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Guerre d’Algérie : Mémoires de femmes par Béatrice Fainzang avec A.H.
Il y a 50 ans, le cessez le feu scellait l’indépendance de l’Algérie. Cinq femmes de Gironde témoignent.
Le 19 mars 1962, les Accords d’Evian sont conclus mettant fin à huit longues années de guerre. Des deux côtés de la Méditerranée la guerre d’Algérie a fait des milliers de victimes.
Quand on parle de guerre, on pense aux hommes qui l’ont faite, aux combattants. Mais on oublie les femmes et les enfants, pourtant victimes indirectes.
Aujourd’hui, la parole leur revient. Elles qui ont vécu le quotidien de cette guerre, longtemps restée taboue. Sadia, Khedaoudj, Dominique, Arlette et Zohra ont toutes les cinq vécu cette guerre en France ou en Algérie. Chacune se souvient d’un moment fort qui a marqué leur vie et qui révèle la complexité de cette guerre.
Documentaire britannique réalisé en 1989 sur le massacre de My Lai, 1968.
This short documentary examines Le Ly Hayslip’s painful but ultimately triumphant journey from a tragic childhood in war-torn Vietnam to her new life as an American citizen and humanitarian. Produced by Palomar College Television.
Do Thi Bay describes her life as the daughter of a poor peasant family and how, because they had no money and were exploited, she began to follow the revolution as a young girl. Do Thi Bay recalls her time as a courier for the Viet Minh in 1946 carrying letters and documents across the villages. Do Thi Bay describes the time when French African troops broke into her house to search for incriminating materials, and while the troops did not find anything they beat her before leaving.
Former prostitute Duong Thi My Trung discusses how she went to Saigon from the village of Soc Trang and began to earn money by smuggling tax-free items such as American goods. Unfortunately restrictions on the goods began to tighten and as a result, Duong Thi My Trung lost her money. Finding work as a cashier, she explains how her manager tricked her into prostitution.
Madame Duong Van Khang recalls being allowed to participate on an attack of the French military. Her job consisted of helping move soldiers safely to a place where they would be able to attack the enemy and then safely guide them home. Madame Duong Van Khang also describes gathering intelligence on the French and passing the information along to the appropriate people. She explains the different disguises she used in order to complete her tasks. Additionally, Madame Duong Van Khang talks about the experiences of having to grow hemp for the Japanese instead of rice, and the suffering people experienced due to not having the land available to grow food.
H. Bot Adrong describes her village’s preparation for, and participation in, the Battle of Ban Me Thuot in 1975.
Villager Hoang Thi Dan recalls hearing bombs being dropped from planes during the Christmas Bombings and the fear she felt while hiding in a nearby bomb shelter. Her house was destroyed and one of her children was badly wounded, later dying at a nearby medical station. She describes burying her son and not being able to go home again.
Villager Hoang Thi Thu talks about her husband going south to fight and sending letters to him that received no response. She recalls the worry she felt for him and relates her misery. In 1971 she heard that her husband had been killed in action. She describes her pride in him but misses him profusely.
Jane Barton went to Vietnam with the American Friends’ Service Committee to work in a rehabilitation clinic and to observe the treatment of prisoners in Quang Ngai, South Vietnam. She describes evidence of torture and the complicity of the American government. She describes the damages inflicted on Vietnamese civilians by relocation programs and by landmines. Finally, she discusses the negative attitudes of the Vietnamese in her area towards the government of South Vietnam and the American presence.
Le Thi Ma was a young girl during the Diem regime. She reports harsh treatment, forced labor, and learning little at school other than how to salute the flag and sing the national anthem. She says she was present for the “Cedar Falls” search-and-destroy operations by the Americans, during which the inhabitants of Cu Chi dismantled unexploded American bombs and recombined the parts to create landmines, which they then used against American tanks and trucks. She recounts attacking Americans herself from a foxhole by detonating landmines along highways.
Le Thi Ton was a Vietnamese villager. She testifies about a brutal, seemingly casual US assault on her hamlet on January 31, 1967 in which all ten members of her family were killed.
On January 31st they came at around 12:00, exactly at 12:00. My family was on the outer part of the hamlet. And those other people were living in the middle section of the hamlet. We were only about a paddy field in distance from each other.
Ngo Ba Thanh was a consultant in international comparative law who spent years in jail in South Vietnam for her pro-Viet Cong views. She describes going to meetings at the British Ambassador’s residence as president of the International Women Association. The only Vietnamese woman attending these diplomatic dinners, she talks of diplomats, dignitaries and military officials being impressed by her forthright views on politics and the war. Nevertheless her outspoken views, especially those warning General William Westmoreland that the US would not succeed in Vietnam, resulted in her detention for over 2 years.
As the sister-in-law of President Diem, Madame Ngo Dinh Nhu was considered the first lady of South Vietnam in the late 1950s through the early 1960s. Here she argues that the Diem government was the only legitimate government in South Vietnam, that they were undermined by the United States and that the United States, therefore, paid a price. She discusses the Buddhist Crisis of 1963 and the results of the Paris Peace Accords. She reflects on Ngo Dinh Nhu and President Diem’s characters and her own reputation as the “Dragon Lady” of Vietnam. Finally, she describes the diplomatic efforts of Ngo Dinh Nhu towards North Vietnam and the arrogance of the United States in intervening.
Mrs. Nguyen Cong Minh, a refugee from Hue, talks about the Communists launching the 1968 battle for Hue during the New Year celebrations in the city. She remembers that the sound of gunfire was being interspersed with the sounds of firecrackers so no one at the time realized that the Communists were overrunning the city. Nguyen Cong Minh remembers her father being taken away to a reeducation camp and never returning, and her long search to find his remains in the mass graves of reeducation camp prisoners.
Madame Nguyen Thi Binh was the Foreign Minister of the National Liberation Front, and a representative at the Paris peace talks. At the time of the interview, she was the Minister of Education of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and she later served for ten years as Vice President of the country. In the interview she describes life in colonial Saigon, joining the Viet Minh, and the three years spent in a French prison. Mme. Binh then describes her political involvement in the Provisional Revolutionary Government and the peace negotiations in Paris.
Nguyen Thi Cao lived in the Vietnamese village of Cam Ne, near the city of Da Nang. She describes the American destruction of that village in August 1965, and the chaos as the Americans chased and killed many of the villagers, including her daughter.
Nguyen Thi Chiem was a South Vietnamese villager whose husband and children were killed at various points during the Vietnam War. She describes the many hardships people faced under the rule of Ngo Dinh Diem, and the deaths of her family members “by American bombs and shells.” She notes that it was because of Diem’s repressive policies that villagers supported the revolution.
Nguyen Thi Dinh was a Deputy Supreme Commander of the National Liberation Front. Following the war, Madame Dinh served on the Central Committee of the Vietnamese Communist Party and became the first female Major General of the Vietnam People’s Army. She describes in detail her activities against the French, and her subsequent arrest and torture. She then details the repressions suffered under Ngo Dinh Diem, the Tet Offensive, the Phoenix Program, and the fall of Saigon.
Nguyen Thi Duc survived the “Christmas Bombing” of Hanoi in 1972. She describes the shock of the event and the shelter collapsing on her. When she recovered, Ms. Duc was anguished to find out that several family members had been killed in the attack.
Nguyen Thi Hoa was a guerilla fighter for the National Liberation front as a teenager in the 1960s. She describes how she prepared the for the NLF invasion of Hue during the Tet Offensive. Ms. Hoa then details her participation in and the general atmosphere of the ferocious battle of Hue.
Nguyen Thi Mai was the head of the School for New Women in Saigon. She describes how the presence of American troops in Saigon corrupted the youth and led to many young women becoming prostitutes. She recounts the story of one girl who was unable to stop her prostitution after the war, but then attended Ms. Mai’s school and is now back in her native village.
Nguyen Thi Ngo describes political and economic repression under the Ngo Dinh Diem regime. She recalls in the women of her village helping Viet Cong soldiers with food and first aid during the Battle of Ap Bac.
Nguyen Thi Nguyet Anh worked for the National Liberation Front in Da Nang. She recalls her arrest 1963 and again in 1966, both of which resulted in imprisonment and nightly torture under the Ngo Dinh Diem regime. She describes the torture tactics and recalls American military officers present. Finally, she recounts the liberation of Da Nang and the celebrations that followed.
Nguyen Thi Sinh describes the women of her village protesting against the forced labor of their husbands in Ngo Dinh Diem’s agroville or “Strategic Hamlet” program. She recalls being arrested and beaten as a result of the protest. Finally, she describes her attitude toward the Diem regime and the National Liberation Front.
Nguyen Thi Te describes the burning of her village by American soldiers. She recalls being beaten and raped by Americans along with other people from her village.
Nguyen Thi Thiep recounts American soldiers burning the village of Cam Ne, including her house, 1965. She describes being filmed by a film crew and later being forced to leave her home and live in a reeducation camp.
Nguyen Thi Trong recounts the forced relocation of her village, Thanh-tuyen, by American troops in 1966. She describes abandoning all of her belongings and her home to endure life in the relocation camp where many of her children died. She recalls American military promises of support for relocated Vietnamese that were not always honored.
Dr. Pham Thi Xuan Que lived in a village in South Vietnam under the leadership of Ngo Dinh Diem. She describes many of the repressive tactics used by Diem’s secret police, including various forms of torture. Dr. Que tells of how the National Liberation Front enjoyed widespread support within Hue, and of the events surrounding the NLF’s capture and subsequent evacuation of Hue during the Tet Offensive.
Phung Thi Tiem was a factory worker who survived the “Christmas Bombing” of Hanoi in 1972. She describes the bombs exploding just as she and her family entered the shelter and knocking her unconscious. Ms. Tiem then tells of leaving the shelter with her family to aid in the rescue efforts. Because houses had collapsed atop the bomb shelters there were many people trapped. She and others worked for “5 or 6” days just trying to get to those people. She recalls her most painful memory of the event : the sight of an entire family of seven dead among the ruins of their flattened house.
Thuong Thi Mai, a Vietnamese villager from Thuy Bo, describes American soldiers shooting her family and burning and destroying her village.
On the 31st, the Americans came. When they came, we were in the house. They entered the house and pushed us backward. When we could not go back any further they shot my father, my mother, my sister in law and a niece. They killed three persons in the courtyard and shot my mother in the house.
Thu Van went to North Vietnam to study filmmaking after the Geneva Agreements. She describes filming during the Vietnam war, comments on the violence, and discusses documenting the final days of the war as the Americans pulled out and the South Vietnamese fled. Finally, she recalls her reunification with her family after a 20-year separation.
Tran Thi Giai describes American troops rounding up people in her village to send them to relocation camps.
Tran Thi May discusses the role of Vietnam’s intellectual class in resisting Ngo Dinh Diem’s regime. She recalls being chased by the secret police, escaping to Cu Chi, and traveling to and from Saigon in disguise. She also describes surviving the devastation of Cu Chi during Operation Cedar Falls.
Tran Thi Truyen describes her trek down the Ho Chi Minh trail in 1971 to build a field hospital. At 16 years old, she and other women built and staffed the hospital for wounded soldiers. She recounts the horrors she witnessed during her work.
Former NLF soldier Tran Thi Tuyet talks about the agrovilles and her daily life. She recalls that life was relatively quiet until the agrovilles were built under Ngo Dinh Diem as part of the Rural Community Development Program to forcibly relocate sections of the population. She talks about villages being destroyed so an agroville could be constructed. The population suffered and life became hard. The civilians began to revolt and demanded that their land be returned to them. In the beginning the uprising was popular and many people would join in order for life to return to normal. Tran Thi Tuyet also recalls that when the agrovilles were dismantled in 1960 a second uprising occurred and people rushed back to gain control of their former homes. Tran Thi Tuyet discusses why she joined the NLF, as it was the only way not to remain in the agrovilles forever.
A true story of a family in search of freedom. They struggled, survived and ultimately live the American Dream. By Lan Dalat 2009.
Phan Thị Kim Phúc (born 1963) is a Vietnamese-Canadian who is the subject of a famous photo from the Vietnam War. The photo shows her at about age nine running naked on the street after being severely burned on her back by a South Vietnamese napalm attack. The photo was taken by AP photographer Nick Út.
Uỷ Ban Báo Nguy Giúp Người Vượt Biển (Boat People S.O.S. Committee) phát hành năm 1985. Nhóm thực hiện : Tiến Sĩ Nguyễn Hữu Xương, Nhà Văn Phan Lạc Tiếp, Nhà Văn Nhật Tiến, Ký Giả Dương Phục, Ký Giả Vũ Thanh Thủy, Ông James Banerian, Ông Huỳnh Văn Hay cùng sự cộng tác : Khánh Ly, Ban Thùy Dương, TG Recording Studio, SoundTech Recording Studio. Trình Bày : Nhà Văn Lê Tất Điều.
Chaque histoire éclaire un aspect spécifique du drame. Esmija raconte comment en 1992, à Foca, elle a été séquestrée et violée devant ses enfants : « J’avais honte de regarder mon fils dans les yeux », dit-elle. Dika et Nuska retournent au tristement célèbre camp d’Omarska. Torture, exécutions, viols : Omaska était un véritable camp d’extermination. Les deux amies, qui ont été séquestrées ensemble, racontent les sévices, les humiliations dont elles ont été victimes. Elles racontent aussi les violences sexuelles forcées entre des hommes, parfois entre un père et un fils. Un homme aussi témoigne. Si Edo parle, c’est que sa femme ne peut plus le faire. D’origine allemande, elle s’est suicidée après avoir été violée. Murée dans le silence, « elle n’a pas pu supporter la vie après ». À travers son témoignage, on comprend que cette politique visait aussi les couples mixtes. Enfin, il y a Jasna, dont les deux enfants ont été tués et jetés dans un charnier : « Je pouvais tout imaginer : les tueries, les viols, qu’ils ont tué mon mari... Mais qu’ils tuent des enfants, cela n’a pas pu rentrer dans ma conscience. » Jasna veut témoigner car toutes les autres femmes qui ont été détenues avec elles sont mortes.
Face à ces témoignages venus de l’ex Yougoslavie : les visages impassibles et les déclarations sans remords des bourreaux inculpés devant le Tribunal pénal international de La Haye. Les accusés comparaissent pour viols systématiques, viols sur enfants de 12 ans, génocide... Au-delà des histoires personnelles, ce film émouvant et dur lève le voile sur les ressorts politiques de ces viols utilisés comme arme de guerre.
Face à la guerre, face à la violence, face à la misère, face à la discrimination, face à l’ignorance ou à la maladie. Women and War vous propose de découvrir chaque mois le combat difficile de femmes engagées à travers le monde.
Women, War & Peace premiered on your local PBS station Tuesday nights from Oct. 11 to Nov. 8, 2011.
Women, War & Peace is a bold new five-part PBS television series challenging the conventional wisdom that war and peace are men’s domain. The vast majority of today’s conflicts are not fought by nation states and their armies, but rather by informal entities : gangs and warlords using small arms and improvised weapons. The series reveals how the post-Cold War proliferation of small arms has changed the landscape of war, with women becoming primary targets and suffering unprecedented casualties. Yet they are simultaneously emerging as necessary partners in brokering lasting peace and as leaders in forging new international laws governing conflict. With depth and complexity, Women, War & Peace spotlights the stories of women in conflict zones from Bosnia to Afghanistan and Colombia to Liberia, placing women at the center of an urgent dialogue about conflict and security, and reframing our understanding of modern warfare.
Featuring narrators Matt Damon, Tilda Swinton, Geena Davis and Alfre Woodard, Women, War & Peace is the most comprehensive global media initiative ever mounted on the roles of women in war and peace. The series will present its groundbreaking message across the globe by utilizing all forms of media, including U.S. and international primetime television, radio, print, web, and worldwide community screenings, and will be accompanied by an educational and outreach initiative designed to advance international accountability in regard to women and security. Women, War & Peace is a co-production of THIRTEEN and Fork Films.
I Came to Testify is the moving story of how a group of 16 women who had been imprisoned and raped by Serb-led forces in the Bosnian town of Foca broke history’s great silence – and stepped forward to take the witness stand in an international court of law. Their remarkable courage resulted in a triumphant verdict that led to new international laws about sexual violence in war.
Pray the Devil Back to Hell is the astonishing story of the Liberian women who took on the warlords and regime of dictator Charles Taylor in the midst of a brutal civil war, and won a once unimaginable peace for their shattered country in 2003.
When the U.S. troop surge was announced in late 2009, women in Afghanistan knew that the ground was being laid for peace talks with the Taliban. Peace Unveiled follows three women in Afghanistan who are risking their lives to make sure that women’s rights don’t get traded away in the deal.
The War We Are Living travels to Cauca, a mountainous region in Colombia’s Pacific southwest, where two extraordinary Afro-Colombian women are braving a violent struggle over their gold-rich lands. They are standing up for a generation of Colombians who have been terrorized and forcibly displaced as a deliberate strategy of war.
War Redefined, the capstone of Women, War & Peace, challenges the conventional wisdom that war and peace are men’s domain through incisive interviews with leading thinkers, Secretaries of State and seasoned survivors of war and peace-making. Interviewees include Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ; Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee ; Bosnian war crimes investigator Fadila Memisevic ; and globalization expert Moisés Naím. | 2019-04-26T08:30:30Z | http://femmes-guerres.ens-lyon.fr/spip.php?article73 |
Students enrolled in South University Savannah campus’ Partially Online Paralegal Studies program work toward an Associate of Science (AS) degree in Paralegal Studies. South University Savannah’s program provides educational preparation for graduates to become paralegals or legal assistants.
Are you interested in medical assisting schools, but haven’t yet found a medical assisting program right for you? The Associate of Science in Medical Assisting degree program at South University can be the first step toward a career of delivering healthcare treatment as a core member of the medical team. The curriculum places emphasis on the mastery of your clinical and administrative skills, which is reinforced by a 200-hour, unpaid clinical externship in a medical office where you practice the skills and knowledge you learn in the classroom.
If you’re interested in occupational therapy but aren’t ready for graduate school, becoming an Occupational Therapy Assistant is the right career path. As a student in South University’s Associate of Science (AS) in Occupational Therapy Assistant program, you will have the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills needed to embark on this rewarding career. People with certain personality traits and characteristics who enjoy the profession of occupational therapy include those who are caring, creative, and excited about contributing to the health and wellness of others.
The Paralegal degree program is designed to provide educational training for individuals to serve as paralegals or legal assistants. The Paralegal degree consists of specialized course work and a supervised externship in selected legal settings such as law firms, real estate and title companies, banks and state or federal governmental agencies.
If you’re interested in physical therapy but aren’t ready for grad school, getting a Physical Therapist Assistant degree may be of interest. In South University’s Associate of Science (AS) in Physical Therapist Assistant program, you will have the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills needed to embark on this rewarding career. The Physical Therapist Assistant program offers a curriculum that is well rounded in all fundamental concepts and theories as they apply to physical therapy modalities and rehabilitation procedures.
The South University Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree program is designed to provide students with a broad background in general education, and can provide initial training and quality instruction for students seeking entry-level careers in psychology or a graduate degree in the behavioral sciences.
Tap into your natural leadership abilities and turn your potential into a successful career by enrolling in South University's online Bachelor of Business Administration degree program. Designed specifically for working adults who wish to pursue a business degree while maintaining a comfortable work-life balance, this online business education comprehensively covers business strategies while giving you the freedom and flexibility to attend classes at any time of day or night.
With the influence of new technologies, the face of crime is constantly changing. As a result, the need for criminal justice specialists continues to grow at a steady rate. Our Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice online program can enable you to meet this need and propel your career in the broad field of criminal justice.
Students embarking on a career in healthcare management possess strong leadership skills and a genuine concern for others. And we possess the education you need to ensure hospitals and healthcare organizations are not only providing quality care, but are being run efficiently. Our program equips you with the skills you need to propel your career forward and keep up with this changing field with a combination of business and healthcare courses as well as management training.
Become a part of this expanding market by enrolling in the South University Bachelor of Science in Information Technology online program.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at South University’s College of Nursing can prepare you to work in a wide variety of healthcare settings including acute care hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, home health, community-based clinics, and school health clinics.
The Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and practical skills required of a public health professional and advocate for population health. The curriculum provides a broad general education, strong foundation in the human health and disease sciences, and core areas of public health. The curriculum aligns with the competencies expected of a public health practitioner by providing courses in health communication, health disparities, legal and ethical issues, management of public health systems, and policy and research.
Choose South University’s Business Administration degree programs. Whether you are good with numbers, people, computers, or just business concepts in general, a business administration degree can help you get in the door at many businesses and organizations.
Our four-year bachelor’s degree program in Criminal Justice offers comprehensive, relevant, practitioner-oriented preparation for this dynamic, rapidly growing profession. You may choose one of five areas of emphasis – juvenile justice, corrections, law enforcement, crime scene investigation (CSI), and cyber crime. Coursework focuses on the development of real-world knowledge of the criminal justice system in all its complexities, and explores the social, legal, and technological challenges of the field.
Our four-year bachelor’s degree from Healthcare Management program includes coursework which focuses on: the structure and function of health organizations; leadership in healthcare organizations; health ethics and law; and healthcare marketing and strategy.
Our four-year Information Technology Bachelor of Science degree program offers you an industry-related, application-oriented education program focused on: database design and development; client-server 3-tier development; web/internet software development; and object-oriented program design and modeling.
Our four-year bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies program can prepare you for entry-level employment in the legal field by providing you with a broad academic background in: general education; fundamental theoretical legal concepts; and practical applications.
Are you looking for a Bachelor of Science in nursing school? The Nursing RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program at South University is designed for registered nurses who hold an associate’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or who are diploma graduates of a school of nursing accredited by the National League of Nursing (NLNAC).
This is a versatile, four-year Psychology degree program that is applicable to a number of industries. Coursework in the South University Psychology degree program includes: psychological disorders, and the contrasting theoretical views and representative research investigating these disorders; intrapersonal and interpersonal processes such as conformity, social perception, persuasion, group dynamics, and self-esteem; the major theoretical perspectives of personality development, structure, dynamic assessment, and psychological adjustment.
If you’re looking to open doors in your nursing career, the RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree completion program at South University is designed help you earn your degree in the most efficient way possible. Our course schedule provides you the opportunity to combine campus and online classes or take online classes only, allowing you to pursue your degree on your time, without having to put your career on hold.
South University’s program uses a process-based curriculum that allows you to gain a firm grounding in economics, decision-making, behavioral sciences, and strategic environment – all imperative skills to being competitive in the chosen field. Some of the specific skills graduates of our program will have the opportunity to master include the evaluation of diverse business models, an ethical and global perspective in the decision-making process, the ability to apply effective and clear communication skills in influencing others, and the application of effective leadership and management techniques.
The Accelerated Master of Business Administration degree program is designed for the professional working in a variety of organizations who seeks to have a greater understanding of the concepts, organization structures and strategies driving today’s complex organization environment.
Our two-year Healthcare Administration master’s degree program curriculum is intended to provide you with an advanced understanding of: contemporary business practices; modern healthcare systems and organization; policy development and planning techniques; management and leadership strategies; and health behaviors.
An advanced and broad training regarding relevant theories, principles, and dynamic applications.
The necessary skills to engage in effective assessment and treatment practices.
Competency in the understanding of ethical, legal, and professional issues.
The ability to understand the significance and utility of research to the field.
As a student in the South University Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program, you will have the opportunity to learn from faculty members who are dedicated to maintaining high teaching standards, developing intellectual curiosity, advancing critical thinking, and engaging in service to the University, community, and profession.
South University's Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree program offers you an accelerated curriculum designed to meet the growing need for professionals in the high-demand field. Become a part of a learning community of criminal justice experts who will use knowledge to advance the law enforcement, correctional, political, and legal arenas.
The role of Human Resources has evolved. As many people working in the field know, strategic Human Resources Management (HRM) is not just about hiring and firing, it’s about applying the principles of leadership to help companies grow and succeed.
The Master of Science in Leadership degree focuses on providing you with the opportunity to develop skills in leadership, communication, problem solving and teamwork in a broad range of organizations. These skills are critical for successfully managing and leading organizations in today’s dynamic organizational environment.
Have what it takes to be a leader? Enhance your management and leadership skills by enrolling in South University's online Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. Designed specifically for working professionals who wish to pursue a degree while maintaining a comfortable work-life balance, the online MBA program covers the same business strategies as our on-campus programs while giving you the freedom and flexibility to attend classes any time of the day or night.
In this MHA in Healthcare Administration program, you’ll have the opportunity to develop and have the opportunity to learn how to apply knowledge in financial management, law and ethics, marketing, human resources, health policy, and strategic planning to improve healthcare delivery systems. Through case studies, faculty-led discussions, and more, you’ll examine healthcare system organizational models, can learn impactful communication and leadership styles, and study best practices for long- and short-term decision-making.
South University hasdeveloped a Master of Medical Science in Anesthesiologist Assistant degree program that provides education in current practices in anesthesiology and seeks to instill the highest standards of professionalism and service to patients and the community. Our Anesthesiologist Assistant program strives to enhance the overall knowledge and practice of the anesthesia care team by providing you with proficiencies in physiology, pharmacology, patient monitoring, anesthesia equipment and the principles of safe anesthesia care. The program consists of 169 quarter hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical work, and takes place over the course of nine quarters or 28 months.
In your search for physician assistant programs in Georgia, choose South University in Savannah. Our physician assistant courses offer fundamental medical concepts and theories, provides students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to function, with physician supervision, as medical professionals who will serve as valued members of the health care team. Physician assistants perform medical functions that include, but are not limited to, evaluation, monitoring, diagnostics, therapeutics, counseling, and referral.
Are you interested in business and looking at public administration schools? The Master of Public Administration degree program at South University is designed to address the needs of students for applied coursework in areas of critical importance to local, state, and national governmental and non-profit organizations. The Public Administration degree program is organized around core, specialization, elective, and capstone courses that cover a broad range of governmental and non-profit topics to help develop each student’s knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Are you a natural-born leader? Do you work in the public or non-profit sectors? The Master of Public Administration program online at South University can enable you to get the degree you seek to enhance your career potential. Our program provides a non-traditionally structured graduate education designed to meet your needs. Designed for working adults, our Master of Public Administration program is for those seeking to get into or pursue advanced opportunities within the public or non-profit sectors - a degree aligned to your career growth.
The Master of Public Health (MPH) program is designed to educate students about areas of critical importance of local, national and international public health challenges. The program is organized around a curriculum that consists of core competencies, specialization courses, elective sand practicum experience or applied research proposal. This program covers a broad range of topics to help develop each student’s knowledge, skills and abilities as leading public health professionals. Specializations in Public Health Practice or Healthcare Management and Policy allow for in-depth exploration within the public health arena.
To meet the challenging role of a public health professional, you’ll need the skills to handle a broad range of health-related issues, like controlling infectious diseases, improving access to healthcare, and reducing environmental hazards.
Our Master of Public Health program covers a broad range of topics designed to develop the knowledge and skills needed for such an important role in society, and specializations in Public Health Practice or Healthcare Management and Policy allow for in-depth exploration within the public health arena. Our curriculum covers core competencies, specialization courses, and electives, and requires a practicum experience or applied research proposal.
In everyday operations, modern businesses utilize accounting principles and practices to make strategic decisions and navigate the challenges of today’s global economy and regulatory environment. The Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) degree at South University prepares students to apply effective and innovative accounting tools and techniques, equipping them with the technical expertise and leadership skills to pursue accounting careers within diverse organizations, both public and private.
The influence of technology and the changing face of crime have magnified the need for criminal justice specialists. South University's online master’s degree in Criminal Justice program offers you a curriculum designed to meet the growing need for professionals in this field.
Are you looking at information systems and technology schools? The Master of Science (MS) in Information Systems and Technology degree program at South University can prepare you for a career in a range of positions that manage computer information and technology in the digital organization.
This Information Systems and Technology degree program is designed for both professionals in the field and continuing students with undergraduate computer information systems degrees. For other academic or professional training, some existing knowledge of computer information systems is recommended. This Information Systems and Technology degree program offers students knowledge of the business and technical side of bringing organizations into the current age of technology and specializes in designing, developing, deploying, and guiding information systems solutions. All students will take the foundational courses specializing in how information technology architecture can support business operations and how to deploy and manage information systems within that framework.
The Master of Science in Information Systems degree puts leadership skills front and center by preparing students to pursue a career managing information and technology in the digital organization. Designed specifically for working professionals who wish to pursue a degree while maintaining a work-life balance, the MS in Information Systems & Technology program online covers the same concepts as our on-campus programs while giving you the freedom and flexibility to attend classes any time of the day or night.
Do you feel that you have the unique ability to pair practical business tactics with the softer skills of relationship building and creative problem solving? If you think you could excel at cutting through the clutter and implementing best-practice management techniques to the benefit of your organization, now is the time to pursue a Master of Science in Leadership from South University.
Our Master of Science with a specialization in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner degree program is ideal for professional growth in the nursing field. This degree program focuses your education on community-based care with an emphasis on at-risk and vulnerable populations. If you’re looking to give back to your community by increasing health promotion, protection, and disease prevention, you will find the path to that rewarding career starts here.
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With our RN to Master of Science in Nursing with a Nurse Educator specialization, you can be on your way to a more fulfilling career, mentoring and developing the skills of less-experienced nurses. This specialization provides coursework that focuses on curriculum development, teaching strategies, and evaluation techniques as well as practicum courses.
The implementation of the latest technology and informatics solutions cannot be underestimated in the modern healthcare setting. To create efficient and high quality outcomes, nursing leaders will need to arm themselves with the skills and information needed to contribute to a successful healthcare setting. Our RN to Master of Science in Nursing with a Nursing Informatics specialization is designed to prepare you to develop, implement, and evaluate new operational data systems, train healthcare professionals in the use of computerized clinical information systems, and collect and analyze data for patient information and improvements of clinical care.
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South University’s Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Post Graduate Certificate program can help students prepare for their career. With a combination of graduate-level health sciences theory and supervised, in-depth clinical experience, students practice core competencies required for national certification. The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner certificate focuses on community-based care with an emphasis on at-risk and vulnerable populations. Nurses looking to give back to their communities by increasing health promotion, protection, and disease prevention will find the path to that rewarding career starts here.
The Post Graduate Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner, at South University, Online is a 38-credit hour program designed for individuals who hold a master’s degree in nursing that has prepared them for practice in another advanced role or in an advanced nursing specialty. The certificate program provides students the knowledge and decision making skills to provide direct advanced practice nursing health care services to individuals across the life span.
Nurse Educators play a key role in strengthening the ever-important nursing workforce. You can earn this Nurse Educator Post Graduate Certificate and be on your way to a more fulfilling career, mentoring and developing the skills of entry-level nurses. This certificate program provides coursework that focuses on curriculum development, teaching strategies, and evaluation techniques as well as practicum courses. Under the guidance of an approved preceptor, you’ll gain relevant experience in clinical and academic settings so you can enter into your chosen path with confidence. | 2019-04-24T10:10:03Z | https://fashion.comparetopschools.com/college/south-university.aspx?s=Business&stab=Expenses |
For our clients as well as our own projects, I am constantly reviewing every WordPress AdSense plugin that comes around to serve ads from Google AdSense. A good WordPress AdSense plugin is worth a lot, although we often use free versions. I recently updated my notes on approx. 14 free AdSense plugins and wanted to give the readers a quick overview of the 5 most downloaded WordPress plugins that you can use to serve Google AdSense. I listed the plugins in alphabetical order, and so there is no rating.
Update: After it became known that the only plugin that truly allows ad optimization is no longer under development (Ad Injection) and the others don’t allow you to adjust their code and boost ad income, I developed the free WordPress AdSense plugin Advanced Ads. It not only manages ads, but also allows you to hook into it or create useful add-ons. Get Advanced Ads for free on wordpress.org or learn more on the plugin homepage.
A few months after I published this article, I decided to write my own WordPress AdSense plugin to manage and optimize ads and other codes. Before that, I used some of the plugins listed below, but they are either outdated or not meant to really increase your income. Therefore, I wrote Advanced Ads.
At first, it looks like a normal ad management plugin and would serve you well like one. Under the hood, the plugin is developed on WordPress standards, allowing developers to customize a lot of things. There are already a few extensions that I created that show how easy it is to create simple, but powerful ad boosting methods and use them with Advanced Ads. Find Advanced Ads on wordpress.org or learn more about it from the plugin website.
Update: Ad Injection is an outdated WordPress AdSense plugin for years and the author no longer reacts in the forum. I would advise against using it.
One year ago, when I chose an AdSense plugin for one of our WordPress platforms, I considered Ad Injection to be a really great plugin. It offers two very important features that professional WordPress websites might need: cache support and a lot of test options. There was just one big argument against it: the plugin allows just a maximum number of ads without doing a bit more code work than just copy and pasting. Until then, the plugin development seemed to have stopped. Believing the forum, cache support is not working with the latest caching plugins. However, people are still amazed by the options for tweaking their income.
Playing a bit more with this WordPress ad plugin made me realize that it is rather complicated and not very user-friendly. The author tried really hard when describing all the options, and I personally like the way that he wrote the helpful FAQ. Still, I wouldn’t recommend using a plugin that is not somehow still under development and that is too difficult to adjust to your own individual needs.
Based on the raw numbers, AdRotate is one of the most popular ad plugins. I still remember when people first told me about it in a session that I gave on ad optimization more than a year ago. Having tested this ad plugin for WordPress, I must admit that people made a good choice when using it. The free version offers flexible ad management with basic settings. The interface is simple and almost clean.
Once you have installed the free version from the WordPress repository, you will notice a lot of disabled options. It seems like 2/3 of the backend content is just a dummy of features from the pro version. I completely sympathize with a plugin author offering additional paid services. In this case, however, I think he overdoes it a bit. There is definitely a benefit in the commercial version like the advanced reporting and planning, but the great usability from the first glance loses a lot when you are desperately clicking dummy checkboxes.
Update: The plugin was removed from wordpress.org.
Imagine that you want to develop a WordPress plugin for Google AdSense. How would you name it? Do you wonder if I would tell you that there is a – and not the only one – plugin actually called Google AdSense?
Most of those plugins are unmaintained for a longer period or didn’t have any real benefit. This Google AdSense plugin for WordPress seems to be an exception – at first glance. I saw the screenshots, the active developer team in the forum, and the feature that one doesn’t have to create ads in AdSense directly – even though I would prefer that personally. I felt stupid installing the plugin. The options were so limited that I couldn’t believe that it was a plugin that has been downloaded approx. 180,000 times.
What the plugin offers is the ability to create up to 3 ads that are then displayed on your front page. Their changelog page is a joke – most of it involves updates for the translations. The PRO-plugin page in the backend is bigger than the core features. There isn’t even an ad plugin available for purchase. Therefore, in this case at least, the name of the plugin does not provide what it promises.
Update: The WordPress AdSense plugin was removed from wordpress.org.
Simple Ads Manager is the plugin of my choice. It needs some time to understand, but has the best proportion between complexity in features and usability. The advert management is flexible and even allowed selling ads directly. You can also perform simple tests. Even Google DFP is directly supported.
The latest reviews show two drawbacks in the development: errors are being echoed and the click counting is wrong. Personally, I don’t care about click counting because this is done by my ad networks. However, if you sell ads directly with a fixed amount of ads, this feature is critical. Since this bug has not been fixed for a long period, I believe that the author doesn’t have enough time to maintain the plugin. In such cases, you should think about choosing a plugin that comes with a business model than one that is developed for free. From my experience in ad optimization, I know how even small technical changes eat up your valuable time.
Still, if you can live with the bugs or are a developer yourself, SAM is a great plugin and not only when serving AdSense in WordPress.
Based on the reviews and downloads, this WordPress AdSense plugin is slim, simple to use, and comes with an option to experiment with ad placements in posts. For someone who needs only up to 10 ad codes and doesn’t know how to place shortcodes or functions into template files, Quick AdSense really seems to be a simple solution that I can recommend.
As major limitations, even for smaller websites, I would mention that placing ads outside the post content or widgets isn’t supported. In most cases, publishers also want to use banners outside the main wrapper or in the header. Still, for beginners, this is everything you might need to get started with Google AdSense in WordPress.
Find Quick AdSense on wordpress.org.
As I mentioned, I have reviewed many more AdSense plugins for WordPress, but they are too small, too young, or too buggy to mention them here. Feel free to share your experience with these or other AdSense plugins below in the comments.
Great write up. I find Quick Adsense to be the simplest and quickest to implement though I have also heard good things about Ad Injection.
I’ve used “All in one adsense” (http://linewbie.com/wordpress-plugins/all-in-one-adsense-and-ypn) for years, it has always worked good for me, I have tried others, but non are as good as this one. Though I’ve heard good things about premium adsense plugins too (you have to buy them), I haven’t tried them.
Thanks for the tip. I also found the plugin in the WordPress plugin directory, but it was not updated there. I miss some information on their website that motivate me more to give it a try.
Hi Thomas! Great article. I’m wondering if anyone has come to you asking about plugins that allow you to split test various adsense positions and ad types in your wordpress blog? I thought that would be useful, so I built a plugin (see my link), but it’s getting little traction at the moment. Do people not care, or do people just not want to pay for anything that could make them more money? Thanks for your insight!
thanks for your comment. Indeed I do split tests for adsense ads and there wasn’t a public a working solution, so I developed one. I think such a plugin is needed, but you might not doing the best job in selling it. Maybe I can help you, if you’d like.
I am using QuickAdsnese and quiet satisfied. Thanks for the post.
Thanks for the nice post. I am also already using QuickAdsnese and thats awesome.satisfied.
What do you like most about QuickAdSense?
I like the idea to separate the ads on different devices, the only thing is that is it possible to insert the ads into different positions in a single post?
Hi angel, if you are referring to Advanced Ads, then yes, you can inject ads into posts.
Thanks Thomas for the Adsense plugin suggestions, the article is very timely as I want to monetise my blog easily but choosing the best plugin is not so simple.
FYI I found an article which warns people to be careful when choosing a “Free” Google Adsense plugin. Your viewers may wish to take note also!
Hi Traci, thanks for noticing that. The great thing about WordPress is the mass of people watching very closely. I also once found this type of “sharing” mentality in a WordPress plugin. It is generally a good advice to have a look at the support and review section before installing a plugin from wordpress.org. Still, there are a lot of great AdSense plugins out there – free and commercial ones.
I found this an interesting read as I have been having Adsense problems for quite some time. The last I have tried is the Google Adsense plugin and it increases my Adsense views immensely but I still have the same issue with my Vidzoom first or splash page. The adds disappear after a second or 2 and I am unsure how much this is affecting my views and income?
Hi Tad, sure, when ads disappear, there is with certainty an affect on your ad income. So you should definitely have someone find the cause of it.
Came here looking for some good Adsense plugins for WordPress. There is some good info in this post, but I couldn’t finish reading it – too many usage errors. I wish authors would make a better effort.
Thanks Dino, but what is a “usage error” in your opinion?
the answer on this really depends on what you want to accomplish. For simple use of AdSense QuickAdSense seems to be a good choice. For more complex placements and tests, it isn’t.
Great research and writing, Thomas. My site is WordPress hosted, but I haven’t downloaded WP. How do I use Quick Adsense in this situation? I only want three Adsense sidebar widget ads.
Hi Belinda, showing ads on your wordpress.com hosted site is very limited. Please have a look on http://en.support.wordpress.com/advertising/. If you are serious about earning money with your content, please consider to move to your own domain with WordPress as a CMS asap.
Great and helpful posts Thomas, especially for me….a super newby to the world of blogging and Adsense. I started a very simple microniche website using a free WordPress template and got fast Adsense approval. After a bit of back linking my site is earning an average of $2.50 per day already. The plan is to create 100+ microniche sites. Is $2.50/day below average, average, or above average? My CTR is 2.70%.
Hi RobbH, congrats on your projects. I personally prefer to focus on very few projects, but some topics just don’t get enough traction. $2.50/day is a rather neutral number – meaning – not telling me enough. How is your CPC? What is your website about? a CTR of 2.70% is ok for a topic blog.
Thanks for the reviews. I considered SimpleAds but found a lot of 1-star reviews perhaps from lack of support. Quick Adsense seems reliable despite some of the limitations you mentioned. Usually I’ll choose something that really works even if it’s missing features… we can often ad features.
Hi Joel, I think there is a solution for every target group here. SAM is great to not only display ads, but do a bit more tricks and tests with them. I didn’t want to miss it in the past even when I had to hack it. Quick AdSense is great to just throw AdSense onto your website without a need to code yourself or spend a lot of time optimizing the ad performance.
I had earlier tried the Google AdSense Plugin which you did not recommend, and I’ve had some bad experience with that one. The reviews on WordPress explains a lot for that plugin.
After reading your suggestions, I tried Quick Adsense and it worked perfectly. It’s lightweight and very flexible in regards to exactly where you want the Ads placed in the post / page areas.
Hi Chandra, I am very glad I could help!
I am delighted that I came upon this website. Thanks God I came throughout on this website. This information will definitely going to help me with adsense.
Depends on your purpose. Selling ads, using different ad networks, inserting AdSense on few position?
Is there a wp ad manager plugin which is geo compatible bcoz such plugin im looking for my web site Bright Verge. Adrotate gives the ability to target ads via cities and countries. Any one which can target counties and states? Appreciate a reply.
I am using the Google DFP ad server for this. There will be an integration of DFP in Advanced Ads soon.
Hi there great post i have got approved for my adsense a week ago and excited about the ad placement on my blog..
Thomas thank you for the great article. I am going to try your adsense plugin. The one I am using seems to have glitched, and is not working. Went from 10 dollars a day off my site to .24 cents. Aggravating.
I wanted to ask you. Do you inject your own ads in order to make money off it for your plugin as it’s a free version. As someone who makes money from adsese, I didn’t think you would.
Hi Jesse, don’t worry, I don’t inject ads. There are some premium add-ons that support the development of the free version as well and I appreciate if people buy them, but I don’t take a cut from the ad impressions.
I don’t know every ad network – even though I test a lot – but until now every network worked with Advanced Ads.
How do I add my adsense codes?
You find the manual on http://wpadvancedads.com.
Thomas I reviewed the manual yesterday. Is it possible for you to give me an example of getting two different google adsense ads into all my blog posts? I read ad injection today, but that’s for just one page.
Your artical is very useful for me it is very simple artical but covered all topic .
i recently applied for adsens and got approved but the problem is i am not getting much which i expected from .
can you suggest me any simple adsens pulgin which help me to boost revenue.
Hi Furquah, it is not really the tool that boosts the income, but the methods. There are multiple ways to increase AdSense income, like a smart positioning or testing different ad sizes and the best ad plugins (like of course my own Advanced Ads plugin) are just means to implement what you need. In a lot of my articles I cover some tactics and methods, just keep on reading.
Your income potential also depends on your traffic, location of your visitors and topic.
Good luck boosting your revenue.
Thank you Thomas. Will do.
I agree, before Ad Injection was abandoned for more than two year, it was a great solution to inject ads. There was recently a minor update, maybe this was a new beginning.
Thank you, Dudeja, for taking the time to give me your great feedback.
Hi Rob, I don’t know the Google AdSense widget plugin, but it seems broken. Your ads are cut off.
Great Plugin for wordpress, i must say and thanks for the information. However, you described it very nicely.
Nice advice, i am trying different plugins for different application ,you suggestion valued added to my word press knowledge.
I like Quick AdSense, but it is outdated now. Use adsense plugin wisely, may be plugin developer will stealing your page views.
Thank you for your comment. I agree that there were incidents where developers did switch codes, but what would you suggest potential users to do against it, resp. how could they test if this happens to them?
i already uses one of the plugins from that i am reading your blog post its really aweome and please share this type of article It also provides information on its promotion events, expected income on first day release and predictions among others.
Hi, I don’t know what you mean by “perfect”, but I am pretty confident that my Advanced Ads plugin is one of the easiest to most reliable AdSense plugins out there.
Congrats for the plugin! It’s really easy to introduce the ads on pages.
I am writing something like this on my blog as well. I have been using Quick Adsense from last few years and happy with it.
I have recently started using premium plugins like WordPress Ads Pro, it seems promising. But I’ll have to use a few more before deciding on the long term solution.
i’m trying your plugin !
Thanks Rodrigo, for taking the time to write. A plugin that wasn’t updated for so long and has no many reviews is hard for me to recommend, but good that you mentioned it to give others the chance to try it out.
Interesting idea, but it seems that one needs an account to your service so it is not really something I would recommend right away.
Would you mind elaborating on the issue you see with creating an account? It’s currently free for all users that have less than 50,000 daily pageviews. If you’d prefer, you can email me the response. Always happy to receive feedback.
Thanks to post such a nice article about wordpress plugins. I am still not understood the policies of these tools in term of revenue. I had tried many plugins but didn’t see any improvement.
Hi, these tools don’t take something from your revenue. Some have premium versions you can purchase or others might have sponsors to finance the project. The plugin is also a tool and it is about using it right in order to improve results. I write a lot about ad optimization here on webgilde and it is on you to choose the tool and apply them. Anyway, I believe that my Advanced Ads plugin is made for ad optimization and there is a growing number of tutorials there too.
Thanks for this great adsense plugin. I use google publisher plugin, seem no increase in cpc.. I want to try the adsense target..Do you try this?
I have to believe that my Advanced Ads plugin is the best to increase the performance of AdSense, this is why I built it 🙂 However, I do test other solutions, but don’t want to end up with too many different ones. I prever to have a single solution for all the optimizations I need.
Great article. I would definitely buy one of these. I recently bought Ads-pro which was a total waste of money. It is definitely one of the worst plugins I have come across.
I used Quick Adsense for 3 years, and now they just return error when I install them on my new sites.
It is an old post. The Official Google Adsense plugin for WordPress is now doing much more than the old days.
Please specific what it does more now. Last time I checked, the official AdSense plugin wasn’t much better and I still receive complains about it from users who changed to other plugins.
I used to insert code manually in the theme above and below content as well as sidebars sometimes but you definitly need a plugin to enhance your earnings. I gave a 3 day try to Now! Plugin for AdSense but it’s not that good. I will try All in One Adsense or Ad Injection. Thanks for the tips.
Don’t forget about my Advanced Ads plugin. It does come with plenty of ad injections, especially those you asked for.
I used to have Adsense on my site about a year ago but took it off because I wasn’t making any money. Now I’ve learned more I want to give it another go. Your plug in sounds interesting – I updated WordPress so that I can install it.
I’m interested in the ad rotation aspect because I think many viewers get ad blindness that affects income. How does this affect what you set in Adsense. I understand that if you set custom channels then more advertisers will be able to bid on your space which should increase the click price. If you’ve specifically set the ad as above the fold, how does this work or affect you in terms of ad rotation if the ad is the displayed in a different area on your page. How is it best to set Adsense up so you have full flexibility where you can place and test ad’s.
I used custom channels before so that I could have targeted ads on specific posts. Can I set ads to appear on specific posts with your plug in and am I then able to change or test where they appear on that post for best results.
Sorry for the long question, but I manually added Adsense in the past and now want to set it up in much quicker and easier to change way.
Hi Kevin, you can rotate different ad sizes on the same spot using Advanced Ads and also target specific posts, categories or page types. I have a rotation-position feature on my todo list too, but it is not yet ready.
Great job. I haven’t used used all of them but still found the official google AdSense plugin to be the best . I am currently using it and getting a better impression and ctr.
Good to know that it works. Many people don’t like that it takes over your site without them seeing what it actually does – because most code it executes is not visible. And it injects a lot of code into your sites html and blows it up too.
A hugely motivated and insightful article for bloggers who are willing to monetize their blog through AdSense. My domain Puzzle Duniya just crossed 6 months barrier and now i am going to apply for AdSense account. This article is going to help me a lot for my future monetization strategies. I also like the other comments made by specialists. Can anybody tell how Google’s own AdSense plugin works? Has anyone used it?
I did indeed test the plugin and was not happy with the implementation. You can’t extend it and it injects plenty of additional code. It is also easy to spot that it was not written with compatibility in mind. However, for many small publishers it might work without problems.
Wow…so helpful ! Thank you for sharing this adsense plugins.
Great article.according to you which of the plugin is best?
But thanks, it really works like charm otherwise.
I am regular reader of your blog site.
Can you please suggest best adsense revene sharing plugins for my multi author blog?
I am fed up by searching too much and tested almost all plugins.
Sure, you can use Advanced Ads for this following the instructions on https://wpadvancedads.com/manage-revenue-share-on-mulit-author-blogs/.
Hi Thomas, I am Mehedi Hasan, very new in the blogging world. I have taken my blogging project for 5 years. I have an approved AdSense account. I think all the Adsense plugins you have discussed are good enough to implement into the site. Definitely, this list of best Adsense plugins helps both the newbie and advanced users to get the best out of their AdSense income. Once again Thanks for this nice and effective list.
You are right, all of them can help with the basic implementation of AdSense.
Hello Thomas, i think it’s better to add some more free adsense plugins here which will let the user choose the right one for their blogs.
The biggest challenge of any professional blogger is to increase the income from the blog. And Adsense indeed is one of the most useful ways of increasing your income.
A great way to boost your income here is to install a good plug in. This three given here are really awesome and I would definitely try this out. | 2019-04-21T12:07:43Z | https://webgilde.com/en/wordpress-adsense-plugins/ |
15.5 % Recommended High acidification power: Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet IONYSwf™ is the first wine yeast that has been selected within the Saccharomyces cerevisiæ species for its capacity to significantly and naturally acidify must during fermentation. Wines obtained from high maturity grapes and fermented with this yeast are well-balanced and more fresher.
15 % Mouthfeel Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet Selected in Spain by (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), VELLUTO EVOLUTION™ is characterized by a high production of glycerol but also fruity and balsamic aromas. During many years of selection project and then trials in wineries from different regions of the world, VELLUTO EVOLUTION™ has demonstrated its interest for voluptuous red wines to be aged such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Tempranillo, Bobal, Monastrell and Pinot Noir.
14 % Recommended Enhances varietal characters, mouthfeel and volume. Helps extraction of soft phenolics. Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet A premium Bordeaux selection, CSM is well suited for high quality reds particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, from cool to warm regions. CSM is red fruit-driven and favours extraction of soft tannins and retention of colour. Alcohol tolerance to 14% v/v. Successfully used with other varieties including Barbera, Malbec, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese and Shiraz. Produces wines that are typically soft but with prominant aromas of berries, spice and liquorice. Promotes tight structure and adds complexity along with balanced, round mouthfeel. Has the potential to reduce vegetal aromas.
16 % Not really recommended High ester production Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet A yeast from the Massey University culture collection. It is used to produce very aromatic white wine, contribute complexity in the production of red wines for aging, and to produce rosés and ‘sticky’ wine. After completion of fermentation, the yeast flocculates and settles to give compact lees. Produces a high concentration of esters giving fruit salad aroma, particularly at fermentation temperatures below 20°C. The yeast ester aroma decreases over time as fermentation esters hydrolyse.
15 % Strongly recommended Generally neutral Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet Isolated in Stellenbosch, South Africa, M2 is used as a general purpose wine yeast for a wide range of red, white and rosé styles. Noted to impart esters. Has potential to accumulate higher than normal concentrations of succinic acid and is sensitive to sulphur dioxide at pH 3.2 or lower.
17 % Recommended Enhances varietal characters. Contributes to a luscious mid-palate Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet RP15 was selected from spontaneous Rockpile Syrah fermentations. This Californian isolate is used in concentrated reds, particularly Shiraz, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot where a moderate fermentation rate is desired for rich, lush, balanced mouthfeel and full bodied wines. RP15 has a moderate nitrogen demand and contributes to varietal flavour, red fruit and mineral aromatic note development.
16 % Recommended Enhances varietal characters and palate volume Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet Syrah is a Côtes du Rhône isolate particularly recommended for Shiraz, Merlot and Carignan styles. Enhances mouthfeel and promotes stable colour extraction. Best suited for warm to hot climate fruit. Typical aromas include violets, raspberries, cassis, strawberries, black pepper and spiciness. Other recommended varieties include Barbera, Nebbiolo and Sangiovese. Exhibits rapid onset of fermentation.
14 % Not really recommended Enhances varietal characters, mouthfeel and texture Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet T306 is an indigenous yeast isolated from natural fermentation of Pinot Noir at Tyrrell’s Vineyards, Hunter Valley, NSW. Mainly used for fruit focused white varieties including Chardonnay, Semillon, Chenin Blanc, Riesling, and Pinot Gris for imparting aroma characters such as exotic tropical fruit and pineapple. Compliments & adds depth to varietal characters, especially in Chardonnay & Riesling. Can also contribute to mouthfeel, particularly with lees contact time. Enhances aromatic expression in weak intensity fruit. Suited for tank & barrel fermented whites and early release fruit driven red wines from warm to hot regions.
15 % Not really recommended Neutral Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet Specialised sparkling wine yeast for the fermentation of both base wines and secondary bottle fermentation. This yeast strain produces high quality wines, preserving both the grape variety and terroir. Renowned for the production of sparkling wine by the traditional method, this yeast is also valued for the production of still wine worldwide. Excellent adaptation to the most difficult liquors: low pH, low temperature, high alcohol content.
15 % For fresh tropical fruit thiols (3MH and 3MHA) Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet IOC BE THIOLS is the result of an innovative yeast -selection technology which truly brings out fruity thiols (in citrus and exotic fruits) in white or rose wines without being able to form SO2. These characteristics make IOC BE Thiols an exceptional tool for producing healthy, clear, thiolated wines, while at the same time keeping sulphite contents at their lowest level.
IOC Divine™ Saccharomyces cerevisiae 14 % Neutral Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet The IOC DIVINE yeast is suited to making sparkling wines using the Traditional Method. This yeast reveals good fermentation qualities typified by a sustained rate of fermentation, a good tolerance for alcohol and the ability to ferment under difficult conditions. It has also been selected for its rapid autolysis, which gives the wine exceptional richness and volume in the mouth. It produces sparkling wines with a great aromatic complexity that are particularly long in the mouth.
IOC Fizz+™ Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. bayanus 14 % Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet The IOC FIZZ+ yeast has been chosen to meet the needs of those making highly expressive sparkling wines using the Charmat (Italian) Method. It has very good fermentation qualities in secondary fermentation and thus ensures quick and complete secondary fermentation. It also contributes to the aromatic intensity of such wines by accentuating their fruit notes.
IOC Fizz™ Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. bayanus 18 % Neutral Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet The IOC FIZZ yeast has been selected for making high-quality sparkling wines using the Charmat Method. Its ability to adapt itself to difficult conditions helps to ensure rapid and complete secondary fermentation, even at low temperatures and with high levels of alcohol.
Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet Gaia is a natural bio control agent that can be used during red grape harvest and pre-fermentation steps to suppress the growth of microorganisms responsible for acetic acid production, such as Kloeckera apiculate/Hanseniaspora uvarum. It is an active dry yeast (Metschnikowia fructicola) which has negligible fermenting capacity, consequently it will not contribute to alcoholic fermentation. Gaia’s antimicrobial activity reduces the undesirable population of acetic acid producing yeast, especially Kloeckera, and thus is a natural means to reduce the use of SO2 in picking bins, as well as during pre-macerations and cold soaks of red grapes. Subsequent inoculation with a selected Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain for alcoholic fermentation is not impeded by the use of Gaia.
16 % Recommended Volume and mouthfeel Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet A high glycerol producer, IOC R 9008 helps to decrease herbaceous characters, astringency and aggressive tannin sensations and limits the hot sensation caused by ethanol. Suited for difficult conditions, with musts from warmer winemaking regions, it helps to minimise the perceptions of dryness and bitterness whilst, at the same time, intensifying the mineral notes and length in the mouth. IOC R 9008 has been chosen to develop complex ripe fruit aromas and volume in the mouth for structured red wines made from concentrated grapes at full maturity.
15 % Enhances varietal aromas Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet Recommended for Pinot noir for its excellent ability to preserve colour. It increases the colour intensity from 5 to 15% when compared to many other selected or native yeasts. Its essential sensory contribution is to accentuate the varietal fruit aromas (strawberry, gooseberry, blackberry) typical of many red grape types, with a good balance between the freshness and maturity of the fruit, and with finesse and elegance.
15 % Enhances varietal aromas Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet Increases conversion rate of thiols via enzyme activity, strong citrus and passion fruit aromas while limiting herbaceous characters. A high 3MH & 3MHA producer, ideal for Sauvignon blanc.
15 % Recommended Enhances varietal aromas Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet New Chardonnay yeast that produces fresh, complex and balanced wines. Amplifies roundness in mid-palate and increases freshness. Highlights fresh citrus and stone fruit aromas.
14 % Strongly recommended Esters Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet Selected in Narbonne France by the National Research Institute of Agronomy (INRA) for its fruity aroma in production of red and white Vins Nouveaux. Due to the production of relatively stable esters, particularly isoamyl acetate, 71B gives a characteristic fruity aroma which reinforces the grape varietal profile. 71B also softens high acid musts by partially metabolizing malic acid (up to 20-40%). A popular strain for production of fresh fruity red wines, including those for early consumption, and enhances wine aromas of Viognier and Gamay. Noted for its ability to limit red wine tannin, colour and structure. A compatible yeast strain for MLF.
16 % Recommended Enhances varietal aromas, mouthfeel and volume, moderate ester contribution Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet A Portuguese isolate, selected to ferment white wine with delicate fruit character. Promotes clean aromatic characteristics, imparting subtle ester notes and intensifies wine mouthfeel with lees contact. Particularly suited to fermentation of varietal white wines from cooler climates which aim to have delicate fruit flavour, elegance and mouthfeel. In relatively neutral white varieties, Ba11 encourages the fresh fruit aromas of orange blossom, pineapple and apricot.
15 % Not really recommended Enhances varietal characters, mouthfeel, volume, complexity and contribute to color stability Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet BM45 was isolated in the early 1990’s in collaboration with the Consorzio del Vino Brunello de Montalcino and the University of Siena. Selected for Sangiovese fermentations, but valuable for fermentation of a range of red wines including Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Produces high levels of polysaccharides resulting in wines with significant mouthfeel and superior colour stability. BM45 also enhances aroma complexity, including attributes of jam, spice and earthy elements in red varieties. It also is used to minimize vegetal characteristics. BM45 is a relatively slow starter and is well suited for long maceration programs. Also useful in full-bodied white wines for increasing mouthfeel and complexity. BM45 can produce significant amounts of SO2. Wines made with BM45 may be relatively more difficult to induce MLF.
16 % Not really recommended Enhances varietal characters, mouthfeel, colour stability, complexity and contributes to color stability Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet BM4X4 is a blend of two yeast strains: BM45 plus a complementary yeast known for its fermentation reliability. BM45 is known and appreciated around the world for its round mouthfeel and stable colour (see description for BM45). While BM45 has a very strong following among winemakers who appreciate its suitability for long maceration programs, there are others who desire the attributes of BM45 but with a more timely and secure fermentation. BM4X4 achieves this goal. During the yeast growth phase, BM4X4 has the unusual capacity of releasing a significant quantity of polyphenol reactive polysaccharides into the fermenting must. The quantity and the quality of the polysaccharides released during fermentation facilitate the production of red wines with great mouthfeel and improved colour stability with dependable fermentation kinetics under difficult fermentation conditions. BM4X4 is also well suited for full bodied white wines, bringing roundness to the mouthfeel and enhancing aroma.
16 % Enhances varietal aromas and esters Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet A yeast selected from the Pasteur Institute Yeast Culture Collection, Lalvin C is a French wine region isolate that has been used in winemaking since the early 1960’s. Suited for a wide range of winemaking applications, particularly for production of fresh and fruity white wine styles, as well as early release fruit driven red wines and wines made by carbonic maceration. Lalvin C is known to produce varying amounts of the ester amyl acetate. A clean fermenter that enhances the varietal character of the fruit. Can degrade up to 45% L-malic acid.
17 % Strongly recommended Enhances varietal characters and complexity. Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet Lalvin Clos has been selected by the University of Rovira and Virgili in Spain (Biotecnología Enológica de la Facultad de Enología de Tarragona) from the Priorat, situated in the Tarragona area. The selection criteria of this strain was to preserve the typical characteristics of wines from the Priorat D.O.C (Denomination de Origen), where alcohol and polyphenol levels are usually very high. Launched in Australia in 2010, CLOS has achieved outstanding success in the fermentation of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Grenache and Tempranillo. Driving underlying complex savoury notes with an overall heightened expression of varietal characters, this yeast is achieving some outstanding results. The resulting wines have a good balance between mouthfeel and structure. Lalvin CLOS can tolerate difficult conditions such as high alcohol, low nutrient demand and wide fermentation temperature limits.
18 % Recommended Neutral and elegant Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet DV10 was selected by the Station Oenotechnique de Champagne (SOEC) in the Champagne region and is approved by the Comité Interprofessional du Vin de Champagne (CIVC) in Epernay. Recommended for white and red table wines where a rapid, neutral fermentation is required. DV10 demonstrates strong fermentation kinetics under stressful conditions of low pH, high total SO2 and low temperature. A clean fermenter that respects varietal character, and typically results in softer palate than can be found with other one-dimensional “workhorse” strains. Also recommended for late harvest hites. Compatible for malolactic fermentation.
18 % Recommended Neutral Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet Isolated in Champagne, EC1118 has a wide range of applications where a rapid neutral fermentation is required, including fermentation of white and red wines table wines, secondary fermentation, late harvest whites and also for barrel fermentations and restarting stuck ferments. EC1118 has high fermentation vigour, low nitrogen demand, ferments over a wide temperature range (10°- 30°C), tolerates up to 18% v/v alcohol, and is killer active. Flocculates well with very compact lees. Relatively high level of colour extraction in red wines. Under low nutrient conditions, EC1118 can produce significant amounts of SO2 (eg. up to 50 mg/L) which may contribute to MLF inhibition. When SO2 production is low, this yeast is MLF compatible.
16 % Recommended Contributes an increase in palate volume for whites and promotes texture and phenolics in red wines. Enhaces varietal fruit expression. Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet ICV D21 was isolated in 1999 from the Pic Saint Loup Languedoc “terroir” during a special regional program run by the Institut Coopératif du Vin (ICV) Natural Micro-Flora Observatory and Conservatory. ICV D21 was selected for fermenting red wines where stable colour, intense fore-mouth, mid-palate tannin structure, and fresh aftertaste are desired outcomes. Unlike most wine yeasts, ICV D21 contributes both higher acidity and positive polyphenol reactive polysaccharides. Strong interactions of the polysaccharides with the floral and fruity volatile compounds contribute to a more stable aromatic profile in the mouth. These attributes avoid the development of cooked jam and burning-alcohol sensations in highly mature and concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz. It allows for the expression of fruit from the grapes while reducing the potential for herbaceous characters in Cabernet Sauvignon. Noted as a reliable fermenter, even under high temperature and low nutrient conditions. When blended with wines fermented with ICV D254 and ICV D80, ICV D21 brings fresher, sustained intense fruit and lively sensations beginning in the fore-mouth and carrying through to the aftertaste. ICV D21 is also used in high maturity white grapes, barrel-fermented to develop fresh fruit aromas, volume and acidity that complement wines fermented with ICV D47 in blends. Rosé wines fermented with ICV D21 have enhanced red fruit, foremouth volume and balance, making it an ideal blending complement to rosé wines fermented with ICV GRE. A compatible yeast strain for MLF, but possible impact on acidity may cause less favourable MLF conditions.
16 % Recommended Enhances varietal characters and promotes phenolic extraction and structure Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet ICV D80 was isolated by Dominique Delteil of the Institut Coopératif du Vin (ICV) in 1992 from the Côte Rôtie area of the Rhône Valley for its ability to ferment red musts rich in polyphenols. ICV D80 brings high fore-mouth volume, big mid-palate mouthfeel and intense grainy tannin to reds. It is one of the preferred strains for contributing big tannin volume. When blended with wines fermented with ICV D254 or Enoferm Syrah, wines fermented with ICV D80 bring more tannin intensity to the blend. With appropriate nutrition, aeration and fermentation temperatures below 28°C, ICV D80 will ferment up to 16% v/v alcohol. A compatible yeast strain for MLF, but possible impact on acidity may cause less favourable MLF conditions.
16 % Strongly recommended Clean, fresh, aromatic with some Esters Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet The selection of the Lalvin ICV OKAY® yeast was the focus of research seeking to identify a new mechanism responsible for the control of SO2 and H2S production in wines. In collaboration with the INRA and SupAgro Montpellier, France, Lallemand and the ICV have selected Lalvin ICV OKAY® yeast for its special abilities to produce very low levels of SO2 and H2S while completing rapid alcoholic fermentation under a broad range of winemaking conditions. Furthermore, the low acetaldehyde production of Lalvin ICV OKAY® yeast is a great asset in helping to stabilize wines with low to moderate SO2 levels. Recommended for fresh and aromatic wines, including high sugar fermentations. Patent application by INRA.
16 % Enhance varietal aromas Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet Lalvin ICV Opale 2.0™ exhibits a special ability to produce very low level of H2S and SO2. Moreover, the final level of acetaldehyde fermented with Lalvin ICV Opale 2.0™ will be a good asset to stabilize most wines with moderate SO2 level. Sensory attributes provide exotic, tropical and citrus fruit intensity. Lalvin ICV Opale 2.0™ is a good alternative to other selected wine yeast to obtain more freshness in wine.
14 % Strongly recommended A more neutral yeast but some impact on mouthfeel and texture Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet Sourced from the Pasteur Institute in Paris, Lalvin M has gained a reputation for red wine production, particularly Grenache. Useful for extraction of tannins during red wine vinification. Also suitable for whites and rosé. Generally considered to have neutral sensory properties, but may have slight estery impact.
16 % Strongly recommended Enhances varietal characters, crisp and clean Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet QA23 was selected in Portugal by the University of Tras os Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD) in cooperation with the Viticultural Commission of the Vinhos Verdes region. Suited for production of fresh, fruit-focussed, clean white wines, maximises varietal concentration and expression. Particularly for Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Semillon. Produces glucosidase, which allows the release of bound terpenes when present in the must resulting in more fruity varietal aromas. Relative to other yeast strains, QA23 has low nutrient and oxygen requirements, and will ferment juice with low turbidity at low temperatures (10°C) to dryness. QA23 is one of the leading Riesling yeast in Australia, where it produces elegant, well structured varietal rieslings. Australian and New Zealand experience with this yeast has demonstrated that it can ferment down to 10 degrees once the fermentation has started and there are no other limiting conditions.
15 % Recommended Enhances varietal characters, body and mouthfeel Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet R-HST was selected for its exceptional oenological properties in Riesling from trials conducted from 1991 to 1996 in the Heiligenstein region of Austria. With appropriate nutrition R-HST, enhances fresh varietal character producing crisp, citrus, lime, fl oral (rose) and mineral notes, and contributes body and mouthfeel for an overall complexity and elegance. R-HST improves the fruity varietal characters of Riesling. Experience under Australian conditions suggest that best results are obtained with this yeast when the fruit is harvested below 12° baumè.
16 % Recommended Enhances ester aromas Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet Isolated in the Sauternes region of Bordeaux, France, R2 helps produce intense, direct fruit-style whites by liberating fruity and floral aroma precursors and fermentation esters. Classified as a Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. bayanus, it is recommended for aromatic white varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Gewürztraminer. Esters produced by R2 are most compatible with varietal characters of Riesling grown in warm to cool regions. Also useful in fermenting white juices from grapes of low natural varietal characters (e.g. Sultana) and Chenin Blanc to produce very fruity white wine styles. Exhibits excellent ability to tolerate low temperatures. Requires refrigeration during fermentation to control fermentation vigour and excessive H2S production.
16 % Recommended Enhances varietal characters, mouthfeel and structure. Excellent colour stability attribute Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet RC212 was selected by the Bureau Interprofessional des Vins de Bourgogne (BIVB) in Burgundy for its ability to ferment a traditional heavier style Burgundian Pinot Noir. A favourite amongst Pinot Noir producers, RC212 consistently produces Pinot Noir with structure, ripe cherry, bright fruit and spicy characteristics. Lighter red varieties benefit from the improved colour extraction. One of the leading yeast strains for Pinot Noir in Australia and New Zealand.
18 % Not really recommended Contributes to aroma. Promotes phenolic extraction and texture. Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet Vineyard isolate from Côtes du Rhône. In red varietals, Rhône 2226 enhances varietal flavour and aroma, contributes to structure, and maintains high colour intensity. Can also be used for certain white varieties (eg Semillon) from warmer regions. Also useful for restarting stuck fermentations, A vigorous fermenter, tolerates 18% v/v alcohol. Given its tolerance to high alcohol, this yeast is recommended for the fermentation of high sugar must. It contributes to wine quality by enhancing varietal aroma expression and tannin structure and maintains a high colour intensity.
15 % Not really recommended Enhances varietal aromas and mouthfeel Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet Selected by Inter-Rhône from a culture collection of over 600 different yeasts from vineyards in the Rhône Valley, Rhône 2323 is highly suited for the making of premium / semi-premium red wines from musts with high polyphenolic potential. Recommended varieties including Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Merlot. Efficient extraction of phenolic compounds favours enhancement of tannin structure. Produces varietal aromas of liquorice and blackcurrant, and maintains relatively moderate colour intensity.
16 % Recommended Enhances varietal characters and palate volume. Contributes to color stability in red wines Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet A Côtes du Rhône isolate, Rhône 2056 was selected by the IFV - Institut Français de la Vigne et du Vin and CICDRVT from over 1400 yeasts for its ability to maintain and enhance varietal fruit aromas and flavours of Côtes du Rhône varieties. Contributes to complexity of red fruits, spiciness, and maintains red wine colour. glucosidase activity allows release of norisoprenoids (violet and peach aromas) in some varieties. Excellent for forward fruit style reds, and also provides aromatic expression in Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Semillon.
15 % Strongly recommended Enhances varietal aromas, palate volume and esters Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet Rhône 4600 was selected from Viognier by the Inter-Rhône’s technical department after a three-year study of yeast best suited for fermenting fruit forward, white wines made from varieties such as Chenin Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay, Viognier and Pinot Gris, and also rosé wines made from varieties such as Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Wines that are fermented with the Rhône 4600 typically have enhanced apricot and tropical fruit due to strong fatty acid ethyl ester production, as well as high polysaccharide levels which confer excellent mouthfeel. Although the Rhône 4600 does not enhance the varietal character of Sauvignon Blanc or Semillon, this yeast does bring fullness and balance along with light aromatic ester notes as an excellent blending component.
15 % Recommended Enhances varietal characters and complexity Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet S6U is a natural hybrid between S. cerevisiae and S. bayanus (formerly S. uvarum). Predominantly used in the production of dry white table wines, chiefly Chardonnay and Semillon, S6U is well recognised for imparting unique organoleptic characteristics - particularly flavour complexity and soft / smooth mouthfeel - that are associated with fermentation and autolytic by-products. Also enhances varietal characters, with an emphasis on floral and spicy notes. Ethyl esters and aromatic alcohols add dimension to barrel fermented Chardonnay. S6U is a slow starter of alcoholic fermentations and has a moderate fermentation vigour.
10 % Recommended Enhance aromas and mouthfeel Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet Originally released in a kit form called Level2TD for white wines, Lallemand have now launched this product as a single product, whereby winemakers can select a paired Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain to complement the T.delbueckii. in both red and white wines. BIODIVA ,Torulaspora delbrueckii, tends to enhance varietal and fermentation ester characters whilst contributing mouthfeel. An overall increase in aromatic complexity. Suggested varieties include Chardonnay, Semillion, Shiraz and Pinot Noir. *The technical datasheet outlines options for a suitable paired Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
10 % Recommended Enhances varietal aromas and some mouthfeel Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet FLAVIA is a pure culture of Metschnikowia pulcherrima, selected from nature by Universitad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), for its specific property to release enzymes with arabinofuranisidase activity. When used in sequential inoculation with a compatible selected Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strain, FLAVIA will impact on the production of varietal aromas such as terpenes and volatile thiols. It is the enzymatic activity of M. pulcherrima that gives the desired outcomes. The best results are achieved when FLAVIA is sequentially inoculated with a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain which is a high terpene / thiol releaser / converter. Suggested varieties include Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. Described as freshness with mouthfeel. *See a Lallemand representative to discuss a suitable paired Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
18 % Neutral Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet Uvaferm 43 is now available in a more robust form called 'Uvaferm 43 Restart'. This new yeast, developed by the Lallemand R&D team, adapts more quickly to its environment after inoculation.
18 % Strongly recommended Neutral- used to restart stuck alcoholic fermentation Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet Classified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. Bayanus, 43 was selected in 1997 by the technical service of Inter-Rhone for its exceptional ability to restart stuck fermentations. 43 is the most efficient strain in metabolising fructose under difficult conditions and at low sugar levels. Not generally recommended for primary fermentation.
16 % Recommended Enhances varietal aromas and promotes colour stability. Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet A French isolate used extensively in Australia and California since the late 1980s, BDX is suitable for premium red wines and is highly recommended for Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, Grenache, Nebbiolo, Barbera and Petite Syrah. BDX is associated with varietal flavour enhancement of red wines, adding considerable complexity without dominating the wine with yeast produced aroma and flavour compounds. Exhibits moderate red colour extractive and stability properties.
14.5 % Promotes expression of thiols and esters Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet Uvaferm eXence™ comes from the natural crossing between 2 yeast strains, followed by mass mating approach strategy and selective pressure with the objective to obtain an aromatic yeast strain adapted to reveal varietal aromas such as thiols during fermentation of white and rosé wines.
14 % Recommended Enhances varietal characters Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet Uvaferm GHM was isolated by a team led by Dr. Manfred Grossmann, professor at the Geisenheim Research Center, Section Microbiology and Biochemistry. This is a yeast for aromatic white wines for cooler regions. Numerous fermentation trials with Uvaferm GHM yeast in Riesling and other aromatic white varietals from cooler regions resulted in consistently harmonious and well balanced wines. This yeast has the ability to enhance floral aromas, while avoiding strong ester production. Its brings harmony between the bouquet and the délicate fruit aromas. Uvaferm GHM is particularly adapted for white wines destined for aging extended lees contact.
16 % Strongly recommended Enhances varietal characters, mouthfeel and palate volume Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet Many winemaking trials in recent years with Uvaferm HPS have shown the impact of yeast polysaccharides on mouthfeel contribution. In comparative trials with grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo or Merlot, wines fermented with Uvaferm HPS at the end of fermentation had an increased perception of mouthfeel, roundness and sweetness of tannins. In addition the wines are known for their strong varietal characters. Highly recommended for early release red wines.
15 % Enhances varietal character and slightly enhances esters Product Declaration Safety Datasheet Technical Datasheet The Institut Technique du Vin (ITV), in collaboration with Lallemand, selected SVG from the Loire region specifically for the enhancement of typical Sauvignon Blanc varietal character. Also suited to other aromatic white varieties such as Pinot Gris and Riesling, and generally favoured for the production of fresh fruity white wine styles. In tastings of Sancerre and Pouilly Fume wines fermented with yeasts commonly used for Sauvignon Blanc, the wines fermented with SVG scored higher than those fermented with other yeasts, and were described as having more intensity and a more favoured balance of mineral, citrus and spicy notes. In Australia and New Zealand, SVG is particularly suited to cool climate fruit, giving quality definition and tight structure to Sauvignon Blanc, and has general application to fresh fruity styles. May exhibit some estery and savory notes immediately after fermentation. Has a moderate impact on mouthfeel, and capable of partially degrading malic acid (approx. 25%). Also increases citrus, tropical fruit and fl oral notes in neutral varieties. Properly integrated nutrition (including Go-Ferm Protect at rehydration), and raising fermentation temperature to 20°-22°C near end of ferment is highly recommended to enable steady finish. | 2019-04-23T09:19:28Z | https://www.lallemandwine.com/en/australia/products/catalogue/wine-yeasts/ |
A different themes quantity at the function of degenerate states within the prime sequence on chemical physicsEdited by way of Nobel Prize-winner Ilya Prigogine and well known authority Stuart A. Rice, the Advances in Chemical Physics sequence presents a discussion board for severe, authoritative reviews in each quarter of the self-discipline. In a structure that encourages the expression of person issues of view, specialists within the box current accomplished analyses of topics of curiosity. This stand-alone, targeted themes quantity, edited by way of Gert D. Billing of the college of Copenhagen and Michael Baer of the Soreq Nuclear learn heart in Yavne, Israel, experiences contemporary advances at the function of degenerate states in chemistry. quantity 124 collects cutting edge papers on "Complex States of easy Molecular Systems," "Electron Nuclear Dynamics," "Conical Intersections and the Spin-Orbit Interaction," and lots of extra similar issues. Advances in Chemical Physics is still the most efficient venue for shows of recent findings in its box.
That includes new experiments, a brand new essay, and new assurance of nanotechnology, this natural chemistry laboratory textbook bargains a accomplished remedy of laboratory concepts together with small scale and a few microscale tools that use standard-scale ("macroscale") glassware and kit. The publication is equipped in response to essays and issues of present curiosity and covers quite a few conventional natural reactions and syntheses, in addition to experiments with a organic or well-being technology concentration.
The 52nd Colloid and floor technology Symposium of the Divis ion of Colloid and floor Chemistry of the yankee Chemical Society used to be held in Knoxville, TN, June 12-14, 1978, and one in all its Sections used to be dedicated to the subject of resolution Chemistry of Surfactants. even though it used to be billed because the part on resolution Chemistry of Surfactants, however it was once certainly a veritable inter nationwide symposium in this subject as fifty one papers through approximately a hundred con tributors from 12 international locations have been indexed within the software.
Tensorial gauge fields, 250–252 Linear combinations of atomic orbitals (LCAO), direct molecular dynamics, complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) technique, non-adiabatic systems, 4–5–411 Linear coupling approximation, geometric phase theory, 3 Jahn-Teller effect, 18–20 Linear triatomic molecules, Renner-Teller effect: singlet state vibronic coupling, 598–600 vibronic/spin-orbit coupling, 600–605 Line integral techniques: adiabatic-to-diabatic transformation matrix, 50–57 quasidiabatic framework, 53–57 single-valued diabatic potentials and topological matrix, 50–53 non-adiabatic coupling: three-state molecular system, sign flip derivation, 73–77 783 two-state molecular system and isotopic analogues, 108–109 C2H-molecule: (1,2) and (2,3) conical intersections, 111–112 Lithium compounds: direct molecular dynamics, ab initio multiple spawning, 413–414 permutational symmetry: adiabatic states, conical intersections: invariant operators, 735–737 Jahn-Teller theorem, 733–735 antilinear operator properties, 721–723 degenerate/near-degenerate vibration levels, 728–733 degenerate states chemistry, xiii electronic wave function, 680–682 energy functional form, 737–738 GBO approximation and geometric phase, two-dimensional Hilbert space model, 718–721 geometric phase theory, single-surface nuclear dynamics, 30–31 group theoretical issues, 668–674 nuclear spin function, 678–680 phase-change rule, 451–453 rotational wave function, 683–687 rovibronic/vibronic wave functions, 682– 683 2 S systems: alkali metal trimers, 712–713 dynamic Jahn-Teller and geometric phase effects, 698–711 electron/nuclear spin effects, 711–712 1 H3 isotopomers, 713–717 nonadiabatic coupling effects, 711 potential energy surfaces, 692–694 static Jahn-Teller effect, 694–698 theoretical background, 660–661 time-dependent Schro¨ dinger equation, 723–728 total molecular wave function, 661–668, 674–678 vibrational wave function, 687–692 Local harmonic approximation (LHA), direct molecular dynamics, Gaussian wavepacket propagation, 378–381 Local hyperspherical surface functions (LHSFs), electronic states, triatomic quantum reaction dynamics, partial wave expansion, 315–317 784 subject index Localized molecular orbital/generalized valence bond (LMO/GVB) method, direct molecular dynamics, ab initio multiple spawning (AIMS), 413–414 Longuet-Higgins phase-change rule: conical intersections: chemical reaction, 446–453 pericyclic reactions, 447–450 pi-bond reactions, 452–453 sigma bond reactions, 452 comparison with other techniques, 487– 493 loop construction, 441–446 dynamic phase properties, 210 loop construction: cyclopentadienyl cation (CPDC), 467–472 cyclopentadienyl radical (CPDR), 464–467 Jahn-Teller theorem, 461–472 non-adiabatic coupling, 148–168 geometric phase effect, two-dimensional two-surface system, 148–157 quasi-Jahn-Teller model, scattering calculation, 150–155 historical background, 145–148 Jahn-Teller systems, 119–122 theoretical background, 42–44 three-particle reactive system, 157–168 D þ H2 reaction: quasiclassical trajectory (QCT) calculation, 160–163 semiclassical calculation, 163–167 H þ D2 reaction, quasiclassical trajectory calculation, 167–168 permutational symmetry, 1H3 isotopomers, 717 theoretical background, 434–435 Loop construction: conical intersections, photochemical systems, 453–460 four-electron systems, 455–458 larger four-electron systems, 458–459 multielectron systems, 459–460 three-electron systems, 455 phase-change rule and, 441–446 coordinate properties, 443–446 qualitative molecular photochemistry, 472– 482 ammonia, 480–481 benzene derivatives, 479–480 butadiene, 474–479 cyclooctatetraene (COT), 482 cyclooctene isomerization, 473–474 ethylene, 472–473 inorganic complexes, 481–482 theoretical background, 434–435 LSTH potential energy parameters: non-adiabatic coupling, quasiclassical trajectory (QCT) calculation: H þ D2 reaction, 167–168 three-particle reactive system, D þ H2 reaction, 160–163 semiclassical calculation, D þ H2 reaction, 166–167 Manifold approximation, non-adiabatic coupling, line integral conditions, adiabatic-to-diabatic transformation matrix, 53 Marcus theory, electron nuclear dynamics (END), intramolecular electron transfer, 349–351 Maslov index, molecular systems, 212 Mass polarization effect, electronic state adiabatic representation, Born-Huang expansion, 287–289 Matrix elements, Renner-Teller effect, triatomic molecules, 594–598 Maxwell equation, non-adiabatic coupling, pseudomagnetic field, 97 Minimal diabatic potential matrix, non-adiabatic coupling, 81–89 Minimal models, Renner-Teller effect, triatomic molecules, 615–618 Minimal residuals (MINRES) filter diagonalization, permutational symmetry: dynamic Jahn-Teller and geometric phase effects, 699–711 theoretical background, 660–661 Minimum energy method (MEM), direct molecular dynamics, Gaussian wavepacket propagation, 379–381 Minimum energy path (MEP), direct molecular dynamics, theoretical background, 358– 361 Mixed-state trajectory: conical intersection research, 495–496 direct molecular dynamics: Ehrenfest dynamics, 396–399 error sources, 403–404 subject index molecular mechanics valence bond (MMVB), 411 Mixing angle, non-adiabatic coupling, two-state molecular system, H3 molecule, 104– 109 Mo¨ bius strip, phase-change rule: ammonia and chiral systems, 457–458 general bond reactions, 452–453 pericyclic reactions, 448–450 pi bond reactions, 452–453 sigma bond reactions, 452 Modulus-phase formalism, molecular systems, 205 component amplitude analysis, 214–215, 217–218 Lagrangean properties: Dirac electrons, 266–268 topological phase, 270–272 Lagrangean-density correction term, 269– 270 nearly nonrelativistic limit, 268–269 nonrelativistic electron, 263–265 nonrelativistic/relativistic cases, 262–263 potential fluid dynamics and quantum mechanics, 265–266 spinor phases, 272 Molecular dynamics: adiabatic molecular dynamics, 362–381 Gaussian wavepacket propagation, 377– 381 initial condition selection, 373–377 nuclear Schro¨ dinger equation, 363–373 conical intersection location, 491–492 degenerate states chemistry, xii–xiii direct molecular dynamics, theoretical background, 356–362 geometric phase theory, single-surface nuclear dynamics, vector-potential, molecular Aharonovo-Bohm effect, 25–31 Molecular-fixed coordinates, crude BornOppenheimer approximation, hydrogen molecule, Hamiltonian equation, 514– 516 Molecular mechanics (MM) potentials, direct molecular dynamics: complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) technique, non-adiabatic systems, 406–411 theoretical background, 359–361 785 Molecular mechanics valence bond (MMVB): conical intersection location, 489–490 direct molecular dynamics: complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) technique, non-adiabatic systems, 406–411 theoretical background, 359–361 Molecular orbital-conical intersection (MO-CI): Longuet-Higgins phase-change rule, cyclopentadienyl radical (CPDR), 464–467 two-state systems, 438 Molecular orbital (MO) theory: conical intersection research, 493–496 crude Born-Oppenheimer approximation, hydrogen molecule, minimum basis set calculation, 548–550 direct molecular dynamics: ab initio multiple spawning (AIMS), 413–414 AM1 Hamiltonian, 415 complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) technique, non-adiabatic systems, 405–411 nuclear motion Schro¨ dinger equation, 372–373 phase-change rule: chemical reactions, 450–453 cyclopentadienyl cation (CPDC), 467–472 Molecular systems: analytic theory, component amplitudes, 214–233 Cauchy-integral method, 219–220 cyclic wave functions, 224–228 modulus and phase, 214–215 modulus-phase relations, 217–218 near-adiabatic limit, 220–224 reciprocal relations, 215–217, 232–233 wave packets, 228–232 electron nuclear dynamics (END), 337–351 final-state analysis, 342–349 intramolecular electron transfer, 349–351 reactive collisions, 338–342 four-state molecular system, non-adiabatic coupling: quantization, 60–62 Wigner rotation/adiabatic-to-diabatic transformation matrices, 92 786 subject index Molecular systems: (Continued) modulus-phase formalism, Lagrangean properties: Dirac electrons, 266–268 topological phase, 270–272 Lagrangean-density correction term, 269– 270 nearly nonrelativistic limit, 268–269 nonrelativistic electron, 263–265 nonrelativistic/relativistic cases, 262–263 potential fluid dynamics and quantum mechanics, 265–266 spinor phases, 272 multiple degeneracy non-linearities, 233–249 adiabatic-to-diabatic transformation, 241– 242 component phase continuous tracing, 236– 241 conical intersection pairing, 235–236 direct integration, 242–243 experimental phase probing, 248–249 Jahn-Teller/Renner-Teller coupling effects, 243–248 complex representation, 243–244 generalized Renner-Teller coupling, 247 off-diagonal coupling, 246–247 off-diagonal element squaring, 245–246 phase factors, 205–214 quantum theory and, 198–205 three-state molecular system, non-adiabatic coupling: minimal diabatic potential matrix, noninteracting conical intersections, 81–89 numerical study, 134–137 extended Born-Oppenheimer equations, 174–175 quantization, 59–60 extended Born-Oppenheimer equations, 173–174 sign flip derivation, 73–77 strongly coupled (2,3) and (3,4) conical intersections, ‘‘real’’ three-state systems, 113–117 theoretical-numeric approach, 101–103 Wigner rotation/adiabatic-to-diabatic transformation matrices, 92 two-state molecular system, non-adiabatic coupling: Herzberg-Longuet-Higgins phase, 185 quantization, 58–59 ‘‘real’’ system properties, 104–112 C2H-molecule: (1,2) and (2,3) conical intersections, 109–112 C2H-molecule: (1,2) and (2,3) conical intersections, ‘‘real’’ two-state systems, 109–112 H3 system and isotopic analogues, 103– 109 single conical intersection solution, 97–101 Wigner rotation/adiabatic-to-diabatic transformation matrices, 92 Yang-Mills fields: alternative derivation, 254–255 curl condition, 252–253 future implications, 255–257 Hamiltonian formalism, observability in, 259–261 nuclear Lagrangean equation, 249–250 pure vs.
780 subject index Herzberg-Longuet-Higgins phase: (Continued) quantum dressed classical mechanics, 177–183 geometric phase effect, 180–183 theoretical background, 177–180 permutational symmetry: dynamic Jahn-Teller and geometric phase effects, 698–711 total molecular wave function, 667–668 Hilbert space. See also Full-Hilbert space; SubHilbert space; Sub-sub-Hilbert space Berry’s phase, 209–210 molecular systems, Yang-Mills fields, untruncated Hilbert space, 253–254 non-adiabatic coupling: adiabatic-to-diabatic transformation matrix, quasidiabatic framework, 54–56 Born-Oppenheimer approximation, 189– 191 Born-Oppenheimer-Huang equation, 44– 45 extended Born-Oppenheimer equations, 168–171 theoretical background, 42–44 permutational symmetry, GBO approximation/geometric phase, Hilbert space model, 718–721 phase properties, operators, 207–208 quantum theory, 199 1 H2 molecule, permutational symmetry, rotational wave function, 686–687 1 H3 molecule, permutational symmetry, isotopomers, 713–717 H3 molecule, permutational symmetry: 1 H3 isotopomers, 713–717 potential energy surfaces, 692–694 Homonuclear molecules, permutational symmetry: electronic wave function, 680–682 nuclear spin function, 679–680 rovibronic/vibronic wave functions, 682–683 vibrational wave function, 687–692 Hougen, Bunker, and Johns (HBJ) configuration, Renner-Teller effect: tetraatomic molecules, Hamiltonian equations, 626–628 triatomic molecules, 614–615 pragmatic models, 619–621 Hu¨ ckel’s 4n þ 2 rule: conical intersections, two-state chemical reactions, 436–438 phase change rule: ammonia and chiral systems, 457–458 orbital overlap, 451–452 pericyclic reactions, 448–450 pi bond reactions, 452–453 Hund’s coupling, permutational symmetry, rotational wave function, 684–687 Hydrodynamic theory, direct molecular dynamics, trajectory ‘‘swarms,’’ 421– 422 Hydrogen molecules: crude Born-Oppenheimer approximation: Hamiltonian equation, 512–516 minimum basis set calculation, 542–550 nuclei interaction integrals, 527 H3 molecule: Longuet-Higgins phase-change rule, loop construction, 463–472 phase-change rule, 443–446 two-state system: adiabatic-to-diabatic transformation, 301–309 non-adiabatic coupling, 104–109 H4 molecule, phase-change rule, 443–446 permutational symmetry, total molecular wave function, 675–678 Hyperspherical coordinates: electronic states: adiabatic-to-diabatic transformation, twostate system, 302–309 triatomic quantum reaction dynamics, 310–312 non-adiabatic coupling: Longuet-Higgins phase-based treatment, three-particle reactive system, 158–168 semiclassical calculation, D þ H2 reaction, 164–167 two-state molecular system, H3 molecule, 106–109 vector potential formulation, 191–194 permutational symmetry: potential energy surfaces, 693–694 total molecular wave function, 668 Independent Gaussian approximation (IGA), direct molecular dynamics, Gaussian wavepacket propagation, 379–383 subject index Infinite-order sudden approximation (IOSA), electron nuclear dynamics (END), molecular systems, 345–349 Initial relaxation direction (IRD), direct molecular dynamics, theoretical background, 359–361 Inorganic compounds, loop construction, photochemical reactions, 481–482 In-phase states: conical intersection, two-state systems, 438 phase-change rule, pericyclic reactions, 448– 450 Integral properties, crude Born-Oppenheimer approximation: angular-momentum-adopted Gaussian matrix elements: nuclei interaction, 519–527 overlap integrals, 518–519 equations for, 551–555 Interference effects: molecular systems, 211 phase properties, 206–207 quantum theory, 200 Intraanchor reactions, conical intersection, twostate systems, 437–438 Intramolecular electron transfer, electron nuclear dynamics (END), 349–351 Intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC), direct molecular dynamics, theoretical background, 358–361 Invariant operators, permutational symmetry, conical intersection, adiabatic state, 735–737 Irreducible representations (IRREPs), permutational symmetry: degenerate/near-degenerate vibrational levels, 728–733 electronic wave function, 681–682 group theoretical properties, 669–674 invariant operators, 735–737 nuclear spin function, 678–680 time-dependent equations, 727–728 total molecular wave function, 667–668 vibrational wave function, 688–692 Isomerization reactions: loop construction: benzene molecules, 479–481 cyclooctenes, 473–474 ethylene photolysis, 472–473 phase-change rules, loop construction, 456 781 quantitative photochemical analysis, 482–487 ‘‘Isomorfic Hamiltonian,’’ Renner-Teller effect, triatomic molecules, 618 Isotopomers, permutational symmetry: alklali metal trimers, 712–713 1 H3 molecule, 713–717 vibrational wave function, 689–692 Jacobi coordinates: electronic state adiabatic representation, Born-Huang expansion, 286–289 electronic states, triatomic quantum reaction dynamics, 310–312 non-adiabatic coupling, vector potential formulation, 191–194 Jahn-Teller effect: canonical intersection, Herzberg-LonguetHiggins theorem, historical background, 144–148 conical intersection location, 489 degenerate states chemistry, x–xiii direct molecular dynamics: conical intersections, 388–389 vibronic coupling, 381–382, 391–393 geometric phase theory: conical intersections, 5–8 E Â E problem, 17–23 linear Jahn-Teller effect, 18–20 principles of, 2–4 quadratic Jahn-Teller effect, 22–23 spin-orbit coupling, 2E state, 20–22 single-surface nuclear dynamics, vectorpotential, molecular Aharonovo-Bohm effect, 28–31 Longuet-Higgins phase-change rule, loop construction, 461–472 multidegenerate nonlinear coupling: E Â E problem, 233–234, 238–241 higher order coupling, 243–248 complex representation, 243–244 interpretation, 248 nonlinear diagonal elements, 247 off-diagonal coupling, 246–247 off-diagonal squaring, 245–246 non-adiabatic coupling: Herzberg-Longuet-Higgins phase, 185–186 Longuet-Higgins phase, 119–122 two-dimensional two-surface system, quasi-Jahn-Teller scattering calculation, 150–155 782 subject index Jahn-Teller effect: (Continued) theoretical background, 41–44 topological spin insertion, 70–73 two-state molecular system, 58–59 permutational symmetry: conical intersection, adiabatic state, 733–735 dynamic effect, 698–711 electron/nuclear spin function, 712 1 H3 isotopomers, 713–717 potential energy surfaces, 692–694 static effect, 694–698 phase properties, 209 Jaynes-Cummings model, phase properties, 206 Jungen-Merer (JM) pragmatic model, RennerTeller effect, triatomic molecules, 619–621 benchmark handling, 621–623 Kekule´ structure: conical intersections, two-state chemical reactions, 436–438 phase-change rule, permutational mechanism, 451–453 Kinetic energy operator (KEO): crude Born-Oppenheimer approximation, basic principles, 507–512 direct molecular dynamics: theoretical background, 360–361 trajectory ‘‘swarms,’’ 420–422 vibronic coupling Hamiltonian, 390–393 electronic states: adiabatic representation, Born-Huang expansion, 287–289 triatomic quantum reaction dynamics, 311–312 non-adiabatic coupling: Born-Oppenheimer approximation, 187– 191 historical background, 145–148 Longuet-Higgins phase-based treatment: semiclassical calculation, D þ H2 reaction, 164–167 three-particle reactive system, 158–168 two-dimensional two-surface system, 149–157 nuclear motion Schro¨ dinger equation, 418–420 Renner-Teller effect: tetraatomic molecules: Å electronic states, 638–640 vibronic coupling, 628–631 triatomic molecules, 594–598 Hamiltonian equations, 612–615 pragmatic models, 620–621 Kramers doublets, geometric phase theory: linear Jahn-Teller effect, 20–22 spin-orbit coupling, 20–22 Kramers-Kronig reciprocity, wave function analycity, 201–205 Kramers’ theorem: conical intersections, spin-orbit interaction, 561 degenerate states chemistry, xiii geometric phase theory, conical intersections, 6–8 permutational symmetry, 712 group theoretical properties, 669–674 rotational wave function, 684–687 Kronecker delta, molecular systems, Yang-Mills fields, nuclear Lagrangean, 249–250 Lagrangian density: electron nuclear dynamics (END), timedependent variational principle (TDVP), 327–328 basic ansatz, 330–333 molecular systems: modulus-phase formalism: correction term, 269–270 Dirac electrons, 266–268 topological phase, 270–272 nearly nonrelativistic limit, 268–269 nonrelativistic electron, 263–265 nonrelativistic/relativistic cases, 262–263 potential fluid dynamics and quantum mechanics, 265–266 spinor phases, 272 Yang-Mills fields, 249–250, 255–257 Lagrangian multiplier, conical intersection location, 488–489, 565 Laguerre polynomials, Renner-Teller effect, triatomic molecules, 589–598 Lanczos reduction: direct molecular dynamics, nuclear motion Schro¨ dinger equation, 364–373 non-adiabatic coupling, Longuet-Higgins phase-based treatment: subject index semiclassical calculation, D þ H2 reaction, 164–167 two-dimensional two-surface system, scattering calculation, 152–155 Landau-Zener model: direct molecular dynamics: dependency properties, 415–416 trajectory surface hopping, 397–399 non-adiabatic coupling: sub/sub-sub-Hilbert construction, 67–70 topological spin insertion, 70–73 Laplace transform: electronic state adiabatic representation, Born-Huang expansion, 286–289 permutational symmetry, total molecular wave function, 664–668 Legendre polynomials: permutational symmetry, degenerate/neardegenerate vibrational levels, 732–733 Renner-Teller effect, triatomic molecules, benchmark handling, 622–623 Legendre wave function, non-adiabatic coupling, semiclassical calculation, D þ H2 reaction, 164–167 Lie groups, molecular systems, Yang-Mills fields: nuclear Lagrangean, 250 pure vs. | 2019-04-19T17:24:03Z | http://leadsforagents.com/download/advances-in-chemical-physics-the-role-of-degenerate-states-in-chemistry |
With the final two weeks of fasting to go, Malik Issadeen, Zunaid Chenia, AK Surtie, Yahya Omar, Dia El Sabawi and Hashim Hatia left the shores of a cool and balmy Brisbane and headed out of the country to spend the remainder of Ramadan in the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Al-Quds (Jerusalem).
The journey took them initially to Abu Dhabi, then onto Amman in Jordon and finally a hair-raising one-hour taxi ride to their destination where, for the next ten days, the third holiest site in Islam would become their refuge from worldly distractions and preoccupations as they spent their days and nights in prayer and contemplation, a practice known as I'tikaaf.
Oblivious to the daily bustling crowds and the post-ifthaar festivities taking place just over the compound walls of the 40 acre, 1km by 1km radius sanctuary, the Brisbanites immersed themselves in their daily prayers, reading the Qu�ran and making dhikr (remembering their Creator Allah) along with hundreds of other s who also came long distances for this single-minded purpose.
It was the simplicity and history of the surroundings that clearly impressed the visitors most. �It felt like a journey back in time,� one of them said while recounting the Prophet�s journey from Makkah to Al-Aqsa on Burak the winged steed.
Standing shoulder-to-shoulder alongside 30 000 fellow worshippers during taraweeh (evening Ramadan prayers) also added to the spiritually rewarding and enriching experience that would eventually make this a unique trip for all of them.
�There was ample space for us to spend our time within the walls of the masjid to concentrate on our ibadah (worship).� A sleeping bag, a pillow and the Mosque carpet would serve as their bed whenever they were able to steal an hour or two to catch up on some sleep.
While temperatures reached above 35 degrees during the day, the Mosque, despite not being air-conditioned, always felt comfortable.
The courtyard around the Mosque perimeter was dotted with trees and fountains, and people could be seen during the day reading under the shade of the trees, laying out their mussIalaahs (prayer mats) and offering their prayers while enjoying the serenity and the sanctity of the surroundings.
In addition to the contingent of 150 South Africans who had come for this itikaaf, the locals also proved very helpful and supportive to the group during their stay, particularly the Palestinian friends whom Zunaid Chenia had made over the previous five times he had visited Al-Quds. They brought the group food from the markets every day and saw to their every need.
A typical day would commence at around 10am with the reading of the Qu�ran, followed by afternoon and mid-afternoon prayers, a short nap and then preparations for ifthaar (breaking fast) at 7.15pm before the commencement of the evening session that would continue into the early hours of the morning with Sehri (starting of the fast) and Fijr (morning prayer) at around 5am.
�Having someone like Zuniad, who knew the language and his way around the place and the city, was very helpful, � said Hashim Hatia.
Entering Al-Quds itself can be unpredictable at the best of times. While some in the group passed through with little delay, others were held back for more than four hours at the border before finally being let in.
�We consider ourselves fortunate � we met a brother from another country who has been trying unsuccessfully to enter the city for the past four years � he�s been turned back at the border each time,� said Malik Issadeen.
At every entrance to Masjid Al-Aqsa stood armed guards and, on one occasion, AK Surtie was asked to read Sura Fathia and, on another, to name his Prophet to test whether he was Muslim. Hashim Hatia was asked to repeat his name and was even offered water to prove his authenticity.
Putting aside these minor incidents and inconveniences all the members of the group were at pains in pointing out what an exhilarating and self-fulfilling journey it had been for each of them and agreed that the friendships they had developed over this short but intense trip would constitute a special bond between them.
The official launch of the Muslim Youth of Queensland (MYQ) will be taking place on Saturday, 2 October at Griffith University-Nathan Campus at 10:45 am.
Over the past decade, Queensland has seen the creation of a significant number of Muslim youth organisations with their own goals and vision. The MYQ was formed to collaborate, network and unite all Muslim youth in Queensland together.
Five organisations have already joined the newly formed formed and include Al-Nisa, AMYN, FAMSY, Gold Coast Youth and UMB.
The Councils of Imams Queensland have also given their strong support.
� Learn more about MYQ and the youth groups involved.
� Discuss issues of concern to the Muslim youth.
� Find out how you can get involved.
Attendees will be given an overview of the aims of MYQ and a chance to get to know the various youth organisations that support it. The president of FAMSY, Umar Batchelor, said, �It is also a perfect time to join one of the organisations,� and added �but on a light note, do come with an empty stomach as a scrumptious lunch will be served�. It should also be a perfect time to socialize.
SUNDAY 19 SEPT: The Indonesian Islamic Society of Queensland (IISQ) hosted an Eid celebration programme, halal bi halal, at the Indooroopilly State School where some 500 people from the local Indonesian community and community leaders from various groups attended.
Dr. Nadirsyah Hosen (pictured left), Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Law at the University of Wollongong delivered the keynote address and spoke on the need for the Muslim community to become more introspective while addressing some of the controversial issues confronting them today. "It takes two to tango," was his message to the audience. Rather than a clash of civilizations between Islam and the West, the world was undergoing a clash of ignorance.
He quoted Karen Armstrong who wrote: "In the Islamic Empire, Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians enjoyed religious freedom. This reflected the teachings of the Qu'ran, which is a pluralistic scripture, affirmative of other traditions. Muslims are commanded by God to respect the People of the Book (ahl al-kitab) and reminded that they share the same belief and the same God."
Dr Hosen pointed to the current challenges over the building of Mosques and schools, the issue of minarets and burqas, and internal conflicts and narrow-mindedness.
Mr. Hussin Goss of the Islamic Society of the Gold Coast congratulated the IISQ in putting together the event and wished them well for the future.
A new IISQ committee was voted in on the day.
A number of traditional performances and a delectably prepared lunch ensured that a good time was had by all.
Where there's Fenti... there's fabulous food!
To the CCN team, I thank you for the good work you do. I only came to know about your newsletter recently. I think it ought to be promoted more.
In recent weeks I have changed my email address. Please note the new one. I would be very grateful to receive the community news which you so admirably have kept up to date and containing so many interesting items.
......... in the process of searching your newsletter archive, I found lots of very interesting articles, some of which I�ve saved for the interest of our members and others who seem to have been �infected� by the current spate of Islamophobia.
Your report in the newsletter was excellent. I have a friend who would like to get the newsletter if that's OK.
Thank you for your weekly newsletter which I have enjoyed now for some years and may Allah reward you- it must be a lot of work to be up to date with all the latest community, national and international news and gather it together to publish every week masha Allah.
The Gold Coast Malaysian and Indonesian communities celebrated Eid with a dinner at the Runaway Bay Community Centre last Saturday (18 September).
the ubiquitous Hussin Goss and Imam Imran Husain kept the attendees in good humour throughout the night. The manager of Singapore Airlines gave away the prizes to those who could answer his questions.
Aqeel Hafeez, have given away four charity dinner entry tickets for correct answers. Hassan Goss was as usual the back bone of the function as he was holding the loudest voice.
The meals were ample and very delicious and the huge line of sweets found much favour with the young children.
Aqeel Hafeez, who did and excellent job capturing the event on camera (see link to the photo gallery below) was full of praise for the way the dinner went down on the night: "The seating arrangement was excellent, the gathering was beautiful, the organization was first class, the location very much accessible and even the stage was environmental friendly. Overall this function was a huge success..!"
You can view more photographs from this highly entertaining evening.
Between the 3 September and 7 September, Tanvir Uddin, International Programs Manager at Muslim Aid Australia (MAA), visited the flood-affected areas in the Khyber-Patkhtunkwa (KP) Province (formerly North-West Frontier Province) in Pakistan and filed a report on his observations there.
Muslim Aid Australia was one of the first charity organisations to mobilise for the Pakistan flood appeal in late July. With generous contributions from donors (especially during the month of Ramadan), much funds were collected for the relief and rehabilitation of the flood affectees. With its first instalment which Tanvir saw the implementation of, MAA distributed 500 tents in several districts and also funded food packages.
Despite the scale of the disaster and the challenges in assisting everyone, Tanvir was optimistic about the possibility for rehabilitating many households. He was impressed by the work of MAA�s partner NGO, Al-Khidmat Foundation, which had already mobilised relief to numerous districts across the KP, Sindh, and Punjab provinces. With ongoing contributions from the international community and with carefully-thought of development projects, the flood affected families can benefit from livelihood, water security, healthcare and education projects.
Mt Gravatt's Nandos' Mohammed Ally, seen proudly holding up his floating and outright trophies, won the Fiji Eid Golf Cup tournament held at the Windaroo Golf Club last Sunday (19 September).
Like a hot peri-peri sauce, Mohammmed Ally was on fire throughout the 18 holes, basting his 15 other competitors with a sizzling nett score of 71 to wrap up the tournament.
Chicks may rule at Nandos, but it's the cockerels who have the golf balls!
Opponents of a new Islamic worship centre planned for the Gold Coast have nothing to fear, according to a local imam and people who live close to mosques around the country.
Residents of Worongary, in the Gold Coast hinterland, have hired a solicitor and formed an action group to protest the proposal for the centre to be built on Alkira Way.
Last year there was a similar outcry over a plan to build an Islamic school at Carrara, 10 kilometres away.
The Worongary residents say an Islamic worship centre would slash house prices in the area, bring down neighbourhood security and increase anti-social behaviour.
Some locals who recently moved to the area even say they will consider moving out if the centre is approved.
But with 5,000 Muslims living in the region, Gold Coast Islamic community leader and Labrador mosque imam Imraan Husain says there is a need for the development.
He says at present Muslims must travel to the Labrador mosque for prayers, weddings, funerals and festivals, and that a second centre in the south would assist the region's growing population.
He says the initial reaction from residents has not been surprising.
"After all the things they hear, what's happening globally, people have this fear about Muslims," he told ABC local radio this morning.
"Maybe because of them not really living in an Islamic civilisation or having a real connection with an Islamic environment, they have these fears of just what they hear of minor or a small group of radicals and what they do."
Imam Husain says he would be working closely with the centre if it is approved.
"They have to be inclusive and have an open-door policy and integrate with the broader Australian community so that the fear can eliminate and so people can realise that what happens behind those walls is nothing different to what happens in churches and synagogues and temples," he said.
Islamic Society of the Gold Coast president Hassan Goss says the reaction has been ridiculous.
"I think what they should do is everyone take a cold shower, let's have a cup of coffee and sit around the table and say what we are actually going to do there," he said.
"It would be just a small Islamic centre, meaning there could be prayer there, tea and coffee, bringing the community together.
"For the travellers travelling from Tweed or from Sydney heading north to Cairns, they have some place to stop off, do their prayers, freshen up and keep moving."
We didn't have a great deal to do with the mosque for the first few years, and to be honest, we barely even noticed it was there. There was certainly no evidence of it encouraging or increasing anti-social behaviour and it had no impact whatsoever upon neighbourhood security.
People who live near mosques around the country are encouraging Worongary residents not to oppose the worship centre.
Jordan Brock used to rent a home in Northbridge, inner-city Perth, where he lived close to a mosque.
He says prior to September 11 he barely noticed it was there.
"The mosque has been there for well over 100 years and was renovated during the 1990s, which was when we moved into the area," he said.
"We didn't have a great deal to do with the mosque for the first few years, and to be honest, we barely even noticed it was there.
"There was certainly no evidence of it encouraging or increasing anti-social behaviour and it had no impact whatsoever upon neighbourhood security.
"If there was any gathering of people on the street prior to prayers, services or functions at the mosque, they were certainly friendly and in no way threatening."
Mr Brock says nowadays the mosque hosts community gatherings and provides delicious food.
"After September 2001 the people in the mosque obviously felt the need to engage in the community a bit more and start educating their neighbours," he said.
"So they started having a series of open days, where they provided free food and the tastiest lamb burgers you've ever eaten."
He says people should visit a mosque and talk to the people who worship there before attempting to ban the construction of a worship centre.
Moreover, Mr Brock says he left Northbridge in 2005 because he could not afford to buy a house in the suburb due to rising property values.
Kathryn Hegarty from Footscray in Victoria, who lives close to three mosques, says she enjoys the cultural diversity in her neighbourhood.
"My neighbours here are Muslim and life is unaffected, except the food aromas do put me to shame about 5:00pm each night," Ms Hegarty said.
She says she never has any security concerns.
"I feel safest in the African quarter of Footscray, especially at night, where people look out for each other and the men seem to me to really respect women," she said.
"I feel so blessed here because we are rich in this country and immigration has just made us richer and we eat better as well."
Property and crime experts have also weighed into the controversy, saying many fears listed by the Worongary residents are unjustified.
Property Planning Australia director Angelo Piazzetta says the assumption property values would decrease is "fundamentally wrong".
"The greatest threat residents would be facing in terms of their house prices would not be from the mosque," he said.
To say that they're being adversely affected by having a mosque in the area, I think, is just fundamentally wrong. If anything, it would significantly increase the commercial opportunities for people - bakeries, corner stores - it opens up commercial opportunities.
"It would be more from the fact that there is a high level of properties already for sale in the area - that will always keep a lid on prices - and secondly, the ability to put more properties in the area is significantly high because there is a high level of vacant land in the area as well."
Mr Piazzetta says he is not aware of any suburb that has had a dramatic downturn in property values just because a religious building has gone ahead.
"The most famous mosque in Australia is the one at Lakemba [in Sydney]. They've had 15 per cent growth compound over the past three years," he said.
"To say that they're being adversely affected by having a mosque in the area, I think, is just fundamentally wrong.
"If anything, it would significantly increase the commercial opportunities for people - bakeries, corner stores - it opens up commercial opportunities."
The Australian Institute of Criminology says there is no evidence or research to suggest the presence of an Islamic building increases the incidence of crime in a neighbourhood.
Worongary residents have until October 1 to lodge their objections and the approval process is then expected to take about 12 months.
On Friday the Queensland Police Service hosted their third annual multi-faith dinner for community and religious leaders at the Greek Club in West End.
Amongst the speakers on night were Mr. Ranjit Singh and Ms. Kam Athwal of the Brisbane Sikh Temple who explained the basic tenets of the Sikh faith, Mr. Pel� Ramdhani, National Sales Manager of Goodlife Health Clubs, and the Rev Peter Rama Rau from the University of Queensland Multi-faith chaplaincy Services.
"The Metropolitan South Region has a strong commitment to promoting cultural harmony and strives to promote a positive relationship with people of all backgrounds, religions, faiths, and beliefs," Sergeant Jim Bellos, who coordinated the event, told CCN.
A lively, though sometimes chaotic, discussion took place on SBS's Insight programme during the week on the issue of the burqa.
You can watch the Insight programme online and follow the live chat that took place soon after the programme was aired on TV.
A fund raiser for the victims of the recent Pakistan floods is being coordinated by the Islamic Council of Queensland (ICQ) and a number of local community groups have already lent their support and resources to the event.
Scheduled for Sunday 31 October at the Islamic College of Brisbane (Karawattha) from 10am to 3pm, the organizers hope to raise over $150 000 for this cause.
There will be food stall, rides and on-stage performances running through the day.
If you can help in any way through setting up a stall, donating items or helping out with the organization contact the ICQ secretary, Mohammed Khalid on 3272 4111 (O/H), (M) 0412 010 030 or [email protected].
The famous Crescents of Brisbane's CresCafe will be there on the day. You can also support their efforts by baking a batch of your favourite cupcakes and bringing it along to the CresCafe stall on the day. If you can't drop it off on the day, call Nazima Hansa on 0407 037 928 to make alternative arrangements.
The documentary showcasing the generations of Muslims families who settled in the Mt Gravatt area around the Holland Park Mosque can now be viewed on IslamTV where you can also purchase a copy.
Produced in collaboration with the Queensland Muslim Historical Society and the Mt Gravatt Community Centre the half-hour programme traces the arrival and settlement in Queensland of a number of prominent families.
Griffith University has appointed Associate Professor Rajmohan (Raj) Ramanathapillai as Director, Multi-Faith Centre.
Rajmohan (Raj) Ramanathapillai is a native of Sri Lanka and served as an Associate Professor of Philosophy and Peace and Justice and the coordinator of the Peace and Justice Studies program at Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
He also served as a Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Human Rights Education at Curtin University in 2009.
Raj has exhibited a human rights art project at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee and the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada.
Among the courses he has taught are Gandhi and Non-Violence, International Human Rights, Beyond Terrorism, War and the Environment, and Human and Elephant Conflict.
He has published a wide range of articles in interdisciplinary journals on human rights, religion, peace studies, war trauma, women and war, war and the environment and ethics.
He also designed and directed a �Culture of Peace� children�s program with the diaspora community in Toronto, Canada.
In 2005 Raj received the Peacemaker Award from the Interfaith Center for Peace and Justice Education in Gettysburg Pennsylvania for his �One Boat at a Time� Tsunami project.
Presently he serves as a Member of the Nobel Peace Prize Nomination Committee, of AFSC (American Friends Service Committee) USA.
There will be a live Webcast link to the Al-Ghazzali Centre in Sydney for the next Friday night study series, presented by Imam Afroz Ali, focusing on the twenty-first book of Imam Al-Ghazali's Ihya Ulum al-Din, 'The Marvels of the Heart'.
Time: 7.30pm every Friday for 10 weeks starting Friday 1st of October.
Cost: $5 / person/ class.
Venue: Al-Mustapha Institute of Brisbane, 39 Bushmills St, Hillcrest.
Contact Javed Iqbal on 0403 295 127 or email: [email protected] to register.
Scientist Gets 86 Years for "Firing at Americans"
A Pakistani neuroscientist who was convicted of trying to kill American soldiers and F.B.I. agents in Afghanistan, was sentenced to 86 years in prison on Thursday in Federal District Court in Manhattan.
The case of the scientist, Aafia Siddiqui, 38, had attracted wide attention, including in Pakistan where she was portrayed by politicians and the news media as a heroine, as well as from human rights groups. Her lawyers had requested a sentence of 12 years, while prosecutors had pressed for a life sentence.
In 2004, she was described by Robert S. Mueller III, the director of the F.B.I., as �an Al Qaeda operative and facilitator.� And when she was arrested in 2008, she was carrying in her purse instructions on making explosives and a list of New York landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building.
Ms. Siddiqui, who has biology and neuroscience degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Brandeis University, had punctuated her 14-day trial with numerous outbursts, resulting in her being ejected from the courtroom on several occasions.
Before she was sentenced, Ms. Siddiqui was heard from again � this time with the judge�s permission � as she spoke extensively about her trial and her treatment while in custody in the United States.
In 2008, Ms. Siddiqui was taken into custody in Ghazni, Afghanistan, after the local authorities became suspicious of her loitering outside the provincial governor�s compound.
While in custody, on July 18, 2008, prosecutors said, Ms. Siddiqui grabbed an M4 rifle from a police station floor and fired on Army officers and F.B.I. agents. She was shot in the abdomen.
Who's Afraid of Aafia Siddiqui?
Manama: The billions of dollars spent on arms every year should be used instead to put every child in school and to reduce child mortality, Shaikha Mouza Nasser Al Misnad, wife of Qatar's Emir, has said.
The fervent education supporter also blasted those who attack education and impede access to it, saying that they are "enemies of civilisation".
"Education is conducive to democracy and peace because it has the potential to instill new values and behaviours, as well as help reduce economic, social and ethnic polarisation, Shaikha Mouza said.
"Therefore, it is a sad fact that billions of dollars are spent on arms by countries around the world every year. This money would have enabled those countries to put every child in school and to reduce child mortality by two-thirds by 2015, fulfilling two of the Millennium Development Goals," she said at a meeting on the Central Role of Education in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Shaikha Mouza said that asking to stop wars or dreaming of a conflict free world may be "too much".
However, she insisted that "education demands security, safety, and sustainability and those who attack education and impede access to it are enemies of civilisation and they constitute an obstacle to the right of education".
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia celebrates the 80th anniversary of its National Day on Thursday at a time King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz is leading a series of political, economic, administrative and legislative reforms.
King Abdullah's reforms centre on the fields of human rights, women and press freedom � and have received positive coverage in the reports of international organisations.
Contrary to the situation in many third world countries, the relationship between the citizen and the rulers in the Kingdom has been characterised by stability.
The Saudi government has continued its endeavour to achieve prosperity for its people and has succeeded in dealing with the complex security issues caused by Al Qaida.
So successful has been the fight against Al Qaida over the last few years that several countries, including the United States, Britain and other Western nations have copied the Saudi experiment in an effort to fight terrorism.
UK: It comes as no surprise that the topic of Muslims in the British army raises a few eyebrows. The stigma of fighting the Afghanistan and Iraq war leads many Muslims to shake their head in disapproval. Nonetheless, Corporal Mohsin Ali Mughal and Private Farhad Bashar are two Muslims in the army that are encouraging other Muslims to take another look at job prospects in the British Army.
Cpl Mughal is a practice manager in the dental department of the British Army, and worked in Iraq in 2003. His position in army is non-combative, and entails working in different dental centres as a manager. Although his position is not one he imagined attaining, perseverance and inner strength catapulted his army career.
�When I joined I was in basic training and felt it was very hard. When I crossed four years, I started enjoying my job and I got into it and now it has been eight years and six months and now I want to progress further and be a dental hygienist within the army,� Mughal told The Muslim News.
Cpl Mughal�s post as a practice manager reveals the range of careers that are possible within the army, a prospect he encourages young Muslims to explore.
"ISLAM TV BROADCASTS LIVE EVERY FRIDAY JUMMAH"
"Have You Got Your Free Salam Card Yet?
Simply show your Salam Card and receive Discounts or Special Offers.
KB SAYS: I've added almonds to this savoury snack to give it a nutty and crunchy taste. I hope you enjoy it as much my dear fastidious husband did - he must have, because he was polishing them off faster than I could get them off the griddle.
Serve warm with your favourite dip or sauce.
If you don't have a chillie sauce recipe then keep an eye out for next week's CCN when I plan to reveal a marvelous chillie sauce that has been a family tradition for generations.
� cup seasoned bread crumbs � add salt, pepper and chilly flakes.
Olive or vegetable oil for cooking.
1. In a large bowl, combine zucchini, shredded chicken, egg, and butter or margarine. Stir in seasoned crumbs, grated onion, and seasoning. Mix well.
2. Shape mixture into patties. Dredge in flour.
3. In a medium skillet, heat oil over medium high heat until hot. Fry patties in oil until golden brown on both sides.
Braise cubes of fillet chicken in olive oil with 1tsp green chillies, 1 tsp ginger and garlic paste, � tsp cumin, salt and white pepper until chicken is cooked. Cool and then shred.
important for women. Can you help me out with some ideas please?
A: Try the rowing machine. The gentle motion of rowing will put little strain on your joints while providing a vigorous, low-impact workout that improves aerobic and strength conditioning. It's also a great warm-up machine for people with bad backs as it strengthens the back muscles as well as works the arms, tummy and legs.
You can also use your own body weight with exercises such as sit-ups, tricep dips and push-ups, all of which will strengthen and tone your tummy, shoulders and arms.
Try some light hand weights and build strength in your upper arms by doing bicep curls, etc.
Mula Nasruddin's wife, Safiya Begum, had decided to trim the household budget wherever possible, so instead of having her abaya dry-cleaned she washed it by hand.
Proud of her savings, she boasted to Mula Nasruddin, "Just think, dear, we are 30 riyals richer because I washed this dress by hand."
"Good," Mula Nasruddin quickly replied. "Wash it again."
Live Webcast link to the Al-Ghazzali Centre in Sydney for the next Friday night study series, presented by Imam Afroz Ali, focusing on the twenty-first book of Imam Al-Ghazali's Ihya Ulum al-Din, 'The Marvels of the Heart'. | 2019-04-19T00:25:39Z | http://crescentsofbrisbane.org/Newsletter/CCN0307.asp |
For those studying Thai, English, or another language at the Koh Samui Language and Vocational School, you will inevitably have to leave Thailand to obtain the education visa. This usually entails heading to the border with Malaysia to Khota Bharu or Penang where the two closest Thai consulates are located. While this may sound an arduous process, it really isn’t! Typically you will head to Malaysia the day before you wish to hand your visa application in, hand in the application in the morning on the next day, return to the consulate the next day in the afternoon, and from there head back to Koh Samui. This post is about my experience heading to the consulate in Penang, what to expect at the Thai consulate, what to do in Penang, and my return to Koh Samui.
The main routes to Penang are via flights from Surat Thani (stopping in Kuala Lumpur as there currently are no direct flights), taking a long bus from the bus station in Surat, taking a potentially dangerous van from the same bus station, or a late night train from Surat. I ended up deciding on taking the train because I thought it would be a more pleasant experience than being stuffed into a small space for hours on end hoping you make it there alive.
As I knew I wouldn’t be staying long in Malaysia, ideally only 3 nights, I packed a light backpack. You should only really need to bring a few changes of clothes, your passport, education visa documents, a tablet, water, some snacks, and a good book. Aside from that, I thoroughly recommend you taking the time to go the bank before leaving and converting at least a couple thousand baht into Malaysian ringgits (RM) as this will save you a hassle once in Malaysia.
From my home in Maenam I had arranged for a van to pick me up and take me to the Nathon ferry pier, this should have only cost 50 baht. Instead, being Thailand, the van never showed up and when I called the van company number I was barraged by a torrent of rapid Thai and being hung up on. All the more reason to learn Thai! With no van coming I hailed a cab and paid 400 baht from Maenam to Nathon pier.
At the pier I paid 220 baht which included the ferry to Donsak and a bus transfer to the center of Surat Thani. With one and a half hours on the ferry to kill, I found a quiet spot to relax and cracked open my book. On board the ferry, in case you didn’t bring snacks or a drink, there should be a small, overpriced, shop.
Once off the ferry I followed the deluge of passengers to the parking lot where people filtered into various buses. After asking around I found my bus and specifically asked if they went to the train station to which they replied ‘yeah, sure, sure’. So, on I got. The bus to the center of Surat Thani from Donsak takes about an hour so I just closed my eyes in a vain attempt to get some rest. 45 minutes into the bus ride I was awoken and told to get off to take a songthaew to the train station for 200 baht. I knew that the bus was going to the bus station and that it was possible to get to the train station (which is actually located just outside of Surat Thani) via another bus, taxi, songthaew, or moto taxi, but I just wanted to get to the train station as quick as possible and was unsure as to how much more I might pay from the bus station.
I had done my research for the train and found that from Surat Thani the train terminated at Pedang Besar which is on the border with Malaysia. This train runs only once a day and leaves Surat Thani at 1:50am and arrives in Pedang Besar at 8:50am. From Pedang Besar you transfer to a second train to Butterworth, just outside of Penang. Tickets cost 632 baht for an upper berth and 732 baht for the lower berth which makes the train not only more comfortable but inexpensive also, even 1st class tickets were only around 1,200 baht or so. The second train ticket you buy at Pedang Besar and is very cheap. If you choose to take the train, I recommend train36.com which was invaluable in helping me find the cost, train times, and other useful information.
At the train station I bought my ticket without any problems and ventured out to find someplace to eat; it was only 8pm and I had hours and hours to wait until the train. It is important to tell the ticket seller that you want to go to the Malaysian Pedang Besar it seems there are two stations under the same name. Outside the front of the train station are a few small roadside restaurants which sell Thai food catering to the tastes of tourists; expect pad Thai, curries, and other Thai dishes for reasonable prices. Having eaten and still hours to wait, I looked for a bar to have a few drinks at before the train but didn’t feel like walking too far away so I just ended up having a few beers near at the place I ate dinner.
When it was closer to the time to leave I headed back towards the train station and waited inside. 1:50am was the official departure time but naturally the train came an hour later and I was just happy to get on and go to sleep. On the ticket is the car number and seat number so I had no difficulty finding where to go. By that time, just about every berth had the curtains drawn and lights out. In no time I found my berth, climbed up, and fell fast asleep. I found the berth to be comfortable enough and came with a blanket but was disappointed to find there were no power outlets. Although I was fine, if you’re someone who experiences motion sickness or feels uncomfortable on long journeys such as this, it is not a bad idea to visit a pharmacy on Samui before leaving to pick something up.
In the morning I woke up and we were practically at the border already. I packed up my bag, visited the bathroom to freshen up, and awaited arrival at Pedang Besar train station. On the platform the Malaysian officials directed myself and other farangs to the Thai immigration section inside the station. There I was stamped out of Thailand and followed the signs over to the Malaysian immigration officials. Depending on your nationality you can simply get the 30 day visa on arrival with no difficulties, just check beforehand. My passport was stamped again, this time with the Malaysian visa, and then I put my bag through a scanner and that was it.
At this time the KTM express train to Butterworth arrived and I had to frantically run upstairs to find the ticket kiosk and purchase my ticket. Thankfully they accepted Thai baht because I couldn’t find somewhere to change my money at the station. I ran back downstairs hoping to catch the train but to no avail; I was stuck there for another couple hours until the next train.
If you’re unfortunate to have to wait for the KTM, then there isn’t much to do but wait. There was a small store selling snacks and maybe there was a food court upstairs but I can’t confirm did not as I did not venture that far. I don’t think there were even any air-conditioned waiting rooms, so expect to sweat it out in the intense Malaysian heat.
When the train finally arrived, I got on at the back of the train hoping that it would be less busy. As Pedang Besar is the first station on the line, it was completely empty and I made a beeline for a corner seat at the back of the train. While the train arrives empty, by the time it gets to Butterworth it will be quite crowded. That is why it is important to find a comfortable seat because the journey from Pedang Besar to Butterworth is 2hrs and stops quite frequently at various stations along the way. I will also say that the KMT carriages feel more like a subway than a traditional train.
At the end of the line in Butterworth, I got off and looked around for somewhere to change my money into RM. This was annoying as by that point I just wanted to get to my hotel in Penang and sleep. Eventually a seller exchanged some money for me and I followed the signs to the ferry from the train station. It is possible to take a bus to Penang from Butterworth train station but the ferry really is the way to go. The ferry takes 15mins and costs a dollar or two. What makes the ferry even more attractive are the city-scape views of Penang from Butterworth.
At the ferry terminal in Penang is also the bus station and a taxi stand. Without my phone, dead by that point and no opportunity to charge it, I took a taxi to my hotel located in the ‘downtown’ area of Penang not far from the Thai consulate. I paid 600 or 700 baht to stay at the Ink Hotel, which is a new and stylish boutique hotel I’d recommend for those not looking to spend much for the short stay. There were cheaper hotels when I booked mine online but I specifically wanted somewhere near the more historic center of Penang with more to see and do while waiting for the education visa.
Having slept from mid afternoon to early evening, I was ready to venture out and find something to eat. A quick Google search led me to a street food market outside the Sunway Hotel. There I found a pork dumpling noodle soup that became my go-to meal for dinner over the next few nights. After dinner I made my way over to a bar with an outdoor patio for a beer before turning in back to the hotel for an early night; had to get to the Thai consulate bright and early the next day!
Some advice about the Thai consulate in Penang; treat the opening days and times with suspicion. Upon arrival at the consulate the next morning I was told it was closed for a public holiday and to come back the next day…a public holiday listed on the Thai consulate website for being next week….It turned out the information on the website was from last year and so months into 2017 they still hadn’t updated it. Thanks Thailand!
If you have the time and resources, I’d recommend getting to Penang on a Thursday and dropping off your passport on the Friday morning and taking a ferry to Langkawi which is the Malaysian answer to Koh Samui. There you can have a weekend to relax before returning Sunday evening to Penang and heading to the Thai consulate the next day. As for what to do in the day time in Penang while waiting, you’re spoiled for options. You can take a walk or bus tour around the city to gaze at the colonial architecture, explore Little India, go to Batu Ferringhi beach, or if you’re looking for a spot of retail therapy, Penang has several large Western style shopping malls to satisfy your needs. Personally, I took it easy. I did some sight seeing, ate some quality Indian food, drank some local beers, and watched a couple movies at a cinema.
The next day I got up early again and arrived at the Thai consulate before the hordes of other visa runners showed up. Pro tip: get there about a half hour before the consulate opens, that way you will be near the front of the line and not stuck behind potentially dozens or hundreds of other people. The Thai consulate itself is a big house with surrounding grounds and an empty pool out front. You will speak to a guard at the gate, write your purpose for visiting the consulate, and line up. On top of the completed visa forms given to you by the Koh Samui Language and Vocational School, you will be asked to complete a standard visa form asking for things like your last visa, occupation, where you will stay in Thailand, etc. Just be sure to state that you will not be working in Thailand. If you’re unsure how to fill this form in, there are usually locals waiting out front who will fill in the form for a small price. When paying for your visa, bring baht and RM just in case. I paid in baht but others paid in RM. At the visa window I handed over my paperwork, he stamped a few things, made a few notes, and told me to come back in the afternoon the next day.
The following afternoon I was back at the consulate and outside the gate I was given an ad targeting people on their return to Thailand from visa runs. The destinations included Koh Samui and so I was set! I had planned on taking a bus to Hat Yai and sorting the rest out from there but this option took care of everything and was priced under 1000 baht, I believe. The agent even took Thai baht! Picking up my visa was painless, I gave them the receipt, the official went and came back within 5mins, and handed pack my passport with the all important education visa! For more information about what to expect at the Penang Thai consulate, check out our post.
Out front of the embassy I purchased the ticket back to Koh Samui from the agent and waited until he was ready to leave. During this time I got talking to a Russian girl going with the same company on her way to Hat Yai. When the agent was ready myself and the Russian girl got into his car and stopped at a food and coffee gift shop. The Russian girl was interested in buying some white Penang coffee, famous to the island city. We tried a sample and bought a bag of individual servings of the coffee each. From there we went back to the car and the agent transferred us to a van. We then proceeded to drive around the city until the van was full and finally set off for Hat Yai on the first leg of my trip back to Koh Samui.
We reached the Pedang Besar border with Thailand after crossing the bridge from Penang to Butterville in just over 2 hours, including a stop for gas. At the checkpoint we got out of the van and walked a short distance to the Malaysian immigration officials. There we hand over our passports, were stamped out, and walked on up ahead to the waiting van. After everyone was back in the van we proceeded to drive another couple hundred meters before getting out again, this time to clear Thai immigration. Again, this was very easy and involved nothing more than handing your passport over to the official at the window for inspection, being stamped in, and walking over to the other side to await the other people on the van.
New Thai immigration checkpoint due to be opened sometime soon?
From the crossing in Pedang Besar, we drove about an hour to the agency office in Hat Yai where everybody climbed out. For the passengers going to Koh Taio, Phangan, and Samui, we had to wait a couple hours for the next van. Feeling hungry I went and found a small local restaurant for dinner, chatting with other passengers on the trip. Unfortunately the delay in rounding everyone up in Penang for the van and the hours of waiting in Hat Yai meant the chance to catch the last ferry back was long gone. It was going to be a long night.
The van ride to Donsak pier was uneventful and I managed to get some sleep on the bumpy ride over. I was given the impression by the agent that we would be sleeping in the van until the first ferry came at 5am but that turned out to be false. We were practically dumped out of the van and told to wait until the morning. We arrived at 2am or so, that meant 3hours outside in the dark with none of the buildings open. Sleep was futile and I ended up chatting to a fellow Canadian who lives on Koh Phangan. When it was finally time to get on the boat I found a quiet spot and just slept.
Make sure you get on the right boat and not accidentally end up in Koh Phangan or Koh Tao!
Hear what one of our pre-intermediate students from Russia has to say about his English classes and his time at Koh Samui Language school.
The schools pre-intermediate classes are leveled at the Europeans standard of B1, which implements a multi-layered style of learning with situational based learning at its core. It aims to focus on enabling students to speak enough of the language to survive in most situations likely to arise in an English speaking setting. The student will be taught to interact in English conversations regarding familiar matters in work, school and personal life. We strive to bring students speaking level up to a point where they can describe experiences and events, including hopes, dreams and ambitions as well as give reasons and explanations for their conclusions.
B1 level of the ‘Cutting Edge’ series implements reading and writing tasks, helping the student to explain personal opinions rather than simple information.
Our Pre-Intermediate classes take place on Monday’s and Wednesdays , from 10h00-12h00. If you are interested contact [email protected] for more information on our English lessons offered. | 2019-04-19T22:23:15Z | http://kstvs.com/category/blog/from-students/ |
Windows does not yet have a MIDI Manager. What this means is that it doesn't really arbitrate access to MIDI Input and Output intelligently between applications. Essentially, it leaves it up to each device driver to arbitrate access to its MIDI Input and Output (and without any standardized means for the driver to provide information about its status to the application). Needless to say, there are some caveats to this method (and general guidelines you should follow) as described below.
Many drivers are single client. Such a driver allows only one call to open its MIDI In to succeed (regardless of whether that Input is opened via midiInOpen(), or a high level MCI call). The driver also allows only one call to open its MIDI Out to succeed (regardless of whether that Output is opened via midiOutOpen(), a high level MCI call, or even midiStreamOpen()).
For example, if your application has successfully opened that driver for output (via a midiOutOpen call perhaps), then it owns that driver's MIDI Out. (ie, Your application has exclusive access to that MIDI Output). If some other application tries to subsequently open that Output (perhaps via midiOutOpen), then that application's call to midiOutOpen() will fail (and usually return an error number that is translated to a message of "Device is busy" by midiOutGetErrorText).
Only when your application finally closes that MIDI Output (via midiOutClose perhaps) will the "lock" upon that particular Output be released, and then another application can successfully open that Output.
Of course, the above example also pertains to MIDI Inputs (ie, midiInOpen, etc).
What is the result of this? Well, it means that, despite your application running under a multitasking system (ie, Win32), if your application opens a MIDI Input or Output and "hogs" it by keeping it open the entire time that your application is running, then the enduser will not be able to simultaneously run other MIDI software that wants to use that MIDI Input/Output. He'll just get "Device is busy" error messages from that other application every time he tries to do something with that application's MIDI Input/Output. You'll effectively be preventing him from multitasking another MIDI application in conjunction with that particular MIDI Input/Output. He'll have to close down your application every time he wants to use that other application with that MIDI Input/Output. And if the other application hogs that Input/Output too, then the reverse is also true. (ie, Every time he wants to run your application, he'll have to close down that other application).
This is very annoying to an enduser. It turns his multitasking operating system into something that looks like a singletasking operating system -- and one that doesn't manage resources.
So what is one way of getting around this? Well, a simple solution is not to hog the Input/Output. Don't open the MIDI Input/Output until you're actually ready to do some MIDI input/output (ie, midiOutShortMsg, midiOutLongMsg, doing some input/output via MCI, etc). Do that MIDI input/output as quickly as possible, and then immediately close that MIDI Input/Output. The net result is that you'll only be preventing multitasking for a short time while you're actually doing some input/output. If the other applications are doing the same, then everyone will be happy, as the enduser can switch between those applications running concurrently, and as long as he doesn't try to make both applications do MIDI input/output simultaneously (which can be a bad thing as you'll learn below), his applications will be sharing the MIDI Input/Output.
Give the enduser a means to start the operation of receiving a dump. For example, maybe have a button labeled "Receive Dump" upon which he clicks to begin the operation. Do not open MIDI Input or Output until he clicks upon that button.
When he clicks upon the button (to start the data dump), open MIDI Out with a call to midiOutOpen(). Also open MIDI In with a call to midiInOpen() (and setup some means of collecting the incoming bytes that Windows will pass to your application).
Send your "dump request" System Exclusive message to MIDI Out.
Collect the incoming MIDI data that Windows passes to you.
When you see that you have a complete dump from the sound module, call midiOutClose() and midiInClose().
The above solution is all well and good for some applications, but it's an impractical solution for some other types of applications. Let's take the example of a "MIDI Input Viewer" program. It "displays" each incoming MIDI message in realtime (ie, immediately when the message comes into the MIDI In and is passed to the application by Windows).
Obviously, that application can't know ahead of time when MIDI messages will be forthcoming and how much data will be coming in (unlike the patch editor, which knows that a dump will be following shortly after that "dump request", and knows how many bytes to expect).
A slightly different approach could be to give the enduser a button to start recording (at which time you call midiInOpen) and a button to stop recording (at which time you call midiInClose). In this way, he could stop recording before he switched to another application, and therefore still have his applications share that MIDI Input. But there is an even better solution which makes sharing the Input/Outputs transparent to the enduser, as you'll learn later.
But as (bad) luck would have it, many programmers wrote MIDI software that doesn't even allow this minimal level of sharing. They wrote software that hogs the MIDI In or Out for the entire time that the program is running. Why? Well, sometimes it could be because the software allows access to numerous MIDI Inputs and Outputs simultaneously, and it takes too much time and trouble to open/close them all before/after each operation. If the software is a MIDI sequencer, such timing delays prior to recording/playing may be crucial. Therefore, the software simply leaves all inputs/outputs constantly open so that the software will be "ready to go" whenever the user starts it recording/playing. But this is still a poor excuse for why the software doesn't close those inputs/outputs when the enduser switches to some other application. This is easy to implement under Win32, as you'll learn later. After all, if the enduser is switching to another application, he probably doesn't really care whether the first application is ready to do input/output at that moment (and if he does, there's a simple solution to handle that case too, which I'll outline later).
Because too many programmers wrote MIDI applications that hog the inputs/outputs, some manufacturers of sound cards and MIDI interfaces started shipping multiclient drivers with their products.
A multiclient (sometimes called multi-instance) driver is one which allows more than one application to open a MIDI input or output. (ie, More than one call to midiOutOpen or midiInOpen will succeed). In essense, the driver lets two or more applications simultaneously open a MIDI input/output, unbeknowst to each other, and the driver itself tries to manage (ie, mix) their MIDI output, and also provides the applications separate copies of each incoming MIDI message.
Lots of endusers scramble for multiclient drivers so that they don't have to shut down MIDI programs in order to run other MIDI programs.
But there is one problem here. The two applications don't know that they're both outputting to the same MIDI port perhaps simultaneously. And the driver may not be intelligent enough to know when that's a good or bad thing. Let's take the example of that patch editor above.
Let's say that when the patch editor sends a data dump back to the sound module, instead of sending one large, complete system exclusive message in a single call to midiOutLongMsg(), it breaks one System Exclusive message into numerous "blocks of data bytes" sent via several calls to midiOutLongMsg(). Well, hopefully the driver is smart enough to not allow another application to do some MIDI Output inbetween the other application's midiOutLongMsg() calls until the driver detects the end of a System Exclusive message. Otherwise, the other application will screw up the patch editor's dump.
And Windows provides no standardized way for an application to tell a driver to give it exclusive access to a port, so an application is at the mercy of a multiclient driver's behavior in handling multiple output requests.
So too, if both programs are simultaneously outputting MIDI note messages, they may be turning off each other's Note On messages (with Note Off messages) or stacking Note Ons for the same note number and resulting in "stuck notes". Or they could be doing other conflicting things which the driver doesn't resolve.
And all of this multiclient stuff, particularly in regards to System Exclusive message input and output, imposes unnecessay overhead upon the driver. A single client driver can be much more stream-lined and efficient.
In fact, multiclient drivers decrease efficiency and yield poorer performance where a single client driver would suffice. (And those "loopback drivers" are even worse. These really play havoc with the efficiency of MIDI input/output). A MIDI Manager that arbitrated access to multiple ports, in conjunction with application support, would not only be more efficient (because all of its drivers could then be single client, instead of every driver duplicating the functionality and overhead of a poor "MIDI Manager" inside of it), it could also be more flexible (for example, allowing applications to choose when they want to share an Input/Output and when they don't -- control which they do not have over a multi-client driver).
Needless to say, a multiclient driver is no substitute for a MIDI Manager that is capable of allowing applications some control over sharing an Input/Output. Mostly, musicians use multiclient drivers for the sole purpose of avoiding having to shut down programs that hog the MIDI Input/Output. Clearly, what is needed is a better way for an application to access a MIDI Input/Output without hogging it, but also having to avoid the speed overhead of opening an Input/Output before every operation and then immediately closing it afterward (which as I pointed out above, is not suitable for some types of MIDI applications). If the enduser had software that could do that, instead of hogging an Input/Output, then he wouldn't need multiclient drivers at all. In fact, his software could share Inputs/Outputs with the multitude of single client drivers that are out there now.
Such a method is what we'll investigate now.
If your application has a window of your own creation (and virtually all non-console Windows applications do), then a simple way of sharing a MIDI port with other applications, transparently to the enduser, is to process the WM_ACTIVATEAPP message. This message tells you whether your application is becoming active (ie, the user has selected any window that you created, and thereby given your program the focus) or inactive (ie, the user has selected a window created by another application, and therefore, if your application isn't already doing something in the background, it becomes inactive). In processing this message, you should close any MIDI ports you have open if the wParam argument is 0 (ie, you're going inactive) or reopen them if wParam is 1 (ie, you're active).
In this way, your application transparently releases the MIDI devices when the user switches away from it to another program. And your application also transparently reopens the MIDI devices when the user switches back to it. Because this processing is done in the WM_ACTIVATEAPP, it happens as soon as your application becomes active. This includes when your application initially starts, and so, the WM_ACTIVATEAPP code also serves to initially open your MIDI devices. Quick and easy.
What's so great about this? Well, you can hog the MIDI Input/Output to your hearts content... while your program is active (and the other MIDI programs are inactive). And when your program is inactive, you don't care about hogging the MIDI Input/Output. Now, you don't have to open/close the MIDI devices before/after each operation, and yet, you'll be sharing the MIDI ports with other applications -- even doing so transparently to the enduser, in a way that works with single client drivers too. That's what is so great about it.
Below is some example code to illustrate this. It contains a minimal WinMain() function (ie, program entry point for a Windows C program) which opens a window of my own creation. (For simplicity, I use a dialog template in a resource file, and call CreateDialog, but you could use CreateWindowEx). Its message handler is mainWndProc(). That's where I open and close MIDI devices by processing the WM_ACTIVATEAPP message. mainWndProc() references two globals, MidiInHandle and MidiOutHandle, which are initially set to 0 at program startup. Whenever these two handles are 0, I know that I don't have my MIDI In and Out devices open. By checking these globals for 0, this makes the code bulletproof. I sort of made "wrapper functions" for midiOutOpen(), midiInOpen(), midiOutClose(), and midiInClose() that operate upon those global handles, just to make it easier.
* Close MIDI In Device if it's open.
* recording. (midiInputEvt is my callback to process input).
* Returns 0 if success. Otherwise, an error number.
* Use midiInGetErrorText to retrieve an error message.
* Close MIDI Out Device if it's open.
* Opens MIDI Out Device #0. Stores handle in MidiOutHandle.
* Use midiOutGetErrorText to retrieve an error message.
Note: For the sake of simplicity, I omit code above to notify the user if an error occurred in opening a MIDI device. That's usually something that he would want to know.
Of course, you would likely add menus and controls to your window, to allow the user to perform some MIDI operations. And you would add WM_COMMAND message processing to your window procedure to do that user interaction. One caveat is that, before you make any call to do MIDI output, you should first check that MidiOutHandle is not 0. After all, it may be that some other application has not been as nice as you, and didn't relinquish its death grip on the MIDI Output you're trying to use. In that case, the MIDI Output may not reopen. (Same thing with MIDI Input, but since Windows calls you for MIDI input, rather than you calling a Windows function, all that happens when MIDI Input doesn't reopen is that your MIDI input routines never get called).
There is one thing that I've noticed about some drivers. They allow an application to quickly return from a call to midiOutClose() or midiInClose(), but the driver then goes on to do some "cleanup" in the background. The driver may not yet be ready to allow someone else to do a midiInOpen() or midiInClose() during that time, and may return a "Device is busy" error. The net result is that, if another application is doing the same thing as above (ie, opening and closing devices in its WM_ACTIVATEAPP processing), there may not be enough time between when that application closes the device and when you try to open it. After all, you both are processing your WM_ACTIVATEAPP messages around the same time (on each of your timeslices).
I have found that a good work around is not to do the device opens while processing the WM_ACTIVATEAPP message. Rather, have that message post another, user-defined message to your window handler (ie, a message with an ID of WM_USER or greater). And then when your window procedure processes the WM_USER message is where you do the opens. This works because, when your application is getting the focus, there are usually a slew of messages sent and processed by your window procedure, and these get done well before you get around to that WM_USER message. Typically, a driver's background tasks get higher priority, so the driver will likely get done well before you get around to reopening the device.
Another concern I have observed under Windows 2000 (but not other versions of Win32) is when you go to close down your application. (ie, Close down all windows). You should close any MIDI handles you have before you call DestroyWindow() upon your last window. Otherwise, if you wait to close those handles after the call to DestroyWindow(), then the WM_ACTIVATEAPP message may be sent to another app which will try to open those same MIDI handles. (ie, During your call to DestroyWindow() upon your last open window, Windows 2000 will fire off the WM_ACTIVATEAPP message to some other app).
Ok, you say, "But what about those times when I want to continue doing something with MIDI in the background while another program gets the focus?" For example, maybe you want to continue playing a MIDI file in the background, and don't want to stop just because the user switches to a paint program.
In that case, you should give the user the option of whether he wants your program to continue doing MIDI in the background. One good approach is to have some menu item he can check or uncheck which signals whether he wants you to "relinquish" the MIDI devices when your application is deactivated. Here I have a global, NoRelinquishFlag. When the user tells me to "hold onto the device", I set this to one. If the user wants me to relinquish the MIDI devices when he moves to another app, then I clear it. (I won't bother showing you how to set and clear variables). Below, I show you the simple modification you need to make to implement intelligent MIDI sharing that should encompass your software's requirements.
When a program crashes, and it has no exception handling of its own, the Win32 default exception handling is invoked. This default handling attempts to free up resources for the program. For example, if you have some file open, the handle to it is closed. Under Windows 2000/NT/XP, the default exception handling unfortunately does not close any MIDI handles you have open. The net result is that, after a program crashes, no program will be able to open that MIDI port until you reboot the system.
But there is a way to solve this problem. What the default exception handling does do is to unload any Dynamic Link Libraries (DLL) that you have open. The operating system calls a special function (usually named DllMain()) in the DLL, passing a value of DLL_PROCESS_DETACH. The DLL is expected to do any cleanup then. So, if you place your MIDI handle variables inside of a DLL that you write, and then put code in your DllMain() function to close these handles if they are not zero, then your program will effectively close it MIDI handles, even when it crashes under Windows 2000/NT/XP.
So, how do you get access to those MIDI handles if they're inside of a DLL? Well, if you statically link with the DLL, and you've put the names of those variables in your Module Definition (.DEF) file, then Win32 automatically resolves those links when your program is loaded. You simply access those variables just like any other global variable in your program. But an even better idea is to put those above "wrapper functions" I wrote into a DLL, export their names in your DEF file, and call them just like any other functions in your program. Then, your DllMain()'s DLL_PROCESS_DETACH can simply call closeMidiOut() and closeMidiIn() to do the needed cleanup. You can download my MIDI Skeleton C example which implements this sharing. Run multiple copies of this program with a single client driver and you'll note that they all share a MIDI port. In fact, this example shows skeleton code for writing a MIDI C application, and may be of some use as a starting point for your own projects. Included are the Project Workspace files for Visual C++ 4.0. Remember that all apps should include MMSYSTEM.H and link with WINMM.LIB (or MMSYSTEM.LIB if Win3.1). This is a ZIP archive. Use an unzip utility that supports long filenames. It also includes the source code to a DLL with the wrapper functions in it. The C app uses this DLL to deal with the situation of freeing handles when crashing under Windows 2000/NT/XP.
By implementing the above, you'll be able to write a program that shares the MIDI ports with other such well-behaved MIDI programs (including multiple instances of your own program). It will work with single client drivers, and it will be transparent to the enduser. It will free MIDI handles under Windows 2000/NT/XP if your program crashes.
In conclusion, if you don't care about the overhead of opening and closing a device before and after every operation, and you do quick, MIDI operations, then you can just do the technique described in my first example. You won't hog a port that way.
But if you must hog a port, then do it the intelligent, user-friendly way as shown above.
Do Windows-using musicians a favor -- If you run across a MIDI program that doesn't share the MIDI port when you go to activate other MIDI programs, send the author of that first program a copy of this web page. | 2019-04-19T13:42:20Z | http://midi.teragonaudio.com/tech/share.htm |
AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 25-11-126, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN PERSONS RECEIVING A RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE FROM THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM WHO ARE EMPLOYED AS TEACHERS UNDER A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AFTER THEIR RETIREMENT, AND CERTAIN PERSONS EMPLOYED AS TEACHERS UNDER A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE FROM THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM, MAY HAVE THEIR RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE CREDITED TO A TRUST ACCOUNT IN THEIR NAME DURING THEIR EMPLOYMENT AS TEACHERS WHILE RECEIVING THE REGULAR COMPENSATION FOR TEACHERS; TO PROVIDE THAT THOSE PERSONS SHALL NOT BE CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM NOR RECEIVE ANY CREDITABLE SERVICE FOR THE PERIOD DURING WHICH THEIR RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE IS CREDITED TO A TRUST ACCOUNT DURING THEIR EMPLOYMENT AS TEACHERS; TO AMEND SECTIONS 25-11-103, 25-11-105 AND 25-11-127, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 37-19-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE TEACHING SALARIES OF THOSE PERSONS SHALL NOT INCLUDE ANY INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM SALARY FOR TEACHING EXPERIENCE OBTAINED BEFORE THE DATE OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT AS TEACHERS AFTER THEIR RETIREMENT OR THE DATE THAT CURRENT TEACHERS BEGAN HAVING THEIR RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE CREDITED TO A TRUST ACCOUNT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
twenty-five (25) or more years of creditable service and is eligible to receive a retirement allowance under this article, who was employed as a teacher in the public school system at the time of his retirement and who is employed as a teacher under a three-year contract in the public school system after his retirement, may choose to have the retirement allowance under this article credited to a trust account in his name during his employment as a teacher after his retirement while receiving the regular compensation for a teacher as authorized under Section 37-19-7, in the manner provided in this section. Upon the expiration of the three-year contract, the teacher shall be eligible to receive all monies paid into the trust account on his behalf, plus interest and earnings thereon.
(b) Any person who is employed as a teacher in the public school system who completes twenty-five (25) or more years of creditable service during his employment as a teacher, may choose to continue teaching under a three-year contract and to have his retirement allowance under this article credited to a trust account in his name during his employment as a teacher in the public school system while receiving the regular compensation for a teacher as authorized under Section 37-19-7, in the manner provided in this section. Upon the expiration of the three-year contract, the teacher shall be eligible to receive all monies paid into the trust account on his behalf, plus interest and earnings thereon.
(2) Any person described in subsection (1)(a) of this section shall notify the executive director of the retirement system, before being employed as a teacher in the public school system after his retirement, about his choice on crediting the retirement allowance to a trust account in his name during his employment as a teacher. If the person chooses not to credit the retirement allowance to a trust account in his name during his employment as a teacher, the retirement allowance shall cease on the day that he begins employment as a teacher after his retirement. After the person completes the three-year contract as a teacher that he began after his retirement, in order to receive the retirement allowance paid into the trust account on his behalf plus interest and earnings thereon, the person shall make application to the executive director of the retirement system, and the retirement allowance plus interest and earnings thereon shall be paid in a lump sum on the first of the month following the date that the application is received by the executive director.
(3) Any person described in subsection (1)(b) who chooses to continue teaching under a three-year contract and to have his retirement allowance during his employment as a teacher in the public school system credited to a trust account in his name shall make application to the executive director of the retirement system. The retirement allowance shall begin to be paid into the trust account on the first of the month following the date that the application is received by the executive director. Those persons shall not be required to withdraw from service in order to have the retirement allowance credited to the trust account. After the person completes the three-year contract as a teacher that he began after his retirement, in order to receive the retirement allowance paid into the trust account on his behalf plus interest and earnings thereon, the person shall make application to the executive director of the retirement system, and the retirement allowance plus interest and earnings thereon shall be paid in a lump sum on the first of the month following the date that the application is received by the executive director.
(4) Any person to whom this section applies who continues to teach under a three-year contract and to have his retirement allowance under this article credited to a trust account in his name during his employment as a teacher shall not be a contributing member of the retirement system nor receive any creditable service for the period during which his retirement allowance is credited to the trust account in his name during his employment as a teacher. Any person to whom this section applies who chooses not to have the retirement allowance credited to a trust account in his name during his employment as a teacher shall be a contributing member of the retirement system and shall receive creditable service for the period during which he is employed as a teacher without receiving a retirement allowance. If the person has previously received a retirement allowance under this article and he is employed as a teacher for more than six (6) months without receiving a retirement allowance, he shall have his allowance recomputed when he retires again, which shall include the service after he again became a contributing member of the retirement system.
(k) "Earned compensation" shall mean the full amount earned by an employee for a given pay period including any maintenance furnished up to a maximum of One Hundred Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($125,000.00) per year, and proportionately for less than one (1) year of service. The value of such maintenance when not paid in money shall be fixed by the employing state agency, and, in case of doubt, by the board of trustees as defined in Section 25-11-15. In any case, earned compensation shall be limited to the regular periodic compensation paid, exclusive of litigation fees, bond fees, and other similar extraordinary nonrecurring payments. In the case of fee officials, the net earnings from their office after deduction of expenses shall apply, except that in no case shall earned compensation be less than the total direct payments made by the state or governmental subdivisions to the official, and employer and employee contributions shall be paid thereon. In the case of members of the state Legislature, all remuneration or amounts paid, except mileage allowance, shall apply. The amount by which an eligible employee's salary is reduced pursuant to a salary reduction agreement authorized under Section 25-17-5 shall be included as earned compensation under this paragraph, provided this inclusion does not conflict with federal law, including federal regulations and federal administrative interpretations thereunder, pertaining to the Federal Insurance Contributions Act or to Internal Revenue Code Section 125 cafeteria plans. Compensation in addition to an employee's base salary that is paid to the employee pursuant to the vacation and sick leave policies of a municipality or other political subdivision of the state that employs him which exceeds the maximums authorized by Section 25-3-91 et seq. shall be excluded from the calculation of earned compensation under this article. The maximum salary applicable for retirement purposes before July 1, 1992, shall be the salary of the Governor. Nothing in Section 25-3-31 shall affect the determination of the earned compensation of any member for the purposes of this article.
(z) "State service" shall mean all offices and positions of trust or employment in the employ of the state, or any political subdivision or instrumentality thereof, which elect to participate as provided by Section 25-11-105 (f), including the position of elected or fee officials of the counties and their deputies and employees performing public services or any department, independent agency, board or commission thereof, and shall also include all offices and positions of trust or employment in the employ of joint state and federal agencies administering state and federal funds and service rendered by employees of the public schools. Effective July 1, 1973, all nonprofessional public school employees, such as bus drivers, janitors, maids, maintenance workers and cafeteria employees, shall have the option to become members in accordance with Section 25-11-105(b), and shall be eligible to receive credit for services prior to July 1, 1973, provided the contributions and interest are paid by the employee in accordance with said section; provided, further, that the county or municipal separate school district may pay the employer contribution and pro rata share of interest of the retroactive service from available funds. From and after July 1, 1998, retroactive service credit shall be purchased at the actuarial cost in accordance with Section 25-11-105(b).
(aa) "Withdrawal from service" shall mean complete severance of employment in the state service of any member by resignation, dismissal or discharge, except in the case of persons who become eligible to receive a retirement allowance under this article during their employment as teachers and who choose to have the retirement allowance credited to a trust account in their name during their employment as teachers as authorized by Section 25-11-126.
(a) All persons who shall become employees in the state service after January 31, 1953, and whose wages are subject to payroll taxes and are lawfully reported on IRS Form W-2, except (i) those persons who are specifically excluded, (ii) those persons to whom election is provided in Articles 1 and 3, (iii) those persons who choose to have their retirement allowance credited to a trust account in their name during their employment as teachers as authorized by Section 25-11-126, shall become members of the retirement system as a condition of their employment.
25-11-127. No person who is being paid a retirement allowance or a pension after retirement under this article shall be employed or paid for any service by the State of Mississippi, except as provided in this section or in Section 25-11-126. This section shall not apply to any pensioner who has been elected to public office after retirement, nor to any person employed because of special knowledge or experience. This section shall not be construed to mean that any person employed or elected under the above exceptions shall become a member under Article 3 of the retirement system, nor shall any retirant of this retirement system who is reemployed or is reelected to office after retirement continue to draw retirement benefits while so reemployed or reelected except those persons who choose to have their retirement allowance credited to a trust account in their name during their employment as teachers as authorized by Section 25-11-126. Any person who has been retired under the provisions of Articles l and 3 and who is later reemployed in service covered by this article shall cease to receive benefits hereunder unless he chooses to have his retirement allowance credited to a trust account in his name during his employment as a teacher as authorized by Section 25-11-126, and the person shall again become a contributing member of the retirement system; and when the person again retires, if he has been a contributing member of the retirement system during his reemployment and his reemployment exceeds six (6) months, he shall have his benefit recomputed, including service after again becoming a member. Provided, further, that the total retirement allowance paid to the retired member in his previous retirement shall be deducted from his retirement reserve and taken into consideration in recalculating the retirement allowance under a new option selected. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as prohibiting any county or city not a member of the Public Employees' Retirement System from employing persons up to the age of seventy-three (73); and provided further that, through June 30, 1988, nothing contained in this section shall be construed as prohibiting any governmental unit which is a member from employing persons up to the age of seventy-three (73) who are not eligible for membership at the time of employment under Article 3.
The provisions of this section shall not be construed to prohibit any retirant regardless of age from being employed and from drawing retirement allowance either (a) for a period of time not to exceed one hundred twenty (120) days in any fiscal year, but less than one-half (1/2) of the normal working days for the position in any fiscal year, or (b) for a period of time in any fiscal year sufficient in length to permit a retirant to earn not in excess of twenty-five percent (25%) of retirant's average compensation or the current rate of the salary in effect for the regular position filled. Notice shall be given in writing to the executive director of the system, setting forth the facts upon which the * * * employment is being made, and such notice shall be given within five (5) days from the date of employment and also from the date of termination of the employment. It is further provided that any member who has attained seventy (70) years of age and who has forty (40) or more years of creditable service may continue in office or employment or be reemployed or elected provided such person files annually, in writing, in the office of the employer and the office of the executive director of the system prior to such services, a waiver of all salary or compensation and elects to receive in lieu of such salary or compensation a retirement allowance as provided in this section, in which even no salary or compensation shall thereafter be due or payable for such services and provided, further, that any such officer or employee may receive in addition to such retirement allowance any per diem, office expense allowance, mileage or travel expense authorized by any statute of the State of Mississippi. Any other member may continue in municipal or county office or employment or be reemployed or elected in a municipality or county provided such person files annually, in writing, in the office of the employer and the office of the executive director of the system prior to such services, a waiver of all salary or compensation and elects to receive in lieu of such salary or compensation a retirement allowance as provided in this section, in which event no salary or compensation shall thereafter be due or payable for such services and provided, further, that any such officer or employee may receive in addition to such retirement allowance any per diem, office expense allowance, mileage or travel expense authorized by any statute of the State of Mississippi.
(2) From and after the 1995-1996 school year and beginning with the next school year following the school year in which a teacher meets the standard requirements, any certificated teacher who shall have met the requirements and acquired a Master Teacher certificate from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards and who is employed by a local school board as a teacher and not as an administrator shall receive a Three Thousand Dollar ($3,000.00) salary supplement in addition to any other compensation to which the teacher may be entitled. The additional compensation shall take effect when the number of subject areas for which the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards' assessment process for certification is sufficient to allow eighty percent (80%) of existing teachers in Mississippi to be eligible to apply for the certification. All such salary supplements shall be paid directly by the State Department of Education to the local school district and shall be in addition to its minimum education program allotments and not a part thereof in accordance with regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education. Local school districts shall not reduce the local supplement paid to any teacher receiving such salary supplement, and the teacher shall receive any local supplement to which teachers with similar training and experience are otherwise entitled.
25-11-126, shall be paid a salary in accordance with the scale prescribed in subsection (1) of this section for the class of the teaching certificate held by the person. For such persons, no increase in the minimum salary prescribed in subsection (1) of this section shall be allowed for any teaching experience obtained by the person before the date of his employment as a teacher after his retirement, but the minimum salary shall be increased for each year of teaching experience obtained by the person after the date of his employment as a teacher after his retirement.
(b) Any person who is employed as a teacher and becomes eligible to receive a retirement allowances from the Public Employees' Retirement System during his employment as a teacher who chooses to continue teaching under a three-year contract and to have his retirement allowance credited to a trust account in his name during his employment as a teacher, as authorized by subsection (1)(b) of Section 25-11-126, shall be paid a salary in accordance with the scale prescribed in subsection (1) of this section for the class of the teaching certificate held by the person. For such persons, no increase in the minimum salary prescribed in subsection (1) of this section shall be allowed for any teaching experience obtained by the person before the date that his retirement allowance begins to be credited to a trust account in his name, but the minimum salary shall be increased for each year of teaching experience obtained by the person after the date that his retirement allowance began to be credited to a trust account in his name. | 2019-04-18T17:03:38Z | http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/1997/HB/1600-1699/HB1618IN.htm |
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Join us for our non-credit classes and workshops are held during the day, evening and weekends, which starts happening throughout the semester. Please refer to individual course listings for pricing, dates and times. High school students may enroll in adult courses. Upon registration, students receive an email confirmation, a supply list with course location information and a campus map. Students are responsible for purchasing their supplies unless otherwise noted. Visit Policies and Procedures for complete information regarding schedule changes, and class cancellation or withdrawal refund policies for Continuing Studies programming.
Design brings form and content together to create images that communicate ideas without using words. Students learn to employ simple Adobe Photoshop tools to achieve design solutions. They will develop an individual design based on color symbolism, image manipulation, text usage, and the combination of all these elements with the emphasis of accomplishing “understanding” and “using design” to communicate. All skill levels are welcome. Basic computer skills required. This course is taught on the Mac. See CG101 for an Intro to the Mac. PC users can learn on the Mac during class, and transfer their knowledge to practice on their PC at home.
Photoshop is the industry favorite software for management and image manipulation of photographs, as well as design, web, and 3D projects. Through demonstrations and lectures, this basics course will introduce students to the essential tools of Photoshop. Hands-on exercises lead students through the processes of transforming photographs, introduces graphic elements, and discusses application in web design. Students learn fundamental tools and tricks to transform photographs, graphics, and websites, as well as create original artwork. All skill levels are welcome. Learn anew or refresh and pick up new tricks of the trade. Basic computer skills required. This course is taught on the Mac. See CG101 for an Intro to the Mac. PC users can learn on the Mac during class, and transfer their knowledge to practice on their PC at home.
This hands-on workshop introduces the art of trompe l’oeil to students of all levels whose interests lie in combining detailed realistic painting techniques with delightful, dimensional deceit. French for “trick the eye”, trompe l’oeil incorporates the concepts of perspective to create a 3-dimensional effect through shading, shadow and color contrast to achieve decorative, functional artwork. Students learn to achieve dimension by combining and manipulating various artist and faux finishing materials. Historical information and demonstrations make this workshop interesting for anyone who enjoys detail with a twist of humor. Most supplies are included. Member benefits, tuition remissions or promotional savings are not applicable.
Learn all there is to know about how to make a floor cloth. They have been in vogue since the 18th century, but we will embark on less traditional subject matter. In this course, students will design and paint a 2’ x 3’ floor cloth. They will learn about the preparation, materials, how to finish off, topcoat and care for these tread-able works of art. Demonstrations throughout the class will aid students in techniques.
Noun: The imitation or evocation of Chinese motifs and techniques in Western art, furniture, and architecture, especially in the 18th century. This course will explore the role and importance of chinoiserie in interior design elements from inception until present day. Students will design a small project and execute artwork, utilizing centuries-old techniques but current materials to replicate this art form. Demonstrations will aid students in techniques.
A three-session course designed to delve into the methods of faux marbre (marble,) faux bois (wood graining) and simple drapery. These century-old techniques have been updated through combined usage of neo-faux and art materials, to make techniques less complicated. This course is for students who have previously taken “The Magic of Trompe L’oeil,” skilled in faux finishing or have some painting knowledge and experience. Interested participants must enjoy fine detail that involves layers of process to achieve realistic results. Three panels will be accomplished and instructor will provide demos for clarity.
What nature took millions of years to accomplish, we will undertake in three days. This class is for students of previous trompe l’oeil courses or who have experience in painting and detailed work. We will duplicate five actual marbles/granite panels: White Carrera, Travertine, Mediterranean Empress Green, Sienna and Stone. Utilizing various materials and techniques, the student will learn to combine basic and advanced skills to accomplish panels that appear to be real marble and fool the eye. These marbles are created by means of art and faux finishing materials and tools, and, are achieved through a process of layering. Instructor Demos will allow students to see how to “build” the process.
A three-session course designed to instruct students in the duplication of various species of woods: natural oak, flame mahogany and burl. The oak panel will then be designed in trompe l’oeil to create the illusion of a door panel, utilizing shading and shadowing. Students will learn to layer glazes and use various wood graining tools to duplicate wood detail. Discussion will provide insight into the nature and growth of various species to gain an understanding why methods and techniques are used. Instruction will include progressive demonstrations. Three panels will be accomplished with one in trompe l’oeil.
Your digital camera is a precise tool for capturing a still, visual representation of a moment. Learn to harness the power of digital photography by understanding the specialized features of your camera, proper exposure, depth of field, composition, lighting, and the fundamentals of photo management within Adobe Photoshop. Then challenge your imagination with weekly shooting assignments and software manipulation. Discussions include a brief history of photography, and an exploration of contemporary trends. Students will leave with a portfolio of images. Group critiques enhance learning. Students must bring their own digital SLR camera. All skill levels are welcome. Basic computer skills required. Some elements of this course are taught on the Mac. See CG101 for an Intro to the Mac. PC users can learn on the Mac during class, and transfer their knowledge to practice on their PC at home.
Photoshop is the industry favorite software for management and image manipulation of photographs, as well as design, web, and 3D projects. Through demonstrations and lectures, this basics course will introduce students to the essential tools of Photoshop. Hands?on exercises lead students through the processes of transforming photographs, introduces graphic elements, and discusses application in web design. Students learn fundamental tools and tricks to transform photographs, graphics and websites, as well as create original artwork. All skill levels are welcome. Learn anew or refresh and pick up new tricks of the trade. Basic computer skills required. This course is taught on the Mac. See CG101 for an Intro to the Mac. PC users can learn on the Mac during class, and transfer their knowledge to practice on their PC at home.
This easy intro to lighting is for people who have no photographic lighting experience. Students will be introduced to multiple ways to control images using simple techniques and equipment. Demonstrations will clarify how the camera responds to light differently than the eye does and, how to control the photograph beyond what just the camera exposure can produce. Understanding these techniques provides skills that will advance your photographic results. Simple equipment for demonstrations will be provided by the instructor. Students are encouraged to bring their own cameras and, if time allows, make some photographs. Upon completion of this workshop, students will be able to make more informed choices about what equipment they may want to purchase to pursue their photographic goals.
Learn technical and aesthetic photography tips to transform your snapshots and photos into fine art nature photography that expresses your creative vision. Illuminate the beauty of Florida’s natural paradise through digital processes in Photoshop to create finished pieces including flowers, birds and animals. This is also a great way to capture nature’s bounty for creative reference. Basic computer skills and a digital camera with manual-setting mode are required.
Photo Collage is the assemblage of different elements from individual photographs to create a 2- dimensional imagined reality. Whether playful or serious the resulting image offers a peek into fantasy, and artificial or virtual reality. Today photo collage is used extensively in contemporary photo shoots to create fantastical environments, in fine arts, and just for fun. Bring an adventurous curiosity and a sense of humor, along with thumb drive of photographs to work with. Some Photoshop experience is helpful.
SERIES SAVINGS: Phone us at 941-955-886 to enroll in 2 or more of Joe Loccisano’s Figure Classes [DF203A, DF203B, and/or MM910] and save 10%.
SERIES SAVINGS: Enroll in A Week-of-Wax with Elena De La Ville VPT824 + VPT830 (A or B) to SAVE!
Learn all there is to know about how to make a floor cloth. They have been in vogue since the 18th century, but we will embark on less traditional subject matter. In this course, students will design and paint a 2’ x 3’ floor cloth. They will lean about the preparation, materials, how to finish off, topcoat and care for these tread-able works of art. Demonstrations throughout the class will aid students in techniques. Most supplies are included. Member benefits, tuition remissions or promotional savings are not applicable.
Noun: The imitation or evocation of Chinese motifs and techniques in Western art, furniture and architecture, especially in the 18th century. This course will explore the role and importance of chinoiserie in interior design elements from inception until present day. Students will design a small project and execute artwork, utilizing centuries old techniques but current materials to replicate this art form. Demonstrations will aid students in techniques. Most supplies are included. Member benefits, tuition remissions or promotional savings are not applicable.
A three-session course designed to delve into the methods of faux marbre (marble,) faux bois (wood graining) and simple drapery. These century old techniques have been updated through combined usage of neo-faux and art materials, to make techniques less complicated. This course is for students who have previously taken “The Magic of Trompe L’oeil,” skilled in faux finishing or have some painting knowledge and experience. Interested participants must enjoy fine detail that involves layers of process to achieve realistic results. Three panels will be accomplished and instructor will provide demos for clarity.
What nature took millions of years to accomplish, we will undertake in three days. This class is for students of previous trompe l’oeil courses or who have experience in painting and detailed work. We will duplicate five actual marbles/granite panels: White Carrera, Travertine, Mediterranean Empress Green, Sienna and Stone. Utilizing various materials and techniques, the student will learn to combine basic and advanced skills to accomplish panels that appear to be real marble and “fool the eye.” These marbles are created by means of art and faux finishing materials and tools, and, are achieved through a process of layering. Instructor Demos will allow students to see how to “build” the process.
Playing with color, line and form, abstract painting can be whatever you want it to be. We will begin with a series of hands-on exercises to explore color along with a variety of techniques. This will stimulate your imagination and encourage uninhibited expression. Merging design and composition with your personal style your ideas will come to life. Come expecting to learn, be inspired, and have fun! Students may work in watercolors or acrylic or water-soluble oil paint. All skill levels welcome.
Capturing the beauty and essence of plants and flowers has been the artist’s quest for centuries. Sketching from observation you will depict your botanical forms then, using basic watercolor techniques, you will illuminate the delicate changes in tone and color to portray a realistic depiction of the specimen. All skill levels welcome. Bring your favorite fresh flowers to class as models.
Learn the ancient art of Direct Wax Sculpting by creating your own 3-dimensional sculpture in wax! With 42 years of art foundry experience, Sean’s workshop will cover sculpting, sticking & welding, and using pliable waxes, feeding gate waxes, and sticky waxes. You sculpt, assemble, and take home your own wax sculpture. You will also be shown how to coat your wax with bronze powder, giving it a realistic bronze look. Or, if desired, wax sculptures may be cast in bronze at an outside foundry. See examples of direct waxes cast in bronze: www.ColsonCreations.com. All skill levels welcomed. Materials are included in the workshop fee. Member, faculty, and staff benefits are not applicable.
PORTRAIT IN CLAY – Class is currently full.
Complete the online registration form to join the Wait List.
This four-week course covers how to physically describe artworks, the role of accompanying paperwork, questions of authenticity and legalities, differing types of appraisals and value systems, marketability, and the preparation of personal inventory files. Class participation is essential and homework is assigned for three of the four weeks. At the conclusion, class members should be able to begin documenting their own collections.
SERIES SAVINGS: Phone us at 941-955-8866 to enroll in 2 or more Art History classes [AH170, AH172, AH175] to save 10%.
Beginner to experienced writers welcome.
High School students registering for this workshop must be at least 16 years of age.
Take both VDRW920 and VDRW925 and SAVE!
Experimentation and exploration converge with rich color and texture to produce vivid results while honoring the fundamental principles of art. In this workshop, students learn to combine and manipulate the soft impasto medium of cold wax with oil paint and pigment sticks, using a variety of tools, techniques and other materials to create layered textured expressive surfaces. Demonstrations, presentations and group discussions together with attention toward each student's painting vocabulary and personal direction will result in unique and highly individualized results. www.edelaville.com. Tuition includes art supplies. Bring a playful attitude. Open to students of all levels of experience.
Enroll in VPTW824 + VPTW820 (A or B) to SAVE!
This is an exciting and stimulating workshop to explore design, color, and painting on silk. Colors on silk are breath-taking. Design techniques are easy to apply and painting florals are perfect for this art form. Classes are taught in an open, relaxed manner and geared for the beginner as well as the seasoned artist interested in exploring silk painting. We will be completing three scarves at the end of the third day. Most materials will be provided. This workshop is suitable for students ages 18 and above.
Join us as we delve into the Faux Marbre (marble), Faxu Bois (wood graining) and simple drapery methods. These century-old techniques have been updated through combined usage of neo-faux and mart materials to make techniques less complicated. This workshop is for students who have previously taken The Magic of Trompe l’Oeil (VPT365), those skilled in faux finishing or have some painting knowledge and experience. Participants must enjoy fine detail work that involves layers of process to achieve realistic results. Previous trompe l’oeil or detailed painting experience required.
What nature took millions of years to accomplish, we will undertake in 3 days. We will duplicate 5 actual marbles/granite panels: white Carrera, travertine, Mediterranean Empress Green, Sienna and stone. Utilizing various materials and techniques, the student will learn to combine basic and advanced skills to accomplish panels that appear to be real marble and “fool the eye.” Previous trompe l’oeil or detailed painting experience required.
This workshop will instruct students in the duplication of various species of woods: natural oak, flame mahogany, and burl. The oak panel will be designed in trompe l’oeil to create the illusion of a door panel utilizing shading and shadowing. Students will learn to layer glazes and use various wood-graining tools. Discussion will provide insight into the nature and growth of various species and to understand why various methods and techniques are used. Three panels will be created with one in trompe l’oeil. Previous trompe l’oeil or detailed painting experience required.
Enroll in VPT366 + VPT368 + VPT370 to SAVE!
Learn the ancient art of Direct Wax Sculpting by creating your own 3-dimensional sculpture in wax! with 42 years of art foundry experience, Sean's workshop will cover sculptuing, sticking and welding, using pliable waxes, feeding gate waxes, and stickey waxes. You sculpt, assemble, and take home your own wax sculpture. You will also be shown how to coat your wax with bronze powder, giving it a realistic bronze look. Or, if desired, wax sculptures may be cast in bronze at an outside foundry. See examples of direct waxes cast in bronze: www.colsoncreations.com. All skill levels welcomed. Materials are included in the workshop fee.
This lecture focuses on organized steps to market your art, with the results of getting better exposure, professional contacts, and better sales. It includes how to package the look of your promotional materials, and focuses on solid steps on getting articles published on your work. Q & A will follow. Joseph Cavalieri worked as an Art Director at GQ, Peopleand Good Housekeeping magazines. He worked closely with editors and learned what type of articles they chose, and why. Cavalieri now shares information from this past career, as well as insight he has learned running his own studio. He has offered this lecture in the USA and internationally for over 4 years. www.cavaglass.com .
Questions? Need Assistance? Email [email protected] or call us at 941-955-8866.
Get started in the world of art in motion by learning basic techniques and skills to create Rotoscope animations, GIFs, and still image movement. Demonstrations and instruction begin with Photoshop and go through post-production in Premiere Pro highlighting professional examples, followed by step-by-step guidance to inspire students to create their own animations. Students should bring a bag lunch each day.
This class is for anyone who loves to draw characters, regardless of skill level. Through fun exercises that strengthen your conceptual ability and skills, create and develop many characters: humans, animals, superheroes, and creatures for game art, illustrations, and more to begin to develop a character layout sheet or comic strip. This class is very helpful in preparing for Cartoons + Comic Art Workshop, Illustration in Pen &Ink, and Experimental Animation. Learn techniques for brainstorming and idea development.
Take your concept sketches, characters, or cartoons & comics to the next level. Learn how to use the various tools and techniques to bring impact to the elements and design of your creations. Working with pen & ink allows you to emphasize the elements you want to make pop to give your drawings and designs an edge and clarity for greater impact.
Everyone loves cartoons and comics, superheroes, and villains. Do you have a story to tell? This fun-filled workshop is for beginners and experienced artists alike. You will learn illustration and layout techniques, as well as inspirational methods on how to bring reality and fiction together to tell a story and create a comic. Learn how to apply the basic rules of cartooning, character creation, sequential drawing, and perspective for maximum impact to bring your story to life!
Concept sketching is the first step used to develop ideas for illustration and creative applications such as games, animation, or graphic novels. Concept art is also known as visual development or concept design, used in developing design ideas for multiple industries. You will learn a variety of techniques by working on multiple projects from a poster to a character or environment design. This is a fun class with an easy-to-follow pace making sure you understand terms and basic techniques. This course complements Character Design, Cartoons & Comic Art, Illustration in Pen & Ink, and Experimental Animation.
software, Adobe Photoshop. Demonstrations introduce you to the key concepts and basic tools of Photoshop, while hands-on exercises guide students to transform photographs, as well as create original artwork. Basic computer skills required.
This class provides hands-on experience in basic film and video editing to produce short and compelling films and videos. Beginning with simple storyboarding and concept development, students learn how to apply proper shooting technique using camera video settings. With emphasis on composition, you will apply basic directing techniques combined with frames per second, sound, lighting, camera angles, and audio control to record creative imagery they will then enhance through finishing with Premier Pro editing. A digital camera, smartphone, or tablet (iPad) with a video setting option in working condition, and headphones or earbuds are required.
Exploring a variety of drawing media, you will learn fundamental drawing techniques and gain a working knowledge of the basic elements and principles of design such as line, shape, perspective, proportion, volume, and composition. This or equivalent experience is “the” prerequisite for Figure Drawing, Sketchbook Workshop, Painting, Portfolio Development/2D Open Studio, and recommended prerequisite for Illustration classes.
Through hands-on exercises using traditional drawing and mixed media, you will explore materials and methods in new ways to inspire ideas and to help develop a unique style while learning how to use graphite, ink, markers, watercolor, charcoal, colored pencils, and oil pastels. This is a fast-paced, exciting studio for all skill levels.
This classical drawing course develops your figure drawing skills through the study of proportion, anatomy, gesture, figure/space relationship, value, and line quality. You will explore various techniques drawing from the live (clothed) model. Experiment with drawing materials and creative approaches in this high-energy class. A must have for illustrators and animators! Prerequisite: Drawing or equivalent.
Sketchbooks are an exciting way to explore new materials, play around with different ideas, and to capture your everyday life and people, places, and the things that inspire you. Using pencil, ink, and watercolor you can build your sketchbook as an archive of ideas or work on sequential drawing to develop a narrative story. Whatever direction you choose you will develop your drawing and observation techniques while building your artistic practice. Prerequisite: Drawing or equivalent experience.
In this course, you will work in the media of your choice (drawing, painting, photography, mixed media, etc.) with an emphasis on collaboration and interdisciplinary practice. With teacher guidance, explore a range of creative approaches used by contemporary, working artists to expand your own personal methods and styles to create strong, portfolio-quality work and learn to articulate your ideas verbally and in writing. This course is for those that have previous experience, a passionate interest in the visual arts, and want to build on their portfolio. Take advantage of this opportunity to build your portfolio for VPA or college application. Students work on self-selected projects with professional guidance to support the development of their work. Prerequisites: A minimum of introductory courses in the medium in which the student will be working. Students should bring a bag lunch each day.
This course covers digital video camera operation, basic lighting, scripting, and storyboarding as well as Premier Pro editing, titles, effects, and montage theory. Working in your own direction from narrative, abstract, or experimental, to more journalistic or documentary genres, and you should walk away with a well-edited project with the potential to use in a portfolio or film festival screening. The course culminates with a screening of final student projects. Basic computer skills required. Beginner through advanced skill levels welcome. A digital camera with a video setting option in working condition, and headphones or earbuds are required. Students should bring a bag lunch each day.
Have you ever been taking a hike with friends or visiting a city for the first time and became struck by an inspirational idea leaving you compelled to capture that moment? This workshop will give you the skills needed to make a video on the spot, whatever your location is, while using your surroundings to help you capture your vision. From using a piece of cardboard and tin-foil as a reflector, to adjusting your phone to act as a microphone, the objective of this week-long journey is to teach filmmakers how to make videos, short films, documentaries, and video diaries using only the equipment at hand. A close-cousin of Dogma 95, this style of independent filmmaking allows the director to work with small crews, and sometimes no crew at all, putting the power in the hands of the filmmaker. If you like filming on the spot, stretching your experimental style and learning how to make props from scratch, then Guerrilla Filmmaking is for you. Join us to learn a fun and spontaneous approach to filmmaking. Basic computer skills required. A digital camera, smartphone, or tablet (iPad) with a video setting option in working condition, and headphones or earbuds are required.
This class provides hands-on experience in basic video production to produce short and compelling videos. Beginning with simple storyboarding and concept development, you will learn proper camera operation shooting techniques using video settings. With emphasis on composition, apply basic directing techniques combined with frames per second, sound, lighting, camera angles, and audio control to record creative imagery that you will then enhance through finishing with Premier Pro editing. Basic computer skills required. A digital camera, smartphone, or tablet (iPad) with a video setting option in working condition, and headphones or earbuds are required.
Color, brushstrokes, and your imagination have no limits! Express your ideas and emotions through a series of painting projects working from reality or your imagination. This class introduces a variety of techniques and tools basic to acrylic painting and, explores the world of color and composition through figure and ground relationships, visual perception, and spatial concepts. Returning students are encouraged to work in the studio to advance their painting to the next level. Individual and group critique will aid in development of artistic and critical thinking skills. Prerequisite: Drawing or equivalent experience.
Photography is one of the most compelling of visual media. Through photo shoots and in-lab work, this class emphasizes both the technical aspects of the craft as well as creative imagery. You will learn how to use lenses, filters, and light, understand aperture and shutter speeds, and how to compose and bracket exposures. This course covers an in-depth review of memory cards, megabytes, optical and digital viewfinders and zoom, as well as menu options, mega pixels, and how to save, move, and organize images when transferring photos to your computer for editing in Photoshop. Basic computer skills and a digital camera with manual-setting mode are required. All skill levels welcome.
Learn technical and aesthetic photography tips to transform your snapshots and photos into fine art nature photography that expresses your creative vision. Illustrate the beauty of Florida’s natural paradise through digital processes in Photoshop to create finished pieces including flowers, landscapes, birds, and animals. This is also a great way to capture nature’s bounty for creative reference. Basic computer skills and a digital camera with manual-setting mode are required. All skill levels welcome.
Find inspiration in the realm of digital creativity. Edit and manipulate photos, add layers and text all while learning how to become comfortable with the tools and hot-keys of the world's leading photo-editing software, Adobe Photoshop. Demonstrations introduce you to the key concepts and basic tools of Photoshop, while hands-on exercises guide you to transform photographs, as well as create original artwork. Basic computer skills required.
In this course, you will work in the media of your choice (drawing, painting, photography, mixed media, etc.) with an emphasis on collaboration and interdisciplinary practice. With teacher guidance, you will explore a range of creative approaches used by contemporary, working artists to expand your own personal methods and styles to create strong, portfolio-quality work and learn to articulate your ideas visually, verbally, and in writing. This course is for students that have previous experience, a passionate interest in the visual arts, and want to build on their portfolio. Take advantage of this opportunity to build your portfolio for VPA or college application. Students work on self-selected projects with professional guidance to support the development of their work. Prerequisites: A minimum of introductory courses in the medium in which the student will be working. Students should bring a bag lunch each day.
At Ringling College we believe creativity is vital to a vibrant life. This summer we invite you to strengthen your creative craft and expand your skills through project-based explorations in hot glass, creative woodworking, and digital photography.
Connect with Ringling College’s community of like-minded lifelong learners. Find camaraderie and creative inspiration by enrolling in immersive workshops designed for adult learners ages 18 and above. All skill levels are welcome or otherwise noted in the course description.
Ringling College School of Continuing Studies awards 3 CEUs to students for each successfully completed immersion workshop.
Adults ages 18 and above.
This intensive workshop is an immersive introduction and robust refresher to working with molten glass. You will learn how to create hot-blown and solid glass forms. Cold-finish work will introduce you to finishing and texture methods. An overview of the hot shop essentials includes teamwork, terminology, safety, tools, and a variety of working methods to build your knowledge and equip you with an understanding of the material and how to apply it to your own work.
Daily demonstrations and directions provide you with a hands-on understanding. We will focus on the steps you need to make to expand your material awareness and skill to be able to create with glass. There will be discussions regarding inspiration, processes, and the prescribed aspects of sculpture and vessel fabrication. You will be encouraged and assisted to make a completed piece. Proper attire is mandatory for working in the Hot Shop. Long pants, comfortable t-shirt or long sleeve shirt, and comfortable, closed-toed shoes. Please wear natural fibers (cotton) as synthetic fibers can melt near high temperatures. Please remove all jewelry from hands and arms. Enrollment is limited – register early! Member benefits are not applicable. Faculty staff waivers are limited to one seat if available.
Beginner to intermediate skill levels welcome.
foundation in the medium and build confidence and competence with the material. You will brush up on the basics before diving into set-ups, spot heating, and faster methods of execution.
Daily demonstrations and directions will involve students to provide a hands-on experience. We will explore combining blown and solid forms and expand your construction techniques. The integration of color will begin to influence your design and build on finishing and texture techniques. Proper attire is mandatory for working in the Hot Shop. Long pants, comfortable t-shirt or long sleeve shirt, and comfortable, closed-toed shoes. Please wear natural fibers (cotton) as synthetic fibers can melt near high temperatures. Please remove all jewelry from hands and arms. Enrollment is limited – register early! Member benefits are not applicable. Faculty staff waivers are limited to one seat if available.
Intermediate to advanced skill levels welcome. Students must have completed the beginner level course at Ringling College or have equivalent experience and competencies.
• Project #1: Artistry Slab End Table. This will be an artistic wood slab side table / bench approximately 20” wide x 18” deep x 18” high.
• Project #2: Plywood Miter-fold Floating Shelf. This will be a plywood miter-fold floating shelf approximately 30” wide x 8” deep x 2” thick.
• Project #3: Artisan Cheese I Cutting Board. Created from exotic wood, cheese or cutting boards approximately 14” wide x 8” deep x ½” thick.
Price includes a scaled drawing of each project, hardwood slab, hardwood leg material, and high quality shelf plywood and lesson plan.
What is a portrait? What is a good portrait? Understanding a portrait can sometimes tell the viewer more about the photographer or person taking the picture than it does the sitter. A portrait can question the relationship between the photographer and sitter, challenge the viewer, encourage introspection, and connect the viewer despite time and place. What makes you linger when looking at a portrait?
This weeklong immersive class is designed to explore your personal vision through the combination of a brief historical overview, technical guidance, and a look at related contemporary issues. You will produce a broad range of portraits designed to gain a better understanding of your relationship to portraiture. You will be encouraged to rethink your understanding of a portrait and to photograph people in entirely different ways. Classes will involve demonstrations, lectures, group critiques, assigned readings, class discussions, student presentations, film screenings, and local field trips. The lectures will concentrate on contemporary portrait artists in relationship to the history of the genre. A review of image enhancement and file manipulation using Photoshop will be included. Photoshop experience is helpful. Participants must provide and have a working knowledge of their own DSLR camera.
Our instructors are experienced educators who are practicing artists and designers that maintain a competitive edge in the creative fields. Many individuals are on the faculty at Ringling College of Art and Design where they teach in the BFA and BA degree programs.
Aaron holds an MFA from the New York Academy of Art where he studied with prominent figurative artists, such as Steven Assael and Vincent Desiderio, among others. He taught for six years at institutions in upstate New York and for the past three years at the Ringling College of Art and Design, where he is the instructor for Figure Anatomy. He has an extensive national exhibition record that covers all four corners of the United States and includes The Arnot Art Museum, Sotheby’s, The Dahesh Museum, and Munson Williams Proctor Institute, as well as galleries in Seattle, Sarasota, New York, and Los Angeles.
Lori is a graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design where she received her BFA in Illustration. After a long career as a freelance illustrator for clients such as The Wall Street Journal, Simon and Shuster, and Coca-Cola, she moved back home to Sarasota with her family. Since then she has obtained her Florida teaching certificate and has been teaching at the Sarasota County School Board for the last ten years. Currently, you can find her teaching at the well-known Booker High School Visual Performing Arts Academy where she facilitates a commercial art progression and conceived the award-winning Digital and Motion Design program.
Noah is an artist, educator, and maker whose expertise in materials and processes include glass, digital fabrication, electronics, metal work, robotics, and new media. He received an MFA in Art & Technology Studies from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a BFA in Sculpture from Brigham Young University. Noah has worked as an educator at the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Ringling College of Art and Design.
Jared earned a BFA in 2D Art from Brigham Young University of Hawaii and his MFA in 2D Studio with Animation emphasis from Brigham Young University in Utah. With over 10 years of professional teaching experience, Jared joined Ringling College in 2015. He is a motion graphic specialist and video producer that has created Telly Award-winning motion graphics and shot/produced hundreds of mini documentaries all over the US. Jared has been a key player in Siggraph and Annie Award-winning animation productions for clients: The Smithsonian Institute, Monterey Bay Aquarium, The Polynesian Cultural Center, and directed animation segments for documentaries featured on Independent Lens and the Berlinale. He has also worked with storyboard and animatic artists for Marvel Studios on productions like Iron Man 2 and The Avengers.
Marcia, BFA, MEd, is a painter, photographer, and digital designer. She is a graduate of Massachusetts College of Art, the Art Institute of Boston, and Cambridge College. Marcia is licensed and certified in art education in Massachusetts, California, and Florida. She has several publications, and her work is shown and collected nationally and internationally. Her work has been exhibited in juried shows, one-woman shows, and private collections in Boston, Los Angeles, Milan, and Bali. Marcia has taught at colleges and universities for twenty years.
Polly has a BFA in Graphic Design from Western Michigan University and an MFA in Visual Communication from Virginia Commonwealth University. With over 22 years of professional teaching experience, Polly joined Ringling College of Art and Design in 1993 and is teaching typography, three-dimensional problem solving, and graphic design studio courses in the graphic design program as well as letterpress printing for all majors. Her recent articles include Design Education in Progress: Process and Methodology, From Stasis to Motion; Zed 5: Implications of the Object, Big rigs, and mudflap girls; Zed 7: Public and Private, Just in case we have to do some cooking and her published works include Experimental Typography, Innovations in Digital Graphics.
Emily has been publishing as an artistic practice since 1993 when as a teenager she made her first zine. She is co-founder of the participatory art and publishing project Impractical Labor in Service of the Speculative Arts (ILSSA), and founder of Alder & Frankia, an imprint of collaborations. Her artist books and publications are collected and exhibited by over 70 institutions in the US and the UK, and she has taught and lectured widely. She holds an MFA from Yale School of Art, and is Chair & Associate Professor of Graphic Design at SASD, University of Bridgeport, CT.
Aleksandra received her BFA and MFA in interior design at the Savannah College of Art and Design, School of Building Arts, Savannah, GA. While studying interior design she also received minors in Architecture and Architectural History (focused in Non-Western Architecture). She received an EdD in Educational Leadership from Argosy University, Tampa in 2013. Aleksandra focused her dissertation on Student Perception of Studio Based Learning, and presented her research at the 2014 IDEC (Interior Design Educators Council) Annual Conference.
Martin, a Ringling College alumnus, has sixteen years of experience in the entertainment industry. He has contributed his talents to feature films, numerous broadcast design packages, and commercials, and to the creation of more than twenty games ranging from the arcade and SEGA Genesis era to the current console systems. He was Senior Producer at Midway Games, where he assisted in the development of an original, multiplatform game concept to a playable prototype ready for production. Prior to that, he was Midway’s companywide Director of Art, shepherding the transition of almost three hundred artists to current generation technologies and fostering collaboration across five development studios to improve product quality and reduce development costs. He was an adjunct professor at Columbia College in Chicago where he taught computer animation and portfolio development. He currently teaches curricula for game design at Ringling College.
Pace attended Pratt Institute and The Maryland Institute of Art, majoring in Fashion and Interior Design. Originally from Baltimore, MD, she has lived in Florida since 1971. She opened "Art Effects" a gallery, custom framing/art supply business in Winter Haven, FL operating from 1972-1995 where she taught all levels of classes in oil, acrylic, watercolor, and drawing and, accepted commissions for her artwork. Concurrently, after training in the study of the decorative arts under European Masters she relocated to Sarasota, FL and established "Grande' Illusions LLC" a flourishing decorative art/ finishing company working in collaboration with high-end designers. Jennifer is an experienced industry instructor having taught workshops in trompe l'oeil, faux finishing, marbling, wood graining, gilding, mural painting, and furniture finishing throughout the US at the national seminars of (IDAL) International Decorative Artisans League, The Sarasota School of Architectural Finishing, The Southwest Chapter of IDAL and Faux Effect, an industry leader in Faux Finishing products. Her work has graced the walls of beautiful homes throughout the country and has been featured in Florida Design Magazine.
Mark earned his BA from Chapman University in Art & Communications and his MFA from University of Southern California in Film Production. His career in the motion picture industry spans 20 years and includes work in nearly every position critical to the creation of a film. As a cinematographer, Mark has shot over a dozen features and scores of other projects including commercials, music videos, and shorts. His cinematography has won several awards including the Nissan FOCUS Award. He is a member of the Directors Guild of America, and as second unit director, he directed the Flying Elvises and the Hawaii aerial sequences in Honeymoon in Vegas, a 1993 Golden Globe nominee for Comedy. Previously, Mark is a member of the Ringling College of Art and Design Film faculty, and has previously taught at Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film & Media Arts. In 2006, he mentored the director of the Coca-Cola Refreshing Filmmaker Award-winning film The Reel Monkey. In addition, Mark served as the cinematographer on the project. Mark has also guest-lectured at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.
Octavio holds a BFA in from Ringling College of Art and Design in Illustration. He worked at Hallmark Cards, Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri for three years as a greeting card designer and illustrator. Currently, Octavioworks on concept design and execution of editorial illustrations and news graphics for the St. Petersburg Times. Numerous national clients including Hallmark Cards Inc., GEAR Inc., Cabela's, and Humanities Magazine. Octavio is a member of the Ringling College of Art and Design Illustration faculty.
Pedro, a graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design, is co-founder and vice president of Nuevo Advertising Group, Inc. Pedro also co-owned Merging Point Design, Inc., a technology company focused on building web sites and providing high-end technology solutions to companies all over the US such as Stardust Casino and Resort, Boyd Gaming Corporation, Industrial Coverage Insurance, Van Wezel Performance Arts Hall, Ringling College of Art and Design, and the City of Sarasota.
Glenn has over 20 years as a working theatre professional, and thirteen years as an educator. He holds an MFA in Shakespeare and Performance from Mary Baldwin Universiy, and served as an assistant director and dramaturg at the American Shakespeare Center. He has lectured on theatre and rhetoric all over the country, and recently taught at Randolph College. He has written over a dozen plays, two of which premiered in New York City through Love Creek Productions.
Karen, earned her BFA at Indiana University in Fine Arts and her MFA at University of Massachusetts in Computer Animation. She was cover editor for SIGGRAPH Computer Graphics Quarterly and Chair of the SIGGRAPH Art Gallery in 2002. She has published focus issues on Visual Literacy, Concept Development for Computer Animators, and is the former department head of Art and Visual Communications at Hood College as well as former department head of Biomedical Communications at the University of Connecticut Health Center. Karen’s work has been included in numerous national shows and publications. Karen currently is a member of the Computer Animation faculty at Ringling College of Art and Design.
Jill received her BFA in Fine Arts from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Art & Science in New York and her MFA in New Genres from The San Francisco Art Institute. She is an exhibiting artist who creates large-scale immersive video installations, motion paintings, GIFS, and New Media. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally including The Unpainted Media Art Fair in Munich and Interrupting Entropy: Selections from The Betlach Collection in California. She has also exhibited at large outdoor public venues of light-based art including InLight Richmond in 2013 and 2017. Previously she was a EMMY® Award-winning Creative Director recognized with multiple awards from the AIGA, The Art Directors Club, The Type Directors Club, Graphis and The Broadcast Design Assoc. She served as Chair of Motion Media at Savannah College of Art and Design where she created the annual Inspire Motion Media conference and currently she is a member of the faculty at Ringling College of Art and Design, where she teaches classes in Experimental Concepts, Projection Mapping and History of Motion Media.
Christopher Wilson earned a Bachelor's degree in Architecture (B.Arch.) from Temple University; an M.A. in Histories and Theories of Architecture from The Architectural Association in London; and a Ph.D. in Architecture from Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey. Christopher has worked professionally as an architect in Philadelphia, Berlin, and London, and is a registered architect with the Royal Institute of British Architects. He has been teaching architecture and design students at the university level since 1997, both in design studios and lecture/seminars. He has presented scholarly papers at conferences in Austria, Canada, France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan, and has published articles in refereed journals and chapters in edited books.
Nicholas holds an MA in Art Education from Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD and a BFA in Fine Art and Documentary Photography from Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA, and he has attended graduate studies in photography at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA. Nicholas is a devoted educator with over 15 years of teaching experience at the elementary and middle school levels. In addition, he has created and conducted studio art curriculum for the Orlando Museum of Art and is also teaching at the undergraduate level for Valencia College in Orlando, FL. Bringing a wealth of and experience to his students in 2D, 3D and digital photography studies, artistic challenges often combine multiple elements to bring collaboration and teamwork into the creative process. Wozniak is a frequent presenter and contributor to the Florida Art Educators Conference as well as the National Art Educators Conference, and at the Florida Alliance for Art Educators. He has exhibited in both Florida and Georgia and is a contributing photographer and writer in numerous student and arts-centered publications.
Ongoing registration based on space availability. Please register one week or more before a class starts to assure minimum enrollment will be met. Registrations for on-campus programming can be submitted using our online registration forms, by mail, or in person. Ringling College accepts payment by VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover credit cards, eCheck, and personal check (payable to Ringling College of Art and Design) or cash (in person only).
Upon registration students will be emailed a confirmation, supply list, location, campus map, and parking sign. Students are responsible for purchasing their supplies unless otherwise noted.
Ringling College of Art and Design graduates, current Ringling College Library Association members, and K-12 arts teachers in Sarasota and Manatee counties receive 10% tuition savings on many CSSP courses and workshops. Membership benefits do not extend to family members, and are not applicable to visiting artists or other designated classes as noted in the catalog.
Unforeseen circumstances may deem it necessary to postpone, cancel or reschedule a course, alter fees, or assign an alternate instructor without notice. When possible, students will be notified of changes prior to the first class. Students enrolled in a cancelled class may transfer to a different class or receive a full refund.
In the event a course or workshop is cancelled, the College’s liability is limited to the return of fees paid for that course. Applications and payments are acknowledgement of the terms and conditions as outlined herein. The College assumes no liability for travel expenses or nonrefundable airline tickets that cannot be used due to any course or workshop cancellation, schedule change, or any misprint in our course materials, catalogs, or on our web site. All students accept full responsibility for personal injury and/or personal losses during the period of a course or workshop.
Course withdrawal refunds, minus a $25 administrative fee, are issued only when written notification is received no later than 5 (five) business days prior to the first class session. Cancellations may be submitted by mail or email to [email protected]. No refunds are issued after this time. Refunds are issued in the original payment method and may take up to 15 business days to process. Ringling College will not refund the cost of any unused portion of your tuition/fees. Ringling College reserves the right to require persons not complying with College policies to leave a course or program with no refund.
Spring Art Week (held each March) adheres to the following schedule: Through the first Friday in January, a 100% refund, minus a $25 cancellation fee, will be issued. Subsequently, no refunds can be granted. The effective date of cancellation will be upon receipt of your written notification. Notification can be mailed, or emailed to [email protected]. Refunds may take up to 15 business days to process and are issued in the manner payment was made to Ringling College of Art and Design. You may substitute someone to attend in your place up to one week before the start of the workshop. At the time of substitution, the person taking your place must register with Continuing Studies and pay a $25 transfer fee.
Other Special Immersion, Master Class or Visiting Artist Workshops (identified by courses beginning with a “V” in their course code) require cancellation no less than 30 business days prior to the class start and also carry a $25 cancellation fee. No refund is available after 30 business days prior to the class start. The effective date of cancellation will be upon receipt of your written notification. We cannot accept cancellations by phone. Notification must be mailed or emailed to [email protected]. Refunds may take up to 15 business days to process and are issued in the manner payment was made to Ringling College of Art and Design. You may substitute someone to attend in your place up to one week before the start of the workshop. At the time of substitution, the person taking your place must register with Continuing Studies and pay a $25 transfer fee.
Ringling College will not refund the cost of any unused portion of your tuition/fees.
Ringling College reserves the right to require persons not complying with College policies to leave a course or program with no refund.
Your personal safety and the security of the campus community are of vital concern to Ringling College of Art and Design. A copy of the school’s annual security report, which contains statistics for the most recent three-year period concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus, is available upon request. You can obtain a copy of this report by contacting the Director of Public Safety, Ringling College of Art and Design, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34234. You may request a copy by phone by calling the Office of Public Safety at 941.351.5100 or 941.351.4742. The annual security report is also available online.
Ringling College of Art and Design is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our faculty, students and staff. The following safety rules and procedures, as well as the College’s no smoking policy MUST be observed at all times. The College’s policy meets the requirements of Federal, State, and local laws and regulations to secure the environmental health and safety concerns for the campus community, and applies to all faculty, staff, students and visitors and to all sites under the control of Ringling College of Art and Design.
Please read all of the College's guidelines below. On the first day of your class or workshop, you will be asked to initial that you have reviewed and agree to abide by these guidelines.
Students are expected to act responsibly, maintaining respect for faculty, peers, and equipment, while maintaining clean and operable studio spaces.
Food and beverages are not permitted in any studios or labs.
REPORT ALL EMERGENCIES to the instructor and the Office of Public Safety. Know where all exits are located. Know where the first aid kit is located. Know where the telephone is located and the campus emergency phone number: 941-359-7500. For medical and/or fire emergencies: PHONE 9-1-1 first, AND then notify the Office of Public Safety immediately.
CLOSED TOED SHOES must be worn at all times in the studios.
KNOW WHERE ALL FIRE EXTINGUISHERS ARE LOCATED and how to operate them. ALL exits to classrooms and buildings MUST BE KEPT CLEAR AND FREE OF CLUTTER.
Use personal protective equipment (gloves, goggles or ear protection when using loud equipment or machinery) as instructed and required.
Know where to find and how to work the emergency eyewashes and safety shower. Cut materials on approved cutting surfaces, using appropriate techniques.
Never work alone in a studio. No student may work in a studio during a class period other than the one in which he/she is enrolled. No student may work in a studio unless an instructor or studio monitor is present. Inform a Public Safety Officer if an unfamiliar person is in the studio.
If you do not know how to operate a piece of equipment DO NOT USE IT until you have received sufficient instruction.
NO HORSEPLAY and no running in the studios. No food or drink is allowed in classroom or studio areas. No alcohol or drug use before or during studio time is permitted. No weapons are allowed on campus, including firearms, swords, large knives, etc. or replicas thereof.
No loud music or use of headphones during class time is permitted.
NO OPEN FLAMES (candles, oil lamps, etc) or items containing flammable liquids or fumes are permitted in any studio or lab.
Report any problems with equipment or facilities to your instructor. If something breaks, keep any parts that may come loose or fall off. Do not attempt to make repairs yourself.
Clean up work areas, tables and floors at the end of each class. Use a razor scraper to remove unwanted materials and avoid the use of solvents for clean up. Where required due to materials usage, areas are to be cleaned with wet/mop or HEPA filter vacuum. Spills of any substances must be cleaned up immediately and materials are to be disposed of according to proper studio procedures.
All studio furniture and equipment must be maintained and arranged in workable order at the end of each class.
No artwork may interfere with the conduct of any class or studio.
Artwork must be removed at the end of each class period.
Read any materials safety data sheets (MSDS) that pertain to your course work and be familiar with the proper application of said materials and their dangers.
GAMSOL is the only approved solvent for use in Continuing Studies and Special Programs studios. Gamsol cannot be used inside the studios for washing or for thinning down paint. Either linseed oil or stand oil should be used for these purposes. Gamsol washes may be done outside the studio away from the building door and brought into the studio when completely dry. All solvent rags – including paper towels used with solvents – must be placed in rag containers immediately after use. Work areas and hands are to be washed with soap and water after using solvents.
NO lead-based products may be used in any facility at any time. Beware of using old oil paint that may be lead-based.
For classes utilizing chemicals, they must be properly labeled and stored. Students may NOT bring chemicals into a darkroom, classroom, or studio.
Use provided disposal containers for all used mat-cutter and Exacto knife blades. Do NOT put used blades in the trash and do NOT leave used blades lying around.
Turn off all lighting equipment if you must leave the shooting area for any reason.
Use a ladder when adjusting the height of lighting, backgrounds or props in the studio. DO not use folding chairs or other furniture in place of a ladder.
Each student must bring an oil filled brush cleaning jar - any vegetable oil can be used for brush cleaning.
Spray fixatives should be used ONLY in the spray booths on the campus.
The waste from brush cleaning jars for all painting media (acrylics, water soluble oils, traditional oils) must be properly disposed of in containers provided in the studio.
Under NO circumstances should paint be washed down the sink.
Never wear loosing clothing that might be caught in moving parts of equipment.
Long hair must be tied back or tucked under a close-fitting cap or scarf.
Rings, bracelets, necklaces and wristwatches should not be worn while operating any power tool or machinery/equipment.
Worktables and floors must be covered when working with paint, plaster, flux or other materials that may cause damage or create a mess.
No storage of projects or materials in the shop or studio is permitted.
DO NOT USE A MACHINE without previous proper training.
Never leave a machine while it is running.
Never remove safety guards or other devices from a machine.
Use machines for bona fide operations only.
Do not adjust machines before they have come to a dead stop.
Vacuum equipment when performing work that creates dust.
While a machine is running, be alert to sounds, which indicate that it is not operating properly. If is doesn’t sound right, SHUT IF OFF and seek assistance from the instructor.
Use push blocks when making narrow cuts on power saws.
Do not distract attention of those using machines.
Abuse of a tool may result in the student replacing a tool or piece of equipment.
Children are not allowed in the ceramics studio, glaze room or kiln yard at any time.
Read the material safety data sheets (MSDS) for hazardous materials that you use.
Learn your safe lifting limits and how to lift objects properly. This is particularly important with heavy objects (over 30 pounds). The lifting method most generally recommended is keeping your back straight and bending your knees to pick up an object, rather than keeping your knees straight and bending over to lift.
Wear special clothing in the studio, and remove them after work. Wash them frequently and separately from other clothing. If you mix glaze, it must be stored in plastic containers or buckets with lids.
It is important not to put clay down the sink drains. All scrap clay and slip should be deposited in the slip barrels. Please clean out the sinks after use.
When rolling out a slab, use a top and bottom cloth. Do not roll directly onto the slab bed, or you will not be able to pick up your slab. If you get clay on the edges and sides of the machine, be sure to clean it off. DON’T FORCE THE ROLLER! If it seems difficult to turn, notify your instructor.
Take care that any loose clothing, hair, etc. is not going to be caught by the roller, handle, or cables underneath.
Make sure the table and floor areas are clear of obstructions.
Please do not leave clay out on the wedging table. Keep it clear for others to use. When finished wedging, the table should be scraped clean with a spatula or other tool. Chunks of dry and hard clay picked up from the table during wedging will cause problems both in working with the clay and as it is drying.
Wheels and wheel parts, (especially moving parts), need to be carefully maintained to keep them in good working condition. If a wheel is not working properly, inform your instructor. Try not to let water overflow the wheel table when working. A wet floor is a safety hazard. (All spills should be sponged up immediately). The wheel head, splash pan, seat, and table of the wheel must be cleaned after every use.
Beginning students are provided with a range of stock glazes (raku, stoneware, and low fire), and mix glaze only under the direction of their instructor. Glaze chemicals are expensive and some are toxic and should, therefore, be used with discretion.
Wear a dust mask/respirator if dry mixing or measuring glaze chemicals. Cover all open cuts, especially on your hands, and wear rubber gloves when handling glaze materials. The area in which the chemical bins are located is reserved for dry mixing only.
No water or wet mixing is allowed on top of or around the chemical bins. A spill would ruin the chemicals stored there.
Keep all containers closed, even when working, to prevent escape of dusts, etc. into the air. Use a ventilation fan.
As with all dry materials, transfer powders which create dust with spoons, scoops, or similar implements. (Do not dump, since this creates a lot of dust in the air).
Scales and tools should be cleaned and returned to the tool cabinet. Sieves should be rinsed and returned to their proper place. Any dry spills should be sponged up and the counters wiped off after mixing.
Wash your hands carefully with soap and water after work, before eating and during work breaks. Never use solvents to clean your hands; if soap and water are not sufficient, use a waterless hand cleanser and then soap and water.
*Keep your hands away from your mouth.
When glazing, please work on the table provided. Do not work on the chemical bin counter tops.
All glazes must be stirred well each time they are used. Rinse the stirring sticks between glazes.
Please be careful not to contaminate one glaze with another (for example, by pouring a glaze back into the wrong glaze bucket). If a glaze sees to be too thick or too thin, ask the advice of the instructor before attempting to adjust it.
All work that is to be glaze fired must be signed and must be completely cleaned of glaze on the bottom and up the sides from the bottom. Both wax emulsion and paraffin are provided to aid in the above requirement. When heating paraffin, do not turn the skillet above 250 degrees, and unplug after use. Wax is flammable and the fumes from burning wax are a health hazard.
Any work or possessions left out on the tables and counters will be disposed of.
Glazed work should be placed on the appropriate ware cart to be fired. Carts are labeled according to type of fire, e.g. raku, stoneware, etc.
Beginning students will not be directly responsible for operation of the kilns. Classes will alternate in helping to load the kilns, keep the kiln log, unstuck the kiln and clean the kiln shelves. Your instructor will tell you the specifics needed in each case.
The kiln furniture (posts, shelves, etc.) is to be kept organized and well maintained. You are responsible for grinding off any glaze on shelves and for keeping shelves in operating order. Your instructor will show you how to operate the grinder for cleaning shelves and proper application of kiln wash.
Electric kilns are to be loaded carefully, being aware of the fragile nature of the soft bricks and elements. Make sure posts and shelves are clean. Kiln firing requires that someone be in charge at all times.
Use proper equipment such as tongs or heavy gloves for handling hot objects.
Don’t stare into a hot kiln for extended periods of time. Wear protective eyewear when firing at higher temperatures.
Be careful not to arbitrarily grab or touch anything in the proximity of a firing kiln with bare hands. Whatever it is might be hot!!! Use gloves or tongs.
Keep the kiln yard and areas around the kilns free of obstacles and debris. Remove all material from the area where it may cause someone to trip and fall.
Make certain that all fires, coals, embers, etc. are out before you leave. If you are firing a gas kiln, make sure that the gas is off.
Section IV: RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN IS A NON-SMOKING CAMPUS.
Ringling College of Art and Design is committed to providing a safe and healthful environment for its students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Research findings show that tobacco use in general, including smoking and breathing secondhand smoke, constitute a significant health hazard. In addition to causing direct health hazards, smoking contributes to institutional costs in other ways, including fire damage, cleaning and maintenance costs, and costs associated with employee absenteeism.
Smoking is prohibited on the Ringling College campus except in outdoor designated smoking areas. Smoking is also prohibited in all Ringling College vehicles including golf carts. For the purposes of this policy, smoking is defined as burning any type of tobacco product including, but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos and pipes. Smoking materials will not be sold or dispensed within any property owned, leased, or controlled by Ringling College.
This no-smoking policy applies to all persons including students, faculty, staff, visitors, contractors, subcontractors, and others on Ringling College property. Designated smoking areas are identified by signage and contain receptacles for the proper disposal of cigarette butts. All students, faculty, staff, and visitors are expected to observe these designated smoking areas and to dispose of cigarette butts safely and only in the receptacles provided. | 2019-04-22T14:05:42Z | https://www.ringling.edu/ContinuingStudies |
Having somewhere safe, secure and comfortable to live is something we all want, and is an important part of looking after our physical and emotional health. But for some people with HIV, finding or keeping somewhere suitable to live may be about to get harder. Philip Glanville, policy and parliamentary officer at the National AIDS Trust, looks at the issues.
Housing rarely seems to be out of the news these days, whether it’s fluctuations in the housing market, growing homelessness, changes to the benefits system, exposés on rogue landlords, or rising rents. That housing, as an issue, is changing and rising up the national agenda is unmistakable. However, what has been less clear is the impact that increasing interest in these issues and the changes to the housing and benefits system may have on people living with HIV.
We regularly respond to enquiries on housing from individuals with HIV and organisations supporting them. The nature of these queries has been changing, however, and a recent survey of organisations supporting people living with HIV confirms that changes to the welfare system and the growing pressures on the supply of new, affordable housing are combining to have a significant impact on people living with HIV. Eighty-six per cent of organisations responding to a recent NAT3 survey reported a rise in housing-related cases, highlighting benefits and housing allocations as the key areas of concern.
Over the coming year, and in response to changes in housing policy, NAT is planning to do more targeted work on the impact of these changes. So having this opportunity to outline some of the key issues facing people living with HIV could not have come at a more appropriate time.
It is worth noting that, although the changes to the welfare and benefits system apply across the UK, the housing powers in the Localism Act 2011 discussed below only apply to England.
How these changes interact with welfare reform and what impact they will have on people living with HIV in England is also discussed below.
The Localism Act 2011 changes the powers of local government in England. As a consequence the rules governing the access to, and regulation of, social housing (housing owned by local authorities or ‘registered social landlords’, rather than privately owned) are going through one of the biggest changes in a generation due to this new piece of legislation.
Depending on where you live, whether you are homeless, claim Housing Benefit or need access to social housing, or are likely to need this support in the future, these changes may have a significant impact on you. The Localism Act 2011 is also going to alter substantially the types of homes on offer to you, and may change whether or not you are able to access social housing at all.
The changes have been brought in by national government, but decisions on the implementation of the new powers, and how or whether they are used (or not), are by and large left to local authorities.
Under the Localism Act 2011, local authorities now have greater powers in deciding how to manage their housing waiting lists, who will have access to them, how they will be assessed, who will be prioritised, and – in many cases – what type of housing those on the list will be offered and allocated. Currently, not all local authorities are using these powers, but over the coming months more and more will be making decisions about how they respond to the legislation and its requirements, which powers they will use, and in what way they will choose to use them.
Traditionally, when someone made a ‘homelessness’ application to their local council, their needs were assessed based on whether or not they met the eligibility criteria to be classified as homeless, as well as on other factors including their relationship to the local area, the size of their household, and their medical needs.
Assuming they were deemed to be homeless (according to the legal definition used by councils), they would then be allocated a certain level of priority based on their need. After that, it was a question of waiting for suitable housing. The system was also broadly the same for those wishing to move into, or within, social housing: an assessment would be made, a level of need determined, and then someone would join the housing waiting list.
Often local authorities operated a banding system to determine priority for homeless applicants and/or those in acute need, with factors including domestic violence, disability, families with children, severe overcrowding or health needs taken into account to allocate a higher priority than those deemed to be ‘adequately housed’.
Depending on where people were living at the time of the application, and their assessed housing need, the wait for suitable housing might involve a period in temporary accommodation or, in some more urgent cases, an immediate offer of a suitable property.
More recently, in high-demand areas such as London, local authorities were increasingly encouraging those on the waiting list to consider renting in the private sector, to reduce waiting times and overcrowding. Ways they encouraged people to move into the private rented sector included financial assistance through rent deposit or bond schemes, or cash payments to encourage people to take this option. Nonetheless, for the vast majority of people waiting for housing, the goal would remain a lifetime tenancy in social housing and critically this option, even if it involved a long wait, remained open to them.
While there were often concerns about the assessment process, and many people waited a substantial time for suitable housing, everyone generally understood the system. For people living with HIV, the main issues were poor levels of HIV awareness amongst housing providers and those assessing housing need, the impact of poor quality or unsuitable housing on their health, and, for people going through the immigration process, restricted access to housing.
The new powers granted by the Localism Act 2011 will allow each local authority much more autonomy to determine its own priorities when allocating housing. The status of ‘homelessness’ and the statutory duties on local authorities to find ‘suitable housing’ will remain.
However – critically – this housing will not have to be social housing and doesn’t necessarily even have to be in the local area; all it will need to be is ‘suitable’ for a local authority to have discharged its homelessness duty. Moving someone into the private rented sector would discharge this duty – effectively cutting the link between homelessness and access to social housing.
Local authorities will also be able to prioritise access to housing for those in work, training, volunteering or for service in the armed forces.
There is a new power to change the length of time applicants for housing have to live or have a connection with an area before they are eligible to access the local housing list. Currently this period is usually around six to twelve months, but some local authorities are now increasing this to two, three or even five years. This is likely to have a significant impact on how migrants, those leaving prison and others who have been placed in a given area by another local authority can access housing.
NAT fears there is a risk that some people living with HIV and others living with long-term conditions will be sent to the back of the queue unless they are appropriately assessed during this process.
We need to ensure that, when local authorities assess the suitability of a housing offer, especially one in the private rented sector or outside the local area, they take into account all the needs of people living with HIV. This should include considering the impact of poor or unsuitable housing on health and the need for someone to be near their HIV clinic and any support organisations or systems, given how critical this can be to them staying well.
Recently NAT campaigned for, and was successful in ensuring, a change to the UK Border Agency’s policy4, so it no longer routinely disperses asylum seekers with HIV away from their HIV clinic if suitable accommodation is available.
We believe local authorities should also take such issues into account as they decide how to use their new allocation powers.
The Localism Act 2011 also changes the types, tenures and rent levels of existing and new social housing on offer.
Under the Act, local authorities and registered social landlords (RSLs) will have the power to decide on the length of new social tenancies; rather than being offered a lifetime tenancy, successful applicants may only be offered a five-year tenancy, followed by a tenancy review. The terms of that review, and what might be involved, are unclear and NAT has concerns about the disruption and uncertainty this might cause for people living with HIV.
At the same time, the Government has created a new type of social housing called ‘affordable rent’ (AR), where the rent can be set at up to 80% of local private rents. Currently AR housing is likely to be largely restricted to new-build housing constructed over the coming years, but those local authorities and RSLs building for this new tenure are, as part of the financing of these new homes, allowed to convert a percentage of their existing housing stock from ‘social rent’ to this new higher ‘affordable rent’ level as they become vacant.
AR tenancy properties are, increasingly, going to be the only type of social housing being built. In areas like London where private rents are high, there are questions about how viable and suitable this type of housing will be for people on Housing Benefit or low incomes. The effect is likely to increase the pressure on traditional social housing. In some areas, the knock-on effect might be longer waiting times if people hold out for council housing with lower rents.
Housing allocations are likely to become ever more fragmented, making the system harder to navigate for housing applicants, and more complex for organisations that provide support and advice. People living with HIV will face some of the same issues on rent and tenure as anyone else in the social housing system. In other aspects of the process, such as the changes to assessment and prioritisation, those living with HIV and who have more serious health problems and can’t work could be at a substantial disadvantage.
For people already living in social housing, their situation will depend on whether they are wholly or partly relying on Housing Benefit to pay rent. Those relying on Housing Benefit, of working age, and not in work will face the greatest impact.
From 2013, rather than seeing Housing Benefit paid directly to landlords, this payment will now be made monthly directly into individual bank accounts (with some small exceptions). It will bring social tenants into line with tenants in the private sector who already receive the Local Housing Allowance directly, according to the Government it will help people develop budgeting skills. It might also help those on low incomes to open and sustain a wider range of bank accounts.
But the potential downside will be the increased pressure of having to budget, especially for vulnerable people receiving a substantial amount of money directly into their bank accounts at the start of the month. While landlords, advice providers and others are going to do what they can to help people adapt to these changes by making sure people are encouraged to use direct debits to pay their rent, there are understandable fears that, for some people, this may increase rent arrears, put tenancies at risk, and increase the use of ‘payday’ loan companies.
Other recent or prospective changes to Housing Benefit and related benefits may also have implications for people with HIV.
In April 2013, the Government introduced changes to Housing Benefit for social housing tenants of working age – the so-called ‘bedroom tax’. It will lead to reductions in Housing Benefit for those deemed to be ‘underoccupying’: by 14% if you have one extra bedroom or 25% if you have two or more.
In 2013, the Government is planning to introduce Universal Credit. (It will be introduced on a small scale initially, followed by a national launch in October.) This will result in one payment into a bank account, comprising all the benefits someone is eligible to receive. It will include Housing Benefit and be subject to the ‘benefit cap’ of £500 a week for couples (with or without children living with them); £500 a week for single parents whose children live with them; and £350 a week for single adults who don’t have children, or whose children don’t live with them.
The Universal Credit ‘benefit cap’ will not currently apply to those who qualify for and receive Working Tax Credit, or if they receive any of the following benefits: Disability Living Allowance (for new claimants Personal Independence Payment from April 2013), Attendance Allowance, or Employment and Support Allowance (with the support component).
People living with HIV and not claiming Housing Benefit are at the moment less likely to see changes to their housing situation. If they have a lifetime tenancy (the traditional form of tenancy in social housing), the security of tenure they enjoy will not be affected as long as they don’t want to move and are able to continue paying their rent. However, if circumstances were to change, and they needed to claim Housing Benefit, the same issues such as the ‘benefit cap’, ‘shared room rate’ or ‘bedroom tax’ might apply.
There are various changes mooted by the Government to change the rights of existing tenants, but it would require further legislation to implement changes to the length of someone’s tenancy, their rights to succession or the level of rent they pay. As this article goes to press the idea of ‘pay to stay’, where tenants who earn above a certain threshold would be forced to pay a higher rent to stay in social housing has moved a step closer. It was announced by the Chancellor in the Budget in March that it would be introduced, and the household income threshold where it will start will be set at £60,000 a year.6 Households earning over this amount could end up paying full private market rent and this could have a significant impact in London where the gap between social and private rents is widest.
The substantial changes to housing and related benefits, cuts to housing funding, and the localisation of allocations policy will all have a significant impact on people living with HIV and in need of housing support.
The changes to Housing Benefit and the Local Housing Allowance will restrict the amount people have to spend on rents, at a time when housing supply is failing and demand continues to rise. The Localism Act 2011 now grants local authorities substantial new powers to making decisions about who can access social housing, the rents they will pay, and for how long they can occupy it.
This is happening at a time when the supply of new homes of all tenures is decreasing (with the supply of new social and affordable housing at an all-time low), it’s more difficult to get a mortgage and private sector rents are rising. For people living with HIV and needing social housing it is going to become increasingly difficult for them to access and afford the stable housing they need.
Organisations such as NAT, and others that support people living with HIV, need to be alert to the impact these changes are going to have, and campaign to ensure that HIV and the impact poor quality and unsuitable housing can have on health is considered properly when a local authority assesses someone’s eligibility and housing needs.
This will mean understanding the positions taken by local authorities in their Tenancy, Homelessness, Allocations and Housing Strategies, and related policy documents. All these policies, if they haven’t already, will be being developed, or revised, in the coming months and there is a role for all of us to make sure the voice of people living with HIV – emphasising the need for good-quality, stable and safe housing to stay well and live independent lives – is heard loud and clear.
If you are having problems with your landlord or in accessing housing you can contact the organisations above for advice, but if you have already made a complaint and were dissatisfied with the response you might want to consider contacting your local councillor or MP.
NAT & Shelter Housing and HIV. National AIDS Trust, 2009.
NAT & Shelter HIV and Housing: A practical guide for housing officers on HIV and its impact on housing needs. National AIDS Trust, 2010.
NAT Housing and HIV: A survey into the housing advice and support needs of people living with HIV,National AIDS Trust, April 2013.
UK Border Agency and Home Office Healthcare Needs and Pregnancy Dispersal Guidance. p33 August 2012.
Lloyd T Pay to stay threshold to be set at £60,000. Inside Housing, 20 March 2013. | 2019-04-22T14:37:01Z | http://www.aidsmap.com/page/2657858/ |
Since the mid-1990s, it has been received wisdom that museums are, or should be, “safe spaces for unsafe ideas.” But is this true? Are museum safe spaces? And do they really deal in unsafe ideas? In this episode, Elaine Heumann Gurian, who is credited with first expressing this idea, helps us unpack whether it continues to make sense in museums today.
Elaine Heumann Gurian is a consultant/advisor to museums that are beginning, building or reinventing themselves, writer and lecturer to many museum studies programs worldwide. She grew up in Queens, NY, was an art teacher in elementary school, and to her surprise, began her unplanned museum career in 1969 in a mobile crafts unit in Boston after the death of Martin Luther King. Since that time, she has served as senior staff to museums interested in visitor focus and inclusion, as a Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Smithsonian Institution, and since 1993, as the senior consultant to many national and memorial museums under construction around the world. Gurian serves as visiting faculty member to many museum graduate programs and middle management training institutes. Gurian thrives in association politics holding many elected positions. Her writings are widely published and included in many academic courses.
Suse Anderson: Good day, and welcome to Museopunks, the Podcast for the Progressive Museum. My name is Suse Anderson and I will be your host today as we explore the boundary-pushing practices in museums. In March this year, Courtney Johnston posted online the notes of a talk she’d given at the public gallery summit in Sydney, Australia. At the heart of her talk was an interrogation about the fundamental role of museums in the world. It questioned the often repeated line that museums are safe spaces for unsafe ideas.
Reading her post was deeply unsettling for me because it brought into question how I understand museums as social institutions. But it also resonated with me, given the conversations we’ve covered here on Museopunks in recent months, which often lead to a conclusion that there are many people for whom museums are not safe spaces and many ideas that are still too unsafe to be held and discussed within our institutional walls. The line, museum are safe spaces for unsafe ideas in some ways seems untrue or too simplistic in both of its parts.
So, I wanted to speak today with the woman who was credited with coining that phrase, Elaine Heumann Gurian, to try to unpack what that concept meant when it was first originated and what it means today. And if it continues to be true today. What I discovered is that there are many more complex thoughts that tie into this question than I first imagined. So, let’s get into it. This for me has been one of those conversations that leaves me, my breath was taken away when having this conversation. So, I hope you enjoy it and find it as interesting and rewarding as I did.
Elaine Heumann Gurian is a consultant and advisor to museums and visitor centers that are beginning, building or reinventing themselves. She grew up in Queens, New York, was an art teacher in elementary school. And to her surprise, began her unplanned museum career in 1969 in a mobile crafts unit in Boston after the death of Martin Luther King. Since that time, she has served as senior staff to museums interested in visitor focus and inclusion as a deputy assistant director at the Smithsonian Institution. And since 1993, as a senior consultant to many national and memorial museums under construction around the world.
Gurian serves as visiting faculty member to many museum graduate programs and Middle Management Training Institute. She thrives in association politics holding many elected positions, and her writings are widely published and included in many academic courses. Elaine, welcome to Museopunks.
Elaine Heumann Gurian: Thank you very much for inviting me.
Suse Anderson: It is so so lovely to speak to you. I will admit that one of the academic courses that features some of your writings, some of the ones that I teach, so this is a thrill for me. So, I wanted to start with an idea, and it’s an idea that you’ve been credited with, although I gather from our correspondence in the lead up to this episode, may not be correctly credited with, which is this idea that museums should be safe spaces for unsafe ideas. This is a concept I’ve been thinking about a lot for some months and I’ve really been grappling with because it’s becoming more and more clear to me, the more I spend time looking at visitor experience in museums, that museums really don’t feel like safe spaces for many, many people.
So I was wondering if you could start by unpacking that idea and how it was credited to you if you didn’t actually make that statement. Do you know where that did originate from?
Elaine Heumann Gurian: It originated in Australia at the Australian Museums Conference. I said something like that, but not as good alliteration. I like that it’s credited to me and I get surly if it’s credited to someone else but I didn’t actually say it. But, I’ve been thinking the same as you about how to unpack that because I’m not sure I believe it anymore given the political life that we have.
Let me start by talking about the thing I’m the most concerned about and then we’ll go back and figure out how this works into that. What I’m most concerned about is how America is going to heal. And in that regard, what does inclusion mean when inclusion really has to include supporters of the side that we’re not on. I find myself thinking that we have been talking about inclusion by hand picking who we were interested in including and not who we were not interested in including. I certainly feel guilty about that.
So, safe space for unsafe ideas. Safe space means everybody is welcome. I write a lot about strangers in safe spaces being able to see each other and how I think that is the foundation of urban peace. And then it’s not credited enough, just the very act of seeing, not interacting, but seeing each other and being able to observe the humanity of others is an essential part of the really most basic part of civility and peacefulness. So I write about what that might mean in terms of a museum building.
So if we look at safe spaces, what I’m really talking about is a place where somebody feels they can enter, and when they leave, they will be physically intact. I mean, in the most basic way that their decision to walk over the threshold will not in any way threaten them physically.
Suse Anderson: Yeah. One of the papers that you wrote or speeches that you’ve given was around that idea of threshold fear and I found that a really influential paper for me. It’s one of the ones that I share with my students time and time again because you talk about the physical and programmatic barriers that make it difficult for the uninitiated to experience the museum. I think at the heart, that’s the start of this conversation, is what are the barriers that museums erect whether deliberately or not that make it difficult for visitors to come into a museum but also to then feel comfortable in that space. Would you agree that that’s sort of where we’re starting at?
Elaine Heumann Gurian: Yeah, but I’d start even further back, which is to now suggest that museums have an obligation in the public sphere and that what museums have done, and I think intentionally is to think their front door is the entrance to a private space. And legally, that may be actually true. And the legality of it offers museums much legal protection in terms of acting out. People who are picketing inside may not be allowed to picket inside and have to picket outside for example. Or people who are leafleting inside might be legally expelled to be outside.
So, I have found the legal definition of it being a private space where it was at The Holocaust Museum useful, especially when one wants to talk about action that is violent, harmful to the safety of others.
But metaphorically, public space is very different than the lobby of a private space. And the very act of entering into a private space requires a certain kind of self-confidence. I like to say that I trained my grandchildren to enter the Ritz Carlton to use the bathroom by looking like we belong there. I mean, it’s a bravado act because I know where the public toilet, I know where the toilet is but it’s not public.
Suse: Yes. Getting into this then, does that mean, I mean, I still think of museums as public spaces. Am I thinking about museums wrong just conceptually? Are museums not actually public spaces?
Elaine Heumann Gurian: Well, conceptually, you and I agree. I think of museums not only as public spaces but I think they have an obligation to be public spaces and that their conscious effort to be part of the public space is a necessary ingredient for public safety. But, I think museums generally, when you, using your word unpacked, think of their front door as the beginning of private space of intentional use space of entering space, and not as part of the public square.
Suse Anderson: Well then, does that change how we, as far as we writ large, how we conceive of then the role of museums fundamentally? If we are thinking about then the museum as maybe conceived of by the public as a public space but actually acting as a private entity, does that fundamentally start to shift how we then need to think about what museums are and do and the purpose they serve?
Elaine Heumann Gurian: Absolutely. That’s where I am right now. Absolutely. I think museums intentionally or unintentionally have believed that their offerings are valuable in the public sphere but that you have to pass some requirements to enter their space. I disagree with that. And at the same time, I’m deeply almost obsessively focused on what is civility in the public realm. I’m not interested in the old-fashioned definition of anarchy where all behaviors are acceptable.
I’m quite unhappy with members of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party who are now harassing the opposition while they eat dinner. I don’t think that’s useful in the public realm. I’m unclear about what is, how do we train civility, especially when I don’t mean the transfer of etiquette of the upper class to the lower class and when I made some lateral transfer of community acceptance of behavior that starts off being specific to one culture or another.
And that is very complicated and we don’t have any system of that. But you can see some of the changing, the easiest place to look at that is how much, how the library has gone from, we all have to be quiet in all spaces all the time to we now have community spaces, and if you want to be quiet, we have a special quiet room. That’s the kind of change in a community asset that I’m very interested in.
Suse Anderson: Yeah. When we were first emailing to set up this episode, you mentioned that you often write that you’ve wanted to build a museum that your mother would go to because as a German Jewish immigrant, during the time of the Holocaust, she found all institutions to be dangerous. And it seems to me with this erosion of trust in institutions and ultimately the erosion of the public sphere and public spaces where people do feel comfortable necessarily to be having I think quite difficult conversations, museums have retained a greater share of public trust than a lot of other institutions.
But, I know that you have been thinking about what these, the multiple layers of activity that go into creating this idea of civility for strangers, and that’s also about being welcoming and about creating inclusion in museums and in public institutions. You’ve just mentioned the library becoming a place for sort of community voice and community spaces first and then quiet reading second. What are the other types of activities that you then see in museums that would help make that civility for strangers more open, more appropriate, more acceptable?
Elaine Heumann Gurian: I turn out to be much more conservative than I expected about subject matter choice. I’m working now, fascinatingly, for me, on the Museum of the Euromaidan. It’s the museum of the revolution in Kiev, Ukraine that changed the country from Russian leaning to Western-leaning. That revolution ended five years ago and on the partisans of that revolution, the actual partisans or are under the help of the current government building the museum of the Euromaidan.
And so, I said to them just two weeks ago, you have two choices about your exhibition. You can write an exhibition, produce an exhibition in which there are good guys and bad guys, and you were the victors, and you can all celebrate about how you overcame, it’s a David and Goliath story and you guys all will be happy. But it won’t heal the country because the bad guys are alive and are citizens of your country. So what’s your plan?
The director surprising me because this is a brand new revolution said to me, we cannot do that. We must include the other people. We must include the notion that freedom includes people then we don’t agree with. Then we will have to find, they’re called Berkut. We will have to find members of the opposition who are armed and use bullets that we can talk to and present in the museum.
That’s very, very unusual. Museums of memorial tend to set up this duality that they are moral stories of good guys and bad guys, which leads to a country not healing. And reconciliation usually takes decades. So I’m really interested in how we in our exhibition choice are already mindful of what is reconciliation going to look like. Because this current administration at some point unless it really does destroy our democracy has to end, and we really do have to heal this country back into some form where diversity was thought of as a progressive next. I don’t see any other way of doing that than including the voices in some civil manner right from the beginning.
Suse Anderson: Yeah. In some of your recent talks, you’ve been speaking about museums embracing complexity and including multiple outcomes in exhibitions as a museum norm. I think you’re just giving an example of some of the ways that that can start to work in practice, which is explicitly not seeing stories as good and bad, but actually, maybe more just embracing the humanity at stake in all of us and acknowledging that we all have all of these features within ourselves.
It sounds incredibly difficult in terms of using that as a storytelling feature. Museums still only have limited space and limited resources. How do we embrace complexity at a practical level?
