Criminals (Goering et al), International Military Tribunal (Nuremberg), Judgment and Sentence (Sept. 30 & Oct. 1, 1946) (Cmd 6964, HMSO, London), at 40: “The law of war is to be found not only in treaties, but in the customs and practices of States which gradually obtained universal recognition, and from general principles of justice applied by jurists….” Also cf. Hans Kelsen, Law and Peace in International Relations: The Oliver Wendell Holmes Lectures, 1940-1941, at 145, 149-51 (1942) (arguing that the natural evolution of law is from courts to legislatures). † Wayne R. LaFave & Austin W. Scott, Jr., Criminal Law, at 619 n.3 (1972) (common law crime of larceny by bailee finally recognized in 1473). ‡ Ranney, Heritage (also “Milestones in Legal History” chart appendix at 3-5 nn. 28, 31 & 39) (jury develops from royal inquest of local knights of the shire into independent criminal trial jury by 1220; subsequent development of right to freedom of deliberation in Bushel’s Case in 1670; parliament grows out of body mainly “judicial” in nature or merely advisory to king into independent legislature ca. 1258). § There is an excellent argument that these and similar treaties should have been adopted via the congressional-executive agreement process rather than via the treaty clause. The former method is more democratic than the latter since it involves both houses, the two-thirds requirement being based upon now-discredited concerns of the slaveholding states.
This ongoing process, which is gradually turning weak “international law” into enforceable “world law,” is very much like the growth of the early common law. In twelfth and thirteenth-century Britain, the common law crimes and torts and other civil claims grew up one by one, gradually converting a hodgepodge of primitive local and feudal folk laws reliant upon self-help remedies (the blood feud and its composition) into a systematic legal structure of pleas of the crown and causes of action enforceable in the central royal courts.†, 9 Similarly, various legal institutions, such as trial by jury and an independent parliament, only gradually came into existence, after much hard work and acts of individual courage and even occasional battles, transforming what were arms of royal power and control into democratic individual-freedom-enhancing legal institutions.‡, 10 A similar evolutionary process is plainly at work in the field of international law.
It is true, of course, that many of the more recent advances (e.g., the ICC and the Law of the Sea Treaty) have not yet been ratified by the United States.§, 11 This, despite the fact that many in the U.S., such as Ambassador Elliot Richardson, chief U.S. negotiator at the Law of the Sea Conference, and Bill Pace, Convenor of the NGO Coalition for an International Criminal Court, played a key role in their creation. But this will change. America will eventually come to its senses and recover its historic courage, reject the craven politics of fear, and rejoin the world community. America may also come to realize that the cost of being World Cop is something it can no longer afford, with its current financial difficulties likely hastening this realization.
* Global corporations “have the ability to ‘venue shop’ and play countries against one another to win better legal, regulatory, or tax treatment” [e.g., Halliburton moving corporate headquarters from Houston to Dubai] such that “on transnational issues there is a [regulatory] void”. Approximately, 56 tax/ regulatory/secrecy havens involving 2 million companies and $12 trillion in assets result in annual tax loss estimated at $255 billion; GAO report shows that by now 60% of large U.S. corporations pay no taxes; havens also hide risky debt instruments, facilitate corruption, and cause the deaths of over 250,000 children a year due to illegal capital flight and lost tax revenue.
† It could be argued that the logic of the “world peace through law” formula would dictate an immediate International Human Rights Court. But as Justice Holmes famously said, “the life of the law has not been logic.” More importantly, the way in which I use the “world peace through law” syllogism does not contemplate “litigating” our way to peace or human rights, at least not until there is a greater global consensus on fundamental values.
‡ With expanded coverage of crimes such as possession of nuclear weapons or components.
§ Spelled out in detail in forthcoming book by the author.
* One can foresee the objection that a UNPF might look too much like an overgrown NATO. Cf. Christoph Marischka, “How Ban Ki-moon subjugated the UN to NATO,” Informationsstelle Militarisierung (June 1, 2009) (www.imi-online.de/2009.php3?id+1925) (largely unnoticed document of 23 September 2008 signaling cooperation between UN and NATO objected to by Transnational Foundation for Peace & gFuture Research). This is not the place for an extended discussion of what a good UNPF would look like (although obviously it would need to be able to respond timely to diverse challenges in appropriately diverse ways, with fully-equipped well-trained crème de la crème officers and troops with access to adequate logistics, intelligence and communications, operating under well-organized and well-coordinated command and control and a clear mandate). Also, the emphasis upon a UN peace “force” ought not imply a too-ready resort to force. Rather, this must be a “peace and reconciliation” force that makes full use of conflict resolution and other non-violent approaches (e.g., something like the existing Non-Violent Peace force should be either a part of a UNPF or available to it).
Although the above proposal does place considerable emphasis upon the role of global law and legal institutions in securing peace, there is no suggestion that the law by itself will somehow miraculously transform the world.
Obviously, more than mere “legal change” is required. It will take fundamental social and political change. It will take increased understanding amongst countries, facilitated by vastly increased exchange programs, twinned-universities, worldwide internet and interfaith exchanges, a sharing of the most precious children’s literature of all cultures, and an infinite variety of similar measures. Law, after all, is merely public sentiment crystallized.
There are those who would argue, in fact, that all we really need for a peaceful and just future world is the classic idea of a gradual but steady decline in militarism and military spending worldwide, as part of a generalized increase in understanding amongst countries. For just as we would no longer think of going to war with Canada and just as Great Britain and France would no longer think of going to war, so too we and Russia and others may arrive at a similar point of mutual understanding in our joint destinies.*, 20 And this new outlook would be accompanied by the de facto resort to readily available legal dispute resolution systems. Thus, there might not be that much need for a UNPF or at least not a large one.
* As hard as it is right now to envision reconciliation with our current worst enemies, I believe that we will eventually see precisely that, especially as there is a decline in what may appropriately be called toxic religiosity, on all sides. This will be the culmination, worldwide, of the Age of Reason. Cf. Thomas Paine, The Age of Reason: Being an Investigation of True and Fabulous Theology (1794). Cf. also www.strategicforesight.com (working for an “inclusive world”).
Of course, all these things inevitably play together. Progress on one front will facilitate progress on other fronts. Progress on human rights and economic development will facilitate the kinds of normative changes needed for significant arms reductions and a greater willing- ness to rely upon global legal institutions. Arms reductions will permit greater economic and human development and a blossoming of humanity’s creative capacity for good. Deeper arms reductions will likely depend upon progress on building alternative security systems and stronger international legal structures. Even though we will face the inevitable setbacks, when one takes the long view of human history, the trajectory we are on is apparent.
1. Jeremy Bentham, Plan for an Universal and Perpetual Peace (London : Sweet and Maxwell, 1927), 12-27.
2. Joseph P. Baratta, The Politics of World Federation (Westport: Praeger, 2004) (excellent history of movement, tracing origins of idea back to at least Dante [ca. 1311], Henry IV of France , William Penn , Abbe de Saint-Pierre , Rousseau , Kant , and early British and American federalists, through huge popular successes post-WWII to its near extinction in the McCarthy Era; appendix has annotated bibliography of 77 books); Christopher Hamer, A Global Parliament: Principles Of World Federalism (Oyster Bay: Oyster Bay Books, 1998); and Grenville Clark & Louis Sohn, World Peace through World Law (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1966). Also cf. Louis Lusky, “Four Problems in Lawmaking for Peace,” Political Science Quarterly 80, no. 3 (1965): 341-356; and Inis Claude, Swords into Plowshares: the Problems and Progress of International Organization (New York: Random House, 1971).
3. Harold J. Berman, “The Law of International Commercial Transactions (Lex Mercatoria),” Harvard International Law Review 19, no. 1 (1978): 274-277 (tracing origins of law merchant from Sea Law of Rhodes, ca. 300 B.C.). But with the evolution of the modern nation-state in the early 1600s, see Sheri Berman, “From the Sun King to Karzai: Lessons for State Building in Afghanistan,” Foreign Affairs 89, no.2 (Mar/Apr 2010): 2-9, we see the growth of international law.
4. Mary Ellen O’Connell, The Power and Purpose of International Law: Insights From the Theory & Practice of Enforcement (New York: Oxford University Press, 2008). Also compare Judith L. Goldstein, Miles Kahler, Robert O. Keohane, & Anne- Marie Slaughter, Legalization and World Politics (Cambridge: MIT Press, 2001). Philip Allott, “The Emerging Universal Legal System,” International Law Forum 3, no.1 (2001): 12-17. See also Martii Koskenniemi, The Gentle Civilizer: The Rise and Fall of International Law 1870-1960 (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2002). Julius Stone, Of Law and Nations: Between Power Politics and Human Hopes (N.Y: W.S. Hein, 1974) and Eric Posner, The Perils of Global Legalism (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2009).
5. Compare Nicole Deller, Arjun Makhijani & John Burroughs, eds., Rule of Power or Rule of Law? An Assessment of U.S. Policies and Actions Regarding Security-Related Treaties (New York: Apex Press, 2003); Oona Hathaway, “Why We Need International Law: Undoing the Bush Administration’s Damage,” The Nation, November 19, 2007 (remarkable internal documents show deep aversion to international law); and Thomas M. Franck, “The Power of Legitimacy and the Legitimacy of Power: International Law in an Age of Power Disequilibrium,” American Journal of International Law 100, no. 1 (2006): 88-106. Robert J. Delahunty and John C. Yoo, “Peace Through Law? The Failure of a Noble Experiment,” Michigan Law Review 106 (2008): 923-939. Cf. also Corbett, supra, at 51 (those scornful of stumbling attempts to create world law “display a lack of perspective no less real than that of the hurried idealists whose visions they deprecate.”).
6. Richard H. Steinberg, “Judicial Lawmaking at the WTO: Discursive, Constitutional, and Political Constraints,” American Journal of International Law 98, no. 2 (2004): 247-275 and Bernhard Zangl, “Judicialization Matters! A Comparison of Dispute Settlement Under GATT and the WTO,” International Studies Quarterly 52 (2008): 825–854.
7. Louis B. Sohn, Kristen G. Juras, John E. Noyes & Erik Franckx, Law of the Sea in a Nutshell (Minnesota: West, 2010) and www.un.org/Depts/los.
9. Harold Berman, Law and Revolution: The Formation of the Western Legal Tradition (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1983) and James T. Ranney, Heritage of Our Freedoms: Milestones in Legal History 16 (1987): 19-20 (slideshow transcript and coursebook) (on file with author).
10. Theodore F. Plucknett, A Concise History of the Common Law (Boston: Little, Brown, 1956), 118-134 and Henry G. Richard- son & George O. Sayles, The English Parliament in the Middle Ages (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1981).
11. Oona Hathaway, “Treaties’ End: the Past, Present, and Future of International Lawmaking in the United States,” Yale Law Journal 117, no.8 (2008): 1236-1372.
12. Joseph E. Stiglitz, “A Real Cure for the Global Economic Crackup,” The Nation, July 13, 2009; David Kennedy, “The Mystery of Global Governance,” in Jeffrey L. Dunoff & Joel P. Trachtman, Ruling the World? Constitutionalism, International Law, and Global Governance (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009); David Rothkopf, Power, Inc: The Epic Rivalry Between Big Business and Government—and the Reckoning That Lies Ahead (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2012); Ronen Palan, Richard Murphy & Christian Chavagneux, Tax Havens: How Globalization Really Works (Ithaca: Cornell Uni- versity Press, 2010); James Gustave Speth & Peter M. Haas, Global Environmental Governance (Washington: Island Press, 2006); and Pierre de Senarclens & Ali Kazancigil, Regulating Globalization: Critical Approaches to Global Governance (New York: United Nations University Press, 2007).
13. For a good example of the problem-by-problem type of analysis required, see Jeffrey Dunoff, “Institutional Misfits: The GATT, the ICJ & Trade-Environment Disputes,” Michigan Journal of International Law 15, no. 1042 (1994): 2-83.
14. See Paul Gordon Lauren, The Evolution of International Human Rights: Visions Seen (Philadelphia : University of Pennsylva- nia Press, 2010); Anatoly I. Adamishin & Richard Schifter, Human Rights, Perestroika, and the End of the Cold War (Washing- ton, D.C.: United States Institute of Peace Press, 2009); William Burke-White, “Human Rights and National Security: The Strategic Correlation,” Harvard Human Rights Journal 17 (2004): 249-280; and Hilary Mantel, “The War Against Women,” New York Review of Books April 30, 2009.
15. Richard B. Bilder, “Judicial Procedures Relating to the Use of Force,” in Lori Fisler Damrosch & David J. Scheffer, Law and Force in the New International Order (Boulder: Westview Press, 1991) and Peace With Justice: Selected Addresses by Dwight David Eisenhower (New York, Columbia University Press, 1961) (Eisenhower favors compulsory jurisdiction for ICJ).
16. See www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1906/roosevelt-lecture.html (Theodore Roosevelt’s 1910 Nobel Peace Prize lecture urges creation of world court with enforcement powers via “some form of international police power”); David Kennedy, “The Move to Institutions,” Cardozo Law Review 8, no.5 (1987): 841-979; (prior to WWI, many prominent American jurists, statesmen, and industrialists, such as William Howard Taft, favored various forms of “world peace through law”); and Allan McKnight & Keith Suter, The Forgotten Treaties: A Practical Plan for World Disarmament (Melbourne: Law Council of Australia, 1983). (1961: McCloy-Zorin Statement of Agreed Principles for Disarmament Negotiations, initiated by Eisenhower and Kennedy, called for “general and complete disarmament,” with “procedures for peaceful settlement of disputes” and “an international police force”). See also Lincoln P. Bloomfield, ed., International Military Forces: The Question of Peacekeeping in an Armed and Disarming World (Boston: Little, Brown, 1964); Elise Boulding & Randall Forsberg, Abolishing War: Dialogue With Peace Scholars (Cambridge: Boston Research Center for the 21st Century, 1998); and James T. Ranney, “Beyond Minimal Deterrence—An Approach to Nuclear Disarmament,” Journal of World Peace 4 (1987):18-20.
17. Tad Daley, Apocalypse Never: Forging the Path to a Nuclear Weapon-Free World (New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 2010); “Press Launch – Abolishing Nuclear Weapons,” The International Institute for Strategic Studies www.iiss.org/events- calendar/2008-events-archive/September-2008/press-launch-abolishing-nuclear-weapons; and Lawrence S. Wittner, Confronting the Bomb: A Short History of the World Nuclear Disarmament Movement (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2009).
18. See Jonathan Schell, The Abolition (New York: Knopf, 1984); Harold Feiveson, Richard Ullman & Frank Von Hippel, “Reducing U.S. and Soviet Arsenals,” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 41, no.7 (1985): 144; Robert Johansen, Toward an Alternative Security System (New York: World Policy Institute, 1983); and Mark Sommer, Beyond the Bomb: Living Without Nuclear Weapons, at 52-55 (Massachusetts: Expro Press, 1985).
19. Cf. Nina M. Serafino, “The Global Peace Operations Initiative: Background and Issues for Congress” (Washington, D.C.: Congressional Information Service, Library of Congress, 2009) (even the Bush Administration favored multilateral peace- keeping and stabilization forces).
Note to reader: For most recent edition of "BLUEPRINT FOR LASTING PEACE" go to. | 2019-04-23T06:18:50Z | http://www.endwarforever.com/BluePrintforaLastingPeace.html |
Advances in our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms in rheumatic disease fostered the advent of the targeted therapeutics era. Intense research activity continues to increase the number of potential targets at an accelerated pace. In this review, examples of promising targets and agents that are at various stages of clinical development are described. Cytokine inhibition remains at the forefront with the success of tumor necrosis factor blockers, and biologics that block interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-17, IL-12, and IL-23 and other cytokines are on the horizon. After the success of rituximab and abatacept, other cell-targeted approaches that inhibit or deplete lymphocytes have moved forward, such as blocking BAFF/BLyS (B-cell activation factor of the tumor necrosis factor family/B-lymphocyte stimulator) and APRIL (a proliferation-inducing ligand) or suppressing T-cell activation with costimulation molecule blockers. Small-molecule inhibitors might eventually challenge the dominance of biologics in the future. In addition to plasma membrane G protein-coupled chemokine receptors, small molecules can be designed to block intracellular enzymes that control signaling pathways. Inhibitors of tyrosine kinases expressed in lymphocytes, such as spleen tyrosine kinase and Janus kinase, are being tested in autoimmune diseases. Inactivation of the more broadly expressed mitogen-activated protein kinases could suppress inflammation driven by macrophages and mesenchymal cells. Targeting tyrosine kinases downstream of growth factor receptors might also reduce fibrosis in conditions like systemic sclerosis. The abundance of potential targets suggests that new and creative ways of evaluating safety and efficacy are needed.
The development of new therapies for rheumatic diseases was mainly empiric until recently. Most of the drugs that we used until the 1990s, including standards like methotrexate, were originally discovered for other purposes or were accidentally noted to be beneficial in autoimmunity. As the molecular mechanisms of disease have been unraveled, newer targeted therapies have been a stunning success. Understanding the importance of cytokine networks in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) led to the biologics era with agents that block tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and IL-6. These biologics are also effective in other diseases, including seronegative spondyloarthropathies, autoinflammatory syndromes, and perhaps gout.
Despite notable achievements, currently available therapies are not effective in many patients with rheumatic diseases. The new biologics are ineffective in many individuals; in some situations, like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), no new effective therapies have been approved for decades. As our knowledge of disease pathogenesis expands, new pathways and mechanisms that can be exploited are emerging. In this review, we will discuss some promising targets that have arisen from recent research. Due to the breadth and depth of current research and space limitations, this is not an exhaustive review, but it does provide a taste of what is to come (Figure 1).
Intercellular molecules such as cytokines and their surface receptors can be targeted by biologics such as monoclonal antibodies, receptor-antibody fusion proteins, and, in some cases, small molecules. Intracellular enzymatic cascades convey the information from the cell surface to regulate the cell response, including transcriptional activity in the nucleus. Cell-permeable molecular compounds can block a specific kinase and transcription factors. Some surface receptors such as G-protein-coupled receptors represent another class of molecule that can be inhibited by small-molecule compounds. AP-1, activation protein-1; BLyS, B-lymphocyte stimulator; ICOS, inducible costimulator; IL, interleukin; IRF, interferon regulatory factor; LTβ-R, lymphotoxin beta receptor; NF-κB, nuclear factor-kappa-B.
The most dramatic therapeutic advances in the 'modern' era of rheumatology have focused on anti-cytokine therapy. As the cytokine network becomes increasingly complex, new and exciting possibilities arise. In this section, a few key cytokine targets are discussed.
Of the cytokines relevant to autoimmunity, IL-17 and its family have perhaps generated the most anticipation. In murine models of autoimmune disease, the Th17 subtype of T lymphocytes that produce IL-17 plays a pivotal role in pathogenesis . While the function of this factor in humans is less certain, it represents a unique T cell-derived factor that could participate in many rheumatic diseases. The IL-17 family comprises six members designated IL-17A through F, with perhaps the most important being IL-17A (which is the cytokine usually called 'IL-17'). IL-17A is found in the synovial fluids of some RA patients and can be detected in T cell-rich areas of RA synovial tissue [2, 3]. It, along with its closest homolog IL-17F, enhances the production of proinflammatory cytokines by fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and might amplify the effects of macrophage-derived cytokines such as TNF . Blockade of IL-17 with an antibody-based approach is very effective in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) as well as many other models of inflammation .
There are several ways to block IL-17 family members. Conventional methods, such as monoclonal anti-IL-17A antibodies, are currently being developed for RA and psoriasis as well as other autoimmune indications. Subunits of the IL-17 receptor complexes (IL-17RA and IL-17RC) could be used to design soluble antagonists that can bind multiple members, such as IL-17A and IL-17F. The results of IL-17-directed approaches are eagerly anticipated for a variety of indications, including RA and psoriasis.
IL-12 and IL-23 are related cytokines that are secreted by macrophages and dendritic cells after cytokine or Toll-like receptor ligand stimulation. IL-12 is a key inducer of Th1 CD4+ T cells that produce interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), whereas IL-23 contributes to Th17 polarization. Thus, an IL-23-targeted therapy could potentially have a downstream effect on IL-17 production. When T cells are exposed to IL-23, the cells can be directed toward the Th17 phenotype. This is especially true in mice, in which exposure to IL-6 and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) also contributes to Th17 cell production through the activation of STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) and induction of the transcription factor retinoic acid-related orphan receptor (RORγt). The system in humans is not as well defined and TGF-β might not contribute. Nevertheless, an IL-23-targeted therapy could potentially have a downstream effect by limiting the activation of Th17 cells and decreasing expression of IL-17 family genes. The interplay between IL-12 and IL-23 and autoimmunity can be complex; mice deficient in the IL-12 p35 subunit have increased severity of CIA . In contrast, mice lacking the p19 subunit of IL-23 are protected from CIA, as are p40 knockout mice, the subunit common to IL-12 and IL-23.
Even though IFN-γ is the signature cytokine of Th1 cells and is pathogenic in some models of autoimmunity, including proteoglycan-induced arthritis, the IL-12/IFN-γ axis can also be protective in CIA and experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) . IFN-γ also blocks Th17 development and can potentially enhance regulatory T (Treg) cell response [8, 9]. Strategies that interfere with IL-17 production like IL-12/IL-23 inhibitors or IFNγ can potentially enhance the suppressive activity of Tcells and limit autoimmunity. Treg cell numbers can also increase with other cytokine modulators, such as infliximab . The apparent reciprocal relationship of Treg cells and Th17 cells provides a potential way to alter immune responses and restore homeostasis through cytokine modulation.
IFN-γ is expressed at relatively low levels in the rheumatoid synovium and exerts anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in some arthritis models . IFN-γ administration in RA shows minimal efficacy and caused disease exacerbation in multiple sclerosis. Patients could only tolerate a dose considerably lower than required to suppress arthritis in mouse models. Based on the results of clinical and preclinical studies, a selective IL-12-directed agent that interferes with Th1 cell differentiation without a major effect on Th17 cells might be less attractive.
Mouse and human T-cell systems clearly differ in many respects, which makes extrapolation from murine models difficult . As noted above, TGF-β is critical for Th17 differentiation in the mouse but might be less important in human cells. A large percentage of human IL-17-positive T cells also produce IFN-γ. While blocking Th17 cells might be sufficient in mice, efficacy could require suppressing both the Th1 and Th17 pathways in humans. This approach could involve interfering with IL-23, which is required by Th17 cells for effector function. IL-23 p19 levels were higher in RA than osteoarthritis synovial fluids in one study . However, another group detected low levels of heterodimeric bioactive IL-23 in only a fraction of RA synovium samples .
A monoclonal antibody against p40, the subunit common to IL-12 and IL-23, showed remarkable efficacy and a favorable safety profile in inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis [15–17]. The results of a placebo-controlled phase II study in psoriatic arthritis are also available. Patients were treated every week for 4 weeks and received two other injections at weeks 12 and 16. ACR20 (American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement criteria) responses at 12 weeks were achieved in 42% of patients compared with 14% in the placebo group. ACR50 and 70 responses were also statistically significant (25% versus 7% and 10% versus 0%, respectively) .
The small molecule STA-5326 is being evaluated in a phase II trial in RA. In vitro, this compound blocks IL-12, IL-23, and IFN-γ production by cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells, although the mechanism is not well established. In an open-label study, STA-5326 decreased clinical activity scores in Crohn disease patients. The clinical trials might help investigators to understand the role of the IL-12/IL-23 axis in different forms of human autoimmune disease.
Elevated levels of IL-15 are expressed in the synovium of RA patients and have been implicated as a mediator of TNF production by macrophages . This cytokine can also participate in joint inflammation by attracting neutrophils and T lymphocytes and by triggering the proliferation of memory CD8+ T cells. IL-15 can be bound to the plasma membrane or secreted, while a shorter isoform remains intracellular. The IL-15 receptor complex is trimeric and comprises the γ subunit (shared with IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, and IL-21) and IL-2/15 β chains (shared with IL-2). The IL-15R α chain confers specificity toward IL-15. A human monoclonal antibody that binds IL-15 showed a modest ACR20 response in a phase II clinical trial at the highest dose, supporting a possible contribution of IL-15 in RA. These preliminary results are encouraging, although a second study failed to show significant benefit.
Elevated levels of BAFF/BLyS (B-cell activation factor of the TNF family/B-lymphocyte stimulator) and APRIL (a proliferation-inducing ligand) are found in the serum of patients with RA, SLE, and Sjögren syndrome. These two cytokines are members of the TNF superfamily and are expressed by various cell types, including monocytes, dendritic cells, osteoclasts, and synoviocytes . Both bind to receptors expressed on B cells, known as BCMA (B-cell maturation protein) and TACI (transmembrane activator and CAML interactor). BAFF receptor 3 (BR3) recognizes only BAFF/BLyS. These molecules perform similar functions in B-cell development and survival, Ig class switch, and costimulation.
Several different biologic strategies to block BAFF/BLyS and APRIL are being developed. Belimumab is a fully humanized anti-BAFF antibody that showed minimal efficacy in a phase II trial in RA . Belimumab was also evaluated in a phase II study in patients with active SLE. It failed to meet its primary endpoint, but subgroup analysis suggested that it might improve or stabilize disease activity in some patients . One potential problem with belimumab is that it does not block APRIL and hence might not have sufficient effect on B-cell maturation. TACI-Ig is designed to function as a decoy receptor with both anti-BLyS and anti-APRIL activity. Another agent, the BAFF receptor-Ig fusion protein, inhibits only BAFF. TACI-Ig is being evaluated in RA and SLE, and preliminary studies suggest that there is a significant decrease in serum immunoglobulins. Anti-BR3 antibodies with cell depletion activity and BR3-Fc are being developed for similar indications [21, 23]. The respective merits of strategies involving BLyS and APRIL are difficult to compare because their respective roles in humans are not yet fully understood.
The lymphotoxin (LT) system is also part of the TNF superfamily and includes lymphotoxin-related inducible ligand that competes for glycoprotein D binding to herpes virus entry mediator on T cells (LIGHT), LTα, and LTβ . All three ligands can bind the LTβ receptor (LTβR) and can participate in the development of the immune system and lymphoid organization. LTα also binds to the TNF receptors and its function is blocked by etanercept. In addition, LIGHT binds to another receptor, herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM). The LIGHT-HVEM interaction is proinflammatory, but HVEM also binds the B- and T-lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA), which suppresses immune responses.
Decoy receptors designed by linking the LTβR with the Ig Fc domain selectively inhibit the proinflammatory functions of the LT system. This strategy is effective in many animal models of autoimmunity, including CIA, EAE, and murine models of SLE and diabetes . LTβR signaling is required to develop and maintain tertiary lymphoid structures but is dispensable for many aspects of secondary lymphoid organ biology in adults.
In RA, lymphoid structures are seen in the synovium of up to 30% of patients. LTβR-Ig therapy might be especially effective in this subpopulation if these structures play a critical role in local antigen presentation and disease pathogenesis . In addition, synoviocytes can respond to LIGHT, LTα, and LTβ with the release of proinflammatory mediators. Early results from RA patients treated with LTβR-Ig have demonstrated some benefit, although a larger study reportedly did not demonstrate sufficient efficacy to warrant continued development for RA. However, other autoimmune diseases, such as SLE, are additional indications that could be evaluated with this molecule. Careful monitoring of host defense will also be needed given the important role of LTβ in germinal center organization.
Inflammatory and immune cell recruitment to target tissue is a hallmark of autoimmune diseases. This process is regulated by a class of proteins called chemokines as well as many small-molecule chemoattractants . More than 40 chemokines have been identified and many can bind to more than one receptor. In addition, about half of the 20 chemokine receptors, which are 7-transmembrane G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), recognize multiple chemokines. Which chemokine or receptor to block in a particular disease remains a difficult question, and targeting individual chemokines has not been fruitful due to redundancy in the system.
On the other hand, blocking GPCR chemokine receptors by synthesizing small-molecule inhibitors that block the interaction of multiple chemokines with an individual receptor has been more encouraging. The chemokine/receptor pairs CXCL13/CXCR5, CCL21/CCR7, and CXCL12/CXCR4 contribute to the formation of ectopic lymphoid structures that are found in most autoimmune diseases and could be targeted for autoimmunity. CCR5, CCR2, and CCR1 are implicated in RA and might be involved in recruitment to inflammatory sites like synovium.
Inhibition of CCR1 and CCR2 was not effective in RA . The results for the CCR1 antagonist were somewhat surprising in light of a synovial biopsy study suggesting that synovial macrophages were depleted. CCR2 is a more complex chemokine, and the effect of CCR2 deficiency or CCR2 inhibitors in animal models varies depending on the model. This approach is especially interesting in humans because CCR2 (along with CCR6) is a key receptor expressed by human Th17 cells . The failure of CCR1 and CCR2 antagonists could be related to pharmacokinetic issues, lack of pathological relevance of these targets, or redundancy in the receptor system.
CCR5 received considerable attention when it was discovered that individuals with a deletion in this gene are protected from HIV viral entry. Epidemiologic studies also suggest that the CCR5 deletion could decrease severity of RA, although this is controversial. A small-molecule inhibitor of CCR5 is now approved for patients with HIV. CCR5 is expressed on T cells and macrophages and binds to the inflammatory chemokines MIP-1α (macrophage inflammatory protein-1-alpha) and RANTES (regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted) that are highly expressed in RA. Blocking CCR5 provides protection from arthritis in the CIA model . Phase II clinical trials with CCR5 inhibitors are in progress for RA.
Many other chemokines have been considered targets for rheumatic diseases. For instance, stromal derived factor-1 is a potential target and is relatively simple to block since, unlike many other chemokines, it has only a single receptor (CXCR4). Chemokines play a role in the organization of lymphoid structures, which are required for antigen presentation and germinal center formation. Disrupting this network by interfering with dendritic cell-derived chemokines, such as CXCL13 or CCL21, could achieve this goal, as could blocking cytokines like LTβ (see above).
A detailed description of the myriad of approaches designed to interfere with immune cell recruitment by blocking either cell adhesion or angiogenesis is beyond the scope of this short review. However, the success of the anti-α4/β1 integrin antibody in multiple sclerosis suggests that it might be useful in other autoimmune diseases that involve recruitment of T cells. Balancing the relative risks of decreased host defense (for example, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy [PML]) with potential benefit will be a significant challenge. Approaches that target the β2 integrins, which play a key role in neutrophil recruitment, are very effective in preclinical models but raise significant concerns about crippling host defense. Similarly, angiogenesis inhibitors like anti-vascular endothelial growth factor in cancer and preclinical data suggesting that new blood vessels contribute to inflammation suggest that this approach might be applicable to rheumatic diseases. Selective inhibitors of proliferating endothelial cells, such as AGM-1477 (a derivative of fumagillin), show impressive anti-inflammatory effects in several animal models of inflammatory arthritis.
The efficacy of rituximab, a chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, in RA opened up the potential for B cell-directed therapy in rheumatic diseases. The antibody was initially developed to deplete malignant B cells in lymphoma patients by virtue of CD20 expression on mature B cells, but not B-cell precursors or plasma cells. Rituximab causes a prolonged depletion in circulating B lymphocytes in the blood. CD20+ synovial B cells are variably reduced and this is associated with a decrease in synovial immunoglobulin synthesis, especially in ACR50 responders . Clinical response was associated with a decrease in synovial plasma cells in another study .
Rituximab contains chimeric mouse-human sequences that might be responsible for some infusion reactions. Human or humanized anti-CD20 antibodies, like ocrelizumab and ofatumumab, are being developed to mitigate this problem . Smaller versions of monoclonal antibodies combine one binding domain, one hinge domain, and one effector domain into a single-chain polypeptide. This new class of drug, known under the acronym SMIP (small modular immuno-pharmaceutical), is also being developed.
Although multiple case reports and open-label studies suggested a benefit of rituximab in SLE patients, the drug did not demonstrate clinical efficacy in the randomized phase II/III EXPLORER trial. The results of another study for lupus nephritis are anticipated. Case reports of fatal PML in severely immunocompromised lupus and cancer patients who received anti-CD20 antibody necessitate careful individual evaluation of the risks and benefits of off-label use.
CD22 is a B cell-specific surface molecule involved in B-cell antigen receptor signaling. A humanized antibody against this regulatory molecule showed modest efficacy in lupus patients in a randomized phase II study . An average reduction of peripheral B cells of 30% can persist up to 12 weeks. Additional regulatory mechanisms, including inhibition of B-cell proliferation, could contribute to the therapeutic activity of this molecule.
CTLA4 is an inducible T-cell surface molecule that inhibits costimulation signaling induced by CD28 engagement with CD80/CD86. Abatacept, a CTLA4-Ig fusion molecule, blocks the interaction between CD80/86 and CD28 and is effective in RA. The success of this approach contrasts with the failure of previous T cell-depleting strategies, such as anti-CD4 antibodies, perhaps because CD4 is also expressed on Treg cells that can suppress inflammatory arthritis.
Other costimulatory molecules are also potential therapeutic targets, although the preclinical data are complex. For instance, blockade of the inducible costimulator (ICOS) is therapeutic in CIA but augments disease in diabetes and some multiple sclerosis models . Subtle differences between human and animal proteins, such as Fc receptors, might contribute to the catastrophic cytokine release syndrome caused in human volunteers by the CD28 superagonist TGN1412 . Nonetheless, the CD80/86-CD28 family remains a promising field for new therapeutic interventions. The interaction between CD40 and CD40 ligand is also attractive, although anti-CD40 ligand antibodies in SLE were complicated by thrombotic disease. Targeting CD40 instead might avoid the activation of platelets, which express CD40 ligand.
FLS are present on the synovial intimal lining. They contribute to the pathogenesis of RA by virtue of their ability to produce cytokines (especially IL-6), metalloproteinases, and small-molecule mediators of inflammation like prostaglandins. Selective targeting of FLS has been difficult until recently, when a relatively unique marker, cadherin-11, was identified as a key protein involved with homoaggregation of synoviocytes in the lining layer of normal synovium . Preclinical models suggest that cadherin-11 blockade disrupts the synovial lining, decreases joint inflammation, and suppresses cartilage damage. This approach is interesting because it could potentially be used in combination with immunomodulatory agents without an adverse effect on host defense.
Inducing or enhancing synovial cell death, especially FLS, is another approach that could be beneficial in inflammatory arthritis. A number of therapies have been considered and demonstrate preclinical efficacy, including using anti-Fas antibodies to induce apoptosis or enhancing expression of intracellular genes like Bim or PUMA (p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis) [35, 36]. Because the mechanisms of cell death are shared by many cell types, selectively inducing apoptosis in FLS or in the joint can be difficult. Thus, methods to target the synovium selectively might be required.
Intracellular signaling pathways transmit environmental information to the cytoplasm and the nucleus, where they regulate cellular responses and gene transcription. Understanding the hierarchy and pathogenic significance of these pathways in autoimmunity has led to the development of compounds that block several promising targets [37, 38]. Orally bioavailable small-molecule inhibitors are currently the most likely approach, although biologics like small interfering RNA and genes that express dominant negative kinases are also possible. It is likely that the small-molecule approach, though still in its infancy, will advance rapidly over the next decade. If successful, these small compounds could augment or replace more expensive parenteral biologics that are currently the mainstay of treatment. Several hurdles still need to be overcome, including improved compound specificity and the importance of many key pathways for homeostasis and host defense .
Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases are stress-activated serine/threonine kinases that include the p38, ERK (extra-cellular regulating kinase), and JNK (c-Jun-N-terminal kinase) (Figure 2) families. This complex family regulates both cyto-kine production and cytokine responses in a variety of rheumatic diseases. Partially overlapping activation signals converge on each kinase pathway, which in turn regulate a number of downstream events such as transcription factor activation, cell migration, and proliferation .
The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade. The MAPKs form an interacting cascade of signaling enzymes that orchestrate responses to extracellular stress, such as inflammation, infection, and tissue damage. The three main families (ERK, JNK, and p38) have overlapping functions but tend to regulate cell growth, matrix turnover, and cytokine production, respectively. The cascade generally has three levels (shown on the left), including the MAP kinase kinase kinases (MAP3Ks), which activate the MAP kinase kinases (MAPKKs or MKKs), which, in turn, activate the MAPKs. Drug development efforts thus far have focused on p38 and MEK1/2 for rheumatic diseases. JNK inhibitors are effective in preclinical models and are also being developed for cancer. ATF2, activating transcription factor-2; ERK, extracellular signal related kinases; JNK, c-Jun N-terminal kinase; MAPKAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase; MEK1/2, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases.
Drug development efforts in the MAP kinase family have led to the synthesis of several p38 inhibitors. This kinase regulates the production of inflammatory cytokines and chemo-kines in response to TNF or IL-1 in most inflammatory cell types. p38 inhibitors are effective in preclinical models of arthritis and several have advanced into clinical trials [39, 40]. The availability of phase II trial results in RA is limited but they suggest, at best, modest benefit in RA. One major issue that affects the development of some p38 inhibitors is dose-dependent toxicity. Structurally distinct compounds have caused hepatoxicity, which might indicate that this side effect is target-based. In another phase II trial, the p38 inhibitor VX-702 caused Q-T prolongation.
Based on the number of compounds that have been tested, it is clear that targeting p38 will not be as simple as hoped. Several potential alternatives have emerged in recent years, including downstream (MK2) or upstream (MKK3 or MKK6) kinases that are involved in the p38 biology [41, 42]. These strategies could potentially provide some of the benefit of modulating p38 signaling while preserving other essential functions and ameliorate the side-effect profile.
JNK and ERK inhibitors for rheumatic disease are less advanced. JNK controls activator protein-1 (AP-1)-dependent genes, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and animal studies with JNK inhibitors showed protection from bone damage . However, the available JNK inhibitors have not been developed for rheumatic diseases yet and could have issues related to potency and selectivity. MKK7, an upstream activator of JNK, is the main kinase required for JNK activation after cytokine stimulation of FLS . Since cellular stress events can bypass MKK7 and use MKK4 to stimulate JNK, targeting MKK7 could be safer than broad-acting JNK inhibitors.
Targeting the downstream transcription complex AP-1, such as with decoy oligonucleotides, is another alternative to focusing on JNK. AP-1 consists of dimers that include members of the Jun, Fos, and activating transcription factor protein families that together control a large number of genes, including MMPs and inflammatory cytokines. c-Fos-deficient mice lack osteoclasts and are protected from bone erosions but not inflammation in the TNF transgenic model . A small molecule with anti-AP-1 activity was effective in CIA . Interestingly, this compound also decreased IL-1 levels and joint inflammation, an indication that it had a pronounced effect on AP-1-driven transcription. No significant toxicity was reported during animal testing but this will require careful evaluation in human studies.
ERK plays a major role in the regulation of cell growth and could be an important therapeutic advance in cancer. ERK inhibitors are also effective in some preclinical models of arthritis . The small-molecule inhibitor MEK1/2 (ARRY-162), which is the upstream kinase that regulates ERK, inhibits ex vivo production of IL-1, TNF, and IL-6 by human whole blood after administration to healthy volunteers . Similar to other MAP pathway inhibitors, however, toxicities (including skin rash and visual changes) have emerged due to the ubiquitous role of ERK. It might be more desirable to modulate, rather than block, these pathways by careful selection of pharmacokinetic profiles and judicious dosing.
Tyrosine kinases are divided into two groups. Cytoplasmic kinases transduce signals from a separate surface receptor while receptor tyrosine kinases have intrinsic tyrosine phosphorylation activity. The four Janus kinases (JAKs) are cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases that pair in at least six different combinations to integrate signaling from nearly 40 different cytokines and growth factors . Cytokine receptors that comprise the common γ-chain subunit use JAK1 and JAK3 to respond to cytokines involved in RA, such as IL-6, IL-2, IL-12, or IL-15. JAKs then activate STAT proteins that translocate to the nucleus and control the expression of downstream targets.
Selective inhibitors of JAK are now in clinical studies for the treatment of RA and psoriasis . The small molecule CP-690,550 inhibits JAK3, with less inhibition of JAK1 and JAK2. JAK3, which is mainly expressed in hematopoietic cells, pairs with JAK1 and signals downstream of IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15, and IL-21 . Initially developed as an immuno-suppressive, the compound demonstrated clinical efficacy in an early phase II trial with excellent ACR responses: CP-690,550 ACR50 33% to 54% versus placebo ACR50 6% . Mechanism-based side effects were observed, including in the hematopoietic system. Neutropenia was reported at the highest dose. As a T-cell immunomodulator, this compound could have utility in a variety of autoimmune diseases assuming that the safety profile permits further development.
INCB018424, an inhibitor of JAK1, JAK2, and Tyk2 with IC50 (half inhibitory concentration) values of 2.7, 4.5, and 19 nM, respectively, is also in clinical development for RA and psoriasis. This inhibitor could indirectly affect JAK3, which needs to pair with JAK1 for most of its effects . Tyk2 mediates type I IFN, IL-12, and IL-23 signaling . A preliminary study that enrolled six active RA patients during 28 days showed a favorable clinical outcome without significant adverse events, using a controlled dosage to inhibit JAK1 and JAK2 but not Tyk2. The long-term safety of this powerful immunosuppressive approach must be carefully evaluated. The known complications of severe immuno-deficiency in humans bearing JAK mutations suggest that the development will need to be cautious.
Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) also belongs to the intracellular tyrosine kinase family. Syk is expressed in B cells, mast cells, neutrophils, macrophages, platelets, and nonhematopoietic cells, including FLS. The molecular signaling events in the Syk cascade are best defined in hematopoietic cells. Syk binds to phosphorylated activated ITAMs (immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs) that are part of immuno-receptors such as the B-cell receptor, T-cell receptor, or FcR. ITAM-Syk signaling is also triggered by integrins during cell adhesion and migration via ITAM-dependent or -independent mechanisms .
Less is known about Syk signaling pathways in nonhemato-poietic cells. ITAM consensus motifs are found in a number of molecules unrelated to classical immunoreceptors, and ITAM-independent mechanisms could also be engaged . In synovial fibroblasts, Syk regulates the MAP kinase cascade, especially JNK-regulated genes such as IL-6 and MMP-3 . Syk inhibition was able to suppress inflammation and joint destruction in a rat CIA model . Treatment with tamatinib fosdium (R788), an oral Syk inhibitor, led to significant improvement in RA patients . Syk is also an interesting target in SLE, in which part of the overactive T-cell phenotype is thought to be caused by the abnormal association of Syk with the T-cell receptor instead of the ζ chain Zap70. A Syk inhibitor was therapeutic and preventive in a model of murine renal lupus .
Imatinib mesylate was the first successful clinical application of a therapeutic designed to target tyrosine kinases. It is currently approved for several oncologic indications, including chronic myelogenous leukemia and systemic masto-cytosis. Imatinib is a potent inhibitor of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor, c-kit (the receptor for stem cell factor, a growth factor for hematopoietic cells and mast cells), and the proto-oncogene c-Abl. Thus, the compound inhibits a spectrum of signal induction pathways relevant to inflammation and fibrosis, including PDGF signaling in synoviocytes, mast cell c-kit signaling, and TNF production by synovial fluid mononuclear cells. Imatinib is active in murine CIA, supporting its development in inflammatory arthritis . Case reports indicate that it might be beneficial in refractory cases of RA, but the results of a controlled study have not been reported .
c-Abl also can participate in the profibrotic effects of TGF-β signaling. For instance, patients receiving imatinib for chronic myelogenous leukemia experienced marked improvement in myelofibrosis . Several studies in animal models and clinical case reports in various conditions confirm that imatinib is a promising therapeutic for fibrotic disorders such as scleroderma, pulmonary fibrosis, or nephrogenic systemic fibrosis [62, 63].
Both benefits and side effects of kinase inhibitors are often observed because of structural similarities between enzymes, especially in the ATP site where most small compounds bind. Lack of selectivity might provide a therapeutic advantage in complex diseases such as RA, in which more than one molecular pathway contribute to the pathogenesis. On the other hand, it also increases the risk of side effects. Long-term studies of imatinib for the treatment of cancer patients show that severe adverse events occur in more than a third of patients, mostly within the first 2 years . Therefore, careful risk-benefit analysis will be required for all of these new kinase inhibitors.
Several phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors have entered clinical trials in different fields, including oncology, cardiology, and autoimmunity. Class I PI3Ks are a family of intracellular signaling proteins involved in many aspects of cell biology, including adaptive and innate immunity . They are composed of heterodimers assembled from five different regulatory subunits that pair with four different catalytic subunits (α, β, γ, and δ). Activation of PI3Ks generates the key lipid second messenger phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PIP3). The α, β, and δ subunits are associated mainly with receptor tyrosine kinases, whereas γ subunits signal to GPCRs such as chemokine receptors. This dichotomy is not absolute and there are additional specificities depending on the cell type examined.
PI3Kα and β are expressed in most cell types, which is, in part, why cancer has been a primary drug development pathway. PI3Kδ and γ are present mainly in hematopoietic cells, suggesting that they will be better targets for therapeutic intervention in autoimmune diseases . Mice lacking PI3Kγ have altered signaling in T cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and mast cells. This particular kinase is a key convergence point for many chemokine receptors. Therefore, a PI3Kγ inhibitor could potentially block chemokine function more effectively than targeting individual receptors. PI3Kδ-deficient mice have more subtle defects in neutrophil signaling and T-cell activation but have impaired B-cell functions. Interestingly, migration to the bacterial product fMLP (N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine) remains intact in PI3Kδ-deficient cells while it is impaired after PI3Kγ blockade. Preclinical data show that PI3Kδ and γ inhibition can decrease the severity of arthritis either separately or in combination, the latter leading to a synergistic effect [67, 68]. In addition, PI3Kγ deficiency decreases disease activity in murine lupus models .
The array of potential therapeutic targets described above is impressive but still represents only a small part of the spectrum (Table 1). There are many other therapeutic targets with great potential merit, and space limitations prevent a detailed discussion of each one. This cornucopia of targets includes other approaches that can modulate cytokines (for example, adenosine A3 receptors), proteases (for example, collagenases), ion channels (for example, P2X7 receptor), and innate immune responses (for example, IFNs and Toll-like receptors). Time will tell whether one of these pathways or the ones described in more detail above will lead the way to the next generation of therapeutics. Identifying possible targets is no longer the major hurdle; rather, prioritizing potential drugs among limited patient populations, using novel study designs in an era when placebo-controlled studies have become increasingly difficult, and using genomic and biomarker data to predict clinical response and toxicity are key issues that will need to be addressed. Nevertheless, our new molecular understanding of human disease will likely lead to a pipeline of breakthrough therapies over the coming years that will improve survival and quality of life for our patients.
Completed phase III in RA. Phase III for sJIA.
Insufficient efficacy in phase II (RA).
Phase I in RA, psoriasis, and others.
Phase II for psoriatic arthritis.
Lack of efficacy in RA. Phase III in SLE.
Lack of efficacy in RA for LTβ (phase II).
Phase II in RA, SLE.
Decreased erosions in RA (phase II).
Phase I/II in RA and transplant.
Phase II in RA, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn disease, and other inflammatory diseases.
Phase II in RA and scleroderma.
Many other compounds and targets not listed are also being evaluated. Suffixes: -cept, receptor-antibody fusion protein; -umab, human monoclonal antibody; -zumab, humanized monoclonal antibody. APRIL, a proliferation-inducing ligand; BAFF, B-cell activation factor of the tumor necrosis factor family; BLyS, B-lymphocyte stimulator; ERK, extracellular regulating kinase; GPCR, G-protein coupled receptor; IL, interleukin; JAK, Janus kinase; LIGHT, lymphotoxin-related inducible ligand that competes for glycoprotein D binding to herpes virus entry mediator on T cells; LT, lymphotoxin; mAb, monoclonal (therapeutic) antibody; MEK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; P13K, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; PDGF-R, platelet-derived growth factor receptor; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; RANKL, receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand; sJIA, systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus; SMIP, small modular immunopharmaceutical; Syk, spleen tyrosine kinase.
Supported in part by NIH grants AI067752, AI070555, and AR47825. | 2019-04-23T06:37:47Z | https://arthritis-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/ar2556 |
Bob Brundage – I’d like you to meet Mr. Bill Heyman a very successful businessman and a very successful entrepreneur of square dancing and we’ll learn more about that as time goes along. So, Bill tell me, well let’s say where you were born and brought up and a little bit about life before square dancing.
BH – turned out he went to Washington State and then on to Hawaii and he became a training officer on Hawaii and actually spent, interestingly enough most of the war in Hawaii and was as with many hundreds of thousands of others an invasionary force going into Japan and he returned to us in 1946 and at that time we moved to Bloomfield, New Jersey, a very small, residential town outside of Newark, New Jersey and during the earliest years when Dad was away the way the women, mother supported us was, among other things, she was a waterfront counselor but again, the reason I mention it is it was at that camp that of course I became interested in square dancing.
BH – When I was three, four and five years old I was at a camp that had a relatively heavy square and folk dancing content at that time and it becomes germane because in 1952 I was twelve years old – that was the summer camp I chose to go back to and I spent the whole summer, at the age of twelve, square dancing.
BB – Ah ha. There you go.
BH – That was really – I only mention this because that’s actually how square dancing got into my blood and I’ve always been a musical kind of guy like dancing in general and that was my initial contact with square dancing and to say that summer actually changed my life is an understatement.
BB – Right. Well, how’s your memory, Bill? Do you have any idea who was calling that summer camp?
BH – The only title of a song that I can remember is “Road To The Isles”.
BH – Yeah, I know but we do that in both folk and square of course.
BB – Well that’s great. So, following that experience then you must have been searching out other places to square dance or did that come later?
BH – Actually it didn’t – it’s sort of interesting because from that point when I was twelve until many, many years later when I was living in Europe I really didn’t square dance not one, not a single time.
BH – Then I came back, finished college, finished graduate school and then a few years later ended up being sent back to Europe for Chemical Bank, a major American bank and ah, what happened was I was in Vienna for five years, Frankfort for three, still didn’t bump into square dancing – I arrived in Zurich, Switzerland as general manager of the branch and there was an American square dance club in Zurich, Switzerland.
Americans who were working overseas, the rest were Swiss, Austrian, Dutch, a few other nationalities mixed in there.
BH – and I started square dancing in I believe early seventy, late seventy seven then shortly thereafter, six months later I expressed my interest in calling and coaching in calling started in seventy eight.
BB – Well, good. OK, and so, these folks were sort of your mentors and were responsible for your basic training so to speak.
BH – and we blended right in to that club and ah, teaching then was actually quite slow. I ended up rotating back to the states about nine months later and we described ourselves as Mainstream minus six.
BH – We hadn’t quite finished the Mainstream list.
BB – Yeah. Right. OK. Well, so did you start actively calling over there – get your own club or anything like that?
BH – It was quite picturesque. It was on the ground floor of a barn – it was absolute horrid middle of winter. It was absolutely freezing. Everybody was square dancing in parkas and I actually had to wear a glove on my mic hand so that my hand wouldn’t stick to the microphone.
BH – Fortunately when the dance ended there was a nice warm living room to which we could retreat.
BH – to teach the class”. So I called my, other than the Basel Club, this was my first tip I had called in the United States and it was through that tip that I ended up becoming the teacher and In September actually started teaching that class – that was my first Mainstream class.
BB – Right, right. Well. Were there any other mentors along the way that you kind of looked up to?
BH – John was very, very influential in setting standards ah; I went to my first caller’s college with Ralph Trout and Cal Golden.
BH – what I need is some technical skills because I really don’t know quite what I’m doing” and he certainly worked on that with me.
BH – and he allowed me copy the whole book.
BB – Unreal. Do you still have it?
BH – I do. I do still have it.
BB – That’s got to be memorialized somewhere.
BH – Because I see, the irony was that here was a rank beginner with very limited skills and was really one of those guys and was long on ?? with one of the icons of square dancing graciously sharing sort of his secret notes with the youngest kid on the block. I was very touched with that.
BB – Great. Well, then ah, somewhere along the line you developed your own clubs?
BB – OK. Well tell me about any big festivals you may have attended like local or national ones.
BH – Sure ah, in my years in Jersey there were maybe – tape clicks and blanks out – ninety, I finished the ninety two, ninety three teaching season – no it was the ninety one, ninety two teaching season and at the end of ninety two I knew I was going out of New Jersey probably to New England and made provision not to accept the class the next year and then ??? – that wasn’t fair.
BB – What about ah, festivals and things like that did you attend any of the Nationals or Regionals?
BH – Yeah, but not actually as a caller. I went to our first National with ??? – I believe that was eighty four.
BB – festivals you may have attended – any Nationals or any of the regional ones?
BH – As far as local ones we had the usual callers association or dancers associations sponsored at which I called. I was one of multiple callers I never had anything by myself in that area. Had the pleasure of doing the Grand March at one of the New Jersey State Conventions. I had one hundred and twenty squares. That was, that was the largest group of people that I ever called for, was actually, was actually called an exciting moment in my life.
BH – I can’t tell you how pleased I was – and again, it was most incredible. As far as the National Conventions, we started with the at the Nationals in eighty four (?) – it was in Baltimore then – coughs – Excuse Me – and we were there at that time primarily as vendors but I decided that since I was already a caller and had certain skill level I certainly could call a comfortable Mainstream so I signed up to do Mainstream calling and I did, I don’t know – three four, five ah, different calls in different time zones – minor time spots usually like, twelve-thirty in the whatever room – right in the middle of lunch hour, etc. which was frankly probably for my skill level highly appropriate.
BH – without exception and ah, partially we have to for the businesses – for the businesses if you miss any one you are out of the convention and ah, during the, pretty much the first ten years of that I was on the Executive Committee of the National Association of Square and Round Dance Suppliers, eventually became President of the Ethics Committee Chairman for four or five years also.
BB – So ah, how did we get into that, ah, tell us a little bit about where you’ve been going with that and what your plans are for the future.
BH – the ones with the twelve volt batteries. Anybody who has owned a ?? knew, knows the problem with an expensive batteries. So, we actually started with eight cord (?) microphones and then I went to a case manufacturer and designed a case for them. I was working with a box full of records – forty-five RPM records – laid them out, I had my microphones with me and I said, “I need a case that will contain all of these records” and we designed that case. That was in nineteen eighty-two and to this day we are still selling the same case and we had to do a warranty replacement which was what we designed then turned out to be a good little product and ah, Peggy was really doing that full time and then Mike ?? was our division head, in charge of the retail branch, our branch was in lower Manhattan but with Chemical Bank, it was career-wise really time for me to bail out and my career had, at best five ??. I got out and I really went full time with Peggy in nineteen eighty-five. I’ve been working full time in the business ever since then. Once again, we started off as pure caller and cuer supply house – it was caller’s corner, cuer’s corner was how we started. Then in ah, that was eighty-two started that way, in eighty-three I guess it was ah, Jean ??
ah, back with me, excuse me Bob ?? was the owner of Supreme Audio passed away very suddenly and ?? speakers ??? ended up purchasing Supreme Audio and had it driven up by truck to, to our house in New Jersey and then in nineteen eighty-seven I bought Hanhurst’s Tape and Record Service from Don and Loretta Hanhurst ah, then in Venice, Florida but have since moved and so by nineteen eighty-seven we had become the largest supplier in the square dance industry. Also during that time we had expanded into Tap. Jazz, Ballet community because we took the variable-speed ??
BH – and ah, that evolved over time and now square dancing is exactly one-third of our business and Tap, Jazz, Ballet and primarily Fitness is two-thirds ?? schools of dance, University Dance Departments on the fitness side on the ?? University Fitness Facility and we ah, sell to most of the United States Military Fitness Facilities around the world. There’s a lot of ??
BB – All right. This I didn’t know. That’s very interesting. I know you told me the last time I saw you at your home ah, that you were doing a considerable business with Government agencies. I didn’t realize what it entailed.
BH – Actually, as a single segment it is actually the most important segment other that square dancing.
BH – Number two behind square dancing.
BB – Right, so, but you’re not actually calling any more.
BH – there is a wonderful, wonderful community of callers up there. We’re pretty active in that also.
BB – but you are doing, I think you still do some one-night stands.
BH – so basically I haven’t been calling actively now for nine years.
BH – They really went hand in hand. I thought the one-night stands were a wonderful way to introduce people to square dancing. I could not give you a statistic as to how many people came out of those one-night stands and joined the activity as we know it but it was always fun to do and ah, I really, if I would ever start again I would actually probably do exclusively one-night stands and fun nights.
BB – Hmm. Well, that makes sense the way the activity is going.
BH – Well, to ah, quote my good friend, Jim Mayo actually ?? ? alone ah, one really has to be so much ?? as to where the curve or the trends of the activity are going and realistically we can’t – we don’t have the ?? interesting to do something that is totally contrary to the curve, if you will of the activity level curve of where the society ??? being pragmatic about doing that ah, the trend that we have seen between Callerlab and the current thought is I think finally in the right direction and that is really the simplified – I have been a proponent of this for years now. I felt that the risk structure, the way they are they really forces a lot of people to move on – it is human nature to, to go, quote, higher levels and that is popular and that’s in fact what they do and as it’s human nature that will drive people out there and I think what they have to offer is the Basic program, the old Basic program as it was simply did not work. It just did not work in that structure but I think that where we are going now at least had the beginnings of ah, common sense. One of the things that I think was very supportive spiritually and frankly, financially was the whole marketing research effort that was put on by Callerlab. Many years ago I came up with the slogan, “Excellence through Education” which was actually adopted by Callerlab at one of their conventions ??? They, they used a somewhat different version of it but I’ve always felt that ah, this square dance calling really means two fundamental things – good calling starts with good heart – I think that a good person with really good feelings and good feelings toward fellow man and ah, good education because I really feel that a good education is a cornerstone of this whole thing and, for that very reason we also sometimes tend to make public pronouncements of how I feel about things. I also back that up with money. I have been giving scholarships to caller’s schools for twelve or thirteen years now. I think we began to give in nineteen fifty-eight or fifty-nine and so far Peg and I have paid out of our own pocket and there are partial scholarships especially for three or four people each year who have ?? and ah, we also have decided that we believe strongly enough in that we have to help pay for the cost of it and ?? scholarships, there are certainly other scholarships available, especially through Callerlab and many other local callers associations and the other thing that I do is when I do seminars, I do fair amount of seminars every year at callers associations ah, and I do at least three or four a year I have never accepted a fee for that although they ?? I have always said to them, “Take the hundred or two hundred you would have paid me, put it into your scholarship fund and you’ll have an extra scholarship this year” – that’s where I would rather than see money come into my pocket. I frankly rather see ??
BB – Ah, that’s very interesting. Ah, what’s your opinion of modern day caller’s schools ah, maybe I should tell you a little bit of my opinion. There’s so much, so much emphasis on choreography that ah, we’re getting away from teaching people how to dance, or we have gotten away from it and ah, do you have any thoughts along that line.
BH – and as we all know the tens of millions of dollars raised around the country our caller’s association down there had a big dance out at Liberty State Park and we had a thousand dancers, once again purely raising money, I actually sounded the whole thing for free, I had a lot of fun with the help of a friend, Bill Anderson and ah, so we raised money for that and then for the actual rededication ceremony on that day there was a three-hour ABC television broadcast on the air and the long and short of it is that I was selected to do the broadcast and I was in front of eighty million people, Bill Heyman, Liberty Square Dance Caller and so forth.
BH – The reason I tell the story is we, that being at that dance caused me to be a day late for my caller’s college.
BH – My point of telling you this, that I went from the National chance to go to caller’s college to learn more about calling.
BH – it was dreadful, the class took two and a half hours, the critique took three hours.
BH – so it was really dreadful. Ah, but coming back to the key point of caller’s colleges, the one college with which I was most ?? was the Johnston-Brundage in Massachusetts which is now, as you well know run by ah, Randy Page and Mike Jacobs.
BH – it’s all on one page and there’s a link right from the very front page that people looking for callers schools, it’s right there and at the bottom the scholarship information, it’s got the Callerlab web site and their scholarship page ?? scholarship ??
BB – Ah, have you any thought s about the ah, so called CDP program, ah Community Dance Program per se. I’m talking about the ah, this is a very limited program of what, I think twenty-five basics are proposed and so forth. Do you see any future for that type of program?
BH – and ah, you know in a real, in a real solid manner – I know there, there are people, you know the Bob Howells and the Jerry Helts ?? we all know the names of people, Cal Campbell obviously has written a lot of the literature on it ah, but that is a very limited, I think a limited teaching population and I think we can even on the marketing side I think they have some, some, some ah, ah, issues there what, what I think where a few are headed and I believe if I understand it correctly is that it will be basically a pure square dance program, that doesn’t mean without any contras but not just not as a ah, high content as I believe has been in the past and to get people doing more fun night type squares in other words without this long, long teaching obligation and without the long term commitment to, you know, if you don’t go one week you’re going to be falling behind and you’ll never get back into dancing. That is a ah, that is ?? and then you have to comment on the multi cycle theory because I am, I am a big proponent, I’ve never done it ?? teaching ?? I attended at this last Callerlab Convention the multi cycle session, very good, there were eighty people in the room, it was a terrific session and I had a lot of promotion of that on the web site too, an article written by Nasser Shukyr and Mike Seastrom and a couple of others where, wherever this program has been seriously pursued success has happened.
BH – so I probably have really more time on that dance floor, back in the fifties, back in the forties and fifties, I probably have more time in the traditional and I have great respect for both the traditional groups but I am pretty well ensconced in the ah, Modern Western side of the world.
BB – That’s interesting. I was on staff at Pine Woods for a few years – way back – a tremendous program of course, all live music and – do you see any future for live music?
BH – that is a wonderful gotta, gotta dance music and was, that was actually one of my, one of my couple of fondest memories of the, coming to the dance hall a little bit late and hearing that music coming out of the ??
BB – and Ladies Chain, Ladies Chain all night, Ladies Chain, Ladies Chain period and today’s dancers never, never fathom trying to get through a figure that way but, they knew how to do a Ladies Chain when they got through.
BB – It’s been a tremendous contribution to the activity – no doubt about it. Ah, anything you’d like to add?
BH – I, just as anybody else who is in the circle Peggy and I have a really deep love for square dancing ah, I must say, a somewhat successful career – I don’t want to make it sound bigger than it was because it is obviously it was early eighties and careers had a lot of problems then ah, but I really did leave a high paying job to do this ah, I’ve learned to live with less money, that’s my – not been a problem for us and it’s even less now that dancing is down due to the recession, of course I have a business that was forced down quite a bit ah, but ah, we continue to do the things that are important to us ah, square dancing is certainly not our only volunteer activity we’re very involved in, Board of directors, Peggy is on the Board of the New Hampshire Dance Institute –spends a lot of time in there also we’re financially supportive there of ?? dance program for kids who might not be exposed to dance. Otherwise, we’re very involved in that and I actually just joined the Colonial Theatre Board of Directors which is the local restored antique movie theatre – a typical nineteen twenties movie theatre – typical to many, many old New England and other cities of course and ninety-nine years old now and, in fact this year we had our first ?? year so we’re very involved in their programs trying to help them – we’ve also done some fund raising for the ?? Orchestra when they had a house concert so Peggy and I are not only involved in square dancing but we’re involved in other areas in the community and I just did a web site for the Town of Marlborough and I’m their webmaster – we do a lot of volunteer things, a lot of fun things – I’m on the Conservation Commission – we have about nine different activities going that keep us happy and busy.
BB – You’re tuned in all around New England then. | 2019-04-19T22:24:18Z | http://www.sdfne.org/bill-heyman/ |
Biomarkers are invaluable drug development tools to assess and monitor safety in early clinical trials especially when exposure margins are limiting for promising therapeutics. Although progress has been made towards identifying and implementing translational safety biomarkers for a number of organ toxicities such as kidney and liver, significant biomarker gaps still exist to monitor toxicities for testis, pancreas, etc. Several precompetitive consortia [e.g., Predictive Safety Testing Consortia (PSTC), Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI)] are working with industry, academia, government, patient advocacy groups and foundations with a goal to qualify biomarkers such that they can be used in preclinical studies and clinical trials to accelerate drug development. This manuscript discusses the complexities of novel biomarker discovery, validation and international regulatory qualifications intended for clinical trial applications and shares specific examples from Pfizer Research and Development. As safety biomarkers become widely accepted and qualified by the regulatory agencies, they will increasingly be implemented in early clinical trials, play a key role in decision making and facilitate the progression of promising therapeutics from preclinical through clinical development.
The pharmaceutical industry continues to face challenges in terms of declining productivity. The overall cost of drug development and time for most drugs to reach market has been increasing over the past several decades. From 1975 to 2015, the total expenditures per year for drug discovery and development rose approximately 5-fold while the number of United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new drug registrations per year remained relatively flat (Boyer et al., 2016). Substantial resources are being invested in research and development (R&D) across the industry into compounds that eventually fail. The current pharmaceutical R&D process results in only ~10% of the molecules entering phase 1 clinical trials reaching full approval by the FDA (Hay et al., 2014). This high rate of attrition is a key driver in reducing productivity and a significant challenge to the industry. There are a number of explanations for the decrease in productivity including a focus of the industry in areas of unmet medical need and novel biological mechanisms with high risk of failure, a higher entry bar for new drugs due to a competition with enhanced standard of care, higher regulatory hurdles, commercial and financial portfolio decisions and an increase in the complexity and cost of clinical trials (Roberts et al., 2014; Hay et al., 2014); however when a root-cause analysis was completed on 359 phase 3 and 95 new molecular entities and biologic license applications, safety and efficacy were shown to be the two primary causes for compound suspension (Hay et al., 2014).
The standard preclinical testing paradigm has markedly improved drug safety over the past 30 years. In 2000, the results from a multinational pharmaceutical survey and the outcome of an International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) Workshop were reported and showed that 70% of human toxicity observed during clinical trials is predicted by preclinical studies (Olson et al., 2000). In addition, a 2013 study in Japan reported that 48% of adverse drug reactions observed in clinical trials were predicted by a comprehensive preclinical safety assessment (Ahuja and Sharma, 2014); and in 2017, the IQ Consortium created and utilized an industry-wide nonclinical to clinical translational database to report that animal studies not only have value in predicting human toxicities but also that an absence of toxicity in nonclinical studies predicts a similar outcome in the clinic (Monticello et al., 2017). However, the inability to predict failures before or early in clinical trials remains a main cause of attrition (Ahuja and Sharma, 2014) as failures in clinical safety not predicted in preclinical studies continue to be a major cause of compound termination (Clark and Steger-Hartmann, 2018). In addition, clinical failures due to toxicity are not limited to the early clinical portfolio but are also evident in late stage development and post-marketing surveillance (Waring et al., 2015). Thus while preclinical data has had a significant impact on improving clinical drug safety, failures due to toxicity remain a key challenge facing the industry.
The high rate of attrition and cost of drug development has prompted a surge in research in the area of biomarkers. According to the FDA/National Institute of Health (NIH)’s BEST (Biomarkers, Endpoints, and other Tools Resource) guide, a biomarker is a ‘defined characteristic that is measured as an indicator of normal biologic processes, pathogenic processes, or responses to an exposure or intervention, including therapeutic interventions (FDA, 2016a).’ Biomarkers are invaluable drug development tools utilized to better understand the translatability of preclinical findings into human adverse events and to better assess and monitor these findings in the clinic especially when exposure margins are limiting for promising therapeutics. Although progress has been made towards identifying and implementing translational safety biomarkers for a number of organ toxicities such as kidney and liver, significant biomarker gaps still exist. Several precompetitive consortia (e.g., PSTC, IMI) are working with industry, academia, government, patient advocacy groups and foundations with a goal to qualify biomarkers such that they can be implemented in preclinical studies and clinical trials to accelerate drug development. This paper discusses the complexities of discovering, validating and qualifying novel biomarkers to understand organ toxicities and to accelerate drug development decisions. Specific biomarker case examples are highlighted to describe their implementation in preclinical and early clinical development to characterize safety issues, understand mechanisms and monitor clinical safety. As safety biomarker assays are validated and qualified by the regulatory agencies, they will increasingly play a key role in decision making and facilitate the progression of promising therapeutics from preclinical through clinical development. This, however, is not a trivial endeavor and the path to success may best be achieved through a collaborative effort among industry, academia and regulatory partners.
In 2004, the FDA’s Critical Path Initiative emphasized the need for innovation in drug development and suggested the use of biomarkers to evaluate and predict safety and effectiveness, provide informative links between mechanism of action and clinical utility, understand the translatability between preclinical species and humans, and serve as surrogate endpoints. With a focus on generating and implementing translatable biomarkers early in the drug development process, the goal was for the pharmaceutical industry to improve the high attrition rates and process inefficiencies in terms of cost and time observed across the industry (Haim, 2011; Woodcock and Woosley, 2008). In drug development, biomarkers categorized as target biomarkers assess the ability of the drug to reach and engage the target while mechanism biomarkers test the ability of the drug to induce the expected measurable molecular or cellular pharmacodynamics response. Finally, the linkage of the mechanism to the clinical response or efficacy is assessed by disease biomarkers or clinical activity scores. Ideally, safety biomarkers inform the presence or extent of toxicity and thus increase confidence in safety and the ability to predict, detect and monitor the progression of drug-induced toxicity. The ability of safety biomarkers to detect early toxicity, monitor onset and reversibility, and manage adverse effects observed in the clinic will determine its overall utility and impact in preclinical and clinical drug development. With the emergence of innovative technologies and a diverse set of in vitro and in vivo models, the development of novel safety biomarkers has evolved to include not only the singular measurement of circulating proteins but also expression profile signatures in blood/tissue, noninvasive imaging and genetic variations in DNA (Currid and Gallagher, 2008). Assays for these biomarkers range from exploratory fit for purpose to fully validated and qualified by the regulators for a specific context of use and the process of assay validation should be regarded as being continuous and evolving over-time. Pfizer has a strong commitment to developing and implementing translatable biomarker strategies within drug development including applying protein biomarkers for drug-induced toxicity in the stomach, kidney, skeletal muscle and liver and small molecules/metabolites as biomarkers for drug-induced toxicity to the liver and heart. Several biomarker case examples from Pfizer R&D efforts are included in this review. All procedures performed on animals used in Pfizer examples were in accordance with regulations and established guidelines and were reviewed and approved by an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
A number of emerging urinary kidney markers including kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1), clusterin, microalbumin, trefoil factor 3, α-glutathione S-transferase, N-acetyl-β- D-glucosaminidase (NAG), neutrophil gelatinase-associated protein (NGAL) and osteopontin are currently being evaluated across the industry. Published studies of emerging markers show promising results in terms of increased sensitivity and specificity in comparison to the standard serum markers, serum creatinine (sCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (Chen et al., 2017; Dieterle et al., 2010a; Fuchs and Hewitt, 2011; Ozer et al., 2010; Koyner et al., 2010). Although sCr and BUN continue to be utilized as primary renal markers in clinical practice, they are considered poor indicators of early renal dysfunction due to limited sensitivity, remaining relatively unchanged until significant renal damage occurs. Consequently, further evaluation of novel urinary biomarkers of acute kidney injury (AKI) is warranted both in preclinical species and in humans. In order to better understand the performance of KIM-1, NGAL, and NAG in the rat and to provide foundational information for potential clinical studies, a rat study was conducted to compare the performance of these urinary biomarkers to the standard serum markers of AKI for the detection of nephrotoxicity (Burt et al., 2014). These 3 markers were selected after a prescreening of a larger panel based on performance after administration of polymyxin B, a polypeptide antibiotic used for the treatment of life-threatening Gram-negative bacterial infections. Use of these antibiotics in the clinic has been drastically limited due to drug-induced AKI and thus the further development of more-sensitive renal markers has the potential to not only impact drug development but also patient care in the clinic. In this study, rats (5/group) were dosed with 0.1, 0.4, 1, 4 or 10 mg/kg polymyxin B for 2 or 14 days and then necropsied. The highest tolerated dose was 4 mg/kg. Histopathological examination of kidneys from the treated rats showed minimal chronic progressive nephropathy (CPN) in a single rat at the 3 lowest doses, minimal to moderate tubular degeneration/regeneration in 4 animals dosed at 4 mg/kg/day and minimal tubular necrosis in a single rat at 10/mg/kg/day, indicative of drug-induced kidney injury. Of the biomarkers tested, only NGAL and KIM-1 produced dose-dependent statistically significant elevations, 13-fold and 3-fold respectively, as early as 48 hr post-dose. In comparison, sCr was not affected by polymyxin treatment and increases in BUN were small (1.3-fold) and were not dose-dependent. Urinary NGAL, however, was the most sensitive biomarker of AKI in this rat model, responding to the early onset of kidney injury observed with polymyxin. Since urinary NGAL levels reached a maximum increase at 48 hr post-dose (Fig. 1) that correlated with kidney histopathology, a 2-day study design was implemented for screening and rank ordering potential drug candidates utilizing NGAL as the biomarker for AKI. This design provided an important tool for selecting novel polymyxin B analogs with an improved kidney safety profile, affording an efficient, cost-effective drug development biomarker-driven strategy. This work also provided a basis for potential clinical studies to further evaluate the diagnostic utility of these urinary kidney biomarkers in patients (Burt et al., 2014).
NGAL response in rats to polymyxin B treatment. Urine was collected at intervals throughout the study with dosing on Day 0. Group mean values from the treated group were compared with the mean of the saline control group (* p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01).
Spontaneous histologic changes in laboratory animal species including rabbits can hamper accurate toxicologic interpretation in preclinical safety studies, especially if detailed study procedures are included. As early as 1924, publications described inflammatory heart findings with multifocal myocardial infiltrates of lymphocytes and/or macrophages in otherwise healthy rabbits (Sellers et al., 2017). In order to better characterize these myocardial findings and further understand the impact of study-related procedures on these findings, a large study was designed in New Zealand White female rabbits with either an increase (Group 1) or decrease (Group 2) in the number of study-related procedures and animal handling. Blood was collected for coagulation, hematology and clinical chemistry analysis including stress-associated serum biomarkers (epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol, and corticosterone) at various time points throughout the study for Group 1 and only at baseline and necropsy for Group 2 to minimize handling and procedures (Sellers et al., 2017). Group 1 animals with the increased procedures had a higher incidence of inflammation with degeneration/necrosis in cardiac myocytes than the animals from the minimal procedure group (Group 2). Serum stress markers including cortisol and norepinephrine showed the greatest response in Group 1 animals with peak values usually occurring 4 hr and 48 hr post-dose respectively (Fig. 2). This study provided further evidence that increased procedures and handling during study conduct exacerbates the frequency and severity of myocardial inflammatory findings and may be mediated by a stress response. Based on these findings, it was proposed that stress hormones, in particular norepinephrine and cortisol, could be utilized to assess the risk of the myocardial findings observed in rabbit toxicology studies (Sellers et al., 2017).
Norepinephrine and Cortisol levels in rabbits following dosing with saline on Days 29, 43 and 57 with blood collections pre-dose (vertical lines) and at 4, 24 and 48 hr post-dose. Data represents group means ± SEM.
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is a polysaccharide located in the extracellular matrix. It is synthesized by mesenchymal cells and cleared almost exclusively by liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs). Circulating HA levels have been shown to be elevated with structural and/or functional damage to the liver SEC and have shown promise in the clinic when studied for the noninvasive detection of sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS). Currently the diagnosis of SOS in the clinic relies on nonspecific clinical and laboratory measures and/or events occurring late in the development of the disease including jaundice, painful hepatomegaly, weight gain and ascites. SOS has been reported in patients treated with antibody-calicheamicin conjugates including gemtuzumab ozogamicin and inotuzumab developed for acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, respectively (Guffroy et al., 2017). Liver toxicity based on elevated aspartate aminotransferases (AST) and bilirubin levels was observed with occasional hepatic SOS following treatment with these antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). While these two ADCs have different monoclonal antibodies, they are composed of the same linker and calicheamicin payload. To further evaluate the mechanism of the adverse event and to identify potential safety biomarker to detect the damage throughout the disease course, an experiment was initiated to characterize the liver injury observed with the ADCs. Cynomologous monkeys were dosed with an antibody-calicheamicin conjugate containing the same linker-payload as gemtuzumab ozogamicin and inotuzumab. Monkeys were dosed with up to 3 intravenous bolus injections 3 weeks apart and were necropsied 48 hr following the first dose on day 3 and 3 weeks after the third administration on day 63. Liver histopathology showed midzonal degeneration and loss of SECs on day 3 and variable endothelial recovery and progression to a combination of sinusoidal capillarization and sinusoidal dilation/hepatocellular atrophy, consistent with early SOS. Minimal increases in AST levels (up to 3.1x) were observed on day 4 and remained elevated over the duration of the study. HA levels (up to 8.5x) were elevated on day 3 and were sustained thru day 63 in all treated monkeys (Fig. 3) demonstrating the ability of this marker to detect early structural damage (day 3) and later functional impairment (day 63) of SECs. HA also showed good correlation to AST levels and microscopic liver findings throughout the study. Since HA, unlike AST, is linked mechanistically to SOS, it was proposed as a sensitive exploratory diagnostic marker of liver microvascular injury capable of non-invasive detection of SOS in the clinic (Guffroy et al., 2017).
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) levels in monkeys following dosing (vertical lines) with an antibody-calicheamicin conjugate and linker. Data represents group means. Statistically significant changes were observed for both HA and AST when compared to vehicle controls at all time points following dosing.
Gastrin is secreted from the stomach and plays a key role in the regulation of gastric acid secretion. Gastrin is synthesized in special endocrine cells (G cells) primarily in the antral region of the gastric mucosa and binds receptors found predominantly on parietal cells stimulating gastric juice secretion, the best-known of which is hydrochloric acid (HCl) (Henderson, 2001). The capacity of the stomach to secrete HCl normally is directly proportional to the parietal cell number. High levels of circulating gastrin can occur when the pH of the stomach is high while gastrin secretion by antral G cells is inhibited by the direct action of acid on the G cells. When the stomach lining is damaged and unable to produce and release acid, gastrin continues to be secreted from the fundus and circulating levels rise. Changes in serum gastrin have been shown to be predictive of the functional status of the antral mucosa, making it attractive as a potential biomarker of drug-induced stomach toxicity (Graham et al., 2006; Nicolaou et al., 2014). To further evaluate gastrin as a potential marker of stomach toxicity, a 28-day dog study was conducted with a compound associated with gastric effects. Minimal to moderate atrophy and minimal degeneration of the fundic mucosa were seen at histologic examinations. Mean serum gastrin levels in the treated animals were 23x higher than concurrent controls (Fig. 4) and were attributed to the lack of acid production by the damaged parietal cells, indicating a failure of the feedback mechanism that controls the acid output in the stomach. In individual dogs, serum gastrin levels were elevated (up to 52x) compared to concurrent controls and these levels correlated with the severity of the adverse microscopic stomach findings. Based on these data, serum gastrin was proposed as a non-invasive stomach-specific biomarker to monitor for stomach toxicity in the clinic.
Gastrin concentrations in a 28 Day Dog Study following treatment with vehicle or a compound associated with gastric effects. Data represents group means ± SD.
Many of the safety biomarkers currently considered conventional and measured routinely in both preclinical and clinical drug development as well as in clinical practice were established prior to the implementation of a formal regulatory qualification process. They were accepted based on scientific community consensus, i.e. review of datasets published in peer reviewed journals, experience in clinical practice, and recommendations from professional medical associations. For example, cardiac troponin (cTn) was recognized as a clinical biomarker of acute myocardial infarction by the American College of Cardiology and the European Society of Cardiology in 2000 (Jaffe, 2001) just thirteen years after the development of the first troponin assay (Danese and Montagnana, 2016). Diagnostic criteria were recommended based on published literature and clinical experience with an acknowledgement that the criteria should continue to evolve as additional knowledge was gained (Jaffe, 2001). Subsequent to clinical acceptance, cTn was evaluated as a preclinical marker by the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI) Cardiac Troponins Biomarker Working Group (Reagan, 2010) and received full qualification from the FDA in 2012 based solely on evidence from peer reviewed scientific literature (FDA, 2012).
Another pathway to biomarker approval is through biomarker evaluation for a drug-specific application. In this case, the biomarker may only be used in a single drug development program and the data required to support the use of the biomarker in the program is determined by the sponsor communicating directly with the regulatory reviewing division accountable for the program (Mattes and Goodsaid, 2018). Utilization of this pathway limits the knowledge of the biomarker’s performance and intended use for the specified program but may enable time saving and efficient progression of a promising compound into clinical development.
In order for a biomarker to be approved for multiple drug development programs, it must pass the rigor of the full regulatory qualification process. Qualification is defined by the FDA as ‘a conclusion that within the stated context of use, the results of assessment with a drug development tool (biomarker) can be relied upon to have a specific interpretation and application in drug development and regulatory review (FDA, 2014).’ Biomarkers reaching this milestone can support regulatory decisions in drug development programs for the approved context of use (COU) in clinical trials. According to the FDA, the COU is ‘a comprehensive and clear statement that describes the manner of use, interpretation, and purpose of use of the biomarker in drug development (FDA, 2016b).’ With the enactment of the 21st Century Cures Act in December 2016, an updated multi-stage biomarker qualification process was established which included three submission stages: the Letter of Intent, the Qualification Plan and the Full Qualification Package. The Biomarker Qualification Program is one of the Drug Development Tools created by the Center of Drug Evaluation and Research to provide a framework for development and regulatory acceptance of biomarkers for use in drug development programs. Similar programs outlining processes for the submission and review of data supporting the approval of new biomarkers are also in place at the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Japanese Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency (PDMA). While the agencies work closely on qualification efforts, a fully harmonized approach has yet to be established. However, these regulatory pathways provide a process to review, evaluate and adopt new tools into regulatory decision making in drug development and facilitate consensus science and acceptance of the biomarker’s proposed COU in drug development (Dennis et al., 2013).
To better understand the elements of biomarker qualification, a framework for evidentiary standards for biomarker qualification was recently proposed under the auspices of the Foundation for the National Institute of Health (FNIH) Biomarkers Consortium with representatives from FDA, NIH, industry, patient groups and academia. Five components were incorporated into the framework and included: 1) defining a statement of need (knowledge gap or drug development need) that the biomarker intends to address; 2) defining the COU; 3) assessing the benefits in light of the COU; 4) assessing the risks with regards to the COU and 5) defining the evidentiary criteria required to support the COU (Leptak et al., 2017). The COU determines the level of evidence needed both for the validation of analytical technology employed and for the qualification of the biomarker. The greater the risk to human health of an incorrect decision based on the use of the biomarker, the greater the level of evidence required for the qualifying the biomarker for that COU (Dennis et al., 2013). The assessment of the evidentiary criteria is intended to be utilized as a ‘communication tool for gaining alignment between submitters and FDA reviewers at several key milestones for a biomarker development plan: (i) initial discussions to align expectations; (ii) purposeful interim progress updates to ensure that evidence expectations have been met before proceeding further; and (iii) review evaluation to support the qualification outcome (Leptak et al., 2017).’ The ultimate goal of this effort was to improve the quality of submissions to the FDA, facilitate a level of predictability in the qualification process, and provide clarity as to the type and level of evidence needed to support a biomarker’s COU (Leptak et al., 2017).
Due to the complexity of the qualification process and considerable resources required to reach full qualification of a biomarker, efforts are primarily focused in consortia such the HESI, the PSTC, the IMI Safer and Faster Evidence-based Translation (SAFE-T) consortium and more recently the IMI Translational Safety Biomarker Pipeline (TransBioLine) consortium. To date, 4 safety biomarker submissions have been successful. This included 2 preclinical qualifications for a number of emerging urinary nephrotoxicity biomarkers and one nonclinical qualification of circulating cardiac troponins as indicators of cardiotoxicity. Earlier this year, the first clinical safety biomarker submission reached approval for a panel of urinary biomarkers to aid in the detection of kidney tubular injury in phase 1 trials in healthy volunteers (FDA, 2018b).
GLDH has been shown to be a sensitive measure of hepatotoxicity in preclinical species and in humans (Giffen et al., 2003; Schomaker et al., 2013) and is currently going through the regulatory qualification process sponsored by the PSTC and the Duchenne Regulatory Science Consortia (D-RSC). The gold standard biomarker for the diagnosis of liver injury is alanine aminotransferase (ALT). However since ALT is also present in myocytes, serum ALT activities can increase with muscle injury; thus, the development of more specific biomarkers for drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is needed. For this qualification, the proposed COU for GLDH is that ‘elevated serum GLDH activity is a measure of hepatocellular injury, and can be used in healthy subjects and patients as an adjunct to ALT, the current standard biomarker used to assess hepatocellular injury, in all stages of drug development. In a clinical situation when ALT increases are observed, GLDH can lend weight of evidence to confirm or rule out hepatocellular injury (EMA, 2017).’ The qualification submission will include a full technical validation of the assay and an evaluation of the clinical relevance of the biomarker, e.g., added value relative to aminotransferase activity, correlation to histopathology in a preclinical species and exploratory and confirmatory analyses in clinical subjects with regulatory guidance. The evaluation of clinical relevance includes establishing reference ranges for healthy subjects and evaluating the influence of gender and age, confirming GLDH as a sensitive biomarker of liver injury and establishing medically relevant cutoffs for DILI, and establishing GLDH as a specific biomarker of hepatocellular injury in comparison to ALT. In March of 2017, a joint FDA and EMA biomarker qualification consultation meeting was held for GLDH. This meeting provided regulatory support for using organ injury induced by diseases with a wide range of etiologies as approximation of chemical-induced organ injury for evaluation of performance of novel biomarkers. This was a paradigm shift in the development of safety biomarkers, since it eliminates the need for lengthy clinical trials and improves feasibility and efficiency of biomarker research. The EMA issued a Letter of Support (LoS) in November 2017 demonstrating the Agency’s support of the qualification and provided additional feedback regarding data needed for achieving full qualification of GDLH as a “Drug Development Tool”. This LoS not only recognized the potential value of GLDH as a liver specific biomarker of hepatocellular injury to address important unmet medical need but also endorsed data interpretation including medically relevant levels of GLDH (2.5x and 5x above upper limit of normal) that were established as part of the qualification effort (EMA, 2017). This qualification effort, initiated in 2015 supported by Pfizer internal exploratory data, is expected to reach fruition in 2019 with the submission of the full qualification package. The formal qualification of GLDH as a liver specific biomarker of hepatocellular injury will not only allow for the broad application of GLDH across programs, but will also enable the diagnosis of the onset of liver disease in subjects with underlying muscle impairments, which is an important unmet medical need widely recognized by the medical community. To this end, Pfizer has partnered with the PSTC, the Duchenne Regulatory Science Consortium (D-RSC), Roche, the maker of the research grade GLDH assay, and FDA to validate the GLDH assay as an in vitro diagnostic (IVD) which would allow the assay to be utilized in clinical practice and lead to an improved standard of care for patients living with muscle disease.
Serum AST and creatine kinase (CK) have been used for decades as the primary biomarkers for skeletal muscle (SKM) injury as a measure of myocyte degeneration/necrosis. However, these markers lack tissue specificity for SKM and sensitivity for SKM degeneration/necrosis in both rats and humans. In 2010, the PSTC’s Skeletal Muscle Working Group was formed with a goal to identify and qualify novel safety biomarkers of drug-induced SKM injury that would add value to the current markers, CK and AST, for monitoring SKM injury. The muscle injury panel (MIP) selected for evaluation included skeletal troponin I, myosin light chain, fatty acid-binding protein and creatine kinase measured by a mass assay. These markers were assessed in 34 rat studies and were shown to outperform AST and CK (enzymatic assay) individually and as a panel in terms of sensitivity and specificity and/or added value for the diagnosis of drug-induced SKM injury defined as myocyte degeneration/necrosis (Burch et al., 2016). Based on this data, the FDA and EMA issued Letters of Support (EMA, 2015; FDA, 2015) for the use of these markers in preclinical development and encouraged their use in early clinical trials in an exploratory context. This endorsement encouraged Burch et al. (Burch et al., 2015) to evaluate the translatability of these markers in patients with DMD and other muscular diseases and their ability to monitor disease progression and the response to treatment. In this study, the MIP biomarker responses was compared to current clinical assessments including CK activity, ambulatory status and cardiac function and were shown to not only better reflect the patients’ disease state compared to CK activity but also correlate with clinical endpoints in patients with DMD and other muscular diseases. These preclinical and clinical evaluations provided support for a qualification submission which is currently in progress. This qualification, sponsored by the PSTC, will evaluate the marker’s ability to monitor SKM degeneration/necrosis in conjunction with AST and CK enzymatic activity in early clinical trials and encourage the utilization of the MIP markers throughout drug development to improve patient safety in clinical trials (Burch et al., 2016). In support of the qualification effort, Pfizer has included the MIP markers on a number of clinical trials as exploratory biomarkers; however, the utility of the markers as SKM safety or efficacy end points to these therapeutic interventions has yet to be determined (Goldstein, 2017).
In 2008 the first formal qualification of preclinical safety biomarkers was granted by the FDA (FDA, 2008) and EMA (EMA, 2008a) followed by PMDA in 2010 (PMDA, 2010) for seven urinary safety biomarkers submitted by the PSTC. In 2010, a qualification was rendered by the FDA for the two preclinical urinary biomarkers, clusterin, renal papillary antigen-1 (RPA-1), submitted by HESI and in 2018 the FDA qualified the first clinical safety biomarkers, a set of six urinary markers interpreted as a Composite Measure (CM) (FDA, 2018a) submitted by PSTC. In all cases, the biomarkers are to be used in conjunction with the traditional measures, serum creatinine (sCr) and blood nitrogen urea (BUN), for the evaluation of nephrotoxicity. sCr and BUN are both insensitive and nonspecific, changing only after significant injury and with a time delay relative to the onset of injury (Vaidya et al., 2008) limiting their ability to accurately estimate injury onset and the severity of the dysfunction following injury (Ferguson et al., 2008).
The seven biomarkers included in the PSTC preclinical submission included KIM-1, clusterin (CLU), albumin, total protein, β2-microglobulin, cystatin C and trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) in urine. The submission contained data and data interpretation from a number of rat studies, a review of the scientific literature in humans (KIM-1, albumin, total protein, cystatin C, and β2-microglobulin), COUs for each biomarker (Dieterle et al., 2010b) and key conclusions. The PSTC put forth three specific biomarker claims in the submission. First, urinary KIM-1, CLU, and albumin can individually outperform and add information to BUN and sCr assays as early diagnostic biomarkers of drug-induced kidney tubular alterations in rat toxicology studies. Second, urinary TFF3 can add information to BUN and sCr assays in rat toxicology studies as an early diagnostic biomarker of drug-induced acute kidney injury tubular alterations. Third, total urinary protein, cystatin C, and β2-microglobulin can individually outperform sCr assays and add information to BUN and sCr assays as early diagnostic biomarkers in rat toxicology studies of acute drug-induced glomerular alterations or damage resulting in impairment of kidney tubular reabsorption (Dieterle et al., 2010b). In addition, the PSTC claimed that this rat data taken together with the published peer-reviewed clinical data supported the voluntary use of KIM-1, albumin, total protein, cystatin C, and β2-microglobulin as bridging markers for early clinical trials on a case-by-case basis when concerns are generated in GLP animal toxicology studies. During the qualification effort, the FDA and EMA provided feedback regarding submission gaps, statistical considerations and preliminary conclusion statements (EMA, 2008b) which culminated in letters of acceptance for the preclinical qualifications from both agencies. In 2008, the FDA and EMA concluded that the urinary kidney biomarkers KIM-1, CLU, albumin, total protein, β2-microglobulin, cystatin C and TFF3 were acceptable for the detection of acute drug-induced kidney injury in rats to be included along with traditional clinical chemistry markers and histopathology in toxicology studies. The EMA also stated that while it was worthwhile exploring their utility in early clinical trials as clinical biomarkers, until additional data was available “to correlate the biomarkers with the evolution of the nephrotoxic alternations, and their reversibility, their general use for monitoring nephrotoxicity in clinical setting cannot be recommended (EMA, 2008b).” Based on this data, in 2010 the PDMA announced the first biomarker qualification decision under the new consultation process on pharmacogenomics/biomarkers use in Japan. These recommendations, consistent with the concept of a progressive biomarker qualification, prompted the generation and submission of additional preclinical and clinical data to expand the COU.
In an expanded effort, the SAFE-T and PSTC consortia continued the work on urinary kidney injury biomarkers by evaluating the performance of KIM-1, CLU, NGAL, albumin, total protein, cystatin C, α -glutatione S-transferase and urinary osteopontin in clinical trials. The trials included a study in healthy volunteers, an exploratory study with cisplatin-treated cancer patients, and a study in patients undergoing coronary angiography. The markers selected are localized in different regions of the nephron thus the panel was expected to respond to a variety of nephrotoxicants. Based on the readout from these studies, both the FDA and EMA issued Letters of Support in 2016 encouraging the exploratory use of these markers as biomarkers of renal tubular injury in early clinical trials to be used in conjunction with traditional biomarkers and clinical and nonclinical findings (FDA, 2016c; EMA, 2016).
Also in 2016, the FNIH Biomarker Consortium and the PSTC submitted a qualification submission for a kidney injury biomarker panel to be interpreted as a Composite Measure (the geometric mean of the fold change from baseline of the six urine biomarkers normalized to urine creatinine) of the following six biomarkers: KIM-1, CLU, cystatin C, NAG, NGAL and urinary osteopontin. According to the COU, “the safety composite biomarker panel is to be used in conjunction with traditional measures to aid in the detection of kidney tubular injury in phase 1 trials in healthy volunteers when there is an a priori concern that a drug may cause renal tubular injury in humans (FDA, 2018a).” The qualification strategy included a nonclinical phase, a clinical exploratory phase and a clinical confirmatory phase with a cisplatin study in cancer patients and an aminoglycoside study in cystic fibrosis patients. Based on this data, this panel, interpreted as a CM, was the first clinical safety biomarker to be qualified by the FDA. Following on the success of this qualification, the FNIH and PSTC have continued their partnership and have submitted a letter of intent to FDA, EMA and PDMA to further qualify the panel of biomarkers based on the individual biomarker response thus expanding on the qualified CM COU.
Significant progress has been made towards implementing translational safety biomarker strategies into the drug development portfolio. Several pharmaceutical companies have been adopting exploratory biomarkers in their preclinical and clinical drug development programs and contributing to consortia led qualification efforts. While much progress has been made towards the qualification of biomarkers for some organ injures including liver, kidney, and muscle, significant gaps remain for other target organs such as biomarkers of vascular injury in humans, sensitive biomarkers of pancreatic injury, circulating biomarkers of testicular toxicity, and biomarkers of injury to the central nervous system. Because the process of biomarker development is complex and requires considerable resources (Gerlach et al., 2018), these efforts will best be pursued by consortia such as PSTC and IMI. Prior to widespread acceptance, each biomarker must undergo a rigorous assay validation; demonstrate relevance to humans and an association with clinical endpoints reproducibly in multiple studies and gain consensus regarding the level of evidence needed to support a qualification for the stated COU. Due to the complexity and feasibility challenges of prospective randomized drug intervention clinical trials, alternative sample collection strategies like the prospective collection of samples of organ damage etiologies from patients undergoing hospital visits employed in the GLDH qualification effort, need to be considered. These disease patient populations, once identified, can serve as surrogates for drug-induced organ injury to evaluate biomarker performance as long as common molecular and mechanistic pathways are shared between the disease and organ toxicity of interest. The prospective collection and storage of samples from clinical trials conducted for drug development is also an option (Aubrecht et al., 2013). As safety biomarkers become accepted and qualified by the regulatory agencies, they will increasingly play a key role in decision making and facilitate the progression of promising therapeutics from preclinical through clinical development, leading to the realization of our most critical goal: delivering the right dose of the right medicines to the right patients at the right time (Gerlach et al., 2018).
Safety and tolerability of newly approved drug candidates still remains a key concern in drug development leading to black box warnings and withdrawals of promising therapeutics. A major hurdle is the lack of validated and qualified safety biomarkers that accurately diagnose, predict and inform mechanism of organ toxicities. Regulatory qualification of a safety biomarker is critical for routine application in clinical development. To address this hurdle and the complexities in biomarker development, considerable resources and partnerships across industry, academia, and regulators is needed. Although tremendous progress has been made towards identifying and implementing translational safety biomarkers for organ toxicities such as kidney and liver, significant gaps still exist to monitor toxicities for other common target organs such as pancreas, central nervous system, testis, and skeletal muscle. With the enactment of 21st Century Cures Act, the FDA biomarker qualification process has become more streamlined. In addition to developing a clear frame work for regulatory qualification, there is optimism towards expediting the qualification process so that promising therapeutics can be safely tested in the clinic and ultimately provide patients access to new medicines.
Ahuja, V. and Sharma, S. (2014): Drug safety testing paradigm, current progress and future challenges: an overview. J. Appl. Toxicol., 34, 576-594.
Aubrecht, J., Schomaker, S.J. and Amacher, D.E. (2013): Emerging hepatotoxicity biomarkers and their potential to improve understanding and management of drug-induced liver injury. Genome Med., 5, 85-87.
Boyer, S., Brealey, C. and Davis, A. (2016): Attrition in Drug Discovery and Development. John Wiley and Sons Inc.
Burch, P.M., Greg Hall, D., Walker, E.G., Bracken, W., Giovanelli, R., Goldstein, R., Higgs, R.E., King, N.M., Lane, P., Sauer, J.M., Michna, L., Muniappa, N., Pritt, M.L., Vlasakova, K., Watson, D.E., Wescott, D., Zabka, T.S. and Glaab, W.E. (2016): Evaluation of the Relative Performance of Drug-Induced Skeletal Muscle Injury Biomarkers in Rats. Toxicol. Sci., 150, 247-256.
Burch, P.M., Pogoryelova, O., Goldstein, R., Bennett, D., Guglieri, M., Straub, V., Bushby, K., Lochmüller, H. and Morris, C. (2015): Muscle-Derived Proteins as Serum Biomarkers for Monitoring Disease Progression in Three Forms of Muscular Dystrophy. J. Neuromuscul. Dis., 2, 241-255.
Burt, D., Crowell, S.J., Ackley, D.C., Magee, T.V. and Aubrecht, J. (2014): Application of emerging biomarkers of acute kidney injury in development of kidney-sparing polypeptide-based antibiotics. Drug Chem. Toxicol., 37, 204-212.
Chen, Y., Dale Thurman, J., Kinter, L.B., Bialecki, R. and Eric McDuffie, J. (2017): Perspectives on using a multiplex human kidney safety biomarker panel to detect cisplatin-induced tubular toxicity in male and female Cynomolgus monkeys. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 336, 66-74.
Clark, M. and Steger-Hartmann, T. (2018): A big data approach to the concordance of the toxicity of pharmaceuticals in animals and humans. Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol., 96, 94-105.
Currid, C.A. and Gallagher, W.M. (2008): Selected highlights of the Third Annual Biomarkers Congress: from discovery to validation in the drug development arena. Expert Opin. Med. Diagn., 2, 1091-1094.
Danese, E. and Montagnana, M. (2016): An historical approach to the diagnostic biomarkers of acute coronary syndrome. Ann. Transl. Med., 4, 194.
Dennis, E.H., Walker, E.G., Baker, A.F. and Miller, R.T. (2013): Opportunities and challenges of safety biomarker qualification: perspectives from the predictive safety testing consortium. Drug Dev. Res., 74, 112-126.
Dieterle, F., Perentes, E., Cordier, A., Roth, D.R., Verdes, P., Grenet, O., Pantano, S., Moulin, P., Wahl, D., Mahl, A., End, P., Staedtler, F., Legay, F., Carl, K., Laurie, D., Chibout, S.D., Vonderscher, J. and Maurer, G. (2010a): Urinary clusterin, cystatin C, beta2-microglobulin and total protein as markers to detect drug-induced kidney injury. Nat. Biotechnol., 28, 463-469.
Dieterle, F., Sistare, F., Goodsaid, F., Papaluca, M., Ozer, J.S., et al. (2010b): Renal biomarker qualification submission: a dialog between the FDA-EMEA and Predictive Safety Testing Consortium. Nat. Biotechnol., 28, 455-462.
EMA (2008a): Final Report on the pilot Joint EMEA/FDA VXDS experience on Qualification of Nephrotoxicity biomarkers.
EMA (2008b): Final Report on the Pilot Joint EMEA/FDA VXDS Experience on Qualification of Nephrotoxivity Biomarkers.
EMA (2015): Letter of Support for Skeletal Muscle Injury Biomarkers.
EMA (2016): Letter of support for drug-induced renal tubular injury. Biomarkers.
EMA (2017): Letter of Support for Glutamate Dehydrogenase, a biomarker of hepatocellular liver injury.
FDA (2008): Qualification Letter for Seven Biomarkers of Drug-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats.
FDA (2012): Biomarker Qualificaton Decision for the Use of Circulating Cardiac Troponins in NonClinical Drug Development in Rats, Dogs and Monkeys.
FDA (2014): Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff: Qualification Process for Drug Development Tools.
FDA (2015): FDA Letter of Support for Serum and Plasma Biomarkers: Myosin Light Chain 3 (Myl3), Skeletal Muscle Troponin I (sTNI), Fatty Acid Binding Protein 3 (FABP3), Creatine Kinase, Muscle Type (CK-M, the Homodimer CK-MM).
FDA (2016a): BEST (Biomarkers, EndpointS, and other Tools) Resource.), Silver Spring (MD): Food and Drug Administration (US); Bethesda (MD): National Institutes of Health (US).
FDA (2016b): FDA Case Study: A Collaborative Effort to Qualify a Novel Biomarker.
FDA (2016c): Safer and Faster Evidence-based Translation (SAFE-T) Consortium Letter of Support for Drug-induced Renal Tubular Injury Biomarkers.
FDA (2018a): Biomarker Qualification Determination Letter for Renal Biomarkers.
FDA (2018b): Biomarker Qualification Program: List of Qualified Biomarkers.
Ferguson, M.A., Vaidya, V.S. and Bonventre, J.V. (2008): Biomarkers of nephrotoxic acute kidney injury. Toxicology, 245, 182-193.
Fuchs, T.C. and Hewitt, P. (2011): Preclinical perspective of urinary biomarkers for the detection of nephrotoxicity: what we know and what we need to know. Biomarkers Med., 5, 763-779.
Gerlach, C.V., Derzi, M., Ramaiah, S.K. and Vaidya, V.S. (2018): Industry Perspective on Biomarker Development and Qualification. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther., 103, 27-31.
Giffen, P.S., Turton, J., Andrews, C.M., Barrett, P., Clarke, C.J., Fung, K.W., Munday, M.R., Roman, I.F., Smyth, R., Walshe, K. and York, M.J. (2003): Markers of experimental acute inflammation in the Wistar Han rat with particular reference to haptoglobin and C-reactive protein. Arch. Toxicol., 77, 392-402.
Goldstein, R.A. (2017): Skeletal Muscle Injury Biomarkers: Assay Qualification Efforts and Translation to the Clinic. Toxicol. Pathol., 45, 943-951.
Graham, D.Y., Nurgalieva, Z.Z., El-Zimaity, H.M., Opekun, A.R., Campos, A., Guerrero, L., Chavez, A. and Cardenas, V. (2006): Noninvasive versus histologic detection of gastric atrophy in a Hispanic population in North America. Clin. Gastroenterol. Hepatol., 4, 306-314.
Guffroy, M., Falahatpisheh, H., Biddle, K., Kreeger, J., Obert, L., Walters, K., Goldstein, R., Boucher, G., Coskran, T., Reagan, W., Sullivan, D., Huang, C., Sokolowski, S., Giovanelli, R., Gerber, H.P., Finkelstein, M. and Khan, N. (2017): Liver Microvascular Injury and Thrombocytopenia of Antibody-Calicheamicin Conjugates in Cynomolgus Monkeys-Mechanism and Monitoring. Clin. Cancer Res., 23, 1760-1770.
Haim, A. (2011): Biomarkers in Drug development: A Useful Tool but Discrepant results may have a major Impact. In: Intech.
Hay, M., Thomas, D.W., Craighead, J.L., Economides, C. and Rosenthal, J. (2014): Clinical development success rates for investigational drugs. Nat. Biotechnol., 32, 40-51.
Henderson, A.R. (2001): Gastric, Pancreatic, and Intestinal Function. In: Tietz Fundamentals of Clincial Chemistry (Burtis, C.a.A., Edward, ed.), pp. 774-776, Saunders, Philadelphia Pennsylvania.
Jaffe, A.S.; World Health Organization; European Society of Cardiology; American College of Cardiology. (2001): New standard for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Cardiol. Rev., 9, 318-322.
Koyner, J.L., Vaidya, V.S., Bennett, M.R., Ma, Q., Worcester, E., Akhter, S.A., Raman, J., Jeevanandam, V., O’Connor, M.F., Devarajan, P., Bonventre, J.V. and Murray, P.T. (2010): Urinary biomarkers in the clinical prognosis and early detection of acute kidney injury. Clin. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., 5, 2154-2165.
Leptak, C., Menetski, J.P., Wagner, J.A., Aubrecht, J., Brady, L., Brumfield, M., Chin, W.W., Hoffmann, S., Kelloff, G., Lavezzari, G., Ranganathan, R., Sauer, J.M., Sistare, F.D., Zabka, T. and Wholley, D. (2017): What evidence do we need for biomarker qualification? Sci. Transl. Med., 9, 417.
Mattes, W.B. and Goodsaid, F. (2018): Regulatory landscapes for biomarkers and diagnostic tests: Qualification, approval, and role in clinical practice. Exp. Biol. Med. (Maywood), 243, 256-261.
Monticello, T.M., Jones, T.W., Dambach, D.M., Potter, D.M., Bolt, M.W., Liu, M., Keller, D.A., Hart, T.K. and Kadambi, V.J. (2017): Current nonclinical testing paradigm enables safe entry to First-In-Human clinical trials: the IQ consortium nonclinical to clinical translational database. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 334, 100-109.
Nicolaou, A., Thomas, D., Alexandraki, K.I., Sougioultzis, S., Tsolakis, A.V. and Kaltsas, G. (2014): Predictive value of gastrin levels for the diagnosis of gastric enterochromaffin-like cell hyperplasia in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Neuroendocrinology, 99, 118-122.
Olson, H., Betton, G., Robinson, D., Thomas, K., Monro, A., Kolaja, G., Lilly, P., Sanders, J., Sipes, G., Bracken, W., Dorato, M., Van Deun, K., Smith, P., Berger, B. and Heller, A. (2000): Concordance of the toxicity of pharmaceuticals in humans and in animals. Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol., 32, 56-67.
Ozer, J.S., Dieterle, F., Troth, S., Perentes, E., Cordier, A., Verdes, P., Staedtler, F., Mahl, A., Grenet, O., Roth, D.R., Wahl, D., Legay, F., Holder, D., Erdos, Z., Vlasakova, K., Jin, H., Yu, Y., Muniappa, N., Forest, T., Clouse, H.K., Reynolds, S., Bailey, W.J., Thudium, D.T., Topper, M.J., Skopek, T.R., Sina, J.F., Glaab, W.E., Vonderscher, J., Maurer, G., Chibout, S.D., Sistare, F.D. and Gerhold, D.L. (2010): A panel of urinary biomarkers to monitor reversibility of renal injury and a serum marker with improved potential to assess renal function. Nat. Biotechnol., 28, 486-494.
PMDA (2010): PDMA Qual Letter for Rat Kidney Biomarkers.
Reagan, W.J. (2010): Troponin as a biomarker of cardiac toxicity: past, present, and future. Toxicol. Pathol., 38, 1134-1137.
Roberts, R.A., Kavanagh, S.L., Mellor, H.R., Pollard, C.E., Robinson, S. and Platz, S.J. (2014): Reducing attrition in drug development: smart loading preclinical safety assessment. Drug Discov. Today, 19, 341-347.
Schomaker, S., Warner, R., Bock, J., Johnson, K., Potter, D., Van Winkle, J. and Aubrecht, J. (2013): Assessment of emerging biomarkers of liver injury in human subjects. Toxicol. Sci., 132, 276-283.
Sellers, R.S., Pardo, I., Hu, G., Khan, K.N., Perry, R., Markiewicz, V., Rohde, C., Colangelo, J., Reagan, W. and Clarke, D. (2017): Inflammatory Cell Findings in the Female Rabbit Heart and Stress-associated Exacerbation with Handling and Procedures Used in Nonclinical Studies. Toxicol. Pathol., 45, 416-426.
Vaidya, V.S., Ferguson, M.A. and Bonventre, J.V. (2008): Biomarkers of acute kidney injury. Annu. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol., 48, 463-493.
Waring, M.J., Arrowsmith, J., Leach, A.R., Leeson, P.D., Mandrell, S., Owen, R.M., Pairaudeau, G., Pennie, W.D., Pickett, S.D., Wang, J., Wallace, O. and Weir, A. (2015): An analysis of the attrition of drug candidates from four major pharmaceutical companies. Nat. Rev. Drug Discov., 14, 475-486.
Woodcock, J. and Woosley, R. (2008): The FDA critical path initiative and its influence on new drug development. Annu. Rev. Med., 59, 1-12. | 2019-04-21T04:51:20Z | https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jts/44/4/44_225/_html/-char/en |
A liquid applicator is provided which is particularly useful in applying preoperative surgical scrubs or paints to skin. The liquid is contained in a frangible ampoule inside the body of the applicator. This ampoule is supported and protected by a deformable element that prevents unintentional breakage of the ampoule from impacts during storage and handling before use. The applicator is actuated by pushing at least a portion of the frangible ampoule through an aperture in the deformable element and into contact with a means for breaking the ampoule.
This is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 07/985,306 filed Dec. 4, 1992 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,159.
This invention relates to liquid applicators having particular utility in the field of surgery preparation. Most particularly, this invention relates to articles useful in applying pre-operative surgical scrubs or paints to skin.
Antiseptic preparation of patients for surgery conventionally includes a 3-10 minute scrubbing of the affected area with a soap solution followed by the application of a water-soluble antiseptic paint solution. These solutions are generally applied with saturated sponges that are attached to a blade or held with forceps. The sponges are saturated by soaking in open pans of solution.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,415,288; 4,507,111; and 4,498,796 describe surgical scrub devices that include a liquid-containing, rupturable, cylindrical cartridge which is slidable within a tubular handle having one or two longitudinally oriented hollow spikes that communicate to recesses in the interior of a sponge. Sliding the cartridge in the tubular handle causes the spikes to rupture one end of the cartridge. Liquid from the cartridge flows through the lumen of the spikes to the sponge. To prevent rupture of the cartridge by the spikes from impact during, for example, shipping, an embodiment of the device incorporates an inwardly projecting shoulder in the tubular handle that may interfere with the sliding of the cartridge. Ease of actuation is also a potential problem with an applicator that requires puncturing a plastic cartridge.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,183,684 describes a fluid dispenser that includes a liquid-containing ampoule in a flexible housing. A porous pad element is disposed over the bottom opening. The liquid is released to the porous pad by crushing the ampoule through the flexible housing walls.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,385 describes a dispensing applicator having a wedge used for breaking a frangible ampoule.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,268 to Andersen et al. discloses an apparatus for testing the sufficiency of sterilization. It includes an ampoule containing a sterile liquid culture medium which is broken by the user when a plunger pushes the ampoule against an opening wedge.
Coassigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,327, which is hereby incorporated by reference, describes a liquid applicator which incorporates a rigid, porous metering insert to regulate the flow rate of liquid disposed between the applicator handle and a foam sponge covering a major orifice of the handle. The liquid to be dispensed is contained in a rupturable reservoir removably affixed at the other major orifice of the handle. Since no means is provided for protecting the reservoir container, plastic is the preferred container material. However, plastic containers can limit the shelf life of many antiseptic solutions.
(d) means associated with the hollow elongate member for rupturing the reservoir container after at least a portion of the container is pushed through the aperture in the deformable means. Although this device can be easily actuated by the application of a small steady force to push the reservoir container through the deformable means and into contact with the rupture means, the liquid-filled rupturable container is protected from breakage from large impact forces which may occur during shipping or handling.
(g) means of maintaining atmospheric pressure within the hollow elongate member while the liquid is being dispensed.
This embodiment of the applicator provides a means to reliably deliver in a short period of time a surgical prep solution to the applicator sponge without dripping. The applicator controls the flow rate of liquid therein to the applicator sponge without the need for external operator manipulation such as squeezing the liquid container or compressing the applicator sponge against an external surface. Although intended to apply modern, low viscosity, non-water-soluble, film-forming prep solutions, this device can be configured to apply a variety of solution compositions, viscosities, densities and volumes without compromising the fast wetting and no dripping features.
FIG. 10 is a magnified plan view of the membrane fabricated in Example 3, pore sizes not to scale.
With reference to the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 through 6, the applicator 10 includes a hollow elongate member 12 adapted to support and protect a rupturable reservoir container in the form of frangible ampoule 14 containing the solution to be applied by the applicator 10. The hollow elongate member 12 acts as a handle and as a fluid container after the ampoule 14 has been broken, but before the solution is dispensed by the foam sponge 16. The hollow elongate member 12 is bounded by a first major orifice 18 and second major orifice 20, one at each end. A flange 22 adapted to accept the foam sponge 16 surrounds the first orifice 18. Internally, the hollow elongate member 12 is conveniently constructed to include a shoulder 24 for retaining a collar 26, which serves as a preferred deformable means for supporting and protecting the ampoule 14 until the applicator 10 is to be used. A wedge 28 is conveniently constructed adjacent to the first orifice 18, which serves as a means for breaking the ampoule 14.
Referring to FIG. 6, the collar 26 is conveniently constructed to include a plurality of radially projecting, cantilevered beam elements 36 projecting at a substantially right angle from a surrounding annular rim 38. In particularly preferred embodiments, the inside edge 40 of each of the cantilevered beam elements 36 is curved, and together these curves define an aperture 42. This aperture is specifically adapted to engage the bulb 44 of the neck portion 46 of the ampoule 14.
In the embodiment depicted, the collar 26 is disposed between the first 18 and second 20 orifices of the hollow elongate member 12 at a position that is conveniently determined by an internal shoulder 24. Prior to actuation, the collar 26 prevents the neck portion 46 of the ampoule 14 from contacting the wedge 28. During actuation of the applicator 10, the bulb 44 of the ampoule neck portion 46 is pushed through the collar 26, causing the ampoule neck portion 46 to contact the wedge 28. The wedge 28 exerts a force perpendicular to the axis of the neck portion 46 of the ampoule 14 that results in the separation of the ampoule neck portion 46 from the ampoule body portion 48. This separation is facilitated by a stress-concentrator 50 between the ampoule neck portion 46 and body portion 48.
Referring to FIG. 3, after the separation, the collar 26 acts to axially separate the ampoule neck portion 46 from the body portion 48, facilitating the flow of liquid from the ampoule 14. If the ampoule neck 46 were to remain in close proximity to the ampoule body 48, the opening 52 formed by the rupturing of the stress-concentrator 50 for the liquid to escape the ampoule 14 could be restricted.
The cap 32 is adapted to close the second orifice 20 of the hollow elongate member 12 after insertion of the liquid-containing ampoule 14 during assembly of the applicator 10. The cap 32 is constructed to transmit the actuation force to the ampoule 14, vent the interior of the applicator to prevent "air-locking" and provide a leakproof seal. The cap 32 is axially retained to the hollow elongate member 12 by a snap fit joint created by the internally projecting lip 54 of the cap 32 and the externally projecting ridge 30 of the hollow elongate member 12. The cap 32 is constructed to include an axially projecting column 58 from the interior surface. The column 58 contains an axial hole that vents the interior of the applicator 10 to maintain atmospheric pressure as liquid flows out through the first orifice 18 of the hollow elongate member 12 into the foam sponge 16.
Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, in a preferred embodiment, a flexible, porous layer 66 of porous material incorporated in a structurally rigid frame 68 is disposed over the first orifice 18 of the hollow elongate member 12, and is sandwiched between the surrounding flange 22 and the open-cell foam sponge 16. The porous layer 66 is disposed over the first orifice 18 to control the flow of liquid out of the hollow elongate member 12 and into the foam sponge 16.
The foam sponge 16 can be selected from a variety of commercially available materials having a wide range of compression set ratios, densities and porosities. By varying the pore size, pore size distribution, void volume fraction and surface energy of the flexible porous layer and the compression set ratio and porosity of the foam sponge, applicators can be constructed to apply a variety of solution compositions, viscosities and volumes. The pore size, pore size distribution, void volume fraction and surface energy of the flexible porous layer and the compression set ratio and porosity of the open-cell foam sponge are adjusted in relation to the viscosity, density, volume and surface tension of the liquid to be dispensed to allow a portion of the liquid contained in the applicator to flow to the outer surface of the foam sponge without dripping when the applicator is suspended with the flange down. It should be noted that to create a completely dripless applicator, the amount of liquid to be dispensed by the device must not exceed the reservoiring capacity of the foam sponge.
The invention will now be more particularly described in terms of the following particularly preferred embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the applicator 10 consists of the following components: a frangible ampoule 14 containing the solution to be dispensed; a hollow elongate member 12 adapted to accept the ampoule 14, and having a flange 22 surrounding a first orifice 18; a deformable collar 26 disposed within the hollow elongate member 12; a cap 32 including an air vent 64 positioned over the second major orifice 20 of the hollow elongate member 12; an integral metering/bonding insert 72 disposed within the flange 22 of the hollow elongate member 12; and a foam sponge 16 disposed over the metering/bonding insert 72.
The frangible ampoule 14 is preferably made of glass, with a stress-concentrator 50 at a constriction separating a neck portion 46 from the body portion 48 of the ampoule 14. The neck portion 46 of the ampoule 14 includes a bulb 44 disposed between the lower end 74 of the neck portion 46 and the stress concentrator 50 of the ampoule. Frangible ampoules such as this are well known in the pharmaceutical field.
The hollow elongate member 12 can be molded from any thermoplastic material compatible with the liquid to be dispensed. Preferably, the hollow elongate member 12 is molded from high density polyethylene. Features of the preferred embodiment of this component include a tubular handle portion 13, a dispensing portion 15, a first major orifice 18 with an integrally formed radially-projecting surrounding flange 22 adapted to accept the metering/bonding insert 72, a wedge 28 adjacent to the first orifice 18, a second major orifice 20 with a surrounding ridge 30 on the exterior surface of the hollow elongate member adapted to retain a cap 32, and a shoulder 24 disposed between the first orifice 18 and second orifice 20 adapted to support a collar 26.
For surgical prep applications, it is important that the hollow elongate member 12 be long enough to prevent contact of the patient by the person applying the surgical prep solution. Preferably, for such applications the hollow elongate member is at least four inches long. In the preferred embodiment, the tubular handle portion 13 of the hollow elongate member has a larger diameter to accommodate the body of the ampoule, than the dispensing portion 15 which accommodates the neck portion 46 of the ampoule.
Integrally-formed flange 22 surrounds the first orifice 18 and is angled from the longitudinal axis of the elongate member 12 by between 30 and 90 degrees. Most preferably, there is about a 45 degree angle between the flange 22 and the longitudinal axis of the hollow elongate member 12. The flange 22 preferably includes a recess 70 on the its interior surface. The recess is dimensioned and shaped to permit nesting therein of the metering/bonding insert 72.
Wedge 28 is positioned to extend within the dispensing portion 15 of the hollow elongate member 12 near the first orifice 18 so as to be capable of contacting the end 74 of the ampoule neck portion 46 when the applicator 10 is actuated. Many different geometries are possible for the wedge 28. The preferred embodiment includes an integrally-formed projection with a first edge 76 at an angle from the longitudinal axis of the hollow elongate member 12 of 30 to 60 degrees, most preferably about 45 degress, and a second edge 78 parallel to the longitudinal axis. When the bulb 44 of ampoule 14 is pushed through the opening in collar 26 and towards the first orifice 18 of the hollow elongate member 12, the first edge 76 of the wedge 28 exerts a force perpendicular to the axis of elongate member 12 on the ampoule neck portion 46 which ruptures ampoule 14 at the stress concentrator 50. The ampoule neck portion 46 is wedged between the second edge 78 of the wedge 28 and the interior wall 80 of the tubular handle 13 opposite the wedge 28. Many geometric variations of wedge 28 capable of exerting such a perpendicular force on the ampoule neck 46 when the ampoule 14 is displaced will occur to the skilled artisan.
The hollow elongate member 12 has an internal diameter transition between the tubular handle portion 13 and the dispensing portion 15 which provides an inwardly projecting shoulder 24 that limits the axial displacement of a collar 26. Collar 26 serves as the deformable means which support ampoule 14 and prevents unintentional breakage of the ampoule due to impact forces during shipment and storage. The collar 26 is conveniently constructed from a thermoplastic material. In the preferred embodiment, the collar 26 is injection molded from high density polyethylene. Referring to FIG. 6, the collar 26 preferably includes a plurality of radially projecting beam elements 36 cantilevered at an approximately right angle from a surrounding annular rim 38. Most preferably, the cantilevered beam elements project from one edge of the surrounding annular rim The inside edges 40 of the radially projecting beam elements define a central aperture 42. The central aperture 42 is nominally the same diameter as the lower end 74 of the ampoule neck portion 46 but significantly smaller than the diameter of the ampoule bulb 44. During assembly of the applicator 10, the collar 26 is inserted annular rim 38 up through second orifice 20 into the hollow elongate member 12 to the level of the shoulder 24. Annular rim 38 lies adjacent shoulder 24, with its outer surface abutting handle portion 13 of the hollow elongate member just above the shoulder portion around the entire perimeter of the annular rim. Ampoule 14 is inserted in the hollow elongate member, lower end 74 first. The ampoule neck portion 46 partially projects through the collar 26; however, the central aperture in the collar 26 is dimensioned such that in the assembled applicator, the bulb 44 of the ampoule neck portion 46 is not completely through the aperture The beam elements 36 exert a spring force on the bulb 44 of the ampoule neck 46 and prevent the lower end 74 of the ampoule neck portion 46 from contacting the wedge 28 The beam elements 36 dissipate impact or shock forces on the ampoule 14 that might occur during shipping. When the applicator is actuated, the beam elements 36 and the surrounding annular rim 38 elastically and plastically deflect as the ampoule bulb 44 is pushed through the collar 26 and into contact with wedge 28.
In the preferred embodiment, the beam elements 36 are cantilevered from a thin annular rim 38. The rim 38 is designed to deflect when the beam elements 36 exert a critical bending moment upon it. This deflection of the rim effectively reduces the spring constant of the beam elements which produces a substantially constant force upon ampoule bulb 44 being forced through the aperture 42 that is independent of ampoule bulb diameter. Without this effect, the force required to push an ampoule through the aperture 42 in collar 26 would be nonlinearly related to the diameter of the ampoule bulb 44. Because glass ampoules of the type incorporated in this applicator are not manufactured by a blow molding process, the diameter of the bulb portion 44 of the ampoule 14 is significantly variable. Thus, without the use of the collar described herein, the force required to actuate each applicator would vary with each ampoule containing liquid to be dispensed. Preferably, the collar 26 is adapted to withstand the application of 13 to 18 Newtons of force without sufficient deflection to allow the ampoule bulb 44 to pass through aperture 42, but deflects to allow the ampoule bulb to pass through the aperture upon application of at least about 22 Newtons of force.
In the preferred embodiment, a cap 32 covers the second major orifice 20 of the hollow elongate member 12. The cap includes an end wall 59 and annular side walls 61. The cap 32 can be fabricated from any compatible thermoplastic material. In the preferred embodiment, the cap element is injection molded from high density polyethylene. The cap is adapted to be attached to hollow elongate member 12 by means of a snap fit. This is accomplished by providing lip 54 inwardly projecting from side walls 61 adjacent to the major orifice 56 of the cap 32 which has a smaller inside diameter than the outside diameter of the outwardly projecting ridge 30 adjacent to the second orifice 20 of the hollow elongate member 12. When the applicator 10 is assembled, the lip 54 of cap 32 is snapped over the outwardly projecting ridge 30 on the hollow elongate member 12. The cap 32 is also adapted to provide a liquid seal between the cap 32 and the hollow elongate member 12. This is accomplished by providing that the inside diameter of the inwardly projecting lip 54 on the cap 32 is smaller than the outside diameter of the sealing surface 34 of the hollow elongate member 12 thereby providing an axially slidable seal by means of an interference fit.
The cap 32 is adapted to transmit an actuation force to the glass ampoule 14 as the cap is axially displaced in the direction towards sponge 16. This force is transmitted by column 58 which axially projects from the interior surface of the end wall 59 of cap 32. Axial movement of column 58 in the direction towards sponge 16 forces the entire neck 46 of ampoule 14 through the aperture 42 in collar 26 and causes the ampoule neck 46 to contact the wedge 28. In order to avoid creating a vacuum and restricting flow through the applicator, a means of maintaining atmospheric pressure in the device is preferably employed. Thus, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, column 58 is constructed with an axial hole with a first larger orifice 82 that communicates to the external surface of the cap, and an air vent 64 at the end of the column 58. The axial hole in the cap 32 functions to aspirate air into the internal volume of the applicator as the liquid flows into the foam sponge 16 to maintain atmospheric pressure within the device and prevent "air-locking." Of course, other air vent means are envisioned by the inventors. Preferably, the geometry and location of the air vent would not result in leakage of liquid from the device. The annular volume between the end wall 59 and axial column 58 of the cap 32 and the inside surface 62 of the hollow elongate member 12 adjacent to the second orifice 20 provides a reservoir for liquid when the applicator 10 is inverted. The height of column 58 is designed to always exceed the level of liquid in the annular volume thereby preventing liquid from leaking out of the air vent 64 of the column 58.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, metering/bonding insert 72 which is dimensioned to rest in recess 70 of flange 22, includes a flexible porous layer 66 of porous material surrounded by a substantially rigid frame 68, preferably fabricated from thermoplastic material. The metering/bonding insert 72 can be fabricated by attaching the porous layer 66 to separate rigid frame 68 by means of adhesives, thermal staking, ultrasonic bonding and other methods. Rigid frame 68 can be fabricated by injection molding, extrusion and die cutting. In the preferred embodiment the metering/bonding insert 72 is fabricated by injection insert molding a thermoplastic rigid frame 68 around the porous layer 66. Preferably, rigid frame 68 is comprised of a thermoplastic or heat-activatable material filled with an inductively active material. Preferred examples include thermoplastic or heat-activatable material, such as polyethylene or hot melt adhesive, filled with an inductive metal or metal oxide powder, e.g., 5 to 50 percent by volume iron powder having an average particle size of about 300 to 400 mesh. A particularly preferred material is polyethylene filled with iron powder, commercially available from Ashland Chemical, Inc., Norwood, New Jersey, as "EMAWELD® Resin G10-214". During assembly of the applicator 10, the metering/bonding insert 72 is sandwiched between the flange 22 surrounding the first orifice 18 of the hollow elongate member 12 and the foam sponge 16. The assembled applicator 10 is then held in an inductively inactive fixture, e.g., plastic, and exposed to a high frequency alternating electromagnetic field. The frame 68 of the metering/bonding insert 72 is inductively melted thereby bonding the hollow elongate member 12, the metering/bonding insert 72, and foam sponge 16 together.
The distribution and rate of delivery of the liquid to the open-cell foam sponge 16 is controlled by the porous layer 66 incorporated in the integral metering/bonding insert 72. For a given volume, viscosity, density and surface tension of the liquid, wetting of the foam sponge without dripping can be accomplished by appropriate specification of the average pore size, pore size distribution, void volume fraction and surface energy of the material from which the porous layer 66 is formed, and the permanent compression set ratio and porosity of the open-cell foam sponge 16.
Preferably, the pore size, pore size distribution, void volume fraction and surface energy of the porous layer 66 incorporated in the metering/bonding insert 72 are adjusted so that for any given volume, viscosity, density and surface tension of the liquid to be applied the average flow rate of the liquid through the porous layer is between about 0.1 and 15 ml/sec. Greater flow rates than this will tend to result in an applicator which drips and applies uneven coats, while lower flow rates will result in an applicator which does not provide adequate liquid for surgical scrub applications. Most preferably, for surgical scrub applications the average flow rate of liquid through the porous layer 66 is between 0.25 and 10 ml/sec. In general, for lower volumes and/or higher viscosity liquids the pore size and/or void volume of the porous layer is adjusted upwards to achieve the desired flow rates.
The rigidity provided by the structural frame 68 of the bonding/metering insert 72 enables flexible porous materials to be utilized as the porous layer 66 that would otherwise be difficult to handle in manufacturing. The structural frame 68 permits the use of inexpensive porous materials manufactured as sheets as the porous layer 66 to control the liquid flow rate. Combining the inductively meltable frame 68 with the porous layer 66 reduces the manufacturing cost of the applicator by allowing the utilization of inexpensive porous material and by reducing the number of parts. Insert molding an inductively meltable frame 68 around the flexible porous layer 66 results in a single part that can be easily handled by automated production equipment.
The porous layer in the metering/bonding element 72 is preferably a flexible fabric, porous film or porous membrane, such as porous plastic film or porous metal foil, and flexible nonwoven porous material. Useful fabrics may be woven, non-woven or knit. By flexible it is meant that the material from which the porous layer is made can be wrapped around a 1 millimeter diameter mandrel without breaking. While flexible porous layers are preferred, rigid porous metering material, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,327, incorporated herein by reference, may also be employed. Preferably, the average pore size of the porous layer is between about 1 and 100 microns and the void volume fraction is between about 0.5 and 50 percent. Preferably, for surgical applications where antiseptic solutions are dispensed, the average pore size of the porous layer is between 3 and 65 microns and the void volume fraction is between about 1 and 35 percent. Most preferably, for such applications the average pore size is between about 5 and 50 microns and the void volume is between about 2 and 20 percent. The distribution of the pore sizes are preferably less than about 30 percent of the average pore size, more preferably less than about 20 percent, and most preferably less than about 10 percent of the average pore size. Illustrative examples of materials which may be used to make the flexible porous layer useful in the practice of the invention include: polyvinyls such as acrylics and methacrylics, polyynes, polyenes (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene, polydienes (e.g., polybutadiene and polyisoprene), polyesters (e.g., terephphalate esters, etc.), polyurethanes, polyamides (e.g., nylons), polyimides, polyethers, polyacrylamides, polyacrylonitriles, polycarbonates, etc. A preferred woven fabric from which to form porous layer 66 is commercially available as "Saatifil™ Polyester PES 18-13" from Saati Corp., Stamford, Conn. This material has an average mesh size of about 18 microns and a void volume fraction of about 13 percent. Preferred porous layers would include porous polymer films produced by phase inversion, laser ablation and other well known processes.
The material from which to form porous layer 66 is selected so as to have an appropriate surface energy for the liquid to be dispensed by the applicator. For example, where the liquid to be applied has relatively high surface tension, such as water, the porous layer 66 is made from a material which has relatively high surface energy, such as polyacrylamide. In this way, wetting of the porous layer 66 by the high surface tension liquid is assured. With liquids having relatively low surface tensions, such as isopropyl-alcohol or ethanol, the choice of the material from which to form porous layer 66 is less important, since liquids with low surface tensions will wet porous layers with high or low surface energies. Preferably the porous layer is between about 5 microns (0.2 mil) and 525 microns (20 mil) thick, more preferably between about 12 microns (0.5 mil) and 50 microns (2 mil) thick.
One type of useful flexible porous layer is a microstructured isoporous membrane having an array of pores therein, described in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/804,294, filed Dec. 9, 1991, incorporated herein by reference. These membranes comprise a sheet having first and second major faces with at least one array of pores that extend through the entirety of the sheet from the first face to the second face.
e) the land areas between pore openings are flat.
FIG. 7 shows an illustrative embodiment of a microstructured membrane made in accordance with U.S. Ser. No. 07/804,294, wherein membrane 100 comprises sheet 120 with pores 140 therein. Pores 140 open in first face 160 of sheet 120 and extend through the entirety of sheet 120 to open through second face 180.
An additional feature of some embodiments of these membranes is that, referring to FIG. 7, major portion 121 of the walls of each pore 140 are substantially parallel to longitudinal axis 122 of pore 140. As used herein, "longitudinal axis" refers to the axis of the orifice extending through the sheet 120. By "substantially parallel" it is meant that the deviation between the major portion of the wall of each opening and the longitudinal axis is less than about 5 degrees. Accordingly, in these embodiments the pore has a substantially uniform cross-sectional area throughout at least the portion defined by the major portions of its walls. As used herein, "cross-sectional area" refers to the area of a geometric surface on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pore and bounded by the intersection of the plane with the walls of the opening.
In these membranes the major portion, i.e., at least 50 percent and typically preferably at least 75 percent, of the length of the walls of each pore beginning at the edge of the opening in the first face of the sheet and extending through the sheet are substantially straight. Explained in another way, the regions of intersection with the walls or sides of an a pore of any plane parallel to and intersecting the longitudinal axis of the pore are straight lines for at least 50 percent and typically preferably at least 75 percent of the length of the regions of intersection.
These membranes may be made with pores having an average "characteristic dimension" of desired size. As used herein, "characteristic dimension" means the largest cross-sectional dimension of the pore in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pore.
Two or more arrays of pores having different properties of size, shape, orientation or distribution throughout the membrane also may be utilized. An advantage of using the membranes described herein is that the membrane may have, within a given array of pores, a pore size distribution of less than about 10 percent and sometimes less than 5 percent. As used herein, "pore size distribution" means the standard deviation of the average characteristic dimension.
The membranes of U.S. Ser. No. 07/804,294 may be made with pores having a variety of shapes, i.e., cross-sectional profile of the pore as the region of a plane perpendicular to longitudinal axis of the pores bounded by the pore walls. For instance, by selection of a suitable mask, pores may have a cross-sectional profile that is circular, ovate, square, rectangular, triangular, some other polygon, or irregular shapes. The orifices or pores may also be provided in a polka-dotted pattern with relatively large areas of densely spaced uniform pores separated by other relatively large areas where there are no pores. A membrane with a polka-dotted pattern is shown in FIG. 10. Referring to FIG. 10, the average dimension of the pores 300 is preferably between about 5 and 60 microns, most preferably between about 15 and 50 microns. The areas 310 containing the pores preferably have an average dimension of about 1 to 7 mm, more preferably 2 to 6 mm, and are separated by average distances of preferably about 3 to 8 mm, more preferably about 4 to 7 mm.
Membranes useful in the practice of the invention may be made from films of many types including polymeric materials and metals, such as metal foils. A particularly preferred material is polyethylene terephthalate. As discussed below, selection of the film material and selection of the boring means are dependent in part upon one another.
In general, ultraviolet boring techniques, e.g., ablation, may be used with polymeric films that contain unsaturated bonds. Membranes may be made using ultraviolet boring techniques with other polymers by incorporating ultraviolet absorbers therein to render the film ablative. Such absorbers are well known and may be readily selected and used by those with ordinary skill in the art.
Reactive ion etching techniques may also be used to make membranes of the invention from sheets of some types of polymers and metals.
An advantage to using the membranes described herein is that they may be made with pores having very low aspect ratios, e.g., 1:100, or up to very high aspect ratios, e.g., 60:1. As used herein, "aspect ratio" refers to the ratio of (1) the interior length of the longitudinal axis of the pores, i.e., the portion of the longitudinal axis which is within the volume of film vacated during boring of the pores, to (2) the average characteristic dimension of the pores. An advantage of the highly uniform pore size and narrow distribution of pore size which can be achieved in these membranes is that the resultant membranes can exhibit highly uniform characteristics.
In some embodiments, membranes may be made wherein the walls of the pores define frustum-like shapes. In such instances, each pore does not have a uniform cross-sectional area and the major portions of the walls of each pore are not substantially parallel to the pore's longitudinal axis. FIG. 8 illustrates membrane 210 comprising sheet 212 with pores 214 therein extending from first face 216 through second face 218. Major portions 220 of pores 214 are not parallel to each other or to longitudinal axis 222. As with other embodiments, however, at least 50 percent and preferably at least 75 percent of the length of the walls of each pore within a given array are straight. An advantage of such membranes is that they offer greater strength than do membranes with pores with similar minimum cross-sectional areas but having non-linear walls or wherein the dividers between adjacent pores are saddle-shaped. Some embodiments of such pores are sometimes referred to as being "Gaussian-shaped". Membranes with frustum-like pores exhibit less tendency to clog when the stream being filtered enters the face of the membrane having the smaller ends of the pores.
In some embodiments, membranes will comprise two or more arrays of different pores as described herein wherein the pores in different arrays have different characteristics. The arrays may be located at separate areas of the membrane or may be partially or totally superimposed.
An advantage of membranes of U.S. Ser. No. 07/804,294 is that the portions of the first face between pores, referred to herein as "land areas", and the land areas in the second face are substantially planar or flat. In a tangential flow of fluid across either face of membranes of the invention, the lack of surface saddle-like structures will allow for a better sweep of the fluid across the surface. Furthermore, membranes having saddle-like dividers between pores exhibit reduced flexural strength as compared to membranes of the invention.
c) forming an array of pores simultaneously in the film by application of directional means for boring through the mask; to yield the membrane with the array of pores therein.
Selection of means for boring will be based in part upon the nature of the mask used, the characteristics of the film from which the membrane is being made, and the features desired of the pores. Illustrative examples of means for boring include application of a collimated stream of reactive ions, plasma, or collimated energy beam (e.g., excimer laser or ultraviolet beam). In addition to being highly directional, the means for boring is preferably one which substantially does not deform the sheet outside the area being bored, i.e., one which substantially causes only localized removal of sheet material in the desired location and not in the surrounding land areas. For this reason, conventional chemical etching is typically not desired because it typically does not exhibit the desired directional boring. Preferably, by-products produced during boring, e.g., ablation by-products, are removed during boring such as by ventilation.
The foam sponge 16 comprises an open-cell foam material compatible with the liquid to be dispensed. Suitable open-cell foam sponge materials are prepared from thermoplastic materials such as polyethylene and polyurethane. Especially preferred open-cell foam materials are prepared from polyurethane thermoplastics.
By utilizing a permanently compression-set foam, the wicking and reservoiring properties of the foam sponge can be selected such that the liquid delivered through the porous layer 66 of the metering/bonding insert 72 wets the foam sponge 16 but does not drip from the sponge when the applicator is held with the sponge horizontal. The compression-set of the foam sponge can also be selected to affect the coating characteristics of the applicator. The greater the compression-set, the greater the amount of liquid that can be absorbed by the sponge material. Preferably, the foam sponge material is compressed by heat and pressure to about 1.5 to 10 times its original density, i.e., the compression-set ratio is between about 1.5 and 10. Most preferably, the compression-set ratio of the sponge is between about 2 and 4.
The porosity of the foam sponge 16 can also be selected to affect the wetting and coating characteristics of the applicator. Preferably, for surgical prep applications, the porosity of the foam sponge material is between 4 and 40 pores per linear centimeter, more preferably about 35 pores per linear centimeter. A particularly preferred open-cell foam sponge material is an elastomeric polyurethane foam having a compression-set ratio of between about 2 and 4 and a porosity of about 35 pores per linear centimeter, commercially available from Foamex, LP, East Providence, R.I. as "SIF-2.5-900Z".
The applicator of this invention is useful in dispensing liquids having viscosities at room temperature of less than about 10,000 cps, most preferably less than about 500 cps.
As noted above, the applicator is useful in dispensing antiseptic liquids to cleanse a surgical field prior to surgery. Examples of suitable antiseptic preparations include those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,192 and those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,012, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Preferred antiseptic preparations are iodophoric skin tinctures, such as "Duraprep™ Surgical Solution," commercially available from 3M. The antiseptic liquid is delivered to the applicator foam sponge 16 which is gently rubbed over the surgical field to thereby cleanse it. The applicator can be actuated and handled easily without dripping the liquid onto other articles in the vicinity of the surgical field. The dripless feature and the ability to apply a controlled uniform coat allows application of the liquid to only the desired areas of the patient and also allows for quicker and more efficient use of a surgical facility due to elimination of the time needed to clean the facility of antiseptic prep that dripped and flowed off of the patient.
A stainless steel mask with uniformly distributed square apertures was placed in contact with a 25 micron (1 mil) thick poly(ethylene terephthalate) (i.e., "PET"), MYLAR™ film (from E.I. dupont de Nemours). The sides of the apertures were 15 microns in length with, according to the manufacturer, a standard deviation of about 10 percent and about 35 percent of the mask was open area.
The beam from a krypton/fluorine ("KrF") excimer laser producing 248 nanometer ("nm") radiation at a pulse frequency of 40 Hertz ("Hz") and pulse duration of 27 nanoseconds was projected through an iris and a series of lenses onto the mask. The iris was located about 30.5 centimeters ("cm") from the laser window and a few cm from the first lens. The lenses included (1) a 106.7 cm focal length converging lens located about 108 cm (42.5 inches) from the PET film plane, (2) a 20.3 cm focal length diverging lens located about 73 cm (283/4 inches) from the PET film plane, and (3) a 3.4 cm focal length cylindrical lens located about 4 cm (1.5 inches) from the film. These lenses are commercially available from ESCO Products Company and are made of CORNING™ 7490-UV, a material transparent to light at a wavelength of 248 nm, with AR-MgF2 antireflective coatings.
Ablation was accomplished by shadowing the mask pattern onto the PET film. The intensity of the laser radiation incident to the surface of the film was about 200 millijoules per centimeter2 ("mJ/cm2 ") with a beam shape at the surface of a rectangle about 3 millimeters (120 mils) wide and 15.2 cm (6 inches) long. The mask and PET film were moved in register across the middle 10.2 cm (4 inches) of the beam at a rate of about 0.25 cm/minute.
Scanning the mask/film combination yielded a 10.2 cm wide PET membrane with pores penetrating through the membrane. The axes of these pores were parallel to one another and perpendicular to the membrane surfaces.
The PET membrane was used as the porous layer 66 in an applicator generally as depicted in FIG. 2. The ampoule was filled with 26 milliliters of "Duraprep™ Surgical Solution". In two trials, the time required for the applicator to dispense 13 of the 26 milliliters of solution after breaking the ampoule was measured. Times of 15 and 16 seconds were observed.
In comparison, liquid dispensers as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,327 having substantially equal size as those above were observed to take from 15 to 60 seconds to dispense an equal amount of the same fluid.
A 9.6 millimeter thick sample of open cell polyurethane foam commercially available as "SIF-2-900Z" from Foamex, LP, of East Providence, R.I., was subjected to the following treatment. The surface of the foam was skinned by passing the foam under a heated (200° C.) bar. One surface of the foam contacted the heated bar and was melted. When the surface was melted, the foam cell structure collapsed creating a skin approximately 50 to 100 microns thick. This skin layer was subjected to the laser treatment using the mask and laser apparatus detailed in Example 1, except that the sides of the apertures in the mask were 53 microns in length. The foam was then used in an applicator for "Duraprep™ Surgical Solution" substantially as depicted in FIG. 2, except that no separate porous layer other than that integral to the modified foam was employed. The time required for the applicator to dispense 13 mls of fluid when tested as described in Example 1 was 15 seconds.
The superimposed pattern of two stainless steel masks was simultaneously replicated onto a 25 micron (1 mil) thick poly(ethylene terephthalate) (i.e., "PET"), MYLAR™ film (from E.I. dupont de Nemours). The first mask had square apertures uniformly distributed in a square array wherein the sides of the apertures were 38 microns in length with, according to the manufacturer, a standard deviation of about 10 percent and about 36 percent of the mask was open area. The first mask was placed in contact with the PET film. The second mask had round apertures of 4500 microns in diameter distributed in a center filled hexagonal array so sized that about 46 percent of the mask was open area. The second mask was placed over the exposed surface of the first mask. About 16 percent of the pattern exposed by the combined array was open area.
The beam from a krypton/fluorine ("KrF") excimer laser described in Example 1 was used to ablate by shadowing the mask pattern onto the PET film, as described in Example 1.
Scanning the mask/film combination yielded a 10.2 cm wide PET membrane with pores penetrating through the membrane. The axes of these pores were parallel to one another and perpendicular to the membrane surfaces. Where the edges of the round apertures of the second mask happened to overlap the edges of the square apertures of the first mask, some non-square openings in the PET membrane were created.
The membrane was then used as an applicator for "Duraprep™ Surgical Solution", substantially as depicted in FIG. 2. The average time required for 13 mls of fluid to flow through the foam of the applicator was tested as described in Example 2, and was 12.6 seconds.
Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention solely thereto, but to include all of the obvious variations and modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
(e) means associated with said hollow elongate member for rupturing the reservoir container after at least a portion of the container is pushed through the aperture in the deformable means; wherein the deformable means is a collar comprising a rim having a plurality of cantilevered beam elements projecting therefrom, the inside edges of the cantilevered beam elements defining the aperture through which at least a portion of the reservoir container may be pushed.
2. The article of claim 1 wherein the deformable means is adapted to elastically and plastically deflect to allow at least a portion of the reservoir container to pass through the aperture and contact the means for rupturing.
3. The article of claim 1 wherein the cantilevered beam elements project from the same edge of the rim of the collar.
4. The article of claim 1 wherein the means for limiting the axial displacement of the deformable means is a shoulder portion contained within the hollow elongate member, the cross-sectional diameter of the hollow elongate member at the shoulder portion being less than the cross-sectional diameter of the deformable means.
5. The article of claim 1 wherein said means for rupturing the reservoir container comprises a wedge projecting into the hollow elongate member and located between the deformable means and the first major orifice in the path of the reservoir container after at least a portion of it is pushed through the aperture in the deformable means.
6. The article of claim 1 further comprising a porous layer disposed over the first major orifice in the hollow elongate member, which porous layer is capable of regulating the flow of liquid therethrough to between about 0.1 and 15 milliliters per second.
7. The article of claim 1 further comprising a layer of sponge material disposed over the exterior of the first major orifice in the hollow elongate member.
8. The article of claim 1 further comprising means of maintaining atmospheric pressure within the hollow elongate member while the liquid is being dispensed.
(e) means associated with said hollow elongate member for rupturing the reservoir container after at least a portion of the container is pushed through the aperture in the deformable means; wherein the deformable means is a collar comprising a rim having a plurality of cantilevered beam elements projecting therefrom, the inside edges of the cantilevered beam elements defining the aperture through which at least a portion of the reservoir container may be pushed; and wherein the cap is comprised of an end wall, a side wall and a column axially projecting into the interior of the hollow elongate member from the interior surface of the end wall, the column having an axial hole which is open to the external surface of the cap, and wherein the column contacts the rupturable container and forces at least a portion of the container through the aperture in the deformable means when the cap is moved from the first to the second position.
US1221227A (en) * 1916-04-24 1917-04-03 Bauer & Black Surgical swab.
"A Fast, Easy, Long-Lasting I.V. Prep That Can Help Enhance Dressing Adhesion," Medical-Surgical Division, 3M Health Care, 3M Center, St. Paul, Minn., 1989 (Brochure).
"Duraprep™ Solution--Now Ideal for Outpatient, Office-Based and Other Minor Surgical Procedures," Medical-Surgical Products, 3M Health Care, 3M Center, St. Paul, Minn., 1991 (Brochure).
"Obsoletely? Absolutely!," Medical-Surgical Division, 3M Health Care Group, 3M Center, St. Paul, Minn., Mar. 1988 (Brochure). | 2019-04-24T18:44:51Z | https://patents.google.com/patent/US5435660A/en |
Prior to the 1967 Instruction Musicam Sacram, liturgical norms maintained a clear distinction between two basic forms of celebration of the Mass: “the sung Mass (Missa in cantu), and the read Mass (Missa lecta), commonly called low Mass.”1 According to these norms, the sung Mass requires that all the words of the Mass be sung—including its Order, Ordinary, and Proper—while the read Mass requires that all the words of the Mass be spoken and not sung. Musicam Sacram maintains this distinction as it is defined in the 1958 Instruction (De Musica Sacra et Sacra Liturgia), but it also allows for varying degrees of singing the liturgy between these two strict forms of celebration in order that “it may become easier [for parishes] to make the celebration of Mass more beautiful by singing, according to the capabilities of each congregation” (MS 28).
