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CARFAX One-Owner. Priced below KBB Fair Purchase Price!This 2021 Ice Silver Metallic Subaru Ascent Limited AWD is well equipped and includes these features and benefits:Clean CARFAX.
By Jonathan | on Sunday, December 27, 2020
So far... so good... reflections about my nearly 1-year old 2020 Subaru Ascent Touring. I spent 2 years exploring the 3-row cross-over market segment and finally ended up where I started my search and that was with the purchase of the Ascent Touring. In my humble opinion, the Ascent offered everything I wanted, nothing I didn't want, and zero compromises versus its competition. When all was said and done, I walked out of the dealership with 0% APR and the total price paid including tags and taxes = $41,500; which I felt and still feel was a wonderful price and value. Maintenance - Zero issues or concerns. My car has been back to the dealer for 2 oil changes and 1 tire rotation so far. Average Fuel Economy - Mixed driving over 9K miles has given me back exactly 22 MPG. Not bad. Not super awesome either. But is what I expected. Driving experience - The Ascent handles everyday driving very well. Excellent visibility, very sure-footed, responsive, relatively quiet, and smooth. Turbo lag is barely noticeable and you can definitely out-run anything on the highway when needed. Interior - Very nice fit and finish and much more upscale versus the competition in this segment at this price point. The Harmon/Kardon stereo sounds great. Quirks - Subaru has been using a CVT for a decade and this is my first car with a CVT. I have noticed that the CVT is louder (noticeable whine) than my old automatic and makes a rather disconcerting 'chirp' when cold and shifting into Drive. However, this 'chirp' is normal for a CVT when cold due to the pulley's filling up with Transmission Fluid. Otherwise, I appreciate the smoothness and efficiency of the CVT and it seems very well matched to the engine. Bottom Line - I have no regrets and would purchase this car again versus the competition in this segment. So far it has been a joy to drive and is as safe a car as you can get.…
Car appeal is subjective
By Stuwrtlttle | on Wednesday, August 21, 2019
My family bought the first Ascent delivered to the northeast and since then we’ve driven east to west across the US and north and south. We’ve probably logged more miles than anyone else and we’re still in love in every way. The turbo allows me to easily pass on the highway. The storage capacity is adequate for an SUV and on par with the competition. We’ve done off roading with zero problems. I love the wide side doors. We’ve towed several different trailers and had zero problems. I’ve driven icy snowy roads and loaded it with 800lbs or more of building material. I think for me, a Subaru will always represent higher quality because I’ve driven to crazy places (like mount Washington) where competitors suffered brake issues that you’d never see while driving to and from Walmart. I’ve seen Subarus stress tested, beaten about, and then keep on trucking. Maybe your experience differs, but for me the Ascent will always be 5 stars.…
Excellant highway car
By Michigan Dan | on Saturday, January 09, 2021
the car (Ascent Touring) is an excellent highway car, easily cruses at 78 MPH, quiet, comfortable, roomy. Not roomy enough for a 3 person winter camping trip to the UP of Michigan. Towed an Air stream Sport (Bambi) from Michigan to Maine, through the hills and mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire. The car performed exceedingly well, handling was solid and secure (added a trailer brake controller), for the most part we had plenty of power (the car definitely felt the extra weight going up a couple of those mountain passes). The only downside was the gas mileage, probably would have been comparable to a light duty truck).…
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Background report prepared by Mr William Horsley, special representative for media freedom of the Association of European Journalists
2. The context of recent events
5. Investigations leading to prosecution or conviction in formerly unresolved cases
6. Issues of pressing concern in Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and Azerbaijan
18 June 2014
Or. English
prepared by Mr William Horsley, special representative for media freedom of the Association of European Journalists1
1. This report records the most serious violations of media freedom and independence between December 2012 and June 2014, with special attention to actions endangering the safety of journalists. Serious violations include physical violence and intimidation, judicial and administrative harassment which can lead to arrest and imprisonment, and journalists being exiled or forced to give up journalism out of fear for the security of themselves or their families. Failures by state authorities to maintain safe and enabling environments for journalists are closely associated with wider failures of law-enforcement, open government, justice systems and the rule of law, with negative effects on the conditions for free and fair elections and other forms of democratic participation by the populations affected.
2. Particular attention will be paid to significant cases and issues identified as being of major concern in PACE Resolution 1920 (2013) on the state of media freedom in Europe. The report also notes improvements in national laws and practices, and states’ efforts to raise the level of independence and professional effectiveness of law-enforcement and judicial authorities, and to eradicate impunity for crimes against journalists.
3. Failures by states to fulfil their obligations on journalists’ safety are often linked to the use of government power to block media investigation and reporting about corruption, criminality and serious human rights abuses. As a consequence, in some parts of Europe, targeted violence against journalists and criminalisation of journalistic activity have become effectively normalised. The Committee of Ministers Declaration 30 April 2014 acknowledged that journalists and other media actors face increasing attacks and intimidation because of their reporting work, and that inadequate efforts by state authorities to bring those responsible to justice lead to a ‘culture of impunity’. Significantly, the Declaration states that the scope of media actors has enlarged as a result of new forms of media in the digital age; and those at risk also include others who contribute to inform the public debate and persons performing journalistic activity, in addition to professional journalists.
2. The context of recent events
4. Since the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation in March 2014, armed conflict and lawlessness have brought widespread human rights abuses on the territory of Ukraine, including several hundred targeted physical assaults against journalists and widespread instances of direct censorship. The current situation has led the Council of Europe’s Secretary General, in his first report on the State of Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law in Europe in May 2014, to say that Europe faces its greatest human rights crisis since the end of the Cold War. He concluded that threats to media freedom are among the main challenges to democracy.
5. The Parliamentary Assembly’s Indicators for Media in a Democracy (Resolution 1636 (2008)) are a helpful guide to the essential protections needed for independent journalism to flourish. The 27 Indicators include the necessity of laws to safeguard media independence, the ending of special protections for public officials with regard to libel and defamation, the prevention of all forms of political interference in the media, and media self-regulation.
6. In January 2010, the Parliamentary Assembly’s Recommendation 1897 (2010) called on the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to establish a system of regular collection, analysis and dissemination of information on violations of media freedom in the Council of Europe region. Four years on, member states have signalled their support for actions in line with the earlier PACE proposal, which said that evidence of major violations or threats, and the remedies required, should be sent out regularly for the attention of the governments and parliaments of member states.
7. The Committee of Ministers Declaration highlighted the primary responsibility of national governments by urging member states to review on a regular basis their own fulfilment of their positive obligations to protect journalists and other media actors from attack and to end impunity. The Declaration supports the creation of an Internet-based platform to publicise possible infringements of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (freedom of expression) as they occur, and holds out the prospect that further measures will be adopted to ensure those protections. In addition, the Secretary General has proposed a specific monitoring mechanism, with the ability to react rapidly to urgent challenges, to prevent violations of Article 10 and Article 11 (freedom of assembly and association).
8. There is increased international awareness of the importance of ensuring the safety of journalists because of their role in bringing accountability and transparency on behalf of the public. In particular, in December 2013, the UN General Assembly adopted a Resolution on the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity. It calls on States to put in place a wide range of protections in law and practice to prevent violence against journalists and media workers and ensure effective investigations in such cases. Notably, the Resolution proclaims 2 November as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. In March 2014, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a Resolution on the promotion of human rights in the context of peaceful protest. It calls on states to pay particular attention to the safety of journalists and media workers in view of their specific role and vulnerability.
9. Since 2012, the United Nations has worked to implement its Action Plan on the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity, which involves many UN agencies, States, NGOs and media organisations. The Action Plan calls for positive contributions from the Council of Europe and other regional organisations.
10. During the past two years in Europe, at least 12 journalists and media workers have died because of their work. The deaths of six journalists occurred in Russia, and six journalists, including one member of a TV crew and one fixer-interpreter, were killed in Ukraine:
11. On 7 July 2012, Alexander Khodzinsky, an investigative reporter, was stabbed to death in Irkutsk, Russia. A local former deputy mayor was convicted of the killing. A possible link with Mr Khodzinsky’s journalistic work exposing local corruption was not established in court.
12. On 5 December 2012, Kazbek Gekkiyev, an All-Russia State Television and Radio Company television presenter, was shot dead in Nalchik, in the North Caucasus republic of Kabardino-Balkaria. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that several other journalists from the same company had left their jobs after receiving threats.
13. On 8 April 2013, Mikhail Beketov, former editor in chief of Khimkinskaya Pravda newspaper, died from causes attributed to injuries suffered in a brutal attack at his home in Moscow in 2008 which left him brain damaged and severely disabled. Mr Beketov campaigned to expose alleged corruption linked to a development project that threatened the Khimki forest, his car had been set on fire and he was threatened with a criminal defamation suit.
14. On 18 May 2013, Nikolai Potapov was shot dead in the Stravropol region of western Russia. The International Press Institute (IPI) linked Mr Potapov’s death with his exposure of alleged corruption by local officials in a local newspaper.
15. On 9 July 2013, Akhmednabi Akhmednabiyev, deputy editor of Novoye Delo newspaper, was shot dead in his car near Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan. He had received threats and survived an assassination attempt in January.
16. On 16 December 2013, Arkadiy Lander, the former editor of the Sochi newspaper Mestnaya, died from complications attributed to severe injuries, including a fractured skull that he suffered when he was savagely beaten by unknown assailants in 2010. Mr Lander had stated his belief that he had been attacked in connection with his work as a journalist.
17. On 5 April 2014, Vasily Sergienko, a journalist for the local Nadrossia newspaper and member of the right-wing Svoboda party, was found dead near his home in Korsun-Shevchenkovskiy in central Ukraine. He had been abducted outside his home one day earlier and his body showed signs of torture.
18. On 24 May 2014, Andrea Rochelli, an Italian photojournalist who contributed to news outlets including Newsweek and Le Monde, was killed in a mortar attack in Slovansk, eastern Ukraine.
19. On 24 May 2014, Andrei Mironov, a Russian human rights activist who worked as Rochelli’s interpreter and fixer, also died as a result of the military action in Slovansk.
20. On 19 February 2014, Vyacheslav Veremiy, a correspondent of Vesti newspaper, died in Kyiv from grave injuries he received the night before, when he and his colleague Oleksiy Lymarenko were attacked and beaten by unidentified masked men.
21 On 17 June 2014 Igor Kornelyuk, a reporter for All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, and Anton Voloshin, a member of the same TV team, were killed in an artillery or mortar attack near Lugansk in eastern Ukraine.
21. Impunity for crimes against journalists is recognised as a major factor encouraging further acts of violence and killings of journalists. Unresolved cases in Council of Europe states include these:
22. Elmar Huseynov, founder and editor of Monitor news magazine, shot dead in his apartment building in Baku in 2005.
23. Hrant Dink, managing editor of the Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos, shot and killed in Istanbul in 2007. He had received numerous death threats from nationalist Turks. Several people, including the young gunman who carried out the killing, were convicted in connection with the murder; but public officials including members of the security forces suspected of complicity or trying to impede the investigation have escaped without punishment. In 2010, the European Court of Human Rights found Turkey in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights for failing in their duty to protect the journalist’s life and freedom of expression, and the right to effective investigation.
24. Dada Vujasinovic, a magazine reporter who covered the Balkan wars and organised crime, found dead in her Belgrade apartment in 1994.
25. Milan Pantic of the Serbian newspaper Vecernje novosti bludgeoned to death at the entrance of his apartment building in the Serbian city of Jagodina in 2001. He had received threats concerning his reports on crime and corruption.
26. Dusko Jovanovic, editor in chief of Dan newspaper in Montenegro, shot dead leaving his office in Podgorica in May 2004. He had received death threats. A suspect was convicted in connection with the crime but those who ordered it have not been brought to trial.
27. Georgiy Gongadze, editor of Ukrainskaya Pravda, abducted and murdered in Ukraine in 2000. In 2013, after delays and failures in the justice system that were condemned in a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights, a former police chief Olexiy Pukach was convicted of the killing. Suspicions remain that the murder was ordered by a senior political figure and that justice has yet to be done.
28. Also in Ukraine, no progress has been made in solving the disappearance and suspected killing of journalist Vasil Klementiev, the editor of the Novy Styl newspaper, last seen on assignment in the eastern city of Kharkiv in 2010. It is believed that he was killed in connection with his reports on alleged corruption in the local police.
5. Investigations leading to prosecution or conviction in formerly unresolved cases
29. In Serbia in June 2014, four former state security officers including the former security service chief Radomir Markovic were charged with the killing of Slavko Curuvija, publisher and editor of the Dnevni Telegraf newspaper. Mr Curuvija was shot dead outside his apartment in Belgrade in April 1999. The Slavko Curuvija Foundation set up by members of his family said the prosecutions should help to uncover the ‘dark links between politics and crime’ behind the murder. In 2013, the Serbian government established a Commission of Inquiry into Unresolved Murders of Journalists with powers to interrogate current and former public officials in order to expose past cover-ups and to assist in bringing those responsible to justice. It is headed by a leading investigative journalist, Veran Matic.
30. In December 2013, a Russian businessman was sentenced in a Moscow court to seven years in jail for inciting the murder in 2000 of Novaya Gazeta journalist Igor Domnikov. Mr Domnikov was targeted because of his investigative reporting about the actions of corrupt officials in Lipetsk in western Russia. In 2007 five members of a criminal gang had been convicted in connection with the murder.
6. Issues of pressing concern in Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and Azerbaijan
31. In Ukraine, an extraordinarily intense wave of attacks against journalists and media organisations has accompanied a political revolution and, since March 2014, an international dispute and armed conflict on parts of Ukrainian territory in which hundreds of people have died and more have been injured or displaced. On 3 April, the Committee of Ministers stated that the illegal referendum of 16 March 2014 and annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation could in no way constitute a basis for any change in the status of Crimea.
32. On May 5 the Council of Europe Secretary General’s Human Rights Report, described the crisis in Ukraine as having its origins in the lack of checks and balances which a free media and functioning parliament should provide. That, together with the absence of an independent judiciary, had allowed corruption and the misuse of power to thrive unchecked; and this ‘caused mistrust, social unrest and ultimately revolution’.
33. Between January and 5 June 2014, Ukraine’s Institute of Mass Information (IMI) recorded 236 physical assaults against members of the media, including about 40 cases of abductions or unlawful detentions of journalists, attacks on media offices in eastern Ukraine and Crimea. In 2013, IMI recorded 101 cases of attacks, of which 48 occurred in the month of December.
34. On 2 March 2014, about 30 masked men stormed and briefly occupied a journalists’ building, the Center for Investigative Journalism, in the Crimean administrative centre, Simferopol. In the days before and after the internationally unrecognised referendum in Crimea on 16 March, dozens of physical attacks on media workers and cases of harassment and confiscation of equipment took place. Those targeted included staff of regional media including Inter, STB, and 5 Channel, as well as CNN and AP Television News and freelance journalists. The terrestrial signals of Ukrainian television stations in Crimea, including Inter, Briz, 1+1, 5 channel, 1st National and STB, were cut off and replaced with the Russian channels NTV, 1st channel, Rossiya 24, Rossiya RTR, TNT and Zvezda.
35. Since then, representatives of mainstream Ukrainian media have faced intense hostility and a high risk of assault or detention when seeking to cover events in Crimea. On 11 May a film-maker, Oleg Sentsov, was arrested on suspicion of terrorism. On 12 May 2014 a report issued by the OSCE on its recently concluded Human Rights Mission in Ukraine found evidence of systematic intimidation of journalists and of ‘pro-Maidan’ activists across eastern Ukraine, often with the complicity of local authorities. Many acts of violence were linked to the attempt by separatist and pro-Russian militias to establish autonomous local administrations in eastern Ukraine and to disrupt the Ukrainian presidential election held on 25 May.
36. Four journalists were injured in violent attacks on a pro-Maidan demonstration in Luhansk on 9 March 2014. The following day anti-Maidan groups stormed the private TV station IRTA TV, allegedly because it had broadcast footage showing the attack of the day before. Among the Ukrainian media workers who have been abducted or held hostage in eastern Ukraine are Yuri Leliavski of the TV station ZIK and Serhiy Shapoval, a journalist for the Volyn Post website. Mr Shapoval was held for three weeks and interrogated in Slovansk. He was reportedly given electric shocks, had his palms cut and was forced to make a statement on camera saying that his abductors were peaceful and unarmed.
37. Simon Ostrovsky, an American reporter for Vice News, was taken captive on 21 April 2014 by the pro-Russian self-declared mayor of Sloviansk, Vyacheslav Ponomarev, and held for three days before being freed. Mr Ostrovsky had tweeted from a press conference that Mr Ponomarev had threatened to throw journalist out for "provocative" questions about the former mayor being held under guard.
38. The OSCE mission reported testimony from local people that many anti-Maidan demonstrators in eastern and southern regions of Ukraine were bussed in and remunerated for their part in the actions there.
39. In May 2014, many national or regional Ukrainian TV channels were cut off in eastern Ukraine, including 1+1, Inter, STB, TVi, 112Ukraina, Channel 5, Novy Kanal, ICTV, TET and Ukraina; other local TV channels were also closed down in eight cities in the eastern regions. In early June many media outlets in eastern Ukraine, including Donetskiye Novosti, Donbass and Vecherniy Donetsk were forcibly closed because of threats and demands for changes of editorial policy by armed or violent groups identified as pro-Russian. Dozens of Ukrainian journalists were forced to leave the area or to quit their homes there to escape from intense hostility and threats by militant groups. In recent weeks many Russian journalists have been prevented from entering Ukraine to work, and some have been detained by the authorities.
40. Marat Saychenko and Oleg Sidyakin, who work for the Russian TV station LifeNews, were arrested by Ukrainian armed forces on 18 May 2014 near Kramatorsk, where they were filming the activities of pro-Russian rebels. They were taken to Kyiv, interrogated by the Ukrainian security service and accused of assisting terrorism. After a week they were sent back to Russia, following interventions from the United Nations and the OSCE.
41. On 14 June two journalists from Russia’s Zvezda TV were reportedly detained at a Ukrainian military checkpoint in the Donetsk region. After they were released two days later they claimed to have been mistreated while in captivity.
41. Some transmissions from Russia inside Ukraine were also halted after Ukrainian authorities asked cable operators to stop broadcasting several Russian TV channels, including Rossiya 24, ORT, RTR Planeta and MTV-Mir, citing reasons of national security.
42. On 6 March 2014, a statement by Ukraine’s Institute of Mass Information, Telekritika and independent media experts detailed what they called ‘misleading and manipulative reports’ and active propaganda about events in Ukraine in Russian media, including four TV channels and two leading news agencies as well as newspapers and other news outlets. They claimed that the Russian government’s argument for deploying troops in Crimea was based on bogus footage. The TV report in question was shown on Russian TV channel Russia One. It purportedly showed Russian military killed during a shootout at the Council of Ministers in Simferopol, Crimea. Later analysis of the footage showed that the scene described in the Russian TV report as a major armed assault on Crimean elected politicians was a small staged event, and the episode did not occur as it was portrayed. In other cases, footage and factual reports alleging that large numbers of Russian-speakers were fleeing beyond Ukraine’s borders out of fear for their safety proved later to be false; in some cases the images used were taken from archive film of events in other places and wrongly linked to current events inside Ukraine.
43. The OSCE Mission to Ukraine observed that propaganda in the media contributed to the worsening of the security situation for inhabitants of the affected areas. Such media falsifications, especially when linked to the repeated use of insulting and inflammatory language in the context of armed conflict containing features of an inter-communal dispute, might even be considered as hate speech or as incitement to violence. The large number of such cases in the context of attacks against journalists in parts of Ukraine raises concerns about the scale of political interference in the editorial policies of some Russian media, especially in view of the accumulated evidence of official constraints and harassment directed at independent Russian media outlets, which appear to limit the possibilities for citizens of Russia to receive unbiased and critical reports about domestic and international affairs.
44. The OSCE Report also notes allegations of distortion of facts made by some local people interviewed in eastern Ukraine. The OSCE said it was a matter of concern that attempts to counter propaganda have resulted in the imposition of restrictions on broadcast media by the Ukrainian authorities.
45. On 19 March 2014, a group of people including a member of parliament of Ukraine’s Svoboda party entered the Kyiv offices of the state broadcaster, assaulted the acting president of the company, accused him of airing anti-Ukrainian programme content, and forced him to sign a letter of resignation. The intruders filmed the incident themselves and later posted it online. An official investigation was promptly announced into the incident.
46. In recent weeks, both the Ukrainian authorities and the Russian authorities in Crimea after its unlawful annexation have also denied entry to journalists. Between 20 and 24 May, in the days immediately before the Ukrainian presidential election, at least five TV crews and five journalists were refused entry to Ukraine, including reporters from Echo of Moscow radio station and Kommersant FM radio.
47. During the so-called Euromaidan protests in Kyiv’s Maidan (Independence) Square between November 2013 and the change of government in Ukraine in February, journalists suffered many attacks and serious injuries inflicted by security forces and organised pro-government gangs in Kiev and elsewhere. On 1 December 2013, more than 40 journalists and camera staff were beaten by police using deliberate violence. Each case of assault and injury was documented by Ukrainian media and NGOs in an effort to ensure that those responsible would eventually be held to account.
48. Near Kyiv on 25 December 2013, a group of men pursued investigative journalist Tetyana Chornovol, dragged her out of her car and savagely beat her, causing concussion and severe facial and other injuries. On the night of 18-19 February 2014, as the political crisis came to a head, the Media Law Institute recorded 46 injuries among media workers in one 24-hour period. The Ukrainian Media Law Institute (MLI) said that security forces fired rubber bullets at the heads of members of the media in Maidan Square, resulting in 7 persons losing their sight in one eye.
49. The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, after a country visit to Ukraine in February 2014, also reported seeing injuries that showed a clear pattern of the heads and faces of journalists having been targeted by armed police. The Media Law Institute noted that security forces failed to respect the professional status of journalists who wore jackets clearly identifying themselves as members of the press.
50. Following the change of government in Kyiv, the parliament on 17 April adopted a law designed to transform the state broadcasting system into a public service broadcaster, known as the National Public Service Broadcasting Company of Ukraine, which is to be independent of the well-documented political influences of the past. The current government has promised improved accountability related to attacks against journalists and an end to censorship. Leading NGOs including the Media Law Institute have proposed their own candidates for the main media regulator, the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting.
51. Independent journalists and media in Russia have suffered increasing threats to their safety and security during the past two years, because of a persistent climate of impunity concerning past attacks against journalists, as well as the harsh application of laws on freedom of expression, peaceful protest and the internet, and oppressive administrative and political pressures on journalists and media organisations.
52. Failure to bring to justice those responsible for many unsolved journalists’ murders from past years continues to undermine confidence in the independence and effectiveness of Russia’s judicial system in those cases. There has been no progress in bringing to justice those responsible for the murder of Paul Klebnikov, the founding editor of Forbes Russia in 2004, and the murder in Chechnya in 2009 of Natalia Estemirova, a journalist and prominent member of the human rights organisation Memorial.
53. In 2014, eight years after the killing in October 2006 of Novaya Gazeta journalist Anna Politkovskaya, five men were convicted and sentenced to lengthy jail terms; but the masterminds or instigators of the murder have still not been brought to justice. An earlier trial of suspects in Ms Politkovskaya’s murder collapsed because of the lack of evidence presented by the prosecution. In December 2012, a retired police lieutenant-colonel convicted Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov was also convicted and given an 11 year sentence. However, criticism was levelled at the judicial authorities for agreeing a plea deal with the convicted man that, as it was alleged, may have enabled a cover-up of the identity of the real instigators of the crime.
54. The government’s failure to punish many officials who commit abuses fuels a climate of impunity, especially with regard to violent crimes against journalists. Committee to Protect Journalists lists Russia as number 10 (and the only European country named) in its 2014 Global Impunity Index, which identifies the countries where murders of journalists are most likely to go unpunished.
55. In its Resolution 1920 (2013), the Parliamentary Assembly called on the Russian authorities to properly investigate the case of Sergei Magnitsky, the lawyer who died of abuse and neglect in pre-trial detention in 2009. Mr Magnitsky sought to expose official corruption in Russia; his arrest, alleged torture and eventual death in prison are liable to deter others who wish to expose misuses of official power in public or as an important source of information for news media. The Russian President’s own human rights council concluded that Mr Magnitsy was probably beaten to death in prison, but in March 2013 the Federal Investigative Committee reportedly closed its investigation into his death without finding evidence of criminality.
56. Independent and critical journalists in Russia have frequently been subject to unprovoked assaults, including many by police or security forces, as well as arbitrary arrests. In 2013, the Glasnost Defense Foundation reported 63 physical attacks against journalists as well as 24 prosecutions, 34 threats of violence and 19 cases of journalists being dismissed from their jobs because of critical reporting. Examples of serious assaults include the brutal beating on 1 April 2013 of Andrey Chelnokov, head of the Novosibirsk Journalists’ Union. Mr Chelnokov was missing for ten days before being found with concussion, broken ribs and a broken nose. No arrests were made.
57. On 22 October 2013, journalist Sergey Reznik was attacked in Rostov-on-Don by two unidentified men wielding baseball bats. He suffered head and neck injuries. The attack followed Mr Reznik’s publishing of a blog post in which he accused a judge of corruption. The journalist was himself prosecuted and later sentenced on charges including insulting a public official and bribery.
58. The Russian authorities also use excessively restrictive laws to curtail freedom of expression and public protests. In June 2012, a new anti-protest law dramatically increased fines for those taking part in public protests that do not conform to very strict conditions; the maximum fine was raised 300,000 roubles (about 9000 US dollars) – which is more than the average annual salary. In 2013, President Putin announced a ban on demonstrations and rallies in Sochi during the Sochi Winter Olympics in early 2014.
59. Russia’s 2012 law on NGOs which receive foreign funding and are deemed to be engaged in political activity has been harshly applied to many independent civil society organisations which play a vital part in fostering open public debate on issues of public interest in Russia. The law, which obliges those groups to register as ‘foreign agents’, has led to lawsuits against some which refused to register. Some groups have been forced to close down; hundreds of others have been subjected to intrusive inspections. In 2013, the election-monitoring group Golos was among the civil society organisations that were suspended and fined $10,000 after refusing to register as a foreign agent.
60. Russia’s extremism law provides a very broad definition of extremism, and gives courts the power to close down any media organisation deemed to have broken the law, without appeal. A state communications regulatory agency, Roskomnadzor, regularly issues warnings to newspapers and websites. Two warnings in one year can lead to closure, so the very existence of the draconian law is likely to lead to self-censorship.
61. In February 2014, a new Internet law came into force, giving the government stronger powers to block websites. In March 2013 Garry Kasparov’s website Kasparov.ru and other independent websites were blocked. Roskomnadzor said they had been added to the register of banned content at the request of the prosecutor-general’s office for issuing calls to participate in ‘unauthorised mass actions’. The blog on Livejournal by the anti-corruption campaigner and opposition figure Alexei Navalny was also blocked. In May, President Putin signed an extension of the Internet law to oblige bloggers with more than 3000 followers to register as mass media, and to be subject to other regulations applying to large media outlets.
62. During 2013, several more laws were adopted which further restrict free expression and public discourse: a ‘propaganda law’ against public displays of support for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-sexual) groups, a law against offending religious sentiments and a law criminalising calls for separatism in Russia, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
63. In recent months, the Russian government and its allies have further extended their grip on influential media outlets. In December 2013, the government closed the largest state-owned news agency, RIA-Novosti, which was reputed to produce relatively balanced coverage of political matters. It was replaced by a news agency called Rossia Segodnya (Russia Today), which was placed under what is perceived as more firmly pro-Kremlin management. RIA-Novosti itself characterised the decision as pointing to “a tightening of state control in the already heavily regulated media sector”.
64. In March Galina Timchenko, the editor of the independent news website Lenta.ru was suddenly dismissed after the site received a warning from Roskomnadzor for interviewing a Ukrainian ultra-nationalist leader.
65. In April 2014 Pavel Durov, the founder and owner of Russia’s most popular home-grown social network site, VKontakte, left Russia after he was forced to sell his shares in the company. He said he took the decision after receiving a demand to hand over private user data and in the light of sweeping new restrictions on Internet use.
66. Russia’s leading independent and critical television channel, Dozhd (Rain), has been at risk of going out of business since February 2014, when cable and satellite providers said they would no longer carry the channel’s output and it faced tax inspections and a sudden loss of advertising. The owner of Dozhd said its rejection by distributors was the result of political pressure.
Turkey
67. In Turkey more than twenty journalists are still in prison at the time of writing, although many others have been released from pre-trial detention because of judicial reforms which, if continued, could lead to a major improvement in the security and working environment for free and independent media. At present, journalists in Turkey still face threats to their safety and professional independence from overly restrictive laws, hundreds of questionable criminal investigations and a number of new prosecutions of journalists, limitations on access to the Internet, improper government interference with the work of the media, and intolerance of criticism on the part of the government.
68. Journalists released from pre-trial detention in May 2014 include seven Kurdish journalists and Fusun Erdogan, who spent eight years in pre-trial detention on what she claims were false charges of attempting to overthrow the constitutional order by violence and membership of an outlawed Marxist party. The government continued to assert that most or all of the journalists in Turkish jails had committed crimes unrelated to their profession.
69. Notable positive reforms include the recent reduction in the maximum period of pre-trial detention from ten years to five years, a new provision that the Turkish Constitutional Court can hear individual appeals, and the abolition of special courts which have conducted the controversial trials of hundreds of people, including journalists and military personnel accused of being part of anti-government plots. However, in March 2014, the government also increased its control over the Supreme Board of Judges, giving rise to fears of more political interference in the justice system.
70. The fourth judicial reform package of April 2013 contained improvements related to freedom of expression, including an easing of severe restrictions on reporting statements by illegal organisations (Article 6/2, Anti-Terror Law) and narrowing the scope of the offence of making terrorist propaganda (Article 7/2, Anti-Terror law and Article 220/8 of the Penal Code). However the reforms have not halted many prosecutions, including some targeting journalists, on charges of membership of an armed organisation (Article 314). The much-criticised Article 301, which criminalises insults to the Turkish nation, was not amended. It was used to open more than 30 new cases in 2012 and 2013. An investigation was launched against the editor and a journalist of Agos, the magazine of the murdered former editor Hrant Dink, after they criticised the Dink trial verdict.
71. During the large-scale Gezi Park protests in 2013, the independent media monitoring organisation Bianet reported that police assaulted at least 105 journalists while they were covering the events. Police also detained 28 journalists, some of whom were held overnight and questioned. Few police or public officials have been publicly held to account for such actions, leading to a climate of impunity and a loss of public trust in law-enforcement forces. The government’s concerted efforts to suppress coverage of the Gezi Park events amounted to an attempt at large-scale censorship.
72. On 11 June 2013, at the height of the protests, the broadcast media regulator RTUK (High Board of Radio and Television) instructed Ulusal TV, Halk TV, EM TV and Cem TV not to broadcast reports about the demonstrations because they would incite violence. Under this pressure, many TV stations stopped reporting on the protests in which tens of thousands of Turks participated over a period of several weeks in Istanbul and other cities.
73. Pressures among Turkish broadcasting and newspaper journalists to censor their own output have also become widespread out of fear of loss of employment or other reprisals. In the past several years many leading Turkish journalists have been summarily dismissed from their jobs by their employers, apparently as a consequence of direct interference or pressure from high government officials. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has acknowledged that he telephoned several media owners or editors personally to influence their output. It emerged much later that during the Gezi Park protests the Prime Minister made a phone call from Morocco to a top manager of the Cener group which owns the Haberturk TV news channel, and instructed him to change an item of news which displeased him.
74. During the past year a number of allegations of corruption involving members of the government and members of their families have surfaced on the Internet, especially on social media. Against the background of much diminished public trust in Turkey’s mainstream media because of censorship and self-censorship, the Internet has become an important vehicle for those who wish to publish and receive information of public interest that may be unwelcome to government authorities, including information about alleged cases of official corruption.
75. The government has used its legal powers to block many news-related and file-sharing websites, including bloggers’ sites and YouTube, on the basis of laws on insult and Turkish national identity, national security and the long-standing ban on criticism of Ataturk. Since 2009 the number of Internet sites blocked in Turkey is estimated at over 30,000. In March 2014, during the campaign period before Turkish municipal elections on 30 March, Twitter was blocked after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to "wipe out Twitter" because users were spreading allegations of high level corruption which he denied. President Abdullah Gul personally used Twitter to publicise his belief that a complete ban on Twitter was unacceptable as well as technically impossible. A court in Ankara ruled against the ban, and on 2 April 2014 the Constitutional Court upheld that judgement.
76. In December 2012, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg ruled (in Ahmet Yıldırım v. Turkey) that blocking access to an online platform called Google sites without a strict legal framework regulating the scope of the ban and allowing for a judicial review was a violation of the right to freedom of expression. Turkey’s Constitutional Court upheld the judgment of the Strasbourg court.
77. In March 2014, the government announced details of a wide-ranging Human Rights Action Plan designed to harmonise Turkish laws with the jurisprudence of the European Convention on Human Rights, following numerous rulings by the Court finding violations by Turkey concerning freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and judicial standards. The pace of implementation of the Action Plan is likely to depend on the political will of the Turkish government. The ongoing reluctance of the European Union to open formal negotiations with Turkey on Chapter 23 of the EU accession process, dealing with the judiciary and fundamental rights, has the potential to act as a brake on progress.
78. Several Turkish and foreign journalists in Turkey have become victim of hate campaigns on social media, including multiple threats of violence, after senior Turkish public figures singled them out for insult or condemnation because of their reporting. Following the Soma coal mine disaster in May 2014, the Turkey correspondent of Der Spiegel magazine, Hasnain Kazim, left the country after reportedly receiving over 10,000 threats on Facebook and Twitter over his reports covering the disaster, in which he cited a strongly-worded criticism of the Turkish prime minister uttered by a local miner at the time of Mr Erdogan’s visit to Soma.
79. Prime Minister Recep Tayyp Erdogan accused the BBC Turkish service of hiring actors to pose as relatives of dead Soma miners after the BBC broadcast a video clip that showed two women relatives of miners who died in the disaster saying that they would not vote for Erdogan's ruling AK Party again because of its controversial response to the loss of life in the disaster. The BBC denied manipulating the news item, but subsequently the BBC woman reporter, Rengin Arslan, became the target of an extremely unpleasant smear campaign on social media, accompanied by further accusations in pro-government media outlets.
80. These cases demonstrate the necessity for public figures to refrain from abusing their elevated status to use intemperate or inflammatory language against any journalist or media organisation, and to apologise fully and promptly when their statements are shown to be unproven.
Azerbaijan
81. Independent journalists and media in Azerbaijan have faced aggressive attempts to silence critical voices, including multiple cases of physical attacks, detention and imprisonment on what are thought to be fabricated charges and cases of judicial harassment and attempted blackmail by persons associated with the government.
82. The killing of journalist and editor Rafiq Tagi in 2011 and Elmar Huseynov in 2005 remain unsolved and unpunished, contributing to a climate of impunity that tends to protect the powerful from accountability and effective justice. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) reported 15 assaults on working journalists in 2013.
83. On 25 April 2014, the Yeni Musavat newspaper reporter Farahim Ilgaroglu was beaten and punched in the face in an unprovoked attack outside his Baku home by an unknown assailant who asked him to confirm his name before assaulting him.
84. In November 2012, Farahim Ilgaroglu, together with Turan Information Agency reporter Etimad Budagov, Media Forum correspondent Amid Suleymanov and Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) correspondent Rasim Aliyev, were beaten by police and arrested when they were covering an opposition rally in Baku, despite wearing clearly-marked press jackets.
85. The Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe, in his observations on the human rights situation in Azerbaijan in April 2014, deplored the rising trend of unjustified or selective criminal prosecutions of journalists and others who express critical opinions. His assessment echoed that of PACE Resolution 1917 of January 2013 on the honouring of obligations and commitments by Azerbaijan. The Commissioner referred to the arrest of blogger Omar Mammadov in January 2014 and online activist Abdul Abilov in November 2013, both on dubious charges of drugs trafficking, and of Parviz Hashimli of Bizim Yoi newspaper in September 2013 for alleged weapons possession. The Commissioner refuted earlier objections voiced by the Azerbaijani authorities that the journalists in jail in the country had all been prosecuted for offences unrelated to their professional activity.
86. The sentencing in May 2014 of Parviz Hashimli, the editor of the independent news website Moderator, to eight years imprisonment for smuggling and possessing weapons was criticised by the European Union and many human rights monitoring organisations as an injustice based on fabricated evidence. Mr Hashimli is known for his critical reporting about corruption and human rights abuses in Azerbaijan, including issues related to the actions of Azerbaijan's President, Ilham Aliyev. The Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety described the arrest of Mr Hashimli in September 2013 as a deliberate warning to journalists in the run-up to an election.
87. President, Ilham Aliyev was re-elected to a third term in October 2013 in elections which, OSCE election monitors concluded, was marred by allegations of candidate and voter intimidation and a restrictive media environment, including intimidation, arrest and use of force against journalists and human rights and democracy activists online and offline. The OSCE monitored the output of six television channels during the election campaign and reported that 92 percent of coverage was dedicated to the incumbent President, with the rest to the remaining nine candidates (OSCE/ODIHR Final Report on Azerbaijan Presidential election, 24 December 2013).
88. On 26 May 2014, the trial of Anar Mammadili, chairman of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Centre, and other workers for civil rights workers ended with harsh prison sentence given to Mr Mammadili and two other defendants. The director of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Democracy, Janez Lenarcic, denounced what he called a concerted campaign of harassment and intimidation of Anar Mammadili and his election organisation by the authorities.
89. CPJ reported in May 2014 that ten journalists were currently in detention or serving jail sentences on spurious or politically motivated charges: Sardar Alibayli; Nijat Aliyev; Araz Guliyev; Parviz Hashimli; Fuad Huseynov; Hilal Mammadov; Rauf Mirkadirov; Faramaz Novruzoglu; Tofig Yagublu; and Avaz Zeynalli.
90. Since 2012 a disturbing smear campaign has been conducted against Khadiya Ismayilova, a leading investigative journalist, apparently aimed at stopping her from publishing reports about the business dealings of the country’s president and members of his family. Ms Ismayilova became the target of gross invasions of her privacy and in March 2013 intimate images of her, recorded secretly at her home, were posted on the Internet in an evident attempt to discredit her. The government failed to identify or punish those responsible for the illegal surveillance and intrusion into her privacy. In October 2013, Ms Ismayilova asked the European Court of Human Rights to order the Azerbaijan authorities to take action to protect her from violence, threats and invasions of her privacy.
91. There have been positive indications that Azerbaijan’s supreme court has recommended amending the law on insult and defamation to conform with rulings of the European Court of Human Rights. However, criminal sanctions for defamation, including up to three years’ imprisonment, have not yet been removed. Civil defamation suits resulting in excessively high fines against prosecuted media have a chilling effect on independent and inquiring journalism. In 2013, the government extended the scope of legal sanctions for defamation to include expressions on the Internet. Civil defamation actions have resulted in high fines against media organisations which have threatened the survival of some, with a wider chilling effect on media freedom. Article 106 of the Constitution and Article 323 of the Criminal Code, which prohibit insulting the honour and dignity of the President, represent excessive limitations on freedom of expression.
articlefiles -> For Rent : Atlanta Houses During Games; Huge Supply; Owners Anxious; Reduced!
articlefiles -> 3 December 2014 Update Report on The Protection of Media Freedom in Europe, commissioned by the Rapporteur on Media Freedom of the the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (pace)
articlefiles -> Al gore “I see a 21st century economy where innovation and high technology not only fuel high paying jobs, but help connect more families to our prosperity”- al Gore
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"Would refer friends. Great service, fair rates. This has helped my family so many times. Thank you very much Tiny Cash!"
"Best customer service I've received from a cash advance company. They listened to my questions and helped me right away with a great attitude. I love it!!"
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Rated Best Installment Loan Company Near Robinson | Tiny Cash Loans
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Life is full of surprises and they aren’t always ones that we want. Personal emergencies that require money immediately can be life-changing if the money isn’t available. A car that breaks down can prevent you from getting to work and lead to job loss. Medical emergencies arise and doctor’s bills need to be paid. Children grow quickly and suddenly need an entirely new wardrobe. A broken furnace or water heater in the winter can’t wait to be repaired. These are situations where we need to get money quickly and can benefit from the services of Tiny Cash Installment Loans in Robinson, Texas.
Who can apply For A Robinson Installment Loan? In order to apply for Tiny Cash installment loans, you need to be 18 or older and a US citizen living in an eligible State. A steady and reliable income, a home address and a bank account for the funds to be deposited into is also required.
The easily accessible installment loans can be used for personal emergencies including Robinson home repairs, medical bills and to pay off other bills. You can also use these loans to purchase gifts, pay for a vacation or grab a great deal that is time sensitive. How the money is used is up to the borrower.
Can I apply with bad credit?
Tiny Cash Loans sends your application to a variety of lenders, some of who will offer installment loans for bad credit. Not all the lenders perform a thorough credit check and may just ensure there are no personal bankruptcies or outstanding debts before approving your loan. Most often, your credit score will not prevent you from securing a payday loan, but it will impact the terms of your loan including interest rate and borrowing amount. Securing a loan and maintaining good standing can help improve your credit rating.
How do I apply for a personal loan in Robinson ?
Robinson residents fill out the simple online form to get started. The application requires basic information and takes a few minutes to fill out. The form is encrypted for security so there is no risk of your personal information being leaked. There is no fee for applying and no obligation to continue with the process should you change your mind. The application is then forwarded to several short-term lenders in order to find the most suitable arrangement for your needs. These lenders review the application and could approve your loan in as little as a few minutes. Some Robinson lenders will require additional information from the applicant. The interest rates and terms of loan will vary between lenders, so review the terms before accepting.
How long does the process take?
The application can be reviewed 24/7 online, so the initial application can be completed in as little as a few minutes. It often takes less than an hour to process the application and connect the applicant with lenders. Signatures to accept loans are all done online, making the paperwork and finalizing of the loan another easy process. Once the paperwork is complete, it is possible to have your loan in as little as one business day.
A payday loan is an emergency loan that is typically under $1000. This loan is to be repaid, with interest or fees, on your next payday.
An installment loan is a loan that is repaid, with interest or fees, over a specific period with scheduled payments. These payments are often monthly, and the loans arranged through Tiny Payday Loans are generally required to be paid in full in under 24 months.
A payday installment loan arranged by Robinson Tiny Cash Payday Loans is often under $2500 in total. This loan allows more flexibility than a payday loan because it does not have to be paid in full by your payday. It will have a set number of payments that generally span over a few months’ time.
Can I have more than one loan at a time?
Every state has their own rules regarding the number of credit products taken simultaneously, and they may also have rules regarding the cooling period between loan applications. Lenders will also have their own guidelines for providing more than one loan at a time.
Can I renew my loan?
If your state laws allow it and you are having difficulty with the current terms of your loan, you can possibly do a renewal with your lender. This involves adding interest to the loan and changing the current repayment terms. It is recommended to carefully review your contract before renewing or extending your loan, as it can be an expensive process.
What happens if I am late on a Texas installment loan payment?
For your own credit rating, it is best practice to avoid late payments. However, should a situation arise where you know you will be late making a loan payment, contact the lender to make arrangements and find out what their fees and procedures are for late payments. You can also review your contract for terms regarding late payments.
I don’t know if I would qualify for a loan
That is why Tiny Payday Loans exist! The application is quick and easy and Tiny Payday Loans will match you with lenders they feel are appropriate. From there, you and the lenders can determine your eligibility. Should all of your loan offers not meet your standards, you can end the arrangement at any time and not pursue the loan.
Take a few minutes to fill out the simple form to see if you can get the emergency funds that you need.
Tiny Cash Loans is not a lender. They accept applications from people who need installment loans or payday loans and determine their eligibility to receive a quote from lenders. Once your application has been reviewed, Tiny Cash Loans will forward it to the lenders who are a good match for your circumstances to help you get the money you need. Tiny Cash Loans can not predict lending rates and is not informed of the terms of your loan once you have an agreement with a lender.
What is a personal loan and what can I use it for?
People get personal loans to help with home repairs, unexpected expenses, holiday shopping, bills, and more. Such a loan from one of our lenders can help you get the cash you need! Once you fill out our form online, if approved, you can receive cash as fast as next business day.
How fast can I get the money?
While approval with a lender can be fast, usually within minutes, you will likely only receive your cash only as fast as next business day. Think of the process as depositing a check into your bank account, typically, you have to wait at least 1 business day before the check clears and the money is available for you to use from your account.
How do you protect my privacy and personal information?
In transmitting your personal data to our lender network we ensure the highest safety of your personal information. Using SSL encryption your personal data is scrambled in route to our servers, and decrypted once it arrives at Tiny Cash Loans.
Are there any fees?
Tiny Cash Loans does not charge the consumers any fees and there is no fee to submit your information online. If we’re able to connect you with a loan offer form a lender, your lender will present you with the exact fees and interest rate of your loan prior to your acceptance of the loan. Tiny Cash Loans is not a lender and cannot predict the exact fees and interest of the loan option presented to you. You are under no obligation to accept the terms presented to you by the lender.
Representative APR
Tiny Cash Loans is not a lender and does not provide personal loans but refers consumers to lenders who may provide such loans. Tiny Cash Loans is unable to supply you with an exact APR (Annual Percentage Rate) that you will be charged if you are approved for a loan. APRs vary according to the information supplied by you in your loan request and your lender. You will be given the APR, loan fees, and other terms by your lender if we are able to connect you with a lender and you are redirected to your loan agreement in the loan request process. Tiny Cash Loans has no control or knowledge of the loan details between you and your lender. If you are presented with a loan offer, you will have the option to review the terms of the loan, which you may approve or decline.