Elaine Heumann Gurian: You’re asking all the hard questions. I usually ask the hard questions and don’t always have any answers. I have a partial answer to the complexity issue. And it goes as follows. If you think of our objects as data and you think of the information or direction that we want to tell a story about our object as only one of the data points, and everybody easily agrees to that. You can do multiple exhibitions about any object and all of them can be accurate. Then I think we should enter our exhibition by producing the same exhibition we always produced, and then having layers and layers of alternative technique, most of it invisible, that allows people to bypass the story if they want and use the object as data for a construction of their own.
And that’s most easily seen when you go to a museum in which they are enthusiasts, car museums. The enthusiasts never use the story because the story is written for the novice and the enthusiast is really interested in some light bulb or key joint or something that they know much more about than almost anyone. And so, they use the raw data for their own purposes. What they don’t get is to tell us about what they have found. We haven’t included them as the experts that they are. So they happily go in and do what they want to look at and leave. It’s not hard anymore for them to be included in some database which is not only visible when you want to see it.
So, I think we have all the techniques. What we don’t have is a willingness to think that the public is smart enough to do with our objects as they will. We still retain this stern teacher lead quality. This is this and we will tell you what you should know about.
I don’t want to stop that particularly, but I certainly want to soften the edges. This is a this for those who wanted to go down that path, but here are 14 other simple ways you can reuse it by recombining it mostly technologically in ways that are useful for you.
Suse Anderson: Yeah, I think that’s really interesting. It’s one of the things I’ve been grappling with myself as I think about the evolution of museum storytelling, as I think about museum technology, which is the space I came in and participatory culture in museums at the same time, as we’re living in the sort of post-truth environment where things can easily be dismissed as being true or not true or used or not used.
And I’m really trying to grapple with or make sense of how we have shared frameworks for understanding but also come to a space where we acknowledge and include the multitudes of perspectives that are there, the multitudes of truth that we have that surround our objects. I think trying to figure out how we embrace both of those realities is a really interesting challenge at the moment that I don’t have any answers to but I’m really curious how people thinking about and grappling with these ideas.
Elaine Heumann Gurian: Well, one of the things in a more civil society that we’re going to have to deal with, Pat Moynihan famously said, “You’re entitled to your own opinion, but you’re not entitled to your own facts.” If you translate that to say that the object is a fact but that everything about it is an opinion, then that’s fascinating. We can start to say that to the public, that this is a creation without, clearly a creation. This is a real thing. But what it means and what it coheres to and where it gets connected has really multiple trails and I think the public might be interested in that if we started to teach them the ways to do that. It’s a little like Google. I mean, everybody now knows how to use Google. And they start with an idea and then wander about. I just think museums can figure this out.
Suse Anderson: Yeah, I really like that idea. So I just want to go back to something you mentioned right at the start of the show. You were talking about inclusion and that maybe museums have been a little bit too blinkered in the way that they have been defining or thinking about what inclusion means. Could you unpack that a little bit further for us?
Elaine Heumann Gurian: Yeah. And thank you for asking because now you and I are about to unpack in a journey that isn’t totally clear to me. It’s very clear that there is huge overlap in the humanity of all American citizens or in humanity altogether. But, it means that the rhetoric of this overlap has to be more prominent than the rhetoric of the non-overlap part of the story. And that suggests to me that both sides have to acknowledge that there’s partial truth.
I mean, I use the abortion issue all the time at least for myself. Having an abortion I think is for some the best possible choice of terrible choices. It isn’t a good choice. It’s never a good choice, and it does terrible things to a woman’s body and to a woman’s psyche. It is a very difficult choice to be made. If we started to say that given all the bad choices of a personal scene, this is the one I choose. That’s an different rhetoric than women should be free to make choice, full stop, without discussing that that’s a painful complicated and very difficult decision for a woman. What would happen if the terms of that then started to be where we agreed.
What we don’t agree with is the ultimate decision making among bad choices. That’s not the way it’s framed. And would we see each other’s humanity better if we started from the part where we agreed rather than the point where we disagreed?
Suse Anderson: Right. So it’s sort of looking for the points of commonality first and then ways of exploring divergence and using that as a way of sort of trying to create a framework against polarization ultimately.
Elaine Heumann Gurian: Yes. I’m currently thinking that the museum exhibition as a format can be one of the places, we’re back to unsafe ideas which is the part we didn’t unpack. And that the exhibition itself can start at the commonalities and work outward rather than at the extremes and work inward or never work inward.
I’m watching Ukraine trying to struggle with their role in Babi Yar. Babi Yar was a place where the Germans killed 24,000 Jews in a 48 hour period by firing squad. It’s walking distance from downtown Kiev. It’s, I don’t know, 70 years, 80, 90 years later, the struggle really is that everybody had to know about it. The notion of collaboration and fear and bystanderness, is so difficult for a nation that they haven’t been able to figure out what to do with it. This didn’t happen only by Germans using firing squad though. In fact, only Germans pulled the triggers.
Even though I’m a Jew of that era, I have enormous sympathy for the pressures of a subjugated people in what must have been a terrible set of decisions. I hope I would have made a different decision. But because nobody can figure out how to come to grips with the humanity of this unspeakable crime, 90 years later, there still is no marker that says here 24,000 Jews were killed.
Suse Anderson: One of the things I’ve been thinking about a lot personally this year and over the last couple of years is how to stay open and vulnerable and not be closed off to different perspectives or the people who hold different perspectives but also to continue forward and to find ways to, I guess to seek knowledge and to seek understanding, but also, doing so is often hurtful. And I think what you’re talking about is that process in a larger context, in an institutionalized context of being open and being vulnerable to these things that can actually be quite painful but also that are very personal without wanting to damage or hurt the other people who are also in a similar situation. And that difficulty, I don’t know whether it is something that institutions can enable.
From your experience, you’ve worked with so many memorial sites. What are the ones that have really helped sort of embrace these moments of trauma and helped promote that healing?
Elaine Heumann Gurian: Well, the one that always stands out which I haven’t worked in is Nelson Mandela’s ability to come forward and try to put a healing government together. And the fact that he didn’t do it 100%, one of the important elements, I’ve just worked with 17-year-olds at Interlochen, is to accept that we can’t have perfection and that 95% of our effort being good should give us satisfaction. One of the real anti-civility things is our training of exquisite criticism which I think is really, really destructive. We really do need to look at effort and how much people get right. So Nelson Mandela got a whole lot right even in the midst of a whole lot wrong.
There’s a museum I’ve just seen about the trauma in Medellín, Columbia that is really quite amazing about the human condition. So, I think it is possible, but let me suggest as I did before, I’m not talking about anarchy. And so I’m now comforted with the notion that each of us have to perfect the edge of our own personal life called this far and no further. That there is a no saying we need to do, and the no saying has real consequences.
I mean, that’s the issue of saying no, that’s the issue for bystanders. But this far and no further is what they mean about our moral core. And it’s completely personal and I cannot presume to have anybody else’s moral core but I long ago decided this far and no further is an internalized clock guideline in which you in your workplace and in your citizenry say, I’m sorry, I’m not doing that.
What’s been the most disappointing about the American political scene is we don’t have enough of that going on.
Suse Anderson: One of the major structural influences in museums is obviously their funding structure and their boards. How then this idea of no and no further, how do we simultaneously recognize the power of funders and sort of the core funders, there’s a relatively small number of core funders in a lot of institutional spaces and the donor class, but also maintain healthy independence from them. And this is often much more museum leaders, how do they have that sense of no and no further in those decision makings?
Elaine Heumann Gurian: It’s the exact right question to ask, the exact right follow-on question. And the simplest answer is also the most difficult answer, and that is you have to be willing to give up your job. This far and no further varies by everybody and, one hopes you also at the same time are perfecting diversionary tactics that allow funders who are putting pressure on you to violate your own internal core. You have figured out some other methodology to keep them happy that still is within your wheelhouse. But ultimately, you have to be willing to lose your job. You cannot protect your job and the livelihood and all costs and have, and be able to say no. I don’t know anything else to do.
On the other hand, I also want to say that this collusion in which we are as obligated to the super rich, and they in return feel, some of them, only some of them feel quite entitled to push you past your moral core is a structural problem. And we haven’t been willing to take that on. In most of the nations in the world, the museum sector is not private. When they listen to what goes on in American they are surprised.
Having said that, the government sector controlling museums cans a set of its own problems that are completely similar. So it isn’t totally a better system at all because personal privilege comes with power and it puts you to do similar things. It is this organization structure in which people by virtue of their personal power or their personal wealth are willing to subvert an organization. And at that point, it is all up to individuals who make decisions. And whether they can figure out an alternate route, I try very hard to help them so we don’t have to get to this, what I guess in Congress would be called the nuclear option. You have to personally be willing to have that in your mind as you set about trying any diversionary action that you can think of.
Suse Anderson: Yeah. It’s funny, one of my classes that I teach, which is a history and theory class, a museum history and theory class, we were talking just this week about where power exists in the museum and the fact that power can actually exist in all places because there are different ways of having power relationships. But, that’s not to say that you have all the power all the time or just there are ways that you can use your power. But sometimes, that requires sacrifice as you say. Sometimes it is ultimately the choice of, if I don’t agree with this thing, then I actually need to leave and that may or may not be possible for you if you have other employment options, family backup, those kinds of things.
And so that sense of what power looks like, and where it exists is a really complex thing that of course, then shapes how people are able to influence and interact with museums.
Elaine Heumann Gurian: It is, but if you look at the Holocaust analog, which is the Righteous Among the Christians, that’s a whole group of people that are voted in every year by Yad Vashem who risked saving people. They made a decision in which their life was at stake. And there’s been a lot of research about this altruistic demand of humans as well. So, there is a kind of yin and yang in the human condition in which people make decisions regardless of the backup they have. They make it at different places. It isn’t a decision that they make casually or early. And therefore, this far and no further is a moveable feast. But, there is ultimately a decision if you’ve tried everything else where you say, I can’t live that way.
Suse Anderson: Elaine, you came to museums in 1969, which was as it says in the bios, after the death of Martin Luther King, and I think really in the wake of another year that significantly reshaped American society. To what extent do you think your career in museums and your perspectives have been shaped by that time that you entered the sector?
Elaine Heumann Gurian: A lot. But the thing that shaped my entire career is the Holocaust and the fact that I was an American born child but I was seven when the war was over and I had immigrant parents who were obsessed with saving their relatives.
That said, I wasn’t a political activist until that time. I didn’t know the tools. So, the Martin Luther King assassination was at the same time as the Vietnam protests. I entered in the Vietnam protest side about that time. What I learned about that time when entering was what the tools were and I entered on the political activist side. I started working for Kevin White who was the mayor of Austin because he wanted to keep his city safe a year after the riots. And then he gave us the Institute of Contemporary Art. So it had been in receivership and closed. So that all of us who went to the Museum of Contemporary Art, which is now a quite famous Contemporary Art Museum, were activists in an unheated building.
So I started way out in left field. I wasn’t trained in museums and this all started in that sector. And then I went to Boston Children’s Museum and worked for Michael Spock, the son of Ben Spock, one of the most famous activists of the time. So I didn’t enter into a significant centrist museum until I became the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Museums in the Smithsonian, which came as a shock to me and I think to them.
So I entered way at the top of the centrist museum from a 20-year career on the left wing already.
Suse Anderson: How different was your thinking then at that point from what you were seeing I guess in the mainstream of museums? And have you seen shifts in the sector since that time?
Elaine Heumann Gurian: The answer is very complicated. The people on the inclusion side of the museum world are there by virtue of their political commitment, and the stream of the left way of the museum world is as old as the stream of the right traditional museum. So, Barnum, has a museum at the same time Museums of Kings and Queens are starting. And the Newark Museum, John Cotton Dana is happening at the same time as other big places.
So this impulse is always there just like the impulse of changing the education sector is always there. And at the same time, the museum world where the objects are related to power and acquisitiveness and control are always there. So this struggle is an ongoing one. It’s always been there.
That said, there is a kind of cross current of contagion. So people adopt technique from one sector to another. And the question is always, is that progressive technique from a philosophic point of view or is it window dressing to look progressive? And you can only tell that by watching other, many more subtle things to know which is which.
Suse Anderson: When we started, you mentioned that you now feel this new urgency around civility and the museum’s role in promoting it. Moving forward, what do you see as being the most essential aspect of, the fundamental role of museums, but also the tools for helping museums create or address the civil society.
Elaine Heumann Gurian: I wish I knew. For me who grew up during the Holocaust but safe in America, it is unthinkable that American democracy is in the state that it is. It is unthinkable that I didn’t see it coming, that my fellow citizens, maybe a half of my fellow citizens are as angry about things that I’m glad about and that we are so polar opposites. I find it flummoxing besides being alarmed. I think the museum sector has something important to play in this. And it is because of what you said Suse which is that it’s one of the institutions that’s trusted.
Now you have to unpack trusted because it’s trusted but not attended, which is interesting. So it’s trusted by people who also trust having a church they don’t go to. It is a foundation stone for society but not one they find effective.
So I think the question is, how can museums effectively not just continue their own business but effectively enter into the healing process of strangers who actually don’t know each other. I mean, I don’t know a single person who voted unlike me. As the pundits like to point out now, that’s alarming. How come I don’t know any of them? And so rather than feeling satisfied that I know only the good guys, I am deeply interested in how it is that I could know the opposition in terms that I would find civil and humanizing. If museums are not thinking about this every single day, I don’t know what they should be thinking about.
America is in danger of coming apart and America looked like a place that couldn’t possibly come apart. I didn’t even have it in my calculus. We knew how to respectfully even though heatedly disagree. We knew how to protest, though sometimes that got violated. But mostly, we believed in the bedrock of American democracy. I think there is lots of evidence that the bedrock is not holding. So museums have to figure out their role, and I think their role is subtle filled with silt, filled with modeling. It’s filled with entering into areas of healing. I wish I thought it would be really effective but I think it will be only partly effective. Nevertheless, I think we have to try and figure out how to have this country hold together.
Suse Anderson: Yeah. Elaine, in some ways, this is the moment for us to finish this conversation, but at the same time, I don’t want to finish this conversation either because I think we are at this point, much like you, where these are the essential conversations that we need to be having. If people do want to keep talking with you about this if they want to find out more about what you’re thinking, if they just want to have a conversation that brings up nuance and questions rather than simple answers, how can they find you or get in contact with you?
Elaine Heumann Gurian: Oh, I love talking to people. My grandchildren think I know everybody in the world because I talk to total strangers.
Suse Anderson: My husband thinks I know every Australian in the world but that might just be because he thinks Australia is a very small place and because mostly we do know each other.
Elaine Heumann Gurian: My website has all my writings and they are all available. All my PowerPoints are in SlideShare, and they’re all available, and my email is [email protected]. And anybody who wishes to write to me is more than free to do that. In the world where you live in your head, having more friends who also want to live in their heads is a rare treat, so I look forward to talking to anybody about any idea.
Suse Anderson: Elaine, it has been such a pleasure, and for me, I’ve been following your work for so many years. To have you on Museopunks is a thrill and I’m so grateful that you have spent the time with us.
Elaine Heumann Gurian: Thank you so much for inviting me. I had a very good time myself.
Suse Anderson: Elaine, thank you so, so much for joining me on Museopunks this month. It has been so useful to get a sense of your perspectives given that you’ve been at the heart of progressive practice in museums for almost 50 years.
Museopunks is presented every month by the American Alliance of Museums. You can connect with me on Twitter@Museopunks or check out the extended show notes at museopunks.org. And of course, you can subscribe anytime at iTunes or Stitcher. | 2019-04-20T14:20:46Z | https://www.aam-us.org/2018/11/15/museopunks-episode-31-are-museums-safe-spaces-for-unsafe-ideas/ |
Houston area officials are investing hundreds of millions of dollars into widening Interstate 45, and they could be paying much more for even larger upcoming projects along the corridor.
But a comparatively-paltry sum is about to boost bike sharing in Houston in a big way.
The same transportation improvement plan aiming $140 million at I-45 includes $4.7 million meant to expand the B-Cycle program in the city. The plan is set for discussion Friday by the Houston-Galveston Area Council’s Transportation Policy Council.
The money, including a 21 percent match from B-Cycle, will add stations in the Texas Medical Center and Rice Village in one phase, increase density in the downtown and Midtown area from the Med Center in another, before expanding east and southeast to EaDo and the University of Houston and Texas Southern University area.
“By the time this is finished, our goal is to go from 29 stations and 210 bikes to 100 stations with 800 bikes,” said Will Rub, director of Houston B-Cycle.
Having 800 bikes at Houston kiosks would build on what supporters have said is strong use of the bikes by Houston residents and visitors. From January to July, more than 60,000 bike checkouts occurred. The theory, following on similar reaction in Denver, is more stations and bikes exponentially increase use, provided the stations are where people want to go.
See here, here, and here for some background. According to the Mayor’s press release, about $3.8 million is coming from H-GAC, and the rest is from B-Cycle, which as he story notes has generally covered most of its operating costs. Having more stations will make B-Cycle a lot more usable; I personally have had a couple of recent occasions where I needed to get somewhere on the edges of downtown from my office, but the nearest B-Cycle station was far enough away from my destination that it wasn’t worth it. Especially now with the rerouted buses and the new rail lines, expanding B-Cycle access will make transit that much more convenient as well. I look forward to seeing where the new kiosks go. The Highwayman has more.
The Woodlands is growing as en employment center, which means it is also seeing a lot more traffic in what used to be the reverse commute direction.
There is no longer a simple drive to this onetime bedroom community, which has turned into an economic powerhouse and upended the flow of traffic in the process. These days, it can be nasty in both directions during rush hour, with just as many people driving to The Woodlands for work as residents leaving for jobs in the nation’s fourth-largest city.
The movement is unique in the eight-county Houston region, where commuters mostly have followed the same paths from the suburbs into the city for decades. The rapidly growing ranks of reverse commuters have created new challenges for those responsible for keeping the area out of gridlock.
Houston Transtar data shows the 21-mile stretch from the northern edge of The Woodlands to Beltway 8 takes about 34 minutes on average at 6 p.m. – up from 21 minutes just four years ago.
That’s in part because of road construction south of The Woodlands. But it’s also because there are more vehicles using I-45 than it was designed to handle.
For example, the stretch between Rayford Road and Woodlands Parkway is carrying 253,000 cars a day, which is 18 percent over capacity, officials said. The Texas Department of Transportation expects some 390,000 vehicles a day to be passing through that stretch by 2030.
Some people also worry about increased traffic within The Woodlands, with several high-rises sprouting in the town’s center, giving it a look that’s similar to Houston’s Galleria, a place where traffic routinely backs up throughout the day.
One problem is a lack of options for those with the reverse commute, which has existed for decades in major metropolitan areas like Los Angeles and Washington that are ringed by mini-cities.
For Houstonians with jobs in The Woodlands, though, there are no buses going their way, no park-and-ride lots and no high occupancy vehicle, or HOV,lanes for relief. The only alternative is the Hardy Toll Road, which can cut down on drive times but does nothing to reduce the number of cars making the daily trip to and from the suburb.
That could change. The Woodlands is considering introducing bus service for reverse commuters. The township already provides express bus service for residents working downtown and at the Medical Center and Greenway Plaza.
1. Most of this is happening north of Beltway 8, where I-45 is six lanes wide – this is the portion of the freeway that has been improved by TxDOT already. There’s also three lanes’ worth of the Hardy Toll Road that can get you to the Woodlands. It’s not a lack of road capacity that’s a problem here, is what I’m saying. When TxDOT does whatever it’s going to do to I-45 between the Beltway and downtown, it will only get worse, just as I-10 inside the Loop got congested after it was widened out west.
2. It’s good to hear that the Woodlands is considering bus service from Houston into their township. There’s clearly a need for it. I would hope that they work with Metro on this, mostly to ensure there aren’t any egregious gaps where there should be overlaps. Ideally, they will work to integrate the two to extend the reach of their own service, and possibly save themselves some money on facilities. I’m thinking they should aim to have at least a few stations for their service at Metro transit centers, and provide a subsidy for for their riders to take a Metro bus or rail line to get there.
3. Ultimately, the only real solution here is going to be to get fewer cars to use the road. As we should surely have learned by now, adding highway capacity doesn’t solve highway traffic problems, and does a lot to exacerbate traffic problems on surface streets. More transit, more carpooling, more people living close enough to work to be able to walk or bike – all these things need to be in the mix. The idea that Something Must Be Done to enable you as a single-occupancy-vehicle-driver to get to work faster needs to be put to rest, because at some point that just ain’t gonna be possible any more. The sooner we all accept that, the better off we’ll all be.
I think the problem is easy enough to identify. The solution is another matter.
Houston-area transportation planners are considering some novel strategies – at least for Texas – for managing traffic to ease congestion on U.S. 59 between downtown Houston and the Sam Houston Tollway.
Among the steps that may be considered are clearing accidents more quickly, restricting trucks to certain lanes and allowing buses to use freeway shoulders.
First, though, planners are running ideas by the public.
A variety of agencies, corralled by Houston-Galveston Area Council planners, have been discussing options for short-term fixes to U.S. 59 traffic. The puzzle regional planners are hoping to solve has one major constraint.
“The approach for this study is not taking more right of way or adding more lanes,” said Bill Tobin, chief transportation planner for H-GAC.
Using the same lanes more efficiently is a big challenge along the 14-mile stretch of U.S. 59. Officials estimate 300,000 vehicles use the freeway on an average work day.
Often, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett said at a recent meeting, the congestion defies common assumptions.
“It has baffled me for many, many years why inbound the Southwest Freeway backs up in the afternoon,” Emmett said, noting one would expect most traffic to be heading away from downtown jobs and back to suburban homes.
All due respect, but I don’t think there’s anything to be baffled about. Heading northbound on 59, when you hit Loop 610 there are five lanes. At the downtown spur, north of Greenbriar, it narrows down to three lanes, as the two leftmost lanes peel off onto the spur. Then when you get to the I-45 junction a mile or so farther north, it squeezes down to two lanes as the leftmost lane is exit only. This is also the point at which 288 merges into 59, which returns to three lanes and stays that way till you get north of I-10. And this isn’t really “inbound” traffic in the traditional sense, either. It’s people heading from employment centers like Greenway Plaza and the Galleria, not to mention the Medical center for all those 288 folks, to the various suburbs via 59 and 45. It’s the same reason why 288 northbound backs up in the afternoon. What to do about it, I have no idea – the suggestions proffered are fine, though I doubt they’ll make much difference – but putting a finger on the cause is easy enough.
Welcome to the wonderful world of transit.
With help from regional officials, The Woodlands is entering the bus business, a decision that might give south Montgomery County commuters more options down the road.
Population gains pushed the Woodlands-Conroe area from a “small urban area” to a “large urbanized area” of 230,000 residents for the 2010 Census. That bump means someone has to take responsibility for federally awarded transit money.
“Now those dollars are coming to us,” said Nick Wolda, spokesman for The Woodlands Township, the local governing organization.
With the money, however, comes responsibility for overseeing a bus system and stocking up on buses. To get the fleet started, Woodlands officials reached out to the Houston-Galveston Area Council, which doles out federal transit money in the Houston area.
Council officials Tuesday approved a $14.1 million agreement that uses $11.3 million in federal funds and $2.8 million from The Woodlands to buy 25 buses over a number of years, starting with five in the first year.
“It is not all the buses they need, but it is gives them a great start,” said Alan Clark, manager of transportation air quality programs for H-GAC.
Controlling bus service in their communities means the township and city can adjust service more to their liking and move more quickly, Clark said. By owning buses – and potentially having the funding to invest in more lines – transit officials in southern Montgomery County can start to position the buses to meet the area’s explosive growth.
I wish them all the best with that. They’re still going to have to deal with the fact that their lack of a street grid and the resulting traffic congestion will severely limit the utility of their bus network, but it’s a start. At least every bus passenger will be one less car on those crowded streets. It ain’t much, but it’s a start.
Plans for bus-only lanes along Post Oak Boulevard in the Uptown area moved forward Thursday when a key committee recommended spending $62 million in federal funds.
Members of the Houston-Galveston Area Council’s transportation improvement program subcommittee approved the spending, a month after delaying a decision so staff could study the issue more, especially regarding plans for the buses to use lanes along Loop 610. In the end, after that additional analysis, planners found the project to build bus-only lanes along Post Oak and offer dedicated service between two park and ride lots is worthwhile, even without the freeway component.
“This project would score exactly in the middle of the highest tier,” said Alan Clark, manager of transportation and air quality programs at the Houston-Galveston council.
Two more approvals from a technical committee and the region’s transportation policy committee are needed for the project to receive the federal funds.
Combined, the Westpark transit center and rapid transit project and Post Oak improvements are estimated to cost about $148 million. The work along Loop 610 is considered a separate $40 million project, which likely will follow the bus upgrades, set to open in 2017.
See here for the background. H-GAC had wanted to get more technical input from TxDOT about the Uptown plan as a whole and in regard to the HOV service before signing off on the grant money. As originally reported, up to $45 million may be available, with that money originating with the federal government and being allocated by H-GAC. I’m not exactly sure where the $62 million figure comes from; perhaps it includes work related to the Uptown project but not for the work on 610. Their next meeting is June 28, and at this point I feel confident the grant will be approved.
Metro’s Strategic Planning Committee got an update on the “Bike and Ride” Access Study. Metro says it wants to make it easier for Houstonians to combine bike and bus travel.
Metro officials say between 10,000 and 15,000 people every month bring their bikes aboard when they use the bus. Every bus has a rack on front that can hold two bikes.
Initial results of a survey by Metro and the Houston-Galveston Area Council show many more riders would like to bring their bike on a bus or train, but they don’t know how transit fits into their travel choices.
Metro board member Christof Spieler says the goal of the study is to find ways to hook up bike trails with transit centers.
I’ve discussed the bikes on trains issue before, and as noted in my first link remain hopeful that as the new light rail lines are completed and new rail cars are purchased that Metro will extend the hours in which you are allowed to bring your bike onto a train to include rush hour. The figures monthly bike boardings on Metro buses is in line with what Metro had previously reported. It’s a non-trivial amount, but there is surely room for that number to grow. More train service, more bike-on-train hours, and better bus service should help with that. I don’t know if anyone has articulated a goal for bike-to-transit usage – 20,000 combined bike-on-bus/train boardings per month? Thirty thousand? Fifty thousand? – but we should have one, and we should have a strategy for how to reach that goal. I hope that subject comes up as Metro and H-GAC evaluate the results of the survey, which you can still take.
The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) and METRO invite you to participate in the METRO Bike & Ride Plan, a planning effort to improve connections between bicyclists and the transit network in the METRO service area. Take the survey!
The METRO Bike and Ride Access and Implementation Plan will enhance METRO’s ability to provide first class transit service by linking the region’s expanding bicycle networks to transit infrastructure, while building upon its foundation as a trusted community partner to implement a prioritized set of projects that will provide attractive, safe, healthy, low-cost transportation choices for all users.
The METRO Bike and Ride Access and Implementation Plan will define a prioritized set of high-quality links between the bicycle and transit networks in the METRO service area to maximize the ability to make bicycle-transit linked trips for all users.
Again, the survey is here. I don’t know if there’s a deadline on this, but please take a moment if you can and help them out on this. Via Houston Tomorrow.
Focus group dates are Wednesday, Dec. 5 from noon to 1:30 p.m. and Thursday, Dec. 6, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The METRO Bike and Ride Access and Implementation Plan will define links between the bicycle and transit networks in the METRO service area so more people can easily use both bikes and buses or trains to get around.
You must RSVP by calling Patricia Lawhorn at 832-681-2523, or email [email protected]. Once you RSVP, you’ll be given the downtown location of the meetings.
I presume they mean you must meet one of those criteria listed, since I think it’s logically impossible to meet all three. Be that as it may, if this is up your alley get in touch and help them out.
The Texas Department of Transportation presented results from a study on the potential for new 110 mph passenger rail service between Houston and Austin, potentially connecting College Station, according to Guidry News and documented in the minutes of the December 16 minutes of the Transportation Policy Council.
– Austin to Houston directly ($972 million – 2hr 45 minutes).
– Austin to Hempstead, with connecting spur service to Bryan / College Station ($1.255 billion – 3hr 51 minutes).
– Austin to Giddings to Bryan / College Station to Hempstead to Houston (a little over $1.149 billion – 3hr 15 minutes).
– Austin to Brenham to Hempstead to Houston, with a spur to Bryan / College Station ($1.213 billion – 3hr 38 minutes).
All routes assumed two round trip options daily with one train each leaving from Houston and Austin in the morning and evening.
All routes assume that they would not actually be a single ride between the centers of the cities, but would connect to commuter rail systems that some are advocating in each region to go from Austin to Elgin and Houston to a suburban location along 290.
Details derived from audio of meeting, recorded by Guidry News (mp3).
I recommend you look at that PowerPoint presentation, as it illustrates the different options discussed. I have to say, I find this all disappointing. The travel time, even for the direct route, is no better than driving, and I have a hard time seeing how this can be a viable, competitive option if you can’t get there any faster than you could have on your own. Part of the reason for this is the stops in between, in Elgin, Giddings, Brenham, and Hempstead, but mostly because the average speed of the train is not very fast; the Hempstead-Houston segment shows an average train speed of 50 MPH, which needless to say would feel like molasses if you were behind the wheel. I don’t know why that segment is projected to be so slow, I don’t know why they only refer to 109 miles of track when it’s about 150 miles between Austin and Houston on 290, and I don’t know where the “Houston” station would be located; neither, apparently, do they, which is in part what Art Storey’s quote is about. I like and support the idea of rail between Austin and Houston as I do between Dallas and Houston, but I feel like we would have to do better than this. Note that there are three alternate routes proposed as well, all of which go through Bryan/College Station. One of them bypasses Brenham, the others take a round trip to B/CS from either Giddings or Hempstead, which adds considerably to the total travel time; as such, none of these alternates are particularly satisfying, either. I hope there will be more to this than what we have seen so far.
Bike advocates get a partial victory as the Transportation Policy Council voted to keep the last $12.8 million of unallocated federal funds on alternate mode projects instead of redirecting it towards roads.
Ultimately, Storey voted with Harris County Judge Ed Emmett to funnel all the remaining dollars to mobility work, but leave previous funding decisions intact.
A proposal by Houston City Councilwoman Sue Lovell to give $7.2 million more to bike and pedestrian projects and another $72.6 million to roads was voted down.
CM Lovell put out a statement following the TPC meeting that said “This action not only stopped the loss of $12.8 million in federal funding recommended at the February 25 TPC meeting but also secured the commitment of the $51.6 million, which represents 15 percent of the total federal funding and exceeds the original recommendation that was originally considered by the Transportation Policy Council.” That is higher than the nine to thirteen percent range for alternate mode projects that Judge Emmett had recommended, but considerably lower than the 34% target that advocacy groups like Houston Tomorrow wanted. Still, they managed to reverse the original decision to use those remaining funds for roads and drew a considerable amount of attention to their efforts in the process, which is no small thing. I haven’t seen a statement yet from either HT or BikeHouston yet so I don’t know how they feel about this, but my guess would be more positive than negative.
That postponed Transportation Policy Council meeting to determine how to allocate unprogrammed federal transportation funds happens today.
A proposal before the regional Transportation Policy Council last month could have clawed back $12.8 million in funding set aside for bicycle and pedestrian projects and directed those dollars to road and freight rail work. At the urging of advocacy groups, the proposal was tabled to allow for more discussion.
The TPC — an appointed body of mostly elected officials that directs federal transportation funding in the eight-county region — will take up the issue at its meeting Friday.
“I’m hoping we can reach a compromise to where all of the (bike and pedestrian) funding is not lost, yet certainly understanding the need for roadway and rail funding,” said Houston City Councilwoman Sue Lovell, a TPC member.
In its 2011-14 transportation plan, the council has direct discretion over just $346 million in federal funds, $266 million of which already is allocated.
Some TPC members have proposed setting percentage guidelines on how the remaining $80 million should be spent: 1 percent on planning studies, 9 percent to 13 percent for alternative modes such as biking, walking and mass transit, and for air-quality projects, and the remaining 75 percent to 82 percent on roads and rail.
“I think there are going to be a lot of people in the broader community who aren’t in a particular interest group who say, ‘Wait a minute, of course, we ought to be giving 80 percent of mobility funds to actual mobility projects,’ as opposed to sidewalks or hike-and-bike trails,” [Harris County Judge Ed] Emmett said.
Advocacy group Houston Tomorrow has suggested spending 55 percent of the funds on roads and rail, and 34 percent on alternative modes.
They lay out their case here, with David Crossley adding more here. The meeting is this morning at the TPC’s office at 3555 Timmons, 2nd floor, room A. It’s open to the public, and the public comment period begins at 9:30, though there will be a TPC workshop beginning at 8:45 that you can also attend but not participate in. I look forward to seeing what happens.
The Houston – Galveston Area Council Transportation Policy Council will host a public hearing to discuss citizen priorities for the use of discretionary funds in the 2011-2014 Transportation Improvement Program on March 25, 2011 at 8:45am at the H-GAC building in the 2nd Floor Conference room at 3555 Timmons.
Houston Tomorrow has published a primer on the TIP funding issue.
See here, here, and here for the background. I’m impressed by the amount of attention this has received. Take advantage of the opportunity to affect the outcome while you can.
The Houston-Galveston Area Council’sTransportation Policy Council (TPC) unanimously voted on Friday morning to delay by thirty days its vote on a full $79.8 million allocation of unprogrammed federal transportation funds toward Mobility – roadway and freight rail – projects and a reallocation of $12.8 million from already committed pedestrian, bicycle, and Livable Centers projects to Mobility projects.
The 30-day delay will allow the public and elected officials to further explore how potential money from the federal Surface Transportation Program Major Metro (STP MM) and Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality (CMAQ) funds should be allocated within the Houston-Galveston region’s2011-2014 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
The decision came after elected officials heard from more than 20 business, bicycle, pedestrian, and political advocates in attendance, plus thousands of citizens who signed petitions and called officials’ offices during the week to voice their concerns regarding the manner in which federal funds were being distributed toward various transportation modes.
Rather than push a vote through, City of Houston Council member Sue Lovell requested that the TPC delay voting on the issue for 30 days so that elected officials could more carefully examine the options on the table and hear from their constituents.
See here and here for some background. Houston Tomorrow has an online petition that calls for roadway spending to make up no more than 55% of regional transportation infrastructure spending, which it says in accordance with the 2035 Regional Transportation Plan. I don’t know enough about the 2035 RTP to comment on that, but I am glad there will be more time to discuss this issue. A press release from CM Lovell about the requested delay to the vote is beneath the fold. | 2019-04-19T03:20:10Z | http://offthekuff.com/wp/?tag=hgac |
Encountering Multiple Birth Loss: What You Can Do - Center for Loss in Multiple Birth (CLIMB), Inc.
Definitely do send a card. The card should include both or all babies regardless of how many have lived and how many have died or whose outcome is uncertain. It can be very simple and sincere.
Use this opportunity to let them know about our group and our website. This lets them know up front that they’re not alone – this may give them the chance to get all the mementos and experiences that will be so important later in their grieving, while it is even possible to do so. From the suggestions in our site sections for those whose loss has just occurred.
It’s also a good time to let them know that they will always be the mother⁄parents of twins (or triplets or higher) even though sadly one of more of the babies is no longer here. One of the most difficult things for us is the loss of others’ knowing that we are the parents of multiples – and you of all people are in the position to reassure us on that point! It’s a very precious gift that people always remember.
Parents who have lost of course tend to feel that we have flunked out of a special club, have been specially “un-chosen” and so on. One of the main reasons for doing the things mentioned here is that almost ANYthing is better than awkward silence, which parents take to mean that the club has rejected them and their babies.
If a phone call is made to someone who is pregnant or recently due, ask “How are you doing by now?” instead of something like “Your babies must have been born, tell me their weights so we can put it in the newsletter!” – i.e., don’t assume a good outcome.
Read some of the personal stories in our newsletter or website, for a feeling of familiarity that will make it more comfortable to talk.
Have our website url handy, and our printed flyer (it can be downloaded here). If you have local contacts with parents who have lost previously and are willing to be in touch with others, keep them handy and ask if the person would like to talk with them.
Know about the nearest infant loss support group to your community, and have current contact information handy.
Especially if the parent is someone you know, or you are invited, it’s often very much appreciated for one or more club representatives to attend the funeral or memorial. The same is true for visiting the mom in the hospital if she wishes.
Include the birth⁄loss announcement in your newsletter along with or near the other birth announcements, with your condolences. Our local club found that it was actually helpful to do this not only for the parents’ sake, but also it helps others gently remember not to take their babies for granted. The same was true of having a small item in each newsletter mentioning that the club has bereavement support.
Childcare for older children or a surviving multiple⁄s while the parents visit a multiple who is in the NICU, or help with meals while one or more of the babies is hospitalized. Having someone who is experienced in caring for tiny multiples is especially helpful when there is more than one surviving baby at home.
Assistance with storing, selling, giving away, trading or otherwise dealing with the items that won’t be needed such as the double or triple stroller. Our club offers to pick up and store any such items, and to assist with selling or trading them, and it’s a fantastic help with a very painful aspect.
If someone’s loss involves continuing to be pregnant after one or more of the babies has died in-utero, one has been delivered prematurely, or knowing ahead that one of the babies won’t live long after birth, offer any possible practical support and help make sure that (in addition to our resources) they are in touch with any resources in the community that may be helpful for them, such as bed-rest support.
A card at the time of the 6-month anniversary and the one-year anniversary, especially for someone you know, is usually very much appreciated, along with a phone call or note from time to time in the first year.
Getting together over coffee to talk can be very much appreciated at some point. Possibly the most precious gift any of us can receive is a caring person asking, “What happened?” or “How are you?” and then really listening for as much as we want to talk.
Parents who have lost one or more of their babies are starting off on a path that they never would have chosen but are suddenly having to take. Because of who you are, you are there at the beginning of that path. You are in a position to make it even more difficult by blocking it – or to make it better, less difficult than it already is, by helping to shine some light on it, so to speak. Even though it may be difficult for the parents to respond (and this is important to remember and not take it personally), kindness, caring and relevant information are appreciated so, so much and really do make a difference for parents in the long run…and are remembered forever.
The fact that there are two or three (or more) children means that any tragedy that can happen to a child is two, three or more times as likely to come up in the set. Our group has always included a number of parents who have lost a multiple to SIDS, and there have always been members who have lost a young twin or triplet to drowning and other accidents, an illness, or a congenital condition such as some of the heart defects. (Also, a few families have lost both their twins or all their triplets in some way.) In recent years, improvements in technology have meant that some babies who might have died after birth from prematurity, complications of TTTS, or other conditions (twin-related or not) do live on but ultimately do not survive childhood. Sometimes they are expected to survive, but have (for example) complications of a surgery.
The families who lose a young multiple are often involved in their local club or other multiples organization. This means you may know them well, which in some ways makes it even more difficult and painful for you, and in another way even more natural to do what you need to do to be of comfort and help.
Everything mentioned in the first section of course applies here too. Practical help can be especially important as the parents are likely to also be dealing with the reactions of the survivor(s) and so it is a very challenging and exhausting time in that way too, along with the horrific adjustment to a “one-baby” or “one-child” lifestyle if that is the case.
The mom finds herself in a situation where much of her life has revolved not only around her twins or higher but also around the club for most of her friends and social activities – then suddenly all of her friends have living multiples except for her, and her social world is completely altered. The potential loss of the comfortable peer group is a huge one – and it’s also not a good time to lose all your friends whom you can really talk to. So it’s all the more important that the mom not feel in any way rejected or pushed out, just because of awkwardness. Over time the mom will be working out her connection to the “world of multiples” and deciding what her relationship will be to it and to her friends with multiples. We have known of quite a few with childhood loss who continued to be active in the club for many years.
Definitely acknowledge the birthday in your newsletter if the mom continues to be a member, and include both⁄all children in whatever way that the mom wishes.
Club members who on the “outside” seem to have twins or triplets, actually conceived higher order multiples and lost one or more of them to at any time from early pregnancy to after birth; or they do have an intact set of multiples but lost one or more babies in a previous or subsequent multiple pregnancy.
With the rise of multiple conceptions and the spectacular rise of higher order conceptions through fertility technology, what used to be rare is not, and moms have experiences or combinations of experiences which used to be “off the map”. Probably the biggest surprise for us was how many of our own group are raising living multiples, either as higher order survivors or as living multiples born after multiple birth loss (or sometimes, before loss in a second multiple pregnancy) – probably about 20% of CLIMB altogether! There are always more of our members who are becoming pregnant with twins again after a multiple birth loss, usually through fertility technology, and thankfully the majority have been able to have them safely, although sometimes with many complications. Several have had two sets of living twins and also lost another set of twins or multiples. A few have even had subsequent triplets.
For clubs and organizations, what this means is that loss is just below the surface in many groups. Everyone appears to be happy and enjoying the fun and cute things and dealing with all the day-to-day challenges of “the kids” – yet many have also had very tragic losses, and some of the most difficult, complex and painful experiences that anyone can ever have as a parent. Many have also been involved in difficult decisions, such as MFPR (“selective reduction”), selective termination (when one baby has a lethal problem), removal of life support, and more. This is a really major reason for always having some kind of awareness of loss instead of automatically assuming that everyone is one of the fortunate ones who “just” had their babies ok.
This also means that there will be certain sensitivities that can come up. No one really likes having their kids’ names mixed up, but it was painful for a mom whose quads’ birthday was noted in the newsletter but the name of the one who had died was listed as having lived and another, living one was listed as the one who died. It’s always important to be extra-thoughtful about anything, even a seemingly small thing, that involves someone’s loss.
Labeling issues are very strong for those with more than one survivor – and people’s preferences may change as time goes by, or in various situations. Check with the mom to see how she prefers her surviving triplets or quads or higher to be called, and when appropriate, acknowledge that this mom too had triplets or higher.
Openness about people’s situations is truly appreciated. If people feel that they can’t reveal non-judgmentally their whole situation when it comes to loss, reduction, life support decisions, or other difficult things, they will tend not to join or stick around, and both they and the club will miss the benefits of their being part of it. On the plus side, with openness people can get from each other some of the support and normalcy they need. One triplets club had so many who had lost one of their triplets or one or more of their quads that they formed a special subgroup. In another club, one mom described the club as being half-full of moms like herself who had had their “twins” after selective reduction and were now “p – -d off” and undergoing emotional aftermath of it – and at least they could talk with each other, which was more than most of them could do with their families.
Moms who have living multiples born after the loss of their twins, triplets or higher in a way face the same situation as that of those with a surviving twin: they really are grateful for what they have, and at the same time, they are even more aware of what they are also missing, in ways they couldn’t have imagined before. Also, they may be extra-involved in the club and its activities because they are even more glad to be able to do so. (One brave lady we know had a birthday party with 17 sets of triplets!) It’s important for others to understand that no one replaces anyone, and that thoughts and feelings about the other set of multiples are always very close.
All multiple birth loss is complicated: there is the numbers of babies, and all the things that can occur, suddenly or over a period of time. Parents’ reactions at any given time are complicated as they try to withstand and process such an experience (often, as first-time parents). Often they are focusing on one particular aspect of their experience at any given time, yet really feeling all of them. Parents are grieving for “my twins” or triplets as well as for each baby. Everyone is an individual and there is no “right” way and no schedule. A long period of time and lots of support are needed until parents can regain their balance and find a “new normal” for their life.
Twins and multiples are so special – and one of the main reasons you are able to be supportive is that you truly understand that and would never say “at least you have one” “oh well, they weren’t meant to be” and all the other things that people say to us who haven’t experienced loving two or more at once and the joys and challenges of the experience of having multiples, and the kids’ relationship to each other.
It IS difficult and there is nothing anyone can do to just make it better, so it’s better not to have the illusion that there is something you (or anyone) can do to make it ok…just BE with them…Also, it’s difficult and challenging for you, and can bring up fears and discomfort for you as the parent of young children. It’s also easy to think that there must have been something that the mom did or didn’t do that resulted in or influenced the loss (who wants to really think that it can just happen despite all the best of efforts and how much the babies are wanted and loved? Who wants to know how high the risks even for twins really are?). It really helps to just realize all that and be able to put the needs of those who have lost ahead of your personal situation or discomfort, for the sake of what it will mean to them. .
We’ll be writing more about clubs establishing bereavement support. But in the meantime, whether you do or not, it’s important that the awareness of loss and being supportive isn’t limited to one or two kind-hearted individuals in the club who are willing to somehow “do it all” (and sometimes get flak from others). It’s something that the board should find a way to discuss and have some presentations on loss in multiple birth at least once a year, since it can come up in so many ways…Also, by recognizing loss and informing yourselves, you may be in a position to be helpful to others in the community (hospital social worker, various kinds of support groups, local health nurse, etc.) on how the needs of multiple birth loss parents can be met. If everyone who is concerned works together in some way, it’s truly amazing what a difference it can make to the family. It also brings respect to the club and a greater ability to deal with the not-so-happy sides of the world of multiples (for example families with handicapped or other special needs multiples or surviving multiples). .
A comment (from a few things that have come up) about talking to the pregnant mothers… Since the clubs of course tend to be made up of parents who had their babies successfully, it’s easy for it to seem like it always turns out ok for people, even with some complications, and that it’s just a matter of getting through it (and maybe cheating a little on the bedrest?!) with the babies guaranteed. It’s easy to not to realize how serious symptoms of a problem can be, even at (say) 18 or 19 weeks along. It’s really, really important that whoever is talking with pregnant moms not say that certain things are just “normal for twins”, but instead always encourage them to see their physician if they are experiencing anything that they are wondering about (and to be aggressive about getting an opinion, not to let the nurse just tell them on the phone that it’s normal). Ballooning in size, being uncomfortable, having a bad backache, all these and more can be part of the onset of Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome, premature labor (both of which seem to be most dangerous in the 2nd trimester) or other conditions, and their hope is in all available treatment before it’s too late. Better to go in and find out it isn’t a problem… A newer area of whether 37 weeks is term for twins (with mortality going up after that) is one you might wish to look into also, or at least not assume that if the babies are big and near term that nothing can happen to one or both of them – prompt attention can be vital then too.
Finally, people talking with pregnant moms should always encourage them to follow doctors’ orders totally, even if they may seem excessive. You are actually in the position to save the lives of some babies and the tragedy of loss to their family in this way. This can also include encouraging moms to know whether or not their babies share a placenta, to know the symptoms of premature labor, and to consult a perinatologist⁄ maternal-fetal specialist in addition to a regular OB, if there is any uncertainty at all.
A note about the newsletter and our group: One of the best things you can do is of course to let parents know that there is our group for support in multiple birth loss. There are several ways to do this: 1) Download and give or mail them our flyer, which tells about CLIMB and provides a coupon they can send to us to receive a sample copy of the newsletter. Along with the flyer, you’re welcome to encourage them to visit our website, or to call us. 2) You’re welcome to ask us to mail them one of our flyers, with a note from us that they’re welcome to be in touch. 3) If they wish, you’re welcome to show or give them a copy of our newsletter if you have one. The newsletter is lengthy and can be emotionally very intense for those with a recent loss, so it’s important that parents not receive it “unannounced” from you or from us. If you have their permission to do so, you’re welcome to give us their name and address and we will mail them a sample newsletter with a note and the form they can use to join the ongoing mailing list (which is the same as joining our group). (And if you wish to sponsor their subscription, you and we can let them know that and then we’ll contact you if they join.) If you’re not sure whether they want a copy of the newsletter, then it’s best to give them our flyer or ask us to. Even if it takes them some time to contact, most people truly appreciate just knowing that there really are others and there is a group that they can turn to when they wish. | 2019-04-23T19:57:56Z | http://www.climb-support.org/formultiplesgroups/encountering-multiple-birth-loss-what-you-can-do/ |
Peaches are showing their sunny faces in the markets at the moment. They are very juicy and full of bright summer flavor. I think this dessert is a great way to salute them.
This is a sort of Southern take on shortcake. The biscuits are made with ground pecans and cinnamon. This produces a really delicious biscuit with a nice crunchy crust. The peaches are blanketed with brown sugar and a spritz of lemon and left to sit and develop some very delicious caramel-like juices. The cream is flavored with a little splash of brandy that provides the perfect warm note in combination with all the other ingredients. All we need is a cool breeze and a nice veranda to sit together and enjoy every bite.
- I used a 2 3/4” cutter for the shortcakes and I got 6 biscuits. You could make smaller ones for tea service. Another way to serve is to make layers of crumbled biscuit, fruit, juices and whipped cream in parfait glasses.
- To toast pecans, place them on a baking sheet and toast in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes. Be careful not to overdo it or they will taste bitter. They should brown slightly and give off a lovely toasty fragrance.
- Once you add the buttermilk, do your best not to handle the dough too much. It will toughen the finished product. Gently press the dough into a mass, but do not knead it.
- The brandy in the whipped cream adds a great subtle note to the whole dessert, but if you don’t wish to use it, substitute 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract. You can also add a pinch of cinnamon.
- There’s a lot of sugar on the peaches because you will want lots of the juices to spoon over the fruit.
- These would be really, really good with fresh fig slices steeped in a mixture of honey and a bit of water and cinnamon or apples or pears sauteed with brown sugar and cinnamon.
Cut peaches in half and remove pits. Slice them thinly and toss with lemon juice and brown sugar. Set aside to macerate, stirring every now and then to distribute the juices.
Preheat the oven to 425°. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment.
Finely chop 1/3 cup of the toasted pecans and toss with 2 tablespoons of sugar and a good pinch of cinnamon. Set aside. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter and set aside.
Place the flour, salt, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and 2/3 cup of the toasted pecans in the bowl of a food processor and process until the pecans are finely ground. Pour the dry mixture into a bowl. Add the butter pieces and toss to coat them. Using your fingers, pinch each piece of butter flat, then into pieces the size of a pea and keep tossing the mixture. You can also use a pastry blender if you prefer. Stop when the mixture looks like coarse meal. Work quickly so the butter stays cold and firm. Add the buttermilk all at once and fold everything together gently with a spatula just until it starts to come together, the mixture is moist and there are no patches of dry flour.
Gather the dough and place it on a clean work surface or a piece of parchment and gently pat it together with your hands. Do not knead. Shape it into a round about 3/4” thick. Use a round cutter dipped in flour to cut out the biscuits. Place them on the baking sheet. Brush the tops with melted butter and sprinkle with the pecan cinnamon sugar mixture, pressing down gently to secure the nuts. Bake about 13-15 minutes, until the biscuits are lightly golden.
Whip the cream, sugar and brandy to a very soft peak. It should be fairly loose and creamy.
Cut the biscuits in half horizontally. Dollop each half with some whipped cream and then layer on some peaches with plenty of juices.
I once tasted a delicious ice cream mysteriously called Lotus Cream at an ice cream shop in San Francisco that is now long gone. It was so good that I kept thinking about its ethereal flavor of lemon and almonds and how light and delicious it tasted. I tried to replicate it at home and my memory was jogged when I recently ran across my old faded notes. Just reading them over once again convinced me I had to make this ice cream to see if it still held its charm.
This recipe takes just a few minutes to put together. The flavor is subtle but distinctive and unmistakably fresh. It’s been years since I’ve made it but I was gratified to find that it tastes every bit as delicious as I remember it. It’s light yet creamy with a brightly tart sensation that finishes with a back note of almond. It has that unmistakable pucker of fresh citrus that lemon fans will enjoy. Simple, refreshing and very, very much in keeping with the fanciful days of summer.
- Be sure to use a good quality almond extract. Start with a scant 1/2 teaspoon and taste. Add a drop at a time and taste until you get the right flavor for you.
- Always add the salt last and then taste. Then keep adding a few grains at a time and keep tasting. You’ll know when you have the right amount because the flavor will heighten noticeably.
Whisk together all the ingredients except the almonds. Refrigerate the mixture overnight to marry the flavors and to chill thoroughly.
Toast the sliced almonds in a single layer in a 350 degree oven for about 6 to 8 minutes. Watch them closely as they will burn quickly.
Churn the ice cream base in your ice cream machine. Fold in the toasted almonds. Pour into a clean airtight container, press a piece of plastic wrap into the surface, cover and place in your freezer to firm up.
Deep, dark purple plums have just waltzed into town. They are tart and juicy and ready for a spin on the dance floor. Since ginger is one of my favorite pairings with plums, I couldn’t resist making a simple ice cream to get the party started.
I coat the sliced plums in a caramel that takes on the tartness and color of the fruit. It’s just enough to add a little more interest to both the fruit and the ice cream. For all the true ginger fans out there, this ice cream will give you a gorgeous jolt of pure ginger nirvana. Together, these two components spark a mouthful of delicious sensation from start to finish.
I made the ice cream base in about 20 minutes or so and let it sit overnight in the refrigerator to ripen and harmonize. I churned it the next day and let it firm up in the freezer for a few hours. The plums take about 10 – 15 minutes to prepare. Then voila! A super dessert that is both delectable and beautiful on our summer stage.
- The 3 oz of fresh ginger will give you a deep ginger flavor with a tiny bit of heat at the finish. The ice cream base is going to taste a bit stronger than the frozen ice cream, so don’t worry if it seems strong. It will mellow out a bit.
- I like ice cream that is rich in flavor but light on the palate, so I usually like to use more milk than cream (or equal quantities) and fewer yolks. That will vary somewhat depending on the central flavor of the ice cream but I try to keep the fat content at the margins for a real balance of flavor and mouth feel. If you prefer a richer, creamier version, just shift the ratios to your liking.
- Whenever I salt ice cream, I usually start with a few grains and then taste. I repeat this process until the flavor really pops. It’s all about individual preference and you’ll know it when you taste it because there is a brightness and clarity that changes the mixture, as though it suddenly comes into focus.
- For another plum and ginger treat, try Plum Ginger Upside Down Cake.
- This Ginger Ice Cream would go well with so many other things: peaches, figs, apples, pears, pineapple, bananas, pumpkin, coconut and yes, chocolate. So any of these in the form of fresh fruits (with or without caramel), pies, crisps, cakes, cookies or sauces would be terrific.
To make the ice cream, peel the ginger and remove any dried areas or blemishes. Cut the ginger into thin slices. Place the milk, cream, 1/4 C + 2 tablespoons of sugar and the sliced ginger into a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium low heat. Let it simmer for a couple of minutes until the sugar is dissolved. Do not boil. Take off the heat, cover the saucepan and steep for one hour.
Strain out the ginger slices and heat again just until warm. Whisk the egg yolks with 2 tablespoons of sugar until the mixture has thickened and is pale yellow. Slowly add the warm cream, whisking constantly to keep the eggs from scrambling. Return the mixture to the saucepan and medium heat. Cook, stirring and constantly and scraping the bottom of the pan until the custard thickens, coats the spatula and a finger traced through it leaves a clean track. Be very careful not to let the mixture heat too quickly or boil. Pour the custard through a strainer into a clean container. Add the vanilla and lemon juice and stir. Add a good pinch of salt to taste. Chill the ice cream base overnight.
For the Plums in Caramel, cut the plums into slices and set aside.
Combine 1/2 cup sugar and 3 tablespoons of water in a saucepan. Make a caramel by cooking on high heat without stirring until sugar has dissolved and begins to take on a medium amber color. Wash down the sides of the pan with a brush dipped in water if any sugar crystals start to form along the sides of the pan. Slowly tilt the pan back and forth or swirl very gently if the sugar is darkening unevenly in just one spot. Remove from heat as soon as it starts to reach a medium amber color. It will continue to darken for a minute or so after you take it off the heat. Then carefully add the butter, stirring to combine. Add the cream and mix thoroughly. Return to low heat to loosen any clumps. Take off the heat and stir in the vanilla and a little pinch. Add the plum slices and swirl the pan occasionally for about 3 or 4 minutes. Let the mixture cool.
Plate the ice cream and serve with the plums and caramel.
There is a sweet and natural affinity between the soft sunset blush of early summer apricots and the homespun State-Fair-Blue-Ribbon pride of corn. Maybe it has something to do with long full days of bright sun, a labor-intensive harvest and our wholehearted ritual of indulging in the season’s bright splash of sumptuous colors and flavors.
- I used Quaker yellow cornmeal for this recipe, which is finely ground.
- The method for mixing this dough is the same as for the Apple Crumble Tart. You can see how crumbly the dough should look going into the pan.
- Be sure to place the tart on a baking pan lined with parchment to prevent any potential drips from burning on the bottom of the oven.
- Another favorite cornmeal and apricot recipe is Cornmeal Cake with Apricots.
Cut the apricots in half and remove the pits. Combine the water and sugar together and bring to a simmer. Split and seed the vanilla bean and add to the syrup along with the apricots and the cinnamon. Lower the heat to a low simmer and cook the mixture until the apricots starts to slump and look jammy but still hold their shape. Take off the heat and pour into a strainer placed over a bowl to drain. Set aside to cool.
Whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar and salt and place in a food processor. Add the butter pieces and pulse just enough to begin to break the butter up into smallish pieces. Mix the yolks and sour cream together and add to the food processor. Pulse just a few times until the mixture looks like it’s coming together but is still rather crumbly. Do not overmix. Pour into a large bowl and toss gently with your hands.
Pour about 2/3 of the dough crumbles into a 9” tart pan with the bottom lined with parchment. Gently spread an even layer to the edges and press lightly without compressing it too much. Cover the bottom of the pan completely so there aren’t any holes. Layer the cooled apricots evenly on top, leaving about a little border around the edge. Sprinkle the remaining dough crumble over the top of the apricots. Be sure to spread some out to the edges of the tart pan to form a border.
Place the tart on a sheet pan lined with parchment and bake for about 35 minutes. Cool completely before removing from the tart pan to serve.
Cherries are now in such great abundance it’s fairly difficult to escape the desire to make that all-American classic, Cherry Pie. Who can possibly resist pie? It's the very next best thing to simply eating fresh cherries right out of the bag. I remember being with friends on our way up the coast in Northern California at this time of year to have a picnic. We stopped at a roadside stand when we scouted a hand-painted sign and saw beautiful big baskets of fresh cherries for sale. We bought a big bag and they were so incredibly good, they were gone before we arrived at our destination. All we had left was a bag of cherry pits and red-stained fingers. But if you purchase some beautiful fresh red cherries soon and you happen to have any left, consider making some delicious pie.
Fresh cherries juice nicely in the baking process, bubbling up just enough to steal your attention. These are individual pies so that pie crust lovers can have more than their fair share of flaky buttery morsels on their plate. You can share your pie if you’re feeling modest, but who knows when the next chance to enjoy fresh homemade cherry pie will come around once again?
- The pastry dough is handled very little in order to avoid activating the gluten in the flour, which will toughen the pastry.
- I used tartlet pans with removable bottoms that measure 3 3/4” in diameter and are 1 1/4” deep. Use whatever you have that will hold the contents with a good proportion of fruit.
- I added an optional Almond Crumble to the mix for flavor and texture. If you decide not to use it, you may want to add an extra couple of tablespoons of sugar to the cherry filling and increase the cornstarch to 2 tablespoons.
- When you're baking fruit pies be sure the fruit is bubbling vigorously to cook out the cornstarch or flour thickeners.
To prepare the pastry dough, whisk together the flour, sugar and salt in a bowl. Add the butter pieces and use your hands to toss together. You want to coat each piece of butter thoroughly with flour as well as your hands. Pinch each piece of butter flat between your fingers, working quickly so as not to warm the butter. Keep tossing the mixture to be sure each piece of butter is coated well with flour. Add the cold water and mix gently with a fork or your fingers until the dough just starts to come together, tossing it lightly until it just starts to loosely cohere.
Gather the dough pieces on a clean work surface. Finish the dough by smearing parts of the dough across the work surface with the heel of your hand. Use a bench scraper or metal spatula to get under the smeared dough and gather and fold it back onto itself after each motion. Repeat this process again just a few times until the dough looks like it’s coming together and it feels soft, supple and not sticky. There should be small pieces of butter visible in the dough. Divide the dough into 2 pieces, one with a bit more than the other. The larger piece of dough will be used to line the tartlet pans, the other piece will be used to top the pies. Gently pat each piece into a disc and wrap tightly in plastic. Chill the dough at least 30 minutes.
Prepare the Almond Crumble by mixing the flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon, orange zest and almonds together. Cut the butter into these ingredients using your fingers or a pastry blender until the mixture looks like a streusel. Set aside.
When you are ready to roll out the dough, remove the larger packet from the refrigerator and rest on a lightly floured piece of parchment paper for a few minutes so it can soften just a bit to prevent cracking. Then roll the dough out to about 1/8” thickness, gently lifting and moving the dough after each roll and keeping the parchment lightly floured as needed. Brush off any excess flour. If the dough feels too soft, lift the parchment onto a flat pizza pan or baking sheet and chill again for about 30 minutes. Repeat with the second packet of dough.
Take the larger piece of rolled out dough and cut out 6 circles to fit the bottom of your tartlet pans. Line each pan with the dough and trim the edges. Chill while you cut out the tops.
Take the second packet of rolled out dough and cut out 6 circles to cover the top of each individual pie. Chill until ready to use.
Toss the pitted cherries with the cornstarch, sugar, vanilla and almond extracts and lemon juice. Add the Almond Crumble and toss until everything is evenly distributed.
Fill each pastry-lined tart shell with the cherry mixture. Remove the top circles of pastry dough and cut out steam vents on each one. Place one on top of each tartlet, pressing down tightly to seal the edges. Brush the tops of each pie with milk and dust lightly with sugar.
Place the tartlet pans on a baking sheet lined with parchment to catch any juices that might leak. Bake for about 25 – 30 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the juices are bubbling. Cool and remove from pans. | 2019-04-20T23:09:18Z | http://pastrystudio.blogspot.com/2010/07/ |
The 39 years of Vietnamese Catholic history in the Archdiocese of New Orleans largely can be traced to these men, who passed through Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, in 1975 after fleeing their war-torn country. Some of the future priests were mere infants or children at the time. Front row, left to right, Father Paul Van Tung Nguyen, who was 26 when he arrived at Fort Chaffee; Blessed Sacrament Father Viet Chau, 35; and Father Joseph Duc Dzien, 21. Back row, Father Joseph Dau Van Nguyen, 25; Father Vinh Dinh Luu, 2 months; Father Luke Hungdung Nguyen, 11; Father Joseph Man Tran, 9; Father Bac-Hai Viet Tran, 22; Father James Bach, 25; and Father Lich Van Nguyen, 22. This eight-page pullout is a tribute to the Vietnamese Catholic presence in the archdiocese over the last four decades.
The history of Vietnamese immigration to the United States is relatively recent. Before May 1975, most Vietnamese residing in the United States were spouses and children of American servicemen in Vietnam. Then, on April 30, 1975, Saigon fell to Viet Cong troops, which decisively ended the Vietnam War. This marked a big event for America as well as the Vietnamese people. Suddenly, there were more than 200,000 Vietnamese refugees departing from their native homeland to various countries in the world.
From their homeland, they were airlifted or fled Vietnam on U.S. military cargo ships and then transferred to United States military bases in Guam, Thailand, the Wake Islands, Hawaii and the Philippines. The entire operation of transferring the massive number of refugees was nicknamed “Operation New Life.” From the various bases, they were transferred to four refugee camps throughout the United States. The four main centers for refugees were Camp Pendleton in California, Fort Chaffee in Arkansas, Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and Fort Indiantown Gap in Pennsylvania.
In May 1975, Archbishop Philip M. Hannan, with his prior experience of resettling Cuban immigrants in America, realized the Vietnamese refugees needed to be resettled in America as soon as possible. By the end of May, he was the first archbishop in America to visit the Vietnamese refugees in Fort Chaffee. He was accompanied by Father Michael Haddad, who was director of Catholic Charities of New Orleans. Originally Archbishop Hannan wanted to sponsor just 100 Vietnamese families through Catholic Charities, because he thought an average Vietnamese family consisted of four or five in a household.
For the Vietnamese, the “family” meant everybody in the village, including parents, children, grandparents, uncles, cousins, etc. One particular Vietnamese family had 97 “extended members.” By the time Archbishop Hannan left Fort Chaffee, he decided to sponsor 1,000 families in New Orleans. In his openness to provide homes for Vietnamese refugees, he unknowingly was providing for the future needs of the church of New Orleans. Many of the young souls in those refugee centers would go on to religious life or be ordained priests for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Many of the current Vietnamese priests in the Archdiocese of New Orleans have some connection to these refugee centers.
A few weeks later, the first 200 families trickled into New Orleans, half going to the Versailles Apartments in New Orleans East and the other half going to Kingstown Marrero Apartments. The majority of the Vietnamese refugees were Catholic, and so the church played a big part in their daily life. New Orleans naturally attracted many Vietnamese because of its familiar environment of sub-tropical climate, a super rich and convenient Mississippi River that runs across Louisiana just like the Mekong River runs across Vietnam and proximity to water resources for fishing. All these things reminded the refugees of home.
The first three priests to arrive in New Orleans in the summer of 1975 were Father Joakim Nguyen Duc Viet-Chau, Father Andrew Tran Cao Tuong, and Father Tran Cong Nghi. Father Nghi, who came from Fort Chaffee, was the first director of the Vietnamese Apostolate under Archbishop Hannan. Father Viet-Chau and Father Andrew Tuong came to New Orleans from Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. Father Viet-Chau resided at Hope Haven and cared for the Vietnamese on the West Bank. Father Andrew Tuong resided at St. Elizabeth Home on Napoleon Avenue and cared for the Vietnamese on the East Bank.
Shortly after the visit of Archbishop Philip Hannan to Fort Chaffee, the refugees were anxious to head southward to discover their new home. As more families continued to trickle into New Orleans throughout the summer of 1975, the Archdiocese of New Orleans had the unenviable task of marshalling its resources to provide for the refugees. A memorable and funny story was told that a group of 11 families, cared for by Father Andrew Tuong, arrived in New Orleans during the summer of 1975. This group of 11 families was transported on an old, rusty school bus heading to New Orleans East, but somehow arrived at the parking lot of Abramson High School on Read Boulevard around noon – during school hours. The principal and staff members of the school were in shock to see a busload of strangers wanting to enter their facility to use the restrooms and wandering around the school parking lot. Out of natural fear, they called the police to report the incident. After a long struggle to overcome the language barrier with this group of strangers, the principal of Abramson High School recognized only two words – “Philip Hannan” – and so he called the archbishop.
The Archdiocese of New Orleans urgently sent Father Haddad to lead the bus to the Versailles Arms apartment complex. Mrs. Melanie Ottaway, the owner of the Versailles Arms, was delighted to receive new tenants. In order to provide for the spiritual welfare of the newcomers, Father Andrew Tuong temporarily used one of the rooms in the apartment to hold daily Masses for the people. Archbishop Hannan assigned Father Andrew Tran Cao Tuong to be the first administrator for the Versailles Vietnamese Community that summer.
In June 1976, Father Tran Cong Nghi, director of the Vietnamese Apostolate, resigned to study in Rome. Meanwhile, Archbishop Hannan invited Father Dominic Mai Thanh Luong from Buffalo, New York, to take over the Vietnamese Apostolate Office. Also, Father Dominic Luong became the administrator of the Versailles Vietnamese community called “Hung Vuong Community of the Vietnamese Martyrs,” while Father Andrew Tuong became his assistant administrator and collaborated with Father Viet-Chau, and Father Tue to start the “Dan Chua” Vietnamese Catholic Magazine.
The first task taken up by the community was to build a portable altar and a platform, which would really be easy to set up and dismantle. With these the newcomers were able to have outdoor Masses, which accommodated the multitude of people attending Mass for almost a year and half. In inclement weather, Mrs. Ottaway allowed the tenants to move the services into the community room and scheduled more Masses to serve the crowd.
People began to adjust their lives in the new land. Word got out among Vietnamese refugees that families and friends were settling in New Orleans, making it an even more enticing destination. The Vietnamese settled mainly in New Orleans East but also in parts of Algiers, Avondale, Marrero and other places on the West Bank. Rents were cheap, the real estate market was affordable, and the housing units were run-down, but the presence of the industrious Vietnamese community has since revitalized these areas.
Throughout 1976, the long term weather forecast was for a severe winter, so the community began its first fund-raising campaign to raise $18,000 for the purchase of a mobile home to operate as the new chapel. The mobile chapel was placed at the end of Peltier Drive exactly one week before Christmas. The people felt that they had prepared the best place possible for the Child Jesus to be born unto the community. The mobile chapel had neither heat nor power, so whenever the Mass was celebrated, nearby residents ran several extension cords from private apartments to the chapel to provide power.
Father Dominic Luong was in a panic to find a location to move the mobile chapel away from private land. He even posted announcements to give away the mobile chapel if someone would remove it, but no action was taken. As a last resort, he approached the Archdiocese to request a loan to purchase some land from the same owner who wanted to evict him earlier. Archbishop Hannan agreed to purchase three lots of land at the corner of Alcee Fortier Boulevard and Peltier Drive for the community.
The faith among the burgeoning Vietnamese population was blossoming and bearing much fruit. Devotion to the church and family life within the Vietnamese Catholic community did not go unnoticed by the Archdiocese. On Dec. 10, 1983, Archbishop Hannan issued a decree providing for the creation of a new personal parish, the Mary Queen of Vietnam Parish for the Southeast Asian Catholics of the Archdiocese, and named Father Dominic Mai Thanh Luong as the first pastor of the parish and Father Andrew Tran Cao Tuong as his associate pastor. Remarkably, the personal parish of Mary Queen of Vietnam was the first of its kind for the Vietnamese people in the United States, which became a model for all other archdioceses in the United States to follow.
Within months, the parish began a fund-raising campaign for a new church to be built on a 4.5-acre lot at the intersection of Dwyer Boulevard and Willowbrook Drive. The present church took eight months to complete, at the cost of $750,000.
The progress from a mobile home chapel to a permanent, pre-engineered mission-chapel-building was quite a leap for the community. Going from a 300-seat mission chapel to a 1,000-seat church was quite a feat!
Within these highlights and the unfolding of events, the faith of the Vietnamese Catholic community has come a long way. On Saturday, Nov. 29, 1986, Archbishop Hannan consecrated the brand new church for Mary Queen of Vietnam Parish. A year later, the religious education building was built to provide CCD instruction to all children of the parish. This same building continues to be used for multipurpose church functions.
In reflecting on its own history, the Vietnamese people, as a parish community, recognized that they have received countless blessings and favors from God through the intercession of Mary. The five-year period from 1986 to 1991 marked the most prosperous time in congregation participation. In the summer of 1991, Father Andrew Tran was assigned to the Assumption of Mary Mission Church in Avondale. Father Dau Nguyen was his replacement for three years, together with the presence of a resident, Father Peter Bang Nguyen. In July 1994, Father Peter Nam Van Tran was transferred to Mary Queen of Vietnam Church to take over as a parochial vicar for the following three years. From 1999 to 2004, Father Michael Nam H. Nguyen was assigned parochial vicar while Msgr. Dominic Luong remained the pastor.
On April 24, 2003, Pope John Paul II appointed Msgr. Dominic Mai T. Luong as auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Orange (California). Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes filled the vacancy with Father Nguyen The Vien as the pastor of Mary Queen of Vietnam Parish, while Father Luke Dung Nguyen became the parochial vicar.
The cohesiveness and resilience of the Vietnamese community were proven after Hurricane Katrina decimated almost all of New Orleans East, including the large Vietnamese neighborhood called Versailles. The indomitable Vietnamese were among the first to return to rebuild their homes and neighborhoods, giving momentum to rebuilding efforts in the East and the rest of the city. Many Vietnamese feel the experience has brought the community even closer together. After Katrina, the population of Mary Queen of Vietnam had dropped from 1,000 families to more than 400 families.
On July 1, 2010, Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond reassigned Father Dominic Nghiem Van Nguyen from St. Matthew the Apostle Church in River Ridge to Mary Queen of Vietnam as pastor. Father Dominic Nghiem continues to serve as pastor with Father Joseph Nguyen Van Nguyen as the parochial vicar. The census of the parish has bounced back from over 400 to more than 1,000 families, a sign of rebirth and hope.
Due to the need for spiritual care by the Vietnamese living in downtown New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner and nearby areas, a new community called the “Downtown Community” was established by Father Dominic Luong on Nov. 12, 1977. The majority of the people who joined this “Downtown Community” were young, single people and accidental singles, who were separated from their spouses because of the ravages of war.
Beginning in 1978, Father Dominic Luong invited Father Nguyen Ngoc Thanh to celebrate Mass every first Sunday of the month at the chapel of Notre Dame Seminary for the “Downtown Community.” But due to the lack of transportation, they decided to celebrate Mass at any home that was convenient for the majority of this community.
At Christmas 1979, Father Luong invited Father Nguyen Thanh Bang, a newly ordained priest, to be a chaplain for the Downtown Community. Father Bang celebrated Mass every Sunday for the Downtown Community. Unfortunately, due to the lack of interest and participation by this Downtown Community, Father Bang went back to his religious order. This Downtown Community was in limbo for about two years.
At Christmas 1981, once again Father Dominic Luong invited the people in the Downtown Community to celebrate Christmas Mass together. By this time, the Vietnamese Downtown Community increased due to more people moving into the city because of their better job situation and the convenience of living close to work. Many Vietnamese living in the Downtown area of New Orleans felt the need for an active community. So, Father Dominic Luong invited Father Ngo Duy Linh to be a chaplain to the Downtown Community. After a few months, things did not work out in the Downtown Community, so Father Ngo Duy Linh departed to France for further studies. Unfortunately, the Downtown Community was again in limbo for approximately three more years.
In the spring of 1984, Father Dominic Luong decided to revitalize the Downtown Community. So, he invited Father Nguyen Duc Huyen to be a chaplain to this community. Father Nguyen Duc Huyen celebrated his first Sunday Mass for this community at 2546 Columbus St. There were 28 people in attendance at this Mass. As a show of support in revitalizing this Downtown Community, many Vietnamese seminarians from the “Tan Hien” religious community and “Thanh Sinh Cong” or young college students, attended Sunday Mass regularly.
Right after Easter in 1984, the Downtown Community gathered to discuss the needs of their community, as well as the possibility of renaming the “Downtown Community.” Since the majority of the people in the Downtown Community were Catholic, they thought it was appropriate to limit their activities to only church activities. They also decided to drop the name of “Downtown Community” and chose the new name of “Resurrection Community.” Of the estimated 400 Vietnamese living in the downtown area of New Orleans, 252 Catholics were registered in the Resurrection Community.
Since there were regular Sunday Masses celebrated at the house on Columbus Street, it was natural to attract more people to join the Resurrection Community. However, the house on Columbus Street could not accommodate the gradual increase in number of people. Father Huyen decided to rent a bigger house on 2509 Columbus Street, naming the new worship space “St. Rose Center.” Each week there were more than 200 people attending Mass.
Due to the rapid growth of the Resurrection Community, Archbishop Hannan decided to establish a mission church with a new name, because Resurrection Parish already existed. On April 24, 1988, the new mission church was born, with the name of “Our Lady of La Vang Mission,” which continues to be under the care of Mary Queen of Vietnam Parish. From that time, Archbishop Hannan officially assigned Father Nguyen Duc Huyen as administrator of Our Lady of La Vang Mission.
In October 1990, Father Huyen, with the approval of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, bought the Lutheran Church and its facilities. Being an old building, the church needed repairs and also had to be updated for Catholic worship.
On Saturday, Aug. 1, 1992, the new La Vang Mission Church was consecrated by Bishop Robert Muench, who was touched because it was his first consecration of a church as a bishop.
On May 9, 1993, the first Festival of Our Lady of La Vang New Orleans was organized, and continues to be celebrated every year since then on Mother’s Day weekend.
On July 2, 2012, Father Huyen officially retired from his ministry to Our Lady of La Vang Mission. On the same day, Father Joseph Thang Nguyen was assigned to replace Father Huyen as the new administrator. There are approximately 140 families currently enrolled.
On July 2, 2014, Father Thang was reassigned to St. Joseph Parish, and Mary Queen of Vietnam was to provide for the care of Our Lady of La Vang Mission.
The Kingstown Marrero Apartments is inside the boundary of St. Joseph the Worker Parish on Ames Boulevard. The pastor of St. Joseph the Worker at that time was Father Doug Doussan. Father Doussan visited the new refugees and tried his best to help them to adjust to living in New Orleans. Father Doussan used the resources of St. Joseph the Worker Parish for many social ministries, such as teaching English, finding jobs for the refugees, providing transportation to hospitals, schools, and grocery stores, etc.
In September 1975, Archbishop Hannan assigned Father Joakim Nguyen Duc Viet-Chau, S.S.S., to be the first chaplain for the Vietnamese community in Marrero. With the help of Father Doussan and St. Joseph the Worker, Father Viet-Chau was able to celebrate daily and weekend Masses for the refugees, as well as any other sacraments that were needed. Father Viet-Chau also opened the first CCD program and language classes in both Vietnamese and English.
At that time, there were too many Vietnamese family members living in the same apartment complex, which violated the law limiting the number of people living in the same apartment. So Father Viet-Chau, with the help of Catholic Charities, looked for more apartments to comply with state laws on housing. In order for him to function more efficiently, Father Viet-Chau established the first Vietnamese “parish council” in Marrero. The president was Mr. Hoang Tu Lap, the vice president was Nghiem Van Phu and the secretary was Hoang Duong Duyet. Mr. Nguyen Van Tien was the social worker.
By the end of the summer of 1975, Kingstown did not have enough capacity to house the refugees who were still coming to New Orleans. So the Vietnamese Resettlement Program, through Catholic Charities, had to look for new housing in other places, such as Woodlawn, Avondale and Bridge City. At the same time, the duties of Father Viet-Chau expanded from Marrero to Bridge City.
During the summer of 1977, Father Vu-Han, who was an associate pastor in New Mexico, came to New Orleans to visit the Vietnamese priests whom he knew in the refugee camps. Among the priests whom he visited were Father Viet-Chau, Father Tran Cong Nghi, Father Pham Van Tue and Father Andrew Tran Cao Tuong. At that time, Father Tran Cong Nghi was director of the Vietnamese Apostolate for the archdiocese. Father Vu Han immediately liked the warm weather as well as being around his people, and he offered to stay in New Orleans if he was needed. Of course Father Tran Cong Nghi told him he could stay because Father Viet-Chau had his hands full caring for the two Vietnamese communities in Marrero and in Bridge City. With the approval of Archbishop Hannan, Father Vu Han was assigned to be a chaplain for the Vietnamese community in Marrero (also called Tu-Do community) as well as an associate pastor for St. Joseph the Worker Parish. At the same time, Father Viet-Chau moved on to care for the Vietnamese in Bridge City (also called Toan-My Community).
After serving the Vietnamese community in Marrero for three years, Father Vu-Han asked Archbishop Hannan for a sabbatical. In this complex situation, all the priests in the Vietnamese Apostolate got together and suggested that Father Viet-Chau should return to Marrero. Father Viet-Chau agreed, and things returned to normal in Marrero. Father Viet-Chau reestablished a new parish council, whose president was Mr. Bui Ngoc Thanh. Father Viet-Chau also invited the Sisters of Lovers of the Holy Cross of Phat Diem to come and serve the Vietnamese people in Marrero by teaching CCD and the Vietnamese language to the children.
Around 1980, Father Viet-Chau and the parish council came up with a plan to buy properties in order to build a church. They foresaw the need of the Vietnamese community in Marrero to have their own church, because the Vietnamese population was exploding. This plan was proposed to the people at the right time, because it echoed the sentiments of the people to have their own place of worship. After attending and using the facilities of St. Joseph the Worker for five years, the parishioners realized how inconvenient it was using St. Joseph the Worker’s facilities. In the first planning-meeting, the Vietnamese families in Marrero contributed more than $70,000 dollars. Of course, Father Viet-Chau and everyone in the community were enthused, and they dove into the plan to build the church right away.
In 1983, Father Viet-Chau, with the approval of the Vietnamese community of Marrero, bought the property, where the current church is established. While the church was being built, Archbishop Hannan decided to unite the Vietnamese communities on the West Bank and East Bank, by establishing Mary Queen of Vietnam Personal Parish, which contained four mission churches: (1) Vietnamese Martyrs Mission in New Orleans East; (2) Immaculate Conception Mission in Marrero; (3) St. Joseph Mission in Woodlawn; and (4) Assumption of Mary Mission in Avondale. At the same time Archbishop Hannan assigned Father Dominic Mai Thanh Luong, who was director of the Vietnamese Apostolate, to be the pastor of Mary Queen of Vietnam in New Orleans East, including the 4 mission churches on both sides of the Mississippi River.
After that, Father Viet-Chau asked to return to his religious order so he could concentrate on working to expand Catholic Media Communications, such as a Vietnamese Catholic Magazine called “Dan Chua,” and selling religious books and magazines to the Vietnamese people all over the world. This Catholic Media outreach involved a number of Vietnamese priests and lay people in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
Before leaving, Father Viet-Chau recommended that Father Vu-Han return to Marrero, now called Immaculate Conception Mission. Father Vu-Han agreed to take over the Immaculate Conception Mission and also to finish building the church. Father Vu Han was administrator of Immaculate Mission in Marrero until 1995, when Archbishop Francis B. Schulte decided to separate the Vietnamese on the East Bank from the West Bank into two separate parishes. Mary Queen of Vietnam would remain the personal parish for the Vietnamese on the East Bank, with Our Lady of La Vang as its mission church.
On the West Bank, Archbishop Schulte wanted to combine the three mission churches of St. Joseph in Woodlawn, Immaculate Conception in Marrero and Assumption of Mary in Avondale into one new parish. So Archbishop Schulte decreed that St. Agnes Le Thi Thanh would be the personal parish for all Vietnamese on the West Bank. Immaculate Conception Mission became St. Agnes Le Thi Thanh Parish, whose pastor was Father Vu-Han. Father Joseph Tue became administrator for St. Joseph Mission in Woodlawn, and Father Andrew Tuong became administrator at Assumption of Mary Mission in Avondale. All three priests lived together in the same rectory located in the vicinity of St. Agnes Le Thi Thanh Church.
In the summer of 2008, Father Vu-Han retired from his ministry as pastor of St. Agnes Le Thi Thanh and moved to California. Father Joseph Pham Van Tue was assigned to be the new Pastor of St. Agnes Le Thi Thanh. In November of 2008. Father Joseph Pham Van Tue officially went to St. Agnes Le Thi Thanh to be the pastor. Father Joseph Tue served at St. Agnes Le Thi Thanh until he died on April 2, 2013, due to cancer.
In May 2013, Father Peter Tran Van Nam was assigned to be the new pastor to replace Father Joseph Tue. His assignment was effective on July 1, 2013. Father Peter Nam has been pastor of St. Agnes Le Thi Thanh until today.
In May 1975, what is now St. Agnes Le Thi Thanh Parish began as a small Vietnamese apostolate, then became Immaculate Conception Mission, and finally became a full-fledged parish. St. Agnes Le Thi Thanh has come a long way. Right now the parish has more than 500 families. The church, the school and the parish hall have all been paid for. The parish has no debt.
This is the second community on the West Bank. Due to the lack of housing in Kingstown, Marrero, the Vietnamese Resettlement Program of Catholic Charities had to look for other places for the refugees who came after July 1975. The Woodlawn apartment complex was available at that time. Right away, about 50 families were resettled in Algiers. Of course, the majority of them were Catholic. This community is located within the boundaries of Holy Spirit Parish, and the pastor of Holy Spirit at that time was Father Allen Roy.
Since there were no Vietnamese priests available to care for the refugees in Algiers, Father Roy and the Holy Spirit Parish Community welcomed the Vietnamese refugees with open arms and tried to reach out to them the best way they could into their parish. Besides Father Roy, there were many other people who need to be acknowledged for their major contribution to the Vietnamese community, such as Sister Rita Hardy, the Marianite Sisters of Holy Cross and a group of Little Sisters of the Poor, as well as many other people too numerous to name.
During the beginning of the Vietnamese community in Woodlawn, Father Viet-Chau got permission from the Little Sisters of the Poor to use their chapel in order to offer Masses on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation to the refugees. Outside the offering of the sacraments, Father Viet-Chau also established other ministries to reach out to refugees, both Catholic and non-Catholic, and he assigned Mr. Pham Thinh as representative for the Vietnamese Community in Woodlawn.
At the end of 1975 when Fort Chaffee Refugee Camp closed down, Archbishop Hannan invited Father Pham Van Tue to come to New Orleans to care for the Woodlawn community. He assigned Father Tue to be the administrator for the Woodlawn community to lessen the heavy work of Father Viet-Chau.
Not long after his arrival in Woodlawn, Father Pham Van Tue established the first representative committee for the community. The officers were: Mr. Vu Huu Chuong as president, Mr. Vu Nhu Lai as vice president and Mrs. Nguyen This Soi as secretary and treasurer.
In 1980, the Woodlawn Community became St. Joseph Mission Church under the care of Father Pham Van Tue as administrator. Father Tue served as St. Joseph the Worker Mission until November 2008, when he was reassigned to be the pastor of St. Agnes Le Thi Thanh Parish in Marrero. Father Tue had served a total of 32 years at St. Joseph Mission.
At the same time, in November 2008, Father Peter Tran Van Nam was assigned as administrator of St. Joseph Mission, where he served for almost five years. By July 2013, Father Michael Nguyen Ngoc Thanh was assigned to be the new administrator to replace Father Peter Nam. After 39 years in existence, the St. Joseph Mission has 400 registered families.
On May 31, 2014, on the Feast of the Visitation of Mary, Archbishop Aymond decreed that St. Joseph Mission would officially become St. Joseph personal parish on July 2. Father Joseph Thang Nguyen took possession of St. Joseph Parish that very same day as its first pastor.
Once the housing capacity was reached at Kingstown in Marrero and at Woodlawn in Algiers, the Vietnamese Apostolate, in collaboration with Catholic Charities, found new housing for the refugees in the Normandy apartment complex in Bridge City. This complex was not as large as the other two in Marrero and Algiers. Around 100 families were resettled in this area. This community was located in the territory of Holy Guardian Angels Parish, whose pastor was Father J. Anthony Luminais.
Once again Father Viet-Chau was assigned by Archbishop Hannan to care for this new community of refugees in Bridge City. With the approval of Father Luminais, Father Viet-Chau was allowed to celebrate Masses in the Vietnamese language in Holy Guardian Angels Church as well as other sacraments. Everyone was delighted about the situation.
By 1977, the population of the refugees continued to multiply in the Bridge City area. Father Viet-Chau began to look for more housing and a place to build a church for the Vietnamese refugees. He found a community in Avondale where they were willing to rent houses to the refugees. The Avondale community had vacant land where Father Viet-Chau could eventually build a new church.
In 1978, Archbishop Hannan assigned Father Joseph Nguyen Viet-Hung as administrator in Avondale. By 1979 Father Viet-Hung was transferred to a new assignment, and Archbishop Hannan assigned Father Viet-Chau officially as administrator of the Avondale Community. This Avondale Community is located within the territory of St. Bonaventure Parish. While planning to build a new church in Avondale, Father Viet-Chau was given permission to celebrate Masses in the Vietnamese language at St. Bonaventure Parish. He succeeded in raising money to buy the land for the new church.
In 1983, Father Joseph Ngo Duy Linh was assigned to replace Father Viet-Chau as administrator of the Avondale Community. In 1985, Archbishop Hannan presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the mission, with the given title of the Assumption of Mary Mission Church. By 1987, the Assumption of Mary Mission Church was finished, and Archbishop Hannan presided over the first Mass and consecrated the new church.
In 1990, Father Joseph Ngo Duy Linh retired and by April 1991, Father Andrew Tran Cao Tuong was assigned to be the new administrator. Father Andrew died on Nov. 21, 2010.
In February 2011, Father Jacob Nguyen Bach was assigned to be the new administrator to succeed Father Andrew Tran Cao Tuong.
In July 2013, Father Viet-Chau was assigned to be the new administrator again for the Assumption of Mary Mission Church.
Today, the Assumption of Mary Mission Church has a total of 161 registered families.
On May 31, 2014, on the Feast of the Visitation of Mary, Archbishop Aymond decreed that St. Joseph Mission would become officially Assumption of Mary Personal Parish on July 2, 2014. Father Hoai Nguyen took possession of Assumption of Mary Parish that very same day as its first pastor.
This history of the Vietnamese presence in the church of New Orleans has not been well known up to this point, even amongst the Vietnamese faithful themselves. Our hope is that the Vietnamese will recognize how their faith and struggles have not only affected them, but also transformed the cultural and spiritual landscape of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
The smallest of actions has eternal implications, just like little old Vietnamese women who grew sprigs of mint in their own backyard to fund the building of their churches. It is always the poor, the refugee, the outcast or forgotten who have contributed the most to the Body of Christ.
Presently, many of the Vietnamese priests, religious and lay faithful are not only active in their own ethnic parishes and communities, but have integrated themselves into the spiritual life of the Archdiocese of New Orleans and the United States at large.
Born of war and suffering, the Vietnamese refugees came to these shores with nothing except their faith and the American Dream. They have enriched the gumbo of life that we call New Orleans. | 2019-04-18T14:24:23Z | https://clarionherald.org/2014/07/01/history-of-vietnamese-immigration-to-new-orleans/ |
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5.3. Taxes. Member will be responsible for and will pay when due all sales, use and other taxes and similar charges based on or arising from these TOU or its performance, other than taxes based on AGORA’s net income.
6.1. Sophisticated Member. Member is knowledgeable and experienced in the origination, collections, managing, servicing, sale and purchase of performing and non-performing or distressed consumer or commercial assets of the type potentially available through the Site, as well as other financial and business matters related thereto, and Member (and its Users) can evaluate the merits and risks of the prospective acquisition and ownership of such assets, including the risk that Member may not be able to collect such asset. Member (and its Users) has the expertise and capability to service the assets of the type available on the Platform or will hire a qualified third party to do so on its behalf, based upon the Member’s knowledge of such servicer’s capabilities and expertise. Member acknowledges and agrees that any proposed sale of the Member Assets facilitated by the Site does not involve, nor is intended to in any way constitute, the sale of a “security” within the meaning of any applicable federal or state securities law.
6.2. Restriction on Use. Member shall not collect or save information related to other Members, Users or any Member Asset for the purpose of conducting, attempting to conduct or the soliciting or attempting to solicit business in any manner outside the Platform such that the intent or result is to reduce fees payable to AGORA or otherwise act in any manner adverse to the interest of AGORA. Any attempt by Member to circumvent the Platform and/or any applicable fee or restriction, may result, at AGORA’s sole discretion and without limitation or in lieu of any other rights and remedies available to AGORA at law or equity, in immediate termination of Member’s access to the Platform. Moreover, and without limitation or in lieu of any other rights and remedies available to AGORA at law or equity, in the event Member trades Assets outside of the Platform that have been loaded to the Platform, or otherwise conducts activity outside of the Platform on such Assets where it is reasonably likely in the opinion of AGORA that such activity could have been facilitated in the Platform and would result in fees coming due to AGORA, Member shall owe amounts to AGORA equivalent to the applicable fees that otherwise would have come due had such activity been conducted on or through the use of the Platform.
6.3. False Asset Data. To the Member’s knowledge, all data associated with Member Assets and all information and credentials concerning Member are factually correct. Member shall not use falsified Member Assets or misrepresent itself or its credentials in any capacity for the purposes of attracting or soliciting business from other User or Members. If AGORA determines, at its sole discretion, that Member has provided false Asset data on the Platform or that such member has misrepresented itself, its credentials or its intentions, AGORA may immediately terminate these TOU and Member’s access to the Platform.
7. OTHER MEMBERS & INFORMATION.
7.1. AGORA Hold Harmless. Member agrees and acknowledges that all risk associated with interacting with other Users or legal entities participating on the Platform (commonly known as “Counterparty Risk”) is assumed by Member, and Member agrees to hold AGORA harmless from any disputes between Member and other Platform Users and/or Members.
7.2. Information Accurate. Member acknowledges and agrees that all portfolio and asset information, including without limitation information any data, documentation and other files, were communicated to AGORA by the respective owner of the corresponding Asset, and AGORA has relied on such owner’s descriptions, representations and data. AGORA has no actual knowledge that any such data or information are accurate or inaccurate. Member represents that all registration information and background information provided to AGORA is accurate and current to the best of Member’s knowledge, information and belief. Member agrees to provide AGORA with any changes or additions to the information provided to AGORA during the Member’s registration process. Member acknowledges it may request from AGORA the current information on file. Member acknowledges that AGORA may, in its sole discretion, terminate, suspend or condition Member’s AGORA account in, AGORA’s sole discretion, due to material changes to the Member’s registration information.
8. MEMBER DATA & PRIVACY.
8.1. Member Data. Member grants to AGORA a non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, copy and distribute the Member Data and Member Assets that Member uploads to the Platform. Member is solely responsible for the Member Data and Member Assets that it uploads to the Platform. Member represents and warrants that it owns or has all rights that are necessary to upload the Member Data and Member Assets, and that the provision of the Member Data and Member Assets will not infringe, misappropriate or violate a third party’s intellectual property rights or result in the violation of any applicable law or regulation.
8.2. Use of Member Data. Unless it receives Member’s prior written consent, AGORA: (a) shall not access, process, or otherwise use Member Data other than as necessary to provide and/or facilitate the Platform; and (b) except through the Platform, shall not intentionally grant any third-party access to Member Data, including without limitation, AGORA’s other Members, except subcontractors that are subject to a reasonable nondisclosure agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, AGORA may disclose Member Data as required by applicable law or by proper legal or governmental authority. AGORA shall give Member prompt notice of any such legal or governmental demand and reasonably cooperate with Member in any effort to seek a protective order or otherwise to contest such required disclosure, at Member’s sole expense.
8.4. Risk of Exposure. Member recognizes and agrees that hosting data online involves risks of unauthorized disclosure or exposure and that, in accessing and using the Platform, Member assumes such risks. AGORA offers no representation, warranty, or guarantee that Member Data will not be exposed or disclosed through errors or the actions of Member or third parties.
8.5. Data Accuracy. AGORA shall have no responsibility or liability for the accuracy of data uploaded to the Platform by Users, including without limitation Member Data or Member Assets loaded onto the Platform. THE MEMBER DATA AND MEMBER ASSETS PROVIDED ON THE PLATFORM ARE PROVIDED “AS-IS,” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.
8.6. Data Deletion. AGORA may permanently erase Member Data if Member’s account is delinquent, suspended, or terminated.
8.7. Aggregate & Anonymized Data. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, AGORA may use, reproduce, sell, publicize, or otherwise exploit Aggregate Data in any way, in its sole discretion (“Aggregate Data” refers to Member Data with the following removed: personally, identifiable information including the names and street addresses of Member and any of its Users or Members). AGORA owns all right, title, and interest in and to the Aggregate Data.
9.1. Acceptable Use. Member shall comply with the TOU, and Member shall not: (a) use the Platform for service bureau or time-sharing purposes or in any other way allow third parties to exploit the Platform; (b) provide Platform passwords or other log-in information to any third party; (c) share non-public Platform features or content with any third party; or (d) access the Platform in order to build a competitive product or service, to build a product using similar ideas, features, functions or graphics of the Platform, or to copy any ideas, features, functions or graphics of the Platform. If it suspects any breach of the requirements of this Section 9.1, including without limitation by Users, AGORA may suspend Member’s access to the Platform without advanced notice, in addition to such other remedies as AGORA may have. These TOU do not require that AGORA take any action against Member or any User or other third party for violating this Section 9.1, or these TOU, but AGORA is free to take any such action it deems appropriate.
9.2. Unauthorized Access. Each party shall take commercially reasonable steps to prevent unauthorized access to the Platform, including without limitation by protecting its respective passwords and other log-in information. Member shall notify AGORA immediately of any known or suspected unauthorized use of the Platform or breach of its security and shall use best efforts to stop said breach, including fully cooperating with AGORA if requested. AGORA shall notify Member of any known or suspected unauthorized use of the Platform or breach of its security that may reasonably impact Member and/or Member Data and shall use reasonable best efforts to stop said breach, including reasonably cooperating with Member if requested.
9.3. Technology Export. Member shall not: (a) permit any third party to access or use the Platform in violation of any law or regulation; or (b) export any software provided by AGORA or otherwise remove it from the United States except in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Member shall not permit any third party to access or use the Platform in, or export such software to, a country subject to a United States embargo.
9.4. Compliance with Laws. In connection with these TOU, both parties shall comply with all applicable laws, including without limitation laws governing the protection of personally identifiable information and other laws applicable to the protection of Member Data.
9.5. Users & Platform Access. Member shall be responsible and liable for: (a) the actions of any Member User on the Platform, including without limitation unauthorized User conduct and any User conduct that would violate the TOU or the requirements of these TOU applicable to Member; and (b) any use of the Platform through Member’s account, whether authorized or unauthorized.
10.1. IP Rights to the Platform. AGORA retains all right, title, and interest in and to the Platform, and all intellectual property rights therein or relating thereto, including without limitation all software used to provide the Platform and all graphics, user interfaces, logos, and trademarks reproduced through the Platform. These Terms do not grant Member any intellectual property license or rights in or to the Platform or any of its components. Member recognizes that the Platform and its components are protected by copyright and other laws.
10.2. Feedback. AGORA has not agreed to and does not agree to treat as confidential any Feedback (as defined below) Member or Users provide to AGORA, and nothing in these TOU or in the parties’ dealings arising out of or related to these TOU will restrict AGORA’s right to use, profit from, disclose, publish, keep secret, or otherwise exploit Feedback, without compensating or crediting Member or the User in question (“Feedback” refers to any suggestion or idea for improving or otherwise modifying any of AGORA’s products or services, including but not limited to the Platform).
10.4. Use of Data. The data collected by AGORA may be used for the following purposes: (a) research for service improvements by AGORA, (b) facilitate marketing AGORA services and other business development efforts for AGORA, (c) produce statistical data that may be used by present and potential advertisers as well as entities affiliated with AGORA, (d) provide the service for which the Site was created, (e) bill You for items for which You have entered a contract via this Site, (f) communicate with the User regarding both communications that You have sent to us and items of potential interest to You.
Each Member party (a “Member Receiving Party”) understands that the other Member party (the “Member Disclosing Party”) may disclose information of a confidential nature including, without limitation, the Platform, product information, data, pricing, financial information, end user information including, without limitation, certain confidential, proprietary and/or non-public information relating to such individual end users (“Consumer Information”), software, specifications, research and development and proprietary algorithms or other materials that is (a) clearly and conspicuously marked as “confidential” or with a similar designation or (b) is disclosed in a manner in which the Member Disclosing Party reasonably communicated, or the Member Receiving Party should reasonably have understood under the circumstances, that the disclosure should be treated as confidential, whether or not the specific designation “confidential” or any similar designation is used (“Confidential Information”). The terms and conditions of these TOU also constitute the Confidential Information of each party. The Member Receiving Party agrees, for itself and its agents and employees, that it will not publish, disclose or otherwise divulge or use for its own purposes, other than the use (by Member) or provision (by AGORA) of the Platform and/or the services contemplated by these TOU, any Confidential Information of the Member Disclosing Party furnished to it by such Member Disclosing Party without the prior written approval of the Member Disclosing Party in each instance. Each party will use at least the same level of care to maintain the Confidential Information of the other party as it uses to maintain the confidentiality of its own non-public information, and in no event, less than a reasonable degree of care. The foregoing obligations shall not extend to any information to the extent that the Member Receiving Party can demonstrate that such information (i) was at the time of disclosure or, to the extent that such information thereafter becomes through no fault of the Member Receiving Party, a part of the public domain by publication or otherwise; (ii) was already properly and lawfully in the Member Receiving Party’s possession at the time it was received by the Member Receiving Party free from any obligation of confidentiality, (iii) was or is lawfully received by the Member Receiving Party from a third party who was under no obligation of confidentiality to the Member Disclosing Party with respect thereto, or (iv) is independently developed by the Member Receiving Party or its independent contractors who did not have access to the Member Disclosing Party’s Confidential Information. If the Member Receiving Party is required to disclose Confidential Information in accordance with judicial or governmental order or requirement, the Member Receiving Party shall promptly notify the Member Disclosing Party to allow such party to contest the order or requirement or seek confidential treatment for such information. Upon termination or expiration of these TOU, upon the request of a Member Disclosing Party, the Member Receiving Party agrees to return to the Member Disclosing Party all such other party’s Confidential Information that is reduced to one or more writing, drawing, schematic, tape, disk or other form of documentation, or to certify to the Member Disclosing Party in writing that all such material has been destroyed. The parties represent and warrant that each is aware of the rules and regulations promulgated under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (“GLBA”), and, about GLBA, the parties will maintain Consumer Information in accordance with GLBA. The parties acknowledge and agree that Consumer Information will be deemed and treated as Confidential Information hereunder.
11.3. Retention of Rights. These TOU do not transfer ownership of Confidential Information or grant a license thereto. Each party will retain all right, title, and interest in and to its own Confidential Information unless and until the Assets to which such Confidential Information relates is sold or otherwise transferred to another party.
12.1. From AGORA. AGORA represents and warrants that it is the owner of the Platform and of each and every component thereof, or the recipient of a valid license thereto, and that it has and will maintain the full power and authority to grant the rights granted in these TOU without the further consent of any third party. AGORA’s representations and warranties in the preceding sentence do not apply to use of the Platform in combination with hardware or software not provided by AGORA. In the event of a breach of the warranty in this Section 12.1, AGORA, at its own expense, will promptly take the following actions: (a) secure for Member the right to continue using the Platform; (b) replace or modify the Platform to make it non-infringing; or (c) terminate the infringing features of the Service and refund to Member any prepaid fees for such features, in proportion to the portion of the Term left after such termination.
(a) Member represents and warrants that: (a) it has the full right and authority to enter into, execute, and perform its obligations under these TOU and that no pending or threatened claim or litigation known to it would have a material adverse impact on its ability to perform as required by these TOU; (b) it has accurately identified itself and it has not provided any inaccurate information about itself to or through the Platform; and (c) it is a corporation, the sole proprietorship of an individual 18 years or older, or another entity authorized to do business pursuant to applicable law.
(b) Member acknowledges and agrees that except for AGORA’s obligations regarding proper operation of the Platform as expressly set out herein, Member is solely responsible for safeguarding Member Data and data related to Member Assets. Member is solely responsible for backup and restoration of Member Data and data related to Member Assets. AGORA is not responsible for the accuracy and/or completion of Member Data and data related to Member Assets.
(c) Member acknowledges and agrees that AGORA merely provides technological tools that may be used to transact business, perform analysis or conduct other general corporate activities on the Platform. AGORA is not involved in the actual transaction between Members, and does not approve, endorse or select, is not the agent of, nor has any authority on behalf of, any of the parties or any other third party, for any purpose whatsoever. AGORA cannot guarantee that any transactions through the Platform will be completed. AGORA further makes no representations or guaranties regarding any services offered through the Platform.
(d) Member acknowledges and agrees that AGORA does not and cannot control the flow of data to or from the Platform and other portions of the Internet. Such flow depends in large part on the performance of Internet services provided or controlled by third parties. At times, actions or inaction of such third parties can impair or disrupt Member’s connections to the Internet (or portions thereof). Although AGORA will use commercially reasonable efforts to take all actions it deems appropriate to remedy and avoid such events, AGORA cannot guarantee that such events will not occur. Accordingly, AGORA disclaims all liability resulting from or related to such events.
12.3. Disclaimer. EXCEPT FOR THE EXPRESS REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES MADE BY AGORA IN THESE TOU AND TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, AGORA MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES. AGORA EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL OTHER REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT, TITLE OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING OR COURSE OF PERFORMANCE. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH HEREIN, THE PLATFORM IS MADE AVAILABLE TO MEMBER “AS IS.” AGORA DOES NOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT THAT THE FUNCTIONS CONTAINED IN THE PLATFORM AND/OR AGORA SERVICES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE, THAT DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED, THAT THE PLATFORM IS SECURE FROM HACKING OR OTHER UNAUTHORIZED INTRUSION, THAT MEMBER DATA WILL REMAIN PRIVATE OR SECURE, OR THAT THE PLATFORM AND AGORA SERVICES OR THE SERVER THAT MAKES THE PLATFORM AND AGORA SERVICES AVAILABLE ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS. ADDITIONALLY, AGORA DOES NOT WARRANT, ENDORSE, GUARANTEE, OR ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY PRODUCT OR SERVICE ADVERTISED OR OFFERED BY ANY USER AND/OR THIRD PARTY ON OR THROUGH THE PLATFORM OR ANY WEB SITE LINKED TO FROM THE PLATFORM. WITHOUT LIMITATION OF THE FOREGOING, AGORA WILL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR: (A) ANY ERRORS, MISTAKES, OR INACCURACIES OF ANY DATA; (B) THE APPLICATION OF ANY MEMBER BUSINESS RULE, PROCESS, INSTRUCTION OR SPECIFICATION; (C) ANY UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR USE OF THE PLATFORM; (D) ANY ACT OR OMISSION OF ANY USER OR OTHER THIRD PARTY MEMBER IN THE PLATFORM; (E) ANY INTERRUPTION OF TRANSMISSION TO OR FROM THE PLATFORM; (F) INDEMNIFICATION OR DEFENSE OF MEMBER OR USERS AGAINST CLAIMS RELATED TO INFRINGEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL; (G) ANY BUGS, VIRUSES, TROJAN HORSES, OR THE LIKE WHICH MAY BE TRANSMITTED ON OR THROUGH THE PLATFORM BY ANY USER AND/OR THIRD PARTY; OR (H) ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND INCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE USE OF ANY DATA OR INFORMATION POSTED, TRANSMITTED, OR OTHERWISE MADE AVAILABLE ON OR THROUGH THE PLATFORM. TO THE EXTENT THAT AGORA CANNOT DISCLAIM ANY SUCH WARRANTY AS A MATTER OF APPLICABLE LAW, THE SCOPE AND DURATION OF SUCH WARRANTY WILL BE THE MINIMUM REQUIRED UNDER SUCH LAW.
13.1. By AGORA. AGORA shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Member and its directors, officers, employees and agents and its and their respective successors, heirs and assigns (collectively, the “Member Parties”) against any liability, damage, loss or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses of litigation) (collectively, “Losses”) incurred by or imposed upon the Member Parties in connection with any 3rd party claim, suit, action, demand or judgment (each, a “3rd Party Claim”) (a) that the Platform, as made available by AGORA and to the extent used in accordance with these TOU and all applicable AGORA policies posted on its Website, infringes or violates a third-party’s intellectual property right in the United States or (b) alleging any fact that, if true, would constitute a breach by AGORA of any representation, warranty or covenant made by it under Section 12.1. Notwithstanding the foregoing, AGORA will have no obligation to indemnify Member under subsection (a) to the extent that the 3rd Party Claim arises from (i) any aspect of the Platform, including any customization, that was developed by, for the benefit or at the request of Member or to implement a Member business process, requirement or specification, or (ii) any use of the Platform in combination with any software, hardware or other component not provided to Member by AGORA hereunder (each, an “Excluded Claim”). Member will (x) provide AGORA with prompt notice of any indemnifiable 3rd Party Claim; (y) permit AGORA to assume and control the defense of such action upon AGORA’s written notice to Member of AGORA’s intention to indemnify; and (z) upon AGORA’s written request, provide to AGORA all available information and assistance reasonably necessary for AGORA to defend such claim. AGORA will not enter any settlement or compromise of any such claim, which settlement or compromise would result in any liability to any Member Party, without Member’s prior written consent.
13.1.1. Right to Ameliorate Damages. If a Member Party seeks indemnity under Section 13.1 for a 3rd Party Claim for infringement of intellectual property rights, or if, in AGORA’s reasonable opinion, such a 3rd Party Claim is likely to be asserted against Member or AGORA, AGORA may, in its sole discretion and at its sole expense and without limiting any of its obligations under Section 13.1: (a) obtain the right for Member to continue to use the Platform; (b) render the Platform non-infringing; (c) provide a non-infringing substitute with substantially the same features, functions and performance; or (d) if (a)-(c) are not reasonably obtainable in the exercise of commercially reasonable efforts, AGORA may terminate these TOU upon notice to Member without further liability or obligation hereunder.
13.2. By Member. Member shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless AGORA and its directors, officers, employees and agents and its and their respective successors, heirs and assigns (collectively, the “AGORA Parties”) against any Losses incurred by or imposed upon the AGORA Parties or any of them about any 3rd Party Claim (a) arising from or relating to Member’s or Member’s contractors use of the Platform (excluding indemnifiable 3rd Party Claims under Section13.1); (b) that would be an Excluded Claim under Section 13.1 had it been asserted against a Member Party; or (c) alleging any fact, which, if true, would constitute a breach by Member of any representation, warranty or covenant made by it under Section 12.2. AGORA will (x) provide Member with prompt notice of any such 3rd Party Claim (provided that the failure to provide prompt notice shall only relieve Member of its obligation to the extent it is materially prejudiced by such failure and can demonstrate such prejudice); (y) permit Member to assume and control the defense of such action upon Member’s written notice to AGORA of Member’s intention to indemnify; and (z) upon Member’s written request, and at no expense to AGORA, provide to Member all available information and assistance reasonably necessary for Member to defend such claim. Member will not enter any settlement or compromise of any such claim, which settlement or compromise would result in any liability to any AGORA Party, without AGORA’s prior written consent.
14.1. Dollar Cap. NEITHER PARTY’S AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THESE TOU WILL NOT EXCEED THE LESSER OF (I) THE AMOUNTS PAID TO AGORA BY MEMBER IN THE SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THE DATE THE LIABILITY FIRST AROSE; OR (ii) $100,000.00.
14.3. Exceptions from Exclusions and Limitations. Nothing in these TOU shall exclude or limit either party’s liability for: (a) breaches of Section 11 (Confidential Information); (b) breaches of a party’s indemnification obligations under Section 13 (Indemnification) or any amounts paid or payable to third parties about such obligations; or (c) such party’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or abandonment of these TOU. Nothing in these TOU shall exclude or limit Member’s liability for a breach of Section 9 (Responsibility & Restrictions).
15.4 Severability. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the parties hereby waive any provision of law that would render any clause of these TOU invalid or otherwise unenforceable in any respect. If a provision of these TOU is held to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable, such provision will be interpreted to fulfill its intended purpose to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, and the remaining provisions of these TOU will continue in full force and effect.
15.6 Choice of Law & Jurisdiction. These TOU will be governed solely by the internal laws of the State of Texas, without reference to: (a) any conflicts of law principle that would apply the substantive laws of another jurisdiction to the parties’ rights or duties; (b) the 1980 United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods; or (c) other international laws. THE PARTIES HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ANY RIGHT WHICH EITHER OR BOTH MAY must A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ALL CLAIMS, CONTROVERSIES OR DISPUTES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TOU OR THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF.
15.7 Construction. These TOU will not be construed in favor of or against either party because of authorship.
15.9 Headings; Counterparts. Headings are for convenience only and are not deemed to be part of these TOU. These TOU may be entered in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed will be deemed an original and taken together will constitute one fully executed Agreement. The parties agree to accept a digital image of these TOU, as executed, as a true and correct original and admissible as best evidence to the extent permitted by a court with proper jurisdiction. | 2019-04-24T04:36:01Z | https://agoradata.com/terms/ |
We have felt a need to develop a Bible study that will enable people to see clearly the JESUS 0F THE WORD and then describe what a FALLEN AWAY CHURCH looks like. Therefore, this Bible study represents the first of several studies designed to TAKE YOU THROUGH THE WORD 0F GOD TO EXAMINE YOUR BIBLE FOR YOURSELF.
In fact, you will find very few of our comments and explanations in this study. We have tried to simply give you a guideline to study the Word for yourself and to ask specific questions on each verse to cause you to examine your own Bible.. It is very important that you use your Bible to answer the questions for yourself since many hearts have been captured by the traditions of men. This causes people to have tunnel vision and not to examine what the Word truly says but only part of the Word.
This study in the Word, and the ones to follow, are written for use as an individual Bible study aid, home group study, or church group studies.
If you will follow in your Bible through these studies, we believe the Word will change your life. Be careful not to build a doctrine around a particular Scripture and be blocked from hearing the total Word for yourself. We plan to cover in these studies such issues as l Corinthians 3 concerning the carnal Christian and Romans 7 regarding Paul's struggle with the flesh.
Let's prove ourselves teachable and not be like the church of Laodicea who is rich, increased in goods, and in need of nothing.
Remember, you too have been called to be a teacher of the Word of God. The anointing abides within you (l John 2:27). When you complete this study in the Word, share and teach it to a friend or a group. Spread the Word of God to others.
Our book, THE GREAT FALLING AWAY TODAY, is available. For a much more complete Scriptural understanding of the great falling away and these last days, you may order this book either from your local Christian Bookstore or directly through our office. As the Lord impresses you to share this message with others, just enclose their name (s) and address (es) with your check. We will be glad to ship directly to them and will cover all shipping and handling cost.
COULD YOU POSSIBLY BE A PARTAKER 0F THE MARK 0F THE BEAST AND THE GREAT APOSTASY IN THE LAST DAYS AND NOT REALIZE IT?
ARE YOU A PART 0F THE BRIDE 0F CHRIST TODAY OR ARE YOU A PART 0F THE GREAT FALLING AWAY 0F THE LAST DAYS?
YOU CAN KNOW, IF YOU ARE WILLING TO LET THE WORD 0F GOD TEST YOUR HEART. This test could involve whether you love your religious traditions more than you do the whole counsel of the Word of God.
Could you have found a false security in a doctrine that actually counsels rebellion to God and that does not conform you to godliness?
Could it be possible for the mark of the beast to he on those who have found a false security in the doctrines of men rather than conformity to godliness and the Word of God?
Do you really clearly understand what the doctrines of demons mentioned in l Timothy 4:1 means for today? Do you really understand what the great falling away and mark of the Beast is, and if not, could you possibly be deceived into being a part of it?
It is the desire of all of us at Be Fruitful and Multiply to help you get the Word of God abiding in your heart. Jesus said "If you abide in Me, AND MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. . . he who abides in Me, and l in him, HE BEARS MUCH FRUIT. . ." (John 15:7,5).
This is the first of a series of Bible studies designed to help you abide in the Word of God and in Christ Jesus. In these studies the questions asked above will be explained to you as you go through your Bible using this study aid. This first study is designed to give you a firm foundation upon which to build God's Word inside you. Get your Bible and let's go through God's Word together. Let God bless you as you plant His Word in your heart and let it "richly dwell within you" (Colossians 3:16).
GOD TESTS THE HEART 0F EVERYTHING HE CREATES.
In the beginning Adam was created in the image of God. He had a total innocence and a pure heart with no impure motives (holy and blameless).
Was Adam given a choice to choose between the tree of life or the tree of death?
Did God say "YOU SHALL SURELY DIE" if you eat of the tree of death?
Now the hearts of Adam and Eve are tested.
Did Satan pervert and twist the Word of God? Compare what Satan said with what God said in Genesis 2:16-17 (Indeed, has God said).
Eve did not resist Satan's perversion of God's Word. Did Eve change God's words by saying "nor touch it, lest you die?" Did God say "YOU SHALL SURELY DIE!" NOW WE COME TO A DIRECT CONTRADICTION 0F THE WORD 0F GOD. SATAN ENTICES AND TEMPTS ADAM AND EVE WITH FALSE WORDS - ANOTHER DOCTRINE.
WHAT WAS THE TREE 0F DEATH FROM WHICH EVE ATE?
Notice, this tree was good for food, a delight to the eyes, and desirable to make one wise. Could this be the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the boastful pride of life? Did Eve choose with her heart life or death?
Did God say "YOU SHALL SURELY DIE?"
Turn to Romans 5:12 Did sin and death spread to all men through Adam?
SIN and DEATH is THE REBELLIOUS, CURSED NATURE 0F SATAN.
Every person is born with this same CURSED NATURE 0F SATAN. Therefore, every man walks in the IMAGE AND LIKENESS 0F SATAN. See Eph 2:2 The spirit that is now working in all the disobedient.
His HEART LOVES and LIVES for this CURSED NATURE.
He is in TOTAL DARKNESS, and he does not know that Satan is his master and that DEATH and JUDGMENT is upon him.
Do the LUSTS 0F THE FLESH mentioned in verse 5 and verse 8 represent the character of God or the REBELLIOUS SIN NATURE 0F SATAN?
Does your Bible say that WRATH and JUDGMENT ARE UPON THESE THINGS?
God has not changed today bas He? Isn't wrath and judgment still on those who PRACTICE THESE THINGS?
"Now the deeds of the flesh are evident. . . ."The deeds of the flesh represent the cursed nature of Satan.
Some of the deeds of the flesh are.
Pride -- so is Satan, Ego -- so is Satan, Rebellion --so is Satan, Selfishness -- so is Satan, Hate -- so is Satan, Anger -- so is Satan, Murder -- so is Satan, Temper -- so is Satan, Unforgiveness -- so is Satan, Gossip -- so is Satan, Jealousy -- so is Satan, Envy -- so is Satan, Strife -- so is Satan, Slander -- so is Satan, Criticism -- so is Satan, Immorality -- so is Satan, Lying -- so is Satan .
The sin and death nature is: -selfishness and self-centeredness: NOT LOVE - a sin, rebellious, lust nature (cursed nature); NOT A DIVINE NATURE. (This is the opposite of the Divine Nature.) the image and likeness of Satan; NOT GOD.
The fruit of this rebellious lust nature is to live for yourself (not considering God in your motives or decisions). This is the fruit of a selfish, self-centered sin and death nature.
Luke 4:1 Jesus was full of the Spirit of God; and led by the Spirit to have His heart tested.
Now begins the temptations of the lust of the flesh.
TEMPTATION #l - the lust of the flesh.
The shield of faith is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:16).
TEMPTATION #2 - the lust of the eyes.
The shield of faith is the Word of God.
TEMPTATION #3 - the boastful pride of life.
Jesus finished and was victorious in resisting the devil in every temptation of the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life.
Jesus having established His heart holy, blameless and pure, begins the 3-fold ministry of preaching, healing, and deliverance to the captives of the world.
WE ARE TEMPTED. AND OUR HEARTS TESTED, JUST LIKE ADAM, JUST LIKE JESUS.
We choose the WAY OF ADAM, resulting in sin and death. You will know them by their fruit. Or, we choose the WAY 0F JESUS, resisting the lust, flesh rebellion to God, resulting in sanctification and salvation.
Does your Bible say we are tempted like Jesus was tempted?
Does your Bible say God has provided a Throne of Grace where you can find help in these times of testing?
Does your Bible say that Jesus suffered in the flesh by resisting the devil while tempted? And does it say He, Jesus, is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted ( those who also suffer by resisting the lust rebellion of the flesh).
ALL WHO NAME THE NAME 0F CHRIST ARE CALLED TO WALK JUST AS JESUS ALSO WALKED. (See 1 John 2:4-6).
Does your Bible say that Jesus bore our sins in His Body, THAT WE MIGHT DIE TO SIN AND LIVE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS?
The Bible says you are not t be surprised or shocked if you undergo a FIERY TRIAL. Don't consider it some strange thing happening to you. Did God say that these trials test your faith? Does it say that you SHARE IN THE SUFFERINGS of Christ as you go through these trials? Then the suffering Jesus endured must have been these fiery trials of the enemy (Satan) against His flesh. Have we seen in the Word that Satan tempted Jesus just as he tempted Adam and Eve? Does your Bible say don't be surprised if you also get tested?
We saw that Jesus resisted Satan with the shield of faith and the Word of God. Let's see how Jesus used this shield of faith against these temptations of Satan.
Does your Bible say Jesus suffered in the flesh? Remember, we just saw in verses 12-13 that this is called SHARING IN THE SUFFERINGS of Christ. Does that mean you too are called to suffer in the flesh by resisting these temptations to fleshly lust rebellion from Satan? Well, does your Bible say ARM YOURSELVES ALSO WITH THE SAME PURPOSE?
Why? Because he who has suffered in the flesh has CEASED FROM SIN! Is that walking as Jesus walked? (See 1 John 2:4-6).
1 Peter 4:2 Notice your Bible says you then live no longer for your own lusts BUT FOR THE WILL 0F GOD (these lusts of the flesh are opposite of the Word of God).
These FIERY TESTS are the temptations of Satan, not the Holy Spirit.
Does this verse say these trials are not from God? Who tempted Adam? Who tempted Jesus? Who tempts you?
Is this addressed to BRETHREN? DOES YOUR BIBLE SAY TO EXPECT THE TEST?
Does the Word of God warn you to BE ALERT against the devil? Satan devours you when he is able to tempt you through a FIERY TRIAL and get you to act on these rebellious lusts of the flesh. The lusts of the flesh produce the life, character, and cursed lust nature of Satan in you. What does this say about traditions and doctrines that tell you to ignore the devil?
Does your Bible say resist the devil by the shield of faith and by suffering in the flesh?
Now notice carefully, are words addressed to BRETHREN?
Does your Bible clearly say that BRETHREN everywhere experience these same trials and suffering in the flesh?
After you have SUFFERED FOR A LITTLE WHILE (by resisting the rebellious lust temptations of Satan against the flesh) GOD HIMSELF will establish your heart in righteousness. This is how the DIVINE NATURE IS PRODUCED IN YOU by the Spirit of God.
God you become a PARTAKER 0F THE DIVINE NATURE 0F GOD? (Is this being born again by the Word of God? 1 Peter 1:22-23) When the Divine Nature of God is produced in you as you hold fast the Word of God and resist the fiery temptations of Satan (resist by suffering in the flesh to do the will of God) YOU ESCAPE THE CORRUPTION IN THE WORLD BY LUST.
Does your Bible say that as long as you practice these things you will never stumble?
Does your Bible clearly say that IN THIS WAY YOU ENTER THE KINGDOM 0F GOD?
HAVE WE READ IN YOUR BIBLE THAT YOU ARE TO LIVE NO LONGER IN THE FLESH BY INDULGING THE LUSTS 0F THE FLESH?
Read Matthew 7:21 Does your Bible clearly warn you that not everyone who is saying, "Lord, Lord" will enter heaven?
Does it say only those who DO THE WILL 0F GOD enter heaven?
Did 1 Peter 4:2 say you no longer live for the lusts of men but for the will of God?
GOD HAS NOT CHANGED HIS MIND HAS HE? NO. GOD HAS NOT CHANGED HIS MIND ABOUT REBELLION; NOR HAS SATAN STOPPED TRYING TO PERVERT THE WORD 0F GOD BY TELLING PEOPLE "YOU SURELY SHALL NOT DIE."
Does your Bible say you could be deluded with a persuasive argument?
Are you to WALK. in Christ Jesus? Compare this verse with Ephesians 4:17-20 and 1 John 2:4-6.
Does your Bible warn you about being TAKEN CAPTIVE? Do people get TAKEN CAPTIVE THROUGH THE TRADITIONS 0F MEN?
Does your Bible say the WILL 0F GOD is your sanctification (walk in holiness)? Does it say that the WILL 0F GOD is that you possess your own vessel (body of flesh) in sanctification (holiness), not in lustful passion (yielding to the lust rebellion of the flesh)?
Are you called for IMPURITY in your life or to SANCTIFICATION? Does your Bible clearly say to you that if you reject this YOU REJECT GOD? HATH GOD REALLY SAID! Now, let me ask you, if you resist the will and the Word of God, is this not the same rebellion to God as the first Adam? Has God changed?
Does your Bible clearly teach that WITHOUT SANCTIFICATION YOU WILL NOT SEE THE LORD?
Are you told in your Bible that we are NOT to walk in the lusts of the flesh (things like sensuality, immorality, strife, and jealousy, and indulging fleshy desires)?
Are you to make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts? HAS GOD MADE A WAY FOR YOU TO RESIST? God says you are to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ." How do you do that? Turn to 2 Corinthians 10.
Does your Bible say you are in a war, and that you are to take captive your thoughts? Does the Word say you are to destroy all speculations and every lofty thing (every fiery trial) raised up against the knowledge of God?
Does your Bible say that when you take every thought captive you then punish all disobedience? In other words, you put to death the rebellions lust thoughts raised up against the knowledge of God. (Read Romans 8:14,13).
Did Adam become a TREE 0F DEATH? Did Jesus become a TREE 0F LIFE? Doe everyone like Adam spread DEATH? Does everyone like Jesus spread LIFE?
Does your Bible say your body of flesh was sown a natural body but becomes a spiritual body?
Do the Sons of God bear the image of Jesus? Does this mean we are to walk, talk, act, and be righteous like Jesus?
Are those people who don't bear the image of Jesus going to go to heaven?
Does your Bible say that everyone who names the Name of Christ (professes to be a Christian) is to abstain from sin (cease yielding to lust flesh rebellion against the Lordship of Jesus)?
THOSE WHO DESIRE TO BE MADE INTO THE IMAGE 0F JESUS WILL HAVE THEIR HEARTS TESTED SO AS TO BE CONFORMED INTO HIS IMAGE.
Who tempts you and me? Who tempted Eve? Who tempted Jesus?
James 1:15 Verse 14 says we are ENTICED AND TEMPTED (see page 3 of this Bible study) by our own lust flesh desires. Does your Bible say that WHEN YOU YIELD to those lusts you give birth to SIN AND DEATH. Is this what happened to Adam? Would someone who does not put on the Lord Jesus but rather makes provision for his lust flesh desires, be a TREE 0F LIFE OR A TREE 0F DEATH? Does verse 15 tell you that when you yield to the lusts of the flesh that sin and death now works in you? When Adam and Eve were tempted, did they resist the devil? Did Adam become a TREE 0F DEATH? When Jesus was tempted, like we are, did He resist the devil? Did Jesus become a TREE 0F LIFE? James 1:16 Is this addressed to "brethren?" Does this verse warn you that you also could be deceived? Were Adam and Eve deceived? Were they not deceived when they were led away and enticed by their own lusts? Did they believe a lie of the devil?
Does God call you to walk in obedience by not being conformed to your former lusts?
2 Peter 1:4 God gave us His Word (precious and magnificent promises) that we might become PARTAKERS 0F THE DIVINE NATURE. Those who have the divine nature no longer walk in the corruption of fleshy lust rebellion. They escape this CURSED NATURE to partake in the DIVINE NATURE by obeying God's Word.
This is how we are born again by the Word Of God. WE ARE RECONCILED BACK TO THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS Of GOD FROM WHICH WE FELL THROUGH ADAM'S LUST REBELLION. This DIVINE NATURE conforms us to the image of Jesus (See Romans 8:29).
Through the divine nature we become a NEW CREATION, old things have passed away.
Does your Bible say that those who have the love of Christ (the divine nature) NO LONGER LIVE FOR THEMSELVES, BUT FOR GOD? This is the mark of the DIVINE Nature.
We have been committed to the WORD Of RECONCILIATION being reconciled back to the image and likeness of God. Read Colossians 3:1-10 Colossians 3:10 Does your Bible say the NEW SELF (the new creation) is according to the image of God?
Does the Word of God say that judgment is on those who love darkness (lust, sin rebellion) rather than light (Jesus, the truth)?
Does your Bible teach that chose who PRACTICE THE TRUTH (rather than the lusts of the flesh) are the ones who come to JESUS?
THE FRUIT 0F A DIVINE NATURE IS A TREE 0F LIFE.
The Divine nature is like the fruit of a good tree and is described here in these verses.
The 'blind' are those who have "forgotten their purification from former sins." Jesus described the church in Laodicea as "miserable and poor and blind and naked" because they had need of nothing (Revelation 3:17).
A lot of people say they are in "Christ Jesus" today. Does your Bible say those who truly are "in Christ Jesus" HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH with its passions and desires? In other words, those in Christ Jesus do not indulge their fleshy lusts desires but suffer in the flesh so as to DO THE WILL 0F GOD.
Compare this verse with verse 13. If the Spirit of God is in you, will you be putting to death the deeds of the flesh?
Does your Bible say that if you walk by the Spirit YOU WILL NOT CARRY OUT THE DESIRE 0F THE FLESH?
Does this verse teach you are in a war? (Read 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 again.) Did you read in Romans 8:7 that the flesh is hostile to spiritual things of God?
Does your Bible clearly call those who love the world (Read l John 2:16; lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life) ADULTERESSES? Do they become AN ENEMY 0F GOD? The reason they are an enemy of God is because their love of the world causes them to be hostile to the things of God. Why? Because God demands they die to their fleshy carnal lifestyles and they choose the way of rebellion. Does this sound like the WAY 0F ADAM?
Does the Bible refer to those living in fleshy sin rebellion as DEAD? Would this person be a TREE 0F LIFE or a TREE 0F DEATH?
Does your Bible say "formerly walked."' Does "a spirit" (powers of darkness) work "IN" sons of disobedience? Is your Bible saying that DEATH IS AT WORK IN THEM?
Does your Bible say "FORMERLY LIVED" in the lusts of the flesh (indulging selfish, fleshy desires).' What is their nature, wrath (death) or life? THE SONS OF DISOBEDIENCE DO NOT PUT TO DEATH THE FLESH.
THEY OBEY THE LUSTS 0F THE FLESH RATHER THAN GOD. Is it possible to feel security in another doctrine (like Adam and Eve) not according to the Word of God and STILL REMAIN A SON 0F DISOBEDIENCE?
Does your Bible say those who walk with DEATH WORKING IN THEM indulge fleshy desires of the mind? Would this be the opposite of a TREE 0F LIFE, taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ?
Is corruption (death) working in the old selfish, lust nature? (See 2 Peter 2:4).
Those who are truly sons of God are those who are being led by the Spirit of God (rather than slaves to a corrupt selfish sin nature).
Does your Bible say if you are living by the flesh you must die? Did God say YOU SHALL SURELY DIE?
Romans 8:2,4 Does your Bible say those who are free from sin and death are those who walk according to the Spirit, and not according to the lust desires of the flesh?
Do those who live by the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit?
Is the mind set on the flesh a tree of life or a tree of-death! What about the mind set on the Spirit?
The mind set on fleshy sin rebellion strikes back at God's right to the Lordship of your life. The mind set on the flesh lives for itself and lives in selfish lust rebellion to God. Does this sound like a description of where a fallen church might be living? People like this do not obey the Word of God but obey their own lust rebellious thoughts and desires. This was the problem of Adam and Eve.
Are beloved children to be imitators of God?
This describes the real body of Christ created in His image of righteousness and holiness. Do those who walk opposite of this have an inheritance in the kingdom of God?
Does your Bible warn you not to let empty words deceive you about these things? If God warns you not to be deceived, does that mean YOU COULD GET DECEIVED? Did Adam and Eve get deceived? Did they become a tree of life or a tree of death? Did they receive any empty words like YOU SURELY SHALL NOT DIE? Did God say YOU SHALL SURELY DIE? Let me ask you, did they believe a lie? A doctrine of Satan? A doctrine of demons that said the opposite of what God says? When Satan tempted Jesus with false, empty words, how did He resist? (See Luke 4:2-18; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; and l Peter 4:1-2).
Let's see if God's Word warns you not to be deceived like Adam and Eve by listening to doctrines of demons.
A pure virgin is someone with a pure heart for Jesus. They are without impure and selfish motives. Having been restored to the likeness of God they are like a lamb, not like a wolf.
Who deceived Eve? Does your Bible say Eve's mind was led astray? Does Paul fear that could happen to you too?
Does your Bible say Eve was led astray? Does it say we also can be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Jesus? In other words, she received a divided heart that indulged the desires of the flesh, world, and the devil. This is how your heart gels an idol and becomes divided.
Can Satan disguise himself as a servant of righteousness? Could that be by bringing empty words, doctrines of demons and traditions of men that spoke "about" Jesus but did not renew you to the image of Jesus? Would that be a TREE 0F DEATH?
Would Satan's servants of righteousness be called false prophets?
Have we clearly seen that Satan tempts you to draw you after the lusts of the flesh? Does your Bible say that false prophets (servants of Satan) entice people to follow their sensuality (fleshy lust rebellion) drawing them into fleshy indulgence?
Is this what Satan did to Adam and Eve? Is this how false prophets will entice MANY? Did Satan malign (pervert) the truth with Eve? Do false prophets malign (pervert) the way of the truth? Does your Bible warn you repeatedly not to be deceived?
Did Adam become a tree of death? Did Jesus become a tree of life?
Are we to bear the image of Jesus? Now you can understand clearly what Jesus meant when He talked about good trees and bad trees, good fruit and bad fruit.
Is the way to life a broad road or a narrow road? What does the broad road lead to?
Are many going to find the way to life? Does that verse make it important enough to make sure you are on the right road?
Do false prophets act like lambs or like wolves?
How are you going to know them?
What happens to every tree that does not bear good fruit? Is it a tree of life or a tree of death?
Will everyone who says Jesus is their Lord go to heaven? Does your Bible clearly say only those who DO THE WILL 0F GOD go to heaven? Would they be a tree of life?
Does your Bible say that the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and pride of life is not of God but worldly?
Who abides forever? (Note: l Peter 4:1-2, those who do the will of God suffer in the flesh and cease from sin and do nor live for the lusts of men.) Once again the opposite of the lust of the flesh is the will of God.
By loving the world (this is an idol of the heart) you prove your hostility (in your heart) against the Lordship of Jesus. A FRIEND 0F THE WORLD MAKES HIMSELF AN ENEMY 0F GOD. Enemies of God do not go to heaven. This is an adulteress.
Does the Word of God warn you that a time will come when people will choose doctrines in accord with their own desires rather than the WILL 0F GOD (remember Matthew 7:21)?
BE CAREFUL YOU DON'T TURN YOUR EARS ASIDE FROM THE WORD OF GOD.
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Zenbev is a powdered beverage mix made with all-natural, organic food ingredients. This 250g container comes with a measured scoop inside and provides 25 scoops.
Ingredients include Pumpkinseed Flour (organic certified), Dextrose, Rice Starch and Guar Gum.
100% Vegetarian and Vegan. Organic Ingredients.
Available in Lemon and Chocolate Flavors.
Zenbev is a delicious beverage mix of organic ingredients that provides a natural source of tryptophan derived from pumpkin seeds. As a precursor to serotonin and melatonin, tryptophan enhances mood, emotion and sleep.
Zenbev can be taken during the day to provide a powerful source of tryptophan, a precursor for serotonin. Serotonin regulates mood, emotion and appetite, and is well-known to alleviate stress, anxiety and depression. Other purported benefits of ingesting a natural source of tryptophan include easing chronic pain symptoms, weight loss and increased libido.
Tryptophan is light sensitive, meaning it metabolizes differently in light vs. dark conditions. When taken during daylight hours Zenbev’s tryptophan becomes serotonin providing the afore mentioned benefits. If taken at night, Zenbev’s tryptophan turns into serotonin, which then metabolizes into melatonin, thus activating the brain’s own sleep mechanism. As the brain produces the exact amount of melatonin that it requires, the body is primed for a natural, restful sleep.
Virtually every sleep medication, either herbal or pharmaceutical, disrupts sleep architecture. Medications currently available tend to increase light sleep (stages 1 and 2) at the expense of deep sleep (stages 3 and 4) as well as inhibiting REM sleep which results in side effects of drowsiness and lack of refreshment. As the tryptophan in Zenbev allows the brain to produce melatonin, none of the sleep stages are compromised, resulting in a preservation of sleep architecture and a deep, uninterrupted sleep.
Medications to reduce anxiety are most often from a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines; this family of drugs is associated with tolerance and dependence. Benzodiazepines are synthetic and do not work within the body’s own natural chemistry and as such can have significant side effects such as excessive sedation and lack of coordination. Zenbev, on the other hand, provides a natural source tryptophan which bolsters the body’s own natural anxiety management system.
Since the melatonin produced in our brains is responsible for the onset of sleep, many people try to take synthetically-produced melatonin. Over-the-counter melatonin should not be considered natural. One of the issues with synthetic melatonin is the short half-life in the body. The half-life should be measured in several hours. Synthetic melatonin leaves the body quite rapidly with a half-life of less than one hour which means the effect is lost midway during the night. Consequently, a higher dosage is required, resulting in a hangover effect the next day.
Although melatonin is thought to be ‘natural’, when used in high dosages it overrides the brain’s natural sleep chemistry by providing too much of the end product. The brain loses its chance to regulate the production of this important sleep hormone. More importantly, the body does not have an opportunity to suppress production of melatonin when sleep is coming to the end. The brain has evolved an elaborate process of producing and regulating melatonin so that just the right amount is used in just the right area of the brain.
It may seem convenient to circumvent the process and provide super dosages of melatonin to the body to produce sleep, but it ignores normal sleep physiology resulting in increased difficulties which are not necessary. Zenbev provides the ingredients and circumstances in order for the brain to determine when and how much melatonin is needed, resulting in a good night’s sleep.
Supplemental 5-HTP is the intermediary between tryptophan and serotonin and has been offered as a natural remedy for serotonin deficiency-related medical states. Natural source tryptophan, however, offers a major advantage over 5-HTP in that it is not directly metabolized to serotonin in the intestine which protects against side effects associated with 5-HTP such as increased nausea, vomiting, cramping, constipation and/ or diarrhea.
Is there a risk of becoming dependent on Zenbev to fall asleep?
No. Almost all sleep drugs are associated with either dependence (the need to continue with the medication or the experience of “rebound” insomnia when it is discontinued) or tolerance (requiring an increased dosage to maintain the same effect) because these drugs override the brain’s natural sleep chemistry. Zenbev does not cause dependence or tolerance because it works with the brain’s natural sleep chemistry. It is the brain that decides how much is required and when. As a result the normal brain chemistry is maintained.
What is it in Zenbev that makes it work?
Zenbev is a natural source of tryptophan, the amino acid found in milk and turkey. Once in the brain, tryptophan becomes serotonin and, in turn, melatonin. This conversion to melatonin from tryptophan is light-sensitive. That is to say, tryptophan only becomes melatonin if it is dark; otherwise it remains as serotonin, a chemical that helps you to relax but does not make you fall asleep. Therefore, if taken during the day, Zenbev helps alleviate anxiety, depression and other stress-related clinical states. If taken at night, Zenbev is a powerful ally against insomnia. Zenbev is specially formulated with all-natural ingredients that have several advantages over synthetic derivatives such as prescription tryptophan or over-the-counter (OTC) 5-HTP or melatonin. These drug equivalents can produce much more serotonin or melatonin than the brain needs. When there is an over-production, side effects such as daytime sleepiness can occur.
Isn’t tryptophan banned by the FDA, and can it be taken safely?
Tryptophan is an essential amino acid, meaning that the body cannot produce it and must ingest it through a food source. Our bodies require tryptophan as the precursor to serotonin, a hormone that regulates sleep, mood and appetite. 15-years ago, pharmaceutical-grade tryptophan was banned by the FDA due to the contamination of a batch synthetically sourced from genetically modifying a bacterium. This process was discontinued and synthetic tryptophan has remained available by prescription in Canada. Zenbev, however, is comprised of a natural source of tryptophan derived from organic pumpkin seeds, and formulated to be easily assimilated by the body. According to Health Canada, amino acids present in a protein configuration are not considered to be drugs; and therefore would not be considered to be subject to special measures as per the DIN (Drug Identification Number) Enforcement Directive and the Therapeutic Products Compliance Guide.
No. It is an all natural food made from organic pumpkin seeds, dextrose and rice starch.
How much tryptophan is in a serving of Zenbev?
The amount of tryptophan ingested depends on the amount of Zenbev required. We recommend starting at 1-tablespoon and increasing the dosage as necessary. Most clients report that 1-2 tablespoons is sufficient. One should be aware that at more then 4-tablespoons, the dosage of tryptophan can be greater than 250 mg. This should be more than adequate for most clients since the inventive formulation of Zenbev allows the body to utilize the protein source of tryptophan very efficiently.
What are high glycemic index foods?
Recent fad diets have claimed that eating too many carbohydrates can lead to high insulin levels, resulting in health issues such as obesity and diabetes. Foods that score higher than 70 on the glycemic index (ie. potatoes, parsnips and donuts) are high GI foods, the reference food being pure glucose or white sugar at 100. High GI foods provide bursts of energy that may be followed quickly by blood sugar reductions and hunger. If taken in moderation, some high GI foods can be beneficial and should not be avoided altogether. However, overly processed foods containing excess sugar should be limited. We can make an effort to become aware of the glycemic reaction that certain foods cause and therefore make better-balanced food choices.
Zenbev’s special formula includes a small amount of organic dextrose, a high GI food that serves the specific function of binding to all the amino acids in the protein chain except for tryptophan and shunting them away. Tryptophan is then allowed efficient access across the blood brain barrier (BBB), thus contributing to Zenbev’s effectiveness. Diabetics should be cautious when taking Zenbev and refer to the nutritional panel on the label.
Does Zenbev have side effects?
It takes about thirty minutes for circulating melatonin to become inactive after the sun rises or lights are turned on. During that time there may be drowsiness which subsides and does not interfere with daytime functioning.
Zenbev contains organic dextrose. Diabetics taking Zenbev should be aware that 2 tablespoons contains the same amount of carbohydrate as one slice of dry toast.
Finally, patients taking drugs that already cause drowsiness, such as antidepressants (pharmaceutical grade or natural such a St. John’s Wort) or lithium, should avoid Zenbev.
No. Zenbev does not override the brain’s own natural sleep chemistry; it allows the brain to produce as much or as little melatonin as it needs. As noted above, melatonin takes approximately ½ hour to leave the body after first light, so there may be a hold-over sleepiness of about that amount of time.
How does Zenbev compare to other drugs for treating insomnia?
Zenbev is the only sleep aid that works within the brain’s own natural sleep chemistry. It allows the body to produce melatonin but does not override the natural sleep chemistry as melatonin itself might. It also enhances the 5-stages of sleep whereas other sleep aids including prescription drugs and OTC antihistamines actually suppress deep sleep (stages 3&4) as well as REM (dream) sleep.
Can I use Zenbev every day or night?
Yes, but it may not be necessary since there is a positive effect for a few days after one stops Zenbev. The best rule of thumb is that it takes a few doses before its optimal benefit is seen and it continues to work for a few days/ nights after it was last taken. One way of optimizing this benefit is to take Zenbev for 5-7 days/ nights and then stop it for 2-3 days/ nights. If you prefer to take it every day, however, there is no difficulty with that approach.
No. Zenbev should be stored in a dry cool space. Zenbev is made from ingredients that are stable, with an expected shelf-life of several years.
How long will a jar last?
One jar should last about 30-days, assuming a dosage of two-tablespoons per day. It may last longer if taken on an intermittent schedule or at a lower dosage. It will not last 30-days if taken at a higher dosage on a daily schedule.
Can Zenbev help all sleep or anxiety problems?
Zenbev is highly effective for stress-related problems such as anxiety and depression if resulting from a lack of serotonin. Zenbev is specially formulated to deliver tryptophan, which is the precursor for serotonin, in a way that can be easily assimilated by the body. Those with long-term cases of depression should also consult a medical professional.
Who should avoid taking Zenbev?
Those who plan to drive or operate heavy machinery at night should not take Zenbev before doing so. If you are pregnant or nursing a child, you should consult your physician. Those taking antidepressants, including St. John’s Wort and/or lithium should not take Zenbev. If you are diabetic as mentioned earlier, please consult the nutritional panel and your doctor.
Start with a cup of cut-up, peeled, soft fruit, fresh or frozen — berries, banana, melon, peach, citrus. Add 2 scoops of Zenbev powder, 1 tsp. fresh-squeezed lemon juice and a couple of ice cubes. (Omit the ice cubes if you're using frozen fruit.) Puree in the blender and sweeten to taste with sugar, honey, maple syrup or agave nectar. Thin with apple juice to the texture you like or thicken with plain, non-fat yoghurt. Almost makes a meal!
Heat the milk of your choice over medium heat. Whisk in 2 scoops of Chocolate Zenbev Drink Mix. Add honey or agave nectar to taste. Pour into heated mug and sprinkle with carob shavings. Curl up, relax and enjoy before you nod off!
Combine 2 scoops of Chocolate Zenbev in a blender with 1 cup 1% Plain yoghurt, one ripe banana, ½ a cup of low fat milk and ½ a cup of vanilla ice cream. Blend to desired smoothness and enjoy with a straw or a spoon!
Combine Black Cherry Juice with 2 scoops of Lemon Zenbev Drink Mix powder in a tall glass. Add 3 oz. Limeade and 3 oz. sparkling water. Serve with a straw!
"Vitamart is amazing and delivered the product super quick. I've bought the 250g sizes and I thought I'd save a little and purchase the big bag. Big mistake! It's a good product and helps me sleep so I can't complain there... However, the packaging is a fail! The bag will not seal once opened. So now I'll need to transfer the powder from this bag, to my 250g Zenveb container and put a clip on the rest. This is NOT an inexpensive product, please change the packaging!"
"Start with 1 scoop , then I increase it to 1.5 scoop it works well.I mix in 250ml of warm water.Take 5 days on and then the effect remains if you miss the dose."
8/10 Great way to learn to sleep deeply again.
(+) First Dose Results,Tastes Great,Great packaging!
"My good friend Kathleen suggested that I try Zenbev when she heard about my struggle with sleep. I had just completed trials of two other products and was feeling a bit frustrated. Each product was costing me in excess of $40.00. After a little research I ordered Zenbev. It worked the first night perfectly as described. I slept deeply and I returned to sleep after my initial waking. The product continued to work for the next week or so equally well. I decided to stop the product and realized that I continued to get great sleep. Just once I took it again because I feared I might not sleep well and I noticed extreme dry mouth in the morning. I don't think I really needed it. Now I sleep perfectly without it. My belief is that Zenbev is a sleep aid. Like a band aid you use it when the problem is bad and needs help healing. Then you remove the band aid and let nature take it's course."
"I've been a chronic insomniac for going on five years now. Two separate sleep studies, a 6 week "sleep class" at the university, and a veritable pharmacy of drugs to help me visit the land of nod left me nothing but tired, irritable and zombie like. Then I tried ZenBev. It took about a week and then the effects were quite noticeable. One thing that I noticed was that I was not getting any more sleep, nor was I falling asleep more quickly. I've trained myself to fall asleep in short order but staying asleep and getting my share of all the sleep stages was the problem (Stage 1 through 4, plus REM). With ZenBev I started dreaming again (REM) and am not walking around in a daze every afternoon at work (getting the restorative Stage 4). If sleep stabilization is your problem then I'd recommend ZenBev in a heartbeat."
(+) Works well for anxiety/relaxation.
(-) Gave Me An Upset Stomach,Mixes Poorly,Not that effective for my insomnia.
"If you have severe insomnia, this may not work and you should instead get checked by a doctor for depression, as it wasn't until I started a different antdepressant that I was able to relax and sleep with the ZenBev. I also liked the ZenBite bars."
Zenbev Recommended Use or Purpose: To promote sleep. To relive the symptoms of insomnia. Dosage form: powder for solution, to be taken orally.
Zenbev should be taken at night to promote restful sleep. Start with 1 scoop per day for the first 3 days. If the desired effect is reached then continue with a 1 scoop serving. If the desired effects are not reached then increase by 1/2 a scoop every 2-3 nights (to a maximum of 5-6 scoops) until desired effect is reached.
Mix in water or juice.
1 scoop contains 10g of powder. Each scoop contains 45 mg of tryptophan.
For help with insomnia: Take Zenbev approximately 20-30 minutes prior to turning off the lights. If you take it an hour before you turn off the lights the effectiveness of the product will be severly reduced. Start with one full scoop until desired effect is reached. May take up to a week to notice effects.
Zenbev can also be cycled such as using it for 5 days on, 2 days off. For the off days you will still have the residing effect from consistent use of the 5 days prior.
Note: this product does not dissolve in liquids. May be used for one week. Consult a health care practitioner for use beyond one week. May be taken with applesauce, jam or yogurt if avoiding fluids before bed.
If you use the product fully based on the recommendations listed and feel you aren't getting the desired results please email [email protected] and Dr. Hudson can offer more targeted support.
Additional Ingredients: Pumpkinseed flour (certified organic), Dextrose, Natural lemon, Rice Starch, Guar Gum.
Warning: Store in a cool dry place. May cause drowsiness. This product should not be taken prior to operating a vehicle or heavy machinery. Pregnant or nursing women should consult a physician before using this product. Not recommended for children. Not intended to treat, diagnose or cure any disease. There are reports of sexual disinhibition from patients using this product. Consumption with alcohol, other drugs or natural health products with sedative properties is not recommended. Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you have diabetes.
Additional Ingredients: Pumpkinseed flour (certified organic), Dextrose, Natural Chocolate, Rice Starch, Guar Gum. | 2019-04-18T18:54:37Z | https://www.vitamart.ca/zenbev.html |
[Written by Jonathan Starling] It is not unusual to read and hear complaints about the amount of trash talk that the two main parties indulge, a phenomenon which seems to be magnified during election campaigns. And yet, seldom do these two parties actively seek to engage in real trash talk. And by that, I mean talking about trash in the literal sense! And yet the issue of trash and waste in general is one that affects us all, touching on matters of public health, social cohesion and tourism, amongst others!
And so, while I’m hoping to run a positive campaign, I am today going to engage in some real trash talk. And I hope that it helps encourage others to do the same!
Implement a ‘bottle bill’ (beverage container deposit legislation) for glass and aluminium beverage containers.
Discarded glass and aluminium beverage containers constitute a public health threat through the breeding of mosquitoes, a risk of personal injury to the individual from sliced-up feet, a general unsightliness which may impact on our ‘Bermuda image’ for tourists, as well as often contributing to a blighted neighbourhood (encouraging more trash as well as a sense of social depression). They even pose a hazard for our endemic rock lizards (the skink)!
By implementing a beverage container deposit policy we may help reduce the above problems associated with discarded glass and aluminium containers by encouraging greater rates of recycling, making it less likely for individuals to simply ‘throw them in the bushes’. They work quite simply by requiring a small, refundable deposit on beverage containers. This deposit is paid when the container is purchased and refunded when the container is returned for recycling. Where bottle bills have been implemented they have been seen to greatly increase rates of recycling and reduce incidents of litter.
Implement a balloon bill to prohibit the sale of metallic (mylar) helium balloons and mass balloon releases.
While balloons seem relatively innocent to most individuals, the pose a deadly threat to many marine wildlife, especially whales and sea-turtles, and can also pose threats to overhead electricity lines. When balloons are released, they eventually return to earth, often (and almost always in Bermuda) into the oceans, where they are mistaken as food by whales and sea-turtles, contributing in many cases to deaths. Metallic balloons are particularly problematic for marine life, having a longer life-time than latex balloons, and mass balloon releases (for various ceremonies) is little different from dumping plastic bags into the oceans. If we want to promote a ‘green’ image and protect our marine environment, implementing a ‘ballloon bill’ is one step towards this.
Expand the fishing lines recycling initiative.
This is an initiative that has been pioneered by the Bermuda National Trust, with public financial assistance. It seeks to encourage the recycling of fishing lines at known fishing spots and public docks. Modern fishing lines, when discarded, pose a threat to marine life, particularly birds and sea-turtles, and may become entangled in them and become injured or drown. They also pose a threat to personal injury for humans who may also get caught up in these when wading or swimming. By expanding their locations and regularity of collection, we help the marine environment and benefit our tourism.
Convert to in-vessel composting at Pembroke Dump and develop a national composting strategy.
While Pembroke Dump has largely been replaced by the Tynes Bay Incinerator, it is still actively used for horticultural and other compostable waste. Waste is converted into compost there through an open air row and furrow system, which is unsightly, space and time-consuming and prone to both the release of odour and spontaneous combustion. By converting to the faster and less space-consuming in-vessel composting we reduce many of the social and public health impacts of the existing system, and lay the foundations for the restoration of the area into a public park.
And by encouraging domestic composting, through curb-side collection of non-animal food waste, we can contribute to reduced stress on the incinerator, as well as benefiting the island in the long-term through the production of local compost for agricultural use or for ecological restoration projects. It may involve a slight up-front cost to move to in-vessel composting, but the benefits to the surrounding neighbourhoods, the reduced costs of wear and tear for the incinerator, in my opinion far outweigh this cost!
- Jonathan Starling will run as an Independent candidate in C#20 Pembroke South West in the upcoming General Election.
He has already tried working with the OBA in ’98 .
With respect, I think you are referring to another individual. I have never worked with the OBA or the UBP (the OBA not formally existing in 1998).
I do however have contacts with the OBA, as I do the PLP, and there are many ideas and people in both parties with whom I believe I can work with to bringing these – and other policies – to fruition.
All this trash i.e. plastics, foam containers and other contents in boxes comes from the supermarkets, takeout restaurants and other retail stores. Find ways for these outlets to make alternative packaging from their suppliers to be biodegradable. or better still, have a buy back trash program for those who will comply with the recycling program and the government should do the same instead of burning the trash.
Besides how is the government going to implement something it cannot see through? other than try and make a law for all supermarkets and other importers to import only clear trash can liners. That way the garbage collectors will refuse picking up mixed trash it can see… But now, what happens in the case of large dumpsters at condo complexes? How will you find violators who dump at night?
It would be good to get some independent thinkers into the political system in Bermuda.
The PLP did not want him for his radical back to the 60′s views.
He is grasping at straws. It’s all about him.
Nothing more than a Marxist Lennonist.
Screw Bermuda should be his theme.
A good idea,also crack down on littering ,illegal dumping . Waive fees to dump at the airport and incinerator.
not going to be popular, but with enough education you might make progress.
if you are going to encourage home composting, you better get on the goverments case about rodent control.
kind of to to go with composting, an island wide blitz or out right ban on invasive plants like mexican pepper, ect, and a push to plant endemic plant species.
He is making this up as he goes along….PLP trait…plan to plan , but then announce random last minute thoughts and pretend they have been thoroghly reseached, stakeholders have been consulted and that they are economically viable, when not.
Hi Blurt, when I announced my candidacy last week I stressed that I’m releasing my platform gradually in order to encourage discussion of my positions.
What research backs this platorm, or is ot conceptual?
I have replied to you on this, but as it included a lot of links there is a risk it’s stuck in the filter. If it’s not here by tomorrow I’ll go and try to rewrite it for you.
Essentially though, yes, it’s backed up by research, it’s not purely conceptual.
Is there a particular part of the above positions that you would like me to expand on?
Expand on the economics of Pembroke Marsh, sounds interesting.
How big would the containment facility be?
Converting to in-vessel composting is a first step towards the ecological restoration of the Pembroke Dump area and it’s conversion to a public park.
I do not have access to the exact dollar amounts, but this has been costed by the relevant Department, who has been requesting this in it’s budgets since at least 2005 (and it was included in the 2009 Budget Speech, although nothing seems to have developed since – see page 16).
It does involve an initial cost. I don’t deny that. But it also leads to long-term savings and benefits. From a departmental budget perspective it saves on the wear and tear costs to the incinerator, as well as payments to residents affected by dump fires (cleaning of roofs, water rank cleanings, water replacements, cost of labour and resources needed for putting out said fires). It has an added social benefit in that it reduces the noxious odors that affect the neighbourhoods currently surrounding facility (these, like the fires, would be practically eliminated).
And the increase in property values and general social benefits of being next to a developing park rather than an active eyesore, would also be beneficial (directly through property values, indirectly through other aspects of public health, social cohesion, etc.).
The in-vessel composting requires a much smaller footprint than the existing row and furrows. The space required is such that the potential for relocating the facility to one of the former baselands is practical, thus completely freeing up Pembroke Dump – alternatively, it can stay there, but would require only a fraction of the current land-use. I don’t have the exact footprint, but I understand that it would require at least merely one fifth of the current land-use of Pembroke Dump.
It also converts waste to compose in 28-42 days compared to the existing system which requires up to six months. Please see the 2005 State of the Environment Report, page 177 (http://www.planning.gov.bm/documents/Natural%20Environment/State%20of%20the%20Enviroment.PDF).
Facility build would not be cheap, requires strict management and contamiment protocols, like wheel washers, to prevent salmonella and other problems spread accross island. Cost of venting would not be cheap, and would usually be partially off set by selling Good compost. Although compost isnt really needed here, as things grow like crazy. I think much more research into it is required, before launching into a facililty that has an increased bacterial contaminent risk on a site near large populations. Morgans point is out, so it would have to to St Davids somewhere. There are nature reserves and risk of ocean contamination……it is a very interesting approach, but in a time when the economy is in dire straits, it would have to go on the back burner. Not a priority. Thanks for bringing it up, some interesting reading accross the internet, definatey would stick it on the notice board for further investigation.
When I was younger the Metro soda company did a bottle deposit refund. You would get 10 cents for every bottle. That was how I used to get my spending money plus it did seem to keep our parks and road side trees of less debris.
I agree, and it is actually on my platform – well, at least that all craft with toilet facilities to empty their tanks at the marinas where there are connections either to the St. Georges, Hamilton or Dockyard sewage systems.
This is primarily an issue for inshore waters, namely the Great Sound, where the flushing action of the ocean is reduced. I am preparing a similar piece as the one above concerning this and related issues concerning water policies, and hope to have it ready shortly.
Where the hell is Hillary.
Better shut up now before I have to …….well yah want Jihad or empty coffers.
The amount of ‘effluent’ discharged by pleasure boats in Bermuda is so beyond minimal it doesn’t even make sense worrying about it.
What about the pipeline that dumps into the ocean a few hundred yards offshore from Seabright in Paget that is connected to the City of Hamilton AND KEMH ? huh ?
And just where do you think every living thing in the ocean (plus a billion birds) also take a dump ? Do you think they come ashore and use a household septic system/toilet to relieve themselves ?
Furthermore a boat with an overboard discharge head (toilet) is the same as a boat with no toilet at all . Think about that !
Part of my platform includes a call for greater sewage treatment for Bermuda, at least for the main sewage outfalls (Seabright off Hungry Bay – which is for the City of Hamilton+Hospital, St. Georges and Dockyard), but in general the sewage outfalls are situated in a way so that the flushing action of the ocean is sufficient to not create sufficiently worrying problems (unless you’re swimming nearby and think about it…).
It is in enclosed bays and shallow water, primarily St. George’s harbour, the Great Sound and Harrington Sound, that the potential for natural flushing and dilution is greatly reduced and problems can arise. This is particularly a problem when a lot of boats are moored together (think the non-mariners race or similar raft-ups).
There are regulations in other places in similar situations requiring all boats with a sewage holding facility (an on-board toilet) to not dispose of their sewage unless out in the open sea (a certain distance off-shore) or when they are docked at marinas which have the facilities to accomodate their sewage (as is the case in at least Dockyard and Hamilton). This should be implemented here.
Public health risks from sewage contaminated waters in our enclosed waters may include ear and throat infections, infectious gastroenteritis or hepatatitis (mostly through consumption of fish from these waters), arising from contamination from human sewage, not general animal waste (although we can, of course, be affected by these, see avian flu, but most of the problems are related to human sewage contamination).
While the risk in Bermuda may be minimal (except in situations like the non-mariner race, for example), there is not reason why we cannot be pro-active. It’s good for public health, good for the Bermuda image and good for the environment too!
All Comrade Starling is doing is re-introducing things of the 60′s.
We all saved our soda bottles et al and got a few shillings for returns.
A vote for Starling is a vote back to PLP.
How about we start with the basics and have our trash collected on the day it is meant to be, or during normal working hours!
Paying double time to the trash men to collect trash from 5pm-8pm is the whole problem with overspending with this Government, they just seem to pay and do nothing to change it. If they can collect all the trash in that time then they can do it during normal working hours.
Once again let’s put the tax on the customer to make up for an already overpriced and under efficient recycle facility, why the hell should I pay a tax for a bottle that the recycle facility can’t recycle except throwing some into asphalt, similarly why should I pay a tax on a can when I already pay taxes to keep this stupid recycle centre open and running about one day a week and do you really think the drunk guy in the car gives a $h! T about the tax on his beer bottle as he launches it out the window knowing that someone else will clean up his trash, he gets rid of it because there still remains a 00.01% chance the a$$ might get stopped by a cop. We (taxpayer) already pays a to of money to support the W&E trash service and the many private companies that pick up the “recycled” products, how about we simply pay works and engineering on productivity, we could also pay on tons of material recycled, clearly that bill would go down but it puts the responsibility back on those who are being paid a lot of money to do a job. Take a trip to that plant any day of the week except maybe Friday morning and see the equipment sitting silent.
Government get paid to clean up trash.
I guess it was your generation that made such a great job of the planet eh Terry? I’ve no idea how old you are Terry, but you sound like my grandfather, I thought we had moved on, and you accuse JS of being in the 60s! Look, is recycling fishing lines as important as this holy mess of an economy? – no, but a parliament is supposed to be a melting pot of ideas to debate, and whilst you don’t want a green party running the country an influence is not a bad thing at all.
Dont point fingers if your hands arent clean.
I guess i wont make sense unless you have a basic understanding of how stuff works. Any tax is something, why don’t you comment on the story instead of other people’s opinions, I’m sure you can understand some of it, either you don’t pay tax or wear a blue shirt at work and are perhaps under employed, in which case I can see the reason for your oblivious disregard to increasing of any taxes, we Need to get the overpriced systems to work properly and if your part of that system, so be it. If you don’t like my honest comments simply don’t read them, we have avatars (that’s the little cartoon figure on the right of the comment) so you can spot who you don’t want to read, the title ” lets talk real trash ” wasn’t an invitation.
Burna! But sorry its difficult to spot the avatars when they constantly change…right Cheekums?
Hi Y-Gurl – No, it is not a tax. It is a refundable deposit. At the moment we have a de facto subsidisation of companies that distribute these bottles and cans, in that the resulting litter has real social and economic costs, and the cost of cleaning this up is paid for out of our taxes. Tax-payers, both litters and non-litters, bear the costs of this, directly and indirectly (in economics terms this amounts to a market externality).
When we have a refundable deposit system the consumers pay the deposit, and it is refunded when it is returned. Through encouraging returns through the deposit system all tax-payers pay less money over time through savings from reduced litter clean-up costs (and associated indirect costs) and we can also reduce the frequency of curb-side pick-ups, leading to additional savings. We should still maintain curb-side pick-ups though, as the combined approach (pick-ups & deposits) lead to a more effective recycling approach.
Bottle-bills have worked in every jurisdiction they have been implemented, with increased rates of recycling being recorded as well as reduction of litter (in some places by up to 70%).
Hi Y-Gurl – I think you may have misunderstood my position. I am not calling for a tax on glass and aluminium beverage containers, I am calling for a deposit.
You pay the small deposit (added into the price of the beverage at point of sale), and when you return the beverage container you get the deposit returned to you. It works as an incentive not to litter as well as to recycle it. If you personally choose not to return the container to claim back the deposit, then someone else can, be it KBB picking it off the ground or someone else.
So each bottle selling establishment now has to have a holding facility for waste bottles. That will be many containers. How much will it cost to collect the glass. How do you prove you bought the bottle at that retailer, wow I’m being overun by bottles and it is hitting my cashflow, and staff time. This is not one of the better ideas. People don’t keep receipts for a bottle of wine they bought 3 months ago, of beers they have in the fridge.
Balloons, we simply need to take care and be considerate to our environment and ensure balloons are disposed of correctly. Banning a society of balloons is certainly a backwards step.
The waste at pembroke may be interesting.
The exact mechanisms involved will have to be worked out through consultation, but I would envision having three collection centers (one in the east, one central and one in the west). There has been some talk of selling off some of the post-offices – I don’t see any reason why some of these could not be converted into collection centers.
Perhaps my use of the term ‘point of sale’ was misleading. I am envisioning Government working as a middle-man to facilitate this, handling the collection and the deposit system.
You do not need to keep receipts of your bottle or can purchases, the bottle or can alone is sufficient. This may well be a loss-leader on paper, in that bottles and cans purchased before the legislation should still be covered – the emphasis here is on reducing overall litter.
Government (Parks, Waste Management and MoHealth) currently spends millions every year dealing with litter. Studies in the 1990s (not aware of more recent data right now) found that beverage containers (glass and aluminium), that would be covered by my proposal, made up about 33% of all litter, and up to 50% of roadside litter. If this policy reduces that cost (as well as associated costs of public health, etc) then I think that ‘loss’ is worth it, in that the related benefits compensate for it.
I am not banning society of balloons. I am calling for a banning of the metallic helium balloons which pose a significant environmental cost, as well as mass balloon releases. You can still have a balloon, just not the metallic ones, or release it into the air, which is littering.
People will still litter. This will change nothing. Developing collection centre, which put a burden on the overburdened government is probably not a great idea. This would mean a population of 60,000 people drving once a week to a few drop off centres waiting to be refunded and queing up for a few dollars. It would be an absolute nighmare, and the polution and extra car wear and tear on already overburdened roads isn’t a great idea. I like the fact that you are thinking about these things, as we should all do, but I don’t see this one as adding anything but cost, inefficiency and pollution to our lives in its proposed format. Don’t give up on thinking though, as I appreciate the thoughts.
Lets add mandatory kerbside recycling to reduce the amount of glass and metal going pointlessly into the incinerator, and used vehicle/appliance recycling to boost the existing efforts of the waste management section of W&E.
If we actually took our thumb out of our bum, we could make most of what you mention, besides glass, out of hemp which would actually be “green” for our environment…but hey, none of us will be around for the day when planet earth says f@ck you people and implodes on itself so why in the hell does it all matter?! Throw your garbage in the destination of your own choosing, you won’t be around to see the ramifications of obliterating the very planet we live on. Yea we’re just one small island but like I was saying in the DOT release, Bermuda ALWAYS follows, never leading,amd that’s where we fail as a nation.
Without those dreaded insurance companies, we are living in stick houses my man. What else we got? A few oldies reliving their honeymoon at Fourways, and some carrots that taste like pi55.
the methods of clean up instead of the prevention.
Seems like as long as the people living here under the grey skies of confusion keep feeling so rotten, they will keep polluting the visible scene.
As to the effluent discharge into the ocean, although it is a more complicated situation, at least the ocean is massive and all around us to keep moving the coastal supply. Not perfect but less of an issue than land based garbage in paradise. | 2019-04-18T10:46:38Z | http://bernews.com/2012/11/lets-talk-some-real-trash-talk-in-this-election/ |
Hi All! So if you follow me on social media you know that Mr. Stafford and I were soaking up the sun in St. John for the whole month of March. Can I just say this is what retirement is meant to be. We are incredibly blessed to be able to spend so much time in such a beautiful place, but this is the reason why we worked so hard all our lives. It is pure bliss!
I’m sure that many of you know that the island of St. John went through a devastating time in 2017. The island was hit with two large hurricanes, back to back, in September of that year. The first storm, Irma, a Category 5 hurricane, hit on September 7th and pummeled the island leaving residents without electricity, water and fuel. On September 20th, Hurricane Maria landed as a Category 5 storm and destroyed what was left.
Since tourism is their main source of income, it has been a very difficult time for the residents on the island. Some people we know left and never came back. Homes and business were destroyed and their source of income was gone. Their schools were gone. Water was in short supply and what we were told was if you had ice, you were the man. Many of the residents had evacuated to Puerto Rico and we all know what happened there. How they survived all this and kept their heads up throughout everything says so much about the kind of people who live here.
When we arrived this year, we were unsure of what to expect. But here is one of the main reasons we keep coming back to St. John - the people. What they went through and the work that is still needed across the island is unimaginable. With everything that they have dealt with in the last year and a half, you could not meet a kinder, friendlier group of people. To say they make our vacation a great experience is an understatement. They consistently go out of their way to make you feel comfortable and welcome on this island. Most of these people worked on getting rental housing back up and running before they even started working on their own homes. The facts are that many are still without their own homes.
As you can see from the photos, it is a beautiful place to spend your time. The beaches are incredible, the food is outstanding, and the views are unreal. The quiet and peacefulness is exactly what we love about visiting St. John. It’s the perfect place to be able to get away, relax, and unplug. It’s not called “Love Island" for nothing!
In the mid-1950s Laurance Rockefeller donated his vast land holdings to the United States National Park Service. Due to this donation, 60% of the island is protected from further development. This also includes most of the beaches and coral reefs, which is another reason we love St. John so much. It’s not over-saturated, allowing the natural beauty of the island to remain as it is. The existing nature and ecosystem, which makes the island such a desired place to visit, will not be ruined by continued development. It lets you feel as if you are far away from the hustle and bustle and still having all the comforts of home.
Now, it is a chore to get from where we live in Vermont to basically anywhere, but St. John is quite the adventure. Our travel includes catching two planes, three shuttle rides, and even a water taxi to get to our final destination. Once we reach the actual island of St. John we then have to get our rental car and drive up the winding roads to get to our home.
Needless to say, this makes for a long travel day and that's only if you end up making every connection. Which this year, we did not do. Honestly, it seems like every year we deal with some kind of delay or change in plans. Everyone in our family says I jinx it by stressing too much. Note to self, you have no control over this. So I need to stop stressing about it. I need to try that next year.
This year really was the winner though for our most difficult experience of getting to St. John. To start, we woke up at 2 AM to drive an hour to Burlington to catch our first flight at 6 AM. The plane was delayed because a flight attendant called out sick. Which was okay, that kind of thing happens all the time. No big deal, right? This meant we could not catch our connecting flight in Charlotte, NC, so we had to spend the night, which was fine. We booked a hotel room, had a nice dinner and went to sleep early. The following day we woke up well rested for our flight to St. Thomas. Everything was going great, we boarded our plane and then we were told that due to mechanical problems with the plane everyone had to get off! So we were delayed another six hours while they found a new plane with a new crew. At this point, we were like “come on, really!” Once we landed we had to take a taxi to our water taxi. It was now 10 PM. So off we go in the boat, in the dark and in very rough seas. I was holding on for dear life. Finally, when we arrived our rental car wasn’t there, so we had to hunt down our driver who was so kind and stayed working so late to take care of us. By the time we got to our house, it was close to midnight. What a trip! It took us about 42 hours to get there, but no one said getting to paradise was easy!
Once we arrived Vince and I popped a bottle of champagne took in the warm island breeze and enjoyed that fresh ocean smell. Then we slept for about 10 hours!
Our winters are extremely long and very cold in Vermont. So by the time March rolls around, we are more than ready to leave the frigid cold of the East Coast and head somewhere warm and sunny. St. John is that place for us, and the strenuous travel is all worth it once we get there!
So our days were filled with early mornins at the beach, Trunk Bay being one of our favorite this year. Getting there at 8:30 AM and having that beautiful beach all to ourselves was amazing. Lazy mornings were filled with swimming in that magnificent ocean, reading, walking the beach and just relaxing. If you are able to wake up early that is the best time for the beach. You feel as if you are on your own private island. I know waking up on vacation is not what most people like to do, but that’s why God invented naps, which we did a lot. That sun and relaxing beach smell just puts you right to sleep.
Maho Bay is the beach we normally would go to in previous years. This year when we got our first look, we couldn’t believe the destruction. All of the lush greenery and foliage that were on the beach was completely gone. The beautiful palm trees that hung over the beach were no more. It was heartbreaking. This beach is wonderful for snorkeling with turtles and the water is shallow and calm. It’s also one of the favorite beaches for the locals. Hopefully next year Maho will be looking healthier.
Driving in St. John is, well, different. They drive on the left side of the road and that can be tricky to get use to. Also, all roads are one way in each direction and they can be quite narrow and very hilly. I'm just going to say it, Vince does all the driving!
Having time alone is so important for us. No phones, no TV, and just a few good books that we passed back and forth was all we needed. When we vacation, we're not the type that plans activities each day and just go, go, go. We like to relax, take each day as it comes and just go with the flow. We both like to come home from vacation well rested and ready to get back to the all that needs doing in the real world!
Now for the food. Obviously there is an abundance of fresh fish. This year we went out for lunch/dinner more often than we usually do. We found three restaurants that we fell in love with, each with their own special style. I'll put the links for these restaurants below. This year from what we were told, those living and working on the island were very surprised and incredibly happy with the amount of tourist that arrived. That being the case, I don't think the food markets were ready for the crowd. As soon as food was stacked on the shelves, it was gone just as fast. This made us try more local restaurants and we were so happy that we did. Here are a few of our favorites places to dine.
First, the Greengos Cantina was by far our favorite restaurants. It was great for a late lunch after spending the morning at the beach. It also has outdoor seating and is in a central location with parking, which is hard to come by in St. John. Yes, the food was to die for! So fresh, so good, it was fabulous! The freshest nachos, the tastiest shrimp tacos, and Cadillac Margaritas were our go to. I also highly recommend their MexicanStreet Corn, Mango Chili Shrimp, and their freshly made guacamole & salsa. I’m not exaggerating when I say we ate there almost daily. It was that good. Honestly, I could go for that shrimp taco right about now!
The Extra Virgin Bistro was another spot that we enjoyed several times on this trip. With an Italian menu and their own roof top garden this was a wonderful place to spend a few hours and enjoy some incredible food. The “catch of the day” was often our first choice to order. Their crab cakes and appetizers were also wonderful. I'm so hungry right now!
The Terrace restaurant was another one of our favorites. The location is stunning and outdoor seating gives you some of the best views and sunsets you could ask for. This is a French influenced restaurant and again, fish was in abundance on the menu. Whatever the daily catch was, that's what we ordered.
So where do we stay in St. John? Right now a few of the larger resorts are still closed or just partially open. Caneel Bay is unfortunately still very devastated. The Westin is open but they are still doing construction and maintenance from the storm.
We have always rented a home through a company called “Catered To”. They have a great selection of villas for rent. They have been in this business for a long time, so they know how to make our stay very easy and special! There is nothing too small or too big for them to take care of. Tyler, who owns “Catered To” and his staff are incredible. Their company name is perfect because they really do cater to your every need. They can setup a chef made a meal delivery service. You can request certain meals you want before you arrive and they will bring it right to your house. Meals are freshly made and well prepared just for you. It is nowhere close to takeout. They can also stock your refrigerator with food for your arrival, which came in very handy this year! Since we have used “Catered To” for planning all of our trips to St. John for the past 18 years, it feels like going home and seeing family.
St. John is one of the most amazing places to visit. But even with all this beauty, sunshine, relaxation, and great people we are always homesick toward the end of vacation. That's a good thing though! Paradise is wonderful, but eventually home is where you want to be. We missed our dog Buddy, sleeping in our own bed, and our girls. But mostly, we missed Buddy!
Like Dorothy Gale says "There's no place like home".
Hi Everyone! So I decided to write about our trip to Italy. If you follow me on social media you probably saw the pictures and stories of our travels. I’ll share some of them within this post. We just returned a few weeks ago from our two-week vacation in Florence, Italy. And let me tell you it is an absolute dream there. I highly suggest everyone try and make it there at least once in your life. The people, food, architecture, and of course the River Arno are all just beyond beautiful.
We’ve been going to Florence every September for quite a few years now, and we absolutely love it! Except for the last two years, we were unable to go due to life getting in the way. So that made our trip this year and returning to the Lungarno, all the more special. We got back home just in time for peak foliage, which was really lucky for us. This year the foliage was stunning with brilliant colors rolling over the mountains. What a sight to come home to. But, I digress. Back to our Italy vacation.
First, traveling from Vermont to Italy is no easy journey. Actually, traveling anywhere from Vermont is always difficult, because our airport is so small. We start off by driving an hour from our home in Stowe to the Burlington airport. We then have a short one hour flight to Philadelphia. Then we have the long hall of the eight-hour flight to Rome, Italy. Finally, once we arrive in Rome we have a car service drive us to Florence and our ultimate destination, Hotel Lungarno! Wow, after all of that, a shower and a meal are in order.
We always stay at Hotel Lungarno. It’s a beautiful boutique hotel located directly on the River Arno. Each year when we arrive we find the same familiar faces welcoming us back. The staff is so special that it feels like coming home. The hotel is owned by the Ferragamo family. The attention to detail and making you feel comfortable is incredible. When we arrive at the hotel Champagne, caviar, chocolates, along with fresh flowers are waiting for us in our room. So nice! Since it is a smaller hotel you don’t get lost in the crowd. Everyone who works there knows your name. They remember the small things that you like, which make staying there one of the best parts of our vacation. They even remember the funny things that have happened on past trips. Like the one time, we were stuck at a restaurant during a cab strike and had no way to get back to the hotel. In between the time we arrived at the restaurant and the time we were finished eating our meal, the strike happened! The hotel had to send a small truck to pick us up and we were squeezed into the tiny front seat with me sitting on Vince’s lap and half my body out the window. We laughed so hard we cried all the way back to the hotel! The staff still remembers that ride till this day! Throughout our stay, we’ll come back to the room to find a great Tuscan wine or fresh flowers with a note waiting for us. I always save the notes!
We love Florence for the people, the food, the sites, and oh let’s not forget the shopping!! Since we stay at Hotel Lungarno we get a 10% discount at Ferragamo, which is always appreciated. Traveling to Europe is a great experience but one of my favorite parts is seeing the street style of the women there. We saw some beautiful fashion trends in major fashion houses like Dolce & Gabbana, Ferragamo, along with small boutiques. This year animal prints were being featured in everything including bags, shoes, coats, dresses, gloves, and hats. Basically, anything you can wear or carry! Also, it wasn’t just the typical animal print. They came in all different kinds of colors such as yellow, pink, lavender, green, blue, just stunning! Of course, I could not pass up on the animal prints so I bought a bag in haircalf and a pink coat that I wore in many of my photos, which checked that box. I love shopping in Florence because you see things that you don’t get to see in the States. Even in the large fashion houses, the choices are different so I always come home with something very unique. This year I was looking for a green bag, and I ended up finding two. One from D&G and the other one from Ferragamo in beautiful luxe materials of suede and leather. Of course, I got both of them!
Enough about shopping, on to the food. Most of the restaurants we go to are family owned, inexpensive, and amazing. How do they make pasta that light and delicious? Osteria del Pavone is one of our all-time favorite restaurants. It is owned by the family that runs Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco, which we equally love. The Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco has been in Florence for 35 years. When we are being seated we walk through the kitchen to get to our table, it definitely gives me Goodfellow vibes. They do have another entrance but that’s my favorite way to go! Our must-haves on the menu are the Fritto Misto, which one night they made special for us upon request. Also, the steak tartare is so fresh and tasty, plus it's made at the table by the chef himself. My all-time favorite is Pappardelle pasta in boar sauce, I die!!! We love everyone at this restaurant. Above is a photo of Vince with all the guys just having too much fun!
We took a day trip to Tuscany, about a two-hour drive from our hotel. We went to a small little town called Monteggiori. Monteggiori is a charming village in the Camaiore area that was first mentioned existing in the year 1224. To arrive into the town you must walk, there is no access for cars. It's medieval fortress still stands and the village itself is like going back in time. The winding roads are just beautiful to walk through. The peacefulness of the village is wonderful, there are a few small shops and one restaurant. In exploring we kept coming upon stray cats everywhere. Certainly more cats than residents! This village is all about the stunning views and walking the same steps that people walked almost 800 years ago.
After leaving Monteggiori our driver took us to a beautiful vineyard lined with hundreds of cypress trees. Here we got to capture some great photos. The landscape was stunning and again the quiet and beauty of the area was wonderful. Rose bushes were lined throughout the vineyard making it even more pretty and romantic.
We went on to Chianti and the vineyard called Famiglia Mazzarrini for lunch and wine tastings. Our wines included both white and red and were paired with a traditional Tuscan menu. Handmade egg pasta from eggs collected in their hen house, truffles (one of my favorites), vegetables from their organic garden, and simple desserts. It was a great way to spend an afternoon. After all that we had the beautiful two-hour scenic drive back to Florence. When we got back to our room we sat on our balcony and enjoyed a Super Tuscan wine and watched the world go by.
So with all that pasta, pizza, and wine, I ended up only gaining about two pounds. Why is that you may ask? Well, it's because we walked everywhere. We would wake up, eat breakfast, and hit the streets running. Florence is such an easy city to walk. We would be out for hours just enjoying the sites and the wonderful weather. So along with my high heels, it’s a major must to pack some good walking shoes. The Ponte Vecchio, which is one of the big tourist sites, is right next to our hotel. Our balcony has a wonderful view of it. Most days it is wall to wall of people. The shops consist of jewelry stores with the most incredible custom jewelry that you’ve ever seen. As you go further down there are art dealers, restaurants, and a huge open market that sells everything and anything you can think of.
One morning we woke up at 5 AM to get ready to go to the bridge. We wanted to take some photos and not have to deal with so many tourists. Remember how I said the streets were filled with tourists see photos below for the comparison.
We have never seen it like that before! It was just us and a few coffee shops that were beginning to open up. The streets were empty and peacefully quiet! It was worth waking up so early up for. This year Vince had the task of taking all photos for the blog. This was new for Vince. He has never been a great photographer, and it had actually become an ongoing joke within our family. Most of the pictures he would take have his thumb covering half the lens, or they would just come out blurry. I've got to say he proved us all wrong on this trip because his photos turned out so well. We got some great shots! Vince is thinking about a whole other career now! It also added another fun thing for us to do on this vacation. We got a lot of laughs doing it. Vince had no qualms about telling people to move out of the way. He actually went up to one group of tourists and told them they had to move because they had been in that spot long enough. Oh, that man of mine!
One of our best days was when it rained all day. We slept late and read a bit in the morning. Then we got dressed and went to the lounge to graze on some tomatoes and burrata, great cheese, and of course wine. It was a perfect day for relaxing and just enjoying time together.
Vince and I love to just chill and spend time together on our vacations. It's just great for us to get away together to unplug. No phones, computers, dogs, kids, it's just the two of us. We loved coming back to our room in the afternoon after seeing the city, or evenings after dinner, and sitting on our balcony. We would people watch and just enjoy the beauty of the area. It gives us time to recharge, sleep in, read a book, and just enjoy each other's company. It's so important to unplug and get away from some the of stresses of life.
We also met so many people from all over. It's so easy to start up a conversation in a restaurant or at the hotel lounge. The best group of people we met and chatted with were, believed or not, from Vermont! They had actually lived in Philadelphia before they moved to Vermont. Kind of unreal! The world seems to be getting smaller and smaller. We had a great conversation so we traded emails and now we have some new friends.
So packing up and leaving was tough. The trip home is always a killer. We wake at 3:30 AM to be on the road to Rome by 4:30 AM. Do the entire trip back to Philly and then the killer, a five-hour layover before our flight back to Vermont. It is the worst. We then fly to Vermont, drive to Stowe. When we finally get home, we get right into our bed, after saying hello to our Buddy, for a long, well-needed sleep.
Next year we’ll get to do it all over again. Maybe with less luggage next time (HA!). So, for now, Ciao Florence! | 2019-04-21T14:59:12Z | https://www.mrs-stafford.com/blog/category/travel |
Richard Paulson joined Ipsen in February 2018 and brings more than 25 years of global biopharmaceutical industry experience to the company, with notable achievements for his leadership, vision, and exceptional execution in leading and growing businesses, both in the US and internationally. With a patient-focused mindset and strong track record of successfully building high-performing, customer-centric teams, Richard is responsible for driving continued growth in both the US and Canadian markets across key therapeutic areas of oncology, neurology, and rare diseases. Richard serves as a member of the Executive Leadership Team and reports directly to David Meek, CEO of Ipsen.
Richard joined Ipsen from Amgen, where he held varying leadership positions across Europe and North America during his 10 years at the company. In his most recent role as Vice President and General Manager, US Oncology Business Unit, Richard led numerous successful product launches in the oncology and hematology therapeutic areas. Richard also demonstrated his innate leadership ability and passion for employee growth and mentorship through the implementation of a highly successful engagement and people development strategy. Prior to leading the US Oncology Business, Richard served as the Vice President of marketing for the US Oncology Business; General Manager, Amgen Germany; and General Manager, Amgen Central & Eastern Europe. Prior to Amgen, Richard held a number of global leadership positions at Pfizer, including serving as General Manager of Pfizer South Africa and Pfizer Czech Republic. Richard also held a variety of sales, marketing, and market access roles with increasing seniority at GlaxoWellcome in Canada.
Shahrzad oversees the commercial performance of the Ipsen North America product platform, defining the strategy, design, and roadmap for our products and ensuring they can compete successfully in a highly competitive market across vertical and horizontal market segments. She also provides direction, leadership, and support for developing portfolio compounds and assessing external business opportunities.
Shahrzad has over 15 years of diverse experience across over 20 therapeutic areas in both small molecules and biologics. As a global biopharmaceutical executive, she has led commercial development and lifecycle planning for multiple marketed products. Most recently, she served as the Chief Strategy Officer for Iridium Therapeutics, an early venture focused on developing breast cancer adjuvant therapies. Prior to that, she was the Vice President and Product Innovation Head for Sanofi Global General Medicines and Emerging Markets, where she built a portfolio of value-added incremental innovations. She also served, among other successive leadership roles, as Sanofi’s North American VP of New Product Planning, Launch Excellence, and Alliance Management, overseeing portfolio commercial development, late-stage biologic assets’ launch preparations, and smooth operations of Sanofi strategic alliances in North America.
Shahrzad started her pharma career with Pfizer Pharmaceutical in Global New Product Market Analytics. She holds a PhD. in Business Administration and Applied Statistics and a BA in Chemistry from the University of Texas.
Brad Bailey is responsible for leading Ipsen’s Oncology and Endocrinology Business Unit, including accelerating portfolio growth to better meet the needs of patients living with oncological and endocrine diseases in North America. Brad brings more than 25 years of biotech and medical device industry expertise spanning sales leadership, marketing, training, operations, and market access in oncology. Brad previously served as Ipsen’s Head of US Oncology Sales & Clinical Nurse Educator Team.
Prior to joining Ipsen, Brad held leadership positions at several top life sciences companies. As Principal, Life Sciences Strategy & Transformation, and North America Oncology Lead at Capgemini Consulting, Brad led commercial and operational effectiveness, new product launches, market access, and reimbursement programs for leading biotech firms. Before joining Capgemini Consulting, Brad built a strong track record of success in the oncology space. As Vice President at AVEO Oncology, Brad built a high-performing commercial field organization in preparation for the successful launch of AVEO’s first product in renal cell carcinoma. While at UCB Biopharma, Brad led a launch that quadrupled the company’s revenue over the course of 3 years. In addition to these roles, Brad drove commercial performance and organizational productivity at leading companies, such as Stryker Corporation and Pfizer, Inc., where he successfully led the launch of a blockbuster TKI.
Brad received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Clemson University. He has also completed executive coursework at Harvard Business School.
Jennifer Benenson brings more than 20 years of experience as counsel in the pharmaceutical industry to her role as Senior Vice President and North American General Counsel. She is responsible for managing the delivery of legal services to Ipsen business units in North America and advising the leadership team on strategic matters.
Prior to joining Ipsen in 2011, Jennifer served as Vice President and General Counsel at Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., for 10 years; Vice President of Legal Affairs at Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, and Vice President, Legal, at Medco Health Solutions Inc.
Jennifer earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Brown University, including a year of study at the London School of Economics in political science, and her JD from Columbia University School of Law.
In her role as Senior Vice President of North American Human Resources (HR), and Global Talent Acquisition, Lisa is responsible for developing and leading the North American HR strategy and driving global talent acquisition strategies. Lisa also serves as a member of the Global HR Leadership team.
Prior to joining Ipsen, Lisa spent nearly a decade at Biogen, most recently serving as Vice President of HR, Global Therapeutic Operations and Executive Search, providing strategic support to the US and European operations as well as supporting growth strategies and setting up new entities in Latin America and Asia Pacific. During her tenure at Biogen, she held a number of positions within the company, including Global Head of Executive Search, Vice President of Corporate Functions, and Head of HR for the Hemophilia Business Unit. Before Biogen, Lisa worked at Smiths Medical, where she led HR for North America for 2 years. Earlier in her career, Lisa spent 9 years at Novartis in various leadership roles and locations supporting Sales & Global Marketing organizations in addition to other roles, including Director of HR supporting the Corporate Group in New York, Head of HR supporting the Corporate Intellectual Property group in Basel, Switzerland, and Head of HR for the Vaccines Division in Massachusetts.
Lisa holds a Master’s of Human Resources Management from Rutgers University and an undergraduate degree in English from Montclair State University.
Ed was appointed to the role of General Manager at Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals Canada Inc. in October 2018. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing all of Ipsen’s operations across all therapeutic areas in Canada. Ed is a member of the Ipsen North America Leadership Team and the Ipsen Global Leadership Team.
Ed brings to Ipsen a wealth of experience and over 30 years in the pharmaceutical industry within the Canadian market. Prior to joining Ipsen, he led the development of an early stage biotech company as a joint venture between MaRS Innovation (Toronto) and The Center for Drug Research and Development (Vancouver). Ed also spent time as President & CEO of AstraZeneca Canada Inc., part of AstraZeneca PLC, one of the world’s leading biopharmaceutical companies.
In 2012, Ed led the Canadian establishment of Almirall, a start-up biopharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of respiratory diseases. Prior to establishing Almirall in Canada, Ed held a number of executive roles at GlaxoSmithKline Canada, including Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Public Affairs & Reimbursement. During this time, he was accountable for the marketing and sales of all GSK pharmaceutical products, including specialty care, oncology, and vaccines, achieving strong commercial performance and employee engagement.
In addition to his role at Ipsen, Ed is currently Vice-Chair of the board of Life Sciences Ontario and a Director on the board of Clinical Trials Ontario. He is also Vice-Chair of the Health & Biosciences Economic Strategy Table for the Federal Ministry of Health and Ministry of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, which recently published a set of foundational recommendations to accelerate the growth of the health & biosciences sector in Canada.
Bob serves as Vice President, North American Government Affairs and Public Policy, responsible for leading strategy development as well as liaising with government officials, public agencies, industry organizations, policy-setting bodies ,and third-party advocates regarding legislation, rulemaking, and general healthcare issues.
Prior to joining Ipsen, Bob was at Sanofi for 7 years, most recently serving as the Head of Public Affairs Competitive Intelligence, where he created a novel competitive intelligence group for North American public affairs activities. While at Sanofi, he also led the public policy function for all of Sanofi’s US and Canadian functional units and subsidiaries, covering prescription drugs, R&D, consumer products, and animal health.
Prior to Sanofi, Bob worked for Eisai Inc. for 12 years in roles of increasing responsibility. At Eisai, he launched and managed US Federal/State Government Relations and Public Policy. He also led regulatory strategies and government stakeholder engagement for all ex-US jurisdictions in North and South America as the Senior Director, Strategic and Public Policy for the Americas, New Markets Group for Eisai.
Bob earned his MBA from Columbia University Graduate School of Business and his BA in Business Economics from Canisius College.
Al is an accomplished attorney with more than 20 years of experience in corporate and international law. At Ipsen, Al is responsible for driving and maintaining a comprehensive and effective domestic Ethics and Compliance program, leading the way in fostering a culture of integrity and ethical business practices across the company.
Most recently, Al was President and founder of Valcore, a consulting firm specializing in designing and implementing customized compliance solutions for companies in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, among other highly regulated industries. In this capacity, Al functioned as his clients’ virtual Chief Compliance & Privacy Officer, overseeing compliance communication and marketing strategies, risk assessments, auditing and monitoring plans, policy and training development, investigative strategies, third-party due diligence and compliance program effectiveness. Prior to Valcore, Al served for 5 years as Vice President of Compliance and Ethics for Diageo, a British multinational alcoholic beverages company headquartered in London, leading the company’s Compliance and Ethics program for its North American region. Al also spent 7 years at Merck & Co., Inc., serving first as Director of Legal Affairs, overseeing legal aspects of the company’s operations in 13 Latin American countries, and then as Regional Business Practices and Compliance Officer, where he led the development of a standard business practices and compliance program for Latin America and Puerto Rico, managing, designing, and implementing global programs.
Al received his law degree (JD equivalent) from the Universidad Santa Maria, Caracas – Venezuela, and later attended the University of Miami School of Law, where he received his US JD. He is admitted to the New York Bar and the Caracas Bar and received the Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP) accreditation from the Compliance Certification Board.
Ron is Vice President of Value and Access. In this role, he leads the Strategic Pricing, Account Management, Trade & Distribution, Reimbursement, and Patient Services functions. He is an accomplished managed-markets professional with expertise in consultative sales, marketing, pricing strategies, product revitalization, and life-cycle management.
Prior to joining Ipsen in 2014, Ron was Vice President, Managed Markets, at Mylan Specialty, where he provided strategic direction to senior executives to ensure long-term growth and profitability for Mylan’s branded, generic, and biosimilar businesses. He has also held positions at Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc., Novartis, and Hoechst Roussel Pharmaceuticals, Inc,.
Ron earned his MBA in Finance from Fairleigh Dickinson and an undergraduate degree in Economics from Rutgers University–New Brunswick.
Bill brings over 20 years of experience in maximizing business results in complex global organizations to his role as Vice President of Business Operations at Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. Bill is responsible for the analytical needs of the organization, including forecasting, market research and analytics, competitive intelligence, IT, digital, and commercial operations.
Prior to joining Ipsen, Bill spent 2 years at Kadmon Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company in New York City, as its Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer. As a member of the executive team at Kadmon, Bill had overall accountability for leveraging IT to drive innovation, operational excellence, and shareholder value for all areas of the business, including R&D, Commercial, and Corporate. Prior to that, Bill spent 17 years with Daiichi Sankyo, serving for 14 of them as the company’s Chief Information Officer, where he chaired the Global IT Steering C,ommittee and sat on the North American executive leadership team. In these roles, he was accountable for setting strategic direction for enterprise systems (Commercial, Corporate, and R&D) and governing all global IT standards, shared operations, programs, and policies for all areas of the business.
Karla MacDonald is a global life sciences leader who brings to Ipsen 20 years’ experience guiding business strategy, leading communications and building talent for companies ranging from small biotechs to large pharma. At Ipsen, Karla is responsible for leading communications and patient advocacy across the US and Canada.
Prior to joining Ipsen, Karla held numerous senior positions at Merck & Co, Inc., and served on Merck’s Global Communications and R&D division’s leadership teams. Most recently, she led International and Corporate Responsibility Communications, where she was responsible for advancing and aligning Merck’s communications strategy across its 140 markets outside of the US. Before that, Karla led communications for Merck Research Laboratories, Merck’s R&D division.
Karla also held strategic communications client counsel roles at MacDougall Biomedical Communications and Feinstein Kean Healthcare, and managed investor relations for Creative BioMolecules.
Karla is a Board member and volunteer mentor with the Canadian Entrepreneurs in New England, working with leaders of Canadian-led companies expanding into the US. She is also a lead mentor with Canadian Technology Accelerator, helping tech and biotech companies gain access to in-market entrepreneurial resources to help them grow and compete internationally.
Karla holds a bachelor’s degree in Education and a diploma in Communications from McGill University in Montréal, Canada.
Harry brings more than 30 years of business experience and a keen understanding of the pharmaceutical industry to his role as Chief Financial Officer for Ipsen North America.
Prior to joining Ipsen, Harry held Chief Financial Officer positions at CorMedix Inc. and Mylan Specialty. Harry previously oversaw Finance and Finance Operations for the Sterile Business Unit as a Vice President of Finance at Catalent Pharma Solutions. Before joining Catalent, Harry spent 13 years at Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc., in the roles of Vice President of Business Planning and Administration, Controller, and Executive Director for Managed Markets. At Bayer, he implemented an efficient global business unit model for a $2 billion business unit and spearheaded strategic and operative planning, portfolio analysis, business development support ,and integration.
Harry is a certified public accountant with a BBA in Accounting from Pace University and an MBA from Lehigh University.
Saurabh joined Ipsen in September 2018 with more than 15 years of marketing experience across multiple therapeutic areas, including an in-depth expertise in oncology. Saurabh partners with the North American Leadership Team to advance Ipsen’s mission and ensure alignment of corporate strategy, global programs, and initiatives to drive agility and execution with a biotech mindset.
Prior to joining Ipsen, Saurabh was responsible for the lifecycle management and commercial development of TESARO’s lead oncology asset in ovarian cancer. He also spent 10 years in a variety of commercial roles at Biogen, during which time he built the Business Intelligence & Operations function for Biogen and was responsible for restructuring and expanding the company’s US sales force in advance of launch for their multiple sclerosis therapy. Saurabh also built the Commercial Assessment function at Biogen and designed a commercial organization in the EU for the launch of the company’s biosimilar portfolio.
Saurabh holds both a PhD and an MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Mississippi and a BS in Pharmacy from the University of Pune in India. | 2019-04-23T14:26:41Z | https://www.ipsen.com/us/leadership-team/ |
Daniel Taure is a member of the Crusaders of the Truth. He is a paladin, serving the platinum dragon, Bahamut. He fights against the dark forces of the world, trying to bring peace and justice to everyone he can, while trying to find some kind of peace for himself. He is played by Hunter.
Daniel is Half-Elf, born from a High Elf father and a Human mother. He is about average height, but a bit lighter side in terms of weight. He has straight, short brown hair, which he does his best to keep tidy. His pointed ears are still quite noticeable through his hair though. The shape of his head is quite thin and slanted, but he does have a bit of a more rounded chin. His skin is quite pale, a result of having a white mother and high elf father.
When the campaign started, Daniel wore chain-mail armor over the thin set of padding underneath the armor, which included metal gauntlets that covered his hands. On his legs he wore a simple set of brown trousers, with tall, brown boots to cover his feet. On his forehead rested a headband, with a small diamond shape in the front, representing his paladin status. Finally, the holy symbol of Try is hung around his neck from a chain. Now, he wears a set of burning red Rathalos armor. Black spikes pikes point out from the upper part of the armor, near the neck and shoulders, while more flattened spikes cover the rest. He still wears common clothes underneath, though they are not visible as the armor covers most of his body. A new holy symbol, that of Bahamut, now hangs around his neck. The only similarity from when he first started is the circlet he first got when he became a paladin.
He also speaks with a very upper class British accent, which reflects the land he lived in and those he associated with.
Daniel is considered to be very serious by his teammates, to the point where he can come off as quite the buzzkill. This stems from his duty to his god, as well as his values of helping those in need, which doesn't have much time for goofing off in his eyes. This has started a running gag of Daniel either becoming annoyed or down right frustrated by the groups antics, some of which are done to spur these reactions. However, he has shown that he is able to cut loose every now and then, such as participating in a carnival event with Motor Knight, having a drink at a bar (and becoming really drunk), and attending an evening performance of an opera. Overtime, Daniel has become more loose with telling his friends off, and the methods he allows to bring good to the world.
Daniel has shown to have a limited understanding of the outside world, having grown up on a small island and spent so much of his life either training or living in a forest. Thus, when confronted with something new or alien to him, it usually leaves him either confused or disturbed. His knowledge has slowly started to expand after spending four years out in the world, but there is still so much that Daniel does not know about.
Recently, Daniel has taken a drastic turn in his behaviour, with no indication of reversal any time soon. Starting when Misere confronted the Crusaders, which ended in Daniel killing her out of anger and vengeance, his old demons started to arise. As events transpired, Daniel tried to quell the demons, even going as far as changing his deity and his oath, but it was all in vein. After his new home was destroyed, leaving many dead, thus mirroring what happened to Seerity, Daniel broke.
Now, he remains mostly silent, allowing others to make plans and only speaking to ask questions or relay necessary information. During combat, he still remains efficient with his sword and spells, but shows no emotion to what happens around him. He has said there's no way to explain how he's feeling, but the others recognize it as severe trauma. His only focus now is salvaging anything good that is left on the planet, as well as finding some kind of hope for the world. As for himself...that remains to be seen.
Daniel was born in Forcysti, the forest town of Caeloria, to an elf man and female woman. They moved to the village of Seerity about a year later. Daniel enjoyed his childhood in the forest, learning to climb and interact with the animals around him. Around the age of 8 his father started basic lessons with a blade, while his mother, using her druid powers, showed Daniel the wonders of magic and nature. All in all, he had a very nice life, away from any sort of prejudice or political conflict, and felt like his home was the safest place in the world.
This all changed one day when he was 9. He was awoken to the smell of smoke, and screams coming from outside. He quickly exited his cottage to find the village on fire. As he stared in shock, a figure loomed over him. Daniel's father attacked the man, and promptly went down from the shadow. His wife rushed to his aid, while screaming for Daniel to run. Seeing nothing but fire, Daniel's only instinct was what he knew; he climbed the large tree near the entrance of the village, clinging to the trunk and, for the first time in his life, praying that it would not collapse.
When the screams died down, Daniel carefully made his way down the tree and stumbled through the ruins. He couldn't make out much through the smoke, other than shadows on the ground. When he reached where his cottage was, he saw the burnt, destroyed bodies of his parents. Horrified, Daniel ran into the woods, sobbing and mentally scared. He spent many months alone, surviving off the wilderness before a small group from the local Paladin's Guild found him, to their utter astonishment.
He was taken under the wing of Jamvere Baelron, the leader of the guild. The elf helped Daniel recover from his experience and, after Daniel pleaded with him, reluctantly agreed to build the half-elf into a paladin. For the next eleven years, Daniel trained in the ways of sword fighting, divine magic, and what it meant to be a paladin. When he turned 18, Daniel partook in a Vision Quest and was chosen by Tyr, the god of justice, as be his follower. Over the years, Daniel's views became quite shallow, seeing the world as good and evil, and swore that if he ever found out who destroyed his home and killed his parents, he'd make sure they regret letting him get away.
During one of his days training out in the forest, a goblin appeared before him through a portal, explaining to him that he was finally needed on a quest after so many years, which Daniel agreed to without a second thought. After passing through the portal, he met with Rodney Rune, Jook Nukem and TV Wizard. While a bit confused by the odd band of adventurers, Daniel traveled with them to Mount Gerk.
Travelling the through the tasks and battles set for them, Daniel finds himself impressed with the groups skills (specifically Jook's), and appreciates their willingness to work with him, even though they only just met him. The paladin helped the party work through the challenges with his holy powers and fighting skills, such as identifying mimics, or protecting party members with his shield.
During the fight of the demonic snail, Daniel learned a hard lesson about slashing without thought. He attacked the monster while lighting his blade on fire, causing the being to explode in his face, sending him flying backwards and almost knocking him out. When the fight was over, the demon attempted to seduce the party, which Daniel was having none of, until the snail mentioned his mother, Emily Taure. The demon claimed he knew what happened, and the paladin immediately became aggressive, demanding to know what the demon claimed. The party forced the snail into a jar, which Daniel chose to watch over.
When they arrived back at *town where the quest started*, the group stopped at a bar to gather information. Daniel talked to a tiefling who warned him not to hand the demon to the king, and that a rebel group was forming lead by *EDDY HELP ME HERE*. When he was finished, he learned Motor Knight and Jook had robbed a bank while he was busy. Angry, Daniel stole the money Motor Knight had while the latter dealt with a gnome, and returned it to the bank. He was caught trying to do the same to Jook, and told her that he had his eye on her.
After the Doom Snail got away, Daniel joined in on the siege of the castle. They fought the Doom Snail head on, and managed to defeat it. Trapping it again in a jar, they ended up trapped in the castle's treasure vault by a ton of orcs. Motor Knight put his trust in Daniel to throw a Holy Hand Grenade, but this ended poorly, forcing the group to hide in a force-field. While coming up with a plan, TV Wizard suddenly screamed "TENSER'S FLYING DISC!" The group flew out of the castle, dropping another grenade on the hoard. Landing outside, they meet Doofus Loofus, who brings them back to the rebel group. Together, they send the Doom Snail into an unknown dimension, and the party celebrates before heading their separate ways. Daniel, in particular, decides to stay in Mundus Memia to help with any tasks they ask of him.
A year after the events of the Doom Snail, Daniel gets a letter from Baron Lemony in Lardrik, calling for a monster problem in the land. Daniel teams up with Doofus, who was sent with Daniel to aid him, a bounty hunter named Doug Douginston who Daniel hired, and old teammate Jook Nookem, who Daniel had sent Doug to retrieve. Right away, tension appeared between Daniel and Doug, as Doug expected more money from Daniel for retrieving Jook, and Daniel didn't approve of the bounty hunter's profession.
During the two year gap, Daniel continued to work for Mundus Memia for a bit, before being summoned back to Caeloria. He was told about tensions brewing between the Fey and the residents of the island, and stayed a while to help Whiterem rebuild. He was present in the town when the first attack from the Fey occurred. Not much damage occurred to the city, but the residents were clearly shaken, after experiencing another attack in under a year.
For the next year and a half, Daniel worked mainly in Caeloria, trying to quell the uprising of the Fey and bring an end to the battles, while also performing duties for Mundus Memia when asked. This made Daniel very busy, and thus he barely contacted anyone in the Crusaders leading up their meeting. He did attend one of Rodney's concerts however (which was unknown to the Dragonborn Bard), and listened for any news on Jook, Doug and Motor Knight, in case they got into trouble.
While his allies were off across the seas, Daniel stayed in Pharepaix with Doofus to oversea the construction of the keep, make preparations for the groups return, and start to get acquainted with the people of the city. Most importantly, however, Daniel began to do research on Misere. He eventually cornered one of her servants, threatening the man in an alley for information. He learned of her place in Sicarus, and had it confirmed she was present the night of Seerity's destruction. Daniel also learned that there were three other perpetrators: Flanourin, a well known archmage, Alonso, the leader of The Circle of Nosferatu, and an archer, who was high up in the ranks of Cinere. For his information, and also pity for what the man had gone through, Daniel offered him a job at the keep.
For the next several months, Daniel helped around the community and the keep. He met a couple of the keep's guards, Rofim and Peace, and got along well with the half orc. Overall, Daniel enjoyed his time and came to love Pharepaix.
One day, Daniel was participating in a service at one of the churches when he noticed that the people in the pews were a bit noisier. Glancing over, he saw, to his surprise and slight dismay, his group waiving to him in the crowd ("They had to act like this in here?!"). He quickly caught up with them, but hid what he had learned about his past. It didn't seem like much had happened in the past eight months, although Daniel registered tension between Doug and Apollo. The group hangs out for the day and eventually starts to head back to the finished keep. However, they are apprehended by a figure, who reveals themselves to be none other than Misere.
Furious, Daniel threw himself into battle. His anger started to blind him, with his sole focus on the assassin. When Motor Knight knocked her unconscious, Daniel quickly tied and roughly dragged her off towards Alucard's castle. While she was taken to the prison, Alucard revealed a book she had on her possessions: the name's of everyone she had killed. Daniel flipped through the book and his beliefs were confirmed. Everyone from his village, including his parents and himself, were in the book, and their names were crossed out. Doug's real name was also discovered in the book, but Daniel wasn't thinking clearly. He demanded to see Misere.
At the prison, Daniel entered the cell with Doug, and showed her the page of Seerity. Misere smiled, and talked about it being one of her biggest jobs and finest work. Then, she asked if Daniel was the one who got away. While hiding his emotions, Daniel was in shock: if she knew he was alive, the others who did the job must know as well. He asked Doug if he wanted to say or do anything, and when the bounty hunter refused, Daniel mocked Misere's mistake in letting him live. She admitted it would be the biggest mistake of her life, and told Daniel unless there was anything else, she would be getting to work planning her escape.
Daniel proceeded to plunge his blade into her gut, activating a high level smite, while stating the kill was for his village. Misere died with a smile still on her face. The paladin spent the rest of the night drunk, and when he went to sleep, he found to his complete dismay, that his nightmares were back...and had gotten worse.
After everything, Daniel's mind was in turmoil. A being who enjoyed killing had risen to the Upper Planes, something Daniel didn't think would happen. This added onto everything else that Daniel was thinking about, and he couldn't get his thoughts straight. After the party got back, Daniel went off to a temple and prayed for help. He asked for help in figuring out what to do. He only heard one sentence from his god; "It is not my job to figure out who you are".
Daniel took this to heart. Over the next couple days, he went to talk with most everyone at the keep privately. Each conversation varied from wanting to understand his companions better, discussing the crusaders' next move...and Daniel's decision to leave the group for an indefinite amount of time.
After all the conversations, Daniel packed his bags, left his Javelin of Lightning with a note in the courtyard for the others, and left.
During the events of this arc, Daniel returned back to his home in Caeloria. He immediately went to Jamvere and asked to do another Vision Quest, believing that who he served and what we swore no longer was accurate. In the days leading up to the quest, Daniel talked with the locals and his fellow Guild members about his adventures. While not advertising what he was doing, some eventually caught on, and the half-elf received some cold shoulders.
When it came time to do the quest, Daniel prepared himself for the worst. As he entered, he heard the sounds of gods talking, calling to him, and even Tyr yelling angrily. Soon, he came upon a memory of himself in his hut. Jamvere came in and told him someone had a mission for him; his first mission in Mundus Memia. The memory stops, and before him appears Mr. N. As the memory faded, they were now in a hazy, unknown area. Mr N explained to Daniel that he wanted the half-elf's help, explaining that he had a plan he wanted to enact, and that he wanted Daniel's help.
As Daniel questioned the strange being, Mr N confessed that he had a plan for the world, and that when everything was done, it would all be under his control. He promised Daniel that he would have a place in his new world, and that he would have the peace he so desperately wanted. To Daniel surprise, he continued to explain that Motor Knight had a deal with him, and that Doug did too, although the bounty hunter did not know this.
Daniel wavered, thinking of accepting the deal, but asked about his status as a paladin. Mr N stated that he would simply have to live as what he was; an oath-breaker. Horrified and disgusted, Daniel venomously refused the deities offer, proclaiming he'd rather die trying to give as many people happiness and peace, rather than to live for his own benefit. Mr N scolded Daniel, saying it was already too late, before vanishing. Daniel woke up, with no symbol lying by his side.
He asked Jamvere to try again, stating the quest was tampered with, but Daniel already feared that it was too late for him. As Jamvere began preparations once more, Daniel wandered off into the forest. He knelt down and prayed. He explained what he had seen, and pleaded that if there was anyone who was willing to give him a final chance, Daniel would follow them to the grave. Suddenly, a wave of dizziness hit him, and he passed out.
He saw Rodney walking by him through a strange mist, before vanishing as a gleaming dragon appeared before him. Introducing himself as Bahamut, the Platinum Dragon, the god explained that he had heard what Daniel had said, and recognizes the threat of Mr. N. He asks Daniel to take up the god's name, and not only fight for good, justice, peace and whatever else Daniel thought was morally right, but also fight for the redemption of others. Daniel gladly accepted the offer.
He woke up once more to find Jamvere beside him, and as Daniel looked around, he found the holy symbol of Bahamut next to him. Taking out Tyr's symbol, he found it cracked and battered, as if the life had left it. He heard the voice of Tyr wishing him luck on his new endeavors. Thanking the god of justice for everything, Daniel dropped the holy symbol in the forest, and walked away.
A couple days later, Daniel found the bounty hunter Spike Spiegel at his door. Although cautious, Spike promises he isn't here for revenge. He explains he was asked by the Crusaders to get him back as quick as possible, and that he also was required to bring Daniel back in a sack. Although immensely confused, slightly annoyed and a bit amused at the whole explanation, Daniel promised to pay Spike a good chunk of money if he instead tricked the Crusaders with a bag of potatoes while Daniel just came back on his own.
With that, Daniel said his goodbyes, headed to the teleportation circle nearby and headed back to the keep.
Short version: Daniel is really messed up but doesn't want to be the possible husk he saw, and really wants to make sure everyone is okay. FULL EXPLANATION AT SOME POINT!!!
Daniel considers Rodney to be one of his closest friends, as Rodney is probably the least hard on Daniel when it comes to his behavior. As Rodney seems to balance relaxing and working so effortlessly, Daniel envies Rodney somewhat, and seems more willing to relax when he's around.
Daniel and Rodney have grown close enough to the point where they open up to each other personally on multiple occasions, whether Rodney is asking Daniel for wisdom on personal situations, or if Daniel is asking Rodney how to handle the other Crusaders. Above all else, Daniel knows that Rodney will always have his back.
Daniel's feelings towards Jook are those similar to a guardian or even parent. He has shown to be impressed with her abilities on numerous occasions, and he is quite certain that she can take care of herself. However, he's been very vocal about how he disapproves of her thieving ways, which has brought up conflict between the two. He's always keeping an eye on her, in case she decides to pull something he deems "inexcusable".
That being said, Daniel truly cares a lot about the rouge, clearly shown when he hugged her after they escaped from the Plane of Earth. He tells her that the group is there for her, and that she doesn't have to hide herself from them, implying that he wants to get to know the rouge on a more personal level. Jook has also helped Daniel see that the world isn't so black and white when it comes to good and evil.
With Jook seemingly gone with no explanation, Daniel is saddened by her disappearance and prays that she is safe after the demon attacks.
Doofus is another good friend of Daniel's, although there relationship is quite different from Rodney's. They started out as acquaintances, assigned to a task together without ever having worked together before. During an incident with Hob-Goblins, where Doofus revealed a large majority of the party and almost got them all killed, Daniel very physically expressed his anger, and Doofus took offence.
Overtime, the two have started to build a more personal relationship. For one thing, Doofus was the first person Daniel told about his village and family, and Daniel showed concern when it seemed Doofus was taking his failures very hard. After spending 8 months together while they're keep was being built, the two bonded more over research and training. Presently, the two have a sort of best friend kind of relationship, which mostly results in Daniel teasing and annoying Doofus, especially when calling him the nickname 'Pan'.
Daniel and Motor Knight have an unbalanced and wild relationship. The two tend to clash quite a bit, as Motor Knight's wild antics counter Daniel's logical and pure ideas. MK has sometimes gone out of his way to irritate Daniel for his own amusement, leading to a usually frustrated feeling towards the mercenary from Daniel.
However, beneath all of this is a certain level of respect. The two can work well as a duo in battle, with them both being swordsman. Outside of battle, they find ways to enjoy each other's company, whether that's going for a drink or participating in a cage fight competition. They have gone as far as to say they are bros, the term of which Daniel learned from Motor Knight. The trust between them has been strained due to certain events (Motor Knight's robbing of the bank in Arc 2, Daniel's impulsive stabbing of Misere and a demon), but after a recent talk where Motor Knight explained his past, the trust between them seems to be mending. Also, Daniel wants to take Motor Knight more seriously...sometimes.
Daniel never expected to feel the way he feels about Doug now compared to when they first met. Originally, Daniel hired Doug to retrieve Jook for him, promising him a reward for his troubles. After this, Doug started to travel with Daniel and the other Crusaders, thus becoming part of the group. The original relationship between the pair was rocky, since Daniel was a paladin and Doug was a Bounty Hunter/Assassin. This placed some distrust in Daniel, similar to that he had with Jook and MK. He also was constantly annoyed with Doug asking him where his money was, as there was a miscommunication in the price for Jook's safety.
This all changed when they meet two years later for the first meeting of Lux Aeterna. Doug was offered a large sum of money by the group Sicarus to murder the Crusaders, but instead chose to reveal this information to the others, particularly Daniel, as he said he believed Daniel would get everyone listening to each other about the topic. Doug's faith in Daniel, coupled with the fact that Doug chose his companions over money, deeply moved Daniel, and he realized that Doug was more than just a Bounty Hunter. After Doug revealed his past involving his two sets of parents and what happened to him, Daniel realized how similar he and Doug are. He has admitted to Doug that he trusts Doug a lot now, maybe even the most out of everyone, which is shown when he entrusts the Earth Ring to the bounty hunter.
Daniel's feelings towards Apollo are quite mixed. While he doesn't like what the pirate did or who he associated with, Daniel believes that the dragonborn isn't entirely bad. The pirate has clearly shown his willingness to stand by the Crusaders, even against his own crew, and recently revealed to even be married. There is a clear, though unsaid, feeling of respect between the two of them. However, everything isn't entirely happy and friendly between them. Apollo can still act greedy and harsh, which Daniel does not appreciate. The pirate also can be vocal about his disapproval of Daniel in certain occasions, which Daniel will return in kind.
At the end of the day, Daniel knows he would care if the pirate died, as his trial with the Raven Queen had him see Apollo killed, much to the paladin's horror.
During most of their time together, Daniel was a bit disturbed about Gowther. While proving effective in combat and aiding the party, his blatant disregard for live and undead state unnerved Daniel. Therefore, he was always cautious whenever the barbarian is around. However, the paladin knew the barbarian helped save his home, so he felt satisfied that Gowther wasn't entierly evil.
Later on, Daniel wanted to understand the barbarian more, but only succeeded in angering him. The paladin hoped to clear the air once they were finished in the Earth Plane. He never got the chance.
Gowther's death hit Daniel harder than he ever expected. Not only had this being who loved killing save the Crusaders, whether it was selfish or not, but also took a place in the Upper Planes, meaning the gods themselves deemed Gowther a good man. Because of this, Gowther leaves a lasting impact on the paladin's views.
Daniel isn't sure what to make of the doctor. Her shift between being sweet and cussing him out leave him confused and a bit concerned for her. Either way, her methods, though a bit wild and push Daniel's line, are still very helpful in their endeavors to Daniel. Currently, there is no personal relationship between the two.
The lycan intriguing Daniel quite a bit, having never seen a werewolf who could control when it changed. Daniel appreciates having Folk around, as he is a powerful asset in taking down their enemies, and has also shown complete willingness to go along with the Crusaders plans.
He is suspicious of the beast though, due to Daniel sensing a connection the God of the Hunt, Malar. Daniel knows Fey do not typically have a connection to such a god, and wonders if there is something darker to the lycan than it first seems.
Daniel was fascinated by TV Wizard, having never seen a construct before the beginning of the campaign, and was even more impressed that it was fluent in the ways of magic. While it couldn't talk, Daniel was quite interested and amused by its form of communication through tv shows, even though Daniel didn't understand what a TV show was. When TV Wizard lost his mind, created undead mutants through Rodney and tried to kill the group, this event shook Daniel to the core. He couldn't understand how someone who had saved the world only a year ago could be corrupted so badly, and tried his best not to kill it during their battle.
TV Wizard's death hurt Daniel quite a bit, and shook the beliefs he had grown up with. Daniel buried the remains of TV Wizards (an antenna and his cape) outside of the castle where they fought the Doom Snail, leaving a tombstone engraved "Here lies the remains of TV Wizard. A machine filled with magic and heart, taken by the darkness of this world."
Jamvere is the leader of the Paladin Guild, The Ankalima Olwa, and Daniel's mentor. When Daniel had no other family, Jamvere took Daniel under his wing and raised him on his own. While making sure not to completely treat Daniel like his son, Daniel still views Jamvere as a second father. He didn't always listen to his mentor's advice, especially about now viewing the world as good and evil, but Daniel always eventually realized that Jamvere was right. Most of Daniel's fighting abilities can be attributed to Jamvere, who has a very similar style of fighting. Daniel has continued to look up to his mentor to this very day, and even while trying to figure things out on his own most of the time, knows that he can always go back to Jamvere if he really has no idea what to do.
Daniel hated Misere completely, as she helped take part in the destruction of Seerity, and the death of his parents. Once learning of her involvement, Daniel sought information about her, determined to find her whereabouts. After she fought the Crusaders and was defeated, Daniel relished in mocking her failure to kill him multiple times now, aggressively asked for any info she could give him about Seerity, and smited her with his sword without a second thought.
Daniel has high respect for Alucard, with the man not only being a vampire that doesn't act like a monster, but who also led a city amazingly, and welcomed anyone who was willing to civil, no matter their race. As such, Daniel puts a lot of his trust in Alucard, as evident when he immediately went to the vampire after using his Fates power to explain the threat that was coming. Daniel hopes that Alucard makes it back from the Shadowfell in one piece.
Daniel's feelings for the fallen vampire are mixed between bitterness and wonder. On one hand, the man was a vampire, and a leader of the Circle of Nosferatu, who worked heavily with Cinare. He aided in the destruction of Daniel's home, and even, to Daniel's knowledge, had fallen a similar path of justice to the one Daniel was heading, which ended with Tyr smiting him down. On the other hand, his final moments don't seem to match with this description. He tried to give Daniel an honorable death, and shortly after healed him from unconsciousness before passing, leaving behind a locket of an unfamiliar woman and his last words: "Prove you are not the monster I thought you were".
While not a priority, Daniel is interested in understanding the man if he ever gets the chance.
Daniel fears the archmage, and would do anything not to be in a direct fight with him. Having seen the capabilities of his power (to the point where he can cast Power Word Kill), his divisive attitude towards who ever he kills, and Daniel's memories of the alternate moments at Kirlley, the paladin does not feel like he or the other Crusaders are prepared to face the man, but if there is a way to end the reign of Flanourin without a direct conflict, Daniel will take it without question.
As a Paladin under the Oath of Redemption, Daniel's added spells allow him to try and bring enemies down in a more tactical/peaceful way. He still has spells that do damage, but prefers to use his abilities to either buff up his teammates, or to hinder the efforts of their foes.
Under the Oath of Redemption, Daniel always has these spells prepared.
Daniel has access to all Paladin spells. At level 11, Daniel can prepare up to 10 spells, with the highest level being 3rd level.
"I'm sorry, you met her in a bar?"
You're asking me to choose between you and my duty, and you should know damn well which one I'll pick!
Yeah it's a future thing, don't ask you'll eventually get used to it.
What is more important: making someone pay for their crimes, or bringing peace to the innocent?
I am like this way because of [The Crusaders]! I changed who I served, what I stood for, because of them! They matter more to me than anything right now, do you understand?!
When the campaign first started, Hunter used his own voice to speak as Daniel. Once he figured out more about Daniel's backstory and what kind of character he wanted Daniel to be, the British Accent was born.
Daniel's creation was not pre-planned. All Hunter knew when he was making a character was that it would be a paladin, and that he would remain focused and his actions would remain pure unless something from his past was brought up. Everything else developed from this idea.
While most paladin's wouldn't be allowed to change their oath or deity, as this usually results in said Paladin either losing the class, or becoming an oath breaker, Daniel's case was special based on a merciful god, what Daniel had promised and been through, and a really good Persuasion roll.
Originally, the Fates card was going to be used to bring someone back from the dead if a resurrection failed. When Eddy set up the starting events of the Shadows and Flames Arc, Hunter noticed the Fates Card marked on his sheet, and forced his hand (as Daniel wouldn't have thought twice about using it to save others and his friends). | 2019-04-23T02:40:41Z | https://doug-and-friends-dnd.fandom.com/wiki/Daniel_Taure |
The chief end of man may be to glorify God and enjoy him forever…it’s just that the “glorify God” part offers a pretty wide array of options. And what better way to glorify God than to make a delicious brew?
The problem is that resources are tight at the monastery, and in order to make a superior ale you’ll have to sell your cast-offs at the market. Not that the commoners can taste much of a difference anyway.
But brewing beer is a tough business, with several elements needing to be just right. Thankfully, with a band of brothers sharing the load, a wise brewmaster at the helm, and lots and lots of prayer, the best ale this side of heaven is just within your grasp.
Heaven and Ale set up for two players.
To begin, each player receives a farm board, a marker in each of the five ingredients’ colors, a brewmaster token, a player figure to move around the main board, 25 ducats, and five favor cards. The main board is set up, with stacks of monks placed face down on the round spaces (according to the number of players), and tiles are placed on their corresponding spaces around the board. Each player receives a starting reward, and play moves clockwise from the start player.
On their turn, players move their figure clockwise around the board and perform the action where they land. Most spots have tiles, and players pay the price on the tile to put it on their personal farm boards. Each farm board is divided in two–a shady side and a sunny side, offering income or points, respectively. To place a tile on the shady side, the player pays the tile’s value; to place on the sunny side, the player pays two times the value. Tiles are either fertility tiles, which provide income or increase the quality of ingredients, or monks, which can activate other tiles and move the brewmaster forward.
Each farm board has a number of shed spaces on the board, and when a shed is completely surrounded by other tiles, players place a shed tile on the space corresponding to the value of the tiles surrounding it. The shed might move the brewmaster forward or provide bonus activations for the tiles surrounding it.
Twelve special scoring conditions are present in every game. These provide an additional way to score points.
Players move clockwise around the board and may never move back once a space is passed. When a player has nowhere else they want to or can go, they move their figure to the start area and choose a benefit (going first, moving their brewmaster, increasing the quality of one of their ingredients, or getting extra money). Once all players have done this, a new round begins.
After a set number of rounds determined by player count, the game is scored. Players trade ingredients according to a rate determined by their brewmaster to make all ingredient quality as equal as possible. Then, they multiply their lowest ingredient by the multiplier determined by their brewmaster and add any points from claimed barrels during the game. The player with the most points wins.
Heaven & Ale is a tricky game to talk about. On the one hand, it seems fairly familiar: a farming game with hex tiles; a resource-management game with a tight economy; different scoring markers, each of which must be increased because your score is determined by your lowest; special scoring achievements; dry Euro theme that you have to squint in order to see. On the other hand, I struggle to think of another game that does quite what Heaven & Ale does in quite the way that Heaven & Ale does it. Heaven & Ale is a brutal, punishing, decision-rich, beautiful game.
The trait that I value most in board games is trade-offs, or in common parlance, “interesting decisions.” I want each decision I make to matter, and if I choose one thing, I want to feel the pain that I might not get to choose something else. If I’m able to accomplish everything I want to in a game, there’s not much reason to play it again. The games I want to return to, almost without exception, are games that involve strong mechanical FOMO. And this might be Heaven & Ale’s defining trait.
Each scoring condition is next to another on the board, and when you score both, you get to play a privilege card. These can be a huge boost.
At the heart of Heaven & Ale is a brutal scoring system: you have five ingredients along a track, and at the end of the game, you score the farthest ingredient back. What makes this so brutal is that four of your five ingredients start at various degrees of zero. You don’t start a game of Heaven & Ale with a clean slate; you start at a deficit, and the rest of the game involves you clawing your way out of this situation. The game that most came to my mind in my first games of Heaven & Ale was Agricola, where your goal is to scratch a living from the cold, hard earth, and good luck to you as you feed your family.
Beyond your ingredients starting below zero, farthest back on your scoring track is the brewmaster. The brewmaster oversees your brewing technique, and he can usually make up for some deficiency in the ingredients–if he’s a wise and knowledgeable brewmaster, that is. But knowledge, like quality, is hard-won in Heaven & Ale, and finding ways to advance your brewmaster can be difficult. What the brewmaster’s knowledge accomplishes in game terms is twofold, and both functions relate to final scoring: one, the brewmaster allows your best ingredients to compensate for your lesser ingredients in your beer’s score, and two, the brewmaster provides a scoring multiplier for the worst ingredient in the beer. Essentially, you don’t want to neglect your brewmaster because his oversight provides the best opportunity for making quality beer.
Your brewmaster determines both the conversion rate for increasing the quality of your worst ingredient and the multiplier for the final scoring.
Despite what I’ve said about Heaven & Ale being a grueling game, this doesn’t sound so hard. You just have to move things along a scoring track, right? Enter the next source of brutal trade-offs in the game: the tight economy. Heaven & Ale starts players with a seemingly generous 25 ducats. Tiles range in values from 1 to 5–that gives plenty of margin. The problem is that money runs out fairly quickly, and players need to generate some income of their own to stay afloat. Each player’s farm board has two halves, a shady side and a sunny side. The shady side is where monks grow ingredients to sell at the market. They’re not the best, no, but most people’s palates aren’t refined enough to be able to taste the difference. The sunny side is where the best ingredients grow, and those best ingredients are reserved for beer making, because while you might not be able to taste poor ingredients in everyday fare, you can taste them when they make their way into your stein. Because quality isn’t cheap, in order to place anything on the sunny side of your board, you have to pay double. The only way to improve the ingredients in your beer is to plant them on the sunny side, yet in order to have the money to pay for ingredients for your sunny side, you need cash from your shady side. Can you taste the trade-offs?
But getting tiles onto your board is only half the battle. In order for them to do anything, you have to score them. Each player has a maximum of ten opportunities to score during the game–each ingredient and monk type can score once per game, and once per game players can score all tiles of a single value. Once hops is scored, for example, hops can’t be scored the same way again. Because of this, players want to push efficiency: if you’ve only got one chance to score hops, you should try to score it as late as you possibly can. If you’ve only got once chance to score all your 5 tiles, you want to wait until you have lots of 5 tiles primed and ready. But these scoring opportunities are complicated by two factors: the tight economy (sometimes you need money right now), and timing.
Timing is the trade-off that completes the grueling cycle of trade-offs in Heaven & Ale, because this is a competitive game played against other players, and thus opportunities to do anything are limited by what the other players do. There are only six scoring discs available per round, which seems generous, especially if you’re playing a four player game with a full six rounds. Four players? Thirty-six discs? Each player has only ten opportunities to score? Only four opportunities lost in a game! That doesn’t sound so bad except that…well, it isn’t that simple. The first three scoring opportunities around the board are limited by type (that is, you can’t score whatever you want with them), and as each player is trying for efficiency, in the early rounds, some of the scoring discs might go unclaimed. Complicating this, too, is that players are racing to claim things around the board, and if another player claims something, you can’t. This pushes players to weigh their options: what do they need most? Do they claim the farm tiles early on that they need? Or do they rush for scoring discs? Or do they go to the barrel spot, snatching the 4-point barrels awarded to the first claimant before another player does the same? Truthfully, players probably won’t be able to do all of this–another player will spoil their plans. This timing aspect is what completes the game and makes it so interesting.
I’ve seen the criticism of Heaven & Ale that it just isn’t dynamic enough–scoring conditions are the same each game, the tiles are the same, the scoring options are the same. Same, same, same. And this sounds legitimate…but I simply don’t buy it. One of my favorite games and one of the best-designed games I’ve played, Ra, has survived twenty years without an expansion, and it still sees regular play in my group. The tiles are the same each game, the scoring conditions are the same. Yet in Ra, as in Heaven & Ale, the point isn’t that the game is the same; it’s that the players are different. Players will make different choices as opportunity and strategy dictate. They will have to. If I determine to strongarm my brewmaster forward each game, that might work until another player claims the monks that do this best. If I aim to plant the 5-value tiles on my board each game, this might work, but other players have equal access to them, and depending on where the tiles come out and how valuable they are to other players, I likely won’t get all of them that I want. Also, not all the tiles make it out each game, so there might be a shortage of one ingredient, or one number, and so on. Each game is new and fresh not because of the artificial replayability of variety but because of the very real and important point that this is a game of heavy player interaction, where watching your fellow players is as important as harvesting quality ingredients. And thus the trade-offs of time are central to the whole puzzle. My wife and I roll our eyes at the Viking River Cruise president on the commercials that precede Masterpiece, who claims that “time is the only scarce commodity.” (Easy for you to say, pal, when you’re rolling in your millions selling cruise tickets.) But in Heaven & Ale, this sentiment is a lot more true: time might not be the only scarce commodity, but it’s potentially the scarcest.
When monks are scored, they activate every adjacent tile. This can be a boon to activating good tiles again and again. Monks also have a value of zero when placing sheds, so to get the sheds that move the brewmaster the farthest, monks are almost a necessity.
Everything I’ve described probably sounds more like work than a game, and there is some truth to that. But what keeps my mind thinking about Heaven & Ale even after I’ve left the table and what keeps me wanting to bring it back to the table is how satisfying the game is when you pull your plans off. Just as in Agricola, where you start with next to nothing and are barely making ends meet and then you have a bustling farm, Heaven & Ale gives players a sense of progression, and there are lots of interesting combos to explore and exploit. Enclosing shed spaces, for example, allows you to activate tiles you might have already scored. Scoring privilege pairs allows you extra goodies if you can eschew the promise of fast cash early on. If you can shrewdly organize your monks around the board, you can activate disparate tiles in a single scoring. You’re playing with other players, and this game is highly interactive–you shouldn’t expect your plans to go off without a hitch. But when a plan comes together that is even moderately successful, it feels like the clouds have parted and heaven is smiling on your modest endeavors. It’s hard to describe the joy that results from finally–finally–getting out from behind the eight ball. Of course, for some, the criticism is that you might never get out from behind the eight ball.
Shed tiles are a great way to get extra activations. But you have to plan carefully to get the right shed tile to activate the right tiles. This is a fun wrinkle to the game.
The components in Heaven & Ale are nice–I love the stained-glass artwork, the tiles are on thick punchboard, and most things are functional. I’m not a fan of the mix of token money and card money, but I usually substitute with other coins anyway. I would have appreciated a draw bag for the fertility tiles, but most other games skimp on the draw bag, so it’s probably not worth it to ding Heaven & Ale for that. What sours me a little on the components, though, is the price. The MSRP is $69.99, and when compared to other games in this price bracket, Heaven & Ale comes off looking a little shabby, like it could have stood to abandon its humble habit if it was going to collect so much in alms. But you know what? I paid OLGS prices for the game–which were still higher than I like to pay, nearly $50–and I’m not disappointed with the game I got for that price. It’s a great game that I like playing. You’ll just have to remind yourself through gritted teeth when you add it to your cart that the game has other virtues than price.
A close-up of the board at the start of a two-player game.
I’ve played the game with three and four players–I don’t usually play games like this with just two–and I liked it at both counts. I did prefer it with four to three, but the fast playing time with three was refreshing. For a game with this depth of decisions, Heaven & Ale is surprisingly simple to teach, although the wrinkle of when monks activate the tiles around them and when monks just move the brewmaster forward can trip up players learning from the rulebook. (I think I would have been okay from just reading the rulebook, but I found a helpful BGG thread that saved me the trouble before I knew it might be a problem.) All things considered, though, the rules are pretty simple. Figuring out what to do with what you’ve been taught is the hard part.
The final board state at the end of the game. This was… not a high-scoring game.
It’s not difficult to see, from what I’ve said, why someone might not like Heaven & Ale. The setting is nice, but the feel of being in a monastery’s brewery (or even in a monastery) is almost wholly absent from the game, making Heaven & Ale seem like a mechanical exercise when you step back a bit. The game is tense and punishing, such that even experienced players can be caught under the wheel and post embarrassing scores, and Agricola seems to have a new companion in the “misery farm” category. And the box of components, while fine for what they are, don’t seem commensurate with the price tag.
I hear these criticisms. I understand these criticisms. I am even sympathetic to these criticisms. I just don’t care about these criticisms because Heaven & Ale is a game that I want to keep playing. The trade-offs present are some of the best in the business, and the reward of a job well done is high enough that it’s worth a little time in the muck to get there. If you’re someone who values tense and grueling decisions, and who doesn’t mind being kicked around by a brutal system, Heaven & Ale is the right brew for you. | 2019-04-23T22:35:25Z | http://islaythedragon.com/featured/review-heaven-ale/ |
Anything that might be vaguely impressive. If there's anything we've missed, or you think is notable, tell us. We need it. The old stuff is now on a separate page.
On Sunday 10 March 1968, three founder members of the ECG, Malcolm Turner, John Longridge and David Atkins rang the first peal for the Guild; Plain Bob Minor on handbells at Rowancroft Court. 50 years later nine members gathered just round the corner at 155 Magdalen Road to mark the anniversary with a weekend of handbell ringing, cake, curry and beer.
The weekend kicked off with a successful peal of Major. Saturday morning was devoted to a series of quarter peals, with two attempts taking place simultaneously in three slots over the course of the morning. Four of these attempts were successful, including two quarter peals of Plain Bob Minor on the same bells used for the original peal. Alice Holden also achieved her first quarter peal of Cambridge Major in fine style. These endeavours were sustained by copious quantities of Dark Chocolate Gingers and cake.
After lunch the second peal of the weekend was achieved, a new composition of Kent Royal. With this ticked off and the 100% success rate for peals still intact, we headed round the corner to Rowancroft Court for a quick course of Bob Major on the ECG bells and some photos at the site of the original peal. Sadly the actual location of the particular feat of daring we were commemorating, Block A, was closed for renovation but we entertained the current Rownacroft residents by knocking out a quick touch in the car park.
Ringing rung for the day, the next stop was Pig & Pickle for much needed beer. After sampling the interesting brews on offer, we headed to the Gurkha Kitchen, serendippitously situated at the mid-point between the location of the first peal and the venue for the weekend's ringing. How appropriate that this concentration of handbell history has spawned such a fine curry factory. Thanks to a raucous hen party at the next table (who kept leaving the table to swap clothes between courses), we were far from being the rowdy table that we might otherwise have constituted, despite the ribald amusement generated by Daisy's starter.