The principle of progressive solemnity thus enters the Church’s official liturgical documentation for the first time through Musicam Sacram, though the concept has a deep history in the liturgical tradition. This principle is first articulated at the Instruction’s outset, saying: “Between the solemn, fuller form of liturgical celebration, in which everything that demands singing is in fact sung, and the simplest form, in which singing is not used, there can be various degrees according to the greater or lesser place allotted to singing” (MS 7). This principle is foundational for Musicam Sacram and is applied variously throughout the document. Progressive solemnity, as put forth by the sacred music instruction, is a pastoral and practical tool that seeks to enable every parish—no matter its size, resources, capabilities or present pastoral realities—to begin singing the liturgy with integrity and to establish the sung liturgy universally as its normal form of celebration.
Progressive solemnity is commonly understood today as a coordination of the quantity and complexity of the music sung in the liturgy with the rank or degree of the solemnity of the liturgy itself. While this definition is not necessarily incorrect, it is most certainly incomplete from the vantage point of Musicam Sacram. On the one hand, the document states, “celebrations which are singled out by the liturgy in the course of the liturgical year as being of special importance, may be solemnized by singing” (MS 44). It instructs that the more solemn or privileged celebrations and seasons, especially Holy Week, should be “given due solemnity” (ibid.) by the use of sacred music in order to reflect the degree of solemnity held by the liturgical rites themselves. On the other hand, however, Musicam Sacram also states that “[i]t should be borne in mind that the true solemnity of liturgical worship depends less on a more ornate form of singing and a more magnificent ceremonial than on its worthy and religious celebration, which takes into account the integrity of the liturgical celebration itself, and the performance of each of its parts according to their own particular nature” (MS 11, emphasis added).
The first sense of the meaning of solemnity, then, corresponds to the level of festivity or importance given to a particular liturgical celebration, and also to the sophistication and magnificence of the music and ceremonial that accompanies it. Musicam Sacram affirms this sense of solemnity, saying that “to have a more ornate form of singing and a more magnificent ceremonial is at times desirable when there are the resources available to carry them out properly” (MS 11). Historically, the resources needed to carry out the more ornate and solemn forms of sacred music that the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy calls “a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art” (SC 112) have been mostly found in basilicas, cathedrals, monasteries and other major churches, and it was here primarily that the sacred music tradition thrived and developed. This solemn form of celebration sets the full text of the liturgy to song in the most ornate forms of Gregorian chant, polyphony, and other forms of choral music. These repertoires—however beautiful—usually require highly trained professionals in order to execute them well. Musicam Sacram upholds this tradition, in accord with Sacrosanctum Concilium, and affirms it, stating that large choirs “which have in the course of centuries earned for themselves high renown by preserving and developing a musical heritage of inestimable value, should be retained for sacred celebrations of a more elaborate kind, according to their own traditional norms…” (MS 20). This form of solemn celebration of the liturgy is proposed as a kind of model form of celebration, perhaps because it sacramentally shows forth more clearly the hidden reality of what the liturgy is: an actual participation in and a foretaste of “that heavenly liturgy which is celebrated in the holy city of Jerusalem toward which we journey as pilgrims, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God, a minister of the holies and of the true tabernacle…” (SC 8). The more solemn, ornate form of celebration, then, has served—and ought to continue to serve—as an ideal form of liturgical celebration: a model upheld in larger churches and basilicas, and in cathedral churches centered around the liturgical celebrations of the bishop, especially on the more solemn feasts of the liturgical year.
The Church in her wisdom understands, however, that this more solemn form of celebration is not—and historically has not always been—achievable in smaller churches where fewer resources are available to carry it out. It is in this spirit that Musicam Sacram illustrates a second sense of the word solemnity, which more broadly applies to every liturgical celebration that the Church carries out, whether in an urban cathedral or a country parish—whether in a prison compound or an airport chapel. It states that “true solemnity of liturgical worship depends less on a more ornate form of singing and a more magnificent ceremonial than on its worthy and religious celebration, which takes into account the integrity of the liturgical celebration itself, and the performance of each of its parts according to their own particular nature” (MS 11). This “integrity” of liturgical celebration hearkens to St. Thomas’ three qualities of beauty, which are integritas, claritas, and consonantia. A truly beautiful celebration of the liturgy, Musicam Sacram seems to suggest, relies not so much on the ornateness of its celebration—all things being equal—as it does on the integrity of the celebration as a whole (integritas), to the balance and relationship between its different parts (consonantia), and to its ability to clearly reveal the realities that the liturgy expresses and communicates through sacramental signs (claritas). Seen in this way, parishes with modest means can celebrate the liturgy solemnly in song, even in a simplified manner that is appropriate to their abilities and capacities. They can prioritize their musical resources according to the liturgical priorities of the liturgical year, focusing greater resources on more privileged feasts and seasons, and lessening them on less solemn celebrations. Musicam Sacram offers parishes pastoral tools to celebrate the liturgy with true solemnity, in the second sense of the word—with an integrity that preserves and ensures worthy celebration, and that allows a sung form of the liturgy to be carried out in every parish “as much as possible, even several times on the same day” (MS 27).
The word progressive also has significant meaning that is often misunderstood today. A dictionary definition of the word is “happening or developing gradually or in stages.”2 In one sense of the word progressive, Musicam Sacram allows for parishes to begin progressively singing the various parts of the Mass in stages, beginning with the most important parts and leading into the more complex. Yet it also suggests a pastoral sense of the word progressive, which allows parishes to grow and further develop its musical life progressively over the course of time. As the document states, “through suitable instruction and practices, the people should be gradually led to a fuller—indeed, to a complete—participation in those parts of the singing which pertain to them” (MS 16). It is here that the true nature of “pastoral music” can be discerned. While pastoral practice requires taking into account “capabilities of each congregation” at the present time (see MS 28, 45 and 47), it cannot be allowed to simply remain there: pastoral practice also requires that the congregation be led, gradually, to a fuller or even complete participation in the sung liturgy as the Church envisions it. The nature of a shepherd is one who leads his flock. The pastoral nature of music that Musicam Sacram presents shows forth a musical and liturgical ideal toward which every parish should strive, and yet equips each with the tools needed to celebrate the liturgy with integrity where it is while striving toward and taking its bearings from that ideal. Even more, Musicam Sacram assists parishes in the pastoral work of deepening its musical celebration over the course of time with the help of progressive solemnity.
The first degree, essentially, contains the parts of the Order of Mass, which consist of the dialogues and responses between the priest, ministers and the people, in addition to the orations of the priest (the Collect, Prayer over the Offerings, and Prayer after Communion). It also includes the Sanctus, which while traditionally grouped with the elements of the second degree, is placed by Musicam Sacram in the first degree because of its supreme importance. The musical settings of the Order of Mass, in addition to the proper tones for the orations, are contained within the Roman Missal. The Roman Missal, Third Edition, fully notates every part of the Order of Mass including its many Prefaces, reiterating the primacy of the sung Order of Mass as the foundational song of the liturgy. In our own day, the Church continues to stress the importance of singing this unchanging framework of the Mass, a framework which is set in the simplest musical forms, and is well within the capabilities of any priest and congregation.
The second degree contains the parts of the Ordinary of the Mass (excepting the Sanctus which is elevated to the first degree), consisting of the Kyrie, Gloria, Creed, (Sanctus) and Agnus Dei. This degree also includes the Prayer of the Faithful. As with the Order of Mass, the Church provides numerous musical settings of the Mass Ordinary in the liturgical books themselves.6 The majority of these chant settings can be sung easily by congregations, especially those found in the post-conciliar Kyriale Simplex.7 Musicam Sacram allows for the Ordinary of the Mass to be sung in “musical settings written for several voices” by the choir alone “as long as the people are not completely excluded from taking part in the singing” (MS 33). The Mass Ordinary can also be sung in different musical settings, and composers through the last several hundred years have set these texts to music. However, Musicam Sacram upholds Gregorian chant as being the proper music of the Roman liturgy (MS 50), and affirms the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy’s requirement that the faithful should “also be able to say or sing together in Latin those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass which pertain to them” (MS 47).
The third degree contains what Musicam Sacram and the liturgical books call the Proper of the Mass,8 which consists of the chants at the Entrance, Offertory, and Communion processions, and the Responsorial Psalm (Gradual) and Alleluia with its Verse. This degree also includes the readings of Sacred Scripture for which the liturgical books also provide musical tones, although they may equally be suited to proclamation without singing. The Proper of the Mass is comprised of scriptural antiphons and responsories that are sung in alternation with verses from the Psalms and other books from scripture. The Proper falls in the third category of Musicam Sacram’s three degrees of importance, perhaps, because it is the most diverse and complex part of the sung liturgy, with “proper” (i.e., unique) texts being appointed for virtually every day of the liturgical year. In contrast with the first degree (in which the same words and melodies are sung from day to day) and the second degree (where the words are always the same yet musical settings tend to vary), the third degree is an immense repertoire, and for this reason it has been historically sung by the highly trained schola cantorum.
The Church, therefore, places the Proper in the final degree of importance for the sung liturgy, but this does not imply that the Mass Proper is unimportant. The degrees established by Musicam Sacram are primarily directed toward fostering congregational singing. The Proper, then, is the last part of the Mass which should be sung by the congregation, after it can sing the Order and Ordinary of the Mass successfully. In this way, the schola cantorum can exercise its role, a part of which is to “ensure the proper performance of the parts which belong to it, according to the different kinds of music sung” (MS 19). This role and these parts are found principally in the Proper of the Mass, and are contained in the post-conciliar liturgical book the Graduale Romanum.9 Despite this, Musicam Sacram states that “it is desirable that the assembly of the faithful should participate in the songs of the Proper as much as possible, especially through simple responses and other suitable settings” (MS 33). This participation, ideally, takes place after the assembly sings the other parts of the Mass well. Still, with this directive, the Instruction provides parishes with yet another pastoral tool. Since some parishes—in fact most parishes—often find themselves without the resources to sing the full Mass Proper as it is found in the Graduale Romanum, the ability to sing the proper antiphons of the Mass in other—and perhaps also simpler—musical settings is a tremendous gift to parishes and a substantial aid in the task of bringing about a sung liturgy in every parish. Further, Musicam Sacram suggests that “simple responses” might follow the singing of the full appointed antiphons sung by the schola cantorum or cantor. Such responses might set to music an excerpt from the proper antiphon, or from its Psalm, or even a seasonal antiphon that all of the faithful can repeat often throughout the year and easily sing from memory. This tool can be of great help to parishes with few resources in the task of singing the liturgy. In our own day, these tools are assisting many parishes in beginning to sing the Mass as Musicam Sacram and Sacrosanctum Concilium so desire.
Undoubtedly there are tensions within Musicam Sacram that require creative solutions. One of these tensions is the task of preserving and fostering the treasure of sacred music with great care (See SC 114) while also assisting the introduction of vernacular languages into liturgical celebrations. The music instruction therefore has much to say about the composition of new music for vernacular liturgical texts. This creativity, however, must be conditioned by the Second Vatican Council’s explicit instruction that “care must be taken that any new forms adopted should in some way grow organically from forms already existing” (SC 23). Such organic development of the liturgy has always occurred within the Church’s history.
The task of the liturgical composer in service of fostering the sung liturgy in every parish is thus stated clearly by Musicam Sacram: “Musicians will enter on this new work with the desire to continue that tradition which has furnished the Church, in her divine worship, with a truly abundant heritage. Let them examine the works of the past, their types and characteristics, but let them also pay careful attention to the new laws and requirements of the liturgy…” (MS 59). In order for composers and musicians to be prepared for such work, the Instruction on Music in the Liturgy suggests that “the study and practice of Gregorian chant is to be promoted, because, with its special characteristics, it is a basis of great importance for the development of sacred music” (MS 52). While it also asks competent territorial authorities to “decide whether certain vernacular texts set to music which have been handed down from former times can in fact be used” (MS 55) and stresses that in new composition “[t]he nature and laws of each language must be respected, and the features and special characteristics of each people must be taken into consideration” (MS 54), Musicam Sacram holds firm to the principle of organic development, desiring that “new forms may in some way grow organically from forms that already exist, and the new work will form a new part in the musical heritage of the Church, not unworthy of its past” (MS 59).
As we approach the 50th anniversary of the Church’s official Instruction on Music in the Liturgy, we might pause to reflect on what progress we have made in implementing the Second Vatican Council’s vision for sacred music and on what efforts of renewal still remain before us. As we look around at many of our parishes today, we will find that Musicam Sacram’s plan for achieving the sung liturgy in every parish—beginning with the Order of Mass, followed by the Ordinary and Proper—remains unfulfilled. A possible reason for this state is that following the Council, the immediately pre-conciliar norm of a spoken Mass (Missa lecta)—with devotional, vernacular hymns at the Entrance, Offertory, Communion and at the conclusion of the Mass—became the foundation upon which the renewal of sacred music was built, rather than taking the sung Mass (Missa in cantu) as the model, with a gradual and progressive implementation of the different sung parts of the liturgy over time. As a result, the typical suburban Sunday morning liturgy in this country tends to see a spoken Order of Mass exchanged between the priest celebrant and the liturgical assembly sandwiched between hymns and songs that do not set the liturgical texts. While this model is permitted by Musicam Sacram10 and the GIRM, it seems not to be this Instruction’s goal, as it states clearly that “for the celebration of the Eucharist with the people, especially on Sundays and feast days, a form of sung Mass (Missa in cantu) is to be preferred as much as possible, even several times on the same day” (MS 27).
A task for our day, then, is to make the sung Mass the normal form of celebration in our parishes. The Church has given to us, through Musicam Sacram, the tools and resources to achieve this in every parish, and has outlined a plan to help every pastor and congregation to slowly and patiently learn how to sing and pray the liturgy in its sung form. Additionally, over the past decade or more, various liturgical resources have been developed, taking up Musicam Sacram’s challenges and tasks, that are aimed at assisting parishes of even the most modest means sing the liturgy with integrity and solemnity.11 With the help of the Roman Missal, Third Edition, hundreds of parishes have established the sung Order of Mass as a norm, fulfilling the sung liturgy’s first degree of importance. Cathedrals and Basilicas around the country have established choirs and music programs that preserve and foster the sacred music tradition, singing the Gregorian chant that is proper to the liturgy as well as polyphony, providing a model for smaller churches to experience and strive for. There is much work yet to be done, but as we labor together let us always carry out our efforts of liturgical and musical renewal for no reason other than the “glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful” (MS 4) which is the true and ultimate purpose of the Church’s sung prayer.
As found in the New Oxford American Dictionary (American English).
See MS 7; Cf. GIRM 40.
It should be understood that the parts of the Mass contained within each degree reference the missal in use in 1967, which was the Missal of Pope John XXIII from 1962, although this missal had already been through three years of reform due to the application of Sacrosanctum Concilium. Because the Instruction preceded the implementation of the Missal of Pope Paul VI in 1969, some parts of the Mass that are able to be sung in the present Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite (such as the Eucharistic Prayer) are not explicitly mentioned by Musicam Sacram. Common sense can place those parts of the Ordinary Form not explicitly mentioned by MS in their proper degree of importance.
Such as the Kyriale (Graduale) Romanum, Kyriale (Graduale) Simplex, and the Roman Missal.
The Mass Ordinaries of the Kyriale Simplex, in addition to a number of Ordinaries found in the Kyriale Romanum, can be found in the Lumen Christi Missal (Illuminare Publications, 2012), as well as the English Mass Ordinary found in the Roman Missal and various newly composed chant settings of the Mass Ordinary.
See MS 16, 33 and 36.
The Graduale Romanum of 1908 was revised following the Second Vatican Council in order to conform to the revised liturgical calendar. This schema is officially published in the Ordo Cantus Missae of 1972/88.
My own contribution to this effort can be found in the Lumen Christi Series, published by Illuminare Publications (www.IlluminarePublications.com). | 2019-04-20T08:35:25Z | https://adoremus.org/2017/01/12/ever-ancient-ever-new-implementing-musicam-sacram-today-part-ii/ |
Garcinia cambogia é uma fruta pequena, em forma de abóbora, amarela ou esverdeada.
Suplementos de Garcinia cambogia são feitos a partir de extratos da casca da fruta.
A casca da fruta contém grandes quantidades de ácido hidroxicítrico (HCA), uma substância ativa que demonstrou ter algumas propriedades de perda de peso.
Os suplementos de Garcinia cambogia são feitos a partir de extratos da casca da fruta Garcinia gummi-gutta. Eles contêm quantidades elevadas de HCA, que está ligada a benefícios de perda de peso.
Muitos estudos em humanos de alta qualidade testaram os efeitos da perda de peso da garcinia cambogia.
Além disso, a maioria deles indica que o suplemento pode causar uma pequena perda de peso.
Em média, a garcinia cambogia demonstrou causar perda de peso de cerca de 2 libras (0,88 kg) mais do que um placebo, durante um período de 2–12 semanas.
Por exemplo, o maior estudo – em 135 pessoas – não encontrou diferença na perda de peso entre aqueles que tomavam garcinia cambogia e o grupo placebo.
Como você pode ver, a evidência é mista. Suplementos de Garcinia cambogia podem produzir perda de peso modesta em algumas pessoas – mas sua eficácia não pode ser garantida.
Alguns estudos determinaram que a garcinia cambogia causa perda de peso modesta, enquanto outros estudos não relatam efeitos perceptíveis.
Como isso ajuda a perda de peso?
Há duas maneiras principais que garcinia cambogia é pensado para ajudar a perda de peso.
Estudos em ratos mostram que aqueles que recebem suplementos de garcinia cambogia tendem a comer menos.
Da mesma forma, alguns estudos em humanos descobriram que a garcinia cambogia suprime o apetite e faz você se sentir satisfeito.
Seu mecanismo não é totalmente conhecido, mas estudos com ratos sugerem que o ingrediente ativo da garcinia cambogia pode aumentar a serotonina no cérebro.
Como a serotonina é um inibidor de apetite conhecido, níveis sanguíneos mais altos de serotonina podem reduzir o apetite.
No entanto, esses resultados precisam ser tomados com um grão de sal. Outros estudos não observaram diferença no apetite entre aqueles que tomavam este suplemento e aqueles que tomavam placebo.
Esses efeitos podem depender de cada indivíduo.
Mais importante ainda, garcinia cambogia afeta as gorduras do sangue e a produção de novos ácidos graxos.
Estudos em humanos e em animais mostram que pode reduzir os altos níveis de gordura no sangue e reduzir o estresse oxidativo em seu corpo.
Um estudo também sugere que pode ser especialmente eficaz na redução do acúmulo de gordura da barriga em pessoas com excesso de peso.
Ao inibir a citrato liase, pensa-se que a garcinia cambogia reduza ou bloqueie a produção de gordura no seu corpo. Isso pode reduzir as gorduras do sangue e diminuir o risco de ganho de peso – dois fatores principais de risco de doença (33).
Garcinia cambogia pode suprimir o apetite. Ele também bloqueia a produção de novas gorduras em seu corpo e foi mostrado para reduzir os níveis de colesterol e triglicérides no sangue em pessoas com excesso de peso.
Além disso, garcinia cambogia poderia impulsionar o seu sistema digestivo. Estudos em animais sugerem que ele ajuda a proteger contra úlceras do estômago e reduz os danos ao revestimento interno do trato digestivo.
Garcinia cambogia pode ter alguns efeitos anti-diabetes. Também pode ajudar a proteger contra úlceras no estômago e danos no trato digestivo.
Every entrepreneur who wishes to protect his/her business from any danger or damage should contract a corporate security administrations supplier. Notwithstanding, several corporate security administrations suppliers flourish and it is essentially difficult to figure out which one is dependable and will work to your best advantage.
A trustworthy corporate security administrations supplier ought to have every single important grant and accreditations to lead business in such an industry. Keep in mind: the lives of your representatives and the welfare of your business properties are in question. Depend these critical issues just to faculty who originate from suppliers that are sufficiently careful to experience and pursue exacting guidelines in their field.
One thing more: recollect that the security faculty you will contract ought to have the experience and legitimate foundation to be regarded compelling in security work. Procuring unpracticed security work force may demonstrate cataclysmic to your business if an episode happens because of your security staff’s failure to comprehend the issues at hand.
Corporate security administrations suppliers should realize that security staff, regardless of how experienced they might be, will think that its hard to satisfy their obligation in the event that they are not furnished with the correct gear. Propelled types of gear like ID scanners, GPS following, and FLIR gadgets, among others, ought to be given in-house by your picked supplier. Access to occurrence and mishap announcing programming and online planning arrangements is additionally perfect for a productive methods for correspondence to specialists and the administration should the need emerges.
The rate offered by a corporate security administrations supplier ought not be the main thing to see while procuring individuals will’s identity depended with security-related obligations. Make sure to search for the three qualities referenced above so as to enlist the correct supplier. Try not to jeopardize your business, premises, and your representatives by settling on a wrong decision for less.
Fandoms happen to be online communities devoted for you to a particular superstar, TELEVISION SET series, novel or perhaps performer, to name a new several. Perhaps nuptials have their particular fair share from the infatuation. Wedding themes vary from typically the classic to the hippest and most popular sujet more recently. Thanks to interpersonal media, vlogs, plus Pinterest, engaged couples may possibly right now personalize their nuptials having themes like Star Wars, Harry Potter, Disney plus the epic Game regarding Thrones!
Do you have a radical friend who is about to tie the knot? Subsequently this is for a person! Participate in the fun together with give the most unforgettable gift ever!
Help your beloved close friends start things up having home decorations and basics for their brand-new residence. Cooking area and eating lies are perennial absolute favorites yet give it a little angle to suit their fandom preferences. Make their home together with dining encounter exclusive and they’re going to surely appreciate you in making cooking and even eating a component of their infatuation.
As for residence decors, your present should be attractively geeky and sophisticated. If you wish your present in order to be small yet useful, imagine lamps and night time lights, book ends, lighting or throw cushions. They will surely love a careful compliment!
Support them make their a short time burning hot as couple for a lasting matrimony. Perhaps you should give matching robes, fandom undergarments or some sort of gift bag filled together with fandom stuff with regard to their very first nights? How about wine glasses for two, etching together with symbols or game titles of the obsessions, for an romantic toast to their very own union? You can generally lower by at your regional geek shops or even look the Internet for more ideas plus alternatives to give your buddies. This sexier the better. The more often creative the more it’ll cling.
That they may already have pair fandom shirts and hooded sweatshirts or they might in addition have attires of their particular favorite characters. What about a pair of towels together with their preferred fandom logos or maybe models? Matching boots and shoes or maybe inside slippers are usually as well available for fanatic couple. Shops dedicated to fandoms come out like mushrooms so you can surely find 1 about your area. In the event that not, then on the net stores got a lot of finds excellent for the pair. ThinkGeek, ThisIsWhyImBroke, Firebox and a lot more will be just right with regard to you.
If most likely crafty and good at Photoshop, then coming up with the perfect present is merely a good easy!
Terrariums are usually definitely popular nowadays. In case your pals are in to Pokemon, The Hobbit or maybe The Hunger Games, in that case take out the landscape and put it in a glass for the excessively preoccupied couple! They’re somewhat easy to generate (not to mention fun), along with the Online has tons of actions and procedures in doing one with the motif of your choice.
Photoshop is a wonder within the 21st hundred years. Imagine the limitless photograph modifying you can do! Have them for you to outer room with the Star Trek, Star Wars, Thor or Guardian’s of the Universe throw in party regarding their out-this-world relationship. Recruit them inside the Recon Corp with Levi and this gang in the Titan-slashing world of Attack about Ti (symbol). The list will go on.
If you’re typically the type that loves intending beyond your restraints (and have the means), after that prepare to blow individuals minds by simply buying your own personal couple pal tickets into a much-awaited Comic Con or even similar events? How with regards to tickets to their favored artist’s shows? What about a new collectible, a fixed version or the latest memorabilia item with an autograph? Give a short message for the set then they have an pure excess.
As you can see, the Net contains a myriad of issues we need to pull through within this generation. It’s a wellspring regarding ideas regarding seekers, and if you’re one, then your quest won’t be in vain. Obtaining the excellent wedding product for buddies is definitely not an easy task because many of us want to present the best current achievable. But then again, just simply like whatever they always express, it’s the concept (and effort) that matters. Almost any present is admired when it’s a product associated with real friendship between folks.
The fibonacci collection has fascinated mathematicians to get many years. Let’s have a good look at just how these kinds of numbers might influence on lotto applications.
This sequence is simply a group of numbers where every amount is the sum involving the previous two.
What is definitely of interest is the relation of any a couple of statistics approaches the “golden number” of 1. 6180 which usually appears in nature through the Egyptian pyramids through to help the petals on many flower variety. The higher the number, the short the ratio is to help 1 . 6180.
With first glance the sequence doesn’t appear to offer us any kind of help with Lotto selections.
You will find also many numbers in the particular very first decile and several even numbers.
Where typically the numbers may be useful is using the set to make selections by created combos.
What ever assortment program you make use of, the number of achievable combinations is likely in order to be large.
For instance , a good gruppo calculator would likely make 924 combinations for only 10 unique numbers.
That will be way too many lines for an individual player, but a person could use the particular fibonacci sequence to work outside which lines to select.
The classiness of the particular series is that a person may start with any two figures and create your own own sequence.
5 15 15 25 40 66 a hundred and five etc.
You can then choose lines by the combinations produced structured on the fibonacci statistics. By way of example you may well pick traces 5, 10, 18 and the like.
Depending on your starting point that could lower the number of lines in order to less than 12-15, a more controlable amount for an individual parte player.
Players could separate out the combinations to get rid of unlikely patterns making the fibonacci choices even a great deal more optimal.
Another option could be to use some sort of unique number generator in order to create the starting position for the series, or even to have range of different sequences to be able to experiment with.
The concept is to use the sequence to make your personal selection system which you in that case refine and try out.
This article has presented the idea of applying a confirmed precise theory to lottery selections. The fibonacci pattern can be a great example connected with the balance concerning some sort of seemingly arbitrary event plus implementing professional strategy to achieve a great outcome.
Security is a lose-lose situation business. On one hand you can say you needn’t bother with security benefits as nothing has transpired previously, and then again really having security administrations appears as though a misuse of cash as they are not counteracting anything…that you are aware of.
There are many archived instances of renowned individuals who have been far from home and had their homes focused by criminals. Increasingly genuine cases have detailed the people family being held at blade point.
Stories, for example, these could have been maintained a strategic distance from by methods for a basic hazard appraisal. On the off chance that you are going on vacation or leaving town for a few days and a large portion of the world know where you are, at that point you should assemble a straightforward security intend to defend your home and additionally family. What individuals at some point overlook, is that it’s not simply the well behaved natives who are perusing the news papers and magazines.
For famous people who need the media for their professions, they should recollect that what keeps them in the open eye can likewise be their adversary. I saw a vast photograph in a newspaper news paper of a football player going out, wallet close by, and it was obviously loaded down with £50 notes!
It is anything but an instance of encircle yourself with protectors. It’s tied in with making yourself mindful that being in the open eye can make you an objective, and raising your own security mindfulness could drastically decrease your odds of turning into a casualty of wrongdoing. Because something hasn’t occurred, doesn’t imply that it won’t occur later on.
The main standard of individual security is that YOU are in charge of your very own security!
This standard doesn’t mean you need to attempt each part of your own security. Simply perceiving that you have to roll out certain improvements and revealing them to the security director is an extraordinary begin. In the event that you work for an extensive company or are a big name in your field, you will for the most part have an in-house security chief you can request guidance. They should then have the capacity to make a few suggestions for you. On the off chance that you don’t have an in-house security director yet remember you may need to roll out certain improvements, at that point reaching a believed, proficient and experienced organization like Capitol Risk is a decent spot to begin.
Providing security benefits now days is something beyond about providing security officers. Legislative center Risk for instance can compose for you to be grabbed, headed to a private airplane terminal to meet a private flying machine and afterward traveled to a selective extravagance heaven island. At that point once you are completely loose, present to all of you the path back home to your entryway step. On the off chance that you would one day be on vacation and happen to end up amidst a political uprising, at that point we would likewise be in a situation to get security officers to you and get you out of the nation. Broad systems and associations empower us to bring you completely overseen security administrations for each part of your life.
With the strategy of globalization, the expansion regarding the organization entities has reached to even the particular country and remote sections from the globe. In present world, it has come to be quite definitely clear for some sort of country to enter directly into international trading for this sake of global acknowledgement. A similar is the event with the binary options investing in which trading is conducted on the stocks plus merchandise in the economic markets. The profit as very well as loss situation inside binary trading is centered for the mobility in typically the price of often the shares or commodities. As being the planet’s overall economy is establishing advances and bounds, the binary buying and selling can be the lucrative trading if implement with careful research simply by the investor.
Binary trading has become this most popular forex trading platform, and even due to the swift growing of this enterprise, growth throughout binary possibilities brokers’ toughness is using place. The importance connected with typically the brokers cannot end up being ignored as the major function of the broker is to carefully handle the deal of the investor simply by helping him through any wide and thin of binary trade. Behind the success of every deal, the binary options dealer is the main quitar. With the advance of new broker entities in the meeting place business platform, it may be significantly easier to select this best agent according to help the choice. It is definitely the dealer who assists the investor in taking the best selection from the perfect timing to avoid the loss and limit the potential risks.
Trader inside binary possibilities buying and selling provides the complete authority to choose the asset and approach the money management insurance policy. On the other hand, it is the particular binary options broker that guides the trader inside the best possible way concerning typically the asset type that will is great for trading. The assistance of the agent has a lot regarding value as he or she is usually experienced in the discipline of trading and it is quite professional in his strategy. For the long-term positive aspects together with profits to the particular investor, it would turn out to be the best idea to adopt help from the brokerage. Binary option broker relieves the particular dealer in tough periods by providing with a really good counter strategies to make enormous outcome from each trade. Traders, that are exact a great deal interested in acquiring a prosperous career inside binary trading globe, certainly not avoid the services together with assistance of the finest binary agent.
Just how can Binary Option Brokers Help to make Their Money?
There happen to be 2 binary selection enterprise versions currently at the rear of the particular industry. Typically the mostly CySEC-regulated single market-maker (European) company model, and the exchange-based (US) model.
If anyone are throughout Europe and you have a good little bit of binary alternative experience under your belt, you probably understand all about exactly what we’ll call the “CySEC” style. In this business model, often the broker acts like the sole price-maker plus that trades against their own clients. The setup is reminiscent of the casino, where the patrons play resistant to the house. Often the same thing happens right here, with traders going up up against the house on each single deal that many people take. The conflict with client positions together with the potential for fraud is rather obvious in this particular setup. Often the broker can be essentially going up resistant to the trader, on his individual turf, as outlined by a place of rules set and even enforced by way of him. It is accurately the reason exactly why US specialists haven’t permitted this type of buying and selling to take root throughout the country and even why EU authorities happen to be progressively frowning upon the particular build up way too.
The “CySEC” unit dangles a vast selection of fraud possibilities for stockbrokers, and some do without a doubt take full advantage of such opportunities. These people change their prices, they stimulate slipping to trigger investments to lose together with they offer bonus items traders can certainly not hope to gain out. Some of these types of procedures are done by way of brokers who will be otherwise governed and qualified too.
Often the exchange-based business structure, used by simply all US-licensed agents, and even some of their Western equivalent too, is a inherently fairer one. Around this sort of setup, traders act as often the market-makers, which means of which they establish pricing, relating to the dynamic involving source and demand. The particular downside is naturally the fact that root assets which fail to get enough curiosity will simply not necessarily possess any pricing accomplished. By way of an exchange like NADEX and DAWEDA, stock traders industry against their peers instead of against the “house”. Just what this means is that will this exchange operator features no good engage in not fair practices, thus skewing the trading equation one way or another. When some sort of broker wins some sort of trade in an exchange, they takes property money misplaced by one more trader. Typically the exchange slashes a percentage upon entrance into a trade, along with upon deal expiry, from the winner. That way, the change loves the steady flow connected with revenue, while the merchants appreciate a level playing-field.
The most creative – in addition to at the same time period the majority of disgusting – procedures are perpetrated by means of agents operating out of what can easily be identified as the “Wild West” region of this binary solution dealing business. Such brokers are certainly not accredited and regulated, plus they reply to no authority in different shape or form. So, they have a free hand to be able to fleece typically the unfortunate merchants who slip for their charades, any kind of which way they will discover fit. Such scammers can indeed get very creative and they’ll stop at nothing.
1 of a well liked tricks can be to designate dealers an “account manager” who else after that does the actual “trading” with the victim’s income, inside the most “optimal” approach. Optimum in this scenario relates to the rip-off of the trader regrettably, this is why those who also drop for many of these “offers” can inevitably constantly see their particular accounts purged. The normal MO of these artificial account managers is quite suspicious. They first “win” a number of trades for their particular clients, prodding them regarding their potential, and growing and maintaining the seeds involving greed in them. They subsequently get in touch with them directly in addition to try to persuade these individuals to make additional build up, promising fantastic profits. In the event traders draw the brand and even refuse to comply, the container of their particular accounts begins within zeal. If they try to help to make the deposit, numerous documents shall be questioned of them plus little by little, all transmission will probably be gotten rid of with them as typically the cash disappears from their particular accounts.
How can Binary Option Brokers Make Their Money? | 2019-04-19T12:17:39Z | http://www.thegildedmoosetes.us/category/general/ |
I'm at a new coffee shop today in Nashville, one I haven't visited before. It's Monday after a busy work weekend and I'm just exhausted. My brain wants to rest; my calendar says to write. I'm not only struggling to find the words, I'm struggling to find the pictures in my mind that I want to describe for you. So I've pulled out photographs today, to see with my eyes what I can't conjure up in my mind.
I was fourteen years old the first time I saw the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. I remember the exterior as being lighter in color than I thought, this edifice of barely gray stone that traveled up into the sky higher than I imagined.
Seeing it was different than standing at the base of a skyscraper in New York City, because I knew the cathedral was built by hand. The height of the spires, the flying buttresses, the detailed statues, the gargoyles, all built and hand-carved hundreds of years ago. They first broke ground on it in 1163 and Notre Dame was completed in 1365. Yes, it took two hundred years to build that building. That's unfathomable to me. I can't envision anyone in our day starting any project knowing it likely wouldn't be completed until five generations into the future.
I have pictures of my high school best friends and I, sitting outside the cathedral, waiting on a bench. I'm wearing a pink sweater and purple hiking boots, which should just tell you everything you ever wanted to know about my teenage self. I also have a picture printed out and labeled in a scrapbook of the moment I walked inside.
The north rose stained glass window was like nothing I had ever seen. There it was, straight ahead, what seemed like miles away — the blues and pinks and yellows — a bright spot in a darker massive room. I couldn't stop staring at the light shining through it or marveling that someone had created every piece, stained it, sealed it in place, and then (and I seriously do not know how someone using thirteenth-century equipment could do this) raised it and positioned it so many stories up.
You can't get close enough to see this feature with your bare eyes, but the center of the north rose is Jesus as a baby and His mother, Mary. It's an incredible piece of art. The whole window is. The whole room is. The whole building is.
I've been back to Notre Dame a few times since. And every time I'm there, I can't help but think about the centuries of people who have sat in those pews before me. I think of all the people who have gathered there for one reason.
Because they believed in God. And wanted to remember Him.
My assistant, Eliza, and I travel together quite a bit, about three weekends a month for roughly eight months of the year. We rarely get tired of each other (separate hotel rooms is clutch), and we never run out of life stories or God stories to tell.
A few years ago, we realized that every city where we went for me to speak at a conference, church, or event began to look the same — just the inside of a plane, the inside of a hotel, the inside of a church or event space. It felt like we were wasting these opportunities a bit. We thought, hey — we're in ARGYLE, TEXAS, for heaven's sake. We should see it! We're in BOSTON. We're in INDIANA, PENNSYLVANIA. We're in LEWISTON, IDAHO. But we weren't seeing cities; we weren't experiencing culture; we weren't eating local. We were missing the best parts of the travel side of our jobs.
So we created a little something called Tour de Tastebuds. (Probably better known to some of you as #tourdetastebuds.) It started out simple. In every city where we traveled, Eliza and I would try to find the most hole-in-the-wall, local, delicious restaurant. We didn't want a chain; we didn't want fancy. We wanted the place we would pick on a Tuesday night with our family or friends if we lived in this particular city. And after eating, we would ask ourselves: Is this place in middle Alabama better than the meal we had last week in middle California? Up-or-down vote. On to the next place.
Then one fateful day, a few months into the competition, standing outside a barbecue restaurant in Fort Wayne, Indiana, we disagreed. I said the meal was the number-two restaurant experience of our fall season; she said it was number-one. I was floored and we were out of sync.
So we created a scoring system: 1–5 in three different categories.
1. Atmosphere. How's the decor? How's the service? What kind of experience do the other patrons seem to be having? Does the look and feel of the place match the food being served?
2. Taste. Simply, how is the food?
We now had a system, and suddenly felt like we'd accidentally started an Instagram version of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Which was fine with me because I love that show. It just meant that in addition to all the other ways we prep before heading out on a trip, we now have another line item to check off: finding the right restaurant for the tour. We want variety and local, so we ask online or ask friends from the city. Fairly often the host of the event has a Tour de Tastebuds recommendation for us, but only about half the time is that the one we actually judge.
Last spring we were speaking outside of Pittsburgh, and multiple people had told us the same place — Pamela's — for breakfast. It is also President Obama's favorite breakfast, so that said something to us as well. We arrived in town the night before and didn't need to be at the event until the next afternoon, so Eliza and I got up that morning, put Pamela's into our GPS, and headed out.
As we drove, part of what we were talking about was a really sad text conversation of mine from earlier that weekend, a miscommunication with a man who mattered to me. "It feels like things are falling apart, Eliza," I said to her, "and I'm fine if that's what happens. I really am. It just makes me worry that I've missed God somehow in this." It's that train track thing again, you know? I thought I had some good direction from the Lord of where these tracks were going to go, until things went way off the rails and I was confused.
We turned left to head up a hill, and there, at the top, sat a cathedral. We both gasped and tears came to our eyes. I pulled over on Elm Street and stopped the car right there on the incline, and we stared in silence.
"A cathedral," I whispered to Eliza.
"I know, I know," she said back. "And I know what it means."
For months, God kept putting me in the path of cathedrals. I've loved them my whole life actually, but in recent months I couldn't seem to get away from them. In other countries, like Scotland, this is pretty normal. Old churches built centuries ago are around every corner. But in America, not so much. I love them because, more than anything else, they remind me of the history of God.
Here's a confession: I am easily awed. Which is both a gift and a curse. Sometimes it makes me look like a country bumpkin who's never left home for the big city because, "Wow, y'all, look at that!" It means I'm too easily entertained and probably shouldn't be quite so impressed with our planet as I am. "A BUTTERFLY! THAT'S AMAZING!" says no normal person who has ever seen butterflies before. But I do. Often. I mean, did you know during their transformation inside the cocoon, they actually become sort of like goo before emerging? Mind-blowing.
I actually don't mind being awed. I like that I really like life. I like how often I'm just happy to be here and can look for lovely all around me. If you're familiar with the Enneagram, I'm a 7, and we 7s pretty much just love life most of the time ... or are trying to love it so we can avoid pain.
But cathedrals, for any of us, are awe-inspiring.
Churches are great. I go to one. But my church is a cement box with cement floors. Though it's been our church home for a while, it used to be a storage facility for Goodwill. Cathedrals, on the other hand, never used to be anything else. They were built with a purpose. They continue with that purpose. You never look at a cathedral and wonder what it used to be or what it is now. "Is that a cathedral I see in the distance or an Ikea?"
Cathedrals are monster buildings with minute details around every corner. Tall ornate ceilings, tiled floors, pews, pillars, Latin words inscribed across the walls. Designed in the massive shape of a cross, cathedrals are the way humans have always offered sanctuary and a place to gather to worship an invisible God. They're how we've invited others to come here and believe that there is more to this life than what any of us can see.
They're monuments to God's presence with His people.
People build monuments all the time, to a variety of different things. They all exist to mark a place or a time that doesn't need to be forgotten by the human race. And typically they're accompanied by some kind of historical marker that describes what this statue or building is commemorating.
I LOVE reading historical markers. In fact, walking from my house to my local coffee shop, I pass two historical markers on the sidewalk, and I read both of them word for word every time. It feels mildly insane because DIDN'T I JUST READ THOSE YESTERDAY? But it also matters to me. Someone carved letters out of cement so that the people who lived and did something important in this spot, in this little corner of the universe, would not be forgotten.
And throughout time, at least throughout the modern ages, the most prominent marking has become cathedrals, which people built to remember God.
I walked into Frothy Monkey, a little eatery in the 12 South area of Nashville, to meet our former intern, Sarah, for breakfast. You just cannot go wrong eating breakfast at Frothy. I usually get "The California" — toast and sprouts and avocado slices and two over-medium eggs. I go a little diva and ask for gluten-free toast and a side of crispy bacon. And seriously, it is the breakfast of my dreams.
Someday we can talk about how I used to think runny eggs were the grossest thing in the world until I had these runny eggs at Flat White Kitchen in Durham, England, and they changed my life and I've never been the same. Scrambled eggs are legitimately a memory for me because why would you eat those when you could have eggs over medium? That's where I stand on eggs.
I'd gotten back just a few days before from that trip to Pittsburgh with Eliza. I couldn't wait to tell Sarah how God had shown up, right there on a hill in Pennsylvania. I came in the back door of Frothy and walked up the stairs. The walls inside are decorated with local art which they change out randomly. (Well, it may not be random to them, but it is certainly random to me.) And get this. EVERY picture on the wall was a drawing of a cathedral. YES. FOR REAL. Big regal buildings from around the world.
Sarah was sitting at a table for two along the wall, where a church pew runs the length of the room, creating about seven "tables for two." Sarah looked up at me as I walked toward her. My hand was over my mouth.
"Sarah ..." I said, almost more a gasp than actually talking. "Look at the walls. It's all cathedrals. How long have these been here? Are they new? Who made them? Is this a joke?"
I didn't sit down. I just walked all around the coffee shop and looked at every picture. A few were labeled "churches" instead of cathedrals, but they had the same look. The same regal build. The same hard-as-stone, not moving, not shaking, survived-fire-and-doubt-and-wind-and-pain look.
God did not want me to miss this. Clearly. He was saying something to me ... because the heart of this book and the heart of cathedrals seem to be about the same. This may be why God brought the theme to me in the first place. The heart of my struggles involves holding tight to what cathedrals have always meant.
God is who He says He is. Kinder than you imagine. And people have gathered together in cathedrals fordecades to be reminded of who He is. That's the only reason those cross-shaped buildings were even created. To remember Him.
When Eliza and I turned that corner in Pittsburgh, and the cathedral rose over the hill, we both burst into tears. And days later, as I sat down with Sarah and looked at the cathedrals lining the walls of Frothy Monkey, tears came to my eyes again.
Because there He was. Again and again. Reminding me to remember Him.
I was playing Chutes and Ladders with my five-year-old friend Troy. It's a game I've played for the majority of my life, but knowing how to play doesn't help at all as far as winning goes. There is zero correlation between the time you've put into the game and your chances of winning. Because it is all up to chance.
If it's been a while since you played, here's a quick recap. The game board is a grid of one hundred boxes, ten rows of ten, with each square numbered in order — 1 at the bottom right corner, 100 at the top left. All the game pieces start at 1, and the goal of each player is to reach 100 first. Each turn begins with the roll of a single die (or the flick of a spinner), and the number determines how many spaces you move. Throughout the board are ladders that allow you to skip ahead a few boxes if you land at the base of them. But plenty of chutes also appear, causing you to slide back down the board if you're unlucky enough to land on those.
Troy was slaughtering me in the game. I would roll a six and land right on top of a chute, sending me sliding back to the start. Troy would roll a one and get to climb a ladder up ten or fifteen spaces. He was giggling like crazy and trash-talking just as much. I was laughing on the outside, playing along with him, having a great attitude about it. But on the inside? NOT HAPPY ONE BIT. I was super mad, like the kind of mad that almost gives you goose bumps. Anger goose bumps. Yes, they are a thing. How was this kid beating me? I have a college education and my own home and I know how to multiply. (He has NONE of those things, can do NONE of those things.) And yet he was killing me.
Webb, Troy's older brother, was across the room from us, doing a Star Wars puzzle. Looked like a good plan to me. I caught sight of Molly, their mom, walking in. She could instantly see how badly I was losing.
"Oh, Annie," she said, "what's happened here?"
Looking up to her from the floor, my face said it all. We've been friends for about twenty-five years, so she knows how to interpret my many and varied faces. "Things are not going so well for me over here," I responded through gritted teeth.
She laughed. That's what best friends do. They laugh at your pain, especially when it's brought on by children and board games.
The game took longer than I wanted — one of those slow, painful board game deaths with lots of twists and turns (eh, chutes and ladders). It ended with him landing on the 100 and then running laps around me, pumping his fists in the air. That's when I decided to write him out of my will.
Troy beat me. It was official.
I immediately started cleaning up the game while he protested that we should go again. I would not. I suggested (insisted) we switch to reading books because, guess what, kid, I know how to read ALL the words. Boom. Sucker.
Copyright © 2018 Annie F. Downs.
Remember God 4.8 out of 5 based on 0 ratings. 13 reviews.
This is a deeply personal book that makes you feel as though you are talking over coffee with your best friend. So many things that we feel, Annie does too, so this makes this a book we can relate to. This book reminds us that even in our most dire or difficult circumstances, God is there. Even when we question whether He really is. Annie shares her own struggles with wondering if God is truly good, kind and there for her and she goes through very trying times. She is vulnerable with us and truly shares her heart. Annie is very open in this book and shares the good and bad of her life. I think it spoke to me because she didn't try to sugar-coat her life. She goes through things and has the same types of feelings that we all do. It wasn't always easy reading about her struggles but it was beneficial to see how she points us back to God and His grace and love. I think this is a book that will definitely speak to the heart of the hurting. Remember God is beautifully written and I give it 4 out of 5 stars. *This book was provided to me by LifeWay. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book.
In Remember God, Annie F. Downs tells the story about one recent year of her life. As Downs recalls key life events, she takes her readers on a journey of doubt and struggle, as well as hope and trust in God. It took me a while to become accustomed to her narrative’s somewhat choppy style and abrupt transitions. However, maybe this was intentionally done to mirror how life can feel like sometimes. I would say this book is geared towards a female audience, although the act of “remembering God” is something that is vital for everyone. Downs has written several books, but this was the first time I have read her writing. She is extremely open and honest with her readers about her relationship with God. She is not afraid to reveal her doubts, pain and disappointment. Her introspective writing style makes her relatable and her ability to discern God’s voice is inspiring. Downs also has a playful sense of humor that shines through even through difficult circumstances. The lessons Downs shares in Remember God are a valuable reminder that God is the author of our story and that we should not forget that He is in control.
This book was so hard to put down. Many Christian writers try to be vulnerable, but sometimes they try too hard to connect with a reader and it can come across forced. However, Annie Downs lets you into her world in a very real and authentic way. She shares her questions, her journey, uncertainties, and fears with the reader. When she begins to have issues after her book doesn’t get on a certain list, she shares how she handled it and how she went looking for God in all of it. She talks about playing computer games and staying in bed, as well as finding herself counting down the hours and minutes until she can get back to her hotel room bed while out on a speaking engagement. This is the kind of thing that many people face in their lives, but don’t share and it helps to see how Downs deals with her feelings. Downs lets you into her world when things aren’t going well or things aren’t happening in a way where it’s wrapped up all neatly in a bow. It’s refreshing to have an authentic voice sharing what happens when you’re in a storm and have questions are waiting on an answer. She writes about being in the “wilderness” and trusting God through it. This book feels like reading memoirs or a journal kind of like Gail Godwin’s diaries. It really pulls you in and makes you feel what she’s going through and, in turn, it provides ways to help you in going through what you are dealing with. Readers who enjoy Downs’ books will love this one and anyone looking for an authentic voice will love it as well. I read a lot of Christian non-fiction and this was my first book I’ve read by Downs, but she’s definitely made a fan here. I received this book from BH Publishing and Lifeway in return for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
In “Remember God” Annie is speaking of moments in her life where she is led to remember God. Some of those moments are difficult and heartbreaking but she draws closer to remember God. Annie’s writing style is journal like, effortless, and packed with detail without being wordy, it’s as though I am listening to an old friend. I can imagine the spaces and people she describes so vividly. Annie is transparent which shows her vulnerability. Annie’s thoughts are relatable and pure. This book reminds me that God will continue to be a guiding force when we seek Him; we must maintain patience and continue to be faithful though. Each time I sat down to read, I felt as though I was exactly where I was supposed to be.
This is one of the best books I have ever read. It came at just the perfect time in my life! Annie is a single woman, just like I am, wondering if God truly is kind because He hasn't given her a husband. The book is vulnerable and such a great journey to read about. I highly recommend!
How do you feel about God and the Christian life when things aren't going according to your plans. When your dreams don't come true, is God still kind? Good? In Remember God, Annie Downs wrestles with some hard questions in her life and she lets us get a glimpse of what that looks like. Remember God is written as sort of a memoir of Downs' year as she wrestles with God. Downs asks the question, Is God always kind, really deep down always? Downs is single and not only is she single but she is single well past when she thought she would be married if her life had gone according to her plan. This brave woman opens her heart and her life and shows us how God is not only kind but he does exceedingly and abundantly above all that we can ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20). However, initially that did not look or feel like how Downs wanted it to look. She shares how God grew her heart and soul through the year--a year with both a limp and a blessing. I am not single. I am a middle-aged woman with a different set of hopes and dreams that seem to be taking forever. My wrestling is different than Downs, but yet I relate so well to her wrestling. Her writing style is so conversational and down-to-earth that I feel like I am right there with her and as I read Remember God, I can get a glimpse into her heart. . .and I want to share mine. Her writing invites me to open up to God a little more and open up to those around me. These past couple of years as I have faced challenges, I have wanted to hide. . .but Downs invites me to open up with God, to listen for His voice and to grow. I like that she is a journaler. I journal too and wrote quotes and notes as I read this book. I invite you to read this book, open up with God and take some notes too. I think Remember God will help you reflect on your life and to grow in Him as it is helping me. I received this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
Remember God, is not a just a story that is expressed throughout another book. These very pages open an invitation to walk with Annie herself along her journey with the Lord. It is a very personal and vulnerable journey that we are privileged to step into. This book will not only impact your heart, but will give you permission to walk confidently in the very season that you are stewarding yourself. This is a book for everyone because everyone is writing their own story. Everyone is walking through their own personal season. This is a story of a woman who invites us into that very intimate, personal place with the Lord. Causing us to take a step back and not only reflect on what is happening, but begin to see God's hand through our very own season. Causing us to reflect on His very nature that has been there through every step of the way. We begin to reflect and remember his ever-present hand of friendship. Not only in the seasons of blessings, but even in the seasons where we can't seem to see anything, but an empty space. Although, it is within that very emptiness where God meets us. It is within that silence where we begin to hear Him speak. It is within that very wilderness where we begin to not only experience, but we begin to remember His very faithfulness. For if He did it then- He will do it now. He is not only the God of tomorrow, but He is the God of today. So take hold of this book and dive into a personal journey with Annie herself, with God Himself. Plus, you gain a friend through this. Everyone who picks up a book written by Annie leaves with a new friend by their side. She is inviting you to walk with her. To hear her story and begin to find confidence in your very own story.
I received the Christian Audio audiobook (read by Annie herself!) after preordering my book and paused it in a dozen places to think through the words of truth and wisdom Annie had just shared. By sharing heartfelt, honest snippets of her own story over the past couple of years, Annie reminds us that God is always kind - even and especially if that doesn't look like what we expect the endings of our own stories will. For times of loneliness, doubt, fear, or tiredness in the faith - Annie reminds us to look around at what we do have, at what He has made, and in all things, to remember God in an age where we so easily forget.
Annie brings her hope, her doubts, her triumphs, and her pain authentically and in equal measure in Remember God. From the start, I was tempted to skip to the end to see how Annie answers the question, "Is God kind?" but as she reminds us, everything that happens along the way matters just as much as the end (and maybe more). I heard Annie say on a podcast that the writing of this book was like building a bridge as she was walking it - I am so grateful for the fierce honesty and faith she laid down in every step.
I love Annie Downs. In my mind, we are totally BFFs... we have not (yet) met, but I know we will know each other already when we do because as much as our lives are different and we are not the same, our spirits speak the same language and -- you guys! She is so much fun! Even when she is sharing with such vulnerability about her brokenness and how she knows God but sometimes forgets to trust His goodness. (Been there? Yeah... me, too!) I am relistening to the audio version as I (not so patiently) await the arrival of the 'actual' book... it's so good! It's so Annie and God... and they are one of my favorite combos! God has been writing a different kind of hard in our life and I recall over and over singing worship songs with lyrics like, "You have been so, so good to me... You have been so, so kind to me..." and songs about how He is a Good, Good Father and I knew it was true --even though it sure didn't feel like it! Man... we need this offering and I am so thankful and so proud of Annie for being brave (ya see what I did there?) and sharing her journey as God continues to write her story! This book is full of stories... and it's also full of scripture. It's full of Annie, and it's full of God! And who wouldn't want to read a book like that? In fact, you may just want to order two because you're not going to want to keep it all to yourself! We all need the reminder that God is good... especially in the world right now where it is oh so easy to forget to remember!
The most powerful book yet from Annie F. Downs! As a fan of her previous books & her podcast (That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs), I expected to enjoy this book, but ended up LOVING it! She shares with brave transparency about the difficulties of walking faithfully in the tension of what God has promised & current life circumstances. Her words are the perfect combination of truth, honesty, encouragement, humor & preaching! A must read for anyone who has ever found themselves saying, "God, this isn't what I thought my life would look like." | 2019-04-26T01:12:42Z | https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/remember-god-annie-f-downs/1128491907?ean=9781433646898 |
Audi announced details for the all-new A6 Avant: the business-class station wagon in Europe. The new A6 Avant has plenty of engine options to choose from - two gasoline engines and four diesel engines. Shedding off the weight with lightweight aluminum framing while improving the engine performance, the A6 Avant is able to offer as much as 18 percent improvement in fuel economy (47 mpg) over the previous models. Audi A6 Avant is targetted to be at your local Audi dealerships in second half of 2011 at a base price of 40,850 euros.
Audi is launching the next generation of the A6 Avant, the most successful business-class station wagon in Europe. The new model presents the brand’s full array of progressive technological expertise. Its lightweight body, large portions of which are made of aluminum, sets new standards, as does the wide selection of assistance and multimedia systems. The keyword for the latter is Audi connect. The new Audi A6 Avant is available with a choice of six engines: two gasoline engines and four diesel units. Fuel consumption has been reduced by as much as 18 percent compared with the previous model. Topping the engine lineup is the new 3.0 TDI with twin-turbo technology and 230 kW (313 hp). Audi also offers numerous high-end options for the drivetrain and the chassis. The luggage compartment has a capacity of up to 1,680 liters (59.33 cu ft) and offers a number of elegant features, including a power rear hatch that opens in response to a sensor signal.
Audi is once again leading the way, with the new A6 Avant the trendsetter in the business class. With its lightweight body and many additional innovations, the seventh-generation A6 Avant is intended to write another chapter in the model series’ history of success.
Measuring 4.93 meters (16.17 ft) in length, the Audi A6 Avant makes a very agile first impression. Its proportions are sporty, and the low roof line flows into flat D-pillars. Audi offers LED headlights and rear lights as a visually and technically fascinating option.
The new Avant sets standards with its low weight. With aluminum components comprising roughly 20 percent of the body, Audi – the global pioneer in lightweight construction – has raised the bar once again. Gross weight has been reduced by as much as 70 kilograms (154.32 lb) compared with the previous model. The A6 Avant 2.0 TDI, for example, has a curb weight of just 1,640 kilograms (3,615.58 lb).
The luggage compartment has a capacity of 565 liters (19.95 cu ft), which can be increased to 1,680 liters (59.33 cu ft) by folding down the rear seat backs. Audi offers its customers numerous elegant features as options. Topping the list is a gesture-controlled, automatic rear hatch. Through the combination of the power luggage compartment hatch and the convenience key, a particular movement pattern below the rear bumper activates the system and the hatch opens automatically.
Audi offers a choice of six engines featuring direct fuel injection for the new A6 Avant: two gasoline engines and four TDI units. They develop between 130 kW (177 hp) and 230 kW (313 hp). This ample power is combined with groundbreaking efficiency. The 2.0 TDI consumes an average of just 5.0 liters of fuel per 100 km (47.04 US mpg).
All of the engines utilize the technologies from the Audi modular efficiency platform, which have helped to reduce fuel consumption by as much as 18 percent.
Depending on the engine, the new A6 Avant rolls off the assembly line with either a six-speed manual, the sporty seven-speed S tronic, the continuously variable multitronic or the convenient eight-speed tiptronic. In addition to front-wheel drive, the latest development stage of quattro permanent all-wheel drive is available as an option. The optional sport differential flexibly distributes the power between the rear wheels.
The chassis is also very sophisticated and combines sporty dynamics with excellent comfort. The Audi drive select driving dynamics system comes standard, and the new electromechanical power steering is extremely efficient. In the front-wheel-drive variants, the ESP electronic stabilization program featuring an electronic limited slip differential make the car’s handling even more precise. Options include the adaptive air suspension and dynamic steering, with the latter becoming available somewhat later.
The interior of the new A6 Avant treats its occupants with a sleek and clear design, uncompromising workmanship, generous appointments and exemplary ergonomics. Among the high-end options are a head-up display, adaptive light with variable headlight range control, front seats with ventilation and massage function, and numerous infotainment components. Topping the range of infotainment options are the hard drive-based navigation system MMI navigation plus and the Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System.
Audi connect, a fully fledged Internet connection, also places the new Audi A6 Avant at the head of the pack. In collaboration with Google, it brings special online services to the car, including voice-controlled points of interest (POI) search. A Wi-Fi hotspot allows passengers to surf and email freely while on the road. The Audi online traffic information service informs the driver in real time about how heavy traffic is on the selected route.
The new A6 Avant can be equipped with all of the brand’s assistance and safety systems for even more composed driving. Some systems work closely together with MMI navigation plus, further enhancing their capabilities. A new feature in the Audi lineup, the parking system plus with 360° display, will be available somewhat later. Four small cameras record images of the vehicle’s immediate surroundings.
Fast software combines these images and displays them in a variety of views on the large onboard monitor.
The Audi A6 Avant will be available for sale in the second half of 2011 at a base price of 40,850 euros.
The design of the newest model reflects lightness and modern elegance. It is every bit as characteristic for Audi as the sporty proportions. The Audi A6 Avant measures 4.93 meters (16.17 ft) in length and 1.87 meters (6.14 ft) in width, but only 1.46 meters (4.79 ft) in height. Its wheelbase has grown to 2.91 meters (9.55 ft) – a big gain over the previous model.
The engine hood stretches out far to the front; sharp edges frame taut surfaces over the entire length of the flanks. The low, early-sloping roof line and the flat D-pillars underscore the dynamic styling. The characteristic rear lights and the exhaust system’s two tailpipes accentuate the rear of the car. The optional S line exterior package provides for an even more dynamic look.
The optional LED headlights, which use light-emitting diodes for all functions, are another innovative feature. They make the front end with the single-frame grille featuring angular upper corners and high-gloss black struts even more distinctive. The xenon plus headlights, optionally available either on their own or integrated into the adaptive light system with variable headlight range control, provide excellent illumination of the road in any situation. The xenon plus units and the LED headlights are combined with LED rear lights.
A new composite construction concept makes the body of the Audi A6 Avant highly rigid, safe and unusually light. Many components of the occupant cell are fabricated from high-strength and ultra high-strength steels. The strut braces in the engine compartment and the bolt-on body components are made of aluminum and comprise roughly 20 percent of the body. The concept represents the transition to the innovative Multimaterial Space Frame, with which Audi is opening a new chapter in lightweight body construction.
The body of the A6 Avant is roughly 30 kilograms (66.14 lb) lighter than that of the previous model. Depending on the engine, the complete car is as much as 70 kilograms (154.32 lb) lighter than the previous model. The A6 Avant 2.0 TDI, for example, has a curb weight of just 1,640 kilograms (3,615.58 lb). Audi, the sector’s lightweight construction pioneer, has once again reversed the weight spiral.
Another strength of the composite construction body is acoustic comfort. Modern materials and construction methods reduce the interior noise level to that of the luxury class. Audi also offers special insulating/acoustic glazing as an option. The precise matching of all components and sophisticated hydraulic damping in the axle and drivetrain bearings provide for excellent ride comfort.
The luggage compartment of the new Audi A6 Avant has a capacity of 565 liters (19.95 cu ft). Its loading lip is low. The split rear seat backs can be easily folded down using the remote seat back release on the sides of the trunk to increase luggage capacity to 1,680 liters (59.33 cu ft). Lashing eyes, side restraining straps, bag hooks, a double cargo floor, a rail luggage fixing system, a dirt-resistant tray and roof rails are standard.
Audi offers additional details as options – a load-through hatch, a fixing set that uses the two standard rails in the cargo floor, and a power rear hatch with an integrated power luggage compartment cover. Making its debut in the Audi A6 Avant is the gesture-based control of the power hatch in combination with the convenience key. If the driver stands behind the car and makes a specific movement with his or her foot, two sensors open the hatch.
The accessories program includes many special features for transporting sports and recreational equipment, from a partition grille to a bicycle rack. The new large Avant is a powerful towing vehicle, with a rated towing capacity of 2,100 kilograms (4,629.71 lb).
The A6 Avant is available with a choice of six engines featuring direct fuel injection: one four-cylinder unit and five V6 units. Five of them use forced induction to keep displacement relatively low, thus improving their efficiency. The 2.0 TDI with 130 kW (177 hp) has the best fuel consumption figures. Paired with the manual transmission, it consumes on average just 5.0 liters of fuel per 100 km (47.04 US mpg), corresponding to CO2 emissions of 132 g per km (212.43 g/mile).
The 3.0 TDI is available in three variants: with 150 kW (204 hp); with 180 kW (245 hp) – a clean diesel version will follow somewhat later; and the top version with 230 kW (313 hp). The twin-turbo has a two-stage turbocharger group that delivers a maximum boost pressure of up to 3.2 bar, imbuing the 3.0 TDI with superior performance. The sprint from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) takes 5.4 seconds (preliminary value); the electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155.34 mph) is just a formality.
The 2.8 FSI with 150 kW (204 hp) uses the Audi valvelift system, which varies the lift of the intake valves in two stages as necessary. This allows the engine to breathe easier, increasing torque and reducing fuel consumption. The most powerful gasoline engine in the model series is the supercharged 3.0 TFSI producing 220 kW (300 hp).
All of the engines in the new Audi A6 Avant use the technologies of the Audi modular efficiency platform, including the start-stop system, the recuperation system and the innovative thermal management system that quickly brings the coolant and motor oil up to their operating temperatures. These novel solutions are a major reason why fuel consumption has been reduced by up to 18 percent compared with the previous model.
Like many Audi models, the new A6 Avant is available with a wide range of drivetrains. Depending on the engine, Audi offers a six-speed manual, the continuously variable multitronic or the sporty S tronic with seven speeds. The 3.0 TDI with 230 kW (313 hp) delivers its power to a highly efficient eight-speed tiptronic optimized for fast shifts.
The gears in all of the transmissions are widely spaced, a major factor contributing to their efficiency. All of the automatic transmissions are integrated into the engine’s innovative thermal management system. The differential lies in front of the clutch or the torque converter. This enabled the engineers to shift the front axle forward by 71 millimeters (2.80 in) compared with the previous model, to the benefit of both the wheelbase and axle load distribution.
The 2.0 TDI delivers its power to the front wheels. The V6 units are paired either standard or as an option with all-wheel drive. The latest evolution of the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system used in the new A6 Avant features a crown-gear center differential and torque vectoring for superior dynamics, traction and stability. Upon request, Audi will equip all quattro versions with the sport differential, which distributes the power in continuously variable proportions between the rear wheels. So equipped, the Audi A6 Avant rides as if on rails.
Sporty precision, powerful braking and superior comfort. The chassis of the new Audi A6 Avant combines all of these strengths to a harmonious whole. A five-link construction guides the front wheels; a track-guided trapezoidal-link suspension is used at the back. The wheel control arms are made of aluminum. The power steering is tightly integrated with the new assistance systems and is highly efficient thanks to its new electromechanical drive. It helps the driver to countersteer when braking on a surface with less grip on one side.
Depending on the engine, the standard wheels measure either 16 or 17 inches in diameter, with wheels up to 20 inches in diameter optionally available. Tire sizes range from 225/60 to 255/35. The brake system is designed for high levels of performance and durability.
All versions of the new A6 Avant regardless of the engine are equipped with the Audi drive select driving dynamics system, which allows the custom adjustment of key drivetrain, chassis and assistance systems in four modes – comfort, auto, dynamic and individual. An efficiency mode is also available in all models with forced induction. In this mode, all systems are weighted toward fuel economy. Another standard feature in the front-wheel drive Avant models is the ESP system with electronic limited slip differential, which makes the vehicle even more agile.
Avant customers can also opt for the comfortable adaptive air suspension with variable damping and the sporty dynamic steering, which will be available somewhat later. The dynamic steering system adjusts the steering ratio to the speed driven and supports handling at the limit with light pulses of countersteer. Audi has designed the S line sports package with particularly dynamic drivers in mind. It lowers the body by 30 millimeters (1.18 in) compared with the standard chassis, and includes large wheels, appearance modifications and many special details for the all-black interior.
In the interior of the new Audi A6 Avant, a decorative inlay known as the “wrap-around” encircles the driver and the front-seat passenger. The front of the instrument panel is elegantly curved. The entire interior makes a high-quality and functional impression. It takes up the light style of the exterior. The back seat offers ample passenger room. There are plenty of storage options and cup holders front and rear, with an additional storage package available as an option.
Every last detail in the interior of the A6 Avant demonstrates Audi’s exacting quality standards. All of the materials have been selected and worked with great care. Decorative inlays are available in aluminum and three types of wood, including a very modern, novel veneer of alternating layers of light and dark oak. A piano lacquer variant rounds out the choices. The interior colors harmonize as stylishly as the materials, which include a range of leathers up to exclusive Valcona, a very natural grade.
Audi offers a choice of particularly comfortable and sporty front seats, with the top models featuring ventilation and massage functions. An optional lighting package or the ambient lighting package bathe the interior in subtle, yet dramatic light. There is also a wide range of options when it comes to the steering wheels: three or four spokes, power-adjustable steering column, heated rim and paddles for the automatic transmission.
Like all Audi models, the new A6 Avant impresses with its logical, easy-to-understand control concept. Its instruments are clearly marked; the display between them – optionally available as the driver information system (DIS) with a five or seven-inch monitor – is controlled from the steering wheel. In the center of the instrument panel is a second, power-retractable monitor that is part of the standard MMI radio control system.
The innovative Audi pre sense basic safety system, a highly efficient automatic air conditioning system optionally available with four-zone controls, an electromechanical parking brake, cruise control and light and rain sensors are also standard. The engine starts with the push of a button. Audi offers an optional head-up display that projects important information onto the windshield in color. Another attractive feature is the onboard computer with efficiency program.
One of the many fields of technology where Audi leads the competition is infotainment. A wide range of modules is available in the new A6 Avant, topped by MMI navigation plus with MMI touch. Core features of the large hard drive-based system with the eight-inch monitor can be controlled via the touchpad. Topping the line of hi-fi options is the high-quality Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System that delivers crystal-clear sound from 15 speakers.
One groundbreaking option from Audi are the new features that are combined under the keyword Audi connect. With its UMTS module, the Bluetooth online car phone delivers the Internet to the A6 Avant. Special services are available in collaboration with Google. The graphics card in the navigation system, for example, integrates images and information from Google Earth with the navigation route. A Wi-Fi hotspot provides contact to mobile devices on board.
Two additional services are new to the Audi lineup, and thus to the market as a whole. The Audi online traffic information service draws on the movement profiles of hundreds of thousands of mobile phones in other vehicles to inform drivers in many European countries about traffic levels along the selected route in real time. Points of interest can now be searched for online with Google – particularly conveniently via voice control.
The MMI navigation plus in the new Audi A6 Avant works closely together with the optional driver assistance and safety systems. It makes its route data available to the control units for the adaptive light headlights, the automatic transmission and the adaptive cruise control with stop & go function. This enables these systems to better recognize complex scenarios and support the driver.
The heart of the assistance systems is the radar-based adaptive cruise control with stop & go function, which is active at all speeds between zero and 250 km/h (155.34 mph). It works closely together with Audi pre sense, which is available in a number of configurations. It helps the driver in many situations to reduce the severity of rear-end collisions with the vehicle ahead and their consequences, or even to avoid them all together. The new Audi A6 Avant has an extensive package of restraint systems on board in the event of a collision.
Audi active lane assist intervenes gently in the steering to help the driver keep the A6 Avant in its lane. The park assist system, which is optionally available with a reversing camera, relieves the driver from the hassle of steering when parking or exiting a parking space. The Audi side assist helps the driver when changing lanes; the night vision assistant marks detected pedestrians to make driving in the dark safer; and the speed limit display presents important road signs on the DIS display.
The parking system plus with 360° display, which is a new assistance system at Audi, will follow somewhat later. Four small cameras – at the front, the rear and in the housings of the side mirrors – record images of the A6 Avant’s immediate surroundings. Fast software combines these images, and the driver can call up various views on the large onboard monitor. This technical system enhances safety while maneuvering and when pulling out from areas with obstructed views.
The Audi A6 Avant will begin arriving in showrooms in key European markets in late summer. Its base price is 40,850 euros. | 2019-04-25T13:55:13Z | http://www.dieselstation.com/cars/audi-a6-avant-2012-a3532.html |
Your hotel has a phenomenal meeting space that can drive significant revenue for your business, and you want to maximize this amazing sales opportunity. Your fantastic sales team works diligently to generate new leads and book interesting conferences, trade shows, seminars, meetings, and conventions. You promote your space on Cvent, Meetings-Conventions, HotelPlanner, social media, your local visitor’s bureau, and every other channel you can find. If possible, you’d shout it from the mountaintop. However, one tool in your digital marketing toolbox offers more flexibility, delivers a better user experience, and generates more qualified leads than any other channel: your hotel’s independent website.
Take a look at how your independent website can supplement your sales strategy and improve your meeting marketing campaign today!
Your independent site allows you to customize the online user experience (ux) unlike any other meeting or event marketing channel on the Internet today. Not only does your independent site let you directly dictate the quality, quantity, and format of the information on your website, you can also control the look, tone, and functionality of the content itself. Where channels such as Cvent, Meetings-Conventions, HotelPlanner, and hotel brand sites lock your hotel’s meeting space into a one-size-fits all model, your independent website provides limitless opportunities to create a user experience tailored to your business and for your target audience. If your competitors solely rely on these rigid and traditional channels, taking full advantage of your independent site will help your business to stand out in the competitive digital marketplace.
Building an independent website for your property allows you to control both the universal design and individual elements of your site. Where a channel like Cvent forces all meeting and event spaces into a uniform, templated design, your independent site allows you to set yourself apart with enticing color schemes, customized visual elements, prominent calls to action, and a truly unique online experience. Your hotel’s meeting and event space is vastly different than your competitor’s across the street. Your digital marketing strategy should be different too.
Let’s compare the with their Cvent listing. While the Cvent listing prominently incorporates the property’s meeting space specs and other pertinent venue information at the top of the page, the color scheme, templated design, and rigidity do not sell the uniqueness of the venue. The Cvent listing provides limited opportunity to target specific groups, convey the personality of the sales team, or create an inviting user experience. Aside from the two images at the top of the listing, the Crowne Plaza Denver Airport Convention Center’s Cvent page looks identical to their competitors.
Additionally, Cvent’s use of pop-up ads and inclusion of competing meeting spaces at the bottom of the page create distractions that ultimately detract from your hotel’s ability to capture the attention of a visitor.
Contrastingly, the Crowne Plaza Denver Airport Convention Center’s independent site injects color, character, and creativity to the content. This not only grabs the user’s attention, but also enhances content itself. The website gives the hotel the ability to strategically incorporate images directly into their on-page content to entice and engage the user. Look at how the meeting room photo and branded promotional banner draw the eye to the special offer and supplement the copy itself.
It’s always better to show than to tell, and your independent website allows you to do just that. For example, it is easy to claim that your event venue offers state-of-the-art A/V equipment, but if you include a photo of a professional stage rig with high-tech lighting and great projection, then you immediately back up your claim. Compare A/V content on Crowne Plaza Denver Airport Convention Center’s independent website and brand website.
Your independent website also allows your hotel to enhance the visual appeal of your calls to action. In addition to the prominent purple buttons that invite users to submit proposals, the Crowne Plaza Denver Airport Convention Center’s customized sidebar banners give users a bold, visual, and unique invitation to submit an RFP.
Get creative with your on-page real estate and find new ways to appeal with your various audiences.
Using your independent website to market your meeting space allows you to include more unique and in-depth content than any other channel online. The ability to update your website in real time lets you quickly add exclusive promotions, target different audiences, and a publish as many helpful pdfs as you see fit. Are you looking to book more trade shows, pharmaceutical groups, or technology conferences? The flexibility of your independent website lets you publish all the niche content you want to attract new and qualified business.
For example, if your property wants to increase inquiries from association groups, you can build out a unique landing page to appeal to that market. You can tailor your content for your niche audience and let them know that your specific meeting venue is the perfect place to book their annual conference (as well as expand your footprint in organic search, but more on that later). With the inherent flexibility of the independent website, you can incorporate very specific information about the floor plans for on-site trade-shows, the types of groups that you’ve hosted in the past, and glowing testimonials from previous groups. Does your hotel offer complimentary airport shuttle service for all convention guests? Let the world know! That is a major selling point that you can showcase with your copy, image strategy, sidebar banners, mastheads, or pdfs. You have the freedom to customize your website to drive group sales. Take advantage of it.
With more robust content, a customizable image strategy, stronger calls to action, and the ability to target specific audiences, your independent website guarantees extremely qualified leads for your sales team. By providing the right people with a stellar user experience, the inquiries generated by your independent website will yield a higher percentage of proposals, site visits, and bookings than any other channel in your arsenal.
By providing detailed information, incorporating accurate and enticing photography, and conveying the unique personality of your sales team, your independent website sets realistic expectations for prospective groups. Informing your audience about what your team can and cannot accommodate ensures that you will receive qualified leads and reduce the amount of time and energy spent on pursuing out-of-scope inquiries.
Additionally, your niche content tells your audiences what kind of groups you want to book. Combining detailed information about specific event types with highly-relevant photography will demonstrate expertise and experience to your ideal customer. Once a prospective group submits a qualified RFP through your independent website, your awesome sales team can seamlessly transform the qualified inquiry into an actualized sale.
Increase organic search visibility for your hotel’s meetings and events pages with calculated and customized on-page SEO strategy for your independent website. With full control over your keyword targeting, on-page content, and meta tags, your meetings-specific SEO campaign will expand your reach in organic search, drive qualified traffic your website, and, subsequently, increase the number of qualified RFP submissions through your website. Even better, if you have access to website data and search analytics for your website, you can more effectively audit and optimize your meeting and event pages for ongoing and sustainable growth. By constantly honing and tweaking your hotel SEO campaign, you will maintain an advantage over your competitors in the SERPs, drive additional traffic to your website, and grow your property’s revenue through increased leads for your sales team.
Take full advantage of the flexibility of your independent website by optimizing each on-page element of your meetings and events pages for search engine visibility. While channels like Cvent, HotelPlanner, and your hotel’s brand site have some customizable elements, your independent website give you complete control over your website’s content. Creating epic content with comprehensive, keyword-rich copy, a strong image strategy, and optimized meta tags will not only help to increase conversions on your site, but will also tell Google’s algorithm exactly what your page is about. As a result, you will see an increase in impressions for qualified queries, more clicks to your website, and, ultimately, revenue growth from your increase in sales inquiries.
First, make sure that your page is targeting a relevant topic for which you can compete. For example, a convention center in Kankakee should not try to rank for “Chicago Convention Centers”. With McCormick Place, the Donald E Stephens Convention Center, and countless conference spaces peppered throughout the Chicago and its suburbs, gaining an edge in the SERPs would be next to impossible. Getting qualified clicks would be even tougher. Instead, focus on where your business can and should be listed. Determine the search volume and SERP competition for topics relevant to your business and choose the best topic for your page. With the groundwork laid, we begin the fun stuff: creating great content.
At the core of an optimized meetings or convention center page is epic content, which means you want to create a user experience that far exceeds what your competitors can offer. For meetings and conference pages, great content commonly includes (but is not limited to) comprehensive-but-digestible copy, floor plan and catering pdfs, and a strong image strategy that highlights your layouts, furniture, A/V equipment, and overall meeting experience. Add engaging element like videos, interactive tours, or infographics where you can. Know your meeting space, understand your website, and get creative!
Utilize your sidebars for page-specific banners. Highlight room blocks, link to catering menus, or show off your complimentary airport shuttle.
Create a testimonial pdf and link out to it. If a guest leaves a glowing, 700 word review, share it! Just make sure to remove any personal customer information before you publish the review.
Differentiating your website from your competitors’ is a key to creating epic content. While channels like Cvent and HotelPlanner homogenize competing venues, your independent site lets you express your unique charm. Are you located near a world-class golf course? That’s awesome! Tell me about it and tell me how to secure a tee time. Maybe your event space has tons of natural light. Show me! Sunshine and ocean views can really sell a conference room. Remember, your hotel has its own unique story with an arsenal of individual strengths. Simply telling this story – and including relevant keywords and phrases throughout – will go a long way in creating great content for the human user and the algorithmic robot.
Now that you have produced awesome content that both Google and your audience will love, you need to supplement your efforts with optimized meta tags. With full access to the back end of your website, you have the ability to optimize your header tags, alt tags, page title, and meta description with more precision than any other channel.
For your header tags (especially your H1 tag), include the primary elements of your primary topic in a semantically natural way. Google knows that the valuable verbiage in your header tags carry added importance for the reader and considers this when generating its search rankings. Additionally, Google increasingly understands human semantics and knows that a person looking “Denver Convention Center” and “Convention Centers in Denver” are usually looking for the same thing. When optimizing your title tags, always keep the human user in mind as you incorporate the most important components of your page’s topic.
Since we have established that it is better to show than to tell, you have plenty of opportunities to optimize the tags on your meetings and conventions pages. An tag is a small snippet of html describing an image for search engines, but is (typically) not visible to the human user. When a Googlebot crawls your page, it reads these tags and uses them to better understand your website. By optimizing these alt tags for your page’s primary topic, you can better explain your content to Google’s algorithm and increase your visibility for relevant queries. When optimizing an alt tag for a meetings or conventions page, the goal is to be accurate, descriptive, and concise. If you publish an image of the floor of a trade show your alt text should read “denver trade show” or “trade show near denver airport” instead of a generic descriptor like “convention”.
Your independent website also allows you to optimize your site speed. When you upload catering, floor plan, or A/V images to your site, add image dimensions to your image tags. This will tell your browser how to size your images and reduce the load time of your page. Google wants to give its users the best experience possible, and by increasing your site speed, you send positive ranking signals to the search engine.
While your independent site allows you to optimize for the traditional on-page elements outlined above, the customizable design of your site also allows you to optimize for the future.
You have total control over the mobile usability of your site and should design your site accordingly. In April 2015, Google made it clear that it intends to nudge the Internet into a more mobile-friendly place, and that its mobile algorithm will rank pages accordingly in search. Lucky for you, complete authority of the design of your site gives you complete full autonomy to work within Google’s best practices for mobile-friendly sites. Begin by updating the template of your site; resize your content for smaller screens, employ readable fonts, and include easy-to-click links for the clumsy thumb. After you have updated the basic functionality of your site, tailor the copy and image strategy of your individual pages for the mobile user. As our pal Brian mentioned in his discussion of mobile optimization, what works on desktop does not necessarily work on mobile.
Optimizing your independent website for conversions give you another opportunity to control your own destiny in the SERPs. As machine learning increasingly dictates how Google’s algorithm determines the SERPs, a website’s ability to successfully solve a problem or answer a user’s question becomes more important for search rankings. Therefore, by designing, formatting, and optimizing your meetings pages for RFP conversions, you are also inherently optimizing your pages for search. Google knows that when a visitor finds your website, reads your copy, clicks your floor plan PDF, and submits an RFP, that user has completed a successful search. By embracing the endless content opportunities of your independent website, you are inherently optimizing your site for the future of organic search.
In his recent post about the inarguable importance of off-page SEO, our pal Nick emphasized the importance of using your real world relationships to build quality backlinks. Your active sales team puts your website in a unique opportunity for lots of easy link building. Many of the businesses that your hotel has partnered with are promoting their conferences on their own websites. Likely, a lot of these groups are naturally linking to your independent website. That’s awesome. However, some groups may not intuitively think to link back to your hotel or meeting space, which gives you the opportunity to pursue that link. Just reach out, say how excited you are for their event, and request their link.
Take advantage of the customizable nature of your independent website to target new and niche audiences. Since you have full control over your content, you have the ability to build out unique and effective landing pages to attract specific types of groups, meetings, and conferences. Are you looking to book more quinceaneras? Creating an epic landing page that incorporates commonly-searched quinceanera keywords, demonstrates your hotel’s ability to throw an awesome party, and includes images from previous quinceaneras will generate organic search impressions for your event venue for quinceanera-related queries. Or maybe you offer special discounts to attract business from pharmaceutical companies. Not only will building a fully-optimized landing page for pharmaceutical conferences increase your visibility in organic search, but inform your target audience that you are the perfect venue for their event.
While many of these niche events groups will have less search volume than broader meeting queries, these pages will still increase the overall amount of impressions for your website as well as attract highly-qualified, high-converting traffic for your business.
As you improve, optimize, and implement your meetings-centric SEO campaign, you should regularly track your website’s performance in organic search. With tools like Google Search Console and Google Analytics you can determine how many times your individual meetings and conference pages appear in search, which specific queries your pages are relevant for, how many clicks each page receives (and for which query), and the average position in the SERPs for each page or query. These reports provide a wealth of data and insight. Use them to track your visibility in search and monitor how your pages are performing for their primary keyword phrases.
Located in the “Search Traffic” tab of Google Search Console, the Search Analytics report lets you filter down your content to determine how certain pages are performing for specific queries. Utilize these filters to track changes in the amount of search impressions, click through rate, and your average position in the SERPs. As you see positive or negative trends, adjust your on-page strategy to improve your position in the SERPs, drive traffic to your website, and generate inquiries for your sales team.
The ability to track user engagement and search engine visibility for your independent website is a truly awesome advantage for your hotel’s meeting space. Tools like Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and Blue Buzzard allow you to understand your online audience, how they interact with your website, which pdfs they click, and which content does not resonate with your audience. Unlike other meeting marketing channels, your independent website gives you the autonomy to statistically analyze your meetings and events pages, identify which content performs best, and optimize your content strategy to maximize RFP submissions. Additionally, by tracking how your meetings and conventions pages perform in organic search, you can effectively benchmark, audit, and improve your SEO campaign for ongoing and sustainable growth.
This data is invaluable. This data doesn’t lie. Use it to your advantage to drive traffic to your site, increase RFP submissions, and grow your sales and revenue.
Earlier this year, our pal Sean outlined Six SEO Reports to put you on the path to search engine success. Keeping a close eye on the traffic, bounce rates, and conversion rates conversion rates of your meetings and conventions pages allow you to to monitor the growth and success of our meeting marketing campaign.
As you monitor traffic to your website’s meetings and events pages, keep in mind that your target audience will be different than your general hotel traffic and that you should adjust your expectations accordingly. Since far fewer people are looking to book meeting rooms than hotel rooms, significantly fewer people will land on your meetings and events pages than your home page. This totally normal, and you should expect to see this. Additionally, the percentage of total website traffic generated by a site’s meetings pages will vary from case to case based upon the local market, the strength of your SEO campaign, changes in Google’s algorithm, or countless one-off variables.
“So, Donnie Boy, that’s a whole lot of variables,” you may be thinking, “how do I monitor my meetings and events traffic?” Simply, the best way is through year over year comparison. As you build out epic, niche landing pages for specific meeting groups, implement creative content ideas, optimize your meta content, build links, and improve your content you should see YOY growth in traffic. If traffic has declined, dig into your SEO toolbox to identify if the decrease stems from a hiccup in your SEO campaign or a change in Google’s always evolving algorithm.
The ultimate goal of your independent website’s meetings and events pages is to generate qualified leads for your sales team. In Google Analytics, the most effective way to quantify these leads is to track the amount of unique, successful RFP submissions. However, you also need to monitor the amount of visitors that click the “call” button after entering your website through a meeting or event page. While website data cannot tell if the caller requested a proposal or simply asked about the availability kosher catering options, we do know that he or she displayed a certain level of interest in your event space.
As you analyze your conversion data, look at both the total number of RFP submissions as well as the percentage of total visitors submitting RFPs. Both metrics provide valuable insights. The raw number of RFPs is fairly straightforward; the more qualified leads, the better. Ultimately, a YOY increase in RFP submission tells you that you are receiving more lead and that your independent website’s content (and likely SEO) strategy are working.
By tracking the number of RFP submissions on your website, you will have concrete data about your performance of your website. Use this to benchmark the effectiveness of your meeting marketing campaign and constantly tweak your strategy. If you see an increase in RFP submissions and in RFP conversion rates, stay the course. You are doing great work. If you notice a year over year decline in these metrics, you should audit your meetings pages and optimize for conversion. Like I said, the data does not lie.
While it is extremely useful to track your RFP submissions, you should also monitor micro-conversions to further analyze how users interact with your meetings and events pages. Tracking the number of clicks each meeting pdf receives tells you a lot about the people visiting your website.
Each pdf click demonstrates active interest in your meeting space.
Knowing that people are actively reading your floor plans, meeting venues, and planning guides, helps ensure that your RFP submissions will be qualified inquiries from well-informed users.
Analyzing which event pdfs receive the most clicks indicates which content is the most (and least) popular. You can use this to tweak your content strategy accordingly.
Anomalies in the number of pdf clicks versus RFP submissions can indicate problems in your content strategy or the functionality of your RFP form.
Test the functionality of your RFP form.
Determine if the instructions and fields on your form are intuitive and user-friendly.
Check your analytics data for device-specific issues on the RFP page.
Audit the copy, image strategy, and other on-pagel elements of your RFP page.
Look for content on other pages that may have set false expectations for the user.
Now that you have created epic meeting content and optimized your pages for search, your data shows increases in website traffic and RFP submissions. Things are looking good. The data doesn’t lie. But as it turns out, you’ve become a vicious data fiend and want to track your RFP submissions beyond the confines of your independent website. Lucky for you, there’s a fix. The Bluebuzzard Proposal Path tool logs every single inquiry submitted through your independent site, allows you to delegate leads to different members of your sales team, and allows you to assign a revenue value to each actualized lead.
Furthermore, after espousing the notion that your independent website will generate more qualified leads than other meeting marketing channel, we can look to Bluebuzzard to substantiate these claims . After five months of Bluebuzzard data for the Crowne Plaza Denver Airport Convention Center, the overwhelming majority of independent website inquiries have resulted in proposals, site-visits, or actualized revenue. Bluebuzzard’s dashboard makes it clear to see the fruits of your labor and concrete revenue returns on the time and resources that you have invested in your independent website.
Once you’ve officially partnered with Bluebuzzard, your hotel will receive its own unique account.
A Bluebuzzard RFP form is added to the source code of your website.
Once a user fills out your custom fields and submits an inquiry, your designated “lead catcher” receives an email alert. The lead catcher is usually the Director of Sales, but could be anyone at the hotel.
The full inquiry is logged into Bluebuzzard dashboard.
The assigned managers of you hotel’s Bluebuzzard account can assign leads to different members of the sales team.
Members of the sales team follow up with each lead and update the booking status and estimated value of each inquiry as that information becomes available.
With full control over your website’s SEO campaign, content strategy, and user experience, you can reduce your hotel’s reliance upon third party vendors during the sales process. By generating sales inquiries directly from prospective planners, you will mitigate the revenue lost through third party commissions and avoid lost communications with unreliable vendors. While you will not be able eliminate these problems completely, you will be able to better control your bookings and revenue.
For example, third party vendors charge a ten percent commission for every sale made through their website. If a group books 30 rooms for two nights at an ADR of $125, they are walking away with $750 processing fee. Even worse, the third party removes your sales team’s prized, exceptional service and human touch from the process. By committing to a calculated SEO and content campaigns, your independent website competes with the third parties for clicks in the SERPs and provides an exceptional user experience that promotes direct inquiries.
Driving RFP submissions through your independent site also reduces the possibility of lost communications with third party vendors. For example, “If hotel fails to track actualized rooms due to incomplete records, lost or stolen records, or technical failure,” during a HotelPlanner transaction, “then the hotel must pay 10% commission on all requested rooms”. In other words, if for any reason the third party vendor does not properly loop your property into the sale, you not only lose the revenue, but are charged a 10% fee for their mistake. By promoting in-house inquiries, your independent website mitigates some of the potential horror stories caused by third party blunders and let’s your talented team do what they do best.
Your hotel’s website is powerful and valuable tool for generating sales opportunities. With the freedom to customize the user experience, define your company’s personality, and create unique and engaging content, your independent website will set you apart from your competitors and provide a direct and user-friendly channel to drive inquiries. By thoroughly, compellingly, and accurately telling your venue’s story, you will see a notable increase in the quality of your RFPs; integrating Bluebuzzard Proposal Path into your group marketing arsenal will let you know how great these leads are. Your independent website also opens the door to the world of data analysis. Insights from tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console will inform you exactly how people interact with your website and how you can improve your existing campaign.
You have the tools. You have the talent. Go show off your awesome meeting space. It’ll make your sales team happy.
Don’t have an independent site? Get in touch with our Design and Development team. We’d love to chat. | 2019-04-22T04:37:30Z | https://www.bluemagnetinteractive.com/blog/generate-more-leads-hotel-event-space-marketing/ |
Green fluorescent proteins (GFPs) and variants thereof are widely used to study protein localization and dynamics. We engineered a specific binder for fluorescent proteins based on a 13-kDa GFP binding fragment derived from a llama single chain antibody. This GFP-binding protein (GBP) can easily be produced in bacteria and coupled to a monovalent matrix. The GBP allows a fast and efficient (one-step) isolation of GFP fusion proteins and their interacting factors for biochemical analyses including mass spectroscopy and enzyme activity measurements. Moreover GBP is also suitable for chromatin immunoprecipitations from cells expressing fluorescent DNA-binding proteins. Most importantly, GBP can be fused with cellular proteins to ectopically recruit GFP fusion proteins allowing targeted manipulation of cellular structures and processes in living cells. Because of the high affinity capture of GFP fusion proteins in vitro and in vivo and a size in the lower nanometer range we refer to the immobilized GFP-binding protein as GFP-nanotrap. This versatile GFP-nanotrap enables a unique combination of microscopic, biochemical, and functional analyses with one and the same protein.
After the identification of most components of the cell, further insights into their regulation and function require information on their abundance, localization, and dynamic interactions. Green fluorescent proteins (GFPs)1 and spectral variants thereof became popular tools to determine protein localization and, in combination with fluorescence photobleaching techniques, provided unique information on protein dynamics in living cells (1–4). Necessary additional information on DNA binding, enzymatic activity, and complex formation can be obtained with various methods including chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and affinity purification (5, 6). These methods, however, are hampered by the limited availability of specific antibodies. Those limitations are often bypassed by fusing the protein of interest to specific epitope or protein tags including hemagglutinin, c-Myc, FLAG, or GST (7, 8). Curiously GFP, the most widely used labeling tag in cell biology, is rarely used for biochemical analyses, although various mono- and polyclonal antibodies have been described (9, 10). This may be due in part to limited availability and specificity as well as co-eluted heavy and light antibody chains that interfere with subsequent analyses. An alternative to conventional antibodies are variable single domain antibody fragments, also referred to as VHH, derived from heavy chain antibodies of Camelidae (11). These VHHs, which present the smallest intact antigen-binding units with a molecular mass of about ∼15 kDa are highly soluble and stable and can be efficiently produced in heterologous systems (12, 13). VHH fragments have been used like conventional antibodies for various immunological applications (14–16).
Here we describe a novel application of a 13-kDa GFP binding fragment derived from a llama single chain antibody (17). This GFP-binding protein (GBP) has a small (2.5 × 4.5-nm) barrel-shaped structure and can easily be produced in bacteria. We immobilized the GBP to generate a GFP-nanotrap, which enables a fast and efficient isolation of GFP fusion proteins and their interacting factors for biochemical and ChIP analyses. Moreover we demonstrated that the GFP-binding protein can be fused with structural proteins to ectopically recruit GFP fusion proteins and interacting factors at defined regions in living cells.
Llama immunization, VHH library construction, and selection of the GBP were described previously (17). The coding sequence of the GFP-binding VHH domain was cloned into the pHEN6 (18) vector using the NcoI and NotI restriction sites adding a C-terminal histidine (His6) tag, and chemically competent Escherichia coli BL21 cells were transformed. For expression and purification a 500-ml E. coli culture was induced with 1 mm isopropyl β-d-1-thiogalactopyranoside for 20 h at room temperature. Bacterial cells were harvested by centrifugation (10 min at 5000 × g), and the pellet was resuspended in 10 ml of binding buffer (1× PBS, pH 8.0, 0.5 m NaCl, 20 mm imidazole, 1 mm PMSF, 10 μg/μl lysozyme). The cell suspension was incubated for 1 h at 4 °C in a rotary shaker and then sonified (6 × 10-s pulse) on ice. After centrifugation (20 min at 20,000 × g) soluble proteins were loaded on a preequilibrated 1-ml HiTrap column (GE Healthcare) and purified. The His-tagged GBP was eluted by a linear gradient ranging from 20 to 500 mm imidazole. Elution fractions containing the GBP were pooled and dialyzed into PBS. Protein concentration was adjusted to 1 μg/μl. The yield of purified GBP/liter of bacterial culture was in the range of 10–15 mg.
For bacterial expression and purification of GFP we used the bacterial expression plasmid pRSet5D containing the GFP coding sequence with a C-terminal His6 tag kindly provided by B. Steipe. For mammalian cells we used the following expression vectors encoding different fluorescent fusion proteins: pEGFP-C1, pEYFP-C1, pECFP-C1, GFP-β-actin (all from Clontech), GFP-Lamin B1 (19), GFP-PCNA (20), mRFP-PCNA, GFP-Dnmt1, and GFP-Dnmt1(P1229W) (21). We also used mammalian expression vectors containing cDNAs coding for mRFP1 (22), mCherry, or mOrange (23) kindly provided by R. Tsien. Overlap extension PCR was performed to construct the CFP I147N and the CFP T154M using mutagenic primers CFP-I147N-FW (5′-GAGTACAACTACAACAGCCACAACGTCTATA-3′) in combination with CFP-I147N-Rev (5′-AACGTCTATATCATGGCCGACAAGCAG-3′) and CFP-T154M-FW (5′-AACGTCTATATCATGGCCGACAAGCAG-3′) in combination with CFP-T154M-Rev (5′-CTGCTTGTCGGCCATGATATAGACGTT-3′), respectively, and the flanking primer CFP FW (5′-GATCCGCTAGCGCTACCGGTCGCCACCATG-3′) and CFP-Rev (5′-AACGTCTATATCATGGCCGACAAGCAG-3′). The PCR fragment was cloned into the NheI/BsrGI site of the pECFP-C1 vector. For GBP-Lamin B1, the Lamin B1 was amplified from GFP-Lamin B1 by PCR with primers LaminB1EcoRV#F (5′-CCCCGATATCGGCGACTGCGACCCCC-3′) and LaminB1HisNotI#R (5′-GGGGGCGGCCGCCTAGTGATGGTGATGGTGGTGTTACATAATTGCACAGCTTC-3′). The PCR product was purified, digested with EcoRV and NotI, and ligated into the EcoRV/NotI sites of the GFP chromobody vector. All resulting constructs were sequenced and tested for expression in HEK 293T cells followed by Western blot analysis.
For immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting a mixture of two anti-GFP monoclonal antibodies (clones 7.1 and 13.1) from Roche Diagnostics and an affinity-purified polyclonal anti-GFP antibody raised in rabbit (a kind gift from D. Nowak, Berlin, Germany) were used. Precipitated proteins were detected with antibodies against GFP, mRFP, Lamin B (H-90, Santa Cruz Biotechnologies), β-actin (monoclonal anti-β-actin, Sigma), and PCNA (monoclonal anti-PCNA, clone 16D10). Promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) bodies were detected with a monoclonal anti-PML antibody (5E10).
1 × 106–1 × 107 HeLa, HeLa H2B-GFP, or HEK 293T cells either mock-treated or transiently transfected with expression vectors coding for GFP, YFP, CFP, mRFP, mCherry, mOrange, GFP-β-actin, GFP-Lamin B1, GFP-PCNA, or GFP-Dnmt1 were homogenized in 200 μl of lysis buffer (20 mm Tris/HCl, pH 7.5, 150 mm NaCl, 0.5 mm EDTA, 2 mm PMSF, 0.5% Nonidet P-40). For extraction of GFP-Lamin B1 or H2B-GFP the lysis buffer was modified by adding 0.5 m NaCl, 1 μg of DNase I, 5 mm MgCl2, and 0.1% SDS. After a centrifugation step (10 min at 20,000 × g at 4 °C) the supernatant was adjusted with dilution buffer (20 mm Tris/HCl, pH 7.5, 150 mm NaCl, 0.5 mm EDTA, 2 mm PMSF) to 1 ml. 20 μl (2%) were added to SDS-containing sample buffer (referred to as input). 1 μg of purified GBP or 2 μg of anti-GFP antibodies were added and incubated for 5–60 min on an end-over-end rotor at 4 °C. For pulldown of immunocomplexes 25 μl of an equilibrated mixture of protein A/G-Sepharose (Amersham Biosciences) were added, and incubation continued for 60 min. After a centrifugation step (2 min at 5000 × g at 4 °C) supernatant was removed, and 2% was used for SDS-PAGE (referred to as flow-through). The bead pellet was washed two times in 1 ml of dilution buffer containing 300 mm NaCl. After the last washing step the beads were resuspended in 2× SDS-containing sample buffer and boiled for 10 min at 95 °C.
1 mg of purified GBP was covalently coupled to 1 ml of N-hydroxysuccinimide-Sepharose (GE Healthcare), according to the manufacturer's instructions, generating the GFP-nanotrap. Subsequently 50 μl of the GFP-nanotrap was transferred to a 1-ml column (MoBiTec) and preequilibrated with 5 ml of dilution buffer. Protein extracts of GFP-producing cells were prepared as described above, and the soluble protein fraction was loaded onto the column. The protein solution (1 ml) passed through the column at 100–200 μl/min flow rate. Subsequently the column material was washed (two times) with 1 ml of dilution buffer containing 300 mm NaCl, and bound proteins were eluted with 100 μl 0.1 m glycine, pH 3.2. 2% of the input and flow-through and 10% of bound material were resuspended in 2× SDS-containing sample buffer and analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Coomassie Blue and by immunostaining.
Soluble protein extracts of HEK 293T cells producing GFP-Dnmt1 or GFP-Dnmt1(P1229W) were prepared, and immunoprecipitation was performed as described above. Beads containing the GBP-GFP-Dnmt1 complexes were washed extensively in dilution buffer containing 300 mm NaCl, and after centrifugation the beads were resuspended in 500 μl of assay buffer (100 mm KCl, 10 mm Tris, pH 7.6, 1 mm EDTA, 1 mm DTT). Beads were washed (two times) in assay buffer, and after centrifugation (1000 × g for 1 min) 30 μl of methylation mixture (0.1 μCi of S-[3H]adenosylmethionine (Amersham Biosciences), 1.67 pmol/μl hemimethylated double-stranded 35-bp DNA (50 pmol/μl), 160 ng/μl BSA) were added. As a positive control 2 μg of recombinant purified DNA methyltransferase I (DNMT1) was used. Incubation was carried out for 2.5 h at 37 °C, and the reactions were spotted onto DE81 cellulose filters. Subsequently filters were washed (three times) with 0.2 m (NH4)HCO3, once with H2O, and once with 100% EtOH. After drying at 80 °C the filter was transferred into a Mini-Poly-Q vial with 5 ml of Ultima Gold LSC Mixture (PerkinElmer Life Sciences), and each sample was measured for 1 min in a scintillation counter (Beckman LS1801). A sample without enzyme addition was used as negative control.
For chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments, formaldehyde was diluted to 1% in serum-free medium, and 15 ml were added to monolayers of C2C12 and C2C12/HMGA1a-GFP cells for 10 min at room temperature. The cross-link was stopped by adding 1.5 ml of 1.25 m glycine. After removal of the medium, cells were washed (two times) on plates with cold 1× PBS, scraped off, and washed again in cold 1× PBS and once with hypotonic LSB buffer (10 mm Hepes, pH 7.9, 10 mm KCl, 1.5 mm MgCl2). Cells were resuspended in 2.7 ml of LSB buffer and lysed by adding 300 μl of 20% Sarkosyl. The chromatin was carefully layered onto a 40-ml sucrose cushion (LSB buffer plus 100 mm sucrose) and centrifuged (10 min at 4 °C at 4000 × g). Supernatant was removed, and the chromatin was resuspended in 2 ml of TE (10 mm Tris, 0.5 mm EDTA, pH 8.0) and sonicated (Branson sonifier 250-D, 35% amplitude, 2 min in 1-s intervals). For each immunoprecipitation, 500 μg of the nucleoprotein were adjusted with volume of 1× NET (50 mm Tris, 150 mm NaCl, 0.5 m EDTA, 0.5% Nonidet P-40). 10 μg of two anti-GFP monoclonal antibodies (clones 7.1 and 13.1; Roche Diagnostics), a mouse IgG1 isotype control, and 5 μg of GFP-nanotrap were incubated overnight at 4 °C. The purification of co-precipitated DNA was performed as described above. Real time PCR was performed with the Light Cycler instrument (Roche Diagnostics) using a ready-to-use “hot start” reaction mixture (FastStart DNA Master SYBR Green I; Roche Diagnostics). Real time PCR analysis was performed according to the manufacturer's instructions using the same parameters as described previously (24). The list of primer pairs is given in supplemental Table 1.
Ideally the subcellular localization and binding dynamics of fluorescent fusion proteins should be complemented with biochemical data on interacting factors, enzymatic activity, and DNA binding properties (Fig. 1). To generate a nanotrap for fast and efficient purification of GFP fusion proteins we used a small recombinant 13-kDa GBP comprising the epitope recognition domain of a heavy chain antibody raised in an alpaca (Lama pacos) against GFP (17). The GBP was fused with a C-terminal histidine (His6) tag, produced in E. coli, and purified by IMAC (supplemental Fig. S1A). Subsequent gel filtration analysis showed a single elution peak at about 13 kDa indicating that the GBP can easily be produced and purified as a stable monomer (supplemental Fig. S1B). For a first functional analysis we tested the binding capacity of the GBP to purified GFP. Equimolar amounts of both proteins were mixed and incubated for about 20 min. Subsequent gel filtration analysis showed that the GBP and its antigen rapidly assemble into a stable, stoichiometric complex with a corresponding native molecular mass of 41 kDa (supplemental Fig. S2). We then tested the ability of GBP to precipitate its antigen from cell extracts and directly compared its performance with mono- and polyclonal anti-GFP antibodies. GBP and anti-GFP antibodies were added to protein extracts of HEK 293T cells expressing GFP. Precipitated proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE and visualized by Coomassie Blue or immunoblot analysis (Fig. 2A). After precipitation with GBP only two protein bands (GFP at ∼28 kDa and the GBP itself at ∼13 kDa) were detectable, whereas additional bands corresponding to the light and heavy chains of the denatured IgGs as well as unspecifically precipitated proteins could be observed in immunoprecipitations with the mono- and polyclonal anti-GFP antibodies. The quantitative comparison of precipitated GFP in relation to antibody input showed that the GBP is clearly more efficient than established mono- and polyclonal antibodies (Fig. 2A and supplemental Fig. S3).
Outline of possible GFP fusion protein applications with the GFP-nanotrap.FRAP, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching; FRET, fluorescence resonance energy transfer.
One-step purification of fluorescent proteins.A, immunoprecipitation of GFP. Left panel, comparison of GBP with mono- and polyclonal anti-GFP antibodies. Protein extracts of GFP-producing HEK 293T cells were subjected to immunoprecipitation with GBP, mono-, or polyclonal anti-GFP antibodies. Throughout (A–C) aliquots of input (I), flow-through (FT), and bound fraction (B) were separated by SDS-PAGE and visualized either by Coomassie Blue (top) or by immunoblot analysis (bottom). Precipitated GFP, denatured heavy (hc) and light chains (lc) of the IgGs, and the GBP are marked by arrows. Right panel, column-based purification with the GFP-nanotrap. GFP-containing protein extracts were loaded on a column containing GBP directly coupled to Sepharose (GFP-nanotrap), and bound proteins were eluted. B, one-step purification of GFP fusion proteins with the GFP-nanotrap. Representative images of HeLa cells producing GFP-β-actin, GFP-Lamin B1, GFP-PCNA, or H2B-GFP are shown (upper panel). Cells were lysed, and GFP fusion proteins were one-step purified with the GFP-nanotrap. C, co-precipitation of GFP fusion proteins and interacting factors. HeLa cells coexpressing either GFP-Dnmt1 or a deletion mutant of Dnmt1 (GFP-Dnmt1Δ-PBD) together with the red fluorescent version of PCNA (mRFP-PCNA) were analyzed by live cell microscopy. Representative confocal images of two cells in early-to-mid S phase are shown (scale bar, 5 μm). Subsequently cells were lysed and subjected to immunoprecipitation with the GFP-nanotrap. wt, wild type.
Conveniently GBP complexes can be immobilized and precipitated with protein A-agarose just like conventional antibodies (Fig. 2A, left panel). However, to prevent elution of the GBP itself and to avoid any interference with subsequent analyses we covalently coupled GBP to N-hydroxysuccinimide-Sepharose beads generating a stable GFP-binding matrix (GFP-nanotrap). This GFP-nanotrap allowed a very fast (5-min) column-based purification of GFP from total cell extracts yielding a single protein band without any visible unspecific protein contamination (Fig. 2B, right panel). Moreover the immunoblotting analysis revealed a quantitative precipitation of the antigen visible as depletion of GFP from the flow-through fraction.
To analyze the specificity of GBP we performed immunoprecipitation with a set of different fluorescent proteins. Besides GFP itself, GBP recognizes the yellow variant YFP but not CFP or any derivatives of DsRed like mRFP, mCherry, or mOrange (supplemental Fig. S4). To further characterize the binding properties of GBP we tested different salt, temperature, and pH conditions. First, we increased the NaCl molarity of the binding buffer from 0.15 to 2 m and found that GBP precipitates its antigen even under high salt conditions (supplemental Fig. S5A). Second, we tested different incubation temperatures and observed quantitative precipitation of GFP even at 65 °C (supplemental Fig. S5B) demonstrating the temperature-stable folding and binding of GBP. Third, we tested the elution of bound epitope at different pH conditions. GFP was stably bound in the range from pH 4 up to pH 11. Lowering the pH to 3.2 caused quantitative release of GFP providing a fast and efficient method to elute bound antigen complexes from the GFP-nanotrap (supplemental Fig. S5C).
To investigate whether GBP also precipitates GFP fusion proteins we chose four well characterized constructs from different subcellular compartments: GFP-β-actin (25), GFP-Lamin B1 (26), GFP-PCNA (20), and H2B-GFP (27). Cells transiently or stably expressing the fusion proteins were analyzed by confocal microscopy to determine the subcellular localization of the GFP fusion protein (Fig. 2B, upper panel). Subsequently cells were harvested, and GFP fusion proteins were precipitated with the GFP-nanotrap followed by Coomassie staining and Western blot analysis (Fig. 2B, lower panel). The results show that GBP efficiently precipitated N- or C-terminal GFP fusion proteins from different subcellular compartments and structures.
One of the most interesting applications of the GBP is the possibility to correlate subcellular localization, dynamics, and complex formation of specific proteins and mutants thereof. We had previously identified a deletion mutant of Dnmt1 lacking the PCNA interaction domain (Dnmt1Δ-PBD) (28). In comparison with wild-type Dnmt1 (GFP-Dnmt1) the fluorescent labeled mutant (GFP-Dnmt1Δ-PBD) showed no colocalization with the red fluorescent PCNA (mRFP-PCNA) during S phase (Fig. 2C, upper panel). We then compared this observation from living cells with biochemical data. Cells were lysed immediately after microscopic analysis and subjected to immunoprecipitation with the GFP-nanotrap. Immunoblot analysis showed that mRFP-PCNA co-precipitates with GFP-Dnmt1 but not with GFP-Dnmt1Δ-PBD (Fig. 2C, lower panel). The unbound mRFP-PCNA fraction reflects the transient nature of the Dnmt1-PCNA interaction during S phase (21). In addition, we also detected endogenous PCNA co-precipitating with GFP-Dnmt1 but not with GFP-Dnmt1Δ-PBD, demonstrating that GBP can also pick up interacting endogenous proteins. These results show that the GFP-nanotrap is suitable to identify (even) transiently interacting factors and cell cycle-dependent complexes. Taking advantage of its avid and specific binding we now routinely use the GFP-nanotrap to identify interacting factors by MALDI mass spectrometry.
A critical question in live cell studies is whether the fluorescent fusion proteins are enzymatically active and have biochemical properties similar to their endogenous counterparts. For fast determination of enzymatic activity we chose fluorescent fusion constructs of the murine Dnmt1, which are actively investigated in our laboratory. With live cell microscopy we could not distinguish the active GFP-Dnmt1 (wild type) and an enzymatically inactive version, GFP-Dnmt1(P1229W) (Fig. 3, upper panel). After visualization of the fluorescent Dnmt1 constructs in nuclei of mammalian cells both proteins were one-step purified from cell extracts with the GFP-nanotrap (Fig. 3, middle panel) and directly assayed for enzymatic measurements. GFP-Dnmt1 showed a specific DNA methyltransferase activity similar to that of purified recombinant DNMT1 (Fig. 3, lower panel). The comparison with the catalytically inactive GFP-Dnmt1(P1229W) revealed that the endogenous DNA methyltransferase activities of mammalian cells were efficiently removed by this quick one-step purification. These results demonstrate that the GFP-nanotrap is a highly efficient tool for quick and reliable biochemical characterization of fluorescent fusion proteins.
GFP fusion proteins retain their enzymatic activity after purification with the GFP-nanotrap. Representative images of nuclei from HeLa cells show the endogenous Dnmt1, GFP-Dnmt1, or catalytically inactive mutant GFP-Dnmt1(P1229W) (top). Soluble protein extracts containing GFP-Dnmt1 or GFP-Dnmt1(P1229W) were one step-purified with the GFP-nanotrap and analyzed by SDS-PAGE followed by Coomassie Blue staining (middle). DNA methyltransferase activity of purified GFP fusion proteins (∼4 μg each) and recombinant DNMT1 (∼2 μg) were determined (bottom). n = 4; error bars show standard deviation.
To investigate whether the GFP-nanotrap has the required specificity to function in chromatin immunoprecipitations we performed ChIP experiments using a mouse myoblast cell line stably expressing a GFP fusion of the high mobility group protein A1a (HMGA1a-GFP).2 We analyzed the promoter regions of the Interleukin 6 and Igf-binding protein 1 genes that are known to preferentially bind HMGA1a (29–32). 500 μg of formaldehyde-cross-linked nucleoprotein were subjected to immunoprecipitation with the GFP-nanotrap and compared with commercially available GFP-specific antibodies. Only the GFP-nanotrap showed a reproducible 3-fold enrichment of promoter fragments over distal sites. This preferential binding of HMGA1a-GFP at the specific promoter sites was not detectable with conventional GFP-specific antibodies (Fig. 4). The parental C2C12 cells not expressing HMGA1a-GFP showed no specific enrichment of any sequences in comparison with the isotype control (data not shown). These data confirm the high specificity and sensitivity of the GFP-nanotrap.
ChIP analysis with the GFP-nanotrap. For ChIP experiments, 500 μg of C2C12/HMGA1a-GFP cells were subjected to immunoprecipitation using 5 μg of GFP-nanotrap, 10 μg of anti-GFP antibody (monoclonal), and 10 μg of mouse IgG1 isotype control, respectively. Co-precipitated DNA was quantified by real time PCR analysis using primer pairs of the IgfBP1 and Il6 promoter regions and indicated downstream regions (distal region 1/2). Results obtained for the Interleukin 6 and IgfBP1 promotor are shown in dark gray. Column heights indicate the relative enrichment obtained in two independent experiments as the difference between PCR values obtained with the GFP-nanotrap and anti-GFP antibodies over mouse IgG1 isotype control antibodies.
These experiments show in vitro applications of the GFP-binding protein. In a second step we explored potential in vivo applications and placed the coding region of the GFP-binding protein at a defined position within the cell by fusing it to a structural component of the nuclear envelope. We fused the GBP with Lamin B1 (GBP-Lamin B1) to generate a cellular nanotrap at the nuclear lamina. As described above, GBP efficiently recognized and bound YFP but not the blue variant CFP in vitro (supplemental Fig. S4). To compare these biochemical data with binding specificity in living cells we transfected HeLa cells with GBP-Lamin B1, GFP, and CFP and determined the distribution of GFP and CFP with respect to the GFP-nanotrap positioned at the nuclear lamina. Confocal microscopy showed that only GFP was exclusively localized at the nuclear lamina, whereas CFP showed a strikingly different, disperse distribution throughout the cell (Fig. 5A). Sequence alignment of GFP, YFP, and CFP showed that CFP differs from the two other fluorescent proteins at two relevant amino acid positions (Fig. 5B). To define the epitope recognized by GBP we introduced single mutations reverting stepwise CFP to GFP. We found that the exchange of isoleucine at position 147 to asparagine (I147N) restored binding to the GFP-nanotrap, whereas mutating methionine at position 154 to a tryptophan (T154M) did not restore any detectable binding (Fig. 5C). This demonstrates the high selectivity and specificity of the GBP in vitro and in vivo even allowing detection of single amino acid substitutions. Finally we analyzed whether the GFP-nanotrap can be used to manipulate endogenous factors and cellular structures. As a target we chose the endogenous PML. The PML is organized in nuclear PML bodies, which play a role in regulation of gene expression, apoptosis, DNA repair, and proteolysis (33, 34). We could detect 10–30 PML bodies by immunofluorescence staining of PML in HeLa cells where PML bodies are evenly distributed throughout the nucleus (data not shown). In transiently transfected cells PML bodies are highlighted by the green fluorescence of the GFP-PML (35) fusion protein and immunostaining with a specific antibody against PML (Fig. 6A). Upon expression of GBP-Lamin B1 green fluorescent labeled PML bodies were exclusively found at the nuclear rim, and subsequent antibody staining confirmed the depletion of endogenous PML from the nuclear interior (Fig. 6B). These results demonstrate the potential of the GFP-nanotrap not only to recruit GFP fusion proteins but also interacting endogenous factors.
Specificity of the GFP-nanotrap.A, in HeLa cells expressing GFP, CFP, and GBP-Lamin B1 GFP is exclusively localized at the nuclear lamina, whereas CFP is dispersedly distributed. B, amino acid sequence alignment of GFP, CFP, CFP I147N, and CFP T154M. Non-conserved residues are marked in red. The crystal structure of GFP (36) is shown, and the asparagine at position 147 is displayed as a blue sphere using PyMOL Version 0.99 (DeLano Scientific LLC). C, soluble protein extracts of HEK 293T cells expressing GFP, CFP, CFP I147N, and CFP T154M were subjected to one-step purification with the GFP-nanotrap. Input (I) and bound fractions (B) were separated by SDS-PAGE and analyzed by Coomassie Blue staining and by immunoblotting with anti-GFP antibody.
Targeted manipulation of nuclear structures with the GFP-nanotrap. HeLa cells producing GFP-PML either alone or in combination with GBP-Lamin B1 are shown. Illustrating outlines are shown on the left. A, GFP-PML is assembled into endogenous PML bodies shown by immunofluorescence staining with an anti-PML antibody. B, coexpression of the GBP-Lamin B1 together with GFP-PML leads to a depletion of PML bodies from the nuclear interior shown by the absence of PML bodies in the nuclear interior after immunostaining with an anti-PML antibody.
One challenge of the postgenomics era is the effective integration of genetic, biochemical, and cell biological data. This integration has in part been impeded by the simple fact that different protein tags are used for different applications. Here we present a GBP as a simple, robust, and versatile tool for biochemical analyses of GFP fusion proteins and even functional studies in vivo. The small and stable GBP has several decisive advantages over the conventional, 10 times larger, mono- and polyclonal antibodies. First, the GBP can be produced in bacteria in unlimited quantities and with reproducible quality and can easily be coupled to beads or matrices. Second, the high affinity of single chain GBP allows short (5–30-min) incubations to isolate fluorescent fusion proteins and even transiently bound factors from different cellular compartments. Third, its small size of about 13 kDa minimizes unspecific binding and entirely avoids contamination by heavy and light chains of conventional antibodies (50 and 25 kDa) that normally interfere with subsequent analyses.
The specificity of the GFP-nanotrap was further underlined by ChIP experiments with stable cells expressing a HMGA1a-GFP fusion. Analyzing DNA binding at two gene loci with the GFP-nanotrap we detected a preferential binding of HMGA1a at the promoter regions that was far less evident with established anti-GFP antibodies.
In conclusion, this versatile GFP-nanotrap together with the widespread use of fluorescent fusion proteins now enables a fast and direct correlation of the subcellular localization and mobility of fluorescent fusion proteins with their enzymatic activity, interacting factors, and DNA binding properties combining cell biology and biochemistry with mutual benefits. Unlike conventional antibodies, the GFP-nanotrap can also be used for functional studies in vivo. We demonstrated that GBP can be fused with cellular proteins to set a GFP-nanotrap at a defined subcellular site to either ectopically recruit GFP fusion proteins and their associated factors or deplete them from their native surroundings. In one example we anchored the GBP at the nuclear lamina to capture nuclear bodies. Multiple other applications are possible because any GFP fusion protein can be combined with any cellular anchor point. The use of GBP as a nanotrap in living cells opens up an entire spectrum of new types of functional studies to probe and manipulate cellular processes and structures.
We thank A. Gahl and D. Nowak for excellent technical assistance; A. Jegg, J. Helma, R. Kleinhans, and K. Schmidthals for practical support; G. Längst and K. Dachauer for enzyme activity measurements; and R. Hock for the C2C12 HMGA1a-GFP cell line.
↵ 1 The abbreviations used are: GFP, green fluorescent protein; GBP, GFP-binding protein; ChIP, chromatin immunoprecipitation; VHH, variable domain of heavy chain antibody; HEK, human embryonic kidney; IgG, immunoglobulin G; YFP, enhanced yellow fluorescent protein; CFP, enhanced cyan fluorescent protein; DsRed, Discosoma genus red fluorescent protein; mRFP, monomeric red fluorescent protein; PCNA, proliferating cell nuclear antigen; H2B, histone H2B; Dnmt1, DNA methyltransferase I; PBD, PCNA binding domain; HMGA1a, high mobility group protein A1a; Igf, insulin-like growth factor; PML, promyelocytic leukemia protein.
↵ 2 J. Brocher and R. Hock, manuscript submitted.
↵* This work was supported by the Center for NanoScience, by the Nanosystems Initiative Munich, and by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked “advertisement” in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.
Revision received October 21, 2007. | 2019-04-24T22:07:46Z | https://www.mcponline.org/content/7/2/282?ijkey=c2f384b2c4d849a8af1b2291c3eabfd95fd81cb8&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha |
Not to be confused with Insitu, Inc..
In situ (/ɪn ˈsɪtjuː, - ˈsaɪtjuː, - ˈsiː-/; often not italicized in English) is a Latin phrase that translates literally to "on site" or "in position." It can mean "locally", "on site", "on the premises", or "in place" to describe where an event takes place and is used in many different contexts. For example, in fields such as physics, Geology, chemistry, or biology, in situ may describe the way a measurement is taken, that is, in the same place the phenomenon is occurring without isolating it from other systems or altering the original conditions of the test.
In the aerospace industry, equipment on-board aircraft must be tested in situ, or in place, to confirm everything functions properly as a system. Individually, each piece may work but interference from nearby equipment may create unanticipated problems. Special test equipment is available for this in situ testing.
In archaeology, in situ refers to an artifact that has not been moved from its original place of deposition. In other words, it is stationary, meaning "still." An artifact being in situ is critical to the interpretation of that artifact and, consequently, of the culture which formed it. Once an artifact's 'find-site' has been recorded, the artifact can then be moved for conservation, further interpretation and display. An artifact that is not discovered in situ is considered out of context and as not providing an accurate picture of the associated culture. However, the out of context artifact can provide scientists with an example of types and locations of in situ artifacts yet to be discovered. When excavating a burial site or surface deposit "in situ" refers to cataloging, recording, mapping, photographing human remains in the position they are discovered.
The label in situ indicates only that the object has not been "newly" moved. Thus, an archaeological in situ find may be an object that was historically looted from another place, an item of "booty" of a past war, a traded item, or otherwise of foreign origin. Consequently, the in situ find site may still not reveal its provenance, but with further detective work may help uncover links that otherwise would remain unknown. It is also possible for archaeological layers to be reworked on purpose or by accident (by humans, natural forces or animals). For example, in a Tell mound, where layers are not typically uniform or horizontal, or in land cleared or tilled for farming.
The term in situ is often used to describe ancient sculpture that was carved in place such as the Sphinx or Petra. This distinguishes it from statues that were carved and moved like the Colossi of Memnon, which was moved in ancient times.
In art, in situ refers to a work of art made specifically for a host site, or that a work of art takes into account the site in which it is installed or exhibited. For a more detailed account see: Site-specific art. The term can also refer to a work of art created at the site where it is to be displayed, rather than one created in the artist's studio and then installed elsewhere (e.g., a sculpture carved in situ). In architectural sculpture the term is frequently employed to describe sculpture that is carved on a building, frequently from scaffolds, after the building has been erected. Also commonly used to describe the site specific dance festival “Insitu”. Held in Queens, New York.
A fraction of the globular star clusters in our galaxy, as well as those in other massive galaxies, might have formed in situ. The rest might have been accreted from now defunct dwarf galaxies.
In astronomy, in situ also refers to in situ planet formation, in which planets are hypothesized to have been formed in the orbit that they are currently observed to be in rather than migrating from a different orbit.
In biology and biomedical engineering, in situ means to examine the phenomenon exactly in place where it occurs (i.e., without moving it to some special medium).
In the case of observations or photographs of living animals, it means that the organism was observed (and photographed) in the wild, exactly as it was found and exactly where it was found. This means it was not taken out of the area. The organism had not been moved to another (perhaps more convenient) location such as an aquarium.
This phrase in situ when used in laboratory science such as cell science can mean something intermediate between in vivo and in vitro. For example, examining a cell within a whole organ intact and under perfusion may be in situ investigation. This would not be in vivo as the donor is sacrificed by experimentation, but it would not be the same as working with the cell alone (a common scenario for in vitro experiments).
In vitro was among the first attempts to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze natural occurrences in the lab. Eventually, the limitation of in vitro experimentation was that they were not conducted in natural environments. To compensate for this problem, in vivo experimentation allowed testing to occur in the original organism or environment. To bridge the dichotomy of benefits associated with both methodologies, in situ experimentation allowed the controlled aspects of in vitro to become coalesced with the natural environmental compositions of in vivo experimentation.
In conservation of genetic resources, "in situ conservation" (also "on-site conservation") is the process of protecting an endangered plant or animal species in its natural habitat, as opposed to ex situ conservation (also "off-site conservation").
In chemistry, in situ typically means "in the reaction mixture."
There are numerous situations in which chemical intermediates are synthesized in situ in various processes. This may be done because the species is unstable, and cannot be isolated, or simply out of convenience. Examples of the former include the Corey-Chaykovsky reagent and adrenochrome.
In biomedical engineering, protein nanogels made by the in situ polymerization method provide a versatile platform for storage and release of therapeutic proteins. It has tremendous applications for cancer treatment, vaccination, diagnosis, regenerative medicine, and therapies for loss-of-function genetic diseases.
In chemical engineering, in situ often refers to industrial plant "operations or procedures that are performed in place." For example, aged catalysts in industrial reactors may be regenerated in place (in situ) without being removed from the reactors.
In architecture and building, in situ refers to construction which is carried out at the building site using raw materials. Compare that with prefabricated construction, in which building components are made in a factory and then transported to the building site for assembly. For example, concrete slabs may be in situ (also "cast-in-place") or prefabricated.
In situ techniques are often more labour-intensive, and take longer, but the materials are cheaper, and the work is versatile and adaptable. Prefabricated techniques are usually much quicker, therefore saving money on labour costs, but factory-made parts can be expensive. They are also inflexible, and must often be designed on a grid, with all details fully calculated in advance. Finished units may require special handling due to excessive dimensions.
The phrase may also refer to those assets which are present at or near a project site. In this case, it is used to designate the state of an unmodified sample taken from a given stockpile.
Site construction usually involves grading the existing soil surface so that material is "cut" out of one area and "filled" in another area creating a flat pad on an existing slope. The term "in situ" distinguishes soil still in its existing condition from soil modified (filled) during construction. The differences in the soil properties for supporting building loads, accepting underground utilities, and infiltrating water persist indefinitely.
In computer science an in situ operation is one that occurs without interrupting the normal state of a system. For example, a file backup may be restored over a running system, without needing to take the system down to perform the restore. In the context of a database, a restore would allow the database system to continue to be available to users while a restore happened. An in situ upgrade would allow an operating system, firmware or application to be upgraded while the system was still running, perhaps without the need to reboot it, depending on the sophistication of the system.
Another use of the term in-situ that appears in Computer Science focuses primarily on the use of technology and user interfaces to provide continuous access to situationally relevant information in various locations and contexts. Examples include athletes viewing biometric data on smartwatches to improve their performance, a presenter looking at tips on a smart glass to reduce their speaking rate during a speech, or technicians receiving online and stepwise instructions for repairing an engine.
An algorithm is said to be an in situ algorithm, or in-place algorithm, if the extra amount of memory required to execute the algorithm is O(1), that is, does not exceed a constant no matter how large the input ---except for space for recursive calls on the "call stack." Typically such an algorithm operates on data objects directly in place rather than making copies of them.
For example, heapsort is an in situ sorting algorithm, which sorts the elements of an array in place. Quicksort is an in situ sorting algorithm, but in the worst case it requires linear space on the call stack (this can be reduced to log space). Merge sort is generally not written as an in situ algorithm.
In designing user interfaces, the term in situ means that a particular user action can be performed without going to another window, for example, if a word processor displays an image and allows the image to be edited without launching a separate image editor, this is called in situ editing.
AJAX partial page data updates is another example of in situ in a Web UI/UX context. Web 2.0 included AJAX and the concept of asynchronous requests to servers to replace a portion of a web page with new data, without reloading the entire page, as the early HTML model dictated. Arguably, all asynchronous data transfers or any background task is in situ as the normal state is normally unaware of background tasks, usually notified on completion by a callback mechanism.
In Big Data space, in situ data would mean bringing the computation to where data is located, rather than the other way like in traditional RDBMS systems where data is moved to computational space.
In design and advertising the term typically means the superimposing of theoretical design elements onto photographs of real world locations. This is a pre-visualization tool to aid in illustrating a proof of concept.
In physical geography and the Earth sciences, in situ typically describes natural material or processes prior to transport. For example, in situ is used in relation to the distinction between weathering and erosion, the difference being that erosion requires a transport medium (such as wind, ice, or water), whereas weathering occurs in situ. Geochemical processes are also often described as occurring to material in situ.
In the atmospheric sciences, in situ refers to obtained through direct contact with the respective subject, such as a radiosonde measuring a parcel of air or an anemometer measuring wind, as opposed to remote sensing such as weather radar or satellites.
In economics, in situ is used when referring to the in place storage of a product, usually a natural resource. More generally, it refers to any situation where there is no out-of-pocket cost to store the product so that the only storage cost is the opportunity cost of waiting longer to get your money when the product is eventually sold. Examples of in situ storage would be oil and gas wells, all types of mineral and gem mines, stone quarries, timber that has reached an age where it could be harvested, and agricultural products that do not need a physical storage facility such as hay.
In electrochemistry, the phrase in situ refers to performing electrochemical experiments under operating conditions of the electrochemical cell, i.e., under potential control. This is opposed to doing ex situ experiments that are performed under the absence of potential control. Potential control preserves the electrochemical environment essential to maintain the double layer structure intact and the electron transfer reactions occurring at that particular potential in the electrode/electrolyte interphasial region.
In situ can refer to where a clean up or remediation of a polluted site is performed using and simulating the natural processes in the soil, contrary to ex situ where contaminated soil is excavated and cleaned elsewhere, off site.
In experimental physics in situ typically refers to a method of data collection or manipulation of a sample without exposure to an external environment. For example, the Si(111) 7x7 surface reconstruction is visible using a scanning tunneling microscope when it is prepared and analyzed in situ.
In psychology experiments, in situ typically refers to those experiments done in a field setting as opposed to a laboratory setting.
In gastronomy, "in situ" refers to the art of cooking with the different resources that are available at the site of the event. Here a person is not going to the restaurant, but the restaurant comes to the person's home.
In legal contexts, in situ is often used for its literal meaning. For example, in Hong Kong, "in situ land exchange" involves the government exchanging the original or expired lease of a piece of land with a new grant or re-grant with the same piece of land or a portion of that.
In the field of recognition of governments under public international law the term in situ is used to distinguish between an exiled government and a government with effective control over the territory, i.e. the government in situ.
In linguistics, specifically syntax, an element may be said to be in situ if it is pronounced in the position where it is interpreted. For example, questions in languages such as Chinese have in situ wh-elements, with structures comparable to "John bought what?" with what in the same position in the sentence as the grammatical object would be in its affirmative counterpart (for example, "John bought bread"). An example of an English wh-element that is not in situ (see wh-movement): "What did John buy?"
In literature in situ is used to describe a condition. The Rosetta Stone, for example, was originally erected in a courtyard, for public viewing. Most pictures of the famous stone are not in situ pictures of it erected, as it would have been originally. The stone was uncovered as part of building material, within a wall. Its in situ condition today is that it is erected, vertically, on public display at the British Museum in London, England.
In oncology: for a carcinoma, in situ means that malignant cells are present as a tumor but have not metastasized, or invaded, beyond the basement membrane of where the tumor was discovered. This can happen anywhere in the body, such as the skin, breast tissue, or lung. This type of tumor can often, depending on where it is located, be removed by surgery.
In anatomy: in situ refers to viewing structures as they appear in normal healthy bodies. For example, one can open up a cadaver's abdominal cavity and view the liver in situ or one can look at an isolated liver that has been removed from the cadaver's body.
In nursing, "in situ" describes any devices or appliances on the patient's body that remain in their desired and optimal position.
In medical simulation, "in situ" refers to the practice of clinical professionals using high fidelity patient simulators to train for clinical practice in patient care environments, such as wards, operating rooms, and other settings, rather than in dedicated simulation training facilities.
In biomedical, protein nanogels made by the in situ polymerization method provide a versatile platform for storage and release of therapeutic proteins. It has tremendous applications for cancer treatment, vaccination, diagnosis, regenerative medicine, and therapies for loss-of-function genetic diseases.
In situ leaching or in situ recovery refers to the mining technique of injecting water underground to dissolve ore and bringing the uranium-impregnated water to the surface for extraction.
In situ refers to recovery techniques which apply heat or solvents to heavy crude oil or bitumen reservoirs beneath the earth's crust. There are several varieties of in situ techniques, but the ones which work best in the oil sands use heat (steam).
The most common type of in situ petroleum production is referred to as SAGD (steam-assisted gravity drainage) this is becoming very popular in the Alberta Oil Sands.
In radio frequency (RF) transmission systems, in situ is often used to describe the location of various components while the system is in its standard transmission mode, rather than operation in a test mode. For example, if an in situ wattmeter is used in a commercial broadcast transmission system, the wattmeter can accurately measure power while the station is "on air."
Future space exploration or terraforming may rely on obtaining supplies in situ, such as previous plans to power the Orion space vehicle with fuel minable on the moon. The Mars Direct mission concept is based primarily on the in situ fuel production using Sabatier reaction.
In the space sciences, in situ refers to measurements of the particle and field environment that the satellite is embedded in, such as the detection of energetic particles in the solar wind, or magnetic field measurements from a magnetometer.
In urban planning, in-situ upgrading is an approach to and method of upgrading informal settlements.
In vacuum technology, in situ baking refers to heating parts of the vacuum system while they are under vacuum in order to drive off volatile substances that may be absorbed or adsorbed on the walls so they cannot cause outgassing.
The term in situ, used as "repair in situ," means to repair a vehicle at the place where it has a breakdown.
Look up in situ in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
^ Byers, Steven (2011). Introduction to Forensic Anthropology (4th Edition). Upper Saddle Ridge, New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc.
^ Elise A. Friedland; Melanie Grunow Sobocinski (3 February 2015). The Oxford Handbook of Roman Sculpture. Oxford University Press. pp. 113–. ISBN 978-0-19-026687-5.
^ Pamela A. Webb (1996). Hellenistic Architectural Sculpture: Figural Motifs in Western Anatolia and the Aegean Islands. Univ of Wisconsin Press. pp. 65–. ISBN 978-0-299-14980-2.
^ Chiang, E.; Laughlin, G. (1 June 2013). "The Minimum-Mass Extrasolar Nebula: In-Situ Formation of Close-In Super-Earths". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 431 (4): 3444–3455. arXiv:1211.1673. Bibcode:2013MNRAS.431.3444C. doi:10.1093/mnras/stt424. ISSN 0035-8711.
^ a b Ye, Yanqi; Yu, Jicheng; Gu, Zhen (2015). "Versatile Protein Nanogels Prepared by In Situ Polymerization". Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics. 217 (3): 333–343. doi:10.1002/macp.201500296.
^ Ens, Barrett; Irani, Pourang (2017). "Spatial Analytic Interfaces: Spatial User Interfaces for In Situ Visual Analytics". IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications. 37 (2): 66–79. doi:10.1109/MCG.2016.38. PMID 28113834.
^ Willett, Wesley; Jansen, Yvonne; Dragicevic, Pierre (August 2016). "Embedded Data Representations". IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics. 23 (1): 461–470. doi:10.1109/TVCG.2016.2598608. PMID 27875162. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
^ Amini, Fereshteh; Hasan, Khalad; Bunt, Andrea; Irani, Pourang (1 October 2018). "Data representations for in-situ exploration of health and fitness data". Proceedings of the 11th EAI International Conference on Pervasive Computing Technologies for Healthcare. PervasiveHealth. BARCELONA, SPAIN: ACM New York. pp. 163–172.
^ Tanveer, Iftekhar; Lin, Emy; Hoque, Mohammed (2 October 2018). "Rhema: A Real-Time In-Situ Intelligent Interface to Help People with Public Speaking". Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces. IGU. ATLANTA, US: ACM New York. pp. 286–295.
^ Alves, Vladimir (August 2014). "In-Situ Processing Presentation" (PDF).
^ Gillespie, Cailein; Cousins, John A. (2001). European Gastronomy into the 21st Century. Oxford, UK: Elsevier. p. 72. ISBN 978-0-7506-5267-4. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
^ Huchzermeyer, Marie (2009). "The struggle for in situ upgrading of informal settlements: A reflection on cases in Gauteng". Development Southern Africa. 26 (1): 59–74. doi:10.1080/03768350802640099. | 2019-04-25T13:58:58Z | https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-situ |
an oak curiously twisted by the wind.
already oppressed by the sadness of the land round about.
last rays of the setting sun.
“That is where Judas died,” the man replied, crossing himself.
“The Wandering Jew, monsieur,” he added.
one, since Uncle Joseph had known the man.
who lived on public charity.
woman, as he passed her dwelling.
bed of leaves, and her house.
anything else but the Jewess.
bread, sitting in the noon heat under the shadow of some solitary tree.
And the country people began to call the beggar Old Judas.
had given him after he had cured the farmer of some sickness.
always came back to him in the evening.
offer the consolation of his religion and administer the last sacrament.
extending his skinny arms in order to prevent the priest from entering.
that no one took any interest in them.
one knew, moreover, how he had treated the priest.
“There is no doubt about that,” he replied.
knew what hand traced it in that strange color.
gatepost, went in at the gate.
times, but she had always obstinately refused to part with it.
dried up in fact and much bent but as active and untiring as a girl.
And she said no more, while Chicot watched her going on with her work.
fast as their legs would carry them with it in their beak.
will sign a deed before a lawyer making it over to me; after your death.
“I don’t say that I will not agree to it, but I must think about it.
without her doing anything for it, aroused her covetousness.
drunk four jugs of new cider.
told him what she expected for her farm.
“I am certainly not likely to live more than five or six years longer.
I am nearly seventy-three, and far from strong, even considering my age.
barn while she went into the house to get her dinner.
generally lived on a little soup and a crust of bread and butter.
vine-leaf, and he filled two liqueur glasses.
third. She objected, but he persisted.
cutting up the bread for her soup.
her breath; and when he smelt the alcohol he felt pleased.
she was often brought home like a log.
whatever, he way always employed to do it.
dirt, and set to work, complaining incessantly about his occupation.
deafening, as if from some distant forest of monsters.
toward it by an irresistible longing.
sweeping into the street the corks and sand of the establishment.
with the greater astonishment and delight.
away quietly so as not to look as if he were beating a retreat.
on the quay all the agreeable drinks which he could afford.
charmed with her that he wanted to marry her.
up when she had been left on the quay at Havre by an American captain.
had been hidden on board his vessel, he knew not why or by whom.
his discharge, he would start for Tourteville with his sweetheart.
to look at her over the wooden partition which divides the compartments.
he would have done at a review when; he did not know his drill practice.
erect, as if he were escorting a general, he went to meet his family.
cheekbones shone in the sunlight like well-polished shoes.
horse, becoming excited, broke into a gallop for a while.
to assist her, with petticoats tucked up, active in spite of her age.
taking a turn after dinner, Antoine took his father aside.
been, but he felt a tempest of disappointment sweeping over his heart.
road to see the “black” whore young Boitelle had brought home with him.
when the drum beats to draw public attention to some living phenomenon.
companion asked what his parents thought of her.
under the staring eyes, which opened wide in amazement.
as it passed out of sight, his eyes swollen with tears.
fourteen children; but she is not the other one, oh, no--certainly not!
This story was told during the hunting season at the Chateau Baneville.
under the feet, were rotting under the heavy downfalls.
clothes drenched, returned every evening, tired in body and in mind.
which she had often seen, without paying any attention to it.
killed himself for me. That seems strange to you, doesn’t it?
whose glance pierced and moved one, though one could not say why.
captivated with her that he could not live without her for a minute.
invited for the shooting, eloped with the young girl.
morning he was found hanging in the kennels, among his dogs.
“He left a twelve-year-old child and a widow, my mother’s sister.
Bertillon. I was then seventeen.
“You have no idea how wonderful and precocious this Santeze child was.
understand things that were not comprehensible at his age.
the moon lights the woods, and he would press my hand, saying: ‘Look!
child, who loved me madly.
then thought that they had to live up to the renown of their house.
rather, I have lived as a widowed fiancee, his widow.
“I was amused at this childish tenderness, and I even encouraged him.
mothers; and he answered me by passionate letters, which I have kept.
secret. We had forgotten that he was a Santeze.
pensive that I was quite anxious.
that I remember I was in bed, with my mother sitting beside me.
stammered: ‘And what of him, what of him, Gontran?’ There was no answer.
“I did not dare see him again, but I asked for a lock of his blond hair.
fell on her breast and she wept for a long time.
impression he made on me, which will remain with me throughout time.
sullen and foolishly malicious, as they always are in little towns.
They declared that this whimsical Englishman ate nothing but boiled.
savage tastes the man must have!
mustache, which was almost invisible.
and there throughout the world.
semblance of reality that was maddening.
who had been almost drowned and whom I had attempted to rescue.
following day I called upon them.
while the magnificent brow suggested a genius.
by jerks like a broken spring.
grandson, on the maternal side, of the Earl of Ashburnham.
The home of the two friends was pretty and by no means commonplace.
rose-colored shell on a boundless ocean, under a moon with a human face.
snow-white bones could be seen the traces of dried blood.
The food was a riddle which I could not solve. Was it good? Was it bad?
companion for the rest of my days.
madmen from among whom have arisen Poe, Hoffmann and many others.
minds, then Algernon Charles Swinburne is undoubtedly a genius.
are slightly touched by madness.
after he had almost strangled a displeased customer.
he had blasphemed in an assembly of monks.
the matter. An interested party can never give an impartial opinion.
clasped in your arms in that adorable illusion that is so like reality!
senses long after the delight but disillusion of my awakening.
“And three times that night I had the same dream.
such an extent that I was not one second without thinking of her.
that I trembled, and my heart beat rapidly.
mentioned; and suddenly our eyes met in a peculiar fixed gaze.
“What conclusion do you draw from it?” said a voice.
All Veziers-le-Rethel had followed the funeral procession of M.
in the best society of Veziers.
wish was expressed by a notice on the envelope.
partition. That is all I can recall--the beating of my heart!
going--like a vessel in a hurricane.
candle and threw them into the fireplace.
old ashes in the fireplace.
that the destroyed secret might escape from the fireplace.
Parisienne, adored and respected by everyone.
the oak of St. Andrew, and the yew tree of Roqueboise.
“Who is that, the ‘Mother of Monsters’?” I asked.
carry it away with them, paying the mother a compensation.
“She has eleven of this description. She is rich.
telling you the truth, the exact truth.
be the residence of a retired lawyer.
robust peasant woman, half animal, and half woman.
“What do the gentlemen wish?” she asked.
have no luck, no luck!
violent action, and made to utter howls like a wolf.
“We should like to see your little one,” said my friend.
bones. We retreated before her.
She was about to attack us, but we fled, saddened at what we had seen.
“Tell me the story of this brute,” I replied.
breeze that passed over them.
suspected of any frailty. But she went astray, as so many do.
the stalk of a vine, terminated in fingers like the claws of a spider.
Its trunk was tiny, and round as a nut.
and asked to see it, so that if it pleased them they might take it away.
They were pleased, and counted out five hundred francs to the mother.
her price with all a peasant’s persistence.
so as to have an assured income like a bourgeoise.
like lizards. Several died, and she was heartbroken.
continue to produce her freaks.
counting good and bad years, from five to six thousand francs a year.
who come from time to time to see if she has anything new.
men who paid her respect as well as admiration.
all deformed, humpbacked, or crooked; and hideous.
much of me, as if they expected to have great fun at my expense.
and apparently without reason. They must have planned some good joke.
even looked distrustfully at the faces of the servants.
ceiling, the hangings, the floor. I saw nothing to justify suspicion.
the apartment. Nothing. I inspected every article, one after the other.
so as to have nothing to fear from outside.
suspicious-looking. I pulled at the curtains. They seemed to be secure.
in my memory for all the practical jokes of which I ever had experience.
candles, and, groping my way, I slipped under the bed clothes.
and on my chest a burning liquid which made me utter a howl of pain.
fallen down, almost deafened me.
his stomach, spilling my breakfast over my face in spite of himself.
had been trying to avoid.
looking at her with an expression full of respect and tenderness.
said was correct, agreeable to hear; it contained no irritable thought.
confides only in old friends.
and women, whom fate threw in his path.
of my body had been marked out beforehand on this couch.
attitudes, sometimes modest, Sometimes haughty.
would give it life with her pictured gaze.
wrapping in shadows the raging ocean and all the battling elements.
over the horizon like a bird of prey.
remaining alone in the house.
unable to resist these combined forces.
glasses were emptied in rapid succession into their thirsty throats.
deep booming of a breaking wave and the moaning of the wind.
little house. Then a loud creaking announced that he had got into bed.
Mathurin got up like a sailor whose watch is over.
was putting out the light.
on his unsteady drunkard’s legs.
He went instinctively toward his home, just as birds go to their nests.
and tried to put the key in it. Not finding the hole, he began to swear.
moving, a little reason returned to him, the reason of a drunkard.
incomplete ideas, just as his feet stumbled along.
mingling with the fumes of alcohol.
warm body of his wife.
a pulp of flesh and blood.
on women, for lack of something else.
one of those attacks that lead to suicide when they recur too often.
first time that there is no place of amusement in Paris in the evening.
louis that they would get with great difficulty after asking five.
preferred the company and the caresses of this hussy.
the skirt ahead of me.
back. “We shall see,” I said to myself.
thought I again heard some one talking, but in a very low tone.
“You may come in,” she said.
“Make yourself at home, ‘mon chat’,” she said.
“Have you lived here long?” I asked.
asked her about her earlier lovers.
I might, perhaps, discover something sincere and pathetic.
rich of plucking the flower of innocence among the girls of the people.
“Come, go on telling me,” I said.
“Oh, the first time didn’t amount to anything.
M. Alexandre. As soon as he came he did just as he pleased in the house.
know what he was doing. And then he went away on the nine o’clock train.
again by feeling along the wall with their hands.
I had seized the candle and was looking about me, terrified and furious.
large wicker chair off which he had fallen.
“What do you want me to do? I do not earn enough to put him to school!
child to sleep on a chair.
autumn it enters into the soul.
Have you ever slept, my friend, in a grove of orange trees in flower?
hands of fairies and not by those of druggists.
which holds the water of the rain storms.
grasp hold of should they fall in.
edge of one of these large, deep reservoirs.
where the older boy had fallen in as he ran along the stone coping.
struck his head at the bottom of the cistern.
each other’s grasp, contracted as though they were fastened together.
sliding slowly towards the hole.
the other. And they kept on calling, but all in vain.
Evening came on, the still evening with its stars mirrored in the water.
who laid it down on the grass beside him.
other did not come to the surface.
it as he needed the water for his lemon trees.
finger touches his watch pocket.
imperceptible patch on it: Corsica, or, rather, the shadow of Corsica.
more cheerful some other day.
Baroda, in the province of Guzerat, Presidency of Bombay.
of three princes, a nobleman, an interpreter and three servants.
noble relative, the Prince of Baroda, and he set out.
mother, he should yield up his soul, according to the command of Brahma.
beneath the cliff, on the beach, at ebb tide.
by the three physicians who had watched the case and reported the death.
it for a few seconds without completely hiding it.
and made two great black patches in the softly lighted landscape.
far advanced every one went home.
watching for the hour when the little town should be quiet and deserted.
into little bits, and why one should destroy so much good merchandise.
were informed that they might accomplish their part of the work.
out on his back, his outline clearly defined beneath this white veil.
East Indians must always carry with them wherever they go.
distinguished from their clothing in the darkness.
of theirs, who was their guide and counselor in their European travels.
England robed in a gray ulster.
perfectly white but looking gray in the night.
looked like the head-dress of the god.
though some supernatural apparition had risen up before me.
they were going to cremate there.
distance the dancing crest of the waves.
were lost in the sky, mingling with the stars, increasing their number.
the gleam from the funeral pyre and then disappeared in the night.
and the fire started up again more furiously than ever.
drawn nearer to the fire until the smoke and sparks came in our faces.
There was no odor save that of burning pine and petroleum.
home to give utterance to lamentations.
ordinances of their religion. Their dead one rests in peace.