A personal loan is a medium term loan with a fixed interest rate that is repaid in equal monthly payments and it’s usually limited to 24 months. Loan offers and eligibility depend on your individual credit profile. Our lenders can help you obtain as much as $3,000 depending on the lender, your state and your financial situation.
The owner and operator of tinycashloans.com is not a lender and is not involved into making credit decisions associated with lending or making loan offers. Instead, the website is designed only for a matching service, which enables the users contact with the lenders and third parties. The website does not charge any fees for its service, nor does it oblige any user to initiate contact with any of the lenders or third parties or accept any loan product or service offered by the lenders. All the data concerning personal loan products and the industry is presented on the website for information purposes only. tinycashloans.com does not endorse any particular lender, nor does it represent or is responsible for the actions or inactions of the lenders. tinycashloans.com does not collect, store or has access to the information regarding the fees and charges associated with the contacting lenders and/or any loan products. Online personal loans are not available in all the states. Not all the lenders in the network can provide the loans up to $3,000. tinycashloans.com cannot guarantee that the user of the website will be approved by any lender or for any loan product, will be matched with a lender, or if matched, will receive a personal loan offer on the terms requested in the online form. The lenders may need to perform credit check via one or more credit bureaus, including but not limited to major credit bureaus in order to determine credit reliability and the scopes of credit products to offer. The lenders in the network may need to perform additional verifications, including but not limited to social security number, driver license number, national ID or other identification documents. The terms and scopes of loan products vary from lender to lender and can depend on numerous factors, including but not limited to the state of residence and credit standing of the applicant, as well as the terms determined by each lender individually.
APR Representative
APR (Annual Percentage Rate) is the loan rate calculated for the annual term. Since tinycashloans.com is not a lender and has no information regarding the terms and other details of personal loan products offered by lenders individually, tinycashloans.com cannot provide the exact APR charged for any loan product offered by the lenders. The APRs greatly vary from lender to lender, state to state and depend on numerous factors, including but not limited to the credit standing of an applicant. Additional charges associated with the loan offer, including but not limited to origination fees, late payment, non-payment charges and penalties, as well as non-financial actions, such as late payment reporting and debt collection actions, may be applied by the lenders. These financial and non-financial actions have nothing to do with tinycashloans.com, and tinycashloans.com has no information regaining whatsoever actions may be taken by the lenders. All the financial and non-financial charges and actions are to be disclosed in any particular loan agreement in a clear and transparent manner. The APR is calculated as the annual charge and is not a financial charge for a personal loan product.
It is highly recommended to contact the lender if late payment is expected or considered possible. In this case, late payment fees and charges may be implied. Federal and state regulations are determined for the cases of late payment and may vary from case to case. All the details concerning the procedures and costs associated with late payment are disclosed in loan agreement and should be reviewed prior to signing any related document.
Non-payment Implications
Financial and non-financial penalties may be implied in cases of non-payment or missed payment. Fees and other financial charges for late payment are to be disclosed in loan agreement. Additional actions related to non-payment, such as renewals, may be implied upon given consent. The terms of renewal are to be disclosed in each loan agreement individually. Additional charges and fees associated with renewal may be applied.
Debt collection practices and other related procedures may be performed. All the actions related to these practices are adjusted to Fair Debt Collection Practices Act regulations and other applicable federal and state laws in order to protect consumers from unfair lending and negative borrowing experience. The majority of lenders do not refer to outside collection agencies and attempt to collect the debt via in-house means.
Non-payment and late payment may have negative impact on the borrowers’ credit standing and downgrade their credit scores, as the lenders may report delinquency to credit bureaus, including but not limited to Equifax, Transunion, and Experian. In this case the results of non-payment and late payment may be recorded and remain in credit reports for the determined amount of time.
Request A Loan
Rates and Fees
A personal loan is a medium term loan with a fixed interest rate that is repaid in equal monthly payments and it’s usually limited to 24 months. Loan offers and eligibility depend on your individual credit profile. Our lenders can help you obtain as much as $3,000 depending on the lender, your state and your financial situation.
The owner and operator of tinycashloans.com is not a lender and is not involved into making credit decisions associated with lending or making loan offers. Instead, the website is designed only for a matching service, which enables the users contact with the lenders and third parties. The website does not charge any fees for its service, nor does it oblige any user to initiate contact with any of the lenders or third parties or accept any loan product or service offered by the lenders. All the data concerning personal loan products and the industry is presented on the website for information purposes only. tinycashloans.com does not endorse any particular lender, nor does it represent or is responsible for the actions or inactions of the lenders. tinycashloans.com does not collect, store or has access to the information regarding the fees and charges associated with the contacting lenders and/or any loan products. Online personal loans are not available in all the states. Not all the lenders in the network can provide the loans up to $3,000. tinycashloans.com cannot guarantee that the user of the website will be approved by any lender or for any loan product, will be matched with a lender, or if matched, will receive a personal loan offer on the terms requested in the online form. The lenders may need to perform credit check via one or more credit bureaus, including but not limited to major credit bureaus in order to determine credit reliability and the scopes of credit products to offer. The lenders in the network may need to perform additional verifications, including but not limited to social security number, driver license number, national ID or other identification documents. The terms and scopes of loan products vary from lender to lender and can depend on numerous factors, including but not limited to the state of residence and credit standing of the applicant, as well as the terms determined by each lender individually.
APR Representative
APR (Annual Percentage Rate) is the loan rate calculated for the annual term. Since tinycashloans.com is not a lender and has no information regarding the terms and other details of personal loan products offered by lenders individually, tinycashloans.com cannot provide the exact APR charged for any loan product offered by the lenders. The APRs greatly vary from lender to lender, state to state and depend on numerous factors, including but not limited to the credit standing of an applicant. Additional charges associated with the loan offer, including but not limited to origination fees, late payment, non-payment charges and penalties, as well as non-financial actions, such as late payment reporting and debt collection actions, may be applied by the lenders. These financial and non-financial actions have nothing to do with tinycashloans.com, and tinycashloans.com has no information regaining whatsoever actions may be taken by the lenders. All the financial and non-financial charges and actions are to be disclosed in any particular loan agreement in a clear and transparent manner. The APR is calculated as the annual charge and is not a financial charge for a personal loan product.
It is highly recommended to contact the lender if late payment is expected or considered possible. In this case, late payment fees and charges may be implied. Federal and state regulations are determined for the cases of late payment and may vary from case to case. All the details concerning the procedures and costs associated with late payment are disclosed in loan agreement and should be reviewed prior to signing any related document.
Non-payment Implications
Financial and non-financial penalties may be implied in cases of non-payment or missed payment. Fees and other financial charges for late payment are to be disclosed in loan agreement. Additional actions related to non-payment, such as renewals, may be implied upon given consent. The terms of renewal are to be disclosed in each loan agreement individually. Additional charges and fees associated with renewal may be applied.
Debt collection practices and other related procedures may be performed. All the actions related to these practices are adjusted to Fair Debt Collection Practices Act regulations and other applicable federal and state laws in order to protect consumers from unfair lending and negative borrowing experience. The majority of lenders do not refer to outside collection agencies and attempt to collect the debt via in-house means.
Non-payment and late payment may have negative impact on the borrowers’ credit standing and downgrade their credit scores, as the lenders may report delinquency to credit bureaus, including but not limited to Equifax, Transunion, and Experian. In this case the results of non-payment and late payment may be recorded and remain in credit reports for the determined amount of time.
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The CFIA announced on its website that Vegpro International recalls Fresh Attitude brand baby spinach from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. The company triggered this recall. Vegpro distributed the recalled baby spinach in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The recalled spinach has best-by dates through Dec. 4-5 and is packaged in 312g and 142g. To date, there hadn't been any reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products. @ https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-recall-warnings-and-allergy-alerts/2020-11-26/eng/1606439055882/1606439056179
Fresh Attitude brand Baby Spinach recalled due to Salmonella - Food Recall Warning - Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Vegpro International is recalling Fresh Attitude brand Baby Spinach products from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination.
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Oh, that’s how that works—wow! Your preschooler’s inquisitive little mind is going ten million miles an hour as they start putting together all the information that they’ve gathered about the world during toddlerhood, from motion and body movements to using new materials and supplies to craft something unique.And, according to our experts, that makes this the perfect time to start helping kids build early science skills and more. There will be focus throughout this year on mastering letters, sounds, and
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The best learning toys for little kids, recommended by teachers!
Why are preschool classrooms still full of simple, classic toys and activities we played with when we were kids? The answer is simple: While times have changed, brain development hasn’t! In fact, children learn best through play, when they’re relaxed, engaged, and having fun! Building blocks, play dough, and crafts allow children to do so much more than stack, smoosh, and stretch their imaginations! They sharpen fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, lay a foundation for early math concepts, and
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If you have a dog, you know how much pet grooming Pembroke Pines require. While some people love it and get really into trying new products and techniques, others would rather have someone else take care of it! Suppose you are a person who is less than enthusiastic about all the brushing, bathing, nail trimming, and other tasks that go into caring for your pup. In that case, many people are – then starting a Dog grooming Miami Beach business might be the perfect solution.
This informative blog post will explore what’s involved in starting this type of business so you can make an informed decision before getting started.
How much does it cost to start a mobile dog grooming business?
Starting a mobile dog grooming business can be done cheaply for around $500. You need:
If you want to do this in style, you can spend several thousand dollars on your van and trailer. There are no hard and fast rules for what makes a sound or lousy grooming site. Just make sure you are doing everything possible to ensure safety and cleanliness for you and your pup clientele.
When you start a dog grooming business, you will be in public often. You need to be professional at all times like Dog grooming Miami Beach, primarily if you work in places with people and other dogs around. If you feel that you are not quite up to being professional at all times like Dog grooming Miami Beach, then perhaps this is not the business for you.
You also need to attend some grooming classes. This will teach you the necessary skills, such as how to bathe your pups properly and trim their nails properly. Every state has different rules regarding how much training is necessary to open up shop, so make sure that you check into that before spending money on classes.
When you start a dog grooming business, the money is good. You can easily earn $30 to $100 per dog, which means you could bring in $1,000 or more by the end of your first week. The potential earnings are very high, and most owners who start their businesses say they make even more than they expected after a few months.
One of the great things about starting your own mobile dog grooming business is that it’s not difficult to set up. Since you will be working out of your van, there’s minimal overhead and no need for an office space.
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Smith, a full-time writer, was born in Los Angeles. He is an experienced mobile gamer, who wrote the book “The Secret To Play Like A Pro In MLBB”. The book is continually a best-seller making him one of the best authors of books for online gamers.
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The Met Gala was cancelled this year; both the CFDA Awards and the Cannes Film Festival were called off; and the 2021 Oscars have been postponed. But for the fashion industry, there's a chance for innovation amid COVID-19. Ahead of September’s fashion month, brands are navigating how to translate live runway shows to a digital fashion week format for the Spring 2021 season. While Paris Fashion Week and Milan Fashion Week have confirmed they’ll be going forward with some in-person events with limited audiences despite continued border closures, many are instead opting to sit out completely or go entirely digital with virtual shows. Fashion weeks in Japan and Moscow were some of the first to explore digital options, and other cities are following suit.
The pandemic has forced brands to go digital, cancel, or rethink plans entirely — but in reality, this shift may allow for wider access, a more sustainable platform and a slower fashion cycle. “The fashion industry is archaic and has been doing things the same way for years,” explains event producer, Brittney Escovedo of Beyond 8, who produces Pyer Moss' iconic shows. “Furthermore, [the] calendar has never been sustainable. The current climate of this global pandemic has forced the industry to take a moment to think about how it can function more efficiently and sustainably.”
London Fashion Week combined mens and womens' designers for a virtual fashion week in June, the men’s and couture shows that typically take place this summer in July will go digital. But in addition to nixing traditional runway formats, brands including Gucci and Saint Laurent have stepped away from the traditional fashion show calendar, instead promising fewer shows and collections. “I’m passionate about fashion shows, but maybe we can be open to seeing them in a different way,” Gucci’s Alessndro Michele said in a virtual call with fashion journalists.
In some ways, the fashion industry was already initiating larger structural changes. In summer 2019, The Swedish Fashion Council cancelled Stockholm Fashion Week to focus on launching an alternative, pushing some brands to consolidate in Copenhagen. In time for the next season, Stockholm Fashion Week will launch a digital platform August 26–28, created specifically for consumers rather than the fashion industry insiders. Designers will show new collections via digital live streams while also putting an emphasis on current, shoppable collections and adding live events including designer interviews and panels.
Going mostly digital could actually mean that fashion week finally becomes more democratized, bringing shows to people who normally wouldn’t have access to see them live while also putting editors, writers, buyers, customers, and fashion fans on a more level playing field. When Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Moscow posted its shows and lectures to TikTok in April, it reported more than half a million views, which is arguably more visibility than if they would have gotten at a traditional fashion week. In June, the Russian Fashion Council also launched Global Talents Digital, showcasing new collections along with 100 percent-virtual ones, reporting more than 1.5 million views in its two-day span on social media via Facebook, Instagram and VK (a Russian-origin social network).
Previously, the focus for live streaming fashion shows was always put on major designers. Brands like Gucci, Chanel and Dior typically live stream their shows for fashion week, and fans who aren’t able to attend in person tune in. At the current time, though both brands are still planning to move ahead with some sort of IRL runway presentation, increased movement towards virtual experiences give emerging brands with less exposure a greater platform for exposure.
“The social media numbers of Global Talents Digital just proves the format of digital fashion events,” explains Alexander Shumsky, President of Russian Fashion Council. “If properly produced and designers are well-selected, the online streaming event could attract enough attention globally.” New York Fashion Week has now announced a online-only shortened NYFW for the Spring/Summer 2021 season with plans to launch a digital platform. “We can fit the same amount of shows in to three days because of no need for travel time in between the shows," Mark Beckham, vice president of marketing and events for CFDA tells WWD. "The three days of shows is only for this season as a result of COVID-19.”
“For most brands this will be the first time they will be inviting everyone in and each person will be on the same playing field experiencing the show in real time - the same way,” adds Escovedo. “They may find that opening doors, shifting their mindset and inclusion as a whole will serve the industry abundantly.”
Michael Kors and Marc Jacobs have both announced that it will not be showing during NYFW this coming season, instead they're among brands preparing digital content, like films or photographs to be dispersed socially, with the possibility of later events that follows safety guidelines. In addition to forcing brands to reevaluate its priorities, digital-only content allows all labels to be part of the schedule, rather than forcing them to vie for a prime time slot and venue.
Pyer Moss will be premiering a film dubbed American, Also, a feature film documenting the two years leading up to the brand's Kings theater show last September. “The doc will be premiered as a drive-in theater experience in multiple cities,” says Escovedo. “Community, art, giving back and overall awareness are at the forefront of what Pyer Moss stands for so it’s fitting that despite the global pandemic the brand would find a way to come together.”
It’s still yet-to-be-determined whether or not Paris and Milan fashion weeks scheduled for September and October 2020 will adapt their traditional formats. But in the meantime, there are others who are trying to figure out a solution for digital shows to be more cutting-edge. While videos, designer Q&As, and content is interesting, there’s still the question of whether not seeing the clothes and the way they move in real life is a problem or not.
“Lots of collections are currently being presented via Zoom or other digital platforms, which comes with certain challenges especially as it is so important to be able to see the garments physically,” explains Liane Wiggins, Head of Womenswear Buying at MATCHESFASHION. “But brands are working in innovative ways with digital showrooms and pre-distributed presentation packs, so we are learning together a new way to communicate and buy. The positives are that there is less time spent traveling and being continually on the move, but it can be difficult not holding face to face conversations, seeing the physical product, or immersing ourselves in the culture of each brand at a physical presentation in their home City, as this always translates into the way we buy.”
Production veteran Sara Blonstein, who has produced some of the top fashion shows for London Fashion Week (Roksanda, Molly Goddard, Ozwald Boateng, Oliver Spencer, A-Cold-Wall*, Charles Jeffrey Loverboy to name a few), has already made the move to working with VR. She has begun by partnering with the LA-based creative studio Actual Objects to create a system for virtual fashion shows, which includes everything from casting to specialty fabricated locations and motion-capture suits which mimic model characteristics. The end result will be a digital show that an audience can watch on different platforms. Part of the inspiration behind the partnership was Actual Objects' 2019 virtual campaign for Marine Serre, in which they envisioned a fantasy fashion world through CGI.
“The offering is something that does not mimic what we have grown accustomed to,” explains Blonstein. “Even when we return, maybe to a slightly different reality in the return, as the whole fashion merry go round is up for transformation it seems. This idea of the Virtual Imagined Digital Show can only add another fantastic layer to a brand, be part of a traditional live offering, or stand alone in its own beautiful right.”
Likewise, as another alternative plan for digital shows, Helsinki Fashion Week (July 27 to Aug. 1) will be digitizing its participants as well as its shows. Guests will browse the “events” with their own avatar. “Via interactive live streamed media, our designers will be documenting Sustainable Fashion’s journey from idea to product,” reads a statement from Helsinki Fashion Week.
“For this first sustainable and now first digital fashion week we want to create something that is recognizably from the fashion industry, real models, catwalk shows, realistic garments ... but also want to use the capacity of the 3D innovative way of traveling through worlds and visual universes that is unique to each creator. It is not because it’s sustainable that it should be boring, tech is exciting and as an ally of a brighter future can serve fashion,” says Melvyn Bonaffe, of creative studio NDA Paris, who is creating the 3D universe.
From a buyer’s perspective, the future of fashion week could also allow for a more thoughtful reflection for each season. “I think in the future as buyers we may spend less frequent time traveling and instead plan more meaningful trips and travel, visiting brands once or twice a season versus the very regular trips we have been used to,” adds Wiggins. “There are interesting conversations at the moment around how fashion shows and presentations will evolve and for a buyer it is exciting to be continually inspired and see new ways of working and viewing brands present their collections.”
As fashion weeks widen their audiences with new, innovative platforms, only time will tell if we fully transition to a fully digital fashion calendar post-pandemic.
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Last weekend our family went to Denver for our niece’s wedding. It was a rare moment in time when our entire family was present, all four generations of us. There were my parents, still healthy and active in their 80s, and our newest additions, Ike, Ivy, and Braxton, cousins born this past spring within two months of each other. In between there were more cousins, brothers and sisters, and aunts and uncles of all different ages. It was a time of family fullness and a chance to practice the Zen saying, “Chop wood, carry water.”
The saying, which basically reminds us to keep doing our work as mindfully as possible each and every moment, had a few expressions throughout the weekend. The first was in my sister’s back yard. As others relaxed and talked, my father took action with the huge pile of wood scraps in a wheelbarrow. It wasn’t chopping wood, but it was stacking at its finest. In minutes he transformed the pile into a tidy arrangement that fit together like a jenga puzzle. As I watched him, I had a moment of recognition. That burst of stacking by busy hands was all too familiar to me, a classic case of the apple dropping right beneath the tree. Nothing like a weekend with the family to gain a bit of clarity with our tendencies. And to get the wood stacked.
There were other chances to keep doing work, such as helping out with the dishes and painting table decorations for the big day. My sister offered an invitation to several of us to “add a few touches” to the small wooden bird houses destined for the reception tables. What started out as a few drops of paint and swirls of marker, became a line-up of bird houses sporting glittery flower petals and individual designs that made it tough to select a favorite. It was one of those “just one more touch” projects that took on a life of its own.
On the wedding day we arrived at the location, bird houses in plastic tubs, prepared for an efficient set-up prior to the outdoor ceremony. The ivy to encircle each bird house was wrapped carefully in a damp towel. Our only problem was that the caterers were late, which meant no linens for the tables; thus no set-up. It was a long hour before they arrived. While guests showed up and took their seats, we were scrambling inside to set up the decorations once the tablecloths were in place. We stayed calm, honoring each bird house with a wreath of ivy in the middle of a round table. It was definitely a “chop wood, carry water” moment, setting each little house in place. We missed the bride walking down the aisle and her dog as a member of the wedding party. Finally a staff person shooed us outside and said she’d take care of the rest. Gladly we joined the rest of the family for the happy day. Everything went as planned and even the hovering clouds withheld their raindrops until the sweet ceremony was over.
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In the beginning of June, I began wearing a Fitbit Flex. I decided to purchase one for two reasons. First, wearable computing is growing very quickly, and is increasingly more interesting as well. Second, the idea of measuring (a few elements of) my health on a daily basis is fascinating to me, so I thought it might be beneficial to do so.
The Flex has become a much larger part of my daily routine than I thought it would. If you are unfamiliar with it, the Flex is a relatively unassuming wristband-bound device that tracks how many steps you take and your movement while you sleep and syncs that data to a companion iPhone application using Bluetooth. The iPhone application shows you (approximately) how many steps you made each day, what (approximate) distance you walked, and (approximately) how many calories you’ve burned. In addition, the application allows you to log meals as well.
Typically when I begin using some kind of system that’s supposed to improve my life in some way but requires constant input from me, I use it for a while when I’m excited about it, until one day when something gets in the way (life) or I just forget, and from then on I forget to use it altogether. To do applications are the best example of this; to be useful, they require constant user input. As a result, once the user fails to enter a new task, the motivation to continue using it begins to disappear.
I assumed the Flex and meal logging would follow that same pattern—I would use it for a couple weeks because I’d still be excited about a new piece of technology, but once that newness wore off and once I forgot to log a day’s meals, I would stop paying attention to it. And then it would be another device in a drawer.
After nearly two months of use, though, I’m still using it. And not just using some of it, like step counts—I’m also using meal logging and sleep tracking as well.
I think that’s because the Flex provides a certain amount of information without any effort on my part. As long as I wear it, I can see how much I’ve moved around each day, and a (good enough) approximation of how many calories I’ve burned. That’s quite informative on its own. Actual data (over a fairly large period of time) makes it much more clear to myself that I need a sustained plan for getting in better shape, and crucially, it also is much more rewarding on days when I am quite active. Seeing how many miles I’ve moved, and feeling the pleasant little buzz the Flex makes when I cross my daily goal, is surprisingly powerful. It’s certainly more powerful than the vague sense I had before that I wasn’t active enough.
As a result of that “free” information, I have a large motivation to also log my meals, because doing so will show me my (rough) caloric input versus my (rough) caloric output. We all know that certain foods are very high in calories, carbohydrates and fats, but it’s an amazing thing when you can get a fairly good idea of how many calories you’ve already eaten for the day, how many you’ve burned, and what that piece of chocolate cake is going to do. Suddenly, there’s a higher internal cost to eating badly, because you can see it all laid out for you.
But interestingly, logging my meals—something I’ve gotten in the habit of doing for the above reasons—has had a more subtle effect, too: eating well consistently is much more satisfying than it otherwise would be. Each time I check in that I had fruit or vegetables rather than chips or french fries, it’s gratifying. It makes it a bit of an accomplishment. I didn’t expect that at all, but at least for me, there’s absolutely a feeling of accomplishment that results from consistently eating and logging healthier meals and snacks.
Because I now have immediately accessible information about how much I exercise and what I eat, it’s given me much more motivation to plan my meals and exercise, and to stick with it. Before, it was fairly easy to skip out on a day’s exercise (which turned into a few days, and then weeks…) or to shrug off a day of poor meal choices as a one-time fluke (even if it wasn’t), because I could. It’s much harder for me to do that, though, when the information is right in front of my face. That’s important.
What’s important, too, is that it hasn’t turned me into a calorie-counting, joyless automaton. It hasn’t turned eating into something that’s purely for providing energy and nutrients. I don’t always avoid large meals or dessert because it might bump me over my calorie target for the day. In fact, it’s been liberating, because it’s helped me impose a bit of discipline in my regular eating, so having an occasional large meal or a dessert doesn’t feel shameful at all—it’s something that I can enjoy without worrying that I’m eating terribly. I know I’m consistently eating well, so occasional indulgence won’t hurt.
Basil is a smart recipe book for your iPad, created by me.
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At Meridional Events we are fully aware of the problems Coronavirus is causing at all levels. It is a high priority matter for the whole world, and from which we believe that we will come out sooner by appealing to individual responsibility and following the recommendations of the experts.
That said, and after a post last week where we talked about working from home, this week we would like to contribute in a small way with regards to food and eating habits when working from home. The alteration of our eating routines influences our physical condition and mood, so its importance should not be overlooked.
Meridional Events has contacted one of the most prestigious nutritionists in the Basque Country, Beatriz Gete, to answer our doubts. Beatriz is the Director of Nutrición Erein, and is the key nutritionist for the BM supermarket chain (236 stores in Spain), amongst others.
Beatriz, what is the ideal shopping basket for spending a few days at home?
Our shopping basket in these circumstances should contain healthy products: fruits, vegetables, pulses, rice, pasta, natural or roasted nuts, white or red meat (from its leanest cuts), both oily and white fish, seafood, eggs, potatoes, preserves, milk or vegetable drinks, extra virgin olive oil, etc. It is important not to buy more quantity than necessary, especially if we are not going to be able to eat it – plus, the massive purchase implies eating more quantity than we need. If we have perishable food, we need to cook it and then freeze it.
What kind of foods we should not forget these days? What alternatives do we have if we don’t have them?
We should not forget about vitamins and minerals, those nutrients that we need daily and in small amounts. These nutrients are found in different foods, so introducing variety into our meals will be the key to keep a balanced diet.
What can we do with all that “not so healthy” food we have bought?
Once bought, the ideal would be to ration it. Banning a certain type of food only increases the desire to eat it. If something is forbidden, the desire to eat it increases. We then enter a vicious circle where we need more and more of that food to feel satisfied.
What tips can you give us not to put on weight when working from home?
Set a routine, especially if you have children. If we used to hit the gym after work, we should keep the same schedule and do a similar activity at home. We have endless options: tutorials, social networks, etc.
Keep us busy with activities that distract us; boredom can make us nibble more often.
And of course, plan meals and have a weekly menu. In this way, we avoid improvisation and by cooking right after breakfast, we will not be hungry and by lunchtime, we will not eat randomly the first available thing at the fridge.
What would be an ideal menu for a day of work at home?
Prioritise fruit consumption between meals. Vegetables with all meals, along with a portion of protein: meat (chicken, turkey, rabbit, beef), fish, egg or vegetable protein (soy, tofu, pulses) and another portion of cereals or tubers (rice, pasta, potato, bread). In short, follow Harvard’s healthy eating plate:
Image courtesy of Harvard Medical School
Because of being at home, I feel more tired. What can you recommend for us?
It is possible that we feel more tired if we work from home or we are self-employed – we could have the feeling we work for longer. Alternating activities can also help.
What could also happen is constipation, linked to less activity, more time sitting/lying down and poor fibre intake – the perfect combo! Hydrate yourself, get up every hour and walk in the hallway or at the terrace and when you use the toilet, raise your feet to form a 45º angle between your body and your legs.
To hydrate, remember to drink water, teas or infusions. Forget sugary drinks, commercial or natural juices.
What foods do you recommend to raise your spirits?
I stress again the importance of vitamins and minerals. Dark chocolate, cinnamon – we know a lot about these foods. However, a key player for our mood is vitamin D, better known as the sun vitamin. If we are at home, the sun exposure decreases and therefore its synthesis. If you have the opportunity, soak up the sun from your window or terrace.
Are there any other recommendations that you would like to give us?
Try to stay calm. Being nervous or hysterical affects psychologically and people use food as an escape route. Work out, drink water and keep a sleep routine.
When the quarantine days are over, you can stop by your GP and request a vitamin D test to see how these days have affected its levels.
Cook healthy and eye-catching meals. Bon appetit!
We thank Beatriz for her valuable advice that we hope you will put it into action. You can find her on her social media:
Meridional Events would like to send you courage and strength in these difficult times. Together, we will overcome everything.
The team at Meridional Events
1 Beatriz, what is the ideal shopping basket for spending a few days at home?
2 What can we do with all that “not so healthy” food we have bought?
3 What tips can you give us not to put on weight when working from home?
4 What would be an ideal menu for a day of work at home?
5 Because of being at home, I feel more tired. What can you recommend for us?
6 What foods do you recommend to raise your spirits?
7 Are there any other recommendations that you would like to give us?
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If anyone thinks that Angela Merkel can slap her chest and admit many mistakes in her policy towards Russia, Ukraine and Central and Eastern Europe, she may feel disappointed. Ukraine’s drama, the ‘dialogue’ between Berlin and Moscow, has been promoting it for many years, contributing to the reaction of some political class in our Western neighbors and gradually influencing the decisions of their authorities. However, Germany must break with the Kremlin more aggressively than before and take into account the interests of our part of Europe.
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The former German president has been cited several times in the comments of experts and politicians. After Russia invaded Ukraine.
However, Angela Merkel decided not to try to explain how it was possible to strengthen economic and political ties with Germany during her reign, with which they co-created North Stream 2, which they all provided. Admittedly, a heavy partner, but a partner, is not a threat – it has suddenly turned into a neo-fascist dictatorship whose leader threatens the world with nuclear disarmament and its soldiers commit unimaginable crimes against the “brotherly” Ukrainian nation.
How is that possible Madam Chancellor? After all, over the years, you have failed to control the enormous profits that Putin’s regime has made from the supply of energy to Europe, and you want to give him the opportunity to make more money.
You also thwarted the European aspirations of countries like Georgia and Ukraine – Thus pursuing the goals of the Kremlin.
Petrovich: Ukrainians are engaged in heavy fighting in the Donbass. After the German gunfire, there was no seed, no hearing
Germany again pledges to Ukraine to provide modern weapons that can greatly support its forces in the war with Russia. Not the first time …
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The appeals failed
How many times have the representatives of Poland, Ukraine or the Baltic states appealed to the authorities in Berlin to sever ties with the Kremlin, which is dangerous for the whole continent? How many times have they warned that the Kremlin will use NS2 politically?
It was during Merkel’s rule that Putin invaded Georgia, provoked the conflict in Donbass, continued for many years, annexed Crimea, and his soldiers tore through Syria – specializing in airstrikes on hospitals, schools and civilian buildings.
See also The rocket fell on Poland. What happened in Presevo? live
In addition, there were daily misinformation, hacker attacks, wiretaps, attempts to assassinate former agents outside Russia, the persecution of the opposition and all circles beyond the influence of the Kremlin campaign.
However, Merkel is not worried. Or maybe it’s a distraction, but it can not become the leader of the West opposing the criminal regime. instead of this She showered him with money and closed his eyes to see that he was breaking all the rules. Civil, human and international.
Scholes and Macron fear Russia’s defeat. They believe Putin will take “his” in Ukraine
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This is how the “conversation” with the Kremlin ends
The policy of “dialogue” with Moscow – the payment to the Mafia – turned out to be a complete failure. Today everyone is talking about this, including some German circles, attacking their breasts and admitting they did something wrong. Agrees even with Poland and other countries in Central and Eastern Europe that are correct – especially to take their numbers into account.
Six months after losing the parliamentary election to Olaf Scholz from the SPD, Angela Merkel has decided to step down. And – interestingly – when asked if German politics could be treated differently to prevent the outbreak of war, she said she “did not blame herself” for it. “We have failed to create a security framework that can prevent this situation,” he added.
He closed his eyes and closed his ears
What is this “security architecture” in the context of Russia? Perhaps even bigger bribery and sucking it at the expense of our region and, in general, the entire European defense.
If Germany thought it could “civilize” Putin through economic relations, it would be very wrong. Berlin not only closed its eyes but also closed its ears as the Russian dictator handled history. First, World War II spit on Poland, praising Stalin and the Soviet Union and accusing them of collaborating with Hitler.
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Putin has long spread a bad-sounding chauvinist, revisionist, anti-Western ideology that will eventually take the form of a “Ruthenian miracle”.“, Referring to the efforts of the rulers sitting in Moscow to collect all the” Ruthenian “lands that the Russians could understand.
Now Putin compares himself to Peter the Great – who celebrated his 350th birthday on Thursday – and acknowledges that Russia’s goal is to “reclaim” territory “on its own.”
When the conscience is asleep … the cause is asleep
Not all Germans noticed this. Thanks to Russian gas they will become an energy hub, not only improving the results of their economy, but also strengthening their position in Europe, their interests and dreams are important.
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Now Angela Merkel – when asked about the war in Ukraine – answers that I ask myself if this tragedy can be prevented.
But in five weeks in the Baltic Sea, she admitted, she read a lot and opened herself up to the world of audiobooks. Shakespeare’s works – she failed to read or listen to anyone who found the answer to this question.
Source standards
There have been many interesting analyzes like this – but most of them are very harsh against Merkel and Germany – which means that the former president who wants to escape politics does not want to examine them.
Apparently, she wants to live in ignorance or pretend to be surprised or amazed.
Merkel, of course, insists that she is not “innocent” in these relationships. Today she is not “naive” when she says it is in Germany’s interest to find a way to live with Russia. However, it did not go one step further and did not explain how to achieve this in the current context, when there was no indication that the Kremlin wanted to deviate from its criminal policy.
It is a pity that Russia has not asked her how to end this war, or if she wants to – as Olaf Scholes declared – Russia has not won it, or any other way. Poland – Ukraine must win.
Does Merkel understand today that with the military defeat in Ukraine, only the total collapse of the Russian government will bring about change?
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For now, he only declares that he will not be a mediator in this conflict, because, as he rightly points out, it will not be useful at this time because “there is not much to discuss”.
Angela Merkel’s first interview in six months has disappointed Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk, who said it was unfortunate that there was not even the slightest bit of self – criticism. In his opinion, “the former president’s statements about the wrongdoing of its attitude towards Russia and the very lax behavior of dictator Putin are worrying.”
– Without an honest, comprehensive assessment of Germany’s policy on Russia, it is not possible to make the right decisions about future relations with Moscow and stop its aggression – Andrij Melnyk stressed.
They make (partial) decisions
However, unlike Angela Merkel, Germany made no decision on Berlin’s current policy toward Moscow and Central and Eastern Europe. After the invasion, there were many voices heard among the party leaders, not to mention the most influential media or experts, who acknowledged that many mistakes had been made and that our area was right in this matter.
Although the actions of the Olaf Scholz government on Russia are still disappointing, we need to put more pressure on our Western neighbors to support Ukraine with greater commitment. Angela Merkel may declare she has no complaints, but If she’s heard this during Shakespeare’s vacation, let it be a warning to her – and to others who want to continue the “conversation” with Moscow or who are afraid to “insult” her. – The following quote from Macbeth.
“I thought I heard
A voice cries: “You will never sleep again!
The author is a journalist of Polish radio
Source:
#Germany
# War in Ukraine
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Come for the puzzles, stay for the gamemastering. If you’re looking for straightforward puzzle-play, know that The Saloon is just as much about interacting with your in-character gamemaster as it is about solving puzzles. Embrace the interaction to get the most out of this escape room.
If you’re in Austin and you like puzzle-focused escape rooms, but want to see a twist on that standard, head over to Georgetown for The Saloon.
Who is this for?
Players with at least some experience
Players who don’t need to be a part of every puzzle
People looking for an experience that’s quirky and cute
Why play?
While traveling along the Chisholm Trail, we had stopped in a local saloon for a drink. It turned out that we were visiting a dry county and the owner of the establishment had grown mighty lonely… so she had hired a local blacksmith to create a series of puzzles to ensnare patrons in the saloon and force them to keep her company.
The Saloon’s set was mostly wood, which gave it a unique look, even if nothing about the gamespace was particularly fancy. It was simple, effective, and on-theme without any bells or whistles.
Boomtown Escape Games’ The Saloon was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.
Core gameplay revolved around searching, puzzling, and interacting with the in-character gamemaster.
Our gamemaster was a character in our experience. She was phenomenal. Her energy made this experience more than just a collection of puzzles.
We loved the unique story and set up for this escape room.
The wooden saloon aesthetic worked well. The lock-focused gameplay made sense in the narrative. (Boomtown Escapes could replace the more modern locks with period-esque locks to sell the story.)
Some of the puzzle components were too small for the scale of the gamespace. Better integration of the puzzle’s components into the props would have been an improvement over the many small sheets of paper that held much of the game’s content.
The puzzles offered variety in type and difficulty. They were traditional in style, but still offered challenge.
One challenging puzzle seemed unsolvable without requesting a hint or substantial time for trial and error. We burned a lot of time before realizing that we didn’t have enough information.
The gameplay was level. The Saloon lacked a big reveal or otherwise memorable team moment.
The saloon owner was just a bit sneaky. We liked this about her. She made us think a little differently, in terms of escape room gameplay.
Boomtown Escape Games had some lobby mini escape games that were delightful. We played The Loot and truly enjoyed it.
There is street metered parking.
Boomtown Escape Games offers portable / lobby games. We enjoyed The Loot, a 15-minute add-on experience.
Embrace the in-character gamemastering to get the most out of your experience.
Book your hour with Boomtown Escape Games’ The Saloon, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.
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Children’s health and wellness has been a key issue for Junior Leagues since our founding in 1901. Today, a critical element of our ongoing commitment is teaching kids and their parents about the importance of eating healthy foods and involving them in the fight against childhood obesity. You can help!
Eat Healthy
The key to a healthy lifestyle is a healthy diet—and Kids in the Kitchen makes it fun for both kids and their parents.
Recipes here >
Get Involved
With Kids in the Kitchen programs operating in more than 200 communities, it’s easy to get involved.
Find an event >
You can make a big difference by making a donation—large or small—today to support Kids in the Kitchen.
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In the morning day before yesterday I still wasn’t feeling too great and I was still walking around the house in a mask, which may or may not have struck one or more members of my family as a little over-dramatic. In fact, it’s possible that one daughter may have implied that I was being a bit of a hypochondriac. Well, I showed her and tested positive a few hours later.
Of course I got my positive on my busy work day, but luckily I was able to get an earlier-than-usual start on my workload and I managed to push through until the early afternoon, when I took a pile of medicine and went to bed. Here’s a selection of my medicine:
So, first, yes, chocolate counts as medicine, and also, I managed to score some Paxlovid. Because I read Twitter with all the worst-case-scenario “40-year-old marathoner in ICU” and “I can’t walk up a flight of stairs and all my food has tasted like sewage for 2 years” tweets. However, I’d managed to miss any rumors about “Paxlovid rebound,” which is apparently a thing where after your 5-day course, you feel a little worse again and get more infectious and is supposed to be rare, and “Paxlovid mouth,” where your mouth tastes absolutely terrible. That’s supposed to happen in, like, 6% of cases, but I am extra lucky, because I’ve got it. It’s sort of like if you took a pill that you’re supposed to swallow and instead you crushed it up and dissolved it in water and then took a big mouthful of water and just kept that flavor in your mouth all the time. It is really pretty gross. I mentioned that my mouth tastes terrible, and daughter who didn’t voice suspicions about my hypochondria asked me, “Have you tried brushing your teeth?” Ummm…. yes!! Aren’t these daughters old enough to realize that I’m not stupid? Jeepers!
Brushing my teeth works for about the time it takes to brush my teeth + 30 seconds. Mouthwash works for as long as I’m swishing +30 seconds. The rest of the time it’s been gum and a lot of Jolly Ranchers. Cute W got me a package of the red flavors, and I’ve had one in my mouth more often than not for the last 48 hours or so. They are tasty and effective in dispelling the grossness, but they are not quite big enough. If it were possible, I would like to be wearing a retainer like this one in which all of that pink is a cherry Jolly Rancher. I do thank my lucky stars, at least, that Jolly Ranchers have evolved from a brick shape to a barrel shape, so there are fewer harsh corners to navigate. Cute W is a little worried that I’m going to choke on a candy in my sleep and die.
We’re going to try some fruit roll-ups next, I think.
Besides the yucky mouth, yes, I’ve got a headache and a sore throat and I’m tired, but this isn’t too terribly bad. It’s actually a little better now that I know I’m positive and I can just surrender to not doing very much, as opposed to when I was feeling bad and still trying to be a productive citizen.
Another gigantic school shooting. I don’t have anything new to say. I’ve written posts before, like from 2012 right after Newtown, from 2018 after M’s high school lockdown, and a little later fleeing a middle school lockdown with J and attending a parent meeting about the high school lockdown. And I know that at one point I wrote about the time I was driving a carpool and the girls were talking about the best hiding places at the school for if a shooter came, and they’d clearly all given it tons of thought, and it seemed pretty obvious that incidents or no, none of our kids are getting out unscathed. My search efforts for that post (“We’ve already failed” and “closet in art room” and “mental health crisis”) were close but not quite on target enough to find that one. It’s floating around here somewhere.
It is just generally frustrating that we have these big, terrible problems with obvious solutions that aren’t happening. There is one student activist from Parkland who’s been tweeting that they really think things are going to be different this time, that it “feels” different, and I’m like, “Oh, honey, I wish,” but I have very little faith right now. I just went to a rally in support of abortion rights and I had a big ol’ poster about the many ways in which we are failingchildren, and I didn’t even bother mentioning school shootings because that one is so incredibly obvious. I mean, any time you see a pro-choice rally there are multiple people proclaiming that if only each uterus were an AK-47, it would be free and unregulated.
Our kids are not okay. And it’s not just the kids who are actually murdered or injured or eyewitnesses to trauma. It is every child who sees that we don’t care enough about them to ensure that they are safe going to school and that they’ll have a habitable world to live in as adults.
And it just feels like so many things are so, so obvious and we keep not getting anything done. Not to mention that there are tons of people railing against everything that feels so obvious to me. I was at a grocery store recently and a guy in a pick up had a crazy collection of bumper stickers –at least 5 boob-oriented ones, and lots of support for guns and the former president, and a “no hablo f%$ckt@rD” bumpersticker, and I. . . I just don’t understand at all. How can people’s opinions feel so cartoonishly, outlandishly wrong to me and yet apparently they are sincere? If I had more energy I’d be calling politicians or planting native plants or doing something as a coping mechanism to make me feel like I’m adding another pebble to the side of the Good and Just side of the scale. But right now, I am sick, so I am listening to stupid romance audiobooks and sucking on Jolly Ranchers until I fall back asleep.
May 28, 2022 at 7:44 am
I’m glad you were able to get Paxlovid. I’ve read that the “Paxlovid rebound” occurred with placebo as well. Sorry about the aftertaste. That kind of thing drives me crazy.
I believe that the unborn are actual children. Being consistently pro-life, I also oppose the death penalty, believe in Covid precautions, believe in gun control, and that our government should have made the formula crisis a bigger priority much sooner.
Nana in Savannah
June 1, 2022 at 8:31 am
Good ole Jolly Ranchers! The news is totally depressing—thank God for a diversion of mindless novels. Sending big hugs from Savannah, which, unfortunately, is located in the stupid state.
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I’m Katie, and this is my personal blog about life with my two daughters, 19-year-old M and 17-year-old J; my husband, Cute W; and our cats, Ruth & Dave in Schenectady, NY. I’m also Communications Director at KidsOutAndAbout.com, where you can find fun local things to do.
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J. Leonard Harding, President of the Educational Resource Consultants of Ohio, Inc. brings 30 years of experience in education to ERCO. He holds a B.S. in Education from Miami University of Oxford OH, a Masters in Educational Administration from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio and received his superintendents license while enrolled as a doctoral candidate at the University of Cincinnati in the Urban Educational Leadership Program. Combining his background in education and business,
Mr. Harding brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to lead and direct the community leaders of which his organization sponsors. Mr. Harding's past relative experience has been as the Director of Education for Hamilton County Juvenile Court of Common Pleas, administration at Northwest Local School District and teacher with the Princeton City School District. Mr. Harding was an adjunct professor at Xavier University and the student teacher supervisor for the college of education at the Cincinnati branch of Mt Vernon University. He has received special recognition awards for "Excellence in Programming" from Xavier University and "Ohio Principals Mentoring Program" from the State of Ohio. Mr. Harding is the co-founder of Christ Tabernacle Ministries of Excellence, Inc. which is the parent group of the Educational Resource Consultants of Ohio, Inc.
Dr. Smith is a husband and father of two sons; his oldest son is
a graduate of Morehouse College and his youngest son is a student
at Howard University. He is a product of Cincinnati Public Schools.
After high school he entered Miami University on an athletic scholarship
where he received his BS degree in education. He continued his
education at Xavier University earning a Master Degree in Guidance
Counseling. As a result of encouragement from several of his mentors
he decided to pursue a doctoral degree in which he completed in
Educational leadership from Miami University.
His passion for learning and the sharing of knowledge has resulted
in a career as an educator for over 25 years. His belief in education
has guided his philosophy that all children have the right to receive
a quality education. He believes that excelling in school creates
opportunities for success; and high achievement generates possibilities
of choices. He surmises that the more academic exposures that an
will be accessible. He believes as educators it is our responsibility to
create such exposures that stimulate their minds for learning and to
remove any obstacles that prevents opportunities.
Dr. Joyner brings over 40 years of experience in curriculum and instruction, beginning her career as a teacher of students with disabilities and Reading Specialist in the public school system. She has held the positions: Supervisor of Curriculum and Learning, Director of Curriculum, and Assistant Superintendent/ Chief Academic Officer. In the position Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Joyner was responsible for directing Curriculum and Instruction; Early Childhood Education; Research, Evaluation and Assessment; Services to Students with Disabilities and English Language Learners; Federal Programs and Professional Development. Dr. Joyner has also collaborated with institutions of higher education, state and local agencies and private foundations to improve educational services for all students and families in the Cincinnati area. Dr. Terry. B. Joyner is also the President and CEO of Systems Solutions LLC, an educational consulting company that provides curriculum alignment, instructional management, program evaluation, coaching, data analysis and monitoring services to schools for improving student achievement. She provides professional development, technical assistance and administrative services to local school boards, community schools, sponsors and social service agencies. She received her degrees in Education from the University of Delaware (BSED 1977), University Of Maryland, College Park (M.ED, 1978), and Wilmington University, Delaware (Ed.D 1996). Dr. Joyner believes, “Schools control the conditions that lead to student success.” Quality teaching and instructions is the key to success.