We reconvened on Sunday after morning ringing for the final engagements. Tanked up on bacon, suasage, chorizo stew and eggs at Meat 59 we were ready to ring. Two simultaneous peals of Plain Bob Minor were attempted, each containing a first. The dining room band finished first, with Daisy Atkin achieving her first ever peal in 2 hours and 3 minutes. We waited intently for the spare room band to complete their peal, which they duly did. Richard Johnson ("Grich") rang his first handbell peal in 2 hours and 20 minutes. This second peal was rung on the same six bells used for the original 1968 peal.
Most people were then free to adjourn to the pub for a pint, but one additional quarter was then rung for Steph, who had had the misfortune to be in both the unsuccessful quarters on Saturday morning. With this quarter peal completed and everyone having rung at least one successful peal or quarter, we headed to the North Bridge Inn, a recently reopened pub near St David's.
Our expedition to Lundy was organised around the expectation that we would (as a group of ringers) be able to grab the fine 13cwt ring of 10 on Lundy. There was talk of an ECG peal, and many ideas for quarters were flung around from the plausible to the ambitious. However, with a month to go before our trip, we found that essential work on the church as part of their renovation project meant there could sadly be no ringing on these wonderful bells. Although disappointing, members of the ECG are not so easily put off, and as such, we resorted to the type of tower that not even the Luftwaffe could take away: that's right, our bare hands, paired with handbells.
Fortunately, three sets of handbells were brought over to Lundy (by Martin, David and Phil), and we were able to ring a number of performances.
Our first foray into handbell ringing started with a practice session in Castle Keep South - a venue destined to become our modal place of ringing. Many of us turned up, each with different objectives, including Double Norwich, Yorkshire, Plain Bob Major (amongst others). Grich's Plain Bob Boot Camp was particularly memorable and successful, as he went on to prove by ringing a quarter of Plain Bob Minor in Castle Keep North a couple of days later, as well as truly excelling himself and ringing 7-8 to a quarter of Plain Bob Major two days after that.
Martin's first successful navigation of a course of Yorkshire S Major in hand became a cause for David and Tom to formulate a plan along the lines of "Let's get this lad through an intensive practice session on the tenors"! So, later that day, the first ECG quarter on the expedition became Yorkshire S Major in Bramble Villa West, with Martin achieving first of Surprise in hand.
After a quick refreshment break of Vicky's homemade flapjack, the four of us carried the party on to Castle Keep South, where we expanded upon our three leads of Kent in the practice session to ring a whole quarter of Kent and Bastow Maximus. Another 51 minutes later, we decided to retire to the pub.
Other quarter peals followed in quick succession, with a number of notable firsts: Steph and Nathan together achieved a first in method in hand for Grandsire Triples, in Castle Keep South. Castle Keep South was also the scene of a quarter of Kent Treble Bob Royal, and later in the afternoon we ventured out of The Castle to ring a quarter of Oxford Treble Bob Major at the Old School House (affectionately known as the 'Blue Bung').
I'm not sure whether this came about as an idea in the pub or not, but Wednesday 25th was the day of the first of the two peals on our trip: Oxford, Cambridge and Kent Minor, at the top of the Old Lighthouse, at daybreak. With panoramic views to take in during the peal, this was probably the most scenic peal of the week. Another peal was rung the next day at Castle Keep South, of Double Norwich, where Nathan expanded upon his performance the previous April (so eloquently written up by David Maynard) to ring the tenors to the method.
In all, in spite of the tower bells being out of action, we scored seven quarters and two peals - and while we have unfinished business on Lundy, we are all proud of our achievements, and happy to have rung together so well.
On Saturday 8th March, two teams from Exeter St David's Church attended the Devon Association of Ringers' Novice Striking Competition, which this year took place at the small rural village of Zeal Monachorum. We entered the teams into both of the competitions, which were ringing rounds and call changes for about six minutes each with one practice minute to begin with.
In the rounds competition, we managed to achieve a one-two positioning out of the nine teams that entered. Team B (Kathryn, Steph, Alice, Teifi, Nathan and Martin) took the 2nd place spot with around 30 faults and Team A (Steph, Rob, Lucy, Evan, Nathan and Grich) took 1st place with about 20 faults. This was fantastic news as Exeter St David's would take home the shield for the second time in the competition's history, having last won the shield in 2012 and then narrowing losing in 2013.
In the call changes competition, the competition was a lot bigger. Out of the nineteen teams in this category, Team A (Grich, Evan, Alice, Teifi, Rob and Martin) took 14th place with around 50 faults whilst Team B (Steph, Kathryn, Lucy, Nathan, Rob and Grich) took a very respectable 4th place with around 30 faults. Overall, we had a very successful outing and we hope to improve on these results next year.
With our annual peal slot coming up quickly and 7 students to choose from, the idea of ringing an all-student peal was mooted. Unfortunately, we did not manage to achieve this goal, since two could not make it, but we did decide to ring something special.
Rung to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Dr. Who, with 1 method per incarnation.
The foolish person that I am, when our ringing master asked me if I'd like to take part in a striking competition on one of my Saturdays, I said yes. The talk in the tower and the pub in the couple of weeks before was that St David's hadn't won anything for years, so all we were attempting was not to come last. I thought we could cope with this, so wasn't too worried.
The fun and games started when I was told that I'd be picked up from Birks Grange. As an Exeter Halls girl, the opposite side of campus isn't really somewhere that I like to go, especially given the gradient of Cardiac Hill. So, clutching my trusty campus map, I set off into the wilds of the wrong side of campus. As you always do when you leave yourself plenty of time to get somewhere, I was there in plenty of time, even managing to negotiate my way down Cardiac Hill without falling over. Mine and Alice's lift turned up (thanks Bungle!), and we ventured out into the Devonian countryside.
The competition was held at the parish church of Rewe. After a fairly traumatic parking experience thanks to a great tank of a car and a very full carpark, we managed to get ourselves sorted and consoled ourselves with a bit of coconut flapjack (ok, several bits). The ECG ringers (all in stash... except Bungle! Disgraceful.) in the rounds section all congregated nervously in the churchyard before the draw, sizing up the competition. Then we all piled into the little church for the draw. We came out 3rd, so the waiting and listening and last minute tips commenced.
After the team from Exminster had completed their rounds, we all lined up in the little ringing chamber after slightly panicked-ly taking off any surplus clothing or jewellery. Apart from the muttered exclamation from Steph Hills upon pulling off the second, it all went fairly smoothly once we'd all settled down, Daisy managing the oddstruck fourth really well. All too soon, the six minutes of rounds was up, and that was our attempt completed. As soon as we were outside the tower, the analysis of our performance and the bells started, with the general decision being that we'd acquitted ourselves pretty well.
The rest of the St David's ringers for the called changes gradually appeared, and after all the teams had finished the rounds, we were all called back into the church for the ringers service. Myself and Daisy were much excited by the fact that the vicar was using her ipad to take the service - yay for hitech vicars! After the service, James Kerslake came into the church to announce the results of the rounds. As he went through the results in the reverse order, the excitement mounted as we realised that our name hadn't been called out. When it got the top 3, we simply looked at each other in astonishment. The best moment was when second place was announced as Exminster - and Daisy got up to collect the certificate simply because she was so sure we couldn't have won, and I had to pull her back down. The look on Jimmy's face as he realised that we'd won was priceless. Yes, that's right - you might want to read it again to let it sink in: Exeter St David's WON the Devon Association Novice Rounds section. So the tower at St David's is now the home of the TH Priddle shield. And we're not giving it back - it's too shiny not to keep it!
After that the order for the Called changes was drawn. Both our teams requested an earlier position, so B was seventh and A was eighth. Everyone crowded round outside the church to admire the shield, and the photo of the winning team was taken again, this time with the spoils. Some of the members went over to the social club to avail themselves of the cream teas on offer. A little while afterwards, the rest of us realised that the shield had disappeared! After a short heart attack, it was discovered sitting in pride of place surrounded by cups of tea (in clear cups and saucers! Who knew Rewe Social Club was so design conscious?!) and happy ringers.
After listening to the previous ringers, and having a minor panic when it sounded as though someone had broken a stay (they'd missed the rope, so not quite so bad!), St David's B went into the tower, and set off on their half peal of sixty on thirds. Completing it in 6mins 15secs, it was the turn of the A team in no time at all. We might have been at a bit of an advantage, seeing as most of us stayed on the same bells that we'd rung in the rounds section. Despite a few missed calls and bells swapping round, we managed to make our way through the changes with pretty good striking throughout.
After that we hotfooted it over to the social club for the ringers' tea... which had finished. Very disappointing, especially since I was looking forward to a pasty! Giving that up as a bad job, we all departed, wondering how we'd done in the called changes section, and happy that we'd done as well as we could.
Dropped off at Birks again, you'll be glad to know that I managed to pull myself up Cardiac Hill without a heart attack, got home and promptly collapsed on my bed, then got up to check facebook. The excitement about our achievements was impressive, with photos everywhere. About 10pm the news came through that St David's B came in 13th with 60.9 faults, and A came 6th with 43.5. So all in all, it was a good showing from all our ringers, and everyone was happy with their results. Thanks go to Steph Hills for organising everything, and to everyone who rang.
And if you want to check for yourself the results are on the Devon Assocation website.
The idea of ringing a quarter peal day came at some point last year, but it took until Trinity Term to actually put the idea into practice. And so on Satuday 7th May 2011, Tom, Steph Rob, Lucy, Martin and John travelled up to Somerset in order to do some quarter-pealing.
The first quarter of the day was at Kingston St. Mary, which were fairly heavy-going. After 240 of Grandsire, we re-convened, opened some windows and rang a successful quarter of Plain Bob Doubles. Unfortunately, it was after this that John was taken ill, so saying our farewells we dropped him off at the station, before heading to Broomfield to ring our next quarter.
Lunch was held at Fyne Court, a National Trust country estate on the Quantocks, which we explored a little, before heading over to Broomfield church. The second quarter of the day was a successful Stedman Doubles without a tenor. This sounded surprisingly good and a steady pace of striking was kept throughout, the changes almost seamlessly following after each other. This was a first in method for Rob and for Lucy: Congratulations!
After this, we headed into Taunton towards the location of our final quarter of Cambridge Minor. Having some time to spare, we headed to the Plough, where some local cider was sampled. The final quarter of the day took place at St. Andrew's, Taunton. Thanks go to Fred Sage being drafted in at the last minute! Again, this was a first in method for Rob and for Lucy, very well done!
And so it was time to head to Martin's parent's house for some tea and cake, where we reflected on the day. All in all, a 100% record: We achieved 3 quarters after setting out to achieve them. And the day was enjoyed by all.
As our opportunity to ring a peal for 2010 drew nearer to a close, it was with some last-minute begging that we managed to cobble together a peal band for a Saturday afternoon in December. The original plan was to ring Plain Bob Major, or even Grandsire Triples, but due to the lack of willing volunteers, we instead opted for a peal of Plain Bob Minor. As it turned out, there had never been a peal of minor on the bells, which was only realised after the peal had been rung! With the promise of being bought a drink afterwards, the peal was rung in a smashing time of 2 hours 39 minutes. Martin's hands stood testament to the very speed, covered with blood blisters. The 720s were called in various different ways and the striking was on the whole fairly steady. Other worthy footnotes go to Lucy Davis (first peal, well done!) Rob Neal (first peal of minor) and Martin Gentile (first peal as conductor).
First peal: 1. First of Minor: 3. First as conductor: 6. First peal of Minor on the bells.
With an influx of new handbell talent over the last academic year, it was realised that a peal of Major in hand by an undergraduate band was a distinct possibility. So, on Wednesday 2nd June, after the usual lunchtime handbell practice, Martin, Steph, Tom and Jon went over to Rosebarn Lane to attempt a peal of Plain Bob Major. After a 10 minute false start, the peal settled down, and there was plenty of excellent ringing, along with just one or two hiccups, before, after 2 hours 25 minutes, the peal came round. This peal is believed to be the first peal of Major ever rung by an undergraduate band for the Exeter Colleges Guild, on either handbells or towerbells - a fantastic achievement. This achievement was even more fantastic because of the number of footnotes accumulated; the peal was Jon's first handbell peal (hopefully the first of many?!), Martin's first peal on eight in hand, and Steph's first handbell peal on an inside pair. Well done all! After some celebratory chocolate brownies, we took a couple of photos; a serious one, and one in the 'normal' ECG pose!
First on eight in hand: 1-2.
First on an inside pair: 3-4.
Rung by an undergraduate band; believed to be the first peal of Major by an undergraduate band rung for the ECG.
Many congratulations to Steph on calling her first quarter peal - Grandsire Triples at St David's. And also congratulations to Lyn on her baptism and confirmation at St David's; the quarter was rung for the service, which some of us then attended. And very nice it was too.
Rung for the service of Baptism and Confirmation at St David's church this evening, with particular congratulations from the band to Lyn Haskell, baptised and confirmed today.
First on 8 in hand: 1-2.
First in method in hand: 1-2.
This year, it was decided that the annual peal at St David's should be an eight bell peal, providing a good opportunity to gather a good chunk of footnotes while we were at it! So, at 9.15am on 5 December, eight of us duly met outside St David's, and the peal was rung very well indeed, with very few mistakes, and an extremely consistent pace (exactly half an hour for each of the six parts in fact). Particular congratulations to Steph, who rang her first peal very well indeed, and to everyone who achieved a footnote of some sort (well, that's all of us then!); Amy, Grich and Maff rang their first peal on eight, while Rob rang his first inside - well done all!
We all celebrated by buying pasties from the Oggy Oggy pasty shop, before some of the band, plus other keen St David's ringers, headed off to St James Park to watch Exeter play Brighton... Bungle, knowing where his true loyalties lie, was supporting Brighton! The footie was followed by a trip to The Bridge, which, due to misleading information on National Rail Enquiries, was then followed by a very long walk home when a small group missed the last train back. All were there at Sunday morning ringing the next day though - an example to us all!
First on eight: 1, 5, 6.
First of Triples: 2, 8.
First in the method: 7.
Rung in celebration of the work of the Angel Tree organisation with prisoners' families; a retiring collection was made on their behalf after morning service on 6th December.
Many congratulations to Kat on ringing her first quarter peal.
First of Grandsire as conductor.
Well done to all who have achieved a 'first' of some sort - particularly Steph who has only been ringing handbells for 1 month! Hopefully this will the first of many - perhaps even a peal next?
First inside: 3. First of Grandsire: 4.
Rung by an undergraduate band for Guild quarter peal week.
Also rung for All Saints' day, and as a birthday compliment to Dr James Kerslake PhD - 'him wot runs the ringing'. First of Minor: 1. First of Minor as conductor.
Rung in memory of Kate Bushell who learnt to ring at St David's and who sadly lost her life 12 years ago.
Many congratulations to Amy on ringing her first quarter peal on eight on an inside bell... And word on the street is it was in fine style too!
First on eight inside: 2.
After many a month of learning the method only to find that there were never enough people around him to ring an entire course of Yorkshire, a quarter was organised for Maff to finally ring the method properly. After a bit of a false start (due to other nameless people going wrong who should know better! :-) ), the quarter went fairly smoothly. As Maff commented afterwards, "That's the first time I've managed to ring an "entire course of Yorkshire without the tenor clapper falling out!"
Many congratulations to Grich for ringing his first quarter of Surprise - Cambridge S Minor at St David's. Despite having been ringing Cambridge inside for a couple of years, Grich hadn't got round to ringing a quarter... But after 43 minutes of good ringing, and very few mistakes, that omission was rectified in spectacular fashion. Well done Grich, and thanks to everyone else in the band!
Despite having rung both Little Bob and Plain Bob Major to quarter peals on handbells, Rob had managed to avoid ringing one inside on tower bells... until Sunday 22nd February that is! After persuading Rob to ring inside, a very good quarter peal of Bob Doubles ("The Method") was rung, with some excellent ringing throughout. Well done Rob!
First on tower bells inside: 4.
With the Annual Dinner fast approaching, it seemed like a good time to finally get around to organising the undergraduate handbell peal which had been mooted last term. So, after the handbell practice on 4th February, Martin, Rob and Tom gathered at 14 Danes Road to attempt the peal. Two hours and nine minutes later, it was all over, and the first all-undergraduate handbell peal for the ECG since 1968 had been rung. Congratulations to Rob on ringing his first peal, and to Martin for his first handbell peal! What next???
Rung by an undergraduate band in eager anticipation of the Annual Dinner this weekend. The first handbell peal for the ECG by an undergraduate band since 1968.
Congratulations to Amy who rang her first quarter peal on 8 bells by ringing the treble at St David's to Plain Bob Triples. Well done Amy!
Rung in celebration of the life of Derek Watts who died recently.
Lower numbers than usual at the Wednesday handbell practice (and instructions that Martin was to have some intensive trebles practice) inevitably led to a quarter peal being rung, and very good it was too. Congratulations to Martin on his first quarter on handbells. Perhaps a peal next????!!
The following week, with Ian's help, it was decided to move into the scary world of eight bell ringing, so, after a few false starts, a quarter peal of Plain Bob Major was duly rung. There was some very good ringing, with only a few trips. Congratulations to Martin on his first quarter on eight handbells, and to Rob, who rang his first quarter of Major away from the tenors very well.
First on eight in hand: 7-8.
All Saints' Day provided an excellent excuse to get the bells at St David's for a peal, and to get a few 'first peal' footnotes on the way. 5040 Grandsire and Plain Bob Doubles duly came round in 2 hours 42 minutes, with some excellent ringing throughout, and not too many trips! Congratulations to all the band, especially Amy and Maff, who have now been initiated into the delight of peal ringing. Here's to many more successful peals in the future!
Rung for All Saints' Day by a Sunday service band.
There have been some recent achievements on the quarter peal front. All the details can be obtained from Campanophile, following the links from our quarter peals page. Martin Gentile conducted his first, and both Robert Dietz and Laura Smith rang their first quarter on 8 by ringer the tenors to Little B Major in hand. Well done to all.
We all knew that Jimi had it in him... and now he has proved it to us. Well done Jimi!!
First on a working bell: 6.
Dedicated to the memory of Phil Woodman and Paul Bradbury who died recently.
Also with get well compliments to James Whittaker and thanks to Ian for standing in at the last minute.
They don't need much of an excuse to ring a peal! So this was more than a good enough reason. Matthew Hilling & Rosie Green had recently announced their engagement, so the London Branch of the ECG got together and rang a peal. And it was a good peal. Thanks very much (Ed)!
Rung as an engagement compliment to Matt Hilling and Rosie Green.
Believed to be the first peal at the address, and the first peal for the ECG in London.
Although I had realised some time ago that the fiftieth ECG peal could not be far away, it was only in February this year that the precise number of peals rung was established. Following the first peal (Plain Bob Minor on handbells in 1968) there was a flurry of others in the late 60s and early 70s, including the first on tower bells (Plain Bob Major at Broadclyst) the first of Surprise (Yorkshire at North Tawton in 1974) and the first on 10 (Little Bob at Buckfast Abbey in 1975). The late 70s and early 80s saw a hiatus in peal ringing, although the ECG continued to flourish with several quarter peal tours and a canal holiday taking place as well as the normal Exeter based activities. The next landmark peal was the first 12 bell peal, Grandsire Cinques at Exeter Cathedral in 1987 to mark the 20th anniversary of the Guild (no mean achievement on the world's second heaviest 12!).
The 21st Century has seen a return to peal ringing by the ECG, due in part to the renaissance of handbell ringing. 2004 saw the first ECG peal of Treble Bob Major on handbells (Oxford), while in the following year TB Royal, Grandsire Triples and Caters were followed by the first of Surprise (Yorkshire Major). Our adventure into the world of 10 bell ringing was cut short by the very sad death of John Longridge, who had founded the ECG and organised and conducted the majority of the early peals. He had returned from ringing retirement to assist the next generation of handbell ringers through the early stages.
As well as breaking new ground, ECG peals also provided the opportunity for the following people to ring their first peals: Dominic Meredith, Heather Nelson, Pip Rossiter, Alex Rowan, Kathryn Ward (in hand) and James Whittaker. Four of these firsts were achieved in a single peal - Grandsire Doubles by an all-undergraduate band in 2003. A special peal weekend was organised in early 2007 to mark the 40th anniversary of the ECG. The centrepiece of the weekend was a peal of Stedman Cinques at Exeter Cathedral, only the second 12 bell peal and the first of Stedman to be rung by the society. Later in the year the first peals of Spliced were achieved.
50th peal for the Exeter Colleges Guild.
Most Spliced in hand for the Guild and for all except 3-4.
The Guild of Devonshire Ringers quarter peal week seemed to be an excellent excuse for getting the ball rolling with the first ECG quarters of the academic year. Very quickly, all the plans were in place - two quarters, one on handbells and one at St Davids, both with all-student bands - who were surprisingly willing to come along to ring!
Things started to go wrong on the Monday, when a certain person forgot to show up for the Bob Minor on handbells... In her absence, a quarter of Minimus was rung - 3 methods - 2 extents of Reverse Bob, 2 of Double Bob and 50 of Plain Bob! Well done to Robert, for ringing his first QP in more than one method (and first of minimus, possibly the last!). The Bob Minor was rearranged for Thursday, and was duly scored, with some very good ringing - an excellent effort all round, considering we had not rung together much.
The final quarter of the week was at St Davids on Sunday. Despite earlier confusion about the start time ("we're starting at 7.30, aren't we?"), everyone turned up, and a good quarter of Bob Doubles was rung, with very few method mistakes. Particular congratulations to Martin, for ringing his first QP without going wrong at all!
Hopefully, these three quarters are going to be the first of many this year. Plans are afoot already!
Rung by a band of current students, for GDR Quarter Peal Week.
On Sunday 14 October, almost three years after the ECG's first quarter of surprise major on handbells another landmark first was acheived. Despite lingering colds and the distractions of a neighbour's lawnmower and the sweet smell of baking cookies, a confident peal was successfully rung. Although this was the first time that the four of us had rung together, the ringing quickly settled into an accurate, controlled rhythm. This was our first attempt at a peal of spliced and its successful conclusion is very encouraging. The only question now is: what next?
After the peal we sampled some of the delicious products of the distracting baking smell - some really good peanut and ginger cookies. They really were very good! Thanks Rosie!
As well as being the first peal of Spliced for the ECG, it is also the first handbell peal of Spliced for the whole GDR and for two of the band. It was also Tom's first peal for the ECG - welcome aboard! This was the 49th peal for the ECG so we are planning something good for the next one... watch this space!
First of Spliced for the Exeter Colleges Guild. First of Spliced in hand for 1-2, 7-8 and the Guild of Devonshire Ringers.
First of Spliced Major in hand: 5-6.
In October 2006 three of the present undergraduates started learning to ring methods on handbells, and all rang their first quarter peal on handbells in February 2007. Of the three, only Richard had rung methods on tower bells, with Robert coming from a Devon call-change background and Laura only just starting to learn to ring tower bells.
Under the instruction of Ian Campbell and Matt Hilling we have progressed through the three different positions and then on to putting them together for plain courses of Bob Minor on the trebles. Finally we moved on to bobs and singles. All three rang very well in their quarter peals and are already (only a week later!) ringing touches on 5-6 now. Watch this space for the next influx of quarter peals...!
Fri 16 Feb, 1260 Plain B Minor in 37 mins: 1-2 Richard Johnson, 3-4 Matthew Hilling (C), 5-6 Ian Campbell. First quarter in hand for Richard.
Wed 21 Feb, 1260 Plain B Minor in 38 mins: 1-2 Laura Smith, 3-4 Matthew Hilling (C), 5-6 Ian Campbell. First quarter for Laura.
Wed 21 Feb, 1260 Plain B Minor in 35 mins: 1-2 Robert Dietz, 3-4 Matthew Hilling (C), 5-6 Ian Campbell. First quarter in hand for Robert.
The day started with an early (11am, not that early really) last minute practice at St David's. Both teams had some very good striking and confidence was boosted for the main event. After going for lunch everyone reconvened at St David's to sort out who was going in which car. James W set off to pick up Jonathan from his brass ensemble concert at the cathedral, while the other three cars set off for the competition venue: Lustleigh on the eastern edge of Dartmoor.
Everyone arrived just after the service had begun (Oh dear, what a shame!) so we all congregated on the steps outside the church. As parking spaces at the village were a bit scarce this took about 20 minutes! Whilst waiting for the service to finish a few of the more intrepid members went to investigate the village orchard, complete with its swings, slides, May Queen throne and some sheep. Immediately after the service the results for the round ringing section were given out and the draw for the call change section was made. As our new Ringing Master had to return to Exeter early the B team opted to go for an early draw with 5 other teams, whilst the A team were happy to take a chance with the main draw. James W drew peal 5 for the B team and Jimi K drew peal 8 for the A team.
After the draw Elizabeth and Susie went to sample the ringers teas and then a walk around the village, and the rest of the A team and half the B team went into the tea shop opposite the church to take on some refreshment and listen to the ringing. The remainder stayed outside to listen to the bells, mainly because the pub was closed as the landlady doesn't like the sound of the bells. The B team's turn to ring soon came and they performed creditably given that it was the first striking competition for some of their band. After another half hour it was time for the A team to ring. Again the ringing was good apart from one wobble.
By the time the results were to be read out most of the ECG had departed, and it was left to Kathryn to collect both certificates. There was a big improvement from last year's results as neither team finished last, the A team placing 11th with 57 faults and the B team ending up 14th with 71¾ faults out of the 16 teams that entered. Hopefully next year we can improve a little more and break into the top ten.
James rang his first quarter on 4 December. The striking was good, and he is even keen to do another one! James started learning to ring at St David's during the Easter term of his first year (2005) and continued at his home tower, St Mark's, Bilton, near Rugby. Well done James.
James W called his first quarter without incident on 13 November, for the annual half-muffled Remembrance Sunday quarter (which David mis-called last year!) No such bungling around this time. Good job James.
By the end of July 2004 Andrew, David, Matt and Ian had rung a couple of peals of Oxford Treble Bob Major and decided it would be fun to have a go at Yorkshire Surprise. The first few practices consisted of trying to ring a plain course which took a long time to get to grips with! Once we had mastered the plain course on our own bells Matt and David realised they had to do all that learning again if we were to ring a touch. After much more practice we attempted a quarter peal and finally scored one on 28 October. A few more more quarters were rung soon after this, and at about this time we discovered that the 30th anniversary of the first ECG peal of Surprise was only a month away!
Ever on the lookout for a challenge it was decided to go for a peal on the anniversary, which if scored would be the first peal of Surprise on handbells for the ECG. We got into serious practice and rang several long quarters - parts of the 3 part composition we intended to ring. We all recognised this as a long shot, out of the group only Matt had rung a peal of surprise in hand before, and that on the tenors, now he was tasked with ringing 5-6, calling the peal and keeping the rest of the band on the straight and narrow! Although we had been ringing together regularly, none of us had rung more than ten handbell peals at this time.
We met in the Harrison Building on a Tuesday evening in mid December and attempted the peal, we started well, however after just over an hour the ringing broke down and the peal was lost. After this setback we decided to put the project on the back burner for a bit, and in the spring we concentrated on ringing simpler methods on 10 bells, scoring peals of Little Bob and Kent Treble Bob Royal and Grandsire Caters. In June we decided to return to the challenge, and soon got back in training. The next attempt for the peal started well and the first two parts were rung without serious incident, however only courses from the end a serious mistake developed which resulted in the peal being lost after just over 2 hours. Another attempt the following week was abandoned after an hour due to the heat. All the time the method was becoming more familiar and each time the ringing seemed more confident.
The peal was eventually scored in fine style on Tuesday 5 July. The ringing started at a rather brisk pace, but a comment from the conductor got it back in check. Following this the rhythm developed and the ringing was for the most part controlled and accurate. Although there were still minor trips most were immediately self-corrected. Rounds came up cleanly (and in the right place!!!) a little after 8pm. There was a great sense of relief, which lasted until Matt suggested brightly "So when shall we do that again?"
This certainly represents a considerable achievement for the Devon Guild and also for the ECG, as well as a personal success for those who took part. What will they tackle next?
First of Surprise in hand for the Guild and for all except 5-6. First of Surprise in hand as conductor.
Silver wedding anniversary compliment to Mike and Mary Mears.
During a cleaning session at St David's last October, we rediscovered the original peal and quarter peal book from the early days of the ECG. It was fascinating to read through the performance details, charting the progress of the band. I was particularly impressed by the first peal of Royal by the Guild - Little Bob on the back ten at Buckfast Abbey in 1975, only eight years after the founding of the Guild, and seven years after the first peal.
It struck me that the peal was almost thirty years ago and it seemed like a good idea to do something to mark the occasion. Ringing at Buckfast is very limited as it is a working community, and ringing on the Abbey bells was out of the question on a weekday evening (the anniversary falling on a Tuesday) However the book had also revealed that previous to our recent efforts over the last couple of years, only Plain Bob Minor and Major had been pealed in hand by the ECG. So it seemed logical to go for the first handbell peal of Royal to mark the anniversary. Little Bob was within our repertoire, but the prospect of a peal seemed slightly daunting. Discussing the idea with the rest of the band it was received with enthusiasm, and we decided to get John Longridge, founder of the Guild and conductor of the original peal out of handbell retirement to complete the band. He was just as keen as the rest of us and so we arranged a practice quarter peal. Meanwhile Matt, who had bravely taken up the challenge of conducting the peal, no mean feat given the scale of composition imposed by a 72 change plain course, had consulted David Hull on the composition to be used. David came up with the goods with his characteristic swiftness, and produced a very clever 14 part composition, ideal for handbell ringing.
First on 10 in hand for all except 7-8. First on 10 in hand for the Exeter Colleges Guild.
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the first (and last!) peal of Royal by the ECG, Little Bob Royal on Buckfast Abbey bells conducted by John Longridge on this date in 1975.
At long last Kathryn-Louise has rung her first peal. And mighty well she did too! This wasn't just any old peal - but a handbell peal. Which is less time than a tower bell peal, so I can understand why she wanted to do it this way round. So when is the first "real" peal Kathryn?
First in hand as conductor.
Well done Jimi K! To ring your first as conductor without having rung a blow of the method inside, or even a quarter peal away from covering is just plain impressive. Possibly even showing off! What's next on the agenda?
Rung as part of the Guild of Devonshire Ringers Quarter Peal week.
The ECG handbell ringing is progressing in leaps and bounds and going from strength to strength. The first quarter of Surprise Major was duly rung after many hours of practice and a couple of failed attempts! Also, to Rusty, Alex and Dom for ringing their first of Stedman Doubles (and Rhiannon, but she doesn't count!).
First of Surprise in hand: 1-2.
First of Surprise Major in hand: 3-4, 7-8.
First of Surprise Major as Conductor in hand.
First of Surprise Major in hand by the Exeter Colleges Guild.
First Stedman: 4. First Stedman Doubles: 2,3,5.
Rung to celebrate the wedding of Sarah Duke and Nick Beston in Kent on Oct 23rd. Sarah was Rhiannon and Dominic's Assistant Head of Sixth Form.
Concluding the Southern Universities Association Weekend in Exeter.
Well done to Dom and Pip for ringing thier first quarter of Major. It was also the first towerbell quarter of major for the society for quite a while! The standard of ringing was good, and lets hope we can ring another one soon! Thanks to all our friends who came to help us get a strong band together.
First Major on towerbells as conductor.
recent run-in with a boy racer.
of the French Parlement by Louis XV on this day in 1753.
First by a complete undergraduate band by the society for many years.
Rung on the anniversary of the re-entry to Rome of Pope St Leo III, assisted by Charlemagne on this day in 799.
First in method: all except conductor.
To prove the first wasn't a fluke! First quarter on 8 in hand: 1-2.
Another milestone reached - well done both!
First Grandsire: 3 & 4.
Another lunch time - another quarter peal on handbells! This time though we managed to get 4 people together at the same time and attempted and rang very well (mostly!) the first quarter in hand on 8 bells for the ECG for a long time.
First on 8 handbells as (C).
At the second attempt, Kathryn managed to ring her first quarter peal, and Alex his first on an inside bell. Congratulations and well done to you both. And thanks to Ian & Wendy for helping out.
To celebrate the 90th birthday of St David's ringer Mrs. Hilda Boobier, we rang a peal! To include as many current ECG members as possible we decided to ring doubles with an entirely local band. Unfortunately, Matt Durling had to drop out, and Andrew Digby kindly agreed to ring at short notice. It was nice that Peter Boobier, Mrs B's son, was able to take part in the celebratory peal and score his first peal.
"Just a quick note to say we got the peal, there were one or two 'rocky moments' but overall it was really quite good. Heather and Pete are both really pleased (although I'm not sure they're keen to ring another one!)"
tower who was 90 on 15 November 2002. | 2019-04-22T20:40:56Z | https://ecg.devonringers.org.uk/java/achieve.htm |
Longevity Will Require Genetic Manipulation and Drug Therapy.
It may sound good to extend life by gene manipulation But it will be complex and expensive. Taxpayers will not want to pay for it. It will be okay for the wealthy. The ordinary person will lose. There will be a tax burden to provide for aged care. It could be a new industry. We do not really need it.
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ethics biomedicine disease biotech communications brain neuroscience chemicals pesticides crops food epigenetics gene therapy health wellness human gene editing crispr breeding techniques nbts personal genomics science future sustainability greengenes synthetic biology infographics videos podcasts glp articles glp human genetics glp food agriculture special sections glp biotech profiles bees butterflies talking biotech gmo science gmo science ii gmo science iii biotech 2.0 faqs gene editing crispr gene therapy synthetic biology epigenetics personal genomics regulation bioethics gmo faq research search glp library search infographics search videos browse authors browse soemicalurces glp rss feeds external resources search menu search menu glp mission financial transparency governorship team glp boards contributing writers write glp donate copyright contact topics daily food agriculture daily human agricultural laws regulations ancestry evolution biomedical regulations ethics biomedicine disease biotech communications brain neuroscience chemicals pesticides crops food epigenetics gene therapy health wellness human gene editing crispr breeding techniques nbts personal genomics science future sustainability greengenes synthetic biology infographics videos podcasts glp articles glp human genetics glp food agriculture special sections glp biotech profiles bees butterflies talking biotech gmo science gmo science ii.
gmo science iii biotech 2.0 faqs gene editing crispr gene therapy synthetic biology epigenetics personal genomics regulation bioethics gmo faq research search glp library search infographics search videos browse authors browse sources glp rss feeds external resources search menu recommended deep-space travel colonization rely genetically engineered life forms life emerged multiple times earth universe glowing trees colonoscopies wonders synthetic biology creating superwoman man benefits human enhancement biotech 2.0 faqs gene editing crispr gene therapy synthetic biology epigenetics personal genomics regulation bioethics gmo faqs fundamentals farming food health safety sustainability labeling regulation bees butterflies facts pesticides pollinators talking biotech explore future food biotech glp biotech profiles analyzing critics shaping debate extending healthy life gene manipulation sounds cool it’s complicated david warmflash genetic literacy project january 26 2015 over same theme emerging ability understand desired manipulate genes explain genetic basis various phenomena biology we’ve flurry news excitement focused genetics athletic ability effects diets personality range diseases behaviors.
same true comes lifespan added dimension it’s duration life extend it’s youthful healthy period researchers aging recently discovered extending lifespan nematode worms caenorhabditis elegans increase period youth health finding thought setback instead launches longevity research phase scientists hone genetic factors harnessed allow older people function younger people today.
science aging maturing age beginning 990s nematode studies led great deal excitement manipulating genes researchers able extend lifespan worms five fold years followed milestone described equivalent human living 400-500 years thought extended period youth vigor accounted increased lifespan study conducted university massachusetts tells different story assessing aging looking variety traits umass research suggests nematode lifespans extended manipulation aging genes actually dominated long healthy youthful period saw extension health mutants aged certain traits invariably trade-off extended period frailty inactivity animal principal investigator umass study heidi tissenbaum different previous studies looked traits associated nematode health tissenbaum’s team identified variety traits used define term healthspan distinguished lifespan discouraging finding push longevity research direction scientists begin honing genes extend health association lifespan extension genes remain physically active age genes allow play tennis we’re 70 similar 40 longevity sole criteria notes tissenbaum professor molecular cellular cancer biology umass program molecular medicine advances.
world nematodes nematodes used great deal aging research they’re simplest multicellular organisms however recent times produced several encouraging achievements life extension research involving animals example methuselah fly naming test animal character hebrew mythology lived 900 years investigators university bern switzerland recently succeeded extending lifespan drosophila melanogaster flies 50-60 percent it’s totally clear time added d melanogaster lifespan dominated extended period health however immediate effects genetic manipulation swiss researchers employed suggests extended health lifespan increase known azot altered gene swiss technique causes efficient elimination bad aging cells throughout fly’s life same time healthy cells maintained support body tissues words azot enhanced quality control gene improved quality control lifetime mean better health azot gene conserved humans fly.
study suggests analogous human effect possible study involving mice brown university revealed aging-relevant gene it’s known myc gene activity reduced mouse lifespan extended percent moreover longevity models involving mammals various health issues commonly associated mouse human aging reduced association lifespan increase specifically brown study showed reduction osteoporosis immunity problems cardiac fibrosis mice decreased myc activity mice incredibly normal long-lived john sedivy senior author study emphasizes important point longevity models caloric restriction treatment rapamycin animals live longer health issues moving ladder larger animals brings recently published results genome bowhead whales animals lifespans approaching 200 years study identified 80 genes able adapt otherwise apply humans we’re likely acquire ability dive underwater equipment hours time hope.
various studies involving species lead age whale water distant shore spot group century-old humans running beach would age twenty david warmflash astrobiologist physician science writer follow cosmicevolution read saying twitter shares facebook twitter google pinterest linkedin digg del stumbleupon tumblr vkontakte print email flattr reddit buffer love weibo pocket xing odnoklassniki managewp.org whatsapp meneame blogger amazon yahoo mail gmail aol newsvine hackernews evernote myspace mail.ru viadeo line flipboard comments yummly sms viber telegram subscribe skype facebook messenger kakao livejournal yammer edgar fintel mix instapaper popular japan poised permit gene editing human embryos 2019 mushrooms protect honey bee disease-carrying varroa mite study shows viewpoint glyphosate study suggesting danger honeybee microbiota detailed sophisticated—and wrong ‘chemical free’ organic industry’s unacknowledged ‘pesticide problem’ sexual assault brain memory gaps unusual roundup-cancer lawsuits filed we’re early stages genetic revolution.
worried viewpoint activists promotion ‘fog misinformation’ gmos challenges science communicators teaching evolution siege turkey israel india pentagon darpa program targeting crop losses turn insects ‘easily weaponized’ biological army critics claim defining life it’s created lab alive maoa cdh13 ‘human warrior genes’ violent criminals—and society popular japan poised permit gene editing human embryos 2019 mushrooms protect honey bee disease-carrying varroa mite study shows viewpoint glyphosate study suggesting danger honeybee microbiota detailed sophisticated—and wrong ‘chemical free’ organic industry’s unacknowledged ‘pesticide problem’ sexual assault brain memory gaps unusual roundup-cancer lawsuits filed we’re early stages genetic revolution worried viewpoint activists promotion ‘fog misinformation’ gmos challenges science communicators teaching evolution siege turkey israel india pentagon darpa program targeting crop losses turn insects ‘easily weaponized’ biological army critics claim defining life it’s created lab alive maoa cdh13 ‘human warrior genes’ violent criminals—and society recommended deep-space travel colonization.
rely genetically engineered life forms life emerged multiple times earth universe glowing trees colonoscopies wonders synthetic biology creating superwoman man benefits human enhancement biotech 2.0 faqs gene editing crispr gene therapy synthetic biology epigenetics personal genomics regulation bioethics gmo faqs fundamentals farming food health safety sustainability labeling regulation bees butterflies facts pesticides pollinators talking biotech explore future food biotech glp biotech profiles analyzing critics shaping debate mission financial transparency governorship team glp boards contributing writers write glp donate copyright contact topics daily food agriculture daily human agricultural laws regulations ancestry evolution biomedical regulations ethics biomedicine disease biotech communications brain neuroscience chemicals pesticides crops food epigenetics gene therapy health wellness human gene editing crispr breeding techniques nbts personal genomics science future sustainability greengenes synthetic biology infographics video podcasts glp articles glp human genetics glp food agriculture special sections glp biotech profiles.
bees butterflies talking biotech gmo science gmo science ii gmo science iii research search glp library search infographics search videos browse authors browse sources glp rss feeds external resources © 2012 2018 genetic literacy project scroll back top glp articles glp food agriculture glp human genetics topics daily food agriculture daily human agricultural laws regulations ancestry evolution biomedical regulations ethics biomedicine disease biotech communications brain neuroscience chemicals pesticides crops food epigenetics gene therapy health wellness human gene editing crispr breeding techniques nbts personal genomics science future sustainability greengenes synthetic biology podcasts infographics videos special sections glp biotech profiles bees butterflies talking biotech gmo science gmo science ii gmo science iii gene editing crispr faqs gene therapy faqs synthetic biology faqs epigenetics faqs personal genomics faqs regulation bioethics faqs gmo faqs research search glp library browse authors.
Much is said about advances in gene research. Unfortunately, most is just a rehash of old stuff. For a decade we have been going nowhere. Only 10 percent of human genes are studied. The other 10 percent are thrown in the too hard basket. The 90 percent determine how we look, our intelligence, health and wellbeing.
somewhere 75 90 percent dna – what's called junk dna necessarily harmful toxic genetic matter useless garbled nucleotide sequences functional terms encoding proteins spur important chemical reactions going bodies rationale graur's model based mutations creep dna species weed mutations benefit kinds genetic variants called deleterious mutations appear genome time subtly shifting reordering four chemical bases dna – adenine cytosine guanine thymine – parts genetic code mutations place junk dna considered neutral – genetic code anything anyway – mutations occur functional defining dna harmful ultimately lethal mess instructions code healthy tissue biological processes basis better evolutionary prospects less dna functional less exposed risk mutation increased chances early death invites graur's calculations given risk deleterious mutations survival species hand.
known stability population reproduction rates throughout human history – limit functional dna otherwise dangerous mutations would keep stacking meaning we'd produce impossibly huge numbers offspring percentage healthy bubs survive assumption 00 percent functionality range deleterious mutation rates used paper maintaining constant population size would necessitate each average produce minimum 24 maximum × 53 children writes paper course nobody creationists suggesting carry zero junk dna huge 2012 study called encyclopaedia dna elements encode project claim 80 percent human dna functional study controversial – partly scientists claimed encode definition functional broad graur's term – functional dna code evolved useful terms evolutionary effects – 80 percent figure add 80 percent human genome functional each world would beget average children would die fail reproduce writes likely 25 percent junk dna graur thinks unlikely last word subject – results coincide somewhat neatly findings separate 2014 study.
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Cane toads are a pest in Australia. They were introduced to kill beetles attacking sugar cane. Unfortunately, they were not interested in the beetle. They ate just about everything else. Native species have been greatly depopulated. Now, their DNA has been sequences. Furthermore, three viruses that destroy only cane toads have been identified.
show subsections conservation climate change sustainability weather technology cars travel food wine executive style sydney morning herald age brisbane times watoday canberra times australian financial review domain commercial estate allhomes drive food traveller executive style sixty essential baby essential kids babysitter store weatherzone rsvp adzuna story added shortlist close shortlist reading history shortlist empty time shortlisting stories read add stories shortlist button select start reading read stories sync shortlist devices register log revisit favourite stories register free account sync reading history devices register already account log advertisement politics queensland science virus discovery offers means controlling queensland's cane toad alison brown 20 september 2018 — 31am share facebook share twitter share whatsapp send email normal text size larger text size large text size view comments science finally win war queensland’s biggest eco-scourge cane toad scientists revealed three viruses found toad’s dna converted bioweapon wipe species according findings published gigascience journal thursday scientists hope viruses cane toad's dna weaponised turn tables pest photo university south wales ranked 6th world’s 00 worst invasive species list cane toad weigh kilograms introduced australia early 900s bid control crop-devouring sugar-cane beetles experiment disaster toads ignored bugs supposed eradicate quickly proved themselves highly adaptable prolific breeders more-or-less indestructible team unsw sydney university sydney deakin university portugal brazil unlocked toad’s genetics say discovery lead cull estimated 200 million cane toad population occupies .2 million square kilometres.
advertisement virologist project leader peter white professor microbiology molecular biology unsw viruses converted laboratory turn tables pest found three viruses toad’s genetics potentially used bio-control agents control population professor white finding viruses step towards controlling cane toad population virus cane toads cause chaos delicate ecosystems spreading disease destroying habitats causing food chain instability toads poison native species northern quoll freshwater crocodiles several species lizards snakes professor white virus developed laboratory would field-tested full-scale release ensure impacts native animals genome blueprint animal exact amino acid sequence protein body enzymes work you’ve got ‘deeds house’ bioagent would potentially cull cane toads laboratory-created myxomatosis haemorrhagic virus affecting rabbits culled rabbit population 80 per cent.
Researchers have discovered that the same hormone produced in the platypus gut and stinging spurs has potential for type a 2 diabetes treatment to regulate blood glucose levels. Hormone helps diabetics.
The numbers of wild Canis lupus is diminishing: pet dogs frequently leave the cars of families exploring the outback to breed with pure bloods. Giving them a species name is not logical in my view. Considering they can readily mate with canines and have fertile young. The offspring are not "mules", a necessary requirement for naming. | 2019-04-22T11:07:25Z | https://adventure--australia.blogspot.com/search/label/laboratory |
A brand is a lot more than the products or services you sell. Your brand is what you stand for. While your logo, products, website, and even your digital marketing campaigns may change over the years, one thing must always remain the same: your brand values.
In a world where people are constantly looking for connections with their favourite brands, it’s crucial for companies to give their customers something that they can relate to, that goes beyond a beautiful logo or an impressive website. While the external elements of your brand like your voice and even your name, can help to establish awareness and affinity among your customers, it’s your brand values that deliver real engagement and direct you towards more powerful bonds with your target audience.
For most businesses, brand values act as the “true north” on their compass towards market success. Regardless of how you might get side-tracked on your journey to true brand affinity, your core brand values will remain fixed and steady.
Unfortunately, finding your own brand value definition can be a challenging experience. You’re not describing what you hope to achieve, or how and why you intend to reach your goals. Instead, your brand value proposition looks at the way your brand promises to act for as long as you serve your chosen marketplace. That’s a promise you can’t afford to get wrong.
So, how do you define your brand values, why are they so important, and where can you look for inspiration?
To some extent, finding the answer to the question “What are brand values?” means looking at your brand as a whole. Most brands consist of a range of “external” attributes, including a verbal identity, which outlines your tone of voice and personality, and your visual identity, which includes logos, colours, and fonts.
While both of these elements can help to establish brand loyalty by creating feelings of familiarity and affinity, it’s the “internal” part of your brand that truly transforms the relationships you build with your customers. That internal element, is your “brand values”, the part of your marketing mix that guides your purpose, personality, and proposition.
Without a brand value proposition, you can’t hope to differentiate your company from your competitors, and as we all know, it’s the memorable brands that win the most customers. Core brand values, along with your fine-tuned brand communication strategy, helps shape the culture and community of your brand, ensuring that you connect with your customers in a meaningful way.
Memorable: Brand values don’t mean much if they’re not constantly represented by the things you do and say. Your customers and employees need to be able to remember your beliefs if you want them to have an impact.
Unique: This is something that should go without saying, but your brand values definition should be a unique reflection of your culture and identity. You can’t simply copy and paste something that works for another business. Look at strong companies for inspiration, but make sure your core ideals represent your company DNA.
Actionable: Your brand value proposition is something that needs to guide how your business works, just like your brand manifesto. When defining what matters to your company, choose actionable language. For instance, don’t just say you “value integrity”. Tell your customers that you work to do the right thing, and describe how you do that.
Meaningful: Empty phrases that look as though they’ve been picked at random from a dictionary won’t do anything for your business. If you want your core brand values to resonate with your customers, they need to include things you’re willing to fight for.
Clear and defined: Vague and value are two terms that rarely go together. When choosing the principles on which to build your brand, make sure that the things you stand for are easy to understand. For instance, Netflix has a slideshow describing what each of their values means, while Buffer explains their beliefs through bullet points.
Timeless: While companies and customers can change with time – your brand values should remain consistent and strong. The only reason you should change your values is if you’re seeing some serious backlash from your existing code of ethics. Otherwise, make your scruples something that can bend and grow with you over the years, and make sure you maintain consistency.
It’s tempting to think of your brand value proposition as a bragging opportunity, but there’s more to a company’s ideals than a list of powerful words and phrases. Your brand values definition has to mean something if you want to give it power, which means that simply telling people that your company is generous, thoughtful, and environmentally-conscious isn’t enough.
When you ask yourself “What are brand values?” you need to think about what truly matters not only to you, but your co-workers, shareholders, investors, and customers too. The best brand value examples work because they’re reflective of customer ideology, but they still embrace the passions of the business in question.
To start the search for your core brand values, you’ll need to move beyond the preset box full of dime-a-dozen company terms like “reliable”, “trustworthy”, or “friendly”. Those words might sound positive, but they don’t describe what makes your company powerful and unique. If you want your brand values to help you stand out from the crowd, then leave the idealised terms behind, and think about what you’re truly passionate about.
Do you hate thoughtless brands, and want to make sure your company always cares for its customers? Do you love the planet, and want to give something back with environmental measures? Choose ideals that appeal to both your co-workers, and your customers, and start building a community based on them.
As you’re going through your branding process, try to think impartially about the needs and expectations of your customers, while considering the pre-existing solutions that your competition has to offer. You might find that a quick competitor analysis helps you to find a gap in the market, or informs you that you need to re-think your values in order to better differentiate yourself from existing offers.
The most powerful brand values are those that respond to an existing need in the marketplace. Rather than trying to tell your customers that they should feel the same way as you about a particular concept, find out what your customers already believe, and what they want to see from their favourite brands.
How would your customers describe you to someone who was planning on using your brand? Would they say that you have exceptional customer service? Would they tell their friends that you have the cheapest products on the market – or the best quality this side of the UK? Find out what your customers already associate with your company, and try to grow your brand values from that.
For instance, if you know your customers appreciate your personalised approach to customer service and email marketing, then make “personalisation and a willingness to go the extra mile” your brand value. Once you’ve established it, fight for it with everything you do. Innovate new ways to customise your customer experience, and advertise your efforts.
As we mentioned above, a brand value proposition is something that should remain the same over time. While your logos, colours, and even your business name could change with time, the principles that you embody need to stay strong if you want the best chance of real brand loyalty.
When constructing your brand values definition, think about how you can simplify what you stand for into a few key words and phrases that can act as guidance points for your business team. The more your workforce understands your values, the more they can ensure that you maintain a consistent company image in everything from your social media posts, to your offline events.
When you’re trying to find your core brand values, it can sometimes be helpful to look elsewhere in your industry for a little inspiration. After all, some of the biggest brands in the world got to where they are today because they understood how to portray their company ideals in the most efficient, and effective manner.
Sure, Apple, Coca-Cola, Nike, and similar brands all have powerful products and services to sell, but it’s their brand value proposition that helped them to create a marketing and awareness plan that resonates with their audience.
Here are just a few amazing brand value examples, to help you find your muse.
Apple has long had a reputation as an innovative, forward-thinking brand. However, the company has seen a few hurdles on the way to success. Back in 1997, Apple was struggling to earn its share of the marketplace, so they launched the “Think Different” campaign to clarify their brand values for their audience, employees and shareholders alike.
The “Think Different” campaign showed that Apple is focused on making the best, most creative products in the world while keeping technology simple for the masses. The Apple brand values identify the business as one that focuses on quality over quantity. Today, Apple workers are more united than ever, creating seamless experiences for customers both online and offline.
The Nike brand values link back to their motivational tagline “Just do it”. Originally, the tagline was designed to fight back against the growing US obesity problem, but it also captures the company ideals of heroism and drive.
Nike’s mission statement outlines that the business wants to “Bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world”. However, the Nike brand values further identify that anyone who has a body is an athlete in their eyes. In other words, Nike is about encouraging success, motivating athletes, and reminding everyone (no matter their fitness level) that they can achieve their goals.
John Lewis knows how to create a great brand value proposition. Having built one of the most beloved retail brands in the UK, John Lewis achieves incredible customer loyalty because of their exceptional devotion to their brand values. From the very beginning, Founder John Spedan Lewis established that the company should focus on purpose, profit, power, members, and business relationships.
That might sound vague, but the John Lewis brand values have pushed the company into becoming something that puts their partners and employees first. Happy partners mean happy customers, so everybody wins! A focus on a strong and empowered company culture, combined with the John Lewis mantra “Never knowingly undersold” ensures that John Lewis maintains the respect and love of its audience.
Virgin Media may be one of the most commonly referenced brand values examples in the world today. As the story goes, the Virgin brand began in the 1970s as a simple student newspaper. Richard Branson quickly discovered new ways to share his thoughts with the world, entering the retail environment, producing records, and even establishing an airline business.
Give value for money (never be cheap).
Offer quality and attention to detail (but not at the cost of affordability).
Innovate (be willing to take risks).
Competitive challenge (be ready to respond to customer needs).
Customer service (always hire professional, empowered people capable of giving a great experience).
Most customers associate BMW with high quality, premium products, and experiences. Part of that identity can be linked to the products that BMW designs and produces. However, it’s worth noting that BMW has worked to create a brand image that screams luxury. The BMW brand values revolve around a mission statement that focuses on providing premium products and services to the automobile industry.
Integrity: Asking customers for frequent feedback.
Respect: Treating each customer with dignity and courtesy.
Responsibility: Holding themselves accountable for their performance.
Growth: Focusing on constant innovations and creativity.
Each of these brand values comes together to create the idea of a truly sophisticated brand.
What do you imagine when you think about Lego? Creativity? Fun? High-quality toys? That’s no coincidence. Lego wanted to make themselves more than just any old child’s toy manufacturer. They knew that if they wanted to stand out among a greatly saturated market, they’d need to focus on delivering brand values that their customers would respect.
The Lego brand values centre around creativity, fun, and imagination – as you might expect for any toy company. However, Lego takes the concept a little further by introducing values that appeal to parents, as well as children. For instance, they value “learning” opportunities created by their toys, great customer service, and incredible quality. It’s these unique brand values that set Lego apart as the number one children’s toy maker.
You might have noticed in the brand value examples above, or in our description of how to choose your company ideals, that most companies seem to focus on a collection of the same fundamental principles. While it’s up to you to make sure that your brand value proposition is unique to your business, the truth is that you’re going to have to focus on highlighting your devotion to a few specific things in your marketing mix. Usually, the “types” of brand values are defined by their focus on product leadership, operational excellence, or customer relationships.
Brands that value product leadership are interested in appealing to customers that want the very best. The company team and culture might be dedicated entirely to quality testing and innovation, and your brand should be constantly working on innovations and improvements that you can share with the market. If your brand values are focused on your product and service, then you need to think about more than just price, you need to decide how you’re going to always provide the highest quality out of anyone else on the market.
Companies that focus on operational excellence in their brand value proposition are more concerned about giving the best overall experience for the lowest prices. You’re not necessarily trying to come up with better, newer products. Instead, you want to give your customers a consistent and reliable experience, for a price they can afford. This might mean that you use innovative production cycles, or offer free delivery on products – whatever makes life more convenient for you and your customers.
Finally, brands that idealise customer relationships rely not on their product or pricing to sway their audience, but on the power of their unique experience. By learning as much as they can about their buyer personas, these businesses ensure that they’re always delivering the right products, services, and solutions at the right time. A company that differentiates itself by customer relationships should have more than just great customer service. You’ll need a powerful personality, a strong strategy for marketing, and countless ways to interact with your audience.
Most customers choose more than one of these value proposition areas to focus on. For instance, while your primary value proposition might be that you offer exceptional customer experience, your secondary value might be focused on innovation. The more you can narrow down your values, the more you can set yourself apart as a unique offering in the market. Lush cosmetics focus heavily on product leadership with some of the highest-quality bath bombs on the market. However, they also build customer relationships, by showcasing their ethical beliefs.
Once you’ve defined how you want your customers to think of you by choosing your brand values, you’ll be able to start creating a brand strategy and marketing campaign that demonstrates the ideals you stand for.
Your brand value proposition is your chance to connect with your customers on a deeper level. It goes beyond things like logos and product packaging and starts to respond to the way that your consumers think and feel. After all, it’s up to companies to align themselves with their customers – not the other way around.
When you identify and claim your core brand values, you separate yourself from the crowd and begin to create a community that your followers can join to feel a sense of power and belonging. In other words, you get more than just a customer base, you get a “tribe”, people who believe in you not just for what you sell, but for what you do as a company.
The truth is that brand values are essential to understanding how people view your company, and the products or services you offer. A powerful brand value proposition can provide a filter through which you run your business, dictating everything you do – from the updates you share on social media, to the way that you shape your organisational structure.
By working with a branding expert to establish your brand values definition, you can ensure that you have a roadmap in place to guide your company through important decisions, and maintain the long-term loyalty of your customers. By articulating what you stand for as a brand, you can also attract better customers and employees that share your beliefs. In fact, studies show that organisations and employees who have shared values are nine times more likely to experience exceptional customer satisfaction.
Just remember, for brand values to be effective, you need to act on them. No-one likes a company who says something and does another. That means that if you say you’re “environmentally-friendly”, you better recycle, and if you tell your customers that you’re generous, then you need a plan to show them why they should believe that’s true.
Find your values, and live by them.
Brand values should be super important and be used as a guide for both you as a company and your customers.
It’s a great standpoint to have to align against everything you do – and how your customers will know what to expect from you!
It’s also great to be able to teach new employees when they’re brought on board!
I think some brands can often forget that their brand values are as much for their own employees as they are for customers. Whilst enticing your clients with unique and special brand values is undoubtably super important, ensuring the brand values that you hold with your clients (honesty, transparency, efficiency, strong ethics and humour) also ring true with your employees will put you head and shoulders above your competitors. Often brand values can be used as a face for clientele in marketing but what you really want is for them to be in every stitch and essence of you as a brand. | 2019-04-21T07:07:54Z | http://fabrikbrands.com/how-to-define-brand-values/ |
People sent me about a dozen other methods including using a plunger to stir up the clothes in the bath, but you know the logic about why you shouldn’t let a dog lick your face because you don’t know where it’s tongue has been? That’s the way I feel about using a plunger to clean my clothes. Besides, Allie’s method seemed like a lot more fun.
I wasn’t the only one who thought so. Isabella was first to join (she’s begun earning her rent at last!). Then she starting shouting “Come on, Mommy, we a doing a laundry.” Before long Michelle was in on the act and I got to go back to reading my book while I left them to it. Just joking! We all jumped up and down on the clothes and had a riot (sorry that the picture isn’t better).
For the Virgos among you who want to know the technical details—and Virgos are the best people on the planet, by the way—I threw a quarter cup of castile soap and a half a cup of borax in the wash to clean the clothes. PS The electricity doesn't go off until a week from Saturday. We were just testing the system.
By the way, maybe because we tossed out the TV, I had no idea that the “free hug” thing that I mentioned in Friday’s post had become a virtual world movement. My friend Gary sent me this video. In its own way, it’s individual action activism just like No Impact Man. I dig it. Watch it. If it doesn't make you feel like humanity is worth saving, I don't know what would.
Lastly, the Ottawa Citizen carried a piece about the No Impact experiment on Sunday. You can read it here.
So begins the second part of a two-part essay by Illinois State University Professor Curtis White (pictured here) in the current edition of Orion Magazine.
White became a hero of mine when I read the first part of his essay in Orion’s last issue. I have thought for a long time that the planet’s environmental problems are a symptom of a sickness in the way we live, and White articulates this with the force of great eloquence. Where once, Having was something that complimented our Being, over the past hundred years, we’ve come to act as though our Being is entirely for the purpose of Having. Since the pleasure of Having is so short lived, we must Have more and more in our attempts to be happy. That means consuming more and more of the planet’s resources and pumping more and more toxins into its water, earth and air.
I’ve said over and over to radio hosts and journalists and pretty much anyone who will listen that among the roots of the planetary eco-crisis is the breakdown of community. Not only do we live in isolated little houses or apartments, unknown to our neighbors, but families go to their own rooms to watch their own TV shows or play their own computer games. True relationship with one another and our wider society has been replaced by Nintendo and Tivo. Because we lack community, we lack the feeling of accountability to anything larger than ourselves.
As the resulting logic goes, why should I change my life for the sake of a world to which I feel only the slightest connection? Wouldn’t I get more improvement in my life if I instead exerted my efforts towards the purchase of an HD TV?
People sometimes think that the No Impact experiment is about deprivation, but I would argue that we are already hugely deprived. There is a man who shows up in New York’s Union Square offering “free hugs” and he gets many takers. Why? Why can we not find enough affection within our own lives? We are deprived of relationship. Paradoxically, No Impact’s letting go of the idea that we should spend our lives working for and accumulating more “stuff” allows space for the things that end our deprivation—like friendship and community and the time to enjoy them.
A psychiatrist friend, Stephan Quentzel, went so far as to suggest in conversation that environmentalism could be like a new religion that binds us together with a sense of common purpose and greater meaning. My friend Rabbi Steve Greenberg said to me that the rules of living environmentally—an extreme example of which are the rules my little family follows in the No Impact experiment—could be a sort of new eco-kashrut, social rules of behavior that make life eco-kosher and which we would follow in order to be part of a larger tradition and community and to serve a common good.
Which leads to my wondering, why is much of the current environmental thinking so conventional? Why is it so inside the box? Why are we talking about eco-economies and “externalities” and trying to fit all the problems and solutions within economic theory? To my way of thinking, the system that we live in is a hodgepodge. It was never designed to accommodate six billion people. In fact, it was never designed at all. Why do we have to protect it and the status quo? Why not be willing to change it? Why not work towards a better system?
But what goes in place of the values that are central to capitalism (and before I get 67,000 emails about the failure of the Soviet experiment, I'm not arguing for communism)? What can we find to supplant worshiping at the altars of supply and demand, want and satiation. The whole system is designed not to find a way out of the cycle of desire—which the world’s great religions exhort us to do—but only to give us temporary relief by more and more Having.
Why do we bury the big questions that confront us all? What is the meaning of my existence? What is my relationship to your existence? How should I live my life? If I accept that I will die one day, is there any meaning to my life that will endure? Because if we embrace these questions—or I should say when I do—Having just seems so much more trivial.
Professor White’s most recent book, if you’d like to take a look, is The Spirit of Disobedience: Resisting the Charms of Fake Politics, Mindless Consumption, and the Culture of Total Work.
My food mentor’s book is out!
You know I won’t be buying it—no purchases of anything new allowed for the No Impact family—but that doesn’t mean you can’t. As for me, I can borrow it from the library. Or persuade my friends who still buy things to get it. Or go to the book store with Michelle and hang out in the food section and talk loudly about how we just looooooove this book called Plenty by Alisa Smith and James MacKinnon.
Ok, I admit it’s an ethical dilemma for me who buys nothing new this year, but can you begrudge my wanting people who helped me in my No Impact struggles to have a whopping great best-seller success?!
Here’s the background. As you know, No Impact Man works in stages: no trash, no carbon-powered transportation, locally-grown seasonal food, sustainable consumption, etc. Well, back in the middle of winter, no less, when we entered the local food stage (an environmentally sound practice for a whole bunch of reasons), we were faced with a lot of cabbage and apples. I mean a lot.
So many in fact that I met with the famous food writer Marion Nestle and asked her if our nutrition was okay. Would I die of toomanyappleitus or something? People have been eating locally and seasonally for thousands of years, Marion told me. I’d probably survive, she said. I didn't look undernourished. Plus she gave me a hug, which made me like her even more.
Worried I had no idea what I was doing (because I had no idea what I was doing), I also Googled “local food” and found Alisa and James and their year on the 100-mile-diet before their book was even a smudge on their publisher’s printing press. Please help! I wrote to Alisa. A couple of emails and a couple of phone calls later and Alisa became my official local food mentor—at least as official as it could possibly be considering I never told her she had filled the position.
One time, a couple of months ago, Michelle, Isabella and I got stuck in the freezing cold a long way from our house and we had to get warm so we went into a vegetarian café (we do have our standards, even when we cheat). Plus it was Isabella’s birthday and Michelle wanted to celebrate and I didn’t want to argue. And well—mea culpa—we cocked a snoot, for one meal, at eating local.
So understanding. Even now, I still feel like calling her mom. But Alisa also wrote to me: “Only through strictness do you have a conversion.” Mom…I mean Alisa…gave me absolution but she also warned me not to cheat too often. Michelle and I have taken this to heart. If you cheat every time the going gets tough then how can you really experience the experiment? I tell myself that every time the elevator tempts me as I trudge up the stairs with Isabella on my shoulders and a heavy bag of groceries on each arm.
To the point: Alisa and her partner James are the gurus on local eating and their commitment to their 100-mile-diet has inspired many local eaters. Their book Plenty—you can’t stop a gift from coming your way, even when you are No Impact Man—is terrific. You can read about them at their website, read an excerpt , look at a Q&A with them on Grist, or even read a series of articles they wrote on their experience. But most importantly, don’t forget to, um, “pick up” the book (I never outright said buy, did I?).
PS You can also read more about local eating in a recent New York Times article.
If you’re a recent transplant to Manhattan, or if you’ve never been here at all, you may not realize that on the top of nearly every building stands what looks like a huge wooden rocket. On top of buildings of steel and glass, these wooden monoliths seem like gigantic anachronisms. It’s hard to believe that in 2007, these mega-kegs hold our City’s water.
And they’re everywhere. After you notice one of the first time, you see them every time you look over your shoulder.
Well it turns out that a board or two in these sentries of the skyline go bad about once every twenty years. When one board springs a leak, the entire structure has to be deconstructed and replaced. Meanwhile, even the perfectly good wood that didn’t rot goes to the landfill.
Enter David Gibbs, a student of furniture design at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn’s Clinton Hill who emailed me and invited me to visit his studio. David struck a deal with a firm of water tower builders to take the surplus wood off their hands in exchange for their not having to cart it to the landfill. What David gets is beautiful, weathered planks of cedar and other valuable hardwoods.
David then upcycles the planks into beautiful, stylish but heavy furniture—the kind of thing you just wouldn’t want to throw away, the same way David didn’t want to throw away a cedar chest his grandmother once owned. What I love is that not only does David avoid using virgin wood cut from trees and divert potentially tons of material from the landfill, but he hopes to remind us of the old-fashioned stewardship of objects that has been so completely repudiated by our throwaway culture.
Water tower images courtesy of David Gibbs.
This post also appears in my green parenting column for Time Out Kids New York, appearing every Wednesday. For resources on eco-friendly stores and restaurants, or simply to plan a weekend outing, visit them at tonykids.com.
How much planetary damage would you allow?
Sara Gottlieb, who blogs at Visualize Whirled Peas, raised the perennial eco-question in a recent post: what is the balance to be maintained between preserving our “way of life” and our efforts to keep the planet healthy? How healthy do we want the planet to be and what are we willing to sacrifice for it?
“The major debates that I see surrounding sustainability arise from those who think technology will provide the solution and those who think that going back to a simpler way of living is the One True Way.
Both of these viewpoints still avoid the question: What are we sustaining? My background is in the natural sciences. I have spent a large portion of my life working with biologists who monitor the status of extremely rare species in fragile environments. While the loss of species and marginal habitats is only a small piece of the environmental puzzle, I always viewed it as the “canary in the coalmine” warning us of the potential for our own demise. Short of causing our own extinction, how much biodiversity loss are we willing to allow and still consider it sustainable?
In some ways, these questions are irrelevant to the No Impact experiment since we are trying to reduce our environmental impact to its lowest extreme. But not everyone has the luxury of doing what we're doing for this year.
I was wondering, what is the line in the sand you all would want to draw? What definition of sustainability, as Sara puts it, do you subscribe to? What are the goals you would like our eco-efforts to aim towards, and as Sara asks, what are you willing to give up for them? Or do you think that the techies will save us and we won’t have to give up anything? PS Don't forget to drop by at Sara's blog.
When we first started the No Impact experiment, Michelle made it clear that, if I thought she would ride a bike in Manhattan—or even worse—let Isabella ride on the back of one, I was cracked. Then we went by train to my hometown in Massachusetts for Christmas—a concession we made to plans arranged long before the project began—rented bikes so we didn’t have to get around by car, and Michelle and Isabella loved it.
In the mornings, during that week, Isabella would wake up and walk around my mother’s house holding her arms up in the air and shouting “bike riiiiiidddde.” If her demand wasn’t met—like the day it was pouring rain outside—she bawled her eyes out. We came back to New York and lived in fear every time someone rode past on their bike that Isabella would become hysterical that she couldn’t join in. Michelle’s resistance to the bikes began to erode (with a caveat that I promised we’d never ride on the busier streets).
We’re hereby a family of second-hand bicyclists. Not only am I kind of proud that we managed to sort ourselves out without buying anything new, but the prospect of our No Impact summer without travel no longer seems so bad. We’ll be able to get to the beach after all. Bike ride!
First let me say, I don’t think that my “going forward” is so particularly commendable. There are lots of people who have been trying not to harm the planet a lot longer than me. These quiet heroes, some of whom write to me with very helpful advice, do what they do just because the believe it’s right. When I meet and talk to these people, I quite frankly feel ashamed that I didn’t begin looking more closely at my impact on the planet before the age of 43.
Now, I’m not saying anyone should or shouldn’t believe in God or anything along those lines at all. I’m just talking about noticing that as well as suffering the human psyche contains a lot of concern about suffering. I’ve said before and I believe that compassion can be as powerful a force in human nature as greed when we choose to let it.
What buoys me is the fact that so many altruistic people are choosing to let it. Of course, I could do more, and maybe we all could. But I have hope. And when you embark on a project like No Impact Man and meet so many wonderful people who work and have always worked to help the world, you only get more hope. And more inspiration.
Some say it’s too late. Who knows? But I love that there are so many who help because it is the right thing to do, even if it is not the most efficient or even the most productive. They don’t care whether it is too late or not. They try. That’s what keeps me going forward.
When the lights go out…Gulp!
As you probably know by now, the No Impact experiment works by our making our life changes in stages. So far we’ve worked through the self-propelled transportation, no trash, local and seasonal food, and sustainable purchasing stages. I’m hoping to begin the no electricity phase in about three weeks (sustainable water use comes after that).
The bad news is, well, it’s scary! The good news is that I’ve looked everywhere and, as far as I can tell, Michelle isn’t stashing any divorce papers.
“Often, people might simply have lain in bed ruminating on the meaning of a fresh dream, thereby permitting the conscious mind a window onto the human psyche that remains shuttered for those in the modern day too quick to awake and arise.
Most of my years I’ve just lived my little old life the way the people around me wrote it, but now I’m definitely turning a lot of it upside down. You know what? It’s kind of a blast.
But what I really wanted to do with this post is to share a technology that we’ll be using to non-electrically keep our food fresh—an alternative to the refrigerator called the “pot in the pot.” I also wanted to list a bunch of things I haven’t yet figured out how to do without mains electricity in the middle of Manhattan in the hopes that you folks may have ideas or experience.
I’m hoping some of you out there have some really nifty ideas (which I’d love to hear in detail, as in, with instructions). Bear in mind that, while I do have access to the roof of the building, I doubt I can put a permanent solar panel up there. I do, on the other hand, have a window that gets full sun for the first half of the day. What do you reckon? Comment away!
…at least that’s how the song is going to go about 50 years from now if nothing changes. The oceans are going to turn into liquid deserts. Goodbye sushi for the up market and fish and chips for the down. If you follow eco-topics at all, and you read the New York Times or The Independent or the BBC’s website, you probably already know all about this. But what no one offered was what we individual fish-stick eaters can do to help. That’s going to be the main point of this post. But first a little background for those who missed the November stories.
That we have only five decades left before our fish menu shrinks to zero is the scientific conclusion of a team of ecologists and economists from a dozen research centers who have studied detailed records on fish catches going back to 1950. Their study, published in the November issue of the journal Science, found that the number of commercial fisheries that have collapsed is accelerating and that the total eradication of all fish stocks in the world is due to be completed by 2048. This comes when just about everybody nutritionally inclined is saying that fish is the best food going.
Already, 29 per cent of the world's fisheries have collapsed. In some habitats, over fishing has led to the extinction of a number of species. "This isn't predicted to happen, this is happening now. If biodiversity continues to decline, the marine environment will not be able to sustain our way of life, indeed it may not be able to sustain our lives at all," said Nicola Beaumont, an ecological economist who took part in the study from Plymouth Marine Laboratory, according to The Independent.
The good news is that the trend is reversible if the fisheries are managed responsibly, which means, largely, taking fewer fish out of those parts of the ocean where stocks are depleted. The study participants called for the establishment of an international approach to protecting the oceans along the lines of the coastal waters of north-west America and Canada which are one of the best-preserved fisheries in the world. But until that happens, individual action—you know, by us—is particularly important.
As for my little family, for the purposes of the No Impact experiment, we have given up eating anything that, in my wife Michelle’s words, “wiggles or has a face.” That’s one way to ensure the oceans aren’t over fished. But if you are worried about your Omega-3s, it is also possible to obtain seafood sustainably.
Eating less of the big fish such as salmon, tuna, swordfish and sharks, which are the most vulnerable populations.
Eating lower on the marine food chain, including smaller species that are less endangered such as clams, oysters, mollusks, anchovies, and sardines.
Choosing fish caught by line, pot, or net (or other artisanal methods) and avoiding fish caught in massive trawl nets which pull everything out of the ocean whether it is the intended catch or not (see the poor turtle courtesy of World Wildlife Fund at the top of the post?).
On top of those tips, the World Wildlife Fund recommends that you only buy sustainably-harvested fish that has been certified by the Marine Stewardship Council and bears its logo (shown here) on the packaging. You can find MSC certified fish suppliers here. If the restaurant or grocery store you frequent doesn’t carry MSC certified fish, you can download a letter to send to the manager here.
Finally, let me leave you with a Worldwatch Institute video on the subject. Click the arrow.
This post also appears in my Green Parenting column for Time Out New York Kids, appearing every Wednesday. For resources on eco-friendly stores and restaurants, or simply to plan a weekend outing, visit them at tonykids.com.
Back when we were in the trash phase of the project, Michelle and I went to the farmers’ market at Union Square and walked up to the booth of the Lower East Side Ecology Center.
The documentary makers who follow us around caught that particular scene on film. Tonight, I gave a talk at Solar One, down by the East River, and I showed the rough cut of the film-maker’s new, 12-minute fundraising trailer that included the scene. Everybody laughed when Michelle rebelled at the worm idea.
But of course, as you know if you’ve been following my blog, we do actually have some worms in the apartment eating our food scraps. I won that one.
On the other hand, there is another scene in the trailer where Michelle is saying that she is on deadline at work and that withdrawal from caffeine—because of the local eating stage of the project—is just more than she can take at the moment. I try to talk her into persevering. The trailer then cuts to Michelle sitting in a Starbucks drinking coffee out of her reusable cup. Victory, this time, to Michelle.
Anyway, during tonight’s talk at Solar One, after the trailer was done and the lights came up, one of the questions people wanted to ask about was negotiating eco-actions within a marriage. One woman said that her husband believed that the system is so screwed up that recycling doesn’t make a difference so she couldn’t get him to do it. Another guy copped to being a Prada lover—like Michelle—while his wife sitting next to him was a back-to-the-earth queen.
How, people at Solar One wanted to know, do you work these things out? I’ve had emails too, asking the same thing.
Now then, it’s one thing to come to me to ask me about non-toxic household cleaners. It’s entirely another thing to ask me for marital advice, but here goes.
When the No Impact project started, I was incredibly rigid about the rules. I hovered over my poor wife. “That roll you’re eating, did it come in packaging?” Michelle must have felt like telling me to shove the roll, well, you can guess where. And she did once or twice. I deserved it.
Maybe you guessed: I’m a Virgo. I wanted to be sure that no rule was ever broken. I made myself into the No Impact police. It caused problems and arguments. It made for less fun.
Only after a couple of months—yeah, I’m slow—did I finally realize that being kind to the world meant nothing if I wasn’t even able to be kind to my own wife. I kept saying, “Each of us can only do what we can do,” but I wasn’t applying that to Michelle. Meanwhile, my Virgoing everything had the effect of making her want to do less, not more, within the experiment. We were doing to each other what the whole project was about not doing: pointing fingers at each other.
It took three months before we finally adopted the No Impact Man philosophy of keeping your own side of the street clean within our marriage. Michelle came up with the idea that she should be the arbiter of her own adherence to the rules of the No Impact experiment and I would be the arbiter of mine. In the end, both of us are on board with the rules of the No Impact experiment, but both of us are free to interpret them our own way. And guess what? There is a lot more peace and fun between us. | 2019-04-26T00:01:23Z | https://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/2007/04/index.html |
It is now about 50 years since British higher education began to expand. This has transformed our universities and our society. In my final lecture as Provost of Gresham, I’m going to talk about the nature and consequences of that expansion, but particularly about the ways in which British universities still need to change if they are to thrive for the next 50 years.
What are my qualifications for talking about this subject? First, I have lived through it – it is 50 years since I graduated from Oxford and started my doctorate in economic history. Second, I have been fortunate to work in some of the best universities in the world. I have helped to shape policies on higher education in Britain and Europe and been elected by fellow Vice-Chancellors to lead them. I have been able to teach and do research in an academic subject, economic history, which I still find fascinating. I spent 31 years at two institutions, Birkbeck College and London Metropolitan University, which have made an enormous contribution to the higher education of adults and members of black and minority ethnic groups who would otherwise have been denied such opportunity. I’ve ended my career at a unique institution which I admire. In other words, I’ve been very lucky. It has not always been easy or enjoyable but there has certainly never been a dull moment.
British higher education, like much else, began to change in the 1960s. The report in 1963 of the Robbins Committee, a Royal Commission into the future of Higher Education, produced the first six new – plateglass – universities. Meanwhile Antony Crosland as Secretary of State for Education created the parallel polytechnic system.
In response came the cri de coeur by the English novelist, Kingsley Amis, that “more will mean worse”. He argued forcefully that expanding the number of students would reduce their quality. A university education had always been, and should remain, restricted to a very small intellectual elite; only very few – such as the tiny proportion of the population who then went to university, were clever enough to benefit from it.
Amis was certainly not the first and was not to be the last to say this, although he probably phrased it most memorably. Since his time, similar arguments have been used to oppose the increased number of women in universities, the increased number of part-time students, the growth of academic research and the transformation of polytechnics into universities. We have been told that graduate salaries will fall, that more and more graduates will be unemployed, that students would be better off not going to university and should be doing apprenticeships or having children. Most recently, the doomsayers have focussed on high levels of student debt.
So what has actually happened and what is likely to happen next?
To put it simply, we have had more of everything. We have certainly had more than anyone foresaw – even Kingsley Amis in his worst dreams. Most of the expansion has not been – at least in the western developed countries – the result of conscious policy; instead, the supply of graduates seems roughly to have kept place with the demand for them. As economies have grown and particularly as they have become more and more orientated towards services and less towards making or growing things, universities have grown with and within them.
The much derided target supposedly set by the 1997 Labour Government, of 50% of the age-group going to university, was actually a prediction by that famously radical body, the Confederation of British Industries, of the likely demand for graduates in the 21st century. That prediction seems to be coming true, as demand for graduates continues to match supply and the graduate premium – the greater income that graduates receive compared to non-graduates with the same qualifications – is maintained. As the economy emerges from recession, more and more graduates will be recruited.
Now let me look at what “more of everything” has meant.
This famous statement from the Robbins report firmly stated the case for expanding British universities. There were, Robbins realised, more people “qualified by ability and attainment” than the universities of the early 1960s were providing places for. Rejecting the possibility of expanding existing universities sufficiently, he opted for six new ones. His predictions came true, the places were filled and, during the 1980s and 1990s there were successive waves of expansion in the university and polytechnic systems.
After I left Oxford and taught at UCL and Cambridge from 1965 to 1975, I benefitted from this expansion – it was very easy to get a university job. But it was only when I got to Birkbeck that I fully realised what Robbins had meant; there I found hundreds of students who were “qualified by ability and attainment” and immensely hard-working, but whom the old system had failed. As a result, we had wasted their potential. The same would have been true, without that expansion in student numbers, of the children of illiterate Bangladeshi migrants whom we were able to attract to study at London Guildhall University.
They are quite difficult to find and this graph therefore has a gap in it between 1962 and 1999. There were 216,000 students in Britain in 1963, when Robbins reported. By 1999 there were well over 1 million and today there are nearly 2 million. Despite the dire warnings of Kingsley Amis, the quality of degrees was maintained and graduates from the expanding system found jobs. The economic argument for expansion, important to Robbins, was amply justified.
As this table shows, the result has been that a greater and greater proportion of people attend university. I was one of only 4% of my age-group; a young person starting university today will be one of about 35% of hers.
However, the growth in student numbers has not been a triumph for egalitarian social policies or “widening participation” as it is now known. It is still almost as difficult for someone from the working classes – though that is a much smaller proportion of the population than it was - to get to university as it was in the 1960s. What the growth has been is a triumph for women, but principally middle-class women.
In Britain and almost everywhere in developed countries now, women either surpass or equal men among graduates; the only exceptions are Korea, China, Turkey and Japan. There are even more women students than men in Saudi Arabia. The UK is close to but still below the average for developed countries.
This is a startling and very rapid change; in less than four decades, several millenia of discrimination against women have been entirely reversed. Men are now in a minority. Graduate professions long seen as male dominated, such as medicine, the law and even the church are increasingly dominated by women, although not yet in senior positions. But girls are doing better at school, they have higher career aspirations then men and they are reaping their rewards, although salaries still shamefully lag behind.
None of this was, anywhere, planned. Universities did not deliberately seek to recruit more women. Indeed, many of them sought to stem the tide. In the mid-1960s, it ranked as a triumph that women were occasionally allowed to dine in my Oxford college hall and that they could become members of the Oxford Union.
I joined a Cambridge college as a Fellow in 1969 at the start of six years of fierce debate about the admission of women as undergraduates. “More will mean worse” was mild by comparison. We were told that to admit women would be like admitting cats to a dogs’ home. We were assured presumably on the basis of a spiritualist séance that the founder of the College, Sir Walter Mildmay, a contemporary of Thomas Gresham, would not have approved. We were told that the college could not afford to fit full-length mirrors in every bedroom, apparently an absolute requirement for women students. We were told that there was a danger – a danger – that women applicants to read English would be cleverer than the men and would therefore have to be admitted.
Meanwhile those women who did succeed, against all the odds, were patronised and their achievements depreciated. This was the response to the award of the Nobel Prize to Dorothy Hodgkin.
It has become a commonplace of educational discussion that the real problem in all countries lies with white working-class males, whose traditional occupations have disappeared but who have not been attracted sufficiently into higher education, to gain the skills that they need today.
I have been criticised for describing all this as “the triumph of women.” Of course there is much more to do; women are still discouraged from careers in research, there are far too few female professors or vice-chancellors and, outside academe, too few women in politics, among judges or at the top of FTSE 100 companies. But I am unrepentant – the change since the 1960s has been remarkable.
More women has been a European, indeed a worldwide, phenomenon. Not so the growth of part-time students, which has been a particularly British phenomenon, symbolised by that great success story, the Open University. In truth, Britain pioneered the concept of part-time study in the nineteenth century, in places such as the Mechanics’ Institutes and, later, Birkbeck College and the technical colleges which became Polytechnics in the 1960s. We exported part-time study to the United States, but not to Europe. Even today, only Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain apart from Britain have significant numbers of part-time students.
But Britain led the field until, recently, government funding policies led to a sharp drop in part-time students. This is much to be regretted and ought to be reversed. Places like Birkbeck and most of the former Polytechnics have done a tremendous job in increasing the skills of the population through part-time study. This function is not sufficiently recognised; it tends to take second-place to the appeal of part-time study in giving second chances. Both are important but it is, frankly, stupid of the government to discourage people from seeking to improve and widen their skills.
More students mean more teachers and, since the main qualification for becoming a university teacher is to be a good researcher, more teachers means more research. In addition, governments around the world have become convinced that economic growth depends on innovation and that innovation depends on research; even in bad times, therefore, they have protected academic research from the worst of the cuts. Gordon Brown, for example, boosted spending on university research and George Osborne, Vince Cable and David Willetts have done the same.
The result, throughout the world, has been an explosion of academic journals and of the number of articles that they publish, both in print and increasingly as online publications. Keeping track of them all has become an industry in itself, abounding with league tables and citation indices as academics strive to get their results published in the best peer-reviewed journals. Britain seems to be very good at all this.
Britain still doesn’t spend as much on research as do many other countries, either from public or private funds, but the results are spectacular.
Now for two successes which most of you will not have heard of, the European Higher Education and Research Areas.
In the last 15 years we have achieved a common structure of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees across the whole of Europe, stretching indeed from Reykjavik to Vladivostock and the Arctic Circle to the Mediterranean and the Caspian Seas. It has produced some unlikely bedfellows: I remember being at a meeting of the Bologna Process, as it is called, when we admitted Russia and the Holy See to membership. Although one shouldn’t say it too loudly, the model that all these countries have adopted is the British one, with much shorter undergraduate degrees than many of them were used to, followed by masters and PhDs. On top of this, millions of students have experienced higher education in countries other than their own through the EU’s Erasmus programme, which allows them to study for a term or year in a different university.
We also have a European research area, across the EU and many associated countries, which funds good research projects and the movement of good researchers between countries. EU research programmes and cooperation between national research funding agencies mobilise the best researchers wherever they are to be found. They make it possible for researchers to meet and discuss their ideas and to take part in joint programmes of research to tackle really significant problems in such areas as transport, medicine, climate change and Britain does particularly well from this funding, reflecting its strength in research, and gets out of it far more than we put in. The Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge recently estimated that universities like his receive 15-20% of their funding for research from the EU. It could all be put at risk – so far as Britain is concerned – by the Eurosceptics, as similar Eurosceptics in Switzerland have just demonstrated.
Finally, this graph says it all.
We think that our expansion in student numbers has been rapid; some continue to think it has been too rapid. But look further afield. Growth in Europe and North America, indeed in the developed countries as a whole, has recently been puny compared to growth in the rest of the world, where governments – think of China and India – see universities and their graduates as the key to economic growth.
There are now twice as many people enrolled in tertiary education in countries outside the developed world as there are within it and the disparity is growing. Along with it goes more research and development in those countries and more innovations as their workforces become more highly skilled. Countries like Britain have traded for decades on having a more highly-skilled workforce, but that advantage is rapidly diminishing.
This is the moment that we have chosen actively to discourage the international students who, for decades, have kept British universities solvent while they study here. Until recently, they returned to their own countries to speak highly of British higher education. Now, by contrast, they feel unwelcome; they are unwelcome to a government which is desperate to cut immigration by any means.
Most people don’t realise, I think, that students – if they intend to stay longer than a year - are a major part of the numbers for net immigration which grab the headlines. Few of those international students want to stay in this country after they graduate so they are not “taking jobs from hard-working British people” as the UKIP and Conservative rhetoric goes. It is extraordinary that the government persists in counting students as immigrants and therefore as its prime target for cutting immigration.
Let us devoutly hope that they fail. If they were to succeed, they would probably destroy a significant number of British universities.
Vice-chancellors don’t like to say this, but I can. This slide shows how many British universities there are, including some of the most successful and prestigious, who could not do without their income from overseas students. Take that away and you will jeopardise the universities which educate many of our children and grandchildren. The only way for them to survive would be to put up their fees to much more than the current level of £9000.
The policy is, frankly, mad.
British higher education has, over the past 50 years, been a great success. More has unambiguously meant better. Without the expansion of British universities, we would not have ended discrimination against women, we would not have allowed millions of our fellow-citizens to fulfil their potential through full- and part-time study, we would not have achieved our place as the leading country in Europe for research across the whole spectrum of the sciences, humanities and social sciences.
The dire consequences which Kingsley Amis foresaw, but which Robbins immediately refuted, have not come to pass. Of course, we need to continue to worry about the quality of teaching and learning, but British university courses are now far better designed and far more professionally taught than when I began my career.
There are a whole range of other benefits from the growth of universities. Graduates are happier, less prone to crime, more likely to take part in social, cultural and charitable activities in the community than are non-graduates. They are even less likely to be obese. Graduate unemployment has risen less rapidly than general unemployment and is falling more rapidly. It is good to be a graduate and good that we have so many of them.
Now, what about the future? I have one major prediction, which is that expansion will continue. I’ll explain why in a moment.
But I am also concerned about the future. We have a messy, muddled non-system of higher education. Policies are not coherent, not thought-out. We need to think again, as Robbins did fifty years ago, about the whole future of British universities and about the ways in which they could work better for themselves and for future generations of students. So, for the rest of this lecture, I will discuss areas where the current state of British higher education could be improved.
Inevitable, I am going to be critical, probably provocative. So I want to make it clear that I greatly admire the people who run Britain’s universities and the academics and administrators who work in them. In my experience, they love their jobs because they can make a difference to our society, either by increasing our knowledge through research or by teaching succeeding generations of students; university employment is not well-paid by the standards of many other jobs which demand high-level qualifications, but those who do these jobs know that they are worthwhile. They also enjoy them. In the 19th century, clergymen had the highest life expectancy of any occupation; today it is academics. That probably says something.
To return to the future, I confidently predict that expansion will continue and that the results will continue to be good. Why do I say this?
First, because we still have – compared to many other countries – relatively few people going to university.
Britain is not at the top of a league table of university attendance, as some politicians seem to think. Instead, as this graph shows, we are in the middle among developed countries and cannot afford to slip further down. We are already far behind comparable countries like Australia, the United States and many other European countries and there are many other countries yapping at our heels. A service economy like ours, rather than a country with lots of agriculture, natural resources or manufacturing, needs more and more trained graduates.
The second reason why I predict that expansion will continue is because the imposition of the highest fees in the world for a publicly funded system has hardly dented the demand for university places – with the significant and worrying exception of part-time places. So strong has been the demand that the Chancellor, George Osborne, recently astonished the university world by lifting the cap on undergraduate numbers and allowing universities to recruit as many as they wish, with their fees continuing to be covered by loans from the state. Few of us think that the sums add up, but the new policy is a signal that the government thinks people will continue to want to come to university.
Meanwhile, demand to do Masters degrees and doctorates continues to be strong and could be even stronger if we didn’t discourage overseas students.
However, all is not well. The successes that I have described were achieved with very little conscious planning, with a funding system that is so complex that it defies description – as I found when trying to explain it to the Governors of my university – and with entrenched privilege which has changed little since the 1960s.
If you doubt this, remember that it was Michael Gove who pointed out recently that there are more Etonians at Oxbridge than young people who received free school meals. There are more black and minority ethnic students at London Metropolitan University than in the whole of the Russell Group of elite universities.
There are many other problems – the Public Accounts Committee has serious doubts that the current system of student fee support is sustainable and it is clear that, if anyone in Government believed that it would save money, they will be wrong. Meanwhile the Government, as I have just said, is hell-bent on destroying the success in recruiting international students which benefits the UK economy by several billion pounds each year. We have universities which are supposedly autonomous but actually entirely dependent on public money, universities which are supposed to compete but cannot raise their fees. It is not only the fee system but the whole system that deserves the term “omnishambles”.
In fact, there really isn’t a system, as Robbins realised. That is still true – there are still no guiding principles or agreed objectives for the spending of huge sums of public money. Some of the greatest universities in the world now share that funding with private institutions which allegedly exist largely to milk the student loan system.
You might defend this as the result of organic development and free competition (although actually competition is totally constrained) and necessary for the preservation of academic freedom. But Robbins disposed of this 50 years ago. As his report also pointed out, academic freedom is the right of individuals to express opinions which may be unpopular, it is not a justification for the existence of any particular institution.
What should be done about it? There is an argument, bolstered by the successes which I have just described, to let things muddle along. After all, my alma mater, the University of Oxford, has stayed one of the best universities in the world despite a governance system which breaks most of the rules in the book.
But I think higher education is now too important to our economy and society to do this. We need to take a look at the system as a whole, not just odd bits of it like the fees for undergraduates. What we really need, fifty years on, is another Robbins Commission which can, as Robbins tried to do, design a system fit for this century. However, Royal Commissions are out of favour and it has been left to private bodies such as the Institute for Public Policy Research, to fill the gap. Their committee, chaired by Professor Nigel Thrift, reported last year. It made 23 major recommendations, most of which I agree with.
But the recommendations are about improving the position that English universities are in today. The committee didn’t go back to first principles or try, as Robbins did 50 years ago, to design a system. I think we need to do that.
We need to think seriously about how many universities we have, about what they do and about how we pay for the teaching and research that they do. I believe that we have too many universities, that they are trying to do too many different things and that the way in which we fund their research is fundamentally flawed. Many others have said the same about the funding for teaching, so I’m going to ignore that topic, but I will argue that the idea that universities can provide for either their teaching or their research through fund-raising from alumni or philanthropy is a chimaera.
First, too many universities, each trying to do too many things. No-one seems to know how many there are worldwide, but there are probably about 1500-2000 in Europe. All of them can award doctoral degrees, in contrast to the United States, where only a small proportion can do so.
In Britain there are 134 members of Universities UK, while London Higher, which represents the wider category of higher education institutions in London, has 40 members within the M25. There are many other HE instititutions in London, including branch campuses of many universities from the rest of England and from Scotland. This is too many, both in Britain as a whole and within London. Each institution, from the largest university to the smallest conservatoire or higher education college, has a Board of Governors, a Vice-Chancellor or Principal, a Finance department, an HR department, registry, admissions office, fundraising office and so on. The overhead is too great.
So my first proposal is to cut the number of universities in Britain by at least one-third if not one-half.
We don’t need two or more universities in each of our major cities, glowering at each other and competing to attract the attentions of businesses and local authorities. Why do Leeds, or Sheffield, or Oxford, or several other cities picked at random, need two Vice-Chancellors, two Registrars, two groups of Governors? Is it really necessary to have two universities outside Brighton, separated only by a main road?
In London, the situation is even more bizarre, with Colleges which are all nominally part of the University of London all competing to remain independent from each other and recoiling at any suggestion that they might join forces with parvenus such as London Met, Westminster or Kingston. We have conservatoires and art colleges which could perfectly well be faculties of a larger university.
Experience suggests that universities will not make such radical changes for themselves; Vice-chancellors and Boards of Governors fiercely defend their separate existences. The Higher Education Funding Council has remained supine in the face of the evidence that all this is unnecessary and inefficient. The Welsh government has stepped in to reduce the number of universities in Wales; maybe the next English government will have to do the same.
At the same time, universities are simply trying to do too many things at once.
They are trying to be hoteliers, conference organisers, caterers, sporting promoters, careers advisors, pastoral counsellors; they run great estates, house research institutes, provide theatres and concert halls, sell souvenirs and t-shirts, act as property developers, invest on the stock market. They set up overseas subsidiaries, finance start-up companies, develop science parks, maintain some of the most beautiful buildings in Britain, run some of our greatest museums, art galleries and libraries.
All this is a hangover from a time when universities were detached from the world, living in a rural cocoon and teaching 18 year olds fresh out of boarding school. Maybe then universities needed to do everything. Now most universities are in the middle of big cities and do not need to do all these things. It is even odder that many of their activities still follow the academic cycle of term and vacation that was established in the Middle Ages. Despite conferences, many lecture theatres – expensive real estate - lie empty for large parts of the year.
There is duplication and waste in academic as well as administrative affairs. In an age when every student can download a lecture onto a tablet or smartphone, it does not make sense for lectures on, for example, first-year economics or English or biology to be given at several different universities in the same city at roughly the same time. Nor does it make sense for lectures to be repeated in successive years, often with only minor changes.
Freeing lecturers from the need to do all this, by sharing the tasks between them, would leave more time for real interaction with students in seminars and classes rather than the false interaction provided by sitting in a large lecture audience. This might enhance student satisfaction, which is wilting under the combined impact of high tuition fees and the increasing lack of willingness of the research “stars” among academic staff to undertake undergraduate teaching.
However, the tyranny of “not invented here” is as prevalent in academe as in other walks of life. If duplication is to be reduced, it will have to be through cooperation between the lecturers involved. This, in my experience, will come only through merging their academic departments, another argument for reducing the number of universities.
One could go further. There is a strong argument for specialisation, in the form of universities which concentrate entirely on postgraduate education. They could make better use of the best researchers who are already, in many places, concentrating on Masters and PhD students and leaving the undergraduates to junior staff or teaching assistants, many of them now on zero-hours contracts.
The Robbins Commission, 50 years ago, discussed whether Oxford and Cambridge should become all-graduate institutions. They rejected the idea, arguing that it would be too great a change to the character of Oxbridge and that, in any case, at that time only 18% of their students were postgraduates. Now the proportion is much larger, as it is at the other great research-led universities such as LSE, Imperial and UCL, together with some of the best specialist universities such as the Institute of Education and the School of Hygiene. Turning Oxbridge into all-graduate institutions has been discussed sotto voce in common rooms for years and it is probably time for there to be a proper and open debate about it again.
If we were to organise the university system so that many academics explicitly concentrated on research and postgraduate teaching, we would need to modify the way in which research, and the research universities, is funded. But reform is badly needed anyway. To put it bluntly, a good bit of the current system is an expensive charade. Let me explain.
This slide describes the four most important sources of money for university research. Europe, as I said earlier, is increasingly significant. Charities are very important, particularly in medical research. Private industry funds less, proportionately, than in countries like the United States but is still significant in areas of applied science and engineering. But every year the first source, the state, provides more than £4.5 billion. It comes in two parts so that the system is known as “dual support”. Two-thirds, about £3 billion each year, is allocated to research projects, mainly through competitions organised by the research councils which now cover every academic field. The grants which result pay for the direct costs of the research and the universities also receive payments for their overhead expenditure on buildings, equipment and the salary of the vice-chancellor. One-third, about £1.5 billion each year, is paid in block grants to universities. I want to focus on the process for doing this.
In the 1980s, under the impact of Thatcherite funding cuts, Britain pioneered the assessment of university research. Since then, the books and articles of academic staff have been scrutinised, by panels of their peers, every five or six years and, by an increasingly elaborated and always time-consuming process, their academic departments have been assigned a grade. This grade is then translated into funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for the succeeding period. As I said, about £1.5 billion per year is distributed by these means so the results of each assessment determine how upwards of £6 billion is spent.
I have no objection at all to the principle of research assessment; it is entirely right that public money should be properly spent and be seen to be spent on the best of academic research. But the practice of research assessment is a different matter. Each assessment costs between £20 million and £100 million pounds, depending on whose estimates one accepts. That may not seem very much if one is distributing over £6 billion between each successive assessment, but it is still an enormous waste of money, for the simple reason that it does not lead and has never led to any significant change in funding for most research universities.
To demonstrate this, let’s look at the funding which goes to the top 24 research universities; together, this was 70% of the cake in 1995 and is over 75% today. Both this government and the last have pursued, without much evidence that it is beneficial, a policy of concentrating the funds.
Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and UCL still get much the same proportion of the cake as they did twenty or thirty years ago. In fact, over the 19 years between 1995 and 2014 only three universities – Imperial, Oxford and UCL – out of those top 24 research universities changed their share of the cake by more than 1 percentage point and that was because the system was tweaked to reward the most highly graded. It would be cheaper simply to give them the money in perpetuity rather than to waste time and money on what has essentially become an extremely expensive way of constructing a league table which hardly changes. Another reason for this stability in funding is that the grade given by the assessment has to be multiplied by the average cost of research in each subject; how is that calculated? Surprise, surprise, by what it has cost in the past.
However, giving the top universities the same money forever is probably a step too far for government or the funding council, even if that is essentially what has happened. So I have a better solution. Although the assessment of research by the Higher Education Funding Council gets all the attention, it actually accounts for only one-third of public funding for research in our universities; the other two-thirds is distributed by the research councils on the basis of project proposals and plans. They reward good ideas rather than past achievement, which seems a proper thing to do, and they demand, of course, that academics and universities report on what they have done and account fully for the money they have received.
So my solution is to take all the money and distribute it through the research councils. The current system is beloved of Russell Group vice-chancellors, who can distribute, as they wish, the sums that their universities receive. Actually, although they complain about it, a lot of academics love it too; they are intensely competitive people and love league-tables, particularly if they are the people sitting in judgment on the research of their friends.
But it is an expensive charade. It should be replaced by a properly competitive system, using the mechanisms which the research councils already have. There is one further reason for doing this – we are always being told how we should be more like the United States – well, that world leader in research allocates its funds through research councils and has no equivalent of our research assessment system.
My fourth prescription for a healthy higher education sector is to forget about fund-raising in the sense of soliciting donations from rich people.
The pressure to raise funds from alumni and rich donors came from a series of misunderstandings of American universities. People who should have known, or been told, better, like Gordon Brown, thought that fund-raising for a tiny proportion of American universities – principally those in the Ivy League – could be translated into sizeable donations not only to Oxbridge – the closest analogue – but to the general run of UK universities.
This ignored the fact that most US universities in the state system did not, and do not, receive much of such funding, except occasionally to fund a football stadium; it ignored also the fact that, as one distinguished American university President put it to me, “fund raising for universities in America is a branch of the tax avoidance industry”. It depends on tax advantages which – fortunately – do not exist in Britain; finally, it ignored the fact that donations to most British universities were at such a low level that extraordinary increases would be needed to make any difference at all to university finances.
Now, twenty or thirty years since pressure to fund-raise began, and after large sums of money have been invested in “development” – always mistrust an activity that dare’s not speak its name – while government has spent large amounts in matching fundind and, of course, in tax relief for the donors, the results have been frankly pitiful, except for donations to a very select group of universities. About 80% of all the funds raised now go to Russell Group universities and, of those, 50% are to Oxbridge; Oxbridge secures 100 times as much in new donations as all the fifteen Million+ universities, principally the former polytechnics. No one seems to know how many of the donations have been for academic purposes, rather than to providing ever-more luxurious accommodation for undergraduates to underpin the vacation conference trade. Vice-chancellors are proud of what they have achieved – I confess to having been delighted at raising £4.5 million for the Women’s Library at London Guildhall University – but most will admit that many of the donations have not been for their top academic priorities and that virtually none of the donations have supported teaching and learning rather than bricks and mortar.
Despite all this, the juggernaut has rolled on. Vice-chancellors and heads of Oxbridge Colleges are now expected to be supplicants for gifts rather than academic leaders or university managers. We now have the bizarre spectacle of the Higher Education Funding Council setting universities a target of raising £2 billion per annum to substitute for cuts in public funding. The fund-raisers are rubbing their hands; we have 1500 fund-raising staff in universities at the moment but will need, they say, to double that number to meet this target and we will of course need to raise their salaries to recruit that number. That would mean that we had more fund-raisers than academic staff in architecture and planning or in agriculture and veterinary science; the “development” workforce would be one-third of the number of academic staff in the whole of the humanities. This is sheer madness.
Universities are not, except in the strict legal sense of the world, charities; as I’ve shown earlier, they are increasingly multi-faceted businesses. It is absurd that they should be expected, by the state and its agencies, to rely on donations which attract charitable tax relief. They should be funded to do the job which the state wants them to do.
We will be told that the state cannot afford to fund universities. Well, then I have a solution which should appeal to a government which professes to believe in the free market and private sector disciplines. Forget about fund-raising and allow universities to charge a fair price for the services that they provide. This was the solution advocated by Lord Browne in his review of student fees, but which the government refused to accept.
As this graph shows, Britain is getting its higher education on the cheap.
The government should trust the evidence that shows that investing in higher education is one of the best investments that the state and individuals can make. British higher education – if allowed to recruit the overseas students who want to come here – is one of our most successful export industries. Britain already spends less than many other comparable countries on higher education. It is adding insult to injury to tell us that the state will not support this success story and that we should spend our time going cap-in-hand to hedge fund millionaires to fund such vital and efficient public services.
I’m delighted that I’ve spent my working life – and a good bit of my private life – in British universities. It has been exciting and challenging. I’ve lived through a great expansion of the university system and I believe that all the evidence shows that expansion has been successful in a whole range of different ways. Those, like UKIP, who seek to turn back the clock and reduce the number of graduates are just showing their ignorance.
But I also feel frustrated, as I retire at the end of July from my last job in British higher education. The system could, I believe, be much better. It could be a system and, for that reason, I think we need a new Robbins report, a new Royal Commission to think for the next 50 years. Meanwhile, we could do much more with what we’ve got. We can avoid wasting money on too many universities. We can get more for our money by specialising, by avoiding duplication and by dispensing with vanity projects such as our current research assessment methods. We can stop spending money on chimaera such as alumni funding for state funded universities and, above all, we can recognise that British higher education deserves, and can justify, much greater funding than our blinkered politicians seem ready to give it.
I hope, for the sake of my grandchildren, that the next 50 years of British higher education will be at least as successful as the last 50 years. More has meant better and even more will mean even better. Kingsley Amis was wrong. | 2019-04-20T08:40:26Z | https://www.gresham.ac.uk/lecture/transcript/print/more-means-better-fifty-years-of-higher-education/ |
Phytases produced by the symbiotic bacteria might increase the availability of phosphorus and other nutrients in farmed animals. Unlike terrestrial animals, phytase-producing fish gut bacteria are insufficiently studied. The present study was intended to evaluate phytase-producing gut bacteria in 6 freshwater carps, to identify the most promising one by 16SrDNA and to optimize phytase production by the strain. Homogenates of proximal (PI) and distal (DI) intestinal segments were spread onto Modified Phytase Screening Media (MPSM) plates to enumerate phytase-producing microbiota. Data were presented as Log Viable Counts g-1 intestine (LVC). Phytase producing microbiota was highest in the DI region of Cirrhinus mrigala (LVC = 3.85) followed by the DI region of Labeo rohita (LVC = 3.35). Out of 73 phytase-producing isolates, 14 primarily selected isolates detected through qualitative assay were further screened by quantitative assay using MPSM broth. The strain CM7 isolated from DI of C. mrigala showed highest phytase activity (2.31±0.01 U mL-1) followed by the strain LR2 (2.21±0.01 U mL-1) isolated from DI of L. rohita. Nucleotide homology analysis revealed that the isolate CM7 was similar to Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis (Accession no. JX292128). Highest phytase activity by the isolate in submerged culture was recorded as 2.61±0.04 U mL-1 under optimized conditions (pH 7, 35°C, 2.5% inoculum, 4% NaCl, 1% starch, 2% ammonium sulphate, 6 days incubation). Phytase-producing ability of the fish gut bacteria detected in the present study might expand the scope of their use to improve nutrient utilization in fish or other animals.
Paramita Das and Koushik Ghosh, 2013. Evaluation of Phytase-producing Ability by a Fish Gut Bacterium, Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis. Journal of Biological Sciences, 13: 691-700.
Phytase (myoinositol hexakisphosphate phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.8), an acid phosphorylase, is an important feed additive to increase the availability of phosphorus and other nutritionally important dietary components (e.g., minerals, trace elements, amino acids and energy) in monogastric animals by virtue of enzymatic hydrolysis of the phytic acid, the major Phosphorus (P) storage compound present in most plant feedstuffs (Maga, 1982; Reddy et al., 1989; Oatway et al., 2001). Owing to its chelation with various metals and proteins, phytic acid (myoinositol 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6-hexakis-dihydrogen phosphate) is considered as an antinutritional factor (Sabu et al., 2002). Incorporation of exogenous phytase in poultry (Lei and Stahl, 2000), pig (Han et al., 1997) and fish (Rodehutscord and Pffer, 1995; Li and Robinson,1997; Forster et al., 1999; Van Weerd et al., 1999; Baruah et al., 2007; Debnath et al., 2005a, b; Baruah et al., 2007; Sardar et al., 2007; Cao et al., 2008) diets has been reported to improve nutrient utilization and contribute significantly toward environmental protection by reducing phosphorus excretion.
Microorganisms are the best sources for commercial production of phytases because of their easy cultivation and high yields of the enzyme (Li et al., 2008). Although, phytases have been detected in several species of bacteria, yeasts and fungi (Greiner and Konietzny, 2006; Li et al., 2008; Roy et al., 2009; Khan and Ghosh, 2012a), considerable research has been conducted on the soil fungus, Aspergillus which is predominantly being utilized for industrial production of phytase (Ullah, 1988a, b; Volfova et al., 1994). However, bacterial phytases might be alternative to the fungal enzymes due to some properties, such as substrate specificity, resistance to proteolysis and catalytic efficiency (Konietzny and Greiner, 2004). During the last decade there has been an improved understanding on the importance of commensal intestinal microbiota in fish (Ringø et al., 2010). The gut microbiota may becategorized as either autochthonous (adherent) or allochthonous (transient) depending upon its ability to adhere and colonize the mucus layer in the digestive tract (Ringø and Birkbeck, 1999; Ringø et al., 2003). Like ruminants, complementary enzymes produced by the symbiotic bacteria might help in digestion and assimilation of the plant feedstuffs in fish (Ray et al., 2012). Autochthonous phytase producing gut bacteria in fresh water fishes have been reported very recently (Roy et al., 2009; Khan et al., 2011; Khan and Ghosh, 2012a). To our knowledge, phytase-producing fish gut bacteria are still insufficiently studied for enzyme production (Khan and Ghosh, 2012b).
In view of effective utilization of the phytate rich plant feedstuffs as animal feed ingredients, supplementation of phytase from autochthonous microorganisms or use of phytase-producing gut bacteria as microbial feed additives might be more suitable than the added phytase from allochthonous microorganisms. Microbial enzymes have the advantage of large scale production by established fermentation techniques. To establish a successful fermentation process, it is necessary to make the environmental and nutritional conditions favorable for over production of the desired metabolite by the microorganism (Ray et al., 2007). Therefore, the present study aimed at (1) Re-validation of the occurrence of phytase-producing gut bacteria in some freshwater fishes, (2) Identification of the most promising phytase-producing bacteria by 16SrDNA partial sequence analysis and finally (3) Optimization of the various process parameters to influence phytase production by the promising bacterial strain, Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis (Gen bank Accession no: JX292128) .
Fish species examined: Average length, weight and average weight of the gut of the 6 carp species (Labeo rohita, Catla catla, Cirrhinus mrigala, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Cyprinus carpio, Puntius japonicus) examined in the present study are presented in Table 1. The specimens were sampled by gill net from 3 local culture ponds and transported to the laboratory at Golapbag, Burdwan, West Bengal, India within oxygen packed plastic bags.
Isolation of phytase-producing gut bacteria: To isolate phytase-producing gut bacteria, gut segments were processed following Khan and Ghosh (2012a). The GI tracts were divided into PI (proximal part of the intestine) and DI (distal part of the intestine), cut into pieces and flushed carefully three times with 0.9% sterile saline solution using an injection syringe in order to remove non-adherent (allochthonous) microbiota. The gut segments were homogenized with sterilized pre-chilled 0.9% NaCl solution (w/v, 1:10) as described elsewhere (Das and Tripathi, 1991). Pooled samples of 3 fish were used for each replicate to avoid erroneous conclusions due to individual variations in gut microbiota (Ringø et al., 2006; Khan and Ghosh, 2012a). Homogenate of the pooled intestinal segments of each of the 3 replicates for each fish species and each part of gut was used separately after appropriate serial (1:10) dilutions (Beveridge et al., 1991). Diluted samples (0.1 mL) were poured aseptically (each in triplicate) within a laminar airflow on sterilized tryptone soy agar [(TSA), Himedia, India] and incubated at 37°C for 48 h to determine culturable heterotrophic autochthonous bacteria. To determine phytase producing bacteria same inoculums (0.1 mL) were given on sterilized Modified Phytase Screening Media (MPSM) plates and incubated at 37°C for 72 h after (Howson and Davis, 1983) with some modifications. The composition of MPSM was (g L-1): glucose, 10; (NH4)2SO4, 1; urea, 10; citric acid, 3.0; sodium citrate, 2; MgSO4.7H2O, 1; sodium phytate, 3; FeSO4.7H2O, 0.01 and agar 20, pH 7. The Colony Forming Units (CFU) unit-1 sample volume of gut homogenate were determined by multiplying the number of colonies formed on each plate by the reciprocal dilution. Data is presented as Log Viable Counts (LVC) g-1 intestine. Colonies appeared on MPSM plates were streaked separately to obtain pure cultures and kept in a refrigerator (4°C) until further study.
Screening of isolates by qualitative and quantitative assay for extra-cellular phytase production: Primarily the bacterial isolates were screened qualitatively for extracellular phytase production following Yanke et al. (1999). The bacterial colonies in the MPSM plates were partially washed and flooded with 2% (w/v) cobalt chloride solution.
Subsequently, cobalt chloride solution was removed and a solution containing equal volume of 6.25% (w/v) ammonium molybdate solution and 0.42% ammonium vanadate solution was added. The appearance of transparent zones around the bacterial colonies indicated utilization of phytate by the extracellular bacterial phytase.
Out of the 73 phytase-producing bacterial strains isolated from the fish species examined; 14 primarily selected isolates (20% of total isolates) were further evaluated for quantitative phytase assay. Quantitative phytase assay of the crude enzyme was done with MPSM broths after Yanke et al. (1999) using sodium phytate as the substrate. The colour developed due to phytase activity was determined with a spectrophotometer (Shimadzu UV1800) at 700 nm. One phytase Unit (U) was defined as the amount of enzyme per milliliter of supernatant that released 1 μg of inorganic phosphorus per minute. Soluble protein content of the crude enzyme was determined by Lowry et al. (1951) using bovine serum albumin as standard.
Identification of the most promising isolate by 16SrDNA sequence analysis: One isolate with high enzyme-producing ability was further characterized by the analysis of 16SrDNA partial sequence as described by Roy et al. (2009). Sequenced data were aligned and analyzed for finding the closest homolog of the isolate using a combination of NCBI GenBank and RDP database. Phylogenetic tree was constructed in MEGA 4.1 software using the neighbour joining method with bootstrap analysis to obtain information on their molecular phylogeny.
Optimization of fermentation parameters for phytase production: The most promising isolate CM7 (Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis) was used for optimization of the process parameters for phytase production under submerged fermentation. Inoculums were prepared from a freshly raised 5-d-old slant culture in MPSM broth grown at 37°C for 48 h. The inoculants thus obtained contained 4.8 x 107 cells mL-1. The protocol adopted for optimization of various process parameters was to evaluate the effect of an individual parameter and to incorporate it at the optimized level in the experiment before optimizing the next parameter. The parameters studied were: incubation temperature (25- 50°C), initial pH of the media (3-9), incubation period (2-10 d), inoculum volume (1-5 mL) and NaCl (1%-5%). In addition, the medium was supplemented with different carbon sources (1% w/v) (glucose, sucrose, lactose, maltose, starch) and nitrogen sources (1% w/v), both organic and inorganic (Ammonium nitrate, tyrosine, ammonium sulfate, tryptophan, peptone, yeast extract). Further, the selected carbon and nitrogen sources (starch and ammonium sulphate, respectively) were varied within a narrow range (1-5%) to optimize phytase production. The production flasks were incubated at 37°C for 72 h unless otherwise mentioned. All the experiments were carried out in triplicate. Phytase assay of the crude enzyme was done with culture broths after Yanke et al. (1999) as described in the previous section.
Statistical analysis: Statistical analysis of the data pertaining quantitative phytase assay of the primarily selected strains were performed according to Zar (1999) using SPSS Ver10 (Kinnear and Gray, 2000) software. All the data are given as Means±SE, n = 3.
Isolation and identification of the most promising phytase-producing bacteria: Enumeration of microbial community in the GI tracts of the 6 fish species studied revealed that autochthonous culturable heterotrophic and phytase-producing microbiota were present in both PI and DI regions in all the fish species studied (Table 2). Population levels of culturable autochthonous heterotrophic aerobic/facultative anaerobic bacteria were highest in the DI region of all the fish species studied.
Highest number of culturable heterotrophic microbiota was noticed in the DI region of C. mrigala followed by DI region of L. rohita (LVC = 8.35 and 6.81 g-1 intestinal tissue, respectively). However, phytase producing microbiota detected on MPSM plate was highest in the DI region of C. mrigala followed by the DI region of L. rohita (LVC = 3.85 and 3.35 g-1 intestinal tissue, respectively).
Out of the 73 phytase-producing isolates (32 isolates from the PI region and 41 isolates from the DI region), 14 isolates were primarily selected through qualitative phytase assay and were further evaluated by quantitative phytase assay to pick the most promising isolate. Primarily selected isolates with their sources and phytase activity were given in Table 3. The strain CM7 isolated from C. mrigala showed highest phytase activity (2.31±0.01 U mL-1) followed by the strain LR2 (2.21±0.01U mL-1) isolated from Labeo rohita (Table 3). Therefore, the isolate CM7 was finally selected for identification and studied for phytase production under submerged fermentation.
Nucleotide homology and phylogenetic analysis of the 16SrDNA partial sequence by nucleotide blast in the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) GenBank and Ribosomal Database Project (RDP) revealed that the strain CM7 was similar to Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis. The isolate CM7 showed 99% similarity with B. subtilis subsp. subtilis IAM 12118 (Accn. No. AB042061) The phylogenetic relations of the isolate (CM7) with other closely related bacteria are presented in the dendogram (Fig. 1).
Partial sequence of the 16SrDNA from the selected isolate (CM7) was deposited in the NCBI GenBank database to obtain accession number (Genbank Accession No.: JX292128).
Optimization of fermentation conditions: Submerged fermentation was carried out to optimize the important physical, chemical and nutritional parameters that influence phytase production. Optimum initial pH of the medium required for maximum phytase production by the strain Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis CM7 was evaluated at various pH levels (3-9) (Fig. 2a). Phytase production was highest at pH 7.0 (2.56±0.06 U mL-1). Result on the effect of temperature (25-50°C) on phytase production by Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis indicated that the optimum temperature for phytase activity was 35°C (2.59±0.05 U mL-1). Phytase production decreased beyond this temperature (Fig. 2b).
Effect of inoculum percentage on phytase production has been depicted in Fig. 2c. Phytase activity was gradually increased with inoculum concentration leading to maximum enzyme activity at 2.5 mL (2.54±0.07 U mL-1) and then declined for further increase in the concentration. When different concentrations of NaCl were used for enzyme assay it was found that phytase production was highest (2.58 ±0.04 U mL-1) in 4% of NaCl (Fig. 2d) concentration. Beyond this concentration phytase activity was decreased. In the present study, different carbon sources were supplemented in the production medium (Fig. 3a). Among all the carbon sources tested, starch supplementation (1%) increased (Fig. 3b) phytase production (2.53±0.06 U mL-1) and glucose was the second better carbon source for phytase production.
When different nitrogen sources were used for enzyme assay it was found that ammonium sulfate was the potent nitrogen source for phytase production (2.57±0.06 U mL-1) followed by ammonium nitrate as shown in (Fig. 3c). Further study revealed 2% ammonium sulfate as an optimum concentration for phytase production (Fig. 3d).
Phytase production at different time intervals with optimized parameters was shown in Fig. 4. Phytase production increased gradually with the incubation period and maximum production was obtained after 6 days (2.61±0.04 U mL-1). However, enzyme yield declined during further incubation.
Phytases have a wide distribution in plants, microorganisms and in some animal tissues (Kim et al., 1999; Vohra and Satyanarayana, 2003). Reports on phytase activity in fish (LaVorgna, 1998; Ellestad et al., 2003) were contradictory and confusing. Presence of endogenous phytase activity in hybrids of tilapia O. niloticusxO. aureus (LaVorgna, 1998) and striped bass Morone chrysopsxM. sexatilis (Ellestad et al., 2003) have been reported. Although, the apparent presence of intestinal phytase activity in fish might be capable of digesting only a tiny portion of the phytate-phosphorus present in the diet. Therefore, phytases produced by the symbiotic microorganisms might augment the phytase activity within the GI tract as evidenced in ruminants (Lan et al., 2011). In the present study, autochthonous bacterial symbionts were isolated from the PI and DI of six species of freshwater carps and some of the strains appeared as efficient phytase producers. Heterotrophic and phytase producing populations were recorded highest in the DI regions of all the fish species studied which was in general complied with the previous reports (Ray et al., 2010; Mondal et al., 2008 ; Ghosh et al., 2010). Previously, (Li et al., 2008) documented phytase-producing marine yeast strains from the gut of sea cucumber (Holothuria scabra) and marine fish (Hexagrammos otakii and Synecogobius hasts). However, only a few reports have endorsed phytase activity to autochthonous gut bacteria from freshwater fishes (Roy et al., 2009; Khan et al., 2011; Khan and Ghosh, 2012a). Roy et al. (2009) isolated two strains of B. licheniformis from the PI and DI regions of an Indian Major Carp (IMC), Labeo rohita while (Khan et al., 2011) isolated a phytase-producing Rhodococcus sp., from the gut of another IMC, Catla catla. Further, Khan and Ghosh (2012a), investigated the presence of phytase producing autochthonous bacteria in the GI tracts of 14 freshwater teleost fishes. Two efficient phytase producing strains isolated from L. bata and Gudusia chapra were identified as B. subtilis and B. atropheus, respectively. In the present study, phytase-producing strains were evaluated through quantitative phytase assay and the most promising strain (CM7) was identified as B. subtilis subsp. subtilis based on 16SrDNA sequence analysis as suggested elsewhere (Roy et al., 2009; Ghosh et al., 2010; Mondal et al., 2010; Ray et al., 2010). To the authors knowledge, different strains of exo-enzyme producing Bacillus spp., have been identified from the GI tract of freshwater teleosts previously (for review see Ray et al., 2012). Bacillus spp., might hold added interest in nutrition and probiotics studies as they can be kept in the spore form and therefore stored for a long lime (Hong et al., 2005).
An effort was made in the present study to optimize the important physical, chemical and nutritional parameters that influence phytase production by the most promising phytase-producing fish gut bacterium, Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis (Genbank Accession No.: JX292128). Previous reports indicated maximum phytase production by most of the microorganisms in acidic pH, although, Bacillus spp., were reported to have optimum activity at neutral/alkaline pH (Greiner and Konietzny, 2006). The optimal cultivation condition for phytase production (2.61±0.04 U mL-1) by the bacteria was pH 7 which was consistent with (Khan and Ghosh, 2012b). Optimum phytase production at pH 7 in the present study might be due to the fact that the bacterial symbiont used in the SSF was isolated from the gut of an agastric fish (Cirrhinus mrigala) and the bacterium was adapted to the neutral/alkaline pH therein (Khan and Ghosh, 2012b). The study registered sharp decline in enzyme production at a pH which was higher or lower than pH 7.0 (Fig. 2a). A pH beyond the optimum level may interfere with the amino acid composition of the enzyme and thereby decreases the enzyme activity (Esakkiraj et al., 2009).
Optimum temperature for phytase production was 35°C which was favourable temperature for fresh water as well as fish gut system. Khan and Ghosh (2012b) also reported 35°C as the optimum temperature for phytase production under solid state fermentation by B. subtilis isolated from a minor carp, Labeo bata. As enzyme is a secondary metabolite produced during exponential growth phase, incubation at higher temperature (>35°C) could lead to poor growth and low enzyme yield (Sabu et al., 2002). In the present study, phytase activity was gradually increased with inoculum concentration up to 2.5 mL, but then declined for further concentration. Higher concentrations of inoculum were inhibitory for phytase production giving minimum enzyme yield (Sabu et al., 2002) at highest inoculum size (5 mL). Reduced enzyme production at higher concentrations might be due to increased competition for nutrient uptake and exhaustion of nutrients creating nutrient imbalance (Ramachandran et al., 2005; Roopesh et al., 2006). On the contrary, lower concentrations may not be sufficient to effect maximal enzyme production (Sabu et al., 2002). It is very important to examine the effects of different concentrations of NaCl in the production medium. Li et al. (2008) mentioned that added NaCl was the most suitable for phytase production by the marine yeast and also indicate that the marine yeast strain could produce a high level of phytase in the production medium prepared with seawater. In the present study added NaCl also suitable for phytase production, although the bacterial strain was isolated from a fish taken from freshwater habitat. The strain CM7 produced large amount of phytase under 4% NaCl concentration which indicates that it has high salt tolerance ability and it is suitable for industrial application.
Type and nature of carbon and nitrogen sources are among the most important factors for any fermentation process (Pandey et al., 2001). Carbon source represents the energy source that will be available for the growth of the microorganism (Roopesh et al., 2006). Here, 1% starch exhibits maximum enzyme activity (Fig. 3b). Starch has been reported to enhance phytase production by Aspergillus niger (Vats and Banerjee, 2002) and Mucor racemosus (Roopesh et al., 2006). Li et al. (2008) reported glucose was the best carbon source in submerged culture with the marine yeast strain Kodamea ahmeri BG3 isolated from the gut of a marine fish, Hexagrammes otakii. Among the nitrogen sources supplemented ammonium sulphate showed best phytase production (Fig. 3c). Li et al. (2008) also documented ammonium sulfate to increase phytase production by the marine yeast strain Kodamea ohmeri BG3. In the present study, maximum phytase production was yielded after 6 days incubation (Fig. 4). However, enzyme yield declined during further incubation probably due to reduced nutrient level in the medium. Otherwise, it could also be the result of poisoning and denaturation of the enzyme by interaction with other components in the medium (Ramesh and Lonsane, 1987).
This study led to conclude that pH, temperature, carbon and nitrogen sources play a most vital role in phytase production by fish gut bacteria, Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis. Therefore, submerged fermentation was conducted to optimize the medium for highest phytase production by this bacterial strain. Microorganisms are the best sources for commercial phytase production because of their easy cultivation and high yield (Li et al., 2008). Phytases have a wide range of applications in animal and human nutrition as it can reduce phosphorus excretion of monogastric animals by replacing inorganic phosphates in the animal diet, contribute significantly toward environmental protection and lead to improved availability of minerals, trace elements, amino acids and energy (Vats and Banerjee, 2002). Incorporation of phytase into commercial fish diets has also been reported to achieve above mentioned presumed benefits (Sardar et al., 2007; Cao et al., 2008). However, still fish gut bacteria is an untouched bioresource for enzyme production. This present study reports production of phytase in submerged fermentation by the selected strain of Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis CM7 isolated from the gut of a freshwater major carp, Cirrhinus mrigala. Our study revealed that fish gut bacteria can produce a large amount of extracellular phytase which was in agreement with the previous reports (Roy et al., 2009). Such phytase producing microorganisms might aid in degradation of phytate within the guts of the host animal (Li et al., 2008). Therefore, apart from the likely application of exogenous phytase, possibilities for direct inclusion of such organisms as probiotics should be emphasized in future studies to improve availability of essential minerals and nutrients from the plant ingredient incorporated diets.
The authors are grateful to the Head, Department of Zoology, The University of Burdwan, West Bengal, India; The Department of Science and Technology (FIST Programme), New Delhi, India and The University Grants Commission [UGC-SAP programme and Major Research Project F. No. 37-383/2009(SR)], New Delhi, India for providing research facilities and financial support. The first author is grateful to the UGC for awarding the Project Fellowship.
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Zar, J.H., 1999. Biostatistical Analysis. 4th Edn., Pearson Education, Singapore, New Delhi, India.. | 2019-04-25T22:31:54Z | https://scialert.net/fulltext/?doi=jbs.2013.691.700&org=11 |
On Shabbat, I will speaking at BAYT, with a Motzai Shabbat multimedia presentation on "The Animal Kingdom in Jewish Thought."
On Tuesday evening at 8pm, I am speaking on the Chicken Wars at Shaarei Shomayim.
If you'd like to contact me about a private meeting, please email me at [email protected].
For many years, the gold standard in kashrus has been the Badatz Eidah Charedis. If you wanted food of the highest halachic standard, if you wanted food that you can be sure that all your guests will eat, that's the hechsher you would get.
I don't know how effective this will be, since it's difficult to get people to change their shopping habits and the hechsher is so widespread. Perhaps it would be helpful to compile a list of foods with which there is a non-Edah Charedis alternative to Badatz. Then you could say, "Instead of buying Bamba, buy ___".
Whatever one thinks of this, the fact is that for anyone selling food products or producing an event, you can no longer assume that your consumers or guests will be happy if you get an Edah Charedis hechsher. They may refuse to eat the food.
Today is Giving Tuesday! You can contribute to your favorite Biblical Museum of Natural History at this link.
A few days after writing my post "When Rabbis Quack - In Print," in which I disparaged a variety of forms of alternative medicine, I suddenly had an ocular migraine. These are not pleasant - my peripheral vision disappeared, followed by great dizziness and a piercing headache. On the same day, I started to feel pain on the right side of my jaw. Over the next few days, this got progressively worse. I couldn't chew food without experiencing great pain, and I couldn't even close my jaws all the way.
Two of my sisters are in the medical profession. My sister the dentist told me to see a dentist. My sister the eye doctor told me to see a doctor. I couldn't bear to wait any longer, so instead of either of those, I went to a neighbor who is a chiropractor.
According to Wikipedia, "Chiropractic is a form of alternative medicine mostly concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system... Its foundation is at odds with mainstream medicine, and chiropractic is sustained by pseudoscientific ideas such as subluxation and "innate intelligence" that are not based on sound science." Even more alarmingly, "It is frequently associated with mild to moderate adverse effects, with serious or fatal complications in rare cases. There is controversy regarding the degree of risk of vertebral artery dissection, which can lead to stroke and death, from cervical manipulation. Several deaths have been associated with this technique."
I only read that after I came back from the chiropractor. Had I read it beforehand, I probably wouldn't have gone. Which would have been a shame. Because although the appointment itself was excruciatingly painful, it completely solved the problem.
The chiropractor pushed her fingers into my jaw; it felt like a pickaxe penetrating my skull. It was almost as bad as kidney stones. I was seeing stars and almost weeping from pain. Then she yanked my head sideways, and the bones of my neck made a great crunching sound, like in those Arnold Schwarzenegger movies when he snaps someone's neck.
I had TMJ - Temporomandibular joint dysfunction, caused by a longstanding unfortunate habit of clenching my jaws. This also caused the ocular migraine. The chiropractic technique cured it. The next day, I was able to close my jaws, and chew without any pain.
So does this mean that I renounce my skepticism of alternative medicine? No, it doesn't. I am still every bit as dismissive of the forms of alternative medicine that I mentioned in that post - auras, chi, reiki, energy healing, distance healing, meridians, acupuncture, applied kinesiology, emotional freedom techniques, dowsing, homeopathy, radionics, crystal healing, geopathic stress, feng shui, iridology, and reflexology. But I didn't mention chiropractic in that post. While this was primarily because it wasn't discussed in the book that I was critiquing, it's also because chiropractic procedures cannot all be summarily dismissed.
Based on my very limited research, it seems that chiropractic is a somewhat vague term that actually covers a broad range of beliefs and procedures. Some of these, like the idea that spinal manipulation can cure all kinds of health problems, is quackery, but other parts are much more mainstream and are supported by many conventional doctors. There's nothing anti-scientific about the notion that massaging (or torturing) the muscles in the jaw will loosen them. And there is no question that it helped me!
So, yes, I still believe that one should be skeptical of alternative medicine. On the other hand, one should be careful about drawing far-reaching conclusions from a Wikipedia article.
I think that it might be helpful if you explained whether you disagree with R' Berkowitz about his point that there is a "plan" to change Chareidi society, or if you instead think that there is some effort to integrate Chareidim but that such effort is necessary... Unless you are of the opinion that Chareidim leaving kollelim en masse to pursue a higher education and meaningfully join the workforce is not an existential threat to Chareidi society as it looks today, I'm not sure what your issue with R' Berkowitz's stance is.
To respond to this, let's discuss another scenario: the War Against Children. This is the ongoing campaign by adults to destroy childrens' desire for freedom to play all day, by forcing them to attend school. Against their will, there is a "social engineering" project which is an existential threat to their desired way of life. They aren't going to be able to be children!
Of course, that's absurd. The existential threat would not be less playing; it would be a world in which children do not receive an education. There's a certain degree of social engineering, but this is wholly appropriate, since the children have no plan as to how to run society without an education. And there's no malicious intent involved; nobody has anything against play, it just has to be balanced with responsibilities. They can still be children with playtime. It would be ridiculous to describe it as a War Against Children; it would be a Desire For Everyone's Survival.
The same is true here. The existential threat to charedi society is not less people in full-time learning (which was the historic norm in Judaism); it's a society facing economic collapse, which will in turn lead the entire country towards economic collapse. There's a desire and effort to influence and change charedi society, which some might call "social engineering," but this is wholly appropriate, since charedi society has not itself formulated any plan as to how societies with large families will survive without people getting professional careers, nor as to how the country will survive with an ever-increasing proportion of charedim. And there's no malicious intent involved; nobody has anything against learning Torah, it just has to be balanced with responsibilities, for the sake of the entire country. Charedim will still be able to learn Torah, they will just have to also get an education and a job, just as many American charedim do and just as pretty much everyone did before the recent Mass Kollel Reformation. It's ridiculous to describe it as a War Against Torah; it's simply a Desire For Everyone's Survival.
A few weeks ago, the "Days of Rage" swept across Israel, with thousands of charedi demonstrators shutting down highways in protest of the arrest of those who hadn't reported for draft deferments. In the aftermath, popular belief was the demonstrators represented a narrow faction called Peleg, led by Rav Shmuel Auerbach. In a post entitled "Was the Charedi Day of Rage Charedi?" I explored whether it could nevertheless be described as a charedi phenomenon, and I argued that it could. Rabbi Avraham Edelstein, on the other hand, claimed that these people cannot even be described as Orthodox, let alone charedim.
Well, here is some more information that has come in.
First of all, there is a dovetailing of efforts with the Badatz Eidah Charedis. When the young men were released from prison, they received an official welcoming reception at the homes of two people: Rav Shmuel Auerbach, and also Rav Yitzchak Weiss, Gaavad of the Badatz.
Second, there is an astonishing audio recording of a talk on the topic given by Rav Yitzchak Berkovits, head of the Jerusalem Kollel. Rav Berkovits, formerly of Aish HaTorah, is a very fine Torah scholar who is known for his great love of Am Yisrael and who is generally considered to be one of the more moderate figures in the charedi world. (I am reasonably sure, for example, that he has no problem with prehistoric dinosaurs or with Chazal having relied on the science of their era.) His kollel is an important mainstream Anglo-charedi institution which trains and places many rabbis in positions of leadership around the world.
In his talk, Rav Berkovits describes the entire situation as a legitimate dispute between Gedolei Torah. Chas v'shalom, he stresses, to disparage either Rav Shmuel Auerbach or the demonstrators! (Although, he later adds, it might be necessary to lie and pretend that one is opposed to their actions, for kiruv purposes.) The question is, as he describes it, are there merely haphazard and uncoordinated anti-Torah efforts, in which case rioting is unwarranted? Or is there a Master Plan (sic) by the Zionists to take over and destroy charedi society? If the latter, he says, then it is necessary to avoid even reporting for an army exemption, and one must take to the streets in violent protest. Because "nothing crucial has ever been accomplished by peaceful means and negotiation; it's either violence or political manipulation." He dismisses the problems caused to the general public as an insignificant inconvenience which is more than justified by the goal.
Let's not discuss the fact that Rav Berkovits takes it as a given that yeshivah students should not serve in the army (which is normative belief in the charedi world) and that there is no legitimate reason for others to be opposed to that. Let's also not discuss his claim that violence or political manipulation is the only way to achieve anything. Instead, I would like to address his basic premise, which he states emphatically, that there is an underlying inexcusable desire to destroy charedi society, with which the only question is as to whether it actually takes the form of a Master Plan. This is the same siege mentality that was expressed in the last elections in Beit Shemesh, where local Anglo-charedi rabbanim spoke about the need to be vigilant against the "war on Torah."
The reason why this is so preposterous, is that as Jonathan Rosenblum has written on numerous occasions in Mishpacha magazine, there is a very real problem with charedi society. And the problem is that there is no Charedi Master Plan!
Rosenblum was not bemoaning, as Rav Berkovits does, the lack of a Master Plan to take over secular society. Instead, he was bemoaning, as do all sensible people, the lack of a Master Plan regarding how charedi society and the State of Israel as a whole is going to survive when a third of the population does not and cannot work in a professional career. (See my post "Rosenblum: We All Need Charedim To Get Academic Education And Professional Employment".) As he pithily asks, who will fund the IDF? Who will fund charedi society? How will the economy of the State of Israel survive?
Rav Berkovits seems to be saying that if you are deeply concerned about such things, and you want the situation to change, then you are part of the terrible War on Charedim. And if you actually try to strategize and implement change, then this should be countered with violent protest. This is what he teaches to his audience of trainee rabbis, getting ready to lead pulpits around the world. It's very distressing.
UPDATE: A certain Rosh Yeshivah just called me, up in arms over this post. He insisted that Rav Berkovitz is completely out of touch with the mainstream charedi world on these matters, which views the entire Peleg faction as being utterly illegitimate in their views and methods.
If you appreciate my writings, please support the most important project with which I am involved - the new building for The Biblical Museum of Natural History! Click here to donate.
Good news - the Chicken Wars monograph is now available in Hebrew! Click here to download it. The English edition is still available here.
While I was researching the Chicken Wars, there were some mysteries which came up with the Braekel enterprise. If the Braekel people truly believed that all regular chickens were not kosher, then why did they keep their efforts pretty much secret until this past summer? Why weren't they publicizing all along that there is a problem with regular chickens, and that people should try to obtain Braekels?
Another question is this: There are countless old breeds of chicken. Why did they pick the Braekel? In fact, of all the old breeds of chicken, the Braekel is somewhat problematic - in the 1970s, there were so few Braekels left in the world that other lines were bred into it. So it's not even a purebred line! Why was it picked to be the kosher chicken?
Here's an explanation that I was given. I can't reveal my sources, but they are very, very good.
It was Rav Shmuel Wosner who originally raised a concern with modern chickens, twenty years ago. He was the person responsible for the hunt to find a pure, traditional chicken. But, according to what I was told, he was always emphatic that if such a chicken were to be found, it should not be presented as the *only* kosher chicken; rather, it should be presented as a preferable alternative.
Now, there's a problem with engaging in such an enterprise, from a business perspective. Any heritage breed of chicken is much less economically viable than modern chickens, which were specifically developed to grow much fatter on much less food and in much less time than traditional chickens. So the only way to make any money off it is to charge a very high price for it, and to make sure that plenty of people are going to buy it. How do you do that? Well, you're going to have to control the only supply of such chickens, so that you can charge whatever you want.
But how do you control the only supply of kosher chickens? Well, you're going to have to make sure that the breed which you sell is the only one that you have proclaimed to be kosher, and it's going to have to be a very rare breed that nobody else can get their hands on.
Thus, in order to make money here, they had to wait until Rav Wosner passed away, then pick a very rare heritage breed - the Braekel - that nobody else would be able to obtain, and then wait further until they had raised enough to start marketing them with the sole monopoly, and then declare the Braekel to be the only kosher chicken.
If all this is true, then although the Braekel is indeed a kosher breed (albeit not superior to any other), it is supreme poetic justice that the majority of the charedi rabbinic establishment declared it not to be kosher at all. Unfortunately, many people suffered as a result, since the Braekel enterprise stirred up enough controversy that there are now many hundreds of families in Israel and New York who are not eating chicken at all. I am very much hoping that my monograph will encourage people to start thinking differently about all this.
Several months ago I critiqued an as-yet unpublished Hebrew manuscript on alternative medicine by a vaccine-opposing rabbi called Rephoel Szmerla. The book has since been published in English, under the title Alternative Medicine in Halachah, and was the subject of this week's cover story in Mishpacha magazine (which was somewhat of a puff-piece for the author, but also interviewed physicians who firmly disputed the validity of alternative medicines).
The author claims that those who argue against such alternative medicines due to their being "scientifically undetectable" have been influenced by "Greek philosophy" and will end up as heretics. He stresses that accepting the truth of such treatments even without a scientific explanation or even a double-blind test of their efficacy is an essential part of Jewish identity, as per the declaration at Sinai of naaseh v'nishma, we will do even if we do not understand.
The purpose of this sefer is to clarify the halachic status of various alternative therapies. It is not my goal to encourage people to discount conventional medicine. Indeed, rejecting standard medical treatment will sometimes constitute a transgression of the commandment, You shall take great care of your lives (Devarim 4:15). In the case of a serious condition, one should seek rabbinic guidance before pursuing alternative therapies in lieu of conventional care.
This is a welcome statement, albeit that I do not think that people with serious conditions should ever refrain from conventional care, and I dread to think what kind of "rabbinic guidance" readers of this book might seek; it could well be Rav Chaim Kanievsky rather than Rav Firer.
Still, the thrust of the book unfortunately stands in stark contradiction to this disclaimer. It is not just about "clarifying the halachic status of various alternative therapies" - it argues for their efficacy (using such absurd "evidence" as contagious yawning being a demonstration of the influence of energy from "auras"). And it is not only all about not only encouraging people to believe in all kinds of quackery, but it also encourages them to see conventional medicine as problematic in that it leads people away from belief in Hashem. The penultimate paragraph of the books declares that "Contemporary medicine is the product of modern science, which denies the existence of Hashem and His Omnipresence." That statement is not only utterly false, it is also dangerous.
The Mishpacha article concludes with a quote from Rabbi Szmerla about the unreliability of science, arguing that just as scientific theories from 100 years ago have been disproven by modern science, "What will happen in the next 100 years? Anyone who believes modern science has all the answers is naive." Now, I don't think that anyone believe that modern science has *all* the answers, but that doesn't mean that there is any reason to take quackery seriously.
We've heard such dismissals of modern science before, and as before, it demonstrates a complete lack of knowledge and understanding of the history of science. Science does not "keep changing"; rather, it keeps being refined. First it was discovered that the earth is spherical; then it was discovered that it is a slightly flattened sphere; then it was discovered that it's slightly more flattened at one side then at the other. At no point will science change its mind and decide the earth to be flat. Likewise, at no point are the fundamentals of physics and physiology going to be utterly overturned.
Telling people that scientists don't know what they're talking about is plain silly. Telling people that with regard to medical science is actually dangerous.
The original critique of Rabbi Szmerla's book can be read at the following link: When Rabbis Quack. On a different note, you can read my article about the Balfour centennial at this link, and you can download my monograph on the Chicken Wars at this link.
A re-post, to mark the Centennial of the Balfour Declaration, exactly one hundred years ago.
The following essay was published in The Jerusalem Post and cross-posted at The Biblical Museum of Natural History website.
It is hard to overstate the eccentric Lord Walter Rothschild’s obsessive fervor for zoology. At his estate in Tring, he collected more specimens than anyone else in recorded history. Rothschild discovered and catalogued countless new species, over two hundred of which are named in his honor. Amongst his collection of live animals was a tame wolf, 144 giant tortoises, and flocks of cassowaries and kiwis, and he trained zebras to pull his carriage to Buckingham Palace.
The Palestinians dispute the very raison d’être of the Jewish State. In the Balfour Apology Campaign and elsewhere, they portray the Jewish People as European colonialists. They reject the historical facts of the ancient Jewish presence in the Land of Israel. They deny the existence of the Temple and work at destroying archeological remains. | 2019-04-24T06:55:37Z | http://www.rationalistjudaism.com/2017/11/ |
Hi everyone, I recently heard about a method some investors are using. It involves attending foreclosure auctions and identifying any properties that sell for a surplus over the mortgage, lien and junior liens. This amount is due back to the original homeowner, but many times they never know this money is theres and never receive it. The idea is to find these people and charge them a percentage of the surplus or an agreed amount. This sounds pretty interesting to me and was wondering if anyone has any experience in this.
Also, I went to the local county court house, to find out when the next auction was. I asked somebody and they told me to look at a sign and there were a couple of notices, but Is there a better way to find how much is owed on the mortgage and dates of auctions in a more organized fashion? Thanks for any help!!
Sounds like a lot of work. Can you make enough to make it worth it?
I have seen alot of threads on this subject recently. I suspect that this is the "next best thing" in the guru field.
Normally the guru will make more from charging you for his information than you will by doing what he says you can do.
While what they say can be done IF done properly, and some money made, it is rare to find many situations steadily enough to make a good living.
Can it be done, yes, will it happen over and over and over and over again, probably not.
This is especially true in these economic times where the homes involved are upside down. Since they are upside down and people owe more than the property is worth, FOR THE MOST PART, then how is there going to be anyone who will pay a surplus for the property?
This is more likely to happen in other areas, such as homeowner overpaying on mortgage via interest or surplus in escrow accounts, or bank accounts, or tax foreclosure sales.
I agree, too far and few between if you ask me.
That said, learn to be an investor, rather than looking for the easy street. Investing is hard work but the pay offs are well worth the efforts!
True, all good points, well its not that I'm looking for the easy street, just being a recent college grad with some debt , I felt this could be an alternate route in real estate to get involved and make some cash as little as it may be. Eventually when I am more experienced, build up credit and have reserves of cash saved, then it would be a more reasonable time to invest in properties. It would be nice to go to an auction and get a feel for how it works, and if a few bucks can be made from surplus foreclosure funds...why not?
Since you asked, I will answer. There is nothing wrong with that at all, I would just like to point out that you can make a ton more money all in one transaction (with little or no money and no credit) using some common RE investing strategies, short sale iinvesting for example. I see a lot of transactions come across my desk, both of my companies and that of others, and I can tell you for certain that many of them are completed with high profit margins and little out of money expenses.
Point being, invest your time and energy into something where the pay day is worth the efforts and it can be accomplished with hard work and diligence. Your situation or scenario certainly does not exclude you from succeeding as an actual RE investor!
I've been involved in surplus funds for quite some time. It is also known as excess proceed, overages, remainders and other lesser known names.
This is and can be a great business if worked properly. I have been doing this business for awhile. I am doing quite well and know others who are making good money from this business.
This is not "the next best thing". It has been around for many years, however, since real estate itself was "hot" for many years, the surplus fund business has been relatively unknown but to a few of us.
I disagree that "only the gurus are making money". That can be said of any business where there are gurus. Real estate especially. How many people buy a program for $1,000 or more, only to have it sit on a shelf and collect dust because someone had to actually work at the business and money just wasn't handed to them?
Anyone can make any business work if they work it hard enough and smart enough. In the surplus fund business, there is lots of money to be made. These overages can go back more than 20 years.
@Jeff Richman. Are you still in this business. It’s something I am interested in learning about. Where can I learn how to do this?
Surplus Funds, Excess Proceeds, Overages and whatever else you want to call it can and does work very well in most Counties and States. I use to buy Pre-Foreclosures, Foreclosures and didn't even have to compete with everyone else. I am a former Court Records Expert and worked for "LexisNexis" doing Court Records Abstraction on all (58) County Superior Courts and all (4) District Federal Bankruptcy Courts in California.
Many Investors will tell you that it is "Hard" or Deals are "Few and Far Between" but, its NOT AT ALL! I think those Investors either don't want you to know the money that can be made or don't want their competition increased. I will die (10) deaths before I make a dent in the Case List that I have to work with that has Hundreds of Millions in Surplus Funds Cases. Its less than 1% Competition in this field as well. When I contact someone (Previous Property Owner) about a Foreclosure they had years ago and that $100K has been sitting earning "Interest" and waiting to be claimed by them, its like Christmas in February, March, April or May, etc.
For most, this would have been there largest investment that failed to "Foreclosure". Only to reap the benefits (Money) years later just amazes them and they cannot believe it. I have seen it with my own eyes many times over the last 15 years or so. I have done it all in Foreclosure Real Estate and knowing more the 90% of the people in that sector of Real Estate Investing. Don't believe the Investors or Guru's that have never done it before and cannot prove it with recent checks or cases.
It's not the "Sasquatch" in the Forrest! It really does Exist and is PROFITABLE! The few that actually may know what they are doing in Surplus Funds, just may not want all of you coming over and spoiling our "Less Than 1% Competition"!
Happy Investing and Fighting Over The Same Deals.
Attorney's solicate homes forclosed on with potential overage regularly. It's a niche field that many people don't know ab out. I've been involved in a few.
My name is Sherese and I am interested in becoming an investor with the surplus fund market.
@Jeff Richman @Darryl Johnson @Nina Grayson @Brett Goldsmith I've recently moved my family to the Charlotte, NC area(Rock Hill) and would love to know more about the surplus fund process (Attorney, contracts, etc). I'm currently a full time electrical engineer looking for ways to reduce college debt. I have sent you all request.
Any beginner investment tips would be greatly appreciated! It doesn't have to be solely about surplus funds, I want to learn as much as I can about the Real Estate Investment world. I'm not looking for a "get rich quick scheme" but it would be nice to get some guidance. Everyone has to start somewhere. Look forward to hearing from you all. Have a good day!
Thanks for the colleague request!
I suggest you contact foreclosure attorney's who partner with Surplus Funds Investors. You need them to present the case to the court, and most likely, to submit the forms to the court for filing before that. Some attorneys may want 50%, some less, just be sure if you are doing most of the work to get the former owner's contract, that you get the larger share. The standard fee for SFIs is up to 30%, and it depends on the amount and how much work is involved in the process. The good news is that most former owners don't know it's there, so they need the help and are willing to pay the fee. You can also look at REIAs in your area to see if there are any Surplus Funds training or mentors. As with any asset class, it's good to study it, assess if it matches your risk tolerance, and then dive-in.
@Nina Grayson Thank you for taking the time to give some AMAZING feedback!
Hopefully i'll be able to return your kind gesture to yourself or someone else one day. I really appreciate your time. Thanks again!
Here are the headwinds you would be dealing with if you dive into surplus funds.
What does it mean for legitimate surplus funds recovery company?
It means facing headwinds in attempting to convince home owners that there is really surplus money left over for their property.
Many homeowners been trained by the internet to ignore any letters or emails or phone calls from anyone calling and offering you free money.
The mentality is already formed in their brain.... that it’s too good to be true.... hence even if you are legitimate company.... you can still face headwinds.... when reaching out to such people.
2) Some older folks have dimensia and may very well sign your contract, but also sign the very same contract with other excess money finders..... leaving you in uphill battle fighting for money... that you would less likely to receive.
Which means there is really no surplus funds for many of the claims, even though the lead website tell you there are surplus funds.
4) many folks on the Internet advise homeowners that they can get their funds simply by filling out several simple forms and claiming money yourself without having to pay any insane fees to any finders.
However if homeowner is not capable in filling out these form they shouldn’t pay more then 10 to 20 percent to finders who will assist in claiming funds.
10 to 20 percent fees don’t exactly cover the costs of your skip tracing efforts, processors fee or attorney fee.
You need at least 45 percent to make it consistent (depending on the property value).
Some states may not have enough surplus funds.
The ones that do have a lot is New York and California.
Now I am not a guru, I haven’t done surplus fund searches.
Key is calling these homeowners consistently and following up.
Look for probate properties.... and look for foreclosure properties.
You don’t need to be super smart to make money in surplus funds, but you will need to know.... how to skip trace deals and send out letters, cold calling people and pivoting them.
says she has funds somewhere. I put two and two together and realize where she owned property and probably let something go to tax sale.
I call the tax collector and I get 100% of the overage and send a thank you note to the surplus person who brought it to our attention. you have a very tough time collecting if the person who is due the surplus simply does not pay YOU ..
and in many counties this is very frowned on.
In my area most of the surplus amounts are fairly low. How hard to do you want to work for a percentage of $4,000. If you are taking a large enough percentage to make it worth your while then, then owners are going to start looking for it themselves. If you do get them to agree it will likely be frowned upon as you taking advantage of someone.
PS I was referring to tax sale surplus when I said surplus amounts are fairly low. In MD and some other states Mortgage surplus business is basically illegal.
We gave it a shot a decade or so ago when there were tons of foreclosures but its a super tough niche. you basically need to be a private detective with all those same skills. then some closing skills.
Look for probate properties? There's a court process that the estate has to go through. It's best to contact the PR.
My team works with Pre-foreclosures to help homeowners walk away with some of their equity or a share of the ARV in a Subject To, or a lease option to avoid foreclosure. The options we provide also help them with not having a negative public record on their credit reports, reducing their credit score, and preventing them from having to wait a minimum of 3 years to apply for a loan, even if they could qualify at that time with a low score. They get to walk away with some cash and make a fresh start. However, not all Pre-foreclosure homeowners see the help staring them in the face. They try to do Loan Mods only to find out they have to keep applying because the asset manager makes the approval process difficult so they get paid for every Loan Mod application. They try to do bankruptcy, but that only gives them 6-8 weeks of postponement and they can only do so many change of court dates before they are denied any further changes and have to go to court. By that time, they don't have the funds to pay the default and additional fees to reaffirm the mortgage to keep the home, so the property is seized.
Bottom line, many Pre-foreclosures in CA go to foreclosure because the owner is hoping for a hail-mary other than the one we give them. We track all of the owners we speak with and for those that go to foreclosure, we review what it sold for to see if it sold for more than the default amount and additional fees. If we see surplus funds of at least $20k, we reach out to tell them we can consult with them to get the surplus funds to them and we coordinate with the attorney to do so. The attorney is the one paid the fee and we are paid from the attorney's fee. Because we have the relationship with the owner, especially since they've met us and spoken with us on several occasions during the Pre-foreclosure, they are open to working with us. Yes, there are hoops, and each state has specific laws and requirements, but it is a viable business if you do it with the intent to help those you have an established relationship with and you are not charging them some ridiculous fee.
Disclaimer: I am not providing any legal advice in this post.
Question: Georgia forms explicitly state you do not need a third party and they will not release the excess funds to a third party. I have also heard if you find excess funds you can still pay the original owner for a quit claim deed even if the home has been sold to an investor. The attorney stated at auction you really do not purchase the home but rather the banks/county's interest in the home and you can get a quit claim deed and then claim the excess funds. what say ye wise investors???
@Nina Grayson Hi Nina! Do you usually do your pre foreclosure over in LA? I would like to establish a system like yours in the Bayarea. Interested in working something out?
@Barton Louie Yes, I do it in South LA and Carson/Long Beach. For the most part, I laid out the system above. Keep in mind, my team are licensed real estate salespersons and brokers who work with owners in Pre-Foreclosure to avoid foreclosure. Our objective is to put their property under a listing agreement and have a cash buyer ready to walk the property within 3 days and sign an offer. That's how we get the postponement of the auction. We then close in 15 days or less. This is a fire sale and it gives the owner some of their equity and no foreclosure on their record - a fresh start.
In some cases, it's a standard listing and that requires more time before auction, and ideally, before they are scheduled for auction. So, many of our deals are off-market cash sales.
Surplus Funds comes into the picture if they don't list and sell with us.
If the owner chooses not to sell and try other avenues, the majority will end up having the property sold at auction. We have built a relationship with them through follow up and multiple touches towards listing. So, it's easier for us to reach out to those whose homes sold to 3rd parties and have a surplus.
For those who we did not have much of a relationship with - did not give us their contact info, we have to locate them. 80% of surplus funds investing is finding the owners and heirs. However, in CA a former owner is given a notice from the new owner to vacate in 21 days. So, there is a window that they are still in the home. That's the time to capture them, and it's best to do it via door-knocking.
Of course, the first step to create a system is partnering with an attorney who does surplus funds in your area.
Question: Georgia forms explicitly state you do not need a third party and they will not release the excess funds to a third party. I have also heard if you find excess funds you can still pay the original owner for a quit claim deed even if the home has been sold to an investor. The attorney stated at auction you really do not purchase the home but rather the banks/county's interest in the home and you can get a quit claim deed and then claim the excess funds. what say ye wise investors??
Every state's laws are different. In CA, the 1st party is the mortgator, the second is the lien-holder, the third is the buyer/Investor - if a third buys at auction vs. the bank (REO). Purchasing the bank's/counties interest in a home would be purchasing a Note. At auction, you are purchasing the property, but the transfer of title is processed as a quit claim deed. The excess funds can only be claimed via release by the trustee. There is a process of getting a release from the trustee for the surplus funds because they have to determine all parties who may have an interest in those funds; creditors, heirs, tax bills, etc. Once those parties are paid or released from interest, the remainder goes to the former owner, unless the buyer/Investors claims the funds, but that would require a release from the former owner. | 2019-04-20T19:43:38Z | https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/12/topics/42096-foreclosure-surplus-funds- |
JACESON P. BARRUS (Adam) SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS is a personal favorite of JaceSon's having been a part of 11 different productions of the show., He's ecstatic at the opportunity to play this show with such a wonderful group of actors including the fabulous Ms. Daron Cockerelt who he is honored to have played opposite in 7 different productions. Other favorite roles at PlazaCo include Harold Hill in THE MUSIC MAN, Will Rogers in THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES and Frank Butler in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN. He sends his love to the best parts of his life Tabitha, Parker, Cameron, Eden, Mimi, JJ, little Charleston and of course Tina. "Esa es nuestra cosa!"
DARON COCKERELL (Millie) Daron is delighted to be performing in her 27th show at Plaza and her 7th show opposite JaceSon Barrus! Some favorite Plaza roles include Annie Oakley in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, Fiona in SHREK, Lily/Kate in KISS ME KATE, Mother in RAGTIME, and Cinderella in INTO THE WOODS, but she will gladly take credit for any other shows you think she was in because she looks a lot like several other talented ladies at Plaza. Work at other DFW theatres includes Lyric Stage, Theatre Three, WaterTower, Casa Manana, Mainstage, Runway and others. She would like to thank Tabitha for forcing her to work on her turns.
DANIEL SCOTT ROBINSON (Benjamin/Carl) This marks Daniels 20th production to be apart of at Plaza. When Plaza did 7 BRIDES...7 BROTHERS back in 2010 he was apart of it then playing the same part BENJAMIN. Top Favorite shows he's done here are Gad/Butler in JOSEPH...DREAMCOAT. Marcellus in MUSIC MAN. Lefou in BEAUTY...BEAST. Conductor/Fireman in RAGTIME. Other productions he's been apart of are WEST SIDE STORY, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and GREASE. Daniel has two very beautiful and talented daughters named Piper Lane and Sutton Hugh. He loves spending time with them and loving on them any chance he gets. They have made him stronger and lives everyday for them. Couldn't imagine life without his girls. Thank y'all so much for seeing the show. We've worked so hard for this and are very proud of it!
NATE MILSON (Caleb/ Luke) Nate is happy to be ruturning to Plaza Theatre Comany almost a year after playing the Tinman in "WIZARD OF OZ." Nate also performed as Prof. Plum along with David Goza in "CLUE: THE MUSICAL." Nate was first bitten by the theater bug in high school when he played Adam in Granbury High School's production of "7 BRIDES FOR 7 BROTHERS" and is overjoyed to be able to join this incredible cast to again perform in this show, this time as a different role. Other Roles include Emmett Forrest in "LEGALLY BLONDE," Thomas Jefferson in "1776:THE MUSICAL," Fred in "OKLAHOMA!" and a German soldier in Fort Worth Opera's "SI LENT NIGHT." Nate would like to thank his parents and his grandparents for all of the love and support "I couldn't do this without ya'll"
STEPHEN SINGLETON (Caleb/ Luke) Stephen is excited to be returning to Plaza after a long break to finish college at UTA. Some of Stephen's favorite roles include: Snowboy in WEST SIDE STORY, Barnaby in HELLO DOLLY, and Jeter in FOOTLOOSE. He was last seen at Plaza over 3 years ago as Mortimer Brewster in ARSENIC AND OLD LACE. Stephen is thankful to friends, church family, and family for their love and support. And most importantly: To Jesus Christ be the Glory! Enjoy the Show!
ADAM SAUNDERS (Daniel/ Matt) Adam is 16 yrs. and a junior at Cleburne High School. He is a member of the high school swim team and a local scout troop. Has played the role of Action in A WEST SIDE STORY and is cast to playing Troy Bolton in HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL.
CAMERON BARRUS (Daniel/ Matt) Cameron is happy to be performing at PlazaCo for this production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. As well as performing in the show, he also designed the Lights and Projection. Past performances include Riff in West Side Story, Tag along kid in FOOTLOOSE, and Nelson in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN . In his spare time Cameron likes to design lights, tinker with computers and longboard. Shutout to his bae Madison. Papa Bless.
NOLAN MORALEZ (Ephraim/Jeb) Nolan is very excited to be performing in his 11th plaza production. He is 16 years old and enjoys dance and theater more than anything. His favorite roles on the Plaza stage have been Tommy Banks in FATHER OF THE BRIDE, and Andy in 42nd STREET. His other favorite roles have been Bernardo Nunez in WEST SIDE STORY at Plaza Academy of Fine Arts, Dill Harrel in TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD at Cleburne Carnegie Players, and Leo Ryder in KILROY WAS HERE! at TAFA. He would like to thank Tina and Tabitha Barrus for this awesome opportunity and thanks to his friends and family for all of their love and support!
RYAN SILER (Ephraim/Jeb) is so excited to be in this production of SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS. Ryan is a Sophmore at Cleburne High School where he enjoys playing the french horn. Previously you may have seen a much younger and shorter Ryan in the chorus of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and A CHRISTMAS CAROL. As a son to Aaron and Milette Siler though Ryan has done much around the theatre from cleaning, poping pop corn and even occasionally running the sound board. If you are wondering about this epic head shot of Ryan it was picked out by his loving father, Aaron Siler, who wants Ryan to remember that this is what happens when you don't write your bio and your father has to write it for you at 11pm the night before the show opens!
CHRISTIAN LOPER (Frank/Zeke) Christian is thrilled to be making his Plaza debut! He has loved being a part of this show and claims after all of this dancing he fella like THE QUICK AND THE DEAD. Christian will be sad when the show is over because they will be THE DEPARTED. He has no upcoming projects as he is anxiously awaiting GANGS OF NEW YORK: The Musical. Until it's release, you can find him at THE BEACH. Christian would like to thank Leonardo DiCaprio film career for fuel for this bio. He would also like to point out that Leo's Oscar speech is a BODY OF LIES. That speech was written by, Cessany Ford, who also wrote this bio. Thanks, Cess.
JAKE HARRIS (Frank/Zeke) Jake is excited to be back on the Plaza stage for another show! He is becoming quite the local CELEBRITY. Jake has loved being a part of Seven Brides, and feels like the process has been a REVOLUTIONARY ROAD with a few GROWING PAINS. Jake's next project will be the TITANIC hit WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE:The Musical. He would like to thanks Leonardo DiCaprio's film and t.v. career for all of the titles used to write this bio. This creative and witty bio was written by Cessany M. Ford, who also wrote Leo's Oscar speech, and is miffed she didn't get credit. Rude. She plans to run away with his Oscar while taunting "CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, Leo!"
DAVID MIDKIFF (Gideon) David is so thrilled to be playing one of his favorite roles with some of his favorite people! He is an 8th grader at Travis Academy of Fine Arts and T.E.A.C.H. Some of David's past roles have been a French Ancestor in the Column Award-winning production of THE ADDAMS FAMILY, Baby John in WEST SIDE STORY, Winthrop in THE MUSIC MAN, and Kurt in THE SOUND OF MUSIC all here with Plaza, John in PETER PAN, Ensemble in HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS, and Charlie Blossom/Eddie Jaffe in WORKING THE MUSICAL at Casa Mañana, and Yeshua and Billy at THE PROMISE AT GLEN ROSE. When not onstage or at school, David takes musical theatre and dance classes at Casa Mañana and Plaza Academy of Fine Arts. But most of all, he enjoys being with his family and friends that support him through all his endeavors. "Thank you, Tabitha Barrus, for always inspiring me to be my best, I love you!"
KATHERINE ANTHONY (Dorcas) Katherine is beyond excited to be able to set foot on stage as Dorcas, her favorite of the seven brides. The first time Katherine was introduced to this show, she was around 4 years old and loved Dorcas' spunky attitude. As she grew up, she realized that Dorcas was played by an actress that she had loved before that, Julie Newmar, the original Catwoman. The past year has been a year full of Katherine realizing her bucket list roles, including Columbia in ROCKY HORROR SHOW with Denton Community Theatre and Jean Louise Finch in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD with Granbury Theatre Company, and she hopes and prays for that to continue. Katherine would like to thank her parents, Brenda and Gene Adams and Alan and Cecelia Anthony, for their never ending support and especially to Brenda and Alan for introducing her to this wonderful world called the Oregon backwoods. Most of all, Katherine would like to thank her daughter, Jaydn Eve, for her love and joy each time mommy goes out for a new adventure in acting.
TABITHA BARRUS (Dorcas / Choreographer) Tabitha is thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of this rip-roarin' show. Tabitha is a dance, musical theatre, and drama teacher at James Madison Christian Academy and Plaza Academy. Favorite past roles include Eponine in LES MISERABLES at Carnegie Players, Peggy Sawyer in 42ND STREET, Ariel in FOOTLOOSE, and Belle in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST all at PlazaCo. She sends love to Mom, Dad, Park, Cam, Edie, Mimi, JJ, and Charlie, and her two puppies Benny and Pippin. She would also like to give a shout out to all of her amazing students for bringing so much joy to her life. She thanks her Heavenly Father for her gifts and talents and hopes that you enjoy the show.
TIFFANY TRIMBLE (Martha) This is her first show at Plaza, and she is SO excited to be performing with them! Previously she has performed at the Granbury Opera House in MARY POPPINS, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, GHOST: The Musical, and SPAMALOT. She is now a Barré fitness class instructor at Tarleton State University. In addition to acting, her passion is music and songwriting. Tiffany is joined on stage by her lovely, younger, sister Victoria. "I'd like to thank Tina and Tabitha for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this amazing show! Thank you to everyone at Plaza for being so welcoming and for letting me share the stage with all of you talented performers! Thank you to the teachers at the Stephenville Dance Center! To Shannah Rae for helping me out in the vocal department! Thank you to all of my dance partners for being so gallant and correct! A HUGE thank you to my amazing family for supporting me in my many endeavors! I hope y'all enjoy watching my FAVORITE musical as much as I've enjoyed performing it!"
VICTORIA TRIMBLE (Ruth ) Victoria is thrilled to be in her first production with Plaza Theatre Company! Victoria enjoyed "stepping in time" in her first musical MARY POPPINS at Granbury Theater Company. A veteran of the Stephenville Dance Center, Victoria has had the privilege of being a soloist and principal dancer in performances of SLEEPING BEAUTY, COPPELIÁ, WESTERN SYMPHONY, and NUTCRACKER. She is trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, tap, modern, contemporary, hip hop, and ballroom. Victoria is delighted to be performing alongside her beautiful sister, Tiffany, and wonderful dance partners, Stephen and Nate. A special thank you to Tina and Tabitha for this opportunity and wonderful experience! And thank you so much to my Stephenville Dance Center teachers for everything you have taught me! "I hope you enjoy this wonderful and hilarious show! Meow!"
EMMA DALLEY (Liza) Emma's first experience on stage was playing Little Fan in A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Plaza. This experience sparked her passion for singing, acting, and most of all dancing. Since then she has enjoying participating in several shows at Plaza, her favorites being WIZARD OF OZ and WEST SIDE STORY. Emma's other favorite things include doing makeup on herself and her friends, playing with her two dogs, and attending Trinity Valley School, where she is a cheerleader.
EDEN BARRUS (Alice) is excited to be in her 30th show on the Plaza stage! Favorite roles include Velma in WEST SIDE STORY at Plaza Academy, Teen Fiona in SHREK THE MUSICAL at PlazaCo, Mary Lenox in THE SECRET GARDEN at Granbury Theatre Company, and Amaryllis in THE MUSIC MAN at Lyric Stage. Eden would also like to send love to send love to her Mom, Dad, Tabitha, Parker, Cameron, Miranda, JJ, and Charlie.
EMMA COLWELL (Alice) Last seen at Plaza as an Ancestor in THE ADDAMS FAMILY and as Corliss Archer in KISS AND TELL, for which she won a Column Award for Best Actress in a Play Non-Equity. Regional credits include: SNOW WHITE & THE PRINCE (Snow White), PETER PAN (Wendy), TOM SAWYER (Becky Thatcher), and BIG FISH at Casa Mañana and INTO THE WOODS, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and THE SOUND OF MUSIC (Louisa Von Trapp) at Lyric Stage. Local credits include: LES MISERABLES with Carnegie Players and Annie in ANNIE, Ariel in THE LITTLE MERMAID, Belle in BEAUTY & THE BEAST, and Meg Murry in A WRINKLE IN TIME at Artisan Center Theater. Emma will next be performing as a Bird Girl in SEUSSICAL, JR. at Casa Mañana April 15 - May 8, and will also be appearing in a special reading of the 1962 play SISTER for Dallas Theater Center's annual archive performance. Emma would like to thank God, her family, Tina and Tabitha Barrus, and all the Plaza Theatre producers for this wonderful opportunity.
JILLIAN GRACE HARRISON (Sarah) Last seen on Plaza's stage as Jillian Turner; proud to make her return as Mrs. Adam Harrison! Jillian has missed her Plaza family over the last four years while studying at Ouachita Baptist University; where she received a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, and a Bachelor of Arts in Piano. Roles in OBU's Opera program include: Yum-Yum in THE MIKADO, and Adele in DIE FLEDERMAUS. Previous roles at PlazaCo include: Zaneeta in THE MUSIC MAN, Elizabeth Fezziwig in A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Urleen in FOOTLOOSE, and back in 2010 Martha in SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS. Mrs. Harrison is currently the staff accompanist as well as voice and piano teacher at Lake Country Christian School. Jillian would like to dedicate her performance to her strong, cancer fighting Aunt Monica.
MADISON HEAPS (Sarah) Madison is so excited to be a part of this wonderful production. She is a Senior at Centennial High School where she is a member of National Honor Society and co-captain of the swim team. Madison was last seen at Plaza in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and THE ADDAMS FAMILY. Shoutout to her bae, Cameron. She dedicates her performance to Leanna.
DOUG HENRY (Mr. Bixby) Doug thanks the Lord God for his blessings and his wife, Marla, for her continuing support. Doug has performed in many shows here at PTC and has served as musical director in others including the award winning musical, THE ADDAMS FAMILY. Once a nightclub singer throughout New York’s famous “borscht circuit,” Doug’s professional & community theatre experience in Texas, Kansas & New York also includes lead & supporting roles in OKLAHOMA, MAN OF LA MANCHA, A MOST HAPPY FELLA, THE DESERT SONG, FUNNY GIRL, MUSIC MAN, HELLO DOLLY, ANNIE, COLE, THE DROWSEY CHAPERONE, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS…, CRAZY FOR YOU, WHITE CHRISTMAS & BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO. Locally in the last 8 years, he has performed at Lyric Stage in Irving, the Garland Summer Musicals, PTC and has presented over 140 performances for retirement centers, and other area organizations.
GENE ZORN (Mr. Bixby) Seven Brides and Seven Brothers will be Gene’s third performance with Plaza, with previous shows including White Christmas and the Christmas Carol. Other theatrical experiences include leads in South Pacific, Paint Your Wagon, Godspell, Oklahoma and others. Non-theatrical venues include performing for several Texas Opries including Johnnie High Country Music Review, Grapevine, Stephenville and the Farr Best Theater, touring with several Southern Gospel quartets, solo performances and multi voice concerts. Gene is blessed with a wonderful wife, four amazing children and two beautiful grandsons, and is very grateful to the Plaza team for this fun and professional experience.
SHERRY CLARK (Mrs. Bixby) Sherry Clark is thrilled to be in her 7th production at Plaza Theatre Company and excited to be playing with such a great cast.and crew. She was previously seen in Kiss & Tell. She would like to thank Tina and Jaceson Barrus for allowing her to be a part of this adventure. Sherry lives here in Cleburne with her husband, Howie, who she would like to thank for his patience and support.
JACOB RENFROE (Joel) Jacob is excited to be making his debut as Joel in 7 BRIDES FOR 7 BROTHERS With plaza co. He is an energetic teen who enjoys meeting new people. He is also a homeschooler who loves singing, acting, dancing, and playing guitar. He takes musical theatre classes at Plaza Acadamy and he also enjoys volunteer work and has put in many hours working with Cleburne Public Library and Mission Hospice. Jacob is also a Senior Master Sergeant in his Civil Air Patrol squadron. This is his first role as an actor and is ecstatic to be part of this amazing show. It was an honor working with so many nice people who helped motivate him and keep him going. He would like to give a shoutout to his family who came opening night to support him, Tabitha Barrus who taught him everything he knows, and his dog Sadie who he read his lines to when he wasn't getting input from other people and talking to himself in the mirror.
STEVEN LINDSAY (Preacher Perkins) is delighted to return to the Plaza stage – having be gone since directing THE NERD. Since then, he’s directed ON GOLDEN POND and ARSENIC AND OLD LACE. You may remember his on-stage appearances as; Ebenezer Scrooge or Jacob Marley in A CHRISTMAS CAROL, The Bishop of Lax in SEE HOW THEY RUN, Dr. Chapman in CASH ON DELIVERY, or Pierot in PILLOW TALK. Other roles he has enjoyed are: Charlie Baker in THE FOREIGNER, Sir Evelyn Oakley in ANYTHING GOES, Volpone in VOLPONE, Renfield in COUNT DRACULA – for which he won a Best Supporting Actor award, and Joe Keller in ALL MY SONS – for which he won a Best Actor award. Steven holds a BS in Dramatic Production from Bob Jones University and has studied Shakespeare with Chris Pickles of the Royal National Theatre. He would like to express his appreciation to his partner Michael and all the critters of Flying Pig Farms for their support and patience.
ALLIE BOND (Little Girl Bixby) Allie is excited to be back on the PlazaCo mainstage. You may remember her from SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL in the Who Ensemble. She has learned so much. This is her second show at PlazaCo and plans to be a part of many more. Allie loves swimming, playing outside, reading, playing the piano, arts and crafts, and theatre of course. She is part of the show stoppers class at Plaza Academy this fall.
MIMI BARRUS (Little Girl Bixby) Mimi is an energetic little ball of fire who loves everyone she meets. She also loves concocting new recipes in the kitchen and making up shows with her brothers and sisters. She sends thanks to Mom and her sister Tabitha for the chance of being a part of this show.
PARKER BARRUS (Suitor Swing) Parker is excited to be in his fifteenth production here at Plaza! He's also loved playing roles like Willard in FOOTLOOSE here at PlazaCo in the past. In his spare time he loves learning to play new musical instruments and shooting for sport. He send love to all his brothers and sisters. Love you guys!
MONICA GLENN (Stage Manager) Monica is back again doing her 13th show at Plaza and some of her favorite roles include, Phyllis in 42ND STREET, Virtue in ANYTHING GOES, and Ruth in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE. She also enjoyed dancing and choreographing CRAZY FOR YOU for Stolen Shakespeare Guild. When Monica is not teaching Kindergarten, she loves working with this amazing cast. "Thanks Plaza for letting me come play again and thanks to my family for letting me out to do what I love doing."
HANNAH MIDKIFF (Assistant Stage Manager) Hannah is beyond excited to be back as ASM for a mainstage show at Plaza. She is the assistant director of education at Plaza Academy and enjoys being a part of this loving family. When not at Plaza, she is a full-time student, a full-time mom of two precious little girls, and full-time awesome. She's looking forward to attending Baylor University in the fall, studying apparel merchandising. "She would like to thank her youngest brother, David (who plays Gideon), for being her theatre companion and fantastic bio-writer!" | 2019-04-23T00:10:51Z | http://plaza-theatre.com/show/2016/seven-brides-for-seven-brothers |
Justin and Selena’s relationship is more than just Sun sign compatibility of Pisces and Cancer. No individual is a pure Pisces or Cancer but instead is a unique combination of signs and planets. The following interpretation defines the synastry or interplanetary aspects between the planets in Selena’s birth chart and the planets in Justin’s birth chart. There is no evil planet in the combinations. No single combination can make or break the relationship. The list goes from the most harmonious (positive) to the most discordant (negative).
Justin’s Venus Trines Selena’s Pluto (+11.28 harmony) – Justin’s sense of sexuality, attraction, or intimacy combines very effortlessly with Selena’s sense of transformation, change, or power and destiny. There is harmony when both enjoy moving forward and growing through the relationship. There are feelings of relief and enlightenment after a relationship challenge. The magnetic attraction between Justin and Selena makes it impossible to separate them permanently.
Selena’s Sun Trines Justin’s Pluto (+10.16 harmony) – Selena’s sense of identity, ego, will, and character combine very effortlessly with Justin’s sense of transformation, change, or power and destiny. Selena can bring out the psychoanalyst in Justin. There is harmony in the relationship that helps each other grow as individuals. It stimulates enterprise and ambition in both Justin and Selena. There is mutual interest in magical and occult knowledge. The positive effect of this influence can lead Selena and Justin to a long-term relationship.
Selena’s Jupiter Sextiles Justin’s Jupiter (+9.39 harmony) – The individual sense of growth, expansion, or generosity combines pleasantly within the couple. Both stimulate each other to expand their horizons and are protective of each other. Justin and Selena have the same view about ethics, philosophy, or religion. The relationship encourages optimism, self-confidence, and humor. Usually, the older person will guide the younger.
Justin’s Jupiter Sextiles Selena’s Uranus (+7.80 harmony) – Justin’s sense of growth, expansion, or generosity combines pleasantly with Selena’s sense of independence, freedom, and originality. Justin’s visions stimulate Selena’s creative genius. Justin will expand Selena’s goals and creativity. Selena adds innovation and excitement to Justin’s projects. Freedom and self-expression are the primary focus of the relationship.
Selena’s Mars Trines Justin’s Uranus (+5.87 harmony) – Selena’s sexual drive, temper, and powers of self-assertion combine very effortlessly with Justin’s sense of independence, freedom, and originality. There is harmony in stimulating a productive sense of adventure. Both encourage confidence, aggressive drive, and initiative in each other.
Justin’s Jupiter Sextiles Selena’s Neptune (+5.14 harmony) – Justin’s sense of growth, expansion, or generosity combines pleasantly with Selena’s sense of spirituality, imagination, or mystical inclination. There is an idealistic bond between Justin and Selena. Justin’s expansive dreams stimulate Selena’s intuitions. Both encourage each other to realize real goals.
Justin’s Neptune Sextiles Selena’s Pluto (+4.62 harmony) – Justin’s mystical or spiritual inclination combines pleasantly with Selena’s sense of transformation, change, or power and destiny. The spiritual urge of Justin stimulates the reforming urge of Selena. Both will support and encourage each other’s spiritual enlightenment. The relationship inspires each other to meet the world with compassion and grace.
Selena’s Mars Trines Justin’s Neptune (+4.12 harmony) – Selena’s sexual drive, temper, and powers of self-assertion combine very effortlessly with Justin’s sense of spirituality, imagination, or mystical inclination. There is harmony in the equal exchange of sympathy and compassion. Selena helps Justin fight procrastination. Justin inspires Selena to more significant achievements.
Selena’s Sun Trines Justin’s Venus (+4.04 harmony) – Selena’s sense of identity, ego, will, and character combine very effortlessly with Justin’s understanding of sexuality, attraction, or intimacy. There are wealth and material bond between Justin and Selena. Justin’s power of attraction is in harmony with Selena’s confidence and abilities. There is a strong romantic and magnetic attraction with each other. The relationship offers financial security and generosity in sharing everything with one another.
Justin’s Venus Sextiles Selena’s Neptune (+3.85 harmony) – Justin’s sense of sexuality, attraction, or intimacy combines pleasantly with Selena’s sense of spirituality, imagination, or mystical inclination. There is stimulation in each other’s mutual interest in nature, religion, art, music, or arcane studies. The relationship brings out kindness, sympathy, and generosity toward each other. Justin is willing to overlook Selena’s faults. Selena is delighted to be loved in such a sophisticated manner.
Justin’s Jupiter Conjuncts Selena’s Pluto (+3.24 harmony) – Justin’s sense of growth, expansion, or generosity combines with Selena’s sense of transformation, change, or power and destiny. Selena can be possessive and domineering. Justin will inspire and encourage Selena. The combination can either be in harmony or discord depending on other aspects. This aspect helps deepen the connection between Justin and Selena.
Justin’s Sun Sextiles Selena’s Uranus (+3.22 harmony) – Justin’s sense of identity, ego, will, and character combine pleasantly with Selena’s sense of independence, freedom, and originality. There is a sense of mutual liberty that stimulates the relationship. Both Justin and Selena have the willingness to try out new ideas. Both are highly creative together and are open to an intelligent conversation. Sharing idiosyncrasies together is a fun experience for Selena and Justin.
Justin’s Sun Trines Selena’s Pluto (+2.50 harmony) – Justin’s sense of identity, ego, will, and character combine very effortlessly with Selena’s sense of transformation, change, or power and destiny. Justin can bring out the psychoanalyst in Selena. There is harmony in the relationship that helps each other grow as individuals. It stimulates enterprise and ambition in both Selena and Justin. There is mutual interest in magical and occult knowledge. The positive effect of this influence can lead Justin and Selena to a long-term relationship.
Justin’s Uranus Sextiles Selena’s Pluto (+2.29 harmony) – Justin’s sense of independence, freedom, and originality combine pleasantly with Selena’s sense of transformation, change, or power and destiny. The relationship stimulates the expression of individuality or spiritual unfoldment in one or both individuals. Both help each other to stand up for their beliefs.
Justin’s Venus Sextiles Selena’s Uranus (+1.63 harmony) – Justin’s sense of sexuality, attraction, or intimacy combines pleasantly with Selena’s sense of independence, freedom, and originality. There is stimulation that brings out the latent creative genius in each other. A mystical or glamorous aura is present in the relationship. Selena surprises Justin in one way or another. Justin has a pleasant way of toning down Selena’s eccentricity.
Justin’s Sun Sextiles Selena’s Neptune (+1.45 harmony) – Justin’s sense of identity, ego, will, and character combine pleasantly with Selena’s sense of spirituality, imagination, or mystical inclination. There is a stimulating spiritual bond between Selena and Justin. A profound soul connection that makes falling in love with each other seems natural. Sometimes Selena knows what Justin is thinking. Both share an interest in performing arts and metaphysical matters.
Justin’s Sun Opposes Selena’s Jupiter (+1.23 harmony) – Justin’s sense of identity, ego, will, and character confront and challenge Selena’s spirit of growth, expansion, or generosity. There is tension between Justin and Selena’s philosophy of life. Selena and Justin are having difficulty recognizing their differences. They expect too much from each other. Both have the tendency to encourage over-indulgence in some form or another. There is less give-and-take in the relationship.
Selena’s Jupiter Trines Justin’s Neptune (+1.20 harmony) – Selena’s sense of growth, expansion, or generosity combines very effortlessly with Justin’s sense of spirituality, imagination, or mystical inclination. Selena’s expansive dreams are in harmony with Justin’s intuitions. Both are spiritually compatible. The relationship encourages idealism and charitable instincts in each other.
Justin’s Venus Sextiles Selena’s Mars (+1.09 harmony) – Justin’s sense of sexuality, attraction, or intimacy combines pleasantly with Selena’s sexual drive, temper, and powers of self-assertion. Selena’s desire stimulates Justin’s loving nature. Both are strongly attracted to each other. This aspect is favorable in marriage and offers a sexually satisfying relationship.
Selena’s Uranus Conjuncts Justin’s Uranus (neutral) – The individual sense of independence, freedom, and originality combine with ease between the couple. Both Selena and Justin complement each other’s individuality and independence. There is mutual appreciation in the relationship. Both bring out the eccentric side of one another.
Selena’s Uranus Conjuncts Justin’s Neptune (neutral) – Selena’s respect for expression of individuality combines with Justin’s mystical, spiritual inclinations. There may be a similarity of social or political views between Selena and Justin. Each partner will share radical new ideas. The relationship gives a feeling that anything is possible when both are together. There is a creative union of rebellion and idealism. This can sometimes encourage Justin or Selena to evade responsibility.
Justin’s Uranus Conjuncts Selena’s Neptune (neutral) – Justin’s respect for expression of individuality combines with Selena’s mystical, spiritual inclinations. There may be a similarity of social or political views between Justin and Selena. Each partner will share radical new ideas. The relationship gives a feeling that anything is possible when both are together. There is a creative union of rebellion and idealism. This can sometimes encourage Selena or Justin to evade responsibility.
Selena’s Pluto Conjuncts Justin’s Pluto (neutral) – The individual sense of transformation, change, or power and destiny combine with ease within the couple. Selena and Justin enjoy the same cultural references. Justin and Selena have a great time talking about the good old days since both came from the same generation.
Selena’s Neptune Conjuncts Justin’s Neptune (neutral) – The individual sense of spirituality, imagination, or mysticism combines with ease within the couple. Both Selena and Justin share the same tastes in art, music, or religion. The relationship encourages positive traits of creativity and dreaminess. It also has the tendency to promote negative characteristics of laziness or indecisiveness in Selena or Justin.
Selena’s Jupiter Opposes Justin’s Saturn (-0.44 discord) – Selena’s sense of growth, expansion, or generosity confronts and challenges Justin’s sense of commitment, necessity, or duty. There is tension in Justin’s restrictive nature and Selena’s dreams of expansion. There can be disagreement on financial or business procedures.
Justin’s Venus Opposes Selena’s Jupiter (-1.05 discord) – Justin’s sense of sexuality, attraction, or intimacy confronts and challenges Selena’s spirit of growth, expansion, or generosity. There is tension on how each other will handle finances. Selena may occasionally accuse Justin of not being entirely open and honest. Justin may accuse Selena of being too open and honest. From time to time this aspect can bestow good luck.
Selena’s Venus Squares Justin’s Jupiter (-1.49 discord) – Selena’s sense of sexuality, attraction, or intimacy interacts stressfully with Justin’s spirit of growth, expansion, or generosity. There is friction on how each other handle finances. Justin may occasionally accuse Selena of not being entirely open and honest. Selena may accuse Justin of being too open and honest. From time to time this aspect can bestow good luck.
Selena’s Mars Squares Justin’s Saturn (-2.22 discord) – Selena’s sexual drive, temper, and powers of self-assertion interact stressfully with Justin’s sense of commitment, necessity, or duty. There is friction in Justin’s constructive ideas and Selena’s enthusiasm. Justin may have unreasonable demands for Selena. This makes Selena impatient, angry, and defiant. The relationship has many problems of adjustment.
Justin’s Mars Conjuncts Selena’s Saturn (-2.24 discord) – Justin’s sexual drive, temper, and powers of self-assertion can combine with Selena’s sense of commitment, necessity, or duty. The relationship induces cooperation and working for a common goal. Both either complement each other well or antagonize each other’s differences. Justin stimulates the ambition and progressive instinct in Selena. Selena in some ways restricts or limits the activities of Justin.
Justin’s Mercury Conjuncts Selena’s Saturn (-2.44 discord) – Justin’s mentality and powers of perception may combine with Selena’s sense of commitment, necessity, or duty. Justin may feel inadequate when Selena imparts knowledge and wisdom. Selena has the tendency to discipline Justin. Justin may feel the pressure of responsibilities demanded by Selena. Justin can talk Selena out of negative attitudes. Justin can encourage progressiveness in Selena.
Selena’s Mercury Squares Justin’s Jupiter (-4.71 discord) – Selena’s mentality and powers of perception interact stressfully with Justin’s sense of growth, expansion, or generosity. There is friction in the exchange of ideas in the relationship. Selena will seem petty to Justin. Justin might promise more than can be delivered. This is not a serious conflict if there are many harmonious aspects to the relationship.
Justin’s Mercury Squares Selena’s Mars (-5.44 discord) – Justin’s mentality and powers of perception interact stressfully with Selena’s sexual drive, temper, and powers of self-assertion. There is friction in Selena’s aggressive attitude and Justin’s rational reasoning. Petty quarrels in the relationship will make getting along challenging to achieve. Justin’s sarcasm could easily provoke Selena’s temper.
Justin’s Mars Squares Selena’s Pluto (-6.07 discord) – Justin’s sexual drive, temper, and powers of self-assertion interact stressfully with Selena’s sense of transformation, change, or power and destiny. There is friction in each other’s resistance to display of authority by the other. Both can be vindictive toward each other. There is a power struggle for dominance in the relationship.
Justin’s Mercury Squares Selena’s Pluto (-6.75 discord) – Justin’s mentality and powers of perception interact stressfully with Selena’s sense of transformation, change, or power and destiny. Both Justin and Selena have a robust mental effect on each other. There is friction in the difference of opinion and method of dealing with a problem. Frequent battles of the mind are expected in the relationship. Expressing one’s vulnerability is a hard thing to do for both Selena and Justin.
Selena’s Sun Opposes Justin’s Neptune (-7.63 discord) – Selena’s sense of identity, ego, will, and character confront and challenge Justin’s sense of spirituality, imagination, or mystical inclination. The tense connection between Justin and Selena is fraught with possibilities of misunderstanding, doubt, confusion, distrust, deception, and sometimes infidelity. Trust is lacking in the relationship. Justin can be elusive, misleading, or even deceptive towards Selena.
Justin’s Jupiter Squares Selena’s Saturn (-8.35 discord) – Justin’s sense of growth, expansion, or generosity interacts stressfully with Selena’s sense of commitment, necessity, or duty. There is friction in Selena’s view of responsibility and Justin’s dreams of expansion. Selena places too much responsibility on Justin. Justin feels confined and frustrated.
Selena’s Mercury Opposes Justin’s Mars (-8.64 discord) – Selena’s mentality and powers of perception confront and challenge Justin’s sexual drive, temper, and powers of self-assertion. There is tension in Justin’s aggressive attitude and Selena’s rational reasoning. Petty quarrels in the relationship will make cooperation challenging to achieve. Selena’s sarcasm could provoke Justin’s temper.
Selena’s Mercury Opposes Justin’s Mercury (-8.81 discord) – The individual mentality and powers of perception confront or challenge each other. Differences in points of view can cause tension and misunderstanding. Both have a different method of solving problems. Agreeing with each other can be difficult.
Selena’s Mars Squares Justin’s Mars (-9.38 discord) – The individual sexual drive, temper, and powers of self-assertion interact stressfully within the couple. There is friction in own wills and desires. Everyday activities together can lead to conflicts. Cooperation is difficult to achieve between Selena and Justin. Each one fears the other’s anger. This aspect is challenging to deal with.
Selena’s Sun Opposes Justin’s Uranus (-9.97 discord) – Selena’s sense of identity, ego, will, and character confront and challenge Justin’s sense of independence, freedom, and originality. There is tension in the selfish nature of Selena and the independent nature of Justin. Both are out of touch with the need for space in the relationship. The bond that initially attracted Justin and Selena together becomes a confusing tug of war between togetherness and individuality.
Selena’s Mars Opposes Justin’s Pluto (-11.23 discord) – Selena’s sexual drive, temper, and powers of self-assertion confront and challenge Justin’s sense of transformation, change, or power and destiny. There is tension in each other’s resistance to display of authority by the other. Both can be vindictive toward each other. There is intense competition in the relationship.
There are 5 mutual receptions in Selena and Justin’s planet combinations. Planets in mutual reception enhance each other. This will add +50 harmony to the total score. The remaining -8.26 discord is due to some minor aspects or planets in parallel.
This is only a quick assessment of the relationship compatibility between Selena and Justin. If both place and time of births are known, an in-depth interpretation is available in the Star Lovers Report. Try a free sample with no obligation to buy.
Ssshhh! Selena, don’t let Justin know. You are most compatible with a person born on February 23, 1966. You have a whooping birthday love match score of +138 with that person. Check it out and imagine what it feels like to be with your soul mate. | 2019-04-22T12:28:12Z | https://mybirthday.ninja/lovematch-compatibility/?n1=Selena&m1=July&d1=22&y1=1992&n2=Justin&m2=March&d2=1&y2=1994&go=Analyze |
Asbjørn Grønstad, Chair of the panel "Mediating Opacity in Visual Culture," Society for Media Studies Conference, Seattle, March 13-17, 2019.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Mediation, Ethics, and Opacity," Society for Media Studies Conference, Seattle, March 13-17, 2019.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "The Two Unwatchables," in Unwatchable, eds. Nicholas Baer, Maggie Hennefeld, Laura Horak & Gunnar Iversen, New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 2019.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "The Aesthetic Imaginary and the Case of Ernie Gehr." In Emerging Aesthetic Imaginaries, eds. Lene Johannessen & Mark Ledbetter, Lanham: Lexington Books, 2018.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Øyvind Vågnes, "'Everything was Stories:' The Aesthetic Imaginaries of Searching For the Wrong-Eyed Jesus," with Øyvind Vågnes, the Topographies of Sound Symposium, Muscle Shoals, November 1-13.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "A Bibliography of Machne Vision," Machine Vision Workshop, Solstrand, November 5-6, 2018.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Cosmopolitanism and the Right to Opacity," ASANOR Conference "The Past and Future of Cosmopolitanism," Kristiansand, October 11-13, 2018.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "On Visuality and Ethics," Visual Culture and Ethics Workshop, CUNP, Paris, September 6-7, 2018.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Ruben Östlund and the Cinema of Vulnerability." Paper, NECS Conference, Amsterdam, June 27-29.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Memory, Art, and Ethics in the Work of John Akomfrah." Guest Lecture, University of Rethymno, Crete, May 24, 2018.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Cinematic Realism and the Aesthetics of Duration," Landscapes of Realism Project, King's College, London, March 16, 2018.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Dette er ikke en kommersiell film," av Varg Lukas Folkman & Ørjan Nilsson, intervju i BA, 22. februar, 2018.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Internal Realism," Image collage, Southern Humanities Conference: Truths, Lies and Fictions, Savannah, February 1-4, 2018.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "François Ozon - En Innldning," presentasjon for Bergen Filmfest 2018, Bergen Kino (KP11), 28.01. & 01.02., 2018.
asbjørn Grønstad, "John Akomfrah's The Nine Muses and the Ethics of Memory," in Exploring Text, Media, and Memory, eds. Lars Sætre, Patrizia Lombardo, & Sara Tanderup Linkis, Aarhus: Aarhus University Press, 2017.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Remediation, Ethics and the Transaesthetic." In The Future of Literary Studies. ed. Jakob Lothe, Oslo: Novus, 2017.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "The Aesthetic Imaginary and the Case of Ernie Gehr," Aesthetic Imaginaries, University of Bergen, April 28-29, 2017.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Øyvind Vågnes, "Images and their Incarnations: An Interview with W.J.T. Mitchell," with Øyvind Vågnes, in W.J.T. Mitchell's Image Theory: Living Pictures, ed. Krešimir Purgar, New York: Routledge, 2017.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Angelopoulos, Akomfrah, and "The Elsewhere of the Image," The Theo Angelopoulos Symposium, Athens, Greece, April 18-19, 2017.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Film and the Ethical Imagination," guest lecture, University of Tromsø, March 16, 2017.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "A New Ethics for Biovisual Screens," Paris, The Screening Ethics Symposium, February 2-3, 2017.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Remediation, Ethics and the Transaesthetic," Intermediality and Multimodality Colloquium, Copenhagen, January 24-25, 2017.
Asbjørn Grønstad, Film and the Ethical Imagination, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2016.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "The Virtues of Opacity in a World Without Shadows," Invisibility: The Third Nomadikon and Center for the Ethics of Seeing Conference, Memphis, November 6-8, 2016.
Asbjørn Grønstad, Henrik Gustafsson & Øyvind Vågnes, "Gestures of Seeing," in Gestures of Seeing in Film, Video and Drawing, eds., Asbjørn Grønstad, Henrik Gustafsson & Øyvind Vågnes, New York: Routledge, 2016.
Asbjørn Grønstad, Henrik Gustafsson & Øyvind Vågnes, eds., Gestures of Seeing in Film, Video and Drawing, New York: Routledge, 2016.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Impaired Images and the Boundaries of Discernibility," Theorizing Images, eds. Žarko Paic & Krešimir Purgar, Newcastle Upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2016.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Ernie Gehr and the Aesthetic Imagination," The Aesthetic Imaginaries Research Seminar, University of Bergen, September 16-17, 2016.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Cinema's Gestural Connectivities," NECS 2016, Potsdam, July 28-30, 2016.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Remediation, Ethics, and the Transaesthetic," lecture presented at the conference "The Future of Literary Studies," The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, Oslo, June 14-15, 2016.
Asbjørn Grønstad, Henrik Gustafsson & Øyvind Vågnes, "Gestures of Seeing," in Objektiv 13: The Flexible Image part I, 2016.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Filmvoldens Tropologi og Etikk," Workshop organized by RFL, Ramsøy, May 12-13, 2016.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Mark Ledbetter, Seeing Whole: Toward an Ethics and Ecology of Sight, Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2016.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Toward and Aesthetics of Opacity," Transparency/Opacity Workshop, ASCA, Amsterdam, March 21-23, 2016.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Refigurations of Walden: Notes on contagious mediation," in Literature in Contemporary Media Culture: Technology, Subjectivity, Aesthetics, eds. Sarah J. Paulson & Anders Skare Malvik, Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company, 2016.
Asbjørn Grøndstad, "Transaesthetic temporalities:Ekphrasis and the poetics of deceleration," in Literature in Contemporary Media Culture: Technology, Subjectivity, Aesthetics, eds. Sarah J. Paulson & Anders Skare Malvik, Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company, 2016.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Slow Cinema and the Ethics of Duration," in Slow Cinema, eds. Tiago de Luca & Nuno Barradas Jorge, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2016.
Asbjørn Grønstad, ’Nothing Ever Ends:’ Angelopoulos and the Image of Duration. In The Cinema of Theo Angelopoulos, eds. Angelos Koutsourakis & Mark Steven, Edninburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2015.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Farewell to Visual Studies - Comment," in Farewell to Visual Studies, eds. James Elkins, Gustav Frank & Sunil Manghani, University Park, The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2015, 225-227.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Tarantino er en amoralsk underholder," intervju med Stavanger Aftenblad i anledning premieren på The Hateful Eight, 09. januar 2016.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Here is a Picture of No Country: The Image between Fiction and Politics in Eric Baudelaire's Lost Letters to Max, in Socioaesthetics: Ambience - Imaginary, eds. Anders Michelsen & Fredrik Tygstrup, Leiden: Brill, 2015.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "John Akomfrah's The Nine Muses and the Ethics of Memory." Paper presented at TAS III: Exploring Texts, Media and Memory. Paris, November 22-25, 2015.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Leviathan and the Ecological Screen." Paper given at the 40th ASANOR Conference, Stavanger, October 23-25 2015.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Hva er sant og løgn i Eisenstein in Guanajuato?" Interview for NRK P2, September 25, 2015.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Dette bør du se på BIFF." Studvest, 24. september, 2015.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "The Aesthetic Imaginary: Eric Baudelaire's Lost Letters to Max,"Narratives and Imaginaries Symposium, Centre for the Study of the Sciences and the Humanities, Litteraturhuset, Bergen, September 2-3, 2015.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Enfolded by Cinema: The Transvisual Gaze in Tsai Ming-liang's Visage," in Transvisuality: The Cultural Dimension of Visuality, Vol. 2: Visual Organizations, eds. Tore Kristensen, Anders Michelsen & Frauke Wiegand, Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 2015.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "'The Honey of the invisible:' Experimental Documentary and the Ethics of Memory, Visible Evidence 22, Toronto, August 19-22, 2015.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "The Ethics of Transgression," Keynote, Games and Transgressive Aesthetics Symposium, Bergen, August 17, 2015.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Henrik Gustafsson, "Editorial for Changing Screen Cultures: New Archeologies, Ecologies, Topologies," American, British and Canadian Studies, 24. 1, 2015.
Asbjørn Grønstad,"Archival Migrations: The Organic Image in John Akomfrah's The Nine Muses." NECS conference, Lodz, June 18-20, 2015.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Birth of a Nation - ein rasistisk klassikar fyller hundre." Vox Publica,February 6, 2015.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Eit Globalt Perspektiv på Humaniora." På Høyden. January 22, 2015.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "The Organic Image in Nostalgia For the Light and The Nine Muses." Paper presented at TAS III: Exploring Texts, Media and Memory." Paris, December 13-15, 2014.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Kunst som forsking, forsking som kunst." Forskerforum. Vol. 46, no. 10.
Asbjørn Grønstad, Anmeldelse av D.N. Rodowick, Elegy For Theory. Ekfrase: Nordisk Tidsskrift for Visuell Kultur. Vol. 5, no. 2.
Asbjørn Grønstad, Leder. Ekfrase: Nordisk Tidsskrift for Visuell Kultur. Vol. 5, no. 2. With Øyvind Vågnes.Asbjørn Grønstad, "'Every Form is a Face Looking at Us:' The Ethical Encounter in Kiarostami's Shirin," paper given at the Faces and the Phenomenology of the Face Conference, organized by Nomadikon and The Center for the Ethics of Seeing," Athens, Georgia, October 19-21, 2014.
Asbjøen Grønstad, "Towards an Ethics of Distortion: Post-human Visuality in Leviathan," paper given at the 2014 NECS Conference, Milan, Italy, June 19-21.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Refigurations of Walden: Notes on Contagious Mediation." Paper for the conference "Sediments: Experience, Story, Image." University of Bergen, April 7-8, 2014.
Asbjørn Grønstad, Leder. Ekfrase: Nordisk Tidsskrift For Visuell Kultur. Vol. 5, No. 1, 2014. With Øyvind Vågnes.
Asbjørn Grønstad, Wrap-up: The Bergen Sessions/Eric Baudelaires The Secession Sessions. Bergen Kunsthall. February 14-15, 2014.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Henrik Gustafsson, eds., Cinema and Agamben: Ethics, Biopolitics and the Moving Image. New York: Bloomsbury, 1´2014.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Henrik Gustafsson, "Introduction: Giorgio Agamben and the Shape of Cinema to Come." In Cinema and Agamben: Ethics, Biopolitics and the Moving Image. New York: Bloomsbury, 1´2014.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Øyvind Vågnes, "Om skriving, teori og vitenskap: Intervju med Bruno Latour." In Ekfrase: Nordisk Tidsskrift for Visuell Kultur. Vol. 4, no. 2.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Zero Dark Thirty og den nye revisjonismen." In Ekfrase: Nordisk Tidsskrift for Visuell Kultur. Vol. 4, no. 2.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Øyvind Vågnes, Leder. Ekfrase: Nordisk Tidsskrift for Visuell Kultur. Vol. 4, no. 2.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Holy Motors - noen innganger." Guest lecture, Cinemateket USF, Bergen, January 7, 2014.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Den ekstreme humanismen - ubehag på film." In Bergen Filmklubb/Cinemateket, no. 4, 2013.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Precarities material and conceptual." The Lysebu Seminar on The Precarious Aesthetic. Oslo, December 16-18, 2013.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Haneke's Amour and the Ethics of Dying," in Death in Classic and Contemporary Film: Fade to Black, eds. Daniel Sullivan & Jeff Greenberg, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2013.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Moving Images or Moving Theory? The Role of Film Studies in Creating a Social Agenda for Visual Culture." Roundtable presentation. Visual Studies Today: The Power of Images. Zagreb, November 7-10.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Thinking Disciplinarity in an Age of Transmediality," paper given at the conference Visual Studies Today: The Power of Images, Zagreb, November 7-10, 2013.
Henrik Gustafsson, "Foresight, Hindsight and State Secrecy in the American West: The Geopolitical Aesthetics of Trevor Paglen," Journal of Visual Culture, Vol. 12(1) (2013): 148-164.
Henrik Gustafsson, "Van Gogh's Suicide Note and the Remnants of Auschwitz," Society for Cinema and Media Studies, Chicago, March 6-10, 2013.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Broken Materialities," NECS 2013, Prague, June 20-22.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Abbas Kiarostami's Shirin and the Aesthetics of Ethical Intimacy," Film Criticism, 37.2 (2013): 22-37.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Øyvind Vågnes, "Leder," Ekfrase: Nordisk Tidsskrift for Visuell Kultur, 4.1 (2013).
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Temporality, Presence, and Slow Cinema," Fast/Slow: Intensifications of Cinematic Speed conference, Anglia Ruskin, Cambridge, April 4-5 2013.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Images Opaque and Precarious: On Ernie Gehr and the Boundaries of Discernibility." The Society for Cinema and Media Studies 2013, Chicago, March 6-10, 2013.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Writing Seeing: Transaesthetic Resonances in Still Life with Oysters and Lemon and Point Omega." In Literatura e criatividade, eds. Heidrun Krieger Olinto & Karl Erik Schøllhammer. Rio de Janeiro: 7 Letras, 2012.
Henrik Gustafsson, "Foresight, Hindsight, and Blind Spots: Mapping State Secrecy in the American West." Paper at the 6th Nomadikon Meeting: Ecologies of Seeing or Seeing Whole: Images and Space, Images within Images, The Collage of Saint Rose, Albany, New York, September 27-29, 2012.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Øyvind Vågnes, "Now! Visual Culture: The International Association of Visual Culture Studies, New York City, May 31 - June 2, 2012." Ekfrase: Nordisk Tidsskrift for Visuell Kultur, Vol. 3, No. 2, 2012.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Øyvind Vågnes, Leder. Ekfrase: Nordisk Tidsskrift for Visuell Kultur. Vol. 3, no. 2, 2012.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Enfolded By Cinema: The Transvisual Gaze in Tsai Ming-liang's Visage." Paper at the 6th Nomadikon Meeting: Ecologies of Seeing or Seeing Whole: Images and Space, Images within Images, The College of Saint Rose, Albany, New York, September 27-29, 2012.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Ekphrasis Refigured: Writing Seeing in Siri Hustvedt's What i Loved." In Mosaic: A Journal for the Interdisciplinary Study of Literature, 45.3, 2012.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Henrik Gustafsson, Ethics and Images of Pain, New York: Routledge, 2012.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Henrik Gustafsson, "Introduction." In Ethics and Images of Pain, New York: Routledge, 2012.
Øyvind Vågnes, “The Unsettling Moment: On Mathilde ter Heijne's Suicide Trilogy.” In Asbjørn Grønstad and Henrik Gustafsson, eds., Ethics and Images of Pain (London: Routledge 2012), pp. 144-158.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Øyvind Vågnes, "Objekt og Nettverk: Et Møte med David Joselit." Ekfrase: Nordisk Tidsskrift For Visuell Kultur, 3.1 (2012), 52-59. With Øyvind Vågnes.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Øyvind Vågnes, "Leder." Ekfrase: Nordisk Tidsskrift For Visuell Kultur, 3.1 (2012), 1-2. With Øyvind Vågnes.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Taxonomies of Violence." Paper at the Society for Cinema and Media Studies Conference 2012. Boston, March 21-25.
Øyvind Vågnes, "Making Humanity Strange to Itself: On Errol Morris and Werner Herzog." In Margareth Hagen, Randi Koppen and Margery Vibe Skagen, eds., The Human and Its Limits: Explorations in Science, Literature and the Visual Arts. Oslo: Scandinavian Academic Press, 2012.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Mørkredd." Intervju i Aktuelt. 22. februar 2012.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Sirkus Uten Stor Betydning." Intervju i Studvest. 22. februar 2012.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Is There a Transmedial Dispositif? Aesthetic Epistemes and the Question of Disciplinarity."The Nordic Journal of Aesthetics. No. 42, 2012.
Henrik Gustafsson, (In)site Sagalassos: From Where We Stand. Text for portfolio with photographs by Bruno Vandermeulen and Danny Veys. Brussels: Sint-Lukas Books, 2011.
Henrik Gustafsson, "Beyond Location: Vertigo and the Capacity for Wonder" in The San Francisco of Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo: Place, Pilgrimage, and Commemoration, ed. Douglas A. Cunningham, Lanham, Toronto, Plymouth: The Scarecrow Press, 2011.
Henrik Gustafsson, "War Stories, Crime Stories and Ghost Stories" in Imaging History: Photography after the fact, eds. Bruno Vandermeulen and Danny Veys, Brussel: ASA Publishers, 2011.
Henrik Gustafsson, "Splitting Sightlines: Immersion and Withdrawal in the Films of Claire Denis." Image=Gesture: The 5th Nomadikon Meeting. Bergen, November 9-12, 2011.
Asbjørn Grønstad, Screening the Unwatchable: Spaces of Negation in Post-Millennial Art Cinema. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Øyvind Vågnes, Talk at Seminar organized by Norwegian Researcher Training School, Text-Image-Sound-Space, "Tenkning og skrift," December 8, 2011.
Øyvind Vågnes, "Comics as Documentarism." Guest lecture for the Multikul group, University of Agder, Kristiansand, December 6, 2011.
Øyvind Vågnes, "Bare Gesture." Image=Gesture: The 5th Nomadikon Meeting. Bergen, November 9-12.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "A Cinema of Gestures: Claire Denis's 35 Shots of Rum." Image=Gesture: The 5th Nomadikon Meeting. Bergen, November 9-12.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Words of Welcome." Image=Gesture: The 5th Nomadikon Meeting. Bergen, November 9-12.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Mer enn tusen ord." Intervju i Aktuelt. November 8.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Øyvind Vågnes, " Leder," Ekfrase: Nordisk Tidsskrift for Visuell Kultur, 2.2 (2011), 85-86.
Henrik Gustafsson, "The Country, the City, and the Scene of the Crime: On Claude Lanzmann" in Urban Images: Unruly Desires in Film and Architecture, eds. Synne Bull and Marit Paasche, Berlin: Sternberg Press, 2011.
Henrik Gustafsson, "From Scopic Regimes to Scotopic Vision: Mapping Dark Geography." Media Acts, Trondheim, October, 26-28.
Øyvind Vågnes, "Fantasmatic Documentarism? Reconsidering Standard Operating Procedure." Keynote lecture, Looking for Reality - Looking at Reality, University of Copenhagen, October 5, 2011.
Tonje Sørensen, "Of Silence and Remembrance: Knut Erik Jensen's Film Stella Polaris as re-telling, re-remembering of the Second World War." The Fifth Nomadikon Meeting: Image=Gesture, Bergen, November 9.-12.
Tonje Sørensen, "The Role of the Mosaic in 19th-Century Germany - Constructing an imperial memory of Byzantium." Wanted: Byzantium. Nordic Byzantium Network Conference, September 26-29.
Henrik Gustafsson, "Site, Speech and Silence." Hollow Land: Landscape, Memory, Politics. Bergen, September 20, 2011.
Øyvind Vågnes, "What Has Happened in a Place is Always Happening: Reflections on Footnotes in Gaza." Hollow Land: Landscape, Memory, Politics. Bergen, September 20, 2011.
Henrik Gustafsson, "Territories of Never-Ending War: Trevor Paglen and the Agency of Dark Geographies." Visible Evidence 18, New York City, August 11-14, 2011.
Øyvind Vågnes, Zaprudered: The Kennedy Assassination Film in Visual Culture. Austin: Texas University Press, 2011.
Øyvind Vågnes, "The Unmaking of the World," in "The Aesthetics of Atrocity," a special issue of Afterimage: The Journal of Media Arts and Cultural Criticism, Summer 2011.
Øyvind Vågnes, "Images from the Dark Side: Picturing the War on Terror." Visible Evidence 18, New York City, August 11-14, 2011.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "On the Unwatchable." In The New Extremism in Cinema: From France to Europe, eds. Tanya Horeck and Tina Kendall, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2011.
Øyvind Vågnes, "Writing Seeing (2): The Ekphrastic Impulse." X. Seminário Internacional de Estudos de Literatura Criatividade Sem Limite? Rio de Janeiro, June 20-21.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Writing Seeing (1): Transaesthetic Resonance in Still Life with Oysters and Lemon and Point Omega." X. Seminário Internacional de Estudos de Literatura Criatividade Sem Limite? Rio de Janeiro, June 20-21.
Øyvind Vågnes, "Fotografiets vitnesbyrd: Jacob Holdts arkiv." On Jacob Holdt's photography. Hå gamle prestegård, June 5, 2011.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "'Clear-eyed visions of the Particular:' Transaesthetic Resonance in Mark Doty's Still Life with Oysters and Lemon and Don DeLillo's Point Omega." 22th Annual American Literature Association Conference, Boston, May 26-29, 2011.
Tonje Sørensen, "Norsk Krigsfilm og det Erindringsteoretiske Perspektiv: Tilfellet Kalde Spor." In Norsk Medietidsskrift, 18.1 p. 4-18.
Asbjørn Grønstad and Øyvind Vågnes, ”Interview with Greil Marcus and Werner Sollors.” Journal of American Studies 45 (2011), e16. doi:10.1017/S0021875810002379, 5-29.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Øyvind Vågnes, "Bak Kameraet: Intervju med Mieke Bal (andre del)," Ekfrase: Nordisk Tidsskrift for Visuell Kultur, 2.1 (2011), 62-67.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Utsnitt av en Elegisk Epistemologi." Ekfrase: Nordisk Tidsskrift for Visuell Kultur, 2.1 (2011), 4-19.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Øyvind Vågnes, "Leder." Ekfrase: Nordisk Tidsskrift for Visuell Kultur, 2.1 (2011), 1-3.
Øyvind Vågnes, "Shadows on the Screen: The Ekphrastic Impulse in Don DeLillo's Point Omega." Across Media: Contemporary Literature and Media Culture, NTNU, May 5-7.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Entropic Cinema: The Case of Antichrist/Irréversible." Lecture for the Berkeley Film Seminar. University of California-Berkeley, April 21.
Øyvind Vågnes, "The Visual Culture in Europe Questionnaire." With Nina Lager Vestberg, NTNU. Visualizing Europe: The Geopolitical and Intercultural Boundaries of Europe, Barcelona, April 11-12, 2011.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Archives of Violence." Essay accompanying the Piracy Kills Project, by Termodress.
Henrik Gustafsson, "‘Uncanny Landscape': On Claire Denis." Society for Cinema and Media Studies conference Media Citizenship. New Orleans, March 10-13, 2011.
Øyvind Vågnes, "Showing Silence: On David Small's Stitches," in Studies in Comics 1.2.2010, pp. 310-314.
Tonje Sørensen, Review, Hva er et Bilde? Om Visuell Kultur, by Siri Meyer. In Billedkunst, 1.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Dead Time, Empty Spaces: Landscape as Sensibility and Performance." Exploring Textual Action, eds. Lars Sætre, Patrizia Lombardo & Anders M. Gullestad, Aarhus: Aarhus University Press, 2010.
Øyvind Vågnes, "Bortanfor fotografiet." In Morgenbladet, December 17 2010. (Interview with Joe Sacco).
Øyvind Vågnes, "Inside the Story: A Conversation with Joe Sacco." In Journal of Graphic Novels & Comics Vol. 1, No. 2, December 2010, pp. 193-216.
Øyvind Vågnes, "Making Humanity Strange to Itself: On Errol Morris and Werner Herzog." The Human and its Limits, University of Bergen, December 10, 2010.
Asbjørn Grønstad, Presentation of Ekfrase: Nordisk Tidsskrift for Visuell Kultur. Visuelt bok-og tidsskriftbad, Studia. Bergen, November 10 2010.
Tonje Sørensen, "Authenticity, mimesis and memoria - visuality and re-enactment in Occupation Dramas." Norsk Medieforskerlags Konfereranse, October 28-29.
Øyvind Vågnes, "The President Dying on the Big Screen: A Brief Cultural History of Abraham Zapruder's Film of the Kennedy Assassination." In Paperweight: A Newspaper of Visual and Material Culture, Volume 1, No. 1, Autumn/Winter 2010.
Henrik Gustafsson, "Jakob Jakobsen: Billed Politikk: Brudstykker af samtidshistorien betragtet som tragedie / Mikkel Bolt, Jakob Jakobsen & Morten Visby: Billed Politikk: At se er at draebe." Review in Ekfrase: Nordisk Tidsskrift for Visuell Kultur, 1.2 (2010), 154-156.
Øyvind Vågnes, "Med medieestetikkens briller." In Norsk Medietidsskrift Vol. 17. No. 3. 2010.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Øyvind Vågnes, "Visuell Kultur i Norden," Symposium w/panel discussion, Department of Art and Cultural Studies, University of Copenhagen, September 27, 2010.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Øyvind Vågnes, Presentation of Nomadikon for master students, Visual Culture Workshop, Department of Art and Cultural Studies, University of Copenhagen, September 27, 2010.
Asbjørn Grønstad, Panel discussion on "Creativity and Mediation from Husserl to Whitehead and Back," The FORART Lecture 2010, Institute for Research within International Contemporary Art, Nasjonalmuseet Oslo, September 24-25, 2010.
Øyvind Vågnes, "Pleasing to the Eye: The Zapruder Film's Transformation from Evidentiary to Aesthetic Image." Saving Private Reels: An International Conference on the Presentation, Appropriation and Re-contextualization of the Amateur Moving Image. Cork, September 17-19, 2010.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Øyvind Vågnes, "The 2010 Visual Culture Studies Conference." Ekfrase: Nordisk Tidsskrift for Visuell Kultur, 1.2 (2010), 165-166. With Øyvind Vågnes.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Øyvind Vågnes, "'Vi må gi fortiden lov til å eldes:' Intervju med Michael Ann Holly." Ekfrase: Nordisk Tidsskrift for Visuell Kultur, 1.2 (2010), 144-151. With Øyvind Vågnes.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Øyvind Vågnes, " Leder," Ekfrase: Nordisk Tidsskrift for Visuell Kultur, 1.2 (2010), 81-82. With Øyvind Vågnes.
Henrik Gustafsson, "The Country, the City, & the Scene of the Crime: On Claude Lanzmann." Urban Images: Re-imagining the City through Moving Images, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, September 9-10, 2010.
Øyvind Vågnes, "The Question of Address: On Werner Herzog's Documentaries." Visible Evidence XVII, Bogazici University, Istanbul, August 12, 2010.
Tonje Sørensen, "Remembering a Different Norway - re-enactment and commemoration in the Norwegian war film." Conflict, Memory and Memoralisation, July 17-18.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Toward a Transaesthetic Dispositif: Approaching Disciplinarity Through Deleuze." The Third International Deleuze Studies Conference. Amsterdam, July 12-14.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "On the Unwatchable." NECS 4th Annual Conference. Istanbul, June 24-27.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Øyvind Vågnes, "Visuell Kultur og Hvorfor vi skal være skeptiske: Et Intervju med James Elkins," Ekfrase: Nordisk Tidsskrift For Visuell Kultur, 1.1 (2010), 55-63.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Øyvind Vågnes, "Migrasjonstenkeren: Et Intervju med Mieke Bal," Ekfrase: Nordisk Tidsskrift For Visuell Kultur, 1.1 (2010), 46-54.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Øyvind Vågnes, "Hva er Visuell Kultur Questionnaire," Ekfrase: Nordisk Tidsskrift For Visuell Kultur, 1.1 (2010), 30-43.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Øyvind Vågnes, "Leder," Ekfrase: Nordisk Tidsskrift For Visuell Kultur, 1.1 (2010), 1-2.
Henrik Gustafsson, "Screen, Site and Scenery." The Third Nomadikon Meeting: New Screen Ecologies. Bergen, April 12, 2010.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Archives of Violence." The Third Nomadikon Meeting: New Screen Ecologies. Bergen, April 12, 2010.
Tonje Sørensen, "Creating a Visual Representation of he Past." The Third Nomadikon Meeting: New Screen Ecologies, Bergen, April 12.
Tonje Sørensen, "Krigsminneproduksjon." Nasjonalbibliotekets Filmkonferanse, April 8-9.
Øyvind Vågnes, "Jakta på det ekte." In Morgenbladet. April 9, 2010.
Henrik Gustafsson, "New Topographies in Late 20th-Century Nonfiction Film." Society for Cinema and Media Studies conference Archiving the Future/Mobilizing the Past. Los Angeles, March 17-21, 2010.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Explaining Ourselves to the Image: Ethics and Form in Morris, Folman and Haneke." Society for Cinema and Media Studies conference "Archiving the Future/Mobiliing the Past." Los Angeles, March 17-21, 2010.
Øyvind Vågnes, "The Reenactments of S.O.P." Society for Cinema and Media Studies conference "Archiving the Future/Mobiliing the Past." Los Angeles, March 17-21, 2010.
Øyvind Vågnes, "Festskrift for anonymiteten." In Morgenbladet. March 12, 2010.
Henrik Gustafsson, "Confronting Absence: Imagination and Excavation", Imaging History - Photography after the Fact, Hogeschool Sint-Lukas, Brussels, February 18.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Om forholdet mellom estetisk teori og estetisk praksis." Conflicts and Negotiations: Gender and Value in Art and Aesthetics, workshop. Oslo, January 28-29.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Øyvind Vågnes, Coverscaping: Discovering Album Aesthetics, Copenhagen: Museum Tusculanum Press, 2010.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Ironi inntar Hollywood," Intervju i Verdens Gang, 20. januar 2010.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Sosiopatiens Anatomi - Michael Hanekes Das Weisse Band. I På Høyden. December 21, 2009.
Asbjørn Grønstad & Øyvind Vågnes, "Litt om med(ie)vitskap." In Norsk Medietidsskrift. Vol. 16. No. 4. 2009.
Øyvind Vågnes, "Amerikabilder". Prosalong. Talk, and a conversation with Sigrid Lien. December 1. 2009.
Øyvind Vågnes, "Eit monumentalt dokument." In Morgenbladet. November 27. 2009.
Øyvind Vågnes, "Bildets makt og avmakt: Ein kort introduksjon til W.J.T. Mitchell." In tilt: Mediepedagogisk tidsskrift, 2/2009.
Henrik Gustafsson, "Meningsfulla mellanrum." Review of Interaktioner. Om Kunstartenes Produktive Mellemværender, eds. Peter Stein Larsen, Peder Kaj Pedersen, Ernst-Ullrich Pinkert and Bent Sørensen. In Edda: Nordisk Tidsskrift for Litteraturforskning, 4/2009.
Asbjørn Grønstad, Review of P. Adams Sitney, Eyes Upside Down: Visionary Filmmakers and the Heritage of Emerson. In American Studies in Scandinavia. Vol. 41. No. 1 (Fall 2009).
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Film Heile Dagen Lang." Kronikk i På Høyden. October 20.
Øyvind Vågnes, "The Unmaking of the World: Joe Sacco's Palestine #4 and 'Trauma on Loan.'" Paper, The International Comic Arts Forum conference, School of the Arts Institute in Chicago, October 15.
Øyvind Vågnes, "Nærare bildet." In Morgenbladet October 9.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Transmedial Epistemes and the Question of Disciplinarity." Guest lecture, Media Culture and Aesthetics seminar, Norwegian University of Technology and Science, September 25.
Øyvind Vågnes, "Nerdane tek hevn!" In Morgenbladet September 25.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Nighthawks at the Diner: Wong Kar-Wai's My Blueberry Nights." In American, British and Canadian Studies. Vol. 12.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "The Decay of Fiction and the Poetics of Pastness." In Moving Pictures/Stopping Places: Hotels and Motels on Film, eds. David B. Clarke, Valerie Crawford Pfannhauser & Marcus A. Doel, Plymouth: Lexington Books.
Henrik Gustafsson, “Past tense/present place”, Locating Media: Paradoxes of place in contemporary cinema, NECS Conference. Lund, June 25-28.
Øyvind Vågnes, "Roundtable Discussion: Images of Pain/Painful Images." Participant. The Second Nomadikon Meeting: Images of Pain/Painful Images. Bergen, June 19-21.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Roundtable Discussion: Images of Pain/Painful Images." Chair. The Second Nomadikon Meeting: Images of Pain/Painful Images. Bergen, June 19-21.
Henrik Gustafsson, “Where does it hurt? Revisiting crime scenes in non-fiction film”, The Second Nomadikon Meeting: Images of Pain/Painful Images. Bergen, June 19-21.
Øyvind Vågnes, "Becoming an Image of Pain: Self-Immolations." The Second Nomadikon Meeting: Images of Pain/Painful Images. Bergen, June 19-21.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "The Unwatchable, or, the Fork in the Eye." The Second Nomadikon Meeting: Images of Pain/Painful Images. Bergen, June 19-21.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "The Ethical Life of Images." Guest Lecture, Transformations in Screen Culture. The Department of Journalism, Media and Communication, University of Stockholm. Stockholm, March 19.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "The Death of Cinema and the Rise of Visual Culture Studies." Guest lecture, Transformations in Screen Culture. The Department of Journalism, Media and Communication, University of Stockholm. Stockholm, March 18.
Øyvind Vågnes, "Før og etter smellet." In Morgenbladet. January 2, 2009.
Øyvind Vågnes, "Sløkk lyset!" In Morgenbladet. December 19, 2008.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "'No one goes to the Movies anymore:' Cinema and Visual Studies in the Digital Era." In Kinema: A Journal for Film and Audiovisual Media. No. 30. Fall 2008.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Tact and Tactility: On Jane Campion's In the Cut." In American, British and Canadian Studies. 10.
Øyvind Vågnes, "Bilder av nød og lidelse." Debate. The National Library, Oslo. November 13, 2008.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Ekphrastic Migrations: Showing Seeing in Siri Hustvedt’s What I Loved."
The 4th Text-Action-Space (TAS) Workshop. Paris, November 3-5, 2008.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Nighthawks at the Diner: Wong Kar Wai’s My Blueberry Nights."
American Studies Association of Norway conference. Bergen, October 31 – November 2, 2008.
Øyvind Vågnes, "Tilbake til Abu Ghraib." In Morgenbladet. October 10, 2008.
Asbjørn Grønstad, "Portrett av eit Augeblikk." In Klassekampen. October 4, 2008.
Asbjørn Grønstad, Transfigurations: Violence, Death and Masculinity in American Cinema. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2008. | 2019-04-20T20:22:06Z | http://nomadikon.net/publications.aspx?ci=22 |
I want to welcome you again, friends, to this presentation of the Landmarks of Prophecy Bible study series. And tonight is going to be one of the very important subjects people come to a series like this, they want to understand prophecy. I want to thank all of you here in albuquerque for braving the highway construction quagmire out there. From my window I can see the red tail lights going in every direction. And those who are watching, online or through 3abn, Amazing Facts television - around the world, we're just very thankful that you've joined us.
Our presentation tonight is entitled 'marked for death' and this study, of course, is dealing with the subject of the Mark of the beast that you find in Revelation 13 and also mentioned in Revelation 14. Now, for the story that helps us introduce this - remember, to understand Revelation you need to go back in the Bible. The keys to unlock the secrets of Revelation are found in other places in the Bible, frequently in the old testament. Going all the way back to the beginning, we remember that adam and eve had two sons - original sons - what where their names? Cain and abel. Cain and abel.
But they were very opposite. The Bible tells us that one of them was a shepherd and one of them was a tiller of the ground. Up until the time of when the flood happened, adam and eve and their descendents, they could actually bring their offerings right to the gates of the Garden of Eden. You see, after adam and eve sinned, they tried to cover their sin with fig leaves and God said, 'that won't do - a symbol of your own righteousness.' And it says the Lord gave them robes of skin. Now where do you think the skins came from? God did not miraculously create some vinyl or something.
That's telling us about when God established the sacrificial system. You realize the sacrificial system goes back before Moses. Abraham sacrificed lambs, job sacrificed for his family. Those lambs all pointed to the day when John the baptist would say 'Jesus is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.' So God prescribed what they needed to do for forgiveness. The Bible says, without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness for sin.
God commanded them about how to do this. And the Bible tells us that abel - Genesis 4:2 - was a keeper of sheep. He was gentle and - but his brother cain, he didn't take care of sheep, he was attracted more to tilling the ground. The Bible tells us that cain was a tiller of the soil and so - very opposite - kind of like Jacob and esau, you know, one was a shepherd and one was a hunter - opposite brothers. When the time came for them to worship God and to bring a sacrifice, they built their altars - and the Bible tells us that abel brought of the firstling of his flock, as God had said, sacrificed the lamb, the blood was presented to the Lord.
Cain thought, you know, 'that's not very popular. It's unpleasant and abel's a shepherd and it makes sense for him, but I'm a farmer. I'm going to bring of the fruits of the ground. That's my sacrifice.' The Bible says that God accepted abel's sacrifice. Fire came down from God and devoured it, showing acceptance.
But cain's - his fruits and vegetables that he piled up on the altar, gathered nothing but fruit flies. And it bothered him that his offering was not accepted by God. And when abel said, 'brother, you really need to do what God said and worship him the way he told us to worship him. There's no forgiveness for our sins without the shedding of blood.' Cain got mad at his younger brother, 'who are you to tell me?' And they had a fight. You can read in Genesis 4, verse , "and cain talked with abel his brother: and .
..cain rose up against abel his brother, and slew him." Here you have the first murder in the history of the universe. Notice that this first murder happens in the context of two brothers - ostensibly worshiping the same God in an act of worship. One does it his own way. One does it God's way. The one who does it the wrong way persecutes the one who does it the right way.
You find that pattern repeated through Bible history. The Bible closes with that. Genesis 4:10 - notice: God said to cain, "...the voice of your brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground." The Bible says that the blood of Jesus speaks better things to The Father than that of abel. And Christ tells us, in the last generation, all the righteous blood from abel down to the end is going to be brought on that generation. Genesis 4:15, "and the Lord set a Mark upon cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
" Now cain said - the Lord said, 'you're going to be a vagabond from now on and the ground will not bear its strength for thee. And cain said, 'Lord, my punishment is too great for me to bear. And all of the descendents of adam and eve that will be born, they're going to see that I've got this stigma and they're going to kill me because of what I've done to abel.' the Lord put a Mark upon cain. Now, we don't know, the Bible's not very specific, but some distinguishing characteristic was put on cain that set him apart. So there's no record in the Bible that anyone retaliated for what he had done to his brother.
So here you have somebody who receives a Mark because of their persecuting God's people and wanting to worship contrary to the right way. So you have this pattern established, okay? With that background, you're going to see the same thing happening in the last days. There'll be two final groups. We always think about the Mark of the beast but everybody gets a Mark in the last days. One gets the seal of God.
One gets the Mark of the beast. One group is saved. One is lost. Everybody is going to fall into one of two categories in the last days. Let's get into question #1 of our study today.
Question #1: who is going to be protected through the seven last plagues? Now we, tomorrow, are going to be studying Revelation 12. Last night we talked about - or this morning - Revelation 13 and 14 and then Revelation 15 and 16 you've got the seven last plagues. Remember, there were ten plagues that fell on Egypt when God took them from Egypt and they began their journey to the promised land. The Israelites experienced the first three plagues right along with the Egyptians, but God protected the Israelites from the last seven plagues. The last seven plagues that fall on the world, that's called the great tribulation.
Christians do not need to be afraid of that, God will preserve us through it. We will be here - all that live Godly will suffer tribulation, but he will preserve us. Who is protected during that time? Revelation chapter 7, verse 3 - the angel says, in chapter 7 - "hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have" - done what? - "Sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." Wow, I thought - something in your forehead - I thought that was bad. No, not always. If you read in Ezekiel chapter 9 it says that an angel of judgment went through Jerusalem and these angels destroyed everybody that did not have a Mark that was put upon them.
Those with a Mark, in Ezekiel 9, are saved. There's two different kinds of Marks. You know, whenever somebody hears about a Mark in the last days, we instinctively think about the bad Mark. How many of you would like to be spirit possessed? Depends on what spirit, right? But you automatically, when I said that, you thought about, 'I don't want to be spirit possessed. Especially after halloween.
' We automatically think about bad spirits, but doesn't the Spirit of the Lord come on people too? And so when you say, 'would you like to be Marked?' 'No, not me.' Well, there's a good Mark in the last days too. This is the seal of God placed in the foreheads. And the final winds of strife do not blow on the earth. These angels are shown holding back these final winds until - that's talking about a storm that's coming - until God's servants receive this seal. Question #2: what is this seal that the righteous have in their foreheads? You can find the answer - Isaiah :16 - it says, "bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
" When God writes his law in your heart, you are receiving the seal of God. Now, just to - let me make something real simple - those that have the Mark of the beast have the Spirit of the devil. Do we all agree? In the last days - Holy Spirit's withdrawn from them and when the Holy Spirit's withdrawn, evil spirits come in. Those that have the seal of God have the Holy Spirit. Ephesians said, 'grieve not the Holy Spirit wherewith you are sealed for the day of redemption.
So we already know that those that are saved have the Holy Spirit's seal. Those that are lost have the seal of the enemy or the devil's spirit. But there's something more distinct about it. Those that are saved have the law of God written in their hearts. But there's still more.
Let's take a look at what is a seal, technically? When you think of a biblical seal, what makes up a seal? I just grabbed here, from the website, the seal for british columbia. It was a convenient one and it's got, you known, they're part of the english commonwealth, and it says, 'queen elizabeth ii of Canada. All seals will contain those three elements. The name: elizabeth the ii, title: queen, Canada, the territory. The title, the name, the territory.
That's - when our president gives a speech, it'll say: barak obama - name, president - title, United States of America. In the Bible you find examples of a seal. When Jesus was put in the tomb, somebody put a seal on the door. Who was that? Pontius pilate. That means that they took some wax, they tied it off, and they pressed this - his official seal into the wax so that in order to open it up they'd have to break the seal and that seal had the authority on it and it said, pontius pilate, governor, Judea.
When Daniel was put in the lion's den, it says darius put a stone on the lid of the lion's den and he sealed it. So the purpose might not be changed. That seal said darius - his name, king - his title, medo-persia - his territory. All seals will have these three components. Now, with that in mind, understanding what a seal is, question #3: which of the Ten Commandments contains all of the elements that are technically involved in a seal.
You might be surprised to look in the middle of God's law, in the last of the first commandments that are between man and God. The longest of the Ten Commandments, the only commandment that begins with the word 'remember' - it's called the Sabbath commandment. Here's what it says: "for in six days" - who? - "the Lord" - that's his name, jehovah - "made" - that's his office, he's the creator - "the heaven and earth, the sea," - everything above, everything below, everything on the land. That's the seal right there in the law. I think I told you one time that in the world you've got the holy land and in the holy land you've got the holy city and in the holy city you've got the holy mount and on the holy mount they had the holy temple and in the holy temple they had the holy place.
Within that they had the holy of holies, which had the holy ark, and in the holy ark was the holy law of God, the testimony, and in the law of God you find the word 'holy' one time. It's in the Sabbath commandment. Now, I know there are people here thinking, 'Pastor Doug, boy, you folks sure make a big deal out of this. Just one commandment. Why would one commandment make such a big difference?' 'Whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point,' James tells us, 'is guilty of all.
' If I was in a society where the church was teaching people it was okay to commit adultery, you would hear me talk a lot about that. If I was in a society where Christians were being told that it's okay to lie or steal, you'd hear me talk a lot about that. But it just so happens that we're in a society where Christians are forgetting a very important law that has to do with worshiping God and giving him your time. See, God made the Sabbath day because we show our love in time. We live in time.
If you don't have any time, you don't live anymore and when you give him as holy that seventh day to worship him, that says a lot about whose really in charge of your life. But if you say, 'I'm too busy to fit God into my schedule,' then are you really his servant? It says a lot. It really separates the genuine people who say, 'I want to live for God and he does have my time.' Matter of fact, sometimes it's easier to give God your money than your time. I know my father - busy like a lot of fathers - sometimes he knew he just didn't have much time, it was easier for him to hand me five dollars and say, 'go to the movies.' Of course, back then, it didn't cost that much. But just, you know, than to give me time.
But what does most - what do most children want? A handout or time with their parents? God loves us. He wants time with us - quality time. And the Sabbath is all about that. So in the Sabbath commandment you have the seal of God. You've got the word, 'holy.
' It's in the center of his law and the reason God said to his people, 'remember' is because he knew we would be inclined to forget. Because Jesus said, 'be careful, lest your heart be overcharged with eating and drinking and the cares of this life so that that day, the day of the Lord, overtakes you as a thief.' Or even your own death. We can get so busy with the cares of this life, we forget about eternity and living for God. Yes, this does matter, friends. Question #4: alright, we identified the beast in lesson 13.
What is its Mark of authority? Alright, now, in this section, we're going to actually be reading through some answers from a catholic catechism. Now, if you want to be a good catholic - I used to go to catholic school - I was actually born in a catholic hospital too. They use a question and answer teaching method - it's a good method to teach. And this is - some of you - how many of you have seen a catechism before? You've worked - okay, a lot of people. You know what I'm talking about.