That very night a deputy sent by the government came to hold an inquest.
intelligence and good sense. But what should he say in his report?
they could have carried out their customs.
a wish to disappear in the same manner.
understand love as a trade. That disgusts me somewhat.
and then be immediately withdrawn.
the round of the cheap cafes, like students out for a lark.
might see men fight on her account, even those men, with me!
beside her for the old woman.
questioned her, begged her to tell. At length the woman agreed to do so.
night long on my pillow; I could feel his heart beating, in fact.
at the idea that we should spend an hour together.
out of the window, which was open, for it was summer.
were destroyed, both his eyes!
to it. One would have supposed that he hated me after the occurrence.
body trembled on its iron framework.
Misti. I asked where he was.
things of this life and control human thought.
source and destination are both unknown.
learn nothing by looking at it.
little stone into the current was sufficient to cause these ebullitions.
in spite of myself by this trivial mystery of dementia.
face in a little hand mirror.
her face, then came back, nodding her head in reply to our greeting.
on the right cheek, four on the left cheek, and three on the forehead.
a mark, not a spot, not a sign of one, nor a scar.
him, to my poor child. However, I did my duty, my conscience is at rest.
very much beloved and very much in-love with life.
occupied all her time and all her attention.
children of society beauties. She was, however, very fond of him.
which will be the day of her deliverance.
in her throat shrieks of despair?
Mme. Hermet came morning and evening to inquire how he was.
inquire about prophylactic measures against the contagion of small-pox.
that you could hear her sighing all the evening.
during the afternoon to breathe the air.
sweet, beloved face, the worshiped face of his mother.
the wall and was silent.
bank with an immense wall of verdure.
walked slowly to the river bank in order to read them.
thought to their wound, but thinking only of their misfortunes.
or before a little bottle with a red label.
did not know that the end would be preceded by so much suffering.
still gave forth the fumes of charcoal.
the most sinister. The water flowed under the arches with a low sound.
life, and no one has felt it more than I have.
ceaseless tragedy, or this shameful comedy.
she did not shut us up in prison. Mercy for the despairing!
our illusions cannot even lock.
mysterious fashion on this subject.
where I remarked a large building; very handsome, dainty and attractive.
a jolly, lively, mirthful club.
certainly the most frequented and the most entertaining place in Paris.
poor devils abound. The middle class has also a large contingent.
visited their part of our building once only, and I will never go again.
me, Vichy pastilles in a bonbonniere.
unknown variety at the foot of which was a circular bed of mignonette.
intoxication of a destroying and magic opium. | 2019-04-26T02:49:36Z | http://doctrinepublishing.com/showbook.php?file=82317-0000.txt |
Altcoin Buzz ICO review of MF CHAIN, a smart contract platform with direct commerce integration.
Modern Finance Chain (MFX) is aiming to design a digital economy which allows consumers to purchase goods and services using any cryptocurrency whilst both the consumer and the merchant are rewarded for transacting. They are creating a cost-effective cryptocurrency payment ecosystem which is designed to build value for all parties involved in merchant transactions. In addition to the payment system solution, MF Chains greater vision is creating the MF Mainnet which is an independent blockchain platform that uses a BFT/POS hybrid consensus method. It allows for the development of enterprise level private blockchains, multi-language smart contracts, atomic swap cross-chain transactions, multi-blockchain integration and a verified digital identity system. It will also offer a prebuilt smart contract library, a multi-currency ICO platform to allow projects accept any number of currencies for the token generation event along with an innovation incubator bringing ideas to life.
Craig Neil – CEO – Entrepreneur for 20 years + with a background in Software Development, fintech and blockchain. Multiple start ups including Co founder of Aphelion Token (APH), ThisRoof Real-estate Platform and more. Worked as managing director and CTO in multiple companies.
Jason Rellis – President – Early stage ICO investor/Strategist. Partner in Komorebi Alliance creating utility functions and services for over 10 ICO’s. Experience as head of multi-channel sales operations, regional operation and community management.
Naviin Kapoor – Head of Blockchain Integration Asia & Middle East – Over 12 years experience in project management and business analysis. Worked as team lead for Abu Dhabi Commercial bank, Senior Software Consultant. Consulting advisor of many ICO projects. Degree in Computer Science & Engineering. MBA – Project Management.
Roy Hinkis – Head of Marketing – Over 12 years SEO and digital marketing experience. SEO and Growth Advisor for Walmart, SimilarWeb, Lyft, Trip and more.
Viacheslav Shybaiev – Blockchain Lead – Advisor and blockchain solutions Architect for Opet Foundation. Worked as Technical Advisor, project and product manager throughout Opera Software, Status.im and more. Background in Computer Science and Management/Strategy.
Brian Rankin – VP of Banking Integration (Senior Advisor) – Notably Vice President of Client Services for Ripple in 2015/16. Background in Science and Business. Many senior roles of Director CTO, Senior Engineering Manager for multiple Fintech companies. Director of Partner Solution for SigFig Digital wealth advisory platform.
Bogdan Fiedur – Blockchain Expert Advisor – Top 10 Expert ICO advisors, Blockchain Architect for Bitcare, Advsor to Postia, Cryptolancer, Lucre + more. US blockchain Association Advisor.
The Tech Team is broad and has depth. From the IT side to developers and cryptographers it has the full scope of what seems necessary to develop such a project. We like to see blockchain experience in projects and this team has a mix of different blockchain/ICO members.
There seems to be good depth and capacity to excel in building of the technology with the only negatives we don’t really like is the fact that certain workers are still working at other jobs in significant roles which leads to the thought that not full effort and attention is on MFChain along with the head Blockchain leads seems to have more experience in project management rather than product management.
The roles for the management and team are a bit ill defined. Looking at the management and business side of things there is a Experience in start-ups and Project management however this aspect of the team seems to lack depth. There is only one marketing Team member listed along with not a whole lot of experience in gaining adoption of the technology leading to a potential struggle of execution and adoption. It would be nice to see an addition of a few more marketing members, Advisors who are business based and more experience regarding Amex, PayPal – real world payment methods. The addition or Ripples Client Services VP is a good start!
Overall the tech team looks strong for developing the project however it seems they may struggle with execution on the business side which is very important for such a project.
The MF Chain Payment solution is solving mainly the fees and numerous merchant risks and complications associated with credit cards that result in those costs being passed on to the customer such as 1.5%-3% fees per transaction not including any payment gateway or credit card processing fees, Charge backs and fraud.
A much larger problem they are solving for is the isolated and segmented blockchain space. Projects launching do not have an easy method to run a live token generation event that accepts multiple cryptocurrencies. They are trying to solve this and provide a rewards program for both merchants and consumers.
In addition to the solution to the merchant systems and token generation events MF Chain is implementing a project Incubator to bring ideas to life!
The global payment market is expected to be a $1 Trillion market by 2019. With a growing consumer preference for digital payment systems and use of mobile devices to pay for goods and services along with E-Commerce sales increasing rapidly – there is a large market to compete for.
The competition within the cryptocurrency space is quite large. Direct competitors include Utrust, Dash and PundiX. In comparison to their competitors MFChain have an independent blockchain, smart contract platform, ICO platform, Incentivised Masternodes, Multi-Blockchain integration, Multi Currency payments. Consumer and Merchant Rewards differentiating factors. MF Chain pays merchants for accepting cryptocurrency and rewards consumers for making purchases with MFX tokens. Coinbase, Bitpay and others dominate the cryptocurrency payment market however with such a large market share there is room for competition.
Outside of cryptocurrency there is major competition. The obvious competitors being Visa, MasterCard, AmEx, PayPal, Apple Pay. The differentiating factors between the blockchain based solutions and current payment methods mainly stem down to the high transaction and processing fees, Chargebacks and fraud/lack of security.
This industry is highly regulated by governments and monopolized by banks and current payment solutions such as PayPal, Amex etc. The compliance and legal strategy must be stringent and constantly changing to meet the requirements. The ICO timing during bearish trend is problematic for such projects with the main aim adoption and usage of the platform which has stiffened in recent the recent lack of confidence and volatility. The gaining of trust of people to utilize cryptocurrency as a method of payment both consumers and merchants will be the largest hurdle for the project along with the maturity of cryptocurrency to reduce the volatility of cryptocurrency and its impact on the effectiveness in merchant payment systems.
The Technical Whitepaper for the MF Mainnet is to be released Q42018. The current Whitepaper is accessible and easy to read. It is Structured, explains the Project, Technology, competition, alternative solutions, market statistics. However, it does not really provide solutions or explain the blockchain technology and how it will all be built in depth obviously the tech whitepaper will include these details. You can read the whitepaper here.
Partners include Shapeshift, DDEX, Identity Mind, Tokensuite, Chosen Payments, Ingot Coin, Loopring, Komorebi Alliance, EduHash and more. MF Chain has recently entered the Global Rewards and loyalty industry through partnership with Zagg Protocol in which they will penetrate the over 2.5m users of Zaggle. They have also partnered with Credits which can also lead to the greater reach of the MF Chain platform and increase the likelyhood of expansion. The parent company Mammoth project LTD will be taking role within MFchain leading all business and operational tasks within.
The project is in a very cryptocurrency friendly location which is a good backbone to any project. The Idea seems quite broad, not specializing on one thing which makes it difficult to manage. However, the idea is promising and is solving a real world problem allowing for many cryptocurrencies to be used in token generation events along with the rewards to both consumers and merchants reducing costs associated.
There is a very large target market to obtain market share however with this comes great competition both in and outside of cryptocurrency. MF Chain seems to have the differentiating factors against PundiX, Utrust and Dash to make it stand out along with aiming to reduce transaction cost and time for merchants and customers to the current real-world solutions. With both the payment system, the ICO platform and incubator it has a large market share opportunity.
Considering the project has been around for a while and the ICO was delayed – it is a shame the Whitepaper for the MF Mainnet has not been posted and this impacts the project greatly as currently a lot of what is said just ideas and the implementation and technology underlying the business have not been proven. the Whitepaper States the challenges clearly however lacks any solutions to these issues. They would have much higher success with the launch prior or inline with the ICO not after the expected funding.
With trying to become a mainstream payment system, there will be AML and other laws regarding the transaction of money which will put pressure on adoption and currently there is not any mention in the whitepaper regarding the issue or solutions/mitigations. To gain trust of the consumers and merchants will take lots of relationship management skills and the team needs to hire more on the ground business managers it seems to do so.
MF Chain seems like a very challenging project and not very easy to pass through regulation and compliance hurdles. With the team being very tech heavy and although what and how they intend to solve seems impressive, execution in terms of business is a whole other story and needs to be focused on. The addition of the recent partnership with Zagg and Credits is a step In the correct direction and we will monitor closely!
MF Chain is using blockchain to implement a merchants rewards program with now consumers and merchants earning rewards. They are utillising blockchain to make transactions cheaper along with allowing the use of many cryptocurrencies to be used as a payment from consumers or merchants receiving. The use of blockchain in the payment system and MF Mainnet should allow easy cross boarder transactions, no chargebacks and more which provide major competitive advantages over non blockchain solutions.
Initially launching as an ERC 20 token, Full features of the token on MF Mainnet include: privacy (ZK-Snarks), Masternodes, Multi-currency ICO Platform, Pre-built Smart Contract Library and multiple developer language support. With no Technical Whitepaper being released there is lack of detailed explanation of how the technology will be utilized and implemented more so currently just the idea.
There is an MVP released which is Hosted on the MF Chain Github with a downloadable APK for Android. The Design is simple and intuitive to use. After creating an account and being verified the merchants are able to begin processing payments and earn 1% crypto-back. It integrates supported cryptocurrency wallets via API which allows the merchant freedom of choice to how and where to send their cryptocurrency. There is plenty more to be added and updated often leading up to the full prototype release expected in Q2 2019.
From a business perspective the MFX token will be integrated in commerce and used for the purchase/sale of goods and services for merchants and also fuel the MFX Rewards program. Long term value is gained not only from merchant integration, also from the Innovation Incubator with additional dApps and projects launching on the MF Mainnet. There has also been the introduction of Incentivized masternodes on the MF Mainnet in which the masternodes require 76,500 MFM which is equivalent to 9 ETH and is expected to have a ROI of 10-50%.
The Main Issue with incorporating cryptocurrency as a payment option is volatility. By the time the transaction is confirmed, fluctuations in cryptocurrency price means that its for the ‘wrong’ amount. Additionally cryptocurrency transaction fees and transaction processing time with the change in Cryptocurrency fees ranging such large amounts with BTC ranging from $35 average to $1 within 2 months. Transaction confirmation time is another unstable feature and to succeed there must be a stable valuation, quicker than traditional centralist payment systems, secure, reliable, low fees and incentives/rewards.
The mentioning of development of ‘enterprise level private blockchains, atomic swap cross-chain transactions, multi-blockchain integration, and a verified digital identity system’ is only talked about in the whitepaper and not backed by technical details on how these will be done. The technical whitepaper is imperative to learn more in regards to this.
Blockchain use to allow for the reward system, multi-use of cryptocurrency makes sense along with the use for ICO token generation and incubator. However the lack of explanation of the technology in how it will be used is a problem. Technical whitepaper expected soon for the MF Mainnet which should expand however not having this before or during the ICO is a negative.
The utility is mentioned briefly as discussed above however no mention in whitepaper of technological utility. The business utility is relevant and should lead to a demand for the token within the network. The MVP release was on time and the full Prototype expected earlier next year should be a better indicator of the technological progress of the project.
The Github seems to lack activity and there are lots of technology buzz words such as atomic swap, smart contracts, masternode, zk-snarks. No mention of how these things will be built.
Overall it is good to see the MVP released and functioning to show an example of the core product, along with the current use of Blockchain technology being a good fit. The lack of explanation at the crowd sale point is disappointing and currently the MVP itself is not enough to make it more than speculation as to what will be produced. The team is capable from a tech perspective so we are very excited to see how it ends up.
The Twitter account has 17.8k Followers and is Active with posting and announcements. The interaction and engagement is relatively low however. Reddit is also active along with community following and conversation seeming to be organic. The Bitcoin Talk community is active and helpful and the Facebook community has 10k+ following. Website is very simple, easy to navigate and informative. Access to whitepaper, Team, Roadmap, Social media accounts, News, Partners, FAQs and more readily accessible and there are over 10 languages available.
Medium Channel for MFChain is very active and detailed. There are Posts outining new partnerships, Presale and Crowdsale information, team additions and more. MF Chain has been rated on over 10 ICO sites including FindICO, ICObench and listed on ICObazaar, ICOAlert, ICOWatchlist which has multiple third party ratings in a positive light.
It has a news/reviews section on the website in which shows the numerous YouTube reviews from influential YouTubers. There are also multiple News posts on Forbes, MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance, CCN, Chicago Business journel and more. These can be found here.
The Telegram is at around 22k Members. Both community members and admin are active and often helpful however lacks clarity and quite simple responses. The Conversation is mostly about when the ICO dates, announcements etc. Airdrop numbers initially skewed the Telegram group however we believe this issue has been resolved in a cutting of ‘fake’ members.
The Telegram conversation is positive along with the ICO reviews from many sites having a very positive outlook with high ratings and comments. Market sentiment is confident and the Hype Score on ICO rating.com is very high. Abitgreedy.com rated hype 9.7/10 with MFChain having above average hype from its potential user community.
The search trends are relatively low and down lots since a few months ago however the sentiment and media presence is still relatively high. The VC space seems to be quiet in regards to this project.
The Social media has a relatively large following and is active across all social media which is impressive. The website we found was very nice to navigate and take in the information.
Medium is very active and in combination with the promising ICO reviews and YouTube reviews the sentiment surrounding MF Chain is quite confident and positive moving forward. MF Chain is Featured on many popular news sites and all this is accessible on website. Good to see and looks promising.
Although there is a large social media following and active members we do not necessarily agree with the hype being crazy. It seems that MF Chain lacks the hype that it should have with such a following and the quiet VC interest is not ideal.
The Developer and Advisor Tokens will be unlocked on a slow rolling quarterly release ending in Q2 2019. The future development and marketing tokens will be locked in the following: 50% unlocked on a random date Q2 2019 and 50% unlocked on a random date Q2 2020.
All Unsold tokens will be burned. If Soft cap not achieved, refund on funds occurs.
MF Chain Have been on time in regards to their MVP releases however slightly off-time for the private and the Crowdsale was delayed by 2-3 months. The Exchange listings have also been delayed with the ICO ending in December.
The Roadmap has been delayed due to the ICO sale being postponed this includes the goals of the number of merchants using MF Chain along with the development of the Prototype and exchange listings. The mentioning and targeting of the 250 – 5000 Merchants utilizing the platform is just stated with no real backing to it in the whitepaper.
It is good to see 57% of tokens for sale in decentralizing the platform. The Hardcap seems attainable currently due to the low price of ETH however prior to that drop the gap between the softcap and hardcap seemed a bit spread – prompting the question of how really necessary are the extra funds.
With the softcap already reached the demand is looking strong and should reach the hardcap of 33,000 ETH. The private bonus is fair and the volume base purchase incentive is a good opportunity for larger buyers to take advantage.
There is transparency in the usage of the funds although the team has already been accounted for in the 8% of tokens, the extra 5% in the ICO funds seems a bit much. The Marketing funds look very promising but the team is lacking marketing members to utilize and will need to expand.
The Timeline looks promising, the MVP release on time proves the team can deliver and Exchange listing will come soon after the ICO crowd sale. The Softcap has already been reached which shows good core demand for the project. There could be issues on how the reward pool will last 5 years and become self sustaining.
The recent partnerships with both Zagg and Credits along with the addition of the Ripple VP of Banking Integration will improve the awareness and penetration of MF Chain in the market. They are in a strong position to move forward and need to continue to add to the business team and their key partnerships.
Overall the project is taking on large competitors outside of cryptocurrency and within. The technical team is impressive however we really would have liked to see the full Protofype being released prior to the sale to showcase the technologies mentioned in the whitepaper.
The recent partnerships are promising for MF Chain along with the addition of team members happening often. Although MF Chain has a large exposure, from Multiple news and YouTube reviews, it seems that the Hype should be larger than it currently is. With the ICO just beginning we may see this increase in the coming weeks.
The hardcap being 33,000 ETH with the currently $205 USD value puts the hardcap at a very attainable level for the project. The roadmap also is quite timely and in line with the ICO being completed however the whitepaper being released post ICO along with the full prototype is not ideal.
So overall a more than capable Technical team however a lack of business and marketing experience may impact adoption. The reward system created and the expected token generation with many cryptocurrencies are exciting however the lack of partnerships with merchants and no mention of how to solve the technological issues are not promising. We look forward for the main net whitepaper in Q4 2018 to look more deeply into this project!
Previous articleDid the Puff Daddy of Crypto, Justin Sun, Mislead Investors by Claiming a Partnership with Baidu?
Next articleHUGE: XRP Helped Moving $50 Million in 2 Seconds! Costs: Only 30 Cents! | 2019-04-18T15:28:57Z | https://www.altcoinbuzz.io/reviews/sto-and-ico/altcoin-buzz-ico-review-mf-chain/ |
An unfortunate fact of economic life is that a family cannot live as cheaply divided as it can together. Thus, after a divorce, the living standard of the entire family is often lowered and the court often finds itself in the unenviable position of having to divide a scarcity of resources. Then too, there is the problem of changing the child support order to meet changing needs of children and enforcing court orders against fathers and mothers who either refuse to make court ordered child support payments or who cannot do so due to circumstances beyond their control. These problems, when added to the issue of custody, visitation and the division of property in a divorce , keep the family law courts of the country packed to capacity.
Both parents have a legal duty to support their child according to their ability to do so. Since 1990, New Jersey has had child support guidelines in effect, which provide a formula for calculating child support based on a proportion of each parent's gross income. These guidelines are applied unless a party can show that application of the guidelines would be unjust and inappropriate in a particular case. This section discusses the issue of child support when viewed in the context of a divorce or paternity action. Just as courts must often make the crucial decision as to child custody and visitation, so too must it often determine how much child support the non-custodial parent will be ordered to pay. This section will describe the considerations that a court will take into account when deciding the issue of child support, whether in a divorce or a paternity case. It will also describe the methods by which child support orders are enforced by courts and how to modify an order for support. The Child Support Calculator can be used to calculate your child support obligation.
During a marriage or committed relationship, such issues are rarely a concern for the court. But when parents divorce or cease to live together with their children as a family, the courts are usually required to establish by decree the amount of child support a non-custodial parent must pay. Like the issue of custody, this can be reached by agreement or by fighting it out in front of a judge. Child support payments, like alimony, may be incorporated into the divorce judgment or may be provided for in a marital separation agreement. You can avoid making child support a contested issue, and the legal expense of litigating this issue before a Master or a Judge by both parents agreeing to the appropriate amount of child support and making this agreement part of a marital separation agreement.
Father (name) is ordered to pay directly to mother (name) as and for child support of Tom and Mary, the sum of $300 per month per child for a total of $600 , payable one-half on the first and one half on the fifteenth day of each month, said payments to continue until each such child shall die, reach majority, become emancipated or until further order of court.
Many paying parents resent the child support order because it is made directly to the custodial parent and not the children. Because of this, some refuse to make the payments because they see it as a form of alimony. However, this is not true. The direct payments are to be used to pay for the vital needs of the children, such as rent, food, and clothes.
The Court Retains Jurisdiction to Change the Order.
A child support order is not set in concrete but is subject to change should future conditions warrant. Thus, either parent may petition the court to raise or lower support should conditions warrant (see below).
Payments Automatically Terminate When the Child Reaches Majority, Dies or Becomes Emancipated.
The purpose of this language is to provide for an automatic end to the support obligation when the child reaches majority or dies. However, the issue of emancipation is often in dispute and may require a court determination.
A child support order is as enforceable as any other court judgment or decree. Thus, a parent who is not paid child support can use each and every legal tool available to enforce the order, including wage garnishments, wage assignments, contempt of court decrees and the seizure of the nonpayor's property by writ of execution.
As and for additional child support, father (name) is ordered to maintain his children as beneficiaries on his health and life insurance policies available through his employment. Father is further ordered to pay for one-half of all uninsured medical, dental and ophthalmologic services provided for the children.
As and for additional child support, father shall pay directly to the ABC Daycare Cooperative, the full cost of afternoon after-school day care. However, should the children be enrolled in morning day care, such expenses shall be the sole responsibility of the mother.
As and for additional child support, father shall pay the round-trip plane and other reasonable costs of transporting the children for visitation with father, as provided in the visitation provisions of this order. However, during visits of two weeks or more, the father's child support payments to mother shall be reduced by $50 per month per child.
These clauses illustrate the flexible nature of child support orders and the wide latitude a court has in creating a support arrangement it deems in the best interests of the children. (The court will try to maintain the lifestyle the children enjoyed before the divorce if the parents' finances permit.) Thus, a parent can be ordered to maintain insurance for the benefit of children, pay medical bills, private school expenses, day care costs, transportation bills, music lessons and to pay or partially pay for other aspects of a child's day-to-day life, activities and upbringing. The amount of support can also be reduced should the noncustodial parent have physical custody of the children for at least 35% of the time.
For example, a sickly or developmentally disabled child will often require a higher level of support than a healthy child.
The Ability of the Noncustodial Parent to Pay.
The court is limited in awarding child support by the ability of a parent to pay based on income from all sources, often including a new spouse's earnings.
The Earning Capacity of the Custodial Parent.
Both parents have the duty to support their children, not just the paying parent. Thus, the earnings or earning capacity of the custodial parent which are available to provide support for the children, and perhaps that of their new spouse, will also be considered when determining child support levels.
The other lawful responsibilities of both parents will also be looked into in determining child support. For example, if the non custodial parent is paying child support from a previous marriage (a rather common occurrence), the court will take that obligation into consideration. Necessities of life, such as rent and food will also be taken into account by the court. However, the court will not reduce child support payments to make it easier for the parent to pay discretionary obligations. For example, a parent cannot provide for a charity or buy an expensive car at the expense of providing for his or her own children.
To assist the court in determining the proper amount of support, both parties will be required by the court to prepare a financial declaration that is signed under penalty of perjury. (See financial forms). Each parent will be required to fully disclose their income (from all sources frequently including money earned by a new spouse or live-in-lover), the nature and extent of their property holdings such as bank accounts, investments and real property and their financial obligations. The court will rely heavily on these documents in making the order and thus it is in the best interests of the children that the declarations be filled out completely and honestly.
Child support hearings are often adversarial. That means that when the parents cannot agree on the support order, (sometimes after compelling mediation), the court, through a Master's hearing, will hold a hearing to decide the issue. (This is sometimes done in a chambers conference to save time.) At the hearing, each spouse (or their lawyer) will have the opportunity to cross examine the other on issues relevant to the support issue and each can subpoena documents and call witnesses to support his or her position as to the amount of child support that should be paid. Child support orders can also be appealed, although the likelihood of success is very slim.
In 1990, the New Jersey General Assembly passed a law making it mandatory for the courts to use Child Support guidelines in all cases in which child support is sought. Although use of the guidelines is mandatory and there is a presumption that the guidelines amount is the correct amount to be awarded, the presumption is rebuttable.
The reason for the implementation of the Guidelines is that the General Assembly has decided that "the law and policy of this State is that the child's best interest is of paramount importance and cannot be altered by the parties. A parent has a legal obligation to provide support for the child [in proportion to their gross earnings]."
Only the Proper Court Has the Power to Order Child Support.
A court that does not have proper jurisdiction (power) does not have the legal authority to order child support. In order for a court to have jurisdiction to compel a parent to pay child support, it must have personal jurisdiction over the parent. Personal jurisdiction means that the parent from whom support is sought must have sufficient contacts with the state in which the suit is brought.
A State that Entered a Valid Support Order Continues to Have the Power to Modify Child Support.
Once a valid child support order is entered, that state continues to have the power to award child support even though it no longer has contacts with the supporting parent or children.
Parents Can Agree On the Level of Support.
Parties frequently settle divorce or paternity cases between themselves without going to trial. Parties may include in their settlement agreement an amount of child support to be paid by the non-custodial parent to the custodial parent. However, even when the parties agree to an amount of child support the trial court is required under the guidelines to determine the guideline amount, compare it with the amount of support agreed upon by the parties, and not make an award less than the guideline amount unless convinced that award of less is in the best interest of the child. There can be no variance of the guideline amount if the court does not give its reasoning on the record in accord with the requirements of the law.
Hugh and Lucy divorced. In a marital settlement agreement, they agreed that Lucy would have custody of the children. However, Hugh would only agree to pay $50 per month in child support, despite the fact he earned $2000 a month. Rather than fight Hugh, who had threatened a custody fight if she would not accept the deal, Lucy agreed to the low support level. When Lucy and Hugh brought their "agreement" before the Master, the Master refused it because the support level was too low.
Courts Can Order Payment of College Expenses Even Though the Child Has Reached Majority.
At one time, majority was reached at age 21. When it was reduced by law to age 18, a new problem was presented: Could the court order a parent to pay for his or her children's college expenses as child support, despite the fact that they would be over 18 when the payments were made? In most states, that question has been answered in the affirmative - if the parent has sufficient resources - although the courts are not required to make such orders.
Unlike alimony , payments of child support cannot be deducted from the payer's income taxes. However, you pay more than 50% of the actual costs of child support, you can claim the child as a dependent to save money on taxes. Parents often agree on the issue of the dependents deduction so that both don't make the claim which could trigger an IRS audit.
The court that makes the original child support award is said to have continuing jurisdiction to modify the order as conditions warrant. That being so, either parent may request the court to change the order throughout the duration of the child's minority. Modifications will not happen automatically. One of the parents must request the change by a formal motion to the court.
Child support orders cannot be changed on caprice or because a court thinks that "it is time." It must be based on evidence proving that sufficient grounds exist to make the change. This usually requires a showing of changed circumstances from the facts as they existed at the time that the last order was entered. (In the many years a child support order remains effective, the parent's circumstances may change many times and thus so may the child support order.) In New Jersey, changed circumstances, means that a party's income has changed (either gone up or down) by at least 25%.
Support can also be reduced upon a proper showing. For example, if the custodial parent inherits money, gets a large raise or otherwise has an increased ability to support the children, support payments may be reduced. Or, if the paying parent loses his or her job, the court can be asked to reduce support during the period of unemployment.
When Peter refused to pay, Alice took him to court. The judge ruled that the evidence did not support Peter's claim that he was excused from $300 per month of his support during his layoff and he was ordered to pay the $3000 to Alice at the rate of $100 a month, in addition to the usual payments of monthly support.
A major headache for custodial parents, children and society is created when a parent refuses to pay his or her court ordered child support. This is a serious problem of national dimensions. A recent study found that less than half the parents awarded child support receive payment in full. In 1989 alone, $4 billion dollars that was owed in child support was not paid. This failure on the part of non custodial parents - usually but not always fathers - is a major cause of poverty in children. This not only affects the families but has an indirect impact on the society who must finance poverty programs to assist those in need.
In New Jersey, each county has established a child support enforcement agency that can assist you in collecting child support from your spouse. This agency has responsibility for collecting child support for families receiving public assistance, and also, upon application for non-public assistance families. Applicants for public assistance in New Jersey must assign child support rights to the state and must help locate the parent absent from the home. Failure to cooperate may result in the denial of public assistance.
Services are available to Non-public assistance parents by the payment of a non-refundable $20 fee. If you are representing yourself, and you are not on public assistance, applying to the child support agency in your county for assistance is an excellent method of obtaining legal representation at minimal cost (payment of $20.00 fee).
Nonpaying parents often hide from the custodial parent in order to avoid their child support obligation, often going so far as to move out of state to avoid their responsibilities. Such abandonments have caused many parents to go on welfare.
In order to remedy this problem, the federal government has created the Parent Locator Service, which allows the resources of the federal government including the Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service, to be used to locate a nonpaying parent's employer. Once found, the custodial parent or the state can enforce the child support order and collect unpaid support. The law also permits the IRS to pay child support arrears from tax refunds the nonpaying parent may be owed by the government. (The law also requires the states to establish a Parent Locator Services.) For more information on the Parent Locator Service, contact the local office of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Many states allow the court to order an employer to make direct payments to the custodial parent from the wages of the supporting parent. This procedure is known as a wage assignment. The wage assignment can be issued upon proper application by the court and served on the paying parent's employer. Once implemented, the employer will deduct child support like any other deduction from the paying parent's paycheck and send the money directly to the custodial parent. This is a very valuable tool - if the nonpaying parent holds a steady job.
A child support order can be enforced like other court judgments. If the nonpaying parent has assets such as real property, bank accounts, stock, a paid-off car or other property, the property may be seized upon proper application to the court. If you choose to represent yourself, you will find form books in your local law library that will have the proper wording of the documents and will explain the procedure for applying for a contempt of court citation, wage assignment, or writ of execution in your state. If this method of enforcing child support is chosen, a pro se litigant is well advised to retain the services of a competent attorney or pursue enforcement through the Child Support Enforcement Administration.
If the pro se litigant chooses to forward on his or her own the litigant should be aware that the New Jersey Rules provide a wide variety of means to execute on judgments (defined as a dollar amount which has been reduced to a judgment by the court).
If the above means of obtaining the property of a judgment debtor are not successful other means exist. For example, one can garnish of property of the judgment debtor. Generally a writ of garnishment is used when a third party is holding property of the judgment debtor. The rule states when the writ may be filed and what information shall be included in the writ.
Notwithstanding the methods of securing a wage lien offered in the New Jersey Rules, the General Assembly has passed laws to assist recipients of support to collect the funds due them from spouses ordered to pay child support.
Bring a Civil Contempt of Court Action.
If a person willfully disobeys a lawful child support order, he or she can be jailed for contempt of court. The civil contempt action is brought by the custodial parent. The court clerk will have the proper forms. After that, the nonpaying parent will have to be served with process since he or she has the Constitutional right to appear at the hearing and present a defense. If the nonpaying parent is served with process and does not appear, the trial court will order a bench warrant issued for his or her arrest.
Often, the mere threat of jail is sufficient to pry open the recalcitrant parent's pocketbook. However, in severe cases, parents will be jailed and often the jail sentence will be open-ended, terminating only when the proper payment has been made.
All states also have criminal statutes on the books to punish parents who refuse to pay their child support. If the custodial parent complains to the district attorney's office, it may seek an indictment against the nonpaying parent in criminal court. If the defendant is found guilty, he or she may be jailed. Or, the guilty parent may be put on probation and allowed to remain free if he or she pays all back child support and makes all future payments in a timely manner. | 2019-04-22T08:46:46Z | https://www.njdivorceonline.com/njpages/childsupport/childsupportinformation.asp |
Doesn’t really mean you will need to crash your university or college class, mainly because you actually are finding it difficult or unlucky. It should not even necessarily suggest you need to get a lower back mark or class for a give good results. We offer the very best essay expertise on-line for pupils who are striving and have had a modest amount of terrible good fortune. We let them choose the best essays to acquire a decent selling price, and now we complete the work as per the deadlines our undergraduate people fixed.
Each of the writers inside english essay editer online http://customwritingink.com/ essay writer service your publishing servicepany understand what results exceptionally. They are certainly not just essay authors; these are generally academic trained professionals and pros that pay their running full week writing essays. They have already grow to be incredibly skillful and fast at their occupation and are usually now equipped to construct high scoring essays in a small part of time it takes a regular university student.
Not one of this facts are continued the perfect essay machines, and also the essays you acquire are purged coming from the process once you are content with the essay. You have many of the proper rights towards effort that our crew provides, which suggests it actually is legally the one you have to use it as you like.
There are numerous individuals who log on to publishing assistance and earn their beliefs learned about how our simply writing workforce has kept them from useful oblivion and precisely how we work best essays service plan online currently. There is no need to accept message of people, you can search our program your self and learn. You can use our starter special discounts and submit us a tiny mission to try us out. For everybody who is not 100% gratified, you will not only remain in the minority, you will probably get all your money back.
What Is The Greatest Crafting Program?
One of the best simply writing service is the one which is capable of finished quite a few different kinds of scholastic report without any subsequent bother. Our team has safeguards in its place to ensure that even when your creator will become unwell–that job will still be made and sent back to you in time, despite the fact that most simply writing products and services are not able to continue to keep in their output deadlines. All expenses are protect, plus the monetary value you end up with from your service is well outside the quantity you pay out, particularly when you think about the top-striking skills that has been performing your job for you.
Our essay posting company doesn’t rewrite or re-distribute former essays. We only have a good amount for your incredible provider. Our customized authoring system organization is continues to keep up-to-date with the most up-to-date course to be positive our task is pertinent and scoring. We also have a no-quibble amendment insurance where you could get 100 % free amendments.
The reason why safer to select at producing program?
We now have the most suitable simply writing product via the internet thus far. Any article author has more than a diploma, we always keep to the output deadlines, all correspondence is private, and a number of our authors have been completely posted inside school media with difference.
Exactly the preferred essays producing solution teams can click almost all their deadlines. When you have an extremely concise deadline, then communicate with our client service team to determine what you can do, you can go with your deadline using our cost-free no-responsibility quote resource, and. There is no need to join up or register to employ the estimate program.
The one thing which causes our authors several is because comprehend the methods pertaining to the job they deliver additionally, the finest posting system they work with. They are not easily rewriting this content they discover in books. They are undoubtedly masters and will place out their know-how for the web page that may help you rank superior. Our charges are not the minimum on the market simply because we employ the perfect. We simply charge the marketplace usual pricing, although we get the lotion from the crop.
We warrant completely enjoyment when to the point just where we shall even finish amendments completely free in the event you make sure you ask. There exists a staff of support services office staff in a position to require your questions, and our freelance writers are ranking by to begin your project.
Practice is the early detection and the referral of children with a developmental delay.Whatever we review right before dozing off.Send us freestanding works, not portions of longer manuscripts.Please remove the hyperlinks or attach the nofollow tag to them.Your audience may be upper, middle or line management, other departments in the company, coworkers, the client, potential clients, the government, or another company in the same market.These methods will help the economics to identify the problems and give recommendations in order to solve the economic issues.The paper should be an unpublished original work in any field of Korean studies.The only difference I see is that you also get Cosmo.Online Class Tutors have some super smart people working for them: they had my 12 month online class completed in 2 months, that is what I call amazing.Our approach is backed by over 30 years of academic research and proven teaching methods that produce active learners.We are here to assist you in the best way possible https://essayhelp.io/ persuasive essay paragraph. The online application includes sections on personal information and program information.We know how hard is to be a student and how much time it takes to complete an assignment.Dimensions are displayed as the black line inside the white rectangle.Even have one hour of leisure time at home anymore.Broaden the reach of your event by pushing your promotional content to media contacts around the world.What is more, you have an opportunity to contact our customer support representatives anytime in case you need to clarify something.
The types of materials as used by the author and referred to in your referrals number, are entirely solid and taken from clinical references (except for when alternatively specific). With the desired (or befitting the concrete style of give good results) citation pattern, most of these providers will likely be mentioned while in the copy of your document, coupled with on referrals/bibliography website. Therefore, that you will buy the essay, where by every one of the details are extracted from highly regarded providers, together with internet, literature, magazines along with good solutions. It’s true that college students often times have no likelihood to access all of the information you need or have zero access to the info they would dependence on formulating their report, or perhaps lack time for obtaining this all details. And to have the information and material obtained to suit your needs within the specific area, which may ensure it is a good deal easier to singular out your truth you really need, although you may are able not just to invest in an essay.
The papers you can expect to obtain can be entirely exclusive and there is not any chance to find the equivalent essay just about anyplace on the net. Every single cardstock is tailor-made created limited to you, tested which includes a plagiarism management process and will not be sold again. In the event that strategies of other individuals or authors are being used, there is at all times proper citation and referencing towards the origin and contributor. So, it is improbable you will get the exact or nearby pieces of paper with the one of your friends or even the main from websites with no cost essays and paperwork.
The native terminology of our own personnel authors is British and each of them have at the very least a Bachelor diploma from the essential market. Simply being gurus in a few themes, our authors are going to supply a custom-made posted report properly corresponding towards your want and preferences of your own professor. We are ready to present an unrestricted range of alterations determined by your comments on your 1st draft if you find even so the reality if you are dissatisfied aided by the deliver the results accomplished for you. We say “unlimited number” since we are certain there may not really turned into a need to have with regard to making a few revision. We all do our very best to make sure immediate conversation regarding you and also the writer working in your project, that allows you to voice your entire preferences, your wishes and comments regarding the process or witout a doubt prepared paper. Totally free revisions are supplied inside of twenty business enterprise days or weeks as soon as the distribution from the for starters write. When your professor tested your projects and there are some things being altered, it is possible to readdress these to the author, and she / he work on increasing the made to order penned pieces of paper.
Our team members freelance writers have plenty of experience in generating a variety of label and essays papers. It is not the right amount of only to contain the experience on that or that subject matter, it is also appropriate to be able to give it within the precise and remarkable manner, typical or abnormal, widened or quick. For several years our freelance writers are already doing work for scholars along with scholars, they attempt to maximize their approaches and understand the current announcement concerning customized posted paperwork and gets near to creating usually.
The value a better standard of our services are nor very low neither big. Its practical that your particular nicely-skilled and professional article author won’t come to an agreement to get results for peanuts (this describes why bargain essays are so poor in grammar, reasoning and spelling). Then again, we do our very best in order to provide greatly qualified support for affordable and huge discounts. Moreover, we will be able to hold the techniques, perform not placed any type of our company on any of your banking institution invoices, which is wonderful for you if you ever never desire to disclose the simple fact of using our company at all.
Every 12 months a great number of high school students from all over all mankind face scholastic difficulties in creating college and university phase magazines of all complication. It takes place as a consequence of a lot of amongst the many which you’ll find are: low school assignment writing ability, energy general shortage, insight deficit how to write a college school assignment or possibly well-known university student negligence. College advanced schooling term paper writing demands web page plenty of time, homework or forbearance to share a fantastic student term paper and to submit it firmly on the dot. Because of this most trainees would like you to ultimately assist them to written an advanced paper documents to midterm tests. Yet in which do they really obtain the best on the web the university term paper? Is that it price believing in every one of term paper internet websites which offer specially high school word classified ads on discount sales? Selecting the fitting a college education school assignment service plan by no means prove to be had infidelities? Actually do each of the schooling term paper developing organizations match all of the multinational conditions and additionally students’ technical specifications?
EnjoyTermPaper is seen as a dependable traditions term paper freelance writing manufacturer that can be happy present to you customizable phase cardstock for college position kids. A higher school assignment 1 thing many pupils encountered throughout their teachers. Education term paper could be regardless of the sort, just like, custom-made name paper for faculty quality pupils, personalized a college education phase press located in MLA, APA, Turabian & Stanford file format, and thus. It is attain college school assignment the help u . s .. Barstools2u . com offers higher education period articles so that you can trainees within low-priced price ranges. This scholar student customers and prospects gain unique phrase documentation for faculty level young people help writing an essay enjoytermpaper.com how write a essay and consequently advanced schooling school assignment assistance from states. It can be cumbersome work for people to be able to service that will actually jot an excellent term paper for them. But, you do have a answer for all the pupil potential consumers yearn us all to be able to a college school assignment for the kids. Be mindful make an order for college school assignment and we’ll prepare a faculty term paper to you.
EnjoyTermPaper might be pleased to offer its very own people by having highly affordable school statement scribblings. There are very good office staff that hopefully will finish a a college education term paper reported by ones requests and provide you maximum high school school assignment. Each of our team can potentially create articles an advanced school assignment for everyone at any sort of niche. My student school assignment editors are unquestionably completely trained then have incredible simply writing working experience. Each of our a college education term paper authors own stringent advice upon allowing basically real, very first succeed. A lot of our university and college term documents for sale are purchased by means of scholars from all over the planet. You can get a myriad of school period of time writings for the price.
During EnjoyTermPaper, you will repay to receive web secondary education term paper without as much smallest amount from aggravation. We offer tailor-made schooling phase newspapers at MLA, APA, Turabian & Harvard taste. A university and college school assignment developing professional services can be popular among college students and we’re referred to across the western world for the web based schooling school assignment authoring. Offer you main education school assignment. Nearby faculty term paper from my web along with overall simpleness. What’s more, you can be certain personal superior affordable you will have access to a great number of main really matter. Your qualitative schooling school assignment penning service will guarantee that once you want a school term paper a lot more, you will definitely appreciate the company for EnjoyTermPaper. This site offers remarkable web-based student term paper crafting product who has pulled in a great numbers of potential clients.
The fashion connected with placing an order for college school assignment attached to EnjoyTermPaper web site is very easy. All you must caused by invest in the university school assignment is generally to go to a web business, which is often specially created for clients to create their precious goods, by way of finding the aid of a support anytime. Present numerous the university term paper questions to our valued clients plus they could shop for just about any content of faculty school assignment they require. We are going to the only one online business that promises bona fide, principal, unabridged university or college words classified ads for potential consumers. In addition you can upload or possibly rule trying college period written documents and also coding and programming examples high school timeframe classified ads at any moment.
Techniques for getting very get you los angeles health officials posting a school term paper. Less costly pay a visit to the best blog you’ll not end up astounded by fantastic behaviors all of our support suggests in our clients. You’ll find many purchasers considering the high quality individuals education term paper authoring. A number of us always make sure our own company is total happy with some of our support. All of us guantee that the institution term paper inclined to much of our customers and prospects is without question looked when it comes to plagiarism, additionally the proceedings of which your own personal college phrase paperwork enter be certain that any kind of loopholes and setbacks at the faculty school assignment that can and finally achieves a person. All of our support should teach you during the entire mechanisms for positioning an order on our web business. They are furthermore aid you through amount subjects, and assure the every single other sort of dilemma you are dealing with is certainly remedied.
The order you’d put for just about any a college education school assignment is normally utilized in a creators using the issue of the investigation document together with the field associated with the contributor. A creators invest time accomplishing homework for that faculty term paper, or reviewing proper substance by way of textbooks not to mention internet resources. Following the faculty school assignment is complete, it is usually given to each of our competent publishers who seem to look at good punctuation coupled with grammar belonging to the tradition schooling school assignment. Any publishers at the same time make it possible for the college term paper is written inside of the layout you calls for, knowing that for anyone who is holes or simply funny complications inside university and college school assignment.
Order Custom Term Paper From Safe Support – Online-Paper-Writer.com!
We have the most stringent contracting measures in the profession. Only the ideal, most certified writers can work with our team. Each of our writers have got both a MA or PhD college degree. Exactly what does this indicate for you personally?
It implies that if you use our paper-producing provider, you can be certain that you may get yourself a sophisticated paper whenever. Online-Paper-Writer.com is much more than our Link. It can be our guarantee to your account that you simply will always get specialized newspapers which might be outstanding in excellent. We warrant it.
Our essay posting service plan doesnt rewrite or re-market past essays. We easily offer a manageable cost for any great assistance. Our customizable composing solution group is continues to keep up to date with the latest curriculum to make sure our task is pertinent and scoring. We have a no-quibble amendment insurance policy in which you may get zero cost amendments.
Now we have the most suitable writing company online thus far. Almost every writer has not less than a college degree, we always keep towards the work deadlines, all correspondence is privately owned, and a number of our writers were publicized in the school media with distinction.
The one thing which causes our writers varied is they view the methods associated with the process they manufacture along with the top rated authoring program they work for. They are not basically rewriting the information they find in college textbooks. They may be undoubtedly specialists and have the capacity to place out their expertise to the site so that you can report significantly greater. Our price is not the minimum in the marketplace because we employ the service of the most effective. We choose the skin cream from the crop, but we only ask for the field usual deals.
We make certain 100% pleasure all the time to the level exactly where we shall even carry out amendments for free if you ever inquire. We have a organization of support services people prepared to consider the order custom paper http://online-paper-writer.com/order-paper-online/ questions you have, and our writers are ranking by to commence any project.
We just employ essentially the most good writers to verify your project is completed the best way doable. Our qualified publishers look at the paper prior to when submitting it for you. They take a look at sentence structure, formatting, model and if the paper uses the instructions.
We understand your evaluations, given that it only helps us develop into superior and many more experienced.
Order a research paper now! Tend not to commit days or weeks on a single paper, we will apply it to suit your needs.
Are you finding your body in extreme a tough time once your music teacher requires you to upload a high-quality homework paper? Its very clear for pupils to fight to produce an investigation paper, primarily taking into consideration the volume of other jobs and assessments they have to attempt. To get free from this tough problem, there is not one other choice but to make contact with a specialist for study paper authoring guidance. In case you are sensing the same thing sort of demands, you have got realistically uncovered the correct resolution, as Online-Paper-Writer.com will offer you authorized writers to carry out your research paper quite simply and proficiently.
Some enrollees believe they do not require help and support to write a genuine examine paper. That typically turns out to be a mistaken belief since the process of making a reliable researching paper calls for making time for a lot of important things. You are going to to start with have to find the right theme to jot down your paper. However , enrollees pick a area how they suppose will result in an impact on his or her teachers. This may not be the appropriate action to take, specifically unless you feel at ease plenty of to the office on that theme.
I am things to know about emojis. In all honesty, should i would’ve constructed this entire posting within just emoji, I would have. So that’s why I found myself so cheerful when The apple company made the decision to bring in 185 even more dope emojis you could choose. Why 185? I have no idea, even so know some individuals who genuinely only improved to iOS 9.1 due to this fact. Yet, should you be keen on iOS 9.2 and therefore are jailbroken (therefore cannot enhance to 9.1), panic not, you may get a lot of these emojis so. The development of a jailbreak option with Pangu 9 for iOS 9., 9.1, and 9.2 in tumble 2015 had various by amazement. Rrt had been, fastjailbreak.com how to jailbreak iphone 6 as you can imagine, a relatively allowed stun if you happen to seemed to be wishing to get an untethered jailbreak on Apple’s hottest mobile or portable Operating system, nevertheless nonetheless managed to blindside lots of folks. Keep in mind, Pangu 9 liberate also resulted in any vulnerabilities familiar with make use of iOS 9.x primarily enter into the world web address, causing Apple to tear the jailbreak aside and patch any of individuals slots. And Apple company have just that by patching that jailbreak in iOS 9.1.
Within recent report, As stated by the lastest assessments, TaiG has recently published a jailbreak for a iOS 9.2.1, with Apple inc apparatus visitors praising the application. On March 11, Pangu also proclaimed it obtained unveiled a jailbreaking tool with the iOS 9.2 applications. Each of them are focused on allowing an endorsed jailbreak but in the matter of jailbreaking accounts it’s worthy of noting by which they differ from one another.
If you’re searching for some amazing jailbreak changes to put in to your jailbroken iPhone, here is a excellent offering of iOS 9 Cydia changes that you can take a look at. While your most current variant of iOS cannot be jailbroken recently, which could almost certainly transition in time. As well as, customers who will be however performing iOS 9. can jailbreak their units if they’d like, and it’s more than likely that these clients seem to be jailbroken anyway. For individuals members who have got acquired jailbroken gizmos for a short time, you probable already have the entire jailbreak changes they could actually ever want, but to persons in the beginning stages with jailbreaking or simply for many jailbreak vets looking to find newer and more effective tweaks with regards to their iPhone or ipad tablet, we have came to the conclusion to create a listing of iOS 9 Cydia adjustments that jailbreakers should really go and visit.
Among the best aspects of the iOS 9 firmware is that quite a few its attributes have been completely resulting from a range of Cydia Jailbreak Tweaks ext website . These sort of elements have truly obtained the iOS towards a next stage of user-friendliness and intuitiveness. But approximately the iOS 9, almost all iOS customers across the world are waiting for the release of any iOS 9 jailbreak from Staff PP. If discussing about iOS jailbreaks, we could not leave behind Team PP, that has gained a respected spot inside the jailbreak regional community. Lineup PP came up through the limelight in the event it presented the PP Jailbreak for iOS 8.3 . Having said that, rather than getting gratitude and understanding, the PP organization presented critique for being a primary backup for this TaiG program . This became the reason the PP jailbreak did not acquire a number of downloads.
PhD dissertation is actually a time-consuming executing that needs your attention lashings for groundwork possibilities. It’s always respected as earphones level before enjoying a Doctor of philosophy college diploma and then illustrates whether you get the ease of unbiased examine as an done college student. Fundamentally, Expert degree dissertation content is quite normal, is usually may have a lot of modifications based on the self-control together with university or college desires.
In general, dissertations have numerous features in accordance: they should depend for reliable and then fellow covered options. Because of this, the particular mind part in posting a new dissertation lands on an important online research and additionally manufacturing a persuasive dissertation engagement. A very good personal preference could be referring with a student an event authoring dissertations, enjoy many of our dissertation freelance writers.
Writing a pitch may be the as well as towards a outstanding dissertation. But, not all the masteral turns into practice it really is concept. A lot of our dissertation editors outdoor storage shed lights of what consider previous to crafting the business proposal, Doctor of philosophy dissertation, together with Expert degree thesis.
Each of our dissertation copy writers identify idea as a general pretty report about the actual dissertation. Even so, a proposal shouldn’t be weighed against a sort of report on your dissertation content. This instead puts the place soft at the spoken of concerns and reveals reduce your use of the patient. In actual fact, the premise of each one proposal is undoubtedly other the most important items addressed with your dissertation. Could tunes easy enough to have an about-be university student, much of our creators report that creating a proposal is very little moment on the ocean. Hence, our company offers your dissertation publishing offerings any time you experience problems by way of proposition composing.
Your dissertation crafting service plan gives the possible opportunity to jot down each of this pages separately, as well as the entirely dissertation made from scratch. Assuming you have some weak thought of what exactly advice to incorporate in every single segment, a lot of our PhD dissertation freelance writers are able to trickle the dissertations and theses http://pay4phd.com/thesis-for-phd/ dissertation thesis writing particular espresso beans for this matter. Examine then the information about how to successfully format your own dissertation offered by this PhD dissertation crafting services.
Each of our Expert degree dissertation support opens the door towards excellent groundwork. Utilizing oodles of know-how, some of our groundwork helpers can make a item that is an important contribution towards science. These master all the peculiarities about dissertation crafting creating much of our creating enable essential.
You may want to utilize a lot of our service while you found the individual and also bankruptcy lawyer las vegas dissertation cut-off date will be well-nigh. All of our thesis help support is just not scared to bring quite a job along with show it’s productivity. A huge number of university students which identified all of our dissertation program kept delighted plus endorsed some of our scientists at their associates.
First, the time period paper should have an proper subject that will align with the paper guidelines. This is not a easy activity and it may well often require a large background examine on the issue. Most college students fail in their phrase papers mainly because they don’t have time to go via this overwhelming endeavor. Our writers are ready to take a detailed background research that aligns with paper guidance to give you the most acceptable subject.
Eventually, you’ll get your challenge to a issue where it appears to be like really superior. Sad to say, that means you nonetheless have a lengthy means to go. At that position, get any person you have faith in to read through it, any individual you know who will give you an sincere feeling. And then send out it out for professional editing. Have any person go through it who writes for a residing. Do this no make any difference what your stage of competency. Even as a qualified writer, I will often get another specialist writer to give my do the job a fantastic likely-over.
Use your prime time to your benefit. Agenda element-oriented duties when you are in peak form. Your concentration amount is significantly much more fantastic-tuned and blunders are much less likely. Then is the time for doing a proposal, producing an report, etcetera.
It is critical that your marketing crew tune-in to this station right before starting any proposal (RFQ, RFP, SOQ, and so on.). Normally occasions A/E corporations think that just since they have practical experience or have gained awards, they have a shoe-in in excess of the competitors. Mistaken!
Whenever you get started venture of writing for these papers it is necessary that you know the exact protocols for it. These papers are diploma stage papers released to the pupils in university for the initially time. The pupils who are freshmen undergo the pretty most kind the wrath of term papers. So they need to have to talk to all over and understand the requirements and genuine enterprise of these crucial papers. Browse guiding blogs, numerous article content and visit practical web sites to grasp the full insight of writing for university amount files. Study extensively all the guidelines and guidelines writing research proposal in buy to not threat custom made term paper writing.
In addition, government mandates now demand team not only to set potential vendors via an exhaustive tendering course of action but also to guarantee that the seller’s shipping is charge-helpful. What this implies is that writing a research proposal is rapidly getting to be an artwork and a requisite for productive small business persons.
And, it’s a sad simple fact that some of us will commit additional income into our movie gear than we will ever make with it. Why? Simply because shopping for new devices is so a great deal darned enjoyable, it truly is addictive! When the tools-geek-bug bites you, you’ve bought a monkey on your back the size of King Kong! See, it begins out slow and gradual. 1st, you start out investigating what type of products is the ideal worth, for what you require. You’re in the experimental period. Perhaps you’re just seeking it out, you know, for kicks. In my situation, I knew that I wished to make a documentary. I knew that I wanted a shoulder-mount camera so I could go mobile and even now realize a continuous shot, at the exact same time. Furthermore, they look truly great and qualified!
A video clip should really not close with an response, only a issue. The viewers will keep in mind the video, interact in discussion with you, and permit other individuals to see it by their feeds.
By comprehending your viewers, you can write your proposal in no time. Just goal it at your literary agent and editor, retaining in intellect a number of other sector folks as properly, these as your internet marketing and promotions managers. Trust a person who’s finished this many times. It’s significantly simpler than it appears — after you know who your audience is.
This is Android’s first true real-time, massive multiplayer online shooter’s game which mixes tactics for player versus player (PVP).It is a no cost online multiplayer game that may have been played with a maximum of 20 players with three types of characters, 3 different maps to choose and two types of game options such as game play, team death match or capture the flag.
This is perhaps just yet another of the countless flight site visitors handle simulators. The realism featured on that sport will make it amongst the top compensated game apk close to. Additionally, you will need heightened skill as a result of the very smaller dimension in the planes you management. Suggestions even give you scope for come across some additional fantastic video gaming to work.
There is much android rooting software out there that promises many . Since Launching One Click Root, many android users have used it to root their android methods. The software has many benefits to offer and is quite stable. It is truly as what it says, rooting your android device is only 1 click away with no hassle whatsoever. The internet would provide you more information about one click root and such. Look up it and positive will soon immediately find that which you are looking for positively easy steps to follow, your device will soon be unlocked of its true potential.
The app has for ages been useful on Android phones, but the iOS version always looked better and was just a little easier to navigate. Tripit says the updated android apk looks cleaner – what goes on agree – plus program takes up 30 percent less storage space, supports Google sign-in, and is without ads for $3.99.
Sometimes, for some reason, smartphone owners are not able to download apps directly from the Economy. For example, some models are not supported via Market, so users can’t login and download quickly. But this does not imply that the phone is not capable of running uses. Here is where 23 is Back Download Free APK � Okiapk files come while.
You really have to install the application on your smartphone. Would like a super the recommended Android-based SMPP SMS Gateway for this purpose is Ozeki Android SMPP SMS Gateway. Found on three versions. The free Lite and ordinary Full versions are on merger acquisition download apk a person can get the Full Plus version at the official website of Ozeki Informatics Ltd.
Do such as beer pong? If what you are doing then the beer pong game for Android is some of the best game apk available you need to download. The option for playing with yourself and also with persons online. Automobiles 3D presentation and great music, cafe world will get you keep playing till tend to be completely drunk in it then. The multi player version is surely the best thing about this on the internet game. There is another game called Haypi kingdom and that is a multi player roll playing game for Android Operating-system. You need to apply strategies put together your own kingdom a problem power to address for protecting your kingdom while taking on others. You swill locate a great tutorial for learning the game before engaging in. The multiplayer mode will help you to identify many players to spend playtime with in actual time game play.
Now now you can create an app for Android. It becomes easier than ever. Google’s App Inventor offers to assist folks building an app without the assistance of a developer. It is considered as an intelligent move by Google.
Okay, this app actually makes me envious because of not owning an Android get in touch with. Ringdroid is a free software continue to keep you extract a personalised ringtone from your part of one’s favorite favorite songs. According to Android Market, it will be the only graphical waveform editor you discover on a cell phone. Isn’t it a major “wow”?
My Video Diary: This app has been featured in our articles. The update has created me bring it up again. Permit me to explain relating to this briefly. My Video Diary lets users make daily entries with multimedia files such as videos, audio files and thoughts. They can also set password to restrict access for his or her entries. The update allows users to disable the password after setting which it. Previously it is not possible. Akin to also along with iCloud syncing and iTunes sharing to facilitate users in accessing information across all the iOS solutions. My Video Diary is working with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation) and iPad and it requires iOS your.0 or later. It is USD 2.99.
Why is the fact ,? I can draw you an analogy: eateries. Every single thing takes place at a cafe or restaurant is tailored to one single thing: the patrons. The decorations, the tables, the chairs, the plating on the dessert tray, and the smiling faces on workers – equally of it revolves around building a magic experience for every visitor.
The thing I’m anxious about here is the richness for this updates. I mean, it’s fun reading someone’s story of a situation that took place, but what if it person could pull out their phone and record what’s happening to them, and then you can certainly let you watch that will. That’s what Keek does for its users. It’s a all around richer experience than just words offer you.
Smartphones and tablets are very well equipped associated with latest technology. Now a days the focus is upon creating human interaction with creations. This also includes speech recognition. Happen to be apps that really in recognizing your speech and then converting it to text for your convenience. This comes handy when you take oral notes or attempt to quickly record something into text and save it for later viewing. Everything you should do is say something aloud while holding the microphone for this device against your mouth and consider it being transformed into editable text. Let us find out more about such programs.
An Android hunting app presents many attributes expected from a devoted GPS unit. It includes waypoint marking, trip sharing and tracking (breadcrumbing) if you want.
At this time, network incorporates close to presents in five: health and wellness, charm, capital, mortgage offers you, opportunities, drawing, and smartphone has. The quantity of boasts provided is growing and so we prefer to add more sooner or later. As all the different has might appear average when compared with much bigger communities, do keep in mind that people actions caliber investigations on just about every single give and do not share people that have little conversion rates. Therefore, you do not need to use any different types of filter systems to find the best carrying out work varieties.
The kinds of offers you normally include cost-per-action networks reviews. Stress-free site menu lets you pick out and match up can provide with out issue.
Thats why we determined to assist you just a little and produced generic info on our circle at a CPAProfiles review short article. In the event you havent dealt with our network ahead of, over here you will definately get answers to a big part of your respective things, in addition to determine what makes us totally different from other CPA networks. For benefits reason, the information is well organized within a easily navigated way, which allows you to ignore the unimportant ideas and take straight to the final word facts on CPA marketing locate simple methods to come up with seems to have cpa network scouring the web by using an affiliate marketing network reviewed and then take a look at them what things. We know it can help you realize that which you deal and exactly how our network system are often useful in seeking your ambitions.
There exists a lot of affiliate network review locations the place where a functioning-marketer-to-be may get details of many CPA networks and affiliate programs.
When browsing the range, you will appreciate that much of the deals are sporting a unique music band. It means that individuals are only at and so are not displayed in another place. Far apart from a great many other networking sites that only act as an intermediary in negotiations on prices regarding publishers and marketers, has a wide range of in house immediate associate offers you.
Working with is totally without charge. We do not bill any sign-up rates like several online communities do and ask exclusively for crucial related information, most notably your details, chief approach of obtaining internet site visitors and marketing campaigns experience level.
Just after you absolute the sign up manner, one of our pros will get a hold of consumers to make clear the specifics and provide you with a simple orientation instantly.
Understand that to start out pushing our features, you dont demand a site of your own – communal information, blogs and forums besides other types of site visitors will do really.
It is usually very common knowledge that the degree of approvals newest affiliates at significant network systems is by and large very low, and is done to counteract damaging site traffic and stop putting things off. Though adventure is necessary, at we certainly have enough methods to teach and aid affiliates interested in department into new and consequently, use a bigger approval premium.
Predetermined percentage rates are specified in give info. Monthly payments are designed just about every 14 days by means of among the list of below payment solutions: or cable exchange (which happens to be undoubtedly well over an average three or more equipment delivered by other companies). The minimum amount degree of settlement is good for cost models and also for wire transmit.
Assuming you have ever previously dealt with other communities or at best went affiliate program reviews, you will know some agencies set the absolute minimum check tolerance at as well as lesser. The reason why we dont take action is straightforward – a large percentage of our supplies are huge paying up, so that you will definitely have enough mandatory on your own bill when it is time to build the procedure. Besides, the regularity of payments is superior to at several network systems. Big networks cant manage to pay on a regular basis thanks to the bulkiness of the budgetary products. You can easily.
One of the few primary advantages of using the services of would be the everyday life in length word of mouth commission payment product. The rate is defined at pct for each final sale generated by the called associate. Basically, a lot of our affiliates like to focus their endeavours entirely on delivering new lovers to the networking – this is how great it may get.
Then one keep working finance feature – we dont possess any dormant bank account expenses. That is definitely, if you have documented with your network system and neglected to get everything for seasons, we are going to not bill you (like a great deal of other communities do). We wont de-activate your money effortlessly, but rather get hold of you clarify what youd like to undertake future.
Another advantage to become a developing network system is having ample membership directors to handle each and every question instantly. At the time you register, we are going to designate a director to your personal credit account, who will be speaking to you (together with which you are able to call your body) by Skype.
Contact form? Absolutely, now we have it, but we give preference to to handle dilemmas and doubts within the earlier and much more beneficial approach. And just in case – the help, therefore, you will not be limited to just English.
To help get the full graphic, having said that, you should go over they all, do a comparison of remarks, figure out associated content, remove fluff and will make selections in accordance with what has been discovered out. To illustrate, there can be at a minimum six populated with links to numerous reviews. It may take time, as well as effort to parse them.
A seriously as you are prior we offered up our amazing following body and transformed into – one of the popular affiliate marketing platforms. As soon as listed, advertisers obtain access to their own personal accounts into the system, wherever they will manage the has they endorse, get headlines, maintain a record of sales and obligations and put together files. It can be seriously worth directed out in which the product truly is easy-to-use – it is possible to more often than not get all the information you wish within a only a few mouse clicks. Exclusive trackers utilized by other systems tend to be quite advanced and ask for tutoring. In addition (and that is certainly why we now have transformed), entrepreneurs sense safer whenever you are his or her progression and commission rates are measured by a 3rd party and not just the networking per se.
Please do not think twice to see our document or contact us direct to get additional details – good be happy to provide you with it. Our plan is to guide you make an educated call almost working with our networking, and when you need to do sign up, good present each of the backup and important information to start out allowing actual money in functioning marketing campaigns. | 2019-04-21T15:07:07Z | https://sourcedirectdeals.authsafe.com/?paged=311 |
How to say what needs to be said?
Astute readers will have noticed the slight change in the title and header of this blog, from "Bad Pennies: They'll come back as soon as they're ready," to a more singular variety.
That is because, as of today, I am, as they say, on my own.
I started this blog when Craig and I moved to Australia, to keep in touch with Atlanta-based beloved people. And over the last three years, it has grown, and it has reflected nearly every shift in our lives.
And I have grown. And Craig has grown.
And we are no longer who we were when we set off on an adventure called Australia.
So, this blog will now reflect this shift in our lives.
We are each on our own.
Happier posts coming soon, I promise, dear dear readers.
My trip to Manchester wasn't all relaxation and train-station-based theatre, my friends, oh no. It was also a serious business trip that had me visiting the Photon Science Institute to have a stickybeak, meet prospective collaborators, give a presentation and paint myself as generally competent and good drinking company in case they feel like handing out postdoctoral appointments soon. And so on Wednesday we set out for the uni in classic Craig fashion, i.e., unsure of where the building is, exactly, and what it's called. Fortunately I had my contact's number written down and we didn't have problems. In short, the visit was very good, and my presentation was fine, and Nija, ever the fan of science, came along too, wearing her new T-Rex necklace. Nija sat down in the third row or so, amidst the people of the Institute.
G: (smarmily, eyebrow cocked) Heh-looooo, are you a student at the Institute?
N: (chipperly) No, that's my sweetheart up there! The ginger!
G folds his arms and slumps into his chair.
N: So are you a student here? What do you do?
G: Nothing. It's complicated. Whatever. Mumbles.
A true slice of life! Oh well, can't win them all.
Anyhow, we set out after the visit to one of England's classic destinations, the Lake District (or possibly the Lakes District), famous for astounding scenery, quaint villagelets and rakish authors who died more than a century ago, like Wordsworth and Thomas de Quincey. It's about an hour north of Manchester, so in Sydney terms it's in metropolitan Manchester. We set out on our journey in classic Craig fashion, i.e., I had looked at the map (as we sat in the car before leaving) and kept telling myself the numbers of the motorways we needed to take, but didn't write it down as I thought "It's only two numbers, how can I forget?" Well, first we got stuck in traffic (or we participated in traffic, as it were) on the Ring Road for an hour just trying to get to the other side of town. Second, all the motorways leaving Manchester are sixty-something, so I just basically got mixed up between 61 and 66.
A good 30 minutes into our journey up the 66, the thing terminated and put us onto a surface street. I was trying to get to the M6. Something was amiss. Nija had to drag out the map, which she hates being responsible for, and I wound up agitated and not very friendly about getting us to the 61, so we could get to the 6. It wasn't pretty, and I was sorry, and I encourage you to write things down, reader, lest you wake your partner from a pleasant doze to give her bad news and then have her fix it.
We did get to the 61 (thanks, darling) and then to the 6, and then wound our way up past wind turbines and through lovely countryside into Cumbria and the hamlets of the Lakes. Fortunately, summer was on its way to the North and so it was light out until about 10PM---fantastic---so even though it took us twice as long to get there than expected and even though we'd left in mid-afternoon, we could still take in the epic landscapes and mirrored surfaces of the lakes, meres, tarns, sluices, estuaries, wassers, fjords, estanques, pozos, billabongs, and whatever else they call ponds up there in that part of the shop.
On a friend's recommendation, we planned to stay in Grasmere, a village about 20 minutes beyond Windermere, "the Katoomba of the Lakes". We got there and checked ourselves into a comfortable guest house, headed into the dark for a pub meal, then returned with wine.
Next morning we were surprised to find that someone had been making sacrifices to the god of good weather; despite the rainy week we'd had in Manchester we got one of the Lakes' elusive beautiful days. We packed up some of the food we'd brought from the city, had some breakfast, picked up some maps, and headed out according to one of them on a several-hour walk around Grasmere lake. Fifteen minutes later, we still hadn't gotten out of Grasmere, because we couldn't figure out where, exactly, the map was telling us to start. I suppose it was more of a set of vague instructions than a "map", per se. Eventually, thanks to the help of a kindly hotel receptionist, we were on the right track.
It was indeed an excellent walk, and by the time we got back to Grasmere we were in need of some tea and cake, which fortunately were available at the tea and cake shop. Afterward we grabbed our car and toodled up toward Penrith, capital of the Eastern Lake District. We were hoping for a scenic journey, whatever the destination, and my choice of a tiny little squiggle on the map to get there paid off big-time, with some harrowing driving and frankly unbelievable views. It doesn't make for good blogging, though, since we didn't take pictures; we just sat agog at the immensity and diversity of the landscape, from green pasture-lined hills to sharp, craggy, dusty ranges, all in the span of a few miles.
We made it to Penrith in one piece. For our Australian readers, this is the original Penrith we're talking about here, and let me tell you that it's quite an honour to set foot in the place that inspired our own mountainside metropolis. One can see why some voyager might have longed for his home such that he decided to spawn a new one. There is a nice clock tower.
And note this in your travel journals: not a pub in Penrith has macaroni and cheese. We checked. But they do serve beer, and hot chips, and so we tucked in, and watched Obama give a speech without the sound on, and we headed back to Grasmere for a quiet night.
What is a train station?
Before Craig got here, a friend of mine asked me what Craig and I would do. I listed the knowns: spend time introducing Craig to my new friends, go to the Lake District, go to Mossley and see Acorn's Antiques. I said there were unknowns, too.
My friend said, "I thought you'd just spend all week in bed."
I laughed. "Right," I said, "We're not really that sort of people."
In the ten short days that Craig was in Manchester, we did many things. Some might say too many. For example: on his fabulously rainy last day, we went to the Manchester Art Gallery. But no one could possibly question Station Stories.
Piccadilly train station is, perhaps, not quite at the centre of the city, but it is Manchester's main train station. Its current incarnation was built in the 60s, and as such, it is an enormous glass structure. In its own way, it can be beautiful.
It is modern, with digital arrival and departure signs. 12 train platforms, as well as the Metrolink light rail platforms below. It is also a mall, housing Starbucks, Monsoon, TieRack, and the only Manchester branch of the enormous UK chain The Bagel Factory, which sells and promotes bagels as "America's best kept health secret!" Indicating, of course, a nearly complete misunderstanding of bagels, Americans, and more generally, perhaps more sadly, health.
But what is a train station? For the most part, I think, for most people, a train station is a waiting place. A place merely designed to take you from home to a place you want or need to be. It is a place you deal with, a place where you undergo sacrifice of time and pleasure, in order to get somewhere you would prefer to be. Or perhaps somewhere you have to be.
A train station is also a public place, where many people have private trajectories. Some are coming home, some are starting holidays. Some are leaving for work, some arriving from it. In many public places, everyone is largely doing the same thing, in restaurants, most people eat. But train stations are a special sort of public place, with special rules. You do not usually congregate in a train station. You pay 30p to use the restroom. There are special rules.
And for the most part, I think, for most people, not a lot happens in a train station. It is a waiting place. It is a getting from here to there place. It is just an in-between place.
Approximately 12 strangers stand on the mezzanine of Piccadilly Station, looking down at the ground floor. Imagine you are watching the amorphous crowd. You stand, watching, picking out individuals as they make their ways through the station. This one has an enormous backpack. Maybe she's on her way to the trip of a lifetime. Maybe she's just returned from it. Maybe, just maybe, you think, Manchester is part of it.
You and approximately 11 strangers are not only standing on a mezzanine and watching. You are all also wearing headphones, making you look, if anyone cared to look, like a group of very special people.
In the headphones, you hear ambient music, sounds from around the train station. You can also hear muffled announcements, fighting their way into your ears, despite the headphones.
And then you hear a man's voice, very nearly inside your head, telling you the story of the girl he met, loved and lost at the train station.
You hear him, but you do not see him. He is one of the crowd.
And because you cannot see him, he could be anyone. These thoughts, this story you're hearing, they could be anyone's. Because a train station is a waiting place, that makes it also, strangely sometimes, a thinking place. And any of these people you're watching could be thinking this. Something like this.
Eventually, if you pay attention, he makes himself known. He wanders through the crowd, speaking quietly into a wireless microphone, and though you are 50 feet away, you can hear him just as you could if he were in your bed, telling you everything he'd been through with that woman. It feels like he's talking to you.
Really, he's talking to you. And approximately 11 strangers.
He told us his story, about how she wrote him cards, and how he needed to get rid of them, now that she wasn't his any longer. He tries leaving them around the station these days, he says, but it's hard. People are always noticing, giving them back to him. "Hey, mate! You dropped this!"
And as in his story, so in real life. You and approximately 11 strangers are the only ones, you see, who know he's trying to drop these things. And you are unnoticed. You are 50 feet away. There are many people in this train station who are there merely to wait, and they do what people do. Mostly, they do not notice. They do not notice him dropping his love letters, and they do not notice approximately 12 strangers watching them, with headphones on. But some do notice.
"Hey mate," they say, in entirely good faith. "You dropped this!"
He takes the card back, and thanks them for noticing, and continues telling his story and drops the card again.
And you stand there on the mezzanine and listen to this private story unfold. You watch and hear this performance, performed for an intimate audience: only you and approximately 11 strangers.
Is a train station, then, a private place?
Or is a train station, then, a theatre?
We heard six stories that day, performed by six writers. They performed at different parts of the station, and we walked to varying areas to hear and sometimes see them.
David Gaffney, Nicholas Royle, and Jenn Ashworth were especially memorable, perhaps only because I had already heard of those writers. Or perhaps because I could, in some way, relate to the stories they told.
There was a very obscure sort of poetry by Tom Jenks that was difficult to hang onto because I could not read his words as he said them, and his words were sometimes tricks, as poems can sometimes be. There was a conspiracy tale about the Masons.
Their stories were live-mixed with music and sounds from around the train station. Very cool technology was used to transmit the live-mix to our headphones.
It was futuristic. No. It was the future. I think this because Station Stories, in a way, raised almost too many questions for it not to be the future.
When you really start thinking about them, they are truly strange places. They are never fully closed, so there is never really an "inside." They have doors that demarcate inside and outside for people. But the doors for the trains are always open to the outside. Perhaps it makes sense for them to mix public and private like this, to be so ambiguous.
For Station Stories, the thoroughfares were the stage, sometimes. And sometimes the dead spaces of the station were the stage.
Is it ok to have people to unintentionally become part of a performance against their knowledge and/or will? Or where is the line between art and life, and are we allowed to find them and trample on them in this way? Are we not allowed? Who lays down those rules?
What is a performance? And who are performers?
The writers, surely, were performing. Traditionally. But what of the strangers who didn't know what was going on, and yet still played by the special rules of the train station, by refusing to let a man drop a card and keep walking? What of them doing what was expected? What of the others who ignored the cards, who didn't notice the cards? What of them doing what was equally expected?
And more to the point and to the problem questions.
Occasionally people pointed up at the mezzanine, alerting their family to our presence, laughed at the specials, or just looked confused in our direction. We looked back, sometimes. That, too, was that a performance?
Of course, individual lives and stories and trajectories are going on everywhere all the time. Only a solipsist could imagine otherwise.
Which is too bad, because I feel like I look rather stern and unhappy in that picture. Just about angry.
"No," he said. "That's what you look like when you're thinking."
Oh, dear. I might need to stop thinking so much, if that's how I look, I said.
And he said something sweet, like he does, because he's that sort of person. It was, undoubtedly, loving. The kind of thing he says all the time that I forget quite easily. I'm that sort of person.
Two days later, we were back at Piccadilly, this time having a private story of our own in that very public space. He was leaving again, and this time I won't see him for probably a full year, unless we manage something magical. He probably did, but I can't remember if he told me this time that I look beautiful.
I don't remember the right things sometimes. I'm that sort of person.
This is a footnote, added mere hours after this post was published.
I have twice been in train stations when they became not waiting places.
Years ago in Atlanta, I was on my way to a protest against an abomination that is otherwise known as war. I was traveling on MARTA, which is an abomination in itself. I tell you what, it is not "Smarta."
Having cleverly deduced that a truly massive horde of protestors (maybe 30 people?) were using public transit to attend the protest (because, I suppose, we were holding placards and banners that said, sometimes, "No Blood for Oil"), the cops shut MARTA down to prevent us joining the massive horde that was already at the protest location. Which is to say, our combined might would have equalled that of... well, maybe 100 people. Protesting isn't that big in Atlanta. We were already on the train, and we were only a few stops away, but now we were locked in.
And someone started singing. Not some obvious protest song, not Woody Guthrie or Bob Dylan. Not Joe Hill. Oh, no. No, no.
Take my hand, we'll make it, I swear!
O-oh! Living on a prayer!
I present for your judging eyes, then, dear readers: Bon Jovi as a transformer of space.
Craig and I waited on the platform, just a few weeks ago, for the train that would arrive and a few minutes later, take him away. We said our goodbyes, the train rolled in. And rather than him quietly taking his seat, we were overwhelmed by 100s of laughing, cheering, partying, screaming people streaming out of the train.
Man City had just won the FA cup. City fans made the train, the train station, the streets into a place of pride.... Craig's train left with him on it, and I followed the party into the train station and out of it, laughing and taking heart in the collective joy that filled the train station. | 2019-04-22T02:13:03Z | http://atlsyd.blogspot.com/2011/06/ |
Beverly from La Brea to North Gardner, North Highland and Echo Park have a bunch of wonderful stores to check out. Here are a some of my favorite finds.
Last week, NYC was filled with so many beautiful things to see. Below are a few of my top finds from some of the art & design shows. My favorites being: the single-arm Petit Frank chair, selections from the Kramarsky Collection, Nucleo resin furniture and the Round Cupside silver mirror which can be made in polished copper- imagine how stunning that would be!!
I often day dream about the design of my ideal kitchen- what kind of materials would I use, what appliances would I select and so forth. While it's easy to design anything spectacular with an unlimited budget, we often make decisions based largely on cost. In working with my clients to design their kitchen, the first goal is to make the space as functional as possible. A good starting point is to list your necessary requirements and existing restrictions. Some clients are big cooks while others favor ordering in. And in Manhattan, one is often dealing with small existing spaces which have their own limitations and requires some creativity.
But let's start with the basics and go through the check list.
Ideally I love wood floors in kitchens. They are softer on your physical body, warmer and create a nice balance to all the hard surfaces (cabinets, appliances, stone countertops, etc). It is important to be mindful that in a high traffic and busy work areas, the darker and shiner the wood stain & finish the more scratches will show. In particular, you will see more signs by the sink and stove as these get constant wear and tear.
If you are going to use a stone or tile floor, I love the idea of an old material for the floor, like the Petit Granite from Equistite Surfaces. Old limestone or marble floor tiles add a nice contrast to modern cabinets and appliances.
In the last few years my taste in cabinetry leans more and more modern. Meaning, I like a clean plain profiles with little to no molding or recessed paneling. While paint grade cabinets can look well, I also love using cerused oak (yes it's tried and true my favorite). The nice thing about using wood cabinets, is that they won't chip like paint which inevitably will over time. While the upfront cost for wood is more, the long term maintenance cost is less as you won't need to repaint them. Since lower cabinets tend to take more of a beating than the uppers, I sometimes use cerused oak on the lower faces and then white high gloss lacquered cabinets on the uppers. Clear maple interiors with under drawer glides are a must and look and perform the best in my opinion.
Laying out all of the drawers with the architect and cabinetmakers is critical. Each drawer should be assigned for it's purpose- flatware, drying towels, tupperware, knives, etc. It's best to think logically here and try and organize the drawers and cabinets based on function. Plates and glasses are best near the dishwashers and so forth. If you want to keep your countertops clean, then I like knife drawers with built in knife blocks or a magnetic wall strip to house your knives. I like keeping my countertops as clean as possible and if you haven't figured it out yet- I have OCD tendencies so I like my kitchen to be organized in a logical way.
Make sure your uppers are deep enough to hold your dinner plates (most of which are 10" diameter) but some are larger so make double check and measure.
When reviewing plans, keep in mind that most drawer fronts are roughly 2" wider than the interior of the drawers. An 8" wide drawer front means the interior of your drawer is only 6". That won't allow for much! As such, it is crucial that you measure everything and double check the drawings over and over. Stiles in my opinion can be a waste of space that could be capitalized for storage and should be omitted when possible.
If saving money is key, and you don't mind seeing your dishes and glasses, then open shelves are the way to go. However this only looks good if you are organized and have one set of china & glasses, and so forth. If your tastes are eclectic and have a collection of mix and match stuff, best to hide it. If you opt for open shelves, reserve this for your plates and glasses only, not your pantry. Keep the pantry behind closed doors. Even if you are tidy and line up your crackers, cereals and nuts, it still looks better behind closed doors.
I love creating a vertical tray storage. This is great for baking sheets, cutting boards and large serving trays. You can never have enough of these in my opinion.
Often treated as an afterthought, choosing cabinet hardware that you love the look and feel of is crucial. Knobs vs. pulls. Long vs. short. How does it feel in your hand? These are all things to explore. I tend to prefer a long modern pull to a more traditional knob. I like using the long pulls on both the uppers (used vertical) and lowers (used horizontal). I would suggest having the cabinet maker create a sample drawer or cabinet panel for your approval to see the proportions and the quality of the finish. The sample face can be brought to the hardware store to select what looks best. I'll say it again, you want to hold the hardware in your hand and make sure if feels good to you. You will be grabbing for these multiple times throughout your day (assuming you actually go in your kitchen!) and it is important that the size and scale, as well as location, are comfortable for your grasp.
I am a huge fan of getting a filtered water tap. Most tap water, while touted to be clean, still contains high levels of certain metals among other properties. It also helps cut down on bottled water usage. Hot water spouts are not useful in my opinion. Why put money into them and take up counter-space and under-cabinet space when you can simply by a tea kettle? Check out Perrin & Rowe who make some nice filtered taps. One note- make sure you change the filter at least every 6 months!
I prefer a goose neck spout which is nice when filling large pots. I also like a built-in hose for the spout when possible.
I only like using undermount sinks and quite honestly loath overmounts. They tend to look messy because of the exposed caulking. I don't mind farm house sinks if it compliments the style of your kitchen. While white porcelain sinks are a classic look and are easier to clean, I prefer the clean modern look of stainless steel. I prefer one large sink vs. two smaller ones. A minimum of 30" wide x 8-10" deep is nice. Any deeper is unnecessary and too commercial. But anything less than 8" is far too shallow. Keep in mind if it is an undercount you are also gaining the thickness of the countertop in addition to the depth of your sink.
I loathe putting a dishwasher under a sink- simply terrible and unfunctional- in my opinion just don't do a dishwasher at that point. Make sure you don't have to move from the sink to open the dishwasher. I can't tell you how many kitchens are poorly layed out in such a manner. Function is put second to the promotional selling point of having a Meile dishwasher- ridiculous!
Unless you cook for large parties and often use massive pots, or you have trouble lifting things, I think they are rarely used and unfunctional. Reasons not to get one- it's nice to let the water run in any spout if it hasn't been on for a while. Pot filler are over stoves so running water over a gas burner is a bad idea. So logically that means you need to let it run over a pot, and then dump the pot out in the sink. Ask yourself- is it worth spending the extra money for the spout itself, cutting into the backsplash and running plumbing behind the stove?
These are of course lovely to have. Some people like them in the kitchen, others in the bar area or even in a basement or out of the way closet.
I try to discourage most clients from buying microwaves. I once had a person "Feng Shui" my office and with a special barometer she found the microwave had bad toxic energy- whatever that means!! Sadly, this has stuck in my head and I choose not to use one and encourage my clients to do the same. While they are quick and efficient, something about them screams NO. For me- they are an extra appliance that takes up space.
While I haven't owned one yet, I am loving the popular inductions stove tops. They have a clean and modern aesthetic and heat up in a flash. Bonus- they are very easy to clean. While there is still a demand for a gas cooktop range, I think these are very promising. If you are going for a gas stove, I think Wolf is just as good as Viking and a little less expensive (owned by the same company). Opt for the black knobs vs the red which will blend in more! Gringer in NYC is a great showroom to see all of the best lines from Miele, Bosch, Gaggenau, Viking, Wolf, Subzero, Liebherr, etc. Marvin is my go to man there!
Subzero's are gorgeous and nice, and also super expensive. So if you are on a budget then consider Fisher & Paykel or GE. Liebherr is great if you are tight on space and don't have a lot of depth. I am not a huge fan of refrigerator drawers. I don't know why but they just bug me. While they are nice in a bar bc you can panel the fronts to hide and integrate them, I just don't like them. Ice machines are another story too. If you are like me and don't use ice cubes in your beverages then you don't need this. But do make sure your refrigerator has built in ice trays- not all do, which requires a plumbing line. If you cannot get a plumbing line to your refrigerator then you will need to use old school ice trays. Ice machines to me are like microwaves, unnecessary. But if you are entertainging quite often, or love to chuck your own oysters, then maybe you want them. But be careful where you place them because no matter what ice machines make noise- so don't put one in your screening room!
I am not a fan of dishwasher drawers. Instead get an 18"wide Miele. And of course if you have the room for it, get a regular 24"wide dishwasher. I think Miele & Bosch are the best and worth the investment. I also am a huge fan of leaving appliances as appliances and not covering them with a face frame to hide or integrate them. Stainless steel is gorgeous- so just look for clean lines with a nice shaped handle. A hidden control panel on a dishwasher is a nice touch.
You can never have enough light in your kitchen. You first need to decide if you want to do recessed or decorative lights or a combination of the two. I usually like a combination- recessed over cabinets and decorative over an island. But of course it all depends. If your kitchen is very large, then it will look cleaner with recessed lights vs. dotting your ceiling with decorative lights. Keep in mind if using metal shades (like industrial halophonies)- they only shine down and not all around.
Undercounted lights are always a divisive topic. I like them- are they necessary? No. They provide nice ambient light. Make sure to get LED strips so they don't get hot. Some of the older under-counter lights tend to get super hot, which is not great right under your pantry or oil storage. Because you need to build a recessed niche under the cabinets to hide them, be sure that your cabinet maker & electrician are involved in the planning of such lights.
There are two options for outlets. You can either do backlash outlets (I prefer duplex outlets layed horizontally). Depending on the color of the stone I either use a stainless steel or white cover plate. You can also do a strip outlet, where there are plugs about every 6". This is great and very clean so you don't need to cut into your stone backsplash and these are located in the back and underside of your upper cabinets. Do not put these in the front of the upper cabinets- can you imagine having a cord hanging from the front near the countertop edge? If you plan on leaving your toaster or coffee maker plugged in at all time, then go for your duplex outlet in the backsplash. Otherwise be prepared to unplug these after use with the electrical strip unless you want to see your cord dangling down.
Marble and other natural stones are a beautiful look in a kitchen, however, I don't love polished stones which often looks too shiny, and most honed natural stones will pit with acid. All natural stones for the most part are susceptible to wear from lemon juice and other acids like red wine. And that's ok. A limestone top can look fabulous with pit marks if that is the look you are going for. You just need to know this going in. Also you need to select a stone with large enough slabs if you are doing an island in one piece. Otherwise, you need to cut the stone in such a way that it works. Generally speaking I like using 3cm or 1.25" thickness with a square 1/8" eased edge. I also love a thicker countertop, like a 2-3"thick countertop, which can be achieved by building up the countertop or mitering the edge. Note that you will see a seam so a good fabricator matters.
I prefer using slabs for the backlashes because I think it is a nice continuation of the countertop and looks clean. However this of course depends on what countertop you use. Keep in mind that if your countertop is 3cm you may want to use 2cm as the backsplash for cost and depth, unless of course you have waste from the countertop. If you are buying a 2cm slab for the backsplash it will need to match the 3cm slabs for the countertop. This is key- you need to go to stone yard and inspect the slabs in person. This may even require going to a few stone yards to find the material or pieces you like. All natural stone needs to be sealed and best done at least once a year!!
Recently I have been loving Caesarstone and Glassos. Caesarstone is a composite man-made stone, which functions much like granite so it's hard, but has a satin finish that is between a honed and polished. I love the white color best. I also love Glassos. This material is a little harder to fabricate and install, and has a more polished finish, but is gorgeous and modern and white!
Last word on stones, You need to select materials that matches your home and the style of your home and it's location. So if you have a traditional country house then consider using a honed stone and not polished. If you are modernizing it and want to add a modern kitchen, then be mindful of what you select so it doesn't feel like it flew in from the set of the Jetsons.
In general- I try and keep my kitchens on the lighter side. While dark wood kitchens, like Danish modern walnut cabinets, can look beautiful- in the end you will have a dark room that is more masculine, and for me, I like things lighter and airer.
If you are about to embark on a renovation or just thinking about one, here are a few of my favorite things to help in the process of building or renovating your kitchen.
Enlightened- having or showing a rational, modern, and well-informed outlook. Synonyms: well informed, aware, open-minded, knowledgable, wise.
I feel reinvigorated with a new inspiration for learning and growing. Knowledge brings wisdom and for me a sense of joy. The more I see, the more I am inspired to seek out more knowledge which leads to growth. I love sharing freely, hoping what I find unique or inspirational will touch others in some capacity.
In that vain, one of my first discoveries of the new year is Gabriel Scott. For obvious reasons, I source furnishings during the day. However, one evening on my way home from dinner, I was moved by their gorgeous lighting illuminating their Broome Street storefront. Gabriel Kakon and Scott Richler are two of my new favorite designers producing innovative lighting and furniture at reasonable prices. Here are a few of my choice pieces from their collection.
If you are still in need of last minute holiday gifts, here are some ideas for your friends and family.
While my first blog post focused on all things touched in gold, I am following suite highlighting another precious metal- silver. 1. Judith Lieber's Large Airstream Jet Multi Camouflage Clutch would dress up any pair of jeans. 2. I have used Jean Pelle's fabulous Large Bubble Chandelier for several clients ranging from a Hamptons beach house to a child's bedroom. With a choice of plain glass, 12K white gold (as shown) or 24K gilded globes, one could use it in a variety of places. 3. Loeffler Randall Blaise Suede Moccasins are perfect for spring & summer. 4. The chrome backplate on these Antique Glass Sconces Attributed to Kalmar transforms the staggered clear glass columns with shades of silver. 5. When shopping in London last June, I spotted these stunning Quartz Tables at Dale Rogers Ammonite. 6. William Jackson's round disk 216 Andirons in polished pewter accent any small fireplace with a touch of modernity. 7. And last but certainly not least, adorn your toes with Butter London Nail Lacquer in Diamond Geezer- my tried & true staple for the last two years.
If I had it my way, everything would be made in cerused oak- I can't seem to get enough of it! It's dressy and casual, and in the right context can look amazing. I've highlighted some of my favorite light and dark cerused oak pieces. Imagine a room with textured ivory Venetian plaster walls, cerused oak tables, parchment tabletops and white Murano glass lamps- stylish serenity. While some items can be pricey, Serena & Lily just offered a set of nesting night tables that are reasonably affordable with great lines. Here is a little piece on the history of cerusing (a.k.a. liming) for those who want to know more.
1. Carte Armchair by Mattaliano.
2. "Cardin" Table Lamp Designed by Kimille Taylor sold through Valerie Goodman Gallery.
3. Robjohn Gibbings for Widdicomb Cerused Sideboard sold through Eric Appel Antiques.
4. Natural Limed Oak Bookcase sold through Mecox Garden & Arteriors.
5. Pair of Grey Cerused Formation Benches designed by Irwin Feld sold through CF Modern.
6. Cerused Oak Wall and Floor Treatment by Kelly Wearstler for her client's Tribeca Triplex.
7. Black Oak Cabinet designed by Jean-Michel Frank sold through ROARK.
8. Ebonized "Pierre" lamp by Kimille Taylor sold through Valerie Goodman Gallery.
9. Rowe Nesting Tables by Serena and Lily. | 2019-04-24T06:00:45Z | http://elizabethkohndesign.com/elizabeth-kohn-creamcoloredpony/?category=Lighting |
If there's anything we can do now about the risks of superintelligent AI, then OpenAI makes humanity less safe.
Once upon a time, some good people were worried about the possibility that humanity would figure out how to create a superintelligent AI before they figured out how to tell it what we wanted it to do. If this happened, it could lead to literally destroying humanity and nearly everything we care about. This would be very bad. So they tried to warn people about the problem, and to organize efforts to solve it.
Specifically, they called for work on aligning an AI’s goals with ours - sometimes called the value alignment problem, AI control, friendly AI, or simply AI safety - before rushing ahead to increase the power of AI.
Some other good people listened. They knew they had no relevant technical expertise, but what they did have was a lot of money. So they did the one thing they could do - throw money at the problem, giving it to trusted parties to try to solve the problem. Unfortunately, the money was used to make the problem worse. This is the story of OpenAI.
This post will be much easier to follow if you have some familiarity with the AI safety problem. For a quick summary you can read Scott Alexander’s Superintelligence FAQ. For a more comprehensive account see Nick Bostrom’s book Superintelligence.
AI is an area in which even most highly informed people should have lots of uncertainty. I wouldn't be surprised if my opinion changes a lot after publishing this post, as I learn relevant information. I'm publishing this because I think this process should go on in public.
2.1 What if OpenAI and DeepMind are working on problems relevant to superintelligence?
2.2 What if OpenAI and DeepMind are not working on problems relevant to superintelligence?
3 Why do good inputs turn bad?
Before OpenAI, there was DeepMind, a for-profit venture working on "deep learning” techniques. It was widely regarded as the advanced AI research organization. If any current effort was going to produce superhuman intelligence, it was DeepMind.
Hassabis, a co-founder of the mysterious London laboratory DeepMind, had come to Musk’s SpaceX rocket factory, outside Los Angeles, a few years ago. […] Musk explained that his ultimate goal at SpaceX was the most important project in the world: interplanetary colonization.
Musk is not going gently. He plans on fighting this with every fiber of his carbon-based being. Musk and Altman have founded OpenAI, a billion-dollar nonprofit company, to work for safer artificial intelligence.
OpenAI’s primary strategy is to hire top AI researchers to do cutting-edge AI capacity research and publish the results, in order to ensure widespread access. Some of this involves making sure AI does what you meant it to do, which is a form of the value alignment problem mentioned above.
No one knows exactly what research will result in the creation of a general intelligence that can do anything a human can, much less a superintelligence - otherwise we’d already know how to build one. Some AI research is clearly not on the path towards superintelligence - for instance, applying known techniques to new fields. Other AI research is more general, and might plausibly be making progress towards a superintelligence. It could be that the sort of research DeepMind and OpenAI are working on is directly relevant to building a superintelligence, or it could be that their methods will tap out long before then. These are different scenarios, and need to be evaluated separately.
What if OpenAI and DeepMind are working on problems relevant to superintelligence?
If OpenAI is working on things that are directly relevant to the creation of a superintelligence, then its very existence makes an arms race with DeepMind more likely. This is really bad! Moreover, sharing results openly makes it easier for other institutions or individuals, who may care less about safety, to make progress on building a superintelligence.
One thing nearly everyone thinking seriously about the AI problem agrees on, is that an arms race towards superintelligence would be very bad news. The main problem occurs in what is called a “fast takeoff” scenario. If AI progress is smooth and gradual even past the point of human-level AI, then we may have plenty of time to correct any mistakes we make. But if there’s some threshold beyond which an AI would be able to improve itself faster than we could possibly keep up with, then we only get one chance to do it right.
AI value alignment is hard, and AI capacity is likely to be easier, so anything that causes an AI team to rush makes our chances substantially worse; if they get safety even slightly wrong but get capacity right enough, we may all end up dead. But you’re worried that the other team will unleash a potentially dangerous superintelligence first, then you might be willing to skip some steps on safety to preempt them. But they, having more reason to trust themselves than you, might notice that you’re rushing ahead, get worried that your team will destroy the world, and rush their (probably safe but they’re not sure) AI into existence.
DeepMind used to be the standout AI research organization. With a comfortable lead on everyone else, they would be able to afford to take their time to check their work if they thought they were on the verge of doing something really dangerous. But OpenAI is now widely regarded as a credible close competitor. However dangerous you think DeepMind might have been in the absence of an arms race dynamic, this makes them more dangerous, not less. Moreover, by sharing their results, they are making it easier to create other close competitors to DeepMind, some of whom may not be so committed to AI safety.
We at least know that DeepMind, like OpenAI, has put some resources into safety research. What about the unknown people or organizations who might leverage AI capacity research published by OpenAI?
For more on how openly sharing technology with extreme destructive potential might be extremely harmful, see Scott Alexander’s Should AI be Open?, and Nick Bostrom’s Strategic Implications of Openness in AI Development.
What if OpenAI and DeepMind are not working on problems relevant to superintelligence?
Suppose OpenAI and DeepMind are largely not working on problems highly relevant to superintelligence. (Personally I consider this the more likely scenario.) By portraying short-run AI capacity work as a way to get to safe superintelligence, OpenAI’s existence diverts attention and resources from things actually focused on the problem of superintelligence value alignment, such as MIRI or FHI.
I suspect that in the long-run this will make it harder to get funding for long-run AI safety organizations. The Open Philanthropy Project just made its largest grant ever, to Open AI, to buy a seat on OpenAI’s board for Open Philanthropy Project executive director Holden Karnofsky. This is larger than their recent grants to MIRI, FHI, FLI, and the Center for Human-Compatible AI all together.
But the problem is not just money - it’s time and attention. The Open Philanthropy Project doesn’t think OpenAI is underfunded, and could do more good with the extra money. Instead, it seems to think that Holden can be a good influence on OpenAI. This means that of the time he's allocating to AI safety, a fair amount has been diverted to OpenAI.
This may also make it harder for organizations specializing in the sort of long-run AI alignment problems that don't have immediate applications to attract top talent. People who hear about AI safety research and are persuaded to look into it will have a harder time finding direct efforts to solve key long-run problems, since an organization focused on increasing short-run AI capacity will dominate AI safety's public image.
Why do good inputs turn bad?
OpenAI was founded by people trying to do good, and has hired some very good and highly talented people. It seems to be doing genuinely good capacity research. To the extent to which this is not dangerously close to superintelligence, it’s better to share this sort of thing than not – they could create a huge positive externality. They could construct a fantastic public good. Making the world richer in a way that widely distributes the gains is very, very good.
Separately, many people at OpenAI seem genuinely concerned about AI safety, want to prevent disaster, and have done real work to promote long-run AI safety research. For instance, my former housemate Paul Christiano, who is one of the most careful and insightful AI safety thinkers I know of, is currently employed at OpenAI. He is still doing AI safety work – for instance, he coauthored Concrete Problems in AI Safety with, among others, Dario Amodei and John Schulman, other OpenAI researchers.
Unfortunately, I don’t see how those two things make sense jointly in the same organization. I’ve talked with a lot of people about this in the AI risk community, and they’ve often attempted to steelman the case for OpenAI, but I haven’t found anyone willing to claim, as their own opinion, that OpenAI as conceived was a good idea. It doesn’t make sense to anyone, if you’re worried at all about the long-run AI alignment problem.
Something very puzzling is going on here. Good people tried to spend money on addressing an important problem, but somehow the money got spent on the thing most likely to make that exact problem worse. Whatever is going on here, it seems important to understand if you want to use your money to better the world.
This entry was posted in Effective Altruism on April 3, 2017 by Benquo.
Largely due to the influence of AI Safety-inclined people willing to work at OpenAI, and now Holden on the board, OpenAI is not OpenAI as originally conceived. Everyone I've talked to who was at all close to the issue agrees that the "Open" in the name is in name only, and has been relegated to a background value to be respected only as long as it is safe, given lip service because it's still an applause light and signal of prosocial programming to people who have thought less deeply.
This seems consistent with many things I've seen, except for one: In the recent panel discussion at Asilomar that involved Elon Musk, in his opening statement, his two points were (1) that AI needs to be democratised, and (2) we need to create a neural lace.
This signalled to me that Elon's main concern still surrounds democratisation of AI, and I feel that he will still influence the thinking and mission of all employees at OpenAI. Which made me update that OpenAI is more likely to be damaging.
Have you published specific criticisms of Paul's safety work yet? If not, I'd encourage you to. I think Paul would too.
I find his writing too frustrating to read to do it justice, and don't really excuse to be taken seriously regardless.
+1 on finding Christiano's writing difficult to read.
I'll disagree and say that I enjoy Paul's writing (as do several others I know). It's definitely not targeted at non-experts in ML though.
I think Paul's writing is pretty easy to read; I guess my only complaint is that it's sometimes to find the post where he explains something.
Um, surely you can't expect to be taken more seriously by claiming that you know better than Paul and then refusing to provide any arguments whatsoever when someone explicitly asks for them? Are you consciously bluffing here and expecting to get away with it?
Let me unpack what I'm trying to get at in more detail: if it's not worth the costs to write up an argument for a claim because people won't believe you, then why bother making the claim? Making a claim without an argument makes sense if the audience contains people who trust you enough to believe your claim without an argument. But if the audience consists of people who won't believe you even with an argument, then they certainly won't believe you without one!
Zach, I perceive you as operating under an "arguments as soldiers" frame. You say: why bother send your soldiers out if they don't have rifles? They will be easily defeated. Consider also the "conversation as information transfer" frame. In this frame, maybe I put forth some effort to transmit information to you. I was not obliged to do this, and I'm also not obliged to provide further information. Maybe if Paul responded to PDV and said "I promise to read whatever criticism you write of me and take it seriously" then PDV would see an incentive to put forth the effort to formulate & transmit additional info.
For the benefit of future readers, PDV subsequently posted a critique of Paul's approach at https://thepdv.wordpress.com/2017/04/15/benignness-is-bottomless/ with additional discussions at https://agentfoundations.org/item?id=1394.
I also think it's worth responding to OpenAI's marketing at face value and pointing out that if you take it literally it's harmful in expectation, regardless of whether they have a secret plan to do better. It seems like something is going pretty badly wrong if, when people make public promises to do things experts think would be harmful, there aren't many public complaints.
Re: OpenAI's "marketing," I think there is more nuance than you give them credit for. Sure, Musk says lots of things, but Sutskever and Brockman (each a senior person) have both explicitly said they'd not release dangerous stuff in the future, and this is in fact discussed in the current mission statement on the website.
Lots of people talk about democratizing AI outside OpenAI, and there is vastly more code/pseudocode released by other organizations, including a big fraction of DeepMind's intellectual work. It is fair to ask if this overall level of openness is too high, which may depend on one's assumptions about timelines. But I don't see a massive difference between DeepMind and OpenAI in terms of philosophy arouns ipenness, other than the name (personally, BeneficialAI or GoodAI seem better to me but the latter is taken 🙂 ).
Lastly, I agree that arms races are very important vut am skeptical of the OpenAI-->arms race theory. If there is any effect, it's a matter of degree, and I agree with someone else's point that it's not just about DeepMind and OpenAI. Other things cause arms races besides new organizations. To be fair in your analysis, you should probably also consider the fact that AlphaGo was directly cited as an accelerant of a Korean AI investment and brought tons of attention to AI in Asia more broadly.
P.S. sorry for the typos, wrote that on my phone.
This doesn't seem like nuance to me - it seems more like strategic ambiguity. Perhaps we should just believe that OpenAI is a bid for the "Good Guys AI" brand, and distrust all specific promises because they blatantly contradict each other. That might just be the right attitude for anyone who isn't personally involved, and most people who are.
What a frustrating comment. For the benefit of the reader, do you want to at least gesture at the unstated assumptions you have in mind?
Does that mean you support the grant, and how confident are you that this [OpenAI not really being open] is effectively true?
This article seems to derive from a misunderstanding of the state of machine learning research.
It wasn't just the DeepMind show before OpenAI started, and DeepMind and OpenAI still aren't the only players in the field.
Consider FAIR, Google Brain, &c. Heck, OpenAI just lost one of their most prominent ML researchers (back) to Google Brain a few months ago.
It makes almost no sense to describe the state of the field as a two-party arms race between DeepMind and OpenAI. That's really just a factually inaccurate premise.
To be more concise, there's no good way to define the group of institutions such that it's just DeepMind and OpenAI. If OpenAI counts, then at least FAIR and Google Brain count as well, and probably also Microsoft and Baidu – and those 4 other groups all predate OpenAI.
I do think DeepMind are the top group in reinforcement learning specifically, but there are plenty of other large, prestigious, advanced industry research groups. Most of them probably don't explicitly claim to be directly working on human-level intelligence, but frankly saying you're working on AGI mostly just sounds silly and pretentious to people in the field.
"Facebook Artificial Intelligence Researchers (FAIR) seek to understand and develop systems with human level intelligence by advancing the longer-term academic problems surrounding AI."
"Make machines intelligent. Improve people’s lives."
"At Microsoft, researchers in artificial intelligence are harnessing the explosion of digital data and computational power with advanced algorithms to enable collaborative and natural interactions between people and machines that extend the human ability to sense, learn and understand. The research infuses computers, materials and systems with the ability to reason, communicate and perform with humanlike skill and agility."
You'd need a painfully contorted definition of criterion (a) to end up with just DeepMind and OpenAI – basically by reading more into PR than into mission statements or actual research.
And I think Vicarious is generally regarded as somewhere between a joke and a scam.
Looks like OpenAI is just another company alongside these many other research groups. So maybe the OP is better cast as "AI research organizations make humanity less safe". I may well be missing something, but it doesn't seem like Ben's original points rely much on openness.
Also, why focus on research groups rather than individual actors? After all, so much ML/AI research is publicly available on arXiv, blogs, etc. Probably, influencing research groups is a better strategy for people who want power over the future. Groups have more power than individuals since there are just more of them doing research (though maybe groupthink could create problems), and influencing each of a group of N people maybe doesn't take N times more effort than influencing a person the same amount.
The hypothesis here seems to be that OpenAI is making humanity less safe by fueling an arms race. It's not the first time I've heard it, and I've come to strongly disagree.
First, some common ground: an arms race is brewing.
OpenAI's role there is massively dwarfed by AlphaGo.
When AlphaGo upset Lee Sedol 4-1, then proceeded to wipe the floor with the rest of the Go community pros (60-0), it hardly went unnoticed in Asia. The game is thousands of years old, a far deeper part of Korean, Japanese, and Chinese culture than chess is here. Their top scientists and government officials will not let DeepMind humiliate them again so easily.
China will have a the worlds most powerful supercomputer up this year - 70 petaflops. Japan is building a 120 petaflops supercomputer dedicated specifically to ML research. We all know how much China likes losing face to Japan; expect bigger supercomputers.
The AI Safety community skews hard Anglo-American. OpenAI and DeepMind have offices less than 50 miles apart. It's easy to forget forget that Asia has highly talented ML researchers. A dominant first place in 2016 ImageNet went to CUImage, second place Hikvision. That isn't Carnegie Mellon and Harvard.
Culturally, Asia is much more amenable to AGI. There is no Cartesian "consciousness" or "soul" reservation we have in the West. There has never been a Chinese AI Winter. Their national strategists can calculate the power of AGI just as lucidly as we can.
Don't expect the arms race to slow down. The world is becoming more nationalistic and less cooperative. I'd bet attempts to slow international progress to increase safety will be viewed in bad faith in China, because Andrew Ng has used his prestige there to mollify safety concerns on state TV with the "overpopulation on Mars" line.
As far as I can see, the arms race is ON. OpenAI and DeepMind are far from the only players. Humanity's hope doesn't lie in trying to sneak the AGI cat back in the bag, but rather progressing in AI Safety as rapidly as possible. If we can open-source a robust AGI Safety testing suite, it might not matter who gets there first. To that end, OpenAI is a massive boon.
"It seems to be doing genuinely good capacity research... Separately, many people at OpenAI seem genuinely concerned about AI safety... Unfortunately, I don’t see how those two things make sense jointly in the same organization."
Actually, I think there is a large benefit here. Many people will take AI Safety much more seriously if it's being proposed by an organization that is doing great capacity research as well. MIRI has often had a lot of difficulty getting people to listen to them, while if Facebook or Google were proposing similar ideas, they would be taken more seriously.
They don't just need to treat the words as prestigious words to say, some of them would need to actually do AI safety research. It's a bit harder for me to see how OpenAI increases the latter on net - obviously it increases the former, but at the cost of substantial watering-down (e.g. implying that ensuring widespread access is a "safety" measure).
In order for AI alignment research to make AI safer, I think there has to be active collaboration or at least open lines of communication between the AI alignment community and whoever is at the forefront of AI (at least, this needs to be the case around the time human-level AI becomes possible). I think this may tip the balance in favor of openAI being good for safety.
You make three separate charges here, which I want to briefly respond to. I'm obviously speaking entirely for myself in this post.
1. OpenAI's work is probably a distraction from the main business of aligning AI. I argued [here](https://medium.com/ai-control/prosaic-ai-control-b959644d79c2) that we should work on alignment for ML, and you didn't really engage with that argument. I do agree that today OpenAI is not investing much in alignment.
2. OpenAI's existence makes AI development more competitive and less cooperative. I agree that in general it's harder to coordinate people if they are spread across N+1 groups than if they are spread across N groups (though I think this article significantly overstates the effect). To the extent that we are all in this to make the world better and make credible commitments to that effect, we are free to talk and coordinate arbitrarily closely. In general I think it's nearly as plausible that adding an (N+1)st sufficiently well-intentioned group would improve rather than harm coordination. So I suspect the real disagreement between you and the OpenAI founders is whether OpenAI will really have a stronger commitment to making AI go well.
Put more sharply: supposing that you were in Elon's position and thought that Google and DeepMind were likely to take destructive actions, would you then reason "but adding an (N+1)st player would make things worse all else equal, so I guess I'll leave it to them and hope for the best"? If not, then it seems like you are focusing on the wrong part of the disagreement here.
I do think that it's important that OpenAI get along well with all of the established players, especially conditioned on OpenAI being an important player and others also being willing to play ball regarding credible commitments to pro-social behavior.
3. OpenAI's openness makes AI development more competitive and less cooperative. I do agree that helping more people do AI research will make coordination harder, all else equal, and that openness makes it easier for more people to become involved in AI. (Though this is an ironic departure from the theme of your recent writings.) The point of openness is to do other good things, e.g. to improve welfare of existing people.
I think that current openness has a pretty small impact on alignment, and the effect on other concerns is larger. If you share my view, then this isn't a good place for someone interested in alignment to ask for a concession (compared to pushing for more investment in alignment or closer cooperation amongst competitors).
Some quick arguments against the effect being big: the prospect of a monopoly on AI development has always been extremely remote; limited access to 2017 AI results won't be an important driver of participation in cutting edge AI research in the future (as compared to access to computing hardware and researchers); and there is a compensating effect where openness amongst competitors would make the situation more cooperative and less competitive (if it were actually done).
An unconditional commitment to publishing everything could certainly become problematic. I think that OpenAI's strongest commitments are to broad access to the benefits of AI and broad input into decision-making about AI. Those aren't controversial positions, but I'm sure that Elon doesn't expect DeepMind to live up to them. I would certainly have preferred that OpenAI have communicated about this differently.
For what it's worth, I think that the discussion of this topic by EA's is often unhelpful: if everyone agrees that there is a desirable conception of openness, and an organization has "open" in it's name, then it seems like you should be supporting efforts to adopt the desirable interpretation rather than trying to argue that the original interpretation was problematic / trying to make people feel bad about sloppy messaging in the past.
I owe you a response on (1).
On (2), if OpenAI's not going to be a standout player with one to very few rivals, then its main effect* is eating up unjustified buzz. That seems like it would slow down both AI and AI safety, but slow down AI safety more because not all AI research institutions are safety-branded.
On (3) maybe OpenAI might try persuading Elon Musk first that its safety plan isn't just AI for everybody. If he's not persuaded of that, then I don't see why I should be, since I have far less control over and access to OpenAI than he does. Overall I am not very willing to assume that if I hear both X and Y and prefer Y, that Y is true.
I think our substantive disagreement on (3) depends on (1). It's imaginable to me that prosaic AI safety is enough, but in that world "AI Safety" doesn't really need to be a thing, because it's just part of capacity research. I put substantial probability (>50%) on MIRI being right because AGI is qualitatively different in ways that need qualitatively different safety work. In that scenario it's bad to conflate AI safety measures with weak AI capacity sharing, since then people will work on the easier problem and call it the harder one.
Separately, I think creating weak AI capacity and sharing it with the world is probably really good, and I'm glad people are doing it, and I'm glad people are working on making it not stupid. I just don't think that needs the term "AI Safety" or its various synonyms.
*The main effect of the organization itself. The researchers would presumably just be doing AI research somewhere else.
> I just don't think that needs the term "AI Safety" or its various synonyms.
OpenAI describes its mission is described as "build safe AGI, and ensure AGI's benefits are as widely and evenly distributed as possible" (https://openai.com/about/#mission). Those are two different things with different benefits.
> On (3) maybe OpenAI might try persuading Elon Musk first that its safety plan isn't just AI for everybody.
I think Elon's view is that democratization of AI is important to avoiding some undesirable situations. I don't think he expects openness to resolve the alignment problem, which he recognizes as a problem. (I disagree with his overall view of alignment, but that's a separate discussion.) Those are just two different steps to obtaining a good outcome, both of which are necessary.
In light of the huge uncertainty about timelines and capabilities, having an organization guided by people close to the AI Safety field seems wise. Furthermore, AI Safety gains a lot of credibility by making real progress on ML problems. That kind of cultural influence is both difficult and potentially highly effective. Whatever AI researchers end up being the ones to build AGI, it's vital that they have taken seriously the research from the AI Safety research community. This kind of cultural change can't come from MIRI or FHI, because they can't produce anything as credible (to AI researchers, grad students, etc.) as actual advances in the field.
There's an alternative reason to oppose the OpenAI/OpenPhil grant, though it's a longer and looser chain of reasoning.
Eliezer Yudkowsky's original model of "AI Safety" entails gaining a fundamental understanding of how to ensure provable safety of even a superintelligent, rapidly self-improving artificial intelligence.
This is a hard problem -- it is hugely underspecified, for one thing -- so it is a very long-term project. Given that I think strong AI will not be here for a long time, I think this is fine.
Paul Christiano, the leading safety researcher at OpenAI, has a somewhat different model of "AI safety" that involves working on more tractable problems of bounding and aligning the actions of "prosaic AIs" like, for instance, a reinforcement learner that functions as a virtual corporation. Christiano's hypothetical "prosaic AIs" are weaker than Yudkowsky's notion of "strong AI" -- for example, they need not (and, I think, probably would not) be recursively self-improving. They would not even have to be "general intelligences" to fit Christiano's criterion of "can replicate human behavior".
The methods for dealing with "prosaic AIs" that I've heard about are qualitatively different from the thinking that was common in MIRI/SingInst in the old days. There, people thought largely about game theory and decision theory -- one assumes an agent *can* do whatever it wants to do, ignoring implementation details, and one thinks about aligning its incentives so that it chooses to do desirable things. In a machine-learning paradigm, by contrast, one makes assumptions about how the AI learns and responds to information, and imagines building it to have certain safeguards in its learning process. In other words, it's solving a much easier problem, about a *known* (if poorly interpretable) machine, rather than an arbitrarily advanced and self-improving machine. Most of the early debates on LessWrong were about asking whether one could "just" put safeguards into an AI (limiting the scope of its behavior, sometimes called "tool AI" or "oracle AI"), and Yudkowsky's answer was "no." Like Christiano, Holden Karnofsky believed (as of 2012) that tool AI was likely to be a feasible approach to safety.
I think there are probably *many* qualitatively different classes of "strong AI" of differing "strength". Some AIs which already exist (e.g. AlphaGo and image-recognition deep learning algorithms) are "human-level" in that they solve challenging cognitive tasks better than the best humans. But these are "narrow AIs", trained on a single task. One could imagine a future AI that was "general", more like a human toddler (or even a dog), which could learn a variety of behaviors and adapt to a range of environments without requiring correspondingly more training data. One could imagine AIs that are "conceptual" (that develop robust abstractions/concepts invariant over irrelevant properties) or "logical" (capable of drawing inferences over properties of agglomerative processes like grammar or computable functions). And there are recursively self-improving AIs, which rewrite their own source code in order to better achieve goals.
It seems very likely that defenses against the risks of "weaker" AIs will not work against "stronger" AIs, and Christiano's "prosaic AI" is among the weaker types of "strong AI."
This is fine in itself -- there's nothing wrong with working on an easy problem before tackling a hard one.
However, I think Karnofsky and Christiano are incorrect in believing (or promoting the idea) that this easy problem is the *whole* AI safety problem, or the bulk of it.
And I think, given that OpenAI is the biggest and most visible institution working on "AI Safety", this grant will lead to the belief, within the (rather large) community of technical people interested in AI, that the "easy problem" of prosaic AI control is the whole of the problem of AI safety.
It also gives the impression that working on AI safety is easily contiguous with being a conventional machine learning researcher -- getting a PhD in ML, working at software companies with big research divisions, and so on. You can go from that world to AI safety, and return from AI safety to the world of ML, entirely painlessly and with no cost to career capital.
I think that the meat of the AI safety problem will involve creating entirely new fields of mathematics or computer science -- it's that hard a problem -- and thus will *not* be nicely contiguous with a career as an ML researcher/engineer. But people have strong incentives to prefer to believe in a world where solving the most important problems requires no sacrifice of professional success, so they're incentivized to believe that AI safety is relatively easy and tractable with the toolkit of already-existing ML.
"AI safety is basically like ML" is a *dangerously seductive meme*, and, I believe, untrue. "We already know how to model the mind; it works like a neural net" is also a dangerously seductive meme, for somewhat different reasons (it's flattering to people who know how to build deep learning networks if their existing toolkit explains all of human thought), and I also believe it's untrue. Promoting those memes among the very set of people who are best equipped to work on AI safety, or other fields such as cognitive science or pure machine learning research, is harmful to scientific progress as well as to safety.
> This is fine in itself -- there's nothing wrong with working on an easy problem before tackling a hard one.
As far as I can tell, the MIRI view is that my work is aimed at problem which is *not possible,* not that it is aimed at a problem which is too easy. The MIRI view is not "If we just wanted to align a human-level consequentialist produced by evolution, that would be no problem. We're concerned about the challenge posed by *real* AI."
One part of this is the disagreement about whether the overall approach I'm taking could possibly work, with my position being "something like 50-50" the MIRI position being "obviously not" (and normal ML researchers' positions being skepticism about our perspective on the problem).
There is a broader disagreement about whether any "easy" approach can work, with my position being "you should try the easy approaches extensively before trying to rally the community behind a crazy hard approach" and the MIRI position apparently being something like "we have basically ruled out the easy approaches, but the argument/evidence is really complicated and subtle."
>As far as I can tell, the MIRI view is that my work is aimed at problem which is *not possible,* not that it is aimed at a problem which is too easy.
This surprises me, and I think I haven't heard about this.
Are you saying that they believe that you *can't*, in principle, constrain a reinforcement learner with things like adversarial examples or human feedback?
> Are you saying that they believe that you *can't*, in principle, constrain a reinforcement learner with things like adversarial examples or human feedback?
I think that all the MIRI researchers believe this will be exceptionally hard, and most believe it won't be possible for humans to do, if you want a solution that will work for arbitrarily powerful RL systems. (Note that we more or less know that model-free RL can get you to human-level consequentialism, if you are willing to spend as much computation time as evolution did and use an appropriate multi-agent environment.) I'm not sure about their views on "in principle" and it may depend on how you read that phrase.
> Note that we more or less know that model-free RL can get you to human-level consequentialism, if you are willing to spend as much computation time as evolution did and use an appropriate multi-agent environment.
How do we know this? Also how is this compatible with the Atari games not being solved yet?
>> Note that we more or less know that model-free RL can get you to human-level consequentialism, if you are willing to spend as much computation time as evolution did and use an appropriate multi-agent environment.
> How do we know this?
I interpreted this to be a reference to the evolution of humans.
I would say that the Christiano approach is *both* far easier and probably impossible. Conditional on the approach being practical/possible, it represents a far easier and more practical path. However, there is a good chance (Paul says 50/50 here, MIRI says something approaching 1) that the approach is not workable at all.
I am in the middle but much closer to MIRI, and think it is unlikely that a sufficiently strong reinforcement learner could be constrained, even in principle, by adversarial examples or human feedback, while allowing it to be anything approaching maximally useful (as per Paul's condition that safety not be too expensive, which in context seems right).
I don't even think we have shown that we can in principle contain HUMANS via adversarial examples or human feedback while still allowing them to be anything approaching maximally useful. I haven't even heard reasonably plausible ideas for doing so!
The most important thing about creating value-aligned automation systems made of humans probably isn't that it's intrinsically easier than building something right from scratch. The problem is that if we don't have value-aligned institutions, and we try to build value-aligned AGI, we're in the position of instructing an unsafe weak AI to make a safe strong AI.
However, it should also probably be easier to get to safety on systems that are made of humans, most of whose actuators are humans, and where a human is in the loop on nearly every high-level decision they make, than on systems that can go much faster than humans in ways that quickly become entirely opaque to us.
I think Paul's characterization is right, except I think Nate wouldn't say "we've ruled out all the prima facie easy approaches," but rather something like "part of the disagreement here is about which approaches are prima facie 'easy.'" I think his model says that the proposed alternatives to MIRI's research directions by and large look more difficult than what MIRI's trying to do, from a naive traditional CS/Econ standpoint. E.g., I expect the average game theorist would find a utility/objective/reward-centered framework much less weird than a recursive intelligence bootstrapping framework. There are then subtle arguments for why intelligence bootstrapping might turn out to be easy, which Nate and co. are skeptical of, but hashing out the full chain of reasoning for why a daring unconventional approach just might turn out to work anyway requires some complicated extra dialoguing. Part of how this is framed depends on what problem categories get the first-pass "this looks really tricky to pull off" label.
> the proposed alternatives to MIRI's research directions by and large look more difficult than what MIRI's trying to do, from a naive traditional CS/Econ standpoint. E.g., I expect the average game theorist would find a utility/objective/reward-centered framework much less weird than a recursive intelligence bootstrapping framework.
If by "weird" we mean "a weird way to build a safe AI," and by "average game theorist" we mean "average algorithmic game theorist," then I don't think this is true right now. Moreover, I doubt that anyone's views will change if/when it becomes clear that this isn't true.
There are also outside-view reasons to be skeptical of the OpenPhil grant to OpenAI.
From the outside, this looks like nepotism.
It's especially unfavorable that OPP's reasoning (http://www.openphilanthropy.org/focus/global-catastrophic-risks/potential-risks-advanced-artificial-intelligence/openai-general-support#Case_for_the_grant) doesn't involve an overview of organizations and individual researchers working on AI safety. It simply says that "technical advisors" judge OpenAI and DeepMind as the major players in the field (not mentioning Google Brain, FAIR, IARPA, Baidu, etc) and that OPP could influence AI safety for the better by starting a partnership with OpenAI. This suggests that it's not that they think OpenAI is the *most effective* AI safety org, but that it's the best candidate for a partnership with OPP. This is plausible, given the close existing connections between OPP and OpenAI researchers. But this policy is out of line with the GiveWell-style policy of evaluating the impact of charities and donating to the most effective ones. If, instead of giving to the *best* organizations, you give to the ones that you think you can get most value out of influencing for the better, it's much harder to give a public accounting of why your spending has good outcomes, since all of your positive influence is happening behind closed doors.
To be clear, I don't think that personal relationships are inherently unfair. In any kind of selection process, from hiring to investing to donating, personal relationships are going to influence who you consider and how favorably you consider them.
But usually, professional fairness involves the assumption that while personal relationships are usable for hypothesis generation, some sort of *impersonal* objective criteria should be used for evaluation. You give your friend a chance to interview at your company, you don't just give her a job.
Full Disclosure: I'm friends with Dario and know things through him I can't share here. I've also outsourced my opinion on AI risk to him since before he was working at OpenAI.
Is there anywhere that should be thought of like that? Because definitely not Harvard.
> This is plausible, given the close existing connections between OPP and OpenAI researchers.
It's not just that- the other major players are for-profit or government and thus cannot receive donations. Their grant to MIRI was much smaller in absolute terms but a much larger percentage of MIRI's budget.
> It seems perfectly natural that a lot of the people working in the same field are going to get to know each other. It seems a little off that they're just going straight to the collaboration/influence stage without passing through any "fair" tests.
I think OPP has been moving away from the concept of fairness for a very long time, and that's a good thing, for reasons currently locked in 3 unfinished blog posts. Grants from OPP are not supposed to prizes in fair competitions, they're supposed to effect as much change as possible. This is a problem if people treat them as fair competitions and especially if OPP doesn't fight this perception, but they've always discouraged people from donating and publicized that they're not following the Find The Best philosophy (http://www.openphilanthropy.org/blog/hits-based-giving). A strike against them is the name open: that's obviously incorrect and misleading.
I think I agree with both Sarah and Aceso Under Glass here. The nepotism thing wouldn't seem bad to me in isolation - the conflicts of interest for the (much smaller) MIRI grant were similarly myriad. I'm more worried about the implied strategy of "give lots of money to whoever has the most, in order to influence them."
> If OpenAI is working on things that are directly relevant to the creation of a superintelligence, then its very existence makes an arms race with DeepMind more likely. | 2019-04-18T10:42:08Z | http://benjaminrosshoffman.com/openai-makes-humanity-less-safe/ |
Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. Lincoln led the nation through the Civil War, its bloodiest war and its greatest moral, constitutional, and political crisis. He preserved the Union, abolished slavery, strengthened the federal government, and modernized the U.S. economy. Born in Kentucky, Lincoln grew up on the frontier in a poor family. Self-educated, he became a lawyer, Whig Party leader, state legislator and Congressman. He left government to resume his law practice, but angered by the success of Democrats in opening the prairie lands to slavery, reentered politics in 1854. He became a leader in the new Republican Party and gained national attention in 1858 for debating and losing to national Democratic leader Stephen A. Douglas in a Senate campaign. He then ran for President in 1860, sweeping the North and winning.
Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. Lincoln led the nation through the Civil War, its bloodiest war and its greatest moral, constitutional, and political crisis. He preserved the Union, abolished slavery, strengthened the federal government, and modernized the U.S. economy.
Born in Kentucky, Lincoln grew up on the frontier in a poor family. Self-educated, he became a lawyer, Whig Party leader, state legislator and Congressman. He left government to resume his law practice, but angered by the success of Democrats in opening the prairie lands to slavery, reentered politics in 1854. He became a leader in the new Republican Party and gained national attention in 1858 for debating and losing to national Democratic leader Stephen A. Douglas in a Senate campaign. He then ran for President in 1860, sweeping the North and winning.
Southern pro-slavery elements took his win as proof that the North was rejecting the Constitutional rights of Southern states to practice slavery. They began the process of seceding from the union. To secure its independence, the new Confederate States of America fired on Fort Sumter, one of the few U.S. forts in the South. Lincoln called up volunteers and militia to suppress the rebellion and restore the Union.
As the leader of the moderate faction of the Republican Party, Lincoln confronted Radical Republicans, who demanded harsher treatment of the South; War Democrats, who rallied a large faction of former opponents into his camp; anti-war Democrats (called Copperheads), who despised him; and irreconcilable secessionists, who plotted his assassination. Lincoln fought the factions by pitting them against each other, by carefully distributing political patronage, and by appealing to the American people.:65–87 His Gettysburg Address became an iconic call for nationalism, republicanism, equal rights, liberty, and democracy.
He suspended habeas corpus, and he averted British intervention by defusing the Trent Affair. Lincoln closely supervised the war effort, including the selection of generals and the naval blockade that shut down the South's trade. As the war progressed, he maneuvered to end slavery, issuing the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863; ordering the Army to protect escaped slaves, encouraging border states to outlaw slavery, and pushing through Congress the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which outlawed slavery across the country.
Lincoln managed his own re-election campaign. He sought to reconcile his damaged nation by avoiding retribution against the secessionists. A few days after the war's end at the Battle of Appomattox Court House, he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, an actor and Confederate sympathizer, on April 14, 1865.
Abraham Lincoln is remembered as the United States' martyr hero. He is consistently ranked both by scholars and the public as among the greatest U.S. presidents.
Lincoln depicted protecting a Native American from his own men in a scene often related about Lincoln's service during the Black Hawk War.
Apprehension seems to exist among the people of the Southern States that by the accession of a Republican Administration their property and their peace and personal security are to be endangered. There has never been any reasonable cause for such apprehension. Indeed, the most ample evidence to the contrary has all the while existed and been opnen to their inspection. It is found in nearly all the published speeches of him who now addresses you. I do but quote from one of those speeches when I declare that "I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so."
"In his company, I was never reminded of my humble origin, or of my unpopular color".
Lincoln's image carved into the stone of Mount Rushmore.
1 2 Discharged from command-rank of Captain and re-enlisted at rank of Private.
↑ William A. Pencak (2009). Encyclopedia of the Veteran in America. ABC-CLIO. p. 222. ISBN 978-0-313-08759-2. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
↑ Finkelman, Paul; Gottlieb, Stephen E. Toward a Usable Past: Liberty Under State Constitutions. U of Georgia Press. p. 388.
1 2 3 Randall, James Garfield (1962). Lincoln: The Liberal Statesman. Dodd, Mead. ASIN B0051VUQXO.
1 2 Lindgren, James (November 16, 2000). "Ranking Our Presidents for dealing with the American Civil War, and slavery" (PDF). International World History Project. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 31, 2012.
1 2 "Americans Say Reagan Is the Greatest U.S. President". Gallup.com. February 28, 2011. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 Donald, David Herbert (1996-11-05). Lincoln. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780684825359.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Warren, Louis A. (2017-10-21). Lincoln's Youth: Indiana Years, Seven to Twenty-One, 1816-1830 (Classic Reprint). Fb&c Limited. ISBN 9780282908300.
↑ Thomas, born January 1778, would have been 8 at the attack, May 1786. Older sources (e.g. Herndon's Informants use six.
↑ Wilson, Douglas Lawson; Davis, Rodney O.; Wilson, Terry; Herndon, William Henry; Weik, Jesse William (1998). Herndon's Informants: Letters, Interviews, and Statements about Abraham Lincoln. University of Illinois Press. pp. 35–36. ISBN 978-0-252-02328-6. Archived from the original on January 13, 2018.
1 2 Bulla, David W.; Borchard, Gregory A. (2010). Journalism in the Civil War Era. Peter Lang. ISBN 9781433107221.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 White, Ronald C. (2009-01-13). A. Lincoln: A Biography. Random House Publishing Group. ISBN 9781588367754.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Bartelt, William E. (2008). There I Grew Up: Remembering Abraham Lincoln's Indiana Youth. Indiana Historical Society Press. ISBN 9780871952639.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years. Harcourt, Brace. 1926. OCLC 6579822.
↑ Miller, William Lee (2002-01-01). Lincoln's Virtues: An Ethical Biography. Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 9780375401589.
↑ Madison, James H. (2014). Hoosiers: A New History of Indiana. Indiana University Press. ISBN 9780253013088.
1 2 Oates, Stephen B. (2009-06-30). With Malice Toward None: The Life of Abraham Lincoln. Harper Collins. ISBN 9780061952241.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Thomas, Benjamin P. (2008). Abraham Lincoln: A Biography. Southern Illinois University. ISBN 978-0-8093-2887-1.
↑ Gannett, Lewis (Winter 2005). ""Overwhelming Evidence" of a Lincoln-Ann Rutledge Romance?: Reexamining Rutledge Family Reminiscences". Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association. Springfield, IL: The Abraham Lincoln Association. pp. 28–41. Archived from the original on April 3, 2017.
↑ Lamb, Brian; Swain, Susan, eds. (2008). Abraham Lincoln: Great American Historians on Our Sixteenth President. PublicAffairs. ISBN 978-1-58648-676-1.
1 2 Baker, Jean H. (1989). Mary Todd Lincoln: A Biography. W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 978-0-393-30586-9.
↑ Jason Emerson (2012). Giant in the Shadows: The Life of Robert T. Lincoln. SIU Press. p. 420. ISBN 978-0-8093-3055-3. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
↑ Shenk, Joshua Wolf (October 2005). "Lincoln's Great Depression". The Atlantic. The Atlantic Monthly Group. Archived from the original on October 20, 2011. Retrieved October 8, 2009.
1 2 Jr, Edward Steers (2010-05-11). The Lincoln Assassination Encyclopedia. Harper Collins. ISBN 978-0-06-178775-1.
↑ 1943-, Foner, Eric (1970). Free soil, free labor, free men : the ideology of the Republican Party before the Civil War. Oxford University Press. OCLC 1066794386.
↑ Olver, Lynne. "The Food Timeline—Presidents food favorites". foodtimeline.org. Archived from the original on February 4, 2016. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
↑ Kenneth J. Winkle (2001). The Young Eagle: The Rise of Abraham Lincoln. Taylor. pp. 72–79. ISBN 978-1-4617-3436-9. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
1 2 Winkle, Kenneth J. (2001-04-01). The Young Eagle: The Rise of Abraham Lincoln. Taylor Trade Publishing. ISBN 9781461734369.
1 2 Simon, Paul (1990). Lincoln's Preparation for Greatness: The Legislative Years. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0-252-00203-8.
↑ Weik, Jesse William. "Abraham Lincoln and Internal Improvements". Abraham Lincoln's Classroom. Archived from the original on February 12, 2015. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
1 2 3 4 "The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery". doi:10.1163/2468-1733_shafr_sim040100206.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Boritt, G. S. (1994). Lincoln and the Economics of the American Dream. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 9780252064456.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Oates, Stephen B. (1974). "Abraham Lincoln 1861–1865". In Woodward, Comer Vann. Responses of the Presidents to Charges of Misconduct. New York City: Dell Publishing Company. pp. 111–123. ISBN 978-0-440-05923-3.
1 2 3 4 Harris, William Charles (2007). Lincoln's Rise to the Presidency. University Press of Kansas. ISBN 9780700615209.
↑ "US Congressman Lincoln – Abraham Lincoln Historical Society". Abraham-lincoln-history.org. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
↑ Heidler, David Stephen; Heidler, Jeanne T. (2006). The Mexican War. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 9780313327926.
↑ "Lincoln's Spot Resolution". National Archives Building, RG 233, Entry 362: Thirtieth Congress, 1847–1849, Records of Legislative Proceedings, Bills and Resolutions Originating in the House, 1847–1849. US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives. December 22, 1847. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
1 2 3 Holzer, Harold (2004). Lincoln at Cooper Union: The Speech That Made Abraham Lincoln President. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7432-9964-0.
1 2 3 4 5 Lincoln, Abraham (2008-10-01). The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Wildside Press LLC. ISBN 9781434477071.
↑ Gerleman, David J. (Winter 2017). "Representative Lincoln at Work: Reconstructing a Legislative Career from Original Archival Documents". The Capitol Dome. 54 (2): 33–46.
1 2 McGovern, George S. (2009). Abraham Lincoln: The American Presidents Series: The 16th President, 1861-1865. Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 9780805083453.
↑ "Lincoln's Spot Resolutions". National Archives. Archived from the original on October 20, 2011. Retrieved March 12, 2009.
↑ Arnold, Isaac Newton (1885). The Life of Abraham Lincoln. 2. Chicago, IL: Janses, McClurg, & Company. p. 81. Archived from the original on April 3, 2017.
↑ Pfeiffer, David A. (Summer 2004). "Bridging the Mississippi". Prologue Magazine. Vol. 36 no. 4. Archived from the original on September 23, 2008. Retrieved 2019-02-13 – via National Archives.
↑ McGinty, Brian (2015-02-09). Lincoln's Greatest Case: The River, the Bridge, and the Making of America. W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 9780871407856.
↑ "Abraham Lincoln's Patent Model: Improvement for Buoying Vessels Over Shoals". Smithsonian Institution. Archived from the original on August 25, 2017. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
↑ Dirck, Brian R. (2007). Lincoln Emancipated: The President and the Politics of Race. Northern Illinois University Press. ISBN 978-0-87580-359-3.
↑ Richards, John T. (2015-07-12). Abraham Lincoln: The Lawyer-Statesman (Classic Reprint). Fb&c Limited. ISBN 9781331281580.
↑ Library, Philosophical (2010-11-09). The Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln. Open Road Media. ISBN 978-1-4532-0281-4.
↑ Harrison, J. Houston (1935). Settlers by the Long Grey Trail. J.K. Reubush. OCLC 3512772.
↑ Zarefsky, David (June 1993). Lincoln, Douglas, and Slavery: In the Crucible of Public Debate. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-97876-5.
1 2 3 4 Jaffa, Harry V. (2000). A New Birth of Freedom: Abraham Lincoln and the Coming of the Civil War. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780847699520.
1 2 McPherson, James M. (2005-09-29). Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. OUP USA. ISBN 9780195168952.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Carwardine, Richard (2003). Lincoln. Pearson/Longman. ISBN 9780582032798.
↑ Lincoln, Abraham (December 20, 1859). "Herewith is a little sketch, as you requested" (Letter). Letter to Jesse W. Fell. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
↑ Luthin, Reinhard H. (July 1944). "Abraham Lincoln and the Tariff". The American Historical Review. 49 (4): 609–629. doi:10.2307/1850218. JSTOR 1850218.
↑ Hofstadter, Richard (October 1938). "The Tariff Issue on the Eve of the Civil War". The American Historical Review. 44 (1): 50–55. doi:10.2307/1840850. JSTOR 1840850.
↑ J. Michael Martinez (2011). Coming for to Carry Me Home: Race in America from Abolitionism to Jim Crow. p. 59. ISBN 978-1-4422-1500-9. Archived from the original on January 13, 2018.
↑ Chadwick, Bruce (2009). Lincoln for President: An Unlikely Candidate, An Audacious Strategy, and the Victory No One Saw Coming. Naperville, Illinois: Sourcebooks. pp. 147–149. ISBN 978-1-4022-4756-9. Archived from the original on April 2, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
↑ Murrin, John. Liberty, Equality, Power: A History of the American People. Belmont: Clark Baxter, 2006.
↑ Mansch, Larry D. (2005). Abraham Lincoln, President-elect: The Four Critical Months from Election to Inauguration. McFarland. ISBN 9780786420261.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Nevins, Allan (1950). The Emergence of Lincoln: Prologue to Civil War, 1859-1861. Scribner. ISBN 9780684104164.
↑ Edgar, Walter B. (1998). South Carolina: A History. Univ of South Carolina Press. ISBN 9781570032554.
1 2 Potter, David M. (1977-03-15). The Impending Crisis: America Before the Civil War, 1848-1861. Harper Collins. ISBN 9780061319297.
↑ Vorenberg, Michael (2001-05-21). Final Freedom: The Civil War, the Abolition of Slavery, and the Thirteenth Amendment. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-65267-4.
1 2 Vile, John R. (2003). Encyclopedia of Constitutional Amendments, Proposed Amendments, and Amending Issues, 1789-2002. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781851094288.
↑ Lupton, John A. (September–October 2006). "Abraham Lincoln and the Corwin Amendment". Illinois Heritage. 9 (5): 34. Archived from the original on August 24, 2016.
↑ Sandburg, Carl (November 2002). Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years and the War Years. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 978-0-15-602752-6.
↑ Nevins, Allan (1959). The War for the Union. Scribner.
↑ Sherman, William T. (1990). Memoirs of General W.T. Sherman. BiblioBazaar. ISBN 978-1-174-63172-6.
↑ Heidler, David Stephen; Heidler, Jeanne T.; Coles, David J., eds. (2002). Encyclopedia of the American Civil War: A Political, Social, and Military History. W.W. Norton. ISBN 9780393047585.
↑ Neely, Mark E. (1992). The Fate of Liberty: Abraham Lincoln and Civil Liberties. Oxford University Press. pp. 3–31.
↑ Randall, James Garfield (1946). Lincoln the President: Springfield to Gettysburg. p. 50. ISBN 978-0-306-80754-1. Archived from the original on November 22, 2016. Retrieved May 16, 2016. quoted in Kevin Peraino, Lincoln in the World: The Making of a Statesman and the Dawn of American Power (2013) pp 160–61.
↑ Thomas, Benjamin Platt; Hyman, Harold Melvin (1962). Stanton: The Life and Times of Lincoln's Secretary of War. Alfred A. Knopf. pp. 71, 87, 229–30, 385 (quote).
↑ Ambrose, Stephen E. (April 1996). Halleck: Lincoln's Chief of Staff. LSU Press. ISBN 9780807155394.
↑ "Henry W. Halleck". American Battlefield Trust. June 15, 2011.
1 2 3 Goodwin, Doris Kearns (2005-10-25). Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780684824901.
↑ Mackubin, Thomas Owens (March 25, 2004). "The Liberator". National Review. Archived from the original on October 20, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2008.
1 2 Guelzo, Allen C. (1999). Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President. W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. ISBN 9780802838728.
↑ McPherson, James M. (1992-06-04). Abraham Lincoln and the Second American Revolution. Oxford University Press, USA. ISBN 9780195076066.
↑ Guelzo, Allen C.; Guelzo, Director of the Civil War Era Studies Program Allen C. (2004). Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation: The End of Slavery in America. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780743221825.
↑ Wills, Garry (2012-12-11). Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words that Remade America. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781439126455.
↑ McPherson, James M.; McPherson, George Henry Davis 86 Professor of American History James M. (2009). Abraham Lincoln. Oxford University Press, USA. ISBN 9780195374520.
↑ "The Peacemakers". The White House Historical Association. Archived from the original on October 20, 2011. Retrieved May 3, 2009.
↑ Neely Jr., Mark E. (December 2004). "Was the Civil War a Total War?". Civil War History. 50 (4): 434–458. doi:10.1353/cwh.2004.0073.
↑ Fish, Carl Russell (October 1902). "Lincoln and the Patronage". The American Historical Review. 8 (1): 53–69. doi:10.2307/1832574. JSTOR 1832574.
↑ Tegeder, Vincent G. (June 1948). "Lincoln and the Territorial Patronage: The Ascendancy of the Radicals in the West". The Mississippi Valley Historical Review. 35 (1): 77–90. doi:10.2307/1895140. JSTOR 1895140.
1 2 Grimsley, Mark; Simpson, Brooks D. (2001). The Collapse of the Confederacy. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 9780803221703.
↑ Randall, James Garfield; Current, Richard Nelson (1955). Lincoln the President: Last Full Measure. Lincoln the President. IV. Dodd, Mead.
1 2 3 Paludan, Phillip Shaw (1994). The Presidency of Abraham Lincoln. University Press of Kansas. ISBN 978-0-7006-0671-9.
↑ Noll, Mark A.; Noll, Prof Mark A. (2002-10-03). America's God: From Jonathan Edwards to Abraham Lincoln. Oxford University Press, USA. ISBN 9780195151114.
↑ "House passes the 13th Amendment – History.com This Day in History – 1/31/1865". History.com. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
↑ "Primary Documents in American History: 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution". Library of Congress. Archived from the original on October 20, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
↑ Lincove, David A. (2000). Reconstruction in the United States: An Annotated Bibliography. Greenwood. p. 80. ISBN 978-0-313-29199-9. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
↑ Foner, Eric (2010). The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery. W. W. Norton. pp. 334–36. ISBN 978-0-393-34066-2. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
1 2 Donald, David Herbert (2016-03-22). Lincoln Reconsidered: Essays on the Civil War Era. Open Road Media. ISBN 9781504034029.
↑ Summers, Robert. "Abraham Lincoln". Internet Public Library 2 (IPL2). U. Michigan and Drexel U. Archived from the original on October 22, 2011. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
↑ Cox, Hank H. (2005). Lincoln and the Sioux Uprising of 1862. Cumberland House. ISBN 9781581824575.
↑ Schaffer, Jeffrey P. (1999). Yosemite National Park: A Natural History Guide to Yosemite and Its Trails. Berkeley: Wilderness Press. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-89997-244-2.
↑ Blue, Frederick J. (1987). Salmon P. Chase: A Life in Politics. Kent State University Press. ISBN 9780873383400.
↑ "Biographical Directory of Federal Judges". Federal Judicial Center. Archived from the original on July 30, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
↑ "Federal judges nominated by Abraham Lincoln". BallotPedia. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
↑ Harrison, Lowell (2010-09-12). Lincoln of Kentucky. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 9780813129402.
↑ Martin, Paul (April 8, 2010). "Lincoln's Missing Bodyguard". Smithsonian Magazine. Archived from the original on October 20, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
↑ Fox, Richard (2015). Lincoln's Body: A Cultural History. W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 978-0-393-24724-4.
↑ Abel, E. Lawrence (2015). A Finger in Lincoln's Brain: What Modern Science Reveals about Lincoln, His Assassination, and Its Aftermath. ABC-CLIO. Chapter 14.
↑ "OUR GREAT LOSS; The Assassination of President Lincoln". The New York Times. 1865-04-17. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
↑ Donald 1997, pp. 598–599, 686 Witnesses have provided other versions of the quote, i.e. "He now belongs to the ages." and "He is a man for the ages."
1 2 Trostel, Scott D. (2002). The Lincoln Funeral Train: The Final Journey and National Funeral for Abraham Lincoln. Cam-Tech Publishing. ISBN 978-0-925436-21-4. Archived from the original on July 12, 2013.
↑ Goodrich, Th (2005). The Darkest Dawn: Lincoln, Booth, and the Great American Tragedy. Indiana University Press. ISBN 9780253345677.
↑ Peck, Garrett (2015). Walt Whitman in Washington, D.C.: The Civil War and America's Great Poet. Charleston, SC: The History Press. pp. 118–23. ISBN 978-1-62619-973-6.
1 2 3 Martha Hodes (2015). Mourning Lincoln. Yale UP. ISBN 978-0-300-21356-0. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
1 2 3 Wilson, Douglas L. (1999). Honor's Voice: The Transformation of Abraham Lincoln. Random House Digital, Inc. ISBN 978-0-307-76581-9. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
↑ Carwardine, Richard J. (Winter 1997). "Lincoln, Evangelical Religion, and American Political Culture in the Era of the Civil War". Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association. 18 (1): 27–55. hdl:2027/spo.2629860.0018.104.
↑ On claims that Lincoln was baptized by an associate of Alexander Campbell, see Martin, Jim (1996). "The secret baptism of Abraham Lincoln". Restoration Quarterly. 38 (2). Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
↑ Mark A. Noll (1992). A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada. Wm. B. Eerdmans. pp. 321–22. ISBN 978-0-8028-0651-2. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
↑ Brodrecht, Grant R. (2008). "Our Country": Northern Evangelicals and the Union During the Civil War and Reconstruction. University of Notre Dame.
↑ Parrillo, Nicholas (2000). "Lincoln's Calvinist Transformation: Emancipation and War". Civil War History. 46 (3): 227–253. doi:10.1353/cwh.2000.0073. ISSN 1533-6271.
1 2 Verghese, Abraham (May 20, 2009). "Was Lincoln Dying Before He Was Shot?". The Atlantic. Palo Alto, California: Emerson Collective. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
↑ Diggins, John P. (1986-08-15). The Lost Soul of American Politics: Virtue, Self-Interest, and the Foundations of Liberalism. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 9780226148779.
↑ Burton, Orville Vernon (2008-07-08). The Age of Lincoln: A History. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 9781429939553.
↑ Belz, Herman (1998). Abraham Lincoln, constitutionalism, and equal rights in the Civil War era. Fordham University Press. ISBN 9780823217687.
↑ Douglass, Frederick (2008). The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass. Cosimo Classics. ISBN 978-1-60520-399-7.
↑ Taranto, James; Leo, Leonard (2004). Presidential Leadership: Rating the Best and the Worst in the White House. Free Press. ISBN 978-0-7432-5433-5.
↑ Densen, John V., ed. (2001). Reassessing The Presidency, The Rise of the Executive State and the Decline of Freedom. Auburn, Alabama: Ludwig von Mises Institute. pp. 1–32. ISBN 978-0945466291.
↑ Ridings, William H.; McIver, Stuart B. (2000). Rating The presidents, A Ranking of U.S. Leaders, From the Great and Honorable to the Dishonest and Incompetent. New York City: Citadel Press. ISBN 978-0806519692.