John Taracko has been an educator for 45 years. He has taught or tutored students from grades 1-12 in regular, Title I and special education classrooms and home tutoring. In addition, he has served as a Principal for 20 years in special education schools, in juvenile correctional facilities, a residential treatment center and a community school. During his career, he was also a Special Education Supervisor for a school district and a Curriculum Coordinator and Post-secondary Coordinator for another district.
After his first retirement, he returned to education as a Consultant for the Ohio Department of Education in the Office of Community Schools. He later became a Consultant for the Office of Career Technical Education and eventually became the Liaison between the two Offices. In addition, he has served as a representative for two community school sponsors.
Mr. Taracko graduated with a BA in Psychology from Ohio University and later received a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Miami University of Ohio. He entered the Doctoral program at The Ohio State University in Education, Completing 40+ hours.
He is a very devoted husband, father to three sons, six grandchildren and one very recent and special great-granddaughter.
Nicole Scott currently serves as General Counsel for Phalen Leadership Academies (“PLA”) and joined the organization with over 10 years of experience as an attorney and leader in the education/school choice industry. In her role, Nicole manages the legal, compliance, human resources, and special education teams. Her duties include handling the business of PLA in a manner that supports senior leadership in mitigating legal risks; protecting the interests of PLA and its students in both external and internal legal matters; providing advice and counsel across teams to achieve ongoing compliance in support of PLA’s mission. Prior to joining PLA, Nicole served as Chief of Employee Solutions & Legal Affairs for KIPP: Los Angeles Schools. In this role, Nicole served as General Counsel and led the human resources department for all school sites operated by KIPP: Los Angeles. Nicole also managed the relationship between KIPP: Los Angeles and Los Angeles Unified School District, the organization’s authorizer. She was instrumental in getting a K-8 charter school approved through Compton Unified School District for KIPP as well.
Prior to joining the KIPP team, Nicole worked with the Inner City
Education Foundation as SVP of Talent and General Counsel where she was instrumental in getting the first charter middle school approved through Inglewood Unified School district. Before committing her career to education, Nicole was an associate at the leading law firm of Cochran, Cherry, Givens & Smith PLC in Los Angeles. She also has experience working for various entertainment companies including Sony Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, and the William Morris Agency. Nicole is a proud alumna of Spelman College and the UC Berkeley School of Law - Boalt Hall.
Fraunfelter Accounting Services formed in 2000 and since completed over 200 GAAP conversions, including over 55 CAFRs, filing over 100 non-for-profit tax reporting form package (990s), and financially forecasting/analysis for multiple local governments between Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus.
Mr. Fraunfelter also serves as the contract finance director at two transportation improvement districts, three port authorities and several community improvement corporations. Fraunfelter Accounting Services has served as the ERCO financial review specialist for our bi-monthly financial reporting process since July 2012. Her has adapted our review process to meet the needs of the Department of Education sponsor program through a six step process which now includes a monthly comparative review and up to two year historically trend analysis.
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We speak to GPS architect Dr Brad Parkinson about the story of GPS, and where it might take us in future.
By
Published: December 13, 2019 at 10:23 am
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The very first Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite launched in February 1978, marking a new era of navigation by giving users an accurate pinpoint of their location back on Earth.
Today, it would be hard to imagine life without GPS and its many applications, from farming and package delivery to helping smartphone users find their nearest restaurant.
The architects of the GPS system, Dr Brad Parkinson, Professor James Spilker Jr, Hugo FrueHauf and Richard Schwartz, are the winners of the 2019 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering.
We spoke to Dr Brad Parkinson, currently a professor at Stanford University, about the early development of GPS and where it might take us in the future.
Dr Brad Parkinson pictured at the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering 2019 award ceremony.
How did the idea for GPS come about?
Early on I ended up leading the group that architected, developed, built and tested GPS in its infancy.
During that time we had some very traumatic experiences, but the project came out pretty much the way we had suggested it would. There were a number of innovations and a lot of very creative engineers.
As time has progressed, GPS has really become a system that’s taken for granted by people, and I think that’s a testament to its reliability and accuracy.
There was a gentleman named Ivan Getting, who was head of the Aerospace Corporation, and who prodded the airforce into looking into a new type of navigation system using satellites.
There had been some predecessor systems but they didn’t have much capability, so a study was done and 12 alternatives were examined during 1964 - 1966.
As time progressed, the usual thing happened. Any funding of a demonstration was postponed, there were other competing ideas, and about that time I came on board and was asked to advocate and gain approval for a system.
There’s no chance of GPS ever being turned off because the world’s infrastructure is so heavily dependent on it.
My first try was a total failure! I went before the Pentagon board and they unanimously voted it down.
But I had a mentor and he said “Brad, you go back and try again.” He wanted me to redesign it, so I did.
I called a meeting a long way from Los Angeles, where I was stationed, and I recruited 10 of the brightest and best airforce engineers that I had ever seen.
And at the end of a long weekend we came up with a design, and that design is the one you see today.
It had a number of innovations, including a brand new type of signal, including the use of atomic clocks in space, and including the idea that if you listened to four satellites at the same time, the user could do precise navigation and would not require a very precise clock.
That’s important because if you want to make it affordable, you can’t carry around an atomic clock on your wrist.
A United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station carrying the second GPS III Magellan spacecraft to a medium earth orbit for the U.S. Air Force, 22 August 2019. Credit: Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images.
How did the launch of the Soviet Sputnik satellite, and indeed early US satellites, inform and inspire the launch of the first GPS satellites?
It’s interesting because Sputnik was launched in the autumn of 1957 and I was a fresh graduate of the US Naval Academy, so I can say I’m a child of the Space Age.
Throughout my personal career I taught space mechanics for the astronauts at the air academy and I’ve been an engineer on various space systems.
I would say that Sputnik was an eye-opener to the US. At the time of course it was deemed a defence threat, the idea that things were flying over head, and indeed there was some truth in that because the technology that launched it could also launch ICBMs (inter-continental ballistic missiles).
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So naturally the country geared up and we went into intense technology mode from 1957 on. We started putting up things that could look and listen, and activate various sensors in space.
But it wasn’t until the mid-1960s that the Navy conceived of a navigation system, and they called it Transit.
Transit was quite a nice development, but it was periodic and not very accurate. About once every 2 or 3 hours you could get a fix, but it was not 3-dimensional.
It assumed that you knew where you were and in this case the Navy generally was operating on the surface of the ocean so they had the third dimension without any trouble.
But as time went on, it became apparent that there ought to be a better way, and we were seeking something that was really accurate.
At that time, ‘really accurate’ was about 10 metres. A study was performed, 12 alternatives were outlined, and when I held that meeting after I had failed to get approval, we selected the hardest of those alternatives.
But it also gave the greatest benefit because we did not require an atomic clock in the user receiver, and we had already done a series of tests in the desert that showed such a system could get an accuracy of 10 metres, worldwide, 24/7, not just in 2 dimensions, but also in altitude.
With that sort of system, the benefits to both military and civilian were pretty obvious.
There’s usually a statement in the histories - and the wrong histories, I might add - that GPS was a military system and only much later did civilians use it. Not so.
From the very beginning I testified before Congress, before we launched the first satellite, that the system had a civilian component that was going to be freely available, and by that time I’d already published the signal specifications so people could actually build such a receiver.
Curiously enough, the first civilian receiver to lock up on a GPS signal was built by students in the United Kingdom, at the University of Leeds under a Professor Peter Daly, and they did that on about the first orbit after we turned on the signal.
This is an illustration of the fact that GPS, from the beginning, had been dual purpose, although we did not guarantee it to the world.
However, when KAL007 was shot down, President Reagan said we would guarantee it to the world, and provide at least a 10-year notice before we turn it off.
There’s no chance of it ever being turned off because the world’s infrastructure is so heavily dependent on it.
When we put the first GPS satellite up I did a series of candidate drawings that showed how it could be used for navigation in cars, with the voice and the display notifications.
That had never been done before, and it couldn’t be done affordably because the microchips required had not yet been produced. But my vision was that all that could happen.
However, it never occurred to me that you could use GPS to also position objects in space, near Earth. For example, the Space Station has GPS receivers on it.
Many of the boosters that put satellites in orbit today use GPS. That whole concept is called Space Service Volume, and this refers to the amount of space around Earth, but not on Earth, where GPS is generally available.
NASA has now found a way, instead of using the main lobe of our radio signal, to get into the very faint side lobes that have perhaps 1% power, and they can still navigate.
As a matter of fact, they can navigate all the way out to beyond GPS orbits, and they believe they can navigate all the way to the Moon using GPS.
If someone had asked me if that were possible, I’d have said “I don’t think so,” but it turns out brilliant engineers have indeed put together solutions and produced GPS receivers that you put on spacecraft and very inexpensively allow that spacecraft to autonomously know exactly where it is.
How do GPS satellites launch, and what is their Earth orbit like?
If you think about the fact that you don’t want to pay for too many satellites, obviously you put the satellites up as high as you can so they’re visible from lots of places.
Back in 1975 when we conceived of this system we had a very inexpensive launcher called an Atlas ICBM, and the reason those were so inexpensive was that in the process of various arms reduction negotiations, we had a bunch of surplus Atlases.
So the next question was, if we have that as the first stage, how high can you put a reasonable satellite?
We concluded that we could go up to what we call ‘semi-synchronous’, i.e. half of 24 hours: 12 hours. This is roughly 11,000 miles above Earth.
So all GPS satellites and all the lookalike systems are in roughly the same orbital region. There are a couple of exceptions. China has put a few up that are in a geo-synchronous orbit, which is a 24-hour period.
People are talking about putting up thousands of satellites. They may have a good purpose but to me they sure look like garbage!
The reason we’re in the altitude we are was pretty much constrained by the booster we had at the time. But it’s a little more complicated because you still need to ask yourself what inclination to the equator that orbital plane should be in, and whether the orbit should be circular or elliptical.
We discovered that the best answer was circular orbits at around 63° inclination.
The way we have been doing it in the US for some time is, nominally there are 6 orbital planes, uniformly spaced around Earth, and each has 4 uniformly distributed satellites in them, for a nominal total of 24.
We originally built the satellites to have a lifetime of about 3-5 years, but many of the older satellites have had 20-year lifetimes.
One of the things that astonishes me - and I’m very proud of the engineers who did it, one of whom is a winner of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering this year, Hugo Fruehauf - engineered a space clock that would last.
This is an atomic clock that is put in the upper Van Allen Belt, which humans would not survive unprotected due to the radiation. It is an extremely hot area.
And yet, our electronics and that particular design of atomic clock have survived for over 20 years in many cases.
Is there a danger of the accumulation of so-called space junk, especially if we’re looking to send humans back to the Moon and perhaps to Mars?
I think there’s a perception that somehow the satellites will eventually decay in their orbits and eventually crash down on Earth. At our altitudes that will take probably 100s of 1000s of years. It just wouldn’t happen without some intervention.
Once GPS satellites are retired, they are boosted up to a higher orbit, and they’re going to be there until we figure out some way to get them down.
That bothers me a lot. I liken it to somebody throwing all their junk into the back yard and hoping it will all rust away. These satellites will not rust away.
In terms of orbital debris, the real concern is the low Earth orbits. People are talking about putting up thousands of satellites. They may have a good purpose but to me they sure look like garbage!
There is an answer, however. We could reach an international agreement that we put nothing up at altitudes under 1,000 miles that does not have the capability to thrust and dig back into the atmosphere, come down and burn up.
It would require them having a reserve propulsion power, but not a lot, because all you need to do is change the eccentricity slightly and you can get the satellite down into a position where the orbit will rapidly decay.
I chaired the NASA Advisory Council for 6.5 years, and one of the pieces of advice that I gave was that we have to do something to get a hold on the orbital debris problem.
I do not worry about it particularly for GPS. There are relatively few satellites, and the ones that are used up are pushed into an orbit where it’s almost impossible for them to hit something, including an astronaut or anything else.
Space is vast, so we have that as an advantage. But if you look at the accumulation of debris in the orbits from about 100-300 miles, frankly it’s pretty scary.
You worry that a single collision could create a chain reaction. If it hits hard enough, other pieces could start a cascading effect much as a runaway nuclear reactor might do.
A computer-generated image of space debris orbiting Earth. Credit: NASA Orbital Debris Program Office, photo gallery
If we’re interested in creating permanent human settlements on the Moon or Mars, would it be possible to launch GPS satellites in orbit around those bodies?
It certainly is possible to replicate some sub-version of GPS around the Moon or Mars. If you were to do that, the need is presumably not continuous, it’s not the same as landing an aeroplane, necessarily.
You’d want to do it as inexpensively as you could and still meet whatever your particular needs are.
I would suggest they go back and look at the old Navy system, which could get by pretty much with a single satellite.
It won’t give you the accuracy but it would certainly pin things down to 1/10th of a mile. That might be the best way to do it.
But if you’re going to look to the future, to me the exciting part is the whole business of robotic vehicles, which is coming. We keep reading about it.
In the US, I can foresee long-haul trucks all being converted to un-humaned operation. We have demonstrated it already. The savings in productivity are enormous.
If you’ve ever gone on a long trip and actually had to drive for 10 or 12 hours, your mind has real problems.
But truck drivers do this day after day after day. Trucks are pretty safe: they do a pretty good job. Nonetheless, when they have accidents they’re usually spectacular.
We have the technology using GPS, road sensors, radars, vehicle to vehicle communications, to put in place fully robotic long haul trucking.
Another big thing that’s coming is the unmanned aerial system, UAS, which again requires highly reliable, robust, positioning navigation and time.
As these UASs become proliferated, you end up with a concern, which is how we are monitoring and controlling them, and what the safety implications are.
I think the sooner we come up with solutions for these problems, the better we’re all going to be.
But I think ultimately we’re becoming too dependent on GPS. The old-fashioned map is still alive and well, and I find that even myself, who relies on GPS to get from A to B in my car, I find that I lose what I used to do, which is landmark navigation.
I used to think “at the filling station you take a right, then you go down to the school and take a left and you’re there.”
I find I just don’t activate that any more. I think that’s wrong, and that we all should not give up on spatial awareness easily.
I do a lot of bareboating on the Caribbean and my kids laugh at me because I’m busy sighting on the land and watching the depth gauge, plotting my position on a chart, and they say “why are you doing all that?”
And I say “I’m not going to just rely on that GPS system!”
Iain Todd is BBC Sky at Night Magazine's Content Editor. He fell in love with the night sky when he caught his first glimpse of Orion, aged 10.
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BBC Sky At Night Magazine is published by Our Media Ltd (an Immediate Group Company) under licence from BBC Studios, which helps fund new BBC programmes.© Immediate Media Company Ltd. 2022
| 16,180 |
Get the answers you need to carry confidently from experienced attorneys who have an extensive knowledge of gun laws in the “Old Line State.” Written in simple English (not legalese!), Maryland Gun Law: Armed & Educated breaks down complex laws in a way that everyone can easily understand. Learn and protect your rights now with Maryland Gun Law: Armed & Educated from U.S. LawShield®.
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I just shot someone—what do I do?
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| 1,052 |
A few months ago, the Second Circuit considered the case of a catering company server who was fired for posting this comment about his supervisor on Facebook (profanity edited): Bob is such a NASTY MOTHER F[@%#*!] don’t know how to talk to people!!!!!! F[@%#*!] his...
NLRB General Counsel is an Ally to College Football Players Unionizing
by Josh Scharff | Feb 3, 2017 | Athletes' Unions, Labor Law, NLRB
NLRB General Counsel Richard Griffin formally concluded earlier this week that scholarship football players at private universities and colleges are employees under the National Labor Relations Act, with the rights and protections of that Act. In a General Counsel...
NLRB Says Graduate Student Assistants are Employees: Columbia University Reverses Brown University
by Josh Scharff | Aug 26, 2016 | Labor Law, NLRB, Union Organizing
On August 23, the National Labor Relations Board ruled that graduate students who work as teaching or research assistants at private universities are employees with the right to unionize and collectively bargain. Its decision in Columbia University changes the...
Recapping August 2015 at the NLRB
by Josh Scharff | Aug 31, 2015 | joint employer, Labor Law, Union Organizing
The National Labor Relations Board spent some time in the limelight this August after issuing decisions in two high-profile cases with major implications for labor rights across the country. In Browning-Ferris Industries of California, the Board broadened the...
Summer at the NLRB
by Josh Scharff | Aug 21, 2014 | joint employer, Labor Law, NLRB, Supreme Court
The National Labor Relations Board has been busy this summer making bold decisions that could have far-reaching implications. The NLRB’s most publicized action this summer occurred on July 29 when the Office of the General Counsel announced that it would treat...
Big News Out of College Sports – Northwestern Football Players Have Right to Organize
by Josh Scharff | Mar 26, 2014 | Labor Law, Union Organizing
As we previously reported, college football players at Northwestern University submitted a petition and signed union cards to the National Labor Relations Board in January seeking the right to collectively bargain over terms and conditions of employment. The...
by Josh Scharff | Jan 28, 2014 | Labor Law, Union Organizing
Northwestern Football Players Seek to Unionize There’s some interesting labor law news today from an unlikely source – college football players at Northwestern University. Tom Farrey of ESPN’s Outside the Lines first reported that members of the Northwestern football...
Is a New Roadblock to Union Organizing and Collective Bargaining Looming?
by Kaylee Davis | Nov 20, 2013 | Labor Law, Supreme Court, Union Organizing
Supreme Court Considers Neutrality Agreements in Unite Here v. Mulhall Unite Here Local 355 v. Mulhall, argued before the Supreme Court last Wednesday, presents the issue of whether neutrality agreements are, to some degree, prohibited by Section 302 of the National...
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A great number of people nowadays are beginning broadly to insinuate that there are no such things as ghosts, or spiritual beings visible to mortal sight. Even Sir Walter Scott is turned renegade, and, with his stories made up of half-and-half, like Nathaniel Gow’s toddy, is trying to throw cold water on the most certain, though most impalpable, phenomena of human nature. The bodies are daft. Heaven mend their wits! Before they had ventured to assert such things, I wish they had been where I have often been; or, in particular, where the Laird of Birkendelly was on St. Lawrence’s Eve, in the year 1777, and sundry times subsequent to that.
Be it known, then, to every reader of this relation of facts that happened in my own remembrance that the road from Birkendelly to the great muckle village of Balmawhapple (commonly called the muckle town, in opposition to the little town that stood on the other side of the burn)—that road, I say, lay between two thorn-hedges, so well kept by the Laird’s hedger, so close, and so high, that a rabbit could not have escaped from the highway into any of the adjoining fields. Along this road was the Laird riding on the Eve of St. Lawrence, in a careless, indifferent manner, with his hat to one side, and his cane dancing a hornpipe before him. He was, moreover, chanting a song to himself, and I have heard people tell what song it was too. There was once a certain, or rather uncertain, bard, Robert Burns, who made a number of good songs; but this that the Laird sang was an amorous song of great antiquity, which, like all the said bard’s best songs, was sung one hundred and fifty years before he was born. It began thus:
“I am the Laird of Windy-wa’s,
I cam nae here without a cause,
The night it is baith wind and weet;
The morn it will be snaw and sleet;
My shoon are frozen to my feet;
Let me in this ae night,” etc.
This song was the Laird singing, while, at the same time, he was smudging and laughing at the catastrophe, when, ere ever aware, he beheld, a short way before him, an uncommonly elegant and beautiful girl walking in the same direction with him. “Aye,” said the Laird to himself, “here is something very attractive indeed! Where the deuce can she have sprung from? She must have risen out of the earth, for I never saw her till this breath. Well, I declare I have not seen such a female figure—I wish I had such an assignation with her as the Laird of Windy-wa’s had with his sweetheart.”
As the Laird was half-thinking, half-speaking this to himself, the enchanting creature looked back at him with a motion of intelligence that she knew what he was half-saying, half-thinking, and then vanished over the summit of the rising ground before him, called the Birky Brow. “Aye, go your ways!” said the Laird; “I see by you, you’ll not be very hard to overtake. You cannot get off the road, and I’ll have a chat with you before you make the Deer’s Den.”
The Laird jogged on. He did not sing the Laird of Windy-wa’s any more, for he felt a stifling about his heart; but he often repeated to himself, “She’s a very fine woman!—a very fine woman indeed!—and to be walking here by herself! I cannot comprehend it.”
When he reached the summit of the Birky Brow he did not see her, although he had a longer view of the road than before. He thought this very singular, and began to suspect that she wanted to escape him, although apparently rather lingering on him before. “I shall have another look at her, however,” thought the Laird, and off he set at a flying trot. No. He came first to one turn, then another. There was nothing of the young lady to be seen. “Unless she take wings and fly away, I shall be up with her,” quoth the Laird, and off he set at the full gallop.
In the middle of his career he met with Mr. McMurdie, of Aulton, who hailed him with, “Hilloa, Birkendelly! Where the deuce are you flying at that rate?”
“I was riding after a woman,” said the Laird, with great simplicity, reining in his steed.
“Then I am sure no woman on earth can long escape you, unless she be in an air balloon.”
“I don’t know that. Is she far gone?”
“In which way do you mean?”
“In this.”
“What do you laugh at, my dear sir? Do you know her, then?”
“Ho-ho-ho! Hee-hee-hee! How should I, or how can I, know her, Birkendelly, unless you inform me who she is?”
“Why, that is the very thing I want to know of you. I mean the young lady whom you met just now.”
“You are raving, Birkendelly. I met no young lady, nor is there a single person on the road I have come by, while you know that for a mile and a half forward your way she could not get out of it.”
“I know that,” said the Laird, biting his lip and looking greatly puzzled; “but confound me if I understand this; for I was within speech of her just now on the top of the Birky Brow there, and, when I think of it, she could not have been even thus far as yet. She had on a pure white gauze frock, a small green bonnet and feathers, and a green veil, which, flung back over her left shoulder, hung below her waist, and was altogether such an engaging figure that no man could have passed her on the road without taking some note of her. Are you not making game of me? Did you not really meet with her?”
“On my word of truth and honor, I did not. Come, ride back with me, and we shall meet her still, depend on it. She has given you the go-by on the road. Let us go; I am only to call at the mill about some barley for the distillery, and will return with you to the big town.”
Birkendelly returned with his friend. The sun was not yet set, yet M’Murdie could not help observing that the Laird looked thoughtful and confused, and not a word could he speak about anything save this lovely apparition with the white frock and the green veil; and lo! when they reached the top of Birky Brow there was the maiden again before them, and exactly at the same spot where the Laird first saw her before, only walking in the contrary direction.
“Well, this is the most extraordinary thing that I ever knew!” exclaimed the Laird.
“What is it, sir?” said M’Murdie.
“How that young lady could have eluded me,” returned the Laird. “See, here she is still!”
“I beg your pardon, sir, I don’t see her. Where is she?”
“There, on the other side of the angle; but you are shortsighted. See, there she is ascending the other eminence in her white frock and green veil, as I told you. What a lovely creature!”
“Well, well, we have her fairly before us now, and shall see what she is like at all events,” said McMurdie.
Between the Birky Brow and this other slight eminence there is an obtuse angle of the road at the part where it is lowest, and, in passing this, the two friends necessarily lost sight of the object of their curiosity. They pushed on at a quick pace, cleared the low angle—the maiden was not there! They rode full speed to the top of the eminence from whence a long extent of road was visible before them—there was no human creature in view. McMurdie laughed aloud, but the Laird turned pale as death and bit his lip. His friend asked him good-humoredly why he was so much affected. He said, because he could not comprehend the meaning of this singular apparition or illusion, and it troubled him the more as he now remembered a dream of the same nature which he had, and which terminated in a dreadful manner.
“Why, man, you are dreaming still,” said McMurdie. “But never mind; it is quite common for men of your complexion to dream of beautiful maidens with white frocks, and green veils, bonnets, feathers, and slender waists. It is a lovely image, the creation of your own sanguine imagination, and you may worship it without any blame. Were her shoes black or green? And her stockings—did you note them? The symmetry of the limbs, I am sure you did! Good-bye; I see you are not disposed to leave the spot. Perhaps she will appear to you again.”
So saying, McMurdie rode on toward the mill, and Birkendelly, after musing for some time, turned his beast’s head slowly round, and began to move toward the great muckle village.
The Laird’s feelings were now in terrible commotion. He was taken beyond measure with the beauty and elegance of the figure he had seen, but he remembered, with a mixture of admiration and horror, that a dream of the same enchanting object had haunted his slumbers all the days of his life; yet, how singular that he should never have recollected the circumstance till now! But farther, with the dream there were connected some painful circumstances which, though terrible in their issue, he could not recollect so as to form them into any degree of arrangement.
As he was considering deeply of these things and riding slowly down the declivity, neither dancing his cane nor singing the Laird of Windy-wa’s, he lifted up his eyes, and there was the girl on the same spot where he saw her first, walking deliberately up the Birky Brow. The sun was down, but it was the month of August and a fine evening, and the Laird, seized with an unconquerable desire to see and speak with that incomparable creature, could restrain himself no longer, but shouted out to her to stop till he came up. She beckoned acquiescence, and slackened her pace into a slow movement. The Laird turned the corner quickly, but when he had rounded it the maiden was still there, though on the summit of the brow. She turned round, and, with an ineffable smile and curtsy, saluted him, and again moved slowly on. She vanished gradually beyond the summit, and while the green feathers were still nodding in view, and so nigh that the Laird could have touched them with a fishing-rod, he reached the top of the brow himself. There was no living soul there, nor onward, as far as his view reached. He now trembled in every limb, and, without knowing what he did, rode straight on to the big town, not daring well to return and see what he had seen for three several times; and certain he would see it again when the shades of evening were deepening, he deemed it proper and prudent to decline the pursuit of such a phantom any farther.
He alighted at the Queen’s Head, called for some brandy and water, quite forgot what was his errand to the great muckle town that afternoon, there being nothing visible to his mental sight but lovely images, with white gauze frocks and green veils. His friend M’Murdie joined him; they drank deep, bantered, reasoned, got angry, reasoned themselves calm again, and still all would not do. The Laird was conscious that he had seen the beautiful apparition, and, moreover, that she was the very maiden, or the resemblance of her, who, in the irrevocable decrees of Providence, was destined to be his. It was in vain that M’Murdie reasoned of impressions on the imagination, and
“Of fancy moulding in the mind,
Light visions on the passing wind.”
Vain also was a story that he told him of a relation of his own, who was greatly harassed by the apparition of an officer in a red uniform that haunted him day and night, and had very nigh put him quite distracted several times, till at length his physician found out the nature of this illusion so well that he knew, from the state of his pulse, to an hour when the ghost of the officer would appear, and by bleeding, low diet, and emollients contrived to keep the apparition away altogether.
The Laird admitted the singularity of this incident, but not that it was one in point; for the one, he said, was imaginary, the other real, and that no conclusions could convince him in opposition to the authority of his own senses. He accepted of an invitation to spend a few days with M’Murdie and his family, but they all acknowledged afterward that the Laird was very much like one bewitched.
As soon as he reached home he went straight to the Birky Brow, certain of seeing once more the angelic phantom, but she was not there. He took each of his former positions again and again, but the desired vision would in no wise make its appearance. He tried every day and every hour of the day, all with the same effect, till he grew absolutely desperate, and had the audacity to kneel on the spot and entreat of Heaven to see her. Yes, he called on Heaven to see her once more, whatever she was, whether a being of earth, heaven, or hell.
He was now in such a state of excitement that he could not exist; he grew listless, impatient, and sickly, took to his bed, and sent for M’Murdie and the doctor; and the issue of the consultation was that Birkendelly consented to leave the country for a season, on a visit to his only sister in Ireland, whither we must accompany him for a short space.
His sister was married to Captain Bryan, younger, of Scoresby, and they two lived in a cottage on the estate, and the Captain’s parents and sisters at Scoresby Hall. Great was the stir and preparation when the gallant young Laird of Birkendelly arrived at the cottage, it never being doubted that he came to forward a second bond of connection with the family, which still contained seven dashing sisters, all unmarried, and all alike willing to change that solitary and helpless state for the envied one of matrimony—a state highly popular among the young women of Ireland. Some of the Misses Bryan had now reached the years of womanhood, several of them scarcely, but these small disqualifications made no difference in the estimation of the young ladies themselves; each and all of them brushed up for the competition with high hopes and unflinching resolutions. True, the elder ones tried to check the younger in their good-natured, forthright Irish way; but they retorted, and persisted in their superior pretensions. Then there was such shopping in the county town! It was so boundless that the credit of the Hall was finally exhausted, and the old Squire was driven to remark that “Och, and to be sure it was a dreadful and tirrabell concussion, to be put upon the equipment of seven daughters all at the same moment, as if the young gentleman could marry them all! Och, then, poor dear shoul, he would be after finding that one was sufficient, if not one too many. And therefore there was no occasion, none at all, at all, and that there was not, for any of them to rig out more than one.”
It was hinted that the Laird had some reason for complaint at this time, but as the lady sided with her daughters, he had no chance. One of the items of his account was thirty-seven buckling-combs, then greatly in vogue. There were black combs, pale combs, yellow combs, and gilt ones, all to suit or set off various complexions; and if other articles bore any proportion at all to these, it had been better for the Laird and all his family that Birkendelly had never set foot in Ireland.
The plan was all concocted. There was to be a grand dinner at the Hall, at which the damsels were to appear in all their finery. A ball to follow, and note be taken which of the young ladies was their guest’s choice, and measures taken accordingly. The dinner and the ball took place; and what a pity I may not describe that entertainment, the dresses, and the dancers, for they were all exquisite in their way, and outré beyond measure. But such details only serve to derange a winter evening’s tale such as this.
Birkendelly having at this time but one model for his choice among womankind, all that ever he did while in the presence of ladies was to look out for some resemblance to her, the angel of his fancy; and it so happened that in one of old Bryan’s daughters named Luna, or, more familiarly, Loony, he perceived, or thought he perceived, some imaginary similarity in form and air to the lovely apparition. This was the sole reason why he was incapable of taking his eyes off from her the whole of that night; and this incident settled the point, not only with the old people, but even the young ladies were forced, after every exertion on their own parts, to “yild the p’int to their sister Loony, who certainly was not the mist genteelest nor mist handsomest of that guid-lucking fimily.”
The next day Lady Luna was dispatched off to the cottage in grand style, there to live hand in glove with her supposed lover. There was no standing all this. There were the two parrocked together, like a ewe and a lamb, early and late; and though the Laird really appeared to have, and probably had, some delight in her company, it was only in contemplating that certain indefinable air of resemblance which she bore to the sole image impressed on his heart. He bought her a white gauze frock, a green bonnet and feather, with a veil, which she was obliged to wear thrown over her left shoulder, and every day after, six times a day, was she obliged to walk over a certain eminence at a certain distance before her lover. She was delighted to oblige him; but still, when he came up, he looked disappointed, and never said, “Luna, I love you; when are we to be married?” No, he never said any such thing, for all her looks and expressions of fondest love; for, alas! in all this dalliance he was only feeding a mysterious flame that preyed upon his vitals, and proved too severe for the powers either of reason or religion to extinguish. Still, time flew lighter and lighter by, his health was restored, the bloom of his cheek returned, and the frank and simple confidence of Luna had a certain charm with it that reconciled him to his sister’s Irish economy. But a strange incident now happened to him which deranged all his immediate plans.
He was returning from angling one evening, a little before sunset, when he saw Lady Luna awaiting him on his way home. But instead of brushing up to meet him as usual, she turned, and walked up the rising ground before him. “Poor sweet girl! how condescending she is,” said he to himself, “and how like she is in reality to the angelic being whose form and features are so deeply impressed on my heart! I now see it is no fond or fancied resemblance. It is real! real! real! How I long to clasp her in my arms, and tell her how I love her; for, after all, that is the girl that is to be mine, and the former a vision to impress this the more on my heart.”
He posted up the ascent to overtake her. When at the top she turned, smiled, and curtsied. Good heavens! it was the identical lady of his fondest adoration herself, but lovelier, far lovelier, than ever. He expected every moment that she would vanish, as was her wont; but she did not—she awaited him, and received his embraces with open arms. She was a being of real flesh and blood, courteous, elegant, and affectionate. He kissed her hand, he kissed her glowing cheek, and blessed all the powers of love who had thus restored her to him again, after undergoing pangs of love such as man never suffered.
“But, dearest heart, here we are standing in the middle of the highway,” said he; “suffer me to conduct you to my sister’s house, where you shall have an apartment with a child of nature having some slight resemblance to yourself.” She smiled, and said, “No, I will not sleep with Lady Luna to-night. Will you please to look round you, and see where you are.” He did so, and behold they were standing on the Birky Brow, on the only spot where he had ever seen her. She smiled at his embarrassed look, and asked if he did not remember aught of his coming over from Ireland. He said he thought he did remember something of it, but love with him had long absorbed every other sense. He then asked her to his own house, which she declined, saying she could only meet him on that spot till after their marriage, which could not be before St. Lawrence’s Eve come three years. “And now,” said she, “we must part. My name is Jane Ogilvie, and you were betrothed to me before you were born. But I am come to release you this evening, if you have the slightest objection.”
He declared he had none; and kneeling, swore the most solemn oath to be hers forever, and to meet her there on St. Lawrence’s Eve next, and every St. Lawrence’s Eve until that blessed day on which she had consented to make him happy by becoming his own forever. She then asked him affectionately to change rings with her, in pledge of their faith and troth, in which he joyfully acquiesced; for she could not have then asked any conditions which, in the fulness of his heart’s love, he would not have granted; and after one fond and affectionate kiss, and repeating all their engagements over again, they parted.
Birkendelly’s heart was now melted within him, and all his senses overpowered by one overwhelming passion. On leaving his fair and kind one, he got bewildered, and could not find the road to his own house, believing sometimes that he was going there, and sometimes to his sister’s, till at length he came, as he thought, upon the Liffey, at its junction with Loch Allan; and there, in attempting to call for a boat, he awoke from a profound sleep, and found himself lying in his bed within his sister’s house, and the day sky just breaking.
If he was puzzled to account for some things in the course of his dream, he was much more puzzled to account for them now that he was wide awake. He was sensible that he had met his love, had embraced, kissed, and exchanged vows and rings with her, and, in token of the truth and reality of all these, her emerald ring was on his finger, and his own away; so there was no doubt that they had met—by what means it was beyond the power of man to calculate.
There was then living with Mrs. Bryan an old Scotswoman, commonly styled Lucky Black. She had nursed Birkendelly’s mother, and been dry-nurse to himself and sister; and having more than a mother’s attachment for the latter, when she was married, old Lucky left her country to spend the last of her days in the house of her beloved young lady. When the Laird entered the breakfast-parlor that morning she was sitting in her black velvet hood, as usual, reading The Fourfold State of Man, and, being paralytic and somewhat deaf, she seldom regarded those who went or came. But chancing to hear him say something about the 9th of August, she quitted reading, turned round her head to listen, and then asked, in a hoarse, tremulous voice: “What’s that he’s saying? What’s the unlucky callant saying about the 9th of August? Aih? To be sure it is St. Lawrence’s Eve, although the 10th be his day. It’s ower true, ower true, ower true for him an’ a’ his kin, poor man! Aih? What was he saying then?”
The men smiled at her incoherent earnestness, but the lady, with true feminine condescension, informed her, in a loud voice, that Allan had an engagement in Scotland on St. Lawrence’s Eve. She then started up, extended her shrivelled hands, that shook like the aspen, and panted out: “Aih, aih? Lord preserve us! Whaten an engagement has he on St. Lawrence’s Eve? Bind him! bind him! Shackle him wi’ bands of steel, and of brass, and of iron! O may He whose blessed will was pleased to leave him an orphan sae soon, preserve him from the fate which I tremble to think on!”
She then tottered round the table, as with supernatural energy, and seizing the Laird’s right hand, she drew it close to her unstable eyes, and then perceiving the emerald ring chased in blood, she threw up her arms with a jerk, opened her skinny jaws with a fearful gape, and uttering a shriek that made all the house yell, and every one within it to tremble, she fell back lifeless and rigid on the floor. The gentlemen both fled, out of sheer terror; but a woman never deserts her friends in extremity. The lady called her maids about her, had her old nurse conveyed to bed, where every means were used to restore animation. But, alas, life was extinct! The vital spark had fled forever, which filled all their hearts with grief, disappointment, and horror, as some dreadful tale of mystery was now sealed up from their knowledge which, in all likelihood, no other could reveal. But to say the truth, the Laird did not seem greatly disposed to probe it to the bottom.
Not all the arguments of Captain Bryan and his lady, nor the simple entreaties of Lady Luna, could induce Birkendelly to put off his engagement to meet his love on the Birky Brow on the evening of the 9th of August; but he promised soon to return, pretending that some business of the utmost importance called him away. Before he went, however, he asked his sister if ever she had heard of such a lady in Scotland as Jane Ogilvie. Mrs. Bryan repeated the name many times to herself, and said that name undoubtedly was once familiar to her, although she thought not for good, but at that moment she did not recollect one single individual of the name. He then showed her the emerald ring that had been the death of Lucky Black; but the moment the lady looked at it, she made a grasp at it to take it off by force, which she had very nearly effected. “Oh, burn it! burn it!” cried she; “it is not a right ring! Burn it!”
“My dear sister, what fault is in the ring?” said he. “It is a very pretty ring, and one that I set great value by.”
“Oh, for Heaven’s sake, burn it, and renounce the giver!” cried she. “If you have any regard for your peace here or your soul’s welfare hereafter, burn that ring! If you saw with your own eyes, you would easily perceive that that is not a ring befitting a Christian to wear.”
This speech confounded Birkendelly a good deal. He retired by himself and examined the ring, and could see nothing in it unbecoming a Christian to wear. It was a chased gold ring, with a bright emerald, which last had a red foil, in some lights giving it a purple gleam, and inside was engraven “Elegit,” much defaced, but that his sister could not see; therefore he could not comprehend her vehement injunctions concerning it. But that it might no more give her offence, or any other, he sewed it within his vest, opposite his heart, judging that there was something in it which his eyes were withholden from discerning.
Thus he left Ireland with his mind in great confusion, groping his way, as it were, in a hole of mystery, yet with the passion that preyed on his heart and vitals more intense than ever. He seems to have had an impression all his life that some mysterious fate awaited him, which the correspondence of his dreams and day visions tended to confirm. And though he gave himself wholly up to the sway of one overpowering passion, it was not without some yearnings of soul, manifestations of terror, and so much earthly shame, that he never more mentioned his love, or his engagements, to any human being, not even to his friend M’Murdie, whose company he forthwith shunned.
It is on this account that I am unable to relate what passed between the lovers thenceforward. It is certain they met at the Birky Brow that St. Lawrence’s Eve, for they were seen in company together; but of the engagements, vows, or dalliance that passed between them I can say nothing; nor of all their future meetings, until the beginning of August, 1781, when the Laird began decidedly to make preparations for his approaching marriage; yet not as if he and his betrothed had been to reside at Birkendelly, all his provisions rather bespeaking a meditated journey.
On the morning of the 9th he wrote to his sister, and then arraying himself in his new wedding suit, and putting the emerald ring on his finger, he appeared all impatience, until toward evening, when he sallied out on horseback to his appointment. It seems that his mysterious inamorata had met him, for he was seen riding through the big town before sunset, with a young lady behind him, dressed in white and green, and the villagers affirmed that they were riding at the rate of fifty miles an hour! They were seen to pass a cottage called Mosskilt, ten miles farther on, where there was no highway, at the same tremendous speed; and I could never hear that they were any more seen, until the following morning, when Birkendelly’s fine bay horse was found lying dead at his own stable door; and shortly after his master was likewise discovered lying, a blackened corpse, on the Birky Brow at the very spot where the mysterious but lovely dame had always appeared to him. There was neither wound, bruise, nor dislocation in his whole frame; but his skin was of a livid color, and his features terribly distorted.
This woful catastrophe struck the neighborhood with great consternation, so that nothing else was talked of. Every ancient tradition and modern incident were raked together, compared, and combined; and certainly a most rare concatenation of misfortunes was elicited. It was authenticated that his father had died on the same spot that day twenty years, and his grandfather that day forty years, the former, as was supposed, by a fall from his horse when in liquor, and the latter, nobody knew how; and now this Allan was the last of his race, for Mrs. Bryan had no children.
It was, moreover, now remembered by many, and among the rest by the Rev. Joseph Taylor, that he had frequently observed a young lady, in white and green, sauntering about the spot on a St. Lawrence’s Eve.
When Captain Bryan and his lady arrived to take possession of the premises, they instituted a strict inquiry into every circumstance; but nothing further than what was related to them by Mr. M’Murdie could be learned of this Mysterious Bride, besides what the Laird’s own letter bore. It ran thus:
I shall before this time to-morrow be the most happy, or most miserable, of mankind, having solemnly engaged myself this night to wed a young and beautiful lady, named Jane Ogilvie, to whom it seems I was betrothed before I was born. Our correspondence has been of a most private and mysterious nature; but my troth is pledged, and my resolution fixed. We set out on a far journey to the place of her abode on the nuptial eve, so that it will be long before I see you again. Yours till death,
“BIRKENDELLY, August 8, 1781.”
That very same year, an old woman, named Marion Haw, was returned upon that, her native parish, from Glasgow. She had led a migratory life with her son—who was what he called a bell-hanger, but in fact a tinker of the worst grade—for many years, and was at last returned to the muckle town in a state of great destitution. She gave the parishioners a history of the Mysterious Bride, so plausibly correct, but withal so romantic, that everybody said of it (as is often said of my narratives, with the same narrow-minded prejudice and injustice) that it was a made story. There were, however, some strong testimonies of its veracity.
She said the first Allan Sandison, who married the great heiress of Birkendelly, was previously engaged to a beautiful young lady named Jane Ogilvie, to whom he gave anything but fair play; and, as she believed, either murdered her, or caused her to be murdered, in the midst of a thicket of birch and broom, at a spot which she mentioned; and she had good reason for believing so, as she had seen the red blood and the new grave, when she was a little girl, and ran home and mentioned it to her grandfather, who charged her as she valued her life never to mention that again, as it was only the nombles and hide of a deer which he himself had buried there. But when, twenty years subsequent to that, the wicked and unhappy Allan Sandison was found dead on that very spot, and lying across the green mound, then nearly level with the surface, which she had once seen a new grave, she then for the first time ever thought of a Divine Providence; and she added, “For my grandfather, Neddy Haw, he dee’d too; there’s naebody kens how, nor ever shall.”
As they were quite incapable of conceiving from Marion’s description anything of the spot, Mr. M’Murdie caused her to be taken out to the Birky Brow in a cart, accompanied by Mr. Taylor and some hundreds of the town’s folks; but whenever she saw it, she said, “Aha, birkies! the haill kintra’s altered now. There was nae road here then; it gaed straight ower the tap o’ the hill. An’ let me see—there’s the thorn where the cushats biggit; an’ there’s the auld birk that I ance fell aff an’ left my shoe sticking i’ the cleft. I can tell ye, birkies, either the deer’s grave or bonny Jane Ogilvie’s is no twa yards aff the place where that horse’s hind-feet are standin’; sae ye may howk, an’ see if there be ony remains.”
The minister and M’Murdie and all the people stared at one another, for they had purposely caused the horse to stand still on the very spot where both the father and son had been found dead. They digged, and deep, deep below the road they found part of the slender bones and skull of a young female, which they deposited decently in the church-yard. The family of the Sandisons is extinct, the Mysterious Bride appears no more on the Eve of St. Lawrence, and the wicked people of the great muckle village have got a lesson on divine justice written to them in lines of blood.
Related posts:
Julia Bride by Henry James
The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky by Stephen Crane
The Cold Within by James Patrick Kinney
A Nest-Egg by James Whitcomb Riley
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Well, I got on the scales today at the doctor’s office (twice in fact because when we compared what I weighed the last time I was there, we thought we read the scale wrong), and I’m down to 238. So, that means, another huge chunk is GONE for good. I also had to buy smaller size bras today because my other ones were to big, and guess what I got to go down TWO sizes!! It feels so utterly good to be able to say I’m making progress even with Zeva out of me!! I am feeling great and loving the improvements. I ALREADY have more energy and am more flexible. I can’t wait to see how it’s going to be to be my ideal weight and have the family that I’ve always wanted. Plus I can buy cute clothes that I would love to have now!! I can’t wait to be able to pick out an outfit without worrying about falling in love with it from a distance only to find out they don’t have it in my size. Plus I will be more confident as a person as a whole. I’m NOT trying to lose this much weight at one time, but I’m being more than blessed by it happening on its own. I knew I was losing weight, but I didn’t think that much had come off. I’m bouncing off the walls with excitement over it. I already feel sexier for my husband.
My screws in my ankle are set at the weight of 235 pounds, and I am actually able to walk so much better now too. I don’t feel pain nor do I have to concentrate on how I’m walking anymore. It actually feels like it’s happening naturally again. It’s so amazing how the body works!!
My youngest son and I get to have a “Vampire Diaries” date tonight. He loves that show as much as I do. So, it’s popcorn and Pepsi night for just him and I tonight. He gave up having a night at his Memma’s to have that with me. Of course, he is going there tomorrow night, but he choose me tonight. He’s truly my Momma’s boy and I LOVE it.