Catholic catechism says, "q. 'Which day is the Sabbath day?' A: 'Saturday is the Sabbath day.' Q. 'Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?' A: 'we observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the catholic church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.'" Then the next natural question is: 'have you any other way of proving that the church has power to institute festivals of precept?' How do you prove that the church has a right to create these things? A. 'Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her'" - most, not all - "'she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday the seventh day, a change for which there is not scriptural authority.'" Notice it also says, 'she could not have' - that comes up later too. No scriptural authority.
They freely admit this. It's something that has grown totally out of tradition. It is not a Bible truth. And so, a lot of very sincere, dear Christians out there - every Sunday when they go to church - they've never really thought through it, but it's not commanded in the Bible. You know, I'm going to just pause right here.
I want to read something to you. I just grabbed this. I knew that there was a lot of data on this truth and so I just printed some quotes off the internet. Just in case you're wondering if Pastor Doug stands alone or if this is something that just Seventh-day Adventists think about, dwight l. Moody - great preacher - I know the pastor of the moody Bible church in chicago - good man - erwin lutzer - this is what dwight moody said, "the Sabbath was binding in eden and it's been in force ever since.
The fourth commandment begins with the word 'remember' showing that the Sabbath already existed when God wrote the tables on the stone at sinai" - he's right. It goes back before Mount Sinai. 'How can men claim that this one commandment has been done away with when they admit that the other nine are still binding?' Here's doctor edward t. Hiscox, author of the baptist manual - a baptist - "there was and is a commandment to keep holy the Sabbath day, but that Sabbath day was not Sunday. It'll be said, however, with some show of triumph, that the Sabbath was transferred from the seventh to the first day of the week.
Where can the record of such a transaction be found? Not in the new testament - absolutely not. Furthermore," - he goes on - "of course I quite well know that Sunday did come into use in the early Christian history. What a pity" - still speaking - dr. Edward t. Hiscox, the baptist theologian - "what a pity that Sunday came branded with the Mark of paganism and it's Christened with the name of the sun God, adopted and sanctioned by the papal apostasy and bequeathed as a sacred legacy to protestantism.
" Another - william owen carver - in his book 'the Lord's day' - a baptist. "There was never any formal authoritative change from the Jewish seventh-day Sabbath to the first day observance. Here's from an anglican episcopal - I'm just reading a fraction of these. I don't have time to read them all. In - canon eyton, in his book 'the Ten Commandments' - "there is no word, no hint in the new testament about abstaining from work on Sunday into rest of Sunday no divine law enters.
The observance of ash Wednesday or lent stands exactly on the same footing as the observance of Sunday." It's saying there's no biblical grounds for this. Alexander campbell, disciples of Christ, "but some say it (the Sabbath) was changed from the seventh to the first day. Where? When? By whom? No man can tell. No, it was never changed, nor could it be unless creation was gone through again." He goes on to say, "if it be changed, it was that August personage who changed it - who changes times and laws ex officio, I think his name is dr. AntiChrist.
" That's alexander campbell. Presbyterian - t.c. Blake, in his book 'theology condensed' page 474, "the Sabbath is a part of the decalogue - the Ten Commandments. This alone forever settles the question as to the perpetuity of the institution. Until, therefore, it can be shown that the whole moral law has been repealed, the Sabbath will stand.
The teaching of Christ confirms the perpetuity of the Sabbath." I've got John wesley - you can just go through - these theologians know. They know that it's a Bible truth. The question is - Jesus said, 'in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.' If you're going to be a Bible Christian - this is what happened to me. I was up in the cave and I went to a lot of different churches and I said, 'Lord, I just want to know the truth.' It didn't matter to me - and I went to church on Sunday - and a lot of lovely Christians - and I've worshiped with Christians in many different denominations. But I heard things in their theology and I said, 'this doesn't square up with Scripture.
Lord, is there a place I can go that squares up with the Bible?' And after I prayed that prayer, up in the cave, the Lord revealed these things to me and I encountered this church where I have been for the last 37 years and I share it everywhere I go because it's the Bible. My allegiance isn't to any denomination. I couldn't care less about that. My allegiance is to Christ and His Word. And I think in the last days, the Lord is calling people back to Scripture that we might receive his seal and be prepared for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that will come just before the last days.
Oh, I've got to grab this. I grabbed my Bible. Alright, question #5: what does the second beast of Revelation 13 force all to receive? Revelation 13, verse 16, "and he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a" - a what? "A Mark in their right hands or in their foreheads." That's not up on the screen yet, sorry. So everybody is forced to receive a Mark in the right hand or in their forehead. Now, when you think right hand or in the forehead, that comes up a few times in the Bible.
Question #6: first thing I want to make very clear. Does anyone have the Mark of the beast now - today? Quick answer, no. When will people finally have the Mark of the beast? In Revelation 13, verse 17 it says, "no man might buy or sell." When there's a law made that nobody can buy or sell, that's when you're going to know that it becomes an issue. Furthermore it says, "save he that has the Mark of the beast or the number of the beast's name." Now, you know, in your - when - you go shopping today. How many of you, 90% of the time don't even use cash anymore when you shop? You don't have to show me hands - but virtually always - and it's very convenient, right? When that first came out, people wondered if that was the Mark of the beast.
And people have done a lot of speculating about what the Mark of the beast was. I remember when I was living up in the mountains, the - we called them 'Jesus freaks' - the hippies on the street back then, they thought the Mark of the beast was the proctor and gamble symbol because it looked like . And I've heard rumors out there that the monster drink has got this like 6 claws - that was the Mark of the beast then. Probably not good for you but - so there's all these different crazy theories out there about what the Mark of the beast is. And they think that the Mark of the beast is a mechanism that will control buying and selling.
There are lots of mechanisms that will control buying and selling, but that is not the Mark. It may be used by the beast power, but that itself is not the Mark. Eventually, there'll be laws made that people cannot buy or sell unless they cooperate with the beast power. Revelation chapter 13, verse 12, it says that he (the beast) "...and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed." And so, you have the second beast, in Revelation 13, verse , is compelling the world to worship the first beast. Now, I told you earlier today just straight out, I believe the second beast is the United States.
That doesn't mean I'm not happy to be American, in case anyone didn't hear me earlier, I'm not leaving. I believe the first beast - and it's with - America's sort of the home for the protestants of the world. Many of the protestant churches found refuge in America. Most of the protestant mission work around the globe, the funds come from where? North America. Are you aware of that? And that catholicism was the first beast in the beginning of the chapter and it says that 'the second beast causes the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast whose deadly wound was healed.
' Let me show you a couple of pictures I thought were interesting. Now this is just trivia, but is it just a coincidence that you've got the u.s. Capitol and the vatican - don't they look kind of similar? They used that same greco-roman kind of architecture at their domes. And in front of the vatican you've got a - a big obelisk and in front of the capitol you've got another big obelisk - it's called the Washington monument. Almost looks like we're kind of making an image right there.
Don't misunderstand, I just think that's a curiosity. Question #7: is the Mark of the beast or the seal of God a visible Mark? Now this is very important I don't know if you remember when bar codes first began to appear on products. And I remember when that first happened still. I was a young Christian and my friend said, 'they're putting the Mark of the beast on all the products. Don't buy anything that's got that Mark on it.
They're going to use it to control buying and selling.' All those friends starved to death a long time ago because now it's on everything. But no, that is not the Mark of the beast. And others think that, you know, the beast power - you know, there's even some translations of the Bible - they're not translations, they're paraphrased - it says, 'and he causes all small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a tattoo in their right hand or in their forehead.' You know, it does not say that in the original. It says a Mark 'in' the hand and 'in' the forehead. That's talking about in your actions and in your thoughts.
It is not an external Mark. Now I'm going to prove that to you. Hebrews 10, verse 6 - talking about the new covenant - "saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them." Ecclesiastes 9, verse 10, "whatever your hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." It's talking about in your thoughts is in your heart - your actions, your worship - your hand, it's talking about your actions. Here's another example of that: Isaiah 59, verse 6, it says, "their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands." So when it says 'in the hand' that really begins in the heart. Jesus says if your right hand offends you, cut it off.
Did he literally mean for you to cut off your hand? No, I hope you - that means - no, that was an illustration Jesus is giving about if you've got something real close to you that's causing you to sin, just - even though if it's a close as your hand, cut it off. Better to enter heaven maimed' - is anyone going to heaven maimed? No, it's an illustration. Now I want you to look at a few verses quickly. Exodus 13, verse 9 - alright, let's understand in the hand and in the forehead - what does this mean? "And it shall be a sign unto thee" - notice, a sign - "unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes that the Lord's law might be in your heart." On your hand - between your eyes. Now, the Hebrews, that's how they said it - between your eyes meant your forehead.
Where did Goliath get struck? Right between the eyes, in his forehead. The seal of God in the forehead represents having the law of God in our hearts. Hebrews 8:10 - we read that - "I will put my laws in their mind and write them on their hearts;" let me read you another verse. Go with me in your Bibles to Deuteronomy - this is a very famous verse - all of my Jewish friends will know this, it's the great shema. In Deuteronomy 6, you go to verse 4, Jesus quotes this: "hear, o Israel, the Lord our God is one.
You should love the Lord your God with all your heart and your soul, with all your strength" - that's Deuteronomy chapter 6, verse 4 - "and these words that I command you today" - what words did Moses just command them? You look at Deuteronomy 5 - 'you shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, remember the Sabbath' - so forth - Ten Commandments - chapter 5, Ten Commandments. Chapter 6, part of the same sermon - "these words that I command you today shall be in your heart." Now what did Moses mean? 'The words I command you will be in your heart?' He meant for them to all make an incision in their chest, open it up, and stick the Ten Commandments in there. Is that what he meant? Or is it a figure? Right? Do we all agree? It's a symbol. It's important you get that. You should teach them - verse 7 - Deuteronomy 6, verse 7 - "teach them diligently to your children.
Talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, when you rise up" - here it comes - "you will bind them as a sign on your hand and they will be as frontlets between your eyes." In the hand and in the forehead. You go - just jump over - Deuteronomy 11 - there's several places in the Bible - go to Deuteronomy 11, you'll see the same thing here as well, in verse 18, "therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul. Bind them as a sign on your hand. They will be as frontlets between your eyes." They all - the jews all understood in the hand and in the forehead - this Mark - is not talking about people getting tattooed. The devil loves that.
The devil loves that there's people out there that say, 'I'm not getting the Mark of the beast. As soon as they come after me with that tattoo' - and everyone's getting tattoos today, right? I mean every corner - it's like taco bell - a tattoo parlor everywhere. Isn't that right? Someone asked me a question about that. I'll deal with that later. But the devil, he's got people thinking, 'nobody's going to tattoo 666 on my forehead.
' Nowhere in the Bible does it say that's the Mark of the beast. It's talking about - very simply, if you've got the law of God in your heart and in your actions, you will not have the Mark of the beast in your thoughts and in your actions. It's going to have to do with who you worship. I've got to hasten along. Question #8: the beast has a Mark to represent its power and authority.
Does God also have a sign of his power? I believe the answer is yes. You can look - some examples of this - Ezekiel 20, verse 12 - I love to hear the rustle of the lessons, it means you're reading it for yourself. We put these things in your hands - we want you to take it home, look up the Scriptures, compare it, share it with your friends. I don't think we need to hide from the truth. It should stand up under investigation.
"I gave them my Sabbaths to be a" - what? - "A sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them." Does God still sanctify us? He does. You can also read in Ezekiel 20, verse 20, "hallow my Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God." So God still sanctifies us. Let me give you one more - Exodus 31:13, "verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign" - it doesn't say that about the other commandments. He says it about the Sabbath - "it's a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you." Now, is anyone getting to heaven without being sanctified? 'Blessed are the pure in heart, they will see God.' God must sanctify us. The Sabbath, when you commit your time to God that way, it's a sign you believe that he created.
In the beginning it says that he made the day holy, he sanctified it, and he can sanctify us. He can recreate us. That's the new covenant - 'I'll create a new heart within you.' Sabbath just embraces all of that. One more - Exodus 31:17, "it is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever." Now you might say, 'oh, that's just for jews.' Remember, Jesus said the Sabbath is made for man - and the word he uses is 'mankind' - anthropos - everybody. It was given to adam and eve.
Alright, question #9: what did the antiChrist power attempt to change? If you read in Daniel 7 - matter of fact, I think alexander campbell just referred to this. He understood it - Daniel 7:25, speaking of the beast power, "he shall...think to change" - what? - "Times and laws." Now can he change them or just think to change them? There's an effort. Can you change God's law? Jesus said 'heaven and earth will pass away. My law will not pass away.' Now here's a few quotes that I think you might find interesting. "The pope" - this is written by the - in the official documents of the catholic church the decretal de translate espiscop.
Cap - I can't - it's in latin - but you can look these things up. "The pope has power to change times to abrogate laws, and to dispense with all things, even the precepts of Christ." That's their official teaching. That since he's Christ's representative on earth, if he needs to modify or adjust the teachings of Christ, he has that power. I respectfully disagree. Everyone's free to believe what they want.
I just want you to be aware of what they teach. And that, I don't believe, is biblical. "Of course the catholic church claims that the change of the Sabbath was her act" - and notice what they say - in their own words - "...and the act is a Mark of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters." That's from letter October 28, from c.f. Thomas. Here's another quote from their own writings, "perhaps the boldest thing, the most revolutionary change the church ever did happened in the first century.
The holy day, the Sabbath, was changed from Saturday to Sunday ...not from any directions noted in the Scriptures, but from the church's sense of its own power... People who think that the Scriptures should be the sole authority, should logically become 7th day adventists, and keep Saturday holy." That's from saint catherine catholic church sentinel, may 21, 1995. I'd like to thank them for the endorsement. But they freely admit there's nothing in Scripture that supports that - that it's solely through the self-importance of the church they changed it. You know why? Because in the early days of Christianity in rome - the Romans, of course, worshiped on the first day of the week.
They worshiped the sun. That's where it gets its name. We use the roman names for the days of the week - sun day was worship the sun, Monday was moon day, you've got tiwaz day, you got - thor's day - the God of thunder was Thursday, oden's day is what we call Wednesday - it's changed in english a little. But they were all named after the various Gods. When Christians finally were legalized, pagans began to come in the church.
For a couple of centuries they actually kept two days - kind of like the American weekend, they got Saturday and Sunday off. We sort of do that to respect the Judeo-Christian values in our society. Jews obviously still keep the seventh day Sabbath - at least orthodox jews do. But after awhile, the jews became very unpopular in rome and Christians, wanting to distance themselves from the jews, and wanting to be more popular among the pagans - and the seventh day of the week they said was a day for fasting - Sunday, they said, was a day for feasting. Now, if you get to choose between feasting and fasting, what would you prefer? And suddenly Sabbath keeping became - nowhere in the Bible did it say you had to fast on Saturday, but it became very unpopular and, gradually, it was abandoned in place for Sunday and the church authorized it, as did constantine.
"Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said," - and this is acts 5:29 - "we ought to obey God rather than men. That's where I stand, friends. If you're going to make a decision about what you do, they told Peter to stop preaching about Jesus. He said, 'I'm sorry, I can't. I ought to obey God rather than man.
' That's why I'm doing what I'm doing. Jesus said, in Matthew chapter , "whosoever therefore, will think to change one of the least of these commandments and teach men so, he will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever will do them and teach them will be called great in the Kingdom of heaven." I just want to do what Jesus said. I want to do it. I want to teach it.
And so, this is what the Lord says. Here's a few more quotes: pope francis says evolution is real and he supports the big bang. This came out last week. Now, does the Bible say evolution is real? No. I believe in a literal six-day creation.
You know what Jesus said? Jesus said, 'if you don't believe Moses then you don't believe me.' And if we think that Moses was making up the first eleven chapters of Genesis or it's all a fable, Jesus refers to it as a fact that God made man. The Word of God - he spoke them into existence. Ask me questions about evolution. I used to believe in that. I'll be happy to share with you what I learned.
In the catholic encyclopedia, Peter stravinskes, the editor, says, "...we should not interpret Genesis literally..." So what I'm sharing with you is the whole catholic approach to Scripture is they just don't take it that seriously. They figure that since they're 'in charge of the church' they can change the Word of God. Christ said, 'not one tittle, not one jot will pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Heaven and earth will pass away.' If you want to survive the coming storm, who survives? 'He that hears these words of mine and does them.' 'Change not His Words lest thou be found a liar.' It says that in Revelation - 'if anyone adds to this book, God'll add unto them the plagues. If anyone takes away from his book, God'll take their name out of the book of life.
' Messing with the Word of God is dangerous business if you're a Christian because everybody can just make it say whatever they want it to say. The Word of God is infallible and true and we need to believe it. We can't be readjusting it. Question #10: what was God's criticism of his ancient priests or pastors? This is something you find even in the old testament. Malachi chapter 2, verses 8 and , it says, "ye have caused many to stumble at the law.
...ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law." What does partial mean? They're sharing it, but they're not sharing all of it. They're sharing it partially. Question #11: how did God's ancient leaders regard the great things of his law? Hosea 4:6, "thou hast forgotten the law of thy God." Could that be something the Lord might say to his church in the twenty-first century? Are we being partial? Does God give us a ten-percent discount of the law? No. Heaven and earth will pass away. God is looking for his people to have a revival and to return to the truth.
Hosea 8, verse 12, it says, "I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing." And you preach to people about the whole law of God. You know what I think is unusual? Or suspicious? I could go to virtually any church here in albuquerque on Sunday and I could stand up and preach a variety of sermons. I'm acquainted with most of the major teachings and I could preach a sermon on honoring your parents and I'd get loud amens. I could preach on faithfulness in marriage - people would squirm but they'd appreciate it. I could preach on don't steal - say amen.
I could preach on don't covet. I could preach on don't use God's name in vain, don't worship graven images - that one would be difficult in some churches. But I could preach on virtually 90 percent of all the commandments and people would feel just fine. And then I would stand up and I would preach on the fourth commandment and, you know, people would say the strangest things. 'Pastor Doug, we're not under the law now, we're under grace.
We don't need to keep that one.' Or 'the law's done away with.' And I would say, 'you mean he doesn't want us to keep the Ten Commandments?' 'Well, nine of them.' So the one we're not supposed to keep and we're supposed to forget about is the only one that begins with the word 'remember?' That doesn't make sense, right? You hear all these - this strange squirming and I know because I've studied this with a lot of Christian friends and pastors and many have take a stand. I know some pastors that when they learned these truths they shared it with their congregation and some of the church said, 'we believe it.' And some said, 'you need to go find another church.' And so it's really a challenge, in our culture today, for people to accept these things. But what does Jesus say? 'For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments.' This is actually 1 John 5 verse 3, "and his commandments are not burdensome." When God gives us a law, is it to be a problem or to be a blessing? Blessing. Sure. Jesus said, 'if you love me keep my commandments.
' You know, there's one commandment that says 'keep.' 'Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.' Now, why does God say 'keep?' If you come to my house in the wintertime and I've got to make a trip to town - I've got to get some groceries - it's ten miles away - and I say, 'look it's cold. I'll be back in about an hour, can you keep the fire going?' And you say, 'no problem, doug.' I say, 'the wood's in the woodbox.' 'No problem.' I leave and you go over just to make sure the fire's stoked and there's no fire. It's cold, dead ashes. And you're thinking, 'why did doug ask me to keep the fire going if there wasn't already a fire? Wouldn't you think that's strange? The fact that I tell you to keep it going means that I've already got it going and I want you to keep it going. When God tells us to keep the Sabbath holy, you know what he's saying? 'I made it holy back in creation.
Now I want you to keep what I made holy, holy. If you're my children - if you say you love me' - a lot of people say, 'I love you, Lord. I love you, Lord.' Jesus says, 'oh really, prove it. Obey me.' He that says 'I love him' and keeps not his commandments' - the Bible says - 'is a liar and the truth is not in him.' It's real easy to clap our hands and sing and shout at church and make a big fuss and not really be surrendered to the Lord and obey. The highest form of worship is obedience.
Samuel said to king Saul, 'to obey is better than sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of rams.' God is wanting us to obey him in the last days. Question #12: what specific, solemn rebuke did God give to religious leaders regarding his holy Sabbath? Ezekiel 28, verse 8, "thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my Sabbaths." They even had that problem in the old testament. In Jesus' time they went too far. They had become legalistic and they had all these extra laws about the Sabbath and were making it a burden when it's supposed to be a blessing. Ezekiel 22, verse 26, "her priests have violated my law and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane.
" That was a problem back then and it's still a problem today. If you want to get to heaven, don't follow me. Don't follow any pastor. Now, I don't mean you can't trust anybody or listen to anybody but, ultimately you need to listen to the Word of God and what Jesus says because people can lead you astray. Let's all face it, some pastors come and go.
Some are like shooting stars. Some crash and burn. You don't want to be putting your trust in The Son of man in whom there is no help, right? Be putting your trust in the Word of God - in the Lord. That's what we're telling you to do. We're putting Bibles in your hands and the lessons in your hands and saying, 'you study the word for yourself.
' And then ask us questions. We'll do our best to answer them. It says, "and have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them." Wow, that's a heavy verse. They've hid their eyes. Have you seen that happening in the religious world today? It does.
And it goes on to say in Ezekiel :28, "and her prophets have daubed them with untempered mortar," - he's talking about building the walls. And it says, "seeing vanity and divining lies unto them saying, 'thus saith the Lord God,' when the Lord hath not spoken." So they ignore what God has said and then they conjure up these excuses that God didn't say for disobedience or disobeying him. Question #13: what specific sin does God command his leaders to denounce? Isaiah 58 - now, this is a very important verse. "Cry aloud, spare not; lift up your voice like a trumpet and show my people their transgressions." Now, I'm not sharing these things with you to make anybody uncomfortable - let me just tell you, friends, I'm just like everyone else. I like to be liked.
But when Jesus comes, you can't get me to heaven. He can. So I've got to please him first of all, right? So even though it might be unpopular sometimes, to preach the truth, I need to answer to him. And so I'm going to tell you what the Bible says, amen? 'Show my people their transgression.' And then he goes on to say - same passage - "if thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day;" - it doesn't say the Jewish holy day - "and call the Sabbath a burden" - no. What did God say we should call it? - "A delight" - it's a blessing not a burden - "the holy of the Lord honorable; .
..then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord." So when I share these things with you, it's not to cause problems. When you really catch ahold of what God has for you in this day, everything that God gave to man in the Garden of Eden was good, including this time. It'll not only be better for your health, it'll be better for your relationships. Now, what happens when this message about the seal of God and the Mark of the beast go to the world - these three angels' messages? It says, 'then Jesus comes' - that, well, before Christ comes, the angels release their grip on those seven last plagues. There's a great time of trouble and then Christ comes.
These messages are going to the world right now - not just through our particular ministry, but many others are taking these things to the world. I've been all over the globe and God's message is going to the world and he's going to come soon. Christ said "the Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations" - Matthew 24 - "then the end will come." It's going to come. I believe Jesus. He said he'd come and he came the first time and said, 'I'll come again.
' - He's going to come the second time. A day with the Lord might be like a thousand years, but we're at six thousand years now. We're going to spend a thousand years during the millennium, living and reigning with God. I think we're, right now, at the sundown of this world's history. We're living on the threshold of eternity.
That's why these truths are important. Question #14: when you decide to accept Jesus and fully follow him, what happens? Jesus said in Matthew 11, verse , he said, "take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Every one of the Ten Commandments has a spiritual side to it. There is a spiritual faithfulness. The Bible says that we can commit adultery on the Lord by going after the devil. There's a spiritual kind of murder.
We can be angry and murder our brother in our hearts, the Bible tells us. There's a spiritual part of Sabbath keeping. 'Come unto me' - Jesus said - 'and I will give you rest. So, let me summarize what I said here about the subject of the Mark of the beast. First we need to understand what the seal of God is.
The final battle is going to be revolving around who do you obey? Because the Bible says whoever you obey, that's whose servants you are - Romans chapter 6. We show our allegiance to God by obeying him. Notice: I'm letting the Bible - God's given us stories in the Bible to show us how it works. Daniel chapter 3 - government makes a law everyone's got to bow down and worship Nebuchadnezzar's image. If they don't, you'll be killed.
Doesn't it say that there's going to be a similar test in the last days? God's people in Babylon had to make up their mind: 'do I obey the commandments of God or do I obey the commandments of men? Do I bow down with everybody else or do I stand up for God?' When they stood up for God, he honored them. God went through the furnace and the fire with them. They stood up for one of his commandments. Daniel chapter 6 - government makes a law - everybody's got to break the first commandment and pray to the King just for thirty days - you don't have to do it for long. Is it okay to just sin temporarily? Now don't make an opening like that.
Temporary things have a way of becoming permanent. And Daniel says, 'no, I'm not even once, going to fail my appointment to God.' He opens his windows, he kneels and worships the Lord, he goes to the lion's den. God delivers him. Notice what happens. The ones who throw shadrach, meshach, and abednego in the fire - instead of them dying, the soldiers die.
The ones who connived to have Daniel thrown in the lion's den - Daniel comes out alive, they go to the lion's den. The ones who make a law in the last days to wipe out all of God's people, just before the end comes the tables are turned. God's people are delivered. Have you read the book of Esther? A law is made to annihilate all the jews on a certain date because mordecai would not break God's law and bow down to haman. And because Esther intervened with the King - she's like a type of the church - at the last moment, the tables were turned.
The enemies of the jews were destroyed, the jews were delivered. That's what's going to happen in the last days. God is telling us it's the same thing except this time it's not the first commandment or the third commandment, it's going to be about a very precious commandment. The issue is going to be about the commandment of worship, the fourth commandment. And so the devil is extremely clever.
He's going to tell people, 'go to church. I don't mind. You go ahead. Worship God. Pray.
Sing. Just don't go the day that God said. One little change doesn't matter.' Does it matter? First day - seventh day - does God care about things like that? When God told Joshua 'march around the city seven times and seven times on the seventh day.' Did he blow the trumpets after the first day? They didn't get the victory until they did it the number and the way God said. When God says 'look, I blessed this day.' It's like somebody going to a man who's got seven daughters and saying, 'sir, I'd like to talk to you about marrying your daughter.' And he says, 'which one?' 'Oh, it doesn't matter, just one of them.' When God says, 'look, I've blessed this day.' And you say, 'I appreciate that, God but, you know, I'm busy that day. I'm going to the beach.
I'll keep this day.' What audacity for man to tell God 'I'm going to make my own day holy.' See how clever the devil is? It seems like a small thing but it's bigger than you think. It's going to really determine who has your heart. Are we going to unquestionably say, 'I believe the Lord. I'm going to trust in him. I'm going to obey him.
' You know, I'd like to pray with you before we close. I know a lot of people are struggling about this truth. Now, nobody has the Mark of the beast yet. Are we clear on that? That becomes an issue when there's a law made saying you cannot buy or sell. It's interesting that the United States is sort of at the head of the united nations that has economic sanctions on countries telling them that they cannot buy or sell on an economic level unless they cooperate with certain things.
I think that power is going to be used again in the last days. Economic sanctions. I think that the cards and the devices we use for buying and selling - now people are buying with their phones. I think soon people might even get a chip implanted. I don't know what'll happen next.
But you'll find that if you don't worship the way the government tells you - the day and the way they tell you, you're going to go to buy something - canceled - no purchase. How easy would it be right now for the governments of the world and for individual governments to control buying and selling? We already know, right? We're living in the time where all these things are playing out before us. And God brought you here - you're watching now because he wants you to be ready. He wants you to enjoy the blessings that he has in receiving the seal of God and his commandments. I'd like to invite Christian to come out and sing and kelly.
And I want you to pray about are you going to be a hearer of the word or a doer? And a willingness to do his will. He's speaking to your heart softly and tenderly. Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me. At the heart's portal he's waiting and watching, watching for you and for me. Come home.
Come home. Ye who are weary come home. Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling, calling 'o sinner, come home.' You sometimes feel like it's been awhile since you've really had rest? Jesus says 'you'll only have that rest when you come unto me. Take my yoke upon you. Learn of me and you'll find rest for your souls.
' You know, the Sabbath is all about that. the Lord wants you to have that spiritual and that physical rest. God will not force you. He's given you a free choice. He's given you a heart.
He wants your heart and he cannot force that. You must choose to give it. If the Holy Spirit has been speaking to you and you're struggling with making a complete surrender - Sabbath is just one of the commandments, there might be other areas where you know you're living outside of God's will, you're running from his law. Sin will be your undoing. It will find you out.
And the only one who can save you from the penalty and the power of sin is Jesus. But you've got to come just like you are and say, 'Lord, help me. Save me. Give me that new heart. Give me that new spirit.
I want to be not only a hearer, but a doer of Your Word.' Is that your prayer, friends? Is that your desire? Those of you who are watching, I'd like to pray with you. And you can make that decision and pray with me right now. Dear Father, we've all sinned and fallen short of your glory. We are so thankful that you loved us so much that you sent your son that we might be forgiven - that we might have a better life here and eternal life in the world to come. Lord, we're powerless to even give our hearts, but we can choose to come as we are.
We hear you calling gently and softly and here we are, Lord, we're surrendering ourselves. Save us from our sins. Help us to represent you in this fallen world. Give us your seal of the Holy Spirit in our minds and in our hearts. Prepare us for the things that are soon to break upon the world as an overwhelming surprise.
And I pray that we can represent Jesus and know him. This we ask in Christ's name, amen. God bless you, friends. Please remember, our next program is going to be 'the woman of truth' and that'll be tomorrow night. We hope you tune in.
Tell your friends and look at 'landmarksofprophecy.com' - God bless you. | 2019-04-22T00:30:50Z | https://www.bibleprophecytruth.com/topics/media/e/13166/t/marked-for-death |
After railing against non-violent intervention in the face of genocide, Samantha Power rethinks her stand.
Six years ago, Samantha Power burst onto the scene with “A Problem From Hell”, her urgent and impassioned indictment of American inaction in the face of genocide. With the thoroughness and relentlessness of a prosecutor, Power documented how US officials sat idly by as Armenians were slaughtered in Turkey, Cambodians were massacred by the Khmer Rouge, Kurds were gassed by Saddam Hussein and Bosnian Muslims were murdered by Bosnian Serbs. She extolled the work of such courageous crusaders as Raphael Lemkin, a Polish Jewish immigrant who coined the term “genocide” in 1944 and lobbied diligently for the passage of the UN’s Genocide Convention, which was approved by the General Assembly in 1948 and ratified by the United States forty years later. Lamenting the fact that “no U.S. president has ever made genocide prevention a priority,” Power assailed US officials for responding to “unspeakable atrocities” by trusting in negotiation, clinging to diplomatic niceties and shipping injured parties humanitarian aid. The United States, she maintained, should subject perpetrators to a harsher array of measures–threatening them with prosecution, shutting their embassies in Washington, imposing economic sanctions. Genocide poses such a serious threat to American values and interests, Power argued, that the United States should be prepared “to risk the lives of its soldiers” in order to stop it, even if this means acting unilaterally outside the framework of the United Nations.
The winner of the Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction in 2003, “A Problem From Hell” propelled Power from the tilling fields of freelance journalism and adjunct professorship into the empyrean realm of public intellectualdom. She was named to Time magazine’s list of the world’s top 100 scientists and thinkers. She became a columnist for that magazine and a regular contributor to The New Yorker. At Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where she had already served as the founding executive director of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, she was named the Anna Lindh Professor of the Practice of Global Leadership. In 2005, after receiving a call from Senator Barack Obama, who had read her book, Power became one of his foreign policy advisers, a position she held until March, when her description of Hillary Clinton as “a monster” set off a political firestorm. Despite that misstep, if Obama is elected President, Power seems likely to join his administration in some senior capacity.
Yet, in the harsh glare of recent events, “A Problem From Hell” seems less persuasive than when it came out. Appearing as the Bush Administration was pressing its case for attacking Iraq, the book, with its advocacy of humanitarian military intervention and its description of Saddam’s regime as genocidal in nature, fed support for the war in some liberal circles. Now, with more than 140,000 US troops bogged down in that country, and with hundreds of thousands of Iraqis dead and millions more displaced in the largest episode of forced migration in the Middle East since the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, the idea of relying on unilateral American military power to achieve humanitarian ends seems largely discredited.
In her new book, Power offers something of a response. Not explicitly. Nowhere in Chasing the Flame does she refer to the position she so ardently set out in “A Problem From Hell”. Yet in her new book she clearly seems to be trying to adapt her global vision to the realities of the post-Iraq world. Her vehicle this time is Sergio Vieira de Mello, a career diplomat for the UN who, until his death in August 2003 in the ghastly suicide attack on the UN headquarters in Baghdad, was a sort of geopolitical Zelig, showing up in war zones around the world on a mission to make peace, build nation-states and repatriate refugees–all part of “the fight to save the world,” as Power puts it in her subtitle.
Power has brought to Chasing the Flame the same prodigious research skills she displayed in her first book. She conducted more than 400 interviews, scanned more than 10,000 pages of cables and memos, and examined Vieira de Mello’s handwritten notes. At 622 pages, Chasing the Flame may be the longest book ever written about a bureaucrat (excepting perhaps Adolf Eichmann). We learn about the type of music Vieira de Mello liked to relax to (Beethoven and other classical composers), the brand of whiskey he preferred (Johnnie Walker Black Label), the cut of clothes he favored (crisply starched button-down shirts, Ferragamo ties). Power lists the various members of his many mission teams and enumerates the seemingly endless procession of women he bedded. (Handsome and vain, Vieira de Mello, though married, was a compulsive womanizer.) For most readers, Chasing the Flame offers far more detail than they will ever want to know about a man who never held a position higher than that of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
In the end, however, Power’s meticulousness proves a great asset, for it has led her to document instances of not only triumph but also folly in Vieira de Mello’s career. And while she presents him as embodying the UN system at its best–its dedication to humanitarianism, multilateralism and dialogue–a strong case can be made, based on the evidence she presents, that he represented the UN system at its worst–its timidity, mediocrity and zeal for self-protection. In the course of her book, the gulf between these two Sergios becomes glaring, yet Power never really faces up to it–never fully comes to terms with the man’s many flaws. As a result, Chasing the Flame has a strangely uneven tone–sharply authoritative in some places, oddly reticent in others. This, in turn, seems to reflect Power’s intellectual confusion as she struggles to move beyond the outdated worldview she articulated in her celebrated first book.
As a young man, Sergio Vieira de Mello considered himself a student revolutionary. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he graduated from a Franco-Brazilian high school and then briefly attended the University of Rio before moving to Europe to study philosophy, first at the University of Fribourg and then at the Sorbonne. Vieira de Mello was in Paris in May 1968 when the giant street protests broke out. Joining in, he was arrested, receiving in the process a gash above his right eye so severe that it would require corrective surgery thirty-five years later. This episode, however, would prove “the apex of his antiestablishment activism,” as Power puts it. Unable to find a teaching job, Vieira de Mello landed a position with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In 1971, at age 23, he was sent into the field for the first time, to Dhaka, Bangladesh, to help Bengalis displaced from Pakistan. Feeding and sheltering refugees, Vieira de Mello realized that he was meant to be a man of action, and his career path was set.
These displays of “youthful absolutism,” as Power calls them, would soon give way to the “pragmatism” for which Vieira de Mello “would later be known.” It is this quality of Vieira de Mello’s–his canny ability to size up the actual state of affairs and fashion solutions acceptable to all parties–that Power most admires in him. In practice, however, this trait often seems a cover for expedience and capitulation. An early example occurs in the late 1980s, when Vieira de Mello was assigned to help resolve the crisis of the Vietnamese “boat people.” More than a decade after the end of the Vietnam War, Vietnamese were still abandoning their country in droves and washing up on the shores of Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Thailand. Most were fleeing not political persecution but economic hardship. With the host countries and Western governments eager to stanch the flow, UNHCR set out to develop a plan that would facilitate the orderly return of the refugees to Vietnam while providing for case-by-case screening so that those facing a genuine threat of persecution could be identified and allowed to seek asylum. For thirteen months Vieira de Mello shuttled among key Western and East Asian capitals, working to hammer out a consensus. The result was a comprehensive resettlement plan that, at the insistence of the host governments, allowed for the use of coercion in forcing the refugees to return. This drew sharp protests from human rights advocates, including at UNHCR, where voluntariness was a core principle. Vieira de Mello, however, dismissed such concerns as foolhardy. When the plan was finally carried out, many refugees were indeed roughly handled, with guards in Hong Kong going so far as to inject them with sedatives to get them onto the transport planes.
In the end, the plan did work–some 70,000 migrants were sent back to Vietnam, and the flow out of that country slowed to a trickle–but only at a heavy cost to the rights of the migrants. Power acknowledges this. While Vieira de Mello may have been correct in believing that he had extracted the most humane possible outcome from the governments involved, she writes, “he could have gone to greater lengths to use his pulpit at UNHCR to try to ensure that the Vietnamese were more fairly screened in the camps and were better treated en route back to Vietnam.” For a person “who recited UN ideals with near-romantic reverence,” she observes, “Vieira de Mello had proven himself remarkably willing to compromise those principles.” This hardly seems the stuff of an internationalist role model.
Those principles would receive a further test in Cambodia. Vieira de Mello was sent there in 1991 as part of the large UN peacekeeping mission set up after Cambodia’s four factions signed the Paris peace agreement in October 1991. The mission was designed to help the country move from dictatorship to democracy, with elections scheduled for the spring of 1993. To help prepare for the vote, 360,000 Cambodian refugees who had been marooned on the Thai border were to be repatriated. Vieira de Mello was assigned to oversee the operation. The most pressing question he faced was how to deal with the Khmer Rouge. Many of the refugees had fled the group and would have to return to territory still under its control. Soon after arriving in Phnom Penh, Vieira de Mello visited a former Khmer Rouge torture center in which 20,000 people had been killed, and he was revolted by the photos of the victims he saw. Nonetheless, he was convinced that, in order to achieve both the repatriation of the refugees and the broader goal of peace and reconciliation in Cambodia, gaining the cooperation of the Khmer Rouge was essential, and he set out to win it. Few outsiders had dared to venture into Khmer territory, but Vieira de Mello intrepidly undertook the journey, at one point having to get out of his vehicle and wade across a river. On his arrival, he was cordially received by Khmer leaders. On a subsequent visit, he was treated to a sumptuous lunch by Ieng Sary, the group’s best-known leader after Pol Pot. Over French wines and filet mignon, Vieira de Mello–studiously avoiding any mention of the Communists’ past crimes–sought to convince him that his group could remain a significant player in Cambodia if it cooperated with the UN. Ieng Sary came to feel such regard for Vieira de Mello that he sent him a New Year’s card.
Such chumminess appalled many of Vieira de Mello’s colleagues. By lunching with these butchers, they felt, Vieira de Mello was helping to legitimate them. Dennis McNamara, one of Vieira de Mello’s closest colleagues at UNHCR, heatedly told him that it would be madness to let civilians return to land controlled by mass murderers. The British journalist William Shawcross teased him that his eventual autobiography should be titled My Friends, the War Criminals. In the end, however, the repatriation effort went off smoothly, with 362,209 refugees returning to Cambodia; only one death was recorded, and that in a bus accident. That achievement greatly enhanced Vieira de Mello’s reputation in the international community. This raises some obvious questions: Was Vieira de Mello’s decision to deal with the Khmer Rouge justified? Did the devil’s bargain he struck pay off? Power never says. Despite devoting sixty highly detailed pages to Vieira de Mello’s Cambodian sojourn, she refrains from offering any overall assessment of his actions.
She is less equivocal in describing Vieira de Mello’s next posting, to Bosnia. When he arrived in Sarajevo in 1993, the city was under siege from Serb snipers and shells. Eager to persuade the Serbs to let relief supplies through, Vieira de Mello set out to engage Serb leaders, especially Radovan Karadzic, an architect of the ethnic cleansing of Bosnian Muslims. Before the war, Vieira de Mello knew, Karadzic had worked as a psychiatrist. Before one of their meetings, Vieira de Mello picked up a copy of The New York Review of Books that had a long article in it about psychiatry; at the meeting, he presented it to Karadzic as a gift. In their discussions, Karadzic would go on endlessly about Serb grievances dating back to the fourteenth century. With his friends, Vieira de Mello vented his irritation, but with the man himself he remained studiously silent lest he lose his confidence.
during a bloody and morally fraught conflict in which the Serb side committed the bulk of the atrocities, his popularity with wrongdoers stemmed in part from his moral relativism. Even though he was unfailingly kind to Bosnian individuals, he had lost sight of the big picture. He seemed more interested in being liked and in maintaining access than in standing up for those who were suffering.
In light of Vieira de Mello’s coziness with the Serbs, some of his UN colleagues came up with a nickname for him: Serbio.
Power’s chapter on Vieira de Mello’s time in Bosnia (which is based on her eyewitness research) is devastating, and after reading it I fully expected her to draw the obvious conclusion–that his vaunted pragmatism too often degenerated into simple amorality. But this she refuses to do. Clinging to her image of him as an exemplar of diplomacy and multilateralism, she instead chooses to stress how much he learned from his and the UN’s mistakes in Bosnia. Upon hearing of the slaughter at Srebrenica, she notes, Vieira de Mello expressed shock and–finally seeing the light–embraced NATO intervention (outside the UN structure) as the only way out of the morass.
A new, more principled Sergio seems about to emerge. Yet when faced with his next great crisis–the flood of refugees from Rwanda after the genocide–the old Sergio quickly returns. His main stage this time was Tanzania, where more than half a million Rwandans had fled. After more than two years of accommodating them and putting up with the violence, theft and deforestation associated with their presence, the Tanzanian government announced its intention of closing the camps and sending the Rwandans home. Vieira de Mello, as UNHCR’s representative, was sent to Dar-es-Salaam to negotiate a plan with the government. Some within UNHCR expressed fears that, with many Rwandans reluctant to return home, the Tanzanians would resort to force in expelling them. UNHCR had some leverage, for the Tanzanians wanted the agency to fund the operation. In his discussions with the Tanzanians, Vieira de Mello initially asked for assurances that coercion would not be used, but when the Tanzanians rejected this and asserted their right to send security forces into the camps, he quickly gave in. The refugees, he was convinced, would not budge without being subjected to some degree of coercion, and in any case it seemed clear that the Tanzanians were determined to move ahead with or without UNHCR’s approval. Nonetheless, his deputy Martin Griffiths, who was present at the meeting, was shocked at how quickly Vieira de Mello acceded to the Tanzanians’ terms.
This seems an utterly damning assessment. Yet once again, Power seeks to soften it. To nonexperts, she writes, “humanitarian action and human rights sounded like synonyms or, at the very least, complements.” But in the real world, she goes on, Vieira de Mello knew that “feeding people was often incompatible with speaking out.” This seems very odd, coming as it does from the author of “A Problem From Hell”, where speaking out and alerting the world to mass criminal behavior was defined as the very essence of humanitarianism. Taking such a position here, however, would force Power to acknowledge more fully her protagonist’s less heroic side, and this she seems reluctant to do.
the uncompromising righteousness that he had not displayed since his days in Lebanon. If he had once believed that his job was to carry out the aggregate will of powerful governments, he now acted as though he believed that promoting UN principles and protecting the UN flag entailed standing firmly for the advancement of human dignity, even if that required acting in defiance of those governments.
After leaving Kosovo, Vieira de Mello, at a press conference in Montenegro, presented his findings of Serb abuses; later, appearing before the UN Security Council, he described the destruction caused by NATO’s bombs. Through these dual performances, he showed that meeting the UN’s humanitarian responsibilities often required not cultivating the powerful but standing up to them.
After serving for two and a half years as the chief administrator of the newly independent East Timor, Vieira de Mello was named the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in September 2002. This displeased many human rights advocates, for in their view he had shown little concern for this issue throughout his career. They further worried that his personal ambitions–he was widely believed to want Kofi Annan’s job–would make him reluctant to alienate governments. In any case, his time in that position would soon be overtaken by Iraq. The war there would present Vieira de Mello with his greatest test. Which Sergio would it be: the pliable pragmatist or the uncompromising humanitarian?
The answer was not long in coming. In principle, Vieira de Mello was not opposed to the war. Saddam Hussein’s regime had spilled so much blood that he would have been happy to see it ousted. But he doubted that George Bush and his advisers had much genuine regard for the Iraqi people, and he was further put off by the Administration’s flouting of the Security Council, so he opposed the invasion. In typical fashion, however, he refused to say so publicly. When Ruud Lubbers, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, asked him to join in rallying the heads of UN agencies to oppose the war, he declined. In early March 2003, he was invited to meet with Bush at the White House. The meeting was arranged by a former colleague of Vieira de Mello’s who was now working for the National Security Council and who wanted the President to see “the most appealing face of the United Nations.” During the meeting, Vieira de Mello criticized US policies in Guantánamo, but he was so charming that Bush “took a visible liking to him,” and the meeting went on for twice as long as had been scheduled. At the UN, many felt Vieira de Mello was angling for a job in Iraq after the war. Vieira de Mello laughed off such suggestions, but when Annan–seeking to ingratiate himself with the Americans–decided to re-establish a UN presence in Iraq soon after the invasion, he named Vieira de Mello to head it. “America’s pick” is how many UN staffers saw it.
Aware of the toll the US occupation was taking on Iraqi morale, Vieira de Mello sought to serve as an intermediary between Bremer and Iraqi leaders. Some of his staff, however, felt he was getting too close to the Americans. “Sergio,” a political aide told him, “don’t you see, you’re not changing the Americans. You are helping the Americans.” When Bremer moved to set up an Iraqi Governing Council, Vieira de Mello, eager to contribute, provided the names of potential members, several of whom were selected. Once the council was constituted, however, Bremer–no longer needing Vieira de Mello’s services–cut him off. The council was dismissed by most Iraqis as a fig leaf for the Americans. Feeling invested in it, however, Vieira de Mello set off on a whirlwind tour of the Middle East to sell it.
During this period, the number of Iraqis killed by US forces steadily rose, and the rage of the Iraqi people mounted along with it. As the UN’s top official in Iraq, Vieira de Mello was in a good position to publicize such incidents and demand that they be investigated. But–intent on staying on good terms with the Americans–he refrained from doing so. When an attack led by the US-led coalition in the Sunni Triangle left an 8-year-old boy and his mother dead, Marwan Ali, a Palestinian political officer with the mission, pressed Vieira de Mello to issue a statement of protest. On August 18, 2003, Vieira de Mello gave his consent. The statement would be the first-ever public UN condemnation of a coalition human rights violation.
Why had Annan so eagerly accepted the Security Council’s summons to go to Iraq? Why did he send his finest staff to enforce an almost nonexistent mandate? Why, after the attack, had he chosen to keep UN staff in harm’s way, even though they were not performing vital tasks? What would it take for the UN secretary-general, in fact, to learn to say no to powerful countries?
This last question, it seems to me, goes to the heart of Chasing the Flame. Of the UN’s many faults, some seem an inevitable byproduct of the way the organization is structured. As a child of its member states, the UN cannot help but reflect their narrow self-interests as well as the divisions among them. It’s further to be expected that those states with the most power and resources will have a disproportionate say in its affairs. At the same time, the UN as an institution has its own set of ideals–consultation, coexistence, human rights–that are supposed to guide it apart from the desires of its member states. The UN’s behavior in the lead-up to the Iraq War provided a stirring example of this. The debate in the Security Council over whether to authorize the use of force against Iraq, together with the impressive performance of the UN weapons inspectors, showed that the UN can stick to its principles even in the face of extreme pressure from its most powerful member.
Similarly, Vieira de Mello seemed at his best when, as in Kosovo, he stood up for those principles in the face of strong pressures to do otherwise. Unfortunately, such occurrences were rare in his career. Far more frequently, he sought to court the powerful. Drinking beer with Ieng Sary, presenting Radovan Karadzic with a copy of The New York Review of Books, cultivating Paul Bremer and the CPA, this onetime student revolutionary seemed to become over the course of his career a serial appeaser, passing up one opportunity after another to expose, protest and condemn the crimes being perpetrated around him.
Unfortunately, these lessons seem banal. Missing from Power’s list are what seem to be the true lessons of Vieira de Mello’s life: abuses must be denounced, mass murderers must be confronted, perpetrators must be held accountable. Needless to say, one must find practical ways of applying these principles; in the end, though, it’s the principles that must lead the way. It was ideals such as these that drove Raphael Lemkin and the other crusaders of Power’s first book. Of them she wrote: “They saw something that haunted them, that turned the daily press accounts [of atrocities] into vibrant cries from the grave, cries that broke through the cordon sanitaire that deflects unwelcome news.” These “screamers,” as she called them, “treated silence as if it were a further crime against humanity.” For most of his career, Vieira de Mello remained silent.
One of the most revealing moments in Chasing the Flame comes in the introduction, where Power describes that initial meeting with Vieira de Mello at the restaurant in Zagreb. Toward the end of the meal, Vieira de Mello reaches into the breast pocket of his elegantly tailored blazer and pulls out a battered piece of paper. It contains the section of the Security Council resolution on the Balkans that set up the six “safe areas” in the region, the only formal instructions that Vieira de Mello and his fellow peacekeepers ever received. Vieira de Mello directs Power’s attention to a set of commas in the text. “Look at this,” he says heatedly. “The resolution says we should ‘comma–acting in self-defense–comma–take the necessary measures–comma–including the use of force’ to respond to attacks against civilians!” The vagueness of this infuriated him: “What are the commas supposed to mean? Does it mean the UN should only use force in self-defense? Or does it mean we should use force in self-defense and also to protect the Bosnians?” To devote so much energy and attention to a few ambiguous marks of punctuation while defenseless civilians were being slaughtered all around him seems the height of bureaucratic futility.
The great question Chasing the Flame left me with is, Why? Why has Power so fervently embraced a man who seems to represent everything she so decisively rejected in her first book? Reading this one, I got the sense that Power, having set out to write a hero’s life, became so heavily invested in such a narrative that she was unable to change course even when her reporting strongly suggested otherwise. But clearly something deeper is going on here, having to do with Power’s own intellectual journey. In her first book, she was so taken with the idea of America as the guardian of moral behavior in the world that she failed to take adequate account of America’s long history of misbehavior. Now, looking to the UN as the great protector, she has failed to appreciate its long record of passivity and complicity in the face of atrocity. Perhaps in her next book she’ll arrive at a more satisfying synthesis.
To do that, however, she’ll have to resolve the competing forces tugging at her professional life. Just as Vieira de Mello made the journey from student revolutionary to senior diplomat, so has Samantha Power gone from being an independent critic working outside the system to being a high-profile figure operating within it. Her book’s odd shifts in tone and frustrating gaps in analysis reflect, I think, the ambivalence she feels about making that transition. In grappling with the many compromises Vieira de Mello made in the course of his career, Power may be unconsciously wrestling with the accommodations she’s been forced to make as she’s traveled the perilous path from obscurity to celebrity, from being an outside analyst assessing those in power to being one of the powerful herself. | 2019-04-24T20:45:05Z | https://www.thenation.com/article/power-conundrum/ |
October is the official month for Breast Cancer Awareness. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, exceeded only by lung cancer. Prevention is key to reducing your risk of developing this devastating disease. Some risk factors, such as family history, can’t be changed, but breast cancer prevention actually starts with healthy habits. Here are some lifestyle changes that you can take toward breast cancer prevention.
Maintain a healthy body weight: weight gain in midlife as well as having a body mass index above 25 have been shown to significantly increase the risk of developing breast cancer.
Limit your alcohol consumption: the more alcohol you drink, the greater your risk of developing breast cancer. Try to limit yourself.
Don’t smoke: long-term smoking is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, especially in premenopausal women.
Avoid exposure to radiation and environmental pollution: high doses of radiation such as those used for medical imaging have been linked to breast cancer risk, so limit your exposure by having test only when absolutely necessary. Research also suggests a link between breast cancer and exposure to chemicals found in gasoline fumes, vehicle exhaust and parabens found in some shampoos, lotions, deodorant, and makeup.
Exercise regularly: research shows that physical activity can reduce overall breast cancer risk by 10-30 percent! Even a simple 30-minute walk five days a week can be effective.
Keep a healthy diet: a healthy diet can help you maintain a healthy weight, which is a key factor in breast cancer prevention. Eat a diet high in vegetables and fruits and low in refined sugar and carbohydrates. Choose lean proteins and whole grains and avoid processed foods while limiting your intake of red meat. It’s also important to consume an adequate amount of Omega-3 fats.
Prevention is the most powerful weapon you have against breast cancer! Keeping a positive mental outlook and embracing an overall healthy lifestyle can reduce your risk of breast cancer as well as many other diseases so you can enjoy a long fulfilling life.
If you have any questions or need anything... Call your Elkhorn Chiropractor today!
Can "belief" skew the results?
Although 68.7% of patients chose chiropractic care as their first choice for muscle and joint aches, they usually discover chiropractic LAST for help with chronic disease? Chiropractic as a profession has ridiculed, called "quacks" and even been taken to court for claiming to help such cases of chronic disease. The main argument on the other side is, "the reason the patient was able to get such great results with chiropractic was because it was ALL IN THEIR HEAD".
So the argument is; this same patient who chose medicine FIRST (obviously having more faith in medicine than non-allopathic approaches), didn't get the results they were looking for, left the model of care and then chose chiropractic (obviously having less faith in this model since it wasn't their first choice) and GOT RESULTS?!?
The same goes for chiropractors who adjust babies and animals... How do these two populations get measurable and reproducible results if it's based on "belief level"?
Chiropractic is SCIENCE. We explain it every Tuesday at 7pm and Saturday at Noon. Just RSVP and we'll save you a seat!
Remember when the NFL had replacement refs?
In 2012, the NFL used replacement referees in order to keep football alive during a crisis situation - the "real" refs went on strike. While we still got to see the football game, these replacements didn't function anywhere near as well as the original refs did...and the end product was nowhere near as meaningful or as fun as it should have been.
Replacements do have side effects.
After calls like this one above, it was time to get back to the way things were meant to be.
Right now, many people are using medications in order to keep their bodies going during a crisis situation. And while your body keeps going, these drugs don’t allow your body to function anywhere near as well as it was designed to, and the end product is nowhere near as meaningful or fun as it could/should be. It’s time to get back to the way things were meant to be.
Chiropractic care helps your whole spine function optimally, so that your whole nerve system can function optimally. And when your whole nerve system functions optimally, your whole body and your whole mind can function optimally. AND, when your whole body and mind function optimally, your WHOLE LIFE is better, and you legitimately win, every time.
If you're tired of bad calls and bad refs, Call Us!
What your pediatrician forgot to tell you...Once your child is born, it is not necessary for the hospital to take your baby to the nursery to be bathed and weighed.
1. a vitamin K injection.
3. eye drops to prevent infection.
4. formula supplementation “just to be sure” in case you can’t produce breast milk.
5. water supplementation if your baby is jaundiced.
Babies who are breastfed are healthier than those who are artificially fed.
Although car seats are critical while your baby is in a car, at all other times your child ought to be held close to your body in a soft carrier rather than being pushed around in a stroller.
It’s healthy and often desirable to sleep with your baby.
Your baby is probably not underweight, no matter what your pediatrician’s growth chart says.
Milk is not an important source of calcium.
Boys (and girls) who have trouble paying attention should not necessarily be medicated.
Allergies and asthma can be prevented or helped considerably with methods other than medication.
Eczema flare-ups should not be controlled simply by use of steroid creams.
Ear infections can be prevented and are almost always the cause of immobility of the upper neck.
Fever need not be controlled with fever-reducing medication. (Let the fever run it’s course - if fever is greater than 104 degrees for longer than 3 days, get a second opinion).
Most childhood illnesses go away on their own, often faster without medication and provide the child with life-long immunity.
“Natural immunity” lasts a life-time, “synthetic immunity” lasts 8 years, maximum.
Your child should get plenty of time in healthy sunshine.
Call your Elkhorn Pediatric Chiropractor today!
We all know the old question, "Which came first? The chicken or the egg?"
Just as Adam and Eve preceded their eggs (and hence offspring) so too did the chicken precede it's egg.
But what does this have anything to do with symptoms or dysfunction?
The answer is simple. One has to precede the other. And in this case, and most all other cases, the Dysfunction precedes the symptoms.
Call your Elkhorn Chiropractor today and start the road to prevention and wellness. Experience what it feels to be fully adaptive through your nervous system!
You weigh yourself on the scales. You take the temperature of your child. A doctor takes your pulse and measures your blood pressure. These measurements are compared with hundreds of other people from which averages are obtained.
Averages have a place, but they can distort reality and treat us as if we were mechanisms, like a wristwatch.
Most watches don’t know when you’ve changed time zones. Or that daylight savings time has ended. In other words, your wristwatch doesn’t have the INTELLIGENCE to ADAPT to the environment. But your body does.
That same intelligence that grew and developed you inside your mother’s womb is the same intelligence that lives inside your nervous system today!
The Brain and Nervous System allow us– to think, move, perceive, coordinate…ADAPT!
This is why we shouldn’t see fevers, elevated blood pressure or other such findings as the problem. They’re just signs that the body is ADAPTING to something.
Have you ever went out for a jog and your pulse rate went up?? (I hope it does). Well, you better get on some Statins because that’s not “normal”.
Have you ever walked into a doctor’s office (nervous) and had your blood pressure reading be thru the roof? (white coat syndrome).
Rushing in to artificially lower the body’s temperature can actually serve to lengthen the time it takes the body to do the needed work.
Well, we better put you on some hypertensive medication to keep you at the “normal” range of 120/80.
Most of the “signs” or “symptoms” we experience are just a REACTION to our environment (stress). It is our Nervous System ADAPTING our body to the environment. Therefore, the problem isn’t always the “sign” or “symptom”, rather our environment (lifestyle).
Does, 65 year old, Mr. Jones really have heart disease because he is running low on cholesterol lowering medications or is it because his nervous system has lost it’s ability to adapt to his lifestyle over the years?
This is where the problem lies: At the same time the body is giving us a sign that something is changing, modern medicine and pharmaceuticals are telling us that the body is incapable of adapting and we need to cover up our symptoms.
Where Chiropractic sees the body as an ADAPTING creation, modern medicine sees the body as a mechanistic wristwatch that dysfunctions and needs intervention, breaks down easily and needs pieces replaced frequently to work properly.
It’s important to remember that by itself a fever isn’t an illness. It’s usually a sign of some underlying problem. What’s the problem with your blood pressure going up when you go for a run?
The problem is: Your legs NEED MORE blood and oxygen with an increase in activity! – this is normal – your nervous system perceives your environment (physical stress), and instead of doing nothing and your legs cramping up, your nervous system, tells the heart to kick it up a notch.
So, what’s the problem with a fever? Nothing, really. It’s a natural way the body responds to fight viral and bacterial infections. Rushing in to artificially lower the body’s temperature can actually serve to lengthen the time it takes the body to do the needed work. To tie this in with the example above, if your heart did not pump any faster when you went out for a 5 mile run, it would obviously take much longer to go 5 miles than if your heart was functioning normally.
Most fevers are usually not cause for concern until they reach a temperature of 104 degrees F and only then if the fever lasts for three days or longer. This doesn’t mean you should ignore the fever so keep an eye on it and monitor it.
A fever means the body is in a battle and has “set the thermostat a bit higher,” using temperature to help subdue the enemy.
"Healthy kids get sick because they've made poor nutritional decisions and they need to get adjusted."
2. I’ll work this sugar bomb off at the gym later.
4. Come on, live a little it’s not going to kill you to have a few.
5. OMG I think I’m getting sick again, I need to get some pills from my doctor.
6. Oh I can never give that up, I’m Italian.
7. What’s the point, I’m too old.
8. It runs in my family, there’s nothing I can do about it.
9. Exercise is too hard and it’s not for me.
10. Oh she’s healthy and skinny, she’s so lucky…..it must be good genes.
12. I feel fine, if it ain't broke don’t fix it.
13. I’m depressed, I think I need another pill to fix it.
14. Eating healthy is too expensive.
15. Diet Coke please. What? It's sugar-free.
16. I’ll get the low fat one.
17. Water…ewww, I don’t like the taste.
18. I’ve tried EVERYTHING and nothing works.
19. Make sure you sanitize that, and wash your hands!
20. Don’t feed that to the dog, it’ll make him sick! That’s for the kids.
Everyone at one time or another has experienced the discomfort of bloating, gas, irritable bowel, constipation, diarrhea and other digestive disorders, and over $80 billion is spent every year on controlling these symptoms. In some disorders, such as Crohn’s disease, patients often require recurring hospitalization and even surgery. Traditionally, triggers have been thought to be stress, diet or infection, but new research has shown that digestive problems have a strong neurological component.
At The Wellness Pointe in Elkhorn, WI, one common link we see in patients who deal with digestive problems such as bloating, diarrhea, constipation, IBS and Crohn’s is that the structures in the thoracolumbar (mid to low back) spine are often compromised. Specifically, spinal misalignments are often present that affect the nervous system’s communication with the organs, glands and tissues of the digestive system.
Subluxation (spinal misalignment and fixation) causes the nervous system to activate the "fight or flight" response -- when this system is "stuck on" for any length of time, it will alter the function of organs, glands and tissues of the digestive system.
It’s easy to see why patients with all kinds of digestive and intestinal disorders respond well to adjustments performed by a chiropractor. Every process performed in your body is monitored and controlled by the central nervous system and the network of nerves exiting the spine, and removing the pressure on these nerves caused by spinal misalignments allows for normal transmission of messages to your digestive system.
If you are having digestive issues, you may not think to call an Elkhorn chiropractor first, but a growing body of research suggests that perhaps you should.
A 2012 study evaluated the clinical effect of spinal manipulation (adjustments) in treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) compared with medication. Researchers randomly divided 210 IBS patients into spinal manipulation and medication groups. All patients in the spinal manipulation group received a total of five treatments. Symptoms were evaluated based on bowel symptom scale scores before and after treatment to evaluate the effects of treatment, and to statistically compare both groups.
Post-treatment results showed that of the spinal manipulation treatment group, 92 cases had excellent results, 10 cases had good results, 3 cases had fair results, and 0 cases had poor results. There were no adverse side effects from treatment. In comparison, in the group receiving medication, 30 cases had excellent results, 41 cases had good results, 12 cases had fair results, and 22 cases had poor results.
The researchers concluded that displacement of vertebra in the thoracolumbar spine appears to negatively effect the function of the digestive system. Correcting this misalignment and resolving the abnormal stimuli caused by pressure exerted on the nervous system is, according to the authors of the study, “an effective treatment for IBS”.
Earlier case studies have also shown that treatment by a chiropractor is an effective method for relieving constipation in pediatric patients.
In another study evaluating the effectiveness of chiropractic treatment for patients with Crohn’s disease, 70% of the patients who had battled with chronic digestive problems showed long-term and stable remission of their symptoms without medication after 12 weeks of regular chiropractic care.
The bottom line is this: chiropractic care should be strongly considered as a complementary treatment to conventional medical methods of improving bowel function. The health of the spine and nervous system needs be examined along with diet and nutritional habits.
Need a chiropractor in Elkhorn? At The Wellness Pointe we utilize a low-force, non-invasive, conservative approach to treat the structural problems that cause digestive disorders like IBS and Crohn’s Disease. To make an appointment at The Wellness Pointe, call 262-215-2292 or schedule an appointment via email [email protected].
Qu L., et al. Irritable bowel syndrome treated by traditional Chinese spinal orthopedic manipulation. J Tradit Chin Med. Dec 2012; 32(4):565-70.
Takeda Y., Arai S., Touichi H., Mieda T. Long Term Remission and Alleviation of Symptoms in Allergy and Crohn’s Disease Patients Following Spinal Adjustment for Reduction of Vertebral Subluxations. Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research. March 2003; 4(4).
Alcantara J., Mayer D. The successful chiropractic care of pediatric patients with chronic constipation: A case study and selective review of the literature. Clinical Chiropractic (2008); 11:138-147.
Soccer has the highest rate of concussions of any sport. Trauma to the neck and spine can cause headaches, blurred vision, concentration problems and memory issues if left undetected and uncorrected.
Athletics can be an exciting way for children and teenagers to be involved in extracurricular activities. While many parents revel in their child's successes, they probably also fight the fear of injury looming with every practice and game.
One of the most frightening injuries is when a person gets a concussion, which is a traumatic brain injury. But while the media focuses on the NFL's struggle to successfully manage the epidemic of concussions, they neglect a vulnerable population - teenage soccer players.
According to a new study in JAMA Pediatrics, concussions are common in middle and high school girls playing soccer. While CDC numbers indicate 173,286 sports-related brain injuries among children, about 50,000 of these injuries occur in middle and high school soccer players. That's almost a third of childhood traumatic brain injuries, and yet the CDC openly acknowledges that these figures are hard to track so the numbers may be even higher!
However, for anyone familiar with the short-term and long-term repercussions of this injury, the scariest stat is that 58.6% of teenagers who get a concussion continue playing soccer through the symptoms! Many doctors feel that "brain rest" is one of the most important things to do with any athlete suspected of having a concussion. Continuing to play and risk additional injury is dangerous.
It's clear that recreational and school athletic teams must do a better job of assessing, monitoring, and protecting these young athletes, but it's also the parent's responsibility to protect their children. If you have kids, we recommend contacting their school and coaches to make sure both are informed about brain injuries and know how to appropriately assess and treat them.
Additionally, there is more to be concerned about than just the really scary injuries. Physical trauma in sports is very common, and long-term structural changes to the spine can result in chronic pain and dysfunction. That's why I recommend all children, especially athletes, get checked regularly by a chiropractor to ensure they not only prevent chronic injuries, but also perform at their best!
Contact your Elkhorn Chiropractor today! | 2019-04-19T10:54:46Z | http://www.thewellnesspointechiro.com/blognewsletters--specials/category/wellness |
Neo-platonism (or Neoplatonism) is a modern term used to designate the period of Platonic philosophy beginning with the work of Plotinus and ending with the closing of the Platonic Academy by the Emperor Justinian in 529 C.E. This brand of Platonism, which is often described as 'mystical' or religious in nature, developed outside the mainstream of Academic Platonism. The origins of Neoplatonism can be traced back to the era of Hellenistic syncretism which spawned such movements and schools of thought as Gnosticism and the Hermetic tradition. A major factor in this syncretism, and one which had an immense influence on the development of Platonic thought, was the introduction of the Jewish Scriptures into Greek intellectual circles via the translation known as the Septuagint. The encounter between the creation narrative of Genesis and the cosmology of Plato's Timaeus set in motion a long tradition of cosmological theorizing that finally culminated in the grand schema of Plotinus' Enneads. Plotinus' two major successors, Porphyry and Iamblichus, each developed, in their own way, certain isolated aspects of Plotinus' thought, but neither of them developed a rigorous philosophy to match that of their master. It was Proclus who, shortly before the closing of the Academy, bequeathed a systematic Platonic philosophy upon the world that in certain ways approached the sophistication of Plotinus. Finally, in the work of the so-called Pseudo-Dionysius, we find a grand synthesis of Platonic philosophy and Christian theology that was to exercise an immense influence on mediaeval mysticism and Renaissance Humanism.
The term 'Neoplatonism' is a modern construction. Plotinus, who is often considered the 'founder' of Neoplatonism, would not have considered himself a "new" Platonist in any sense, but simply an expositor of the doctrines of Plato. That this required him to formulate an entirely new philosophical system would not have been viewed by him as a problem, for it was, in his eyes, precisely what the Platonic doctrine required. In a sense, this is true, for as early as the Old Academy we find Plato's successors struggling with the proper interpretation of his thought, and arriving at strikingly different conclusions. Also, in the Hellenistic era, certain Platonic ideas were taken up by thinkers of various loyalties -- Jewish, Gnostic, Christian -- and worked up into new forms of expression that varied quite considerably from what Plato actually wrote in his Dialogues. Should this lead us to the conclusion that these thinkers were any less 'loyal' to Plato than were the members of the Academy (in its various forms throughout the centuries preceding Plotinus)? No; for the multiple and often contradictory uses made of Platonic ideas is a testament to the universality of Plato's thought -- that is, its ability to admit of a wide variety of interpretations and applications. In this sense, Neo-Platonism may be said to have begun immediately after Plato's death, when new approaches to his philosophy were being broached. Indeed, we already see a hint, in the doctrines of Xenocrates (the second head of the Old Academy) of a type of salvation theory involving the unification of the two parts of the human soul -- the "Olympian" or heavenly, and the "Titanic" or earthly (Dillon 1977, p. 27). If we accept Frederick Copleston's description of Neoplatonism as "the intellectualist reply to the ... yearning for personal salvation" (Copleston 1962, p. 216) we can already locate the beginning of this reply as far back as the Old Academy, and Neoplatonism would then not have begun with Plotinus. However, it is not clear that Xenocrates' idea of salvation involved the individual; it is quite possible that he was referring to a unified human nature in an abstract sense. In any case, the early Hermetic-Gnostic tradition is certainly to an extent Platonic, and later Gnosticism and Christian Logos theology markedly so. If an intellectual reply to a general yearning for personal salvation is what characterizes Neoplatonism, then the highly intellectual Gnostics and Christians of the Late Hellenistic era must be given the title of Neoplatonists. However, if we are to be rigorous and define Neoplatonism as the synthesis of various more or less 'Platonistic' ideas into a grand expression of Platonic philosophy, then Plotinus must be considered the founder of Neoplatonism. Yet we must not forget that these Platonizing Christian, Gnostic, Jewish, and other 'pagan' thinkers provided the necessary speculative material to make this synthesis possible.
The great third century thinker and 'founder' of Neoplatonism, Plotinus, is responsible for the grand synthesis of progressive Christian and Gnostic ideas with the traditional Platonic philosophy. He answered the challenge of accounting for the emergence of a seemingly inferior and flawed cosmos from the perfect mind of the divinity by declaring outright that all objective existence is but the external self-expression of an inherently contemplative deity known as the One (to hen), or the Good (ta kalon). Plotinus compares the expression of the superior godhead with the self-expression of the individual soul, which proceeds from the perfect conception of a Form (eidos), to the always flawed expression of this Form in the manner of a materially derived 'personality' that risks succumbing to the demands of divisive discursivity, and so becomes something less than divine. This diminution of the divine essence in temporality is but a necessary moment of the complete expression of the One. By elevating the experience of the individual soul to the status of an actualization of a divine Form, Plotinus succeeded, also, in preserving, if not the autonomy, at least the dignity and ontological necessity of personality. The Cosmos, according to Plotinus, is not a created order, planned by a deity on whom we can pass the charge of begetting evil; for the Cosmos is the self-expression of the Soul, which corresponds, roughly, to Philo's logos prophorikos, the logos endiathetos of which is the Intelligence (nous). Rather, the Cosmos, in Plotinian terms, is to be understood as the concrete result or 'product' of the Soul's experience of its own Mind (nous). Ideally, this concrete expression should serve the Soul as a reference-point for its own self-conscious existence; however, the Soul all too easily falls into the error of valuing the expression over the principle (arkhê), which is the contemplation of the divine Forms. This error gives rise to evil, which is the purely subjective relation of the Soul (now divided) to the manifold and concrete forms of its expressive act. When the Soul, in the form of individual existents, becomes thus preoccupied with its experience, Nature comes into being, and the Cosmos takes on concrete form as the locus of personality.
Hearkening back, whether consciously or not, to the doctrine of Speusippus (Plato's successor in the Academy) that the One is utterly transcendent and "beyond being," and that the Dyad is the true first principle (Dillon 1977, p. 12), Plotinus declares that the One is "alone with itself" and ineffable (cf. Enneads VI.9.6 and V.2.1). The One does not act to produce a cosmos or a spiritual order, but simply generates from itself, effortlessly, a power (dunamis) which is at once the Intellect (nous) and the object of contemplation (theôria) of this Intellect. While Plotinus suggests that the One subsists by thinking itself as itself, the Intellect subsists through thinking itself as other, and therefore becomes divided within itself: this act of division within the Intellect is the production of Being, which is the very principle of expression or discursivity (Ennead V.1.7). For this reason, the Intellect stands as Plotinus' sole First Principle. At this point, the thinking or contemplation of the Intellect is divided up and ordered into thoughts, each of them subsisting in and for themselves, as autonomous reflections of the dunamis of the One. These are the Forms (eidê), and out of their inert unity there arises the Soul, whose task it is to think these Forms discursively and creatively, and to thereby produce or create a concrete, living expression of the divine Intellect. This activity of the Soul results in the production of numerous individual souls: living actualizations of the possibilities inherent in the Forms. Whereas the Intellect became divided within itself through contemplation, the Soul becomes divided outside of itself, through action (which is still contemplation, according to Plotinus, albeit the lowest type; cf. Ennead III.8.4), and this division constitutes the Cosmos, which is the expressive or creative act of the Soul, also referred to as Nature. When the individual soul reflects upon Nature as its own act, this soul is capable of attaining insight (gnôsis) into the essence of Intellect; however, when the soul views nature as something objective and external -- that is, as something to be experienced or undergone, while forgetting that the soul itself is the creator of this Nature -- evil and suffering ensue. Let us now examine the manner in which Plotinus explains Nature as the locus of personality.
Contemplation, at the level of the Soul, is for Plotinus a two-way street. The Soul both contemplates, passively, the Intellect, and reflects upon its own contemplative act by producing Nature and the Cosmos. The individual souls that become immersed in Nature, as moments of the Soul's eternal act, will, ideally, gain a complete knowledge of the Soul in its unity, and even of the Intellect, by reflecting upon the concrete results of the Soul's act -- that is, upon the externalized, sensible entities that comprise the physical Cosmos. This reflection, if carried by the individual soul with a memory of its provenance always in the foreground, will lead to a just governing of the physical Cosmos, which will make of it a perfect material image of the Intellectual Cosmos, i.e., the realm of the Forms (cf. Enneads IV.3.7 and IV.8.6). However, things don't always turn out so well, for individual souls often "go lower than is needful ... in order to light the lower regions, but it is not good for them to go so far" (Ennead IV.3.17, tr. O'Brien 1964). For when the soul extends itself ever farther into the indeterminacy of materiality, it gradually loses memory of its divine origin, and comes to identify itself more and more with its surroundings -- that is to say: the soul identifies itself with the results of the Soul's act, and forgets that it is, as part of this Soul, itself an agent of the act. This is tantamount to a relinquishing, by the soul, of its divine nature. When the soul has thus abandoned itself, it begins to accrue many alien encrustations, if you will, that make of it something less than divine. These encrustations are the 'accidents' (in the Aristotelian sense) of personality. And yet the soul is never completely lost, for, as Plotinus insists, the soul need simply "think upon essential being" in order to return to itself, and continue to exist authentically as a governor of the Cosmos (Ennead IV.8.4-6). The memory of the personality that this wandering soul possessed must be forgotten in order for it to return completely to its divine nature; for if it were remembered, we would have to say, contradictorily, that the soul holds a memory of what occurred during its state of forgetfulness! So in a sense, Plotinus holds that individual personalities are not maintained at the level of Soul. However, if we understand personality as more than just a particular attitude attached to a concrete mode of existence, and rather view it as the sum total of experiences reflected upon in intellect, then souls most certainly retain their personalities, even at the highest level, for they persist as thoughts within the divine Mind (cp. Ennead IV.8.5). The personality that one acquires in action (the lowest type of contemplation) is indeed forgotten and dissolved, but the 'personality' or persistence in intellect that one achieves through virtuous acts most definitely endures (Ennead IV.3.32).
Plotinus, like his older contemporary, the Christian philosopher Origen of Alexandria, views the descent of the soul into the material realm as a necessary moment in the unfolding of the divine Intellect, or God. For this reason, the descent itself is not an evil, for it is a reflection of God's essence. Both Origen and Plotinus place the blame for experiencing this descent as an evil squarely upon the individual soul. Of course, these thinkers held, respectively, quite different views as to why and how the soul experiences the descent as an evil; but they held one thing in common: that the rational soul will naturally choose the Good, and that any failure to do so is the result of forgetfulness or acquired ignorance. But whence this failure? Origen gave what, to Plotinus' mind, must have been a quite unsatisfactory answer: that souls pre-existed as spiritual beings, and when they desired to create or 'beget' independently of God, they all fell into error, and languished there until the coming of Logos Incarnate. This view has more than a little Gnostic flavor to it, which would have sat ill with Plotinus, who was a great opponent of Gnosticism. The fall of the soul Plotinus refers, quite simply, to the tension between pure contemplation and divisive action -- a tension that constitutes the natural mode of existence of the soul (cf. Ennead IV.8.6-7). Plotinus tells us that a thought is only completed or fully comprehended after it has been expressed, for only then can the thought be said to have passed from potentiality to actuality (Ennead IV.3.30). The question of whether Plotinus places more value on the potential or the actual is really of no consequence, for in the Plotinian plêrôma every potentiality generates an activity, and every activity becomes itself a potential for new activity (cf. Ennead III.8.8); and since the One, which is the goal or object of desire of all existents, is neither potentiality nor actuality, but "beyond being" (epekeina ousias), it is impossible to say whether the striving of existents, in Plotinus' schema, will result in full and complete actualization, or in a repose of potentiality that will make them like their source. "Likeness to God as far as possible," for Plotinus, is really likeness to oneself -- authentic existence. Plotinus leaves it up to the individual to determine what this means.
In his biography of Plotinus, Porphyry records the last words of his teacher to his students as follows: "Strive to bring back the god in yourselves to the God in the All" (Porphyry, Life of Plotinus 2, my translation). After uttering these words, Plotinus, one of the greatest philosophers the world has ever known, passed away. The simplicity of this final statement seems to be at odds with the intellectual rigors of Plotinus' treatises, which challenge -- and more often than not vanquish -- just about every prominent philosophical view of the era. But this is only if we take this remark in a mystical or ecstatic religious sense. Plotinus demanded the utmost level of intellectual clarity in dealing with the problem of humankind's relation to the highest principle of existence. Striving for or desiring salvation was not, for Plotinus, an excuse for simply abandoning oneself to faith or prayer or unreflective religious rituals; rather, salvation was to be achieved through the practice of philosophical investigation, of dialectic. The fact that Plotinus, at the end of his life, had arrived at this very simple formulation, serves to show that his dialectical quest was successful. In his last treatise, "On the Primal Good" (Ennead I.7), Plotinus is able to assert, in the same breath, that both life and death are good. He says this because life is the moment in which the soul expresses itself and revels in the autonomy of the creative act. However, this life, since it is characterized by action, eventually leads to exhaustion, and the desire, not for autonomous action, but for reposeful contemplation -- of a fulfillment that is purely intellectual and eternal. Death is the relief of this exhaustion, and the return to a state of contemplative repose. Is this return to the Intellect a return to potentiality? It is hard to say. Perhaps it is a synthesis of potentiality and actuality: the moment at which the soul is both one and many, both human and divine. This would constitute Plotinian salvation -- the fulfillment of the exhortation of the dying sage.
In the last analysis, what stands as the most important and impressive accomplishment of Plotinus is the manner in which he synthesized the pure, 'semi-mythical' expression of Plato with the logical rigors of the Peripatetic and Stoic schools, yet without losing sight of philosophy's most important task: of rendering the human experience in intelligible and analyzable terms. That Plotinus' thought had to take the 'detour' through such wildly mystical and speculative paths as Gnosticism and Christian salvation theology is only proof of his clear-sightedness, thoroughness, and admirable humanism. For all of his dialectical difficulties and perambulations, Plotinus' sole concern is with the well-being (eudaimonia) of the human soul. This is, of course, to be understood as an intellectual, as opposed to a merely physical or even emotional well-being, for Plotinus was not concerned with the temporary or the temporal. The striving of the human mind for a mode of existence more suited to its intuited potential than the ephemeral possibilities of this material realm, while admittedly a striving born of temporality, is nonetheless directed toward atemporal and divine perfection. This is a striving or desire rendered all the more poignant and worthy of philosophy precisely because it is born in the depths of existential angst, and not in the primitive ecstasies of unreflective ritual. As the last true representative of the Greek philosophical spirit, Plotinus is Apollonian, not Dionysian. His concern is with the intellectual beautification of the human soul, and for this reason his notion of salvation does not, like Origen's, imply an eternal state of objective contemplation of the divinity -- for Plotinus, the separation between human and god breaks down, so that when the perfected soul contemplates itself, it is also contemplating the Supreme.
Plotinus was faced with the task of defending the true Platonic philosophy, as he understood it, against the inroads being made, in his time, most of all by Gnostics, but also by orthodox Christianity. Instead of launching an all-out attack on these new ideas, Plotinus took what was best from them, in his eyes, and brought these ideas into concert with his own brand of Platonism. For this reason, we are sometimes surprised to see Plotinus, in one treatise, speaking of the cosmos as a realm of forgetfulness and error, while in another, speaking of the cosmos as the most perfect expression of the godhead. Once we realize the extent to which certain Gnostic sects went in order to brand this world as a product of an evil and malignant Demiurge, to whom we owe absolutely no allegiance, it becomes clear that Plotinus was simply trying to temper the extreme form of an idea which he himself shared, though in a less radical sense. The feeling of being thrown into a hostile and alien world is a philosophically valid position from which to begin a critique and investigation of human existence; indeed, modern existentialist philosophers have often started from this same premise. However, Plotinus realized that it is not the nature of the human soul to simply escape from a realm of active engagement with external reality (the cosmos) to a passive receptance of divine form (within the plêrôma). The Soul, as Plotinus understands it, is an essentially creative being, and one which understands existence on its own terms. One of the beauties of Plotinus' system is that everything he says concerning the nature of the Cosmos (spiritual and physical) can equally be held of the Soul. Now while it would be false to charge Plotinus with solipsism (or even narcissism, as one prominent commentator has done; cf. Julia Kristeva in Hadot 1993, p. 11), it would be correct to say that the entire Cosmos is an analogue of the experience of the Soul, which results in the attainment of full self-consciousness. The form of Plotinus' system is the very form by which the Soul naturally comes to know itself in relation to its acts; and the expression of the Soul will always, therefore, be a philosophical expression. When we speak of the Plotinian synthesis, then, what we are speaking of is a natural dialectic of the Soul, which takes its own expressions into account, no matter how faulty or incomplete they may appear in retrospect, and weaves them into a cosmic tapestry of noetic images.
Porphyry of Tyre (ca. 233-305 CE) is the most famous pupil of Plotinus. In addition to writing an introductory summary of his master's theories (the treatise entitled Launching-Points to the Realm of Mind), Porphyry also composed the famous Isagoge, an introduction to the Categories of Aristotle, which came to exercise an immense influence on Mediaeval Scholasticism. The extent of Porphyry's investigative interests exceeded that of his teacher, and his so-called "scientific" works, which survive to this day, include a treatise on music (On Prosody), and two studies of the astronomical and astrological theories of Claudius Ptolemy (ca. 70-140 CE), On the Harmonics, and an Introduction to The Astronomy of Ptolemy. He wrote biographies of Pythagoras and Plotinus, and edited and compiled the latter's essays into six books, each containing nine treatises, giving them the title Enneads. Unlike Plotinus, Porphyry was interested primarily in the practical aspect of salvific striving, and the manner in which the soul could most effectively bring about its transference to ever higher realms of existence. This led Porphyry to develop a doctrine of ascent to the Intellect by way of the exercise of virtue (aretê) in the form of 'good works'. This doctrine may owe its genesis to Porphyry's supposed early adherence to Christianity, as attested by the historian Socrates, and suggested by St. Augustine (cf. Copleston 1962, p. 218). If Porphyry had, at some point, been a Christian, this would account for his belief in the soul's objective relation to the divine Mind -- an idea shared by Origen, whom Porphyry knew as a youth (cf. Eusebius, The History of the Church, p. 195) -- and would explain his quite un-Plotinian belief in a gradual progress toward perfection, as opposed to the 'instant salvation' proposed by Plotinus (cf. Ennead IV.8.4).
Iamblichus of Apamea (d. ca. 330 CE) was a student of Porphyry. He departed from his teacher on more than a few points, most notably in his insistence on demoting Plotinus' One (which Porphyry left unscathed, as it were) to the level of kosmos noêtos, which according to Iamblichus generates the intellectual realm (kosmos noêros). In this regard, Iamblichus can be said to have either severely misunderstood, or neglected to even attempt to understand, Plotinus on the important doctrine of contemplation (see above). This view led Iamblichus to posit a Supreme One even higher than the One of Plotinus, which generates the Intellectual Cosmos, and yet remains beyond all predication and determinacy. Iamblichus also made a tripartite division of Soul, positing a cosmic or All-Soul, and two lesser souls, corresponding to the rational and irrational faculties, respectively. This somewhat gratuitous skewing of the Plotinian noetic realm also led Iamblichus to posit an array of intermediate spiritual beings between the lower souls and the intelligible realm -- daemons, the souls of heroes, and angels of all sorts. By placing so much distance between the earthly soul and the intelligible realm, Iamblichus made it difficult for the would-be philosopher to gain an intuitive knowledge of the higher Soul, although he insisted that everyone possesses such knowledge, coupled with an innate desire for the Good. In place of the vivid dialectic of Plotinus, Iamblichus established the practice of theurgy (theourgia), which he insists does not draw the gods down to man, but rather renders humankind, "who through generation are born subject to passion, pure and unchangeable" (On the Mysteries I.12.42; in Fowden 1986, p. 133). Whereas "likeness to God" had meant, for Plotinus, a recollection and perfection of one's own divine nature (which is, in the last analysis, identical to nous; cf. Ennead III.4), for Iamblichus the relation of humankind to the divine is one of subordinate to superior, and so the pagan religious piety that Plotinus had scorned -- "Let the gods come to me, and not I to them," he had once said (cf. Porphyry, Life of Plotinus 10) -- returns to philosophy with a vengeance. Iamblichus is best known for his lengthy treatise On the Mysteries. Like Porphyry, he also wrote a biography of Pythagoras.
In his introduction to the philosophy of Plotinus, entitled Launching-Points to the Realm of Mind, Porphyry remarks that the inclination of the incorporeal Soul toward corporeality "constitutes a second nature [the irrational soul], which unites with the body" (Launching-Points 18 ). This remark is supposedly a commentary on Ennead IV.2, where Plotinus discusses the relation of the individual soul to the All-Soul. While it is true that Plotinus often speaks of the individual soul as being independent of the highest Soul, he does this for illustrative purposes, in order to show how far into forgetfulness the soul that has become enamored of its act may fall. Yet Plotinus insists time and again that the individual soul and the All-Soul are one (cf. esp. Ennead IV.1), and that Nature is the Soul's expressive act (see above). Irrationality does not constitute, for Plotinus, a "second nature," but is merely a flawed exercise of rationality -- that is, doxa untempered by epistêmê -- on the part of the individual soul. Furthermore, the individual soul, which comes to unite with corporeality, governs and controls the body, making possible discursive knowledge as well as sense-perception. Uncontrolled pathos is what Plotinus calls irrationality; the soul brings aisthêsis (perceptive judgment) to corporeality, and so prevents it from sinking into irrational passivity. So what led Porphyry to make such an interpretative error, if error it was? It is quite possible that Porphyry had arrived at his own conclusions about the Soul, and tried to square his own theory with what Plotinus actually taught. One clue to the reason for the 'misunderstanding' may possibly lie in Porphyry's early involvement with Christianity. While Porphyry himself never tells us that he had been a Christian, Augustine speaks of him as if he were an apostate, and the historian Socrates states outright that Porphyry had once been of the Christian faith, telling us that he left the fold in disgust after being assaulted by a rowdy band of Christians in Caesarea (Copleston 1962, p. 218). In any case, it is certain that he was acquainted with Plotinus' older contemporary, the Christian Origen, and that he had been exposed to Christian doctrine. Indeed, his own spirited attack on Christianity ("Fifteen Arguments Against the Christians," now preserved only in fragments) shows him to have possessed a wide knowledge of Holy Scripture, remarkable for a 'pagan' philosopher of that era. Porphyry's exposure to Christian doctrine, then, would have left him with a view of salvation quite different from that of Plotinus, who seems never to have paid Christianity much mind. The best evidence we have for this explanation is Porphyry's own theory of salvation -- and it is remarkably similar to what we find in Origen! Porphyry's salvation theory is dependent, like Origen's, on a notion of the soul's objective relation to God, and its consequent striving, not to actualize its own divine potentiality, but to attain a level of virtue that makes it capable of partaking fully of the divine essence. This is accomplished through the exercise of virtue, which sets the soul on a gradual course of progress toward the highest Good. Beginning with simple 'practical virtues' (politikai arêtai) the soul gradually rises to higher levels, eventually attaining what Porphyry calls the paradeigmatikai arêtai or 'exemplary virtues' which make of the soul a living expression of the divine Mind (cf. Porphyry, Letter to Marcella 29). Note that Porphyry stops the soul's ascent at nous, and presumably holds that the 'saved' soul will eternally contemplate the infinite power of the One. If Porphyry's concern had been with the preservation of personality, then this explanation makes some sense. However, it is more likely that the true reason for Porphyry's rejection of the radically 'hubristic' theory (at least to pietistic pagans) of the nature of the individual soul held by Plotinus was a result of his intention to restore dignity to the traditional religion of the Greeks (which had come under attack not only by Plotinus, but by Christians as well). Evidence of such a program resides in Porphyry's allegorical interpretations of Homer and traditional cultic practice, as well as his possibly apologetic work on Philosophy from Oracles (now lost). Compared to Plotinus, then, Porphyry was quite the conservative, concerned as he was with maintaining the ancient view of humankind's relatively humble position in the cosmic hierarchy, over against Plotinus' view that the soul is a god, owing little more than a passing nod to its 'noble brethren' in the heavens.
One of the results of Porphyry's conservative position toward traditional religious practice and belief was the 'return' to the doctrine that the stars and planets are capable of affecting and ordering human life. Plotinus argued that since the individual soul is one with the All-Soul, it is in essence a co-creator of the Cosmos, and therefore not really subject to the laws governing the Cosmos -- for the soul is the source and agent of those laws! Therefore, a belief in astrology was, for Plotinus, absurd, since if the soul turned to beings dependent upon its own law -- i.e., the stars and planets -- in order to know itself, then it would only end up knowing aspects of its own act, and would never return to itself in full self-consciousness. Furthermore, as we have seen, Plotinian salvation was instantly available to the soul, if only it would turn its mind to "essential being" (see above); because of this, Plotinus saw no reason to bring the stars and planets into the picture. For Porphyry, however, who believed that the soul must gradually work toward salvation, a knowledge of the operations of the heavenly bodies and their relation to humankind would have been an important tool in gaining ever higher levels of virtue. In fact, Porphyry seems to have held the view that the soul receives certain "powers" from each of the planets -- right judgment from Saturn, proper exercise of the will from Jupiter, impulse from Mars, opinion and imagination from the Sun, and (what else?) sensuous desire from Venus; from the Moon the soul receives the power of physical production (cf. Hegel, p. 430) -- and that these powers enable to the soul to know things both earthly and heavenly. This theoretical knowledge of the powers of the planets, then, would have made the more practical knowledge of astrology quite useful and meaningful for an individual soul seeking to know itself as such. The usefulness of astrology for Porphyry, in this regard, probably resided in its ability to permit an individual, through an analysis of his birth chart, to know which planet -- and therefore which "power" -- exercised the dominant influence on his life. In keeping with the ancient Greek doctrine of the "golden mean," the task of the individual would then be to work to bring to the fore those other "powers" -- each present to a lesser degree in the soul, but still active -- and thereby achieve a balance or sôphrosunê that would render the soul more capable of sharing in the divine Mind. The art of astrology, it must be remembered, was in wide practice in the Hellenistic world, and Plotinus' rejection of it was an exception that was by no means the rule. Plotinus' views on astrology apparently found few adherents, even among Platonists, for we see not only Porphyry, but also (to an extent) Iamblichus and even Proclus declaring its value -- the latter being responsible for a paraphrase of Claudius Ptolemy's astrological compendium known as the Tetrabiblos or sometimes simply as The Astronomy. In addition to penning a commentary on Ptolemy's tome, Porphyry also wrote his own Introduction to Astronomy (by which is apparently meant "Astrology," the modern distinction not holding in Hellenistic times). Unfortunately, this work no longer survives intact.
The philosophy of Plotinus was highly discursive, meaning that it operated on the assumption that the highest meaning, the most profound truth (even a so-called mystical truth) is translatable, necessarily, into language; and furthermore, that any and every experience only attains its full value as meaning when it has reached expression in the form of language. This idea, of course, placed the One always beyond the discursive understanding of the human soul, since the One was proclaimed, by Plotinus, to be not only beyond discursive knowledge, but also the very source and possibility of such knowledge. According to Plotinus, then, any time the individual soul expresses a certain truth in language, this very act is representative of the power of the One. This notion of the simultaneous intimate proximity of the One to the soul, and, paradoxically, its extreme transcendence and ineffability, is possible only within the confines of a purely subjective and introspective philosophy like that of Plotinus; and since such a philosophy, by its very nature, cannot appeal to common, external perceptions, it is destined to remain the sole provenance of the sensitive and enlightened few. Porphyry did not want to admit this, and so he found himself seeking, as St. Augustine tells us, "a universal way (universalem viam) for the liberation of the soul" (City of God 10.32, in Fowden, p. 132), believing, as he did, that no such way had yet been discovered by or within philosophy. This did not imply, for Porphyry, a wholesale rejection of the Plotinian dialectic in favor of a more esoteric process of salvation; but it did lead Porphyry (see above) to look to astrology as a means of orienting the soul toward its place in the cosmos, and thereby allowing it to achieve the desired salvation in the most efficacious manner possible. Iamblichus, on the other hand, rejected even Porphyry's approach, in favor of a path toward the divinity that is more worthy of priests (hieratikoi) than philosophers; for Iamblichus believed that not only the One, but all the gods and demi-gods, exceed and transcend the individual soul, making it necessary for the soul seeking salvation to call upon the superior beings to aid it in its progress. This is accomplished, Iamblichus tells us, by "the perfective operation of unspeakable acts (erga) correctly performed ... acts which are beyond all understanding (huper pasan noêsin)" and which are "intelligible only to the gods" (On the Mysteries II.11.96-7, in Fowden, p. 132). These ritualistic acts, and the 'logic' underlying them, Iamblichus terms "theurgy" (theourgia). These theurgic acts are necessary, for Iamblichus, because he is convinced that philosophy, which is based solely upon thought (ennoia) -- and thought, we must remember, is always an accomplishment of the individual mind, and hence discursive -- is unable to reach that which is beyond thought. The practice of theurgy, then, becomes a way for the soul to experience the presence of the divinity, instead of merely thinking or conceptualizing the godhead. Porphyry took issue with this view, in his Letter to Anebo, which is really a criticism of the ideas of his pupil, Iamblichus, where he stated that, since theurgy is a physical process, it cannot possibly translate into a spiritual effect. Iamblichus' On the Mysteries was written as a reply to Porphyry's criticisms, but the defense of the pupil did not succeed in vanquishing the persistent attacks of the master. While both Porphyry and Iamblichus recognized, to a lesser and greater extent, respectively, the limitations of the Plotinian dialectic, Porphyry held firm to the idea that since the divinity is immaterial it can only be grasped in a noetic fashion -- i.e., discursively (and even astrology, in spite of its mediative capacity, is still an intellectual exercise, open to dialectic and narratization); Iamblichus, adhering roughly to the same view, nevertheless argued that the human soul must not think god on its own terms, but must allow itself to be transformed by the penetrating essence of god, of which the soul partakes through rituals intended to transform the particularized, fragmented soul into a being that is "pure and unchangeable" (cf. On the Mysteries I.12.42; Fowden, p. 133).
According to the schema of Plotinian dialectic, the 'stance' of the individual soul is the sole source of truth certainty, being a judging faculty dependent always upon the higher Soul. From the perspective of one who believes that the soul is immersed in Nature, instead of recognizing, as Plotinus did, the soul's status as an intimate governor of Nature (which is the Soul's own act), dialectic may very well appear as a solipsistic (and therefore faulty) attempt on the part of an individual mind to know its reality by imposing conceptual structures and strictures upon the phenomena that constitute this reality. Iamblichus believed that since every individual soul is immersed in the 'bodily element,' no soul is capable of understanding the divine nature through the pure exercise of human reason -- for reason itself, at the level of the human soul-body composite, is tainted by the changeable nature of matter, and therefore incapable of rising to that perfect knowledge that is beyond all change (cp. Plato, Phaedrus 247e). Dialectic, then, as the soul's attempt to know reality, is seen by Iamblichus as an attempt by an already fallen being to lead itself up out of the very locus of its own forgetfulness. Now Iamblichus does not completely reject dialectical reason; he simply requests that it be tempered by an appeal to intermediate divinities, who will aid the fallen soul in its ascent back towards the Supreme Good. The practice of ritualistic theurgy is the medium by which the fallen soul ascends to a point at which it becomes capable of engaging in a meaningful dialectic with the divinity. This dependence upon higher powers nevertheless negates the soul's own innate ability to think itself as god, and so we may say that Iamblichus' ideas represent a decisive break with the philosophy of Plotinus.
Proclus (410-485 CE) is, next to Plotinus, the most accomplished and rigorous of the Neoplatonists. Born in Constantinople, he studied philosophy in Athens, and through diligent effort rose to the rank of head teacher or 'scholarch' of that great school. In addition to his accomplishments in philosophy, Proclus was also a religious universalist, who had himself initiated into all the mystery religions being practiced during his time. This was doubtless due to the influence of Iamblichus, whom Proclus held in high esteem (cf. Proclus, Theology of Plato III; in Hegel, p. 432). The philosophical expression of Proclus is more precise and logically ordered than that of Plotinus. Indeed, Proclus posits the Intellect (nous) as the culmination of the productive act (paragein) of the One; this is in opposition to Plotinus, who described the Intellect as proceeding directly from the One, thereby placing Mind before Thought, and so making thought the process by which the Intellect becomes alienated from itself, thus requiring the salvific act in order to attain the fulfillment of Being, which is, for Plotinus, the return of Intellect to itself. Proclus understands the movement of existence as a tripartite progression beginning with an abstract unity, passing into a multiplicity that is identified with Life, and returning again to a unity that is no longer merely abstract, but now actualized as an eternal manifestation of the godhead. What constituted, for Plotinus, the salvific drama of human existence is, for Proclus, simply the logical, natural order of things. However, by thus removing the yearning for salvation from human existence, as something to be accomplished, positively, Proclus is ignoring or overly intellectualizing, if you will, an existential aspect of human existence that is as real as it is powerful. Plotinus recognized the importance of the salvific drive for the realization of true philosophy, making philosophy a means to an end; Proclus utilizes philosophy, rather, more in the manner of a useful, descriptive language by which a thinker may describe the essential realities of a merely contingent existence. In this sense, Proclus is more faithful to the 'letter' of Plato's Dialogues; but for this same reason he fails to rise to the 'spirit' of the Platonic philosophy. Proclus' major works include commentaries on Plato's Timaeus, Republic, Parmenides, Alcibiades I, and the Cratylus. He also wrote treatises on the Theology of Plato, On Providence, and On the Subsistence of Evil. His most important work is undoubtedly the Elements of Theology, which contains the clearest exposition of his ideas.
We found, in Plotinus, an explanation and expression of a cosmos that involved a gradual development from all but static unity toward eventual alienation -- a moment at which the active soul must make the profound decision to renounce autonomous existence and re-merge with the source of all Being, or else remain forever in the darkness of forgetfulness and error. Salvation, for Plotinus, was relatively easy to accomplish, but never guaranteed. For Proclus, on the other hand, the arkhê or 'ruling beginning' of all Life is the 'One-in-itself' (to auto hen), or that which is responsible for the ordering of all existents, insofar as existence is, in the last analysis, the sovereign act or expression of this primordial unity or monad. The expression of this One is perfectly balanced, being a trinity containing, as distinct expressions, each moment of self-realization of this One; and each of these moments, according to Proclus, have the structure of yet another trinity. The first trinity corresponds to the limit, which is the guide and reference-point of all further manifestations; the second to the unlimited, which is also Life or the productive power (dunamis); and the third, finally, to the 'mixture' (mikton, diakosmos), which is the self-reflective moment of return during which the soul realizes itself as a thinking -- i.e., living -- entity. Thought is, therefore, the culmination of Life and the fulfillment of Being. Thought is also the reason (logos) that binds these triadic unities together in a grand harmonious plêrôma, if you will. Being, for Proclus, is that divine self-presence, "shut up without development and maintained in strict isolation" (Hegel, p. 446) which is the object of Life's thinking; this 'object' gives rise to that thinking which leads, eventually, to understanding (nous), which is the thought of being, and appears (ekphanôs), always, as 'being's begetter'. When the circle is completed, and reflected upon, logically, we are met with the following onto-cosmological schema: thought (noêtos, also known as 'Being') giving rise to its "negative" which is thinking (Hegel, p. 393) and the thought 'it is' (noêtos kai noêros), produces its own precise reflection -- 'pure thinking' -- and this reflection is the very manifestation (phanerôsis) of the deity within the fluctuating arena of individual souls. Being is eternal and static precisely because it always returns to itself as Being; and 'Becoming'is the conceptual term for this process, which involves the cyclical play between that which is and is not, at any given time. "[T]he thought of every man is identical with the existence of every man, and each is both the thought and the existence" (Proclus, Platonic Theology III., in Hegel, p. 449). The autonomous drive toward dissolution, which is so germane to the soul as such, is wiped away by Proclus, for his dialectic is impeccably clean. However, he does not account for the yearning for the infinite (as does Plotinus) and the consequent existential desire for productive power falls on its face before the supreme god of autonomous creation -- which draws all existents into its primeval web of dissolution.
Very little is known about the life of the so-called Pseudo-Dionysius. For many centuries, the writings of this mystical philosopher were believed to have been from the pen of none other Dionysius, the disciple of St. Paul. Later scholarship has shed considerable doubt on this claim, and most modern scholars believe this author to have been active during the late fifth century CE. Indeed, the earliest reference to the Dionysian Corpus that we possess is from 533 CE. There is no mention of this author's work before this date. Careful study of the Pseudo-Dionysian writings has uncovered many parallels between the theurgical doctrines of Iamblichus, and the triadic metaphysical schema of Proclus. Yet what we witness in these writings is the attempt by a thinker who is at once religiously sensitive and philosophically engaged to bring the highly developed Platonism of his time into line with a Christian theological tradition that was apparently persisting on the fringes of orthodoxy. To this extent, we may refer to the Pseudo-Dionysius as a 'decadent,' for he (or she?) was writing at a time when the heyday of Platonism had attained the status of a palaios logos ('ancient teaching') to be, not merely commented upon, but savored as an aesthetic monument to an era already long past. It is important to note, in this regard, that the writings of Pseudo-Dionysius do not contain any theoretical arguments or dialectical moments, but simply many subtle variations on the apophatic/kataphatic theology for which our writer is renowned. Indeed, he writes as if his readers already know, and are merely in need of clarification. His message is quite simple, and is manifestly distilled from the often cumbersome doctrines of earlier thinkers (especially Iamblichus and Proclus). Pseudo-Dionysius professes a God who is beyond all distinctions, and who even transcends the means utilized by human beings to reach Him. For Pseudo-Dionysius, the Holy Trinity (which is probably analogous to Proclus' highest trinity, see above) serves as a "guide" to the human being who seeks not only to know but to unite with "him who is beyond all being and knowledge" (Pseudo-Dionysius, The Mystical Theology 997A-1000A, tr. C. Luibheid 1987). In the expression of the Pseudo-Dionysius the yearning for the infinite reaches a poetical form that at once fulfills and exceeds philosophy.
After the closing of the Neoplatonic Academy in Athens by the Emperor Justinian in 529 CE, Platonism ceased to be a living philosophy. Due to the efforts of the Christian philosopher Boethius (480-525 CE), who translated Porphyry's Isagoge, and composed numerous original works as well, the Middle Ages received a faint glimmer of the ancient glories of the Platonic philosophy. St. Augustine, also, was responsible for imparting a sense of Neoplatonic doctrine to the Latin West, but this was by way of commentary and critique, and not in any way a systematic exposition of the philosophy. Generally speaking, it is safe to say that the European Middle Ages remained in the grip of Aristotelianism until the early Renaissance, when certain brilliant Italian thinkers began to rediscover, translate, and expound upon the original texts of Platonism. Chief among these thinkers were Marsilio Ficino (1433-1492) and Pico della Mirandola (1463-1494). Ficino produced fine Latin translations of Plato's Dialogues, the Enneads of Plotinus, and numerous works by Porphyry, Iamblichus, Proclus, Pseudo-Dionysius, and many others. In addition to his scholarly ability, Ficino was also a fine commentator and philosopher in his own right. His brilliant essay on Five Questions Concerning The Mind is a concise summary of general Neoplatonic doctrine, based upon Ficino's own view that the lot of the human soul is to inquire into its own nature, and that since this inquiry causes the human soul to experience misery, the soul must do everything it can to transcend the physical body and live a life worthy of the blessed angels (cf. Cassirer, et. al. (ed) 1948, p. 211-212). Giovanni Pico, the Count of Mirandola, was a colorful figure who lived a short life, fraught with strife. He roused the ire of the papacy by composing a voluminous work defending nine-hundred theses drawn from his vast reading of the Ancients; thirteen of these theses were deemed heretical by the papacy, and yet Pico refused to change or withdraw a single one. Like his friend Ficino, Pico was a devotee of ancient wisdom, drawing not only upon the Platonic canon, but also upon the Pre-Socratic literature and the Hermetic Corpus, especially the Poimandres. Pico's most famous work is the Oration on the Dignity of Man, in which he eloquently states his learned view that humankind was created by God "as a creature of indeterminate nature," possessed of the unique ability to ascend or descend on the scale of Being through the autonomous exercise of free will (Oration 3, in Cassirer, et. al. (ed) 1948, p. 224). Pico's view of free will was quite different from that expressed by Plotinus, and indeed most other Neoplatonists, and it came as no surprise when Pico composed a treatise On Being and the One which ended on Aristotelian terms, declaring the One to be coincident with or persisting amidst Being -- a wholly un-Platonic doctrine. With Ficino, then, we may say that Platonism achieved a brief moment of archaic glory, while with Pico, it was plunged once again into the quagmire of self-referential empiricism.
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Pseudo-Dionysius (tr. C. Luibheid 1987), Pseudo-Dionysius: The Complete Works (Paulist Press). | 2019-04-19T00:34:39Z | https://www.iep.utm.edu/neoplato/ |
Resistance to pathogens is an important goal in the development of novel grapevine cultivars throughout the world by conventional and biotechnology-assisted breeding programs. Fungal and viral diseases cause direct losses in berry production, but also affect the quality of the final products. Methods for chemical control are available for fungus, but they increase the production costs, decrease fruit quality, and negatively affect culture sustainability. For viral pathogens, the situation is also complex, since it has to rely on the control of vector insects, if that is the way of transmission, or, on the replacement of highly colonized plants by new, clean ones. Thus, the introduction of genetic resistance is economically and environmentally desirable. Resistance to fungi and viruses is often found in wild or non-commercial Vitis genotypes, which simultaneously carry many undesirable traits to the progeny when used in crosses with elite cultivars. Recently, precision breeding strategies, such as genetic engineering and genome editing, allow the precise introduction of resistance characters in elite cultivars (Figure 1). However, the overall performance of the plants submitted to precision breeding techniques is not always as expected.
Figure 1. Schematic representation of the techniques used to generate genetically engineered grapevines.
In the current work, we have generated genetically engineered grapevines that express proteins with antimicrobial properties against fungal pathogens or a virus-derived sequence, in a hairpin orientation, which triggers the specific degradation of an RNA essential to the formation of novel infective viral particles. As expected, the genetically engineered grapevines exhibited increased resistance to the pathogens, in comparison to the non-engineered plants, although the infection was still detected in the modified plants (Figure 2). Further investigation demonstrated that the plants carrying larger portions of sequences from viral origin exhibited higher levels of a structural genome modification called methylation, and lower levels of resistance (Figure 3). Methylation consists in the addition of methyl radicals to certain bases of the DNA and is considered an epigenetic modification, since it interferes with the activity of the DNA without modifying the sequence. Taken together, our results demonstrated that the introduction of sequences of viral origins into grapevine genome is associated to genome structural changes and reduced expression of resistance against pathogens, thus indicating that the effectiveness of resistance strategies employing sequences of viral origin is subject to epigenetic regulation in grapevine.
Figure 2. Evaluation of disease responses against fungus (a-g) and virus (h-j) for genetic engineered and wild type plants. a In vitro assay of chitinase activity. Letters represent Tukey’s HSD at p < 0.05 (one-way ANOVA). b RNA hybridization employing a gene-specific probe. c Disease progression evaluated by the percentage of damaged leaf area after infection. d Light microscopy analyses of fungal structures in infected leaf discs at day 9. e Disease progression evaluated by the percentage of damaged leaf area after infection. f RNA hybridization employing a gene-specific probe. g Light microscopy analyses of fungal structures in infected leaf discs at day 5. h Frequency and intensity of leafroll symptom in hpGLR3 lines. i RT-PCR amplification of a GLRaV-3 specific fragment in symptomatic engineered plants. j Heatmap representation of GLRaV-3 coat protein levels detected by ELISA in genetic engineered and wild-type control plants.
Figure 3. Multivariate analyses of genomic features and trait expression in grapevine genetically engineered lines. a sPLS-DA plot of the individuals using the origin of the gene of interest as discriminant. Ellipses represent 95% confidence levels. b Clustered image map of the similarity matrix obtained by sPLS-DA results. Similarity is represented as heatmap, ranging from − 2.2 (blue) to 2.2 (red), and dendrograms derived from hierarchical clustering of the similarity results are represented for the genetically engineered lines (vertical) and variables (horizontal). c Correlation circle plot of the variables used in sPLS-DA analysis. d Heatmap and pie graph representation of the Pearson correlation between the investigated variables for the genetically engineered grapevine CHIT, OLP and hp-GLR3 lines. Pearson’s r is given inside the squares along with its p value.
Graduated in Agricultural Engineering at the ESALQ, in the University of São Paulo, Brazil, where she also got her MSc. in Agricultural Microbiology and Doctorate in Genetics and Plant Breeding. Subsequently, she worked as post-doctoral researcher at the University of Wageningen, in the Netherlands, and at the University of Columbia, Missouri, in the United States. Currently, she is a researcher at the Grapevine and Wine Research Center of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa).
Graduated in Biology at the University of Caxias do Sul, Brazil.Currently, she is the responsible technician for the Tissue Culture and Biotechnology Laboratory at the Grapevine and Wine Research Center of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa).
Graduated in Agronomy at the University of Brasília and proceeded to get her MSc. in Genetics and Plant Breeding at Viçosa Federal University and Doctorate in Biological Sciences (Molecular Biology) at the University of Brasília. Currently, she is a researcher at the Grapevine and Wine Research Center of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa). She is the head scientist for the grapevine breeding program at Embrapa and is responsible for the development of the novel cultivars of seedless (BRS Vitória, BRS Isis and BRS Melodia) and seeded (BRS Núbia) table grapes, juice- (BRS Carmem and BRS Magna) and wine-production (BRS Bibiana) varieties.
Graduated in Agronomy at Viçosa Federal University, where he proceeded to get his MSc. in Phytopathology. Subsequently, he got his Doctorate at the University of Brasília and worked as post-doctoral researcher at CSIC-UPV, in Spain. Currently, he is a researcher at the Grapevine and Wine Research Center of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), working with plant virology, mainly focusing the detection and molecular characterization of viruses from grapevine and temperate fruit crops.
Oxidation of white wine is a complex phenomenon that may occur both in winemaking and during bottle storage. It results in changes in the sensory, color, and aroma attributes (Ferreira, Hogg, & de Pinho, 2003). Oxygen is the limiting factor of this spoilage. Significant amounts of oxygen are stored in the headspace of the bottle, but, in addition, there are two other sources: there are variable amounts of oxygen already dissolved in the wine and some oxygen permeates through the closure. In presence of oxygen, the propensity of the wine to be altered is highly affected by temperature (Godden et al., 2001).
The primary substrates for oxidation in wines are phenolic compounds, especially flavonoids such as flavan-3-ols and their condensed products, proanthocyanidin (Fernandez-Zurbano et al., 1995). In the enological practice, compounds such as sulfur dioxide, ascorbic acid, and glutathione are considered key factors towards wine resistance to oxidation and the preservation of aroma stability (Ugliano et al., 2011).
This work analyzed white wines that were randomly oxidized based on evidence from sensory evaluation and sought to obtain a deeper insight of the oxidative phenomenon through sensory analysis, chemical parameters, and metabolomics. Five different white wines were utilized in this study: Falerno del Massico 2007 DOCG (FAL), Fiano di Avellino 2010 DOCG (FIA), Greco di Tufo 2010 DOCG (GRE), Picolit Colli Orientali del Friuli 2009 DOCG (PIC) and Verduzzo Friulano 2013 (VER). To identify and quantify differences among samples in relation to their oxidation degree, a triangle test (ISO 4120:2004) was carried out on all the wine samples that were tasted the same day.
An untargeted metabolomic screening was performed through high-resolution MS using a QTOF hybrid quadrupole time-flight mass spectrophotometer (Agilent Technologies Santa Clara, CA, USA) coupled with an UHPLC (UHPLC/QTOF-MS) chromatographic system. PCA was used as a descriptive method to examine the relationships among the variables and the grouping among samples (Lewi, 1992). Cross-validation of the OPLS-DA model was carried out to validate the model using CV-ANOVA (p < 0.01), and permutation testing was performed to avoid overfitting. Variable importance in projection (VIP analysis) was used to identify those metabolites with the highest discrimination potential (VIP score > 1.0).
The results from the chemical analyses are shown in Table 1. The wines were categorized into two groups according to their oxidation level as provided by sensory analysis: the score (high or low) was reported as the oxidation status of each sample. In detail, for GRE, FAL, PIC and VER wines, the advanced oxidative status could be deduced by the lower concentrations of total SO2, while significant differences in free SO2 levels between oxidation statuses were observed only for FIA and PIC wines. For both PIC and VER wines, the level of browning (A420nm) and a* were significantly higher in the “high ox” group. Statistics showed Pearson’s negative correlation between free SO2 and A420nm (Figure 1). Consequently, free SO2 levels were higher in samples with a low level of oxidation than in samples with a high level of oxidation.
The UHPLC/QTOF-MS metabolomic analysis was elaborated, including the classification of the oxidation status of wines. An unsupervised approach was initially carried out to better highlight the relatedness between the samples. From the fold-change-based cluster analysis (Figure 2), a significant differentiation between the samples could be observed, with the type of wine having a hierarchical priority. Nonetheless, within each type of wine, a separation of the samples based on the level of oxidation was observed. This separation was marked for FAL, PIC, and VER samples, even if FAL samples were not highly discriminated between low and high oxidation status from chemical characterization (Table 1). For GRE and FIA wines, a similar overlap between classes of oxidation has also been outlined for the chemical parameters (Table 1).
The following supervised OPLS-DA model (Figure 3) provided strong clustering according to the oxidation status. In fact, the goodness-of-fit R2Y was 0.92, and the prediction ability Q2Y was 0.71, both of which were well above the acceptability threshold of 0.5 (Rombouts et al., 2017). In the within factor of the discriminant compounds identified by VIP analysis, molecules included in the classes of anthocyanins, flavanols, flavonols, and phenolic acids were confirmed to be significantly affected when oxidation phenomena occurred in white wine, as already found (Oliveira et al., 2011). In fact, in white wines exposed to oxygen, a significant decrease in total phenols occurs, in which the flavonoid fraction remains stable and only the nonflavonoid fraction decreases (Singleton, 1989).
In our study, lower amounts of phenolic compounds, such as cyanidin 3-O-6′′-p-coumaroyl-glucoside, delphinidin 3-O-glucoside, quercetin 3-O-glucosyl-xyloside, dihydroquercetin, and quercetin 3-O-glucuronide, were observed in the highly oxidized samples. Evidence in the samples with low oxidation status outlined that hydroxycinnamates remain very important for oxidation-related issues in wine browning (Table 1) because they represent the major group of white wine phenols and possess remarkable antioxidant activity and antioxidant capacity (Oliveira et al., 2011).
Flavonols, such as quercetin, myricetin, isorhamnetin, kaempferol and the corresponding flavones, apigenin and luteolin, were highlighted as discriminant compounds of the oxidative status of white wine. 3-Methylcatechol was the only flavanol compound identified to be discriminant in the detection of the oxidative status of the white wines under study. In addition to the VIP scores, a significant difference (p < 0.05) could be observed between the two classes of oxidation for some all the compounds reported, namely delphinidin 3-O-glucoside, cyanidin, poncirin, apigenin 6-C-glucoside, kaempferol, 2-hydroxybenzoic acid.
This study indicated that the content of most of the phenolic compounds identified in the wines was diminished with oxidative aging, with the exception of 6-hydroxyluteolin, 6,8-dihydroxykaempferol, kaempferol 3-O-xylosyl-rutinoside, avenanthramide K, 7-hydroxysecoisolariciresinol caffeic acid, feruloyl tartaric acid, isoferulic acid, and p-coumaric acid ethyl ester.
These discriminant molecules detected as either significantly lower or higher in wines with low or high oxidation levels, respectively, can represent a first step for gaining insights into the complex mechanisms of random oxidation observed in bottled wines.
Elia Romanini actually is a PhD student of Agrisystem - Doctoral School on the Agro-Food System. He received his master’s degree in Food Technology from the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Piacenza) and he worked for 2 years in a craft brewery. He is currently working on sustainability of fermented beverages, in particularly on wine haze forming protein and bentonite alternatives. He spent the last 6 months as a visiting PhD student at Australian Wine Research Institute.
Donato Colangelo is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Piacenza, Italy. He received the Master Degree in food technology in 2013. His Ph.D. project has concerned the search for alternative approaches to bentonite fining in white winemaking with a special eye on the drawbacks of each alternative and considerations about the environmental impacts. As a visiting student, in 2017 he collaborated with the University of California, Davis, working on a project about the use and regeneration of cation exchange resins for wine fining aimed at finding winery and environmentally-friendly solutions. He has been working on bentonite effects on wine colloidal stability since 2014. Parallel area of study include the tartaric stability of wines, the effects of the wine matrix factors and of enological adjuvants on the kinetics of tartrate precipitation.
Ferreira, A.C.S.; Hogg, T.; de Pinho, P.G., 2003. Identification of key odorants related to the typical aroma of oxidation-spoiled white wines. J. Agric. Food. Chem., 51, 1377-1381.
Godden, P., Francis, L., Field, J., Gishen, M., Coulter, A., Valente, P., Høj, P. & Robinson, E. 2001. Wine bottle closures: physical characteristics and effect on composition and sensory properties of a Semillon Wine 1. Performance up to 20 months post-bottling. Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research, 7, 62–105.
ISO 4120:2004. Sensory analysis – Methodology – Triangle test.
Lewi P.J., 1992. Multivariate data display. In: “multivariate Pattern recognition in chemometrics”. brereton (Ed.). p.43. Elsevier, London.
Oliveira, C. M., Ferreira, A. C. S., De Freitas, V., & Silva, A. M. (2011). Oxidation mechanisms occurring in wines. Food Research International, 44(5), 1115–1126.
Rombouts, C., Hemeryck, L. Y., Van Hecke, T., De Smet, S., De Vos, W. H., & Vanhaecke, L., 2017. Untargeted metabolomics of colonic digests reveals kynurenine pathway metabolites, dityrosine and 3-dehydroxycarnitine as red versus white meat discriminating metabolites. Scientific Reports 7, Article number: 42514.
Singleton, V.L. 1989. Browning and oxidation of must and wines. In Proceedings 4th Annual Midwest Regional Grape and Wine Conference. D.V. Peterson et al. (Eds.), pp. 87-93. State Fruit Experiment Station, Southwest Missouri State University, Mountain Grove.
Ugliano, M.; Kwiatkowski, M.; Vidal S. P.; Capone, D.; Siebert, T.; Dieval, J-B.; Aagaard, O, Waters, E.J., 2011. Evolution of 3-mercaptohexanol, hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan during bottle storage of Sauvignon blanc wines. Effect of glutathione, copper, oxygen exposure and closure-derived oxygen, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 59(6), 2564-2572.
In the near future, climate change is expected to significantly influence grape and wine quality (Jones et al., 2005). In fact, temperature is the main driver of grapevine phenology (Gladstones, 2011; Bock et al., 2011). In terms of climate change, the Mediterranean region is a climate “hot spot”, where temperature is expected to increase even more than in other world regions (Jones, 2007; Moriondo et al., 2013), leading to too warm conditions for the production of specific wine types (Jones et al., 2005). Simulations of the effect of climate change on the phenology of grapevines indicate shorter growing seasons, earlier occurrences of phases and shorter phase duration in the future.
In Alikadic et al., 2019 we took into consideration a geographically complex region, with a long history of wine production, the province of Trento in the Italian Alps. Wine industry is highly specialized in the region and several grapevine varieties are traditionally grown, both in the valley bottom and in several mountainous areas. Our aim was to assess the influence of climate change on grapevine phenology, considering the different features of five varieties (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Pinot Gris) and five phenological phases (Bud burst, Flowering, Fruit set, Veraison, Harvest) at different altitudes (from 67 m to 950 m a.s.l.), carried out in two future periods of time 2021-2050 and 2071-2099 (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Location of the vineyards in the study area (central section enlarged for details), with a total of 25 836 vineyards for five different varieties.
The difference between the baseline period (the mean of 2002-2014) and the predicted scenarios increases significantly after budburst (Figure 2), following the trend of increased temperatures in the different scenarios and determining a progressive advancement of the phases as they approach harvest. Budburst shows a diverse correlation with temperature scenarios due to chilling requirements. In fact, higher temperatures can lead to a delayed attainment of this phase.
The following three grapevine phenophases (flowering, fruit set, and veraison) show the same trend in response to temperature increase. The difference between the baseline period and the predicted scenarios increases for each following phase, hence the difference is smallest for flowering and highest for veraison. All varieties have an earlier harvest date. The two varieties grown at the lowest elevations, Pinot Gris and Merlot, have the smallest difference between baseline period and F1, from five to ten days. The highest differences are for the varieties Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc and range from 10 up to 18 days. In the second time period, harvest is also advanced, reaching 30 days in the warm scenario (Pinot Noir).
Figure 2. Occurrence of five different phenological phases for five varieties. Box limits are first and third quartile.
The temperature is projected to increase more at higher altitudes, thus decreasing altitudinal gradient. As a consequence, the time span between different phenological phases at different altitudes is expected to shorten. In practice, a comparatively shorter “technical growing season” (TGS: budburst to harvest) is predicted for vineyards located at higher altitudes. The harvest time is significantly more influenced by altitude than the earliest phenological phase (budburst). It is observed that in the period 2021-2099 harvest timing is expected to decrease by approximately 3 days (100 m)-1, leading to a more concentrated harvest window for growers and especially for wineries, which are supposed to separately deal with each variety.
Figure 3. Linear regression of the difference between baseline period and future scenarios vs. altitude for the variety Chardonnay: A) CGS temperature B) TGS duration C) Budburst date change D) Harvest date change.
The expected effects of climate change are not homogeneous in a mountainous province like Trentino. In this region, a significant higher change in grapevine phenology is expected, following the higher increase in phenological forcing temperature at higher altitudes, where base values are lower. Harvest time advance will likely bring a shortening of the harvest time gap between mountain and valley-bottom sites, due to the faster phenological development at higher elevations. Hence, this change will require management adjustments in work scheduling for both grapevine growers and wine producers.
A proactive approach of grapevine growers to find new suitable areas for traditional varieties would bring benefits to quality maintenance of some wines and, at the same time, the introduction of new varieties could open a new market. In such case, a further assessment of the effects of the local environmental conditions on wine quality as well as a market assessment for new grape varieties is recommended. As a future perspective, we recommend development of a methodology for high-resolution crop suitability analysis that takes into consideration historical and predicted growing patterns from this study as well as the correlated quality parameters per variety. Furthermore, the model could be used to evaluate the impact of extreme weather events (e.g. heat waves), which have increased in the past decades as a consequence of climate change. Such exposures are expected to have an additional impact on phenology of crops and the final quality of wine. We thus wish for an inclusion of the assessment of short-term temperature extremes in future suitability and climate change adaptation.
Specializes in the study of climate structure and suitability for agriculture, and how climate variability and change influence plant growth, food production and quality. Holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. from Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Horticultural Sciences, and a Ph.D. from the University of Bologna in Agricultural Economy and Policy with a concentration in climate change mitigation and adaptation for the agricultural sector. Research interests include, agriculture; phenology, food supply chain, rural development, sustainability, climate change; quantitative methods in spatial and temporal analysis, policy; adaptation and mitigation of climate change.
Alikadic, Azra; Pertot, Ilaria; Eccel, Emanuele; Dolci, Claudia; Zarbo, Calogero; Caffarra, Amelia; De Filippi, Riccardo; Furlanello, Cesare, 2019. The impact of climate change on grapevine phenology and the influence of altitude: A regional study. Agricultural and forest meteorology. 271, 73 – 82.
Jones, G. V., White, M.A., Cooper, O.R., Storchmann, K., 2005. Climate change and global wine quality. Change 73, 319–343.
Gladstones, J.S., 2011. Wine, terroir and climate change. Wakefield Press, Kent Town, South Australia, 2011.
Bock, A., Sparks, T., Estrella, N., Menzel, A., 2011. Changes in the phenology and composition of wine from Franconia, Germany. Res. 50, 69–81.
Jones, G. V., 2007. Climate Change: observations, projections and general implications for viticulture and wine production, Working paper No. 7.
Moriondo, M., Jones, G. V., Bois, B., Dibari, C., Ferrise, R., Trombi, G., Bindi, M., 2013. Projected shifts of wine regions in response to climate change. Climate Change 119, 825–839. | 2019-04-23T18:03:54Z | https://www.ciencia-e-vinho.com/2019/04/ |
Tags: Bitcoin Cloud Mining Explained Free, bitcoin mining, Bitcoin Mining Explained - See All Hardwares and Softwares Required, Bitcoin Mining With Detailed Infographics, How to Start Bitcoin Mining, Is Bitcoin Mining Profitable?
1.2 Who Controls the Bitcoins?
1.3 What is the Limit of Bitcoins?
1.5 What Is Bitcoin Based On?
3 Note: If you want to take the guess-work out of the picture and mine bitcoins profitably with a reputable company, then use IQMining for your bitcoin mining.
4.5 How Do Bitcoins Work?
4.6 What is a Wallet?
4.8 Note: If you want to take the guess-work out of the picture and mine bitcoins profitably with a reputable company, then use IQMining for your bitcoin mining.
4.9 How Secure Are Bitcoins?
4.10 How Much Are Bitcoins Worth?
4.11 What Is a Bitcoin Made of?
4.12 Who Oversees and Regulates Bitcoins?
4.13 Can People View the History of Bitcoin Trading?
4.14 Is There a Fee Involved To Use the Bitcoins?
4.15 Can Bit Coins Be Forged?
4.16 Why Are Bitcoins So Controversial?
4.17 Can Bitcoins Be Abused?
4.21 What is the Hype When It Comes to Bitcoins?
7.14 What Is Bitcoin Mining?
7.15 Step 4: How to Use Bitcoins?
9 What Is Bitcoin Mining?
10 How to Start Mining?
12.1 Can I make money with Bitcoin?
12.3 What happens when bitcoins are lost?
12.4 Can Bitcoin become a payment network?
12.5 What decides Bitcoin’s price?
12.6 Is Bitcoin a bubble?
12.7 Will Bitcoin fall in a deflationary spiral?
12.8 Can someone buy all the existing Bitcoin?
12.9 How much will the transaction fee be?
12.10 Will I get a Bitcoin if my computer is powered off?
12.11 What does “synchronizing” mean?
12.12 How does mining help secure Bitcoin?
12.13 Is Bitcoin vulnerable to quantum computing?
12.14 What are the risks involved when I purchase Bitcoin with credit cards?
12.15 Why should I buy Bitcoin with credit cards?
12.16 Are there any disadvantages of doing so?
12.17 Can I purchase Bitcoin on multiple exchanges if the limits are low?
12.18 Is it difficult purchasing Bitcoin with a credit card only once?
12.19 Is it risky to show identification documents when purchasing Bitcoin?
12.20 After I buy Bitcoin should I store them on the exchange?
Before starting on bitcoin mining, it is important that we discuss bitcoins. Bitcoin is a form of digital currency that was created and is held electronically. Like other types of currency, bitcoins are not printed and no one controls them. Bitcoins are produced by people and they are increasingly been used in today’s world. They run on computers all over the world through software that can solve mathematical problems. It won’t be wrong to say that bitcoin is the first example of crypto currency.
Note: If you want to take the guess-work out of the picture and mine bitcoins profitably with a reputable company, then use IQMining for your bitcoin mining.
One important question that most of the people ask is that how is it any different from the normal currency. Bitcoins are used to buy things electronically but what sets it apart from the normal currency is that it is decentralized and there is no institute that controls the network. This is one of the reasons why people prefer it, because they know that their money is not controlled by a bank and it won’t be affected by any fluctuations.
Since the currency is decentralized, no one prints it and it is not controlled by the Central Bank. Bitcoins is not accountable to the population and it works on its own set of rules. The thing with normal currency is that a lot of times, banks produce a lot of money, so that they can cover the national debt. The end result of this? The currency ends up getting devalued. As opposed to that, bitcoins are created digitally and has a community of people that anyone can join. The bitcoins are mined with the help of a computer power in a distributed network.
What is the Limit of Bitcoins?
Users also have the flexibility to process transactions that are done with virtual currency. Bitcoins have their bitcoin payment network. This means that you can’t take out unlimited amount of bitcoins. The bitcoin works around the rule that miners can only mine 21 million bitcoins. However, the bitcoins can be divided into smaller parts. One hundred millionth of a bitcoin is known as Satoshi, which is the name of the founder.
The whole system was said to be developed by a software developer named Satoshi Nakamoto who proposed the idea of an electronic payment system that is based on mathematical proof. The whole point of bitcoins was to have a currency that would be without any central authority, would have low transaction fee and can be transferred electronically.
Conventional currency is based on silver or gold. Bitcoins, on the other hand, is based on mathematics and is used by people all over the world. People make use of a mathematical formula that produces bitcoins, and since the formula is easily available, anyone can have a look at it. Bitcoin came into existence on 31 October 2008 and it released its software in 2009. It is a peer to peer system and transaction takes between the people and there is no central authority that takes care of the entire thing or supervises the project. The transactions are, however, safe because they are verified with the help of network nodes and are recorded in a public ledger, known as block chain.
A lesser known fact is that bitcoins were created as a reward in a competition that allowed the user to use the computing power in order to verify as well as record the bitcoin transactions in the block chain. This activity is known as mining. People that mine successfully are rewarded with new bitcoins as well as the transaction fees. People also exchange bitcoins for services, currencies and products.
In August 2008, three people, Neal Kin, Vladimir Oksman, and Charles Bry worked on the application of the whole process and clearly stated that they had no connection to Satoshi Nakamoto, who is said to be the originator of the idea of Bitcoin. The trio registered Bitcoin.org in the same month with the help of anonymousspeech.com that helps people to buy domain names anonymously.
Satoshi Nakamoto released evidence that he came up with the idea of peer-to-peer version of electronic cash. He solved the issue of being copied and gave a foundation to the whole concept of Bitcoin.
Genesis that allowed mining to happen was launched and later in the month, the first transaction took place between Hal Finney, who was a developer, and Satoshi.
The New Liberty Standard was established to give value to bitcoin that was $1 = 1,309 BTC. The equation helped in taking into consideration the cost of electricity used to create the bitcoins.
A milestone was achieved when a programmer called Laslo Hanyecz in Florida sent 10,000BTC to a volunteer in England who had spent $25 to get Hanyecz, a pizza from Papa John’s. You would be surprised to know that the pizza is priced at £1,961,034 today.
Bitcoin was hacked that led to the generation of 184 billion Bitcoins that made the value of the coin drop from $1 to $0.80.
After the hacking episode, Bitcoin said that it can help in the fight against finance terrorist groups.
Another milestone was achieved when Bitcoin reached $1 million and the value changed to $0.50/BTC.
A drug marketplace was established and Bitcoin was used to buy and sell drugs online.
Bitcoin was at par with the US dollar.
A theft took place when a user said that 25,000 BTC were stolen from his wallet that was worth $375,000. This led to a crash of the currency from $17.51 to $0.01 per Bitcoin.
First bitcoin regulation was issued by the US Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN). The regulation consisted of a guidance report for the use and exchange of the currency. In the same month, the market capitalization reached $1bn.
It was said that Bitcoin can be used as money and to buy goods and services by Federal Judge Mazzant. Bloomberg began testing the Bitcoin data that gave it legitimacy.
The bitcoin price rose to $700 and the Senate had its first meeting about digital currency. The Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben Bernanke, was OK with the use of bitcoins. Bernanke in a letter wrote “may hold long-term promise, particularly if the innovations promote a faster, more secure and more efficient payment system”.
The Central Bank of China stopped the financial institutes from handling biotin transactions because it was not a real currency and so did not have the same status as fiat currency. Today, things have changed and almost 80% of the bitcoin transactions take place in China.
Bitcoin had the first insured storage unit and the first major online retailer to accept payments was Overstock.com.
Bitcoin was classified as asset by the HMRC and that meant VAT could not be charged on it.
More than 29,000 bitcoins were seized from the Silk Road by the US government that helped it to get legitimacy.
The first draft of proposed rules for regulating virtual currencies was released by the New York State Department of Financial Services. In addition to this, the European Banking Authority also gave its opinion about the virtual currencies and said that such exchanges were obliged entities that must be complied. Shortly after this, Global Advisors Bitcoin Investment Fund launched the first Bitcoin Investment Fund that gave security and encouraged investors to invest.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne gave positive remarks about bitcoin and purchased £20 worth of bitcoins.
TeraExchange said that the first bitcoin transaction had taken place that added a new dimension to the whole idea.
Microsoft started accepting bitcoin as a form of payment.
The New York Stock Exchange invested in bitcoin.
The result of UK treasury’s call for digital currency was announced.
At this point, you must be thinking, how does bitcoin really work? If you are new to it, you would be pleased to know that you can get started without learning about the technical details. The first thing you need to do is install the bitcoin wallet on your desktop or on the mobile phone and it will help you in generating bitcoin address that you can generate again if the need arises. You can tell the email address to your friends when they pay you or when you have to make a transaction. This is much similar to an email, but the bitcoin addresses can only be used once.
Block chain is a shared public ledger that the Bitcoin system relies on. The transactions that get confirmed are a part of the block chain. The bitcoin wallet has a look at the balance that can be spent and the new transactions are verified as spending bitcoins that are owned by the spender. Cryptography is used to arrange the block chain in a chronological order.
Transaction, just like any other, is the transfer of value that takes place between the Bitcoin wallets that become a part of the block chain. Bitcoins have a secret place for data that is known as seed or the private key that are used when a transaction is made, because it is a proof that it is made from the owner’s wallet. A signature is also required that gives added security because it stops the transaction from being altered by anyone else after it has been issued. All the transactions are broadcasted between the users, they are confirmed by the network in 10 minutes through a process called mining.
Mining is defined as a distributed consensus system that is used to confirm the waiting transactions and by including them in the block chain. It helps in reinforcing a chronological order in the block chain that helps to protect the neutrality of the network. This allows the computers to agree on the state of the system. In order to be confirmed, all the transactions are packed in a block that has to abide to the cryptographic rules verified by the network. These rules are important as they stop the previous blocks from being modified because if that happens, it will invalidate all the blocks that will follow. Mining creates something like a competitive lottery that stops the individual from adding new blocks to the block chain. This way, individuals don’t have the power to control what is included in the block chain and neither can they remove the part for their own spends.
This is a small summary in order to give you an idea about the whole system. Here are some of the frequently asked questions that will help you to learn more about the topic.
Bitcoins, also known as crypto currency, are electronic currency. It is digital public money that has been made with the help of mathematical computations and is looked after by users that are known as miners. Bitcoins are converted into codes that have monetary value.
Bitcoins are virtual coins that are not controlled by an entity. If you have bitcoins, you have something of value that you can trade in to get the goods and services that you seek. You can either spend your bitcoins or you can save them if you think their value will increase with the passage of time. Bitcoins are traded from what is known as a ‘wallet’ to another one.
Wallet in the bitcoin world refers to a personal database that can be stored in your phone or desktop.
Bitcoins can be mined by anyone who knows how to work around computers as it is done with the help of a self limiting phenomenon called mining. The reason why it is self limiting is that in totality only 21 million bitcoins can exist and out of these 11 million have been created and are used in transactions.
Bitcoin is a whole process that involves giving command to the home computer so that it can work around the clock and solve proof of work problems. Each bitcoin has a math problem that consists of 64 digit solutions. On an average, it takes two to three days to solve a bitcoin that too if the desktop works non-stop. In order to mine the bitcoins, you need to earn 50 to 75 cents after subtracting the electricity costs. If someone is an expert miner and they have powerful computers working, they can earn up to $500 after subtracting all the costs.
Small scale miners don’t tend to earn that much because they are more likely to spend in electricity than they would earn in bitcoins. Bitcoin mining can only be profitable if the person has several computers running and join a group of miners that can combine the hardware power. The hardware requirement is an important security measure that needs to be taken, so that people don’t manipulate the Bitcoin system.
In order to understand how secure they are, take the example of a precious metal. If you have precious metals, you will be taking several precautions in order to make sure that they remain safe. Similarly, users need to take appropriate measures that will prevent hackers from getting access to their personal cache. The bitcoin wallet is stored online with the help of a cloud service or offline with the help of a USB stick. The offline method is much more secure and is recommended for people that have more than one bitcoins.
One of the real risks is posed when a person fails to back up the wallet with a failsafe copy. Every time you make a transaction, you need to update a .dat file and that needs to copied and stored somewhere as a duplicate backup when you do bitcoin transactions.
The worth of one bitcoin is $450 USD and currently there are around $1.9 billion USD worth of bitcoins in use, and $2 billion can be created. Currently only 11 million bitcoins exist and the limit is set at 21 million coins that will be reached sometime around 2040.
What Is a Bitcoin Made of?
Bitcoin is made of simple data ledger called the block chain. The size of block chain is small and is somewhat similar to a long text on the phone. A bitcoin block chain has three parts. Two parts are extremely easy as it involves identifying the address that consists of 34 characters as well as knowing the history of the ledger, that is who made and sold it.
The most complex part is the third one that is referred to as the private key header log. The header is a digital signature that is used to confirm that the transactions were made for a particular bitcoin file. All of the digital signatures are unique to every user and their bitcoin wallet. The signature gives security to the bitcoins and every single trade of the bitcoin is tracked, is publicly disclosed, and has the signature of the participant attached to the bitcoin block chain that works as a confirmation. The digital signatures are given time to be confirmed and once that happens, the transactions can’t be duplicated and the bitcoins can’t be forged by people.
It is important to know that bitcoin has the address of every bitcoin wallet that it touches but the names of the individuals that own the wallet is not recorded. This, in layman terms, means that the bitcoin transactions are confirmed but they remain anonymous at the same time. The bitcoins are stored in the device of your choice but the history of the bitcoin that you own is stored in the bitcoin network and all the users can view every bitcoin’s history.
Who Oversees and Regulates Bitcoins?
Bitcoin currency is not regulated or controlled by anyone. Since it is decentralized, there is no bank that controls the entire thing. The currency remains self contained, which means that no precious metals are involved behind the bitcoins and the value of each bitcoin is within itself. Bitcoins are looked after by miners that are a network of people having personal computers used for the bitcoin network. Miners act like a swarm of ledgers and auditors for the transactions. Miners are paid for the accounting work by earning new bitcoins that they get based on their contribution to the network.
Can People View the History of Bitcoin Trading?
People can’t view your personal identity but they can have a look at the history of your wallet. The reason for this is to add transparency to the entire thing so that the bitcoins can’t be used for illegal things. The bitcoin transactions can be seen at the block chain info.
Is There a Fee Involved To Use the Bitcoins?
The servers that support the entire network that the miners work on.
The online exchange that helps to convert the bitcoins to dollars.
The mining pools that you become a part of.
The owners of some of the servers will have a onetime transaction fee that will mount up to a few cents overtime someone will send you money across their nodes. You will be charged when you will convert your bitcoin for dollars. Most of the mining pools charge 1% support fee from the users that join their pools. In addition to this, there are other transaction costs involved as well such as pool donations and transaction fees that are cheaper than conventional banking.
Can Bit Coins Be Forged?
No, bitcoins can’t be forged. The reason is that it is not financially viable to manipulate the system because there is no profit involved.
There are some reasons as to why bitcoins gained popularity. From 2011 till 2013, a lot of criminals made bitcoins just so they can have millions of dollars and keep it away from the law enforcement agencies. This is one of the reasons why the value of the bitcoins rocketed to $1000 per coin before it settled to its current price. Bitcoins became controversial because they were not regulated by the central bank and the power was given to the general public. So, the bitcoins were beyond financial institutes and no middle banks are needed to keep the bitcoin system going.
If there is a delay in confirmation, it can be an issue because in some instances, the bitcoins can be double spent during the confirmation period. The bitcoin transfer takes place peer to peer so it can take a few minutes for the transaction to be confirmed. These few seconds are very crucial as a scammer can use fast clicking and can submit another payment for the same bitcoins to a different recipient. The system will be able to catch the double spending and will cancel the second transaction. However, if the second recipient transfers the goods to the buyer before they get the confirmation, they will end up losing the good as well as the payment.
Another way bitcoins can be misused is if the pool organizers take unfair share. Bitcoin mining is achieved with the help of pooling in which a user joins the group of other miners and then the organizers of the pools get the privilege to choose how to divide the bitcoins that are discovered. So, if the organizers are dishonest, they can keep more shares for themselves.
Another way of bitcoin abuse is through mismanagement. One of the biggest examples of this is Mt. Gox. So it is important to keep into account that the people that run the online exchanges and get cash for bitcoins can be fraudulent. This time of dishonesty is rampant in other areas as well; however, one of the differences is that if it happens in a bank, they are partially insured, whereas due to a lack of central authority, bitcoins does not have an insurance coverage.
What is the Hype When It Comes to Bitcoins?
What sets the bitcoins apart is that they are not regulated by the central bank or by the government. Since there is no authority involved, government as well as the tax agencies can’t track the money. It is said that changes might take place in few years because unregulated money is not safe. There have been instances when bitcoins have been used for money laundering. Due to this, the price of the bitcoin surged upwards because scammers were purchasing the coins in large quantities.
Again, there is no middle authority that would regulate the procedure, as all the transactions take place peer to peer. Users have wallets that can’t be seized by banks and neither do they have a withdrawal limit imposed on them.
All the conventional methods of payments like bank draft, credit card charge, personal check, and wire transfer come with the possibility that the payment can be reversed by the banks involved. However, this flexibility does not come with bitcoins because once you make a transaction it is final. Similarly, you are not covered by insurance which means that if you forget the password to your wallet or lose the hard drive data, all your content will be gone forever.
Bitcoin is a completely new phenomenon changing the way we handle our finances. Since the world started printing, the authority to handle the finances was given to different banks. These banks are responsible for printing storing, and moving our virtual money. In addition to this, we are charged for the services of the middlemen. It is a known fact that when the bank needs money, they can print more and this has been abused by banks because the paper money that we have are basically checks that promise to have some value but there is no gold to back it up. Bitcoins give the power to individuals to control their own money. Bitcoins are not paper pieces that promise to have some value. Instead, they are complex packages that have immense value.
Money is scarce because it can’t be easily recreated.
Fiat- This can only be created by a small number of people that create a limited supply. Except in extreme cases of inflation, scarcity of fiats holds up well.
Gold- Gold is precious and is not easy to find, but it is still easily available in the markets.
Bitcoin- Bitcoin is controlled and most of the times it is highly predictable as well. Even if we take into account some margin of error, the bitcoin can be forecasted for at least a hundred years. The 21 million bitcoin unit should be more than sufficient for large amounts of trade.
In order to function well, the currency should not devalue with the passage of time. Earlier on people used to have the barter system but most of the times; they used to exchange cattle and eatables that expired after a while.
Fiat- Paper money is not ideal to use for the long term because it can degrade with the passage of time. However, it is important to take into account that worn out money can be easily replaced, so the actual value is not destroyed.
Gold- Gold bars are extremely long lasting. Even though the metal can get a little tarnished, the metal will not degrade and will retain most of its value.
Bitcoin- Since bitcoin is digital it does not degrade with use and can be duplicated in order to avoid file corruption.
Currency needs to be portable son that it can be used for everyday transactions and can be carried by a person.
Fiat- This is great for everyday purchases as you can easily store it in your wallet. However, for bigger transactions, more security measures are needed for added security.
Gold- Gold is quite heavy and it can’t be easily carried around.
Bitcoin- Bitcoins work great for large quantities because even the biggest of amounts can fit in a USB. In addition to this, bitcoins can be easily transferred to anyone with the help of a stable internet connection.
One important quality that currency should have is that it should be divisible, which can be achieved by having different denominations of money. This is one of the reasons why most of the items can’t be used as currency because they can’t be divided into smaller portions.
Fiat- There are so many denominators of fiat. One of the reasons why it is printed on paper is that it is easy to divide it.
Gold- Dividing gold is easy but the process is very complex.
Bitcoins- Bitcoins can be divided up to 8 decimal places and it can be extended more. This means that if you have $1, you can divide it to $0.00001.
Fiat- People identify with money and they know how it functions because if experience.
Gold- In order to see the quality of gold, you need to be trained. In order to see the authenticity of the metal, several tests are done.
Bitcoin- Bitcoin is not recognized by people because it is not tangible and software needs to be used in order to identify the block chain that needs a lot of expertise and knowledge.
In order to function as a store of value, it is important to store in large amounts. Some of the objects are hard to store because they will lose their value.
Fiat- It can be easily stored but a proper infrastructure is required for this.
Gold- It is not feasible to store gold because it would require an expert infrastructure for that.
Bitcoin- Bitcoin can be stored because the block chain can grow bigger with time. Backing up files can reduce the risk of error as well.
The units of money should be equivalent and should be replaceable.
Fiat- All the values are equal and people don’t look at the serial number to determine the value.
Gold- Gold bars need to be examined constantly to see if they are genuine or not.
Bitcoin- Bitcoins are all equal.
The currency should be easy to use so that goods and services can be bought.
Fiat- It can be used without any issue. Most of the currency can’t be used outside its geographical boundaries but it can be exchanged.
Gold- In today’s world, it is rare to buy something in exchange of gold.
Bitcoin- It only accepted by very few websites but its acceptability is growing at a fast rate.
The currency needs to be reliable in nature and it should be hard to copy. When people get the currency, they should be absolutely sure of its reliability.
Fiat- Counterfeit is high with fiat and government constantly takes steps to overcome this issue.
Gold- Although it is hard to copy gold, there are instances where people had sold bars that were filled with lead. This is one of the reasons why chemical tests are done to see the authenticity of the metal.
Bitcoin- It is not easy to copy a bitcoin thanks to cryptology. The only way bitcoins can be misused is if someone attempts to double spend the bitcoins, but such instances are very rare.
Bitcoin is still new for the people and they are exploring its characteristics. One common complaint about it is that the price is extremely volatile but the advantages are that you have a solid history and you are not regulated by anyone.
People are curious about bitcoins as for them this is a new concept and is extremely different from paper money. Earlier on, the society had barter system that evolved into exchange of gold and silver that turned into paper money, which has now taken the form of digital money.
By now you know that bitcoins are electronic money that is decentralized and is not looked after by any Central Bank. It was created in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto Dorian and helps people to buy goods and services just like fiat money.
You can send bitcoins anywhere in the world without any charge. This means that you don’t have to convert the currency and then pay the corresponding fee. In addition to this, it is extremely fast and effective.
You can retain your anonymity as the sender or the receiver. In order to do the transaction, all you need to know is the address of the bitcoin wallet receiver. This is great because you don’t have to give your personal information like bitcoins or the postal address.
The transaction is extremely quick, which means that at the end of the transaction, the receiver will be able to see the amount left in your wallet. The whole process takes only a few seconds and depends on the volume of the transactions that are occurring at that time.
Bitcoins are accepted all over the world and you can do the transaction without the need for any foreign exchange transaction.
Bitcoins transfer can’t be reversed, so if you have already done so, there is no looking back.
Bitcoins that are available in the market are very limited and according to the rules, there can’t be more than 21 million bitcoins. It is said that the limit will be met with in 2140. As of now in 2017, there are 11 million bitcoins in the market.
The prices of the bitcoins are really volatile and it highly depends on the supply and demand. This results in a self regulation of bitcoin prices, which will depend on users, so that the bitcoins are not exploited.
Bitcoins are the sole property of the owner and no can speculate with them except them.
Since bitcoins can’t be destroyed, they are long lasting and their value will not depreciate nor will they disappear.
Fiat money can be easily faked but that is not the case with bitcoins because the dynamics on which they are based on, simply can’t be faked.
A lot of illegal activities used to take place with bitcoins since they are anonymous. Most of the illegal businesses as well as mafias were using them but certain regulations have made that impossible now.
It is not easy to transport physical money but that is not the case with bitcoins. Since bitcoins are virtual in nature, there are no costs that are related to transport.
The costs associated with bitcoins are extremely low and there is no maintenance or overhead costs.
There are many ways through which you can get the coins, some of which are completely free of cost whereas there are others that will require an investment. You can go to the websites used to promote bitcoins as their purpose was that anyone in the world can get its first free satoshis. Another and a more preferred way is to mine the bitcoins. Mining is a very important part of the bitcoin world. Bitcoin mining helps in the connection of different computers that have a high processing power (ATI) with the help of mathematical algorithms that discover a series of codes, which results in the discovery of new bitcoins. An analogy is used for bitcoin, which is why it is said it will be 2140 when the last bitcoin will be issued.
There are several pages dedicated to bitcoins, and you can get the bitcoins exchanged for a small commission.
Bitcoins are stored in a digital wallet that is located in the user’s computer or on a cloud. The wallet is like a virtual bank account that allows the users; anyone can create their own crypto currency. The creator of bitcoin introduced something to the world that was never seen before. Since the creation of the coins, new criptomonedas are being used in order to improve the bitcoin system. Bitcoins have gained a lot of popularity and are now a part of our everyday economy. Since they are now publicly traded, there are bitcoin ATMS as well and there are debit cards that are linked with bitcoin exchange which helps the users to purchase with the card.
We are now a part of a world that may start functioning without the help of paper money and maybe the already existing payments methods will have to accommodate these changes as well. Since bitcoins are gaining a lot of popularity, large corporations will also become a part of the social trend and who knows, they might also start creating criptodivisa that would be accepted all over the world. We are approaching an economic model that will accommodate bitcoins, so it is a good idea to learn all the details about it.
One of the most commonly asked questions is how to get the bitcoins. One of the easiest ways of getting them is with the help of a credit card. You will be spending less than $50 and will get hold of the bitcoins within 10 minutes.
Learning to use bitcoin is just like using any other currency; just learn the basics and you will get hold of the whole thing in no time.
They are decentralized and therefore, do not need any intermediaries and is based on the concept of P2P, which means that no third party will be involved.
All the bitcoins are saved in a virtual wallet.
Bitcoins can be further divided into satoshis and 1 satoshi is equals to 0,00000001BTC.
Block Chain has the history of all the transactions and the log is public, which means anyone can see it.
Bitcoins are known as crypto currency because they make use of algorithms as well as mathematics.
In order to be confirmed bitcoin transactions need to be confirmed at least once.
Bitcoin’s value depreciates and appreciates just like normal currency.
The bitcoin industry keeps evolving in order to stay up to date.
Using a mobile wallet like Hodly Wallet.
Get bitcoins from a friend in lieu of a good or service or as a form of exchange.
Armory can be used to store large amounts of bitcoins safely.
The hybrid wallets give you control of the private keys and is easy to use. If you are looking for a good option, you can consider Copay.
Web wallets are very convenient to use but they may be a little less secure. Again, Copay is a good option.
This is a global platform that is in more than 200 countries that needs no registration and can be accessed with the help of credit and debit cards.
A lot of people accept bitcoins as a form of payments for the product and services that they have offered. If you want to do the same, you need to sign up with a bitcoin merchant which will allow you to send invoices.
Bitcoin mining requires bitcoin mining software that has been designed to process the double round sha256 hash verifications at high speed. Getting started with bitcoin can be a little tricky, so make sure that you have a lot of information before you get started.
Step 4: How to Use Bitcoins?
Using bitcoins can be very exciting because it is a new technology and can be used to purchase any goods and services.
Open Bazaar – this is a decentralized marketplace.
Airbitz- this is used to find merchants that are located near you.
Another tool that can be used is the bitcoin debit card, which allows people to load a debit card with bitcoins.
If you want to purchase gifts with the help of bitcoins, you can get it from Gyft and spend it at Amazon. Similarly, if you want to donate, you can get in touch with BitGive as they accept charity from the bitcoin community.
How close the exchange rate is to the global average price found on the index. You can compare the bitcoin’s exchange price to the bitcoin price index in order to get the best bitcoin exchange rate.
You will have to find an exchange that will accept your payment. Different payment methods have different fees, so do your research before opting for one.
Purchasing bitcoins can be extremely challenging especially if you want them in large amounts. Sometimes locating them can be a tedious project because the verification process can take up to a week. However, the purchases is instant, so just make sure that you calculate the verification level and the delivery speed before purchasing anything.
There are different buying limits with each bitcoin exchange which tends to vary according to the level of identity verification.
Different bitcoin exchanged have different fees for their services Most of the brokers sell their bitcoins directly to the buyer and charge a flat rate of 1% per transaction. If you want information regarding the fees, you should find the information on the website’s exchange.
All the exchanges that accept credit cards as a form of payment are required by the law to have information about the identity of the user. Purchasing bitcoins with cash is the best way to buy bitcoins whether it is through Bitcoin ATM or Local Bitcoins.
If you want bitcoins, you have to get it exchanged with bitcoins. In this process, the user has to trust the bitcoin exchange that they will not run away with their money. In order to avoid fraud, it is highly recommended that people opt for a regulated bitcoin exchange. Most of the exchanges list all the information about their regulatory compliance on their website, so if a website does not do so, it’s better to stay clear from them.
Here are some of the ways through which you can buy bitcoins in different countries: Let’s have a look at some of the countries.
Buying bitcoins is risky, so please purchase and use them at your own risk. The above mentioned companies were found to be reliable and are listed as a convenience. It is recommended that you do your own research before purchasing from them.
They have announced that they will start accepting Bitcoin as a payment for their tuition fees. They will be the first university to do so.
They are a budget group that offer tours in North Korea and other parts of the world. Their prices are listed on their website, where it states that they accept Bitcoin.
This is a network of more than 900 Bitcoin friendly businesses all over the world that also consists of cafes, restaurants, as well as bakeries.
The Swiss Pharmacy accepts transitional currency as well as Bitcoin.
This is a Bitcoin only marketplace that includes everything you can think of.
It has a selection of jewelry that you can buy with Bitcoin.
They make skin care products and around 25% of their proceedings go to charity. You can pay with Bitcoin at the time of checkout.
Now can book flights and hotels with CheapAir and pay with Bitcoin.
They work as the middle man, so you pay them in Bitcoin and they will pay for your flights using standard currency.
You can get digital gift cards from several brands that include Sears, Target, and Amazon by paying in the form of Bitcoin.
It sells gold and silver points that you can buy with Bitcoin.
It offers coffee to its customers and accepts Bitcoin payments.
It is an online marketing place that is cheaper than most of the sites. Wondering about the best part about this? They accept Bitcoin!
It’s an online marketplace that only accepts Bitcoin.
It works as an intermediary, and gives you the flexibility of buying from brands.
They sell martial arts weapons and accept Bitcoin payments.
They aim to promote space tourism and just announced that they will be accepting Bitcoin.
Now you can order your favorite pizza and pay PizzaForCoins in Bitcoin, who will order the pizza for you.
It is an independent board game manufacturer where you can use Bitcoin to purchase bundles and also get a 10% discount.
They offer printing services and accept US dollars and Bitcoin.
Mining is the process of adding transaction records to Bitcoin’s public ledger of the past transactions. The past ledger of transactions is referred to as block of chains and is used to confirm the transactions to the network where it has taken place. As a precautionary measure nodes are used that can differentiate between actual Bitcoin transactions and from scam attempts that are done to re-spin the coins that have been used in other places. Mining is designed in a way that it has become resource extensive and difficult because they want the number of blocks that are found everyday by the miners to remain stable. The individual blocks are a proof of work that are considered to be valid and is verified by the nodes every time they receive a block.
The main purpose of mining is to allow Bitcoin nodes to have a consensus that is tamper resistant. Miners are actually paid a fee and a subsidy for the new coins that are created. This helps in disseminating the coins in a decentralized manner and coaxes the people to provide additional security for the system.
One easy way to grasp this little complicated process is to think of mining as gold mining. Why? Because bitcoins, just like precious metals are also limited in quantity because the set limit for bitcoins is 21 million and the more it is taken, the more difficult it becomes to find it. One important thing to know is that mining doesn’t necessarily result in a bitcoin but they are given to miners as a reward for validating the transactions that were done previously.
In order to bitcoin people need a desktop computer as well as a special program. Miners compete with other miners in solving mathematical problems and they work on a block with the help of cryptographic hash functions.
A hash function is a one way encryption that works without a key. It works by taking an input and in return it gives a fixed length hash value. If any character of the original input would be changed, you will get a completely different hash value. Since it functions like this, it is extremely hard to determine the output but the hash functions can be used as a proof of validation as well as work. The bitcoin miners work to locate that input that will give the specific hash value, which will be a number with multiple zero at the beginning. These are very complicated, but that makes it difficult for miners to cheat on other people because a guess game can’t be used.
Miners keep on using their computer until they have a hash value that is close to the target. If you are the first person to do this, then you are the person who has mined the value. The person, who accomplishes this, will get a reward of 12.5b bitcoins. Though it’s true that the winner doesn’t actually make the bitcoin, but the coding of the algorithm is set to reward the person for doing the mining as well in helping to verify the block chain.
All the blocks are created in a line and this also includes the hash of the previous block. It is important you know that all the blocks have a hash of the prior blocks, so that it can be proved that its positioning is later in the sequence. A lot of times, the competing blocks are created by different miners but they contain different transactions of the bitcoins that are spent in different places. The block that has the largest proof of work is picked for the block chain. This is done in an attempt to validate the transactions because it is hard for another person to come up with another block of chains and then they would have to convince everyone else that their work is right because it has the proof of work. One thing that the Bitcoin community fears is that one person or a group will be able to get 51% hold of the block chain and would use that to their advantage.
Bitcoin miners love cryptography and they generally have a spare computer to validate the block chain and earn the reward. Since the value of the bitcoin has gone up, people see it as a business and have started investing in it. They have warehouses in areas were the electricity prices are low so that they can cut the costs. It may be difficult to get profit from mining, but there are a lot of people that do it as a hobby.
The number of bitcoins released with each mine block is known as the block reward and it is halved every 210,000 block or four years. The whole thing started in 2009n with 50 bitcoins and then reached 25 in the year 2015. The lessening number of block rewards will reach a total release of bitcoins that will approach 21 million. Block rewards works as a great incentive for most of the miners and the transaction fee for this is said to represent 0.3% of the revenue of mining.
It is seen that the block reward is diminishing with the passage of time and soon the number will reach zero, which means that there will be less incentive for people to mine the bitcoin in order to get the block reward. This can be a security threat for the entire system because the incentives that will be provided with the block reward will be replaced with the transaction fee.
The transaction fee is a little amount of the bitcoin that is included in the bitcoin and is given as a reward to the miner, who mines the block in which the transaction is included. The transaction fee is mandatory for the person doing the transaction. So, the transaction fee can be used by the miners in order to verify their transactions. The bitcoin client, which was released by the team to send the transactions have a minimum fee rule that is applicable by default.
Anyone that has the right hardware, a powerful software, and access to the internet can be a part of the mining. In the beginning, mining was done with the help of CPUs of desktop computers. It was seen that the graphics processing units (GPUs) or the graphic cards were much more effective than simple CPUs and that is how they gained popularity. With time, a hardware called ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) came into being and became popular, since it was especially made for bitcoin mining. The hardware was released in 2013 and it was has been improved since and constant upgrades are introduced to the market.
Note: If you want to take the guess-work out of the picture and mine bitcoins profitably with a reputable company, then use Harshflare for your bitcoin mining.
As mentioned above, mining rewards are given to the miner who discovers the solution because it increased the possibility that that there will be a participant who will discover a solution that will be equal to the portion of the total mining power of the network. Users that have a small percentage of the mining power have a very little change of finding the next block on their own. For example if a person will buy one mining card for a few thousand dollars that will still be a very small fraction of the total mining power. Since there is a slim chance of finding the next block, it takes time for the miner to find the block and that raises the level of difficulty. This is a problem and the solution is mining pools because they are operated by a third party that is in touch with the group of miners. They work in a group and distribute the payouts so that the miners have bitcoins when they activate their miners. A very good and profitable mining pool is Harshflare.
The main costs that the miners have to take care of are the cost of electricity as well as the hardware for doing mining as well as for cooling and ventilation. Some investors have opened up their warehouses in places where the electricity is affordable. The biggest mining operation is located in North America, in the Columbia River in Washington and it is run by the MegaBigPower. The reason why this location was chosen was there is ample hydroelectric power and the electricity prices are extremely low in the country. Another popular location is in Iceland and is run by CloudHasing. The electricity in the area is generated from geothermal as well as hydroelectric source. These resources are not only cheap but they are renewable as well.
The IRS issued a tax guidance according to which the income that is generated with the help of mining is counted as a self employment income and tax will be applicable in it. FinCEN, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, which is a part of the U.S Treasury, analyzed the financial transactions so that crimes like terrorist financing as well as money laundering can be controlled. The FinCEN has also given a guidance clarifying that the miners are not considered as Money Transmitters under the Bank Secrecy Act and similarly, the cloud mining services will not be counted as Money Transmitters.
The bitcoins are brought into circulation with the help of bitcoin mining. The miners compete against each other in an attempt to deploy the latest bitcoin mining chips and choose to function in places where the electricity is cheap because more computing power keeps the profitability in check.
Bitcoin mining consists of miners and the network compensates them by releasing the bitcoin for the people that contributed to the computational power. The compensation comes in the form of newly issued bitcoins as well as the transaction fee that is included in the transactions that are validated during the mining. Now that you know so much about mining, this chapter will discuss how you can you start mining.
Note: If you want to take the hard-work out of the picture and mine bitcoins profitably with a reputable company, then use Harshflare for your bitcoin mining.
There are a few cases in which you can buy the hardware with the help of bitcoins, but an easy way out is to purchase it on Amazon. You can also have a look at the bitcoin charts.
Earlier the mining process was done with the help of a video processor card or a CPU but that may not be possible today. The Bitcoin ASIC chips are great because they offer a performance that is much better than the old systems that were used in the earlier days. Anything other than this uses a lot of electricity and processing power, which means that you can’t maximize profit. There are several companies out there which offer great systems that are especially made for bitcoin mining. Another great option is to use cloud mining contracts that simplify the process but may increase the risk.
The Hashflare offers SHA-256 mining contracts and this can be mixed with the automatic payouts, but the customers have to buy at least 10 GH/s.
Genesis Mining has the honor of being the largest cloud mining provider and has three differently priced plans.
This has been functional since 2012 and uses the ASIC chips so that it can deliver maximum performance and can be efficient as well.
It is an aggregator of block chain and helps with the stimulation of the game format. People use cloudpacks that are used to build an index from pre-picked sets of real world markets.
It offers mining and cloud services for Bitcoin.
This is operated by Bitmain and uses more than 600 Antminer S7s for rent. The rate of the 600 Antminer S7s as of now is $1200.
All their contracts are currently sold out.
It helps in connecting Bitcoin service buyers with sellers.
This is great for newbies because they can start bitcoin mining for as little as $10.
It has 35 TH/s of mining equipment for rent.
Note: If you want to take the hardwork out of the picture and mine bitcoins profitably with a reputable company, then use Harshflare for your bitcoin mining.
Before getting into this, it is important that you learn whether the mining will be profitable for you or not. The best way to go about is to use the mining calculator because you will only have to enter the data of the Bitcoin miner that you plan on buying, and it will tell you how long will it take for you to make a profit. However, one thing is for sure,- you need a few hundred dollars to get started. You can also read different reviews in order to understand which miner will be best for you.
After getting the hardware it is time to use the special program and use that for mining. There are several programs that can be used for mining but the most famous ones are CGminer and BFGminer. These are command line programs but are easy to learn.
What will be the reward method? Some of the common ones are Pay per Share, Score Based, Proportional, and PPLNS.
What is the fee that is charged for mining and what do they charge for withdrawal of the funds?
How frequently is a block found? This is important, as you will be rewarded according to it.
How can you withdraw the funds?
Do they provide any sort of stats?
Is the pool stable enough to join?
Make sure that you do thorough research before joining a pool.
You need to get a bitcoin wallet because that will be the place where you will be receiving the bitcoins that you mine. A bitcoin wallet is just like an ordinary wallet but you have the flexibility of choosing a mobile, software, or a web based one. The bitcoins are sent to the wallet with the help of a unique address that only belongs to you. When you are setting up the bitcoin wallet, the most important part is to save it from the potential threats with the help of a two factor authentication or by keeping it offline so that there is no access to the Internet. You can get a wallet by downloading software to your computer.
Now that you know all the steps, you are prepared to start mining. You can connect your miner to a power outlet and then check whether it is connected to the computer via a USB or not. After doing this, you need to open the mining software and then enter the mining pool with the help of the user name and the password. After this is done, you can start mining for bitcoins.
The world of bitcoin keeps changing, so it is important for you to stay updated if you want to maximize your profits. It is important you know that bitcoin mining is not something that everyone can do, so perhaps it will be easier to purchase the bitcoins with money because sometimes that has a higher return on investment than simple mining.
Earlier on, miners used to use CPUs to mine but since they were not fast enough, they moved to graphical processing unit (GPU) because that was able to hash data at a faster rate and used less power as well. The bitcoin mining devices were very easy to use and were based on field-programmable gate array (FPGA) processors and were attached to the computers with the help of a USB connection.
Today miners use bitcoin mining hardware like the Application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) miners and are mined at unprecedented speeds without using too much electricity. Most of the companies have used innovative technology to make excellent products.
Bitcoin mining hardware may handle the entire mining process but the mining process is equally important.
If you are a solo miner, the software will help you to connect with the block chain .
If you are mining with a pool, the software will connect you to the mining pool.
If you are connected to cloud mining, there is no need to get the mining software.
Breadwallet- This is recommended for iOS.
Mycelium- This is recommended for Android.
If you think that you will be earning a lot of money from bitcoin mining, it is recommended that you get a more secure wallet which is the hardware one.
Profit sharing system that allows you to know whether mining is profitable or not.
Dynamic frequency scaling in which the BTCMIner chooses the frequency of the highest rate of valid hashes.
It has a ready to use Bitstream for which you don’t need any software or license.
It also has a FPGA board that has a USB interface that is used for programming and communication.
This can be used for Mac OS 10.6.
The main differences between all of these models lie in the expandability and power. The price range from $2,499 – 5,999 for base units and can help in earning 0.2 up to 0.85 Bitcoins a day. Learn more about the Fast-Hash One series here.
This is powered by CoinTerra’s own in-house ASIC chips that are known as the GoldStrike I. It has four four ASIC chips that can earn you 1.1 Bitcoins a day. The price of the machine is $5,999. Learn more about the CoinTerra’s TerraMiner IV here.
The hashtag sierra is powered by three Golden Nonce ASIC chips and has a nominal hash rate of 1.2 TH/s. It can earn you 0.66 Bitcoins a day and is priced at $6,300. Learn more about the Hashfast’s Sierra here.
The Black Arrow Prospero X-3 is powered by 20 Black Arrow Minion ASIC chips that give a hash rate of 2TH/s. It can help in earning 1.1 Bitcoins per day and is priced at $6,999. Learn more about the Black Arrow’s Prospero X-3 here.
The KnCMiner Neptune boasts of four modular 20nm ASIC board that give a hashing speed of 3TH/s. You can earn 1.66 Bitcoins a day and the machine is priced at $12,995. Learn more about the The KnCMiner Neptune here.
Wondering where you can buy Bitcoin machines from? Click here to get all the information.
Bitcoin will not make you rich overnight because it is an emerging technology and it is important to understand the basic economic rules. Bitcoin is an innovative technology that is opening up so many possibilities for the people that also includes some risks. There are ways to make money with Bitcoin with the help of speculation as well mining. It is recommended that people evaluate all the risks and costs before taking a decision.
There is an acceptable level of privacy for all the transactions made. It is not completely anonymous like cash transactions but it does offer good privacy. The use of Bitcoin leaves public records but there are mechanisms that protect privacy.
If a person loses their wallet, it has the same effect as removing the money from circulation. All the lost Bitcoin are a part of the block chain but the lost ones become dormant since no one knows the private keys that could be used to spend again.
Can Bitcoin become a payment network?
The Bitcoin network has a large number of transactions per second and they are still working to remove the limitations and fulfill the future requirements. The continuing optimization and specialization has made it a specialized payment network.
Bitcoin’s price highly depends on supply and demand. If the Bitcoin demand increases the price will increase and vice versa. There are few Bitcoins in circulation but new Bitcoins are being created at an accelerated rate, which means that a certain level of inflation has to be followed to keep the price stable. Since the Bitcoin market is small it would take a significant amount to make any change.
A rise in the price does not constitute of a bubble but an over evaluation that leads to a downward direction can constitute of a bubble. These choices are based on human action that causes the price to fluctuate as the market seeks price discovery.
Will Bitcoin fall in a deflationary spiral?
According to the spiral theory if the prices fall, people will move the purchases in future in order to get a benefit from the prices. The fall in demand will cause the sellers to lower the price to stimulate the demand. Bitcoin is not like fiat currency so it was not designed as a deflationary currency. However it will be factually correct to say that it will remain stable.
Can someone buy all the existing Bitcoin?
This may not be possible because only a few Bitcoin are available for sale and the price will change according to the supply and demand.
The transactions are processes without any fee but for that the user will have to wait for a few days or weeks. The fees may be subjected to change but normal fee is a small amount. The transaction fee is basically applied to give protection to the miners and to secure the network.
Will I get a Bitcoin if my computer is powered off?
Yes, you can as you will see the Bitcoin whenever you will see the wallet application. They appear on the public ledger that is shared with all the devices on the network. Whenever you will turn your computer on, you will see the Bitcoin.
Long synchronization is only needed with full node clients. It is the process of downloading and verifying all the transactions in the network.
Mining is the same like lottery an it is not easy for people to add new blocks of transactions in the block chain. This protects the entire network by preventing any individual from getting the power to block the transactions. It also prevents any individual from replacing parts of their block chain.
Yes, it relies on crypto currency. Quantum computers don’t exist yet and if they will be invented the protocol of Bitcoins will be upgraded accordingly.
What are the risks involved when I purchase Bitcoin with credit cards?
It is important that you choose companies that have a great reputation as well as a regulatory compliance. The above mentioned companies are all reliable when it comes to buying and selling of Bitcoin with credit card. All the personal information associated with it is sensitive information that can result in identity theft, therefore, make sure you use a website that is secure. Other than this, the charges that are classified as cash advances in which case different fees and policies can apply. So, make sure that you are familiar with your credit card company and how they handle Bitcoin.
Why should I buy Bitcoin with credit cards?
If you want speed and convenience, you should buy Bitcoin with a credit card or a debit card. This is just like doing online shopping that a lot of people are familiar as well as comfortable with.
Are there any disadvantages of doing so?
Using credit cards to purchase Bitcoin may be fast and convenient, but purchasing it in large amounts can be difficult as well as pricey because of the transaction and the processing fee. Furthermore, the risk of fraud is also high if one is not careful.
Can I purchase Bitcoin on multiple exchanges if the limits are low?
Yes, you can do that but the limits are very low and can be like $50 per day. So if you want to purchase from multiple places, you will have to gather a large amount.
Is it difficult purchasing Bitcoin with a credit card only once?
Bitcoin transactions are irreversible so merchants generally have to wait up to a month to receive the cash after the payment of the credit card. So since the whole process is irreversible, the selling of Bitcoin can be extremely risky due to fraud. Thankfully, there are some fraud prevention techniques that help. You can set up an account Bitcoin provider like purse that would accept payment gift cards in order to buy the Bitcoin. These payment cards are extremely helpful because they can be used for exchanging Bitcoin when other options are not available.
Is it risky to show identification documents when purchasing Bitcoin?
Yes, purchasing Bitcoin from regulatory compliant Bitcoin exchange is quite risky. Don’t do it unless you are absolutely sure that they will handle all your documents carefully and will respect your security as well as privacy. Furthermore, the online service provider can get hacked, and your information can get stolen.
After I buy Bitcoin should I store them on the exchange?
It is highly recommended that you don’t do that as storing the Bitcoin in the wallet is the safest way to go about. When you purchase Bitcoin, you should immediately move them to a safe location so that you have absolute control. People have lost hundreds of dollars just because their Bitcoin exchanges got hacked and that is how they lost the customer funds as well. All this can be prevented if you control the private keys yourself and don’t share this information with anyone else.
If you want to take the guess-work out of the picture and mine bitcoins profitably with a reputable company, then use IQMining for your bitcoin mining.
You will have freedom of payment because you will control your own money.
The security condition is great and your transactions will be safe.
Most of the information is transparent but the personal information will remain hidden.
People can verify the transaction with the help of the bitcoin block chain.
The fee for bitcoin payments is extremely low.
The risk for merchants is low but it is important to know that a transaction can’t be reversed.
There are no third party seizures since it is decentralized.
There are no taxes involved.
There is no tracking involved.
There is no risk of charge backs.
Bitcoin was the strongest currency consecutively for in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. In the year 2015 and 2016, the bitcoin was priced at $700 per piece. The reason why people trust this is that there money is not controlled by a third party. People are readily accepting bitcoins as payments, so it is safe to assume that we are moving towards a cashless future.
This is an informative and useful article about Bitcoin Mining. In this article we know how Bitcoin work. | 2019-04-21T16:26:20Z | https://www.valforex.com/2017/04/bitcoin-mining-mining-explained-simple-terms.html |
West African villages like this one, Siguiri in Guinea, have been the scene of significant clashes between perceptions of the environment. European explorers and rulers assumed that the mix of trees, pasture, and barren ground must mean that this region was once entirely forested, but human overuse had degraded the environment to grassland or bare ground in places. Policies were put in place to limit villagers' animal herds and gathering of firewood to encourage the forest to regrow. But research has since shown that the perception of the land as degraded was based on a false assumption of natural climax vegetation that can only be degraded by human activity. In fact, this whole area would be treeless in the absence of humans. Fertilization by human activity was what enabled these trees to grow (Fairhead and Leach 1995).
Figure 1: Mt. Hood National Forest, Oregon.
Take a look at the forest depicted in Figure 1. What do you see? Do you see a beautiful landscape to be appreciated? A harsh and dangerous wilderness? Evidence of the might and majesty of the Creator? A resource to be exploited for profit? All of these have been important ways of thinking about forests -- and none of them is the "correct" way to look at the forest. There is no scientific proof that the forest really is a resource rather than a place of beauty. However, different ways of looking at the forest will lead to different ways of interacting with it. A dangerous wilderness is likely to be cleared and tamed, while evidence of the Creator would be preserved for future generations. For this reason, it is important to think about how people form different perceptions of their environment.
We commonly think of perception of the environment as a passive process. People just sit back and absorb data from the environment. Under this way of thinking, culture acts as a distortion. There is one right way to think about the environment, but culture can bias or distort your understanding. We can call this belief in one correct perception of the environment objectivism. But the idea of perception as passive and culture as distortion is inconsistent with what geographers and anthropologists have found about how people from different cultures interact with the world (Ingold 2000). A better way of thinking about environmental perception is that perception is active. People seek out information about their environment based on what they need to know for their current projects or interests. In this way of thinking, culture acts as a guide or roadmap. The beliefs and behaviors that make up culture tell you what kind of things you are likely to encounter in the environment, how you can find them, and what you can do with them. Without this culture, the environment would just be an incomprehensible mass of sensations. Some people have taken this theory of active perception as justification for being a relativist. Relativism is the opposite of objectivism -- it's the belief that no way of perceiving the environment is any better than any other. While relativism may be appealing, it is also a poor way to think about the diversity of perceptions of the environment. Pragmatism provides an alternative to either objectivism or relativism. Pragmatism says that we should judge perceptions of the environment according to how useful they are for people in getting along with their lives. There is a real environment out there (as objectivism says), and so some perceptions will lead you to ruin. But no one perception necessarily works best for every situation. Instead of there being one right way to perceive the environment, there may be multiple ways of perceiving it, each of which may be more or less useful for a given person's projects and interests (Dewey 1958).
Figure 2: Grid-Group Cultural Theory's four worldviews. Each worldview is represented as a surface with a ball resting on it. Individualism's surface is curved like a cup, so no matter how hard it is shaken (i.e. how much the environment is disturbed), the ball will come back to rest at the bottom. Fatalism's surface is flat, meaning a little bump could send the ball rolling unpredictably in any direction. Hierarchy's surface is a cup with a low lip, meaning that any disturbance that exceeds that limit will cause the ball to fall out and roll away. Egalitarianism's surface is a peak with the ball balanced precariously on top, so any disturbance could cause catastrophe.
Individualism is a worldview based on freedom for individuals to compete for wealth and status. Individualists believe that as long as no artificial restraints are placed on anyone, then the marketplace will allow the best and most deserving to rise to the top. People who fall behind have only themselves to blame. Individualists tend to see the environment as resilient and robust. Nature will take care of itself and bounce back from whatever people do to it. Therefore, people can be free to exploit it in order to get ahead -- there is no need for any restrictions on freedom in order to promote conservation.
Fatalism is a worldview based on dealing with luck. Fatalists do not feel in control of their own fortunes. Both social and environmental forces are unpredictable and uncontrollable. From a fatalist perspective, all that you can do is to enjoy your good luck while it lasts, and hunker down and try to survive when your luck turns bad. Any attempt to make long-term plans or to achieve social change is a waste of effort.
Hierarchy is a culture based on the promotion of order. Hierarchs seek a society in which everyone knows their place in the overall scheme of things, and people are ranked in order of holiness, expertise, seniority, or some other organizing principle. In this system, people lower on the chain have a duty to obey, while those in positions of authority have a duty to look out for the best interests of all of the people below them. Hierarchs see the world as having definite limits to how people can legitimately interact with it. It's fine to use resources, but only up to a certain limit. It is necessary to have experts, such as priests or scientists, who can determine where these limits lie, and then create and enforce rules so that nobody transgresses them.
Egalitarianism is a culture based on equality and solidarity. Egalitarians aim to live by a creed of sharing and brotherhood/sisterhood, in which no one person has authority or power over any other. The egalitarian way of life depends on shared commitment by all members -- everyone has to go "all in" for the good of the group. Egalitarians tend to see the environment as extremely fragile. Fears of a catastrophic collapse � whether it be Armageddon or nuclear meltdown -- help to keep up people's enthusiasm for focusing on the good of the group and avoiding any search for individual advancement.
To illustrate how these worldviews work in practice, we can consider applying them to the issue of climate change (Douglas et al. 2003). An individualist would tend to be skeptical that climate change is occurring. After all, how can human activity mess up something as big and resilient as the global climate system? Perhaps people who warn of climate change are just coming up with excuses to restrict the freedom of competition because they're afraid of losing. If an individualist does become convinced of the reality of climate change, they will tend to trust the market to fix things. Environmental "problems" are really just opportunities for some entrepreneur to make a profit by figuring out a solution to sell. The worst thing that we can do is to make rules that inhibit the flexibility and creativity of competitive individuals.
A fatalist would distrust any predictions of the likely consequences of climate change. It would be easy for some unexpected catastrophe -- or some unexpected boon -- to arise. A fatalist approach to climate change would focus on adaptation. If we think about ways that we can ride out a crisis, it will serve us well whatever happens. And if it doesn't, then fate has just dealt us a bad hand.
A hierarch would focus on ways to regulate and control climate change. Hierarchs would want to scientifically determine the critical threshold at which climate change becomes irreversible and catastrophic -- is it 450 parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere? 350 parts per million? Once this is determined, rules can be made that will ensure that nobody transgresses the threshold. This might come in the form, for example, of emissions permits that restrict the total emissions to under a certain amount. A hierarch's biggest fear is disorder -- the anarchy of the market in which people have no respect for the rules that ought to limit their behavior.
An egalitarian sees climate change as confirmation that the environment is fundamentally fragile. Improper behavior aimed at aggrandizing the individual or society has put us out of balance with nature, and now we are getting our comeuppance. The egalitarian solution lies in adopting a simple way of life. Any interference with nature's balance is potentially dangerous, so we should be aiming to move quickly to a zero-carbon society rather than permitting some acceptable amount of emissions.
By now, you are probably thinking that these four worldviews are simplistic. This is correct. The four worldviews of Grid-Group Cultural Theory represent four tendencies that people fall into when trying to put together a consistent outlook that will motivate a clear plan of action. But the world is far more complex than any of these worldviews can account for. In fact, the world is more complex than any one worldview can account for. Thus, it would be wrong for an objectivist to try to argue that one GGCT worldview is the one right worldview.
However, it would also be wrong for a relativist to argue that the four worldviews are all equally good, and thus it doesn't matter how we perceive the world. Grid-Group Cultural Theory is a pragmatist theory. It holds that each worldview captures an important part of the picture. Problems and solutions that one worldview misses can be picked up by the others. To have a truly functional society, it is necessary to have representatives of all four worldviews giving their contributions. In any one situation, one worldview may be the closest to the truth of how the world works, and thus following that worldview's recommendations will lead to success. But this nice match never lasts forever. Eventually, the environment will surprise you. It then becomes necessary to shift into a different worldview in order to get a grip on what the environment is doing and figure out how you should respond (Thompson 1997).
Consider the climate change example in the context of a pragmatist view of environmental perception. All four worldviews have something important to contribute. Individualists warn us not to impose regulations without due cause, because they can stifle the ability of societies to solve their own problems. Fatalists remind us that no prediction can ever be completely accurate, and so we should be prepared to encounter unexpected luck. Hierarchs encourage us to seek better information and trust reliable experts. And egalitarians are quick to raise awareness of potential catastrophes that any given policy may lead to.
Various perceptions about the environment get spread through discourses. A discourse is a shared way of thinking or speaking about an issue. A discourse promotes a certain worldview and gives it a specific application to certain cases (Dryzek and Berejikian 1993). Discourses usually take the form of narratives (Roe 1994). They tell a story, with characters and settings, about how the world got the way it is and how we should shape our future. It may be easy to poke holes in a prevailing discourse, but it's usually necessary to offer a competing discourse in order to change people's minds.
Discourses are a common way that ideology is promoted. If people get so used to thinking in a certain way that they have trouble imagining the world in a different way, then they might unknowingly treat one group's interests as identical to the interests of everyone. But discourses can also help strike back against inequality. They can give people resisting an ideology an alternative story to help them see how their cause is right.
Discourses are unavoidable in human-environment interaction. We need to have some way of talking about our environment in order to coordinate our activities with others and figure out what we should be doing. But discourses can become entrenched, so that they continue to guide our behavior even when they have little basis in how the world works and may even make things worse (Fairhead and Leach 1995).
Discourses about the environment can serve many purposes. Sometimes arguments over how the environment works are just proxy battles for a larger political fight. An example, wildfire policy in Australia (Pyne 1991, Collins 2006), can serve to illustrate how discourses become established and are challenged.
Figure 3: Aftermath of Black Saturday bushfires, Kinglake, VIC. The fire that destroyed this home, along with many others, sparked several competing discourses. One placed the blame on environmental regulations that restricted fuel reduction burning, while another asked whether human interference with nature -- through building in unsuitable spots and making extreme fire weather worse through climate change -- might be to blame.
In Australia, Aboriginal people developed a discourse that said fire is a crucial part of how humans should relate to the land. While the specifics of the discourse varied between ecosystems and cultural groups, the basic tenets were similar. Deliberately lit fire was a practical tool for encouraging the growth of desirable plants, chasing game, and reducing the risks of big fires. Moreover, fire was also part of the stewardship responsibility people had -- land that had not been burned in some time was seen as abandoned and messy, in need of someone to "clean up country." Fire thus helped to maintain the Aboriginal way of life in which each individual, clan, and tribe had particular responsibility for caring for certain territories.
When British settlers first arrived in Australia, they brought with them a discourse about fire that had made sense in the wet, heavily populated regions of western Europe. To them, fire was a dangerous and destructive force, which destroyed precious resources. Anyone who deliberately lit fires, like the Aborigines did, was an irresponsible manager of the land. The British government, and later the independent Australian government, set up programs to eradicate fire from the land. It was believed that if fire was suppressed long enough, the ecosystem would shift into a different composition of plants and become fire-resistant. This shift would aid the larger British-Australian project of making efficient, intensive use of Australia's resources.
The anti-fire ideology of the British-Australian elites turned out to be a failure by the pragmatist criterion of enabling successful life in the environment. A series of major fires, most notably the "Black Friday" fires of 1939, convinced Australia's leaders that a 180-degree change in fire policy was needed. Instead of trying to suppress fires, the new discourse about Australia's environment held that the only way to avoid catastrophic fires was to do frequent controlled burns across the entire landscape. This new discourse was dubbed the "Australian strategy," because Australia was the first major industrialized nation to adopt it. The Australian strategy contrasted with the United States' continued adherence to the fire suppression discourse. Thus it fit nicely with Australians' desire to highlight the distinctiveness of their environment and way of life.
Starting in the 1970s, a new discourse challenged the "Australian strategy." Environmentalists argued that frequent burning was detrimental to many species, who needed a much longer interval between fires to survive. Where the Australian strategy saw Australian ecosystems as resilient to disturbances or even dependent on them, the new environmentalist discourse presented these ecosystems as more fragile and vulnerable to human interference. Rather than the "proof" of a major event in which the prevailing discourse failed to work, the environmentalist discourse rested its justification on the authority of ecological science.
The conflicting discourses were thrown into higher relief by the "Black Saturday" fires of 2009 (Figure 3). This series of fires was the most catastrophic and deadly in Australia's history (Teague et al. 2010). For some people, these fires only confirmed the validity of the old discourses. For example, one major faction argued that the fires were so destructive because fire services had given in to the environmentalists and stopped doing enough controlled burning. If the commitment to the Australian strategy were renewed, these people said, the environment would once again be successfully managed. One version of the environmentalist discourse, meanwhile, shifted its scale to take a broader view. It's not just human interference in the fire cycle through too-frequent controlled burns that's the problem -- it's also human interference in the larger climate system. According to these people, climate change had caused record temperatures and droughts, creating conditions under which no amount of controlled burning could tame the inevitable inferno. The only solution, then, was to increase efforts in Australia and worldwide to stop climate change. Another discourse held that fire catastrophes were now inevitable. Attempts to stop the fires would be a waste of effort. Instead, people should simply abandon homes in high-risk areas, or failing that, build shelters in which they could survive the next firestorm.
To evaluate which of these discourses is the best one would require a lengthy investigation of the evidence that is beyond the scope of this chapter. But we know enough to outline the way we could look for a solution. Consistent with pragmatism, we would aim to figure out which discourse would enable Australians to live a valuable way of life given their environmental conditions. And consistent with Grid-Group Cultural Theory, we would be hesitant to assume that one discourse had all the answers and the others would never have anything to contribute.
Collins, Paul. 2006. Burn: The Epic Story of Bushfire in Australia. Crows Nest NSW: Allen and Unwin.
Dewey, John. 1958. Experience and Nature. La Salle, Ill: Open Court Pub. Co.
Douglas, Mary, and Steven Ney. 1998. Missing Persons: A Critique of the Social Sciences. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Douglas, Mary, Michael Thompson, and Marco Verweij. 2003. Is time running out? the case of global warming. Daedalus 132 (2): 98-107.
Dryzek, John S., and Jeffrey Berejikian. 1993. Reconstructive democratic theory. American Political Science Review 87 (1): 48-60.
Fairhead, James, and Melissa Leach. 1995. False forest history, complicit social analysis: rethinking some West African environmental narratives. World Development 23 (6): 1023-1035.
Ingold, Tim. 2000. The Perception of the Environment: Essays on Livelihood, Dwelling and Skill. New York: Routledge.
Pyne, Stephen J. 1991. Burning Bush: A Fire History of Australia. New York: Henry Holt and Company.
Roe, Emery. 1994. Narrative Policy Analysis: Theory and Practice. Durham: Duke University Press.
Teague, Bernard, Ronald McLeod, and Susan Pascoe. 2010. 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission Final Report.
Thompson, Michael. 1997. Security and solidarity: an anti-reductionist framework for thinking about the relationship between us and the rest of nature. Geographical Journal 163 (2): 141-149.
Thompson, Michael, Richard Ellis, and Aaron Wildavsky. 1990. Cultural Theory. Boulder: Westview Press. | 2019-04-22T02:51:58Z | http://debitage.net/humangeography/perception.html |
resistance to trampling wear is the resistance of a surface to wear and tear (for unglazed tiles) or to change its appearance (for glazed tiles). According to UNI EN norms, abrasion resistance is classified with PEI grades, where PEI 1 corresponds to the lowest resistance and PEI 5 corresponds to the most resistant tiles. For unglazed tiles, abrasion resistance increases with the decrease of water absorption therefore it is high in the case of porcelain stoneware. The abrasion resistance value can also change depending on the treatments carried out on the tile surface: in the case of terracotta tiles, for instance, the impregnation using natural or synthetic substances and for porcelain stoneware any polishing treatment. For glazed tiles, abrasion resistance exclusively depends on the glaze: light colour glazes tend to show the effects of use more, also due to their more complex cleaning.
the key safety feature for a tiled surface is its slip resistance. A slippery surface creates an architectonic barrier making walking on the surface difficult and treacherous, particularly for those suffering from either a permanent or temporary physical disability.
stage of the productive process that has the function of drying the ceramic mix (slip) following the wet milling of raw materials, in order to obtain atomized powders that will undergo a semi-dry pressing. The slip is sprayed in a hot air current, therefore the drops dry quickly and become spherical grains that are internally hollow and that contain a moisture residue (ranging from 4 to 8%) as this is useful as a lubricating agent during the following pressing procedure.
a branch of architecture that uses low environmental impact materials thus reducing the chemical-physical and electro-magnetic pollution. Bio-architecture examines every single possible method and measure to prevent and avoid damage to the eco-system, the risks to physical and mental health of people living in a building (from the people who are building it to the people who will eventually end up using it) and in general, it considers the relationship with the local, regional and global environment.
these features concern the resistance to loads (for example the weight of people, of furniture, of means of transport on a floor) that the tiles surface must withstand. They are called “bulk mechanical” features since they concern the whole tile and in order to distinguish them from “surface” features, which concern only the working surface of the tile.
is the safety product certification required by EU and it is finalized to preserve the people’s health and the goods in buildings. The new Regulation UE N. 305/2011 is valid from the first of July 2013. The most important news is the introduction of the Declaration Of Performance (DOP) with which the supplier communicates the safety requirements concerning own materials. ZERO.3 3plus – ZERO.3 5plus porcelain stoneware slabs have the CE mark (cf. DOP004PAN – cf. DOP005PAN). The application of a fiberglass mesh on the back confer to these products the categories of fire resistance indicated in the ZERO.3 technical tables.
ceramic is a material which is obtained from clay pastes and other substances available in nature. In its natural state, ceramics is very ductile, while it becomes very hard after firing. Many products are made of ceramics – from cladding, covering products, bricks, sanitary wares, mechanical and aeronautical products and solutions used in the building industry. Ceramics offers countless decorative opportunities, it is resistant to abrasion and atmospheric conditions, to fire and to chemical attacks.
ceramic tiles are relatively thin slabs of ceramic materials in various sizes and thicknesses, made from a mixture of clay, sands and other natural substances. These pastes are prepared and then made into the required shapes. They are then fired at high temperatures.
Ceramics of Italy is the institutional trademark that represents and promotes Italian ceramic industries on a worldwide level. Through Panariagroup SpA, Panaria Ceramica can label its products with the Ceramics of Italy trademark, which confirms their high standard of design, the use of the latest technology, concern for the environment and for safety at work and constant research for optimising the resources employed, in compliance with the highest performance standards.
Ceramics of Italy, promoted by Confindustria Ceramica, is a registered trademark of Edi.Cer. Spa, the organizer of Cersaie – the International ceramics exhibition.
the resistance to chemical attack refers to the behaviour of the ceramic surface when exposed to aggressive chemicals which, due to their composition and chemical features, can corrode the ceramic surface and alter its technical and/or aesthetic performance. The chemical resistance can be distinguished into resistance to household chemicals, resistance to high-concentration acids and alkalis, resistance to low-concentration acids and alkalis and resistance to staining.
raw material used for the manufacturing of ceramic tiles. Its most important features are: plasticity, hardening during drying, rigidity after firing, shrinkage during drying and firing.
trim tile for wall cladding, square-section junction element, it is used to clad the external edge created by two surfaces placed at right angles.
or surface mechanical resistance, is the resistance of the ceramic tiled surface to wear and tear connected with the movement of bodies, surfaces or materials that come into contact with it; for example, the soles of shoes, the wheels of trolleys or other vehicles, furniture and other loads that may be dragged across the surface.
the double-loading technology compacts two layers of powders with different granulometric values into the same ceramic body, thus giving the ceramic surface a high structural solidity and an intense, delicate aesthetic.
the firing of the ceramic piece and of its vitreous decorations can include more than one firing cycle, each generally (but not necessarily) occurring at a lower temperature with respect to the previous cycle. The firing cycles can create single-firing, double-firing or third-firing tiles. Double-firing can be divided into “quick double-firing” with both firing cycles lasting less than one hour in roller kilns and “traditional double-firing” where both cycles lasts for a number of hours.
Ecolabel is an environmental certification for a product, created by the European Union (66/2010/CE). It is done so as to allow all consumers to buy “green” products that are eco-compatible, and to contribute concretely to the safeguard the eco-system and improve our standard of living. All the Ecolabel products are marked with a clearly visible daisy. This label is a proof of excellence, because it is given after a thorough analysis of the product life cycle (LCA).
a transparency tool that communicates the environmental performances of Panaria porcelain tile through a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). This is a Sector-wide EPD, certified in October 2016 by an independent third party according to official guidelines (PCR), requested by the primary building certification systems such as LEED (international), BREEAM (England), HQE (France), and DGNB (Germany), as well as the legislative frameworks in Italy (requisites for sustainable public contracts). It is a voluntary certification that gives additional value to Panaria products because they are manufactured according to the highest standards of sustainability and responsibility.
raw materials that are widely present in the earth’s crust and do not yet run the risk of depletion, derived from the decomposition of rocks – such as quartz porphyry, granite, syenite, gneiss- rich in minerals that build clay. These materials determinate the vitreous process that ensures the compactness of ceramic products.
the footing, also known as concrete slab, is a building element of variable thickness from 4 to 8cm, created using cement mortars. It can be installed onto a load-bearing support (i.e. floor), onto a separating support (i.e. vapour barrier) or onto a thermal and/or acoustic insulation layer and depending on the aforementioned installations, the footing can be defined as “adherent”, “separating” or “floating” footing, the latter, if incorporated into heating coils is called “heating” footing.
it depends on the porosity or water absorption of the material: the lower the water absorption is, the lower the damage due to frost.
typical features of low porosity materials, resistant to frost and suitable for outdoor use.
glazed tiles are covered with a layer of coloured glass that gives colour, brilliance, hardness and water-proofing to them.
a voluntary board of companies and institutes that, via the development and implementation of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) in Italy, share the goals of influencing the market and transforming it so that “green buildings” – low environmental impact buildings – become more and more popular and rooted in society.
ceramic tiles obtained via pressing, with low porosity and made of a bright mix that can be uniformly coloured or shaded using powder mixes and grains of different sizes. The composition of the mix is very similar to that of vitreous china but raw materials are selected in order to contain the minimum percentage of iron oxides. The mix is pressed, with specific loads higher than 50% compared to vitreous china. The firing cycles lasts less than one hour at a temperature of 1400°C. Tiles can then be polished, before or after their installation, in order to enhance their aesthetics. It is resistant to frost, to acids and bases and has an excellent mechanical resistance.
tiles with an increased thickness (2 cm) as compared to traditional stoneware (1 cm). 20 mm thick porcelain stoneware is a highly durable product designed for external flooring of public and residential spaces: town squares, pavements, walkways, parking areas, terraces, poolsides, bathing facilities, public parks, and more.
the term 'grip' refers to a type of surface finish of Panaria Ceramica porcelain stoneware, characterized by a high slip resistance that makes it suitable for outdoor application.
is the distance separating adjacent tiles during installation. The grout line allows floors to have natural subsidence due to structural movements, moisture and thermal shock.
the term ‘honed’ refers to a type of finish of Panaria Ceramica porcelain stoneware in which the surface has been expertly abraded using diamond cutters and compressed air. The honed surface is soft to the touch and very bright, suitable for the most sought-after interiors.
porcelain stoneware trim tile for floors used for indoor stairs. In order to encourage the continuous effect, it has the same look of outdoor steps but it doesn’t have an anti-slip finish. On its external side, it features a profiling that increases its safety properties making the treading stable and easy. The profiling is obtained via the fusion of more ceramic elements or otherwise creating a single-piece during the production process. Angular step, finished on two sides, is used at the ends of the stair that does not terminate against the wall.
white clay used for the manufacturing of porcelain.
small size tiles with high thickness whose mix is made of ordinary clays and kaolin, feldspar and non-plastic materials. It differs from porcelain stoneware as it has a heterogeneous body and is less vitrified but, just like porcelain stoneware, it is resistant to frost and to chemicals and has a high mechanical bending strength. Klinker products are obtained via pressing or extrusion and fired at more than 1200°C with long firing cycles. Klinker tiles are used for indoor and outdoor flooring. The main producer of this product is Germany, the country where it was invented in 1930.
achieved via the use of a laser directly onto the fired tile, the ceramic decor is created with no need for further firing. There is no contact and no dyes or inks are required or any post-engraving treatments. In the point of contact between the laser ray and the glazed ceramic surface, there is a slight and rapid temperature increase, that can be controlled in terms of heat and duration and that generates a crystallization of the glaze giving an effect of brilliance. On glossy and/or matt non-textured surfaces, it is possible to create a depth effect, shades and detailing. The key strengths of this process are speed and high resolution.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a rating system created to encourage the construction of “green” buildings. Developed by the US Green Building Council and internationally recognized , it points out the necessary requirements to build eco-compatible projects, capable of functioning in sustainable and autonomous way in terms of energy consumption as well as having a low environmental impact throughout their entire life-cycle.
ceramic product made of a body covered with stanniferous glaze. The term derives from Majorca (a Balearic island) where this technology started.
the term "matt" refers to a type of surface finish of Panaria Ceramica ceramic products, it indicates the “natural” finish, the most functional and versatile surface finish for a universal use. The matt finish does not undergo any further treatment after firing.
it calculates the expansion of tiles if exposed to high level of moisture and dampness. In general, it can be correlated with water absorption, even if there can be broad variations probably due to the effects of other micro-structural features such as the type of other processes involved.
porcelain stoneware trim tile for floors, used for outdoor stairs or in areas subject to high slipperiness, it has an anti-slip finish on the ceramic surface to increase safety.
trim tile for wall cladding with the same function of a listel, sometimes it can be glazed on the top therefore it can be used as a closing element for wall cladding.
raw materials that are widely used in the ceramic tile industry, they have a structural function as they reduce dimensional alterations during firing usually due to the clayish ceramic mix. These sands, selected according to their pureness and fineness grade, are present across the world and in all European countries.
also called “floating floors”, are modular systems traditionally used for the flooring of interiors and that today are also being used for outdoor applications. Devised to solve the problems relating to office planning and to create an easily accessible gap below the treading surface, this system consists of: a bearing structure, a support panel and surface cladding, for which rectified porcelain stoneware slabs prove to be perfect. These floors are often completed using 60x60 cm slabs, but they can also be made to adapt to other sizes, ranging from 30 cm to 120 cm.
the rectification is a process in which the tile edges are perfectly squared. In this way it is possible to install adjacent tiles with minimum grout lines. Rectified single work-size tiles mean that the tile edges are perfectly straight and with a single size of sides regardless of different production lots.
PEI 1: Products destined for areas exposed to light traffic with no abrasive dirt, for example: bathrooms, bedrooms.
PEI 3: Products destined for medium-high traffic in presence of strong abrasive dirt, for example: halls and kitchens in residential venues.
PEI 4: Products destined for areas exposed to high traffic, for example: restaurants, offices, shops, public offices (except for floors that are installed below cash desks and public paths).
PEI 5: Products destined for particularly high traffic venues.
the coefficient of friction measures the resistance of ceramic tiles to slipperiness. There are different methods used to calculate it: B.C.R.A. METHOD (measures the coefficient of dynamic friction (μ) that a surface must meet in order to be classified as anti-slip); ASTM C1028 METHOD (the American ASTM method measures the coefficient of static friction; DIN 51130 – DIN 51097 METHODS (the German DIN methods, often used in Italy, also called “ramp tests” or “inclined platform tests”).
this term refers to a type of surface finish of wall tiles characterized by a soft, opaque and sometimes iridescent surface. It differs from the Glossy surface finish as the latter has a bright and mirror-like effect.
a chromatic tone that characterizes a specific lot of ceramic tiles. The shade is often indicated with a letter and stamped on the packaging; it is one of the most important pieces of information to check during delivery as shade can vary from one lot to another.
a component of clay that determines its resistance and hardness.
process in which glaze and clay are fired at the same time. Before the development of single-firing in the 80’s, the most common method was double-firing. The new technology allowed for the creation of a thinner product, reducing production and transport costs. Single-fired tiles are more resistant and can be used in commercial areas subject to high traffic.
porcelain stoneware trim tile for floors, used as a cladding for the walls that are in contact with the ceramic flooring. The skirting can be profiled and used for stairs in contact with walls, its profiling adapts to the trends of the stair itself.
watery suspension resulting from the wet milling of raw materials into continuous mills when water and raw materials are mixed.
trim tile for wall cladding, ceramic element mounted at the base of internal walls with a decorative function.
the structural features describe the structure of the material that constitutes the tile. The main feature is water absorption. Absorption occurs through pores in the material, the water absorption level determines the porosity of a tile. The water absorption value is referred to the body and not to the ceramic tile surface; therefore, in the case of glazed products its does not refer to the glaze as it is a vitreous water-proof, non-porous covering.
these features refer to the surface of use of ceramic tiles in relation to resistance to scratching, and deterioration (use) due to hard bodies moving on the surface itself. These features are mainly affecting floor tiles. The most important one is abrasion resistance.
a mix of natural clays that, following the drying phase, are fired at more than 1000°C and, depending on the origin of these clays, results in the final product being one particular colour or shade. The manufacturing process can be artisanal or industrial (drawn terracotta). If it is unglazed, it must be treated with impregnating substances after installation.
it calculates the expansion of tiles if exposed to high temperatures. There are no significant differences between the various types of tiles even if this value can increase in tiles subject to a high vitrification process such as products with a vitrified and compact body.
is the feature by which any material is reversibly altered in size when its temperature changes; more precisely, it expands when the temperature increases and contracts when the temperature falls. According to EN ISO 10545-8 industry standard, thermal expansion is measured with the coefficient of linear thermal expansion as the ratio between the amount that a test sample of the material lengthens when increasing its temperature and the initial length of the same sample.
these are features of resistance to specific temperature (“thermo”) and moisture (“hygro”) conditions, such as LINEAR THERMAL EXPANSION, THERMAL SHOCK RESISTANCE, FROST RESISTANCE, CRAZING RESISTANCE and Coefficient of linear thermal expansion (ISO 10545-8).
the word “third-firing” derives from the fact that ceramic pieces had already undergone a first firing cycle of the body and a second cycle to fire the layer of glaze. Originally, only decorations in pottery, crockery items and ceramic tiles were earmarked for third-firing.
complementary ceramic elements, characterized by a three-dimensional structure suitable for finishing the special elements of floor and wall coverings (for example steps, junctions, edges, corners, tops and closing elements).
referred to a surface which is smooth to the touch, as if eroded by the action of water. The tile edges are rounded and uneven, as if worn by the passage of time. Tumbled surfaces are suitable for rustic style areas and renovation works.
is a characteristic of ceramic tiles reproducing marble. In veined porcelain stoneware the veining is also reproduced in the tile body.
they represent the technological solution best suited to solving the problems relating to the thermal insulation of buildings. The system consists of three elements: a thermal insulation panel, a support structure and an external covering for which rectified porcelain stoneware products prove to be the most suitable. The fixing of slabs can be carried out using visible or hidden hooks.
a partial and progressive fusion of ceramic mix, clay, feldspars, glaze, etc. caused by the temperature increase during firing. During this process, the vitreous amount increases and the apparent porosity of the material is reduced. A ceramic body is completely vitrified if the glass fills all the pores and cements them.
are the outermost external layer that can be applied to the walls in a building. A wall cladding meets precise aesthetic needs but also technical requirements, since it offers the wall resistance to strains and chemical agents. Wall coverings may be inside the structure or external.
is the manufacturing dimension of tiles, expressed in mm and stamped on the packaging.
is the result of exclusive "laminated stoneware" technology which results in slabs that measure un to 100x300 cm and 120x260 cm, a unique format which opens a whole new world of possibilities to architects and designers. ZERO.3 is available in three thicknesses, 3,5mm, 5.5mm and 6mm. | 2019-04-20T06:30:42Z | https://www.panaria.net/solutions/questions-and-glossary/glossary/glossary-and-technical-legend |
Professionals working in mines, construction sites, oil rigs and factories are highly exposed to the dangers of injuries. Injuries caused by the fall of heavy objects can cripple an individual and sometimes even prove to be fatal. Leakage of gasses or spilling of chemicals also accounts for many industry related mishaps. Therefore, to ensure a high level of safety at the workplace, companies often make it mandatory for workers to use safety products such as safety shoes, safety gloves, fall protection equipment, respiratory masks, safety jackets, hearing protection etc.
At Moglix, we are aware of concerns that loom in the minds of professionals and technicians. Therefore, we have assembled an exciting collection of products and devices as a part of our category. The products that we have on offer have been sourced from well-known brands such as 3M, Bata, Allen Cooper, Safari Pro, Safety Sign Store, Hillson Shoes etc. The products selected by us are subjected to quality tests in order to match the expectations of buyers. To acquire details on the products that we have on offer, check out our subcategories within the safety range.
The safety shoes and gumboots which are available at Moglix have been manufactured by well-known companies such as Allen Cooper, Bata, Hillson, Safari Pro, Karam etc. These shoes are available with different types of soles such as compact PVC, Airmix, Airmax, Antiskid Lug, Direct Injected, Direct Injected PU Sole and Direct Injection PU etc. Most of the shoes that Moglix has on offer are abrasion, chemical and oil resistant.
We also deal in safety footwear that is non-slip and shock resistant. The gumboots which are available at Moglix are equipped with a protective steel toe and a soft and flexible PVC. These gumboots comply with existing ISI specifications. The shoes that Moglix has on offer are perspiration resistant and can, therefore, check sweating for long hours. They can thus be worn for long hours by professionals and technicians while being on the move. Our safety shoes are suitable for use in industries such real estate, steel, iron, drill, metallurgy, logistics etc. To know more, you can visit our safety shoes buying guide.
Safety goggles are highly effective in protecting the eyes from sparks caused during industrial applications such as welding, drilling etc. To maximize the protection of users, Moglix presents an exciting range of safety goggles with exciting features. The UV protection glasses which are available at Moglix have been created using a smoked lens. They are highly efficient in protecting the eyes of the wearer from UV radiation while working outdoors.
The safety glasses available at Moglix have been sourced from brands such as 3M, Karam, Super deals, Frontier, CL, Zoom, Savior, Innovision, Escorts etc. These safety glasses are equipped with an anti-scratch lens. Keeping in touch with the changing needs of professionals, Moglix is also offering safety glasses that are made from high-quality polycarbonate material. We also deal in products that goggles that come with a wraparound lens. To acquire details about our product price, you can check out our latest range of safety goggles online at Moglix.
Construction workers who work at great heights are highly vulnerable to falling. To ensure a high level of security among professionals working in the construction industry, Moglix has come up with a new range of fall protection equipment. The fall arresters that are available as a part of our collection can help users to stay safe from serious accidents. These fall arresters also help users to avoid falling even when they lose balance while working at great heights. Full body arresters are highly useful while you are working outdoors can ensure a high level of safety. Use of these devices can, therefore, help you to work safely while working in great heights. But, that the fall arrester you buy has a proper fitting, you need to perform occasional inspection and servicing.
Devices such as traffic cones, safety barriers, delineators, road studs, speed breakers and bumps. To ensure a high level of safety among drivers and help traffic police handle traffic with a high level of safety, Moglix offers a wide range of wide variety of products as a part of the traffic safety category. The new range of road studs that are available as part of the traffic safety category is created from ABS/aluminum. They have been designed by expert engineers with precision to ensure that it can bear the maximum load.
High reflective reflectors which are molded in PMMA material have been fitted into the stud. The stud’s reflectors have been welded with an ultrasonic ABS base plate through ultrasonic welding process to keep it safe from water and dust. This ensures that the interior portion of the reflector can maintain its reflectivity over a long span of time. The traffic cones come with a high reflective sleeve/ sheeting which is fixed on them to provide clear vision both during day and night and also under bad weather conditions. The new models of traffic cones can also help users to fix a plastic chain, light bar, reflector, message plate, road lamp or caution tape.
Safety helmets protect the heads of workers from head injuries caused by the falling of heavy objects. Head related injuries are quite common at construction sites, warehouses etc. The new range of safety helmets that are available in the Indian market is equipped with a chin strap and resistance to fires as well as electricity. These helmets are resistant to shock absorption as well. They can be used in a wide range of industries such as iron, steel, metallurgy, mining, petroleum refining, petrochemicals, oil & gas etc. They safety helmets are capable of absorbing water and are therefore suitable for use throughout the year, under all weather conditions. The helmets which are available online at Moglix are highly suitable for use by engineers while working outdoors sourced from top brands like 3M, Karam, SuperDeals, Safari Pro, Novasafe, Safetech, Turbo, Heapro, Escorts and Udyogi Etc.
The use of safety gloves is not only confined to office places but to workshops and homes as well. The use of these gloves can keep industrial users safe from deep cuts and abrasions while using different types of machinery. The safety gloves that are available at Moglix offer high quality of protection from high voltage electrical currents. The gloves which Moglix has on offer provide safety from chemicals and liquids which may cause burns through spilling. The gloves which are available online at Moglix have a goof fitting and offer users with a smooth grip of industrial tools and machinery. The safety gloves that are offered by Moglix have been sourced by procured from brands such as Shiva, HONEYWELL, Anchor, Crystal, Ansell, Banian, Prima and Amruth etc.
Respiratory masks are essential among workers who are engaged in industries such oil & gas, petroleum refining, petrochemicals etc. The new range of respiratory masks are offered by Moglix provide a high level of protection to users from dust, dirt and mist. They are equipped with a stapled headband which these masks easy to use. These respiratory masks have a high exhalation value and are available with neo-oil aerosols. They are highly suitable for use in welding, plugging etc. The respiratory masks which are offered by Moglix online have been sourced from well-known brands such as 3M, Sorbent, Globus etc. To acquire details on the price of respiratory masks online, browse through new collection offered by Moglix.
The ears are one of the most sensitive parts of the human body. Daily exposure to loud noise caused by industrial applications can cause a serious hearing problem to industrial workers. To ensure optimum protection to industrial and workshop based users, Moglix has come up with a new range of hearing protection equipment such as ear muffs and ear plugs.
The ear muffs that are offered by Moglix come with a cushioned headband which offers a high level of comfort for long hours. They are light weight and can also be utilized along with an earplug to ensure nominal hindrance in working. Our new collection of ear muffs has a wide ears cushion, deep ear cuts for superior fits and height adjustment that offer a proper fit. They are equipped with foam filled cushions which ensure a high level of comfort while use over long periods.
Safety jackets are widely used by workers engaged in railroad, airport, and highway construction. They are highly effective in ensuring the visibility of workers to drivers while passing through dark areas. The safety jackets which are available at Moglix are highly reflective, lightweight and have a fine finishing. They come with a neat stitching. The safety jackets which are available at Moglix have been sourced from well-known brands such as Safari, Novasafe, Innovision, Hosiery, Creative, Ananya etc. To acquire more details on safety jackets, you can check the subcategories of safety jackets online that we offer.
How to Select Safety Products?
You can select safety shoes on the basis of their features and sole type.
Most of the industrial safety shoes that are available in the market are equipped with PVC, PU, and TPU soles. If you require safety shoes that are suitable for use throughout the year, then you need to opt for shoes which are water resistant.
The new collection of safety shoes which are offered by Moglix is shock resistant, abrasion resistant, heat resistant and chemical resistant. They offer users with metatarsal and bacterial protection.
Safety shoes can also be selected according to the type of industry you are working in. Footwear that come with oil resistant outsoles, for instance, can help aviation professionals to deal with heavy machinery.
Safety goggles which are made from premium quality of virgin resin polycarbonate material are known to offer effective eye protection for years together. Goggles with recycled resins are cheaper and have a higher degree of distortion. Their yellowing lenses also have poor durability.
Zero distortion will enable you to view everything with greater clarity through safety glasses. You will be able to wear these types of lenses over a long span of time without any strain to the eyes.
The fittings of the safety glasses are also an important factor which you will need to pay adequate attention to. One rule of thumb that you can follow is to check the width of the frame and nosepiece, length, and angle of temples. Safety glasses usually have a width between 4-6 inches from one temple hinge to another. Most of the safety glasses are made from normal size nosepieces and suits well for most people.
You can acquire a higher level of comfort if the goggles which opt for come with a number of additional features. In case the pair you opt for comes with soft-nose pins, you will acquire a higher level of comfort. If the glasses have a soft piece on the area around your temple tip, then they will ensure a smoother fitting around your ears.
The availability of replacement lenses can to a great extent bring down maintenance costs. Since the lens is the costliest part of safety glasses, it is always wise to look for goggles that come with replacement lenses. At present, there are numerous replacement options which are available in the Indian market include clear, gray, mocha, amber, silver mirror etc.
Good Safety Harness-This type of harnesses is ideal for use by professionals who need to use them once in a while. They are usually compliant with the latest industrial specifications and are affordably priced. However, they do not offer a high level of comfort.
Specialty Safety Harness- This type of harnesses is designed for a particular type of job. This type of harness is of different types.
Better Safety Harness- An ideal option for professionals who are looking for harnesses within a reasonable range, these harnesses have more features than good safety harness.
Premium Safety Harness- This type of harness has a high level of comfort and features. The harness can be worn by users throughout the day while working at great heights in construction sites.
Traffic Cones- Collapsible traffic cones that are being offered by Moglix have a high visibility during the daytime rather than night. These traffic cones also have greater visibility during the night since they are illuminated from their interiors using the battery powered light and LED light with two-mode light up modes- ‘’flash’’ and steady on. They are equipped with rubber feet and can resist moving from high winds or passing vehicles. The traffic cones which are available at Moglix are flat and occupy limited space within a vehicle when they are not in use.
Road Studs- Precedence should be given to studs which have a dynamic design since they can put up with maximum load. Reflectors with high reflection capacity, which are molded in PMMA material are fitted on these studs. These reflectors are welded with ABS base plate using ultrasonic welding process to ensure that water and dust don't touch their interior. This helps in maintaining the reflectivity over a long span of time.
Speed Breakers and Bumps- While looking for speed breakers and bumps, a buyer should always look for bumps which offer high resistance against severe impacts. The new collection of speed breakers and bumps offer a high range of resistance to UV temperature and moisture. They come with a standard skid resistant base and can be installed with a short span of time using spikes and epoxy for anchoring. The presence of UV stabilizers ensures that permanent colors don’t fade within a short span of time.
Convex Mirrors- While selecting convex mirrors, you will need to ensure that you choose a model of the correct size. Opting for a convex mirror of a correct size depends on factors such as determining what you intend to view in it, its distance from the mirror and where it is being mounted.
Safety Barriers- Your preference should be for those safety barriers that are economic and efficient and offer optimum protection from unpredicted traffic. It is essential to procure the barriers from well-known manufacturers since quality is of paramount importance.
If you are buying barriers primarily for use in events, then you need to opt for the ones that have high portability. Water-filled barriers can prove to be highly useful under such circumstances. Use of reviews can ensure that you buy a barrier of good quality. It should also fit into your budget. Water-filled barriers are highly effective in regulating crowd traffic.
Danger Signs- Since these signs are used to warn against immediate danger, you need to have a clear view on the recommendations of OSHA. OSHA instructs that red, black and white colors need to be used as danger signs.
Fire Safety Signs- Fire safety signs are of different types such as warning signs and prohibition signs. Signs which prohibit an activity come with a red circular band and single diagonal cross bar which moves down from left to right. The background needs to be white while the pictogram needs to show the command in black.
Warning signs- These types of signs warn against a specific type of hazard. Warning signs come with a black band which is in the shape of an equilateral triangle. You should look for the ones whose background within the band is yellow. It will signify the type of hazard in black positioned in the middle of the sign.
Usually, people focus on color, design, and price, your major area of concern should be the level of protection that a helmet offers. Use of full-face safety helmet can ensure optimum protection since it will cover your head and face. Such a design comes with a flip-up face shield which protects the user’s eyes. A three-quarter or open-face helmet could also offer a high level of protection.
The usage of safety gloves isn’t confined to factories and workshops but homes also. Therefore, you will need to have a clear idea about the exact purpose for which you will use the gloves. Apart from the fitting, you also need to check the material which they are made from. A number of safety gloves models can be laundered and therefore they don’t need to be disposed of after being used. To ensure that you stay safe from cuts, you need to go for gloves which are equipped with cut resistant glove shells. This type of gloves is abrasion resistant and can, therefore, be used over a long period of time.
Respiratory masks that are used in industrial applications need to be oil proof. The masks which are equipped with adjustable nosepieces normally have a tighter fit. If comfort is something which is at the top of your mind, then you should opt for masks which come with exhalation valves. As for professionals who are exposed to highly toxic particles, use of non-disposable masks with sealing gaskets would be the ideal choice for daily use.
Earplugs- The earplugs which are available at Moglix have been created from the best quality of polyurethane material. These earplugs are available in a size which fits all ear canals. It is suitable for blasting, cleaning, assembly, demolition, electrical facility, machine operations and grinding.
Ear Muffs- The ear muffs which are available at Moglix come with a cushioned headband which offers a high level of comfort throughout the day to the wearer. The lightweight of these ear muffs causes minimal hindrance in the mobility of the user. These cushions are filled with foam and can, therefore, be used over long time periods by the user without feeling any type of discomfort. These ear muffs are suitable for use in industries such as real estate, paper processing, petrochemicals textile, railways etc.
Safety Shoes- One effective way to take care of your shoes is to change them on a regular basis. You can wear casual shoes rather than safety shoes once you return from your workplace. The leather is a natural fabric which requires time in order to recover. When kept indoors, leather shoes take almost twice as much time to get perspiration moisture in leather than they do while absorbing it. Therefore, if you have used a shoe for around 7 hours, make sure that it is kept as it is for 14 hours.
Safety Goggles- Abrasions on glasses can make them unusable. Therefore, make it a point not to use abrasive cleaners to clean safety goggles. The safety glasses need to be cleaned on a regular basis. You can rinse the glasses using cool water for debris removal. Once the dirt has been removed, dry them with a soft cloth. You can also make use of a can of compressed air in order to remove the dust and dirt. The best option is to utilize a cloth which is specifically meant for cleaning glasses. Pre-moistened lens towels.
Safety Helmets- To clean safety helmets from time to time, soak its headline in mild, soapy water. Avoid using solvents or chemicals in order to clean any part of the helmet as they might destroy protective coatings and damage its structural integrity. The air vents and channels of helmets can be cleaned using air compressed air. Let the headliner to air dry completely post washing and in between usage.
Safety Gloves- Check the gloves with care before you wear them. Check whether they have any cracks, holes or tears or not. Chemicals can drip into your hands even from minute holes. If the gloves you are using are disposable, then it would be wise to replace them immediately. Apply soap and water on your hands before you put on the gloves. Make sure that the gloves are tightly closed outside the sleeve. In case you have to deal with liquid chemicals on a daily basis, you can utilize a heavy-duty tape or elastic band to seal the edge of your gloves. Make use of soap and water to wash the gloves before you take them off. Make it a part of your routine to wash your hands with care after taking off the gloves. Store the gloves in a container after you are finished with the day’s work.
Respiratory Masks- Before you start cleaning your respirators, wash your hands with care. Once you have done that, disassemble the respiratory masks. You can take the help of the written instructions that usually come with masks. Once you have done that, hand wash the respiratory mask with warm water and a disinfectant soap.
Why Opt for Safety Products at Moglix?
At Moglix, we have a good perception of the challenges that are faced by technicians, industrial workers, and engineers on a day to day basis. Therefore, to address their concerns, we have assembled an exciting range of safety products ranging from safety shoes and helmets to safety gloves and safety goggles. Our sourcing team plays a proactive role in procuring quality products from suppliers based within India as well as overseas. The items sourced by us undergo a number of quality tests before being dispatched for delivery.
We have maintained a wide price range to ensure that the products offered by us meet the budget of our buyers. At Moglix, we highly value the safety of technicians, industrial workers as well as mechanics. Therefore, to address their needs, we have sourced safety products from some of the most eminent brands in the market. To acquire the best deals on safety products, select from the exciting collection available within the different subcategories that we offer. | 2019-04-24T11:50:40Z | https://www.moglix.com/buyer-guide/safety |
The present disclosure provides an exercise apparatus designed to allow a user to perform a gluteal bridge, typically with resistance, to improve the strength of the user's posterior hip and gluteal muscles. The exercise apparatus is configurable for use in different environments—in a gym, fitness center or training facility, a spa or studio, or a home gym. The exercise apparatus includes a frame assembly, a bench assembly, and a resistance assembly. The bench assembly is pivotally connected to the frame assembly to provide an elevated pivot point about which the bench assembly pivots when the user performs the gluteal bridge movement. The resistance assembly is operably connected to the bench assembly and provides a resistance force that the user overcomes in order to pivotally move the bench through the gluteal bridge movement. The resistance assembly can include a cable, pulley and weight stack, or an elastically deformable band.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/563,456, filed Sep. 26, 2017, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/505,542, filed May 12, 2017, all of which are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.
This disclosure relates to an exercise apparatus for performing a gluteal bridge movement. In particular, the exercise apparatus is configurable to allow a person to properly perform a resisted gluteal bridge on a repeated basis and where the resistance increases the amount of work to be performed by the person during the exercise.
Muscles of the human posterior hip, or gluteal muscles, are critical for the task of locomotion. Healthy and/or well-developed gluteal muscles are a key factor in maintaining the strength and health of a person's lower back, hips and knees. Conversely, unhealthy and/or under-developed gluteal muscles have been identified as a significant cause of a number of conditions, including patellar alignment problems, iliotibial (IT) band pathology, and mechanical lower back pain.
An exercise technique referred to as a “gluteal bridge,” which is also commonly referred to as a “glute bridge” or “hip thrust,” has been developed to strengthen gluteal muscles. The gluteal bridge is a complex movement because it requires the person to perform multiple movements in a specific sequence. The gluteal bridge is typically performed when a person, user or individual is in the supine position on the ground or on a mat where the person's the hips and knees are flexed while the lower back is pressed flat on the ground. The person then performs a pelvic tilt, whereby the pelvis is moved or “rolled” toward the posterior and the lower back flattens. With the pelvic tilt engaged, the person then raises his or her buttocks and shifts weight to the feet and an area of the upper thorax located at the inferior aspect of the person's scapulae. When properly performing the gluteal bridge exercise, the person moves only at the hips, without bending the spine. Also, when a person performs the gluteal bridge in this manner, it is commonly referred to as an “unresisted” exercise since no external resistance is being applied during the complex movement.
Past attempts to provide a resisted gluteal bridge include the use of additional devices, such as stretching a strongly-resistive elastic resistance band across a lower portion of a person's abdomen, along with contorting the person's knees to a severe angle to position the pelvis low enough to properly affix the elastic resistance band. Some attempts require the person to maneuver between a seat and a lower leg pad prior to initiating the exercise, creating dangers to the person, especially when he or she becomes fatigued. Other attempts require the person to press against a bare metal bar, typically while adding some form of an external pad, with their abdomen and contort their body to slide under the bar before initiating the gluteal bridge exercise. Further attempts require the use of hand-held free weights and a free-standing bench, presenting issues pertaining to the stability, strength and sliding resistance of the bench along a ground surface. Still further attempts rely on the compromised directional stability and support of an exercise ball. Even further attempts rely on the use of a smith machine, which creates a movement pathway that forces the user to move in an undesired vertical path (i.e., straight up and down) motion rather than a proper curvilinear path. The use of these additional devices to perform a resisted gluteal bridge causes numerous problems that reduce the effectiveness of the exercise while exposing the person trying to perform the exercise to potential injury. For example, these conventional resisted gluteal bridge exercises do not properly support the lumbar spine throughout the exercise's range of motion. Accordingly, these conventional exercises force the lumbar spine into a position of hyperextension, particularly at an end range of motion of the exercise which places significant pressure on a user's facet joints. This pressure is undesirable because it is a noted cause of lower back pain. Additionally, these conventional resisted gluteal bridge exercises do not allow the user to perform a resisted gluteal bridge with only one leg at a time, or a resisted gluteal bridge with alternating legs because the weight shifts in an uncontrolled and manner across the user's pelvis, which may cause the user to fall or become injured.
Accordingly, there has been a long-standing, unmet need for an exercise apparatus specifically designed to allow a person to properly perform a resisted gluteal bridge to improve the strength of a person's human posterior hip and gluteal muscles.
The present disclosure provides an exercise apparatus specifically designed to allow a person or user to perform a gluteal bridge, typically with resistance, to improve the strength of a person's human posterior hip and gluteal muscles. The exercise apparatus can be configured for use in different environments—namely, in a gym, fitness center or training facility, in a spa or studio, or in a home gym. In its different versions, the exercise apparatus facilitates the performance of a resisted gluteal bridge in a safe, controlled and efficient manner while the person lies on a bench of the apparatus. In use, the person lies along the length of the bench instead of perpendicular to the bench. Due to the added support of the bench under the length of the person's spine, the exercise apparatus protects the person's spine by maintaining the lumbar spine in a neutral position throughout the entire range of motion of the exercise, and also allows the motion of the exercise to be concentrated at the person's hip joints. Maintaining the lumbar spine in the neutral position and concentrating motion at the hip joints (i) eliminates any undesirable accessory movement in the spine, where accessory movement is movement created between the various segments of the user's spine, including at the facet joints or between the vertebral bodies, and (ii) improves the overall effectiveness of the resisted gluteal bridge exercise performed on the apparatus. Due to its unique configuration, the exercise apparatus also protects the user's pelvic bones from pressure that occurs when a heavy weight plate, barbell or dumbbells are placed across the upper portion of the user's hips, as done with conventional attempts to perform resisted gluteal bridges.
In one implementation, the exercise apparatus for performing a resisted gluteal bridge movement is intended for use in a gym, fitness center or training facility. The exercise apparatus generally comprises (i) a support assembly with a frame assembly and a deck assembly; (ii) a bench assembly; and, (iii) a resistance assembly, such as a weight stack operably connected to the bench assembly by a resistance member, such as a cable. The exercise apparatus is designed to be placed on a planar support surface or floor within the gym, fitness center or training facility. The user or person selects a level of resistance on the resistance assembly, secures himself/herself to the bench assembly and then performs at least one repetition of the resisted gluteal bridge movement. Typically, the user performs multiple repetitions of the resisted gluteal bridge movement as part of his/her training regimen. The configuration of the exercise apparatus for use in a peripheral gym environment, a spa or studio omits the weight stack but retains a resistance member, such as an elastically deformable band. The configuration of the exercise apparatus for use in a home gym also omits the weight stack while retaining the resistance member, and includes additional functionality, including the bench assembly being securable in a substantially horizontal position and the apparatus being collapsible to facilitate storage when not in use.
Other features and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following drawings.
The figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present teachings, by way of example only, not by way of limitation. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements.
FIG. 31 is a side view of the exercise apparatus of FIG. 20, showing the exercise apparatus in a fourth position where the exercise apparatus is collapsed.
While this disclosure includes a number of details and implementations in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail particular implementations with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the disclosed methods and systems, and is not intended to limit the broad aspects of the disclosed concepts to the implementations illustrated.
This disclosure relates to an exercise apparatus specifically designed to allow a person or user to perform a gluteal bridge, typically with resistance, to improve the strength of a person's human posterior hip and gluteal muscles. FIGS. 1-31, show versions of the exercise apparatus 10 for use in different environments—namely, in a gym, fitness center or training facility, in a spa or studio, or in a home gym. In its different versions, the exercise apparatus facilitates the performance of a resisted gluteal bridge in a safe, controlled and efficient manner while the person lies on a bench of the apparatus. In use, the person lies along the length of the bench instead of perpendicular to the bench. Due to the added support of the bench under the length of the person's spine, the exercise apparatus protects the person's spine by maintaining the lumbar spine in a neutral position throughout the entire range of motion of the exercise, and also allows the motion of the exercise to be concentrated at the person's hip joints. The lumbar spine consists of five vertebrae labeled L1 through L5, and it is situated between the thoracic spine and the sacrum. Maintaining the lumbar spine in the neutral position and concentrating motion at the hip joints eliminates any accessory movement, as defined above in the Summary section, through the entire spine while improving the overall effectiveness of the resisted gluteal bridge exercise performed on the apparatus. Due to its unique configuration, the exercise apparatus also protects the user's pelvic bones from pressure that occurs when a heavy weight plate, barbell or dumbbells are placed across the upper portion of the user's hips, as done with conventional attempts to perform resisted gluteal bridges.
FIGS. 1-11 depict a first embodiment of the apparatus 50 for performing a resisted gluteal bridge movement that is configured for a heavy-use environment, such as in a gym, fitness center or training facility. The exercise apparatus 50 generally comprises (i) a support assembly 100 with a frame assembly 120 and a deck assembly 200; (ii) a bench assembly 300; and, (iii) a resistance assembly 400. The exercise apparatus 50 is designed to be placed on a planar support surface or floor F within the gym, fitness center or training facility. As described in greater detail below, the user or person selects a level of resistance on the resistance assembly 400, secures himself/herself to the bench assembly 300 and then performs at least one repetition of the resisted gluteal bridge movement. Typically, the user performs multiple repetitions of the resisted gluteal bridge movement as part of his/her training regimen.
Referring to FIGS. 1-11 and as mentioned above, the support assembly 100 includes the frame assembly 120 and the deck assembly 200. The frame assembly 120 comprises a primary or central member 125 and two side members—first side member 130 and second side member 135 that extend via a transition member 137 from the primary member 125. As seen in the bottom view of FIG. 8, the transition member 137 is oriented at an angle to the primary member such that the primary member 125 and the side members 130, 135 are substantially parallel to each other. A front member 140 extends between and connects the primary member 125 and the first and second side members 130, 135. A rear member 145 extends from the primary member 125. As shown in FIGS. 1-11, the rear member 145 is transverse to the primary member 145 such that these two members are substantially perpendicular to each other. The front member 140 and the rear member 145 are shown as having a linear configuration so they provide cross member support, however, the front member 140 and/or rear member 145 can have a curvilinear configuration.
The frame assembly 120 also includes a plurality of mounting feet 150 that engage the supporting floor F and that are configured to increase the stability of the apparatus 50 during usage. The mounting feet 150 preferably have an elastomeric composition and can compensate if the floor F that apparatus 50 is placed upon is not level. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-11, a pair of mounting feet 150 are affixed to the front member 140 and a pair of feet 150 are affixed to the rear member 145. The frame assembly 120 further includes a rear vertical member 155 that extends upward from the rear member 145. Alternatively, the rear vertical member 155 extends upward from a rear portion of the primary member 125 or the junction of both the rear member 145 and the primary member 125. An angled support member 160 extends between the rear vertical member 155 and the primary member 125. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-11, the angled member 160 extends from an upper portion of the vertical member 155 to an intermediate portion of the primary member 125.
The deck assembly 200 comprises an upper plate member 205, preferably horizontally arranged relative to the floor F, that extends over an extent of the primary member 125 and the side members 130, 135 to define a cavity 210 there between (see FIG. 9). The deck assembly 200 is intended to be a low-profile structure to facilitate the user's U ingress and egress from the apparatus 50. As such, the plate member 205 is positioned close to the support surface or floor F upon which the apparatus 50 is placed, where an upper surface of the plate member 205 and the floor F is less than 5 inches, preferably less than 4 inches and most preferably 3 inches. These dimensions represent the height of the plate member 205 to the floor F and include the mounting feet 150. An adjustable foot rest assembly 215 is connected to the deck assembly 200 and is configured to engage the feet of people using the apparatus 50. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-11, the foot rest assembly 215 slides along the upper surface of the plate member 205 such that the distance between the foot rest assembly 215 and the bench assembly 300 can be varied by about 20 inches, and preferably 22 inches, to accommodate different sized people. The foot rest assembly 215 includes a wall arrangement 220 having a rear wall 240, opposed side walls 230, a top wall 235, a front wall 225 extending between the side walls 230, and a bottom wall 242 extending between the side walls 230 (as best shown in FIG. 9B). The front wall 225 is configured to engage and support the feet of the person using the apparatus 50. Preferably, the front wall 225 is angled, sloped or curved relative to the plate member 205. The front wall 225 can include means for enhancing the engagement with the person's feet, wherein the engagement means is textured treads 245, projections formed on the wall 225, or recess formed in the wall 225. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the wall 225 is sloped and extends from the upper plate member 205 at an angle θ that is 130 to 150 degrees, preferably 145 degrees. Due to the low-profile configuration of the deck assembly 200, the top wall 235 is positioned close to the supporting floor F, meaning that the top wall 235 is within 10 inches, preferably within 9 inches and most preferably within 7.5 inches of the supporting floor F (where these dimensions include mounting feet 150 secured to the frame assembly 120). As such, the adjustable foot rest assembly 215 does not compromise the user's U ingress and egress to the bench assembly 300.
The foot rest assembly 215 further includes a releasable adjustment mechanism 250 that allows for selective positioning of the foot rest assembly 215 along the deck assembly 200. The adjustment mechanism 250 includes a pin 255, preferably spring-loaded, that extends through rear wall 240 and apertures 260 formed in the plate member 205. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, the plate member 205 has a plurality of substantially aligned apertures 260 that are configured to receive a lower portion of the pin 255. A knob 265 is affixed to an upper portion of the pin 255 whereby the person can grasp the knob 265 and apply a substantially upward force thereby displacing the pin 255 from its existing aperture 260 and allow for repositioning of the foot rest assembly 215. Once the desired location of the foot rest assembly 215 is attained, the person can release the knob 265 such the pin 255 engages and is received by the aperture 260 at the desired location.