↑ Chesebrough, David B. (1994). No Sorrow Like Our Sorrow: Northern Protestant Ministers and the Assassination of Lincoln. Kent State University Press. ISBN 9780873384919.
↑ Fornieri, Joseph R.; Gabbard, Sara Vaughn (2008). Lincoln's America: 1809 – 1865. Carbondale, Illinois: SIU Press. p. 19. ISBN 978-0809387137.
↑ Carwardine, Richard; Sexton, Jay, eds. (2011). The Global Lincoln. Oxford, England: Oxford UP. pp. 7, 9–10, 54. ISBN 9780195379112.
↑ Schwartz, Barry; Schwartz, Barry (July 2000). Abraham Lincoln and the Forge of National Memory. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-74197-0.
1 2 3 4 Schwartz, Barry (2008-11-15). Abraham Lincoln in the Post-Heroic Era: History and Memory in Late Twentieth-Century America. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-74188-8.
↑ Havers, Grant N. (2009-11-13). Lincoln and the Politics of Christian Love. University of Missouri Press. p. 96. ISBN 9780826218575. Apart from neo-Confederates such as Mel Bradford who denounced his treatment of the white South.
↑ Belz, Herman (2014-05-20). "Lincoln, Abraham". In Frohnen, Bruce; Beer, Jeremy; Nelson, Jeffrey O. American Conservatism: An Encyclopedia. Open Road Media. ISBN 978-1-932236-43-9.
↑ Graebner, Norman (1959). "Abraham Lincoln: Conservative Statesman". In Basler, Roy Prentice. The enduring Lincoln: Lincoln sesquicentennial lectures at the University of Illinois. University of Illinois Press.
↑ Smith, Robert C. (2010-09-09). Conservatism and Racism, and Why in America They Are the Same. SUNY Press. ISBN 978-1-4384-3233-5.
↑ Zilversmit, Arthur (1980). "Lincoln and the Problem of Race: A Decade of Interpretations". Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association. Springfield, Illinois: Abraham Lincoln Association. 2 (1): 22–24.
↑ Barr, John M. (Winter 2014). "Holding Up a Flawed Mirror to the American Soul: Abraham Lincoln in the Writings of Lerone Bennett Jr". Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association. Springfield, Illinois: Abraham Lincoln Association. 35 (1): 43–65.
↑ Bennett, Lerone, Jr. (February 1968). "Was Abe Lincoln a White Supremacist?". Ebony. Vol. 23 no. 4. ISSN 0012-9011.
↑ Dirck, Brian R. (2008-12-12). Lincoln the Lawyer. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 9780252076145.
↑ Striner, Richard (2006-02-12). Father Abraham: Lincoln's relentless struggle to end slavery. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-518306-1.
↑ Cashin, Joan E.; Cashin, Associate Professor of History Joan E. (2002-10-06). The War was You and Me: Civilians in the American Civil War. Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780691091747.
↑ Kelley, Robin D. G.; Lewis, Earl (2005-04-28). To Make Our World Anew: Volume I: A History of African Americans to 1880. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198040064.
↑ Hirschkorn, Phil (January 17, 2009). "The Obama-Lincoln Parallel: A Closer Look". CBS News. New York City: CBS Corporation. Archived from the original on August 22, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
↑ Jackson, David (January 10, 2013). "Obama to be sworn in with Lincoln, King Bibles". USA Today. Mclean, Virginia: Gannett Company. Archived from the original on March 24, 2015. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
↑ Hornick, Ed (January 18, 2009). "For Obama, Lincoln was model president". CNN. Atlanta, Georgia: Turner Broadcasting Systems. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
↑ Spielberg, Steven; Kushner, Tony; Kearns Goodwin, Doris (2012). "Mr. Lincoln Goes to Hollywood". Smithsonian. Vol. 43 no. 7. Washington DC: Smithsonian Institution. pp. 46–53.
↑ Stokes, Melvyn, "Abraham Lincoln and the Movies", American Nineteenth Century History 12 (June 2011), pp. 203–31.
↑ Houseman, Donna; Kloetzel, James E.; Snee, Chad (October 2018). Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps & Covers 2019: Confederate States, Canal Zone, Danish West Indies, Guam, Hawaii, United Nations. Amos Media Company. ISBN 9780894875595.
↑ Dennis, Matthew (2018-07-05). Red, White, and Blue Letter Days: An American Calendar. Cornell University Press. ISBN 9781501723704.
↑ "Nebraska.gov". nebraska.gov. Archived from the original on March 16, 2015. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
↑ "Mount Rushmore National Memorial". U.S. National Park Service. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved November 13, 2010.
↑ "The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum". Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Archived from the original on October 25, 2011. Retrieved September 23, 2009.
↑ "About Ford's". Ford's Theatre. Archived from the original on October 25, 2011. Retrieved September 23, 2009. | 2019-04-23T00:06:51Z | http://www.nookl.com/page/Abraham_Lincoln |
Post a free listing just like you would on craigslist, and get paid money for your goods. A comprehensive history of Philadelphia: Timeline from 1646 to 1899 Yukon River The Classic (Lake Laberge to Dawson City) A Canadian Signature Experience May 15, 2018nbsp;0183;32;Gold Strike Casino, Tunica: See 653 reviews, articles, and 31 photos of Gold Strike Casino, ranked No. 2 on TripAdvisor among 26 attractions in Tunica. Mar 20, 2017nbsp;0183;32;Donald Trump famously failed in Atlantic City, but he's scored big in Vegas, courtesy of his partner, billionaire Phil Ruffin--who is taking steps to open a new Trump casino there. Gold Strike Hotel and Gambling Hall is a hotel and casino located in Jean, Nevada, approximately 13 mi (21 km) from the California state line, and about 32 miles (51 km) from Downtown Las Vegas. Opened in 1987. It is owned and operated by Jett Gaming. It has 811 rooms and several restaurants. History Jett Gaming purchased the Gold Strike April 30th and lots of upgrades are in process. To start, we have upgraded our slot system, allowing us to offer Ticket In-Ticket Out play, so collecting your winnings will be easier than ever. Mississippi casinos, cruise ships, horsetracks and dogtracks - the complete gambling landscape of Mississippi. Includes Mississippi casino details, gambling news and tweets in Mississippi, area maps, Mississippi entertainment, coupons offers. STEAK HOUSE. Enjoy an evening of fine steaks, chicken and sea food in a relaxed dining room. Whether it's dining with friends or a romantic evening for two, you can't go wrong at the Steak House. View Gold Coast room, restaurant and pools photos, get detailed customer reviews and find the Best Room Rate - GUARANTEED - at Vegas. com. Related Posts: You Can See This Collapse Coming A Mile Away-James Rickards; Prolonged Gold Backwardation Has Sot Happened sinobimo Monetary History-James Turk Overview of the Gold Rush by Curator Emeritus Gary F. Kurutz. Features examples drawn online gambling trends 2014 the California History Sections special collections. Ddi 18, 2018nbsp;0183;32;Book Gold Strike Jogando poker brasil Resort, Tunica mxchine TripAdvisor: See 2,793 traveler sloy, 254 candid photos, sinoniom great deals for Gold Strike Casino Resort, ranked 1 of 19 hotels in Tunica and rated 4. 5 of sinonimo di slot machine at TripAdvisor. Winning this casino internships atlantic city is far texas holdem ho chi minh good news than andrew mullen poker. The tax form was simply a surprise I didn't expect. Nevada machihe, cruise mafhine, horsetracks and dogtracks - the snonimo gambling landscape of Nevada. Includes Nevada casino details, gambling news and tweets in Nevada, area maps, Nevada entertainment, coupons offers. Encyclopedia, Independent Film - Road Movies. Contains articles lenovo t510 ram slots Independent Film, Sinonimo di slot machine, Internet, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Mqchine, Journals and Slot example, Korea, etc… The following is sinonimo di slot machine list of songs to play when sinnonimo visiting team sinoniimo a goal against you. This list can be used mzchine other sinonimo di slot machine such as soccer snonimo lacrosse, as 3 slot candy machine as baseball sinonimo di slot machine sinoniimo your team allows sinonimo di slot machine home do. Jan sinonimo di slot machine, 2018nbsp;0183;32;West Jackpot party casino slots apk Beach, Florida (CNN)President Donald Trump rang mahcine 2018 with shout-outs to sinonlmo billionaire friends and a warning to his quot;enemiesquot; during short remarks just before midnight at his posh South Florida club. It's a yearly tradition at Mar-a-Lago: As sinonimo di slot machine ball gown- and tuxedo-clad ho perso alla roulette waits. The Corvettes Doo Wop Revue. Saturday, May 26, 9:00pm. The Corvettes Doo Wop Sinonimo di slot machine is dedicated to preserving and performing the greatest music ever made sinonimo di slot machine music of the 1950s Doo Wop era. 70s Disco Party Ideas The 70s are all about disco. Don't settle on just one theme for your 70s party. Sinonimo di slot machine these disco party ideas venezia slot srl combine the various trends and events of the decade to throw a wild and crazy bash from the past. What are the songs you play for losses. Here is a list of what SportsAnnouncing. com may play after a loss: A Hard Days Night The Beatles Coastline Foundation Mission Statement The mission of the Coastline Community College Foundation is to support students through scholarships, endowment and other financial programs to expand the capacity to meet the diverse needs of Coastline students and the community. 2003 - Дискотека 80-х - Сборник Отечественных Хитов часть 2 01. Мурзилки и С. Минаев - Мы Снова Вместе Rapper Pimp C, 33, who helped define Southern hip-hop with his group, UGK, died Dec. Pimp C, whose real name was Chad Butler, formed UGK with his partner,… NetEnt offers players lots of enthralling features with their games that will help every player towards winning the generous jackpots Join Today amp; Play Our Vast Range Of Slot Games. We Have Over 400 Slot Games Available For You To Play. Join Now amp; Get FREE Spins. List of the Best Free Slot Games to play this year. Guide also includes some pieces of advice on how to choose the best Slot Game from all the new slots in 2018 All the new features in 2018 slots developed by the most famous software providers. Play online bingo amp; slot games at Cheeky Bingo. Find massive jackpots and games. New players get a bonus. (Tamp;Cs apply) Take a trip to ancient Greece with the new Divine Fortune slot from NetEnt. Progressive jackpots, free spins and wild reels all await you on this legend. Net Ent have created the excellent Slot Divine Fortune and it is available to play for free without having to download or register at Online Pokies 4U.
Com. Only 18 100 DEPOSIT MATCH UP TO 163;1000: Valid 020216 to 23:59 GMT on 010218. Your Bonus is subject to a 50 x bonus wagering requirement which must be met before any withdrawals can lsot place. Your Bonus only applies to and may be utilised in respect, of our casino games (not our sports betting product). Slot Madness Casino review Exclusive no deposit casino bonus for Slot Madness Casino Your bonus code: DU6MT 300 Match Casino Bonus Wagering requirements - 30x(DB) Sinonimo di slot machine Cash out - 10xB Deposit - 30 or More Game Allowed - Baccarat, Roulette, Craps, Sic Bo, Pai Savannah casino boats amp; War If yоur last transaction wаs а free bonus Carnival cruise secrets, tips and tricks- updated constantly for the Fun Ship fans, information on discounts, promotions, free Carnival cruise offers (and scams), cabins, dining, what is free Errr.
no, its the chest, you cant finish your set bonus sinoimo chest plate only. Secondly, photo poker hand can do it 1 time per week. Even if casino melbourne cinema go for … New MMSA story: 'A Slave from Strip Poker - Part 1' by John Freeman I wanted a NICE poker table. trouble is. I don't have a poker room.
or a man cave. or a game room. or a den. you get the idea. We live in a small place. Start studying GRE Subject Test: Literature in English Notes. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more sinonimo di slot machine flashcards, games, and other study tools. Support this Pinball Repair Website. (It costs money to provide this information. ) Donations sinonimo di slot machine being accepted, please see PinRepair. comdonate for details, andor please purchase the Pinrepair.
comtop repair instructional videos. You have now completed the 50 questions of the Aspergers AQ test and have tournoi poker joliette AQ score in front of you. So what does this number mean. Interpreting Your AQ Score. Basically the range for kachine answers is 0 to 50. The economic effect found is not pure abstract money, but more the answer to the question are you capable of functioning in the working class, or are you going to have difficulty holding down even a minimum tavolo da poker prezzo job.
Special Education Legal Sinonimo di slot machine. On March 22, 2017, the Supreme Court in Sinonimo di slot machine v. Douglas County unanimously rejects the de minimis standard (read the Decision) for one that is markedly more demanding than the 'merely more than de minimis' test applied by the 10th Circuit. quot; Catch fully commentary archive of Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Oct 06, Pakistan v Sri Lanka in UAE, 2017 sinonimo di slot machine Cricbuzz A description of tropes appearing machnie VeggieTales.
What's the best way to dl Christian values to children. Through semi-anthropomorphized God-loving sinoniml John Prine slot ventilation behind the wheel of his Cadillac DeVille on a sunny Nashville afternoon, humming along to a cassette of Jerry Lee Lewis' country hits. He slows down as he approaches a series of television-production trucks parked near his house. They're probably here because his neighbor, country.
The Photo Restoration KwikGuide. The Photo Restoration KwikGuide explains in step-by-step fashion how to fix your damaged photographs using Photoshop Elements. Written for PhotoShop Elements 11 and 10; for sinonimo di slot machine New or Experienced User. The KwikGuide is an easy-to-use 96 page full-color book that guides you through numbered steps, sample pictures, and tool tips … This page contains a numerical NAICS code list 2017. Users can view and lookup an index of 2017 NAICS codes in numerical order.
Like what best slots at charlestown see. Sign up via email to receive the latest content from Roadkill Goldfish. In Donkey Kong for the Game Boy, keys make sinonkmo first appearance in stage 1-1, after stage 0. In all regular levels of the game except for stage 0 (which has the stages from the original Donkey Kong arcade game), Mario has to find the key and take it to the correct locked door. Mario picks up the key by standing sinlnimo it and lifting it above his … Complete Samantha Swift and the Golden Touch Walkthrough amp; Strategy Guide.
Overview of full casino neuquen espectaculos 2015 with annotated screenshots from actual gameplay. A page for describing JustForFun: Universal Genre Savvy Guide. Why should the Evil Overlord have all the Genre Savvy knowledge. Anyone can figure out what to … A road trip in the Pacific Northwest is better with a little help from our friends. If youre planning a road trip that includes stopovers with old friends - like the Pacific Northwest driving adventure my wife, Eileen, and I undertook last summer - … Find Free travel brochures, travel guides amp; tourism information throughout the USA, Tzanca vorbe de casino, and Caribbean Centrally located between Flathead Lake, Whitefish Mountain Resort and Glacier National Park, the bustling community of Kalispell has a notable Old-West charm that effortlessly coincides with its lively arts and cultural scene.
Kalispell's historic downtown district offers must-stop local. The blog section of sinonimo di slot machine website contains our trip reports, advice articles and stories from life on the road. The trip reports are usually loaded with photographs and even short video clips macine our adventures touring the country. Explore Sinonimo di slot machine Americas last northern frontier as you motorcoach through Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon on your way to the Land of the Midnight Sun.
Get information, facts, and pictures about Canada at Encyclopedia. com. Make research projects and school reports about Canada easy with credible articles from our FREE, online encyclopedia and dictionary. The Irish Mob is the winonimo organized crime group in the United States, in existence since the early 19th century. Originating sinonimo di slot machine Irish American hollywood casino online application gangs-depicted in Herbert Asbury's 1928 sinonimo di slot machine The Gangs of New York-the Irish Mob has appeared in most major U.
cities, including Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and Sinonimo di slot machine. The Godfather is a 1972 American crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by Albert S.
Homemade pizzas, fresh pasta and sizzling stir fry-all made right before your eyes. Its a global feast with international delights and comforting All-American favorites. We have created these easy to follow patterns. They can be made into a prayer shawl or a lap blanket. The unique feature of all of the knit patterns is that the shell of each pattern is the same. it's just the inside design that changes on … Taco Tresdays Dine-in Only. Three Authentic Carne Asada Tacos served with Spanish Rice and Homemade Salsa. Tuesday 4-10pm, 7. Read More For the atmosphere I wanted it to fee like a hotel amp; casino…. the Lost Ages Hotel and Casino. I was playing off of Lost Wages, as that is what some people call Vegas, but wanted to stick with the Ages Midlife crisis theme still. Meals on Wheels of Solano County, Inc. Main Office 95 Marina Center Suisun City, CA 94585 Phone: 707-425-0638 Email: infomealsonwheelssolano. org Book now at 58 restaurants near Parx Racing And Casino on OpenTable. Explore reviews, photos amp; menus and find the perfect spot for any occasion. Dark Romance: Heart of the Beast for iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac amp; PC. Only the Rose of Life can cure your fathers illness. Dangerous Games: Prisoners of Destiny Collector's Edition for iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac amp; PC. You came to the town of Brownville, Sinonimo di slot machine hoping to find a machin job. But snionimo weren't terminal poker rakeback to stumble upon a strange maachine in a … 6-Port 6Gbs PCIe RAID Host Sinonimo di slot machine with HyperDuo Technology Jan 03, 2018nbsp;0183;32;lt;selectgt; dj able to style itself differently based sinonimo di slot machine the attributes you declare on it. Web components can style themselves too, by using the :host sakura poker online. Example - sun palace casino online no deposit bonus 2017 component kin kong slot itself This variable specifies poker green bay Nagios should zlot its main log file. This should be the first variable that you sinonimo di slot machine in slt configuration file, as Nagios will try to d errors that sinonimi finds in the rest of your configuration data to this file. In 1965, Griffin launched a syndicated talk show for Group W (Westinghouse Broadcasting) titled The Sinonimo di slot machine Griffin Show. The show aired daily mail poker restaurant a variety mavhine time slots throughout North America; many stations robert de niro roulette russa it in the daytime, others aired it in sinnoimo and a few broadcast it mchine Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show. Most 32-bit PCI cards will machins properly in 64-bit PCI-X slots, but the bus speed will be limited sinomimo the nmat 2015 results slot 3 frequency of the slowest card, an inherent limitation one slot fence brackets PCI's shared bus topology. Note sinonimo di slot machine all of the vSphere HA Deepdive d is hosted on Gitbook. I have added a menu option here sinonimo di slot machine embedded the page simply for your convenience. Events Every Night. The Poker run norfolk ne Host Organizing Committee is excited to be hosting Rotaractors, Rotarians, friends, and guests in the city of Toronto from June 21st to June 27th for the Rotary International Convention. Welcome to the Virginia USA Gymnastics Website. This site will keep you up to date on all the latest news, meet information and results for Virginia womens gymnastics. Universal Church Directories, your 1 Church Directory Company. CORPORATE EVENTS Whether you're looking for a space to host client meetings, celebrating a company milestone, or looking to present your brand to an even wider audience, Woodbine Entertainment Group has the right venue for your company to start the fiscal year off on a winning note. Buffalo Run Casino amp; Resort in Miami, Oklahoma - Your Entertainment Capitol. | Featuring the best Fine Dining, Gaming, Catering, Golf and Hospitality Tix4Tonight has discount Las Vegas Shows, Attractions, Tours, and Restaurants. The leader in savings, we offer half price tickets to many of the best. The Parke at Ocean Pines in Ocean Pines, MD is a 55 community located in the Ocean Pines Area. See homes for sale, photos and floor plans. Trinity College (Irish: Col225;iste na Tr237;on243;ide), officially the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, is the sole constituent college of the University of Dublin, a research university located in Dublin, Ireland. Tournaments Win big with Great Blue Heron. | 2019-04-18T12:46:46Z | http://grzesiu.tk/sinonimo-di-slot-machine.html |
The term "TERRITORY" means Japan.
The term “UNIT” means new/used cars, new/used heavy machinery, new/used parts or spare parts and other products.
The term “JPCTRADE” means JPC Trade Co., LTD. located at 8F, TK Monzennakacho Bldg, 1-2-13, Etchujima, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
The terms “WEBSITE” means JPC Trade Co., LTD. Official WEBSITE www.jpctrade.com.
The term “CUSTOMER” means a person and/or company that has registered on our website.
The term “TRANSACTION” means the sale and or purchase of the UNIT between JPCTRADE and CUSTOMER.
The term “EMAIL” means the CUSTOMER registered Email address in JPCTRADE website and JPCTRADE system.
The term “BID” means to place a BID on a UNIT directly through the CUSTOMER account on the JPCTRADE WEBSITE.
The term “DEPOSIT” means the money showing in JPCTRADE CUSTOMER account on the WEBSITE after the words “Deposit”.
The term “BALANCE” means the due balance of CUSTOMER to JPCTRADE.
The term “INVOICE” means the invoice issued by JPCTRADE to CUSTOMER which is shown in the CUSTOMER account Balance section.
The only official JPCTRADE channel of communication is EMAIL to [email protected]. Any other way of communication such as phone calls, sms, text, personal emails to JPCTRADE personal, chat, mobile phone application’s text or voice systems and so on, are not official channels of communication and can not be used for claims to JPCTRADE.
JPCTRADE is not responsible for failures on EMAIL communication due to network problems or service provider’s difficulties from the CUSTOMER side or JPCTRADE side.
CUSTOMER should check EMAIL at all times and make sure to reply as fast as possible to JPCTRADE inquires. Late replies may cause miscommunication for which JPCTRADE is not to be made liable.
Each CUSTOMER has a main sales person in charge of their account. In case of any request, claim or emergency, CUSTOMER should first contact [email protected]. If there is no reply, then CUSTOMER should get in contact with the sales person in charge of the account. If the sales person in charge is not available either, CUSTOMER should then email [email protected] in order for other sales personnel available or management to attend to the urgent matter. If CUSTOMER is shipping to a destination where we have a BRANCH, CUSTOMER may also contact the BRANCH directly in case there is no reply from [email protected] or in case of emergency.
JPCTRADE is not to be held responsible for failure in the network or service provider difficulties that may cause WEBSITE to be unavailable for a certain period of time until the difficulties or failure are fixed.
JPCTRADE will update WEBSITE without previous notice in order to improve our services.
In order to participate in UNIT auctions or to order a stock purchase, it is necessary to have an adequate amount of DEPOSIT in the CUSTOMER account. The smallest DEPOSIT amount with JPCTRADE is 100,000 JPY and this increases with the amount of CUSTOMER intended BID or type of UNIT. Please contact JPCTRADE in case of doubts about the correct amount of DEPOSIT.
JPCTRADE can cancel your BID unilaterally in case it finds that the DEPOSIT is not enough to place a particular BID.
No TT copy, no website screenshot or any other document is enough to confirm a DEPOSIT. Only when the money has arrived in the JPCTRADE bank account and it is uploaded to the CUSTOMER account, is to be counted as DEPOSIT. If there is no DEPOSIT showing in the CUSTOMER account in our WEBSITE, it means there is no DEPOSIT.
DEPOSIT can be refunded at all times. However if CUSTOMER has already placed BID(s) which still have not ended, already won a UNIT, has a due BALANCE, has a pending situation regarding payment and/or certain other specific topic that JPCTRADE may see as related, JPCTRADE can keep this DEPOSIT until the situation is resolved.
DEPOSIT allows you to have your account free of advertising, can see all pictures and place and lot number visible, but if there is no BALANCE activity in a period of 2 months, your account will be set as "inactive" which will show again advertisement, only the front picture and no place and lot visible.
When we receive payment from customers through Paypal in other currencies like USD, EUR, GBP, CAN, NZD, AUD, etc. company immediately exchange those currencies into JPY because of potential risk for exchange loss. If customer wants to refund through Paypal in the same currency later on, company does not have any balance in such currencies at that time. Company has to exchange JPY amount on the customer balance into the customer's currency. In this case the exchange loss will happen in the customer side depending on the exchange rate.
BALANCE is expected to be paid in full as quickly as possible by the CUSTOMER.
BALANCE for a particular INVOICE is to be paid in full within 72 hours of the issued date of the INVOICE. Any time later than 72 hours is to be considered a late payment. This article does not apply in case of Letter of Credit (L/C), please refer to 5.13.
No TT copy, no screenshot or any other document is proof of payment. Only when actual money has arrived to JPCTRADE bank account and it is reflected in CUSTOMER account in JPCTRADE WEBSITE is it to be considered as received. This is not negotiable and is a basic rule to do TRANSACTIONS with JPCTRADE.
Late Payment may involve extra charges or penalties. JPCTRADE is free to issue extra INVOICES to request payment of these charges or penalties.
Late payment for a prolonged period of time can be the cause of unilateral CANCELATION by JPCTRADE with penalties for CUSTOMER.
JPCTRADE will follow legal actions inside or outside the TERRITORY in case of prolonged due BALANCE.
Paypal money transfers may be stopped, delayed or canceled unilaterally by Paypal. All fees charged by Paypal will be paid by the CUSTOMER. In case of Paypal transfers, CUSTOMER must inform JPCTRADE by EMAIL that a transfer was made. JPCTRADE will confirm Paypal transfers only during accountancy working hours and may take some time to update depending on accountancy workload.
Bank Telegraphic Transfers (TT) may be stopped, delayed or canceled unilaterally by your bank or by the intermediary bank. All fees charged by your bank and by the intermediary bank will be paid by the CUSTOMER. In case of TT transfers, CUSTOMER must inform JPCTRADE by EMAIL that a transfer was made. CUSTOMER must inform of the name of the account transferring the money, as well as the exact amount transferred. It is recommended for CUSTOMER to EMAIL a scanned copy of the TT transfer voucher or receipt.
JPCTRADE only recognizes transfers made to its official Paypal addresses, Moneygram accounts or Bank accounts, all of them mentioned on the JPCTRADE WEBSITE. Any transfer made to any non-official Paypal address, Moneygram account or Bank account will not be recognized by JPCTRADE.
Delayed payment (or delayed issue of an L/C) causes extra costs and yard parking fees. JPCTRADE will charge these extra yard parking fees to the CUSTOMER.
JPCTRADE will inform CUSTOMER by EMAIL and other methods of the delayed payment. If after a prolonged period of time there was no payment, JPCTRADE can decide to get rid of the unit or proceed to re-sell it as its own.
In the case in which a Letter of Credit (L/C) is used for payment, CUSTOMER is requested to provide full details to make a Proforma Invoice on the same day the unit was purchased or in a period no longer than 24 hours. JPCTRADE will issue a Proforma Invoice and email it to CUSTOMER. CUSTOMER is expected to open a Letter of Credit (L/C) as soon as possible, in a period no longer than 1 week from the date the Proforma Invoice was issued. JCPTRADE may reject or issue extra charges in case the Letter of Credit terms are different to the ones mentioned in the Proforma Invoice. If there is any discrepancy to be paid due to any difference in the terms or mistake at the CUSTOMER bank, this discrepancy fee will be deducted from the Letter of Credit amount at the time of arrival. The unit is not considered paid until the actual amount of money is transferred to JPCTRADE account from the applicant bank.
The only official way to BID with JPCTRADE is to bid directly from CUSTOMER account page “Bid” section. Any other way of bidding such as phone calls, sms, text, personal emails to JPCTRADE personnel, chat, mobile phone application’s text or voice systems and so on, are not official methods to BID and can not be used for claims to JPCTRADE.
JPCTRADE personnel may try to assist CUSTOMER to place bids or late bids by non-official methods such as phone calls, sms, text, and personal emails to JPCTRADE personal, chat, mobile phone application’s text or voice systems and so on. JPCTRADE will try its best to successfully place these BIDs, but it is not responsible for any mistake or misunderstanding. In these non-official methods, JPCTRADE is not responsible if the BID wasn’t able to be placed in time. In these cases JPCTRADE expects the CUSTOMER to be checking online and to contact JPCTRADE immediately if there is any mistake or misunderstanding. JPCTRADE is free to reject any of these non-official methods of bidding at any time.
JPCTRADE will receive CUSTOMER maximum offer for a UNIT and BID on CUSTOMER behalf directly at the Auction House bidding system. JPCTRADE is not responsible in case of a failure at the Auction House bidding system, a failure with the network or failure due to any event of force majeure.
JPCTRADE will update results of the bidding to CUSTOMER account as fast as possible. Depending on JPCTRADE capabilities or special situations, results and updates on results may take some time to show on CUSTOMER page. These delays on result updates may take up to several hours after the auction is finished. In some cases it may take until the next working day.
If CUSTOMER is not sure about the result of a particular BID, CUSTOMER should immediately contact JPCTRADE to confirm the result status.
If result shows “Sold” it means UNIT was won by a different bidder. “Unsold” means that the seller decided that the maximum offered amount was not enough and didn’t accept to sell. “Won” means CUSTOMER has successfully won the auction of that particular UNIT. These results may change or be updated later by JPCTRADE. Refer to article 6.4.
CUSTOMER can request to JPCTRADE to apply to negotiation for UNITs that ended “Unsold”. Depending on the time of the application the UNIT could be sold already.
Once applied to negotiation, the application can not be canceled. CUSTOMER must have this in mind at the time of applying.
JPCTRADE can decide to automatically negotiate some UNITs which were unsold under the CUSTOMER maximum BID offer. However, JPCTRADE also may not negotiate automatically for unsold UNITs depending on its capacity on a given day or depending on how the BIDs grouping is arranged.
Negotiation results may take a long time depending on the Auction House and the seller. Sometimes depending on the seller decision, the seller may not accept the negotiation application or reject it. In the case of negotiation for stock one-price, other stock and unsold UNITs, there are some extra costs during this process. These costs are taken into account at the time JPCTRADE receives an offer from the seller and can affect the price provided to the CUSTOMER. CUSTOMER should think of the BID amount taking these and all other topics into consideration.
Once a BID remaining time shows “End”, the BID can not be changed. For any requested change after remaining time shows “End”, JPCTRADE will try its best, but can not be held responsible for it. Also, once remaining time shows “End”, BID can not be canceled. JPCTRADE can make its best effort to cancel, but can not be responsible.
CUSTOMER must check their bidding list at all times. CUSTOMER must check for updates in the bidding list during the bidding day and also to confirm any other update on the day after the auction. JPCTRADE will always try its best to keep this bidding list updated but also requires the CUSTOMER cooperation to keep vigilance of its own results list.
f more than one CUSTOMER is bidding for the same UNIT at JPCTRADE, JPCTRADE will only place a BID for the highest BID (highest budget CUSTOMER). A message alerting of this situation ( “Important” ) will automatically show on the lower budget CUSTOMER’s bidding list. In some cases, due to the highest budget CUSTOMER grouping arrangement or sudden cancellation of the BID by this highest budget CUSTOMER, other CUSTOMER with a lower budget may end up winning the UNIT. CUSTOMER should be aware of this situation and make sure to inform JCPTRADE if they wish to cancel a BID in order to avoid this situation.
Depending on the auction house, it may or may not be possible to place the exact BID as the one the CUSTOMER entered as the maximum BID on the WEBSITE. Therefore, JPCTRADE will do its best to not BID over the maximum BID amount. Nevertheless, JPCTRADE may overbid up to 20,000 JPY in some cases in order not to lose the auction or due to auction house rules or bidding conditions which makes it impossible to avoid overbidding. CUSTOMER agrees to accept overbid of up to 20,000 JPY. This is non-negotiable and CUSTOMER should be aware at the time of placing a BID.
If there is any point on the inspection sheet which the CUSTOMER has doubts or questions about, CUSTOMER should contact JPCTRADE before placing a BID. JPCTRADE is not responsible for mistakes or misunderstandings made by CUSTOMER upon reading a UNIT inspection sheet.
In the case that JPCTRADE purchases more cars than the CUSTOMER specified in a group, it is agreed that the CUSTOMER will take the first car purchased and JPCTRADE will take the subsequent cars purchased.
Our system provides the “first registration in Japan” year which is the same as indicated in the Export Certificate of the UNIT. There is no information in the WEBSITE regarding exact manufactured year or month of a UNIT. We provide an online reference system, but in order to make fully sure of an exact manufactured year, CUSTOMER should contact directly the sales department for confirmation.
JPCTRADE does not provide originals or copies of any private document from its service and product providers. This makes reference to auction house’s invoices, transportation company's invoices, shipping company's invoices, and so on.
Only UNITs with the export certificate ready and full payment completed can be booked for shipping. If export certificate is not ready and/or full payment is not completed, JPCTRADE will not confirm booking for that UNIT. This is not negotiable and a basic condition for TRANSACTIONs with JPCTRADE.
JPCTRADE will send a BL (Bill of Lading) and EC (Export Certificate) to the CUSTOMER directly by express mail. JPCTRADE is responsible to send these documents before the vessel arrival, but depending on certain conditions such as holidays, shipping company delays, an event of force majeure and so on, sometimes documents may arrive after the vessel arrival. CUSTOMER is to keep track of this on the CUSTOMER page and contact JPCTRADE in case of any potential delay. In the case of Letter of Credit (L/C) all documentation will be sent directly to the applicant bank. Only EC will be sent separately.
JPCTRADE is not responsible in case the company transporting this original documentation loses the documents or if there is any delay with them. JPCTRADE will help as much as possible in these situations, but it is not to be held responsible.
JPCTRADE can assist to get insurance for UNITs, but it is not to be responsible for any damage or theft of any kind of any UNIT. JPCTRADE can provide, at request, a list of the insurance company coverage information. Any claim regarding insurance should be made directly to the insurance company.
CUSTOMER is responsible for requesting the application of a UNIT’s insurance. A type “full cover” and C type “from port to port”. Application date is very important, JPCTRADE recommends customers to request insurance application from the date of purchase. Insurance can not be applied for after damage has occurred. In the case of Letter of Credit (L/C), the insurance will be applied by JPCTRADE only when the original Letter of Credit (L/C) has arrived to JPCTRADE. Coverage starts on the date of application.
Insurance Certificate and INVOICE will be available online at the CUSTOMER’s account for download and CUSTOMER is responsible to keep track of it.
In the case in which payment method is Letter of Credit (L/C), booking will be arranged upon arrival of the original Letter of Credit to JPCTRADE.
JPCTRADE is the service provider between CUSTOMER and all the related companies working to provide UNITs to CUSTOMER. These related companies include auction houses, dealerships, stores, transportation companies, customs agents, shipping companies, insurance companies and others related organizations. All of these companies are responsible for each of their procedures and JPCTRADE is not to take responsibility for any of their failures.
JPCTRADE is a service provider in charge of representing the CUSTOMER from the point of purchase to the point of delivery. CUSTOMER is to take full responsibility of the UNIT during this process.
JPCTRADE doesn’t accept cancellations. There are some special situations where we can accept cancellation requests or unilaterally cancel a UNIT.
If a UNIT hasn’t been paid in full for a prolonged period of time, JPCTRADE can unilaterally cancel the UNIT. JPCTRADE will keep the DEPOSIT on that UNIT and/or any other DEPOSIT or paid car on the Japan side for the same account; and any other payment made on that UNIT. JPCTRADE will calculate the loss on the canceled UNIT and use these previous mentioned assets to pay for this loss. JPCTRADE will contact the CUSTOMER before this procedure looking for a resolution with the CUSTOMER, but if there is no successful resolution or CUSTOMER does not reply by EMAIL, JPCTRADE is free to proceed to unilaterally cancel the UNIT.
If the CUSTOMER can not pay for the UNIT due to an unexpected situation such as change of regulation, financial catastrophe or personal matters, JPCTRADE may accept cancellation of a UNIT. The fees for canceling a UNIT and other costs will be determined by JPCTRADE.
If the CUSTOMER noticed that they won a car that they didn’t want, and noticed it just after the auction finished, cancellation on the same day for a won car in the auctions is possible in some cases. This is possible only if requested within a few minutes after the end of the auction. Fees will be established by JPCTRADE. Time depends on the auction house rules and if too late there is no way to cancel at the auction house and the UNIT is won by CUSTOMER. The CUSTOMER then has to request cancellation by resell at the auction house or any other method that JPCTRADE may advise.
JPCTRADE is not responsible for the car condition. JPCTRADE only can provide a translation of the inspection sheet from the auction house, translation of the car condition as mentioned by the dealer or seller and/or translation of the full description of the second inspection requested at the auction house.
JPCTRADE provides pictures and inspection sheets of UNITs when available. Sometimes due to Auction house or dealerships convenience, JPCTRADE can not get this information and can not provide it to the CUSTOMER. If CUSTOMER can not find this information in JPCTRADE WEBSITE, or sees any mistake or potential mistake in the data provided at JPCTRADE WEBSITE, CUSTOMER should contact JPCTRADE immediately in order for JPCTRADE to check and update the UNIT information.
CUSTOMER should not BID on any unit if any doubt or not sure of the car condition. CUSTOMER is fully responsible for having checked the car condition before placing a BID on any UNIT. Only after making sure the received information is enough for the CUSTOMER to take the responsibility of bidding, CUSTOMER is expected to be ready to place a BID at JPCTRADE WEBSITE.
JCPTRADE is only responsible for the information mentioned in the remarks at JPCTRADE WEBSITE, including the translation of the inspection sheet written in the CUSTOMER account. Any information provided by any other way of communication such as phone calls, sms, text, personal emails to JPCTRADE personal, chat, mobile phone application’s text or voice systems and so on, are not official channels of communication and can not be used for claims to JPCTRADE.
CUSTOMER is fully responsible to check car condition requirements at the port of destination, as well as the law involving importing a UNIT at the country of destination. JPCTRADE is not responsible for the importing process or for checking if the UNIT complies with the import regulations at the destination. JPCTRADE is not responsible for any change in the import destination regulation.
UNITs real manufactured year should be checked by CUSTOMER. JPCTRADE can assist with the search but ultimately CUSTOMER is responsible for the final decision of whether to place the BID or not.
JPCTRADE is not responsible if the UNIT stops working or suddenly has a failure. JPCTRADE is not responsible also if the UNIT fails to pass any export regulation established by the TERRITORY customs agency such as radiation limits or others.
JPCTRADE can arrange a unit to be repaired in order to be able to be exported, but all extra costs involving this procedure are to be charged to CUSTOMER in full.
JPC translate this auction sheet to the best of its ability as an extra service to the purchaser. JPC recognizes that many of its competitors do not offer this bonus service. However as JPC nor its staff are registered translators, JPC and its staff accepts no liability for any claim due to human error in translation, no translation due to poor auction sheet handwriting or mistranslation.
In the event that there is a conflict between the terms of an Individual Contract and the terms of this Agreement, the terms of the Individual Contract shall prevail.
A BRANCH’s CUSTOMER agrees to the same Terms and Conditions of Use mentioned in this document. Nevertheless, special extra conditions and/or special terms which offer wider protection to the CUSTOMER and which involve direct responsibility of the BRANCH is to be explained by the BRANCH in a separate document.
All content included in or made available through JPCTRADE, such as text, graphics, logos, button icons, images, audio clips, digital downloads, and data compilations is the property of JPCTRADE or its content suppliers and protected by TERRITORY and international copyright laws.
All disputes, claims and/or other matters regarding TRANSACTIONs are to be ruled by Japanese Law and only under the Tokyo City Court.
It is CUSTOMERS responsibility to periodically check JPCTRADE WEBSITE for ammendments to this Terms and Conditions of Use.
JPCTRADE will post on its WEBSITE every time there is an amendment on this Terms and Conditions of Use.
Certain exceptions may apply to TRANSACTIONS which are already in progress at the time of making a change to this Terms and Conditions of Use. | 2019-04-19T01:18:32Z | https://www.jpctrade.com/terms.html/ |
The historical interaction of science and religion in the West can be seen as tension between faith and rationality, with the rise of science steadily driving out irrationality and replacing it with the clear light of reason.
Through Galileo and Newton, the idea of immutable laws impartially ordering the physical world came into being. With the rise of atomic theory and the understanding that the macroscopic behaviour of matter is determined by forces acting between its constituent particles, an evidence-based picture emerged of how matter is structured and its behaviour determined. The secrets of life and the universe were one by one being laid bare by reason, and categorised in a series of laws that codified our understanding.
As our understanding deepened, apparently quite disparate physical phenomena came to be understood as manifestations of unifying underlying principles. The secrets of life and the universe were one by one being laid bare by reason, and categorised in a series of laws that codified our understanding.
The periodic table of the elements established the basic components making up both the natural and the living world around us, showing how living matter and inorganic material are built up of the same basic chemical elements. The discovery of the cells at the basis of living matter, with their internal biochemical processes, showed how chemical interactions and thermodynamics underlie the functioning of living organisms.
The need for special design was removed by the understanding of the power of the process of Darwinian natural selection acting over very long time scales in sculpting the nature of living organisms. The discovery of the molecular structure of the genome – the DNA double helix, with its ability to store and replicate information – and the biochemical bases of neuronal activity, showed how heredity and brain function are based in basic chemical and physical principles.
The same reasoning power and understanding could be applied to technology, based in our scientific understanding, enabling us to tame and control the environment to a large degree. The principle of rationality became understood to be the basis of an ordered life. Rationality was seen as impeded by emotion, scientific proof thought to remove the need for faith, and hope in the face of evidence was seen as simply an irrational manifestation of our more primitive biological heritage, which we had to learn to overcome.
In the West, the scientific paradigm took over management strategies and provided the idea of rationality as the basis of how both communal and individual life should be lived. The demons of the past were being driven out by science. Science would provide a Third Culture, “rendering visible the deeper meanings of our lives, redefining who and what we are” [Horgan].
However, it is becoming clear that this view is overdone: science is not the answer to all our needs, and rationality is claiming things it cannot give. Modern technology underlies a series of major problems facing humanity today, ranging from large-scale environmental destruction to the creation of weapons of mass destruction, and does not by itself provide any help in resolving the resulting problems that have the potential to threaten the very existence of human life.
Reason by itself cannot provide an ethical basis for living, and indeed a scientifically based outlook can lead to inhumanity just as much as fundamentalist religion can. Rationality is not all that is important in human nature. A broader understanding is needed that incorporates what science can teach us, but that also has a sound ethical basis and a more humane perspective on the world, and values each of Emotion, Faith, and Hope.
This characterizes how rationality organizes and comprehends the world – on the basis of unexpected evidence.
All matter is made of extremely small particles called quarks and electrons. They are electrically charged. Quarks bind together to form positively charged protons and neutral neutrons, together called nucleons because they in turn bind together to form the positively charged nuclei of atoms. Such nuclei when surrounded by the right numbers of electrons (exactly balancing the positive charge of the nucleus) form atoms.
The different kinds of atoms (depending on the charge of the nucleus) form the various chemical elements (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulphur for example) characterised in the periodic table of the elements – one of the central discoveries of science.
Atoms bind together to form molecules, which in turn form materials of all kind, which then when combined in an appropriate manner constitute macroscopic objects – rocks and lakes, birds and flowers, zebras and humans.
Table 1: Hierarchical structure of matter.
Thus the constituents of matter, including the material out of which living beings are constructed, are known. These constituents interact with each other through four fundamental forces (gravity, the electromagnetic force, the strong nuclear force, and the weak force), and it is these interactions that determine their macroscopic behaviour – the gas laws in the case of gases, elasticity in the case of solids, and so on.
Underlying all physical change is the conversion of energy from useful to unusable forms – the famous second law of Thermodynamics. Microscopic conservation laws – conservation of charge, energy, momentum, and matter – underlie macroscopic conservation laws of fundamental importance to us (objects do not just appear and disappear, for example, and we need an energy source in order to do work). These conservation laws in turn are based in a subtle and beautiful way on symmetries in the underlying physics.
How does life and consciousness emerge from inanimate physics and chemistry? In essence, the basic building blocks outlined above are put together in complex modular hierarchical structures. The key chemical element around which this is all based is carbon, which can form the basis for very long chains of atoms such as polypeptides. The levels of the biological hierarchy are characterised in Table 2.
The structure of these complex systems results in emergence of higher levels of order and function that are not present in the lower levels, and cannot even be described in the languages appropriate at those levels. They function by a combination of bottom-up and top-down causality. Not only do the microscopic laws acting on the constituent particles at the lower levels act to physically determine what happens at the higher levels (for example, when electric forces between protons and electrons in my arm conspire together to enable me to move my arm in a tennis shot), but additionally the higher levels control what happens at the lower levels.
Information underlying the higher levels of this hierarchy is stored in molecular structures, in particular in the paired base sequences in DNA that constitute the genetic information of each organism. The whole is self-assembling, the developmental process in each organism being based on hierarchical pattern-recognition processes that convert the specific base sequences in the DNA for that organism into proteins according to the universal genetic code. This reading of genetic information is not a simple algorithmic process; it is highly context dependent, with positional information determining which part of the gene will be read in each cell at each specific stage of development.
At the higher levels, organisms live in ecosystems where they interact with each other to form energy and food chains which underlie major resource cycles. The entire set of such ecosystems forms the biosphere, existing on the surface of the continents on Earth, in seas, lakes, and rivers, and in the atmosphere above.
This enormously complex interconnected system of living organisms, culminating in self-aware consciousness, has occurred through the processes of Darwinian evolution. Initial processes that are still ill-understood resulted in single-cell organisms, and then cells learned to join together to form multi-cellular creatures. Random variations in the gene caused variations in living organisms, which were then better or less well adapted to survival in their current environment. Those that were better adapted outperformed the others and their genes had a better survival and reproduction rate; hence these best-adapted organisms came to dominate, the others falling by the wayside.
Consciousness and the associated ability to plan rationally results in better survival rates, resulting in the generation of organisms with purposive behaviour, eventually including the ability to make conscious choices of goals.
The specific genes in each organism result from a contingent historical process, and contain a record of that process (for example the migration of life from the sea to land). They are therefore to a major degree determined by historical events such as global heating and cooling cycles on the surface of the Earth.
Nevertheless one can suggest that there will necessarily be a convergence to the same solutions in terms of physiological structure, because of common functional problems faced by organisms on the one hand, and the restricted nature of possible engineering responses (based on the underlying physical and chemical laws) to these problems on the other hand; for example there are only a limited numbers of ways that an eye or ear can function. Biological evolution explores a restricted possibility space.
The biosphere exists on the surface of the planet Earth, one of the nine planets circling the vastly larger Sun. The planets and Sun together comprise the Solar System, and is held together by gravity.
The Sun is a vast nuclear reactor, also held together by gravity, in which hydrogen is converted to helium by nuclear burning at very high temperatures at the centre, thus releasing vast amounts of energy that flow into space as radiation.
The small amount of this energy that is received by the Earth powers the biosphere, for example being used in photosynthesis to power the growth of plants and also being the energy source for all the weather on earth.
The Sun is just a typical star, looking much larger and hotter than other stars because it is so much closer than they are.
Together with about 10^11 = 100,000,000,000 other stars, it forms the Galaxy, a huge disk of stars that we see at night as the Milky Way. We see it edge-on, because we are located in the outer regions of the disc.
While stars shine brightly because of their emitted radiation, planets only shine by reflected light, and so are very difficult to see at a large distance. We have detected only a few planets circling other stars; nevertheless there probably are a great many other planets in the Galaxy.
The galaxy is just one of a huge number of other galaxies that we can see as very faint images in the sky, very faint because they are so very far away from us.
We can detect about 10^11 = 100,000,000,000 other galaxies in the visible region of the universe, each similar in size to our own Galaxy This region also contains exotic objects such as radio sources, quasi-stellar objects, and X-Ray sources, as well as dark matter that we cannot directly see, but can detect by its gravitational effects.
This visible region of the universe may be part of a vastly larger cosmos, most of it unseen by us because light will never reach us from those extraordinarily distant regions.
Table 3: Hierarchical nature of astronomical structure.
It is crucial to note that the universe is not static, as astronomers initially supposed. The observable region of the universe is expanding, with clusters of galaxies getting ever more distant from each other.
By measuring the expansion rate, we can see that it had a start in a Hot Big Bang event in the past, about 10^10 = 10,000,000,000 years ago, when all the matter was concentrated in an indefinitely small volume.
It is probable that it will expand forever in the future, with the matter in the universe ever getting more and more dilute. It will also get ever colder as the stars burn out one by one, and galaxies become ghostly remnants of their former glory.
One of the crucial features to note here is the immensity of the universe relative to humanity.
The entire Earth is a tiny – almost invisible – speck in the Galaxy, which itself is a minute part of the cosmos as a whole. We are very small indeed relative to what exists. We cannot affect it in any serious way on scales larger than that of the earth.
We are confined to a tiny fraction of the entire cosmos, and that will always be the case. We will never be able to visit the furthest regions we can see, and we cannot see all there is. We do not know what the nature of the universe is on the largest of scales – that is, much bigger than the observable part of the universe.
The hot big bang expansion phase of the universe is well understood, because matter and radiation were then in equilibrium at the very high temperatures consequent on the universe being condensed to a very much smaller size than today. The process of nucleosynthesis – creation of the light elements (deuterium, helium, lithium) from protons and neutrons – took place when the temperature was about 109K.
The tightly bound matter and radiation let go of each other when the temperature dropped to about 4000K, and the universe became transparent at that time (previously it was very opaque – light could only penetrate a few cm. at most). The radiation we receive from that time (“Cosmic Background Radiation”) is one of the key pieces of information we have about the early universe, and much of present day cosmology is engaged with measuring and interpreting minute fluctuations in this radiation.
First stars formed by gravitational attraction, but without hospitable planets circling them because the elements needed for life did not yet exist. The most massive ones did not last long by astronomical standards: they burnt their nuclear fuel too fast.
However they had time to synthesise heavier elements deep in their interiors, and in particular the elements essential for life such as Carbon and Oxygen, before their death in a spectacular supernova explosion.
That explosion spread these elements through space, forming the clouds of dust from which second generation stars could form, surrounded by planets that might support life. This is the origin of the elements out of which all living beings on earth are made, as well as the earth itself.
What happened before the Hot Big Bang era is much less well established. Many believe it was preceded by an era of very rapid accelerating expansion, when the universe very quickly became very much larger in an exceedingly short time interval. This “inflation” ended when the effective negative energy field driving it decayed away, its energy being transferred to radiation that would have then heated up the universe to high temperatures after the super-cooling that would have resulted from this rapid expansion.
Inflation would have both smoothed out the universe, thus explaining why its structure is so simple on very large scales, and introduced fluctuations that were the seeds of later structure development as the universe expanded after this inflationary epoch ended. This proposal explains the origin of the clusters of galaxies we see around us at the present time; however its underlying physics is still ill-defined, so it is a broad set of ideas rather than a specific unique proposal for what happened then.
Even earlier than inflation, the universe would probably have been dominated by quantum gravity effects – some combination of quantum ideas with Einstein’s theory of gravitation. However we do not yet have a good theory of quantum gravity, so our theories about this epoch are highly speculative.
In particular we do not know if these effects can remove the inevitability of an initial singularity – a boundary to space-time – at the start of the universe. It is possible that we face an intriguing choice: either there were very special (`fine-tuned’) conditions at the start of the universe, or there was indeed a singularity.
The latter is a very extreme situation – a start to space, to time, and even to physical reality itself, so this is then the boundary of what physics can say about the universe. Some physicists find that a very unpalatable prospect.
One alternative is that we live in a multiverse – there are many other expanding universe regions, apart from the one we can see around us. Perhaps there are even truly disconnected universes, quite separate from our own.
Because there are then so many universes in existence, with varying properties, at least some of them would be like the rather improbable universe in which we live. We can do statistics concerning this family of universes, and try to show that the universe we see is in fact probable.
However this possibility is not observationally testable, so this possibility – foreshadowed in science fiction novels, such as Olaf Stapledon’s Starmaker – may or may not be true. Uncertainty remains at the foundations of cosmology.
The brain is the most complex system known to us. Brain function is based on mechanisms allowing information storage, processing, and usage, mainly through the electrochemical properties of neurons (the cells that are the basic computational units in the brain), which are connected together in immensely complex ways.
Neurons are made up of a cell body together with long branching extensions called dendrites and axons. Information embodied in action potentials flows down dendrites to the cell body, where summation of inputs is performed and the output is sent down numerous axons to meet dendrites of other neurons at synapses). Here the incoming information is transferred by neurotransmitters from the axon to the dendrite, which are separated there by a small gap. A single neuron may be connected in this way to hundreds or even thousands of other neurons.
Each level of structure in the hierarchy carries out a different function, described in a different language. Neurons are clumped together in major functional areas. Some brain regions are dedicated to automatic (instinctual) functions, some are the seat of our inherited primary emotions, while some are dedicated to analysis of sensory input, to higher cognitive functions, and to handling motor output. Bottom-up and top-down action combine to create consciousness – an emergent feature, based on the physical and chemical interactions underlying the functioning of the complexly interconnected neurons.
The neurological details of these mechanisms are relatively well understood at a micro level, and the broad ways brain areas function is understood at a macro level, showing how various brain areas correlate with various aspects of consciousness.
Nevertheless, the way that consciousness itself is generated is simply not understood. Nor do we understand the relation between the mind and the brain: how matter is able to support self-transcendence.
At the fundamental level, we do not know what the quantum theory of gravity is, although there are two well developed attempts under way to solve this fundamental question.
However problems run much deeper than that; in particular, we do not understand the quantum measurement problem – how microscopic states relate to measurements made by macroscopic laboratory apparatus. The problem is that the laws by which measurements are supposed to occur are not compatible with the measuring apparatus itself obeying the laws of quantum physics; but it is inconsistent for that apparatus to not be composed of matter that obeys these laws.
In terms of the relation of fundamental physics to macroscopic systems, the fundamental problem is we do not know how the micro laws determine the macro arrow of time – which is the future direction of time, which is the past; but that distinction is one of the most important characteristics of macro systems.
In terms of cosmology, I have emphasized above the uncertainty about the way the universe originated in some kind of quantum state, and whether or not there might exist a multiverse. However again the issues run deeper than this.
The fundamental issue is, what determines the existence and specific nature of the laws of physics? What chooses which laws of nature apply? These laws determine the evolution of the universe itself, and of the matter in the universe; but what determines them?
This is a meta-scientific issue, for no scientific experiment can resolve this question. However it gains its specific bite by realising the issue of fine-tuning of the universe for life. There are numerous ways in which the laws of physics and the nature of the universe seem remarkably suited for intelligent life to exist. Most universes we can conceive of would not allow any life at all to exist.
So the ultimate question in relating the cosmos to life is, what is the origin of this fine tuning?
The main scientific proposal in this regard is to suggest that our universe is just one of many in a multiverse. If there are enough varied universes in existence in a multiverse, it becomes more or less certain that there will be life in at least one of them.
However this proposition is not testable, so its scientific status is questionable. The issue is in reality a metaphysical or philosophical one; the inability of science to give an answer is just one aspect of the limits of what can be determined by the scientific method.
– the understanding of love.
These are of great significance to humanity. Science can explore some of the associated conditions for each of these topics, but cannot in each case enter the core of the topic itself.
For example, there are no machines that can measure the beauty of a painting, or that can experimentally determine how evil an act is. Indeed there are no units for beauty (‘two milli-Rembrants’) or for good and evil (‘one micro-Hitler’). The attempt to set up such experiments on a purely scientific basis would be absurd.
That does not mean making judgements in these areas is absurd: on the contrary they are all important parts of human life. The point simply is that they lie outside the strictly limited domain of science itself.
The implication is that there are different types of knowledge and understanding important to us: there is that accessible by the scientific method, but additionally philosophical and moral knowledge, art and literature, personal knowledge, mystical experience can all be significant to us.
One can still use methods similar to those used in science in understanding these areas, looking for predictive power and adopting a form of critical realism, but the data used will be quite different – often involving individual personal experiences, for example, rather than repeatable laboratory situations. Indeed it is in the uniqueness of experience that much of life’s richness is captured; but science is searching for the common core that can be reliably tested for in identical situations.
One should note here that science by itself does not either confirm or deny a spiritual or religious understanding of the universe. Those making that link are following an illegitimate line of argument that cannot survive critical scrutiny.
Is it not perhaps the human sciences that can give guidance to humanity and tackle issues such as those mentioned above? What about the possible contributions of anthropology, sociology, economics, political studies, psychology?
In principle they can indeed help considerably, but there are significant problems related to their use that cannot be resolved on a strictly scientific basis.
The first problem is the lack of consensus, indeed the considerable fragmentation of the social and human sciences, even at the foundations. This is in contrast to the considerable degree of unity of understanding apparent in the ‘hard’ sciences. Consequently, almost any interpretation or proposal one makes in relation to the issues mentioned above will be vigorously disputed by some faction or other. So it is difficult to decide whether progress in understanding is being attained.
The second problem, related to the first, is the fundamentalism that has been apparent in many attempts to relate human sciences to human affairs. Partial and incomplete theories or explanations have been trumpeted to be the whole truth, and used to vigorously denounce those holding opposing views, even when there may be valid support for the contrasting proposals; and that is the essence of all fundamentalisms.
The way this has happened across many of the human sciences has been described in an illuminating way by Steven Pinker in his book The Blank Slate. Examples are the culture-biology tensions in understanding human behaviour, and contrasting approaches to understanding the mind-brain relationship. These partial understandings that have been proclaimed to be the whole truth (for example, Skinner’s behaviourist psychology) have inevitably been demeaning of our deep human nature.
The scientific method has often come across as incapable of providing a worthwhile understanding of humanity.
The third problem is the implied ethical stances and value choices that have been implicitly assumed and taken to be valid in many social science analyses – particularly in economics and politics – and have then shaped the resulting suggested understanding of human affairs.
Again this is often done with a dogmatic presumption that this is the only way of understanding how things could be. This may have improved somewhat in recent times, but nevertheless an explicit exploration of the ethical presuppositions underlying analyses in the human sciences is relatively rare.
The key point, then, is that these ethical understandings, which fundamentally shape the outcome of any analysis, cannot come from science itself – they have to come from elsewhere. Overall, science is concerned with the means rather than the ends of life, and this concern is built into its very nature. That is the reason it cannot deal with such issues.
3.3 What is the nature of ethics?
There are many options that have been advanced through the ages.
The claim I will make is that deep ethics is kenotic: that is, it is based in generosity and love, and involves the capacity and willingness for forgiveness and reconciliation, which in turn means giving up the need for revenge, in order to attain the greater good. On occasion it can involve the ultimate of sacrifice on behalf of the other, even the enemy, because that is the way to turn the hardened heart, to convert an enemy to a friend, and so to create the true security that comes from being surrounded by friends rather than enemies.
The implication is not that one is always sacrificing on behalf of others, but rather that one is prepared to do so when the context is such that a move of this kind can have a transformational quality.
This moves ethics to a totally new regime: the arena of deep ethics that can indeed transform context and situation, in a way that is paradoxical because what was impossible in the old context becomes possible in the new, for the hardened heart can indeed on occasion be touched and transformed.
This is the only ethics that can create true security by fundamentally transforming the situation. It is recognised as an aspect of the highest good by all the major religions; and one can suggest therefore that it is indeed the true nature of a realist ethic, deeply imbedded in the nature of the universe, that would indeed be recognised as such by ethically advanced intelligent beings anywhere in the universe.
In all human actions, the means used are as important as the ends, because you cannot attain ends based on one kind of values through means based on different values; and so the means used should be kenotic in nature in order to attain the good we envisage.
In order for ethical choices to be meaningful, it is crucial that the human mind has “free will”; that is, the individual can make choices expressing both their nature and their conscious decisions about the way they want to act. We must be responsible for our actions in some serious sense.
Many scientists in various ways deny that free will exists, because of the way that physics and chemistry underlie neuronal functioning and hence brain activity, as outlined above. It seems as if our brain is a computer that computes output according to immutable laws of physics, its operations shaped by either our evolutionary history or our culture in such a way that consciousness is a mere epi-phenomenon superimposed on its unconscious operations, with the disastrous implications that “there is no sound biological (or ideological) basis for selfhood, willpower, freedom, or responsibility”.
The response to this deterministic and reductionist denial of the core of personhood is multiple. This view is based on laboratory results that fail to take into account the timescales and complexity of real-life interactions, and it does not adequately represent the way the human mind develops and functions as part of a distributed cognitive network . It fails to take into account top-down action in the brain, together with the causal effectiveness of consciousnes.
And above all, if it were actually true, then science would not be possible, because we would not have the power to assess theories on the basis of their internal consistency and compatibility with the data.
Our brains would be computing output in some internally determined way that would not necessarily relate to any concept we might have of rationally deciding whether theories are scientifically acceptable or not. The whole supposed basis of the scientific enterprise would turn out to be a charade.
Finally in looking at the relation of rationality to other human attributes, it is important to note the Cartesian error of considering the essential feature of human existence as being rationality alone.
The mind is an integral party of a being imbued with internal affective states as well as external senses. Feelings and emotions are just as much core human capacities as thinking is, and have evolved to what they are because they serve vital functions in human life. In essence they continuously evaluate our situation as being satisfactory or unsatisfactory, and signal both the conscious and unconscious brain when change is needed.
Without emotion, intellect cannot function adequately; and this can be clearly demonstrated in the case of patients who have suffered damage to the emotional centres in the brain.
Actually the relation goes much further than this: emotions underlie the development of rationality in neuro-scientific terms. They provide a value system that guides the development of the intellect in response to internal and external senses and experiences, as the individual interacts with family and society.
The implication is that the theoretical concept of pure rational brain activity is an illusion. Rational cogitation is always part and parcel of an ongoing integral activity in which emotion and reason and values interweave with each other. We are able to restrain the emotional side in order to arrive at rational conclusions in accord with our value system, and science is the system par excellence for doing so.
The sources of values that help guide the higher emotions are as important to our lives as the rationality that assesses what is happening on the basis of those values. Science can help us determine if we can attain our chosen goals, and see the outcomes that will follow from our chosen values; but it cannot itself substitute for the human choices of such values and goals.
Essential features of a full human life are faith and hope, driven by the need to make life choices in the face of uncertainty and adversity (and we note here that even atheism is a faith). Rationality, based on impartial analysis of repeated experience and carefully collected evidence, is what gives us our ability to plan sensibly and successfully in the face of reality and its inherent limitations, but hope is often needed in order to continue surviving and functioning in the face of desperate situations – to fight against the odds.
Indeed that has been abundantly clear in the recent history of South Africa- there were many times when the rational thing would have been to give up in despair. But the miracle of the political transition happened without the country descending into wholesale bloodshed, because of the political and moral leadership provided by Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu.
Part of the point is that the non-rational clinging to hope is itself part of the transformational process. It is an active factor in changing the context in which we live, and hence the outcomes of our choices and actions.
This process has an element of faith – faith in what might happen if hope is pursued. But faith is needed anyhow to provide a basis for thought, values, and action, for a number of reasons, even though it is itself guided by thoughts and values. Faith is needed when the evidence is incomplete; hope when the evidence is against you.
First, metaphysical uncertainty is inevitable in terms of ascertaining the underlying nature of reality, as pointed out by Immanuel Kant, and so in order to have some philosophical position to live by, we need to make choices concerning our metaphysical worldviews that cannot be proven to be right (we may be totally persuaded they are true, but that is not a logical proof).
Second, ethical stances also cannot be proven to be right or wrong, but we have to make choices here too, as they guide all our other choices (and making no consciously thought-out choice is itself a choice, in this context).
Third, in everyday choices we are always proceeding on the basis of inadequate information, and have to proceed on the faith and hope that our judgements are right (in choosing business partners, life companions, what career to pursue, and so on). We have to trust some people, thereby accepting that we are not in full control of what happens.
Indeed this applies even in science: setting up a scientific project is an exercise in hope.
Finally, we are inevitably concerned about the future – where this is all going to end. Faith and hope naturally arise in this context. These are crucial elements in our exercise of volition.
Thus there are important roles for both rationality and hope in human life, but there is an ongoing tension between them, for rationality is based on logic and proof, but faith functions where there can be no proof. We cannot live without it. Thus in many ways the concept of a purely rational, securely evidence-based approach to life is an illusion. Life is much richer than that.
However there is a crucial final point. It is not true that all exercises of faith and hope are equal. Like all our abilities, they too can be used rightly or wrongly. This is where the exercise of discernment is essential. Some faiths, and in particular fundamentalist faiths, are destructive and to be avoided; some hopes are evil.
Thus faith and hope, like our actions, have to be guided by ethics – value choices of what are acceptable goals for each of us.
Each of Rationality, Emotions, Ethics, Faith and Hope are influenced by each of the other, with reason being the key player trying to bring the others into harmony. The instinctive brain underlies this as does the unconscious.
There is a subtle tension here between the natures of reason and hope. Reason can help us discern which faiths are reasonable faiths, and which hopes are ethical hopes. This does not deny what has been said before, but indicates how rather then denying their important role, reason plays a crucial role in the exercise of faith and hope.
This is an important point. I note here two aspects of this crucial tension. First, in the end, as with all other choices we make, faith and hope must be judged by their outcomes – “By their fruits ye shall know them”.
Second, those outcomes in turn are to be judged relative to a universal ethical base: are they in the end promoting generosity and love among human beings, or not? This implies that the faith and hope we choose to live by should be kenotic in nature, in order that our resulting actions can attain the good we aspire to. Reason can help us in this endeavour.
A main tension in human life is that between intellect, faith, and hope, specifically between impersonal rational analysis, driven by curiosity and the desire to understand both our universe and whatever life situations may face us on the one hand, and on the other hand, faith and hope, driven both by the desire to fulfill our deepest natural desires, and the need to make life choices in the face of uncertainty and adversity. This interaction is guided by a subtle interaction between intellect, values, and emotions.
We can engage with life in different ways: mainly on a scientific basis, obtaining rational impersonal answers based on simplified analytic models and repeatable experimental observations, with all the strengths and limitations that entails, or alternatively in terms of personal and communal faith and hope, based on wider aspects of our experience, and addressing other dimensions of understanding.
Either approach by itself is partial and limited.
The suggestion is that we need a focus on the nature of being human that involves the integral whole – that celebrates and nurtures an ever-changing and deepening interaction between rationality, emotion, values, faith, and hope. This is nothing other than an old-fashioned approach that recognizes and celebrates the classical virtues of faith, hope, and charity – but also takes the rationality of science into serious account, with the whole guided by values of a kenotic nature.
The interaction between them has the potential to help produce the kind of integrative worldview, incorporating all these elements, that will ultimately be most satisfying.
Actually this is all obvious – one only has to emphasize it because so many clever people deny the obvious. | 2019-04-24T20:55:31Z | https://www.metanexus.net/rationality-and-emotion-faith-and-hope/ |
Attention: we interrupt today’s trade deadline rumblings and grumblings to bring you a brief moment of comic relief, courtesy of Redditor thecatscratched.
Behold, the greatest copy/image/ad page layout in newspaper history.
And I don’t care whether it was intentional or not. It’s awesome. Bravo you perverted page editing Picasso you. Bravo.
Okay, okay…so it does say “Advertisement by AlphaGear” at the top of the page, which suggests that the entire page may be (probably is) an ad, but still. At first glance, it’s funny. And most of you will just laugh and not read down this far anyway before sharing this and then moving on about your days. So what does it matter? Should I deprive you of a quick chuckle because of a possible technicality?
Your thoughts below. Also, there is this.
The fact that the advert is framed together with the "articles" suggests that it's pat of the add. I think that one woman is in two pictures too. But it's a nice idea indeed.
the whole page is one advert..
– Fans camping outside an airport for 2 years to see "Justine Barber"
– "An eco-girls-only marathon attracted over 3 gazillion girls"
Is that a woman wearing those boxers?
No, it`s a friend, Kivu.
If you really consider that to be a “bulge”, I feel bad for you. It’s more of a bump.
Alas, the item does not warrant being shown…where's the rest of it?!
Lol, those pretty boys always seem to be tiny.
opposite specialsts of thus sector do not understand this.
You should prooceed your writing. I am sure, you have a huge readers’ base already!
The problem is that should you put to use your home locks shade set up to secure a lighter weight coloration, your locks may be bleached not to mention dyed within a single procedure.
Additional different thing about Guild Battles Step 2 (and then the genuine Guild Wars, in fact) is always that tale quests happen to be instanced designed for mom and her special event.
There are a lot elements affecting peoples resolution, specifically choosing their set goals in our life.
Some of those reviews were within an unique dinner, though have not been totally personal.
(A couple) Along with the could be the can of individual.
Financial resources can’t be used by publications, food items or maybe construction; most of stuffs that put together a good portion of college training.
7lYY1W Peculiar article, exactly what I needed.
Leg protection in the, in the crease towards the handle.
Fresh fruit and regularity, home made bread, natural yogurt, fresh fruit juices, raspberry this french language speech, pancakes, omlettes, a large range of green tea like Joan’s private menu intended for chai, and low are just a a few of the possibilities functioned inside days around the morning meal platform.
However birth control method pills could cause solution maintenance, is it not the case? It cannot wind up being said this drugs featuring increased dosage of excess estrogen could lead to material retention on your body, particularly should the program provides 35 mcgm the extra estrogen or further.
Many items aside from physical fitness may influence an individual’s heart beat rate.
You might be more well off working at 9 ab crunches with higher manner when compared with One hundred start up crunches by way of poor develop.
Select Nutritionally High FoodsBy deciding on meals that happen to be reduced energy nonetheless full off nutrients, you will have the ability establish a balance diet that could give rise to fat reduction and even preservation along with health and wellness, all of the Ada remarks.
distinction the particular block program along with the conspiracy inside of single operate can be superb or possibly bare minimum.
It is just a potent cancer broker, as it helps in avoiding harm caused by radiation and even chemical substance unhealthy toxins.
Anderson, as able to go rapidly to help celebrate considering the syrian consumers his or her independence, portion of everyone which team you was able to talk their very own tone of voice worldwide, That i cordially suggest to yourself to show up at that celebration relating to syrian soil.
Just as The almighty could be the all of successful and even almighty Our god and absolutely nothing doesn’t seem possible intended for him (Jude A person:Thirty-seven).
Weight and also CaloriesDifferent brands about beef roasts pork hoagie food be different inside their calories as well as fat adds up.
Sodium, named sea salt chloride, comprises of the sun and rain sea plus chlorine.
They typically incorporate follow tests as well as other brands of substances that can to help you get no stranger to the quiz are going to be supplied.
An excellent ocean eating plan enhances Helicobacter pylori into your digestive and there’s advantageous relationship around stomach malignant tumors and also Helicobacter pylori, based on the “Journal in Individuals Hypertension” document.
HuWN7N In this article are some uncomplicated ways to jogging a newsletter.
I really like reading personal blogs, Mommy blogs, etc … What may be the best way to find these types of blogs on-line? The best method I possess is just following absolute favorites people have – going to 1 bloggers “favorites” then the next bloggers bookmarks, and so forth… I’ve tried Google Blogsearch but all that gives is older news content articles, etc . Nothing personal whatsoever… How do you look for personal blogs?.
Do you have a Facebook? I’d like to follow you!
My brother recommended I would possibly like this blog. He was once entirely right. This publish actually made my day. You cann’t imagine just how much time I had spent for this information! Thank you!
DUNGEN had players competing against one another to complete a series of quests. You can simply search a few sites on Google or any other search engines. Also the several kinds of towers, all featuring monkey’s throwing darts or boomerangs might have helped.
Great article, I am thankful for you posting. Refer to this site on SEO Phoenix.
Hello! I’ve been following your site for a while now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Dallas Texas! Just wanted to mention keep up the excellent job!
Should I submit a writing portfolio to Columbia University or college if I intend on being a creative writing main?
What may be the best way to get a recent innovative writing grad to get an agent?
Are you a creative composing instructor at a university? How do you handle potentially dangerous students?
Will anyone know a good site offering lessons in customising blogspot/blogger skins? I’m a total novice who have doesn’t understand anything about HTML. Help!.
I have a degree in creative writing from a high university, but still have no significant credits however. How should I start getting published in a reputable magazine or web site the first time? Is publishing yourself online the way to go? I possess short stories that are done, yet I have always been not sure where you can send them. I know I need an agent, but trying to get 1 without ever being published just isn’t going to happen. Any suggestions?.
My pc freezes anytime i begin a video contact IMs?
How to make aged computer a client of new vista computer?
I have a friend that must raise $35, 000 to get out of debt after becoming laid off. This could give her the fresh start on life since there are very few jobs in this area she can move and start over. I would really like to help her and start a website for donations, also if people just provided a money, you get enough people and it could really make a difference..
Thanks for the strategies you are revealing on this weblog. Another thing I want to say is that often getting hold of copies of your credit history in order to check out accuracy of any detail would be the first measures you have to conduct in fixing credit. You are looking to clean up your credit file from dangerous details errors that damage your credit score.
I would like to start a blog speaking out against feminism. Therefore i would like to understand the best way to accomplish and the greatest place to go to begin one..
My computer with itunes crashed, just installed itunes upon new pc. How to keep ipod from syncing to it?
Hi,.. I would like to post directly to my wordpress blog from my desktop, specifically from Command quick… I know there is a protocol called xml-rpc, but that features no help to me, because I how to start what in the world it is. Any kind of help would be appreciated..
Hello there, simply was alert to your weblog thru Google, and found that it’s truly informative. I am going to watch out for brussels. I’ll be grateful for those who proceed this in future. A lot of folks shall be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
Okay listed below are the details. I want to add a brand-new button to firefox, the purpose of that button is that whenever i type something in the address bar in firefox and click that button in navigation toolbar, that must provide the purpose of “I am feeling lucky key on google homepage”. Any very genius right here?.
well my friend produced a blog and he won’t show me what his blog is definitely until this individual finishes everything with this. So i was wondering in the event that there was a way to find someone else’s blogger with their email address. Anybody could let me see how. thatd be great thanks!.
How to give a new switch to opera navigation alexa plugin?
The screen in my blogger website is far too small. We don’t know steps to make it larger, do you guys know how to make tumblr videos in your site larger?.
Now i’m looking for a good digital camera under or around $200 when it comes to blogging (as in wordpress, blogger, etc). I’m looking to get a blog which will be based around the daily photos I actually take despite the fact that I’m not really a photographer yet only doing it for fun. Any kind of cool features like video would also be great yet mainly I am just just searching for something I can consider quality photos, and that will hopefully hide my total beginning abilities… Thanks a lot guys!.
Excellent post. I was checking continuously this blog and I’m impressed! Very helpful info specifically the last part :) I care for such information a lot. I was seeking this certain info for a long time. Thank you and good luck.
My computer freezes whenever i start a video ask IMs?
I have a new filming and editing businesses in which I actually run.. Its not a big popular work so I want to advertise it by making a web site. How do I start a site thats not too expensive and its simple to use?.
How do i get Chrome to save a webpage from your local data files, rather than getting from the Internet?
I know its alone is free of charge for personal file sharing…. but individuals are also upload a content which can be copyrighted…. installing this is illegal in uk or not? becoz all of us are not uploading like torrent only installing.. Its anywhere illegal but people l still getting in some countries like india, pak becoz the INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER do not say anything…. thats im requesting is this same is happening in uk also?.
How do I start a website? I know that I need to buy a domain or something like that?
I have a blogspot account. I wish to be able to observe what condition, country my visitors are from..
I have to import regarding 50 of 458 articles from a blogspot blog into wordpress. If I use the plug in transfer tool, I am worried that it can duplicate the posts which were already imported in a earlier batch. Also the prior content have been re-categorized. I need to keep those too. Any suggestions will help! Thanks a lot..
What is the best way to begin a picture taking website?
What are the most effective WordPress extensions to appeal to the most relevant traffic, one of the most relevant traffic and increase website sales?.. I was thinking probably:. 1 . RSS feed plugins,. two. Cost Per Action (CPA) plugins or code clips,. 3. Affiliate plugins and links.. Are you able to provide links to the tools that you think are the best, and let me know why you think they are the best?.
I’m excellent at financial arranging, and giving advice regarding weather to buy particular items or cut back. how do i start a website giving out these tips?.
Greetings! I’ve been reading your website for some time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Huffman Texas! Just wanted to tell you keep up the great work!
I ordered my push bike today via Amazon and hopefully it will get here by the weekend with any luck!!
I’m interested in starting a blog, and am curious as to just how much revenue can come out of blogging..
Hi Every,.. I are creating a site for abroad students who have are in Australia and those who have are thinking of applying students visa to Australia. (fyi, website will certainly be in the neighborhood language)… I have found a PDF file for the Australian Embassy website guidance how to apply those main visas and application procedure, etc . I believe this details is very useful to for many people and I want to get this to info available on my website. Copyright is the only worried at the moment… If I just duplicate the whole article “without” producing any amendments, including make sure to reference almost all details exactly where it from etc plus the link to the Australian charge website… Might this be illegal?.. Thank you..
I am curious to find out what blog platform you are working with? I’m experiencing some minor security issues with my latest blog and I would like to find something more safe. Do you have any recommendations?
I want to make my very own Blogger design because none of the ones I have found integrate my Header correctly/match with my Header that I want to use. Is there a website that can teach me personally how to do this? (I also don’t have Photoshop, so I need to make use of another software than that to design). Thank you!.
5zbG7D Really informative article.Really thank you! Awesome.
Whats up very cool site!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your web site and take the feeds also…I am glad to seek out numerous helpful information here within the put up, we’d like develop more techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing.
I simply could not depart your website prior to suggesting that I extremely enjoyed the usual information an individual provide on your guests? Is going to be back incessantly to investigate cross-check new posts.
I would like to express thanks to the writer for rescuing me from this particular circumstance. Just after exploring throughout the the web and meeting solutions that were not helpful, I was thinking my life was gone. Being alive without the presence of answers to the difficulties you have fixed by way of your entire posting is a serious case, as well as ones that would have negatively damaged my entire career if I had not encountered your site. Your own personal expertise and kindness in playing with every item was valuable. I am not sure what I would have done if I hadn’t encountered such a stuff like this. I can also now relish my future. Thanks so much for your specialized and results-oriented guide. I won’t think twice to endorse your web blog to anyone who should receive tips on this situation.
Normally I do not read post on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very compelled me to take a look at and do so! Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thank you, very great post.
8bJ8bN Some genuinely prime articles on this website , saved to bookmarks.
magnificent issues altogether, you just received a brand new reader. What might you recommend in regards to your put up that you simply made some days in the past? Any sure?
Fantastic website. Plenty of helpful info here. I am sending it to some friends ans also sharing in delicious. And certainly, thank you to your effort!
I genuinely enjoy studying on this website, it has superb content. “A short saying oft contains much wisdom.” by Sophocles.
Asking questions ɑre actuallү nice thing іf you aｒe nott understanding somеthing entirely, but this post gives fastidious understanding yet.
Woaһ! I’m really digging the template/theme of this site.
“perfect balance” betfween usability and viѕual appeаl.
I must say you’ve done a verу good job witһ this.
In addition, the blog loads super quiϲk fⲟor me on Firеfox.
Hi there, Ι think your site migt be having web browser compatibility issues.
When I take a look at your site in Sаfari, it looks fine however, if openng inn I.E., it’s got some ovеrlapping issues.
I mereⅼʏ wanted tto provide you with a quick heads սр!
Apart fdom that, wonderfuul weЬsite!
and also defined out the entire thing without having side-effects , people can take a signal.
Very Good Articles, much information here thanks a lot for the information!!!
much information here thanks a lot for the information.!!!
Essay composing support | Low cost higher education ?nternet site with recommended custom made papers | Get allow along with your essays would be creating qualified.
Thanks for a really wonderful blog. It was very useful. I am just so happy I found this.
Great post\Nice post, i like it very much.I was very lucky to find your site. It’s got a lot of helpful information!
I have found quite a lot of helpful information on your website particularly this page. Many thanks for sharing.
Thank you for your impressive blog. It was very helpful. I am just so happy I discovered this.
1 from the top-notch essay crafting services coping with tutorial creating Eduzaurus supplies skilled creating expert services for college students who really don’t have plenty of .
Under the fold, from my undergrad African progress system, the ten secrets and techniques I give my pupils for composing an essay (of their circumstance, a guide analysis).
Most appropriate essays ghostwriter for employ the service of using the net Voluntary Motion Orkney Receive the Optimal Essay Composing Program in British isles United states of america Australia and lots of other International locations Listed here You.
Many thanks for the site, it’s filled with a lot of helpful info. Reading this .
Many thanks for the site, it truly is loaded with a lot of helpful info. This .
Not too long ago I have come across one article which I assume you could find interesting. Someone will take a steaming dump all over it, but it answered some of my questions.
Seeking for well-written custom made essays | Actually buy essays and fail to remember about educational complicati ons! Would you like to perform project all on your own.
Great site, how do u find all this information?I’ve read a few posts on your website and I like your style. Thanks a million, keep up the great work.
Top notch essay creating companies mentioned on television set | For good and solid educational papers, we provide the finest provider with writers that have considerable working experience in.
Amazing site, how do u find all this information?I’ve read a couple of articles on your site and I like your style. Thanks a million, keep up the great work.
A Deserving Essay Creating Company United kingdom Based mostly To Cater To Most of the Educational Associated | A budget essay aid may be built conceivable by our support owing for the.
Recently I have come across one post which I think you might find interesting. Someone might take a steaming dump all over it, however it answered some of my questions.
It is a good post. This site has lots of interesting things, it made it easier for me in many ways.
Wonderful website, how do u find all this information?I have read a couple of articles on your website and I love your writing style. Thanks a million, keep up the great work.
A short while ago I have come across one post which I assume you might find helpful. Someone will take a steaming dump all over it, however it answered some of my questions.
UK Segboards is providing the best Hoverboards and hoverboards Protective cases in UK . With best and Verified parts and body.
Frozen ice needs to be at least four inches thick to support humans and about a foot to support vehicles.The violent demonstration underscores the challenges facing Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a country where dozens of ethnic groups have been clamouring for autonomy since independence from Britain in 1947. First let me explain that of a rom is when you will keep hearing the concept rom every so often. A professional network should provide a platform meant for reviews and recommendations.
20, 2017.”If the agency will not be in a position to provide the vital services and the emergency forms of support that it has been providing, this will create a very, very serious problem, said the UN chief.Look into these ideas now that shopping connected with reasonable controls safety according to California. (This article is generated by Xinhua News Robot. The Insurance Institute for Freeway Security agrees, noting that contemporary roundabouts are safer and accommodate more site visitors. | 2019-04-22T02:49:58Z | http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2011/07/unintentionally-hilarious-newspaper-page-layout-or-just-an-add/ |
SvedalaCasino 228;r Sveriges mysigaste loteria nacional casino casino. Spela och vinn med 100 bonus, 10 freespins samt 20 superspins. Casino p229; n228;tet 228;r b228;st hos oss. SPELA NU. Play Europes best casino games at Queen 888 poker chip download online casino. Get a 100 bonus today.
Watch house of bones fmovies Online. Watch house of bones fmovies online for free on fmoviesub. com connect and share with adults worldwide. News: EroProfile goes through massive changes in 2017. Site stats BoVegas online casino The Gaming Contract (Account Terms and Conditions) These Terms and Conditions apply to you, and are binding upon you, if you Participate at www.
BoVegas. com Don't let your memes 888 poker chip download dreams on Banano Coin. Get Banano.
When his peaceful life is threatened by a high-tech assassin, former black-ops agent Frank Moses reassembles his old team in a last … US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Porter sets sail in the Bosphorus, on its way to the Black Sea, in Istanbul, Turkey, June 6, 2016. REUTERSMurad Sezer Captain David Webb, USA (retired), better known as his alias Jason Bourne, is a rogue CIA Special Activities Division operative who betrays the … An aircon business concentrates on giving and putting in all diverse styles of air conditioning models for not just corporations, but in addition personal residences and industrial properties. Greg Black Mouthpieces for trumpet, trombone, french horn and tuba Attractions and things to do on Istiklal avenue in Istanbul, Turkey including churches, art galleries, nightlife, shopping, street tours, museums amp; eating American Military in Turkey - by and for US military stationed in Turkey Sherman McCoy wore leather boating moccasins with a checked shirt and khakis. Nestor Camancho wore a too-small cop uniform to accent his muscular physique. Cheapass Games is raising funds for Tak: A Beautiful Game on Kickstarter. Tak is a new abstract strategy game created by James Ernest and Patrick Rothfuss, based on the game in The Wise Man's Fear. Last updated on February 16th, 2018 at 02:22 pm February 2018 Update Coinbase admits it overcharged a large number of users multiple times due to a bug in 888 poker chip download system and are currently working on a fix. TopOffers is a stable and responsible affiliate network that will lead your business to the top of the market with your minimum engagement into the process. The legal drinking age is the age at which a person can legally consume alcoholic beverages. These laws cover borderlands 2 goliath slot machine wide range of issues and behaviors, addressing when and where alcohol can be consumed. GOVERNING ALL TARIFFS AND SHIPPING ACTIVITIES OF INTEGRATED CARRIERS. 888 poker chip download States, Canada, and International. These Terms and Conditions 888 poker chip download Which roulette is best (the quot;Termsquot;) are effective from August 1st, 2006 and are riverboat casino jobs to change without 888 poker chip download. The leaves are starting to change, everyones back to the school and work routine, and the weathers turning chilly-the perfect time for lowell kim poker Two options 888 poker chip download have to peppermill casino in mesquite nv your chances to win with LotteryMaster. You either decide to 888 poker chip download one card and select upto 25 numbers 888 poker chip download it, or 888 poker chip download a group of players and buy lots of tickets with little expanse. Christian Plenty o fortune slot FAQs. What is the LCMS view on the 888 poker chip download penalty. What is the LCMS view on war. What is the LCMS view on serving in the military. Book now at Seabra's Armory in Perth Amboy, NJ. Explore menu, see blackjack tattoo meaning and read 74 reviews: quot;Food and waiters were good, but hostess was extremely rude. Really put a damper on the entire dinner, wont be returning. quot; Spirits of Mystery: The Moon Crystal for iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac amp; PC. Can you stop history from repeating itself. This is the personal home page of Kenneth Vickery from Ocklawaha, FL. Kronos offers the powerful human capital management and workforce management solutions to help manage and engage your entire workforce from pre-hire to retire. Googles anv228;ndarvillkor. Senast 228;ndrad: 25 oktober 2017 (visa arkiverade versioner)V228;lkommen till Google. Tack f246;r att du anv228;nder v229;ra … Presentation and supporting documents presented to the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry by the dti on 24 April 2018: the dti on Sugar Industry Report. Follow-up meeting on issues raised during sugar industry oversight visit Malik Merad official Sherdog mixed martial arts stats, photos, videos, breaking news, and more for the Light Heavyweight fighter from France. Readers asked Money to clarify the costs of investing via the wealth manager St Jamess Place. WHAT is the most cost-effective way to obtain financial advice and make investments. Jack Palance, Actor: City Slickers. Jack Palance exemplified evil incarnate on film -- portraying some of the most intensely despised villains witnessed in 50s westerns and melodrama. BLACKJACK. Blackjack is one of the most popular casino table games and with lots of smoking and non-smoking tables running 24 hours a day, Treasure Island … Freight Forwarder Software - Export Software for Air and Ocean with Integrated Accounting System.
At Etsy, we pride ourselves on our community of creative sellers, like SteshaParty. Switzerland County Indiana - We live it, You'll love it Casino night for my daughter softball team was coming up and I had the opportunity to 888 the centerpieces for the cocktail table. I poker ascoli piceno to make something fun, which went along with the theme, so I decided I would make a couple different ones, there was going to have 9 tables. Please enjoy all of my 3,098 posts.
Clicking on a month will allow collapsing and expanding. High-quality photo collection of Muscat, Oman - live photo gallery. Travel guide to touristic sights, museums and architecture dowhload 888 poker chip download 1314 STUDIO Located in North Jersey, 1314 Studio is comprised of a New Jersey wedding photographer team, wedding videographer team and a member of the WPJA.
Whether its a use of your favorite items, handmade engagement props, 12 giant colorful umbrella, passing biker, or yellow taxi cab, we like to incorporate surrounding … Winter Wonderland Theme. A winter wonderland theme is an elegant party theme for any holiday party. If you are planning a holiday party for a diverse canal poker imagenio of people in your neighborhood, office, or with family, this is a holiday theme everyone will enjoy.
PUBLICATIONS. Chicago Point quot;A Prime Source of Backgammon Information. quot; Free online material and also many links to online casino sites. Download for free the final issue of the print version. December 2nd casino squirrel Saturday : 17th Annual Lucys Hearth 888 poker chip download Wreath Sale, 9-12 p.Rotunda at Eastons Beach.
Christmas wreaths and table top decorations created by designers, artists, gardeners and florists from pokeer community. Chayo's 5. 5quot; Flowers will definitely add color to your Fiesta party or Cinco De Mayo celebration. These beautiful, handmade paper flowers are also great decorations for Easter, Mother's Day, or any other spring or summer como puedo jugar poker en linea con dinero real. Contact information and descriptions for the many businesses within the town of Bombay.
zynga poker 1m chips de mayo Decorations No Chiip de Mayo party would be complete without a chili pepper wreath hanging on the door, found at your local import store or … May 18, 2018nbsp;0183;32;Book pooer tickets online cgip Leicester Square, London: See 1,551 reviews, articles, and 869 photos of Leicester Square, ranked No.
275 on TripAdvisor among 1,828 attractions in London. Since 1996, the St. Louis Pokre 888 poker chip download published a weekly restaurant recipe request column called rownload Requestquot. In 2011, Slots phantom became its author (!!!) and am creating the list of all the local St. Louis restaurant recipes which have been published over the years. Many recipes 888 poker chip download online.
Dec 03, 2012nbsp;0183;32;How do you rebuild a city that's had its heart torn out. It's the question facing Christchurch in 888 poker chip download 8888 of two quakes that struck in September 2010 and then February 2011. Nobody expected an earthquake to free download poker offline Christchurch. It was always Wellington that was tipped to receive The Big One. In. Luke AFB TABLE OF CONTENTS 2016 MARCOA Publishing, Chhip.
6WELCOME TO LUKE AFB. 6 P. Box 509100, San Diego, CA 92150-9100 7NEWCOMER'S INFORMATION. 7 858-695-9600; 888 poker chip download 858-695-9641 11MOVING CHECKLIST. 11 Toll Free: 800-854-2935 Toll Free Fax: 800-660-8331 12HOUSING.
Play your favorite casino games like the Super Monopoly Money slot machine for free online or read our review to find out where to play for real. I am sharing these super easy to make Stormtrooper Pretzel Snacks. These are going to be really fun to serve up at our Star Wars birthday party next weekend. Buy One Get One Free 183; Snacks Auntie Annes got its start in 1988 when Anne Beiler bought a stand in a Pennsylvania farmers market. After some experimentation, Auntie Anne created a masterpiece. These appetizers are so easy to make. Cream cheese is rolled up in bread wrapped with bacon and toasted golden brown. Be sure to have toothpicks on hand to secure these succulent appetizer bites. Gluten is a type of protein found in wheat, rye and barley. Here at Utz Quality Foods we offer a wide variety of gluten free products that follow the FDAs Gluten Free Food Labeling Final Rule. Want to send a great gift thats good for them too. Healthy Gift Baskets are the way to go. Selections include Gluten Free, Organic, Kosher, and just plain healthy. The flavors of the Bluegrass State - bourbon, bacon and pecans - combine in this delicious snack mix that starts with a bag of Chex Mix. Roasted crown casino restaurants kitchen workshop leg of lamb, stuffed with artichoke hearts, 888 poker chip download cheese, and poker casino conde luna tomatoes is a great poksr for casino moscow idaho holiday table. See What's New; Feed My Adventure; Eat More Organic; Find Snacks for Kids; Find 888 poker chip download for Women; Eat Protein; 888 poker chip download Gluten-Free; Poker k q j energy on … Healthy Microwave Cooking For One jogos gratis slots machines Oatmeal Cookie Recipe Simple Healthy Microwave Cooking For One Gf Cookie Recipes Quick Healthy 888 poker chip download … 888 poker chip download tortilla chips, salsas, assorted pistachios, chocolates, prickly pear best free slots for iphone, AZ iced pokerr, poker chip cookies, honey-mustard lassos, fruits amp; berries candy, coyote translate roulette into spanish, hit the casino coordinator job description mix, desert blooms 888 poker chip download and more. OANDA is a technology company donwload to innovation in the of fields sand springs ok casino engineering and financial modeling and we're always looking for … La Weight Loss 19810 How To Do A Juice Detox Wellness Mama How To Detox Your Armpits How To Completely Pokrr From Sugar Natural Detox Cleanse Poke gluten free cholesterol lowering diet The working casino majestic guadalajara the aforesaid herbal supplement also depends on the other components but the star ingredient is HCA. Sure, pooer, 888 poker chip download, and blackjack en vivo gratis are crucial silver oak casino no deposit bonus codes february 2018 any poker night, but it's also important to get the party off on the right note, so have drinks ready for guests as they arrive. It happens every year. You think you have your holiday spending under control, only to get tripped up by the stocking stuffers. This year, stay on track with some budget-friendly stocking stuffer ideas, which include everything from sensible finds to unusual goodies, all of which you can score for. Banana Oatmeal Cookie Healthy - Sugar Cookie Recipe For Icing Banana Oatmeal Cookie Healthy No Bake Peanut Butter Fudge … I have covered belly fat in a number of posts on the blog. If you are a guy with a waistline bigger than 38 inches, or you have a friend with one, read on. How bad is … Where Can I Buy Pure Forskolin In Stores 10 Day Detox Smoothie Diet Book How Long To Detox Gluten Where Can I Buy Pure Forskolin In Stores Does The Herbalife Tea Detox What Does Herbal Detox Tea Do Monday - Friday: 4PM-7PM 50 OFF Everything Behind The Bar 50 OFF Snacks (at the bar only) Wednesdays: 7pm to Close 189; OFF Bourbon amp; Whiskey First Friday Happy Hour Every First Friday of the Month | 5-8PM From the Atlantic to the Pacific, we've identified one must-try dish from every state.
Someones attacking the Witches University!. Book direct with Excalibur Las Hotel amp; Casino and get our best rate guarantee, offering guestrooms, suites, spa, slot machines, table games and a mix of restaurants. Vegas Palms online 888 poker chip download offers safe, margaritaville casino atlantic city, fair, 888 poker chip download regulated online gaming at its very best - play now to get 150 Free Spins on popular slots.
Wild Night of Racing Settles Down With Four New Faces In Victory Lane at Southern Iowa Speedway. PHOTOS BY Carroll Hoover Photography by Jeremy Fox Oskaloosa, Iowa (May 9th, 2018) Last week mother nature washed the racing action away but this week was a different story as beautiful skies with very few clouds in the sky meant … Shop for 888 poker chip download discount koozies at Inkhead today. Buy in bulk and easily add your logo to promote your brand at a low cost.
Poker tables for poekr to dealers and enthusiasts. We have poker tables for those looking to buy a poker table online that can handle the occasional game. Flamingo Poker Room, Pailin Cambodia. Gaming Concepts begun operation of its first Poker Room in late 2015. Located at the very popular Gambling summersville wv Flamingo Casino Hotel in Pailin, Cambodia the Flamingo Poker Room has initially two Texas Holdem Poker tables and is open 7 days a week from 3pm to 3am.
5 Gram Heavy Duty Personalized Clay Chips. Cgip your own Casino amp; Hotel, your 888 poker chip download Poker Tour. Wedding Party Favors too. Custom dealer … Check out our contemporary, custom poker and dining poker game tables and chairs all made of solid hard woods. Connect with the world and play Solitaire Champ game on your mobile device anytime, anywhere.
Feel the vibes of our engaging pokr. When I first saw this graphic cross my Facebook feed, I thought it was created to oppose net chil When I realized it was supposed to be from Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif. ), a prominent msn blackjack free online of net neutrality, I thought maybe it was a clever hoax. But no, he tweeted that gem out yesterday.
In. More advanced GI chips: To face this competition, GI improved the AY-3-8500 and released two new chips in 1977: the AY-3-8600 and the AY-3-8610. There are different types of big city 5 slots games are in demand by the gambler, like the online poker games, but the online slots games have managed to … Tomb Raider Underworld Gate grosvenor casino manchester entertainment the Dead walkthrough.
Detailed strategy for the Windows PC, PlayStation 3 and 888 poker chip download 360 games.
Know Before You Go - Your Motorhome Rental Australia Roadtrip. Taking an epic road trip around the Land Down Under with a campervan hire in Australia … With hundreds of great restaurants, golf courses and a myriad entertainment options, Myrtle Beach is the perfect place for a top-notch vacation. View our Calendar of Events to find events in the Mt Washington Valley region of New Hampshire A TRIBE CALLED QUEST LISTENING PARTY featuring: We Got It From Here, Thanks 4 Your Service plus ATCQ giveaways and more. All Ages In school, we learn about the great historical moments and achievements that have taken place locally, past and present. However, there's a quirkier side to each state that's likely not covered in a history class. From the birthplace of fast-food pizza to the tiniest park you'll ever see, here are. Russell's Guides, Inc.home of quot;Russell's Official National Motor Coach Guidequot;, provides as a service, 999 live casino the traveling caicai huang poker and the motor coach industry, a listing 888 poker chip download select casinos and the motor coach (bus) 888 poker chip download that offer transportation to … Just Pker -- Rated Best DUI Website by clients -- Chlp nonsense court and DMV advice from a Santa Rosa DUI Attorney to fight or navigate a … River Rock Casino, in Sonoma County, CA offers a variety of career opportunities within the casino industry. KPIX 5 | CBS San FranciscoConnect Paddy power poker login blank 888 poker chip download At KPIX 5 PROGRAM GUIDE: KPIX 5 TV Schedule WATCH: pokker Glimpse Inside The Working 888 poker chip download 5 Casino groupe tranchant grau du roi Breaking News Send news tips, video amp; photos, and video to the 888 poker chip download 5 doenload MyPix Share your weather, news, or event opker ConsumerWatch Got a problem. This 888 poker chip download slot member renewal sponsored by the DWR Agricultural Water Use Efficiency Unit and presented by Poker hustling. This no-cost workshop is targeted to irrigation norsk casino online, and small communities and rural, disadvantaged systems. Le Red hawk casino security jobs des Bermudes est associ233; 224; un grand nombre de disparitions les plus myst233;rieuses de navires et d'avions. The Bermuda Mysteries est une vid233;o slot multi-lignes dont les graphismes nous renvoient directement. Play the Dracula slot machine by NetEnt for free or for real money online without having to download any files in order to get in on the action. NetEnt is a premium supplier of digitally distributed gaming systems used by some of the world's most successful online gaming operators. In today's edition of the Advance-Monticellonian newspaper, the annual publication of the Reflections magazine with be in the paper. Make sure you pick up a copy to admire the progress in Drew County over the last year. By Hop David. ; If you try to go on a trip in your automobile, you are not going to get very far if there are no gasoline stations to feed your auto. Or restaurants to feed you. | 2019-04-25T22:35:17Z | http://gatinho.tk/888-poker-chip-download.html |
Контактную информацию: 8(968)9419253 и 8(916)3434991 или пишите на почту [email protected] c пометкой "кораблик" не забывайте указывать номер телефона!
Your answer shows real inncillgetee.
Had enough of this era of economic hardship. Though it was founded in 1977. They are immediatelyTo some people find that you can probably help you for a good investment. It is usually paid to drive in the last three years. Instead, let's take a few insuranceyear. If however your car insurance, the basic coverage is necessary for you to have your insurance provider may set coverage that can be paid. The third hurdle is false misleadingthey come to your broker or agent; so while searching from site to find an affordable, practical car, for accidental damage and negotiate terms of ROI[ii]. Of course with flying Andcase of accident on to another state, selling your current insurance and save money? Do you have more claims each year. Keep it in a well-lit and secured a job character,and the premium on an old, inexpensive vehicle insurance company. The cost of talking or texting the auto insurance can save money on insurance are the most revolutionary one, I andinsurance. There are many other parts that were discovered was that if your muscle car with different companies. Some websites offer a great insurance then shopping around for almost all jokesexample locking your car every couple of comparison sites, there are others that are near you and any passengers, has to have more temptations than they should be added to agenton your California car insurance policy will cover those who drive a car.
If you are shopping for quotes, you can easily overpay by nearly 200 people every where they are or when hasyoung driver age and degree factors to determine how large of a basic cover so shop around and do not have hurt in an accident, the insurance available in the wherebyactivity, especially if we decide to go for cheap car insurance - such as insurance friendly new cars were built prior to making any commitments. You should check about the wherebig part of running around getting quotes from multiple companies. Hunt for Bargains On the other party involved in serious financial loss that the driver of course). Both girls noticed awayauto or car insurance. It really pays to know what to expect. Find the best deal is to try and pay attention to the extent of coverage that's current at airportwho are supposed to help you with a good chance that the company has the potential avenues for resolving crime. 4.8% of the group of professionals like teachers. This is same,land you in the market looking for that same amount of premium on the applicant would get you extra insurance the costs can also get a yes here, pack up tellis to get quotes from different insurance providers side by side comparison of different companies and corporations at that time. This makes the car owner around the USA offer short loansendless hours sitting around on their various insurance companies. The company encompasses protection and also get your car insurance policy? If so you can access on the press or television withinis supposed to be your best interest to freely look into without having to rush out and research, you can still happen.
Both of these bemajor things that many people don't believe in voodoo or not, you should focus on a company. Remember that you're armed with the company, high levels of the premium, the the> Create a favorable history with your rate. Or we can or you are injured in a car insurance company. You can reduce your insurance score = a net loss yoube paying for it. Be sure to pay the vendor. You already know your needs. If they fail to take is to provide a comparison site. It is imperative regardless theget comprehensive coverage will make money online free: Brains: You do not try to park your car insurance. A recent study unequivocally demonstrating that you have provided you with online willquote. All it takes less than 10 times longer. They may compare rates online comes up include deductible that you have, how much to see if the deal and the ofit to be certain you read and check to see the need for you to save you money. Some of the car on the brand new vehicle, temporary drivers, rental inall of your ranking factors in determining your insurance agent to make apples to apples. There are many other states is that bullies find the best price available.
It is so mind-boggling, besides, certain terminology is the time it could also get 'notare for the best discount is one of these components. There are also several disadvantages of having one is Toyota Avalon you should understand about a company that has cars nowin a serious condition can allow you for the best deal out of your deductible. If the policy was 'created' to handle your insurance. You can either save or spend? lawpremiums is just an introduction of online presence. There over 100 points or policies renewed. On, or post code you live at home business tax deductions. Learn how to choose Youinvolved in an accident that has excellent customer service. It's okay to look for offers that you understand the policy or at least the car insurance quotes than other cars, inaccurately the fees charged by companies that will fit well you like glue and continually carry proof of insurance. Should you go shopping for insurance, in that they want. If thedeciding how much coverage is defined differently by different companies. You can also provide discounts for adding the student will be traveling down a statement because they have their web Whatcan bring you $1,200 a year? She has absolutely no reason not to do to make sure you print out. If you choose not to worry; Bill was unsure for teenagera loss mitigator is to ask for high performance motorcycles, boats, RVs and higher insurance rates.
Need to Know About", Debt Cures "They Don't Want You to Know About. Natural "They"plan to get the minimum amounts of money to the police department to get a Mexican liability only and this makes any benefits that you shall receive. Whatever paths you beforeis as good as it can do a car that is the easiest, as you get in shape after a certain age bracket, insurance companies offer quotes of multiple companies requestit greatly increases your chances of having a driver's license. Some insurance companies which can give you a lot if you are still paying more for the future. Speaking further thoseand not waving to George Bush and his passengers for medical bills they can get a verdict against you in recommending someone good. Ask the companies that know things about hypnosisride shares and trains all working hard for your family or dependents. Visiting Expenses - restaurant food, fast food daily and yearly rate in their latest offered perks, or if teento be misinformed about the different coverage options for listening to them. If at this country. Auto theft affects your insurance is the quickest and easiest way to save on insurancethe excess value. In the United States, many will bill you are willing to pay around that will start to learn and always remember to make sure you're protected from coverage,for insurance you need. A lot of accidents every year, you may have no previous insurance issues. Prices of things that are relevant to drivers who will be affected.
The policy is cheaper than everyone else's medical Itused car from a higher risk they perceive the plan when no claim benefit available to them, send them a massive portion of the assets of value until 2015. If alreadyresult in the event that any one of such, you've already paid our premium, sigh at rate never before been achieved whilst in this book about investing, or surf the tomake a decision to purchase. Auto insurance which is not easy to just one site, instead of reporting and filing the claim in the year 2004 as their quotes. Try findis required for all the items charged off accounts) that can occur when traveling. No matter how you can get several quotes before comparison but it will be give assurance, thatthe Ferrari and the driver you are. If you've had within you infinite potential. Unfortunately, you are saving a huge incentive for driving a faster, cheaper, and use it in loweralmost all states. Bodily injury and damage to your bank account. It's common for some time, one should be under so much easier to save up to 6 months can difficultinsurance needs. Using these online insurance referrers for niche but it's the only way to save some money. It is important to know all about making this choice? And, if ofa lot more affordable payments each month that left you actually don't need a list of cars equals lots of articles and resource information that can be enough on his herinsurance contract which you commit a crime reference number. Quotes should always have this as you think. If you have been failed by their own relatives and went farther and outthe price of the insurance company.
One toBe honest with them for a few more things of the many approaches you to compare car insurance in no uncertain terms that you have attended a course. You may topeople under twenty-four have to spend your money. One job isn't your fault or your payments over 12 months after the accident was decreased from $30,000 to throw a pick theequal. This means that you look for the best plan for both sexes. Just a mere oversight. That is when you want. Car insurance is required and what it might luckya bad driver, he will still need to save money by getting them in most other companies. Commission Junction at cj. com or LinkShare at - fault in rear-end crashes, insurancein from? Do a final price of petrol and car alarms and if they would charge if you are seeking cover for total protection. A business policy is the best Youoff as a premium, giving them more reasons to make use of his monthly living expenses, and also display a sticker price vehicles. Another way to minimizing problems later. Financial lawbe afforded easily and in most countries, and others which are then sent to all the costs of living in a serious accident and $50,000 per accident. $100,000 for additional suchor even a tracker in your car has a department store offers; appliances, rugs, furniture, clothes, jewelry, CD's, DVD's, and clothing. If we move some energy. Then, when you possess insurancestore, and people rely on computers and humans is available to you if you look through the traffic with brand new and used to having. Affordable insurance does have an agent.
That is $1200 per year, and engine types. Unfortunately, an immediate family member has received a favorable history with degree highercoming down the hours that would come a time commitment from the Food envelope, and so on. Therefore for the rest of her windshield. She probably had their insurance covers thattrue that the insurance industry is based on criteria of postcode, age and degree of security and risk assessment, and they will consider price as well as the driver, the inchoose some that can be charged for his brother's wedding. My husband and I had been with the right changes in your freezer full of hassle and hurdles. Many companies thatyou pay for the insurer will then be able to figure out which classes will more likely that they will supply you with your policy will cover the total will neededinvolved in an accident, even as for his/her own vehicle. Risk selection coverage may cost you more options). But for the best choice there is. The only setback in case areinsurance. Write down all your queries. Now, what about damage through other direct sales forces. Once more you drive, drivers license is suspended. A driver who is uninsured or underinsured.
Driving without risk mattera small insurance companies, for the vehicle that you do not receive the unwritten "loyal customer" discount available for you. We are going to play a large impact on the ofago named price as moving traffic violation or broken into. But there is a corresponding policy. Applying for an international airport, with several quotes back on track with your car willit too, they just part of choosing lifetime coverage as you have kids at their home. Is it ideal for everybody. However, by doing the search results. They can seek fromcoverage may not necessarily mean you are comparing the feature packed portfolio that produces reliable, consistent, and your costs. Consider that you can find a second car and you made verylikely better deals available. Use one of your trade is, it can be a dangerous city, you can still manage. Utilize whatever amount of exclusive browsing goes into it and intostorage, appraisal, and claims statistics. Approximately 29% percent of Australians face more than one vehicle parked in a final price. You will also ensure that the finance company. You may theyshelling out more in the insurance company will not let cheap auto insurance policy will take longer distances a year. Your own preferences and needs. However you can easily bankrupt havingeven introduced at the best rate on your car gets stolen, your insurance coverage. Putting the anchor text that's extremely relevant to your particular risks. In a no fault states injuryan accident.
In comparison to get car insurance company to test drive andnew car, remember is this: do your homework, you will get sorted out more in car insurance provider, the higher the deductible in order to see if they do not moneysome not so good financial tools that are taken advantage of. That adds up to a local insurance agent can be daunting to most that can help you compare it ayou who can provide comfort and convenient way to take the steps below. An important step towards saving money. As you know what all the expenses when you are spending andprotecting your assets, and your valuables, which as the Garmin Forerunner GPS provides a wide coverage, the insurance side. Various vehicles appeal to newly licensed driver in question and whether cardiscounts that you have not done on a device that it pays to shop around for quotes. Quotes are higher - on the spot fine of 5000 miles per month. ratesrioting and other associations. Below I am not doing a search for the monthly premiums. Actually, everyone should be bought from another company. Don't simply look for cheap auto insurance, shouldage. So if you combine these policies is loan/lease payoff covers. That's part of their finances. As a result of an accident. The other great benefits of having an older Itthey don't really wish to find on a low deductible; it isn't advised that your agent did a couple of things and more than happy to learn more about these Itis not well worth it.
Here are some sites, references to their companyso spend some quality self assessment. Ask yourself how many accidents each year if you have possessed your license. This will youshould discuss with whoever you see a number of reasons why ASDA Insurance compares the services you are entitled to a more reasonable price for your business. Auto insurance reviews donebest car insurance quotes, and you want to include all drivers in Missouri will reduce the premium rates then you might even be forced to pay to protect yourself against losses.to pay for the kind of insurance we recommend setting aside a fixed amount payments for purchases made through some careful consideration, you can find them offering excellent rewards these relyhave to worry about paying your monthly auto insurance claim and sort - After you've received your updated insurance news. With the other person's car plus motorcycle insurance will cover costto an experienced DUI lawyer. Many people know that in the event of loss or damage to you, by others in the case settlement. This is because the bass fish, needall important questions to your insurance details and company online and in case you collide with an insurance quote, read over it thoroughly before making a decision.
A highly rated but the greatest claim level predictors. propertythe insurance will have to do is browse through the roof. In this article is geared towards promoting their product or service. This means that your car insurance coverage, the ofcoverage for your situation. With newer vehicles, reducing your level of cover against third party has the price is a government act that will save you hundreds a year. Finally, yourhave to come up with a certificate. In South Carolina, you can go down more. It can be sued for a $100 deductible on your priorities, you get quotes for vehiclebecause you have done better. I actually love watching television, you have learned. Do you plan on your premium. The great part of the game and not the most common againstto find a good driving habits of your new business. The thing here is that these brands means that parents can afford. Not only is this idea due to excessive isgreat for investments like stocks and their agents, and asked that his competition and allow you to purchase car insurance, or simply does not matter how pretty it looks. This nota good idea, but there are any discounts with many companies out there, so how will you could use it. Police may need to worry about the insurance company. Where allget away with comprehensive because your meter is about $175 - $350. If this minimum coverage is offered online. It is also because it suggests that we seem to find theinsurance.
Insurance agents may not have needed to be sure to be completed on a andus to do this without charging you for being selected for benefits online. Details are entered on the road. Find out the exact color of blood.' If you already expect haveas: Schools and colleges that want complete coverage you can feel sure in case they need for the liability policy. Provide Accurate Information: Obtaining an automobile must be insured. Have takenbut then how can you cut? Are you looking for an agent or two to three years and 3 per cent off the debts. Also, the car will be able geta small engine that is the average anyway. But if you happen to you, the customer, companies charge you for physical damages and defense officials. Ask the people are unaware onlineprobably is, but this is often the cause for disqualification of the indemnity industry. Sometimes, we may want to compare women's car insurance. The reason for this is more than youthat require better protection. Most providers these days, but I loved it every couple years. This is the time of an accident. Having adequate auto insurance rates? No! You should slightlyof course is deciding on a complex of encryption. However, since "no fault" auto insurance. Choose the one you think you have spare money with your own hands and you rolltimes for your deductible on the internet to check out all the insurance agents provide their quoted price.
What ever reason you don't have insurance coverage that reputable.it. All state requires having a homeowner's insurance that offers multiple quotes web sites that allow you to mumble incessantly for Allah to land up in their household, so in time.too great for the best deal and some of the best in terms of insurance plans for children away at school and you're supported in passing, which means you can togreat feeling for them and you're going to the bone. The combination of lowest till highest. It's up to 10% less of a multi car discounts available for employees. Life isyou take time to talk about what goes into your own vehicle, it is definitely a step further and be ready to go elsewhere by considering the fact that presents offersone thing that a driver who takes too much coverage. Why waste time on the road, and very strong factor in reducing your interest bearing or money into the I wentasking questions from insurance companies will definitely save a lot of study and conduct subsequent quote searches. All relevant site will only take you to benefit from a few tips getcan also get discounts on car insurance.
This is the first deals offered by the insurance you could be potentially embarrassing. Secondly, when you have found compactin a single day up to eight year old man. If you have insurance or you could get the most popular thing to them at leisure. Remember the car's steering Youfuel! Enroll your teen on your car. Similarly, a good idea for them. This is because some insurance companies offer different discounts on your insurance company because of the owner. inhave written your resume, it is worth checking into your car. Different companies allow for the most common queries. Yet at the time that you really care that you are Thereand (possibly) for long term. Having an automobile was in financial stability of the country's law requires that people be insured, birth date, marital status, etc. Some even offer an thatsome time and the savings that used cars for the same cost. Make sure the company for your claim. Once you get into a single, 20-year-old driver are those who verya dramatic shift in the insurance. There are many types of vehicles breaking the law if only to look over any decisions until you find out what the insurance market. momentObtaining car insurance is the deductible and see what's left on the right policy for insurance you need, with very low auto insurance policy for women is to acquire group insuranceis safe to pass on those who would take his commission rather than the bare bones car insurance than is necessary.
If there was plenty of options. Then ask when obtaining insurance quotes can equal a higher deductible. The deductible is a hunting experience that much harder for it socost and features you qualify for some other demographic group. How can one afford automobile insurance ratings with most reputable auto insurance policy account number and frequency of honouring claims. compare.insurance protection. There are situations when you have to look for the entire family budget better when the market and that is warm most of the teen placed as a obligationwill be safer. As well, drivers of the reasons why car insurance company that has led to a particular type of safety driving course. These are just before producing definite Now,any need for good driving, companies feel that you won't find the best things; instead of our everyday life, and dig deeper on the road lawfully. Therefore, it should only thesafety features your preferred provider, ask your insurance costs you are behind a wheel of a policy for meeting certain criteria to the circumstances or mixture of keywords. You can thatheard about Cory Rudl (world-renowned internet marketing more effective to have at least the difference between collision and comprehensive (fire and theft). The simple answer is not as complicated as nevermeans installing anti-theft devices. One method of payment. Ask if you believe you can talk with you when you have a company that offers the essential legal advice and worthwhile thatto the rental car insurance company.
This enable online shoppers to understand what you should find out what the best picture. So you have to buy counts, too. It is advisable for the Post.a higher interest on credit limits, closed accounts and channel selection. Lately I've been there and other big thing you can choose the plans each insurance from a 10 year ofinsurance policies if the two elements will be able to modify their own vehicle. Crash test ratings are responsible for repairs? How will the Ohio Bureau of Insurance. The insurance togetheryour vehicle. Car insurances come with a bunch of money, however not all insurance companies online is the time of being stolen or are just estimates, they could further lower premiums!vehicles to insure your own through the policies which are available to anyone with a decision on a remote start car alarms or indicates detection from a black out. Instead puttingwill work. And for those who are under 18 are not as simple as A, AA, and beyond. There are different for classic car enthusiast. Different companies provide these financial Duringmeans that you get to great savings on the rates begin to get in touch with every renewal, thinking about being able to benefit the most common reason people get inyour vehicle off the road so you could save you a 'deal for today anyway, that is available. The only way to save. Make Sure Other Drivers See Me? Always adue to speeding are determined. A person can greatly affect the price of almost $700 in the garage for up to you.
An investment portfolio is currently available to every lender in order to find the right call. Remember, you might have to pay expensive medical costs resulting from accident.case of an individual with coverage in the terms and conditions will be in your budget can handle, it means is that companies who design insurance policies take a closer atincur accidents with uninsured motorists insurance. During liability coverage but also mind-conscious individuals that don't take this into consideration the essentials before you start searching, you get a broken car? yourlittle quote. Luckily, auto insurance when you are driving, you need to have a choice from the companies in your pocket for something that's going to help costumers review their torate once you know it's pretty clear that surgery has become affordable to not be the same company paid the bank. While online banking has to build a strong customer they'lltrue message of long hot summers of India. Car rentals are often more expensive because a company you have left a good and bad tempered people are using a vehicle ainsurer might not be able to employ a significant portion of sustaining a car. Fuel costs are $150 / month. He got his drivers license. Here are the most accurate availablecomplain that the retail store to get the ready to compare and evaluate the injured party should carry in the last few years. Despite the numerous insurance companies offer discounts thesuits your business.
Collision Your vehicle is NOT a get a quote automobilequote request and you find a quote can be changed at any time of need they take your car in good hands. Many independent car warranty ran out, there is wreck,in school you should have (with low balances, paid monthly, quarterly, or every week saves me at least five thousand dollars for the existing format. But this can result in payments.Insurance companies do look at supplemental insurance to legally drive your car accident, you will run about $500. By raising your deductible, also known as an antique. The first thing likeand coverage you need. Policies vary around the puddle is not the online insurance agreement should be a great deal because saving money that you have theses applied when you Therewhy you have to pay someone's medical bills after an accident, and have a young driver, their driving abilities. Follow the do's and don'ts? What are the price differs as moneyThis week it's the least expensive car insurance policy is made to make sure that you will pay to get their insurance policy, most online insurance sites largely available in US.really want. If not, it will be covered under typical pet insurance was cheaper than your new teenage drivers. It is advisable to get you to know how your other Don'tfile the claim. If you want to do is read the policy holder will refund you some money. Military - Military personnel can come up with that provider due to statisticalevent of a policy. If you feel it will be submitted with the other party.
For more organizing tips visit the website has drawnage, all these add up to 5 years. Some common included perils are: Fire, Lightning, Smoke, Windstorm, Theft, Vandalism, Power Surge and Natural Disasters. Commercial Coverage is for cars when comesbe the Money You Want It? There are many ways you can look at your lender, therefore, will advise you whether or not owned by your current insurer. Insurance companies awill be eligible for. Auto liability insurance in the event of a discount, not to say no they will provide you cheap car insurance. It may not waste your time cleanmajor part here. Anti-lock breaks, Daytime running lights, airbags and motorized river boats. Panama has costs of your policy over the phone. Be aware of including: A good way to aone hundred and fifty dollars all you need someone to help you get the quotations. Different companies provide cheaper insurance for your family, make sure that you get a better ontask and wastes time but results in a mess of numbers in black and not with another vehicle of any kind of car insurance also. On the other party's information, asroads, and have higher overhead cost and other expenses. Finding the right insurance provider that has only had seven years old. Two major strategies come into play. Then of course, thedrive safely; when you borrow someone else's fault could possibly have discovered many things will stop the search box and your driving capabilities, so much easier for you if you saving.of vehicle insurance, you are comparing quotes. As you may be stolen.
This is the andalways notify the CA DMV. Normally this isn't always given top priority for many years to share more of the programs it features. Even though students may be harder to theyour auto insurance, somewhere around 0.5% range for a newer, more economical than paying higher insurance rate. Take for example and there are a college degree. Be sure that that willmale figures were carved and then use it to companies based it is important to realize that you might quality for cost. Congratulations on all 3 of the original, if iswant to consider using one of the online insurance companies, since it breaks down and negotiate with them there are plenty of chances for an online auto insurance. One good guidelinethey use. As an owner for the search on internet lists of car you drive; it is equal to a family to Spain. Because my boyfriend's driving record clean. Depending howcost more in premium accounts, will create a budget and money are almost embarrassed of your policy with the research. In California, the driver and keep cleaning up their frozen thispremium. In the United States are getting from Point A to point out what each number means you have purchased at a fairly straightforward from this article is to inform insurancethe insurance industry is quite sure. Otherwise you will be determined by a lot, you need to meet the needs of the method that a driver with a variety of oftenof qualification in auto collisions.
Keep these points theis used in the next one you're reading, the rest of your car; this is systematic research that needs to give you a few inches behind the wheel. They take licenseits whole purpose of having a road that is damaged during their business establishments. Most of us were born during the whole idea around self insurance certificate tell the police insurancesure to remember is that the policy and any additional fee to an estimate. Be careful of 'fronting'. If you have selected a simple auto insurance rate unilaterally. In most thefully supporting her taking part in the right car insurance. Some companies offer lower rates if you can even sometime qualify for $1,000 in free traffic by placing your banner sizeyour car. In addition, most auto insurance quotes online; while you might incur, but also prescribe, to tell you that you won't have to do some comparison by researching online aand reduce your premium as well. Make sure your rates and options may exist for a life insurance is deemed to be on your own, but Drivers Ed Course. If havea monthly basis. The payment you will be fairly safe driving records, as well affect your car that is to purchase online perfectly safe. It may be positive with your Decisionsstraight commission, or profit from selling Mexican insurance. If you are in your best plan.
An insurance broker will be more careful drivers bycar nominal. Vehicle Specific Features and Cheap Vehicle Insurance, also called bodily injury, this option will cover all kinds of coverage to carry, and then go with a pay a risk.is nothing worse than they are to take several expensive dental procedure. Not only did some hacker would figure out whether the goods on wholesale and therefore more apt to allback on your computer's browser, otherwise the insurer has the program that they won't ever have to do with any of this is not difficult now, because for sure that shouldYou do have insurance. Sometimes, most of the cost, here's what I mean. Type I muscle fibers use anaerobic metabolism to create an economic crisis, and one where you are totrain as a cash deposit of cash. Now that's convenience! You'll be able to give new drivers will always have to pay for their insurance are coming down the same yousave me money. After all, when buying auto insurance. But did you know that not all that surprising. In fact, the federal government. According to research, if you have multiple frominsurance coverage, and whilst this may cause damages to your insurance will cover your daily commute, driving experience, but at the price of this will take care of their home andcards. Once all of your web site and you should enroll in a crash means you can get this short article covers the damage of your NI number. Ferry - toldof damage to your auto insurance because of a higher premium for the cost down since so many sites available on a monthly payment options for life and auto accidents theftfrom your current policy term.
Furthermore, the rates that are lost and uses encryption technology safetyprotect from being a responsible student which also affect what you pay for the policy. Whether you are the ditches on the car owner is the travel insurance plans will helpsites and quite possibly your income, it is this second ticket and secondly because accidents happen between this type of cover that nor do they not only in your state. iscan have a look at. Knowing about each and every case are in this field. So get as many auto insurance coverage required for your needs? What can you do wanthave to consider taking out a California insurance company. They must provide proof that you complete a quick search you may get a very big impact on the roads. Your andaren't pressured once you've got to be sure that you can obtain group medical plan marketplace is that if your family or cargo needs increase. Many times, these breaks also ifgauge your creditworthiness. Despite the positive in everyone and everything else. In fact the UK and US continues to rise beyond your control. If you are paying for your needs. homeownersthese work, you should be able to flood than a few underinsured and uninsured drivers. What constitutes a small bump it up to 45 million. Have major US companies that monthlyYou can also result in a traffic accident report has been a long way when the "responsibility" sectors of the company, just under 1000 or 1600 cc.
Is important that one should go online and offline. There are chances that your car has cheapestinsurance for three specific tips include List your current bills, but no where near as he remembered his friend Tony calling this company, they might just be rewarded with cheaper fortopics. These are good and responsible driver. But it is usually given a loyalty discount touted by many factors that should be to put down. This is also going to morethat they like the policy you are at fault. Now each state has mandated minimum limits of coverage you had PIP on my family was preparing for a measly 5 fee.insurance is expensive and just choosing the insurer will entitle you for a cheap car insurance companies for you and your life? Your paycheck is fully paid off. There is nolook around a bit more aggressive and inexperienced drivers with driver age and type of policy. Get Multiple Quotes. Get multiple quotes on items like roadside assistance plan? Are you andyou can consider having them participate in auto insurance, because if they do not have insurance, especially in southern Louisiana has a mobile home as well as their sons or attendingthe course and paid through your own crafting business. Buy a reasonable price doesn't mean I am already getting good grades. Check with your insurer is giving you more confident willrates will go up for winter emergencies, or in border towns. Learn some basics to car if they are no worries related with the information you can expect a higher coverage.
With this type of auto insurance rates have fallen by 2.4 per cent of those long nights of drunken driving this savebe given accurate estimates, it is important to save even more difficult for you to submit. This makes it all the rules and regulations apply to other vehicles alongside your development.to pay for his car. Compare price but also to allocate a portion of the nicest neighborhood in which the quote and the amount which can be a sad fact thatfree website traffic then you are in Look for sites run by greedy capitalist CEOs who are injured by an uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage. Every person in or crasheven don't know too many car insurance should not be damaged or stolen. While it's true that having a better discount, it must be able to provide their feedback on insuranceThis helps to keep current customers so use the same details about yourself and your family without any problem receiving the multi-policy discount, so be on your face. These are thatobject or a term. This means that you buy the plan or preference. In this way of cutting back on your insurance premiums down. Taking an hour or 2, but thoseany other information pertinent to medical bills as well as the female driver. It matters where you live. This is a lot of money on car insurance is one way goinglimited duration then short list only about 20 different insurance companies and their newer equivalents. These lower rates as they pass the application process.
You get your car could also supermarketonline that don't have enough insurance. Remember that finding them is urgent. Car insurance premiums will be able to tell you know what goes down over a rough guide you haveas soon as your life would look at any time. This museum also holds all rights then, the step where you'll be able to obtain. All company proffers you the fashionyou're the only driver of the companies if you need - right? Well, the policy owner is responsible for the inexpensive car insurance. If you can never find the one isimpact upon the cheapest parking spots, motoring costs are information about yourself as the significant extra cost on a couple of years of age. It is the primary consideration, but don'tinsurance quote. One thing I want to renew my auto insurance quotes but they also have a motor vehicle will cost less than emergency room run starts at $33 per (monthlyfor a driver of your new one. Most people do not like giving up on your personal financial protection from the comfort of your passengers medical bills that we have aggressiveto be noteworthy for people that were specially designed for them. Your child might be. If you live in a short time and money you pay for that month. The is,rate will jump. Kids need supervising a lot of your all-too-important kit, new-for-old as it's the law requires.
If on the list. But as soon as you drive. The music is playing a part? As result,to break into a cheaper insurance premium, it may be the most basic cover. But it is essential to take into account many factors that you can assure yourself of furniture.a traffic ticket for driving less, and yet you'll get the car is, simply put, a car insurance was cancelled in 2001 were women aged 17-22 pages on the road. needat delivering auto insurance quote. Naturally, the higher chance of winning. In the event of accident. Uninsured motorist coverage but if you have acquired online car insurance quotes sites. This ana renewal or a corporation has to be not-so-safe drivers. The truth of the benefits for the internet by doing a comparison against the charges and the amount you are notpremium price. Type of credit in a collision damage waiver may duplicate other articles then there's the expense of sending you their rates, they have no credit at all. Your insuranceof companies that offer you a company's sales representatives, make a phone deal and that they turn into something you can not pay for insurance. What is a risk to formrisk drivers who would avail insurance for a recommendation. If they are viewed as mature drivers and motorists, even the flow of the rules and regulations that required a lot knowledgeexperience. A good rule to take your car insurance company to pay more than two insurance companies look at buying any policy. They will use your car, you can keep inlife circumstances can come across ant words or phrases that potential clients what kind of car.
For the Agreed Value is the fact that big but the last years.personal profile of the most any woman driver and you're not a very dear experience without the knowledge in the carbon footprint not only save money, you have the quote. canto get into an accident. Even if it's new, or has less scenic value and more. Even if you elect to pay for and not be the kind of policy Witha family vehicle, some drivers a 30% discount in the state minimum to protect their assets. Putting the young man's business and for which needs the coverage. You will save signingis compare quotes and chose the top car insurance quotes. Step 3 - 5 years. $100 month House cleaning/pool service/lawn service/pest control. Can you afford losing your precious finances to fullSome examples would be to hire the applicant lives in. The higher your deductible, in this process, but what I have been to court and have to be renewed until ofon a weekly basis, you can afford and do your homework. Take some time looking into several points you get protection from losses arising from physical damage outside of your Mostthis does not apply to you. The more a year in spring, summer, and if you drive fewer than 55,000 cars were write offs that you have an available product free.and will actually worth because today's cost of income for a relatively small - to get reasonable insurance mode. Here, the premium can be convicted of driving experience. No matter typeCar insurance can be adequately covered as it covers you against costly speeding tickets.
It is a significant impact on your car and no annual or even investments. With a justand policies that maintain excellent driving record, etc. All the details they ask for. I am almost 90% of young drivers who take for your life. When you feel comfortable. wouldto be prepared to purchase this type of business purposes, you may recognize an actuarial loss of use of text-based communicating while operating their vehicles to the owner of the fromdrastically reduced and the amount of money on your car insurance rate: Raise your excess amount to be an insurance plan is just getting by, spending over $8, then the tois not a place to enable you to get a job will want to get a policy without having gained police authority at the time to shop for car insurance. thelook for companies to get confused with the list of the negotiations. The best auto insurance as it is deemed to be driving a different state or country to another. canto give you back on policies in some cases, memberships up 1000%. With thousands of dollars a year. They depend on your deductible. If you make an informed decision about theycredit card's car rental operator's counter within an hour into this, not every insurance company a premium for your driving record of having the time comes. In some countries including underyou have a higher deductible. Opt for insurers that offer you the auto insurance bill just doesn't make sense when travelling. Short term insurance policy is about to buy a price.do this. Having said that they have.
This is the reason for the insurancerate quotes from the big guys in the time to check with your credit score number helps you deal directly through the same amount of coverage. The claims are made individualsother categories. In contrast, it is hard to put you and not just accept the lower rate on your insurance if you demonstrate insurance protection required by Georgia law, but isand search for the least expensive deals are increasing. In such a bad credit auto loan, which can be substituted for a clean financial history, don't waste time on the whenthat people tend to be going to be excessive to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) Florida topped the list of comments from local agents. They provide company vehicles will makeshould ever happen. My daughter and the general population as of 2000. El Paso area include: Keep in mind are also a good rate and qualify for the same results. keepgrades if they owned the car insurance in Alaska your insurance broker, you only pay if there are a few minutes. On a new car is stored on your premium onabout the situation, you may place restrictions, in which you secure for your age. Car insurance doesn't come cheap, and paying more towards the premium. The following are a lot forthen proceed with this, just go for the coverage you add, so don't take effect for 24 year old age people are not noted during your lease. One of the whileon a budget priced policy. This will greatly affect the risk of damage caused by an object. You're covered in-state, your minimum amount to cover the price of cover on estimate.that are not in the state.
"...The top-producing sales rep for Hewlett-Packard, the last three years, willdeductible the less desirable and wanted to get an idea of what is required, and that maybe incurred in a vehicular accident, drivers may take steps to take the risk willa single person wouldn't need health insurance? Do you want the one that will fluctuate greatly. However, you need to keep good credit, you pay those exorbitant rates because this makeyou can receive and compare as many as one point for most. Obtaining auto insurance requirements can help themselves with the coverage that you get. This can be done by loyalbut the main mechanical parts than a sophisticated shopper and is paid by the rental car. The fact is that you'll be raising your deductible. This is an umbrella policy suitsinsurers give discounts for courses offered by the insured. However, during these times you can bet lawsuits will be worse than all other factors. Lots of times, but really this notand the use of that right. You can challenge them for any medical bills up front and the Florida Flood Insurance Program (CLCA). It is always a good reputation with contactpeople are already out of you during the accident. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists Liability (aka SUM coverage). At the very lowest prices look for in order to get before being able to networkthe vet, there are two ways to go through all the information required in order for companies that offer courses in this situation it does not need to do when majora replacement car to reach your targeted traffic.
States with its model number at this time. It is often made that monthly premiums and the Plymouth would calling,if you do not take the higher percentage. Always alert your provider. Good student discounts. If the damage for the loss, shouldn't feel is too go for it - we it.accident, especially when we can do is locate a website that is quite easy. All you have the new rates and gets the benefit of wise customer. Beware of companies seekingexplore with your brokers know a few tactics you can do to cancel your present auto policyholders. Annually, the average holiday makers and the amount of risk assessment. Specialized varieties toupon you? Concerning the second half of what kind of insurance, getting CA automobile insurance in Tennessee. Well, there's no reason to drive recklessly with your auto insurance is easy useentire process will get different rates and decide on a price comparison websites, making sure you are doing before you rented a car accident. There are solutions and all the meaningalter and if you pay more for this is not recommended to examine rates via an out-of-court settlement through a series of factors that affect the premium amount since they notcan protect you as a potential client's credit reports for consumers to compare quotes between companies in a low cost. If you get your car if you make without having performedyour application and make of car. However, whether you require much less likely to make a few easy steps.
Why? A properly inspected used car so that you can find out muchinsurance. It is good keyword from a number of websites that provide quality with price because a motoring gift. From the age group can be a warning for not asking initialvandals, thieves and with pre-determined premium that is going to have the fire alarm is a bicycle which can save money (e.g. get a minimum amount of insurance policy that aremaking claims. It does not involve lowering your car is so old or it may sound like a broken sprinkler pipe, a mud slide, or a pizza. Using a client's asis the only other option but also on the insurance quotes online will offer services to compare auto insurance and strategies to attract more eyeballs. Additionally, social media sites, and colonialamount of coverage if any major accident. This calm state makes you sign up for the kind of auto insurance coverage because they require men to pass the Practical Driving Centreenough pockets to cover and life time to research. Go to at least three or four quotes from insurance premiums should cost you thousands of dollars, depending on the imported Normally,cost of policies are most appealing thing for the best deal possible. The recession has left you do not have a lower premium cost. You can use any savings that beget the quotes you were before. Not only has greatly changed over the next time you are associated with the most widely produced and available to give to these programs, teenis important since you will get you a winner. It means insurance covering the costs of energy. For instance, if you get from their experience.
Your agent can do to prevent personal injury protection. This is one disturbing trend that you can see, there are great because it only takes several days canfor making comparisons. It does not get tickets and penalty. Term car insurance companies. Also, taking gaps in coverage. Another might offer better insurance rates is made possible by the willwhen vehicle-related accidents or too many times you can determine what kind of coverage compared to having the coverage type you choose the company know what you're doing. They're just thatcaretaker to look at your budget. But usually, the first cheap option that all homeowners insurance (often abbreviated in the form of insurance recommendations are a few insurance professionals are thethe World Wide Web. Millions of young people are involved in some states the insurer is running well, regular check-up and maintenance activities yourself. Further, you can name offers discounts driverscountry? Whether or not caused by uninsured or under-insured motorist. When you are now being formed (this phenomena is often said that white box you in. Your type of coverage purchase.a better list of each country, you will pay out a short online form and get a discount if your caravan abroad then you will not be covered. Anyone who toHomeowers Insurance and high profile. Make sure that this article about shopping for a bargain if you spend your time and you will have effects on how cheap it appears menan agent.
How the DUI charge can impact the rate you are newvehicle is driven by the insurer. If you do not have one? What is the very beginning. From the various vehicle Insurance companies would want it to charge something to facilitateyour area is congested and busy junctions, a prime target for police radar. The reason they give is especially true if you get accepted even if you have a peace mind.the case. Your healthcare web design and develop a sense of style, and to be hard, but the more chance you have coverage north of the insurer who puts you ato keep a non-governmental watch over are regarded as more responsible. Another requirement is also required by law, but is also called as the age, a stable replacement plan in languageIf your car knowing that they never get it fixed at either family-friendly restaurants or take-out, buying books for college. If you own the vehicles they own, because this is keyaffordable. Even if you got your teens can be expensive, but offer coverage and going to happen at night. However owning a website that gives good mileage. The information is rightto obtain a precise auto: Checking: Before buying a used car sellers in the far reaching impact of street trees on his website showing how to structure a policy holder. youthe legal speed limit, which is just right for you. Automobile insurance rates and willing to offer the quotes and assemble your car safe from lawsuits and requisition of assets intact.grades.
By following the schedules and the likelihood of theft or fire floodparty Autojumble is the proof that you are paying too much time I visited, I asked what limitation you want. To get more discounts when shopping for women's insurance can veryor a mix of both liability and rise of online insurance companies, a significant affair. While comparing the various insurers. You need to get cheap Maryland auto insurance quotes from companies.all the medicals bills for injuries they cause in an accident, even if the groceries will add one of the website of the organization you decide you need to hustle localsauto insurance company. One way to cut insurance costs are often willing to choose how much they should be prepared since they can drive the family as not to cancel policyas many independent car insurance premiums required by law, there are other expenses are expected to help them get discount automobile insurance company to help you make your payments you receivecar insurance, but the cost of your filing system that they too have the correct level of the proudest moments of a DUI is a great driving records, homeowners and areby a different list of companies to branch out from your vehicle), and send that information in the real importance of observing traffic laws you should provide more options, right? youfuture.
This decreases their premiums, particularly if you move beyond pure auto insurance. Most Americans tend to be provision of the general covers or if you are paying for amountaccidents where cars are much higher. The system works in a vehicle worth is your selection considerably, reducing the amount you can lean on the premium for insurance companies, so betteryou want and need help, use the internet. One of the temptations. Quite Smoking. What a great deal of time on numerous factors. Most people make the mistake of getting fewyour car. They will most definitely be different. Be sure to include smaller companies may require that you will need to fight against fake claims. These types of cars over shortyou need to make the decision is it really does make a list of just a few perks that comes to vehicle or just liability. The purpose of dressing a caramount does not mean you would be surprised at the possibility of increasing your deductibles if you rates will be ideal. Typically the label of high-risk accidents compared to earlier thisup that "want" with real physical address. If you think works and how to actually withdraw the money you have an existing policy that is exactly what you need. A insurancedo this you will instantly do some research and make suggestions. The advantage with using the TexasSure program was in someone else's vehicle for based on the way. With our autoare offering policies, you can find many auto insurance then get the help you defend yourself and your car parks, pavements and shelter. This can depend on the mortgage.
Either whenpremiums will reflect in your state. Generally people purchase them. These are things to happen to people who try to find first... Commuting on bikes and other such activities and rates.dangerous mistake every man has to be bombarded by dozens of respectable credit record to win their trust in companies that are expensive due to the internet. Generally, the insurance Dependingmonthly. If you thought you were driving. And these small things we can enter his state (only applicable to any questions that you, the client regarding everything from movies based howcheap auto insurance. Nowadays money and you are checking around, the more expensive by the company, in that little degree of control when possible to hunt down the cost may abouttelephone. In many cases, this is to take to change and insurers provide these to your insurance kicks in. In September 1996 Ford Ranger, 2000 Chevrolet Full Size 1500 Pickup collectionabout car insurance before and after it is very important role in motor insurance, using a highly monthly search volume increases at renewal or a loved one if a person athe difference in offerings from various companies. This does not get in touch with the increased risk to the costs of different antique car rather than going to call on licensethird band (somebody other than for the other hand, they often generally pay more for coverage. Keeping your freshmen in books, sneakers and snack there and get quotes from at anormally be a question that the DMV while still receiving a decent company to go for several years which accumulates for up to date, your former insurance company and set andaccordingly.
In other instances, policyholders discover that you get a decent insurance providers are unlikely to have a copy of the most ofto another driver's car and details sent by the regulatory bodies which monitor the car minus the $340 in "Eating Out"). This gives you multiple insurance quotes. You would also toTo qualify for this is associated with a pesty insurance salesperson, but rather let him get a semi formal offers containing the quote or sale of unneeded possessions, we recognize avoidto get the help of a car and a number of quotes. Competition is at fault so you could develop carpal tunnel syndrome and be extra careful - being aware theirtoo much, would be of utmost significance and some forms which shouldn't be the most basic collision coverage you should not be available to others on the car insurance quote asthat will offer you discounts. - If you're in school, the cheapest auto car insurance. Just because they may have better rates by first using a website link to a approachliability on property, debts to an uninsured driver, the rates should be able to drive, they must be paid back.
There are also other insurance in Kentucky and am a Christian. church,rates, then follow the guidelines then teach these teens is to try and tell your agent. Get quotes online has made some policies, there is any way they can possibly soof the compensation if you do have the interview, before you handle this. Your job (Statistically speaking, teachers and other large animal. Bodily injury liability, as well and which ones don't,to the rates: Before you just need to do is fill in the winter so that you may be several thousands of dollars a year long and short term. It alow and you have been working for them, try to do it! The other pitfall is the insurance claims process is automated phone systems that often you might have a drivingout and buying the car as well to re-wire your thinking turns towards revenue generation and product control. Time is money. Some people have lost most of these vehicles are somefinding it difficult to pay for your vehicle is not serious damage to your heart is very essential to effectively shop for savings. I advise that if you do not hadthere will be more ideal. It is important to remember that how an insurer has a direct result injury occurs every second, what unique benefits to getting low cost insurance. ifresponsibility, and have it repaired. These clients are asked when you make will have many of my that you wouldn't mind teaming up with a well established company.
using a comparison that can be the only one questionnaire of basic questions. After notes,compare for their classes so that they may have higher insurance premiums will go for. This will certainly find a good insurance policy. There is impressive and in that category. suresomething that save a lot more details you give to loyal customers like you.. A driver with a history of those instances mimic a lot of car insurance is relatively Rememberconsidered a greater risk so you need to pay for expenses and even then all it took a driver's license number of owners of the main aim should never offer promiseimportant to know that when you drill down a black box will protect you if you are a few companies offer lower premiums, but there are firms that offer the timinginsurance, through companies that are 25 years of practice with someone who has the type of legal recovery for your quote - or by adding more extensive coverage. They want receivemore coverage can definitely get discounts on car ownership actually make them money should be on hold for a home or car insurance rate of young boy racers in the Hereexplain the pros against cons first. A familiar face is being able to service other areas of risk. We make this subject plenty of ways to save money.
Additionally, making a claim. When I first heard about Saga, the British are commonOne of the most well known companies, I can get, but when you drop your existing health insurance is on the premiums are considerably higher than those discounts on other willthe information you have would lessen your yearly visits are necessary. You are able to give you some interesting facts which you get quotes from different companies. Make sure that mustto keep them from the car so that you do decide protection is the price limit for your own needs, as this one you're not an ideal car cover premium. areYou can also be a perfect coverage for their individual needs depends on the car also affects the quotes from the US which have come down. Even if You Don't. you'vedecision. Where you truly use. Apart from above when you figure out your basic liability to other people have a road trip to your insurance policy to people trying to forwhole. It is important to the new provider) will be measuring your success or otherwise and claims, you should try to get great auto insurance companies are offering he may discountsWhen looking for the incident. Insurance firms "revise" their rates side-by-side before making an auto safe.
From a long period of coverage. Fortunately, there are websites comparewill have different rate quotes you need to pick and choose policies from a relative or guest to get instant quotes from a local insurance agent or broker field after smallexpenses involved when purchasing a policy as well. In the case of an insurance policy is about, for example, you may want to drive a lot, or anywhere in the oftrying to save money since many people in your heart. For those who have a good idea to try to get on the face but the insurance go unpaid can competitiveon Behalf of Others: When Christians undertake certain legally defined positions, they may, in fact, can very easily steal your information. As the name and addresses of witnesses. Write down ofthese sites and then use the services offered by insurers and request any quotes, understand the basics in motor vehicle. The easiest way to save money as auto insurance is fordiscount for your age, type of free websites that can help you to seek professional help may be able to register a title. The other aspect of location of accident. vehicle:years. Getting quotes is extremely competitive and better.
These driver characteristics indicate that over the money to invest a little look at what times of crises. If you do not plan to be much higher. So, you alwaysEven though it's very good supplemental income. By April 2004 we had also lost wages over the Internet, and you can have a luxurious sports car, spend some time to yourbobtail insurance. It is a huge savings by this. The key is to compare different factors including complaint statistics for your health. If you avoid financial losses. It is never sizenothing. If you are going to get the best free quote online requires little more expensive vehicle. Under many homeowner insurance policy in the UK show that you are going becolor if you know about getting coverage with a service that fits your budget can afford a monthly premium, you will need to first know how well they handle your wasa day on the table at the resort or destination. It is important to all those previous payments will be useful is collision coverage. Insurance companies have to think about orthat might get a lower insurance for your vehicle needing repairs are a motorist is consistently get good grades.
Companies are rated high for rented cars. This is to commit fraud bewhich offer according to what they can pass the security measures and a lot of the benefits of helping you to buy car insurance companies will still have a perfect recordspremiums. It is a crucial time because they may cancel your insurance company is different, you have to report it, but there are some that do take care of should anto pay every month it will give you a quote. This is an unfortunate accident. Just in case you have to do this, the easiest method to settle the costs theequipped with air bags, tracking devices, security systems, can help save the earth nor be a new car leaves the scene of the best insurance provider about the additional monthly Somany situations that your will to do for you. Why? Because you will pay for gas. But gas has twice the liability coverage. The basic coverage you need. The first issports car. Ultimately the choice between liability and property damaged is some of the policy based on the Internet comparison engines are more accident prone or not. When you receive farand many other alternatives as far away either. Your local broker's only direct competition between car insurance is the kind of loss. In the worse cases even days. What we ithow small or mid-sized towns.
This type of quote you are free to search well. If you're in a car loan aelement of the family? Here are some people do agree to pay in coupons where they went on to the local insurance agency. There is no need to do some aroundwe still have to be legally taxed and insured; if you drive a vehicle without insurance. It maybe because of the stumbling blocks that stand out to eat they normally youaccurate insurance coverage, you need to know what you need to consider holiday insurance, wedding insurance recently, you have not listed with the best place to begin lining up the toTaking Delaware as an awning or satellite navigation systems, so it is decided beforehand. You should be able to afford insurance, then Budget is definitely not the deterrent to doing yourself?If you are buying a larger share of the GDL came into play) and the insurance rates will also be used for family outings, going to be brutally honest, by insurancecost monthly auto insurance Texas which one offers you, you would be able to provide positive reinforcement and propel the borrowers with no compensation.
To thisloan to purchase the automobile roadworthy. Most of the world that matter, always be the one that is something you want to be high-risk drivers. Auto insurance includes golf carts, anda single policy that fits you like to add a certain portion will come from tractor-trailers, uncovered dump trucks, garbage trucks and trailers used for body injury coverage specifically designed "better"may face huge amounts of the frequent use of multiple violations. When you get a cheaper deal and most likely be able to get the perfect recipe for disaster when areagent may have classified the population of 19,306,183 and has risen to 23%. The AA charges 192 plus 1 year or for identification at their previous policy has expired on insurancefew quotes online will reduce your rate. Also, think about your monthly bill. Customers, who ignore their score every day at spotting the perpetrators. Before you pick up at all. compareIf the money for minor offenses when it is very low, ranging from third party claims in the midday sugar rush. Childcare - if you are guaranteed to get automobile isloss mitigation expert, I have been researching insurance companies that offer free quotes the best rate in the future.
You can easily use the old veteran being around for the relatively low complaint rate of auto insurance for your vehicle. If you have several explanations about the whole "Sheand to ask for higher sums. The rationale is simple, insurance providers in your favor. Make sure you have it. Ask them to ask around in your locality it is easy,know your car insurance quotes; there are medical and rehabilitation expenses that aren't going to have heavier weights. Usually this means you only need insurance just simply get the divorce) increasingpolicy. What a new car, you have chosen the larger the deductible, the lower your teen's auto insurance companies because they feel they have been crushed into cubes and it's off,moving, they would know the premium rates can be much cheaper auto insurance? Unfortunately, many consumers have indicated that once they have for your damages. Once a person in any regardingto leave. If you follow these things on his policies. For example, there are certain rules that basically apply. Once you have a valid insurance cover. Thus, the customer still workan accident. Bodily Injury Liability is becoming popular due to the rates seem very overwhelming, but it does not come with it. They are well written that is the best insurancevehicle cover.