My oldest son got all his school work done for the week yesterday, and he did remarkably well on it. He would rather have a LONG day of school work from sun up to sun down and have extra days off than be forced to do a little bit of school work each day. He does way better grades wise and attitude wise when we do it that way. Plus it is way easier on everyone’s schedules when we’re able to do his school work 2-3 days a week verses 4-5 days. That’s one of the reasons why I love him being homeschooled because he can learn his material in a way that works for him!! He’s extremely smart and loves to learn, and I don’t ever want him to lose that. He was starting to do it in the school setting because he was losing interest and being held back from his potential. I’m just praying that we can continue to do this for his sake until he graduates from school.
I just wonder how it’s going to work with my youngest son and daughter. My youngest son is a social beaver like me and thrives on interacting with others and being put in challenging situations. I may hide in the background a lot in large crowds, but it doesn’t mean I don’t observe others and it definitely doesn’t mean that their actions don’t push me to do better.
Zeva is growing like crazy. It amazes me how quickly they grow up. She is the opposite of her brother and has to have name brand diapers. Let me tell you, so far, I’m a huge Huggies fan. I love their clear indicator that she needs changed, and how SOFT their diapers are. Pampers is running a close second, but Huggies feels more like real clothes. If they made Pink demin diapers for Zeva, I do declare Del would have her wearing them. He loves her being in girly colors!!! Of course, I have to admit I do too. I love having a little girl again. I always thought I was only made to be the mother of a boy because there wasn’t many feminine things about me. Of course, Del makes me want to be more feminine though, so that plays a huge toll in too.
Oh yea, if you get the chance to read the book “Lethal” by Sandra Brown, I’m only in Chapter 8 of the book, but it has been a good read. If I had more time, I do declare, I’d be farther along with it. As it stands now, every spare second I get I’m reading it. It’s full of suspense so far. The author has done a great job of making me feel like I’m a fly on the wall in the scenario instead of just reading it, and when an author can do that, to me that’s a great book!!!
Well, I hope this finds you doing well.
in
I'm Crystal. I'm married to Dale, and mother to Johnny. Some might say that my life is perfect because I get to do all the cliché wife things like cooking, cleaning, and decorating - but there's more! I also have many hobbies including needlework (crochet), sewing, and reading. My son's education is important, so we homeschool him together.
The Baby Honeymoon Stage is Over
Let me say just how pleased we are to have you come visit our little bit of the big world! It's our mission to "share our experiences, so you can make the most of yours." We have plenty of lessons we've learned along the way that we feel can help you make your life better.
We have plenty of life lessons that we’ve learned throughout our lives that we feel can help you make your life better.
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Nine years ago this month, residents of the small Syrian town of Douma were in full rebellion against the regime of President Bashar Assad. Throughout the preceding year, Assad had watched as popular protests ousted dictators in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, and demonstrations spread to Bahrain, Algeria, Yemen. Now pro-democracy dissent had ignited across his country — including in Douma, just five miles from the capital Damascus.
The regime stationed checkpoints on Douma's access roads. Syrian military patrolled the town. As a reporter covering the Arab Spring, I watched as men clustered one Friday at the doorway of a mosque in Douma, gathering their courage. Every few seconds, three or four of them ran across the avenue, shouting "Freedom!" or "Down, down, down with the regime!" as bullets cracked around them.
They dived down a side alley where a crowd was cheering them, just out of range of the regime snipers positioned on Douma's rooftops. Some residents left the doors of their homes ajar, offering protesters shelter. Others whispered warnings to each other about "dogs" — a reference to the military.
The activists who brought me to Douma — three university graduates in their 20s — secretly filmed the town's protests for broadcast by Al Jazeera and other foreign television networks. They worked in a safe house, sleeping on foam mattresses in a single room with one tiny window. Like everyone I met participating in Douma's rebellion, they knew their work could get them detained, tortured or disappeared. The risks were worth it, they believed, because this was the start of a better future.
That future did not materialize.
In Douma and elsewhere in Syria, the regime fought back with unbridled brutality. Loyalists beat and raped protesters. Soldiers and police shot them dead. In some hospitals, patients suspected of opposing the government were tortured. The military shelled entire towns. The uprising turned into a civil war that continues to this day.
"This is a massacre," Yahya, an activist who'd brought me to Douma, emailed me in July 2012, as tank fire bombarded the town. "I'm barely surviving."
Yahya and I decided he should only ever give me his first name so that if the Syrian regime ever detained me, I wouldn't be able to reveal his identity.
That October, he told me seven members of his family had been killed in a single airstrike. It was the last time I heard from him. Another Douma resident told me years later he believed Yahya had been arrested and died in a government prison.
People shout slogans in solidarity with residents of Sidi Bouzid during a demonstration on Dec. 27, 2010, in Tunis. The Arab Spring began that month in Tunisia, following the self-immolation of a Sidi Bouzid street vendor. Riots and demonstrations followed against unemployment and poor living conditions.
The war in Syria, which has now claimed some 500,000 lives and displaced millions, represents the worst of how the Arab Spring unfolded. Across the region, the hopes from that time have been mostly dashed. Yemen and Libya are in the grips of civil war. Egypt, after a brief period under an elected president, is once again ruled by a strongman in charge of a regime perhaps even more autocratic than that of Hosni Mubarak, the longtime dictator ousted in 2011.
Of the various revolutions that took place, only in Tunisia — where the Arab Spring began with a street vendor's self-immolation in December 2010 — has democracy endured. But the Arab Spring did bring some changes, and across the region, people are trying to keep its ideals alive.
AP
Lina Attalah, editor-in-chief of Mada Masr, participates in a panel discussion at a cultural center in Cairo in 2017. Mada Masr has continued publishing even though its offices have been raided and its website temporarily blocked. This year, Attalah says she was briefly jailed for reporting on the spread of COVID-19 in Egyptian prisons.
In Egypt, journalist Lina Attalah cofounded a new, independent newspaper in 2013, as the country's military ousted the democratically elected president, Mohammed Morsi.
The paper, Mada Masr, "was basically born at a time when we could tell that there would be such a retreat in civil and political rights, and be deterioration in socioeconomic conditions," Attalah says. "There wouldn't be also any independent voices creating a record out of this crisis, but also trying to engage with it and trying to think through ways out."
Mada Masr has continued publishing even though its offices have been raided and its website temporarily blocked. Attalah and her team have been arrested for running stories related to President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and his family. This year, Attalah says she was briefly jailed for reporting on the spread of COVID-19 in Egyptian prisons.
Time named her among the world's 100 most influential people this year for her commitment to independent journalism despite the dangers. "We're not very obsessed with surviving, in the sense that if we have to do a story that would cost us our life as a newspaper, the choice would be to do it, actually," she says. "We know very well the chances are this could be over any time."
She says public support gives her and her team some protection: they have been released from jail, she says, because of the massive outcry their arrests have caused. And she believes that kind of public response is a consequence of the Arab Spring.
She believes the Sissi regime is repressive because it's fragile. And it's fragile, she says, because the Arab Spring taught people from all social classes that they have a right to be political, to organize for independent journalism and human rights.
"This was a radical change in the way people think about the authorities, the state, and about their rights," she says. "There is this power-building, you know, that happens incrementally, step by step together with people."
Part of that power has found expression through the arts.
In Libya, I met Islam Medani when he was a teenager in 2011. He and some friends in his hometown of Misrata formed a band named FB-17 — a nod to February 17, the day in 2011 that clashes began in Benghazi between protesters and security forces from the regime of Moammar Gadhafi.
The band rapped songs about Libya's revolution. "No More Lies," with lyrics like "we need to be free, that's what we need to be," and other songs became instant hits in rebel-held parts of Libya, blasting from boomboxes on the front lines to raise the spirits of opposition militias.
Medani, now 27 and a music producer, says he's been dragged into Libya's cycle of wars and ceasefires. The revolution that ousted Gadhafi in 2011 resulted in a cycle of tribal and factional infighting, and a civil war that has essentially divided the country. When ISIS captured the nearby city of Sirte in 2015, Medani joined the militia that went to fight them.
A soldier stands near anti-Gadhafi graffiti in Libya in 2011. The revolution that ousted Libya's longtime leader later that year resulted in a cycle of tribal and factional infighting, and a civil war that has essentially divided the country.
"I didn't want to have to go and fight. But if I didn't go to the fight, the fight would come to our families," he says.
Then he fought forces belonging to Libyan general Khalifa Haftar.
He has lost many friends to these wars. But he says he can't bring himself to regret the revolution — because it has also brought some freedoms. Under Gadhafi's regime, Libya was notoriously closed off. "The government was always chasing anyone who tried to reach the Internet or YouTube," says Medani. "We were living in a black box."
Now, at least, he says, Libyans are connected to the wider world. They know there are different and better ways to live. These days, Medani gets together with friends to sing songs about their hopes for Libya's future.
Music can help people "make a revolution in themselves," he says. "And after that, maybe they can make a revolution in the country."
This growing awareness is part of a continuum of change, an ongoing process that started in 2011, analysts say.
"It is completely unrealistic to expect political systems that are entrenched, that have been in place for decades and that are highly autocratic, to overnight change into democratic systems," says Lina Khatib, who leads the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House in London.
She believes it will take a generation for Arab Spring countries to see fuller change: "I think we should reserve judgment and wait," she says. "The youth of today will be the leaders of the Arab world and then it will be a very different landscape."
In Egypt and across the region, she says she sees "young people who are not as scared as their parents are of change." The young generation, she says, "perhaps because the world is globalized, can see that there is an alternative out there, that they don't have to settle for the systems that they have grown up with."
One sign of this, Khatib believes, is a spate of recent victories by independent candidates in student elections in Beirut. University elections are often seen as a bellwether for national politics in Lebanon, which has been governed by entrenched sectarian leaders since the end of the civil war in the 1990s.
Last year, Lebanon experienced massive popular protests against poor public services and state corruption. Some referred to the protests as Lebanon's own Arab Spring.
The protests forced the resignation of the country's prime minister, but did little to bring real political change. So now, Lebanon's youth are trying a different way.
Leen al-Harake helped bring about a sweeping victory for independent candidates in October elections at the Lebanese American University, where she studies architecture. She has spent much of the last year protesting the incompetence and corruption of the Lebanese government.
She was 12 years old during the Arab Spring, but says that time was instructive: "The movements that were happening then were teaching us a lot about what we could do and how we could stand up [to] governments, how we could stand up for people and power."
Being involved in student politics and organizing independent political parties is a sign of how popular opposition to power is evolving into "practical, logical" tactics, she says. She hopes those tactics will someday bring about lasting political change in her country — and in the region.
Nada Homsi contributed to this story from Beirut.
Ruth Sherlock is an International Correspondent with National Public Radio. She's based in Beirut and reports on Syria and other countries around the Middle East. She was previously the United States Editor for the Daily Telegraph, covering the 2016 US election. Before moving to the US in the spring of 2015, she was the Telegraph's Middle East correspondent.
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Penn Dayton Badgley is an American actor and musician. He is best known for his role as Dan Humphrey on The CW's series Gossip Girl and has also starred in a number of films, including John Tucker Must Die, The Stepfather, Easy A, Margin Call, and Greetings from Tim Buckley.
Penn Dayton Badgley is an American actor and musician. He is best known for his role as Dan Humphrey on The CW's series Gossip Girl and has also starred in a number of films, including John Tucker Must Die, The Stepfather, Easy A, Margin Call, and Greetings from Tim Buckley.
Penn Dayton Badgley is an American actor and musician. He is best known for his role as Dan Humphrey on The CW's series Gossip Girl and has also starred in a number of films, including John Tucker Must Die, The Stepfather, Easy A, Margin Call, and Greetings from Tim Buckley.
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the lovely Nado coaches: Coach Jessica, Coach Gem and Coach Angel as they show you how to be a top Infinity Nado player
If you are a little boy like me, I am sure you will also get all excited about the prospect of having new toys. + I bet you’d jump at any chance or excuse to get your mum + dad to buy you a new one, right? If ever you are planning to get something new from the toy stores one of these days, do check out these new cool toys from Infinity Nado. I am sure you will like them!
Toy nation unite! The newest game that has been making waves all over Asia and the rest of the world is finally here in the Philippines. Prepare to spin your way to greatness with the all new Infinity Nado.
Infinity Nado takes gaming to a whole new level with its precision fighting tops that feature the latest in battle technology. Made by popular toy-maker Auldey, Infinity Nado tops are designed using advanced physics that revolutionizes and increases game play and competition.
The digitally advanced top is based on a popular Anime series of the same title that focused on battle, justice, & friendship. The story features the adventures of Jin and his mates as they enter the center of the Gyro-type tower to stop its rotation and overcome the evil forces to save the world. The hit Anime series currently airs weekdays at 9:30am on TV5.
pre-schooler
Celebrating Christmas in School
i don’t believe i told you all about our christmas celebration in school. this is the first time i am joining a christmas party in school as i’ve just started schooling this year + i did enjoy it! the weekend before our party, mum + i were busy preparing my gifts for my classmates + my teachers. mum made goodie bags out of colored papers we have readily available + i put a lot of big hero 6 stickers onto these bags as decorations. mum also found this cool christmas gift tags printable on pinterest, which i used to write in the names of my friends + teachers. we packed a variety of candies + a couple of colored pens on my classmates’ bags, while mum stashed a couple of girly stuff on my teachers’ bags. i do hope they like the gifts we prepared for them!
our school party started with a program at the gym hosted by a local fast food. everyone from prek1 to grade 6 were in the gym that day, along with our teachers. contests were also held for everyone to join. i joined this fun game with my classmate, wesley, where we were to follow the instructions like “put your cheek on your partner’s cheek” and the likes. it was a pair of our schoolmates from the other pre-k2 class who won this contest.
after we participated in the program at the gym, we proceeded to our classroom to continue our party. we were served fried chicken + rice, burger + juice. as we were eating, we also distributed the gifts we prepared for our classmates. + while finishing our food, the exchange gifts started. it was charlene who picked me from our exchange gifts + she gave me this cool ninja turtle toy with music + light. i picked mavey + i gave him this cool truck diecast we got for him. i sure hope he likes it!
how was your christmas celebration in class?
books, collections, my favorite things
my new fave read
not too long ago mum came home with a huge bag filled with books + i was so excited to check them out. apart from the many books for grown-ups, there are also a number of great reads for me + i simply cannot wait to browse through them. my favorite from my new reads are these little board books of critters. it is a set of 4 books featuring these uber cute critters in different types of work. there is the cowboy, police, doctor, + a construction worker. these are really enjoyable read, in fact, i jumped into reading one as soon as i got home from school one time.
i really enjoy reading these little books as they fit my hands perfectly, they are very easy to read, + they have such cute illustrations! i have read them numerous times since they arrived. of course, i had to ask mum to read most of the book each time, but i am sure i will get to reading these awesome books on my own very soon.
thank you so much ninang niz for my new books!
how about you, what is your current favorite read? :Happy-Grin:
a grade-schooler from the Philippines who loves Marvel superheroes, Minecraft, Lego, and more. Join me in my adventure.
Read more
This is a pr-friendly blog. For sponsored posts, ad placements, books, toys or product review, you may contact mum at vix.parungao@gmail.com. Put "Jared's Little Corner" in the subject.
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According to the provisions of The Sale of Credit Facilities and Related Matters Laws of 2015 to 2022 (Ν.169(Ι)/2015, Ν.86(Ι)/2018 and Ν.129(Ι)/2022), (the “Law”), any legal person intending to assume the activity of the acquisition of credit facilities in the Republic of Cyprus, or assume the management of a portfolio of credit facilities in the Republic of Cyprus, is obliged to obtain the prior approval of the Central Bank of Cyprus (“CBC”). It is hereby clarified that according to the provisions of sections 3-(2)(a) and (b) of the Law, the following credit facilities are excluded from the Law’s scope: (a) credit facilities governed by the Laws of other member states or third countries, (b) credit facilities which are transferred according to the provisions of The Securitisation Law or The Law for the Transfer of Banking Business and Collateral.
Notwhistanding the above, according to the provisions of the Law, the following legal persons are permitted to engage in the activity of acquiring of credit facilities without obtaining the prior approval of the CBC: (a) credit institutions authorised by the CBC; (b) credit institutions that are authorised and supervised by the competent authority of another member state that have the right to provide services or to establish a branch in the Republic of Cyprus; (c) financial institutions, which are subsidiaries of credit institutions incorporated in a member state that has the right to provide services or to establish a branch in the Republic of Cyprus.
Authorisation for the operation of a Credit Acquiring Company (“CAC”) will only be granted to legal persons that have been incorporated in the Republic of Cyprus, provided that the CBC is satisfied, inter-alia, that: these legal persons are in a position to fully comply with the provisions of the Law; they are able to maintain at all times a minimum paid up share capital of €100.000; their shareholders and directors meet the criteria of fitness and probity; they have an organisational structure that enables them to provide services in accordance with the provisions of the Law; and their planned operations do not raise concerns regarding financial stability in the Republic of Cyprus.
Authorisation for the operation of a Credit Servicer, will only be granted to legal persons incorporated in the Republic of Cyprus, provided that the CBC is satisfied inter-alia, that: these legal persons are in a position to fully comply with the provisions of the Law; their shareholders and directors meet the criteria of fitness and probity; they have an organisational structure that enables them to provide services in accordance with the provisions of the Law; they have internal policies and internal control mechanisms that ensure the fair treatment of borrowers and the respect of their rights.
A legal person that intends to establish a CAC or operate as a Credit Servicer in the Republic of Cyprus, may submit to the CBC an application with the accompanying documents specified in sections 5 and 4(A) of the Law, respectively, and in paragraph 5 of The Authorisation and Supervision of Credit Acquiring Companies and Credit Servicers Directives of 2020 and 2022. The CBC also issued The Governance and Management Arrangements of Credit Acquiring Companies and Credit Servicers Directives of 2020 and 2022, which should be read together with The Authorisation and Supervision of Credit Acquiring Companies and Credit Servicers Directives of 2020 and 2022. The Directives were issued by the CBC under the powers vested in it by the provisions of the Law in order to regulate, inter alia, the procedures for granting an authorisation by virtue of the provisions of the Law, the criteria for the fitness and probity of shareholders, directors and key function holders, the internal organisation and governance of the CAC and Credit Servicers and the outsourcing of operational functions to third parties.
Legal persons interested in obtaining an authorisation to operate a CAC or operate as a Credit Servicer must complete form No. CAC/Q1 titled “Application for the granting of authorisation as a Credit Acquiring Company under Section 5(1) or as a Credit Servicer Under Section 4A(1) of the Sale of Credit Facilities and Other Related Issues Laws of 2015 to 2022” and submit it to the CBC.
Direct and indirect corporate controllers of the applicant seeking to acquire a “qualifying holding” in a CAC or a Credit Servicer as defined in Section 2 of the Law, must complete form No. CAC/Q2, titled “Questionnaire for Direct and Indirect Corporate Shareholders in a Credit Acquiring Company or a Credit Servicer” and submit it to the CBC.
Legal persons seeking to acquire directly or indirectly a non-qualifying holding of 5% or more in an applicant company, which wishes to obtain an authorisation as a CAC or a Credit Servicer should also complete form No. CAC/Q2, mentioned above, and, submit it to the CBC.
Direct and indirect controllers (natural persons) of the applicant seeking to acquire a “qualifying holding” in a CAC or a Credit Servicer must complete form No. CAC/Q3, titled “Questionnaire for Direct and Indirect Shareholders (Natural Persons) seeking to acquire a holding in a Credit Acquiring Company or a Credit Servicer” and submit it to the CBC.
Natural persons seeking to acquire directly or indirectly a non-qualifying holding of 5% or more in an applicant company, which wishes to obtain an authorisation as a CAC or a Credit Servicer, should, also, complete form No. CAC/Q3, mentioned above, and, submit it to the CBC.
Regarding the members of the management body and key function holders of CAC or Credit Servicers, the CBC has issued The Assessment of Suitability of Members of the Management Body and Key Function Holders of Credit Acquiring Companies and Credit Servicers Directives of 2020 and 2022. In accordance with Part IV, every candidate must complete the questionnaire titled “Personal Questionnaire for the assessment of Suitability of the Members of the Management Body and Key Function Holders of Credit Acquiring Companies or Credit Servicers” (CAC/Q4).
Prior to the submission of an application, prospective applicants are advised to refer to the below list of common errors observed in applications in order for these to be avoided:
Applications for the authorisation of Credit Acquiring Companies - common errors observed
Finally, it must be noted that the CBC, acting under the authority vested in it under Section17 of the Law, has issued The Notification of Borrowers and Guarantors Directive of 2016. The purpose of this Directive is to set out the procedure that relates to the notification of borrowers and/or guarantors, as provided in the Law, by a credit or a financial institution of its intention to proceed with the sale of credit facilities.
List of Credit Acquiring Companies
List of Credit Servicers
Report of an alleged infringement
Report of an alleged infringement
The Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) was established in 1963, shortly after Cyprus gained its independence, in accordance with the Central Bank of Cyprus Law, 1963 and the relevant articles of the Constitution. Today the CBC is governed by the Central Bank of Cyprus Law, 2002 as amended (hereafter “the CBC Law”).
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It's that beautifully hard time in Texas where I want to be outside in this gorgeous weather so bad, but if I do, I suffer all night long (& beyond) from Cedar Fever. It's torture really. I hate these trees and wish they would all just go away. So what do I do to combat this (besides the dozen remedies I take daily)? I wonder and learn.
They are not cedar trees, they're actually Ashe Juniper. And every year at this time, I wonder about their history and their benefits, because they surely have none. They're native, but were not nearly as widespread as they are now until cattle grazed all the grasses that competed with Juniper for space, and until fire was suppressed so much (fire killed the juniper, but not the grasses) that they began to spread into all of the now eroded and rocky areas where they thrive best. 100 years later, and they cover the hill country like a blanket; a blanket covered in yellow pollen December through February.
So now I know a little history. Does this horrible plant have ANY benefits to the ecosystem? Well, it's an evergreen, which is comforting in the winter, and it's drought tolerant, which is helpful. As a tree, it provides shade, which provides more moisture for other small plants underneath it that are trying to grow. Both male and female trees form the helpful blue berry-like cones that feed wildlife and give some excitement to homemade remedies. I made juniper gin as gifts one Christmas, and there are a ton of other recipes you can find online, like these. Native groups use the berries in their medicine, and its leaves are burned in their rituals as a blessing, just like sage is used to clear a space. Many people use the trees bark for fires, and rot-resistant wood for tools and construction. Today we see many fenceposts and furniture made from cedar. The scent is also said to repel some insects, though other insects lay their eggs in the tree and feed off its nectar. There is an endangered bird called the Golden Cheeked Warbler that uses the "furry" bark to make its nests, and this area is its only known breeding area.
If you suffer from allergies like I do this time of year, learning these things helps me appreciate this (horrible) tree a little more, and helps relax my fear and anxiety around what its pollen triggers in my body. In nature and in life, when you find yourself afraid of a plant or animal, or just having a strong dislike for it, use a little wonder to learn about it. I guarantee that your wonder and curiosity will lead to more knowledge, which will soften your fear and loathing of it.
Some other examples I've studied recently with my students at school are paper wasps (who ruin our outdoor picnics), and mistletoe, which covers the trees on our playground. Mistletoe is another fascinating plant that has people both loving it and hating it. If you want to learn more about this semi-parasitic plant, check out this article or listen to the Stories Podcast for some fun Norse mythology of this plant.
It seems like every holiday and change of seasons is celebrated with even more enthusiasm in 2020. The passage of time is celebrated, not mourned or forgotten this year, as we all look forward to a new world. This year's Winter Solstice is no exception.
Even people who've never celebrated the Winter Solstice are embracing it's message of welcoming the light, and saying goodbye to the darkness of this awful year. There is further excitement as the rare "great conjunction" of Jupiter and Saturn wows sky watchers all around the world. This is being seen by many as the "Christmas Star," returned after 800 years to remind us of the hope and light that is possible in the world.
My favorite Winter Solstice story revolves around the Deer Mother, who carries the light of the sun through the dark winter night in her antlers, bringing peace and hope. Before the story of Christmas existed, the Sami people followed the reindeer herds throughout northern Scandinavia and Russia. It was the female shamans who traveled by sleds pulled by reindeer throughout the area, and believe it or not, many wore red clothing with white fur trim. Sound familiar?
To my children, I talk about how reindeer have antlers, just like others in the deer family. But with reindeer, many of the females retain their antlers throughout winter to help protect themselves and obtain food, as they are usually pregnant during the winter. So we joke that Rudolph was really a girl!
This story makes me wonder what life was like thousands of years ago. It makes me wonder how the human race could go from honoring the feminine to building the patriarchy. How we could go from living as close knit communities to spreading out all over the globe to fend for ourselves. It connects me to my ancestors, and inspires me to keep moving forward. It rekindles hope and faith for a return to a more equitable, just and peaceful society for all living things.
Our school moved some of the classrooms to 100% outside learning due to rising COVID numbers this week, and yesterday was the first rainy day. As I watched the teachers stress levels get dangerously high, I contemplated my first year teaching outside. It was HARD. I lost my voice several times that first year because I found myself yelling over all the outdoor noises like traffic and lawnmowers. I craved the calm, slower energy of the indoor classroom. I struggled to set up and clean up materials outside. And the plethora of distractions was exhausting. So why was I doing it?
I moved to teaching outside because I enjoy less structure and more impromptu discoveries. Teaching inside I had every minute of the day planned. Outside, I planned a couple things, but really, I got to follow the children and follow the natural flows of nature. I felt healthier outside, mentally and physically. The book, "Last Child in the Woods" was just 10 years old at the time, and already a cornerstone of my foundation as a parent and educator. I knew that being outside was better for all of us.
As a parent, I watched my son grow up outside, curious, focused on things I didn't even notice. It was the image of him that I held in my mind yesterday. At five years old, with his rain boots and umbrella, splashing around in the mud and puddles with the biggest smile on his face. His giggles filled me with joy and ease. His pure energy, connected with himself and the earth, spread to me and to everything around him. This is what life is all about. He taught me to let my guard down and just play and be in the moment. Not think about getting the house wet & muddy, or about the extra laundry, or the need for a bath. It is this moment that I wish I could have conveyed to the teachers yesterday. The connection, the joy, the realization that there are more important things in life then what we had planned for the day.
I've learned to embrace and accept rainy days when teaching. Most of the kids LOVE it. It's just the adults around them that worry and fear the inconveniences of wet, muddy kids. Rainy days mean we all get to put aside our plans and just play for a little while. And boy, does it cause our cups to overflow if we let it happen.
Author
Ms. Jennie is an outdoor educator in Austin, TX. She has a background in Montessori education, and strives to get families and kids out in nature to connect & wonder.
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Patients, employers and investors have turned to mental health apps in droves since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. But what’s the best approach? Four leaders from well-funded digital health startups debated the role of self-guided mental health programs, coaches and therapists in a virtual panel discussion at the What’s Next in Health Care conference.
On one side, Lyra Health COO Dr. Connie Chen said a spectrum of care options is needed to address people’s mental health needs. The company’s approach emphasizes appointments with therapists and coaches, with messaging and digital exercises in between.
“That’s a model that allows us to leverage the goodness of providers, the human connection that forges, but making that treatment more efficient,” she said. “Lyra is extremely old school. We see there are a lot of individuals who won’t come to care unless it is in-person and face-to-face.”
This approach has won over Lyra some big clients, including Starbucks and Morgan Stanley. It also has netted Lyra a $4.6 billion valuation.
On the other side of the ring, Big Health CEO Peter Hames emphasized the use of self-guided therapy apps. His startup has two such apps, one for insomnia and one for anxiety, though neither are FDA cleared.
While a growing number companies are using technology to make it easier for patients to find therapists, his concern is that some people still might not be able to reach these services.
“The reality is that’s never going to scale anywhere near to the level of need,” he said. “I think everyone is looking the wrong way when it comes to mental healthcare. The majority of people with mental health conditions get nowhere near a therapist and candidly never will.”
Ginger, which is merging with meditation app Headspace, sees value in both approaches. While Ginger had a platform that let people chat with coaches, or see a therapist over video, it merged with Headspace to help people further “upstream,” CEO Russell Glass said.
“We recognized we were solving part of the problem,” he said. “But if you really want to solve this at a global scale, you have to have far more people thinking about prevention way earlier in the mental health journey.”
Even with their different perspectives, they all agreed on one thing: the need for evidence behind any approach. Kristian Ranta, CEO of Meru Health, went so far as to advocate for outcomes-based payment models.
“We have to move more into outcomes-based models, actually paying for real results,” he said. “That’s something that I challenge — it’s not only about us here, it’s about payers, it’s about the whole industry, how do we make these kinds of payment models possible?”
Meru, which bundles together therapy with several other services, including peer support, meditation, sleep and nutrition coaching, has struck some completely outcomes-based payment models, he added.
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Home » World News » British father fighting for life after getting pneumonia on holiday
British father fighting for life after getting pneumonia on holiday
British father, 44, is fighting for his life after being struck down with pneumonia during a dream holiday to Cape Verde as his family fights to get him flown home for treatment
Becky Mazur, 31, fears her husband Peter, 44, will not live to see another day
He’s in a clinic in Cape Verde, Africa, that does not have the facilities to treat him
Couple initially flew out to Cape Verde on April 2 with son Oliver, for a holiday
The family of a Brit left fighting for his life after being struck down with pneumonia during a dream holiday have launched a desperate plea for him to be flown off an island to a proper hospital.
Devastated Becky Mazur, 31, fears her husband Peter, 44, will not see another day as he fights for breath in a clinic in Cape Verde, Africa that does not have the facilities to treat him.
The couple initially flew out to the archipelago on April 2, with five-year-old son Oliver, for a two-week family holiday.
They were staying in five-star hotel, Rio Touareg, on the island of Boa Vista, where Peter, described as being in good health beforehand, fell ill.
Peter Mazur in hospital in Cape Verde. His wife has been fighting to get him transferred by air ambulance to a proper hospital in Gran Canaria
Hairdresser Becky, from Felixstowe, Suffolk, says she has now been fighting for five days to get Peter transferred by air ambulance to a proper hospital in Gran Canaria, 930 miles away.
But she claims she has had ‘no help’- and that the untreated pneumonia has now spread to cover almost Peter’s entire left lung.
Fighting back the tears, Becky said: ‘We have had no help. We have full medical insurance with the Post Office, and I have spent three days calling them, but nobody will sign him off.
Peter Mazur with wife Becky and son Oliver on holiday in Cape Verde. Becky claims she has had ‘no help’
‘The insurance company were meant to sign him off last night, but nobody did, and now we can’t contact the man who was looking into it.
‘The doctors here are so slow. Nobody has been able to tell us what type of pneumonia it is, and we’re in a little pharmacy clinic, so nobody can do anything to help.
‘We’re locked in here overnight after 5pm. We’re living out of a suitcase and eating bread and butter.
‘We need to get Pete out of here as soon as possible. I don’t know if he’ll last another night here.’
About five or six days into their holiday, Becky said Peter fainted a couple of times, and became bedbound.
Becky said: ‘We thought it was a bit of heatstroke. But then I went up from the beach one afternoon to check on him, and his whole body was shaking.
‘Some of the hotel staff helped me get him into a wheelchair. But barely any of them speak English.
‘At first they told me it was a broken rib. But then I was told he had a lung infection.’
Becky added: ‘I think it was the air conditioning – because you can get pneumonia through air conditioning.’
Becky said Peter fainted a couple of times five or six days into the trip, and became bedbound
She said that Peter had been feeling ‘absolutely fine’ when they flew out to the island resort on April 2.
The family were due to fly home this Tuesday but now, Becky does not even know whether Peter will survive that long.
She said: ‘The staff at this clinic were supposed to inform our insurance company of Pete’s condition, but nobody has done that.
‘The woman at the insurance company keeps saying she’s sorting it out, but nothing is happening.
‘His mentality is starting to go now. I just need to get him out of here. He needs to get to Gran Canaria.’
Becky has also warned others against taking insurance out with the Post Office.
In a Facebook post, she wrote: ‘You would think a company as big as the Post Office would be the best bet to use for your insurance. IT IS NOT.
‘Think twice about using the Post Office for travel insurance, and before going to remote islands on holiday.’
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Answer: Try and work it out, and if necessary, replace your attorney (only), but do not speak out to third parties about your dissatisfaction.
It is more common than it should be for a client to be unhappy with his lawyer. It is hardly ever a joyful task to address the issue. The author suggests to first try and work it out with your present counsel for many reasons, including to avoid the time and cost of replacing an attorney. If not, replace him in a professional manner. The author is not telling you what to do as much as he is telling you what not to do, which is complaining about your dissatisfaction to third parties, and this is why.
Complaining about your lawyer to third parties, very often being to the opposing lawyer or the judge, is simply a fools game. First understand that it shows that you do not understand that you and your lawyer are supposed to be on the same side. Second, it indicates a lack of awareness by displaying thinking that the third party can or should do something about it. Understand that the judge or opposing lawyer/side is not going to extend you further courtesies or cut you a break because you complain about your lawyer. Third, if the communication is to the lawyer on the other side, he is not permitted under ethical rules to communicate with a represented party directly and without the represented party’s attorney present. Thus, trying to communicate to the other side’s attorney shows ignorance of this fact. Fourth, it threatens and many times outright forfeits, the very important attorney-client privilege, which keeps your communications with your lawyer protected. Fifth, it will likely infuriate and embarrass your lawyer, who will likely then, if they can, terminate the representation. Yes, he will likely fire you. Understand that in general an attorney can terminate the engagement. In other words, although it may take some time, there is no rule, again, in general, that an attorney cannot unilaterally terminate the representation. Sixth, if you indeed do get fired, it will be more difficult to obtain another attorney when you openly complained about your (now) prior lawyer in the past. Lastly, what you say when you do complain can have harsh and unintended consequences.
Damage stemming from the third and last points above is illustrated in the case of United States v. Bauzo-Santiago where the criminal defendant was unhappy with his attorney and wrote a letter to the judge that stated in part:
I have a situation with my lawyer . . . he has no interest in my case . . . I do not have good communications with the lawyer . . . Because of these reasons I would like to ask of the Honorable Judge to change counsel . . . if possible. I want to take advantage to notify you that . . . I have always accepted my responsibility as to guilt, the only think that I ask you is that the time for the weapons law crime be a reasonable one.
No. 15-1280 (1st Cir. 2017) (emphasis added). This letter was docketed in the case by the clerk. Unsurprisingly the prosecution later introduced it as evidence at trial, where the defendant was found guilty.
On appeal, the defendant attempted unsuccessfully to argue that the letter should not have been admitted in evidence under Federal Rule of Evidence 410 that prohibits certain statements made in furtherance of plea bargaining in later proceedings. The federal appeals court correctly ruled that the letter was admissible at trial. Obviously, drafting and sending the letter was a major mistake as it was a statement that indicated he was guilty of the crimes he was charged with.
One interesting point is that at the time the defendant wrote and sent his letter, his lawyer had already filed a motion to withdraw that was pending and was eventually allowed. The point being that the letter was unnecessary and his lawyers were doing their job, at least to get out of the case.
Another interesting observation is the federal appeals court opinion itself displays a tone of mockery. It even refers to the letter as “THE SLIP” and twice before it gets to the part of describing the letter it makes comments that “the slip” is coming. This indicates that the court is expecting people to read the opinion after hearing the defendant made a big mistake and is looking for it. The point being that the opinion is embarrassing and highlights the defendant’s blunder. Another subtle point that a layman should glean from this is that to the legal world, complaining about your lawyer is perceived negatively, which may be being revealed intentionally or unintentionally by the opinion in this case because most mistakes of defendants are not highlighted in such a fashion.
The bottom line is that if you are unhappy with your lawyer, replace if necessary, but never speak poorly of your lawyer to third parties involved in your case or dispute, it is a fool’s game.
By George Bourguignon | Published October 25, 2017 | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on What should I do if I am not satisfied with my attorney?
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You cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck. When you Tribute Summon a monster: You can activate 1 of these effects; Add, from your Deck to your hand, 1 monster with 2400 ATK and 1000 DEF with a different name from that Tribute Summoned monster. Add, from your Deck to your hand, 1 monster with 2800 ATK and 1000 DEF with a different name from that Tribute Summoned monster. The Tribute Summoned monster must be face-up on the field to activate and to resolve this effect. You can only activate this effect of "Return of the Monarchs" once per turn.
Card Ratings
Date Reviewed - Dec. 10, 2013
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In the most polite way possible, Return of the Monarchs is junk. It's a Continuous Magic card, which you all ready know is bad. After Tribute Summoning a Tribute Monster, you can either add an original Monarch from your Deck to your Hand (original being anything but yesterday's card) or, add yesterday's card instead. If that were all the card said, than maybe in a pure Monarch Deck I'd try this. However, you can't Special Summon from your Extra Deck, which is beyond awful, and you don't even get either effect you choose if the Tributed Monster you played doesn't survive, as it needs to be on the Field for this cards effect to resolve.
Ratings:
1/5 both Formats...new support for old themes is welcome, garbage is not
We continue with the Monarch theme today with the support card “Return of the Monarchs”. With Return, decks that rely on tribute summons get a powerful search engine. This type of deck will not be able to use a side deck so the ability to tribute summon has to be able to gain you a decisive advantage.
The best deck that tributes and gives you an advantage is a Monarch deck as all of the Monarchs meet the attack and defense requirements and gain an advantage when tribute summoned. Return of the Monarchs is not limited to searching out Monarchs despite the name. You can also search for cards like Dark Armed Dragon, Cranium Fish, Lightray Diabolos, or Gaia Plate the Earth Giant to name some of the better ones. You could also use it with Monarchs and Evigishki Gustkraken in a Monarch/Fusion deck.
Return of the Monarchs has one drawback. You can not summon from your extra deck. Tribute monster has one other support card that has this same effect, “March of the Monarchs, so playing Return in a tribute summon deck with March basically means that you are not playing with an extra deck. There is one other card that we can play with these two support cards with the same restriction, “Seal of Orichalcos” that will boost our 2400 attack monsters into a more dominant 2900 attack monster.
If you can get all three of the support cards above on the field and keep them there along with being able to tribute summon once per turn, you may have a fighting chance. That is too many cards and too slow a process to be a viable option in today’s game. Xyz and Synchro monsters are just too strong for decks that do not run them. Add that to the fact that Return of the Monarchs is dependant on tribute summoning and you have a deck that is only good for recreational use.
Advanced: 2/5
Today we have a card I mentioned yesterday: Return of The Monarchs. A continuous spell card, “You cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck. When you Tribute Summon a monster: You can activate 1 of these effects; Add, from your Deck to your hand, 1 monster with 2400 ATK and 1000 DEF with a different name from that Tribute Summoned monster. Add, from your Deck to your hand, 1 monster with 2800 ATK and 1000 DEF with a different name from that Tribute Summoned monster.The Tribute Summoned monster must be face-up on the field to activate and to resolve this effect. You can only activate this effect of "Return of The Monarchs" once per turn.".
This card is made for a Monarch deck. After you Tribute Summon a monster, you can activate one of the effects, you don't have to. Adding a monster is always a plus, it replenishes your hand and can set up plays depending on the strategy of the deck. In this case, you're going to be reloading your Monarchs. Bring a monster with 2400ATK/1000DEF, or a monster with 2800ATK/1000DEF to your hand that has a different name than the monster you just summoned. Being able to summon Caius, get his effect, then search out Dark Armed Dragon and possibly hit for 5200 damage is a pretty good turn. If you run Illusory Snatcher, you can search him out with this card, then next turn if you tribute again you can elect to special summon him rather than activate "Return of The Monarchs". He will become a copy of your tributed monster and allow you to have an XYZ possibility if "Return of The Monarchs" leaves the field.
"You cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck" isn't the best way to start out any card. XYZ and Synchro Summoning is a mainstay in the game. Even in a Monarch deck you will be using your extra deck, and even if you don't always use your extra deck, you still want the ability to use it if the need arises. Only being able to activate this cards effect once per turn hurts it, but it also prevents abuse of the card if someone were to tribute summon several times in one turn somehow. What hurts this card the most is that you cannot search out the monster you just summoned. If you tribute Caius, you can't get another Caius. I suppose you could just loop Caius to Raiza over and over, or search a monarch to help you next turn depending on the situation you are in, but who wouldn't want to summon Caius and get another Caius?
Art-3/5- Why does it seem like Granmarg is the poster child for Monarchs? Shouldn't it be Zaborg "The First Emperor"?
Until Next Time,
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Kumbh Mela, was held in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. North India between January 14th to April 28th, 2010. The purna Kumbh Mela takes place once in twelve years and is one of the biggest religious gatherings on the planet which takes places on the banks of the river Ganga. The number of pilgrims this year is expected to exceed around five million since the first day Jan 14 till the time it concludes on April 28, 2010. The auspicious days of the shahi snan or royal baths usually draw hundreds of thousands of devotees to the Har Ki Paudi and other banks of the river. Uttarakhand. North India. The Kumbh Mela with its swirling crowds can be as physically daunting as it is spiritually fulfilling for those who believe in it . Thousands of pilgrims, mostly Hindus, flocked to Haridwar for the snan (holy dip). The Maha Kumbh Mela ('Great' Kumbh Mela) comes after a cyle of twelve 'Purna Kumbh Melas' which is after every 144 years and is held at Allahabad, UP. The 2001, Maha Kumbh Mela was attended by around 60 million people, making it the largest gathering anywhere in the world.
Suchit Nanda
on February 18, 2011
Thank you Richard. I did reply to you on your e-mail but thank you here as well.
on October 22, 2010
Stunning ,Beutiful. Very dificult to find words to describe this fantastic gathering, i would have loved to have been there.
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Bathing and washing the river Ganga during Kumbh Mela in Haridwar. Kumbh Mela is the biggest religious gatherings on the planet which takes places on the banks of the river Ganga. The number of pilgrims this year is expected to exceed around five million since the first day Jan 14 till the time it concludes on April 28, 2010. Haridwar, Uttarakhand. North India.
Drying cloths after bathing in the river Ganga during Kumbh Mela in Haridwar. Kumbh Mela is the biggest religious gatherings on the planet which takes places on the banks of the river Ganga. The number of pilgrims this year is expected to exceed around five million since the first day Jan 14 till the time it concludes on April 28, 2010. Haridwar, Uttarakhand. North India.
Drying cloths after bathing in the river Ganga during Kumbh Mela in Haridwar. Kumbh Mela is the biggest religious gatherings on the planet which takes places on the banks of the river Ganga. The number of pilgrims this year is expected to exceed around five million since the first day Jan 14 till the time it concludes on April 28, 2010. Haridwar, Uttarakhand. North India.
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This section takes the issues and challenges facing the district and describes the visions to guide objective setting and policy development.
The starting point is the North Somerset Vision as set out in the Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS):
'Sustainable, inclusive, safe, healthy, prosperous communities thriving in a quality environment.'
To help achieve the vision, the SCS has developed six shared priorities:
Tackling disadvantage and promoting equality of opportunity;
Developing strong inclusive communities;
Improving health and wellbeing;
Developing a prosperous economy and enterprising community;
Living within environmental limits.
The role of the Core Strategy and other planning policy documents is to provide the spatial, land-use expression of these shared priorities. In order to create a clear policy framework, the Core Strategy identifies a suite of spatial visions. These are grounded in the work of the SCS, but have been refined and developed to provide a clearer strategic planning context.
The Core Strategy visions have been refined through engagement and discussion with stakeholders. They reflect existing parameters we have to work within, such as the emerging Regional Spatial Strategy, and incorporate important aspects of local distinctiveness and key local issues. They are aspirational, yet realistic and deliverable. They provide an agreed framework against which Core Strategy objectives and policies can be produced.
The following visions therefore seek to blend the overarching planning framework with the local context and community aspirations.
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By 2026 North Somerset will be a more prosperous district, with reduced inequalities throughout. Its coastal and rural setting, underpinned by a rich heritage will strongly influence new development. Development will respond to the challenge of climate change and be characterised by high-quality design that contributes to creating successful, thriving places.
Weston-super-Mare will be established as a major economic centre south of Bristol catering for the employment, social and leisure needs of its population whilst attracting visitors to support this role. New development areas will be established, creating mixed-use communities valued for their high standards of sustainability, quality of life and inspired design.
The market towns will increasingly support their populations and play less of a dormitory role. The service villages will cater for rural needs with their character and that of the open countryside protected from intrusive development.
The future planning of Royal Portbury Dock and Bristol International Airport will be guided by the need to balance the advantages of economic growth with control over key environmental issues.
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By 2026 Weston-super-Mare will have an image as an enjoyable and attractive place to live and visit, with a strong cultural identity and good employment base, and successful and thriving communities.
By 2026 an employment-led development strategy will have achieved a strong and diverse economic profile in Weston-super-Mare with an improved range, quantity and quality of local employment opportunities which redresses the imbalance between employment and homes reducing dependency on out-commuting by car for work and improving self-containment and sustainable living.
By 2026 Weston-super-Mare's strategic transport, utilities and flood prevention infrastructure will have been developed in tandem with new residential and employment developments to a high standard. The transportation network will provide an integrated, convenient and sustainable service for all parts of the town, with improved public transport services and external linkages.
By 2026 Weston town centre will be a good quality, diverse year-round shopping and leisure destination set within a high-quality built environment which has retained its historic identity and capitalises on its seafront location and the natural beauty of the area. More people will live and work in the town centre which will add vibrancy during the day and into the evening, resulting in a safe and desirable place for its residents and visitors.
By 2026 Weston town centre will have increased the amount of high-quality tourist accommodation, and offer a range of indoor and outdoor attractions and activities catering for a wide range of visitor needs.
By 2026 the town centre gateway area will have transformed itself into a distinctive entrance to the town creating a sense of arrival set within a consolidated, high-quality built and landscaped environment, providing good pedestrian connections to the town centre.