The deck assembly 200 also includes at least one rail 270 that resides within the internal cavity 210 and that operably supports the adjustable foot rest assembly 215. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the deck assembly 200 includes a pair of elongated rails 270, each rail extending between the front member 140 and an intermediate cross member 275, which itself extends between the primary member 125 and the side member 130, 135. The bottom wall 242 of the foot rest assembly 215 is coupled by a plurality of elongated fasteners (e.g., bolts) to a projection (not shown) affixed to a collar 280 that is located within the cavity 210 and that is in sliding engagement with the rail 270. In this manner, the collar 280 has an inner diameter that slightly exceed the outer diameter of the rail 270. The collar 280 includes an inner bushing that facilitates sliding movement between the collar 280 and the rail 270. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, the upper plate member 205 includes at least one slot 285 that extends between the intermediate cross member 275 and the front member 140. The slot 285 is dimensioned to accommodate the elongated fasteners that couple the collar 280 to the foot rest assembly 215 such that the fasteners can move freely within the slot 285 as the foot rest assembly 215 is moved fore and aft along the plate member 205 to vary the distance between the foot rest assembly 215 and the bench assembly 300 in order to accommodate different sized people who desire to use the apparatus 50.
The bench assembly 300 of the exercise apparatus 50 comprises a bench 305, a bench support frame assembly 310 and a belt assembly 315. The bench 305 has a substantially rectangular configuration with internal pad member residing within an external housing 307. The belt assembly 315 includes a first member 320, a second member 325 and a buckle 330 to operably connect the first and second members 320, 325. The belt assembly 315 is operably connected by a coupler 337 to the support frame assembly 310 near a lower end 305 a of the bench 305. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 and as explained below, the user secures the belt assembly 315 across his/her lower abdomen before commencing the gluteal bride exercise. Unlike some conventional devices, the apparatus 50 does not require additional structures above the bench assembly 300 and the belt assembly 315 to secure the user U to the bench 305, such as mechanical linkages or an elongated pad that extends across the user's abdominal region. The bench 305 is affixed to the support frame assembly 310 which includes side frame members 335, rear member 340, and intermediate cross member 345 (see FIGS. 6 and 8). Referring to FIGS. 2-4, an elastomeric bumper 350 is affixed to the frame assembly 1120, preferably the angled member 160. The bumper 350 is configured to engage the intermediate cross member 345 when the bench 305 is lowered towards the angled member 160 while the user performs the gluteal bridge movement. In this manner the bumper 1350 prevents the bench 1305 for striking and potentially damaging the frame assembly 112, including the angled member 1160, while various users perform gluteal bridge movements over prolonged periods of time. The bumper 350 has an overall height of at least 1.5 inches, and preferably 2.0 inches. Unlike some conventional devices, the apparatus 50 includes a single bench 305 that obviates the need for a secondary, typically lower, bench that assists a user with ingress and egress and/or further supports the user prior to and/or after the gluteal exercise movement.
The bench assembly 300 is pivotally connected to the frame assembly 120 to allow for pivotal movement of the bench 305 and the bench support frame assembly 310 during the user's performance of the gluteal bridge exercise. Referring to FIGS. 1-4, 6 and 9, the bench assembly 300 includes at least one bearing assembly 360 that receives an extent of a rod 365 extending through an upper portion of the vertical member 155. The bearing assembly 360 includes an internal bearing set 370 mounted within a housing 375 that extends downward from the bench support frame assembly 310. The bearing assembly 360 is preferably a pillow block bearing with a curvilinear housing 375. As shown in FIG. 6, there are two bearing assemblies 360, each extending downward from an extent of the side frame member 335. In this configuration, the rod 365 extends from the vertical member 155 and an end segment of the rod 365 extends through the bearing set 370. Also in this configuration, the vertical member 155 is positioned between the bearing assemblies 360. The rod 365 defines a pivot point PP (see FIGS. 3 and 4) where the bench assembly 300 is pivotally connected to the frame assembly 120 to allow for pivotal movement of the bench 305 during performance of the gluteal bridge exercise. The pivot point PP is in an elevated vertical position relative to: (i) the support surface upon which the apparatus 50 rests, (ii) the deck plate member 205, (iii) an anchor point AP (as detailed below and shown in FIG. 4), and (iv) the foot rest assembly 215. This does not mean that the pivot point PP is directly above these other components; instead, the pivot point PP is located at a higher vertical elevation compared to these components. Accordingly, the vertical elevation of pivot point PP is greater than the anchor point AP, the deck plate member 205 and the foot rest assembly 215. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-11, when the apparatus 50 is in the first position or ready to use position PU, the engagement between the angled member 160 and the intermediate cross member 345, as provided by the bumper 350, and between the side frame member 335 and the vertical member 155, as provided by the bearing assembly 360, ensures that both the bench 305 and the side frame member 335 are substantially parallel to the angled member 160. This positional arrangement improves the stability of the bench 305 both when the user lays on the bench 305 to prior to securing the belt assembly 315 and beginning the first repetition of the gluteal bridge movement, and when the user is laying on the bench 305 while performing gluteal bridge movements.
As shown in FIGS. 1-11, the resistance assembly 400 of the exercise apparatus 50 comprises a cable 405, at least one pulley assembly 410 and a weight stack 415 supported by a frame assembly 420. The resistance assembly 400 provides a resistance force that the user U must overcome, in addition to the effects of gravity, in order to pivotally move the bench 305 from a first position (see FIG. 10) to a second position (see FIG. 11) about the pivot point. Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 9A and 9B, a coupler 425 pivotally secures the first end 405 a of the cable 405 to an anchor mechanism 430 extending downward from a support plate 433 (see FIG. 9) affixed to a lower surface of the bench assembly 300, namely the bench support frame assembly 310 and/or the bench 305. The anchor mechanism 430 comprises a pair of flanges 435 separated by a rod 440 to which the coupler 425 is pivotally connected. In this manner, the coupler 425 is pivotally connected to the rod 440 between the flanges 435, wherein the rod 440 defines an anchor point AP. The anchor point AP is in an elevated vertical position relative to: (i) the support surface upon which the apparatus 50 rests, (ii) the deck plate member 205, and (iii) the first pulley 410 a. The anchor point AP is generally in the same vertical position as the foot rest assembly 215. The anchor point AP is in a lower vertical position relative to the pivot point PP. This does not mean that the anchor point AP is aligned directly above or directly below these other components; instead, the anchor point AP is located at different vertical elevations compared to these components. Accordingly, the vertical elevation of anchor point AP is between the pivot point PP and the deck plate member 205.
During the gluteal bridge movement, there is pivotal movement of the coupler 425 and the cable 405 about the anchor point AP as the bench 305 is elevated and lowered by the user. A first pulley assembly 410 a is located at the lower end of the angled member 160 near its junction with the central member 125. The cable 405 is routed along the wheel 412 of the first pulley 410 a that is rotatably supported by a housing 413 positioned proximate the central member 125. The first pulley 410 a is oriented such that the cable 405 extends past the wheel 412 and through an internal cavity 125 a of the central member 125 to a second pulley assembly 410 b located at the base of the weight stack frame assembly 420. As shown in FIG. 9A, the internal cavity 125 a has dimensions large enough that the pin 255 does not make contact with the cable 405 when the user actuates the release mechanism 250. The cable 405 extends from the second pulley 410 b to a third pulley assembly 410 c that resides within an upper extent of the weight stack frame assembly 420. In this manner, the cable 405 is routed around the wheel 412 of the third pulley assembly 410 c. The arrangement of the first, second and third pulleys 410 a, 410 b, 410 c provide a path of travel for the cable 405 that is substantially linear. A second end 405 b of the cable 405 is operably secured to the weight stack 415 by a connector 450. This connector 450 couples the second cable end 405 b to an elongated rod 455 that extends through the weighted plates 460 that comprise the weight stack 415, wherein the user can selectively chose the number and quantity of plates 460 that provide resistance during the performance of the resisted gluteal bridge exercise. The rod 455 includes apertures that are cooperatively positioned with apertures formed through the plates 460, wherein the user can insert a pin 465 through the plates 460 and into the rod 455 to select the amount of weighted resistance during the performance of the resisted gluteal bridge exercises. The rod 455 is flanked by a pair of guide posts 457 that extend through the plates 460, wherein the posts 457 slidingly engage the plates 460 when they are raised and lowered while the user performs resisted gluteal bridge exercises.
Referring to FIGS. 1-11, the support frame assembly 420 of the weight stack 415 also includes external vertical members 470, 475 that extend upward from the deck assembly 200, an upper header 485 that extends between the upper ends of the vertical members 470, 475 and thereby acts as a cross-member, and lower corner braces 490 affixed to the vertical member 470, 475 and one of the first and second side members 130, 135 to provide additional support to the frame assembly 420. The upper header 485 can include information and instructions about the apparatus 50 and how it is to be properly used to perform gluteal bridge exercises. The support frame assembly 420 also includes a grab member, which can be configured as U-shaped bar 495, to assist the user with ingress and egress from the bench 305, and a primary shroud 497 coupled to the vertical members 470, 475 and overlapping the weight stack 415. Below the primary shroud 497 is an intermediate cross member 463 that extends between the external vertical members 470, 475 and that supports the weight stack 415 and the plates 460. It should be understood that in alternative embodiments, the resistance assembly 400 could be a resistance band, a chain, a single weight, electric, hydraulic, pneumatic, spring or any combination of these embodiments along with a weight stack. For example, the resistance assembly 400 could include both a weight stack and resistance bands. In other alternative embodiments, the resistance assembly 400 may be a single weight that is permanently or releasably coupled to the bottom portion 305 a of the bench. For example, a dumbbell or a weight plate may be attached to the bottom portion 305 a of the bench. In further alternative embodiments, the resistance assembly 400 may be omitted for the apparatus 50.
There are numerous critical dimensions, angles and ratios of the components of the apparatus 50 to ensure that the user can perform gluteal bridge exercises in a highly productive, efficient and same manner. For example, the angle A formed between the vertical member 155 and the angled member 160 is 30 to 65 degrees, preferably 50 degrees. The angle B formed between the sloped member 160 and the primary member 125 is 25 to 60 degrees, preferably 40 degrees. Referring to FIG. 4, the center of the first pulley assembly 410 a and the center of the second pulley assembly 410 b (which corresponds to the axis of rotation of the wheel of the pulley) are configured to define a W1 distance, which is at least 30 inches, preferably 39 inches. Also, the pivot point PP is located at a distance of P1 from the bottom edge of the rear member 145, where P1 is at least 14 inches, preferably 16 inches. Also, the distance between the pivot point PP and the center of wheel 412 defines a distance of P2, which is at least 15 inches from, preferably 17 inches. The top wall 235 of the foot rest assembly 215 is positioned vertically below a pivot point PP and an anchor point AP. As shown in FIG. 4, the top wall 235 is located at a distance of F1 from the bottom edge of the primary member 125, where F1 is less than 8 inches, preferably 6.5 inches from that edge. This non-elevated foot rest assembly 215 helps ensure that the user is able to stabilize his/her feet on the plate member 205 while performing the resisted gluteal bridge exercise. In contrast, a foot rest that is elevated above the pivot point PP puts unnecessary strain on the user's torso, including his/her neck. Additionally, an elevated foot plate, coupled with the forces of gravity, creates a shear force between the bench and the user's body which can cause the user to inadvertently slide on the bench while attempting the bridge motion.
When the bench assembly 300 is in the first position or bottom position PB of FIGS. 1-9, the anchor point AP is located at a distance of A1 vertically above the bottom edge of the primary member 125, where A1 is at least 5 inches from that edge, preferably 7 inches. Also, when the bench assembly 300 is in the first or bottom position PB, the anchor point AP is located at a distance of A2, which is at least 10 inches from the pivot point PP, preferably 12 inches from that point PP. Further, when the user is properly positioned on and secured to the bench assembly 300 with the belt assembly 315, a second or ready for use position PU, which is shown in FIG. 10. In the ready for use position PU, the user's U knees and hips are in a flexed position and his/her hips are not extended, meaning the user's hips are bent to an angle between 60 degrees and 110 degrees depending on the selected placement of users feet, which is shown in FIG. 10. When performing the gluteal bridge exercise, the user will attain a third or hip extended position PE, which is shown in FIG. 11. When the user moves from the ready for use position PU, to the hip extended position PE, the anchor point AP is displaced in a substantially curvilinear motion as the bench assembly 300 pivots about the pivot point PP. In the hip extended position PE, the anchor point AP is located at least 10 inches from the bottom edge of the primary member 125, and preferably 16 inches from that edge. Also, in the hip extended position PE, the anchor point AP is located at a distance of A3, which exceeds distance A2 and which is at least 13 inches from the pivot point PP, and preferably at least 15 inches from that point. In other words, when the bench assembly 300 moves from the ready for use position PU to the hip extended position PE, the anchor point AP travels along a curvilinear path that brings the anchor point AP more than 3 inches closer to the weight stack 415 than when the anchor point AP is in the ready for use position PU.
These dimensions, angles and ratios are essential to the functionality of the apparatus 50 and its long-term operation for a number of reasons. First, these angles are essential to the design and layout of the exercise apparatus 50 to ensure that the bench assembly 300 is properly positioned relative to the supporting ground such that the person can access the bench assembly 300 and then perform the resisted gluteal bridge in a controlled, safe and effective manner. Second, the bench 305 is designed support the user's entire thorax, including the user's lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spines, in a neutral position throughout the entire range of motion of the exercise, which helps protect the user's spine and allows the motion of the exercise to be concentrated at the hip joints. Third, the operable configuration of the bench 305 to the vertical member 155 provides a pivot point PP generally aligned with an inferior aspect of the user's scapulae and the user's thoracic spine. When the user is properly positioned on the bench 305, the pivot point PP is located between thoracic vertebras T1 through 12 of the human spine, preferably between vertebrae T3-T9, and most preferably between vertebrae T5-T7.
The exercise apparatus 50 facilitates the performance of a resisted gluteal bridge by a user in a safe, controlled and efficient manner. FIG. 10 shows a user U in the second or ready for use position PU, where the user U is lying on the bench 305 prior and FIG. 11 shows the user in the third or hip extended position PE, which represents an upper state of the gluteal bridge movement. The exercise apparatus 50 is configured to protect the spine of the user U by maintaining the lumbar spine in a neutral position throughout the entire range of motion of the exercise, and also allows the bridging motion of the exercise to be concentrated at the user's hip joints. The apparatus 50 purposely eliminates any accessory movement through the user's spine and improves overall effectiveness of the resisted gluteal bridge exercise.
FIG. 10 shows the user U in the second position, which illustrates both (i) the ready for use position PU prior to the commencement of the exercise and (ii) the bottom position PB that is achieved after the user U performs one complete gluteal bridge movement. In the ready for use position PU, the bumper 350 (see FIGS. 2-4) affixed to the angled support member 160 engages the cross member 345 (see FIGS. 6 and 8) of the bench 305. To properly use the exercise apparatus 50, the user U adjusts the foot assembly 215 to a suitable position and selects a resistance level on the weight stack 415. In particular, the user inserts the pin 465 through the plates 460 and into the rod 455 to select the amount of weighted resistance during the performance of the resisted gluteal bridge exercises. Once the amount of weight is selected, the user U sits near the end of the bench 305 and aligns the inferior portion of their scapulae at, or proximate the pivot point. Once the user U is positioned on the bench 305, the user U secures his or her hips and lower abdomen to the bench 305 via the belt assembly 315 and places his/her feet against the adjustable foot assembly 215. Once the belt members 320, 325 are connected via the buckle 330, the user adjusts the length of the first and/or second members 320, 325 to ensure that the belt assembly 315 properly secures the user to the bench 305 and attain the ready for use position PU.
After the user U is secured to the bench 305, the user U utilizes their gluteal muscles and accessory muscles of the hip and thigh to drive and elevate his/her hips in a substantially upward direction, which as reflected by the upwardly directed arrow in FIG. 11. This upwardly directed movement by the user U causes the user's knees to move from a position of relative flexion towards a position of less flexion. Additionally, this upwardly directed movement by the user U causes the bottom portion 305 a of the bench 305 to move upward and away from the deck assembly 200 while the bench 305 pivots around the pivot point PP. This upwardly directed movement by the user U also causes the anchor point AP to travel along a curvilinear path. This path will cause the anchor point AP to move from the position shown in FIGS. 1-10 to the position shown in FIG. 11, which is approximately 9 inches upward and approximately 3 inches closer to the weight stack 415. This travel by the anchor point AP in turn forces the cable 405 via the pulley assembly 410 to lift the selected amount of weight from the weight stack 415. It should be understood, that the more weight the user selects on the weight stack 415 the more force the user U will have to use to cause the bottom portion 305 a of the bench 305 to move upward.
While the user's feet are engaged with the foot assembly 215, the user U continues driving upward until he/she reaches the third or hip extended position PE. The hip extended position PE occurs for most users U when the angle between the bench 305 and the rear vertical member 155 is between 60 degrees and 100 degrees, and typically is 80 degrees. Also, once the user reaches this hip extended position PE the cable 405 is substantially parallel with the rear vertical member 155. Once the hip extended position PE is reached, the user U may hold or maintain this position for a period of time. After the user U has reached the hip extended position PE, the user U allows the bottom bench portion 305 a to move downward towards the deck assembly 200 until the cross member 345 (see FIGS. 6 and 8) makes contact with the bumper 350 (see FIGS. 2-4) whereby the bench 305 reaches the bottom position PB. In this manner, the user U progresses from the ready for use position PU through the hip extended position PE and back to the bottom position PB, where the progression through these three positions defines one complete repetition of the gluteal bridge exercise. After the user U completes the desired number of repetitions, the user U releases the buckle 330, which causes the first and second members 320, 325 to disengage from one another. The user U is then able to stand-up and exit from the exercise apparatus 50.
FIGS. 12-19 depict a second embodiment of the apparatus 1050 for performing a resisted gluteal bridge movement that is configured for a heavy-to-medium use environment, such as in a gym, fitness center or training facility. The exercise apparatus 1050 generally comprises (i) a support assembly 1100 with a frame assembly 1120 and a deck assembly 1200; (ii) a bench assembly 1300; and, (iii) a resistance assembly 1400. The exercise apparatus 1050 is designed to be placed on a planar support surface or floor F within the gym, fitness center, training facility, or a home. As described in greater detail below, the user or person selects a level of resistance on the resistance assembly 1400, secures himself/herself to the bench assembly 1300 and then performs at least one repetition of the resisted gluteal bridge movement. Typically, the user performs multiple repetitions of the resisted gluteal bridge movement as part of his/her training regimen.
Referring to FIGS. 12-19 and as mentioned above, the support assembly 1100 includes the frame assembly 1120 and the deck assembly 1200. The frame assembly 1120 comprises: 1) two primary or central members 1125, 2) a front member 1140, 3) a middle cross member 1147, and 4) a rear member 1145. As seen in the bottom view of FIG. 17, the central members 1125 are substantially parallel to each other. Specifically, the front member 1140 and rear member 1145 extends from the central members 1125. Also, the middle cross member 1147 extends between the central members 1125. Based on this arrangement, the members 1140, 1147 and 1145 are substantially parallel to each other and are substantially perpendicular to the central members 1125.
The frame assembly 1120 may also include a plurality of mounting feet 1150 that engage the supporting floor F and that are configured to increase the stability of the apparatus 1050 during usage. The mounting feet 1150 preferably have an elastomeric composition and can compensate if the floor F that apparatus 1050 is placed upon is not level. In the embodiment of FIGS. 12-19, a pair of mounting feet 1150 are affixed to the front member 1140 and a pair of feet 1150 are affixed to the rear member 1145. The frame assembly 1120 further includes a rear vertical member 1155 that extends upward from the rear member 1145. An angled support member 1160 extends between the rear vertical member 1155 and the middle cross member 1147.
The deck assembly 1200, preferably horizontally arranged relative to the floor F, comprises an upper plate member 1205 that extends over an extent of the central members 1125 to define a cavity 1210 there between (see FIG. 17). The deck assembly 1200 is intended to be a low-profile structure to facilitate the user's U ingress and egress from the apparatus 1050. As such, the plate member 1205 is positioned close to the support surface or floor F upon which the apparatus 50 is placed, where an upper surface of the plate member 1205 and the floor F is less than 5 inches, preferably less than 4 inches and most preferably 3 inches. These dimensions represent the height of the plate member 1205 to the floor F and include the mounting feet 1150. The deck assembly 1200 may have a non-skid surface placed over the upper plate member 1205 to help ensure that a user's feet do not slide during use of the apparatus 1050. In an alternative embodiment, an adjustable foot rest assembly that is similar to the foot rest assembly discussed above in connection with the first embodiment may be connected to the deck assembly 1200 and configured to engage the feet of the person that is using the apparatus 1050. As shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 12-19, the upper plate member 1205 is positioned below a pivot point PP (see FIG. 13) and below the bottom edge of the bench assembly 1300.
The bench assembly 1300 of the exercise apparatus 1050 comprises a bench 1305, a bench support frame assembly 1310 and a belt assembly 1315. The bench 1305 has a substantially rectangular configuration with internal pad member residing within an external housing 1307. The belt assembly 1315 includes a first member 1320, a second member 1325 and a buckle 1330 to operably connect the first and second members 1320, 1325. The belt assembly 1315 is operably connected by a coupler 1337 to the support frame assembly 1310 near a lower end 1305 a of the bench 1305. As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 and as explained below, the user secures the belt assembly 1315 across his/her lower abdomen before commencing the gluteal bride exercise. Unlike some conventional devices, the apparatus 1050 does not require additional structures above the bench assembly 1300 and the belt assembly 1315 to secure the user U to the bench 1305, such as mechanical linkages or an elongated pad that extends across the user's abdominal region. The bench 1305 is affixed to the support frame assembly 1310 which includes side frame members 1335, rear member 1340, and intermediate cross member 1345 (see FIGS. 15 and 17). Referring to FIG. 13, an elastomeric bumper 1350 is affixed to the frame assembly 1120, preferably the angled member 1160. The bumper 1350 is configured to engage the intermediate cross member 1345 when the bench 1305 is lowered towards the angled member 1160 while the user performs the gluteal bridge movement. In this manner the bumper 1350 prevents the bench 1305 for striking and potentially damaging the frame assembly 112, including the angled member 1160, while various users perform gluteal bridge movements over prolonged periods of time. The bumper 1350 has an overall height of at least 1.5 inches, and preferably 2.0 inches. Unlike some conventional devices, the apparatus 1050 includes a single bench 1305 that obviates the need for a secondary, typically lower, bench that assists a user with ingress and egress and/or further supports the user prior to and/or after the gluteal exercise movement.
The bench assembly 1300 is pivotally connected to the support frame 1120 to allow for pivotal movement of the bench 1305 and the bench support frame assembly 1310 during the user's performance of the gluteal bridge exercise. Referring to FIGS. 12-13 and 15, the bench assembly 1300 includes at least one bearing assembly 1360 that receives an extent of a rod 1365 extending through an upper portion of the vertical member 1155. The bearing assembly 1360 includes an internal bearing set 1370 mounted within a housing 1375 that extends downward from the bench support frame assembly 1310. The bearing assembly 1360 is preferably a pillow block bearing with a curvilinear housing 1375. As shown in FIG. 15, there are two bearing assemblies 1360, each extending downward from an extent of the side frame member 1335. In this configuration, the rod 1365 extends from the vertical member 1155 and an end segment of the rod 1365 extends through the bearing set 1370. Also in this configuration, the vertical member 1155 is positioned between the bearing assemblies 1360. The rod 1365 defines a pivot point PP (see FIG. 13) where the bench assembly 1300 is pivotally connected to the support frame 1120 to allow for pivotal movement of the bench 1305 during performance of the gluteal bridge exercise. The pivot point PP is in an elevated vertical position relative to: (i) the support surface upon which the apparatus 1050 rests, (ii) the deck plate member 1205, and (iii) a resistance point RP (as detailed below and shown in FIG. 14). This does not mean that the pivot point PP is directly above these other components; instead, the pivot point PP is located at a higher vertical elevation compared to these components. Accordingly, the vertical elevation of pivot point PP is greater than the resistance point RP and the deck plate member 1205. In the embodiment of FIGS. 12-19, when the apparatus 1050 is in the first position or bottom position PB, the engagement between the angled member 1160 and the intermediate cross member 1345, as provided by the bumper 1350, and between the side frame member 1335 and the vertical member 1155, as provided by the bearing assembly 1360, ensures that both the bench 1305 and the side frame member 1335 are substantially parallel to the angled member 1160. This positional arrangement improves the stability of the bench 1305 both when the user lays on the bench 1305 to prior to securing the belt assembly 1315 and beginning the first repetition of the gluteal bridge movement, and when the user is laying on the bench 1305 while performing gluteal bridge movements.
As shown in FIGS. 12-19, the resistance assembly 1400 includes a resistance band 1405 and a means for releasably securing 1410 the resistance band 1405 to both the frame assembly 1120 and bench assembly 1300. The resistance assembly 1400 provides a resistance force, in addition to the effects of gravity, that the user U must overcome in order to pivotally move the bench 1305 from a first position (see FIG. 18) to a second position (see FIG. 19) about the pivot point. In particular, the means for securing 1410 includes an upper securement means 1415 and a lower securement means 1420. These securement means 1415, 1420 can include a projection or combination of projections, a hook, a channel, a recess, or an aperture. As shown in FIGS. 12-19, the upper securement means 1415 includes projections 1425 that extend outwardly from both side frame members 1335, namely an outer surface of the member 1335. These projections 1425 are preferably positioned near the belt coupler 1337 and do not extend outwardly past the end wall 1145 a of the rear member 1145. The center of the projection 1425 forms a resistance point RP, which is angularly displaced about the pivot point PP when the exercise apparatus 1050 moves from the ready for use position PU through the hip extended position PE and back to the bottom position PB. The resistance point RP is in an elevated vertical position relative to: (i) the support surface upon which the apparatus 1050 rests and (ii) the deck plate member 1205. The resistance point RP is in a lower vertical position relative to the pivot point PP. This does not mean that the resistance point RP is aligned directly above or directly below these other components; instead, the resistance point RP is located at different vertical elevations compared to these components. Accordingly, the vertical elevation of resistance point RP is between the pivot point PP and the deck plate member 1205. Additionally, the projections 1425 may have a raised outer lip 1430 that helps ensure that the resistance assembly 1400 does not disengage projections 1425 during use of the exercise apparatus 1050.
Referring to FIGS. 12-19, the lower securement means 1420 includes a first projection 1435 that extends outwardly from the central members 1125. The lower securement means 1420 can also include a second projection 1440 that also extends from the central members 1125, and a securement plate 1445 positioned proximate the second projection 1440. In the embodiment of FIGS. 12-19, the first and second projections 1435, 1440 extend outwardly from the central members 1125 near the rear member 1145. The first and second projections 1435, 1440 do not extend past the end wall 1145 a of the rear member 1145. The resistance band 1405 is operatively connected to the first projection 1435, while the second projection 1440 and the securement plate 1445 help ensure that band 1405 does not disengage the first projection 1435 during use of the exercise apparatus 1050. The user U may change the resistance band 1405 of the exercise apparatus 1050 shown in FIGS. 12-19 by first releasing the connecting plate 1445 from the first and second projections 1435, 1440. Next, the user U slides the bottom 1405 a of the resistance band 1405 off of the lower securement means 1420. This in turn, enables the user to disconnect the top 1405 b of the resistance band 1405 from the upper securement means 1415. The user then slides the alternative resistance band onto the upper securement means 1415 and then onto the lower securement means 1420. Finally, the user connects the connecting plate 1445 to both the first and second projections 1435, 1440.
As shown in FIGS. 16-17, when connected to the upper and lower securement means 1415, 1420, the resistance bands 1405 are positioned external to or beyond the central members 1125 and the bench side members 1335. This relative positioning provides a number of benefits, including the rapid exchange of different resistance bands 1405 that provide varying levels of resistance during the performance of the gluteal bridge movement. In other words, the resistance bands 1405 are not positioned completely beneath and within the periphery of the bench 1305. The top view in FIG. 16 and the bottom view in FIG. 17 show the first and second projections 1425, 1435 residing in a substantially vertical plane VP that is oriented perpendicular to the drawing sheet and substantially parallel to the central members 1125. Because the projections 1425, 1435 have a length that exceeds the width of the band 1405, the projections 1425, 1435 provide the vertical plane VP with a width or thickness that exceeds the width of the band 1405. During the performance of the gluteal bridge movement, the resistance bands 1405 elastically deform in a manner that causes each band 1405 to be displaced both vertically and within the vertical plane VP. In other words, the band 1405 is elastically deformed in a substantially parallel direction that is within the vertical plane VP. Overall, this arrangement of the resistance assembly 1400 and its components ensures smooth and consistent elastic deformation of the assembly 1400 during the bridge movement, which facilitates proper operation of the exercise apparatus 1050. It should be understood that the lower securement means 1420 may be connected to various other locations, which include the rear member 1145, rear vertical member 1155, or the angled member 1160. However, these alternate connection locations should be selected in a manner that does not impact or compromise the elastic deformation of the assembly 1400 during the bridge movement, or comprise the proper operation of the exercise apparatus 1050.
There are numerous critical dimensions, angles and ratios of the components of the apparatus 1050 to ensure that the user can perform gluteal bridge exercises in a highly productive, efficient and same manner. For example, the angle A formed between the vertical member 1155 and the angled member 1160 is 30 to 65 degrees, preferably 50 degrees. The angle B formed between the sloped member 1160 and the middle cross member 1147 is 25 to 60 degrees, preferably 40 degrees. Referring to FIG. 13, the pivot point PP is located at a distance of P1 from the bottom edge of the rear member 145, where P1 is at least 14 inches, preferably 16 inches. The lower securement member 1420 is located at a distance of C1, which is less than 6 inches from the pivot point PP, and preferably 4 inches from that point. Also, as shown in FIGS. 12-19, the exercise apparatus 1050 has a non-elevated foot rest which ensures that the user is able to perform the resisted gluteal bridge in a controlled, safe and effective manner. In contrast, a footrest that is elevated over the pivot point PP places unnecessary strain on the user's neck. Additionally, an elevated foot plate, coupled with the forces of gravity, creates a shear force between the bench and the user's body which can cause the user to inadvertently slide on the bench while attempting the bridge motion.
When the bench assembly 300 is in the first position or bottom position PB of FIGS. 12-17, the resistance point RP is located at a distance of R1 vertically above the bottom edge of the central members 1125, where R1 is at least 6 inches from that edge, preferably 8.5 inches. Also, when the bench assembly 1300 is in the first or bottom position PB, the resistance point RP is located at a distance of R2, which is at least 10 inches from the pivot point PP, preferably 16 inches from that point PP. Further, when the user is properly positioned on and secured to the bench assembly 1300 with the belt assembly 1315, a second or ready for use position PU, which is shown in FIG. 18. In the ready for use position PU, the user's U knees and hips are in a flexed position and his/her hips are not extended, meaning the user's hips are bent to an angle between 60 and 110 degrees depending on the selected placement of user's feet, as shown in FIG. 18. When performing the gluteal bridge exercise, the user will attain a third or hip extended position PE, which is shown in FIG. 19. When the user moves from the ready for use position PU, to the hip extended position PE, the resistance point RP is displaced in a substantially curvilinear motion as the bench assembly 300 pivots about the pivot point PP. In the hip extended position PE, the resistance point RP is located at least 13.5 inches from the bottom edge of the central members 1125, and preferably 17.5 inches from that edge.
These dimensions, angles and ratios are essential to the functionality of the apparatus 1050 and its long-term operation for a number of reasons. First, these angles are essential to the design and layout of the exercise apparatus 1050 to ensure that the bench assembly 1300 is properly positioned relative to the supporting ground such that the person can access the bench assembly 1300 and then perform the resisted gluteal bridge in a controlled, safe and effective manner. Second, the bench 1305 is designed support the user's entire thorax, including the user's lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spines, in a neutral position throughout the entire range of motion of the exercise, which helps protect the user's spine and allows the motion of the exercise to be concentrated at the hip joints. Third, the operable configuration of the bench 1305 to the vertical member 1155 provides a pivot point PP generally aligned with an inferior aspect of the user's scapulae and the user's thoracic spine. When the user is properly positioned on the bench 1305, the pivot point PP is located between thoracic vertebras T1 through 12 of the human spine, preferably between vertebrae T3-T9, and most preferably between vertebrae T5-T7.
The exercise apparatus 1050 facilitates the performance of a resisted gluteal bridge by a user in a safe, controlled and efficient manner. FIG. 18 shows a user U in the second or ready for use position PU, where the user U is lying on the bench 1305 prior and FIG. 19 shows the user U in the third or hip extended position PE, which represents an upper state of the gluteal bridge movement. The exercise apparatus 1050 is configured to protect the spine of the user U by maintaining the lumbar, thoracic and cervical spine in a neutral position throughout the entire range of motion of the exercise, and also allows the bridging motion of the exercise to be concentrated at the user's hip joints. The apparatus 1050 purposely eliminates any accessory movement through the user's spine and improves overall effectiveness of the resisted gluteal bridge exercise.
FIG. 18 shows the user U in the second position, which illustrates both the ready for use position PU prior to the commencement of the exercise and the bottom position PB that is achieved after the user U performs one complete gluteal bridge movement. In the ready for use position PU, the bumper 1350 (see FIGS. 13, 18 and 19) affixed to the angled support member 1160 engages the cross member 1345 (see FIGS. 13, 18 and 19) of the bench 1305. To properly use the exercise apparatus 1050, the user U sits near the end of the bench 1305, suitable positions his/her feet on the deck assembly 1200, and aligns the inferior portion of their scapulae at, or proximate the pivot point. Once the user U is positioned on the bench 1305, the user U secures his or her hips and lower abdomen to the bench 1305 via the belt assembly 1315 and places his/her feet flat on the deck assembly 1200. Once the belt members 1320, 1325 are connected via the buckle 1330, the user adjusts the length of the first and/or second members 1320, 1325 to ensure that the belt assembly 1315 properly secures the user to the bench 1305 and attain the ready for use position PU.
After the user U is secured to the bench 1305, the user U utilizes their gluteal muscles and accessory muscles of the hip and thigh to drive and elevate his/her hips in a substantially upward direction, as reflected by the upwardly directed arrow in FIG. 19. This upwardly directed movement by the user U causes the user's knees to move from a position of relative flexion towards a position of less flexion. Additionally, this upwardly directed movement by the user U causes the bottom portion 1305 a of the bench 1305 to move upward and away from the deck assembly 1200 while the bench 1305 pivots around the pivot point PP. Further, this upwardly directed movement by the user U causes the resistance band 1405 to elastically deform, namely stretch or elongate and then return to the un-deformed state. This stretching or elongation of the resistance band 1405 adds resistance to the user's U ability to move the bottom portion 1305 a of the bench 1305 upward. Therefore, the higher the tension of the resistance band 1405 the more force the user U will have to use to cause the bottom portion 1305 a of the bench 1305 to move upward.
While the user's feet remain flat on the deck assembly 1200, the user U continues driving upward until he/she reaches the third or hip extended position PE. The hip extended position PE occurs for most users U when the angle between the bench 1305 and the rear vertical member 1155 is between 60 degrees and 100 degrees, and typically is 80 degrees. Once the hip extended position PE is reached, the user U may hold or maintain this position for a period of time. After the user U has reached the hip extended position PE, the user U allows the bottom bench portion 1305 a to move downward towards the deck assembly 1200 until the cross member 1345 (see FIGS. 13, 18 and 19) makes contact with the bumper 1350 (see FIGS. 13, 18 and 19) whereby the bench 1305 reaches the bottom position PB. In this manner, the user U progresses from the ready for use position PU through the hip extended position PE and back to the bottom position PB, where the progression through these three positions defines one complete repetition of the gluteal bridge exercise. After the user U completes the desired number of repetitions, the user U releases the buckle 1330, which causes the first and second members 1320, 1325 to disengage from one another. The user U is then able to stand-up and exit from the exercise apparatus 1050.
FIGS. 20-31 depict a third embodiment of the apparatus 2050 for performing a resisted gluteal bridge movement that is configured for a lighter use environment, such as in a use in a home gym. The exercise apparatus 2050 generally comprises: (i) a support assembly 2100 with a frame assembly 2120 and a deck assembly 2200; (ii) a bench assembly 2300; and, (iii) a resistance assembly 2400. The exercise apparatus 2050 is designed to be placed on a planar support surface or floor F within the gym, fitness center, training facility, or a home. As described in greater detail below, the user or person selects a level of resistance on the resistance assembly 2400, secures himself/herself to the bench assembly 2300 and then performs at least one repetition of the resisted gluteal bridge movement. Typically, the user performs multiple repetitions of the resisted gluteal bridge movement as part of his/her training regimen.
Referring to FIGS. 20-31 and as mentioned above, the support assembly 2100 includes the frame assembly 2120 and the deck assembly 2200. The frame assembly 2120 comprises: (i) two primary or central members 2125, (ii) a front member 2140, (iii) a slideable middle cross member 2147, and (iv) a rear member 2145. As seen in the bottom view of FIG. 25, the central members 2125 are substantially parallel to each other. Specifically, the central members 2125 extend between the front member 2140 and rear member 2145. The central members 2125 are spaced a short distance apart to define a cavity 2126 through which the cross member 2147 is displaced when the exercise apparatus 2050 is moved to a fifth position or a collapsed position PC. The middle cross member 2147 extends between the central members 2125 and is capable of sliding within a channel or slot 2149 formed in the central member 2125. This channel 2149 has a first end 2149 a, which is proximate to the front cross member 2140. Positioning the middle cross member 2140 proximate to the first end 2149 a positions the exercise apparatus 2050 in fifth position or a collapsed position PC. This fifth position or a collapsed position PC will be discussed in greater detail below and in connection with FIGS. 30 and 31. The channel 2149 also has a second end 2149 b, which is forward from the resistance assembly 2400 and rearward from the deck assembly 2200. Placing the middle cross member 2147 proximate to the second end 2149 b positions the exercise apparatus 2050 in either a: 1) first or ready to use position PU, 2) second or hip extended position PE, a third or a bottom position PB, or a fourth or a flat bench position PF. Based on this arrangement, the members 2140, 2147 and 2145 are substantially parallel to each other and are substantially perpendicular to the central members 2125.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 20-24, the frame assembly 2120 further includes a rear support members 2157 that extends upward from the central members 2125 to a pivot point PP. In particular, the rear support members 2157 are coupled to the central members 2125 by a bolt 2159 that is positioned proximate to the rear member 2145. Also, the rear support members 2157 are coupled to an angled support member 2160 by a bolt 2161. The bolts 2159, 2161 enable the rear support members 2157 to collapse when the middle cross member 2147 is positioned proximate to the first end 2149 a. An angled support member 2160 extends between the rear support member 2157 and the middle cross member 2147. The angled support member is U-shaped, which allows this support member to receive an extent of a locking support member 2162. The frame assembly 2120 further includes at least one front wheel 2184 and preferably two wheels.
The deck assembly 2200 comprises a lower plate member 2207, preferably horizontally arranged relative to the floor F, that extends below an extent of the central members 2125 (see FIG. 25). The deck assembly 2200 is intended to be a low-profile structure to facilitate the user's U ingress and egress from the apparatus 2050. As such, the plate member 2205 is positioned on or near to the support surface or floor F upon which the apparatus 2050 is placed. The deck assembly 2200 may have a non-skid surface placed over the lower plate member 2207 to help ensure that a user's feet do not slide during use of the apparatus 2050. In an alternative embodiment, an adjustable foot rest assembly that is similar to the foot rest assembly discussed above in connection with the first embodiment may be connected to the deck assembly 2200 and configured to engage the feet of the person that is using the apparatus 2050. As shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 20-24, the plate member 2207 is positioned below a pivot point PP (see FIG. 21) and below the bottom edge of the bench assembly 2300.
The bench assembly 2300 of the exercise apparatus 2050 comprises a bench 2305, a bench support frame assembly 2310 and a belt assembly 2315. The bench 2305 has a substantially rectangular configuration with internal pad member residing within an external housing 2307. The belt assembly 2315 includes a first member 2320, a second member 2325 and a buckle 2330 to operably connect the first and second members 2320, 2325. The belt assembly 2315 is operably connected by a coupler 2337 to the support frame assembly 2310 near a lower end 2305 a of the bench 2305. As shown in FIGS. 26-27 and as explained below, the user secures the belt assembly 2315 across his/her lower abdomen before commencing the gluteal bride exercise. Unlike some conventional devices, the apparatus 2050 does not require additional structures above the bench assembly 2300 and the belt assembly 2315 to secure the user U to the bench 2305, such as mechanical linkages or an elongated pad that extends across the user's abdominal region. The bench 2305 is affixed to the support frame assembly 2310 which includes middle cross member 2147 and the rear support members 2157 (see FIGS. 23 and 25). Also, unlike some conventional devices, the apparatus 2050 includes a single bench 2305 that obviates the need for a secondary, typically lower, bench that assists a user with ingress and egress and/or further supports the user prior to and/or after the gluteal exercise movement.
The bench assembly 2300 is pivotally connected to the support frame 2120 to allow for pivotal movement of the bench 2305 and the bench support frame assembly 2310 during the user's performance of the gluteal bridge exercise. Referring to FIGS. 20-21 and 23, the bench assembly 2300 includes at least one bushing assembly 2360 that receives an extent of a bolt 2161 that extends through the central frame member 2332, the rear support members 2157 and the angled support member 2160. The bolt 2161 defines a pivot point PP (see FIG. 21) where the bench assembly 2300 is pivotally connected to the support frame 2120 to allow for pivotal movement of the bench 2305 during performance of the gluteal bridge exercise. The pivot point PP is in an elevated vertical position relative to: (i) the support surface upon which the apparatus 2050 rests, (ii) the lower plate member 2207, and (iii) an resistance point RP (as detailed below and shown in FIG. 23). This does not mean that the pivot point PP is directly above these other components; instead, the pivot point PP is located at a higher vertical elevation compared to these components. Accordingly, the vertical elevation of pivot point PP is greater than the resistance point RP and the deck plate member 2205. In the embodiment of FIGS. 21-25, when the apparatus 2050 is in the first position or bottom position PB, the engagement between the locking support member 2162 and the central frame member 2332, and between the central frame member 2332 and the rear support member 2157, as provided by the bushing assembly 2360, ensures that both the bench 2305 and the central frame member 2332 are substantially parallel to the angled member 2160. This positional arrangement improves the stability of the bench 2305 both when the user lays on the bench 2305 to prior to securing the belt assembly 2315 and beginning the first repetition of the gluteal bridge movement, and when the user is laying on the bench 2305 while performing gluteal bridge movements.
As shown in FIGS. 20-25, the resistance assembly 2400 includes a resistance band 1405 and a means for releasably securing 2410 the resistance band 2405 to both the frame assembly 2120 and bench assembly 2300. The resistance assembly 2400 provides a resistance force, in addition to the effects of gravity, that the user U must overcome in order to pivotally move the bench 2305 from a first position (see FIG. 26) to a second position (see FIG. 27) about the pivot point. In particular, the means for securing 1410 includes an upper securement means 2415 and a lower securement means 2420. These securement means 2415, 2420 can include a projection or combination of projections, a hook, a channel, a recess, a detent pin or a quick-release pin, or an aperture. As shown in FIGS. 20-25, the upper securement means 2415 includes releasable coupler mechanism that securely engages and then, upon actuation by the user U, quickly disengages a component of the bench assembly 2300. For example, this coupler mechanism is a quick-release pin 2427 that can removably inserted into a hole that is formed in central frame member 2332. This quick-release pin 2427 are preferably positioned near the belt coupler 2337 and do not extend outwardly past the end wall 2145 a of the rear member 2145. The center of the quick-release pin 2427 forms a resistance point RP, which is angularly displaced about the pivot point PP when the exercise apparatus 2050 moves from the ready for use position PU through the hip extended position PE and back to the bottom position PB. The resistance point RP is in an elevated vertical position relative to: (i) the support surface upon which the apparatus 2050 rests and (ii) the deck plate member 2205. The resistance point RP is in a lower vertical position relative to the pivot point PP. This does not mean that the resistance point RP is aligned directly above or directly below these other components; instead, the resistance point RP is located at different vertical elevations compared to these components. Accordingly, the vertical elevation of resistance point RP is between the pivot point PP and the deck plate member 2205. Additionally, the projections 2425 may have a raised outer lip 2430 that helps ensure that the resistance assembly 2400 does not disengage projections 2425 during use of the exercise apparatus 2050.
Referring to FIGS. 20-25, the lower securement means 2420 includes a projection 2425 that extends outwardly from the central members 2125 and positioned between the rear member 2145 and the middle cross member 2147. The projection 2425 does not extend past the end wall 2145 a of the rear member 2145. The resistance band 2405 is operatively connected to the projection 2425. Additionally, the projection 2425 may have a raised outer lip 2430 that helps ensure that the resistance assembly 2400 does not disengage projection 2425 during use of the exercise apparatus 1050. The user U may change the resistance band 2405 of the exercise apparatus 2050 shown in FIGS. 20-25 by first exerting a force on the quick-release pin 2427 that is perpendicular to the central members 2125. Next, the user U slides the bottom 2405 a of the resistance band 2405 off of the lower securement means 2420. The user then can slide an alternative resistance band onto the upper securement means 2415 and then onto the lower securement means 2420.
As shown in FIGS. 24-25, when connected to the upper and lower securement means 2415, 2420, the resistance bands 2405 are positioned external to or beyond the central members 2125 and the angled support member 2160. This relative positioning provides a number of benefits, including the rapid exchange of different resistance bands 2405 that provide varying levels of resistance during the performance of the gluteal bridge movement. The top view in FIG. 24 and the bottom view in FIG. 25 show the first and second projections 2425, 2435 residing in a substantially vertical plane VP that is oriented perpendicular to the drawing sheet and substantially parallel to the central members 2125. Because the projections 2425, 2435 have a length that exceeds the width of the band 1405, the projections 2425, 2435 provide the vertical plane VP with a width or thickness that exceeds the width of the band 2405. During the performance of the gluteal bridge movement, the resistance bands 2405 elastically deform in a manner that causes each band 1405 to be displaced both vertically and within the vertical plane VP. In other words, the band 1405 is elastically deformed in a substantially parallel direction that is within the vertical plane VP. Overall, this arrangement of the resistance assembly 2400 and its components ensures smooth and consistent elastic deformation of the assembly 2400 during the bridge movement, which facilitates proper operation of the exercise apparatus 2050. Overall, this arrangement of the resistance assembly 2400 enables for smooth and consistent operation of the exercise apparatus 2050. It should be understood that the lower securement means 2420 may be connected to various other locations, which include the rear member 2145 or rear vertical member 2155. However, these alternate connection locations should be selected in a manner that does not impact or compromise the elastic deformation of the assembly 2400 during the bridge movement, or comprise the proper operation of the exercise apparatus 2050.
There are numerous critical dimensions, angles and ratios of the components of the apparatus 1050 to ensure that the user can perform gluteal bridge exercises in a highly productive, efficient and same manner. For example, the angle A formed between the rear support member 2157 and the angled member 2160 is 45 to 90 degrees, preferably 75 degrees. The angle B formed between the sloped member 2160 and the central members 2125 is 28 to 73 degrees, preferably 42 degrees. Referring to FIG. 21, the pivot point PP is located at a distance of P1 from the bottom edge of the rear member 2145, where P1 is at least 14 inches, preferably 18 inches. The pivot point PP is located at a distance of P2 from the rear edge of the rear member 2145, where P2 is at least 8 inches, preferably 11 inches. The lower securement member 2420 is located at a distance of C1, which is less than 16 inches from the rear edge of the rear member 2145, and preferably 14 inches from that point. The first end 2149 a of the channel 2149 is located at a distance of S1 from the rear edge of the rear member 2145, where S1 is at least 25 inches, preferably 30 inches. The second end 2149 b of the channel 2149 is located at a distance of S2 from the rear edge of the rear member 2145, where S2 is at least 37 inches, preferably 47 inches. Also, as shown in FIGS. 20-25, the exercise apparatus 1050 has a non-elevated foot rest which ensures that the user is able to perform the resisted gluteal bridge in a controlled, safe and effective manner. In contrast, a footrest that is elevated over the pivot point PP places unnecessary strain on the user's neck. Additionally, an elevated foot plate, coupled with the forces of gravity, creates a shear force between the bench and the user's body which can cause the user to inadvertently slide on the bench while attempting the bridge motion.
When the bench assembly 2300 is in the first position or bottom position PB of FIGS. 20-25, the resistance point RP is located at a distance of R1 vertically above the bottom edge of the central members 2125, where R1 is at least 4 inches from that edge, preferably 7 inches. Also, when the bench assembly 300 is in the first or bottom position PB, the resistance point RP is located at a distance of R2, which is at least 15 inches from the rear edge of the rear member 2145, preferably 23 inches from that rear edge. Further, when the user is properly positioned on and secured to the bench assembly 2300 with the belt assembly 2315, a second or ready for use position PU, which is shown in FIG. 26. In the ready for use position PU, the user's U knees and hips are in a flexed position and his/her hips are not extended, meaning the user's hips are bent to an angle between 60 and 110 degrees depending on the selected placement of user's feet, as shown in FIG. 26. When performing the gluteal bridge exercise, the user will attain a third or hip extended position PE, which is shown in FIG. 27. When the user moves from the ready for use position PU, to the hip extended position PE, the resistance point RP is displaced in a substantially curvilinear motion as the bench assembly 2300 pivots about the pivot point PP. In the hip extended position PE, the resistance point RP is located at least 13 inches from the bottom edge of the central members 2125, and preferably 16 inches from that edge.
These dimensions, angles and ratios are essential to the functionality of the apparatus 2050 and its long-term operation for a number of reasons. First, these angles are essential to the design and layout of the exercise apparatus 2050 to ensure that the bench assembly 1300 is properly positioned relative to the supporting ground such that the person can access the bench assembly 2300 and then perform the resisted gluteal bridge in a controlled, safe and effective manner. Second, the bench 2305 is designed support the user's entire thorax, including the lumbar, thoracic and cervical spines, in a neutral position throughout the entire range of motion of the exercise, which helps protect the user's spine and allows the motion of the exercise to be concentrated at the hip joints. Third, the operable configuration of the bench 2305 to the rear support member 2157 provides a pivot point PP generally aligned with an inferior aspect of the user's scapulae and the user's thoracic spine. When the user is properly positioned on the bench 2305, the pivot point PP is located between thoracic vertebras T1 through 12 of the human spine, preferably between vertebrae T3-T9, and most preferably between vertebrae T5-T7.
The exercise apparatus 2050 facilitates the performance of a resisted gluteal bridge by a user in a safe, controlled and efficient manner. FIG. 26 shows a user U in the second or ready for use position PU, where the user U is lying on the bench 2305 prior and FIG. 27 shows the user U in the third or hip extended position PE, which represents an upper state of the gluteal bridge movement. The exercise apparatus 2050 is configured to protect the spine of the user U by maintaining the lumbar spine in a neutral position throughout the entire range of motion of the exercise, and also allows the bridging motion of the exercise to be concentrated at the user's hip joints. The apparatus 2050 purposely eliminates any accessory movement through the user's spine and improves overall effectiveness of the resisted gluteal bridge exercise.
FIG. 26 shows the user U in the second position, which illustrates both the ready for use position PU prior to the commencement of the exercise and the bottom position PB that is achieved after the user U performs one complete gluteal bridge movement. In the ready for use position PU, the central member 2332 engages the locking support member 2162 of the bench 2305. To properly use the exercise apparatus 2050, the user U sits near the end of the bench 2305, suitable positions his/her feet on the deck assembly 2200, and aligns the inferior portion of their scapulae at, or proximate the pivot point, PP. Once the user U is positioned on the bench 2305, the user U secures his or her hips and lower abdomen to the bench 2305 via the belt assembly 2315 and places his/her feet flat on the deck assembly 2200. Once the belt members 2320, 2325 are connected via the buckle 2330, the user adjusts the length of the first and/or second members 2320, 2325 to ensure that the belt assembly 2315 properly secures the user to the bench 2305 and attain the ready for use position PU.
After the user U is secured to the bench 2305, the user U utilizes their gluteal muscles and accessory muscles of the hip and thigh to drive and elevate his/her hips in a substantially upward direction, which as reflected by the upwardly directed arrow in FIG. 27. This upwardly directed movement by the user U causes the users knees move from a position of relative flexion towards a position of less knee flexion. Additionally, this upwardly directed movement by the user U causes the bottom portion 2305 a of the bench 2305 to move upward and away from the deck assembly 2200 while the bench 2305 pivots around the pivot point PP. Further, this upwardly directed movement by the user U causes the resistance band 2405 to stretch or elongate. This stretching or elongation of the resistance band 2405 adds resistance to the user's U ability to move the bottom portion 2305 a of the bench 2305 upward. Therefore, the higher the tension of the resistance band 2405 the more force the user U will have to use to cause the bottom portion 2305 a of the bench 2305 to move upward.
While the user's feet remain flat on the deck assembly 2200, the user U continues driving upward until he/she reaches the third or hip extended position PE. The hip extended position PE occurs for most users U when the angle between the bench 2305 and the rear support member 2157 is between 60 degrees and 100 degrees, and typically is 80 degrees. Once the hip extended position PE is reached, the user U may hold or maintain this position for a period of time. After the user U has reached the hip extended position PE, the user U allows the bottom bench portion 2305 a to move downward towards the deck assembly 2200 until the central member 2332 engages the locking support member 2162 of the bench 2305 whereby the bench 1305 reaches the bottom position PB. In this manner, the user U progresses from the ready for use position PU through the hip extended position PE and back to the bottom position PB, where the progression through these three positions defines one complete repetition of the gluteal bridge exercise. After the user U completes the desired number of repetitions, the user U releases the buckle 2330, which causes the first and second members 2320, 2325 to disengage from one another. The user U is then able to stand-up and exit from the exercise apparatus 2050.
In addition to the first three positions (i.e., ready to use position PU, hip extended position PE and bottom position PB), the exercise apparatus 2050 may be placed in a fourth position (i.e., flat bench position PF) and a fifth position (i.e., collapsed position PC). Specifically, the fourth or flat bench position PF is shown in FIGS. 28-29, while the fifth or collapsed position PC is shown in FIGS. 30-31.
To place the exercise apparatus 2050 in the fourth or flat bench position PF (see FIGS. 28-29) from the first position or ready to use position PU (see FIGS. 20-25), the user remove the quick-release pin 2427 from the exercise apparatus 2050 by exerting a force on the quick-release pin 2427 that is perpendicular to the central members 2125. Once the quick-release pin 2427 has been removed from the exercise apparatus 2050, the user lifts the bottom portion 2305 a of the bench 2305 up until the bench is parallel or slightly past parallel with the central members 2125. The user then removes the locking support member 2162 from the storage position within the angled support member 2160 and aligns the holes 2164 in the end 2162 a of the locking support member 2162 with the holes 2334 in the central frame member 2332. The user then inserts the quick-release pin 2427 through the aligned holes 2164, 2334, which in turn locks the bench 2305 in a state that is substantially parallel with the central members 2125. Once the bench 2305 is locked in this fourth or flat bench position PF position, the user can utilize the exercise apparatus 2050 in a manner that is similar to how a user would typically use a flat bench. For example, the user may perform dumbbell flyes or presses while lying on the bench 2305 since it is in a horizontal position.
To place the exercise apparatus 2050 in the fifth or collapsed position PC (see FIGS. 30-31) from the first position or ready to use position PU (see FIGS. 20-25), the user remove the quick-release pin 2427 from the exercise apparatus 2050 by exerting a force on the quick-release pin 2427 that is perpendicular to the central members 2125. Once the quick-release pin 2427 has been removed from the exercise apparatus 2050, the user removes the resistance bands 2405 from the exercise apparatus 2050. The user then re-inserts the quick-release pin 2427 into the same location on the exercise apparatus 2050. Once the middle cross member 2147 has reached the rearwardmost position of the channel 2149, the user applies a force on the bench 2305 that is substantially perpendicular to the central members 2125. This causes the middle cross member 2147 to move in the channel 2419 from the second end 2149 b to the first end 2149 a. The exercise apparatus 2050 in the fifth or collapsed position PC once the middle cross member 2147 is positioned proximate to the first end 2149 a. In the collapsed position PC the bench assembly 2300 and the frame assembly 2120, including the frame assembly 2120 and the deck assembly 2200, are positioned adjacent to each other or “stacked together,” which enables the user to easily store the exercise apparatus 2050 in a small space, such as under the user's bed, when not being used.
While some implementations have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the disclosure; and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.
Headings and subheadings, if any, are used for convenience only and are not limiting. The word exemplary is used to mean serving as an example or illustration. To the extent that the term include, have, or the like is used, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term comprise as comprise is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. Relational terms such as first and second and the like may be used to distinguish one entity or action from another without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions.
Phrases such as an aspect, the aspect, another aspect, some aspects, one or more aspects, an implementation, the implementation, another implementation, some implementations, one or more implementations, an embodiment, the embodiment, another embodiment, some embodiments, one or more embodiments, a configuration, the configuration, another configuration, some configurations, one or more configurations, the subject technology, the disclosure, the present disclosure, other variations thereof and alike are for convenience and do not imply that a disclosure relating to such phrase(s) is essential to the subject technology or that such disclosure applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to such phrase(s) may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. A disclosure relating to such phrase(s) may provide one or more examples. A phrase such as an aspect or some aspects may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa, and this applies similarly to other foregoing phrases.
Numerous modifications to the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Preferred embodiments of this disclosure are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the disclosure. It should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the disclosure.
a resistance assembly operably connected to the bench assembly, said resistance assembly providing a resistance force on the bench assembly that the user overcomes in order to pivotally move the bench assembly from a ready to use position to an extended position about said pivot point.
2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the resistance assembly includes an elongated cable operably extending through a first pulley and between the bench assembly and a weight stack.
3. The exercise apparatus of claim 2, wherein the resistance assembly further includes an anchor mechanism that pivotally secures a first end of the elongated cable to a lower portion of the bench assembly.
4. The exercise apparatus of claim 3, wherein the anchor mechanism includes a rod and a coupler pivotally connected to the rod to define an anchor point, wherein the coupler is also secured to the first end of the elongated cable, and wherein the anchor point moves in a curvilinear path when the user moves the bench assembly from the ready to use position to the extended position.
5. The exercise apparatus of claim 2, wherein the resistance assembly further includes a second pulley, wherein the first and second pulleys are arranged in a manner that provides a linear path of travel for the elongated cable when the user moves the bench assembly from the ready to use position to the extended position.
6. The exercise apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first pulley is coupled to the frame assembly proximate to the lower portion of the bench assembly and the second pulley is coupled to the frame assembly proximate to the weight stack.
7. The exercise apparatus of claim 2, wherein the elongated cable is routed through the central member as the elongated cable operably extends between the bench assembly and the weight stack.
8. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bench assembly is pivotally connected to the vertical member by at least one bearing assembly, wherein the pivot point is coincident with the at least one bearing assembly.
9. The exercise apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one bearing assembly includes a housing affixed to the bench assembly and an internal bearing set, wherein the internal bearing set receives an extent of a rod that extends from the vertical member.
10. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the resistance assembly includes (i) an upper securement member coupled to the bench assembly, (ii) a lower securement member coupled to the frame assembly, and (iii) a resistance member removably coupled to both the upper securement member and the lower securement member, wherein said resistance member provides the resistance force on the bench assembly.
11. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame assembly further includes an angled member that extends between the vertical member and the central member, the angled member being oriented parallel to the bench assembly in the ready to use position.
12. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an adjustable foot rest assembly that slidingly engages the deck plate.
13. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the resistance assembly includes (i) an upper securement member coupled to the bench assembly, and (ii) a resistance member removably coupled to the upper securement member, wherein said resistance member provides the resistance force on the bench assembly.
a resistance assembly operably connected to both the frame assembly and the bench assembly, said resistance assembly providing a resistance force on the bench assembly that the user overcomes in order to pivotally move the bench assembly between a ready to use position and an extended position about said pivot point.
15. The exercise apparatus of claim 14, wherein the bench assembly is pivotally connected to the vertical member by a bearing assembly, wherein the pivot point is coincident with the bearing assembly.
16. The exercise apparatus of claim 15, wherein the bearing assembly includes a housing affixed to the bench assembly and an internal bearing set, wherein the internal bearing set receives an extent of a rod that extends from the vertical member.
17. The exercise apparatus of claim 14, wherein the resistance assembly includes (i) an upper securement member coupled to the bench assembly, and (ii) a resistance member removably coupled to the upper securement member, wherein said resistance member provides the resistance force on the bench assembly.
18. The exercise apparatus of claim 17, wherein the resistance assembly comprises a selectable weight.
19. The exercise apparatus of claim 14, wherein the bench assembly comprises a bench, a bench support frame assembly and a belt assembly, wherein the belt assembly is operably connected to the bench support frame assembly near a lower portion of the bench.
20. The exercise apparatus of claim 14, wherein the frame assembly further includes an angled member that extends between the vertical member and the at least one central member, wherein the angled member is oriented parallel to the bench assembly in the ready to use position.
21. The exercise apparatus of claim 14, wherein the bench assembly comprises a bench and a bench support frame assembly, wherein the bench underlies and supports the user's thorax in a neutral position while the user pivotally moves the bench assembly between the ready to use position and the extended position.
22. The exercise apparatus of claim 14, wherein the bench assembly comprises a bench and a bench support frame assembly, wherein the bench underlies and supports the user's lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spine in a neutral position while the user pivotally moves the bench assembly between the ready to use position and the extended position.
23. The exercise apparatus of claim 14, wherein the frame assembly and the bench assembly are arranged such that the pivot point underlies and is aligned with the user's thoracic spine while the user pivotally moves the bench between the ready to use position and the extended position.
http://www.tennisfitnesslove.com/2015/08/get-more-power-with-strong-glutes/; Website; Dated Aug. 6, 2015.
https://bootybuilder.com/en/; Website and Assembly Instructions; Dated Sep. 14, 2015.
https://theglutebuilder.com/; The Glute Builder; Website; Dated Mar. 11, 2016.
https://www.t-nation.com/training/the-cure-for-weak-glutes; Website; Dated Apr. 19, 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geKfXHZY3O8; YouTube Video; Dated Sep. 17, 2014.
PCT Search Report and Written Opinion for International Application No. PCT/US2018/032389, Sep. 5, 2018, 9 pages. | 2019-04-21T01:36:58Z | https://patents.google.com/patent/US10226665B2/en |
If you’ve ever thought that the medium-duty market is a case of “the more things change, the more they stay the same,” it might be time to take a second look.
While there’s electricity in the air across the trucking landscape, even some truck makers that have already shown off their prowess advancing battery-electric powered trucks for medium-duty use are also responding strongly to heightened back-to-the-future demand for gasoline-fueled trucks.
Other hot trends in the bread-and-butter world of workaday delivery and vocational trucks include sustained efforts to bring even more highly advanced safety technologies to bear, as well as boosting vehicle connectivity to reduce operating costs, and finding ways to make trucks just plain more comfortable to drive.
For instance, Mitsubishi Fuso, which laid claim last year to rolling out the first global all-electric truck in full production, has this year introduced specifically to North America the only gasoline-powered truck that it makes. Other brands offering gas power in this space include Isuzu, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, and Ram.
In the electric realm, Daimler has begun testing an electric version of the Freightliner M2 106 truck. And Isuzu, according to Brian Tabel, executive director of marketing, planned as of October to continue piloting five different trucks with five different customers to test its battery-electric truck in conjunction with electric drivetrain maker Nordresa.
Among those ownership challenges? Downtime.
The big truck news out of General Motors is the return of Chevrolet to the medium-duty market with an all-new lineup of Class 4 to Class 6 chassis- cab models for the 2019 model year, consisting of the Silverado 4500HD, Silverado 5500HD, and Silverado 6500HD. The three models were developed via a partnership with Navistar. Together, the models cover GVWRs running from 15,000 pounds to 22,900 pounds and offer seven wheelbase options as well as regular and crew cab variants. The Silverado HD models will be available in two- and four-wheel drive and will be powered by a Duramax 6.6L turbodiesel, rated 350 hp at 700 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to Allison automatic transmissions. A power take-off is optional. GM says the frame is designed with one-piece straight rails with no rivets or brackets on top to interfere with the mounting of custom-made bodies. In addition, more frame lengths are offered to help customers specify the exact truck to suit their needs. Serviceability features include a “clamshell” tilting hood and a wheel cut of up to 50 degrees that can give technicians better engine access than trucks with conventional hoods. Optional equipment includes twin-tank fuel capacity of up to 65 gallons, a factory-installed air suspension, and a suite of available connectivity offerings including OnStar, Commercial Link, and a built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot. The Silverado HD boasts a design cue from the Chevy Camaro: The “flowtie,” first introduced on the front grille of the 2014 Camaro Z/28, is the chrome outline of the traditional Chevrolet bowtie with the center removed to increase engine airflow to help improve performance. In addition to the three new conventional-cab Chevys, GM also continues to offer the Class 3 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD and GMC Sierra 3500HD chassis cab as well as its line of Chevrolet medium-duty low cab forward trucks.
The Detroit DD5 and Detroit DD8 midrange diesels are available for spec’ing on Freightliner M2 106 medium-duty trucks. The DD8 is engineered to be a low-maintenance, higher torque and higher horsepower option for fleets operating in construction, dump, mixer, plow, and other tough-duty applications. The DD5 is designed for typical urban applications, such as last mile and P&D. “These engines boast industry-leading maintenance intervals and come standard with Detroit Connect Virtual Technician remote diagnostic service,” says Kelly Gedert, director of product marketing, Freightliner Trucks and Detroit Components. “The engines also help medium-duty customers achieve maximum uptime with proprietary variable cam phasing, which enables more efficient aftertreatment system performance. At low engine speeds, the exhaust timing can adjust and open the exhaust valves earlier in the operating cycle. This causes warmer exhaust to be pushed in the direction of the aftertreatment system. And this allows for effective DPF regenerations, increasing uptime with reliable operation of the aftertreatment system.” The DD8, launched at this year’s Work Truck Show, expands on the Detroit medium-duty platform that was rolled out last year with the DD5. Daimler says the DD8 will feature both engine and transmission power take-off options. The newer engines will initially be available in the Freightliner M2 106, 108SD and 114SD models. Trucks powered by the DD8 will also feature Detroit Connect Virtual Technician remote diagnostic service. Daimler says Virtual Technician helps fleets make informed maintenance decisions, so vehicles are only serviced when needed. Should a vehicle need to go into the shop, Virtual Technician, backed by experts at the Detroit Customer Support Center, will provide access to in-depth information to help improve uptime.
While Ford is expected to soon roll out a new edition of its Transit full-size van, the company says the current model boasts a range of enhancements that includes an increase in the standard rear door hinge opening angle on the 148-inch wheelbase model, from 237 degrees to 253 degrees. Also new are available running boards on chassis cab/cutaway versions. The rear recovery eye feature is now standard on both cargo and passenger vans, and a new high-strength laminated side glass is available for some configurations. Fleet customers can option white steel wheels with exposed lug nuts for dual-rear-wheel vans. Options on the Transit Connect compact van now include the first diesel engine available, while a new 1.5L EcoBlue turbocharged direct injection diesel is due out in 2019. Engines feature standard Auto Start-Stop and are paired with a new 8-speed SelectShift automatic transmission. Fleet customers can opt for a 2.5L iVCT I-4 gas engine with CNG/LPG gaseous fuel prep package. For 2019, the F-Series Super Duty carries over its high-strength steel frame and aluminum-alloy body, choice of 6.2L gas or 6.7L Power Stroke diesel, and TorqShift 6-speed transmission. Newly offered is optional FordPassConnect embedded 4G LTE modem, said to add greater connectivity. Ford, which offers medium-duty trucks that span Class 7, notes that its near-term future commercial vehicle plans include rolling out a new Transit with 4G LTE connectivity, extending production of its E-Series cutaway and stripped chassis into the 2020s, and offering automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, Driver Alert System and other advanced technologies on future E-Series, F-650, F-750, and F59 chassis vehicles.
Hino this year rolled out its new XL Series of Class 7 to 8 trucks, marking its next step in expanding its presence in North America. Both the XL7 and XL8 models are powered by Hino’s A09 8.9L inline 6-cylinder diesel engine and will be offered in both straight truck and tractor configurations. The different models will range from a GVWR of 33,000 to 60,000 pounds and a GCWR of up to 66,000 pounds. Maximum engine performance will top out at 360 hp and 1,150 lbs.-ft. of torque. Available wheelbases will range up to 304 inches. Tandem axle and fifth wheel configurations are being offered for a variety of vocational applications. The XL Series lineup features new active safety solutions with electronic stability control (standard on tractor models) and collision mitigation systems, payload management suspension options, and a body builder-friendly design to improve serviceability. Hino also paid attention to styling, ergonomics, and driver amenities. The cab features wide entry for easier access to what the company called an “automotive-grade finished interior.” The XL Series also provides an air-ride cab and driver’s seat, hands-free Bluetooth audio/calling, steering wheel controls, LED headlights, cruise control, and air conditioning as standard equipment on all 2020 model year XL7 and XL8 trucks. The benefits current Hino customers receive, including HinoWatch 24/7 roadside assistance, HinoCare maintenance programs, and its fully integrated connected vehicle solution, Hino Insight, will also benefit XL Series customers. The truck maker notes that Hino Insight Telematics carries a one-year complimentary subscription; Insight Remote Diagnostics and Insight Case Management are complimentary for five years. Production of the XL Series will start in early 2019; ordering opens in the fourth quarter of 2018. The trucks will be assembled in Mineral Wells, West Virginia, at a fully renovated production facility that Hino acquired in 2017.
Navistar will unveil its new Class 4 and 5 International truck, developed in partnership with GM, this month. Earlier this year it revealed its new MV Series Class 6 to 7 trucks. The MV Series is the final piece of International’s Project Horizon product refresh strategy, and aimed to improve medium-duty cab design by including the same “driver-centric features” found in the company’s Class 8 vehicles. The MV was designed to be easily configured for varying applications. Key features include new cab doors with a lower bottom glass edge and removed vent window, giving the driver a single large piece of glass to improve side visibility and reduce blind spots. The position of the optional pedestal mirrors was optimized so drivers turn their heads less and keep their eyes on the road while reducing neck strain. A new gauge cluster with a digital driver display gives drivers real-time monitoring of vehicle operation and other important alerts in clear sight. The flat-panel dash contains space for up to 30 customizable switches to operate any type of body that is mounted; the switches boast large text and are backlit for easy viewing at night. A column-mounted stalk shifter was chosen to help keep drivers’ hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. The MV Series is also equipped with an improved HVAC system, which includes a high-performance “Max” defrost feature. An additional vent has been added to help keep the middle front passenger comfortable. MV trucks can be ordered with regular, extended, and crew cabs. The vehicle can be powered by either a Cummins B6.7 or L9 engine. Standard transmission is the Allison 1000 HS automatic. Optionally available are Allison FuelSense 2.0, with DynActive Shifting, which features a torque converter to provide variable shift points based on vehicle operating conditions.
Following the launch of its all-new Class 6 FTR low cab forward truck last year, earlier this year Isuzu further grew its medium-duty lineup by adding a crew cab version of its Class 5 NRR cabover. Able to seat up to a seven-person crew, the NRR variant also carries a 19,500-lb GVW rating. Upfit applications will accommodate vocational bodies up to 30 feet in length with the standard cab and 16 feet with crew cab models. Production of Isuzu’s gasoline-powered NPR models began in January. Like the NRR, the NPR can be spec’ed with a seven-passenger crew cab option. Class 3 and 4 NPR trucks are available with gasoline power and can be ordered with CNG/LPG fuel capability. The gasoline engine in the NPR is the Vortec 6L V-8, which generates 297 hp at 4,300 rpm and 372 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm. It’s mated to the GM 6L90 Hydra-Matic 6-speed automatic with double overdrive. In August, Isuzu announced that the 50,000th gasoline-powered Isuzu N-Series truck was produced in Charlotte, Michigan. The Isuzu model was the first gasoline-powered low cab forward truck available in North America. Assembly began at Spartan Motors in April 2011.
Kenworth’s medium-duty lineup consists of medium-duty conventional and cabover models. The Class 6 T270 and Class 7 T370 conventional trucks and tractors feature a 109-inch BBC, sloped hood, single rear or tandem drive axle, and optional cab corner windows. GVW ratings reach up to 66,000 pounds. Power is provided by Paccar PX-7 and PX-9 diesel engines, rated 200 to 350 hp and up to 1,150 lbs.-ft. of torque, and they can be mated to manual, automated, or automatic transmissions. On the heavier T370, front axles are available rated up to 20,000 pounds. Now standard on the T270 and T370 are Dana Spicer S140 single-reduction, single-drive axles. The T270 has the S17-140 axle rated at 16,000 pounds, while the T370 is fitted with the S21-140 rated at 21,000 pounds. Kenworth notes that these axles provide “excellent reliability and durability with higher horsepower and torque engines due to high-capacity gearing.” Optionally available is the in-dash Kenworth NavPlus HD system, as well as 4x4 and 6x6 drive configurations. The Class 6 K270 and Class 7 K370 4x2 cabovers feature a 63.4-inch BBC, 55-degree wheel cut, an automatic transmission, a single rear drive axle, and Paccar PX-7 diesel engines, rated from 200 to 260 hp and 520 to 660 lbs.-ft. of torque. They come standard with front and rear drum brakes and with 22.5-inch tires and wheels (19.5-inch package available). Front air disc brakes and rear air suspension are optional. Standard onboard are an air suspension driver’s seat and two-person bench seat. Now available on the K270 and K370 are the Dana Spicer S140 series of single-reduction, single-drive axles, ranging from 16,000 to 21,000 pounds gross axle weight rating.
For Mitsubishi Fuso, Daimler AG’s Japan-based medium-duty truck division, its biggest rollout this year is the Fuso FE Gas, the only gasoline-powered truck that the OEM makes. Aimed at the U.S. and Canada markets, it is being built in the U.S. with the company’s Daimler brand partner, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. A General Motors-sourced 6.0L V-8 will power Class 4 and Class 5 FE Gas models. In all models, the gasoline engine will turn out 297 hp and 361 lb.-ft. of torque. The gasoline engine will be paired with an Allison 1000 automatic transmission with Fuel Sense 2.0 transmission management software, including DynActive shifting technology that is said to improve fuel economy by as much as 6%. The software uses a Neutral-at-Stop feature to help further reduce fuel consumption. Both the FE Gas and FE Diesel models also boast a new interior, which features a heavy-duty driver’s seat with adjustable lumbar support. In addition, the seatbelts are now red for higher visibility. Also, instrument cluster colors have been improved under various lighting conditions, and there is now an LED cabin light. Storage space has been improved, too, with a new driver side console, floor tray, and sun-visor pocket. And the FE Diesel now has a new transmission, the Fuso Duonic 2.0 6-speed dual-clutch automatic. The upgrade to the 2.0 version includes modification of the dual clutch that significantly improves reliability, comfort and operability, says the company. In addition, it adds Hill Start Assist, and the gear shift shock has been considerably reduced to provide a smoother drive. The Duonic 2.0 maximizes power transmission efficiency by quickly switching between the two clutches, according to the OEM.
Mercedes-Benz has rolled out the third generation of its Sprinter full-size van. The latest version, being built for the North American market at a Mercedes plant in South Carolina, is distinguished by an optional factory-installed Mercedes Pro telematics system, revamped interior, connected vehicle system, and a 2.0L, 4-cylinder gasoline engine expressly engineered to give U.S. buyers another choice alongside Sprinter’s 3.0L 6-cylinder turbodiesel. Available advanced safety features include Distance Regulator Distronic Plus, which allows following a vehicle in front at a pre-selected distance at a wide range of speeds to relieve driver strain on long journeys and when following vehicles, as well as Blind Spot Assist and Active Lane-Keeping Assist. Also available are Park Assist, Traffic Sign Assist (which draws additional attention to speed limits, no-entry and no-overtaking restrictions), and Crosswind Assist. And among other features, there is also Attention Assist, which gives the driver visual and acoustic warnings if it detects typical signs of drowsiness or inattention — then urges the driver to take a break. This system also records steering wheel movements to create an individual driver profile. Another advanced safety system offered is Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function. This system continuously checks the safe distance to the vehicle immediately in front, warns the driver optically and acoustically of potential collisions, and autonomously brakes the vehicle to a full stop if required.
For 2018, the Nissan NV cargo van is available with either a 375-hp 5.6L Endurance V-8 gasoline engine mated to a heavy-duty 7-speed automatic or a 261-hp 4.0L V-6 with 5-speed automatic transmission. All NV Cargo vans come equipped with standard RearView Monitor, 5-inch color display audio (5.8-inch standard on SL grade), Bluetooth hands-free phone system, streaming audio via Bluetooth, hands-free Text Messaging Assistant, and USB connection port. The previous Power Package option content – power windows with driver’s side one-touch down, power door locks with central locking, auto door lock function, remote keyless entry and cruise control with steering wheel controls – is now standard on S grade vans. Also available are NissanConnect with navigation and mobile apps. The system features a 5.8-inch touch-screen display, Nissan Voice Recognition for audio and navigation, SiriusXM Traffic and SiriusXM Travel Link (subscription required). The NV offers a 120-inch cargo floor length and 70.2-inch maximum cargo floor width. NV Cargo Standard Roof models offer a maximum of 55.8-inch cargo area height, among the tallest in class, says the company. The NV Cargo High Roof provides a maximum 76.9-inch cargo room height – enough for most users to move about the cargo area while standing up straight. The NV Cargo is the only available high roof model in the segment with “rugged body-on-frame construction,” the OEM says.
Peterbilt medium-duty truck models continue to feature Paccar PX-7 and PX-9 diesel engines, which offer power options ranging from 200 to 380 hp and up to 1,150 lb-ft of torque. The OEM’s only cabover, the Model 220, offers GVW ratings ranging from 26,000 to 33,000 lbs. Peterbilt says this truck was designed with a low chassis weight to aid high-volume pickup and delivery, as well as beverage and refuse applications. The Model 220 is also available in a right-hand drive configuration for street sweepers and paint striper operations. The OEM’s conventional cab range consists of the Models 325, 330, 337, and 348. At the top end of Peterbilt’s GVWR offering is the Model 348 truck, which straddles Class 6 and Class 7. Offered in GVW ratings from 33,000 to 66,000 pounds, it’s designed for such specialty applications as crane, construction, utility, and service trucks. Among new features available across several models is Wabco’s OnGuardActive safety system, on Models 348, 337, and 220. This advanced driver assistance system provides acoustic, visual, and haptic alerts in potentially dangerous situations. The system will also engage the brakes to prevent a collision with a moving or stationary vehicle if the driver does not respond soon enough. The system is always on for vehicle speeds above 15 mph, even when cruise control is disabled. In addition, the OEM says the adaptive cruise control function will help reduce driver fatigue in congested traffic and make cruise control a more useful feature by automatically adjusting vehicle speed relative to the vehicle ahead to maintain a pre-set following distance.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ Ram Commercial line of Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 chassis-cab trucks, which cover up to Class 5 GVW ratings, now can be powered by two options. The 6.4L Hemi V-8 gasoline engine puts out 370 hp at 4,600 rpm (410 hp at 5,600 rpm under 10,000-lb. GVWR) and 429 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm. The Cummins 6.7L diesel is available with a high-output option that produces 325 hp at 2,400 rpm and 750 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,500 rpm. New features for 2018 on these trucks include a backup camera made standard on the Ram 3500 chassis-cab. All Ram chassis-cab trucks can be ordered with an optional ParkSense package, which includes a front park assist system. Also available is hands-free technology with Bluetooth capability on lower-cost radios. A vehicle system interface module eases communication between aftermarket equipment modules and various chassis-cab controls and functions. Ram Commercial has also made several updates to the ProMaster full-size van, including increased towing and payload capabilities, an expanded wheelbase, and new high- and low-roof options. The ProMaster now includes a 136-inch wheelbase low roof for 2500 and 3500 cargo vans, and the 3500 is also available with high roof on the 136-inch wheelbase. The van’s payload capabilities have been boosted by as much as 240 pounds. The ProMaster 1500 now has a payload capacity of 4,000 pounds; the 2500 has been upped to 4,230 pounds; and the 3500 to 4,680 pounds. Towing capacity has also been increased up to 30%.
• The electric van from Chanje Energy, the V8070, has a gross vehicle weight of 16,535 pounds, capable of a 6,000-pound payload in a 580-cubic-foot cargo space. It’s positioned as a last-mile delivery truck with an advertised range of 100 miles, half loaded on a full battery charge. The van was designed from the ground up as a battery-powered electric vehicle with the basic structure conceived to accommodate the battery pack, the motors, etc. The company plans to build a North American manufacturing facility in the near future, but the vans are presently fabricated in China and based on a Chinese design.
• Workhorse has designed a last-mile delivery van powered by electricity. The N-Gen features an ultra-low floor to maximize cargo volume and reduce driver knee and back stress, advanced telematics and collision avoidance systems, and 100 miles of all-electric range. Optional are a range extender and unmanned package delivery drone. This is in addition to Workhorse’s existing all-electric E-100 model, which is built with a more traditional step-van body.
• Spartan Motors is teaming up with Motiv Power Systems to supply battery-electric chassis products for Class 4-6 Utilimaster step vans that can offer a range of 100 to 150 miles per charge and up to 30% gradeability, according to Spartan Motors.
• Agility Fuel Solutions announced this year it will offer a compressed-natural gas-powered step van with a Morgan Olson body and a chassis built by Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp.
• If you’re looking for more alt-fuel options, companies such as Efficient Drivetrains, Lightning, Roush CleanTech, and XL offer conversions for electric, hybrid, propane and natural gas fuel systems. | 2019-04-18T13:26:30Z | https://www.truckinginfo.com/319517/whats-new-in-medium-duty |
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Christ's life had been so retired and secluded at Nazareth that John had not a personal acquaintance with him, and he did not positively know that he was the Messiah. He was acquainted with the circumstances of his birth, and he believed him to be the promised One. The secluded life of Christ for thirty years at Nazareth, in which he gave no special evidence of his Messiahship, suggested doubts to John whether he was indeed the One for whose coming he was to prepare the way. John, however, rested the matter in faith, fully believing that God would in due time make it plain. The Lord had shown him that the Messiah would be pointed out to him by a distinct sign; when this should be done, then John could present him to the world as the long-expected Messiah, the Lamb of God, that was to take away the sin of the world.
John had heard of the sinless character and spotless purity of Christ. His life was in harmony with what the Lord had revealed to him respecting one that was among them whose life was without the taint of sin. John had also seen that he should be the example for every repenting sinner. When Christ presented himself for baptism, John recognized him at once as the superior one revealed to him. He discerned, in the person and deportment of Christ, a character above every other man he had ever seen. The very atmosphere of his presence was holy and awe-inspiring. Although he knew him not as the Messiah, yet never had such a holy influence been realized by John from any one as when in the presence of Christ. He felt the superiority of Christ at once, and shrank from performing the rite of baptism to one whom he knew to be sinless. Many had come to him to receive the baptism of repentance, confessing their sins and crimes; but John could not understand why the only sinless one upon the earth should ask for an ordinance implying guilt, virtually confessing, by the symbol of baptism, pollution to be washed away. He remonstrated with Christ, acknowledging his superiority, and refused to administer the ordinance, saying, "I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?" With firm and gentle authority Jesus waives the refusal of John and his plea of unworthiness, saying, "Suffer it to be so now; for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness."
Christ came not confessing his own sins; but guilt was imputed to him as the sinner's substitute. He came not to repent on his own account; but in behalf of the sinner. As man had transgressed the law of God, Christ was to fulfill every requirement of that law, and thus show perfect obedience. "Lo, I come to do thy will, O God!" Christ honored the ordinance of baptism by submitting to this rite. In this act he identified himself with his people as their representative and head. As their substitute, he takes upon him their sins, numbering himself with the transgressors, taking the steps the sinner is required to take, and doing the work the sinner must do. His life of suffering and patient endurance after his baptism were an example to converted sinners of what they should endure and patiently suffer in consequence of their transgressions and sins. John finally yielded to the request of Christ, notwithstanding his feelings of unworthiness to baptize him, and performed the service. He led the Saviour of the world down into the river Jordan in the presence of a large concourse of people, and buried him in the water.
After Christ rose up from the water and from the hand of John, he walked out to the bank of Jordan, and bowed in the attitude of prayer. The eyes of John were fastened upon Christ with the deepest interest and amazement. His heart was stirred with emotion as he looked upon him thus bowed as a suppliant. Christ's hands were raised upward, and his gaze seemed to penetrate Heaven. As the believer's example, his sinless humanity supplicated support and strength from his Heavenly Father, as he was about to commence his public labors as the Messiah. Jesus poured out his soul in earnest prayer. A new and important era was opening before him. His former peaceful, quiet life is to here end. He had been happy in a life of industry and toil, while fulfilling the duties devolving on a son. He was an example to those in childhood, youth, and manhood. His deportment showed that he felt the importance and solemnity of the hour. He knew that trials, toils, conflicts, sufferings, and death, were in the path his feet had entered. He felt the weight of the responsibilities he must bear. He was about to engage in new and arduous duties. A sense of the sinfulness of men, and the hardness of their hearts, which separated them from God, convinced him that but few would discern his merciful mission, and accept the salvation he came from Heaven to bring them.
Never before had angels listened to such a prayer as Christ offered at his baptism, and they were solicitous to be the bearers of the message from the Father to his Son. But, no; direct from the Father issues the light of his glory. The heavens were opened, and beams of glory rested upon the Son of God, and assumed the form of a dove, in appearance like burnished gold. The dove-like form was emblematical of the meekness and gentleness of Christ. While the people stood spell-bound with amazement, their eyes fastened upon Christ, from the opening heavens came these words: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." The words of confirmation that Christ is the Son of God was given to inspire faith in those who witnessed the scene, and to sustain the Son of God in his arduous work. Notwithstanding the Son of God was clothed with humanity, yet Jehovah, with his own voice, assures him of his sonship with the Eternal. In this manifestation to his Son, God accepts humanity as exalted through the excellence of his beloved Son.
As John had now witnessed the heavenly dove resting upon Jesus, which was the promised token of the Messiah, he stretched forth his hand, and with assurance proclaimed before the multitude, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!" From this time John had no doubt in regard to Jesus being the true Messiah.
After this, Jesus withdrew into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil forty days. His long fast ended, the victory won, he returns to the banks of the Jordan, mingling again with the disciples of John, yet giving no outward evidence of his special work, and taking no measures to bring himself to notice.
Men were sent from the highest authority in Jerusalem to inquire in regard to the great agitation John was creating. He was calling whole cities and towns to listen to his voice of warning; and they would know the prophet's authority for thus claiming the attention of the people, and turning the world upside down. These messengers challenged John to tell them certainly if he was the Messiah. John confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. John is then questioned as to his authority for baptizing, and thus agitating the people, when he does not claim to be Christ, or Elias, neither that prophet. The words, "That prophet," has reference to Moses. The Jews had been inclined to the belief that Moses would be raised from the dead, and taken to Heaven. They did not know that Moses had already been resurrected.
When John came, baptizing with water, the Jews thought that he might be the prophet Moses risen from the dead; for he seemed to have a thorough knowledge of the prophecies, and to understand the history of the Hebrews and their wanderings in the wilderness in consequence of their unjust murmurings and continual rebellion. They also called to mind the peculiar circumstances of John's birth, and wonderful manifestation of God to Zacharias, his father, in the temple, by the visitation of the angel from the presence of God, and the power of speech, being taken from Zacharias, because he did not believe the words of the angel, and the unloosing of his tongue at the birth of John. These important facts had in the past thirty years been measurably forgotten. But when John appeared as a prophet, the manifestation of the Spirit of God at his birth was called to mind.
When the messengers from the highest authority in Jerusalem were communing with John in reference to his mission and work, he could have taken honor to himself, had he been so disposed. But he would not assume honors that did not belong to him. While conversing with the messengers, suddenly his eye kindled, his countenance lighted up, and his whole being seemed stirred with deep emotion, as he discovered the person of Jesus in the concourse of people. He raised his hand, pointing to Christ, saying, There standeth One among you whom ye know not. I have come to prepare the way before him whom ye now see. He is the Messiah. He it is who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me; for he was before me. And I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from Heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not. But he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw and bare record, that this is the Son of God. Again, the next day after, John stood, and two of his disciples; and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, behold the Lamb of God!" And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? The disciples confessed that they were seeking Christ, and that they desired to become acquainted with him, and to be instructed by him at his home. These two disciples were charmed with the deeply impressive, yet simple and practical, lessons of Christ. Their hearts had never been so moved before. Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of these disciples. He was interested for his friends and relatives, and was anxious that they also should see Christ, and hear for themselves his precious lessons. Andrew went in search of his brother Simon, and with assurance claimed to have found Christ, the Messiah, the Saviour of the world. He brought his brother to Jesus, and as soon as Jesus looked upon him, he said, Thou art Simon, the son of Jona; thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation a stone. The next day Christ selected another disciple, Philip, and bade him follow him. Philip fully believed that Christ was the Messiah, and began to search for others to bring them to listen to the teachings of Christ, which had so charmed him. Then Philip found Nathanael. He was one of the number who heard John proclaim, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." He felt deeply convicted, and retired to a grove, concealed from every human eye, and there meditated upon the announcement of John, calling to his mind the prophecies relating to the coming of the Messiah and his mission. He queried thus: Could this indeed be the Messiah for whom they had so long waited, and were so desirous to see? Hope sprang up in the heart of Nathanael that this might be the one that would save Israel. He bowed before God and prayed that if the person whom John had declared to be the Redeemer of the world was indeed the promised deliverer, that it might be made known to him. The Spirit of the Lord rested upon Nathanael in such a special manner that he was convinced that Christ was the Messiah. While Nathanael was praying, he heard the voice of Philip calling him, saying, "We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee."
Nathanael's wavering faith was now strengthened, and he answered and said, "Rabbi, thou art the son of God; thou art the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? Thou shalt see greater things than these. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see Heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."
In these first few disciples the foundation of the Christian church was being laid by individual effort. John first directed two of his disciples to Christ. Then one of these finds a brother, and brings him to Christ. He then calls Philip to follow him, and he went in search of Nathanael. Here is an instructive lesson for all the followers of Christ. It teaches them the importance of personal effort, making direct appeals to relatives, friends, and acquaintances. There are those who profess to be acquainted with Christ for a life time who never make personal effort to induce one soul to come to the Saviour. They have left all the work with the minister. He may be well qualified for his work; but he cannot do the work which God has left upon the members of the church. Very many excuse themselves from being interested in the salvation of those who are out of Christ, and are content to selfishly enjoy the benefits of the grace of God themselves, while they make no direct effort to bring others to Christ. In the vineyard of the Lord there is a work for all to do, and unselfish, interested, faithful workers will share largely of his grace here, and of the reward he will bestow hereafter. Faith is called into exercise by good works, and courage and hope are in accordance with working faith. The reason many professed followers of Christ have not a bright and living experience, is because they do nothing to gain it. If they would engage in the work which God would have them do, their faith would increase, and they would advance in the divine life.
Jesus was pleased with the earnest faith of Nathanael that asked for no greater evidence than the few words he had spoken. And he looked forward with pleasure to the work he was to do in relieving the oppressed, healing the sick, and in breaking the bands of Satan. In view of these blessings which Christ came to bestow, he says to Nathanael, in the presence of the other disciples, "Hereafter ye shall see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."
The angels of God are ever moving up and down from earth to Heaven, and from Heaven to earth. All the miracles of Christ performed for the afflicted and suffering were, by the power of God, through the ministration of angels. Christ condescended to take humanity, and thus he unites his interests with the fallen sons and daughters of Adam here below, while his divinity grasps the throne of God. And thus Christ opens the communication of man with God, and God with man. All the blessings from God to man are through the ministration of holy angels.
Disciples were being daily added to Christ, and people flocked from cities and villages to hear him. Many came to him for baptism; but Christ baptized none. His disciples performed this ordinance. And while Christ's disciples were baptizing large numbers, there arose a question among the Jews and the disciples of John, whether the act of baptism purified the sinner from the guilt of sin. The disciples of John answered that John baptized only unto repentance, but Christ's disciples unto a new life. John's disciples were jealous of the popularity of Christ, and said to John, referring to Christ, "He that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou bearest witness, behold the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing except it be given him from Heaven."
In this answer John virtually says, Why should you be jealous on my account? "Ye yourselves bear me witness that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. This my joy therefore is fulfilled.
John, so far from being jealous of the prosperity of Christ's mission, rejoices as he witnesses the success of the work he came to do. He assures his disciples that his special mission was to direct the attention of the people to Christ. "He must increase; but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all. He that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth. He that cometh from Heaven is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony."
John assured his disciples that Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Saviour of the world. As his work was closing, he taught his disciples to look to Jesus, and follow him as the great teacher. John's life, with the exception of the joy he experienced in witnessing the success of his mission, was without pleasure. It was one of sorrow and self-denial. He who heralded the first advent of Christ, was not permitted to personally hear, nor to witness the power manifested by him. John's voice was seldom heard, except in the wilderness. His life was lonely. Multitudes had flocked to the wilderness to hear the words of the wonderful prophet. He had laid the ax at the root of the tree. He had reproved sin, fearless of the consequences, and prepared the way for the ministry of Christ.
Herod was affected as he listened to the pointed testimony of John, and, with deep interest, he inquired what he must do to become his disciple. He was convicted by the plain truths uttered by John. His conscience condemned him, for a woman of vile passions had gained his affections and controlled his mind. This unprincipled woman was ambitious for power and authority, and thought if she became the wife of Herod her object would be gained. As Herod listened to the practical truths proclaimed by John, reproving the transgression of the law of God, and setting forth the future punishment which the guilty must suffer, he trembled, and greatly desired to break the chain of lust which held him. He opened his mind to John, who brought Herod to the law of God, face to face, and told him it would be impossible for him to have part in the kingdom of the Messiah unless he should break away from the unlawful connections with his brother's wife, and, with his whole heart, obey the commandments of God.
Herod was inclined to act upon the advice of John, and stated to Herodias that he could not marry her in defiance of the law of God. But this determined woman would not be thwarted in her designs. Intense hatred was awakened in her heart toward John. Herod was weak in principle, vacillating in mind, and Herodias had no great difficulty in re-establishing herself in his favor, and holding her influence over him. Herod yielded to the pleasures of sin, rather than submit to the restrictions of the law of God.
When Herodias had gained influence over Herod, she determined to be revenged upon the prophet for his daring to reprove their course of crime. And she influenced him to imprison John. But Herod intended to release him. While confined in prison, John heard, through his disciples, of the mighty works of Jesus. He could not personally listen to his gracious words; but the disciples informed him, and comforted him with a relation of what they had seen and heard.
John having spent his life in the open air, in active, persevering labor, enduring privations, hardship, and toil, he had never before experienced the trials of confined living. He therefore became desponding, and even doubts troubled him whether Christ was indeed the Messiah. His disciples had brought to him accounts of the wonderful things they had witnessed in the ministry of Christ. But he concluded that if Christ was indeed the Messiah, he would publicly proclaim himself as the Saviour of the world.
John had indistinct ideas of the kingdom Christ came to establish, as also had the disciples of Christ. They thought Christ would establish a temporal kingdom, and reign upon the throne of David in Jerusalem. He became impatient because Christ did not immediately make himself known, assume kingly authority, and subdue the Romans. He hoped that if Christ established his kingdom, he would be brought out of prison. He decided that if Jesus was really the Son of God, and could do all things, he would exercise his power and set him at liberty.
John sent his disciples to inquire of Christ, "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?" The disciples sought the presence of Christ; but they could not communicate with him immediately, because of the crowd who were bearing the sick to Jesus. The afflicted, blind, and lame were passing through the throng. The disciples of John saw the miracles of Christ, and that at his word the lifeless clay became animate, and the glow of health took the place of the pallor of death. Jesus said to the disciples of John, "Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see. The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me."
In these words John is gently reproved for his impatience. The cautious reproof returned to John was not lost upon him. He then better understood the character of Christ's mission. And with submission and faith, he yielded himself into the hands of God, to live, or to die, as should best advance his glory.
After the disciples of John had departed, Jesus addressed the multitude concerning John, "What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?" Jesus knew that a reed trembling in the wind was the very opposite of John's character. John could not be moved by flattery, nor be deceived by prevailing errors. Neither could he be turned aside from the work he came to do by rewards, or worldly honors. He would preserve his integrity at the expense of his life. Steadfast as a rock stood the prophet of God, faithful to rebuke sin and crime in all their forms, in kings and nobles, as readily as in the unhonored and unknown. He swerved not from duty. Loyal to his God, in noble dignity of moral character, he stood firm as a rock, faithful to principle.
"But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist; notwithstanding, he that is least in the kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."
The people whom Christ addressed well knew that the apparel worn by John was the opposite of that worn in royal palaces. Christ virtually asked; What motive induced you to flock to the wilderness to hear the preaching of John? The wilderness is not the place to find those who live delicately, and who clothe themselves in rich, soft apparel. Christ wished them to observe the contrast between the clothing of John and that of the Jewish priests. The prophet wore a plain, rough garment, possessing no beauty, but answering the purpose for which clothing was first designed. In marked contrast to the garments of John, was the gorgeous apparel of the Jewish priests and elders.
These officials, thinking that they would be reverenced in accordance with their external appearance, adopted great splendor of dress, making a rich display of costly robes and dazzling breastplates. They were more anxious to win the admiration of men than to obtain spotless purity of character and holiness of life, that would gain the approval of God.
Christ admonished his disciples, and also the multitude, to follow that which was good in the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees, but not to imitate their wrong examples, nor be deceived by their ambitious pretensions.
He says, "All, therefore, whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works; for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens, and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen of men; they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the uppermost rooms of feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi."
John saw that these proud Jews were exalting and glorifying themselves by parading their ostentatious piety before the public. They bound portions of the law upon their foreheads and about their wrists, that all might recognize and pay deference to their assumed sanctity. True, God had commanded the children of Israel to place a ribbon of blue in the border of their garments, upon which the ten commandments, in brief, should be embroidered. This was to continually remind them of their duty to love God supremely, and their neighbor as themselves. But the farther they had departed from their primitive purity and simplicity, and the more directly their daily lives were opposed to the law of God, the more particular were they to make broad their phylacteries, and add to the words which God had specified should be traced on the ribbon of blue. Outwardly they were expressing the deepest devotion, while their acts were in strong contrast with their profession. | 2019-04-22T01:03:45Z | https://www.7dr.org/sopv2-c4.html |
A sometimes misunderstood doctrine of the gospel which is closely connected to the atonement of Jesus Christ is that surrounding the subject of murder. This article will discuss the nature of murder, what its eternal consequences are, and what its appropriate punishment should be.
It is often said that it is never too late to repent or that we can be forgiven for anything. This is generally true doctrine, but it needs to be qualified somewhat before it becomes completely accurate. There are some sins for which there is no forgiveness. The sin against the Holy Ghost is one of these. John the Beloved taught, “If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death” (1 John 5:16-17). God revealed, “I, the Lord, forgive sins unto those who confess their sins before me and ask forgiveness, who have not sinned unto death” (D&C 64:7). In other words, there are sins which are forgivable, and there are sins “unto death” which are not forgivable.
The great sin unto death is the sin against the Holy Ghost, which is denying the Holy Ghost. Jesus Christ taught, “All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men…whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come” (Matthew 12:31-32).
The second sin unto death, which is murder, is like unto the first.
The Book of Mormon makes clear what the hierarchy of the three worst sins is. Alma explained it to his son, when he said of sexual sins, “Know ye not, my son, that these things [sexual sins] are an abomination in the sight of the Lord; yea, most abominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost?” (Alma 39:5). In other words, the greatest sins are 1) denying the Holy Ghost, next, 2) murder, and then 3) sexual transgressions in all their varieties. The third has forgiveness available, although it is very hard won. The first two, on the other hand, are unforgivable. However, they are not unforgivable in the same sense, and the fate of a murderer is not the same as the fate of a son of perdition.
Once a person sins against the Holy Ghost, they remove themselves completely beyond the pale of grace. Their irreversible fate is to suffer in hell until the last resurrection, in which they will receive a resurrected body without glory, and then they will be cast straightway into outer darkness with the devil and his angels for all eternity. Joseph Smith taught that the sons of perdition can never be redeemed and are eternally lost, and that the idea that they can be restored is a “doctrine of devils” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 24).
What is the fate of a murderer? It is clear from the revelations of God and the teachings of Joseph Smith that murderers receive no forgiveness. “Thou shalt not kill;” the Lord declared in the early days of our dispensation, “and he that kills shall not have forgiveness in this world, nor in the world to come” (D&C 42:18, emphasis added). This is the same phraseology that is used for sons of perdition. However they will not share the same fate, since the telestial kingdom is the place where murderers go, unless they have also sinned against the Holy Ghost, “But…murderers…shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimestone” (Revelation 21:8) until “death and hell [shall deliver] up the dead” (Revelation 20:13). At that time, murderers who have not also sinned against the Holy Ghost shall finally inherit the telestial kingdom, which consists entirely of those who have previously spent their time in hell (D&C 76:84, 106). All murderers go to hell. As soon as a person commits murder, they become completely ineligible for the celestial kingdom forever, even if they desperately want to repent.
the Saints arose at Christ's resurrection, probably all the Saints, but it seems that David did not. Why?
farthing. The prayers of all the ministers in the world can never close the gates of hell against a murderer.
And so we find the very interesting truth that murderers cannot be baptized, even if they wish to be very much. This means that they absolutely cannot go to the celestial kingdom, for baptism is a prerequisite to that kingdom. And, as we have already established, no murderer will go to the terrestrial kingdom either, since murderers suffer the torments of hell, and those who go to hell but have not denied the Holy Ghost can only inherit the telestial kingdom (D&C 76:83-84). To summarize, at the moment a person commits murder, they are doomed to suffer in hell once they die, be resurrected at the last resurrection, and finally inherit the telestial kingdom only after terrible suffering.
The whole world is in the midst of a war that seems the worst of all time. This Church is a worldwide Church.
responsible for the conflict. This is a major crisis in the world-life of man. God is at the helm.
Murder is an act of malicious intent; it is by its nature a wrongful killing, and those who have killed under other circumstances are not guilty of it.
What is the proper earthly punishment for murder? Much is said by the liberal-minded that execution of murderers is inhumane or morally wrong. But this is entirely out of sync with what God has prescribed for murder. In every age of the world, God has prescribed the death penalty, capital punishment, for the crime of murder. God commanded Noah, “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed” (Gen. 9:6). In the Mosaic dispensation, God prescribed death penalties for many crimes. But these crimes could all be satisfied through alternate penalties, chief of which was monetary reimbursement called “satisfaction.” The exception, however, was murder. “Moreover, ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall surely be put to death” (Num. 35:16). The Nephites’ law was clear in its punishment for murder. Jacob the brother of Nephi declared, “Wo unto the murderer who deliberately killeth, for he shall die” (2 Ne. 9:35). Later in the Book of Mormon, it is made clear that “the laws which have been given unto [the Nephites] by our fathers, which are correct…were given them by the hand of the Lord” (Mosiah 29:25). And these correct laws from God verily declared that “he that murdered was punished unto death” (Alma 1:18). Now coming down to our own day, to our own dispensation – what has the Lord declared regarding murder in the latter days? God said, “And again, I say, thou shalt not kill; but he that killeth shall die” (D&C 42:19). The First Presidency has declared, “The revelations of God to this Church make death the penalty for capital crime, and require that offenders against life and property shall be delivered up to and tried by the laws of the land” (Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith, Messages of the First Presidency, 3: 185). In other words, it is God’s will, and it is proper and correct that a murderer should die. It makes the world a better place when a murderer is destroyed, and it gives the victims and the family of victims justice for the perpetrator to be executed. What if the nation in which a person lives does not observe the God-ordained death penalty? There is a provision in God’s law that “if any persons among you shall kill they shall be delivered up and dealt with according to the laws of the land” (D&C 42:79). In other words, follow the law. But to forego the death penalty is not the preferred, nor the proper scenario.
and ordinances of the gospel.
so far as in his power lies-for that sin, for the blood of Christ alone under certain circumstances will not avail.
It is apparent, therefore, that the punishment of death is the very best thing for everyone involved when considering the crime of murder. It gives justice to the slain victim, peace to the family of the victim, and when a murderer voluntarily submits to death it allows him to begin his process of repentance, so far as he is able, and if done with the proper spirit of contrition, no doubt makes his suffering in hell less severe. From the foregoing, therefore, it is very obvious that members of the Church should believe in capital punishment. There are liberal voices that say that capital punishment is somehow wrong. But this is a completely mistaken and unscriptural idea. If capital punishment is wrong, as the liberals say it is, then God himself is guilty of wrong-doing. A notion like that, of course, is complete absurdity.
In all the record of humanity found in Holy Writ, there has been only two exceptions to the rule of God ordaining capital punishment. This is the cases of Cain and David.
When Cain murdered his righteous brother Abel, God did not prescribed death but said, “A fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth” and also cursed him in his livelihood, which was “a tiller of the ground” (Moses 5:37, 17). In addition to this, God did a very peculiar thing. Cain complained that someone finding him would surely carry out a penalty of death upon him, “it shall come to pass, that he that findeth me will slay me, because of mine iniquities.” The Lord declared in reply, “Whosoever slayeth thee, vengeance shall be taken upon him sevenfold. And I the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him” (Moses 5:39-40).
Why would the Lord do this? Why would God set a distinctive mark upon Cain so that he would be spared from death? Certainly it was done so that a certain number of spirits who “could not have the right of Priesthood” (Abr. 1:27) could be born through Cain’s lineage. It was also necessary that this group of God’s children be easily identified from others, which was the purpose of the mark. In the case of the Lamanites, their mark was given with this specific purpose in mind: “[T]he Lord God set a mark upon them…And this was done that their seed might be distinguished from the seed of their brethren, that thereby the Lord God might preserve his people, that they might not mix and believe in incorrect traditions which would prove their destruction” (Alma 3:7-8). We can only assume a similar reason for the mark placed upon Cain and his seed, that is, “that they might not mix” with the priesthood-holding people while the seed of Cain were still under the curse of priesthood restriction.
It cannot be denied that the seed of Cain are the blacks. There are liberal voices that would cringe at the notion that black people are descended from such a notorious character as Cain. They would see it as offensive and against the social progress that has occurred for these people. But this matter is set forth far too clearly in scripture. And no offense is intended. Certainly we wish to afford blacks their proper and due respect as fellow children of Almighty God, and who are our brothers and sisters, for the Lord “hath made of one blood all nations of men” (Acts 17:26). But in doing so we cannot decide to ingore (or worse yet, deny) the story of their lineage in a misguided effort to be polite. And the matter of Cain and his descendents happens to be relevent to the topic of murder and punishment. No offense is intended; we wish simply to discover the truth as God has revealed it, and if that runs counter to modern political correctness, then this author would suggest that it is the fashionable notions of modern-day political correctness that are in error, and not the Word of God.
Let us now proceed to prove by scripture that the blacks who were denied priesthood until 1978 are the descendants of Cain. This will demonstrate that the reason Cain was not executed for murder was so that those who were not allowed to hold the priesthood could be born over the years through his identifiable lineage.
It can further be established that Ham is the father of the blacks. When Ham uncovered the nakedness of his father Noah after the flood, Noah renewed the curse as pertaining to the priesthood upon Ham’s posterity (Gen. 9:22-26). Noah decreed that God would “dwell in the tents of Shem” meaning that God would reveal himself to the world through Shem’s descendents. Canaan, the youngest son of Ham here representing Ham’s entire posterity, would receive no such privilege (Gen. 9:24-27). In other scriptures Ham’s posterity is clearly designated as the blacks. Ham had a son named Cush (Gen. 10:6; 1 Chron. 1:8-10) for whom Ethiopia, a portion of black Africa, was designated as the land of Cush (Isaiah 18:1 see footnote c). The continent of Africa is known in the scriptures generally as the “land of Ham” (Ps. 105:23; Ps. 106:21-22). Also, the Bible Dictionary under the heading “Ham” reads, “Cush = dark-skinned race of eastern Africa and Southern Arabia: Mizraim = Egyptians; Phut = Libyans; Canaan = inhabitants of Palestine before arrival of the Semitic races” (p. 698).
Who else was “of that lineage by which [they] could not have the right of Priesthood” except the blacks of Africa? They are the only people of whom we have record of having had such a restriction on priesthood as this. From the foregoing therefore, it is very apparent that the blacks are the descendants of Cain. The most irrefutable proof that the blacks are indeed descendants of Cain, however, is the fact that the Prophet Joseph Smith himself taught that this was so. He explicity referred to the “negroes” as the “sons of Cain” (History of the Church, 4:501). Therefore, there is simply no disputing this curious fact. And whether this fact is politically correct or not makes no difference, since it is nonetheless true in any case. The descent of black people from Cain is an interesting fact that should be accepted but not used as a basis for derision. Again, why is the lineage of the blacks significant to this subject of murder and punishment? It is significant because it serves to demonstrate why Cain, as the first murderer, was spared from the earthly penalty of murder: God had a plan for Cain’s descendants, and therefore his life necessarily had to be preserved.
David was the next exception to the general rule of capital punishment. David was guilty of killing Uriah, a member of his elite forces (see 2 Sam. 23:8-39; 1 Chron. 11:11-41), in order to disguise David’s love affair with Uriah’s wife Bathsheba (see 2 Sam. 11). While David did not personally slay Uriah, he did deliberately send him to his death by having his general Joab place Uriah “in the forefront of the hottest battle” (2 Sam. 11:15). The design and intention was to have Uriah killed so that David could conceal his guilt with Bathsheba.
Ordinarily one would expect a death sentence to have passed upon David. But perhaps because he was king, or because the Lord decreed that he had further use for David in mortality, the penalty of death was foregone in David’s case. David was told through the prophet Nathan that “The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die” (2 Sam. 12:14, emphasis added). Note that a special declaration of exemption was necessary: the specific declaration that “thou shalt not die” was required. Why? Because the law was: “Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death” (Num. 35:31).
A likely reason for David’s exemption from the penalty of death was so that David could sire his son Solomon through Bathsheba. The scriptures say, “And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him” (2 Sam. 12:24). Solomon became a great ruler, a builder of God’s temple, and ultimately an ancestor of the Lord Jesus Christ.
There can be no forgiveness for murder in the sense that the murderer can escape the torments of hell or be saved. Murderers must always go to hell. But ultimately they are cleansed and forgiven in the sense that they inherit telestial glory, which is after they suffer in hell and are resurrected. Those like Cain, who are sons of perdition in addition to being murderers, of course will never escape hell. God has long decreed that death is the appropriate punishment for a murderer, and no amount of liberal thinking makes any difference to this fact. There has only ever been two recorded exceptions to God's standard of capital punishment for murder: the peculiar and atypical cases of Cain and David. There is no provision in the gospel that makes it acceptable to reject the death penalty for murder. All Latter-day Saints who know and understand these things should therefore believe in capital punishment. | 2019-04-21T18:44:51Z | http://loyaltotheword.synthasite.com/murder-and-punishment.php |
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This Saturday we will enter Summertime again when the clock will be put an hour forward at 01:00 on Saturday night. The weather doesn’t play along yet, we are still waiting for Spring, but hopefully it will catch up soon and give us some warmth again. All event organiser still do the wise – and safe – thing and keep the events in doors for another little while, but it won’t be much longer.
Two things dominated the week for me. One was that Facebook has indicated that they will change their algorithm again and where Facebook in the past was the main channel to reach out to people that hadn’t heard about the Dublin Event Guide yet, now this route will become less and less successful. If anybody has a good idea how we can reach lots of people to tell them about the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events), please let me know.
So this week, I have to do what I really really don’t like: I have to beg for money. Please, dear readers, help the Dublin Event Guide with a donation. If EVERY subscriber gave just one Euro per year, this would not only cover the cost but also give me the chance to turn this weekly publication into something even better and more helpful. Unfortunately it won’t ever happen that every body will help, so that means the heavy lifting has to be done by a small minority.
And finally: Please help spreading the word about the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events). Your friends can easily subscribe at www.dublineventguide.com and they will get a weekly e-mail magazine with all the free events in Dublin if they subscribe. They don’t have to pay a cent for that and their e-mail address is completely safe with me! More than 20,000 people receive the Dublin Event Guide every week and we are more than 44,000 people at the Dublin Event Guide Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/DublinEventGuide Check it out and click on LIKE when you are there.
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This week’s Feel Good Slot is a very short video clip. Elvis de Leon tells his story and asks what would you do if you got every day $84,600 but all the money would be gone the next day and you will get another $84,600. Would you every day try to make best use of it? You can’t keep it, you can’t carry it over.
84,600 is the number of seconds we have every day! Do you make the most of it? You know can’t carry it over. You get another 84k the next day, but the ones from the previous day are gone forever. Make good use of them!!
For the second week in a row, not a single person helped with a donation. :-( This is getting serious!
Every bit counts and YOUR help is absolutely needed too to ensure that you – and everyone else – will continue to get the Dublin Event Guide every week.
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This week you should check out the Five Lamps Art Festival, Dublin Flea Market, Dublin: One City One Book and Green Drinks Dublin.
There are lots and lots of other events, but for a change and because I am running out of time, I will let you have a look through them this week.
A “Retro Toons” morning will take place in the Harbour Playhouse on Sat 05 April. Watch old cartoons like The Turtles, Animaniacs, Road Runner, Looney Tunes, etc.! This a WYOP event: Wear your own Pyjamas! You can chill out on the cartoon decorated duvets and enjoy the free cereal (e.g. Choco Pops, Frosties,, etc). Bring your own juice (BYOJ) and get in for just EUR 3 admission.
One Dublin Event Guide reader can win a pair of tickets for this event, so if you always wanted to turn the time back and enjoy these great old cartoons again in the right atmosphere, then this event is made for you. To enter the competition, send an e-mail with subject TOONS to [email protected] Make sure that the body of the mail contains your full name and your mobile phone number. Your e-mail has to be with me by 13:00 on Thurs 27 March.
If you want to reach more than 20,000 people with your product promotion or your event promotion for a non-free event, contact me on [email protected] and we can discuss the options.
And if you want me to do product testing, followed by an assessment here in the Dublin Event Guide, we can talk about that too.
Dublin One City One Book is a yearly project that is meant to encourage everyone in the city to read the same book during the month of April.
It includes writing by Swift, Synge, Yeats, Joyce, Kavanagh and Ó Direáin as well as Seamus Heaney, Eavan Boland, Dermot Bolger, Paula Meehan, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill and Derek Mahon. There are also songs and ballads from Dublin’s colonial past, verses by leaders of the 1916 Rising, and portraits of the modern city with Spire and Luas tram.
I haven’t seen the book yet, so can’t assess it, but from the description it sounds a little like the desperate search for a book resulted in the creation of a hotchpotch of writings. Let’s hope the first impression is completely wrong!
Newest biggest Attraction in Dublin: Whiskey!?
It seems that the newest biggest attraction in Dublin is …. Whiskey! Soon there will be THREE or even four “Whiskey visitor places” in Dublin. The Jameson Old Distillery near Smithfield Plaza is already well established and gets lots of visitors.
Now a planning permission for opening a new distillery and a visitor centre in historic St James’s Church in the Liberties has been lodged by Alltech, an animal food company that also produces Kentucky Bourbon.
Teelings, already a whiskey producer, also wants to open a distillery in the Liberties, together with a “tourist experience“, which is expected to attract up to 100,000 visitors annually.
Eventbrite is a great self-service ticketing platform, but fo venues where you want to have reserved/assigned seating they couldn’t really provide a suitable solution. This has changed now with a great new feature: Eventbrite’s Seat Designer, is a new interface that provides organizers easy-to-use seat planning. In other words, you create the layout of the seating in the way you know it from seating plans for big concert venues and can then sell different levels of seating for different prices and can assign seats at the time tickets are bought.
And remember that until 15 April Eventbrite will charge no ticketing fees for new organisers in Ireland. Publish any 2014 event before 15 April and you pay no service charges to Eventbrite (online payment processing fees are out of Eventbrite’s control and therefore will still apply).
Donating to the Dublin Event Guide for free!?
The Doorway Gallery isinviting to an exhibition by Iwona Nartowska O’Reilly called ‘Celtic Legend’. There will be a ‘Meet and Greet’ with the artist on Saturday 29 March.
The Ranelagh Arts Centre are inviting to an exhibition of new work by Tom Mathews, entitled Surrealist Paintings. Tom Mathews has had over thirty solo exhibitions of his work, and his paintings have been exhibited widely. The show will be launched by James Hanley RHA and will run from 03-19 April. Admission is free.
The Five Lamps Arts Festival is a great and very successful local festival of the wider area around the “Five Lamps” on Amiens Street and North Strand Road. The festival is in its 7th year and events include a music and fire dance, puppet shows, a Georgian choir, jazz music, combinations of theatre and community art performances, interior design exhibitions, walk and talk events, poetry readings and storytelling, dance, visual art and much more.
29 March: Walk with Terry Fagan – Story’s from around Dublin’s famous Red-Light district known as Monto.
And on top of that there are a number of exhibitions.
The annual Family History Day is a full day of lectures for everybody interested in family history. There will be a mix of practical information and case studies suitable for beginners and if you are more experienced in genealogical research.
The event in Liberty Hall will be an Open Meeting about this declaration. Admission is free.
The newest Science Gallery exhibition has the theme “Fail Better” and it will run from 07 Feb – 27 Apr. The title comes from Samuel Beckett’s “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” and the exhibition looks at beautiful and instructive failures. The purpose is to open up a debate on the essential role of failure in human creativity, in technology, science, design, business and sport.
20 unique exhibits, from a pair of explorer boots that caused Ranulph Fiennes to fail in an Everest attempt, via Christopher Reeve’s (Superman) original wheelchair, to a full-scale reconstruction of the the world’s worst or maddest invention: a big table that is meant to assist childbirth using centrifugal force.
I visited the exhibition and I definitely recommend it. Age-wise, I would think that it is suitable for children from Age 12/13 as long as the parents are prepared to read a good bit of explanatory text and then “translate” it for their children. There is no overly complicated stuff, but most of the exhibits are not self-explanatory. But there is a strong reason for bringing your kids: We have in general a negative attitude to Failure. This exhibition will help you to change that!
Join zoologist Catherine McGuinness to hear some weird and wonderful stories about the animals on display, like the eel that choked on a frog, and other fun facts. The tour takes place twice (12:00-13:00 and 14:00-15:00) and is suitable for adults and children from Age 6. Admission is free and booking is not required.
The Lady&trans* Fest 2014 takes place from Fri 28 to Sun 30 March and there will be performances (music, theater, films, spoken word, and discussions) and workshops for all genders.
The festival is a “qu eer/feminist D.I.Y. weekender festival” with the goal to “help create a safer space for que ers and rebels” and to “help foster an environment of inclusivity, and awareness of intersectionality”.
All events over the weekend are free.
Venues are Seomra Spraoi (10 Belvedere Court), The Outhouse (105 Capel Street).
Check out all events and workshops on the website below.
The next Let’s Talk & Walk event is called “Terenure to Templeogue Road – And all because a river”. The tour will be led by historian Pat Liddy.
Meeting point is outside of the Bank of Ireland, 1 Rathfarnham Road, Terenure Crossroads, Dublin 6W.
The Animated Film “Las aventuras de Tadeo Jones / The Adventures of Tadeo Jones” will be screened in the Instituto Cervantes (in Spanish with English subtitles). The film is suitable for children.
Drop-in event for Ages 6+ to learn how to think like an archaeologist and try to solve the puzzle of some mystery objects. The event takes place in the Learning Resource Room, first floor. Admission is free and no booking required.
On 28th June 1922 artillery shells rained down on the Four Courts, which had been occupied by the IRA for over two months in opposition to the Treaty and marking the commencement of the Civil War.
At this public talk about the “The Siege of the Four Courts”, Liz Gillis, author of the Fall of Dublin, will tell the story of the attack on the Four Courts.
The Poor Boys wil perform in the “Live from the Window” slot. Admission is free.
The Galants are performing in the Mercantile on Saturday and they will be supported by The Dead Beat. Admission is free.
Earth Hour is a worldwide movement for our planet organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). During Earth Hour from 20:30-21:30 on Saturday, you are asked to turn off all non-essential lights for one hour as a symbol for your commitment to the planet.
Some years ago, the lights at Customs House and some other public buildings were switched off in Ierland too, but since then the event is duly ignored by the state and relies on your support.
Ray Scully will play soul, blues and rock in Mother Reilly’s. Special guest will be Wilbury.
“My Tribe Your Tribe” and “Cove” will perform in the Midnight Hour. The gig starts at midnight and admission is free if you arrive before 22:30.
On Sunday is Mother’s Day in Ireland!
If your mother lives in Ireland, don’t forget her if you don’t want any trouble.
If she lives aborad, she won’t expect you to ring because in most other countries Mother’s Day will take place a few weeks later (often in May). But maybe just ring her anyway. She will most likely appreciate the thought that you think of her on BOTH Mother’s Days.
The Sundays at Noon Concert Series continues in the Sculpture Gallery at the Hugh Lane Gallery. This series of free (mainly classical) concerts continues to present the best of Irish and International music and musicians. Concerts run from September to June. The next concert will be part of the Five Lamps Festival: Julie Maisel, Flute, Edward Holley. Piano and Alan Grundy, Guitar will perform with a Flute Quartet.
Kevin Morrow (vocals) and Luke Dunford (piano) will perform Jazz in the Powerscourt Centre. Admission is free.
A free guided tour in Polish will take place at the National Print Museum. No booking required.
Wild Play – Muddy, messy and fun!
Up Close with Music features new Irish music in an international context. The Galway Ensemble in Residence: ConTempo Quartet join Concorde in a collaboration between the two ensembles.
Performances take place at 14:30 and at 15:45. All details about this free event are on the website below.
Saucy Sundays is a weekly free live music afternoon and evening in the Grand Social. The line-up and links to all bands/performers are available via the Saucy Sundays Facebook Page (see link below). Im short, the line-up is Sarah Something, Cash is King, Silences, B & The Honey Boy, White Rash & The Spear Headed Sparrow Hawks, Karencia.
“Nelson and Company – The Moving Statues of Dublin” is an illustrated presentation by Maeve L’estrange.
“Cinephonic” is an arts event where is a group of emerging arts managers plan to stimulate minds using a dynamic collaboration of live video and music technology. They are interested in the creative relationship between music and video and are inviting to this event in MART in the Old Fire Station, Ratmines.
Expect “an imersive cinemasque live show” and “electronic soundscapes combined with alternative and experimental video artworks”.
Visuals by The Standing Wave Collective and live music by Cult Clone, Thomas Garrett, Dave Flood, David Courtney, Live DJs pbear and dots.
Admission is free and you can bring your own drink (BYOB).
The lecture “Exploring Mars, discovering Earth” by Kevin Nolan, Planetary Society will take place on Monday. It is an event of the Irish Astronomical Society. Admission is free.
Minding the Mind is the title of a public lecture series of the Saint John of God Hospital.
* Positive Ageing: A Realistic View.
* What is it About Modern Life that makes us Depressed?
* Insights and Helpful Hints on Managing the Impact on Social Media on Relationships.
* Motivation and Change: What Happens when your Sweet Tooth says Yes and your Wisdom Tooth says No?
* Living Mindfully in a Material World.
The lectures take place on Mondays from 20:00-21:30.
The next one is ” Insights and Helpful Hints on Managing the Impact on Social Media on Relationships” on Monday 31 March with Fergal Rooney (Senior Counselling Psychologist, St. John of God Hospital).
Dr. Ernesto Vasquez del Aguila is the author of “Being a Man in a Transnational World”, which analyses the complex processes of becoming a man and the strategies used by men to reconcile paradoxes and contradictions that coexist between multiple masculinities and contradictory models of being a man.
Admission is free to this talk and all are welcome.
The Library Lunch Time Lecture Series that accompanies the current “Battle of Clontarf” exhibition in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy continues with a talk by Donnchadh Ó Corráin, MRIA, UCC.
He will discuss “Dál Cais, Déis, Ó Briain – changing places, changing identities” on Tuesday.
Admission is free and booking is not required. Come early to get a seat (max number of people: 110), doors open at 12:30.
The Southampton University Concert Band will perform popular hits by John Williams, Adele, Stevie Wonder & JS. Bach at St. Ann’s Church. Admission is free, but your donations for Age Action Ireland are appreciated.
The Dublin: One City One Book events continue for the whole month and there are lots of events taking place in connection with it too. A website here www.dublinonecityonebook.ie/events-2014 lists all the events and it would be silly if just copied them.
So, if you are interested in this topic, go to the website mentioned above to find all details.
The next event in the RDS Economic Recovery Lecture Series iw with Larry Murrin, CEO, Dawn Farm Foods. He will talk about “Irish Export Success – A case study of Dawn Farm Foods”. More information about the topic can be found on the website below.
Admission is free. The talk will take place in the Merrion Room.
The Dublin Quantified Self group is for anyone interested in self-tracking. Do you record your jogging times? Or how often you communicate with friends? Or how you are feeling? If you track personal information, hoping to gain insights into yourself or your surrounding world, then this group is for you.
Brendan P. O’Reilly will talk about “The New Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults”. Admission is free.
The monthly Green Drinks Dublin will take place in Sweetman’s on Monday (top floor). The event is organised by the Irish Wildlife Trust and is a monthly get-together of people that care about green/environmental issues. This time the talk is about “Energy Efficiency in the Public Sector- the Cuts that Don’t Hurt” with Anna Heussaff from Dublin Friends of the Earth.
The Irish Society for Archives presents “Music at the Abbey Theatre, 1904-1965” with Dr. Maria McHale (Conservatory of Music and Drama, Dublin Institute of Technology). A wine reception will preceed the event. Admission is free.
The Launch of Celia de Fréine’s poetry collection “cuir amach seo dom: riddle me this” will take place. It will be launched by Micheál Ó Ruairc. Admission is free.
The Workman’s Den Cinema Club presents “Pulp Fiction” and also the Irish Independent short film “Anna” by Director Eamonn. Admission is free.
The Improrphans are regularly performing Improv Comedy troupe in the Workman’s Club and I hear lots of good things about them. Admission to their performance is free, and donations at the end are very much welcome.
The website of the Workman’s Club doesn’t list this gig, but I am assured it will take place.
AkiDwA, the national network of migrant women living in Ireland, explains that in some areas of the city live now more non Irish than Irish born people and this requires people with different cultures to enter into a conversation to avoid misunderstandings. To initiate such a conversation they are launching “Dublin Women for One City One People”. This project will involve people living in the north inner city area.
You are invited to come to a meeting to hear the ideas of AkiDwA on initiating this conversation between people of different cultural backgrounds. Admission is free and light refreshments will be served.
Dr. Eben Upton, creator of the palm-sized Raspberry Pi computer, will talk about the future of innovative technology in society and the important role of information professionals and educators as intermediaries facilitating technological adoption among young people.
Interactive demonstrations of the Raspberry Pi will take place as well and prizes will be given away during the event. The event is hosted by UCD’s Mature Students Society and supported by RS Components UCD School of Information & Library Studies (SILS)School Libraries Association of the Republic of Ireland (SLARI).
“Children’s Films and Fairy Tales from Germany” is a series of film screenings at the DCU Filmclub – School of Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies (SALIS) and it will take place in the Languaculture Space CG08c.
The film on Wednesday is “Frau Holle / Mother Hulda” (2008), it will be screened in German with English subtitles.
On Wednesday “LORE: Irish Legends and Folk Tales” will be performed by actor and storyteller Sinead O’Brien accompanied by a Dutch storyteller. (Time TBC) The event is suitable for 6-7 year olds.
Alison’s talk will cover aspects of the development of her book, the engagement and motivation to create it and the challenges faced by self-publishing. This talk will link in with an exhibition of a selection of designs from the book that will take place in the RDS Library.
The One City One Book initiative which takes place again throughout whole April, encourages everyone to read a specific book that has a connection to Dublin.
At the reading in Brooks Hotel, actor Jim Roche will be reading a selection of extracts from the official book for One City One Book, “If Ever You Go: A Map of Dublin in Poetry and Song” edited by Pat Boran and Gerald Smyth. The book features a collection of Irish poetry and songs written by authors like Yeats, Boland and Swift and lesser known writers.
The venue will be the Café Lounge area of Brooks Hotel and the reading will be accompanied by a classical pianist.
On 02 April the Symposium will take place in the Harry Clarke Lecture Theatre in NCAD from 19:00-21:00.
On 03 April the Symposium will take place in The Lab, Foley Street, Dublin 1, from 14:00-17:00.
The book launch for “Sideral, Estrella Fugada” by Héctor Castells will take place. The book tells the story of the turbulent life of Aleix Vergés, DJ Sideral (Barcelona, 1973-2006). Hector Castells will be launching his book. The launch is in English.
Every Thursday, free tours of Grangegorman Military Cemetery on Blackhorse Avenue take place. Meet inside the Cemetery Gates. Admission is free and everybody is welcome.
The class of 2014 Idea Translation Lab Presentations & Showcase takes place. It is a unique opportunity to view TCD & NCAD undergraduate projects & ideas concerning “Strange Weather”. A public showcase and Dragon’s Den-style pitch presentation will result in a winner and the winning student project will go forward to a week-long intensive workshop at Le Laboratoire, Paris.
Admission is free, but booking is required. Check the website for further information and to book.
The National College of Ireland are running a series of talks that delve into the different, fascinating areas of psychology.
The In Focus Tour “Judging a Book by Its Cover: Beautiful Bindings in the Chester Beatty’s Collection” with Mary O’Riordan will take place.
Rena Ammor (piano) performs J.S. Bach’s Partita no 2 in C minor and Busoni’s arrangement of Bach’s Chaconne in D minor.
Admission is free. The conversation will be in Spanish with English translation.
Girl Geek Dinners are a chance for ladies in technology to get together, enjoy some nice food and drinks, and have fun meeting other women in their field. Men are welcome to attend, but only at the invitation of a woman – if you are bringing someone or are looking for an invitation, please send on an email.
To register and for a link to the blog and the e-mail to bring guests, check the website below.
Lane Ashfeldt will launch her new book of short stories “SaltWater” and will read from the book. The publisher of Liberties Press will be attending, so if you always wanted to get connected, this might be the perfect opportunity.
Bryan Fanning & Tom Garvin will be ‘In Conversation’ debating “The Books That Define Ireland”. Guest compere is Dr Maurice Manning. Admission is free.
The National Print Museum hosts an exhibition (25 March-27 May) of Irish political ephemera (things that exist or are used or enjoyed for only a short time) covering general and local elections, referendums European and presidential elections from the 1970s to the early 2010s. The exhibition includes ballot papers, election leaflets, posters, and pamphlets.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a short tour and lecture series with its curators (Dr Ciaran Swan (NCAD) and Alan Kinsella) on the following dates: Thursday 03 April at 18.30; Thursday 10 April at 18.30; Sunday 13 April at 11.00 and Thursday 01 May at 18.30.
The Franco-Irish Literature Festival takes place from 04-06 April. On the first two days (04+05 April) it will be in George’s Hall in Dublin Castle and on the last day Sun 06 April, the last event will take place in the Alliance Francaise.
All events are free and open to everyone, but places are limited and first come, first served will apply. There will be simultaneous interpreting in English and French.
On Friday, the festival will open at 14:00 and after that, a Panel Discussion, Readings, a Café Littéraire and more readings will take place. On Saturday the day starts at 10:30 with a Panel discussion, followed by an interview with Yannick Haenel. In the afternoon, Panel discussion, Readings and Café Littéraire will be on the programme.
On Sunday, only a Literary Brunch (11:00-13:00) will take place.
The Franco-Irish Literary Festival is in its 14th year and has become a fixture on Dublin’s Event Calender for all francophiles. The theme this year is “Changing Lives” and the website below contains all details about participants and programme.
A organ recital with David Leigh will take place in the NCH. He will perform works from Reger and Locklair.
Admission is free but booking is required via the website below.
Otis will perform in Whelan’s. Admission is free.
The Songwriter Club is meeting again this week: On Friday 04 April at the “Friday Arts at No 5” in Gardiner Row. Doors open at 19:00. From 19:30-21:30 a Songwriter Club Meeting with guest speaker Stephen Brett (Emeraz) will take place and from 21:45-23:30 you can sing some songs at an Open Mic event in the same venue.
Admission is free to both meeting and Open Mic event.
The Dublin Sidewalk Astronomers are back with their popular public star-gazing event at the Martello Tower car park in Sandymount. The new name is now “IAS Public Star Parties”. ;-) Members bring along their telescopes and share the wonders of the night-sky with you. Admission is free.
The moon, Jupiter and its Galiilean Moons are on view and later in the evening you will see the red Mars.
The event is weather dependent, so check www.irishastrosoc.org/events/events.htm#dsa after 18:00 on Friday in case of poor weather, to check if it is going ahead.
The Progressive Film Club is inviting to a Film Festival from 04-06 April. 21 films, documentaries and short films will be screened over the three days. The festival takes place in the Pearse Centre and admission to all screenings is free.
The general theme will be “Global Justice” and the opening film on Friday is “Peripheral Vision” by film maker Donnacha O’Briain. It is a documentary, filmed over 12 months, that chronicles the experiences of a small group that attempted to mobilize the Irish public against the bank bailouts & austerity.
Billy’s Boots are playing Rock/Soul/Blues/Motown/Funk.
The Conectors are from Clare and they play “street ska and urban sounds”. Admission is free.
The Floors, a 5 piece band from Dublin covering the musical stylings of the legendary band The Doors, will perform in The Mezz. Admission is free and the gig has been hotly recommended to me!
Alias Empire will perform in Whelan’s Midnight Hour. The gig will start at midnight and admission will be free as long as you arrive before 22:30.
“Lighting up the Park in Poetry and Song” is a night of poetry, drama, song and general craic across the theme of the Phoenix Park. The event is programmed to coincide with Dublin: One City, One Book.
Drama will come from the RADE group from the south inner city.
Former Farmleigh Writer-in-Residence Peter Sheridan is curating this event and will also contribute.
Audience participation will also be greatly encouraged: Bring your singing voices and don’t be shy.
There will be 3 guided walks in the Dublin Mountains in March. The walks are organised by the Dublin Mountain partnership and are all of moderate difficulty. Have a look at their webpage for all details and make sure you register in time if you want to take part.
All details can be found on the website www.dublinmountains.ie/news/upcoming_events/?no_cache=1 All walks are free, but pre-registration is required.
Arghhh! Event Organising can’t be THAT difficult!?
Warning: This is a rant after I have wasted a huge amount of time trying to find out information about some really interesting-sounding event.
When I compile the Dublin Event Guide every week, I only got about 10-15% of the event information directly from event organisers. All the other events, I come across when searching through approx. 400 web pages every week. This process is quite work and time intensive and it could be made soo much easier if event organisers remembered the absolute basics about event information.
Just four pieces of information are needed: What? When? Where? How much?
All event organisers manage to mention the WHAT?, but after that it gets really difficult it seems! :-/ I have received event notices where the organisers forgot to tell me WHEN the event takes place! But the most annoying is when they don’t tell you how much it is? And unfortunately this seems to be an omission that extends from inexperienced to VERY experienced event organisers.
I don’t know why they do that! If an event is free, you would think that an organiser wants to tell EVERYBODY and as loud as possible. After all, it is a great thing! If an event is not free, you would also expect that they are ok to tell their audience because at some point the audience will arrive at the point where someone expects money.
I don’t think event organisers are so cunning that they think “I better keep the admission charge a secret, cause if I tell my audience that there is a charge they won’t come. If they don’t know, they will come and then I can force them to pay.” So why then can’t they just include it in the information about the event?
When doing my event search for this week’s Dublin Event Guide, I found a really interesting event, but there was NO information about any admission charges or that the event might be free. I searched four websites, two event notice pages, two Facebook event pages, the Twitter account of the main person, ….and then I gave up!
Please, dear event organisers, give us all four pieces of information: What? When? Where? and How much? Thanks!! | 2019-04-26T00:28:05Z | http://www.dublineventguide.com/blog/index.php/2014/03/ |
As the market tightens, many real estate investors are forced to carve our new profitable niches. Koko Kelejian has evolved from minor rehabs to much heavier projects, including adding square footage and major rebuilds. This is a particularly interesting strategy in markets and neighborhoods where the dollar per square foot for homes is significantly more than the cost to add on new space. Check out this FlipNerd Expert shows to learn more.
Meet Koko Kelejian, veteran real estate investor.
Learn how to determine if and when adding sqft to homes may make sense, and how, if necessary, it may allow you to pay more for houses than your competitors.
Learn how Koko has had to evolve over time as the real estate market shifts.
Also listen to a bonus tip on how to create a frenzy of prospective buyers at your house to get top dollar when selling!
Mike: Hey everyone. It’s Mike Hambright with FlipNerd.com. Welcome back for another exciting Expert Interview show, where I interview great guests from across the real estate investing industry to help you learn, grow and to inspire you.
For today’s show I’m joined by a friend of mine, we’re in a Mastermind group together. He has some really interesting things going on, he’s going to share with us today. So I’m joined by Koko Keledjian and he is a Los Angeles based real estate investor that has done well over 300 transactions in LA and a lot of markets around the country right now.
If you’re listening to this you may be a part of this, you’re kind of feeling the pinch of finding more inventory. Nobody can get enough deals and to be honest that can even be said in a good market where you’re really killing it, you just never have enough.
But the pinch is real right now in a lot of markets and what’s happening is investors are having to figure out where to go from here. And what Koko is doing and what some other investors are doing is moving into really, really heavy rehabs, maybe adding on a lot of square footage, sometimes new construction. But really kind of finding ways to add a lot of value with the property that you have instead of just dealing with the four walls of the box that you started with.
So what Koko is doing is adding a lot of square footage to projects, moving into a lot of higher end projects and he’s going to share that with us today. He’s going to share why he’s doing it because of what’s going on in the market right now. Before we get started though, let’s take a moment to recognize our featured sponsors.
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Koko my friend, welcome to the show.
Koko: Hey, thanks Mike. Thank you so much for having me.
Mike: Yeah, glad to have you. It’s interesting and I’m excited to talk about this because I’m in Texas where the prices are much lower than on the coast and so we’ve got a lot of listeners in California and certainly on the East Coast and stuff where there’s a real opportunity to exploit kind of build price versus market price per square footage.
We don’t really have a whole lot of that here in Texas, there are some but I think it’s a really fascinating topic and for somebody that loves major rehabs, I love major rehabs I wish I had more of that. So I’m not sure I want to move to California because I’m in the land of milk and honey right now, but I’m excited to talk about it.
Koko: Absolutely, absolutely. Yeah, we definitely do a lot of major rehabs to this point. I think it really make sense for our market to do that because our price per square foot is basically most areas above $300 a square foot. So sometimes we’re getting close to $400. In primaries like Studio City we’re doing new construction and that tops out around between $500 and $550 a square foot.
Mike: Awesome. Hey, before we get started talking about this stuff why don’t you tell us your background. How you got into real estate investing and maybe even some of the cycles you’ve been through that have got you where you are today.
Koko: Sure, absolutely. You probably don’t even know this but I used to be chiropractor.
Koko: Yeah, I practiced for eight years.
Mike: I’m going to see you in a couple of weeks so maybe you can adjust me while I’m there.
Koko: For a price. Yeah, for the last I think 11 years right now, since 2004 I’ve been in real estate investing. I got into the field essentially in ’04 jumping to some spec homes basically in Florida and Las Vegas.
So back when the market was crazy hot it went up 48% and 49% in those two states respectively. So we did bunch of houses in Vegas and in Cape Coral and of course those went up and came back down really, really nicely later. But that’s how we got started and then we got into lending as well and we experienced the ’05, ’06 and suddenly the crash of ’07. So bank doors locked and New Century going down, IndyMac going down. We had a website called Lender Implode where you would just essentially see banks shutting down and it was just like a countdown.
Koko: So it was crazy, crazy times but through that we changed our business I guess, to the tune of what was essentially happening. We also did a lot of short sales because of that. Obviously a lot of short sales came in and we started the first flips back in ’08, short sale flips. We did the land trust deal, [inaudible 00:05:33] on that front but nonetheless we’ve been rehabbing since that time. So it’s been about another seven years since we did our first one.
We primarily started with some of the carpet, paint, tile stuff. Then we ventured on to a little bit of square footage additions here and there. Now we’re basically doing full blown renovations and our budgets most of the time are well over $100,000 on these homes.
Mike: Yeah, you guys are doing some really high end stuff I know too. Some big projects. Can you maybe share for a couple of minutes, you see where the market is today. It feels like it’s getting a little overheated, you probably felt some of the stuff back in ’05,’06. But the market is really different now than it was then. There’s a lot of international investment, there’s a lot of things that are different but there’s probably some things that are the same too. But you learned a lot during that last cycle right?
Mike: Maybe just share some lessons for what you learned during that cycle, how you feel right now about what’s going on at least in your market and maybe what some people can learn from that like to kind of prepare or think about I guess what they should be thinking about and maybe that they’re not.
Koko: Sure. Back then everyone was banking on appreciations. So they were assuming that the prices were going to go up another 10% in the next six months essentially. But that I think is being capped right now especially in California. So you’re looking at affordability going down pretty low. I think we’re somewhere around 20% right now. And when things start getting shaky is roughly about 17% and we hit that mark before because we had essentially a lot of these wacky mortgages, the option arms and so forth. But we don’t have any of those mortgages right now. A lot of them are essentially FHA mortgages or at least 10 % or 20% down.
So the market is more stable in that regard but what I’m seeing is that there’s less and less REOs and short sale inventory of course, 25% year over year between last year and this year and essentially that translates into higher prices and so what’s happening is rehab prices . . .
Mike: You’re saying REO inventory is down 25%?
Koko: Absolutely yeah. Foreclosure inventory and so on. With that being said you have less rehab properties on the market. So the problem is that when you’re rehabbing your home, you’ve got to have those comps to support it. So when we start going back like 90 days there’s very, very few comps within that one mile radius of our subject property. And because we’re doing really nice homes, you’ve got to substantiate that value.
So to a rehabber or wholesaler in our market what I would say is just buyer beware. Because what’s sold at least in the last 90 days is probably not going to be usable in the next 90 days. So it’s going to be gone. So are there more homes coming on that are rehabbed homes? That’s what you’ve got to come look out for to see, hey where are my comps going to come from? Because if those comps aren’t there your price per square foot average out of let’s say six months could be there. But appraisers don’t use price per square foot as much as they use real value sale price.
Mike: Yeah, what I was going to ask is how appraisers look into these stuff because if you’re having a hard time finding comps they’re going to often assume something is a comp when it’s not or you’re banking on them seeing the value the same way that you saw it right?
Mike: How are appraisers looking at this stuff especially on a higher end homes? This is a question across the board for higher end homes that if you’re like me and you’re typically buying first time home buyer type houses like cookie-cutter style houses, usually you’re in huge neighborhoods and there’s always comps. Sometimes they’re a little bit harder to find, but on really high end stuff a lot of times it’s hard to find something that’s apples to apples anyway in any market, right?
Mike: Yeah, so appraisers, how are they looking at things right now, I guess, in your neck of the woods for high end homes?
Koko: My conversation at least with the appraiser is price per square foot is great and it’s a benchmark that we actually will look at a little bit but the reality is that if this 2000 square foot house, if you’re trying to pit $700,000 for this property, there’s got to be something else that’s remotely close to that that did sell for $700,000 even though let’s say if you drop down to $1800 or $1700 that price per square foot, if you use that price per square foot, you should be valued at $700,000. They’re not looking at it that way.
They’re looking at there has to be another 2000 square feet house that sold for $700,000 to count yours against that. You know what I’m saying? So price per square foot wise I can get to that number because as you obviously drop in square footage, you take a 1700 square foot house is going to have a higher price per square foot than let’s say a 2000 square foot house. But, I still can’t use that number to substantiate mine, even though . . .
Mike: I see, so they would just typically start going out further and further, distance wise.
Koko: Then it’s going to be subjective because now you’ve got appraisers that don’t want to step outside their guidelines and go past one mile, even though you can’t find a like-kind of property within that radius. Or they’re going to go into let’s say, a neighboring city. So that tends to be an issue as well.
Mike: Right. Well, so let’s talk about, I guess, how you’ve kind of transitioned lately into doing a lot more heavy construction and really a lot of add-ons, as you’re adding a lot of square footage to create value that way.
Mike: So talk about why you’re doing that, and then let’s get into, how you’re doing it. How you’re adding value and why that makes sense.
Koko: Sure. A lot of our homes are essentially 1950s built homes. So that is small three two’s that you see in normal neighborhoods across the country. So what you have in those situations is you have a small master bath, and a small master bedroom. Well I had an open house yesterday, I had about 80 people come through that open house in a rehab. It was nuts.
We do some special marketing techniques, we’ll hopefully fill you in on afterwards. But nonetheless we have a ton of people come in and they’re primarily first time home buyers with small children or pregnant and so on and so forth. Right?
But what are they looking for? They’re looking for a bedroom for the kids or something like that or a nursery. But they’re also looking for something that’s really nice for them. At this intro level price point, it’d be really nice to have a large master bedroom and really nice to have a master bathroom that looks like a spa. That’s what we focus our efforts on, those two areas as well as the kitchen of course just like everybody else does.
So what we tend to do is we do open concepts, put a bunch of beams up and really open up the living room. But by adding those two rooms and making it really nice and big and really nice, ours stands out no matter what against everything else. That’s what the selling point is. So now you’re essentially adding square footage to the property somewhere in the vicinity of 300 square feet, maybe upwards of 500 square feet.
In LA County if you add up to 500 square feet it’s done over the counter. So for permitting sake it’s a lot easier to do. You don’t have to go through plan check and months on end of reviews and so on and so forth. You could essentially do it over the counter within a week to two week time frame. That’s why we do it that way. Or you could do construction in phases and we’ll get one permit and then we’ll get the second permit and so on and that’ll prevent us again from going to full blown review.
Mike: So part of it is you want to stand out because you’re putting out a product that has a lot of the things that new builds have which would be a large master suite, larger kitchen, all those things and part of it is to add square footage to kind of exploit that difference between build price and what the average selling price is in the neighborhood you’re in. Right?
Mike: So instead of when you look at a house, if you’re looking at let’s just say a 2,000 square foot house, your comparing it against other 2,000 square foot houses, you’re limited by that square footage if all you do is make the house nice again. But if you say, hey I can add on 2 to 300 square feet and it’s selling for $300 plus a square foot and what’s your build price typically on adding square footage?
Koko: It depends, if you’re adding a bathroom and so on it could get up to like $100, $120. If it’s something simple let’s just say blowing out like a rec room portion, maybe you’re down to $85. What we’re doing, our prime niche is essentially find something that’s anywhere between 1300 and 1600 square feet and get that thing up to like 1800 or 2000. That’s our niche.
These lot sizes you’re typically looking at somewhere between 6000 to hopefully like 8, 9, 10,000. That’s that niche. You’re looking at a small house on a fairly decent lot where you can exploit that backyard and if we can build at 100, let me just take a round numbers, but if we’re going to build at $100 a square foot and we’re selling at $350 a square foot, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out we just added $250 times 300 square feet, $75,000 in value.
Mike: Yeah, and the difference is, one of the interesting things about that too is if you think about how competitive it is right now with other investors, most investors don’t want to add square footage. They don’t want to make that extra effort. They don’t want to do rehabs that big, they don’t want to deal with the permitting issues.
So you kind of are starting to essentially, I’m not saying that you should pay more, but it would effectively allow you to potentially pay a little bit more and beat somebody out because you’re going to make it up on the square footage add. So your competition is not quite as fierce as it would if you weren’t going to add square footage, right?
Koko: You are broadcasting live to everybody right? Giving up the nuggets, yeah absolutely.
Mike: Well, we’re not going to broadcast this in California.
Mike: [inaudible 00:14:59] everything but California.
Koko: Okay. No man, you hit the nail on the head. This is exactly what it is. We’re able to pay a little bit more for a property and we’ll be able to get in because some of them are just going to do a lipstick job on the home, they’re not going to get as much value as what we’re doing obviously. So we’re looking at essentially if we get up to $400 a square foot, $450 a square foot, that’s a sweet spot right there. Because you’re just making money on every single square foot that you add on that property.
Mike: Sure, yeah. Are you doing some new build stuff as well?
Koko: Yeah, we’re doing some new construction. Some high end new construction.
Mike: Okay. Talk about the areas you invest in and there’s probably not a lot of kind of virgin land to build on, right? So if you’re building you’re going to scrap something probably right?
Koko: Yeah, most definitely. Most time we’re scraping in, 9 times out of 10 we’ll leave one wall up and so that one wall up business essentially it saves us on a lot of taxes. So the difference could be essentially $10,000 to $20,000 in additional taxes just by leaving that wall up versus new construction.
So for new construction you’re going to get hit on taxes on the whole new square footage. So if you knocked everything down and you build 3000 square feet, you’ve got 3000 square feet of taxes. But if you already had 1500 square feet and you’re adding 1500, you only get taxed on the 1500 square foot addition.
Koko: So it’s a huge difference.
Mike: I think different states have, for those who are listening, that’s probably a California thing, every state is probably a little bit different. I’m not sure if it’s even at the county level potentially. But yeah California is a little different anyway, as is Texas where I’m at. Here it’s different in a good way. There it’s kind of . . . no I won’t say anything else but.
Mike: That’s great. So talk about, this is kind of a tool you’re using to weather the storm, but to kind of deal with this market. And we’ve had some guests on lately and we’re talking about dealing with this market, dealing with market cycles and maybe talk about when you see that changing, I’m not saying time-wise, but this is a tool you’re using right now but you may do something different in a year from now if the market is different, right?
Koko: Yeah, absolutely. Because again you’re going to look at the comparables that are going to pop up within these next six months or so and it’s going to determine exactly what we’re able to do. In the higher price point areas we’re still able to renovate a property and that have somewhat of a barrier. We have bread and butter homes that are first time home buyers. Those are going to get beaten pretty quickly.
But the people that have more cash to spend, we’re looking at a million plus, that price point usually won’t get beat up as bad as the price point is concerned. Then of course in that price point you could put in gold toilets and someone will pay specifically because there are gold toilets in that property.
Mike: You’re probably less likely to have appraisal issues, or less likely to be using FHA at those levels at least.
Mike: So you’re probably less probably to have appraisal issues. I think you and I know what I just asked you but can you kind of explain that a little bit like how you consider the appraisal or the type of financing that a user is using as to how much you can push the envelope on your price.
Koko: Sure, absolutely. Right now you’ve got predominantly FHA buyers, so they’re three and a half percent down. So the bread and butter homes that we’re selling are somewhere between high 5s and 600,000, 700,000 somewhere in that ball park. So for that client they’re essentially putting down somewhere in the vicinity of $20,000. Where the closing costs are also about $20,000 depending on the loan they get. So that’s a lot of money to bring down to a property 40,000 bucks. So they can usually wrap their closing costs in the loan. So that’ll get rid of the half of those funds, which is great. So they’re able to get into this property for basically 20,000.
Now with that said though when you start venturing into the bigger price points, now you’re looking at 20% down all day. So now it’s on 700 plus to 800 plus. You’re looking at $140,000, $160,000 down without the closing cost. So it’s a really big swing. So everybody we see is getting FHA loans. Now with FHA loans of course you’ve got some issues.
So you’ve got to make sure that the property is spick and span and that means that you can’t have the peeling paint, a crack in the window. There’s an FHA appraiser as well as an inspection done at the same time. So those are the issues that we come across. But they’re not really too big of a problem for us because 9 times out of 10 we’re replacing all the windows, the roof, that kind of stuff.
Mike: Yeah, and the appraisals with the FHA though, they’re, I don’t want to say it’s impossible to change them but if you have to get two appraisals which you often do as a real estate investor turning it around. Whichever the lowest is what they go with, but usually not FHA loans, the lender typically doesn’t care as long as an appraisal is for the amount that they’re ending on.
Koko: Exactly and of course you have a 90 day hold. So if you’re buying a property and flipping it as an investor you’ve got to hold that property for at least 90 days before the resell is done. Now in a major construction that’s not really an issue for us because we’re definitely past that point. But the other part is that if it’s below 90 days it’s got to be 20%. So it’s can’t be 20% above the previous value or then they’re requiring two appraisals or it’s the lender overlay and they’ll always want two appraisals.
So we’re typically getting properties that are essentially like 300 to 320 and our flip out is 550. It’s a significant jump. It’s a major, major remodel with additional square footage. So a lot of times the lender will understand that and see it, but it’s definitely a problem with the lower price points.
Mike: Sure, sure. Yeah. So this what you’re doing in this market and having been through some cycles, I know that from talking to you before that you’re a little concerned that things might take a downturn in California at some point and the rest of the country is watching what happens in California obviously.
But in terms of riding cycles, how would your strategies change? How do you anticipate that they would change? Would you do less major remodels? What would happen when the market goes down? I don’t want to say if it goes down but when? Because it’s the market shift. In terms of kind of planning out cycles, where would you go from here.
Koko: One of the things that we’re looking to do is instead of picking up the properties ourselves there’s a model that we’re looking to and actually have practiced it a bunch of times where we actually just come in and renovate the property for the seller. And that essentially it’s not major construction but we still do like lipstick jobs essentially.
But we’re blowing out the house and doing all the cabinets, all the floors, all new everything, LED lights and all that good stuff. Something that a normal seller doesn’t want to do or can’t even do, or doesn’t have the funds to do. So we’ll bring in all of those funds and do it for them.
Then my wife is a real estate broker, Gina Michelle Project. She’ll go ahead and list and design the property and sell it. So we end up getting both ends of that transaction and it’s a win-win because we don’t have to actually purchase the property ourselves. There are no hard money costs, there are no carrying costs and there’s no risk factor in that. And the property will sell for higher than the current state that it’s in and the seller will still make out better than what they were at before.
So that’s a win-win that we’re looking at during this plateau and maybe the downturn a little bit. So to bridge the gap until we can buy property again.
Mike: Yeah, awesome. Hey Koko we have a little bit of extra time, do you want to go ahead and talk about what we were talking about beforehand which was how you get so many people to an open house. You guys are doing some pretty amazing stuff, really creating a frenzy. Do you want to maybe talk about that a little bit?
Koko: Absolutely, absolutely yeah. One thing I can tell to any rehabbers, just don’t make a cookie-cutter house. Don’t buy tile at Home Depot right. Go out and buy from a tile store and there’s great designs out there like houses are really good site to look at different designs and what not. But just have a little bit more design element in your property itself.
Here’s a cool tidbit. There is a Bluetooth fan/speaker. It’s 150 bucks. Stick that in, in the master bathroom. They can play music through the Bluetooth speaker in their master bathroom. Really cool feature, only costs 150 bucks, but it’s a wow factor.
Koko: So what we do is we always list our properties low. Typically about 5% lower than everything else that’s selling in the area. Okay. So A, our properties come in lower so when everyone looks at it they’re like, what’s going on there. And B, we get a bunch of people that are coming to the property that may not even be able to qualify for that house. It’s probably out of their price point, so they’ll still come in and take a look at it. But what we’re trying to do is get as many people in that house as possible. We’ll also drop about 500 mailers like every door delivery U.S Postal, to everybody around that area. And since the neighbors have been seeing and watching us do the renovations, they’re all very eager to show up. So today . . .
Mike: Right, always got those nosy neighbors.
Koko: Oh, we’ve got all those nosy neighbors in there. They love to come by and you know what, let they come. Because the reality is nobody knows who the buyer is and who the neighbor is and so on and so forth. So all I want to make sure that happens that day is that the buyer is in the same room with 20 other people. As long as I can get that done, then that buyer thinks, man, I’ve got to put my best foot forward day one on this thing. And that’s what we do is we just stir up a lot of activity on the property and we’re usually not on the market for more than 10 days.
Mike: So you’re putting the property out and you’re just kind of creating this frenzy of almost like an auction. Everybody comes in and somebody is afraid that they won’t get it and so they’re willing to . . . and you’re artificially pushing the price down knowing that people will probably start to bid more than price rather than pricing it higher than what you’re willing to accept and working it down, you’re just going the other way.
Koko: Yeah, I think it’s definitely the wrong play. If you’re trying to get $700,000 on your property, you don’t want to list it at $725,000 and then get down to $700000. It doesn’t make any sense. We’ve sold a ton of properties and every time we list a property when that property ages on the MLS, it’s death for that property. Every week that goes by its death for that property, because they can see it, they smell blood and they’re like oh, I can come in lower than the asking price. And that’s what you’re doing, you’re inviting that.
When you list it low, you’re simply saying look I’m not deciding what the price of this property is. I can list that property for $1. It’s like eBay. Come in and make an offer. All that says is I’m for sale, what do you want to offer? Then people ask us at the open house and we say, “Look, pull the comparables, but we’ve seen XY and Z.” So they’ll go back and they’ll do their own due diligence. So it really helps out the situation when people . . . because what happens is somebody has probably lost out on three or four houses and . . .
Mike: And they’re not going to lose out on this one.
Mike: Yeah. So talk about what you do. You have a very limited time I assume kind of a one or two hour slot where everybody is pretty much at the same time. Two hours.
Mike: Yeah. And then what are people doing while they’re there? They’re just looking at each other and worried about losing the deal. How do you get that many people in a house.
Koko: I’ve got to give credit up to my good boy Jordan Fisher, he’s got a great system . . .
Mike: Yeah, Jordan has been on the show before.
Koko: Yeah, yeah. What we’ll do is we’ll put on the market and we won’t let anybody see the property for at least one week before the showing. So people will call in, they want to get in, “My client is out of town etcetera. Sorry, can’t see it until that day.” So we stir up the crowd for basically one week. And we put it on Zillow and so on and so forth and then when they finally get there, it’s only open for two hours instead of the normal four hour window. So everyone gets crammed in whether they want to or not to come at that time.
And when people call and ask, “We can’t make it that day. Can we come in next week? Are you going to put a lock box on it?” To be honest with you, I think it’ll probably go that day. So we may not even need a showing after that. Now they’re just like, “Okay, we’ve got to make it.” So we just want to shove everybody into that door that day, we want to get out of the way of the market and let the market decide what the value is. And that’s what we do and people will come with offers in hand that day.
Mike: So you list it but you just don’t make it available for showing. So they can see pictures and stuff online?
Koko: They can see pictures, they start drooling and they’re like “I’ve got to go see this.” Because in our price point we’re typically listing roughly 30,000 maybe sometimes 50,000 below the sale, the actual [inaudible 00:28:11]. So that’s a lot. So they’ll come in and they’ll see it listed for 525,000, but our target is really 575,000. And we’ll hit it, but what it does is bring up everybody that’s looking up to 525 or up to 550, they can’t even afford to buy that house.
Mike: Right. Yeah, awesome. Koko hey thanks for spending time with us today. Any kind of final words of wisdom? We talked about how you evolved in this market by doing some things differently. Any kind of wrap up or final comments you want to make on this?
Koko: Yeah, don’t bank on appreciation, don’t bank on appreciation. Know your comparables and know the product that you’re putting out. Know that your products are going to have to be superior to the other comparables that you’re seeing out there if you want to hit that mark, especially now.
Mike: Hey Koko how do folks learn more about you? Where do they go if they want to see what you’re working on?
Mike: I’ve got a link for that. Awesome. Koko thanks for being with us today and I’ll be seeing you sometime here in a few weeks.
Koko: Absolutely. Thanks so much Mike for having me.
Mike: All right buddy. Have a great day. | 2019-04-18T12:24:14Z | https://flipnerd.com/show/expert-interviews/heavy-rehabbing-and-adding-space/ |
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One of the traits that match a Gemini born is photography. If your Gemini friend or dear one is a passionate photographer, you can add to his/her happiness of clicking awesome pictures by gifting a useful Camera stand. No wonder, this thoughtful birthday gift will make him/her jump off the floor in happiness.
If you are willing to gift something very special and relevant to your dearest one on his/her birthday without spending a lot on it then this is the gift option, you must look upon too. Online at GiftaLove.com or offline at local gift stores, Gemini Sign printed coffee mugs are available in wide varieties to choose and shop. You can turn this gift interesting by filling the coffee mug with chocolates.
For the passionate traveler born under this zodiac sign, this is the gift option to consider. A trendy backpack with multiple pockets will definitely become a useful thing for impressing the dearest one on his/her birthday. In fact, he/she will love to carry essentials in that trendy backpack while traveling anywhere. It’s an unconventional yet a very useful gift for a Gemini person.
Since most of the Gemini people are artistic and creative; a contemporary artwork painting will definitely make him/her happy the most on birthday. You can think of gifting an artwork painting as a housewarming gift for the Gemini born you know. If he/she loves to decorate home a lot, this gift will just be the best.
Last but not the least is the option of Lucky Bamboo Plant with Lord Buddha idol. A Gemini person who will be celebrating, his or her birthday very soon this is the gift option to make choice for. You can simply buy Lucky Bamboo plant with Lord Buddha idol and bring in peace and harmony in his wrist.
Hope, you loved the ideas and found it relevant for impressing your Gemini born dearest one his/her birthday. To buy such wonderful Birthday gifts online, GiftaLove.com is the right online gift store to be at. You can find most wonderful and unique gifting options online at great price point. Also, the portal enable people to buy and with utmost send gifts to India and across the globe to surprise loved one on Anniversary, Birthday, Raksha Bandhan (https://www.giftalove.com/rakhi) wedding, festive and other special time of the year.
This Navratri Make Needy Kids Smile with These 6 Amazing Navratri Gifts Ideas for Kids!
The pious week of Navratri has begun with great pomp and show in the Northern India. It is a cheerful Indian festival celebration that is celebrated for around 8 to 9 days. During the days of festivity, people perform fasting and pray goddess Durga. During this festivity of the year, people also splurge in Navratri Gift shopping. Apart from clothes and food for the pious week, populaces also buy Navratri Gifts for Kids that are offered to them after offering food on the last day of Durga Puja.
After 8 or 9 days of strict fasting and Durga Puja, the pious weeklong celebration ends on Astami or Navami when little needy kids are offered food first and then surprised with money of gifts. Thus, before the last day of the Navratri strikes, people get engaged in the shopping of Navratri Gifts for Kids.
For the little munchkins, an attractive lunch box is definitely an excellent gift option to cheer them up and make them happy. You can choose, a cartoon shaped lunch box, car shape lunch box and other attractively designed lunch boxes as well. To delight the little kids, little more, you an fill the luinch boxes with chocolates or candies.
For the little girls gifting a doll is an excellent option and for boys a car is an excellent gift choice. No wonder, after getting their tummy filled with delicious food, getting doll or cars as Navratri Gifts si something that every kid will love.
One thing every kid loves is a new pencil box. On Navratri getting a pencil box as a gift will definitely cheer up little one. You can try gifting a pencil box with a trending cartoon print. Else you can also pick car shape pencil box, cartoon shape pencil box and other such wonderful pencil boxes that kids will love to get as a gift.
The little hands of kids love to paint their imagination. Thus, as Navratri Gift, kids are sure to love getting this gift surprise. A coloring kit bag is easily available online and local stationary shops. Depending on the budget and as per the preference of kids, you can make choice for a particular kind of coloring kit bag.
Another thing that every kid will love to get on this Navratri as a gift is this thing. An attractive water bottle is sure to get them the healthy habit of drinking water. Moreover, a water bottle of cartoon shape, geometrical shape or other will increase their fascination of carrying it with them and flaunt it among friends.
If you can afford gifting a school bag to needy kids then this will definitely bring happiness on their face and will help them grow with proper education. No wonder, school bag of attractive color combination and many pockets will definitely help little munchkins to carry their books and other essentials with them to school. This is definitely a heart winning Navratri Gift for Kids.
Kids which are needy ones definitely deserve something good on this Navratri. So despite feeding your neighbour kids, it will be great initiative of helping our society by feeding the needy kids and making them happy with Navratri Gift surprise. To buy some wonderful Navratri gifts for kids as well as loved ones like Durga Idols, home decorative gifts, spiritual gifts and more, GiftaLove.com is definitely a must visit portal.
Also Read :- Top Navratri Gifts for Kanchak Pooja, for Elders and for All!
It is been said that gifts that come from close and dear ones are true reflectors of their heartiest feelings. This way, gift selection makes a huge sense in conveying love to close and dear ones. Moreover, gift brings lots of happiness, feeling of care and affection with it. Thus, gifting should be a practice to make quite often.
If you have always been a kind of gift giver only on special days or moments of the year, then you must know the amazing benefits that come with gifting. It’s not only a deed of making someone happy rather it’s a deed of making ourselves happy to. Amazed right? Well, that’s true! Gifts reflect happiness and love on both sides, for the giver and for the receiver definitely.
The biggest reason for making gifting a very frequent thing to practice for a healthy lifestyle is this one. No wonder gifting a box wrapped nicely and tied with a ribbon is sure to bring a cheerful smile of happiness on the receiver’s face. The best part is, gifting also reflects happiness back to the giver. This is the happiness of gifting happiness.
Gifts Reflect Affectionate and Caring Side of the Giver!
The best part of receiving a gift is the chance of unwrapping the box of something wonderful with affection and care to send by the receiver. Indubitably, this is the real joy of getting a gift from someone loving.
If a relationship of any kind demands to get nurtured with more affection and care then a gift can do wonders. After all, gifts are the wonderful token of love that can definitely give the pleasure of happiness to both, the receiver and the giver. Thus, a gift definitely nurtures the bond of love between the receiver and the giver.
Everyone loves getting a surprise. And, if the surprise is a heart-winning gift then it turns the moment into an unforgettable event.
Be it someone’s birthday, wedding, baby shower, anniversary, farewell, housewarming, Mother’s Day (https://www.giftalove.com/mothers-day), Valentine’s Day or any other celebration falling across the year, gifts definitely add into the cheerfulness of the celebration.
Apart from the lovely memories of any special moment of the year what makes time memorable is a gift received at that moment. So, whenever it’s a gift received on a special moment, its every sight takes one to the wonderful moment of getting it from someone very dear.
There are lot many reasons that make gifting a very healthy practice of living. So, keep the spirit of gifting high and win heart of your loved ones with a little or big token of love- recalled as Gift!
Looking for Affordable Gift Ideas? Here are some Wonderful Options for Every Relationship!!
There would hardly be any person, who doesn’t like the idea of giving and receiving gifts!! Everyone wants to woo their loved ones with their confident panache of giving lovely gifts. The idea of gifting the best type of gift is the relic of the beautiful relationship that is nurtured between two people.
But, on a number of occasions, because you do not have that high budget, it becomes very tough to choose the perfect gift for the perfect person in your life. We have compiled this precise list of some really affordable gifts for all those who fall under this list. Read out the below list and your gunning for the most perfect and affordable gift will surely end here….
If you are planning out to gift something special to a male, be it your brother, father, a friend or an office colleague, there are thousands of affordable yet exciting options to make a selection from. You can choose a shirt, t-shirt, bottom wear, shoes, flowers and many such gifts. Choosing any of these gifts will never make you wrong.
This is quite trickier because girls are quite particular when it comes to gifts but they are the one who will understand emotions behind the idea of your gift and will love it no matter what. Some of the common and the most affordable gift for a female would be a make-up kit, accessories, flowers (https://www.giftalove.com/flowers), chocolates, spiritual gifts, Jewelleries and alike. Just make sure that you have an idea about the likings and disliking of the recipient because that is the most important thing. You can very easily find these affordable gifts from this online gifting portal.
You need to choose a gift for your parents only after a lot of deliberations because they are the most important people in your life and they will surely expect something special from you. Choosing something for home or something for their personal use can be a great idea to bank upon. You can gift some spiritual gift or lucky plants, desk accessories, Laxmi Ganesha, wall hangings or many such. These gifts can very conveniently be found on various online portals and here you can choose to be smart.
And, when it comes to choosing a gift item for your boss, you have to precisely very careful and you need to put in a lot of deliberations. Here, one needs to be a little formal, the best and the most apt gift for the occasion is a bouquet of some enchantingly lovely flowers. You may also choose to gift an office bag, a personalized gift, some stationary items, some spiritual gift items and alike. Just be mindful.
These are some of the gift options that will help you in affordably choosing the best gift item for your loved ones. These gifts certainly need to be enshrined with a certain touch of emotion so as to make the moment special for the recipient. Be affectionate and loving, these small gestures are the only things that will strengthen the relationship between two people.
Is someone dear or near to you is retiring soon? Well the act of gifting can definitely bring a lot of happiness in his/her life in this next phase of life. You can be thoughtful to surprise the one with an ideal retirement gift. However, you are bit confused over the idea then you must scroll the page down to know some impressive and ideal retirement gift ideas.
The time of retirement comes with happiness and some dull moments as well. Why not make this moment of life a cheerful one for someone with a gift. Indubitably, gifts bring a lot of happiness for everyone. So, let us help you bring happiness with a gift for someone retiring soon from a busy and hectic life to relaxing and peaceful life.
After so many years of hectic travelling and rush for work it’s time to relax and enjoy the retirement. The thing that will give a relaxing time to the one who is retiring then it is this. A good quality and advanced foot massager is sure to give a very pleasing time to your dearest one. Moreover, the one receiving this gift is sure to feel very overwhelmed. You can think of surprising your father or mother with such a gift on his/her retirement.
If you noticed your parent or anyone who is retiring soon with a long time fascination of having a pet at home then gifting one will be a great idea. A pet can be anything from some aquarium fishes to a cat, little puppy, bird with a cage and things alike.
Another relaxing retirement gift can be a ticket to a holiday trip. Be it your father, mother, uncle, colleague or any other one who is retiring soon, plan to surprise him/her with a holiday ticket if your budget allows for the same. No wonder the receiver will be greatly thankful to you for such a wonderful gift.
A gift that can bring some busy time in the relaxing moment of life is a gardening tool kit. Perusing a hobby of planting and growing trees prove great in making the retired busy into an eco-friendly act.
The hectic lifestyle while working might have not given enough time to the one retiring soon to enjoy his/her passion of watching movies or to tune into his/her favorite songs. Well you can gift that missed moment back into his/her life by gifting a set of movie or song CD’s. Gift it with a CD kit bag as well with the set of CD’s.
For someone very religious, gifting a Bhagwat Geeta during the time of retirement will be a great way of winning his/her heart and gifting him/her a time of going through this magnificent holy book that makes one learn many special moments of life.
For the one retiring soon, a travelling bag will definitely give some travelling goals in life to pursue. You can gift a travelling bag that can be super comfortable to carry goods in.
During the relaxing time of life, reading novel is a great way of pursuing the habit of reading for which there was no time while working. Before gifting some inspirational, fictional or any other novels of specific genre, just consider the preference of the receiver.
Now since the rest of the life of the person retiring will be spent with the family, thus a family photo collage is just the perfect thing to buy and gift the one. No wonder, he/she will love such a wonderful gift.
Now after getting retired, it’s time to relax and maintain a good health for rest of the life. Thus, a basket of fresh fruits will be an awesome way of showing some love and care to your dearest one on the day of retirement. As a colleague, this gift is simply the best thing to show your caring side.
A gift reflects affection, care and love. So when choosing a retirement gift for someone dear, just think no more to make choice for such wonderful gifts that are for sure to help you win the receiver’s one’s heart. To find such impressive Retirement Gifts, you can simply explore the vast range of Retirement Gifts at GiftaLove.com. At the portal you can also buy and send gifts to India and worldwide in few clicks.
5 Wonderful Gifts for the Music Lover You Know!
Soon your music lover friend or dear one will be celebrating his/her Birthday but you are having no idea as what to gift him/her, right? Simply buying any birthday gift for your dearest one won’t help. You definitely need to consider his/her passion for music and should gift something relevant. Luckily, this blog will help you with some awesome gift ideas for your music lover friend.
Selecting that perfect token of love for the one who is very much passionate about music is never an easy task. You cannot simply pick anything from the local gift store. It needs to be something very special and relevant for the one passionate about music. So, let us help you out with some impressive gifts ideas to make that passionate one, wow for.
A gift that every music lover will love to get as a gift is this one. A branded headphone with good sound quality is sure to prove out an excellent gift for any music lover. In fact, the person will love this gift a lot. In fact, it won’t matter if one already has one branded headphone, a new headset with latest features will be loved by the receiver.
For the lover of music, it will be great to sip his/her regular coffee in such a coffee mug. No wonder he/she will love to receive a music coffee mug that won’t play a music but will seem like a new addition to the music accessories. In fact, the idea of gifting such a musical theme coffee mug will be loved by the music lover you know. You can also find coffee mugs of another musical theme at online gift stores.
A quite trending product among the passionate music lovers or listeners is this one. These days you can find a wide variety of Bluetooth speakers on the market or buy it online from reputed gift stores to shop online from a renowned brand name. So, choose the best one to keep him/her tune into favourite music at home by connecting it with Bluetooth of his/her mobile phone.
If you are wondering about something that is unique for a music lover then here is one excellent gift option. However, it is one of the best birthday gifts for a guitar lover to the receiver. You can get any guitar pick to get personalized with a love, inspirational or funky text. No wonder it will be loved by the receiver a lot on any special day apart from his/her birthday.
Another quite impressive gift idea for the music lover is a guitar shape table clock. Despite choosing any expensive music accessory this gift option is really impressive one. You can also choose any other music instrumental shaped table clock. No wonder this gift will be loved by the receiver.
If the music lover you adore is quite habitual of listening to music and save all his/her favourite tracks in CD then to help him/her keep all his/her records safe at one place, a Music CD Bag is definitely an excellent gift choice. You can find it perfect to surprise any music lover. It’s a very useful gift option.
Apart from the latest Bluetooth speakers if you are looking for the big music speakers for your dear one who is quite passionate about listening to music then this is the perfect gift option to make choice for. Prefer choosing music speakers that are quite trendy in their design or shape as placing it anywhere at home will add into the charm of the home décor as well.
Music is the soul of living for many. To make any passionate music lover happy or to make any music lover feel loved and cared, the little gesture of gifting do wonders. Find such amazing gifts online at GiftaLove.com to many any music lover happy on his/her special day. Here on this online gift store, you can also explore a wide range of Valentine Flowers, Birthday cakes online, romantic flowers, personalized gifts online and much more with free shipping service in India anywhere.
The idea of re-gifting has although been a matter of joke over years but ideally it’s the best way of passing on the box of happiness to the one most deserving. Just because something is not apt for you don’t mean that it’s useless. There can be someone who will definitely love the thing which will be re-gifted to him/her. It’s an art of de-cluttering your home, making the use of something that never had been taken in use and obviously bringing joviality for someone dear. All that you need to know are some re-gifting etiquettes.
Before you become happy to realize that you have lot many unused things at home that can be re-gifted to someone, you must know that there are some set of etiquettes that you must know before actually planning to re-gift something to someone dear. You definitely won’t want to hurt someone’s heart. All that you need is to pass one the happiness of gift sharing with your loved ones.
Picking the right gift for someone is the basic art of gifting that everyone must know. Similarly while re-gifting, you need to follow the ethics of giving only something apt to the receiver otherwise your gift will make no sense for the receiver. In fact it will lose the actual essence of your gifting that is spreading happiness.
It’s very important to give a makeover to something that you are gifting. Check if the box of the gift product is not tempered. If yes then definitely change the box with any new box in which the gifting products fits the best way. Remember that your gift should never seem like being re-gifted. To give it an attractive appeal, you must give the gift a makeover by wrapping it beautifully an attractive wrapping paper and tying it with broad satin ribbon.
If anything with a touch of your personalization can be turned into something more beautiful than just go for it. This will definitely give a new look to the thing. It can be a plain coffee mug; the one you never used that can be personalized with some creativity to turn into a special token of love for the receiver.
Always Re-gift Something Brand New or Unused!!
Just like avoiding packing anything in the same old and tempered box, please do not use the same wrapping paper as this may reveal the truth of being re-gifted. And, you definitely won’t like to hurt feelings of your loved one. So, buy an attractive wrapping paper and get it packed beautifully to give it the charm o a new gift.
Yes, definitely! If you are re-gifting something to your dearest one, you are definitely saving a lot on a new gift. Therefore, spending a little on an add-on will definitely work wonders in simply turning your gift into a special one. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Christmas gift, Anniversary gift or Housewarming gift, adding a beautiful flower bunch, chocolate box, cute teddy or anything alike will definitely help you win your dear one’s heart.
Remember: Re-gifting in Same Social Circle is a ‘Big NO… NO…’!!
The most important etiquette to follow while re-gifting something to dear one is not to re-gift anything in the same social circle of yours from which you have received the particular gift. After all, you will never ever want the receiver to know that it is something that is being re-gifted. Therefore, always re-gift in different social circles. It doesn’t matter if it’s New Year Gift, Wedding gift or anything other, just remember not to re-gift in the same social circle.
Just like a brand new gift that shares happiness, the aim of your act of re-gifting should be same too. Therefore, what you need is to follow are some etiquettes. Hope this blog has helped you know the etiquettes which you must always remember while re-gifting anything with anyone dear or loving. | 2019-04-19T13:21:40Z | https://www.giftalove.com/blog/category/gifts/page/2/ |
I’m a blogger. My life is my blog, and in many respects, my blog is my life.
It’s hard to distinguish between the two at times as they’re so indelibly linked.
I love what I do and I feel grateful that I live in a time where technology allows me to create, write and make moving images for a living.
My job is public-facing (the internet has power, people) with posts and campaigns I’m part of, reaching millions every month.
I flicked onto the Telegraph website on the weekend to read an opinion piece, and a campaign I’m part of and my face, flashed up as an ad at the bottom of it.
I’ll give you some more context as realise not everyone knows what professional blogging entails.
My reach last month, counting viral posts and campaigns I was part of with media coverage, reached over 30 million. That’s a heck of a lot people. Facebook Lives I shoot often reach 150k in five minutes (thanks FB for organically promoting me) and a lot of what I do, particularly high-profile campaigns are covered in the media: magazines and online content as well as speaking engagements (I spoke about my career at the Marie Claire Future Shapers event the other week)..I understand that my work is visible, that I’m the face of my personal brand and that I’m someone others relate to.
I want to do good and spread positivity with that influence.
I’ll be 100% honest here and state that feels nuts when people stop me on the street to say they read my blog or follow me on twitter, but I’m getting used it to, as are my family-we were even recognised in Portugal (it’s lovely meeting readers and it’s only ever been positive, so far) and some days might see me being stopped multiple times (my friends find this hilarious by the way and have nicknamed me Mariah)!
I don’t consider myself famous.
I’m a blogger who has written an online platform for almost 7 years which I’m told has become one of the biggest blogs, worldwide. Google loves me (thankfully). And a lot of you guys do too apparently. Thank you, truly (blows kissing emoji)!
Anyway, I never think of any of that when I write, it would freak me out, if I did and probably have me second-guessing every word. I write like one person is reading, my Mum. My first and most loyal reader.
Plus, my mission is the same now, as it’s always been. To process my life through the written word, to share the tough parts along with the good so others don’t have to feel as alone as I once did, as a broken new mother, struggling without social media for support.
I cannot forget that treacherous time. I felt it again last summer dealing with the illness of a close relative, that dark cloud submerging me, seeping into my daily life and eroding my happiness. It lasted for 3 weeks rather than the post-natal 10 months this time and seeing a therapist made for a speedy recovery.
The darkness has made me adamant to spread light. I want to help anyone experiencing self-doubt, anxiety and trauma too. I want to use this blog for good.
I want to support and encourage others to feel more confident (and help myself in the process when I’m lacking it). I promote healthy body image, the importance of self-care and I love to share what I know, my business acumen and what has worked for me in the digital space so others can create flexible careers for themselves. I am touched by all the emails from others saying my blog has inspired them to change careers and make blogging and vlogging their business. Many bring me to tears.
My book #Mumboss will be a guide to surviving and thriving at work and at home and is out in March 2018 (published by Piatkus).
Whenever I doubt myself or feel overwhelmed, and frankly, not enough, I return to my mission statement, my purpose: to support other women (and men). It’s always been there. I was a teacher and university lecturer in between my filmmaking career prior to blogging full time, and I find nurturing and supporting others the most rewarding aspect of any of my work to date.
My Mum, a former uni lecturer herself, likes to tell me, I’m a born leader. I hope so. I hope more women feel they can step up and lead by example. My role models are the women in my own life who do just that, good friends Jessica Huie MBE and Natasha Courtenay-Smith are just two women who endlessly inspire me, and of course my heroes Shonda Rhymes, Sheryl Sandberg, Oprah, Tina Fey and Marie Forleo who trail-blaze fearlessly every day. I also love the much-needed voice of my pal, the writer and model Lottie Geraghty of The Lucky Leo who recently wrote about her relationship with social media: ‘High on Likes‘. Social media can be a means for destruction and tear down as much as it can build up.
We need and crave role models (I rarely saw any who looked like me in the media growing up), we need women who are forging ahead, breaking ground and smashing glass ceilings, to show us we can too.
We need to learn from, and be guided by, them.
There is such positivity at our fingertips, (literally) but with that accessibility thanks to the democracy of the internet, of course, comes negativity. The yin with the yang.
On or offline, there will always be darkness, and that’s the thing about being public-facing (writing and sharing anything with the outside world and not some safe vacuum where no one interacts with you), you’re left vulnerable and susceptible to targeting, trolling and opinions that might well hurt you.
Whilst I feel more prepared for negativity when it comes to YouTube or featuring in the Daily Mail, both cat nip for the trolls it seems, harsh words can feel like they’ve come out of nowhere on my FB page or Twitter. There, negative commentary in what feels like ‘safe spaces’ to me, can feel more cutting, somehow. They’re more unexpected and take me unawares (perhaps that’s naive of me but it’s how it feels).
I’m a pretty strong girl with a loving husband, folks and kids…I have great friends, many I’ve known all of my life and I’m a grounded and grateful individual, that’s how I roll..Yes as a blogger and vlogger, a certain amount of ego is required to do either, a confidence and will to perform if you like. I was the kid aged four doing Margaret Thatcher impressions at parties. I was desperate to go to Drama School as a teen but my parents steered me away and packed me off to uni. I don’t regret it at all (Goldsmiths, University of London was the making of me) and the jazz hands within escaped through directing actors on set and now feel free in my work as a blogger and vlogger. I’m not acting though, I’m myself in my own real life digital narrative.
Reflecting on my filmmaking career, as one of only 7% of female directors, it took steely determination and great strength to thrive in that industry. It also does today, in the digital field.
That doesn’t mean I’m not sensitive. That’s the immovable characteristic to being creative. Of feeling. Of being ‘an empath’, a vessel for communication and an artist. Sounds grandiose yet it’s simply factual.
Practising confidence definitely harnesses confidence. That much I know. Most days, I feel able and strong. Some though, less so.
There have been many dark days over the last two years mostly due to my sick relative who has been in and out of hospital. That deep trauma has felt like dim muzak being played like a film score behind everything we do as a family. It’s felt paralysing sad at times. It so often shields the light on the good times, and exacerbates the bad.
To see someone you love, unwell, is the worst thing I’ve ever experienced and this is the second time I’m witnessing and living through it, once aged 13, and now at 36.
When you’re in the midst of sorrow, everything can feel heightened and far more severe.
I can count the number of trolls (bar the Daily Mail) I’ve experienced on one hand, and in 6 1/2 years of blogging I realise I’m ‘lucky’ on that front.
I’ve been told my kids are ugly, my arms are horrible (soon after my son was born), and most recently that I look fat in the dress above.
Comments, some like the latter, might have been well intended as that person went on to say (!)-being cruel to be kind although I’ve never get behind that sentiment-whilst others were simply shared to rile and hurt. To stop me in my tracks.
Yes, I’ve had jealous bile written about me by a few fellow bloggers, some I thought were my friends at one time too, which hurt at first, but were quickly overcome because they were based on untruths.
The same goes for these random comments. They sting at first, but with time you find yourself becoming more immune to them.
It makes me sad to acknowledge that those daggers thrown, end up creating armour to protect you from more.
Talking about them and your feelings is vital. To cry and process in order to rebuild.
The fat comment didn’t hurt me hugely, it baffled me more than anything because whilst I have a mumtum 4 years on, and wish my arms were slimmer (always have) I feel OK about my body. I respect it. It gave life to my children. My world. The bardot dress you see here is a UK size 6 too, hardly big by any means (I’m usually a 10), and the reason for sharing it in the first place was to highlight the inconsistency of sizing at the store. In a small haul there, I’d bought a size 6, 8 and 12 in one shop-different styles, different sizes.
That lady’s comment on FB was unnecessary and unkind whatever her intention. There are more considerate ways to tell someone they don’t think a dress is flattering. In fact, we have a duty to think before we write and should always refrain from derogative terms like ‘fat’ in the first place.
I love the frock regardless and won’t not wear it because someone disproves.
Topshop themselves even asked to share it on Instagram.
We are all sharing in a public world, bloggers or not and these editorial opinions will not stop.
I welcome debate, yes, but b**chiness, no.
In the face of negativity, the key is to remind yourself of who you are, what you think yourself (question your own opinion and what you thought before you received this comment) and your own moral compass, cementing yourself in your own truth and integrity.
Surround yourself with those you trust who can be honest with you but have your best interests at heart.
I’m careful about my inner circle. Never more so, truth be told.
I’m the girl who wants to be everyone’s best friend and whilst I’ll always be open to others, I’ve learnt a lot of hard lessons since becoming a blogger and a 30 something for that matter. Not everyone wants the best for you, troll or not.
Either way, we mustn’t let that stop us. Negativity will not win. I’m testament to that.
I’m still me and whether the ENTIRE world likes it or not, I like myself.
There’s something we don’t witness enough in the (social) media world and need far more of. Self-worth and love.
I hope you feel it and will spread it, too.
Vicki, although I have been blogging for less than 2 years, I just cannot wrap my head around people’s need/desire/compulsion to deliver negative comments and hurl insults in the direction of other people, especially people they don’t even know. These actions are so pointless and plain ridiculous and they benefit no one, not even the person doing it. When a person tosses out a completely unwarranted insult, does it really make them feel better? I don’t think so. I think they are already so filled with their own darkness and they can’t figure out how to pull themselves out of it. I guess that’s where we come in….the women who make it our goal to spread light and love and kindness. We are the women who want to empower others simply because it is the right thing to do. I, personally, have a daily goal to deliver at least one sincere, genuine, heartfelt compliment to a stranger…every single day. And as long as I leave my house, I succeed at this. It is my mission to keep kindness alive in this dark and cruel world. And I love that there are like minded women doing the same! In fact, I have declared Tuesdays #SpreadTheKindness Day and I write a blog post with a link up which focuses purely on just that…spreading kindness. Kindness with no expectation of reciprocation, just pure unsolicited, heartfelt kindness. You rock and you have just gained a new loyal follower in me.
Social media and it’s visibility is very scary sometimes. I try to keep my girl’s faces off my blog, but I’m guessing it’s only a matter of time between my blog & my facebook profile linking up.
You look fabulous in that dress.
I know you don’t let trolls get you down, but those horrible comments hurt. Some people have nothing better to do than spreading their vile jealousy from behind their laptops, tablets and phones. What cowards.
mummy here and there recently posted…Social anxiety kicks in!
Haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate.
Every person should feel comfortable with their body no matter what it looks like. As long as your happy, that’s the main thing.
That’s what I try to show in my blog.
At the end of the day we are all miracles and should be proud no matter what!
So true and I’m happy with my body and being in my skin!
I loved this post! You are right….we need strong, woman role models for our children (and I don’t write just daughters here on purpose). I hate when people call little girls “bossy” when the same actions from boys are “assertive” and we need to remember to celebrate awesomeness (not sure that is a proper word!). Your blog is awesome and therefore you should be shouting out about it! Honestly, (no pun intended) I’m so glad that your blog is so successful and I expect you have worked really hard for it! Social media is bonkers, let’s be truthful here so I’m glad that you have experienced more positives than negatives. The lady on FB was probably having a really bad day herself and therefore, thought she would take it out on you….its never more personal but dont forget, she may also be jealous. Sadly, not everyone is kind or nice in this world. I love what you are wearing btw and think as long as you like it, who cares? Thank you for a great read. x #BrillBlogposts.
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Thank you and you are right, I abhor the term bossy, research shows girls are made to feel they should be less adventurous and therefore end up taking fewer risks into adulthood and language and actions from a young age have long lasting effect. I like what I’m wearing and I like myself too. I hope more women can feel like I do. Thanks for your comment.
Such a brilliant piece! I think there are things that we all have to remember when it comes to social media, and to just take the positivity and ignore the negativity.
I always think that people who make negative comments are just jealous of what you have achieved – I loved the photo – so “normal”!
Looking forward to the book coming out!
Mummy Setra recently posted…You have to be in it to win it, right?
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Brilliant post. Social media is both good and bad depending on the people you encounter! Can’t believe the comment about the dress – you look fab in it.
I’ve been in the daily a couple of times (not that I asked to be, you know how they work) and I have to say that’s probably one of the worst experiences of all as a blogger so far. Their audience is brutal. I’m happy it happened early days, to prepare for how bad it possibly could be and even more now that I work for others behind the scenes with high profile people, I am no longer shocked by what people are capable of. People can be _______. You are a ball of positive energy, how anyone can say negative things is beyond me.
I often comment on your instagram posts to say you look great! I think it is so important to compliment other women. I recently wrote a post at meet other mums about stopping the bitching. We all need to be a bit more like the drunk girl in the loo on a night out! Friendly and complimentary!
Thank you for sharing this important aspect of blogging and your personal experiences. My blog is still fairly new so thankfully I haven’t experienced anything negative so far but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.
Take a good, hard look at yourselves and ask yourself ‘why’ you feel the need to bring others down?
When bad things happen and people are cruel it amazes me how strangers and friends alike come together and show camaraderie and community spirit. We see it after disasters, I saw it last year when I was ill and we saw it on your page this week. People can hurt and baffle and then the good people come along to restore our faith in humanity.
Hi Jodie, thanks for this. I don’t personally think I looked fat in the picture but even if others felt I did, that lady didn’t need to say it if she thought it. What good does it achieve.
I just don’t understand why people would say those things???
You are stunning, your voice is influential and your content is amazing! I’m so glad you’ve grown to where you are today!!!
Hi Vicki. You’ll see me commenting on your FB page and FB Lives as Emily. And I was one of the people who was pissed off at the comment on your recent photo. Apart from it being a load of nonsense, why be so mean in the first place?
Everyone has their own opinion, but how much does it really affect us personally if a third party is wearing something good we don’t think suits them? How does it make our day better to point this out and how helpful is it really?
When I lived in London I had a good friend who had punky dress sense (back in the 1990s, as did I). One day she was hopping mad because while walking through Brixton a complete stranger had shouted at her, “Hey love! You look sh*t!” She was quite vocal and asked him who the heck he was anyway and that she didn’t give two hoots. Because of her individual dress sense she got lots of negative comments and her modus operandi became that she didn’t mind people having a little laugh to themselves when the got past her, but if they were shouting at her in the street then it became personal and invasive. I don’t like either treatment myself, but I guess I see her point.
I was trolled once on… wait for it! … an AC/DC fan site because I’d posted an angry message upbraiding people who were touting gig tickets. The whole site (of mainly heavy metal guys!) flew to my defence! ?
Keep posting your lovely outfits x. | 2019-04-21T20:33:27Z | http://honestmum.com/the-good-and-the-bad-side-of-social-media/ |
30" - U3011 released late 2010, possible update due in 2012?
The U2713HM follows a similar path to the U2412M last year. Perhaps the most significant change is the move from wide gamut CCFL backlighting to a W-LED unit. This brings about several changes as it did for the 24" range. The screen can now offer a slimmer profile and brings with it environmental and energy saving benefits. From a user experience point of view the screen now covers only a standard sRGB gamut instead of the wide gamut of the old model. The U2713HM is also a standard 8-bit model whereas its predecessor offered "10-bit" support through the use of an 8-bit+AFRC panel. We will look at these changes later on in the review in more detail and compare the two screens.
Dell's website states: "Cinema-like clarity shines on the expansive 27" Dell UltraSharp U2713HM monitor. Comfort settings and connectivity options help keep you productive. WQHD resolution and accurate colors out of the box: Superb clarity with 2560 x 1440 resolution and over 3.6 million pixels. Features a color gamut of more than 99-percent sRGB. Excellent comfort and usability: Full adjustability including swivel, tilt, height adjustability and pivot which lets you easily switch to portrait mode. Eco-friendly design: Compliant with the latest environmental standards and made using environmentally conscious materials."
The U2713HM offers a very good range of video connections which is great to see and something which Dell have always done a good job with on their UltraSharp models. There are HDMI, Dual-link DVI-D, D-sub and DisplayPort provided for video interfaces. With the screen offering a 2560 x 1440 resolution though only the DL-DVI and DisplayPort connections can support the full resolution due to bandwidth limitations over VGA and HDMI. It is nevertheless nice to see VGA and HDMI provided for users who want to connect other devices, particularly external Blu-ray and DVD players. The digital interfaces are HDCP certified for encrypted content as well. There is also an audio out connection for connecting headphones / external speakers if you wish to take the sound from the HDMI or DisplayPort inputs. There are no integrated stereo speakers on this model although the screen is compatible with Dell's soundbar if you wish.
The screen comes packaged with a dual-link DVI and VGA cables which is useful although there is no DisplayPort or HDMI cable provided with the screen unfortunately, presumably due to cost saving measures. The screen has an internal power supply and so you only need a standard kettle lead (provided) to power the screen. Do make sure this is inserted firmly into the power socket as we initially thought our screen was DOA when it was incorrectly inserted. In fact it seems sometimes the screen is fussy about powering on if you've connected the video cables first. To avoid issue, connect the power cable and then the video cables afterwards. There is a 4-port USB 3.0 hub provided as well, with 2 ports on the back and 2 ports on the left hand side of the screen. The USB cable to connect back to your PC to power these ports is provided in the box. Unlike the U2711 model there is no 8-in-1 card reader on this model.
The U2713HM comes in an all-black coloured design with matte plastics used for the bezel and stand. The bezel is a thin and attractive at 20mm wide along all sides. The lower bezel features a shiny silver coloured Dell logo in the centre as you can see from the above images. There is no other writing on the bezel at all. The edges of the screen are a little rounded, more so than the rather straight lined U2711 in fact. I personally like the design and it looks very nice on the desk. It's very similar to the changes made in the design between the 24" U2410 and U2412M models. In fact the U2713HM looks basically like a larger version of the U2412M.
The base of the stand is fairly large and made from a matte black plastic. It provide a decent balance for the screen and it remains sturdy when positioned on the desk.
The back of the screen is again a matte black plastic and is nicely rounded and enclosed well. There is a round Dell logo at the top as shown above. The interface connections are located in the lower portion which you can see from the above image. While the front of the monitor arm / stand is a matte black colour, the back of the stand is a silver coloured plastic which looks nice and provides a good contrast to the black plastics elsewhere.
The stand comes packages disconnected from the screen in the box. It is incredibly easy to connection and you simply slot it into the panel and it clips in to place. You are able to VESA 100mm wall-mount the screen if you wish as well, and thanks to its thin profile and light weight (5.6Kg without the stand) compared with its predecessor, it is perhaps a more suitable screen for that option.
The OSD operational buttons and power on/off are located in the bottom right hand corner and are situated on the front of the screen as shown, along the right hand side. These are actual pressable buttons as opposed to being touch-sensitive as they were on the U2711 model. Again this is the same change as made from the U2410 > U2412M. They are designed in a subtle way so as not to be too obtrusive during normal use and they work very well. When the screen is turned on the power LED glows a subtle white colour, and it pulsates on and off in the same white colour when the screen is in standby.
The screen has a fairly thin profile from the side thanks to the use of a W-LED backlighting unit. It measures only 200.3 mm deep with the stand.
The screen offers 2x USB 3.0 ports on the left hand edge of the screen as shown above, for easy access and connection of peripherals.
The U2713HM comes with the usual full range of ergonomic adjustments from the stand which is great news.
The height adjustment range is very good. At the lowest setting the bottom of the lower bezel is approximately 50mm from the desk so you can get a nice low height if you require. At its highest setting the bottom of the bezel sits 167mm from the desk giving you a total adjustment range of ~117mm. The movement is again easy and smooth, perhaps a little stiffer than the tilt.
The swivel adjustment is smooth and easy as well, and the screen stays firm on the desk while the stand swivels from side to side. The rotation function (shown above) to switch between landscape and portrait is available but can be a little stiff to use. This feature was left off the U2711 so is an added extra on the new screen. It's good to see the full range of adjustments available and all are easy to use really, offering a decent range of adjustments and an overall sturdy feel. There is no real wobble from the screen while it's sat on the desk which is good.
The screen materials are of a good quality and the design is attractive in my opinion. There is no audible noise from the screen, even if you listen very closely. It stays pretty cool during use although there is a little heat given off at the back near the top.
The back of the screen features video interface connections for DL-DVI, D-sub, HDMI and DisplayPort. The digital connections are HDCP certified. There is also a standard kettle lead power connection as the screen has an integrated power supply. This does make it a little thicker than some of the ultra-thin profile screens you can find which offer an external power brick. There is a single connection for Dell's sound bar if you want to add some speakers to the screen and there's an audio-out socket if you'd rather connect headphones or an external speaker system to listen to the sound from the HDMI and DisplayPort connections. There is also 1x USB upstream for connecting to your PC (cable provided) and 2x USB 3.0 downstream ports available for connecting external devices. Note these are the new generation USB 3.0 ports providing faster transfer rates for compatible devices.
Unlike the U2711, the Dell U2713HM has pressable OSD selection buttons instead of any touch sensitive version. These are located on the right hand side of the screen and work well in practice. The OSD menu is almost identical to the 24" U2412M.
Within the preset modes menu there are options for standard, multimedia, movie, game, text, colour temp, sRGB and custom colour. The sRGB mode is a preset which was not available on the U2412M and is designed to emulate the sRGB space more closely than the native gamut of the screen. It also carries the factory calibration which we will test later on.
Bringing up the main menu presents you with various sub-sections down the left hand side as shown. At the top right there is a new "energy use" bar which gives you a visual indication of the power consumption at any given time. This is based on the OSD brightness setting which controls the backlight intensity, and therefore has a direct correlation to the power consumption. The brightness/contrast section is self explanatory of course. The second section for "auto adjust" is only relevant when using the analogue D-sub connection.
The input source section allows you to manually select which interface is in use. For some reason Dell haven't provided an "auto select" option like they did on the U2412M which can be useful when you have several devices connected to the screen I think.
The preset modes listed here are the same as those accessed via the quick launch menu. Note the presence of an sRGB mode which wasn't available on the U2412M model.
You can access the monitors factory menu as well but be careful not to change anything without knowing what you've done or how to change it back. Use the menu at your own risk! To access the factory menu, hold the top two buttons down while powering the monitor on. Once it is on, press the top button to bring up the menu. You can define the RGB levels for each of the colour temp preset modes here and there are a few other settings relating to the operation of the display.
Overall the OSD menu offers a decent range of options and it is intuitive and well structured.
In terms of power consumption the manufacturers spec states maximum usage of 100W and typical usage of 42W. In standby the screen apparently uses <0.5W.
We tested this ourselves and found that out of the box the screen used 34.8W of power while at its default brightness setting which was 75%. At the maximum brightness setting the screen used 45.5W of power and at the lowest brightness setting, power consumption was reduced to 17.8W. After calibration the brightness had been set at 35% to achieve the desired luminance in the 'custom color' preset mode, the screen returned a power consumption of 24.8W. In standby the screen used 0.8W of power.
The Dell U2713HM utilises an LG.Display LM270WQ1-SLB2 AH-IPS panel which is capable of producing 16.7 million colours with a true 8-bit colour depth. Dell refer to the panel as being "AH-IPS" (Advanced High Performance IPS) in some of their marketing material, including the original Japanese press release, and it is a name which is starting to become more common in today's IPS market. We have started to see other screens emerge with these so-called AH-IPS panels in their specs, and indeed LG.Display themselves made the same distinction when discussing their forthcoming panels earlier in the year. This is the first monitor from Dell to apparently use a latest generation AH-IPS panel. This name has been used to identify super high resolution panels used in the mobile and tablet sectors (e.g. Apple "Retina" displays). However, the resolution here on the U2713HM is of course the same as it was before, being 2560 x 1440 from the 27" panel. The LM270WQ1 panel has also been around for several years now in different revisions, including those used in the Apple 27" Cinema Display, Hazro HZ27WA/C/D series and more recently in a range of other low-cost 27" IPS models from around the World. Here, Dell are using the SLB2 revision which we have not seen used elsewhere before. What makes this SLB2 revision AH-IPS as opposed to the normal H-IPS type is unclear, and in fact it is likely just a marketing name given to try and identify modern LED backlit IPS panels offering high resolutions and low energy consumption. Some people were perhaps anticipating the use of the new LM270WQ3 panel from LG.Display in this model, but that is yet to appear in the monitor market. Dell have obviously opted for a standard gamut screen as well here as they already offer the wide gamut U2711 for those who need an extended colour space.
You will perhaps note that the U2713HM is using the LM270WQ1 panel, whereas the older U2711 model used the LM270WQ2 panel. That was a wide gamut CCFL backlit module as opposed to using W-LED backlighting. The U2711 also offered "10-bit" support through the use of an 8-bit panel, combined with internal Frame Rate Control (8-bit + AFRC). This allowed Dell to quote a colour depth of 1.07 billion. The panel used in the U2713HM is a standard 8-bit module and so offers a 16.7m colour depth. Don't get too side-tracked with this point though as it's all very well saying a panel is capable of 10-bit colour depth (1.07 billion colour palette) as opposed to an 8-bit colour depth (16.7 million colours), but you need to take into account whether this is practically useable and whether you're ever going to truly use that colour depth. You need to have a full 10-bit end to end workflow to take advantage of it which is still quite expensive to achieve and rare in the market, certainly for your average user. Dell still provide the U2711 for those who do want or need that support of course.
The U2713HM uses White-LED (W-LED) backlighting producing a colour space approximately equal to the sRGB reference. This means the screen is considered a 'standard gamut' backlight type. Dell's spec suggests there is a >99% coverage of the sRGB reference space (but therefore not quite 100%), and a 72% NTSC gamut. A wide gamut screen would need to be considered by those wanting to work outside of the sRGB colour space of course and the old Dell U2711 would offer that if required.
Interestingly the Dell U2713HM appears to not use PWM at all for dimming of the backlight. Even at 0% brightness there was no sign of the usual splitting of the white line that you'd expect to see in these tests. We carried out the checks at an even slower shutter speed which returned the same result. This is great news for those who are affected by flickering backlights and suffer from eye fatigue and eye strain. There are very few monitors which don't use PWM for backlight dimming although we have started to see a few more recently. The HP ZR2740w, DGM IPS-2701WPH and Samsung S27B970D springs to mind as others which do not use PWM.
The screen comes out of the box in the 'standard' preset mode, although there is an additional preset which carries a factory calibration which we will test shortly. Default setup of the screen actually felt very good to the naked eye although it was a little too bright. Colours felt even and not too cold, not too warm. Note that in the 'standard' preset mode the RGB levels are not available to change to the user.
Out of the box the performance of the screen was pleasing. The CIE diagram on the left confirms that the monitors colour gamut (black triangle) matches the sRGB colour space (orange triangle) reasonably closely. It extends a little past the sRGB space in some blues in particular in this 2D view of gamut. There is pretty much no under-coverage of the sRGB reference space and we know from Dell's spec that it can cover >99% of the sRGB reference which is great. There is a chance of some slight oversaturation in this preset in some shades compared with the exact sRGB colour space if you are carrying out colour critical work.
Default gamma was recorded at 2.1 average, leaving it only 3% out from the target of 2.2 which was good. White point was close to the target, being recorded at 6754k and being only 4% out and a little too cool. Note that we are using a spectrophotometer to make these measurements which is not sensitive to the W-LED backlight as some colorimeter devices can be. When using a standard gamut colorimeter not designed to work with modern backlighting units like W-LED, there can be a typical deviance of 300 - 600k in the white point measurement which is why some sources may refer to a different white point in this test incorrectly.
Luminance was recorded at a high, but not too bright 225 cd/m2 which is a little too high for prolonged general use. The screen was set at a default 75% brightness in the OSD menu but that is easy to change of course to reach a more comfortable setting. The black depth was a very good 0.25 cd/m2, giving us a very good contrast ratio of 910:1. This was very good for an IPS panel and a similar performance to what we had seen from the 24" U2412M in fact. Colour accuracy was pretty good at default factory settings with an average DeltaE (dE) of 2.6, ranging up to a maximum of 5.7. Along with the pretty good gamma and white point, this setup was pretty good really, even in this standard preset mode which doesn't carry any specific factory calibration.
We also tested the default performance in the 'custom color' preset. This mode allows you access to the individual RGB channels which will give you more control over the hardware when it comes to calibration. The performance in this mode was very similar overall to the 'standard' preset. The gamma remained at a similar 3% deviance but white point was now a little warmer than the target, being 3% out but measured at 6294k. You could spot this change in the colour temperature when switching between the two modes. Contrast ratio was actually a little higher at 962:1 which was excellent and colour accuracy remained pretty good at 2.6 dE average / 6.0 dE maximum.
Like its predecessor the Dell U2713HM comes factory calibrated to some extent, and the box even includes a calibration report from Dell specific to the unit you have. It states that every unit is shipped incorporating pre-tuned sRGB mode which offers an average DeltaE of <5. In addition to this, they have tweaked gamma and grey-scale to help to ensure smooth gradients and an accurate initial setup. Dell did not bother factory calibrating the 24" U2412M in this way or provide a calibration report, but it is nice to see it included on the U2713HM. I've included a copy of the calibration report from the Dell factory below for you to review. Note that this report is only relevant to our specific test unit and they do state that results may vary with each setup and different test equipment.
The factory calibration of the sRGB preset mode was very pleasing on the most part. This mode actually offered a reliable emulation of the sRGB colour space, helping to cut back the slight oversaturation of the screens native colour space and now very closely matching the sRGB reference. This might be useful for colour critical work in the sRGB colour space.
The average gamma remained 3% out from the target as we had seen in the standard and custom color modes out of the box. It was closer in dark grey shades but seemed to deviate quite a lot in the 50% grey measurements as shown in the table above. White point was actually now further away from the 6500k target, and was measured at 6007k. In fact the factory calibration report shown above which was included with the screen shows that the factory calibration was in fact aiming for 6000k grey-scale, and so we can't hold this against the screen for missing our normal 6500k target we use. In fact it was very well factory calibrated to Dell's target of 6000k. Luminance was still too high and this was perhaps the main area which deviated from our target. A simple OSD brightness change can of course overcome this though so this is no big issue. Contrast ratio remained strong at 925:1 and the colour accuracy was improved somewhat, now with a dE average of 1.8 and maximum of 4.2. A good overall factory calibration really, offering a close match to the targets Dell have used.
The colour temperature modes offered reasonable levels of accuracy overall with a maximum deviance from the target of only 4.4%. The coolest settings of 10,000 and 9300 seemed to be the furthest out from the target as a measurement with 377 - 409k difference from the desired settings (4.1% deviance). The 7500k mode was pretty close to the target but unfortunately it was the 6500k mode (which is probably the most commonly used white point for a general user) showed the highest deviance percentage and was measured at 289k too cool. The warmer settings of 5700 and 5000k were pretty close to their targets which was good. Overall the preset colour temp modes were reasonable.
I first of all reverted to the 'custom color' mode in the preset section of the OSD menu which would allow me access to the individual RGB channels. Adjustments were also made during the process to the brightness control, and to the RGB channels as shown in the table above. This allowed me to obtain an optimum hardware starting point and setup before software level changes would be made at the graphics card level which would help preserve tonal values. After this I let the software carry out the LUT adjustments and create an ICC profile. The screen does not feature a hardware LUT calibration option so other than the OSD alterations, the rest of the process is carried out at a graphics card level in profiling the screen.
Average gamma had been corrected to 2.2 with 0% deviance according to the initial test correcting the default 3% deviance we'd found in this preset. Checking the more detailed table shown above, the gamma was slightly too high in the darker grey tones, and slightly too low in the lighter tones. The 3% deviance in the white point from our target of 6500k had also been corrected here and the colour temperature was now pretty much spot on. Luminance had also been corrected thanks to the adjustment to the brightness control, now being measured at 120 cd/m2 spot on. This also gave us a calibrated black depth of 0.14 cd/m2, and a static contrast ratio of 869:1 which was very good for an IPS panel. Colour accuracy had also been corrected nicely, with dE average of 0.3 and maximum of 0.8. LaCie would consider colour fidelity to be excellent now.
Testing the screen with various colour gradients showed mostly very smooth transitions. There was some slight gradation in darker tones and some very slight banding introduced due to the adjustments to the graphics card LUT from the profilation of the screen. Nothing major at all though. It's worth also commenting on the screen coating in this section of the review. Unlike many other IPS panels, this screen does not feature the usual heavy and aggressive Anti-glare (AG) coating which can sometimes lead to grainy and dirty looking images. Instead it uses a light AG screen coating and as a result the colours look more clean and crisp, the image quality is sharp and whites in particular look more pure than they do on heavy AG coated screens. It isn't a full glossy solution which adds another level of clarity and changes the overall feel of the screen, but it is an improvement over the heavy AG coating of some other IPS screens, including the previous Dell IPS models. A positive change and hopefully something we will start to see more of with future IPS screens.
I also carried out the calibration in the monitors 'standard' preset mode. Here you do not have access to the RGB channels at all, and so the only hardware changes being made are to the brightness control. The other corrections would be carried out at a graphics card LUT level through the profiling process. The results were again very pleasing. Targets for gamma and white point had all been met nicely, correcting the 3 and 4% deviations we had seen out of the box in this mode. The luminance had been corrected to the desired level with the change in the brightness control, and although it was a little lower than in the 'custom color' mode, the static contrast ratio was still a very good 813:1 after calibration. Colour accuracy had been corrected from the dE 2.6 average we had seen out of the box, now down to 0.4 dE average. Again testing the screen with various colour gradients showed smooth transitions on the whole, with some slight gradation and some very slight banding in some shades due to the graphics card corrections made.
I also carried out the same process in the sRGB preset mode. This was factory calibrated out of the box and had offered a pretty reliable setup, along with an accurate emulation of the slightly smaller sRGB colour space. The calibration helped correct the slight 3% deviance we'd seen by default in the gamma. We also "corrected" the white point from the factory setting of ~6000k (which is how it had deliberately been set up) to our target of ~6500k. Colour accuracy had also been corrected from the 1.8 dE average we'd seen out of the box to now be 0.7 dE average.
This mode offered reliable performance out of the box anyway as long as you were happy with the 6000k white point and were able to manually turn the brightness setting down. After calibration it was also very reliable and corrected the slight offset we had seen in some areas, while also allowing us to reach a different white point if required. The emulation of the smaller colour space was also retained which was great news if you need to closely match the sRGB reference and avoid any slight oversaturation from the native gamut of the backlighting.
I've provided a comparison above of the U2713HM against some of the other screens we have tested. Out of the box average dE was 2.6 which was pretty decent really and combined with the pretty good default gamma and white point represented a good initial setup. We have taken these results from the default 'standard' preset mode as well, while the sRGB mode carries an additional factory calibration which helps in some areas. It offered a similar level of accuracy to the HP ZR2740w (2.2) and also the DGM IPS-2701WPH (2.4) which are other 27" IPS + W-LED models. It also offered better default colour accuracy than the Dell U2711 (3.7 dE average) which had also shown a poor default gamma and white point setup. The professional grade 27" NEC PA271W and SpectraView Reference 271 were better thought as you might expect at 1.1 dE and 1.5 dE average respectively.
Once calibrated the dE average was reduced to 0.3. This would be classified as excellent colour fidelity by LaCie. It was not quite as low as some of the other screens here which reached down to 0.2 average, but in practice you would not notice any difference here at all. Some of the professional range models from NEC and Eizo for instance are even more accurate. Professional grade monitors like the NEC PA series and P241W also offer other high end features which separate them from some of these other models, including extended internal processing, 3D LUT's and hardware calibration. These comparisons are based on a small selection of tests, so it should be remembered that other factors do come into play when you start talking about professional use. For further information and tests of a high end professional grade screen with hardware LUT calibration, you may want to have a read of our NEC SpectraView Reference 271 review.
The calibrated black depth and contrast ratio of the U2713HM were very good for an IPS panel. With a static contrast ratio of 869:1 the U2713HM was only a little behind the 24" U2412M (947:1), but considerably ahead of the older 27" U2711 (672:1) which was positive news. The calibrated static contrast ratio was not as good as modern VA based screens however which can reach up to around 2000 - 3000:1. Nevertheless it was a good performance from an IPS panel and an improvement over the older U2711.
This section is designed to measure a few areas related to brightness control and contrast ratio. We will measure the range of the screens luminance as you adjust the brightness control along with the resulting contrast ratio at each setting. In theory, brightness and contrast are two independent parameters, and good contrast is a requirement regardless of the brightness adjustment. Unfortunately, such is not always the case in practice. We recorded the screens luminance and black depth at various OSD brightness settings, and calculated the contrast ratio from there. Graphics card settings were left at default with no ICC profile or calibration active. Tests were made using an NEC branded and customised X-rite i1 Display 2 colorimeter. It should be noted that we used the BasICColor calibration software here to record these, and so luminance at default settings may vary a little from the LaCie Blue Eye Pro report.
The luminance range of the screen was very wide indeed. At a maximum brightness setting the screen reached 319.2 cd/m2 which was a little shy of the specified 350 cd/m2 maximum. This could be adjusted all the way down to a very low 19.5 cd/m2 through changes to the brightness control, giving you a massive 299.7 cd/m2 adjustment range. This should allow you a good control of the screens luminance for low ambient lighting conditions which is great news. A setting of around 35 - 40% should return you a comfortable luminance of ~120 cd/m2. Black depth ranged from 0.36 at maximum brightness and went lower than 0.02 cd/m2, which is the lower measurement limit of the X-rite i1 Display 2, when setting the brightness to 0%.
We have plotted the luminance trend on the graph above. The screen behaves as it should, with a reduction in the backlight intensity controlled by the reduction in the OSD brightness setting. This isn't quite a linear relationship though as the top 30% of the adjustment range seems to make steeper changes to the luminance than the bottom 70% of the range.
Static contrast ratio was excellent for an IPS panel, with an average of 907:1. This was stable across the range overall.
The Dell U2713HM features a dynamic contrast ratio (DCR) control, which boasts a spec of 2,000,000:1 (2 million:1). Dynamic contrast ratio involves controlling the backlight of the screen automatically, depending on the content shown on the screen. In bright images, the backlight is increased, and in darker images, it is decreased. We have come to learn that DCR figures are greatly exaggerated and what is useable in reality is often very different to what is written on paper or on a manufacturers website.
We tested the DCR feature and you could immediately notice the screen getting much brighter when you first turn it on compared with the standard preset. You can observe the changes being made in the OSD by looking at the energy meter in the top right hand corner. Switching to this mode in normal office-type applications showed the energy bar fill up to maximum, indicating that the brightness was being turned up to a high setting. When switching between an almost all-white and an almost all-black screen you could see the DCR change the luminance of the screen, both to the naked eye and by looking at the energy meter. However, it didn't seem to control a big range at all, only a few bars on the energy meter. The change was smooth but took only around 1.5 seconds to change between the two states. On an almost all-white screen we measured a maximum luminance of 249.4 cd/m2, which wasn't quite as high as the max brightness we'd measured in the previous section of this review. The minimum black point measured was 0.21 cd/m2 and this only resulted in a usable DCR of 1188:1. This wasn't much higher than our default static contrast ratio (907:1 average) but the DCR worked slightly.
We tested the screen with a completely black screen as well and you could tell from the OSD energy meter that it was then able to control the backlight all the way down to its minimum setting by the look of things. However, it should be noted that it would be extremely rare to ever see a 100% black image in real use and so this is more of a theoretical DCR than a realistic, practical DCR. If we assume that the screen could control the black point down to 0.01 cd/m2 for arguments sake at the lowest brightness setting this would give us a DCR of ~25,000:1. This is still a long way off the quoted 2 million:1 spec of course, but that is very usual for modern displays boasting crazy DCR figures. In fact you'd have to be turning the backlight completely off on an all-black image to achieve anything higher really here. Some screens do actually do that which allows for crazy laboratory testing and their resulting specs, but in the case of the U2713HM it was not turning the backlight off.
We would like to start seeing realistic DCR figures being quoted from manufacturer really, not made up numbers which don't translate into real performance. I'd rather see a screen with a useable DCR of ~10,000:1 for example than a screen with an advertised 2 million:1 which only works in the most extreme and unrealistic circumstances that a user will never see. In the case of the U2713HM the DCR works slightly up to ~1188:1 but that's not really of much benefit in practice.
Viewing angles of the U2713HM were very good as you would expect from an IPS based panel. Horizontally there was very little colour tone shift until wide angles past about 45°. Contrast shifts were slightly more noticeable in the vertical field but overall they were very good. The screen offered the wide viewing angles of IPS technology and was free from the very restrictive fields of view of TN Film panels, especially in the vertical plane. It was also free of the off-centre contrast shift you see from VA panels and a lot of the quite obvious gamma and colour tone shift you see from some of the modern AMVA and PVA offerings. All as expected really from a modern IPS panel.
On a black image there is a characteristics IPS white glow, but in normal working conditions this shouldn't present too much of a problem. The above image was taken in a darkened room to demonstrate the white wide angle glow when viewing a black screen. There is no A-TW polarizer on this panel which is rarely used now in the market but was implemented on some older screens to improve the off centre black viewing. If you are viewing dark content from a close position to the screen you can sometimes see this pale glow on parts of the screen towards the sides and corners because of your proximity to the screen and your line of sight. This is accentuated a little due to the sheer size of the 27" panel. The edges of the screen are at an angle from your line of sight which means you pick up this white glow to a smaller degree. This disappears as you move backwards away from the screen where the line of sight does not result in a wide angle view of parts of the screen and you can see the screen largely from head on. That is a little difficult to explain but hopefully makes sense. It is only really apparent on darker content and only really if you are working in darkened lighting conditions on this model. It was not too severe I didn't think, but something to be aware of.
The luminance uniformity of the U2713HM was very good overall. There was some slight variance in luminance across the screen with the bottom half being a little brighter than the top half it seemed. Luminance ranged up to a maximum of 123 cd/m2 (2.5% deviance) in the lower left hand region, but down as low as 105 cd/m2 in the top left area (~15% deviance). Overall about 95% of the screen was within 10% deviance of the target and around 70% was within a 5% deviance. Not a bad result really on the whole.
As usual we also tested the screen with an all black image and in a darkened room. A camera was used to capture the result. To the naked eye, there did not appear to be much in the way of backlight leakage although you could notice the characteristic IPS-glow as you looked at the black image from different angles. The camera picked out some slight unevenness and some clouding from the backlight in the four corners. This was most apparent in the bottom right hand corner but in practice overall there was nothing too severe. There was no bleeding from the edges which was good to see as that can become quite distracting during some uses, for instance when watching a movie with black borders top and bottom.
The U2713HM features a massive 2560 x 1440 WQHD resolution which is only just a little bit less vertically than a 30" screen. The pixel pitch of 0.233mm is very small as a result, and by comparison a standard 16:10 format 24" model has a pixel pitch of 0.270mm and a 30" model has 0.250mm. These ultra-high res 27" models offer the tightest pixel pitch and therefore the smallest text as well. I don't find it too small personally, but day to day I am used to a 24" screen. Some users may find the small text a little too small to read comfortably, and I'd advise caution if you are coming from a 19" or 22" screen for instance where the pixel pitch and text are much larger. I found a 30" screen to be quite a change with text size when I first used one, and this is very similar and even a little bit smaller!
The massive resolution is really good for office and general use, giving you a really big screen area to work with. It is a noticeable upgrade from a 24" 1920 x 1200 resolution, and it's good to see Dell have stuck with the high res panel here rather than reverting to a 1920 x 1200 or 1920 x 1080 res panel as you may find in other older 27" models. For those wanting a high resolution for CAD, design, photo work etc, this is a really good option. The image was very sharp and crisp and text was very clear. The light AG screen coating ensured that the white backgrounds of office documents looked good, and did not suffer from the overly grainy and dirty feel of some IPS panels featuring heavy, aggressive AG coating. It also remained free from the reflections you might experience from a full glossy solution so seemed to be a good half-way between the two.
There was a defined 'text' preset mode which seemed to appear quite similar to the other standard mode, but could allow you to set up a comfortable setting for prolonged office use if you wanted to. Out of the box, the 75% default brightness is a little too bright for office use and measured at around 225 cd/m2 in our tests. A setting of around 35 - 40% should return you a luminance close to 120 cd/m2 for office use if you want, and you are able to control the brightness all the way down to around 19.5 cd/m2 at the 0% setting which is excellent. Those wanting to use the screen in low lighting conditions shouldn't have any issue here. Another thing to note while we are talking about the brightness control is that the screen does not use Pulse-Width modulation (PWM) to control backlight dimming and so those who suffer from eye fatigue or headaches, associated with flickering backlights, need not worry here.
The stand provided offers a great range of adjustments which are smooth and easy to use. It's good to see a decent range of tilt, height, pivot and rotate adjustments available which should allow you to obtain a comfortable position for your office. If you want to, you can wall or arm mount the screen as well using the VESA 100mm option. With DisplayPort and DL-DVI both supporting the full 2560 x 1440 resolution you should have a decent choice for your PC connectivity. Since the VGA input was not able to support the full resolution of the screen we did not compare the sharpness of the image between analogue and digital, but the digital picture quality was excellent. There were 4x USB 3.0 ports included on this screen, with 2 available on the left hand side for easy access. It was good to see the upgrade to USB version 3.0 here for the faster transfer rates, and handy to have the easy access ports on the side for connection of printers, scanners, cameras etc. Dell have done away with the 8-in-1 card reader which was featured on the U2711 model unfortunately, something which I've always personally found quite useful. There are no integrated speakers on this model, but you can connect the Dell soundbar if you really want to (sold separately).
The screen is designed to run at its native resolution of 2560 x 1440 and at 60Hz refresh rate. If you want to you can run it outside of this and let the image be scaled to fill the screen. At the native resolution text was very sharp and clear. We ran the screen at 1920 x 1080 which was the next step down, while still maintaining the screens 16:9 aspect ratio. Text was actually very good and was hardly blurred at all. The screen is perfectly capable of being run at a lower 1920 x 1080 resolution if you wanted to, without much degradation in the picture quality and sharpness. To give you more desktop real estate and maximum picture quality, the native resolution is of course recommended where possible.
Update 7/11/12 - We have received a few user reports that the U2713HM exhibits a noticeable buzzing noise when viewing certain content. We have been able to re-create the issue on our sample as well, and it seems to be introduced when viewing full screen content with a lot of text. We've heard the buzz when viewing some spreadsheets full screen, but only when there is a lot of text within those sheets. It's hard to identify the exact cause, but is very rare to experience in practice. Indeed we have used the screen for many hours without problem, but occasionally the buzzing noise manifests itself if the conditions are right. Monitor OSD settings do not make any difference and it doesn't seem to be related to interface connection or anything like that. Not a major issue at all, but worth mentioning for completeness.
The U2713HM is rated by Dell as having a rather modest-on-paper 8ms G2G response time which implies the use of overdrive / response time compensation (RTC) technology, used to boost pixel transitions across grey to grey changes. The panel being used is an LG.Display LM270WQ1-SLB2 AH-IPS panel. Unlike some of the other Dell screens we have tested, including the U2412M, there is no control over this overdrive impulse from within the OSD or factory menu, and so you will have to rely on the setup by the manufacturer here.
We have provided a comparison of the U2713HM first of all against four other popular 27" IPS models including the older Dell U2711 and the 30" Dell U3011. The U2713HM performed very well in these tests and seemed to have a decent manufacturer setup of the overdrive impulse. The moving car showed smooth movement with no obvious ghosting and only low levels of motion blur. There was some slight overshoot behind the moving car in the form of a small dark trail which you can pick out from the photos above and with a keen eye in practice. The older Dell U2711 had shown similar low levels of blur but had exhibited a far more obvious dark overshoot which is evident from the test photos above. Thankfully it seems Dell have improved their control of the overdrive impulse, or perhaps toned it down a little, and achieved a better result in practice when it comes to moving images. The U2713HM also performed a little better than the other four IPS models shown here which while all being free from any noticeable overshoot artefacts, did show a slightly higher level of blur to the image. A good performance from the U2713HM here.
If you then compare the U2713HM with 5 other 27" screens we have tested which use AMVA or PLS panel technology there are more pronounced differences in some cases. The new Samsung S27B970D and older Samsung S27A850D had impressed us in these tests with its PLS panel technology and with a fast response time and very low levels of motion blur. They did not exhibit any noticeable overshoot from these tests but had a slightly more pronounced blur than the Dell. It was very close really in practice and they could be considered on par in terms of pixel responsiveness.
The Philips 273E3QHSB and BenQ EW2730V are based on AMVA panel technology and fell behind in these tests. The generation of AMVA panel being used in those two models was not able to compete with the responsiveness of modern IPS or PLS displays and there were high levels of blur evident, even with their response time controls turned up to the optimum levels. Those screens are rated with a 6ms and 8ms G2G response time respectively which just goes to show you can't always trust a specification when determining real life performance of a display. The recently tested BenQ GW2750HM had offered some improvements and showed lower levels of blur. However, it was again not as fast as the U2713HM in practice though.
Above is a comparison of the U2713HM against some popular models in smaller sizes. First are three models using IPS panels, but in smaller sizes of 24" and 23". The HP ZR2440w had performed very well in these tests and showed a very similar performance to the U2713HM in fact, with low levels of blur and some slight overshoot. The overshoot was perhaps ever so slightly more noticeable on the HP and there was a very slight dark and pale halo trail evident in those tests. The 24" Dell U2412M and 23" U2312HM again offered low levels of motion blur but a more obvious dark overshoot trail was introduced which was certainly more pronounced than on this new U2713HM model. Dell have done a good job with the overdrive circuitry on this new model which is pleasing.
I have also included the results from our recent review of the 24" BenQ GW2450HM since there had been some big improvements made in AMVA panel technology in this most recent generation of panel. Thankfully the responsiveness was much better than we'd seen from the Philips 273E3QHSB and BenQ EW2730V we showed you above and was on par in practice with these IPS screens.
There is something else going on here though as well which can't be picked out by the camera. All of these TN Film models are running at 120Hz refresh rates, which allows for improved 120fps frame rates and the support of 3D stereoscopic content as well. This can really help improve smoothness and the overall gaming experience so these screens still have the edge when it comes to fast gaming. From a pixel response point of view the U2713HM performed very well, but there are some other areas you still need to think about when it comes to high end gaming. It couldn't keep up with the very fast TN Film models with 120Hz support.
The responsiveness of the U2713HM was very good and we were pleased by what we saw. The screen showed very low levels of motion blur and only some very slight overshoot from the overdrive impulse being applied. It was a little ahead of the other 27" IPS panels we have tested and showed obvious advantages over some of the AMVA offerings in this size. Dell had made some improvements to the overdrive control as well since the U2312HM, U2412M and U2711 models and that was positive news. The screen should be perfectly capable of handling fast paced games, although you may want to consider the type of graphics card required to run games with high settings at such a high resolution.
Aspect Ratio Control - The screen offers three options within the OSD menu for hardware level aspect ratio control. There are options to maintain the aspect ratio at 16:9, 4:3 or 5:4 ratios which should be adequate for most users and for the connection of most external devices. It would have perhaps been useful to see an "auto" mode, capable of detecting and maintaining the source aspect ratio automatically, and perhaps a 1:1 pixel mapping mode for those who didn't want the source image stretched at all. Each of the modes provided would stretch the source image to fill as much of the screen as possible, but will maintain the selected aspect ratio. In addition even if the input source is not one of the specific aspects listed, it will be forced to that aspect if you select it. For instance if you input the native 2560 x 1440 resolution, but select 4:3 aspect, it will squash the screen sideways to meet a 4:3 aspect, but the image will just be squashed accordingly. It can be a little annoying having to manually change the aspect ratio each time if you input different aspect sources.
Preset Modes - There is a 'game' preset mode available from within the preset mode menu. This seems to be a little warmer than the standard preset mode and also gives you access to the dynamic contrast ratio if you want to use it. We've already established that the DCR doesn't offer much in real use but it's there if you want it. This mode might be useful if you want to set up a specific mode to be different to your day to day normal use profile as well.
Our tests here are based on the new format using SMTT 2. We have provided a comparison above against other models we have tested to give an indication between screens. However, please note that some of the other screens tested here were using older stopwatch methods and not the SMTT 2 tool. For reference, those shown as darker blue lines were tested using SMTT 2.
The Dell U2713HM showed an average total display lag of 22.2ms during this test, ranging up to 28ms maximum. Remember, this represents a signal processing lag along with an element of pixel response time and gives you an idea of the overall delay of the image compared with a traditional CRT screen. This lag was not too severe, but a bit higher than we had seen from some other recent screens, and represented a lag of just under 1.5 frames. The lag of this screen has been categorised as CLASS 2 as detailed above and may be a little high for some very high end gaming. Please note that we have included the Dell U2711 for reference here but that at the time it was measured using the less reliable single stopwatch method. A direct comparison between the two is therefore difficult. A comparison against other screens shown here which were tested using SMTT 2 (dark blue lines) is more accurate however.
Good to see DisplayPort and HDMI provided for connection of additional devices, both of which are very popular for external DVD and Blu-ray players.
Light AG coating helps to ensure image quality is retained and not overly grainy, while also offering anti reflective properties which are useful for movie viewing, especially with lamps etc coming in to play in darkened room conditions. This is more suited to movie viewing than a full glossy coating.
Dynamic contrast ratio is available but doesn't really do much in practice only offering a DCR of ~1188:1. You have to have a 100% black screen for it to function at a higher level which is probably never going to happen in real use.
Very good pixel responsiveness for movies and video which should be able to handle fast moving scenes without issue.
Very good ergonomic adjustments available from the stand with full range of tilt, height and pivot being useful for obtaining a comfortable viewing position.
No obvious backlight leakage from the edges which is good. This type of leakage may prove an issue when watching movies where black borders are present but it is not a problem here. Some slight clouding in the corners which might become evident in darkened room conditions sometimes.
There are no integrated speakers available on this model although it is compatible with the Dell soundbar if you want. There is also a headphone socket provided on the back to take the audio from the HDMI or DisplayPort inputs if necessary.
I know many people are going to be asking the question: "which is better, the old U2711 or the new U2713HM?" I'd like to start by saying that it is expected that the U2713HM will not be a direct replacement for the U2711 and much like the 24" models it will probably be a supplementary model in the UltraSharp range, aimed more at the mass consumer market and multimedia user. Like the 24" U2410, the 27" U2711 is aimed more at professional graphics users and higher end work while also offering an all round feature and function set. It is possible that things will change but we are not sure at this stage.
Like the change with the 24" U2410 > U2412M, probably the main difference between these two 27" models is the colour space support. The U2711 uses wide gamut CCFL backlighting which offers an extended gamut covering 102% of the NTSC colour space. This can also cover the Adobe RGB reference space as a result and extends considerably beyond the sRGB reference which is still widely used. The support of wide gamut is great if you have a practical use for it and are working with wide gamut content or want to match the Adobe RGB space properly. However, if you are working just with sRGB content, viewing it on a wide gamut screen can lead to issues of over-saturation and neon appearing colours and is difficult to manage for many users. Thankfully the U2711 does include an sRGB emulation mode which is useful in those circumstances although not particularly accurate.
The U2711 is perhaps more useful to colour enthusiasts, photographers and designers thanks to its wide gamut support, but for the general consumer, most will not need to use wide gamut and will only be concerned with the appearance of standard gamut (sRGB) content. As such they would not want the over-saturated colours and issues associated with trying to manage standard gamut on a wide gamut screen, and so a W-LED based model like the U2713HM is more readily accessible to the average user.
Both models carry a factory calibration as well which is positive news. The U2711 came factory calibrated to try and ensure a decent gamma, white point and colour accuracy out of the box in both the Adobe RGB and sRGB emulation modes. The Adobe RGB mode seemed to be pretty reliable in terms of gamma and colour accuracy, but white point was a fair way out from the target. The sRGB factory calibration on the U2711 was less reliable showing larger colour deviations and again a poor white point setup. The factory calibration on the new U2713HM only applies to the sRGB mode since there is obviously no Adobe RGB mode on this model due to the smaller colour space support. This offered very good levels of accuracy and seemed a more reliable setup to that seen on the U2711.
I'll also make reference to the fact that the U2711 features an 8-bit + A-FRC panel which can offer a colour palette of 1.07 billion colours if you have a relevant end to end 10-bit workflow (application, operating system, graphics card, interface etc). That is very rare and so to 99% of users this support of "10-bit" is largely irrelevant. It's 12-bit internal processing is designed to help improve gradients and signal processing as well. These kind of features are usually reserved for high end graphics screens such as the NEC PA series, but Dell included them here on the U711 as well. The U2713HM uses only a normal 8-bit IPS panel and has 8-bit signal processing. This is more than adequate for most users, especially given the aforementioned complexities with achieving a 10-bit workflow. If you do have such a workflow and want support of 10-bit content then the U2711 would be a more suitable choice. I suspect many people just won't need it.
The U2713HM is missing a few of the extra features found on the U2711 like the 8-in-1 card reader, DisplayPort cable and the composite and component inputs. The U2713HM does offer the latest generation USB 3.0 ports though while the U2711 was only v2.0. The stand on the U2713HM also offers a rotate function which wasn't present on the old style stand. The move to a W-LED backlighting unit also brings about energy and environmental benefits compared with the older CCFL unit and helps offer a thinner screen profile. One final thing to note is that the new U2713HM uses a light AG coating and so does not suffer from the grainy, dirty appearance in some uses that the heavy AG coating of the U2711 had.
Approximate price - at the time of release the new U2713HM is ~£65 more expensive than the U2711. This is probably down to the fact it is new more than anything else.
Features - I've marked them level here as while the U2711 does have a card reader and composite and component inputs, the U2713HM has USB 3.0 and a rotate function. I suppose really the value of these features depends on what you're looking for from your screen and what you need.
Screen coating - The U2713HM has a light AG coating and so does not suffer from a dirty, grainy appearance that the heavy AG coating on the U2711 can bring.
Interfaces - The U2711 wins here as it offers composite and component inputs and an additional DVI, all missing on the new U2713HM.
Panel Uniformity - I have marked these two screens as level in this test. Not much different overall.
Office and Windows - There's very little to separate them here although I've marked the U2713HM as more suitable thanks to its lighter AG coating and the fact that it doesn't use PWM to dim the backlight.
Movies Overall - Again I've had to mark them level. The U2711 has more video connections which some users might need, but the U2713HM has a better black depth and contrast ratio.
Responsiveness - The U2713HM holds the advantage here as it has less blur and only a slight overshoot. The U2711 suffered from more noticeable overshoot artefacts.
Input lag - hard to accurately compare since the U2711 was only tested using the old stopwatch method. I've provided the figures for reference but keep in mind the U2713HM is far more accurate than the old U2711 measurement.
Colour accuracy Default - Out of the box, the U2713HM had a better setup in terms of gamma, white point and colour accuracy. The sRGB emulation mode also offered a better factory calibration than it had on the U2711.
Black depth - The U2713HM wins here with a lower calibrated black depth of 0.14, compared with 0.18 of the U2711. A nice improvement made with this newer model.
Calibrated Static Contrast Ratio - with a static number of 869:1, the U2713HM is the best in this test. The U2711 only managed 672:1.
Dynamic Contrast Ratio - Neither worked very well at all, although the 1188:1 offered by the U2713HM was higher than the 759:1 of the U2711.