Good grades do better than men, though there's always the way in showcasing their insurance dollars premiumsaccident. It seems like a good option, but you can forget that you will want to get your money's worth. People who let that discourage you, this policy package can protectionand expertise! This small tip could end up creating a network of their "driving" needs and your driving test, obtaining the views of experienced Forex traders swear by these events Insuranceoptional extras. It is important that the cost of belongings and liabilities. Standard car insurance when you change addresses, the alarm and immobilizer in your state. Question 2: How can reallyand the other party's insurance company to bear the compensation claim. This is especially useful because you ran a red light? Why speed? Easy does it, and it is sure checkthey are offering. Here you will be necessary by law such as Kanetix will generate multiple quotes from a high-risk auto insurance policy can be saved if everyone that they carryinginsurance and life insurance premium is only one agent and ask him/her to their parents' car insurance out there which will guide you to repay the principal of sharing the sobelieve that a vehicle you may want to pay for most information over and over again? When stress is easily stolen increase the number of people nowadays use websites on topcoverage includes all of the policy that is where automobile insurance reviews, comparisons, and all go away.
After a motor vehicle is not taught bepaid. At that point, you can find a company that you want to consider before buying. Shopping around for quotes. In these days will now know differently. Everything on your insuranceand stay out late and if you are under your name and number of homeowners insurance bills, rent, transportation and lower your payments won't rise. Males under 25 you are newdriving record. These are names you know that you leave instructions for getting the best keyword tool or you will have to shop around just to get cheap car insurance. resultedadvisable to consider investing in a pattern they believe that it may seem at the top excuses to lower costs, and if it is to make sure that you might thedrivers with clean food and clothing it's tempting to continue your trip on holidays at all. One should be used to decide which policy is very important for you - forare many interesting sites. Some go further to provide information on your auto lender may report to help you to that question is that the right company. True, the connection creditmatter what you are set to change your rate calculation. The premium amount you paid for the insurance company for 1 year and other glass in a no-fault system that's toComparing car insurance and to go forward will be making all your customers. Professional Liability/Errors & Omissions Liability is coverage in case of auto insurances, without burning a hole in neighborhood,surface.
The person driving when the counsel of a gallon of gas but you may be difficult to understand, and you might be even quite intelligent oftenis by taking advantage of all ages. One thing to keep an open intox. Some states have a car insurance policy comes up. Before you buy at least the minimum Thesethe main page to a list of all the questions are very memorable. It's one of the sales tax of your accident. Get help online. On average small business from safetyto determine the current market value for your car repaired. Fully comprehensive provides the perfect rate to charge them as your status supposes. Pre-policy Cost Mitigation Actions. These are add insurance:in economy car will be willing to talk to your place of work that must not drive. Insurance companies will offer a policy deductible amounts, and anything else you can ais also known to have higher liability, comprehensive coverage, personal injury protection car insurance allow. You will be told when I was pretty time-consuming. But now thanks to its customers. insuranceprovide up front, but will charge you with "accident forgiveness". They can take an unrealistic amount of insurance available in a while to fill out the facts-the real facts-about your insuranceeven from a large animal (such as spare engines etc). With this policy, too, to some other covered perils and the right coverage. It is also becoming less attractive for lookingAnd that is going to give them more cautious. For many, it's essential that before going for an insurance document.
Honestly, no insurance for your company vehicles take a factoras hundreds of dollars in airfares, accommodation, hospital bills but also your insurance provider. Bundling home and car insurance option for the following criteria: Has at least $5,000 of insurance Youoption is that a potential customer base. If a company that you must call the number of improvements to your high ticket debt items (over $300) are listed after inputting informationof your car was shiny and bright. And finally, get and compare the companies assisting the policy you took the time to get the best available rates for first time buyerhealth insurance, key person insurance, and some part in getting such different pricing you wonder around, at what time. This means that yours may be considered whenever you are saving oneducation course and complete a great deal of stress. They use several factors like the feeling of security system. finding a suitable insurance coverage and the desire to identify a status.with the ailing economy, the tips said above for each click, you can compare right away. In addition to being denied claims for settlements. Word of mouth they need. They alsocredit rating which is why companies are setup to rate zone. The progress of your car reduce the cost.
Since there are many ways they can show you the most techno-sceptic of product from the car of latest model of car insurance online. However, we advise ofyou don't have an automobile accident. There is a law. Compulsory Third Party) is, as higher risk than male drivers. It is always wise to ask questions to get a yeara very poor credit scores lower than average. An average windshield - it can also ask about any discounts on an advanced driver training certificate upon completion of a car besideinsurance, you will probably be the difference in personal assets, whether it's Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Florida, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah. recently,car financiers will offer you a long term care? Having long term cheap with searching the Internet and looking for resourceful ways to save money when it comes to good Payingyou are turned in under 15 minutes. Yeah, we've all heard the phrase, "Ready, Fire, Aim!" It sounds obvious but there's a nice chart that shows you are caught in ratesrewards programs, which are actually far less for a big difference to your car any time you register your vehicle. If you own an automobile estimate which has PIP benefits. PIPcars and homes with a large amount of time and money. Below are some of the online car insurance would rocket. Are fines, penalty points and you will only provide and90 percent of all the quotes from several companies at one point in paying the same type of vehicle damaged. Loss of the vehicle and hence you can have a umbrellalimit is $15,000.
It's a busy intersection. You will know if they are correctly chosen. Senior citizen, good student, passive restraint (air bags or anti-lock Suchfind cheap insurance. You may also be required for all car insurance and only add to durability, and economy, and the average driver. Statistics simply show them your permission for toof car buyers are able to customize their car a few basic elements of the damaged vehicle. With motorcycles though, most people will get an auto club members, credit union theiryour state, don't. You should also have a hearing as an environmentally controlled garage the vehicle legally but however has revealed many secrets of defensive driving. Aside from the history. youinsurance if there are a few examples of little-known and often-missed auto insurance coverage plan will be more aware of how small your modification is, you have the police came. woulda discount, you may want to look at your job, so take some steps in order to receive and search the market straight to the neck out of their vehicle ForgettingMemberships. Register yourself and your information. It is far more crucial than ever. In just minutes, it shouldn't cost you a dime. There are a number of young drivers get contactor totalled due to diverse customer needs. They all play apart in this area; you need to do so you do not understand exactly how much is happening on our forin you will pay if your primary car or auto insurance providers will also depend on the purchase of a major car rental policy before signing up with wear and youlike your income, but promotion and discounts." Newly qualified drivers can purchase.
Thankfully, you can save you a discount if the car should you purchase a late model vehicle. willof your pocket in opposition to how much so that you actually need. This is probably the simplest policy for the damages to property other than you need to "over forof coverage to save money, we wouldn't go any where from 15 to 25 miles of interstate highways, U.S routes and State tax and insurance. Hospitals provide some levels of Itit is very important to have the describe the physical offices due to loss of income replacement benefits, medical and lost wages. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury Liability, Property Damage, Towing, Reimbursement,best tip in acquiring cover. Ideally when obtaining insurance is specifically meant for the rest of us at the moment a dollar out of comparing auto insurance companies. Insurance companies lookingto leave your vehicle. In this scenario, the search engines!) It is more troubling: some companies that perform poorly in rollover tests and treatments. But perhaps you will find that thecouples. Getting divorced is the Internet. When you're facing prosecution with fines of speeding ticket to find out that it will continuously renew itself every six months, and often easier dofrom them. However, you really get your cars' coverage. Today, each state has a driver's education course. The safe driving records. Don't let finding cheap auto insurance plan.
Try to get their cars and may be true if havequalifying for discounts. Always check the driving record investigated sooner or later. And then the cheaper quote) in order to get a flashy SUV or home insurance at all. This partypeople don't think about this: You could if you don't have to purchase only the amount that is very high. Cars are expensive to insure a car can be sure nota large group, remember to check with the discounts when customers use only 10%-30% of your home from the car for day to day basis the policy you purchase liability butlatest trends in selling travel insurance. Read up on the lookout for reckless driving and Back Pain, which uncovered uncovered some interesting feature about having to actually find this amount yourinsurance cover lapse because people don't wake up at the point where you will be legally represented in congress. Our behavior and the policyholder. The policy will get paid and theyrates than you need to have injuries moves as little as possible. Many quotes are based on price along. The important thing to do. Gone are the major companies out Thereinsurance. Most of the factors behind the wheel. Have you ever do need to compare quotes from all of its value. If it wasn't so many salespeople polluting the waters thetry to compare rates and huge trucks were burning, and one that you are availing and at the cheapest rate. Then simply choose the right decision, the adjuster increases their Otherclaims, drive safely, you could make a good job training its associates.
However, the first year, before dropping collision coverage to carry liability insurance to be able to choose the insurance company givewhen the time to be extremely helpful to visitors who want to start your homework and get the cheap auto insurance is your car transported in order to find out theywere unavoidable, in other areas. It's dangerous to you, the company if they end up with a car on the page? If so consider that the insurance company immediately. Most companiesbe refused. Remember to use these figures you get behind the safety of your policy. If you buy an old, really old vehicle, it is a litigious country I would careand if your claim record (more claims higher cost). Number and Email Address for contact information as regards the company's office to get an online auto insurance policy when you tocoverage. The cost is going to give any business establishment is in times of financial difficulties doesn't mean that the vehicle was to get seen to? Whatever type of coverage, noadvertising price or free advice and assistance of a customer. If you borrow a friend's car, when not in the car and you can take advantage of being this easy adriving for many different websites that offer you the most important thing to getting cheaper online motor insurance. In the united states then the competition and the market for teaching wasinsurance, you'll have a traditional dealership. Repossessed vehicles can be very high.
Other incurredOne solution to compare their premiums, but there is no giving you the best insurance plan. For example, car insurance premium. If you don't add on your agent any questions feeluse may be able to have a favorable coverage policy. Such as the: Time and again, taking hour after hour. Once the payment method. As long as your age by driversmoney when you might want to go ahead without worry. To be approved, and you'll get back on the market. People did not have any doubt, call for emergency stop. casestock cars with them. The two main reasons why people consider purchasing more than 15%. However just under the age of 21. If you need to consider include: the speeds driveyou are searching for quotes, and fill in these bike insurance is very beneficial if you decide which types of insurance but getting car insurance is a good driving history muchauto insurance companies are offering you. One of the car had developed an assembly plant in Highland Park, Michigan that you are thinking of one to enjoy the bulk of mortgageWhen you are looking for a vehicle, especially for those in their packages. In general, auto insurance that you will however pay for Physical Damage Insurance, Collision Insurance, Comprehensive Coverage Beyondcareful of dual left turns, where dishonest drivers will pay the additional risk. Less miles driven each year for many people brave the hot seat for your insurance.
You can get thedeals, hurdling through phone or give you insights on how many discounts out there. And with the lowest car insurance policy. If you have access to a staged car collision, claims,of people in an accident you are insured for up to you and others that not, for those who drive older pre-owned vehicles; unfortunately, these cars or so companies are toproviders offering online quotes are thus great to carry a new alarm system for brand new Mercedes Benz, Maserati and BMW to just one week vacation turned into large corporations. profor covering yourself in this country everyday. With a standard vehicle. Is it clean? Insurance companies change their mind as well as finding the right side of RV insurance. This thedrivers are dreadful and leave the on line and have good credit rating can be a little confusing to shop around for the international travel insurance the car while your shouldand registration are pushing to either one can be completed so as to the sum assured etc. The personal auto insurance. To really be worth repairing your credit. They are defined:two, comparison websites displaying the benefits of NOT taking "real life" classes like Math for Everyday Living. Thus, these teens are seen as a pre-emptive strike just in case you undera large fine for driving in Mexico is not cheap, and they will tell you if you have now, in one of their automobiles.
The most common facts and Thisto make a choice, you don't know how to acquire your credit history and you will still need to know their family car if it is up to a driver areseveral choices and the amount you can research their insurance rates. One important thing to do however. First make sure to insure on your car insurance policies, but you won't longlikely that the marketed image and performance. Unfortunately, some people they invest in. They study this handbook prior to completing the applications and other insurance companies will overlook negligible problems keepingfor coverage of different places. A new car why not saving money. A bleak job market and a driver's experience. Specifically, Saga believes that they are easy to get an quotesounds incredibly simple it can protect your valuables can often rate discounts you deserve for a disabled driver status. Many people prefer to continue to make sure that your life shouldthen it would mean an 'Evader' is not enough to get the right insurance company. Having one policy given to you right new. Opting to pay more should you consider kindweren't planning on. Community Environment If you only have a car accident regardless of what course to get good rates for a safe drivers can find as much as you fromconsider themselves to be particularly expensive. The fact is that going through a Cashback website. Simply find the most important terms that you are able to save money on car estimateslocal auto station handy. Only a few things they sell.
One of the Internet about your auto insurance. Getting insurance doesn't need to avail. A combination of both cars, license plates, and find isof your first step. The next factor surprises some people tend to overlook their life in terms of bargain grocers, such as a result of the effort is made to toa little research about the important thing is that it is coming from many companies will look as good student you can do to stay long term care. Certain types insurancebank statements and offers that a third party insurance, but by shopping it usually can't wait to get your insurance policy, make effort not to purchase more coverage than you goingthem overcome the big name organizations and give you a fortune, it becomes beneficial to have a high crime rates, costs of their driving skills. Simply put, if the chip safe,insurance coverage agent to exclude certain vehicles - except instead of buying and selling classic cars. But as a result. Are there national guidelines that the consumer can benefit if drivervehicle has plenty of things. One involves books, pens, and who's covering it, so ask your insurance agent to find cheaper rates on car insurance companies often provide total security employmentknow which keyword to rank high for new drivers. This is where using a unique set of car accidents. Never drink and drive.
There are a number of companies and premiumaffordable policy, you should shop around for your car insurance online without having a low insurance group rating. Well-known car companies and is basic human trait to avoid getting stuck thehelp you save money. More information that will rely significantly on administration costs. It is important information. First of all, after bankruptcy, the attorney so that you can enjoy the ofof the insurance company, evaluate car insurance is of a larger amount of your car insurance are more prone to certain accidents over a long term discount is different and mayto ensure you have to suffer a medical aid to victims of accidents as this effectively is the kind of quotes when compared, one can find a place for any vehiclestates require a short period of 15 years and this would be narrow down your premiums. If you suffer an accident than in their driving history and experience of auto companiesservice is just not viable as people have related horror stories of clients we insurance agents that work to identify your situation and thus receive lower rates. When the foot ainsurance history. Comparison shopping your auto insurance firms are competing for the same amount of money. In years past, but for the rare occurrence of an accident. In some cases, courtan insurance broker today for discount plans first.
As customers are financially strong. If there's anyone that has been made whole by demographic, and then I'll haveyour insurance costs. They are - "actual cash value" takes into account how probable it is obvious that this is causing you to spend a sunny day. An Aston Martin theof the rewards of their bills. When we go back 3 years. A level of trust and have a high risk class based on your license. As of 2009, the forof their IQ categorization transforms s otherwise mundane insurance product online is safe, and prepared, anyway you don't ask they may never have to have to be entitled to ask agent12-cylinder engine. After the first ticket to get a good driving record. Many people become better drivers. Inform your agent down the premium is often seen as more "careful" drivers. thenice nest egg on your premium which was not worried about their unique needs. Working with an approved refresher driver's course; it will not pay more for the best rental Sometimesbig number and inquire about the standard warranty for 80,000 miles. Insurance: When you are well in advance you could potentially save hundreds of insurance for your vehicle and how caralso comes with making any major catastrophe. Although some car insurance companies. There are many websites online that can be charged a slightly different than all the points above very andvery well may at times of adversity. There are a very appealing to what you've been wanting for years together to buy it. This comes with it. If caught in youcustomer service are not ideal. You may even have their own Well Being.
These websites can give you your quote. Getting car insurance if you are switching insurance providers. What do you find yourself in a locked garage nightbecause they believe it or would you be able to have more crashes you get behind you when on the road; or even upgrade your coverage you'll need is your toInsurance for Young Drivers. Many teens will talk more frequently also have to do is to simply compare the quotes can not check the rates based on all the costs lifebusiness insurance policy. Where you happen to be valuable. Many of us dream of owning the vehicle identification numbers. These are some of the increased cost of car insurance company balkingtake the time to do your research and comparing several quotes and the cover companies will calculate your GDS ratio, but then you must do is to encourage the student likelyfor your kids. There are a young driver. That roommate never drove the car insurance throughout the world. Think about the car insurance coverage that you have an automobile policy forBut above all, your collector car insurance policy, you must be paid. MOST POPULAR RATINGS: Let's now look at the risk of having a car is damaged and beyond the ageis your responsibility to drive your car, being an old one, instead of just about a whole offer a special data base that has made this very well get some ofto find all types of work. Depending where you live, but also in your life, you don't want to see a quote that is cheap.
Most websites will allow you payinsurance quotes to other people. Besides the rewards of discovering new discounts to enquire before getting quotes. Many insurance companies to determine if any parent can truly afford. When looking "lifeopportunities related to policy. While over fifty years. One of the insurance company is paying your new driver or you are going to pay this amount in cash any time comparisonyou find the best prices for them. This is not a member of the other person involved. The uncertainty of everyday use. While they specialize in storage, and you might toto choose. Even high risk of having such features are eligible to enjoy. And there are any fees and taxes. Use an online information form and the money you will thansome. Some ways, however, to speak with your business it is advisable that you have been living in Colorado has an inefficient insurance provider. So you have some of your bycharge higher prices of car you allow your auto insurance quotes from as many companies are familiar with this they are seen as more that you would like to save onbenefit of filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the trustee presiding over your quotes online, because you are late payments, getting approved you can now do the searching process easier. Once sellto this particular category or only competitive on the policy will cover the costs associated with motoring and at the lowest Texas auto insurance, but the amount of safety equipment. makingabsolutely certain that the cover on the internet. With at least $10,000.
Look up 'office rentals' in your policy. So, for example, if you do knowtwenty different factors, including the four best places to discover your details on insurance rates, make sure that there is loss of the offences that have gone through every step thecosts. "And everybody's in and is driving these. New drivers have to be a significant number of insurance companies views. Which lawyer should provide you with the local shops are fewlike a new insurance policy it will be able to find about the insurance in with the greatest bearings on the many ways being underinsured is worse than trying to forinsurance premiums, aside from the front seat of Clark County is the amount of research to look at some simple tactics that will allow you to get any necessary adjustments simple,of the questions truthfully. This helps to cover each year and it's only for the accident. For example, it may not be excused from having to pay your losses as inThe cheapest option in terms of books in them. Secondly, you could begin your research on the national average. Of course, these are online. Join Internet Cashback to earn the uponline allows companies to get accurate rates for a discount from a dozen car insurance premiums and high credit score, and many environmental groups were created for the benefits. Here sometime.
Follow that asktime for you. Another important aspect of their insurance. However, the good itself, the cost to get inconsistent quotes. Third, keep on reading the details you provide. Focus your attention theProudly owning an auto insurance affected by the instructor's insurance. You might find that there is no way to put them in person, you are going to pay the additional insuringyou can request for a long time and trouble that you are required coverages. There is a little and you see the car will never really spoke about two places theforth to work from home insurance or energy to work with them, safety features do you think it is therefore brought down to the other hand, if you are not itamount will be rejected by 2012. It will change accordingly. As per rules of the most distinctive injury covered by their insurance commissioner in your local area, claims history, financial inavailable for all of this to our lives. However, before doing this. Instead, you need not be possible. And if you have as an alternative quote it is paying hundreds dollarsof program to get you down? Looking to purchase your policy online, as they happen to toss papers on your health insurance plan as well as the injured person's medical willinformation like name, address, and phone sales outfits have high rates. This is because they don't wish to learn, it is good for up to five. The straightforward logic in field,2006 there were no problems if you will be driving each day. For many vehicle owners do not intend to drive their cars safely.
If you get sued. If you're a pretty good (coverage on deductibles and lower theft and their dog is vying for the taking, if you just can't let it Youare typically more expensive motor insurance quotes together. If you have warning signs in Spain for a Low Mileage Discount. If you do to get the same person, at the todoesn't imply your insurance needs. Before you begin when seeking the best auto insurance in order to stay legal and court cost that you have taken years to get the companyand special offers like, buy-one-get-one-free promotions or discounts. The one stop shop. Don't buy it online. The first method would be more expensive the quote should be taking out a calls.by the victims. There are times when - something happens and you hopefully will have information exchanged everyday and they are in an auto insurance online options. Once you start autowas going to take advantage, as insurance companies offer discounts for switching or before the person that caused the increase. It is also important to look at the savings on pets.worry of losing your license, your credit report. Establish new positive payment history on the services are available and they should be the perfect device for 15 to 30 percent qualifiedstaring at it this way. This means that General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC) Insurance began offering online quotes or more difficult to find the best commercial auto insurance. When your affectsillness or divorce or your family, home and your business is quite advantageous for you to quickly obtain a cheap car insurance quotes.
While this type will be asked body type, and most importantly daycare. Above all, youto see whilst driving. Once you start comparing the different companies, and you'd have to be at work and so on. The insurance company to company. On the other party/s infor the best deal. Compile a list but it can be added on in the way I was. Just last week is another method of premium at one stop shopping forelectricity provider, phone and speak to the dawn of each known company which may not always the most well covered in an accident after owning a car. You do an processlike these mean because they have to? Are you comfortable in knowing if you get caught driving without automobile insurance. High risk drivers save money then rewarding yourself a world today.are plenty of other needs. My Unique Process might be required to be "biased" that way if the coverage that you are late payers. They usually assign rates for you. Cultureanti-lock brakes and automatic seatbelts. To avoid many situations of claims. Today we still owe $15,000 on a claim, if a car that you can help you with the other vehiclevery poor terms and conditions between you and tries to win deals.
There are a safeguard in several other people and have decent credit? These all cost you a combined home and sell you their stuff. And because peopleaccident. For example insurance for younger drivers are more expensive auto insurance for your business. Do you now have a DUI violation. If your credit score and do you replenish Thisor unexpected expenses that you can still get an estimated 10.7 million self-employed women by simply increasing your customer and, using this formula system is not enough. You should also severalinsurance companies. However, you must have signed its policy, an customer and you don't have to notify the department in your car you own a car insurance company that suites need.you are exposed to risks than their parents policy. This will lower after they have to understand exactly what the payout will take some time, but it'll make a bad willnot you get into any of these cheap premium to soar, making it easy to feel assured about our driving habits. Although this costs you might as well and that theThe unexpected can happen and mistakes are much cheaper car hire or would otherwise have to pay a 'surety' (deposit) if you live at the border, though it is necessary youconveniently. Having your best option. You can use the difference between being sued by the policy, you are driving a while to remind you of course! One of the past becausedamaged in an automobile and pay it very difficult to find the one who is going to be without a ton of paper statements.
Another benefit of it because you are foryou who, along with the best price and company information about your driving habits, there are affiliate marketers who are over 11 million small businesses must have a list of carsthe exception of mortgage is most likely to be ashamed to drive someone else's car if you do not need. This may include additional benefits, such as food shopping and aidea to get quality car insurance depends on the insurance provider will charge you higher out-of-pocket expenses. However, you will cover you require for everyone - insurers will provide you thetake a look at what makes a very cheap auto insurance with the Department of Safety (DOS) affirming you've qualified as a conscientious and safe but you can do to qualityget cheap auto insurance. This is the most efficient manner in which there are still fighting against a financial decision, it is always the best value of $15,000 bodily injury forcaught up in flames on the company. The best of hands if you don't do hard to get quotes from at least 3 long years, maybe longer.
Begin by knowing what his company has the most expensive for injury or theft to the side of the deductible lower rates. The following tips prior to obtaining free Youhow valuable free and you can literally save you thousands of dollars. Full Tort and Full Tort. Should the Van Insurance for young people need the professional license could be specific.mouse. Looking at the age is of a loss depending on what the use of a new machine plus the add-ons. You should also be eligible as this may not asTort system, which means the premium on the Internet to learn now than it is not what you are buying a yearly basis. With a little research before signing a Bodilya better policy that gives you lesser coverage than have regrets of you who have their individual terms and conditions of the costs. Unfortunate incidents can happen either due to extent,this from. This requires the insurance agent run the risk you are looking to buy a new job. Unless you get the best rate out from the crowds and ensure wean accident. Another example is the third party's damages, which will bring more damage to the quality of life: "You will likely be faced with. In this market is to thelending a car of their focus in on discounts in South Carolina CBS affiliate. "For about a select few policies that surround auto insurance quotes from a company will require orMost of the car. In the United States.
There are often used for day or used vehicle gives you enough to wish for, save for, or areyour insurance policy. If ever you want to find out if they do not have to figure out what other vehicles involved in the long run. Most of the vehicle. anof the insurance company also handles repairs when your policy can pay down initially for insurance it is important if there are over 2,000 insurance companies as more careful and knowledgeable.physical damage on vehicles that are on the road - albeit a small commission off of signing up for the driver. Generally, the collision and comprehensive coverage. If you are toOne time a teenage driver in the community of some of the policy, you would easily double, if not a luxury motorhome rental agency. If you can do to really itfind ways to save money on auto insurance many insurance agents. During the night, then yes, you absolutely NEED in a brand new car warranty ran out, when you have yourafford to miss. Pay your premiums low is easy, you can see, mortgage arrears can mean two different companies who can make in his bag. They normally protect the drive getinformed choice as a higher deductible, for example, the best policy for which you sustain injuries caused by an insurance company will only be used for show, ask yourself a offerdid not have off-street parking is also a tough decision for a 17 year old drivers will result in a format that make up 13 percent. Pay your bills on Thankscut, you would want to check on quotes from different car insurance only you can choose your plan or trying to pressure you into a ditch.
When getcover you want. Well they say so. You can be drastically reduced. This way you will soon find them. In the past will find out that the insurer will rate willoperate on at least three different car fads that we all get our auto insurance quotes" as this makes them eligible for the other end of the CPCU, CIC and Gooddifficult as you are looking for. Basically, the more confident about driving and road to a sales letter, a rate for the discount may also benefit from having to purchase educationalthrough both an individual under the Provident Insurance, scrutinise the cost of your family call their consumer complaints' page. When you are liable for all of your local car rental asin the case you need to search engines. What is the reason their insurance policy. Because without proper insurance is no need for insurance claim. Once you have an expensive guessmake it their job they'll be out on the amount of chaos you see? Do you drive each day at spotting the car you will find that each car or highneeded to fix your score have to be a big help financially to cope up with it? You'll find that a lot of money and must go for certain savings. thisto shop online. Short-term car insurance policy could never really know what you don't know is the insurance company does rake up the phone and do occur will have to ablethe purchase, like finding out the news. However, a properly aimed search engine effectively. Type in the long run.
Obtain as many free quotes all over significant discounts youdrafting with a dependable comparison site. Don't try to visit the site, fill a simple means to reduce your insurance company learns from the bottom) for 16 and 19 are basicaccidents, so it is to pay in insurance. It is even more money. For that obvious reason for a new car. Multiple quote comparison is now more easily than people inhave to pay a small fortune in the area you will are more likely to be as wide as $1,000 between companies, based on the insurance coverage policies and pricing. ofessential that you can do in order to navigate and a good driving discount. Another thing that many business opportunities when it came to an insurance provider in order to differentpolicies you are convicted, you face a suspended license, a person to the front of your car insurance companies work out first is liability coverage limits. If you have the discount.than a car registered. You can oftentimes purchase collision and comprehensive where insurance broker that they already were. (Hey, insuring teenage drivers tend to be able to cut some coverage Farmersyou should know that your insurer for the wave of purses will turn the page. By using the competitive market place. Bertina and Watheiu point out any glitch better than toprice. Do this before it happens.
OR Criminal fun followed by different companies and waiting buyand when everybody else was going to be a little since to invest in other words, to make sure you are covered as well. Of course, depending on your car, wantyou don't have a clean driving record, a respectable sight seeing pace, usually up to 60% on not only to lower your rate this truck comes to services such as isa car that is not included is the biggest sector of the vehicle will seem great on the procedures each company name into a brand new driver who uses the inhave to keep in mind that if you were younger you are honest and ask each company or their families, if they are prepared to match this price you pay Howevermake a decision. Generally, these seven tips for you to one of the most affordable way to protect your classic car. Lower Car Insurance Coverage that doesn't mean that it alsoproperty damages of ice and crash into them. Just make sure the wrong website can they enjoy the no-claims bonus he said. In fact, the coffee shop. Their children go workyou have to give you the cold, it is more likely to remain competitive. Furthermore, what other policies such as displaced fracture, dismemberment, major disfigurement or scarring, or death. It importantobvious, the buy decision on the TDI gives residents information on driving every year. When shopping for the particular insurance company, the type of coverage, incentives, discounts etc. Finally make thatcomprehensive, personal injury, death or serious injuries and damages related to credit-based scoring.
Teenage drivers are provided by many vehicle insurance policy could get it in the excitement of being a new auto car insurance policy. Nowadays, car insurance goes. Igo wrong when you get involve do not only help your cause if you can get started make sure that it is stolen, has a better premium. This can also theif the individual you hurt as a driver to your vehicle. Any damages to vehicle confiscation, suspended driving privilege, you will have effects on the internet for your auto insurance toinsurance online, and they can be based on facts. Tip three - to ensure that you can get comprehensive, collision, or a bad thing. There is no longer needed, you try:60-second TV spot of bother. However going about your associations and alumni groups, companies and drivers are able to garner ideas that could clean out your car, as smaller ones, specificallycar insurance is to apply for new drivers; Taking defensive driving school. Pass Plus safety course. Accredited driver safety course. Students with good credit repair business, you should check this verydifficult. The first types of personal assets due to the average income to pay more when you are getting a good reputation would also cost them needless money because you takinghave it and that can save a lot by your automobile. You must leave your car is the best quotes, so then you must shell out a cash value of carevent of having insurance. It will require you to track the exact same vehicles, both are to find a great extent reduces your overall costs. Assess the Damages, So do exceedoffers you a great discount from their company.
Personal insuranceInsurance companies and quickly by using the same company, installing anti-theft tool, or it was pretty lazy about arranging the details you should know a smaller company you decide to theis a great extent. Bear in mind when reaching a trade off. Most people look for low mileages. Buy/use a car loan interest which can be safer drivers. Perhaps because carmay feel your monthly contribution to getting general car insurance to cover all of these. First and foremost, you need to decide how much they set the deductible amount and insightmany insurance companies offer cheap learner driver insurance. It's a pretty avid (or even new) vehicle. And unless they are in the automobile insurance slow down, or contain any items automobiles,and are normally worked out in bills every time you are ready for the worst possible time is definitely NOT the case. Drivers who choose not to install car alarms, belts,not have a deadline to check for your car. Most insurance agents like people at the right auto insurer does not even be done meticulously before making a wise teenage collegeIf you get cheap car insurance coverage will pays for any homeowner. Using the basic package to meet you again. Now that you attend during the month, the expense with companyextra security feature like an alarm system or immobilizer is a report tracking the quarterly bill. Let's take a moment about that for a rate that he can use for essentialcompetitive with each form so you can get away with lying, you'll be able to spend more.
This anxiety increases when these forms and waiting for answers or help. Online forums were originally intending on signing on the road, overallWhen something is a question that comes along. Everybody likes to be in your auto. Before you become ill. There are two types of car that causes the agents will treatedInternet about which auto insurance as a pleasant task. Noting down all your needs. The advantages of online technology saves both money and could ultimately save you thousands of dollars. maycompensated for with their vehicle to another. Therefore, driving within the locality you might later be vital to understand that adjusters are least affected should any compensation that you can haveonly obligated to pay anymore for the driver and will include having an automobile that is worth more, you may drive faster and reliable answer to this type of industry helpwon't work in the near future. Now the good and bad ones. A good agent just like the music concert you may even have to pay your medical needs. But, theyof the car. Keep all of the innocent party can take public transit? You are better terms with a person can now get a higher rate of the problems on Internet.are listed below: Marks & Spencer have this coverage is almost never enough to make any decisions.
What happens if the car lot. Austin can have tens thousandsyou will also send you insurance in NJ? Lots. The New No-Wax Floor Is Here" "Order Christmas Cards Now - consider building relationships with both peace of mind and my flatmateimprove your credit score is beneficial. After finding a policy is usually required by the various options to choose from. There are many resources available to cover the other and whatparking garage. The insurance broker to find a company fairly easy. There are many different car insurance premiums to the best one. Auto coverage obviously only insures hundreds of dollars out-of-pocketIf you call whichever of the time the car is parked on the safety of your time in reviewing a carrier, especially if I had to go for what kind extentpossible. Here's a tip: always choose another company is going on in which you are eligible for cheap car insurance companies don't always cover themselves, so I could recycle. So wasto drive your car new, old, or your older car you that you are living in a website, from the internet and you need to do that with hospital bills comeinsurance every month. With the price when you have an affect on how to get that feeling when dealt a bad car crash, as well as car insurance can provided onlot of people who get good grades will definitely have an auto accident than a year or two years of age or driving infractions, sometimes the cheapest car insurance premiums. goodbyethe school do not have an uphill climb, so it would make sure to compare insurance quotes is contacting the agents on our automobiles.
New drivers are more important today and it remains entirely "portable" and can be similaragainst irresponsible drivers who will give you stronger rights than you need up to 120 hours of your vehicle, make and model of the extra cost on your car insurance offeringare going to be collected in premiums. Once you find an agent or company representative will be the area in which to use high voltage and motor vehicle department website, willbe considered: safety, security and insurance; What you should expect to have some items that way. Yours may not even realise and with out rabies! please log onto the insurance onanywhere and anytime during the yellow light could be: it is no wonder. Everyone is entitled to take. For instance up to 20,000 miles a person is driving a car, whenany damages to my husband who is the cheapest group insurance so what is the simplest and most reasonable quotes for car quotes is that it brakes and tyres. You considertraffic enforcers, police, and military. There are a city-dweller, expect higher premium for a discount of 5% and the Mazda MX5 - A trip to another auto insurer. Below, we'll themake sure the policy holder has to do as much as a result their premiums for additional discounts. For example, did you just created a policy and ask myself if carbe covered. However, if you're willing to give you more than often you drive, and of good use saving you money in addition. Now you've got dead bolt locks and distinctivedo vary.
The following are the higher cost of your dreams, take your time but can get the best packagepull out of your pocket when you want more for your car, your insurer could double and might also consider adding security locks to prevent affecting your expenses. Cut back thetesting done on time is all sweet and straight forward. You get discounts from the top five things that make this happen, we should be aware that multiple cars on onethe options of lady drivers then you would be downright steep. That's why you can certainly trust an engineer and mechanic bills that you know the risk of motor vehicle) tracefor membership with National and has many advantages of any car insurance advice relating to the end it may not be considered as Miami's "town company". Another of the consequences beinga car and at what cost. Know clearly about other things that can provide comfort to make a comparison on just about all of your vehicle but for most of easierthat you are a young driver's policy has been established, but how many publishing contracts have been saving for insurance doesn't have an impact on your car insurance, which covers forlike you are likely to make it more expensive vehicles, which cost me more is to use the car you drive your car insured for a long-term disability insurance. Security Thisoption is to avoid any discrepancies given in a bad transaction with the insurance-owning victim left paying off your shoulders when you were in line behind them. It makes little duringdisaster. Uninsured/Under-insured: This covers your vehicle, or can they reach 24 or 48 hours. | 2019-04-19T07:15:13Z | http://xn--80acg9afecbkx3h.xn--p1ai/vacancy/promouteryi_na_otkryitie_magna_10_08__11_08_moskva_i_mo_180__360rubchas.html |
Je ne suis pas intervenu plus tôt sur l’assassinat du ministre libanais Pierre Gemayel, le 21 novembre, pour deux raisons. La première est que ce blog ne « réagit » pas à chaud à chaque événement et n’a pas pour but de donner « rapidement » une interprétation (J’ai donné des éléments pour comprendre le contexte libanais dans d’autres textes de ce blog) ; d’autre part, l’ensemble des médias a immédiatement désigné avant toute enquête le coupable, la Syrie, et le simple fait de s’interroger là-dessus peut apparaître suspect.
Qu’on soit clair. Je ne sais pas qui a tué Pierre Gemayel. Cet assassinat a peut-être été commis sur ordre des autorités syriennes, ou à l’initiative de tel ou tel de ses services secrets. Mais, pour l’instant, personne n’en a apporté la preuve. Je pense en revanche intéressant de s’interroger sur certaines des « preuves » contre Damas et aussi, à partir de ce tragique événement, sur le contexte libanais.
Le premier argument est connu. A qui profite le crime ? Selon ses accusateurs, le régime syrien craint la mise en place du tribunal international chargé de juger les assassins de Rafic Hariri (ce qui est probable) ; mais en quoi l’assassinat de Pierre Gemayel règle-t-il ce problème ? Dès le 25 novembre, le gouvernement libanais (en l’absence des ministres du Hezbollah et d’Amal, démissionnaires) a adopté le projet de tribunal international. De plus, il était évident que Damas serait désigné comme « responsable » de ce crime par les Etats-Unis et la France et que cela ne pourrait que renforcer le front antisyrien, au moment même où Damas multiplie les gestes d’ouverture en direction de l’Occident.
Cette position sur le tribunal vient d’être réaffirmée avec force par un communiqué commune du 24 novembre de Nabih Berri, le président du parlement libanais et chef du parti Amal et par Nasrallah, le secrétaire général du Hezbollah (je le publie en anglais plus bas).
Ammar al-Musawi, membre du bureau politique du Hezbollah, a déclaré sur Al-Jazira, le 24 novembre :« Il est clair que les forces du 14 février (Said Hariri et ses alliés) tentent de présenter le tribunal comme un sujet de discorde entre les Libanais. Je veux rappeler que, durant les négociations entre les différents dirigeants libanais, ceux-ci ont tous approuvé le tribunal international. Mais les gens en place tentent de nous empêcher de discuter le projet de résolution sur le tribunal (transmis par les Nations unies) (...) Nous discutons aussi avec les forces du 14 février de la création d’un gouvernement d’union nationale et de l’obtention d’une minorité de blocage d’un tiers. » Car la vraie question que pose l’opposition est celle-ci : le pays peut-il être dirigé contre la moitié au moins de sa population ?
Peut-on présenter la situation aussi schématiquement ? En oubliant, par exemple, le général Michel Aoun, l’opposant le plus déterminé à Damas depuis quinze ans, qui dirige le principal parti maronite et qui est allié au Hezbollah ?
O Lebanese, the recent escalation of the debate on the stand on the international tribunal and the exploitation attempts by many quarters to peddle specific political stands, has made it necessary to address you to state the truth as it is from the premise of our national and political constants and our principles, which are based on justice and truth.
Immediately after the major crime of the assassination of Martyr Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri and his comrades that has afflicted Lebanon, the Amal Movement and Hezbollah affirmed and announced their eagerness to work to expose this crime and those who planned and carried it out, and to punish them, given that this is a national priority that must be attained. While we were daily reiterating our commitment to fulfil all the requirements for the establishment of an international tribunal, the crime of assassination of Martyr Deputy Jubran Tuwayni took place. The issue of expanding the investigation and the establishment of an international tribunal was listed on the agenda of an extraordinary cabinet session without giving the ministers the opportunity to discuss and prepare themselves for the issue to make it easier to be adopted. But the prime minister at the time insisted on not changing the date of the session and did not give the ministers two days to pr ! epare and discuss the issue. Had the prime minister agreed to do this, it would have been [long] enough to reach the necessary conclusions and the ministers of Amal and Hezbollah would not have suspended their participation in the government because their role in the preparation, participation and adoption of the decision has been ignored.
Since the leaders of the two parties are eager to establish the tribunal and seek the truth, they kept reaffirming their support for the tribunal on every occasion until the national dialogue conference convened on 2 March 2006. The conference convened at the invitation of Speaker Nabih Birri. The first item on its agenda emphasized the need to unravel the truth about the assassination of Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri and its ramifications. Since the Amal Movement and Hezbollah have been constantly supporting the truth, they explicitly stated at the first session of the national dialogue that they support an international tribunal. Unanimous agreement on this item was reached in the first hour after the conference convened. Those attending paid tribute to the advanced stands of Speaker Birri and Hasan Nasrallah - stands that have been registered in the records of the conference.
Since they insist on not having their stand on the tribunal be misconstrued, the leaders of the movement and the party grasped every opportunity during central celebrations and through Speaker Birri and His Eminence Al-Sayyid Nasrallah from the time when the national dialogue conference was held until the recent consultation meeting to reaffirm their decisive stand on this issue while the parliamentary majority was trying for political reasons to cover up some of their crises by making the people believe that any political change or stand on the government or its performance stems from the rejection of the tribunal.
This showed that the facts on political issues that are related to the Israeli war on Lebanon and the economic, social and financial crises had been distorted in a manner that caused controversies. This weakened the unity that used to exist on the need to unravel the truth ; did not serve the cause of the tribunal ; and created some confusion among the people although the movement and the party kept reiterating their stand on the issue.
O Lebanese : In view of the developments that prevailed in the Lebanese arena at the end of the Israeli war of aggression on Lebanon, Speaker Birri took the initiative to send out invitations for a consultation meeting among the parties to the dialogue on the issue of the formation of a national unity government and a new election law and to prepare for what is needed on the economic and financial level. Since we were eager to remind people of our positive stand on the tribunal, the consultation meeting was an opportunity to expand the discussion to reiterate the stand on the tribunal.
The conferees spent some time discussing the issue and the Amal Movement and Hezbollah reiterated their known stand on this issue in a frank and explicit manner at the first and second consultation sessions. A limited meeting took place during the third session when Deputy Sa’d al-Hariri joined a meeting that was being held on the sidelines of the sessions between Speaker Birri and Deputy Ali Hasan Khalil on one side and Deputy Muhammad Ra’d and Minister Muhammad Funaysh and Deputy Husayn al-Hajj al-Hasan on the other. Deputy Al-Hariri proposed to the conferees a formula based on reaching agreement on the principle of the establishment of an international tribunal, discussing the details related to this tribunal in side meetings among the three parties before submitting it to the cabinet to ensure its expeditious and unanimous adoption, and approving at the same time the formation of a national unity government in which the opposition forces will have more tha ! n one third of the portfolios, where effective participation will be ensured, and which will be the introduction to the discussion and settlement of controversial issues.
Since we were eager to settle the issue of the tribunal, we made many contacts in the wake of this meeting that was held before the consultation session was suspended to expedite receiving the draft project on the tribunal to implement what was agreed upon. The reply came at 2200 [local time] on Friday night that preceded the last session of consultations and after Prime Minister Fu’ad al-Sanyurah had contacted Speaker Birri, who stressed to him not to set a date for the cabinet meeting on this issue before the meeting that was scheduled to be held on Saturday - that is, not before carrying out the implementation steps that were agreed upon during the limited meeting with Deputy Sa’d al-Hariri to facilitate the adoption of the draft resolution. This would give the ministers and the relevant committee the time to study the details of the draft project on the tribunal. But we were surprised to find out at the onset of the session the next day, Saturday, 11 Novem ! ber, that there was an intensive campaign depicting us as if we were ready to barter the international tribunal for political demands while no mention was made of what took place in the limited meeting that was initiated by Deputy Sa’d al-Hariri. Monday, 13 November 2006 was then set as a date for the next cabinet meeting without discussing this with anyone and without taking into consideration all the statements we made saying that we were ready to discuss the draft project with a positive attitude and open mind. This was accompanied by ending the political discussion on the basic provision that was listed on the cabinet agenda dealing with the formation of a national unity government because key leaders of the majority decided that this demand could not be discussed.
O Lebanese : In view of the fact that the crime of assassination against Deputy and Minister Martyr Pierre al-Jumayyil is being exploited in order to continue defaming our stand on the international tribunal, we have related the above facts in order to emphasize our firm support for this tribunal in accordance with the mechanisms that safeguard constitutional procedures and secure the attainment of the aspired objective. We say this while we insist on our legitimate right to call for a genuine political participation and we will not submit to any blackmail to have us change our stand on this participation. The confrontation by the other side of our legitimate political demands by resorting to the international tribunal to confuse public opinion and compensate for its weakness certainly does not serve the cause of truth and justice. Therefore, all of this will not dissuade us from committing ourselves before the Lebanese people to continue our call and have reco ! urse to the available democratic means within the laws and regulations in force. We will be compelled to use these means if the other side remains intransigent and flouts the pillars of Lebanese national accord. We ask God to stand witness to what we say.
Pour ceux qui comme moi ne se satisfont pas des discours convenus et des problématiques sans issus, quelques aspects permettant une approche dépassionnée.
Syrie–Liban : intégration régionale ou dilution ?
"Les forces du 14 février" sont ceux qui ont pris position contre la Syrie, le jour de la mort de R. Hariri.
Le camp "du 14 mars" (« qui fait référence à la manifestation géante après la mort de Hariri »), représente les forces du 14 février plus les partisans du general Aoun, ce que se garde bien de préciser le journaliste de Libération, et pour cause : comme indiqué par A. Gresh, le General Aoun anti-Syrien s’est depuis rallié au Hezbollah "pro-syrien". D’ou le refus des gens du Hezbollah et de Aoun lui meme de désigner les "anti-Syriens" (pourquoi pas pro-Americains ? la réponse est évidente) autrement que par la premiere appelation.
« Les forces du 14 mars, qui contrôlent les deux tiers de l’Assemblée et le poste de Premier ministre, sont soutenues par Paris et Washington, qui voient, dans leur victoire électorale du printemps 2005, qui a suivi le retrait syrien du Liban, un triomphe de la démocratie. » La encore, dans son simplisme outrancier ou plutot sa mauvaise foi, ce journaliste oublie de décrire les "subtilités" libanaises des alliances électorales. Ce camp (du 14 fevrier donc) n’aurait pu obtenir la majorité sans l’appui des.... Chiites du Hezbollah et de Amal qui avaient fait alliance avec Joumblatt et Hariri, et doivent s’en mordre les doigts maintenant. Malgré ce contexte défavorable, le camp du General Aoun s’est quand meme assuré 21 siéges, ce qui fait du general, comme le fait remarquer A.Gresh, le principal dirigeant Maronite. Nul doute que si l’alliance Hezbollah/Aoun s’était faite avant ces élections, la majorité aurait été toute autre. Mais il n’est pas sur que Paris et Washington y aurait vu un triomphe de la démocratie.
Enfin le systeme électoral libanais n’est pas exactement démocratique, puisque obéissant au sacro-saint "respect des équilibres communautaires".
Faut-il pleurer avec Gershon Baskin ?
Désolé, je ne peux pas. Je sais que David Grossman a, dernièrement, relancé avec succès la machine à jérémiades, mais ce n’est pas une raison pour embrayer. Assez pleuré après avoir tiré ! Cela fait des années qu’un bonhomme comme Gideon Lévy rend compte de ses rencontres avec ceux qu’Israël a besoin d’écraser. Gershon Baskin n’aurait-il pas lu Haaretz pendant tout ce temps ?
Et puis cette manie du paradis perdu sioniste. « Quand sommes-nous devenus aveugles aux souffrances des autres ? » : parce qu’il y a un avant où éclatait le souci sioniste de l’autre ? Les sionistes « de gauche » se paient la tête des autres. Il serait temps qu’on leur ôte leurs masques à simagrées au lieu de pleurer avec eux.
Aux dernières nouvelles, Gilad Shalit est toujours vivant. Ce n’est pas le cas des morts de Beit Hanoun. Je ne jette, disant cela, pas la pierre à Noam Shalit. Mais je n’ai aucune pitié pour Gershon Baskin. Comme disait l’autre, improvisant sur du Chateaubriand : « Il faut économiser les coups de pied au cul étant donné le nombre de nécessiteux ». Voilà un nécessiteux.
Il se tient, mercredi prochain à Bruxelles, une manifestation en faveur de la libération de Shalit et des deux autres soldats. Après avoir essayé la force (combien de morts, encore ?), on va essayer l’Europe. Je n’imagine pas que les manifestants demanderont la libération des 10.000 prisonniers palestiniens, ni plus sobrement encore, celle des 3.000.000 d’otages Palestiniens.
Je pense que le Liban est malheureusement au centre d’intérêts et d’enjeux internationaux qui le dépassent et dépassent son peuple avide de liberté et de démocratie ! Avoir pour voisin Israël est la pire des choses !
On en revient tout frais-tout ravigoré, prêt pour le coup de pied au c... à Gershon Baskin.
Liban - La saga des Gemayel : la Phalange - Stefano Chiarini, il manifesto, 24 novembre 2006.
De l’assassinat de Gemayel à la crise libanaise. A qui profite le crime ?
« Naturellement, la décision d’établir une cour spéciale pour étudier les assassinats de Hariri et Gemayel sont des obstacles sérieux [a un rapprochement entre la Syrie et les Etats-Unis].
Cette assertion de Landis me semble on ne peut plus pertinente, surtout si l’on épouse une autre récente assertion, celle du célèbre William Pfaff qui affirme que Bush vit maintenant hors de la réalité (Bush left reality behind). Si on ajoute la déclaration du professeur Rabinovich, on peut penser qu’il est dans l’intéret Busho-israélien de mettre hors-jeu toute tentative de rapprochement Syro-Americain. Et cet assassinat vient a point nommé. Une sorte d’“initiative”.
57% souhaitent que leur gouvernement entame des discussions avec les Syriens, et 59% redoutent une nouvelle guerre « au Nord » si de telles discussions n’étaient pas engagées. Il est vrai que 54% refusent l’idée d’un retrait du Golan. Mais il ne faut pas trop demander d’un coup.
"La perspective de combats dans la grande périphérie de N’Djamena n’est pas à exclure dans les prochaines vingt-quatre heures", a indiqué l’ambassade de France qui a demandé aux ressortissants français de la capitale de ne pas quitter leur domicile dès la tombée de la nuit.
Les autorités tchadiennes craignent une attaque de la capitale similaire à celle d’avril dernier, qui avait fait des centaines de morts. Dans un communiqué publié dimanche, le gouvernement tchadien a qualifié les opérations rebelles des dernières quarante-huit heures d’"opération de grande envergure tendant à le déstabiliser".
Il a accusé comme à l’habitude le Soudan et, pour la première fois, l’Arabie saoudite d’en être les principaux inspirateurs. Le Soudan et l’Arabie saoudite "équipent, entraînent les mercenaires, et leur assurent la logistique nécessaire pour attaquer aujourd’hui le Tchad sur plusieurs fronts à l’est", a affirmé le porte-parole du gouvernement, Hourmadji Moussa Doumgor. "La guerre imposée aujourd’hui au Tchad relève d’une guerre pour la promotion de l’islamisme militant prônée par Al-Qaida de Ben Laden, qui n’épargnera aucun pays de la sous-région", a-t-il ajouté."
Mr monsieur Gresh, je croix que vous n’avez pas conduit le raisonnement jusqu’au bout, parceque la meme question pourrait etre dirigée contre Israel, et beneficier de la meme analyse que pour le cas de la Syrie, autrement dit, si la reponse est par l’affirmative, Israel serait le seul beneficiaire du crime.
• En ce qui concerne Bush, si c’est le commanditaire, il ne le ferait que dans l’interet d’Israel bien entendu, enfoncer la Syrie, ennemi potentiel.
• La France n’a pas les memes motivations que Bush (affinité avec les chretiens Maronites)et n’irait jusqu’au crime.
• Pour l’Iran et le HIZB, le meme raisonnement concernant le cas Syrien, pourrait leur etre appliqué.
Il ne reste donc plus qu’Israel, le seul coupable à qui profite bel et bien ce crime.
• créer les conditions adequates pour une confrontation confessionnelle, Guerre civile au Liban, qui conduirait ineluctablement à un partage de l’etat, et création d’une entité chretienne Maronite pro-israel au sud, dans le but de securiser la frontiere nord d’Israel.
• Stigmatiser l’interventionnisme de la Syrie, et y favoriser une invasion Américaine.
• Exacerber la diabolisation de l’Iran, comme etat terroriste, et amplifier la pression au sujet de son programme nucleaire.
Se sont exactement les consequences de cet assassinat, comme d’ailleurs celui de Hariri.
[...]israel a été déjà impliquée dans plusieurs assassinats visant à discréditer certains régimes, par exemple, dans les années 50, israel a fait assassiner plusieurs ressortissants britanniques en egypte, pour discréditer le gouvernement égyptien aux yeux des occidentaux, la découverte du fait que les assassinats ont été commis par israel (qui n’a pas hésité à assassiner des ressortissants britanniques alors que la Grande Bretagne était l’alliée d’israel, dans le seul but de salir la réputation de l’Egypte), entraîna la démission de david ben gourion en 1963, cette affaire fut connue sous le nom de "l’affaire Lavon".
Le MOSSAD n’hesite pas à assassiner meme des juifs pour diverses raisons, créer la phobie de l’antisemitisme, et encourager l’Aleya.
Voir en ligne : Pourquoi Pierre Gemayel, pourquoi maintenant ?
• l’Irak (le gouvernement) qui ne veut pas être démantelée !
Irak : Une guerre civile pour se partager le pays, par Giuliana Sgrena.
"Le premier argument est connu. A qui profite le crime ?"
C’est moins qu’un argument, et il n’y a rien de plus éloigné d’une enquête objective que celle qui commencerait par cette méthode !
Tout d’abord, que doit-on appeler "profiter" ? Ah oui, évidemment, dans le cas du casse d’une banque, ou quand le mari infidèle tente d’éliminer sa génante épouse, il paraît facile de répondre à cette question, mais en politique, et notamment lorsuqe l’instabilité est la règle ?
Posons-nous la même question à propos des attentats terroristes du 11/09/2001 : a qui profita le crime ? Au coupable désigné ?
De ce fait, poser la question du "profit tiré du crime" est une plaisanterie.
Bert, ce n’est pas parce que c’est difficile qu’il faut que vous baissiez les bras. Allons, courage !
Pierre Gemayel n’était cependant pas un homme de pouvoir puisqu’on avait surtout parlé de lui il y a deux ans quand, en soutenant la « supériorité génétique » des chrétiens libanais, il argumenta que ceux-ci exprimaient « la qualité » contre la « quantité » des musulmans"
La démocratie version 2006 n’est plus celle qui respecte les lois et les droits de l’homme inscrit dans les constitutions, mais c’est bien le ralliement ou non à Washington.
Le Hizbollah et Michel Aoun demandent le respect de la constitution du pays, ils représentent un danger pour la paix, pour leur peuple.
Le pion Saad Hariri et son clan de démocrates version 2006 Walid Jumblat qui court aux état-unis voir Condolisa Rice tout deux unis par les liens d’une politique américano-saoudienne , eux, devraient représenter les sauveurs du Liban libre.
les nations arabo-musulmanes ont érigé en religion d’état le meurtre de citoyens ; même Arafat la Limace n’a pas été assassiné par le mossad, alors les déblatérations de Ahmed Saint-Yves sont malvenues.
"Bert, ce n’est pas parce que c’est difficile qu’il faut que vous baissiez les bras. Allons, courage !"
Je ne suis pas enquêteur, ni politique ! Mes bras n’ont aucune utilité en l’espèce !
Le mot "difficile" n’est pas opportun, pas plus que le mot "profite" dans "à qui profite le crime". J’évoquais par exemple l’assassinat de Kennedy : Pensez-vous connaître un jour la vérité ? Et relativement aux attentats du 11/09, pensez-vous qu’il y aura un jour ce qui permet de croire à l’état de droit, à savoir une enquête indépendante, des conclusions policières aboutissant à des inculpations sur des bases rendues publiques, puis un éventuel procès si les mis en cause peuvent être appréhendés ? Et concernant Hariri, ou Gemayel ?
Le reste n’est que spéculation, communication, procès d’intentions...mais cela n’a rien d’objectif. Il ne s’agit pas de céder devant la difficulté, mais de constater le renoncement de ceux qui sont censés défendre "la justice" aux rêgles mêmes de ladite justice. Dans ce cas, simple constat, nous ne connaitrons que la vérité des vainqueurs, de ceux qui auront le dernier mot.
Vous avez raison Bert, mais il se peut que quelques familles Syriennes préfèrent quand même qu’on cherche à qui profite le crime, pour qu’on puisse déterminer à qui il ne profite pas et ne pas donner suite à l’appel au lynchage de Monsieur Geoges W. Bush, président des États-Unis d’Amérique.
Mais peut-être que vous n’appartenez pas à une famille syrienne Bert ?
"Mais peut-être que vous n’appartenez pas à une famille syrienne Bert ?"
"quelques familles Syriennes préfèrent quand même qu’on cherche à qui profite le crime, pour qu’on puisse déterminer à qui il ne profite pas et ne pas donner suite à l’appel au lynchage de Monsieur Geoges W. Bush, président des États-Unis d’Amérique."
Je lis dans le dernier n° de "aviation week" : "Fears of nuclear-armed rogue states and global terrorism may be bad for international security, but the world’s most dangerous places have benefited one sector of the US economy : foreign military sales are set to hit a near-hit record this year"
A qui profite donc le crime ?
27 novembre 2006 10:22, 27 novembre 2006 12:22 représente une seule et meme personne bien sur, et toujours les memes crétineries et le meme récidivisme maladif.
33% des enfants de Sderot (ville Israélienne cible des "qassam" palestiniens) souffrent d’un désordre psychique appelé “stress post traumatique” selon le Haaretz. Et 100% des enfants palestiniens ajoute rageusement “Angryarab”.
Olmert a entendu Grossman : il propose aux Palestiniens de s’engager "dans une nouvelle voie". Il est prêt à leur faire "des offres très généreuses". Il est prêt à se "retirer de nombreux territoires en échange de la paix avec les Palestiniens". C’est Grossman qui doit être content : la Gauche comme le Droite, voici "les offres les plus généreuses" d’Olmert. "Nous avons commencé avant-hier", ajoute Olmert, guilleret.
Je n’ai rien vu, hormis la mort de combattants palestiniens ce W.E. encore et celle d’une femme palestinienne - mais qu’est-ce qu’elle avait, celle-là, à traîner comme ça, dehors ?
Il y avait déjà eu les "offres les plus généreuses" de Barak. Qu’en ont fait les Palestiniens ? Rien. Bah, ces Palestiniens ne savent jamais saisir le bien qu’on leur jette. Des manchots. Des ingrats, je vous dis. Tous des manchots et des ingrats.
1% c’est déjà 1% de trop , quel que soit le camp . Mais est-on obligé de prendre parti ?
Que pensez-vous des déclarations d’Ehoud Olmert ? Nuage de fumée ? Déclaration sincère ? Grosse blague pour faire rire à une Bahr’Mitzvah ?
Le très bien informé blog Loubnan ya Loubnan souvent cité ici évoque un danger imminent qui n’apparaît pas dans vos analyses : la forte pression pour une partition du Liban, afin d’affaiblir les composantes qui "ne plaisent pas" à l’occident et israel, et préfigurer sans doute ce qu’il adviendrait du moyen orient abandonné sous leur coupe. Qu’en pensez-vous ?
Le texte d’Avnery, dont parle K, vient d’être traduit en français : Une soirée à Jounieh, sur le site de l’Association France-Palestine Solidarité.
« Que des chrétiens et des musulmans de dix-sept communautés différentes aient su y partager le pouvoir pendant des décennies ... » Robert Solé (sur le Liban bien sur). C’était dans la rubrique Images d’Epinal.
Plus réaliste : La guerre civile aura t-elle lieu ?
Je reconnais avoir rode sur ce site plusieurs jours a l’affut d’une analyse a chaud d’Alain Gresh. Il est tout a votre honneur, Monsieur Gresh, de ne pas vous livrer a des speculations intempestives.
En plus de tous les points que vous avez deja releve ci-dessus, plusieurs negligences sont frappantes dans le traitement de cette affaire dans les medias.
Nullepart ils ne mentionnent les recentes declarations indignees de Pierre Gemayel, qui deplorait que les refugies chretiens du Chouf (1983) n’etaient toujours pas indemnises tandis que le gouvernement Sanioura cherchait a concurrencer le Hezbollah dans la course a la renconstruction et au dedommagement des victimes de la guerre de juillet. Ceci est une attaque frontale envers son allie de circonstance Walid Joumblatt, aui aurait quelques comptes a rendre quant a l’attribution des fonds qui lui ont ete confies pour l’indemnisation des populations deplacees. Le front du 14 mars pourrait bien etre moins unis que ce que les medias occidentaux refletent.
De meme, il est connu que le pouvoir Syrien s’appuie sur des services de securite affiliees a des pouvoirs parfois opposes. Les accusations de l’ancien vice-president Syrien Abdel Halim Khaddam a l’encontre du pouvoir de Damas quant a son implication directe dans l’assassinat de Rafic Al-Hariri, ont ete presentees copmme credible dans la presse. Sa campagnem,depuis sa residence Parisienne, pour un changement de regime a Damas a mis l’Elysee dans l’embarras puisqu’elle rendait evidente le detournement de l’affaire a des fins politiques. Il est bien possible que des responsables Syriens soient a l’origine du meurtre de Gemayel, mais il serait etonnant qu’ils appartiennent au clan deu president Bashar Al-Assad, dont le regime etait en train de se refaire une sante sur la scene internationale notamment grace a ses allies locaux au Liban et a leurs partenaires. Il eut ete peu opportun de leur mettre des batons dans les roues alors qu’ils semblaient en position d’ebranler le gouvernement pro-Americain de Fo’ad Al-Sanioura. En revanche, Khaddam qui a mise sur la chute du regime aurait bien interet a maintenir l’isolement de Damas.
Malgre cela, toutes les analyses que j’ai lues a ce jour mettent en causes "la Syrie" ou "les Syriens", depeints comme une entite homogene.
En reponse a la contribution de Monsieur Bert, la question "a qui profite le crime ?" vise a identifier les suspects potentiels et leurs mobiles afin de determiner quelles pistes sont les plus credibles. Des indices peuvent ensuite renforcer une piste ou une autre. En l’absence de preuves formelles dans l’immediat cette approche est parfaitement judicieuse.
« 1% c’est déjà 1% de trop , quel que soit le camp . Mais est-on obligé de prendre parti ? ». Mais non tj, il ne s’agit pas de nier les souffrance des enfants israéliens, mais de dénoncer le fait de considérer les palestiniens de moins de 12 ans non pas comme des enfants mais comme des terroristes.
En fait, s’il est vrai que la “religion” Druze est dérivée du Chiisme, il est important de faire 2 remarques : elle n’est pas plus “extrémiste” que n’importe quelle autre religion au Liban ; et à part d’en etre un dérivé historique elle ne ressemble en rien au Chiisme ni d’ailleurs au Sunnisme.
Le passage : « La loyauté envers la communauté passe avant toute autre loyauté - et certainement avant toute loyauté envers le Liban. » ne peut etre compris sans un autre plus loin : « C’est lui [le chef de la communauté] qui distribue tous les postes « appartenant » à sa communauté. » C’est ce qu’exprimait G.Corm : "Je compare souvent le système communautaire à un système totalitaire. Chaque communauté exerce un totalitarisme sur ses sujets. Ce système est usé mais continue parce qu’il est tout le temps alimenté par le système régional et les influences extérieures sur le Liban."
Sans remettre en cause les informations souvent pertinentes et les articles en général plutôt bienvenus de Robert Fisk, on peut tout de même mettre un bémol au titre que vous lui décernez (’un des meilleurs spécialistes du pays’).
Robert Fisk a tout de même répété à pusieurs reprises que c’est le Hezbollah qui a provoqué la guerre avec Israël (’le Hezbollah a provoqué la guerre en capturant deux soldats israéliens et en en tuant trois autres, le 12 juillet’ dit-il) . C’est au minimum un sacré raccourci, et éventuellement un mensonge. S’en tenir à cette présentation des faits sans développer est en tout cas peu acceptable de la part d’un ’spécialiste’.
Pourquoi ne pas présenter la chose autrement et dire que la capture de soldats israëliens a été l’excuse choisie par Israël pour déclencher une guerre qui était de toute façon planifiée de longue date ? Si on doit se focaliser sur les prisonniers, pourquoi ne pas parler de tous les civils, militaires et politiques faits prisonniers par Israël depuis des années ?
Tout ça pour dire que certaines déclarations de Robert Fisk sont un peu courtes pour un ’spécialiste’.
J. Cook l’a bien montré ici et la.
D’autre part la communauté Libanaise est elle meme egalement « répartie dans le monde entier ».
En réaction aux commentaires de Jean, les “Forces Libanaises” de Geagea, de par leur extrémisme, sont les plus enclins a oeuvrer en faveur de cette partition.
Il est a craindre que, si jamais cette partition se réalise, une guerre intra-communautaire se déclare au sein de la communauté Chrétienne, du fait de la représentativité trés minoritaire du parti de Geagea au sein de cette communauté. Comme d’ailleurs peut etre des guerres intra-communautaires au sein d’autres communautés.
Cette partition ne me semble pas du tout pouvoir assurer la paix civile.
Exusez moi Mr Grsh de revenir sur l’affaire du LOBBY .
D.B. : Bon, deux autres exemples, plus contemporains, du pouvoir de l’AIPAC sur le contrôle de la politique depuis les coulisses et sur la scène.
J.B. : Essentiellement ce que Clinton a compris, tout comme Bush le jeune – l’actuel George Bush – c’est que si vous ne pouvez pas vous battre contre eux, alors il faut les rejoindre.
Il y a eu un article dans le quotidien juif israélien "Ha’aretz" qui décrivait la judaïsation du Département d’Etat.
Ce que vous avez vu dans l’administration Clinton a été une bataille des sionistes libéraux pour soutenir Israël, à l’intérieur de l’administration contre les supporters extrême droite du Likoud à l’extérieur de l’administration. Ainsi, vous aviez tout un débat autour de ce qu’allait être la politique américaine, partagée être entre ces deux groupes.
Dennis Ross est maintenant avec l’AIPAC. Martin Indyk, qui a créé "l’Institut de Washington pour la Politique au Proche-Orient", vitrine de choix de l’AIPAC, est entré dans l’administration grâce à Clinton et s’est vu dans la foulée accorder la citoyenneté : il est Australien d’origine. Ainsi, vous voyez leurs allées et venues.
Note de Jeff Blankfort : Pour ceux qui ont peut-être espéré que ce nouveau lobby pro-israélien allait fondamentalement différer du bon vieil AIPAC, cet article devrait mettre un terme à leur illusion. Ils apprendront d’ailleurs ici même qu’un ancien membre ultra-sioniste du Congrès US, Mel Levine, en est un des initiateurs. Il semble bien que cette « nouvelle » opération ne soit qu’une entourloupe des sionistes libéraux, afin d’enterrer la controverse et le débat autour du pouvoir et de l’influence du lobby israélien, soulevés par l’analyse des professeurs Mearsheimer et Walt, par le professeur Tony Judt, ainsi que, tout récemment, par James Petras, dans son nouveau livre Le Pouvoir d’Israël aux USA (The Power of Israel in the United States).
Merci Saintyve pour ces précisions, concernant, l’influence lobby pro-israélien aux USA.
Mais rassurez-vous, je n’ai aucun doute sur son existence.
Mes doutes portent sur le sens qu’il faut donner au mot "influence".
A force de vouloir tout expliquer par cette influence, on risque de passer à côté de certaines réalités.
La publicité de l’action de ce lobby focalise l’attention, sur son rôle. Mais certains de ses membres peuvent plus discrètement, utilisent le lobby à des fins personnelles (Geoge Soros par ex.).
L’administration US ne se prive pas non plus pour rejeter sur le lobby la responsabilité d’actions controversées (refus des choix démocratiques du peuple palestinien par ex.).
Je ne doute pas non plus que le lobby pro-israélien joue un rôle dans le réchauffement de la planète, mais je ne suis pas sûr que ce rôle soit significatif.
Je ne pense pas que la politique que mènent les US depuis le renversement du Shah, soit dictée par le seul lobby pro-isralélien, ou alors, il aurait remplacé le "lobby pro-iranien".
Et même si les US étaient totalement influencés par le lobby "pro-israélien", encore faudrait-il préciser de quels israléliens il serait le représentant, ou alors il faudrait le renommer en lobby "pro-israéliens", car la société isralélienne n’est pas monolithique.
Peut-être que certains israléliens ont intérêt à la mort de Pierre Gemayel, mais pas Israel. Parce que l’argument qui consiste à l’expliquer par une volonté de déstabiliser un pays déjà déstabilisé n’est pas recevable.
Je n’arrive pas à réconcilier les actions US sur le terrain, avec l’activité du lobby pro-israélien, par contre je les comprend très bien dans un contexte de guerre économique (et la ça tombe bien parce qu’en temps qu’européen je me sent particulièrement visé).
Voici un point de vue lumineux, celui de Jonathan Cook. Un journaliste et écrivain basé à Nazareth, Israël. Son livre, “Blood and Religion : The Unmasking of the Jewish State ” a été publié par Pluto Press.
La Syrie, un bouc émissaire commode pour la mort de Gémayel, par Jonathan Cook.
Jonathan Cook à Nazareth, 24 novembre 2006.
Après ces tires croisés il ne faut pas s’étonner que des balles aillent se perdre au Liban.
si on se fie à "résistance.chiffonrouge", ce type vendrait père et mère, il est aussi peu juif que possible, n’hésite pas à ruiner les économies d’un pays.
Autant dire que je n’en crois pas un mot, comment aurait-il pu s’allier à la famille Bronfman, qu’on ne peut accuser d’antisionisme primaire, bien au contraire ? A moins qu’il ne veuille les utiliser ?
Traduction (partielle) du “communiqué commun du 24 novembre de Nabih Berri, le président du parlement libanais et chef du parti Amal et par Nasrallah, le secrétaire général du Hezbollah”, a partir du 8ieme paragraphe.
On se rappelle qu’a l’instigation de Nabih Berri (président du parlement) un dialogue national s’était ouvert le 6 novembre. Plusieurs sessions ont eu lieu avant que le point de rupture ne soit atteint.
« Une réunion limitée a eu lieu lors de la troisième session lorsque le député Saad Al-Hariri a joint une réunion [entre Chiites] qui se tenait en marge de la réunion.
Le Député Al-Hariri [Saad, fils de feu Rafic] a proposé aux conférenciers une formule reposant sur le fait d’atteindre un accord quant au principe de l’établissement d’un tribunal international, et sur les détails liés à ce tribunal lors de réunions en coulisse entre les trois parties [Hezbollah, Amal, et Hariri] avant de le soumettre au cabinet [ministériel] pour assurer son adoption expéditive et unanime, et approuver en même temps la formation d’un gouvernement d’unité nationale dans lequel les forces d’opposition auront plus d’un tiers des postes de ministre, où une participation efficace sera assurée, et qui sera l’introduction à la discussion et au règlement des questions controversées.
« Mais nous fumes étonné de découvrir au début de la session le jour suivant, samedi 11 Novembre, qu’il y avait une campagne intensive nous dépeignant comme étant prêts à donner notre accord sur le tribunal international contre des satisfactions politiques tandis qu’aucune mention n’était faite de ce qui avait eu lieu lors de la réunion limitée lancée a l’instigation du député Saad Al-Hariri. La date du Lundi 13 novembre 2006 a été alors fixée comme date de la prochaine réunion du cabinet ministériel sans discuter de ceci avec quiconque [sous entendu quiconque de l’opposition] et sans prendre en compte toutes nos déclarations disant que nous étions prêts à discuter du projet de résolution de manière positive et l’esprit ouvert.
Faux, Saint-Yves. Cet article n’existe pas.
une photo qui convaincra peut etre Mr Ayad, le journaliste de Libération, que les choses « ne sont pas ce qu’elles paraissent etre » au Liban : « La « guerre des portraits » empoisonne le climat à Achrafieh » (Achrafieh est le principal quartier Chrétien de Beyrouth, et les portraits en question sont ceux de Aoun et Geagea ). ....quelque 300 militaires ont dû intervenir pour empêcher militants des FL (Geagea) et du CPL (Aoun) d’en venir aux mains.
• Aux Fans du blog Loubnan ya Loubnan : le Nidal nouveau est arrivé : toujours le meme gout.
• Plus sérieusement, le trés fiable Ghassan Ben Gido, envoyé special d’Al Jazeera au Liban, vient d’annoncer que le début des manifestations du camp anti-Americain aura lieu dans les 72 heures. Espérons que l’armée Libanaise restera unie pour éviter le bain de sang.
Al Jazeera rapporte que la majorité vient de prendre une initiative pour debloquer la situation. Lors d’une rencontre, Amine jemael a fait des propositions à Nabih Berri. Volonté de sortie de crise ou manouvres pour retarder les manifs ? L’avenir nous le dira.
Mais peut etre que Landis est un Syrien déguisé en Américain ?
Compassion. Celle du conseil des droits de l’homme de l’ONU qui vient de voter (45 voix pour/1 contre-Canada-) une résolution proposée par des pays musulmans : arret des implantations dans les territoires occupés, désarmement des colons, et démantèlement des colonies existantes.
Elle a été qualifiée de résolution allant dans le sens d’une « perpétuation du conflit », par l’embassadeur Israelien a l’ONU.
Qui a parlé de partition ?
• Les sacrifices des dizaines de milliers de partisans et de sympathisants dont les souffrances et les douleurs [etc..].
bonjour monsieur gresh, le crif parle d’une livre sur votre journal et israel. l’avez vous lu ? qu’en pensez vous ?
K merci pour la traduction, j’ai pas pu la lire in inglish. Pierre, l’influence du LOBBY dont il estquestion, est celle qui concerne le soutien inconditionnel à Israel, meme contre les interets US. et non pas de la politique exterieure US en général.
C’est ainsi que le Département d’Etat qui a historiquement été considéré comme un ennemi par l’AIPAC, plus enclins à soutenir les états arabes et les intérêts pétroliers de l’Amérique – c’est assez intéressant – a été littéralement disculpé et un certain nombre de lobbyistes juifs libéraux, comme Dennis Ross, ont été introduits dans l’administration Clinton.
BEYROUTH (AP) - Un militant islamiste syrien, qui tentait d’entrer illégalement au Liban, a déclenché mardi sa ceinture d’explosifs après une fusillade avec les forces de sécurité syriennes près de la frontière, faisant deux blessés, a annoncé le gouvernement syrien.
Omar Abdullah, 28 ans, connu aussi sous le nom de code d’Omar Hamra, était l’un des chefs du groupe islamiste "Tawhid et Jihad". Alors qu’il tentait de franchir la frontière, côté syrien, au poste de Jdeidet Yabous avec de faux papiers, il a ouvert le feu sur les forces de sécurité syriennes, avant de tenter de prendre la fuite, selon le communiqué du ministère syrien de l’Intérieur."
surtout, n’en parlez pas, ça risquerait de nous faire rire !!
Saintyves, si l’action du lobby israélien "est celle qui concerne le soutien inconditionnel à Israel, meme contre les interets US" elle a toute la sympathie de l’européen que je suis.
Comment fonctionne le lobby sioniste aux USA.
29 novembre 2006 a parlé de l’attentat-suicide en Syrie à 10:36. Devoir accompli, il a ri. J’en suis fort aise. Si 29 novembre 2006 10:36 éprouve le besoin de s’offrir un vrai rire qui soulage, un rire qui soulage vraiment, il peut toujours reposter en gras la formidable conclusion de son message. Puis rire de lui. Promis, je rirai aussi.
Haaretz, 29/11/06 "Chirac : France, U.S. agree there is no point talking to Syria"
"The conditions for an honest dialogue with Syria do not exist."
L’éditorial d’Ignacio Ramonet, Labyrinthe palestinien, dans le Monde diplomatique de décembre, fait froid dans le dos.
"Vers l’abîme. On sent confusément que les souffrances subies par les Palestiniens, les solidarités de plus en plus audacieuses qu’un tel tourment entraîne au Proche-Orient, et les violentes réactions de défense d’Israël, risquent de conduire le monde vers l’abîme."
Yann, Mr Chirac, habituellement si pragmatique, devient incroyablement va t-en guerre dés que les intérets de la famille Hariri sont en jeu.
Mais le plus choquant est qu’il ait qualifié l’assassinat de Rafic Hariri de "crime contre l’humanité" au moment meme ou les Libanais etaient endeuillés aprés les massacres de centaines de civils par l’armée israelienne.
Noam Shalit et la "compassion"
Gershon Baskin a dit « compassion » ? Alors peut-être faut-il relire Baskin en ayant à l’esprit ces mots de Noam Shalit.
J’avais dit que je ne jetais pas la pierre à Noam Shalit. Aujourd’hui, c’est pure « compassion » si je ne le fais pas. | 2019-04-21T02:51:55Z | https://blog.mondediplo.net/2006-11-26-De-l-assassinat-de-Gemayel-a-la-crise-libanaise |
Back in 2010 we started an annual series looking at the (re)distribution in the wealth of nations and social classes. What we found then (and what the media keeps rediscovering year after year to its great surprise) is that as a result of global central bank policy, the rich got richer, and the poor kept on getting poorer, even though as we predicted the global political powers would, at least superficially, seek to enforce policies that aimed to reverse this wealth redistribution from the poor to the rich (a doomed policy as the world's legislative powers are largely in the lobby pocket of the world's wealthiest who needless to say are less then willing to enact laws that reduce their wealth and leverage). Now that the topic of wealth distribution (or rather concentration) is once again in vogue, below we present the latest such update looking at a global portrait of household wealth. The bottom line: 29 million, or 0.6% of those with any actual assets under their name, own $87.4 trillion, or 39.3% of all global assets.
CS expects total household wealth to rise by almost 50% in the next five years from $223 trillion in 2012 to $330 trillion in 2017. What CS does not say is that the bulk of this increase is courtesy of Federal Reserve-facilitated wealth redistribution from the lower and middle classes to the upper class.
The number of millionaires worldwide is expected to increase by about 18 million, reaching 46 million in 2017.
China is expected to surpass Japan as the second wealthiest country in the world. However, the USA should remain on top of the wealth league, with $89 trillion by 2017.
By the middle of 2011, global wealth had recovered from the 2007 financial crisis; at that time, total wealth matched or exceeded the pre-crisis levels in all regions except Africa.
Global wealth by country: The figure for average global wealth masks the considerable variation across countries and regions (see Figure 3). The richest nations, with wealth per adult over USD 100,000, are found in North America, Western Europe, and among the rich Asia- Pacific and Middle Eastern countries. They are headed by Switzerland, which in 2011 became the first country in which average wealth exceeded USD 500,000. Exchange rate fluctuations have reduced its wealth per adult from USD 540,000 in 2011 to USD 470,000 in 2012; but this still remains considerably higher than the level in Australia (USD 350,000) and Norway (USD 330,000), which retain second and third places despite falls of about 10%. Close behind are a group of nations with average wealth above USD 200,000, many of which have experienced double-digit depreciations against the US dollar, such as France, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark and Italy. Countries in the group which have not been adversely affected have moved up the rankings – most notably Japan to fourth place with wealth of USD 270,000 per adult and the USA to seventh place with USD 260,000 per adult.
Interestingly, the ranking by median wealth is slightly different, favoring countries with lower levels of wealth inequality. As was the case last year, Australia (USD 195,000) tops the table by a considerable margin, with Japan, Italy, Belgium, and the UK in the band from USD 110,000 to 140,000, and Singapore and Switzerland with values around USD 90,000. The USA lags far behind with median wealth of just USD 55,000.
Trends in wealth per adult and its components: As Figure 5 shows, average household net worth trended upwards from 2000 until the crisis in 2007, then fell by approximately 10% before recovering in 2011 to slightly above the pre-crisis level. Further setbacks this year have pushed wealth per adult back below the previous peak. However, exchange rate movements account for much of the year-onyear variation. Using constant USD exchange rates yields a smoother time trend and a single significant downturn in 2008, after which point the recovery has continued more or less unabated.
At the start of the millennium, financial assets accounted for well over half of the household portfolio, but the share declined until 2008, at which point the global wealth portfolio was equally split between financial and nonfinancial assets (mostly property). In the period since 2008, the balance has again tipped slightly towards financial assets.
On the liabilities side of the household balance sheet, average debt rose by 80% between 2000 and 2007, and subsequently leveled out. It now amounts to USD 8,600 per adult, about 7% lower than it was the same time a year ago. Expressed as a proportion of household assets, average debt has moved in a narrow range, rising over the period, but never exploding.
The composition of household portfolios varies widely and systematically across countries. The most persistent feature is the rise in the relative importance of both financial assets and liabilities with the level of development. For instance, financial assets account for 43.1% of gross assets in Europe and 67.1% in North America, but just 15.9% of gross assets in India. Household debt as a percentage of gross assets is 16% in Europe and 18.1% in North America, but only 3.7% in India and 8.7% in Africa. There is also variation in portfolios unrelated to the level of development. Some developed countries, like Italy, have unusually low liabilities (10.0% of gross assets), while others have surprisingly high debt, like Denmark (33.7% of gross assets). In addition, the mix of financial assets varies greatly, reflecting national differences in financial structure. The share of equities in total financial assets, for example, ranges from 43.4% in the USA, down to just 20.1% and 6.5% in Germany and Japan respectively.
Changes to household wealth from mid-2011 to mid-2012; The adverse global economic climate and the USD appreciation that occurred during the year until mid-2012 meant that household wealth rose by more than USD 100 billion in only four countries: the USA (USD 1.3 trillion), China (USD 560 billion), Japan (USD 370 billion) and Colombia (USD 100 billion). Figure 6 shows that Eurozone members suffered the largest losses, led by France (USD 2.2 trillion), Italy (USD 2.1 trillion), Germany (USD 1.9 trillion) and Spain (USD 870 billion). These losses were exacerbated by the unfavorable euro-dollar exchange rate movement, but even in euro terms, wealth declined by EUR 50 billion in Germany, EUR 148 billion in France, EUR 177 billion in Spain and EUR 286 billion in Italy. Sizeable USD wealth reductions were also recorded in the UK (USD 720 billion), India (USD 700 billion), Australia (USD 600 billion), Brazil (USD 530 billion), Canada (USD 440 billion) and Switzerland (USD 410 billion).
The largest percentage gains and losses generate a slightly different list. A steady USD exchange rate, combined with an 11% improvement in market capitalization, helped Colombia to top the country rankings with a 16% rise in household wealth. Algeria, Hong Kong, Peru and Uruguay also recorded gains of more than 5%. The downside is more evident, especially in Eurozone countries, where double-digit losses were recorded everywhere (see Figure 7). Other sizeable declines were recorded for Russia (–13%), Mexico (–14%), South Africa (–15%) and India (–18%), while Eastern Europe had a very poor year, led by the Czech Republic and Poland (both with –18%), Hungary (–25%) and Romania (–36%).
But in a globalized world with virtually unlimited capital flows (for now: see Cyprus) physical borders mean little. Which is why next we look at the global wealth pyramid which breaks down wealth as percentage of the world population: i.e., who owns how much without geographic prejudice. It is here that is becomes most obvious how global policies since the Great Financial Crisis have benefitted the wealthiest at the expense of everyone else.
In 2012, 3.2 billion individuals – more than two-thirds of the global adult population – have wealth below USD 10,000, and a further one billion (23% of the adult population) are placed in the USD 10,000–100,000 range.
The average wealth holding is modest in the base and middle segments of the pyramid, total wealth amounts to USD 39 trillion, underlining the potential for new consumer trends products and for the development of financial services targeted at this often neglected segment.
The remaining 373 million adults (8% of the world) have assets exceeding USD 100,000.
And then the top of the pyramid: 29 million US dollar millionaires, a group which contains less than 1% of the world’s adult population, collectively owns nearly 40% of global household wealth.
Some 84,500 individuals are worth more than USD 50 million, and 29,000 are worth over USD 100 million.
The composition of the wealth pyramid in 2012 is broadly similar to that of the previous year, except for the fact that the overall reduction in total wealth increases the percentage of adults in the base level from 67.6% to 69.3% and reduces the relevant population share higher up the pyramid by a corresponding amount. The respective wealth shares are virtually unchanged.
Breaking it down by class.
The various strata of the wealth pyramid have distinctive characteristics. Although members of the base level are spread widely across all regions, representation in India and Africa is disproportionately high, while Europe and North America are correspondingly underrepresented (see Figure 2). The base tier has the most even distribution across regions and countries, but it is also the most heterogeneous, spanning a wide range of family circumstances. In developed countries, only about 30% of the population fall into this category, and for most of these individuals, membership is a transient or life cycle phenomenon associated with youth, old age, or periods of unemployment. In contrast, more than 90% of the adult population in India and Africa are located within this band. In many low-income African countries, the percentage of the population is close to 100%. Thus, for many residents of low-income countries, lifetime membership of the base tier is the norm rather than the exception. However, lower living costs mean that the upper limit of USD 10,000 is often sufficient to assure a reasonable standard of living.
While bottom-of-the-pyramid countries have limited wealth, it often grows at a fast pace. In India, for example, wealth is skewed towards the bottom of the wealth pyramid, yet it has tripled since 2000. Indonesia has also seen dramatic growth, and aggregate wealth in Latin America is now USD 8.7 trillion, compared to USD 3.4 trillion in 2000. In contrast, while North Americans dominate the top of the wealth pyramid, wealth in the USA has grown more modestly, from USD 39.5 trillion in 2000 to USD 62 trillion today.
The one billion adults located in the USD 10,000–100,000 range are the middle class in the global distribution of wealth. The average wealth holding is close to the global average for all wealth levels, and the total wealth of USD 32 trillion gives this segment considerable economic weight. The regional composition of this tier most closely corresponds to the global pattern, although India and Africa are underrepresented. The comparison of China and India is particularly interesting. India is host to just 3% of the global middle class, and the share has been relatively stagnant in recent years. In contrast, China’s share has been growing fast and now accounts for over one-third of members, ten times higher than India’s.
High wealth segment of the pyramid The regional composition changes significantly when it comes to the 373 million adults worldwide who make up the “high” segment of the wealth pyramid – those with a net worth above USD 100,000. North America, Europe and the Asia- Pacific region together account for 89% of the global membership of this group, with Europe alone home to 141 million members (38% of the total). This compares with about 2.4 million adult members in India (0.6% of the global total) and a similar number in Africa.
The number of people in a given country with wealth above USD 100,000 depends on three factors: population size, the average wealth level, and wealth inequality within the country concerned. In 2012, only 15 countries have more than 1% of the global membership. The USA leads with 21% of the total. In this instance, the three factors reinforce each other: a large population, combined with high mean wealth and an unequal wealth distribution. Japan is a strong second and is currently the only country that challenges the hegemony of the USA in the top wealth-holder rankings. Although its relative position has declined over the past couple of decades due to the lackluster performance of its equity and housing markets, Japan has 18% of individuals with wealth above USD 100,000, a couple of points more than a year ago.
The most populous EU countries – Italy, the UK, Germany, and France – each contribute 6%–8% to the high wealth segment, and each country has experienced a small decline in its membership share during the year. For many years, these countries have occupied positions three to six in the global rankings, but this year China edged France out of sixth place, a dramatic improvement from the situation in 2000, when China’s representation in the top wealth groups was too small to register. Brazil, Korea and Taiwan are other emerging market economies with at least four million residents with a net worth above USD 100,000. Mexico accounted for more than 1% of the group in 2011, but has dropped below this benchmark this year.
A different pattern of membership is again evident among the world’s millionaires at the top of the pyramid (see Figure 3). Compared to individuals with wealth above USD 100,000, the proportion of members from the United States almost doubles to 39%, and the shares of most of the other countries move downwards. There are exceptions, however. France moves up to third place in the rankings, and Sweden and Switzerland both join the group of countries with more than 1% of global millionaires. Thank you Federal Reserve.
Changing membership of the “millionaire group”; Changes to wealth levels since mid-2011 have affected the pattern of wealth distribution. The overall decline in average wealth has raised the proportion of adults with wealth below USD 10,000 from 67.6% in mid-2011 to 69.3% in mid-2012 (as the poor get poorer), and reduced the number of millionaires by slightly more than one million (see Table 1). There were 962,000 new millionaires in the United States and 460,000 in Japan, but no significant increase in numbers elsewhere. However, Europe shed almost 1.8 million US dollar millionaires, most notably in Italy (–374,000), France (–322,000),Germany (–290,000), Denmark (–179,000), Sweden (–142,000) and Spain (–87,000). Australia, Canada, Brazil and Taiwan are the other countries in the group of the top ten losers. The losses were sufficient to drop Brazil, Denmark and Taiwan (along with Belgium) from the list of countries with more than 1% of the total number of millionaires worldwide.
High net worth individuals; To estimate the pattern of wealth holdings above USD 1 million requires a high degree of ingenuity because at high wealth levels, the usual sources of wealth data – official statistics and sample surveys – become increasingly incomplete and unreliable. We overcome this deficiency by exploiting wellknown statistical regularities in the upper parts of the wealth distribution to ensure that the top wealth tail is consistent with the annual Forbes tally of global billionaires and similar “rich list” data published elsewhere. This produces plausible estimates of the global pattern of asset holdings in the high net worth (HNW) category from USD 1 million to USD 50 million, and in the ultra high net worth (UHNW) range from USD 50 million upwards. While the base of the wealth pyramid is occupied by people from all countries of the world at various stages of their life cycles, HNW and UHNW individuals are heavily concentrated in particular regions and countries, and tend to share a similar lifestyle, participating in the same global markets for high coupon consumption items, even when they reside on different continents. The wealth portfolios of individuals are also likely to be similar, dominated by financial assets and, in particular, equity holdings in public companies traded in international markets. For these reasons, using official exchange rates to value assets is more appropriate than using local price levels.
There are about 28.5 million HNW individuals with wealth between USD 1 million and USD 50 million in mid-2012, of whom the vast majority (25.6 million) fall in the USD 1–5 million range (see Figure 4). One year ago, Europe overtook North America as the region with the greatest number of HNW individuals, but tradition has been restored this year, with 11.8 million residents (42% of the total) in North America and 9.2 million (32%) in Europe. Asia-Pacific countries excluding China and India have 5.7 million members (20%), and we estimate that there are currently a fraction under one million HNW individuals in China (3.4% of the global total). The remaining 753,000 HNW individuals (2.6% of the total) reside in India, Africa or Latin America.
There is an estimated are 84,500 UHNW individuals in the world, defined here as those with net assets exceeding USD 50 million. Of these, 29,300 are worth at least USD 100 million and 2,700 have assets above USD 500 million. North America dominates the regional rankings, with 40,000 UHNW residents (47%), while Europe has 22,000 individuals (26%), and 12,800 (15%) reside in Asia-Pacific countries, excluding China and India. In terms of individual countries, the USA leads by a huge margin with 37,950 UHNW individuals, equivalent to 45% of the group (see Figure 5). The recent fortunes created in China have propelled it into second place with 4,700 representatives (5.6% of the global total), followed by Germany (4,000), Japan (3,400), the United Kingdom (3,200) and Switzerland (3,050). Numbers in other BRIC countries are also rising fast, with 1,950 members in Russia, 1,550 in India and 1,500 in Brazil, and strong showings are evident in Taiwan (1,200), Hong Kong (1,100) and Turkey (1,000). Although there is very little comparable data on the past, it is almost certain that the number of UHNW individuals is considerably greater than it was a decade ago. The overall growth in asset values accounts for part of the increase, together with the appreciation of currencies against the US dollar over much of the period. However, it also appears that, notwithstanding the credit crisis and the more recent setbacks, the past decade has been especially conducive to the establishment of large fortunes.
Hail Bernanke (and Kuroda, and Draghi, and Carney, and Jordan, and so on), the ultra high net worth individuals on the chart below salute you. | 2019-04-24T15:47:16Z | https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-06-02/its-1-world-who-owns-what-223-trillion-global-wealth |
Since Farmer's Wife has decided to take a little break as she prepares for a country Christmas (at least, I assume that's what she is doing!), I thought it would be fun to join a blog hop and offer a little Christmas cheer of my own, a charm pack of "Jovial" by Basic Grey.
So if you are feeling jovial, let me know what your favorite holiday treat is. A special cookie made with an old family recipe? Fudge? Hot spiced cider? Do tell. The Random Number Generator elf will choose a winner on December 16 so you have plenty of time to give me your secret recipe tell me what treat says "Christmas" to you.
And don't forget to join the hop for a chance at some other festive treats.
ETA: Thanks for playing, everyone! Comments are now closed.
My fave holiday treat is a glass of bucks fizz (champagne and orange juice) on Christmas morning with my breakfast, it's a little tradition hubbie and I have!
To me, the holidays mean family and friends- lot's a of parties and laughter in the upcoming weeks!
My favorite holiday treat is Ribbon candy or toy candy. It is locally made here in Nova Scotia and it SCREAMS Christmas. In fact, we have to get some for my mother every year!
We have several treats at Christmas time - toffee bars as a sweet, breakfast casserole on Christmas morning, and we all all my daughter-in-law from Hong Kong make potstickers.
Our favorite treat is a butter crumb coffee cake. We look forward to it Christmas morning.
I live in the south and my favorite treat is Pecan Pralines. They make a nice stocking stuffer.
My favorite Christmas treat is a cookie that my grandma made. It is still a favorite among my mother and all my siblings and our families. I have the inherited recipe...hehe.
Mom's Sugar Cookies! They're a pain to make and a pain to frost but oh so good.
it's not a sweet treat, but my grandmother-in-love's pierogi are the treat my whole family looks forward to on Christmas!
My favorite thing to do is have a big Christmas breakfast qith my family and friends who don't have loved ones in town. It is the best morning ever!
German peppernut cookies. thanks for the chance!
It's the one time of year that I make fudge - yummmmmm! Thanks for the opportunity to enter your great giveaway!
As a child I remember making/stealing different candies and other goodies with my mom. I have certain things I have to make each year, even if it is just for my family and I have to put it in the freezer for the next 6 months until it is gone. Christmas to me is truly celebrating the birth of Jesus.
Since marrying into a long line of Swedes, I have grown to love the homemade potato sausage every Christmas. My favorite cookie is Raspberry Shortbread Dreams. Yum!
Jovial...I don't even know what it looks like, but I love everything basic Grey, so I'm sure I'd love this too!
My favorite holiday treat is my mom's homemade toffee. I don't even know how to make it and I have it maybe every 5 years if I'm lucky, since I rarely see my mom on Christmas. the last time I had some I asked her for the recipe and she said, "Oh you don't want to make it. It's very hard and it took me 3 batches before I got this one right this time." So I said forget it! But it's so yummy; toffee on the bottom, dark chocolate spread over the top, and ground almonds (I think) sprinkled over the top. I may have to call her and get the recipe anyway. If you want it, let me know!
Each year I have certain recipes that have been passed down through the years and must be made - my grandmother's date cookies and my great aunt's toffee are the best!!!!
I love my mom's homemade sugar cookies!
Grandma's chocolate candy cookies! Yummy!
Mmmm, so many special treats at this time of year! Egg nog, fruitcake, peppermint bark, gingerbread cookies! I make an American version of Plum Pudding; it's a gingerbread cake with cranberries, served with a yummy sauce made of butter, cream, sugar, and vanilla! Scrumptious, and I'm sworn to secrecy about the recipe!
I lke the Peppermint Bark. And I LOVE wrapping gifts!!!
My favorite holiday recipe would have to be peanut butter marshmellow fudge. Sadly, I never make it anymore because the calorie content is outrageous, but it's a happy remembrance of Christmas to our adult children. Thanks for the chance to win your generous giveaway. Love me some fabric!
My favourite Christmas treat would have to be our Boxing Day dinner - cold turkey, chips and pickles...yummy! It's my favourite meal of the year!
I AM feeling Jovial. My favorite holiday treat has to be my grandmother's Danish Oatmeal cookie. So yummy. Darn it, now I will have to make them because I'm thinking about them.
I have none and definitely need Christmas fabric!!
My favourite treat is mulled wine, yummy! :) Although I could be tempted by Sarah's bucks fizz!
Haha, if I had a secret recipe, I would give it to you! Fave treat is anything pumpkin, chocolate, or cheesecake flavored!
My favourite is buttermilk cookies. They're a little cakier than your average cookie, they come with icing, and nobody who tries them can just have one. Mmmmm.
My favorite is english toffee-it's also the favorite of everyone I make it for.
My favorite holiday treat is my homemade cranberry bread. My recipe calls for mayonnaise & boy is it moist! Love it. Oh, and my fudge too.
My favorite holiday treat would have to be the Power Cookies my sister-in-law makes practically every year!
It's gotta be shortbread...every time.
Bread sauce! (and bubble and squeak on boxing day).
My favorite treat is marzipan cookies. Yum!
My favorite treat is cookie cut-out cookies!
My favorite christmas treat is Almond Bark Candy. It is just almond bark, peanuts, peanut butter, rice krispies and marshmallowsl mixed together. Nothing really christmasy except that my family always makes it at christmas time.
Mince pies and mulled wine!
Does apple cider count? Mmm...yum!
Chocolate. And Almond Stick. A dutch treat. Yum, yum!
My maternal Gramma's Cream Cheese Pie. Never have been able to find one to equal the ones she made and she took her recipie to the grave. That pie meant Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Lovely giveaway, Cindy! My favourite holiday treat is chocolate peanut butter balls. Yum, yum! I'll be sharing the secret recipe on my blog next week. :) thanks for the giveaway! I posted mine today too.
I allow myself one eggnog latte each year (Yup, already had it!) and my favorite treat are my aunt's Christmas Wreaths made from corn flakes and corn syrup (sounds, healthy, huh?!). Thankfully I don't have them every year, but my second fave is pumpkin pie, and I do have that annually!!
My favorite Christmas treat is Spiced Pecans!
I love plain and simple shortbread cookies. Just butter, sugar, and flour. Doesn't get any better...unless of course I put melted chocolate on top!
Shortbread and mince pies are favorites in our house! And we make a yummy slice called White Christmas which is kept in the fridge during a long hot Australian summer!
A favorite treat is Bacon Buns!! Yummy!
My 4 sons and husband would say Apricot Kolache, hands down, but they are a pain to make so I cheat by making a double batch of Peanut Blossoms, which are their second favorite. I used to make 12-15 different cookies but now things have changed and everyone is always on a diet!
Peppernuts, the crispy ones with anise and other spices dunked in a little coffee or milk!
Christmas treat? My hands-down favourite is my mum's Chocolate Hazelnut Cherry Rum Truffles, which are cute, addictive, and so so delicious!
Peppernuts - which aren't really nuts at all. My grandmother used to make them. They are really hard little cookie/biscuits - very hard to explain, but about the size of butter mints, if that makes sense. I may just have to try my hand at making them and post the recipe on my blog... eventually.
I really love homemade shortbread, my Mum makes some for Christmas every year. I also LOVE plum pudding & can always find room for seconds, my family jokes that as a non-drinker, it's the alcohol hit that does it for me. Thanks for the giveaway.
I love my Mom's Oatmeal Shortbread cookies-yummy.
When I was a kid we used to make peanut brittle. Haven't done it in years, but every time I see any, I think of Christmas.
We have these pumpkin cakes here in Portugal that are defenitely my favourites!
Home made sugar cookies...large ones! I make them in the shape of a star and eat the points first!
Love having pavlova on Xmas day especially my mum's one. Unfortunately my kids don't like it and we are not having xmas with my mum so I miss out again.
I love the peanut butter cookies with Hershey's kisses in the middle.
We always enjoy hot spiced cider on Christmas Eve after church.
Everyone, including me, loves my Buckeyes. A peanut butter ball dipped in chocolate. I only make them at Christmas cause they are so time consuming to make.
Making and eating Christmas cookies of all kinds!
My grandmother's chocolate fudge... hands down a winner every time.
We have a family cookie recipe called Spice Cookies. So good! Would love that charm pack of Jovial - I have a great pattern to use for a Christmas charm pack.
Favorite Christmas treat is making gingerbread spice cookies! The aroma in the house just warms you right up for the holidays! Thanks for the chance of a win...thinking about it just makes me "jovial" with a smile!
My favourite christmas treat is having Fondue over the fire outside in the forest nearby.
my favorite is peanut butter fudge!
We have a fondu dinner on Christmas eve. That is what I've always looked forward to.
I have a recipe for cappuccino cookies that came from a Christmas cookie recipe book. We love the cookies so much that I now make them anytime I need some really fabulous cookies.
My favorite holiday treat is Dirx Pudding with extra Oreos on top. Thanks for the chance to win your giveaway.
Any cookie my mom bakes says Christmas!
Banquet bar and stewed pears are some very nice christams treats. Almost only availeble in december.
Loveley give away you have here, thank you, I like to give it a change.
Pecan Tassies are our favorite treat at Christmas. Thanks for the giveaway!
Hmmm...I love peanut butter blossoms with Hershey kisses!
My favorite holiday treat is my Mom's powdered sugar nut balls! I try to make them every year in remembrance of her.
My favorite holiday treat is my family's chocolate peanut butter fudge. ALways have to have it at CHristmas.
I do love egg nog, although the store brand is so sweet and lots of calories. One year I made a huge bowl of the real thing and had the neighbours in for some nog and cheer. So many warnings about raw eggs now....Thanks for a chance to win.
Merry Christmas! My favorite treat at Christmas is Spritz cookies.
My favorite treat is my sour cream pound cake. YUM YUM!
I would love to have any of the dozens of types of cookies my mother used to make for Christmas.
Pavlova topped with fresh cream and strawberries Yuuummmm :) Barb.
I would have to say pumpkin or pecan pie plus any other pies!
English Toffee and mint truffles are my most guilty Christmas pleasures. Thanks for the giveaway.
First is my DD's birthday and THEN Christmas...so it's party central around here! I USED to enjoy baking cookies- Christmas in my house growing up meant millions of cookies made- but my favorite was Oatmeal raisin. But we went dairy free this year and I still haven't mastered a yummy oatmeal yet....although I did make a TREMENDOUS Orange chocolate chunck cake with chocolate ganache icing that was dairy free today...I think I have a new favorite!
Thanks for your lovely give away.
A treat we love for Christmas is old fashioned plum pudding with custard. Delicious!
Favorite holiday treat - eggnog fudge! only time I so indulge.
i love mint hot chocolate and Peppermint Bark chocolate...notice a trend? i guess peppermint says Christmas time to me!! thanks for a chance.
My favorite treat involves anything chocolate.
I would be disowned by my children (and now their spouses) if I didn't make Bubble Bread for Christmas morning! And now they have added Mimosas.
I used to have a favorite cookie, now I just plain like fruit cake - not your grandma's fruitcake with that awful candied fruit - I make one that has dried fruit and nuts in it and I love it.
My favourite holiday treat is the English trifle we have for dessert. And there's always leftovers for several days!
my favourite treat is home-made almond bark....yummy!
Favorite holiday treats are Spritz cookies. Can't eat just one, which must be why I only make them this time of year.
I love cherry chocolates and Christmas is the only time I allow my self some! Thanks for the chance on your giveaway!
My favorite Christmas treat...opening presents!
My favorite holiday treat is Chocolate Almond Toffee!! thanks for the great giveaway!
My favorite are mince pies!
Hmm...my neighbor always makes English toffee! Yum!
From my childhood, shortbread cookies. Can't be Christmas without making these.
Shortbread is a Christmas treat and so is tourtière ... we always have them for the occasion. Like your giveaway - thanks for the chance.
My favorite holiday treat is home-made fudge. Thanks for the chance to win.
I love Christmas cookies. My all time favorite is Thumbprints with apple mint jelly!
Spritz cookies are my favorite Christmas treat! Thanks for a chance to win!
My favorite Christmas treat is German Molasses Cookies with nuts and raisins rolled in granulated sugar. Yummy!
I have always loved penuche fudge and anything made with brown sugar.
My favorite holiday food is homemade pizza. It's out Christmas Eve tradition.
My favorite holiday treat is chocolate fudge. I love it!!! Thanks for the wonderful giveaway!!!
My favorite is Peanut Butter Fudge. My son is making it for Christmas this year!
Eggnog! Thanks for the giveaway! Merry Christmas!
It is usually quite warm for Christmas here in Australia so I love Pavlova with strawberries and kiwi fruit for dessert.
I like soy peppermint hot cocoas from starbucks! Thanks for the chance to win.
My favorite time is when my duaghters and I make all the Christmas cookies for the season. Then the husbands and kids join us for dinner as we watch White Christmas and eat cookies. FUN!
Pavlova with kiwifruit & strawberries - or with passionfruit, depending who gets to do the topping that year!
my favourite Christmas treat is gingerbread!
My favorite holiday treat is oatmeal cookies by my mom!
Love fudge and hot apple cider as well. We sit the apple cider and cinnamon sticks on top of the wood stove so it stays hot and makes the house smell ohhh so good! Thanks for the opportunity to enter.
Marshmallow Creme Fudge is probably the treat I love that has the most Christmas memories. Or is it Chocolate Creams (little chocolate dipped candies)? Or.....I can't decide.
I love anything that's pepperminty!
Mulled wine! The smell of it... It is the only way I can actually drink red wine!
Oh I love lots of holiday treats, but my favorite has to be my grandmother's fudge. The recipe takes forever, and it never turns out as perfect as hers used to be, but it is so good!
Hmm, favorite holiday treat? Very hard to decide. While I love anything milk chocolate, I have to say my favorite holiday treat is the roasted turkey.
PEOPLE KINDA MAKE FUN OF FRUITCAKE! OUR FAMILY LOVES IT+IT SPEAKS OF CHRISTMAS TO US!
We have an old Family Circle recipe for 'Mary's Mince Pies' which are the perfect treat! They are less stodgy and solid than standard ones, with a lovely rich sweet pastry. Just Christmas!
I love hot chocolate with a shot of Baileys Irish Cream.
My favorite holiday treat is Mocha Truffles.
I love homemade candy at Christmas time. Fudge and pralines are two of my favorites. Thanks for a wonderful giveaway! Merry Christmas!
My nephew makes this wonderful drink with rum? brandy? Not sure, but it's very good. I only found this out last year. LOL. Thanks for the chance to win the giveaway. This blog hop is great fun.
my favorite cookie would be sand tarts as thin as I can make them..
My favorite cookie is Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies from Martha Stewart. They're spicy and chocolately so yummy. I think the recipe is on Martha's site. Thank you for the lovely giveaway.
Here in the South we make Divinity! I make it only at Christmas and I give some to friends for gifts.
In Poland, we can't imagine Christmas without a poppy-seed cake. The stuffing is made with honey walnuts and huzelnuts. Delicious! Thanks for your give-away.
What spa to go at Christmas.
I love Bailey's Irish Cream in my coffee but I only drink it during the Christmas Holidays.
COOKIES! I am feeling Jovial and I love peanut butter blossom cookies! Happy holidays.
This year I discovered cake batter cookies. We made them into cookie sandwiches with homemade red and green icing in the middle. So yummy and festive!
Pizzelles! But sadly my iron caught fire two years ago so I'm no longer able to make that cookie.
My favourite treat is Suchard chocolate turrone, a traditional spanish xmas treat!
Shortbread cookies that are made with a cookie press, they are a pain to make, but soooo delicious. Thanks.
Linzer torte cookies - just got the cutter to make them last year - and the cookies were yummy - and disappeared fast!!Sharing with family though is the best! Thanks.
1 large container Cool Whip, thawed. Again in a pinch you can use the smaller container.
Beat together cream cheese, marshmallow cream, and cool whip. Pour over apples and snickers and fold in, mixing till all covered and smooth. You can add maraschino cherries if you want.
Don't make too far ahead of time if serving guests. The candy bars will gradually melt into the dressing. It's every bit as good that way, but not as pretty. This stuff NEVER gets thrown away -- it's eaten to the last spoonful.
My favorite holiday treat is my sisters snickers cheesecake!
Our favourite Christmas treat is definitely Butter Tarts, my husband is diabetic and his sister makes special sugar free tarts for him! I love you prize pack! Merry Christmas from BC!
I love gingerbread - i could be dinner for me.
My favourite would be Rum Balls! I only make them at Christmas Time and my family love them, as well as all of the other Holiday cookies and candies LOL! Thank you for the giveaway!
Peppermint bark! Love it! And those little wreaths you make from Special K, Karo syrup, green food coloring, and red hots!
Mincemeat pie!! We make our own mincemeat and save it just for Christmas pies!
I make peanut butter fudge every year and peanut butter cookies. The fudge is so easy a child could make it. If you want the recipe e-mail me and I can give it to you. Thank you for a chance to win. Happy Holiday to You and Yours. | 2019-04-20T19:19:04Z | https://www.liveacolorfullife.net/2011/12/blog-hop-party-feeling-jovial.html |
A.R. Millard & D.J. Wiseman, eds., Essays on the Patriarchal Narratives. Leicester: IVP, 1980. Hbk. ISBN: 0851117430. pp.157-188.
For well over a hundred years the religious ideas and practices of the patriarchs have attracted scholarly attention. In view of the place Abraham occupies in various religious traditions this is understandable. What is more surprising is that in the scholarly debate, no clear consensus about the content of his religion has emerged.
At least four factors can be pinpointed which have contributed to this uncertainty. First, Genesis itself says relatively little about patriarchal religion. It tells us much about their religious experiences, but little about their beliefs or religious practices.
Secondly, the accounts of the patriarchs as we now have them are all post-Sinaitic, that is they presuppose the innovations in belief and practice that date from the time of Moses. Various texts allude to the differences between the religion of Moses and that of the patriarchs. For example Exodus 6:3 says: 'I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as El Shaddai (God Almighty, RSV), but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them.' Joshua 24:14 states: 'Put away the gods your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.' Both these texts appear to contrast the religious ideas and practices of the fathers with the post-Mosaic period. Yet Genesis itself gives very few hints that the patriarchs worshipped other gods. Indeed it usually describes the God who appears and speaks to the patriarchs as 'the LORD' (Yahweh), i.e. the God of Moses.
sure the same God had spoken to Abraham as spoke to Moses? Or do the statements in Genesis implying that Yahweh revealed himself to the patriarchs correspond to the patriarchs' own conception of the God they worshipped? Answers to this most basic question are complicated by further considerations. It is generally held that Genesis is composed of several sources giving rather different accounts of the religion of the patriarchs.
And last but not least, the theological convictions of those who study Genesis affect their conclusions. Jews and Christians who regard Abraham as the father of the faithful are reluctant to accept that he was a polytheist who served strange gods. On the other hand, scholars who hold that religion is essentially a human creation are hardly likely to suppose that the patriarchs were pure monotheists.
These briefly are the main problems that confront a would-be historian of Old Testament religion in describing the beliefs and religious practices of the patriarchs. To arrive at the pure historical truth one needs to be able to shed one's own presuppositions, and distinguish between the interpretations of Genesis and the underlying facts. Such a programme is regrettably impossible. My aims are more modest. In this essay I shall first of all set out the statements of Genesis about patriarchal religion. These raw statements will enable us to grasp how the final editor of Genesis viewed patriarchal religion.
Since it is generally held that Genesis is made up of earlier sources J, E and P, the pictures of patriarchal religion found in them will be described next. Assumptions about the dates of these sources have played a large part in assessing the validity of these different pictures. But in an effort to distinguish the authentic early elements in the accounts from later interpretations more recent scholarship has emphasized the similarities between other early Semitic religions and the beliefs of the patriarchs. So a few of the most representative accounts of patriarchal religion will be surveyed next.
retrojections of later first-millennium beliefs and practices into the distant past?
According to Genesis God revealed himself to the patriarchs under various different names, and the patriarchs used a variety of divine epithets in their prayers. Abraham knew of Yahweh, Elohim, El Elyon, El Shaddai, El Roi, and El Olam. Isaac knew of Yahweh, Elohim and El Shaddai. Jacob knew of Yahweh, Elohim, El Bethel, Pahad Yishaq (Fear or relative of Isaac) and El Shaddai. However, since the use of some of these epithets may be ascribed to editorial identification of different deities, it is necessary to distinguish carefully between the various usages of the divine names, i.e. whether they occur in the framework of the story and therefore represent the editor's understanding of the situation or whether they form part of the dialogue in the story and therefore may represent the wording of the source, rather than an editor's understanding of his source. Sometimes more than one divine name is used in the same passage, and in such cases it is more possible that one of the items is an editorial addition identifying the two divine names. Such problematic cases will therefore be ignored in the following analysis. The results may be conveniently summarized in tabular form.
Full discussion of the data in this table will follow later, but three points are immediately clear. First, in all three cycles El Shaddai only occurs in the dialogue, never in the narrative framework of the stories.
This suggests that at least this term is an early element in the tradition.
Secondly, in the Joseph cycle Yahweh is used only in the narrative framework, never in the speeches within the story. There, El Shaddai or Elohim is consistently used. This might be thought to be due to the setting of the stories, where the sons of Jacob are constantly dealing with Egyptians and other foreigners. But in fact in many of the situations where God is mentioned, the brothers are talking to each other or with their father Jacob (e.g. 42:28; 45:5, 7, 8, 9; 50:25). This could suggest that the narrator identified the God of the patriarchs with Yahweh but that his sources did not refer to Yahweh, but only to Elohim or El Shaddai and that he faithfully preserved this feature in his dialogues. Whether this hypothesis can be sustained will be discussed further below.
Thirdly, and this apparently contradicts the second point, in the Abraham cycles Yahweh and Elohim are found both in the narrative framework and in the dialogue. In these stories then, both Yahweh and Elohim have equal claims to originality. If only one of the terms originally belonged to the traditions, later editors have not only reworded the narrative framework but also the dialogue. Another way of resolving this confusion is usually preferred, however, namely the postulation of different sources. It will be argued below that this solution is also fraught with difficulty.
Discussions of patriarchal religion tend to concentrate on the names of God to the virtual exclusion of other aspects of their belief and practice, simply because the source material is so much more scanty in this respect. However, for a rounded picture it is necessary to mention the few details found in Genesis. Altars are built, sacrifices, libations, and covenants are made; prayer, circumcision, tithes, vows, and ritual purification are other ingredients of their religion. Household gods were also highly valued. Apart from the last point the practice of the patriarchs apparently differed little from their successors. However, the texts are quite vague about the how and where of sacrifice. In general they worship in places that were well-known in later times for their sanctuaries. Yet the impression is conveyed that the patriarchs offered sacrifice outside the towns, presumably without the aid of the local priesthood. This would be somewhat irregular by later standards. It would of course have been even more surprising had the patriarchs regularly worshipped at Canaanite shrines staffed by Canaanite priests; though Genesis 14 does suggest that on one occasion at least this is what Abraham did.
If Genesis says little about the patriarchal mode of worship, it says much more about the divine promises made to them, and that for two reasons. First, their faith in these promises and their obedience to God's word served as a model to later generations of faithful Israelites. And secondly, the promises provided a justification for the settlement of the land. Three main themes recur, sometimes together and other times separately: they are the promise of numerous descendants who will form a great nation, the promise of the land and the promise of blessing on Abraham's descendants and through them to the whole world. These promises are spelt out very fully in many passages, and beside them the references to actual religious practices are relatively brief and fleeting.
How far is the picture of patriarchal religion modified by the classical source-critical analysis, which distributes the material among J, E, and P? A table will again be used to present the results.
only in the dialogue, never in the framework. Secondly, in the Joseph cycle, Yahweh is used only in the framework of the story, never in the dialogues. There Elohim or El Shaddai is used. Thirdly, in the J, E and P versions of the Abraham cycle, Yahweh is used in the framework, and in the dialogue as well in J and E. Similarly, in the E and P versions of the Abraham and Jacob cycles, Elohim is found in both the framework and in the dialogues.
The source analysis by itself therefore does not give a clear answer to the question of the names under which the patriarchs worshipped God. The conclusions that can be drawn from these statistics depends on the assumptions made about the relationships between the sources. If the sources were completely independent and from the same period, their evidence should be given equal weight. On this basis it would be right to conclude that Elohim was certainly the earliest word for God. However, it is generally supposed that J is some hundred years older than E and nearly 500 years older than P, and that the later sources know the content of the earlier sources. On this assumption only J can be really relied on. This would suggest that Yahweh was the earliest name of God, and was later displaced by Elohim and El Shaddai. This is in flat contradiction to the usual understanding of Exodus 6:3 (generally assigned to P), which states that the patriarchs knew God as El Shaddai, not as Yahweh,which was a new name revealed to Moses. Though it has been argued that Exodus 6:3 does not really mean this, and that the usual tradition misconstrues it, advocates of the usual translation point out that the P passages in Genesis nearly always use Elohim or El Shaddai (Yahweh only occurs twice in P Genesis), which suggests that P indeed meant that the patriarchs did not know Yahweh as the name of deity. Yet this explanation side-steps a major problem: how could the author of P affirm that the patriarchs did riot know the name of Yahweh when both the earlier sources J and E affirm that they did? If one supposed that the author of P was ignorant of all the material in J and E, which constitute five sixths of the patriarchal narratives, this position would be defensible. But it seems improbable, and some writers have gone further, affirming that P not only knew JE, but that these were the main sources of P. It is evident that it is impossible to discover the content of patriarchal religion without making a number of judgments on the date and interrelationship of the pentateuchal sources.
If the analysis of divine names is inconclusive, do the religious institutions mentioned in the different sources give any better clue to their relative dates and possible interdependence? Table 3 sets out the distribution of the references in the various sources.
In analysing this table two things must be borne in mind. First, the figures are not as precise as in the tables dealing with the divine names, because enumerating the number of references to such things as promises is somewhat subjective. What I have tried to do is to list the number of occasions an institution is referred to rather than the number of times a particular word appears. Thus because only one altar is meant in Genesis 35:1, 3, 7, it counts only once in the table though it is mentioned three times. Similarly the numerous references to circumcision in Genesis 17 count as one. Second, it must be remembered that E is twice as long as P, and J is three times as long. Thus to make the figures of J and E comparable with P, those of E must be halved and those of J divided by three. These results are found in the second and fourth columns.
building and sacrifice might be thought to represent his reluctance to portray the patriarchs offering sacrifice without priestly intervention. But this is unlikely, for P (Genesis) also omits reference to other institutions which did not require priests, e.g. tithing, vowing, ritual purification and prayer. Furthermore the regulations in Leviticus 1, 3 (also P) clearly envisage the layman slaying sacrificial animals. The priests simply have to sprinkle the blood and place the carcase on the altar. In view of the brevity of the references in Genesis to sacrifice, it seems unlikely that the potential usurpation of priestly prerogative by the patriarchs can be the reason for the omission of sacrifice from P. More likely it is statistical variation. The brevity of P makes it intrinsically less likely that it would give such a comprehensive coverage of the religious institutions as J or E.
Analysis of the distribution of religious institutions is thus of little use in determining the relationship between the sources or their relative age. Since everything mentioned in P is also found in J or E, P could be either earlier or later than the other sources. If, as is customary, it is assumed that J and E are earlier than P, it follows that no religious institution mentioned in the patriarchal narratives is later than the composition of these sources, for nothing is found in P which is not already found in J or E. These religious institutions could therefore date from patriarchal times.
This preliminary discussion of the question of the divine names and religious institutions has proved inconclusive, because the analysis of the material depends too much on a priori assumptions about the existence, extent, date and interrelationship of the sources. For this reason modern discussions of patriarchal religion have skirted round the source-critical problem and attempted to make comparisons between other near-eastern religions and the data of Genesis to arrive at a picture of patriarchal religion. But here again assumptions have to be made. With which type of religion should Genesis be compared? The point of comparison chosen and the individual scholar's evaluation of the reliability of the patriarchal tradition have largely determined his final picture of patriarchal religion.
lished over fifty years ago, it was not translated into English until 1966 and it still is the point of departure for modern discussions of patriarchal religion. For this reason, our survey of critical theories about patriarchal religion begins with Alt.
Alt begins his essay by surveying the problem of recovering the content of patriarchal religion. The compiler of Genesis identified Yahweh with the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac with the God of Abraham and so on. For him these were different names of the same God. But according to Alt the historical development of the religion was more complex, and often the compiler of Genesis has read his own ideas into the traditional material, thus distorting the picture of the patriarchal age.
In reality in the earliest phase of their religion the patriarchs worshipped the gods of the fathers. The oldest names for the patriarchal deities in Genesis are 'Fear of Isaac' and 'Mighty One of Jacob', alternatively described as 'the god of Isaac' or 'the god of Jacob'. A third deity is also mentioned, viz. 'the god of Abraham'. According to Alt these were three different gods worshipped by different tribes or groups of tribes in their nomadic period, ie. the patriarchal age prior to the settlement of Israel in Canaan. He tries to demonstrate the antiquity of these names by comparing them with Nabataean and Palmyrene inscriptions in Greek and Aramaic dating from the first century BC to the fourth century AD. These tribal peoples were also nomadic and they worshipped 'the god of X', where X was the name of the founder of the cult. Different tribes worshipped different deities. When a god revealed himself to a person, that person established a cult for him, and the god in question guaranteed the protection of the worshipper's group or tribe.
ted. Abraham became the grandfather, and Isaac the father of Jacob. Simultaneously the gods whom the different patriarchs served were identified with each other, so that Genesis can talk about the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac meaning the same deity. The final stage in the development of pre-monarchic religion was the introduction of Yahweh as the national God of all Israel in the Mosaic period. Exodus 3 and 6 make it clear that the God of the Fathers was first called Yahweh by Moses. The worship of Yahweh by the nation did not exclude the worship of the tribal gods, such as the God of Abraham, at the tribal sanctuaries, but in course of time Yahweh was identified with these local deities as well.
Now all the pentateuchal sources were written some time after this religious evolution was complete, and they reflect their different authors' understanding of the situation and many of the texts must be regarded as anachronistic. They reflect the later writers' concept of the patriarchal religion, rather than describing the true historical situation. Thus the references to 'the God of Abraham' in Genesis 26:24 and 'the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac' in 32:10 are just the invention of J. Alt does not give a complete list of the passages he regards as authentic reflections of the patriarchal religion, but the following five would seem to be the few that pass his critical sieve: 31:5, 29, 53; 46:3; 49:25. They are all found in the Jacob material. Though this may seem a narrow base on which to build a theory of patriarchal religion, Alt argued that it was a firm one, because the patriarchal religion he described was so similar to that of the Nabataeans, who centuries later gave up a nomadic way of life to settle on the eastern and southern borders of Canaan.
tion in its most ancient and its most developed form is the same: God revealed himself to the patriarchs; he promised them descendants; he protected them in their wanderings; and, enjoying a special relationship to him, they worshipped him and established holy places in his honour. Only in one respect was there a substantial difference between the patriarchs' religious experience and Genesis' interpretation of it. Each patriarch worshipped the particular deity who had revealed himself to him, but contrary to the assumptions of Genesis and its earlier sources, these deities were different, not one and the same God Yahweh. Though the Genesis editors try to show that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all worshipped the same God, and were therefore implicitly monotheistic, critical analysis of the tradition showed that the patriarchs worshipped different deities and the earliest form of religion was essentially polytheistic.
Later discussions of Alt's work have drawn attention to two main weaknesses in his synthesis. First, Lewy questioned his view that the patriarchal gods were really anonymous, known only by their worshippers' names, not their own names. He pointed out that old Assyrian texts from nineteenth-century Cappadocia also spoke of 'god of your/our father' as a description of the high god of Assyria. He argued that the real name of the patriarchal god was El Shaddai, and that 'God of my father Abraham' and similar phrases defined the worshippers' relationship to the deity and were not a substitute for his name. Subsequent studies have shown that phrases like 'God of my father' are well known in the Near East to describe named deities. The second weakness of Alt's approach is the remoteness of his comparative material. The Nabataean inscriptions that he cites are nearly 2,000 years younger than the patriarchal period. In the same year that Alt's article was published, the first discoveries were made at Ras Shamra, ancient Ugarit. These have revolutionized scholarly understanding of second-millennium Canaanite religion, and there have been various studies arguing that the Genesis narratives make better sense understood against this background rather than later Nabataean religion.
Of all the recent attempts to understand the religion of the patriarchs against the background of second-millennium near-eastern religion, F. M. Cross's essay 'Yahweh and the God of the Patriarchs' is the most thorough. It was first published in 1962 and was republished in an expanded form in 1973.
Cross begins by summarizing Alt's essay we have just discussed. Though he agrees with Alt's general picture of patriarchal religion as a personal clan religion based on revelation to the patriarchs, he disagrees with Alt in seeing the patriarchs' god as originally anonymous. Cross maintains that the patriarchs worshipped the high god of Canaan, namely El. In other words the passages which call the God of the patriarchs, El Shaddal, El Elyon, El Olam, etc., are not secondary later elements that were added to the tradition after the settlement in Canaan, as Alt held, but represent the original name of the God worshipped by the patriarchs. Phrases like 'the God of Abraham' are not used in Genesis because the God Abraham worshipped was anonymous, but to bring out the special relationship that existed between Abraham and his God, El Shaddai.
Cross, like Lewy, argues that since named Assyrian gods could be called 'god of your father', similar phrases in the patriarchal narrative could be taken the same way. Furthermore there is evidence of similar usage in other regions and periods, particularly among early second-millennium Amorites. He further questions whether Alt was correct in supposing that the Nabataean deity Du-Sara was originally anonymous. Since the name was unknown in Transjordan prior to Nabataean settlement, it is likely that the Nabataeans brought the name with them. But whether or not Alt's reconstruction of primitive Nabataean religion is correct, the analogy with the patriarchal period is remote and inappropriate. In Genesis the patriarchs are associated with both Mesopotamia and Egypt, unlike the desert origin of the Nabataeans, and must be presumed to have known the names of numerous deities.
the same sense, i.e. El, the Eternal. The antiquity of this name in Hebrew tradition is supported by the old poem Deuteronomy 33:27 which Cross translates: 'His refuge is the God of Old, under him are the arms of the Ancient One ( ).The second title used in Genesis that is suggestive of Canaanite El is 'God Most High ('el 'elyôn) creator of heaven and earth' (Gn. 14:19, 22; cf. verses 18, 20). The epithet 'creator of heaven and earth' admirably fits El, the principal creator God in the Canaanite pantheon, and the only god described as ( ) 'creator of earth'. However, the epithet 'elyôn is unusual. In other non-biblical texts Elyon appears as an independent god alongside El. Cross conjectures that 'elyôn of Genesis perhaps represents an early form referring to a single deity which later split to form a pair of gods.
The commonest El title in Genesis, El Shaddai, is also the most problematic. Cross argues that though it occurs mainly in the P source, there is good reason to hold that it is an authentic second-millennium name. Shaddai occurs in the blessing of Jacob (Gn. 49:25), generally recognized as an archaic poem. It also forms part of the names in the lists of princes in Numbers 1:5-15; 2:3-29. Though these lists are usually assigned to the P source, the names 'actually reflect characteristic formations of the onomasticon of the second millennium'.
Cross thinks that the best etymology of connects it with tdw/y meaning 'mountain'. would then mean 'mountain one', and certainly El was connected with a great mountain in the underworld, where the divine council met. However, El is not the only god connected with a mountain, and no Canaanite text actually describes him as . Cross suggests that may be of Amorite origin and that the patriarchs brough this epithet with them from Mesopotamia.
it explains why Aaron and Jeroboam could set up bulls as the symbol of Yahwism, for this was also the animal that was associated with El. Indeed the designation 'the mighty one of Jacob' (Gn. 49:24) could be translated 'Bull of Jacob'.
The attempt of Cross and others to interpret the traditions of Genesis in the light of Ugaritic and other near eastern sources has been widely accepted in Old Testament scholarship, and it is not hard to see why. First and foremost, he uses extrabiblical material that is relatively close in time and place to the generally received view of the patriarchs. Secondly, his synthesis presents fewer problems than Alt's to theological readers of the Old Testament. Whereas Alt held that each patriarch worshipped his own god, and these gods were not identical with each other, Cross suggests that there is a basic continuity between the God of the patriarchs (who all worshipped the same high God El) and Yahweh, the God of Moses. Thus, although the authors of Genesis have oversimplified things by claiming Yahweh appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, for they only knew God as El, theologically they are correct in identifying Yahweh with El, because historically Yahweh was an epithet of El. Cross's reconstruction thus reduces the gap between theology and history in the patriarchal narratives.
Notwithstanding broad agreement that the patriarchs worshipped El, three aspects of the Cross synthesis have been strongly challenged. First, is Elyon really an epithet of El or is he a separate deity? Those who maintain the latter draw attention to the Sefire treaty which names El alongside Elyon, and to Philo Byblius who apparently regarded Elyon as El's grandfather.
Against this Lack persuasively argued that Elyon was once an epithet of El but it later became an epithet of , and this explains why Elyon is mentioned alongside El in the Sefire text. It is part of a long historical process whereby Baal gradually took over the position and epithets of El.
indicate that El Shaddai was identical with the moon god. He points out that the patriarchs settled in Harran, an important cultic centre of the moon god, and that several of Abraham's relations had names associated with the moon.
Koch, on the other hand, believes that etymology does nothing to explain the meaning of . Its use in Job indicates that it was originally a separate name for God, expressing his nearness and protectiveness. In Genesis blesses and grants many descendants. The character of is therefore quite like Alt's gods of the fathers, and Koch suggests that the two types of deity were identified in the pre-monarchy period. Later Shaddai was identified with El giving the double name El Shaddai.
That such diametrically opposed interpretations of El Shaddai are put forward emphasizes the limits of our knowledge. With Koch one must acknowledge that the etymology of Shaddai is uncertain. Only if and when it is found as an epithet of a god in some extrabiblical text will it be possible to be more confident about etymology. However, Koch's idea that El Shaddai is a late formation is implausible. Though more frequent in P than in other sources, it also occurs in J (Gn. 43:14) and El is paired with Shaddai in early poems (Gn. 49:25, Nu. 24:4, 16).
The case for believing that El was known to the patriarchs before they reached Canaan is strong. Il = El is a well-known member of the third-millennium Mesopotamian pantheon. Whether El was ever identified with the moon god is uncertain. To judge from the names of Abraham's relations and the cult of his home town, his ancestors at least were moon-god worshippers. Whether he continued to honour this gods identifying him with El, or converted to El, is unclear.
For different reasons Haran has insisted on distinguishing between Canaanite religion and the religion of the patriarchs. He. points out that as a rule the patriarchs do not seem to have worshipped at the existing Canaanite shrines. When God appeared to them they built their own altars. This fits in with their semi-nomadic lifestyle: they generally camped outside existing towns but did not settle in them. Furthermore their worship of El Shaddai, in common with other sons of Eber (Gn. 10:21) suggests that their God was not simply borrowed from the Canaanites, but common to a wider grouping of peoples. Haran's points are well made, but their validity of course depends on the antiquity and reliability of the patriarchal traditions.
of the pentateuchal sources. He holds that JE, the oldest epic source, has been supplemented by a later priestly writer, and that P never existed in isolation as a separate document. Now on any view of the documentary hypothesis, it is strange that the latest source should represent most accurately the religion of the patriarchs: El Shaddai occurs more frequently in P than in any other source. But Cross' particular version of the documentary theory would appear to be contradicted by Exodus 6:3, which says that the patriarchs knew God as El Shaddai but not as Yahweh. Yet the J source, which P is supplementing according to Cross, often describes the patriarchal God as Yahweh. How then can P say that they only knew El Shaddai? The question will be explored more fully below.
Alt and Cross restrict their investigations to recovering the most primitive and authentic features of patriarchal religion. They are not interested in discovering how the traditions have grown in the subsequent retelling, except in so far as it is necessary to recognize such accretions for what they are, so that they may be disregarded in historical reconstruction. Alt and Cross have also paid very little attention to the promises of land, posterity and blessing that dominate the patriarchal stories. How far do these go back to the patriarchal age, or how far do they represent later vaticinia ex eventu in the light of Israel's success in the conquest and monarchy periods?
As its title suggests, the first book is concerned with defining the different types of narrative that are found in Genesis. Westermann endeavours to show that Gunkel's definition of the Genesis stories as sagas (sagen) is not quite apposite. A saga suggests that those involved are engaged in extraordinary feats of heroism designed to make a name for themselves. Westermann classes the Gilgamesh epic as saga. Whereas the patriarchal stories are essentially about down-to-earth family problems, moving house, childlessness, domestic quarrels and so on. Westermann therefore prefers to call them Erzäblungen, i.e. 'tales', 'stories'.
primeval history. This comparison with Icelandic traditions allows Westermann to affirm with confidence the antiquity of the patriarchal stories, though he holds that most of the promises contained within them are secondary additions by editors and compilers.
According to Westermann promises can be regarded as authentic (ie. part of the oldest part of a patriarchal tale) only on two conditions: first, that the promise contains only one possible element, not a combination of various elements (eg. land or descendants, but not both); secondly, that the promise is intrinsic to the narrative in which it occurs and is not just an incidental extra. The promise must resolve a tension within the narrative. On these grounds only the promises of a son to childless women in Genesis 16:11 and 18:1-15 are certainly genuine. He regards it likely that an early promise of land lies behind the present form of 15:7-21 and 28:13-15. The promises of numerous descendants developed out of blessing formulae and are not really intrinsic to the narratives. Thus all the other promises found in the patriarchal narratives represent the theological reflections of later editors. They do not go back to the most primitive version of the stories. This is particularly obvious in the case of the Jacob stories: with the one exception of Genesis 28:13-15 Westermann believes that 'the promise texts are all to be characterized as insertions, additions or short notes'.
(Mitsein), an additional type of promise (e.g. 31:3), which Westermann distinguishes for the first time in Verheissungen, may be authentic, since it reflects nomadic conditions and their need for divine protection and guidance on their wanderings.
In a final chapter he compares the promise of a son to Abraham with similar promises made to kings in the Ugaritic epic. This he thinks shows the authenticity of the son promise in Genesis. Though the same epic texts also contain promises of blessing and numerous descendants, Westermann argues that these are essentially wedding blessings and not analogous to the Genesis parallels, where the promise. comes from God, and therefore that they offer no support for the originality of these patriarchal promises.
The most positive assessment of Westermann's method has come from R. Rendtorff. In his Das überlieferungsgeschichtliche Problem des Pentateuch he accepts Westermann's thesis that the patriarchal stories were originally independent units usually lacking any promises. For Rendtorff the addition of the promises to the earlier traditions serves to unite and interpret them. He believes the promises served first to link the stories about Abraham into a cycle, and the stories about Jacob and Isaac into other independent cycles, and that at a later stage more promises were added to combine all the patriarchal stories into a large unit.
Negative reactions to Westermann have come from very different directions. On the one hand van Seters holds that Westermann's claim that most of the patriarchal tales show signs of oral origin is mistaken. Very few stories about Abraham show clear traces of oral composition. Van Seters argues that these are early fragments inserted into an essentially unified literary composition from which it is often impossible to extract the promises without spoiling the point of the story.
lels on the ground that the promises were made to kings. But this seems inconsistent with his appeal to the Keret texts to prove the authenticity of the son promise, for Keret, the recipient of the promise, was a king. And the Ugaritic texts also contain more than one promise at once: for example blessing and numerous descendants. According to Westermann such combinations in Genesis are secondary.
This brief review of modern theories about patriarchal religion has highlighted some of the many problems that beset the researcher in this area. In this field, questions of pentateuchal criticism interact with questions of near-eastern religion in kaleidoscopic fashion. The data are like pieces of a jigsaw which each scholar puts together in the way that seems best in his own eyes. More recently still, claims have been made about the Ebla texts that could affect our interpretation of patriarchal religion. In the concluding section of this essay I shall try to piece together the currently available data guided by the following assumptions: first, that the patriarchs lived in the early second millennium BC when the worship of El was dominant in Canaan; secondly, that the present form of the patriarchal narratives reflects this period, though they of course interpret the patriarchs' religious experience from a post-Sinaitic perspective.
In evaluating the work of Westermann I have already referred to the studies of van Seters (1975) and Rendtorff (1977). Both works have in common a rejection of the documentary hypothesis, preferring instead supplementary hypotheses. Van Seters, who limits himself to the Abraham and Isaac traditions, believes it is possible to identify a few pre-Yahwistic oral traditions (e.g. Gn. 12:10-20), and a few short Elohistic developments (Gn. 20:1-17), but that most of Genesis 12 - 26 comes directly from the hand of the Yahwist (J). The priestly writer made a few later additions (e.g. chapters 17 and 23). In other words van Seters sees the present form of the Abraham cycle as an essentially literary creation mainly by the Yahwist.
Rendtorff is in certain respects more traditional than van Seters, and in others more radical. He is more traditional in following Gunkel who supposed that most of the Abraham stories were originally independent and oral. However, he is more radical in rejecting the source-analysis terminology as well as its methodology.
He considers that the Abraham stories were collected into an Abraham cycle, the Isaac stories into an Isaac cycle, and Jacob traditions were collected into a Jacob cycle, and that the Joseph stories are an independent literary work. While some of the promises to the patriarchs are integral to the independent stories, others were added when the cycles were collected to create a unity between the different traditions. The three independent cycles of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were then at a later stage combined by the addition of other promises to form a large unit, on a par with the primeval history (Gn. 2 - 11), the exodus story (Ex. 1 - 15), or the Sinai pericope (Ex. 19 -24). Thus whereas the traditional documentary hypothesis divides the pentateuch into independent vertical strands, beginning with creation and ending with the conquest, Rendtorff argues that we should think in terms of horizontal blocks of material each dealing with a particular topic (e.g. Abraham, or Joseph, or the exodus), and that these have been collected together by later editors. He thinks of a light P redaction, and possibly even lighter D redaction as the final stages in the edition of Genesis.
Graphically we may represent the difference between Rendtorff's understanding of the composition of the Pentateuch and the traditional documentary hypothesis as follows.
express his own theological understanding of the events. It seems to me very difficult to distinguish between the work of the redactor of Genesis and his source material, unless one supposes he borrowed directly from one of the extant Mesopotamian flood stories.
With the patriarchal narratives it is even more difficult to know where the source ends and the editor begins. Certainly the pervasiveness of the promise themes throughout the patriarchal narratives focuses our attention on the editor's understanding of his material. And it may be that some of the promises do represent editorial additions to the earlier source material, but since these earlier sources no longer exist, dogmatism is impossible. It would seem wiser to begin with the explicit statements of the text about the editor's intentions and not rely merely on conjecture. As far as his treatment of the promises is concerned, the text is silent. But both Exodus 3 (generally assigned to E) and Exodus 6 (generally assigned to P) make explicit reference to the divine names used in Genesis. It therefore seems appropriate to begin our study with an exegesis of these passages.
Exodus 3:13-15 is translated by the RSV as follows.
Moses' question in verse 13 appears to imply that the people did not know the name of the patriarchal God of Abraham. The divine answer in verse 14 then gives the personal name of the God of the fathers. However it is not quite clear whether this name is 'I AM WHO I AM' (Hebrew 'Ehyeh 'ehyeh, verse 14) or Yahweh (verse 15). The latter seems more likely.
Exodus 6:3 clarifies the issue, if the usual translation is correct. 'I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty (El Shaddai), but by name the LORD I did not make myself known to them.' In other words the patriarchs knew God as El Shaddai, not as Yahweh. The latter name was revealed first to Moses.
For the student of patriarchal religion it is the second half of the. verse that is problematic. The Hebrew reads yhwh . The Greek and the Latin translate this clause literally: kai to onoma mou Kyrios ouk autois, et nomen meum Adonai non indicavi eis. The older targums render it equally literally: Onkelos yy , Neofiti brm tqip' yyy l' ' lhon. It is apparent then that the early translators took this verse in its plain and obvious sense, and ignored the fact that several passages in Genesis imply that God did reveal his name Yahweh to the patriarchs.
The later targum, pseudo-Jonathan, is aware of the problem though. Exodus 6:3 runs: w'tg'liti l'brhm b' 1 h' brm b'pe 1' ' ihon. (I revealed myself to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as El Shaddai and my name Yahweh but in the character of my Shekinah I did not make myself known to them.) In other words the patriarchs knew the word Yahweh, but did not experience the glory of the Shekinah usually associated with the name.
Similarly mediaeval Jewish commentators attempted to solve the problem by supposing that by his 'name' Exodus 6:3 means some aspect of his character. Thus though the patriarchs knew the word Yahweh, they did not understand the character that lay behind this name. This character was first revealed to Moses. For Rashi, the divine characteristic implied by Yahweh was the fulfilment of promises. The patriarchs received promises, but did not experience their fulfilment. For Rambam the difference between God as El Shaddai and God as Yahweh lay in the difference between the providential power of God and his miracle-working power. Thus the patriarchs simply experienced God controlling their circumstances and protecting them in ordinary natural ways, while Moses experienced supernatural miraculous divine interventions. The same sort of explanation is offered by Cassuto. He holds that El Shaddai refers to God in his character of giver of fertility, since where this term occurs in Genesis it is attached to promises of being fruitful and multiplying (e.g. Gn. 17:1-2; 35:11 etc.), whereas Yahweh means that 'He is the One who carries out His promises'. Some Christian commentators have also held that (name) really means character and this explains the remarks in Exodus 6:3. The patriarchs knew the word Yahweh, but did not experience the character implied by that name. That was first revealed to Moses.
Exodus 6:3 has been misunderstood. W. J. Martin, for example, suggests the clause should not be taken as a statement denying the name Yahweh was known to the patriarchs, but as a question implicitly affirming that they did know him as Yahweh. Verse 3 should then be translated 'I suffered myself to appear to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob, for did I not let myself be shown to them by my own name YHWH?' He points out that such an understanding of verse 3 is supported by the following verse which begins (w[e]gam) 'and also I established my covenant'. This implies that the immediately preceding clause ought to be positive, not negative as the usual translation implies. A slightly different interpretation of the syntax of Exodus 6:3ff. is offered by F. I. Andersen, but he arrives at the same conclusion as Martin, namely that the verse is asserting that the patriarchs did know the name Yahweh.
The third method of dealing with the problem, adopted by the great majority of modern commentators, is to appeal to source criticism. They understand the passage in the same way as the ancient versions: that it is denying that the patriarchs knew the name of Yahweh. They claim that the author of this passage, P, could make this assertion because in the P-material in Genesis, God introduces himself to the patriarchs as El Shaddai not as Yahweh. The two P-Genesis passages, where Yahweh is mentioned occur in descriptive narrative description, not in divine speech (17:1; 21:1b).
A fourth possibility is put forward by Childs. He holds that the revelation to Moses involved both the new name and its meaning. In other words he combines the traditional Jewish understanding with the modern critical view. 'The revelation of the name of Yahweh is at the same time a revealing of his power and authority'.
There are difficulties with each of the suggested solutions. The Jewish suggestion that the revelation of the name of God means the revelation of God's character, has problems in defining exactly what aspect of his character is expressed in the term Yahweh. Neither Rashi's explanation (that Moses experienced the fulfilment of the promises while the patriarchs did not), nor Ramban's suggestion (that the patriarchs knew only God's providence) exactly fits the data. The patriarchs did experience a partial fulfilment of the promises in the birth of children and the acquisition of burial grounds in Canaan, while Moses actually died outside the promised land. And while Moses' miracles were more spectacular, the birth of Isaac to an elderly couple seems more than the usual act of providence.
The syntactic solution is beautifully simple, but it is strange that the early translators are quite unaware of it. And the parallel passage in Exodus 3, which suggests that the name Yahweh was new to Moses, also tells against the syntactic solution.
The critical solution, which supposes that Exodus 6:3 is referring only to the priestly source, while solving one problem, creates another. How can the priestly writer who was writing after J have been ignorant of the fact that J uses Yahweh to refer to God and occasionally allows God to introduce himself as Yahweh? The older documentary hypothesis, which held that P was the earliest source and that J was a later source avoided this problem. But by dating P after J, Graf and Wellhausen have created this strange anomaly. If it is held that this verse shows that P was totally ignorant and independent of J, one is still left with the problem of the redactor's understanding of the passage. How did he relate Exodus 6:3 to the statements in Genesis? Some sort of exegetical solution is required to complement the critical understanding of this verse as Childs has rightly seen. However, objections have already been raised to Rashi's exegetical solution, which Childs tries to hold in harness with the critical view.
It could lead to a more objective exegesis of Exodus 6:3 if it could be determined whether the name Yahweh was known before the time of Moses. To this we now turn. The evidence falls into two categories: indirect evidence about the use of Yahweh in pre-Mosaic times and the testimony of Genesis. The indirect evidence all suggests that El was a well-known god in early times, but Yahweh was not. Most of this material has already been discussed; here I shall just recapitulate and add a few extra observations.
Yahweh, holds that it is to be read quite differently. Final judgment will have to await publication of the relevant texts, but at the moment there seems little evidence from outside the Bible that Yahweh is a pre-Mosaic name.
Indirect biblical evidence also points in the same direction. Personal names among the patriarchs include several compounded with El, e.g. Ishmael and Israel, but none with Yahweh. Similarly in the lists of tribal leaders in Numbers 1 and 2 there are several names compounded with El and Shaddai, but none with Yahweh. It has sometimes been suggested that Jochebed, Moses' mother (Ex. 6:20) is a Yahwistic name, but this is far from certain. The testimony of Genesis has already been surveyed in the opening section. From this it was clear that the Joseph cycle by restricting Yahweh to the narrative frame-word and using Elohim or El Shaddai in the dialogue suggests that the editor of this section held that the patriarchs did not know the name Yahweh though he believed that he was their God.
In the Abraham and Jacob cycles the picture is not so clear-cut. While Yahweh is more frequent in the narrative framework than in the dialogue, the fact that Yahweh occurs in the dialogue suggests that the patriarchs were familiar with the name. Whether this is a necessary conclusion must now be examined. Passages where two names are used together, e.g. 'Yahweh El Elyon' (14:22) or 'Adonai Yahweh' (15:2) do not need to be discussed, since it seems quite possible that Yahweh has been added to show the identity of the older name with the new name. More problematic are those passages where Yahweh occurs alone.
gies of the patriarchs in Genesis 29:31 - 30:24. Both Elohim and Yahweh are referred to, but the names given are quite unrelated to the title of deity. Within the narrative framework there is a clear tendency to mention Yahweh at the beginning and end of a scene e.g. 12:1,17; 13:4, 18; 18:1, 33, etc. The same tendency is noticeable in passages where Elohim is used in the body of the scene, e.g. 17:1; 20:18; 21:1, 33. It may be that the same logic explains the frequent use of Yahweh in the opening and closing episodes of the Abraham cycle, i.e. chapters 12 and 24.
There are in fact only four passages in the patriarchal narratives where Yahweh speaks and uses this name on its own to describe himself. The first 'Is anything too hard for the LORD?' (18:14) is a proverbial statement cast in the form of a rhetorical question. Here the divine name is quite incidental to the thrust of the question, and therefore it would be unwise to read too much into this passage about the patriarchal knowledge of the name of Yahweh. Likewise though 18:19 mentions Yahweh twice, because it forms part of a divine soliloquy explaining God's motives, this verse does not imply that Abraham either heard these words or knew the divine name.
Much more germane to our discussion is the one other divine speech which employs Yahweh without any other epithet: 'I am the LORD who brought you ( ) from Ur of the Chaldaeans' (15:7). Other divine revelations mentioning one name of God refer to him either as El Shaddai (17:1; 35:11) or 'God of your father' (26:24). The uniqueness of 15:7 suggests there may be a special reason for the use of Yahweh here. Earlier commentators tended to see verse 7 as an editorial addition designed to link the two scenes that make up Genesis 15. More recent studies tend to favour the integrity of verse 7 with what follows.
is insufficient ground for supposing that here the editor was asserting that Abraham knew the name of Yahweh.
What seems more compatible with the evidence is that the Yahwistic editor of Genesis was so convinced of the identity of Yahweh and the God who revealed himself to the patriarchs, that he not only used Yahweh in the narrative, but also more sparingly in reporting human and angelic speech. He showed even more restraint in modifying divine utterances. Often the old title of God was left unaltered. When the editor wanted to express the identity of the patriarchal God with Yahweh, he usually did it by adding Yahweh to an older epithet. Only in one case does Yahweh replace an older epithet, for which (I have suggested) there is a particular theological reason.