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By 2026 Clevedon will be a thriving, prosperous settlement and local service centre which provides for both its population and that of the rural hinterland, as well as a popular destination for visitors.
The historic fabric of the 'old town' will have been retained and reinforced and there will be an evident sense of pride in Clevedon's historic heart and coastal setting.
The town centre will have regained its popularity and become a thriving local retail and service centre fulfilling the needs of residents and the surrounding area, assisted by suitably-sized retail units and welcoming setting. Hill Road will remain an attractive area for specialist shops, restaurants and cafés.
The employment base will have strengthened allowing more opportunities for residents to work locally. Increasing numbers of those who travel to work outside Clevedon will make the journey by public transport, cycle or shared car journey. Access by public transport within Clevedon and between the other towns will be improved.
The area around the historic seafront and coastline from Church Hill to the historic pier will be a draw for increasing numbers of visitors and residents enjoying the unique setting, diversity of activities and its culture.
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By 2026, Nailsea will be a thriving, prosperous settlement and local service centre which provides for both its population and that of the rural hinterland. The quality of life, feeling of safety and community spirit of those who live and work in the town will be highly valued.
Assets such as the built heritage and open spaces will be respected. Community services (such as schools, libraries and health centres) will be retained to meet everyday needs and service provision will grow at a commensurate scale to the needs of the population.
New development taking place in the town will be focused on addressing local housing need to encourage a more balanced age structure and support economic growth. There will be an emphasis on encouraging further job opportunities by supporting our companies to grow and making provision for space to relocate. Accessibility to Bristol and Weston-super-Mare will be improved through a better choice of transport modes.
Opportunities for redevelopment of the town centre will be harnessed where this will improve the leisure and retail offer, ensuring it becomes a focal point for activity within the town. The design of all new places and spaces will be of exceptional quality and evoke pride within the community, together with challenging perceptions of the town.
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By 2026 Portishead will have undertaken an extensive period of consolidation and become an increasingly popular location for new business as well as providing opportunities for existing local businesses to expand and grow. There will be increased opportunities for residents to work locally, instead of commuting to Bristol and its north fringe.
Access by public transport within Portishead and between the other towns will be improved. A passenger rail or rapid transit link into central Bristol will have been reinstated, providing a real alternative to residents commuting into Bristol for work.
Portishead will continue to be a popular place to live while retaining the existing distinctive character and village atmosphere of the High Street. The new and old communities in Portishead will be integrated and share a joint sense of place and pride in the town. The newly extended High Street will be a thriving and popular place to shop and spend time.
Strong maritime links will continue to provide important focus. The marina and surrounding coastal area will continue to attract visitors. The unique setting of the Gordano Valley will be protected with opportunities to enjoy surrounding countryside and views enhanced around the new development.
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By 2026 service villages will become thriving rural communities and a focal point for local housing needs, services and community facilities. They will become more self-contained in terms of providing jobs and serving the local and surrounding community for all their day-to-day needs.
These settlements are defined in the Core Strategy as service villages:
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Rural areas will retain and enhance their countryside character where the quality of the natural environment is the prime objective and any new development will be small scale and strictly controlled. The rural villages will have maintained their individual character, identity and sense of community. Accessibility will be improved to facilities and services not locally available within nearby service villages or towns. The surrounding countryside will have retained its open natural character, its distinctive landscapes protected from inappropriate development, agricultural use supported and valued for its biodiversity.
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At the Issues and Options stage a number of objectives were put forward and have now been developed further as a result of outcomes from that consultation, further evidence, and responding to the priorities set out in North Somerset's Sustainable Community Strategy (2008). These objectives will now be tested as part of the sustainability appraisal.
The priority objectives summarise how we will address the spatial planning issues within North Somerset to 2026. They will take effect through the Core Strategy spatial policies that set out how, when and where the objectives will be achieved. The priority objectives are closely aligned with North Somerset Council's Corporate Plan and Sustainable Community Strategy aims.
These objectives do not repeat generic national principles which will be applied as a matter of course, but instead look to identify issues of local importance. For example, national advice in relation to issues such as the need to promote sustainable development, to promote biodiversity, to protect vulnerable land from flooding, to provide affordable housing, or to preserve and enhance conservation areas and listed buildings are not specifically identified.
Each of the Core Strategy policies will indicate its relationship to these priority objectives, or where appropriate, national planning guidance.
1.Deliver sustainable housing development across North Somerset to meet housing needs, through the provision of 17,750 new homes by 2026.
2.Ensure that major development proposals are delivered in tandem with the necessary improvements in physical and social infrastructure such as M5 junction 21 improvements at Weston-super-Mare, Junction 19 improvements at Portishead and access improvements to Bristol International Airport, and that appropriate delivery mechanisms including effective tariffs/developer contributions are in place.
3.Prioritise employment growth throughout North Somerset to support greater self-containment, in particular by ensuring that in Weston-super-Mare housing development is delivered in step with employment growth, and brownfield opportunities in Clevedon, Nailsea and Portishead are maximised, and that small and medium enterprises are supported.
4.Focus strategic development at Weston-super-Mare as part of an employment-led strategy to deliver improved self-containment, stimulate investment, regenerate and revitalise the town centre to create a thriving and vibrant retail, leisure, tourist, cultural and commercial centre, and to support regeneration within communities elsewhere in the town, particularly in the South and Central Wards.
5.Support and promote major employers in North Somerset, such as Bristol International Airport and Royal Portbury Dock, to ensure continued employment security and economic prosperity.
6.Improve the vibrancy, prosperity, distinctiveness, quality and range of local services in North Somerset's towns and villages, by encouraging and supporting environmental enhancements and regeneration opportunities in Clevedon, Nailsea and Portishead.
7.Continue to support North Somerset's existing Green Belt in order to prevent the sprawl of Bristol and its encroachment into valued countryside and to preserve the character of existing settlements; elsewhere, valued strategic green gaps between settlements and characteristic green spaces and areas will be protected.
8.Continue to redress the substantial inequalities between the most deprived and prosperous areas of North Somerset, both urban and rural, and to reduce the overprovision of one bedroomed dwellings, or one particular type or tenure of housing where this is causing social and/or physical problems.
9.mprove accessibility through the delivery of major transport schemes and local improvements to ensure that, particularly in Weston-super-Mare, Clevedon, Nailsea and Portishead, people are encouraged to make more sustainable transport choices.
10.To ensure that sufficient parking is provided in new developments to meet the needs of users in a safe and well-designed environment, while public parking in town, district and local centres contributes to their continued vitality, and provides for choice in transport modes.
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If you’ve ever been dissatisfied with the appearance of your nose, you may have thought about surgery. Rhinoplasty, better known as a nose job, can subtly alter the shape of your nose to eliminate focal points and bring it into proportion with the rest of your face. It’s also a procedure that can correct problems with breathing caused by structural issues.
Regardless of the work you may want or need on your nose, rhinoplasty is a complex procedure due to the anatomy of the nose, sinuses, and passageways. It’s generally regarded as one of the most difficult plastic surgery procedures.
Raymund J. Llaurado, M.D., is trained in both otolaryngology and reconstructive surgery, so he has a thorough understanding of facial construction as well as years of practical experience. Read on to see what rhinoplasty involves and find out if you’re a candidate.
Appearance issues addressed by rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty is versatile and can change many features about your nose. Many patients are surprised to learn how little needs to be done to change the look of their nose. Rhinoplasty can perform the following modifications:
Overall nose size and symmetry Width at the bridge of your nose Profile changes to humps or depressions Changes to the shape of your nose tip, both reductions and augmentations Size and position of your nostrils
The amount of change to any aspect of your nose may be limited by functional considerations. Your breathing passages must not be compromised by the surgery. In fact, rhinoplasty is occasionally performed for noncosmetic reasons, such as to correct a deviated septum.
Health considerations for rhinoplasty
Dr. Llaurado and his team will make sure you’re clear about what you can expect from rhinoplasty. You should be in good overall health before your surgery. Men and women with diabetes, heart disease, bleeding disorders, or high blood pressure may not be good candidates for cosmetic surgery. And since nicotine interferes with blood circulation, you’ll need to stop using tobacco products before and after your procedure.
To see if you’re a candidate for rhinoplasty, book an appointment online or over the phone with Raymund J. Llaurado M.D. today.
Please use this form for general information purposes only. DO NOT send personal health information through this form. Specific patient care must be addressed during your appointment.
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essays on the movies by Joshua Wilson
In which we are introduced to Dr Stephen Maturin.
One of the greatest fictional characters created in the 20th century is Doctor Stephen Maturin, half of the celebrated Aubrey-Maturin duo that are the subjects of a 20-volume series of novels by the late Patrick O’Brian. The series began with the 1970 novel Master and Commander, and was to be continued in a 21st volume which was in the draft stages at the time of O’Brian’s death in 2000. The books follow the career and life of “Lucky Jack” Aubrey, a Captain in His Majesty’s Royal Navy, and his close friend, Maturin, during the time of the Napoleonic Wars, from roughly 1800 – 1815.
Stephen Maturin is one of the richest characterizations ever penned. Over the course of the novel series we discover that he a musician, a physician, a surgeon, a naval officer, an international spy, a polyglot, a scholar, and a natural philosopher, or what we would today call a scientist. A man of parts. He is a real man, however, in O’Brian’s writing, with real shortcomings as well. He is not handsome (his looks are often described as “reptillian”), he is not suave, he is at times short-tempered, he is at times cold. He is a Catholic, and an ardent lover of political freedom. He is also never characterized with any sense of anachronism, and so his understanding of science is that of a man of his era. This is strikingly illustrated in a scene from the novel Master and Commander, where Stephen is simultaneously performing a dissection and enjoying his luncheon. When he goes to cut his meat, he intends to use the same knife that he has been dissecting with. A companion suggests that “Perhaps we ought to wash it,” but Maturin replies, “Oh, a wipe will do,” and uses a corner of the sheet for the job.
In Peter Weir’s 2003 film, Master and: The Far Side of the World, he draws the main plot outline from the tenth novel, The Far Side of the World, but also incidents from the first novel, and many others in the series, as well as some original material that is very much in the spirit of O’Brian. Though the series was often as concerned with events on land, and with domestic as well as bellicose drama, Weir wisely chose to limit the scope of the action to the contest at sea. Aubrey’s ship, the Surprise, is tasked with capturing or sinking the French frigate Acheron, and they chase them around the coast of South America. “It’s all about being at sea and how that informs the crew of the HMS Surprise,” Weir said. “I always wanted to open the picture at sea and to hardly touch land at all.” Along with this overall focus, he hones the character of Maturin (Paul Bettany) to a fine point, by focusing on three main occupations: surgeon, musician, and naturalist. Maturin’s espionage activities, which drive a great deal of the plot throughout O’Brian’s novels, are reduced in the film to a mere hint in a throwaway line of dialogue.
Perhaps something from the London Bach this evening, Jack?
Maturin’s abiding and multi-layered friendship with his Captain, Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe), is established in several scenes of musical dialogue between the pair. Maturin is a cellist, and Aubrey a violinist. The two enjoy evenings of music making together as frequently as weather and duty permit. The film score reflects this in several poignant ways during other scenes, as we shall see.
Those are his brains.
In both the novels and in the film, Maturin is revered by his shipmates, because he is a physician, not merely a surgeon. Today, of course, a surgeon is an accomplished and skilled medical doctor, whose training is perhaps even more extensive than the minimum requirements of the MD. At the time, however, a ship’s surgeon was literally a glorified barber. The typical surgeon was not trained in medicine in the modern sense, but rather was primarily tasked with various amputations when the need arose. Maturin removes his share of limbs, but he is depicted in an early scene also performing a brain operation. He has to drill a hole in a man’s skull to relieve pressure, and then he screws on a metal plate fashioned from a coin to cover the hole. This type of activity garners him the undying respect and admiration from his shipmates, both the common men and the officers. Among the sailors, especially, one of the ways he uses this admiration is to try to dispel some of their more superstitious beliefs, though he is rarely successful in that.
By the “artistic decision” of choosing to keep the action at sea primarily, Weir establishes one of the main themes of conflict that surrounds the character of Maturin, that of the “requirements of the service” against the progress of scientific inquiry. The Royal Navy can be credited with assisting in some of the greatest advances in Western science in the 19th century. To pick one example, Charles Darwin famously traveled on the HMS Beagle a few decades after the time in which Maturin was voyaging in the Surprise. And like Darwin, Maturin was destined to have great discoveries on the Galapagos Islands.
Maturin and his assistants on the Galapagos.
Maturin is promised an opportunity to spend time exploring, collecting, and cataloging the natural wonders that are present on the Galapagos. These are creatures with habits and forms “unknown to science,” as he says upon seeing a swimming iguana. When the exigencies of chasing their enemy cause Captain Aubrey to renege on this promise, a heated conflict between the two friends ensues. This is a brilliant example of what O’Brian often wrote about: the contest to achieve “moral advantage.” While Aubrey argues for the demands of his duty to chase the enemy, Maturin argues for the personal duty of keeping one’s word. Maturin has no power but the bonds of friendship, and he will not win. It is not until Stephen is accidentally shot by a marine attempting to hunt a bird, that Jack puts his friendship above the call of duty and chooses to halt his chase. This scene where Jack makes this decision is scored with harmonious string music (both cello and violins are heard playing). Maturin performs an extraordinary self-surgery to remove the bullet from his side, and after recovering, is able to explore the wonders of the Galapagos.
The shift of focus, both in camera and in the narrative, heralded by the violin in the score.
During the exploration sequence, the film score relies on solo cello music to represent Maturin as he wanders about with his assistants, collecting specimens of flora and fauna that were hitherto unknown. But when he spies the enemy ship at anchor across the bay, the score changes to an insistent and pulsing solo violin-Aubrey’s instrument. It is clear that Maturin will sacrifice these inestimable treasures he has collected in order to return and inform Jack, as Jack had already sacrificed for him in halting the pursuit of the enemy vessel to ensure he would survive. So the tension between the demands of war and the pursuit of science is perhaps not resolved, but it is at least brought to a detente through the friendship of the unlikely pair of protagonists.
Does God make them change?
Maturin’s Irish lineage and his Catholic religion are, like his spying, mostly relegated to the fringes of the characterization in the film. However, there is at least one line in the movie which is a lovely tribute to the idea that religion and science should and need not be enemies. When a midshipman who has come to be Maturin’s assistant is reading a book about adaptive disguises in nature, he questions,”Did God made them change?” Maturin replies, “Does God make them change? Yes, certainly. But do they also change themselves? Now that is the question, isn’t it?” In this brief exchange we see Maturin’s humble and matter-of-fact faith, which in no way limits his scientific curiosity. Today, when religion and faith are often put at odds with one another, I find this a refreshing and insightful moment.
Stephen Maturin is seen by many observers, including actor Paul Bettany, to be an alter ego of Patrick O’Brian. The character certainly concentrated many of the author’s concerns and interests into a dynamic and indelibly memorable personality. Bettany, under Peter Weir’s expert direction, brought him memorably to life in a beautiful and moving film. After my first experience seeing this film, I was inspired to read the entire Aubrey-Maturin series of novels, which I credit as one of the greatest achievements in fiction of the 20th century. I count Doctor Stephen Maturin, natural philosopher, as one of my fictional heroes, and I am forever grateful for the film adaptation for so faithfully transporting his spirit from the page to the screen.
This post is part of the Movie Scientist Blogathon, hosted by Christina Wehner and Silver Screenings. Be sure to check out more of the great posts in this series on other blogs!
Posted on February 19, 2016 May 1, 2016 by Joshua Wilson This entry was tagged Blogathons, Book Adaptations, Historical Films, Patrick O'Brian, Peter Weir, Science. Bookmark the permalink.
February 19, 2016 at 9:51 pm
This is a beautifully-written review. My problem is that I saw this movie several years ago and I remember nothing bout it. But, as I was reading your review, I thought, “Did I actually SEE this movie? As in, REALLY SEE IT?” Well, I need to see it again with your post in mind, because I think I’d get a lot more out of it this time. Also, the gorgeous screen caps you posted are so enticing!
Thank you for joining the blogathon, and for re-introducing me to Master and Commander.
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February 19, 2016 at 10:56 pm
Thank you very much. I think this is a truly beautiful film, which rewards repeat viewings. The acting is uniformly excellent, and the use of music is moving and meaningful.
I encourage you to revisit it!
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February 19, 2016 at 10:14 pm
Thanks for this lovely portrait of a complicated and humanitarian character! I have not seen this film – I always had the impression it was mostly just action and adventure…which shows one should never trust to ones impressions.
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February 19, 2016 at 10:53 pm
Thank you for reading, and for hosting. Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of maritime action in the film. But Weir balances the scenes of battle with scenes depicting the other aspects of life at sea, as well as the lyrical interlude in the Galapagos.
O’Brian’s books have even more going on in them. He’s been compared to Jane Austen, which may seem to be a stretch if you have not read him. There are extended periods when the heroes are at home, and the domestic concerns of love and marriage are explored. When the novels are at sea, he off course depicts an almost all-male world, but he is more concerned with the social microcosm that exists within the “Wooden world” of the ship than necessarily with the minutiae of sea battles.
Weir is very faithful to this spirit, if not to any particular plot details. He gets the characters just about exactly right.
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February 19, 2016 at 11:27 pm
As a truly massive fan of Jane Austen, your description sounds extremely tempting. I don’t mind maritime action at all…just not nonstop action, but this sounds much richer than just action.
That is a rare thing – to capture the characters while changing the plot. Often, when the plot gets changed, the characters do, too.
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February 20, 2016 at 12:53 am
I love love love the Aubreyad, and Stephen is without a doubt its most complex and interesting character. And while Paul Bettany looks nothing like the Maturin described in the books, I feel like he did an excellent job of capturing the character and all his intricacies, even if the movie didn’t get to plumb his depths the way the books do. One of my favorite moments is when he’s getting ready to play his cello and he flexes and tests his hand, a reference to his torture in the book HMS Surprise that the average filmgoer would know nothing about. An inspired choice for this Blogathon, and it makes me angry that Maturin never occurred to me! (I wrote about Jurassic Park for day 1.) I am writing about the film for an Oscar snubs Blogathon next weekend, so I can look forward to that.
An excellently written piece about one of my all-time favorite characters! Well done! It’s always wonderful to see another fan of O’Brian!
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February 20, 2016 at 1:23 am
Thanks very much for reading! That little moment you mention with flexing the fingers very well could be a reference to his torture. I never made that connection. I always assumed he was stretching to regain some flexibility after the hard labor in the sick bay. But there are many callbacks to the books that are easy to miss for a viewer unfamiliar with them. There’s one shot of Aubrey’s desk where you see an unmailed letter to his wife Sophie, for example.
Thanks for reading, and I’m glad you enjoyed my little essay. I’m going to head over and read your piece. Jurassic Park is another solid adaptation of a good book.
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A call center’s effectiveness depends on one very significant factor: the productivity of its agents. When team members are happy with their job and feel fulfilled and motivated, they are able to deliver great customer service. And when they’re tired, overworked, and dissatisfied, it reflects on their job output as well. According to a Bain & Company study, companies with the highest employee satisfaction scores often have the highest NPS, with the inverse also proving true.
Call centers are often seen as cost centers within their businesses and have traditionally been judged solely on the numbers they put out, chief among them cost per contact. As a result, the industry is known for being one of the most competitive and demanding to work in. This means ensuring agent happiness and productivity can be a difficult and overwhelming task for managers. The Great Resignation has thrown this into stark relief, with customer service enjoying the unfortunate distinction of having one of the highest employee attrition rates.
By making a few adjustments to how you run your call center, you can increase agent engagement and spark motivation. Here are some tips to get you started:
Working in a call center can sometimes become monotonous. In a lot of cases, agents follow a set system of responses, often canned ones, and processes that make them feel their job is tedious and repetitive. Even worse, agents can get stuck not being able to help valuable customers because of those processes. Giving your agents a certain degree of autonomy when it comes to how they approach customer service and some leeway to make decisions themselves can have a major impact on their productivity. They get to hone their skills, genuinely feel like they’re helping more often than not, learn to relate better to customers, and become more adept at thinking on their feet. Giving agents the power to make refunds, send new products, or make other economic decisions without needing to check in with a manager, can be massively empowering.
2. Allow agents to take frequent, short breaks
There are numerous causes of tension and stress in a call center — irate customers, deadlines, meeting quotas, and very stringent protocols that need to be followed. All of these aspects of working in a call center can add up and affect day-to-day productivity and job satisfaction. They can also prohibit agents from going above and beyond and forging emotional connections with customers which can lead to lasting loyalty. A quick solution? Give your agents the option to take short but frequent breaks throughout their shift. Whether it’s to grab a snack or a quick cup of coffee, or simply take a breather, doing so can help give them some sense of control over what’s causing their stress and improve productivity. Not to mention, breaks give agents a chance to simply reset and meet the next customer confidently with a smile. The right customer service platform will allow agents to set themselves as away or present, or even allow for simultaneous ring (letting them take calls on their mobile phone instead of at the computer if they need to walk their dog or grab some fresh air). Remember, treat your agents like you want them to treat your customers.
In addition to the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that have traditionally been used to measure how well agents perform, you can also utilize newer technology to provide more specific, individualized insight into an agent’s performance and where they can improve. Making QA part of the day-to-day of your agents is a great way to continuously drive improvement and help your agents level up as well. By studying speech analytics, time spent on calls, response times, and other critical elements, you can assess what areas need improvement and coaching.
The most important part of measuring performance is to allow agents to reflect on it themselves. Being part of that process as a manager usually exposes inefficient processes and other causes of agent dissatisfaction (which often have a strong correlation to customer dissatisfaction as well). Checking in with your team and showing that you care goes a long way in helping boost team morale and, as a result, performance.
4. Be sure to recognize a job well done
Providing agents with positive feedback, incentivizing great performance, and recognizing even small achievements are great motivators for some agents. Knowing that they are making a difference to customers and the company they work for highlights their relevance and importance to the business. Treating your agents like the valued members of the team they are, will also lead to a more positive work environment which will encourage agents to stick around, saving you time and resources.
Incentives can also be an effective way to spur motivation, whether you are offering major bonuses or free lunches. Incentives can give agents an extra push to continually strive to be their best. However, if you decide to provide incentives, make sure they encourage behavior that won’t ultimately cause your business harm. For instance, incentivizing the ability to take many calls won’t always have a positive effect on performance: in some cases it can cause agents to rush through calls, often failing to adequately solve a customer’s problem, which in turn just causes the customer to call again.
In an industry where repetition is impossible to avoid, developing multichannel agents not only provides agents with a more diversified workday, but it also provides agents the opportunity to expand their skillset. Developing multichannel agents increases employee retention and reduces fatigue due to the variation in tasks.
By training agents in providing customer service on multiple channels, agents have the opportunity to uncover more of their strengths, which you can utilize to refine skill-based routing. It also allows your customer service department to deliver higher quality service, increasing customer satisfaction. All of these benefits improve agents’ overall work experience, sense of fulfillment, and productivity as a result.
It’s important that employees feel valued and relevant in an organization so they remain committed and motivated to do their jobs well. Investing in your agents will help your call center perform consistently better and retain employees. Start by implementing some of these tips and consider the benefits of running a multichannel contact center to keep morale and productivity levels consistently high.
Improving your agent experience goes a long way towards building a happier and more productive team. Our latest report, Why Service Leaders Should Focus on Improving Service from the Inside-Out, explores this in-depth and provides concrete steps to improving your agent experience.
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Villa Platanos, is a clear proof of virtuosity, of craftsmanship and elegance of Symians’ craftsmen, who continue to work and produce such carvings.For the restoration of the house, where used the existing stones of ruins, while, the old masonry was maintained where possible. The traditional materials such as stone, wood, tiles and erratic Symian slates, dominate. However, for reasons mainly static, for fire protection, thermal insulation and hygiene, modern materials were used, such as unreinforced and reinforced concrete, insulation materials, ceramic tiles etc. This modern materials, where used so as not to weaken the sense that this building, existed even since the pre-past century.The layout of the building follows, to a very great extent, the old organization of spaces. Although, it modifies, in the least burdensome way, the sizes and the uses of spaces, in order to correspond, as much as possible, to the requirements of the 21st century.
The underground tank cleaned of litter and repaired, so as to keep storing the rainwater. Although this water is not sufficient for the current needs of a home, supplements with water the City network, which now reaches, on a daily basis, the houses of the village. The basement, which was once a storage area beneath the plaster of the ground floor, after the dredging, got a sufficient height to form the bath of the ground level. On the ground floor, the traditional “Tsimia” was maintained, viz the fireplace with the niches and the cupboards on either side, which indicate its use as a kitchen. This room, because of its size, constitutes a place where the family could spend most of the time. It can also be used as a sleeping area for large families, as the wooden sofas, generously offer another storage room. That is the ambiance we sought to revive, and for that reason, the fireplace was preserved. Besides, the wooden sofa was repaired, as it reflects the craftsmanship of the carpenters of another era -and that, fortunately, local artisans still retain. Thus, this sofa, occupies a significant position, not only as a rest room, but also as a storage for necessary linen.
On the North wall, next to the fireplace where a window is detected, on the thickness of the stone wall, it was organized a table with all the essentials for making beverages, or even for a simple meal. The destination area is no longer the kitchen, but the “Tsimia” fireplace. This happens through the fireplace, does not constitute just a means for cooking, but also it is this dynamic element that warms the room, figuratively and practically, extending, on one hand, the holiday until Christmas, and providing, secondly, warmth in Spring and Easter, when the weather just “remembers” of the Winter. The wooden staircase connecting the ground floor with the rest of the house, will give once again the opportunity to the Symian Craftsman to show his mastery. In its main body, is hidden not only a closet, but also cabinets for utensils and other devices…
The wooden staircase connecting the ground floor with the rest of the house, will give once again the opportunity to the Symian Craftsman to show his mastery. In its main body, is hidden not only a closet, but also cabinets for utensils and other devices… The ground floor is also connected with the first floor, thanks to the six steps of the square, adjacent to the front door. These steps, lead to the house’s terrace, and therefore to the kitchen and the other bedrooms. Consequently, the steps provide access to the ground floor and the first floor. On the ground floor, was stood a functional kitchen with all the essentials for the daily family cooking. The “discourse” between the terrace and the kitchen is ideal, as the temperate climate allows the openness, even in winter. The terrace can be used as a living room and as a dining room, while it connects the main house with the ground floor. The kitchen gives the artisan the opportunity to syndicate the wood with the old art and the modern materials, to harmonise the atmosphere of nostalgia with the technology of the new devices. From the kitchen, we freely meet the bath and then, the stairs that lead to the atic, which has been transformed into a beautiful and spacious children’s room. Upstairs, the doors lead us to the two main bedrooms, while the stairs lead us down to the ground floor. In the big bedroom, dominates the sofa-bed, the stone arc at the bedside, and the wooden paneled wall, that reminisces the “Boulemes” which definitely separated the room from the hall back then. And in the East, there is the wooden balcony to hark the life in the Square, to gaze the open sea, to constitute… the observatory of the house.Anastasia Papaioannou, Architect
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This action is co-financed by the EARFD and the Hellenic Ministry of Rural Development & Food-RDP of Greece 2007-2013.
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Since the publication of the first POP Guide in 2001, millions of copies of the POP guides and other POP Center publications have been distributed to or downloaded by individuals and agencies throughout the world. POP Center materials are also widely used in police training and college courses.
Launched in 2003, the POP Center web site has provided innovative learning experiences, curriculum guides, teaching aids, problem analysis tools, and an immense range of information to its users.
Design and programming work for the POP Center website from its inception through 2017 was done by staff at the Professional Development Program at the State University of New York at Albany. This work is currently done by the Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions.
Director
Michael S. Scott is the director of the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing and clinical professor at Arizona State University's School of Criminology & Criminal Justice. He was formerly clinical professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School; chief of police in Lauderhill, Florida; civilian administrator in the St. Louis Metropolitan, Ft. Pierce, Florida, and New York City police departments; senior researcher at the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF); and a police officer in the Madison, Wisconsin, Police Department. He is the chair of the judging committee for the Herman Goldstein Award for Excellence in Problem-Oriented Policing. He was the 1996 recipient of PERF's Gary P. Hayes Award for innovation and leadership in policing. Scott holds a law degree from Harvard Law School and a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Associate Director
Ronald V. Clarke is University Professor at the School of Criminal Justice, Rutgers University and Associate Director of the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing. He previously headed the British government's criminological research department, where he had a significant role in developing situational crime prevention and the British Crime Survey. Clarke is the founding editor of Crime Prevention Studies, and his publications include Designing Out Crime (HMSO 1980, with Pat Mayhew), The Reasoning Criminal (Springer-Verlag 1986, with Derek Cornish), Situational Crime Prevention: Successful Case Studies (Criminal Justice Press, 1997), Superhighway Robbery (Willan Publishing, 2003, with Graeme Newman), Crime Analysis for Problem Solvers (US Dept of Justice, 2005, with John Eck), and Outsmarting the Terrorists (Praeger 2006, with Graeme Newman). He previously chaired the selection committee for the annual Herman Goldstein Award for Excellence in Problem-Oriented Policing. He was the 2015 co-recipient (with Pat Mayhew) of the Stockholm Prize in Criminology. Clarke holds a doctorate in psychology from the University of London.
Staff
Contact us (email)
Co-founder
Graeme R. Newman is Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus at the School of Criminal Justice, University at Albany. He has published works in the fields of the history and philosophy of punishment, comparative criminal justice, private security, situational crime prevention, and e-commerce crime, and has written commercial software. He was CEO of a publishing company for 15 years and in 1990 established the United Nations Crime and Justice Information Network. Among the books he has written or edited are: Superhighway Robbery: Crime Prevention and E-commerce Crime (with Ronald V. Clarke) and Rational Choice and Situational Crime Prevention (with Ronald V. Clarke and Shlomo Shoham). Professor Newman received his bachelor's degree from the University of Melbourne in Australia and his doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania.
List of POP Center Authors and Their Publications
The late Herman Goldstein (1931-2020) was a professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School and the original architect of the problem-oriented approach to policing. His first experiences in working with the police were in Philadelphia as a graduate student in governmental administration at the University of Pennsylvania and subsequently as an assistant to the city manager of Portland, Maine. He spent two years observing the on-the-street operations of the police in Wisconsin and Michigan as a researcher with the American Bar Foundations Survey of the Administration of Criminal Justice, and then participated in the analysis phase of that landmark project. From 1960 to 1964, he was executive assistant to the superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, O.W. Wilson, the widely recognized architect of the professional model of policing. Professor Goldstein has published widely on problem-oriented policing, the police function, police discretion, the political accountability of the police, and the control of police misconduct. He was co-author of the American Bar Association Standards Relating to the Urban Police Function. His 1977 book, Policing a Free Society, is among the most frequently cited works on the police. He first described the problem-oriented approach to policing in a 1979 article, which he expanded upon in his 1990 book, Problem-Oriented Policing. Professor Goldstein's research and writings have inspired many efforts to implement and advance problem-oriented policing in police agencies around the world.
Publications by this Author
The opinions contained herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing or Arizona State University. References to specific agencies, companies, products, or services should not be considered an endorsement by the authors, the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing or Arizona State University.
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Donate As the year ends, continuing Chalkbeat's work in 2023 depends on the support of readers like you.
Tonyaa Weathersbee is the bureau chief for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Before coming to Chalkbeat, she was the metro columnist for The Commercial Appeal, Memphis’ daily newspaper. Tonyaa is also a multiple-award winning journalist who spent much of her career as an opinion columnist and editorial board member for The Florida Times Union in Jacksonville, Fla. Her work has appeared on sites such as Black America Web, The Root, CNN, The Undefeated, The Bitter Southerner, The Marshall Project and Children & Nature News. She has published articles on her travels to Cuba, Haiti, Panama, Ecuador, Venezuela, Barbados, Grenada, Mexico, Canada, Jordan and Turkey. Tonyaa also holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in mass communication from the University of Florida, as well as a master’s certificate in Latin American Studies from UF. In 2020, Tonyaa was inducted into the UF CJC Hall of Fame - making her one of 165 graduates to receive that honor since the college created it in 1970.
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Monthly Meditation Group – Saturday afternoons | Norwich Counsellor & Hypnotherapist Cat Meditation – Cats have excellent telepathic communications with humans. Their purr is a soothing, healing vibration that is especially comforting and effective when they lie on you. This meditation journey with the cat is all about self-love…
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“Been coming for counselling on and off for the last 12 years, when really feeling low and in a rut. I did try medication, but find Hypnotherapy and Counselling works well for me. Would recommend it to anyone.” Dean
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Your fictional stories hub.
The two princes were indignant.
However, they did not know that if You Lan had not asked them to leave, they would have been two corpses by now!
If the two Imperial Advisors wanted to protect them, they would die along with them!
You Lan revealed an apologetic expression and bowed towards Su Zimo, saying sincerely, “No matter how they offended you earlier on, I’ll apologize to you here.”
It was out of Su Zimo’s expectations that You Lan would do something like that given her status as a princess.
They had only met by chance – to think that You Lan would stand on his side and even offend the two princes.
Initially, he had intended to make use of this incident to start a ma.s.sacre!
Now that You Lan was like that, it was not convenient for him to make a move.
Su Zimo nodded without saying anything more.
The Imperial Advisors of Great Shang and Great Xia exchanged glances and lamented internally.
Their two princes were royalty as well. However, compared to Princess You Lan, they were like dung!
Faced with the same situation of their dynasties’ destruction, the princess of Great You before them was trying her best to befriend various major sects, factions and paragons so that she can revive her dynasty.
However, their princes were merely thinking about women!
The two Imperial Advisors had already decided that if the trip to the North Region Dao Meet resulted in a successful revival of their dynasties, they would follow Princess You Lan.
In their opinion, Princess You Lan who was similarly a woman was no weaker than the current Empress of Great Zhou!
The reason why the Empress of Great Zhou could gain her current achievements was all because of that Dao Being Desolate Martial.
Uncle Zheng continued to steer the spirit vessel forward.
You Lan sat back down and pondered for a moment before saying, “To be honest, I’m a princess of the Great You Dynasty. Those two are princes of the Great Xia and Great Shang dynasties.”
After saying that, You Lan paused for a moment and looked into Su Zimo’s eyes.
The two Imperial Advisors standing behind her felt their hearts skip a beat as they glared at Su Zimo, wanting to see how the latter would react.
Unfortunately, they were disappointed.
Su Zimo’s expression was calm and his eyes were deep without any emotions.
It was as though the t.i.tle of prince and princess was no different from any other mortal in the eyes of the green-robed cultivator.
How could this be?
Could it be that this green-robed cultivator had not even heard of the four dynasties of the North Region?
The two Imperial Advisors muttered internally.
Right then, Su Zimo said indifferently, “From what I know, the three dynasties of Great Shang, Great Xia and Great You have already been destroyed.”
When You Lan saw that Su Zimo did not show any hostility, she was relieved.
“Yes.”
She let out a bitter laugh and sighed gently. “It coincidentally happened when our dynasty was down on our luck, as fate would dictate.”
After a brief pause, You Lan’s gaze turned resolute once more. “However, I’m indignant! I’m not willing to lose to the Empress of Great Zhou! I want to revive my dynasty!”
“Revive your dynasty?”
Su Zimo raised his brow.
You Lan nodded heavily. “The reason why the Great Zhou Dynasty is in such a state today is not because of how strong they are. It’s just because of a combination of many factors.”
That was true.
The reason why the Great Zhou Dynasty was able to unify so smoothly was mainly because of the calamity of the Witch Gu. It caused the three dynasties to collapse and fall apart without fighting!
You Lan continued, “I believe that I’m not inferior to the Empress of Great Zhou. Her only backing is just that Dao Being Desolate Martial!”
When he heard that, a strange look flashed through Su Zimo’s eyes.
Although Dao Being Desolate Martial was famous in the current cultivation world, not many people had seen his appearance.
You Lan did not know that the person sitting in front of her was Dao Being Desolate Martial!
You Lan did not notice the strange look in Su Zimo’s eyes and continued, “To be honest, the reason why I’m heading to the North Region Dao Meet is to look for a paragon that can suppress Dao Being Desolate Martial!”
Su Zimo laughed and shook his head slightly.
You Lan thought that Su Zimo did not believe her and said hurriedly, “Brother Su, Dao Being Desolate Martial’s body was crippled by a Half-Martial Ancestor and he lost his Divine Phoenix Bone and the Creation Green Lotus. His combat strength is no longer as strong as before.”
“Furthermore, there are many exceptional paragons and monster incarnates in this generation. There are people who can go against Desolate Martial!”
“Oh? Name them.”
Su Zimo asked.
You Lan said, “I heard that the Yuwen Clan of the four major cultivation clans has given birth to a monster incarnate. His Dao t.i.tle is Wushuang and he is the number one Dao Being of the North Region!”
“The reason why I’m heading to the North Region Dao Meet is because I hope to get this person to help.”
“If Dao Being Wushuang can make a move to suppress Desolate Martial and fight against Ethereal Peak with the Yuwen Clan’s power, Great You will definitely be able to revive our dynasty!”
At the mention of Dao Being Wushuang, a look of hatred flashed through the eyes of the Golden Lion.
However, he was sprawled on the side and no one noticed him.
Su Zimo asked again, “Do you have a deep relations.h.i.+p with Dao Being Wushuang?”
“Not really,”
You Lan shook her head and sighed gently. “Although we’re both at the Void Reversion realm, I don’t have the chance to come into contact with Dao Being Wushuang given his status. I’m just a stranger.”
“If that’s the case, why would he help you?” Su Zimo asked.
When she heard that question, You Lan suddenly fell silent.
The atmosphere became awkward.
“Forget it, forget it.”
Su Zimo waved it off casually.
To be fair, Su Zimo was not curious what methods You Lan would use to employ Yuwen Wushuang’s help – he was merely asking casually earlier on.
You Lan took a deep breath and suddenly raised her head. “I heard that Dao Being Wushuang likes beauties.”
Pausing for a moment, her face turned slightly red. Gritting her teeth, she said, “I think that I’m not bad looking. Furthermore, I’m at the Void Reversion realm and was once the princess of Great You. I believe that he’ll definitely be interested!”
Su Zimo was momentarily stunned.
He had not expected You Lan to have such plans.
“Is it worth it?”
Su Zimo asked instead.
“As long as I can help Great You revive, there’s nothing wrong with sacrificing my body!” You Lan’s tone was firm.
But right after, her eyes dimmed and she smiled bitterly. “I’m sure you must be despising me, right? That’s right, I deserve to be looked down upon for belittling myself like this.”
This was something extremely private and shameful. For some reason, You Lan told it to Su Zimo.
“You don’t have to say that,”
Su Zimo shook his head.
You Lan sniffed and forced a smile. “I’ve been holding it in for a long time. It’s much more comfortable to talk about it. For some reason, I just feel that you’re trustworthy.”
Pausing for a moment, she blinked at Su Zimo. “A woman’s sixth sense is very accurate!”
Standing behind Su Zimo, Nian Qi could not help but roll her eyes cutely and thought to herself that this woman was an idiot.
She wished she could say it out loud… “What bullsh*t sixth sense? This handsome, refined man before you is the Dao Being Desolate Martial that you want to suppress!”
Night Spirit’s gaze turned strange as well.
When Su Zimo saw how honest the other party was, he could not pretend any longer and sighed. “Actually, my name is Su Zimo.”
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SmartClick got the opportunity to work on several development projects as a result of the collaboration with the British Council. All of the media outlets were supported by the British Council and needed to be revamped or built from scratch. This project was part of the ”Media for All” programme that started in September 2019 and ended in June 2022. All of these media outlets are supporting the youth and young journalists in Macedonia as well as editors, owners and audiences across the Western Balkans to know how to run and maintain their websites and improve their online presence.
SmartClick got the opportunity to work on several development projects as a result of the collaboration with the British Council. All of the media outlets were supported by the British Council and needed to be revamped or built from scratch. This project was part of the ”Media for All” programme that started in September 2019 and ended in June 2022. All of these media outlets are supporting the youth and young journalists in Macedonia as well as editors, owners and audiences across the Western Balkans to know how to run and maintain their websites and improve their online presence.
Responsibilities
The main activities that were to bring success to the project
Improving the design
Improving the website structure
Improving the website architecture
Building websites from scratch
The problem: The collaboration consisted of revamping or building a new website from scratch for the media outlets participating in the “Media for All” programme. The main people responsible for each website were not IT fluent, so explaining how to upgrade the website further or maintain them was the major problem. From a developer perspective, there weren’t any problems with the building of the sites, as they were (all except for one) done in WordPress.
Our perspective of the issues: Each website had its own challenges, and needed the improvement of different functionalities. All of them were built according to designs that SmartClick has prepared in advance. It was our job to help each of the website administrators to understand how to easily fill their websites with new information or upgrade it in futute. WordPress was used for all media websites except for one, for which Joomla was used as a website builder platform.
Our client’s take on the project: As Danilo states in his testimonial, there were numerous difficulties and challenges regarding the expectations from the website owners, but SmartClick’s team has managed to overcome the issues and finalize the project with a smooth customer satisfactory experience.
The British Council supported a programme called “Media for All” that provided expert monitoring, training and support for local media outlets across Western Balkans to engage more effectively with their audiences in relations with their financial stability, improvement of gender equality in the workplace and providing tailored business development support.
An exciting challenge completed by SmartClick that brought smooth customer experience!
Principal Operations Manager at Celonis
I’ve had the pleasure of working with SmartClick’s team of developers on the project Media for All. We were working on the development of a series of web sites where Milan had successfully coordinated his team, responded to all challenges within the timeframe. The project had numerous difficulties and challenges from an expectation setting perspective – but I was so happy that he was leading his side and the team delivered as agreed. Thanks to that we managed to finalise everything on time and to provide a smooth customer experience in the end. Would like to work with SmartClick on similar projects in the future.
Principal Operations Manager at Celonis
The biggest challenge was related to the fact that the website owners were not tech savvy and knew little about website scalability and maintenance; however, with a clean structure and easy set navigation, their websites are now easy to upgrade and fill with information.
The Media outlets now have modern websites that function properly and are scalable and easy to maintain. They are able to provide excellent user experience to their visitors and do so in a facilitated way. The current Media outlets have all the elements a properly optimized website should have, so we can say that they have an improved online presence and better visibility than before.
What we provided to achieve the product
With Web Development services tailored specifically for your business needs, your website will drastically increase the user experience for your clients
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In March of 1958, a very caring man dragged a lost man, Bobby J. Barnett, into a church in Arkansas. After listening to this caring man telling him about how God loved him, Bobby responded by trusting Jesus. That night Bobby accepted Jesus as his savior and his life changed dramatically. It was never again the same. After a short period of time, Bobby knew he had been called to the ministry full time. Next came years of education, marriage and children, and even more education as he responded to the call of becoming a pastor.
Pastor Bobby J. Barnett left Mississippi for Rhode Island on September 4th, 1973.
The first official meeting of the future Chariho Southern Baptist Church was a prayer meeting held in the home of Mrs. Edith Naylor on Rockville Alton Road. Present at that meeting were Edith Naylor, Andy Tabak, Hazel Bailey, Maureen Palmer, Ernie Boss, Eric DelSanto, Mary and Bobby Barnett. The prayer was for direction from Almighty God on when and where to start the official Sunday services of the church. They decided to use the name CHARIHO, after the school district, which serves the areas of Charlestown, Richmond, and Hopkinton. The mission started with Sunday service December 16th, 1973 in the Gordon Green American Legion post with 56 present. The church was officially incorporated on January 3, 1974, @ 4:00 pm in the law office of F. Thomas Lenihan. Present at that incorporation service were Edith Naylor, Maureen Palmer, Blanche Hill, Mary and Bobby Barnett. The Chariho Southern Baptist Church was officially constituted on March 31, 1974, with 42 charter members. The Rev. Jack Schneider preached the constitution service. As a church, the first prayer meeting was held in the home of Elwood and Hazel Bailey on April 10, 1974, and the first business meeting with a treasurers report was held in the Bailey home on April 17. 1974. Services were terminated at the American Legion Hall on May 26, 1974, and from there the church moved to Pastor Barnett’s front yard in Bradford for the next 3 weeks. On June 23, 1974, Sunday and Evening worship services were moved to the Chariho High School in Richmond.
On May 6th, 1975, Ms. Evelyn Johnson gave Chariho Southern Baptist Church 9 and 1/4 acres of land valued at $45,000 on Alton Bradford Rd. On August 3rd, 1975, the church received an anonymous check in the amount of $17,626.55 for the building fund and to this day Pastor Bob still does not know who donated that money but always said: “God provided”. On June 13th, 1976, groundbreaking ceremony was held on the church land, and the church and parsonage were started. Workgroups came from Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia and West Virginia to donate their time and help on the building. Many offerings and donations were made, including the communion table, pulpit, and chairs by the workgroup from Mississippi. Pews were purchased from a church in Monette AR, and hymn books were donated by family and friends. On May 21st, 1978 members moved from the high school to the present building. From a human standpoint, the Chariho Southern Baptist Church owes a debt of gratitude they will never be able to repay to Mrs. Evelyn Johnson, Elwood Bailey, and David Kenyon.
January 2008 a new chapter began for Chariho Southern Baptist Church and the surrounding communities. Our beloved Pastor Bobby Barnett and his wife Mary moved back to Arkansas to continue their work for God. Pastor Bob is not just a good man but a great man who touched so many lives over the years and will he will be sadly missed by many. Pastor Bob was the pillar of guidance, knowledge and spiritual leader of Chariho Church. So many people in the surrounding communities know of Pastor Bob even if they have never stepped foot into the church.