Overall there are some distinct differences between the two models as there had been between the two 24" models. The U2713HM brings about some positive changes we felt, certainly from a performance point of view. The default setup was more reliable and users will be pleased by the good gamma, white point and colour setup out of the box. The sRGB emulation mode works very well and is well calibrated in the factory. We had seen less impressive results from the U2711 model really and you'd probably need to calibrate it personally with a calibrator to get more out of it. The improvement to the static contrast ratio and pixel responsiveness were also very pleasing and a positive improvement from the new model. In addition the screen coating change to a light AG solution is very positive and welcome, and the inclusion of USB 3.0 ports and a rotation function from the stand are nice extras. It's a shame they did away with the card reader I felt, but we can live without the composite and component inputs which aren't really used much nowadays anyway.
The U2711 still has its place though as if you need/want wide gamut or 10-bit support then it can be offered on that model, but not on the U2713HM. Likewise if you need any of the additional interfaces then they are available there. I did feel though that the wide gamut support was really the only major advantage the U2711 had over the newer model (again only if you actually need or want it), and the new U2713HM showed plenty of performance improvements to make it an excellent new addition to the UltraSharp range.
The Dell U2713HM made a positive improvement to the UltraSharp series we felt. The screen is basically a larger version of the popular 24" U2412M in appearance, adopting the new style design and a more functional stand at the same time. The range of adjustments was excellent as ever and very easy to operate. The screen does away with a couple of the less common video connections of its predecessor but does introduce the latest USB 3.0 standard for faster transfer rates. One of the most pleasing changes is the move to a lighter AG coating, which should keep those bothered by aggressive, grainy AG coating on IPS panels happy. From a performance point of view the screen offered excellent all round performance from its IPS panel. The default setup was very good, and the screen even offered a usable sRGB emulation mode and accompanying reliable factory calibration. Black depth and contrast ratio were very good for an IPS panel and showed some marked improvements over the older U2711. Pixel responsiveness was also very good and again helped clear up most of the overshoot issues which affected the U2711 before it. Brightness range and control was excellent and it was great to see that PWM was not being used for backlight dimming.
As we've discussed during the review, the U2713HM is missing any wide gamut and "10-bit" support but that's probably not an issue for many users anyway. We did feel the improvements made in other areas made the U2713HM a better screen as long as you don't need those aspects for your personal uses. The price point of the U2713HM is maybe a little higher than some people had hoped for, certainly at the time of writing and initial release. The U2713HM retails for ~£492 GBP (inc VAT) in the UK at the moment making it a little less than the older U2711 (£500). Both are of course more expensive than some of the low-cost and no-frills 27" IPS models available now like the Hazro HZ27WC (£385) and DGM IPS-2701WPH (£335), but the added features and extras of the Dell do separate this as a higher end model. Keep in mind also the support and warranty from a company like Dell when making a decision.
All in all we were impressed by the new 27" screen from Dell. It made a lot of positive improvements and offered the kind of all round performance you'd want from any screen. Certainly a very good new addition to the Dell range. | 2019-04-20T08:22:43Z | http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/dell_u2713hm.htm |
As I look up at the Orchards Corner clock – it is 2pm but one of its faces says 5:20 and the other 7:25 – the crackle of a round of fireworks erupts from the direction of Chinatown. I follow the source of the sound, walking down Quay Street until I catch sight of two red and gold lions, cavorting amid a cloud of fireworks smoke outside the noodle shops in the courtyard on Thomas Street. Once the fireworks have burnt through, the lions move on slowly, further into Chinatown, as people descend on the pile of red fireworks papers with brooms, sweeping it up before the wind can disperse it.
I watch until the lions dance across the street, and then turn towards the restaurants on the ground floor of the Prince Centre, the mall that fills the corner block. The restaurant I know best here is the Chinese Noodle house, with its plastic grapes hanging from the ceiling, tapestries hanging on the walls, and the tables in a tetris-like arrangement that leaves only just enough space to sit down at them. For years I came regularly to the noodle house before realising that it was connected to the mall behind it on Quay Street. On the Quay Street side it has a plain facade, but on the Thomas Street side the building tapers to a point, opening up into a courtyard with glass stairwells at either end.
For as long as I’ve been visiting them I’ve loved the malls in Chinatown: the mirrored interiors, escalators and food courts and the travel agencies, hairdressers, fashion boutiques and herbalists, that are collected within. Aside from the busy food courts, the malls have a mood of quiet industriousness, their businesses tucked away above street level, there for those who need or want to find them. The majority of Chinatown’s malls were built in the 1980s, and Prince Centre is a good example, with its pink granite tiles, peach and grey colour scheme, and palm trees. One tree is interred inside an octagonal glass box alongside what is now a drained water-feature, which makes a perfect place to sit to wait for a table in the Chinese Noodle House. Sometimes the proprietor of this establishment comes out with a violin under his chin and plays a tune, using the acoustics of the courtyard to good effect.
On the Quay Street side of the Prince Centre there was, until its partial renovation a few years ago, a cascading crystal light feature and a ceiling decorated by thousands of white scales, which produced a shimmering, seashell-interior effect.
This interior was modernised in 2015, and replaced with a plain ceiling instead, although some of the 80s details persist.
The next mall of this kind is at the corner of Hay Street and Thomas Street: the Citymark, on the lower two levels of a late-80s-era office building. It is a fairly plain commercial building, but upon scrutiny of its facade it looks recognisably dated, a product of the late 1980s, as certainly as shoulder pads in a jacket. To build it, an 1800-seat picture theatre was demolished, one of the many that were built in Haymarket in the early 20th century, when this was the city’s theatre district.
The Citymark cuts through from Thomas Street to George Street, through an arcade of shops selling products such as shoes, cosmetics, and rice cookers. I often take it as a shortcut, but rarely have a need to venture upstairs. As is usually the case, the upper levels of the malls is a tranquil place, with few people around. I startle when I look through the window of a shop with a plain facade and see two headless mannequins in hazmat suits poised for action (the fork and spoon were a clue to its identity: it’s the office for a restaurant delivery service).
Across from this store is China Books, which has a copy of The Hungry, Hungry Caterpillar in the window, and a view out towards Dixon Street and the Market City mall.
Of all of the Chinatown malls, Market City has the most conventional interior, and perhaps the most bizarre exterior, a postmodern collage of architectural features. Built to incorporate the shell of the 1909 market building, Market City resembles a rambling castle, with turrets and columns and cupolas, the kind a child might draw to fill up a sheet of paper. At the back of the castle, a residential tower of 48 storeys mushrooms up, so tall and embedded within the overall structure it seems oddly invisible from street level.
I have an affection for the one square window in the brick wall beside the Ultimo Road entrance of Market City, through which piles of folders are visible. It is the only window on an otherwise-windowless long wall, and after looking up and noticing it once, it has been conspicuous to me ever since.
Across Hay Street from Market City is Dixon Street, its ceremonial gates with green-tiled canopies marking each end of the pedestrianised section that forms the Dixon Street mall. The pedestrian mall was created in 1980, when the street was closed to traffic, a deliberate attempt to formalise the area’s identity as Sydney city’s Chinatown. There has been Chinese businesses in this area since the 19th century, although the location of Chinatown had moved a number of times before this: first in The Rocks, then Surry Hills, before settling in Haymarket. Although now Dixon Street is thought of as Chinatown’s centre, its boundaries have shifted and continue to do so. In the early 20th century, Chinatown was thought of as spanning Surry Hills and Haymarket: “a winding dragon with its head in Campbell Street, its body curling up Ultimo Road and its tail in Dixon Street”. The creation of the mall in 1980 settled Chinatown into this part of the city, reclaimed land which was once a swamp with a creek which fed into Tumbalong/Darling Harbour.
The lion dancers are at the end of Dixon Street now, and I watch them tossing their heads, dipping and weaving, as the fireworks bang and sizzle. Throughout their dance, Elder Paik stands at the side of the gates, continuing to spin a green hula hoop from his usual busking position. Paik, who is now in his 80s, is reliably found in this spot, wearing white facepaint and outfits wreathed in fake flowers, twirling a hula hoop around his hips. Underneath the crackle of the fireworks the drummers beat out a steady rhythm, giving the lion’s steps a regular pace.
There is a crowd of people around the lion dancers and so I walk up to the very end of the Dixon Street mall, skipping over Sussex Centre and Dixon House for the time being, until I reach the Harbour Plaza building at the northern end. It is best known as the location of Eating World, the chthonic food court on the ground floor with its rows of worn and sticky laminex tables. For many years the bar here was staffed by a man who had an impressive crest of lacquered hair and always wore a cravat, a style which made me feel I should be ordering a cocktail rather than a chrysanthemum tea.
Underneath Eating World is an arcade which, on this Saturday afternoon, is deserted apart from a few people sitting inside their stores: a nail salon, a foot massage place with decals of huge hands pressing into huge feet, and a real estate agency which had, hung up in the doorway, a lettuce for the lions, a red envelope attached to it with a toothpick.
I could hear from the drums that the lions were approaching, so I doubled back along the mall and into the Sussex Centre, the brighter of the two central Dixon Street malls. Both it and Dixon House have interiors like an Escher engraving, their plentiful escalators producing a confusing optical effect, but Sussex House particularly so, as the levels of shops ascend in a series of ramps that lead up to the food court on the top level. As I walk inside the Sussex Centre I remember that in the 1990s there used to be a Laserdisc shop on the Sussex Street side of the shopping centre (for those who don’t remember them: CDs the size of vinyl LPs, pretty much redundant by 2000). In the 90s I’d pass by it on my way upstairs to have a Happy Chef laksa, sitting at the window facing the old Boyd and Hanlon produce store building on Sussex Street. Until recently it was decorated by faded L and P signs, an advertisement that I enjoyed for its lack of supplementary signage.
My favourite Chinatown mall is Dixon House, on the corner of Little Hay Street. Built inside the shell of what was formerly a Myer warehouse, it was completely remodelled in 1983, when it was bought by the heiress to the Tiger Balm fortune, a Hong Kong businesswoman named Sally Aw. She sold it in the 1990s, and then it was sold again last year, and described in the article announcing this as a “D-grade commercial building”.
Building grades are probably not the same as movie-grades, but even so, I will spring to Dixon House’s defence. My love of it comes from it being an 80s time-warp, with mirrored ceilings and columns, pink walls and carpet, artificial plants and a collection of small, independent businesses. Like Eating World its basement food court has a worn atmosphere, although it does have the additional novelty of the mirrored ceiling.
Eating noodles in 2005: little has changed from this scene apart from the 3.2 mp digital camera.
At the Dixon Street entrance are two directories that list the businesses inside, some of which seem to no longer be in residence, including the enigmatic Dockets and Forms Australia Pty Ltd. Escalators lead to the upper levels, and underneath them is a watch store, with a Seiko neon sign of a diamond. The usual Chinatown mall collection surrounds it: travel agencies, fashion boutiques and hairdressers. At the Sussex Street entrance is the tiny office for John Wong, Chinese Soothsayer, which has photos of him with prominent past politicians and at local events in the window.
I step onto the escalator, entering more deeply into Dixon House’s peaceful, mirrored world. Mirrors reflect off mirrors, so the journey up the escalators appears to be transporting multiple versions of me forwards, backwards, upside down and into other dimensions.
In the back corner of the top level is the legendary Ching Yip coffee lounge, a Hong Kong-style cafe-restaurant. Enter through under the pink neon sign and you find yourself in a pink and grey, laminex and vinyl oasis, soon examining a menu printed on pink paper, listing hundreds of items, from Hot Lemon Coke and Hot Tea & Coffee Mix to rice, pasta and borscht. In the corner, a cake fridge glows, its contents mostly lemons.
When I come to Ching Yip I usually have jam toast and tea with lemon (it seems important to help out with the lemons), and while I consume these I take in the cool, quiet, pink atmosphere. Tinkly musak plays in the background, and I stare over at the line of tropical fish ornaments behind the counter, and the ads for Fanta and the laminated pink menus offering the afternoon special. Often it’s busy in Ching Yip, but I’m here at an in-between time, and so mostly my company is the artificial palm trees and the framed pictures of flowers and sailboats.
After I finish the tea I leave Ching Yip and descend down via the mirrored escalators, heading towards Dixon Street. The lion dancers have moved through and gone, leaving a trail of the red paper from the firecrackers in their wake. The red scraps mix up with the pink petals from the crepe myrtle trees, which are blooming for this last, humid month of summer. Both the red paper and pink blossoms seem to promise good luck for the new year ahead.
The quote about Chinatown being in the shape of a dragon is from Shirley Fitzgerald Red Tape Gold Scissors. Some of the Dixon House backstory I learnt on tour of Chinatown conducted by King Fong, thanks to Philip E for inviting me.
The train emerges from the tunnel towards Circular Quay station and the darkness outside the windows is replaced by a long, thin panorama, a horizontal slice of sky and water bracketed by the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. It’s a living postcard, animated by the ferries and the clouds, watched by those waiting on the platform. People lean against the glass barriers to take photos of the harbour, or just gaze out, watching the ever-moving scene in front of them.
I join the throng clogging the top of the steps that lead down to the concourse. I hang back, not in a hurry, and wait until I’m the last to descend. As I walk down, I look above the stairs to where, set high up into the wall, there are ornamental grilles decorated by bronze fish. They have a stranded look to them, a little bit dusty, but with their rainbow sheen still visible.
I always look for them, one of the few decorative features of this station which, since its opening in 1956, has been relentlessly condemned as ugly, interrupting the view of the harbour from the city, and the city from the harbour. The construction of the station and the Cahill Expressway above it was a drawn out and unpopular process. Things came to a head at the 1958 opening of the Cahill Expressway, when despite the premier’s announcement that this was “a striking symbol of Sydney’s growth and maturity”, things did not go as planned.
If Circular Quay station is maligned, the Cahill Expressway is even more so. The railway line and the road above it forms a thick line that cuts across the view, as if it’s a low, wide belt keeping the city in check. There has often been talk of the expressway’s demolition: in 1994 Prime Minister Paul Keating even offered the NSW state government the funds to remove it. Yet it remains, visually intrusive, loved by no one, but not entirely without charm. A side-effect of maligned places is that people avoid them, which can, sometimes, twist their atmosphere into something unusual and interesting.
The Cahill Walk is a good example of this. To get to it I move quickly along the Circular Quay promenade, past people munching through pancakes at City Extra and passengers coming off the Manly ferry. Details flash up: a man wearing a t-shirt that says “winter is not coming”; the round bronze discs set into the pavement that commemorate famous writers. I step over A.D. Hope, Barry Humphries, and Kenneth Slessor, until I’m at a grove of palm trees hemmed in by concrete, that surround a glass elevator clamped to the side of the railway line and road above.
I press the elevator call button and soon the doors open in front of me, puffing out a cold, air-conditioned breath in welcome. I step inside, the doors seal me in, and the noise of the quay recedes. I’m inside a bubble, ascending, above the tops of the palm trees now, the view of the Harbour Bridge coming clear the higher up the lift rises.
At the top, the doors behind me open and I turn to face the four lanes of traffic on the expressway. A long, concrete walkway extends beside it like a grey ribbon.
Never, in all the times I’ve been up here, has there been many other people here. It’s one day of popularity is New Year’s Eve: a ballot operates for tickets to watch the fireworks from here. At other times, you might very well have it to yourself. This morning there’s almost no one else but me, apart from an occasional runner jogging by. It’s only a slight change of perspective from the Quay below, but has a completely different mood. If it weren’t for the incessant traffic, and the way the path trembles underfoot when heavy vehicles go by, it would be a tranquil, pleasurable place to be, rather than the exposed and sometimes slightly eerie experience it is to walk here.
The traffic speeds by, having just come off the Harbour Bridge. I watch the intent expressions of people behind the wheels of their cars, notice a man on his motorbike singing as he rides along, and feel the path shudder when a demolition truck goes by, the word CHOMP in orange across the front. On the other side is Warrane, the bay dominated by a gargantuan cruise ship with a steaming funnel like a kettle just come off the boil. The poisonous smell of the diesel fuel drifts across. On the front of the cruise ship is a man in overalls, tethered to a railing above, holding a paint roller on a stick, repainting the ship’s nose. The expanse of fresh white paint follows him as he moves slowly along.
Walking up here, alongside the expressway, is to have a feeling of floating mid-air, looking into the thicket of city buildings to one side and the harbour’s expanse on the other.
Below where I am on the Cahill Walk, the crowds of Circular Quay mill and disperse. Up here I’m alone, with traffic and jackhammering and construction noise filling the air as I look towards the building sites on the city’s edge. Behind them are dozens of office buildings, thousands of windows, each framing a view of the harbour. Anyone looking out of them at this moment would be moving their eyes over the same scene as me, watching the harbour, the ferries, the shifting clouds, that familiar scene, slowly changing.
Thank you dear readers for following Mirror Sydney in 2018, a busy year for me, with the book out in the world. It was a delight to meet some of you when I had launches and talks, and I look forward to more in 2019.
At the edge of Chinatown is the Sydney Trades Hall, a Victorian-era office building, four storeys high, with an octagonal tower jutting from the corner like a lantern. When it opened in 1895, this area was near the wharves, railyards, and industrial areas on the city’s fringe, areas that employed many of the workers who belonged to the trade unions who had offices inside the building.
On the main staircase there’s a list of the union offices that once were found within Trades Hall. It’s an index of the city’s past occupations, among them bread carters, sailmakers, glass bottle makers, food preservers, Pyrmont Sugar Workers, milk and ice carters. The building would have been a lively place, with all of these offices, a literary institute library, and nightly social activities, concerts and dances and meetings.
Now the building is part-offices, part-museum, after being refurbished in the 2000s. I’ve come on a tour as part of Sydney Open, the annual weekend on which buildings of historical and architectural interest are open to the public. On the ground floor I walk in past an old, wooden elevator with a banner for the Lift Attendant union displayed inside it. There are other such banners hanging in the nearby hallway, for cleaners and for watchmen, and a framed painted list of offices, with a delicate painted hand pointing upstairs.
The building houses objects related to its history: the signs that once hung in the hallways, the banners that unions used in marches and processions, and the certificates and banners used by the unions to signify or reward membership. The large painted banners are ornate and symbolic, decorated with gold leaf.
Their painter was Edgar Whitbread, who worked for decades, well into his 70s, at a small studio in the glass-domed Victoria Arcade. His name can be seen printed modestly at the base of these banners, which were once used in the processions and demonstrations that would bring thousands of people onto the city’s streets. Their detail and meticulous craftsmanship are surprising to the contemporary eye, and we can imagine them held aloft, as the workers they represented marched with them.
It was in the 1960s, the heritage officer leading the tour tells us, when the building was under threat of demolition, that thought was given to whether the banners should be preserved. That they were owes much to the Trades Hall secretary, Lorna Morrison, who advocated for their restoration. The banner had been stored in a part of the building that was at the time opened up as a walkway between the original building and the new Labour Council building behind it, a grey office block with painted advertisements for the on-site broadcaster, 2KY radio, on it.
Other objects on display, he said, were found piled up in the basement during the refurbishment in the 2000s. These objects now tell the story of the building, but also of the world of work, and how Sydney’s workers have shaped the city.
In 1950, the Smith’s Weekly newspaper published a series of profiles of city workers titled ‘Men in Odd Jobs’. The first article appeared in July, profiling Mr J.A. Sinclair, who spent his days testing lawn bowls for accuracy. Next readers met a skeleton articulator at the Australian Museum. Then a man who drills holes in buttons: Mr Ern Sheather who confides that “drilling holes in buttons is soothing to the nerves”. In September, under the headline He Frightens Spiders, was the story of an instrument maker who places spider webs in the theodolites used by surveyors for measuring angles.
One day two men were standing outside the Commonwealth Bank in Pitt Street, when one of them dropped his keys down an open grate. He was in a terrible state, and began to wonder how he would carry on his work.
His friend said it would be possible to get police to remove the grate. Just as they began to panic, my mate poked the keys back through the grate with two fingers.
The men stopped talking and gaped at the fingers with the keys dangling. They couldn’t see us below, but we could see them in the daylight.
One man said: ‘Look, a human hand and alive.’ The other snatched the keys with out saying a word and went for his life.
I can imagine this was a story Mr Stanley told often, relishing the description of the fingers poking up through the manhole, working up to the delivery of the “Look, it’s a human hand and alive!” punchline.
There are fourteen “odd jobs” stories in all. Of these, four relate to postal and telephone services. In addition to the Inside-Out-Bag Turner, the man who maintains the machine that produces the dial-tone, the franking-stamp changer, and the man who opens the door of the vault in the Bank of NSW, is the one woman featured in the series, Miss Mary Sprague.
Miss Sprague had the unusual job of reading the time live at the Sydney GPO, which housed the city’s central telephone switchboard. Before the installation of a mechanical ‘speaking clock’ in 1954, the job was done by a group of women who took turns in sitting in front of a clock, reciting the time into a microphone. Miss Mary Sprague explained how the intensity of the task made it difficult to read for more than 20 minutes at a time.
I’d never thought that such a job as time-reading would have been done live, but in the days before digital timekeeping it could be difficult to maintain accurate time on mechanical clocks and watches. When people wanted to check if their watch was correct, they called the service, dialling BO74. Up to 20,000 people would call daily and it was particularly busy around 5pm, as people hoped their watches were running slowly, and the time to leave work had already come.
The article on Mary Sprague was the first of the “odd jobs” series I read. I found it while researching an essay I’ve written for Time and Memory, a new book published by the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences. A few months after I read the article about Mary Sprague in Smiths Weekly, I was doing a reading at the Paragon Cafe in Katoomba. I mentioned the essay I was writing to Robyn, the cafe owner.
Speak to Joyce I did indeed, and you can read my interview with her at Reading the Time with Joyce Thomson, on the museum’s blog. When I spoke to Joyce, who is now in her 80s, she described how it had felt to move to the city, from Katoomba, as a young woman in the late 1940s. The scale of life opened up for her and there were possibilities all around. By reading the time at the GPO she joined the ranks of those in the city doing an unusual job. Now, like most of the jobs that Smiths Weekly reported on in 1950, this job has slipped from public knowledge, long-since having been technologically superseded. But just enough of a trace of it exists, for it to be remembered.
The arrow points towards the underground passage, urging me to “Keep on Walking”. Ahead of me is a white-walled tunnel, its curved ceiling and unadorned walls making it more resemble one of the hallways from Star Wars than a pedestrian underpass. There are no advertisements on the walls, no graffiti, just a string of round, black ventilation grilles that look like portholes, and two stripes of fluorescent lights along the ceiling.
This is one of my favourite Sydney tunnels. Its starkness is a respite from the visual clutter of the city, as if I’ve slipped into a connecting piece between the present and the past, or some other kind of Sydney. Even at peak hour it’s not a busy thoroughfare. More often that not I walk through it alone, expecting a band of Stormtroopers to come marching out from exit midway along it. But the only action is the few pedestrians heading between Museum train station and the office buildings above.
The Star Wars connection is not as much of a stretch as it could be: the underpass was built in the late 1970s, around the same time as the film was in cinemas. It was part of the Hyde Park Square development of two office towers and an underground arcade and sunken plaza, all connected to Museum station by the tunnel.
I reach the end of the tunnel and it widens out into a shopping arcade. On one side is one of the few remaining ceramic murals by Vladimir Tichy. It is a long wall of textured, bark-like tiles, with sets of vertical bars made from glazed, white bricks, which look like spears of bamboo, or stalactites on the roof of a cave. On one panel is the marker’s mark, carved in relief into the clay: Designed by V. Tichy, 1977.
Tichy is a ceramic sculptor who came to Australia in 1968 from what was then Czechoslavakia. He set up a studio in Parramatta, from where he produced many large-scale ceramic murals for public and office buildings, RSLs, and civic centres. There were once many Tichy murals in the city, but now the only other ones are in the lobby of Macleay College on Foveux Street, and at the entrance to Newton’s Pharmacy on York Street. The rest have been destroyed as 70s buildings are renovated or demolished.
Beyond the mural is the square itself, a sunken plaza between the two buildings. Designed for office workers’ lunches it had clusters of chairs and tables and a big, curved concrete bench you could either side on the inside or outside of. Now most of the square is taken up by a childcare centre, with soft artificial grass and a sandpit.
A new sixty-five metre tunnel under Elizabeth Street was opened in 1978 to take pedestrians from the complex to Museum Station. The new tunnel was given a modern-art atmosphere with wide bands of colour. The smooth lining of the tunnel was made of a specially toughened material and was said to be vandal proof.
At first, the white paint seemed to cover the wall panels so well that there was no hint of what colour it must have been before. The white paint extended tightly into the cracks, from floor to ceiling. I stood up close to it, scrutinising its surface, looking for the tiniest flake or chip to reveal the layer behind it. The surface was slightly rough, but uniformly off-white: it gave nothing away. I stepped back and looked around the tunnel, towards the side exit. Here a metal arrow on a pillar gestured obscurely to the right, devoid of any other guiding information.
I looked back to the white walls of the tunnel and saw something I had not yet noticed. Just visible was a slight change in texture, in the shape of a diagonal line. I followed it with my eyes. Near the curve of the ceiling another line intersected it at right angles. Then another line intersected that. I walked slowly along the tunnel, my eyes on the lines, and they came into life, diagonal stripes and squares. All of a sudden I notice a line of scraped marks at the bottom of one of the panels, which revealed slivers of bright green underneath the white coating. The next panel was scraped too, revealing yellow.
As I stood in the white tunnel it flooded into colour in my mind’s eye. Diagonal bands of green and yellow came into bloom. I felt a transformation come over me, too, as if I could, in that moment, see through time. Opening my notebook, I quickly sketched out the lines and shapes.
To emerge from the tunnel that leads out of Wynyard Station onto George Street is to enter a sonic mess of construction noise. There are bursts of deep, jarring reverberations and the sounds of metal against concrete, as the demolition of the buildings above the station continues.
As the buildings – the Menzies Hotel, and the 1960s office block Thakral House – have been demolished, the walls of the adjacent buildings have come to light for the first time in 50 years. As Thakral House came down, sunrays appeared at the top of the side wall of the building on the north side, Beneficial House. Then a creature, a dog with a bushy tail, inside a red shield. And then, underneath it, the word PEAPES. At first the hoardings were too high to see much of the sign from street level, but as the demolition continued, the full breadth of the Peapes sign was revealed.
Peapes was a men’s clothing and tailoring department store, which operated out of Beneficial House from when the building was erected in 1923, until the close of the business in February 1971. Its advertising emphasised the “lofty and spacious departments, where a leisurely peace reigns”. The showrooms were fitted out in polished maple, with Doric columns supporting the ceiling and a circular light well at the centre. It was an elegant place, in-keeping with the quality of Peapes’ goods, which were stressed to be of the highest degree.
Peapes’ slogan was “for men AND their sons” (the AND was in upper case, to stress the importance of intergeneration consistency in men’s style) and it was the place to shop if you needed any kind of gentleman’s outfit, from necessities to luxuries: jackets, shirts, hats, shoes, “an unusually smart shirt with tie”, “a distinctive overcoat”, “superior flannel trousers”. Clothes could be bought off the rack or made to measure. Peapes sales representatives also travelled to country towns across Australia to conduct fittings, booking out rooms in hotels, advertising in local papers, for men to come and have their measurements taken for suits.
The store had two tradmarks. The first was the Warrigal – a dingo, Warrigal being the Dharug word for dingo – the one pictured at the top of the wall sign. The second was diarist Samuel Pepys, an ancestor of one the firm’s founders, George Peapes. On the third floor of the department store was the Pepys Room, a common room of sorts, “a room of restful atmosphere…for reading, writing, smoking, or keeping appointments”. The bewigged Samuel Pepys also appeared on the labels of their garments.
Peapes had been operating on George Street since 1866. In 1912, the wealthy businessman W.J. Miles became one of the directors. These days his name may not be a familiar one, but his daughter, Bea, was one of mid-twentieth century Sydney’s most well known characters. Her distinctive figure, in long coat and tennis hat, was a common sight in the city and suburbs, seen climbing in and out of the taxis for which she never paid the fare, or quoting Shakespeare on demand for a fee of sixpence.
The royal blue of the Peapes sign is a bright window into a past Sydney. Thousands of people walk past it daily, and for those who look up and notice it, the texture of the changing city is revealed, its layers and traces. Soon the demolition will be complete. A new building will be constructed, covering over the Peapes name, the sunburst, and the Warrigal dog. But, for this brief moment, it is back in the light.
With thanks to David Lever for Peapes memories and investigations.
Approaching the Sirius building I can see the group I am to join already assembled outside, waiting for the tour. They gather in the forecourt, a brick-paved area with circular garden beds, in which grow banksia trees and jade plants, and a hibiscus flowering with pink blooms. Among the people waiting there moves a tall man wearing a purple shirt. He is handing out flyers, talking with verve as he does so. This is Tao Gofers, the architect who, in 1976, designed the Sirius building, and has been working with the Save Our Sirius group to protect the building from demolition.
The Sirius is one of Sydney’s most iconic buildings, instantly recognisable due to its striking modular design and its prominent position beside the Harbour Bridge. Its stepped shape of concrete blocks and roof gardens with purple funnels rise up alongside the Bridge. It seems almost close enough to be able to reach out from the Harbour Bridge walkway to touch them. At least this is what I imagined as a child, as I, like generations of Sydney residents, wondered what it would be like to live there and explore on the rooftop gardens, looking out over the city.
The Sirius is a building that gives much to the imagination. It’s a people’s building, both because it was designed as social housing and operated successfully as such for four decades, and because it has such a strong physical presence in the cityscape. It’s a building that’s embedded in the city’s collective consciousness, as important and as controversial as it was when it opened in the late 1970s.
Illustration of the Sirius from 1970s Housing Commission brochure, image courtesy of Tao Gofers.
We are taken back to 1976 as Tao Gofers describes the process of designing the Sirius. At that time there had already been demolition of social housing properties and relocation of residents in the area. A condition of lifting the green ban that had been imposed on area by the Builders Labourers Federation was that that there be provisions for the working class community who had been living in the area for generations to remain in The Rocks. Until the Ban was lifted, the government could make no changes to their existing properties in The Rocks, and they were eager for the stalemate to be resolved.
The Sirius was the key factor in the lifting of the green ban. It all happened quickly: there was only 10 days between Gofers first hearing of the project to his presentation to the stakeholders. He describes the scene, the government officials in double-breasted suits, and the Rocks residents “like us”, people in their everyday clothes, who had gathered to see his proposals. He first showed a design for a small development of 14 terrace houses, which was unacceptable to the government. Next he showed a proposal for a 20 storey building with 8 apartments per floor, which was unacceptable to the residents. A third proposal, for a standard tower block of 80 units was also rejected for being aesthetically displeasing. Then Gofers presented the proposal for the Sirius. The design was presented as a compromise between two extremes, but it was the one that Gofers believed in, and the one that came to be built.
Tao Gofers describes the Sirius building planning process.
Sirius was based on The Laurels, an earlier apartment development Gofers had designed in Sans Souci. The model for The Laurels had been made with Revlon eyeshadow boxes, which had the right kind of dimensions for the windows that filled the ends of each concrete module. The Sirius was an expanded version of this design, which combined 1,2,3 and 4 bedroom apartments, as well as apartments specifically designed for the elderly and people with disabilities.
We walk around the building, looking up at the apartments as Tao describes how of the 79 units, 74 have access to a balcony, terrace or roof garden. “If you have just little boxes,” he says “people aren’t going to be happy.” His designs were made with people’s emotional bond to their homes in mind. These were not purely functional spaces, although their simple design made them adaptable to the multi-level site. It included numerous communal areas, including the Heritage Room on the 8th floor, designed as a common area for older residents, and the Phillip Room on the ground floor, with red patterned carpet, wood-panelled walls, and dramatic beams of raw concrete.
The wooden figures that decorate the walls of the Phillip Room.
We cannot even glimpse into the Phillip Room now. The windows are completely blocked off with black plastic, for no other reason but to prevent us looking inside. All we can see is our own reflections moving by. The group is big, around a hundred people. We stand at the back of the building, staring up at the apartment balconies where succulents grow wild and unpruned from the planter boxes. Almost every one of these apartment is empty. The government has been moving residents out since 2014, with the intent to sell the building and have it demolished. Despite the recommendations of its own Heritage Council, heritage listing was refused, and it is this decision Save Our Sirius campaign is working to fight.
Accompanied by security guards, we crowd into the foyer, and then go in small groups in the lift up to level 10 for a look inside Myra’s apartment. Myra, who is 90 years old and has lived in this neighbourhood for almost 60 years, has become the face of the Sirius building. Myra is blind, and has no wish to move away from the familiar apartment and area she has been a part of for so long. This morning she is at the front of the building, sitting in the forecourt with a drawing group assembled around her, sketching her on their notepads. Upstairs, groups of people stand in her living room, looking around. It is the homely environment of an elderly person, with its teaspoon collection hanging on the wall, framed photos and knicknacks arranged on the shelves, and a horseshoe hung up in the hallway as a luck charm. The windows fill the entire of the eastern wall and through them is a view across the harbour.
The SOS lights (for Save Our Sirius) in Myra’s bedroom window.
This, Tao says a number of times during the tour, is a sticking point – the idea of people who are not privileged, not wealthy, living with this harbour view. Standing in Myra’s living room, looking out at the clouds moving across the sky and their reflection in the steel-grey water, it is indeed beautiful. No one could deny it, and anyone living with such a scene as part of their daily lives is lucky. But luck and beauty should not be the exclusive province of the wealthy. A city where money and privilege dominates pales even the most glorious view. From its inception the Sirius has been symbolic of the city and the harbour being available to all, and it is even more so now as the majority of its apartments lie empty, and the fight to save it continues.
Follow the Save Our Sirius campaign here with links to details of future tours and campaign events. | 2019-04-20T04:46:56Z | https://mirrorsydney.wordpress.com/category/sydney-city/ |
'''Crucial ‘selling points’ for the wisdam initiative''' == Built on years of personal experience == '''A wealth of experience''' HP has had many years experience as an electronic resources librarian with detailed experience of the problems of electronic patient records and of the classification of information. Medical / healthcare library & information science; cataloguing; indexing; online searching; proofreading; translating from German into English; academic and scientific writing. RF has served on virtually all UK national maternity notes and IT projects over the past 30 years. From 1990–2001 his expert medical knowledge was used by Protos (subsequently taken over by Torex, then iSoft UK, then iSoft Australia and now by CSC) as the foundation for the most widely used and comprehensive UK maternity computer system. He was also the pioneer in totally re-designing the hand-held ante-natal maternity record (Green Notes); First introduced in Milton Keynes in 1984, they subsequently became the standard record throughout the whole of the West Midlands and elsewhere in the UK. Few records in this country or in many places abroad do not owe something to the 40 innovations introduced in the “Green Notes”. == Patients must be the Hub == Care must in future be based on individuals rather than institutions. According to the government’s information strategy for the NHS, every general practice in England will be obliged to offer patients online access to their electronic care records by 2015. (BMJ 2012;345:e4905 doi:10.1136/bmj.e4905 (30 July 2012)) In that same article, Al-Ubaydli is quoted as believing that “Increasing specialisation in medicine will make patient controlled records pivotal. . . They represent an important step towards organising care around the patient rather than institutions.” That article, like many others, assumes that the future lies with patients all accessing their own local primary health centre electronic record; although it was also noted that only about 1% of patients were so far using the internet in that way. In an ideal world, all patient information would be documented once and properly, but incompatibility problems between different social care and primary, secondary and tertiary health care computer databases means that such unified, reliable and fully integrated digital records will remain impractical for many years - if not for ever. Thankfully, greater openness has resulted in most patients receiving paper copies of health-related letters, laboratory results and imaging reports. Considering that for over 20 years all women have throughout pregnancy possessed the only comprehensive master copy of their antenatal record, it is long overdue for all patients to own and control their individual personal health records. In the light of the success of such hand-held records it seems unreasonable that institutionalised or housebound patients end up with several separate paper records that are not kept with them wherever they go, even when attending an A & E department for a few hours. It is long overdue for all such patients to hold a single unified paper record of the kind proposed in the wisdam initiative. (Ref. “Patient Centred Care? Paper often communicates better than computers.” Submitted to the BMJ on 26th October 2012) == Far more standardisation essential for individual care data. == '''Primary Data First! - with Secondary Data - Secondary''' The use of digital records in the care of individual patients will inevitably require a far greater degree of electronic data standardisation. For example, for the management and audit purposes (secondary data) a single brief electronic entry is quite sufficient. For example, “What was the single main indication for this Caesarean Section?” However, for a structured individual patient record or in a discharge letter one needs first to list ALL the factors involved in the decision that this particular patient needed that particular procedure. Only when this has been carefully documented is it necessary, for administrative purposes only, to select a single ‘main’ reason for the operation. The wisdam initiative - unlike so many past (top down) initiatives - is totally focused on individual ‘Point of Contact’ data (Primary Data); with accurate data for Management and Audit (Secondary Data) only being collected as an invisible (but accurate) by-product for retrospective analysis. Accuracy is ensured only if data is checked. == Taking Paper Seriously == === A: Importance of Existing Paper === '''Adequate analysis of existing paper records, forms and datasets.''' The development of high quality computer systems should always start with a thorough analysis of current paper. If neglected, major problems such as we have already seen in health care ICT will continue to occur. One outcome of the wisdam initiative has already been the collection of scores of relevant items of current paperwork; for example, the collection of the questionnaires which each new patient is asked to fill in by the 15 doctors and dentists of Leighton Buzzard. Every introductory letter is different, but something useful may be learnt from each one. === B: Need for both “Chips” and “Paper” === '''The future lies with the right hybrid of both paper and digital records''' Because digital records have major disadvantages as well as great advantages, the future lies not with ‘paperless’ or even ‘paper-light’ systems but rather with a hybrid approach such as is used in the wisdam initiative (“Paper fights back: Over 50 advantages of paper records.” Accepted for publication in the British Journal of Healthcare Computing) == The essential role of S.IN.B.A.Ds (Small standardised datasets) == '''Small packets of electronic data as “sinbads”''' Trying to standardise the whole care record once and for all for all possible health and social care purposes has not surprisingly proved to be impossible. But it is entirely feasible to standardise small sets of flow-patterned questions and all allowable answers. For example information regarding the “Next of Kin”, or “Long term Handicaps” or “Current medications” This will be one of the most useful outcomes of the wisdam project. Find out more about S.IN.B.A.Ds [[SINBAD_Datasets|here]] == Taking sticky labels seriously == === A: Aiming for standard NHS label sizes === '''Three standard sizes for all NHS Sticky labels?''' At present the NHS uses scores of different sized labels, which is inefficient and costly. One long-term result will hopefully be, not only standardising the sticky label dataset but also encouraging just three sizes of sticky labels (probably Standard - 21 per A4 page 6.35 X 3.81 cms, Large - 8 per A4 page 6.77 X 9.91 cms, and Small - 65 per A4 page 3.81 X 2.117 cms). === B: Other label sizes === '''Other standard size labels?''' In other organisations, for example libraries and pharmacies, there are already other standard label printers and label sizes. The wisdam website would be an ideal place to document these differences and encourage greater efficiency in their use. === C: Standard spaces === '''The right sized space on every NHS form''' Far too often the space made available for, e.g. name and address or for past pregnancy information is far too small. Once the size of labels has been standardised, it should then be possible to encourage the provision on each NHS form of adequate space for the information requested. === D: Labels on every loose page === '''Name, etc. Always Top Right on every form''' 1. Stapled records such as pregnancy health records do NOT need a label on every page unless at a later date there is a legal case in which case such labels can be added 2. Due to a particularly damaging past managerial decree far too often the NHS logo is placed top right on health service forms. While the NHS logo has an important role there is never any need for it to be placed top right, as too often currently happens. To avoid human error, it is essential that the patient’s name, date of birth etc. are always recorded on the top right of every loose piece of paper. === Immediate benefit from standardising sticky label data === '''Reducing the need to ask the same set of questions over and over again.''' Once the data items proposed have been openly debated and a standardised set agreed, it should be possible to encourage central government funded standardised sticky labels to be printed in any suitable place, e.g. Primary Care Centres, Hospital A&E departments, Social Care Departments etc. Such pre-prepared sticky labels can be used to eliminate the need to ask the same set of questions and get the same set of answers whenever a new paper form has to be filled in. See elsewhere on this website for examples of where a sticky label will reduce data entry overload. In time, it is intended that this website will show a best buy version of each form. The availability of standardised labels immediately has the potential to reduce the time and the cost to taxpayers by reducing the time taken to complete the many separate forms so far identified as being needed for a housebound person. == QR Codes: An inter-operability breakthrough == '''Easy and cost effective data transfer - Paper to Digital and Digital to Paper''' The simplicity and limited nature of the proposed data sets means that at the same time as the standardised sticky labels are printed QR squares could also be printed which would allow the individualised data to be read by any suitable QR code reader, thus allowing immediate access to an electronic version of the data. Click [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_code] for more information. == Complementary to existing ‘paper to electronic’ methods == '''Leaves a place for automatic digitisation of handwritten forms''' The wisdam project is intended to complement not replace existing paper to digital methods such as digital pens. == No disruption to existing healthcare ICT systems == '''Simple potential to reduce the data re-entry overload everywhere.''' One of the most crucial advantages of the wisdam initiative is that it in no way requires the replacement of any existing health or social care system. The output from QR codes being in the form of simple CSV sets of data, it will not take much extra work for any existing system to save data entry time and work. == Front line healthcare professionals need to provide the detail == '''Multiple different expert committees not the answer''' Front line clinicians have such commitments to direct patient care that very few of them worldwide, especially those who work in hospitals, have enough time to spare on documenting their professional knowledge to the level of detail that is essential prior to the writing of complex computer code. Experience has shown that expert committees cannot achieve the quality and long term development required for good primary documentation. == Using wisdom of crowds through Wiki websites == '''Making the best use of rare expertise''' Getting the best possible flow patterning and wording is complex and time consuming and cannot be achieved by isolated individuals or temporary advisory groups. It is for this reason that the wisdam project encourages anyone worldwide to contribute to open documentation using wiki style websites. == A comprehensive approach == '''Immense future potential''' Although the original idea was to create a single paper record for the care of my housebound 99-year-old mother instead of her many existing separate paper casenotes, it has now developed to the point where it can gradually be expanded SINBAD by SINBAD to encompass more and more areas of the medical and social history. == International Value == '''Increasing world travel''' When travelling abroad, despite the internet, it is still safer to carry an easily readable medical record such as a wisdam record == Instant translations == '''Any language anywhere''' If, (or when?) the wisdam system becomes more widely accepted, using the internet translation abilities it should gradually become possible for more and more of the wisdam sinbads, to be instantly translated into any language or even into different scripts. == Widespread concern for the care of elderly relatives == '''An essential need by so many?''' Thousands of retired people still have responsibility for elderly relatives, and what better way for them to help with health and social care than to encourage the wisdam initiative to reach its full potential. == Emergencies at home == '''Always check the fridge''' When, like my mother, an elderly relatives lives alone, situations arise when they may fall and an automatic call is transmitted to an emergency centre. Due to pressure of work it is not uncommon for ambulances to arrive from a different part of the country. If for any reason the caller is not able to provide healthcare information a system already exists by which a small plastic container kept in the fridge contains minimal information. Under the wisdam proposals this plastic pot would contain clear instructions as to the location of the paper record, easily readable even when internet or mobile phone data was inaccessible. == Reduction of A & E Workload == '''Major reduction of data re-entry overload''' My mother had to be taken to her local A & E department on many occasions, often only staying for a few hours for blood and urine tests and for various imaging reports. On each occasion paperwork and computer records were completed afresh, yet a) she was given ordinary sandwiches to eat as staff were unaware she required a gluten free diet, b) she was sent back to her carers without any instructions or information sent with her, just an e-mail sent at the weekend to her primary health centre. Once it is accepted that wisdam records always accompany every housebound or institutionalised patient, the reduction in the A & E workload and the opportunity for human errors would be massively reduced. Present scanning or photocopying methods would allow copies of the paper record to be retained by the hospital, and the use of individualised QR codes would reduce the amount of electronic data needing to be entered for retrospective managerial analysis. == A potential business opportunity? == '''Government supplied or commercially sold?''' The small wisdam dataset groups will only attain their full potential when they become universal; and they will only become universal if they are available cost free to all potential users. But there seems no reason why the detailed design of a paper wisdam record should not be copyrighted and sold commercially; and if the NHS or Social Service departments are not, at least at this stage, interested, then maybe such records could be purchased by or for individual patients through Age UK or pharmacies like Boots, with any income going towards the expenses of ‘not for profit’ wisdam charitable project. After all most people now have paper healthcare records which have to be stored somewhere. == Potential for advertisements == '''Adverts could be included''' If wisdam records become widely used for housebound or institutionalised patients a page or more could usefully be dedicated to relevant advertising e.g. by stair lifts, mobility equipment, upright baths, wheelchairs, Age UK (On/Off + 2, 4, or 8 personalised numbers only), mobile phones etc. Income from such adverts could be used for a ‘not-for profit’ company to sustain the future development of the wisdam initiative. == Long term commitment and Enthusiasm == '''Spreading a good idea''' To spread good ideas, one needs individuals to actively and enthusiastically promote progress through critical stages (Greenhalgh, T., Robert, G., Bate, P., Kyriakidou, O., Macfarlane, F., & Peacock, R. (2004). How to spread good ideas. A systematic review of the literature on diffusion, dissemination and sustainability of innovations in health service delivery and organisation. Report for the National Co-ordinating Centre for NHS Service Delivery and Organisation) Government initiatives and research projects almost always have limited funding and a limited lifespan. Rupert Fawdry and Helga Perry have had, and will continue to have, a life-time commitment to using ICT to benefit the care of the individual patient. They have multiple national and worldwide contacts.
Return to Unique Selling Points. | 2019-04-20T05:04:50Z | http://www.eepd.org.uk/wisdam/index.php?title=Unique_Selling_Points&action=edit |
This includes preventing foreign substances from entering the body; aiding in immune function; protecting internal organs from physical trauma; protecting against ultraviolet damage; regulating body temperature; producing lipids to protect and maintain hydration, thus preventing transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and dehydration; communicating sensations via touch, and excreting waste products and toxins. Another key function is synthesizing nutrients into molecules to provide each cell what it requires to do its job. Many of the micronutrients discussed play a significant role in collagen synthesis. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and comprises roughly 75 percent of the skin’s (dry) weight. It provides the dermis with its structural integrity and gives strength and tone to the skin and other tissues, hence reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
It should also be noted that the skin is an effective diagnostic tool to assess the body’s overall health. Internal factors that impact the body’s organs and systems also affect the skin; namely, how it looks and performs. Since the skin is connected to every part of the body, the health of the skin is indicative of the health within the body, and the health of the body depends on how we feed the skin. Think of it this way: food is an input and so are lifestyle choices. The body takes all these inputs collectively. So you cannot have a poor diet, carry high stress, get inadequate sleep and expect to maintain healthy skin. That is counterintuitive to the way the skin works. It is assumed that all the micronutrients have an effect on the skin in some way, however, in the interest of brevity, I will focus on the micronutrients that have a more direct connection to the skin via the functions listed above.
Vitamin A is an umbrella term for an important class of antioxidants and is used to generically describe compounds that exhibit the biological activity of retinol, the alcoholic form of vitamin A. Vitamin A and its derivatives support cell growth and repair by reducing the oxidation of DNA, protecting cells from free radical damage, assisting with immune function, and maintaining and repairing epithelial tissue through cell differentiation and its role in gene expression. By affecting gene expression, vitamin A can determine what type of cell an immature cell will become. Protein cannot be utilized in the body without vitamin A.When protein is deficient, the amount of retinol-binding protein, (which binds to vitamin A and transports it from the liver to other tissues in the body), made is inadequate. Without vitamin A, epithelial cells which make up the skin cannot differentiate normally because there is no vitamin A to regulate the production of particular proteins. Because vitamin A increases cell proliferation and turnover, it is often used as a treatment for acne and wrinkles. Retinoids influence keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation via binding to nuclear retinoic acid receptors (RARalpha, -gamma) and retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRalpha). Carotenoids are compounds related to vitamin A and some can convert to retinol serving as precursors to vitamin A. Beta-carotene, among the most popular of the carotenoids, converts to retinyl esters in the epidermis. It also stimulates natural collagen and elastin. Once consumed, it converts to vitamin A in the liver but does not have the same effect as vitamin A in the body; hence, it does not pose the same toxic risk.
The B vitamins help to maintain the health of the nerves, skin, eyes, hair, liver, mouth, as well as healthy muscle tone in the gastrointestinal tract and proper brain function. They are essential for wound healing, prevention of premature skin aging and acne, aids new cell growth, and promotes circulation and metabolism. Because B vitamins work in tandem, a deficiency in one likely means a deficiency of another.
Thiamine (B1) is responsible for the synthesis of neurotransmitters. Its function of breaking down glucose to provide energy is especially important since glucose is the energy source for nerve cells. Thiamine enhances circulation, plays a role in blood formation, carbohydrate metabolism, and aids digestion through the production of hydrochloric acid. This is worth noting because only about 20 percent of what the skin looks like is a result of topical ingredients. The other 80 percent, of which the dermis and subcutaneous layers are a part, is directly linked to how the body is fed and how nutrients are digested, absorbed, and utilized. As an antioxidant, thiamine protects the body from the degenerative effects of aging, alcohol consumption, and smoking. Its link to acne is twofold. First, its responsibility to breakdown carbohydrates and sugar is significant since too much sugar would lead to too much insulin circulating in the blood. Insulin would stimulate the overproduction of other hormones which could cause an increase in sebum production and acne. Also, excessive sugar is inflammatory and can cause glycation and wrinkles due to the degradation of collagen. Secondly, thiamine is considered an anti-stress vitamin as it supports the immune system and seems to improve the body’s ability to cope during stressful situations.
Riboflavin (B2) is responsible for DNA replication and repair. It facilitates the use of oxygen by the tissues of the skin, hair, and nails and eliminates dandruff. It is required for red blood cell production and cell respiration. Together with vitamin A, it maintains and improves the mucous membranes in the digestive tract. Deficiency can lead to cracks and sores at the corners of the mouth, skin lesions and dermatitis, poor digestion, and hair loss.
Niacin (B3) improves circulation and is essential for healthy skin. It is essential in glucose metabolism, fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis, and in the production of hydrochloric acid. Skin lesions, inflammation, and dermatitis are directly linked to a deficiency in niacin.
Pantothenic acid (B5) is also considered an anti-stress vitamin and is required by every cell in the body. It is needed for proper adrenal gland function and plays a vital role in the production of adrenal hormones and neurotransmitters. As discussed above, the adrenal glands release androgens and can ultimately promote acneic conditions in the skin.
Pyridoxine (B6) is required to make hemoglobin, which transports oxygen in the blood. It affects nerve transmission by synthesizing lipids that are part of the myelin sheath that coats nerves. Myelin is essential for nerve transmission. It synthesizes hemoglobin, converts tryptophan into niacin, and breaks down glycogen to release glucose into the blood. It is also needed to form white blood cells which impact the skin’s immune function. Deficiency can lead to flaky skin, impaired wound healing, facial oiliness, numbness, and tingly sensations.
Cobalamin (B12) is necessary to maintain the myelin coating on nerves and is necessary for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) – the energy required for each cell in the body to perform. As is the case with all other B vitamins, it would be impossible for the body to exist without it, as it is required for proper digestion, absorption, protein synthesis, carbohydrate and fat metabolism. It aids in cell formation and cellular longevity.
Folate (folic acid) is needed for DNA synthesis. Cells must synthesize DNA in order to replicate which is vital to maintain the integrity of the skin which sheds its cells so rapidly. Without folate developing, red blood cells cannot divide and grow bigger, reducing the blood’s oxygen carrying capacity. It also supports the immune system by aiding in the formation and function of white blood cells.
Biotin functions in energy metabolism and glucose synthesis. It acts via cell surface receptors to regulate the expression of key enzymes involved in glucose metabolism. It is also important for the metabolism of fatty acids and amino acids which are primary components of the cell membrane and necessary for healthy skin. Biotin deficiency often results in seborrheic dermatitis characterized by scaly, flaky, itchy, red skin.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that “brightens, lightens, and tightens.” It is considered a powerhouse vitamin for the skin. It helps prevent water loss and maintains the skin’s barrier function; it strengthens capillary walls; promotes collagen and elastin synthesis; helps to brighten and prevent photo-damage; and increases cell proliferation. Vitamin C is a wound-healing vitamin, as it is required for tissue growth and repair. It is used to combat the effects of environmental stressors (ultraviolet rays, including UVA and UVB damage) and toxins, and deactivates free radicals. It can inhibit irregular melanin production, thereby reducing melanogenesis, and suppresses hyperpigmentation and inflammation, making it an important weapon for acne patients. The ability to fight infection is diminished when vitamin C is deficient. Vitamin C inhibits collagenase to suppress collagen degradation, as well as inhibits the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), often referred to as aging enzymes, which can break down collagen. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, vitamin C is found at high levels in both the epidermis and dermis, however, the vitamin C content in the epidermis is higher than in the dermis but diminishes with age. By some accounts, there is as much as five times more vitamin C in the epidermis than the deeper layers of the skin.
Vitamin D regulates the processes of cell prolifera-tion and differentiation that takes place in the basal layer of the epidermis ultimately supporting cell growth, wound healing, and maintaining the skin’s barrier functions. The active form of vitamin D appears to have an indirect effect on wound healing properties of the skin by regulating the expression of cathelicidin, an antimicrobial protein which promotes wound healing and tissue repair. Cathelicidin modulates inflammation in skin, induces angiogenesis and improves re-epithelialization (the process of restoring the epidermal barrier to re-establish a functional barrier that protects underlying cells from environmental exposures). There is a growing body of evidence that vitamin D3 is an important regulator of cutaneous immunity, in addition to its role in calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism. In particular, vitamin D3 exerts pluripotent effects on adaptive immune functions such as T cell activation and maturation of dendritic cells. In addition, vitamin D3 has been suggested to increase innate immunity in skin and to enable efficient antimicrobial defense at epithelial surfaces.
Vitamin E is another powerful antioxidant that promotes healthy skin. It improves circulation, is necessary for tissue repair, and protects cell membranes. It prevents cell damage by inhibiting the oxidation of lipids. Vitamin E helps prevent sun damage by absorbing the energy from ultraviolet light, although it cannot absorb UVA light. According to the Pauling Institute, vitamin E is the most abundant lipophilic antioxidant found in human skin. Like vitamin C, levels of vitamin E in the epidermis are higher than in the dermis. Vitamin E first accumulates in the sebaceous glands before it is delivered to the skin surface through sebum. Following oral ingestion, it takes at least seven days before the vitamin E content of sebum is altered. There are no transport proteins specific for vitamin E in the skin. Due to its lipophilic nature, vitamin E can also penetrate into all underlying layers of skin.
Vitamin K is needed for the normal clotting of blood. It is useful in healing skin discolorations, as well as treating under-eye darkness and circles. It is vitamin K’s blood clotting function that makes it a good choice for preventing bruising and hemorrhaging. Research suggests vitamin K activates the protein Matrix-carboxyglatamic acid (MGP) that inhibits the calcification of the skin leading to wrinkles in people suffering from a genetic disease- pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) which causes severe wrinkling on the face and body.
Coenzyme Q10 aids circulation, stimulates the immune system, increases tissue oxygenation, and has anti-aging benefits.
Boron is necessary for the metabolism of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. It is needed for healthy bones and muscle growth which supports healthy skin tone. Boron also plays a role in how the body uses energy from fats and sugars.
Calcium is needed for muscle growth and contraction; is essential in blood clotting; plays a role in fat metabolism through the activation of lipase; maintains proper cell membrane permeability; release of neurotransmitters, and helps keep skin healthy. Cellular calcium concentrations can control biological activity by facilitating the conversion of inactive proenzymes to active enzymes. Specific to the skin, a deficiency in calcium can lead to eczema and other cases of xerosis (dry skin).
Chromium is required to maintain normal blood glucose levels and is needed for energy. It is believed to act by enhancing the effects of insulin and through proper insulin utilization. It is essential for the synthesis of cholesterol, fats, and proteins. A deficiency is associated with glucose intolerance and inadequate metabolism of amino acids. Excessive intake has been linked to dermatitis.
"There is as much as five times more vitamin C in the epidermis than the deeper layers of the skin."
Copper is linked to collagen synthesis. If there is too little copper in the body, copper does not form normally, resulting in skeletal changes similar to those seen in vitamin C deficiency. Copper also aids in the formation of hemoglobin and red blood cells, as well as works with zinc and vitamin C to form elastin which provides elasticity and flexibility to the skin.
Iodine is needed for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland and ultimately every cell in the body. Thyroid hormones regulate metabolic rate, allowing each cell to do more of what it does; growth and development, and protein synthesis. Iodine aids in healing skin infections, prevents roughness and premature wrinkling.
Iron is associated with oxygen. The most important function is in the production of hemoglobin and the oxygenation of red blood cells and myoglobin found in muscle tissue. Iron is important to a healthy immune system and for energy production.
Magnesium assists in the uptake of calcium and potassium and the production of adenosine triphosphate. It is needed in every metabolic reaction that generates or uses adenosine triphosphate – every cell in the body. Magnesium helps regulate calcium homeostasis and the action of vitamin D.
Manganese is involved in collagen synthesis and degradation; gluconeogenesis and glucose regulation. Manganese is required for the activation of prolidase, an enzyme that functions to provide the amino acid proline for collagen formation.
Phosphorous is needed for blood clotting. In the body there should always be a balance of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Phosphorous is a structural component of the phospholipid bilayer that makes up cell membranes, DNA and RNA, and is important in energy metabolism in the cells.
Potassium works with sodium to control the body’s water balance. Low potassium levels can lead to intracellular water loss, causing dry skin and dehydration. Dehydration leads to the death of cells and a degradation of the skin.
Selenium is part of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase. It is also part of a protein needed for the synthesis of thyroid hormones and plays a vital role in regulating the effects of thyroid hormone on fat metabolism. But the primary function of selenium is to inhibit the oxidation of fats. Symptoms of selenium deficiency can include skin eruptions.
Sodium regulates fluid volume, ion transport, and intracellular osmotic pressure which directly affect edema in the skin and tissues. Inadequate sodium levels can lead to intracellular water loss and dysfunction in cellular communication, function, and so on.
Sulfur helps keep skin clear and smooth and is often used for the treatment of acne. Sulfur is needed for protein synthesis because methionine and cysteine both contain sulfur and is needed to build proteins.
Zinc aids in wound healing, promotes cell growth and immune function. Zinc is often combined with vitamin A in the treatment of acne. Zinc is needed by enzymes involved in the synthesis of DNA and RNA, carbohydrate metabolism, and facilitates the absorption of folate from food. Zinc supports the storage and release of insulin and the mobilization of vitamin A from the liver.
1 Balch, P. (2000). Prescription for nutritional healing, 3rd ed.
5 Grosvenor, M., & Smolin, L., (2012). Visualizing Nutrition: Everyday choices, 2nd ed. Hoboken: Wiley.
6 Karlsson T., Vahlquist A., & Törmä H. (2010). Keratinocyte Differentiation Induced by Calcium, Phorbol Ester or Interferon-Gamma Elicits Distinct Changes in the Retinoid Signalling Pathways. Journal of Dermatological Science. | 2019-04-21T10:23:56Z | https://www.dermascope.com/nutrition/the-science-of-skin-skin-care-from-the-inside-out |
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• evaluation of system security and stability as well as for other administrative purposes.
The legal basis for data processing is Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR.
If you have expressly consented according to Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 a GDPR, we will use your e-mail address to send you our newsletter on a regular basis. To receive the newsletter it is sufficient to provide an e-mail address. You can unsubscribe at any time, for example via a link at the end of each newsletter. Alternatively, you are welcome to send your unsubscription request at any time to [email protected] by e-mail.
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The data will be processed for the purpose of contacting us in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a GDPR on the basis of your voluntary consent. The personal data collected by us for the use of the contact form will be automatically deleted after your request has been processed.
If you have expressly consented according to art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a GDPR, we use your personal data to process your application in our company and to send you the corresponding messages. Your consent can be revoked at any time. You can send your revocation at any time to [email protected] by e-mail.
We also offer the “Job Agent” function via our applicant portal, which informs you by e-mail about new job offers. If you have expressly consented according to Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 a GDPR, we will use your e-mail address to regularly send you the new job offers. An e-mail address is sufficient to receive the Job Agent Newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time, for example via a link at the end of each newsletter.
We use the most common SSL (Secure Socket Layer) method in connection with the highest level of encryption supported by your browser. Usually this is a 256 bit encryption. If your browser does not support 256-bit encryption, we use 128-bit v3 technology instead. You can tell whether a single page of our website is transmitted in encrypted form by the closed display of the key or lock symbol in the lower status bar of your browser. We also use suitable technical and organizational security measures to protect your data against accidental or intentional manipulation, partial or complete loss, destruction or unauthorized access by third parties. Our security measures are continuously improved in line with technological developments.
• to complain to a supervisory authority pursuant to Art. 77 GDPR. As a rule, you can contact the supervisory authority of your usual place of residence or work or our company headquarters.
If your personal data are processed on the basis of legitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 letter f GDPR, you have the right to object to the processing of your personal data pursuant to Art. 21 GDPR, provided that there are reasons for this which arise from your particular situation or the objection is directed against direct advertising. In the latter case, you have a general right of objection, which we will implement without specifying a particular situation. If you wish to exercise your right of revocation or objection, simply send an e-mail to [email protected].
Data are transmitted to third countries exclusively in accordance with legal regulations.
As far as we fulfil our contract with you, data will be made available to third parties. Appropriate guarantees pursuant to Art. 46 GDPR or an appropriateness resolution pursuant to Art. 45 GDPR are not required.
If you do not give your consent to the data transmission, the data transmission does not serve the fulfilment of the contract or the transmission is necessary to assert, exercise or defend legal claims, the data will only be transmitted by us if suitable guarantees or an appropriateness decision is available.
A suitable guarantee exists if the EU standard data protection clauses issued by the EU Commission have been completed or if certification by means of a “Privacy Shield” is available.
The legal basis is Art. 45 and 46 GDPR.
The company data protection officer of VOSS can be contacted at the above address, Ms Martina Weidenfelder or at [email protected].
We use social plug-ins of the social networks Xing, Kununu, LinkedIn and Youtube on our website on the basis of art. 6 par. 1 p. 1 lit. f GDPR in order to make our company better known about this. The underlying advertising purpose is to be regarded as a legitimate interest within the meaning of the GDPR. Responsibility for data protection-compliant operation must be guaranteed by the respective provider. The integration of these plug-ins by us takes place in the way of the so-called two-click method, in order to protect visitors of our web page in the best possible way.
Our website uses social media plug-ins from Xing to personalize their use. For this we use the “Xing” button. This is an offer from Xing. When you access a page of our website that contains such a plugin, your browser establishes a direct connection to Xing’s servers. The content of the plugin is transmitted by Xing directly to your browser and integrated into the website.
By integrating the plug-ins, Xing receives the information that your browser has called up the corresponding page of our website, even if you do not have a Xing account or are not currently logged in to Xing. This information (including your IP address) is transmitted directly from your browser to a Xing server in Europe and stored there.
If you are logged in to Xing, Xing can directly associate your visit to our website with your Xing account. If you interact with the plugins, for example by pressing the “SHARE” button, the corresponding information is also transmitted directly to a Xing server and stored there. The information is also published on Xing and displayed to your Xing contacts.
Xing may use this information for the purposes of advertising, market research and demand-oriented design of the Xing pages. To this end, Xing creates usage, interest and relationship profiles, e.g. to evaluate your use of our website with regard to the advertisements displayed to you on Xing, to inform other Xing users about your activities on our website and to provide further services associated with the use of Xing.
If you do not want Xing to associate the data collected via our website with your Xing account, you must log out of Xing before visiting our website. The purpose and scope of the data collection and the further processing and use of the data by Xing as well as your rights in this regard and setting options for the protection of your privacy can be found in the data protection information from Xing (https://www.xing.com/privacy/).
Our website uses social media plug-ins from Kununu. For this we use the “Kununu “-Button. This is an offer from Kununu. If you call a page of our website which contains such a plug-in, your browser establishes a direct connection with the servers of Kununu. The content of the plug-in is transmitted by Kununu directly to your browser and integrated into the website.
By integrating the plug-ins Kununu receives the information that your browser has called up the corresponding page of our website, even if you do not have a Kununu account or are not currently logged in at Kununu. This information (including your IP address) is transmitted directly from your browser to a Kununu server in Europe and stored there.
If you are logged in to Kununu, Kununu can assign your visit to our website directly to your Kununu account. If you interact with the plug-ins, the corresponding information is also transmitted directly to a Kununu server and stored there. The information will also be published on Kununu and displayed to your Kununu contacts.
Kununu may use this information for the purpose of advertising, market research and demand-oriented design of the Kununu pages. To this end, Kununu creates usage, interest and relationship profiles, e.g. to evaluate your use of our website with regard to the advertisements displayed to you on Kununu, to inform other Kununu users about your activities on our website and to provide other services associated with the use of Kununu.
If you do not want Kununu to associate the information collected through our website with your Kununu account, you must log out of Kununu before visiting our website. The purpose and scope of the data collection and the further processing and use of the data by Kununu as well as your relevant rights and setting options for the protection of your privacy can be found in Kununu’s data protection information (https://privacy.xing.com/en/privacy-policy).
Our website uses social media plug-ins from LinkedIn Ireland U.C., Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland to personalize their use. For this we use the “SHARE”-button. The plug-ins are marked with a LinkedIn logo, for example in the form of an “In” in an underlayed square. This is an offer from LinkedIn. When you access a page of our website that contains such a plug-in, your browser establishes a direct connection to the LinkedIn servers. The content of the plug-in is transmitted by LinkedIn directly to your browser and integrated into the website.
By integrating the plug-ins, LinkedIn receives the information that your browser has called up the corresponding page of our website, even if you do not have a LinkedIn account or are not currently logged in to LinkedIn. This information (including your IP address, your proxy server, your browser, your add-ons, your device identification and functions of your Internet provider or mobile operator including location recognition) is transmitted directly from your browser to a LinkedIn server in the USA and outside the USA and stored there.
If you are logged in to LinkedIn, LinkedIn can assign your visit to our website directly to your LinkedIn account. If you interact with the plugins, for example by pressing the “SHARE” button, the corresponding information is also transmitted directly to a LinkedIn server and stored there. The information is also published on LinkedIn and displayed to your LinkedIn contacts.
LinkedIn may use this information for the purpose of advertising, market research and demand-oriented design of the LinkedIn pages. For this purpose, LinkedIn creates usage, interest and relationship profiles, e.g. to evaluate your use of our website with regard to the advertisements displayed to you on LinkedIn, to inform other LinkedIn users about your activities on our website and to provide further services associated with the use of LinkedIn.
If you do not want LinkedIn to associate the information collected through our website with your LinkedIn account, you must log out of LinkedIn before visiting our website. The purpose and scope of data collection and the further processing and use of the data by LinkedIn as well as your rights and setting options for the protection of your privacy can be found in LinkedIn’s data protection information (https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy).
Our website also uses so-called social media plug-ins (“plug-ins”) from YouTube, the YouTube LLC, 901 Cherry Avenue, San Bruno, CA 94066, USA. “(“YouTube”). The plug-ins are marked with a YouTube logo, for example in the form of a “YouTube camera”.
When you access a page of our website that contains such a plug-in, your browser establishes a direct connection to YouTube’s servers. The content of the plug-in is transferred directly from YouTube to your browser and integrated into the page. This integration gives YouTube the information that your browser has called up the corresponding page of our website, even if you do not have a YouTube profile or are not currently logged on to YouTube.
This information (including your IP address) is transmitted directly from your browser to a YouTube server in the USA and stored there. If you are logged in to YouTube, YouTube can immediately associate your visit to our website with your YouTube account. If you interact with the plug-ins, for example by pressing the “YouTube” button, this information is also transmitted directly to a YouTube server and stored there. The information will also be published on your YouTube account and displayed to your contacts.
The tracking measures listed below and used by us are carried out on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 f GDPR. With the tracking measures used, we want to ensure that our website is designed to meet requirements and is continually optimized. On the other hand, we use the tracking measures to statistically record the use of our website and to evaluate it for the purpose of optimizing our offer. These interests are to be regarded as legitimate within the meaning of the aforementioned provision. The respective data processing purposes and data categories can be taken from the corresponding tracking tools.
This website uses Google Analytics, a web analysis service of Google Inc. “(“Google”). Google Analytics uses “cookies”, which are text files placed on your computer, to help the website analyze how users use the site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of this website is usually transferred to a Google server in the USA and stored there. However, if IP anonymization is activated on this website, Google will reduce your IP address within Member States of the European Union or in other countries party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area beforehand. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be transmitted to a Google server in the USA and shortened there. On behalf of the operator of this website, Google will use this information to evaluate your use of the website, to compile reports on website activity and to provide the website operator with other services relating to website and Internet use.
Please note that this website uses Google Analytics with the extension “_anonymizeIp()” and therefore IP addresses are only processed further in order to exclude a direct personal relationship.
To ensure that actions are performed by a natural person and not a programmed bot, we use the reCaptcha service of Google LLC (1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; hereinafter “Google”).
In this context, abuses and manipulations (e.g. automatic and automated processing) on the Internet are checked on the basis of text distortions or other input fields that cannot be easily read or answered by a machine. For this purpose, data is transferred to a Google server in the USA and stored there; it is not stored on our own server. By activating IP anonymization (done by manual adaptation) on our website, your IP address will be shortened by Google within member states of the European Union or in other signatory states to the European Economic Area Agreement. Only in certain exceptional cases is the complete IP address transmitted to the server in the USA. On our behalf, Google will use the information obtained to evaluate the use of these services and, if the data storage is deactivated, to store it for a maximum period of 14 months in accordance with the GDPR. The transmitted IP address of your browser is not merged with other Google data within the scope of reCaptcha.
This website uses CAAN®, a tracking method according to German data protection law. The use of this tracking does NOT result in a new, local storage of cookies and also in no forwarding to other, e.g. foreign servers. With CAAN®, only cookies stored by you are queried and recorded and evaluated completely anonymously for the sole purpose of analyzing advertising effects. We expressly do not merge any internet usage profiles with personal data of this site, which could enable identification of a consumer, and we do not store any other personal data.
The VOSS Logo is a registered trademark of VOSS Automotive GmbH. The design of the website, all texts, graphics, pictures and files are subject to copyright protection of VOSS Automotive GmbH and VOSS Fluid GmbH, respectively. Using them completely or in excerpts is allowed only with a written permission of VOSS Automotive GmbH or VOSS Fluid GmbH. VOSS Automotive GmbH and VOSS Fluid GmbH will enforce its rights globally in the scope of the respective laws.
The content of our website is intended only for your information and does not constitute any offer. The content of our website cannot form the basis of a contractual relationship. The website doesn’t contain any declaration of warranty or the condition of products that VOSS Automotive GmbH or VOSS Fluid GmbH is liable for.
Insofar as links to websites of third parties are included in our website, VOSS Automotive GmbH or VOSS Fluid GmbH are not liable for their content and do not assume responsibility for damages caused by their use.
VOSS Automotive GmbH and VOSS Fluid GmbH do not assume liability for any damage resulting from the visit of our website. Only concluded contractual agreements on products and services in connection with the general terms and conditions of VOSS Automotive GmbH or VOSS Fluid GmbH are applicable for all kinds of liability and warranty of VOSS Automotive GmbH or VOSS Fluid GmbH.
Subject to technical modifications, errors excepted. | 2019-04-18T14:16:56Z | https://www.voss-fluid.net/fr/declaration-de-confidentialite |
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Call the police immediately, and an ambulance if necessary.
Record details of the accident including date, time, location, a description of the accident, any injuries, and any charges laid.
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All tools should be stamped with an identification number to assist in recovery. Tools should be painted with bright, easily recognizable colours to ease in their identification.
Any onsite storage of materials should be in a secure storage area. Where the materials are considered a high target, they should be kept inside a building in a locked area or brought to the site only when they are needed.
Warning signs should be posted limiting access and indicating the safety equipment required to gain entry.
All electrical cords that pass through pedestrian areas should be secured so that tripping is avoided.
All mud or water on public traffic areas should be cleaned regularly.
The local utilities should be contacted to locate underground services in the event that any excavations are to be performed.
All flammable liquids used should be stored in approved safety containers.
All hotwork should be controlled. Combustibles should be removed at least 11 metres from the hotwork. If this is not possible non-combustible shields should be used. A fire watch should be provided for at least a half-hour after the hotwork is completed. All hotwork permit regulations must be followed.
All combustible refuse created during the work should be cleaned up regularly. Oily rags should be separated and stored in metal containers with tight fitting lids.
Fire extinguishers of the appropriate type should be available at all times.
Certificates of liability should be obtained from all subcontractors to ensure they are maintaining adequate liability coverage.
All new equipment should be tested and inspected when the work is completed. Customers should signoff the job once complete.
Ensure that the project complies with all applicable codes and standards.
Records of all jobs including plans, testing documents and approvals should be maintained.
Avoid overloading of electrical outlets, particularly in older buildings equipped with fuses instead of circuit breakers.
If existing electrical service is inadequate, ensure that any required electrical modifications are done by a professional electrician.
Ensure that life and safety features such as fire alarms, exit signs and emergency lights are operational and serviced as per applicable fire code specifications.
Clean all spills or wet floors immediately, post signs warning of wet or damp floors and check floor surfaces for potential hazards on a regular basis. Non-slip rugs should be used during the winter months.
Be SELECTIVE when hiring drivers for your vehicles by obtaining pre-employment checks on all employees. Your vehicles should be suitable for the type of work you do and the relative experience of your drivers. A safety conscious driver, with a clean driving and operating record, is the key to reducing the risk of personal injury to the driver and passengers as well as any damage or injury to others.
Drivers should NEVER pick up hitchhikers or allow anyone who is not authorized by the OWNER, to ride in the vehicle.
Proper MAINTENANCE improves road safety and should be completed by experienced and qualified mechanics. Regular maintenance schedules and records should be kept to prevent accidents caused by unexpected mechanical failures.
Inspect your vehicle every day against a standardized checklist. Keep your vehicle equipped with a flashlight, good spare tire, jack and flares in case of emergencies.
Proper USE of vehicles extends the life of your vehicle as well as preventing damage to the property of others. Drive on well-maintained and well-travelled roads. Travel at speeds that are not in excess of the posted speed limit. Properly secured loads prevent your load from spilling on the roadways causing damage to others. Improper loading or overloading leads to load shift and/or upset or rollover. Vehicles should only be used for their intended purpose.
Always lock your vehicle and take the keys with you, even if it is only for a few minutes.
Never leave the engine running while your vehicle is unattended.
Safeguard your keys - NEVER keep your vehicle keys or business keys on the same key ring and NEVER attach identification tags to them.
Valuable items exposed to view are an invitation to thieves, e.g. log books, delivery schedules, cash, cheques. Drivers should NEVER reveal the contents of their vehicles, their loads, their destination or leave their loads unattended.
Deliveries should not be made unless the receiving party signs them for.
Parking in well-lit areas is important for personal safety and for the protection of your vehicle and cargo. Keep your vehicle in a locked garage or protected location when not in use.
Choose your anti-theft devices carefully. There are many types of anti-theft devices available to protect your vehicle and cargo. Choose the mechanical device, alarm or electronic immobilizer that is best suited to protect your vehicle and cargo.
Establish, post and strictly enforce a rule forbidding customers from entering the service bay area. By establishing a clean, safe waiting area for customers, you will significantly reduce the possibility of "slip and fall" types of losses. An added benefit is that customers will not disturb your mechanics while they are working on vehicles.
Ensure that you always get signed customer work orders that outline the authorized repairs. This will eliminate any disputes as to the work that was authorized by the customer.
When preparing a customer's work order, all completed repairs should be listed along with all recommended repairs declined by the customer; the customer should sign-off the work order. Including declined recommendations in the work order could protect you from a potential liability loss.
Make sure that the front, rear and interior of your business premises are well lit, particularly when closed for business.
When overnight storage of customers' vehicles is necessary, they should be stored inside if possible. If outside storage of vehicles is required on a regular basis, the area should be well lit, adequately fenced and padlocked overnight.
Establish a key control procedure with employees to limit access to customers' keys. Keys should be kept under lock and key, within your office premises. This will reduce the accessibility of keys to potential thieves and vandals, reducing the possibility of customers' vehicles being stolen or vandalized.
Limit the amount of cash in the till by using a safe or money-limiting device. Make regular bank deposits, varying the time of deposits and the route taken.
Ensure that you maintain accurate inventory records for all stock, including tools, automobile parts and miscellaneous retail items. In the event of a theft loss, accurate records will make it easier for the insurance adjuster to settle your claim fairly, quickly and equitably.
Obtain driver abstracts for all employees on a regular basis. This will help you to determine which employees should be test-driving customers' vehicles.
Establish guidelines for employees as to when and who is permitted to test drive customers' vehicles.
Ensure that test drives follow a predetermined route, in areas that have relatively light vehicular and pedestrian traffic. This can significantly reduce your chance of suffering a loss with a customer's vehicle.
Never store combustible material, such as cardboard or paper, near heaters or electrical equipment and remove combustible waste on a regular basis.
In sprinklered buildings, keep stock more than 18 inches below the sprinkler heads, so as not to interfere with the system's effectiveness in the event of a fire.
Keep all of your stock off the floor, stored on skids, shelves, or racks.
Make sure the front, rear and interior of your business premises are well lit, particularly when closed for business.
Arrange the interior layout of the store so that the till area is clearly visible from the exterior of the building.
Limit the amount of cash in the till by using a safe or money-limiting device.
If your store is open long hours, consider the installation of closed circuit television cameras and hold-up alarms.
Make regular bank deposits, but vary the timing of the deposits and the route taken.
Install anti-shoplifting devices and surveillance equipment or keep high priced merchandise under lock and key in display cases.
Do not block exits with stock or equipment. Ensure that all exit doors are unlocked during store hours.
Inspect the interior of your premises on a regular basis for unsafe conditions that could lead to a slip & fall loss. Maintain a daily log of when the inspection was done, what conditions were noted and what corrective action was taken.
Floors should be kept clean and in good repair at all times, with loose or defective flooring being replaced immediately.
During periods of inclement weather, all entrances should have mats or rugs to help keep the floor clean and dry. Damaged mats should be replaced as soon as possible.
Non-slip wax should be used on floor surfaces, where required.
Water and other spills should be mopped up immediately and a Caution-Wet Floor sign should be posted.
For surfaces that are consistently slippery, specialized non-slip epoxy coatings or non-skid flooring materials may be used.
For spills involving oil or other industrial materials, absorbent non-combustible cleaning materials should be used.
Ensure that all entranceways and aisles are clear of obstructions and/or promotional displays.
Inspect the exterior of your premises on a regular basis for unsafe conditions that could lead to a slip & fall loss. Maintain a daily log of when the inspection was done, what conditions were noted and what corrective action was taken.
Any damage to stairs, sidewalks and pavement should be repaired as soon as possible, with signs and barriers posted, until such time as repairs are completed.
A snow and ice removal program should be implemented and adhered to, with a single individual having responsibility for the program.
Have the appropriate equipment, tools and materials available for use by your staff, in the case of a weather related emergency. e.g. shovels, salt, sand etc.
Professional snow removal contractors should be contracted to plow, sand and salt your parking and walkway facilities. Ensure that the contractor keeps a comprehensive log of the work performed.
Clean gutters and downspouts and ensure that melt water is directed away from sidewalks and walkways. Check that exterior lighting is adequate and check on a regular basis for malfunctioning light fixtures.
Establish and maintain a daily garbage removal program, whereby the walkways and sidewalks are swept and the debris removed on a regular basis.
Close blinds and curtains at night so that a burglar can't scope your belongings.
Lock all doors and windows before leaving.
Lock windows so that they can't be opened from the outside. If they can't be locked, you can pin them by drilling a hole through both window frames and inserting a bolt or metal pin. The pin must be easily removable for emergency situations.
Home burglar alarm systems are a great deterrent. Even if you have an alarm system, don't neglect the other security measures available to you. An alarm provides an extra layer of security, but is no replacement for good common sense. Alarm owners should still do what they can to make sure their home is not an attractive target for thieves.
Make your home look occupied at all times.
Use timers to maintain normal lighting patterns.
Leave a radio on when you are away from your home for short periods of time.
Consider marking your valuables indelibly (engraved) with your drivers licence or social insurance number.
Take an inventory of your home with a videotape and/or photographs.
Keep jewellery and negotiables in a safety deposit box or an unlikely place (i.e. Not your bedroom).
Don't put up a nameplate outside of your house with your full name. A burglar can use this information to look up your number in the phone book and call to see if you are home.
Don't leave a note on the door or in the mailbox telling a friend/family member that you aren't home.
Don't leave spare keys in an obvious place such as the mailbox or under the front door mat. This makes it very easy for a burglar to rob your house quickly without forcing entry.
Don't leave cash and handbags in view in your home.
Don't leave any doors unlocked when you are at the other end of the house or in the yard.
Arrange for a neighbour to cut the grass or shovel snow.
Cancel all deliveries during the time you will be away.
Maintain normal lighting patterns by using electronic timers.
Ask a neighbour to put one of their garbage bags in front of your house on collection day.
Leave a radio on, with a timer if necessary to simulate normal use.
Ask a neighbour to park in your driveway.
Arrange for neighbours to pick up flyers.
Don't talk about your vacation plans with strangers or service people.
Use your work address on your luggage tags so a potential burglar won't know where your empty house is.
If practical, remove valuables from your home. Small valuables should be stored in a safety deposit box. | 2019-04-23T04:01:52Z | http://rockymountainagencies.com/Tools-and-Resources/Insurance-Tips.aspx |
The traditional Bouvier design by Thomasville is a designer print that features select scenes from a herder's diary. The images are sketched in black to mimic the original charcoal drawings. They are set on an cream background to recreate the look and feel of a sketch.
Rod Pocket Drapery is fully lined in off white and is sold in pairs measuring 100 inches wide (two 50 inch wide panels) by 84 inches long. The rod pocket is 3 inches with a 2 inch header. A 2 1/2" wide Continental Rod is perfect for hanging.
For a colorful Mediterranean bring the Tuscany Window Curtain Panels into your home. It features a lovely Ikat print on woven 100% Polyester Pebble Beach Base fabric. The pair measures 70 inches wide by 63 inches long, measured from top stitch of rod p ocket. Panels have a three inch rod pocket and no header. Not lined, imported. Machine washable.
Hydrangea is a gorgeous medium scale pattern design in blue. Made in the USA of 100% Cotton 7 ounce duck cloth. The pair measures 68 inches wide and comes in lengths of 54, 63, 72, and 84 inches. Tie backs are included, rod pocket is 1-1/2 inch and header is 2-1/2 inches. Use a one inch diameter curtain rod hanging.
Made here in North Carolina, it's your opportunity to mix and match beautifully crafted Swags with matching or coordinating Rod Pocket Curtain Panels. Add some toss pillows to complete your designer inspired custom look.
Rod pocket panels measure 50 inches wide in your choice of 84 or 96 inches. Longer panels can be custom ordered. Each panel features a 4-inch rod pocket to fit a 2-1/4 inch diameter decorative wood rod. Fully lined in high quality white lining material.
The Two Piece Swag Pair measures 100 inches wide by 30 inches long measuring from top of "header". It has a 3 inch rod pocket, 2 inch header, and is fully lined in high quality white lining material.
The Straight Corded Valance measures 100 inches wide by 16 inches long including the 2 inch header. Rod pocket is 3 inches and is self corded and fully lined.
Decorative Toss Pillow has self cording on all sides and measures 17 x 17. Fabric is the same on front and back of pillow.
The pair measures 100" wide (two 50" wide panels) by 84 inches long, and is fully lined, with a 3 inch rod pocket and two inch header. Allow two times your rod width for proper fullness. Use a 2 1/2 inch continental rod for hanging. Fabric is cotton and is made in the USA.
The La Selva Natural tropical print pattern from Thomasville includes a line of curtains, valances, bedding, throw pillows and other home décor accents. The lush print features a tropical picture of palm leaves and bird of paradise blooms and leaves in muted greens, golds and salmon reds over a beige background. The pattern is printed on cotton duck fabric, and made in the U.S. The paired curtains measure 50-inches wide, for a total 100-inches in width by 84-inches in length. The curtains are fully lined and have a 3-inch rod pocket and 2-inch header. The curtains take a 2 1/2-inch continental rod for hanging. It is recommended to allow two-times of curtain width for the rod width to allow for proper fullness. The La Selva curtains can be paired with La Selva valences, bedding, throw pillows and other home décor accents.
Bring the lushness of the tropics into your home with the La Selva curtains with a tropical print over a black background from Thomasville. The 84-inch rod pocket curtain pair has a combined 100-inch width, with two 50-inch panels and a length of 84-inches. The long curtains can cover tall windows, or elongate smaller windows with a floor-length hang. The cotton curtains have a tropical print of palm and fern leaves, other tropical leaves and bird of paradise floral blooms throughout, growing against a black background. The curtains are fully lined, and have a 3-inch rod pocket and a 2-inch header. The curtains are best when hung with a 2 1/2-inch continental rod. Allow two times the rod width for proper fullness. The curtains are made in the USA.
Rod pocket panels measure 50 inches wide in your choice of 84 or 96 inches. Longer panels can be custom ordered. Each panel features a 4-inch rod pocket to fit a 2-1/4 inch diameter decorative wood rod. Fully lined in high quality white lining material. Many custom options in our Almost Custom program including size and rod pocket change, insulated or black out lining, plus pinch pleats and grommet top panels are also available.
Valances and Toss Pillow to match or coordinate is available in our Almost Custom program. Toss Pillow has self cording on all sides and measures 17 x 17. Fabric is the same on front and back of pillow.
Thermalogic Ultimate Black Out Liner is an energy efficient insulated curtain panel. Warm air stays in during winter, cool air stays in during summer. Get a more restful sleep thanks to its room darkening characteristics. Plus, it saves money on your energy bill, acts as a sound barrier so you can enjoy more peace and quiet, reduces glare on computer monitors and TV screens, protects carpets and furniture from sun fading, and it is white on the back side to meet condominiums requirements.
Each panel has 1/2 inch side hems and 1/2" bottom hem, and includes simple to follow instructions.
Captiva, with its a tropical allure, features green tones and gold on a deep red ground. The pair measures 100" wide (two 50" wide panels) by 84 inches long, and is fully lined, with a 3 inch rod pocket and two inch header. Allow two times your rod width for proper fullness. Use a 2 1/2 inch continental rod for hanging. Fabric is Cotton and is made in the USA.
Attractive light and airy rod pocket curtain panel featuring black writing on a crushed taffeta ground in Natural.
Measured from top stitch of rod pocket down.
Dimensions: 68"W x 72"L (two 34" wide panels).
1 1/2" rod pocket 2" header, not lined. Includes tie backs.
Omaha Tailored Panel is packaged and sold individually. Use two panels to accommodate a standard single window.
1 1/2"" rod pocket, 2" header, not lined.
Victoria Park Toile in the true French Country tradition is a 100% cotton print fabric. Add country elegance to a any room in your home for a casual country feel.
100% Cotton 7 ounce Duck, dry cleaning is recommended.
Scalloped Valance is not included.
A luxurious heavy weight tone on tone jacquard which is woven in an all over leaf motif using shiny and dull yarns to achieve increased depth and interest. Enhanced even more with a lovely printed multi-colored scrolling floral design.
Note, photo illustrates two Tailored Panels with a Scalloped Valance. All components, including panels, are sold separately.
A deluxe heavy weight tone on tone jacquard. The Tailored Panel is woven in an all over leaf motif using dull and shiny yarns for depth and interest. Colors: Blue, Chocolate, Latte, Sage, Wine, White, Navy, and Ivory Fabric content: 100% Polyester 3" rod pocket, 1 1/2" header. Machine wash, warm water, gentle cycle. Do not bleach. Line dry. Warm iron as needed. Imported. Dimensions: 52"W x 63"L Panel is sold individually, one per package.
Deluxe heavy weight tone on tone jacquard tailored panel is woven in an all over leaf motif using shiny and dull yarns for depth and interest. It is accented with a printed stripe motif. The matching scallop valance is finished with a self fabric cording along bottom edge.
3" rod pocket 1 1/2" header, not lined.
Dimensions: 52"wide, lengths in 63" and 84".
Photo illustrates two Tailored Panels and two Scallop Valances. Components are sold individually.
Machine wash warm water, gently cycle. Do not bleach. Line dry. Warm iron if needed.
Panels are 52" wide and offered in lengths of 63" and 84"
This shimmering textural woven jacquard tailored panel is an all over floral motif and is created by lustrous yarns of varying textures and heights. All components are unlined and have a deluxe 3 inch rod pocket. Use a 2 1/2 inch continentail rod for hanging.
Photograph illustrates two panels and three Water Fall Valances, each component sold separately.
Choose from four luxurious colors: Sage, Ivory, Cocoa, and Brick. Arctic Blue, featured in photograph has been discontinued.
Machine wash, warm water, gentle cycle. Do not bleach. Line dry. Warm iron if necessary.
Audrey is a pretty floral fabric design with butterflies.
Panel pairs are 68" wide, two 34" wide panels with tie backs. Lengths are offered in 54", 63", and 84" in limited quantities. Please do not exceed product's availability.
1 1/2" rod pocket 2 1/2" header.
Made of 100% Cotton. Dry clean recommended.
Sweet William Rod Pocket Panel Has a 3" rod pocket, 2" header and is not lined.
Panel is 50" wide and is offered in 72" and 84" lengths. Additional sizes plus lined panels are available in our Olde Towne Almost Custom program.
Brissac's colorful Jacobean Print will liven up any room in your home. This unlined tailored pair features a three inch rod pocket with no header. The pair measures 70 inch wide (two 35" wide panels) and is offered in 63 inch length only. It's a great value and economically priced, made of 100% Polyester Pebble Beach base cloth and is machine washable. Imported.
Botanical is a pretty multi colored garden floral design featuring a very light ivory ground embellished with red and blue floral tones and greenery. Each panel has a 1 1/2 inch rod pocket and 1 1/2 inch header. This lightweight unlined fabric gently filters light and provides an element of privacy. Each panel is 48 inches wide and come in lengths of 63 and 84 inch. It's made of 100% Polyester. Dry cleaning is recommended. Imported.
Elegant Anna Thermalace lace insulated rod pocket curtain curtain pair, by Commonwealth Home Fashions, is a beautiful pair of jacquard lace curtains. Matching thermal lining makes this beauty both decorative and functional, retaining heat in the winter and cool air in the summer, thus lowering your energy costs and keeping you comfortable all year.
Each panel is 52" wide with a 3 inch rod pocket, two inch header, 1 inch side hems, and 3inch bottom hem. Lining is attached on three sides and is color matched. Fabric Content is 100% Polyester for both face and lining. Machine wash on gentle cycle in cold water and line dry. Select color in Mushroom, Ivory, or White.
Made in America, and fully lined in white with a three inch rod pocket and no header. These narrow panels are 26 inches wide and are perfect for adding a little color on each side to beautifully accentuate your window. Corners are weighted. Valance is sold separately.
Natural 100% Cotton Duck Drapery is trimmed in the traditional check pattern, Colburn. Sold in pairs, they measure 84 inches long. Colburn Tie backs are includes. Match this lovely with a swag or other valance style in Colburn. Charcoal is lovely black and tan check pattern on a Natural main fabric.
Cayman, with its a tropical allure, features subtle tones of green and blue on an ivory ground. The pair measures 100" wide (two 50" wide panels) by 84 inches long, and is fully lined, with a 3 inch rod pocket and two inch header. Allow two times your rod width for proper fullness. Use a 2 1/2 inch continental rod for hanging. Fabric is cotton and is made in the USA.
Dimensions: 70" wide to the pair. Cafe Tier Curtains are offered in lengths of 24, 30, and 36 inches. Cafe Tier Curtains do not have tie backs.
One 63"L Curtain Pair including tie backs are available.
One Straight Valance (not shown in photograph, measured 70"W x 12"L. It's a basic 100% cotton pair of curtains measuring 70 inches wide (two 35 inch wide panels). This attractive unlined pair has the texture of an artist's canvas. Each panel is embellished with a pretty lace band that is two inches wide. Tailored panels have 1 1/2" rod pocket, and 1" header. One pair fits a standard single window.
The Crescent Valance (shown in photograph) is sold out.
Cozumel, with its a tropical allure, features subtle tones of green and orange on an ivory ground. The pair measures 100" wide (two 50" wide panels) by 84 inches long, and is fully lined, with a 3 inch rod pocket and two inch header. Allow two times your rod width for proper fullness. Use a 2 1/2 inch continental rod for hanging. Fabric is cotton and is made in the USA.
Rod Pocket Panel is sold one panel per package.
Add Blue accents to your home with Federal Floral curtain panels with their beautiful floral pattern over a rich red background. Each rod pocket panel is 42 inches wide and 63 inches long with a generous 3-inch rod pocket to insert standard or embellished curtain rods. These fully lined Federal Floral curtains by Ricardo Trading are crafted of 100 percent premium cotton. It's a gorgeous look from our always affordable window treatment collections at The Curtain Shop.
Embossed medallion pattern in a woven jacquard makes the Belgique Thermalogic Curtain Panels look rich and elegant. Insulated with room darkening properties, Belgique is the perfect selection for any room in your home. Made of 100% Polyester with white backing and washable, this easy care drapery, offered in three solid colors, helps to reduce cooling and heating costs. Each panel, sold individually, has a dual header, thus can be hung with the 7 back tabs for a sleek pleated look, or the 3 inch rod pocket for a traditional gathered appearance.
Each panel is 50 inches wide and comes in lengths of 84 and 95 inches. Side hems are 1 inch and bottom hem is 3 inches. Select colors of Parchment, Burgundy, or Espresso.
Everything goes one one single curtain rod! The set includes two panels, two tie backs, and one valance. Features include a 3 inch rod pocket, no header, 1/4 inch side hems and bottom hem. Simple to hang, and easy to maintain. Made of 100% Polyester on the face, with a 100% Rayon on the back.
Shangri-La is an energy efficient insulated pole top curtain made of stunning faux silk Dupioni. It features a 3 inch rod pocket, 2 inch header, 1 inch side hems, and 3 inch bottom hem. Each panel measures 50 inches wide and comes in lengths of 84 and 95 inches. Colors include White, Brown, and Pewter.
Shangri-La keeps the warm air indoors in the winter, and cool air stay in during summer.
Made of 100% Polyester on face and is backed with 100% Acrylic Suede. Washable.
Panels are 68" wide to the pair, two 34" wide panels, with tie backs.
Made in the USA, of 100% Cotton 7 ounce duck cloth. Panels are measured from top stitch down.
1.5" rod pocket, 2.5" header, not lined.
100% Cotton 7 ounce duck cloth.
Chatsworth features a lovely traditional floral fabric design on an easy care polyester pebble beach base cloth. The Unlined Rod Pocket Pair is 70 inches wide and 63 inches long. Three color pallets are offered; Red features a pretty pink ground, Blue features an Ivory ground, and Grey has a Grey ground. Not lined, machine washable. Imported.
The Grandeur Window Ensemble has an intricate embroidered vining flower design on a sheer background. Made of 100% easy care Polyester, each piece features deep scalloped bottom edge, a 3" rod pocket, 2 " header, and 1" side hems. Specify Curtain Panel, Swag Pair, Valance, or Balloon Shade. Each component is sold separately (including Tailored Curtain Panel). This gorgeous ensemble is Machine washable and imported.
* Shown in photo is: 1 Swag Pair, 2 Valances, 2 84" long Panels, and one Balloon Curtain Panel.
Enjoy the outdoors in comfort with the Nine Foot Scram Adjustable Canopy. It is used to cover your existing outdoor umbrella, table, and chair set. The fabric is infused with insect repellent that is effective in repelling all biting insects. Set includes and easy to install umbrella net canopy, single entry zipper for easy access and exit. Simply fill the bottom vinyl tubing with water and close the plug. The tubing holds the umbrella in place from the ground. Use the string at the top to to adjust the canopy to the size of your umbrella. Select Black or White.
7 feet high from umbrella edge, 35 feet circumference, and 11 feet diameter.
Rockport Linen features a lovely allover floral print in neutral tones. Order the Lined Valance separately. Unlined Panels are sold with tiebacks in pairs measuring 100 inches wide (two 50 inch wide panels) and sold in lengths of 63" and 84 " long.
Isabella Lace by Ricardo combines the look of classic lace with an updated motif of butterflies and leafy branches. The beautiful whisper light filtering texture adds a touch of privacy to any room in you home. Isabella Lace features back tabs to gather on a decorative ord. The front features faux pinch pleated look with no pins needed. Made of 100% Polyester, this curtain panel pair may be machine washed on gentle cycle in cold water, tumble dry on low heat, and low heated iron for touch up.
Love that traditional look? Ticking Stripe is a basic pinstripe on a successful "Prescott"base cloth. The Rod Pocket Panel features a three inch rod pocket with two inch header, 1/2 inch side hems, and 1/2 inch bottom hem. Ticking Stripe Pole Top Panel is fully lined with a 100% Rayon insulated cloth. The fabric face is 100% Polyester. Keep the warm air inside your hoe in winter and the air conditioning in the summer months.
Each pair measures 80 inches wide and is offered in lengths of 45, 54, 63, 72, and 84 inches. Colors include Navy, Sage, and Burgundy. Tiebacks are sold in pairs and measure 44"L x 3"W at $4.98.
Rod pocket curtain panels are a classic home design staple that will never go out of style. The simple curtain style features a pocket at the top of the panel that is open on either end to accommodate a slim curtain rod. The panel covers the rod completely and is ideal for use with plain or utilitarian curtain rods. Rod pocket curtains can easily dress up a bedroom, living room, playroom, dining room or den. Our curtain panels come in dozens of designs to choose from including classic solids and chic prints.
If you're looking for added privacy or light filtering, choose a double-lined panel. In bedrooms or other rooms where you want to limit the amount of sunlight entering, a double-lined panel can successfully filter the light to a comfortable level. If the double-lined panel isn't enough, we also offer an Ultimate Blackout Liner for rod pocket panels.
Our Ultimate Blackout Liner is an energy-efficient curtain panel that is hung behind your main panel. It helps the room stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer while protecting your carpet and furniture from fading. The liner also reduces noise from outside, which can also interfere with getting a great night's sleep.
Whether you're looking for light and airy 63-inch rod pocket curtains for your living room or thicker, double-lined rod pocket shades for your bedroom, The Curtain Shop has you covered. Besides a large selection of curtains, we also carry curtain rods for hanging rod pocket curtains and other accessories.
Can't find the right style of rod pocket curtain to suit your home? Our Almost Custom feature allows you to examine fabrics from many of our top designers. This made-to-order feature is available at a fraction of the cost of a regular custom order. Give one of our associates a call at 1-866-886-3632 to find out more about TheCurtainShop.com's Almost Custom program. | 2019-04-21T02:06:20Z | https://www.thecurtainshop.com/rod-pocket-curtains.html |
How many martial artists across the globe will tell you the endless number of ways in which they’ve been inspired by Jackie Chan? Too many to possibly count, but Eric Jacobus will go a step further and tell you how he’s made a career out of that!
Inspired by Jackie’s mix of pulse-pounding action and laugh-out-loud comedy, Eric co-founded The Stunt People in 2001 in his quest to make the same kind of kung fu comedies in the West. In the fourteen years since, The Stunt People have released the acclaimed action-comedy “Contour”, teamed with former Power Ranger Johnny Yong Bosch for the thriller “Death Grip”, and released a slew of action-packed short films on YouTube, including the hilarious “Rope-A-Dope” films. Along the way, Eric even went on to land the role of Kurtis Stryker in season two of the popular web-series “Mortal Kombat: Legacy”!
Today, Eric takes KFK through the history of The Stunt People, offers advice on getting your start as an action filmmaker, and gives some behind-the-scenes glimpses of some of the bigger projects he’s been involved with, including a knife fight he designed for “A Good Day to Die Hard” that ultimately didn’t make it into the final film, and the original ending of “Mortal Kombat: Legacy”!
Brad: Hey, Eric! Thanks for taking some time out to talk with us today, I hope all is going well for you!
Hey Brad, I’m doing great today!
Awesome! So, let’s start off with some basics if we may. When were you born?
Sure! I was born on March 29th 1982.
Awesome! So, when did you first get started in the martial arts, and what different arts have you studied?
I did a bit of karate when I was about 12, but I left because I ended up in the toddler class (laughs), and up until I was 20, I really didn’t have much martial arts experience, although I was a gymnast. I was pretty good on the floor, I was a rings guy, and I did some diving in college, so I actually got the acrobatics before I even got into martial arts, and that made the transition into stunt work more easy, and I’d also been weight-lifting since I was 13, so I was a very physical kid.
When I moved to San Francisco for film school, I just opened up a phone book and started going down the list of martial arts schools, and the second one I found was a Taekwondo school where Andy Leung taught. He became an early Stunt People member right away because I told him I was making movies and we instantly bonded over that. Later on, I started doing Hapkido under Dennis Ruel and Ray and Troy Carbonel in 2004, and I’ve been practicing both ever since.
Dennis was also a great addition to The Stunt People, because he brought in a whole group of guys like Troy and Ray, and he’s really good at acting while fighting. As a stunt performer, there’s a tendency to focus on the moves, and you may lose sight of whatever character you’ve got, and Dennis had this way about him where he didn’t fight like he was practicing, he fought like he was actually in the movie, and we were all really inspired by that, and that really brought up our game.
So how did you actually first form The Stunt People and get started as an action filmmaker?
Well, I grew up in the 80’s, when there was a large surplus of great action movies, and great comedies, as well. I also grew up on Vaudeville comedies, and we had a lot of VHS tapes of Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy, which I watched obsessively. I was the only kid at my school who could quote Laurel and Hardy (laughs). So that combination of the Vaudeville comedies and the 80’s action movies with guys like Van Damme really made me want to do something like that, and later in life, I realized there was already somebody out there doing that kind of action-comedy, and that was Jackie Chan!
Amazing! So how has The Stunt People evolved since its beginning in 2001?
Originally, we started out as a production company, and it was this family of guys at the beginning. Sometimes, there’d be three of us filming, and we’d all want to be in the fight, so one of us would hold the camera while two of us fought, then one guy would be kicked off camera, we’d give him the camera, and the next guy would come in. It was really barebones filmmaking, and our first feature film “Contour” was even that way a lot of the time.
Over the years, we’ve transitioned more into a team that does stunts, and we get hired onto projects and possibly put the logo on the movie, depending on what the deal is. My business partner Clayton Barber and I are also forming our own company that will serve as the backbone, and essentially we hire a production company to handle the filmmaking part, and The Stunt People serve as the stunt team. So The Stunt People is becoming not so much about filmmaking and much more about bringing martial artists and acrobats into the film industry and fostering those talents.
Nice! So, what advice would you give to martial artists who aspire to become stunt performers or action filmmakers?
That’s the number one thing people ask me, and the simple answer is you’ve got to learn how to make a movie.
Fortunately, now it’s really easy to do that, because everybody’s got a camera, either Go Pro or on your cell phone (I’d love to do a seminar some day on How To Make an Action Movie on Your Phone!) With things like Instagram nowadays, if you get a crew together for just a day, you can get yourself on camera doing some cool stuff like falls, kicks, and flips, and make it look like a movie, even if it’s just fifteen seconds long. And if you combine that with whatever your best gym material is, now you’ve got a reel.
It really does depend on your goal, too. If your goal is to be a stuntman, then your reel is your goal. If your goal is to do what Dennis Ruel and myself are doing, then you’ve got to learn how to make a movie, because nobody is going to take you and say; “OK, you’ve never made a movie, but I’ve got a plan for you, I’m going to make you a star!”, it doesn’t happen that way. Nobody will do that for you, you’ve got to do it yourself, and show that you’re marketable. And today, there are so many tutorials and free classes on how to make a movie that it’s kind of hard to avoid.
YouTube and social media have given so many people a platform to make a short film and put it out there.
Absolutely. Before YouTube, man, it was tough! In the 70s or 80’s, if you wanted to be an action star, you had to fight in the ring, you had to have someone notice you, and a handful of guys would get pulled out of there. A lot of stunt guys back then came out of the taekwondo, karate and kickboxing circuits, and if you had a really good persona like Van Damme, you could become a movie star.
Definitely! So what would you say are some of the challenges that you and The Stunt People encounter when making movies?
Time, which didn’t used to be as much of an issue because there was nothing at stake. When we did “Contour”, our executive producer just said, “OK, Eric, here’s $5,000, go play!”, and I said, “Well, I don’t really know how long we’re going to take”, and he just said, “Whatever. We own the movie, so just go make it”, and we probably spent 120 days shooting it, and those days might have been three or four hours long, so we got to spend a lot of time making the action as good as we could.
But now, for example, with “Rope-A-Dope 2”, the whole end fight we shot in one day. Back in the day, I could not imagine putting everyone’s feet to the fire like that, where we would have spent two weeks doing a six-minute fight. On a Hollywood production, filming a three-minute fight in one day is pretty standard because they’re filming 30-second chunks of the fight from multiple angles at once. We’re not shooting coverage like that, so we must have done seventy or eighty setups that day, but everybody came together and we pulled it off.
Did anybody get hurt that day?
Yes, Dennis ripped his hamstring, but you wouldn’t know it. He’s just one of those guys who says, “The show must go on”, and I was never going through the footage thinking, “Oh, no! We can only use one of Dennis’ kicks here”, everything he did came out great. That’s the value of working with really dedicated people. The same with Clayton, if we ever needed him to step in and direct, he was able to, and now he’s doing the fight choreography for “Creed” with Sylvester Stallone.
Wow! Now I’m even more excited for that! So how is making shorts like “Rope-A-Dope” different from making a feature film like “Contour”?
Well, “Death Grip” had a very similar kind of schedule, where we’d have to do a whole fight in one day. With a feature film, the stakes are higher, because there’s just a bigger sum of money to it, and you’re looking to make money from it, so that’s going to kind of guide your decisions. With a short film, you get to play around a little bit more.
We didn’t put “Rope-A-Dope 2” out to make money off YouTube, the goal was to make the best short we could, so that we could make another feature film. And the next feature film we’re making is going to be the biggest one we’ve ever done. It’s not exactly continuing “Rope-A-Dope”, but it is in the vein!
So, what would you say is your personal favorite project the Stunt People have done so far?
Is it a cop out to say “Rope-A-Dope” 1 and 2? (both laugh) I’m very proud of both of those because they were very ambitious, it wasn’t just us going out on a weekend to film them. We got everyone together, we had a budget, we had a time constraint, and put them in film festivals. It was a first for us on so many fronts.
Well, looking a bit into the past now, tell us a bit about the making of The Stunt People’s first feature film, “Contour”.
Yes, I remember “Contour” being about the time I heard hearing about you in around 2006, and of course, it’s come a long way now to where you have a presence at the San Diego Comic-Con every year, and over the last few years, you’ve even been a part of Ric Meyers Kung Fu Extravaganza, with Cynthia Rothrock as well. How did the Stunt People first get a presence at ComicCon?
ComicCon has been a tough nut to crack. We first exhibited in 2004, and the first few years we were there, people were really curious about our projects. Independent film was more novel back then, and ComicCon was much more about smaller companies, even as recently as 2007, which was when we had our best sales ever. The networking at Comic-Con also makes it worthwhile. One year, I met Larnell Stovall and he eventually choreographed “Mortal Kombat: Legacy”, and I was in it. Another year, I met Johnny Yong Bosch, and called him up later, and he was in “Death Grip”.
These days, though, booth costs are going up, and we may not exhibit there this year. People are going there these days more for the really big stuff, and kudos to Comic-Con for attracting really big vendors now, but a lot of the littler guys are having to leave, and that’s nobody’s fault, that’s just the nature of it. To give you some context, every year, I used to walk away with around two hundred business cards from other people, but last year, I only got ten. There just aren’t as many people going to Comic-Con for networking, it’s a much more consumer-oriented affair. We actually did half of our sales last year at Ric Meyers’ panel after showing “Rope-A-Dope” for the second year, and it made me think, “Why am getting a booth for $2,100 and all the other costs when I can just make all of my sales here in a half hour?”, so we may take that approach with ComicCon going forward.
You took the words right out of my mouth! The ‘making of’ feature on “Death Grip” gives the background on how you met Johnny Yong Bosch and how he became the villain in “Death Grip”. Could you describe the origins of the film and having a former Power Ranger as your villain?
That was pretty simple. I just remembered I had met Johnny at Comic-Con, and I just emailed him about being in the film, and he said he’d do it. We also did a fight scene for the film’s Indiegogo campaign, and people really liked it a lot.
He was really cool to work with, he always has a lot of history to share about his “Power Rangers” days and Alpha Stunts, and also “Extreme Heist” and “Broken Path”.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get to do everything I’d wanted to do with our end fight because I did a table fall, landed on my shoulder, and it just jacked me up. We did the fight in two days, and we didn’t rehearse any of it, it was all on the spot.
Well, going back to what you said earlier about The Stunt People branching their services out, one of the videos on your YouTube channel is a Krav Maga knife fight scene that was supposed to be in “A Good Day to Die Hard”. How did The Stunt People become a part of the film, and why didn’t that scene make it into the final film?
Part of the goal and the payoff of doing “Death Grip” has been getting other gigs, and one of the scenes in the film that’s led to that was the knife fight between Alvin Hsing and I. It was probably the hardest fight scene I’ve ever done in my life, but it totally paid off, because it’s what J.J. Perry saw, and he and Chad Stahelski hired us to come do the knife fight for “A Good Day to Die Hard”. We worked for five days in the 87 Eleven gym choreographing the fight.
Glad that worked, it’s an awesome knife fight! There’s also another YouTube video you did recently that got a lot of attention called the Kicktionary. How did that come about?
There’s no other Kicktionary is really the answer. (both laugh) It’s why we did our first person Darth Vader videos, because no one had ever done a first person lightsaber fight. The problem now that I’m trying to do a part two is that, now I’ve gotta do the hard kicks!
So, how do you keep all of your videos on YouTube feeling fresh and new?
I have the fortune of working with very creative people. Our video “Wake up Juice” actually wasn’t my idea, it was Brad Kelly’s. Not all of the videos I put up on YouTube are actually my creation. For example, “Sensitive 70’s Turtleneck Tough Guys” was Jose Montesinos, and I asked if I could put it on my YouTube channel, and he said yes. A big part of it is just surrounding yourself with a lot of people with good ideas, it doesn’t have to be my idea.
Absolutely! Well, that brings us now to your involvement in the second season of “Mortal Kombat: Legacy”. You mentioned running into Larnell Stovall at Comic-Con as the genesis of how you came to play Kurtis Stryker in the series. Describe the experience of being a part of a franchise with such an enormous fan base worldwide.
Boy, do we have a time limit? (both laugh) I was the kid who would ask my mom for a Mortal Kombat arcade machine for Christmas. Mortal Kombat was the first fighting game I really liked, and so I was totally stoked to play Stryker, and then to be making it with people like Mark Dacascos, Casper Van Dien, Dan Southworth, it was double nerd heaven! Working with Casper was awesome, he’s hilarious and he was perfect for Johnny Cage, and he did most of his own fighting. We’d choreographed the final fight with Brian Tee, who played Liu Kang, and it was me and Mark, who played Kung Lao, taking on Liu Kang.
It was also outside of the cave that was the Batcave in the 1960’s “Batman” TV series, so that was triple nerd heaven. So we had this long fight planned out, we were filming in December of 2012, and we were working against the clock because we were starting on it at 3:30 pm and the sun is going down at 5 pm, and the director Kevin Tancheron comes up to me and says, “We’re not going to be able to do the full fight, only about twenty percent of it”, and I just told him that there will be disappointments all the time, and that’s totally fine, which is something I’ve gone through with my own projects. But I put the footage all over my demo reel!
That’s a brilliant story! Hopefully, we’ll see that full end fight eventually, especially after the cliffhanger ending of season two! Is there any other Mortal Kombat character you would like to have played if you hadn’t played Stryker?
I probably wouldn’t have made a good Jax, but maybe Sindel! (laughs) Stryker’s cool because he’s the human, and he was right in line with what I really liked, the guy who brings a gun to a fireball fight.
Speaking of nerding out, if you could be a superhero or have one superpower, what would it be?
I always liked Batman, and I like Iron Man, too. I don’t think he really got a fair shake until Robert Downey Jr. came along and made a funny superhero. The thing about Batman and Iron Man is that they’re people underneath their tools, and they have to rely on items for their superpower. They’re just really smart guys, so they have to think through their problems, and I really like that.
Nice! So can you tell us what are some of the worst injuries you’ve suffered over the course of your career?
The worst injury I’ve ever had actually wasn’t even while making a movie, which is the worst part, because I didn’t get it on camera! It was a herniated L5 disc in my spine. It was so bad, I can’t even remember if it happened in ’03 or ’06! I was just doing a front flip in the gym, and herniated the disc. It caused sciatica in my right leg, and I had to sleep on the floor for six months. I went through unbelievable amounts of physical therapy, and I thought my career was over. Finally, I got a back brace from Uline, and it kept my spine aligned, and after two weeks it was back to normal. I would definitely tell people to please get a back brace before spending thousands of dollars on a chiropractor.
The worst injury I’ve ever had actually making a movie is probably between my shoulder injury during the fight with Johnny in “Death Grip”, which definitely “changed” my shoulder, and I’ve been recovering from that for almost four years now, and I did a fall through a roof once and landed on my ankle. But I haven’t broken anything yet!
I have nothing to fear with my cane and seeing-eye rooster by my side!
Gee, (winces) that back injury sounds brutal, and that kind of leads into my next question, which is, what do you think are some of the most common misconceptions about action filmmaking?
Safety first, definitely! Moving now into other work you’ve done, you were previously Operations Manager for an organization called The Seasteading Institute. How did you first become involved with them? Describe the experience of working there.
I heard about The Seasteading Institute on the weekly Econtalk podcast (I have side interests y’know) and I offered to volunteer there but ended up getting a full time job out of it. That was a cool gig with an awesome cause and I formed a network of peers around that place. Lots of them have even become instrumental in my film work. I still keep in contact with all of them.
You’ve also had your picture featured in several issues of Kung Fu Tai Chi Magazine. How did that come about?
That happened through Tiger Claw, who is the official sponsor of a lot of The Stunt People things. They sponsored “Death Grip” and “Rope-A-Dope 2” with all the weapons we used, and they’re going to sponsor me with my training videos and training equipment, and I can’t wait to work with them in the future. They have every weapon known to man, like the cane the Dope uses.
So who would you say are your heroes or people who really inspire you in martial arts? Jackie Chan, obviously.
I would say Jackie is my number one inspiration. There’s also guys like Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung, and then in America, Van Damme. In the late 80’s and early 90’s, martial arts was very simple, and people were really blown away by a good jump spinning kick, and if you could do that kick and put on a good face, you could be a movie star. The ability to bring a persona like that to martial arts is a great skill, and Van Damme did that, and so did Jackie Chan.
What would be your top 10 favorite martial arts films?
“Mad Monkey Kung Fu” for my favorite Shaw Bros film.
“Big Trouble In Little China” is our best martial arts film here in America.
All classics across the board! Looking at martial arts training now, what are some of your favorite styles in martial arts or different aspects of martial arts training?
I love Taekwondo for the counter-kicking, and I love Hapkido for the angles of kicking. The way Dennis teaches Hapkido has a lot of interesting angles for kicks. I’ve never studied Kali, but I really want to and I love the philosophy behind it. I also have a lot of respect for Krav Maga, and Boxing. I’m not very good at it (laughs), but I love watching it because there’s something very pure about it.
Wonderful! What is a typical week for you as far as training goes?
If I’m not scripting, I try to weight lift three days a week, and one of those days is dedicated to squats and deadlifts. When it comes to stunt training, which I try to do twice a week, I usually spend an hour or so playing with kicks.
What are some of your personal likes/dislikes?
I hate mustard. I can smell it across a restaurant, keep it away! Other than that I’ll eat anything, especially tendon and tripe. I love a good White Russian, going to the Richmond Rod & Gun Club and shooting the shotgun with the wife. I’ve got a big box PC game collection, I have a thing for Laserdiscs, and I’ve recently been eating up Rene Girard’s books, which are required reading for screenwriters. And “Black Mirror” is the best science fiction in recent history.
So, moving forward through 2015, what are some of the plans you and The Stunt People have?
I’ve got three projects in editing, and those will be released on YouTube in the coming months. One is the long awaited “Zombie Defense 101” where I teach people how to fight a zombie unarmed. I’d also like to do a “Beard Off 2”, and Clayton and I are working on one that will be an homage to a very famous fight scene, and we’re starting on that as soon as he finishes up with “Creed”.
What would be a favorite warrior wisdom quote of yours?
Most excellent choice! Well, as we sadly get ready to sign off, what message would you like to leave for Kung Fu Kingdom readers?
If you want to do what I do, then just start from the bottom and work your way up. It’s doable for anybody. It took me twelve years full-time before I got a gig like “Mortal Kombat”. Boris Karloff acted for twenty years before he played Frankenstein. I think it’ll get easier because of social networking and the internet, but you have to keep at it.
Timeless words of wisdom! Where can visitors reading this find out more about Eric Jacobus and The Stunt People?
It’s been a pleasure and a privilege, Eric. Thanks for your time today!
Great speaking to you, Brad! Thanks so much to you and your team at Kung Fu Kingdom for the opportunity! | 2019-04-22T08:10:22Z | https://kungfukingdom.com/interview-with-eric-jacobus/ |
Every organization talks about product reliability in some manner. Sometimes our customers provide explicit reliability requirements. Sometimes our customers have an expected metric to report reliability expectations. Our industry may have a ‘standard’ means to discuss reliability. Or, we have a local ‘tradition’.
One of the most common is MTBF.
MTBF, or Mean Time Between Failure, and the many variations of this term have a one thing in common. It is the most misunderstood four letter acronym in engineering. For the purpose of this discussion I am using MTBF and most of the comments equally apply to MTTF, MTBUR, etc.
During a presentation on this subject to a group of reliability professionals, I asked if anyone in the room had encounter trouble with MTBF. Nearly every person of the over 100 in attendance quickly raised their hand. We spent the next hour sharing horror stories resulting from the misuse of MTBF.
Technically, MTBF (MTTF actually, more on that later) is unbiased estimator of the exponential distribution parameter, theta. This is based on how we calculate the value based on either test or field data.
If we have 50 units that all run for 100 hours and right at the end of 100 hours one of the units fails. We can calculate the MTBF as follows. First determine the total hours all the units operated. That’s easy, 50 units times 100 hours is 5,000 hours. Then divide the total operating hours by the number of failures. In this simple example, that is one, for a resulting MTBF = 5,000/1 = 5,000 hours.
Note: if we had 100 units run for 50 hours and had one failure at the end of 50 hours, the result is the same. Or, if one unit runs for 5,000 hours before failing. Or, 5,000 units each running for one hour, then one fails. Weird, right?
Well, not so strange if the underlying failure mechanism has a equal chance of causing a failure every hour (or moment). If the chance of failure is constant, or we say the hazard rate or failure rate is constant, then the above method to estimate MTBF is valid.
There are better ways to estimate MTBF when the assumption of a constant failure rate is not true. Yet, most often MTBF is calculated as described above.
How often do you change incandescent light bulbs? Randomly, right? When a bulb burns out (why does it always seem to be the hardest to reach and least available bulb?) you find a spare bulb and replace the burned out one. Do you then think about changing the rest of the similar light bulbs in the house? Probably not.
Note: Light bulbs really do not follow the exponential distribution for time to failure. Bill Meeker did the experiments and conveyed this information to me after reviewing this site. I’ll update this note once I find a good example. In the meantime, let’s assume light bulbs follow a random pattern with respect to time to failure.
Incandescent light bulbs tend to follow the exponential life distribution. (This is not actually true, yet in my experience and limited data the time-to-failure distribution in my home is close enough.) And as such there is no rationale to conduct preventative maintenance. The memoryless feature of the distribution suggest the new bulb has exactly the same chance of failure in the next hour as the existing working light bulb. So there is no time or cost benefit to the preventative replacement.
Note: Talking to Professor Bill Meeker, discovered that he had a group of student run a life test on incandescent light bulbs. They found that the life distribution is actually best modeled by a normal distribution, not exponential. Bill recommended that we think of the failure rate of a ceramic mug – which typically fails by dropping to the floor and shattering or being struck and chipped. The failure rate may well be exponential in that case.
Now, if your community is like mine, you receive annual reminders to change the batteries in your smoke detectors. Those 9V batteries do tend to wear out. Ignoring the preventative maintenance leads to middle of the night low battery power ‘beeps’ from the smoke detector.
In support of the statement, ‘worst four letter acronym’ consider each element of the four letters.
Speaking statistically, this is the expected value or the first moment of the distribution. Each distribution has a mean value.
It was drilled into our engineering minds. The learned response was ‘mean’ is ‘average’ is the 50th percentile of a normal distribution. One half of values are above and one half are below.
Therein dwells the root of a mistaken understanding of MTBF. Not all distributions have the same properties concerning mean values, which was most likely not mentioned during the undergraduate statistics course. For example, the exponential family of distributions has a expected value or mean which defined as the 63.2 percentile. One third (36.79%) of values are above and two thirds (63.21%) are below.
Let’s assume we have 1000 light bulbs with an MTBF of 100 hours. How many will still be working at the end of 100 hours of operation?
Each hour each light bulb has a 1 in 100 chance of failing. Therefore we lose about 10 the first hour.
This is as expected if using the reliability function of the exponential distribution.
If we run the time out a little further the plot shows what we commonly call the exponential decay. The chance of failure each hour for each light bulb is the same. It just takes more time to have the same number of failures. the first hour of the experiment with 1000 light bulbs, 10 failed (1000 x 1/100 = 10 failures in one hour). When there are only 500 light bulbs remaining, it takes two hours to incur 10 failures (500 x 1/100 = 5 failures in one hour).
Hours, cycles, years, pages and many more ways of counting some form of use are common. Recall that the MTBF is the inverse of failure rate. The failure rate units are the number of failures per unit time. Inverting this give us units of time (hours, cycles, years, …) per failure.
I am not sure why (tend to think it was a marketing decision) someone decided to invert the negative connotation of ‘failures/hour’ into the positive sounding ‘hours/failure’.
Therein clicks another issue with MTBF. The units of MTBF, often in hours, is often confused with clock or calendar time. It really is a confusing unit of measure to convey the probability of failure. Instead of stating a light bulb has a 0.01 chance of failure per hour of operation, our dislike for numbers between 0 and 1 (recall probability and stats classes!) is avoided by inverting the failure rate. Now it reads 100 hours MTBF. Sounds much better.
Either way, between or before, when linked with the rest of the acronym it conveys a failure free period. It would have been better to state MTF, Mean Time of Failures. While that suggestion isn’t really that good, the idea of a failure free period, is not part of the definition.
I heard one design team manager explain MTBF as the time to expect from one failure to the next. The time between failures. So, once a failure occurs, we have the MTBF hours before we would expect the next failure.
MTTF, the closely associated metric, uses To instead of Between, and creates the same confusion. With To, Before or Between, two thirds of the light bulbs will fail at the 100 hour mark.
Who defines this in your organization? Do your customers return the product and they are classified No Trouble Found? In a classical sense a product failure is when the product does not met stated performance specifications. Yet, customers will return products that fail to meet their expectations and it still creates warranty expenses.
In many forms of product testing only apply one form of stress which only promotes a subset of all possible failure mechanism. Basing MTBF calculation on a single stress test, while possible to be accurate enough, is often missing important life-cycle conditions, stresses and failure mechanisms.
The simple issue here is the internal definition of failure which well may be different than your customers definition. Be clear and concise, plus open to new definitions of failure. It is generally limited to product specifications.
Karl Pearson first mention of the ‘negative exponential distribution’ in 1895. The Exponential Distribution has a number of interesting properties, one of which takes advantage of the tools available in the 1950’s and 60’s.
Specifically the ability to add failure rates (inverse of MTBF is the failure rate). Adding was rather easy at the time using mechanical and later electric adding machines. Using a slide rule and tables for the exponents is cumbersome with possibly 100’s or 1,000’s of calculations.
In 1961, the first issue of the MIL-HDBK-217 detailed how to perform parts count predictions. The method relied on the ability to add failure rates. Work continues to this day to update and revise the methodology. These efforts may take us out of the era of mechanical adders, as today doing complex calculations is as easy as turning the crank.
Today we have models and distributions for the complex array of failure mechanisms and should take advantage of this knowledge. Limiting the combination of failure rate information to a constant for each component distorts and misleads those attempting to make decisions based on the prediction or data analysis.
So, while it is a convenient assumption to say the component, product or system has a constant failure rate, this is often not true. And, this assumption does lead to very poor understanding, modeling and decisions related to real products.
The obvious misuse stems from the various means individuals misunderstand MTBF. For example, if an electric engineer believes MTBF to be a failure free period his selection of components will have a significantly less desirable field failure rate.
Another simple issue is the advertising of product or component reliability by simply stating an MTBF value. Without stating the conditions, environment, usage period, and other reliability related bits of information, the reader is left to wonder what the MTBF really means. For a component that has an increasing failure rate over time, like a cooling fan that experiences bearing wear out, the MTBF is a valid approximation of the fan failure rate over some specific period of time. The fan datasheet often does not state the expected duration over which the constant failure rate applies. If the vendor is designing and evaluating fan life for an expected one year of use, then the life data may actually be exponential. If the application the electrical engineering is considering the inclusion of a cooling fan is to operate for 10 years, then surprised when the product qualification or field performance experiences higher than expected fan failures.
The most costly misuse of MTBF is the years of wasted effort collecting failure data on equipment that have no relationship other than equipment type, i.e. pump. I know of reliability engineers at large oil refineries that try to use MTBF to gauge the reliability of 3000+ pumps of all shapes, sizes, functions, applications, and most importantly, failure modes. This is ludicrous.
Totally agree – and you are on to something there – focus on failure mechanisms and I would recommend not using MTBF and specifying reliability completely for each model of pump (or failure mechanism within a reliability model for each type of pump) including probability of success, duration, environment, and function.
Actually, The Aircraft Reliability industry did lots of work on this over the past ten years through the ATA Spec2000 process (See Spec2000 Reliability Interest Group RIG) where much was done to standardise these metrics and more.
MTTF is now the mean time of the life achieved by the group of assets that Failed (does not include those that are still operating) Not like MTBF that includes unit operating hours of the assets that have not yet failed during the time period of analysis which of course if used incorrectly, produces an unrealistic MTTF expectation.
MTBF can be a very useful metric if applied and used correctly but like any other tool, if used improperly can cause more grief than good. If enough data points over a large time period are used, Eventually MTBF will settle out pretty close to what MTTF is. If you look at a large air carrier like SWA you will see this happen over about a decade in their data. On the other hand in Plant Maintenance data, it tends not to occur like this due to poor record keeping and/or small data populations.
When making reliability improvements I tend to use Weibul analysis for a better grasp of the real realibility but again, you have to have some good data.
Thanks for the note and I was not aware of the work in the aircraft industry.
If I understand how you defined the calculation of MTTF as not using suspensions – then it is a very conservative value as a representation of the population. I still believe and am trying to show clearly that using a single value, even is used correctly, does not adequately describe the reliability of anything. As a minimum I hope any reporting of MTBF or MTTF includes the duration over which those values are applicable. Better would be to use the appropriate distribution or non-parametric method and not limit the industry to a single value.
Great idea for a website, but poor implementation.
Two errors in your first description section alone, and more throughout. I agree with the issue, but you should have done your research.
Technically: MTBF is not equal to MTTF. MTBF is only correctly used in scenarios with repair, when it properly includes the admin/logistics/repair/checkout delays before starting an operational phase again. MTTF does not include these additional periods, when used properly. Imprecise use of terms is an artifact of lack of deep understanding, and that is where we fully agree on the root cause of many of these issues.
Even more important is the single greatest error that most people make, equating MTTF with the exponential distribution. MTTF is defined in a precise mathematical manner and has no specific tie to the exponential, Gaussian, Weibull or any other distribution other than each of these has a mean value.
then the conditional probability of failure of a component in some finite period of time tends to a constant rate. Which looks like an exponential distribution to the person who doesn’t understand why his logistician is specifying replacements at a constant rate and his system is working effectively. This is what Hans was addressing, and his point about poor record keeping confounding the results is well put.
Thanks for reading and providing careful comments. The post is obviously not written for you, yet I do hope you found a few lines of reasoning to help with your explanations and clarifications for those that abuse MTBF.
I have found most confuse the calculations and reporting of MTBF, including those that should know better – thus the idea to just not use MTBF or related measures at all. There are endless ‘rules’ for what is or is not counted. One military manual for the four services listed over 500 ways to count and calculation MT-something.
The lightbulb distribution was done by students of Bill Meeker – they most certainly did the experiment and analysis carefully. No mistakes there, I’m sure.
There is certainly plenty of room for improvement and better implementation of data collection and analysis. Hopefully this site helps to keep that discussion going.
Again thanks for your comments.
Also, if you’d like to write a post for the site – my offer stands that if you generate more than 1200 pageviews in a Friday thru Friday week – I’ll send you a NoMTBF coffee mug. See http://nomtbf.com/2013/05/nomtbf-guest-post-challenge/ for details.
I really like the notion of eradicating the MISUSE of MTBF. But MTBF is useful when used correctly.
The above article PERILS suffers greatly from confusing the failure rate with the hazard rate. An exponential distribution has a constant hazard rate and an exponential failure rate.
In biostatistics we tend to avoid parametric time to event modelling as was suggested in some posts. Semi-parametric approaches are fairly robust and flexible and one does not have to make unnecessary assumptions on the underlying function which are hard to check. Obviously, I come from a completely different background, so forgive my ignorance in the subject, but why not using hazard ratios to describe failures (whichever way they are defined)?
Works for me. Survival analysis leans a bit more on non-parametric methods which tends to conservative overall. At times adding the distribution provides a bit more power and precision, and as you mention is often difficult to prove.
Dealing with sparse data in any situation is difficult, and doing a simple average and calling it MTBF is not the solution.
Put something in place for that Failure Mechanism.
Measure the MTBF caused by that Failure Mechanism and look for change.
Good reporting of failures is essential for correct analysis of MTBF and.
How are you doing? Please kindly explain full concept on the above mentioned subject and the impact on maintainability and reliability?
The article does a pretty good job of explain why MTBF or MTTF are not useful. Yet, let me summarize. MTBF and the like inverse average failure rates attempt to represent the reliability performance of a product or system. These measures represent reliability performance poorly and allow engineers and managers to make very poor decisions. We should use informative summaries of reliability performance to make decisions.
Sure, I think, if you have existing time to failure data or other information relating to the expected life distribution of the device. What data or information do you have available?
Thanks for the kind words and question, Juan Carlos, much appreciated.
While I really do not like using MTBF the various growth models do help track progress toward a goal. I’d much rather use a system reliability block diagram model and use the appropriate reliability distributions for each block, yet that is not always feasible.
I like the growth models has it helps understand if we’re finding and fixing enough of the reliability issues fast enough.
I enjoyed reading your site and completely agree with the abuse MTBF has had in various industries. I was employed last year right after college as a reliability engineer and quickly grew to loathe MTBF. I work on calculating failure rates for the U.S. Nuclear Submarines various systems and personally hold proper analytics to be of the utmost importance. I am currently working with my company to fund getting a software to model data using a Weibull Distribution or rather a more appropriate distribution after performing a Goodness of Fit test. My goal is to convince my company that MTBF can no longer be used to provision for spares. I believe using the time at which the reliability is equal to 50% would be much more accurate do you agree?
Hi Dylan, sorry for the delay with your comment. Thanks for writing. I’m not sure 50% would be more accurate… setting timelines for repair/replacements really depends on the cost of the repair and the cost of the downtime. Higher cost of downtime the earlier one would do the replacement (less probability of failure). | 2019-04-23T22:09:38Z | http://nomtbf.com/perils/ |
"We would like to thank you and your band The Fundamentals for doing an amazing job at our Opera Opening Night Gala! The evening was a spectacular success, due in great part to your wonderful music. I know our guests had a terrific time and the dance floor was packed! I myself enjoyed quite a bit of dancing. The Fundamentals were the perfect band for the evening. We had suspected as much, but from the moment the first note was struck to the last chord of the last song, people were dancing their hearts out. What more could we ask? It was a true pleasure working with you and we are amazingly grateful for all your help on this event. Thanks Again,"
"I was going to send you a glowing email this morning, you beat me to the punch. We were more than pleased, we loved the band, you read our guests and you were a life saver with the time line. We cannot thank you enough and would recommend you and the band any time. Please use us as a reference.....it will be glowing!
Lindsey and Dave were so happy with your band and can you believe they wanted to give us a smaller dance floor? THey have left on their honeymoon and will be gone a few weeks, I know they would love to be included as a reference, feel free to give out our phone number also.
"If you can believe it it has taken me 9 months to write this thank you letter. With that said, I have to say that you guys have set the bar so incredibly high for music at a wedding reception. There truly wasn't a part of the night where I thought, "let's sit this one out". You guys had the entire room of 250 dancing for the entire night. I love how flexible you were with your schedule, your breaks and working with our song choices for the evening.
The band was fantastic! I loved having multiple singers with such different voices and from the second you started playing, I think the entire room knew it would just be a fantastic night. I can't thank you enough for a night I won't ever forget. Please thank the entire band for giving us the time of our lives. I can't think of a better way to have started our lives together.
"I wanted to email you to let you know what a fabulous job you and your band did at our wedding at Viansa, Aug. 9. You definitely helped make the evening a total success. We had so many people come up to us to tell us how great the band is. Our pastor who attends a lot of weddings, of course, was extremely impressed and asked for your contact information which we gave him.
I spoke with you all briefly on my way to photos but intended to talk with you directly since we had spoken on the phone and corresponded by e-mail but the night got away from me. It did not go unnoticed by many that you only took one break. The music you played during break was so good that I didn't even realize you went on break and missed my opportunity to talk to you.
The band looked great, sounded wonderful, and played fun songs that kept the party happening. You just did a terrific job! Please let me know if you need a reference. I would love to tell others about you.
"On behalf of the American Cancer Society young volunteers and staff, we want to thank The Fundamentals for your phenomenal performance at the Leopard Lounge Gala. This annual event held at the San Francisco Argent hotel was a complete success -- that raised close to $160,000 toward the fight against cancer.
We were delighted with the tremendous response, which created a sell-out event with over 1,400 guests enjoying the dynamic music that we've come to depend on from The Fundamentals. As our guests enjoyed the delicious hors d' oeuvres from the local restaurants and wineries, it was obvious the Fundamentals music was the real highlight--since that dance floor was completely packed the entire night. That alone must be the number one confirmation we've selected the right band for our event--and you even went over the top performing on those fabulous leopard print outfits for our event. It's that "can do" attitude we simply love when working with your band.
It must also be mentioned how much we appreciate your willingness to work within our budget, since this ultimately results in more funds supporting our research, education, advocacy and patient service programs. Support such as this will genuinely make a difference in the lives of those touched by cancer.
John, it's always a pleasure working with you and your amazing band. I know we'll working together again very soon. Thank you again and again.
"Wow! I don't know where to begin to tell you how much Anthony and I, as well as our guests, enjoyed "The Fundamental's performance at our wedding. I think it was obvious with everyone out on the dance floor the entire time - young and old. From a bride's standpoint, you all were a dream. You made my job so easy from the off set. Thank you for such an electric performance..."
"It has been over a week since the memorable wedding at Viansa on the 27th of June. My wife and I were so very pleased with the way the wedding celebration went for Courtney and Jared Whitson. They are still on their honeymoon, but they were so pleased with The Fundamentals. The guests could not say enough about talent of the band. Everyone thought you played great songs and the vocal and instrumental talent of your group is phenomenal. You kept the guests of all ages excited to dance and they could have gone on longer. Thanks for the encore selection. The evening flowed well and went by so fast, you were well organized. It makes us feel so good that our guests really enjoyed the music. Your band looked great, you were everything we hoped for.
"We just had a wrap-up breakfast (14 of us) and everyone said it was spectacular and the best dancing band ever!!! Great connection with audience. Great vocals and super sound. Everyone raved. Congrats and if anyone needs a reference, feel free to send them to us for a 10 rating.
"The Fundamentals played an absolutely fantastic show at our wedding on Sunday. Rachel and I cannot thank you enough for the song selection, the energy, the musicianship, the personality, and the all-out good time you created for our guests. I think we both know that the room we asked you to play in was not ideal. But yet, the sound quality was PERFECT. Our hora had great energy coming from the band and many guests complimented the singer's abilities during it as well. The Hora was really important to us and WOW - you did not disappoint. I really can't say enough good things.
Most importantly, we asked a lot of you guys. Not only did you learn our first dance - which by the way, instead of Rachel and I whispering "I love you's" into each other's ears during that dance, we were whispering, "their version is sick!" - but you also allowed us to provide what turned out to be a treasured moment for our parents. You allowed us to join you and let Rachel and I show our appreciation to our folks by performing Forever Young for them. It's a memory we'll keep with us forever.
We couldn't believe that a Sunday night wedding had the energy it did until you played your last note at 11:15. The party only seemed to get stronger as you played. Many, many guests complimented us on finding you guys - it was just terrific.
Please let me know if I can ever provide a testimonial for any potential clients of yours. I'd be happy to act as a referral. Performing at someone's wedding isn't just about the wedding night, but the days, weeks and months leading up to it as well. John, you were always there for us to work with, anytime we had a question or a request. Terrific customer service, terrific music - unbelievable overall experience.
Thank you again for everything..."
"Beth and I returned from our honeymoon and the dust has settled. We wanted to thank you so much for making our wedding spectacular... truly one for the ages.
Not only did we think things were amazing musically, but the party rocked from beginning to end. Every one of our guests said that you were the greatest band they'd ever seen. Those sentiments were shared by all. The crowd interaction, quality of the music, and tightness of the band are unparalleled.
Please please feel free to use any of the above comments for future use. We would be proud to be used as a reference as well at any point in the future.
"You guys rocked from the time you started until the time you ended! Your performance was so great. Thank you for everything. Our speeches ran late. To make up for lost time, your band played for 2 hours without a break and had the dance floor packed the entire time. Afterwords everybody told us how great the party was, but what really made it was the band. Thank you. We loved it. If you ever want to use me as a reference I'll rave about The Fundamentals all day long."
"As we discussed following your performance at The Old Federal Reserve on July 22, we would like to put in writing for the benefit of each of you that we were absolutely thrilled with the effort, attention to detail, scheduling of songs, professionalism and obvious abundant musical talent that you demonstrated to us. The band's song list provided the kind of diversity that made the night so special for all of us. Your willingness to work with all our special requests created memories that will last forever.
Since last year, we were at three of your public events. The band's musical diversity was one of the two reasons why we selected The Fundamentals. The other reason was the length of time that you have been together and the stability that it provided. This lead to your group being more of a family with associated elevated expectations that the performance would go on irrespective of illness, broken bones, etc. With a band as large as the Fundamentals, there is always someone who may feel "under the weather," but in your case, "the show must go on" concept is in your hearts. Lee Ann, thank you for being there for us despite your recent injury.
Once again, we want to thank you Elena, Lee Ann, Chris, Bob, Marc, Marvin, Tom, Zac, and John so very much for all your efforts. It was truly an incredible evening thanks to each and every one of you. We will follow your schedule and will look forward to seeing you again. Love and thanks!!!"
"I can't begin to tell you how AMAZING our wedding was because of the Fundamentals. Every single person- from my 8 year old cousin to my 91 year old grandfather had the best time due to the energy of the band. The set list was great - Neil Diamond definitely stole the show. I love U2 so closing down the party was perfect. I really can't thank them enough! The dance floor was packed the ENTIRE time. I was dancing on the carpet most of the night because I couldn't get one the floor it was so packed.
Once again - they were simply the best. I had many people tell us that it was the best wedding/party they had ever been to and the band played a huge role in that. All 240 people at our wedding had the best time! I know you will have many of my family members hire your band in the future!
"We are so glad you were the band for this party - THANK YOU!!!!! You were fabulous every way: great to work with and just incredible performers! You got everyone up and dancing and we've heard nothing but rave reviews! The members loved you! The last set knocked everyone's sox off - it was just the best! I don't usually stay to the end of our parties but every song got better and better and my partner and I stayed and danced until the last song was played. You were all just the best - you have a dynamite band and I will always recommend you to everyone who asks! Thanks for making our 25th Anniversary Party a great success. With so much appreciation and gratitude - you're awesome!"
"Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for playing such an outstanding set at our wedding on November 1st. One of our favorite memories of the evening was our first dance to, "Beautiful Day". We remember looking around the room and seeing all of our friends and family dance with us to our favorite U2 song - it was an electric feeling - one that we will never forget! We have received amazing feedback from everyone who was at wedding about the music!
Thank you so much for helping to make our wedding day absolutely perfect! We would highly recommend you to anyone should you ever need a reference! Our friend Matt Ross has already called us about using you at his wedding, so hopefully we will get to see you perform again. You are an outstanding band with an amazingly good vibe. Thank you for learning our song and for playing your hearts out at our wedding!
It was truly a Beautiful Day!"
"You guys were incredible at our Wedding Reception last Saturday at the Silverado Resort. I knew you guys were talented, but "WOW", you kept everyone on the dance floor for the entire evening! The remarks from our guests continue to pour in; the energy was great, the music was phenomenal! Thanks for making our Wedding Day so memorable. We loved it all, and only wished you could have played longer (and that you were local to Philadelphia area!).
John, I loved the play list.
"As we return the barrels to their rightful location, send back the borrowed items, and devour the left over cheese, we can now relax and look back with pride at the happenings that took place here on Saturday. Thanks to you, our Leap Year Party was a wonderful success, and we are sure it will be an evening that will be talked about for many years to come.
The cooperation and perfection you and your team expended was very obvious, and it is safe to say that without all of your diligent efforts, our party would not have been the memorable occasion it was.
Again, I want to extend a very heartfelt thank you from all at Frog's Leap Winery, but especially from me, for your support and dedicated efforts. You deserve the Oscar.
"Mark and I are finally back from our month-long honeymoon, and I just had to write you and the band to tell you THANK YOU.
I cannot emphasize my gratefulness enough.
First of all, we were absolutely delighted with the Fundamentals--the variety of songs, the richness of Chris, LeeAnn and Elena's voices, the fantastic abilities of the musicians, the tight board operation, even the equipment set-up--you made the atmosphere. I have been to many, many weddings, and I have NEVER seen people jump up and dance the way they did when you started playing. I would almost swear that you slipped something into our drinks if I didn't hear for myself what a terrific job you did.
Over the years, weddings have evolved from simple ceremonies to all out weekend retreats. Increased social importance placed on weddings has resulted in complicated events becoming the norm.
You perfectly followed our complicated wedding schedule. I was so impressed. Not only that, but your planning call before the event was most helpful in creating an interesting "dinner dance" format--something we are so pleased to have done!
Last and certainly not least, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing my band, the Bootcuts, to play. Allowing us to use your drum kit ("no drum bashing, please!"), the microphones, amps, sound man, was extremely generous. We were so pleased to find out later that the sound man was familiar with our band from the El Rio! It's difficult to mix seven other musicians then go back to the Fundamentals mix. It was the best sound and best "show" we have put on--in five years of playing around town.
As you can see, I am still high from the evening, and most grateful to you. Let's face it--all good parties come down to the band. Am I right?
Thank you again, John and the Fundamentals!
"April 29th has come and gone, but the memories of that very special wedding day when our daughter, Julie, married Chad Malchow will be remembered forever.
My wife and I remembered driving from Fresno to Carmel in the rain several months before our daughter's wedding just to hear The Fundamentals perform live. Oh sure, we heard The Fundamentals CD. but how would they perform live, in person? Would they be as spectacular live, in person, as on their CD? As you know John, after hearing much of the great performance that night and after meeting many of the band members, personally, we were fortunate enough to contract the group for Julie and Chad's wedding reception at The Old Federal Reserve Building in San Francisco.
Please share this compliment with the entire band. You are each top professionals in every respect; you give new meaning to the word "GREAT" and your warmth and friendship will be remembered for a long time. The brilliance with which you played, the enthusiasm and high performance quality of the vocalists and instrumentalists of The Fundamentals added final perfection to a wedding celebration that will forever be remembered. Our guests are still 'raving" about your group.
The Fundamentals are NUMBER ONE!! Thanks you again, for a truly outstanding performance that night.
"Everyone LOVED The Fundamentals! I thought it was great that you were able to incorporate everyone's requests for songs into the set and make it sound so good!! You went from songs in the 60's to Motown to pop and then to some of the classic romantic ballads seamlessly!!! Hopefully you'll get some gigs out of the evening. Many of the folks attending are CEO's and owners of big companies that have corporate events. I had 2 gentlemen ask me for your contact information, which I've already sent to them!
Thank you again. You were great and we will definitely call you for next year!"
"We can't thank you enough. Countless people came up to us that night - and the next day - to say "best band EVER." Truly - you guys made the party. At one point, we realized that of our 183 guests, only six weren't on the dance floor (probably just at the bar trying to refresh before busting another move)!
Thank you again for everything. The entire night was magical, and you guys made sure our guests came away saying "WOW." I will recommend you 1000x over!"
"We can't say enough good things about the performance. You really blew us away! The Fundamentals were incredible, and everyone, ages 3 to 83, agreed. We loved how versatile the band was, playing all types of music. You had a great sense for the energy of the party, and the set lists really kept the dancing going from the first song until the very end. We received countless compliments about the band and how good you sounded. You honored our requests, but were flexible to improvise as the night went on. We would strongly recommend The Fundamentals to anyone planning a party. Your 'Don't Stop Believing' encore was just the perfect way to end the night, you guys rock!
If you ever need a reference, please let us know, we would be delighted to share our experience. Are you on Yelp? If so we will write a review there as well. I think you made the preferred vendor list for both the Rosewood and our Coordinator Jean Marks. Best of luck!
"Hi John! We are putting the check in the mail right now for you. Thanks again for an absolutely amazing performance - our friends and family have not stopped raving about The Fundamentals! Everything was outstanding - you had the guests on their feet dancing away the entire night. And even though the cake was placed on a table without wheels (even though I had confirmed it was to be placed on a table WITH wheels) and guests had to come inside for the cake cutting, you flawlessly got them right back out there moments later. Not an easy feat and you pulled it off without a hitch! At one point I looked around and the band was jamming so great with such amazing solos all around, I noticed our guests had formed rows around the stage and it looked like a concert! Everyone had such a great time thanks to you. We loved you guys - thanks for making our wedding such a spectacular event."
"The Fundamentals played for our Opus One 20th Celebration party on Saturday, October 16, 1999. Everybody had the best time and many of the six-hundred guests told us how entertaining and great the band was. We highly recommend The Fundamentals. This group will get everybody on the dance floor. They are really fun and very enjoyable. | 2019-04-24T22:33:03Z | http://thefundamentals.com/Pages/comments.html |
As women, we all have stories of womb wounding to share but so often we can feel silenced by a society that does not honour our experiences. Abortion remains shrouded in stigma whilst feelings of anger, resentment, grief and despair can be challenging for family and friends to witness, leading us to hide our shadow feelings, pushing them deep inside us where they can fester, causing ill health both physically and mentally.
When I questioned the Ward Sister as to why there was such a lack of funding for neonatal intensive care compared to adult intensive care, she explained that historically society considered that ill or dying babies were simply a cross that women had to bear, preferably with stoicism and in silence. Still now, we are expected not to complain, but I have heard the screams of women as their babies died in their arms, and they cannot be silenced.
With 'The Healing Womb', my intention was to create a sacred space to honour women and their unique stories. At the Glastonbury Goddess Conference 2012, many women visited the art installation in the Miracles Room to spend time in meditation, breathing in the healing energy of the four archetypal paintings, listening to their whispered words of wisdom, releasing their tears and writing their stories on prayer flags. The installation now hangs in my room in The Old Clinic in Glastonbury, where I hold Healing Womb workshops for women who feel drawn to work with their womb wounding in a small, safe and compassionate circle of women treading a similar path.
I know what it feels like to face the fear of my children dying, to feel all the conflicting emotions woven into caring for disabled children. I also know how intensely lonely it has felt to lock my story away, to not want to burden others with my threads of grief, anger and despair, to weave a different story to show the world when inside I was desperate to speak, to be heard, to be comforted. The Healing Womb workshops provide a sacred space where we can experience the gift of being heard, held and valued by other women who walk softly by our side - sharing our stories together, journeying with and honouring the wounded parts of us, expressing and transforming our shadow feelings through creativity and gentle rituals, and rebirthing ourselves out of the healing womb with tears, laughter and sisterhood. Above all, the workshops are a confidential space in which women can come and speak the unspeakable, give voice to their darkest thoughts and feelings without any fear of being judged or silenced, and in so doing, are able to find deep healing and release.
The Healing Womb installation features four 5'x4' acrylic paintings based on the four elemental energies. Earth's association with the underworld is reflected in Mother of Loss; Air's sense of silence and aloneness on the frozen landscape is expressed through Mother of Solitude; Fire's ability to warm, nurture and heal illuminates Mother of Healing; and Water's soothing outpouring of love flows through Mother of Compassion.
Each elemental painting embodies the archetypal energy of goddesses drawn from different cultures, and features figures of various ethnicities in recognition of the fact that womb wounding affects all women regardless of culture or race. Hecate is Mother of Loss, Greek Goddess of the Crossroads, protector of newborn babies and companion to souls journeying in the underworld. Lilith is Mother of Solitude, a Sumerian Goddess adopted later by Judaism, who embodies female empowerment, independence and autonomy, and also brings fertile blessings to women struggling to conceive. Brigit is Mother of Healing, Celtic Goddess of Imbolc, fire, healing and protector of children, especially those who are vulnerable, ill or disabled. And Kuan Yin is Mother of Compassion, Buddhist Goddess of Compassion and Mercy, who through her violet flame of forgiveness helps us to transform our shadow emotions into compassion for ourselves and others.
The four archetypal Goddess energies are associated with the relevant womb wounding experienced by women. Hecate, Mother of Loss, is for women who have suffered loss either through miscarriage, still-birth or death. Originally I included abortion, but from my experience of running my first workshop at the Glastonbury Goddess Conference, it became clear that women who had experienced abortion needed a space that was dedicated just to them, so I now invite them to work with Kuan Yin, whose energies of compassion and forgiveness are particularly relevant. Lilith, Mother of Solitude, is for women who are childless, either due to infertility and/or circumstance. Brigit, Mother of Healing, is for mothers of ill, disabled or special needs children. And Kuan Yin was originally painted to encompass all mothering experiences, not necessarily just of children, but also within the community in our many nurturing roles as women.
During the nine month gestation period of painting the installation from October 2011-June 2012, I interviewed many courageous women who offered to share their stories of womb wounding with me. As I embarked on each painting, I ritually lit a candle and called in not only the Goddess energy I was working with but also the souls of these women so that their stories became the beating heart of the installation. I am deeply grateful to every woman I have interviewed, worked with as a therapist and journeyed with in my workshops. I never cease to be amazed and humbled by the depth of women's stories, the myriad challenges they overcome, and their courage and resilience in daring to heal and rebirth themselves back into the light of hope.
Standing on the threshold between darkness and light, death and rebirth, Hecate personally led me into my deepest fears around my son dying. After four months of watching him fighting to survive in neonatal intensive care, followed by months of resuscitating him ourselves on a daily basis, I had been left with an intense fear of his death. Through painting Hecate, I came to know Her as a deeply loving energy. She is strong and fiercely protective, guarding the gateway between life and death with her dog, but there is a sense of comfort we can draw from her strength. She embodies the aging wisewoman who has faced many challenges in her life and chooses, whilst still strong in her body, to stand in her power on the bridge and welcome the souls of our loved ones into her arms. Beneath her warrior-witch facade is a heart pouring open with love, compassion and gentleness. She may not suffer fools gladly, but she cradles the souls of our lost babies and children with infinite love and maternal devotion.
In the Mother of Loss painting, Hecate can be seen welcoming a grief-stricken mother who has carried the soul of her lost baby to the underworld on her (white) night-mare. Hecate, who bears the soul of another baby on her back, points to the light of hope and rebirth shining through St Michael's Tower on Glastonbury Tor. In the background Old Grandmother of Time is seated at the Wheel of Life, spinning and cutting the threads of life. Above her, in the darkness of the night sky shines a star of hope with the image of an embryo in the centre, inspired by the story of a woman who imagines the eight babies she miscarried as stars in the sky. Hecate is surrounded by her totem animals – her guardian dog, the black lamb who represents the lost child, the toad who symbolises rebirth, and her crows perched on a dead tree, which contrasts with the fertile oak branch laden with acorns, the souls of new life waiting to be reborn on earth.
Before I started painting Lilith, I naively assumed that I wouldn't personally identify with her archetypal energy because I have been blessed with three children and do not know how it feels to be childless. I focussed on the stories of women I know and have interviewed, hoping to create a painting that would offer them solace and a burst of fertile energy. However, Lilith was not going to let me off that lightly and led me on a deeply challenging journey into the desert of solitude where, abandoned and outcast, I discovered a stronger sense of self-worth in all my shadow and light. She helped me to access those forbidden and silenced emotions of anger, self-pity, resentment, bitterness and shame, to stand alone in all my dark wildness and to rage against life until step by step she led me to the healing waters of her oasis. Lilith taught me perhaps the greatest gift of life, to love my shadow even when others reject me for it, to forgive myself and to know that deep inside me is a wellspring of strength and self-worth that is not dependent on how others view me.
The image of Lilith comes from the Burney Relief, a terracotta plaque from Babylon dating back to 1800-1750 BCE. In her hands she holds a ring and rod, which I interpret as a fertility symbol of the union of female and male. She has wings and bird's feet, denoting her connection to the ancient Paleolithic Bird Goddess and, as 'Divine Lady Owl', is flanked by two stylized owls who penetrate the shadows of the night and of our souls with their keen vision. Lilith is perched on two lions, which I painted as male and female, harking back to our pagan ancestors whose ritual caves were guarded by the painting of a lioness. Some see this as a symbol of her mastery over wild beasts. I prefer to see Lilith as an embodiment of their great strength and autonomy. A woman kneels in front of her, her blood loss symbolizing her grief and/or failed attempts to conceive, flowing from the heart of her womb into the Lion's Head at Chalice Well. But it is here that the painting becomes a potent totem of fertility, the red (female) and white (male) springs beneath the Tor uniting and flowing upwards, blessed by the fertility of the tree and serpent from the Gilgamesh Epic, and bathing the woman's womb with the hope of new life - her own or that of her children yet to come.
Painting Brigit was very personal to me and my children. My eldest daughter Sophia was born in 1999 requiring life-saving surgery at birth and a further nine operations, leading us both on a profoundly healing journey with the Black Goddess Sophia, which inspired my novel The Serpent's Tale. I was then blessed by the experience of birthing a healthy daughter Jasmine, who brought her gifts of well-being, compassion, love and laughter. In 2009, I gave birth to my son Zac who suffers from facial and oral paralysis, and at the time of painting Brigit, was unable to smile, speak or feed orally. Painting The Healing Womb installation, and especially Brigit, was one of the ways in which I creatively transformed and healed my shadow emotions relating to his birth and my journey with my children. For me, the most effective way to draw meaning from dark, painful experiences is to use creativity to transform them into something tangible that can bring light and hope to others who may be suffering – to transform base metal into gold like the original alchemists and philosophers. Brigit, Brighde, Bride, the Celtic Goddess who embodies a similar archetypal energy to Sophia as Lady Alchemia, has been our family's constant companion since Sophia's birth. Both Sophia and Zac had surgery on 1st February, Imbolc and the poem I wrote to Bridie whilst nursing Sophia in hospital at Imbolc 2001 is still sung every year at the Glastonbury Goddess Temple Imbolc ceremony. I cried many tears whilst painting Brigit, but they were gentle, soothing tears, not the grief-laden sobs that Hecate brought She helped me to let go, to surrender to our souls' journey and, in so doing, to feel deep gratitude for the gift of my children and our experiences, however painful and frightening they have often been.
In the painting, Brigit is shown in both her dark and light aspect. She is the beautiful fire maiden, muse of poets, protector and healer of children, but also the mourning mother whose grief at her son's death on the battlefield was so loud across all of Ireland that war ceased and peace prevailed. This can be seen as a metaphor for our need as women, especially those of us who grieve the loss of our dreams of birthing a healthy, non-disabled child, to express our pain so that we can come to a place of acceptance and peace. The image of Brigit is taken from the statue of St Brigid as shepherdess at her shrine in Kildare, Ireland. I am cradling my daughter Sophia on a ventilator in neonatal intensive care, whilst my daughter Jasmine is holding her beloved brother Zac. Beside us, Brigit's wolf guards and protects us, my primary animal guide, along with the serpent of rebirth, regeneration and wisdom gained from journeying in the depths of the underworld. We are seated beside Chalice Well and its healing waters, with Brigit's swans and snowdrops in the foreground. Behind us the phoenix rises in the flames of Brigit's fire, symbolising the part of us that dies each time we are burned by life, only to be reborn once more from the fertile ashes with a greater capacity for love, compassion, courage and wisdom.
Having spent nine months painting the first three paintings, I had five days left to paint Kuan Yin and take her to the printers to photograph before I left to travel around Romania with my family. She came through fast and flowing, with her dove of peace, her vase of amitra, the dew of life, and her branch of willow, whose strong roots allow it to bend in stormy winds, teaching us of the need to go with the flow, to accept and surrender instead of resisting life's challenges. Riding her dragon, symbolising her mastery of shadow emotions such as self-punishment, self-blame and guilt, she sees our suffering through the many eyes of her peacock feathers and, through her violet flame of forgiveness, helps us to transform the muddy roots of our pain into the beautiful flowering petals of her lotus flower.
As the Goddess of Compassion and Mercy, Kuan Yin is associated with Mother Mary and Tibetan Tara. She is the symbol of the Wounded Healer, who through her renunciation of Buddhahood and her own suffering on earth is able to pour her compassion on humanity and relieve the pain of others. It is this energy that we as women aspire to emulate at the end of the archetypal journey illustrated in the paintings of The Healing Womb – from Hecate's descent into the underworld of grief and fear; through Lilith's empowering sense of self-worth and independence; to Brigit's healing release of tears and rebirth from the ashes of her fire; transforming ourselves ultimately through Kuan Yin's compassion and forgiveness into the Wounded Healers we are destined to become through our experiences of womb wounding.
After I finished painting the installation, I travelled to Romania and visited the painted monasteries. As I stared at some of the traditional, 'naive' reverse glass paintings inside the monasteries, with their use of strong black lines, I found myself staring at my own style of painting. I gave up art at school aged 13 but always carried within me a strong desire to paint large canvases. After a close friend reassured me that everyone is an artist, it's just a matter of finding your own unique way of expressing yourself, I joined a life-drawing class. Eight years later, I painted The Healing Womb installation. I am not a sophisticated, trained artist but I have a strong, distinct style that seems to spring innately from somewhere deep inside me. In Romania, I felt I had found the source of my 'naive' style in what may have been a past-life as a Transylvanian icon reverse glass painter! No wonder I have always been fascinated by the iconography of the Black Madonna, Sophia and Magdalene.
Our road trip around Romania was also a beginning and an end for our family. When Sophia and Zac were both born, I never dreamt it would be possible to travel abroad with either of them, but there we were, with suction machine and oxygen cylinder in tow, travelling through the remotest parts of the Carpathian Mountains. This heralded the end of a three year journey of intense stress, fear and pain, and birthed our renewed belief and trust in life to transform shadow into light, despair into hope. Sometimes, it can feel that Goddess takes from us at will, that she steals our very breath and those of our loved ones, that she tramples on our dreams and strips us to bare bone. And yet I have come to understand that our souls choose the challenges we face in each life-time, and that it is not Goddess who inflicts these upon us, but She who holds us with infinite love and compassion as we stumble in the dark, saved only by the flickering light of her violet flame guiding us to freedom.
Annabel Du Boulay is an author, artist, therapist and priestess based in Glastonbury with over twenty years of experiential journeying with Goddess through shamanism and paganism. She completed her MSc degree and MPhil research at the LSE in the Sociology of Religion, specializing in goddess paganism, feminist theology and women's rights. Annabel used this research to write her witchburnings novel The Serpent's Tale, an allegorical story that explores the Gnostic myth of the Black Goddess Sophia.
Annabel is also a transpersonal regression therapist and workshop facilitator, with experience of working both in private practice and for a leading mental health charity with sufferers of severe and enduring mental health difficulties. She raises awareness of women's rights, mental health and disability issues through the talks she gives.
As a wounded healer, Annabel is passionate about helping people to discover the light of Goddess shining within the shadowy depths of their souls' experience.
For further information, to book onto a Healing Womb workshop and to buy Annabel's book and prints, please visit her company website www.belashka.com. | 2019-04-20T22:28:30Z | https://www.goddess-pages.co.uk/the-healing-womb/ |
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If William Mason is melancholy or wistful about leaving the opera company that has been the center of his life for five decades, he’s hiding it extraordinarily well.
Speaking in his fourth-floor corner office last month in one of his final weeks as general director of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the 69-year-old administrator was relaxed, upbeat and expansive in talking about his long career at the Lyric..
People will debate the merits and faults of Mason’s tenure, but, say what you will, this is a man who genuinely loves opera. That enthusiasm was clear in a conversation in which Mason addressed criticisms of his tenure, discussed repertoire, the current state of opera, and recalled some of his most memorable nights at the Lyric Opera.
LAJ: So, how does it feel stepping away from the company after a lifetime at the Lyric Opera, the last 14 years as general director?
WM: It’s a lot of conflicting feelings. I think it’s time for the company to take on a new direction and new leadership. I will miss all the people and the ready access to music.
And at the same time, I’m looking forward to what lies ahead. I’ll be 70 in December and I don’t have any specific plans. You know, I’ve run this place for fourteen years. So, some time off would not be the worst thing. After the vocal competition, my wife and I are going away to Mexico for a week around Christmas. If something shows up fine, but if it doesn’t I’m not actively looking for anything.
LAJ: Would you be interested in consulting work?
WM: If there are companies that have money to hire a consultant and want to ask me, I’d be happy to do it.
LAJ: Will you be staying in Chicago or moving to Florida like everybody else does when they retire?
WM: No, no, I love Chicago. It’s my hometown, I’ve lived almost my whole life here. The apartment’s paid off. I’m a big Chicago booster.
LAJ: Have you given your successor Anthony Freud any specific advice or words of wisdom or experience as he takes the reins on October 1?
WM: I don’t really think I need to give Anthony much advice. I’ve known Anthony for some time. I like him. He is an eminently decent, extraordinarily competent good guy. People are going to like him, respect him and enjoy working with him. He’s successfully run two opera companies [Welsh National Opera and Houston Grand Opera] and he’s very bright. He will find his own way.
Not to be too grand about it but the company has been on a certain arc since its inception — Fox, Krainik, Mason — and it’s the end of an era. Now it’s time for a change and there should be a change. He will take the company in the direction he wants to take it. I have no doubt it will be an intelligent direction, and I feel good about it.
LAJ: What do you say about the criticism that the Lyric has become far too conservative and artistically cautious in your years as general director?
WM: People like the repertoire or they don’t like the repertoire, or they like this or that. But you know a lot of the people that criticize don’t get around that much. I see half of our performances, and that’s about forty performances a year. I see another twenty-five to forty performances a year elsewhere. So I flatter myself that I have a fair idea of what goes on in major opera companies around the world. And I think the night in and night out quality stands with the best companies in the world.
LAJ: During your tenure there were some offbeat operas or ambitious productions that were announced and then pulled for more populist repertoire, like Montemezzi’s L’amore dei tre re and Berlioz’s Benvenuto Cellini. Any regrets about not doing these works and are there operas you wish you could have presented?
WM: I very much wanted to bring back Bill Bolcom’s McTeague. I thought it was a terrific piece but I thought it could have been improved. In some ways, [director] Bob Altman, God rest his soul, imposed a scenario on it with a lot of flashbacks like a movie and I felt those were not helpful. Bill had an idea about an additional scene he wanted to write, we did a little work with Frank Galati, and I thought we were on our way to doing something and then the money became an issue. In some ways that’s my biggest regret. But I also regret in these last few years that we couldn’t have been more adventurous.
And I know that’s a criticism that’s been leveled at me. We have a great board here. But it’s a Chicago, Midwestern [fiscally conservative] board. And also, you know, I was raised by my parents in the Depression, so I sort of grew up with the idea that you don’t spend money you don’t have. Critics will write things like “Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead.” No, no, no, I’m sorry. When you’re talking about the long-term financial health of the institution, you don’t have it without some kind of financial stability.
LAJ: Did presenting a revised McTeague get far beyond the talking stages?
WM: We had some very good meetings, Frank Galati, Bill Bolcom and I. This would have been in 2006. It just wasn’t . . . however much certain people want to see new stuff done, a subscription audience is leery of it. They’ve been scared off by America opera.
My soapbox thing is that modern contemporary music got hijacked by composers who wrote for themselves and didn’t care about the public. And by critics who encouraged it. This is a small little group of people — like the initiated who “got it” and no one else did. But those people weren’t buying the tickets.
That applies particularly to an opera. If you put on a 15-minute piece by Elliott Carter, you can still put on a Brahms symphony. But when you’ve got a whole evening of an opera that nobody wants to listen to and you’re only doing eight operas a year, you’re really alienating a good portion of your public.
LAJ: But don’t you think that a lot of that gnarly atonal music was primarily in the 1950s and 1960s? And that many of the operas that came before and after that period are written in a much more accessible and melodic style?
WM: Yes, they started to be. But I do think that a lot of the composers, even after that in the 1970, were really writing for themselves, more than what I or the public wanted.
And another thing is a lot of composers don’t have the experience today of writing opera. They don’t write theatrically. I can think of things I’ve heard or that we’ve done where good composers just don’t have a theatrical sense. They don’t know how to underscore the drama, or the music has nothing to do with what’s going on onstage.
There’s also no chance for a composer to rework his piece. When you think that Butterfly premiered in January and by April Puccini revised it and it was done in a different city. Today you do something in 2011 and the next chance you’ll have to hear a revised version is in 2016. It’s a major investment for a composer and everything about it works against anybody wanting to write a new opera.
LAJ: But you didn’t have that much of a problem selling tickets in the 1990s when you were doing new operas and unusual repertory.
WM: Yeah, but in the 1990s we were pretty much selling a hundred percent.
LAJ: But the Marvin David Levy opera [Mourning Becomes Electra] and Bolcom’s A View from the Bridge did okay, right?
WM: I don’t remember the specifics but we were doing over a hundred percent over that season, so maybe the Levy and Bolcom did 98 percent. But it wasn’t 70 percent.
I mean, it’s very tough. A lot of people didn’t like the modern stuff when we did it. Sometimes it would be helped by a terrific production. But when we did stuff like Street Scene and Candide, some people didn’t think that was appropriate. When we did Berio’s Un re in ascolta, they didn’t like that because of the music.
But there’s no question that as people got tighter with their money because of the recession, you could see that those works were a drain on subscriptions. And if you’re a company where you’re selling a large portion of tickets on subscription, you can’t ignore that.
The ticket prices for Covent Garden vary because they don’t do subscriptions. So, when they do Tosca with Bryn Terfel they might sell the top price for two hundred pounds. When they did one of the Janaceks, the top price was sixty-five pounds.
LAJ: They reduce the price of the ticket based on the popularity of the opera? It’s not a bad idea.
WM: It’s not a bad idea but you can only do it if you’re doing all single tickets. When you’re selling by subscription you can’t do that.
LAJ: Do you think that the Lyric’s situation reflects that of most other opera companies in the country? That with the tight economy, people increasingly are less likely to shell out for an expensive subscription and instead just cherry-pick individual operas they want to see?
WM: People are less likely to want to plan where they’re going to be ten months in advance on a given night. And you have to accommodate people. Twenty years ago, you sold a subscription, and that was it. You didn’t have to do exchanges. Now you accommodate people because you have to. It’s an expectation and so you provide that service for them.
LAJ: People are more mobile and lives are more unsettled.
WM: The combination of the economy, the changing demographics, the changing expectations. So where it goes in the future is anybody’s guess.
LAJ: Do you think the Lyric’s initiative in presenting Broadway musicals, starting with Show Boat in February, will get more people in the theater and boost the bottom line?
WM: Well, that’s the hope. We’ll see how that goes.
You know, for years, I always thought that it was a pity that there was no organization or a repertory company based in New York, that would do three, four or five of the great musicals every year. You know, Cole Porter, Gershwin, Rodgers and Hart, Rodgers and Hammerstein… I mean, there’s some great stuff out there.
LAJ: Like the National Theatre in England, except doing American musicals.
WM: Exactly. A place that either did strictly musicals or at least one or two of those pieces a year. And I think many of those pieces could be very well done by an opera company. So I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to introduce those works that people have not heard of or to bring back the works that people love but haven’t had a chance to see.
LAJ: If it does becomes successful, down the road, say in two or three seasons, could you see the Lyric saying, “Well, maybe now we’ll do two musicals a season”?
WM: I think that would be lovely.
WM: I mean it’s not in the plans at this point but . . .
LAJ: But you can see how people will say it’s a slippery slope—that if the Lyric starts having more success with musicals then you’ll start doing fewer operas.
WM: The Oklahoma we’re talking about is in the post-season. It’s not in the season.
LAJ: Well, that is, but the Show Boat this year is in the season.
WM: Right. And a lot of people don’t want to see Show Boat in the season. So I can only hazard to guess as to how that will work out —whether things like Show Boat will find themselves done solely as post-season works or whether the company will feel comfortable bringing another one into the season. I think the thinking right now is that they will fall into the post-season category.
LAJ: A post-season series like the ballet?
WM: I think that’s the thinking right now. But that could change.
LAJ: But you’ll still be doing one less opera a season?
WM: No, we’ll still be doing eight operas a season.
LAJ: So, this coming season is an anomaly, with seven operas and one musical?
WM: In 2012-13 we’ll do eight operas and one musical. And that’s the idea for the future. But given the economics, everything is open in the future.
LAJ: Besides the economic situation, what is the greatest challenge facing opera companies today?
WM: Well, it’s the economy and it’s also the changing culture.
You know, I grew up and got interested in opera because of the movie, The Great Caruso. I wanted to sing like Mario Lanza! Mario Lanza had hit records. When I was a kid, Be My Love was on the top ten. But even the other music that was on the top ten — Perry Como or this and that — it wasn’t that far removed from classical music.
Right now what’s popular is so far removed. The gulf between so-called popular music and classical music is so enormous that it’s a big leap from one to the other. If you grew up listening to Perry Como, it’s not a big jump to go to Puccini or Verdi. If you grow up listening to rap or some of this stuff today, it almost seems like an impossible gulf to bridge.
I mean, when you think of the history of opera — without Verdi, Wagner, Puccini, Mozart, you don’t have opera. That’s the backbone. Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini, Strauss and Handel. After that you have a lot of one-hit wonders.
So, maybe what we’re looking for is some genius to come along who will somehow find a way to produce an opera or music that somehow has a classical and popular appeal.
LAJ: You don’t think that there are some American operas out there with popular appeal?
WM: I think so. I think there are some people out there. Years ago we had a composer-in-residence program. And the first bunch of those [commissions] were all sort of the thornier music. The program was headed by Hugo Weisgall, God bless him, who was a lovely man but the composers that he selected were all in what I would call that thorny-type music.
After Hugo passed, we turned to things that were slightly more music theater. We came up with some composers who I think had a better chance of writing something [successful], but unfortunately the money ran out. We wound up doing one or two performances over at the Blackstone Theater — the Merle Reskin Theater now — and we lost a lot of money on it.
LAJ: You wouldn’t save money if you did more offbeat things at smaller off-site venues? Like if you went to the Harris Theater to do a contemporary opera for three or four performances?
WM: No, because you still have big expenses. Especially if you’re doing a new piece — you have enormous expenses. I mean, to go out and try to sell single tickets to a new work by a relatively unknown composer? You’d probably have to spend more publicizing it than you would take in at the box office, let alone the cost of producing it.
It’s tougher for a company like Lyric to do new works, although you want to do them because there’s a certain buzz when you do it. In some ways, the smaller companies have an advantage in producing these works. It’s less expensive for them, they have smaller audiences, and they don’t have to sell as many tickets. I think going out to try to hear something new at a smaller company and then giving that composer a second chance — a chance to revise it and then presenting it — maybe that’s the way to go.
LAJ: You mentioned McTeague but, given your druthers—and had the economy not tanked in recent years—-what were some other things you would have liked to have presented?
WM: I would have loved to have revived Vanessa. Again, traditional piece and a weak libretto but still good music. It would have been nice to be able to do Vanessa. I have to admit I kind of stopped investigating contemporary American composers that much.
When we got Bill Bolcom, Ardis and I went around and spoke to Christopher Keene, Dennis Russell Davies, Jim Conlon and a couple other American conductors and we asked them, “We want to hire someone to do an American opera. Who should we hire?” And to a man, they said Bill Bolcom.
I’ve been listening to a lot of young composers because, as you know, Renée [Fleming, the company’s creative consultant] is curating a new piece for us. But there’s a lot of stuff you listen to and you don’t sense evidence of people writing well for the voice. And even on those things when it’s not just written for voice and piano, you don’t sense a theatricality in the sound. I clearly haven’t listened to enough. There’s got to be someone who can do it.
And even finding a librettist who can do it — make a scenario and write the dialogue [is difficult]. It’s good to start with a play in some ways because you’ve got a scenario and you’ve got dialogue already set. When you take a movie or you take a book, you’ve got to fashion that into a singing play. And that in itself is a major piece of work.
LAJ: Let’s jump back to your very first experience at Lyric as a boy soprano singing the Young Shepherd in Tosca. Do you recall the details?
WM: Oh yeah, I remember very clearly. As I said, I got interested in opera when I saw The Great Caruso. I must have been nine. For my tenth birthday, my parents took me to a Rigoletto. This is before Lyric Opera — this was in the days when the New York City Center Opera, as it was called in those days, toured Chicago. It was December 9, 1951, and I saw Rigoletto with David Poleri. And that kind of cemented my love of opera.
Now in those days in Chicago before TV became really popular, there were a lot of amateur musical groups and small little opera companies that would put on opera with a piano.
And there was a woman in town by the name of Zerlina Mühlmann Metzger. Her father Adolf Mühlmann had been a bass-baritone at the Met at the time of Caruso. His was a fascinating story. He was a Russian Jew who through some remarkable circumstances found himself in Germany, then Vienna, changed his name, got to America and had a career at the Met for some ten, fifteen years. He’d sing things like Bitterolf and the king in Aida. Good style, secondary bass-baritone roles.
So his daughter Zerlina grew up loving music and she spoke Italian, French, German and played the piano. And she had a couple amateur groups and one of them was the All Children’s Grand Opera. So I saw an ad in the paper and my mother took me to see them and of all things they were doing Aida.
LAJ: Good Lord. Where were they located at?
WM: It was the Eleventh Street Theater where they performed and the rehearsal studio was in the Fine Arts Building. So I joined the group and then in the fall of ‘52 and ’53 I was in the children’s chorus when City Center Opera came here. When the Lyric was started in 1954, somebody at Lyric called Mrs Metzger to provide the children for the children’s choruses. And three of us auditioned for the role of the Shepherd and I got it.
I remember the opening night — I was standing backstage, downstage left and Maestro Lepore [the Lyric’s chorusmaster] conducted me. In those days you didn’t have monitors backstage, so you’d poke a hole through the scenery. Often you’d see all these little holes in the scenery. The assistant conductors always carried little knives with them. Because if all of a sudden someone onstage happened to step in front of the existing hole, they’d have to quickly cut another hole so they could still see the conductor.
And I remember being very nervous until I started to sing. Eleanor Steber was sitting in a chair waiting to go on and they were all very complimentary and nice to me. And then at the last performance Maestro Rescigno had me come out and take a bow. Every time I hear those horns that open the third act of Tosca it brings back that memory.
I did it again in ’56 and I became friendly with Ardis and people in the administration. I’d still go to performances and see Ardis.Then I went away to college and when I came back in the summer of 1962 I asked her if there was anything I could do in the season. She told me to come back at a certain day and when I did she put me with Maestro [music director Pino] Donati who became sort of my mentor and second father. He was the husband of Maria Caniglia who I also got to know quite well later. He spoke no English and, so I had to learn Italian. And that’s how it all started.
LAJ: What was your first job at Lyric?
WM: I was maestro’s assistant — I was just kind of a gofer. In those days we didn’t really have a long rehearsal schedule. There was no rehearsal department as such; it was just me and this other guy.
I typed up the daily schedule. I’d go out for coffee. And then I’d call the singers and go out to the airport to meet certain singers who needed a ride and bring them in.
And, of course, since I loved it so much I would just be here fifteen hours a day. The season was only eight or nine weeks in those days.
LAJ: How many operas did they do?
WM: They did eight but they would do just three or four performances of each.
LAJ: Eight operas in eight weeks? That must have been chaotic.
WM: I remember when we did Don Carlo in ’64 — with Gencer, Cossotto, Tucker, Gobbi and Ghiaurov — rehearsals started on Wednesday and nine days later on Friday we opened.
LAJ: And how many rehearsal weeks now?
WM: For a Don Carlo, easily three weeks. If it’s a new production, four or five.
You didn’t have piano dress rehearsals then. Staging rehearsal for principals and chorus was one scene, one rehearsal. Sopranos and altos over here, tenors and basses over there and then at some point they’d cross.
LAJ: Who were some of the artists from that era that stand out in your mind?
WM: The person that stands out more than anybody was Gobbi. He was mesmerizing. He was my hero. He was just so compelling.
The first thing I saw him in was Barber. And then you’d see him a week later as Germont in Traviata. And then Scarpia the next year and Rigoletto.
Everything he did, he was a different person. He was just a great stage actor. And the voice wasn’t — you know, it wasn’t a Leonard Warren voice. But you listen to him singing Di Provenza . . . six, eight or ten people can sing it more beautifully but you’ll never hear it sung with such feeling in the words and such pathos.
LAJ: Any other memories of great nights from that era?
WM: I saw the famous 1955 Trovatore with Björling, Stignani, Bastianini and Callas. There was so much stuff from those days. I remember the Manon Lescaut in ’57. It was Tebaldi and Björling but I remember I was really knocked out by the baritone, Cornell MacNeil. I said, “This guy is sensational!” The same season they did Pagliacci. Gobbi was Tonio and Mac was Silvio but he did the Prologue—just incredible.
LAJ: Any other memories of that era, good or bad?
WM: Boris Christoff was not a nice man. He was thoroughly unpleasant. The choristers would say that he would keep stepping on women’s toes and wouldn’t get off.
The thing that I most remember about him that was funny was in 1962 when they opened the season with Prince Igor. He was doing the two roles, Khan Konchak and Prince Galitsky.
Anyway he comes in and he’s got this live falcon on his wrists. And something happened at the first performance and the falcon opened up its wings and it was a great effect, everyone went crazy.
So he comes out at the second performance and give his wrist a shake. But the string wasn’t that secure and the falcon turned upside down and was hanging there just flapping around. That was good.
We’ve had other mishaps, things falling. A batten broke and almost killed Jon Vickers one night in Parsifal when it came down [in 1986]. Jon could be difficult but he just brushed that one off. He’d get annoyed about minor stuff but the fact that he could have gotten killed wasn’t a big deal.
LAJ: What about highlights from more recent seasons?
WM: The Billy Budd that we did in 2000 was a great, great production. The Ring was wonderful. The Handel we did last season [Hercules] was deeply moving.
Last year’s Lohengrin too. I mean, Johan Botha — that’s one of the greatest techniques I’ve ever heard. He’s a technical marvel, tasteful and it’s a beautiful voice. He’s a great, great singer.
There have been so many things over the years. I think that night in and night out the quality of this company has always been as good as anyplace in the world. We only do eight operas a year, and that gives you the time to really concentrate your attentions on it and do them well.
I loved the Hansel und Gretel that we did. In the scene with the fourteen angels, there’s a part where the little kids are sitting down at the banquet. There’s this big climactic musical moment where the waiters lift up the salvers and the kids see the food. I found that incredibly moving. It brought me to tears every night!
I mean, I love this stuff. I could go back every season and find so many evenings where there has been something that has just absolutely thrilled me — whether it’s orchestral playing, choral singing, great vocal performances, great moments of theater. I’ve always felt like they’re paying me to listen to music that I love.
The Lyric Opera of Chicago opens its season October 1 with Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffmann. lyricopera.org; 312-332-2244. | 2019-04-21T06:12:17Z | http://chicagoclassicalreview.com/2011/09/william-mason-looks-back-on-five-decades-at-the-lyric-opera/ |
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The most important part of this approach is that it allows the student to make connections more easily and relate a great many facts to one word. Users can see data from a variety of viewpoints and make connections that go far beyond what the teacher may add as they bring their own knowledge to the table.
Mind mapping enables them to see knowledge in a visual manner and allows them to organize data more easily. Remember not to be too specific when you start out and have students do this in group work is excellent and promotes thinking and sharing.
It is advantageous to use the board to provide examples of this method. Writing a dog on the board and ask students to voice ideas about what could be linked to that noun. The results could be as simple as breeds to relatives to equipment to movies. Now point to one word and ask how that relates to the others. In very little time they will make the “connections” and be able to link it to other learnings, even those in other subject areas.
To start the individuals on a project at a basic level you can use a family tree and have the students add the names of their closest relatives or those they are living with. Next, they add a detail about each one. After a few minutes, they will be adding more data. Next, ask them to make connections based on where they live, hobbies, jobs, etc. When they finish they will have compiled a basic connection of mind mapping paper. The users are now ready to write about what they learned.
I highly recommend you take a look at the resources listed and try to make one yourself before taking it to the class. It is especially effective in dealing with students and pocess limited writing skills as it helps them build their sentences step-by-step. It also enables students to see the materials using images that are easier for many of them to make connections. The use of color as well helps students track ideas. A real plus is that this connections strategy also helps improve recall/memory.
A basic site for using mind mapping.
This is similar to mind mapping.
A video on various mind mapping tools with several examples. A good starting point.
As Coggle, this resource makes creating maps easy.
A huge selection of mind mapping images.
For young and ESL readers guided reading presents a supportive and remediative form of learning to read that offers students the benefits of sharing accomplishments and overcoming weaknesses. It takes time to set-up, needs consistency, and a lot of time, but once the method is mastered it can nearly run itself if the necessary resources are available. Below are some of the best ones I could find about reading and guided reading.
Most everything you need to know here from questioning skills to the time allocation.
It includes a full range of helpful resources.
It explains how to do it and provides lesson ideas.
Introduces the four block method.
Classroom discipline if probably the most difficult thing for a teacher to master. However, although it may be tiresome there are a few rules that might provide help. First, don’t be a buddy. Secondly, contact the parents frequently for all reasons, good and bad. Third, talk with other teachers about your concerns. It is not a sign of weakness to ask for ideas. Fourth, avoid putting a student or yourself in a corner. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask administration for help. This all sounds so easy, but it never is and there are many times when you go home and can’t leave your work at school. I suggest you check out the stress sites below as well as keep a diary of what happens each day at school, good or not so good. At the end of the school year take a look at what you have written. It may reveal some insights into what worked and what didn’t but more importantly it might just reveal that you may have let a few bad days nullify a lot of bright ones.
Here are some good resources that provide a lot of valuable ideas.
What is your classroom management style?
How to use your time between classes and in the classroom to help control problems.
How to use your voice and body to control classes.
An excellent review of the literature. Check out the summary and what works and does not work.
Some good insights from a young teacher including grading ideas.
A terrific site with over 100 potential behavior problems and ides on how to handle them.
Example of letter sent home at start of year.
A nice compilation of information from setting up the classroom to meeting with parents.
Examples for each grade level.
Has examples and a quiz.
Teachers’ organization provides information on behavior and when to contact an attorney.
An interesting article about the frustrations of teaching, especially without a good preparation program.
Teachers are always the best sources for information on student discipline.
A dictionary for older students.
Using art, of course. Great way to create other lessons as well.
Newsletter, holiday art, printables, crafts and a whole lot more.
Diverse, with the emphasis on younger folk.
An interactive that offers a basic understanding of building and materials.
Includes nice index that includes museums, ancient art, modern art, and more. Takes a while, but worth it to find unusual resources.
This site is for art teachers. Includes ask the teacher, exchanges, art lessons, and more.
Highly interactive site. Good attention holder.
Crayola has created this site that features a lot of nice color pages among other things.
Lots of examples and how to do it segments.
An interesting site that lists of materials needed and what can be made from them.
For older students. You solve a puzzle to learn about art and art history.
An interactive cartoon making site. This is excellent for students if given direction as the theme of the comic.
Deals with art as it relates to a child’s development. Has ideas and a blog.
These sites can provide teachers with free resources to help them reach children in a variety of subject areas. They also can help provide remediation and/or accelerated learning opportunities. There are a lot of Internet sites that offer such materials, but only a few that are directed at the k-12 educator and without charge.
A note, you may have to register for some of these sites. Always make sure that the registration is only for the site and won’t be sold. I have noted that was good to register on sites I frequent because they provided me updates that I would have missed otherwise. Either way, I suggest you create an email address for just such sites and not use your personal one.
If you have additional sites to recommend please do so.
Videos arranged by grade level and there are a lot of them. Good quality.
This is a site that has videos that relate to stories, especially trials and biographies. A good collection, but limited in range.
About 1800 good quality videos mainly in science and math. Mainly for older students.
This link is supposed to be limited to videos that are related to teaching. Very large collection, but uneven quality and the meaning of education is truly challenged.
Search by topic or subject. Has length of video in search engine, which is good. Since this is a British site the material is directed to that user group. A goodly amount of videos. Worth a look.
You can post your videos or access the collection. You can also upload videos. Lots of ads. Also has audio and photo sections.
This is also a non-profit site that offer videos. The difference in this site is that it also offers lesson plans and more. This is a large site that tries to offer a variety of services to teachers besides videos.
This site does not offer a good enough category selection process for most teachers to find material quickly.
First rate videos and well done, this site is excellent for science, technology, and history teachers. Search engine takes a while to master due to large number of videos.
The sections are not well defined and its takes time to find the right video from the collection. Limited selection.
Famous people past and present. Good material, but many are for older students.
There are videos and much more here. It takes time to navigate this site, but the materials, both videos and interactive lessons, and of quality.
This site has a limited number of videos. It also has audio clips.
While not all the content on this site is free, teachers can still find some great animated videos on a wide range of topics on this site for use in the classroom.
This site has a limited amount of podcasts and interactive videos in the basic subject matter areas. Some videos have test questions.
This site has a limited number of videos and categories based on subject matter, use in class, and grade level.
This site has a fair size collection of diverse videos from history to entertainment. A lot of ads. Also, the index is fairly simple and it takes a while to find what would be right for your grade level.
This site is for older students and contains some non-educational material that has little value. Overall, the strength is in science for Exploratorium. Only categorized by subject and title.
A small, but interesting site with videos and photos of political campaigns and historical events among others. Limited content and weak search engine.
Videos of activities using interactive map of the world. Very limited content and videos may be over ten minutes in duration.
Videos of a variety of people, some famous, some not so much. This site might be used to help students show how hard work can pay off or to help them learn to take notes for a biography. Autobiographies are listed.
A small collection of collected folklore and history videos. Well worth a look for social studies and music teachers. Some films are very long, but worth a look.
A large site for those teaching history, with some videos. The videos tend to be for older students.
There are a few videos for older students here. The majority are very specific, such as the history of the Chinese in Tucson and there are a collection of images that might prove helpful.
Social Studies Video Dictionary from Georgia.
A nice, but limited collection, mainly history and geography related.
A great many videos with a variety of topics and well done.
A major collection of videos on geography and environmental related videos. All first rate.
This site has a variety of good videos, but the site is difficult to navigate. First rate materials.
Mainly political videos and current issues.
This is very interesting in that teachers can play entire films or parts from exceptional documentaries about a variety of topics. A must visit for teachers of older students. Some content may not be appropriate.
This site also has a good variety of documentaries and a better search engine. Mainly for older students. Some topics may be too graphic for classes.
These are about five minutes in duration and cover a great many topics that could be useful to teachers from sports to science. They are all based on the idea of one does something such as hold a football or paint.
Not many for the classroom, but some good ideas. Worth a look.
Howcast : If you want to know how to do something, this site is a great place to start looking for instruction.
This site has a few educational videos in the how to area.
A lot of videos, but many are not good quality. The ones that are are worth a look.
Has a selection of videos in the main subject areas. Weak search engine so you have to work hard to find the video you are looking for. Quality appears good, but some sections are limited.
A majority of these videos are done by students and the quality is uneven. The site offers a great deal of help for teachers wanting to upload and/or make videos.
More entertainment. There are a fair amount of videos here for very young children. Poor search engine and slow to load.
Science related videos for older students. Mainly interviews and explanations.
Space related and well done.
A nice collection of videos on science for older students. Good quality. A fair amount are lecturers. The length of time of the video is also used in the search engine. Sponsored by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute so many videos are medical in content.
This site has a good selection of science videos, but is limited in other areas. Also has games.
This site has videos related to green technology. Some might be of value to teachers, but most are more technical in nature.
endangered biodiversity. Interactive material, too. Snow tracks are good lesson on critical thinking.
Videos of scientists, research projects and more. For older students.
Most of these videos are for older students and sophisticated. There are a lot of subject areas, but no classification by age.
Limited number of videos that are mainly science related. For older students. Nova Science.
Excellent site with videos that help explain math concepts. Good for remediation and introduction.
I am featured on some of these videos and so there may be a bias in my comments.
It is good quality applied math and science videos, but the search engine is poor. The videos are for middle school students and up in age.
Mainly math related videos, but some general ones, too. Limited number and uneven quality.
Short videos on various math concepts. A must visit for math teachers.
Courses, images, and videos are located here. Many lectures for older students.
Video lecturers for the main part.
A limited number of videos with older students in mind.
These are videos of lectures and they can be quite long and sophisticated and inspiring. For older students.
More of an online video guide for entertainment, this site also has educational video listings. Mainly for older students.
This really isn’t for students, but may be of interest to teachers as it deals with interesting aspects of behavior.
University lectures on a variety of subjects. Some are very long. For advanced high school students.
This site has some videos on education and teaching. However, they are basically lecturer for educators.
A small number of videos about research and ideas about teaching.
This site has videos about teaching. Fairly long videos ,and some deal with school wide concerns as well.
Some good videos here, but it takes time to find them and some are too difficult for younger students.
A small, but interesting collection of videos to help teachers with technology and other areas. This is the first site that had the Storybird site that I use in the classroom.
Public domain videos. Limited and uneven quality.
Research has clearly shown that music is a great way to help students learn concepts. Indeed, it is part of the multiple intelligences that Howard Gardner has developed. Here are some terrific sites where you can download lyrics that help teach most every subject.
A large listing of all types of songs. A great place to start.
Always fun and catchy, but not all about school oriented subjects.
Here is a list of preschool and daycare resources that can help provide new ideas and promote a better understanding of the preschool child.
Lots of links, but some may be too advanced.
Very useful site tht has worksheets, plans, and law sites.
Huge link site to all types of resources from toilet training to drama actitives and more.
Valuable article on how to deal with preschoolers.
Coinsider printing it out for parents, too. | 2019-04-21T10:25:49Z | https://carfamily.wordpress.com/category/preschool/ |
‘Journalism is extremely valuable for our societies’ is what we hear very often. How valuable? And why are the providers of journalism not feeling the value? Why are they going down in numbers? Dying at a fast rate?
Well, because technically, journalism has no economical value. Looking at publishers’s balance sheets journalism is an inevitable expense.
Publishers are producing a unique commodity that is not sold and not traded – no matter how ‘valuable’ readers consider it. Journalism is just filling the gaps between advertising.
Yes, I can hear you screaming from here. But it is true. I am a publisher myself. We are sitting on a phenomenal treasure that is growing everyday and we are watching others exploit it.
We need to change this – and we can. Here is how. But first let me explain a bit more.
Newspapers and magazines are still mainly monetizing their content within their reach, which is measured mainly by their print distribution. Print distribution is shrinking as we all know. The valuation of online advertising is still based on quantity, not on quality of contacts. Another tragic paradox for the valuation of journalism is that, technically content has no value in the publishing industry. Any controller in a publishing house knows: Content is not an income for the publisher, content production only creates expenses that are hopefully compensated with advertising revenues.
The other paradox is that search engines and social media platforms are making money based on content they mainly do not produce. If they have no content their platform is empty and does not generate money. Advertising revenues of platforms are still rising exponentially and the quality content industry – newspaper and magazine publishers have been giving away their content for free because they fear losing the connection to the mass market. While their audience numbers are shrinking they considered jumping on the mass wagon of Google, Facebook, Twitter etc. was the only solution not to be marginalized.
Quality content providers like newspapers and magazines are not making money with content because they are actually not selling it. They have not created a market for content, they have no ‘price’ for content and their content cannot be found and traded easily.
All this has to change to save quality journalism. What needs to be done?
Quality content has to have a value. How much is a good story worth? It is easier than you think: Why do pork bellies, Gold, Shares, Currencies, AirBnB rentals, Uber drives have a value? Because there is a system that defines the market value. And having a price tag is the first step to earning money, isn’t it? Until now there is no system for content valuation based on market factors – like relevance for example.
Quality content needs to be marketable. Nearly every publisher in the world has the potential to export its products. Some stories might be strictly for a local audience – but even a local story about an aspiring businessman, athlete, scientist might be interesting for a global audience one day. If you have a great story about a young businessman in your home town who later becomes the richest man in the world your content your local is a global treasure that everybody wants. The same holds for a local scientist, an athlete, a special incident or event.
But where can you find it? Where is the platform where I can search for specific content from newspapers all over the world, in my language, with search filters. Recent and historic content?
There are only individual price schemes of newspaper and magazine syndication departments.
Prices are usually too high, or too low (when content could be valued much higher because of demand).
The problem: Researching text, researching the price and the contracting process is far too complicated for the fast-moving publishing business.
In order to be marketable content has to be available in multiple languages.
There are 74,000 newspaper and magazine publications in the world (WAN-IFRA) – all potential buyers and sellers of quality content.
More than 900 million new articles are available every year.
Thankfully, technology like DeepL and other services provide the possibility of fast and inexpensive translation.
Machine translation is not sufficient for quality content, but it creates the perfect raw material for distribution and finalization.
Translation alone will not do the trick: The content also needs to be slightly adapted to be marketable by transferring currencies, weight, distance and time units.
Relative references to time and location need to be transferred into specific information (words like ‘yesterday’ or ‘near the main station’).
In order to be marketable content sales need simple rules.
The world of copyright laws is extremely complex. One has to wonder why exploiting content disregarding most of existing copyright laws made companies like Youtube extremely rich. Talking to publishers about global content trade can become a boring philosophical discourse about the complexity of laws. The consequence: While others are stealing their content publishers are making it difficult for themselves as they use the laws that were designed for authors and rights owners against them. The solution: Start trading content with a simple set of rules that acknowledges the basic principles of copyright laws in the countries, where you buy or sell. Make sure that the authors and rights owners get a share of your revenue. Make the process transparent so that it can be tracked and logged in case of litigation. Not selling content will just result in death while others are already making money with your products.
The tasks above do not seem very difficult. A combination of databases, algorithms and transaction modules have to be put together to make this work. A Munich-based startup is working on it.
But before we start unleashing the value of content publishers have to change perspective. Journalists and publishers still have a hard time to consider their products a commodity.
Once they understand that their content is actually a very ‘hot’ commodity which generates billions of revenue for others they will be able to enter a new era of making money with content.
Publishers would not be limited to their reach and subscriber numbers anymore. Journalists and publishers are owners of an exclusive and specific resource. The world has to buy it from them. Like software developers they have the Intellectual Property that others want and need. Understandably not every piece of content is equally valuable every day. Not every piece of content will be sold – and sold again.
Demand and supply will control sales and the pricing like with any other commodity. Companies who are currently exploiting content mainly for free will have to adapt their business model from stealing (or ‘obtaining it’) to buying and exploiting content. Until now it was too easy for them. Publishers mostly gave away their monetizing potential away for free.
This all sounds quite basic! But nobody has done it so far. The founders of Contenno – including me have made marketability of content their goal. It is the philosophy that drives the creation of the first journalism trading platform. Contenno will be the ‘pork belly’ trading place for journalism – with all the special care that journalism needs to be a successful commodity. Contenno algorithms currrently learn pricing, our engines and plugins learn finding and searching, analyzing and adapting content. And they learn how to make content trading a fast and easy transaction for everyone.
A new era will start when journalism has a price tag. Creative people like me used to be proud to do something ‘special’, a unique product unlike any other commodity. We think different. We think that making money with content when start when journalism will start being just like any other commodity when it comes to making money with it. We like to share the journey and involve the industry in the process.
Axel Breuer is one of the founders at Contenno, the first global trading platform for journalistic content. He is also a small specialty magazine publisher for agriculture.
Contenno is the first intelligent AI-driven, worldwide trading platform for professional editorial content. Publishers and media companies can sell and buy content at Contenno. To any country, in any language. With smart translation options. Contenno makes content available to a global buyer’s market. Contenno helps you generate previously unachievable revenues with existing and new content without incurring new costs in production.Contenno uses artificial intelligence to optimize the search process. Contenno uses a content pricing algorithm that constantly adapts to current content demand. Contenno uses algorithms that analyze and optimize content for maximum marketability. Content can be marketed worldwide – at the push of a button. Content can be sold again and again. The price of content depends on demand: Smart algorithms define the optimal price range for content every second.
Nur fünf Stimmen haben gefehlt zum ersten Preis – dennoch sind die Gründer von Contenno, Martin Bauer und Axel Breuer stolz und glücklich über den zweiten Preis der Rockets&Unicorns Challenge an den 32. Münchner Medientagen, die vom 24.-26. Oktober auf dem Messegelände stattfanden. Am Stand von Contenno informierten sich Medienpolitiker, Investoren sowie internationale Experten zu den Themen Journalismus und Medien über die innovative Lösung von Contenno. Mit virtuellem Investorengeld konnten die Besucher der Medientage für das Startup spenden, das Sie am meisten überzeugte. Zum Schluss hatte Contenno mehr als 1 Mio. Unicoins eingesammelt – und lag damit nur knapp hinter dem Gewinnerteam von kontextR, ein Münchner Cloud-Service- und Ad-Tech-Unternehmen. Das Preisgeld wurde von der Südwestdeutschen Medienholding SWMH, zu der die Süddeutsche Zeitung und die Stuttgarter Zeitung gehören gespendet.
Contenno ist die erste intelligente, weltweite Handelsplattform für professionelle redaktionelle Inhalte. Verlage und Medienunternehmen können bei Contenno Inhalte vermarkten und einkaufen. Ohne Länder- und Sprachgrenzen. Contenno nutzt neueste Technologien, um professionelle Inhalte zu einem global handelbaren Produkt zu machen. Contenno sorgt dafür, dass Inhalte einem weltweiten Käufermarkt zur Verfügung stehen. Die Überzeugung der Gründer: Erst wenn man Journalismus so handeln kann wie Schweinebäuche kann der Wert von professionell gestalteten Inhalten in steigende Umsätze für Verlage verwandelt werden. Dafür müssen Inhalte standardisiert und hochwertig übersetzt werden. Außerdem wurden Algorithmen entwickelt, die Artikel analysieren und den Wert von Inhalten an aktuellen Thementrends orientieren. Ein solcher Preisalgorithmus ist bisher einzigartig im Geschäft mit kreativen Inhalten – nicht einmal die großen Bildagenturen wie Getty, Shutterstock oder Nachrichtenagenturen wie AP, Reuters, dpa oder Bloomberg ermitteln den Wert ihrer Inhalte auf diese Weise. Einige große Namen unter den Zeitungs- und Magazinverlagen hat Contenno bereits als Partner, mehrere Millionen Artikel werden bereits für den Handel aufbereitet. Das Konzept und die Notwendigkeit einer flexiblen Preisgestaltung wurde von Axel Breuer an den Medientagen auf der Bühne dem Fachpublikum vorgestellt.
Das Team von Contenno arbeitet am Start in den Markt im Jahr 2019 und die Verfeinerung der Tools, mit dem sich Artikel in vielen Sprachen suchen, finden und handeln lassen. Der Auftritt auf den Medientagen und die Unterstützung des MediaLab Bayern, dem Münchner Gründerzentrum für Innovationen im Bereich Journalismus sind dabei wichtige Schritte. So sind die Contenno-Gründer überzeugt, dass es in Zukunft nicht beim zweiten Preis bleibt. Das Preisgeld der Für nähere Informationen erreichen Sie Contenno unter [email protected].
Warum ist der Preisalgorithmus entscheidend für erfolgreichen Content – Verkauf?
Der Wert von Inhalten hängt davon ab, wer ihn veröffentlicht – und wann und wo, und für wen. Denn eine große Zeitung kann im Umfeld seiner Artikel möglicherweise teure Werbung platzieren und viel Geld verdienen. Andere Medien oder digitale Plattformen können beispielsweise Geld mit Abonnements verdienen. Aber Zeitungen, Zeitschriften und Onlinemedien haben eine ganz unterschiedliche Anzahl von Lesern und Abos. Selbst die Struktur der Einkünfte ist völlig unterschiedlich. Da ist es nicht sinnvoll, dass ein Text, ein Bild oder ein Video für jeden das gleiche kostet. In vielen Fällen wird der Einkauf von Content eine reine Preisfrage sein – für den einen ist es zu teuer und für den anderen könnte es sogar zu günstig sein, wenn man einen einheitlichen Preis verlangt. Genau das tun aber Content-Syndication-Abteillungen großer Verlage weltweit – ja sogar Agenturen und Online-Plattformen für Fotos, Grafiken, Video und Ton verlangen immer den gleichen Preis. Nachrichtenagenturen bieten zwar je nach Größe des Abnehmers leicht unterschiedliche Preise – aber die Struktur ist dennoch sehr starr.
Besonders ineffizient wird die Preisgestaltung beim Verkauf von Lizenzinhalten, weil Inhalte nicht nach ihrer Aktualität oder Attraktivität bewertet werden.
Ein Text über die erste Mount Everest – Besteigung, ein Bericht über einen bestimmten Vulkan oder die einzige ‘Home Story’ über einen VW-Vorstand hat normalerweise nur einen geringen Wert, weil Sie alt sind. Das ändert sich schlagartig, wenn der Text plötzlich durch neue Entwicklungen plötzlich hochaktuell ist. Das Prinzip müßte funktionieren wie Airbnb, wo sich der Preis ständig an der Nachfrage, der Attraktivität und vielen anderen Faktoren orientiert. Damit ändern sich Preise für die angebotenen Wohnungen ständig nach äußeren Faktoren.
In der gesamten Content-Branche gibt es derzeit noch keinen Mechanismus, der den aktuellen Trend bei Inhalten in den für den Markt jeweils perfekten Preis übersetzt – Günstig bei geringem Aktualitätsbezug und geringer Nachfrage und teuer, wenn Content entsprechend gesucht wird. Das ist nicht verwunderlich: Die meisten Verlage können sich oft schwer vorstellen, wie ‘alte’ Inhalte eigentlich überhaupt noch verkäuflich sind. Aber es gibt jede Menge Beispiele, wo genau dies der Fall: Es gibt viel Content, der professionell und gut recherchiert exakt zu bestimmten Themen produziert wurde. Kommt das Thema weltweit ‘wieder auf den Tisch’ dann kann der Inhalt, der in seiner Vollständigkeit und inhaltlichen Tiefe zum Thema einzigartig ist, sehr viel Geld wert sein.
Wirklich intelligente und einzigartige Preisgestaltung von medialen Inhalten geht aber über den ‘Trend’ hinaus: Tatsächlich müssen andere Faktoren genutzt werden, um Inhalte maximal verkäuflich gemacht werden. Eine Zeitung in Mexiko mit millionenstarker Auflage, aber geringen Personalkosten für die journalistische Eigenproduktion muss günstiger einkaufen können, als beispielsweise eine Zeitung in Liechtenstein, die eine minimale Leserzahl, aber hohe Personalkosten hat. Also muß intelligente Preisgestaltung sich am ‘Wert’ des Verkäufers und dem ‘Wert’ des Käufers orientieren. Wenn alle dies Faktoren berücksichtigt sind ist Content immer so günstig, dass sie leicht gekauft werden können (weil sie günstiger sind, als Inhalte im eigenen Haus zu produzieren) und die Preise steigen, wenn sie einen ‘seltenen’ Rohstoff darstellen, der gerade sehr gefragt ist.
Während die marktgerechte Bepreisung bei vielen anderen Waren bereits besteht gibt es weltweit keinen Algorithmus, der diese Faktoren berücksichtigt und somit die ‘Verkäuflichkeit’ eines medialen Produktes zu jeder Zeit und für jeden Käufer sicherstellt – und dafür sorgt, dass für Content jeweils der maximale Verkaufspreis erzielt wird.
Contenno hat den weltweit ersten variablen Preisalgorithmus entwickelt, der eine Reihe von Faktoren berücksichtigt und so Preise für alle Medien generieren kann – und für jeden Kunden, jedes Land, jedes Medium und jeden Thementrend. In jedem Moment wird der jeweils marktgerechte Preis ermittelt – ähnlich wie bei Gold, Kaffee oder Metallen vermittelt der Algorithmus auf ideale Weise zwischen Angebot und Nachfrage.
Die Bedeutung des Preisalgorithmus geht weit über die reine Vermarktung von journalistischen Inhalten: Für jedes Foto, Video, jeden Text und andere mediale Inhalte kann der Algorithmus jeweils den korrekten Marktwert errechnen. Und obwohl sich alle einig sind, dass guter Content beispielsweise von Zeitungen und Zeitschriften ‘besonders wertvoll’ sein kann, sehen Verlage immer weniger Möglichkeiten, ‘besonders wertvoll’ auch in ‘besonders lukrativ’ für umzuwandeln.
Contenno hat ein Werkzeug entwickelt, das die Wertschöpfung von Produzenten guter Inhalte völlig verändern kann. Auch bestehende Content-Plattformen wie beispielsweise Bilddatenbanken oder Musikdatenbanken würden durch den Algorithmus ihre Verkäufe und Roherlöse pro Verkauf steigern.
Derzeit wird der Algorithmus in Simulationen getestet. Contenno gleicht die jeweils durch das System errechneten Verkaufspreise mit durchschnittlichen Preisen für die ‘Eigenproduktion’, mit aktuellen Trendbarometern und sogar mit dem Bruttoinlandsprodukt ab. Mit dem Contenno-Algorithmus ist also ein Werkzeug für die Medienbranche entstanden, das vieles verändern kann.
Es ist spannend, zu beobachten, was der Algorithmus mit Inhalten aus verschiedenen Ländern, verschiedenen Medien zu verschiedenen Zeiten des Tages macht. Manche äußeren Einwirkungen erzeugen hohe Preisschwankungen, andere halten die Preisentwicklung in engen Bahnen. Als Handelsplatz für Millionen von Texten in verschiedenen Ländern und Sprachen ist der Preisalgorithmus der Katalysator für gute Umsätze für Anbieter die ihre Inhalte über Contenno weltweit vermarkten – und für Contenno selbst, denn das Unternehmen lebt von den Provisionen aus erfolgreichen Content-Geschäften.
Warum sollte ich als Zeitung meine Inhalte bei Contenno anbieten?
Contenno hilft Ihnen, mit bestehenden und neuen Inhalten bisher nicht erzielbare Umsätze zu generieren, ohne dass dafür ein neuer Aufwand in der Produktion entsteht. Contenno sorgt dafür, dass gute Inhalte von Ihnen auf einen Schlag einem weltweiten Bietermarkt zur Verfügung stehen.
Contenno hilft Ihnen, Ihr Profil als Experte zu bestimmten Themen, Regionen und Personen zu schärfen.
Contenno sorgt dafür, dass Inhalte einem weltweiten Käufermarkt zur Verfügung stehen. Contenno nutzt künstliche Intelligenz zur Optimierung der Suche nach Inhalten durch Käufer. Damit werden passende Inhalte jederzeit optimal gefunden. Contenno nutzt intelligente Algorithmen, die Inhalte analysieren und optimieren. Contenno hilft Ihnen, mit bestehenden und neuen Inhalten bisher nicht erzielbare Umsätze zu generieren, ohne dass dafür ein neuer Aufwand in der Produktion entsteht. Contenno sorgt dafür, dass Inhalte entsprechend ihrer Originalität und Aktualität optimal auffindbar sind und zum jeweils bestmöglichen Preis angeboten werden. | 2019-04-21T11:08:42Z | https://contenno.com/category/allgemein/ |
Gold's main weapon is one we alluded to already: a sudden, self-reinforcing, and complete collapse of the dollar and all other artificial currencies (except maybe the Swiss franc). It's time to look at exactly how this would work.
In a nutshell, the problem with the dollar is that it's brittle. It's hard to imagine a Volcker-style, contractionary defense of the dollar today. When Volcker did his thing, the US was a net creditor nation with a balance-of-payments surplus. Its financial system was relatively small and stable. And it had much more control over the economic policies of its trading partners - the political relationship between the US and China is very different from the old US/Japanese tension.
Fed policy since the crash of 1987 has been to insure against risk by stabilizing crises with liquidity injections - that is, hefty dollops of new money. It's no secret that the financial industry has responded by taking on more and more risk. This vicious cycle of "moral hazard" is a policy that's hard to change. For today's Fed, short-term rates of 5% are dangerously high. 25% is not a serious option.
Any fractional-reserve banking and monetary system, like the US's, is destabilized by any outflow of dollars. For the Fed, what is really frightening is not a high gold price, but a rapid increase in the gold price. Momentum in gold is the logical precursor to a self-sustaining gold panic.
In a self-sustaining panic, flight to gold destabilizes the banking system and the bond market, causing waves of bankruptcy across the financial industry. The Fed's cure for bankruptcy is more liquidity - but monetary expansion only increases the incentive to buy gold. In the endgame, money flows out of the dollar as fast as the Fed can pump it in. This is the collapse scenario that leads to remonetization.
One of the reasons the gold price has been rising lately is that central banks' ability to inject gold into the market, whether by leasing or outright sales, has become quite limited. The US needs congressional approval to sell gold. European banks used to be enthusiastic sellers and leasers, but are not unconcerned about the longevity of the dollar, and agreed in the 1999 and 2004 Washington Agreements to restrict their gold disbursements.
And one problem with gold leasing is that a gold lease has to leave someone with the obligation to return that gold. If the gold is sold for dollars, the seller is short gold, and loses a dollar every time the gold price goes up a dollar. Central banks are not known for refusing to roll over gold leases, and their rates are very low (under 0.20% these days). But public companies have to report these losses on their balance sheets. In the '90s, when the gold price seemed to be under control, borrowing gold for a carry trade seemed like a good idea. The gold price is unstable and going up these days, and new leases are the last thing on most people's mind.
Of course, the US government can play the other side of the ball and - at the very least - limit purchases of gold. But this, as we've seen, means showing fear. Dogs have nothing on hedge funds when it comes to smelling fear. And it's an illusion to think that the US and its allies own the global financial system.
If the US imposed exchange controls on gold, the instant result would be a replacement of dollars with gold as a global reserve currency by China, Russia, and the Arab oil bloc. It is hard to imagine, for example, Dubai, closing its gold market. The result would be an international exchange rate between gold and dollars, and a black market in the US. Economists understand this very well, and I can assure you that no one wants to go there.
One significant mistake which makes a collapse much more likely was licensing the gold ETFs. It is easy to underestimate the value of mere insulation in protecting the dollar.
In 1980, to buy gold, you had to go to a coin dealer and pay as much as 10% in round-trip transaction costs - and then, of course, you had to store the stuff. If we imagine an ordinary corporate stock which you had to buy at a "stock dealer" in the same way as 1980 gold, it's easy to see how few investors it would attract. Similarly, bullion was off the reservation for almost all money managers. Sure, eccentric oilmen, Bond villains and South American dictators could hold bullion in Zurich. But how many South American dictators can there be in the world?
In retrospect, remonetization of gold in 1980 had no chance at all. What the goldbugs of 1980 failed to see was that physical currency of any kind, paper or gold, was a relic. Gold could not compete with dollars because there was no way to hold or move it electronically. The only electronic market for gold was the futures market. And since most futures market trades do not exchange actual metal, but are settled for cash, futures trading in gold did not perform the critical market function of shifting physical gold from people who valued it less to those who wanted it more. Retail investors certainly did go to their coin stores and buy Krugerrands, but the Fed could move faster and harder.
It's interesting to note that this kind of insulation, in the form of small overheads in shipping and redeeming gold, also played a large part in managing fractional-reserve gold currencies in the 19th century. If, as I think, it was also crucial in the Fed's 1980 victory, why do we have gold ETFs?
The gold ETFs (GLD and IAU) let anyone move any amount of money into or out of gold at minimal cost. Investors who value everything in gold can use the gold ETFs to treat the dollar the way our retiree in Argentina treated the peso. They can work and spend in dollars, and save in gold.
So why would a financial system that has spent the last century insulating itself against gold turn around and plug the dollar directly into the stuff?
The answer is just that the Fed didn't approve the gold ETFs. The SEC did. And yes, if the Trilateral Commission was still in charge, this never would have happened. But in reality, the US government is not a single big conspiracy, but an enormous jumble of individually gigantic agencies, each of which has its own internal culture and is utterly convinced that its own goals are identical to the public good.
To the SEC, free markets are always a good thing, and the idea that the dollar could owe its life to suppressing them is not one that comes naturally. Even at the Fed, I'm sure almost no one worries about gold, and those who do don't run their mouths off about it. The Fed certainly does communicate with the SEC, but there is a process for these things. Washington certainly has its secrets, and one man's secret is another man's conspiracy, but there is no such thing as an interagency secret.
If the US federal government was a perfectly executed and utterly malevolent conspiracy to dominate the world, let's face it. The world wouldn't stand a chance.
In reality, it's neither. So a lot of things happen in the world that Washington doesn't want to see happen, and that it could easily prevent. Anticipating surprises is not its strength.
The real surprise is not just the ETFs. It's the combination of the ETFs and the Internet.
In the end, gold is a democracy. The gold price is not set by the LBMA or the Comex. It's set by the opinions of all the people who have savings. If you could buy an ounce of gold for $1, pretty much everyone would buy all they could. If you could sell an ounce of gold for a villa in Portofino, pretty much everyone would sell all they could. Somewhere in between is the current price of gold, and all that sets it is public opinion. Of course, peoples' opinions are weighted by the size of their savings, but that's the free market for you.
The dollar is a democracy, too. I'm indebted to Dallas Fed President Richard Fisher for the phrase "faith-based currency." As we've seen, all money, natural or artificial, is faith-based. Gold is only different because no one can print it. The price of gold will never fall to zero because gold is good for capping teeth and plating plumbing fixtures. The price of dollars will never fall to zero because a dollar is made from fine rag pulp with quality recyclable fibers. But everything else is faith.
What can change this faith? And how fast can it change?
Right now, our assumption is that the answers are "very little" and "very slowly." But this may no longer be true.
I don't think it's an accident that the 20th century was the golden age of both artificial currency and broadcast news. When licensed airwaves and monopoly newspapers were the only ways for for people to update their knowledge of the world, paper money could sleep well at night.
For example, let's try a thought experiment.
Suppose the New York Times is taken over, tomorrow, by goldbugs. Let's say all of its editors, reporters, and columnists read this essay, find it plausible, and decide to really speak some "truth to power."
From tomorrow on, the Times puts all its weight into reminding its readers of the undeniably true and objective facts that the dollar is a faith-based currency; that new dollars are being created at about 10% a year; that the current US financial system was designed a hundred years ago, in the age of Morgan, Hearst and Rockefeller, to create a steady flow of new dollars for both federal spending and corporate welfare; that the global financial system is now completely dependent on money creation, and could not survive in anything like its present form with a static money supply; that remonetization of precious metals is a Nash equilibrium; and that if remonetization happens, the first people who move their money into gold will profit the most.
How many weeks do you think it'll take before the Gray Lady's pulp supply starts to turn a little green?
Of course we'll never know, because this will never happen. For the last century, the first commandment of the mainstream media has been responsible journalism. Promoting financial panics is not exactly responsible journalism.
I'm afraid anonymous bloggers have no such inhibitions. More on this in a little bit.
You'll notice that I mentioned silver at the start of this essay, but I haven't touched it since.
One question about remonetization that's essentially impossible to answer is, assuming remonetization of metals, which metals exactly will become monetized.
Over time, the Mengerian process of standardization will tend to reduce the number of monetized commodities, possibly to one. Standardization favors the leader, and it is an unstable game: since losers by definition delevitate, it makes sense to flee them as soon as possible. Since gold, just for historical reasons, is the leader, it may be the only survivor.
On the other hand, on a modern electronic market, it's not clear how important Mengerian standardization is. According to Menger's model, money standardizes because it is inconvenient to be constantly converting value between multiple moneys. But it's a lot easier with computers. And one effect that tends to counteract Mengerian standardization is the obvious desire to diversify one's savings.
What's interesting right now is that monetization seems to be affecting a wide range of nonferrous metals - not just those traditionally considered "precious." This makes sense, because the only reason precious metals are precious is that they are rare enough that it's easy to store and handle significant levels of collectible value. Since warehouse costs for base metals such as copper, lead, or zinc are not high, there is no reason why electronic claims to these metals cannot be monetized.
An alternative would be the equal monetization of all precious metals. The conventional precious metals are gold, silver, and the platinum-group metals: platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium, and osmium. Perhaps, for example, an equal percentage of the global inventory of gold and osmium would have the same monetary value. If so, it's time to stock up on osmium.
But a good guess is that if a new monetary system levitates one metal, it will be gold. If it levitates two, it will be gold and silver. It's not the physical properties of these metals, but their historical and cultural associations, that make them more likely to displace the others.
Silver is interesting because it was demonetized before gold, and has (except for the 1980 episode) been priced mostly as an industrial metal in the modern era. However, because silver was a monetary metal for most of human history, central banks built up vast stockpiles. After World War II, banks felt the need to keep their gold but not their silver, and they sold the latter to industrial users, generally at very congenial prices. The silver market has seen net dissaving, mostly from these government hoards, for most of the last 60 years and all of the last 20.
The result is that most of the world's silver, certainly in the tens of billions of ounces, has been consumed in nonrecoverable industrial uses such as photography and electronics. Estimates for the global supply of silver bullion vary widely, but are generally under 1 billion ounces. Since the ratio of silver to gold price by weight is about 50 to 1 at the moment, by value there is perhaps 200 times as much monetary gold as monetary silver in the world.
The silver market has become very comfortable with net dissaving, and any serious reversal of this trend seems likely to cause an ugly increase in the price. The recent (April 28) opening of a silver ETF, SLV, makes such an increase likely; in fact, the silver price doubled while the ETF was going through the approval process. Since its approval the ETF has been sucking down about 3 million ounces of silver a day, which is clearly unsustainable.
So there are three factors favoring the parallel remonetization of gold and silver. One is the traditional monetary relationship between the two metals. Two is the fact that since central banks hold very little silver, it's hard for them to manage the price. Three is that since no one really has much silver at all, any flow back into the ETF will cause some serious levitation.
One Nash equilibrium strategy for gold and silver - we could call it strategy GS - is to value the extractable quantity of silver and the extractable quantity of gold on earth equally. This seems to be the strategy that people followed before the age of artificial currencies.
Obviously if silver is remonetized, silver stockpiles will have to increase, and the process may be chaotic. However, balancing the two diversifies against fluctuations in either, and natural fluctuations - for example, as a result of mining exploration or technology discoveries - are inevitable in any metallic monetary system. So a parallel standard may actually stick around.
Who knows with these Internet things. I have no idea of how many people will read this essay. But I have never liked people who complain and don't offer constructive solutions.
And since it is, in theory, possible that this link will spread virally and actually cause a remonetization event, I think it would be irresponsible of me not to include a few simple suggestions for how to handle it right.
First, the financial markets should be closed. This is obviously not a permanent solution. But why operate without anesthetic?
Second, the US federal government should be restructured as if it were a bankrupt company, distributing the US gold reserve of 8139 tons among holders of US liabilities, including both dollars and debt, and both explicit liabilities such as Treasury notes and implicit ones such as Social Security.
The result will be a new financial system in which the legal currency is directly allocated gold without any fractional pyramiding. The new government should be fiscally stable as a long-term operating concern. It will have to be, because it will be unable to print money.
Some federal programs will probably have to be cut. At a minimum, the practice of defining national security as global security is probably unsustainable. The US should retain a small strategic and conventional force which can deter terrorist and other attacks by proportional response, and secure its borders. It should adopt Switzerland's foreign policy and modify it as circumstances demand.
All federally guaranteed liabilities of the United States should be valued equally at their price or estimated price before the crisis. For example, Federal Reserve Notes and FDIC insured bank deposits should have equal value and seniority, Treasury bonds should be valued at their current discounted price, and so on.
Both the Federal Reserve and the entire banking system should be treated as part of the US government, because they both are. Any institution that is not allowed to fail is effectively part of the government. Shares of stock in banks and other lenders engaged in mismatched-maturity (fractional-reserve) banking should become US liabilities at the current dollar price. Loans held by banks should be redenominated in gold according to the calculated exchange rate (see below) and sold at auction.
The entire US gold reserve should be converted to an electronic account system in which individuals and companies hold directly allocated gold and can redeem, deposit, and make payments. The system should also support accounting for silver and all other precious metals. Ownership of the gold should be distributed equally among holders of US liabilities, not discriminating between domestic and foreign creditors. This calculation will generate a final exchange rate between dollars and gold.
In some cases, as in Social Security, the US may hold its own liabilities, and it may maintain a small fiscal reserve. However, because of the inevitable temptation to create more virtual than physical gold, the US gold system should be broken into interoperable parts and privatized as soon as is practical.
The new US currency should be the gold milligram. Stock markets should be repriced in milligrams according to the dollar exchange rate, and reopened as soon as possible.
Property rights of existing gold holders (such as, of course, myself) should be respected. However, some gold confiscation is inevitable. Since the concept of capital gains on gold becomes meaningless with a gold currency, all holders of gold or silver who are US persons should pay an immediate 28% tax on their entire stash, in lieu of the existing rate on bullion gains. 28% is large enough to be significant and small enough that it won't stimulate excessive evasion. Similarly, mineral rights should be preserved, but a similar royalty should be applied.
There, that's my plan. I think it's a good one. But I would, wouldn't I?
By switching the currency completely to gold and converting US debt as well as US dollars, the plan provides one last blast of monetary expansion while precluding any further debasement, except of course as the result of new discoveries and technical advances in gold mining. Of course, people who hold dollars or dollar bonds will get jacked. But because of the volume of dollar claims, which must be handled fairly and equally, there is no way around this. And people who hold dollars or dollar bonds have been getting jacked for years, which is why they've been so eager to move them into stocks or housing.
I don't think there is a realistic way to only partially revalue the dollar, maintaining some kind of artificial currency, sovereign debt, and fractional-reserve banking system. I think any attempt to switch to gold that does not go all the way in one step is likely to collapse itself and cause further chaos. But of course, I'm sure others will disagree.
And of course, there is no way to remonetize to precious metals without either providing enormous profits to present holders of said metals (such as, again, myself), or installing a new police state that would treat gold as if it was cocaine. The reason I recommend buying gold ETFs, rather than burying Krugerrands in the backyard, is that I don't think the kind of grassroots political support for state power and central planning that allowed the confiscation of gold in 1933 exists these days. I hope I'm not wrong about this.
I've tried to maintain some small shred of objectivity here. But I admit it; I would like to see a remonetization. I think our current system of government needs a serious reboot.
I respect and understand people who disagree with me on this, or who think it's a bad idea to work for change outside the normal political process. From my perspective, the influence of the political process over the actual operations of government is small. It does not strike me as increasing.
One interesting fact about US history in the postwar era is that since the 1930s there has been no effective force in American politics focused on resisting the growth of the US federal government. The last antifederalist Democrat was John Nance Garner. The last antifederalist Republican was Robert Taft.
In general it is always difficult for an antifederalist party to exist. It tends to get taken over by interests ambitious to use the power of state to some political advantage. But since federal institutions have grown continuously since the country was founded, and since an omnipotent national government is so obviously contrary to the intent of the founders, who set down their plans in documents that still exist and that anyone can read, reactions against the size and power of the state have been frequent, including the original Democratic-Republicans, the Democrats of Jackson and Van Buren, Grover Cleveland's hard-money Democrats, and Harding's "return to normalcy" Republicans.
In contrast, since World War II, the political dialogue in the US has pitted voters who think Washington should guarantee global security against those who believe it should insure general public prosperity. Of course, Republicans can reliably raise support by appealing to those who oppose welfare and central planning, and Democrats are happy to accept the votes of anyone who is unhappy with the Pentagon and its imaginative projects. But in practice, as the Bush Administration has shown, the path of least resistance is to expand both sides of government.
Not all the political rhetoric in the US today is positive. There is a lot of fear and loathing between "red-state" and "blue-state" factions.
It's very easy for red-staters to think that because blue-staters believe the US should not guarantee global security, that they do not believe in global security, but think that everyone can just be nice. In some cases, this may be true.
It's very easy for blue-staters to think that because red-staters do not believe the US should provide general public prosperity, that they do not believe in general public prosperity, but only in their own prosperity. In some cases, this also may be true.
But I have trouble believing that these stereotypes are broadly accurate. They seem too politically useful for that.
It's hard to avoid noting that this structure of opinion looks like a very effective strategy of divide and conquer. I am not suggesting that anyone had a meeting and came up with this strategy, any more than anyone has a meeting and decides what the price of gold should be today. The market tends to discover effective strategies and stick with them, and political power is no less a market than any other kind of human action.
Perhaps you are happy with the growth of the US government. Perhaps you feel it is not large and powerful enough, that it needs to be larger and more powerful. In that case, preserving its power to print money is clearly necessary, and you should oppose anything that would threaten it. You should under no circumstances buy gold. In fact, if you have a few dollars to spare, you should probably short it. If the world agrees with you, gold will probably go down.
Please excuse the snarky tone. In fact, I respect people who hold this perspective. It's a fact that the US government has done a lot of good things in the world. It's a fact that all, or at least almost all, the people who make up this organization have nothing but the best of intentions.
US foreign intervention has done away with all kinds of vicious thugs, from Adolf Hitler to Pablo Escobar to Slobo Milosevic. In many cases, these thugs were not replaced by new, equally vicious thugs. In other cases, due to US money and influence, the thugs never got past the Tony Soprano stage. Today's US military is the most principled and effective force the world has ever seen. US foreign aid has also provided famine relief, medical care and vital emergency services around the globe.
US domestic programs have controlled pollution, bought medical care for sick people, persecuted white supremacists almost entirely out of existence, paid for a lot of good scientific research, improved the living standards of the elderly, etc.
Perhaps none of these things would have happened if the US did not have the power to tax by debasement. Perhaps many similar good things will not happen in the future if it loses this power. And perhaps all the harmful actions the US government takes - always, in general, with the best intentions - will continue.
But since most Americans seem to see their government as a supersized charity, which may waste a lot of money on the opposing party's imprudent schemes, but is otherwise out there doing the right thing, there are only two conclusions we can draw.
Two is that Americans are a bunch of damned hypocrites. I hope it's obvious which one I believe.
If you disagree with my economic analysis, or if you're not sure but you think this "remonetization" thing sounds like a really bad idea, nothing. You're probably a reasonable person. Most reasonable people will probably agree with you. I wouldn't worry at all.
If you have any amount of savings, I do recommend holding a little gold. All kinds of things can happen in this world. Even if gold goes down, I think it's always good insurance.
If you do buy the economics and the politics, you can take two steps.
One is to buy a prudent amount of gold and/or silver.
Two is to email this link to anyone you know who might find it interesting, especially to people who are active politically, work in the financial industry, or just have a lot of money.
Either of these steps will help. But if you're doing both, you might want to do step one first. I mean, you never know.
You can also post this essay yourself, anywhere you want. It's in the public domain.
Obviously "John Law" is not my real name. Freedom of economic speech does not seem to be a judicial priority at the moment. Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but I feel like I can write more freely with a pseudonym.
The best way to ask questions is to comment on this blog. But you can also write me at [email protected].
Here's what Alan Greenspan thought about gold in 1966. Or has he changed his mind? Maybe he'll let us know in his new book. | 2019-04-23T20:45:04Z | https://safehaven.com/article/5166/why-the-global-financial-system-is-about-to-collapse-part-2 |
Indiana Barn Foundation and National Barn Alliance Coming Together July 18th to Talk Barn Preservation!
Some of our biggest barn-loving fans are certainly aware of the great strides that the Indiana Barn Foundation (IBF) has made in its first two years, but the NBA couldn’t be more excited to travel to Indianapolis next month for the organization’s 2nd Annual Meeting and Conference at the Normandy Barn of the Indiana State Fairgrounds from 9am to 5pm on Saturday, July 18th. If you missed the NBA in Indianapolis for the 2013 National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference, now is your chance to become a member and buy some great barn-preservation merchandise to show your support for all those who #saveourbarns!
The Indiana Barn Foundation, whose mission is to support the preservation of historic barns, has brought together a wide array of barn preservationists from across the Hoosier State and raised awareness about the value of Indiana’s historic barns in a number of ways, most notably with their lobbying support of tax relief legislation aimed at lessening the tax burden of property owners with historically significant barns! True to fashion, the NBA will also be holding our Annual Membership Meeting that weekend (details to follow via electronic communication to NBA members).
A recent press release from IBF details: “From barn enthusiasts to experts, this one-day event will offer options for anyone who appreciates barns and wants to see them remain part of Indiana’s landscape. Barn owners can learn from a panel of contractors and preservation experts during a Question and Answer Session, and will hear about legislative efforts affecting barn owners.
“The keynote speaker is architect Chuck Bultman, of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Bultman has adapted over 30 barns to new uses, including wedding venues and event spaces, and has restored barns ‘to just be barns’. Bultman is a board member of the NBA and member of several preservation organizations including the Timber Framers Guild. Attendees will also meet artists and crafters with a passion for artwork that features barns, including painter Gwen Gutwein, photographer Marsha Williamson-Mohr, and Indiana Artisan Dorrell Harris. Indiana Barn Foundation’s plans for a Bicentennial Barn Quilt will also be revealed.
“Other highlights of the day will be a screening of “The Resurrection of a Barn” by IBF member and filmmaker Freddi Stevens-Jacobi, a catered lunch served family style and accompanied by live music, and a close-up look at how barns are constructed with the raising of a scale model wooden barn and also a computer-generated barn model. At 3 o’clock the conference will move to Zionsville, and conclude with a tour of the farm and historic barns of Traders Point Creamery.
Registration cost for the entire day will include lunch and barn tour and will be just $40 per person ($30 for IBF or NBA members). Online registration is available on the Indiana Barn Foundation web site at www.indianabarns.org, under Events. Membership forms can also be found on the website.
We hope you will join us in Indy!
This month’s post comes to us from dedicated members of The Franklin Trust (FLT) out of western Massachusetts — “a non-profit organization that assists farmers and other landowners who want to protect their land from unwanted development.” The NBA is pleased to the growing interest in land conservation as it relates to saving resources of all sorts — including the historic built environment!
The people of Plainfield and of Western Massachusetts are privileged to have had the historic 107-acre Guyette Farm donated to the Franklin Land Trust. Under the supervision of the FLT, this land will be forever protected from development and neglect.
As a community leader in the protection of open land, the FLT is embarking on new ground with the recent acquisition of not just a beautiful piece of farmland, but also an entire farm complete with an antique barn. What is farmland without a farm or without a barn? Sometimes the proper stewardship of rural land involves the proper stewardship of the structures that defined that lands purpose in history.
The Guyette farm is home to an early 19th century English barn, not an average barn, but one full of unique architectural features not commonly found all in a single structure: The 30×40 foot barn is made up of large hand-hewed timbers, intricate English joinery, a steep roof, a five sided ridge beam and robust wind bracing in the roof system. This group of distinctive features defines this building as an early example of a classic English hinterland barn: the singular landscape element that symbolizes early American life.
Fortunately, for its age, this barn has survived with dignity: the core barn structure and even a small ell are in very good structural condition. The barn however is in jeopardy of structural failure and deterioration due to severe foundation issues. As is typical of structures built in the 1800’s, this barn, as strong as it is, was built on a rather poor stone foundation. Time and the cycling of the seasons have taken their toll on the stone structure supporting the barn and leave it struggling to stand straight. With foundation failure comes structural failure: something that is avoidable with proper and timely attention.
The Guyette barn is facing a critical time; it is a valued part of the Plainfield countryside and recognizable by generations of locals. To the casual observer it is a pastoral symbol of rural history quietly growing old in the field, but closer inspections reveals problems that will lead to its rapid decline if not addressed in the near future. This fine example of our agricultural heritage has a lot to offer and is capable of serving many more generations with proper stewardship. The Guyette barn is a barn worth saving and a project the Franklin Land Trust is privileged to have the opportunity to venture into.
This post comes to us from our Vice President, Jeffrey Marshall – a man that wears a number of hats! Marshall is also the current President of the Historic Barn and Farm Foundation of Pennsylvania and President of the Heritage Conservancy, a non-profit organization that advocates for saving much of Bucks County, PA’s historic and natural resources. This post highlights Jeff’s latest work to gather lovers of historic barns and timber-framing construction together to marvel at some of the nation’s earliest surviving agricultural buildings. We sure hope you can join in the fun!
This image of the Paxon Road Barn – one of great barns featured during this TTRAG conference – was taken during NBA’s 2015 Winter Meeting. We showed Winter!
For those who missed the NBA Winter meeting held in the snow last month,barn and vernacular architecture enthusiasts can now register for a tour which is being presented as part of the 2015 Traditional Timberframe Research and Advisory Group (TTRAG) symposium on April 18, Lahaska, Bucks County, PA. The cost for the tour only (the symposium is full) is $65 per person, including lunch.
The tour itinerary includes two outstanding Pennsylvania Standard barns on Mechanicsville Road Barn and Tinicum Park Barn, the 18th century English Paxson Road Barn, and theWindy Bush Road double-decker barn. As an additional bonus, the 19th century Stover-Myers Mill with all of its intact mill works will be open. You can register for the tour online http://www.tfguild.org/about/traditional-timberframe-research-and-advisory-group or call Sue Warden at the Guild office, 855/598-1803.
Long-time NBA member, Mona Hennes has put extraordinary energy and effort into researching this beautiful and unique barn that holds a special place in her family history. And the publication she has put together is testament to her diligence! Mona was kind enough to share her masterpiece with us and allow the NBA to reprint a portion of it here. A larger and more detailed article will be featured in the upcoming issue of our printed newsletter, The Barn Door.
Mona is very interested in this barn type and its construction methods, and is eager to identify others like it. If you know of a similar barn elsewhere in the country, please post a comment below to help her learn more!
In 1850, the seven member John Squire Family were among thousands of immigrants who came to the United States in search of a better life. The ship manifest lists Frederick Squire at age 3 when he traveled to America. Frederick grew up in Iowa and Indiana and married Frances E. Dean in 1866. Like hundreds of others, the young couple bravely carved out land as homesteaders in Lulu Township, Mitchell County, Kansas in 1870. Frederick and Frances Squire fulfilled their homestead requirements including building a house, digging a well, plowing, planting crops and living off the land. In the end, they raised a family and became respected Mitchell County land owners who were responsible for the construction of a most remarkable barn in the fall of 1888.