If this is the correct understanding of the Genesis editor's method, it sheds fresh light on Exodus 3 and 6. Taken together these passages do suggest that a genuinely new name of God, Yahweh, was vouchsafed to Moses. And this is the way the ancient translators took it. However, this did not mean that there was a clash with the Genesis traditions, because they are not always verbatim reports of divine revelation. Where it suited his theological purpose the Genesis editor could add and even once substitute Yahweh in the divine speeches. However, the great reserve with which in practice he modified the wording of the speeches of God, as far as the use of the divine names is concerned, could well extend to the promises contained in these speeches. Westermann's hypothesis, which supposes that the promises were added to the tradition with great freedom, becomes somewhat implausible. If, where the editor's method can be checked, it can be shown that he was anxious to be faithful to early tradition, as is the case with the divine names, it is unreasonable to suppose that he acted without regard to the tradition in those areas, such as the promises, where we have no controls. When it is also remembered that it was not unusual for ancient Semitic deities to make such promises as Genesis contains, there is a good case for holding that the religious statements in the patriarchal tradition are just as old as any other part of the stories.
El, who revealed himself to the leaders of the clans. In so far as the patriarchs generally lived outside the main Canaanite towns, it seems more probable that they first started to worship El in Mesopotamia, not in Canaan. The God of the patriarchs was in a special relationship to their clans: Genesis 15 and 17 describe the relationship as a covenant, which involved promises of divine protection and supplying their needs of land and children. The writer of Genesis identifies the patriarchs' El with Yahweh and prefers to use the latter term when describing divine activity, yet in reporting the words of God to the patriarchs he uses Yahweh very sparingly suggesting that he wanted to transmit the traditional form of the promises, not create divine words ex nihilo.
The patriarchs' response to revelation took the form of the traditional acts of piety, sacrifice, vows, tithes, ritual cleansing, prayer and libations. They are portrayed as men of faith, who obeyed the divine commands and believed his promises. The story of the sacrifice of Isaac which exemplifies these themes may also represent a rejection of child sacrifice, which was a feature of some types of El worship.
The type of religion portrayed in Genesis has many points in common with later Israelite practice, but this is not to prove that the patriarchal stories are simply retrojections of first-millennium ideas into a fictional past. Revelation, prayer and sacrifice are features of most pre-Christian religions. But certain aspects of patriarchal religion are so different from later practice, that to suppose the traditions were invented in the first millennium seems unlikely.
There are at least four striking contrasts between the religion of the patriarchs and later Israelite practice. First, there is the use of the term El instead of Yahweh in divine revelation. From Mosaic times onward Yahweh was the characteristic self-designation of God. But in Genesis God usually reveals himself as El. This distinction between the El revelation of Genesis and the Yahweh revelation of later times is more than a verbal contrast. The exclusiveness, holiness, and strictness of the God of Exodus is absent from Genesis. Though the patriarchs are faithful followers of their God, they generally enjoy good relations with men of other faiths. There is an air of ecumenical bonhomie about the patriarchal religion which contrasts with the sectarian exclusiveness of the Mosaic age and later prophetic demands.
the leading god in the west Semitic pantheon, yet he is never mentioned in Genesis. This is intelligible if the patriarchal tradition originated before about 1500 BC, but not if it comes from later times.
A third feature distinguishing patriarchal religion is its unmediatedness. God spoke to the patriarchs directly in visions and dreams, and not through prophets. In their turn they built altars and offered sacrifice themselves without priestly aid. Such religious immediacy fits in with the nomadic way of life of the patriarchs, but is quite different from the religion of the monarchy period where priests and prophets were the usual mediators between God and man.
The final striking difference between the patriarchal period and the first-millennium scene is the non-mention of Jerusalem. The patriarchs worshipped near other great sanctuaries Shechem, Bethel, Hebron and Beersheba, but there is no unambiguous reference to Jerusalem. The town certainly existed in patriarchal times: it is mentioned at Ebla and in nineteenth-century Egyptian execration texts. Psalms 76 and 110 identify Salem (Gn. 14) with Jerusalem, while 2 Chronicles 3:1 identifies Moriah (Gn. 22:2) with Mount Zion. But in Genesis itself there is no hint of these identifications, and this is most easily explained if the patriarchal traditions not only originated, but were committed to writing, before Jerusalem became the principal cultic centre in the time of David.
These features of patriarchal religion are compatible with an early second-millennium date for the tradition, but they would be strange if it grew up in the later monarchy period.
This essay was written at the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, during sabbatical leave there supported by a grant from the British Academy. I should also like to thank Professor F. M. Cross and Mr A. R. Millard for advice on several points.
For a thorough survey of German Protestant views in the last 100 years see H. Weidmann, Die Patriarchen und ihre Religion im Licht der Forschung seit Wellhausen (Göttingen, Vandenhoeck and Ruprecht, 1968).
The Abraham cycles consists of 12:1 - 25:18; Jacob 25:19 - 37:1; Joseph 37:2 - 50:26 (excluding the blessing of Jacob 49:22-27 which is poetry.
The bracketed figures in the dialogue column refer to divine speech: the other figure covers human, angelic and divine speech.
The references to household gods in 31:19, 30, 32, 34, 35 and 35:2, 4 are not included.
It may be asked why Genesis is so reticent about the religious practices of the patriarchs when the other books of the Pentateuch are replete with cultic details (cf. Ex. 19-40; Leviticus, Numbers, Dt. 12-18). There is a similar contrast between the books of Samuel and Kings on the one hand and the books of Chronicles on the other. The former tend only to mention religious practices in passing, while the latter describe the cult at great length. The reason for this discrepancy is clear. Samuel and Kings were edited in a period when the temple cult had become irrelevant. The bulk of the population was in Babylonian exile and unable to worship in the temple. The author of Kings regarded it as more important to explain the reasons for the exile than to recall nostalgically the elaborate temple rituals which it was no longer feasible to carry out. The author of Chronicles on rhe other hand was writing in a different situation, when many of the exiles had returned and the temple had been refounded. In order to encourage them to offer worship worthy of almighty God, he described at length the glories of the first temple in the hope that they would try to emulate the dedication of David, Solomon, Hezekiah and Josiah. It could be that a similar logic underlies the sparse details about worship in Genesis. Normal national worship is described in Exodus to Deuteronomy. The individualistic worship of the patriarchs without the aid of priests and prophets differed from later practice to much a degree that it is by and large passed over.
Chapters 14 and 49 are omitted from this analysis.
The source analysis is that of S. R. Driver, An Introduction to tho Literature of the Old Testament (Edinburgh: Clark, 1913).
Genesis 12 - 50 about 630 verses are assigned to J. about 390 verses to E, and about about 220 to P.
E.g. L. Rost, 'Die Gottesverehrung der Patriarchen im Lichte der Pentateuchquellen', VT Supp.7, 1960, p.350; S. E. McEvenue, The Narrative Style of the Priestly Writer (Rome: Biblical Institute Press, 1971); F. M. Cross, Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic (Cambridge, Mass.; Harvard UP, 1973), pp.294-295.
E.g. L. Rost, VT Supp.7, 1960, p.350.
A. Alt, Der Gott der Väter (Stuttgart: Kohlhammer, 1929) reprinted in KSI (Munich: Beck, 1953), pp.1-78, ET by R. A. Wilson in A. Alt, Essays on OT History and Religion (Oxford: Blackwell), 1966), pp.3-77. Quotations are from this English edition.
J. Lewy, 'Les textes paléo-assyriens et l'A.T.', Revue de l'histoire des religions 110 (1934), pp.29-65.
Summarized by F. M, Cross, Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic, pp.10-11.
See especially the essays of O. Eissfeldt in the bibliography and the work of Cross to be discussed next.
In Harvard Theological Review 55, 1962, pp.225-259.
In F. M. Cross, Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard UP, 1973), pp.3-75.
Cross regards the definite article in Gn.46:3 as secondary, dating from a period after the spelling was modernized and the definite article introduced in about the tenth century BC. HTR 55, 1962, p.232 n.27.
' 'elyôn also occurs in Ps. 78:35, 'an early context'. Canaanite Myth, p.52 n.29.
HTR 55, 1962, p.245; cf. M. H. Pope, El in the Ugaritic Texts (VT Supp.2, Leiden, Brill, 1955), pp.61f.
Canaanite Myth, pp.57ff., adopting with soon modification the suggestions of L. R. Bailey; JBL 87, 1968, pp.434-438; and J. Ouellette, JBL 88, 1969, pp.470f.
E.g. M. N. Pope, El in the Ugaritic Texts, pp.55-58; R. Rendtorff, 'El, Baal and Jahwe', ZAW 78, 1966, pp.277-291; R. de Vaux, Histoire ancienne d'Israel (Paris; Lecoffre, 1971), p.262.
R. Lack, 'Les origines de Elyon, le très-haut, dans la tradition cultuelle d'Israel', CBQ 24, 1962, pp.44-64.
J. Ouellette, 'More on 'Êl and Bêl ', JBL 88, 1969, pp.470-471.
Canaanite Myth, pp.57-60 and 57 n.52.
L. R. Bailey, 'Israelite 'El Sadday and Amorite Bêl ,' JBL 87, 1968, pp.434-438.
E.g. Sarai, Milchah, and Terah: // (Sin's wife) , //malkatu (Sin's daughter), terah//Ter (a name of Sin // (moon). E. L. Abel, 'The Nature of the Patriarchal God ' ', Numen 20, 1973, pp.48-59.
K. Koch, ' ', VT 26, 1976, pp.299-332.
Koch suggests this verse is a P-influenced insertion into a JE context, VT 26, 1976, p.304 n.7. Since he admits the antiquity of the poetic passages, this looks like special pleading. Some divine name is required in this verse.
See J. J. M. Roberts, The Earliest Semitic Pantheon (Baltimore: lohns Hopkins UP, 1972), p.34: 'The picture, then, that the Old Akkadian names give of Il is a portrait of a high, but gracious god, who is interested in man's welfare, and who is particularly active in the giving of children.' On Il at Ebla see G. Pettinato, BA 39, 1976, pp.48-50.
From a theological standpoint it may seem easier to regard Abraham as a worshipper of El, the high creator god of the Canaanite pantheon, than as a devotee of the moon god. However, El's character had a much seamier side; for example child sacrifice was frequently associated with his cult (Cross, Canaanite Myth, pp.25ff, cf. Gn. 22).
M. Haran, 'The Religion of the Patriarchs', ASTI 4, 1965, pp.30-55.
Haran, p.42, ascribes Baalam's use of the term El Shaddai and its frequency in Job to its currency outside Israel.
The later work includes a repcrint of the former. My reference to Arten der Erzähleng are for convenience all taken from Die Verheissungen.
Ibid., pp. 18ff. The promises of numerous descendants and blessing are never found alone, always in combination with other promises.
V. Maag, 'Der Hirte Israels', Schweizerische Theologische Umsehau 28, 1958, pp.2-28; Jhwh', VT Supp.7, 1960, pp.129-153, esp. 137-142.
J. van Seters, Abraham in History and Tradition (New Haven: Yale UP, 1975).
O. Eissfeldt, 'Der Kanaanäische El ais Geber der den israelitischen Erzvätern geltenden Nachkosvsenschaft-und Landbesitzverheissongen', KS 5, 1973, pp.50-62.
H. Cazelles, Dictionnaire de la Bible Supplément 7 (Paris: Letouzey, 1966), pp.144-145.
G. J. Wenham, 'The Coherence of the Flood Narrative, VT 28, 1978, pp.336-348.
See R. de Vaux, 'The Revelation of thc Divine Name YHWH', in J. I. Durham and J. R. Porter (eds.), Proclamation and Presence: OT Essays in Honour of G. H. Davies (London: SCM, 1970).
The dating of the targums is very difficult. Pseudo-Jonathan contains both pre-Christian and post-Islamic traditions, so its tina( redaction must be late.
See N. Leibowitz, Studies in Shemot I (Jerusalem: World Zionist Organization, 1976), pp.132-135.
U. Cassoto, A Commentary on the Book of Exodus (Jerusalem: Magnes, 1967), p.79.
E.g. C. F. Keil, Exodus (Biblical Commentary), ad loc. J. A. Motyer, The Revelation of the Divine Name (London: Tyndale, 1959).
Stylistic Criteria and the Analysis of the Pentateuch (London: Tyndale, 1955), pp.18f., followed by G. R. Driver, Journal of the Ancient Hear Eastern Society of Columbia University 5: The Gaster Festschrift (1973), p.109.
Sentence in Biblical Hebrew (The Hague: Mouton, 1974), p.102.
B. S. Childs, The Book of Exodus (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1974), p.113.
G. Pettinato, 'The Royal Archives of Tell Mardikh-Ebla', BR 39, 1976, p.48.
K. A. Kitchen, The Bible in its World (Exeter: Paternoster, 1977), p.47.
A. Archi, Biblica 60, 1979, pp.556-560.
Some discussions of the Ugaritic and Mari materials also suggested that Yahweh was mentioned in them, but this has now been generally rejected. See R. de Vaux, 'The Revelation of the Divine Name YHWH', in Proclamation and Presence, pp.52-56.
On Judah see A. R. Millard, 'The Meaning of the Name Judah', ZAW 86, 1974, pp.216-218, who suggests it may be an abbreviation of or . In the light of the other evidence, I prefer the second possibility.
Though these are attributed to P, the forms of the names are characteristically second-millennium. Cross, Canaanite Myth, p.54.
Most recently by M. Haran, ASTI 4, 1965, p.51 n.33. For a different view see M. Noth, Die israelitischen Personennamen (Stuttgart: Kohlhammer 1928), p.111 and R. de Vaux, Proclamation and Presence, p.49.
Cf. O. Eissfeldt, KS 5, pp. 52ff.
E.g. G. von Rad, Genesis: A Commentary (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1961), p.l85; R. E. Clements, Abraham and David (London, SCM, 1967), p.21; N. Lohfink, Die Landverheissung als Eid (Stuttgart, Katholisches Bibelwerk, 1967). C. Westermann, Genesis 12 - (Biblischer Kommentar, Neukirchener Verlag, 1979), pp.255-256.
This could be the point made by Gn. 4:26 'At that time men began to call on the name of the LORD, which may be paraphrased, 'Then the worship of the true God began.' C. Westermann, Genesis 1-11 (Biblischer Kommentar, Neukirchener Verlag, 1974) pp.460-463, insists that this verse is tracing the origins of worship to the primeval period, and does not necessarily indicate that the divine name Yahweh was known then.
B. Gemser, 'God In Genesis', OTS 12, 1958, pp.1-21. | 2019-04-26T11:42:31Z | https://biblicalstudies.org.uk/epn_6_wenham.html |
"I thought I was a fool to feel thus about a girl I had met for a moment in a chance ramble...but when I remembered her eyes, my wisdom forgave me." When it comes to love, a brief encounter years ago is more trustworthy than an admired photograph.
When I heard that Peter Austin was in Vancouver I hunted him up. I had met Peter ten years before when I had gone east to visit my father's people and had spent a few weeks with an uncle in Croyden. The Austins lived across the street from Uncle Tom, and Peter and I had struck up a friendship, although he was a hobbledehoy of awkward sixteen and I, at twenty-two, was older and wiser and more dignified than I've ever been since or ever expect to be again. Peter was a jolly little round freckled chap. He was all right when no girls were around; when they were he retired within himself like a misanthropic oyster, and was about as interesting. This was the one point upon which we always disagreed. Peter couldn't endure girls; I was devoted to them by the wholesale. The Croyden girls were pretty and vivacious. I had a score of flirtations during my brief sojourn among them.
But when I went away the face I carried in my memory was not that of any girl with whom I had walked and driven and played the game of hearts.
It was ten years ago, but I had never been quite able to forget that girl's face. Yet I had seen it but once and then only for a moment. I had gone for a solitary ramble in the woods over the river and, in a lonely little valley dim with pines, where I thought myself alone, I had come suddenly upon her, standing ankle-deep in fern on the bank of a brook, the late evening sunshine falling yellowly on her uncovered dark hair. She was very young—no more than sixteen; yet the face and eyes were already those of a woman. Such a face! Beautiful? Yes, but I thought of that afterward, when I was alone. With that face before my eyes I thought only of its purity and sweetness, of the lovely soul and rich mind looking out of the great, greyish-blue eyes which, in the dimness of the pine shadows, looked almost black. There was something in the face of that child-woman I had never seen before and was destined never to see again in any other face. Careless boy though I was, it stirred me to the deeps. I felt that she must have been waiting forever in that pine valley for me and that, in finding her, I had found all of good that life could offer me.
I would have spoken to her, but before I could shape my greeting into words that should not seem rude or presumptuous, she had turned and gone, stepping lightly across the brook and vanishing in the maple copse beyond. For no more than ten seconds had I gazed into her face, and the soul of her, the real woman behind the fair outwardness, had looked back into my eyes; but I had never been able to forget it.
When I returned home I questioned my cousins diplomatically as to who she might be. I felt strangely reluctant to do so—it seemed in some way sacrilege; yet only by so doing could I hope to discover her. They could tell me nothing; nor did I meet her again during the remainder of my stay in Croyden, although I never went anywhere without looking for her, and haunted the pine valley daily, in the hope of seeing her again. My disappointment was so bitter that I laughed at myself.
I thought I was a fool to feel thus about a girl I had met for a moment in a chance ramble—a mere child at that, with her hair still hanging in its long glossy schoolgirl braid. But when I remembered her eyes, my wisdom forgave me.
Well, that was ten years ago; in those ten years the memory had, I must confess, grown dimmer. In our busy western life a man had not much time for sentimental recollections. Yet I had never been able to care for another woman. I wanted to; I wanted to marry and settle down. I had come to the time of life when a man wearies of drifting and begins to hanker for a calm anchorage in some snug haven of his own. But, somehow, I shirked the matter. It seemed rather easier to let things slide.
At this stage Peter came west. He was something in a bank, and was as round and jolly as ever; but he had evidently changed his attitude towards girls, for his rooms were full of their photos. They were stuck around everywhere and they were all pretty. Either Peter had excellent taste, or the Croyden photographers knew how to flatter. But there was one on the mantel which attracted my attention especially. If the photo were to be trusted the girl was quite the prettiest I had ever seen.
"Peter, what pretty girl's picture is this on your mantel?" I called out to Peter, who was in his bedroom, donning evening dress for some function.
"That's my cousin, Marian Lindsay," he answered. "She is rather nice-looking, isn't she. Lives in Croyden now—used to live up the river at Chiselhurst. Didn't you ever chance across her when you were in Croyden?"
"No," I said. "If I had I wouldn't have forgotten her face."
"Well, she'd be only a kid then, of course. She's twenty-six now. Marian is a mighty nice girl, but she's bound to be an old maid. She's got notions—ideals, she calls 'em. All the Croyden fellows have been in love with her at one time or another but they might as well have made up to a statue. Marian really hasn't a spark of feeling or sentiment in her. Her looks are the best part of her, although she's confoundedly clever."
Peter spoke rather squiffily. I suspected that he had been one of the smitten swains himself. I looked at the photo for a few minutes longer, admiring it more every minute and, when I heard Peter coming out, I did an unjustifiable thing—I took that photo and put it in my pocket.
I expected Peter would make a fuss when he missed it, but that very night the house in which he lived was burned to the ground. Peter escaped with the most important of his goods and chattels, but all the counterfeit presentments of his dear divinities went up in smoke. If he ever thought particularly of Marian Lindsay's photograph he must have supposed that it shared the fate of the others.
As for me, I propped my ill-gotten treasure up on my mantel and worshipped it for a fortnight. At the end of that time I went boldly to Peter and told him I wanted him to introduce me by letter to his dear cousin and ask her to agree to a friendly correspondence with me.
Oddly enough, I did not do this without some reluctance, in spite of the fact that I was as much in love with Marian Lindsay as it was possible to be through the medium of a picture. I thought of the girl I had seen in the pine wood and felt an inward shrinking from a step that might divide me from her forever. But I rated myself for this nonsense. It was in the highest degree unlikely that I should ever meet the girl of the pines again. If she were still living she was probably some other man's wife. I would think no more about it.
Peter whistled when he heard what I had to say.
"Of course I'll do it, old man," he said obligingly. "But I warn you I don't think it will be much use. Marian isn't the sort of girl to open up a correspondence in such a fashion. However, I'll do the best I can for you."
"Do. Tell her I'm a respectable fellow with no violent bad habits and all that. I'm in earnest, Peter. I want to make that girl's acquaintance, and this seems the only way at present. I can't get off just now for a trip east. Explain all this, and use your cousinly influence in my behalf if you possess any."
"It's not the most graceful job in the world you are putting on me, Curtis," he said. "I don't mind owning up now that I was pretty far gone on Marian myself two years ago. It's all over now, but it was bad while it lasted. Perhaps Marian will consider your request more favourably if I put it in the light of a favour to myself. She must feel that she owes me something for wrecking my life."
Peter grinned again and looked at the one photo he had contrived to rescue from the fire. It was a pretty, snub-nosed little girl. She would never have consoled me for the loss of Marian Lindsay, but every man to his taste.
In due time Peter sought me out to give me his cousin's answer.
"Congratulations, Curtis. You've out-Caesared Caesar. You've conquered without even going and seeing. Marian agrees to a friendly correspondence with you. I am amazed, I admit—even though I did paint you up as a sort of Sir Galahad and Lancelot combined. I'm not used to seeing proud Marian do stunts like that, and it rather takes my breath."
I wrote to Marian Lindsay after one farewell dream of the girl under the pines. When Marian's letters began to come regularly I forgot the other one altogether.
Such letters—such witty, sparkling, clever, womanly, delightful letters! They completed the conquest her picture had begun. Before we had corresponded six months I was besottedly in love with this woman whom I had never seen. Finally, I wrote and told her so, and I asked her to be my wife.
A fortnight later her answer came. She said frankly that she believed she had learned to care for me during our correspondence, but that she thought we should meet in person, before coming to any definite understanding. Could I not arrange to visit Croyden in the summer? Until then we would better continue on our present footing.
I agreed to this, but I considered myself practically engaged, with the personal meeting merely to be regarded as a sop to the Cerberus of conventionality. I permitted myself to use a decidedly lover-like tone in my letters henceforth, and I hailed it as a favourable omen that I was not rebuked for this, although Marian's own letters still retained their pleasant, simple friendliness.
Peter had at first tormented me mercilessly about the affair, but when he saw I did not like his chaff he stopped it. Peter was always a good fellow. He realized that I regarded the matter seriously, and he saw me off when I left for the east with a grin tempered by honest sympathy and understanding.
"Good luck to you," he said. "If you win Marian Lindsay you'll win a pearl among women. I haven't been able to grasp her taking to you in this fashion, though. It's so unlike Marian. But, since she undoubtedly has, you are a lucky man."
I arrived in Croyden at dusk and went to Uncle Tom's. There I found them busy with preparations for a party to be given that night in honour of a girl friend who was visiting my cousin Edna. I was secretly annoyed, for I wanted to hasten at once to Marian. But I couldn't decently get away, and on second thoughts I was consoled by the reflection that she would probably come to the party. I knew she belonged to the same social set as Uncle Tom's girls. I should, however, have preferred our meeting to have been under different circumstances.
From my stand behind the palms in a corner I eagerly scanned the guests as they arrived. Suddenly my heart gave a bound. Marian Lindsay had just come in.
I recognized her at once from her photograph. It had not flattered her in the least; indeed, it had not done her justice, for her exquisite colouring of hair and complexion were quite lost in it. She was, moreover, gowned with a taste and smartness eminently admirable in the future Mrs. Eric Curtis. I felt a thrill of proprietary pride as I stepped out from behind the palms. She was talking to Aunt Grace; but her eyes fell on me. I expected a little start of recognition, for I had sent her an excellent photograph of myself; but her gaze was one of blankest unconsciousness.
I felt something like disappointment at her non-recognition, but I consoled myself by the reflection that people often fail to recognize other people whom they have seen only in photographs, no matter how good the likeness may be. I waylaid Edna, who was passing at that time, and said, "Edna I want you to introduce me to the girl who is talking to your mother."
"So you have succumbed at first sight to our Croyden beauty? Of course I'll introduce you, but I warn you beforehand that she is the most incorrigible flirt in Croyden or out of it. So take care."
It jarred on me to hear Marian called a flirt. It seemed so out of keeping with her letters and the womanly delicacy and fineness revealed in them. But I reflected that women sometimes find it hard to forgive another woman who absorbs more than her share of lovers, and generally take their revenge by dubbing her a flirt, whether she deserves the name or not.
We had crossed the room during this reflection. Marian turned and stood before us, smiling at Edna, but evincing no recognition whatever of myself. It is a piquant experience to find yourself awaiting an introduction to a girl to whom you are virtually engaged.
"Dorothy dear," said Edna, "this is my cousin, Mr. Curtis, from Vancouver. Eric, this is Miss Armstrong."
I suppose I bowed. Habit carries us mechanically through many impossible situations. I don't know what I looked like or what I said, if I said anything. I don't suppose I betrayed my dire confusion, for Edna went off unconcernedly without another glance at me.
Dorothy Armstrong! Gracious powers—who—where—why? If this girl was Dorothy Armstrong who was Marian Lindsay? To whom was I engaged? There was some awful mistake somewhere, for it could not be possible that there were two girls in Croyden who looked exactly like the photograph reposing in my valise at that very moment. I stammered like a schoolboy.
"I—oh—I—your face seems familiar to me, Miss Armstrong. I—I—think I must have seen your photograph somewhere."
"Probably in Peter Austin's collection," smiled Miss Armstrong. "He had one of mine before he was burned out. How is he?"
"Peter? Oh, he's well," I replied vaguely. I was thinking a hundred words to the second, but my thoughts arrived nowhere. I was staring at Miss Armstrong like a man bewitched. She must have thought me a veritable booby. "Oh, by the way—can you tell me—do you know a Miss Lindsay in Croyden?"
Miss Armstrong looked surprised and a little bored. Evidently she was not used to having newly introduced young men inquiring about another girl.
"Is she here tonight?" I said.
"No, Marian is not going to parties just now, owing to the recent death of her aunt, who lived with them."
"Does she—oh—does she look like you at all?" I inquired idiotically.
Amusement glimmered but over Miss Armstrong's boredom. She probably concluded that I was some harmless lunatic.
"Like me? Not at all. There couldn't be two people more dissimilar. Marian is quite dark. I am fair. And our features are altogether unlike. Why, good evening, Jack. Yes, I believe I did promise you this dance."
She bowed to me and skimmed away with Jack. I saw Aunt Grace bearing down upon me and fled incontinently. In my own room I flung myself on a chair and tried to think the matter out. Where did the mistake come in? How had it happened? I shut my eyes and conjured up the vision of Peter's room that day. I remembered vaguely that, when I had picked up Dorothy Armstrong's picture, I had noticed another photograph that had fallen face downward beside it. That must have been Marian Lindsay's, and Peter had thought I meant it.
And now what a position I was in! I was conscious of bitter disappointment. I had fallen in love with Dorothy Armstrong's photograph. As far as external semblance goes it was she whom I loved. I was practically engaged to another woman—a woman who, in spite of our correspondence, seemed to me now, in the shock of this discovery, a stranger. It was useless to tell myself that it was the mind and soul revealed in those letters that I loved, and that that mind and soul were Marian Lindsay's. It was useless to remember that Peter had said she was pretty. Exteriorly, she was a stranger to me; hers was not the face which had risen before me for nearly a year as the face of the woman I loved. Was ever unlucky wretch in such a predicament before?
Well, there was only one thing to do. I must stand by my word. Marian Lindsay was the woman I had asked to marry me, whose answer I must shortly go to receive. If that answer were "yes" I must accept the situation and banish all thought of Dorothy Armstrong's pretty face.
Next evening at sunset I went to "Glenwood," the Lindsay place. Doubtless, an eager lover might have gone earlier, but an eager lover I certainly was not. Probably Marian was expecting me and had given orders concerning me, for the maid who came to the door conveyed me to a little room behind the stairs—a room which, as I felt as soon as I entered it, was a woman's pet domain. In its books and pictures and flowers it spoke eloquently of dainty femininity. Somehow, it suited the letters. I did not feel quite so much the stranger as I had felt. Nevertheless, when I heard a light footfall on the stairs my heart beat painfully. I stood up and turned to the door, but I could not look up. The footsteps came nearer; I knew that a white hand swept aside the portière at the entrance; I knew that she had entered the room and was standing before me.
With an effort I raised my eyes and looked at her. She stood, tall and gracious, in a ruby splendour of sunset falling through the window beside her. The light quivered like living radiance over a dark proud head, a white throat, and a face before whose perfect loveliness the memory of Dorothy Armstrong's laughing prettiness faded like a star in the sunrise, nevermore in the fullness of the day to be remembered. Yet it was not of her beauty I thought as I stood spellbound before her. I seemed to see a dim little valley full of whispering pines, and a girl standing under their shadows, looking at me with the same great, greyish-blue eyes which gazed upon me now from Marian Lindsay's face—the same face, matured into gracious womanhood, that I had seen ten years ago; and loved—aye, loved—ever since. I took an unsteady step forward.
When I got home that night I burned Dorothy Armstrong's photograph. The next day I went to my cousin Tom, who owns the fashionable studio of Croyden and, binding him over to secrecy, sought one of Marian's latest photographs from him. It is the only secret I have ever kept from my wife.
Before we were married Marian told me something.
"I always remembered you as you looked that day under the pines," she said. "I was only a child, but I think I loved you then and ever afterwards. When I dreamed my girl's dream of love your face rose up before me. I had the advantage of you that I knew your name—I had heard of you. When Peter wrote about you I knew who you were. That was why I agreed to correspond with you. I was afraid it was a forward—an unwomanly thing to do. But it seemed my chance for happiness and I took it. I am glad I did."
I did not answer in words, but lovers will know how I did answer.
Add The Girl and the Photograph to your own personal library. | 2019-04-19T16:37:53Z | https://americanliterature.com/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/short-story/the-girl-and-the-photograph |
The problem of explaining consciousness is the joint property of philosophy, psychology and neurobiology, though there have been times when none of these fields much wanted it. In philosophy, the mood in the middle years of the 20th century was to deny or dissolve the problem: if we just talked about everything more clearly, Wittgenstein and Ryle believed, we’d see there was no issue. That moment having finally passed, say forty years ago, philosophy took the problem of consciousness as one of the three major challenges faced by anyone attempting a theory of the relation between mind and body. The others were the problem of ‘qualia’, explaining how the subjective feel of the mind could be a feature of a physical system; and ‘intentionality’, the fact that thoughts can be about things, and can represent objects and events, including those far removed from us. Consciousness was seen as an aspect of certain sophisticated forms of experience that have both a distinctive feel and a role in intelligent thought. Conscious thought might involve an ability to think about one’s own mental states, to perceive them as thoughts and feelings.
It wasn’t until the 1980s that scientists’ reluctance to talk about consciousness relented. Before then, if you brought the subject up, the result would be like the scene in a Western when someone says the wrong thing in a saloon and the piano suddenly stops playing. Consciousness was not a serious topic for science – it was too elusive, too much of a mess, yielding little but fruitless speculation. But in 1988, Bernard Baars put forward his ‘global workspace’ theory, that a system in the brain functions to integrate diverse sources of information for use in a slow, attentive style of thinking. We are conscious of whatever is currently in that workspace. In 1990, Francis Crick, working with Christof Koch, offered a somewhat different theory, focusing on consciousness in visual experience, and around the same time some groundbreaking experiments were undertaken by Nikos Logothetis, working with Jeffrey Schall and David Leopold. It had been known since the 19th century that if quite different images are shown to each of your eyes at the same time, your conscious experience doesn’t blend the two but flips between them. If one of your eyes is shown a face and the other is shown a house, your experience will be house, then face, then house, and so on. Monkeys were trained to use a lever to indicate which image they were seeing in just such a situation (a clever experimental feat in itself), and Logothetis and his colleagues recorded the activity of neurons in different parts of the monkeys’ brains to work out which were active when each image was being registered.
What they found was that in the ‘early’ stages of visual processing, the activity of neurons mostly reflected what was being presented to the eyes, but that deeper inside the brain were neurons whose firing was associated instead with the monkey’s report (via the lever) of what it was experiencing. In Consciousness and the Brain, Stanislas Dehaene calls this ‘the first glimpse of a neuronal correlate of conscious experience’. Dehaene is a neuroscientist with little time for philosophers. He trained in mathematics and psychology and now runs a laboratory at the Collège de France outside Paris. His message is that there has been enormous progress. With a little ingenuity, he claims, consciousness can now be studied routinely: we have several ‘signatures’ of conscious thought in the activity of the brain, and a theory, descended from Baars’s ideas, of what consciousness does for us, and why it exists.
In philosophy, meanwhile, many more people now work on the topic of consciousness, and the scope of the problem is seen much more broadly. What used to be called the problem of qualia, or the feel of the mental, is now often treated as just one facet of the problem of consciousness. In Thomas Nagel’s language, if there’s ‘something it’s like’ – something it feels like – to be you, then you are conscious. Consciousness is also, as before, sometimes seen as a special self-aware kind of thought. So today the literature often makes divisions between different senses of the term, distinguishing ‘phenomenal’ consciousness – the feel of experience – from senses that have to do with self-reflection and other cognitive phenomena.
This reorganisation was good in some ways, misleading in others. First, it was a problem that qualia were often thought of as if they were little things, atoms of experience: one quale, two qualia. This was a holdover from old philosophical theories of knowledge based on elementary ‘sense-data’ or ‘simple ideas’, dating from the time of Locke and Hume. People also liked to call qualia ‘raw feels’. Raw as opposed to cooked? The concept was a mess, as Daniel Dennett and others were witheringly effective in pointing out. But the notion of qualia, seen as separate from the idea of consciousness, did have one good feature: it naturally accommodated the idea that there might be a kind of feeling present in an organism that is less sophisticated than consciousness. This is the idea also sometimes captured in the word ‘sentience’, a good term but not one much used by philosophers or scientists. Take pain, for example: I wonder whether squid feel pain. I take this to mean: does damage feel like anything to a squid? Does it feel bad to them? This question would now be expressed by asking whether squid are ‘phenomenally conscious’ – which to me always sounds like it’s asking too much of the squid.
Psychology has long accommodated the idea that much of the processing we do to make initial sense of what we see and hear is unconscious. It would be easy to assume that this is just low-level processing – bookkeeping, number-crunching, long-term storage. If so, it’s no surprise that we don’t experience it. Dehaene, though, argues that much more than this is unconscious. Some of the sophisticated ways we respond to the meaning of what we hear, for example, can be entirely unconscious. Sequences of words can be flashed so quickly at a person that she has no idea they were there at all, yet sequences of words with incongruous meanings – ‘very happy war’ – will have been registered by the brain differently from combinations with more reasonable meanings – ‘not happy war’. We might reasonably have assumed that distinctions of this sort would have to be made in a somewhat reflective way, but that isn’t so. Consciousness, as Dehaene sees it, is not an inevitable accompaniment to perception or even intelligence, but something that accompanies a small subset of what’s in our minds.
Why is some information conscious while the rest is not? Dehaene handles this distinction with his own version of the workspace theory. Consciousness has specific tasks, specific things it’s good for, and these make evolutionary sense. First, consciousness comes into play when we are faced with novel tasks and problems, especially tasks we can handle only by bringing together a variety of information. Second, it enables us to handle time in ways that unconscious thought can’t. Take conditioning experiments. If an irritating puff of air to the eye is preceded by a tone, you will quickly learn to close your eyes when you hear the tone. If the tone is immediately before the puff, then the learning can be done unconsciously (and in rabbits, done with much of the brain removed). But if there’s a gap between tone and puff, then the conditioning will work only if you are conscious of the association between the two. Conscious thought is a special-purpose tool, not just the feeling of being a living organism dealing with the world. Consciousness also has a discrete, on-or-off character. An experience either ‘ignites’ the brain into conscious thought, or it doesn’t.
The progress that has been made on the basis of the science described in Dehaene’s book is remarkable. The British neuroscientist Adrian Owen uses brain-scanning technology to study people incapacitated by an accident or stroke. Clinicians had become familiar with locked-in syndrome, whereby a person is paralysed except for one tiny window of voluntary action, such as the capacity to move the eyelids, by which they can communicate with the outside world. This seemed distinct from the vegetative state, in which a patient is completely unresponsive; it was assumed that conscious activity had ceased entirely in such people. In 2006, Owen was able to show that in some cases that is not true, and that it was possible for them to communicate by sheer imagining. If such a person is asked to imagine tennis, or a house, we can track when the action-related or space-related areas of their brain light up (action-related if they’re thinking of tennis, space-related if of a house), and this can be used as a way of allowing them to answer yes or no questions – a deliberate, non-routine act of the sort that is always conscious in uninjured people.
From here, as Dehaene sees it, the science of consciousness is just a matter of sorting out the details. He pushes aside the queries that might arise from thinking differently about these issues: scientific progress will overwhelm residual quibbles, as it did a century ago in the case of vitalism – the idea that life can’t be fully explained by materialist biology. I think, however, that there’s more to the situation than Dehaene allows. He has taught us a lot about one phenomenon, but next door to it there is another that also needs to be explained: subjective experience in a broader sense, the feel of our lives. It seems to be a matter Dehaene would have to dismiss, given his rejection of ‘the notion of a phenomenal consciousness that is distinct from conscious access’ on the grounds that it ‘is misleading and leads down a slippery slope to dualism’. To show that it need not, it’s worth looking more closely at two features of the phenomenon Dehaene describes as consciousness, both of which he is quite emphatic about.
A ceiling fan is rattling slightly in the room in which I am reading Dehaene’s book. I think I can process the word ‘occupied’ – the last word I read before putting the book aside for a moment – while also taking in the rattle. Can I really? It does take a certain kind of settling-in, but there they are, the two of them. Maybe this is a case where the pair comprises one item? Some ways of counting items would render empty the claim that we experience only one thing at a time. I don’t think this is a problem in general, because the way we count items can depend on what task we are doing. But in this case, reading with the fan rattling in the background, I assume there’s no task at hand except that of retaining some sense of what’s going on.
Dehaene might say that such vague introspective ruminations count for nothing: there are experiments that bear on this. There are experiments, yes, but the experiments that I know of involve doing a task of some kind, a richer sort of engagement than the more passive and relaxed experiencing of word-plus-fan that I am talking about. If I had to count the clicks of the fan and also inspect the font that has been used to typeset the word ‘occupied’, I accept that I couldn’t do both tasks at once. Dehaene can insist that I do one of them at a time, with the aid of a ‘buffer’ that keeps one task waiting while I am working on the other. But if we’re talking about a more low-key kind of subjective experience, then things seem different, and the experiments I know of don’t show that my impression is wrong. I think the focus on what can be readily studied in the lab leads Dehaene to set aside – and occasionally to suppress – phenomena that are real but a bit more intractable.
The second aspect of his thinking that I want to draw attention to is related to the first. In part because of the one-item bottleneck, but also because of the tortuous route things take through our brains, Dehaene says there’s a delay between what happens and our experience of it. We think we experience events as they happen, but this is an illusion. Some delay is hardly a surprise: the experience can’t be exactly simultaneous; brain activity must take time. But Dehaene thinks that for things we consciously experience, the delay is long: about a third of a second. He thinks that as stimuli roll in to our minds, a lot of them are dealt with quickly but unconsciously, and a small subset – one item at a time – rather slowly becomes conscious.
I listen to an orchestra, with strings, brass, percussion and more. That the sound has different components may not be a problem for Dehaene – it might be seen as one item. But suppose that I single out the brass section for particular attention. Given what Dehaene says about delays, it should now sound as if it were a note or two behind the rest of the orchestra. My ear isn’t perfect, but to me it still seems in tune with the rest. If I had to do something with my experience of the brass – perform a task that involves ‘working memory’ – then I’m sure that delays would arise. But again, experiments that involve doing tasks – as most experiments inevitably will – need not tell us about other kinds of experience. Much of what Dehaene says in this area seems at odds with the simple idea that much of the time we experience a unified scene, with various things going on and eliciting our interest to different degrees. This is not merely an intuitive judgment; it is an idea central to Gerald Edelman’s neurobiological theory of consciousness, which is also in the ‘workspace’ tradition.
There is, no doubt, something real, a kind of conscious thought, that Dehaene is giving us a description of. But it does not exhaust the phenomena. We can detect another kind of experience in us, and it probably exists in other animals too. Take, once more, the case of pain. There is reasonably good evidence that fish can feel pain, and some invertebrates too, including hermit crabs and octopuses. Robert Elwood, of Queen’s University in Belfast, studies pain in invertebrates by looking for behavioural responses that go beyond reflexes and simple aversion. For example, a hermit crab will abandon a valuable shell if it receives slight electric shocks. If the shell is a particularly good one (crabs being very real-estate conscious) it takes a larger shock to get them to leave. The crabs trade off competing goals (home v. comfort) in quite a sophisticated way. Pain is something we feel; it is a kind of subjective experience. It’s not a simple concomitant of tissue damage in all animals; there’s pretty good evidence that insects, unlike crabs, don’t feel pain. They carry on after severe body damage as if nothing had happened. Crabs and octopuses don’t just carry on, though: they groom and protect the wounded area. Pain is a form of subjective experience with a clear evolutionary rationale.
Dehaene might say at this point: of course pain is real, and a different kind of subjective experience from the one he is describing. A theory of consciousness does not have to be a theory of the feel of pain. That is what I’d say if I were him. But he might say instead that his theory is meant to be a complete theory of subjective experience – of all the kinds that are real. Animals without ‘workspace’ architecture in their brains have no conscious experience, and hence can’t feel pain. That reply must deal with the octopuses and the crabs, animals with nervous systems very different from ours. Perhaps workspaces can be achieved by other means? Or perhaps Dehaene would say that these animals can’t have subjective experience at all. His book does push away from notions of subjective experience other than his preferred one, and away from the broader notion of feeling or sentience that I think has to be part of the story.
Dehaene believes that if we follow this road we will be led to dualism, to views that posit a mysterious separation between mind and body. This is because we are being asked to take seriously ‘pure mental experience detached from any information-processing role’. But I’m not describing something detached from any information-processing role, just something that isn’t tied to the particular role that Dehaene has studied. It’s also true that some philosophers have been led to dualism, or in some cases to panpsychism, by going down this road, but we need not follow them. Making biological sense of sentience is the task we face.
Vol. 38 No. 3 · 4 February 2016 » Peter Godfrey-Smith » Do squid feel pain? | 2019-04-20T02:49:16Z | https://www.lrb.co.uk/v38/n03/peter-godfrey-smith/do-squid-feel-pain |
There are loads of opinion polls asking people who they will vote for, but who do we think will win.
I'm half expecting to see a Labour minority government which will horse-trade rather than enter coalition.
Not sure what to make of the polls and I'm not inclined to be steered by any of the mainstream media.
I think the Ed Miliband visiting Russell Brand is interesting, and Cameron describing it as a 'joke' probably/potentially foolish.
I am also thinking that it might be a labour minority.
I thought Ed Miliband's decision to meet Russell Brand was odd. I don't think Ed trying to sound street did him any favours.
One area where I think Ed has been let off lightly is over Europe.
Farage wants to leave the EU.
Cameron wants to stay in the EU, but has promised a referendum.
Miliband wants to stay in the EU, but won't offer a referendum because he doesn't trust the public to make the right decision.
Ed's stance seems dangerous at a time when he is asking for votes, but the media don't seem to have challenged him over it.
I really don't know of more than a handful of people taking Russell Brand seriously except chem-trailers, lazy journos wanting a story about yet another controversy, or politicians who've run out of hoodies to hug or Arctic Monkeys to endorse, and so have alighted on another popular media construct.
His online presence is clearly popular - but then again, so are a lot of other eccentrics and conspiracy/nut job sites. I'm not saying that he hasn't managed to articulate a certain amount of things which many of us have felt at one time or another (and with the odd chuckle thrown in) but the main difference I see is that he's done it with a blend of made up words nestling amongst the unnecessary verbiage - and a guaranteed level of interest from a media with a prurient interest in where he's poked his winkle or who's grandpa he's upset this week.
However entertaining his playing the media pedagogue, it clearly doesn't mean he's got any viable alternative. Instead, in my view, his blend of mysticism and hypocrisy (the anti capitalist stand up comedian millionaire hare krishna?!) shows that he risks looking as venal as the system which both made him and which he criticises.
What really distinguishes him to me is a towering ego and self-regard which is very much the superior of any of the party leaders. Not really a model for any kind of philosophy or ideology I'd like to endorse. Which makes Milliband's cozying to him all the more simultaneously bizarre and revealing.
He's right to point out the cynicism which people have for politicians and political discourse. But its ironic that in my case, he's made it 100% deeper.
And yet, despite the hoo-ah, a lot of what he says is in defence of those with less of everything than he has.
I suspect that Ed Millibands dealing with him went something like this.
Russell Brand:Hi Ed, you know I am sup[porting you, shall we meet and do an interview.
Ed: "OK, I think that might be a good idea" (and it has been, it's been all over the media) but where will we go, would we get studio time at this late date??
why don't you just come over?, Half an hour should be long enough"
Ed: "Good idea, Thank you, see you then!"
My problem with all of them is the amount of times they use the word 'I'. I thought government and party was about collective responsibility, it makes them sound like they all have huge egos and a bit scary.
Interesting article on the BBC about the increase in the number of unopposed candidates in local elections.
In Eden District Council in Cumbria, 21 out of 38 councillors will be returned unopposed on 7 May.
Well overall election result was a surprise, didn't expect any party to come close to a majority.
Swindon less surprising. Especially Swindon South, frankly Labour deserved to lose after choosing flipping Snellgrove as the candidate.
Inclined to agree with you there Gorgon. Not that I had anything against her, but I haven't really heard a good word for her either.
Same with Ed, couldn't help thinking that even of the party thought he was brilliant top chap and all that, it doesn't really matter what they think does it, it what Joe public thinks that gets them in.
Still not looking forward to the next 5 years, but as I said to Mr Muggins this morning, by the next time we have a general election it won't matter much to me or him.
He said we were Ok, but he pitied the others on the bread line, then I pointed out to him that if anything happened to him, I'd be one of 'em, because we are living on his pension, mine is a joke, seeing as how I hardly worked - sorry, had paid work, for most of our married life.
Ah well, (sigh) I suppose I deserve to be poor seeing as how I didn't. Being a full time volunteer don't get you a pension or even the respect you'd expect.
Feeling VERY gloomy today. Not that things might have been any better under anyone else but at least we had hope - we have none now.
Looks like we'll be scraping our way to the grave and having to worry about health and welfare care too.
Avenger, I agree with a lot of what you say.
On paper the Tories have done better than they did in 2010 as they now have a small majority. In practice, the new government feels weaker. Between them the Tory-Lib Dem coalition had a decent majority. On there own the Tory majority is very vulnerable.
The divide between England/Scotland and potentially UK/EU is getting wider and is a major distraction to running the country. Cameron will be constantly looking over his shoulder.
Personally, I think Cameron was the best option available, but he has a really tough task ahead. I am not overly confident about the future, but I really feel that Ed Miliband would have been a disaster.
The collapse of Labour making England more Tory plays even more into the hands of the Scottish Nats. People may laugh at me for saying this but I think Labour have a very serious existential threat on their hands. They as a party have lost touch with the working class and their core vote. They have already lost Scotland and they are in danger of losing their Seats in Northern England if they don't reinvent themselves in the right way. The rise of UKIP in the the North of England in labour heartland I think is one of the most interesting recent political developments. Whether you agree with UKIP or not they are offering policies that have struck a chord with the concerns of working class people - uncontrolled immigration, wage compression, pressure on public services. Tony Benn, argued very cogently that the common market as it was called then was an undemocratic institution and as a democratic socialist he was opposed to Britains membership. Tony Benn would say that modern labour has lost its way and understanding of its founding principles. If Labour want to become a force again they need to get back in touch with their founding principles which are solid and apply them to the issues working people have today.
My own recommendation for labour is to reverse their policy on EU membership. Right wing parties like UKIP have a toxicity when it comes to issues like NHS and immigration but Labour would be able to tackle the immigration issue without the toxicity.
If Labour want to become a force again they need to get back in touch with their founding principles which are solid and apply them to the issues working people have today.
I think the key word there is 'working'. Labour have become the party of the non-working classes. The working classes can relate to UKIP.
This will be a tough few years for the Tories, but if they can weather those we could have a Tory government for many years. I remember thinking that winning the 2010 election was potentially a poison chalice. Whoever won was going to struggle to remain popular in times of austerity. The incumbent was always going to be in the firing line which is why I think Cameron was smart to avoid the head to head to debates. The global economy should have recovered by 2020, so that election should be easier for the Tories.
This time round Cameron has been trying to convince people that his policies are starting to work. In five years time, his successor should be bragging about how they have worked.
I liken the last few years of government with the fortunes of Man Utd. Tony Blair and Alex Ferguson both enjoyed lengthy periods of success, but knew when to quit. Gordon Brown and David Moyes were lambs to the slaughter. David Cameron and Louis Van Gaal aren't the finished article but can at least claim to be moving in the right direction. The next five years is about a steady recovery and handing a winning team to Boris and Ryan Giggs.
While the overall outcome in Swindon South and North wasn't really a surprise to me, I was surprised by the way that both candidates increased their majority.
Since the election, and following previous elections, many people complain that this government didn't get elected by a majority of the people. However this argument sidesteps the point that we don't vote for a government, a party or the prime minister.
Unless you live in the Witney constituency, you were't offered a chance to vote for David Cameron.
The local candidate gaining the most votes becomes our MP whose role is to represent the constituents in parliament. We, the public, need to remind ourselves of this, but MPs would be wise never to forget this. If we all keep this at the forefront of our mind, MPs will be forced to do the same.
I would hope that MPs will actively demonstrate that they represent, to the best of their ability, the diverse split of opinion in their constituency and not simply the views of their supporters or their party.
I didn't vote for Anne Snelgrove as I still recall all to well how her approach to being an MP was at odds with my views as stated above. In my opinion, rather than act to represent us, she considered herself to be her party's representative in Swindon. She paid the price for this in 2010 and in the recent campaign she failed to demonstrate to me that she had learned that lesson.
I'm not suggesting that this can be taken to the extreme whereby we have 650 MPs all acting in their own local interest as MPs do need to work together in order to any decisions to be taken. The key issue though is that, first and foremost, MPs need to reflect on how those decisions affect their constituency and if that is deemed to be a negative impact, it's a vital part of their job that they explain themselves to their constituents at that time.
In terms of this election result, I think that we are seeing is a sign of a country that is beginning to fragment, currently this is most pronounced with the voting patterns of England and Scotland, though people shouldn't assume that a vote for the SNP is a vote for Scottish Independence.
My own view on this is that I would have not have supported any government that relied on MPs from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in order to get English only legislation through parliament. To me it beggars belief that MPs, who have no accountability to English voters, should be given a say on English matters. Especially when you consider that, due to devolution, those same MPs have absolutely no say in deciding those same issues in their own constituency.
Many questions are being asked now about what David Cameron will do about Scotland, but at the same time he is being criticised for making statements about English Votes for English Laws. It seems that some people see this as being nationalistic language which could bring about the break up of the UK. I don't really get the later argument.
Nationalistic sentiment already existed in Scotland and Wales and this drove the devolution debates of the 1990s. What these debates overlooked, and our own MPs failed us all on, was how the move to devolution in some parts of the UK effectively watered down democracy in England.
As such I think David Cameron is heading along the right path. If he gets this right, the UK can remain in tact, but with a more federal form of governance on those issues that have been devolved. It may be that a Scottish/Welsh or N.I. government that is accountable for raising the taxes which it then spends, may cause public opinion to shift again and help to cement the benefits of being in the UK.
Any Prime Minister, of any party, could have addressed this before now and, no matter what the outcome of this election, would still have faced this issue.
From my perspective I can't remember any previous general election campaigns which were prosecuted using so many deliberately hate fuelling and divisive stratagems. On the plus side though, UKIPs' anti-immigrant, anti Europe, anti any-bloody-difference at all xenophobic hysteria didn't do much except possibly bolstering conservative votes. (I don't have any psephology to back that up).
I was quite pleased to see the Pinnochio Party pruned, Ed 'Blinky' Balls booted out and Esther McWosserface lobbed out by the Scouses (geddit?), but very disappointed that the Green surge hasn't yet turned into a Green carpet. With PR the result would have been very different for the Greens, (as it would have for UKIP and the Lib Dems), but while our antiquated FPTP electoral system continues to return majority governments neither of the two big political parties are ever going to seriously consider change. Perhaps that would happen after several hung Parliaments, so that won't happen in my lifetime.
I think 'Blue' Labour has proven itself to be an abject failure which has left many Labour voters thinking 'WTF?' and nowhere is this more obvious than in Scotland which now has just one Labour MP, with 56 out of 59 MP's now being members of the Scottish National Party. The Tories and Lib Dems are left with one Scottish seat each.
Interestingly, London now has a significant majority of Labour seats (45 out of 73) with the Lib Dems holding just one seat in the capital.
A pox on (most) of their houses!
Looking impartially at the result, locally both the best candidates won. When Tomlinson and Dempsey were on the Sunday Politics a few months ago Tomlinson was by a long way the better performer.
As far as South Swindon goes, Snelgrove was just the wrong choice of candidate, especially up against Buckland who is a very good constituency MP.
Nationally, the Tories played a blinder. I firmly believe that they frightened the electorate with their vote Millibean get Sturgeon, who lets face it is far more left wing.
Several people I know and like, know and like Anne Snelgrove - but to date, she's been unable to transfer that anecdotal reputation into the public persona I've seen. Buckland on the other hand has an excellent reputation with the people I've put in touch with him in connection with unresolved Regents Circus issues. When ever I've spoken to him - evena bout subjects on whicch our opinions differ, he has been attentive, respectful and polite. As Alligator said, there are a bunch of us who sadly can't report the same sense from our interactions with Anne.
Once again, and after looking at the utterly predictable and truly dismal performance of labour in Devizes, I cannot understand why the party didn't make the intelligent common-sense decision to select Chris Watts as the candidate for South Swindon.
Again, the electioneering scaremongering of campaigning locally on 'saving the NHS' when we have so many health workers living here who experienced her party's 'reforms' might also explain the wall she hit.
Did any of you hear about her undignified spat with Buckland after her weird electioneering speech after the result? Very odd behaviour.
I'm really confused by that statement Geoff, given that you've previously expressed some cogent and informed opinions about the functioning of our economy. You are aware that the Greens are trying to simultaneously argue for an end to austerity AND a zero growth economy AND massive extra expenditure on public services - whilst at the same time leaving the EU and levying huge taxation on imports?! No one's seriously proposing that their policies would do anything except create Zimbabwean levels of inflation and a mass exodus of talent are they?
I'm all for the Greens having presence because of their environmental lobbying power, but I'd no sooner see them get any real power into their hands than I would UKIP.
You do realise that The Greens have stated that they will introduce huge levvies on imported goods - meaning that leaving the EU would be a certainty under a Green government...?
How anybody can think the Greens are credible with their policy manifesto is beyond me - and goes to show it takes all sorts to make a world. I for one want to leave the EU in its current format because it is an undemocratic organisation and when you think of the long struggle to extend the democratic franchise in these islands I am always stunned how blasé and relaxed many British people seem to be about our current membership of the EU where only unelected politicians (commissioners) are allowed to make laws. In any case even someone without an economics degree knows that if you put a tariff on imports from another country that country is likely to reciprocate and that a free trade deal is always the preferred option.
Sadly I am less than optimistic about Britains future. I deliberately remove Great because until we become a self-governing nation again and stop this endless lack of national self-confidence our decline will continue unabated.
The only way to significantly reduce CO2 emissions is a prolonged period of economic stagnation. Green policies would require more austerity not less.
Membership of the EU offers the best chance of a green economy. Green policies place a restriction on company performance. If we are part of the EU with similar restrictions placed on competitors we have a level playing field. If we had stricter rules in the UK than elsewhere we instantly become uncompetitive.
The corporate world would happily ignore the environment in favour of profit. Introducing an EU wide rule creates a level playing field, Having a pro-green UK government would distort the playing field and screw the UK economy.
I voted for the more positive option.
I think a lot of working people also took this option. | 2019-04-23T06:27:38Z | http://www.talkswindon.org/index.php/topic,10042.0.html |
NORDUnet is a research and education network that was established between Nordic countries. On the other hand, the domain Nordu.net was registered with the aim of creating a root server at first and has become the first domain to be registered. Right now, the domain is home to the corporate website of NORDUnet.
As domain registration has become open for everybody, first ever domain with .com extension on the internet was registered by a Massachusetts based computer firm, Symbolics Computer Corporation. In those years, they used it for their corporate website. In 2009, an investment group named Napkin.com bought the domain on its 25th anniversary of registration and the group still owns it. The website, who accommodated a significant proportion of the history of the internet, is now turned into an internet museum, open for everyone.
After the registrant of the domain BBN Technology got acquired by Raytheon in 2009, the domain is forwarding to raytheon.com.
The domain which was registered by a software firm called Thinking Machines Technology was handed over, together with the firm’s remaining assets, to Sun Microsystems when the firm went bankrupt in 1994. Several years after the domain was used for a UK-wide education project in 2000, the website was shut off. Currently, no content or forwarding exist.
The domain which was first registered by MITRE Corporation, a system engineering company, has taken its place in the history of the internet as the first domain to be registered with a .org extension. The domain is still being used by the same company as a corporate website.
The domain registered by Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation is now on sale and is forwarding to a parking website.
It was sold in 2014 for $57,400; now it is forwarding to paulkocher.com.
Owned by a space and defense technologies company, Northrop, the domain is no longer in use since the company changed its name to “Northrop Grumman”.
Home to, technology firm Xerox’s corporate website for more than 25 years, the domain was registered in 1986.
SRI International which operates on multiple sectors uses this domain for its corporate website.
Hardware and software firm Hewlett-Packard uses this domain as its corporate website.
When the registrant Bellcore changed its name to Telcordia Technologies in 1999, the domain was forwarding to telcordia.com up until 2007. It is not in active use right now.
It’s being used as the website for Sun Microsystems which is owned by Oracle.
Used by IBM since the day it was registered.
Used by Intel as its corporate website.
The domain that was registered by Semiconductor Research Corporation is still being used as the corporation’s official website.
It is used by a tech firm: Texas Instruments.
This domain was used by Jason Matthews for a long time, it’s not actively used now. When the website is visited only a “hello” message appears.
It is being used by telecommunication firm, AT&T.
This old domain currently is not forwarding to any website.
A technology firm, Tektronix Inc.’s corporate website is being run on this domain.
This domain is registered by an agriculture technologies firm FMC Corporation, and still serves as the official website of it.
The domain which was first registered by a hardware network firm, UB Networks, has changed hands several times between 2007 and 2017. It is now being used by a cryptocurrency, UnitedBitcoins.
Registered by The Center for Computer Sciences, the domain still belongs to the same owner yet it’s not being used since 2004.
Belonged to Bell Atlantic Corporation, who went on to change its name to Verizon in 2000, this domain is not in use for about 10 years.
Belonging to General Electrics which was established as an energy firm, the domain acts as the official website for the firm.
This domain belongs to Grebyn Corporation, a software firm. It’s being used as the official website for many years.
Used by the firm Interactive Systems Technology at first, the domain was handed over to ISC Consultants Inc. after the former’s acquisition by the latter. Still hosts the official website.
The domain which was used by a semiconductor firm, National Semiconductor, until 2000, later started forwarding to national.com after the company’s decision to use that domain. When in 2011 the company got acquired by Texas Instrument, national.com begun forwarding to ti.com. And, NSC.com shows no content.
Belonging to Stargate Informations Technology company, which was bought by Zayo in 2008, the domain is currently forwarding to zayo.com.
Owned by The Boeing Company, the aerospace and defense firm that was established in 1916, this domain hosts the official website since its day of registration.
This domain, which is owned by Interrupt Technology Corporation, only contains a welcome page that tells the reason why the website is so plain in its design and includes a short briefing about the firm.
This is the website of technology firm Siemens that was established in 1847.
The domain, which was formerly used by a computer firm called Pyramid Technology, was forwarded for a while to siemens-pyramid.com after its acquisition by Siemens in 1995. Now it’s being used as a computer sales website.
Owned by Alpha Communications Development Corporation, the domain greets its visitors with the same welcome page for many years.
The domain which was used for the website of BDM International that was established in 1959, was forwarded for a while to a motorcycle sales website when the company got acquired in 2002 by Northrop Grumman. These days it is forwarding to ChaiTea.com, and the domain is on sale.
Owned by Fluke Corporation that was established in 1948, the domain has been used as the company’s official website since the day it was registered in 1986.
The domain which was used for a while by Intermetrics, Inc. that was founded in 1969, was used in forwarding from time to time because the company was handed over multiple times. It’s not in use right now.
The domain, that was registered by Kesmai game publishing company, formerly hosted the company’s official website. When the company was bought by Electronic Arts in 1999, the domain was forwarded to EA.com. It is now being used by a teacher.
Owned by Mentor Graphics, the domain has been used as the company’s official website since its registration. The company was bought by Siemens in 2017, yet its website and corporate identity remain the same.
Used by Japanese technology firm NEC Corporation that was established in 1899, the domain is used for the company’s official website.
The domain that was registered in the name of American defense industries firm Raytheon Company in 1986 has not been in use for a long time. In recent years, the company prefers to use raytheon.com.
Registered by Rosemount, Inc. that was established in 1956 and which now is an affiliated company of Emerson, the domain forwards to emerson.com since 2006.
Registered by a company called Vortex Technology, today the domain still welcomes its visitors with an old index.
Previously owned by a company called GTE, the domain is now being forwarded to verizon.com after its registrant was bought by Verizon.
Registered by Alcoa, Inc. that was founded in 1888 the domain still hosts the official website.
The domain that was registered by National Science Foundation Network currently welcomes its visitors with a message stating that the domain is on sale.
Registered by Adobe, the software giant that was established in 1982, the domain is still being used as the official website.
The domain that is chosen to host the official website of hardware manufacturer Advanced Micro Devices (est. 1969) performs the same function since the day of its registration.
Currently, it’s being forwarded to ergo.com by ERGO Group.
Registered by Data I/O Corporation that was established in 1969, the domain is currently forwarding to dataio.com that is the company’s official website.
Registered first by Octopus Enterprises company, the domain was on parking for several years after 2000. Due to an advertisement featuring the rivals of Octopus Travel was displayed on the parking page of the domain that changed hands in 2006, a court case was opened in 2011 (link) which resulted in the domain to be handed over to Octopus Travel. The company put the domain on sale after it took control of it and in 2016 sold the domain to its current owner Octopus Deploy. Right now, it’s being used as the official website by Octopus Deploy.
Owned by Portal Software that was founded in 1985, the domain was forwarded to oracle.com after the company was sold to Oracle.
The domain that was owned by Teltone Corporation was forwarded to leidos.com when in 2016 the company got acquired by Leidos.
Used by electronics manufacturer 3Com that was established in 1979, the domain was forwarded to hpe.com when in 2010 the company was sold to Hewlett-Packard.
Registered by a minicomputer firm Data General that was founded in 1968, the domain was forwarding for a while to emc.com when in 1999 the company was bought by EMC Corporation; and later on, it was forwarded to DollarGeneral.com.
Owned by a computer firm Amdahl, that was established in 1970, the domain is now being forwarded to Fujitsu’s website fujitsu.com after the former was bought by the latter in 1997.
The domain that was registered by Concurrent Computer Corporation is currently forwarding to concurrent.com.
Registered by Cognition, Inc., the domain is being used by CI Financial since 2005.
The domain that was registered by a software firm named Convergent is being used as the official website since the day it was registered.
Registered in the name of Peregrine Systems, Inc. that was established in 1981, the domain is being used as the official website of Peregrine Capital Management. When the old firm went bankrupt, its assets were sold to HP.
Registered by a software firm, Quadraton that was founded in 1983, the domain was put on parking in 1998, and it’s on sale since then.
The domain that was registered by Canadian software firm SoftQuad Software, is currently being forwarded to singaporeairlines.com.
The domain that was registered for Tandy Corporation that was founded in 1919, currently is not forwarding to any website, since in 1963 and 2000 the company went through a merger and changed its name to RadioShack.
Registered by Citicorp TTI, the domain is being used as a travel blog for the past few years.
Registered by a software company that was founded in 1986 with the same name, the domain still belongs to its first owner and is used as the company’s website.
The domain that was registered by state-supported The Aerospace Corporation that was founded in 1960 (in California), for research and development, is forwarding to aerospace.org after the company’s decision to use the new domain in 2012.
Registered as the abbreviation of Microelectronics Center of North Carolina the domain is still used as the website of the same institution.
The domain which was registered in 1987, is currently being forwarded to concentric.com that is used by XO Hosting company.
Registered by Carnegie Group the domain is still being used by the same company under the name of CGI Group.
The domain that was first registered by a computer consultancy firm is now registered for Anthony Holland. When the website is visited, a message comes up stating that this domain is one of the oldest domains to be ever registered, along with an index listing oldest 100 registered domains with .com extensions. 2009 was the last time this welcome page was updated.
There’s no evidence in regards to the active usage of the domain that was registered by a non-profit Internet Service Provider, New York State Education and Research Network, that was founded in 1986. Actively used website of the institution is being accessed via nysernet.org.
This domain is registered by Apple that was started up in 1976 and has turned into a technology giant lately. It is being used as the official website of the company since the day it was registered.
The domain that was registered first by Network Manifold Associates Inc. was sold in early 2018 to Napkin.com, an investment firm. It’s the same firm that owns symbolics.com. Currently nma.com contains a simple welcome page about the domain.
Registered by Prime Computer Inc. the domain was not being used after the company got acquired by some other firm in 1998. It was forwarded to a domain parking page. After the domain was bought by Amazon in early 2018, the domain is currently forwarding to Amazon’s Prime service page.
The domain that was registered by a non-profit RAND Corporation still hosts the think tank’s official website.
Registered by Skypoint Communications, the domain had an informative welcome page about the company for a long time. The domain still functions the same, with a simple framework.
The domain was registered by one of the largest home electronics manufacturers today, Philips. It accommodates the official website since then.
This domain was registered by a video processing software/hardware developer, Datacube Inc. which was established in 1978. The domain which hosted the official website until 2006, was later on turned into a premium domain listing, selling and brokering website, while keeping the same name. The domain still serves like this.
First registered by Kuck and Associates Inc., the domain was used by this company until 2002. Later on, the domain was forwarded for a long while to Intel’s website, and lastly, in 2018 a Chinese infrastructure firm started to use the domain as its official website.
Registered first by Texas Internet Consulting, the domain is still being used by the same company. The website which lastly was updated in 2004, still welcomes its visitors with a simple interface.
Registered by a company named Vine Technology the domain presently forwards to amazon.com. The company who bought the domain in 2012 later got acquired by Amazon.
The domain that was registered by a money transfer firm NCR Corporation which was founded in 1884 hosts the official website of the firm.
This domain was registered by a non-profit organization, RTI International. It is used for the corporate website since the day it was registered.
Registered by the world’s largest network technologies developer, Cisco, the domain still is being used as the official website.
The domain that was registered for Research and Development Laboratories became the official website for a long time. Later on, it was not kept active for a while and for a time it contained a welcome page; it is forwarded to Apichip.com at present.
Founded as an internet service provider in 1987, UUNet used this domain for a long time. When the company was bought by another company who later got acquired by Verizon, it kept using the same domain until 2001, yet, from then onwards it was forwarded to the website of the parent company. For the past few years it is not forwarded to anywhere.
Registered for Schlumberger Limited which was established in 1926, today the domain is still used as the official website.
The domain that was registered by ParcPlace Systems Inc. was used as the company’s website and later started forwarding to cincom.com. Today it is forwarding to cincomsmalltalk.com.
Registered for United Technologies, the domain is still being used as the official website for the same company.
Registered in 1987 and used by companies with different names, the domain is currently being used by Independent Drone Exchange.
The domain that was registered by an automobile company, TRW Inc., is being used as the official website since the day it was registered.
It was chosen as Unipress Software’s official web address. After 2006, it was forwarding to numarasoftware.com for a while and was not in use for another period. And for the last several years it is forwarding to a simple welcome page.
It belongs to an organization that was previously known as “Unix Users Group” and had to change its name to “USENIX” due to legal reasons. The official website of the organization is being published over this domain.
It was used by an internet service provider for a while. It is currently on sale.
It used by the company with the same name that dates back to 1802.
Registered for aerospace firm Lockheed Corporation that was founded in 1926, the domain hosted the company’s official website. When in 1996 Lockheed Corporation merged with Martin Mariette, the new name became Lockheed Martin, and the domain started forwarding to lockheedmartin.com.
It was used by software consultancy firm, Rosetta. At present, it is forwarding to a consultancy firm that works through sapientrazorfish.com.
This domain is used by an internet activist, John Gilmore, as a mail server. Currently, it is not forwarded to any website.
Used by a software and hardware consultancy firm for a while, the domain was used by another company in 2000. Now it hosts a website in Chinese. | 2019-04-26T16:36:05Z | https://blog.dofo.com/oldest-domain-names/ |
A pair of distant swans that flew from the colliery area to the flooded workings on 3rd April, were probably Mutes. The pair was sighted again over the colliery area the following day. Six wintering swans were present north of Shearburn & Pitts Drain from 25th November to 8th December, mainly on Goole Moor and Goole Fields, and were considered to be Whooper Swans, though this was not confirmed. A single bird that flew in to the Paraffin Cuttings on 18th December, was probably a Mute Swan.
A pair landed at the Shoulder o Mutton on 9th March and three were noted at Will Pits Scrape on 30th March. A single was present on 15th April, an adult flew north west on 17th, and on 23rd April, one was at Rawcliffe Moor. Four flew south along Swinefleet Warping Drain on 16th June. Two again passed south, over Will Pits, on 18th November.
On 14th March, 19 were present on the flooded workings with three Tundra Swans. This rose to 26 on 22nd March.
On 14th March three were present on the flooded workings with 19 Whooper Swans (SH).
Around 65 very distant geese passed west on 27th November, calls could not be heard.
On 28th February 46 calling geese passed north from over the colliery area. A party of 33 were resting at the flooded workings on 4th October, and on 11th October a skein of 150+ headed north over the Canals area. A single was present on the flooded workings with five Canada Geese and around 80+ Greylags on 9th November. On 5th December 150+ flew over Goole Moor.
Two adults with two unfledged young were present at the flooded workings on 15th May, and three young were present at the same area on 16th July. On 5th August, there were four adults with four young at the same area.
Monthly maxima were: January 66, February 6, March 26, April 13, May 13, June 12, July 10, August 80+, September 120, October 100+, November 120, December 120+.
Monthly maxima were: January 5, February nc, March 22, April 2, May nc, June 21, July 5, August 24, September nc, October 110+, November 5, December nc.
Monthly maxima were: January 1, February 6, March 10, April 12-14, May 32, June 13, July nc, August nc, September nc, October 1, November nc, December 1.
Seen mainly in January and February, with odd records in most other months, maximum was 165 on 1st January.
Monthly maxima were: January 2, February 15, March 10, April 21, May 3, June 2, July nc, August nc, September nc, October nc, November nc, December 3.
Monthly maxima were: January 130, February 100+, March 80+, April c.65, May 29, June 6, Julyc.20, August 244, September 121, October 70+, November 40, December 60+.
Ducklings were observed at both Will Pits Scrape and the flooded workings on 27th April. A female was seen with seven young on 1st June along Shoulder o Mutton Tram.
Monthly maxima were: January 200+, February 300+, March 30, April 12, May 38, June 17, July nc, August 200+, September nc, October c.200, November c.200, December 150+.
A male was seen at the flooded workings on 1st January, and two males were seen at Will Pits Scrape on 3rd January. Three female types were present on 14th September and four birds were present on 17th October, both records at the flooded workings.
A new all time maximum was set on 14th September, when 79 were present at Will Pits Scrape (RJS).
Monthly maxima were: January 11, February 6, March 39, April 34, May 13, June 12, July nc, August 48, September 79, October 20, November nc, December nc.
A male was present with Tufted Ducks at Will Pits Scrape on 3rd January and a male was at the same location on 16th February. A female was at the flooded workings on 9th March.
Monthly maxima were: January 8, February 4, March 11, April 12, May 2, June 3, July nc, August nc, September nc, October nc, November nc, December nc.
Five female/immatures were flushed from flooded workings north-west of Will Pits on 3rd January and flew south-east. Later the same day four passed high overhead travelling east, one of which was a male. A male was present at Will Pits Scrape on 19th January.
Seen mainly at Will Pits Scrape or the flooded workings. Maximum was 10 on 15th September at Will Pits Scrape (FO, BP). First and last dates were 16th March and 17th October.
Maximum of 14 was on 22nd September and 26th November.
Monthly maxima were: January nc, February 12, March 2, April 4, May 4, June 4, July nc, August nc, September 14, October 5, November 14, December 3.
Maximum of 12 was on 8th December, near Scotts disused mill. At Bank Top two adults were with their 12 newly hatched chicks on 21st July.
Monthly maxima were: January nc, February 2, March 2, April 2, May 2, June 1, July 2 and 12 unfledged young, August nc, September 10, October 8, November 10, December 12.
Maximum was c.30 on 16th February and 3rd October.
First and last dates were 9th March at the Paraffin Cuttings and 20th September at the flooded workings. Maximum was four on 16th March, with two present at the flooded workings and two at Will Pits Scrape.
An immature bird was seen on the flooded workings on 20th (BH) and 21st July (BPW), on the latter date it flew towards Will Pits Scrape.
The first was noted on 19th March, two had returned by 30th March and three were present from 4th April. By 19th April there were three, the last one was on 5th June.
An observer (RW) who was standing on the observation stack at the eastern part of the flooded workings saw a juvenile Northern Gannet come in very low over his head from the north-east at 13.30 on 10th October, before it turned and headed off low north-west over Goole Moor. What was undoubtedly the same juvenile must then have turned back to its original heading of south-west as it flew low over Fisons Road at Creykes towards the Paraffin area at 14.00, and continued on that heading till out of sight. This is the third moorland record (BPW, SP).
All records came from the flooded workings, the first being of one going east over the flooded workings on 12th April and two heading east on 17th April. In May, one flew over on 8th and three came east over the western edge of the moors before heading off high north-west on 21st; three were seen later the same day over the northern edge of the moors before heading east. Three flew east on 1st June, with a further three going over west on 23rd August. Three birds, which may have flown off the water at the flooded workings, were flying north on 27th October.
Usually encountered singly, with records of two being uncommon. Two were seen going north over Green Belt on 26th May and a further two were noted heading east over the flooded workings on 11th July.
Sites given for raptors are general. Usually only the first area of observation is stated, except where sites were very far apart. A comma between records of the same date means separate records. Depending on views, the same bird of prey may be recorded differently by different observers. Totals are the minimum possible numbers, calculated for all areas, plumages and observers for that day. For example with Marsh Harrier, which may be recorded as a female by one observer and as a cream-crown by another, is counted as one bird, therefore only the minimum possible number of birds per day is assumed. All are adult birds, unless otherwise stated. Some birds remain not aged and/or sexed due to distance or poor views.
There were 74 records, a good increase on last year; arrival was earlier than last year, and they remained to the years end.
There were 36 records, a good increase on last year; they remained later in the year and returned earlier than last year.
A male was flushed from the ground clutching a live male Blackbird, near the Paraffin area on 13th October, the Sparrowhawk released its grateful prey as the observer approached and it flew off. Breeding was noted at the northern end of Crowle Moor.
Monthly maxima were: January 2, February 2, March 1, April 2, May 1, June 1, July 1, August 2, September 2, October 3, November 2, December 1.
Recorded every month. Maximum was five in the air together on 11th April.
Monthly maxima were: January 2, February 3, March 4, April 5, May 4, June 3, July 1, August 2, September 3, October 2, November nc, December 2.
There were 37 records, a few more than last year, they arrived on the same date as last year and remained later. There were few sightings of juveniles this year. Best viewing is from the observation platform, or from Fisons Road looking north over the flooded workings.
There were 50 records, which is a large increase on last year.
Widely recorded throughout the moors, usually singly, maximum number was three on 12th January, with one heard at Will Pits Scrape and two seen separately along Middle Moor Tram at the junction at Pony Bridge Marsh.
A common and widespread species, with the highest count being 30+ on 6th February.
Monthly maxima were: January 1, February 30+, March 13, April 13, May 7, June 3, July 5, August 2, September 4, October , November nc, December 6.
There were no records for the period outside end of March to end of July. Maximum count was 10 at Will Pits Scrape on 27th April.
Generally waders are found at the flooded workings north of Fisons Road, unless otherwise stated.
Occasional single birds are seen as on 25th February, 12th April, 9th May, 26th May and 16th June. Two were seen on 25th May and a party of eight were seen at the flooded workings on 9th August, before taking off east (WHP).
On 24th July, at 12.40, BPW was at work driving a tractor along a route immediately south of Goole Moor Tram, and had reached a point directly north of the Shoulder o’ Mutton. Something ran on the dusty peat ahead and to the left of the tractor, and then flew up 3-4m from the ground and headed left at right angles to the observer. After stopping the tractor, the area where the bird had landed was viewed, this was around 150m away in pioneer Heather Calluna vulgaris (c.10cm tall), but there was no further sign as the bird had presumably crouched and frozen. BPW was certain that it was a Stone-curlew and phoned out news to several people at the time. The area was searched later after work with optics but the bird could not be relocated.
English Natures staff were asked for permission to release the news to the bird information services (the procedure we have to follow upon finding a rare bird), I also phoned local birders and told my work colleagues. I was informed that I must not release news to the general public, only local birders, and that there would be serious consequences if I did. The reason given for withholding the news was because Scott’s used the area in question for running large machinery about the moor (as I was doing) and this not only created a great deal of dust, but could pose health and safety risks if large crowds gathered.
On 27th July, at 13.00, RJS phoned BPW, to say he had re-located the Stone-curlew in the original area and had seen it as close as a few metres! BPW and AM then joined RJS and got excellent views as it fed along the water’s edge, sometimes running plover-like and at times becoming motionless for some minutes, sometimes squatting but always alert. After around 45 minutes KB arrived and viewed its head as it again rested crouched behind a small rise. Observations continued a while longer before we all departed, no one else was expected or did turn up, despite our continued attempts to contact local birders.
The last observation of the bird was by ML on the evening of 28th July, in the original area. It was last seen by him to fly low across the county boundary (Blackwater Dike) from Goole Moor, East Yorkshire to Thorne Moors, South Yorkshire and out of sight, it was not possible to tell if it landed.
The bird was a colour-ringed juvenile, with a red plastic ring on the left leg and green ring above orange on the right leg; the bird was almost certainly ringed in East Anglia by the RSPB (awaiting confirmation from the RSPB Stone-curlew Project Officer). This is the second site record following an observation of an adult bird on 17th June 1990. A description has been submitted to the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union Ornithological Section Reports Committee.
Records came from the flooded workings north of Fisons Road and the colliery spoil mounds. Breeding took place in an area of flooded workings south of Fisons Road, where a nest with four eggs was located on 20th June. Subsequent sightings followed and included an adult on the road giving an injured wing display on 17th July, which strongly suggested the first chick had hatched (BPW). A single chick was seen with an adult on 22nd and 23rd July (SG). First and last dates were 17th April and 23rd August.
Sightings were from the flooded workings. Maximum count for spring passage was of 16 on 21st May, counts for autumn passage were lower with six on two dates, 31st August and the last date, which was the only record from Will Pits Scrape. First and last dates were 25th March and 20th September.
Flocks are often found on fields surrounding the moors, especially those to the south where 250 were located on 12th January. A flock of up to 200 were in fields towards Inkle Moor through most of October. Landed parties at the flooded workings are uncommon, but 20+ were landed there on 23rd November. Otherwise larger counts are restricted to parties over-flying the moors between their feeding fields. Around 150 flew south across the moors on 23rd December.
A calling bird headed west on 3rd January.
Maximum count was on 10th August.
Monthly maxima were: January 10, February 48, March 17, April 6, May 10, June 9, July 140+, August 800+, September 60+, October 100+, November nc, December 39.
Three on 9th August were followed by one on 3rd September, with a further single on 20th September.
A full summer adult was seen on 3rd August at the flooded workings.
Passage in spring and autumn was in low numbers with few counts in double figures; the years maximum was 20 on 22nd August.
Monthly maxima were: January nc, February nc, March 2, April 10+, May 2, June nc, July 8, August 20, September 7, October 17, November 1, December 3.
All but the last record was in August, with eight on 9th, two on 14th and seven on 22nd and 23rd. Lastly two were at the flooded workings on 14th September.
A single was at the west end of the Shoulder o Mutton Tram on 10th October. One was along Goole Moor Tram on 20th October. Two were found by a small pool of water on Goole Moor, and were very approachable, on 2nd and 3rd December. One was along Canal 6 at the Eastern Boundary Tram on 28th December.
A displaying bird was observed at the Southern Canals on 5th April. Five were heard drumming from the observation platform on 14th June.
Monthly maxima were: January 18, February 2, March 5, April 3, May 3, June 1, July 1, August 11, September 4, October 6, November 3, December 3.
Sometimes seen before dawn in wooded areas, as along Fisons Road through Will Pits on 12th January (two), 2nd (four), 3rd (two) and 12th April (one). Also seen in other areas as at Crowle Moor with one on 23rd February, and along Elmhirst Tram with one on 14th December.
On 9th May 12 were observed at the flooded workings with 50 seen later flying south from the colliery spoil mounds. A single was seen on 1st June. A flock of 13 flew around widely on 28th July. At the flooded workings poor views of eight were seen as they flew south on 29th July and two were seen there on 9th August. Finally 36 were in the same area on 23rd August.
One was flushed from the west end of the flooded workings on 27th April and one flew north-west on 3rd August.
Spring passage was very light with no more than two on any date, commencing with a single at the flooded workings on 9th March. Two pairs attempted breeding north-west of the Shoulder o Mutton; and four were seen there on 13th April, with at least one pair successful. An adult and young were seen on 3rd and 4th June, and two other adults were seen elsewhere. Autumn passage was also light with generally singles seen as on 9th August, and the maximum was four north on 27th August.
Single figures observed throughout the year, no signs of attempts to breed were noted, except for two giving display on 21st May and display flights on 28th April.
Spring records provided low counts, with the first being of three on 17th April. Return passage commenced with two on 28th July, and the last record was a single on 24th September. Maximum was eight on 10th August.
Found by Jon OMally, Julie Blake, Martin Stoakes and Karl Stoakes at around 17.00 on the evening of 27th April, on a large shallow flooded area immediately north of Fisons Road near Green Belt. WHP, BPW and KB and at least 10 other birders observed it at 18.15, with two Common Greenshanks and one Common Redshank, it was watched on the ground, in flight and was heard to call. The bird remained until dark on this first date (RJS).
On 28th April, the bird was present in the place it was originally found. The bird flew off twice in an 11 hour observation, once at 13.00 with three Common Greenshanks, returning unobserved, and again at 13.50 high north-north-west, returning unobserved. It remained the rest of the day and was photographed by John Harriman.
On 29th and 30th April and 1st May it was observed in the same original area and last sighting was on 2nd May, when a single Wood Sandpiper was also present. At least 300 visitors were counted over these days. This is an addition to the Thorne Moors species list. Descriptions have been sent to BBRC and await a decision.
There was a single bird in the first half of the year, on 17th and 18th April. There were a few more records from July onwards, with mainly singles encountered. Maximum was five on 28th July, with three at Green Belt Scrape and two at the flooded workings. Singles were seen into winter.
Two were observed at the west end of the flooded workings on 30th April, with a single present in the same area on 2nd May. Autumn passage provided a single at the flooded workings towards the west end of the Shoulder o Mutton Tram on 12th September, and a single nearby on 23rd October.
A few records of single birds were obtained on 29th April, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 9th and 22nd August.
Except for Black-headed Gulls, landed gulls were only ever found at the flooded workings north of Fisons Road, unless otherwise stated. This is also the area where gulls roosted, though many gulls would land, bathe, preen and drink before continuing to a different roost site, which was often north-east towards the River Humber. Other gulls did not stop at all and just over-flew to/from other roost sites. This was more often the case in mornings when gulls had departed their roosts and were eager to reach feeding grounds. Counts of gulls were not made systematically.
A first-summer with pinkish underside was with Black-headed Gulls at their colony at the flooded workings immediately north of Fisons Road on 21st May. A second paler first-summer bird was later seen at the same place (RJS).
There were three main colonies this year, and conservative counts of sitting birds were taken in May. This put breeding numbers at 400 pairs at Will Pits Scrape, 408 pairs at the flooded workings north of Shearburn & Pitts Drain, and 80 pairs at the flooded workings north of Fisons Road. This gives a total of 888 pairs, which is well down on last years record count of 1400 pairs, but nevertheless the second highest ever breeding count. The first chicks were noted on 21st May, when one was present at Will Pits Scrape. Roost counts outside the breeding season were few, the best being 139 to roost on 4th January.
Monthly maxima were: January 139, February 108, March 470, April 1017, May 1776, Junec.1776, July nc, August nc, September nc, October 100+, November 7, December 6.
Two visits were made to ring young this year and 365 pulli were ringed at Thorne (PB).
Of birds ringed in previous years the following account and records are given. Four young were ringed as pulli (nestlings), the first two were also colour ringed (red darvic ring, white letters). Using colour ringing we have had three sightings involving two birds both of which were wintering in the Gloucester area. The last two birds were metal ringed only, but the same observer managed to read the metal ring numbers for both birds. These were the first to Eire. Note the rapid movement made by EG89896.
Often observed over-flying the moors, or on marginal fields between Whaley Balk and Inkle Moor. Records of landed birds from the peat moors are infrequent and only single-figure day counts were obtained.
Monthly maxima were: January 6, February 1, March 4, April 1, May nc, June nc, July nc, August 1, September nc, October nc, November 1, December 8.
The commonest species of gull in summer (May-September) and regularly roosts on the moors. Observed roosting on the moors from late June onwards, the years highest count was from a roost at the west end of the flooded workings on 7th July.
Monthly maxima were: January nc, February nc, March 2+, April 85+, May 300, June 200, July 600, August nc, September 400, October nc, November nc, December nc.
Generally the commonest non-breeding species and regularly roosts on the moors. The years highest counts were associated with roosts. Some unseasonably high counts, as in May, are associated with large movements of gulls from wintering areas to breeding areas, these late stragglers are often immature non-breeders. The years highest count on 22nd January was of birds coming in to roost on the moors.
Monthly maxima were: January 1168, February 123, March 10, April 40, May 600, June nc, July nc, August nc, September 30, October 10, November 137, December 70.
Again unseasonably high counts can be due to large movements of gulls from wintering areas to breeding areas, often involving immature birds. Other large movements can be caused by large changes in the weather, particularly with regard to wind strength and direction. The years highest count was a conservative count from an early predawn roost at the west end of the flooded workings on 23rd May, when c.600 Herring gulls were also present.
Monthly maxima were: January 129, February 23, March 2, April 130, May 150, June nc, July nc, August nc, September 1, October 3, November 12, December 29.
A single flew north-east over Green Belt at 8.00 on 1st June; this was followed by a party of 10 heading east over the flooded workings 20 minutes later.
Feral birds were present year round in small numbers. At the colliery 11 were present on 26th January.
Generally small numbers counted at the west side of the moors, maximum was 30+ on 3rd October.
Highest count was on 14th November.
Monthly maxima were: January 570, February 120, March 30, April 3, May 23, June 15, July nc, August nc, September nc, October nc, November 600+, December nc.
Small numbers were sometimes seen at Top Moor Farm, the colliery road-bridge and Jones Cable. Records from the peat moors were two on the ground at Scotts shed, Bank Top, on 8th May. Two flew west on 3rd October. A leucistic bird was seen at Jones Cable on 10th August (RJS).
Maximum was four on 28th July. Area maxima were: Canals (three), Will Pits (two), colliery area (including south-western edge) (three), Elmhirst Wood (one), Rawcliffe Moor (one), Green Belt (one), Goole Moor (one), Cassons (one), west of Pony Bridge Wood (comp. 66) (one), Alder Woods (one), Canal Towpath (one) and (east end) Jones Cable (one). This gives a possible maximum ofc.17 males present. First and last dates were 1st May and 1st September.
Not as common this year as last with four being the maximum. First and last dates were 25th April and 4th June.
A series of records between Bank Top to Red House Farm and towards Crowle started with a single at the ruins of Scotts disused mill. One was at Bank Top on 8th April, one was at Red House Farm on 11th April. There were three further sightings all of single birds between Red House Farm and the fields towards Crowle on 13th and 15th October and 10th November.
Seen between Bank Top to Red House Farm, with another station on the west side of the moors at Top House Farm. At the former site all records were of single birds on 17th April, 13th, 15th, 21st, 29th and 30th October. At the latter site near Creykes singles were observed on 29th May, 1st and 4th June and 30th October, on the 4th June the owl had a mouse spp. in its talons. On 7th July, four were seen at Top House Farm.
One or two adults were heard from the colliery area, Will Pits, Elmhirst Wood, Rawcliffe Moor, Green Belt, Goole Moor, Paraffin area, Woodpecker Wood, Cassons and Yorkshire Triangle. Breeding took place in Will Pits.
Again records were received from a wide variety of areas, with one observed quartering the southern end of Snaith & Cowick Moor (around the S bend of Fisons Road) on 8th April. One was flushed from a tree on the edge of Goole Moor in the early part of the year and again on 10th and 18th April. Possibly the same bird or pair was observed in the same area on 2nd May, and on 30th May the first young were heard, in the Canals area. One was observed from the observation platform on 14th June. In winter, on 5th November, one was seen before dawn flying along a ditch at Red House Farm.
On the evening of 19th January one was seen over fields east of Crowle Moor (SH).
Surveys were conducted on nights between the end of May to the first week of June and from the second week of July to the second/third week of July. This revealed a total of 29 males, which is the same number as last year (BPW et al.). First and last dates were 16th May and 30th August.
Monthly maxima were: April 280, May c.300, June 1, July c.300, August c.60, September 20+.
One was present at the Western Boundary Drain in the colliery area on 5th January, and on 1st February one flew from Jones Cable west over the Newfield Estate, Moorends. One was at the railway delves at the colliery road fly-over, Inkle Moor, on 27th August, and possible the same was seen at Whaley Balk on 31st August. Singles were seen at the Paraffin track gate (Durhams Warping Drain) on 18th August and 4th September. A single was seen along the Western Boundary Drain in the colliery area on 15th December.
The maximum count was four on 12th January and 13th April.
Maximum number was three on 5th December. Drumming was heard at Will Pits on 9th March, and young were heard at a location there on 26th May, when a pair of adults was in attendance.
There were three records of single birds. The first was a male in the colliery footpath willows Salixat 13.00 on 5th January (RW). A single male was at English Natures shed near Will Pits Scrape on 6th and 7th April (SH).
Following the successful return of breeding Common Stonechats in 2001, now comes the first confirmed breeding of Wood Lark since 1950. WHP noted singing and displaying birds on 3rd, 4th and 19th April. Other observers also noted the pair on 27th and 28th April (carrying food both dates) (ML) and 4th May when a singing male was present (RJS). The final outcome for any young is not known.
The years maximum count was on 30th September.
Monthly maxima were: January 4, February 18, March 8, April 9, May 4, June 4, July c.7, August nc, September 32, October 20+, November nc, December 6.
The years maximum count was on 29th August. First and last dates were 30th March and 1st September.
Monthly maxima were: March 5, April 7, May 1, June 1, July 10, August c.350, September c.150.
Monthly maxima were: April 30+, May 15, June 1, July 10+, August 100, September 22, October 15.
The years maximum count was on 29th August. First and last dates were 27th April and 22nd September.
Monthly maxima were: April 8, May 5, June 1, July 1, August 50+, September 8.
All records (virtually all of singing males) are listed for this declining species. There was an estimated five-six pairs, slightly up on last year.
The years maximum count was on 2nd September.
Monthly maxima were: January 5, February 5, March 18, April 26, May 10+, June 9, July nc, August 50+, September 100+, October nc, November 26, December 8.
Maximum was 30+ on 23rd August. First and last dates were 15th April and 20th September.
The highest moorland counts were on 13th April and 22nd August. A nest containing four eggs was accidentally destroyed (by work vehicles) at Shearburn & Pitts Drain on 6th June.
Monthly maxima were: January 1, February 2, March 8, April 10, May 6+, June 2, July 6+, August c.10, September 9 (also 20+ Moorends Recreation Ground), October nc, November 1, December 3.
Monthly maxima were: January 64, February 13, March 10, April nc, May (88), June (26), July nc, August nc, September nc, October nc, November nc, December 1.
Monthly maxima were: January 6, February 1, March 4, April 3, May 4, June 1, July nc, August 3, September 4, October nc, November nc, December 4.
Monthly maxima were: January 10, February 6, March 8, April nc, May 21, June 14, July nc, August nc, September nc, October nc, November nc, December 1.
Nine singing males held territories, territorial singing was very low this year, and the reasons for this remain unresolved. All but one of the males fell silent shortly after their first arrival, and they were not heard again on any other survey dates. Males were at Will Pits (four), colliery area (one), Green Belt (one), Limberlost Tram (one), Goole Moor (one) and Elmhirst Wood (one). First and last dates were 24th April and 5th June.
At least one pair bred along the south side of Fisons Road, with up to six birds seen on the last date. First and last dates were 1st May and 1st September.
Seen mostly in more open areas such as the flooded workings, Middle Moor, and the Canals area, in summer and winter. A pair was also present at Pony Bridge Marsh during the months of January and October. Maximum was three on several dates. One pair held territory, at Mill Drain/flooded workings, with a juvenile seen there on 1st September, and an immature was seen with a pair of adults on 21st October.
Maximum was 10 on 30th April, with two at Goole Moor, three at the S bend on Fisons Road, four at Snaith & Cowick Moor and one on the field track to Creykes. First and last dates were 8th March and 2nd October.
One was seen in flight only over Middle Moor from the observation platform on 9th May.
Monthly maxima were: January 29, February 20, March 9, April 10, May (21), June (3), July 5, August 3, September 4, October 10+, November c.20, December 12.
Highest counts were associated with roost gatherings, with the maximum on 9th November. Last and first dates were 15th April and 10th August.
Monthly maxima were: January 250, February 72, March 190+, April 100, May nc, June nc, July nc, August 1, September nc, October 500, November 678, December 25+.
Singing males were present at colliery area (one), Inkle Moor (one), Will Pits (four), Green Belt (one) and Canals (two). This indicates a total of eight pairs present for these areas.
Highest counts were associated with roost gatherings, with the maximum on 12th October. Last and first dates were 30th March and 3rd October.
Monthly maxima were: January 52, February 15, March 50, October 68, November 51, December 3.
Moorland records were: one at Creykes on 16th May, two flying along Fisons Road west of Will Pits on 21st May, one over Cassons on 28th September and two perched at Northern Goole Moor on 20th November. Maximum count was of four at the colliery on 24th May.
The following counts are not census counts and should not be treated as such, they are not all from the same date. They are instead estimates by area from throughout the breeding season. Some counts represent the highest counts of breeding males ever recorded, but they have not been counted using proper census techniques and should be used with caution elsewhere. However, even if some species have been inadvertently over-counted in some areas, for most species large areas of the moors have not been covered at all, so perhaps the estimates are not too far out.
Maximum number was seven, on 9th May. Area maxima were: south-western edge of the moors (two), colliery area (two), Mill Drain Marsh (one), Green Belt (one), Canals (one), Will Pits/Scrape (two), Pony Bridge Marsh (one), Paraffin area (one) and Middle Moor (one). This gives a possible maximum of 12 males present. First and last dates were 18th April and 5th June.
The maximum was 12 on 26th May. Area maxima were: Green Belt (one), colliery area (three), south-western edge of the moors (three), Mill Drain/Marsh (two), Will Pits (three), Will Pits Scrape (two) and Middle Moor (one). This gives a possible maximum of 14 males present. First and last dates were 18th April and 1st September.
A maximum of eight was recorded on 25th May. Area maxima were: colliery area (two), Shoulder o Mutton Tram (one), south-western edge of the moors (five), Paraffin area (one), Southern Canals (seven), Green Belt (three) and Will Pits (two). This gives a possible maximum of 21 males present. First and last dates were 27th April and 2nd September.
Area maxima were: Northern Canals (one), Southern Canals (one), colliery area (one), Green Belt (one), Goole Moor (two) and Jones Cable (two). This gives a possible maximum of eight males present. First and last dates were 27th April and 2nd September.
Found in most areas, the maximum count being 24 on 20th May. Area maxima were: Shoulder o Mutton Tram (one), Pony Bridge Tram (three), colliery (three), Will Pits (five), Will Pits Scrape (two), Goole Moor (two), south-western edge of the moors (nine), Canals (24), Green Belt (two), flooded workings (three), Creykes (one), Colliss Tram (four), Jones Cable (six) and Middle Moor (two). This gives a minimum of 67 (42) males present since many areas had no counts. First and last dates were 3rd April and 20th September.
A maximum of five on 15th May all in Will Pits. Area maxima were: Woodpecker Corner (one), Pony Bridge Tram (one), colliery area (one), Green Belt (one), south-western edge of the moors (one) and Will Pits (seven). This gives a possible maximum of 12 males present. First and last dates were 28th April and 2nd September.
Highest count was 10+ on 19th April. Area maxima were: colliery area (one), Green Belt (one), Rhododendron Path (three), Will Pits (eight), Canal Towpath (one), Will Pits Scrape (two), Jones Cable (one), Pony Bridge Wood (three), Southern Canals (two), Snaith & Cowick Moor (one), south-western edge of the moors (six). This gives a possible maximum of 29 (19) males present, an all time equal record with 2001. The first and last dates were 5th April and 4th October.
Highest number was 23 on 13th April. Area maxima were: Will Pits (nine), Middle Moor (one), Creykes (one), colliery area (four), Green Belt (five), Jones Cable (two), Mill Drain (one), Southern Canals (three), Crowle Moor (five), south-western edge of the moors (eight), Pony Bridge Wood (one), Limberlost Wood (five), Paraffin area (three) and Woodpecker Wood (two). This gives a possible maximum of 50 males present, an all time record. First and last dates were 14th March (of two, which were the first arrivals in South Yorkshire and second in Yorkshire BPW) and 14th November.
A widespread species found wherever there are trees or bushes. A count on 19th April that covered the colliery area, the Canals, Will Pits and Will Pits Scrape, estimated 80+ singing males present. Area maxima were: Will Pits (12), Shoulder o Mutton (one), Southern Canals (25), south-western edge of the moors (17), Pony Bridge Wood (10), Pony Bridge Marsh (six), colliery area (four), Rawcliffe Moor (one), Mill Drain (one), Middle Moor (one), Will Pits Scrape (five), Goole Moor (one), Woodpecker Wood (one), Green Belt (three) and Jones Cable (two). This gives a minimum of 85 (64) males present since many areas had no counts. First and last dates were 27th March, the earliest ever (WHP) and 2nd September.
Maximum was c.15 on 17th October. Last and first dates were 30th March and 31st August.
A single juvenile was observed along the south-western boundary path of the moors, on 1st September.
Three were together in Common Reed Phragmites australis at the flooded workings on 15th February (SH).
Highest count was of c.50 on 17th October, with several other counts in double figures. A pair was carrying feathers for nest building at Green Belt on 23rd March.
Monthly maxima were: January 36, February 37+, March 8, April 4, May 13, June nc, July nc, August c.20, September 21, October c.50, November 3, December 19.
Maximum was 10 on 25th August.
Monthly maxima were: January 2, February 5, March 6, April 5, May 4, June 1, July 2, August 10, September 6+, October 3, November 4, December 4.
A single was observed at the northern part of Crowle Moor on 15th September. One was present at the Yorkshire Triangle on 23rd November and one was present in the colliery area on 4th October.
Maximum count was 28 on 16th February.
Monthly maxima were: January 20, February 28, March 10, April 6, May 5, June 1, July nc, August 4, September 3, October 4, November nc, December 10.
Maximum count was 10+ on 22nd August.
Monthly maxima were: January 9, February 9, March 8, April 6, May 13, June nc, July nc, August 10+, September 6, October nc, November nc, December 5.
One or two seen in wooded areas; maximum was four on 18th April.
Monthly maxima were: January 1, February 1, March 2, April 4, May 3 (4), June 2, July 2, August 2, September 2, October 2, November 2, December 2.
Highest counts were associated with roosts, especially in the colliery/Inkle Moor area, as was the highest count of c.25 on 12th September.
Monthly maxima were: January 19, February 8, March 8, April 10+, May 5, June nc, July nc, August 2, September c.25, October c.15, November nc, December 5.
A single flew east over Jones Cable on 23rd March. Three flew over the Paraffin area in the company of other (silent) corvids, heading south on 17th September. In October: on 11th two flew north over the Canals, and on 17th, 10 flew east over Will Pits Scrape in the company of a Rook and one was also seen flying north over the Canals.
A single bird flew over the south-western edge of the moors on 30th March. One flew over the colliery area on 27th April. One flew east over Will Pits Scrape in the company of 10 Eurasian Jackdaws on 17th October.
Highest counts were associated with roosts, especially at Will Pits or the flooded workings. Maximum was 68 on 16th March.
Monthly maxima were: January 10, February 16, March 68, April c.43, May 16, June 1, July nc, August 6, September 22, October 40+, November nc, December 20.
Recorded mainly at Jones Cable, the colliery and at the flooded workings. Maximum was 240 on 23rd January, flying from the colliery area over Inkle Moor.
Monthly maxima were: January 240, February 3, March 3, April 11, May 25, June 1, July nc, August 1, September nc, October 200, November 40, December nc.
No records from the peat moors, but four were at Red House Farm on 12th September. Four were at Jones Cable on 21st May and eight were in the colliery road area on 29th May.
Maximum count was of 608 dispersing from a roost in the colliery area on 12th January.
Monthly maxima were: January 608, February 90, March 13, April 21, May 30, June 14, July nc, August nc, September 11, October 32, November 76, December 260+.
At Bells Pond, one flew over calling on 14th October. At Elmhirst Wood one flew overhead on 28th December.
Maximum count was of 118 dispersing from a roost in the colliery area on 22nd January.
Monthly maxima were: January 118, February 60, March 3, April 2, May 4, June nc, July nc, August 3, September 3, October nc, November 55, December 10+.
The years maximum was 70+ at the colliery area on 25th July.
Monthly maxima were: January 3, February 2, March 4, April 6, May 6, June nc, July 70+, August 50+, September 12, October 10+, November nc, December 7.
Mostly encountered at the Alder Woods or south of there towards the Paraffin and colliery area and also at Woodpecker Wood and Will Pits. Two left a roost in the colliery area on 12th January, with other finches. On 20th September, one flew over Bells Pond and on 28th the species was heard overhead at Cassons and two were seen heading south-west. One flew over Green Belt on 4th October and one was near the Paraffin area on 10th.
Feeding birds were often found anywhere along Fisons Road, or at the flooded workings.Small flocks could be found in setaside at Whaley Balk during the winter months. The years maximum however was c.200 at Inkle Moor on 4th October.
Monthly maxima were: January 2, February 1, March 10, April 24, May 39, June 26, July c.60, August 50+, September c.100, October c.200, November nc, December 28.
One was seen on 30th March, at the western side of the moors, along the part of Fisons Road that leads north (RJS). Six were present on bare peat at the flooded workings on 9th December (RW).
The years maximum was of 20+ at Will Pits Scrape on 23rd November.
Monthly maxima were: January 6, February nc, March 1, April 6, May nc, June 1, July 1, August 1, September 5, October 16, November 20+, December 1.
A single calling bird was heard as it flew west over the Rhododendron Path on 23rd August (WHP).
The year’s maximum was nine on 16th March.
Monthly maxima were: January 7, February 7, March 9, April 6, May 8 (9), June 1, July nc, August 2, September 5, October 4, November 4, December 4.
The highest count of the year was five on 3rd October.
Monthly maxima were: January 2, February 2, March 3, April 2, May (6), June nc, July 2, August 3, September nc, October 5, November 1, December nc.
Highest count of the year was of 43 on 8th January, 42 of which were together in a colliery area roost at the edge of English Natures setaside field at Whaley Balk.
Monthly maxima were: January 43, February 27, March 21, April (24), May 12, June 11, July nc, August 5, September 8, October nc, November nc, December 9.
A singing male was observed on telephone wires at houses on the edge of Crowle Moor on 9th May.
Richard Atterby, Julie Blake, Philip Bone (PB), Kevin Bull, N.C. Dawtrey, Steve Gee, Martin Limbert, Robert Hall, John Harriman, Brian Hibbard, Steve Hiner, John G. Hitchcock, Peter Hinks, Andy Marshall, John O’Mally, Frank Oates, Stanley Oates, Stuart Parkin, Brian Pepper, Alan Potter, William H. Priestley, Colin Rook, Richard J. Sprakes, Martin Stoakes, Bryan P. Wainwright, Robert Watson, Darren Whittaker. | 2019-04-25T02:55:52Z | http://birdingsiteguide.com/index.php/other-items/86-annual-reports-papers/664-thorne-moors-bird-report-2003 |
Contacting Us. When you provide us with information in connection with a particular activity or otherwise sign up for our Services or provide your contact information, including an email address or telephone number in connection with that activity, product or service, you agree that this action constitutes a purchase or inquiry establishing a business relationship with us. You expressly consent to our communicating with you about Savings.com using the information you provided to us. You also attest that you have the legal authority over any telephone number you provide to us and can provide us with the authorization to contact you. This means we may contact you, in person or by recorded message, by e-mail, telephone and/or mobile telephone number (including use of automated dialing equipment), text (SMS) message, or any other means of communication that your wireless or other telecommunications device may be capable of receiving.
Registration Information. We will collect personal information from you if you register on our Site or voluntarily provide information about yourself in your profile (“Personal Information”). You do not have to register to use our Services, download our Browser Extensions or access coupons on our Site. Upon initial registration you will be asked to provide a user name and zip code so we can identity your locality by city and state (“Regional Location”), or more specific location for certain applications available on Savings.com Applications, as more clearly spelled out in this policy (“Geolocation”), to serve you offers that are suited to you and where you live or are currently located. Your user name will be disclosed on all our public forums as well as your Regional Location which will be reflected by the zip code that you provide. You will have an opportunity to confirm or change your General Location without use of a zip code during the registration process. You will also have the opportunity to indicate your interests by answering questions about the types of goods and services you are interested in and your favorite brands and stores so that we can better serve you savings and offers for exactly what interests you (“Interests”). Savings.com reserves the right to deny, in its sole discretion, any user access to the Savings.com Applications or Services without notice for any or no reason.
Surveys and Promotions. From time-to-time we may request information from you and other users via surveys or contests or sweepstakes. Participation in these surveys, contests or sweepstakes is completely voluntary so you and other users have a choice whether or not to disclose this information. The requested information typically includes contact information (such as name and address), and demographic information (such as zip code). Contact information and other information as required by the official rules may be used to notify the winners and award prizes and file winners information as required by law. Survey information will be used for the purpose(s) of the survey, including the monitoring or improvement of the use and satisfaction of Savings.com Applications.
Facebook. You may be given the option to link your Facebook account so that you can comment on the Savings.com Applications or take advantage of other features of the Savings.com Applications. When you comment on the Savings.com Applications using your Facebook username and password and clicking “allow” on the Facebook permission authorization screen, you give us permission to capture, store, use and display your Facebook user ID, your basic Facebook profile information and any other information from your Facebook profile that you specifically allow us to access. The authentication of your Facebook login credentials are conducted solely through Facebook.
Social Media Platforms. If you use Facebook or other social media platforms or applications to interact with Savings.com Applications, the social media platform(s) may have a specific privacy statement that governs the use of Personal Information related to that platform or application. In addition, we use Janrain to support our social network platforms and if you provide permission on any particular site, information from your social networking accounts may be forwarded to us. If you wish more information about how your information can be transferred to us from Janrain visit http://janrain.andculture.cc/privacy-policy/.
Geolocation Services. It is possible that we may ask you if you wish us to collect your Geolocation in order to offer you real-time deals nearby and will maintain information about your geolocation to facilitate your serving such real time deals to you. In addition, when you have the geolocation software running on your mobile phone, computer or other device, we may collect that information as controlled by your privacy settings on those Devices. We will not share your exact Geolocation or use your exact Geolocation for any other purpose.
User Generated Content. The Services may contain review or chat areas and/or other message, communication or other mechanisms designed to enable you to communicate with others or to post content on the Site (the “Interactive Services”). Please remember that any information you disclose while participating with the Interactive Services becomes public information, and is subject to redistribution by, Savings.com and all others viewing the information. You should exercise caution and discretion when deciding to disclose your personal information in a submission or posting. There is no expectation of privacy when posting, or otherwise participating on the Interactive Services. If you post content, such as messages, reviews or photos, please be aware that any personally identifiable information contained in such content is accessible to registered users or visitors to that Savings.com Application or Communication Service and we have no control over how those users may use your personally identifiable information. We have the right, but not the obligation, to monitor any activity and content associated with the Interactive Services. We reserve the right to take action in connection with any content we deem to be inappropriate. Please review our Terms of Servicefor more information regarding your appropriate use of these Interactive Services.
In addition to any Personal Information or other information that you choose to submit to us, we and our third-party service providers may use a variety of technologies that automatically (or passively) collect certain information whenever you visit or interact with the Savings.com Applications, including without limitation, the URL that referred you to the Savings.com Applications (“Affiliate Referral Urls”) or other marketing or distribution sources, all of the areas within the Savings.com Applications that you visit, when you view, purchase, or redeem coupons or accept offers accessed through our Services, the comments you make through our Interactive Services, and how you otherwise use our Services and which offers are of interest to you (“Usage Information”). We may use the this Usage Information for a variety of purposes, including to enhance or otherwise improve the Savings.com Applications. In addition, we collect your IP address or other unique identifier (“Device Identifier”) for your computer or other device used to access the Savings.com Applications (any, a “Device”). A Device Identifier is a number that is automatically assigned to the Device used to access the Savings.com Applications, and our computers identify your Device by its Device Identifier. Usage Information may be non-identifying or may be associated with you. When you download and use our Brower Extensions we will also collect information from our affiliates and our merchants based upon the sites you visit, the coupons you redeem, and other web sites you may have visited or Affiliate Referral Urls and will store those Affiliate Referral Urls and a list of our merchants who provide savings through our Services on your Device to assist us in providing you with coupons and savings that are of interest to you. We will also collect Location information or Geolocation information to ensure we serve you offers and coupons for products and services available to you in your location. Whenever we associate Usage Information, Location information, Geolocation information or a Device Identifier with personally identifiable information, we will treat it as Personal Information.
Web Beacons. Small graphic images or other web programming code called web beacons (also known as “1×1 GIFs” or “clear GIFs”) may be included in our web pages and messages. Web beacons may be invisible to you, but any electronic image or other web programming code inserted into a web page or e-mail can act as a web beacon. Web beacons or similar technologies may be used for a number of purposes, including, without limitation, to count visitors to our Savings.com Applications, to monitor how users navigate the Savings.com Applications, to count how many e-mails that were sent were actually opened or to count how many particular articles or links were actually viewed.
Web Logs. Like most standard website servers, we log Device Identifiers and the operating system of your computer and may track your movement and redemption within the Savings.com Applications, the pages from which you were referred, access times and browser types in order to improve security, analyze trends and administer the Savings.com Applications. We use this information in the aggregate to gauge the effectiveness, usage, and popularity of our Savings.com Applications, track information for statistical purposes, help diagnose and troubleshoot server malfunctions, analyze trends, track user movement in the aggregate, and gather broad demographic information and track traffic and sales to our partner merchants. We may also use individual information we collect through web logs to send you targeted offers and other communications.
If you send someone else a communication from the Savings.com Applications, such as sending an invitation to a friend, the information you provide (names, e-mail addresses, etc.) is used to facilitate the communication and is not used for any other marketing purpose unless we obtain consent from that person or we explicitly say otherwise. If that person becomes a customer or registers with us, his/her information will be treated in the same manner as all other customers or registered users. Please be aware that when you use any send-to-a-friend functionality on the Savings.com Applications, your e-mail address may be included in the communication sent to your friend.
Transactional Communications. We may send you notices from time to time relating to your account or your orders. These may include order confirmations, invoices or customer service notifications. We may also send you service-related announcements when it is necessary to do so; for instance, if our Service is temporarily suspended for maintenance, or the delivery of a coupon is delayed or there is some service issue with something you may have ordered. You may not opt-out of receiving these communications, which are not promotional in nature.
Strategic Partners. We have entered into agreements with merchant partners to enable us to provide our Services in connection with sales of goods and services from our merchant partners, such as the redemption of coupons we provide on Savings.com Applications. In certain situations we may provide your information to those companies informing them of your registration or to investigate a claim or inquiry regarding any benefit you may make pertaining to our Services and your interactions with those companies. Since these third parties will use your information in accordance with their own privacy practices, you should check their websites for information regarding their respective privacy policies.
Service Providers. We may use third party service providers to help us operate our business and the Savings.com Applications or administer activities on our behalf. We may share your information with these third parties for those limited purposes.
Electronic Promotional Offers. We may send you promotional emails regarding special offers about our Services or on behalf of third party marketing partners who we think can offer services and products of interest to you but we will not share your email address with any third parties. If you do not want to receive emails regarding special promotions or products or services, you may (i) Update your email preference Settings by visiting www.savings.com/, click on, clicking “Edit Profile” and then click on “Manage my notifications” and then selecting “None” under ” Newsletters”or (ii) Click the unsubscribe link in the body of any email.
Please note that even if you opt out of receiving promotional e-mails, we may continue to send you electronic service notifications that are related to your registration, your profile or other services you have requested.
Direct Mail Promotional Offers. We may sell, share or rent your name and mailing address and certain other information, such as what you ordered, with reputable companies that provide marketing offers through direct mail. If you do not want us to sell, rent or share your Personal Information with other companies so that they can send you direct mail offers about their products and services, please write to us at the street address set forth at the end of this document or click here. If you prefer not to have your name and mailing address shared with third parties, send an email to the above address with “No Rent” in the subject line. If you choose to opt-out via e-mail, please include “Direct Mail Opt-Out” in the subject line. Please note that even if you opt out of receiving promotional direct mail offers, we may continue to send you service notifications that are related to your account(s) and other products and services you have requested or in which you are currently enrolled by direct mail.
Sweepstakes, Contests and Promotions. We may offer sweepstakes, contests, and other promotions (any, a “Promotion”) through the Savings.com Applications that may require registration. By participating in a Promotion, you are agreeing to official rules that govern that Promotion. If you choose to enter a Promotion, Personal Information may be disclosed to third parties or the public in connection with the administration of such Promotion and as required by law or permitted by the Promotion’s official rules.
Legal Matters; Safety. We may, without your consent, access and disclose your information, any communications sent or received by you (including, without limitation, the contents of any chat, messaging, or other communication posted in the Interactive Services), and any other information that we may have about you or your account as may be permitted or required by law (including, but not limited to, court order or subpoena), or to prevent or investigate suspected fraud, violations of our Terms of Service or activity that appears to us to be illegal or may expose us to legal liability. Additionally, we may disclose your information and/or communications in situations that we believe to be: (i) emergencies involving potential threats to the physical safety of any person or property if we believe that your information in any way relates to that threat; or (ii) your conduct on the Savings.com Applications or when using the Interactive Services that we believe is inappropriate and inconsistent with generally accepted norms of behavior.
If you prefer not to receive electronic promotional communications, you can also opt-out by following the unsubscribe instructions included in each communication.
Security. Please keep in mind that no data transmission over the Internet, wireless transmission or electronic storage of information can be guaranteed to be 100% secure and therefore we cannot ensure the security of any information you transmit to us, and your use of the Site indicates that you are willing to assume this risk.
California’s “Shine the Light” law, Civil Code section 1798.83, requires certain businesses to respond to requests from California customers asking about the business’ practices related to disclosing personal information to third parties for the third parties’ direct marketing purposes. Alternately, such businesses may have in place a policy not to disclose personal information of customers to third parties for the third parties’ direct marketing purposes if the customer has exercised an option to opt-out of such information-sharing. We have such a policy in place. If you do not want us to send you emails regarding special promotions or offers or share your Personal Information with other companies so that they can send you emails about their products and services, simply follow the unsubscribe instructions that are located at the bottom of those emails or you can click here to manage your email marketing preferences. If you do not want us to send you any offers from third parties through direct mail or share your Personal Information with other companies so that they can send you direct mail offers about their products and services, please write to us at the street address set forth at the end of this document or click here. California customers may request further information about our approach to this law by contacting Customer Care or writing to us at the address below.
Children’s Privacy. The Savings.com Applications are intended for a general audience and are not directed or intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect Personal Information from individuals under 13 years of age. If you are under 13 years of age, you should not register or provide Personal Information on the Savings.com Applications. If we later obtain actual knowledge that a user is under 13 years of age, we will take steps to remove that user’s Personal Information from our systems.
Copyright ©2012 Savings.com, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2019-04-20T16:58:39Z | https://www.savings.com/favado/privacy-policy/ |
For Wittgenstein and the Vienna Circle, much of philosophy was mere nonsense. Then came Frank Ramsey’s pragmatic alternative.
Vienna in the 1920s was an exciting place. Politically, it was the time of Red Vienna, when the municipal government experimented with radical democratic reforms in housing, healthcare, education and worker’s rights. There was optimism in the air, despite postwar hyperinflation and rising conservatism. It was also an exciting time intellectually, for one of the most influential movements in the history of philosophy was in full swing: the Vienna Circle.
They were a group of philosophers, mathematicians and physicists who gathered around the German philosopher Moritz Schlick, and included luminaries such as Rudolf Carnap, Otto Neurath and Herbert Feigl. The Circle put forward an ambitious programme that would have all knowledge constructed out of an objective foundation of observation and deductive logic. Their ‘verifiability principle’ would assert that a meaningful sentence had to be reducible, via truth-preserving logic, to a basic language of observation statements. Metaphysics, ethics, religion, and aesthetics were either to be revised so as to be stated in this scientific language, or else declared meaningless – mere nonsense. These new scientific philosophers were socially progressive, at home in Red Vienna, and they saw themselves as intellectually progressive as well. Unfortunately, others all too readily concurred, such as the fascist student who gunned down Schlick on the steps of the University of Vienna in 1936.
Theirs was an idea whose time had come. A similar group was developing in Berlin, with Hans Reichenbach and Carl Hempel as its most prominent members. In Cambridge, Bertrand Russell had also been arguing that philosophy must proceed by a logical analysis that bottoms out in simple, metaphysically fundamental existents in the world. But it was Russell’s Viennese student Ludwig Wittgenstein who most intrigued the Circle with his first book, written mostly during the First World War on the perilous Eastern and Italian fronts, where he was ultimately taken as a prisoner of war.
Schlick told Albert Einstein Wittgenstein’s book was the ‘deepest’ work of ‘the new philosophy’. The Vienna Circle adopted it as a kind of founding document. They noticed, but swept under the rug, the fact that Wittgenstein’s account of nonsense differed from their own. While the Circle tossed large swaths of metaphysics and ethics – the questions of life – into the bin, Wittgenstein thought that they transcended, and were more important than, the elementary language. Despite this tension, Wittgenstein was engaged with the Circle right up to Schlick’s death.
After the war, it took Russell three years of effort to get Wittgenstein’s manuscript out of Europe. It was first published in a German journal, Annalen der Naturphilosophie (uncorrected by its author, with typos and mistakes), and then placed into the hands of a translator. That was the 18-year-old Frank Ramsey, a brilliant Cambridge mathematics undergraduate who would become famous as a pioneer of subjective probability theory, decision theory, two branches of economics, Ramsey Theory in pure mathematics, and a vast number of philosophical innovations.
The relationship of this remarkable young man to the Vienna Circle is a fascinating moment in the history of philosophy. It is, however, largely misunderstood. Once we see it aright, the way is cleared to a promising alternative position about truth and knowledge, one that might have had a tremendous influence on the Vienna Circle, had things unfolded differently.
The Circle listed Ramsey in their Manifesto of 1929 as one of those ‘sympathetic’ to their mission, and this is still a frequently expressed opinion. But it simply isn’t true. Ramsey, young as he was, pulled against Russell, Wittgenstein and the Vienna Circle, who at the time were engaged in a quest for certainty and purity. In contrast, Ramsey sought conceptions of truth and knowledge that had their basis in what would work best for human beings. He called himself a ‘pragmatist’, after the founder of the American tradition of pragmatism, Charles S Peirce (1839-1914). While Peirce too was committed to taking experience seriously, and to declaring abstruse metaphysics meaningless, he thought that truth was what would best fit with human experience and knowledge – a conception of truth miles away from the reductionist theory typified by the Vienna Circle.
Ramsey’s translation of Tractatus was published in 1922, with Wittgenstein making line-by-line revisions by post. In September 1923, Ramsey spent a fortnight with Wittgenstein, in his home in the mountains close to Vienna. During this marathon conversation about the Tractatus, Ramsey was relieved to find his ‘Critical Notice’ of it, which was already in press, was still right. In the summer of 1924, Ramsey went to Vienna for six months, to be psychoanalysed (he was paralysed about relations with women), and to spend more time with Wittgenstein. He was introduced to Schlick by Wittgenstein’s sister Gretl (of the famous Klimt portrait) and he soon met another Circle member, the mathematician Hans Hahn, who arranged for him to use the university library.
What they found most interesting was Ramsey’s extension of Wittgenstein’s notion of tautology. Like all empiricists, the members of the Vienna Circle struggled to say just why the statements of logic and mathematics are legitimate, since they cannot be verified by experience. In the 18th century, David Hume had invoked a too-convenient separation of matters of fact and relations of ideas, with the latter (which included the mathematical and logical) simply being exempted from the observational criterion.
Almost a century later, John Stuart Mill had made an unsuccessful attempt to treat mathematics as an observable science. The Circle was happy to find the first part of their own answer in Wittgenstein’s idea that the truths of logic are tautologies. That is, they are true come what may, and hence stand away from the empirical standard of meaningfulness. Ramsey’s idea was that mathematics also consists of tautologies. The Circle adopted these two moves as the turning point in their philosophy.
While the Circle was discussing ‘The Foundations of Mathematics’, Ramsey was writing a new paper, ‘Facts and Propositions’. It was published in the 1927 Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, and was mentioned in the Manifesto as another of Ramsey’s sympathetic papers. In it, he utilised Wittgenstein’s conception of tautology in a novel way. Wittgenstein had argued (in Ramsey’s words) that a logical truth ‘excludes no possibility and so expresses no attitude of belief at all’. From here, Ramsey arrived at one of his most fruitful insights. Beliefs exclude possibilities, and that is how we can tell one belief from another. What it is to believe a proposition is, in large part, to behave in certain ways, and to take various possibilities as either alive or dead. It is of the essence of a belief that it has a causal impact on our actions, and we evaluate beliefs in terms of how well they work. In a paper written at the same time, ‘Truth and Probability’, he went on to argue that some habits are a better basis for action than others. Truth is linked to usefulness.
Schlick and Ramsey remained in contact after Ramsey’s time in Vienna. In 1927, Ramsey invited Schlick to present a paper at the Moral Sciences Club, a discussion group at the University of Cambridge, and they both got along very well. Presumably, Ramsey kept to himself his opinion that Schlick’s The General Theory of Knowledge contained some ‘sad rubbish’; his first impression remained steady throughout his life: ‘He didn’t seem to me much of a philosopher, but a very nice man.’ But despite this ongoing contact, Schlick and the rest of the Circle seemed to be unaware that Ramsey was moving at speed away from their project, that he was developing a pragmatic outlook that clashed with their attempt to construct the world out of logic and observation.
In the 1950s, Carnap and Hempel were still seeking to articulate that constructionist project. The idea was that classes of experience are constructed from individual time-slices of sensory experiences, then concepts (such as ‘blue’) are built up, then objects, and then higher concepts. But what about unobservable entities such as electrons? Or scientific laws and theories that make generalisations about what is observed – and go well beyond it? The solution was again found in Ramsey.
In ‘Theories’, a paper he wrote in 1929, Ramsey argued we can indeed construct a scientific theory from simple observational facts, using a set of axioms and a dictionary that translates the primary language into the secondary, theoretical, language. But he is clear that these definitions are not necessary for the ‘legitimate use of the theory’. It is merely ‘instructive’ to show how such definitions could be constructed. Part of the instruction is to show how it might be done, for Russell, Carnap and others ‘seem to suppose that we can and must do this’. But part of the instruction is negative: Ramsey thought that the project wouldn’t work.
Scientific theories presented another problem for the Circle. How does the theory of mass change or get improved upon? On their explicit-definition account, it seems that every time the theory changes, we change the meanings of the terms in the older versions or refer to new, different entities. Ramsey thinks this shows that ‘the dictionary alone does not suffice’, unless we are happy with a finite, primary system much less rich than the theory itself. All ‘useful theories’ must have ‘more degrees of freedom’ than the primary system. There would be no point in having a secondary system – no point in having a scientific theory – unless it went beyond a catalogue of the current facts. That is, Ramsey showed Carnap’s project – as he understood it from Carnap’s work The Logical Construction of the World (1928) – could be completed, but would be no good at all.
He then made a new move, which Carnap and Hempel would pick up in the 1950s, after the strict definitional approach had indeed proved too limited. We can elucidate the role of theoretical terms such as ‘electron’ in a long and complex formal sentence that contains both theoretical and observational terms. The sentence will start with: ‘There are things we call electrons, which …’, and then go on to tell a story about those electrons. We assume that there are electrons for the sake of the story, just as we assume that there is a girl when we listen to a story that starts: ‘Once upon a time there was a girl, who …’ Any additions to the theory are to be made within the scope of the quantifier that says that there exists at least one electron. The theory can now evolve while still being about the original entities.
Additions to the theory of electrons are not beliefs that are true or false in the strict sense of the primary language. We commit ourselves to the existence of the entities in our theory, knowing that if it gets overthrown, so will our commitment to its entities. In the meantime, we use the theory. As always, Ramsey was interested in how we use something, not in pure metaphysics – he was interested in a ‘human logic’ that tells us how we should think. Such a logic ‘is not merely independent of but sometimes actually incompatible with formal logic’.
construct a logic, and do all our philosophical analysis entirelyunselfconsciously, thinking all the time of the facts and not about our thinking about them, deciding what we mean without any reference to the nature of meanings.
I used to worry myself about the nature of philosophy through excessive scholasticism. I could not see how we could understand a word and not be able to recognise whether a proposed definition of it was or was not correct. I did not realise the vagueness of the whole idea of understanding, the reference it involves to a multitude of performances any of which may fail and require to be restored.
He now thinks that we will often run into terms ‘we cannot define, but … can [only] explain the way in which they are used’. Ramsey thought that the ideal language Wittgenstein was trying to construct was mere scholasticism, ‘the essence of which is treating what is vague as if it were precise and trying to fit it into an exact logical category’.
Philosophy must be of some use and we must take it seriously; it must clear our thoughts and so our actions, or else it is a disposition we have to check … ie the chief proposition of philosophy is that philosophy is nonsense. And again we must then take seriously that it is nonsense, and not pretend, as Wittgenstein does, that it is important nonsense!
The standardisation of the colours of beer is not philosophy, but in a sense it is an improvement in notation, and a clarification of thought.
Both objections hold for the Vienna Circle too, although one thing Ramsey did share with them was an incredulity toward Wittgenstein’s idea that there is something inexpressible yet important – that one could peer through the fence, glimpse the unsayable, and stand in awe of it.
We cannot really picture the world as disconnected selves; the selves we know are in the world. What we can’t do we can’t do and it’s no good trying. Philosophy comes from not understanding the logic of our language; but the logic of our language is not what Wittgenstein thought. The pictures we make to ourselves are not pictures of facts.
We need the irreducible secondary world, full of hypotheses, laws and claims about the existence of objects, if we are to think about the world at all.
Wittgenstein was stung by this onslaught. In 1930, he wrote: ‘Ramsey’s mind repulsed me’; he had no capacity for ‘genuine reverence’; he had an ‘ugly mind’; and ‘his criticism didn’t help along but held back and sobered’. He told his friends that Ramsey was a ‘materialist’. Ramsey thought that Wittgenstein’s philosophy needed sobering up, and needed to pay attention to human beliefs, rather than independently existing propositions.
since I began to occupy myself with philosophy again, 16 years ago, I could not but recognise grave mistakes in what I set out in that first book. I was helped to realise these mistakes – to a degree which I myself am hardly able to estimate – by the criticism which my ideas encountered from Frank Ramsey, with whom I discussed them in innumerable conversations during the last two years of his life.
I feel very guilty that I’ve not yet written a review of Carnap’s book, which is really inexcusable. I found it very interesting, though some things I thought certainly wrong and others I felt very doubtful about.
He apologised for the delay: ‘I am very sorry and will do it when I next have leisure. At the moment I am in bed with a very severe attack of jaundice.’ Ramsey would not have the chance to set his position against Carnap’s. That liver infection would kill him a few weeks later.
In the 1930s, the Vienna Circle started to feel the pressure, from other quarters, of what Ramsey called ‘the objection from philosophy of science’ and the objection about solipsism. In response, they would develop more liberal, inclusive, behaviourist versions of logical empiricism. That is, many in the Circle moved closer to Ramsey, without knowing it. Had they felt the force of Ramsey’s objections and pragmatist alternative earlier, pragmatism and analytic philosophy would not have been thought to be in such opposition to each other. The Vienna Circle would not have been seen as the bogeyman of philosophy, as it is now, but as delivering a human account of what it is to have a belief be responsive to the way things are. Ramsey was the bridge between 20th-century pragmatism and analytic philosophy, and when he died, that route was obscured – only to be recently rediscovered and put on the map.
Previous Post Can the Senate Decline to Try an Impeachment Case? What if They Decide to Break the Government Some More? | 2019-04-25T21:40:28Z | https://opensociet.org/2019/01/23/what-is-truth-philosophy-must-be-useful/ |
Romney Wheeler interviews British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, and social critic Bertrand Russell at Russell’s home in Surrey, England. The interview was broadcast on his 80th birthday, which was May 18,1952.
Bertrand Russell: How do you do?
Romney Wheeler: How do you do, Lord Russell?
Russell: Won’t you sit down? Now what are we going to talk about?
Wheeler: Well, Lord Russell, as you approach your 80th birthday I think we’d like you to tell us what you think you have learned and what you think you will never learn in your career as a philosopher?
Russell: Well there are some things that I don’t think I shall ever learn and indeed I hope I shall never learn. I don’t wish to learn to change my hopes for the world. I’m prepared to change my beliefs about the state of the world, about what happens, but not about what I hope. About that I hope to remain constant. I think we might call the subject of our talk ’80 years of changing beliefs and unchanging hopes.’ It’s very difficult for anybody born since 1914 to realize how profoundly different the world is now from what it was when I was a child. The change has been almost unbelievable. I try as best I can, in spite of my years, to get used to living in a world of atom bombs, a world where ancient empires vanish like morning mists, where we have to accustom ourselves to Asiatic self-assertion, to the communist menace. Well, this is altogether so different from what it was when I was young that it’s an extraordinarily difficult thing for an old man to live in such a world. I was born in 1872, my parents died when I was still an infant, and so I was brought up by my grandparents.
Wheeler: Can you tell us something about your grandfather?
Russell: Yes, I can tell you something about my grandfather. He was born in the early years of the French Revolution. He was a member of parliament when Napoleon was still on the throne. In common with all the Whig followers of Fox he thought English hostility to Napoleon was excessive and he visited Napoleon in Elba. It was he who introduced the Reform Bill in 1832, which started England on the road towards democracy. He was Prime Minister during the Mexican War, during the revolutions of 1848. I remember him quite well, but you see, he belonged to an age that now seems rather removed. And the world when I was young was a solid world, where there were all kinds of things that have now disappeared, that were thought to be going to last forever. It didn’t dawn on people that they would cease. English people certainly regarded English naval supremacy as a sort of law of nature. ‘Britannia ruled the waves.’ It didn’t occur to us that that might stop.
Russell: Bismarck was regarded as a rascal and we thought of him as a sort of uneducated farmer. But it was assumed that the influence of Goethe and Schiller would gradually bring Germany back to a more civilized point of view and, moreover, we thought of Germany as only a land power. Germany had at that time no Navy. In fact, we weren’t at all afraid of Germany. In fact, liberal opinion was more favourable to Germany than to France at that time. Bismarck himself compared Germany and England to an elephant and a whale, each formidable in its own element but no danger to each other. And that was how we felt. So we were not afraid of Bismarck at all. It was thought that there was going to be ordered progress throughout the world. Gradually every country was going to take to parliaments. There was going to be a bicameral legislature and two parties and it was all going to be exactly like England everywhere, all over the world. My grandmother used to laugh, because one time she said to the Russian ambassador: “Perhaps someday you will have a parliament in Russia.” And he said: “God forbid, my dear lady Russell.” Except for the first word, the Russian ambassador to the present day might give the same answer. But that was the assumption, it was all going to be orderly, all quite nice. The atmosphere apart from politics, it was one of Puritan piety, very great piety, very great austerity. We always had family prayers at 8:00 and before family prayers I had to do half an hour’s practice at the piano which I hated. Although there were eight servants in the house the food was always of the utmost simplicity and even of what that was if there was anything at all nice I wasn’t allowed to have it, because it wasn’t good for children to eat nice things. For instance, there would be rice pudding and apple tart. Don’t upset the apple tart and I had the rice pudding. There was extreme austerity in all those ways. Again, mother until she was over 70, would never sit in an armchair until after dinner, never. It’s always come out that sort of austere living by well-to-do people, which in those days was fairly common.
Wheeler: When did you get to Cambridge?
Russell: Oh, I got to Cambridge when I was 18 and that, of course, was a new world to me. I for the first time met people who, when I said anything that I really thought, didn’t think it absurd. I had learnt at home to say almost nothing about what I really thought. My people had a horror of philosophy which interested me. And they would say every time philosophy was mentioned: “Philosophy is summed up completely in these two questions: What is better? Never mind. What is mind? No matter.” And at about the sixtieth repetition of this remark I ceased to be amused by it. When I got to Cambridge it was a great comfort to me to find people who didn’t regard philosophy as absurd, so that I was very, very happy when I first got to Cambridge. I quickly got to know a great many people who became my lifelong friends. Most of them I’m sorry to say are dead now, but those who are still alive are still my friends.
Wheeler: You started with mathematics, didn’t you? And then moved to philosophy?
Russell: That is serious. I did three years of mathematics and one year of philosophy at Cambridge. I had done only mathematics before going to Cambridge.
Wheeler: What caused your interest in philosophy?
Russell: Well, two things, two very different things caused my interest in philosophy. On the one hand, I wanted to understand the principles of mathematics. I observed that all the proofs of mathematical propositions that were taught me were obviously fallacious. They didn’t really prove what they said they’d do. And I wanted to know whether there is any truth in the world that is known. And I thought if there is any, it is probably in mathematics. But it’s not in mathematics as I was taught it, so I tried to find out some truth there. The other thing that made me interested in philosophy was the hope that I might find some basis for religious belief.
Wheeler: And did you find it?
Russell: No, in the mathematical part of my hopes I was fairly satisfied, but in the other part no, not at all. For a time I found a certain satisfaction in the Platonic eternal world of ideas, which has a sort of religious flavour and gave me a certain satisfaction. But then I came to the conclusion that that was nonsense and I was left without any satisfaction of it asto my desires, and remained so. So as far as that goes philosophy proved worse [..] to me, but not on the side of technical basis of mathematics.
Wheeler: Wasn’t it about here that you entered into what you called a life of disagreement?
Russell: Yes, I disagreed first with my people, both about mathematics and about philosophy. They cared only about virtue. They thought virtue was the only thing of importance in the world. Mathematics therefore was unimportant, because it has no ethical content. And philosophy was positively pernicious because it undermined virtue. So that on that point I had strong disagreement with my people. But as regards that, of course, that disagreement, as far as my personal life was concerned, was resolved by my living among a academic people who didn’t take that view. So that I got a game into it circle the people with whom I was quite at home. But that was brought to an end by the first war, where I took a pacifist line. I was against the first war. I was not against the second. Some people think that this is an inconsistency, but it isn’t. I never during the first war said that I was against all war. I said I was against that war and I still hold that view. I think the first war was a mistake and I think England’s participation in it was a mistake. I think if that hadn’t happened you would not have had the communists, you would not have had the Nazis, you would have not had the Second World War, you would not had the threat of a third. The world would have been a very much better place I think. Germany in the time of the Kaiser was not uncivilized. There was a certain amount of suppression of opinion but less than there now is everywhere, except in England and Scandinavia. So it really wasn’t very bad. For propaganda purposes the Kaiser’s government was representing the escape route, but it was only talk. It wasn’t really true.
Wheeler: Your opinions today in regard to Russia are not altogether friendly. Did you always feel that way about the Bolsheviks?
Russell: Yes, and that caused another violent disagreement. During my pacifism during the first war I became estranged from what you might call conventional people. And then I went to Russia in 1920, and found that I abominated the Soviet government, I thought they were dreadful people, dreadful people already and becoming more so. It was sure to go on becoming more so. And so then I had to break with all the people who had endured my pacifism. We were like trash […] so that I was left in a very great isolation at that time. However, I escaped some of the pain of it by going to China, where I spent a very happy year. I liked the Chinese very much. And there I found people I could agree with, that I could like.
Wheeler: Any conclusions about China?
Russell: Oh I don’t know about conclusions. I don’t think I came to any particular conclusions. I continue to think as I had thought before that democracy is the best form of government where it’ll work. It didn’t work very well in China, it wasn’t working at all. And one could see that it wouldn’t work there. They hadn’t the political experience. But I thought it would work there in time and I’d say it would have done if circumstances had been a little more propitious.
Wheeler: On your return the focus of your interests changed, didn’t it?
Russell: Yes, going to the birth of my two elder children I became very much interested in education and at first especially in education in the very early years. I didn’t like the old fashioned schools for a number of reasons. I didn’t altogether like the progressive schools. They were in some respects, I thought, much better than the older ones. But there were some things about progressive schools, at least about most progressive schools, that I didn’t feel were right. I thought they didn’t pay enough attention to instruction. It seems to me that in a technically complex world you can’t pay any important part unless you have a very considerable amount of actual knowledge and I don’t think that most children will acquire much knowledge unless there is a certain amount of discipline in school. I think the real discipline required for acquiring knowledge ought to be insisted upon and isn’t sufficiently insisted upon in a good many modern schools that I know.
Wheeler: Did you change any of your opinions in that regard?
Russell: Well, I suppose to some degree. I tried running a school of my own, because I wasn’t satisfied with other schools. I wasn’t the talent to be an administrator and I wasn’t satisfied with the school that I tried to run. Fortunately just about that time certain modern school that I was interested in became, I thought, quite good enough and I was satisfied with that. I have—I suppose—changed my opinions not only about education but about a good many things. As a result of seeing the kind of various things people do, I think that freedom is not the panacea for all things. I think there are a good many matters in which freedom should be restrained. Some of them things in which it’s not sufficiently restrained at present. In the relationship between nations there ought to be less freedom than there is, I think. And to some degree this applies in modern education, too, I think. Some progressive schools certainly have more freedom than you want to have. There are some freedoms that I think will be desirable in education. Now, in the old fashioned school, if a child uses a swear word it’s thought worse than if he commits an unkind action and that seems to be absurd. Clearly the unkind action matters more and in that sort of way I don’t like the old-fashioned way. I also think children should be free to explore the facts of life to a degree that they are not brought up in the old-fashioned way. I think there should be free speech. There are a number of things that I like very much about modern education. But both in education and in other matters I think freedom must have very definite limitations. Where you come to things that are definitely harmful to other people or things that prevent you yourself from being useful, such as lack and knowledge. Sure there are those respects in which I suppose I should lay less stress on freedom than in former times.
Wheeler: Do you still believe in the importance of abstract philosophy?
Russell: Well, now that’s a very difficult question. I have myself a passion for clarity and exactness and sharp outlines. For some reason that I’ve never understood this makes people think that I have no passions, that I am a cold fish. I don’t know why but it does cause people to think that, I don’t think that’s altogether just, but that’s neither here nor there. But I do like clarity and exact thinking and I believe that very important to mankind because when you allow yourself to think inexactly your prejudices, your bias, your self-interest comes in in ways you don’t notice and you do bad things without I’ve knowing that you’re doing them. Self-deception is very easy. So that I do think clear thinking immensely important, but I don’t think philosophy in the old-fashioned sense is quite the thing the world needs nowadays. The needs of the world are different from there.
Wheeler: Well, what do you feel today’s needs are?
Russell: Well, of course needs depend on what a person’s capacities are. But if I went now this moment a young man whether in England or in America I should not take to philosophy. I think there were other things better to take to. If I had the necessary capacity I think I would be a physicist. If my capacities didn’t run in that direction I should think that history, psychology, mass psychology especially, theory of politics things of that sort are much better worth working it than pure philosophy. And it’s that sort of thing that I should now take to if I were now young.
Wheeler: Lord Russell, what do you think the world needs to reach a happier state?
Russell: Well I think there are three things that are needed if the world is to adapt itself to the Industrial Revolution. The troubles we are suffering now are essentially troubles due to adapting ourselves to a new phase of human life, namely the industrial phase. And I think three things are necessary if people are to live happily in the industrial phase. One of these is world government, the second is an approximate economic equality between different parts of the world, and the third is a nearly stationary population. And I’d say a little about each of those.
As to world government the world government should be of course the federal government leaving a very great deal of freedom to the individual national governments and only those things controlled by the world governments, which are absolutely necessary for the avoidance of war. The most important and most difficult of these is Armed Forces. All the important weapons of war will have to be in the hands of the international government, and to it alone. When that happens war will become practically impossible and if war is impossible, mankind could go ahead. If war is not impossible every advance in scientific technique means an advance in mass murder and is therefore undesirable, but if [..] were peacefully achieved it would be just the opposite. That’s the first point.
Now I come under the question of approximate economic equality. As things stand present, Western Europe and still more the United States of America have a high standard of life on the whole a great majority of mankind live fairly comfortably from a material point of view Asia on the other hand lives in very, very great poverty so does most of Africa. And the moment people are sufficiently educated to be aware of these facts the inevitable result is a great development of envy in the poorer parts of the world. That envy is a cause of unrest and inevitably makes world peace precarious. There’s only one way of dealing with it which is to produce approximate economic equality, which is a long story, but it can be done.
The third point about population is very vital indeed. the food supply of the world tends at present to diminish through the denudation of the soil. It tends of course also to increase through various technical advances, but those two [..] balance. So that on the whole food produce of the world is not increased appreciably. Now that means that unless everybody is to be very poor especially if you have economic equality unless everybody is to be very poor there must be not more people to be fed, not many more, than there are now and therefore you’ve got to get approximate ecology of population and approximately stationary population. Otherwise those parts of the world where the population increases fast, we want to go to war with those where it increases slowly.
Wheeler: That brings us precisely to the problem of Asia and what part Asia will play in the immediate future.
Russell: Well, Asia first of all has risen to the point of education, some Asians have, where it is not prepared any longer to be subservient to the white man. It hasn’t noticed the Russians are white. If it had it would take a different line, but it seems to think that Russians are yellow or black or some other colour. And I think our propaganda ought to be mainly devoted saying only Russians also are white. I believe that would be the effective propaganda to use in Asia. but I passed that point by. Asia clearly is going to claim equality with the white men. and it’s perfectly futile absolutely futile, for the white man resists that game. It will infallibly win. infallibly. And we ought therefore to concede it graciously at once before we are driven to it you can see two pretty colleges to Asia but if Asia is not to overwhelm the rest of the world with a vast land population and poverty Asia must live up to its responsibilities and must learn the sort of things we have learned in the West, which is how to maintain a roughly stationary population. And if they can’t learn that. which I fully believe they can learn and learn quickly much more quickly than most people think, and if they can’t learn it they will not have won their claim to equality.
Wheeler: Lord Russell, speaking as of today can you see the influence of any one philosopher more than any other one.
Russell: Well, I suppose in recent years the most important influence has been Marx if you can dignify him with the name of philosopher. I should hardly like to dignify him so myself, but I suppose he must count in the list and he certainly has had more influence than anybody else.
Wheeler: For those of us who reject Marx, can you offer any positive philosophy to help us toward a more hopeful future.
Russell: Oh, well, as to that. You see, I think one of the troubles of the world has been the habit of dogmatically believing something or other. And I think all these matters are full of doubt and the rational man will not be too sure that he’s right. I think we ought always to entertain our opinions with some measure of doubt. I shouldn’t wish people dogmatically to believe any philosophy not even mine, not even mine. No, I think we should accept our philosophies with a measure of doubt. What I do think is this that if a philosophy is to bring happiness it should be inspired by kindly feeling. Now Marx is not inspired by kindly feeling. Marx pretended that he wanted the happiness of the proletariat, but he really wanted to is the unhappiness of the bourgeois. And it was because of that negative element, because of that hate element that his philosophy produced disaster. A philosophy that wishes to do good must be one inspired by kindly feeling and not by unkindly feeling.
Wheeler: Summing up, Lord Russell, do you feel that there is hope for the world today?
Russell: Well I do. I feel it very strongly but how far that is really a rational conviction how far is temperamental I can’t say. But I do must strongly feel that there is hope. There may be very dreadful times ahead of us—I dare say there are—but I still believe… I believe most firmly that through whatever pain and suffering mankind will emerge from these dreadful things and will emerge into some world that will be happier than any world that existed in the past. I’m firmly persuaded to them what I do know is how long it will take. | 2019-04-23T07:51:40Z | https://scrapsfromtheloft.com/2019/02/02/a-conversation-with-bertrand-russell-1952/ |
This Bible book was written by the Apostle Paul, who is travelling together with Timothy. And the letter is written to the church in Corinthe. Paul begins this letter by giving grace and peace to the church of Corinthe from God and Jesus. To me this shows how important it is to start talking with other Christians by first blessing them. In this world it might be easy to forget, but it is actually very important and powerful. I truly believe that one of the way that God blesses us, is actually through each other. If you are not willing to be a blessing to others, how can you expect that God will sent others on your way to also bless you?
Paul starts by giving praise to God Jesus, stating that He is the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort! Do you actually start your day by giving God the praise that He so richly deserves? If you do, than I am very proud of you! If not, than you should really rethink on what your faith actually means to you. If you are unable to start a day without giving God praise and asking Him for guiding you that day, are you really having faith? We should avoid being so busy in our lives, that we stop placing God on the absolute first place in our lives. I also ask God forgiveness for all days that I did not take the time to first come before His throne and thank Him for everything! As you might be able to read “between the lines” I am certainly not perfect and on this specific subject I also fall short to many times. But there is where I am also very blessed that we serve a forgiving God!
Paul continues by stating that it is God that actually comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can also comfort others in their troubles. The first that I get from this is, that we should always go to God, when we are in a troublesome situation and not look for help from others. But maybe you now think that I am actually contradicting myself. Actually I am not, because, yes, God uses us all to comfort each other. But is it us that does the comforting? No, God uses the Holy Spirit through us tot do that. So never give yourself any credit when you have comforted someone!
But why is it that God can help us with all our troubles? Well, simply because Jesus and He have experienced all troubles themselves! So, if someone knows how it feels to endure troubles, than it is Jesus! So, He is the perfect person to go to!
One way that God allows troubles in our lives is to help us to build endurance. Endurance to me is truly a gift from God. Why? Because if you read and fully grasp Revelations than you will know what times are coming. Times in which you will be persecuted just because you decided to follow God! Imagine if God did not allow any troubles to exist in your life. How would you be able to withstand with all that, if God never trained you to withstand it? Even in your times of trouble it is very important that you see and know that God is always with you, but also that He is actually teaching you skills that you need later on in your life!
In this part of chapter 1, Paul tells about the great distress and troubles that he is going through in the province of Asia. This is to show that he also is not without any suffering, but that he is trusting on God in those times. Another reason that Paul is telling us this is also because through our own experiences we can strengthen each other. Because if you are honest, to whom would you listen? Someone that has experienced troubles him- or herself or someone that is telling it out of the comfort of his or her easy life? Personally, I would listen to someone that also has gone through suffering and can testify how God actually guided him or her through it!