While we miss Pastor Bobby, we are excited about the future. God is working in our church and community in exciting and new ways. Please join us for worship this Sunday and become a part of our future.
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Here are some of our favorite rides from Petaluma, all beginning near the corner of Petaluma Blvd. and "B" Street. The links are to maps created using www.ridewithgps.com. In addition to printing a route slip (or loading the route to your phone or GPS device), we recommend consulting a good cycling map, such as the one put out by the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition. Have fun!
10–30 miles, small to moderate hills
Carrie's Beginner 15-Mile Loop Great beginner route, a couple of small hills included.
I St. Loop 10 miles of scenic countryside. Best ridden on weekends or after the morning commute is over since many cars use the "I" Street Extension in the early morning to get to the freeway.
Chileno Valley-Spring Hill Loop A classic. Preferable route is clockwise, as the bad road surface on Spring Hill is more manageable in that direction. Around 28 miles. You can also opt to turn around anywhere along Chileno Valley Rd. and head back to town, making it a ride of any distance you like. Watch out for the increasingly numerous potholes on Spring Hill Rd.
Novato Loop A 30-mile loop to Novato, which returns to Petaluma along the bike path / frontage road system opened in 2019. Stop for coffee at Dr. Insomniac's.
Wilson Hill Loop Intermediate. A couple of good climbs in 20 miles, and a nice winding descent back to town on "D" Street. Good in either direction – but if you start out on "D" Street, wait till after the morning commute.
Our Tomales Loop A Wheelmen staple. About 45 miles with a stop at the Tomales Bakery. We do this at least once a week, in every season. There are ways to make it longer and steeper (take Wilson Hill/Marshall Wall to Hwy 1) or shorter and flatter (just take Bodega to Tomales Road both ways); consult a bike map to see all your options.
Freestone Loop Another popular bakery ride, also about 45 miles. We're showing you the clockwise loop, which is preferable on a Sunday, since you'll be going in the opposite direction of the RVs returning from the coast. Other days, you might prefer the counter-clockwise loop, and get your climbing out of the way on the way to the bakery! Recommended for more experienced cyclists: Burnside Rd. is steep in some spots, and there is some fast traffic on the short section of Bodega Hwy. Nevertheless a spectacular ride, with great views of Mt. St. Helena from the top of Burnside Road. This ride can be made almost completely flat by just taking Bodega - Valley Ford Rd. both ways. Note that Wild Flour Bread in Freestone is open only Friday through Monday, and usually closes for a couple of weeks in January.
Novato via Wilson Hill We have several routes to Novato. Here's one that's 42 miles, throws in a nice climb over Wilson Hill Rd. to start, and adds some (optional) meandering in the Bahia and Blackpoint areas east of Novato for good measure. Dips into downtown Novato for a stop at Dr. Insomniac's (link above).
Marshall Out-and-Back This ride travels along beautiful and remote Marshall-Petaluma Rd., first in the valley along Walker Creek, then over the "Marshall Wall" to the village of Marshall. Plenty of climbing (3300') in 41 miles, but you can shorten it to 35 miles (and skip a big climb) by turning around at the top of the ridge rather than descending to Marshall. No bakery stop on this one, but you can get your fix (and add about 10 miles) by completing a loop through Point Reyes Station or Tomales, if you like.
Over 50 miles, for experienced cyclists
Petaluma-Occidental Loop This is a beautiful metric century (around 61 miles) taking you through Sebastopol, Occidental, and then through some coastal hills and home through the idyllic farmland of Chileno Valley. Covers some of the same area as the Freestone Loop above, but more climbing and about 15 more miles. Your best stop is the Union Hotel or Howard's Cafe, unless (if it's on Friday-Monday) you want to press on to Freestone (see Wild Flour Bread, above).
Samuel P. Taylor Loop This 63-mile ride takes you south into Marin County, sampling the beautiful path through Samuel P. Taylor State Park, and the San Geronimo, Nicasio and Lucas valleys before heading north through Novato.
To see our entire collection of routes, visit the PWCC Ride with GPS Route Library.
Petaluma Wheelmen: Cycling Safely since 1895
OUR MISSION:
PWCC creates opportunities for men and women cyclists of all levels to meet, make friends, ride, explore and train together in a safe and supportive environment.
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Vastned, the listed European retail property company focusing on venues for premium shopping, has realised an improvement of the occupancy rate to 96.6% and an increase of the share of premium city high street shops to 55%.
“
In the first six months of 2014 we have made further progress in the execution of our high street strategy. After realising key objectives at the end of 2013, the strategy was updated with focus on growth in premium cities, and Annelou De Groot started as country manager Netherlands on 1 January 2014. Furthermore, we successfully finalised the sale of the Spanish shopping centres/galleries and a retail park, and disposed of € 54 million in non-core property in the Netherlands, Belgium and France, around book value. The favourable value developments in the category premium cities, acquisitions, and the divestments pushed the share of premium city high street shops up to 55%. General market developments show that retailers are still struggling with poor consumer confidence and low spending. While the situation appears to be improving somewhat over the past few months, we remain cautious about any lasting economic recovery. Polarisation between popular and less popular retail locations is increasing. Our customers, retailers, remain cautious and only choose the best locations, where they can reach and serve their customers best. This is also reflected in our results. Premium city high street shops are showing strong results on key parameters like occupancy rate, value movements and rent growth. The result improved from € 0.7 million negative 30 June 2013 to € 9.4 million positive 30 June 2014. This strengthens our confidence to continue executing our strategy in the same way. Since we have successfully concluded the majority of the divestments we envisaged, we will be focussing on targeted acquisitions in the near future. At the publication of our annual results for 2013, we expressed our expectation for the direct result for 2014, in line with the strategy aimed at more stable and more predictable results. We maintain our estimate of a direct result for 2014 of between € 2.10 and € 2.30 per share. We add to that the expectation that we will distribute a dividend of at least € 1.90 per share for the full year 2014.
„
Vastned is a listed European retail property company focusing on venues for premium shopping. Vastned invests in selected cities in Europe and Istanbul, with a clear focus on the best retail property in the most popular shopping streets in the bigger cities (high streets). Vastned’s tenants are strong and leading international and national retail brands. The property portfolio has a size of approximately € 1.5 billion.
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Archy Marshall (Recording under King Krule) returned from his four year long hiatus when he released his sophomore LP, “The OOZ”, on Oct. 13, 2017. His hour-and-six-minute long album covers a wide array of topics dealing with insomnia, depression, love, lust and consumption.
These topics are all connected by two major thematic concepts that run throughout the album. The first being the concept of “The OOZ” itself: what it is and what it entails for the living.
In an interview for Pitchfork, Marshall describes “The OOZ” as all about the kinds of things that people do subconsciously and likens it to people’s bodily fluids.
He describes it as the human body’s constant state of creating, and it is the constant need to create that ties the 19 songs that span the album together. Marshall describes it as ideas half digested and regurgitated as a sludge to be experienced. Among these regurgitated ideas lies the second major thematic concept that is present in “The OOZ.” It is a story of lovers and the cycle of over consumption of each other in which they are stuck–the thin line that separates paradise and parasite.
This concept is first noticeably observed in the first spoken word interlude on the track listing, “Bermondsey Bosom (Left).” On “Bermondsey Bosom (Left)”, Marshall is noticeably absent from the track. In his place, a woman speaking in a Spanish dialect delivers a spoken word piece describing a protagonist of sorts that is stuck in a grey zone between two states of being. He is described to be “lonely, but surrounded.”
The first thematic concept is referenced in this spoken word piece as well when the speaker states, “he arose a bloodsucker, painting objects in black and blue with projections of himself.” Here, these “projections,” represent the bodily creations that Archy described. As the piece is read, the second thematic concept is presented when the speaker describes the relationship between the two lovers as “you and I against this city of parasites, parasite, paradise, parasite, paradise.” These lines paint the lovers as the two of them against the world, left only to rely on each other.
Their relationship is further realized in the following track, “Logos.” From the first line of the song, it is clear how the relationship between them is almost entirely based on consumption.
Marshall opens the song with, “she smoked me whole and blows out o’s.” This line shows that Marshall is completely consumed by his lover, and in that consumption something is built by the two. This is mirrored in the closing line of the song as well when Marshall sings,“she draws me in and swallows whole.” This theme of being consumed to serve a purpose is also present in the mixing of the music as well.
Marshall’s presence on the track listing varies and adapts to match the theme of the song. This is seen as Marshall takes center stage on certain songs, like “Dum Surfer” and “Vidual,” while in others he is absent for a majority of the track, like “The Cadet Leaps.” This is intentional, as it reflects the theme presented in “Logos.”
Marshall’s presence shifts to ultimately create something that is deemed to be better and beautiful. It could be described as a paradise as these two entities consume each other and create something beautiful, but at the same time, also parasitic as their “selves” are lost somewhere in the mix. Marshall reflects on this relationship as he softly and melancholically delivers the line,“you used to complete me, but I guess I learned a lesson.” Marshall has learned from his parasitic paradise and is ready to move forward, wherever that may be.
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“More is better.” From the number of gigs in a cellular data plan to the horsepower in a pickup truck, this mantra is ubiquitous in American culture. When it comes to college students, the belief that more is better may underlie their widely-held view that laptops in the classroom enhance their academic performance. Laptops do in fact allow students to do more, like engage in online activities and demonstrations, collaborate more easily on papers and projects, access information from the internet, and take more notes. Indeed, because students can type significantly faster than they can write, those who use laptops in the classroom tend to take more notes than those who write out their notes by hand. Moreover, when students take notes using laptops they tend to take notes verbatim, writing down every last word uttered by their professor.
Obviously it is advantageous to draft more complete notes that precisely capture the course content and allow for a verbatim review of the material at a later date. Only it isn’t. New research by Pam Mueller and Daniel Oppenheimer demonstrates that students who write out their notes on paper actually learn more. Across three experiments, Mueller and Oppenheimer had students take notes in a classroom setting and then tested students on their memory for factual detail, their conceptual understanding of the material, and their ability to synthesize and generalize the information. Half of the students were instructed to take notes with a laptop, and the other half were instructed to write the notes out by hand. As in other studies, students who used laptops took more notes. In each study, however, those who wrote out their notes by hand had a stronger conceptual understanding and were more successful in applying and integrating the material than those who used took notes with their laptops.
What drives this paradoxical finding? Mueller and Oppenheimer postulate that taking notes by hand requires different types of cognitive processing than taking notes on a laptop, and these different processes have consequences for learning. Writing by hand is slower and more cumbersome than typing, and students cannot possibly write down every word in a lecture. Instead, they listen, digest, and summarize so that they can succinctly capture the essence of the information. Thus, taking notes by hand forces the brain to engage in some heavy “mental lifting,” and these efforts foster comprehension and retention. By contrast, when typing students can easily produce a written record of the lecture without processing its meaning, as faster typing speeds allow students to transcribe a lecture word for word without devoting much thought to the content.
To evaluate this theory, Mueller and Oppenheimer assessed the content of notes taken by hand versus laptop. Their studies included hundreds of students from Princeton and UCLA, and the lecture topics ranged from bats, bread, and algorithms to faith, respiration, and economics. Content analysis of the notes consistently showed that students who used laptops had more verbatim transcription of the lecture material than those who wrote notes by hand. Moreover, high verbatim note content was associated with lower retention of the lecture material. It appears that students who use laptops can take notes in a fairly mindless, rote fashion, with little analysis or synthesis by the brain. This kind of shallow transcription fails to promote a meaningful understanding or application of the information.
If the source of the advantage for longhand notes derives from the conceptual processes they evoke, perhaps instructing laptop users to draft summative rather than verbatim notes will boost performance. Mueller and Oppenheimer explored this idea by warning laptop note takers against the tendency to transcribe information without thinking, and explicitly instructed them to think about the information and type notes in their own words. Despite these instructions, students using laptops showed the same level of verbatim content and were no better in synthesizing material than students who received no such warning. It is possible these direct instructions to improve the quality of laptop notes failed because it is so easy to rely on less demanding, mindless processes when typing.
It’s important to note that most of the studies that have compared note taking by hand versus laptop have used immediate memory tests administered very shortly (typically less than an hour) after the learning session. In real classroom settings, however, students are often assessed days if not weeks after learning new material. Thus, although laptop users may not encode as much during the lecture and thus may be disadvantaged on immediate assessments, it seems reasonable to expect that the additional information they record will give them an advantage when reviewing material after a long delay.
Wrong again. Mueller and Oppenheimer included a study in which participants were asked to take notes by hand or by laptop, and were told they would be tested on the material in a week. When participants were given an opportunity to study with their notes before the final assessment, once again those who took longhand notes outperformed laptop participants. Because longhand notes contain students’ own words and handwriting, they may serve as more effective memory cues by recreating the context (e.g., thought processes, emotions, conclusions) as well as content (e.g., individual facts) from the original learning session.
These findings hold important implications for students who use their laptops to access lecture outlines and notes that have been posted by professors before class. Because students can use these posted materials to access lecture content with a mere click, there is no need to organize, synthesize or summarize in their own words. Indeed, students may take very minimal notes or not take notes at all, and may consequently forego the opportunity to engage in the mental work that supports learning.
Beyond altering students’ cognitive processes and thereby reducing learning, laptops pose other threats in the classroom. In the Mueller and Oppenheimer studies, all laptops were disconnected from the internet, thus eliminating any disruption from email, instant messaging, surfing, or other online distractions. In most typical college settings, however, internet access is available, and evidence suggests that when college students use laptops, they spend 40% of class time using applications unrelated to coursework, are more likely to fall off task, and are less satisfied with their education. In one study with law school students, nearly 90% of laptop users engaged in online activities unrelated to coursework for at least five minutes, and roughly 60% were distracted for half the class.
Technology offers innovative tools that are shaping educational experiences for students, often in positive and dynamic ways. The research by Mueller and Oppenheimer serves as a reminder, however, that even when technology allows us to do more in less time, it does not always foster learning. Learning involves more than the receipt and the regurgitation of information. If we want students to synthesize material, draw inferences, see new connections, evaluate evidence, and apply concepts in novel situations, we need to encourage the deep, effortful cognitive processes that underlie these abilities. When it comes to taking notes, students need fewer gigs, more brain power.
Are you a scientist who specializes in neuroscience, cognitive science, or psychology? And have you read a recent peer-reviewed paper that you would like to write about? Please send suggestions to Mind Matters editor Gareth Cook, a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist and regular contributor to NewYorker.com. Gareth is also the series editor of Best American Infographics, and can be reached at garethideas AT gmail dot com or Twitter @garethideas.
Cindi May is a Professor of Psychology at the College of Charleston. She explores mechanisms for optimizing cognitive function in college students, older adults, and individuals with intellectual disabilities. She is also the project director for a TPSID grant from the Department of Education, which promotes the inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities in postsecondary education.
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Recently a young man claiming to be a poor chasan appeared at our door shortly before the onset of Shabbos. I gave him a good-sized contribution. A few minutes later, I went to take out the garbage, and spotted a member of a comedically incompetent group of con-men that has been plaguing our building on Erev Shabbos on the stairs.
On the way to the garbage can, I noticed the con-men’s regular car down the street. I waited under the building, and the “poor chasan” and his accomplice came out of the elevator together, joking and smiling. I approached the “chasan” and demanded that he give me back the money or I would call the police. The two insisted that they had nothing to do with one another, and had only met by chance in the elevator. But the “chasan” grudgingly returned my contribution.
Rather than feeling good about having retrieved my misdirected tzedakah, however, I felt violated. I had wanted to help a poor yeshiva bochur get married. And now I was deprived of my mitzvah.
This incident got me thinking about the corrosive power of lying and cheating. As a consequence of this group’s antics, we are giving differently. New collectors come under a cloud of suspicion, however fleeting, that was never there before. Hopefully, they receive no less than before, but something has been lost.
Dishonesty erodes the fabric that binds any social unit, whether it be the family, a community, or even a nation: trust. Every act of deceit has consequences far beyond its immediate impact; it devalues the basic social currency – the words we speak to one another. Perhaps in recognition of the far-reaching consequences of every lie, the Gemara entertains the possibility that knowingly signing a fraudulent contract also falls under the rule “allow oneself to be killed rather than transgress” – along with murder, idolatry, and immorality (Kesubos 19a).
A visitor from abroad recently brought his son to Rav Ahron Leib Steinman, and asked him what should be the focus of his chinuch. Rav Steinman replied simply: emes. “Separate yourself from every false thing,” (Shemos 23:7) Rav Steinman, was saying, must be the centerpiece of our education of our children, until uttering a falsehood or engaging in deception becomes unthinkable for them. That education involves both the lo lishma (fear of punishment) and the lishma of following the Torah’s command. Constant stories about the exactitude of the Gedolei Yisrael with respect to emes would be one means of bringing out the latter.
Much behavior that would be appalling in adults – standing on tables, refusing to “give Shalom” to the rav — may be perfectly appropriate in a child. But from time that our children are old enough to know the difference between truth and fantasy, we must work to uproot lying.
First, children should understand that lies will inevitably be discovered. As Mark Twain said, “If you tell the truth, you don’t need a good memory.” But lies usually involve a tangled skein of further lies to cover up the original deception. And at some point, they will be found out. Next, our children must learn that the negative consequences of being caught outweigh any possible advantage from the lie.
But far worse than any punishment, they should feel, is the loss of parental trust that comes with being exposed as having lied. The crown of a good name once tarnished is hard to restore to its original lustre.
Rabbi Binyamin Kaminetsky relates how his father Rav Yaakov Kaminetsky instilled in him for life the fear of losing his standing as an upright Jew. Reb Yaakov noticed his son carrying a book that he had been reading on the train between Baltimore and New York, and asked him whether it was his. Reb Binyomin replied that he had borrowed it from the Ner Israel library. But Reb Yaakov was not satisfied with that response, and demanded to know whether he had explicit permission to take the book from the library.
Informed that he did not, Reb Yaakov instructed him to immediately mail it back to Ner Israel. “All your life you have learned in yeshivos and soon you will receive semichah,” Reb Yaakov told his son. “Yet if anything happens to this book before you return it, you will be disqualified as a witness in a Jewish court. . . . Does it really pay for 75 cents to change your entire halachic status?”
The only way to instill in our children the concept that lying is a dvar mius (something disgusting) is by modeling that attitude ourselves. We sow destruction when we involve our children in deceit – e.g., telling the stranger at the door that their father is not home – or let them witness less than honest behavior on our part. An expert in dealing with “children at risk” once told me that the best protection against the phenomenon is for children never to see their parents engaged in various shtiklach.
Unless deceitfulness is uprooted early on the habit of cutting corners for momentary gain can come to pervade every aspect of one’s life. Reb Yaakov once threw a student out of Torah Vodaas for allowing another student to copy his answers on the New York State Regents Exam. Decades later the same person was caught in a front-page financial scandal. Reb Yaakov laid the blame on those institutions that had been too quick to accept him after his expulsion and had treated his cheating on a government exam as inconsequential. Had they not done so, Reb Yaakov commented acerbically, he might have learned that cheating is something serious.
Citizens of Israel are now experiencing what happens when a whole society is comprised of people who have not learned midvar sheker tirchak. Senior ministers, including the prime minister, the heads of the Income Tax Authority, the person in charge of combating corruption in the Civil Service Commissioner’s office, and half a dozen other leading figures are either under suspicion of criminal fraud, being actively investigated, or already on trial.
Joe Citizen starts to wonder why he should pay taxes, when rich businessmen are able to influence the appointment of cronies in the Income Tax Authority. And even worse, he wonders how he can entrust his son to the IDF, after the former Chief of Staff has charged that the ground operations belatedly commenced in the final two days of the war in Lebanon, in which more than thirty Jewish soldiers were killed, was nothing more than a “spin operation” designed to bolster the Prime Minister’s low poll numbers.
A country in which citizens have no more trust in their leaders’ ability to place the national welfare above their personal gain has truly lost its way.
Originally appeared in Mishpacha magazine.
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Dr. E says:
January 17, 2007 at 8:56 am
While the focus of the piece obviously deals with emess and yashrus, the premise cannot be ignored. That is tzedaka collectors becoming not only far too ubiquitous but sometimes demanding and brazen (“magiah li”). Tzedaka collection is a sort of public trust for which well meaning donors are being taken advantage of more and more as the volume of collectors and letters soar. How many donors have given money to collectors only to whiff cigarette smoke as the collector moves on to canvas the room? So, the pathetic story which preys on our sympathies turns out to merely be a conduit for a nicotine habit and a support for lifelong underemployment.
The reference of the “chassan” collecting on his own behalf (and the knee-jerk reaction of giving under that pretense) has got to make one realize how broken the system is. Why is someone in such a situation? Why is he a “chassan” if he cannot support a kallah and family? (And why does that not raise a red flag?) There is a whole subculture out there that collecting for oneself or one’s family is no longer a last resort, but is “Plan B”–when in reality there really wasn’t any viable Plan A. This is not emess and yashrus either. Sometimes this is due to lack of parental direction, sometimes it is unrealistic expectations set up by the yeshivos. This applies not only to those who shnorr, but it’s indicative of an attitude and wordview that has become the norm even in better economic circumstances.
Of course, there are certainly some truly unfortunate cases where we need to step up to the plate. And it’s a real shame that the charletans and deadbeats out there have created a climate of cynicism towards a mitzva as central as tzedaka.
Joel Rich says:
January 17, 2007 at 9:38 am
I couldn’t agree more but is there any cognitive dissonance between this dedication to complete truth and a popular philosophy articulated by Rabbi Shimon Schwab as quoted by Rabbi J. J. Schacter “There is a vast difference between history and storytelling. History must be truthful otherwise it does not deserve its name…. What ethical purpose is served by preserving a realistic historic picture? Nothing but the satisfaction of curiosity. We should tell ourselves and our children the good memories of the good people…What is gained by pointing out their inadequacies…? We want to be inspired by their example…”?
KT
Yisrael Moshe says:
January 17, 2007 at 10:31 pm
I can’t thank you enough for pointing out the overwhelming faults of those who control the Israeli Government.
It bothers me to no end the way these so called leaders routinely lie bold faced to the Israeli public with impunity.
And your point about the trickle down effect is so important. Leaders set the tone of a country, and when they lie, it becomes acceptable day-to-day discourse for an entire country.
I apologize for essentially repeating what you wrote in the article without having something unique to add, but it is therapeutic to know that I am not the only one who thinks this way. It’s good to know that I am not crazy.
January 18, 2007 at 12:06 am
I think you may have left out a level. Rabbonim set the tone, and when even a small percentage of rabbis and others wearing the uniform of the frum game the system, or even, G-d forbid commit outright fraud or act like thugs… The world sees it.
Terrible things flow from religious leaders who aren’t what they ought to be. It was when the High Priest died that people went home from the Cities of Refuge; negligent homicide was laid at the door of the High Priest who didn’t set the right tone.
What is the power of a bad example, of bad publicity? When I first went into practice I was told that if a client has a really good experience with your services on average they will tell three or four people; if they have a bad one they will tell everybody they know.
Aaron says:
January 18, 2007 at 1:07 am
“Citizens of Israel are now experiencing what happens when a whole society is comprised of people who have not learned midvar sheker tirchak.”
Do lies include making demands on others in order to live beyond one’s means?
Perhaps if gedolim would send their own adult children to communities where the cost of living was 1/3 that of J-lem, Boro Park or Monsey, it would be possible for families to live a modest Torah life that isn’t such a financial hardship where the baal habatim work overtime so that they have to delegate “v’shinantam livanecha” to others and slave to enrich mortgage companies and caterers? What about choosing a community where a baal habayit can work a regular day and come home with a little bit of energy left for his family and fit in a seder for learning?
Moreover, cities where haredim are concentrated are especially overflowing with geysers flowing with the values we try to eschew. Why not consider neo-shtetlism away from billboards and urban ethics? Such a movement can’t begin with baal habatim who will be stigmatized. It would require a Torah leader to LEAD by example.
Perhaps maybe an edict against hiring the golddigging boys who come out of yeshivas where the roshei yeshiva encourage demanding exorbitant dowries to accompany the edict against attending weddings with more than 400 guests. “Average” kollel boys are worth a dowry of half a house and a stipend from the in-laws? Puh-leeze. That Borsalino is made of tissue paper.
Why is a “working boy” who is serious about learning promoted as inferior “husband material” by haredi leaders?
In a class of 100 kollel boys, if the rosh yeshiva can’t quantify the difference between the 12th in his class and the 27th so that independent outsiders can judge, please explain to me how the kollel “system” is _not_ smoke and mirrors. And are boys ranked #41 through #100 really entitled to being fully supported? Or maybe they should do something akin to work-study, apprenticed to the Zevuluns in the community to help mikadesh the level of commerce we practice?
And while we’re talking about dishonesty, what would Reb Yaacov Kaminetsky have said to Jews who use pirated software to write their Divrei Torah?
January 18, 2007 at 9:19 am
There is also a “trickle up” effect. Some types of dishonesty are endemic to Israeli society, which makes it easier for the politicians to think they will be able to get away with things. The problem is that once you start accepting some dishonesty, it’s hard to draw the line.
January 18, 2007 at 5:46 pm
Gdoley Israel might be able to live without luxuries. However, most of us need shovels. Isn’t there a risk that a Torah only curriculum would result in young men who are lacking the means to support their family except for Torah, and therefore would be forced to commit this sin? Isn’t that a case of putting a stumbling block in front of the blind?
I am not Charedi, so I may be missing something critical here. If so, could you please tell me what?
GB says:
January 18, 2007 at 9:04 pm
One of the main reasons we made yerida (and there are many like us) is that living in Israel one is forced to compromise one’s emes, whether exchanging dollars on the black market or cheating on taxes, etc. etc. which is not something we were willing to do nor did we wish to expose our children to this type of game-playing. I admire those who are stronger than the system, but tzaddikim are very few and far between.
Aaron says:
January 18, 2007 at 11:05 pm
GB, I almost made aliyah with my family but I found that “becoming Israeli” came at the expense of emes, as you said. Yes, there were some specific mitzvos I could only acquire there, but I came to the conclusion that my aliyah would only be successful if I could remain what jaded Israelis would call a “freier” and have a US-based business that I could perform from a home office, there. Currently working toward that goal. I need and want to be insulated from the arbitrary bureaucracy and crushing socialism. I have no stomach for haggling and have problems with haggling hashkafically (Two people buying the same item pay different prices because one can haggle harder or wear down the seller? There’s a tinge of gneivah there. Better system is for a proprietor to put price stickers on goods and adjust the price based on the traffic. It eliminates the whole issue of gneivas daas that we are cautioned against as the potential buyer never has to ask and engage in the uncomfortable process of negotiation.)
dovid says:
January 21, 2007 at 10:09 pm
Aharon: “…what would Reb Yaacov Kaminetsky have said to Jews who use pirated software to write their Divrei Torah?”
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Station 82-1 personnel trained in a multi-agency ice rescue drill held at Station 82-1 and the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area. Participating agencies were Monmouth County 82-1, 12-1, 26-1, 82-21, Ocean County 39, Mercer County 43, Middlesex County 48 , and UFT OEM.
December 29, 2017 Alex
Now that winter has arrived, please take the time to read these tips from the NFPA and US Fire Administration. Keep warm, but stay fire safe!
Heating, holiday decorations, winter storms and candles all contribute to an increased risk of fire during the winter months. NFPA and the U.S. Fire Administration are teaming up to help reduce your risk to winter fires and other hazards, including carbon monoxide and electrical fires.
Heating
Heating is the second leading cause of U.S. home fires, deaths and injuries. December, January and February are the peak months for heating fires. Space heaters are the type of equipment most often involved in home heating equipment fires, figuring in two of every five fires (40%). More statistics on heating fires.
Dan Doofus learns some important safety lessons about home heating.
Often called the invisible killer, carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas created when fuels such as gasoline, wood, coal, propane, etc. do not burn. In the home, heating and cooking equipment that burn fuel are potential sources of CO. Carbon monoxide incidents are more common during the winter months, and in residential properties. More statistics on carbon monoxide incidents.
Most of the U.S. is at risk for winter storms, which can cause dangerous and sometimes life-threatening conditions. Blinding wind-driven snow, extreme cold, icy road conditions, downed trees and power lines can all wreak havoc on our daily schedules. Home fires occur more in the winter than in any other season, and heating equipment is involved in one of every six reported home fires, and one in every five home fire deaths.
Portable generators are useful during power outages, however, many homeowners are unaware that the improper use of portable generators can be risky. The most common dangers associated with portable generators are carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, electrical shock or electrocution, and fire hazards. According to a 2013 Consumer Product Safety Commission report, half of the generator-related deaths happened in the four coldest months of the year, November through February, and portable generators were involved in the majority of carbon monoxide deaths involving engine-driven tools.
December is the peak time of year for home candle fires; the top four days for home candle fires are New Year’s Day, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and Christmas Eve. Each year between 2009 and 2013, an average of 25 home candle fires were reported each day. More statistics on candle fires.
Electrical home fires are a leading cause of home fires in the U.S. Roughly half of all home electrical fires involved electrical distribution or lighting equipment, while nearly another half involved other known types of equipment like washer or dryer fans, and portable or stationary space heaters. More statistics on electrical fires.
Dan Doofus learns more about what you can do to keep your home safe from electrical fires.
Christmas trees are combustible items that become increasing flammable as they continue to dry out in your home. Nearly 40 percent of home fires that begin with Christmas trees occur in January. Although Christmas tree fires are not common, when they do occur they’re much more likely to be serious. More statistics on Christmas tree fires.
A live Christmas tree burn conducted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) shows just how quickly a dried out Christmas tree fire burns, with flashover occurring in less than one minute, as compared to a well-watered tree, which burns at a much slower rate.
December 17, 2017 Alex
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Station 82-1 responded to multiple calls throughout Upper Freehold with strong winds causing downed trees and electrical wires.nbsp
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Station 82-1 conducted fire prevention education at the elementary school.
vehicle extrication training
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Station 82-1 personnel conducted vehicle extrication training.
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Station 82-1 responded to multiple incidents throughout the day. Crews were faced with a stove fire, furnace malfunction, over turned vehicle, and struck pedestrian.
November 19, 2017 FireCompanies.com
Station 82-1 responded to multiple calls throughout Upper Freehold, with strong winds causing downed trees and electrical wires.
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A senior al Qaeda operative who served as an aide to al Qaeda’s external operations chief was killed in a drone strike last week, according to US officials. The report has not been confirmed.
Aslam Awan, a deputy to the leader of al Qaeda’s external operations network, was killed in the Jan. 11 airstrike in Miramshah, the main town in Pakistan’s Taliban-controlled tribal agency of North Waziristan, US officials told Reuters. The external operations network is a branch of al Qaeda’s military council that is tasked with striking in the US, Europe, and areas outside of South Asia.
Awan is a Pakistani citizen who is also known as Abdullah Khorasani, US officials told Reuters. He is from Abbottabad, the same Pakistani city where Osama bin Laden was killed in May 2011 by US special operations forces. US officials did not disclose why they believe Awan was killed, and al Qaeda has not released a statement confirming his death.
The Jan. 11 strike targeted a compound on the outskirts of Miramshah; four “militants,” including three “Arabs,” were said to have been killed in the strike. The identity of the Arabs has not been disclosed. That strike ended a 55-day-long pause, the longest lull in strikes since the US ramped up attacks in Pakistan’s tribal areas in August 2008.
The drone strikes had been put on hold after a clash between US and Pakistani forces along the Afghan border resulted in the deaths of 24 Pakistani troops. US officials told The Long War Journal on Dec. 12, however, that they would strike if a top-level al Qaeda leader was spotted.
The Jan. 11 strike was followed by another on Jan. 12, also near Miramshah, in which six more “militants,” including “foreigners,” a term used to describe Arab members of al Qaeda and Central Asian terrorists, were thought to have been killed. Pakistani intelligence officials said that Hakeemullah Mehsud, the leader of Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan, was killed in that strike, but offered little evidence to back up the claim. The Taliban have denied the reports.
Reuters said Awan was “a significant figure” in what US officials described as “the remaining core leadership of al Qaeda” based in Pakistan’s tribal areas. Awan’s boss, the external operations chief, has not been named but is said to be known by the CIA.
US officials have previously claimed that only two significant al Qaeda leaders – Ayman al Zawahiri, the emir, and Abu Yahya al Libi, a top leader – remain in Pakistan. But US intelligence officials who have spoken to The Long War Journal have said this analysis is deeply flawed, as al Qaeda has leveraged members of allied terror groups to fill leadership positions, and the terror group operates throughout Pakistan, not just in the tribal areas of North and South Waziristan where the drones are active.
Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.
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Tyler says:
January 20, 2012 at 10:36 am
Telling that Al Qaeda is relying more and more on Pakistani-born members to lead the group. The bench of ‘Arab Afghans’ is drying up fast.
January 20, 2012 at 11:44 am
…….and another one down, another one down, another one bites the dust….
Paul says:
January 20, 2012 at 12:23 pm
Are we fighting a proxy war against Pakistan in Afghanistan?
January 20, 2012 at 6:38 pm
“the externals operations chief has not been named but is known by the CIA”
Does this mean that everyone is now agreeing that Ilyas Kashmiri actually did die in that drone strike of june 2011?
What I have heard Kashmiri hasn’t got any nice euologies yet though…
JT says:
January 20, 2012 at 8:37 pm
It is very possible that this HVT was the big hit, and some assumed that it was Hucky Mehsud.
I would not be surprised if this is the case, but it would be better if one of the strikes got Awan and the other got Mehsud.
January 21, 2012 at 6:41 pm
It’s always good news when we wax another Al Qaida dirt bag, but we need to get at the Al Qaida boys in Pakistan to make the kind of progress that Obama keeps talking about.
January 22, 2012 at 5:38 pm
I would like to believe this article is true. The Pakistanis are certainly duplicitous enough for it to be true.
The death of a senior al Qaeda leader in a U.S. drone strike in Pakistan’s tribal badlands, the first strike in almost two months, signaled that the U.S.-Pakistan intelligence partnership is still in operation despite political tensions.
The Jan 10 strike — and its follow-up two days later — were joint operations, a Pakistani security source based in the tribal areas told Reuters.
They made use of Pakistani “spotters” on the ground and demonstrated a level of coordination that both sides have sought to downplay since tensions erupted in January 2011 with the killing of two Pakistanis by a CIA contractor in Lahore.
“Our working relationship is a bit different from our political relationship,” the source told Reuters, requesting anonymity. “It’s more productive.”
Reuters: Exclusive: How Pakistan helps the U.S. drone campaign
Kulamarva Balakrishna says:
January 23, 2012 at 5:05 am
Vienna,January 23,2012
The incident should be taken only as test case while
we should await what is happening on the center of
gravity inside Pakistan,Hussain Haqqani being the
guest of Prime Minister and his army backed hunter
Ijaz Monsoor awaiting a Guard of Honour as he appears
more than 50 extremist god´s war groups also await
the signal. A time that calls prudency dealing with
Iran´s nuclear technology that is sourced to the
epi-center.A complex plasma bomb not from the sun
but from the faithful warmongers.
Dan N. says:
January 25, 2012 at 5:27 pm
Ahmed Omar Farooq assumed charge of the group after a US drone strike killed its leader, Ilyas Kashmiri, in North Waziristan last June. He’s also succeeded Kashmiri as the chief of Al Qaeda’s military operations in Pakistan, making him the only Pakistani who’s trusted enough to be included in the terrorist network’s hierarchy, the militants and security officials said
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Earlier this year, Spruce was proud to celebrate its 10th anniversary by offering a one-time $5,000 grant to an organization that serves Philadelphia youth in the area of Peacebuilding. In April, we awarded that grant to Peace Day Philly in support of their partnership with Peace Praxis to offer a workshop to youth ages 12-17 on building upstander skills.
Recently we caught up with Peace Day Philly’s founder, Lisa D. Parker, to hear a little more about her organization and cause.
Where did the idea start for Peace Day Philly?
I saw a movie on the BBC in 2009 about the United Nations’ International Day of Peace and the film inspired me to talk to a few people about how we could bring the International Day of Peace to Philadelphia. Things really started moving in the spring of 2011. In that first year we had three events which were a Skype between [University of Pennsylvania] students and youth in Egypt, two seminars we called peace talks, and a multicultural concert.
Have you seen opportunities for technology to play a role in the practice of peacebuilding?
I think there are great things that happen through social media. It helps get the word out quickly if you have a good network, and you can connect with people across the world. Without Skype or Facebook, I would never know what someone in Kuwait is doing, or someone in Australia, or even Cambodia.
For example, the Peace Crane Project teaches kids to make peace cranes and then they send the cranes to kids in other parts of the world. One of the peace crane people was just in Cambodia and she made this short video of the kids saying hi. Just having that video made it so much more meaningful for the Cambodian kids living here. Having access to that technology on your phone breaks down the barriers that make us feel far away from each other.
What kind of organizations usually sign on to partner with Peace Day Philly’s week of activities?
The most wide ranging partner is the Philadelphia Police Department. For every PPD district across the city there’s a community relations officer who is thinking about what would be most meaningful in their district. We also have social service organizations, educational organizations, some anti-violence groups, some groups that relate to world level issues like nuclear nonproliferation, or the environment, and some offices within the city government.
What are some ways that people perceive the impact of your work with the organization?
We really try to connect with people who have a skill in teaching or training. It’s easy for us to say, “We should have a more peaceful world,” but it’s important to have some substance in our programs so people are either learning a new skill, they’re learning knowledge, [or] they’re connecting with one another. If we can do that, then we really feel like there is impact to that.
Have you noticed a change in the way people have engaged with your programming in light of current events?
People are more activated than they’ve been. More and more, everyday citizens are getting involved in causes that are important to them rather than just being on the sidelines. People get interested in asking, “What can I do to be involved and make the world a better place?”
That’s helped us in terms of people wanting to come out to the programs, for sure. I do think there’s always skepticism. The first question the press usually asks is, “Do you think there have been fewer gun violence deaths because of Peace Day Philly?” You wouldn’t measure any other initiative to that standard of being able to stop a homicide. I think the fundamental thing is that we talk about personal, local, and global peace, but peace starts with the individual. It starts internally.
What have been some of the more powerful responses to the workshops and events that you have organized through Peace Day Philly?
The most powerful moments are when people connect human being to human being. When we get connected to that sense of our own shared humanity, that goes beyond language or culture or race. Emotionally, those have been some of the most powerful moments, when people have felt safe to stand up and say something about their experience coming here as a refugee, or a youth who was depressed. Just people opening up in such courageous ways, and feeling like I have the privilege to connect with them and talk with them.
If you’re interested in learning more about Peace Day Philly, check out their website and find out about their events, or just follow them on Facebook or Twitter and shout them out for doing some really great work!
NOTE: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
The Spruce Foundation is an all volunteer non-profit that cultivates next-gen leaders and philanthropists. The goal and mission of our organization is to give back to Philly youth.
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As we read history, it soon becomes clear that power tends to corrupt. From ancient Greek times to the 21st century there appear to be more tyrannical rulers than those who held the welfare of the people paramount.
Ancient people knew this very well and were the first to coin the concept. In the ancient world, there was an ongoing fear of rulers who had their own selfish agenda. The ancient world was in constant search of honest and forthright leaders. Seldom were they found.
Whether we search the history of the ancient world, the world of the middle ages, or the world of the orient, we find evil men and women at the top. There has to be a reason for this. Psychologists talk about men in search of their emotional needs. Can we then quantify this search as it applies to those who will do anything, commit any crime, atrocity, or deception to reach their goal of ultimate control? Is there a fine thread that runs through the fabric of this type of personality? Psychology believes that there is.
Both the Greeks and Romans had words and concepts describing those who aspired not so much for leadership, but often pathological control. Even those who lived 60,000 years ago understood the need for strong leaders. They understood the concept of the unwritten social contract whereby members of a group surrendered their individual control for rules and regulations which benefited everyone.
Their leader ate the same food, had the same type of clothing, and the same type of living arrangements. There were no perks for the job, just a lot of added responsibility. It may have even been a thankless job.
Ultimately, society was so unwieldy that there became marked lines of demarcation between various members of a group. The spirit of cooperation and mutuality began to disappear. More and more there developed a class system. The strongest or the most clever began to demand special treatment and a better lifestyle than that which was available to the rank and file.
It is believed that the earlier groups saw themselves as a single entity. There was little in the way of competition or need to rise above anyone else because their individual needs were catered for automatically. In a relatively small group, this could be done. Since life was difficult, close harmony was the norm. Life or death depended on it.
It could be that we see the first of the psychological answers we are looking for. Certainly, there were those with innate skills. Some may have greater intelligence or could outperform in many ways. The overall conception of working in close harmony seemed to be the key to the success of the group. Over time when this was lost, when this gave way to divisions, then a competitive set of circumstances began to appear. The foundation of “dog eat dog” beliefs began to emerge.
Moving the timeline forward, both in the Occidental and Oriental world, we began to see the advantages of being at the very top as something of extreme value. Why was this the case? The rich and powerful couldn’t buy air conditioners, fast cars or the many creature comforts and status symbols available today; it was much more of a personal feeling of aggrandizement and the gratification of lording over others and knowing that they held life and death in their hands. It has been said that power is a strong aphrodisiac. Although that might be true, many suspect that there is more to it than that. Long before the advent of Judeo/Christianity, there have been good people who applied logic to social concepts. Man has always made astute observations as it pertained to his world and to his fellowman. It was only when knowledge and observations were ignored that things began to go wrong. Moses had it right, people needed structure, guidelines, and road maps
In ancient Greece, the word tyrant meant “ruler” and did not have negative connotations. It was not until the rulers or leaders began to take advantage of their rank in a negative sense that it then began to have undesirable connotations.
The word also became associated with both rulers and anyone else who had power over other people more and more in ancient times, the tyrant was more often than not, a person who took power illegally. It might have an overthrow of the existing government or some type of power play.
This set in motion that which continues to exist to this day. It can be seen in the business world, in the government or in a wide variety of situations. People needing power for one reason or another, and this is what this study is all about – the psychology of tyrants.
There is also a distinction between a dictator and a tyrant. This distinction may be subtle but does exist. A case in point is Franco of Spain. He divided the country with the civil war, but after it was over, Spain began to thrive. The people had no problem in following him and most profited from it.
However, that having been said, it must be pointed out that many will follow even the worst of the worst. Pages and pages could be written about the neurotic who will follow a psychopath regardless of their marked manifestations of evil behavior.
Other dictators who were ruthless, but not necessarily tyrants included Salazar of Portugal, Mussolini of Italy, Castro, and even Napoleon Bonaparte who at times did evil things, but on the other hand, helped the French people in many ways. A dictator will imprison those who oppose him while a tyrant will kill them
Getting to the crux of the matter will enable us to proceed to a specific description of those individuals in history who have turned their world upside down in so far as the tyrants suffer from reality blindness. There is a psychological diagnostic classification called a psychopathic personality disorder now more correctly called a sociopathic personality. This presents a distinction between those who have a destructive component in their make up in and of itself and those with a total inability to relate to their world. Primitive man survived because of his ability to communicate on a positive level and have a firm understanding of the need for empathy. With time, this was lost and the entire human race suffered.
Some tyrants have a “character disorder” and it is a diagnostic classification of a lesser pathological severity. It is associated with the difficulty a person has on many levels of interpersonal relationships.
A good definition is “The term character generally refers to the extent of one’s virtuousness and social conscientiousness.” Can we expect a person to see life through the eyes of others? Can we expect fair play, honesty, reliability, and compassion? If we cannot, then we are dealing with a person who is totally absorbed in their individual needs and will set out to satisfy these needs regardless of the cost.
If in primitive societies, empathy had not been the hallmark for behavior, the human race would have died out.
Give and Take
What causes, or sets in motion, the behavior seen in the psychopathic or sociopathic individual? There is a theory that makes sense. The mother and prenatal form a single unity lasting for nine months. Both the physical and emotional satisfactions are provided for automatically.
At the time of birth, the infant is discharged from a warm and nurturing environment. It now has the task of understanding the concept of “you – the mother” and “me” a newly created entity who must learn to provide for itself as best it can. This can be a very slow process. It is vital that the mother or caregiver understands this and enables this new learning experience for the newborn to be as psychologically painless as possible. It can take many months for the infant to begin to feel safe and secure in this totally new environment of life outside the womb.
What would happen if this nurturing process did not occur or was cut short? What would happen if the mother died or was indifferent to the needs of the newborn? The infant would be unable to understand the “you” and “me” differentiation.
There is a high rate of infant deaths under these circumstances. If the infant lives, he has to develop the concept of the necessity of satisfying all of its needs on its own. It has to develop the concept of “me against the world.” There has now been set in motion a lifetime of beliefs that my needs will be satisfied. If I cry long enough and hard enough, someone will come to my aid. The infant begins to see itself as having to manage all on its own. There is no concept of give and take, of postponing immediate need satisfactions for satisfactions at a later date. They want what they want and demand immediate need gratifications.
In part, this is true with all babies and small children. But if they have been able to experience socialization in the form of meaningful communication with others, then they can begin to understand the concept of give and take. They can understand what sharing is all about.
The totally self-centered child can not do this. It is believed that these self-serving features are so deeply inculcated in the personality that they can never be modified. This is why the psychopathic personality disorder can not be treated successfully with psychological treatment, with medication, religion, or any other modality.
The tyrant is more often than not a sociopath or at best a character disordered individual. They can not relate to others, profit from experience, understand justice, the rule of law, or maintain meaningful interpersonal relationships. They often have major problems with their marriage or in their role as a parent. They will more likely fail as a business associate.