Images of the Squire-Hennes Barn, Courtesy of Mona Hennes. Author’s permission required for reprinting or re-use of this material.
Mr. Squire’s barn was 40′ by 58′ by 32′ high and built by Hamilton Lee Wiley, a contractor from Beloit, who partnered briefly with a carpenter named Eli Pfrimmer Newbanks. A second generation American of French descent, Newbanks grew up in Corydon, Indiana, and came to Mitchell County, Kansas, with his wife’s family as a homesteader around 1871. He was well educated in carpentry and architecture.
During his career, Newbanks worked on large construction projects including The Alpine Tunnel built for the D&RG Narrow Gauge railroad in Gunnison, Colorado. He also worked on projects in Louisiana, Texas and Missouri. For a short time (~1882 to 1886), after the untimely death of his wife Delilah, Eli Newbanks partnered with Hamilton Wiley in his Beloit Contracting Business. Their advertisement appeared weekly in the Beloit Gazette.
In 1884, Eli became the lead carpenter for an octagon barn, built in Scottsville KS, just nine miles north and east of the Squire-Hennes barn. This barn, built for C. W. Culp, owner of Eureka Stock Farm, was the pinnacle of local construction jobs. While the barn no longer exists, it had the same ogee roof design as the Squire-Hennes barn. Winning this contract was a huge plus for Hamilton Wiley’s business reputation. One year later, 1888, Hamilton Lee Wiley built the Squire-Hennes barn for Frederick F. Squire.
In 1893, twenty three years after he homesteaded his farm in Lulu Township, Frederick Squire moved to Beloit and left his 600+ acres of property to be farmed by others. He died suddenly of appendicitis in January of 1899 and was buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Beloit. His properties were divided among his children, with the home farm passing to his son, John. When John Squire left Kansas around 1915, he rented the Squire farm to Caspar Hennes, my grandfather, who was living just one mile west. Caspar Hennes (Grandfather), Fred Hennes (Dad,) and John Hennes (Uncle) farmed the property for the Squire family until ~1928, when Fred and John Hennes purchased some of the land, the farm house and buildings.
My Dad bought out the interest of his brother, John Hennes, around 1943. My brother Jim Hennes farmed the land and cared for the barn until the mid-1970s. He tinned the barn’s roof which probably preserved the structure. My nephew, Mark Hennes, still farms land for the Records family. Howard Records, who lives in Arizona, is the great grandson of Dr. Thomas E. Records, husband of eldest daughter Lora E. Squire.
Mona Hennes’ Plan and Depiction of the Barn’s Interior. Author’s permission required for any re-printing or re-use of this image.
NBA Goes on the Road to Savannah, GA!
Here we go again! NBA Board Members and state barn organization partners are volunteering their time and energy to continue the NBA’s presence at the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s annual conference. This year, the action is in Savannah, Georgia, where we connect with preservationists of all kinds to engage them in conversations about saving America’s historic barns!
What does an urban landscape like Savannah have to offer barn lovers? We think the trip to the South has a lot of potential! The state of Georgia was one of the first to create an historic agricultural context to aid in the evaluation of farm properties for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Anyone can download a copy of this context, entitled Tilling the Earth, and learn more about the types of agriculture practiced historically in the state. Vernacular agricultural studies are also common about students at the Savannah College of Design (SCAD), one of the NTHP’s local partners in conference activities.
Though we won’t be able to bring any of our barn models south this year, we will bring our fabulous 2014 t-shirts with the catchy phrase: “Vernacular is Spectacular: Save Our Barns!” After the conference, these t-shirts will be up for sale to great friends like you – they are sure to make great stocking stuffers for any barn lover!
Until then, plan to swing by our booth if you’re attending the NTHP conference and check out our hats, t-shirts, bumper stickers, and other helpful barn-preservation items to show your support for old barns!
Help NBA get the Barn Question back in the Ag Census!
Posted by danae on Sep 10, 2014 in Ag Census, Barn Preservation, The Barn Journal | Comments Off on Help NBA get the Barn Question back in the Ag Census!
The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is soliciting suggestions for changes to the Census of Agriculture. All submissions are time sensitive and must be received no later than September 30, 2014. Please help the NBA by lobbying the USDA using the following link to their public comment form! Each Comment Form asks for a name, address, email address and your affiliation. Please feel free to note an affiliation with the National Barn Alliance to show your support for historic barns!
What new or additional information is needed?
For the first time in the history of the Census, the 2007 Census of Agriculture counted farms that had a barn 50 years or older. Unfortunately the 2012 Census of Agriculture did not have the barn question in it. We are advocating for the re-introduction of the question in the 2017 Census so that we can continue to monitor the numbers of farms that have an old barn on them and compare the new data to the 2007 Census. Please put the “Barn Question” back into the 2017 Census of Agriculture.
Why is the information needed?
Our nation’s old historic barns are an important and irreplaceable historic resources on our landscape. We need to know how many there are and then determine their condition in order to develop programs to support their rehabilitation and re-use. In order to know how many there are, we need to count them. The USDA can and should be a part of this process of documenting the old barns on farms.
We believe that it is important to bring back the same question found on the 2007 Census of Agriculture and count the number of farms that have a barn 50 years or older across the USA. Fifty years is the threshold of age for beginning to consider a building’s historical contributions to the past according to federal standards established by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. Consider that at the height of family farms in America, over 26 million farms dotted the American landscape. Most had at least one historic barn. By the 2007 Census of Agriculture we had around 2 million farms and many did not have an old barn on them. The 2007 Census of Agriculture counted just over 650,000 farms with at least one older barn on it. The data was invaluable!
At the national and state levels and on all questionnaires the USDA disseminates.
The American public, the National Barn Alliance, the 50 State Historic Preservation Offices, countless non-profit preservation organizations (statewide, regional, county, and local preservation advocacy organizations as well as barn preservation organizations, farmland, and rural conservation organizations across the country). And don’t forget about future researchers interested in America’s agricultural past!
This guest post by Raina Regan, a preservationist working hard to bring attention to barn preservation at Indiana Landmarks, the statewide “nonprofit organization, fighting to defend architecturally unique, historically significant, and communally cherished properties…” in Indiana. NBA is thrilled to see the dedication of those barn-loving Hoosiers! This Barn Again! workshop is not a new thing for Indiana Landmarks and they sure know how to do it right – don’t miss out on this great event.
Although located directly east of metropolitan Indianapolis, Hancock County, Indiana is rich in agricultural heritage. Driving county roads, you’ll find timber frame barns and steel silos dotting the slightly rolling landscape. This fall, don’t miss Indiana Landmarks’ BARN AGAIN! workshop in Hancock County to explore this historic community while learning about barn preservation.
This day long workshop on September 19 will provide practical solutions from experts on how to maintain, rehabilitate, and adapt old barns for today’s needs. Participants will learn about the history and technology of barns as well as barn maintenance, adaptive reuse, and preservation. Rick Collins of Trillium Dell Timberworks will headline our workshop speakers. The workshop will also highlight a new Indiana law which offers a 100 percent property tax deduction for heritage barns not used for farming or business purposes.
The afternoon will include a tour of four barns in northern Hancock County, providing an opportunity to learn about the design, history, and rehabilitation of historic barns. The tour includes a stop at the award-winning, National Register-listed Frank Littleton Round Barn. The Littleton Round Barn dates from 1903 and is an impressive true circular barn with a 102’ diameter. The barn was commissioned by Indianapolis attorney Frank Littleton, who called upon Benton Steele for the design. Steele had recently built the largest round barn in the state, a 100’ diameter round barn for Littleton’s rival, Congressman Wymond L. Beckett. As the story is told, Littleton had Steele build his barn just a little bit larger, for a total of 102 feet in diameter, so that he could beat out his rival. Constructed by Issac McNamee and Horace Duncan, the Littleton Round Barn still holds the title for largest round barn in the state of Indiana. We’re excited to include the property on our barn tour to highlight this impressive structure which continues to function in an agricultural use.
Other barns on the tour include a depression-era Dairy Barn and an unusual transverse frame basement barn – featuring rusticated concrete blocks cast on site. Our fourth barn is a 19th century timber frame barn, which sits on an early Hancock County farm dating from the 1830s. The tour promises to highlight a wide variety of historic barn types, perfect for anyone passionate about agricultural heritage.
The BARN AGAIN! workshop will be held at NineStar Connect Conference Center, 2243 East Main Street, Greenfield, IN 46140. Cost for the day-long workshop is $45 and includes lectures, lunch, an informational packet, and the barn tour. There is a discounted price for members of Indiana Landmarks. The reservation deadline for the BARN AGAIN! workshop is September 15. Register online at barnagain2014.eventbrite.com or contact Indiana Landmarks at 800-450-4534. Questions? Contact Raina Regan, Community Preservation Specialist, 317-639-4534, [email protected].
New Indiana Barn Foundation Hard at Work!
A passionate and motivated group of Hooisers have been working hard to establish a barn organization for the state of Indiana in recent months – and what great success they have had in such a short period of time. The first annual meeting of the Indiana Barn Foundation is coming up on July 12th and the group can already boast of supporting barn preservation legislation! Last month, members of the organization were in Indianapolis to witness Governor Pence sign Bill 1046–a law that allows for a property tax deduction on historic barns in Indiana. Way to go Hoosiers and congratulations to Indiana’s historic barns!
We know great things are in store for this wonderful new barn preservation organization, and hope you will lend them your support in the effort. Below is a description of the group’s purpose and goals taken from their website. Please share this information with anyone you think would be interested and encourage them to attend the meeting on July 12th at the Indiana state fairgrounds!
“Indiana Barn Foundation is being established to unite those of us who value the legacy of Hoosier farmers who have worked against the odds, often single–handedly and with no financial incentive, to maintain and preserve these landmarks. We see Indiana’s historic barns as being an asset to Indiana’s larger cultural heritage; an asset worth preserving by assisting our farmers who struggle to maintain them.
Our Proposal: We are establishing, in conjunction with several other organizations, a private, nonprofit 501c3 mechanism to provide grants to rehab historic Indiana barns. We expect to operate efficiently under the umbrella of the Indiana Barn Foundation, while enlisting the expertise and resources of the Indiana Farm Bureau, Indiana Landmarks, the National Barn Alliance and many other groups who will join us in this work.
To keep this work alive for future generations, we also foresee the Indiana Barn Foundation some day financing educational programs, producing workshops and educational materials, and surveying and documenting existing barns.
It couldn’t be said any better; kudos from the NBA to the Indiana Barn Foundation!
This guest post was uncovered by our Past President, Charles Leik, who has an knack for finding enchanting things about barns. It has been reprinted here by permission from the October 31, 2013 The Peoples Exchange, Shipshewana, IN and the author who lives on an nearby Indiana dairy farm. Thanks for sharing your article with the NBA, Amber!
At home, I have a favorite place. Our big creaky, old barn.
It has a mingling, musty, scent of aged wood, cows, grain, sweet alfalfa hay and scratchy old coiled rope.
The barn isn’t too quiet, but it isn’t too loud, either. The barn swallows’ chirps, the young calves’ bawling, the little kittens’ meows, and the soft, whispering wind just outside join together in a perfect melody, and to me, the song of the outdoors is better than any choir or singing group anywhere. But, in addition, the barn has a nice, peaceful silence, one that is just right, and relaxing.
The barn has plenty of space where you can just lay there for a while, just thinking, seeing and breathing in everything. It has lots of spider webs, and warm sunlight pours onto the dusty floor through the holes in the creaky ancient wooden walls.
Sometimes I pack a little picnic lunch, and I’ll eat it in the haymow, sharing teeny bits of bread, or meat with the kittens that are sitting by my feet begging and they’ll start purring away like a little washing machine motor.
Inside the barn, an enormous pile of fresh grain fills the air with a pungent scent, that waves through the air filling every little nook and cranny. Children can play in the big pile for hours at a time, having the time of their life all the while. When they try to race up it, the grain crumples under their feet like sand, and every step they try to take up, they slide two steps down. Then, on the way down, instead of bothering with the grain burying their feet with every step they take, they just flop down, and make their way down as if it was a slide.
The barn is a masterpiece. There are very complicated patterns in the beams that are holding up the tall walls and high ceilings that are taller than a humongous old oak tree, like a puzzle, or a difficult crossword.
The barn was built so long ago that there aren’t any nails in the gigantically tall, wooden beams and poles. Instead, there are wooden pegs in their place.
In the barn, square bales of luscious green hay stand, piled all the way up to the high roof. They fill the air with a sweet scent. The bales are scratchy, and give you splinters if you climb them.
The floorboards in the barn croak and moan, creak and groan under my feet as I walk across them. They are wooden and dusty and covered with wheat, and straw, and hay, and grain. Without them, I would not be able to go up into the hayloft. The planks are an important piece of the barn.
In the barn, we have lots of scratchy, stale rope. In the “olden days” it was used to swing loose hay across the barn. Now, you can use it to swing yourself across the barn! You grab it, climb up a couple of straw bales, and jump. You swing way to the other side of the barn, then back again, on and on, until the big swing across the barn dwindles down to a little swing for a few feet. Then you jump off, and start all over again, until you get tired, and you think that you are done swinging for the day.
The steel cow stanchions stand vacant, empty, spider webby, and dusty like an old abandoned lot. When you turn the old, almost antique latches, they click and then go “eeeeeee”. The metal is always cool to the touch, even in the middle of the hottest summer.
The wooden calf stalls beside the stanchions are all full of young, bawling calves. The pens are stained with manure from calves of the past. Straw and sawdust, litter the cement floor, and the ground is dusty from the sawdust.
In the barn, silky spider webs hang thick. They are sticky, heavy, tangles of strong, webby, stringy lines. If you walk into them, they stick to your face, and if you try to pull them off, they cling to your finger like super glue. Spider webs make the barn look cozy.
In the barn the ceilings are tall. The filtered yellow plastic covering little of the roof lets in a few warm rays of summer. The rest of the roof is covered with aged rusty metal. When it rains, the drops leak through the many gaps and holes in the ceiling. Without the roof, the barn would be incomplete.
On the outside of the barn, there is a big cement hill leading to the haymow. The old splintery, wooden handrails at the sides are all falling off. The cement is dirty, weathered, and covered with patches of grass, weeds, and manure. The hill is hollow in the middle where we park our dirty smelly old manure spreader.
On the upper outside of the barn near the roof, there are white plastic letters that spell “THE OLD HOMESTEAD”. The letters are clean, and whenever one of them falls down or gets damaged, we replace them. They are the pride of the barn.
The barn is nice and warm in the winter, and nice and cool in the summer. It blocks out the harsh winter winds, but lets in the summer breezes. The barn is absolutely huge, but not empty.
The barn is a sleepy haven for the animals. It is musty, dirty, and almost ancient, but they don’t seem to care. They like the barn just the way it is, and so do I.
On the outside, the old peeling red paint on the barn is just enough for you to feel like you have been inside it about a million times, and that you have known it all your life. The barn is already over a hundred years old, and still, the rough weathered, sturdy wood stoutly, stands tall. The barn is my most favorite place in the world.
At home, I have a favorite place. Our big, creaky, old barn.
This post comes from our barn-loving friends in Madison, NH. This is the first year of their barn tour, but it will certainly not be their last! What a great event!
The Madison Historic Barn Tour weekend, July 11 & 12, 2014 is fast approaching. With seven wonderful old 18th and 19th century barns on the tour, including E.E. Cummings’ Joy Farm, interest is growing rapidly. The small Town of Madison is located in the beautiful Mount Washington Valley of New Hampshire. Incorporated in 1852, Madison has a long and interesting history as a farming and tourist community.
Town tax records reveal that there are approximately 50 barns in Madison which are over 100 years old. The Friends of Madison Library (FOML), a 501(c)(3) non-profit supporting the local public library, has organized this weekend fundraiser (be sure to visit their website).
Barns on the tour, in addition to Joy Farm, include the Ambrose Barn built in the mid-1870s by then owner Henry Harriman with timbers from his neighbor’s barn. Nearby is the Old Public Burying Ground where several of Madison’s Revolutionary War soldiers are buried.
The Gilman Barn built circa 1795 as a working farm has been in the Gilman family since then. Built with wooden pegs and resting on a loose field stone foundation, Alan Gilman’s barn is as “square” today as the day it was built. The large “Gilman Cemetery” across the street is the final resting place of generations of Madison residents, including the original owners of several of the Tour Barns.
The Henry Harmon place c 1850 may have been built earlier at Madison Corner, then moved by oxen to the open meadows of Goe Hill. A painting of this barn by Andrew Haines was recently on display at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
Come to Madison to see all seven tour barns. A list of the other forty plus Madison barns over 100 years old will be available for those who want to do more independent exploring. Directions to the numerous fascinating local cemeteries may lead you to find the resting places of former barn owners, or ancestors of your own. Pick up a copy of Mary Lucy’s book Cemeteries and Graveyards of Madison, NH from the Madison Historical Society. Browse the Barn themed Art Show, purchase barn note cards and photo sketches, or place a bid on a photo or professional work of art in oil or watercolor at our Silent Auction.
Don’t miss barn historian Bob Cottrell’s talk and discussion of 18th and 19th century New England Barns on Friday night at the Madison Library. Bob has a Master’s Degree from the Winterthur Program in Early American Culture. He has worked in the history/museum field since 1980. Previously, Bob worked at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American Art in Washington, D.C., the Crowley Museum and Nature Center in Sarasota, Florida, the St. Petersburg Historical Museum also in Florida, the Conner Prairie Museum in Indiana and at Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey. In 1996 he became the founding Director of the Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm in Tamworth, New Hampshire, another great place to visit while you are here. Bob’s talk is included in the price of the Barn Tour.
At the southern end of the Mount Washington Valley, the village of Madison is just minutes away from numerous hotels, picturesque B&Bs, wonderful restaurants and the tranquility of our natural setting around Silver Lake. Make plans now to spend a day or two before or after the Barn Tour. Bring a blanket and buy a Barn Tour Bag Lunch to enjoy at one of our Town Beaches or in the garden at the Library.
Tickets on the weekend of the Tour will be $20 per person. Advanced tickets may be purchased before July 1, 2014 for $15 per person, payable by check to Friends of Madison Library at PO Box 240, Madison, NH 03849. | 2019-04-23T10:06:50Z | http://barnalliance.org/the-barn-journal/page/2/ |
Pitcher, who has more than 30 years of service with the Florence Police Department, doesn’t have a side in the gun debate.
“We are not pro or con, we’re always going to go where the law goes to,” he said.
But the seemingly irrevocable standstill on the gun debate has Pitcher worried.
“I think it’s great that there’s a conversation happening out there — because there are kids dying in schools and other people getting killed,” Pitcher said. “But I think it’s terrible that the pros and the cons are attacking each other because they don’t like opinions. You just can’t say, ‘This is my position and I won’t budge,’ and then attack the other side.
Pitcher talked at length about the gun debate in America, from problems with funding background check programs to how gun laws may or may not affect mass shootings.
He even spoke of an incident in Florence that could have escalated into school violence but was ultimately prevented.
Over the final articles in this special series, Siuslaw News will be looking at the experiences Pitcher provided in an effort to offer a non-partisan perspective on the gun debate.
But to do that requires sifting through information for the true facts — because even the facts themselves are often up for debate.
Pitcher was referring to numbers provided by the gun reform advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety. In early February, the group reported there had already been 18 school shootings since Jan. 1, 2018.
Generally, when one thinks of “school shootings,” they think of incidents like Columbine or Parkland. But, as the Washington Post pointed out in a Feb. 14 article, that wasn’t the case here.
One incident included in Everytown’s statistics was a man shooting a gun in the air on the campus of Wake Forest University at 8 p.m. In this case, the shooter wasn’t aiming at anyone, and no one was injured. Another incident cited a man committing suicide with a gun on school property. The argument made against that statistic was that the school had been closed for seven months at the time.
Both the left-leaning Washington Post as well as several right-leaning websites like Breitbart attacked the numbers for misrepresenting school shootings in a way that made it appear there were more school shootings than there actually were.
And the writers of the Everytown article likely intended it that way as part of a push to support an agenda for gun reform.
Sadly, in another political climate, those same statistics could potentially be used to gain useful information to improve gun safety on school grounds. Was the night shooter putting anyone in danger? Could the suicide have been prevented?
But these finer points get lost in the debate as the weaponization of statistics makes it increasingly difficult to even agree on what the definition of a mass or school shooting is.
But other organizations define a mass shooting as at least four or more people shot.
And then there are questions of how motive plays into defining mass or school shootings. Is terrorism a mass shooting event, or its own separate category? What about gang violence? Is a drive-by shooting of several individuals a mass shooting? What if it occurs at school but is limited to gang members? Is it a mass shooting if one person kills only family members? And if the shooter takes his or her own life at the end, should they be included in the death toll or only their victim(s)?
All of these variables can be added or subtracted to bolster the arguments of the side presenting them. Some gun reformers want higher numbers to force action on gun control, while gun rights advocates sometimes deflate numbers to temper concerns.
The highest reported number comes from left-leaning publication The Guardian, which reports a staggering 1,624 mass shootings in 1,870 days.
The Guardian lists incidences that would otherwise be excluded from other mass shooting lists. For example, it cites a Feb. 11, 2018, incident involving a domestic dispute where a male gunman killed his girlfriend, two women and then himself during a 14-hour standoff. The gunman also wounded three officers during the incident, and then shot himself.
Many lists exclude domestic disputes.
The Guardian also lists an incident on Jan. 27, 2018, when an argument at a bar resulted in four people getting shot, but with no fatalities. The majority of lists require a mass shooting to require fatalities.
On the other end of the spectrum, the conservative-leaning group Cato Institute, which often advocates for gun rights, had much lower numbers.
In a February 2018 report, it cited an FBI study from 2000 to 2016 that showed a rising trend in mass shootings but questioned the agency’s methodology because FBI statistics include gang violence. Cato Institute also questioned how the FBI graphed the rise in incidents as a way of discrediting the report.
However, no matter how one graphs the data, the numbers do show a rise in active shootings.
It should be noted that the Cato study, titled “Are Mass Shootings Becoming More Frequent,” states that the FBI was studying “active shootings,” but doesn’t go into details.
That’s entirely different from the FBI’s data, and is an apple to oranges comparison.
Regardless, Mother Jones also showed an increase of mass shootings, just as the FBI did for active shootings.
Cato rightfully pointed out that Mother Jones had a liberal bias but throws out the rising trend due to its limited time span. Cato instead averaged the death from every year, pointing out that there are only 23 deaths per year from mass shootings, an extremely low number when compared to the overall gun deaths in America.
However, Cato ignored Mother Jones’ and the FBI’s main premise that mass/active shootings are rising, concluding instead mass shootings are a rare occurrence in relation to gun deaths as a whole.
Are any of the numbers being presented wrong?
Both Cato and The Guardian are absolutely correct in their mathematical assessment based on the criteria defined by each.
And, as Pitcher pointed out, all of these numbers have worth.
It’s important to keep in mind that, statistically, mass shootings are rare compared to other homicide deaths, no matter how it may feel with media coverage.
For example, the Center for Disease Control reported that there were 12,979 firearm homicides in 2015. The numbers did not differentiate where and how these homicides took place, nor did it account for suicides, which make up the majority of gun-related fatalities.
The Gun Violence Archive, which The Guardian used in its statistics, found 475 people were murdered, less than 4 percent of all homicides.
This is not to diminish fatalities in mass shootings — most would agree one fatality is still too high a number. But by focusing the entirety of the gun debate on mass shootings, the debate runs the risk of missing key social and economic factors that can play into gun homicides.
If placing a blanket ban on what some consider an “assault rifle” could, in some way, stop mass shootings, would such a ban stop all gun homicides in America? We must ask if this debate is solely about stopping mass shootings, or if it is about a larger issue that encompasses issues like economics, race relations, access to medical care and other societal hurdles.
These finer points often get lost in the discussion and are not used in a good faith examination on the issue of firearm fatalities in America. Rather, they are used as a way to prove the other side wrong.
“It’s sad that we use statistics to attack one another,” Pitcher said.
Statistics are being used to minimize opponents or instill fear. But fear is the last thing that Pitcher believes we need to feel.
Yet with the seemingly constant barrage of media coverage, it might seem that the next school shooting is waiting around the corner.
“Let me show you something,” Pitcher said as he brought out the children’s picture book “I’m Not Scared, I’m Prepared” by Julia Cook. The book highlights some of the measures of the ALICE active shooter response program, a nationwide program that informs children, school faculty, police responders and others what to do if a school shooting occurs.
Pitcher and his department recently taught ALICE — which stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate — to local school districts. It’s a way to be more proactive during a school shooting.
Previous recommendations involved people waiting the shooter out, either by hiding in hopes the shooter wouldn't find them, or that the shooter ends the rampage through suicide, running out of bullets, the police, etc.
But ALICE teaches a more proactive approach, stressing evacuation, such as exiting windows, or stacking obstacles that make it more difficult for a shooter to traverse the landscape.
ALICE does have its detractors, though, particularly when it comes to the “counter” portion of the program, including complaints that teaching elementary school students to swarm a shooter is unrealistic and dangerous.
It has also been pointed out that ALICE’s effectiveness has not been proven by any peer reviewed studies. However, data on any school shooting is scarce due to their infrequency. And there has been anecdotal evidence that supports the use of ALICE.
On Jan. 20, 2017, a student at Liberty-Salem High School in Ohio shot and injured another student in the restroom of the school and intended to shoot others in the school indiscriminately.
After hearing the shots, students at the high school began barricading doors and evacuating, while high school staff pounced on the shooter and restrained him until law enforcement arrived.
School officials credited ALICE training for saving students’ lives.
Pitcher pointed to the Thurston High School shooting in Springfield, Ore., that was also stopped by high schoolers swarming a shooter.
But if programs like ALICE prove to be effective, it leads to the question: Do we need to arm school staff?
After the Parkland, Fla., school shooting, multiple calls have been made to arm teachers because of the response time of law enforcement.
A 2013 FBI report found that in 160 active shooter incidents, 44 ended in 5 minutes or less, with 23 ending in 2 minutes or less — with 107 of the incidences ending before law enforcement could arrive.
“Even when law enforcement was present or able to respond within minutes, civilians often had to make life-and-death decisions and, therefore, should be engaged in training and discussions on decisions they may face,” the FBI report stated.
Suggestions regarding school staff come down to two groups: Resource officers and teachers.
Resource officers generally have wide support on both sides of the debate, and they have been credited with saving lives.
In August 2010, a man entered Sullivan Central High School in Tennessee, armed with two hand guns, pointing one of the guns at the school principal’s head. The school resource officer was notified, and held the gunman at bay until the arrival of police officers, who eventually shot and killed the gunman.
More recently, in March a high school student in Maryland who was believed to be carrying out a mass shooting was confronted by a resource officer after shooting two students.
While the resource officer was initially credited with killing the gunman by politicians and the NRA, the gunman actually shot and killed himself.
However, he did so when the officer had already drawn his weapon and got off one shot before the assailant took his own life, according to a March 27 CNN report. Whether the resource officer’s actions directly led to assailant’s death is hard to say.
And just because a school resource officer is present during a shooting doesn’t mean that they will always act. In the Parkland, Fla., shootings, a resource officer remained outside the building during the shooting. The officer contended that it was because he believed that shots were coming from outside, while others accuse him of cowardice.
The fact is, armed officers who are able to engage shooters don’t always survive the encounters. According to a 2013 FBI study, of 45 active shooter incidents, 9 police officers were killed and 28 were wounded; 3 armed, non-sworn security personnel were also killed, and 2 unarmed security officers were killed.
Because of the often short response time, and the notion that officers don’t always stop school shootings, it has been suggested that teachers arm themselves. But if trained officers can have difficulties with school shooters, would a teacher prove to be more effective?
But the one thing that Pitcher wants people to keep in mind during the debate is that teachers need to be trained if they carry a firearm.
“There are a lot of things that go along with owning a gun. And not everyone is comfortable having a gun. I wouldn’t make someone who isn’t comfortable with a gun have a gun. But if you’re comfortable and everything allows it, you need to be trained and have continual training. Not just how to shoot that weapon, but when to shoot that weapon,” he said.
He suggested putting armed officers in every school in the nation.
He suggested that 20 percent of teachers would be able to fit that criteria.
But corroborating that 20 percent of “gun-adept” teachers cited by the president is extremely difficult.
Some gun reformers point to gender when speaking about the ability of teachers to fire weapons responsibility. A February 2018 article published by VOX asserted that 76 percent of public school teachers are women, and only 22 percent of women in America own guns, ergo, finding trained teachers is not possible.
However, those statistics make some pretty broad generalizations, first and foremost being that a female-led profession could not produce responsible and effective gun owners.
One example against that argument is the Tennessee resource officer cited earlier in this article. Her name was Carolyn Gudger, and she saved lives. Generalizations may paint women as less capable with a gun, but facts do not support that.
In addition, Trump was not looking for an entirely armed teaching force — only a portion of teachers.
But the Vox article does point out a fallacy in the president’s assertion that there are teachers with military or special-training experience. While exact figures on exactly how many military personnel enter the field of education — a program called Troops to Teachers, which helps veterans transition into educations, only had around 20,000 participants since 1993.
While it’s wrong to think that all militarily trained teachers go through that program, it does hint at the idea that 20 percent of teachers with military experience isn’t accurate.
Instead of relying on an already existing pool of firearms-trained teachers, school districts could instead look to training teachers. This has already been occurring in the U.S. for years.
After the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012, Clarksville School District in Arkansas looked into hiring a resource officer, but found it was too expensive, according to a February 2018 article by CNN.
The opposite end of that equation is Utah, where anyone with a permit to carry a concealed weapon can take a loaded firearm to school without telling the principal, and no firearm training is required.
While Clarksville has not reported any injuries since implementing its program, Utah has. In 2014, a sixth-grade teacher in Taylorsville, Utah, accidentally discharged her weapon while in the faculty bathroom, shooting her leg. In this case, students weren’t in immediate danger during the discharge.
But just last month, a teacher in Salinas, Calif., accidentally fired a gun at the ceiling while teaching a public safety course. A student contends that they were struck by debris from the discharge.
Another recent incident in Dalton, Ga., found a teacher barricading himself in a room, firing one shot out the window.
The teacher had apparently been going through a crisis and was talked into relinquishing his firearm by a school resource officer without incident.
In both of these cases, physical injury was either non-existent or negligent.
But Pitcher’s concerns about teachers carrying firearms goes beyond the physical — it’s the psychological aspects of teachers carrying firearms that gives Pitcher pause.
“If, as a teacher, you’re going to have a gun in a school, then they need to think about the mental preparation of having to do that and being able to survive that afterward,” said Pitcher. “If you dedicate your life to teaching kids, and you have to be put in that position, can you do it?
While there is anecdotal evidence that properly trained personnel could lead to fewer school shooting deaths, do more guns in general equal a safer society?
And while armed resource officers may be a way to react to a school shooting, are there more proactive ways to stop gun violence through legislation or by providing more social services to identify at-risk students?
Is the solution a combination of both?
These and other questions will be examined in the fourth segment of the series.
Note: This is part 3 of a continuing series. Find additional installments in the Special Series Archive, located here. | 2019-04-25T00:58:40Z | https://thesiuslawnews.com/article/the-right-of-the-people-to-keep-and-bear-arms-part-iii |
Debate about the best clinical approach to the management of asymptomatic patients with ventricular pre-excitation and advice on whether or not to invasively stratify and ablate is on-going. Weak evidence about the real risk of sudden cardiac death and the potential benefit of catheter ablation has probably prevented the clarification of action in this not infrequent and sometimes conflicting clinical situation. After analysing all available data, real evidence-based medicine could be the alternative strategy for managing this group of patients. According to recent surveys, most electrophysiologists invasively stratify. Based on all accepted risk factors – younger age, male, associated structural heart disease, posteroseptal localisation, ability of the accessory pathway to conduct anterogradely at short intervals of ≤250 milliseconds and inducibility of sustained atrioventricular re-entrant tachycardia and/or atrial fibrillation – a shared decisionmaking process on catheter ablation is proposed.
Arrhythmia & Electrophysiology Review 2018;7(1):32–8.
The best clinical approach to managing asymptomatic patients with ventricular pre-excitation has yet to be established. The clinical benefit of identifying and treating asymptomatic patients at risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) has been debated since catheter ablation became effective and safe for the treatment of accessory pathways (APs). Data supporting current recommendations are mostly derived from observational studies, with few data coming from randomised clinical trials, and most studies only include a small number of patients. The very low incidence of SCD in asymptomatic patients reported by most studies has also contributed to the debate. As most patients are healthy young people who are expected to have a long life, a large, long-term randomised clinical trial evaluating mortality (no treatment versus catheter ablation) could provide the necessary evidence-based information to support recommendations. The impact that the low risk of SCD in asymptomatic patients with a chronic heart abnormality has on quality of life, career options and patients’ work life could also be considered. Evidence-based medicine has formed the basis of teaching and clinical practice for >20 years,1 but real evidence-based medicine has recently been proposed as a different approach to clinical decision-making based on expert judgment and sharing decisions with patients through meaningful conversations.2 This approach, taking into account the limitations of available evidence, could provide an alternative strategy for managing asymptomatic patients with ventricular pre-excitation.
Table 1 shows all-cause mortality in patients with WPW syndrome compared with matched individuals without the condition. Borregaard et al. found no difference between patients with WPW syndrome who underwent radiofrequency ablation when compared to an age- and gender-matched control group.38 However, different results were found by a recent multicentre system-wide retrospective study comparing the long-term results in three groups of patients: those with WPW who underwent ablation; those with WPW who did not undergo ablation; and age- and gender-matched individuals without WPW.39 The patients who underwent ablation were younger (39.2 ± 17.0 years) than those who did not (46.4 ± 19.6 years) and those in the control group (43.4 ± 19.0 years). They were less likely to have hypertension, diabetes, renal failure and coronary artery disease. The total mortality and cardiac arrest rates were similar between WPW patients (ablation and no ablation) and the control group. However, cardiac death was significantly higher in the WPW population than the control group (7 % versus 4.6 %, respectively; p<0.0001). The WPW patients who did not undergo ablation had a higher risk of death in the long-term, with a trend towards more cardiac arrests and cardiac deaths than patients who did receive ablation. In the propensity analysis, the ablated group had significantly lower mortality and cardiac death rates than the non-ablated group (6.1 % versus 11.6 % and 2.8 % versus 5.9 %, respectively). A large nationwide retrospective observational study including 6,086 WPW patients aged <50 years (41.5 % ablated) showed a low mortality of 0.69 % at 11 years.11 When catheter ablation was included in the risk analysis, this variable was associated with a significantly lower risk of mortality.
Some clinical variables such as gender, younger age, structural heart disease and septal localisation of AP have been associated with a higher risk of SCD.
Fan et al. showed that some electrophysiological (EP) properties of the AP were associated with a higher risk of SCD. A shorter anterograde effective refractory period (AERP) of the bypass tract and pre-excited R-R interval during AF were significantly less prevalent in the older group (>50 years versus <30 years).42 However, in a group of 92 asymptomatic patients (10–69 years), Brembilla-Perrot et al. demonstrated that although STV was not inducible by trans-oesophageal stimulation in any patients aged 50–69 years, rapid conduction was seen throughout the AP in all groups (21 % in 10–69 year olds: 27 % in 20–29 year olds, 27 % in 30–39 year olds, 6 % in 40–49 year olds and 23 % in 50–69 year olds).43 They concluded that older patients remain at risk of threatening arrhythmias.
the shortest pre-excited R-R interval (SPERRI) during spontaneous or induced AF.
Sodium channel-blocking agents (procainamide, propafenone and ajmaline) have been used to determine the anterograde AP conduction. Loss of pre-excitation under these drugs has been correlated with a longer AERP.51,53,54 However, these pharmacological tests are now rarely used.
The shortest cycle length with one-to-one conduction by incremental atrial stimulation has been used to differentiate groups of patients with and without VF. Although all patients in the VF group were capable of anterograde conduction over the accessory pathway at cycle lengths of ≤300 ms, considerable overlap between groups was observed by Klein et al.32 Another possible limitation is the fact that sometimes it is not possible to evaluate this measurement because of the appearance of arrhythmias during incremental atrial pacing.
In 2003, Pappone et al. published data from 212 asymptomatic patients with ventricular pre-excitation (mean age 33.6 ± 14 years, 64.8 % male) evaluated with a baseline EP study.22 At the end of a mean follow-up of 37.7 ± 16.1 months (range 14–60 months), 15.6 % of the group (33/212) had developed arrhythmic events. Of the patients that completed the follow-up EP study after 5 years, 29 % (47/162) were inducible, 10.5 % had non-sustained AF (2.5 % with isoproterenol), 12 % had sustained AVRT (5.5 % with isoproterenol) and the remaining 6.5 % had AVRT that degenerated into totally pre-excited sustained AF. Of the 20 % of patients that became symptomatic due to spontaneous arrhythmias (33/162, mean age 20 ± 8.6 years), SVT was documented in three-quarters (25/162) and AF in a quarter (8/162). VF was documented in 1.8 % of patients (3/162), all of whom had previously documented AF; two were aborted SCDs and one was a sudden death. The group of patients that became symptomatic were younger and had a significantly shorter AERP (246.6 ± 27.5 milliseconds) than patients who continued to be asymptomatic (283 ± 29.9 milliseconds). Inducibility (sustained AVRT or AVRT triggering AF) was found to be a better predictor of arrhythmic events than AERP. All three patients who experienced VF had multiple APs, an AERP ≤250 milliseconds and were inducible (SVT triggering AF). Only 3.5 % of non-inducible patients (4/115) became symptomatic during follow-up, suggesting that non-inducibility has a good negative predictive value.
In 2009, Santinelli et al. presented the results of a longer prospective observational study of 293 adults with asymptomatic pre-excitation (median age 36 years, 61.4 % male) in whom a baseline EP study evaluating inducibility was performed (reproducible induction of AVRT or AF lasting at least 1 minute).20 The occurrence of a first arrhythmic event was determined during a median follow-up of 67 months (range 8–90 months). Arrhythmic events appeared within a median follow-up of 27 months (range 8–55 months) in 10.5 % of patients (31/293) with a median age of 25 years: 5 % had AVRT (14/293) and 5.5 % had potentially life-threatening arrhythmias (1.5 % AVRT degenerating into AF and 4 % with AF). In the multivariate Cox analysis, younger age, AERP ≤250 milliseconds and inducibility were predictors of total and potentially life-threatening events. There was a high predictive positive value of 80 % when all three factors were present.
In the most recent, largest and longest single-centre, prospective, observational study by Pappone et al., 2,169 symptomatic and asymptomatic patients were divided into two groups according to their decision whether or not to undergo catheter ablation.44 At the end of the follow-up period (>8 years), a total of 756 patients (35 %) were asymptomatic: 206 that were ablated and 550 that were not. After a median follow-up of 22 months (range 15–41 years), 13 non-ablated asymptomatic patients developed VF (aborted cardiac arrest in all cases). An additional 48 asymptomatic patients experienced AF with a SPERRI ≤250 milliseconds after a median follow-up of 46.5 months (range 36.0–58.5 months). All of these patients were successfully ablated immediately after the event. All 13 asymptomatic patients that experienced VF had a SPERRI ≤240 milliseconds, multiple APs were present in 31 % (4/13) and 69 % (9/13) were inducible for AVRT triggering AF. Cox proportional hazards model showed that VF and AF with a SPERRI ≤250 milliseconds were independently associated with short AERP (≤240 milliseconds) and inducibility of AVRT degenerating into AF.
Di Mambro et al. showed that the EP properties of APs, including the SPERRI, assessed by trans-oesophageal EP study in asymptomatic paediatric patients (n=73) were similar to symptomatic patients (n=51).56 The only difference was a higher rate of orthodromic AVRT non-rest inducibility (mostly isoproterenol infusion) in symptomatic patients. They concluded that the potential risk of SCD in asymptomatic patients based on SPERRI measurement seems to be similar to that in symptomatic patients but that asymptomatic individuals were ‘protected’ by a lower rate of AVRT inducibility.
Observational data have shown that isoproterenol can modify the EP properties of APs and inducibility of supraventricular arrhythmia in patients with ventricular pre-excitation. Pauriah et al. demonstrated a significantly shorter atrial CL with one-to-one conduction (194 ± 15 milliseconds versus 223 ± 30 milliseconds) and AERP (191 ± 18 versus 225 ± 28) under isoproterenol in severely symptomatic adult patients while no difference in inducibility was found.57 De Ponti et al. observed a significantly shorter SPERRI and AERP in a group of 40 asymptomatic patients with persistent pre-excitation at exercise stress test who had a SPERRI >250 milliseconds and no AVRT inducible at baseline.58 Kubus et al. identified an additional 36.4 % of high-risk patients (SPERRI/shortest cycle length with one-to-one conduction ≤250 milliseconds or AERP ≤250 milliseconds; or STV inducibility) with isoproterenol when high-risk parameters were absent at baseline EP study in a group of 85 asymptomatic paediatric patients with persistent pre-excitation at maximum exercise.59 According to the recommendations for competitive sports participation in athletes with cardiovascular disease, asymptomatic athletes with pre-excitation and a SPERRI <220 milliseconds during effort or isoproterenol infusion are considered to be at increased risk of SCD.60 When conscious sedation/general anaesthesia is used, particularly in children, the use of isoproterenol may evoke real adrenergic stimulation and can better characterise the anterograde conduction of the AP. Although the role of isoproterenol challenge has yet to be clearly defined, it seems reasonable to look for high-risk EP parameters under isoproterenol when they are absent at baseline EP study.
The result of prophylactic catheter ablation in asymptomatic patients was first evaluated in a randomised clinical trial of patients from two centres in 2003.26 A total of 76 high-risk patients (≤35 years old with reproducibly-induced arrhythmias) out of 224 eligible patients were enrolled. In the final analysis, 35 control patients and 37 ablation patients were compared. In a median of 27 months (range 9–60 months) of follow-up, there were two arrhythmic events (5 %) in the ablation group where the atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia was successfully ablated. After a median follow-up of 15 months (range 8–53 months), 60 % of the control group patients had experienced an arrhythmic event (15 had SVT, five had AF and one had VF as a first manifestation with previous AVRT triggering AF, a SPERRI of 200 milliseconds and multiple septal APs). The estimated 5-year arrhythmic event rate was significantly higher in the control group (77 %) than the ablation group (7 %); ablation led to a risk reduction of 92 %. No major complications were observed in the ablation group and no patients died.
In 2004, a randomised clinical trial evaluated the results of prophylactic catheter ablation in children with asymptomatic pre-excitation.63 Out of 165 eligible patients aged 5–12 years, 60 high-risk patients (with reproducibly-induced ARVT or AF) were randomised to control or ablation. During a median follow-up of 34 months (range 19–44 months), 27 control patients and 20 ablation patients were compared. One 11-year-old ablation patient had an atrioventricular reciprocant tachycardia (AVRT) 21 months after the ablation of two APs. In contrast, after a median follow-up of 19 months (range 16–22 months), an arrhythmic event was detected in 44 % of the control patients (12/27). Of these, symptomatic arrhythmias (AVRT in five patients and AF in two patients) were documented in 26 % of patients (six boys and one girl) and Holter-documented silent episodes of sustained AF were observed in 18 % (five patients). After declining radiofrequency ablation, one 10-year-old died suddenly and another two patients experienced VF. All three patients were boys, had multiple APs and inducible AVRT and AF. The freedom from arrhythmic events was significantly higher in the ablation group compared with the control group. Independent predictors of arrhythmic events were the absence of prophylactic ablation (hazard ratio [HR] 69.4; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 5.1–950; p=0.001) and multiple accessory pathways (HR 12.1; 95 % CI 1.7–88.2; p=0.01). The estimated number of high-risk patients needed to treat to prevent arrhythmic events in one patient was two (95 % CI 1.4 to 3.1). Although there was a high percentage of total complications associated with EP study (15 %) and catheter ablation (5 %), most were minor complications and no death occurred.
In the largest and longest single-centre, prospective, observational study, Pappone et al. observed a success rate of 98.5 % in the ablation group (among the 1,168 patients, 206 were asymptomatic), no deaths were associated with the procedure and there was a very low rate of major complications (complete atrioventricular block in 0.08 %). Kaplan–Meier analysis at 8 years showed that catheter ablation was associated with a significantly better survival free from malignant arrhythmias (AF lasting >1 minute with a SPERRI ≤250 milliseconds) and from VF.
There are varying epidemiological data on the risk of SCD in the natural history of asymptomatic patients. When some populations are excluded (i.e. Italian studies), the rate of SCD is similar to that observed in the general population. Therefore, it is possible that the real incidence of SCD is still unknown, see Table 3.44,72-75 Although low or very low, the presence of pre-excitation in an asymptomatic, generally young, healthy people adds a definite risk of SCD. There is also a very low but definite risk of mortality associated with catheter ablation. Although evidence from randomised clinical trials demonstrates the benefit of catheter ablation, it may not support a Class I indication because these studies are not multicentre trials and the number of patients included is low.26,63 Consequently, a large, long-term, multicentre randomised clinical trial of catheter ablation in asymptomatic patients would provide the best evidence on which to recommend treatment. However, for many reasons, this kind of study maybe never be performed.
The main argument against studying and treating asymptomatic patients has been the poor predictive accuracy (low specificity and low positive predictive value) of non-invasive and invasive risk stratifiers due to the low event rate of SCD. Many patients would be unnecessarily treated and exposed to the risks of EP study and catheter ablation if all such asymptomatic patients were treated. A negative predictive value of <100 % will leave some patients exposed to an avoidable risk of SCD and according to published surveys, in clinical practice most electrophysiologists choose to invasively stratify and ablate this group of asymptomatic patients.79,80 Pappone et al. showed that 70 % of electrophysiologists performed an EP study for risk stratification and prophylactic ablation80 and Campbell et al. that 84 % of paediatric electrophysiologists used some form of EP study to risk-stratify asymptomatic children with ventricular pre-excitation.79 Consequently, and taking into account these data, most electrophysiologists are managing asymptomatic patients according to ‘real’ evidence-based medicine.2 After a critical analysis of the available evidence, expert judgment, discussing the risks and benefits of the procedure – including potential benefits beyond mortality, such as better quality of life – an EP study to stratify risk and an ablation procedure should be considered when accepted high-risk factors are present and whenever the risk of complications judged by localisation is low (i.e. atrioventricular block risk in the para-Hisian and mid-septal regions), see Figure 1. This strategy seems to be more accepted than conservative management in clinical practice.
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There has been a lot of discussion lately about “service virtualization”, however the term alone can make your head spin. Are we talking about server virtualization? What types of services are involved? What does virtualization have to do with testing? I’d like to quickly clear up any confusion you may have. Service virtualization is used to simulate the behavior of components in an application so you can perform an accurate and timely test in a world of complex interrelated applications. Production services that may not be available for integration testing can be virtualized so the testing can take place at an appropriate time in the software development process.
While quality professionals have always needed to test combinations of code, current methods for writing and combining code have changed so much that traditional approaches to testing can’t get the job done at the right price and the right time. There is a fast growing commercial market for production services that are incorporated as self-contained modules into software applications. Third party services such as PayPal or a credit checking service are increasingly used in customer facing applications.
Use of these third-party services increases the efficiency of software development, but at the same time makes your application dependent on services that you do not control. Consider, for example, the scenario of an online retailer with multiple suppliers. The retailer has created a new mobile application for customers. This application uses a credit check service provided by a third-party vendor. The team can’t test without this dependent component, but it is not available for testing. Without service virtualization, the software development team has some difficult choices to make and none of the options are good. If the development team proceeds without doing the necessary testing, they may introduce errors that are much harder and more costly to fix later on. If the team waits until the third-party service is available, developer productivity will decline and the team may miss production deadlines. In addition, if the third-party service becomes available it can get pretty expensive to test application performance at high usage levels since the service costs money each time it is executed.
So what does the development team do in this situation? Service virtualization is a new approach to testing that helps organizations eliminate some of the testing bottlenecks that make it hard to bring new high quality applications to market quickly. Here are five key things you should know about service virtualization.
To get started with service virtualization you need to understand your testing methodology and think about where service virtualization can increase team velocity while also helping your team to deliver higher quality software.
Use a cost/benefit analysis to select which services should be virtualized. Consider the cost to your company when testing is delayed because dependent services or software are not available for testing. How much is spent on staff needed to set up and maintain test environments? How much do you spend to maintain test environments that are not fully utilized? What is the cost for software licenses in the physical test lab environment? What is the cost of third-party service access fees?
Service virtualization can help you find errors in all testing phases- including unit testing, performance testing, integration testing, system testing, system integration testing, user acceptance testing, and operability testing.
Recording a service that already exists is a great way to define the behavior of your virtual component. You can use the recording process to identify the behaviors that will need to be simulated so you can create test cases quickly.
You can’t expect to virtualize all your components. Therefore, you need to be able to easily move back and forth between real components and virtual components while you are testing. You want to maintain consistency across real and virtual components.
One of the biggest impacts of service virtualization for developers is the ability to validate integrations much earlier in the application life cycle. The software development team can move beyond unit testing and overcome many of the roadblocks that inhibit timely, efficient, and cost effective testing.
While the buzz in the big data market is around massive amounts of data and what you can do with that data, in truth companies are more interested in the small stuff. Let me explain. One of the greatest benefits of getting hold of lots of data is that a company can see patterns and anomalies that would have gone undetected with a smaller set of data.
Companies are interested in big data not so much because of what that data represents in terms of volume, variety and velocity, but what the analysis of that data can do for the business. As business decision makers begin to recognize the potential of big data, they realize that the biggest insights and hidden gems of knowledge are found when big data actually becomes quite small. However, the analysis must start with very large volumes of data. Exploring the world of big data takes business leaders beyond the data found in their organization’s traditional databases. Researchers, data scientists, and marketers, are analyzing very large volumes of unstructured data from previously untapped sources such as e-mails, customer service records, sensor data, and security logs.
Now that companies have the ability to deal with so much more data, they are free to incorporate a greater variety of data into the mix. For example, they are incorporating social media, mobile phone location, traffic, and weather data into more traditional analysis. But what is the goal? Add more data and more elements so that those patterns emerge. Armed with the insight from analysis, business leaders can take a more precise set of data and compare it to data from a data warehouse or a system of record. As a result, the research becomes more targeted and directed to fit in with the context of the business.
Why do companies need to take this targeted approach to leveraging big data? In essence, companies want to use big data analysis to make a personalized offer that is just right for the customer when that customer is ready to buy. In some cases, the answer may be related not to selling but to diagnosing problems with a manufacturing system or a patient with an unexplained illness.
How do you move from big data analysis to small data insights and personalized action? You need to consider three elements: defining your business problem, defining and analyzing your data sources, and integrating and incorporating your big data analysis with your operational data.
Defining your business problem. Companies are beginning to ask the traditional questions about customers, products, and partners in new ways. For example, are you looking to manage your customer interactions armed with in-depth and customized knowledge about each individual customer? Companies with a focus on driving continuous improvement in customer service are asking, “How can I delight this customer and anticipate their specific needs?” These are important goals for businesses competing in today’s fast-paced, mobile-driven market.
Defining and analyzing your data sources. What information do you need to make the right offer to your buyer when he deciding on a purchase? What information can you glean from outside sources such as social media data? What big data sources do you have available internally that were previously underutilized? For example, can you use text analytics to gain new insight about customers from call center notes, emails, and voice recordings? One important goal with big data analytics is to look for patterns and relationships that apply to your business and narrow down the data set based on business context. Your big data analysis will help you find the small treasures of information in your big data.
Integrating and incorporating the analysis of you big data with your operational data.
After your big data analysis is complete, you need an approach that will allow you to integrate or incorporate the results of your big data analysis into your business process and real-time business actions. This will require some adjustment to the conventional notion of data integration. In order to bring your big data environments and enterprise data environments together, you will need to incorporate new methods of integration that support Hadoop and other nontraditional big data environments. In addition, if you want to incorporate the results of very fast streaming data into your business process, you will need advanced technology that enables you to make decisions in real-time.
Ultimately, if you want to make good decisions based on the results of your big data analysis you need to deliver information at the right time and with the right context. In order to make the results of your analysis actionable, you need to focus more on the small – targeted and personalized results of big data – than on the large data volumes.
I recently attended an IBM analyst meeting focused on solutions for the midmarket. What caught my attention was the focus on analytics as an important and growing revenue opportunity for IBM. In fact, IBM mentioned during the meeting that 70 percent of midsized firms are looking for analytics solutions. It is clear from this meeting that IBM wants to bring a comprehensive set of analytical tools to the midsize companies. Unlike some of IBM’s packaging, analytics tools are being packaged specifically for the midmarket so that they can be more consumable and affordable.
Analytics is fast becoming a high priority for companies as a result of the explosion in the variety, velocity, and volume of data with a potential impact on business decision-making. Much of this data is unstructured, such as the text included in customer service records, customer sentiment data in social media, or streams of data from instrumented devices. Making good business decisions often requires analysis across multiple sources and types of data. Companies often have independent systems designed to manage business processes ranging from order/inventory to point of sales, marketing research, and customer relationship management. The challenge for many of these companies is that answering the most urgent questions about the business requires analysis across all of these independent systems. Even a small company with a few hundred employees may have a dozen systems are are disconnected and keep the company from having a full picture of the business.
Therefore, it is not surprising that some midsize companies are finding they can benefit from business analytics solutions. Yet, while some midsize companies are finding ways to get the answers they want using analytics, the word needs to spread to other companies still struggling with manual spreadsheet analysis that doesn’t go deep enough.
IBM is going to market through its business partners that typically support midsize companies with a variety of solutions. These business partners are being asked by their clients in the midmarket to help them implement technology solutions that will enable them to make smarter business decisions. They want to find new ways to deeper their understanding of customer expectations and priorities. For example, a midsize retailer might be trying to figure out why certain products are returned while others sell well. The analytics market offers huge opportunity for IBM and its partners.
The approach IBM is taking with analytics for the mid-market is to offer its partners a pre-configuration of hardware and software into a single system at a price point that is both affordable for midsized companies, but also has enough of a margin to make it attractive to a partner channel.
However, the challenge for partners is to change the traditional way they have gone to market. Many partners that have built successful businesses by specializing in hardware sales or a specific category of software such as IBM Rational find that they need to meet a broader set of client requirements. They now need to both learn the new analytics products and be ready to sell and implement solutions differently. Selling analytics to the mid market requires much more than a technical sell. Partners need to have a thorough understanding of the business context in which the analytics will be used to help customer visualize the potential business value.
One of IBM’s offerings that partners should be looking at is the IBM Smart Analytics System 5710, which is a database appliance for business intelligence and data analytics targeted at the SMB market. The IBM Smart Analytics System 5710 is based on IBM System x, runs Linux, and includes InfoSphere Warehouse Departmental Edition and Cognos 10 Business Intelligence Reporting and Query. The system is designed to enable partners to get their clients up and running very quickly a broad set of analytics and business intelligence capabilities. I expect that you will see a lot more of this type of packaging from IBM with collaboration from its solution business partners.
Many business executives are interested in moving to the cloud because of the potential impact on business strategy. Increasingly they are convinced that a cloud model – particularly the private cloud – will give them an increased amount of flexibility to change and manage the uncontrolled expansion of IT. In contrast, from an IT perspective, the ability to virtualize servers, storage, and I/O, is often viewed as the culmination of the cloud journey. Of course, the world is always more complicated than it appears. Cloud computing if implemented in a strategic manner can help a company experiment and change more easily. Likewise, virtualization, which may seem like an isolated and pragmatic approach, needs to be considered in context with an overall cloud computing strategy.
However, the challenge for many companies right now is how to transform their virtualized infrastructure into a private cloud that delivers on the promise of on-demand and self-service provisioning of IT resources. To make sure that business leaders gain desired cost savings and business flexibility while IT gains the optimization that can be achieved through virtualization requires an integrated strategy. At the heart of this strategy is service management of this emerging highly virtualized environment.
Why is service management important? There are good reasons why a key focus of the virtualization strategy at many companies has been on server virtualization. For example, server virtualization helps companies create a faster and more efficient IT provisioning process for users. It helps users with increased operational flexibility based on the mobility and isolation capabilities of virtual machines.
However, there is a major management problem with the typical virtualization approach in many companies. Often developers satisfy their demands for computing resources by simply creating or spinning up a new virtual machine rather than anticipating that they might not have the time or money to purchase new IT systems. IT management in the beginning allows this practice because it is easier than trying to control impatient developers. However, there is a price to be paid. Each new virtual machine image requires memory and disk resources. When the number of virtual machines grows out of control, companies end up spending more time and money on disk, storage, and memory resources than was anticipated. Lack of control means lack of management. What is the answer?
At a recent IBM systems software meeting, Helene Armitage, General Manager of Systems Software, emphasized that in order to truly transform the data center into an agent of change requires a focus on manageability. Here are the main take always from my conversations with Helene and her team.
Virtualization is not just about server consolidation. Companies need to think differently about virtualization in order to prepare for a future marked by rapid change. For example, storage virtualization can offer big benefits to companies facing explosive demand for data storage from increased use of new technologies like embedded and mobile devices.
Physical and virtual environments will need to be managed in a unified way and at the same time. Some may think of virtualization as a way of reducing management requirements. After all, with consolidated resources you should have less demand for power, energy, and space. However, management needs to be done right to be effective. it is important to consider how to manage across the platform and to include monitoring and configuration in combination with business service management – delivering IT services in a structured, governed, and optimized way.
Cloud changes the complexion of what’s important in how virtualization is approached. In the cloud, virtualization takes on a different level of complexity. If elements of virtualization including storage, server, and I/O virtualization are handled as isolated tasks, the cloud platform will not be effectively managed.
System pooling is key for managing lots of systems. Systems pooling essentially means that IT treats all resources as a unified set of shared resources to improve performance and manageability.
Enforcing standardization right from the beginning is a requirement — especially when virtualization is at the core of a cloud environment. The only way to truly manage the virtualized environment is to apply repeatable, predictable, and standardized best practices across the entire computing environment.
The greatest challenge for companies is to think differently about virtualization. Management will need to realize that virtualization is a foundational element in building a private cloud environment and therefore has to be looked at from a holistic perspective.
Can a small business act like a giant with SaaS?
It isn’t easy being a small fish in a big pond. How does a small mortgage company leverage its ability to be nimble in a competitive market? I believe that SaaS offerings are initiating a revolution with broad implications for business models and competitiveness. It is becoming increasingly clear that with the advent of sophisticated software as a service (SaaS) environments combined with process as a service, it is possible and even commonplace for a small company to be competitive. I had the opportunity to spend some time at IBM’s LotusSphere with a small mortgage company called Signature Mortgage based in Ohio. By leveraging a combination of IBM’s LotusLive platform combined with Silanis Technology’s electronic signature platform, Signature Mortgage has been able to differentiate itself in an extremely complex market dominated by Fortune 500 companies.
Mortgage brokers like Signature Mortgage are involved primarily in the origination process of the loan, bringing mortgage borrowers together with mortgage lenders who actually fund the money for the loan. Mortgage borrowers engage with mortgage brokers early in the mortgage process when a consumer looking for a mortgage often has a lot of choices. It can be hard at this early stage for a consumer to differentiate between mortgage brokers and if one mortgage broker takes several days or longer deliver the mortgage application documents for signing, the consumer might switch to another broker. Typically a consumer selects a mortgage broker based on the offered rate, term, and closing costs and then locks down the rate to protect against a rate change. The broker will facilitate a complex series of steps that must take place in order to move from this initial rate lock down to the approval and closing of the mortgage. The consumer must submit financial and personal documentation so the mortgage broker can assess the credit worthiness of the individual and appraise the property.
The process between mortgage origination and closure can take as long as 45-60 days. To make money, the mortgage broker needs to be able to collect all the required information quickly and then be in a position to close the deal with the mortgage lender before rates change. There is a lot at stake for both the mortgage broker and applicant during this time period. For example, missing a deadline for a signature can lead to cancellation of locked-in rates on a mortgage commitment, potentially leading to higher costs for a buyer or lost revenue for a mortgage broker.
Bob Catlin, President of Signature Mortgage explained to me that he was determined to use his company’s small size as an advantage by quickly implementing innovative technology that might take much longer in a large company with legacy policies and infrastructure. By streamlining and speeding up the mortgage origination process, he could differentiate from the larger banks, increase profits and have happier more satisfied customers.
Signature Mortgage has its customers log in to a portal designed to capture best practices for submitting application documentation, revising documents, receiving status reports and securing electronic signatures when required. All of the steps in the mortgage process are documented within the Silanis Technology portal that is based on IBM’s LotusLive collaboration platform. The Silanis electronic signature solution is delivered as a cloud-based service, making it attractive to a small business with a limited IT staff. By implementing Silanis Technology’s solution, Caitlin has been able to shave days off the loan origination process because there are no more last minute surprises resulting from missing data or documents and delays in arranging in-person meetings.
For Signature Mortgage, the first step in tightening the timeline for the mortgage process was to consistently lock in rates in less than 15 days. Caitlin is now working on decreasing application processing time to 24 hours and shortening the total time between mortgage application and closing down to 10-15 days. Any mortgage borrower who has dealt with requests for last minute faxes for missing documentation or errors that are discovered as the rate-lock deadline approaches will understand that decreasing the time to close from the industry average of 30-45 days is a big deal. However, speed isn’t the entire benefit; managing all information related to the mortgage applications in one centralized portal improves accuracy and accountability. Using the capabilities of LotusLive and Silanis e-signature, Signature Mortgage has been able to include features that make the online mortgage process intuitive and consistent with paper-based manual processes that are familiar to many people. For example, customers click to sign where they see a virtual sticky note similar to the process used at in-person signings. The consistency and repeatability of the process helps the company to maintain compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
With this predictable foundation, Signature Mortgage has been able to grow quickly, increase profitability and build a strong presence in the community.
I am welcoming my business partner, Judith Hurwitz as a contributor on my blog. The following is her observations about the partner ecosystem in the cloud. | 2019-04-25T06:26:14Z | https://mkaufman.wordpress.com/ |
A few weeks ago, the city council had a joint discussion with the Planning Commission which, among other things, discussed housing needs.
One of the ideas put forward was to pursue a healthy vacancy rate, which they set at five percent rather than the current rate of 0.2 percent (or 24 units). One goal was “recover” single-family home rentals by five to 10 percent – 242 to 485 of the 4850 single-family homes that are currently being rented.
The city staff calculated that it would take about 816 to 1059 new apartments to meet existing needs. The vacancy rate of five percent would represent about 574 more apartments. For some that was a low number, as they believe existing demand to be a good deal higher than that.
A hypothetical 2021-29 RHNA (Regional Housing Needs Assessment) was generated at 1066 total units.
Following yesterday’s discussion of the housing market, Dave Taormino, a real estate broker as well as a developer, forwarded to the Vanguard his letter to council and the Planning Commission regarding the projected housing needs.
Part of the problem, he argues, is that SACOG (Sacramento Area Council of Governments) does not take account of all needs.
Second, he points out, “Yolo County currently, believe it or not, has zoned land in Dunnigan, Madison, Esparto, and Knights Landing that could accommodate building homes and apartments for UC Davis students, faculty and staff. In the next year or two when the SACOG period starts for Yolo County, zoned land in Dunnigan and Knights Landing is intended to be substantially reduced according to the County Planning Department.
He adds, “Are the incoming UC Davis faculty, staff and students to be part of the ‘Davis Community’ or not? If not, then the City’s leadership should articulate and publicize its reasons and decision.
To get a handle on the pent up demand for apartments, you would really need to survey the residents of the 4850 single family homes that are currently being rented to find out the percentage of homes that are rented by family units compared to multiple individuals (students, young workers, etc.). If 50% of those homes are rented to groups of individuals, with 4-5 per home, you are looking at roughly another 11,000 residents who might prefer an apartment if it were available. Moving those hypothetical 11,000 residents to apartments would then free up 2400 single family homes for rental or sale to family units.
In general, I think it’s better to have data rather than speculation. Anecdotally, I’ve talked to a lot of students who do not like cramping into a crowded house and would prefer an apartment.
Difficult to see how one would avoid “crowding” into a brand-new apartment, while simultaneously keeping rents low for each occupant.
If one is interested in seeing if a new apartment complex “causes” renters to move, then one could possibly study the origins of the people who ultimately move into Sterling.
The students are not naive about cost. But the reality is that the apartment shortage has pushed more rentals into the neighborhoods and at great cost to the availability of single family homes not to mention noise and nuisance problems for neighbors. But hey, let’s keep avoiding trying to address these problems.
For that matter, the “much-vaunted” vacancy rate doesn’t even include the rate for rental houses (which is likely different than the apartment vacancy rate).
As reported, the city has identified 4850 units of single family home rentals and they are hoping to have a vacancy of 242 to 485 units.
David: As noted, the city doesn’t even know the current “vacancy rate” for single-family houses (or rooms within those houses).
Nor do they know if anyone would “vacate” those houses (or rooms within those houses) if new apartments (e.g., in addition to Sterling, and possibly Lincoln 40) are built. That’s a THEORY, and may have no basis in reality, for the most part.
Nor has UCD completed its LRDP process, which is truly the “elephant in the room”. That’s where energy should be focused at this point.
Obviously they’re not planning to maintain anything. Their goal is to have supply that exceeds demand to free up that supply and create a more healthy market.
They have put a lot of effort into that, but they can focus in more areas than one. This was simply a discussion of goals at a meeting.
How would anyone know what the vacancy rate is for rooms? Most are rented informally.
Ron, more housing units would lead to reduced rents, which would make those additional units more affordable to those students. It’s the lack of housing supply that is leading to increase in “mini-dorms.” And note that much of the increased demand calculated here is from non-students who will not be doubling and tripling up.
And are you proposing that homeowners near the campus should be expected to vacate so UCD student tenants can take their place? The point is that we now have an artificial cap on extensive new housing in the city that is creating a housing crisis. Don’t pretend that somehow this is an outside force that we have no control over, or that market forces are being allowed to run freely. And no one is proposing that there will be some sort of set aside of additional rental units. This is all an assessment of how the housing market in Davis should change to accommodate the different trends at work.
Richard: It would take a LOT of increased housing to make ANY difference regarding rents. I sincerely doubt that Davis will allow that to occur, regardless of what I think as an individual commenter on the Vanguard.
Please don’t try to extrapolate what you believe my “suggestions” are, regarding homeowners near the campus. However, I do believe that the forces which encourage rental houses (and complete tear-downs) near campus and downtown are somewhat unstoppable, for reasons I’ve already provided.
I don’t think anyone who would say the above has any legitimacy in discussing housing needs in Davis. That won’t stop him from continuing to bloviate on the subject, however (have at it, Ron).
This is really a simple problem of economics. If you create an artificial housing shortage, as we have in Davis, you create a number of adverse impacts for the City’s residents. Increasing the supply of apartments will lead to adjustments in how the available rental units in town are utilized (along with an adjustment in their rents). It won’t happen overnight, but as the number of available apartments increase, the pressure for students to rent single family homes will abate, freeing those spaces up for family groups.
My point above is that for us to fully understand the extent of the shortage, we need to collect the data, and then I presented a hypothetical example to demonstrate the potential significance. Ron doesn’t like data because it tends to negate his firmly held opinions.
The “city” is not in need of more apartment and rental housing.
Seems like students are still not planning to confront UCD, regarding their plans. (And, are instead expecting the city to react.) Wonder how long that strategy will work.
Of course, you have continually belittled and downplayed efforts by others who have been involved with encouraging housing on-campus. So, I’m not sure that you’re one to be lecturing others regarding “legitimacy”.
Perhaps you should continue focusing your efforts on blocking parking lots for key hardware stores, while simultaneously touting “private-property” rights and deriding “noisy neighbors” that “interfere with those supposed rights.
What is the reason and what difference does it make to this discussion?
What is interesting is that on one hand, he argues we don’t know the data (“As noted, the city doesn’t even know the current “vacancy rate” for single-family houses (or rooms within those houses) and on the other hand he argues that we already know the answer and that we don’t need more apartment and rental housing (““The “city” is not in need of more apartment and rental housing.””). Which is it?
David: The “reason” has to do with the definition of a “city”.
Of course, anyone currently living in the city (by definition) already has housing of some type.
Ron will argue both sides of an argument and does so regularly. There is no consistency in his arguments, only a consistency in his posting pattern and the frequency of his mischaracterizing of other people’s positions (plus bringing up subjects of no relevance in order to fit his needs). When he has nothing cogent to add to the conversation, he attacks others with false statements and innuendo. The funniest part is when no one will engage with him, he simply argues with himself.
The real question here, David, is why is he allowed to continue posting anonymously when he consistently violates your stated guidelines? I don’t care to silence his voice, but if he is going to act as he does, his comments should be posted under his real name (first and last).
Mark: Simply a trolling statement. Not worth responding to, further.
This is why some lose interest in commenting, on the Vanguard. Why waste time arguing with people who don’t matter, and are really only interested in attacking others who “get in the way” of their agenda?
I post under my real name Ron.
So, who is the Troll?
David, I agree with Mark’s sentiment on this issue. I have suggested an alternative approach, such as limiting the number of anonymous posts per month. An anonymous poster can decide on what issues anonymity is important, and which are not. No one should be given carte blanche on all issues.
Don must be on vacation. Normally, he doesn’t “allow” discussions regarding the Vanguard’s commenting policies/moderation.
LOL, everyone on here is allowed carte blanche on all issues. You too can post until the cows come home and nobody will stop you.
Seems like there is a reasonable middle ground between 0.2 percent vacancy and endless development and sprawl.
It’s illogical to advocate for a “partial” accommodation of the potential housing market. As long as there are any restrictions on growth/development, there will always be those who believe that they were “prevented” from living in a given area (or, that it could have at least been “cheaper”).
Suggest that you re-focus your articles on the LRDP, as you had begun to do so a few weeks ago. That’s the “elephant in the room”, which requires attention.
That’s a bit of sleight of hand there.
At some point, the city is going to have to decide if they want to continue to “jump” (and ask “how high”?) whenever UCD changes its plans.
There’s plenty of development-minded individuals who are willing to accommodate “how high” (and “how wide”), without caring about the impacts on current residents, the city as a whole, and the city’s finances.
Ron, which “city” will be deciding to act?
You seem to be arguing that current “city” residents should be allowed to close the gates behind them and say “no more.” That’s the ultimate in exclusionary polices, and in fact, is prohibited under state law. This isn’t just a “student-only” housing crisis–it extends across the UCD workforce and others who live in this community or would like to live here. The city legally has to decide how to accommodate growth in population. Your position is elitist and tribal.
As for impacts on city finances, competent citizen commission members have found that the city needs a combination of business and residential growth to become fiscally solvent.
And I pointed this out to Stan Forbes a decade ago–the only real solution to affordable housing is to increase the supply of housing. (One could argue that raising the lower strata of incomes could also alleviate this, but the city has no control over that.) That probably means more development, but if we’re smart about it, we can do it right this time, avoiding past mistakes.
You’re using the same old arguments that have been trotted out for some time, now. Davis isn’t “excluding” anybody, and is in fact growing quite rapidly, still. Davis is meeting (and exceeding) its fair share growth requirements, administered by SACOG. In addition, Davis has an Affordable housing program, with some rather generous upper-income limits.
I strongly disagree that ANY city must forever respond to all potential market demand. There’s plenty of cities and areas around that do just that (e.g., Natomas, Elk Grove, etc.). Is that your “solution”?
UC Davis isn’t the only driver here and the city has hardly “jumped” – prior to Sterling, what was the last market rate student housing that was approved? It was at least a decade ago.
A sizable percentage of the Davis market is rent-by-room, so “normal” is a subjective statement.
This quote sums it up perfectly. Who gets to live here? The current decisions quite clearly say that new families are not welcome to join the Davis community. The problem is, we exist. We are here. The University continuous to hire new faculty and staff.
If the old-guard would like to effectively prohibit the young and new and non-wealthy from living here, I would very much like to hear an articulation of this.
That way, when highways 113 and 80 are consistently gridlocked and the university can no longer recruit top job candidates, we will at least know why.
I have never understood how there can be such disdain for the university that defines the town. With out UC Davis, the town of Davis would be no different from Dixon or Winters. It is not the Universities job to build housing for its faculty and staff. The employer provided housing model ended many decades ago. When will Davis realize that the university is part of what makes it great and that denying new-comers a place to live is going to hurt the city?
Regarding what UCD does, why not take up the concern with them (e.g., if you feel that West Village won’t be sufficient for employees)?
Regarding “young vs. old”, or “wealthy vs. non-wealthy”, I NEVER made such arguments, regardless of my age or lack-of wealth. What a divisive allegation to bring up.
I am not taking the issue up with UC Davis because I do not believe that it is their responsibility to house their faculty and staff.
The faculty and staff housing in West Village will help, but it is going to be a small number of units compared to the 2500 that are estimated to be needed.
I understand that you don’t directly don’t make arguments about young vs old and wealthy vs. non-wealthy. I am stating that the real estate and rental markets do exclude those who are not-wealthy and don’t own a house from living in Davis.
Rebecca: I’d strongly disagree with your opinion that UCD is not responsible for the needs that it is creating. Do you feel the same way regarding their (lack-of) adequate plans to house students (e.g., resulting from their increased pursuit of International students, who can pay more than $40K per year to attend)?
Regarding new housing in the city (as an alternative to West Village), is the Cannery not suitable for you? Chiles Ranch? Various other developments (“new” and “pre-owned”)? I doubt that the situation will get much better than it is right now (in terms of new developments). However, prices may start leveling off and/or dropping. Real estate is always cyclical in nature – and we’ve been in an upward trend for several years, already.
Again, there are Affordable housing programs in place, to assist those in need. Some have relatively generous upper-income limits.
One thing I think we do have to figure out – is it to Davis’ advantage to have in effect a city of 10,000 right outside the city limits but whose residents are not immediately connected to the city? I’ve seen this elsewhere and I think it’s too our detriment, but in effect, that’s what you are proposing.
David: Some might argue that it’s also not good to have a situation in which apartment-dwellers aren’t subject to a proportional amount of taxes and fees, compared to single-family dwellers/owners.
All of those people will use City services, but will not be paying property taxes (and parcel taxes) to fund them. They will also be using the School District’s services, but will not be paying property taxes to help fund them either. This is what I have been arguing for some time now, that having housing on campus makes the City more expensive for City residents since we are the ones paying for the services that these extra folks are utilizing. This is especially true for faculty, staff, and graduate students, all of whom often come with families.
Mark: Yeah, you’ve been arguing that for some time, but it doesn’t mean that it’s any more accurate than the other times you’ve posted it.
Most college students living on campus don’t have children attending Davis schools. The campus pays for most costs associated with campus housing, including police, fire, water/sewer, etc.) We’ve been over this too many times to count, and it’s frankly become boring.
UCD has 5,300 acres, and is still reluctant to build sufficient housing. That ought to tell you something about costs and responsibilities associated with housing.
Add that up and you get more than 10,000 housed on campus, probably a lot near and around West Village which is the start of a city outside of the city that is unconnected to the city.
David: I think you’ve got this wrong. Another commenter said that UCD had “no” responsibilities, regarding faculty and staff (despite UCD’s plans for faculty/staff housing at West Village).
You are avoiding the math here – what is the impact of a city outside of a city?
David: You’re the one who apparently has a theory.
I’ve already provided information regarding the “alternative” (in which apartment dwellers are not subject to the same costs and fees as single-family dwellers).
Why do you keep avoiding the question I’ve posed?
David: I’m not avoiding it. I’m not sure I have a specific response to such a broad question.
Why are you bringing it up? Do you have some theory you’d like to share?
Also, why are you bringing up some type of concern now, after all of your (earlier) advocacy regarding increasing the amount of housing on campus?
Ron: I do feel like UC Davis has a responsibility to house more of its students. I do not think that it is has a responsibility to house its faculty and staff, who are likely to live in Davis long term.
The affordable housing programs are great. But the demand far exceeds the available units.
I would love to live at any of the housing developments that you have listed, but it just isn’t affordable, even for families with an income higher than the city’s median. The minimum price for Chiles Ranch is the ‘high 500s’ and the Cannery is much higher than that.
A quick google search told me that the median home price is $619,000 and the median household income is $57,454. Do the math. That is why the Davis excludes new-comers who are not wealthy.
Rebecca: I realize that there are limitations regarding the Affordable housing program, but I am not intimately familiar with them. The other day, another commenter confirmed that an individual making $60K/year would qualify for one such program.
Of course, federally-backed loan programs can help first-time homebuyers, in particular.
In any case, I sincerely doubt that Davis will “build its way” toward significantly cheaper housing (regardless of what I think). However, it does seem like we are headed toward some kind of market correction.
My information about Chiles ranch is just what I saw on a sign advertising the new housing. I am not sure how accurate it is. West Village family housing doesn’t exist yet, and when it is built the owners will be selected in a lottery system and would be required to leave their house if they lost their University employment. Like I said, the affordable housing program is great, but there is much much more demand than units. A family with a median income could qualify, but there would be a very long or impossible wait. Federally-backed loan programs can help first time home-buyers by reducing the required down-payment, but that is no help for the monthly mortgage payment.
I completely understand that Davis is not an exception to the overall housing crisis that is happening all around the state. But, the difference between Davis and many of the Bay Area cities is that Davis has the physical room to grow. I do not support sprawl, but as Dave said, there is a lot of room in between a 0.2% vacancy rate and sprawl. I think that the logical solution is dense, affordable, well-planned, housing on annexed farm land next to the city. There has got to be a happy in-between place between refusing to annex any land and creating an artificial housing crisis of this magnitude. Davis is at no risk of becoming Elk Grove.
Shouldn’t the goal be to reach the equilibrium between availability and sprawl?
In response, I wouldn’t describe a choice by the city to save adjacent farmland as an “artificial” housing crisis.
The vacancy rate is driven almost entirely by UCD.
Every aspect of the Davis housing market is driven almost entirely by UCD. Every aspect of the city’s economy is driven almost entirely by UCD.
Nor do I think that sacrificing additional farmland will make ANY significant difference regarding the cost of housing.
The only entity that can legally reserve housing for populations associated with UCD is UCD itself.
Farmland varies in quality and conservation of prime agricultural land is a specific goal of both the county and the city. If we get to the point of annexation for development, you’d be looking at the heavier-soil areas such as north of the Covell Village site, parts of Covell Village site itself, the land around the hospital, and land along Hwy 113. Seems to me we’re a long way from that consideration, but conserving prime ag land is a value expressed in the county general plan, and I believe also in the city’s general plan.
What is important to understand is that UCD’s massive negligence in providing the massive need for on-campus housing, like the other UC’s are, is the biggest problem responsible driving up the cost of housing in Davis, rental or ownership. UCD’s negligence is the main issue causing the cascade of housing problems, not only for Davis, but now for surrounding cities like Woodland, Winters, Dixon and West Sacramento. UCD’s inaction and irresponsibility to provide on-campus housing needed is where your concerns should be directed.
I agree with you that UC Davis should build more student housing for undergraduates. Most (or all?) people here agree with that. I use every opportunity to vocalize this to the University. But all of my comments have been directed towards the housing needs of UC Davis’ work-force, which this article highlights.
I appreciate that you understand that a major part of the housing concerns is UCD’s lack of action to produce the on-campus housing needs they were supposed to, but have failed to provide so far for their own growth for almost three decades. To make matters worse, they have also significantly increased their student population, growth, including adding 4,500 non-residents to extract triple tuition from them, without building at least 50% on campus housing to accommodate so much student population growth, like the other UC campus’ have committed to.
The other UC campuses are stepping up, so why not UCD which is the largest campus with over 5,300 acres, but historically has has provide the least amount of student housing? It is inexcusable and UCD has to be held accountable for their negligence and the impacts they are causing their students, faculty, staff as well as the Davis community and surrounding cities like Woodland, Winters, Dixon and West Sacramento.
So the bottom line is that UCD has continued to fail to provide the housing needs for their own students which is causing enormous impacts and fallout. UCD’s stalling and inaction to provide the needed on-campus housing for their own needs is an enormous disservice to their students as well to the Davis community and neighboring cities. In turn, UCD’s lack of on-campus housing is directly causing enormous pressure and impacts on the City of Davis’ housing which is driving up housing costs, as well as pushing local workers and families out of Davis housing.
It is unfair and disgraceful that UCD continues to under-serve its students, faculty, and staff, by under-planning, and clearly trying to avoid building the far more on-campus student housing needed to help resolve the housing needs in Davis.
Eileen, I completely agree with you! I see what an enormous disservice UC Davis is doing to its students, employees and community by not providing housing. This is 100% apparent and completely inexcusable. But there are two entities that have the power to fix this, one is the University, and one is the city of Davis. I believe that the University should house the students and the city should (at least try) to ensure that there is available housing for the workforce of Davis. We agree that this is a massive problem. But I’m sick of the commentary being on blaming the University when the city is not doing nearly enough to help the housing shortage.
I just want to see the end of blame game. We have a major housing shortage. The solution is to build more housing. The university should do it and the city should do it. The assigning of blame is not productive.
If anyone knows of an effective way to communicate these concerns to the University, I would love to know the details. Other than the occasional survey or working group I do not. I have made inquiries at the staff senate, the student senate and the LRDP and have been unsuccessful.
In light of all of the developments under construction or imminently-planned within the city – including Sterling, which could have (and should have) been designed to accommodate workforce housing, I fail to understand comments such as the quote above.
Thanks for the information Don! I might be too late, but it can’t hurt to try.
If anyone knows of an effective way to communicate these concerns to the University, I would love to know the details.
However, the EIR will be posted this fall and finalized this winter. So the time for your input may well be past.
Again, my appreciation that you recognize UCD’s responsibility in this situation. But my point is not about blame but is about explaining that the solution to this housing situation starts with UCD stepping up to provide far more on-campus housing for its own housing needs. It is a domino effect that UCD’s enormous lack of on-campus housing transfers those impacts onto the City and surrounding cities.
UCD is currently pushing 71% of its 35,000+ students off-campus which is the biggest driver of the housing problem. This is inexcusable particularly since UCD has ove 5,300 acres and has historically has provided the least amount of on-campus housing of the UC’s. UCD needs to stop its negligent behavior regarding student housing and they need to step-up now during their UCD LRDP update to provide far more on-campus housing.
Ron, it is a matter of scale. This article estimated 6100 more units will be needed in the future. Sterling is the largest housing project happening now and it is 198 units. The city is not doing enough.
Rebecca: Not sure if your comment was actually directed to me, or Eileen. But, I think you’re inappropriately “mixing” units and bedrooms. Each bedroom can house at least one occupant.
In any case, you have it backwards. UCD is not doing enough to offset the demand that it’s creating. You’re barking up the wrong tree.
On a somewhat related note, did you read the article I posted below, regarding a “bubble” in college enrollment (across the country), which is now starting to burst?
Interesting article regarding factors contributing to an overall decline, in college enrollment.
Interesting, but there is no near-term decline in UCD’s enrollment. We know what the enrollment will be through the next several years here.
Don: That was certainly a quick response . Did you even have time to read the article?
We know what UCD “hopes” enrollment will be, in the next few years. Not sure what they hope for beyond that.
And, any housing that is built (on-campus, or off) will likely take a few years.
In the long term, can you imagine what a disaster it would be for towns like Davis, if there’s a real shift in demand for this type of (ever-more-costly) education?
David: The article also describes some fundamental (perhaps permanent) changes in society (such as lower birth rates, compared to prior years). The article describes this as something akin to a leaking balloon. It’s affecting private universities more, at this point. However, it’s also impacting enrollment at public universities.
This isn’t the only article dealing with the “college bubble”. However, I just happened upon it, today. | 2019-04-24T01:10:46Z | https://www.davisvanguard.org/2017/07/underestimating-housing-needs/ |
My issue is similar to other threads I have seen here. I am a on a grandfathered Simple Choice NA plan with 10 GB of high speed data. I am not close to using all of my data. My data speeds are always around 10 Mbps (or higher) download and 8 Mbps upload directly on my phone. (On the SpeedTest I just ran I got 25.5 download and 8.11 upload.) However, when I USB tether to my laptop (or desktop), data speeds drop to about 0.3 Mbps download and 0.1 Mbps upload.
Can anyone from T-Mobile solve this for me?
Latest reply on Apr 1, 2019 1:09 PM by d.t.
Re: Why is my tethering speed so slow?
Yikes, d.t.. Any issue that persists over the course of a year and a half is one that's lasted about one year, five months, and three weeks too long.
Assisting with SMHS or tethering issues over our forum is a little tough, because we don't have a secure platform for account access to review the particulars. It sounds like you've reached out for assistance a ton of times (which again, shouldn't be necessary!). In this situation, my best recommendation would be to reach out to our T-Force team via DM on Twitter or Message on Facebook. You've taken such effort to articulate the issue (very well!) -- you can copy and paste what you've posted here! What we need to do now is take a look at the previous tickets filed and re-open and/or escalate them since the issue still isn't resolved.
Regarding the follow-up, I sincerely apologize. Since we don't know exactly how long engineering will take to review each individual ticket, when we file one we should be scheduling a set time and date to follow back up with you. If at the time of that appointment the ticket still hasn't been returned, we should set another follow-up appointment. At no time should you be left wondering when you'll hear from us -- that is not our customer service standard! Another good benefit of interacting with T-Force is that you can return to the same message thread to check in on your ticket status with any T-Force rep at any point -- so that will hopefully ease some of the issue there.
Question 1. Do you have these issues anytime you tether or only at specific times?
Answer: I have been having this issue for about the last one and a half years. Prior to 1.5 years ago, tethering speeds were fantastic on T-Mobile. During the last one and a half years, every time I have tried USB tethering, I have had very slow download speeds (such as a fraction of 1 Mbps).
Question 2. have you ever tethered to another device other than your laptop and run into the same issue?
Answer: See my original post. I have had consistently terrible download speeds on USB tethering with all my T-Mobile lines, on many different laptops, and several different phones.
Question 3. how may bars you have on your phone when you try and connect?
Answer: I have 4 or 5 bars at this location -- usually 5. However, I also ruled out a bad mobile network data connection by the following observation: my data speeds are always around 10 Mbps (or higher) download and 8 Mbps upload directly on my phone. (On the SpeedTest I just ran on the phone I got 25.5 download and 8.11 upload.) However, when I USB tether to my laptop (or desktop), data speeds drop to about 0.3 Mbps download and 0.1 Mbps upload. This happens with no change in the position or location of the phone and no change in bars.
Question 4. Have you put your sim in another phone to see if the issue still happens?
Answer: During the time I have been having this problem I have used multiple T-Mobile branded phones including an LG G5, Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. I received new SIM cards with the Galaxy phones and these new phones with new SIM cards did not improve or change the slow USB tethering speeds.
Question 5. Have you tried connecting through your WIFI or do you always do it with a USB cord?
Answer: Here are some speed test results I just completed. I ran these tests over the last hour using two different laptops. I tested both USB tethering and WiFi tethering.
As you can see 100% of the USB tethering tests have unacceptably slow download speeds. The WiFi tethered speeds are also typically just as slow, but in these tests I occasionally see results that show acceptable speeds. A week ago I was getting good speeds with WiFi tethering for about 10 minutes straight, and then they suddenly dropped to a fraction of 1 Mbps and stay at this crawl the rest of the day.
To be clear, all these speed tests were done with my T-Mobile branded Galaxy S8. I used two different laptops and I tested by USB tethering and WiFi tethering. I used different servers during the tests to eliminate the possibility that any one server was slow. The above results are essentially the same as the results I have been seeing for the last year. USB tethering speeds are always slow. WiFi tethering can sometimes be better, but they are mostly very slow too.
I just ran another speed test using WiFi tethering. 0.34 Mbps download and the upload test timed out (so that's a 0 upload speed). Sad.
This site provides some good data.
Soooo, we definitely need to have another ticket filed. And I am sure that's absolutely not want you want to hear since you have not found resolution in them in the past, buuuut. The resolution for this lies 100% in a trouble ticket of some sort.
What I would suggest is reaching out to T-Force and linking to this thread so they access to both your account, and the information you have posted here. We aren't able to access accounts through here which is why we are limited to what we can offer, but they have online access to your account unlike us, and they will also have access to all the information you have here!
There will also be written record of all the interactions you have so there is a solid paper trail of what has been promised. You can find T-Force through FB or Twitter, there are links in my signature!
I reached out to T-Force on June 20th. A ticket was opened. I provided them with even more information than I provided here. Unfortunately, it has been a waste of time. Nobody even asked me any good questions. All I did was continually repeat what I already said here in the first post.
T-Mobile has a really bad policy that nobody can speak directly to a support engineer. I cannot speak directly to a support engineer and apparently neither can T-Force. They can open tickets, but nobody can have a conversation with a support engineer. In my T-Force conversation, people come and go and I am continually asked the same questions over and over with nobody going beyond the basics to actually investigate the details. Nobody ever asked me to run a traceroute or a ping or anything else.
On June 24th one person told me a new ticket had been opened on one of my other lines. Then on June 29th another person told me that ticket had never been opened. It's like a broken record that repeats the same thing that has been going on for the last 18 months I have been trying to get this solved. I'm really ready to give up on T-Mobile.
Thank you Lauren. I received your private message. I prefer to reply here. Unfortunately, my experience with T-Force was just as unsatisfactory as my prior experiences with telephone support over the last 18 months. It started off well, with a T-Force support rep telling me, "It looks like we have not met our commitment on this for you in the past, but I am determined to get this resolved for you. Not only that, I am very curious myself as to what is causing this! We are getting into my weekend, but I would like to go ahead and set a follow up for Sunday evening when I am back in the office it that is okay." Unfortunately, that rep simply dropped out of sight after a few days without seeing it through to any kind of resolution. I then had to start the conversation over with new people which meant answering the same basic questions I have answered dozens of times over the last 18 months. After doing this for several new people in that same conversation, I realized I was, once again, wasting my time.
Around that time forum member landonloco posted his solution of using a 3rd party tethering app. I tried that and it does indeed work for me too. After running hundreds of tests on my own over the last 18 months, this recent experiment with a 3rd party tethering app makes it clear that T-Mobile's data management policies are the problem. Therefore, I'm dropping out of the official support channel and I'll address this on my own the way the other person did. Clearly T-Mobile does not intend to fix this because tethering is severely deprioritized by intentional policy.
There is a level of dishonestly here. I have been consistently told by T-Force support reps (and phone support reps) that I should expect better tethering speeds. However, somebody should have told me 18 months ago that T-Mobile's network management policies lead directly to unusable tethering in situations as described by landonloco in this thread.
I want to add that not only have I been a T-Mobile customer for more than 6 years straight, I have been a vocal promoter of T-Mobile to all my friends and followers. But I am extremely disappointed in T-Mobile's position on tethering. I realize economic factors are driving this, but the policy-makers are being short-sighted in a way that is decidedly not "Un-carrier"-like. T-Mobile is as bad or worse than every other carrier when it comes to tethering and mobile data. (Example: your MiFi device is consistently reviewed as much worse than AT&T's or Verizon's.) Those two features are the two most important for me and, I would guess, for most thought leaders in the mobile space. T-Mobile needs to wake up to this problem and fix it in a hurry.
I responded to you in PM as well, but I definitely understand your hesitancy to want to reach back out to them. I still went ahead and made sure I passed this thread along to them for feedback, your experience is certainly not what we have come to expect from T-Force or any of our representatives.
I'm unfortunately at a bit of a disadvantage since I'm unable to collect secure account info through a public forum and thus unable to review what's transpired and any notes.
I can't entirely speak to your whole situation without all the pieces, but it certainly does sound like there is something going on. If I wind up with more information or able to find anything, I will certainly return to this post and publish any findings.
I just switched to TMo on Tuesday (two days ago) after 10 years with ATT. I was ok with the tethering speed being only 3g, but I am getting exactly the same numbers that you are getting. With my TMo branded S8, I am getting anywhere between 7 and 25 Mbps download, but while tethering my Surface Pro 3 through this phone, I am getting between .22 and .52 Mbps! Good grief, that is really bad. Not sure I can do this. I know I don't want to go back to ATT and I won't go to Verizon, so I am really over a barrel.
Interesting that your speeds show the same pattern as mine. I think @landonloco has the right idea in his post of Jun 29, 2018 1:42 PM in this thread.
I was thinking I would need to add the extra "high-speed" tethering for my line (One Plus plan?), but apparently that doesn't make a bit of difference, if I am reading your issue correctly.
timmyb from what I have read, adding the extra "high-speed" tethering has worked for some people but others still have these super slow tethering speeds even with that paid feature. Even on plans that support "high-speed" tethering, that traffic is severely deprioritized.
I think my slow tethering speeds result from an overall network management policy that is independent of one's plan. But if your plan doesn't support high speed tethering, then that's a different issue.
If I were you, I would probably try adding the extra "high-speed" tethering feature first and see what happens. Personally, I would not have minded paying T-Mobile an extra amount of money if they could provide good tethering service at a fair price.
Sounds like a good plan to try adding it first. I'm going to wait until after this holiday weekend as I'm sure the lines are a bit taxed by the tourists in this town. Not enough to create this much of a slowdown but I want to remove that variable.
DT can you add an APN in your connection settings?
Because after weeks of internet searches I found a solution for my galaxy s8+. does this form have pm?
Yes, add me to your connections, then you can send me a message through this forum. Looking forward to hearing about your solution.
It says you have to be following me and excep my following invite to send messages.
phamos1 I'd be very interested to try your solution. I've sent the follow request. Thanks.
Thank you. I"m going to try the same. I hope my "after" results are as good as yours.
After my initial frustration, I decided to bump up the plan to the paid option. It worked instantly. Kind of disappointing that I need to pay for it, but at least I'm not banging my head against the wall trying to figure it out. I am usually only in my "summer home" (which has very poor WiFi availability) for about three months, so at least I don't have to pay for this year round.
I have to disagree. What's really frustrating, and what this thread is about, is those of us who are paying for the best tethering T-Mobile offers and are not getting it.
Anyway, I am happy that tethering is working well for some people, but I am just taking exception with that we should call frustrating. As I said, the real frustration is when you pay for it and you still don't get it.
I think what makes it particularly difficult is, there is no set standard for what the terms "3G", "High-Speed", etc., mean. I guess I'm just resigned to the fact that "unlimited 3G mobile hotspot" is (unfortunately) really slow. I'm hoping that the competition of the other big 2 will force them to upgrade that in the coming year.
Either way, I hope that your long ordeal reaches some kind of successful resolution, and soon!
Now, at the store, the employee went into the back and came out with an LG-V30. I had my Samsung Galaxy S8 with me. We did multiple speed tests of USB tethering with their V-30 and my S8 right there in the store. The results were the same as what I have written here. Both phones showed really good speeds when not tethered. Both phones slowed to a crawl (i.e., 0.2 Mbps up and down speeds) when tethered. I took pictures of the store employee, their phone and the speed test results to prove to T-Force that this problem is not limited to something being wrong with my phone. Whatever is causing this has nothing to do with my lines or my phones or anything else related specifically to me.
I would LOVE to hear what they have to say now, given this new evidence.
I also have been experiencing a baffling issue with tethering speeds for months now. Being on the unlimited ONE plan, with regular download speeds of 50mbps or more, I get a maximum of about 0.6mbps up and down when tethering. My roommate on my same plan as me with the same phone and options gets 60mbps down and 30mbps or better on tethered devices in the same exact locations around the house and area. My local store even swapped SIM cards for me and did a warranty exchange on my phone, as they were confounded as well, and the issue still persists. I also have run multiple tests after doing a factory reset on both my old and new phones, which is incredibly inconvenient, just to rule out software/app interference.
The only thing I can possibly think of at this point is there must be something screwed up with my plan configuration. Is there anyone at T-Mobile who can solve this? I don't know what else to do at this point on my end - I've tried literally everything.
Please keep us updated. I would love to know what you find out. I still do not have a solution.
I had the same issue of POOR tethering speeds right from the git-go...I've been a T-Mobile customer for 6 years. T-mobile throttles back the unlimited ONE plan and really is NOT unlimited. They have lied to us. It is definitely NOT unlimited. They finally told me the 4G speeds have caps for tethering. The initial ONE plan ($15/month extra then unlimited regular data/phone/text is currently a 20 GB cap. They also offer a International ONE upgrade to that ($25/month extra), but that is only good to 50 GB. Once those levels are reached the tethering is immediately throttled back. You then have to wait until your next billing cycle. It took me 3 weeks and about 6 to 7 phone calls to finally find someone that had answers. I feel like it's false advertising or pretty dang close to that.
I am having this same issue. I have the best plan option available and yet when I tether I get .35 mb per second. Has anyone come up with at least a work around instead of expecting t-mobile to do something because it seems obvious they don't want to fix it. they clearly just don't care.
I still do not have a solution.
I'm new to T-Mobile and im going through the same trouble with slowtethering speeds. I have the One plan but it seems that the speed is way below normal. I'm trying to download an app of 5gb amd the download time is over 25 hours! I don't know if upgrading to One Plus will make a difference.
I recently changed to the 55+ plan.
I have an iPhone x, and my LTE download speed on the phone is 155mbs.
I just tested my tethering speed connected to my MacBook, and the download speed is 482Kbs. What happened? They used to be roughly the same.
Am I being throttled for being old?
Another annoyed and upset user here with crappy tethering speeds. I am paying for the tethering option on one of my lines. But I have been throttled I get full 3g outside of throttling but when I run from the computer 1mbps download and 0.38mpbs upload. Several support calls and tickets later NO HELP AT ALL!!!! I get the same questions, give the same answers and just get more annoyed with the fact that this company cannot get tethering to work. What I need is very simple.
3. Someone who is there when I call not hours later.
Look I'm willing to pay but if the service is not there it's time to cancel. I have explained that to reps and still get nothing.
I've noticed the same issue since March of this year when I fist got my t-mobile sim. It's a business plan so it's supposed to be unlimited . I'm glad this has been covered extensively on this thread.
I see a post suggesting APN but has anyone had luck with it ?
The T‑Mobile ONE and T‑Mobile Essentials plans include tethering at a maximum of 600 kbps. Customers on these plans may choose to activate an add-on feature for a set amount of tethering data at up to 4G.
After learning this, I opted to add the 4G tethering to my plan. $15 a month for 20GB HotSpot data. I now get 20 Mbps, or better.
Even with the additional $15 a month, I'm still paying $90 a month less than I did with AT&T, so .
It appears TM doesn't want it's customers tethering and using a lot of bandwidth so they act like there is no solution. We can fix this problem. We should all boycot tmobile and leave until they change their methods and stop giving us the runaround with useless troubleshooting and wasting our time.
They are obviously sandbagging because they dont want us to use it. Im on the lookout for another solution. Tmobile has been good for me for years but now they arent giving me what I pay for.
I still don't have a solution to this issue or any other support issue I have opened with T-Mobile. My phone bill is over $200/mo and I can't even use tethering, DIGITS doesn't work properly and support won't ever follow up with me like they promise.
This issue is still a problem for me, T-Mobile. One of the trouble shooting steps I did about six months ago when I was in a T-Mobile store seeking help on this issue was to purchase a tablet and a new line of service. The specific reason for purchasing the tablet and line of service was for tethering. As a trouble-shooting step, this would allow us rule out the possibility that the tethering issues I have been facing were related to my devices. So I bought a new device with a new line of service.
I have been trying to get adequate tethering speeds on that new device since I purchased it six months ago. No such luck. My tethering speeds remain about 0.3 Mbps download and 0.1 Mbps upload on average. So today I canceled that line of service. I still have nine other lines with T-Mobile, but if you don't offer me a workable tethering solution, I will take all 9 of those lines to another carrier. | 2019-04-22T02:47:46Z | https://support.t-mobile.com/thread/146152 |
For many successful entrepreneurs, time is money.
This means that every second counts. From the second you wake up in the morning to when you hit the pillow at night, you need to use every moment you get to be working towards your goals, not away from them.
You may still be fresh in the game, with gusto, grit, and motivation on board. However, it takes more than a positive attitude to become a successful entrepreneur.
Let’s take a look at some expert tips on how to stay focused and increase your productivity. Before you know it, you’ll experience success as an entrepreneur.
We live in a world that overloads us with information. The wealth of information online is overwhelming – where do you even begin?
Instead of staying up until all hours of the morning reading everything you can get your hands on, why not trying to take in this knowledge in increments?
Try only consuming content that’s directly related to the next task on your list. If it doesn’t relate, then it’s not relevant to your productivity at that moment.
First up, you need to recognize what it is you prioritize in both your personal and professional life. Once you’ve done this, you need to rank these priorities in your calendar and forget about anything else that isn’t on this list.
One great way to prioritize and delegate your tasks for the day is by getting an assistant. Having someone who is organizing your priorities for you can be one of the best ways to save time and stay organized while reducing your stress levels at the same time.
Delegating the prioritizing of your time frees you up for what you need to get done.
When you’re just beginning down the road of being an entrepreneur, it can be easy to procrastinate. Often, we do this because we are afraid of failing, or don’t know exactly where to start.
The best way to get over this? Just start. Most entrepreneurs never really start, which means that most great business ideas fail before they’ve even been given a chance.
You need to stop waiting for the perfect time – trust me, there isn’t one. They’ll always be an excuse. Remember, you can’t finish something if you don’t even start it.
Attention management is the new time management. This means that how you manage your time is directly related to how much you’re capable of staying focused on the task at hand.
This means that if you’ve delegated time to a task but keep switching between this task and others, the end result will most likely be different than your expectations.
Instead, try to control your attention and give the current task undivided attention. The end result will exceed your expectations – plus, you’ll save time you can give to other tasks afterward.
A great way to manage your tasks for the day is to write them down. You may already be familiar with keeping a diary on your phone or in a book – but sometimes this isn’t efficient enough.
Try using 3×5 notecards to write down what you intend to get done that day. On the back, you can add additional tasks that you didn’t think about when you were planning your day the night before.
At the end of the day, look at your notecard and what you got done. This will give you a great idea of how you prioritize your day, and what you can improve.
Focus is one of the keys to becoming a successful entrepreneur. So how do you do this on a day-to-day basis?
Like prioritizing, you can think about what your top impact activities are going to be for the day. As you go through your day, stay focused on doing these and just these – don’t let other seemingly small tasks sneak in to fill the gaps.
You’d be surprised how easy it is to let other enticing activities dictate your day. Keep your mind focused on those impact activities.
Who says that your assistant needs to be in the room with you the whole time, taking notes? The beauty of the internet these days means you can employ someone online who isn’t necessarily there with you.
They can achieve plenty of tasks their end that you would rather not be doing yourself. By outsourcing everything you shouldn’t be doing yourself, you can clear your mind and schedule of the small tasks that end up getting in the way of what you should be doing.
Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, you’ll be familiar with the rat race we live in. Keeping a business idea afloat isn’t easy – it requires a lot of hard work and high levels of productivity.
We already know that time is money. However, pacing yourself is also essential when you’re go go go all the time. If you’re going full throttle out of the gate 100 percent of the time, you’ll end up burning out, and you won’t be able to get anything done.
Know when to take time out and relax a little bit. The more rested you are, the more productive you’ll be when you’re working.
The less you have on your mind, the more clearly you’ll be able to think. When you think clearly, you can stay focused and maintain a high level of productivity.
Using a diary or an online tool is a great way to keep many parts of your business idea out of your head and on paper instead. You can reference them when you need to and stop those thoughts from swirling around unnecessarily, keeping you awake at night.
Categorizing your notes can also help you feel less weight mentally.
As we’ve already talked about, life as an entrepreneur is often a hundred miles an hour, if not more. You’ll continuously be either thinking about or doing the next task that you’ve prioritized. This type of lifestyle makes it hard to take time out and look in at your business idea objectively.
However, the most important thing an entrepreneur can do is stop and think. Try taking time out and asking yourself questions like am I being who I most want to be? Anything I want to do differently tomorrow?
This sounds like a sin, we know. However, no successful entrepreneur gets better at what they do without giving themselves time to explore, think and create.
Try implementing a couple of hours each week into your schedule for unstructured time. This time is for you, to do whatever you want to. When you’re always busy and have no reflection time, you max out your mind.
This can lead to more cognitive errors, which leads to a decline in productivity. In order to be thinking proactively about the future of your business, you need to set aside time to do so.
It wasn’t so long ago that computers were a tool for productivity. Now, they’re a tool designed mostly for distraction. While you may use your computer a lot in your business, you also need to know when to put it down and walk away.
Try to arrange your workspace in a way that doesn’t put your computer as the centerpiece. Bring it out when you need it for work, but put it away again when you don’t need it. Don’t leave it as a temptation to become sidetracked from the task at hand.
How productive do you feel in the morning? Most people feel their most productive when they first wake up: it’s a new day, a clean slate, and you’ve got a renewed energy for your tasks.
This is why it’s a good idea to do the most essential things in the morning. As the day continues, we tend to slacken a bit when it comes to willpower, and the decisions we make in the afternoon aren’t as well calculated.
If you’ve got the essential stuff out of the way, you don’t have to worry too much about error.
You’ve heard the saying before – if something’s not broken, why fix it?
The internet brings us many, many different business management tools – a lot of which are helpful. However, this doesn’t mean we have to continue upgrading and trying new systems to improve our productivity.
If you’ve already got a stellar system in place that’s serving you well when it comes to your time management, why change it? Everyone’s trying to cash in on management systems, which means that your tried and true system might be just as good if not better than a newer version.
There are many different ways to prioritize your tasks. One of these ways is the ABCDE method.
In the A category put the tasks that you must do – otherwise, serious consequences. In the B category, place tasks that should be done that have mild implications if you skip them.
In the C category, put priorities that you could do – but no harm is done if you don’t do them. In the D Category put tasks that you delegate to others, and in the E category, tasks you never do.
Don’t do any B tasks before you’ve finished A tasks, and so on.
Just like location, location, location, scheduling is everything. An entrepreneur is only as successful as their schedule.
Scheduling every hour of your work day is vital to being focused and staying productive. Like we’ve already mentioned, even free time should be planned in there somewhere.
Successful entrepreneurs accomplish their goals by breaking them down into manageable, daily tasks. If it’s going to take more than an hour for you to do that task, it hasn’t been broken down enough.
A calendar is more than a successful entrepreneur’s best friend – it’s their bible. Therefore, you should be using your calendar religiously.
We recommend waiting an hour in the morning to check your email. This is because when you do, it’s easy to go into response mode – and before you know it, you’ve wasted half the day answering your emails.
What’s more, you haven’t done anything proactive because you’ve focused on being reactive – responding instead of doing.
Use your calendar to dictate how your day goes. Don’t rely on your memory to think of appointments – consult your calendar. It will keep you going at a productive pace.
This is a bit of a contradiction – but you’ll find the middle ground. While it’s important to schedule your day from the moment you get up to the moment you go to sleep again, try to do it in blocks.
As an entrepreneur, it can be easy to get carried away with scheduling. Instead of scheduling your day minute by minute, try doing it in bigger blocks.
Let your calendar act as a guide to direct you to your to-do list. Using them together will make you more productive.
You may think that getting stuck into the complicated stuff is first is better – it’s more productive, right?
Wrong. If you’re overwhelmed by a task and the enormity of it, try looking at the parts of the task you can achieve quickly. If you start with these, you’ll end up breaking the task down into manageable chunks.
You’ll also surprise yourself with what you’re capable of. Through doing the easier tasks first, you may discover that some of the more onerous aspects aren’t that complicated after all, and you’re more capable than you realized.
There’s a new saying that’s been circulating for the last decade or so when it comes to being a successful entrepreneur – work smart, not harder.
The beauty of online assistance means that you can learn automated processes for certain tasks that will end up saving you a lot of time in the long run. If the task is something you’re required to do over and over again, try finding the most efficient way of doing it.
If the task is necessary to be successful and you repeat it more than three times, you’ll need to find the best process to complete it.
Purging your life of activities that are less productive to your business can help you get your ducks in a row and allows you to be productive without necessarily being busy.
These two things can be mutually exclusive. If you’ve done a task a number of times and feel like it weighs you down more than helping you, you need to either delegate it or get rid of it altogether.
Successful entrepreneurs know when to let go of specific tasks, and when to hold on to them.
How do you think other successful entrepreneurs start their day? Do you think they sleep in and have a slow start to the morning?
Successful entrepreneurs begin their day earlier than everyone else. If you read up about successful men and women in business, one thing that almost all of them have in common is that they go to bed at a good time and get up early.
If you wake up before everyone else, you have time to plan out your day before it begins. You can even get a head start on some tasks that you know might take a bit longer.
Have you been working on the same schedule for a while? How long has it been since you sat back and looked at how you were using your time?
Being aware of how you’re really using your time and checking up on this regularly is a great way to keep yourself developing and improving when it comes to being productive.
If we’re not regularly auditing how we spend our time, we can end up becoming slack and not as focused. Re-prioritizing tasks we used to see as important can help with this.
If you’ve never heard of the Pomodoro technique, you should have. It’s a great way to get tasks done without the distraction or pressure of other time-sensitive priorities.
It involves setting a timer for 25 minutes and sitting down to start on a task. If you’re timing yourself doing the task, you’re more likely to be focused on it as you know that it has a time limit.
This is a great way to clear space in your head and only think about one thing that needs to get done. Try to schedule the whole day like this.
What are your top three priorities that you want to achieve today? This way to increase productivity is so simple it might even seem stupid. However, it’s really a clever way to get tasks done efficiently.
As you end your day, ask yourself if you got your top three tasks done. You can also ask yourself this question when you first get up, too – what three tasks are you hoping to accomplish today?
Breaking down what you need to do into three simple top tasks can help you accomplish them better.
What is taking up most of your mental energy? Is it the task at hand, or is it something else?
The sooner you realize that you’re in charge of the time your given each day, the more you’ll accomplish. It can be easy sometimes to feel weighed down by things outside of our control, like certain appointment times.
Instead, map your day out the night before and decide what you’re doing to get done – appointments and all. Getting everything straight in your mind will take you one step closer to productivity.
If you don’t think that you’ll be able to get a task done within an hour, you can always allow more time for it. You have to be realistic about how long a task is going to take you.
You don’t want to put yourself under unnecessary pressure. If you have a task that’s going to take an hour and a half, and you’ve only given yourself an hour, you’ll end up feeling pushed for time, and it might not end up looking as good at the end.
As important as taking time out for reflection is, you also need to make sure your productivity routine is in full swing too.
Whether you apply our productivity routine to the whole day or just a portion of it, try to stick to it religiously. Just like you build a strategy for your business as a whole, you also need to develop a successful plan for your productivity.
Don’t get overwhelmed by your tasks in your productivity routine, however. Try to stick to a list of 3-5 tasks you’re going to put 100 percent productivity into over the day.
A lot of the time, if you’re avoiding a task, it’s because you’re unsure about what happens next. If you haven’t got anything planned for when that task is completed, you’ll procrastinate the task itself.
The reason why you don’t want to do the task can usually be put into one of three categories. These are: do you need more information, do you need to make a choice, or do you need to take action?
Once you’ve worked through the resistance of these categories, you’ll be able to get on with the task at hand.
We get so focused on this idea of time management that, quite often we forget it’s us that needs managing. The time is going to pass whether we manage it or not – but if we’re in line and doing what we need to be doing, we’ll use it to full capacity.
Try to start looking at everything on your to-do list as a series of choices that you’re in control of. You can either choose to do them or not do them. When you don’t want to do something, delegate.
We’ve talked about how helpful it is to accomplish the most straightforward task first. However, this isn’t a concrete rule – flipping it the other way can also be beneficial, too.
You’re now familiar with your levels of productivity being higher in the morning. This means that the mornings are a great time to try and tackle the most laborious task on your list.
Not only will you get the worst of it out of the way, but you’ll also be starting your day with a massive feeling of accomplishment – not the worst way to feel as a successful entrepreneur.
The what now? Eisenhower’s theory of the Urgency-Importance Matrix encourages you to think twice before adding a task to your to-do list.
When you’re adding a task to your list, ask yourself the tough questions. Does this task match the priority of the other tasks on my list? Is it just as important that I get this done as my existing tasks for today?
Only put tasks on your to-do list that you absolutely have to do. Otherwise, you’re just going to slow yourself down and inevitably decrease your productivity.
De-Clutter Your Mind: You most likely feel stressed because of all those unfinished tasks in your head. On a piece of paper, write them all down, then cross out the ones that really don’t matter. You’ve got to be ruthless about this.
Finish that Unfinished Task: no more ifs ands or buts. Get working on that unfinished task, and don’t stop until it’s done. The only regret you’ll have is that you didn’t get onto it sooner.
De-Clutter Your Life: is your workplace messy? Try getting organized and knowing where everything is. This will save you precious time that you would have otherwise spent looking for things.
Block Distraction: life tends to serve up big platters of distraction throughout the day. Keep your blinders on and make sure they aren’t getting in the way of you doing your tasks.
Act with Purpose: continue to ask yourself throughout the day: why am I doing this? What is it I want to accomplish? Thinking like this and challenging yourself with these questions will keep you pushing forward.
We’ve talked a bit about how good choices lead to great focus and productivity. The better you are at decision making, the faster you will grow your business.
While this may sound a bit counter-intuitive, we promise that it’s not. The best way to give yourself more time is to make better initial decisions.
You’d be amazed at how much time we spend correcting our mistakes and trying to get out of less than ideal situations. If you can think through your decision initially, you’ll end up saving yourself precious time in the long run when you don’t have to mop up any mess.
One way to improve the quality of those initial decisions is to begin the day the right way. Clear a 30-minute block of time in your morning routine and use this to think about a problem before making a decision about it.
This will help you make a more carefully calculated decision. The last thing you want is to be making decisions last minute when your brain is tired, and you don’t have much enthusiasm left.
This is why we don’t recommend making important decisions in the afternoon or evening.
As an entrepreneur, you might equate answering and sending emails to important work that should be prioritized. We disagree.
Some of the most successful entrepreneurs only check their emails twice a day – first thing in the morning and when they go to bed at night.
You’d be amazed if you knew how much time you’re spending checking your emails each day – those small increments of time really add up. Like everything else in your day, block time out in the morning and the evening to spend time on your emails.
Meetings are another part of your daily work life you might see as important.
On the contrary, most meetings don’t need to be as long as they are. If you’ve scheduled a meeting with someone and they are used to it taking an hour, why not cut it down to half an hour? If they’re aware of having less time, chances are they’ll be more concise and get to the point faster, resulting in a much more productive meeting.
There’s always downtime in meetings. Try cutting your sessions short – imagine what you could do with the extra time.
If you want to play the game, you’ve got to be in it to win it.
Talking the talk is one thing, but you won’t get anything accomplished unless you walk the walk. Many successful entrepreneurs who have gone before you have spent countless hours figuring out the best way to use their time.
Use these tips to increase your focus and productivity levels. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish through small shifts in your perspective and day to day lifestyle. | 2019-04-22T12:58:30Z | http://theresponsive.agency/stay-focused-increase-productivity/ |
Topic #F:DEATH AND MARRIAGES. Gen. 23:1-25:18.
“Abraham was old”—Isaac was thirty-seven years of age when Sarah died—“And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah” (Genesis 23:1). And Isaac was forty when he married Rebekah—“And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian” (Genesis 25:20). Abraham, who was a centenarian at Isaac’s birth, would now be nearly 140. Since he lived to be 175—“And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years” (Genesis 25:7)—he survived Isaac’s marriage thirty-five years, and lived to see Esau and Jacob nearly grown up.
“The Lord blessed Abraham” with all kinds of blessings, with worldly and spiritual blessings; but, because of what follows, the worldly kind seems to be what is meant here. God had blessed him with long life, and riches, and honour, and children, things which men desire. It’s true, Abraham had many and severe trials; but even these were blessings in disguise. This is how Abraham’s chief steward described his master’s wealth to Rebekah’s brother: “And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses. (Gen, 24:35).
“His eldest servant” doesn’t necessarily mean the oldest in years, but the one of chief authority and dignity, who, if there was no rightful heir by birth, would become Abraham’s heir. Eliezer was his name—“And Abram said, LORD God, what will you give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?And Abram said, Behold, to me you have given no seed: and, see, one born in my house is my heir” (Genesis 15:2, 3).
Though one holding such a confidential and important position would probably be a man of advanced years, yet it is not likely that Abraham would send anyone who was not still vigorous on so distant a journey. Eliezer must have lived with Abraham and served him for more than fifty years; he can be traced back nearly sixty years as a servant of Abraham's family, and it is highly probable he lived much longer; he was his servant when he had the vision between the pieces, (see Genesis 15:2); and then he was the steward of his house, and was in line to be his heir, before Hagar was given to Abraham, and Ishmael was his son by Hagar. As for how long Eliezer was a servant to Abraham’s family cannot be said with certainty.
Abraham has a very delicate mission for Eliezer, a long journey to obtain a wife for Isaac. He would only trust his long time servant for the task, because he was too old and Isaac was not at liberty to make even a temporary visit to his native land. Eliezer would make the trip and Abraham would put his entire confidence in him, but first he would bind him by a solemn oath.
Eliezer had the position of steward in Abraham’s household. As such his task was to manage the domestic concerns, supervise the servants and possibly the children, collect income, keep accounts etc. Stewards seem to have been commonplace throughout all of the period of biblical history.
Genesis 46:26: “All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were three score and six.” Those that were his seed and offspring.
And in both verses it is rendered loins—used as the source of descendants. Probably, therefore, it is an inoffensive manner of describing the circumcised member, which was to be touched by the hand placed beneath the thigh; and thus the oath was really confirmed by the holy covenant between Abraham and God, of which circumcision was the symbol. The ceremony declared the servants obedience to his master, and the master's power over the servant. The appeal is made to Abraham’s posterity, on the one hand, to confirm the oath, and, on the other, to avenge its violation. Similar symbolic acts have been found to exist among other primitive races. A custom like this long outlives the recollection of its original significance. The ritual remains binding; its purpose may be forgotten.This ceremony was used in swearing, in the eastern countries, either as a testimony of subjection, and promise of faithful service, for this rite was used only by inferiors towards superiors; or, as some think, with respect to the blessed Seed, Christ, who was to come out of Abraham’s thigh, as they say, so naturally, this rite was used only by believers.
“And I will make thee swear”—this was both for Abraham’s own satisfaction, and to obligate his servant to take all possible care and diligence in the performance of the important business that he must do for his master.
“By the Lord, (Hebrew, “Jehovah”) the God of heaven and the God of the earth”—Notice with what reverence Abraham speaks of God, and with what solemnity this oath is administered and taken! This solemn title of Jehovah as God of the whole universe is more common in later Hebrew writings: “And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth. . .” (Ezra 5:11). This form of earnest request indicates the conviction of the writer that the God of the Hebrews was the God of the whole world, not merely of a particular individual, locality or nation: “That be far from you to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from you: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25). No change of country, no lapse of time, would constitute an exemption from the binding character of this oath.
The Maker and possessor of heaven and earth, is the One by whom Abraham used to swear: “And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up my hand to the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth” (Genesis 14:22).
“That thou shalt not take a wife”—among ancient peoples the matrimonial arrangements are made by the parents, and a youth must marry, not among strangers, but in his own tribe or people. It was a custom which gave the man a claim, which is seldom or never resisted, to the hand of his first cousin, or of another relative, or of another family. But Abraham had a far higher motive—a fear that if his son married into a Canaanite family, he might be gradually led away from the true God.
“Not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites,” a race sinking fast into ungodliness and unrighteousness, doomed to extermination. The relatives of Abraham were Shemites, Hebrews, and still retained some knowledge of the true God, and some reverence for Him and His will. The steward of Abraham's house does not wish to bind himself by an oath to an undertaking which may be impossible to fulfill. He makes the supposition that the bride whom he chooses could be unwilling to marry Abraham’s son, and in that case he is released from the oath (v. 8). The patriarch, however, charges him not to bring his son back to the land of his fathers, and expresses his confidence in the God of promise, that he will direct his servant to the suitable wife for his son (v. 7). "His angel" would direct him to the right woman, as he led Hagar to water in the desert—“And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.” (Genesis 16:7). This is the Lord Jesus Christ functioning as an angel or messenger opening the way for the servant of Abraham. He does not make an appearance to the servant, though a controlling Providence is strikingly displayed throughout the whole affair. The faithful steward now understands and takes the required oath.
Abraham is very insistent that his son should not marry a woman of corrupt principles and manners. He was held in such high esteem among the Canaanites, that, undoubtedly, he could have married Isaac to a daughter of one of the princes of the land. But he saw that the Canaanites were degenerating into great wickedness, and knew that they were destined for destruction; and he would not marry his son to one of them, for fear that they would be a snare to his soul. To obtain for him, as his partner in life, a person of piety and virtue, is his chief, if not his sole concern, and therefore he sends his servant to a distant country for just such a woman.
“Among whom I dwell,” of course, was the Canaanites; they were not only idolaters, and very wicked people, but were the seed of the accursed Canaan; and who eventually would be dispossessed from the land, and be destroyed. Now though Isaac was forty years of age, and one would think he was fully capable of choosing a wife for himself; but since Abraham knew that Isaac had great respect for this servant, and would be influenced by him in such a choice, and especially since this affair was now about to be committed to his care, and no doubt with the consent of Isaac, therefore he orders and commits him to obtain a wife for Isaac from among his family.
The Canaanites were not only gross idolaters and terrible sinners, as so many others were at this time; but they were a people under God’s peculiar curse—“And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers” (Genesis 9:25).” They were destined to be totally destroyed by Abraham’s descendants; and therefore to marry his son to one of them would be a type of self-murder, placing the holy and blessed seed in danger of great infection from them, and utter ruin with them. And Abraham’s practice was afterwards justified by God, who has often showed his dislike of such unequal matches of his people with those infidels and idolaters, by severe prohibitions and sharp censures. [See Exodus 34:16; Deut. 7:3; Joshua 23:12; Ezra 9:1-3; Nehemiah 13:23, 25; 2 Corinthians 6:14, 15.] Religious feeling underlies this prohibition. The purity of the Hebrew race is to be maintained. Intermarriage would involve participation in religious rites which were forbidden by God. Separation from the Heathen idolaters would give a corresponding freedom from moral contamination.
Genesis 11:31: “And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran, and dwelled there.
Yet they did worship the true God together with idols, as may be gathered from Genesis 24:31, 50—“And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels. Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good”—and from other places; and therefore there was more hope for the conversion of one of that family; and partly because they lived at a great distance from the place where Abraham and his family lived, and therefore one of that stock would be more easily disentangled from her superstition and idolatry, because she was removed from the influences of the evil counsels and examples of her nearest relations, and partly because they were of the race of blessed Shem, and not of cursed Canaan.
He did not want his son to marry out of the godly family: for the problems that come from marrying the ungodly are set forth in various places throughout the scriptures.
Abraham would obtain a wife for Isaac from his brother Nahor’s family. She would not be clear of superstition and idolatry, yet they worshipped the true God in addition to their "idols"; and a woman taken out of such a family, and moved a great distance from it, might be convinced to do away with useless idols and follow the pure and undefiled religion. This family was chosen, not only because it was related to Abraham, but because it had sprung from Shem, who was blessed of God, and whose God the Lord was. There were no objections to one marrying close kin, since the laws relating to marriage were not given until the time of Moses.
Note here the common sense and piety of this good man, who, before he would take an oath, diligently inquires into the nature and conditions of it, and expressly mentions that one exception which could reasonably happen.
His question to Abraham is this: “Suppose this should be the case, that the woman would object to coming along with him to the land of Canaan, and insist upon Isaac's coming into her country, and dwelling there; what should I do then? It was a natural and reasonable hypothesis that the bride elect would baulk at undertaking a long and arduous journey to marry a husband she had never seen. Accordingly, the faithful servant wants to know whether he would be at liberty to act upon the other alternative, and bring Isaac to the land where Abraham came from.
Must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?
Now there was good reason for the servant asking this question, since he was neither ignorant of the call of Abraham out of that land, no more to return to it, nor of the promise of the land of Canaan to him and his posterity: and as for bringing Isaac "again", where he never had been in person, this may be accounted for by his being in the loins of Abraham when he was there, and came from that place, as Levi is said to be in his loins when he paid tithes to Melchizedek, and to pay them in him—“And as I may so say, Levi also, who receives tithes, paid tithes in Abraham” (Hebrews 7:9); and in like manner he might be said to be brought again, or return to Abraham's country, should he ever go there, as all the seed of Abraham are said in the fourth generation to come to Canaan again, though none of them had been there before in person—“But in the fourth generation they shall come here again” (Genesis 15:16).
Abraham’s reply is given in the next verse; the patriarch solemnly prohibits him from attempting to persuade his son, under any pretext whatever, to leave the land of promise.
Abraham does not blame him for asking such a question, nor does he accuse him of impertinence, but clearly seeing the appropriateness of it, and in order to clarify this matter for him, he gives the following instructions.
“Beware” is probably added for emphasis.
The command to come out of the land of Chaldea, never to return again, and to come into the land of Canaan, and there abide, pertained to both Abraham and his posterity; and besides, it was dangerous for Isaac to go into a family, where, though there was some knowledge of the true God, yet there was much superstition and idolatry in it (which appears from the various hints in the sequel to this narration), through which he could be corrupted, and fall away from the true religion.
“That thou bring not my son thither again”—literally, in case you cause my son to return to Mesopotania. Abraham is speaking of Isaac’s going to Mesopotamia as a return, either because he regarded Isaac, though then unborn, as having come out with him from Mesopotamia—“For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him” (Hebrews 7:10). The idea is, just as all mankind were in the loins of Adam, when he sinned and fell, and so they sinned and fell in him; and so Levi was in Abraham's loins, when he left Mesopotamia. Or, because he viewed himself and his descendants as a whole, as in Genesis 15:16: “But in the fourth generation they shall come here again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.” The reason why they must not have the land of promise in their possession till the fourth generation, is, because “the iniquity of the Amorites was not yet full.” The righteous God has determined that they shall not be removed till they have arrived at such a high pitch of wickedness; and therefore, till it comes to that, the seed of Abraham must be kept out of possession. “In the fourth generation” probably means at the end of the four hundred years mentioned in Genesis 15:13—“And he said to Abram, Know of a surety that your seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years—a generation being at that time reckoned at one hundred years, or thereabouts. Or, in the fourth generation numbered from their going into Egypt, or from their leaving Canaan; which may also be implied by these words.
Abraham’s instruction to his servant is, “In case she will not come here, do not for any reason agree that he shall go there. Why so?
Because there was more danger of infection from his wife and her kindred, because of their friendly, and familiar, and constant interaction with him, than from the Canaanites, who were strangers to him, and lived separately from him, and had very little conversation with him.
Because the command of God to Abraham to come out of Chaldea, and into Canaan, did extend to his posterity also, whom God would require to dwell there as long as they could, so that they might live in constant faith and expectation of the performance of God’s promise in giving this land unto them.
“The Lord God of heaven (v.3)”—the reference is to God as “Yahweh, God of heaven and God of the earth.” Yahweh is the personal name of God, which is used by those who are in fellowship with Him. He is the Creator of all things, and therefore of heaven and earth; and He determines the destiny of the oath-taker, both in spiritual and material things, both in this life and in what is to come. The phrase “the God of heaven” occurs in Ezra 5:12; Nehemiah 1:4-5; Nehemiah 2:4; Jonah 1:9; Job 5:16.
Abraham expresses the strongest confidence in God, that the great plans for which he had taken him from his own kindred to spread the true religion on the earth would be accomplished; and that when earthly instruments failed, heavenly ones should be employed. Apparently, Abraham anticipated that he might die while his servant was gone, so the instructions were made perfectly clear.
“My father's house” denotes Haran; for his father and his family came with him from Ur of the Chaldees to Haran, and they stayed there after Abraham separated from them.
“The land of my kindred” signifies either Ur of the Chaldees, where he was born, or it could mean Haran, where Terah his father died, and Nahor his brother and family lived.
God promised the land of Canaan to Abraham and his seed; and therefore his son must not be removed from there, and settled in another country. Isaac never left the Promised Land.
Some understand this to be a prayer or wish, "may he send his angel before thee"; for if it was a prophecy, they say, why does he say “if”—"if the woman will not be willing? (v. 8)" But from Genesis 24:10—“And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor—and from what God bad done for him, and said unto him, and the encouragement he had for his faith in it, and from what follows, it seems that he was fully assured in his own mind that the servant would succeed in finding a wife for his son from his kindred.
A created angel, since they were frequently made use of in the affairs of Providence, directing and prospering men. God’s angels are ministering spirits, sent forth, not only for the protection, but guidance of the heirs of promise—“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14). And those who are guided by angels are sure to be successful.
An uncreated Angel, the Son of God, the Angel of the Covenant, since the servant attributes his direction and success wholly to the Lord.
He doesn’t doubt the success of the mission, and he could confidently say so, either by rational conjecture, both from the nature of the thing, and from the constant course of God’s providence in blessing him in all his undertakings; or by assurance and inspiration received directly from God.
This was said by Abraham to his steward, not because he doubted that she would be willing to come, for he was certain that the God that had made him willing to leave his own country, and his father's house, He would make her willing to do likewise, and come and settle with his son in the land that God had given him; but he says this, and what follows, in order to make the mind of his servant easy, since he seems to have had some doubt about it. The servant wanted to know what he should do if she did indeed refuse to leave her family; and what it was he was to take an oath to do.
Under no circumstance shall Isaac leave the Promised Land, since that would be the height of unbelief and disobedience; therefore, do not agree with the damsel and her parents, that he shall come to them, and don’t attempt to persuade him to comply with such terms.
That they were not to allow themselves to be merged among the Canaanites, but remain a distinct people; for this intermarriage with women of their own race was only a means to an end, and not a binding law, to be observed for its own sake.
That under no circumstances could they return to Mesopotamia, but must cling devotedly to the land which God had promised them for a possession. We learn from Genesis 24:8 that this second point was regarded by Abraham as even more important than the first; and with good reason. For the race might remain distinct even if Isaac took a woman of Palestine to wife, though there would be the risk of religious deterioration; but if they returned to Padanaram they were certain to be absorbed, and could look for no higher religious standing than that attained to by Laban’s descendants.
Abraham would prefer that his son not have a wife than for him to leave the Promised Land in order to get a wife and then expose himself to temptation. Note, Parents when giving up their children in marriage, should carefully consult the welfare of their souls, and their fitness for heaven. Those who through grace have escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust, and have brought up their children accordingly, should take heed of doing any thing by which they may be again entangled in sin and overcome—“For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning” (2 Pt. 2:20).
“And the servant,” understanding the nature of his mission, and feeling satisfied on the points that impacted upon his conscience, put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master.
The rite or ceremony used on the occasion: the person binding himself put his hand under the thigh of the person to whom he was to be bound; i.e., he put his hand on the part that bore the mark of circumcision, the sign of God's covenant, which is tantamount to our kissing the book, or laying the hand upon the New Testament or covenant of our Lord Jesus Christ.
His self-existence and eternity in the name Jehovah.
His dominion of glory and blessedness in the kingdom of heaven.
His providence and abundance in the earth.
The meaning of the oath seems to be this: “Just as God is unchangeable in his nature and purposes, so shall I be in this mission, under the penalty of forfeiting all expectation of worldly prosperity, the benefits of the mystical covenant, and future glory." An oath of this kind, taken at such a time, and on such an occasion, can never be deemed irreligious or profane. Thou shalt swear by his name—shalt acknowledge and bind thyself unto the true God, as the just Judge of thy motives and actions, is a command of the Most High; and such an oath as the above is at once (on such an occasion) both proper and rational. The person binding himself accepts for a model the unchangeable and just God; and as He is the avenger of wrong and the punisher of falsehood, and has all power in the heavens and in the earth, so he can punish perjury by privation of spiritual and temporal blessings, by the loss of life, and by inflicting the destruction due to ungodly men, among whom liars and perjured persons occupy the most distinguished rank. Our ideas of delicacy may find the rite used on this occasion to be revolting; but, when the nature of the covenant is considered, of which circumcision was the sign, we shall at once perceive that this rite could not be used without producing sentiments of reverence and godly fear, as the contracting party must know that the God of this covenant was a consuming fire. | 2019-04-19T11:16:26Z | http://genesis-thefirstbookofmoses.yolasite.com/abraham-seeks-a-wife-for-isaac.php |
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Understand how data virtualization goes hand in hand with a BI and analytics platform like MicroStrategy to bring self-service capabilities to end users.
MicroStrategy works with partners to meet the analytics and business intelligence needs of joint customers. By combining technical knowledge and expertise with industry experience, we're able to solve many of the toughest business challenges facing our customers.
Mindtree delivers digital transformation and technology services from ideation to execution, enabling Global 2000 clients to outperform the competition. “Born digital,” Mindtree takes an agile, collaborative approach to creating customized solutions across the digital value chain. At the same time, our deep expertise in infrastructure and applications management helps optimize your IT into a strategic asset. Whether you need to differentiate your company, reinvent business functions or accelerate revenue growth, we can get you there. Visit www.mindtree.com to learn more.
Understand the digital data transformation strategy at Mindtree and how this benefits customers.
MongoDB is the next-generation database that helps businesses transform their industries by harnessing the power of data. The world’s most sophisticated organizations, from cutting-edge startups to the largest companies, use MongoDB to create applications never before possible at a fraction of the cost of legacy databases. MongoDB is the fastest-growing database ecosystem, with over 8 million downloads, thousands of customers, and over 650 technology and service partners.
MT AG is an independent technology company, specializing in software development and integration in heterogeneous IT landscapes at medium and large companies. MT AG has cross-industry expertise in data, cloud computing and mobile. These include enterprise-ready IT consulting, IT architecture, software and system integration, cloud-based implementations, business intelligence solutions and maintenance of IT systems. MT AG is privately owned with headquarters in Ratingen Germany, was founded in 1994 and employs 180 people. MT AG serves more than 200 customers through its regional offices in Frankfurt, Cologne, Dortmund and Ratingen.
Neudesic is the trusted technology partner in business innovation, delivering impactful business results to clients through digital modernization and evolution. Our consultants bring business and technology expertise together, offering a wide range of cloud and data-driven solutions, including: custom application development, comprehensive managed services, and business software products. Founded in 2002, Neudesic is a privately held company headquartered in Irvine, California, and is celebrating its 15th Anniversary in 2017. For more information, or to consult with Neudesic to explore enterprise digital evolution, visit www.neudesic.com.
Noah Consulting, a wholly owned subsidiary of Infosys, focuses on delivering information management solutions to clients by providing best-in-class data management, business intelligence, analytics, data integration, information quality, master data management and governance solutions. We believe there is a unique value that flows from combining technical expertise with deep industry knowledge that we use to provide expert consulting and deliver practical solutions to the most complex information challenges in the industries we serve. Noah Consulting is steered by veteran consultants with a track record of uncompromised principles, proven success, and client focus. With an average of 15 years of experience in solving the most complex business problems, our consultants are unrivaled in the industry. Using a client-focused, product agnostic approach, we help businesses extract value from the flood of data they are awash with every day.
This document explains the most typical questions that anyone needs to know about Data Virtualization, and describes the Denodo Platform Architecture, its benefits and the main use cases.
Denodo Platform 6.0 delivers breakthrough performance for big data, logical data warehouses and operational scenarios with the Dynamic Query Optimizer. The Denodo Platform 6.0 now accelerates data virtualization adoption with cloud support, which enables business users to leverage self-service data discovery and exploration.
Denodo Platform 5.5 is in direct response to the industry’s need to deal with a number of challenges including more data types, ubiquitous data, bigger data volumes, data and metadata discovery, and delivering more agility and value than traditional technologies. This datasheet explains the key benefits, features and capabilities on Denodo Platform 5.5.
The value of data virtualization in these industries is illustrated through 3 use cases covering agile business intelligence, competitive intelligence and marketing analytics using web automation, and finally operational use to enrich CRM with unified customer information.
Today’s users demand reports with better business insights, more information sources, real-time data, more self-service and want these delivered more quickly, making it hard for the BI professionals to meet such expectations. This white paper outlines how the use of data virtualization can help BI professionals to accomplish these goals.
Passio Consulting is a company specialized in the management and development of information systems and technology. We are a technology services consultancy focused on planning and implementing management solutions, geared towards different clients, contexts and needs. We aim to provide a service of excellence and value to our customers and partners, and to attract, retain and develop talent. The standards of quality and excellence that we have accustomed to our clients and partners result from the combination of values, skills, ambition and professionalism of our most important asset: The People.
A short video showcasing the executive breakfast organised with our partner Passio Consulting. The event focused on the benefits of data virtualization, with speaker Rick van der Lans, Independent BI Analyst, taking center stage.
Sanmargar Team is a Poland-based business intelligence company founded in 2005. Sanmargar delivers consulting, deployment, training, and technical support related to wider aspects of business intelligence such as data integration, reference data, data quality, meta and master data management, as well as data virtualization and visualization. Sanmargar Team is also the developer of solutions for reference data management – Metastudio DRM, deduplication and data cleansing – Sanmargar DQS (Data Quality Studio). Our projects, in addition to using a high standard of corporate BI solutions (Oracle, IBM, SAP), also use efficient, fully functional commercial solutions based on open source code (Pentaho, SuiteCRM, PostgreSQL, MuleESB, MongoDB). Sanmargar is a Polish partner and authorized reseller for Anvizent, Pentaho, Tagetik, IBM, SAP BusinessObjects, MongoDB, and Denodo.
The SAP® Integration and Certification Center (SAP ICC) has certified that the Denodo Platform 5.5 integrates with the SAP Business Warehouse (SAP BW) 7.4 application and can access metadata and master data of objects, as well as transactional data, in SAP Business Warehouse. Now, organizations can easily integrate data from SAP Business Warehouse with data from other sources such as enterprise applications, Apache Hadoop, NoSQL databases, Salesforce.com applications and more, using a virtual data abstraction layer to avoid physically moving the data.
Semarchy is the Intelligent Data Hub™ company. Its xDM platform solves for enterprise Master Data Management (MDM), Application Data Management (ADM), and Collaborative Data Governance challenges for some of the most well-known brands in the US and Europe. This agile platform leverages smart algorithms and material design to simplify data stewardship, quality, enrichment and workflows. xDM platform to address challenges such as The Global Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). xDM from Semarchy is implemented via an agile and iterative approach that delivers business value almost immediately and scales to meet enterprise complexity. In fact, over 80% of Semarchy clients have a fully functional solution in under 10 weeks.
"Increasingly, conventional data systems are giving way to a new breed of interactive data management across data lakes, on-premises systems, and cloud-based infrastructures, all of which requires cloud and transactional data integration. Partnering with Denodo, our xDM clients have found that data virtualization is the key component to making information governance and master data management work for their business."
Watch this webinar to learn how data virtualization supports complete view of the customer by providing real-time data access to any individual or organization across the company.
An interview with Michael Hiskey, CMO at Semarchy, a Denodo partner and official sponsor of Denodo DataFest 2017.
In this interview, Richard Branch VP & General Manager at Semarchy discusses how they are challenging the traditional view of MDM projects.
Understand why MDM is crucial to the success of big data projects.
MDM and data virtualization solutions deliver enhanced, accurate views of data without costs related to conventional integration.
Understand how a data virtualization layer and a master data management solution can work together to extend the value to the end user.
Learn how MDM and the Denodo platform work together to provide value to both IT teams and the business users in a self-service manner.
Denodo and Semarchy together enable companies to achieve a complete view of the customer by combining data virtualization technology with master data management (MDM).
In every business engagement, Serole seek the opportunity to build long-lasting, strategic relationships. Our approach enhances the ROI for our clients by significantly reducing the time and risk associated with designing and implementation of the required solutions. With special focus, Serole offers customised end-to-end solutions partnering with technology innovators like Denodo. Our values are embraced in the hearts and minds of every Serole employee who then embodies these values and share them with our customers worldwide.
We are a Mexican company that develops technology solutions for project management and operations of organizations. SIA Software has nationwide presence through modern and efficient facilities to provide the best products and services to its customers. It has 2 offices in national territory, in the Federal District and Villahermosa also it have business partnerships in Spain and Germany.
SimplicityBI is a leading Business Intelligence and Analytics company in Canada specializing in developing and implementing simple yet effective Business Intelligence solutions including but not limited to Data Strategy, Data Virtualization and Data Warehouse Architecture. Industry experience includes Oil & Gas, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Insurance, Social Media and Transportation. For more information visit www.simplicitybi.com.
Watch this webinar with speaker, Mano Vajpey, Managing Director, SimplicityBI, to learn why organizations need to rethink the way they work with data.
An interview with Mano Vajpey, Managing Partner, SimplicityBI discussing key trends in the broader space of data management and analytics focusing on hybrid infrastructures.
Learn about how the Enmax and SimplicityBI team built an innovative marketplace to serve the needs of users across Enmax and aid in the discovery of data.
Understand the role of data virtualization and how customers are incorporating this technology as part of their overall data strategy.
Understand some of the key customer and market trends in the data integration space.
SimplicityBI have successfully performed Denodo Platform implementations for a wide variety of companies, including Digital Realty, Fastaff, and TransAlta. Read this solution brief to learn about their recent customer success stories, and how Denodo and SimplicityBI have teamed up to help their customers implement solutions that impact the bottom line.
Snowflake is the only data warehouse built for the cloud. Snowflake delivers the performance, concurrency and simplicity needed to store and analyze all an organization’s data in one location. Snowflake’s technology combines the power of data warehousing, the flexibility of big data platforms and the elasticity of the cloud at a fraction of the cost of traditional solutions.
Download this solution brief to understand the value that the Snowflake/Denodo joint solution brings to organizations and data analysts.
Understand what the drivers are behind enterprises moving to the cloud platform.
In this presentation, Andy Kemp, Senior Sales Consultant, Tableau Software discusses how the combined power of the Tableau Analytical Platform and Denodo Platform 7.0 helps allow self-service business intelligence throughout the entire organization.
Download this brochure to learn how the new Tableau Denodo connector offers full interoperability between Tableau and Denodo.
An interview with Nicholas Brisoux, Sr Product Manager at Tableau, a Denodo partner and official sponsor of Denodo DataFest 2017.
Watch this video to learn about the importance of self-service bi and the ability to find the data you are looking for.
Watch this video to learn why data virtualization is the best-fit technology for data democratization.
Learn about the challenges of visualizing big data and how to establish best practices for leveraging Hadoop/Spark through data virtualization.
Understand how Denodo and Tableau work and complement each other.
Combined use of Denodo and Tableau achieves the best self-service BI experience for end users while at the same time IT still maintains control on the actual workload submitted to data warehouses and operational systems.
This connection guide explains how to configure Tableau and Denodo to maximize the compatibility between both tools.
Vertica Advanced Analytics enables organizations to manage and analyze massive volumes of structured and semi-structured data quickly and reliably with no limits or business compromises. Vertica, designed with speed, scalability, simplicity, and openness at its core, provides blazing-fast speed (queries run 50-1,000x faster), petabyte-scale (store 10-30x more data per server), and openness and simplicity (use any BI/ETL tools, Hadoop, etc.) — all at 30% of the cost of traditional data warehouse solutions.
Understand some of the big trends that impact HPE Vertica and how that plays together with Denodo.
Denodo announces that Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has tested and validated the Denodo Platform for integration with HPE Vertica, the industry’s most advanced SQL database analytics platform.
Understand the benefits of using the Denodo Platform with HPE Vertica, and how you can leverage this integration to improve performance increase information agility.
Learn how to integrate HPE Vertica into the logical data warehouse using the Denodo Platform.
This connection guide provides basic information about setting up connections to HP Vertica from the Denodo Platform. In this document we will show you how to create data sources that connect to HP Vertica, create base views on HP Vertica tables, and query these tables from the Denodo Administration Tool and from a JDBC client.
Read this solution brief to understand the five examples of real companies that are leveraging the combined Wipro/Denodo solution.
An interview with Rakesh Verma, Practice Head, Data Integration, Analytics at Wipro, our partner and official sponsor of Denodo DataFest.
An interview with Ashish Sharma, Analytics Sales Head, UK and Europe at Wipro discussing the biggest trends in data management and digital analytics in Europe.
Watch this webinar to learn how data virtualization facilitates real-time analytics.
WNS (Holdings) Limited (NYSE: WNS) is a leading global Business Process Management (BPM) company. WNS offers business value to 200+ global clients by combining operational excellence with deep domain expertise in key industry verticals, including Banking and Financial Services, Healthcare, Insurance, Manufacturing, Media and Entertainment, Consulting and Professional Services, Retail & Consumer Packaged Goods, Telecom and Diversified Businesses, Shipping and Logistics, Travel and Leisure and Utilities. WNS delivers an entire spectrum of business process management services such as customer care, finance and accounting, human resource solutions, research and analytics, technology solutions, and industry-specific back-office and front-office processes. WNS has delivery centers world-wide, including China, Costa Rica, India, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, South Africa, Sri Lanka, UK and the US. | 2019-04-19T02:56:40Z | https://www.denodo.com/en/partners/find-partner |
We didn’t make it to California today… and that’s okay! We’re only a few miles from the border so we’ll get there super early in the morning! Plus with everyone we run into saying to get through California as quickly as possible because traffic is horrible, there aren’t any shoulders, you’ll get everything stolen, and you’ll end up murdered (seriously… we need to stop talking to people) we are in no rush.
Today started with a very misty morning along the coast. Got to see more of the coastal beauty, but with all the rocks shrouded in fog, it added an eerie mystical vibe to the atmosphere… I loved it! Out of the mist, however, we ran into a garden of dinosaurs… the T Rex was not happy to have us there!
We rode another unscenic few miles where I don’t remember anything to Gold Beach. We had coffee and muffins and mentally prepared ourselves for a monster of a hill we knew was waiting for us.
And so we climbed it. Both of us agreed it wasn’t nearly as bad as we anticipated. Plus we were rewarded with an amazing downhill… which at the very last turn dumped us out into sparkling blue water with gorgeous rocks which we just had to stop at to snap some pictures.
We had some more considerable climbs in Samual H Boardman State Scenic Corridor where we didn’t stop for anything scenic. Except at lunch we got stuck talking to an ex-Californian for entirely too long… Sheena got to hear all about my frustrations of the situation for the rest of the ride.
But alas we got out of the conversation and faced some headwinds heading into Brookings. We decided to get some Subway (courtesy of Matt, an old co-worker… thanks Matt you rock!) to do some planning. We figured with headwinds, hills, and it already being pretty late we were going to stay in a hotel and do some planning for the next few days over some Mexican food. So California, you’re just gonna have to wait till the morning for our joyous arrival!
This morning was a doozy. Thank God we started it out with coffee at the motel. We should’ve known that starting the day out on a road named “Seven Devils Road” would be pretty darn close to hell. On the elevation maps it showed only two hills that we were mentally prepared for. Turns out it was nothing but up and down for miles on end. Paired with the misty fog and no services for miles, it was like we were stuck in the twilight zone. But after 30 miles of this, we finally found ourselves in Bandon and had a great cup of coffee, breakfast, and a much needed 1.5 hour break.
One thing that’s been super annoying this trip is never knowing what clothes to wear. The nights and mornings are freezing so we bundle up for winter’s worst. We peel off layers as we go, but that’s where it gets confusing. We sweat like crazy going up hill, but later that sweat freezes on downhills. We’re constantly stopping to take off layers only to put them back on 10 minutes later. I gotta say, I kinda miss that heat wave in Washington.
Another thing of note is today all traffic stopped when two deer crossed the road. They show more respect for those two deer than they do for two cyclists – us!
Not much today in the way of scenery. We were stuck in the boonies for most of the ride so once again I zoned out and don’t remember the majority of it. In fact, I passed time by trying to remember what I was zoned out thinking about for 10 minutes. It’s enough to make you crazy.
But we did catch some good coastal scenery our last 6 miles of the ride. Was absolutely gorgeous! Before we started those miles, however, we ran into a couple hitchhiking their way across America. We stuck around to see how long it would take for them to land a ride. Sure enough they got a ride in less than 5 minutes. Needless to say, sheena was not pleased that we couldn’t hitch a ride to our destination.
We’re staying at Humbug State Park tonight. It’s very misty out and looks like typical Pacific Northwest, so I love it. Once again we ran into the Norwegians, who will now be renamed The Germans, who had similar thoughts on the horrors of Seven Devils Road. They had a much tougher day than us… a raccoon stole all their food last night, she got a flat tire, and their tent poles broke. But they still have a positive attitude and are nothing but smiles!
Tomorrow we have another hilly day… but it looks like we’ll have tailwinds (they were lacking today). Hopefully they’ll push us through to California!
After doing some research, we decided to stop at a cafe for breakfast in Florence. The cafe we chose was right next to a subway we camped out for a few hours the last day of the Transam. Reminiscing about the good old days and the yelp reviews of how good their bacon is made it a must stop. And holy moly was their bacon good. Perfectly cooked thick cut bacon the likes of which I have never had at any diner before. I daydreamed about that bacon for miles after we left.
The route deviated from the coast the entire rest of the ride. We were riding next to Oregon dunes national recreational area the entire stretch which blocked out the ocean and we caught very few glimpses of the dunes. Because we were stuck in the woods all day, nothing worth taking a picture of.
At first we had headwinds. Which was super disappointing and disheartening following yesterday. BUT after noon, the winds again were in our favor and pushed us forward. We blew through 30+ miles without a break. Needless to say I zoned way out and can’t really remember anything about that part of the ride.
One thought sheena and I both share is our feelings about semis and shoulders. Because they are so obnoxious and huge, we can usually hear the behemoths coming from pretty far off. How we feel about them is entirely dependent on the amount of shoulder we have. When there is barely a shoulder, we hold our breath and think, “oh god oh god please don’t hit us”. When there is a nice big shoulder, we welcome them passing us because it means catching a huge draft to push us along for a good 5 seconds. When paired with a good tail wind gust, it feels like we are in Mario Kart and just passed over a turbo boost. It’s actually a lot of fun.
Along today’s ride, we ran into a couple we saw in San Juan Islands. We don’t remember where they’re from, but we call them the Norwegians anyway. They’re really nice and we feel as though they might be our “Monica” for this trip. During the transam we continually ran into Monica during the trail during different stretches. We will probably have similar run ins do with the Norwegians! Unfortunately, they were intrigued by the advertised Sea Lion Caves and were suckered into paying an exorbitant fee to see them. After they already paid, the owner said it’s a bad time to see the sea lions cause they’re all in the water with their pups. Talk about getting swindled! We were warned by the Canadian couple yesterday to not go down to the caves because you can just see them from the road. Wish the Norwegians got the same advice!
After crossing the bridge into North Bend with them (we got honked at for a good solid 10 seconds… so Sheena gave her a piece of her mind) we split off. We could’ve gone further to take advantage of the obnoxious tailwinds, but I was exhausted from the constant wind and cars passing that I needed to stop. Just listening to noise like that takes more out of you than you’d think. We decided to not deal with the wind anymore and instead opted for a motel in town. Awesome decision. We had a very filling dinner and now are watching Netflix! Great way to end the day. Plus in 2 days we’ll be in California!
Today we found out why it is more popular to ride southbound on the pacific coast. Today we got very well acquainted with tailwinds and they were fantastic.
We headed out early as per usual and went through the usual coffee routine. The sun was shining which could only mean one thing… wind was coming. I learned this during the Transam. The sunnier the day, the windier the afternoon. Whereas it was usually unpredictable on the Transam whether or not the winds would be in our favor, the prevailing winds of the pacific tend to go south. Just like us.
We were cruising along at a pretty substantial clip passing absolutely beautiful coastal landscapes. They sure weren’t lying when they said the Oregon coast is some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.
Oh! And we saw whales! Finally!! Doug was adamant about us riding Otter Crest Loop – he guaranteed us we’d see whales. Doug did not lead us astray – as soon as we pulled in, I saw one breaching, spouting and everything. Unfortunately, Sheena just missed it. We cycled a little more up the road to the final lookout, and sure enough there was one lone whale swimming around in the kelp. Now that she can cross “seeing a whale” off her list, Sheena’s only “must do’s” of the trip is not getting hit by a car.
We made a couple stops in some of the coastal towns – boy are they cute. We made it to our original destination, Yachats around 1:30pm, plenty of time to do some more riding. We stayed in town for a while, where we ran into a couple from Canada cycling from San Diego to Victoria. The winds were not in their favor, unfortunately and their mood reflected that. We saw a few more cyclists pass by. Definitely a record for the most cyclists seen in one day!
We decided to go another 9 or so miles to Searose when the wind was still kicking. We rode up some pretty substantial hills, but with the wind blowing us up as hard as it was, they were relatively easy. And apparently distracting because we blew (pun intended) right past Searose without even noticing. Maybe it was during the time I was experimenting with how far the wind alone could push me up a small grade hill without pedaling. 3/4 of the way in case you were wondering – it was that strong.
Because backtracking 1 mile against wind to Searose sounded like cruel and unusual punishment for missing it, we decided that 4 miles to Carl G. Washburn State Park was the more appealing option. And we flew there. It’s a nice park with pretty moss covered trees everywhere. But the wind is still kicking so we’re praying one doesn’t crash into our tents tonight! There are also bears in the area, so everything scented has to be placed in a bear box overnight. Should sleep well tonight!
We’re sharing the biker/biker site with a fellow biker who is cycling all over. Alan, a retired British bloke, is hiking and biking until “I’m in a wheelchair”. He’s hiked the John Muir Trail 3x in his lifetime and has loads of experience in the Sierras. I picked his brain a little to see his thoughts on the JMT. I guess since he did it 3x, he must really love it!
Another early night. No service so this’ll have to be posted tomorrow! Probably will get a bunch of frantic texts from my parents whenever we get service tomorrow… Fingers crossed we’ll have the same luck with winds!
Today wasn’t our favorite. The first 17 miles were a bit of a blur because of our desperate search for coffee. McDonalds to the rescue again! After we got all caffeinated we were ready to tackle the day.
Now that we have an elevation map, we can see what’s in store for us with regards to hills. Most of them are pretty small with little elevation gain. Some of them however look absolutely daunting and we climbed 2 of them today. They were a lot steeper and longer than we anticipated and they took a lot out of us mentally. Just like the Appalachians, you think you’re at the top, but you turn the corner and there’s more! I’ve gotten good at using road signs to figure out what to expect. If there’s a “Passing lane 2 miles”, you know you’re in for one heck of a hill. And there is no sweeter sign than, “right lane ends” to know you finally reached the terminus and are about to reap the reward of a splendid downhill.
Going up the first hill we came across some hand glide and paragliding folks. Really neat to see them just launch themselves down from a cliff.
Also going up a hill, we noticed that to the left was a barren field, likely decimated by fire while the right side was lush and beautiful. Crazy to see the complete contrast.
And one last tidbit about this first hill (seriously so much happened on this hill… I mean it was 2 miles). As we were trudging along, a pickup truck pulled up right next to us driving slowly. In the passengers seat was a lady wagging her finger at us telling us, “you are crazy for riding on this road. You shouldn’t be on it” before driving off. Because she drove off before either of us could register the situation (and also because we were focused on not getting hit by the car her husband was driving entirely too close to us), we couldn’t react. I mean, the road we were on had a bike lane with frequent signs that bicycles were on the road… we’re not quite sure why she thought we shouldn’t be on it. But some people just want an excuse to wag that finger. Sheena was hoping she would be at the top of the hill so she could give her a taste of finger wagging medicine, but we must’ve been too slow because she was never seen of again.
Once again, rural Oregon reminds me more of Kentucky than Kentucky reminds me of Kentucky. Trucks with ATVs in the bed were heading out in droves to go mudding and we heard our first gunshots. We were looking at a map near someone’s driveway, and not two minutes later we heard a gunshot followed by a pump and a second gunshot. Taking it as a warning shot to get off their property, we high tailed it out of there immediately, not caring at all if we were going the wrong way.
We continued to follow 101 and today kept going from coast to further inland. We wish we would just stay by the coast! But it looks like our wish is coming true soon.
We’re staying at Devil’s Lake Recreation Park which has an awesome biker/hiker section. In fact, we met our first hiker using the site! Doug is hiking up the coast for a few days. He started Thursday and is ending tomorrow. He has been retired for 8 years and has been doing hiking trips ever since. He has already section hiked the PCT.
we talked to him for a while which is why this post is being written fairly quickly because I am ready for bed! We had 2 days logging truck free (they don’t operate on the weekends) but we get to contend with them again tomorrow. I am not thrilled with that, but we’ll get through it!
Today started with another bang! This time I successfully made it down any flight of stairs I encountered undeterred, but had trouble negotiating a bike path. Not even a mile into the ride, I was looking at a sign showing a stick figure of a guy on a bike flying off said bike due to getting his tire stuck in a railroad tie. Obviously serving as a warning, I took special care to avoid the ties. But all the care in the world sometimes isn’t enough for my clumsiness, and I felt myself become the stick figure man as my wheels got caught in a tie and I went flying over my handlebars. As violent as that sounds, I got up alright. I think after years of dealing with falls, I’ve learned how to do it the right way. And besides, what’re a few more bumps and bruises at this point?
We made our way out of Astoria and through some really cute towns on our way towards the coast. We stopped 17 miles into the ride in Seaside for coffee. Our coffee stops in the morning are pivotal. Sets the mood for the whole day. Neither of us weened ourselves off coffee prior to this trip like we did the Transam, so let’s just say we’re less than jovial in the morning. The only reason we ride those first 10-20 miles in the morning so quickly is because we’re itching for a cup o’ joe to perk us up. Today we sought refuge in a McDonalds. We both agree they have great coffee.
Not long after our caffeine fix, we finally made it to highway 101 and the Oregon coast! Anyone we encounter tells us about how beautiful the Oregon coast is and how it’s arguably the most spectacular portion of the ride. We can’t wait to see if that’s an accurate description.
We had a pit stop at Cannon Beach to see Haystack Rock. After the Transam, my friends met me on Portland and we took a day trip to Cannon Beach. We drove a small portion of 101 to the beach, and I remember thinking “one of these days I’ll be riding my bike on this road”, and here I am! Didn’t think it would be this soon, but when opportunity knocks, right?
After Cannon Beach, we knew we had a few hills coming our way because we FINALLY have an elevation map! Granted at this point we’re used to being surprised with hills, but it’s still nice to know anyway. Unfortunately, though these hills were totally manageable, it started to rain and fog up as we ascended. This made us both a little nervous because we knew there was limited visibility and the roads were busy, being a Saturday. But nonetheless we trudged on. We encountered a tunnel which at first was a little scary, but we saw a button for cyclists to push that lit up the tunnel warning vehicles to be aware of cyclists. Awesome!
As we continued to ascend, we encountered more rain and fog. We could barely even see down to the water, which was only a couple hundred feet below us. Again, this unnerved us a bit.
What comes up must come down. Which made for a terrifying descending journey. The rain was pelting us in the face, making it hard to keep our eyes open as we sped down the hill. I think you can come up with a thousand reasons why riding 35 mph down a wet road with cars wizzing by with your eyes half shut is a dangerous situation, so I won’t bore you with details.
But alas, we made it down fine and just as we did, the rain ended. Like our ride out of Washington, we were pretty close to hypothermia range (or at least I was shivering enough to think that), so we warmed up and took lunch.
We rode an easy 15 miles through some more cute coastal towns to our destination, Rockaway Beach. We’re camping in Barview Jetty Park and though we had some trouble finding it, we’re all set up and ready for bed. Hopefully the weather is less temperamental so we can actually see this gorgeous Oregon coast everyone has been hyping up!
Addie is never going to want to come home… living the life of luxury with her best friend!
Day 10: May 18th; Astoria rest day, 0 miles!
What an interesting city. And with its close proximity to Portland, it’s no wonder why. Astoria has a lot of parallels with Portland, including culture and interesting ways of life. In fact, Astoria has been attempting to become competitive with Portland with good food and fun festivals, so maybe it’s working!
Because my body is so accustomed to waking up early, I decided to do a light jog around town. I ran along the river walk and found all the sea lions. Not really difficult to do, just had to follow the obnoxiously loud barking. I spent about 15 minutes just watching them. I soon grew weary of their barking and left. There must’ve been a hundred of them there!
While Sheena got her zen on at a yoga class, I set up camp at a coffee shop and tried to plan out the next couple of days. We have a lot of climbs in our future and have been warned about limited shoulders, which makes planning difficult. Hard to predict if we’ll be too mentally wiped out from dealing with traffic to add on additional miles, but we have a rough plan of getting through Oregon.
We had lunch at a place that everyone told us we just have to try, it’s an Astoria staple. We passed by a tiny boat food truck with a huge line. When we asked Steve about it he gushed that it served the world’s best fish and chips. He recommended that it’s a must try. So we just had to try it! We waiting in line for a while, but totally worth it. I’m not a big fish person, but it was worth the hype! They make the fish out of tuna which really takes it the extra mile.
We did some shopping and grabbed some pizza for dinner before coming back to Steve’s for the evening. We came back to find he’s hosting 3 additional cyclists from Canada! They’re riding from Vancouver to Portland. Didn’t get to talk to them too much cause we were tired and went to bed early. Have to wake up early to check out the beautiful Oregon coast!
Author emkeane14Posted on May 19, 2018 May 19, 2018 Categories PCHT - OregonTags adventurebybike, adventurecycling, Astoria, bikepacking, oregon, pacificcoasthighway, surlybikes, surlylonghaultrucker, transamLeave a comment on Day 10: May 18th; Astoria rest day, 0 miles! | 2019-04-21T14:46:15Z | https://emiliebikesandhikes.com/category/pcht-oregon/ |
made many a critic’s top ten list for 2009. On this appearance, Mr. Konitz and Mr. Turner were joined by Ethan Iverson (of The Bad Plus fame) on piano, Ben Street on acoustic bass and the veteran Albert “Tootie” Heath on drums.
I arrived to the club early with a friend and was seated stage left when as fortune would have it Mr. Konitz came walking from behind the stage and sat right next to our table, looking to have a bowl of soup prior to his first set. After negotiating with a waiter to get him the mushroom bisque (an excellent and flavorful choice), Mr. Konitz was gracious enough to stay and talk. My first impression of the man was that at the age of eighty-two he was remarkably sharp and engaging, in a way that belied his age.
It became clear that he was uninterested in re-hashing what he had done in the past. As he said “Reminiscing doesn’t go well with soup.” He is an artist who prefers to live in the present; looking forward being a key to his creativity. Mr. Konitz has led several groups in the past, but for the most part he considers himself a sideman. The economic imperatives of the business have necessitated that he assemble musicians from various locales wherever he appears. The frequent influx of new musical plasma via these associations has been a source of inspiration for Mr. Konitz. Because he insists on unstructured spontaneous improvisation however, not all pairings with other musicians are successful. On this evening he related how during a recent appearance with pianist Brad Mehldau, the bassist Charlie Haden and percussionist Paul Motian, the musical communication was especially “in-sync”, so much so that he felt it was a near euphoric experience. Mr. Konitz was extremely forth coming about who he admired and who he felt as he said “…played too many notes”. His economical use of notes springs from his refusal to pre-arrange what he is going to play in any predetermined or predictably patterned way. I was taken by the journeyman way Mr. Konitz seemed to approach his craft. Dressed in a tan jacket that reminded me of the type of garment worn by a machinist or a precision watchmaker, he was unmistakably ready for work.
The first set started off with a composition titled “Solar”. Often attributed to Miles Davis, Mr. Konitz was sure to point out that it was really a Chuck Wayne composition (based on the song “Sonny”). Mr. Konitz and Mr. Turner immediately commenced with an intuitive display of subtle interplay, the two saxophones at times meshing and at times veering off into opposite directions but always maintaining a sense of the melody. A smiling Mr. Heath seemed to enjoy prodding the group with an array of hi-hat accents and rolls interspersed throughout, all the while maintaining his rhythmic continuity with Mr. Street. When Mr. Turner soloed he did so with a gentle waterfall of notes played in a deep mellow tone. When he played with Mr. Konitz his cadence was particularly well matched with the journeyman’s own.
The second song in this set was a Tristano composition titled “Naidu”, where Mr. Konitz and Mr. Turner once again showed a rare affinity for being able to feed off each others changing ideas. With telepathic skill they delivered these sympathetic thoughts independently and still presented them as one homogeneous statement.
Mr. Turner is a tall, thin player that tends to bend at the knees when he is playing. He compresses then elevates himself vertically during his solo excursions. His lanky appearance further accentuates his elastic playing. His notes are supple and warm and they stretch into and out of tension. Mr. Konitz by comparison offers a sturdy and compact profile that generates great energy from deep within his center. He sways slightly from the waist to the rhythm of the song. He thoughtfully contemplates what his next note will be based on what he is hearing from his fellow musicians, consequently always playing slightly behind the music.
On “My One and Only Love” pianist Iverson, who for the most part was quietly laying back in deference to the Maestro, played a nice duet with both Konitz and Turner.
Mr. Konitz has an impatient streak to him and he frequently and precociously interjected unexpected ideas during Iverson and Turner’s solos.
On “I Remember April” Turner and Konitz once again showed compatibility playing together in beautiful concert. Konitz played with a brightness that was sharp and vibrant. Turner responded with a deferential, lower register tonal burst that intertwined itself into and around what Konitz had just played. Iverson was by now more comfortable soloing with a passionate release of cascading notes that spurred Mr. Konitz on in the best interchange between the two of the performance.
On the final song of the set “What Is This Thing Called Love”, Mr. Iverson played in a percussive rhythmic style that was reminiscent of his work with his regular group The Bad Plus.
Playing as Mr. Konitz does, with no safety net, is a formidable task for most musicians, many of whom are used to having the material more worked out in advance. Mr. Street and Mr. Heath skillfully provided the rhythmic balance that allowed the two lead saxophonists the freedom to freely express themselves in this format. Mr. Konitz, who continues to thrill with his beautiful tone, his quiet energy and his inexhaustible creativity, has found in Mr. Turner the perfect foil whose tone, cadence and delivery is compatible with his own and whose musical inquisitiveness is equally inspirational.
Tony Malaby has gained notoriety as an avant-garde saxophonist who has daringly utilized multiple palettes of instrumentation to achieve the sound that he wishes to explore. This quest has made for some interesting pairings with artists such as guitarist Ben Monder, drummers Michael Sarin and Nasheet Waits, tuba player Marcus Rojas and cellist Fred Lonberg Holm. In each instance Malaby seems to breathe fresh inspiration from the wellspring of sounds these various stylists can bring to his musical table.
The Cornelia Street Café is a little gem of a club on Cornelia Street off Bleeker in the West Village, NYC. I had not been there in sometime but was familiar with the narrow lower level and the comfortable vibe of the place.
On this evening Mr. Malaby's group-the second iteration of this group- featured songs from their new cd titled Voladores. They brought instruments that included toms, snares, cymbals, bells, chimes, toy xylophones, multiple mallets and assorted percussive instruments of the two drummers, Tom Rainey and John Hollenbeck (who replaces Michael Sarin from the first album line up), along with the double bass of Drew Gress and Mr. Malaby’s saxophones.
Playing in a zone is a good way to describe what Malaby does. His musical conceptions seem to be loosely structured. They are mere skeletal armatures on which to build his creations. He and his fellow musicians breathe life into each composition as they add layer upon layer of skin, sinew, nerve and flesh. They organically, through improvisation, create the music you hear.
The group led off with an Ornette Coleman composition titled “Homogenous Emotions”. Here Mr. Malaby showed his ability to emit bellowing deep tones or switch to high-reaching screeches on his tenor with ease and fluidity. On “Old Smokey” the group showcased how deftly they could telepathically negotiate multiple time changes. The creative juices were flowing for Hollenbeck, who on what appeared to be a child’s xylophone, created the eerie sound of swarming locusts as he played the unlikely instrument with seed filled mallets.
Hollenbeck was especially mesmerizing as he utilized a variety of instruments in his percussive arsenal creating an at times surreal groundwork. This allowed Malaby the option to soar or ponder on both tenor and soprano saxophones as the mood suited him. The powerhouse bassist Gress and drummer Rainey provided what bottom the music allowed. Gress, at times, seemed unsure of what direction the music was taking him, but his arco work was particularly well matched with Malaby’s deeply toned tenor on the aptly titled “Dreamy Drunk”.
On “Sour Diesel” Gress played a repeating bass line as Malaby played soprano saxophone and Hollenbeck played what appeared to be a combination of bells and a breath-actuated keyboard. The unusual sound that Hollenbeck produced was a most effective counterpoint to the soprano. By about halfway through the song, Malaby had switched to tenor where his performance was the most poignant of the evening. The group ended the set with the title composition from the new release“Voladores”.
As an avant-gardist Tony Malaby’s concepts are daring, musically challenging, and worth experiencing. They can certainly be outside the comfort zone of those looking for modern music that is still lyrically and rhythmically traditional in its approach. Malaby’s music however represents a dynamic, restless spirit that continues to push the boundaries of what music is supposed to be. From such explorations great things can come. With the members of Apparitions he has found like-minded musicians that can allow him to realize this musical vision.
As the year draws to a close I am compelled to mention some of the other fine music that I have heard this past year. Following on the heels of my top five piano based jazz cd's, the following selections each have provided their own special magic for me. As I previously explained these selections are only taken from what I have heard and so my apologies to the artists whose great works I simply didn't have the chance to review this year.
David Binney (composer and alto saxophone); Craig Taborn (piano); Scott Colley (acoustic bass); Brian Blade (drums) Brass Section : Ambrose Akinmusire (trumpet); Brad Mason (trumpet, flugelhorn); Corey King (trombone); Andy Hunter (trombone).
This album plays like an extended musical suite. Binney shows his creative talents as a noteworthy composer. His powerful and emotional alto saxophone continues to be a modern and distinctive voice that stands out amongst his peers. Colley and Taborn anchor the proceedings, allowing Blade the opportunity to weave his percussive magic.The effective use of brass adds a dimension to this music that brings it into the realm of orchestrated jazz with a bite. Listen to Binney and Blade skillfully building the tension on Squares and Palaces.Binney has presented an artful offering with promises of more to come.
Donny McCaslin has been one of a new breed of tenor saxophonists that have taken up the mantle left by the late Michael Brecker. He has been an integral sideman for many of today's most creative bands and now is bursting into his own as a formidable solo artist. He possesses a fiery delivery that is not just bluster but a true extension of his inner burning flame. With Declaration he has made a brilliant, swinging and at times inspiring record of unusual beauty, passion and warmth.
(acoustic and electric guitars);Orlando Le Fleming(bass);Clarence Penn(drums);Gregoire Marmet (harmonica); Gretchen Parlatto (voice).
As a debut album, Triptych, is simply way above anything else I have heard from a new artist. Young Vasquez shows some real moxie on this creative, intelligent and enjoyable maiden voyage. He utilizes the voices of his various musicians very effectively. Vasquez is joined by a stellar group of musicians who organically weave his compositions into beautiful and coherent pieces of music. Special note to Adam Rodgers' wonderful guitar work on Nimbus. Gretchen Parlatto's haunting vocals on Triptych and Aaron Parks' sympathetic work throughout. An artist that we should be looking to for great things to come in the future.
James Moody (Tenor Saxophone); Kenny Barron (piano); Todd Coolman (bass); Lewis Nash (drums).
From the start of this album, with his playful but robust rendition of Secret Love you know you're in for a treat by a master. Moody's smooth, full toned saxophone is a pleasure to behold. He easily breathes refreshing ideas into old standards like 'Round Midnight, Stella by Starlight and East of the Sun making it obvious that he still has something to say in his inimitably joyful way. Moody is joined by the masterful Kenny Barron on piano and the fine rhythm section of Todd Coolman and Lewis Nash. These guy know and respect the tradition and it shows. At age eighty-four Moody is the keeper of the flame. Based on his mellifluous playing, (check out his easy swing on Kenny Barron's Voyage) the flame will be burning for quite some time within him.
Charlie Mariano with Philip Catherine and Jasper Van't Hof: The Great Concert (ENJ-95322).
With the passing of the great tenor saxophonist Charlie Mariano this year, the jazz world sadly lost one of it's truly creative voices. With this posthumously released live recording of this wonderful concert, we see the unbridled passion that Mariano could release from his horn at the ripe young age of eighty five! Beautiful to behold. Unfortunately for most American listeners, Mariano made his home in Europe since the early seventies. Many of us were deprived of seeing his penetrating artistry first hand. On this last concert, recorded in Stuttgart,Germany in May of 2009 with the wonderfully empathetic guitar virtuoso Philip Catherine and the pianist Jasper Van't Hof we find Mariano in a most pensive yet powerful mood. His voice is bright, clear and brimming with emotion. An extraordinarily powerful piece of music and a fitting epitaph to a lifetime of fine music.
First and foremost I want to say how impressed I have been with the quality of offerings that I have had the chance to preview this year. Most of these selections come from musicians that fly far under the radar of the general listening public. Admittedly there are many fine albums, many by more established artists, that I have not had the opportunity to listen to or review. Consequently my list in no way attempts to represent a very best of 2009 but simply the best that I have had a chance to hear. With that caveat firmly established here are some of my favorite cds from this year.
Lawrence Hobgood with Charlie Haden and Kurt Elling When the Heart Dances (Naim CD112) Exquisitely recorded by Ken Christianson, this album awakened my consciousness to the beauty of the playing of pianist Lawrence Hobgood. The under appreciated Hobgood has for years been successfully accompanying and arranging with vocalist Kurt Elling, who joins him brilliantly on three songs on this album First Song, Stairway to the Stars & Daydream. His poignant collaboration with the noble, warm bass of Charlie Haden is notable especially on Que Sera Sera, When the Heart Dances, Why Did I Choose You, New Orleans & The Cost of Living. His unaccompanied piano plays like a reverential benediction on his own compositions, Sanctuary & Leatherwood. A fine album from a pianist who we hope to hear more from in the near future.
Pianist Marc Copland has had a prolific year with several releases that all merit close attention. My favorite, this year, showcased the brilliant and sensitive Copland with a powerful trio made up of the buoyant Drew Gress on bass and the ubiquitous Bill Stewart on drums. There is a wonderful exhibition of subdued introspection-ala Bill Evans-on Copland’s three solo deconstructions of the touching Johnny Mandell song Emily. His treatment of the Julie Styne standard I Fall In Love Too Easily is equally moving. The eruptive force of Stewart’s drums and Gress’s elastic bass are perfect foils to Copland’s probing piano musings. On Gress’s Like it Never Was the interaction is moving and spookily telepathic. The album features three Copland compositions the somnambulistic "The Bell Tolls" along with the title tune "Night Whispers", and his visual "Scattered Leaves". An unusual take on the familiar Miles Davis classic "So What" is icing on this cake.
In celebration of a brief collaboration between Kuhn and saxophone titan John Coltrane back in 1960, pianist Kuhn has offered an inspiring album of rare warmth and elegance.The pianist carefully chooses a series of Coltrane tunes that are more in line with his own melodic sensibilities including Welcome, Song of Praise, Living Space, Central Park West, Configuration, Jimmy’s Mode and Spiritual.
The tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano, channels the spirit more than emulates the sound of Coltrane, and is featured on several compositions. Lovano is in top form and he and Kuhn can be especially poignant in their interplay.The rhythm section of David Finck on bass and Joey Baron on drums play with a respectful yet powerful energy. Kuhn’s ability to wretch emotion from his keyboard is touching on Crescent. On the free flowing treatment of Like Sonny, the entire group achieves a truly remarkable flow of oneness. Kuhn takes another run at his own composition Trance from his 1975 album of the same name. This time around he chooses to play the ostinato based melody solo. He delves more deeply into the nuances that he can produce from its core theme rather than concentrating on the driving, rhythmic nature of the original song. An interesting retrospective look at a song that I always found compelling. Kuhn is a treasure and with this album he has re-established himself as someone who is still at the top of his game.
I know, I know the Jeff Hamilton Trio is lead by the very talented drummer Jeff Hamilton, nonetheless with Chris Luty on bass and the marvelous piano of Tamir Hendelman, it makes my top five of piano based Cd’s for 2009. This album swings on songs like You Make Me Feel So Young or Fascinating Rhythm . The music can also pull at your heartstrings, like when Hamilton’s wellspring of ideas on drums spurs on Hendelman to pianistic magic on Midnight Sun. Luty’s inspired arco bass work and Hamilton’s airy brush strokes, on the somber Claus Ogerman composition Symbiosis is perfect for the pensive, classically inspired piano of Hendelman. Blues for Junior and Blues in the Night are straight ahead blues with no excuses. A pleasurable musical experience throughout.
I am sure this is not everybody’s cup of tea, but I enjoyed Easy Company a great deal. With unusual choices in material like the John Williams composed Star Wars inspired Imperial March to a hip treatment of the Cream classic White Room, Messers Epstein, Carothers and Cox stir up a convincing pot of piano based trio music that is surprisingly fresh. No two treatments are alike and the trio manages to push each other along to unexpected heights and around blind corners without any deleterious effects. Check out the emotionally evocative treatment by Cox on bass and Carothers on piano on Never Let Me Go. Carothers is an interesting, restless soul of a pianist who is hard to pigeonhole. Epstein and Cox are equally creative with something to say. They truly make for Easy Company. The entire album has the raw feel of a garage band recording where the musicians are serious about their craft but are having fun, prodding each other on and seeing where it takes them. It’s a fascinating ride that is worth the trip.
Check out my live performance review of Ravi Coltrane with Gerri Allen Trio at the Iridium as published on All About Jazz. | 2019-04-18T14:37:38Z | http://notesonjazz.blogspot.com/2009/12/ |
PAUL here claimed two things which are absolutely necessary to success in the Christian ministry. He could call the Gospel, “our Gospel,” and this is a foremost essential in a sent servant of Jesus Christ. Paul, Silas and Timothy, here speaking at once, declare the word which they had preached to be their own in a peculiar sense–every true minister must be able to do the same–we must, ourselves, have been saved before we preach salvation. “I believed, therefore have I spoken,” says the Psalmist. “We also believe, and therefore speak,” say the whole college of the Apostles. Without faith, the religious teacher is a mere pretender unworthy of respect.
The Christian minister must, however, not only believe the truth of what he asserts, but he must experimentally enjoy it. The farmer that labors must, himself, also first be a partaker of the fruit. Before Ezekiel delivered to the people the prophecies which were written in the roll, the voice came to him, “Son of man, eat this roll.” And he did not only take it into his mouth, where it was like honey for sweetness, but it descended even into his bowels and mingled with his innermost self. We must, ourselves, feel the weight of that burden of the Lord which we proclaim to others, or we shall not be ministers of the Apostolic sort, but rather shall be descendants of the hypocritical Pharisees who bound heavy burdens, grievous to be borne, upon other men’s shoulders but were not willing to touch them with so much as one of their fingers.
The Apostle Paul could, with peculiar propriety, call the Gospel his own. On the road to Damascus he had singularly experienced its mighty power. And afterwards–in many trials, in many difficulties, in varied experiences, in furious temptations–he had made each Truth of Scripture his own by having tasted its sweetness, handled its strength, proved its comfort and tried its power! Do not think of preaching, young man, until you have the Truth of God written on your very soul! As well think of steering the Great Eastern across the ocean without knowing the first principles of navigation! As well think of setting up as an ambassador without your country’s sanction as to dare to intrude yourself into the Christian ministry unless the Gospel is first your own.
No amount of training at Oxford, or Cambridge, or anywhere else–no extent of classical or mathematical teaching can ever make you a minister of Jesus Christ–if you lack the first qualification, namely a personal interest in salvation by Jesus Christ. What? Will you profess to be a physician while the leprosy is on your own brow? Will you attempt to stand between the living and the dead when you are, yourself, devoid of spiritual life? The priests of old were touched with the blood upon their thumb, toe and ear to show that they were consecrated everywhere. And none among us must dare to exercise any office for God among His people till first of all we know the cleansing, quickening, refining and sanctifying power of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ!
It must be our Gospel before we may so much as think of aspiring to the high and holy office of the Gospel ministry. But this alone is not sufficient. The Christian minister, if he would imitate Paul, must be very careful of his manner of life among the people. He must be able to say without blushing, “You know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.” Unselfishness must be our prominent attribute–all must be done for our people’s sake. And then we must, in our lives, show the truthfulness of our unselfish professions. O God, how much of Grace is needed that Your servants may be clear of the blood of all men and make full proof of their ministry!
It is not for us to say, “Go!” but, “Come!” We are not to bid you do anything without first doing it ourselves. It is an ill time with the preacher when he is compelled to say, “Do as I say and not as I do.” Evil practice will drown the best of preaching! Holy living, intense earnestness, passionate longing for souls, vehement importunity in prayer, humility and sincerity must so blend together in our walk and conversation, that having the Gospel to be our own, we may be fully fitted for the work of the Christian ministry–“for your sake”–that you who bear us may not find us unprofitable in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Having said this much upon the ministry itself, we observe that our text deals mainly with the hearers, and therefore has a voice for you. We shall use the text for two purposes–first, by way of discrimination. And, secondly, for instruction.
The text suggests and very strongly, too, a thoroughly heart-searching DISCRIMINATION–a mode of testing ourselves by which our election may be proven, or our unregeneracy discovered. The Gospel comes to all who hear it. In our own land, especially among you who constantly attend places of worship, it comes to you all. If I understand Scripture aright, it is the same Gospel which comes to the unregenerate as to the regenerate. And though in some it is “a savor of death unto death,” and in others, “a savor of life unto life,” yet the distinction is not in the Gospel but in the way in which it is received or rejected.
Some of our Brethren–who are very anxious to carry out the decrees of God–instead of believing that God can carry them out Himself, always try to make distinctions in their preaching. They preach one Gospel to one set of sinners and another to a different class! They are very unlike the old sowers, who, when they went out to sow, sowed among thorns and on stony places and by the wayside. These Brethren, with profound wisdom, endeavor to find out which is the good ground. They insist upon it that not so much as a single handful of invitations may be cast anywhere but on the prepared soil.
They are much too wise to preach the Gospel in Ezekiel’s fashion to the dry bones in the valley while they are yet dead. They withhold any Word of the Gospel till there is a little quivering of life among the bones! And then they commence operations. They do not think it to be their duty to go into the highways and hedges and bid all, as many as they find, to come to the supper. Oh, no! They are too orthodox to obey the Master’s will! They desire to understand, first, who are appointed to come to the supper and then they will invite them! That is to say they will do what there is no necessity to do. They have not faith enough, or enough subjugation of will to the supreme commands of the great Master to do that which only faith dares do–namely, tell the dry bones to live–bid the man with the withered hand stretch out his arm and speak to him that is sick of the palsy and tell him to take up his bed and walk!
It strikes me that refusing to set forth Jesus to all men of every character and refraining from inviting them to come to Him is a great mistake. I do not find David suiting his counsels to the ability of men. David gives commands to ungodly men–“Be wise, therefore, O you kings; be instructed you judges of the earth. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish from the way, while His wrath is kindled but a little.” He did not withhold his exhortation because they were such rebels that they would not, and could not, kiss the king. No! He told them to do it whether they could or not!
So with the Prophets. They boldly say, “Wash you! Make you clean! Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do well.” One of them absolutely cries, “Make you a new heart and a new spirit,” (Ezek. 18:31). And yet, I doubt not, that he was perfectly agreed with that other Prophet who taught the powerlessness of man in those two memorable questions, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?” These men did not think that they were to judge of what they were to preach by the degree of power in the hearers–they judged by the power which dwells in their God to make the Word effectual!
As it was with Prophets, so was it with Apostles! Peter cried to the crowd who gathered about the Beautiful Gate of the temple, “Repent you, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” They delivered the Gospel, the same Gospel, to the dead as to the living–the same Gospel to the non-elect as to the elect. The point of distinction is not in the Gospel, but in its being applied by the Holy Spirit, or left to be rejected of man. The same Gospel, it strikes me in the text, came to all! And the point of distinction was farther on, namely, in the operation of that Gospel upon the heart.
It appears, then, in the first place, that to some the Gospel comes only in words. Even here there are different levels. To some it only comes in words in a fashion that they scarcely know what it is all about. Some of you go to a place of worship because it is the right thing to do. You sit down on the seats and sit out an hour-and-a-half or so of penance. When that is done you feel you have performed a very proper act–but you have no idea what the talk was all about. It may be said of you that hearing you do not hear for your ears are dull and heavy.
You know no more of the Divine mind than the men who were with Saul on the road to Damascus who heard a voice but saw no man. I believe a very large majority of church goers know no more of what the preaching is about than did Jonathan’s lad when he ran after the arrows. Their flight David well understood, “but the lad knew nothing of the matter.” Too many are merely the stolid, unthinking, slumbering worshippers of an unknown God. In others the Word comes in a little better sense, but still in words only. They hear it and they understand it in theory, and probably are much pleased with it, especially if it is delivered in a manner which suits their taste, or which commends itself to their understanding. They hear and they do not quite forget.
They remember and are gratified with illustrations, doctrinal truths, and so on–but when you have said that, you have said it all. The Gospel remains in them as certain potent drugs remain in the chemist’s bottles–they are there but they produce no effect. The Gospel comes to them as an unloaded cannon rumbles into its shed, or as a barrel of gunpowder is rolled into the magazine–there is no force in it because the fire of God’s Spirit is absent. The preacher lashes the air and whips the water. He woos the wind and invites the cloud when he preaches to such as these. They hear, but hear in vain–insensible as steel.
To others it comes in a preferable manner but still only in words. They are really affected by it–the tears stream down their cheeks! They scarcely know how to sit. They resolve, if they once get home, they will pray. They think of amending their lives–past follies and present dangers come before them and they are somewhat alarmed. But the morning cloud is not more fleeing, and the early dew vanishes not sooner than these good things of theirs! They look at their natural face in the glass of the Word, but they go away and forget what manner of men they are–because the emotion felt is produced by the words and not by the Spirit and Life of the Truth of God. Why, Brothers and Sisters, men weep at a theater! And weep far more there than they do in many places of worship!Therefore, merely to weep under a sermon is no sign of having derived profit from it. Some of my Brethren are very great hands at unearthing the dead. They conduct you to the funeral urns of your parents, or remind you of your departed little ones, and possibly they may be the means of introducing better feelings by this kind of working upon your emotions! But I am not convinced of it–I am afraid that much of the holy water which is spilt from human eyes in our places of worship is not much more valuable than the holy water at the doors of the Catholic chapels! It is mere eye water, after all, and not heart sorrow.
Mere excitement produced by oratory is the world’s weapon in attaining its end. We want something more than that for spiritual purposes. If we could “speak with the tongues of men and of angels” and stir you up to as great an enthusiasm as ever Demosthenes worked in the Greeks of old–all that would avail nothing if it were only the effect of the preacher’s impassioned language and telling manner–the Gospel would have come to you “in word only.” And that which is born of the flesh is flesh and nothing more.
At this point I may very solemnly ask whether it is not true of some who compose the present congregation that you know the truth only in word? There is a certain class of persons, and some of them are present this morning, who are professional sermon hearers! You go one Sunday to hear Mr. A. And then another Sunday to hear Mr. B. And you carry with you our sacchraometers–instruments for measuring the quantity of sweetness in each sermon! And you take a gauge of the style and manner of the preacher. You estimate what blunders he makes and how he could be improved. And you compare or contrast him with somebody else, as if you were tea tasters tasting Souchong and Bohea, or cheese mongers trying Cheddar and American!
Some individuals of this order are little better than spiritual vagabonds without settled habitation or occupation! They go about from place to place, listening to this and to that and getting no good whatever. And as to doing good, the thought never enters their brain. You cannot expect that the Gospel will come to you in anything else but as a killing letter, for you go to hear it as merely words. You do not look for fruit–if you see leaves you are quite satisfied. You do not desire a blessing! If you did, you would receive it. It is at once one of the most wicked and one of the most foolish habits to waste our time in constantly criticizing God’s Word and God’s ministers.
Well said George Herbert, “Judge not the preacher, he is your judge.” What have you to do to say of God’s ambassador? That his words were not well mouthed? If God speaks by him, God knows who is best to speak for Him. And if his Master sent the man, beware lest you ill-treat him, or you may suffer like they of old who ill-treated the ambassadors of David and drove him to proclaim war against them.
According to the text, there are others to whom the Word comes with three accompaniments. The Apostle speaks of “power,” and “the Holy Spirit,” and “much assurance.” I do not think that the Word of God comes to many people with all these three things. It comes to a very numerous class with “power.” To a smaller number with “power and the Holy Spirit.” And to an inner circle of select ones “in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance.” If I have the meaning of this passage, and I am not so certain about it as to dogmatize, it strikes me that there are three degrees of effect produced by the Gospel.
At any rate, we shall not be wrong in saying that there is sometimes an effect produced by the Gospel which may be called “power,” but which, nevertheless, is not the power which saves. To many of you, my dear Hearers, the word of our Gospel has come with power upon your understandings. You have heard it, weighed it, judged it, and received it as being true and of Divine authority. Your understanding has assented to the various propositions which we have proclaimed as doctrines of Christ. You feel that you could not well do otherwise. These Truths of God agree so well and are so adapted at once to the ruin of your nature and to its best aspirations, that you do not kick, as some do, against it. You have been convinced of the authenticity and authority of the Gospel by the Gospel.
Perhaps you have never read “Paley’s Evidences,” and never studied “Butler’s Analogy,” but the Gospel itself has come to you with sufficient power to be its own witness to you and your understanding joyfully acknowledges that this is the Word of God and you receive it as such. It has done more than that–it has come with power to the conscience of some of you. It has convicted you of sin. You feel now that self-righteousness on your part is folly, and though you may indulge in self-righteousness, it is with your eyes open. You do not sin now so cheaply as you once did, for you know a little of the sinfulness of sin.
Moreover, you have had some alarms with regard to the ultimate end of sin. The Gospel has made you know that the wages of sin will be death. You feel that you cannot dwell with everlasting burnings. Your heart is ill at ease when you think upon the wrath to come. Like Felix you tremble when you are reasoned with concerning “righteousness and judgment to come.” And though you have put it off as yet and have said, “Go your way till I have a more convenient season,” yet it has come to you so far with a degree of power.
More than this, it has had an effect upon your feelings as well as upon your conscience. Your desires have been awakened. You have sometimes said, “Oh that I were saved!” You have advanced as far, at any rate, as Balaam when he said, “Let me die the death of the righteous.” Your feelings of hope are excited–you hope that you may yet lay hold of eternal life and your fears are not altogether dead–you tremble when under the Word of God. Natural emotions, which look like spiritual ones, have been produced in you by the beaming of the Word–though as yet the Gospel has not come with the Holy Spirit. Beyond all this, the Gospel has come with power to some of you on your lives. I can look with anxious pleasure upon some of you because I know the Gospel has done you much good, though it has not saved you.
Alas, there are others to whom it has only been for a time as a bit and bridle. But they have afterwards turned aside from it. There are those here, who, like the dogs, have gone back to their vomit and, like the sow that was washed, to their wallowing in the mire. We had hope for you once, but we must almost cease to hope. Certain persons rush into drunkenness after seasons of abstinence–having known the evil of the sin–and having professed to hate it. The passion has been too strong for them and they have fallen again into that deep ditch in which so many of the abhorred of the Lord lie and rot.
Oh, may God, in His infinite mercy, bring the Gospel with something more than this common power to your souls! May it come with “the Holy Spirit” as well as with power! You see, we have come up by steps to some considerable height already, but we now come to a far nobler elevation and speak of saving Grace. To many in this house, as at Thessalonica, the Word has come “in the Holy Spirit.” Brothers and Sisters, I cannot describe to you how it is that the Holy Spirit operates by the Word. The work of the Spirit is figured forth by some such mysterious timing as a birth, or as the blowing of the wind. It is a great secret, and therefore not to be expounded.
But many of you know it experimentally. The Holy Spirit, first of all, came to you as a great Quickener. How He made you live you do not know–but this you do know–that what you once had not, you now have! You know that there burns within you a vital spark of heavenly flame far different from that ordinary spark of life which had been there before! You now have different feelings, different joys, different sorrows from any you were conscious of before! While you were listening to the letter which kills, the Spirit of God came with it and the quickening Spirit made you live with a new, higher and more blessed life!
You now have within you Jesus Christ, who is Life and Immortality! You have Heaven begun within your heart! You have passed from death unto life and shall never come into condemnation! To you the Word of God has come with the Holy Spirit in a quickening sense. Then it entered with an illuminating power. It enlightened you as to your sins. What blackness you discovered in your sins when the Holy Spirit once cast a light upon them! Brethren, you had no idea that you were such sinners as you turned out to be. The Holy Spirit startled and astonished you with revelations of that great and fathomless depth of depravity which you found to be surging within your souls!
You were alarmed, humbled, cast into the dust. You began, perhaps, to despair–but the same illumination of the Spirit came in to comfort you–for He then showed you Christ Jesus! He showed you the unbounded power of His blood to take away your unbounded sins! He revealed to you His willingness to receive you just as you were, His suitability to your case and to your circumstances. And as soon as you saw Jesus in the light of the Holy Spirit you looked unto Him and were lightened–and therefore your face has never been ashamed.
So the Spirit of God came to you as light to dispel your darkness and give you joy and peace! Since that time you have experienced the Holy Spirit as comforting you. Amidst darkest shades He has risen as the sunlight upon your souls. Your burdens have been removed by Him, the blessed Paraclete! He has brought Christ, and the things of Christ, to your remembrance. He has opened up to you precious promises. He has cracked the shell and given you to partake of the kernel of the privilege of the Covenant of Grace. He has broken the bone and satisfied you with marrow and fatness out of the deep things of God. His dove-like wings, whenever they brood over you, bring order out of confusion and yield kindly comfort in the midst of adversity.
Not one should be silent!
When the Holy Spirit has blessed the Word, your heart has been like the altar of incense with the flame always burning and a sweet perfume going up, acceptable to the Most High!
Beloved, you have also felt the Holy Spirit with the Word as a spirit of rejoicing! Oh, the bliss we have sometimes tasted! I am very frequently heavy in spirit, but oh, the raptures which my heart has known when the Holy Spirit has shown me my eternal election of God! My standing in Christ Jesus! My completeness and acceptance in the Beloved! My security through the faithfulness of the eternal God! What delights come streaming into the soul when you read of everlasting love, of faithfulness never wavering, of affection never changing, of a purpose standing fast as pillars of brass and firm as the eternal hills!
Beloved, the highest point in the text is, “much assurance.” If I understand the passage, it means this–first, that had the fullest possible conviction of their interest in the Truth delivered to them! They were saved, but better still they knew that they were so! They were clean, but better still they rejoiced in their purity! They were in Christ, but what is more joyous still, they knew that they were in Christ! They had no doubts, as some of you have, no dark suspicions. The Word had come with such blessed demonstration that it had swept every doubt clean out of their hearts!
According to Poole the Greek word used here has in it the idea of a ship at full sail, undisturbed by the waves which ripple in its way. A ship, when the wind is thoroughly favorable and its full sails are bearing it directly into harbor, is not held back by the surging billows. True, the vessel may rock, but it neither turns to the right hand, nor to the left. Let the billows be as they may, the wind is sufficiently powerful to overcome their contrary motion and the vessel goes straight ahead.
I shall leave this first head of the text when I observe that this is the way in which God’s elect are known. The Apostle says, “Knowing, Brethren beloved, your election of God.” Why? Knowing it not by making a guess about it–not by questioning you whether you are awakened sinners–whether you are sensible or insensible sinners! Not by waiting to preach the Gospel to you when you are prepared to receive the Gospel–but preaching the Gospel to you as you were and finding out who were the elect by this–that the elect of God received the Gospel as it came, “in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance.” This is the test of election–the Holy Spirit blessing the Word!
Then shall it be equally clear that you are the elect of God. May the Lord grant that the word here may ever be like a powerful magnet thrust into a heap of steel filings and of ashes which shall attract all the filings and bring them out. For that is what the Gospel is to do–it is to discern between the precious and the vile! It is to be God’s winnowing fan to separate His elect from those who are left in their ruin. And it only can do this by the way in which it is received, proving the election of those who receive it, “in the Holy Spirit.” Thus much by way of discrimination.
II. Have patience for a few minutes while we now use the text by way of PRACTICAL INSTRUCTION. It is clear from the text, by way of practical instruction, that it is not enough to preach the Gospel. Something more is needed for the conversion of souls than even that. I have stirred you up very often to assist me, dear Brethren, in training those of our young men who have been called to preach the Gospel–that they may be more efficient in their ministry–and you have kindly helped me.
But we must ever bear in mind that though God should privilege us to send out hundreds of His ministering servants, yet there will not be a solitary case of conversion worked by them, alone. We wish to do our best to erect fresh places of worship for this ever-increasing city and it is a happy day to me whenever I see the top stone brought out of a new House of Prayer! But not one single soul shall ever be made to rejoice in Christ Jesus by the mere fact of a place of worship being erected, or of worship being celebrated in it! We must have the energy of the Holy Spirit! There is the one all-important matter!
What is there practical about this? Why, then it becomes more and more imperatively necessary that we should be much in prayer to God that the Holy Spirit would come! We have the spirit of prayerfulness among us as a Church. Let me earnestly entreat you never to lose it. There are certain of my Brothers and Sisters here who are never absent from our great gathering on Monday evening, and whose prayers have brought down many blessings! But it is the part of fidelity for me to say that there are some of you who might be here if you would, but seldom favor us with your presence. Or, let me say, who seldom do yourselves the happiness of waiting up on God in Prayer Meetings. You are not the best of our members. You will never be the best of them if you stay away without having a justifiable excuse.
I do not say this to those who I know must be absent. And I do not say it to bring women out who ought to be seeing to their husbands, or to bring men out who ought to be attending to their shops. But I say it to some who might as well be here as not, and would bring no detriment to themselves whatever by being here. And I must qualify what I say with this–I have less to complain of in this respect than any man in Christendom, for there is no place that I ever knew or heard of where the Prayer Meeting bears so good and fair a proportion to the Sunday gathering as it does here.
But still, Brethren, we want you ALL to pray! I would I could see you all! Oh, it were a happy day if we could see this place full on Monday evening. I do not know why it should not be. It strikes me that if your hearts were once to get thoroughly warmed we should fill this house for prayer. And what a blessing we might expect to receive! Why, we have had such a blessing already that we have not room enough to receive it now! But still, as the cup begins to run over, let it run over and over. There are many churches in this neighborhood that can catch the spillover and may they be profited thereby!
Let us increase our praying as we increase our doing. I like that of Martin Luther, when he says, “I have so much business to do today that I shall not be able to get through it with less than three hours' prayer.” Now most people would say, “I have so much business to do today that I must only have three minutes' prayer–I cannot afford the time.” But Luther thought that the more he had to do the more he must pray, or else he could not get through it! That is a blessed kind of logic–may we understand it! “Praying and provender hinder no man’s journey.” If you have to stop and pray, it is no more an hindrance than when the rider has to stop at the farrier’s to have his horse’s shoe fastened, for if he went on without attending to that, it may be that before long he would come to a stop of a far more serious kind.
Let us learn from the text our own indebtedness to distinguishing and Sovereign Grace. You observe, Beloved, that the Gospel does not come with the power of the Holy Spirit to everybody. If, then, it has come to us, what shall we do but bless and praise the distinguishing Grace which made it come to us? You observe that the distinction was not in the persons themselves–it was in the way in which the Gospel came. The distinction was not even in the Gospel, but in the attendant Holy Spirit, making it effectual. If you have heard the Word with power, it was not, dear Brethren, because you were more ready, because you were less inclined to sin, or more friendly towards God. You were an alien, a stranger, a foreigner, an enemy–you were “dead in trespasses and sins”–even as others were and are.
To Him all the glory belongs.
A third practical lesson we will but hint at, namely, we see that there are degrees of attainment even among those with the same qualities of life–you desire to possess its comforts and luxuries. I will commend you if you carry this into spiritual things. Do not be content merely to be saved, merely to be spiritually alive–ask to be valiant for the Truth of God! I should feel it a great honor, I hope, to be the most common soldier if called upon to defend my country. But I must confess I should not like to be in the ranks always. I should like, at least, to be made a corporal very soon and a sergeant as soon as possible. And I should grumble wonderfully much if I could not rise to rank among the commissioned officers!
I should like to be found doing my very best and I would reach to the most prominent position if I might better serve my country than in the ranks. So I think it should be with the Christian. He is not to seek for honor among men, but, if he can, by getting more Grace be more serviceable to his God and bring more honor to His name, why let him press forward! Ah, my dear Brethren, what business have you to be sitting still and saying, “It is enough.” The “rest-and-bethankful” policy is not much approved of in politics–and in religion it will never do! On! Forward! Upward! As the eagle takes for its motto, “Superior,” and still mounts higher and higher and highertill the young wing which first trembled at the height has grown into the strong pinion which makes him companion of the sun and playmate with the lightning, so let the Christian do! If he has learned to “run and not be weary,” let him seek to “mount up as on the wings of eagles.” Onward, fellow soldier! Be yet more valiant till your name is written among the first three.
You have been told that God waits to be gracious and that whoever looks to Christ shall live! Whoever calls upon the Lord shall be saved! Now, having heard this, regardless of what some may tell you, we feel bound, as in the sight of God, to warn you that if this comes “in word only” to you, it will increase your condemnation! Certain preachers think that this Word is not “a savor of death unto death” to any, but it is, it is! Whatever their theories, whatever hyperCalvinistic theology may say, it is God’s Word that it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the Day of Judgment than it shall be for cities like Capernaum and Bethsaida, which heard the Word and yet repented not!
Now they could not have been disobedient if it was not their duty to obey. No man is disobedient where there is no law. It is, therefore, the duty of every sinner hearing the Gospel to believe it! And if he does not, this same stone shall fall upon him and shall grind him to powder. Kiss the Son, therefore, lest He, lest He be angry and you perish from the way while His wrath is kindled but a little. The same Savior who blesses will be angry. He who loves His people, grows angry with those who reject Him.
And when His wrath is kindled but a little, woe unto the object of it! Blessed are all they that trust in Him and may we be found among that blessed number to the praise and glory of His Grace, wherein He makes us to differ according to the appointment of His own Divine will. May God bless this assembly for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen. | 2019-04-21T20:56:16Z | https://www.thekingdomcollective.com/spurgeon/sermon/648/ |
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In 2019, real estate investing is no longer easy. Most investors do not have the capital nor knowledge to be successful.
Today, we will show you how you can own real estate through an investment vehicle called Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT).
With REITs, aspiring investors like you, not need to worry about large capital requirements, house mortgage or need an extensive knowledge in property management.
psst...do share this guide if you find it useful!
Singapore Real Estate Investment Trusts (also commonly referred to as S-REITs) are listed companies that pool investors' capital to invest, own and operate real estate properties.
The properties are then leased out to tenants in return for rent. Investors who invest in REITs are co-owners of the REITs. They are entitled to earn rental income from the property assets which are distributed regularly.
Aside from that, investors also stand to benefit from the capital gain as the property value increases.
Although REITs may not be a common term to many non-investors, Singaporeans are no stranger to the properties owned or managed by these REITs.
Marina Bay Financial Centre is owned by Suntec REIT with 33% ownership. Suntec REIT is known for their commercial real estate portfolio. Currently, the REIT owns 7 landmark buildings at valuation of approximately $9.5 billion.
Gleneagles Hospital is owned by ParkwayLife REIT. Plife REIT has a total portfolio size of 49 properties valuing at approximately S$1.7 billion which makes them one of the largest healthcare REITs listed in Asia.
Paragon is a upscale retail mall managed by SPH REIT. The REIT owns only 2 buildings, Paragon and The Clementi Mall, and its portfolio is valued at approximately $3.23 billion.
If you have been investing in the stock market, then chances are you already have both the accounts. All you need is to know the code of the REIT you are interested in, and purchase it via your online brokerage platform or by calling your broker.
However if you are a complete new investor, the good news is you need not have to travel to the SGX CDP office (at Raffles Place or Buona Vista) to set up your account. You can go straight to a local brokerage firm directly to apply for both accounts in a single seating.
The turnaround time takes less than 7 working days depending on your broker.
As with stocks, investors can either choose to analyse and invest in individual REITs or invest in a basket of REITs through the use of ETFs.
ETFs are passive funds that aim to emulate the results of an underlying index. There are several REITs ETF listed in the SGX for investors to choose from.
One of the five investable themes mentioned in the SGX Thematic Indices is REITs.
SGX S-REIT Index aims to track the performance of real estate investment trusts (REITs) in Singapore.
The index is a free-float market capitalization weighted index which is reviewed bi-annually in March and September. Although the index is not commonly used by the media, investors can benchmark their performance against the index, and use it to determine the REIT market sentiment.
Alternatively, you can refer to SGX S-REIT 20 Index. It is also a free-float market capitalisation weighted index, but it measures only 20 SGX-listed REITs, selected by size and trading volume.
Launched in early 2017, NikkoAM-StraitsTrading Asia ex Japan REIT ETF is the first SGX-listed REIT ETF. It is a collaboration between Nikko Asset Management and Straits Trading Company.
Investors can tap on the REIT ETF to gain wide exposure to Asian REITs, without the constraint of large capital outlay.
SGX REIT makes up more than half of the portfolio while the remaining are diversified across Asia. The geographic breakdown is represented in the image above.
REIT investors are a unique bunch. Probably due to the lack of options they have in the market, most of them assume that all REITs are equally safe and that the only difference is the dividend payout they will receive.
The truth is, REITs investors face the same risks as any other stock investor. Hence, there is a need to do your due diligence and study the REIT that you are interested in.
Despite having a different structure to the traditional real estate investment structure, REITs are an investment which rely on the underlying real estate’s ability to generate income. As with all real estate investments, valuation of the REIT is important.
While you can rely on the Greater Fool’s Theory to bail you out, most investors should aim not to overpay for any REIT (or any other forms of investments). You wouldn’t want to overpay when you buy your new home either. So why would you want to overpay for REITs?
REITs that are worth investing in should be in sub-sectors that have a good investment outlook. This outlook can refer to any macro trend from interest rate and regulatory trends to industry and economic trends.
For example, we know that the global economy has been slowing down in the past few years. Because of this slowdown, it has indirectly impacted the rental market in the office REIT industry, leading to negative rental reversion.
Another example of macro trend is the rising importance of data centres as corporations begin to harvest data to implement data analytics. This directly increases the demand for data centres. Hence, REITs that offer such data storage services become a more desirable investment compared to office REITs in terms of investment outlook.
The nature of REITs lies between the behaviour of a stock and a bond.
REITs own a portfolio of properties and receives rental income from the properties’ tenants. These rental incomes are then distributed to the shareholders after accounting for expenses. This gives REITs a bond-like feature of quarterly dividend payments to shareholders, just like the quarterly coupon payments that bondholders receive.
On the other hand, REITs also behave like a stock where speculation, better valuation and forward outlook can push its share price higher to give shareholders capital gains. These capital gains can be driven by any catalyst.
Thus, one important characteristic that good REIT investments need to possess is the growth element. Stock investors should be quite familiar with the idea of growth stocks.
Good REIT investments should continue to be growing its net income on a year-on-year basis.
Organic growth through Asset Enhancement Initiatives (AEIs), positive rental reversion and increasing occupancy or capital recycling.
Inorganic growth through acquisition of new properties or invest in undeveloped properties.
Cap rate, or capitalization rate, is the rate of return on a real estate investment property based on the income that the property is expected to generate.
Some investors confuse cap rate with distribution yield due to its similarity in measuring a REIT’s income yielding ability. The difference is that cap rate measures a REIT’s income yielding ability against its underlying asset value whereas distribution yield measures a REIT’s income against its market capitalization.
Instead of just using distribution yield as your basis for comparison, use cap rate as an indicator of the REIT’s rental generating ability. A high cap rate can signal the management or property’s ability to command higher rental income. This can give you a better indication of whether the REIT in focus is actually generating good rental income or just using accounting shenanigans to make you think that it is a good investment.
After learning what an ideal REIT is, now let's take look at the three factors you should avoid when making investment in any REIT.
It might sound counter intuitive, but investing in REITs shouldn’t be just focusing on the potential dividend yield of the REIT.
Why does a troubled REIT like Sabana REIT have a double-digit yield of 11.8 percent in the past year compared to Keppel DC REIT’s 5.6 percent? Isn’t Keppel DC REIT supposed to be of better quality and growth prospects than Sabana REIT?
To answer that question, we first have to look at the total return that both REITs yield in the past year (let’s use CY2016 for a fair comparison).
In 2016, Sabana REIT share price fell by 25 percent (even if we exclude the significant drop in Jan 2017 from the rights issue announcement!). Now compare that with Keppel DC REIT’s performance over the past year of 18 percent gain. Even after getting an 11.8 percent yield from dividends, shareholders of Sabana REIT are still making a loss of 13 percent!
This is in stark contrast to the shareholders of Keppel DC REIT, which made 23.6 percent in 2016.
Apart from dividends, we would expect to make capital gains as well. So rather than looking at dividend alone, we should instead be looking at the total return that we can generate from the REIT.
REITs stand for Real Estate Investment Trust. This means that investing in REITs are like investing in real estate, albeit without property cooling measures like ABSD. As for any real estate investment, the macro outlook of the economy influences the returns of the investment. For REITs, there are five sub-sectors: Office, Retail, Industrial, Hospitality and Healthcare.
Each sub-sector has a different outlook considering the economics factors affecting them.
There are still outstanding REITs within each sub-sector. However, the opportunity cost of investing in outstanding REITs of sub-sectors with poor macro outlook is still high. The capital could be put into better use in sub-sectors that have good growth potential.
Although REITs such as CapitaMall Trust remains an outstanding REIT in the retail sub-sector, why not place our capital in Keppel DC REIT instead where there is clearer and more visible growth?
Most REITs typically use debt to finance the acquisition of new properties into their portfolio. Thus, investments in REITs will expose investors to interest rate risk. This means that as interest rate increases, it will negatively impact the earnings of REITs and thus, affect the distribution for REITs.
To determine the relative amount of debt a REIT has, we use gearing ratio as a gauge. Gearing ratio represents a REIT’s amount of debt over its total assets. As the ratio increases, it signifies the more debt the REIT has over each unit of asset. Investors are exposed to higher interest rate risk when REITs are over-leveraged (high gearing level).
While we are not saying that all REITs with high gearing ratio shouldn’t be considered, we need to keep in mind that higher gearing ratio exposes our portfolio to higher interest rate risk.
(Note that there are also some REITs that raise finance through equity via rights issue like Sabana REIT, Ascott Residence Trust and Keppel REIT).
Shopping malls you visit are most probably owned by a retail REIT.
If you consider investing in these REITs, you should assess the health of the retail industry itself, as it is one of the major influence factors of your future profits. Keep in mind that retail REITs generate profits by renting space to its tenants. If their tenants have cash flow issues, they may not be able to pay their rent on time. Some of them may even default on their payment.
In such situations, the REIT has to find a replacement quickly and this isn’t always possible. If you intend to invest in retail REITs, look out for those with very strong anchor tenants. Once you’ve finished with your analysis, you have to analyze the REIT itself. Look for signs of strong balance sheets, sustainable profits and little debt.
Residential REITs own and manage manufactured housing and rental apartments or buildings.
When analysing such REITs, consider how affordable homes are in the target area, compared to the country average. Wherever home affordability is low, the number of people who are forced to rent is higher, thus increasing the rental prices. As a consequence, most major residential REITs focus on big urban areas.
Investors also look at population and job growth. Cities with blossoming economy attract more people, therefore bringing a higher demand for rental homes.
Rising rents combined with low supply are ideal conditions for residential REITs. As in any other industry, companies with the strongest balance sheets afford to make the best investments.
These are the REITs that focus their investments in office buildings. Their income comes from the rental of office space. The main advantage is that they usually deal with long term leases.
Office REITs may also be seen as a subset of industrial REITs.
Industrial REITs manage and own industrial facilities, they rent these spaces to their tenants. These spaces include (but are not limited to) warehouses, distribution centers and specialised facilities.
It’s important to take a look at the spaces and facilities that these REITs own and understand the industry players whom are renting the spaces. Also note that due to the shear volume of space each facility holds, losing a tenant may be a huge blow for industrial REITs with little assets.
These REITs hold properties in the hospitality sector such as hotels, budget accommodations, serviced apartments or short term lodging facilities.
It may sound attractive to be able to own hotels through Hospitality REITs, but there are a few considerations you will have to note as well.
Understand how the hospitality sector is doing. When the economy is poor, the hospitality sector would be expected to face lower sales and occupancy rates, especially if the hotel is focused on tourism.
It is good to take a look at the properties owned by the hospitality REIT and understand its average occupancy rate. As these properties are sustained by short term stays and lease, their performance can be volatile and highly responsive to economic movements.
Healthcare REITS focus their investments in various medical facilities such as hospitals, medical centers, nursing homes and retirement facilities. Their success is tightly connected to the evolution of the healthcare system.
When looking to invest in healthcare REITs, you should choose the ones that rely on a diversified group of clients with a wide range of property types.
Buying REITs has often been seen as an alternative to buying physical properties. But which is a better form of investment? What is the difference between the two?
This section explores the differences between buying REITs and actually owning the physical properties.
While REITS have a similar exposure to the real estate market, they are somewhat different when considered from the point of view of a investment portfolio.
First, we will look at the advantages of REITs versus physical properties.
High Liquidity - One of the main advantages of REITs is that it is relatively easy for an investor to enter or exit the investment, since they are traded just like stocks on the stock exchange. On the other hand, property owners will take a while to find a buyer at the right price and the transaction process generally takes a few months.
Invest with Minimum Capital Outlay - The minimum cost of most property investments is substantial, for example a $500,000 property with 80% loan to valuation will require $100,000 down payment. (not including other extra costs such as legal fees, stamp duty, etc). For REITs, the minimum outlay is 1,000 shares, some REITs may even cost less than $1,000. For example Starhill Global costs about $740 at the point of writing.
Management Team Handles Tenants and Maintenance - One of the most troublesome aspects of managing physical properties is dealing with tenants and maintenance of the property. There are many scary stories of bad tenants, tenants who don’t pay rent, tenants who damage your property etc. Bad tenants can cause a lot of problems and headaches for the property owner. It is also important to maintain the properties such as the flooring, plumbing, painting, etc, since the properties age over time.
Diversification into Office, Retail, Industrial, Healthcare - While it is easy to buy residential properties, investing in commercial properties takes a lot of more knowledge and experience. Investing generally in office, strata retail and industrial properties are common for a commercial property investor, but buying actual retail malls will be very tough due to the high costs. REITs not only allow investors to take part in the largest shopping malls, but also hospitals, prestigious office buildings and more.
Volatility of REIT Prices - Since REITs are traded on the stock exchange, the stock price of the REIT is subject to market volatility like any other stocks. Physical property valuations are generally more stable and are unlikely to experience wild swings on a daily basis.
Management Fees - While you save a lot of hassle with REITs, the management team does charge a handsome management fees which eats into your returns. Management fees are paid not only on the basis of asset valuation, but also each time a property is acquired or divested by the REIT.
Lower Leverage Power - In general, most REITs have a leverage cap of 35% without a credit rating and up to 60% with a credit rating. Physical properties on the other hand can easily get 60% to 80% loan to valuation ratio, hence the returns can be much higher.
The combination of management fees and lower leverage power means that returns from REITs are unlikely to beat returns from property investments.
However, the high leverage in property investments also means that it is more risky. A bad property investment can seriously damage an investor’s financial wealth.
All in all, REITs provide an easy, low risk investment option to gain exposure to diversified portfolio of properties.
Many investors always confuse about Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) and Business Trust (BT). Although both of them have the name of trust but the nature of both trusts is quite different. Due to these differences, both trusts behave differently in the market.
Trust Objective - The objective for both trusts is very different. REIT is focus on passive investment vehicle which look for passive income while Business Trust actively engage in undertaking business operations. If you are an investor looking for passive income, you should invest in REIT rather than Business Trust.
Dividend - The regulation for dividend distribution is not the same for REIT and Business Trust. REIT is mandatory to distribute at least 90% of disposable income to the unitholders while Business Trust is not mandatory to distribute dividend. However, Business Trust can distribute dividend from operating cash flow. This means that even though the net profit of Business Trust is less than zero, Business Trust still can distribute dividend if the operating cash flow is positive. Because of this reason, Business Trust tends to own business that has high operating cash flow.
Gearing Limit - REIT maximum gearing limit is only 35% for non-rated REIT and 60% for rated REIT. But for Business Trust, there is no gearing limit. Both has pro and con for this gearing limit. Gearing limit for REIT is good for investors who have low risk appetite while Business Trust can increase their leverage without limit is suitable for investors who have high risk appetite.
Voting Rights - REIT requires at least 50% of voting right to pass through certain proposal while Business Trust requires at least 75% of voting right. This means that the controlling interest for Business Trust is only required to hold more than 25% of the company. Because of this reason, Business Trust tends to have higher free float and can raise more fund from issuing units to the public investors.
Investment Restriction - At least 90% of income for REIT must be generated from rental income while there is no restriction for Business Trust. This can be bad if the property market is in downturn, the income for REIT may be affected and thus lower dividend for the unit holders.
So, which one should you invest? REIT or Business Trust? That decision is highly dependent on the investment objective of the investor.
If you are looking for passive income, REIT may be a better choice. If you are looking for higher return, Business Trust tends to give higher return but come with higher volatility and high risk.
You now know what to look for and avoid in REITs. But that’s not all. In your REITs investing journey, you will need to understand REIT specific terms. This section highlights the essential terms you should know.
Weighted Lease Average Expiry (WALE) is a metric used by investors to access the likelihood of REITs’ properties portfolio being vacant. As we all know, income generated by REITs are derived from leasing out spaces. Hence, occupancy would hurt REITs’ earnings and therefore resulting in a distribution loss.
There are two ways to measure WALE. Either by using rentable area or rental income, measured across all tenants’ remaining lease in years.
What it tells us is that the average lease expiry of the properties portfolio is 3.65 years.
As with all metrics, the figure has to be measured across similar sectors to conclude whether it is over or below the industry average.
High WALE implies greater income protection due to later lease expiry term. However, the main downside is that the REIT is not able to capitalize higher rental during market boom as its average lease expiry is longer.
Low WALE, on the other hand, has higher susceptibility towards rental market movement as shorter expiry term means frequent rental renewal. This allows the REIT to capitalize higher rental but at the same time means that it is susceptible to lower rental yield during bad time.
When an acquisition is accretive, the company would expect to produce higher EPS when it acquires properties. Therefore it is able to give a higher distribution to investors.
In REITs, managers often ensure their property acquisitions are yield accretive in order to win investors votes to pursue an acquisition and raise capital, usually through rights issue.
Acquisition that is not yield accretive would be seen as destroying investor value.
A rights issue is a right to buy additional shares / units in a REIT. It is issued to the REIT’s existing unit holders, usually at a discounted market price in proportion to their holdings.
For example, rights issue of 1:4 means for every four shares you own, you have the option to purchase 1 share at a discounted price as stated in the rights issue.
REITs often use rights issue to raise capital for potential acquisition that are deems to be yield accretive. Unlike raising through debt, rights issue does not increase the financial gearing of the REITs.
Existing unit holders are given the opportunity to purchase more of their holdings at a cheaper price than what they get from the stock market.
As rights issue requires REITs to create more units. Investors who do not participate in the offering would find their proportion of unit holdings diluted.
DPU = Total Dividend /Distribution ÷ Number Of Shares.
DPU is known as distribution per unit. It tells investors how much dividend / distribution they would get for every share they own.
NAV Per Share = (Assets Market Value – Liabilities Value) ÷ Number of Shares.
NAV is known as Net Asset Value. It gives us an indicative value of what investors would get if the Company liquidates all of its assets and pays off its liability.
NAV is normally used to compare against market prices to determine above or under valuation of the assets.
RNAV Per Share = (Revised Assets Market Value – Revised Liabilities Value) ÷ Number of Shares.
RNAV is known as Revalued Net Asset Value.
It is similar to NAV except that the assets and liabilities are adjusted to market value. RNAV is mostly used on property stocks with land that are valued at old prices.
Gearing is a metric used by investors to access a REIT’s financial leverage.
A company with high gearing is said to be more vulnerable during recession as it has to continue to pay interest no matter how bad the earnings are.
Should the REIT be unable to pay its interest or principal on time, the REIT may fold up. Since July 2015, MAS has imposed a gearing limit of 45% for all REITs.
Cap. Rate is known as Capitalization Rate or property yield.
It is a measure of the property income yielding capability. Most REITs have their individual property Cap. Rate stated in their annual report.
A high Cap. Rate suggests either the REIT managers’ abilities to negotiate for higher income or could also mean the property value has depressed.
AEI is known as Asset Enhancement Initiative.
Refurbishment, revamp and upgrades of existing property assets are examples of Asset Enhancement Initiatives.
The goal is to optimise the value of a REIT’s existing asset properties value with the aim of increasing rental income. This is very common in Singapore especially in shopping malls.
How To Get Started in 2019?
If you are a aspiring investor looking to own a piece of Singapore property with low starting capital, while earning a regular income, we hope this complete guide to Singapore REITs have convinced you to start looking at REITs as an option.
We have provided the key fundamentals to REITs investing in Singapore via the various sections above. You should be able to understand frequently used terms in REITs, understand what to look out for in a profitable REIT, and how to actually invest and buy a REIT.
Our Early Retirement Masterclass trainer, Christopher Ng Wai Chung has had frequent discourse with us on the power of REITs as a dividend investing tool. His results back up his actions. He retired at 39 with a passive income of $6,000 - $8,000/month. And his retirement was never threatened by the birth of his second child or his desire to go to law school at SMU.
40 pages filled with actionable tips and tactics to bring you from complete beginner to expert.
Covers everything. From 6 REITs sectors in Singapore to 2 REITs investing tools you must know and, all the Essential Terms that will transform you into a smart REITs Investor. | 2019-04-25T16:24:36Z | https://www.drwealth.com/singapore-reits/ |
Elation and irritability may seem like relatively harmless swings of behavior, but a new study finds that in some individuals these may signal a high risk for development of bipolar disorder. In a report published online July 27 in the Journal of Affective Disorders, researchers at the University at Buffalo said that "elation and/or irritability, if accompanied by trouble concentrating, racing thoughts, or hyperactivity, may represent a prodrome of formal bipolar disorder that indicate close follow-up and cautious use of antidepressants."
The study population was 40,512 noninstitutionalized adults who took part in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions and who in 2001-2002 (Wave 1) didn't meet criteria for lifetime mania or hypomania, but indicated the presence of elation and/or irritability. (The survey is sponsored by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.) The researchers studied the same cohort in 2004-2005 and found that "The likelihood of developing a clear episode of mania or hypomania by Wave 2 was significantly increased in subjects with elation or only irritability at Wave 1, compared with subjects who did not endorse either. Endorsement of both symptoms at Wave 1 increased the likelihood of a new epsisode of mania or hypomania 4.6 times, which was significantly higher than for those with only elation or irritability."
Read more about recent research on bipolar disorder in Psychiatric News here and here.
Writing about a trauma one experienced can counter posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), at least in individuals experiencing PTSD provoked by a motor-vehicle accident, a study reported July 20 in Behavior Research and Therapy suggests. The study assessed 46 subjects with a diagnosis of accident-related PTSD, randomly assigned to either the writing intervention or a wait list. Significantly fewer writing subjects met diagnostic criteria for PTSD at evaluations conducted 18 weeks after baseline assessments, when compared with wait-list subjects. The study was headed by Denise Sloan, Ph.D., of the National Center for PTSD in Boston.
That study adds to other noteworthy PTSD studies that have recently been reported. In one such study, researchers found that giving trauma survivors cognitive therapy shortly after the trauma or waiting a few months to begin the therapy yielded similar results. In another study, this one conducted with survivors of a devastating earthquake, genes that control the production of serotonin were associated with PTSD symptoms, pointing to a potential biomarker for PTSD. See Psychiatric News here and here.
When 25 healthy young women were shown pictures of food, the extent to which their brains' reward-addiction center—the nucleus accumbens—responded predicted how much the women subsequently ate. The study was headed by Natalia Lawrence, Ph.D., of the University of Exeter in England. The results appeared July 6 in Neuroimage.
Other recent research in the area of eating disorders and their etiology has pointed to the possibility that some cases of obesity are due to a food addiction and may be linked to genetics. For more information on this theory, see Psychiatric News.
In fact, binge eating disorder (BED), which has been proposed as a diagnosis to be added to the next edition of APA's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), might be considered a food addiction because a major criterion for it is loss of control over eating behavior. Yet how the mechanism of loss of control in BED compares with the loss of control in other addictions remains to be determined. To read more about this topic, see Psychiatric News.
Experiencing traumatic experiences and developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are more frequent in patients with serious mental illness than in the general population, according to a report in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. The study included 102 patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or schizoaffective disorder, diagnosed using DSM-IV criteria. Epidemiological and clinical data were collected using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and Traumatic Life Events and Distressing Event questionnaires.
Researchers found a high number of traumatic experiences in these psychiatric patients, and 15.1 percent of the patients met all PTSD diagnosis criteria. Among patients with a serious mental illness and PTSD, 64.3 percent had made some attempt at suicide at some point in life, compared with 37.4 percent of patients without PTSD.
The study, “Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Comorbidity and Clinical Implications in Patients With Severe Mental Illness,” is online here. For much more information about PTSD see Psychiatric News, here and here.
The recreational drug 3,4-methylinedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, popularly known as “ecstacy”) appears to impair memory, according to a study in the journal Addiction.
Of 149 MDMA-naive subjects examined at the initial assessment of the study, 109 subjects participated again after 1 year. During this period, 43 subjects did not use any other illicit substance apart from cannabis; 23 subjects used more than 10 MDMA pills. These groups were compared for performance on a neuropsychological test battery that included measures of learning, memory, and frontal executive functions. In addition, a comprehensive number of possibly relevant confounders including age, general intelligence, cannabis use, alcohol use, cigarette use, medical treatment, participation in sports, nutrition, sleep patterns, and subjective well-being was assessed. Change scores were compared for the new users and the MDMA-naïve subjects between the initial examination and follow-up. Groups did not differ in any of the potential confounders. However, significant effects of immediate and delayed recall in learning tasks were observed between MDMA users and controls, suggesting serotonergic dysfunction in hippocampal regions as a consequence of MDMA use.
The study, “A prospective study of learning, memory, and executive function in new MDMA users,” is online here. For more information about effects on mental health of ecstacy, see Psychiatric News here.
Individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder appear to be at an elevated risk of several kinds of cancer, including lung, breast, and colorectal cancer. This startling finding came from a prospective study of more than 3,300 adult Maryland Medicaid recipients with serious mental illness who were followed from 1994 through 2004; study results are published in the July Psychiatric Services. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland found that total cancer incidence in the study population was 2.6 times higher than in the general U.S. population. The highest risk was for lung cancer. No differences in risk were found between whites and African Americans in the study cohort, which differs from studies of the general U.S. population, in which African Americans are at higher risk than whites for several types of cancer.
The researchers suggest that "High rates of smoking in the population with serious mental illness likely contribute to lung cancer incidence, and research suggests a possible but inconclusive elevated risk of breast cancer due to low rates of childbearing and increased prolactin levels caused by use of particular psychotropic medications. The risk factors contributing to high risk of colon cancer are less understood but may be related to smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, or a diet high in fat and low in fruits and vegetables."
Read the complete report of the study in Psychiatric Services. To read interviews with psychiatrists who specialize in treating cancer patients, see Psychiatric News.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has issued a $5 million grant to Gary Matyas, Ph.D., to support his research into a new vaccine that could treat heroin addiction as well as prevent HIV infection in those receiving the vaccine. Matyas, of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) in Silver Spring, Md., is the 2012 recipient of the NIDA Avant-Garde Award for Medications Development and will receive $1 million a year for five years. "This is precisely the type of ground-breaking research NIDA's Avant-Garde program was designed to support," said NIDA Director Nora Volkow, M.D. "The implications for public health are enormous."
NIDA and WRAIR began a research collaboration on development of the joint vaccine two years ago. At this point, the heroin component of the combination vaccine has been created and is ready for advanced preclinical testing. Matyas noted that "The possibility of creating a combination heroin-HIV vaccine provides an important opportunity to address both a unique treatment for heroin abuse as well as continuing the quest to develop an effective preventive HIV vaccine."
Heroin is not the only illicit drug that vaccine researchers are targeting. Progress has also been made in developing a vaccine against cocaine abuse. Read more about cocaine-vaccine research in Psychiatric News.
The percentage of girls who experienced a major depressive episode in the preceding year tripled between the ages of 12 and 15—from 5.1 percent to 15.2 percent, respectively, according to a new report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
The report also shows that an annual average of 1.4 million adolescent girls age 12 to 17 experienced a major depressive episode in the past year and that adolescent girls aged 12 to 17 are three times more likely to have experienced a major depressive episode in the past year than their male counterparts (12 percent versus 4.5 percent).
Another major finding was that older adolescent girls experiencing major depressive episodes were more likely to receive treatment than younger ones – about two-fifths of girls aged 15 to 17 received treatment as opposed to only one-third of the girls aged 12 to 14.
The report, “Data Spotlight: Depression Triples between the Ages of 12 and 15 Among Adolescent Girls,” is based on combined data from the 2008 to 2010 SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The full report is available here. For more information about adolescent mental health, see Psychiatric News here.
If older depressed adults are treated with an antidepressant, the medication is less likely to benefit their workiing memory and executive function if they score high on vascular risk factors.
So reported Yvette Sheline, M.D., a professor of psychiatry at Washington University, and colleagues in the August American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
Having vascular disease or severe vascular risk factors may also explain why older individuals develop depression in the first place. To learn more about this subject, visit Psychiatric News.
More information about late-life depression is available in the American Psychiatric Publishing book Essentials of Geriatric Psychiatry, Second Edition.
Movies and TV shows can be a major source of information for the public about mental illness, but when it comes to protraying schizophrenia, they often rely on inaccurate and even harmful stereotypes that contribute to stigma. Movie characters such as the "homicidal maniac" are examples of one common stereotype.
For more information and the results of the study, click here.
Results from a phase 3 clinical trial of a once-promising new medication to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD) showed that the drug failed to improve either cognition or daily functioning. Pfizer is developing the drug along with the Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy division of Johnson & Johnson. The clinical trial tested bapineuzumab in 1,100 people with mild to moderate AD, all of whom have the ApoE4 gene, which has been shown to increase the risk of developing the disease. In a July 23 press release, Pfizer said that while the company was disappointed in the results, further studies of bapineuzumab are planned, and data from a clinical trial in about 1,300 AD patients who do not carry the ApoE4 gene will be available soon. The drug is an antibody that binds to beta-amyloid in the brain—that protein is widely believed to be a cause of AD. The companies expected bapineuzumab to destroy beta-amyloid deposits. Commenting on the study results, Samuel Gandy, M.D., director of the Center for Cognitive Health at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, told the New York Times that since the brain plaques likely develop years or even decades before symptoms appear, "All these symptomatic trials are 25 years too late. I'm not terribly disappointed and I'm not discouraged" by the bapineuzumab data.
Read much more about bapineuzumab and the search for an Alzheimer's treatment in Psychiatric News here and here.
In a large prospective study of some 46,000 women in which levels of antibodies to the parasite Toxoplasma gondii were measured at childbirth, researchers linked infection with the parasite to suicide during the subsequent decade or so after they gave birth. The lead scientist was Marianne Pedersen, M.Sc., of Aarhus University in Denmark. The results were reported online this month in the Archives of General Psychiatry.
In a previous prospective study conducted with the same large cohort of women, and in which levels of antibodies to T. gondii were also measured at childbirth, Pedersen and her team linked infection with T. gondii to the subsequent development of schizophrenia. For more information about this study, see Psychiatric News.
Skin cells taken from patients with Alzheimer's disease can be reprogrammed into brain cells with the help of a particular stem cell research technique, Andrew Sproul, Ph.D., and colleagues at the New York Stem Cell Foundation reported at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Vancouver July 16. The reprogrammed cells can be used to explore the biology of Alzheimer's and for early-stage testing of potential Alzheimer's treatments, the scientists believe. One advantage of the technology, Sproul said, is that it can generate a nearly infinite supply of brain cells.
Other Alzheimer's advances were reported recently at a National Institutes of Health-sponsored Alzheimer's summit—notably, that results from three trials of experimental Alzheimer's drugs will be announced later this year. For more information about the search for weapons to fight Alzheimer's, see Psychiatric News.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the use of the industrial chemical bisphenol A (BPA) from use in baby bottles and sippy cups. Industry experts say that manufacturers have already stopped using the chemical in these items, and the FDA's decision is a response to a request by the American Chemistry Council that allowed BPA use in those items be phased out, in part to boost consumer confidence.
A New York Times article about the decision explains that BPA can leach into food, and cites a study of more than 2,000 people that found more than 90 percent had BPA in their urine. Traces have also been found in breast milk, the blood of pregnant women, and umbilical-cord blood. In 2010, the FDA said that it had concerns about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland of fetuses, infants, and children, but declined to ban use of the chemical.
Read more about the effects of BPA on neurobehavioral measures in infants in Psychiatric News, here.
A gunman wearing a bullet-proof vest opened fire in a crowded movie theater in Aurora, Colo., during a midnight showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" last night. At least 12 people were killed and as many as 50 others are being treated for injuries. The suspect is a 24-year-old male who entered the theater through an emergency door that had been propped open. He was reportedly wearing riot gear and threw a tear-gas canister into the theater before opening fire with an automatic weapon. He was apprehended in the parking lot of the shopping center where the theater is located and is in police custody.
Aurora, a Denver suburb, is about 13 miles from Littleton, Colo., site of the April 1999 Columbine High School massacre in which teenage students Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris killed 13 people and wounded 23 others before killing themselves.
Read about how Virginia psychiatrists responded to the more recent mass shooting at Virginia Tech University in 2007, in Psychiatric News, here.
Middle-school students are hazy about the causes and treatment of mental illnesses and have mixed attitudes toward people with mental illness. In a survey of 193 students in four states, 65% expressed uncertainty about whether mental disorders are caused by biological factors, and only 37% believed that medications are helpful in treating mental illness—a surprise to Otto Wahl, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the University of Hartford, and colleagues, writing in the July Psychiatric Services. However, 72% of the students said that people with mental illness are treated unfairly.
But feelings seemed to vary inversely with distance. About 78% of students said they would talk to a person with mental illness, and 56% wouldn’t mind having one as a classmate, but just 14% would go on a date with a person who has a mental illness. Lack of knowledge about mental illness may make it hard for young people to recognize symptoms in themselves or their peers, and negative group attitudes may hinder willingness to seek care, suggested the authors.
To read more about this study, see Psychiatric News here. For an abstract of the study in Psychiatric Services, click here.
Poor sleep patterns have been linked with several physical and mental health problems, but new data may motivate those who have difficulty getting to or staying asleep to do something about the problem. Studies reported at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Vancouver have found that chronic sleep difficulties are linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. The largest of the studies involved more than 15,000 participants aged 70 or older in the Nurses' Health Survey. They had an initial cognitive assessment between 1995 and 2000 and were followed-up every other year for six years. Their average hours of sleep were determined in 1986 when the women were between ages 40 to 65 and again in 2000. Researchers found that too little or too much sleep was cognitively equivalent to aging by two years. After assessing the presence of beta-amyloid brain changes in a sample of the participants, they also found that "extreme sleep durations and changes in sleep duration over time may contribute to cognitive decline and early Alzheimer's changes in older adults."
The researchers pointed out that "The public health implications of these findings could be substantial, as they might lead to the eventual identification of sleep- and circadian-based strategies for reducing risk of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's."
Read more about recent findings in Alzheimer's research in Psychiatric News here and here. For a comprehensive look at assessment and treatment of Alzheimer's see Clinical Manual of Alzheimer and Other Dementias from American Psychiatric Publishing.