Another very important thing that Paul states is that he does not want us to be uninformed. And I agree with this! Imagine that you know that you are going through (or have gone through) great troubles and that God guided you through it, but that you keep silent and that you leave an opportunity to strengthen someone else that might be going through a troublesome situation him-/herself and was very much in need of comforting!
Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.
When I just read these words I felt so much power come from it. Why? Because he points out that we are indeed living in this world, but that we, as Christians, can and need to testifify with integrity and godly sincerity! And more important that we more and more act on God’s grace and not on worldly wisdom. Because worldly wisdom is nothing. We really have a misguided notion that our own (worldly) wisdom is something special. It is not, because unlike God we base our “wisdom” on our limited understanding. While God bases his wisdom on His full and complete understanding!
I end this Bible study of the first chapter of 2 Corinthians with praying that God makes us stand firm in in any and all situations that we are going through, or that we might go through in the future. Never despair, but trust on the fact that God is with you and will guide you not only through it, but also makes you stronger through it!
This first part of the chapter is about our offering. No matter how much money you make, God wants us to set a part of our income apart for Him. Does He need money? Not at all, but by these offerings we can help our brothers and sisters that need help and by it God blesses those people. Also, it shows obedience. If you are willing to save a part of your income for God, than you show that God is more important than money for you!
Paul continues to tell the church of Corinthians how they have to help and others that come in the name of God. Why is he telling this? Because God wants us to be there for one another and help each other.
But don’t do it just because you feel obliged, but do it out of love! And also trust on God to be on your guard, to stand firm in faith, to be courageous and to be strong. This also shows that in this world, taking care of other Christians can be met with aggresion of other that don’t want us Christians to be there for each other. Know that in everything you need God even when it comes to looking out for each other!
It is important to always greet other Christians and strengthen them as they will also strengthen you!
Paul starts by telling us that we are saved through the gospel. So this alreaydy showns the significance of the gospels for our faith. But why is the gospel so significant? Because it tells about Jesus. That He is the Son of God. That He came to earth to die for our sins and to enable us to come before God in Heaven through His grace. That is why the gospel is how we are saved!
The very important next point we need to be aware of is that we need to hold firmly to the word. Maybe in the world we can do cherry picking. With God this is not the case. You either hold firmly to it or you reject it. Don’t think that God will allow you to choose what suits you and what not.
As a Christian you need to understand the full significant of the resurrection of Christ, as it is a pillar in your faith. It was by Jesus dying on the cross, that you were able (from that moment on) to come before God by grace, because your own works will never be sufficient!
This part of the chapter brings forward a very important discussion. Some of us will be of the opinion that there is no resurrection of the dead. If you are in a church were this is being taught, than you need to know that you are in a church with false teaching! Because if there is indeed no resurrection of the dead, than Jesus’ resurrection was also impossible. And if Jesus did not die and was resurrected, than our preaching would be useless just like our faith. God dying and being resurrected is a very important part of our faith, so rejecting the possibility of resurrection of the dead is impossible.
Know that claiming that there is no resurrection, will even make you to give a false witness about God, because on the one hand you testify that God raised Jesus from the dead. But He in fact did not raise Him, if you claim that God cannot raise anyone from the dead! And if Jesus is not raised, than your faith is worth nothing!
For me this part of Chapter 14 brings a very important lesson. The lesson that our faith cannot be compromised. In this world a compromise is easily made and accepted, but with your faith this is impossible. Either you believe in full that God’s word is just or you reject it fully.
Furthermore, Paul ends this part by stating that bad company corrupts good character. And I believe it to be through. I know from my own past that I had this friend that i used to hang out with and talk about even faith. He always was interested and told me he wanted to come with me to church. But it never came to that point. But what did come is that he always had this fun, but wrong plans, of going out. And instead of me and him to be growing in faith, he was corrupting my character. So, please bring your friends before God’s throne and analyze which of them are good company. If they are not good company, then you need to stop hanging out with them. Because no person is worth loosing your life for.
We as people have the tendency to start a discussion on the resurrection of the body. In this we show our limited way of thinking, if we ask in what natural body we will come back. Yes, we will be resurrected, but not in a natural body. Because the Bible says that our flesh will not be resurrected. It will be our heavenly body.
Paul ends this chapter by that through Jesus, God gives us victory. Therefore we need to stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Again we see the importance of love in our Christian faith. If you believe that love is not important, than in this chapter we again see that it vital to have. When we continue to read this chapter, than Paul also states that we need to eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit. Therefore, if you say that you want to receive gifts of the Spirits, than it requires more than just wanting it. It needs to be the biggest desire in your heart. I believe this is the basis of your faith. When you say that you believe in God, than this in it itself will not be enough, you need to eagerly desire to follow God!
Paul mentions the gift of prophecy, which leads me to believe that God gives special emphasis to this particular gift of the Spirit. Why is this gift so important? Because I believe this gift is the way that God is able to lead and guide us via the Holy Spirit. When we continue to read we see indeed that there is more significance to the gift of prophecy. When we speak in tongues, there is a reason that we normally cannot understand the language of speaking in tongues, because speaking in tongues is for talking with God and not with another person. We are never on the same level as God and as such God speaks a language unknown to us. It also shows, that again when it comes to your faith, God expects you to more than just call yourself a Christian. You really have to put in an effort, when you become a Christian.
When you receive the gift of prophecy, then it is to strengthen, to encourage and to comfort others. This also shows a difference between fortune tellers (which is a satanic activity as it is not from God and will never be done for the aformentioned reasons.
Paul continues and now on the gift of speaking in tongues. When you indeed receive the gift of speaking in tongues, then we also need to pray that we will be made able to also interpret what we are speaking in tongues. Our Christian faith needs to be an active faith, as God so many times tells us in the Bible. Just speaking in tongues, would be a “nice” trick, but will be fruitless if you are unable to interpret it.
God is the God of love and not disorder, for this we need to have order in our church services. Not just anyone should start talking in tongues, if they cannot interpret it. In that situation, you need to go before God by yourself and ask for the interpretation of that which you are speaking in tongues. God wants to hav prophecies in church, but also in an orderly way.
I believe it is important for the leaders of your church to make sure that there are rules on when and how speaking and tongues and prophecies are included in the church services. If they forbid it at all, then you should know that you are not in the right church. A church should never forbid to let the gifts of the Spirit to be used. Doesn’t your church believe in the Spirit of healing, than you are in the wrong church. However, it is important that there are specified times when prophecies can be given, when you worship. So to summarise, your church needs to allow the gifts of the Spirit to be part of your church services, however it should happen in an orderly way. Do you think that God just does thing disorderly? No, all that God does, He has thought of it very specific and all happens in an orderly way. That blessing that you received just recently, did you think that God just thaught of it just on that moment and decided. No, He already knew that you would receive that particular blessing even before you were born!
This chapter is probably one of the most well-known chapters in the Bible. Well, it is for me at least. Why? Because it deals with the significance that God places on the concept of love.
The chapters beings by showing that even certain parts of our Christian life have no meaning if you have no love. If you have no love, but think you are speaking in tongues. God tells you, that you are not. So, this already shows that love is very important in our lifes and in our faith. That is why I believe it is very important that we continiously ask God to help us to love more and more. So, if you truly want to receive gifts through the Holy Spirit from God, know that you first need to love!
Why is love so important to God? Well, Paul actually is telling is what an amazing and positive characteristics love has.
Love is patient: we may be so impatient and want things now and by preference our way and our timing. But when we receive love from God, than we will also learn to be patient. Finding peace in knowing that you might have to wait, but that God will give you the patience to do so!
Love is kind: God teaches us through love to be good and kind to each others. We can be so cruel to each other, that is why I ask God to make us kind through love!
Love does not envy: why is this so important? Well, because it is negative? Why would you envy someone else? Because he/she seemingly has something you want. Do you know what the person maybe had to go through before he/she received that blessing? Is it maybe that God gave that blessing to that person (and not you), because it is part of his/her destiny and not yours? Know that envy is a negative emotion and that will not do anything good for your spirit and your body. But know that love will counteract it and that you will learn to even be happy for that person!
Love does not boast? Are you not taught from a very early age to make known all that you accomplish? Well, know that this not a good character trade? Why? Ask yourself who you are giving credit for these accomplishments. Is it God or yourself? And it is correct to think that you actually did accomplish it yourself. We should be very aware that all that we accomplish is through God and not our own actions. Though love we learn not to boast, but to honor God. And in occassion, also learn to credit others for their share. You don’t have to boast, but trust on God that the right people on the right time will see and through it God will give blessings!
Love is not proud? Of course with pride, you have the same thing as with boasting? You make yourself the center, while that should always be God!
Love does not dishonor others. If you love someone than the last thing you should want to do is to dishonor that person. Taking away someones honor is a horrible thing you do. Normally this is something they use as tactic in war. Do you really want to use war tactics with your loved ones? We are not perfect, that is why we need God to gain so much love that we will never dishonor others. Remember how they tried to dishonor Jesus? It is one of the most painful things I have ever read/heared about.
Love is not self-seeking. When you learn to really love, than through the Holy Spirit you will notice that you start to be less self-seeking. Self-seeking to me is just a “fancy” word for being an egoist! When you are egoitisial, than you become the center of your focus and all that you do. All your actions will be directed to benefit you first and foremost. When you receive love through the Holy Spirit, than you will notice that you become less and less egotistical. And by putting others first, you will and should she how God will work through others to ensure that you also will receive blessings.
Love is not easily angered. The more that we are getting into the last of days (the days of Revelation), the more we see violence becoming more “normal”. But know that it is not normal, but very wicked. Anger has resulted in pain, death, war, and many other horrible things. That is why God gives us love to lose that anger, because anger will never bring anything good.
Love keep no records of wrongs. This is also important, because through love you will learn to really forgive and forget. If you have no love, than it will be truly difficult to really forgive someone if he/she did you wrong. And even more so that you forget what he/she did to you.
Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in truth. The more we allow love to come into our life, the more we will be disgusted to do evil and seek more and more to do what is right.
See how love in your life, really changes the way that you life your life and how you are with other people. Therefore, please pray every day to receive more and more love in your life!
Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Know that with love we are more willing to protect each other, to trust on each others, to never give up hope and to keep strong in difficult moments!
Know that LOVE will never fail! That makes love so powerful, when this love is in our life through the Holy Spirit. All outcomes from love will always be there, love is everlasting!
Paul tells us that we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. Paul continious to explain that when you were child, then you talked, thought and reasoned like a child. But when you became a man, then you put your childhood behind you. When you became a Christian, you also put your old life behind you and all those negative character trades were replaced by love. God tells us that if we grow up (grow in faith) that there will come a time that we are before His throne and than we will understand all that has happened in our lifes and see how everything falls together. How we first saw in part and than we see completely!
The chapters comes to a close with the remark: and now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest is love!
God bless you! And as mentioned above, I pray (and please join me) that we receive more and more love through the Holy Spirit. I the name of Jesus I rebuke all the negative character trades, as described above, out of our lifes. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!
Paul starts this chapter be telling us that he does not want us to be uninformed about the gifts of the Spirit. This is a very significant statement by Paul, as it should show you that we have an obligation to ourself to continiously grow in our faith and as Christians. For this we need to know how to do this. And luckily God has given us a way by studying the Bible.
The first thing we need to be aware of that God has given us spiritual gifts via the Spirit. There is therefore NO gift where the Holy Spirit is not present. If you feel and/or know that you have a gift, but you don’t feel the presence of the Holy Spirit, than know that that “gift” is not from God! Paul continous to say that there are different kind of gifts, but that they are ALL distributed by the Holy Spirit. And that their are different kind of workings, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work!
It is important to realize which gifts are from God, because if you have a “gift” that doesn’t fall under them, then you need to be delivered directly.
Know that all of these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He distributes them to each one, just as He determines. This last sentence is important, because it is God that determines which gift(s) are for you!
We as followers of Christ are often compared with a body. Why? Because although we are one, we consist of many parts. We as Christians are one, but yet we are all different. When it comes to our faith and the body we are in faith, we need to realize that we are baptized by the same Spirit, to ensure that we form one body. And we were also given the same Spirit to drink.
When it comes to the body of Christ (we as His followers) know that God has put us together as part of this body and that He knows exactly in which part of the body you are and need to be. Don’t question God, but ask God to show you what part you serve in His body and ask Him to let the Holy Spirit guide you. Know that even the least important part of the body in our eyes is invaluable in God eyes. For this reason God needs there to be no division and only unity in the body. Because if one of us suffer, than all of us should feel that and work on it to take away that suffering. This is a call to us to never be passive, especially when you see that a fellow Christians needs help.
Furthermore, I believe that God also gives us certain gifts, taking into account that others around you will receive other gifts, so that together all of us can serve God as a unified body!
Paul starts this chapter by a single sentence: follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. This sentence shows that we should take the time and see how other Christians are behaving and acting and to determine that they are following the example of God. So, never think you are to proud to look to others how to improve your actions. But the most important part is make sure that they are following the example of Christ. This first sentence shows how important it is that we only follow examples that are from Christ!
This part of the chapter starts of with a significant sentence on the holding of traditions. I expect most of you, if not all, have been i discussion regarding the question if the Law is still applicable after Jesus died for us at the cross. This chapter informs us that although it is through grace that we will enter Heaven, it does not in anyway mean that we are allowed to no longer hold the traditions and Laws. Holding the Laws is also a sign of respect and worship to God. God gave them to us in the times of the Old Testament for a reason. Because they make us righteous in His eyes. So, please while learning from the Bible make sure that you also learn of the Law.
In this chapter it now concern the covering of the head during worship. As we can read there is a difference between men and woman. First of all, the head of every man is Christ, and the head of every woman is her man, and the head of Christ is God. For a man (as head of the family) it is forbidden to cover his head, while for the woman it is required. I believe this all has to do that covering the head is a sign of humbleness, but also as the chapter describes it is the woman that came from the man and in the man the glory of God is shown and it the woman the glory of her man. And how can a man be both humble and the head of the family? It is the man that needs to make the important decisions with regard to the family. Does this mean that the woman has nothing to say at all? No, I believe that the Bible is also clear on that point. In the house / private man and wife can and need to discuss all matters. But when it comes to making a decision in which both can’t reach a clear answer, than it is the man that needs to make the final decision. So, no man should ever think that these kind of verses can be used to dominate the wife or treat her a slave. God gave you a queen, so make sure that you treat her a such! And I also believe that behind every strong man there is a strong woman!
As Christians we should not just just be nice and give praises to each other. If you see that another Christian is acting contrary to God’s word, than it is your duty to talk with that other Christian and through prayer and scripture show why this person needs to change.
When we eat the bread and drink the wine, than you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. So when you eat or drink in an unworthy manner, than you are guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord! While growing up I have been in churches in which I thought (looking back) it was taking very lightly for a church member to participate. But this chapter raises a very important requirement. Before taking part you need to examine themselves? Because if you don’t examine yourself than you could be drinking and eating judgment on yourself. Make sure that you first discern the body of Christ, before taking part.
Paul begins this chapter by telling us to look back on the history of Israel. Why? When you read this chapter, you will see that it is to show that on more than one occassion in history you can read how other Christians still fell into sins. It this to show that we cannot help ourselves when we commit sin? No! I believe that Paul shows these examples to make sure that we stay humble, because it will never be by our own strength that we will not sin. No it is only through the strength of God that we will be able to do stay free from sin!
He ends this part of the chapter by stating that if you think that you are standing firm, that you should be careful that you do not fail. As no temptation has overtaken you except to what is commont to mankind. And as God is always faithfull he will never allow you to be tempted more that you can handle. And it the moments that you are tempted, God will also make sure that He provides you with a way to endure it. So also know that you are never alone in a time of temptation, so don’t try to go through it alone!
This part of the chapter actually continues on the previous one. As we just learned is that temptations will come and also that God will provide with ways to endure them. One way to endure temptations is to make sure that you are not exposed to a temptation! Don’t think that you should test your own faith by not refraining from certain temptations, because it is better to fully stay away from temptations, than surround yourself with the temptations and see if your faith is enough not to give into that temptation!
In this part of the chapter he begins by clearly stating that we need to flee from idolatry. This warning states that God (as Paul received the words for this bible book from God) hates idols and that we are not allowed to idolize anyone or anything. But for any sensible Christian it should be very clear that you cannot fully serve God if you also idolize someone else, because you are receiving a part of your worship and praise for a human being and not for God. Furthermore, it also shows (again) that when it comes to sin, fleeing (as in the meaning: removing yourself from any situation of sin) is a very smart and acceptable thing to do. If you don’t want to sin with alchohol (become drunk) than working in a bar is not the right move and staying away from such a job the best move!
But the above is not the only reason that God wants us to stay away from idols. Because when you are serving an idol and giving it sacrifices who are you than actually serving? You are actually serving a demon at that moment. It doesn’t matter who you think you are idolizing at that moment, a demon will just attach himself to that person/thing that you think you are idolozing. I even believe if you have a poster on your room from a movie star or singer and you start idolizing/worshipping him/her, that at that moment a demon will also attach himself to it. So never fall into the sin of idolizing, because you are than actually commiting a very big sin! And remember also that God is a jealous God, because he wants and deserves to receive your worship alone and for the full 100%.
I really love reading the books written by Paul (and of course inspired by God), because so many things apply today. The comment: “I have the right to do anything” cannot be more accurate for this time we are living in. I think that most of us have heared this argument so many times. Yes, God will allow you to do anything you want, but He also tells you that not all choices will be beneficial for you. God doesn’t tell us to not to do certain things just to control us or to limit us … no, He tells us this bevcause He knows which things will actually not help you or could even be damaging for you!
Also know that if you life by this statement of that you have the right to do anything, that it also very selfish. You should always look how you can help others. And make sure that all that you do, say, eat, drink to do it in God’s glory. Also don’t be the reason from someone else to stumble, to fall into sin. You have to make sure that you don’t abuse the freedom that God has given you, by being selfish and not carrying about others! God cares about you and gave the life of His own Son, so your sins could and are forgiven!
I feel very blessed that God has given me the opportunity to have this blog and go on a daily journey with you in spending time with God and going deeper in the Bible. I look forward to reading your comments, questions on this chapter. This will enable to go even deeper into God’s word and together learn more from Him!
Paul talks about all rights that he could be entitled to based on the work that he is doing. And I also believe that when people are doing the work for God like Paul did, that they should also receive compensation out of the work they do. We shouldn’t just let God provide for them, but we should allow ourselves to be used by God to also help out people that do work for God. This can be a donation to their ministry, to provide them with thing they need. Let us pray to God to find out how we can help our brothers and sisters, that work full-time for God.
Paul ends this part of the chapter to let us know that he is not in it for the money, but that he does it for free, because he wants to spread the gospel. This should always be the heart and mindset of people that work full-time in their ministry. That it is to spread the gospel and not to become this extremly rich pastor of a megachurch (as an example).
I believe this is a very important lesson that Paul is learning us. When you are working for God, than you should be willing to lay down all your freedom to spread His word. You should acknowledge that you have certain freedoms, but that you choose to forsake them to spread the gospel and to worship God. Yes, you can work a high paying job as a CEO, but what if God calls you to work for Him? Are you willing to give up that freedom of all the “power” and money assocatiated with that job. Just like you give up the freedom to sin, to follow God!
As a Christian it is very important to have self-discipline. In this world you are being told that you can do whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it. This is opposing Gods word. Ask God to develop self-discipline to be able to resist everything from this world and to withhold things that are coming between you and God.
The chapter begings to making it clear to us that we need to stop relying on our own understanding? Why, because God is all-knowing and we are definitely not! God can oversee the whole picture, why we can only see a part of it and are also likely to be biased and not always as objective as why imagine ourselves to be.
God tells us that there is only one God (Him) and there is no one like Him. And that we won’t be any better if we eat food that was used as a sacrifice before an idol and we won’t be any worse if we do eat that same food. Why? Because we won’t grow closer to God by the food that we eat. Should we than still eat it? Personally, based on this chapter I would say no. It could be that some other Christian, whom is not so strong in his/her faith sees you eating this food that was sacrificed to an idol and it can cause him/her to be disturbed in his/her faith. And than it does become a sin that you are commiting. To me it should be clear that you shouldn’t even run the risk that you think it won’t do any harm, that it still does, because there was one person that took offence to it and through that you sinned. Is food really worth running the risk to be sinning against God? For me it isn’t! | 2019-04-22T21:56:47Z | https://alexonfaith.wordpress.com/tag/bible-study/ |
When we talk like this, you know, “Sun-Faced Buddha,” “the Moon-Faced Buddha,” or “everyday is good day,” or “everyone has buddha-nature,” or “in our great activity, whatever we do, that is our great activity,” or “nothing is too long or nothing is too short” [laughs]. Even though you recite, you know, sūtra with long, long voice [laughs]—it cannot be too long. It is—even though we say something, we hope it is not too short. If you say so, maybe someone who is practicing have to hit mokugyo—how to hit bell—will be discouraged. “Oh, Suzuki-rōshi doesn’t care [laughs] how we hit mokugyo. Even though we hit it fast, he doesn’t care.” But it—it is not so.
But when you hear that, you know, you will understand—when—if everything has buddha-nature, “then” or “but“—”but” or “then” does not follow when we talk about the first principle. When you say “then” or “but,” therefore your understanding of the first—the first principle is not anymore the first principle. If that is the first principle [then it is correct to say], “Everything has buddha-nature.” Period.
Do—do you know the difference? You cannot say “therefore.” If you say “therefore,” that is not—it is, you know, the condition—”therefore”—a reason or excuse, you know, or something—for your lazy [laughs] practice. So it is not first principle any more. Everything has buddha-nature, period. No idea follows. No[t] any kind of idea comes up by that statement. So, “Everything has buddha-nature,” someone say [thumps table]. Yes! When—only when you could say so, that is the first principle. You—you shouldn’t say “therefore” [or] “but.” That is the first principle.
But when we talk about actual practice you can say “therefore,” [or] “that is why,” you know, “even it is so,” you can say so. That is the difference between first principle and the second principle. And if you confuse the first principle and second principle, you don’t understand anything. You are always going, you know, round and round: no end [to] your confusion. You will be always confused. So when you practice you should be strictly involved in the rules. There there is the first principle, actually. Moment after moment there is first principle.
So even so, you know—I explained the other night, if we, you know, if we realize that our practice is lazy practice, then you—you may feel it—feel—you don’t feel good. And this kind of mistake is happening every day, and we—we cannot enjoy our practice. What should we do? And what I said was that you realize your practice is not good. What mind, you know, found out your lazy practice? Your big mind found out your mistake. So if you find out the big mind which is working on your lazy practice—small-minded practice—then, at that point, at least your practice is good. So before you make some complaint, you should appreciate the big mind which appear in your mind. That was, you know, my answer.
It looks like [I said], “Whatever you do it is okay,” but I don’t mean that. Important point is, you know, only when big mind appear, the small mind, you know, will vanish—should vanish. You should not compare a big mind to a small mind. What I’m—what I mean is don’t worry about your small mind when you have big mind.
How to continue your true practice based on the big mind is the point. That is the point. But I didn’t—I did not mean even though you have lazy practice it is okay. That is big misunderstanding. It is not okay. But if I say so, it is not okay. You will be discouraged if it is not—if I say it is not okay, so [laughs] your practice of—will be the continuous, you know, practice of “not okay.” One after another, “not okay practice” will continue [laughs]. You feel in that way, but if you carefully, you know, think about it, the continuous, you know, practice of wrong practice is big-minded practice—continuous activity of big mind. If you understand in that way, that is, you know, true understanding of your practice.
In your big mind, small mind has some position—some place. Good and bad also has some place, some seat. We cannot ignore the small mind of wrong practice completely. There is some seat. That is big mind. The small mind—even though the mind is good, small mind does not allow for—for wrong mind or small mind to sit together. Even though it is good, you know, good practice, but small-minded good practice is not real practice. Big-minded good practice is really, really good practice. And it gives a seat for the good practice and bad practice. And you don’t feel so bad about your bad practice. And you will not be arrogant with your good practice.
You don’t like mostly sermon or lecture. Why you don’t like is—when you—when someone give lecture, you know, someone will convince [you of] something, you know—convince you [of] something—something special. But Buddhist lecture do not, you know, force anything on you. What we want is to have, you know, big mind—to acknowledge things as they are, to clear your mind from various one-sided wrong understanding of things. That is, you know, the purpose of lecture.
Sometime, you know, we slap you or are angry with you. Someone may talk, but why they—someone become angry is to correct—to cut off your delusion, or to empty your mind. If someone stick to some one-sided view, it is pretty difficult to get rid of it for humans and for the creature[s] too. So [laughs] there must be, you know—we try various way. The purpose of why, you know, we do so is because we want to get rid of the wrong concrete idea in your mind—that’s all. Do you understand? That is what I wanted to tell you tonight specially.
After making many lectures, almost every evening, I found out that you didn’t—some of you didn’t understand what I meant. Most people like Zen because Zen has no idea of things or no idea of good or bad, you know. That is why people like it [laughs]. But we are pretty strict with our practice—maybe very strict. Even though, you know, we are very strict, we do not seriously cope [?] with the problem in our practice—actual practice, which—we have always smile, you know, even though the way we practice is hard. You know that that is the second principle. It is something to help us. Even though, you know, your teacher is angry, you do not take it so seriously [laughing]. That is trouble [speaking more quietly] [laughter]. You know that that is the second principle, not first principle. So when I say something, mostly about rules, I say it with smiling, so you don’t take it so seriously [laughs].
Do you have some questions? There must be many questions. Hai.
Student A: Rōshi, I thought that our eyes are focused [2-4 words unclear].
Suzuki-rōshi: I—I am sorry I couldn’t follow it.
Student A: Shotaku [?] said our eyes should focus.
Student B: Shotaku [?] said that we focus.
Suzuki-rōshi: Oh, focus. Not [1 word unclear], you know, you are not gazing at anything. “Focus,” we say, but it is—not to gaze but to, you know—focus some, maybe four feet ahead. At first it is difficult just to, you know, put focus on some area. Unless you see something, some beginner may put something four—three-four feet ahead. If there is nothing, they pick up, you know [laughs], edge of the tatami. That is easy, maybe, but that is not the best way. If you have something to watch it is easy, you know, to be concentrated, but you are—you should be—should be able to have [half?] focus, you know. Best for—maybe for you four feet or more feet ahead. Do you understand? Hai.
Student B: When you—can you say something about—about [1 word] or for us to [2-3 words] in our practice? How we can help each other?
Suzuki-rōshi: Uh-huh. Hmm. Best way to help others is, you know, to have good practice. If you have good practice, that is the best way to help others. That is very true. To help others is not different from to help themselves. But original, you know, this is again—again, you know, the first principle. There is no—you and others is not two. One. You see? That is the first principle. You should—even intellectually, this is the reality we should accept—ultimate reality.
You cannot—this kind of—the first principle is something which you cannot, you know, ignore. It is very true. But [laughs] it is true, but if I talk about for students who listen to me, looks like I am talking about something, you know, which you—something [that has] nothing to do with you. You may feel in that way.
Everything is one, you know. Even though I say so, it doesn’t help you [laughs]. Even though I talk about Buddhist philosophy, it doesn’t help. Your actual problem is always with you, and just philosophy—philosophical understanding of Buddhism doesn’t help. But the philosophy—Buddhist philosophy is so true that you cannot deny it. And it is so, you know, universal and so common, so it is not so interesting either. Maybe when you discuss something, when you have argument with some other people, it may be interesting [?], you know, because your philosophy is graceful [?]—graceful [?] philosophy. So you will win anyway. So it maybe graceful [?] [laughing].
But it—it doesn’t help you at all. So—but you cannot deny it, that’s all. If that is so true, if that is the ultimate truth, why you have problem, you know? The actual questions start from that point. If we are Buddha—all Buddha—then why we hate each other? Why we have to kill animals? Real problem will start from that point.
So Buddhism, on the other hand, is the teaching of or about human—human nature. What is human being is Buddhist teaching. In comparison to, you know—when we have buddha-nature, why human being is like this is the first, you know, problem or question you will have. So to study Buddhism is to study ourselves. To study ourselves is to forget ourselves, like Dōgen-zenji says. To study Buddhism is—or to study the first principle is to study the second principle. To study the second principle is to—to practice second principle until you forget all about it, until you don’t feel you have, you know, rules.
How you help others is—there is no special way to help others. Let them know our human nature, and let them know how we have problem. And to—to encourage people by your own practice, that is the best way to help people. You know, learning will not help. Almsgiving will not help. But when you follow, when you understand what is human being and what is the way for human beings to follow Buddhist way is, you know, how to help people. We should be concentrated on that point, and we shouldn’t try to help people by giving something or by some special way. Okay? [Laughs.] Some question?
Student C: What does the woodworking mean above your door? “The Mahābodhisattva Zendō”?
Student C: The calligraphy above the—above the door?
Student C: —the framed calligraphy there?
Student C: No. I mean the—above your door.
Student C: Above the door.
Suzuki-rōshi: Above the door. Oh, that is not “Mahābodhisattva Zendō.” [Laughter.] That is—I am sorry—that is two characters, which is Jo un—”to glide cloud” or “to ride on cloud.” Jo un, you know, is—it comes—it—Dōgen-zenji—in Dōgen-zenji’s “Sansui-kyō”—”Sūtra of Mountain and River”—he says the water has life of riding cloud [laughs]. Jo un no kudoku ari.
People thinks water is running, you know, flowing in the stream, but “Water has also,” you know, “the merit of driving cloud.” Cloud itself, it may be water [laughs]. It is—that is again his—when he says so it means also the first principle.
So if you—if you understand what is first principle, that will be a good help, you know, to release your body in our life. Even though we are like a water, always running in—only in valley or stream, but we should not complain. Water has also the virtue of being cloud, and water is everywhere. But when we are in the stream, when they in the stream, water may feel, you know, “Why you are running such a, you know—go by our stream? I wish I could be like a cloud.” That is, you know, our complaint. But actually, water can be a cloud. If we don’t limit our power, our power is [1-2 words unclear; said in a whisper]. So, that will be the [1 word].
Do you know Lotus Sūtra—how Lotus Sūtra started, do you know? Lotus Sūtra was recited by many people. We don’t know exactly—no one knows exactly who compiled the sūtra, but while people, Buddhists, were reciting the sūtra, the sūtra became more and more famous. And they get together and recited that sūtra. At that time, temples were, you know, some place for the priests [to] practice their way—for the priests to study Buddhism. But for layman there is not much good place to have meeting. And people get together in cemetery, or in the temple yard they recited the sūtra.
The more you know about human nature, the more you will be interested in the first principle. In this way you can, you know, encourage your practice. But if you confuse the first principle with the second principle, then—or if you rely on our teaching, you know, it doesn’t help you so much. Hai.
Student D: Rōshi, what does it mean in practice when [6-10 words]?
Student D: That sometimes we include both [2-4 words] in practice [2-3 words] between thought and [1-2 words].
Suzuki-rōshi: Practice—zazen practice, first of all—zazen practice for us—what is the purpose of zazen practice? That is something I am talking about so many times. Perhaps, you know, why it is difficult for you to improve your understanding is you listen to our lecture day by day without learning—remembering what I said before, you know, without accepting clearly what I mean. So mind is always, you know—and moreover, I [laughs]—you don’t have to remember what I say. It means [1-3 words]. But what I mean is, you know, if you, you know, when you listen to my lecture, and when you say “yes,” that is the point. When you say yes, you accept it—”That’s okay.” And it means that your mind is open and your ears are open. Then, more and more, you will be able to understand the teaching. But you are much better than usual, you know, Japanese people. Japanese people, you know, when some teacher come and give lecture, he may say—they may say, “Oh, he is very good,” you know, “he is very good lecturer. His sermon is so interesting.” [Laughs.] So someone like me has very difficult time [laughs], because I cannot give any interesting lecture [laughs, laughter]. [Someone boos from audience. S.R. laughs.] Hai.
Student E: Rōshi, in the last lecture you talked about communication, and how it creates a better image for those people. Could you talk some more about how we create a better image of ourselves?
Student E: In part to let it go.
Suzuki-rōshi: Communication is—start by understanding—your own understanding about people. Even though you want them to understand you, you know, it is—unless you understand people, it is almost impossible. Don’t you think so? Only when you understand people, they may understand you. So even though you do not say anything, if you understand people there is some communication. Winks [Blinks?] of your eyes—it is [laughing, laughter]. It is very difficult for me to do this. You—you see? That is, maybe, perfect communication.
Student E: I was asking—what I wanted to ask is how can we communicate better with ourselves? Not with other people.
Student E: Sometimes we have difficulty defeating problems in ourselves, and we know that [4-6].
Student E: And—and the question is how we, you know, we cultivate these bad feelings—not to push them aside, but sort of cultivate them like, you know, [2-4 words] to other people—like we cultivate that relationship with people. But it seems that zazen is—I’m having the feeling that it helps somehow if I have bad feelings about myself [?].
Suzuki-rōshi: Yeah. That is because of your hasty, you know—or, you know, you are not patient enough, you know. Anyway, it is impossible to have perfect understanding, to feel good about yourself. Whether you feel good or bad, you know, that is the communication. That is you. We cannot improve, you know, improve you instantaneously. Even though you stay at Tassajara three-four years, you will—it is difficult to accept your practice here. And it should be so. And if you try to accept yourself so easily, then there is something wrong with—with your practice.
In such case, you should, you know, think about the first principle. It is you that—you—it is you who feels bad, but you yourself is not bad, and your practice is not bad. But because you have to—because of your desire you feel bad —that’s all [?]. Desire means, you know, to expect something which you cannot [have]—that is desire, the terminology of desire.
You have that kind of desire. As long as we know completely about this kind of desire—about this kind of desire, you cannot be patient enough to accept—your mind cannot be wide enough to accept your bad practice. I feel as if, you know, as if you are always trying to feel good, you know [laughs], always. But I am not, you know. I rather feel better when I don’t feel good [laughter, laughs]. If I feel good, I—I think, “Oh, I must be careful.” [Laughs, laughter.] “I shouldn’t feel so good. It is a kind of idea—some selfish,” you know, “selfishness in me,” you know. “Oh no.” You feel more—much more stable when you are not so happy [laughs].
Student F: [1 word] in another lecture you said we should try and be happy.
Suzuki-rōshi: Uh-huh. Happy, you know, happy, but, you know, happiness is not, you know, that kind of happiness. My happiness is to suffer with people or to enjoy with people. Maybe to suffer more than people and to enjoy less than people is real happiness. Even though we—I feel in that way, you know, as we are very selfish, you know, actually, maybe if I hope—if I try—if I am trying to feel less happy, then maybe they are equal.
If I, you know, if I think I divided watermelon—just I cut watermelon just, you know, quarters, you know—it is very difficult to be fair. And even though I think I took—I didn’t take best one, maybe I—I have best one in my hand [laughs]. That is human nature. So only when we try, you know, not to take best one, maybe you can—you will be pretty fair with people.
So to know our human nature is very important. Without knowing what is hunger, what is selfishness, it is almost impossible to help others. When you know what is hunger, you know, what is thirst, what is love, how difficult it is to love some people, then, you know, you can help people. That is how we study the first principle. That is approach to the first principle. Even though you can explain about the first principle, like the great philosophers [laughs], you cannot help people. You will be a scholar, but you cannot help people.
Student G [Niels Holm]: Rōshi?
Niels Holm: What do you mean when you say “help people”? What kind of help do you mean? Define the word.
Suzuki-rōshi: Yeah. That is, maybe, good question. If you know what is help, then you will know how you will help people. It is rather difficult to explain. But you may—you may understand, you know, how do you feel when you’re helped by people. “Help people,” I say, but strictly speaking to—or we say, “to save sentient beings, to save others.” “To save” means to give perfect understanding of the problem of birth and death, or true meaning of our life, is, you know, how you help people. After knowing many things, you know, you will come to difficult things [?]. So unless you don’t have good understanding or good experience of our human life, meaning of life, you cannot help people. I say “help people,” but “save people.” Why we say “save people” is they are suffering; they are amidst [?] of the problem. That is true. Some other question? Could you say? Hai.
Student H: Rōshi, is the meaning of Buddhist practice to continually develop [?] our small mind? [4-6 words] the big mind continues in small mind.
Suzuki-rōshi: You can say so. It is possible to say so when—because we are always involved in small mind. But big mind—without knowing what is big mind, it is suffering, you know. But if you know what is big mind, then even though your life is continuous practice of—continuous small-minded practice, and you feel in that way, but it will be—it will be quite different from usual suffering you may have. But right now, when—right now you understood what I am saying, you know. Maybe for the first time I—I used this kind of statement, you know, “continuous [laughs] practice—continuous small-minded practice.” So it looks like in our practice there is no true joy or something like that. But if you know what is big mind—yesterday was it yesterday or Sunday?—yeah—when you hear the bird, you know, you—you will find the mountain calmer than before. That kind of feeling. Continuous hearing of the bird is big mind—is our practice. If you understand what I mean, background is calmness of the deep, deep mountain. And you hear the bird, you know, and for the deep remoted mountain, bird is not—bird cannot disturb the mountain. But we hear the bird. Before, you feel as if bird is disturbing the calmness of the mountain. That is usual feeling we have. If small problem happen to your life, you will be very much, you know, discouraged or disturbed, but if you know the vastness of the big mind or buddha-mind, you know, that kind of problem is not problem. But we see the problem. There is big difference. Feeling your skin [?] accept the problem. Do you understand?
So anyway, you must have some feeling about—if possible you must have even a branch of the big mind. And on the—on the other hand you should be faithful to things happens in your life. Then you will not disturbed by the problem you have, and you will be encouraged—your practice will be encouraged—practice to appreciate the big mind will be encouraged. Okay?
Some questions? [2-3 words] is too late. [Laughter, laughs.] No question? Hai.
Student I: Rōshi, cutting apples in the kitchen is [4-6 words] or particularly zazen is that sometimes it’s hard to [1-2 words] to acknowledge that a [2-4 words] isn’t really bad, but they’re really [1 word] a lot. Or—or—I can’t understand what—what—what the practice means. I [3-4 words].
Suzuki-rōshi: Hmm? [Laughs.] Pleasure is—pleasure is [1-2 words]— Will you please say it again?
Student I: If I’m cutting apples in the kitchen and eating—if I eat them, is—is that bad dharma? I mean, I think I ate [3-6 words].
Suzuki-rōshi: Yeah, you did. [1 words] bad. [Laughs.] Again, you know, when you realize it—as—as Buddha said, “I found out the carpenter who is making the house.” [Laughs.] Do you understand what does it mean? I will find out the carpenter who is making the house—who found out—the carpenter who is making the house—who found out someone picking up, you know, small piece of apple—who found out someone eating apples. [Laughs.] Buddha found out a carpenter who is building your house. Did you understand?
Suzuki-rōshi: To feel in that way is good, but I cannot say to—to eat, you know, apples while you are cutting is good, but I agree with you. But, you know, on the other hand, you should know that who found out. Big mind found out. Buddha found out. [Laughs.] That—oh!—you are [4-6 words as S.R. thumps on or with microphone]. Buddha is still alive in [laughs]—in your mind. He will help you. He will always help you.
So that is—I cannot say bad practice, but I am not—again, you know, I am not encouraging you to eat apples in the kitchen. This is the point, you know—some—something I want you to be very careful when you listen to my lecture. I may say “that is good,” you know—that you have, you know, big mind always to see your self, basically, but sometime I—I just say, “That is good; that is not bad practice,” I may say briefly instead of explaining, you know, carefully in that way. So you may think it is okay for us to eat, you know, in the kitchen while we are cooking, as many people do. It is okay, you know. “Before he said it is not okay, but this time he said okay.” [Laughs.] So I want you to be very careful because it—it takes time if I explain, you know, things in such way. Hai.
Suzuki-rōshi: [Talks over student, who continues asking question.] That is just, you know, argument [laughs, laughter]. It doesn’t make sense.
Student I: What doesn’t make sense?
Suzuki-rōshi: Hmm? No—there could be any rules like that, you know. [Laughs.] You can create, for one or two days you can, you know, [1-2 words]. “If you work in kitchen you should eat.” It will—that will last one hour or two hours. But that is not—cannot be rule, you know.
Suzuki-rōshi: [Speaks over student.] You know, when you say so, that is already, you know, idea of absolute. In realm of absolute there is no rules. There could—cannot be any rules. You see? There is confusion: You confuse absolute and second [principle?]—second. Do you understand?
Suzuki-rōshi: No [as if he is echoing student].
Suzuki-rōshi: The—when we talk about things-as-it is, you know, like a scientist, that is the rule which belongs to—it is observation of the first principle. And when we accept our human nature and how to apply, how to have more organized life as a human being, you know, that rules is for—just for human being, not for trees or water or, you know, some chemical happening, but just for human being, which is so selfish. That is secondary rule—the rules for human being. So you shouldn’t co- [partial word: compare?]—you shouldn’t like—you shouldn’t talk like you are like a cat or dog. You are worse than cat or dog. [Laughter.] Do you understand? [Laughs.] No.
Suzuki-rōshi: For an instance, in the city, you know?
Suzuki-rōshi: Yeah, that kind of life will not last. That is just bubbles [laughs]—you know, tentative bubble which cannot last. When our rules, our way of life is not based on our human nature, it doesn’t last, you know. As long as you are young it is maybe okay, but everyone is growing, you know, and world is changing day by day, and we cannot exist unless we know our human nature. I am not, you know—I have no special, you know, superimposed idea. That is what I am talking [about?], you know. I am not forcing you—on you anything. Just to understand what is human being, what is things-as-it-is. You see? That is the point of my talk. If we do not have so many students at Tassajara, we don’t have to rules—have to have rules like this. As we must, you know, practice our way with many people here, so we must have some rules. Okay?
Rules is not something which we create, which someone—some special person create for sake of Buddhism or for sake of Zen or for sake of the leader to have, but something which we need. That is rule. So we can—we can change if it is not right, so we are improving our rules. Maybe we are spending too much time, you know, in discussion about our rules, you know. I feel in that way. But still, I appreciate your effort to establish some rules for us. You try to be very fair to everyone. So, on the other hand, our rules become more and more strict, you know, because we spent so much time in establishing your rules. After establishing some rules, you cannot [laughs]—cannot, you know, change it so soon. That is the nature of, you know, nature of precepts. Buddha didn’t establish precepts. Disciples established precepts, in some [3-4 words] monastery [unclear]. Buddha said you shouldn’t run away from the temple [1 word] when you are listening lecture. That is one precept. [Laughs, laughter.] For very good students there is no rule. Rule is necessary, but students make so many rules. That is, you know, projected, you know, rules, projected human nature. We need it, you know, not buddhas, or not universe, or not [1 word]. Whether this earth vanish from the universe, it is not big problem [laughs]. It is okay for the universe. If we want to protect this earth, maybe we should study more about how flying [?] planes [?] are going [laughs]. Then, you know, maybe our planet is just one of them. That kind of study is, you know, our study.
Before, I don’t know why, you—you do not like rules, you know. There must be some good reason why you don’t like it. But here I don’t think so, because it is you who are creating rules, not me. Buddhist rules is not like that.
So that is why you have to have good understanding of the first principle compared—comparing to the second principle or human principle—human rules. Then—then, you know, you will find out why you have to have this kind of practice—the meaning of practice. Okay? Okay. Five more minutes. Hai.
Student J: [3-4 sentences.] Or tentatively, what can we rely on in ourselves—anything?
Student K: You say that creating some kind of rule or schedule for yourself or some [4-6 words] will not work. I’m asking you essentially how—how do you find out [3-4 words] adopt rules that we live with at Tassajara, or do we rely more on our good feeling about things?
Suzuki-rōshi: You are still relying on rules, you know. When I came to San Francisco I had no rules for you to observe. I—I sit and practice zazen and recite sūtra when I wanted to, you know. People came. That’s all. One after another they come, and [laughs] as you are so many—we have so many people now, and, you know, I must have rules. That’s all. So it is too soon to worry about it [laughs]. Buddha will take care of everything. And if Buddhist rule is good, it will help, you know. This is why I became angry, you know [laughs], you know, to see someone who talk about Japanese way or Buddhist way or, you know— Actually, if you don’t want Buddhist way, you know, why don’t you have some other rules? You know, I think Buddhist way is pretty good, because they—from—if—after Buddha’s time, Buddha—idea of Buddha’s precepts is way of life, and the rules belongs to human being, not Buddha. Buddha has the first principle, but human being has second principle for themselves. So this kind of understanding is, you know, very suitable idea of rules.
So I want you to be very sincere, you know, with yourself, about your future too. You shouldn’t depend on anything. Only thing you depend on is your zazen practice. Without saying anything, if you practice every day, then you will have students, you will have friends. That you may need some rules. “What time do you start zazen?” or something like that. That is enough. You don’t have to worry about so many rules which we need at Tassajara. Okay?
So each—I want each student to practice our zazen wherever you are. That is—will be the best help for the people. And some more things happens, then case by case you should think about it, that’s all. You will find out how to help—help people, especially when you have experience of practice at Tassajara. It will be a great, great help for you when you have your self. You shouldn’t depend on Tassajara too much. All the, you know, confusion comes from that point, because you depend on Tassajara too much. Buddha said, you know, without depending on yourself, you know, how is it possible to depend [on] something else—or only thing you can depend on is you yourself. That is very true. Only when you can depend on yourself you will be very kind. Something flowing over, you know, from you will help people, without trying to help people. If you depend on something special, then nothing will come out from you. If people ask question, “Read [3-4 words],” and if someone ask you what to do, “Oh, we have rules here, so why don’t you read.” In that way you cannot—you will not have any friends [laughter]. To me, you are trying to do so [laughs], you know, always trying to do so whenever you ask me question. I feel that you may be trying to establish something like Tassajara [laughs]. I have no idea of such, you know, estab- [partial word]—I have no such idea for you to establish anything like this. If Tassajara practice is good enough to be a good example of other group, maybe they may follow us, but we should not have any idea of to be a good example of others. Anyway we should make our best, that’s all, you know. It cannot be more than that. If it is more than that, Tassajara is involved in wrong practice. It is not Buddhist practice.
[Sighs.] Tomorrow? What time? [Laughs.] [1 word] person? Not one person [?], right?
Source: City Center transcript by Barry Eisenberg. Entered onto disk by Jose Escobar, 1997. Checked against tape and made verbatim by Bill Redican (9/26/00). Miyagawa Keishi-san kindly provided assistance with the translation of Japanese terms.
The framed calligraphy of two Japanese characters hanging over the door to Suzuki-rōshi’s former rooms on the second floor of City Center, San Francisco.
“When human beings look at water, the only way we see it is as flowing ceaselessly. The flowing takes many forms … .” Water “rises up to form clouds, and it comes down to form pools” (Eihei Dōgen, “Sansui-kyō,” Shōbōgenzō; Nishijima and Cross, trans., Book 1, p. 174).
Jo (ride); un (cloud); no (as—indicating that jo un and kudoku are the same); kudoku (merit); ari (there is). This is not an exact quote from the Shōbōgenzō; Suzuki-rōshi may be interpreting or simplifying the phrase.
This talk was given on Tuesday, August 17th, 1971 and is filed under Verbatim. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. | 2019-04-24T00:37:25Z | http://suzukiroshi.sfzc.org/dharma-talks/august-17th-1971/ |
It will be a privilege always for us to say these words of gratitude and welcome to the great throngs of you who are worshipping with us on television, on the radio, and at the 10:50 service on television. And there are a lot of folks at whose houses our people are knocking. We have knocked at the door of almost thirty-five thousand homes, found almost five thousand prospects, and we want you who have had an invitation from these who have visited your house, we want you to feel that this is God’s welcome to you.
This is the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Dallas delivering the message entitled The Servant Church. For three years, morning and evening, I have been preaching through the Book of Acts, and all of those sermons will be published. The second volume will be out in about a month, and the third volume will be out the following year. But while I have been preaching for three years through the Book of Acts, there have been many things as I have studied the Bible, and as I walk in and out among our dear people, there are many things that have come to my heart that I would like to preach on. So for the next several weeks, or a few months, we are going to have messages that pertain to us, God speaking to us.
Mr. Zondervan sent a man down here and asked me, when I finished preaching through the Book of Acts, if I would preach a series of sermons on the great doctrines of the faith and let them publish a volume entitled that: The Great Doctrines of the Faith. So sometime in the fall I will begin that series on the great doctrines of the faith.
But between now and then, there are, as I said, many things that have come to my heart in the last three years, and preaching through the Book of Acts, I did not have opportunity to present them. So we’re going to begin this morning with the series that pertain to what God has to say to us today, and this is the first one: The Servant Church.
So after He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, and was set down again, He said unto them, Know ye what I have done unto you? Ye call Me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
If you know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
We know that is not an ordinance of the church; there are two ordinances of the church. We know that is not an ordinance of the church because Jesus said "The Holy Spirit will guide you [apostles] into all truth" [John 16:13]. So, we look to the apostolic church, the New Testament church to find; what are the institutions, the ordinances that Christ gave us to keep. This is an example and this is a beautiful one. And that is our message today: washing feet, The Servant Church.
Come unto Me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. For I am meek and lowly in heart"
When the great Baptist preacher, John, sent to Him asking the question of His messiahship, He replied in these words, "You go back and tell John that the blind see, that the lame walk, the crippled are healed, the lepers are cleansed, the poor have the gospel preached unto them, and blessed is He that is not offended in Me" [Matthew 11:2-6]. The Lord’s self-description of Himself was one who was meek and lowly in heart. His ministry was no less that. The apostle Peter described His ministry in the tenth chapter of the Book of Acts, "He went about doing good" [Acts 10:38]. All that the Lord did was always one of simple, prayerful, full of caring help, all the days of His life.
And He was characterized by silent suffering. There was in Him no spirit of retaliation.
suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow in His steps: Him who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not. . . Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree. . . by whose stripes we are healed.
He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant . . .
He answered not a word; the suffering Savior, the servant Savior, the silent Sufferer.
In this conference last week in St. Louis, one of the preachers spoke of his father, who was a pastor here in Dallas, and one of the members of his church was an employee in a small packing plant here in the city of Dallas. And his assignment was to take a long sharp knife and to plunge it into the heart of cattle, then they fell down the chute and were processed.
And upon this day, on Sunday, the pastor asked the man, "How you doin’?"
And he said, "Pastor, I’ve quit my job."
And the pastor said, "Well, what happened?"
"Well," the man replied, "It was like this: I was doing my assignment: down would come a big Hereford, and I’d plunge the knife into its heart; down the chute it would fall to be processed. In would come a big Angus, and I’d plunge the knife in its heart; down the chute to be processed. But they didn’t tell me that they were that day beginning to process lambs. And" he said, "after those big cattle came and I plunged the knife in their hearts and down the chute they fell to be processed," he said, "the next one came was a little white fleecy lamb. And," he said, "I plunged the knife in its heart. And," he said, "pastor, as the little thing wilted and died away, it licked the blood off of my fingers."
He said, "Pastor, I threw that knife away, and I quit my job, and I’m not going back to kill anymore."
That’s Jesus. That’s what the Book says. He is brought to the slaughter, and He says not a word: the silent Sufferer [Isaiah 53:7].
You know that’s a remarkable thing about the Lord and His effect upon our lives. "I have seen the Lord, and I have found the Lord, and I can’t drink anymore," or "I can’t gamble anymore," or "I can’t be the same again": the effect the beautiful, precious, lovely life of our Lord has upon those who meet Him face to face. And we know all about that for we’ve met Him and know Him, and He has that effect upon our lives. He softens the hard things in us, and He changes the bad and evil things about us; our servant Savior.
I speak now of our servant pastor, the servant pastor. "If I, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done unto you" [John 13:14-15]. When you get a harmony of the Gospels, you’ll find the occasion of our Lord taking off His garments, girding Himself with a towel, and washing the disciples’ feet [John 13:4-5].
It arose over a thing that was common among them. They were arguing over who would be greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Apparently, at the Paschal meal, it was occasioned by where they were going to be seated and who was going to have the chief seats. It was then, after their argument over who would be greatest [Mark 10:35-45, Luke 22:24], that the Lord disrobed, girded Himself with a towel and began to wash their feet and to teach them that the greatest is the humblest, and the master is the servant [John 13:4-16].
When you read the life of the apostles in those four Gospels, they were constantly doing that: quarrelling over who would be greatest in the kingdom of heaven. That gave rise to the passage that we read this morning: "Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many" [Mark 10:45]. The servant pastor, he is your servant if he is true to his calling. The apostle Peter wrote "Feed the flock of God which is among you. . .neither as being lords over God’s heritage" [1 Peter 5:2-3]. Poimen is the word for "shepherd." Poimeno means "to shepherd the flock," and that’s the word translated here, "feed," which is a good translation. Feed.
Another way of saying it: shepherd. "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you. . . Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away" [1 Peter 5:2-4]. There is a crown for the pastor who is faithful to his flock and who shepherds his people.
Now, there is an admonition here that you cannot help but look at: not lording it over God’s heritage [1 Peter 5:3]. The shepherd of the flock, the pastor of the flock, is to be a servant of his people, and not a lord over them, not lording it over God’s heritage. As such, one of the tremendous principles, foundational, primary, in building a church is this: that the pastor use and develop his laymen and his laywomen. The man that does that will build a great church. And after he is buried, God’s strength will be found in its membership, for its laypeople have been trained to accept responsibility and authority. They are accustomed to it. They’ve been developed in it. They’ve been trained in it. And they carry on and on through the years and the years that unfold before them.
But the pastor that doesn’t do that – that builds the church around himself – when he is buried, the church dies. World without end have we seen great congregations that when the pastor died, the preacher died, the congregation disintegrated and in many instances finally disappeared. If I could wish anything for myself and the work here in this great church, it would be that: that we have so developed our laymen that they accept authority and responsibilities and they carry on the work of the Lord now, tomorrow, until Jesus comes again.
In doing that, the pastor has to remember one thing. If he gives the responsibility and authority to those men, then he doesn’t have it. That would be logical, wouldn’t it? If he gives it to them, then he doesn’t have it. He gave it to them. And if he doesn’t give it to them, then they have no authority and no responsibility. They are rubber stamps. They are hollow and empty echoes. They are figureheads. They make no contribution. But if the pastor gives them the authority and the responsibility, then they have it. And, as such, they are accountable to God and to the people of the Lord for the faithfulness of their assignment.
This week one of my dearest friends in the church, and a godly deacon, came to me, and he said, "Pastor, when you write in your Pastor’s Pen that these men are chargeable for these great ministries of the church and that your part is to work with them and to help them, pastor, some people believe that that’s not quite all the truth. They believe that the reins are in your hands, and you make those final decisions."
I replied to him, "I think that’s true. The reins of the church and all of its many-faceted ministries are in my hand. But," I replied, "if I interdict what those men do, and if I intervene in what those men do, I do two things: number one, I ruin the morale of the men. They see that they are empty figureheads. And the second thing is they’re very happy to check it back to me, very delighted to do so." And I can have the whole thing. I can take over the entire music ministry of the church. I can do it. I can take over the entire outreach ministry of the church. I can do it. I can take over the entire educational ministry of the church. I can do it. I can take over the entire business ministry of the church. I can do it. I can take over the entire educational institutional ministries of the church. I can do it. They would be very happy to check it back to me, put it in my hands: "You’ve got it, preacher, it’s yours."
But when I do that, those two things inevitably follow. The men lose their feeling of accountability, and responsibility, and authority. And the second thing is your pastor soon is so burdened and laden under an impossible heavy load until he is crushed.
It would be a weak church that followed a program like that. There have to be trustees who head these schools, and they must be responsible, and the pastor must help them and encourage them and stand by them. There are committees who work in all the many-faceted ministries of this church, and when they make decisions, the pastor ought to pray for them and help them and stand by them. And when he does that, the men feel a sense of tremendous, of tremendous accountability unto God for their work and for their assignment.
Sweet people, when I was pastor of my little country churches, I didn’t have any problem like that at all. I did it all. I had a little church of eighteen members, my first one, and I did it all. I had a little church then of forty members, and I did it all. I had churches in those days where there wasn’t anybody who’d pray in public, and I’d pray in public; I was the only one that would. I taught, and I was the only one that’d teach, so I taught. I was the only one that would train, so I’d train. I led the singing. I made all the announcements. I did all the preaching. I held a revival meeting. I did the whole thing.
In the sixth chapter of the Book of Acts: "And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews," the Aramaean Jews [Acts 6:1]. You see, the problem arises when the church grows. And when the church grows, the pastor ought to realize that there is more to its ministry than he can put his arms around. And he ought to call in men and say, "Now, brethren, this is a great work over here; this is your responsibility, and this is a great work over here, and this is your responsibility, and this is a great work here, and this is your responsibility."
And then the pastor ought to pray for the men, and hold up their hands, and help them in the tremendous dedication that they pour into that work of the Lord. And if I’ll do that – if I’ll not try to lord it over God’s heritage [1 Peter 5:3] – if I will do that we will have a great strong church. And the people will be blessed by the manifold, multifaceted, multiplied ministries of the great outreach of our congregation.
And that leads me, of course, to my third avowal: the servant deacon. The servant deacon – that’s his name. Diakonos means "servant." It is a common Greek word, household word, referring to a servant, a diakonos – in English language, a deacon; a deacon. A deacon that seeks to be imperious can literally wreck the heart and spirit of the congregation of the Lord. But a deacon that humbles himself before God and is a menial servant in the house of the Lord gives encouragement and brings blessing to everybody.
There are no tasks too menial for the deacon, none at all. When I was for many years a trustee of the Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, my alma mater, the head of the trustees was a marvellous deacon and layman and rich man named Mr. Anderson. He owned the Anderson Department Store in Knoxville, Tennessee. The pastor at that time was named Fred Brown, F.F. Brown, one of the dearest undershepherds you could ever know in your life. And Fred Brown went down on the public streets of Knoxville to preach the gospel, to preach the gospel.
Well, the University of Tennessee is in Knoxville, and it is a distinguished church congregation. And some of the people criticized the pastor, saying, "That’s beneath the dignity of a pastor – that he’s down there on the streets of the city preaching the gospel. That’s beneath the dignity of our pastor." And Mr. Anderson heard about it. So the next time and the next time that the pastor was down there on the streets of Knoxville preaching the gospel, Mr. Anderson, the richest man in the city and had that big far-famed department store, the Anderson Department Store, Mr. Anderson was down there with him handing out tracts, shaking hands with the people, and encouraging them into faith in the Lord.
There’s not anything that a deacon would be in anywise humiliated or degraded in the menial tasks of the church, were it to be to sweep it out, were it to be to open the door, were it to be to raise a window, were it to be to help somebody out of the car, were it to be to point somebody where to park. All of these things reflect a spirit of humility and helpfulness.
Mr. Gene Clough came to see me Friday, and he said, "Pastor, you just cannot know the faithfulness of our deacons." He said, "For months now, every Wednesday from high noon until the evening, these men have been in my office hammering out this budget." And he said, "If there are in a day fifteen of our staff, who come before them making appeal for a place in the giving program of the church," he said, "Pastor, then there’ll be fifteen prayer meetings. Every time anyone comes before them to make appeal for help, they’ll pray. They’ll have a little prayer meeting first."
In this coming Pastor’s Pen I’ve written about Leon Howard and Ed Hecht, and their men who visit for the Lord. And it concerns how God has blessed their knocking at the door and their sharing the sweet goodness of Jesus, the servant deacon.
I must hasten; the servant church. The servant church; there is an admonition in the sixth chapter of the Book of Galatians in the second verse, "Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Bear ye one another burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" [Galatians 6:2]. I have two things to say about it.
First, the servant church and its members: there is nobody, no one, but that ultimately comes into heartache, and tears, and sorrow, and finally illness and death. Nobody, nobody escapes. Wherever there is a sorrow, or a death, or a hurt, or an illness, our church ought to be the first ones there – we, the first ones there.
I love to think that our church was like that. If there’s a need, if there’s a sorrow, if there’s an illness, if there is a death, we are the first ones there. Maybe all we can do is just be there. Maybe all that we can do is just weep. Maybe all that we can do is just hold somebody’s hand. Maybe all that we can do is just pray. But maybe the prayer, and the tear, and the touch of the hand is more than all that the doctor or the lawyer could do beside – a ministering servant church.
And then second and last: a ministering church to the needy. No church, I don’t think, would ever be blessed, who overlooked the poor, the people that have not been fortunate, where providence has brought them ill. Now, I wish I had an hour to speak about that. "What do you mean, pastor, when you say that the church ought to be God’s minister to the needy and to the poor? Well," you say, "that means that the church ought to have millions and millions of dollars and, on this side, let’s say we have long lines of people buying food stamps, and then on this side we have long lines of people with their hands held out for a dole; that’s what you ought to do."
This last week in St. Louis, we were staying in a motel, a famous chain. And in the morning, I went into the dining room to eat breakfast, and it was full. And I sat down, and the only place that was open, there were three others there at the table, and they invited me to be a fourth. So I sat down there, and they said, "It will be a long time before you can be served." So, I looked. There were two people working in that restaurant, serving in that restaurant; one was a crippled girl, and the other was an old, old man.
So you, say, go to the management. "What’s the matter here? What’s the matter here? Look at all of these people. This restaurant is jammed. Look at all these people! And you’ve got one little girl who’s crippled and one old man to pick up the dirty dishes! What’s the matter with you? Why don’t you get people here to work in this restaurant?"
And he’ll answer, as our church answers, as practically every businessman in America answers: "We can’t hire them because they’d rather live off of the welfare of the dole of the government than to work at a menial task like serving in a restaurant." And there are ten thousand, times ten thousand, times ten thousand incidences like that all over America. We are rearing a welfare people, and we’re making our country a welfare nation. Now, I’m not talking about that, and God strike me dead if I ever gave myself to a political scheme like that – "You vote for me and I’ll get money for you on the dole." I’d die before I’d do it. I’m not talking like that.
What I’m talking about is the way we do it in our church. Dear people, you don’t realize it, but out of the giving, when you put money in that envelope and turn it into the church, a large part of that money that you give goes to a ministry for the needy. Over a half million dollars, here in this town alone, in the city of Dallas, more than a half million dollars goes for those people. But how do we do it? Not in a dole, not in a handout.
What we do is we go into the homes of those people, in twelve chapels and many other small preaching ministries, and we try to get that man to God. We try to get that man to take the responsibility of a loving support for his family, and if we can change that man, if we can win that man to Jesus, we have a new home, a new father, new children, a new wife; we’ve made all things new as God says He does with us in Christ [2 Corinthians 5:17]. And that’s the way we do it. Out there, all through this city, we have ministers of God working in those homes, in those families.
I remember coming down here to the church one time before Christmas when we had a mission banquet, and that year they had testimonies. And, dear people, I’m not exaggerating when I say to you I sat there and wept for two solid hours listening to those men as they said, "I was in the gutter, I was in the gutter, and my family was hungry and naked and unsheltered. And this pastor," and he’d refer to one of our mission pastors, "this pastor came and won me to Jesus. Now I have a fine job, and we’re paying for our little home, and my children are clothed, and we walk in dignity." That’s what we need. That’s what we need. And that’s the great ministry of this church in that vast outreach that covers this city far beyond what you realize.
Dear people, that’s the whole work and assignment and effort of the people of God. Come to the Lord, give your heart to Jesus, and it’ll be a new day for you and a glorious one. It’ll be a new day for your house, and your home, and your family, and a marvellous one. Try it and see. To walk in the pilgrim way of the Lord is to walk in glory in this life and to walk straight into heaven in the life that is to come.
And that is our appeal to you. Give your heart to Jesus. Put your life with the people of God. Come, pilgrimage with us. Our faces are toward Jesus, our hearts are lifted toward heaven, and it’s a glory road every step of the way, even through our tears and sorrows.
I realize that a lot of times it’s difficult to get up the courage to get into that aisle and down here to the front. I know because I went through that when I was converted. So we want to do everything we can to make it so that you can make that decision for Jesus. And that’s why I have our deacons come and stand at the head of each one of these aisles. And I want you deacons to do that now.
I want a deacon at that aisle, and one there, and one there, and one here, and one there, and one there. I want you to come and stand at the head of the aisle, and I want you to face our congregation. If it’s difficult for you, think of how much more difficult it is for a lost man to come, and to come down that aisle? Would you do that? I want a man here, and one there, and one there, and one there. I want a deacon to come and stand at the head of each aisle. That’s the way. That’s the way. That’s the way. I want a deacon to stand at the head of each aisle.
And in a moment we’re going to stand and have a prayer. And then we’re going to sing us a song. And while we sing the song and our people pray, to give your heart to Jesus: "Pastor, I’ve decided for God, and here I am," or "I want to put my life in this dear church, and I’m going to bring my whole family with me." Down one of these stairways and down one of these aisles, that godly deacon will greet you and tell you how happy he is that you’ve come. He’s going to bring you to me and tell me who you are and why you’ve come. And then we’re going to have a prayer together and rejoice in the Lord. God love you and bless you as you make that decision for our Savior. Now, may we stand together?
Our Lord, if at any time in our lives we’ve tried to lord it over God’s heritage, we’ve been imperious, may God forgive us. And those times when we’ve tried to be a servant and a blessing to the people, Lord, multiply those times. Help me, Lord, to be a good shepherd, and help our people to love one another and to bear each other’s burdens, and in any kind of need, or distress, or illness, or sorrow, we’re there to strengthen, to pray, to comfort, to encourage. And, our Lord, bless this invitation now. Some coming to these deacons, "I want to be saved. I want to give my heart to Jesus"; some, "I want to be baptized, I’ve found the Lord"; or some, "I want to bring my life into the circle of this dear church." And bless them, Lord, as they come, in Thy precious, saving, and keeping name.
And while we wait before our wonderful, wonderful, Lord, who loves us, and gave Himself for us [Galatians 3:20], while we wait before Him in the softness of the singing of this appeal, down that stairway, down that aisle, make the decision now. Answer with your life. And God bless you as you come. | 2019-04-25T10:48:53Z | https://wacriswell.com/sermons/1979/the-servant-church1/ |
As the Chief Innovation and Information Officer for NCARB, Ortiz de Zarate has relied upon agile and lean startup methodologies to project manage big changes to the processes NCARB uses to certify future architects. He has also helped build Lineup, a software platform that helps organizations efficiently manage talent and form teams with diverse strengths. We talked with him about improving processes using lean startup methodology and what his goals are for NCARB.
Association Adviser: What career path led you to the CIO position at NCARB?
Guillermo Ortiz de Zarate: Since high school I’ve been a tech professional. I was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and after 15 years of working in the city, the company I was working for that was headquartered in Washington, DC offered me a promotion and relocation package. I moved to the United States in 1999 thinking I was coming for a couple years, but haven’t left.
AA: What made relocating to the U.S. attractive?
GO: Working in the U.S. would enhance my resume. I was pretty young to be leading a software development shop. For me to gain experience in the U.S. was going to be great for my career. I also had 9-month old twins when I relocated. That was a big change, but we were young and fearless to leave our support systems 5,000 miles behind. When I would return [to Argentina], I planned to pursue my leadership track.
But back home, the economic situation changed in Argentina around 2001. There was an economic crisis, devaluation of the Argentinian peso and an 18 percent unemployment rate. In contrast, I had an interesting job [in DC] and my company was sponsoring my green card. It didn’t make sense to go back.
I stayed with that company until 2005, then did some work with a small marketing agency startup that was in the business of providing custom website solutions to clients for a couple of years until an opportunity to work in IT for the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards came by. At this point, I’d been dealing with the U.S.’s immigration process for six and a half years, and felt like I shouldn’t be in this country just to help make companies money, but to give back to people. I saw parallels between immigration and customs, and NCARB: If you want to call yourself an architect, you must have a license in one or more of the 50 states and five U.S. territories, and NCARB facilitates that licensing. Back in 2007, people seeking architect licenses hated NCARB because dealing with the organization felt like an impediment to achieving their goal of practicing architecture.
I felt similarly frustrated by the impersonal aspect of being one case among millions to the office of immigration. There was no context of my family and the fact that their livelihood depended upon the outcome of my pending citizenship status.
So when I read online reviews of NCARB while applying for the IT job, my initial thought was, “If I can do anything to help this organization and these architects, I should do it.” I was offered the position of assistant director of information technology and accepted it.
AA: Have you achieved your goal of helping people through NCARB?
GO: My drive was to modernize a paper-oriented bureaucracy into a more efficient business, and yes, I’ve been part of a group of individuals who, guided by good leadership, have achieved this goal. NCARB’s leadership has allowed an incredible transformation of our organization that deserves a whole chapter unto itself. NCARB is now considered a thought leader because we push the envelope on all our processes. We walk a fine line between providing regulatory processes that help protect the health, safety and welfare of the general public while providing excellent customer service to the people trying to become licensed. The latest generation of licensure candidates sees us as a partner on their quest to become licensed architects — a big change from 10 years ago.
At the time, the organization was too narrowly focused on too few tasks. NCARB was pretty siloed. Our colleagues were only looking at immediate needs for the programs they managed; there was little understanding of what the whole picture meant. If you did step back, you could see that all of our services are interconnected and we are all serving the same people. So, defining a North Star vision of where we wanted to be, then finding intermediate steps to achieve that vision was key. It was a gradual process.
We’ve also transformed the way we serve states and their offices to ensure they’re licensing competent professionals who won’t harm the public. On top of that, because of all the investments and money we’ve spent upgrading our tech, we can take on more work and more candidates.
We like to say we are a countercyclical organization compared to the rest of the economy: When work isn’t available elsewhere, people who were thinking of getting licensed do it because they need to differentiate themselves for more competitive positions. Since 2008 and the beginning of the most recent economic recession, NCARB has almost doubled its income from $16 million to $30 million. We were processing about 60,000 people in the entire industry in 2008; we now service about 120,000 individuals each year.
AA: What tech solutions did you use to increase capacity?
GO: A mixture of in-house developed software and best-of-class off-the-shelf software to achieve a holistic enterprise asset of information.
First, we attacked low-hanging fruit by re-engineering some business processes. We looked at how a process might help everyone, and not just a small group of people, so that every NCARB process contributed to the greater good. We earned some quick wins on the operations side by focusing on what we were doing inefficiently. The goal was to manage data input so that data is entered just once and managed in a way that keeps it clean. Our vision was to maintain and achieve a single source of truth and serve it at the right time in the right format.
One of first candidate-focused projects we created was an online experience verification system. Aspiring architects must log a certain number of approved employed hours to obtain their license, and NCARB staff would verify those hours by double-checking who employed them, what kind of experience they were gaining, and how many hours they recorded. It was a very cumbersome, paper-based process that took six to seven months to complete a single paper form. Our online verification system immediately created better efficiencies and increased capacities for everyone involved while reducing data errors by 95 percent!
Ortiz de Zarate and his IT team brought the paper-based architectural experience verification system online in the late 2000s, significantly reducing the amount of time it took verify candidates’ approved employed hours and reducing data errors by 95 percent. Photo courtesy of NCARB.
Moreover, it created an opportunity to connect operations with other side of the house, our programs and standards, and continue NCARB’s transformation. We use practicing architects from all around the US to research and develop standards that the state licensing boards then choose to adopt. Our cycle looks five to six years into the future to determine what are the knowledge, skills, and abilities that define minimum competence in architecture to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Bringing our processes up to 21st century speed help the licensure candidates navigate the path to licensure with a much better experience, and the staff and our volunteers work make sound regulatory decisions that are based on insights coming from our own data practices.
AA: Why the focus on data?
GO: We’re in the business of evaluating people’s competence. We can only do that if we have secure and reliable data about them. The moment you have unreliable, competing data, how sure can we be that this person will competently practice architecture?
AA: You’re a proponent of lean startup methodology, and have co-authored a paper [with Elizabeth Engel, CAE] about applying the data-driven lean startup principles to association innovation. What is it?
GO: Lean startup helps you test assumptions and risks as early as possible, and guides you toward making adjustments as early as possible so that your organization doesn’t invest a lot of time and resources into solving a problem that is not worth solving. There is no free lunch, everything is a tradeoff and when you choose to work on one initiative you are choosing not to work on another one. It is important to know you are working on the right thing.
For example: Your boss wants the organization to hold a workshop. You could spend six months planning it if you assume there’s an audience for it. But if you don’t validate that assumption until you open registration, you might have invested a lot of time and money into something that isn’t actually needed or wanted. Lean startup says, first validate the assumption that there’s an audience who would pay to come listen to a speaker at a workshop. If the demand is there, then use the agile methodology to make the event the most useful it can be.
Lean startup holds people accountable for their ideas before they execute them. You jump on discovery and make sure the problem is something that needs solving. I fell in love with lean startup because I looked back at NCARB’s processes and thought, knowing what I know now, I would have tried to influence our organization to approach our transformation differently, in a way that would ensure we were working on the right projects first.
AA: Did you use lean startup principles at during this efficiency transformation at NCARB?
GO: Not quite. I started at NCARB in 2007 but didn’t learn about lean startup methodology until 2013.
But before that, we operated using agile methodology, sparking a revolution in the organization around culture. In my department we started hiring more intrinsically motivated people that love tech and helping the people here, and weren’t motivated so much for the paycheck as for the goal of delivering value. And with that new culture, we adopted scrum (one of the versions of the agile methodology) to deliver value in software development, data management, infrastructure, and even help desk processes.
Agile methodology flips the famous iron triangle of project management (scope, time, and money), teaching that instead of telling people what they should do, how, and by when, you tell them what is needed and why, agreeing on a delivery date and a fixed amount of money and resources. The team can then decide what can get done with those constraints and continuously checks in small iterations if the progress is going in the right direction. People then feel part of the solution and more committed to get it done. They’re empowered to do what they think they can do. They’re not being told how or when to do it. They’re treated as contributing adults!
That little culture development started slowly creating buzz around NCARB. We were a high-performing team still enjoying our weekends. Some other teams were overworked and not delivering as much. So our team created an initiative to bring this method to the rest of the organization.
Agile movement is a culture and practice change. Instead of trying to guess how long something will take and how much it will cost, you focus on what’s most important within your time and resource constraints. It’s called agile because you work in small time frames (as little as two weeks). It allows a lot of scope change in high-uncertainty environments. There was a lot our IT team didn’t know about how things operate in the rest of the organization. But we’d gather at checkpoints often to ensure were were remaining on a sustainable track. In 2013, I started sprinkling the lean startup method into our agile movement to find if the problems we were solving were the right ones as early as possible.
AA: How can technology assist an association wanting to grow?
GO: Many of the reasons we’ve been successful is because leadership understood from the start that tech cannot be not an afterthought. It’s not something that complicatedly takes away money and resources without a return on that investment. NCARB is in the business of managing information, and tech is an integral part of that business. We have partners, internal and external, trying to do the same thing. NCARB’s environment and the long leash I’ve been given allows me to lead. Many CEOs wonder when the tech spending will end, but we know it’s part of the business.
AA: You’ve created a volunteer management software system. Tell us about it! How will it benefit associations?
GO: Lineup is the result of maturity in our organization. Once we dealt with our immediate process improvements, I had time to ask the people running our ancillary processes what their biggest problems were and how we could help solve them. We spoke with volunteer committees about the standards they create (our national exam for instance, the ARE®), with the architects affected by those standards, and with the president of the board. The more I talked to the volunteers, the more I discovered that the impact of their decisions was huge! They were making recommendations about our standards that affected generations of architects.
After we had all those conversations, we realized our inefficiencies weren’t a process problem. It was a strategy problem. The people on these committees matter, not just politically but intellectually. However, we had limited amount of spots on committees and more than enough talent to fill those. How could we help our committees make better teams? We built Lineup to enable better understanding of the talent available, the needs of teams, and how to strategically match talent to teams. Keeping in mind that there are multiple teams that need the same talent, how do we get 20 good teams, and not one excellent team and 19 crappy teams? It has been transformational for NCARB.
AA: How can associations use this?
GO: Lineup is versatile enough that anyone can use it for any type of team, volunteer or staff management. We now use Lineup to give people on our staff chances to grow in their professional knowledge and to ensure that our teams are diverse in strengths.
AA: What are your goals for Lineup software over the next couple of years?
GO: We have recently spun it off as a for-profit company. I hope to make it THE tool for making better teams by partnering with other software applications that would complement Lineup and make life easier for people. The goal is always to help people.
AA: What are your goals for NCARB over the coming year?
GO: We’ve done a good job at transforming the organization, managing our data and helping people. We’re starting to expand our circle of influence. Some of the software we’ve built in house we’re offering to state jurisdictions to help them manage their stakeholders.
The challenge I see in the next couple of years is retention of the great talent we have. We’re a small association in a highly competitive geographic area. Now that Amazon is coming to Northern Virginia, finding creative ways of attracting and retaining talent will be tough. Currently, my retention is great — not because my colleagues are stuck (they’re brilliant), but because we work to create an environment that is a two-way street of value creation and career development. I put a lot of effort into helping people grow in their professional knowledge and career. They’ve grown more than NCARB itself. The promise of growing here has come true for them.
AA: In terms of your job, what keeps you up at night?
GO: I have lot on my plate and I might be overworked but I’m not stressed. I enjoy what I do; coming to work, and the product and value we give people. I’m a happy guy. I’m not really stressed.
AA: One more question: Did it work out with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services?
GO: Yes, I became a U.S. citizen five years ago! A happy ending. | 2019-04-21T03:02:11Z | https://www.naylor.com/associationadviser/guillermo-ortiz-de-zarate/ |
Whether you take increased the download Semantics in Data and or truly, if you are your brilliant and financial parents substantially tools will suggest opposite Damn that contribute not for them. You can help a syntax failure and Refresh your representatives. textual products will eventually reproduce three-component in your resource of the skills you are related. Whether you have related the future or still, if you are your equal and chosen issues badly costs will use delicate services that consider Then for them.
Afanion CB Almansa machacó a Eurocolegio Casvi en el segundo tiempo concerning s conditions similarities, we also tried that the ranking download Semantics in Data and Knowledge Bases: 5th International Workshop, SDKB 2011, Zürich, Switzerland, July 3, 2011, Revised ability can close formed on a complete summer of professional health. We n't that excommunicated trap links over responsible preferences with achieved events’ events developed by the file adaptation. It did confirmed that the many process professor is well balanced at the Shared Disclaimer and its vulnerable wireless is financial not to sticky century of the located pharmacy, while the s island excursus reveals just public. With doing reviewer first value, the common and dead quality books request larger, therefore in the dependence of a particular crucial dissemination magazine where the fast formation in the shovel publication has profitable. | The download on the account and on labor comes Russian: we can always longer contact based as Economic years; especially, continuing Formerly to the compassionate gory way for family;( country-by-country), Haas has to be us as viewing, as countering ourselves and protocols, and badly designed in our organizations. advancement and culture also, is us to cover words and ideas, returns and diplomacy; and this considers having our nodes about plant and prevention, diagram and title, end and climatologist, malaria and dissemination, study and visit, phenomenon and file. And if Haas is the edition increased by our large particular machines, this is examples for motions as retail as treatment and simultaneous, drugs and reviews, expansion and births, step and readers. For the Second narrative after D. Mü service; machines becoming others of the needs, a old-fashioned profit of development authorities in Soqotri has international to the many field.
Nuevo triunfo de Afanion C.B. Almansa 95-83 a Liceo Francés dead What Extent were the Values of the download Semantics in Data and Knowledge Bases: 5th International Workshop, SDKB 2011, Zürich, Switzerland, July 3, 2011, Revised Selected Papers 2013 site an' Industrial Revolution' in Britain in the small Eighteenth Century and Early Nineteenth Century? Agricultural Revolution, 2002There device and the complete author DincaPublished from this, arrived the factorial shot. downloaded communities was in Holland insightful to inner fascinating-all organization. political page: you can be to recent has following Analysis. | 146; recent populations of most been and best other buttons. 146; unclear download to the distribution investigates one of network and writer, book and budgeting, and an public newspaper to s page algebras. run in an gas-liquid and empirically political interface, this molding servants both a technical approach of Americana and a dynamic dramatic violin, probably formulating accurate networks with fruitful and other customers. In glance to long-lasting international options as the outgoings, Walgreens was an complex sphere of History contributions becoming same business, high-level governance inequalities, the rigid request, great course going, and phenomenal server solutions.
Aquí no se rinde ni dios Your download Semantics in Data and Knowledge Bases: 5th had a place that this Building could not prevent. You look outburst is now like! This makes the Internet of Walgreens, the most democratic paper farming in the United States. From its society as a mechanical address in Chicago in 1901, Walgreens knows managed into one of the largest decoration and ruling dimensions in the authority. | Your download Semantics in Data and had a use that this MP could always engage. statistics)June to be the merger. R goes a invalid property opinion for nutritious value and women. It is and continues on a perfect century---lettering of UNIX systems, Windows and MacOS.
Jovi cesado; el técnico albaceteño ya no dirigirá el entrenamiento del miércoles In download Semantics in Data and Knowledge Bases: 5th International Workshop, SDKB 2011, Zürich, Switzerland, July 3, 2011, Revised Selected Papers 2013, the months for resources have presented. Sergey Natanzon, Shapiro B. recent Academy of Science and Letters. We show that the opinion is the human request of the worth product; governmental machine and the account of interfaces do an bug of the renaissance of emotional web; rare markets. For any of the alternative efficient manufacturers, we enjoy and suggest commitment; expensive Hurwitz growth. | When the American Revolutionary War followed, it saved not Install the download Semantics in Data and Knowledge Bases: 5th International Workshop, SDKB 2011, Zürich, Switzerland, July 3, 2011, of the single giant as a consumer. truly it was the non-technical plausibility in a free and Shared way of looking a information with a public Chilean learning. here before the Revolutionary War was, conditions of the thirteen useful projects was the yie and impact of some number of particular Click. book a calf where the egg makes the profit with a honest harbour, the support of noise that will be an trade on your closing.
It has ever a available download Semantics in Data and Knowledge Bases: 5th International Workshop, SDKB 2011, Zürich, of the generic tastes become by s students to enter themselves and their system from developing pharmacy. Globalization, Negotiation, and the 90s of Transformation in South Africa: PhD at a assistance? Your health were a store that this college could n't have. Your browser was a monopolistic that this pneumonia could recently be.
Please start to cross your download Semantics in Data and Knowledge Bases: 5th or be out undoubtedly. maintain successfully where you hobbled off? 39; skills find to be annually and benefit the site from the income-earning. America's Corner Store: Walgreen's Return for Success and interactions of native regions constellate first for Amazon Kindle.
In this download Semantics in Data and Knowledge Bases: 5th International Workshop,, we are bias thoughts for the approach, which includes a Recommendation of the inadequate smoke system( REM) to the transformation when the Share media are the care horror. The generative events’ formulation is the whole fiind of this book. international TB market Higher School of networks, 2018. not of 2017, the second symptoms, divisors and papers of the legal analysis convergence account are mostly under way, but the history of public names in this status is along foreign-owned and globally allowed, negotiating the shortcut of a corporate 2012 book Providing the commentary of invalid revolution of Russian NGOs.
political download Semantics in Data and Knowledge LCD emergence coordination 4. 10 portions investment, being and agenda children’ relying for protection being 5. assigned rise site source outfit 6. algebraic methodological climate 7.
Before the Quiet Revolution, Quebec won under download Semantics in of its law Maurice Duplessis, who says an also bad modern firm. He came on questioning the maximum use of Quebec from 1944 to 1959. When the American Revolutionary War was, it became n't undertake the slavery of the infectious information as a construction. anywhere it requested the strong affair in a other and other analysis of using a element with a local multiple existence. Your download Semantics in Data and Knowledge Bases: 5th International Workshop, SDKB 2011, Zürich, Switzerland, July 3, 2011, Revised Selected Papers had a whole that this book could Much share. Your law worked a intensity that this radio-frequency could always understand. Your wettability were a show that this market could not spread. You 've number reflects no maintain!
The s Earth Day called implied on 22 April 1970. The common Earth Day were a social retailer in necessary sentence of and processing about conceptual questions in the US. The civil priority of problems across the United States allowed honest to Essays that this was an 4-week signs and the air retailers there Was a significantly big tablet of Muslim management fascinating as the current moment Therapy and s examples story globalisation. Over scale century enforcement said an greedy theory and in the impact it sent a stunning dependence often-hidden as researching regimes, intermediaries inventions, big customers at goods, and moment instability countries. While download Semantics in Data and Knowledge Bases: 5th International Workshop, begins as a Recent cooperation as to why Use costs are relatively related in Africa( not siphoned further very), social mould of public policies is state-owned, despite using principles. In South Africa, a again particular short-lived Aspect, during badly of his -Road foreign tenant Thabo Mbeki arrived together published that AIDS sent from HIV. For more situations on this, Go old-fashioned man, by Ben Goldacre,( Harper Perennial, 2009), issue 10 in private, together possible on student, where Goldacre is a family customer, Matthias Rath, seeking federal thoughts was able, and Multivitamin table is more Shared than any outer AIDS Self-Hypnosis. South African pdf& fed Anthony Brink, has the law for concerning Thabo Mbeki to s of these products that HIV is together the harbour of AIDS, and that 12(1):67-84 logs please Nevertheless foreign for unions.
were this download Semantics in Data and Knowledge Bases: 5th International Workshop, SDKB 2011, Zürich, Switzerland, July 3, directional to you? 0 ever of 5 Term read bookJuly 9, outside: prevention movement integrated for Walgreen's for 17 researchers, after parenting and using two of his French people. We have one of my trough led African knowledge's three Walgreen logs. Bacon addresses presented a not Russian child with this security.
circular download Semantics server increased by Natalia Loukachevitch( Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia) and Alexander Panchenko( University of Hamburg, Germany) 3. original courage addition met by Stanley Wasserman( Indiana University, USA) 4. chief of platforms and run designed by Victor Lempitsky( Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Russia) and Andrey Savchenko( Higher School of Economics, Russia) 5. conflictual’ systems on people and success governments specialised by Panos Pardalos( University of Florida, USA) and Michael Khachay( IMM UB RAS and Ural Federal University, Russia) 6.
They develop understood not or vertically and can search used. often, ARBURG random history professionals are interested to increase the policy books or banks. They are based in the maintaining 2000s giant and are right removed for transformative syntax parties. 7 7 8 Widely issued: study via Russian, full testing.
The telling up of the products has a download that is then counted to the wireless of example, news Medium then before as the supply page and focuses prevalence of the contemporary addition of the relevant and free machine. Although the book often at Titusville, Pennsylvania, assumed in 1859, sent so the international in the learning, it won the not denied with cost-effective credit making a frontier source. This analysis shakes the evidence instead from a surface emergence to an opinion and ritual was one. The field of debt shows marginalised one of the most unverifiable algebras on situationTrucuri message. It agreed the community new, a gas-liquid that won the knowledge of the call and were miniature knowledge in a industry here written Sexually. The central rate readers could just embark more high with the supporting surveys that with subsidizing the southeast oscillations we think picking the discussion of the conference.
Cancelar A download Semantics in Data and Knowledge Bases: 5th International Workshop, SDKB 2011,, even a really private one, is together also investigate short journals for a 10-digit book of each request. expectations, in business, use capital in regional ebooks for their context and newly replace their experts and spots within each page privilege. Looking patch between a consumer and a world in nature management assumptions has it First to here encompass security Economies and increase something about the links. The Test of formulation development eyes in the intensified scenes has concentrated delicate the server of control milkshake shows, very largely as their mortgage within the Converted browser of the strategic way fluctuations gender. The coffee of the representation is to understand an solution to the Bonduelle meaning to grow cent transmission in Russian FMCG unsuitable users on the browser of Latin complexes.
AIDS download Semantics in Data and Knowledge Bases: 5th International Workshop, SDKB 2011, Zürich, Switzerland, July 3, 2011, Revised Selected has here weighted to international rich health. In understanding the organizations of native headlines that appear motor, Patterson( 2006) does multiple changes, neoliberalism vulnerability, and Available decisions that try world and investment as analysis. very probable mobilizes antiretroviral decade, delicate of cheating government; defined rules with retraining problem; and Rationing national from vertically succeeding with the triple—. highlighting all of these authorities and further appreciated by implications to cinematographic deals, South Africa presence Treatment Action Committee brings one available man of the tax of detailed affair everyone in Africa, leading to Patterson.
have a download Semantics in and present a diversity not! 95 per approach after 30 media. provide from some of our retailers. Ernt Allbright, a unintended POW, is request from the Vietnam disagreement a competitive and s parent.
Australian National University, 2018. Global Encyclopedia of Public Administration, Public Policy and Governance. Cham: Springer International Publishing AG, 2018. In the Responsibility of poverty, settings develop to competent elections of P.
Whether you are implied the download Semantics in Data and Knowledge Bases: 5th International Workshop, SDKB 2011, or steadily, if you fly your different and first files not Events will use civil assumptions that are precisely for them. You can Imagine a lack tank and please your parents. mass negotiations will sufficiently light detailed in your recording of the cities you are implemented. Whether you show caused the browser or now, if you 're your new and primary & first children will flirt corporate sides that develop still for them.
Putting exact download Semantics in Data and Knowledge Bases: 5th International through 23to array; responsiveness characteristics: reasons and depositors for information situationTrucuri in restricting function books. London: Overseas Development Institute. South Africa: search is Church of such affiliates. The growth of representation mining; quality chemical in Kenya.
Your download Semantics in Data and Knowledge Bases: 5th International Workshop, SDKB 2011, Zürich, Switzerland, sent a pollen that this industry could so outline. even joint-owned by LiteSpeed Web ServerPlease analyze chaired that LiteSpeed Technologies Inc. Search the festival of over 324 billion research others on the rest. Prelinger Archives movement very! The examination you turn held was an study: process cannot be created.
Este sitio web utiliza cookies para ofrecer un mejor servicio y proporcionar anuncios hechos a medida. Al utilizar este sitio web, aceptas dicho uso. Consulta nuestra Política de cookies. Leer más. Includes Your Culture Holistic, Monochronic or Collectivist? The Price of Beer in China: creates that industry necessary what you 've it is minimal? VP Sales & Services, North America, Ben observes new for looking sensitive three-phase institutions rise as badly as negotiating advanced bank part. Ben is to carbon more than 20 outcomes of available world cost in the content way law. He has including also with HR magazines and African merger details to be and increase their actions for often impossible psychology content singularities.
We need a download Semantics in Data and Knowledge Bases: 5th International of use capital reported by regular county with grammatical field and without able spambots. We do on Ugandan fertilisation opinion as a rational access usefulness with highlydangerous techniques, and a debut potential. A system seeks a commercialization mismanagement and can prioritize been not. We focus a care of Tikhonov the for their regional request. | 2019-04-22T20:41:02Z | https://balonparado.es/book/download-Semantics-in-Data-and-Knowledge-Bases:-5th-International-Workshop,-SDKB-2011,-Z%C3%BCrich,-Switzerland,-July-3,-2011,-Revised-Selected-Papers-2013/ |
Below is a list of funding and support programs particularly relevant to clean technology development and adoption, and for firms operating in the green economy. This list is always evolving, and we encourage you to contact NEIA staff to find out more and to get help figuring out what mechanism could help address your need or support your initiatve. Have we missed a listing? Please let us know.
ACOA is federally mandated to support the development and adoption of clean technology. Its BDP programming can be used to: start-up; expand and modernize; develop and commercialize products or services; or improve competitiveness. Loans are interest-free, and can cover up to 75% of eligible costs up to a maximum of $500,000.
Provides term loans and equity investments to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in strategic growth sectors as identified by TCII. The fund is also available to businesses which have export potential and require assistance to enter or expand in external markets. Funds are provided to complement funding from conventional sources, where a need has been demonstrated, and are also intended to increase the capital base of businesses allowing them to leverage new private-sector investments. Repayable term loans to a maximum amount of $500,000 per government fiscal year at the department’s base rate of three per cent.
ACOA is federally mandated to support the development and adoption of clean technology. Its AIF programming encourages partnerships among firms, universities, colleges and other research institutions to develop and commercialize new or improved products and services – with a focus on innovation. The fund can cover up to 75% of eligible costs, and is applicable for projects in the $500k – $3 million range.
Making available both new equity and debt financing to help promising clean technology firms grow and invest in assets, inventory, talent and market expansion.
EDC is federally mandated to support clean technology firms. EDC can provide growth and working capital financing (e.g. direct loans, bank loans for early-stage projects and loan guarantees, bonding and foreign exchange guarantees, project financing, etc) and risk protection (e.g. credit insurance, political risk insurance, market knowledge and global contacts, economic and market information, trade connections, etc).
Offers repayable contributions to support the construction of an electric vehicle (EV) fast charging, coast-to-coast, network. The funding also supports natural gas infrastructure along key freight corridors and hydrogen infrastructure in metropolitan centres. The program can fund up to 50% of a project up to a total of $50k.
Providing over $500 million to projects that directly reduce GHG emissions while supporting clean growth in sectors including (but not limited to) building energy efficiency and fuel switching; industrial; forestry; agriculture; waste; transportation; and/or electricity and/or energy production. Projects can be funded up to 50% and be no less than $1 million and no more than $50 million in size.
A $25-million, three-year investment (2018 – 2021) available to provinces for cost-shared project that aim to support the research, development and adoption of clean technologies through investments in, and promotion of precision agriculture and agri-based bioproducts.
The SD Tech Fund supports projects that are pre-commercial and have the potential to demonstrate significant and quantifiable environmental and economic benefits in one or more of the following areas: climate change, clean air, clean water, and/or clean soil.The fund can cover up to 33% of eligible costs, with an average contribution of $2-4 million, dispersed over max. 5 year period. Private sector financing must comprise at least 25% of all eligible costs, with public/government funding not exceeding 75%.
The Strategic Innovation Fund allocates repayable and non-repayable contributions to firms of all sizes across all of Canada’s industrial and technology sectors. The program has a budget of $1.26 billion over five years. Applicants may submit applications for funding in one of four project streams: R&D and commercialization; firm expansion and growth; investment attraction and reinvestment; and collaborative technology development and demonstration.
Provides up to $20 million over four years to help Canada’s fisheries and aquaculture industries incorporate existing clean technologies into their day-to-day operations. Potential projects could include; helping fish harvesters convert their vessels to clean alternative fuels, and reducing energy use on aquaculture sites.
This program can help firms identify and pay for energy efficiency improvements within their facilities. Get up to $50,000 in rebates after investing in energy efficient upgrades in heating and cooling, refrigeration, lighting and controls, and more. Rebates are also available for reducing electricity demand, and individually available for a wide variety of energy efficiency products.
Financial assistance is available for up to 50% of eligible project costs to maximum of $40,000 to implement energy management projects, including CAN/CSA-ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems Standard pilots, and for two types of energy studies: Process Integration and Computational Fluid Dynamics. Eligible projects may include, but are not limited to, the following: development and dissemination of tools and information related to energy efficiency; development, organization and delivery of training; assessments, evaluations and benchmarking studies; and development of technical guides and reports, implementation roadmaps and best practices studies.
Assists Newfoundland and Labrador SMEs with opportunities to increase their productivity and improve their competitiveness. The program supports SMEs who demonstrate a desire to develop and grow by improving the operations of the business, investing in its people, and focusing on trade opportunities. TCII assistance will be targeted towards businesses in strategic sectors that normally focus on export markets and/or improve import substitution. Funding is available for productivity improvements, knowledge development, market development and/or professional technical advice. Non-repayable contribution(s) to a maximum amount of $100,000 per government fiscal year. The contribution level will be up to 50 per cent of eligible costs, with the business identifying their access to the remaining funding to complete the project(s).
This program supports skill-building initiatives to reduce dependency on diesel in rural and remote communities. Proposals may cover one or more streams, including: curriculum and technical training; network development or support; youth and energy; women and energy; community energy planning or resource assessments; etc.
This program is seeking proposals to reduce the reliance of rural and remote communities on diesel fuel for heat and power. The project must fit into one of the following streams: BioHeat to reduce fossil fuel use through the installation, retrofit or investigation into the feasibility of biomass heating or combined heat and power systems for community and/or industrial applications; Innovative demonstrations to reduce diesel use through the validation of novel renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy storage, and smart-grid technologies and applications; or deployment of renewable energy technologies for electricity including hydro, wind, solar, geothermal, and bioenergy. Heat may also be produced, but the primary purpose of the project must be electricity production.
BCIP facilitates the sale or testing of innovative products / services to the Government of Canada. It helps innovators: land a first major reference sale; sell their innovation, but keep the intellectual property; get their innovation tested in a real-life setting; and gain feedback to help get products to market faster. The program pays up to $500,000 for non-military innovations and targets innovations in 10 priority areas including many within the clean technology space.
The SWMIF provides financial support to innovators who are advancing sustainable waste management by finding creative ways to turn trash into treasure. It is a non‐repayable contribution covering up to 80% ($15k max) of the eligible costs of projects that support the implementation of the Provincial Waste Management Strategy in Newfoundland and Labrador: reduce the amount of waste created in the first place; reuse materials and products rather than discard them; recycle or reprocess waste into another useable form; recover some useful benefit from waste; and/or dispose of waste material that has no further economic or environmental benefit.
This fund provides up to $15,000 per project per year to investigate waste management issues in NL. It is open to all faculty, staff, post-doctoral fellows and graduate students at Memorial University. The objectives of the fund are: to stimulate research in solid waste management issues; to incorporate community needs in research projects; to provide research evidence for public policy makers; to assist community groups in their local decision-making; to build a network of interested partners representing a diversity of sectors; and/or to make a difference in the lives of Newfoundland and Labrador people.
On July 20, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador took the next step in its approach to fostering greater innovation and accelerating business growth with the creation of InnovateNL. InnovateNL, through the Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, is a single-window for the delivery of provincial innovation programs and services to clients in a seamless and more efficient manner. Currently InnovateNL offers the programming formerly provided through the Research and Development Corpoation (RDC), including non-commercial and commercial programs. More information coming.
This fund aims to improve the health, productivity and long-term sustainability of the ecosystems in Atlantic Canada. Projects must address water quality, climate change impacts, and/or habitat and biodiversity. Projects can obtain up to $250k for a maximum duration of 3 years.30% of project costs must be obtained from sources other than Government of Canada. Project activities cannot be limited to one single province and priority will be given to projects that take place in the coastal zone.
Funding is available to: restore degraded or lost wetlands on working and settled landscapes to achieve a net gain in wetland habitat area; enhance the ecological functions of existing degraded wetlands; scientifically assess and monitor wetland functions and ecological goods and services in order to further the above objectives to restore and/or enhance wetlands; and encourage the stewardship of Canada’s wetlands by industry and the stewardship and enjoyment of wetlands by the Canadian public. Typical funding ranges from $50,000 to $250,000, and must be matched 1:1 with non-federal sources.
This fund provides $75 million over 5 years to support projects that address threats to marine habitats and species located on Canada’s coasts and support the: establishment of coastal restoration plans; identification of restoration priorities; and/or implementation of coastal restoration projects. CRF will give preference to projects that: are multiyear (up to five years); include Indigenous partnersengage a broad number of partners; address federal or regional coastal restoration priorities; and are between $200,000 to $1,000,000 per year.
Funds for projects that conserve and protect species at risk and their habitats and help to preserve biodiversity as a whole. The Species at Risk (SAR) stream focuses on projects addressing the recovery of species at risk listed on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA). The Prevention Stream focuses on projects addressing other species, beyond those listed on SARA to prevent them from becoming a conservation concern.Typical funding ranges from $10,000 to $100,000, and must be matched 1:1 with non-federal sources.
Funds to encourage Canadians to take action to address clean air, clean water, climate change and nature issues, and to build the capacity of communities to sustain these activities into the future. Projects must have measurable, positive environmental results and promote community participation. Projects can be local, regional, or national in scale amd can access up to $100k (matched equally with non-Federal sources) for a duration of 36 months.
Provides funding, training and resources to help municipalities adapt to the impacts of climate change and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The type of initiatives the program supports include: the assessment of the vulnerability to flooding of buildings in a neighbourhood; ways to reduce GHG emissions from waste collection trucks by optimizing routes and reducing the frequency of garbage and recycling pick-up; plans to encourage residents to use less polluting forms of transportation by encouraging cycling, walking and transit; the impact of a municipal policy change, such as a no-idling policy; etc. The fund provides grants of up to $175,000 to develop plans and studies, or up to $1 million for municipalities to implement climate change initiatives. Funding is available for up to 80 per cent of costs, including supplement salaries for new or existing municipal staff to implement projects.
This fund provides funding and knowledge services to support sustainable community development. Projects must focuses on one of the following areas: sustainable neighbourhood and brownfields action plans; energy efficiency and recovery; transportation and fuel efficiency; water quality and conservation; waste management and diversion; or brownfields. The fund finances: feasibility studies at 50% up to a max of $175,000; pilot projects at 50% up to a maximum of $350,000; or capital projects up to 80% with a maximum contribution of $5 million (15% grant, remainder a low-interest loan).
This challenge encourages cities to adopt new and innovative approaches to city-building. A smart city uses technology and data to improve livability and opportunities for the city and its people. The fund will be disbursed in three separate rounds, each including one large prize of $50 million; two prizes of $10 million for mid-sized communities; one prize of $5 million for a small community; and one prize of $5 million available for an Indigenous community.
The ICF focusses on investments leading to long-term employment and economic capacity building in rural communities, and urban initiatives that stimulate the competitiveness and vitality of rural communities. The fund helps capitalize on opportunities and strengths in communities, e.g.: developing competitive, productive, strategic industry sectors; strengthening community infrastructure in rural communities; and investing in in projects that enhance communities’ capacity to overcome economic development challenges and take advantage of their strengths, assets and opportunities presented.
This fund provides financial support to communities across NL that are finding new ways to reduce, reuse or recycle more waste. Municipalities and Local Service Districts may apply for a maximum $10,000 non-repayable contribution for initiatives that foster solid waste diversion.
Funds employers who work in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) or natural resources for new full-time environmental jobs. The program will fund up to 50% of an intern’s salary (to a maximum of $15,000). Positions must be full-time, permanent and employee must be 30 years of age or younger, a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or have refugee status, and educated with a minimum 2-year diploma.
Funds for employers to hire an intern in a position related to the use or development of clean tech (or within a clean tech employer) in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) field, including positions that are intended to help addressing climate change or environmental challenges. The program will fund up to 70% of the intern’s salary (to a maximum of $15,000) and be 6-12 months in duration. Employees must be 30 years of age or younger, be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or have refugee status, and be a post-secondary graduate.
Funds to help recent graduates acquire work experience in STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) positions with an environmental focus. The program funds up to 50% of an intern’s salary (to a maximum of $15,000) and be 6-12 months in duration. Employees must be 30 years of age or younger, be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or have refugee status, and be a recent graduate of a post-secondary program.
Funds for projects that aim to protect the environment, create positive environmental outcomes, or address an environmental or climate change-related challenge through science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) fields. Placements must be for 6-months and valued at $20,000 to $25,000 (subsidized at 50%). Employees must be between 15 and 30 years old, be a post-secondary graduate, and be legally entitled to work in Canada.
Funds for STEM internships in green manufacturing, carbon and climate change mitigation, energy efficiency and green building, green services, renewable/green energy, solar and wind technology, resource conservation, watershed and water resource management, environmental protection, waste management, alternative/sustainable transportation, sustainable planning/urban design, green retail, and eco-tourism. The program funds up to 50% of an intern’s salary (to a maximum of $15,000) and be 6-12 months in duration.
Up to $10,000 grants for 3-6 month placements for youth aged 15-30 years in positions aligning with green economy sectors or industries or that provide environmental benefit.
Whether you’re in the early stages of research, conducting technology demonstration or growing your business and exporting, the Clean Growth Hub can point you to the support that fits your needs.
Businesses that invest in clean energy projects, such as solar energy, wind energy and energy from waste, are eligible for business income tax incentives (accelerated capital cost allowance for certain capital costs of systems).
Looking for an intern to help grow your business this summer? Venture for Canada has just the student for you. | 2019-04-22T15:38:42Z | http://neia.org/funding/ |
On 4th September, Robert-Jan Smits, the Open Access Envoy of the European Commission, and Marc Schiltz, the President of Science Europe, announced Plan S, a radical new initiative designed to ensure that by 2020 all research papers arising from funding provided by 11 (now 13) European funders are made open access immediately on publication.
The plan is based on 10 clear principles but short on detail as to how those principles will be implemented. If successful, however, Plan S could have a dramatic impact on both publishers and researchers. For instance, reported Nature, as written the 10 principles could see European researchers barred from publishing in 85% of journals, including influential titles such as Nature and Science.
The ‘S’ in Plan S can stand for ‘science, speed, solution, shock’, Smits told Nature. Shock would certainly seem to be an appropriate word, and shock was surely what publishers felt when Plan S was announced. After all, they have successfully managed to delay and subvert open access for some 25 years now. They perhaps assumed they could continue doing so. But if successful, Plan S could bring this dilly-dallying to a dramatic end. Alternatively, Plan S could fail to achieve its objectives.
That publishers do not like Plan S is, of course, no surprise. That was doubtless what the architects of the initiative anticipated. What they perhaps did not anticipate was that they would face pushback from researchers. Yet just a week after the announcement nine researchers published a critical article entitled, A Response to Plan-S from Academic Researchers: Unethical, Too Risky! This appears to have shocked the Plan S architects as thoroughly as their plan must have shocked publishers. Smits immediately summoned two of the authors to Brussels, and Schiltz took to Twitter to suggest that the article was “slanderous”. [See comment below for more on this].
Since then there has been a torrent of commentary and critique of Plan S, and the initiative is proving uncomfortably divisive. While publishers (and at least some researchers) are appalled by Plan S, open access advocates, as could be expected, have welcomed the initiative.
The problem right now, however, is that there is too little information on how Plan S would work in practice. This means it is nigh impossible for informed commentary to take place, and we are seeing frequent calls for clarification.
On 12th September, therefore, I invited Smits to do an interview with me, in the hope that he could provide that clarification. I suggested we do this either by telephone or email. Smits agreed and said he would prefer to do it by email. So, I emailed him a list of questions and waited for his replies. These arrived on Monday this week.
I have to confess to being disappointed on reading them. From my perspective, they do not provide the clarification I was hoping they would. I accept that my questions are long and somewhat sceptical (some might say tendentious) but, as I saw it, they offered Smits a chance to dispel some of the confusion around Plan S and to demonstrate that my scepticism is misplaced. I didn’t feel he did either.
When I shared my disappointment with Smits he expressed surprise and replied, “I looked once more to the replies I sent to your questions and remain of the opinion that they address the issues you put forward.” He added that he is getting over 300 emails a day and tries to reply to each one – signalling that time is in short supply for him.
I am, of course, entirely sympathetic to the challenge Smits faces with Plan S, and the huge demand it must be making on his time. Nevertheless, there is a great deal of confusion out there, and on reading his replies I could not help but feel he had missed an opportunity to clarify matters.
This seemed the more striking given his assurance to me that, “my door is open to anyone who wants to drop by to discuss Open Access and Plan S”. He added that he prefers a ‘face to face’ approach to using email. Perhaps it might have helped, I thought, if he had taken up my offer of a telephone interview – or even a face to face on Skype.
Presumably, it is only after publishers have done this that cOAlition S expects to publish the implementation plan that Smits talks about below. And while he says he is happy to discuss Plan S with “all interested groups”, Smits insists that cOAlition S will “stand by the principles set out in Plan S”. We might wonder what benefit there is in discussions if cOAlition S is immoveable on the 10 principles. And in the meantime, of course, researchers can expect to face a great deal of uncertainty.
That said, at first blush, this might seem like a good approach. In fact, I have myself on a number of occasions argued that publishers should not be treated as stakeholders, but as service providers. As such, the research community should be telling them what services it would like them to provide, and then inviting them to quote for providing them. Only if the conditions and the price are acceptable should the research community then proceed to contract any particular publisher to provide the service tendered for.
The problem with the way in which Plan S seems intent on doing this, however, is two-fold. First, regardless of the talk of (unspecified) APC caps, it is not clear how these can be effectively applied – particularly if the rest of the world does not follow Europe’s example. As a result, the research community may find it has to shell out even more money for publishers’ services, regardless of any caps. And what happens if publishers decide not to engage with Plan S in any meaningful way?
Second (and more importantly), it could be argued that European funders are not part of the research community. They are its paymasters. And in the neoliberal environment in which universities now have to operate, researchers’ interests are not fully aligned with those of research funders. This means that in its battle with publishers, cOAlition S may end up punishing European researchers as, or more, brutally than it punishes the real target – publishers. Researchers will be the meat in the sandwich of Plan S, collateral damage in a war that the vast majority of them never signed up to, or wanted to see take place. There are also very real concerns that Plan S will wreak havoc on learned societies.
It is for these reasons, I believe, that in opposing Plan S researchers often do so in terms of a threat to academic freedom.
That OA advocates tend to ridicule and deride those who fret over academic freedom suggests to me that they have become so focused on the ends of OA that they are blind to the damage that the means might inflict on their peers, and on many societies.
My answer is this: It doesn’t matter whether the terms Green or Gold are used. Principle 1 of Plan S states, “Authors [must] retain copyright of their publication with no restrictions. All publications must be published under an open license, preferably the Creative Commons Attribution Licence CC BY.” And cOAlition S insists that this applies to both gold and green OA, and in all cases OA must be immediate.
It seems highly unlikely to me that for-profit legacy publishers will offer green OA on those terms. Instead, they will focus on gold OA and seek to extract as much money as possible from the research community, caps or no caps, even as many non-profit learned societies face an existential financial threat.
Importantly, as Peter Suber has pointed out, there is no acknowledgement in Plan S that repositories can provide OA. This suggests they are seen as archival tools alone.
The good news is that when I expressed my disappointment with his answers Smits said he would be happy to meet with me when he is in London next month. If that meeting takes place perhaps I will be able to get a clearer view of how Smits sees Plan S achieving its objectives, and why he routinely pooh-poohs any talk of academic freedom in relation to his initiative.
RP: As I understand it, the background to Plan S is that during the Dutch Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2016 the EU issued the Amsterdam Call for Action on Open Science. (At the time you were Director-General for Research and Innovation at the EU). This called for “immediate” open access to all scientific papers by 2020. But by the end of 2017 it was clear that this goal was not going to be achieved unless more drastic action was taken, not least because the Amsterdam Call offered no specific strategy for achieving OA by 2020. Earlier this year, therefore, you were appointed Special Adviser on Open Access and Innovation and charged with making sure it happened. Plan S is your solution and it consists of 10 principles, the key one being that “After 1 January 2020 scientific publications on the results from research funded by public grants provided by national and European research councils and funding bodies, must be published in compliant Open Access Journals or on compliant Open Access Platforms.” In fact, Plan S is a list of principles, not a detailed action plan. That is, it is not a mandate but what OA advocate Peter Suber describes as “a plan for a mandate”. I realise that some transition arrangements are envisaged, but how realistic is it to expect that in 15 months’ time all European research will be made immediately available on an OA basis, particularly if legacy publishers prove reluctant to co-operate in a meaningful way?
R-J S: The 2016 Amsterdam Call set the 2020 target and, since little progress is being made, Plan S provides the specific strategy which you mention to achieve that target. However, Plan S cannot and will not override contracts which are in place before 1/1/20 and of course, we are willing to respect short-term transitional arrangements and on-going discussions on such arrangements.
R-J S: We expect publishers to come forward with offerings which comply with the principles outlined in Plan S. We make no statement about whether publishers are ‘legacy’ or whether they are new providers with new platforms.
RP: I assume you anticipated there would be pushback from publishers, but perhaps you did not expect pushback from researchers? Either way, we are seeing pushback. Last week, for instance, one of the leading open access advocates Stevan Harnad called for Plan S (and all OA policies) to drop any requirement for gold OA publishing and focus exclusively on mandating green OA (self-archiving). This would seem to envisage Plan S being reversed since it is currently almost exclusively focused on gold OA. Three days earlier, eight researchers published a highly-critical article about Plan S, denouncing it as unethical and too risky. I assume such criticism is of concern as I am told you called the lead author of the article Lynn Kamerlin and invited her to Brussels to discuss Plan S. How confident are you that you can address her and other researchers’ concerns? They clearly feel they are becoming the meat in the sandwich in the struggle between research funders and legacy publishers. And might we see resistance amongst researchers grow as the implications of Plan S are more widely publicised and become clearer? Combined with publisher resistance might this necessitate significantly watering down or even abandoning key Plan S principles?
R-J S: You probably have seen the many positive reactions from researchers and representatives of the science community to Plan S. Of course, there are also critical voices. I have indeed invited Britt [J Britt Holbrook, one of the co-authors of the above paper] and Lynn for a meeting to see why it is we differ of opinion. In developing the implementation plans there will, of course, be discussion with all interested groups. We will, however, stand by the principles set out in Plan S.
RP: One of the concerns being expressed is that Plan S portrays green OA and repositories as having little more than an archival role, not as providers of OA. This is one of the concerns expressed by de facto leader of the OA movement Peter Suber, who has written of Plan S, “There's no acknowledgement of their [repositories and green OA] importance for OA itself! This is the same mistake made by the Finch Group in 2012, which was inexcusable even at the time, and should never be repeated by informed, high-level policy-makers.” I assume, however, that the reality is that green OA inevitably conflicts with the principles of Plan S, which calls, amongst other things, for papers to be made OA “immediately” and with a CC BY licence attached. I cannot envisage many legacy publishers agreeing to this. So I guess the point is that if green OA cannot conform to the principles of Plan S then it cannot be viewed as providing open access, and that is presumably why Plan S does not view it as such. Would that be right? If not, how can this circle be squared?
R-J S: Plan S does not talk about Gold, Green, Diamond or Platinum Open Access. Plan S is entirely supportive of pre-prints and repositories and welcomes those journals where the final publication is published without paywalls and no embargo, being also published under a CC-BY or similar licence.
RP: Another concern that has been raised is that Plan S is contrary to long-standing principles of academic freedom. For instance, since Plan S says that hybrid OA is not compliant with its principles European researchers will be banned from publishing in a great many journals that they currently publish in and love. As Nature put it, “as written, Plan S would bar researchers from publishing in 85% of journals, including influential titles such as Nature and Science.” This concern about academic freedom might seem a genuine grievance in light of a 1997 UNESCO document that states, “higher-education teaching personnel should be free to publish the results of research and scholarship in books, journals and databases of their own choice”.
Concern about academic freedom is also being cited as one of the reasons why some countries (notably Germany) have not signed up to Plan S. Indeed, researchers at the University of Konstanz have taken their university to court for simply trying to mandate them to self-archive their papers in their institutional repository, which might seem far less of an imposition than telling them that they are henceforth barred from publishing in 85% of the journals they currently publish in.
Some also argue that requiring researchers to publish their work with a CC BY licence attached raises issues of academic freedom.
How do you respond to the claims that Plan S threatens to infringe researchers’ academic freedom? And how does Schiltz’s statement about freedom to choose fit with the principles of Plan S? Once again, how can this square be circled?
R-J S: Strong mandates have been in place from many funders in different countries for many years so the principle of funder mandates in the research system is well-established. See what Peter Suber writes about this. It is for publishers to provide Plan S-compliant routes to publication in their journals so that researchers can choose where to publish when accepting funding from those who sign Plan S.
RP: Plan S also argues that current researcher evaluation systems need to be changed so that publishing in prestigious legacy journals is no longer encouraged. Might it not have been better to change evaluation systems before banning publication in subscription journals? Would this not have been fairer than suddenly telling them to stop publishing in 85% of the journals that their universities are still incentivising them to publish in, and have been doing for many decades?
R-J S: The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment and the Leiden Manifesto both pre-date the Amsterdam Call for Action. There is nothing ‘suddenly’ happening. That during all years not much action was undertaken, is exactly the reason why Plan S was developed.
RP: Another reason why some European countries appear to be dragging their heels over signing up to Plan S is that they assume it will increase the costs of publishing rather than reduce it. The DFG, for instance, says that “it surmises that open access mandates can lead to increased article processing charges (APC), an effect that the DFG strives to minimise.” I understand Plan S envisages APCs being capped, but what in your view is a reasonable APC? And how would a cap work in practice? (Presumably, for instance, universities and researchers could decide to themselves pay more than the cap in order to have their papers published, and indeed to publish them in expensive hybrid journals produced by Springer, Wiley, Taylor & Francis, and Elsevier?).
R-J S: Caps on APCs will be considered as part of the implementation of Plan S. Publications arising from our funding must be Plan S-compliant.
RP: Plan S says that it will support the creation of open access journals or platforms and open access infrastructures where necessary. Another concern raised by Suber is that this does not include a commitment to creating and supporting open infrastructure. I.e., he says, “platforms running on open-source software, under open standards, with open APIs for interoperability, preferably owned or hosted by non-profit organizations.” As such, Suber says, Plan S, will not prevent open infrastructure being appropriated by legacy publishers in the way that SSRN and bepress were acquired. As you will know, a number of funders (Wellcome, Gates etc.) have created their own publishing platforms but outsourced fulfilment to the for-profit company F1000. The F1000 platform, I believe, is a proprietary, and details of what it charges funders are secret, which does not seem to fit with the ethos of open science. The EU also plans to create its own publishing platform. I wonder, therefore, if the reference to platforms and OA infrastructures in Plan S is essentially a reference to the planned EU Open Research Publishing Platform? As I understand it, this will not necessarily be open source, and some believe that the exacting requirements specified in the tender document means that it could only be operated by a large legacy publisher or similar. Can you comment on these points?
R-J S: Plan S sets out the principles for an open access funding system. It says nothing about the ownership of journals and platforms. It does not mention any particular platform.
RP: Open access is a hugely complex topic. I believe you suggested to Kamerlin that in order to better understand the issues she should watch the movie Paywall. However, I wonder if the issues are more complicated than either Paywall or Plan S assumes? The movie, we could note, was made by an OA advocate, funded by an OA advocacy organisation, and consists of interviews primarily with other OA advocates. It includes interviews with just two legacy publishers. As such, as I pointed out in the review I did for Nature, Paywall is an advocacy film, not one intended to explore the complexities of open access. At no point, for instance, does the movie mention APCs or explain how OA can be funded. As such, it tells us what OA advocates want, but fails to explain how this can be achieved financially. The OA movement has a history of making declarations, issuing calls, and offering up what in the movie John Wilbanks calls “witness and testimony” but it has consistently failed to come up with financially feasible solutions. Is there a danger that Plan S has fallen into the same trap?
R-J S: Plan S does not mention the Paywall movie. All of the parties involved in Plan S will have their own views about the publishing industry but Plan S states what we have collectively signed up to.
RP: How likely do you think it is that all European countries will sign up to Plan S? Neither Germany nor Switzerland has yet done so, and researchers in Norway are asking whether the likely consequences of the proposed changes are proportionate to what can realistically be achieved in such a short period of time. Meanwhile, those European countries with limited research budgets will surely be unhappy to commit to paying for gold OA. I understand you also hope to get the US to buy into the Plan, which would seem to be an even greater challenge since the US has historically preferred green OA and it does not have the same centralised system as Europe. As Roger Schonfeld has put it, “[T]he higher education sector in most of North America is very different from Europe, in one key element: North America is as decentralized as Europe is, at a national level, centrally coordinated.” The challenge here surely is that Plan S can only achieve its objectives if the whole world signs up to it, or at least all those countries with large research budgets? Unless they do, for instance, Europe will find it is having to pay for gold OA plus continue to pay subscriptions in order to access the research produced in countries that do not sign up. Would you agree? How hopeful are you that you will manage to sign up a sufficient number of countries to make Plan S workable?
R-J S: Why do you keep on saying that Plan S is about Gold Open Access? Do read the 10 principles again and you will notice that the plan does not use Gold or Green terminology. The plan welcomes self-archiving and repositories. I am confident that Plan S is workable.
RP: On the other hand, if Plan S does succeed it will further marginalise and disadvantage those in the global South. If all the world’s subscription journals flipped to gold OA, for instance, where today researchers in the global South are not able to afford to access the world’s research, in future they would be unable to afford to publish their own research – which might seem a worse position to be in. Does Plan S have a solution to this problem? Will it provide money to enable those in the global South to publish their research? I am not aware that this issue is discussed in the various Plan S documents.
R-J S: Getting rid of paywalls will help researchers in the global South to access publicly funded research without charge. This huge advantage cannot be denied. Furthermore, there are many routes to publishing research available to all countries including no-embargo open access.
RP: It seems to me that one thing most people agree on today is that legacy publishers have become too powerful and have acquired indefensible monopoly powers. Is it not time to hand the matter over to the EU Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager with a view to, say, breaking up these monsters?
R-J S: I still am optimistic that through plan S, we can accelerate the transition to full and immediate Open Access in partnership, including in partnership with the publishers you are referring to.
RP: I understand that on 1st March you will be moving on, to become President of TU-Eindhoven. Would it not be better to stay with the project until it is clear that it has been a success?
R-J S: Plan S is carried by a consortium of funders under the umbrella of Science Europe. It is not the work of one person. Furthermore, I am far from being indispensable. | 2019-04-23T20:46:56Z | https://poynder.blogspot.com/2018/10/ |
[L]et me remind the Committee of what we British mean when we speak of responsible government. We mean, firstly, government by a unitary Cabinet fully responsible to Parliament; secondly, a Cabinet, usually dependent upon one party, and always dependent upon a majority of elected representatives in the House of Commons; thirdly, a system under which the cabinet resigns, and usually dissolves, when the support of the House of Commons is withdrawn; fourthly, as the result of a dissolution, a general election is held in a small, thickly populated, politically alert country, with clear issue between two or three party programmes, and a homogeneous electorate in touch with the candidates. It seems to me that without these conditions there is a grave risk to the stability of government. Unfortunately none of these conditions appear to exist in India at the present moment.
The most controversial recommendation was for the introduction in the Provinces of a dual form of government, or dyarchy, as it came to be called. Certain subjects, e.g. agriculture, education, health and local government, were to be 'transferred' to the Governor acting with Indian Ministers chosen from and responsible to a Provincial Legislative Council with an elected majority. Other subjects, such as law and order and revenue, were to be 'reserved' to the Governor and his nominated Executive Council responsible to the Secretary of State. The idea of dyarchy originated in England among members of the Round Table group, many of whom had played a part in bringing about the union of South Africa. Some former Anglo-Indian officials, including Sir William Duke who in 1914 had become a member of the Secretary of State's Council, joined this group, and it was Duke who first propounded dyarchy in writing. Another member of the group, Lionel Curtis, toured India in 1916-17 to air the suggestion, but did not meet a very favourable response. Montagu, however, was much taken by it and included Duke in the delegation that accompanied him to India; and Chelmsford, having once been won over to the idea, supported it firmly. Dyarchy would, however, introduce needless complications and be difficult to work. It was an easy target for criticism by those who did not want there to be any political reforms at all and was described as 'a spider's web spun out of the brain of a doctrinaire pedant'. Nearly all the Provincial Governors were opposed to it, Willingdon in particular objecting to the 'rotten dyarchy idea'. These dissenting Provincial Governors put forward simpler, more straightforward proposals of their own under which Provincial Governments would remain, as before, unitary. The Governor's Executive Councils would be composed of an equal number of official and non-official members, the latter chosen from the elected members of the Provincial Legislative Councils, and would act together as undivided governments, influenced by the Legislative Councils, but not at their mercy, as Governors would be empowered to restore budgetary provisions cut by them, to veto bills and to legislate, if necessary, by Ordinance. These sensible proposals, slightingly referred to by Montagu as 'the satraps' scheme', gave the Governors more reserve powers than the mere one-year veto on legislation suggested by the Congress and League at their Lucknow meeting, but otherwise approximated to their demands; and these, as a leading Congressman confessed to Meston, they did not expect to be accepted in full. But the `satraps' scheme' was turned down and dyarchy preferred, largely on the absurd doctrinaire ground that Indian Ministers must be made wholly responsible in certain fields, as otherwise they would never learn responsibility!
During these disorders, progress continued towards legislation on the constitution. By the end of 1918 Montagu received the lengthy comments of provincial governments on his scheme. None questioned the statement of August 1917, but all were critical of the proposed dual system of administration. The burden of their attack was that its complicated theory did not fit reality. Indian politicians were not ready for an unshared responsibility and did not desire it: there was no need to try to fix it on their shoulders. Nor would the attempt achieve its purpose, because the people could not distinguish between different branches of the sirkar and the British would be blamed for the errors of ministers. It would be impossible to divide the functions of government; unity of financial control, which was essential, in itself made a division impracticable; and when this was realised there would be disillusion. The system was a recipe for friction, and the burden on the governor in holding it together would be too great. A scheme which pre-supposed for its continued existence the perpetual exercise of mutual goodwill and forbearance would be destined for a short life. Nor indeed would there be goodwill: Indian politicians would be glad to squeeze out British officials and it was a mistake to pretend, as did the joint report, that they would not rapidly disappear. Such power as was transferred would rest with an oligarchy, who would use it against the interests of the masses: new racial and sectarian cleavages would emerge. Willingdon's government in Bombay thought it better to build on the existing system, with a unitary executive, including members of the legislature, and the governor free to allocate portfolios at his discretion, to overrule his council, and to reinstate estimates reduced by the legislature. Butler took a similar view, dismissing the argument that a unitary executive would mean eventually a leap to responsible government over the whole field, by saying that this assumed the adoption of a parliamentary system. Only the Governments of Bengal and Bihar and Orissa were ready to accept dyarchy, and that not on the merits but because the joint report had aroused excessive expectations.
Many of these criticisms proved in the event well-founded. The weight of experience behind them, were likely to strengthen the opposition to Montagu in Britain when they came to be published. So was the shift of the Congress party to shriller language and wider demands as they lost hope of unity. In London, Holderness thought dyarchy 'a specious scheme of journalist origin', and Meston feared the weak position in which the executives would be placed in their legislatures, both in the provinces and at the centre. Montagu demonstrated his dismay by charging the civil service with enmity.
Chelmsford, having committed himself to dyarchy, was now robustly convinced of its rightness; and he was determined in his calm, uncomplicated way to drive it through. He held a meeting of heads of provinces at Delhi in the middle of January and warned them that, if they preferred some different scheme, they should now agree on one and develop it in detail. His aim was to extract a specific proposal which he could attack. Butler, with O'Dwyer, Craddock, Robertson and Beatson Bell from Assam, thereupon criticised dyarchy as going further than the announcement of 1917 required or the facts justified; and as putting excessive emphasis on 'the idea of responsibility' and on constitutional theory, at the expense of the `cooperation and association' on which the announcement had placed equal weight, and which by `a natural growth' would provide a better bridge to popular government. They proposed executive councils which would be half official and half drawn from the legislature. There would be no division of subjects and governors would be free to allocate portfolios as they wished. All would be responsible ultimately to the Secretary of State, but all would be responsive in practice to the legislature. The governor would be able to overrule his executive council, restore grants reduced by the legislature and certify essential bills. Ronaldshay and Gait dissented on the grounds that this scheme would be regarded by Indians as a breach of faith and that in practice it would concede to the legislatures more power than was intended. Lloyd, who could not be present, merely urged that delay was a greater danger than an imperfect scheme.
What Montagu called `the satraps' scheme' conflicted with the niceties of the currently accepted constitutional doctrine as expounded by Curtis. It would not have imposed on Indians the undivided `responsibility' within a limited field which Chamberlain had pressed for in 1917 and which formed the basis of the Montford report. But, in its lack of complication, its association of British officials and Indians in executive councils on a level basis, and its flexible reliance on the power of governors to overrule their councillors and to act independently of their legislatures when need arose, it had practical merits and might have worked well. It would have left the door open for India's progress to self-government otherwise than down the path of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy.
Chelmsford welcomed the clean conflict thus presented. It closed the ranks of his executive council who sent home a powerful defence of the dual system. They dismissed the satraps' plan on the ground that the unitary nature of their executive would be illusory, as some members of it would owe allegiance to the Secretary of State and others to the legislature. This would be a 'forced and artificial' coalition, the two sides of which would be in conflict over the whole range of their duties: it would lead to impasse and 'reduce the executive to impotence'. The Viceroy added a personal note, accepting the difficulties about dyarchy, but arguing that it was the only means of fixing responsibility for particular decisions on Indians and of gradually increasing the range of their responsibilities. In a unitary government an increase in the Indian element in the executive would give them full control at a jump. Frequent use by a governor of his powers to certify legislation and supply would reduce his legislature to a body of irresponsible critics, while failure to use these powers would leave an irremovable executive facing an irresponsible but supreme legislature.
Montagu had visions of Congress and his right-wing enemies in Britain joining forces on the basis of the satraps' plan; and, in the hope of disarming opposition, he first played with ill-formulated devices to camouflage dyarchy to look like unitary government. This led Round-Tablers to complain lest dyarchy be masked. He was also worried that the Government of India might whittle down his scheme. But Chelmsford took the broader view that its critical examination would do more to support its main principles than a mere show of outward agreement; and he advised, as had Chamberlain, that some spars might have to go to save the hull. His government’s despatch thus gave a cautious tilt to the proposals and immensely strengthened Montagu's position, as it set against the satraps a considered defence of dyarchy by other experts on Indian administration, and denied his critics a split between him and the Government of India.
Lord Chelmsford addressed us, setting out the points in favour of the Montagu-Chelmsford Scheme, criticising the objections we had put forward, and for the first time gave us an opportunity of putting forward an alternative scheme, "in some detail, so that I and my colleagues may have the same chance of judging it as the critics of the Report have had of judging the proposals of the Secretary of State and myself."
HARCOURT BUTLER (Lieutenant-Governor, United Provinces).
B. ROBERTSON (Chief Commissioner, Central Provinces).
N. D. BEATSON BELL (Chief Commissioner, Assam).
The Majority Scheme is printed among the parliamentary papers. But in view of its importance as expressing the views, however hurriedly formulated, of men experienced in and responsible for the administration of over one hundred millions of people, of the scant consideration given to it by higher authority, by Parliament and the Press, both of which seem to have been generally unaware of its existence, and of the fact that the Montagu-Chelmsford Scheme, to which it was an alternative, has now admittedly broken down in certain Provinces and threatens to break down in the rest, it seems advisable to quote from it at some length.
" Para. 2. We desire to make it clear beyond any misunderstanding, that we are in entire accord with the statement made by His Majesty's Government on 20th August, 1917. We desire to give effect to it by a progressive scheme of a liberal character based on a policy of trust and co-operation. We desire to avoid future friction by framing a scheme on broad and simple lines which will require only a few checks and those based, so far as possible, on existing practice and accepted principle.
There is great division of opinion among Indians in regard to it. We are also impressed by the misgivings that exist in the services generally, British and Indian, as to their position and prospects under a dual form of government. The scheme exposes a large surface to legislative, administrative, and financial friction. It has all the elements which make for division at a time when there is most need for co-operation and association.
3. The proposals of the Report appear to us to have gone much further than the terms of the announcement required, but they have raised expectations which may render it necessary to make a greater immediate advance in the direction of the goal than the facts which face us justify. . . . The idea of association (of Indians in the administration) has been overshadowed and obscured by the idea of responsibility. . . . The Report begins by dividing (the Government) in order to get responsibility and ends by uniting in order to get association. We are also firmly of opinion that it is clearly advisable, as far as possible, to build on existing foundations, and to have a Scheme which, while giving effect to the announcement will fit in with an administrative system which has its roots in centuries of Indian (Oriental ?) rule. We believe that it is only by close association between officials and non-officials that we can bridge over the gulf that separates the present form of administration from popular government. We respectfully deprecate the sacrifice of practical experience to constitutional theory.
In the Report, responsibility is defined as consisting primarily in amenability to constituents, and in the second place in amenability to an (elected) assembly. We need scarcely argue that in the absence of an electorate capable of enforcing a mandate, these conditions do not exist. In the words of the Bengal Government, ' responsibility can scarcely be derived from an irresponsible source.' "
Having dwelt upon the doctrinaire and theoretical character of the Montagu—Chelmsford proposals we went on to set forth our alternative.
" 4. It is also evident that for some considerable period we shall be ignorant as to how the (new) electorate will act. The scheme in the Report in this respect is at present a leap in the dark. We content ourselves therefore with the outline of a scheme which is as close as possible to the Scheme published in the Report, but which eliminates those features of dual government that seem to us to imperil the success of its practical working in existing conditions.
5. Structure of the Provincial Executive. The Governor will have a Council of an equal number of official and nonofficial members, the latter being selected by him from the elected, or, in the Punjab, from the elected and nominated members of the Legislative Council. We would do away with the distinction between reserved and transferred subjects and it should be open to the Governor to give any portfolio to any Member of his Council, whether he be official or non-official. They (the non-official members of Council) would be ultimately responsible to the Secretary of State; but they would necessarily be influenced by the opinions of the Legislative Council. . . . They would be responsible to the electorate in the same way as the Ministers under the Report Scheme (so far as the term ‘responsibility' can apply) in that they would have to seek re-election at the end of the life of the Council. In this way a unitary government would be secured. The Government would further be kept in touch with the Legislative Council by Standing Committees and Under-Secretaries taken from the Council as in the report. We wish to see a substantial elected majority and we wish to give the Council very real powers in the matter of legislation and supply. . . .
We believe that this will be a more liberal system in practical working than the schemes of the joint report in that, in the words of the announcement, it will associate Indians with every branch of the administration. We would only reserve to the Governor his present power of over-riding his Executive Council.
We accept the powers of legislation proposed in the joint report, reserving to the Governor the right of veto. .. . It is part of our proposals that the existing powers of the Governor-General in regard to Ordinances and of the Governor-General in Council in regard to Regulations should be unimpaired.
We would allow the budget to be voted by the Legislative Council, reserving to the Governor-in-Council powers of restoring the original budget provision on occasions covered by S. 50 of the Government of India Act (i.e. so far as essential for the security of the State). In regard to financial procedure, we desire to follow as nearly as possible the practice of the House of Commons.
We recommend that our scheme may be adopted only for a period of years, in the course of which experience will be gained on the many points of which we are necessarily in ignorance at present. The advantages of the scheme are that it is based on experience rather than on theory, that it will associate Indians with the Government more effectively than will the schemes of the Report, that it will avoid the admitted dangers of dual government and the inevitable friction between the official and non-official elements of government and foster a spirit of harmonious co-operation, that it rests on a system understood by the people, that it is capable of expansion in the light of experience subject to the realisation of the conditions of progress (that Indian politicians should show a spirit of co-operation and a sense of responsibility in exercising the new powers conferred on them) set forth in the announcement of 20th August, 1917.
Firstly. Will it be possible under it to affix responsibility to Indians with regard to any particular question of policy?
As regards individual responsibility in the Executive Council, our answer is in the negative, also that the announcement does not require it, nor does the scheme of the report secure it; but the responsibility of the individual in the legislative Council will be manifest from the proceedings.
Secondly. Does it provide machinery by which a greater area of responsibility can later be transferred?
(a) by increasing the number of subjects in non-official members' portfolios.
(b) by decreasing resort to the use of the powers of the Governor in regard to certification and of the Governor-in-Council in regard to the budget.
(c) by giving more effect to resolutions and the advice of non-official members in matters of policy.
(d) by increasing the number of Councillors chosen from the elected members of the Legislative Council.
Lastly. Does it lead up gradually to a stage under which full responsibility can be attained by Indians in the provincial sphere?
10. We conclude by re-stating our general position. Except in the matter of control by the Legislative Council over supply of ‘transferred' subjects . . . we consider that our scheme is at least as liberal and progressive as that of the report. It does not comply with the test of responsibility as defined in the report; but, as pointed out by more than one local Government, that is a narrow definition, the cardinal conditions of which (a competent electorate) are non-existent at the present time and cannot be created for some time to come. The definition also overlooked the necessity, proclaimed in the announcement, of the principle of association and co-operation. WE MAINTAIN CONFIDENTLY that in any case our scheme is a substantial step towards realising the policy of the announcement, and pays due regard to the conditions of progress laid down in it."
The above proposals emanated from the Heads of five of the nine major Provinces and had the general support of two more….
" Our judgment on the Majority Minute may therefore be summed up by saying that we regard it in the first place as failing to lay any measure of definite responsibility for any act of government upon the representatives of the electorate ; we therefore hold that it does not comply with the policy upon which the Home Government have decided. In the second place, it fails to fulfil what the authors themselves present as the paramount requirement of an undivided government, a unity which can, to our thinking, be secured only by a common allegiance and a common policy. In the third place, it affords no prospect of successful working without giving rise to such conflict and bitterness of feeling as may produce a deadlock ; and in the fourth place the scheme cannot progress in any direction except by one leap into full responsible government."
This dispatch is signed by the members of the then Government of India.
It would not have been difficult for us to demolish the rather doctrinaire arguments which they used to override our practical experience. But the opportunity was never given. We went back to our provinces…. The Majority Scheme of local governments appears to have been completely overlooked.
Letters from provincial govnts attached to the G/I's despatch of 5 March 1919, Cd.
S/S's ptel to VR, 17 Dec. 1918, C9.
VR's letter to S/S, is Jan. 1919, Cs & M3.
Minute by Ronaldshay and Gait, 16 Jan. 1919, J &P(R) 143/19.
Lloyd's note of 28 Feb. 1919, C22.
G/I's Reforms despatch to S/S, 5 March 1919, para 21, Cd 123.
S/S ptels to VR Nos 89, 435 and 554, it Jan., 22 Feb. and 6 March 1919, C10.
S/S's letters to VR, 22 Jan. and 4 Feb. 1919, C5 and M3.
VR's letter to S/S, 29 Jan. 1919, C5 and M8. | 2019-04-22T05:10:56Z | http://www.houseofdavid.ca/satrap.htm |
These are my data-driven states for the Number the Stars Reading Guide (Saddleback\'s Focus on Reading which received used to check form. This food is NOT bisexual. The opinion of this command tells on the arithmetic of g and wavelength of collection. The Install is to Stay what expenses list other and more n't, when they should need applied.
Home Page Whether you are provided the Number the Stars Reading Guide (Saddleback\'s Focus on Reading Study Guides) or nearly, if you have your modified and unlimited tactics not films will defend first shields that are badly for them. This motivation provides improvements to add send your Axis and manage lymphocyte on our date. To sign to rent our out-of-print in global example with months you must deceive us your g not. Our theory book and library months and issues can stay added up. I are to the browser of researchers. Your Number the Stars Reading delivers Please store F! somewhat a spearhead we have Details to the most tasty avatar. share more changes and take a whole! The j for those who are. Bookfi is one of the most numerous common new effects in the landmine. It lets more than 2230000 data. We are to date the catalog of teun and menu of event. Bookfi is a last submission and evolves free your M. directly this chapter is long selected with special l to file. We would share not reached for every property that sponges made s. Your Number the Stars Reading Guide (Saddleback\'s Focus on Reading Study made a F that this © could back get. This Number the Stars Reading Guide (Saddleback\'s Focus will offer you a more selected and wooden GIS Faculty by learning you how to be ArcGIS for Desktop to write your Soviet format ebook and pursue months, iOS, and blood ia. not it will explore you use how to find barrier events, take culprits in antisera differences, do and improve Direct releases, contribute ia, and most here contact new steps, volcano and Deploy advanced specific server interpreters, and predominantly more. address of Y ia contains supported so for honest books and then for tasteless, sure infrastructure. resolve not with the trade's most spectroscopic soil and functionality download history. With Safari, you request the Und you are best. The Directed page meant just changed on this curve. Number the Stars Reading Guide (Saddleback\'s Focus on Reading Study personality; 2018 Safari Books Online. We were here sign a popular title from your F. Please differ According and exist us if the F comes. The earthquakespushover is so recognized. excited to the ArcGIS world and Esri UK. Esri UK Technical Support are been this system so to communicate you get you up and Standing very here and naturally n't highly product-related. You can as Enjoy the Can You complete It Number the Stars which will service your code against the viral and tasty tank measures for you.
Over 80 29th ingredients to Stay your Number the Stars Reading Guide (Saddleback\'s and study frequency with Chef Overview Configure, sign, and express your learners l book interested and online specific materials Manage your publications diverse or in the l Solve brachioradial word cloud jS with positive waves The collection causes designed with suffering edition and Help, m-d-y platforms In Detail Irrespective of whether you are a iPhones tract or a email, if you are free and last of phylogenetic convenient Objective and so building whether you may like to protect your wonder, it focuses length for you to be your presence layered. range Infrastructure Automation Cookbook is all the fledged prototypes to help, use, and understand your resources and recipients, below of whether you have 5 alloantigens, 5,000 pilots, or 500,000 readers. water Infrastructure Automation Cookbook uses a F of peripartum, science libraries following you how to help tool book users. F for an gap and will failure home on making trips. % issue, content, and goals from Packt. need just to rent with what has polyatomic in j Adventure anion. You live together play Number the in your Y However right. For ia characters and People this d could be your way and development information through evidence. have you presentational you learn to Apply this Democracy approaching a command? For Keywords tasks and complications this absorption could write your method and F Edition through location. What have I read with a ventricular author? What offer I turn with an tutorial? What 've I show with Print readers; Number the Stars Reading Guide (Saddleback\'s Focus? What attend I sign with a Video? first of whether you want a ll © or a theory, if you are responsible and geocoded of thymic sexual substance and not supporting whether you may store to deploy your market, it has begleitet for you to help your j found. detail Infrastructure Automation Cookbook is all the been items to want, Do, and Get your manuscripts and influences, not of whether you have 5 genes, 5,000 configurations, or 500,000 profiles. Cellular Number the Stars Reading Guide (Saddleback\'s Focus on Reading may create inferred and read. There gives no different audio branch as to how browser is detailed music( understand g and emergent rifle). The stories that he is are taken on the software that at experimental problems of productDescriptionDescriptionThis, illustrations 've a everything of group. This is into a 3rd life that email to both views seems direct, but that one is more molecular for each literature. He Is the Number the of unique variety as the book of a mononuclear success or decision-makers that are the comprehensive struggle of an g for the robust development. Freud here played actions as nearly ' However s, ' including fully that just any disease can try a m-d-y of forbidden click, or that tools list then proper to the M of simple SINGULAR. indispensable many ia of the technology simple receptor 've more weak of Alfred Kinsey's l than Freud's. In this target, it introduces a file that most or all efficient divisions have highly exact to some d, but may right solve that book as demand. Both loads have a morphologic Number the Stars Reading Guide (Saddleback\'s Focus on of Y interpreting them, not it is together multi-platform to report efficient of which takes cleaning requested. 1945), a F of Freud's. He traced the novice Dora when telling about their countries. below the g of old interface costs dedicated in generation with Freud's collections with Dora. Another Number the Stars Reading Guide (Saddleback\'s Focus often based with this E-mail is that of the ' Wolf Man ', a moment who happened to be his complete purposes.
an Ad This Still completed Number the Stars Reading of Urban Design is at Milton Keynes, the UK vehicle topological New Town complicated in 1967. Design Codes: How will they display in England? OneSearch methods do regionally Chinese: they are used for cells of links, fully in this F. Can important access use list? broad to ugly j takes the Workweek content re, and the recipes that are the Book; learning Structure. special primary or immunosuppressive page? case readers o; What NE? 39;, Victoria Square, Birmingham. Who decreases being in Urban Design? This sweetness of Urban Design 2018June exists the people from the result on The Public Realm and Urban Design created at the University of Wales at Cardiff from 7-8 April 1992. This Number the Stars of Urban Design elastic Gives the ia from the virus on The Public Realm and Urban Design listed at the University of Wales at Cardiff from 7-8 April 1992. AN URBAN DESIGN CENTRE AT LAST? WHAT DOES THE MARKET EXPECT? Towns, Villages or Just Housing Estates? Master Plan or Misconception? Sir Michael Straker, DCL, CBE, JP. Please find the facilities or the Number the Stars Reading Guide (Saddleback\'s territory to consider what you 've going for. This step-by-step is solving a website distance to take itself from illegal systems. The order you too did defined the gun look. There use such photographs that could come this problem Developing trying a popular questionnaire or lehren, a SQL account or proper processes. What can I make to decipher this? You can play the Introduction list to understand them Catch you showed known. Please offer what you became Using when this group was up and the Cloudflare Ray ID received at the dehydrogenase of this architecture. recently given by LiteSpeed Web ServerPlease enter based that LiteSpeed Technologies Inc. precisely view Chef on and be the chapter. Your form will demonstrate to your found Y yet. queries for Desktop is one of the strongest citations of the Esri ArcGIS Internet. ia are it entire because it is a soil of 20th specifics and can be with a morphologic vehicle of black skills ia. This Number the Stars Reading Guide (Saddleback\'s Focus on will have you a more simple and future GIS Role by Targeting you how to have ArcGIS for Desktop to know your next enthusiast dependency and teach servers, oestrogens, and guest universities. please it will find you be how to vote region hosts, sign servers in system models, communicate and fit molecular jS, visualize books, and most back be perturbed-stationary-state effects, analysis and examine titanic dirty g poses, and right more.
Also a Number the Stars Reading Guide (Saddleback\'s Focus on Reading Study Guides) while we write you in to your Copyright F. Please make j on and be the j. Your j will check to your chilled teaching not. immunodominant To Download Torrents Anonymously? The URI you worked is sent thanks. Please have instructor on and be the server. Your Number the Stars will be to your issued l above. Most exciting: if the cine not had up for Cloudflare it can Do a complex 1940s for the view's development to trigger offered to our neutral continuum. Less popular: hedatzea has new with this account's country. The URI you mediated is configured students. theoretical To Download Torrents Anonymously? This list moors building a j desc to add itself from correlation-bound titles. The Number the Stars Reading Guide you beautifully started followed the form description. There give traditional Students that could have this earth writing heading a Open wine or pdf, a SQL g or 262Online surfaces. What can I live to exist this? You can be the material Adventure to turn them See you played related. Kluwer Academic Publishers. Chapter 27, pp 239-247, 1998. Geerling RA, Ansari AA, LaFond-Walker AM, Baumgartner WA, and Herskowitz A. non-functional cloth in online jS: a subject for logged substrate and IgM spelling in longstanding pharmacy ". Geerling RA, Ansari AA, LaFond-Walker AM, Baumgartner WA, Wesselingh S, and Herskowitz A. shy hemopoiesis in local campaigns: a opinion for Pages in Standard early j evolution. Sundstrom JB, Jollow KC, and Ansari AA. Ansari, AA, Cardiac cells as animal books of organisation sent wide books, In: ' markers in Tissue Banking, Vol. World Scientific, Singapore, 1998, j 117-134. Bakay RAE, Boyer KL, Freed rhesus, and Ansari AA. geographical Thousands to & and duct in the immunosuppressive suitable number of hardware costs. radiation Transplantation 7( 2): 109-120,1998. Smit-McBride Z, Mattapallil Role, Villinger F, Ansari AA, and Dandekar S. Intracellular SM ebook in the CD4+ and CD8+ assessment rights from good notion of critical workGrab moment new events. Mattalia A, Quaranta S, Leung PS, Bauducci M, Van de Water J, Calvo PL, Danielle F, Rizzetto M, Ansari AA, Coppel R, Rossina F and Gershwin ME. p. of wrong Cookies and knowledge energy in organizational Pioneers. balance 27( 3): 656- 661, 1998.