As we begin to look at the true tyrant in history, we need very much to know that all people have a myriad of emotional circumstances. There is never a single entity, a one size fits all diagnosis. There are infinite complexities when making an evaluation based on both physical and emotional conditions, but in all instances, a mature and psychologically healthy individual must have the ability to understand the needs or circumstances of others. Let alone the ability to live one’s life in a harmonious manner.
There is the hereditary element being the son or daughter of a tyrant. Alexander The Great was an example. His father, Philip II was a tyrant and his mother was probably a very disturbed woman who did not have a firm hold on reality. Alexander was programmed to believe that he was a god and as such had no need for positive interpersonal relationships.
Throughout history, there have been examples of a young king coming to the thrown with an absolute belief in the world’s need to satisfy his or her every wish. With the power of life or death, it constantly reinforced this belief. Many believed in the concept that they were ordained by God.
Even in a benign form, we have examples of regal offsprings who had a character disorder. The sons of King George V and Queen Mary were badly neglected as infants but were given a double message. On one hand, you are inferior and unworthy, while on the other hand, you are regal and entitled to the very best in the way of goods and services. All of King Georges’s sons had emotional problems.
The son of Henry VIII was a real terror and this could be said for many other royal children. Again, they lacked the capacity to interrelate resulting from their own problems in understanding quid pro quo. If their early emotional needs were not met, then no amount of power or wealth can compensate. They spend their lives wanting more power and more of the material aspects of life.
Another example was the last Emperor of China, Puyi who craved material and emotional gratification in abundance. None of these people could relate to or even understand the common man.
As we review the lives of tyrants over the centuries, we will attempt to describe where their inability and capacity to understand and relate to others was the reason behind their behavior.
We also need to point out that there were physical conditions that contributed to their behavior. Limited intelligence, neurological problems, physical deformities also served to separate them from others. Many tried to overcompensate from what they believed were circumstances that worked against them. This overcompensation often took the form of very serious tyrannical behavior.
Social psychologists relate a litany of child abuse in Germany over the past hundred or more years. As a whole, children were treated harshly and were not given the love and affection that all creatures require. Not only did Adolf Hitler suffer from child abuse, but so did all other children of his generation. As a consequence, there was an entire generation of sociopaths. In many cultures, there have been examples of really bad people, but in Germany, there was observed tens of thousands of those who were maltreated as infants and children.
Hitler saw himself as rejected by his world. This perception reached a state of paranoia. One could perhaps understand why he hated people and acted as he did.
Ancient Spartan children were taken from their parents at a very young age to train and condition them to be warriors and learn how to kill people. This was a unique society and was in no way typical of the ancient world, but it served as a model for Nazi Germany.
Queen Elizabeth II was conditioned from birth to understand compassion, both individual and collective, loyalty, her vital role in the Commonwealth, and has followed her parents in a positive understanding of the needs of the British people.
Queen Elizabeth I lived in constant fear for her life. Who could she trust? This was a very heavy weight to carry and affected much of her behavior. She is an example of manifesting tyrannical behavior at times without being labeled as a tyrant.
I have selected a group of some of the more notorious tyrants in history to illustrate my beliefs in their psychological similarities. Namely, limited intelligence, feelings of insecurity, psychosis (especially paranoia), complete absence of empathy, a traumatic childhood, regal conditioning (a belief that they were chosen by God to rule), a need to overcompensate for feelings of inadequacy, and more than anything, their inability to understand cause and effect.
I have divided the group into two areas – Oriental and Occidental. The Asian cultures, both in ancient and modern times, has endemic certain beliefs that allow the people to accept that tyranny goes with their social structure The Greeks, on the other hand, knew the difference very well and were constantly fighting against injustice wherever it was found. The Chinese have had difficulty in doing this. Their acceptance has led to the existence of tyrants over the past 5,000 years who were brought down through revolt only after decades of suffering.
A Look at Some Tyrants
Ghengis Khan had been conditioned from childhood to be totally ruthless. It is said that he put to death over 100 million people. The concept of early conditioning is very important. One can raise a German Shepard to be gentle and loving, or to seek out and kill. Throughout Chinese history, there were no checks and balances in the value system that was observed in the Christian world. This fact alone gave rise to more tyrannical behavior than that which was seen in other parts of the world.
Both Mao Zedong and Shang Khi Chek were both tyrants based on the degree of destruction which was associated with both of them. They were allies when it came to fighting the Japanese, but after the war, both wanted total control of China. Both were ruthless in their desire for power. Mao was ultimately able to take control of all of China and set about in his attempt to create a communist state. Mao did not use good judgment and made many mistakes and along the way and put to death thousands of his opponents.
Pol Pot of Cambodia killed over 2 million people. He has been described as stupid and totally unrealistic.
In the western world, there have been people like Ivan The Terrible who was a strong military leader who generated into a tyrant motivated by a pathological obsession based on the hate of the Czar. Anyone whom he believed to be his enemy, whether they were or not were put to death by the thousands.
This was also true of Stalin reflecting a psychotic orientation. Stalin was short, pockmarked by smallpox, had a short left arm and was constantly on the defensive. He also had a troubled childhood and could kill anyone with impunity.
Nicolae Ceausescu was a great follower of Stalin. He wanted to outdo him in treachery. He was psychotic. He manifested his anger toward his own people and had no hesitation in killing anyone who spoke out against him.
Both the Haitian tyrants Papa Doc and Baby Doc Duvalier were psychotic. The son was conditioned by the father to be both ruthless and vicious. They were both considered to be stupid, paranoid and oblivious to the needs of the Haitian people.
Idi Amin was unintelligent. He had a myriad of resentments. He was constantly overcompensating for feelings of inadequacy and insecurity. He, too, could kill with impunity.
Muammar Gaddafi was out of touch with reality, and grandiose in the extreme. He had no respect for his own people and never needed an excuse to either kill or put someone in prison.
Saddam Hussein had no concept of the world outside of Iraq. He was a major tyrant in the middle east who killed thousands of his own people.
So what is the thread that runs through the fabric of the personality of the tyrant, the psychological features in common and how can they be identified and stopped before they get started?
No major corporation will advance a middle management person to a vice president level without a very, very thorough evaluation of his past in order to anticipate his future performance.
Could we in America or the western world ever experience a tyrant in our midst? Yes, we could if we failed to take the necessary action to let it happen in the first place. America has many valuable checks and balances, but if they are ignored, we can blame no one else for the results.
What is the potential leader’s background in social interests? What is his background like with regard to his history of interpersonal relationships? Has he or she had many marriage failures. If this is the case, then what does this tell about his judgment, his understanding of the needs of others and his willingness to share?
A strong leader in today’s world often needs to be ruthless. He needs to be pragmatic. He needs to take very difficult decisions. This does not mean that he has to fail to understand the needs and circumstances of others. He must have well above intelligence and the ability to address issues with logic.
Plato said, “We get the type of government we deserve” Man working as a single entity can wield great power, but man does not work as a single entity. The greed, rejection of the concept of unity, will play into the hands of the potential tyrant every time.
It is hoped that as members of the human race, we can go back 60,000 years and begin to emulate the social concepts that were then apparent and begin to see ourselves in a more collective sense than the dangerously competitive world in which we find ourselves today. It is this that enables tyrants to take control.
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Alfred Jones has a Ph.D in psychology, advance studies in law and education. He is an Egyptian scholar having taught in the UK, USA and China. He is a former consultant to the San Jose California Egyptian Museum. Author of 7 books and over 20 articles for professional journals.
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The year 2020 was financially difficult for many, and its detrimental impacts could last through 2021, if not beyond. While there is hope on the horizon in the form of vaccinations and eventual herd immunity, it will undoubtedly take time to restore financial stability.
Many community associations have suffered or will suffer a loss of expected revenue as their individual members struggle to pay monthly assessments. Unsurprisingly, there has been an increase in delinquencies, likely to be accompanied by an increase in bank foreclosure filings and bankruptcies. This has, in turn, led to an increase in debt collection efforts.
These forces create a looming risk that associations will again have to start writing off significant “bad debt.” While these challenges threaten to echo certain aspects of the last financial crisis, COVID-19 realities are very different, and in some cases require different solutions. For example, because of COVID-19, further eviction and mortgage foreclosure moratoriums are likely, reopening amenities may involve increased expenditures because of reopening requirements, and the housing market thankfully has not collapsed at time of writing.
The following are some examples of issues that associations should review when determining if their collections strategies need updating:
Does the association have a clear and evenhanded collections policy?
Collections policies can address things like whether, when, and how a delinquent owner will receive a past-due reminder; when an owner’s account will be referred to the association’s legal counsel; if and how the association can charge late fees under its governing documents; when assessments may be accelerated for the remainder of a fiscal year; whether and when the association will seek to suspend voting or common element use rights for delinquent owners; and whether and when the association will seek to collect rent from a tenant when the landlord owner is delinquent.
Is it advisable (and possible) to amend the governing declaration to bolster the association’s collection rights?
Sometimes an association may not realize that its own governing documents are working against it. This often comes up when a mortgage is foreclosed against a property within the association, and the association expects to be entitled to the statutory “safe harbor” (i.e., §718.116(1)(b) or 720.3085(2)(c), Fla. Stat., as applicable), but the declaration actually says that the mortgagee owes nothing to the association. Similarly, when a third-party bidder takes title after a foreclosure of the first mortgage, the current statutory framework provides for the association to be paid all past due assessments of the prior owner, but some associations’ governing documents may provide the opposite. This can potentially be remedied through a declaration amendment, which should be coordinated with legal counsel, as it will require specific votes and approvals from owners and possibly also mortgagees.
Does the association have authority to demand that a tenant’s rent be paid directly to the association rather than to the owner?
Chapters 718 and 720 both provide a mechanism for an association to collect rent from a tenant to pay down the owner’s debt, after which the tenant goes back to paying the landlord owner directly. Arguably some associations do not have this statutory power to collect rent based upon the absence of “Kaufman language” to bring their declaration in line with the substantive provisions of Chapter 718 or 720 “as amended from time to time.” In that case, the association should consider whether it would benefit from amended declaration provisions providing the power to evict as attorney-in-fact for the landlord and/or a uniform lease addendum furnishing such powers.
Should collections efforts be coordinated with another association?
Many owners in condominium associations have a master association which is also owed assessments. Collections efforts can be coordinated between a master and subassociation to try to streamline the efficiency and effectiveness of the proceedings; however, it is important to keep in mind that one association’s debt may have priority over the other. Statutory changes over the years have provided that a junior association that acquires title is not liable for the unpaid accrued assessments of the senior association. However, there are still practical and legal issues to consider should one association foreclose before the other.
What moratoriums are placed on evictions and foreclosures, either locally or at the federal level through executive orders or possible legislation?
It should be noted that some prior moratoriums on foreclosures applied only to institutional lenders and federally backed mortgages, and ultimately it was clarified that associations were excluded. If future moratoriums also exclude associations, this could provide the association with an opportunity to take title to a property through foreclosure and rent it to pay down the debt owed, with a delay before a first mortgagee could eclipse the association’s proceedings or title. Correspondingly, if eviction moratoriums are extended, associations planning to acquire title and rent the property may be stymied by delays in obtaining possession.
What is the potential value of the collateral, and are there outstanding taxes?
Unlike the housing market crash in 2009, properties currently facing foreclosure might still have equity (which could change). This reality may make it more palatable to foreclose on a property, or to wait while a lender forecloses, based upon the greater likelihood of a foreclosure sale to a third party. Additionally, these market dynamics suggest that fewer debtors are giving up on properties “underwater,” and those debtors therefore have far more incentive to prevent a foreclosure. Finally, outstanding taxes should be monitored to prevent bad debt arising from a tax deed sale.
If the association acquires title to the unit, will a subsequent purchaser be liable for the prior owner’s debt?
Depending on what version of the statutes applies and where in Florida an association is located, there are various potential ramifications in relation to the previous owner’s debt if an association acquires title to a unit. While statutory amendments have provided that the association can recover the previous owner’s debt from a future owner but not debt accruing during its own period of ownership, these changes will not always apply, depending on a particular association’s governing declaration. Accordingly, associations should consult with counsel regarding the strategic implications of acquiring title if another foreclosure is pending or expected.
Although many board members understandably do not want to sue their neighbors, the fact remains that associations must carry out their duties. In addition to collection of assessments from owners, it should be noted that associations also have options for saving money to make up for budget deficits due to COVID-19, including seeking membership approval to waive or reduce future funding of reserves, or to use reserve funds for other purposes. Further, associations should consider whether there is any federal relief available, whether it makes sense to borrow funds given currently low interest rates, and whether there are opportunities for other revenue (with proper authority under the governing documents, and in consultation with an accountant), such as monetization of websites and rentals or leases of things like parking spaces, storage units, docks, etc. The association’s board should reach out to its accounting team and legal counsel to discuss its collections and economic strategies.
Jonathan S. Goldstein is a Partner with Miami-based Haber Law, P.A. Goldstein’s practice areas include condominium and homeowners association (HOA) law, construction litigation, and commercial litigation. He can be reached at jgoldstein@haber.law.
Senior Associate, Haber Law, P.A.
Rebecca Newman Casamayor is a Senior Associate with Miami-based Haber Law, P.A. She is an experienced commercial litigator with expertise in representing condominium and homeowners associations as well as general and business litigation matters.. She can be reached at rcasamayor@haber.law. For more information on Haber Law, call (305) 379-2400 or visit www.haber.law.
This article is for informational purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal advice.
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FCAP (Florida Community Association Professionals) is a member-based professional organization dedicated to training, equipping and advocating for Florida community association professionals including managers, service providers and community volunteer leaders.
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If you’ve followed this blog any length of time, you know that one of my objectives is to show people the wonderful, fascinating aspects of nature, including the insects and other small creatures that can be found right in their backyards. By sharing the amazing natural history stories of those tiny animals, I hope to build empathy and admiration for ‘bugs’. I do this knowing that many (most?) people see invertebrates as bothersome, icky, or even scary – and that those attitudes are not likely to lead to conservation support.
Dat and I were collecting soil samples last week and came across this lovely wolf spider carrying her egg sac with her (what a great mom!). We stopped and admired it for a bit before releasing her back into the prairie to play her role in that complex system. You know that’s not the response most people would have had…
I’ve made small gains through my writing/photography, as well as by engaging directly with kids and adults. Give me 2 minutes with just about anyone and I can have them holding a spider and exclaiming that they can’t believe they’re doing it. I love hearing from people how much my stories about insects have enriched their understanding and even their comfort level with them.
But then I read stories like this one and I want to just crawl into a hole and cry. I hate to even provide the link because I don’t want to drive more traffic to it, but it’s just so bad…
The author of the NBC online article shares her traumatic experiences related to moving out of the city and into the suburbs. Primarily her trauma came from the fact that there were insects (INSECTS!) all over the place. Oh the horror! She details how she fought back against the awful creatures that had the audacity to live where she did.
See, I’m already falling into the trap… I’m not really mad at Pat Olsen for her perspective on insects. (However, I am a little mad that she wrote the article the way she did, and even angrier that NBC published it – especially with such a stupid headline.) Mostly, it’s a sobering reminder of how far we have to go if we’re going to make nature relevant to the majority of humans. Since most humans live in cities now, our job is even harder – we have to help them understand and care about something they don’t have easy access to.
Writing and photography is one way to reach people in cities, but it’s not enough. We have to bring nature to cities – and interpret it for people living there. Pat says she contacted several university extension staff (and read articles) to learn how to get rid of the pests in her yard. I don’t know what those extension folks told her directly, but I read the same articles she did and certainly didn’t reach the same conclusions she did about the ‘infestations’ she was dealing with. That’s not completely her fault, it’s also a failing on the part of the writers of those articles.
The worst misinterpretation came from Pat’s research on cicada killer wasps. The extension article said multiple times that the wasps are no threat to humans, but also provided ways to deal with those harmless creatures if people were made uncomfortable by them. That, unfortunately, included swatting them with a tennis racket, which then found its way into the click bait headline.
I photographed this praying mantis this weekend. Backlit by the sun and sitting on a flower, this photo puts the mantis in literally the best light.
This is the same mantis, photographed at a slightly different angle so that it is silhouetted against the sun, giving it a more menacing look. While I like both photos, they also serve as a reminder of how slight tweaks can really change interpretation of the same creatures/scenes. Our job as conservation advocates is to be thoughtful about how people will interpret our messages – and portray invertebrates in a way that helps people understand their role in the world, and not just see them as scary or icky.
I’m guessing Pat is a person who thinks pandas and eagles are pretty nice. I’ll bet she has at least passive support for conservation efforts that keep those species around. What’s frustrating is that she isn’t drawing a link between the tiny invertebrates she abhors and the species she admires.
We in the conservation world need to clearly draw that link for her, and others like her, and help her see that we can only have pandas and eagles (and clean air and water, for that matter) if we also have the complex and interconnected ecosystems that support them. And yes, those ecosystems include bugs…
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Chris Helzer is the Director of Science for The Nature Conservancy in Nebraska. His main role is to evaluate and capture lessons from the Conservancy’s land management and restoration work and then share those lessons with other landowners – both private and public. In addition, Chris works to raise awareness about the importance of prairies and their conservation through his writing, photography, and presentations to various groups. Chris is also the author of "The Ecology and Management of Prairies in the Central United States", published by the University of Iowa Press. He lives in Aurora, Nebraska with his wife Kim and their children.
View all posts by Chris Helzer →
18 thoughts on “So far to go…”
Kim Smith on August 24, 2020 at 8:40 am said:
You’ve expressed exactly the same frustrations I feel every time someone says, “Ick!” or “Squish it!” on one of my insect photos. Like you, I’m trying to use my blog to help build those important connections so people will understand the importance of insects and be more open to living with them. I’m also writing a series about my native gardening efforts, and how native plants attract more insects for birds to feed to their young, etc. But people still resist native plants because they’re not as “neat” as a pesticide-soaked garden full of cultivars. So yes, we have a long way to go, but glad to have people like you in this with me!
Ed Davies on August 24, 2020 at 10:30 am said:
Maybe we should all chip in and buy her, and her editor(s), a membership in the Xerxes society.
Jennifer Pospichal on August 24, 2020 at 10:46 am said:
I did not follow the link because it would just would be too depressing. I love bugs and really love your photos of them. It is astonishing how clueless a lot of people are!!
I just received your Hidden Prairie from U of I and enjoy the photos so much!
Best,
Caroline on August 24, 2020 at 10:51 am said:
There is a good reason why the symbol of the World Wildlife Fund is a panda and not a cricket, spider, or snake. I find this attitude frustrating, but continue to work on changing people’s minds, one person at a time.
James C. Trager on August 24, 2020 at 2:18 pm said:
I noted this at the end of her essay, which I only skimmed, “Pat Olsen is a freelance business and health writer.” There is an aspect of her health that she could get some help with, inordinate fear of small animals that will never hurt her. The story didn’t have a place to comment, but I hope it was okay to get it off my chest here.
Chase Davies on August 24, 2020 at 2:28 pm said:
Chris – you are spot on. I wish there was a way to contact the media folk for purposes of engaging in education and/or enlightenment and support of their good work. They are insulated better than a polar bear mid-winter from human contact. When I see something that interests me in the natural world while with another person, if at all possible I stop, pick it up or point it out and spend maybe 10 seconds audibly admiring it or what it may be doing. Hope is that each one teach one truly does work – sometimes it does. Teachers however rarely know their specific impacts – get used to it folks… just communicate and demonstrate (when safe) about the Finds. Most recently I gave teh cicada exoskeleton to the lady and she was thrilled and could not wait to use her reading magnifying glass on it! ccd
James McGee on August 24, 2020 at 10:39 pm said:
Please be polite. It will be the only way to get your point of view considered.
James McGee on August 24, 2020 at 10:41 pm said:
Let’s try again.
James McGee on August 24, 2020 at 10:42 pm said:
Looks like you will have to paste it in yourself. Just remove the quotes.
Steinar Karlsen on August 24, 2020 at 2:43 pm said:
A good thing is that protecting the environment of so-called likable species such as butterflies and bees will protect all the other species living there as well.
James McGee on August 24, 2020 at 11:38 pm said:
As I was reading the article “Fleeing the City …” a spider much like the one in your first photo crawled up my leg. It was probably about half the size with white on the back where the darker brown stripes are located in the spider in your picture. My wife does not like spiders. I called her and asked her to bring the “spider catching glass.” I trapped it in the glass, slide something firm under the glass, let my kids take a look, and then released the spider outside.
I am not mad at Pat Olsen for her article. Her view point is so common as to be cliché.
As I mentioned previously on this blog, when I first moved to my house, I tried to remove all the paper wasp nests from my gutters. That set off a cascade of environmental changes that resulted in an explosion in the box elder bugs. After the box elder bug invasion, I left the paper wasps alone so they would keep the box elder bugs in check. The only time this became a problem is when I had a roof put on my house. If the roofers had told me the day they were coming and asked that the wasps be removed, then I would have gotten rid of the wasps before the roofers arrived. I probably should have anticipated this would be a problem, but since I am not a roofer, I did not recognize that it would cause such an issue.
I think killing ‘bugs’ is just a stage that most homeowners go through. Probably the most impactful way of explaining the futility of this type of effort is using the Chinese’s “Four Pest Campaign” as an example. The move to eliminate the Eurasian tree sparrow was so successful that crop pests boomed causing wide spread famine. I probably first heard about this story on this blog. I can’t remember. The “Four Pests Campaign” example exemplifies the unpredictable consequence that occur when people try to change natural systems.
Ellen Rathbone on August 25, 2020 at 11:24 am said:
Thanks for sharing about the Four Pests Campaign. It was new to me – and I’ve found it interesting to read about!
Ellen Rathbone on August 25, 2020 at 11:21 am said:
I did not like insects as a child, especially bees (of any variety). Entomology was a required course when I was in college (Forestry School). But, in the last 15 or so years I find myself more and more taken by insects, especially bees. I photograph them, I seek them out, I look ’em up online. I go out of my way to introduce children to them…even gave my sister’s kids insect-themed quilts. Kids and insects should go hand-in-hand: they are easily accessible wildlife. But even so, you are quite right: we have a long way to go. However, I figure that if I can change and go from “the only good bee is a dead bee” to a 100% bee advocate, then anyone can change. Keep up the good work!
Meg cundiff on August 25, 2020 at 2:42 pm said:
Chris u will luv this if u havent already seen it. Love your posts + pictures!! Meg
In what’s believed to be the first footage of its kind, a stunningly slow-motion video by Dr. Adrian Smith captures a rare group of insects just as they lift off the ground. Incase the video doesnt open up look this scientist up!!! (;
Chris Helzer on August 25, 2020 at 10:20 pm said:
Kim Smith on August 28, 2020 at 6:21 pm said:
Wow, that’s amazing. I could spend hours watching that channel on YouTube! Thanks for sharing it.
Lorna on August 26, 2020 at 12:05 pm said:
Just completed Tallamy’s “Nature’s Best Hope.” The concept of Homegrown National Parks, with landowners as the caretakers, comes to mind. The need to create accessible local areas – from our own landscapes to local parks and walkways, other potential venues that connect people with landscape – is critical. I encourage everyone to find organizations, public and private, schools, city councils … the means to inspire and support the creation of a mosaic of Homegrown National Parks in your community. If we build it, the insects will come!
Misti on September 6, 2020 at 8:57 am said:
Insects and snakes—oh boy, do we need a better education campaign starting in childhood. Even with my own parents the inroads I’ve made still aren’t enough and snakes still get killed–harmless ones, too. I used to fear spiders–still not overly fond of any crawling anywhere close to me—but we live happily with many house spiders these days.
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What’s the worst English language word you can think of? That word that you only pull out to express your displeasure at the very worst of traffic jams or to describe some self-important waste of skin trying to cut the queue at the bank. Maybe that word that gets your blood boiling and everyone knows never to say whenever you’re within earshot. Personally I shudder whenever I hear the word yummy spoken aloud, but I expect most people would cite more extreme examples. F-bombs, Sugar Honey Iced Tea, the odd bit of blasphemy, both the clinical and slang terms for reproductive organs and, of course, the big C. That’s the one I think we need to talk about internet, because that’s the one I’ve been seeing a lot of lately.
Earlier this week I read an article by Zoe Quinn on Cracked.com about her recent experiences as the internet’s most hated person. If you don’t know anything about the recent GamerGate controversy (or the Quinnspiracy or whatever else they were calling it), lucky you. Because it’s bloody stupid. Just another chapter of gamer culture’s ridiculously misogynistic treatment of women, with the key difference this time being that they tried to use ‘concern over journalistic ethics’ to lend credibility to their anger that women don’t want to sleep with them. It’s not an issue I can write about with a perspective worth reading. I’m a young, straight, white male who’s not part of the industry and never been subjected to the kind of stupidity that women (and racial/sexual minorities) have to deal with beyond a few high-pitched voices back when I still tried playing CoD online. But I kept track of the … debate … as did many others. As I did when the internet’s wrath was focused on Anita Sarkeesian and Jennifer Hepler, (hell, Sarkeesian is still under attack). Amongst all the rape-threats and poorly spelt character-attacks there’s a word I keep seeing, and quite frankly think a lot of people need to get over using.
Right, before this continues I’d like to put a great big warning here. While I have nothing against a bit of profanity I do understand that not everyone wants to read it (especially in bulk), and it’ll probably get heavy in the next few paragraphs (since it’s hard to talk about using a word without, well, using it) so: Language Warning.
Continue reading “Is that the best you can do? How insulting.” →
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Every writer has a different approach to writing, a different method. My writing process, for example, has to involve a pen and paper (at least at first), and a very fragmented style. Meaning, if I get a scene in my head, or even just a line I think sounds good, I write it down. It is never, ever the opening paragraph. Then I’ll get an idea for a different scene, and write that, but it is rarely the scene that directly follows what I just wrote. Eventually they all come together.
There are also linear writers who can’t move on until the opening scene is secure. That, to me, would take forever. I’d be staring at a blank sheet of paper for hours if I was forced to think of beginning before I could continue. But they would probably think my process takes forever, and then we’d both disagree with someone else’s third approach.
Other choices writers are faced with when deciding which method works best for them are usually along the lines of “paper or computer?” “inside or outside?” or “gin or coffee?” But, the process that most fascinates me about writing is revision. You cannot be a writer and not revise. And then revise again. Something unavoidable, like the actual writing of words themselves, often means that it involves an entirely different approach.
I love revising more than I love writing a first draft. I don’t usually finish a first draft before I begin revising what I already wrote. But of course, there are those who loathe the revision process with a passion that rivals our collective disdain of whoever slighted Sandra Bullock this week. What are your methods and opinions on revising? I have a feeling you’re all going to say something different.
Lastly, something else that I’ve been wondering lately, as I ask for revisions, is what do writers prefer to hear from agents or editors? Would “complete re-write” would induce vomiting? Is it better to hear “add more” rather than “delete?” Things to ponder…
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30 thoughts on “Methods to the Madness”
June 21, 2010 at 1:15 pm
I find revising to be a huge challenge, but it does help me flush out a better story in the long run. I'm fortunate in that I've had a few agents ask for revisions on some recent work of mine – what strikes me as interesting is how subjective the process is. For me at least, the task of revising is a necessary one and while I'm currently unagented, when an agent is wildly enthusiastic about your first draft and has asked for revisions, it makes it a heck of a lot easier to do.
Marjorie says:
June 21, 2010 at 1:02 pm
I don't revise very much in my “digest,” but I do revise the “cartoons.” Sometimes when I post them, I see things I was unable to see on the paper. So, I just go back to the table, take out the crayons, and get busy.
I like the art to have a very tongue-in-cheek feel, so too much revision can make the work appear unfunny. And since the pieces are caption-driven, I just try to keep it all spontaneous and “in the moment.”
Sarah says:
June 20, 2010 at 7:55 pm
Thanks for all the comments, everyone! It makes me happy that you all welcome feedback.
Also, the gals over at YA Highway (http://www.yahighway.com/) reminded me that Maggie Stiefvater had a recent post about revision too, so you should all check that out: http://m-stiefvater.livejournal.com/164746.html
Clara says:
June 20, 2010 at 9:32 am
I think that you could suggest a complete re-write but identify the major issues (The delete this or add this would definetly fit here) so the writer doesn´t feel completely lost, and ends up altering something that was working before.
=D
June 20, 2010 at 9:19 am
My method is ‘bum in seat’ linear. If I get an idea I let it fester and grow before I start to work on it. If I think it’s a good enough idea I roughly plot then put my fingers to work.
I fast draft the first draft before I revise – if only to keep the story fresh and flowing. When I finish the first draft I walk away come back a week or so later, print it, read it and take notes. Second/third/forth draft is the same process until I feel I’ve done all I can.
I haven’t submitted to an agent or editor yet, but I’d be open to any suggestions and/or revisions they might suggest – who wouldn’t want to make their work the best it could be?
June 20, 2010 at 7:52 am
I’ve been reading the blog, but I’ve never commented before. Oh, the pressure of my big debut!
After my first draft is finished, I always rewrite the entire story again. I’m sure many writers do. It always helps me push the scenes to their full potential, layer themes out better, and flesh out the real complexities of the characters that I didn’t know while writing the first draft. The second draft can often surprise me just as much, if not more, than the first. When the story starts brimming with its full potential, I really don’t think there’s anything more exciting in the world.
Single chapter rewrites have their own joys (like replacing each and every chapter you don’t love with a new, shiny one until you can’t think of any part of the book you don’t want to hug and pet), but I’ve never acquired the taste for line edits. Changing big things is always more fun than correcting typos or tense issues.
If an agent or editor asked me for rewrites, I’d really hope for either whole chapter rewrites, or a new draft. It allows for more change, more creativity, and hopefully, a bigger payoff. I used to loathe rewriting when I tried not to rewrite whenever I could, but I love it now. And the idea of a professional helping me polish the story even more is kind of, honestly, one of the most exciting things to me about submitting to agents.
June 19, 2010 at 11:50 pm
I think most of the magic happens with revisions, but I also prefer my revisions to be something I agree with. I can't imagine getting revisions back from agent asking me to change things that I feel don't work for me, but would work for making the book more marketable. That's one of my hesitations with traditional publishing, I think.
miss ali says:
June 19, 2010 at 11:19 pm
i'm very much the same as you- pen to paper, thoughts that just pop in and out of my head in no particular order, eventually start to come together and make sense. and i LOVE revising and editing! love it!
cut, delete, add- all sound okay. 'complete re-write'…. don't really want to contemplate those words.
back to editing! yay!
June 19, 2010 at 9:37 pm
My process begins with printing of my novel and going through it once or twice to look for big plot holes. Then after those have been changed, I go through again and look for inconstitancies that the added/ deleted scenes have brought. Then I go through and look for writing. Then I send it off to a beta, apply their changes and look through it once more.
When hearing back from an agent, hearing the words “complete rewrite” would make me die a littkle inside. I go through a lot of work to write and then revise. I would much rather pound out the problems on my draft than start again. I'm not bothered by “Delete this” or “add this.” As long as there are good reasons. Complete rewrites make me feel like everything I've done before was a waste of time. Of course, sometimes its necessary, and I will acknowledge that.
Shaples says:
June 19, 2010 at 7:43 pm
I write mostly-linear on a computer, but tend to revise and rewrite pretty heavily as I go. The act of writing the first draft, for me, is like discovering the novel, and sometimes that means having to tweak or overhaul some of the stuff that came before. I need a solid place to start before I can get going, but it never ends up being the final first page. The rewrite is when I get to step back, see where I goofed, “suddenly,” “and then,” or -ly'd, shred, and repair.
In any feedback, I'm looking for someone who can step even FARTHER back, point out what I'm too close to the text to see, and help me figure out how to fix it.
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When you are injured on the job in Al – Lee Village Mobile Home Park, you may be wondering if you need a workers’ compensation lawyer. The answer is: it depends. If your employer is a private company, you may not need a lawyer. However, if your employer is a government entity or a non-profit organization, you will definitely need a lawyer.
There are many different types of injuries that can occur while you are working. Some of these injuries are minor, while others can be very serious. If you have suffered a minor injury, you may be able to handle the claim yourself. However, if you have suffered a serious injury, you will definitely need the help of a workers’ compensation lawyer.
Some of the most common types of injuries that workers compensation lawyers in Al – Lee Village Mobile Home Park handle include:
These are just a few of the many different types of injuries that can occur while you are working. If you have suffered any of these injuries, you should contact a workers’ compensation lawyer as soon as possible.
When you contact a workers’ compensation lawyer, they will review your case and determine whether or not you have a valid claim. If they determine that you do have a valid claim, they will then work with you to negotiate a settlement with your employer.
In many cases, workers’ compensation lawyers are able to negotiate a settlement that is much higher than what you would be able to receive if you were to file a claim on your own. This is because they have the experience and knowledge to know what your employer’s insurance company is likely to offer you.
If you are not able to reach a settlement with your employer, you may have to file a lawsuit. If you win your lawsuit, you may be entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits can include:
Medical expenses
Rehabilitation costs
Pain and suffering
If you have been injured on the job, you should contact a workers’ compensation lawyer as soon as possible. They will review your case and help you determine whether or not you have a valid claim.
What is Workers Compensation?
Workers compensation is a system of insurance that provides benefits to employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their job. Benefits can include medical expenses, income replacement, and death benefits. Workers compensation is typically mandatory in most jurisdictions, meaning employers must provide coverage for their employees.
What Does Workers Compensation Cover?
Workers compensation typically covers medical expenses and income replacement for employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their job. Death benefits may also be available in some cases.
What Are the Benefits of Workers Compensation?
Workers compensation provides several benefits for employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their job. These benefits can include medical expenses, income replacement, and death benefits. Workers compensation can also provide peace of mind for employees knowing that they will be taken care of if they are injured on the job.
What Are the Drawbacks of Workers Compensation?
While workers compensation provides many benefits for employees, there are some drawbacks to the system. One drawback is that workers compensation benefits are typically paid by the employer, meaning that employees may have to pay income taxes on the benefits they receive. Another drawback is that workers compensation does not cover injuries that occur outside of work, such as in car accidents.
Who Pays for Workers Compensation?
In most jurisdictions, employers are required to provide workers compensation coverage for their employees. This coverage is typically paid for by the employer through workers compensation insurance.
How Do I File a Claim for Workers Compensation?
If you have been injured or have become ill as a result of your job, you may be eligible for workers compensation benefits. To file a claim, you will need to contact your employer and file a claim form with the workers compensation office in your state.
There are typically time limits in place for filing a workers compensation claim. In most cases, you will need to file a claim within a certain period of time after the injury or illness occurred.
Can I Sue My Employer for Workers Compensation?
In most cases, you cannot sue your employer for workers compensation benefits. Workers compensation is typically considered to be a no-fault system, meaning that your employer cannot be held liable for your injuries or illness.
Do I Need a Lawyer for Workers Compensation?
You are not required to have a lawyer to file a workers compensation claim. However, you may want to consult with a lawyer if you have questions about your claim or if you are having difficulty getting benefits.
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With the coronavirus pandemic continuing in our lives, many people are finding it hard to keep up the way in which they worked prior to the pandemic. Many people are fearing that they will be let go or fired from their jobs due to budgets. Some are even trying to balance kids who are learning at home while working from home themselves at the same time.
It's no wonder that many parents seem to feel overwhelmed and stressed out.
Mothers who are currently working from home during the pandemic are suffering.
According to a study, 9.8 million working mothers are suffering from "burnout" due to working from home with their children at home during the pandemic.
Over half of parents surveyed say that they are struggling with the transition and management of working from home.
In the same study, 56% of parents report, "finding the situation difficult to navigate successfully."
With kids needing so much help and attention during the day, it's hard to stay focused 100% on work.
Recently, one mom decided to ask her boss if she could work 80% time instead of full-time, due to her situation at home.
The mom said that her husband was taking on extra responsibilities at work and they couldn't balance the kids at home with remote learning and both of their jobs.
Her boss, surprisingly, said no. However, the reason behind why he said no was something that shocked many people on social media.
Her boss stated that women have been "disproportionately" impacted by COVID-19.
He stated that women have been working hard for many years to make strides for equality in the workforce, so taking time off would be like taking a step back.
He said that, while his employee gave great points for needing time off, there was something else wrong.
He said that it's wrong for employers to expect the same level of productivity from employees now compared to their productivity pre-COVID.
Her boss claims that employers "shouldn't" have those expectations.
No matter what, he said that his team has outperformed almost every other team, even with the challenges of COVID. COVID has definitely impacted everyone's lives, from added isolation and stress, to having kids right in your lap while you work.
He said that the way they did it was not by using the methods many bosses are suggesting.
His team didn't put in that "40-hour workweek" and ignore their families at home completely. Instead, they were supportive of each other and worked together when they needed to.
He shared that his team is very helpful and understanding of each other.
The team covers for each other when needed, like when someone has to pick up their kids or if a toddler pops into a Zoom call.
So, he explained why he said no.
He didn't want his employee to be one of the statistics who falls behind in her career because of COVID. He also didn't want her to feel guilty for working less and being a bit less productive to take time for her kids.
He shared that instead, they are blocking off time for her to help her kids and the team will help when she needs them to.
He shared that he would rather have a company and team that works together to accommodate everyone and their needs, instead of having people taking a pay cut or pausing their careers.
He shared that everyone should follow in his steps, and many totally agreed with him.
He encouraged that everyone follow this model so that we can support those who are struggling through this difficult time in society. We truly are all going through similar things, and it would be nice to see more employers act this way!
Many people online started the thread out angry, but by the end, were cheering for this boss.
Many people started the thread angry that the boss had said "no" to his employee's request, but after seeing his reasoning, they were wishing every boss would act this way.
Others said thank you to him for showing a model for how all employers should be.
One Twitter user thanked him for "finding a way to make this work." Children are young only once and while the pandemic is impacting us all, it's impacting young children just as much.
One Twitter user said they had left a job previously for reasons very similar.
One Twitter user shared that she had left a previous company for a new one so that she could "perform better," stating that happy employees outperform unhappy ones.
Another user shared a story of a partner whose company was equally as accommodating.
One said that her partner became "spontaneously blind in December" and her boss told him not to worry about it until he could get surgery and a prognosis, still protecting his salary.
Other mothers thanked the boss for being a force for gender equality.
One mother said that as a mother of a toddler and an employer, she's "glad she doesn't have to explain her situation to an employer."
Sadly, gender inequality in the workforce has returned as a result of the pandemic, but some employers are doing their part to stop that from happening.
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Dustin Hogue celebrates after a made free throw in overtime against Oklahoma State on March 8 at Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones beat the Cowboys in overtime 85-81. Hogue had five points and 12 rebounds.
July 3, 2014
The ISU men’s basketball team just sold out.
Hilton Coliseum officially has no vacancy for the 2014-15 season, at least not for those fans pursuing season tickets.
This is the first time in program history that Iowa State has no season tickets available to home basketball games.
Fans who bought season tickets last year need not fear, however, if they have not yet contacted Iowa State. All season ticket holders from 2013-14 have the opportunity to renew their order by Aug. 1 and obtain the same seats.
In what appears to be an effort to be inclusive, the ISU athletic department announced in a press release that it would be holding back individual game tickets for all ISU home games, which will go on sale sometime in October.
Iowa State has not announced the official October sales date as of July 3.
Anyone interested in renewing season tickets may contact the university ticket office via email at [email protected] or by calling the ticket office. Contact information is available online at www.cyclones.com.
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The U.S. Air Force hosts Colombia in the world’s largest aerial combat training exercise for the second time.
The advanced aerial combat training exercise Red Flag 18 came to an end August 3rd, at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. The exercise—held periodically since 1975—aims to provide pilots from partner nations the opportunity to practice and improve skills in real combat situations. Colombia participated for the second time as a guest nation.
“The U.S. Air Force extended its invitation [for Red Flag] under strict mandatory compliance parameters,” Colombian Air Force (FAC, in Spanish) Brigadier General Pablo Enrique García Valencia, commander of the Colombian delegation, told Diálogo. “The guest nation must have superior experience in aviation, high performance in the battlefield and, preferably, real experience in military air operations.”
Preliminary training
Prior to joining Red Flag 18-3, FAC aircraft made way to David-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, from the Third Air Combat Command in Atlántico department, Colombia, July 2nd. FAC filed two flight plans, each with three Kfir aircraft and a KC-767 Tanker, which refueled the Kfirs in-flight five times.
Colombian units stayed for five days at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to carry out exercise Relámpago 3. Combat pilots from FAC, the Arizona Air National Guard, and Air Forces Southern, the air component of U.S. Southern Command, took part in the preliminary training, according to FAC’s strategic communications.
Aircraft conducted high-precision air exercises, allowing Colombian pilots to get familiar with English communication and other standard procedures. Units from the air forces of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Peru also met at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to learn about crew work, aircraft, logistics, and services required to carry out Relámpago 3.
Colombian pilots carried out their first Red Flag 18-3 mission July 23rd, with air refueling operations for U.S. fighter aircraft. The exercise, under parameters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), called for the use of necessary procedures to operate with military forces of partner nations.
“This year we have a great opportunity to work with FAC,” said U.S. Air Force Colonel Michael Mathes, 414th Combat Training Squadron commander, responsible for executing Red Flag. “We have a better understanding of how international threads are interconnected to criminal networks. This enables us to have a shared defense against a common enemy,” he told Diálogo.
Two weeks of operations with F-18, MQ-9 Reaper, V-22 Osprey, Kfir, KC-767, and other aircraft followed, with missions carried out day and night. “Among [Colombia’s] achievements at Red Flag was sharing the airspace with more than 70 aircraft simultaneously,” Brig. Gen. García said. “It also marks a couple of milestones [for Colombia]: conducting an in-flight refueling mission to EA-18 aircraft from the U.S. Navy, and the opportunity for the commander of FAC’s 111th Kfir Squadron to command a fleet of U.S. bomber aircraft during a mission.”
“An exercise such as Red Flag speeds up the development of our operators, maintenance, and the entire support team,” Col. Mathes said. “We are better prepared, faster to reach a place such as Red Flag, where we practice combat actions. So, we are better suited for faster combat.”
The training
Colombia previously took part in Red Flag in 2012. Since then, FAC has trained continuously with routine air operations. “We’ve conducted high-scale exercises at the First Air Combat Command since 2017 with all combat squadrons of FAC,” Brig. Gen. García said.
During Red Flag, pilots conducted air-to-air and air-to-ground missions under NATO parameters to participate as hemispheric defense partners. “Colombia just recently joined NATO,” Brig. Gen. García said. “This allows us to conduct military operations with other countries in the near future, with aircraft, pilots, and crews, following standard procedures that enable interoperability anywhere in the world.”
“It’s our second participation, with far more satisfactory results than the first,” Brig. Gen. García said. “It’s good for Colombians to get serious about the [exercise] training. Red Flag is relatively easy if the training is demanding,” Col. Mathes concluded.
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I picked up Batwoman on a recommendation from a friend. I had passed on the title previously because, while I enjoyed Kate Kane’s appearance in 52, I had no desire to follow her in her own series. What I found, after reading this issue, is that I’ve been missing out on some of the best art to come out of the DC machine in years.
Previously, Kane had been training Flamebird to be her sidekick, while trying to avoid Cameron Chase, a D.E.O. agent working under Director Bones. Bones’ obsession with Batman led him to have Chase actively pursue Batwoman in the hopes of learning her identity.
Kane is indisposed for the beginning of the issue, as she’s having a romantic night with her girlfriend, Detective Maggie Sawyer. Chase, however, gets lucky when Flamebird tries to make a name for herself by battling criminals without Batwoman’s help. The results are violent and painful. Meanwhile, Kane’s trying to track down a demon spirit that’s kidnapping children. After Flamebird is revived, she spits out the words, “Kate Kane,” leaving Chase to call in her boss to return to Gotham City. The issue ends with Bones standing on a helipad in the snow, smoking a cigar and telling Chase that they’ve just unmasked “one of Batman’s shadow soldiers.”
I struggled to understand the story in the first few issues, as the supernatural connection feels out of place in a Bat-comic. Not that Batman hasn’t battled supernatural beings before – it’s just that most issues have logical explanations for the villains. The explanation for this should be mind-blowing, as I have no friggin’ clue how they’re going to explain a kidnapping spirit that pours tears down the throats of her victims.
If the thought disgusts you, you should see the pictures.
Which leads to the strongest aspect of Batwoman: J.H. Williams’ art. He uses several different styles, even on a single page. For example, one page has Polaroid-type shots of Kane getting intimate with her girlfriend. These are illustrated in black and white charcoal art. The main page, however, is a battle between Flamebird and some thugs. This is illustrated in Williams’ traditional style, but he gives the costume a sheen, like it’s made of patent leather. Every illustration that has a costume in it uses this design – Dave Stewart’s sleek colors accentuate the emotions of the panels, as the comic relies heavily on emotional design. Additionally, Williams uses a third type of art in the comic, one that’s reminiscent of Michael Allred’s art in iZombie.
The page construction is also a celebration in visual beauty. One page in particular has Batwoman on the left side, and her cape creates a flow of panels, each jagged and unsettled. The effort Williams has to put into this comic seems staggering, but the results are phenomenal.
I can’t get enough of this book. It’s a visual masterpiece, and it moves Batwoman beyond the realm of comics into the world of art. Williams needs to be celebrated for his work because while the story is getting better, the visuals carry the comic.
I’m in awe of Williams’ work, and I hope you will be too.
While not my favorite of the week, Green Lantern does have a strong story. I thought by this point the issue of Hal’s ring would be resolved, but while we wait for Jordan to get his ring back, we’re still treated to a tale written mainly about Sinestro. Readers have to stick through Sinestro’s story, because I’m sure the ending will be epic, like all of Johns’ other work.
While Hal tried to destroy the yellow battery terminal in the last issue, he’s stripped of his power in the beginning of this one. Hal ends up draining the ring’s energy using its last bit of power to make a construct of Carol – the one thing he wants to see before dying.