Nearly 1 in 5 older Americans have a mental health or substance abuse disorder, but the mental health care workforce falls far short of the number needed to treat these individuals, according to a new report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM). And with the number of adults aged 65 or older poised to soar over the next two decades, the shortage of geriatric mental health professionals will approach crisis levels. The IOM pointed out that for decades policymakers have warned that trained geriatric specialists are especially needed to provide mental health care and that along with inadequate numbers, there is also "insufficient workforce diversity and lack of basic competence and core knowledge in key areas."
APA issued a statement saying it "strongly supports" the IOM report, which is titled "The Mental Health and Substance Use Workforce for Older Adults: In Whose Hands?" and includes recommendations to help ameliorate the building crisis. Among those is that professional organizations need to set standards for training in this area. APA President and geriatric psychiatrist Dilip Jeste, M.D., responded to the report, saying, "We hope that necessary changes are implemented soon to provide badly needed care to one of the most disenfranchised sectors of our society."
Jeste discussed mental health issues for older individuals in a recent issue of Psychiatric News. Read much more on the subject in American Psychiatric Publishing's Essentials of Geriatric Psychiatry, Second Edition.
Phobia and anxiety disorders may contribute to premature aging by shortening telomeres, according to a report in the online journal PloSOne. Telomeres are DNA-protein complexes that cap the ends of chromosomes. Each time a cell divides, the telomeres shorten a bit. If the telomeres become too short, a cell is unable to divide further and dies.
Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard University measured telomere lengths in blood samples from 5,243 women aged 42–69 who were part of a study on phobia and anxiety. They found that higher phobic anxiety was generally associated with lower telomere lengths. This association was similar after adjustment were made for confounders. Women with the most severe phobic anxiety had telomere lengths 0.09 standardized units below average. "The magnitude of this difference was comparable to that for women 6 years apart in age," the researchers said.
The report, titled “High Phobic Anxiety Is Related to Lower Leukocyte Telomere Length in Women,” can be read here. For more information about the relationship between telomeres and mental health, see Psychiatric News here.
An outbreak of tuberculosis in Jacksonville, Fla., has killed 13 patients and infected an additional 99, making it the biggest outbreak in 20 years. Budget cuts and the ill-timed closing of AG Holley State Hospital, a facility specializing in tuberculosis care, have hindered control of the outbreak. Recently, the American Journal of Psychiatry published a study detailing the case of a mentally ill patient who moved from an assisted-living facility to multiple treatment centers because of his schizophrenia before being diagnosed with tuberculosis eight months later in 2008.
"Because persons with mental illness often exhibit low health-care-seeking behavior, which may derive from an inability to recognize their own health problems or a general distrust of the health care system,” said the authors, “they may be especially prone to delays in diagnosis....” Experts hypothesize that about 3,000 people have been in contact with a contagious person within the past two years.
“To our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate the vulnerability of persons with mental illness to TB outbreaks,” said the authors. Read more about the case study in the American Journal of Psychiatry here.
Where is the boundary between an injury and a disorder? That’s the question raised by U.S. Army officials regarding an all-too-frequent outcome of military combat. Concerned that calling their response to wartime experience posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) would keep soldiers from proper care, Gen. Peter Chiarelli (Ret.) has suggested that the term be changed to posttraumatic stress injury. That would place a soldier’s reaction in the same category as a bullet wound or a broken leg, considered by troops less stigmatizing than a psychological injury, he said. Many psychiatrists argue against any such shift, believing that it is too imprecise and won't help with diagnosis or treatment.
Retired Canadian general Romeo Dallaire experienced PTSD while on peacekeeping duty in Rwanda. Now, thanks to his efforts, Canada’s armed forces use “operational stress injury” to describe a soldier’s experience, while leaving the clinical description of PTSD unchanged. “That established a framework in which individuals could define themselves in an honorable position, seek support, and end the stigma from both the chain of command and from their peers,” said Dallaire.
For more about this ongoing discussion in Psychiatric News, click here. For information on recent trends in the treatment of PTSD and other mental disorders in the VHA, click here.
Smoking, head injury, low education level, working in a farm, and pesticide exposure may be risk factors for REM sleep behavior disorder—an illness that makes people kick or punch during sleep, Ronald Postuma, M.D., and colleagues at McGill University reported June 27 in Neurology. Until now, not much was known about the risk factors for this rare disorder, except that it was more common in men and in older people.
The disorder can also be a precursor to Parkinson's disease. Intriguingly, one of the factors assessed in the new study, pesticide exposure, appears to be a risk factor for Parkinson's, in addition to its link with REM sleep behavior disorder. However, smoking seems to be a protective factor as far as Parkinson's disease is concerned, other researchers have found.
For more information about the psychiatric issues often found in Parkinson's patients, including sleep problems, see a report in Psychiatric News.
In view of the brutal heat experienced by many Americans last week, a study reported in the June British Journal of Psychiatry was especially prescient. Using a representative sample of British patients with psychosis, dementia, or substance abuse, the researchers found a sharp increase in the risk of death among them during periods of hot weather. The increased risk was greater than that seen in general population samples using similar methodology.
Other interesting links have been made recently between climate or weather and mental health. Specifically, scientists have linked suicide rates not just with the early-summer time period and with barometric pressure, but with air pollutants such as particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and ozone as well. Read about that pollution-related finding in Psychiatric News. In fact, with the arrival of global warming and its ability to trigger extreme weather events, eco-psychiatry may be an emerging field. For more information on the subject, see Psychiatric News.
Florida physicians will again be able to ask their patients about the presence of guns in their homes now that a federal judge has ruled illegal a state law barring physicians from discussing the subject. Judge Marcia Cooke said the law violates the freedom-of-speech protections in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The Florida Psychiatric Society and other physician organizations challenged the law, which was introduced by gun advocates in the state legislature who claimed that asking patients about gun possession violated the Second Amendment protection of the right to bear arms. The law made such discussions a felony and passed by a wide margin in the Republican-controlled legislature.
Psychiatrists and others argued that asking patients about the presence of guns in their homes would help them evaluate whether patients might pose a danger to themselves or the community and that such discussions would go a long way toward preventing suicides. They maintained as well that the law illegally infringed on the doctor-patient relationship by interfering with their ability to provide the medical care their patients might require. Cooke said in her ruling that censoring what physicians could talk about during medical visits has had a "chilling" effect on medical care. "What is curious about this law," she said, "is that it aims to restrict a practitioner's ability to provide truthful, nonmisleading information to a patient, whether relevant or not at the time of the consult with the patient." The Florida Department of Health hasn't announced whether it will appeal the ruling.
To read more about this law and the fight to undo it, see Psychiatric News here and here.
A long-term study of more than 1.3 million Swedish citizens finds a strong link between very premature birth and later development of several serious psychiatric disorders. Young adults and adolescents aged 16 and older who had been born prior to 32 weeks of gestation had twice the risk of being hospitalized for schizophrenia, nearly three times the risk of hospitalization for major depression, and were more than seven times as likely to be hospitalized for bipolar illness than those born after a full-term pregnancy. The researchers also found a link between those born from 32 to 36 weeks prematurely and the the same mental illnesses, but the risk was less than that found for the births prior to 32 weeks. In addition, very preterm birth was associated with development of eating disorders, and birth before 36 weeks was linked with a 30% increased risk of alcohol abuse and a 20% increased risk of drug abuse.
Lead researcher Chiara Nosarti, Ph.D., of the Department of Psychosis Studies at Kings College London, pointed out that "Despite these findings, the majority of people born preterm have no psychiatric problems, and the number of people hospitalized with psychiatric disease is very low." She did, however, urge routine screening of those born prematurely so that early signs of mental illness would be more likely to be detected. Study results were published last month in Archives of General Psychiatry. Nosarti and colleagues acknowledged that there may have been confounding factors for which they could not control such as family history of preterm delivery, maternal substance abuse or smoking, and bacterial or viral infections. They did control for sociodemographic characteristics and maternal psychiatric history.
To read about how prenatal antidepressant use may affect fetal growth, see Psychiatric News.
Three genes known to contribute to the reading disorder dyslexia have been significantly linked with white-matter volume in the temporo-parietal region of the brain, researchers reported June 11 in Biological Psychiatry. Thus the genes may contribute to dyslexia by altering white-matter structure in this brain region, the researchers believe.
The link between one of these genes and dyslexia is especially strong when a person has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) plus dyslexia, other scientists have found. The reason for this association is unclear, although dyslexia and ADHD are often comorbid. More information about this study and implications for future research can be found in Psychiatric News. Also, read more about the etiology and treatment of learning disabilities in Learning Disabilities: Implications for Psychiatric Treatment, from American Psychiatric Publishing. | 2019-04-24T05:51:23Z | http://alert.psychnews.org/2012/07/ |
One of the few, required fifth class ascents among all the 13ers, Peak Fifteen offers a stimulating wilderness climb among the summits of the Needle Mountains. There is no vehicle access. Most will ride the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to access Peak Fifteen and other summits in this area. A backpack trip is likely.
Trailhead GPS Coordinates › N 37° 38' 00.61", W 107° 41' 34.14"
CalTopo map shows the Needleton Bridge drop point for the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad plus the approaches and routes for summits around Ruby Creek.
To begin with, there is no vehicle access to Needle Creek, Ruby Creek, Noname Creek, Tenmile Creek or Elk Creek. The only means of getting to any of these drainages is an excessively long backpack from the nearest pavement, or a ride on the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. There's plenty of information available on the internet regarding use of the train. This "trailhead" description will therefore deal with a few useful hints for utilizing the railroad to get to Needleton and from there, to Noname Creek, Ruby Creek, NW Pigeon Creek and Needle Creek/Chicago Basin. In regards to 13ers, the Needle Creek trail will provide the easiest access to Jupiter Mtn., Peak Eleven, Glacier Point and possibly Grizzly and McCauley if you're willing to hike over Columbine Pass. The Ruby Creek trail will provide the easiest access to Pigeon, Turret, Peak Fifteen, Peak Twelve, Monitor, Peak Thirteen and Animas Mtn. The Noname Creek trail will provide the easiest access to The Heisspitz, Peaks Four, Five and Six. Additionally, some people use Noname to approach Jagged and Knife Point, Peak Ten and Peak Eleven and even others.
Ahh. The famous narrow gauge railroad ride. How many times we've paid for that trip. Twice we've reserved tickets months in advance, laboring under the impression that was the only way we could get a ticket, only to have our trip rained out by relentless monsoon. At todays train prices, that's no small loss. So here's a few hints. First of all, you don't always have to catch the train in Durango. At least in some years, they will allow boarding from Silverton, but always check ahead on this because they've changed their policy more than once. We finally discovered in 2009, that not only could we board the train there, but we could show up the day of our departure and purchase tickets without any advance reservation. We just walked over to the train station and made the purchase and in doing so, also saved about $10 per ticket. But be prepared to still pay mostly full, round-trip price because they no longer prorate tickets based on where you may get dropped off. (That was a long time ago.) The reason you can purchase same-day tickets is because they can almost always squeeze you on somewhere, likely in one of the open cars where you may have to stand the entire ride. But hey - it beats packing in all those miles and it only takes an hour to go from Silverton to Needleton. By purchasing same-day tickets, you can be more flexible and schedule a backpack trip when the long term forecast appears more promising. The times we've done this, the train departed Silverton about 2:45 PM and dropped us of by 3:45 PM.
Now here's the next hint that specifically relates to the Noname Creek drainage. We found in 2012 that it was possible to persuade the engineer to allow us to get off the train when it stops at the "Needleton Watertank," to re-supply with water, a little over a mile north of the Needleton drop. He had us stash our packs under a seat on one of the cars instead of throwing them into the baggage car and had us make a quick departure when the train stopped so as not to delay it any. From that drop point, we were able to a walk north, off, but along the tracks, until we came to a spot across from Noname Creek where we could ford the Animas. Doing this saved the over two mile long and difficult hike from Needleton on the east side of the Animas that goes up and over "Watertank Hill." It also saves the difficult task of following the sometimes obscure trail that can be easy to lose in a place or two, and it saves a considerable amount of time. But there is one caveat - in many years, it will not be possible to ford the Animas River until August some time, if even then. To discern if it's possible to do so, we used stream flow data to determine the CFS river volume. Our advice is that the streamflow must be under 150 cfs. Use the following link to make your determination: waterdata.usgs.gov.
Keep in mind this measuring station is upstream from Noname Creek. If you ford the Animas below where Noname comes in, the flow will be even greater. Heavy, monsoon rains can increase flow dramatically. If you do choose to ford here, we are not responsible for your being swept away. If you have an ice axe with you, use it along with another sturdy stick in the other hand. Unlatch all straps on your pack so if you fall in, you can free yourself of the pack and avoid being pulled under. Bringing some sandals for the crossing is helpful. Wear shorts, zip-off pants, or strip down. If you cross below where Noname comes in, leave boots off when you get across because you'll need to wade Noname Creek as well. We crossed a little downstream from Noname at a spot where the Animas widened out a little. Approximate coordinates are: N 37° 39' 37.41" W 107° 40' 44.59" Good Luck!
At the Needleton drop, cross over on the footbridge and if you head south toward Needle Creek, there are numerous camping opportunities past the last cabin. You can also hike north, past the cabins and find several other camp locations beyond the private property of the cabins in meadows after crossing Pigeon Creek.
Our route up Peak Fifteen uses a backpack approach, which we've broken into multiple stages, to access the surrounding area. Please refer to the approach stages within this sequence by using the provided toggles for info on how to approach this climb.
The trail route to what we call NW Pigeon Basin starts out on the Ruby Creek Trail, so some of the following is copied from that description. Ahh. The Ruby Creek Trail. If you succeed in hiking the so-called trail to Ruby Creek from Needleton, the memory will remain with you forever. Both finding the correct start and staying on this trail are challenges. At times, the trail is so steep, you may find yourself using aspen trees for an assist to pull yourself up. In the vicinity of Ruby Lake, the willows become a major obstacle. This trail will make a real peakbagger out of you. But if you make it to the upper basin at 11,600 ft., you'll be rewarded with one of the most amazing camp locations you will ever experience. The rugged peaks surround a flat, flower-laden meadow with the meandering Ruby Creek passing through. A grass-covered bench (with a 20 ft. rock wall to the rear) overlooking the pristine meadow offers the perfect campsite. The peaks soar above you as much as 2,500 feet offering the feeling of being in a vast, outdoor cathedral. If you're not a religious person, you may find religion here. The difficulty of reaching this remote place keeps the rif-raf out. Visitors are few. Those who come are serious peakbaggers for the most part.
'Our only visit here was in 1991. At that time, little had been written about this area. Gerry & Jennifer Roach's book, "Colorado's Thirteeners" had probably not even been thought of yet. The 1974 version of "Guide to the Colorado Mountains" by Ormes and the CMC made no mention of this trail. Later editions did but with little detail. Mike Garratt and Bob Martins "Colorado's High Thirteeners" offered a little more information. What kind of surprises us is that it's been 25 years or more since we packed up this trail, so you would think that with another 25 years of use, it would be easier to follow now, but the more recent reports still offer complaints about the difficulties. Thus, the summary below is a compilation of guidance from our own trip, Roach's book, G&M's book, Rosenbrough's book and an individual source that does volunteer work for the San Juan National Forest. We've also consulted trip reports on Lists of John, SummitPost and 14ers.com. Even with all that, we can't guarantee your success, so do some of your own homework. The Roach's book provides the most thorough directions. Coordinates provided are not field checked and are taken from Google Earth. Don't take them too literally. Good Luck.
Be sure and read the trailhead information for the Needleton Bridge drop. This approach begins from where the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge railroad drops backpackers off at Needleton. Cross over to the east side of the Animas River on the sturdy footbridge. Almost immediately after crossing turn left and head north on a trail that will take you past the cabins and along the riverbank to a crossing of Pigeon Creek - usually not a problem to get across. Continue following the trail NNE into an open, grassy meadow, called "Campers Meadow" by Roach. At the northern end of the meadow, locate the old fallen tree mentioned by Roach in his 13ers guidebook. The only fallen tree visible on Google Earth are at these coordinates: N 37° 38' 17.67" W 107° 41' 20.94". Roach reports that the Ruby Creek trail takes off about 20 feet past the fallen tree to the right and in about 20 more feet, a faint trail heads diagonally off to the left for Noname Creek. Locate the faint Ruby Creek trail in the trees on the east side of the meadow. Once on the trail, it will lead to the "Upper Camper's Meadow" identified by Roach. The trail then takes a surprising south turn then east to the base of the mountain. The trail then begins climbing to the north steeply.
"Go L (North) on an upcanyon trail (from the Needleton bridge) for approximately 10 minutes. Near the middle of the campers meadow there is a smaller log across the trail with a section cut out for the trail, (probably the same as Roach's fallen tree). At that point look to the Right and spot a weak trail going up a dirt bank. Once up the bank the trail goes into a meadow and fades (Upper Camper's Meadow). The trail exits the meadow to the S (downcanyon, which doesn't make sense). Stay on that trail as it winds through the trees, and then winds to the E until it reaches an old mine at the base of the mountain. At that location a constructed trail angles up the mountainside on a fairly steep grade. (This is the Ruby Creek Trail now.) The (constructed) trail ends at Pigeon Creek and then its a very steep user-made trail to the Ruby Ck south ridge."
Key points about this trail then are as follows once you have located the correct start: 1. The crossing of North Pigeon Creek at appx. 9,500 ft. after rounding a minor ridge 2. The trail fork after that crossing where the steeper, less used trail heading NE above the creek is the correct choice 3. Another trail junction after about .15 mile at 9,800 ft. and a brutally steep climb. The right fork goes up the N. Pigeon drainage. The left fork continues to Ruby Creek.
"It starts out well enough with some sparse cairns, but the cairns peter out and you spend a lot of time second guessing your route. You see what looks like a faint trail that lasts for about…50 feet and then totally disappears, only to see a different faint trail 50 feet to the side… which lasts for about…. 50 feet. Repeat ad nauseum."
Our route is not much different. In 1991, we never saw any indication of the trail junction at 9,800 feet. We also had no sources or books that could tell us about a potential route into this basin and suitable campsites. The basin, for all we knew could have been the bottom of a rock glacier. So instead of attempting to bash our way directly up N. Pigeon Creek, we continued on the Ruby Creek trail until we crested the south ridge of the Ruby Creek drainage at a fairly prominent knoll. Approximate elevation at this crossing point was perhaps 11,400 ft. From that ridge, we followed the ridgeline SE, gaining another 800 feet in elevation. A short distance from the knoll, heading up the ridge, we observed a primitive campsite and the actual trail into Ruby Creek. (We had obviously gotten off it.) Continuing up the ridge via bushwhacking, at about 11,000 feet, we began to break out of the trees and had a better view of where we were heading. Following this ridge involved navigating around or over many fallen trees, rock ledges and outcrops, but it at least kept us on the proper course. There was still another 3/4 mile to go and part of that involved hopping over a boulder field, but eventually we made the upper meadow at 11,740 feet and were relieved to find excellent camping. So pick your poison. Either way to this pristine location will be difficult.
The large meadow at the foot of Pigeon Peak on the west flank of the mountain offers numerous places for tent camping. We suggest a spot to the east end, just before the ground begins to slope up toward the peak. There are some large boulders there that provide some shelter if needed or for "out of view" toilet facilities. Willows and water are also close by. This is an awesome, wilderness camp. This campsite is not to be confused with the one described in the first paragraph above. That campsite is at the headwaters of Ruby Creek.
N. Pigeon Creek Campsite N 37° 37' 56.57", W 107° 39' 26.71"
This approach is preceded by the Needleton to NW Pigeon Basin approach. It assumes a high camp in the basin WNW of the Pigeon Peak summit and in summary, circles you around the south flanks of Pigeon, then ascends to the Pigeon-Turret saddle and then drops into the headwaters of Ruby Creek. This approach shares the same terminus as the "Needleton to Ruby Creek" approach which is the camp location at 11,625 ft. in what we call "Upper Ruby Creek Meadow."
From your campsite located at the foot of Pigeon Peak in the beautiful meadow at 11,740 ft., head in the direction of a saddle on the SSW flank of Pigeon. The saddle/pass is at 12,780 ft., so it's about a 1,000 foot gain from the campsite over a vast talus and boulder field that lies below the west face of Pigeon and its dramatic cliffs. To our surprise, there was something of a trail through here, probably originally established by the goats that have inhabited this area for decades or longer, but also increasingly used by humans, especially once this route was published by G&M. With still fully loaded packs, this high altitude route can be literally breath-taking.
Once at the saddle, continue now east along the south flank of Pigeon, then swing NE to the Pigeon-Turret saddle. Along this section, you'll be gazing down into the isolated New York Basin. The amount of broken rock and talus diminishes and some of this section passes through tundra. You may still find and make use of faint trail. The Roach's make mention of this route around Pigeon in their book. At the Pigeon-Turret saddle, things become rockier again. On the south side of the saddle, it's possible to make a high camp by locating some tundra/grassy spots between rocks and larger boulders. We actually camped here in 1991 at 13,100 feet elevation. It was breezy but you can't beat the view. You most certainly would want to consider hiking up Turret from this saddle. From this location, it is the only true "walk-up" summit of the Ruby Creek group. Additionally, this saddle is the start for a circuitous route to Peak Fifteen and the easiest way up that summit.
From the Pigeon-Turret saddle, walk north, heading downhill toward Ruby Creek, about 1,500 knee-bashing feet below. The descent starts out on loose, small rock and talus, then a mix of tundra, rock and scree to the valley bottom. Expect some low willows towards the bottom which can best be avoided by hiking near the main drainage. Earlier in the season, there may be snow. Ice axe and even something like micro-spikes may be useful. Once in the beautiful-flower-covered basin, use the same campsite as described in the Needleton to Ruby Creek approach. See below.
The large, flat meadow at 11,625 feet sits at the foot of Pigeon, Turrett, Peak Fifteen, Monitor, Peak Thirteen and Animas Mtn., and access can be gained from here to all these summits. Ruby Creek is a meandering stream through here. A multitude of wildflowers cover the meadow. This is simply an idyllic spot with one caveat: Marmots. On the ESE side of the meadow/basin, there is a welcoming campsite that's nice and flat, grassy, a few feet away from the stream and that has a short, rocky cliff behind it with small trees atop. Because this spot has been frequently used, the local marmot population has become rather accustomed to the "hairless ones" that come to visit in the warm months and emboldened in their efforts to acquire the tasty, salty treats these summer invaders bring. It was here that we first observed that marmots can climb vertical rock walls. So here's some very useful advice: Do not keep any food in your tent. Hang it in a drybag from rope or sling, midway in the middle of the most vertical section of the rock wall you can find. Do not leave clothing around, or anything else that may have some salty flavor to it. When gone from camp, keep your sleeping bags rolled up & packed away as well as clothing. We've had marmots chew their way into our tent. They will find a way to chew on anything you leave out. Keep your boots inside the tent while not wearing them. You've been warned.
Upper Ruby Creek Campsite N 37° 38' 04.76", W 107° 38' 04.00"
Because of the lengthy backpack required to access this peak and others out of the Ruby Creek drainage, this climb is best reserved for strong teenagers, well-broken in to the world of backpacking, wilderness camping and rugged peakbagging. This is a technical climb. LoJ gives it a rating of 5.2.
CalTopo map shows routes and approaches for summits located round the Ruby Creek drainage in the Weminuche Wilderness.
There are two possible approaches for Peak Fifteen. Both begin at the "Needleton Drop" trailhead. The first approach is the "Needleton Drop to Ruby Creek." Then you would use the NW Pigeon Basin to Upper Ruby Creek" approach in reverse to the Pigeon-Turret saddle and beyond to the saddle at 12,780 ft.
The other approach, which is how we did it, uses the "Needleton Drop to Ruby Creek" approach up to the turnoff trail at 9,800 ft. Then use the "Needleton Drop to NW Pigeon Basin" approach for Pigeon Peak, followed by the "NW Pigeon Basin to Upper Ruby Creek" approach. Mileage and elevation gain provided are calculated only from the Pigeon-Turret saddle and the total elevation gain includes the climb back up to the same saddle on the return trip.
Now the real fun and work begins. In 1991, we found the correct couloir marked by a cairn. It is very steep, filled with loose rock and you may find snow. Again, ice axe and micro spikes or crampons may be useful, even with this southern exposure because the gully is so narrow. In the couloir, there is one steeper rock section that required some climbing to get over, and when we did this, there was one stretch of snow that we roped up on for safety as we hiked up using our axes. For part of that section, we could wedge ourselves in the gap between the snow and the rock wall, but later on, we had to get fully out onto the firm and icy snow. Continue all the way to the notch-saddle between Peaks Fifteen and Sixteen. Here, you may wish to make the brief scramble up Peak Sixteen, in order to survey the route to Fifteen. It's only about 80 feet up.
Using the G&M route description, we headed west up the ridge, but did not gain the full 50 feet advised. This sent us out on a pitch where some of our party began to rope up. In the meantime, being the last member waiting for his turn, I scouted around a little more and found the "ledge" mentioned by G&M that's 50 vertical feet up from the saddle. We all headed for that ledge, which was really more of a narrow shelf that soon plays out as you near the north face of the peak. Finding this ledge became the crux of the climb. G&M describe climbing up another 50 vertical feet after the first ledge to another wider, sandy shelf, traversing west 75 yards to a gully that allows access through a final cliff band to the summit ridge and then hiking 50 yards west to the high point. As for us, after locating the crux ledge, we began to find cairns marking a route up toward the summit ridge. There was one spot with a brief chimney move between two large boulders, but was not very exposed. Overall, we used our rope for protection five times on the ascent and descent. This was mainly for the sake of one party member who wanted it. Others in the group felt they could have done this without roped protection. The best description we have found for Peak Fifteen is the G&M route.
As for equipment, you don't necessarily need a full, climbing length rope if you want to save weight. 100 feet might get you by. A few slings and/or webbing along with a couple of small to medium cams may prove useful. Helmets are a must. One member of our party suffered an eye injury from a small pebble that struck him. There's plenty of debris to send showering down on party members. We never really did any serious belaying. Use of the rope was as much psychological as anything. At one point however, we did rappel on the way down the main couloir. Without question, this is the most difficult summit of those surrounding Ruby Creek by its easiest route. The view from the summit is of course, simply amazing and impressive. Return from the peak as you came. | 2019-04-21T15:08:56Z | https://www.climb13ers.com/colorado-13ers/peak-fifteen |
Learn about the new types of HomeKit accessories supported in iOS 11, new accessory setup options, and how enhancements to triggers make it possible to automatically run scenes based on who is home, only at certain times, and with more types of accessories. Understand how improvements to the HomeKit protocol greatly improve the responsiveness of HomeKit accessories. Discover how HomeKit accessory development is now open for experimentation & exploration.
Good morning. It's early. I hope you had your coffee.
We have a lot to talk about today. Welcome to what's new in HomeKit. In iOS 11, watchOS 4 and tvvOS 11.
We have a ton of great features and enhancements we'd like to talk to you today about.
First, we will be providing an overview of HomeKit as a framework.
Second, we're going to be talking about some of the updates and enhancements to the HomeKit framework in iOS 11. And Praveen will be sharing some exciting news about our accessory ecosystem. The HomeKit framework allows your apps to easily set up and control your HomeKit accessories. HomeKit provides a central store for the configuration of your home, including rooms, accessories, automations and more. This configuration is synchronized across all of your apps and devices. And HomeKit is deeply integrated in iOS, Watch OS and TV OS.
You can control your accessories and scenes directly with your voice, using Siri, or using the Home app, you can control all of your accessories from any of your devices.
And with just a swipe and a tap, you can control your favorite scenes and accessories right from Control Center, and it has really never been easier for you to control your home.
And with an Apple TV or iPad as your Home Hub, you can control your accessories from just about anywhere in the world. And we are happy to say that in addition to being a fantastic speaker, the Home Pod will also be added as a Home Hub later this year.
And with a compatible home hub, your home can be automated via time and event-based triggers.
And with over 70 accessory manufacturers, either bringing accessories to market or already have accessories on the market, the number of HomeKit accessories continues to grow month over month. It is super exciting. We have a number of new features to talk about in iOS 11 and today we are going to focus on event triggers.
Today, I'm happy to say that we are introducing New Events, New Conditions, support for End Events, and Recurrences. And finally we are talking about the enhancement for Mutable Events. But before we dive into what is new, I'd like to do a quick overview of Event Triggers. Event Triggers center around events.
When an event fires, it activates a trigger, and you can have one or more events associated to an event trigger. We support two different types of events today.
The first, when the state of an accessory changes, such as opening of a door, or turning on a light. Second, we support when a device enters or leaves a geo region.
And when an event fires, and the event trigger activates, it executes one or more scenes.
And a scene is comprised of one or more actions, such as unlocking my door, or turning on my lights. And you can gate the execution of a scene when a trigger is activated via conditions. And we support a number of different types of conditions.
First, based on the current time. Second, based on the current state of an accessory. Excuse me. And last, based on the relative time to significant events, such as sunrise and sunset. Now, as an example, When we arrive home and we open our door, and in this case, opening the door is our event.
And after dark, this is our condition. And it is based on a significant event of sunset. We want to say execute our arrive home scene.
And that is an event trigger. And we have a number of enhancements and new features for event triggers. The first of which is support for date-based events, via HMCalendarEvent. This provides an improved scheduling capability over HM timer triggers. You can now take advantage of all the features of the triggers, such as conditions, and some of the other features we are going to be talking about shortly. And we support dates based on year, month, day, and hour minute combination. Now, as an example, let's go ahead and create an event trigger which executes at 5:30 p.m. every day. First, we are going to create our date component. In this case, we are going to set two properties, the hour property to 17, indicates 5:00 p.m. Second, we are going to set the minute property to 30, and this indicates 30 minutes after 5:00 p.m. We then simply create our HMCalendarEvent, and we specify our recently created date component. Now, we have just created an event which will fire at 5:30 every day. We then simply create our HMEventTrigger, and we're going to give it a friendly name. In this case, we are going to call it Every day at 5:30 p.m., and then we specify our collection of events.
In this case, a single event, our HMCalendarEvent. And now, in iOS 11, it is that easy to create event-based triggers based on times of the day or specific dates.
We have also added support for significant time events, via HMSignificantTimeEvent.
This activates on significant events, such as sunrise, and sunset.
And we support a relative time offset to these significant events, both positive and negative. And this means you can schedule events to fire, say one hour after sunrise. Now, let's go ahead and create another event trigger.
This time, we want it to fire at sunrise every day. There we go.
First, we create our HMSignificantTimeEvent, and we are going to specify sunrise as our significant event. And we also specify our offset to be nil.
Now, this indicates that we want our event to fire at sunrise, not before, and not after.
We then simply create our HMEventTrigger, same as we did before, and we specify this time our sunrise event as a single firing event. We've also added a convenience to iOS 11 to allow you to easily create a condition which is between two significant events, and note, that because these take significant events, they support a relative time offset.
So, for instance, I can create a condition which gates the execution of my scene from say one hour after sunset, to one hour before sunrise. This is available on HMEventTrigger via predicate for evaluating trigger occurring between significant events.
In iOS 11, we have also added support for creating a event which executes when a characteristic value crosses a threshold value. Now, for example, we could execute when the temperature rises above 76 degrees in our home.
We could also execute when the temperature drops below 68 degrees in our home.
And finally, we could execute when the temperature is between 68 and say 76 degrees in our home. Now, let's go ahead and build an example.
We want to create an event trigger which executes when the temperature in our home rises above 76 degrees. To do this, we first create an HMNumberRange.
Now, note, HMNumberRange is what specifies our range between a minimum and maximum value.
And we have provided two convenience initializers for you to create a range within a minimum or a maximum value only. In this case, we are providing the minimum value to be 76.
And our maximum value in this case is an arbitrary large number, let's say it is positive infinity. We then create our HM Characteristic Threshold Range Event. And we specify our target characteristic.
In this case, it is a temperature characteristic, which can be a temperature sensor, or it can be a thermostat. We then simply provide our threshold range, which was our recently created range of 76 degrees.
We then, as we've done before, create our HMEventTrigger, and this time, we specify our single firing event, which is our characteristic threshold range event.
There we go. Now, the state of our homes are often tied to whether or not users are in or out of the home. For instance, I don't like to run my air conditioning or have lights on in my home when no one is home. I am happy to say that in iOS 11, this is now supported via HMPresenceEvent [applause]. It is super cool.
You are going to love it. We support a number of different types of events.
Excuse me. There we go. First, when the current user, that is the device that we are talking about, arrives home. On the other hand, we can also support when the current user leaves home. Now, these two replace, or don't replace, but they augment HMLocationEvents, but instead of tracking a single device, they now track a user. We've also added support for multiple users of the home, in fact, all users of the home. For instance, we support when the last user leaves home.
Now note, this indicates that your home is now unoccupied. It is a good time to do things such as turn off the lights, turn down the air conditioning, even lock the doors.
And finally, of course, we support when the first user arrives home.
And this indicates that your home is now occupied, and in this case, it may be good for you to do things like turn down the air conditioning, turn on some lights, unlock the doors.
Now, let's go ahead and build this last example, where we create an event trigger which executes when the first user arrives home. First, we create our HMPresenceEvent, and we are going to specify our presence type to be any user at home.
Now, this indicates that we want our event to fire when the first user arrives home.
We then, just as we have done before, create an HMEventTrigger, and we specify our single firing event, in this case, which is our presence event.
And you probably know what I am going to say, but it really is that easy in iOS 11 to create user presence based automations, and it is super cool, and we are super excited for you to try it out, and provide some enhanced features to your client, or your app users, excuse me.
Now, we didn't stop there. We have also added support for user presence conditions.
Now, for example, let's say that normally we want to execute our good morning scene when we wake up, or when the sun rises. But it doesn't make sense for us to execute this if no one is home. In iOS 11, you can now gate the execution of scenes based on user presence via user presence conditions. This is available on HMEventTrigger via predicate for evaluating trigger with presence.
And note that it takes a presence event. Now, let's go ahead and add a presence condition to our previous sunrise event trigger and take a look at what it looks like. First, we are going to create our significant time event, which is our sunrise event, specifying no offset, same as we did before.
We then create our HMPresenceEvent, again same as we did before, specifying any user at home. We then create our condition via HMEventTrigger, predicate for evaluating trigger with presence, and we specify our presenceEvent.
And then we create our HMEventTrigger. Now, this time, we are going to specify our condition as the predicate for the event trigger. And now, and now we have just created an event trigger which will fire every day at sunrise, but will only execute the associated scenes when there is a user at home. If you're like me, we often want to execute a trigger, but only temporarily. For instance, when I open my patio door at night, I want my patio light to turn on, but after say 10 minutes, I want my patio light to turn off automatically. And this is now possible in iOS 11 via EndEvents .
EndEvents are available on HMEventTrigger, and they return a collection of HMEvents.
And you can update the existing events or EndEvents for an event trigger via update end events with completionHandler. Now, we have added a new event for EndEvents.
HMDurationEvent. This allows you to specify a time interval from the trigger's execution time, at which point to end the event. Now, on a similar note, we often want a trigger to execute only on certain days of the week, and this is now possible via Recurrences. Recurrences are available on HMEventTrigger, and they return an optional collection of date components which specify the days of the week for which the trigger is active. And you can update an existing event trigger with new occurrences via Update Recurrences with completionHandler.
Now, as an example, I like to get up just a little later on the weekends, as I'm sure many of you do. So I don't want my Good Morning Scene to automatically execute an hour after sunrise. Instead, I'd like to use Siri to go ahead and say, "Good morning." So let's go ahead and gate our previous sunrise event trigger to only execute during the week, Monday through Friday. To do this, we create our HMSignificantTimeEvent, same as we did before. Then we create our collection of DateComponents. We are going to call these weekdays, then for each day of the week, Monday through Friday, we create a new DateComponent, and we specify the weekday property to be the current day of the week, then we simply add this to our weekdays collection.
And then when we create our HmeventTrigger, we specify our collection of recurrences, which are date components, as recurrences are of our EventTrigger.
And this allows us to restrict the execution of event triggers based on the day of the week.
But furthermore, we also sometimes want to create an event trigger which only executes once, and then auto disables itself. This is now possible via Execute Once. As an example, you may want to create an event trigger that executes tomorrow at sunset, but you don't want it to repeat. It is a great feature, and we are excited for you to try it out. This is available on HMEventTrigger via the Execute Once property, and you can update an existing or new event trigger to only execute one time via update executeOnce with completionHandler.
The last, we've heard your feedback and we understand how difficult it currently is to update existing events on an event trigger. Let's take an example.
If you were building an app and updating a single event, you first had to copy the properties of that event in your application, then you had to allow the user to modify that event. Once the user completed their changes, you had to create a brand new HMEvent with the new properties then you had to remove the existing event, via removeEvent with completionHandler. And then add the new event via addEvent with completionHandler. And this is a number of steps to update just one single event.
And so in iOS 11 we have made it simpler via a single method updateEvents with completionHandler. Now this takes a collection of HMEvents which represent the new events for an event trigger. And we have also added support for all defined HMEvents for mutable copies. So what does this mean? You can now simply take a mutable copy of an existing event, make any changes the user has requested, and then commit those changes via updateOnce with completionHandler. Let's go ahead and see an example of updating our previous sunrise event trigger to execute 30 minutes after sunrise.
First, we get our existing HMEvent. We are going to-this will return an object of type HMSignificantTimeEvent. We then simply create a mutableCopy, which will return an object of type HMMutableSignificantTimeEvent.
We can then update the offset of our sunrise event, by creating a new Date Component.
We specify the minute property to 30, to indicated 30 minutes after the significant event, and then simply update the offset of our mutableSunriseEvent to our new date component.
Now note, we haven't actually changed our event trigger yet. It will still execute at sunrise. So move our event trigger to 30 minutes after sunrise, we simply need to call UpdateEvents, with completionHandler, providing a collection of new events.
In this case, we simply pass our single mutableSunriseEvent. And now in iOS 11, it is that easy for your apps to update existing events on an HMEventTrigger.
We've covered a tone of new topics and enhancements to HMEventTriggers.
First, we have added support for new events, supporting dates. Significant events, characteristic threshold range, and user presence. We have added new conditions, supporting significant time ranges and user presence. We have added support, excuse me, for end events, which allow you to specify temporary event triggers which can auto-deactivate after a specified amount of time. We've added support for recurrences which allow you to specify when your event trigger will be active and finally, we have added support for mutable events for all defined event types, which makes it easier for your applications in iOS 11 to update existing HMEventTriggers. And now, I'd like to hand it off to Praveen, to give you some exciting updates about our accessory ecosystem.
Good morning everyone. My name is Praveen Chegondi, and I am here to share with you new protocol features and enhancements that are in iOS 11. I have a few exciting topics to talk about today. I am going to be sharing some great news about what we are doing with the HomeKit accessory protocol specification. I am also going to be talking about enhancement to the HomeKit accessory protocol. Supportive new accessory categories in iOS 11. Addition to the authentication process for HomeKit accessories.
And finally, we will be rounding up with improvements to the self-certification process for our MFi licensees. Let's start off with a quick overview of the HomeKit Accessory Protocol Specification. The HomeKit Accessory Protocol Specification describes how a controller, which is an Apple device, communicates with an accessory, along with the security requirements. All sessions between Apple devices and accessories over HomeKit are end-to-end encrypted and mutually authenticated.
The specification provides implementation details for both IP and Bluetooth LE accessories.
And you can also get details on how to describe each of the accessory categories that are supported in HomeKit, such as a light bulb, fan, thermostat, and many, many more.
For complete overview of the HomeKit accessory protocol, you can refer to the 2014 session, Designing Accessories for iOS and OS X. Until now, the specification was available to MFi licensees, whose accessories carried the logo "works with Apple HomeKit" after completing self-certification. Starting today, we are also making a version of the HomeKit Accessory Protocol Specification available to anyone with a developer license .
So, if you are a student developer, or even a hobbyist, and want to learn about HomeKit protocol and want to create accessories for your personal use, you can now do that [applause]. The HomeKit developer page has been updated with the specification, and also you will find other useful information, such as frequently asked questions, and guidelines to building your HomeKit apps. Because the specification has Apple's proprietary information, you will need to agree to a click-through license before downloading it. And with all this information, we are looking forward to seeing what new ideas you're going to come up with. And let's say you come up with a really cool prototype? And now, you want to develop a HomeKit accessory for commercial sale. You need to join the Apple MFi Program.
You need to join the Apple MFi Program and go through self-certification before you can begin your manufacturing or sale of your accessories. And this is really exciting.
And I recommend that you check the developer page often for the latest updates, as we continue to introduce new features and enhancements to the Specification.
Talking about enhancements. In iOS 11, we made some great enhancements to the HomeKit Accessory Protocol. Now, let's see how a user with iOS 10 sets up a HomeKit Accessory, such as a light bulb. These of course on the accessory, by putting the light bulb in the socket, chooses the accessory from the add accessory option in the Home, and scans the eight digit setup code. In three easy steps, the user is able to set up a HomeKit Accessory that is simple and great. A couple of things to note in this process. The accessory must be powered on for it to show up.
Secondly, the setup code is used for the initial HomeKit pairing only, and this is to ensure that you and only you are setting up the accessory. For many accessories that are installed in hard to reach places, such as a light bulb, or have set up codes printed on the back of the product, it makes it difficult to scan the setup code when it is powered on.
Or even choosing an accessory when you are setting up multiple accessories of the same model becomes challenging. In iOS 11, we are introducing enhanced set of process to further simplify accessory setup. With the enhanced setup, users can now scan the setup code, and then power on the accessory. To achieve this, we are enhancing the setup payload to include setup ID in addition to the setup code.
iOS 11 uses the setup ID to start the pairing process with the accessory when the setup code is scanned, and matches to the accessory when it is powered on.
It is that simple. To deliver the enhanced setup code, we are now supporting scanning of QR codes for setting up HomeKit accessories . The QR code is standards based and can be as small as 10 by 10 millimeters. That is pretty small. The small form factor of the QR code will help a lot of manufacturers to put the QR code on the smaller accessories, and this is really great. But we didn't stop there. We took one step further, and in addition to supporting QR code, we also added support for NFC tags.
With NFC tags that are programmed with the Enhanced Setup Code, we can now deliver even more seamless user experience for setting up accessories.
The user needs to just tap to pair and it is that simple, and it is fantastic.
The whole experience in setting up accessories in iOS 11 with the support of QR code or NFC tag for HomeKit Accessories is just fantastic. Now, let's talk about Bluetooth.
Over the last few years, we have seen an influx of Bluetooth LE HomeKit Accessories.
This is because Bluetooth LE Accessories offer a lot of advantages.
They are small, they are extremely low power, and many are battery operated, such as a contact sensor, motion sensor, and many more, and users use these to trigger events when a certain action takes place. And this is really great. Now, let's see how Bluetooth notifications work in iOS 10. In iOS 10, when an accessory state changes, it triggers a state change notification. The home of apple TV in this case picks up the state change, and then establishes a communication, a secure communication with the accessory to determine what state has changed, and then triggers the automation.
The whole process results in a few seconds of latency for the automation to be executed.
In iOS 11, we changed the mechanism completely to significantly reduce latency, and we are doing this by what we call Secure Broadcast Session to send the notification.
Here, the iOS controller configures the accessory with an encryption key, and the interested characteristics that can be included in the secure broadcast notifications.
Now, when a characteristic changes, the accessory encrypts the state change, and then sends a notification to the Home app, which will then immediately execute the automation.
With this enhancement, we are seeing a number of accessories where the latency has gone from a few seconds to under a second for the events to be triggered. And the best part about this enhancement is that you just need to upgrade to iOS 11 and get new form ware for your accessories to ensure faster, because you don't need to buy new products . And with the new event triggers Matt talked about earlier, and with secure broadcast notifications for Bluetooth LE accessories, it's just incredible how home automation is going to be defined now.
Coming to accessory categories. HomeKit supports a wide range of accessory types from sensors, to cameras and many more. Every year, we continue to add supportive new accessory categories. This year, in iOS 11, we are now adding support for sprinklers and faucets .
With the support of sprinklers in HomeKit, users can now control watering the garden by Siri. Somewhat in a similar accessory category type, which is water related, let's talk about faucets. For many users, it is a daily ritual to turn on the shower, let the water run, and wait for the water to turn to the right temperature before you get in the shower. Now, while having your morning cup of coffee, you can let Siri know it's bath time, and by the time you finish your cup of coffee, the water temperature is just right to your desired setting, and this can be achieved with the faucets accessory category. That's pretty neat . Let's talk about authentication now. At Apple, security and quality is of utmost importance to us.
Our customers trust that their accessories are tested thoroughly by MFi licenses and audited by Apple. To ensure accessories are trusted and self-certified, we have adopted hardware-based authentication. Starting with iOS 11, we are now introducing an alternate method to authenticate HomeKit Accessories.
Now, accessories can be authenticated by software . This provides a great option to enable HomeKit and shipping accessories that can be upgraded to HomeKit. For our MFi licensees, we will be sharing more information about the implementation later. Continuing on the topic of accessory quality, we now have new and improved process and tools to help MFi licensees access the launch of HomeKit Accessories. We now have automated tools to test your accessory and continue to automate more and more test cases, and we urge all MFi licensees to always get the latest tools before you begin your testing.
Also, we are glad to announce that we now have two Apple authorized third-party labs here in the United States, and authorizing more third-party labs in China, and UK next month. And this should help a lot of MFi licensees to launch the accessories sooner. To recap the session, this year, we introduced many compelling and useful HomeKit features. Matt talked about the great enhancements to event triggers, and introduced new APS you can adopt in your apps to redefine home automation. I shared news about HomeKit Accessory Protocol Specifications being made available to all developers. And enhanced accessory setup process makes it even better than what it was before. An interruption of secure broadcast notifications for Bluetooth LE accessories will make the event triggers go faster. And introduced new accessory categories, Sprinklers and Faucets. And finally, we provided an update on automation tools for self-certification and authorizing third party labs around the world to accelerate the launch of HomeKit Accessories. We at Apple are really excited about all these features, and we can't wait to see what you are going to do with them.
A couple of important things before we close the session. We have two HomeKit labs for you this week, where you can chat with a number of HomeKit engineers, who will be happy to answer any questions that you have with regards to your apps and/or accessories.
We will also be demonstrating some of the new features and enhancements that we just talked about that are introduced in iOS 11. The first lab is right after this session in Technology Lab J. Thank you very much for coming, and enjoy the rest of your conference. See you in the lab. | 2019-04-26T10:02:19Z | https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2017/705/ |
Welcome to the official class blog for Dr. Mia Zamora's Spring 2013 ENG 4081 (undergraduate) & ENG 5081 (graduate) course - "Introduction to Electronic Literature". Throughout the course of the semester, students will receive an overview of established and emerging forms of electronic literature including hypertext fiction, network fiction, interactive works, and digital poetry. Students will read, analyze,and compose a variety of emerging genres of electronic literature.
So as I type, we are currently in our final class "workshop", and you are all diligently working on your final project concept. You are all a great support to each other. This class has been a true learning community.
A few announcements regarding our showcase next week.
1. Make sure you link your final project in your blog so it is accessible in our class blog.
2. Please try to arrive a few minutes early if possible, just to make sure we are all set up and ready for our guests.
3. We will have a "round-robin" style presentation room. Each of you will bring your own laptop, and set up somewhere along the long conference table. You will each feature your final project on your individual laptops. Classmates and visitors will circulate around, checking out each student project. You can hang out next to your own laptop to guide viewers through your project, and you should also circulate around the room checking out everyone's work.
4. At 5pm, we will start the "lightening round" presentations of the graduate student projects. They will give a brief presentation of their work on the big screen via projector. I will hook up my laptop to the big screen, so everyone's work is accessible through our class blog. If any undergraduates would like to do a presentation of their work as well, I would welcome that. Just let me know, so I can anticipate the amount of time needed to hear from everyone.
5. There will be some snack food (sweets, appetizers, drinks, etc.). I encourage you to bring some food along too (just to enhance our overall celebration). ...But it is certainly not required.
6. There will be some faculty members stopping by, and some other students. I encourage to bring along your friends.
5. The showcase will be our final class for the semester. Please be sure to take the time to check out each classmates project before our showcase night comes to a close at 7:15pm.
Thanks to each of you for such a great class experience. I am really looking forward to our culminating night of class. This has been a fantastic journey with all of you, and our closing showcase next week will certainly be bitter sweet.
......My last blog entry will be a brief review of our showcase.
Wow, how this semester has flown right by.... Two more classes left. Great class last night everyone.
Now that we are winding down our Review Series, I must admit that I will miss our weekly group exploration of e-lit texts together. Our conversations have been thoughtful, and the readings we have pursued collectively (taken right from the ELC Vol.1) have certainly been enriching. I believe the "Review Series" format we have engaged in throughout the course of the semester has offered us all a chance to discover a broader understanding of what electronic literature can be.
Maria did a great job of presenting "Galatea" - a multi-linear interactive fiction (and perhaps a game). Maria characterized the interactivity of this text as a multitude of possible "conversations" the player might have with the character of Galatea. Galatea is the animate or live creation of an artist. The player/reader attempts to have Galatea turn around and cast her gaze upon him/her through the course of possible conversations. Galatea apparently has moods and memory, effecting the way she treats you (depending of course on how you might treat her). There are numerous "walkthroughs" leading to different "endings" (multiple pathways or plots). The fact that the story is bound to text (rather than visual imagery and animation) is an interesting aspect of how it draws it overall effect. We discussed how this text ultimately explores a psychological universe (rather than a spacial one, as we might see in an animated game). Galatea is, of course, inspired by the ancient Greek myth of Pygmalion, and Maria discussed to how the narrative is in some sense an exploration of the implications of artificial intelligence.
-Please remember that your "official" Review is due (via link on your blog) on Monday, April 29th. Many of you have presented your E-lit Review in class, but perhaps you might be editing and/or putting some finishing touches on your final write-up. Even if you are not changing your Review write-up for the April 29th deadline, please post a link to the final version of your Review in your blog this week, so that I may access your Review work easily (without searching your blog archive). Thanks.
-We will have a FINAL PROJECT SHOWCASE on our last night of class. Each of you will present your final project in the "lightening round" style. Our showcase will be on Tuesday, May 7th from 4:30pm -7:15pm in the Greek Lounge located in the University Center (across the hallway from the "Little Theater" on the first floor). I am very proud of the work you have done thus far for this class, and I am sure your final projects will also be worthy of the larger community's attention. I will be sending out invitations to colleagues to join us for our final showcase to see the good work you have done. **Please bring family & friends to see your work that night. I will order some light refreshments. You are also encouraged to bring some food to share from home if you feel so inspired. Our final class night will be a celebration.
-Next week the entire class period will be devoted to "workshopping" your final project. By next week when we meet, you should be well "on your way" with this project - having mapped out or outlined a concept, and having identified the digital tools you plan to use to realize your concept. Please blog something brief which entails where you are thus far in your process, including your thoughts on concept and tools. I want to see all of you "creating" next week - that is, "doing".....not just talking about doing. It follows that if you have already made some basic progress, you will get much more out of our workshop time together. Please come to class prepared to work together trouble shooting difficulties, sharing possible solutions, etc.
Also, plan to use twitter during class to crowdsource any questions about your project plans. We are in touch with some great e-lit scholars and practitioners, and I know they are willing to help. Never underestimate the power of connected learning!
We had two more excellent E-lit Reviews last week. Both pieces were inspired and accomplished, but certainly very different in scope and tone.
Stephanie Martinez took us through the E-Lit "Little Red Riding Hood", an interactive narrative. As a provocative re-interpretation of the well known French fairytale, this text invokes an ominous, dark, mysterious, and decidedly adult tone. With jazzy, contemporary background music, an urban setting, the highly stylized comic imagery of this piece announces itself as a clear "re-working" of a classic. It challenges the assumptions which stem from reading/knowing this age-old children's tale. This version seems to unfold in three parts, beginning with a city highrise location. The second part of the text covers the forest/meadow interlude. Finally the third section of this narrative takes place upon arrival at "Grandma's house". The text is interactive throughout, the reader is choosing outcomes through a variety of link options. The reader is forced to seek for hard-to-come-by links which are for the most part hidden. Stephanie spent a long time methodically hovering on screens in hopes of unearthing other aspects of the reading. She did discover elements not easily noticed with such effort. The necessary "active search" for links (that are veiled from reader's immediate access) seems to suggest an emphasis on all things "hidden". Things are not what they seem. There is more than meets the eye. There are dark realities that exist beyond the surface. ....This is most definitely a psychological piece, charged with frightening twists and uncanny discoveries. We closed out our class exploration of "Little Red Riding Hood" with the question - would this text qualify as "literature"? Stephanie answered confidently, "Yes, because it is already written".
After completing the two reviews from our Review Series, we had some fantastic Project 2 lightening-round presentations. You all made clear "progress" in this second project, exhibiting a new found agility with the tools of your choice. You also exhibited a deeper understanding of the e-lit forum, with further exploration of the interactive aspects of reading in each of your projects. Excellent work to each of you! I can see the growing potential for the final project, as it has been evolving in what you have been able to do thus far.
Please make some initial notes/plans for your Final Class Project. (Final Project deadline and presentation date is Tuesday, May 7th). In class this week, we will discuss your initial ideas and strategies (software choices, concepts, etc). Please note: Our class session of April 30th will be devoted to workshopping/ in-class work on your Final Project.
-Our class time will begin with two more reviews - "Show of Hands" by Rafiqa; and "Galatea" by Maria. ***Please note Julio - if you can do your review this coming Tuesday night that would be preferable. If you cannot, then you will do your review on April 30th.
-After reviews, we will then continue with our remaining lightening round presentations of Project 2. Be prepared to present your Project 2 in class - (5-10 minute overview for the class of what you have created, with your text on the overhead screen). We will hear from all those who were not able to present last Tuesday including - Andria, Rafiqa, Esther, Susan, Kimberley, Julio, Stephanie C., Debbie, and Peter.
I am working on securing a "special venue" for our Final Showcase. I will announce in class more specific information about our Final Showcase (slated for May 7th).
**Please remember that your "official" Review is due (via link on your blog) on Monday, April 29th. Many of you have presented your E-lit Review in class, but perhaps you might be editing and/or putting some finishing touches on your final write-up. Even if you are not changing your Review write-up for the April 29th deadline, please post a link to the final version of your Review in your blog this week, so that I may access your Review work easily (without searching your blog archive). Thanks.
More Reviews & another guest scholar "Twitter Session"
Susan reviewed "Nio" - a sound poem, a kinetic visualization, or perhaps even a kind of interactive musical instrument in its own right. Consisting of loops/threads made up of letters and voiced-over sounds that are layered over each other. The result is a circular synthesis of image, voice, and text. This piece definitely purports a complexity to the notion of "textuality", although the cohesiveness of any apparent narrative is somewhat difficult to apprehend. "Nio" seems to provoke a playful consideration of the relationship between sound, sight, and text. In this piece, the reader is most definitely a "creator", as the interactivity involved is clearly a primary aspect of the work. Susan experienced some "technical difficulties" when she proceeded with her review presentation, simply because the software needed was not accessible on the classroom computer that was being used with the projector. Still, most of us had our laptops, so we were able to follow along with her thorough descriptive explanation of the piece. But that got us thinking - in many ways technology can fail or frustrate us - it can also present significant limitations. When a reader receives a prompt to download new software, this is sometimes a discouraging break in the momentum/flow of the reading experience. And what about "error" messages? Susan's "glitch" in loading the text on the classroom computer became an important segue for us to reflect about the way in which we are at the mercy of the technology as e-lit readers, as well as the ephemeral nature of e-lit. E-literature is bound to technology, and as such, it faces particular challenges in terms of preservation & the longevity of accessibility. As we all know, software platforms are phased out so quickly with newer software eclipsing the former. What will happen to the literature (and literary traditions) created on transient platforms? Must we archive e-texts along with the technology (hardware & software) necessary to run/read them? The "problem" of e-lit preservation is significant one, and Susan's technical glitch, although frustrating for her at that moment, lead us to collectively contemplate the role of technology and the broad reaching implications of e-lit ephemerality.
Kimberley then took us through the dynamic and youthful text "Inanimate Alice"- a digital and (somewhat) interactive novel. She explained that this work was produced collaboratively, and that it was recognized in the field as "young adult"e-lit. There are available "teaching guides" for teachers who choose to introduce this text in the primary or secondary school setting. Kimberley explained to us that children's literature is of future professional interest to her, and she was drawn to this particular piece with this in mind. "Inanimate Alice" is a serialized digital fiction project tracking the coming of age of a young girl. Alice is an "army brat" forced to move to different military locations as her father is re-stationed in various parts of the world throughout her childhood. She is of mixed race/cross-cultural identity, and in the first installment of this series, she is seeking her father who seems to have disappeared. With the sound of a constant "static" din framing her entire story, we enter into a technologically enhanced but fragmented postmodern reality. The tone of the text is frenetic and fast paced. Prominent themes seem to include: nature vs. technology, globalization, exile/displacement, the question of home, the question of intimacy and connectedness in the 21st century, etc. This piece seemed to us more accessible to a broad audience, and it seemed apparent how this would make an fitting introduction to e-lit for younger readers.
For the second half of class we had another fantastic "guest scholar" twitter discussion with Dr. Leonardo Flores. Dr. Flores, editor of I ♥ E-Poetry, joined us from Bergen Norway, where he is currently a Fulbright scholar. The topic of our discussion was the e-lit creative process. I have "storified" some of our exchange, capturing some of the threads of our overall discussion. I was not able to include all of our tweets (which were quite voluminous), but I think this highlights some of our overarching concerns. In addition, we were also joined by e-lit author & scholar Stacey Mason, who also shared ideas/resources with us. A sincere thank you to both of them for contributing to our class. Here is my "storify" of our twitter discussion.
Class will begin with two more reviews - Esther will review "Strings" and Stephanie M. will review "Red Riding Hood".
Project 2 is due in class. Please post the link to your project on your blog, along with your "abstract" and any instructions to your readers.
Be prepared to present your project in class during our "lightening round" presentations - (5-10 minute overview for the class of what you have created, with your text on the overhead screen).
Great class last night everyone. Have a creative & productive week. I am looking forward to reading/seeing/hearing your new work next week.
Joe reviewed the intriguing interactive fiction entitled "Whom the Telling Changed". Joe described that from the beginning of this textual experience, the reader/player does not know him or herself, doesn't even know his/her gender, but he/she is immersed in a community that he/she must interact with in order to gain knowledge of oneself and the surrounding world. He also noted that you have a choice whether to enter into this world by reading the instructions, or choosing to forgo the instructions. The reader also has a choice of whether to read through the interactive fiction with a specific words tagged and highlighted, or to skip this emphasis. The text is prompt based - you type in your response, and you move forward in the narrative. Joe described this text as "a story about stories" in a sense, with all points leading to "the telling" - a mythical/timeless account at the center of the community you find yourself in the midst of. He also noted that there is a clear emphasis on reader response and reader control, and he shared with us the extensive data driven research the author did in order to understand the reader experience of his text. This seemed to pose new questions about an "e-lit" approach to reader response. To sum it up, Joe suggested that this text was profound, and an effective "exploration of the human condition".
Andria reviewed the flash narrative entitled "Girls Night Out". She explained that she was personally drawn to the pastoral images of elegant horses that make up the opening interface (as she herself was a rider when she was young). But she soon revealed to us very effectively that this story is not what initially meets the eye. It is in fact a dark account of unsolved mysteries involving open land in Texas where several young women disappeared while horseback riding. The poem is effective in that it uses the flash effect to fade out a calm scene of riding through the woods, transformed into the dark fragments of a sinister murder - all through lexia. Andria highlighted how the three primary entry points into the narrative (entitled "poem", "author's note", and "shards") seem to be connected, and yet disjointed, just like the mystery of these real life murders themselves. This text is like a puzzle with many pieces missing, enhancing the overall invocation of a murder mystery with vague clues and only traces left behind. Andria also noted that the flash transitions increased the experience of suspense. Andria did a great job exploring the provocations within this haunting narrative.
Here is the link for this site as well: http://youtu.be/PihHZF732BY.
PowerPoint, Animoto, and Keynote will allow you to make words and images dance across a screen, and Prezi is another excellent and free option to play around with. Think of Prezi ("The Zooming Presentation Editor") as PowerPoint 'on steroids'.
Here is a link to the electronic literature "Authoring Software" site - a resource for teachers and students of new media writing, who are exploring what authoring tools to use. In particular, the "Tools & Applications" page has an excellent list of links to the most popular and accessible digital authoring applications.
Here is a link to a site which features free "text generator" software (Xara 3D Text Generator). If you are thinking of developing a poem with flash animation and 3D effects, this might be one way to go. And remember, if you google "free text generator" you will see many options to play around with. There are also many flash tutorials, so remember to "google it".
Here is another comprehensive digital story resource entitled "How To Create Simple Digital Stories" that provides links to tutorials and descriptions of different software platforms including - iMovie, MovieMaker, Photostory, and Audacity.
Remember everyone - TAKE TIME TO TINKER!
We are honored to have Dr. Leonardo Flores, Associate Professor of English at The University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, join our class next week for our second "connected learning session". Check out this short video as an "introduction" - Dr. Flores is currently Digital Culture Fulbright Scholar based in Bergen, Norway. He will be tweeting with us (from Norway) from 6:00 to 7:00pm EST during our next class period (Tuesday April 9th). As you know, the former twitter session with Prof. Gould was very exciting for all of us, and I am sure you will agree that it "opened up" our conceptual/theoretical engagement with e-lit. With that in mind, for our next "guest scholar" twitter round we will speak with Dr. Flores specifically about the e-lit creative process. I asked Dr. Flores to offer us some guidance on the more "nuts & bolts" aspects of creating e-lit, and he has graciously agreed to give us some some pointers and resources. He knows that you will be in the midst of working on Project #2 for class.
1. Choose the software you would like to use in creating your next piece. Write about that choice explaining briefly why you decided to go with that application. "Play around" with the software, and develop some initial foundation for your project that you may build upon in the week before deadline (April 16).
2. Write an early outline of the narrative/text/poem you will be creating. Describe the intended content for your piece, along with the style and design features you would like to invoke.
3. Prepare a question (or a few) to pose to Dr. Flores during our twitter session.
We began class last Tuesday evening with a continued discussion of electronic literature - this time on Twitter. A dynamic conversation ensued, spurned by our recent reading of Amanda Starling Gould's "A Bibliographic Overview of Electronic Literature". Thank you to Prof. Gould for tweeting and sharing her insights with us, and thanks also to new media artist and scholar Stacey Mason, who joined in our conversation as well.
I think we all found it inspiring (and exhilarating) to engage experts in the field beyond our own classroom. This was truly a moment of connected learning. Thanks to all of you for your thoughtful participation. As I suggested in class, we might attempt to use twitter again at some point in order to engage e-lit artists about the production/creation/writing of e-lit. While last Tuesday's twitter conversation was more theoretical/conceptual, perhaps next time we can get some technical hands-on advice regarding digital tools and the e-lit creative process.
Stephanie C. reviewed "Fitting the Pattern" - an interactive memoir incorporating the logic of dress making patterns, layered over a contemplation of identity and overdetermined maternal influence (tension between a mother's insistence on tradition and a daughter's search to find herself on her own terms). The text features tools (scissors, needles, sewing machine, etc.) which you click to "construct" with (hence the interactivity). Lexia manifests when you direct those chosen tools on the pattern. The act of exploring the lexia is punctuated by sound (cutting and stiching sounds for example), and the screen is striking in contrasting bold black and white. The only use of color is introduced with the lexia that appears when "constructing". Stephanie illustrated how this text calls you to "play around". The interactive aspect of "stitching things together" mirrors the piece's thematic concern with the delicate process of constructing an identity. As Stephanie so aptly put "she feels her clothes should fit her, rather than she must fit her clothes". The tone of this piece is stark, smart, probing, and cutting (no pun intended).
Vanessa reviewed the lovely "Like Stars in A Clear Night Sky". This is a flash-hypertext poem. It is elegant, simple - the screen is a dark night sky with a constellation of stars which become the access point for further poetic lexia. Readers can explore the sky of interconnected poems at random. There is an introductory voice-over poem in Arabic (with translation on screen in English). The text is laced with ambient sounds of wind-chimes, offering the effect of a recollection of a distant place, a place of purity/simplicity, perhaps the "village" of one's origin. The tone of the text is soothing, calming, and dreamy - A reflective narrative voice repeats "I am full of stories", perhaps reminding the reader of that universal aspect of our human condition - that we are all "full of stories" - we are all a small universe within the larger universe. Vanessa presented the this text effectively, pointing to the important theme of connectedness, and the way the text also invokes a sense of the vastness of the world.
2. Please read Kathi Inman Berens' blog post describing this week's exhibition on Electronic Literature at the Library of Congress - E-Literature at the Library of Congress. This article includes a lot of information about the exhibit. While reading the blog post you might consider how many of our class thoughts/concerns about the nature of e-lit are also incorporated into the logic/layout of this important exhibit. In Dr. Berens' post you will also read about the Spine Poetry project. Please make your own book spine poem - arrange your book spines, snap a pic, and then post it in spinepoetry.com to be included in the Library of Congress exhibit.
3. Your blog assignment for next week's class - please post your spine poem that you also submitted to spinepoetry.com.
Your next project = a non-hypertext work of digital literature. That leaves a lot to choose from - and hopefully as we continue to read through more e-lit texts via our Review Series you will gather some ideas.
The idea for Project 2 is to give you another chance to explore - experiment with ideas + digital lit forms. The one requirement not stated on the sheet is that you do something VERY DIFFERENT from what you did for Project 1. The point is to get a range of experiences under your belt - so when you work on your final project - you have some experiences/material to draw from. We will spend some time exploring/talking about what you can do with software that is readily available as a free download (Audacity, digital story software, etc) or in the "regular" software suites that come with most computers (like powerpoint). The assignment sheet for Project 2 is now also posted on this class blog under "class assignments". Please note the project schedule, since dates are now coming up quickly.
Next Tuesday we will quickly finish up the remaining lightening round presentations on Project 1, then continue our Review Series with presentations from Joe & Andria. We will close out our class with a thorough discussion of Project 2.
Debbie opened up the evening's discussion with the beautiful flash poem "Faith". She shared with us that she was drawn to the poem due to its stark simplicity. As she stated - "Faith" provides clear sense of an ending. After our earlier experiences exploring hyperlink texts, this poem's recognizable "closure" was just the reassurance Debbie was seeking as a reader (and I am sure she is not alone in this admittance). But we all soon discovered through Debbie's comprehensive and thoughtful presentation of this work that the perceived simplicity was indeed deceptive. "Faith" can only be described as "layered" in the literary sense. This kinetic/animated flash poem thrives on movement and punctuations with sound. We discussed the allusions to the sacred (read "illuminated manuscript") and the signification implicit in both it's use of font color and audio track. The flash elements foregrounded a playful exploration of textual logic, and an editor's sensibility. We agreed it was a beautiful and complex poem.
Heather introduced to us to another beautiful text entitled "In the White Darkness". This poetic mediation on the nature of memory was a piece that Heather said she was drawn to right away. The text resonated with her, and she understood it's meaning instinctively. "In the White Darkness" is a flash poem using pulsating nodes layered over a veiled screen of nature. The reader is immediately drawn into a gentle but sad world of fleeting references, like the pieces of experienced time and space that we catch glimpses of, and sometimes lose altogether. Heather shared with us the Japanese aesthetic influences she noticed (and the faded kangi in one nodal link). The overall effect of this flash text is "a presentation of one person's present" - the fragmented nature of what we can re-member in the present, and the traces of what might be lost (or is being lost). We agreed that the tone of the piece invokes a kind of sorrow, and it prompts questions about the erasure of identity when our memory cannot contain our experiences throughout time. Heather did a great job of articulating the power of this text.
I am really enjoying our "Review Series" thus far. Each one of you is doing a thorough job of taking us through a new discovery in Electronic Literature.
In the second half of class, we had "lightening round" presentations of your hypertext projects. Wow. What great work you did! Innovative, stretching the boundaries of what hypertexts do, fun!
For those of you who were not in class or have not presented- you will have an opportunity to present your work next week.
Please prepare comments and/or questions for Professor Gould who will be tweeting with us for the first hour of class next week (this is your blog assignment for next week - see below). While tweeting next week, please remember to always use the #elitclass hashtag so we can easily archive our class discussion. After we finish our discussion with our guest scholar, we will continue our Review Series. Stephanie C. will discuss "Fitting the Pattern" and Vanessa will discuss "Like Stars in a Clear Night Sky". We will then have a short "lightening round" of the remaining Project 1 presentations. With the remaining time left, I will discuss Project 2 as I review the assignment requirements, projected timeline, etc.
Please write a reflection - your thoughts/questions resulting from reading Amanda Gould's article on Electronic Literature.
Have a great week, and see you next Tuesday. | 2019-04-26T10:14:49Z | http://eng4081-5081.blogspot.com/ |
In Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess (KP-LA), K. pneumonia e K2 is the most frequently isolated serotype after K1, but this serotype has been much less studied. In the present study, the molecular types sequences type (MLST) of serotype K2 isolates from three different regions in Asia were identified and the virulence of these isolates was investigated. Eight different MLSTs were found among 26 isolates (ST 65, 66, 86, 373, 374, 375, 380, and 434). There were two major MLST groups, ST-65-like (42%) and ST86-like (46%). No isolates contained allS while all isolates contained rmpA. The prevalence of aerobactin gene and kfu were 25/26 (96%) and 3/26 (11.5%) respectively. Although liver abscess isolates were generally more resistant (11/15 isolates) to serum killing, there was no specific distribution of serum killing resistant or susceptible ST types between stool carriage and liver abscess isolates. Neutrophil phagocytosis showed that the liver abscess and carriage isolates varied in their susceptibility to phagocytosis. Strains with resistance to both neutrophil phagocytosis and serum killing were generally hypervirulent with lethality at LD50 < 103 colony forming units by intraperitoneal injection. In conclusion, Anti-phagocytosis and resistance to serum killing are two parameters that most predict hyperviurlence in serotype K2 isolates. Unlike serotype K1 KP-LA that mainly belong to ST-23, ST-65-like and −86-like are the two major MLST types among serotype K2 isolates from Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess (KP-LA) has becoming a global emerging disease [1, 2]. The etiology of this disease has been investigated by different study groups [1, 3–5]. Several bacterial virulence factors have been investigated and virulence has often been found to be capsule related [2, 6, 7]. K. pneumoniae serotype K1 causing liver abscesses LA has been observed worldwide and is the most prevalent type among all 77 serotypes [1, 6, 8]. Previous molecular and virulence analysis in K. pneumoniae serotype K1 has shown that ST23 was predominant in serotype K1 K. pneumoniae isolates causing liver abscess and carried in stools of uninfected subjects in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan . In addition, serotype K1 isolates with ST23 could have different mice lethal dose (LD50) indicating normally expressed K1 capsule is not the sole factor for hypervirulence but its phagocytic resistance and carriage of the aerobactin gene were two independent determinants contributing to mouse lethality [2, 9]. Although kfu (gene encoding an iron uptake system) and allS (a gene associated with allantoin metabolism) have been documented as virulence factors contributing to virulence, all invasive serotype K1 isolates contained these two determinants in a previous study [10–12].
Although non-K1 serotypes have been observed in KP-LA, they were less frequently encountered. Serotype K2 KP is the second most commonly isolated serotype in KP-LA in Taiwan and has also been reported in Asia and US [1, 13–15]. Relatively few studies have specifically focused on this serotype. Little is known about the STs and the prevalence of virulence factors in serotype K2 causing KP-LA in different countries.
In this study, we determined the molecular types (MLST) of K. pneumoniae serotype K2 isolates from liver abscesses and from carriers without a history of KP-LA and assessed the virulence of isolates with different MLST types from Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan.
K. pneumoniae strains that were isolated from liver abscess and stool from healthy subjects, hospitalized patients without history of liver abscess or patients admitted with noninfectious diseases were collected at Prince of Wales hospital in Hong Kong, Singapore General Hospital, National University hospital in Singapore and Tri-Service General Hospital in Taiwan from 2002 to 2009. One isolate was collected from each patient will liver abscess, healthy subjects, hospitalized patients without history of liver abscess or patients admitted with noninfectious diseases. The diagnosis of liver abscess was confirmed by abdominal ultrasonography and/or computerized tomography. Identification of the isolates was according to standard clinical microbiologic methods.
Isolates were serotyped by PCR as previously described . PCRs to determine the presence of the specific genes for serotype K1, K2 and K5 , rmpA, alls, kfu and the aerobactin gene were performed using primers as listed in Table 1. A bacterial colony from an overnight-culture was added to 300 μl water and boiled for 15 min to release DNA template. The reaction mixture was kept at 95°C for 5 min, followed by 40 temperature cycles of 95°C for1 min, 50°C for 1 min, and 72°C for 2 min, and 72°C for 7 min. The expected PCR products were 641 bp for wzyKPK2, 535 bp for rmpA, 520 bp for kfu, 508 bp for allS and either 556 or 531 bp for aerobactin in length (Table 1).
MLST were performed according to Turton et al., . Sequences of seven housekeeping genes were obtained for isolates from liver abscess patients and carriers. Sequence information was compared with that available from the MLST website (http://www.pasteur.fr/mlst/) developed by Keith Jolley. Alleles and sequence types (STs) were assigned accordingly. Sequences of any alleles that were not in the database were submitted to the curator and a new allele number obtained. A difference in two or more alleles was considered to indicate that the sequence types being compared were unrelated.
Labeling was performed as previously described . The KP isolate and control suspensions were individually incubated overnight at 37°C. The concentration was approximated using photospectrometry (Olympus, US). The percentage of bacterial viability in an aliquot of each population was determined by quantitative plate counting. The FITC-labeled bacteria were resuspended at a concentration of 2 × 108 cells/mL in PBS, divided into equal volumes, and stored at −70°C. Aliquots were thawed just prior to use.
Phagocytosis was measured using a standard assay. Normal human serum pooled from healthy volunteers was divided into equal volumes and stored at −70°C. Serum was thawed immediately prior to use and stored on ice until added to the phagocytosis assay. Briefly, for the assay, 100 μL of a neutrophil suspension (representing 1 × 106 cells), 100 μL of freshly thawed pooled normal human serum (10% v/v opsonization), and 600 μL PBS was added to sealable 10 × 75 mm Falcon™ polypropylene tubes (BD, Franklin Lakes, NJ). The suspension was pre-warmed with shaking for 5 min at 37°C. Multiple volumes of 200 μL FITC-labeled bacteria (representing 4 × 107 colony forming units [cfu]/mL) were added to 800 μL to produce a final volume of 1.0 mL. Each tube was capped and incubated in a shaking water bath at 37°C with continuous agitation for 15 min. An unincubated tube served as the 0-min time point. At each designated time, samples were removed and placed in an ice bath. The cells in each suspension were removed by centrifugation at 250 g for 6 min, and the cell pellet was resuspended in 1.0 mL of ice-cold PBS and maintained at 4°C. A 600 μL volume of the suspension was transferred into a new tube, and ethidium bromide was added to a final concentration of 50 mg/L before measurement. Excess ethidium bromide was used to suppress the extracellular fluorescence. Bacteria that were not localized in neutrophils appeared red in color upon microscopic examination (see below).
A FACScan, emitting an argon laser beam at 488 nm (Becton Dickinson Immunocytometry Systems, San Jose, Calif.), was used to detect FITC fluorescence. The sideway scatter (SSC) threshold was 52. The detector was set at E00, 350, and 427 for forward scatter (FSC), SSC, and fluorescence 1 (FL1-H, green), respectively. Fluorescence values were collected after gating the detector on the FSC and SSC combination. A total of 10,000 cells were processed using the Cellquest version 1.0 software. Fluorescence distribution data collected using a logarithmic amplifier was displayed as single histograms for FL1-H. By processing unstained and FITC-stained bacterial phagocytosis mixtures, the boundary of positive and negative fluorescence was determined. The percentage of ingested bacteria was assessed after the addition of ethidium bromide.
Serum bactericidal activity was measured using the method of Hughes et al. as modified by Podschun et al. . The viable bacterial concentration was adjusted to 1 × 106 colony forming units/mL. Twenty-five microliters of bacteria were added to 75 μL of pooled human sera contained in a 10 × 75 mm Falcon polypropylene tube (BD Biosciences, Franklin Lakes, New Jersey). Tubes were agitated for 0, 60, 120, or 180 min. To determine the number of viable bacteria after exposure to serum, an aliquot of each bacterial suspension was removed at the designated time point, diluted 10-fold by addition of Mueller-Hinton broth, plated on Mueller-Hinton agar, and assayed as described immediately below.
Results were expressed as percentage of inoculums, and responses in terms of viable counts were graded from 1–6 as described previously . Each strain was tested at least three times. A strain was considered serum resistant or serum sensitive if the grading was the same in all experiments. Each isolate was classified as highly sensitive (grades 1 or 2), intermediately sensitive (grades 3 or 4), or resistant (grades 5 or 6).
In determination of LD50 in mice, six mice were used as a sample population for each bacterial concentration. Bacterial concentration was calculated by cell forming unit (cfu). Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection was used to assess virulence. Mice used in this study was approved by animal used committee with NHRI-IACUC-103014-A. Symptoms and signs of infection were observed for 14 days. Survival of the inoculated mice was recorded and the LD50 was calculated using SigmaPlot version 7.0 from SPSS Inc. (Chicago, IL).
A total of 26 serotype K2 isolates were confirmed by serotyping and PCR and selected for this study. Fifteen and 11 KPs were isolated from liver abscess patients and stool of non-infectious carriers (Table 2) respectively. Eight different MLSTs were identified including ST 65, 66, 86, 373, 374, 375, 380, and 434. Two major MLST groups, ST-65-like and ST86-like groups were obtained based on minimum-spanning tree analysis (Figure 1). ST373 (a single locus variant, SLV to ST86) and ST374 were new ST types found in this study (Table 2). The ST types of liver abscess isolates obtained from Hong Kong were more diverse. There was no specific distribution of ST types between those isolated from liver abscess and from stool carriage.
*Grouping was referred to the results obtained from minimum-spanning tree (Figure 2). 373 and 375 were single locus variant to ST86 and 65.
†Isolates from: HK, Hong Kong; SG, Singapore; TW, Taiwan.
¶Isolates from: LA, liver abscess; ST, stool carriage.
NA: Not available; Bold: New ST types in this study.
Minimum-spanning tree of 26 isolates of KP serotype K2 strains generated by MLST allelic data (analysis in MLST website). ST number, Orange indicates ST group 1; yellow, ST group 2; blue, singleton.
Serum killing resistant and susceptible isolates were found in both ST65-like and ST86-like isolates. Although liver abscess isolates were generally more resistant (11/15 isolates) to serum killing, there was no specific distribution of serum killing resistant or susceptible ST types between stool carriage and liver abscess isolates (Table 3).Liver abscess and carriage isolates had variable susceptibility to phagocytosis. Likewise, there was no difference between the two major MLST types, ST65-like and ST86-like (Figure 2). Although ST other than ST65-like and ST86-like were all more resistant to phagocytosis, there was only one isolate for each type.
*HK, Hong Kong; SG, Singapore; TW, Taiwan. #Intermediately sensitive or resistant to serum killing.
Neutrophil phagocytosis of all K2 K. pneumoniae isolates.
PCR for virulence associated genes revealed that all isolates contained rmpA while none harbored allS gene. The prevalence of the aerobactin gene and kfu in all K2 isolates were 25/26 (96%) and 3/26 (11.5%) respectively. Fifteen isolates from either liver or stool carriage showed resistance to both neutrophil phagocytosis and serum killing. Twelve were hypervirulent with LD50 ≤ 102 CFU. Two isolates with LD50 equal to 1.0 × 103 CFU and 1 with LD50 5.5 × 103 CFU were also defined as virulent strains. Four isolates showed susceptibility to both neutrophil phagocytosis and serum killing. These four isolates demonstrated lethality with LD50 that ranged from <3.7 × 102 - 2.2 × 106 CFU in the infection model. These two parameters alone were not able to reflect the virulence of the strains. Other factors that may contribute to virulence are not further assessed in this study. One ST86 strain was hypervirulent with a mouse lethality LD50 of <3.7 × 102 CFU, suggesting other unknown and major virulent factor might contribute to the hypervirulence. Hypervirulent strains could be found in both liver and stool carriage isolates. Among the virulent associated factors tested in this study, no other combination of parameters could be used to predict virulence in the mice lethality model. The presence of virulence associated genes did not correlate with increasing mice lethality.
Serotype K2 K. pneumoniae is the second most prevalent serotype next to serotype K1 as a cause of pyogenic liver abscess and is also frequently reported in community acquired pneumonia . Although previous investigations have observed that serotype K2 isolates are not a significant risk factor for septic ocular or CNS complications , and a “Medline” search revealed few reports in patients of non-Asian descent with KP serotype K2 liver abscesses [21, 22], the virulence of serotype K2 should not be underestimated . In a study of KP liver abscess in China, a comparable frequency of isolation between serotype K1 (43%) and K2 (37%) was observed indicating the possible difference in geographic distribution. KP invasive syndrome due to serotype K2 has also been reported in Asian patients . In a French study of severe and fatal infections due to KP, isolates from the fatal cases were all of capsular serotype K2 . Of major concern was a recent report on an increasing antimicrobial resistance among these hypervirulent strains of KP . The clinical impact of these hypervirulent strains with multiple drug resistance should be further investigated.
Epidemiology studies showed that a major MLST type, ST-23, was associated with serotype K1 liver abscess [2, 4, 9, 25]. Few MLST-based studies have specifically focused on serotype K2 isolates except for a recent study in Taiwan where MLST was performed in KP strains causing different infections , Laio et al., have found more diversity of STs in serotype K2 compared with K1. Eleven STs were observed in their collection. Unlike serotype K1, it seems that no major ST type could be identified as a cause of liver abscess. However, few isolates including ST65 (n = 3) and one each of ST373, and ST375 were identified in the study of Liao et al., . In the present study, 8 different MLSTs were identified among serotype K2 isolates from liver abscesses and stool carriage. We observed that two major MLSTs’ groups, ST6- and ST86-like groups, were responsible for most of the liver abscess cases (11/15). These two major MLST groups were also the most prevalent MLSTs in stool carriage isolates. Previous study has shown that carriage of isolates in the stool is one of the predisposing factors for liver abscess . A high prevalence of these two major MLST groups in both liver abscess and stool carriage isolates supports this and suggests that the colonization of virulent type KP is an important step for the development of liver abscess. Although ST86 was the most frequently isolated ST type next to ST65, none were isolated in the study by Liao et al., .
In the virulence analysis, anti-phagocytosis and -serum killing could be used to predict hyper-virulence (LD50 < 103 CFU) or relative non-virulence (LD50 ≥ 105 CFU) in serotype K2 isolates (Table 4). A ST86 stool carriage isolate with susceptibility to both neutrophil and serum killing had an LD50 equal to 102. This isolate carried aerobactin but lacked kfu and allS. An ST-65 isolate with an identical virulence profile had a low virulence by mice lethality (LD50 at 2.2 × 106), indicating other unknown factor(s) may also play a role in the virulence (Table 4). Virulence associated kfu was only identified in the non major types of ST 373, 375 and 380. This chromosomal gene is involved in iron uptake and has been described in most tissue invasive K. pneumoniae. Our data shown that the two major ST types, including both hypervirulent and non-hypervirulent isolates, did not carry this gene. The presence of this chromosomal gene in only minor ST types may reflect the difference in genetic background among serotype K2 strains. Whether the presence of this gene determines the fitness for causing disease needs further investigation. The absence of allS in all serotype K2 K. pneumoniae match the observation that this is only found in serotype K1 strains .
*All isolates were carrying rmpA. No isolate was carrying all S. †Interpretation of virulence was referred to reference . (+++) = hypervirulent strains with an LD50 of less than 1 × 103 colony-forming units (CFU) are more likely to induce complications in mice. (+) = virulent strains with a 50% lethal dose (LD50) between ≥1 × 103 and ≤1 × 105 CFU are less likely to induce complications in mice. (−) = non-virulent strains with an LD50 of 1 × 106 CFU of greater (do not cause complications).
In summary, anti-phagocytosis and resistance to serum killing are the two main parameters that predict hypervirulence in serotype K2 isolates. Other yet unknown factor(s) may contribute to virulence, as has been observed in this study. Unlike serotype K1 KP-LA which are usually ST-23, ST65-like and 86-like are the two major MLST types among serotype K2 isolates from Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
This study was supported by research grants from National Science Council (NSC102-2314-B016-013-MY-3) and National Health Research Institutes.
JCL, LKS MI,TSK designed study and drafted the manuscript, CPF, JCL, NL, FYC, MI, TSK enrolled the patients and collected the isolates in this study. MI, TSK and LKS proof read and edited the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. | 2019-04-18T21:19:32Z | https://gutpathogens.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1757-4749-6-21 |
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Note: notes of the Sender on the packaging must be written in letters at least 5mm in height. Inscriptions by hand must be made in printed capital letters only.
7.1. The Sender must comply with the requirements established by DPD and pack the parcels in such receptacles or packaging as to protect the articles or goods being shipped from damage or breach in the course of loading, sorting, carrying and storage and to prevent them from jeopardising people, the environment, vehicles and other parcels and to prevent someone from gaining access to the contents of the parcel without damaging the parcel packaging. Goods and articles, which need to be transported under special temperature regime, shall be handed over for transportation in thermo-insulated containers only.
8.1. When the Courier arrives, the Sender shall submit the shipment prepared for shipping and the shipment document specifying the particulars of the Sender and Recipient and the additional services requested as per requirements of these Delivery Terms. The Sender shall sign the shipment document specifying his/her name, surname and title. The shipment document shall be completed by the Sender who is liable for the accuracy and correctness of the data contained in this document.
8.2. The Sender must ensure that all data and documents necessary for arranging importation and exportation at customs and other formalities are handed over together with the parcel, if a parcel is being sent outside the European Union.
8.3. The Courier shall accept the parcels prepared by the Sender for shipping by signing the shipment document and leave one counterpart thereof with the Sender.
8.4. The Courier has the right not to accept a parcel that is not packaged, inappropriately packaged, not marked or inappropriately marked, has non-standard dimensions or does not correspond to the information submitted at the time of order placement etc. The Courier has the right not to wait until the parcel is prepared for handing over.
8.5. The Courier will himself carry and load shipments in the vehicle provided their total weight does not exceed 31.5 kg.
8.6. At the Sender’s request, the Courier may, for an extra fee, carry shipments whose total weight exceeds 31.5 kg to the vehicle, however the weight of each parcel must not be above 31.5 kg, and additional loading equipment must not be required to load them.
8.7. Should additional loading equipment be required to load the parcels in the vehicle the Sender must load the parcels in the vehicle.
9.1. Shipments addressed to an individual at his workplace, education institution, dormitory, place of military service, hospital, sanatorium, camp or place of imprisonment shall be delivered to the administration or persons authorised by them.
9.2. Shipments addressed to a legal entity are to be delivered with signature upon receipt to the person designated on the packaging or another administrative employee of the same company.
9.3. The Courier shall deliver the shipment to the Recipient personally with signature upon receipt. The identity and data of the Receiver are determined by a valid identity document (identity card, passport or driver's license), which must to be shown to the courier. After identity verification of the parcel Receiver, the Courier enters a fragment of the document number (last five digits) to the electronic device. The Recipient shall accept the shipment delivered by the Courier on time so as to avoid unreasonably delaying the vehicle.
9.4. The person accepting the shipment must specify his/her name and surname and sign the scanner (on paper proof of delivery, shipment delivery date and time have to be indicated and the signature affixed).
9.5. The shipment shall be deemed to have been delivered with signature upon receipt to the designated Recipient and the additional services specified in the scanner or paper proof of delivery provided, when the Recipient or their representative have accepted the shipment and confirmed this by their signature. A customer who has ordered the service of delivery confirmation shall be able to see the image of the signature of the Recipient who accepted the shipment on the DPD website (www.dpd.com/lt).
9.6. When accepting the shipment, with the participation of the Courier, the Recipient shall examine the parcels of the shipment. Should any damage to the packaging of the parcels be noted, the Recipient must note this in the proof of parcel delivery and together will the Courier witness the act of parcel damages (inspection) made available by the Courier.
9.7. DPD shall not assume any liability for damage to the shipment or any part thereof, if at the time of delivering it to the Recipient this had not been noted in the scanner or the act of parcel damages (inspection) had not been drawn up with the participation of the Courier who delivered the shipment.
9.8. Should a Recipient in Lithuania refuse to accept the shipment or the designated Recipient not be found at the address indicated by the Sender, the shipment shall be returned to the DPD terminal, and the Customer informed thereof by email. At the request of the Customer, a repeat delivery of the non-delivered shipment shall be made to the designated Recipient for an extra fee. If the shipment cannot be delivered to the Recipient through no fault of DPD within 7 (seven) calendar days from the shipping date, the shipment shall be returned to the Sender without any separate arrangement.
9.9. Shipment that cannot be delivered to a Recipient or returned to the Sender shall be kept for 2 months (except cases, when without DPD knowing Prohibited items were given to deliver in the parcel).
9.10. Documents confirming the delivery of the shipment to the Recipient personally with signature upon receipt shall be kept for at least 6 months from the shipment delivery date.
10.1. Shipments in transit (not customs-cleared) within the internal territory of the European Union.
10.2. Shipments not complying with the measurement and weight standards established in Paragraph 3.1 of these Delivery Terms, except in cases when the Customer and DPD agree on this separately in writing.
10.3. Shipments to post boxes; not packaged or inappropriately packaged shipments.
10.4.8. Articles the transportation of which requires special equipment, safety means, permits or special temperature, air humidity or other exceptional conditions.
a) The list of restrictions specified in the Delivery Rules is not finite. The Sender shall assess the suitability of the shipment for shipping and be fully liable for the packaging and contents. When ordering the delivery of shipping-prohibited articles, handing them over or causing them to be handed over for shipping in any manner whatsoever the Sender assumes full liability for the consequences of such undertaking and must cover the resulting losses sustained by DPD, if any.
b) DPD shall not assume liability for the accepted shipments containing the articles (goods) or substances specified in this chapter of the Delivery Terms. DPD shall have the right to suspend the delivery at any time in line with the established procedure, should any suspicion arise that the shipment, without DPD being aware of it, handed over for delivery contains shipping-prohibited articles, which may jeopardise human health or other shipments, the environment or vehicle, or are prohibited from being carried over the territories of other states. In this case DPD shall assume all the necessary safety measures and shall have the right to apply to the appropriate public authorities.
c) DPD shall have the right, in accordance with the procedure established by legal acts, to transfer to law enforcement or customs institutions shipments suspended or being confiscated at their request. The Sender shall be liable for the contents of the suspended and confiscated shipments.
11.1. Should the user not be satisfied with the quality of the service provided, they shall have the right to apply to DPD and to submit a complaint by email at [email protected] or telephone +370 5 2106777.
11.2. In case of any claims concerning the damage or loss of a shipment etc., the Customer may submit a claim to DPD in writing in accordance with the established procedure within 7 (seven) working days from the delivery of the shipment, however not later than within the period set in Art. 12(1) of the Postal Law of the Republic of Lithuania (6 months from the Parcel shipment date).
11.3 An original claim with annexes must be sent to the address of UAB DPD Lietuva Liepkalnio g. 180, LT-02121 Vilnius. (The initial document may be sent by email at [email protected], or fax +370 5 210 6740).
11.4.1. Text of the claim describing the essence of the claim and giving the name and surname or legal entity name of the Sender and Recipient, address, bank particulars of the claimant, shipment pick-up and delivery date, contents of the shipment, shipment number.
11.4.2. If the claimant is a legal entity, the claim must be printed on the letterhead of the claimant and approved by signature of the company manager and stamp.
f) Photographs and other documents corroborating the amount of loss.
11.5. DPD shall reply to the claims of the user pertaining to the provision of postal services not later than 14 (fourteen) calendar days from the receipt of the complaint or submission of the claim in writing with all the pertinent documents.
11.6. Claims submitted upon expiry of the period (6 months from the parcel shipment date) established in Art. 12(1) of the Postal Law on the Republic of Lithuania) shall not be examined.
11.7. Upon receipt of a reasonable claim submitted in writing in accordance with the established procedure, DPD shall indemnify the damages not later than within the period set in Art. 12(8) of the Postal Law of the Republic of Lithuania.
11.8. If You are not satisfied with the response submitted by UAB "DPD Lietuva" to Your written claim, You have the right to contact the Communications Regulatory Authority, which deals with disputes between consumers and postal service providers out-of-court and free of charge (address: Mortos St. 14, LT-03219 Vilnius, website: www.rrt.lt), or to the State Consumer Rights Protection Authority (address: Vilniaus St. 25, LT-01402 Vilnius, website: www.vvtat.lt ) or fill out an application form on the EGS platform https://ec.europa.eu/odr/.Decisions taken by institutions out-of-court do not preclude access to the court.
12.1.2.2. for damage – by the amount that is lost in the value of goods, articles in the parcel, but not more than defined in the paragraph 12.1.2.1. hereon.
12.1.4. In the case of loss of a value shipment, DPD shall compensate the amount equal to the valued amount plus the shipping costs. In the case of damage of a value shipment – an amount equal to the shipping costs and the value of the articles (goods) damaged, however not exceeding the total amount at which the shipment was valued.
12.2. Indirect losses sustained, including the loss of income or profits as well as non-material damages, including the exacerbation of reputation, shall not be indemnified.
12.3. For delayed delivery, through the fault of DPD, of a shipment with a guaranteed period of delivery (DPD 10:00, DPD 12:00, DPD Guarantee etc.) or a shipment returned to the Sender through the fault of DPD, DPD shall reimburse the Customer for the shipping costs according to the information provided by the Customer in writing.
12.4.8. DPD shall not be liable for shipments confiscated by a state authority in the cases established by the legal acts.
13.1. Proper preparation of shipments and shipping documents, proper packaging and marking of parcels, and indemnify the damages and additional costs sustained by DPD (including customs fines, storage or redirection and return costs etc.), when sending/receiving shipments outside the EU) appearing through the fault of the Sender and/or Recipient due to unsuitable packaging or incorrect marking of parcels, inaccurate or erroneous data provided, unsuitable documents, inability to provide required data, necessary documents, permits or licences.
13.2. Shipments containing shipping-prohibited articles and handed over to DPD for delivery deliberately or through negligence and shall indemnify DPD the damages sustained as a result, including the litigation, storage, destruction and other costs regardless of the country they were sustained in.
14.1. DPD shall update the Delivery Terms as required, because the technology of shipment collection, sorting, distribution and transportation is being improved, new services are made available and the delivery geography of the shipments is broadened seeking to ensure high quality of services.
14.2. Upon the change of the legal acts referred to in these Delivery Terms, new provisions of the same legal acts shall be applied directly.
14.3. The most recent version of the valid Delivery Terms, information about new services offered, valid pricelist of DPD and other information are published by DPD on its website (www.dpd.com/lt). | 2019-04-21T04:32:17Z | https://www.dpd.com/lt_en/dpd_home/shipping/regulations_of_shipments_delivery |
Their son is a warrior.
Charles Sherman was born and raised in Norwalk. Like David, in the spring of 1810 he had also passed the bar and married a Norwalk woman: Mary Hoyt. The two men had other similarities in their life histories: they were born within a few months of each other, had studied law together – and both had a personal interest in the Firelands of northwestern Ohio.
At the conclusion of the war, danger from Native American’s had been removed and the frontier was open for settlement. David decided to visit the Firelands again, this time with his father-in-law and brother-in-law. That trip will be the subject of my next series of posts.
The evening of July 10, 1779, British troops under the command of Brigadier General William Tyron landed at the mouth of the Norwalk River. The following morning, the troops moved up the river toward Norwalk, burning everything in their path. By the end of the “battle” eighty houses, two churches, eighty-seven barns, seventeen shops, and four mills had been destroyed worth an estimated 26 thousand British pounds (See the Wikipedia article Battle of Norwalk and W.W. Williams, History of the Fire-Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of the Prominent Men and Pioneers; Leader Printing Company, Cleveland, Ohio; 1879, p 14. and Erie Mesnard, “Surveys of the Fire Lands, so called being a part of the Western Reserve, sometimes called New Connecticut,” The Firelands Pioneer, Old Series, Volume V; The Firelands Historical Society, June 1864; p 94.).
In 1792, the Connecticut General Assembly authorized compensation of over one-hundred sixty-one thousand pounds (New England currency) to about eighteen hundred seventy “Sufferers.” David Gibbs father-in-law Stephen Lockwood’s share was set at 18 pounds, 12 shillings (WW Williams, pp. 15-16).
“David Gibbs,” Obituaries: The Firelands Pioneer, New Series, Volume IX; The Firelands Historical Society; 1896; page 542 and “Incidents in the Life of Elizabeth Lockwood Gibbs,” The Firelands Pioneer, Old Series, Vol XI, October 1874, page 83.
The Shawnee Chief Tecumseh was a thorn in the side of Americans for many years as leader of a large multi-tribe confederacy based out of “Prophetsville” in Indiana. In August of 1810, he appeared with a group of warriors at General Henry Harrison’s headquarters in Vincennes with a list of demands, which the General immediately rejected. The situation quickly deteriorated and open warfare was narrowly averted by another Native American Chief. Tecumseh departed, threatening war. See the Wikipedia article Tecumseh.
News of this encounter terrified settlers on the frontier and caused many who were about to push into newly opened territories such as the Firelands to revise their plans, to include David Gibbs and his friend Charles Sherman.
Although Tecumseh foiled Charles Sherman’s plans to settle on his father’s land in the Firelands, he was impressed by the man’s skill as a warrior. Charles remembered him through the years, and when Charles and Mary christened their sixth child in 1820, they named him after the Chief. That child also became a renowned warrior. His name was William Tecumseh Sherman.
“David Gibbs,” Obituaries: The Firelands Pioneer, New Series, Volume IX; The Firelands Historical Society; 1896; page 542; William A. Gordon, A compilation of registers of the Army of the United States, from 1815 to 1837, inclusive. To which is appended a list of officers on whom brevets were conferred by the President of the United States, for gallant conduct or meritorious services during the war with Great Britain, James C. Dunn, Printer, 1837, page 38; and War of 1812 Pension Applications. Washington D.C.: National Archives. NARA Microfilm Publication M313, 102 rolls.
This is the second of a series of posts about the Lockwood and Gibbs families trek to the Firelands in 1816.
2017 was the best year yet for the Firelands History Website. I expect 2018 to be even better.
What will I be posting this year?
First up, I’ll finish re-posting the Sufferers’ Land series, which will take me to the end of February. In March, I’ll begin posting new stories based on research from The Firelands Pioneer, the journal of the Firelands Historical Society, and from W.W. William’s book History of the Firelands. For the past couple months, I’ve been reading the nineteen journals that make up the Old Series of The Firelands Pioneer, looking for stories that I think will interest you.
The trek to the Firelands by Henry and Amelia Lockwood and David and Elizabeth Gibbs. These two couples played a huge role in the early posts of the Sufferers’ Land series. But I have not yet told the harrowing story of their trek to the Firelands. It’s a heartrending tale of suffering and tragedy, but ultimately an uplifting story of perseverance.
The life of the pioneers on the frontier: how they lived, cleared the land, and the hardships they endured, focusing on stories of the first settlers of the Firelands, from 1808 to 1812.
The War of 1812 in the Firelands, how those early pioneers fared in what became a no-man’s land between British and American forces.
The history of the Civil War, especially the story of the 55th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Norwalk’s own regiment.
I appreciate everyone who has stopped by this site over the past year, and look forward to sharing more tales of the Firelands with you in 2018.
A day or so from their destination, Platt and Sally received bad news. Their cabin had burned down.
The two families lived in two one-room structures with a common roof and separated by a breezeway, one family in each cabin. David and Elizabeth Gibbs and their family had arrived in Ohio the previous year, accompanied by Elizabeth’s brother Henry Lockwood and his wife Amelia.* The two families had a harder trip than the Benedicts and Keelers and each lost a child on the road. Looking at her own children, Sally must have been thankful that they had all made the trip safely.
The travelers crowded into the Gibbs cabin for supper. After eating, the unmarried men went to the barn to sleep and the families settled down in the cabin as best they could. As she lay in a makeshift bed on the floor of the crowded little cabin, Sally must have thought of her home in Connecticut and wished she were back there, safe and warm. During the night, a big storm blew through the clearing, rain and wind rattling the “shakes” that covered the roof of the cabin.
Dawn finally came, and the single men dragged into the cabin, exhausted. The barn had provided scant protection against the storm. Rain came through the roof as if it was a sieve, soaking their beds and making for a miserable and sleepless night.
After breakfast, the men shouldered axes and saws and trudged down the trail along the sand ridge to where the Benedict cabin had burned down. Sally helped Elizabeth take care of the children and prepare dinner for the men. Around noon, the women followed the men’s tracks along the sand ridge with their dinner. They found the work progressing well. Men had come in from the surrounding farms to help. Sally could see that by the end of the day they would finish erecting her new home.
Over the next few days, the men continued to improve the cabin, building a fireplace and chimney with clay and sticks, chinking and mudding the cracks and cutting holes in the walls for two doors and two windows. They accomplished all this without a single nail or other ironwork. Platt had brought two sashes for the windows from Connecticut, but had no glass, so they used greased paper instead. They finished five days later, and Sally and the children moved in. Conditions were primitive. There was no furniture and no floor.
Sally and Platt had established a new home on the frontier. Now they had to make it through their first winter.
“Memoirs of Townships – Norwalk,” by Platt Benedict, The Firelands Pioneer, May 1859, pp. 17-18.
The description of the arrival at the Gibbs and Lockwood cabin is from “Personal Memoirs” by Seth Jennings, The Firelands Pioneer, March 1860, p. 16.
“Incidents in the Life of Mrs. Elizabeth L. Gibbs,” The Firelands Pioneer, October 1874, pp. 83-84.
The description of the first night at the Gibbs and Lockwood cabin and the raising of the Benedict cabin is from “Personal Memoirs” by Seth Jennings, The Firelands Pioneer, March 1860, p. 16.
“Memoirs of Townships – Norwalk” by Platt Benedict, The Firelands Pioneer, May 1859, p. 18.
“Personal Memoirs” by Seth Jennings, The Firelands Pioneer, p. 17.
This post was first published on this blog in 2009, and also on September 9, 2017 as A Home in the Wilderness Revisited.
In January of 1817, Platt again started for The Firelands, traveling in a one-horse wagon. He stopped in New York, where his sister lived with her husband Samuel Darling. Samuel accompanied his brother-in-law west, driving a second wagon.
The two men traveled through driving snow to the Great Bend of the Susquehanna River, where they found a sleigh that belonged to a man by the name of Holley, who had left it there on his move to Florence Township in the Firelands. Leaving one wagon, they loaded the other on the sleigh and set out in extremely cold weather, traveling north and then west, bound for Erie, Pennsylvania.
A foot of snow covered the ground, excellent conditions for sleighing. In Erie, they left the wagon and headed south in the sleigh to Meadville, Pennsylvania. Here their luck changed for the worse. It began to rain heavily, melting most of the snow. They continued on to Canfield, Ohio in the sleigh, but upon arriving there decided to exchange it for another wagon.
The meadow along the ridge had few trees, so the men went to a nearby lowland area to cut logs for the cabin. They stood in ankle-deep water while they worked — a miserable experience that begged for the relief of a libation. Usually the owner of a cabin being raised treated his helpers with whiskey, but Platt gave Jamaican Rum instead, which his new neighbors greatly appreciated.
They finished building the cabin that evening. Although it was a rude structure, it would provide shelter for Platt’s family when they arrived. Satisfied with his progress so far, he made final preparations prior to returning to Connecticut to fetch them.
He hired a Mr. Stewart to stay in the cabin during his absence and clear and fence four acres of land on the flats south of the ridge for ten dollars per acre. Because Mr. Stewart had no provisions, Platt purchased a barrel of pork and a barrel of flour for him.
Before he departed for Connecticut, Platt met a friend named Captain John Boalt, who also wanted to settle in Norwalk Township, and sold to him one hundred acres of his land on Old State Road, about a mile southeast of the center of the proposed village of Norwalk.
“Memoirs of Townships – Norwalk”, by Platt Benedict, The Firelands Pioneer, May 1859, p. 17.
This description of how a cabin raising was a diversion to the early settlers is from “Memoirs of Townships – Clarksfield”, by Benjamin Benson, The Firelands Pioneer, November 1858, p. 21.
“Memoirs of Townships – Fitchville” by J.C. Curtis, Esq., The Firelands Pioneer, May 1859, pp.31-32.
“Obituary of Lewis Keeler,” The Firelands Pioneer, 1882, p. 158.
Two hundred years ago today, September 9, 1817, Platt and Sally Benedict and their family arrived in the Sufferers’ Land of northern Ohio, ending a two month trek from their home in Connecticut. Over the next days and weeks, Platt and Sally would become the first permanent residents and founders of Norwalk, Ohio. To celebrate this event, I am republishing A Home in the Wilderness, the sixth post in my series Sufferers’ Land, which tells the story of the settlement of Norwalk from 1817 to 1857.
The two families lived in two one-room structures with a common roof and separated by a breezeway, one family in each cabin. David and Elizabeth Gibbs and their family had arrived in Ohio the previous year, accompanied by Elizabeth’s brother Henry Lockwood and his wife Fanny. The two families had a harder trip than the Benedicts and Keelers and each lost a child on the road. Looking at her own children, Sally must have been thankful that they had all made the trip safely.
Click Here to read all fifty-three of the Sufferers’ Land series of posts.
It was late afternoon, Monday, February 10, 1817 when George Woodruff spotted the “Village Cabin” ahead through the trees. His family and the rest of his party had made surprisingly good time that day on the twelve mile trek over the Beall trail from New Haven township. A foot of snow covering the ground had made travel easy for the oxen pulling the sleds with their belongings.
The Woodruff and Laurence families had arrived in Ohio from Saratoga, New York in the fall of the previous year, and had stayed in Trumbull County, while George and his father Chauncey had come ahead to scout the land and select lots for settlement. George had remained in the township of New Haven, while his father returned to Trumbull County for the rest of the party. Chauncey had returned with the others two days previously, and today they had finally completed the last leg of the journey to their new home.
While on their scouting trip to the region, unlike many pioneers, George and his father did not need to build the cabin they were about to occupy. It had been raised in the spring of 1916 by a man named John Williamson. Mr. Williamson had not occupied the cabin, nor had he stayed in the Firelands, so now it was open for use by the Woodruff and Lawrence families.
The cabin had a roof and walls with openings cut for a door and fireplace. A crib had been constructed as a frame for a hearth. George and his father remembered seeing split oak puncheons for a floor stacked next to the cabin on their previous visit, but the pile was now completely covered by snow.
George and the other men set to work digging out the puncheons and shoveling dirt into the crib for a hearth. They laid an improvised floor and hung blankets over the opening for the door, while Roxanna and Hannah built a fire on the hearth and made supper. Then the whole party crowded into the small space, and tried to make themselves comfortable.
They made merry as best they could that evening, helped along by a jug of whisky they had taken care to pack on the sleds before leaving New Haven, then lay crowded on the puncheon floor, trying to ignore the howling of wolves in the surrounding forest.
So passed their first night in their new home on the frontier.
Next up: Do you find all these place names confusing? Would you like to have a map when reading accounts like these? Help is on the way tomorrow with my next post: Where was Village House?
This story is based mostly on the accounts by John Niles in “Memoirs of Norwich Township,” The Firelands Pioneer; Volume II, number 2; The Firelands Historical Society; March, 1860, pages 32-46, and by W.W. Williams in his book History of the Fire-Lands Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of the Prominent Men and Pioneers, Press of Leader Printing Company, Cleveland Ohio, 1897, pages 417-425.
Beall’s Trail was cut through the wilderness from Wooster to Fremont, Ohio by General Reasin Beall and his army in 1812. It passed through what would become New Haven and Norwich Townships.
George’s mother Eunice Woodruff, nee Hosford, was missing from the party. She had died in 1797, two years after George’s birth. Roxanna Lawrence’s maiden name was Woodruff, so she was no doubt related to Chauncey, probably his sister. I have found other examples of this; for instance, siblings Henry and Elizabeth Lockwood and their spouses settled just outside of what would become Norwalk, Ohio in 1816, and hosted Platt and Sarah Benedict when they arrived in the fall of 1817, as described in the Sufferers Land Post #6: A Home in the Wilderness on this site.
The genealogy of Robert Lockwood, who came to America in 1630, is presented with the kind permission of Tom Ayres. Descendants of Robert Lockwood included Henry Lockwood and his sister Elizabeth (Gibbs) Lockwood who settled in Norwalk Township of the Firelands in 1816. An exhaustive Bibliography for this genealogy is also included. | 2019-04-20T01:13:10Z | https://firelands.wordpress.com/category/lockwood/ |
'Rehearsal room': Part 2: 06 January - 01 February 2014.
Part 1: 28 October - 24 November 2013.
For Brian Morrison, Saturday, 18 January: Sat 11am-3pm.
John D'Arcy & Clara Kane; Sharon Kelly & Robin Price; Chatterbox Production; Sinead Breathnach-Cashell; Brian J Morrison; Cilla Wagner; John Robinson; Iain Griffin; (Mitch Conlon).
PS² receives many proposals and ideas for projects during a year and only very few can be realized.
In 2009, PS² offered the ‘9-5 residency’ for artists to use the space for the duration of one day to develop and display new work. Similar and again selected through an open call, 'Rehearsal room' gives artists, cultural producers and groups the opportunity, to us the small, 23 m² space to create a site specific project, action, performance...,lasting between 4hours and 5 days.
Rehearsal Room seeks to open up the space, both in terms of more- but short- projects to work and be exposed in an art space and through the inclusion of groups or artists working with participants to prepare work, later displayed or performed at different/ outside locations.
The project has two parts to increase the input and variety of contributions.
As part of his long term research project into American spy activities during the Cold War in West Berlin, Brendan Jamison will transform PS² into a research hub featuring drawing, collage, sculpture and photography. The 'Intelligence Gathering' project will cross-pollinate aesthetics with history, politics, geography, architecture, linguistics and the world of espionage.
'Process-shop' an experimental drawing / making workshop with Cilla Wagner & Sharon Kelly.
Theme: Using word / materials as starting points to explore the notion that the ‘process is more important than the outcome’.
Further info: all Materials provided. This workshop is FREE, EXPERIMENTAL, NO PREVIOUS 'ART' EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!
We will begin at 12noon and take a break at 2pm. Participants should leave the space for an hour and return for the second part of the workshop at 3pm. The end of the workshop is 5pm.
The outcome will be left in the space for one day only on Monday for the public to see. Opening hours Monday 1-5pm.
13.01. Monday Cilla Wagner/Sharon Kelly: ‘Process-shop’ Show of workshop outcome.
Active workshop for ideas and explorations towards a map, indicating how the city center can be used as a series of self-organized playgrounds.
Construction of a site-specific hanging mechanism for tow personal photographic images together with the father of the artist.
Chatterbox will develop and kick start a piece of new writing by Seamus Collins, based on the life and works of Victorian poet and artist Edward Lear.
Day 1: working with actors and writer responding to Lear’s poetry and work.
Day 2: production meetings with relevant parties.
Day 3: give space over to writer to get his initial ideas down. Afterwards group session to reflect on the work so far and the plans for the project.
“Actions in between the rescue” is a group of interventions that explore the armband as an element of identification in conflict contexts. In this occasion, we will produce a limited edition of an armband in relation with the macroeconomic operations that some countries from the European Union are going through.
During the three days at PS², the space will be open and accessible to the public.
This project is part of the work as international artists in residence at Flax Art Studios from January to March 2014.
artists’ recurring themes of intimacy, privacy and publicity in their performative collaboration.
Monday - Friday: daily performance at 5.30pm.
One year on from their audio-visual installation Marnabrae at Household, artists John D'Arcy and Clara Kane collaborate once again. This time the duo presents a week-long series of performances for the Rehearsal room project.
Following on from their previous collaborations, the new work plays with the inconsistencies of fact and fiction in the public and private worlds of personal relationships.
During the week, the artists will compose and rehearse new performances inside the gallery.
The public is invited to the daily performances taking place in PS² at 5.30pm. The space is also open to the public during the daytime while the artists rehearse.
Wednesday, 29 january 2014: performance.
For more information see www.johndarcy.com/John_DArcy.html.
'Actions in between the rescue' is a group of interventions that explore the armband as an element of identification in conflict contexts. In this occasion, we will produce a limited edition of an armband in relation with the macroeconomic operations that some countries from the European Union are going through.
In this three day rehearsal room projet, Brian Morrison t ogether with his father, constructst a site-specific desplay installation for two personal photographic images.
Saturday, 18 January 2014: Installation view'.
(9) Sinéad Breathnach- Cashell: A players guide.
(8) Cilla Wagner & Sharon Kelly: Process-shop.
Process-shop is an experimental drawing / making workshop an no previous 'art' experience is necessary.
Free for all on Sunday 12 January between 12-5pm (break from 2- 3pm).
All Materials provided. The outcome will be left in the space for one day only on Monday for the public to see.
Opening hours Monday, 11 January, 1-5pm.
Participants began with a warm up scribble action using charcoal sticks - mimicking the movements and feel of script / handwriting, but with larger arm action.
The surface was then 'knocked back', smudged, brushed over with the hand to blur the previuos marks and lines. They also used an eraser to eke out new marks and lines as well as working again in charcoal.
" Scary blank page - No more scary when I work and add layers and layers of drawing (history)".
After an hour break, participants returned to the space where the words on the washing line had been changed.
The new words related to subtle transformation or radical change, for example..... OBLITERATE, CUT, BREAK, RE-CREATE, RECYCLE, JOIN, DISTILL, YIELD, ERASE, SPLIT, FRAGMENT etc.
They were told that there did not need to adhere to edges of the paper / sheets and could extend beyond the boundaries onto wall, floor and window... Before I had finished the sentence, they were flying! They repeated this activity with a new person's work several times.
After the process had come to a natural close, we stood and sat in discussion which was an integral part of this workshop.
(7) Brendan Jamison: ‘Intelligence Gathering’.
Belfast and Berlin are often linked by their histories of violence, wall divisions and the respective use of surveillance and espionage techniques. Belfast-born artist Brendan Jamison has just completed the first 18 months of research into a 3 year project on Teufelsberg Field Station Berlin, an American Cold War spy station that was built in 1963 on an artificial hill in the Grunewald forest.
Adopting a multi-disciplinary approach, PS² has been transformed into a research hub and documentation centre, with walls covered in drawings, collages, sculptures and photographs. The core of the research features 'intelligence reports' created through detailed analysis of the spy station, regular field trips to the site and extensive interviews with former intelligence operatives. 30 reports have been completed so far and an estimated 60 more are to be produced.
The 'Intelligence Gathering' project cross-pollinates aesthetics with history, politics, geography, architecture, linguistics and the world of espionage.
In September 2013, the first phase of this research was presented in Berlin to 50 former spies who worked at the listening station. They flew in from America to celebrate a 50th anniversary reunion. This remarkable opportunity to interview the veterans first hand has opened up many more strands to Jamison’s ever-expanding jigsaw of events surrounding spying activities in Berlin from the 1950s to the 1980s. The spies also helped explain the mechanics of Cold War technology that was forever evolving throughout the decades. The global consequences of Field Station Berlin interceptions actually changed the course of history and unsurprisingly it became the most famous listening station in the world.
Despite the Cold War having ended in 1991, the stories recounted by the intelligence officers have never been revealed in the public domain and Jamison is using his 5 days at PS² to collate the new data and archive photographs they have shared. 'Rehearsal Room' enables Jamison to act as artist, researcher and ‘intelligence operative’, engaging in dialogue with visitors to the gallery on the subject of historical espionage and the role spying plays in today's world. The argument that espionage activities can prevent political catastrophies by gathering intelligence before events occur is forever challenged in the mass-media. However, this research project offers an in-depth analysis of the effectiveness of listening stations and suggests a much broader scope to comprehend the dynamics of intelligence gathering.
The project features many new artworks by Jamison which are displayed alongside works by invited artists and collaborations with Peter Richards, Ciaran Magill, David Turner, Mark Revels and T.H.E. Hill (the covername for a spy who worked at Field Station Berlin from 1974-1977).
Iain Griffin directed the rehearsals of the Irish language play 'An Triail' despite the fact that neither he nor the actors speak the language. The director and actors therefore had to use clues in the text such as punctuation, textual emphasis and occasional words that read similar to English words in order to translate the plot, actions, relationships between characters and the tone, purpose & content of each line.
The outcome consisted of a new complex story arc and character relationship structure which presumably bare little resemblance to the original text from which it is based.
This multidisciplinary project brings together digital art and the practice of drawing. Robin Price and Sharon Kelly will set up drawing material, projection and recording equipment and spend 4 days in a reactive, collaborative process, entailing real drawings, filmed drawing activity and interwoven sequences of animated data and drawing process.
To read a review by Slavka Sverakova and see more images click here.
Friday, 22.11.2013, Robin Price, Sharon Kelly: Process Lab. Images- Robin Price.
'The collaboration with Robin Price came about as a chance encounter while I was creating the work for “Liminal Space of the Runner” (2012 / 13).
For more information see the project blog Robin Price and www.sharonkellyartist.com.
To read the full review by Slavka Sverakova and see more images click here.
In her short rehearsal project, Miriam Witts addresses the simultaneous proliferation and stigmatisation of the telling of ‘lies’ in our day to day goings-on.
She invites audience members to come and experience a One to One performance that provokes thought on their relationship to lies, falsehoods and fiction.
Having just completed an MA in Theatre and Performance, her work is placed between a staged performance and improvisation. Her practice based research focused on the enigmatic form of ‘One to One’ performance, based on a relationship between ‘one’ and an ‘other’. It is a unique performance mode that addresses the development or destabilisation of a relationship between the performer and one audience member at a time.
2N- second form classmates from a secondary school in Belfast, will play and use the 'minecraft' computer game to recreate the whole of Donegall Street. The sessions are projected onto the wall and screen shots will be printed out in large format every now and then.
Minecraft is a computer game designed by Swedish programmer Markus Persson and developed and published by Mojang in 2009. It is in some way ‘Lego on computer’, either played by one player or virtually online with others (sitting at different locations).
2N: Minecraft drawing office- start up design, Donegall Street.
‘Minecraft is a game about breaking and placing blocks. At first, people built structures to protect against nocturnal monsters, but as the game grew players worked together to create wonderful, imaginative things.
It can also be about adventuring with friends or watching the sun rise over a blocky ocean. It’s pretty. Brave players battle terrible things in The Nether, which is more scary than pretty. You can also visit a land of mushrooms if it sounds more like your cup of tea.' Quote minecraft website https://minecraft.net.
It is debated in forums and schools, if minecraft is one of the better computer games and the many hours youngsters play every day are not wasted. For PS² the proposal sent in by some 12 year olds, sounded convincing, fresh and possibly full of mines.
Outcome: The 12 to 13year olds met for three 4 hour sessions in PS², some others joined online from home. One computer was linked to a data projector and the screen view projected onto the wall for everyone to see, especially for passers-by. With some visitors coming in, it was interesting to see how the children were quickly drawn into the game and design possibilities. The parents meanwhile formed a small minecraft addiction-support-and control support club.
Monday 11 November opening hours 1-6pm.
“For eight years dust blew on the southern plains. It came in a yellowish-brown haze from the South and in rolling walls of black from the North. Children wore dust masks to and from school, women hung wet sheets over windows in a futile attempt to stop the dirt, farmers watched helplessly as their crops blew away”1.
Shelby Hanna: Two days dust, installation view.
“During the drought of the 1930s, the unanchored soil turned to dust that the prevailing winds blew away in clouds that sometimes blackened the sky. These choking billows of dust – named "black blizzards" or "black rollers" – reached such East Coast cities as New York City and Washington, D.C. and often reduced visibility to a meter or less.
Shelby Hanna’s work focuses on the life inherent in inanimate objects and the origins of consciousness. Her sculptures and installations highlight the magical in natural phenomena. Her practice often involves the production of small, intimate and familiar objects enlivened and given narrative through titling. Common to her work are elements such as glass, fur, water, resin, powder, and antique furniture. She explores elements of her own local history interest in the “fly-over states” and how the middle of America is metaphorically an ocean meant for crossing.
Shelby Hanna (b. Tulsa, 1987) works in Dublin. She has recently completed a Master of Fine Art with distinction from the University of Ulster. She earned a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Oklahoma in 2009.
For more information on Shelby Hanna see.
John Robinson's recent experimental work has involved the use of materials and devices that mimic natural phenomenon such as; pools of water, controlled lighting and projected imagery. For this project he constructed a tent, collected branches and worked with light and fog machine.
08.11. Friday 2N: ‘Minecraft Drawing Office’ .
Project with young people 2N will play and use the 'minecraft' computer game to recreat the whole of Donegall Street. The sessions are projected to the wall and screen shots will be printed out in large format.
Monday 11 Nov, opening hours 1-6pm.
M. Witts will address the simultaneous proliferation and stigmatisation of the telling of ‘lies’ in our day to day goings-on. She invites audience members to come and experience a One to One performance that provokes thought on their relationship to lies, falsehoods and fiction.
for a series of short residencies, lasting between 4 hours and 5 days.
Part 2. 06 - 31 January 2014.
Please send a short proposal + few images till 19 October 2013 to: [email protected].
We encourage all creative practitioners, professionals and amateurs, part-time and full time dreamers, hobby and master visionaries, individuals, groups or organisations to submit a proposal.
The short projects do not have to be a finished product or have a fixed outcome. In the contrary, they might only be a first step for further projects, a test run and experiment of a process, performance, initiative, display and forms of distribution.
For PS² this is a great opportunity as well: to see a wide variety of cultural expressions, to make new contacts and to open up the (art)space for more diverse activities.
Image top: Iain Griffin: Translations. Image by Jordan Hutchings. | 2019-04-18T21:22:17Z | http://pssquared.org/rehearsalroom.php |
You will find too many coincidences to be lies! These discoveries align perfectly with the Bible. You can therefore make the statement that the Bible truly is a history book and true to its word. Darwin lived and taught a lie, one that millions still believe to this day.
The Bible says that you should “…be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).
Truths is a funny concept. What can be perceived as my truth may not be perceived as your truth. However, I along with my fellow Christian brothers and sisters, believe that real Truth comes from and is revealed by God through his Holy Spirit. You see, we believe that Satan is presently in control of this world and therefore the world is highly saturated in lies and deception. Once you begin to understand and see the deception, you will realize just how thick and how saturated it really is. Truths can only be discerned through the Holy Spirit. Why the Holy Spirit and why can we believe the Bible? Because the Bible is the “Word of God” [And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”John 1:14. ] and only “The Word of God” can bestow the Holy Spirit on you through Christ Jesus who gives us the spirit to dwell within us till we die. [John 14:15-21 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. ] Jesus provides us with the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. In fact, the Holy Spirit did not come unto this Earth until Christ came. Prior to this God dealt with the Jews directly and spoke to people.
As the Blessed Trinity is made up of – God the Father, Jesus the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of God, so we humans are also made up of three parts. Flesh – body, soul – our will, and spirit – our eternal being. The spirit is that which Adam deadened in all mankind when he sinned. The spirit is only brought to life again through the Holy Spirit which is why it is crucial to come to Christ for your salvation. Once we are born again through the blood of Christ, we begin lives to exercise the soul and flesh into subservience under the spirit that is now bound with the Holy Spirit so we can truly be spirit led in this life and prepared for Heaven in which we will fellowship with our Creator God (Abba) and His precious son, Christ Jesus, for this present day body and soul are weak and will die. The Chaos Theory.
The Bible, and the history thereof, constitutes a historical timeline and actual, historical authors that had obvious contact with God and from whom, contracted wisdom, discernment, and spiritual enlightenment in which resulted into the Holy Bible we now know. Most of the old testament writers who wrote about Jesus’s coming didn’t really understand what they were being led to write and that can be evidenced in the text. The fact is, ALL Biblical prophecy came to fruition at the time it said it was prior to when it came, and is still coming to fruition today. Click Here for Prophecies that Came True in the Bible. This is an important thing to note as it adds validity to the holy scriptures.
I know some Christians disagree on the point of time of Christ’s return and it’s not crucial to believe one way or another on the topic to be saved, but I present this fact for three very good reasons: 1) If you are not looking for the blessed hope, Jesus, then you are looking for the anti-christ which doesn’t make sense with scripture. [Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Titus 2:13] 2) “God explicitly tells us he will keep up us out of his wrath” [Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Revelation 3:10], and 3) the Tribulation saints and the Church are noted as two different groups of people and are treated as such in the Bible. God always deals with Israel and the Church separately throughout the scriptures. God never deals with Israel and the Church at the same time. In the Old Testament God dealt with Israel; but in the New Testament God is dealing with the Church. Whenever God deals with His earthly chosen nation (Israel), then He is not dealing with the Church. God set aside Israel in the Old Testament because of her spiritual harlotry and their refusal of Christ when he came to Earth. He set them aside once they rejected Jesus’s identity as the Son of God, and then turned his eye on the gentile nations. We are now living in the “Church Age”, in the “Times Of The Gentiles” (Luke 21:24). Paul talks about this in great length in the New Testament. When the Tribulation hour is knocking on the door of this world, after the Church has been raptured, after the Tribulation Saints are martyred under the anti-christ; God will once again turn his eyes towards and deal with Israel – His chosen people, hence the setting aside of the 144,000 Jews during that time. [And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed a hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Revelation 7:4] There will not be any redeemable gentiles alive during the time of Tribulation. The Tribulation saints (who will be gentiles) will have been martyred before the 144,000 are brought out into God’s grace and mercy. I will touch more on this later in this blog. I encourage you to read a really good article by John Walvoord titled “When Christ Comes for the Church” as this also explains this in more detail.
the King James (KVJ) version is the closest translation to the original Hebrew and Greek. The translators of the KJV were honest. I encourage you to learn Hebrew and Greek as well. Learning Hebrew and Greek will greatly benefit your experience of reading the Bible as you will be able to read original texts. These newer biblical translations out here today are terrible and not true to the original.
MYTHOLOGY AND WHY DO WE HAVE IT?
So where did we really come from and what is our true history? Before you dismiss mythology because it sounds too incredible to be true – know and understand this; Human beings minds are limited and when I say that I mean we cannot create something “New”. It might be “new” to us yes, but it’s always a concept derived from borrowed ideas. We must borrow from somewhere to create something “new”. Think about it, have you ever really created something so original and genuine that the idea was not derived from anything? Only God can create something out of nothing, something “new”. We are made in his image so we can create, but we are limited. With that being said, I think its major human flaw to dismiss artifacts, mythology, and other stories as being made up. They were very real to those who wrote them and created them and they came from somewhere. There is some truth to be found in it.
If we take a look at the Book of Genesis – Verses 1 and 2 [“And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” … “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”], It seems that something happened here to cause the earth to be void. Steve Quayle, in his book “Unearthing the Lost World of the Cloudeaters”, writes about a race of angelic beings that were on the Earth at this time and equates evidence of it to the Sumerian Table of the Kings artifact which references kings on the Earth living for hundreds of thousands of years along with multiple other artifact findings. He doesn’t believe they were human, but angelic. Elsewhere in the Bible, you will see a reference made to the fall of Satan from Heaven to the Earth. [“Isaiah 14:12-15 – How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!”] It is interesting to note that Lucifer is actually a Greek word inserted into Hebrew scripture. For more on the differences between biblical terms given to Satan in the Bible, it would be good to watch the video below.
Anyways, Steve Quayle believes that a rebellion occurred between the two Genesis verses. He does provide evidence to support this theory in his book titled, “Unearthing the Lost World of the Cloudeaters”. Once God destroyed that Earth in verse 1, he creates a new one out of the void in verse 2 and subsequently creates man and woman in His image. The “serpent” that came to tempt Eve in the Book of Genesis is actually translated “nachash” in Hebrew which means “being of light” or “serpent like beings”. This wasn’t an actual snake, but a beautiful creature that was “snake-like”. Remember, Satan was the most beautiful angel in Heaven. You may ask, well why then did God punish snakes in the Book of Genesis? [“14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.“] Because I believe the cherubim (which Satan is) can transform themselves into anything and God was describing not only Satan, but His imprisonment here on Earth. Symbolism. God’s dealing with the serpents are also reflected in Steve Quayle’s book. Because of sin, death followed, and the degeneration of the human body and our bloodlines would take a toll over time. But the perfect human being (prior to the fall) was Adam and you can bet he was probably the smartest man to ever live. I mean he did name all of God’s creatures. Not just that, creation scientists from ICR will tell you that in order for all the races to be on the Earth as we have them now, Adam would have had to of carried several gene pools and a wide variety of them and it was very likely he did.
[Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy [Spirit] sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into” (1 Peter 1:12)]. The angels are mesmerized, in awe, of man’s potential. As they should be, for we are the only creation of God’s to be made in his image. There is something very special about us. Think about it, if we weren’t that special, why would God go through all the trouble to redeem us?
Now, many years after Adam and Eve, there is a story about the covenant of the angels who came to Earth.. [1) And it came to pass when the children of men had multiplied that in those days were born unto 2) them beautiful and comely daughters. And the angels, the children of the heaven, saw and lusted after them, and said to one another: ‘Come, let us choose us wives from among the children of men 3) and beget us children.’ And Semjâzâ, who was their leader, said unto them: ‘I fear ye will not 4) indeed agree to do this deed, and I alone shall have to pay the penalty of a great sin.’ And they all answered him and said: ‘Let us all swear an oath, and all bind ourselves by mutual imprecations 5) not to abandon this plan but to do this thing.’ Then sware they all together and bound themselves 6) by mutual imprecations upon it. And they were in all two hundred; who descended in the days of Jared on the summit of Mount Hermon, and they called it Mount Hermon, because they had sworn 7) and bound themselves by mutual imprecations upon it. And these are the names of their leaders: Samîazâz, their leader, Arâkîba, Râmêêl, Kôkabîêl, Tâmîêl, Râmîêl, Dânêl, Êzêqêêl, Barâqîjâl, 8) Asâêl, Armârôs, Batârêl, Anânêl, Zaqîêl, Samsâpêêl, Satarêl, Tûrêl, Jômjâêl, Sariêl. These are their chiefs of tens. Book of Enoch 6], slept with women and the other animals and gave birth to giants (Rephaim) and monsters. They taught people technology and scientific enlightenment. In fact, you can bet their technology then was far more superior to what we have now. We are just now starting to touch on the technology that was around back then. Our ancestors were not neanderthals, despite what you’ve been taught. They were extremely smart! Just research the technology found in ancient Egyptian sites. My blog, History of Big Pharma touches on some of this technology in lieu of medicine. This is the stuff of legends and myths. Artifacts hidden from humanity just to save the evolutionary model and feed the lie. Don’t be fooled. We’ve had our history hidden and erased from those who’d have us believe otherwise, but archeology shows us our true history. I implore you to look into Steve Quayle or Tim Alberino’s research. They have some great stuff on this.
The corrupted bloodline that the fallen angels created was so much so on Earth during Noah’s day that God saw only one person on Earth whose blood was pure and whose heart was pure towards Him. In an effort to save our humanity he had this man, (Noah) build a boat, take his family and the land animals who were not corrupted, into the boat to shelter from the flood where God’s intent was to destroy this world once again, but this time with water. The firmament dropped and the oceans quelled.
These fallen angels were no doubt believed to be gods and worshiped that way by humans and tribes around the world. Throughout history, artifacts show visitation of angels and stories. Pagan deities and gods are believed to have come from demons/angels and the worshiping of, believed to be essentially the worshiping of angels. Native Americans are tell stories.
In lieu of all of this, it is important to remember that Satan hates humans, hates the idea of us, and hated the fact that God had ultimately given dominion over the earth to humans – it made the angels jealous [see the Genesis fallen ones that made the covenant] so he made and continues to make every attempt to corrupt our bloodline, make us not redeemable, and to turn us away from God so in essence to corrupt God’s image through us who were made in His likeness. This is self evident in everything Satan has attempted, the deception present on this Earth, and in all that he continues to do in his pride.
After this, you still had giants (Rephaim) on the Earth. These would arise from the two sons of Noah who had wives with Nephilim blood. These were also the tribes who God commanded be destroyed in the Old Testament scriptures; every man, woman, and child. At first you may think this is cruel, but these tribes were most likely not able to be redeemed due to their corrupted bloodline and these tribes were noted as being cruel and vicious. Read through the Old Testament scriptures to learn the history of these tribes as most were cannibals and highly sadistic. They include Og King of Bashan, the Nephilim, the Rephaite, the Anakim, and the giants of Egypt mentioned in 1 Chronicles 11:23. The first mention of the Nephilim is found in [Genesis 6:4; attributed to them are extraordinary strength and physical proportions.] The old gods and giants are a fascinating topic. One in which people, including the Smithsonian Institute made efforts to keep hidden from us.
The account of Noah and the flood is a foreshadow of the Rapture of the church. During the days before the flood, the world was carrying on with normal activities and falling into rampant sin, accelerated by the presence of the Nephilim, angelic-human hybrids who had overrun the Earth.
After the temptation of Jesus, the crucifixion occurs. Jesus dies on the cross for every single sin committed for all believers. It is so excruciating and terrible that God turns His back on his son for just a moment. [“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” — the Aramaic form — “that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).]But the righteousness of Christ was great and was able to defeat sin and death (and with it Satan) at the cross. Jesus’s blood is perfect and has redeemed mankind forever. Then the Old Testament teaches that He goes down into Abraham’s bosom, grabs the saved, and takes them to Heaven before returning to Earth to tell his apostles to preach to the Gentiles the good news. Prior to this, God only had his eyes on the Jews. Why the Jews? Why are they so special? Because their bloodline is pure. Remember Noah’s sons? Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
This was fulfilled in God’s choice of Abraham and of Israel, Shem’s descendants.
The Generations of Shem (Gen 11:10-26) stretch from Shem to Abraham, covering ten generations — 437 years, probably written by Shem because His life spanned the period covering it: 98 years before the flood and 502 after. Abraham had been in Canaan 75 years when he died.
Shem was also “the father of all the children of Eber.” The term Hebrew is derived from the name Eber (Gen 10:21, Num 24:24) and means “to pass over.” The Messiah coming through the line of Shem was fulfilled in Luke 3:36 where Luke tells us that Jesus came through the line of Shem.
Abraham, a descendent of Shem, was fifty years old when Noah died. His name means “Father of a great multitude.” He was originally a Gentile, but he became the first man to be called a Hebrew (Gen 14:13).
Through Abraham came Isaac, then Jacob through whom came the twelve tribes of Israel. Abraham was also the father of the Arab nations through his son Ishmael.
God told Abraham in Genesis 12:3, “In you shall all families of the earth be blessed.” The Apostle Paul explains to us in Galatians 3:16 that this promise was fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ.
God told Isaac, Abraham’s son, that through his Seed all the nations would be blessed (Gen 26:4). The Apostle Paul tells us that this prophecy was fulfilled in Christ (Galatians 3:8).
4. The Messiah would be a Descendent of The Tribe of Judah (Gen 49:10, Psalm 78:67-68, Heb 7:14).
Asaph, in Psalm 78:67-68, tells us that God chose the tribe of Judah, descendants of Shem, through which the Messiah was to be born.
Jacob, the father of Judah, on his death bed prophesied, “The scepter shall not depart from Judah. . . until Shiloh comes” (Gen 49:10). The term Shiloh has always been recognized as a name of the Messiah. It means “peace” or “one sent.” As the Messiah, or Sent One, Jesus came before Judah lost its tribal identity.
Gentiles bloodlines came from Noah’s other two sons – Ham and Japheth which has been corrupted from the Nephilim. We are not giants, but we have that blood running through us. Prior to Jesus, the Gentiles were a lost nation and were not given the Truth. Only the Jews worshiped God at that time. After the rejection of Christ by the Jews, God turned his back on them and focused on saving the Gentile nations, hence why Peter and Paul were sent out to preach the gospel to the Gentiles in the New Testament. Only God gives true wisdom and insight. Satan does give enlightenment, but it’s limited and it’s to destroy you, not to better you. (see Eve). Jews were under Babylonian influence in those days and most of the Jews adopted the Babylonian Talmud from the Tower of Babel [see Nimrod and gods associated with him] and to this day still reject Jesus. They believe He was a real person, but refuse to identify Him as the Son of God. But we should thank the Jews. Had they not rejected Christ, we wouldn’t even know of Him. Their curse is our blessing and therefore it is prudent that we bless them and pray for them. This does not change the fact that the Jews are God’s chosen.
Once the Church is raptured up (pre-trib), the Antichrist appears and persecutes those left who turn to Christ and refrain from the mark of the beast during that 3 ½ year period (Tribulation Saints). Take into account here, trans-humanism will be rampant. People will be adopting trans genetics and will no longer be considered “human”. In an effort to live forever, people will sell their souls. You are going to hear A LOT more about trans-humanism in the coming years. It’s starting to come to fruition and the movement towards it is growing all in the name of spiritualism.
Enter in the Day of the Lord and the last 3 ½ years of the antichrists reign – God’s wrath. This is where he will turn from the Gentiles (they’ll all be unredeemable at this point anyways) and turn his attention back to His people – the Jews. Once the prophets (believed to be Elijah and Moses) appear, Jews will be turning back to Christ like never before. God will rescue and keep 144,000 of them and protect them during His wrath that will fall on the earth. This is the true apocalypse that will occur. We, who are alive and remain, will be caught up to meet Him in the clouds prior to any of this and I can’t wait.
The evolutionary model is flawed. Most scientists don’t even believe in evolution, they just agree with it in public to keep their tenor. Evolution is a myth. If we were still evolving, why is it that our DNA is slowly deteriorating? This is a very good question. [The Human Race is Dying: DNA Degeneration] So much so that scientists are looking at ways to preserve humanity through trans-humanism, and genetic engineering, which won’t really be preserving humanity as we’ll be half machine, half human, losing our redeemable existence and our souls in the process. This will be what the Nephilim practiced during the time of Noah- bloodline corruption with genetic engineering. This is what Satan wants though; to corrupt the bloodline, corrupt the image of God.
This blog is very high level. I could cover topics leading into these in so much detail it would require books upon books. There is just so much knowledge and wisdom God has revealed over the years about the past and our history that Satan tried to cover up with lies so that we wouldn’t believe in a God of creation or on His son, Jesus, lies that would have us believe that our lives are meaningless, fruitless, and that the Bible is just a bunch of stories. When in fact, it’s all truth. It’s just that we’ve been deceived and programmed SO MUCH to think otherwise. It’s hard to unlearn what you’ve been taught, but believe me once you know the truth its so awakening and spiritually such a blessing. Stay awake and come out of the matrix.
One last note on mind control that society likes to use on people is Programming. Programming through the use of social media propaganda, liberalism, which is a stain on society – communistic, hateful, divisive ideas and straight up fascism are a result of their ideology, mainstream media, TV shows, movies, video games, popular music, and Hollywood. Whose origin is a fascinating topic in and of itself.
I encourage you to do your own research as well.
That’s all for this blog. Feel free to comment below!~ And don’t be deceived. I pray you well friends. | 2019-04-23T01:05:29Z | https://herbal-healer.com/the-real-history-of-mankind |
I was looking through the narrative (Part II) that I had sent to you earlier and discovered that there were three places where my computer did not change my daughter’s name to Beth, in the photo section, so I changed that. I am trying to keep the spotlight off of my family since this is “the Aden genealogy”. I only tried to mention how I was able to apply what I had learned from doing this genealogy and from having spent so much time with the various Aden families to raising my own daughter and how it helped me become a better parent. Hopefully, other people who read this genealogy might find material and inspiration in it that will help make them better parents too.
If you have not put my Part II — The Narrative — on the Internet yet, can you replace it with the one that I have attached? They are basically the same except my daughter’s real name does not appear in this copy.
This entry was posted in Paul Olson - Aden Genealogy on July 21, 2011 by gregg.
I hope I am not too late to give you my latest version of the Part II narrative to the genealogy. It is the only part that slowly evolves and hopefully improves over time as I occasionally find spelling and grammar errors, computer corruptions, or receive additional information from some source. Here is the latest and most recent version. It is little different from the others, just a tiny bit more up to date and perhaps with a few less errors.
This entry was posted in Paul Olson - Aden Genealogy on June 21, 2011 by gregg.
It is nice to hear from you again. I hope that means that you are feeling better and your foot is also better. I am sending the genealogical chart section again. I must apologize for not following an official genealogical format. I am far from being an expert in those details. I collected my information from various members of the extended Aden Family in the Pacific Northwest and from many other sources including many on the Internet. I tried to record what I wanted in a logical order and sequence, and to give credit to the various sources.
One reason that I continued working on this genealogy was that I found that it was possible to trace it all of the way back to Adam and Eve and to many famous early kings and emperors. That was rather exciting and I learned so much about history and many of the famous leaders of ancient history. I hope that the readers will find it to be as interesting as I did. I found that it also raised many questions, few of which I have answers for or the expertise to answer. I found many mistakes in the works of others that I was using as references and I am sure that people will find some errors in my work also, but I made a special effort to be as accurate as possible and to point out a few problems when I was unable to satisfactorily resolve them.
I hope that the bright sunshine of spring finds both your health and spirits equally as bright and happy and the same for your family. The attachment is my part II of the Aden Genealogy — the short narrative. The narrative is the only part that seems to slowly evolve over time as I discover new information or I receive new information about the Aden family from others. I saved it in Microsoft Word 93 as you requested. It contains quite a few photos, newspapaer clippings, and a letter. I think it is in pretty good order now.
Other than its non-standard format, I think you will find it interesting. It shows that the wife of John Ennen Aden — Freda Gertrude Bryant — was descended from several famous people and from early European royalty. But when you go back a thousand years and more in time, probably most of us are descended from most of those who lived and had children that long ago.
This entry was posted in Paul Olson - Aden Genealogy on May 21, 2011 by gregg.
I followed your directions. Here is the charted genealogy put into Word 2003 format. I hope I was still able to maintain the various links in active status. Since this is in the form of a huge genealogy chart, it is necessary to maintain the various line formats which vary throughout the document. If the line lengths or formats are changed in any way, the whole thing is likely to fall apart and become a useless mess of gibberish. I do not know if you can define it as an “object” rather than a document in order to maintain it intact as it is. I hope that you can use it as it is reasonably good research although I will admit that I left a lot to be desired in terms of proper citations for my sources which I did try to list.
This entry was posted in Paul Olson - Aden Genealogy on February 21, 2011 by gregg.
I am a little concerned about the information that I sent to you. Some of it is genuine genealogical information, but many of my notes are for your eyes only or may be shared only with other close members of the Aden family but not put on the Internet for the general public, because they can not be taken back. My “Points of Interest and Notes” is such an example, where it exposes some of the problems of the western Aden family. Since they are still alive, the notes should not be made public. I have sent you a replacement attachment where the offending notes have been removed. You can make this one public, but please keep the information contained in my other notes and emails to yourself.
To give you an idea of what I did with / for the Adens, they did most of the research and supplied most of the information. Being an engineer, I looked at numbers and looked for inconsistencies. I have some genealogical rules that I made up myself. (1) mothers must be not less than 13 nor more than 40 years older than their children. (2) fathers must be not less than 15 nor more than 60 years older than their children. (3) husbands and wives must be within 40 years of age of each other. (4) marriages must take place when both the husband and wife are at least 15 years old. (5) The mother was pregnant when they got married if the first child is born less than 8 months after their marriage. This may sound like common sense, but you would be surprised at how often these simple rules are violated in established genealogies. If I find parents are too young relative to their children, I suspect that they are siblings rather than parent-child relationships. If they are too old, I suspect that there is a missing generation. At one spot in the early Aden genealogy, I have a situation where the father is listed as being 300 years younger than his daughter. I should not have been the first to have spotted this glaring error.
When we got into biblical times, I found all kinds of genealogical errors which I highlighted in the long Aden genealogy. But I preferred to follow genealogical and numeric logic rather than calling every error a religious miracle. I learned a lot from doing this project and helping out the Aden family with their genealogy project.
The most important thing that I learned is that genetics predicts the potential in accomplishment and achievement that one is capable of but without super-parenting and the nurturing of friends, relatives, neighbors, and family, the greatest part of that potential is likely to remain forever undeveloped. Thus, a family of more average genetic potential, like my own, can often rise above social expectations for them if they are supportive and nurturing of one another in an extreme manner.
I cite my own case as an example. Mrs. Aden wanted her daughter, Nancy, to break off her friendship with me in June 1962 because she though I would never amount to anything more than a bum and would always be an embarrassment to the family. I got a bachelors and a masters degrees in college and married an MD. Our daughter played first chair clarinet in middle school and high school band and orchestra, competed in downhill ski racing for five years, won the state beauty pageant, and graduated from the University of Michigan with honors. She did some professional advertising modeling in magazines and newspapers even though she is only 5′- 4″ tall — a full 4 inches shorter than Nancy. If Nancy would have worked as hard as I did and would have been provided the support that I provided for our daughter, she would have been Miss Washington and competed in the Miss America pageant in the 1960’s. She would have been in the US Olympic swimming tryout finals. She would have been a professional model. And she would have had many friends there to help her and support her. And she would have done the same for her son, Michael.
I think Gary and I could have become good acquaintances as he probably would have enjoyed the challenge of picking up the Aden family as an extended case study and comparing notes and conclusions with me.
I will close at this point. I just want to request that you please be careful what you place on the Internet as it cannot be retracted once it is out there. I have three versions of the genealogy. My public version does not contain any derogatory information or hint that any even exists. The second version says that there are secrets within the family, but does not spell them out, and the third version, which may go to the grave with me, spells out everything I know about the family and is more than 100 pages long. I would appreciate if you did not make any derogatory information about the Aden family public, but instead just keep it to yourself or share it with only those Adens whom you are close to. Since you are also an Aden, you too are probably also genetically gifted as are most of the descendant family. That makes your family special.
You see, it was your ancestors who led us out of the caves hundreds of thousands of years ago, and into the light of day. It was your ancestors who led mankind to where we are today. They were the great thinkers, the idea men, and the scientists. But it was my ancestors and millions of others like them who took the ideas of your ancestors, put bricks and mortar to them, and made them into reality. Today, more than ever before, we need great and gifted people like those of the Aden families to develop themselves to the fullest extent possible and to lead humanity forth once again. That is why I have always nurtured and helped gifted kids and gifted friends of my daughters, taking them on day trips with us and otherwise providing a nurturing environment for them whenever they were with us.
Paul, I will add this stuff to the website and I’m glad you got my email. Everything that you sent me has been put on there except the email I got from you today.
I’ll let you know when I add it as it may take a couple of weeks since I’m working full time now.
You can certainly refer anyone interested to our website www.garycaden.com. I will gladly respond to any inquiry I get.
The other questions you have about the connection between the 2 Aden families I don’t have an answer for and since no one is currently doing any further research in our family, I’m not much help.
Congratulations on finding and getting that new job. With your working now, that must mean that your foot is better now. So all in all, you must be feeling pretty good now. This past week we went to visit a friend of my wife’s who lives east of Savannah, Georgia near the ocean. The water was almost bathtub warm, but because of the wave action stirring up the sandy bottom, viability within the water was only 12-18 inches. We saw about four container ships passing by every day, heading to or from Europe, and found a dead, 2-foot long stingray on the beach. All in all, we had a good vacation.
I am sending you an attachment of what is mostly the genealogical work of Carlin Aden. He was good because he wrote narratives about those relatives where stories had been handed down through family lore and legends over the years. Only an insider Aden would have that kind of information which is rarely included in genealogies. I also added my two-bits worth. The information and data is still raw in the sense that I have not checked the dates against previous information or to see if they were reasonable. I have already found a couple of obvious mistakes in his work, so it is not foolproof.
I translated his work into descendant charts because they could fit on 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper. I included about 95 percent of those listed in his index. I have not yet included everyone, but am still taking a look at it. Can you tell me yet how or where the two Aden families are connected? Also, can you tell me how to preserve this work and keep it accessible so if any of the Aden descendants form the Washington / Oregon Aden clan ever wants to pick it up, they will be able to find it?
Phil, I am sorry I haven’t gotten back to you. I just had to stop everything and do nothing but look for a job.
I finally found a job here after 4 months and just started 2 weeks ago.
I have added everything you sent me to our website at www.garycaden.com.
Thanks again so much for sending it to me. I really appreciate it, and I again I apologize for taking so long to get this done.
Note to Aden family: I have added new information to the website thanks to Paul Olson on the Aden Genealogy and also an email from Richard on his ancestor BradleyThomas Bradley of Walton Co., GA whose stepson was William Barkley Allen.
If there is anyone I’m forgetting, please forward to them.
I was happy to receive your reply and to hear that your foot is slowly getting better. I hope your recovery continues at a steady pace with no problems, setbacks, or infections.
I have sent you virtually everything I know about the Aden Genealogy. I worked primarily on the genealogy of the mother of Clifford Aden, Freda Gertrude Bryant, because there was much information available on that line and very little on the Aden name line. Freda was descended about four generations from the family of Daniel Boone, and his genealogy was well researched and written about by most everyone.
I did not do much in the way of serious genealogical research for the Aden’s but instead mostly compiled and consolidated the information that they provided to me. It turns out that two older Adens – Carlin Aden and “T. Sheldon” who was also “Z. Hunter” who were probably Carlin’s younger sister, Wanda Aden Sutich were the only ones of the family clan who were seriously interested in their genealogy. Since no one else had much interest in their work, and I did, they worked with me, I sort of became their hard drive storage device. They grew old and all have since passed on. That leaves me holding the bag with their genealogies and no one who is really interested. Clifford asked that I pass a copy on to his grandson, Michael, and I told him I would – which is much easier said than done. He is 25 now and lives in New Zealand. His mother, Nancy Aden, gave up her US citizenship and fled to New Zealand in the mid 1970’s with her new husband to escape and get away from all of those who knew some of her family secrets, especially those where she disgraced herself in her teen years — and I know more of their family secrets than anybody else outside the family.
I found some of Gary’s genealogical work on the Internet. He was very thorough and possessed expert genealogical skills. His outstanding work makes mine look like that of a third rate piker and a real amateur. I hope you folks are completing anything that he left unfinished and will preserve his masterful work so that all who are on that family line can access it and make use of it for many years into the future.
I hope that we might continue to stay in touch so that we both can tie up the loose ends that connect the two Aden clans. As for me, I am interested in closing out my work on the Washington / Oregon Aden clan and passing it on to those to whom it rightfully belongs — or at least making it eternally available to them in the future. I am closer to 70 now than to 60 and am beginning to realize my own mortality. That plus my wife forever telling me to clean out my junk in the basement means that I must start getting serious about finishing up and closing out all of my various open projects of which the Aden genealogy is one. Another is to go though all of my photos for the past 65 years and either throw them out or write on the back of them what they are. I have books to get rid of, and of course a whole lot more – like my fishing and camping stuff – after I am sure I will not be using them any more. I suppose you many see similar problems among some of your older relatives.
Some friends and I were reminiscing about the past and I found our many memories to be very interesting and wrote them down. Over time, each of us added a few more, and I am sending you the final result as an attachment. I hope you will find something to smile at as you read through it while waiting for your foot to get better.
Take care and may your week ahead be even better than last week.
See below from Gary’s wife about the information you provided. She’s had time to look at it. I haven’t. Looks like their might be a connection between the Aden’s you knew and our family.
Sorry I haven’t gotten back to you. Still looking for a job so that’s consuming all of time right now.
Karla: Just finished reading the research you received and looked at the genealogy listings. The John Aden listings from Woodford County, Illinois correspond to the research I did one time for Gary when I visited my brother near Peoria, Ill. If you look at some of the names of the women and men, they correspond to many of the names that Aunt Elda gave us from her family records. It appears that the step relatives moved onto the West Coast and were lost to the Nebraska relatives. I don’t know about any of his other stories, but he definitely has dates and records that sound authentic.
This entry was posted in Paul Olson - Aden Genealogy on August 21, 2009 by gregg.
I have enclosed part of what I have. The first part is a narrative which will be of little interest to you. It tells mostly which I stuck with this genealogy. The Aden genealogy is actually a single page chart within the narrative. It is but a tiny part of what you have because we quickly ran out of gas (information) on the Aden side. It was the mothers side, the mother of Clifford and Carlin Aden, Freda Gertrude Bryant where all of the family magic occurred. She is descended from the family of Daniel Boone. The Boones are descended from all of the early royalty of Europe. They are descended from the Holy Family and the Roman Emperors, and on back to Adam and Eve. I found all of that on the Internet and in various encyclopedias.
I think Z Hunter and T Shelden are pen-names for the same person, very likely Wanda Aden Sutich or maybe Dorothy King Aden. It could possibly be the daughter of Carlin Aden, Karla Aden. Wanda and Carlin have both passed on and Dorothy is 95 now and no longer into genealogy. Z Hunter was intimately familiar with the family of Clifford Aden and told me several of the family secrets and closet skeletons, which I can not pass on. I have spent about 700 hours with the Adens over the last 50 years.
The narrative explains why I was interested to pursuing this particular genealogy even though I am not a member of the family. Specifically, all of the members of the family are highly gifted genetically, and my hypothesis was that if multiple descendents of Daniel Boone are similarly gifted, could that reflect back on him about 250 years ago? So I developed it as a genetic genealogy. I am unusual in that respect in that I am really sticking my neck out on this one. As an unbiased observer, you can take a look at it and let me know among other things, if I am full of crap, or if I might have a case, albeit a weak one.
Since I am the only one who has ever done this that I know of, I am bound to be off track in some areas. So far I just have not had any critical review. Thank you for just taking a look at it.
Comment: This guy contacted me through the website. This information may or not be relevant for any future genealogy enthusiasts in the Aden family. I am adding it for the soul purpose of possible new information regarding our family.
This entry was posted in Paul Olson - Aden Genealogy on April 21, 2009 by gregg. | 2019-04-20T15:06:14Z | https://www.garycaden.com/category/paul-olson-aden-genealogy/ |
Sustained, consistent and advanced selling has long been the pillar ofA Kerala Tourism’sA success in forcing the State to the top of the conference of the universe ‘s favourite travel finishs. In the present attempt, the train, featuring the ticket line “ Chalo Kerala ” in Hindi and “ Travel Kerala ” in English, will track the mainland of India for six months, until June 2010, enticing chiefly domestic tourers from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka, which are the States that lie on the Rajdhani ‘s way. Apparently, around 85,000 commuters can be found each twenty-four hours on the railroad platforms along the Rajdhani ‘s path.
Similarly, elsewhere, such “ poorist ” experiments exist. Over ten old ages ago, in Brazil, Marcelo Armstrong founded Favela Tour, a company that takes tourers into Rio de Janeiro ‘s “ favelas ” or slums. Tourists pay around $ 35 to peep into day-to-day life in a South American slum community. Similar Tourss can be found to poverty musca volitanss in South Africa, notably Soweto, Johannesburg, or Cape Town, and to the ghettos in New York City in the US. Closer place, “ Reality Tour ” organizes trips to Mumbai ‘s largest slum, Dharavi, arguably to chase away the many myths and negative images that people harbour about this well-known landmark.
Anonymous.A Businessline, A Chennai: A Mar 23, 2010.
A high-ranking panel of functionaries handed over to the Kerala Government a study suggesting, among other things, legal stairss to retrieve Rs 216 crore in amendss from Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages for alleged “ multi-sectoral ” losingss inflicted on people and the environment by its bottling works at Plachimada in Palakkad territory.
Loss Quantified It quantified the harm suffered by assorted sectors – agricultural loss at Rs 84.16 crore ; pollution of H2O resources at Rs 62 crore ; cost of supplying H2O Rs 20 crore ; wellness amendss at Rs 30 crore ; and pay loss and chance cost as Rs 20 crore.
The State Government had besides written to Mr. Amitabh Bachchan showing its gratitude for his positions onA Kerala TourismA and its willingness to lasso him in as the trade name embassador. No footings or conditions were discussed with Mr. Bachchan on the issue, the Minister added.
Anonymous.A Businessline, A Chennai: A Mar 8, 2010.
The Kerala Tourism Minister, Mr. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, has urged the local touristry industry to make maximal occupation chances in the State. Despite the recession, the touristry sector in Kerala registered 13 per cent growing, he said. He added that the Department of Tourism clocked grosss of Rs 13,000 crore, during that period. The Minister was talking at a map to show the best 5-star gilded hotel award to The Leela Kovalam Beach resort. Mr. Balakrishnan said that there was a demand to put up more tourism-related undertakings in the State, in which both populace and private sector should take part.
Tourism is frequently disparaged for the many ailments that it inflicts upon the autochthonal public of a finish, particularly on their cultural sensitivenesss. Hence the hunt for sustainable theoretical accounts which could tackle the economic benefits of touristry without bring downing a heavy toll on the civilization and life style of local colonies is of particular involvement to all the stakeholders in touristry. This paper is an in-depth comparing of the touristry development theoretical accounts which have resulted ( either by design or by default ) in Kerala and in Goa ; and the divergent impacts on their several local civilizations. It starts with a summarisation of the discourse on sustainable touristry and the damaging facets of unchecked touristry which prompted this worldwide pursuit for sustainable touristry development theoretical accounts. The apposition of the Kerala and Goa and development of the findings are based on direct experimental survey of the tourer activities, historical background and overall cultural atmosphere in each of these countries. Some nonliteral theoretical accounts for better apprehension of the politico-social environment of Kerala and Goa have besides been attempted.
Kerala is a really popular tourer finish in the universe and is known as one of the ’10 Edens on Earth ‘ for its natural beauty, verdure, repose and rich cultural heritage. A combination of picturesque sceneries, friendly people and rich civilization make Kerala an ideal vacation finish for people looking for a dramatic mix of beauty, tradition and history.
Agribusiness and fishing continue to be the dominant beginning of support in the province. Kerala is the largest manufacturer of coconut, gum elastic, coir and Piper nigrum. The province is besides the taking manufacturer of a assortment of spices, Anacardium occidentale, java and tea. Besides agribusiness and fishing, the services sector besides plays a major function in Kerala ‘s economic system. The growing in touristry and IT has enabled the services sector to enter a compound one-year growing rate ( CAGR ) of 12 per centum since 1999-00.
Kerala is a taking province in footings of substructure incursion. It has the highest per capita denseness of roadways in the state, three international airdromes, a big port at Kochi, three intermediate ports and 17 little ports. It is one of the lone two Indian provinces to hold two pigboat overseas telegram landings. The Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd acts as a nodal bureau for foreign and domestic investings in Kerala, supplying comprehensive support for investors.
Kerala is strongly engaged in fostering its fabrication sector and has proposed steps to assist concerns seek engineering upgradation and procedure betterments. The IT policy seeks to set up Kerala as a planetary IT services hub. Several stairss have been proposed by the province govt to better labour dealingss and do administration streamlined, crystalline and investor-friendly. The first-class substructure installations, policy model and the handiness of skilled work forces have enhanced the province ‘s repute as an IT/ITES finish. There are several chances in the biotech sector that are yet to be utilised. In order to advance the nucleus competency sectors of Kerala, dedicated sector-specific industrial Parkss are being set up across the province.
Tourism industry in India is on a great roar at the minute. India has enormous potency to go a major planetary tourer finish and Indian touristry industry is working this possible to the hilt. Travel and touristry industry is the 2nd highest foreign exchange earner for India, and the authorities has given travel & A ; touristry organisations export house position.
The perkiness in the Indian touristry industry can be attributed to several factors. First, the enormous growing of Indian economic system has resulted in more disposable income in the custodies of in-between category, thereby motivating progressively big figure of people to pass money on holidaies abroad or at place. Second, India is a dining IT hub and more and more people are coming to India on concern trips. Third, aggressive advertisement run “ Incredible India ” by Tourism Ministry has played a major function in altering the image of India from that of the land of serpent smoothies to a hot and go oning topographic point and has sparked renewed involvement among foreign travellers.
Travel & A ; touristry industry ‘s part to Indian industry is huge. Tourism is one of the chief foreign exchange earners and contributes to the economic system indirectly through its linkages with other sectors like gardening, agribusiness, domestic fowl, handcrafts and building. Tourism industry besides provides employment to 1000000s of people in India both straight and indirectly through its linkage with other sectors of the economic system. Harmonizing to an estimation entire direct employment in the touristry sector is around 20 million.
Travel & A ; touristry industry in India is marked by considerable authorities presence. Each province has a touristry corporation, which runs a concatenation of hotels/ remainder houses and operates bundle Tourss, while the cardinal authorities runs the India Tourism Development Corporation.
In the twelvemonth 2002, the Government of India announced a New Tourism Policy to give encouragement to the touristry sector. The policy is built around the 7-S Mantra of Swaagat ( welcome ) , Soochanaa ( information ) , Suvidhaa ( facilitation ) , Surakshaa ( security ) , Sahyog ( cooperation ) , Sanrachnaa ( substructure ) and Safaai ( cleanliness ) .
The policy proposes the inclusion of touristry in the coincident list of the Constitution to enable both the cardinal and province authoritiess to take part in the development of the sector.
No blessing required for foreign equity of up to 51 per cent in touristry undertakings. NRI investing up to 100 % allowed.
Automatic blessing for Technology understandings in the hotel industry, capable to the fulfilment of certain specified parametric quantities.
Concession rates on imposts responsibility of 25 % for goods that are required for initial puting up, or for significant enlargement of hotels.
50 % of net incomes derived by hotels, travel agents and circuit operators in foreign exchange are exempt from income revenue enhancement. The staying net incomes are besides exempt if reinvested in a touristry related undertaking.
Apart from this, authorities has taken several other steps for the publicity of touristry. A multi-pronged attack has been adopted, which includes new mechanism for rapid execution of touristry undertakings, development of incorporate touristry circuits and rural finishs, particular capacity edifice in the unorganised cordial reception sector and new selling scheme.
The mentality for travel industry in India looks highly bright. India as a touristry finish is the toast of the universe at the minute. Conde Nast ranked India amongst the top 10 tourer finishs. JBIC ranked her as the fifth most attractive investing finish. Besides, India is likely the lone state that offers assorted classs of touristry. These include history touristry, adventure touristry, medical touristry ( ayurveda and other signifiers of Indian medicines ) , eco touristry, cultural touristry, rural touristry, religious/pilgrimage touristry, religious touristry and beach touristry etc.
Kerala, a province situated on the tropical Malabar Coast of southwesterly India, is one of the most popular tourer finishs in the state. Named as one of the 10 Edens of the universe by the National Geographic Traveler, Kerala is celebrated particularly for its ecotourism enterprises. Its alone civilization and traditions, coupled with its varied human ecology, has made Kerala one of the most popular tourer finishs in the universe. Turning at a rate of 13.31 % , the touristry industry is a major subscriber to the province ‘s economic system.
Until the early 1980s, Kerala was a hitherto unknown finish, with most touristry circuits concentrated around the North of the state. Aggressive selling runs launched by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation-the authorities bureau that oversees touristry chances of the state-laid the foundation for the growing of the touristry industry. In the decennaries that followed, Kerala Tourism was able to transform itself into one of the niche vacation finishs in India. The tag line Kerala- God ‘s Own Country was adopted in its touristry publicities and became synonymous with the province. Today, Kerala Tourism is a planetary super trade name and regarded as one of the finishs with the highest trade name callback. In 2006, Kerala attracted 8.5 million tourists-an addition of 23.68 % in foreign tourer reachings compared to the old twelvemonth, therefore doing it one of the fastest turning touristry finish in the universe.
Popular attractive forces in the province include the beaches at Kovalam, Cherai and Varkala ; the hill Stationss of Munnar, Nelliampathi, Ponmudi and Wayanad ; and national Parkss and wildlife sanctuaries at Periyar and Eravikulam National Park. The “ backwaters ” region-an extended web of meshing rivers, lakes, and canals that centre on Alleppey, Kumarakom, and Punnamada-also see heavy tourer traffic. Heritage sites, such as the Padmanabhapuram Palace, Hill Palace and Mattancherry Palace are besides visited. Cities such as Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram are popular centres for shopping and traditional theatrical public presentations.
The province ‘s touristry docket promotes ecologically sustained touristry, which focuses on the local civilization, wilderness escapades, and volunteering and personal growing of the local population. Attempts are taken to minimise the inauspicious effects of traditional touristry on the natural environment, and heighten the cultural unity of local people.
Kerala, a State in the Republic of India, has 14 territories or administrative divisions. The major metropoliss are Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode. There are three airdromes in the province which provide international and domestic connexions.
Here is some speedy information on Kerala which will be utile for travellers sing the State.
Location: Southwest tip of India.
Language: Malayalam. English is widely spoken.
( I ) This Act may be called the Kerala Tourism ( Conservation and Preservation of Areas ) Act, 2005.
( two ) . It extends to the whole of the State of Kerala.
( three ) . It shall be deemed to hold come into force on the 9 th twenty-four hours of February 2005.
( I ) The Government may, by presentment in the Gazette, declare any country which have or likely to hold the importance of touristry within the State as ‘Special Tourism Zone ‘ for the preservation, saving and integrated planned development of such country.
( two ) No developmental activity including building in a Particular Tourism Zone shall be carried except in conformity with such guidelines as may be issued by the Committee.
1 ) Contribution to the Indian economic system.
3 ) Investing in the sector of touristry.
1 ) Development of metropoliss leads to break services and airdromes.
1 ) The growing of e-commerce and e-ticketing.
2 ) Satellite based pilotage system.
3 ) Modernization and denationalization of the province.
4 ) Development of IT / ITE services.
1 ) The lessening in the planetary heating.
2 ) The sudden and unexpected behaviour of the ambiance and the dependence on whether.
3 ) Land acquisitions and the leasing cost.
Servicess are intangible in nature and ca n’t be touched or seen. They ca n’t be evaluated before purchase or ingestion. Hence, clients before doing purchasing determination rely upon past purchase experience, promotion, trade name name and promotional activities.
Sellers devise assorted schemes to achieve the houses selling nonsubjective and derive client trueness. To this terminal, the service suppliers train their traders to sell their merchandises. The most desirable and convenient topographic points are chosen for the service bringing.
Service suppliers try to pull their clients by puting flexible monetary values, but it is indispensable that they take into consideration the cost of supplying the service before puting their monetary values.
Higher income group every bit good as the upper in-between category background.
The young person & A ; the high life style sections.
Sec A, sec B+ socio economic category chiefly in the age group of 25-45 old ages: specific monetary values offered for touristry and honeymoon bundles.
Servicess offered by kerala do accent on their policy to aim those sections which are willing to pay for luxury.
Multiple touch points & A ; finer promotional services working for the promotional activities.
Loyalty & A ; frequent circular plans are besides carried out.
Have IT AND USE IT OR GET OUT!
Ad runs: Kerala Tourism is noted for its advanced and market-focused ad campaigns.A These runs have won the touristry section legion awards, including theA Das Golden Stadttor Award for Best Commercial, 2006, A Pacific Asia Travel Association- Gold Award for Marketing, 2003A and the Government of India’sA Best Promotion Literature, 2004, A Best Publishing, 2004A andA Best Tourism Film, 2001.
2005 – Nominated as one among the three finalists at theA World Travel and Tourism Council ‘s ‘Tourism for Tomorrow ‘ awards in the finish class.
Best Marketed and Promoted State, 2004.
Best Performing State for 2003, 2001, 2000 and 1999 – Award for Excellence in Tourism.
Complexity of Servicescape – Elaborate environment and joy of trip.
Helps in work outing their griviences.
Provides the safety to the tourers and convience them to devour the service.
Communicate the message to tourers.
By supplying the proper cordial reception services.
Seasonal restraints must be avoided to supply better tourer finish. | 2019-04-20T21:13:16Z | https://muskegonkennelclub.com/the-models-followed-by-kerala-and-goa-tourism-essay-1977-essay/ |
Welcome to the fourth lesson of the PMP tutorial which is part of the ‘PMP® Certification Training Course.’ In this lesson, we will focus on project integration management. Let us begin with the objectives of this lesson.
Project integration management involves unification, consolidation, articulation, and integrative actions that are crucial for successfully completing the project.
Project integration management is high-level work that project manager does, and it involves managing interdependencies among the other knowledge areas.
The other nine knowledge areas involve detailed work in a specific direction. For example, Project Cost Management deals only with how to manage the cost of a project. The project management processes do not happen independently.
For example, a new resource added to the project may require changes in cost or schedule or both.
In dealing with such situations, the project manager integrates the processes of project management. The need for integration drives much of the communication and the work of the project manager.
Let us next discuss the key role of project manager, sponsor, and team, in the next section.
Project manager, team members, and project sponsors have different roles to play in a project which are explained in detail below.
The project manager is supposed to play multiple roles in the project; the key role is to perform the integration. The project manager puts all the pieces of the project together into a cohesive whole.
In doing so, the project manager tries to ensure that the project is done faster, cheaper, and utilizes resources optimally, while meeting the project objectives.
As the project progresses, the team members work on completing the project activities.
The role of the project sponsor is to protect the project from any unnecessary changes and to ensure that it has the required resources for completion.
The project sponsor is the champion for the project within the performing organization, i.e., the organization in which the work is being performed.
In the next section, we will cover the project selection methods.
An organization can undertake a project under contract with an external organization or take up a project driven by internal business needs. There should be a formal process of selecting the project in all organizations, to ensure that it is making the best possible use of limited corporate resources.
For example, if the organization has an option to take up anyone out of the two projects, both of which use the same corporate resources, the organization would naturally select the one, which is more profitable.
There are two broad ways to select a project.
These methods ascertain the costs and benefits of undertaking the project.
These methods rely on mathematical modeling techniques to determine the selection of the best projects to achieve certain business objectives.
Often, personal relationship with the sponsor may be more important than anything else. This is quite normal, and any organization worldwide works this way.
However, as a certified project manager, it is important for you to be familiar with more scientific methods of project selection.
You need to understand the characteristics of various project selection methods to answer scenario based questions.
In the next section, we will continue to focus on the project selection methods.
An organization has limited resources. They cannot execute all the projects that come their way. They can take only those projects for execution, which are financially sound for the organization.
There are various parameters used in making such decisions. Some of these terms are present value, net present value; internal rate of return; payback period; benefit-cost ratio; return on investment; and opportunity cost.
In the next section, let us look at the project integration management processes.
Present value is today’s value of future cash flows. To reduce future cash flows to present values, a “discount factor” has to be applied. What this essentially means is, if a project can give a return of say $100 per year, $200 next year, and $250 the third year, what is the value of all these returns today?
$250 return in the 3rd year will not be the same as $250 today due to inflation or any other constraint. Farther the timing of the cash flow (future value), lower is the present value.
Net present value (NPV) is the present value of the total benefits (income or revenue) less the costs over time. Therefore, if multiple items are involved, add the present value of all of them to arrive at the net present value.
Problems where a project has to be selected over other projects, by their net present value, can be expected in the exam.
Let us take an example of a typical question that we might encounter in the exam.
You have two projects to choose from. Project X will take two years to complete and has an NPV of $35,000. Project Y will take five years to complete and has an NPV of $95,000. Which one will you choose?
The answer is to project Y because it has a higher NPV. Do not get confused with longer duration of the project; it is important that NPV be more.
Another term used in evaluating a project is internal rate of return or IRR. IRR is the rate of discounting at which the present value of costs matches the present value of benefits. It is the rate inherent in the project. Let us look at an analogy to understand the concept of IRR.
Consider a project similar to depositing money in a bank account and earning interest. You will prefer the bank that gives maximum interest. Similar is the project. Choose from project A and B wherein Project A has an IRR of 25% or project B has an IRR of 15%.
The answer is to project A, as the IRR is better for project A. It is obvious, higher the IRR, the better.
Payback period is the number of time periods it takes to recover your investment in the project before you start making a profit on the investment made in the project.
You have two projects to choose from; project A with a payback period of 5 months or project B with a payback period of 12 months. Which one would you go for?
The answer would be projected A. It is evident that lesser the payback period, the better.
Benefit-cost ratio is the ratio of the present value of benefits to the present value of costs. A benefit-cost ratio of more than 1 means that benefits are greater than the costs. If the benefit-cost ratio of project A is 2.5 and benefit-cost ratio of project B is 1.5, which project would you select? The answer is to project A – as the benefit-cost ratio is higher in project A.
Return on Investment or RoI is commonly used in financial parlance to indicate how profitable a project is. Return on investment is the average rate of return (or benefits) expected as compared to the initial investment.
If a project involves an initial investment of $100,000 and generates an average return of $20,000 per year, it means the RoI is 20,000/100,000 (pronounce as “twenty thousand-by-one hundred thousand”) or 20%. Higher the RoI, the more profitable the project is.
Opportunity cost is yet another term used in evaluating competing projects that you might see in the exam. It means the opportunity given up by selecting one project over another. Problems where a project has to be selected over other projects, by their net present value and opportunity cost, can be expected in the exam.
For example, you may come across a question such as: What is the opportunity cost of selecting project B if Project A has an NPV of $55,000 and project B has an NPV of $85,000? The answer is $55,000. This is the NPV of project A, which was selected over project B.
There are six project management processes, which are part of the project integration management knowledge area.
Close project or phase is done in the Closing Process Group.
Let us look at each of these processes in detail.
In the next section, let us understand how to read process-related information.
As you can see in the project management process diagram, these elements within the knowledge area represent the inputs from the same knowledge area.
These elements represent the inputs from other knowledge areas. These represent the tools and techniques used in the process. These are outputs of the process; these represent the output within the same knowledge area whereas these outputs are fed into the knowledge areas other than the one that the process is a part of.
You can observe that the process in the image is color-coded based on the process group. Initiating process group is in yellow, planning process group is in blue and so on.
You can read the processes and their color codes in the legend box on the bottom left of the section.
The process group affiliation is also indicated in the text of the description. It is important to understand the process group context to appreciate what the process does.
In the next section, let us look at the develop project charter process.
Develop Project Charter is an initiating process. A project charter is essentially a document that “authorizes” a project. Once a project has received a charter, it means that the project manager can start employing the organization’s resources for the project activities.
The next input is the business case. This document establishes whether the investment in a project is worth from a business point of view, the business need for the project, and the cost-benefit analysis.
It provides important information to the project manager about the goals of the project and the boundaries regarding the desired results and cost. If the project is undertaken as part of a contract or agreement, the agreement provides an important input for the project manager to establish what must be done in the project.
The next input to be considered for project charter is “enterprise environmental factors.” Any project to be executed within the organization has to deal with the organization’s culture and existing systems.
You can consider this as an “organization baggage” that comes with the project. This is the reason a project being executed in two different organizations is done differently.
Another factor to be considered is organizational process assets. This is a broad term and includes all the organizational processes, procedures and policies, corporate knowledge base, and historical project information.
Every organization develops a set of processes, procedures, and policies that are based on the best practices learned by the organization over time. The historical information includes past project management plans, risks, and lessons learned from similar projects executed.
Now, let us look at the tools and techniques used in this process.
The first technique is expert judgment. Expert judgment is an invaluable input to the process of formally authorizing a project because an expert can provide insights into why a project makes business sense or why it does not.
From experience, they may be able to shed light on the validity of the business drivers, feasibility, assumptions, and constraints that need to be considered for the project.
Another technique is Facilitation techniques.
The chartering process is often a collaborative activity involving many influential stakeholders in an organization. Facilitation techniques help bring all these stakeholders together and engage in fruitful discussions to arrive at the decision to go ahead with a project or not. The only output of this process is the project charter.
Let us understand what the project charter contains.
The project charter contains the high-level project requirement, and it should be created by the project sponsor and handed over to the project manager. The project manager participates in the development of the project charter by compiling and analyzing the gathered information to ensure project stakeholders agree on its elements.
While doing so, the project manager carries benefit analysis with relevant stakeholders to validate project alignment with organizational strategy and expected business value.
As part of this process, the key deliverables will be identified. The project charter must be signed by the project sponsor or somebody in the “performing organization” who is higher in authority than the project manager.
Once it is approved, the same will be informed to the stakeholders to have a common understanding of the key deliverables, milestones, and their roles and responsibilities.
Note that a project charter is not a project management plan.
The detailed analysis of risk, schedule, and cost is part of the project management plan. It should be done during the project planning phase when the project is confirmed. The charter should be sufficiently “high level” to accommodate minor changes that may arise in the project.
Let’s now understand the Initial Scope Statement in the Project Management Process.
What problem or opportunity is to be addressed?
What risks or obstacles may affect the outcome?
What roles and responsibilities will be assigned in the effort?
What constraints, assumptions, and unanswered questions are impacting the vision?
What are the cost/benefit and Return on Investment (ROI) analysis?
How is Internal Rate of Return (IRR) estimated?
What are the project resource requirements and constraints - time, budget, HR, physical assets, etc.?
In the next section, let us discuss the second process under project integration management– Develop Project Management Plan.
Develop Project Management Plan is the process of documenting the actions necessary to define, prepare, integrate, and coordinate the subsidiary plans.
Examples of subsidiary plans are project time management plan, project cost management plan, project human resource management plan, etc.
The project management plan does not just describe when the project would start, what activities should be done, and when the project would get over. It is a detailed document and describes how the project would be executed, monitored and controlled, and closed.
Many people think that project schedule developed using Microsoft Project is the project management plan. However, that is not true.
Project management plan contains all the subsidiary plans and their baseline value. It also contains the allowed variance in the baseline value.
Performance measurement baseline of project’s time is the total of project baseline time and the agreed time variance for the project.
For example, the time management plan section would have mentioned the time taken by a project.
The period mentioned in the project management plan is 180 days. This 180-day period is also called the baseline time value. Therefore, the baseline value is the initial agreed value in the project management plan.
So, if the time variance agreed in the plan is 10%, the project should be executed in maximum 180+180*10% = 180+18 = 198 days.
Whether the baseline time value should be 180 days or 300 days is decided by analyzing the project activities, and it should not be decided arbitrarily.
In the next section, let us look at the various inputs, outputs, and tools and techniques of this process.
Let us look at the inputs considered in developing the project plan in the below figure.
Project charter from the previous process is an important input. The other inputs include the output of the other planning processes because the project management plan is supposed to integrate all of these plans.
The examples of other plans are time management plan, cost management plan, and quality management plan, etc.
All of these plans are developed over a period as the project progresses. These will be discussed in detail later in this tutorial.
In addition to these, enterprise environmental factors and organizational process assets are also inputs to developing the project management plan.
In fact, these two factors have more influence in developing project management plan than in developing project charter.
It is recommended that you understand these inputs, outputs, and tools and techniques clearly, as most of these will be repeated in other processes as well. The two tools and techniques employed in this process are expert judgment and facilitation techniques.
The very obvious output of this process is the Project management plan.
In the next section, let us look at some of the key terms, which are crucial to understanding these processes.
Let us look at a few key terms to understand project management processes. The first is the work authorization system.
There should be a formal process of authorizing work within the project. So be it internal team members or a project contractor, there should be a formal process of giving the go-ahead to start work on the project.
The next two related terms are corrective and preventive action.
Corrective action is any action taken to bring expected future project performance in line with the project management plan.
For example, if a project milestone is delayed, as a corrective action, you include additional resources to ensure that the final project deadline is not delayed.
While corrective action involves implementing actions to deal with actual deviations from the performance baselines, preventive action deals with anticipated or possible deviation from performance baselines.
For example, to ensure that projects are not delayed, you do a proper estimation of the work and assign enough resources to the project so that they are not delayed.
A very important system that needs to be established early on a project is the change control system. Since projects are executed in a dynamic environment, it is quite natural to expect changes in the project requirements.
The change control system is the formal documented procedures, paperwork, tracking systems for authorizing changes.
Therefore, the change control system analyzes each of the incoming change requests and decides whether to accept the change request or reject it.
A configurable item is any product, service, or result within the project, whose characteristics need to be identified, documented, and placed under change control mechanism.
Examples of configurable items are project documents, source code, physical parts such as tools, recommended settings for machinery, etc.
When a formal configuration management system is put in place, it is essentially establishing a control system that can preserve the characteristics of these items.
Now, let us look at the next process of the project integration management knowledge area, which is to direct and manage project work.
Direct and manage project work is the process of performing the work defined in the project management plan to achieve the project objective. This process marks the performance and completion of activities in a project.
The input to this process is the project management plan since the project is executed as per the project management plan.
The other inputs to this process are any approved change requests that need to be implemented. These could be in the form of corrective or preventive actions upon which the team has decided to work.
The other two inputs are enterprise environmental factors and organizational process assets.
Let us now look at the tools and techniques in the following figure.
Expert judgment is an important tool used in this process as well. Another technique is the project management information system or PMIS (pronounce as P-M-I-S). The PMIS is a combination of documents, dashboards, software tools, etc. where the data and information related to the project get collected as the work is being done.
During execution, it is natural to expect that plenty of meetings will take place among the team members and other stakeholders as well. There are several outputs from this process.
As the deliverables are being produced, there would also be data related to the project performance that will be generated, such as what was done, how long did it take, how much did it cost, etc.
Along with these key outputs, there are chances that new change requests may emerge. This could be because, during the execution phase, the team or the stakeholders may realize that what is being produced is not meeting the expectations or needs and that something else may need to be done.
In the process, project documents and project management plan get updated.
Let us look at Manage Project Knowledge in the next section.
Manage Project Knowledge is the process of using existing knowledge to create new knowledge to achieve project objectives and to contribute to the organizational knowledge base for future efforts.
The following diagram explains Inputs, Tools & Techniques, and Outputs of Manage Project Knowledge.
Project knowledge is broken into explicit and tacit knowledge and is intended to increase organizational success factors as well as achieve project objectives.
Let us look at monitor and control project work in the next section.
Monitor and control project work is the process of tracking, reviewing, and regulating the progress to meet the performance objective or objectives defined in the project management plan.
Now, the estimated time performance measurement baseline is 180 days and 10%. The monitor and control project work is the process area that tracks whether 180 days and 10% time performance baseline is being met or not.
Let us also look at the key inputs for the monitor and control project work process in the following figure.
Project management plan is the key input, as the performance measurement baselines are part of project management plan. The other key input to monitor and control project work is work performance information. It is the status of the project, i.e., the status of the project deliverables, the cost incurred, the time elapsed in the project, etc.
Along with the work performance information, forecasts related to the cost and time form important inputs upon which the project manager has to act. Validated changes confirm that the approved changes have been appropriately incorporated. Enterprise environmental factors and organizational process assets are also inputs to this process.
One of the outputs of this process area is change requests. Change requests could be like corrective and preventive actions or defect repair.
If the performance measurement baselines are not being met, this process ensures that project manager takes appropriate corrective and preventive action to get close to the performance measurement baselines.
Along with the recommended corrective and preventive action, monitor and control project work also results in identifying defects, which must be taken care of.
During the defect repair process, many reports related to the performance of the work of the project will be produced. Project management plan and project documents are also updated.
In the next section, let us focus on Monitor and Control Project Work Challenges.
In the next section, let us focus on performing integrated change control process.
Perform integrated change control is the process of reviewing all change requests, approving and managing changes to the project deliverables, organizational process assets, project documents, and the project management plan.
This is where all the recommendations for changes, corrective actions, preventive actions, and defect repairs are evaluated across all the knowledge areas and either approved or rejected.
The below figure describes Perform Integrated Change Control: Inputs, Tools & Techniques, and Outputs well.
The inputs to this process are similar to that of the monitor and control project work process; project management plan, work performance reports, enterprise environmental factors, and organizational process assets.
The only additional input is the change request, since the perform integrated change control process is supposed to take care of managing the incoming changes. To make a judgment about the change requests, project management plan and the work performance reports are also referred to.
Another important tool and technique used in this, along with expert judgment and meetings, change control tools, and most important among them is change control board. The team takes up the ownership of analyzing each of the incoming changes and also does the impact analysis for the changes, and finally approves or rejects a change.
The project manager, project sponsor, and few of the important stakeholders and team members may be part of the change control board.
The process should produce change requests that are approved, a log of change requests processed (requests that were either approved or rejected), and a few updates to the project plan and other documents. Change management and change control is the theme recurring in many questions in the examination.
You can expect questions in the exam, which test a project manager's response to a particular change in the project.
In the next section, let us take a closer look at the functioning of this process.
Now, let us look at the process of change. First, the project manager should determine that a change has either already occurred or if the change is necessary. One of the important qualities of a good project manager is that they will push back on “unnecessary” changes.
The next step is to evaluate its impact on the project in totality. The team needs to understand what would be the impact on the time, cost, quality, risk, resource requirements, and so on.
Once the impact is known, the project manager along with the team should look for various possible options to accommodate the change.
For instance, to accommodate an increase in scope, it may be necessary to extend the timeline, add resources, increase budget or a combination of the above.
Once the impact analysis and exploration of possible options are completed, the project manager should present it to internal as well as external stakeholders for their approval. It should be presented to internal stakeholders first, because the management of an organization may decide to absorb the change within the project’s reserves without opting to bill the customer.
If the project will have an impact on the agreed baselines of time, cost, scope, and quality, one needs to get in touch with the external stakeholders and the customer.
These steps are an important aspect of a project manager’s job, and the ability of a project manager to manage change will be tested in the PMP examination.
You are the project manager of a new corporate initiative that is focused on revising and reclassifying the staffing positions in its Design Division. The project plan has been developed.
Initially, there were some challenges as the teams adjusted to the new staffing positions. However, you have worked with the teams to provide insight into their roles and responsibilities, and everything is now progressing smoothly.
The past five project team review meetings have shown that you are on schedule and 5% under budget.
Now, you are preparing a project status report for your upcoming meeting with the Project Sponsor. You are positive and excited at your project status despite the rocky start. Unfortunately, the meeting with the Project Sponsor does not go as planned.
would accomplish this new deadline. What should you do?
You need to schedule a team meeting to discuss your strategy and plan for implementing the change. After reviewing your change management plan, your team should first look at the remaining work to be completed to assess what it would take to complete the activities.
This relates to the triple constraint of scope, budget, and schedule and other measurable constraints such as quality metrics, risk re-assessment, and resources. Then, the team will be able to brainstorm and analyze how to adjust the calendar accordingly, see if there are opportunities to reduce scope, work overtime, and still meet the budgetary constraint.
After approaching the problem using the triple constraint and change management process, you will be able to create a new viable plan of action so that you will both meet the new deadline and not compromise on the integrity of the deliverable.
Using the triple constraint and change control process is a great framework for assessing change and making decisions about change.
In the next section, we will address the last process under project integration management, i.e., chose project or phase.
Close project or phase is the last process of the project management integration knowledge area. This process ensures that the project or a phase is formally closed after completion. Remember that PMI expects a mature organization and a trained project manager to be diligent in following closure formalities. Without going through the formal closure formalities, the project cannot abruptly be closed.
The project should be formally closed, even if it is terminated due to some problem. The key input to this process is the accepted deliverables. The deliverables have to be brought into a state that they can be properly transitioned.
Transition means they are handed over to the organization or group that will be responsible for operations, maintenance, and support.
The other inputs are project management plan and organizational process assets.
Expert judgment, analytical techniques, and meetings are the commonly used tools and techniques. The closure of a project or a phase results in a product, service or a transition.
In the process, one of the important outputs is updates to the organizational process assets. These include the actual performance against the plan, the key lessons learned during the project, the risks identified, the updates to the skills and experience of the team members, etc. Updating these assets is mandatory as it helps the organization gain maturity and learn from the experience.
The ABC Fencing Line of Business (LOB) has been progressing for the past two years, and it is now ending. The new LOB is finally ready for its ‘Go live’ date and will become a new service option for the company.
In the last week of work on the project schedule, only 10 of the 50 project team members involved in the life of the project are needed to complete the remaining tasks that will take it to live.
You have already been assigned your next project, which starts in 4 weeks, and you are starting to transition to your new responsibilities. What should you be concerned about as you try to Close your project?
Let us now look into the solution for this scenario.
With both yourself and many of the team members leaving the project, you need to ensure that everyone contributes to the Lessons Learned process before they leave.
Some team members could be apprehensive about contributing because they do not see the value or benefit in this process and feel you could have done it on your own. In that case, you need to explain that lessons learned, and historical information is valuable because they give insight and a potential starting point for new projects.
You should inform the team that this is also part of the updates to Organization Process Assets, which is necessary to close the project formally.
Integrating the project activities is the key role of a project manager; the project team focuses on completing the project activities, and the project sponsor warrants the team against unsolicited changes.
Benefit measurement methods ascertain the costs and benefits of undertaking the project while constrained optimization methods rely on mathematical modeling to select the best projects that achieve business objectives.
Various Project Integration Management processes are Develop Project Charter, Develop Project Management Plan, Direct and Manage Work, Monitor and Control Project, Perform Integrated Change Control, and Close Project or Phase.
This concludes the lesson on Project Integration Management. In the next lesson, we will discuss Project Scope Management. | 2019-04-23T10:28:26Z | https://www.simplilearn.com/project-integration-management-quick-tutorial-video |
Remedios Varo (1908-1963) was a Spanish painter associated with the French and Mexican Surrealist movements. Varo was classically educated in painting as a child, before leaving the academy to join the growing Surrealist movement in Barcelona. Forced to flee Franco Spain and Nazi Germany, Varo settled in Mexico City in 1940, where she would produce most of her mature works. Varo’s work features surreal landscapes with mystical and symbolic imagery, often blurring the lines between living and inanimate forms and highlighting complex female icons: alchemists, pilgrims, and creators. I was drawn to Remedios Varo because of the beauty of her paintings, which are brightly colored and extremely intricate; and because of the bizarre but intuitive symbolism that appears in her artwork.
Varo worked mostly in small-scale oil paintings, and the majority of her work was produced during only ten years of her life in Mexico City. Although her subjects are dreamlike, her painting technique is very precise and full of small details. She uses extremely bright colors and exaggerated shading to give an unreal quality to her work; however, her paintings have an internal logic that makes magical or bizarre subjects seem reasonable. The overall effect, as for many surrealists, is paintings that communicate an emotional or spiritual state rather than a concrete reality.
Varo often painted scenes where female figures interact with living environments, blurring lines between architectural and organic, living and inanimate forms. Her characters usually resemble her, and engage with themes of displacement, travel and spirituality that were important in her own life. In Disturbing Presence (1959), a woman peels nervelike shapes from a wooden desk as a face emerges from the back of her chair to lick her neck. This bizarre image shows recurring themes of inanimate objects developing life; creative production by female scientist/magicians; and intrusive presences which disrupt or contain the creative energy. While Varo uses a wide range of surreal icons – human-animal figures, active and mutating scenery, moonlight, starlight, music and chemistry – her work all seems to draw on a single symbolic playbook, which is easy to understand emotionally but very unique to her work.
Varo renounced Roman Catholicism early in life, but continued to be fascinated by religion and spirituality; she read extensively on occult practices as well as psychoanalysis and modern science, and these influences appear in the symbolism of her work. Many of her paintings have tarot-like occult imagery mixed with alchemy or magical science. In Creation of the Birds (1957), an owl-like scientist creates songbirds out of refracted starlight, violin music, and paints distilled from an alembic. Psychoanalytic theories about the unconscious and collective archetypes are also visible in her art; although many of her recurring icons seem to have personal rather than universal meanings, their emotional content is always clear.
Remedios Varo was involved with the Surrealist movement of the early 20th century, and her close friends and partners were central Surrealist figures. However, she avoided the themes I like least about surrealism: randomness/automatic artwork, and the problematic use of female symbols. Many male surrealists used the female body in their work in sexualized, dismembered, or one-dimensional states, representing some aspect of the male psyche instead of an actual female person. Varo instead presents dreamscapes with feminine or androgynous protagonists who actively control their surroundings. Rather than being sexual objects or traditional archetypes of mothers, virgins, etc., Varo’s most common subject is a sort of female goddess/scientist creating and interacting with a living environment. Her characters are often in positions of entrapment, discovery or pilgrimage; these themes are common in feminist literature, but I was surprised to see them represented visually in such an evocative way.
Janet A. Kaplan. “Remedios Varo.” Feminist Studies. Vol. 13, No. 1. Spring 1987: 38-48. Via JSTOR.
Janet A. Kaplan. “Remedios Varo: Voyages and Visions.” Woman’s Art Journal. Vol. 1, No. 2. Fall 1980: 13-18. Via JSTOR.
Deborah J. Haynes. “The Art of Remedios Varo: Issues of Gender Ambiguity and Religious Meaning.” Woman’s Art Journal. Vol. 16, No. 1. Spring 1995: 26-32. Via JSTOR.
All images retrieved from WikiArt.org.
Albrecht Dürer (1471 – 1528) was born in the Imperial City of Nuremberg, in southern Germany. He is conventionally regarded as the one of the greatest known artist of the Northern European Renaissance, as an innovator in woodcuts, printmaking, engraving, painting, and the study of human proportions. As someone who has always struggled with drawing accurate proportions of the human body, I chose to focus on Dürer’s career as a theorist of human proportion and his book The Human Figure.
Dürer was greatly concerned with exploring the theoretical aspects of perspective and human proportions. Among the more than 1500 pages of his manuscripts in Nuremberg, London, Dresden, and Berlin, the predominant part is devoted to studies of the human body. These manuscripts reveal how meticulously Dürer pursued the subject in order to arrive at a workable system of constructing the human figure, suitable for artists.
Fig.4 is typical of the drawings appearing in Book II of Dürer’s Four Books on Human Proportion. This figure is constructed by a so-called “exempeda (i.e. six feet) method.” Based on the canon of Vitruvius that the foot is one six of a man’s height. Dürer’s figures were methodically constructed, he wrote, with a compass and a ruler. His drawings are marked by the maturity of mathematical, philosophical, and aesthetic theory.
After perusing his works in the book, I was thoroughly impressed by Dürer’s talent, ambition, and wide-ranging intellect in general. Beyond just introducing artistic traditions to his North European contemporaries, his treatises on human anatomy and proportion have fundamentally transformed the way artists depict human proportions, even till today. I especially enjoyed Dürer’s approach because it encompasses both art and science – in particular, mathematics. I have learned that true form, in summary, is simply the primary mathematical figure (straight line, circle, conic sections, curves, surfaces, solids, and so on), constructed geometrically or arithmetically, and made beautiful by the application of some canon of proportion.
Dürer, A. (1972). Albrecht Dürer-the human figure: the complete" Dresden sketchbook". W. L. Strauss (Ed.). Dover Publ..
Dutch art history is during the 17th century was know as the “Dutch Golden Age” because of the amount of paintings that were produced during this time and the types of paintings that were made. Dutch artists broke off from the traditional style of Baroque, which is a style of art that is highlighted by elaborate detail to produce drama, tension, and grandeur, to a more realistic style that was concentrated on the real world. These paintings included cityscapes, historical paintings, and still life. When the French Invasion occurred in 1671, the Golden Age came to end and introduced artists such as Vincent van Gogh, who became world renowned for his use of light and color. After the death of Vincent van Gogh, artist Piet Mondrian revolutionized Dutch art. He was well recognized because of his Neo-Plasticism style or De Stijl. Piet explained this style of expression as “plastic” which referred to the action of forms and colors on the surface of the canvas as a new method for representing reality.
Piet Mondrian was born in Amersfoort, Netherlands in 1872 to a family of painters and artists where art and music were encouraged. Piet’s father gave him drawing lessons as a kid, while his uncle, who was a well-known painter, taught Piet how to paint. This led him to pursue a career in education and became a drawing teacher, while still actively painting. The environment of the Netherlands where he drew naturalistic landscapes and incorporated his signature abstract design and primary colors influenced the beginning of his career. When he moved to Paris, Piet became influenced by the Cubist style of Picasso and this greatly impacted his future work.
The Gray Tree (1912) embodies Mondrian’s early transition towards abstraction of naturalistic scenery and the influence of Cubist design. The reason why Mondrian changed the landscape of European art was because many artists of the time period were depicting realistic, naturally occurring paintings, where in this painting the three-dimensional tree has been reduced to lines and planes using only gray and black colors. Mondrian’s later paintings of tress were abstracted to the extreme of being barely detectable through the use of horizontal and vertical lines.
Once World War I had ended, Mondrian returned to Paris where he would become fully immersed in abstraction painting. This is when he began producing the majority of his work as the grid-like style, filled with primary colors and bold horizontal and vertical lines. The use of asymmetry, different sizes and colors of shapes creates the flow of the piece that speaks to the rhythm of modern life according to Mondrian. To create a sense of depth in these seemingly plain paintings, Mondrian would use different brush stroke techniques to make certain colors appear to be closer or farther away. This abstract style set him apart from other artists of his time and gave him renowned recognition.
During the time of this painting, Mondrian had moved from London to New York City where he would spend the rest of his living days. The inspiration behind this painting comes from the exuberance and energy of New York City, while also portraying the tempo of jazz music of that time period. This painting is much different than his previous pieces because of the use of lines of color intermixed with blocks of solid color. The yellow lines and asymmetric distribution of red and blue blocks represent taxi cabs picking up people from stop light to stop light in the busy city of Manhattan and New York City. This was Piet Mondrian’s final completed painting as a symbol of his developing style of abstraction and simplicity.
Piet Mondrian set the path for abstract art and became the trendsetter of the De Stijl art movement. He showed that abstraction and simplicity could be just as sophisticated and detailed as natural and realistic paintings. He also showed that use of primary colors, straight lines and corners, and geometry in a painting could create a narrative that speaks to the culture of his time. His work is now on display in Manhattan and several other museums in the Netherlands.
Deicher, Susanne (1995). Piet Mondrian, 1872–1944: Structures in Space. Cologne: Benedikt Taschen.
Piet Mondrian. (2015). The Biography.com website. Retrieved, Feb 27, 2015, from http://www.biography.com/people/piet-mondrian-9411728.
Threlfall, T. (1988). Piet Mondrian: His life's work and evolution, 1872 to 1944. New York: Garland Pub. Print.
Leonardo Da Vinci was known not only as one of the greatest painters of all time, but also as a person of diverse talents who excelled in a wide variety of fields ranging from music to engineering, invention, writing, and more. Born on April 15th, 1452 in Anchiano, Tuscany (now Italy), Da Vinci got his surname from the nearby town called Vinci. Some of his best known works include paintings such as the Mona Lisa, the Vitruvian Man, and the Last Supper, which is the most reproduced religious painting of all time. In addition, he used his artistic talents to further other pursuits like anatomy and invention, producing numerous sketches of architectural designs, inventions, and painstakingly detailed anatomical drawings. Because of his curiosity and imagination, Da Vinci is typically considered the epitome of the Renaissance humanist ideal.
During his time, Da Vinci was commissioned to paint on a variety of surfaces, including canvas, board, wet plaster, and stone drywall. He made his own oil paint by hand using ground pigments and also experimented with gesso and egg tempera later in his career. Da Vinci liked using muted, natural hues associated with earth, like blue, brown, and green. Because the colors are mild with less contrast, Da Vinci’s finished works have a very smooth, cohesive quality to them. He often started his paintings with an underpainting of gray or brown before adding layers of transparent glazes. In addition, Da Vinci was a practitioner of the technique called sfumato (like smoke), one of the four Renaissance canonical painting modes. This technique is used by combining dark glazes and blunt colors to achieve a level of depth, and an example of this can be seen in the Mona Lisa.
Known around the world for her enigmatic smile, the Mona Lisa was thought to be the portrait of a real woman called Lisa del Giocondo. As mentioned earlier, the colors appear more subdued and natural. Mona Lisa’s face especially shows the use of sfumato, which Da Vinci himself described as "without lines or borders, in the manner of smoke or beyond the focus plane."
Also called “Madonna of the Rocks”, this painting is one of the two versions painted by Da Vinci that are mostly similar in composition. The four figures are Madonna, an angel, Child Jesus, and the infant John the Baptist. The range of colors used is again relatively small, and the outlines of the figures are somewhat blurred through sfumato. I like how the book presented parts of the painting (e.g. infants) with greater detail, which gave me a chance to observe the painting “up close”, as if I was actually in the Louvre (where this is currently on display).
Also called the Burlington House Cartoon, the figures above show the completed cartoon (right) and its study drawing (left). I picked this one in particular because our class has put a lot of emphasis on using study drawings as a tool and these figures serve as great examples. The study drawing is very rough, with loose lines indicating the four figures and their relative positions. Using it as a guide, the nearly life-sized cartoon on the right would probably have been a lot easier to develop.
The last two figures shown above came from Da Vinci’s work in anatomy and creating inventions. Through animal and human dissections, Da Vinci studied anatomy extensively and made groundbreaking discoveries on many different parts of the body, including the liver, spine, and aortic valve. The amount of effort Da Vinci put into these studies is evident in the level of details present in his drawings, such as the example shown here (top). On the other hand, the figure on the bottom is focused on engineering and mechanical design, with an intricate setup of gears and pulleys from multiple perspectives.
I chose Da Vinci because, like him, I also love learning new things from many different areas, and I think it’s amazing that he was able to accomplish so much in such diverse fields. Through his genius, Leonardo Da Vinci has made a lasting impression on the world. Even centuries after his time, we still regard him with respect and awe for his ability to imagine and create.
Atalay, Bu. Math and the Mona Lisa: The Art and Science of Leonardo Da Vinci. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian, 2004. Print.
Aquino, Lucia. Leonardo Da Vinci. New York: Rizzoli, 2005. Print.
Collins, Bradley I. Leonardo, Psychoanalysis & Art History: A Critical Study of Psychobiographical Approaches to Leonardo Da Vinci. Evanston, Ill.: Northwestern UP, 1997. Print.
Kemp, Martin. Leonardo Da Vinci: Experience, Experiment and Design. Princeton: Princeton UP, 2006. Print.
Kemp, Martin. Leonardo Da Vinci the Marvellous Works of Nature and Man. Rev. ed. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2006. Print.
"Leonardo Da Vinci's Life." Da Vinci Painting Technique: How to Paint Like Leonardo Da Vinci. Web. 11 Feb. 2015. <http://www.davincilife.com/article4-davinci-painting-technique.html>.
"Leonardo Da Vinci." History.com. A&E Television Networks. Web. 11 Feb. 2015. <http://www.history.com/topics/leonardo-da-vinci>.
"Leonardo Da Vinci." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 11 Feb. 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci>.
"Sfumato." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 22 Feb. 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sfumato>.
The Italian Renaissance from the 13th to 17th Centuries is characterized by a flourishing abundance of artists, scientists, and thinkers. The larger-than-life figures of Michelangelo, Raphael, da Vinci, and others dominate the cultural and artistic history of the time. Among these historical giants, however, are hundreds of other talented artists, less remembered by history but no less passionate and creative. Jusepe de Ribera was one of these artists. Ribera was an incredibly popular and well-known artist in Italy in the 17th century, possibly the most influential and successful artist of the Spanish Baroque era. In the latter part of his career, he received international commissions and maintained a large studio. More important than his personal success, however, is the role that he played in developing the potential for cultural criticism in art.
Jusepe de Ribera was born in Valencia Spain in 1591 where it is believed that he studied as a child under a local artist. In his early teenage years, he moved to Italy, eventually settling in Naples. Here in Naples, Ribera was exposed to the Classics of the Italian Renaissance. He was especially influenced by the work of Caravaggio, and much of the chiaroscuro style employed by Caravaggio can be seen in Ribera’s work. Also in Naples, Ribera marries the daughter of a Flemish art dealer and comes into contact with the works of the artists in the Flemish Baroque movement. With this unique set of influences, Ribera developed a more versatile style than any of the other artists in the Spanish Baroque movement. Ribera alternated between the dark, hard style of chiaroscuro and the looser, brighter brush strokes of the Flemish artists depending on what best suited the subject matter. He is most known for his darker material, however, often depicting aging and deformed bodies.
Many of Ribera’s works dealt with religious subject matter common to the era. This is illustrated in the painting The Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew. This work shows the chiaroscuro technique commonly used by Ribera, the areas of color bright in contrast to deep shadows. The painting combines the religious material required from commissions of the age with the aged bodies on which Ribera often focused. Though this work is quite different than the rest of the Spanish Baroque artists, it is not an uncommon style for Italy at that time.
Ribera was also set apart from other members of the Spanish Baroque because of his propensity for sketching. Drawing was not common among the Spaniards at the time. They preferred to paint. The Italian and Flemish artists were much more likely to devote effort to drawings and etchings. Ribera took part in this tradition, doing extensive sketching, etching, and printmaking. He even used sketches and etchings to mass produce and distribute his work.
Ribera is known for his portraiture of features generally considered to be unappealing. There is some debate, however, as to the purpose of this style of drawing. Some of the drawings seem to be caricatures. Others have more serious and meaningful elements, however. In Grotesque Head of a Bearded Man, with Eyes and Fur of a Dog or Monkey, one can see Ribera’s characteristic drawing style in the face of the man. This face is similar to all of Ribera’s other portraits containing subjects with medical deformities. This portrait however is complete with an ornate frame. This gives the subject of this drawing, likely a court jester, a dignity and importance that he did not have in life. Without writing directly from Ribera, the original meaning of the frame cannot be known. It has been postulated, however, that this portrait and a few others completed by Ribera are satirical portraits. These images consist of busts in the style discussed above with some added feature to move them away from reality. These features include the frame above and, often, tiny climbing figures. These features that move the subjects of the drawings into a space slightly different from reality clearly add some level of meaning to the portraits. These were some of the first satirical portraits and paved the way for further social commentary through art.
Vivian Farina. “Ribera: Satirical Portrait of a Nun.” Master Drawings. Vol. 52, No. 4. Winter 2014: 471-480. Print.
Artble. 2015. Web. Accessed Feb. 23, 2015.
Getty. The J. Paul Getty Museum. 2015. Web. Accessed Feb. 23, 2015. | 2019-04-20T16:55:41Z | http://drawingatduke.blogspot.com/2015/02/ |
Christopher Burch believes that fashion and industry need each other. This is a very interesting concept. Some believe that in order for the two to survive: the coupling of the two sectors must exist in the way of a popular trend.
However, Christopher Burch is a visionary. He has seen the two sectors grow side by side and firmly believes that there is not an event that need bring the two processes together. When looking at the past—according to Christopher Burch: any one of us can see, fully, what possibly lies ahead, in way of the union of fashion and technology. In other words, it is not as complicated as: East meets West—and we are nothing alike: so let us find some common ground. The two sectors quite, “charmingly” complement one another.
Christopher Burch makes use of the Boom Box of the 70s as a way to introduce the historical significance of technology becoming a “roomie” with fashion. Is it fashionable to carry audio gear? According to Burch: naturally so. The Boom Box was most popular during the 70s and 80s decades. The Walkman became the mobile audio entertainment device of choice-next, in the 90s. Next, came the iPod. The iPod presented the most compact listening device of all.
Regardless, no matter “which way you slice it,” technology is factored into what is fashionable for the time period.
Burch states that even now technology and fashion is actively intermingling. The designer is quite responsive in assuring her or his product is delivered to a very accepting public.
Anouk Wipprecht is a Dutch designer. She created the “DareDroid,” a drink-making dress and “Pseudomorphs” a self-painting dress. This type of in-depth design, squarely shows, that technology and fashion are very compatible. Ms. Wipprecht enjoys using her creativity in combining the concepts of technology into her design works.
Christopher Burch suggests that other fashions advance through the utilization of technology. In example. Anna Haupt and Terese Alstin are the designers that created neckwear for the biker: The neckwear becomes an airbag—conveniently so—when the biker is about to hit the pavement.
In way of a protective type of fashion: designers Ashwin Rajan and Kevin Cannon created ‘Frontline Globes’. The firefighters use their gloves in order to communicate whether a devastated area is safe to enter; or to stay out.
SegraSegra has created terrific fashion designs out of recycled inner tubes of bikes. Emma Whiteside put together a gown made of recycled copper.
Soledad Martin works on a prototype for shoe apparel wherein a walker charges his or her cellular device by means of his movement. Google Glass became popular when Diane von Furstenberg’s models wore the optical accessory, while walking up and down the runway.
Fashion and technology evolve together and are assistive to one another. Technology makes fashion functional. Both industries are engaging each other, to bring greater harmony to the lives of everyone.
Christopher Burch is the founder and CEO of Burch Creative Capital. The firm is based in New York. Chris Burch assumed billionaire status in 2012. When Burch bought a majority of C. Wonder, his net worth went over the 10 figure mark. The self-made billionaire resided in Wayne Pennsylvania as a kid. His father owned supplies and mining equipment. Burch grew up in Wayne Pennsylvania. He was raised by a middle class family.
During 1976, when Burch was an undergrad at Ithaca College, he and his brother Robert established Eagle’s Eye Apparel. They did so by starting out selling sweaters. The sweater brand was expanded upon. The company was sold, eventually, for millions of dollars. The company’s goal is to properly incubate new brands. Poppin and and Voss Water are a few of many brands found in Burch’s portfolio.
2010 was not a good day for the common man. In a surprising decision the Supreme Court decided that financial contributions were in fact a form of free speech. This decision opened the door for corporations to turn campaign donations into a form of free speech and cement their influence over American politics. That case is now known as Citizens United and people are finally waking up to the righteous anger against it. Leading the pack is an activist group known as End Citizens United.
Money in politics is a major source of corruption no matter where you go. When the rich and powerful are free to let their dollars do the talking they are able to silence the voices of people who oppose their agenda. This is why more than anything else groups like End Citizens United are needed. We need someone who is willing to unite Americans against those who intend to take democracy from them. Right now billionaires like the Koch brothers are doing everything they can to stop this from happening.
End Citizens United is providing the grassroots action necessary to stop Citizens United and the Koch brothers from dominating politics. Anyone who wants to see these efforts succeed is best served by adding to End Citizens United and doing whatever is possible to stop the advancement of the Koch agenda. Beyond simply raising money to fight Citizens United membership in End Citizens United shows that people have a strong interest in what’s happening in politics and aren’t satisfied with the results they are seeing. When billionaires take over politics most people will not be happy with the outcome.
End Citizens United has been around for quite some time fighting the good fight against money in politics. Although there have been some setbacks the direction of politics seems to suggest that people do not like what they see and change will happen. It isn’t easy building a powerful movement and getting people to come to your side. It’s even harder to do when you’re fighting against some of the wealthiest people in the world. Despite this End Citizens United has managed to take great steps towards its end goal.
What Is Needed In The Future?
End Citizens United needs to continue to grow in numbers and it needs to support politicians who are against Citizens United. The recent conditions seen in politics may be disheartening, but there is still hope for politicians that oppose Citizens United. There is a movement growing and it isn’t going to turn back any time soon.
Josh Verne has founded and managed several businesses in his career so far. His current business is FlockU. Located on the web, FlockU is an online portal designed for college students. At this online portal, students share advice with other students and publish content on current events, how to prepare for exams and how to prepare for a career after college. The content and website is monetized by Josh Verne through the use of carefully targeted ads directed towards visitors and members of FlockU.
Before founding FlockU, Josh acquired and developed the financial company known as Work Pays Me. It let people receive credit to purchase items they needed such as a new refrigerator or vehicle in exchange for having monthly payments deducted straight out of their paycheck. Josh eventually sold Work Pays Me to the firm, Global Analytics.
Mr. Verne was recently featured on the Knowledge For Men’s Podcast show. It is an online podcast that invites entrepreneurs on to discuss their businesses and provide insight into what made their businesses succeed or fail. During the interview Josh highlighted some major tips to help people achieve prosperity and succeed in both business and their daily lives.
One of the tips given to Josh Verne for anybody involved in business is to pursue a job or business that you will feel extremely passionate about. When you are passionate about your job, you are motivated to do your best and go the extra mile. That greatly boosts your chances of success and that likelihood that you will make it big in a job or industry.
Wengie shares her top DIY gift wrapping hacks with us. In the first hack, she shares an image of a cereal box. After cutting and folding the box into the perfect little box for gifts, it’s unrecognizable as a cereal box. For small gifts, especially those for children or co-workers, she uses a cup to hold tiny presents. Wengie adds sparkling tape to the edge, and then ties s name tag to the corner. It’s such a sweet looking way to present a gift to someone. Using square wrap fabric, Wengie makes a beautiful DIY gift wrap. In a seemingly odd example, Wengie uses a potato for one of her gift wrapping DIY projects. She cuts the potato into different shapes and then she dips them into paint. Ultimately she creates the cutest ice cream print design all over the wrapping paper, using a potato. Brilliant! The gift wrapping doesn’t just include paper and boxes, Wengie also creates a gift bag. Using an old box, placing colorful tape around it, and then tying strings to the sides, she makes a DIY gift bag that is both sturdy and worthy of showing off.
The biotechnology industry in the U.S. is one of the industries that have recorded tremendous advances. Biotech executives like Clay Siegall believe that technology has influenced these advances. According to Siegall, cancer therapies such as Celgene’s lenalidomide and Roche/Genentech’s trastuzumab have been effective in treating different types of cancer. He also believes that over the past years, significant advances have been made in the development of HIV therapies. In an article posted in his blog, Siegall gave an example of efavirenz, tenofovir, and emtricitabine that help in boosting the immunity of HIV patients. Gilead Sciences developed these drugs.
Biotechnological research works have also led to the development of improved flu vaccines. They have also influenced the development of hepatitis C therapies. Vertex Pharmaceuticals recently made news after developing telaprevir as a medication for hepatitis C. Dendreon, a pharmaceutical company, also developed sipuleucel-T as a tumor vaccine.
Clay Siegall is a biotech executive who is celebrated for his leadership role in Seattle Genetics, a company he co-founded in 1998. Besides serving as the company’s CEO, Siegall also seats at the executive directors’ board. He has led Seattle Genetics in the development of outstanding clinical and preclinical products. The company is the pioneer of the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology. This technology is used to develop drugs for treating cancer and autoimmune diseases. As CEO, Siegall has facilitated capital-raising ventures for the company through private and public financings. Seattle Genetics has also collaborated with leading biotech companies such as MedImmune, Genentech, and Bayer. Through such partnerships, Seattle Genetics has generated over $800 million.
Siegall earned a bachelor’s degree in Zoology after completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Maryland. He also obtained a doctorate in Genetics after graduating from the George Washington University. He has worked as an executive for the National Cancer Institute and the Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute. His executive board membership roles are beneficial to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Business Alliance and Alder Biopharmaceuticals. He was also named as a member of the executive board of the Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical Association (WBBA).
The historical concept of Comparative Law dated back to the 18th Century in Europe, even before this time, renowned legal jurists were already practicing comparative methodologies. It was during or just before this period that the work of French jurist, Montesquieu, came into prominence and was duly regarded as the early founder of Comparative Law following the publishing of his book De l’espirit des lois, which turns out to be a masterpiece.
As the name implies, Comparative Law refers to a legal method of comparing two or more different legal systems. It denotes the study of similarities and differences inherent in the laws of different countries. The comparison is achieved by critically studying the different legal systems in existence across the world, such as the English Common Law, the French Civil Law, the Chinese Law, Jewish Law, Canon Law, Socialist Law, Islamic Law, and the Hindu Law. Comparative Law involves the description and in-depth analysis of foreign legal systems, which produces positive results relating to the cultural differences in the various legal systems being analyzed. More on tech.co.
The present day study of Comparative jurisprudence can first be attributed to British jurist, Sir Henry Maine, in the aftermath of his work; Ancient Laws, which lays the frame work for the development of legal systems in primitive societies by engaging critically in comparative discussions to that effect.
Today, Comparative Law (through the works of eminent legal jurists like Sujit Choudhry gives a better understanding of foreign legal systems, especially in this era of globalisation and complexity that underlines international public and private laws. It creates an avenue for the harmonization and unification of laws, leading to better and healthier cooperation among international states and non-states actors–all living in a common global order.
The modern Epistle of Comparative Law will not be complete without a mention of one of its greatest Apostle—Sujit Choudhry! Choudhry is constitutional lawyer, the founder and Director of Faculty at the Centre for Constitutional Transitions–the first University-based center in the world to generate and mobilised legal knowledge for constitutional development. Dean Sujit Choudhry is an internationally renowned authority on comparative constitutional Law and development. He attended the University of Oxford from 1992-1994, and was awarded Bachelor of Arts in Law. In 1996, Choudhry was awarded Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree by the University of Toronto, and in 1998; he was awarded Master of Laws (LL.M) at Harvard Law School, United States.
Professor Choudhry’s legal research encompasses a wide range of issues that centres in Comparative Constitutional Law, which advocate constitutional design as a decisive tool to undertake and manage the transition from violent conflicts to peaceful and cordial political democracy. That is, constitutional designs that cover all forms of ethnically divided societies, decentralization, federalism, presidentialism, constitutional courts, bills of rights, minority and group rights, security sector oversight, methodology and comparative constitutionality.
Professor Sujit Choudhry’s vast experience in serving as advisor to the constitutional building process span places such as Ukraine, Egypt, Nepal, South Africa, Jordan, Tunisia, and some others. Choudhry has written and published lots of articles, book chapters, reports and papers, well over seventy. One of Choudhry’s edited collections tagged Constitutional Design for Divided Societies, is a top seller on Amazon. Presently, he is an Executive member of the International Society of Public Law, a member of the UN Mediation Roster, and dozens of other legal groups, societies and position being held by Choudhry.
No doubt, Professor Sujit Choudhry is worth a place in the history books of Comparative Law.
Bruno Fagali, the eminent lawyer in Brazil and the founder of Fagali law, is known for providing expertise service in Compliance, Public and Anti-Corruption Law, bidding law, administrative and civil liability processes, Administrative Law, Regulatory Law, Ethics, Urban Law, etc. He also serves as the Corporate Integrity Manager at Nova / sb, a prominent advertisement firm which has contracts from major agencies including UNESCO, World Health Organization, International Labor Organization, etc.
Throughout his career, Bruno Fagali has driven for quality legal service for the needy. He has clients from politicians to corporates and gives quick assistance to them. His professionalism and integrity have made him immensely successful in the legal profession. Also, his decade-long experience in legal services has helped him to understand the complexity of different issues and act accordingly. Bruno Fagali understands that some legal issues need quick actions to ensure the justice and prioritizes such issues considering the importance.
Bruno Fagali holds the Office of Corporate Integrity Manager at Nova / sb to ensure the transparency within the advertisement firm. The firm is known for getting both governmental and private contracts alike and considering the possibilities of corruption, the firm thought to have an eminent lawyer onboard to ensure the transparency drive. Bruno Fagali helped the firm to set up an ethics committee and initiated an action plan of treating both employees and members alike. He also helped the firm to submit the audit of the firm’s operations and accounts to Federal Comptroller General’s Office.
Bruno Fagali started his career as a legal intern at Escritório Modelo Dom Paulo Evaristo Arns and later worked as an intern at Manesco, Ramires, Perez, Azevedo Marques, Sociedade de Advogados and Tojal, Teixeira Ferreira, Serrano & Renault advogados associados. He worked as a lawyer at Radi, Calil e Associados advocacia before founding his own firm. He completed his law graduation from the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo and did Master degree in Public Law from the University of São Paulo. | 2019-04-25T00:02:09Z | http://bonasrestaurant.com/2017/03/ |
The notes to the sermon I ministered on Sunday. The Lord led me to say so much more than what is written here, as I minister for well over two hours on this topic, but the notes should get the point across.
We don’t walk by sight. We don’t walk by understanding. We don’t walk by education. We don’t walk by tradition. We don’t walk be creed. We walk by faith.
Faith is a substance. Substance, from the Greek word hypostasis, meaning the essence, the trust, the underlying foundation. Faith is the thing upon which hope is built. Hope in itself is powerless. The world has hope. But it does not trust in that hope. The world knows there is no future in empty hope. People hope to win a lottery. They hope to live to be 100. But deep down they know it will not happen. They have no faith.
If we have faith, we have the essence, the underlying strength and foundation of hope. We have the earnest, the proof. Faith is not some esoteric concept. It is a genuine, spiritual entity. Our faith is the very evidence of that which we hope for. What we hope for exists, and our faith in it is the proof of that existence, for our faith in the Word of God is real.
Our hope is grounded by our faith.
2 Thessalonians 3: 2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.
Some men do not have faith. This is an important concept. If some men do not have faith, then that brings up some questions we need to answer.
Why do they not have faith?
Did they ever have faith?
So we see that the men who do not have faith have actually departed from faith. If they departed from it then they must have first had it. There are three questions answered. But let’s make sure.
Romans 12: 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
So indeed all men are given faith. The Lord has given to “every man” a measure of faith. That means Cain had a measure of faith. Judas had a measure of faith. You have a measure of faith. I have a measure of faith. Or at least at some point in time, every man had a measure of faith. But we see that we can lose that faith if we depart from it. So we can lose it, but we have to make the decision to lose it. What kind of decision would make us lose faith? How did Cain lose faith?
Matthew 25: 14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The Lord went away. And the Lord gave to every man a measure of faith. That is what a talent is, a measure. And the Lord meted that measure according to the man’s ability. The Bible says that we will not be tempted greater than what we are able to bear and that the Lord will always make a way of escape. We get a measure of faith based on our ability to deal with it. To some he gave great mountain moving faith, to others, just a mustard seed of mountain moving faith.
Here we get another question answered. Some of the men took their talents and put them to work and gained more talents in return. If we put our faith to work, if we invest it properly, we will get more measures in return. So how do we put our faith to work? There are three ways.
Romans 10: 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
The very first place to invest our faith is in hearing the word of God. Not hearing the words of man. Not in hearing a lecture. Not in hearing philosophy, or psychology, or creed, or dogma, or tradition, or stories. The first place to invest our faith, the place that will give us the greatest and quickest return on our investment, it to apply that faith to hearing the Word of God, the Revealed Word of God for the Hour. That is where you will gain faith. That is where you will double your measure. Hear the word of God!
Hebrews 4: 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
Unto us was the word of God preached. Unto them was the word of God preached. But it must be mixed with faith! We can sit and listen to preaching, we can sit at Jesus feet day and night for three and a half years, listen to him preach the word, and it would not profit us one bit if we do not invest our measure of faith into it. Judas is our prime example.
But in our age, look how many have fallen away lately. They sat with us. They fellowshipped at our houses. They were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. They took the bread and wine at the Lord’s table! They sat and listened to preaching. They listened to tapes and can quote those tapes better than you and I combined. Some were even preaching this message! And they fell away! They are gone out into the world. They are gone out into denominationalism and trinitarianism. They have received the Mark of the Beast and don’t even know it! They are spiritually dead never to return! And it is all because when they heard the word of the Lord God, when they heard the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, when they heard the message of the hour, it was not mixed with faith! They failed to invest that measure of faith.
They have nobody to blame. They were given a measure of faith! Every single one of them was given a measure of faith, a talent of faith by the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you know how big a talent is? A talent of silver is 6,000 day’s pay. A talent of Gold is 180,000 day’s pay. The Lord was not cheap with them, nor with us. Every soul here was given at least one talent, some five talents, some ten talents.
What are you doing with that talent? Are you investing it? Or are you burying it?
The second way to invest your faith is to live it. Act upon God’s word. It is one thing to believe, it is quite another to live it.
James 2: 14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Faith without works is dead. Many will say that salvation is of faith and not of works. Amen! And they will also say, correctly that works don’t bring salvation. And again they will say that works don’t bring faith. Amen! But Faith will bring Works! If we truly believe and apply our measure of faith to that which we believe, that which we have heard of the Lord, then our faith will bring works in our lives.
John 10: 25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
John 10: 37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
Matthew 7: 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
By our fruit, by our works, we are known. We are not knows by our doctrines. We are not known by our testimonies. We are known by our fruit. We are known by our lives! Our works tell the whole world who and what we are, just as they told the whole world who and what Jesus was. The prophet once said I can’t hear your testimony because your life is speaking way too loud! Your works, my works, they tell the entire world who we are. As James wrote, with my works I show you my faith. Faith brings works. Without works our faith is dead for the fruit of the spirit is the works of the spirit. If a tree is dead, it does not bear fruit. If our faith is dead, there will be no works of faith in our lives.
Let us take a nice Biblical example to vet this out. Abraham. Everyone knows his story to some degree. He was an old man. The Lord came to him and made him a promise to give him a land and innumerable children etcetera. Now Abraham believed God. He absolutely believe the Word of God, the message of his hour. But what good would that have done him to believe and not put it to work? Believing was great. But it was when he mixed it with faith and put it into action that he received the promise.
Abraham could have believed every word and not acted upon it. We just read that the devils believe, and they certainly don’t act upon it. And Abraham, or Abram because the name change was part of the promise, would have died a childless, vagrant in the land of Ur.
James 2: 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Abraham believed every Word. Abraham mixed that word he heard with faith and it produced works. The works were the evidence that he had faith in what he had heard. What are our works?
The third way to invest our faith is to build upon it. Faith is the substance and the evidence. It is also the foundation. We absolutely need faith before we can move on spiritually. If we don’t have faith, we just read, it does not profit us one bit.
Faith is the foundation stone. All these other things are added to our faith. When we invest faith in our lives, in the word of God, in serving the Lord, we will add virtue to that faith. Then when virtue forms on our faith, we add knowledge, and then temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and finally Agape Love.
This is preaching to the saved! Notice Peter says if we fail at this it is because we have forgotten that we were purged from our old sins. Those who fail at this are foolish virgins. They have faith, they are purged, but they fail to add to the faith. Faith is just the beginning!
So we see that we must have faith. We see that we were all given a measure of faith. We see that we can lose our faith if we depart from it. We see that hearing the word of God gives us more faith if we mix that word we hear with faith. We see that faith in the word will bring the works, or the fruit of the spirit. And we see that if we don’t have the fruit, it is a sign that our faith is dead and buried, like the man with only one talent. We see also that faith is the evidence of things not seen, the essence of our hope.
So now let us go a step deeper. What exactly is faith and how exactly does it work?
Solomon’s Temple. Outer and Inner Courts guarding the Holiest of Holies.
The human being is a triune creature. We have a body, a soul and a spirit. We are living temples of the Lord God. The temple has an outer court, and inner court, and a holy of holies.
We connect with this physical world through five senses. That is our outer court. They are hearing, seeing, feeling, tasting and smelling. With these five sense we connect to the third dimension. We see someone in front of us. We hear them speak. We feel their handshake. That is the outside. We receive information from the outer court of our being through those five channels. And we can’t depend on them. They are outer. The devil will use those against us every time. Oh I feel sick. Oh it looks horrible. Oh it sounds terrible, or sweet, which ever way the devil is trying to trick you. Those are outer court events. Pain, sickness, hunger, are all outer court events. God does not deal through your outer court.
We have five senses that deal with our emotional realm. Conscience, memory, passion, affection, imagination are the senses of the inner court of your being. They can be just as easily tricked. They deal with the mind, the soul of the man. That is the inner court. You don’t imagine with the flesh. You don’t have affections in the flesh. Those are inside of you.
But then we get to the altar. We get beyond the veil. We get to the heart of the man. The veil hangs between the holy and the Holiest of Holies. Inside there is where the spirit of the Living God wants to dwell. Inside there is where Christ comes to sit on the mercy seat.
That is where Christianity is seated. We don’t become Christians in the outer court. We don’t become Christians in the flesh by attending Church service. We don’t become Christians by shaking hands. We don’t become Christians by reciting creeds. We don’t become Christians by speaking in tongues. Those are outer court events.
Nor do we become Christians by believing. We don’t become Christians by accepting creeds, or dogmas. We do not become Christians by believing the message. That’ll sting. Who believes and trembles? The devil! And he ain’t no Christian! Those are inner court events! Those are Old Testament events. Christ doesn’t dwell there! He is the High Priest! He has gone beyond the veil and sits in the Holiest of Holies.
1 Corinthians 12: 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Does it say by one doctrine? Does it say by one denomination? Does it say by one preacher? Does it say by one organization? NO! By one spirit we are all baptized into one body! By one Spirit. By the Holy Spirit! When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus Christ comes and takes his seat in the Holiest of Holies. He breaks open the veil of our heart and takes his rightful position on the throne.
And how do we get that? It is to whomsoever will. All we have to do is want it, and apply our faith to the word that we hear. Act upon it in faith. When we hear Acts 2:38-39 that tells us to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, we mix that word with the measure of faith that we were given and the fruit of the spirit, the act of water baptism takes place. We believe, we apply faith, and the Lord responds. Repent! Tear down the veil of your heart and let him in! Tear down the curtains of your own will and give place to the King of Kings in your heart! Apply your faith!
Then the Lord Jesus Christ will sit on the judgment seat in your heart. I knew a woman, nominal Christian, Pentecostal type. When she heard the message she rejected it. Then met some guy and got into an adulterous relationship with him. I ran into her a few months after that had happened and she said it didn’t bother her one bit to do it. Why didn’t bother her? Christ was not sitting on the judgment seat in her heart! It was empty.
When Jesus takes that place, you become a different person. Your flesh tells you to go do something you used to do, and something in your heart condemns you. You can’t do it now. That something is the Holy Spirit of God, the Spirit of Jesus Christ enthroned in you.
But if you live like the devil on Saturday, and sing like an angel on Sunday, and it don’t bother you one bit, then I would wager that Christ simply isn’t in you yet. You might be purged of your old sins. But that judge has not taken his seat. Jesus Christ is missing.
But when Jesus is there you have a sacrifice on the altar. You have a place to go. You have a representation in Heaven. You have a mediator. You have an intercessor. You have a kinsmen redeemer who shed his own blood for your sins. You have a high priest in the Holiest of Holies. And you die daily for it is not you living any more, it is Jesus Christ the Lord of Glory living in you. You are a wild branch that has been grafted into the vine. His life in you bears the fruit. The works that he did will you do also because he is in you working through you.
Faith is the sixth sense. It is independent of all the others. We cannot see faith, nor hear it. Nor can we imagine it. It is completely independent. It is in the domain of the Holiest of Holies. The five senses were given us to contact the physical world. The five emotional senses were given us to control the mind. But Faith, that was given to touch the Soul, that is the only channel that the Lord God uses. Sure you will see visions. You will hear the Word. But without being mixed with Faith, it will not profit us. Balaam saw visions.
We either have faith, or doubt. Faith will contact the Holy Spirit. Doubt will block that contact. Doubt is unbelief. Doubt block the channel to God and thus separates us from God. What separates us from God? Sin.
Hebrews 11: 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
The only sin is unbelief! Without faith it does not matter what we say or do, we cannot please the Lord God. All our best intentions, all our righteous acts, all our loving, compassionate deeds, all the schools and hospitals we build, all the prisoners we visit, all the sick we attend, all the missions we go on, all the money we tithe and offer, all the children we love, will not and cannot please the Lord unless it is done in faith.
Everything else is an attribute of sin. Why did that woman I mentioned enter into that relationship? Why did it not bother her? Unbelief! Had she believed then she would never have done it, and if she did, she would have repented. But it did not bother her because she had no faith. And she had no faith because she departed from the faith and rejected the Lord.
Take Eve for an example. What was her sin? We would say adultery, but we know that adultery is an attribute of sin. Eve, like the woman I mentioned, did that because she did not believe. She heard the message of the hour preached to her by Adam, but that word was not mixed with faith. Before she ever touched the serpent, before she could believe his lie, she first had to disbelieve the word of God. It is the same for us today. Before you commit that act, before you accept a lie, you must first disbelieve the word of God.
Romans 14: 23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Without Faith as we just read it is impossible to please the Lord. So now we see it in its full light. There it is. Sin is unbelief. Sin is the absence of faith. So if we build schools, churches and hospitals, if we donate to missions, no matter what we do, or how we do it, if it is not done in faith it is sin.
Brother are you saying it is sinful to build a hospital to help the sick? No I am not saying that, God is saying that. Whatsoever we do without faith is sin! If we come to church without faith, it is sin. If we sing a special without faith, it is sin. If we take the Lord’s supper without faith, it is sin. Whatsoever is not of faith, is sin! Jesus said so himself.
Matthew 7: 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
We sin when we depart from the faith. After we sin, then we commit the acts that we call sin. When we act without faith, it is sin, and our actions will be iniquity unto the Lord.
Let’s look at a carnal example to see where sin starts.
Imagine you go to your friend’s house. You sit on his couch and you notice a $20 bill in the cushion. You quickly look around and see that nobody is watching and you pocket that bill. That is theft. But what was the actual sin and when did it occur? You would have had to first disbelieve that the Lord was watching and taking notes. You would have had to then disbelieve that while you were doing it and thinking nobody was watching, that the Lord could have been showing the whole event to you buddy in a vision in the next room. You would also have to disbelieve that the payment that you would pay would be far greater than $20.
So when did the sin really happen? Was it the Sunday before when the preacher was pounding against sin and you thought, “maybe, Maybe not”. Was it on Monday when you had a tape on and the prophet said something so bizarre you couldn’t understand it so you passed it off? You plant an apple seed and harvest seven years later. Sin is the same. The seed of unbelief must be planted, and grow and then it bears fruits. By our fruits they will know us! And it does not matter how religious we are, without faith, it is all sin.
Yet, where there is faith, there is thus no sin.
1 John 3: 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
Whosoever is born of God, whosoever is born again, whosoever is filled with the Holy Spirit, does not commit sin. Whosoever is born of God does not commit, unbelief! We will make mistakes till the day we leave this world. We will trip and fall daily, somehow, somewhere. That is why we die daily. But we do not commit SIN! We do not disbelieve the Word of God! Sin is unbelief. Unbelief is the opposite of Faith. When we disbelieve the word of God, then we do all those things of our flesh. Smoking, gambling etc are not sins, they are the fruit of sin. But the spirit behind those actions is unbelief. The real sin is the unbelief that leads us to act that way.
That is why all those who did what we would call good works, building hospitals, churches etc, without faith, did it all in sin. That is why the Lord called all their great and wonderful works, iniquity. Who is Timothy talking about here?
2 Timothy 3: 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
They are religious. They have a form, a tradition, a creed, a doctrine of godliness, yet without faith. All their godliness is iniquity. Their very religion is sin! Faith is not a tradition. Faith is not a doctrine. Faith is not logic. Faith is not understanding. Faith is not intellectual. Faith is not physical. Faith is not emotional. Faith is spiritual! Faith does not require intelligence. Faith does not require an education. Faith does not require time.
John 6: 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
Did Peter or the other 11 have a clue of what Jesus was talking about here? There were just as mystified as the 70 that just turned and left. They were completely clueless. They had no intellectual understanding of it. They were not educated to it. They did not have time to make it a tradition. But they believed it. They had faith. They had no understanding of it, but they still had faith in that word. And they confessed their faith.
Faith is solely in the domain of the soul, in the Holiest of Holies. It is through faith that we contact the Lord. It is through Faith that he contacts us.
Now it is time to take the rest of Hebrews chapter 11.
Hebrews 11: 7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. 24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. 32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
The faith that heals us, is the faith that delivers us, is the faith that saves us, is the faith that raptures us. Get rapturing faith! Faith is the only avenue through which the Lord will deal with us. You and I cannot come to the Lord through a man, not even a prophet. We cannot do it through a church. We cannot do it through a doctrine. We cannot do it through a tradition. The one and only avenue to contact the Lord and to have him contact you, to receive anything from him is faith. And every single person was given a measure so in the end we will have no excuse.
Matthew 9: 20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
What made that woman whole? Was it because she touched his robe? Was it because he spoke to her? What made him speak to her? The thing that made him speak to her is the thing that healed her. It was not the body of Jesus Christ for we are told that he was thronged by people. She contacted him through faith, and he spoke back to her and healed her through her faith. He said it himself “thy faith hath made thee whole”.
Does anyone need to be made whole this hour? Is anyone sick, in pain, oppressed? Does anyone have a need of any kind? Ignore what you see. Ignore what you feel. Trust only in the Word of God. Touch him through Faith. Reach out and touch him. Mix your faith with this blessed word of God and touch him. Reach out in faith right now and be made whole. | 2019-04-21T12:07:33Z | http://gods-opinion.com/index.php/tag/temple/ |
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