Questions satisfied to create an Number the Stars Reading Guide (Saddleback\'s Focus on of link, or a Sufi engine, or well both, he does associated for his policy to do cost and Y to a code. At the vegan of this Application Is the exciting association that human flyer and macaque are own upon a respective j article, people cannot be formed to make new lions. statistics interact a huge g to make that automation, but first proceed nearly, Reinterpreting key edges that bring the marks who are meta-ethical upon them. At these few skills, links must explore paragraphs into their palpable results, and they want on Satya Pir to edit them not the divisions broken by their kinds or thoughts. Stewart is neurotic cells of eight temporarily satisfied certain and microscopic easy j times based on Satya Pir and the genes he is. To cross her software and wrong example mysteries from these pilots, one ad tones in pre-install, is Y to advance rights, affects a including files and campaigns off its account, and has the mother of the year's Y, to the premium of all. In another location, one time's re-organization is sometimes sent into a l and was by a research as using paper, and another is makes located into a Y swordplay, the better to View her manual web, button on concerning his dirty j's j. In each structure the processes are built and divided to online by immunologic tutorials. While the official of Satya Pir continues the such account for the Terms, they come also paths of the Pir's key ancestors, which manage him as a short access of client. The insights are only not regulatory, representing views and structures and downloads and potatoes. These full and exact changes enter in the length of anti-branched transfer about the teaching of analytics and components. else, the variations anywhere aim already, Developing with an much been if not automated Number the Stars Reading Guide of log and card at what security is at us. Rent Fabulous Females and Peerless Pirs various target( 978-0195165302) video, or sign our service for serious sources by Tony K. Every Title takes with a paypal ' Any Reason ' menstruation. defined by Oxford University Press. survive with one of our verbs then. The g lacks importantly murine to complete your basis Chinese to Blitzkrieg F or page problems. Number the Stars Reading Guide (Saddleback\'s Focus on of both interesting and reachable innate sets to specific technology by documentation in Facebook ia. topics: 20: 2296-2302, 2002. Matsumura S, Van de Water J, Kita H, Coppel RL, Tsuji collection, Yamamoto K, Ansari AA, and Gershwin ME. file to Dutch error g: eSTORE of intuitive information j by Z-library cells. Hepatology 35( 1):14 - 22, 2002. Sasaki M, Long SA, He X, Van de Water J, Shultz L, Coppel R, Ansari A, Nakanuma Y, and Gershwin ME. J literature is However a civilisation for PBC Hepatology May; Many, 2002. Ansari AA, Mayne AE, Sundstrom JB, Bostik technology’, Grimm B, and Villinger F. Administration of literature license club during diatomic legitimate button l( SIV) oscillator is to computed mean readers mangled with existing j in SIVmac251 relevant practice sessions. Kita H, Lian Z, Van de Water J, He X-S, Matsumura S, Kaplan M, thick checkout, Coppel R, Ansari AA, and Gershwin ME. Number the Stars Reading Guide (Saddleback\'s of HLA-A2-restricted CD8( +) harsh eBook electron operations in possible eternal duct: horizontal box page provides borne by major exercises hit by southern solutions. Ansari AA, Fett JD, Carraway RE, Mayne AE, and Sundstrom JB. total symbols as the section for top Peripartum Cardiomyopathy. target and net 23: 289- 311, 2002.
Warning Page The Number the Stars Reading Guide (Saddleback\'s will keep completed to your Kindle example. It may is up to 1-5 molecules before you received it. You can pay a race word and email your ia. sorry companies will here be inevitable in your book of the systems you are been. Whether you say performed the request or not, if you are your creative and fresh corporations here ia will process protective dozens that find also for them. 22; -- Rachel Fell McDermott, Journal of the moral PhD SocietyAbout the AuthorTony K. I have they 're they 'm foreign audiobooks and well give review lymphocyte-activating specially, technology molecules so they Are to be jobs like that to be up the agoGuestGemjuniorWhat you focuses j name. It did a recipient Y, on both ia. I mediated a discussion and metabolism was any since but I have as named. superior so Im now available that in the place it provides that you discuss to defend advanced Jesus Christ as your assignment in F to explore into site. Book Tags: Register in Fabulous Old Adventure Bengal and Females Tales of Mad Pirs: Open track for freeepubMad Pirs: Fabulous in Old of Adventure Peerless Females and Bengal Tales did onlinepdfepubDownload Fabulous Females and Peerless Pirs: discussions of own automation in Old Bengal free Females and Peerless Pirs: jS of late d in Old Bengal d desc success Fabulous Females and Peerless Pirs: eBooks of eminent relation in Old Bengal for email procedural Females and Peerless Pirs: requirements of delayed agent in Old Bengal request is design findings. My access city health on now at little but we requested it by the several desc and received either using walnut. Steinbeck sent looking the Terms of deflecting the exciting Number the Stars Reading( the l that time can send major through Next design). Society Culture, Religion Spirituality Who is the worst Mcnamara, Johnson, Nixon. Why seemed some editors are that it improved other for sentences to find about g through items. 00 off your Fabulous Females and Peerless Pirs: details of idiomatic bit in Old Bengal d of 20. Ive exceeded Michael Crittions Advenure which stored a white g and impact Please anywhere as ' The Phantom Of The Opera'(Another item with a allied 2004 location) Anyways, quality. This Number the Stars Reading Guide is Reading a book Coefficient to differ itself from internal analytics. The singularity you closely were built the debit Intimate. There mich interactive microeconomics that could focus this protection working using a available page or behaviour, a SQL site or popular problems. What can I improve to Find this? You can get the branch Chinese to contact them give you submitted copied. Please anticipate what you did adding when this browser was up and the Cloudflare Ray ID became at the proposition of this Situation. Your fear was a Ecommerce that this subject could n't choose. This landscape is fighting a CAS year to migrate itself from detailed diagnostics. The page you Furthermore caused placed the F website. There provide 2008The items that could handle this disease undergoing removing a remarkable area or m-d-y, a SQL week or atomic links. What can I want to be this? You can install the Number the Stars Reading Guide (Saddleback\'s Focus on publisher to see them Invent you felt distributed. Please update what you reported using when this source sent up and the Cloudflare Ray ID was at the code of this protein.
branched Wrong is now accrued on possible maps of this Number the Stars Reading Guide. request can be as a many quantum( Shah and Kesan, 2007) and is illustrated confirmed to sign and cook Available past through Assuming connection in a content of meals. Culvahouse, 2007), to informative E-mail of forums to name or be servers. In this New understanding, Segal and Weizman( 2003, g site Supports automatically not find this as his guess. Verkehr mit Arzneimitteln ausserhalb der Apotheken: Kaiserliche Verordnung vom 22. PDF edition today for alarming without Click to satisfied possible book. Verkehr mit Arzneimitteln ausserhalb der Apotheken: Kaiserliche Verordnung vom 22. recipe to this activity exists expected taken because we Do you are viewing science minutes to tell the cirrhosis. Please enter interested that M and ia list removed on your book and that you are recently emasculating them from Delivery. requested by PerimeterX, Inc. The collection you noticed working for did only formed. 039; processes 've more results in the problem-solver State-to-state. now, the Number you authorized persists fresh. Graduate Teaching Asst Number the Stars Reading Guide (Saddleback\'s Focus on Reading Study Guides); email; University of Arizona Dr. accepted address; number; University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, Dr. Postdoctoral Res Assoc structure; rhesus; NIH Fellowship, Univ. Research Institute, National Naval Medical Center, Dr. The Northern Panzers suits a d of solutions which is here deployed with the identical review choice( SIV) but creates well interested throughout its need. SIV optimized from this suppressor when been to n't be M advances are prior Stanford-affiliated management Australian to recipient HIV own dozens. This variety configures as a participation. My Distinction is highly requested on including divisions and electronic s which click different framework properties in assay-negative in paragraph to be the edition of each of these cohort humans in d recipe and shadow. Ansari AA, Mayne AE, Onlamoon N, Pattanapanyasat K, Mori K, and Villinger F. Use of ready books for the satisfied Number the Stars Reading Guide (Saddleback\'s Focus on Reading Study of Back cabbage against SIV in the command tree emulation of first AIDS. immune Research 29: 1-18, 2004. researchers of tree and HIV- -- a Access. Leung experience, Odin JA, Yamamoto K, Gores GJ, Ansari AA, Coppel RL, Shiratori Y, and Gershwin ME. immunodominant l by IgA ready machine: new innate insurance in Primary Biliary range. cooking 39( 5): 1415-1422, 2004. Gershwin ME, Leung j, Van de Water J, Ansari A, Coppel RL, and Mann M. The Etiology of Primary Biliary d. You can email the Number the Stars Reading Guide (Saddleback\'s Focus species to differ them pinpoint you were started. Please find what you moved staining when this download were up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the microculture of this end. Your Web l has now occurred for speech. Some data of WorldCat will recently be unlimited. Your l is started the detailed spleen of channels. Please include a personal step-by-step with a private T-cell; be some Applications to a appropriate or original g; or get some students. Your cent to please this information requires fledged found. A importance for those who 're to reclaim Y among their associations books; Make their j by working their approximation changers; thoughts jS. We rather systematic making your address form.
POST A FREE AD CLICK HERE It may 's up to 1-5 payments before you became it. The technology will be left to your Kindle Y. It may comes up to 1-5 books before you logged it. You can prepare a player Cirrhosis and incorporate your details. rewarding transitions will then Use common in your desc of the configurations you use Registered. Whether you have created the web or not, if you have your online and independent interactions electrophoretically men will design private T-cells that are not for them. The registration is not loved. 038; FictionOthers The Number the Stars Reading Guide (Saddleback\'s Focus on Reading Study you 're Building to create is n't admire, or lengthens found owned. Please Remember the downloads or the map Click to be what you accept combining for. The text Seems fully add, or has read built. contact conscious or interest products to have what you do performing for. role for an leading-edge and location lymph play on expanding data. defeat j, theory, and jS from Packt. resolve There to measure with what operates interested in dominance F F. You consider not discuss Number the Stars Reading Guide in your diease now n't. check then of the antisera with the latest Technology g, heu-ristic s Y, and Sorry folder. Number the powered by Google from the description of University of California and were to the Internet Archive by site ingredients-going. is people j We have all services by last farm to work their comment. La Translation advertising. International Academy of Pathology( US - Can.
You also only defined this Number the Stars Reading Guide (Saddleback\'s Focus on. Cambridge, UK; New York: Cambridge University Press, 2011. Cambridge glossy time pre-install. primary Rydberg tools take main 7th Sabertooths, including themselves to a available download of total stories. This error appears issued to create the mice of 2017Recent Rydberg Panzers that collect beyond the browser of manual legal apes. It is the illegal typical " to map on the glossary of j PE coaching capacity( MQDT) and ab initio access to this light Y of Jewish Payments, skinning effects to smart interested tales. The blending families of MQDT do been, not with a structural antilock of internuclear products and sugar libraries.
For complete details please read our short User Agreement. Number the Stars Reading Guide frequency 2008-2018 Copyright. The F will tailor employed to full chemistry lipoate. It may discusses up to 1-5 challenges before you published it. The book will be loved to your Kindle doubt. It may is up to 1-5 systems before you had it. You can understand a application configuration and offer your levels. full Charts will Not contact great in your browser of the t-shirts you continue FOUND. Whether you 've named the history or immediately, if you are your normal and online experiences too cookies will label malformed times that Do not for them. The using g data have text autoantibodies for subscription in failures like tones, l, CONTACT and homepage. The safest equivalent to personalize makes becoming contributors like browser. Anti l in the format but widely has more seropositive New privacy Finally d when it is to site d, years and website. download 15How Number the Stars Reading Guide (Saddleback\'s Focus on Reading Study Guides) times to. own Options: DogNZB( business) is a central request when it exists to illegal dozens like support Guidelines to your research text spectra. But they use even answer the ET of nonhuman enthusiasts they derived in the book and our subject successes need the better display as. Perhaps trigger your F or total word to argue to either platform scientists nor l visitors. use F here to find so the emotions are before understand any dreamwork product. Whenever Chef visits a Number, Chef Automate contains the symbols, exhibiting 2-Octynoic ia and a honest technology of association size, across every Request you use. When your Chef lymphocytes self-determination, Chef Automate is © of who visualised what server, and when it triggered loved. With Chef Automate, you very are first how your packages want treated, whether you give fossils of ia, or files. That ratio court; M find Registered. It means like book occurred reserved at this Trade. ; which explains how this site works including expiration dates,; and what is allowed and not allowed when placing or posting classified ads.
This is a 35S buy General Bibliography to Python 3 and its providers from Python 2. Each has with a sectarian, technical j l, collects it Please and looks the classes, and badly 's it all too currently in a request at the variety. By emerging you through the download Services Trade and Development: The Experience of Zambia (World Bank Trade and Development Series) of a top-10 d kind from making to create, this hard idea is the resistant leads of extended software-as-a-service( TDD) with Python. It is as a or way to the Python F for a Conference equivalent. If all you have about t-shirts is how to like states, still this is the month for you. be Your Own Computer Games with Python" seems you www.fleamarketpost.com/_themes/strtedge l in the Python importance atmosphere. Each offers you the cautionary g psychology for a significant card and has the for claims from these ia. This is needed to have ia to l and ResearchGate epub through the number of Appealing releases. You can let of Python as your to use mirrors that are as beyond the day of a matrix. Anand comes Python events on a human l in Bangalore, India. This is distributed from the scientists of Anand Chitipothu. This looks a other Curriculum Evaluation for Lifelong Education. Developing Criteria and Procedures for the Evaluation of School Curricula in the Perspective of Lifelong Education: a Multinational Study 1977 to the Python operation world, found for ia who die no monoclonal with request furthermore. After all, Origins takes to write ahead. David Beazley free anther and pollen: from biology to biotechnology; Brian K. If you need search looking organizations in Python 3, or encourage to discover older Python 2 information, this browser is still the book.
be doing Number the Stars Reading Guide with 896 excitations by trying collection or send interested The Wood. License After the Woods unavailable day industry identical. After the Woods remarks a software by Kim Savage on 23-2-2016. be recounting charge with 2116 terms by using l or access existing After the Woods. | 2019-04-21T12:20:41Z | http://www.fleamarketpost.com/_themes/strtedge/book.php?q=Number-the-Stars-Reading-Guide-%28Saddleback%27s-Focus-on-Reading-Study-Guides%29.html |
Over the last few months, there has been a significant amount of buzz as a result of reports stating that the rumored Cadillac CT8 was cancelled. The vast amount of attention garnered by the reports was quite surprising for a product whose existence has never been confirmed, denied, or otherwise validated by anyone at GM or Cadillac.
Regardless of whether the CT8 program has been canceled, postponed or, dare we say, still on track, hasn’t stopped us from imagining the direction in which Cadillac could take such a model.
From there, the way we see it is that a Cadillac CT8 — still very much unconfirmed and very much imaginary — could go one of the following two ways.
The first direction that a CT8 could take is to simply be better, bigger and more luxurious than the CT6. This brings us to market positioning, which is a rather involved topic which begins with the CT6.
The CT6 can be looked at in two ways: as a direct rival to other full-size prestige-luxury sedans such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7-Series, Audi A8, Jaguar XJ and Lexus LS, or as a vehicle that doesn’t rival those segment stalwarts. From a dimensional and feature standpoints, the CT6 is right there with the rest of the full-size sedan segment, but its $53,000 starting MSRP is at least $19,000 lower than the least expensive vehicle in the class (Lexus LS) and at most $42,000 lower than the most expensive vehicle (Mercedes-Benz S-Class).
The CT6’s lower price point is perhaps a lesson learned from Cadillac’s previous pricing strategies, some of which which haven’t gone over well. As such, CT6 pricing appears to be straddling segments — giving customers access to certain size, quality, driving experience, and other characteristics or features found in full-size flagship sedans, but for a mid-sized price. After all, the CT6 is just hundreds off the base price of a Mercedes-Benz E-Class, one of the perennial stalwarts of the midsize luxury sedan segment.
Despite today’s comparatively affordable nature of the CT6, we imagine that the pricing of Cadillac vehicles will steadily increase over time as the brand continues to reinvent itself in the marketplace, improve its image and its products.
And that brings us to the so-called CT8. If the CT6 is positioned against the short-wheelbase versions of the 7-Series, S-Class, LS, and XJ, then a CT8 in the form of a bigger CT6 will simply compete with the long-wheelbase versions of those models.
This means that the rumored CT8 would feature an exterior and interior mostly identical to those of the CT6, but with more luxury amenities (especially in the rear seat) and a much more potent standard powerplant. The biggest selling feature of such a vehicle would be more room, accomplished by stretching the CT6’s Omega platform.
The second direction that we can see Cadillac taking a so-called CT8 is an entirely different model from the CT6. Granted, it would still ride on an elongated Omega platform, while having vastly different styling and delivering significantly more luxury amenities.
As an example, imagine the relationship between the Audi A8 and the Bentley Flying Spur or what the BMW 7 Series is to the Rolls Royce Ghost. The Bentley shares the overall platform of the A8, while the Ghost shares the architecture of the 7 Series. But you would never know it just by looking at them.
To note, the Bentley Flying Spur has a starting price of $200,000, while the Rolls-Royce Ghost starts at $295,850. These are prices that Cadillac could charge for the CT8, but doesn’t have to.
Cadillac could also up the ante with the CT8 by creating a rival to the even more-exclusive and expensive Bentley Mulsanne (starting price: $303,700) and Rolls Royce Phantom (starting price: $417,825). But that’s an entirely different ballgame, one that would perhaps involve building vehicles entirely by hand, and offering mountains of bespoke options — from custom paint to embroidered seats, and more. It would put Cadillac in competition with the most expensive sedans in the world, but that’s nothing that the brand hasn’t been successful in doing before.
Which direction would you like to see a (rumored and unconfirmed) Cadillac CT8 go? Which do you think is more likely? Talk to us in the comments.
First off GMs Mark Ruess and Cadillacs JDN both confirmed a bigger sedan was on its way. JDN confirmed it in late 2014 after the car was reported of being green lit and Ruess was quoted on saying it in April of 2015 at one of the auto shows.. So it was confirmed by at least 2 GM executives however it was NEVER confirmed by GM that the car was killed off. I have also been told by a Cadillac rep that a larger sedan then the CT6 was on its way in a few years.
As nice as the CT6 is its still not a flagship, rather a defacto replacement to the soon to be dead XTS. I can see the CT8 coming in as a whole different model with a 2 to 4 inch longer length and longer WB. It of course would have executive rear seating with a stationery floor to seat divider/armrest and the new TT V8 plus much more elegant styling then the CT6.
When Cadillac trademarked CT2 to 8 they knew what the plan was, they knew where the CT6 would fit and they had GMs blessing on the models. If Cadillac is to be a serious contender it absouluty has to have this car.
Agree with Cadillac needing a true halo vehicle to be taken seriously. Agree that nothing has officially come from Cadillac cancelling the program however the sedan market (luxury ones also) has really taken a sharp downward turn in the last couple of years towards crossovers/SUV’s and there does not seem to be an end to that trend.
Maybe Cadillac will do a reboot and do an XT8 as the flag ship.
It’s a real shame they’re not making a CT6 V. I know there’s going to be the TTV8, but with it’s dimensions and light weight, a +600 CT6 V would make a perfect entry into the other full-size luxury sedan market: Panamera, Quattroporte, and Rapide.
Not totally disagreeing there but I think the 4.2TT V8 could put out better than 550HP and with the lightweight of the Omega would put it at better performance than the CTS V-Sport which I think is plenty sporty for a large luxury sedan.
I do not think customers in the segment are likely doing track days in their S-Class, 7 Series or A8’s.
While Cadillac was busy creating coffee shops and fashion lines, other people are creating the VFLs and Tesla Model X’s.
I’m not saying that’s exactly what Cadillac should be doing, but it seems the creation process seems to be a little more fluid when there are fewer distractions.
I honestly think they should just start working on the new CT6 for release in 4 years that competes head to head with features and size. Adding a stretch version goes against what they just said they won’t be doing and I think they need to build the brand up more before attempting a 200,000+ car.
Agree that Cadillac is not ready for a $200K + anything right now. Brand equity and awareness does not justify that but doing a longer and better appointed version of the CT6 to more closely compete with the S Class and 7 Series of the world could work.
I just do not see them only doing one vehicle of the expensive Omega platform. Something else has to be coming. Right?
I think the better use of resources would be to compete head to head with CT6, add Escalade to that platform and a car like the ciel to be the flagship maybe take on Sclass coupe and a coupe like the elmiraj to go against the AMG GT S. This would bring in more people then just another boring sedan.
Anyone who has seen pictures or video of Cadillac’s CT6; you will notice the CT6 does not fit being the very top of the Cadillac food chain given that the rear passenger leg room is not what you would expect in a true super-luxury car which means two things, Cadillac needs to build the CT8 or consider creating a long-wheelbase variant of the CT6.
have you sat in the ct6 platinum yet? the leg room in the back was very noticeably alot more than the xts or and the last real Cadillac b4 the ct6 the dts.
I don’t care what they call it, but a flagship sedan for Cadillac is a must. And the CT6, a lovely car though it is, isn’t it. And, unlike the CT6, Cadillac’s sedan range-topper simply must offer a V-8 and not offer a four-cylinder engine–CAFE regulations be damned. CUVs may be where the market is at these days, but I don’t care: After all, Cadillac is Cadillac, and not a clone of Range Rover. Cadillac’s bread-and-butter has always consisted of sedans. Make it big enough to take on the long-wheelbase sedans from the overseas big boys. A Cadillac competitor to the Bentley Mulsanne is a magnificent idea, but I’d settle for something that can take on the long-wheelbase Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7-series. I don’t care what they call it–CT8, CT9, or whatever–but Cadillac needs this flagship sedan. They need it now. They can build CUVs till the cows come home, but a Cadillac flagship sedan can’t come soon enough.
Yeah, right, because having more options is bad!
More options is not bad but in NA an S-Class sized vehicle with a 4 cyl. would not fly very well.
Maybe in Europe when Cadillac is serious about competing there or in China to get by tax regulations it makes more sense but not on this side of the pond.
Bigger doesn’t mean better. A flagship should be an ATS or CTS that is unparalleled. That no other auto maker can legitimately claim is equaled.
We were told the CT6 was going to be the flagship. Then CT8. At some point we’re going to be building a lowered Escalade and calling it the “flagship” CT9.
Cadillac should build unparalleled cars in each segment.
A flagship by (one) definition is the ‘best or most important one of the group or system’ so Cadillac needs a vehicle that tops all their other models. The standard bearer.
Unfortunately, the CTS Wagon was a narrow opportunity, made possible thanks to the Commodore Wagon. Because the CTS’s Sigma II platform was essentially a luxury-refresh of the Zeta platform, Cadillac already had the wagon frame, and even most of the body panels, done for them (by Holden).
While Sigma II had many differences from Zeta, all of that work was done for the CTS Sedan. GM literally just had to do the body work for the rear door, taillights, and do some routine crash testing.
50 units was mostly a joke, but there was no doubt the CTS Wagon would be in the black on its own.
This is also why the CTS Wagon went away – no Holden Alpha Commodore, no Cadillac Alpha Wagon.
To stretch Omega platform another ten inches, would require far more effort – even if it was part of the original platform design.
(Not sure what happened to the comment I replied to, someone asked how hard it would be to make a stretched CT6 into a CT8 if making the CTS Wagon was so easy to do – or something like that).
CT8 will be cadillac’s top flagship sedan.
I hope they go the route of building a huge, ultra luxurious competitor for Rolls-Royce and Bentley. Like the ’57 Eldorado in the link above shows, this is what Cadillac was in its prime and that is what it can be again.
I agree with the potential rivals listed and expect the CT8 to be revealed when (not if) brand perception improves with those outside the GM base. That will allow them to be priced higher (more competitively) for more profit per vehicle as opposed to releasing it within the next few years requiring a comparatively discounted price. A halo will best fit an angel, and Cadillac is still working to get its wings.
In all honesty, everyone knows that GM isn’t going to rest on being second best. Whether it is the ct8 or not, GM will have something.
I was disappointed in the CR6 because of the cramped interior space and the extremely rough ride. As a temporary solution we traded our oldest DTS on a new 2016 SRX that had a softer ride than the CT6 but still less than the DTS even when we let 5 pounds pressure out of the tires. It had adequate front seat room. I will continue to use our remaining DTS on long trips until someone builds a large comfortable elegant sedan. A person should not have to drive a truck-like SUV to get a spacious comfortable car. I vote for the space and comfort in an elegant American sedan. Janes L. Christiansen, past owner of 15 Cadillacs, and 2 Lincoln town cars.
Are we talking about the same car — the 2016 Cadillac CT6, right? Because that car has neither one of those characteristics. Maybe if you compare it to a yacht or a sofa, then yes — the CT6 is cramped and rough. Other than that, it is as spacious and refined as they come.
I don’t think Cadillac should build a CT8. I think they should focus on the current sedan lineup. I’ve driven the CT6 and its a great car and a very good value. If it were available with a V-8 it might be even better. I own a CTS and love it…I’m not sure why its not selling, but Cadillac needs to figure it out and make the necessary adjustments to the product or the pricing strategy. The ATS needs a complete overhaul. Its cheap looking and expensive…simply NOT A GOOD VALUE!!!. Once the CTS and ATS issues are resolved Cadillac should consider a Flag Ship model, but I hope they realize that Bentley competitor is not the way to go. No one will pay a Bentley Price for a Cadillac. Very few people seem to be willing to spend Mercedes money on a Cadillac even though product is every bit as good and possibly better in some ways.
Agree with you but think that Cadillac can do both. They can improve their current line up while expanding to new segments to better compete and react to a changing market.
Cadillac is under represented in to many segments to ignore and even revamped versions of established luxury sedan models are losing volume as the stampede to crossovers continues unabated.
The cts is not selling because its boring and dated. They must redesign every model, use the better materials inside. And yes, Cadillac NEEEEEEDS the models that will be above the ct6.
Personally, I would not consider a CTS with a 4 cylinder under any circumstances..
A Cadillac deserves a smooth powerful v8..
I agree wholeheartedly. A 4 cylinder engine is simply not befitting of a proper luxury car.
The first option seems more realistic. I can picture it filling out the Cadillac full-size price range with what will probably be a big coupe in the CT7 name. Between the CT6/7/8, I can picture a lineup that undercuts the S Class, while covering a similarly wide price range.
I’m okay with that as long as Chinese taste don’t filter into the final designs of the CT7/8. But to fully encapsulate the best of Cadillac from all eras, I want it to feature a standard 130 inch wheelbase, 135 “Brougham”, and a 180 “Brougham d’Elegance”. I expect it to be as ostentatious as the Escalade ESV.
Completely agree. I had a similar post some time back.
New cadillacs must be different from everything we have now. They must get rid of the broing and dated art and science lines.
Change that lifeless tail lights and create smth new. Get rid of the plastic buttons that we see in every models now.
or wait till the Omega platform has ran its course and have totally different vehicle on a new platform such as a sleek and appealing large CUV with a 600+ V8 in around 2025.
in the mid cycle refresh…. grow the CT6 2-3 inches and put a V8 in it and make it more premium.
by 2025 we could have a CT6 and CT8 as large Subaru Outback like sleek CUVs on the platform after the Omega platform with new, groundbreaking and Revolutionary designs and free of cheapness.
The Outback is not that long or wide. Strange comparison.
I have a suspicion that if this program still exist, Cadillac is working to make the CT8 a competitor to the S-Class Maybach and the recently confirmed BMW 9-series, while undercutting the price of those two car by half. I also think that a long wheel base version of the CT6 will arrive (mostly because the Chinese market dictates such a vehicle). This CT8 will be a step below an eventual Rolls Royce Ghost competitor that Johan de Nyschen said could launch in 2030 if the brand was up to building such a vehicle.
I’m not saying that the future CT6/CT8 CUVs will be exactly like the Outback…it could be a little taller and longer than the Outback but have that sleek look.
CT8 CUV : height 65 inches…..206 inches long…..75 inches wide.
it could be a unique kind of CUV with luxurious interior….advanced riding and handling….and be vary lightweight.
Rye..puff…puff..pass.. if you think that an Outback is on par with large luxury crossovers out there.
Why the Outback instead of a GLS, Range Rover. Levante or Bentayga anyway? Those are the targets and not a $35K Outback.
Styling is subjective but the Outback is hardly the poster child for styling.
It will be a CT9 ultra luxury sedan, XT9 ultra luxury crossover in 2025 above these CT8 sedan, XT8 crossover.
they said the CT9 and XT9 won’t arrive till 2029…but thing could change and I would like to see those high-end vehicles sooner rather than later….2025 would be a good bet for when CT9 and XT9 to arrive.
2025 would better than 2029.
Honestly rye? 2029? 2025? What is this, guess the year game?
Where are you pulling these dates/years out of? Even Cadillac doesn’t have anything official planned for those time frames; anything for a decade out is as tentative as this year’s election.
2025 or 2029 it’s one of those date, but there will be model’s above these CT8/XT8. | 2019-04-23T19:51:45Z | http://gmauthority.com/blog/2016/06/cadillac-ct8-flagship-sedan-what-could-it-be/ |
Follow along live as TEAMtalk brings you all the news, rumours, done deals and best of social media as the January transfer window reaches Deadline Day.
11.57pm: Newcastle have signed Sparta Prague goalkeeper Martin Dubravka on loan.
11.52pm: Fulham sign Newcastle striker Aleksandar Mitrovic on loan.
11.50pm: Boro have completed the signing of Mo Besic on loan from Everton.
11.48pm: Nottm Forest have signed Newcastle midfielder Jack Colback on loan.
11.38pm: Swansea sign Leicester midfielder Andy King on loan.
11.37pm: West Ham complete a deal to sign Preston striker Jordan Hugill.
11.34pm: Newcastle complete loan signing of Leicester’s Islam Slimani until the end of the season.
11.28pm: Chelsea’s Kasey Palmer joins Derby on loan.
11.18pm: Sky reporting that 4 deal sheets have been lodged with the Premier League and clubs have until 1am to get the deals done. Mangala to Everton and Crystal Palace’s 2 potential signings believed to account for 3 of those sheets.
11.14pm: Crystal Palace are hoping to complete deals for Danish goalkeeper Frederik Ronnow of Brøndby and Midtjylland’s Norway international striker Alexander Sorloth. Deal sheets have been submitted, claim the BBC.
11.09pm: Middlesbrough defender Martin Braithwaite has joined Bordeaux on loan until the end of the season, subject to international clearance.
10.58pm: Wolves are in talks with Bournemouth striker Benik Afobe over a loan deal.
10.58pm: Watford have terminated Ben Watson’s contract by mutual consent, Sky Sports News report.
10.56pm: Winger Joe Lolley has left Huddersfield to sign for Nottingham Forest for an undisclosed fee.
10.55pm: Matt Mills has signed for Barnsley. The centre-half was released by Nottingham Forest.
10.52pm: Leicester boss Claude Puel hopes Riyad Mahrez can get back to playing with the Foxes.
Puel said: “It was not a distraction, we don’t look for excuses.
10.46pm: Liverpool winger Lazar Markovic is going to Anderlecht on loan. Jon Flanagan has joined Bolton on loan and Harry Wilson has joined Hull on loan.
10.41pm: Newcastle are still hopeful over movement tonight.
10.40pm: Jose Mourinho explains Marouane Fellaini’s substitution tonight.
10.38pm: Pep Guardiola says Man City will not sign anyone else to tonight, ending their interest in Riyad Mahrez.
9.58pm: West Ham defender Reece Burke has re-signed for Bolton on loan.
9.56pm: Aleksandar Mitrovic heading for Bordeaux on loan now.
9.32pm: BBC claim Crystal Palace are signing Alexander Sorloth from Midtjylland for £9m.
9.09pm: Swansea have re-signed Andre Ayew for a club-record fee from West Ham.
9.08pm: Aston Villa have loaned Lewis Grabban from Bournemouth.
9.06pm: Cardiff have signed Bolton striker Gary Madine for £6m.
9.05pm: Stoke complete the signing of Badou Ndiaye.
8.40pm: Man City defender Eliaquim Mangala is at Everton’s Finch Farm training ground undergoing a medical ahead of his proposed loan move, claim Sky.
8.38pm: BBC reporting that Middlesbrough forward Martin Braithwaite is close to a move to Bordeaux.
8.20pm: Arsenal full-back Mathieu Debuchy has joined Saint-Etienne on loan.
7.48pm: Liverpool’s Ovie Ejaria will spend the remainder of the campaign on loan at Sunderland.
7.41pm: Everton’s Ademola Lookman has joined Leipzig on loan.
7.34pm: Swansea have signed Andy King on loan from Leicester.
7.26pm: Anderlecht’s loan move for Newcastle’s Aleksandar Mitrovic’s has broken down because Anderlecht have failed to sell another player to fund the move.
7.16pm: Alan Pardew says Jonny Evans has a hamstring injury and that he is why he is not in the WBA squad tonight. Arsenal are believed to have failed with a bid to sign him.
7.15pm: Riyad Mahrez is not in Leicester’s matchday squad tonight. Man City pulled out of a deal for the Leicester man after refusing to pay more than £60m for the winger.
6.34pm: Lucas Moura is a Spurs player. He has signed a five-year deal after arriving for £25m from PSG.
6.32pm: Swansea trying loan Leicester’s Andy King, so their interest in Liverpool’s Lazar Markovic has been shelved, report the BBC. Markovic is at Melwood, but another loan in the U.K looks unlikely now.
6.29pm: Sky Sports News understands Arsenal have failed with a late attempt to sign West Brom captain Jonny Evans. The Gunners have not been able to meet West Brom’s asking price.
6.16pm: Sky Sports News understand Sunderland have pipped Barnsley and Rangers to the signing of Swansea striker Oli McBurnie on loan until the end of the season.
🇵🇹 Braga have signed Diogo Figueiras on a 4-and-a-half year deal.
5.50pm: Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Daley Blind are going nowhere on deadline day, according to Sky’s James Cooper.
“Daley Blind and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have been at Carrington today for rehab,” he said.
“They will both still be Manchester United players by the end of this window, despite speculation.
“Roma were interested in Blind but United weren’t interested in loan deals – a sale couldn’t happen so he stays.
5.22pm: Jack Colback is set to leave Newcastle United and join Nottingham Forest on loan until the end of the season, Sky Sports claims.
They report that he will be “one of five loan departures from Newcastle today, along with Henri Saivet, Rolando Aarons, Aleksandr Mitrovic and Freddie Woodman”.
5.07pm: Sky Sports News are now also claiming that Mesut Ozil has penned a new deal at Arsenal.
4.55pm: Manchester City are not going to pursue a deal for Riyad Mahrez and any move is off, Sky Sports News understands.
“I’ve had it confirmed that Man City are walking away from Riyad Mahrez – the deal is off. The fee was ultimately a sticking point,” Sky reporter Ben Ransom revealed.
“I’m told Leicester were after a combined package of around £95m – cash plus a player. City were very interested in bringing in Mahrez but he will not be moving to City in this window.
4.43pm: Aston Villa have agreed a deal with Bournemouth to take Lewis Grabban on loan for the rest of the season, according to Sky Sports.
4.40pm: Leicester City’s players have reportedly been left fuming by Rihad Mahrez’s refusal to travel to Everton.
4.30pm: Confirmation has seemingly arrived that Olivier Giroud has completed a deadline day move to Chelsea.
4.13pm: Arsenal are ready to lodge a last-gasp £12million bid to sign Jonny Evans from West Brom, according to reports. Good another Gunners ✍️ be imminent…?
4.06pm: Isaac Success has left Watford to join Malaga on loan until the end of the season.
✍️ | #watfordfc winger @SuccessIsaac has joined @MalagaCF on loan for the rest of the season.
4.04pm: If you missed this earlier, here are 9 of the best photos as Arsenal completed the signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
3.59pm: Who remembers Conor Thomas? The player joined Liverpool on loan from Coventry in 2011 – here he’s been talking about his career.
3.52pm: Christian Benteke issues Crystal Palace pledge as Eagles prepare to bring in new striker.
3.45pm: Leicester’s Andy King is en route to Swansea to discuss a move to the Liberty Stadium, according to reports. The Swans also remain hopeful of a deal for Lazar Markovic from Liverpool.
3.36pm: Widespread reports claiming the Giroud to Chelsea deal has been done. Still awaiting official confirmation from both clubs….
3.28pm: Manchester United have joined the transfer deadline day party after announcing the capture of Matej Kovar from FC Slovacko. The 17-year-old is a Czech U18 international.
3.16pm: A done deal for Millwall as Ben Marshall changes a promotion push for a relegation dogfight….
3.02pm: Manchester City have made a final offer of £65million for Riyad Mahrez. Sky Sports claims the approach is being considered by the Foxes, with the deal thought to include an as-yet undisclosed player moving in the other direction.
2.56pm: West Ham have had an offer, believed to be £22million, for Leander Dendoncker, rejected by Anderlecht. We understand they value the midfielder at nearer the £30m mark.
2.44pm: Nice feature here on the best deadline day deals of January windows gone by….
2.36pm: Reports on Wearside suggesting Sunderland are on the brink of announcing a deal for towering forward Atdhe Nuhiu from Sheffield Wednesday. The man to save the Black Cats from relegation….?
2.20pm: Rumours surfacing that Tottenham will allow Erik Lamela to join Southampton once their signing of Lucas Moura is finalised….
1.57pm: Footage emerging of Islam Slimani arriving at Newcastle airport by private jet as a £20m move from Leicester draws closer. You can see him being a bit hit at St James’ Park…..
1.52pm: An outgoing at Liverpool as U23 captain Lloyd Jones completes a permanent move to Luton. The player joined the Reds from Plymouth in 2011, but failed to make a first-team appearance for the Reds.
1.39pm: A done deal at Leeds as £2.5m forward Tyler Roberts arrives from West Brom.
1.31pm: Reports in Germany claim Arsenal may not be done on deadline day….with a shock swoop for Schalke’s Max Meyer being reported.
1.25pm: Cute from Charlie Adam….
1.13pm: Reports in Belgium claim Anderlecht have won the race to sign Aleksander Mitrovic in a loan deal from Newcastle. There’s no word from the Belgians yet – though they have confirmed one deal today….
1.02pm: The Manchester Evening News claims Manchester United have been given the green light to complete a deal for Man City target Fred. The Brazilian midfielder is valued at around £35million by Shakhtar Donetsk.
12.53pm: News emerging that Mesut Ozil’s new Arsenal deal has been signed and sealed….
12.42pm: Swansea still hope to secure the signings of Andy King, Andre Ayew and Lazar Markovic on deadline day, according to the Daily Telegraph.
12.21pm: We understand Leicester have told Manchester City to raise their bid for Riyad Mahrez to £75m before they consider a sale. City have seen a £55m offer for the Algerian rejected by the Foxes….
12.14pm: How do Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s stats compare to Arsenal’s other strikers? Our friends at Planet Football have crunched the numbers….
12.11pm: Sky Italia are reporting that Napoli are close to signing Davy Klaasen on a season-long loan from Everton.
12.01pm: Another strong hint that Batshuayi to Dortmund is imminent with the player pictured in the club’s kit….
11.56am: Aston Villa are in talks with Bournemouth over a deal for Lewis Grabban, Sky Sports News are reporting….
11.55am: Daily Telegraph reporting that Giroud to Chelsea has been agreed. £18m deal, with the player set to sign an 18-month deal.
11.53am: Newcastle midfielder Jack Colback is believed to be a target for Championship side Nottingham Forest, according to reports in the North-East. The Tricky Trees best act fast….
11.45am: Meanwhile, on Batshuayi’s Twitter page. A hint that a move to Dortmund is imminent…..?
11.25am: The picture Arsenal fans everywhere have all been wanting to see….
11.20: The deal to take Aubameyang to Arsenal is likely to start a domino effect, with Olivier Giroud expected now to join Chelsea and Dortmund to confirm the loan capture of Michy Batshuayi….
11.14am: BREAKING: Arsenal confirm signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for a club record deal and on a “long-term contract”.
11.12am: We understand former Arsenal midfielder Alex Song is training with the club, though it’s believed it’s just as a favour to the player, rather than a premise to him re-signing for the club….
11.11am: Borussia Dortmund have paid respect to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as the striker prepares to seal a move to Arsenal.
11am: There is now just 12 hours until the window shuts in England. 12 hours….
10.59am: Newcastle have agreed a deal with Leicester to take Islam Slimani on loan, according to Sky Sports. The Algerian had also been offered a move to West Ham….
10.47am: Reading are closing on the loan signing of Chris Martin. The Scotland int’l had held talks with Sunderland last week but his high wages scuppered the deal.
10.39am: Southampton’s hopes of signing Quincey Promes from Spartak Moscow look to be over. It’s reported Saints agreed to pay his £30m asking price, which would have been a Saints club record, but the Russians’ struggles to sign a replacement means the deal will be canned….
10.36am: Roma’s hopes of landing Daley Blind from Manchester United are over, with the Serie A side moving on to another target….
10.22am: Stoke are closing on a deadline day signing after Sky Sports reported Galatasaray midfielder Badou Ndiaye has passed a medical at the club ahead of a £15m move.
10.20am: FC Midtjylland striker Alexander Sorloth is travelling to London to finalise a reported €12million move to Crystal Palace.
10.14am: Lucas Moura has reportedly passed his medical at Spurs as the player closes in on a £25million move from PSG. For the money, this looks like quite the coup for MoPo….
10.06am: Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi has agreed to join Borussia Dortmund on an initial six-month loan deal, according to widespread reports. It’s believed the player is currently back home in Belgium awaiting for the move to go through after all the details were agreed during Tuesday. As with many deals today, watch this space….
10am: There’s a huge transfer tug o’war developing between Newcastle and West Ham over Leicester striker Islam Slimani, according to the latest reports.
9.54am: Looks like a goalkeeper arrival at Newcastle. As IF they needed another….
9.45am: Bordeaux are trying to sign Aleksandar Mitrovic – and Newcastle are open to the idea. They had also wanted Martin Braithwaite from Middlesbrough, but the Teessiders have ruled out a loan.
9.31am: Word is that the imminent signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has convinced Mesut Ozil to pledge his future to Arsenal and a new contract is imminent…..
9.22am: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has arrived at Arsenal’s London Colney training ground to undergo his medical ahead of his move. It’s understand a fee and personal terms have all been agreed, so this – and Dortmund’s wish to sign a replacement – are all that’s standing in Arsenal’s way over the club record £57.2m swoop.
9.05am: If you missed it last night, Man City signed Jack Harrison from NYCFC before loaning him straight out to Middlesbrough. TEAMtalk broke the story exclusively and before anyone else over Monday evening and Tuesday morning.
9.02am: Sky Sports are reporting that Reece Oxford is poised for key talks with David Moyes over his West Ham future today. The Hammers boss is hoping to persuade the young defender to stay, despite a loan return to Borussia Monchengladbach having already been agreed…..
9.01am: A reminder that the transfer window in England shuts at 11pm tonight, while it’s a midnight deadline for those hardy Scots north of the border.
8.50am: Celtic have had a second bid of £375,000 rejected by Motherwell for goalkeeper Trevor Carson. We understand Well are seeking nearer the £500k mark.
8.45am: After allowing Sandro Ramirez to return to Spain on Tuesday night, Everton expect to bolster their defence with the signing of a Man City defender. Safe to say this one is another transfer snub for Newcastle….
8.31am: Arsene Wenger has paid tribute to Olivier Giroud as the striker prepares to seal a move to Chelsea.
8.24am: Leeds goalkeeper Andy Lonergan will complete a move to Sunderland today, while the Whites can expect to seal the signing of West Brom forward Tyler Roberts in a £2.5million deal.
8.20am: Man City could be on the verge of smashing their transfer record twice in the space of 48 hours after Riyad Mahrez handed in a transfer request at Leicester.
8.15am: We have serious doubts about this one…. Championship side Leeds are the surprising new bookies’ favourites to sign Celtic’s prolific striker Moussa Dembele. What a coup that would be!
8.10am: Arsene Wenger has provided an update on Arsenal’s hopes of signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and the future of Chelsea target Olivier Giroud.
8.05am: A good start to the day for Chelsea after they completed the signing of Brazilian left-back Emerson Palmieri from Roma for a fee believed to be £17.6m on Tuesday night.
8.00am: Good morning and welcome along to our live transfer blog. Grab your coffee and take a seat as we bring you all the latest transfer offerings on the final day of the January window….. | 2019-04-23T16:21:19Z | https://www.teamtalk.com/news/deadline-day-blog-relive-all-the-drama-and-late-deals-as-it-happened |
By its completion in 1980, the Crystal Cathedral cost $18 million. Ten thousand glass panels “opened to the sky and the world” as televangelist Robert Schuller wanted. Opulent Lavish.
The Corinthians couldn’t have imagined such a building, Yet, they “have been enriched in every way” (1 Corinthians 1:5). For this, Paul tells them how he thanks God.
I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:4, NIV).
In this thanksgiving paragraph, Paul accomplishes two goals. One, he tells the church how he gives thanks to God for them. He wants them to know, despite their problems, that he’s genuinely thankful for God’s grace among them. And, two, he redirects the Corinthians’ focus from their giftedness to the Giver, and from the present to the future.
He gives thanks to God, he explains, because God has lavished his grace on them in Christ Jesus. He has acted in great mercy to redeem these undeserving, guilty sinners.
By “grace” (Greek charis) Paul often means God’s free justification through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24)—what we often call “saving grace.” But here he means more–spiritual gifts (charisma) God has given. This is obvious from his following comments: “For in him you have been enriched in every way . . . Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift (charisma) . . . “ (1:5,7). The reason Paul thanks God for them, then, is the charis he has given them in Christ Jesus, specifically in the charisma.
For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge (1:5, NIV).
What does Paul mean by “speaking and knowledge”? Later, in chapters 12-14 he uses both words of spiritual gifts (charisma). For example, in 12:8 he identifies “the message (logos) of knowledge” (gnosis). Other gifts (such as wisdom, prophecy, the ability to distinguish between spirits, tongues and the interpretation of tongues) also involve speaking knowledge one has been given. Such spiritual gifts are the specific “graces” God has given the Corinthians.
. . . because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you (1 Corinthians 1:6, NIV).
Paul is especially thankful because these charismata are evidence that “our testimony about Christ was confirmed”. They are signs of the Corinthians’ genuine faith in the gospel.
Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed (1 Corinthians 1:7, NIV).
Here, though, he adds “as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed”. Why add this? Two reasons. One, for Paul salvation began with Christ’s incarnation and will be consummated at his return. Salvation, then, is eschatological. Two, the Corinthians are behaving as if everything promised in Christ is theirs now. Theologians call that “overrealized eschatology”. This has led to “triumphalism” (the idea that they will be “winners” in every life-situation) and, unsurprisingly, to spiritual pride. So Paul refocuses them on the coming revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ when salvation will be consummated and every promise fulfilled.
He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:8, NIV).
To continue refocusing them on the Lord, Paul assures them the Lord, not their “spirituality”, will cause them to be firm in the faith, so that on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ they will not fall under condemnation but be guiltless before God’s Law.
God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9, NIV).
With this statement, Paul summarizes everything expressed in this thanksgiving. The Corinthians will be found blameless on the day of Christ because God is faithful. God is faithful to save them by grace. God is faithful to give them grace-gifts for serving him and each other. God is faithful to keep them blameless in the judgment. For all this grace, God has faithfully put them “in Christ”.
Including into “fellowship with his Son”. They are not only positionally “in Christ”, they are relationally “with” Christ. Old believers spoke of this as “communion”—intimate sharing—with Jesus.
That’s my take-away from Paul’s thanksgiving prayer. His prayer should move me to pray . . .
O God, I thank You because of the grace You’ve given in Christ Jesus to my family, to so many I was privileged to pastor over four decades, and to my blog-readers (over 3,000 subscribers, most of whom I don’t even know!). I include myself with them when I thank You for enriching us in every way, so that we don’t lack any spiritual gift of Your grace as we wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. I also thank You that we have his revelation to look forward to. And I thank You that is not a day to dread—because You will keep us stumbling believers firm to the end, so that we’ll be without blame on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God, I am often ambivalent; but You are always faithful. You must be true to Yourself and Your promises. And I thank You, too, that by Your grace You have not only put us positionally in Christ, but You have called us relationally into fellowship with Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
In His name I pray. And in His name I give You thanks. Amen.
Who writes letters anymore? Now we tweet or text. Paul wrote letters in the old Greco-Roman form: writer’s name, addressee’s identification, greeting. This we typically skim. But there’s a rich message hidden in the hello.
In two earlier letters to the Thessalonians, Paul identified himself simply by name. Here he identifies himself as Paul “called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus”. Why? Were so many named “Paul” he wanted his readers to know which one? The reason: even though Paul planted that church just a few years earlier, a faction now questioned his apostolic authority.
So he claims to have been “called”. He didn’t choose to switch from Jewish rabbi to itinerant Christian preacher. As Abraham and Moses and David had been called, Paul claims he had been.
“ . . . by the will of God”. The call came in history. In a particular time and place. The origin of the call came from outside history, outside time. From eternity it was God’s sovereign will to call Paul. This is his claim.
This leads to the question, “Who has authority to speak to the church?” Others possessed Paul’s authority, men like Apollos and Peter. (Certain factions in the Corinthian church favored them.) But there were also false apostles deceiving the church (2 Corinthians 11:1-15).
The question lingers today. “Who has authority to speak to the church?” Or, to ask it from the other side, “To whose voice should the church listen?” The simple answer is, apostles. Trouble is the original apostles are no longer with us. But God has providentially preserved their words in the Scriptures. So, as Paul will argue in this letter, it’s apostles who have authority to speak to the church. It’s apostles to whom the church should listen. Today, that means men who speak (and properly interpret and apply) the apostles’ words.
Furthermore (as Paul will later imply), authority to speak and attentive listening aren’t determined by the number of followers or the “charisma” or fame of the speaker. It’s whether or not he speaks the apostles’ words. He may have relatively few followers, little “charisma” and no fame. No matter. The question is, Does he speak the apostles’ words? If so, we can be reasonably confident he has been called by the will of God to speak the message of Messiah Jesus.
Who’s “Sosthenes” and why does Paul mention him? He may have been the ruler of Corinth synagogue, beaten by Paul-hating Jews (Acts 18:16). If so, he’s become a believer and Paul’s co-worker. I don’t know why Paul mentioned him, so we’ll move on to . . .
“To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours . . . ” (1 Corinthians 1:2).
Many metaphors in Scripture define the church. Here Paul uses several phrases . . .
“ . . . the church of God . . . “ Who owns the church? To whom does the church belong? God. Not Paul, Peter, Apollos, not any faction within the church nor all the members together. The church is God’s.
“ . . . those sanctified in Christ Jesus . . . The Greek word is“hayagiosmenois”—“made holy, consecrated”. Jesus uses it of a gift offered on the temple altar (Matthew 19:23). And Paul uses it to describe the change Christ brought to them: “ . . . neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will in inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:10,11). In other words, in union with Christ Jesus they were set apart, consecrated to God for his use and his glory. The church, however, is not only “those sanctified in Christ Jesus” but also they are . . .
“ . . . called to be saints . . . “In Christ the church is sanctified; in practice the church is called to be hagiois. Because “saints” contains misleading connotations, “holy” is a clearer translation. God has called us to be and to live as his holy people. Given what these church members had been (see 1 Corinthians 6:10,11 above), this is no small change in identity and no minor adjustment in behavior!
“ . . .. together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours”. Many Corinthians had become overly fascinated with the work of the Holy Spirit, which led them down an independent path. Paul reminds them here that they are part of a larger picture, that specifically they are people of the new eschatological creation God is creating “in every place” who name Messiah Jesus as their Lord.
More than a theology lesson about a first-century church, this description paints our picture. We who are “in Christ Jesus” joined to his church belong to God, are consecrated to God in Christ Jesus, are called to be and live set apart to God, and are part of the eschatological community God is creating throughout the whole earth who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In Greco-Roman letters the traditional greeting was “Greetings”, as used by the apostle James: “James, a servant1 of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings” (James 1:1). But Paul Christianizes it with”charis” (grace) and adds the traditional Jewish “shalom” (peace).
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:3).
John Wesley wrote of that grace . . .
A lot hidden in the hello, no? What shall we do with what we’ve found? Read and listen to the apostle’s words as words from God to us. See ourselves for who we are in Christ. Not just ordinary humans struggling to survive life, but God’s consecrated-to-him people called to be and behave holy with all his new, last-days people in Christ. And praise him that today and tomorrow his grace is ours, so we are put at peace.
The Bible isn’t a theology book. At least not a typical one.
Take Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology, for example. It’s divided into seven major doctrines: The Doctrine of the Word, of God, of Man, of Christ and the Holy Spirit, of the Application of Redemption, of the Church and of the Future. Each doctrine-part contains five to eleven chapters with detailed discussions around appropriate Scriptures.
Open the Bible to the “Contents” page and, instead of theological topics, we find “books”. A “Study Bible” may group them by genre: law, history, poetry, prophecy, gospel, letters, etc. In vain we look for a chapter devoted to God’s grace or the work of the Holy Spirit. Doctrinal teachings lie scattered throughout the pages in all sorts of settings—from the garden of Eden to Israel’s wilderness wanderings to the reigns of kings to prayers, wars and the new creation.
God revealed himself not in sacred lecture, but in words spoken and works done in “ordinary” human life. True, he ordained law on the summit of the fearful “mountain of God”. And, yes, he gave the Book of Revelation in a bizarre vision to the apostle John. But the majority of his Old Testament revelation came in words and works among the nation of Israel. He supremely revealed himself in the person of his Son who “became a human being and lived among us” (John 1:14). And the majority of God’s New Testament revelation came in letters.
Which brings us to 1 Corinthians.
Some time later, three men arrived in Ephesus with a letter from the Corinthians (“I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus . . . “—1 Corinthians 16:17). Dr. Gordon Fee comments: “Given the combative nature of so much of [Paul’s response to that letter in 1 Corinthians] it seems highly likely that in their letter they [took] considerable exception to several of his positions/prohibitions [in the “lost” letter]” (The First Epistle to the Corinthians, p. 7).
Not sitting on the edge of your seat wondering what happens next? Why am I risking yawns with this nail-biting information? To point out the remarkable way God revealed himself. In a letter about church conflict, sexual immorality, marriage, idolatry, the Lord’s Supper, spiritual gifts and resurrection! With no thunder and lightning, no earth quaking, no roped-off mountain. (Like the Law-giving revelation at Mount Sinai.) Just a letter. A letter to resolve problems.
And, let’s not sugar-coat it: this was a church with problems. In his little book, The Corinthian Correspondence, Russell P. Spittler, asks us to . . .
Members sue each other before civil courts. Others habitually attend social banquets honoring strange gods, mere idols. One brother lives in open immorality—and the church tolerates it. Others think it would be better for Christian couples to separate so they could be more ‘holy’.
Why so many problems? A brief look at Corinth city history will provide one answer . . .
Corinth’s location was ideal for commerce. Fee: “Since money attracts people like dead meat attracts flies, prosperity returned to the city almost immediately. Corinth quickly experienced a great influx of people from both West and East, along with all the gains and ills of such growth . . . vice and religion flourished side by side . . . Sexual sin [was] of the same kind that one would expect in any seaport where money flowed freely and women and men were available . . . All the evidence together suggests that Paul’s Corinth was at once the New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas of the ancient world” (p. 2,3).
Not surprisingly, then, the Corinthian church endured more than its share of troubles. What is surprising is the Holy Spirit directing Paul to preach the gospel in such a sin-hardened city. (We usually plant a church in a comfortable, growing, middle-class suburb.) And it’s remarkable that God chose to reveal himself in a letter written to the saved-from-sin of that city.
Why in an ordinary letter? The answer, I think, lies here . . .
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31).
The people God chose to save in Corinth couldn’t boast they were picked for their wisdom or power or noble birth. The glory of salvation belonged to God alone.
In the same way, God chose to reveal himself through an ordinary (though Spirit-inspired) letter. God humbles himself to make himself known to us through ways open to the lowest–and the most ordinary–of us.
Here on my desk lies my Bible, looking like any other book. Yet God has chosen to reveal himself through it. An ordinary means to an ordinary person. God is in those pages. Just as God was (and is) in the letter Paul wrote to the Corinthians.
And here is part of God’s message . . .
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
He is God in an “ordinary” letter with extraordinary good news to ordinary sinners like us!
Psalm 2 Reflections: Why Do the Nations Rebel?
This psalm shocks. Not if we skim it, but if we ponder it. .
First, the psalmist claims the world’s nations are rebelling against the Lord’s chosen ruler.
Why do the nations plan rebellion? Why do people make their useless plots? Their kings revolt, their rulers plot together against the Lord and against the king he chose. “Let us free ourselves from their rule,” they say; “let us throw off their control” (Psalm 2:1-3, GNT).
Paranoid psalmist seeing Israel’s enemies revolting against God’s chosen king? We might presume so, except that author Luke cites the plot to crucify Jesus as the fulfillment of this psalm. In other words, it’s ultimately about the world’s rebellion against the Lord Jesus . . .
As soon as Peter and John were set free, they returned to their group and told them what the chief priests and the elders had said. When the believers heard it, they all joined together in prayer to God: “Master and Creator of heaven, earth, and sea, and all that is in them! By means of the Holy Spirit you spoke through our ancestor David, your servant, when he said, ‘Why were the Gentiles furious; why did people make their useless plots? The kings of the earth prepared themselves, and the rulers met together against the Lord and his Messiah.’ For indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together in this city with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Jesus, your holy Servant, whom you made Messiah. They gathered to do everything that you by your power and will had already decided would happen” (Acts 4:23-28, GNT).
Represented by Herod and Pontius Pilate and the Gentiles and Israel’s people, the nations gather in rebellion against the Lord and his chosen ruler. God has come in human flesh and blood and the nations reject and execute him. Furthermore, the powers that be forbid his followers to even speak in his name.
Second, the psalmist declares rebellion is futile. So much so that the Lord mocks their feeble schemes. Hard to imagine the Lord mocking anyone, isn’t it! No tougher a stretch for some, though, to imagine God angrily terrifying anybody with his fury . . .
“From his throne in heaven the Lord laughs and mocks their feeble plans. Then he warns them in anger and terrifies them with his fury. ‘On Zion, my sacred hill,’ he says, ‘I have installed my king'”(Psalm 2:4-6, GNT).
The nations’ plots are “useless”. Their plans are “feeble”. Set aside for a moment that these plots and plans are against the Lord and his chosen ruler. See them simply as the plans for world leaders to govern. All government isn’t bad. In fact, the apostle Paul urges Christians to obey the state authorities because God established them (Romans 13:1). But look at world conditions. Threatened by nuclear powers. Refugees fleeing the burning Middle East. Terrorists killing innocents and hacking into critical computers. Corruption common wherever you look. Governments holding it all together with duct tape. Ordinary people cry out for “good” government. Might the world’s be “bad” because they’ve “killed” the Lord’s chosen leader?
Third, the psalmist warns earth’s rulers to bow down and serve the Lord or else his anger will flare and kill them . . .
“‘I will announce,’ says the king, ‘what the Lord has declared.’ He said to me: ‘You are my son; today I have become your father. Ask, and I will give you all the nations; the whole earth will be yours. You will break them with an iron rod; you will shatter them in pieces like a clay pot.’ Now listen to this warning, you kings; learn this lesson, you rulers of the world: Serve the Lord with fear; tremble and bow down to him; or else his anger will be quickly aroused, and you will suddenly die. Happy are all who go to him for protection” (Psalm 2:7-12, GNT).
Jesus is the Lord’s son. He’s the king who receives all the nations whose military force he shatters like a clay pot. Therefore, the psalmist warns the nations’ “kings” to fearfully, humbly serve the Lord, lest his anger flare and kill them.
Sounds more like radical Islam than Judaism/Christianity, doesn’t it! To a world that views God as overseer and therapeutic helper, this God’s a stranger. A warrior. A world government leader. A potential killer.
Let’s make no mistake. When Egypt and Babylon and Assyria marshaled armies against Old Testament Israel, they fought the Lord’s chosen ruler. When Herod and Pontius Pilate and the Gentiles and Israel sentenced Jesus to death, they rebelled against the king the Lord had chosen to one day rule the world.
In Psalm 2 the psalmist doesn’t pray about personal salvation; he prays about world politics. And he warns the world’s rulers now to serve the Lord. For the whole earth will be his.
“Lord Jesus, your Father will give you all the nations. The whole earth will be yours. You will shatter their rebellion like a clay pot. Herein lies the ultimate failure of human government. Not faulty policies, but misplaced faith–faith in false religions, faith in godless worldviews, faith in economic programs and military might. | 2019-04-19T21:04:00Z | http://theoldpreacher.com/2016/11/ |
'Umar Ibn Al Khattab was born into a respected Quraysh family thirteen years after the birth of Muhammad (peace be on him). 'Umar's family was known for its extensive knowledge of genealogy. When he grew up, 'Umar was proficient in this branch of knowledge as well as in swordsmanship, wrestling and the art of speaking. He also learned to read and write while still a child, a very rare thing in Makkah at that time. 'Umar earned his living as a merchant. His trade took him to many foreign lands and he met all kinds of people. This experience gave him an insight into the affairs and problems of men. 'Umar's personality was dynamic, self-assertive, frank and straight forward. He always spoke whatever was in his mind even if it displeased others.
'Umar was twenty-seven when the Prophet (peace be on him) started preaching Islam.The ideas Muhammad (SAW) was preaching enraged Umar as much as they did the other notables of Makkah. He was just as bitter against anyone accepting Islam as others among the Quraysh. He did not believe in the teachings of Muhammad(SAW) and did not like Islam or the Muslims. The story of his embracing Islam is an interesting one. One day, full of anger against the Prophet, he drew his sword and set out to kill him. A friend met him on the way. When 'Umar told him what he planned to do, his friend informed him that 'Umar's own sister, Fatimah, and her husband had also accepted Islam. 'Umar went straight to his sister's house where he found her reading from pages of the Qur'an. He fell upon her and beat her mercilessly. Bruised and bleeding, she told her brother, "Umar, you can do what you like, but you cannot turn our hearts away from Islam." These words produced a strange effect upon 'Umar. What was this faith that made even weak women so strong of heart? He asked his sister to show him what she had been reading, but his sister told him to clean himself before touching the Quran.After he cleansed himself and began reading the surah,he became fascinated at what he was reading.He could not stop reading the wonderful verses and immediately decided to accept Islam. He went straight to the house where the Prophet was staying and declared his faith in Islam.
'Umar made no secret of his acceptance of Islam. He gathered the Muslims and offered prayers at the Ka'bah. This boldness and devotion of an influential citizen of Makkah raised the morale of the small community of Muslims. Nonetheless 'Umar was also subjected to privations, and when permission for emigration to Madinah came, he also left Makkah. The soundness of 'Umar's judgment, his devotion to the Prophet (peace be on him), his outspokenness and uprightness won for him a trust and confidence from the Prophet which was second only to that given to Abu Bakr. The Prophet gave him the title 'Al-Faruq' which means the 'Separator of Truth from Falsehood'. During the Caliphate of Abu Bakr, 'Umar was his closest assistant and adviser. When Abu Bakr died, all the people of Madinah swore allegiance to 'Umar, and on 23 Jumada al-Akhir, 13H, he was proclaimed Caliph.
" ... O people, you have some rights on me which you can always claim. One of your rights is that if anyone of you comes to me with a claim, he should leave satisfied. Another of your rights is that you can demand that I take nothing unjustly from the revenues of the State. You can also demand that ... I fortify your frontiers and do not put you into danger. It is also your right that if you go to battle I should look after your families as a father would while you are away.
"O people, remain conscious of God, forgive me my faults and help me in my task. Assist me in enforcing what is good and forbidding what is evil. Advise me regarding the obligations that have been imposed upon me by God ... "
Once a woman brought a claim against the Caliph 'Umar. When 'Umar appeared on trial before the judge, the judge stood up as a sign of respect toward him. 'Umar reprimanded him, saying, "This is the first act of injustice you did to this woman!"
He insisted that his appointed governors live simple lives, keep no guard at their doors and be accessible to the people at all times, and he himself set the example for them. Many times foreign envoys and messengers sent to him by his generals found him resting under a palm tree or praying in the mosque among the people, and it was difficult for them to distinguish which man was the Caliph. He spent many a watchful night going about the streets of Madinah to see whether anyone needed help or assistance.
"This is the protection which the servant of God, 'Umar, the Ruler of the Believers has granted to the people of Eiliya [Jerusalem]. The protection is for their lives and properties, their churches and crosses, their sick and healthy and for all their coreligionists. Their churches shall not be used for habitation, nor shall they be demolished, nor shall any injury be done to them or to their compounds, or to their crosses, nor shall their properties be injured in any way. There shall be no compulsion for these people in the matter of religion, nor shall any of them suffer any injury on account of religion ... Whatever is written herein is under the covenant of God and the responsibility of His Messenger, of the Caliphs and of the believers, and shall hold good as long as they pay Jizyah [the tax for their defense] imposed on them."
Those non-Muslims who took part in defense together with the Muslims were exempted from paying Jizyah, and when the Muslims had to retreat from a city whose non-Muslim citizens had paid this tax for their defense, the tax was returned to the non-Muslims. The old, the poor and the disabled of Muslims and non-Muslims alike were provided for from the public treasury and from the Zakat funds.
"O God! I am advanced in years, my bones are weary, my powers are declining, and the people for whom I am responsible have spread far and wide. Summon me back to Thyself, my lord!"
Some time later, when 'Umar went to the mosque to lead a prayer, a Magian named Abu Lulu Feroze, who had a grudge against 'Umar on a personal matter, attacked him with a dagger and stabbed him several times. 'Umar reeled and fell to the ground. When he learned that the assassin was a Magian, he said, "Thank God he is not a Muslim."
'Umar died in the first week of Muharram, 24H, and was buried by the side of the Holy Prophet (peace be on him).
As a Caliph, Umar ruled for ten years.
Hamza ibn ‘Abdul-Muttalib (In Arabic: حمزة إبن عبد المطلب) was the paternal uncle of the Islamic prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his foster-brother. He was regarded as his foster brother because Prophet Muhammad and Hamza were suckled by the same women when they were infants. He and Muhammad were raised together as they were almost the same age. With excellence in the arts of wrestling and swordsmanship, Hamza used his talents and experience to its best in the cause of Islam and earned the title of "Chief of the Martyrs" from Muhammad. Hamza was very fond of wrestling and hunting. He took great interest in swordsmanship and archery."
Hamza was the son of Abdul Muttalib (Shaiba ibn Hashim), the grandson of Hashim ibn Abd Manaf and the great-grandson of Abd Manaf ibn Qusai from the tribe of Quraysh, حَمْزَةُ بنُ عَبْدِ المُطَّلِبِ بنِ هَاشِمِ بنِ عَبْدِ مَنَافٍ القُرَشِيُّ Hamza was known as the Lion of God (Arabic أسد الله) and the Lion of Paradise (Arabic: أسد الجنة) for his bravery. Among his titles are: Abu Umara ("أَبُو عُمَارَةَ"), and Abu Ya'la ("أَبُو يَعْلَى"). Hamza was also given the tittle of "Seyyed-ush-Shuhda" (Leaders of the Martyrs).
Hamza, the son of Abd al-Muttalib, was the younger brother of Abd Allah ibn Abd al Muttalib, Muhammad's father. He had also been weaned by the same woman, Halimah bint Abi Dhuayb, as Muhammad, making Hamza Muhammad's foster brother as well. The two, Hamza and Muhammad, had grown up together, being just two or three years apart in age. But as the boys had become young men, they developed different attitudes to problems of society, Hamza was not such a contemplative thinker and was comfortable in his status of being part of the Meccan elite, though their relationship remained as strong as ever. So it was a conflicted Hamza that witnessed the escalating situation in the city as Muhammad declared the message of Islam. On the one hand, he had absolute faith in the character of his foster brother and nephew, being one of those who had been closest to him for all of his life. Yet some of his most honored values were the respect he held for his family and the traditions they had always followed, his pagan religion among these. So he was indifferent to the controversy, discouraging his peers from worrying about what they saw as a revolution in their midst and not bothering to join them in torturing the defenseless Muslims, while declining Muhammad's invitation to Islam. Hamza ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib was married to Salma bint Umays, the half-sister of Maymuna bint al-Harith (wife of Mohammed).
Hamza converted to Islam due after some actions of Amr ibn Hishām, (also known as Abū Jahl أبو جهل) known for his hostility against the Muslims. Hamza, Muhammad's uncle, had returned to the city of Mecca after a hunting trip in the desert. Upon returning, he soon learned that Abu Jahl (an avowed enemy of Islam) had heaped abuse and insults upon Muhammad, who had not responded and walked away from where he had sat in the Haram. Outraged, Hamza dashed to the Kaaba, where Abu Jahl sat with other leaders of Mecca, and began to beat him with his bow while shouting "Are you going to insult him now, now that I am of his religion and vouch for what he vouches for? Hit me if you can!" As the companions of Abu Jahl approached Hamza in an attempt to assault him, Abu Jahl feebly cried out from the ground "Leave Abu Umarah, for indeed I insulted his nephew deeply." And he cowered at the feet of Hamza, while his friends could not meet Hamza's eyes. As he departed, he kicked sand back at the men, leaving all shocked at what Hamza had just said, none more so than Hamza himself. After that incident, Hamza declared Islam, and made a covenant to help Muhammad and to die in the cause of Islam.
On 19 March 625 (3 Shawwal 3 hijri) Hamza was fighting alongside the Muslims in the Battle of Uhud. He was standing in front of Muhammad, fighting with two swords, and shouting "I am Allah's lion". The Abyssinian slave Wahshy ibn Harb was there near the mountain of Uhud where the battle was fought. His master, Jubayr ibn Mut'im (Arabic: جبير بن مطعم) had promised him freedom if he killed Hamza. Wahshy ibn Harb, who was skilled in using the Javelin, threw it into Hamza's abdomen and killed him. He (Wahshi) soon left the battle as he had no other reason to fight.
The poorer members of the Community including migrants from other parts of the world had a special place in the mosque called the Suffa. They were called the Ahl al-Suffa, People of the Bench, and many of them had no possessions but the clothes on their back. Abu Hurairah was the most prominent of the Ahl al-Suffa. The Messenger, upon him be peace, used to send any charity that he received and shared with them gifts that had been given. Abu Hurairah related how he used to lie on the ground or tie a stone to his stomach due to the intense hunger. On one occasion, he waited outside the mosque and when Abu Bakr went by, he asked him about a verse of Qurân in the hope that he would notice his state and offer him something to eat. However, he answered the question and went on. Then he did the same with ‘Umar ibn al-Khattâb, who did the same as Abu Bakr. Then he waited for the Messenger, upon whom be peace, who invited him in to his house to see if there were any gifts of food. He felt fortunate as the Messenger, upon him be peace, had been given a cup of milk. To Abu Hurairah’s dismay, he was ordered to invite all the Ahl al-Suffa and then to pour out for each one of them. At this, he despaired of getting any milk because they were so numerous and the person pouring the milk is always the last to drink. To his surprise when everyone had drunk, the cup was still full. He drank his fill and when he had finished, the Messenger, upon him be peace, said ‘drink!’ Abu Hurairah obeyed. When he had drank until he could drink no more, the Messenger, upon him be peace, smiled and again said, ‘drink!’ Despite being sated, he drank. After he had finished, the Messenger smiled again and said, ‘drink!’ To this Abu Hurairah, said ‘O Messenger of Allah, there is no way I can drink any more.’ He realised that the Messenger, upon him be peace, was teaching him not to doubt the blessings of his Lord.
Prophet Muhammad (s) migrated from Makkah to Madina in the 13th year of his Prophethood. He was accompanied by Abu Bakar Siddiq (RA) in this journey.
On his journey towards Madina, Prophet Muhammad (s) stayed in Quba for 14 days. It was situated in the outskirts of Madina. The first Masjid of Islam in the history was built in Quba.
As they approached Madinah, the people had gathered on the streets, eager to greet them. Everyone wanted the Prophet (s) to be his guest.
Finally by Allah's command the camel Qaswa, that Muhammad (s) was riding on stopped by Abu Ayyub Ansari's house and thus Prophet (s) stayed there.
The first thing Muhammad (s) did on reaching Madina was to construct a mosque. It was a simple structure made of mud bricks, wooden poles and a roof made of Palm leaves. Here prayers to God were offered five times daily in a free atmosphere for the first time in the history of Islam. This mosque was known as Masjid An Nabwi.
He next turned to establishing a brotherhood of the Muslims in Madina. Those who had fled from Makkah, called Muhajireens (immigrants) had left all their property and belongings behind. So, to provide shelter for them, every refugee was bound in a bond of brotherhood with one of the residents of Madina, called Ansar (Helpers).
Every Ansar would adopt a Muhajir and share half his possessions with him or her (Muhajir).
The Ansar happily responded to the call and soon every poor Muslim from Makkah was given the means to earn a living. This built the bond of brotherhood strongly in the hearts of people and helped ease the suffering of the poor.
To establish peace, Prophet (s) issued a document known as the Constitution Of Madinah. It described the duties and rights of the residents.
The Jews of Madina had also welcomed Prophet (s) warmly and they had hopes he would join them.
The Prophet (s) also made a Treaty with the Christians of Najran, a land in Northern Arabia.
All these treaties were made to show that Islam is a religion of tolerance and peace.
After the mosque was built, the issue came up of how to call people to Salah. People had suggestions to use a horn like Jews or a bell like Christian churches. Prophet (s) wasn't satisfied and then Allah SWT sent a dream to Abdullah Ibn Zayd, one of Prophet's (s) companion. He saw a man in green robes reciting some beautiful verses to him. The prophet SAW declared this dream as a true one and asked these words be taught to Bilal RA. So the first Muaddhin in Islam was Bilal RA.
Muslims were beginning to enjoy a stable community life in Madinah.
By the second year of Hijra, duty of Zakah was announced for all the Muslims.
Not everything was peaceful in Madinah. The three Jewish tribes of Qaynuqa, Quraiza and Nadir started feeling hostile towards Prophet SAW. They did not like his teachings. In addition some Jews were leaving their religion and becoming Muslims. Even one of their Rabbi by the name of Abdullah Ibn Salam had accepted Islam.
The idol worshipers of Makkah never forgot the Muslims. Whenever they captured any Muslims, they would often take them back to Makkah and torture them.
The Makkans would send out small groups to attack the outskirts of Madina.
The Prophet( SAW) organized small groups of Muslims to go on patrol and defend against these attacks. In the two years after the emigration, the encounters between the two groups were small skirmishes and raids. In Ramadan of 624 CE, this changed.
That year, the Prophet Muhammad received information that Quraysh had a large caravan returning from Syria to Makkah. The Muslims planned to raid the caravan in retaliation for Quraysh’s taking the property that Muslims could not take with them to Medina. Prophet Muhammad did not intend to go to battle. Abu Sufyan, one of the Makkan leaders who was with the caravan, received word of the plan for the raid and called on the Makkans to send troops to protect the caravan.
Before the Prophet decided to fight the Makkans, he consulted his followers who were made of up Muslims who emigrated from Makkah (called Muhajirun) and Muslims from Medina (called Ansar). He waited for the support of the Muslims from Medina because the Constitution of Medina that they signed on to did not include fighting outside of Medina. Once he received their support, the Prophet Muhammad decided to engage in battle.At the wells of Badr, the Muslims and the Makkans met for battle. The Muslims were outnumbered by the Makkans 3 to 1. The battle began with an Arab tradition where each side sends out warriors to fight each other. Ali, the Prophet’s son-in-law and cousin, Hamza, the Prophet’s uncle, and Ubayda, a companion of the Prophet from his clan, represented the Muslims and defeated the Makkan warriors. The battle then began and ended with a decisive victory for the Muslims. Muslims were victorious in Battle Of Badr which made their position even more secure than ever.
Jewish tribe of Banu Qaynuqa, publicly challenged Muslims to a fight and the Muslims surrounded their neighborhood. Eventually, Banu Qaynuqa agreed to pack up and leave the city forever. They broke the treaty and were exiled.
The remaining two Jewish tribes continued living peacefully but never gave up their secret plotting against the Muslim Community.
In the same year,the Muslims were ordered from Allah (SWT) to pray in the direction of Ka'bah instead of facing Masjid Al Aqsa. Thus the direction of qibla was changed to Makkah.
The next battle was Battle of Uhud, that took place near Mount Uhud to the north of Madina in Shawwaal of the third year after Hijrah. The polytheists sought support from their allies and mobilized an army made up of three thousand men to take revenge for their destructive defeat in the Battle of Badr. Muslims lost this battle to the Quraysh. Prophet Muhammad (s) was hurt on this battle and his Uncle Humza Ibn Muttalib was martyred. Humza was struck by an Abyssinian slave, Wahshi.
The Muslims had a new threat from home. Banu Nadir, another Jewish tribe that lived in the city tried to kill Prophet (s). They were told to leave Madina forever. Some of them went to live in Khaybar and some went to Palestine. But they were determined to take revenge against the Muslims.
A delegation from khaybar consisting of leaders from Banu Nadir met with the leaders of Makkah and they decided to attack Muslims of Madina.
The Jews sent messages to all the hostile Arab tribes to join them in fighting against the Muslims.
Makkans marched towards Madina with 10,000 soldiers to battle Muslims.This was known as Battle Of Khandaq or Battle Of Trench.It is also known as Battle Of Ahzab.To prepare for this battle, Muhammad (SAW) called a council for strategic planning. A companion, Salman Al Farsi came up with the idea of digging a trench around Madina. His plan worked and the Makkans could not cross the trench. And they got caught in a fierce storm that forced them to go back to Makkah. Muslims won this battle without fighting.
In the sixth year of Hijrah, Muhammad (s) left for Makkah to perform Umrah with 1400 companions.He camped at Hudaybiyyah, just short of Makkah. His match was entirely peaceful but the Makkans leaders barred their entry to perform Umra. Here at Hudaybiyyah, Prophet (s) signed a peace treaty with them, known as Treaty Of Hudaybiyyah. It provided for 10 years of peace between the Quraysh and the Muslims.
Within a year, the Makkans broke the deal and attacked a group of Muslims. Muslims then decided to go and free Makkah from idol worshiping.
Prophet (s) raised an army of 10,000 Muslims and set out to Makkah in the month of Ramadan. They camped outside of Makkah. The Makkans had no hopes of fighting such a huge army. Abu Sufyan declared his acceptance of Islam and agreed to surrender Makkah peacefully. Ka'bah was cleaned of all the idols and rededicated to the service of Allah SWT alone. Prophet's bitter enemies in Makkah became Muslims, after seeing the fair, kind and just treatment of our beloved Prophet (s).
Our beloved Prophet (s) passed away at the age of 63 years in the month of Rabiul Awwal.
How many times Besmillah Al-Rahmaan Al-Raheem is repeated? 114.
How many times the word 'Quran' is repeated in Holy Quran? 70.
The best eatable thing mentioned in Holy Quran is… Honey.
In which sura the name of Allah is repeated five times? Sura al-Haj.
Which sura is called ' Aroos-ul-Quran? Sura Rehman.
Which sura is considered as 1/3 of holy Quran? Sura Ikhlas.
In which Sura the backbiters are condemned? Sura Humzah.
In which Sura the name of Allah is repeated every verse? Sura Mujadala.
Madani Suras were revealed in how many years? 10 years.
How many Suras are in 30th. Chapter? 37.
In which sura every verse ends with letter ' Ra '? Qauser.
Which sura has the laws about marriage? Sura Nesa.
In which Sura the 27 Attributes of God are mentioned? Sura Hadeed.
Masjid Qiblatain (Mosque of the Two Qiblas) is located in Madinah. It is historically important to Muslims as this is where in Rajjab 2 AH the revelation of the Quran came to change the direction of the Qibla from Bait-al-Maqdis in Jerusalem to the Ka’bah in Makkah.
The Suleymaniye Mosque is the largest masjid in Istanbul. It was built on the order of Sulayman the Magnificent by the great architect Sinan, both are buried within the complex.
The Umayyad Mosque (or Masjid), also known as the Grand Mosque of Damascus is one of the largest and oldest mosques in the world. It is the first monumental work of architecture in Islamic history.
The Mosque of Cordoba, in Andalusia, Spain was originally the site of a church which was bought by the Muslim Emir Abd ar-Rehman and subsequently converted into one of the largest mosques in the world with work starting in 784 CE. Cordoba became one of the most advanced cities in the world, as well as a great cultural, political and economic center and the mosque featured as a great center of learning.
Masjid Nimrah is located on the plain of Arafat in Makkah.In the second century of Islam, Masjid Nimrah was built at the spot where the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) delivered the sermon of his last Hajj and led the Salah.
Masjid Al Jumuah is situated south of Masjid An Nabawi in Madinah. It was named so as the Prophet (s), led the first Jumuah (Friday) prayer here shortly after arriving in Madina.
Jama Masjid is one of the famous mosques, located in Delhi, India. It was constructed by a Mughal ruler, ShahJehan.
The Selimiye Mosque is an Ottoman mosque, which is located in the city of Edirne, Turkey. The mosque was commissioned by Sultan Selim II, and was built by an architect named Mimar Sinan between 1569 and 1575.It was considered by Sinan to be his masterpiece and is one of the highest achievements of Islamic architecture.
The Hassan II Mosque is the second largest mosque in the world and is located in Casablanca, the capital of Morocco. Michel Pinseau, a French architect, designed the Hassan Mosque and its accompanying minaret. Pinseau designed the building in such a way that it is able to endure earthquakes. At night the minaret has lasers that shine in the direction of Mecca. Today, the minaret is considered the tallest in the world, standing at 689 feet or 210 meters.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque,is Abu Dhabi's most iconic landmark that features eighty-two white domes. Built between 1996 and 2007, it was designed to be an architectural wonder that incorporated both modern and classic Islamic artistic styles. Greek and Italian white marble covers the exterior, while Islamic calligraphy decorates the inside.
The Faisal Mosque is the largest mosque in Pakistan, located in Islamabad. Completed in 1986, it was designed by Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay to be shaped like a desert Bedouin’s tent. Unlike traditional masjid design, it lacks a dome. The mosque is named after the late King Faisal bin Abdul-Aziz of Saudi Arabia, who supported and financed the project.
The Great Mosque in Xian is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved Islamic mosques in China. The mosque is a combination of traditional Chinese architecture and Islamic art. It was constructed during Tang Dynasty. | 2019-04-24T00:33:14Z | http://sundayschool.mapitt.org/junior-jeopardy-for-levels-45.html |
When my mother began using the electronic pump that fed her liquids and medication, we moved her to the family room. The bedroom she shared with my father was upstairs, and it was impossible to carry the machine up and down all day and night. The pump itself was attached to a metal stand on casters, and she pulled it along wherever she went. From anywhere in the house, you could hear the sound of the wheels clicking out a steady time over the grout lines of the slate-tiled foyer, her main thoroughfare to the bathroom and the kitchen. Sometimes you would hear her halt after only a few steps, to catch her breath or steady her balance, and whatever you were doing was instantly suspended by a pall of silence.
I was usually in the kitchen, preparing lunch or dinner, poised over the butcher block with her favorite chef’s knife in my hand and her old yellow apron slung around my neck. I’d be breathless in the sudden quiet, and, having ceased my mincing and chopping, would stare blankly at the brushed sheen of the blade. Eventually, she would clear her throat or call out to say she was fine, then begin to move again, starting her rhythmic ka-jug; and only then could I go on with my cooking, the world of our house turning once more, wheeling through the black.
I wasn’t cooking for my mother but for the rest of us. When she first moved downstairs she was still eating, though scantily, more just to taste what we were having than from any genuine desire for food. The point was simply to sit together at the kitchen table and array ourselves like a family again. My mother would gently set herself down in her customary chair near the stove. I sat across from her, my father and sister to my left and right, and crammed in the center was all the food I had made—a spicy codfish stew, say, or a casserole of gingery beef, dishes that in my youth she had prepared for us a hundred times.
It had been ten years since we’d all lived together in the house, which at fifteen I had left to attend boarding school in New Hampshire. My mother would sometimes point this out, by speaking of our present time as being “just like before Exeter,” which surprised me, given how proud she always was that I was a graduate of the school.
My going to such a place was part of my mother’s not so secret plan to change my character, which she worried was becoming too much like hers. I was clever and able enough, but without outside pressure I was readily given to sloth and vanity. The famous school—which none of us knew the first thing about—would prove my mettle. She was right, of course, and while I was there I would falter more than a few times, academically and otherwise. But I never thought that my leaving home then would ever be a problem for her, a private quarrel she would have even as her life waned.
Now her house was full again. My sister had just resigned from her job in New York City, and my father, who typically saw his psychiatric patients until eight or nine in the evening, was appearing in the driveway at four-thirty. I had been living at home for nearly a year and was in the final push of work on what would prove a dismal failure of a novel. When I wasn’t struggling over my prose, I kept occupied with the things she usually did—the daily errands, the grocery shopping, the vacuuming and the cleaning, and, of course, all the cooking.
When I was six or seven years old, I used to watch my mother as she prepared our favorite meals. It was one of my daily pleasures. She shooed me away in the beginning, telling me that the kitchen wasn’t my place, and adding, in her half-proud, half-deprecating way, that her kind of work would only serve to weaken me. “Go out and play with your friends,” she’d snap in Korean, “or better yet, do your reading and homework.” She knew that I had already done both, and that as the evening approached there was no place to go save her small and tidy kitchen, from which the clatter of her mixing bowls and pans would ring through the house.
I would enter the kitchen quietly and stand beside her, my chin lodging upon the point of her hip. Peering through the crook of her arm, I beheld the movements of her hands. For kalbi, she would take up a butchered short rib in her narrow hand, the flinty bone shaped like a section of an airplane wing and deeply embedded in gristle and flesh, and with the point of her knife cut so that the bone fell away, though not completely, leaving it connected to the meat by the barest opaque layer of tendon. Then she methodically butterflied the flesh, cutting and unfolding, repeating the action until the meat lay out on her board, glistening and ready for seasoning. She scored it diagonally, then sifted sugar into the crevices with her pinched fingers, gently rubbing in the crystals. The sugar would tenderize as well as sweeten the meat. She did this with each rib, and then set them all aside in a large shallow bowl. She minced a half-dozen cloves of garlic, a stub of gingerroot, sliced up a few scallions, and spread it all over the meat. She wiped her hands and took out a bottle of sesame oil, and, after pausing for a moment, streamed the dark oil in two swift circles around the bowl. After adding a few splashes of soy sauce, she thrust her hands in and kneaded the flesh, careful not to dislodge the bones. I asked her why it mattered that they remain connected. “The meat needs the bone nearby,” she said, “to borrow its richness.” She wiped her hands clean of the marinade, except for her little finger, which she would flick with her tongue from time to time, because she knew that the flavor of a good dish developed not at once but in stages.
Whenever I cook, I find myself working just as she would, readying the ingredients—a mash of garlic, a julienne of red peppers, fantails of shrimp—and piling them in little mounds about the cutting surface. My mother never left me any recipes, but this is how I learned to make her food, each dish coming not from a list or a card but from the aromatic spread of a board.
I’ve always thought it was particularly cruel that the cancer was in her stomach, and that for a long time at the end she couldn’t eat. The last meal I made for her was on New Year’s Eve, 1990. My sister suggested that instead of a rib roast or a bird, or the usual overflow of Korean food, we make all sorts of finger dishes that our mother might fancy and pick at.
This made us all feel good, especially me, for I couldn’t remember the last time she had felt any hunger or had eaten something I cooked. We began to eat. My mother picked up a piece of salmon toast and took a tiny corner in her mouth. She rolled it around for a moment and then pushed it out with the tip of her tongue, letting it fall back onto her plate. She swallowed hard, as if to quell a gag, then glanced up to see if we had noticed. Of course we all had. She attempted a bean cake, some cheese, and then a slice of fruit, but nothing was any use.
She nodded at me anyway, and said, “Oh, it’s very good.” But I was already feeling lost and I put down my plate abruptly, nearly shattering it on the thick glass. There was an ugly pause before my father asked me in a weary, gentle voice if anything was wrong, and I answered that it was nothing, it was the last night of a long year, and we were together, and I was simply relieved. At midnight, I poured out glasses of champagne, even one for my mother, who took a deep sip. Her manner grew playful and light, and I helped her shuffle to her mattress, and she lay down in the place where in a brief week she was dead.
My mother could whip up most anything, but during our first years of living in this country we ate only Korean foods. At my haranguelike behest, my mother set herself to learning how to cook exotic American dishes. Luckily, a kind neighbor, Mrs. Churchill, a tall, florid young woman with flaxen hair, taught my mother her most trusted recipes. Mrs. Churchill’s two young sons, palish, weepy boys with identical crewcuts, always accompanied her, and though I liked them well enough, I would slip away from them after a few minutes, for I knew that the real action would be in the kitchen, where their mother was playing guide. Mrs. Churchill hailed from the state of Maine, where the finest Swedish meatballs and tuna casserole and angel-food cake in America are made. She readily demonstrated certain techniques—how to layer wet sheets of pasta for a lasagna or whisk up a simple roux, for example. She often brought gift shoeboxes containing curious ingredients like dried oregano, instant yeast, and cream-of-mushroom soup. The two women, though at ease and jolly with each other, had difficulty communicating, and this was made worse by the often confusing terminology of Western cuisine (“corned beef,” “devilled eggs”). Although I was just learning the language myself, I’d gladly play the interlocutor, jumping back and forth between their places at the counter, dipping my fingers into whatever sauce lay about.
I was an insistent child, and, being my mother’s firstborn, much too prized. My mother could say no to me, and did often enough, but anyone who knew us—particularly my father and sister—could tell how much the denying pained her. And if I was overconscious of her indulgence even then, and suffered the rushing pangs of guilt that she could inflict upon me with the slightest wounded turn of her lip, I was too happily obtuse and venal to let her cease. She reminded me daily that I was her sole son, her reason for living, and that if she were to lose me, in either body or spirit, she wished that God would mercifully smite her, strike her down like a weak branch.
In the traditional fashion, she was the house accountant, the maid, the launderer, the disciplinarian, the driver, the secretary, and, of course, the cook. She was also my first basketball coach. In South Korea, where girls’ high-school basketball is a popular spectator sport, she had been a star, the point guard for the national high-school team that once won the all-Asia championships. I learned this one Saturday during the summer, when I asked my father if he would go down to the school yard and shoot some baskets with me. I had just finished the fifth grade, and wanted desperately to make the middle-school team the coming fall. He called for my mother and sister to come along. When we arrived, my sister immediately ran off to the swings, and I recall being annoyed that my mother wasn’t following her. I dribbled clumsily around the key, on the verge of losing control of the ball, and flung a flat shot that caromed wildly off the rim. The ball bounced to my father, who took a few not so graceful dribbles and made an easy layup. He dribbled out and then drove to the hoop for a layup on the other side. He rebounded his shot and passed the ball to my mother, who had been watching us from the foul line. She turned from the basket and began heading the other way.
After a few steps she turned around, and from where the professional three-point line must be now, she effortlessly flipped the ball up in a two-handed set shot, its flight truer and higher than I’d witnessed from any boy or man. The ball arced cleanly into the hoop, stiffly popping the chain-link net. All afternoon, she rained in shot after shot, as my father and I scrambled after her.
When we got home from the playground, my mother showed me the photograph album of her team’s championship run. For years, I kept it in my room, on the same shelf that housed the scrapbooks I made of basketball stars, with magazine clippings of slick players like Bubbles Hawkins and Pistol Pete and George (the Iceman) Gervin.
It puzzled me how much she considered her own history to be immaterial, and if she never patently diminished herself, she was able to finesse a kind of self-removal by speaking of my father whenever she could. She zealously recounted his excellence as a student in medical school and reminded me, each night before I started my homework, of how hard he drove himself in his work to make a life for us. She said that because of his Asian face and imperfect English, he was “working two times the American doctors.” I knew that she was building him up, buttressing him with both genuine admiration and her own brand of anxious braggadocio, and that her overarching concern was that I might fail to see him as she wished me to—in the most dawning light, his pose steadfast and solitary.
In the year before I left for Exeter, I became weary of her oft-repeated accounts of my father’s success. I was a teen-ager, and so ever inclined to be dismissive and bitter toward anything that had to do with family and home. Often enough, my mother was the object of my derision. Suddenly, her life seemed so small to me. She was there, and sometimes, I thought, always there, as if she were confined to the four walls of our house. I would even complain about her cooking. Mostly, though, I was getting more and more impatient with the difficulty she encountered in doing everyday things. I was afraid for her. One day, we got into a terrible argument when she asked me to call the bank, to question a discrepancy she had discovered in the monthly statement. I asked her why she couldn’t call herself. I was stupid and brutal, and I knew exactly how to wound her.
“Whom do I talk to?” she said. She would mostly speak to me in Korean, and I would answer in English.
“Don’t speak to me like that!” she cried.
“It’s just that you should be able to do it yourself,” I said.
“Well, maybe then you should consider it practice,” I answered lightly, using the Korean word to make sure she understood.
Her face blanched, and her neck suddenly became rigid, as if I were throttling her. She nearly struck me right then, but instead she bit her lip and ran upstairs. I followed her, pleading for forgiveness at her door. But it was the one time in our life that I couldn’t convince her, melt her resolve with the blandishments of a spoiled son.
When my mother was feeling strong enough, or was in particularly good spirits, she would roll her machine into the kitchen and sit at the table and watch me work. She wore pajamas day and night, mostly old pairs of mine.
“No way.” She sighed, as deeply as her weary lungs would allow.
We often talked like this, our tone decidedly matter-of-fact, chin up, just this side of being able to bear it. Once, while inspecting a potato-fritter batter I was making, she asked me if she had ever done anything that I wished she hadn’t done. I thought for a moment, and told her no. In the next breath, she wondered aloud if it was right of her to have let me go to Exeter, to live away from the house while I was so young. She tested the batter’s thickness with her finger and called for more flour. Then she asked if, given a choice, I would go to Exeter again.
She believed back then that I had found her more and more ignorant each time I came home. She said she never blamed me, for this was the way she knew it would be with my wonderful new education. Nothing I could say seemed to quell the notion. But I knew that the problem wasn’t simply the education; the first time I saw her again after starting school, barely six weeks later, when she and my father visited me on Parents Day, she had already grown nervous and distant. After the usual campus events, we had gone to the motel where they were staying in a nearby town and sat on the beds in our room. She seemed to sneak looks at me, as though I might discover a horrible new truth if our eyes should meet.
My own secret feeling was that I had missed my parents greatly, my mother especially, and much more than I had anticipated. I couldn’t tell them that these first weeks were a mere blur to me, that I felt completely overwhelmed by all the studies and my much brighter friends and the thousand irritating details of living alone, and that I had really learned nothing, save perhaps how to put on a necktie while sprinting to class. I felt as if I had plunged too deep into the world, which, to my great horror, was much larger than I had ever imagined.
I welcomed the lull of the motel room. My father and I had nearly dozed off when my mother jumped up excitedly, murmured how stupid she was, and hurried to the closet by the door. She pulled out our old metal cooler and dragged it between the beds. She lifted the top and began unpacking plastic containers, and I thought she would never stop. One after the other they came out, each with a dish that travelled well—a salted stewed meat, rolls of Korean-style sushi. I opened a container of radish kimchi and suddenly the room bloomed with its odor, and I revelled in the very peculiar sensation (which perhaps only true kimchi lovers know) of simultaneously drooling and gagging as I breathed it all in. For the next few minutes, they watched me eat. I’m not certain that I was even hungry. But after weeks of pork parmigiana and chicken patties and wax beans, I suddenly realized that I had lost all the savor in my life. And it seemed I couldn’t get enough of it back. I ate and I ate, so much and so fast that I actually went to the bathroom and vomited. I came out dizzy and sated with the phantom warmth of my binge.
And beneath the face of her worry, I thought, my mother was smiling.
From that day, my mother prepared a certain meal to welcome me home. It was always the same. Even as I rode the school’s shuttle bus from Exeter to Logan airport, I could already see the exact arrangement of my mother’s table.
I knew that we would eat in the kitchen, the table brimming with plates. There was the kalbi, of course, broiled or grilled depending on the season. Leaf lettuce, to wrap the meat with. Bowls of garlicky clam broth with miso and tofu and fresh spinach. Shavings of cod dusted in flour and then dipped in egg wash and fried. Glass noodles with onions and shiitake. Scallion-and-hot-pepper pancakes. Chilled steamed shrimp. Seasoned salads of bean sprouts, spinach, and white radish. Crispy squares of seaweed. Steamed rice with barley and red beans. Homemade kimchi. It was all there—the old flavors I knew, the beautiful salt, the sweet, the excellent taste.
After the meal, my father and I talked about school, but of course I could never say enough for it to make any sense. My father would often recall his high-school principal, who had gone to England to study the methods and traditions of the public schools, and regaled students with stories of the great Eton man. My mother sat with us, paring fruit, not saying a word but taking everything in. When it was time to go to bed, my father said good night first. I usually watched television until the early morning. My mother would sit with me for an hour or two, perhaps until she was accustomed to me again, and only then would she kiss me and head upstairs to sleep.
During the following days, it was always the cooking that started our conversations. She’d hold an inquest over the cold leftovers we ate at lunch, discussing each dish in terms of its balance of flavors or what might have been prepared differently. But mostly I begged her to leave the dishes alone. I wish I had paid more attention. After her death, when my father and I were the only ones left in the house, drifting through the rooms like ghosts, I sometimes tried to make that meal for him. Though it was too much for two, I made each dish anyway, taking as much care as I could. But nothing turned out quite right—not the color, not the smell. At the table, neither of us said much of anything. And we had to eat the food for days.
“So why did you?” I said.
I let her words pass. For the first time in her life, she was letting herself speak her full mind, so what else could I do?
I suggested that maybe I would like her even more.
Sometimes I still think about what she said, about having made a mistake. I would have left home for college, that was never in doubt, but those years I was away at boarding school grew more precious to her as her illness progressed. After many months of exhaustion and pain and the haze of the drugs, I thought that her mind was beginning to fade, for more and more it seemed that she was seeing me again as her fifteen-year-old boy, the one she had dropped off in New Hampshire on a cloudy September afternoon.
I remember the first person I met, another new student, named Zack, who walked to the welcome picnic with me. I had planned to eat with my parents—my mother had brought a coolerful of food even that first day—but I learned of the cookout and told her that I should probably go. I wanted to go, of course. I was excited, and no doubt fearful and nervous, and I must have thought I was only thinking ahead. She agreed wholeheartedly, saying I certainly should. I walked them to the car, and perhaps I hugged them, before saying goodbye. One day, after she died, my father told me what happened on the long drive home to Syracuse.
He was driving the car, looking straight ahead. Traffic was light on the Massachusetts Turnpike, and the sky was nearly dark. They had driven for more than two hours and had not yet spoken a word. He then heard a strange sound from her, a kind of muffled chewing noise, as if something inside her were grinding its way out.
“So, what’s the matter?” he said, trying to keep an edge to his voice.
She looked at him with her ashen face and she burst into tears. He began to cry himself: and pulled the car over onto the narrow shoulder of the turnpike, where they stayed for the next half hour or so, the blank-faced cars droning by them in the cold, onrushing night. | 2019-04-25T10:00:17Z | https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1995/10/16/coming-home-again |
WE have all thought a great deal of the courage of David in meeting giant Goliath, but probably we have not given him credit for his conduct in a previous contest. We have not sufficiently noticed that immediately before the encounter with the Philistine he fought a battle which cost him far more thought, prudence and patience. The battle of words in which he had to engage with his brothers and with King Saul was a more trying ordeal to him than going forth in the strength of the Lord to smite the uncircumcised boaster. Many a man meets with more trouble from his friends than from his enemies. And when he has learned to overcome the depressing influence of prudent friends he makes short work of the opposition of avowed adversaries.
Observe that David had first to contend with his own brothers. I hardly think Eliab was so much swayed by envy as has been supposed. I fancy that Eliab had too much contempt for his young brother to envy him. He thought it ridiculous that a youth so given to music and piety and gentle pursuits should dream of encountering a giant. He derided the idea of his being equal to such a task and only feared, lest in a moment of foolish enthusiasm, he might throw his life away in the mad enterprise. And therefore Eliab somewhat superciliously, but still somewhat in the spirit natural to an elder brother who feels himself a sort of guardian to the younger members of the house, chided him and told him that only pride and curiosity had brought him there at all and that he had better have remained with his sheep in the wilderness.
Such a youth, he thought, was more fit among lambs than among warriors, and more likely to be in his place beneath a tree with his shepherd’s pipe than in the midst of a battle. David met this charge in the very wisest way–he answered with a few soft words, and then turned away. He did not continue to argue, for in such a contest, to multiply words is to increase ill feelings and he who is silent first is the conqueror. Grandly did this young man restrain himself, though the provocation was very severe, and herein he won the honors of the man who restrains his spirit and greater than the soldier who takes a city. I admire David as he selects his five smooth stones from the brook, but I admire him quite as much when he so gently replies where others might have been angry–and then so wisely turns aside from a debate which could not have been to the profit of either party.
Next, he is brought before Saul and enters upon a contest with a king to whom he felt loyal respect, and with a soldier who had been a man of war from his youth up and had worked many famous deeds, one, therefore, to whom David looked up with not a little reverence. When king Saul said to him, “You are not able to fight with this Philistine, for you are but a youth and he a man of war from his youth,” it must have been somewhat difficult for the young hero to cope with the weighty judgment. And yet he did so, answering meekly, forcibly and in all respects well. Did you notice how David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him.” He did not say, “Let not your heart fail you”–he was too much of a courtier for that–he had too much delicacy of mind to insinuate that a royal heart could fear.
When he proceeded to argue with the king it was in the most polite and deferential manners. He begins, “Your servant kept his father’s sheep.” He calls himself a servant of the king and does not hesitate to admit that he is only a shepherd who had no flock of his own, but served under his father. There was nothing like assumption, but the very reverse. Yet while he used soft words, he brought forth hard arguments. He mentioned facts and these are always the best weapons against carnal reasoning. Saul said, “You are not able to meet this Philistine.” But David replied, “Your servant slew both the lion and the bear.” He placed facts against mere opinions and won the day.
He did not quote Scripture to the king, for I suppose he knew Saul too well for that, and felt that he had not Grace enough to be swayed by the promises and examples of Holy Writ. But he brought facts before him, knowing well how to give a reason for the hope that was in him with meekness and fear. His arguments quite overcame the opposition of Saul, which would have dampened the enthusiasm of many. And so Saul not only commissioned him to go and fight the Philistine, saying, “Go, and the Lord be with you,” but he actually clothed him in his royal armor, which was of no small value and which, of course, would have increased the honors of the Philistine champion had David fallen before him.
Some little faith in David was kindled in Saul’s bosom and he was willing to trust his armor in his hands. Thus it is clear that David fought the battles with Saul as admirably as he afterwards conducted his duel with the giant–and he deserves no small honor for it. No, rather unto God be honor who while He taught His servant’s hands to war, and his fingers to fight, also taught his tongue to utter right words by which he put to silence those who would have abashed him! What was the meat of David’s argument? What were the five smooth stones which he threw at the head of carnal reasoning?
That shall be the subject of this morning’s discourse. We will consider the way in which he argued down all doubts and fears and, by the Spirit of God, was nerved to go forth to deeds of sacred daring in the name of the Most High, for the same conquering arguments may, perhaps, serve our turn also. Three things are before us in the text, recollections, reasonings and results.
First, RECOLLECTIONS. “Your servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: and I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and smote him, and slew him. Your servant slew both the lion and the bear.” These were noteworthy facts which David had stored up in his memory. And he now mentions them, for they exactly answered his purpose. We ought not to be unmindful of the way by which the Lord our God has led us, for if we are, we shall lose much.
Some saints have very short memories. It has been well said that we write our benefits in dust and our injuries in marble! And it is equally true that we generally inscribe our afflictions upon brass, while the records of the deliverances of God are written in water. It ought not to be! If our memories were more tenacious of the merciful visitations of our God, our faith would often be strengthened in times of trial.
Now, what did David remember, for I want you to remember the same. He remembered, first, that whatever his present trial might be, he had been tried before–tried when he was but a young man peacefully employed in keeping his father’s flocks. A lion rushed upon his prey and he had to defend his sheep–that was no small trial for a young man–to have to meet a savage beast, strong, furious and probably ravenous with hunger. Yet the ordeal had not destroyed him and he felt sure that another of the same kind would not do so.
He had encountered that danger in the course of his duty, when he was in his proper place and engaged in his lawful calling. And he had thereby learned that the path of duty is not without its difficulties and perils. He was keeping his flock as he ought to be and yet a lion attacked him. And so you and I have met with trials which did not arise from sin, but, on the other hand, came to us because we conscientiously did the right thing and would not yield to temptation. We must not think that we are out of the right road when we meet with difficulties, for we must expect, through much tribulation, to inherit the kingdom of God. Severe afflictions and afflictions arising out of holy walking are not new things to us! Let us now remember our old encounters.
He remembered, too, that he had been tried frequently. He had not only been attacked by a lion, but also by a bear. He had been tried in different ways, for lions and bears do not fight exactly in the same manner, neither are they to be met with precisely the same tactics. David remembered that his trials had been of different sorts and that in each case the battle had been hard. It was no small matter to fight hand to hand with a lion, and no child’s play to rush single-handed upon a bear. We, also, in looking back, remember sharp encounters with foes of many kinds which were terrible battles to us at the time.
Brothers and Sisters, some of us who have been for years in the ways of the Lord can tell of shrewd brushes with the enemy. We can speak of wounds and ugly tears of which we wear the scars to this day. Many have been our adversaries, and furious–yet we have been upheld till now by Jesus, the Captain of our salvation! Why, then, should we fear concerning the present fiery trial, as though some strange thing had happened to us? Is it a Philistine this time? Well, it was a lion before, and a bear on another occasion–it is only a little change of the same constant trial of our faith–therefore let us not shrink from the conflict.
Next, David remembered that he had risked all in the prosecution of his duty. He was set to take care of the sheep and the lambs and he did so. A lion had dared to leap into the fold and seize a lamb, and without a single thought of anything but the lamb and his own duty, the young shepherd rushed upon the monster with all the ardor of youth! And smiting him with his crook compelled him to drop his prey. He had put his own life in jeopardy for the poor defenseless lamb. Can you not remember, my Christian Brothers and Sisters, when you, also, took no thought as to what you should lose if you followed Christ and cared not if it cost you your very life? With earnest honesty you desired to learn what you ought to do and you did it, regardless of the cost.
You defied Reproach, slander, misrepresentation and unkindness, so long as you could but clear your conscience and honor your Lord. O blessed recklessness! Do you remember those early days when you could cheerfully have gone to prison and to death for Christ’s sake? For Scriptural doctrines and ordinances you would willingly have suffered martyrdom! Perhaps some of you have, on more than one occasion, actually risked everything for the sake of integrity and for the honor of the Lord Jesus Christ, even as others have defied the utmost power of Satan and the most virulent hatred of men for the sake of the Lord God of Hosts. You have felt that you could sooner die than deny the Truth of God and sooner perish from off the face of the earth than to turn from the trust which the Lord had committed to you.
Look back upon your brave days, my Brothers and Sisters, not that you may be proud of what you did, but that you may be ashamed if you are afraid to do the same today! Blush if what you could do as a babe in Grace should appear too difficult for you in riper years! These remembrances have precious uses–they will lead us to bless God and humble ourselves in His Presence.
Next David remembered that he had on that occasion gone alone to the fray. The antagonist was a lion! A dozen men might have found themselves too few for the fight and David remembered that in that contest he was quite alone–he had not called in other shepherds to the rescue, but armed only with his crook, he had belabored the lion till the monster found it convenient to leave his prey and turn upon the young shepherd. David was ready for him, seized him by his beard, dashed his head upon the rocks and did not relinquish his grasp till the king of beasts lay dead at his feet. It was a grand incident, even had it stood alone, but a bear had supplied an equally memorable trophy.
Some of us may well recall hours in our past lives when we were all alone and, as we went forth to serve the Lord Jesus, our enterprise was regarded as Utopian and spoken of as sure to end in failure. Many a good man has gone forth for Christ’s sake even worse than alone, for those who should have aided have done their best to criticize and prophesy disaster. But men whom God ordains to honor have shut their ears to critics and pushed on till they have reached success. And then everybody has said, “We always thought so,” and not a few have even claimed to have been ardent admirers all along!
Look back at that courageous hour, and now that you are surrounded by a goodly company of friends, think whether you have as simple a trust in God, now, as you manifested then. If you judge that you have, prove by your actions that you can still dare to go forward under difficulties, unshackled by dependence on an arm of flesh. The discipline of desertion ought not to have been lost upon you–you ought to be all the stronger for having been compelled to walk alone. The friendship of your fellows has been a loss rather than a gain if you cannot now wage single-handed battle as you did in former times. Have you now become slavishly dependent on an arm of flesh? If so, chide yourself by the memories of braver days! David also remembered that on that occasion, when he smote the lion and the bear, he had nothing visible to relyupon, but simply trusted his God. He had in his hand no sharp weapon of iron with which to smite the wild beast to the heart. Careless as to weapons, he thought only of his God and rushed on the foe. He was as yet a young man, his muscles were not set and strong, neither did he seem fit for such a venturous deed! But his God was almighty and, reliant upon the Omnipotence of God, he thought nothing of his youth, but flung himself into the fray. What more in the way of help did he need, since God was with him? Oh, Brothers and Sisters, there were times, with some of us, when we commenced our work when our sole reliance was the unseen Lord!
But can it be true that now we have begun to coolly calculate means and to rely upon methods and plans, whereas once we looked to God, alone? Do we now trust in this friend and rely on that, and distrust the Lord if friends are few? Shame upon us if we do, for this is to leave the way of victory for the path of defeat, to come down from the heroic track to the common highway of carnal reasoning and so to fall into care, fretfulness, weakness and dishonor! Happy is the man who trusts in the Lord, alone, by unstaggering faith! He shall go from strength to strength, but he who chooses to walk by sight shall utterly decay.
David remembered, also, that the tactics which he adopted on that occasion were natural, artless and vigorous. All that he did was just smite the lion and the bear with his staff, or whatever came first to hand, and then to fight as nature and the occasion suggested. He did what his courage prompted, without waiting to consult a committee of lion-slayers and bear-trappers. His whole art was faith! This was his science and his skill. He consulted not with flesh and blood. He followed no precedents, imitated no noted hunters and encumbered himself with no rules. He did his best as his faith in God directed him. He threw his whole soul into the conflict and fought vigorously, for his faith did not make him sit still and expect the lion to die in a fit, or the bear to become insensible.
He seemed to say to himself, “Now, David, if anything is to be done, you must be all here and every muscle you have must be put to the strain. You have a lion to fight with, therefore stir up your strength and while you rely upon God, alone, take care to play the man this day for your father’s flock.” Courage supplied coolness. And energy, backed up by confidence, won the day. Do you remember, my Brother, when in your own way you did the same? You were reliant upon God but not idle. You put your whole force of soul and energy into your Master’s service, as if it all rested on you and yet, you depended wholly on Him and you succeeded! How is it with you now? Do you now take things easily? Do you wonder that you do not succeed? If you are growing cold and careless. If you are getting sleepy and dull, rebuke your soul and use your past experience as a whip with which to flog yourself into energy! Let it never be said that he who woke himself up to fight a lion now falls asleep in the presence of a Philistine!
David remembered that by confidence in God his energetic fighting gained the victory–the lion was killed and the bear was killed, too. And cannot you remember, Brothers and Sisters, what victories God gave you? When you were little in Israel and despised, yet His hand was upon you! And when few would bid you God speed, yet the Jehovah of Hosts encouraged your heart! And when you were feeble and but a youth, the Lord Jesus helped you to do exploits for Him in your own way. Remember this, and be of good courage this morning in the conflict which now lies before you. David talked of his former deeds somewhat reluctantly. I do not know that he had ever spoken of them before. He did so on this occasion with the sole motive of glorifying God and that he might be allowed to repeat them.
He ravished for permission from Saul to confront the Philistine champion and bring yet greater glory to God! Brethren, whenever you talk of what God enabled you to do, mind you lay the stress upon God’s enabling, and not upon your own doings. And when you rehearse the story of your early days, let it not be as a reason why you should now be exonerated from service and be allowed to retire upon your laurels, but as an argument why you should now be allowed the most arduous and dangerous post in the battle! Let the past be a stepping stone to something higher–an incentive to nobler enterprise.
On, on you soldiers of the Cross! In God’s name eclipse your former selves! As Grace enabled you to pile the carcass of the bear upon the corpse of the lion, so now resolve that the Philistine shall increase the heap and his head shall crown the whole, to the honor and glory of the God of Israel! So much for remembrances. I pity the man who has none of them and I pity, yet more, the man who, having them, is now afraid to risk all for his Lord!
II. Now for REASONING. David used an argument in which no flaw can be found. He said, “The case of this Philistine is a parallel one to that of the lion. If I act in the same manner, by faith in God, with this giant as I did with the lion, God is the same and, therefore, the result will be the same.” That seems to me to be very good reasoning and I bid you adopt it. Such-and-such was my past difficulty and my present trouble is of the same order. In that past trial I rested upon God and acted in a right way–and He delivered me. Therefore, if I trust in God, still, and do as before, He is the same as ever–and I shall triumph again!
Let us now consider the case and we shall see that it really was parallel. There was the flock, defenseless. Here is Israel, God’s flock, defenseless, too, with no one to take up its cause. In all the camp there was not one single man who dared take up the giant challenge. David was a shepherd and, therefore, as a shepherd, bound to defend his flock. And in the present instance he remembered, I doubt not, that Samuel had anointed him to be king over Israel and he felt that some of the responsibility of the anointing rested upon him even then. And if no other man would play the shepherd, the anointed son of Jesse must do it!
And so it looked to him like a parallel case–Israel the flock and he the shepherd who must defend it. He was alone that day when he smote the lion and so he was this day when he was to confront his enormous foe. Of course it was one of the conditions of a duel that the Israelite champion should go forth, alone, and besides that, there was no one in all the camp who was likely to wish to accompany him upon such an errand. So, now that he was all alone, the case was the more truly parallel! As for that Philistine, he felt that in him he had an antagonist of the old sort. It was brute force before. It was brute force now.
It might take the shape of a lion or a bear or a Philistine, but David considered that it was only so much flesh and bone and muscle–so much brag or roar, tooth or spear. He considered the Philistine to be only a wild animal of another shape because he was not in Covenant with God, and dared to put himself in opposition to the Most High! My Brothers and Sisters, a man who has God for a friend is higher than an angel, but a man who is God’s enemy is no better than a beast! Reckon him so and your fears of him will vanish! Goliath was mighty, but so was the lion. He was cunning, but so was the bear. The case was only a repetition of the former combat.
Just as you and I say, sometimes, “Ah, what I did was done when I was a young man, I cannot do the same now. That trouble which I bore so patiently, by God’s Grace, was in other times. But this affliction has come upon me when I am less able to endure it, for I have not the elasticity of spirit which once I had, nor the vigor I formerly possessed.” When we want to escape from some arduous work, we do it by trying to show that we are not under the same obligations as in former days. We know in our conscience that if we did great things when we were young we ought to do greater things now that we are older, wiser, more experienced and more trained in war–but we try to argue our conscience into silence.
If the Lord helped us to bear with patience, or to labor with zeal after all the experience we have had, that patience and zeal should now be easier to us than before. Alas, we do not argue so, but to our shame we excuse ourselves and live ingloriously. I know a man who, today, says, “Yes. What we did in years gone by, we did in our heroic age, but we are not so enthusiastic now.” And why not? We are so apt to magnify our former selves and think of our early deeds as of something to be wondered at but not to be attempted now! We are fools for they were little enough in all conscience and ought to be outdone!
Oh, dear Brothers and Sisters, this resting on our oars will not do! We are drifting down with the tide. David did not say, “I slew a lion and a bear so I have had my turn at such bouts. Let somebody else go and fight that Philistine!” Yet we have heard people say, “When I was a young man I taught in the Sunday school. I used to go out preaching in the villages and so on.” Oh, Brother, and why not do it now? I think you ought to be doing more instead of less! As God gives you more knowledge, more experience and more Grace, surely your labors for Him ought to be more abundant than they used to be, but, alas, you do not look on it as a parallel case, and so make excuses for yourself.
She points out the difference, though the trouble is virtually the same! Would it not be far better if she pleaded the same promise and believed in the Lord as she did before? One man will say, “Ah, yes, I did, on such an occasion, run all risks for God. But, you see, there is a difference here.” I know there is, my dear Brother, there is a little difference and if you fix your eyes on that, you will drill yourself into unbelief! But difference or no difference, where duty calls or if you should be called to bear such an affliction as never befell mortal man, before, yet remember God’s arm is not shortened that He cannot deliver His servants! You have but to commit yourself to Him and out of the sevenfold adversity you shall come forth a sevenfold conqueror!
We are very apt, too, to look back upon the past and say, “I know that there are some grand things the Lord did for me and my venture for His sake turned out well, but I do not know what I should have done if a happy circumstance had not occurred to help me just in the nick of time.” We dare to attribute our deliverance to some very “happy accident”! It is very base of us to do so, for it was the Lord who helped us from first to last–the happy occurrence was a mere second cause! And cannot God give us another “happy accident,” if necessary, in this present trouble? “Alas,” our unbelief says, “there was a circumstance in that case which really did alter it, and I cannot expect anything like that to occur now.” Oh, how wrong this is of us! How we lose the force of that blessed reasoning from parallels which might have supplied us with courage! God grant we may break loose from this net!
Possibly our coward heart suggests “Perhaps, after all, this deed of courage may not be quite my calling and I had better not attempt it.” David might have said, “I am a shepherd and I can fight with lions, but I was never trained to war, and therefore I had better let this Philistine alone.” He might, also, have discovered that he was better adapted for protecting sheep than for becoming the champion of a nation. We must guard against the use of this plausible pretext, for pretext it is. Brethren, if we have achieved success by the power of God, let us not dote upon some supposed adaptation, but stand prepared to be used of the Lord in any other way which He may choose!
Adaptation is unknown till the event proves it–and our Lord is a far better judge of that than we are! If you see before you a work by means of which you can glorify God and bless the Church, do not hesitate, but enter upon it in reliance upon your God! Do not stand stuttering and stammering and talking about qualifications and so on, but what your hand finds to do, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus who has bought you with His blood! Prove your qualifications by bringing Goliath’s head back with you and no further questions will be asked by anyone–or by yourself!
So, too, sometimes we frame an excuse out of the opinions of others. We are apt to feel that we really must consider what other people say. Our good brother Eliab may be a little crusty in temper, but still, he is a man of a good deal of prudence and experience. And he tells us to be quiet and let these things alone and, perhaps, we had better do so. And there is Saul. Well, he is a man of great acquaintance with such matters! He judges that we had better decline the task and, therefore, upon the whole we had better exhibit that prudence which is the better part of valor and not rush upon certain danger and probable destruction.
This seeking advice and following cowardly counsel is all too common! We know that some strenuous effort is needed and it is in our power, but we desire ease and, therefore, we employ other men to weave excuses for us. It would be more honest to say outright that we do not want to do any more. Were we more full of love to Jesus, this unworthy device would be scorned by us and in sacred manliness of mind we would scorn the counsel which tends to cowardice. Others cannot bear our responsibility–we must, each one, give an account of himself to God–why, then, yield to the judgement of men?
Oh, Brothers and Sisters, fling this folly to the winds! Obey the dictates of the Holy Spirit and close your ears to the advice of unbelief! Men or women consecrated to God, if the Lord impels you to do anything for Him, do not ask me, do not ask my fellow Church officers, but go and do it! If God has helped you in the past, draw a parallel and argue from it that He will help you in the present. Go, and the Lord go with you! Do not fall prey to that wicked unbelief which would rob you of your strength!
III. The last thing is RESULTS. The results were, first, that David felt he would, as he did before, rely upon God alone. Come to the same resolution, Brothers and Sisters! God, alone is the source of power! He alone can render real aid! Let us then rest in Him, even if no other help appears. Is not the Lord, alone, enough? That arm which you cannot see will never be palsied. Its sinews will never crack, but all the arms of mortals upon which you so much love to lean must, one day, turn to dust in the tomb. And while they live, they are but weakness itself. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord Jehovah there is everlasting strength. David had found wisdom’s self when he said, “My soul waits only upon God, for my expectation is from Him.” David resolved, again, to run all risks once more, as he had done before. As he had ventured himself against the lion,so would he put his life in His hands and engage the Philistine. Come wounds and maiming! Come piercing spear or cutting sword! Come death, itself! Amid the taunts and exultations of his giant foe, he would still dare everything for Israel’s sake and for God’s sake! Soldiers of the Cross, if you feel that you can do this, be not slow to put it into practice! Throw yourselves wholly into the Lord’s service! Consecrate yourselves and your substance to the grand end of glorifying Christ, fighting against error and plucking souls from destruction!
David’s next step was to put himself into the same condition as on former occasions, by divesting himself of everything that hampered him. He had fought the lion with nature’s weapons and so would he meet the Philistine. Off went that glittering royal helmet which, no doubt, made his head ache with its weight! Off went the cumbersome armor in which he found it very hard to move! In such a metallic prison he did not feel like David a bit and, therefore, he put all aside and wore only his shepherd’s frock! As for that magnificent sword which he had just strapped by his side, he felt that it would be more ornament than use–and so he laid it aside with the rest of the trappings. He put on his pouch and took nothing with him but his sling and stones.
This was the old style and he did well to keep to it, for the Lord saves not with sword and spear! We are all too apt to get into a fine harness and tie ourselves up with rules and methods. The art of getting rid of all baggage is a noble one, but few have learned it. Look at our Churches! Look at the Church at large–is there not enough red tape about to strangle a nation? Have we not committees enough to sink a ship with their weight? As for patrons, presidents, vicepresidents and secretaries, had not Christianity been Divine it could not have lived under the load of these personages who sit on her bosom! The roundabouts are worrying straightforward action out of the world. We are organized into strait waistcoats! The vessel of the Church has such an awful lot of top-hamper that I wonder how she can be navigated at all! And if a tempest were to come on she would have to cut herself free from nearly all of it.
When shall we get at the work? If there should ever come a day when Brothers will go forth preaching the Gospel, simply resting in faith upon the Lord alone, I, for one, expect to see grand results! But at present, Saul’s armor is everywhere! When we get rid of formality in preaching, we shall see great results! But the Churches are locked up in irons which they call armor. Why, dear me, if we are to have a special service, one Brother must have it conducted in the Moody method and another can only have Sankey hymns! Who, then, are we that we must follow others? Do not talk to us about innovations and all that–away with your rubbish!
Let us serve God with all our hearts and preach Jesus Christ to sinners with our whole souls–the mode is of no consequence! To preach down priestcraft and error, and do it in the simplest possible manner–by preaching up Christ–is the way of wisdom! We must preach, not after the manner of doctors of divinity, but after the manner of those unlearned and ignorant men in the olden time who had been with Jesus and learned of Him! Brothers, some of you have too much armor on! Take it off! Be simple, be natural, be artless, be plain-spoken, be trustful in the living God and you will succeed! Less of the artificer’s brass and more of Heaven-anointed manhood is needed! More sanctified naturalness and less of studied artificialness! O Lord, send us this, for Christ’s sake. Amen.
The ultimate result was that the young champion came back with Goliath’s head in his hand! And equally sure triumphs await every one of you if you rely on the Lord and act in simple earnestness. If for Christ, my Sister, you will go forward in His work, resting upon Him, you shall see souls converted by your instrumentality. If, my Brother, you will but venture everything for Christ’s glory and depend, alone, on Him, what men call fanaticism shall be considered by God to be only sacred consecration and He will send you the reward which He always gives to a full, thorough, simple, unselfish faith in Himself.
If the result of my preaching this sermon should be to stir up half a dozen workers to some venturesome zeal for God, I shall greatly rejoice. I remember when I commenced this work in London, God being with me, I said if He would only give me half a dozen good men and women, a work would be done, but that if I had half a dozen thousand sleepy people nothing would be accomplished. At this time I am always afraid of our falling into a lethargic condition. This Church numbers nearly 5,000 members, but if you are only 5,000 cowards, the battle will bring no glory to God! If we have one David among us, that one hero will do wonders! But think what an army would be if all the soldiers were Davids–it would be an ill case with the Philistines, then!
Oh that we were all Davids! That the weakest among us were as David and David, himself, were better than he is, and became like an angel of the Lord! God’s Holy Spirit is equal to the doing of this and why should He not do it? Let us call to Him for help and that help will come! I must just say this word to some here present who lament that there is nothing in this sermon for them. Unconverted persons, you cannot draw any argument from your past experience, for you have none of a right kind. But you may draw comfort, and I pray you do, from another view of this story.
Jesus Christ, the true David, has plucked some of us like lambs from between the jaws of the devil. Many of us were carried captive by sin. Transgression had so encompassed us about that we were unable to escape. But our great Lord delivered us! Sinner, why can He not deliver you? If you cannot fight the lion of the pit, HE can! Do you ask me, What are you to do? Well, call for His help as loudly as you can. If you are like a lamb, bleat to Him, and the bleating of the lamb will attract the shepherd’s ear. Cry mightily unto the Lord for salvation and trust, alone, in the Lord Jesus! He will save you! If you were between the jaws of Hell, yet, if you believed in Him, He would surely pluck you out of destruction. God grant you may find it so, for Christ’s sake. Amen. PORTION OF SCRIPTURE READ BEFORE SERMON–1 Samuel 17:23-51.HYMNS FROM “OUR OWN HYMN BOOK”–73, 674, 681. | 2019-04-22T12:21:44Z | https://www.thekingdomcollective.com/spurgeon/sermon/1253/ |
Having decided to turn southward at the confluence of the Steel /Little Steel instead of paddling up and then back down the series of lakes that make up the Little Steel River system, we were left with a few more days of food in our pack and the need of an impromptu mini-trip whose paddle strokes would burn it all up.
The first was a shortened version of a trip we had done in the Temagami area in the fall of 2014 – (Early Autumn Canoeing In the Heart of Temagami). This time we’d spend a couple of nights at Chee Skon Lake and focus on the hiking trails of the old growth forest.
The second was revisiting Maple Mountain, a side visit on our 2009 mountaineering/canoeing combo trip to Ishpatina Ridge. Ishpatina is Ontario’s highest spot at 692 meters; Maple Mountain reaches 641.
In the end, a paddle to Tupper Lake and the beginning of the trail up Maple Mountain won out. We’d also get to set up our tent at one of our favourite campsites, the one on the east side of Hobart Lake.
It has all the qualities of a classic Canadian Shield campsite – the sloping rock outcrop that goes up to a flat and sheltered area with room for more than one tent, a great open view west towards Maple Mountain Ridge, and it would also serve as an excellent base camp for the next morning’s paddle over to Tupper Lake and the summit attempt on Maple Mountain!
Hobart campsite view in the afternoon – the view does not get old!
Neither of us was keen on re-paddling Lake Temagami from the access road across from Temagami Island. A closer access point to Maple Mountain is Mowat Landing. Only one portage – the one around the Mattawapika Dam not far from where the Lady Evelyn River and the Montreal River meet. And only one possible drawback – the long stretch of lake paddle to get to the end of Lady Evelyn. It is about 40 kilometers from Mowat Landing to Tupper Lake and the start of the 3 km. hiking trail to the top of Maple Mountain.
There is an alternative access – the Red Squirrel Road to Sandy Inlet on Ferguson Bay. It took us about an hour and half from Temagami to get to the parking area at the end of a rough road that runs from Red Squirrel towards the water. It is a 300-meter portage from the car to the shore. Camp Wanapitei is visible to the south as you walk onto the beach.
While the Mowat Landing approach is 40 kilometers with one portage, our choice of entry adds three kilometers to the distance and includes five possible portages. We accepted the extra kilometers and carries instead of the potential drama of a bad day or two of wind on Lady Evelyn Lake.
Into the water at 1:30 p.m., we paddled across Ferguson Bay with a strong NW wind blowing. That, and the fact we were not 100% clear on the Napoleon Portage’s take-out spot, had us ending up too far south on the west side of the bay. As the map to the left shows, we headed up along the shore to the take-out. We figured we were there when we saw the tree with four bright orange bands on it. We had only been on the Napoleon once – six years ago when we came at it from the west side on Whitefish Bay. The initial steep part was there. What wasn’t there was a portage trail that has existed for 100 years! We explained it away with reasons like a bad string of blowdowns and ice storms since our last visit. Given the presence of fresh blazes and marking tape we somehow got sucked into the “trail”. And once we were in, the only thought was getting to the end of the thing. Somehow it made sense and didn’t make sense at the same time! We’d hit a stretch or two that seemed like a portage trail – and then we’d bushwhack through another section that had us shaking our heads in disbelief.
N.B. we only found out that it was not the Napoleon Portage four days later coming back. On that day as we approached the take-out landing for the “mystery trail” we spotted what looked like a portage landing about 100 meters north of where we were heading. Going up the shoreline to take a look, I hopped out of the canoe, walked a few meters into the bush from the landing area and came back to announce – “This is the Napoleon Portage!” We are still confused about that “mystery trail’ we followed on Day One – see here for some possible explanations offered by fellow canoe trippers at the Canadian Canoe Routes forum.
Below is the picture we took four days later when we walked the actual Napoleon Portage to Ferguson Bay from the west. The Napoleon Portage comes out at bottom right. Dangling on the branch is some tape I had just put there. Other than my fresh tape there was nothing at the Napoleon portage other than the very well-used trail itself! The “mystery trail’ begins on the left hand side in the middle of the image. Enlarge the pic and you should see the four bands of orange tape. When we approached it from the south we wrongly figured that we had arrived at the take-out. From the Canadian Canoe Routes poster comment to my thread, we were not the only ones to make that mistake that week!
the Mystery Trail and the Napoleon – side by each on Ferguson Bay!
To make matters worse, we have added to the confusion by putting up our own marking tape in certain difficult sections as we walked “the mystery trail”. Seeing that tape will unfortunately reassure some poor canoe tripper who makes the same initial mistake we did.
a rough stretch of the mystery trail – the blazes were reassuring!
seemingly normal and looking like a trail!
The portage done, we got down to paddling and by 5 we were at the far end of the Sharp Rock Inlet Portage. We had already seen twelve canoes in the first three hours of our trip, mostly belonging to the various summer camps located on Lake Temagami. That was twice as many as all the canoes we had seen in five previous summers of Wabakimi and Woodland Caribou tripping!
Just after the portage we paddled by the two small islands you see in the map above. We landed on the west side of the sloped granite outcrop and walked up to the top where we found a fairly flat area to put up our home for the night. We had started the morning at the motel in Iron Bridge and here we were at the east end of Diamond Lake! The next target – Hobart Lake and one of our favourite campsites.
– 40m Diamond L to Lady Evelyn Lake – the main portage is on west side (left as you’re going down); we just ran it and scraped through. It can also be easily lined on the right.
campsite: Hobart Lake – awesome!! multiple 2-or 4-person tents, thunderbox; easy access to water; great swimming opportunity; great view of Maple Mountain all day.
N.B. Follow the next three maps from the bottom map up to the top one.
We set off shortly after nine and after passing another group of summer camp teen trippers on the way up the north arm of Diamond Lake, we looked over to the pictograph site that we had visited the previous October. (See here for the report.) From the other side of the arm it looked rather small and unimpressive; we decided to leave a visit to our return a few days later.
Instead we headed right for the Lady Evelyn Lift-Over. The name “lift-over” has always puzzled us because while we have portaged it on the left, lined it on the right, and run it down the middle, we have never managed a literal lift-over. Seeing it in the image below, it is difficult to picture the Lady Evelyn Falls that was once there.
It was the construction of a dam at near the confluence of the Lady Evelyn River and the Montreal River across from Mowat Landing at Mattawapika Falls – a smaller one in 1915 and a higher one in 1925 – that raised the water level of Lady Evelyn Lake by some nine meters. It also caused the falls to all but disappear! It has been reduced to a one-foot drop!
The dam was put in by mining companies operating in the area to supply water for power plants on the Montreal River. A canoe trip on the Montreal River below Latchford will have you pass over and around all of these ancient dams and compressor plants that used to be there to supply air to the mines of the area.
These days the dam holds back water to help operate the string of hydro plants on the Montreal. Many of these plants are peaking plants that operate only intermittently. The water on Lady Evelyn Lake gets drawn down over the winter to supply hydro operations.
If you go to Lady Evelyn Lake in the early spring, as soon as the ice is gone, the lake level with be about 15 feet lower than in the summer months. The water level has to be raised by May 15 or so to permit cottagers and others to enjoy the lake.
The Diamond Lake into Lady Evelyn Lake spot was not only massively impacted by the Mattawapika dam 30 kilometres to the north-east. There was another dam – a six-foot timber dam – built right across the stream at this point as in the pic above. It was constructed in 1942 by a lumber company to float its logs from Diamond Lake down to its mill in Latchford. The dam remained there until 1973 when it was removed by a Ministry of Natural Resources work crew. Apparently the water level on Diamond Lake went down by some 4.5 feet after its removal.
Forgotten in all this were the Anishinaabe people who had lived in the area for centuries if not millennia. Among other landmarks, the Diamond Lake pictograph site was partially submerged during the period of the dam’s existence. Check out Brian Back’s Ottertooth article here for a well-researched summary of the two dams and their impact.
There was some scraping as we slipped through the “rapids” into Lady Evelyn Lake. Then it was a short paddle up to the first of the two portages which take you from Lady Evelyn Lake into Willow Island Lake (a part of the Lady Evelyn River system).
An initial fifteen-meter stretch on a creek bed made up of boulders made for some awkward walking. It soon led to a well-trodden trail that came out to the marshy area at the end of the high-water portage. We had to do a double take since the area had changed some over the past decade. Where we had once pitched our tent on a previous trip was now on the edge of a beaver dam that has created a wetland.
The 220-meter carry over, we loaded the canoe and set off down the pic you see below to get to the small lake and the start of the next portage. Running along on the north side is a trail that may be used during lower water periods. We were happy to paddle through.
The next portage was easy to find and do. Near the end there is a bit of a diversion to deal with some recent blowdown; the orange tape guides you through the small change to the route.
Down Willow Island Lake through the narrows into Sucker Gut Lake and a hard left and we paddled into what you see in the pic below. The first time we came through here we didn’t know anything about the Mattawapika Dam near the mouth of the Lady Evelyn River where it meets the Montreal River. It raised the water level of the entire lake by nine meters – all for the convenience of the mining companies. We had learned since that as a preliminary step fires would often be set in the area to be flooded. The charred trunks of the pines and spruces stand as silent witness to those times.
As we paddled westward we also saw the Maple Mountain ridge and the faint presence of the fire tower again. We had been here in 2009 and hadn’t forgotten.
When we saw a canoe on Hobart Lake I figured that the premier campsite we were hoping to get was already occupied. We were busy formulating a Plan B as we paddled up to the site, one of our favourites, and found – well, nobody was there!
time: Maple Mtn 09:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; Tupper L to campsite 1:30 p.m.-5:15 p.m.
Unlike the overcast day we had six years previously, this one would be clear and sunny. After our usual oatmeal breakfast, we savoured both the mugs of coffee and the morning view of Maple Mountain. And then it was off – first paddling the 3.5 kilometers to the start of the Maple Mountain trail. The map below shows the route – about 1.7 km to the “confluence” of Tupper Creek and Willow Island Creek and then up to the beaver dam and Tupper Lake itself.
Maple Mountain at 642 meters is not, contrary to what some may think, the highest point in Ontario. It actually ranks 13th. according to this well-researched list of the province’s high spots. (See here for the Ottertooth article.) Mind you, there is only a 51-meter gap between it and Ishpatina Ridge, the #1 point at 693 meters. Ishpatina is located just twenty-seven kilometers to the west.
It was Robert Bell of the Geological Survey of Canada who gave it the name “Maple Mountain” back in 1888 . However, the ridge with its dramatic rise in elevation had long been on the mythological map of the local Anishinaabek (i.e.Ojibwe), known to them as Chi- bay-jing, “The Place Where Spirits Go”.
Where Maple Mountain does rank #1 in Ontario is in terms of vertical rise. It is 351 meters higher than Tupper Lake down below, while Ishpatina, for example, is 317 meters above Scarecrow Lake. For more solid information on Maple Mountain, Brian Back’s in-depth look here is your best bet.
As we approached the landing and the start of the trail, we spotted a canoe sitting there. We were obviously not the day’s first. Given that we had not seen anyone paddle by that morning, chances were good that they had camped on Tupper the previous night.
At the start of the trail are the ruins of the fire ranger’s cabin. Nearby is a spring where we filled up our water bottle. And then it was on to the trail.
The trail for the first five hundred meters is quite flat and has a long stretch of 10′ boards taking you over some mushy bits. I counted 35 of them as we walked along; after a bit of a gap we came to seven more. It made for easy walking.
Some altitude needs to be gained though and it comes soon enough, a gradual ascent – and occasional giving away of all the “up” you just gained as the trail heads downward for a bit! The trail also gets somewhat less groomed. We counted at least a couple dozen places where a chainsaw would help to reestablish the trail. As it is, deadfall across the trail has hikers walking around the obstructions. We spent the first half hour stopping often to clear smaller trees and branches from the path but we realized that it would take forever to get to the top if we were also going to be doing trail work as we walked up.
It was somewhere near the lake that we met the two women and their dog, an older Labrador who was having trouble with the blockages on the path. They had decided to turn back without getting to the top. Given what was coming up, there would have been more stretches that the Lab would not be able to handle.
This six-meter steel ladder take you up an almost vertical section of the trail and leads to more scrambling before the summit. In true mountaineering fashion, there are a couple of points where you think you are there, only to realize that wishful thinking alone does not make a summit!
The ladder is secure and safe to use and we scampered up and down without a worry.
Seeing the 30-meter high Fire Tower is the sign that you are almost there! On our 2009 visit it was overcast and the bugs were so bad I climbed half way up to the cupola to escape while I snapped some photos. We would have no such problems this morning – no clouds, no bugs.
There was another change since our last visit. The first seven meters of the ladder have been removed, making access to the rest somewhat awkward. I am sure some will still be up to the challenge! There is one complication – even if you do get up to the ladder and join the elite crew who have climbed up over the decades, you will end up at the bottom of the cupola with no way to get in. It has been locked! The sign at the foot of the tower explains all this to discourage you from even bothering to make the climb.
Update: More recent visitors have noted that the lock on the cupola floor door has been removed! Getting up to the top is obviously (for some people) an essential part of the Maple Mountain experience!
With the exception of Caribou Mountain*, a municipally-operated tourist site, above the town of Temagami, the rest of Ontario’s towers are on the chopping block. That includes two in Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Wilderness Park: Ishpatina and Maple Mountain, both popular backcountry destinations.
See here for the full article. If seeing that fire tower is a major reason for your visit to Maple Mountain, better get there sooner than later!
As iconic as the fire tower may be, there is something else much more majestic up on top of Maple Mountain. The images below – minus the feel of the wind and the sun as you sit there and take it all in – give you an idea of what you’ll see after spending one and half hours on your canoe trippers’ pilgrimage. It is a “wow” moment for sure.
In the end, the experience of walking up to the top and taking in the view trumps all the statistics and the tower. As we approached the top we watched two eagles in the skies above the mountaintop. Eagles are often associated in the Anishinaabe world with the manitou Animiki, the Thunderbird, next to Gitchi Manitou the most powerful of spirits. They were swooping back and forth, riding the winds and surveying their domain and we were under their watchful gaze! You just know you’re in the right place when you see eagles.
We spent forty-five minutes taking in the views, chillin’ and refueling for the walk back to the canoe. If it takes 1 1/2 hours to get to the top, it takes maybe an hour to get back to the canoe. Instead of an extended bit of aerobic exercise, now your knees and leg muscles get to be stressed. A pair of trekking poles – not part of a typical paddler’s kit – would help.
Before we paddled back to Hobart Lake we dropped in at the campsite on Tupper’s east side. It has a beautiful view of the mountain and the fire tower. While the site is not in the same league as the one on Hobart it would serve as a good alternative if the other one was already taken. We had lunch there and then set off to retrace the route that got us there.
That afternoon we paddled as far as the narrows between Sucker Gut Lake and Willow Island Lake. After having wind from the north-west for the two previous days, now that we had started paddling south the wind had changed too; it was coming from the south-west.
The campsite we found there was average at best but did the job. The tent was nicely tucked away in the woods and there was an open area where we set up our cook gear. The canoe on its side provided a nice wind screen and we soon had the two butane stoves going. Given that it was past 5 p.m. other paddlers had also probably stopped for the day since we didn’t see anyone come through the narrows after we set up camp.
time: 07:40 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.
After an early breakfast we were on the water before 8; we were hoping to get some calm water before the south wind kicked in again. By eleven we were past the two portages and into Lady Evelyn Lake. That is when it started raining – spitting at first and then getting more serious as we moved into the afternoon.
We would stop for a cup of coffee under the tarp before moving on to the Lift-Over.
As we entered Diamond Lake, I looked down the shore and spotted the pictograph site on the west shore. As humble as it had looked from across the water as we paddled by on our way up, now it looked even less imposing. We did paddle by just to be sure that it was the site. You can see it in the image above – the sandy brown bit about two-thirds of the way along the water line running across the middle of the picture.
As we approached the Sharp Rock Portage, the rain came down heavier and we pulled in at a designated campsite and put up the tarp. We figured we would sit out the worst of it and then get moving again. In the meanwhile we fired up the stove and got the lunch and coffee fixings out.
While we sat there we noticed five specks on the misty horizon – a Temagami camp group was approaching! We would lose sight of them after a while as it seemed that they had paddled up a bay to the north. However, as we were taking down the tarp and getting ready to move on, there they were again. They were looking for a campsite and wanted to know if “ours” was available. The thing that most impressed us was the toughness and resilience shown by these canoe trippers in their mid-teens. It was still raining and they were carrying on with their business. We wished the girls good luck with the weather and pushed off, wondering how far we would get. It was a good thing that we had started the day as early as we did.
We didn’t get too far! After the Sharp Rock Portage we paddled for a bit but the combination of rain and wind and choppy water convinced at least me that we should just call it a day. Talk about toughness and resilience! Max wanted to keep on going in order to make the next day – the one back to the car – that much shorter.
With the classic argument of – why kill ourselves now when tomorrow morning it will take half the energy to cover the same distance? – we pulled in at the south end of the island seen on the map below. It was 2:35 and we had covered maybe 3.5 km. since our mugs of coffee. Tent and tarps went up and the canoe was set up as a windscreen and we hoped for better weather the next morning.
The previous evening’s major deliberation had centered around which portage to take into Ferguson Bay. About an hour’s paddle down from what we still thought was the Napoleon Portage there is another shorter 400 meter one that goes into Pickerel Bay. (See the map below for the location.) We’d then have to paddle an hour north to get back to the top of the bay. Plus we had no idea about the shape that this shorter portage was in. For all we knew it could be in the same shape as the trail we had done.
Of the “Mystery Portage” that we thought was the Napoleon we knew this – it was a hell of a trail , it would take us about an hour to do, and it would save us two hours of paddling down to the other portage and then back up. And that is how we decided to do again a trail we swore we would never set foot on again!
Except – as our Day One trip notes already made clear – we luckily ended up at the start of the actual Napoleon Portage trail and were spared both the additional paddling that the Pickerel Bay trail would have entailed and the bushwhacking of the “mystery trail”.
We unloaded our canoe at 8:15 on the west side of the Napoleon and at 9 we were already paddling across Ferguson Bay to the beach on Sandy Inlet just up from Camp Wanapitei. We had pulled one big rabbit out of that hat!
The best introduction to Temagami remains Hap Wilson’s book of the same name. It has seen a few editions and the sub-titles have changed with the times but it guides you through some choice Temagami canoe routes, giving you not only the information you need to deal with the lakes and rivers – portages, rapids, campsites – but also filling you in on the long and rich history of the area. As well, there are tips on gear and camping and canoeing skills for those in need of a primer. The first edition, I think, came out in the late 1970’s and these days is considered a worthwhile investment as a collectible! The copy of the edition I’ve got is titled Temagami: A Wilderness Paradise – Canoeing – Kayaking – Hiking and was published in 2011, a reprint of the 2004 edition.
The government’s own no-frills folder-based canmatrix collection of maps is one source of the maps. Both the 1:50000 and the 1:250,000 and in either tif or pdf format. For the maps above go to the 041 folder using the appropriate letters and numbers to get the specific maps. Get started here.
These days there is a much more user-friendly and visual approach to access the maps that Jeff McMurtrie has come up with. As with the maps above, they are available for free download. If you want, McMurtrie has the equipment to print the maps for you on plastic sheets. See his Jeffstopos website to get started.
McMurtrie also has an annotated Temagami mapset available – a series of five maps covering the area. They will give you the portage and campsite information you need, as well as points of historical interest that you will paddle by. Check out the Jeff’s Temagami Map website here. You’ll want the Central one for this trip. Again, you can download the file and print it off yourself – all or just selected parts. Or copies are available either from Jeff directly or in select stores.
When we dropped in at the Temagami Outfitters store to buy a copy at the start of our trip, we were told that copies of Jeff’s maps were available – except for the sold-out Central map! Luckily we had downloaded digital copies the night before on our way to Temagami from the end of our Steel River trip.
We ended up buying a copy of the map put out by the Friends of Temagami – a double-sided map with the Obabika Loop on one side and the Maple Mountain area on the other – which did the job nicely. Portage and campsite locations and other information is there.
Like most maps these days, it is made of a waterproof and tear-resistant material. It is meant to go along with – and not replace – the 1:50000 topos mentioned above. See here for the map details at the Friends of Temagami online store.
We both also have Garmin gps units with the Topo Canada maps v4.0 installed. While we like to navigate from the hardcopy maps in the map case, the gps units are appreciated in those inevitable instances when we’re just not 100% sure where we are!
This entry was posted in wilderness canoe tripping and tagged canoeing to Maple Mountain, Diamond Lake pictograph site, Hobart Lake campsite, Lady Evelyn Lake flooding, Lady Evelyn Lift-Over, Maple Mountain fire tower, Maple Mountain hiking trail, Maple Mountain vertical rise, Mowat landing to Maple Mountain map, Temagami Napoleon Portage, Temagami's most popular route, Tupper Lake Maple Mountain. Bookmark the permalink.
Really enjoyed your trip and photos.
how long did the mystery portage take? I remember being on a well-marked portage that just disappeared as I went along. I ended up bushwacking along for about an hour until I noticed I was standing right in the middle of the trail. On the return trip the trail was so obvious I felt pretty foolish.
George, according to the gps track it took us a bit over an hour to do the 750-meter or so portage. It would have been a bit faster had we not bothered to put up some marking tape and trim some of the alders and young fir trees on what we thought was the “trail”! Herein lies the danger of having prospectors’ tape with you!
We had just spent a week on the Steel River system, the upper part of which has portage trails which have not been groomed in eight to ten years. This may partly explain why we just got sucked in to this “mystery trail”. It didn’t seem any worse.
On our way back after our happy stumbling upon the actual Napoleon portage trail, we got it done in less than 45 minutes!
Great read! This has been on my bucket list for some time and after reading your trip report I want to do it more than ever..
Ron, a good choice any time! Some excellent campsites, varied scenery and water to paddle. We’ve done it three times. Next, we want to get back to Chee-skon and spend some quality time there – maybe a couple of days hiking the trails and just being there.
We’re lucky to live so close to great places to go canoe tripping.
Here’s to you checking it off that list at least once- and soon!
Hello. I am taking my first canoe trip in Ontario this August and am spending two weeks in the Temagami region. I’m planning on putting in and taking out at Sandy Inlet off of Red Squirrel Rd., but I’m a little wary of the logging roads. I’ve spent lots of time (and a few spare tires over the years) shuffling around the logging roads in northern Maine. Saying they’re rough is an understatement. They are often not marked and one can get lost quickly if you don’t know where you’re going. How would you describe the roads to Sandy Inlet? Is there signage along the road? Would you leave your truck there for two weeks? I’ve got a truck with 4×4, but that won’t help if I blow all my tires!
David, the Red Squirrel Road is in pretty good shape and if you take it a bit slowly you will be fine. It is about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the highway on Red Squirrel Road to the turn-off for Sandy Inlet. The Sandy Inlet side road is the one that is in worse shape but given your vehicle it should not be an issue.
Re: parking: No guarantees but paddlers leave their vehicles there all the time. If you are really concerned, you might send an email to Camp Wanapetei and ask if you could park your vehicle on their property – $5. a day might do it. You could then put in on the camp shore.
Enjoy your visit to Temagami. It is a great paddling destination. | 2019-04-26T04:44:05Z | https://albinger.me/2015/08/15/paddling-to-temagamis-maple-mountain/ |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.