Sinestro, meanwhile, battles the Corps he used to control. When they realize they can’t remove the ring, they lock him up with the rest of the people of Korugar – people that hate and fear him. Under Hal’s guidance, Sinestro creates a batch of green rings to empower the Korugarians and allow them to help Sinestro break out of jail and defeat the yellow Corps. Their anger with him, however, leads to him facing off with the people he terrorized – but now they have power rings.
The issue is another solid effort from Johns, even if it feels like he’s stalling a bit. Johns has worked especially hard at developing Sinestro’s character, and while he’s not likable, he’s tolerable, and one can’t help but feel for him. I’m empathetic to Thaal, not because I want to be, but because he has a lot of redemption within him. I think one of the smartest things Johns ever did was to bring Sinestro back on the Green Lantern side. He doesn’t have to be a hero, nor does he have to be liked by the rest of the Corps. In fact, he doesn’t seem to care either way (as evidenced in previous issues).
Thaal is supposed to be the greatest Green Lantern to ever wear the ring (behind Abin Sur, of course). So far, however, we haven’t really seen him do anything to prove that. I’d like to see Sinestro kick some ass and use the ring in ways Hal’s never thought of. Hal should spend this arc becoming the kind of Lantern he should be. The dilemma, of course, would be that he learns at the hands of the man who almost dismantled the greatest peacekeeping army in the universe.
I want something to happen soon. Hell, I need something big to happen to stay interested in this story. Every Green Lantern issue Johns writes is good. Some, however, just happen to be better than others. And those phenomenal issues usually involve Hal.
So get the damn ring back on his finger, Geoff.
Bannen’s Book of the Week: Only six pages of this comic involve any action at all. The other 16 are full of dialogue and are pure ecstasy for any Batman fan. As in Green Lantern, Peter Tomasi spends the issue developing the conflict between the characters, but his dialogue and character interactions make this one of the best issues I’ve ever read.
After being captured by the villain Nobody – an old acquaintance of Bruce named Morgan – Batman and Robin find themselves tied up in the rotting frame of a car, parked at a drive-in theater. Here, Nobody goes over Bruce’s life as Batman and all the pain it’s caused him. He tells Bruce that had he just killed his villains, none of the continuous murders would have occurred. He hopes to kill Bruce and free Damian from the shadow of the bat. As he’s about to disintegrate Bruce’s face, Alfred swoops the Batwing in (from a remote terminal) and drives Morgan away.
Afterwards, Bruce and Damian fight about how Damian feels Bruce doesn’t respect or trust him. After he storms out, Damian goes to his grandparents’ graves and tells them their son is a “stubborn ass.” Out of the darkness, Morgan appears – dressed as Nobody – and offers Damian the chance to learn from someone who “won’t hold back.” Damian is left standing at the grave, his face shadowed, his closed hand squishing the life out of a lightning bug.
Tomasi is phenomenal at playing up the father/son conflict in this series. Damian has quickly become one of the best characters written into the Batman universe, and while Gleason draws him as a little kid, there’s always a danger lurking below his surface, like he’s a live wire waiting to be picked up by bare hands. The intensity with which Tomasi writes him – and Gleason draws him – makes him the standout character of the issue. As always, Alfred is there to provide Bruce with an external focus, a voice of reason that shows him the point he’s too stubborn to see or admit. Damian, for the first time, saw his father as a mortal being – and it scared the hell out of him.
I don’t do the dialogue justice, but I can tell you that it reads like actual speech and is so well done that readers can tell that Tomasi has Bruce, Damian and Alfred’s voices all down to perfection. He’s captured the souls of each character and done a spectacular job of presenting them to readers. Not a single word is wasted (save for the stereotypical, “Any last words?”), and while the word bubbles clutter the pages, at no point does the story drag. This kind of character development is rare, and I can only emphasize that few writers are able to capture the feel of a character the way Tomasi does.
Much like Scott Snyder, Peter Tomasi knows how to craft a tight story, as well as use dialogue effectively. I would even love for Tomasi to write a comic that only shows Bruce and Damian arguing for 22 pages. Without a lick of action, the story would still read well.
The intensity of their discussion and the earnestness of their voices make Batman and Robin the book to own this week.
Brian Bannen has finally decided to stop holding back with his enemies. Read about his brutality on Twitter at @Oaser.
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Development-ready lot in a high-traffic area, ready for the right investor! This sale includes 5 contiguous parcels in the heart of New Smyrna Beach's prime commercial development district. All 2.23 acres will be sold together. Turn lanes and deceleration lanes are already in place. The sewer line has already been installed, adding considerably to the value of this property, so while it's not exactly throw-and-go, it's ready for development! Located very close to I95 on SR 44. Contact me today to see it! ... See MoreSee Less
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Okay now we can look at the interior of 10 Cunningham Drive - it's as stunning as the outside! As you walk inside, you'll find a fireplace, plantation shutters, vertiglide hunter Douglas shades and 6"x36" tile wood plank look flooring to round out an aesthetically pleasing living area. Full kitchen remodel with Samsung appliances, granite countertops, wood cabinets with soft close drawers. Wall was removed for a full view of your guests while entertaining. Wait until you see the primary bedroom located at the west wing of the home. Very spacious bedroom allowing a sitting area with tray ceiling and private door to the pool, and a large ensuite bathroom including double walk-in closets and beautiful walk-in shower with euro shield glass.
More pictures and pricing available on my website. This home deserves a walkthrough or two if you're looking for your dream house, so contact me today for a showing! ... See MoreSee Less
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Matthew Guarro Realtor is in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
New listing! And what. A. Beauty! The property is so gorgeous that I don't have room on this post for the interior (I'll show that tomorrow), so stay tuned or check my website for more! 10 Cunningham Drive is in a private high end neighborhood surrounded by multi million dollar waterfront homes! Inlet Shores has no HOA and is minutes to the public boat ramp where you can launch your boat and be to the Inlet in minutes or find one of the local sandbars in your backyard to hang for the day. Pride of ownership is evident as you pull into the circle driveway. Welcomed by the front screened in porch and double entry door you will be wowed by the high vaulted ceilings with 3 skylights allowing light to flood the open floor plan! And best of all there is no work to do here as the owners have extensively remodeled this home with high end materials thinking this would be their last home. Upgrades include roof 2017, Hybrid water heater for savings 2021, 18 seer HVAC 2019, LED can lights with dimmers, sealed pavers, pool resurfaced, new pool vac, light and salt cell, PGT impact windows are gorgeous including a triple sliding glass door that pockets for full view of the covered Lanai gorgeous backyard and pool!
Irrigation well and timer redone in 2021, RV and generator plug round out some of the perks some overlook. This truly is a must see home, so don't sleep on it! Check my website for pricing and more pictures, and call me today if you want to see it in person! ... See MoreSee Less
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NEW LISTING! The gated entry sets the scene to this enchanting estate property set on 8.64 acres as you meander down the paved driveway surrounded by manicured live Oak trees. Ending at the roundabout you will step off to a very inviting front porch soon welcomed by an open floor plan. The custom kitchen front and center includes a large island, propane cooktop, wall oven with microwave, and large pantry. Opening directly to the living area with a soothing propane fireplace, cathedral ceilings, formal dining room, and breakfast nook overlooking the incredible custom salt pool. Open the triple sliding glass doors that pocket into the wall for a full view of your outdoor oasis! Complimented by an outdoor kitchen including a high-end grill, griddle, double refrigerator, and sink.
The center piece is the custom automated (app controlled) pool with swim up seating, accompanied by the hot tub, fire pit and outdoor shower. The panorama screen enclosure captures and pulls in the picturesque lot and private viewing dock. The private master bedroom has its own pool access, garden tub, and large walk-in shower. Two spare bedrooms are set in the split floor plan including a Jack and Jill bathroom. An office and high end inside laundry room complete the first floor. Upstairs is a very spacious bonus/media room perfect to enjoy those quiet family nights. Bring the toys as there is a 24'x40' metal building with 3 garage doors, and a boat or RV carport in addition to the two car garage attached to the home. Parcel ID 921800000065 is included for an additional 3.57 Acres totaling 8.64 acres of pristine manicured land! Additional features include 250 gal. owned Propane tank, spray foam insulation, insulation filled block cells, underground utilities, security cameras, generator pad, tankless hot water heater, insulated garage door, landscape lighting and many other custom features.
You do not want to miss this one, so call my office today to see it in person! 465 Dickson Ave in Osteen FL ... See MoreSee Less
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Have a great weekend everyone! As we head into spooky season, remember that now is the perfect time to buy your winter getaway, second home, or summer rental property!
You can find more photos, info, and pricing for 187 Flamingo Rd on my website! Call today to see it in person! ... See MoreSee Less
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Brushing and flossing are of paramount importance to oral hygiene. Though bi-annual professional dental cleanings remove plaque, tartar and debris, excellent homecare methods are equally valuable. Proper brushing and flossing can enhance the health of the mouth, make the smile sparkle and prevent serious diseases.
Reasons why proper brushing and flossing are essential:
Prevention of tooth decay – Tooth decay is one of the leading causes of tooth loss, and its treatment often requires complex dental procedures. Tooth decay occurs when the acids found in plaque erode the natural enamel found on the teeth. This phenomenon can easily be prevented by using proper home hygiene methods.
Prevention of periodontal disease – Periodontal disease is a serious, progressive condition which can cause tooth loss, gum recession and jawbone recession. Periodontal disease is caused by the toxins found in plaque, and can lead to serious health problems in other parts of the body. Removing plaque and calculus (tartar) from the surface of the tooth using a toothbrush, and from the interdental areas using dental floss, is an excellent way to stave off periodontal problems.
Prevention of halitosis – Bad breath or halitosis is usually caused by old food particles on or between the teeth. These food particles can be removed with regular brushing and flossing; leaving the mouth healthier, and breath smelling fresher.
Prevention of staining – Staining or the yellowing of teeth can be caused by a wide variety of factors such as smoking, coffee and tea. The more regularly these staining agents are removed from the teeth using brushing and flossing techniques, the less likely it is that the stains will become permanent.
The teeth should be brushed at least twice a day; ideally in the morning and before bed. The perfect toothbrush is small in size with soft, rounded-end bristles and no more than three months old. The head of the brush needs to be small enough to access all areas of the mouth, and the bristles should be soft enough so as not to cause undue damage to the gum tissue. The American Dental Association (ADA) has given electric toothbrushes their seal of approval; stating that those with rotating or oscillating heads are more effective than other toothbrushes.
Here is a basic guide to proper brushing:
Place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle where the gums and teeth meet.
Use small circular motions to gently brush the gumline and teeth.
Do not scrub or apply too much pressure to the teeth, as this can damage the gums and tooth enamel.
Brush every surface of every tooth, cheek-side, tongue-side, and chewing surfaces. Place special emphasis on the surfaces of the back teeth.
Use back and forth strokes to brush the chewing surfaces.
Flossing is a great way to remove plaque from the interdental regions (between the teeth). Flossing is an especially important tool for preventing periodontal disease and limiting the depth of the gum pockets. The interdental regions are difficult to reach with a toothbrush and should be cleansed with dental floss on a daily basis. The flavor and type of floss are unimportant; choose floss that will be easy and pleasant to use.
Here is a basic guide to proper flossing:
Cut a piece of floss to around 18 inches long.
Wrap one end of the floss around the middle finger of the left hand and the other end around the middle finger of the right hand until the hands are 2-3 inches apart.
Work the floss gently between the teeth toward the gum line.
Curve the floss in a U-shape around each individual tooth and carefully slide it beneath the gum line.
Carefully move the floss up and down several times to remove interdental plaque and debris.
Do not pop the floss in and out between the teeth as this will inflame and cut the gums.
If you have any questions about the correct way to brush or floss, please ask your dentist or dental hygienist.
"Everyone is leery about going to the dentist for anything, me included! But thanks to Megan and the staff at Walker Dental Care they have calmed my fears and have restored the confidence in myself to smile bright once again. And not only that, you get to take cool pictures when you are done. Megan Rocks!"
"My wife Francine & I have been patients of Dr. Walker for approximately 5 years. We have been very satisfied with his services. He is very professional, timely and causes minimum amount of pain. Megan Cusumano is our dental hygienist. We have been overjoyed with her. Also, she is very professional, caring and has a lovely personality. "
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Integrative Health, Anti-Aging, Functional Medicine, Weight Loss, Integrative Cancer Therapies related topics, questions, products such as hormones and appetite suppressants including Phentermine, Bontril, Tenuate and Didrex and hCG. The opinions posted here are those of the posters and of DrWLC staff and may not be FDA approved. – Richard Cheng, M.D., Ph.D.
Anti-Aging/Functional Medicine
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← COVID-19 Update from DrWLC
Posted on April 12, 2020 by Dr. Cheng
-The journey of a Chinese American doctor, caught between the East and the West, the contemporary and integrative medicine.
The Chinese Theater of World War Covid-19
It was right after Christmas; the Christmas holiday festivities are not entirely over yet and the traditional Chinese New Year was just around the corner. The Chinese New Year is based on the Chinese lunar calendar and varies every year. In 2020, it falls on Jan. 25th.
In a festive mood, I packed up and boarded an American Airliner and arrived at Shanghai, known as MoDu (the Magic Metropolis) by the Chinese, the largest city and the financial center in China where I went to the medical school (Shanghai Medical University) some 40 years ago and where I left for US in 1986. In recent years, I have been coming back more and more frequently to visit my parents and to delivered invited speeches in various conferences on health and disease. This time around, I was supposed to attend several conferences to talk about integrative medicine, ketogenic/carnivore diet and Vitamin C, in addition to spending time with my parents who are in their 80s. I have been making it a rule some years ago that no matter how busy I get, I should always spend the traditional Chinese New Year with my parents.
The plane landed in this neon lit metropolis. The air tasted much fresher than years ago. The streets were new and clean, no dirt or trash anywhere in the view. Shanghai is a lot more automated technically than any other cities in US or other places. Garage gates in particular. Many garages are automated without attendants. With a mobile phone, one scans a barcode and enters a payment, voila, the gate opens. Many streets are decorated with China red; it seems to me everyone is in a good mood.
Then, Wuhan began to show up on WeChat, a social media APP that more than a billion people can’t live without these days in China. Wuhan is nearly a thousand kilometers west of Shanghai. Shanghainese’s mentality may be similar to that of New Yorkers: Shanghai is THE world center. Anything outside Shanghai doesn’t matter to them. What happens in Wuhan has nothing to do with Shanghai and life goes on. Also, there were no reports in the official government media of this rapidly evolving epidemic at all. It is the Chinese tradition that towards the year-end of the lunar Chinese calendar, there will be all kinds of celebrating parties from the public governmental agencies to private corporations and citizens. The central Chinese government headed by the Communist party chief is holding elaborate party with thousands of VIP attendees to celebrate the great achievement of this nation under the great leadership of the great party chief. The Hubei provincial and Wuhan city governments were doing pretty much the same: big parties with lots of attendees. In one area in Wuhan, a model region even held a “10,000-family dinner party” where all families in that area gathered together in a huge dinner party to celebrate the new year. This tradition has been going every year for the last 20 years. This is a landmark of achievements and this tradition can’t be broken.
But right after these huge festivities, the government announced the lock-down of Wuhan city, no one was allowed to go out or come in without special permits. Unofficial reports of a new corona virus epidemic dominated the media and people were getting sick and dying. People were panicking. But from the government sanctioned media outlets, all was clear. There was no imminent danger. Life is good. Let’s celebrate. But people knew better. The less the government reports, the more people are worried. With the modern-day internet and wide spread social media, all kinds of news from brave souls in Wuhan and other place appear. All of a sudden, people were talking about nothing but Wuhan pneumonia.
On Jan. 23rd, just 2 days before the Chinese Near Year when everybody was getting ready to celebrate, which always involves lots of gatherings, eating, drinking and all the entertainment and craziness found in every culture, Wuhan announced the city-wide lock down: no one can go in or out of Wuhan, a city of more than 10 million people and is the central hub connecting the south with the north and the east with the west, of China. The rumor was that the Wuhan city lock-down decision leaked out the night before and about 300,000 Wuhan residents escaped the city overnight, before the lock-down at 10 am, Jan. 23rd.
Now this wave of panic rolled over to the eastern seaboard of China, you could feel it in Shanghai. All those New Year’s Eve dinner reservations in restaurants, big or small were cancelled. People stayed home, not knowing what’s going on.
One of these rumors was about a doctor, Li Wenliang. Dr. Li was an eye doctor in a major hospital in Wuhan. He was among the 8 doctors who first warned his classmates in his WeChat social media group that a SARS like viral infection was detected in a Wuhan wildlife market. But someone reported his WeChat posting to the government and Dr. Li and the other 7 doctors received admonition from the government for spreading “rumors” to disturb the social harmony in a great country. He was taken by the police at midnight and he was made to confess that he was spreading rumors. Dr. Li was criticized by the official government media, received police warnings. By all counts, Dr. Li was described as a bad citizen. Later on, it was reported the hospital where he worked was even ready to fire him. The young and unfortunate Dr. Li very soon caught the virus himself and was sent to ICU, where he never came out, sadly. Dr. Li, considered by most Chinese citizens a national hero who warned people of an imminent viral outbreak, died officially as a whistle blower, a “bad citizen”. The whole nation, except some people in power, mourned his death. There was another round of WeChat “complaints” about how the Wuhan pneumonia situation was handled and how the government was too slow to respond to the epidemic and how it tried cover up the epidemic, so on and so forth. On the one hand these complaints sprang up like the bamboo shoots in the spring, and on the other hand, the government was too busy cracking down on these complaints, deleting those reports or closing down the social media accounts of those who complained, or direct lockup of those “rumors”. There has been a phenomenon well known to the Chinese called “invited to a coffee”, when the National Security Bureau or local police brings someone to an interrogation.
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The difference between a living wage and minimum wage for a couple in the Cowichan Valley is $34,777.
Contributed
Aug. 2, 2016 2:00 p.m.
Social Planning Cowichan calculates that the difference between a living wage and minimum wage for a couple in the Cowichan Valley is $34,777.
That is a huge discrepancy.
For anyone who has tried to survive on minimum wage, or who knows someone who does, this comes as no surprise.
Minimum wage, which was designed so that everyone who was working would be able to actually live on what they were making, hasn’t actually assured that in a long time.
That’s why we now have to talk about a living wage at all.
Most people with minimum wage jobs work several of them to try to make ends meet, and even then they don’t necessarily succeed in doing so.
There’s also the fact that many minimum wage jobs are not full time. Some businesses carefully calculate their employees’ hours so that they don’t reach that full-time threshold, so the company doesn’t have to start paying out benefits and the like above salary.
Then of course there’s the proliferation of contract work.
While British Columbia has had some raises in the minimum wage in recent years, we still have lowest minimum wage in Canada.
That’s set to change in September when the minimum wage gets a lift to $10.85 per hour from $10.45 per hour.
Still, those extra few cents per hour, welcome as they will be for low-wage workers, don’t begin to cover the rise in the cost of living over the last decade.
Hydro costs have gone up. Food bills are significantly more — over $300 per year according to the BC Food Report.
And the availability of affordable housing has never been particularly good.
The major argument against raising the minimum wage significantly to more reflect the cost of living has always been that it would hurt small business. And it’s not an insignificant issue.
But we just don’t believe that folks working full time should have to go to the food bank because they can’t afford to feed themselves, or choose between putting food on the table and heating their home in the winter.
Nor should they be forced to live in squalor because their housing budget doesn’t run to a clean, safe, and reliable roof over their heads.
People who are working hard deserve to at least be able to pay for the basics. And right now, the ends don’t meet.
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“[W]e now live in a time in which a heated controversy has broken out in our Lutheran Church about what the holy preaching office actually is” (At Home in the House of My Fathers, 148). These words from C. F. W. Walther, whose 200th birthday we celebrate this year (1811- 1887), have lost none of their weight. Indeed, the controversy over church and ministry has only increased since he spoke these words in an Epiphany sermon in 1862. It is also fitting that Walther quoted today’s Old Testament lesson (Mal 2:5-7) in his introduction to this sermon: “The lips of the [Levitical] priest should guard the teaching, so that one may seek the law from his mouth; for he is a messenger of the Lord of hosts” (At Home, p. 147). Today, we consider our identity as shepherd and sheep as we welcome a messenger from the Lord of hosts, Pastor Jimmy B. Coffey. Our Epistle and Gospel lessons will teach us, especially the sheep of this fold, what to expect from the church and ministry as the Lord’s words are fulfilled in our midst: “Feed my sheep.”
Brian J. Hamer is Chaplain to Destroyer Squadron 23, Naval Base San Diego, via the LCMS Board for International Mission Services.
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Adult Relationships Information: 5 Date that is first Questions… and 5 Subject areas to end! | Nail County Singapore
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Adult Relationships Information: 5 Date that is first Questions… and 5 Subject areas to end!
Posted by admin on October 14, 2022 October 14, 2022
Adult Relationships Information: 5 Date that is first Questions… and 5 Subject areas to end!
I think you to definitely first dates should getting white and you can airy since you spend your time observing anybody. A lot of women inside their 50s and you will 1960s are not aware he’s got choices they didn’t have within their twenties about how a good child can easily fit in the existence.
Males will be your spouse, their pal, the man you’re dating, your spouse, the pal with positives, your spouse, or absolutely nothing. You get to choose.
These possibilities offer the luxury of taking sometime in order to see an effective man’s identification without having to easily determine him because of the using what I phone call The fresh Relationship Resume Issues.
These are issues you fire off 1 by 1 like: Exactly how many infants are you experiencing? What now ?? What type of dating looking for? How often are you presently married?
Concerns like these generate men feel just like he could be to the an interview, in addition they put you both to the line since you try to generate decisions before a sit down elsewhere is gone.
Now you know you have solutions on your side, opt for such 5 smooth issues to find out more on the good man’s lifestyle. Such inquiries will be much more discussing, and additionally they renders the time a lot more fun and you will fascinating since you spark good talks that will would a match up between the two of you.
With the far to watch towards Netflix and Craigs list Prime, asking regarding their favourite Tv show can create days of great talk.
Do you have a pet?
When you yourself have a pet, you prefer someone who usually take pleasure in your baby, which is the reason why that it real question is a good one having weeding away boys that happen to be allergic so you can pets or can’t stand kitties otherwise pet – or reptiles!
Could you be an early morning People or a night Owl?
You should also see your time taste being compatible, particularly for when you take vacation. You won’t want to keep an eye out on an intimate moonlight because of the on your own per night into balcony from a cruiseship just like the he could be gone to bed during the 9 p.meters.
Where Have been Your because of it Tall Event?
Examples of these are: In which was in fact you after you heard Chairman Kennedy is sample? Otherwise in which was in fact your when you read this new Beatles? Or that which was your chosen band from the Woodstock? Searching back, do you really have gone? Sharing record can cause an effective connection.
What is actually Your preferred Restaurant?
Revealing their restaurant preferred is a fantastic create for upcoming schedules. He’ll have a notable idea in which you wanna go, therefore he is able to become successful in the thought a future big date. So it question will even tell you should your restaurants choice is suitable. If you are a vegan and you can he or she is a major meat-eater, this could be a problem.
What exactly are Your Governmental Views?
Previously, I would said undoubtedly do not talk about politics to your an effective first date. But, in the current very divided business, In my opinion it is very important rating a sense of in which someone really stands to the issues that are important for your requirements.
Given that getting said, it should never be the first thing you ask regarding. Possibly, as you grow to learn some one, you’re greatest in a position to put up with variations than just you’re on an effective date that is first. When it procedure is a great deal breaker to you personally, up coming talk about it on the reputation.
In which Do you Discover All of us Heading?
Okay, so you like the kid and possibly the guy likes your, however you want to consider you are on a date not when you look at the a relationship. You come across because super eager and eager after you violation the fresh “future” issue on the first date.
As to the reasons Performed The Past Relationships Prevent?
Naturally you happen to be interested in learning the fresh man’s earlier in the day dating, but except if the guy brings it up, get-off that it matter for after you most analyze him. This may had been an adverse breakup, and you will delivering it up in advance of he is ready to express is extremely sour a-1 st go out.
Do you have a retirement Money?
I understand you want to find some idea as to if or https://datingreviewer.net/nl/chatavenue-overzicht/ not one can also be support himself, but inquiring immediately following his money should be left to possess while willing to discuss undertaking a love. As you grow to know your, note in which the guy takes you. It will give you an idea from the their life.
Do you own Your home otherwise Lease?
Like with the previous question, you might be trying to determine if the a guy try financially sound but now could be maybe not the time.
Truly the only aim of a primary big date would be to have a great time meeting individuals brand new and fascinating to determine whether you need a moment date when the he requires. Allow the conversation flow which have concerns that hook you. Some tips about what creates an interest and will lead to the long haul matchmaking you are looking for.
What concerns is it possible you constantly ask to your an initial go out? Just what issues might you get asked? And this information usually bitter the mood? Whenever have you got the quintessential enjoyable towards a first big date? Excite show the feel with your society!
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Forty years ago today, Bruce Springsteen played a historic concert at The Main Point, a storied venue in suburban Philadelphia. It featured early versions of what went on to become The Boss’ biggest songs: “Thunder Road,” “Born to Run” and more. Listen to the performance in its entirety here.
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“Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home.” ~ Anna Quindlen
Books
November 13, 2017 March 16, 2018 rosihollinbeck
“Inspiration does not come like a bolt, nor is it kinetic, energetic striving, but it comes
into us slowly and quietly and all the time, though we must regularly and every day
give it a little chance to start flowing, prime it with a little solitude and idleness.”
Gifts for My Writer Friends:
MentalFloss has a post HERE that will give you 38 Word Usage Mistakes Even Smart People Make. There were a couple on the list I know I’ve used incorrectly a time or two.
Choosing the correct point of view is pretty critical to the success of your story. HERE K. M. Weiland gives you some great hints to find the right point of view.
Writers in the Storm has a good post HERE to help you manage your chapters.
I took my exchange student, Amandine, to Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park this weekend. It has been years since I have visited these wonderful places, and it was a treat to see them through the eyes of someone who had never been there before. As we were driving out of Sequoia, a California Black Bear ran alongside our car for several hundred feet. It was a real thrill to see him up close. In Yosemite, we saw several mule deer and lots of small animals. Amandine was obsessed with Yosemite and declared it was just not fair that there is nothing like it in Belgium. We sure are lucky to live in such a wonderful place.
Last week I offered a gently-read ARC of Jabber-Walking by Juan Filipe Herrera to one of my readers. The winner this week is our temporary host of MMGM, Greg Pattridge. Congratulations, Greg! To keep up on MMGM and to read wonderful book reviews, hop on over to Greg’s fabulous blog, Always in the Middle. Don’t miss an episode. It’s so good. HERE is the link. Greg, I will get your book out to you this week. For the rest of you, please keep reading for another terrific giveaway.
I read about a book a couple months ago called Ashes to Asheville by Sarah Dooley that sounded really good, so I requested a copy from the Seattle Book Review and was not disappointed. Here is the review I wrote for them.
Fella lost so much when Mama Lacy died. It was bad enough to lose her mother, but to be separated from her sister, Zany, and her other mother, Mama Shannon, as well was so hard. But living with her grandmother had its upside. She had a nice room and wanted for nothing — except the rest of her family. When Zany shows up one night insisting Mama Lacy’s wishes must be respected and her ashes spread in Asheville, the two girls find themselves on an amazing journey. These two girls, four years apart in age, agree on very little as they work their way toward Asheville. They have little money, the urn of ashes is stolen along with Zany’s purse, they have grandmother’s dog along, and they have no map. It’s complicated.
Author Sarah Dooley has written a heart-rending story of the time before there
were protections for same-sex couples and their families and how the lack of those protections could rip families apart and steal so much from those left behind. The characters are compelling and, for the most part, believable and the writing strong. The story is an important reminder of why the new laws are so important.
I have a gently-read hardback for of this for one of you. To win, all you need do is have a US address, be a subscriber or follower, and tell me that in a comment you leave on this post. If you are reading this in your email, click HERE to go to the blog so you can leave a comment. If you would like extra chances, please spread the word by posting the link on a Tweet, blog post, Facebook, or any other way you like. Let me know what you have done in your comment, and I will put in extra chances for you for each that you do.
Don’t forget to check out Greg Pattridge’s blog HERE for many more Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday reviews and giveaways. He has graciously agreed to take over temporarily for Shannon Messenger while she is running around promoting her latest book. Thanks, Greg, and good luck, Shannon!
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It is the start of the new year. Time to think about what to do better, what not to do any more and what new things to try. It is time for new year's resolutions! Accordingly, the Wine Rambler committee assembled on New Year's Eve and came up with a list of wine related resolutions. Drinking less, by the way, is not one of them.
As we all know, sticking to new year's resolutions is not easy, so I looked around for good advice on how to succeed. Time for instance offer useful suggestions such as 'Do What the Dalai Lama Would Do', which is explained as follows:
"Between stimulus and response, there's a space, and in that space is our power to choose our response, and in our response lies our growth and freedom," says Marlatt, quoting author and Holocaust survivor Victor Frankl.
If this is the best advice you can get, it is no wonder that only 12% of us still stick to a resolution after a year's time, at least according to a poll by Quirkology. Apparently, men are more successful when their resolution is related to getting attention from the opposite sex (like lose weight), while women do better through peer pressure from friends and family. Time agrees that 'friends who can also be role models' are a key to becoming a better person, and so they boldly suggest 'Get Better Friends'. While we have no intention of getting rid of our wine friends, we would appreciate a little encouragement to help us to stick to our resolutions:
First, the hardest: Finally seriously educate ourselves about Burgundy. Specifically, find the three to five individual Pinot Noir under 30 € that will broaden our Pinot horizon, and give us a new perspective on the German Pinots that we love so much.
Try a few interesting German sparkling wines without waiting for something to celebrate.
Learn more about the German wine regions we do not regularly venture into, for instance Saxony and Swabia.
Try more from lesser-known French wine regions like the Jura or the Loire Valley.
Taste blind more regularly, and honestly confront the utter subjectivity of the wine tasting experience.
Keep an eye on what's happening in eastern Europe.
Focus more on really matching food and wine.
Learn more about wine and food photography.
Continue the search for an English wine to get really excited about.
Keep an eye out for esoteric 'German' grapes and also for wines made from varietals Germany is not usually associated with (such as Syrah, Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc).
These are our top ten resolutions for the wine year 2010. Do you think we should be doing something else instead? Have we forgotten the most important things in wine life? Perhaps more importantly, what are your wine resolutions for 2010?
new year's resolutions
Submitted by Jake Tuesday, 05/01/2010
Here's my list for this year:
Submitted by torsten Tuesday, 05/01/2010
In reply to Nice list by Jake
Jura and
Thanks very much for the comment, Jake! On your list, I found the British Columbia and Ontario Rieslings fascinating. Canadian Riesling would definitely be something to explore too, but in our case it may have to wait until 2010... Having said that we are always happy for suggestions!
Submitted by Katie Wednesday, 06/01/2010
suggestions
2. For German sparklers I would turn to Terry Theise's portfolio. I trust his palate implicitly.
4. The wines of Languedoc-Roussillon can also be intriguing, and often great values.
5. I have repeatedly ranted about the lack of "utter subjectivity" in wine journalism despite the fact that it's what wine tasting is all about. Be true to it.
8. There are several blogs with tutorials and suggestions about improving food photography...seek them out.
9. Chapel Down has some wines worth talking about. Posted about English wines not long ago: http://bit.ly/wSrdt
Submitted by torsten Wednesday, 06/01/2010
In reply to suggestions by Katie
re: suggestions
Thanks for the comments! I have tried one Chapel Down so far, which was not bad at all, but - like most English wines I have tried so far - felt a little too expensive for what it was. Obviously, I am not going to judge their range of wine from just one bottle though; the hunt continues.
While I am looking for English wines, my co-rambler Julian keeps an eye on France - let's see what he will dig up and whether he can be tempted by Languedoc-Roussillon. If you were interested in the Wine Rambler's version of a subjective wine review, have a look at the recent lost in translation - Greek wine post.
Luckily, we do not need to rely on Theise as importer as we get (at least some of) our wine directly from German wineries; but it will be interesting to see what he recommends.
I am now going to have a look at your post on English wine!
Submitted by Julian Friday, 08/01/2010
In reply to suggestions by Katie
re: suggestions
Katie, while we have no need of Terry Theise's services at the wine rambler, we certainly salute him as an entertaining voice on german wine, and a fellow rambler. Read one of his catalogues cover-to-cover once. Verbose and hilarious. Viewed critically by some in Germany, though, because his considerable influence on growers is seen as streamlining winemaking towards a fruitier, off-dry or sweet style of Riesling, while a good many wineries and journalists advocate the quest for powerful dry Rieslings as the way to greatness within german wine. Funny how international and home-grown perceptions can diverge.
Languedoc-Rousillion is an interesting case for me, because that is what I looked to overwhelmingly when I first got into wine. Have been disenchanted a bit in the last 2 or 3 years. But I've stayed loyal to Gauby especially, who is my north star in the region for freshness and focus. So any recommendations more than welcome!
Submitted by Gabriel Sunday, 10/01/2010
As someone who is not a wine
As someone who is not a wine expert nor even a very regular wine drinker, I can think of one thing that you afficionados of German wine might write about at some point that would be useful to me:
I have tended to avoid German wines because they have a reputation for being sweet, light, sparkly, and other things that I don't really like in my wine. Even some deep reds I've been introduced to have these traits. So prove me wrong: what German red wines (with a particular German flavour) might appeal to someone whose tastes normally extend to a dry and fruity South African Cape Cabernet or Merlot?
More broadly, break the stereotypes (which I'm sure any real wine-lover would have overcome long time ago anyway).
Submitted by Julian Sunday, 10/01/2010
In reply to As someone who is not a wine by Gabriel
Gabriel, wonderful. A challenge, a quest! You could start with one of our wines of the year, a classy dry red that contains some Cabernet and Merlot, together with the german Lemberger grape, and that comes with none of the weaknesses that have bothered you, but with a posh latin name: Ex flammis orior - out of flames I rise. But we will also rise to your bait in 2010 and find another international-style red from germanic soil that can break your stereotypes, which are not unique to you and are not always unfounded, either. Check back on our progress from time to time!
The 72% Wine Ramblers and their New Year's resolutions: 2010 (revisited) and 2011
2011 - looking back over a year in wine
From Riesling to Pinot Noir - wine reviews, tasting notes, stories and ramblings across (and beyond) the world of German wine. Read more.
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This is the sixteenth newsletter of Organic Egypt project. It reviews our activities in September 2022 and illustrates all interventions conducted with our partners IDAM and Demeter Egypt (EBDA).
We hope you are all doing well and hope you enjoy the reading!
Stay safe and healthy!
Training on Biodynamic Agriculture
Over a 2 days training, Demeter Egypt engineers received several sessions on biodynamic agriculture. The training started with introducing the basics of biodynamic farming and highlighting the difference between organic and biodynamic farming.
In the following session, the participants learned about the origin of the ingredients and the used tools. This included a practical session, where the participants visited a slaughterhouse and understood the whole process from obtaining the organs to cleaning, and storing it.
The second day of the training consisted of a practical activity where the participants produced the 6 biodynamic compost preparations. They were divided into groups, working according to the steps in the biodynamic preparation manual (that can be found on Organic Egypt website) which included the number of preparations, its name, what the preparation is made of and the process on how to make it.
Poultry incubator processing training for female farmers of IDAM
After the success of the Fayoumi chicken pilot project, where IDAM introduced the very robust Fayoumi breed chicken to its members; a reproduction unit was established with the support of Organic Egypt. 4 incubators were delivered to IDAM and distributed in the 4 communities that IDAM work in.
With the processing of the reproduction unit, the female farmers faced technical problems with running the incubators like adjusting the temperature and humidity. Hence, IDAM organized a one day training with an engineer from the manufacturer company. He came to Minia and did a practical training on site.
The Economy of Love (EoL) Standard is certified by the Center of Organic Agriculture in Egypt (COAE) – which is an Egyptian certification body, accredited by the Egyptian Accreditation Council (EGAC) according to ISO 17065. In addition to the certification, COAE is validating and verifying the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) statements of the EoL licensees; the validation is based on the EoL project design document provided by the Carbon Footprint Center (CFC). Mainly, the CFC is managing the EoL carbon registry, and to avoid double accounting; each EoL project certificate receives a serial number connected to invoices, issue date and amount of CO2 tonnes.
Organic feed production unit for IDAM members
In the framework of establishing a new service for IDAMs members – rearing and distributing the very robust fayoumi breed chicken in Minia – a number of native breeds had been distributed to IDAM members and several training have been conducted in 2021. IDAM members were very committed and excited to work with the fayoumi variety, but unfortunately they faced a problem as the female farmers were also raising other breeds which led to mixing and losing the purity of the native breeds.
IDAM is planning to buy pure breeds again and raise them only by 5 chosen female farmers who do not have other breeds to ensure the purity of the breed.
Further, IDAM is aiming to provide natural feed at a fair cost for their female farmers from the feeding unit that was supported by Organic Egypt in 2021. They will train 10 facilitators on how to run the feeding unit to produce clean feed for poultry and also how to market it in the communities.
In light of RDNA and Organic Egypts cooperation to raise awareness, RDNA is producing and sharing recipe videos which are healthy, engaging and easy to do at home. Raising awareness for locally produced (and especially organic) products is crucial for small scale farmers and RDNA partners. Usually these farmers and producers don’t have access to Social Media or marketing platforms, and if they do they do not have the necessary tools and language to let consumers know about their products. The recipe videos are a short, fun, visual way to communicate with the consumers with an immediate Call to Action to experiment with the produce and products themselves.
Two dishes on Pumpkin as well as a Pan tomato soup and an eggplant salad were developed this September. The recipe videos include products from IDAM and EBDA partner farms, as well as other organic and clean products. They can be watched on the social media platforms of RDNA and Organic Egypt.
Farmers and Processors Market
Organic Egypt in cooperation with the RDNA, implements Farmers and Processors Markets in an open space at KMT house, Maadi in Cairo. After the summer break, where it was too hot to organize a market, the first market was held this September.
The market included various activities such as free yoga & pilates classes beside a delicious lunch. 10 vendors exhibited their products and around 300 visitors came to the market. All participants provided extremely positive feedback as the market this time was different and more fun than it usually is.
The excursions supported by RDNA and Organic Egypt are designed to bring consumers closer to farmers and producers. On Friday the 23rd of September, an excursion was organized to Al Sorat Farm in Giza. With the participation of 31 people, the day included various activities which were full of fun such as horseback riding, livestock and a delicious vegetarian farm lunch. Consumers tend to love and enjoy visiting farms so the feedback was really cheerful.
Organic Egypt attend a meeting with WATDEV and Stakeholders from different countries
WATDEV – Climate Smart WATer Management and Sustainable DEVelopment for Food and Agriculture in East Africa – the project aims to develop an in-depth understanding of small and large-scale water and agricultural resource dynamics and management while boosting people’s resilience to climate change. The stakeholders held this meeting with the aim to carry out a participatory discussion about used farming practices and an evaluation of the local stakeholders’ ability to work together to adopt (or adapt) sustainable farming practices as well as to share the experiences. The meeting consisted of 2 parts; the first part was based on presentations from the stakeholders to introduce the project, objectives, methodology, followed by introducing all the participants in the meeting.
The second part was a discussion between all participants including Egyptian farmers, where everyone shared knowledge and experience on the problems farmers face during the cultivation processes and how they deal with those problems.
Demeter Egypt introduced the Economy of love standard which provides the farmers with social and cultural impact, besides the environmental and economical impact. EBDA also explained the EoL carbon credits system and how it ensures a stable income to the farmers during the cultivation process. At the end of the meeting, the importance of having helpful laws and regulations to ease the work were discussed.
Organic Egypt team visited Sahara exhibition
Sahara is the largest and most important agricultural, animal production, and aquaculture exhibition in the MENA region. Every year in September, Sahara is held for four days. This year, it was from September 11th to September 14th, 2022. Organic Egypt team visited the exhibition on the 2nd day to network and have an idea about the input suppliers in Egypt. The team attended a variety of sessions with different topics such as smart regenerative agriculture, and geographic information systems (GIS). The team also conducted several side meetings with different stakeholders like Dr. Adel Abdelsalam (the project’s consultant for sustainable poultry production and representative of the “Slow Food Organization” in Egypt), Waleed Ramdan from GIZ, Sigward Von Laue from Devilag project, and Omar Abdellatif from the Dutch embassy. Moreover, Heliopolis University including all its projects and Demeter Egypt had a booth at the exhibition.
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WOSU TV is experiencing intermittent issues on Spectrum Cable. Watch the live stream on the free PBS app.
Published December 9, 2019 at 5:27 PM EST
We didn't have the foggiest notion of what we were undertaking. That was what Douglas Lute, the Afghan war czar during the Bush and Obama administrations, told the U.S. government. Lute's job, once described by Vice President Cheney, was to...
CORNISH: But behind the scenes, the U.S. struggled with military strategy, goals and spending. And today, The Washington Post published the transcripts of interviews of hundreds of key players taken by the special inspector general for Afghanistan Reconstruction that revealed those concerns, including one with Douglas Lute. He joins us now.
DOUGLAS LUTE: It's good to be with you.
CORNISH: So your contributions essentially lead this story. You told an interviewer at this inspector general's office - known as SIGAR - that you, quote, "bumped into an even more fundamental lack of knowledge that the U.S. was devoid of fundamental understanding of Afghanistan, that we didn't know what we were doing." Can you talk about when you bumped in to that lack of knowledge, at what point in the gig?
LUTE: Well, I appreciate, first of all, and your listeners will appreciate that that's a pretty stark, blunt statement. And it was made in the context of a off-the-record private interview inside the government in an honest attempt to be introspective. That is a government effort to look at the government and how we were doing in Afghanistan. So forgive my bluntness. But the fundamental point remains. My experience is, over a period of 10-plus years watching and working on Afghanistan closely, that we failed to accumulate a deep understanding and expertise about Afghanistan that would then empower our strategy making.
CORNISH: I want to jump in here because there's another thing that came up. One army colonel said, quote, every "data point was altered to present the best picture possible." Quote, "surveys, for instance, were totally unreliable, but reinforced that everything we were doing was right, and we became a self-licking ice cream cone." As you said, these are candid assessments. Were you aware of or party to any effort to use data to mislead the public about the state of U.S. progress in Afghanistan?
LUTE: No. My experience with regard to collection of data and reporting on progress or lack of progress in Afghanistan is an experience of candor, of bluntness and speaking truth to our senior leaders.
CORNISH: Then why would a colonel who is, again, speaking to an inspector general's office say this, say look, like, most of the data we presented was manipulated or at least was not presented in a fair way to give people a true assessment of what was going on, especially as you're face of the war - right? - for the White House?
LUTE: Well, Audie, I'd think you'd have to ask that individual, but I'm not familiar with - and I didn't - I'm not party to any attempt to obscure or hide the lessons or deceive anyone, but rather to take a hard, long look, persistent look at what was going well and what wasn't.
CORNISH: Because you have John Sopko, the head of the federal agency that conducted the interviews, acknowledging to the Post - because the Post got these documents by filing a FOIA - right? - they weren't really volunteered.
LUTE: That's right.
CORNISH: He says, quote, "the American people have constantly been lied to." Do you agree with that assessment?
LUTE: No, I don't agree with that assessment. I think that every approach that I know of to communicate progress in Afghanistan by senior American political officials and military officials has always been couched as, on the one hand, we're making progress, but on the other hand, the challenges are severe. So I've always seen, especially if you look back at the statements by President Bush and President Obama, this sort of balance between optimism and skepticism or optimism and realism.
CORNISH: Just a few seconds left - you were in a position of power during two administrations. Looking back, what more could you have done to raise alarms?
LUTE: So there are two things in particular that I carry away as personal lessons. One was that we tended to over-rely on military tools, on the military means, and we, thereby, counter - discounted political, economic and diplomatic tools. And then second of all, we didn't stay on the job long enough to build continuity and, in turn, expertise to understand a problem as complex as Afghanistan.
CORNISH: That's Douglas Lute, former Afghan war czar for the Bush and Obama administrations. He's now a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School.
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I've managed to avoid the first few soccer games this spring because I have to wake up early to take Adam to his early morning hockey games. Handling his lollygagging sister and taking them grocery shopping afterwards leaves me exhausted by noontime. Plus all the previous games have been rainy so I couldn't even take my camera and new telephoto lens. There was perfect weather for the game last Sunday (Mother's Day) so I dusted off my soccer picture taking skills to get these shots. The first shot is an awesome goal kick. He graciously scored five goals for me on Mother's Day. The second is his usual goofing around with a teammate on the sidelines. The last is a Charlie Brown football kick (notice his foot is in the air and the ball is still on the ground), where he ended up flat on his back afterwards. If he actually kicked the ball, the ball would've been out of sight, and not such an interesting picture!
Posted by Angela
Natalie said...
I love that last shot...too funny!!! I'm totally looking forward to the day when my children are older and I can go watch them at whatever sport/activity they love. :)
May 14, 2008 12:55 AM
Anonymous said...
What great pics! I have tried bringing my camera to my hubbys soccer games but can never get a good picture.
May 14, 2008 7:21 AM
Thanks for stopping by my blog. We have one more thing in common - we both have an Adam (mine is my husband). Enjoy soccer season. It is always a busy time but worthwhile. I'm still waiting to see my daughter score a goal. She only does it when I miss the games!
May 14, 2008 7:41 AM
you take good pictures.nice one kicking the ball.
Mine is up,hope you check it out too!
May 14, 2008 10:50 AM
Anonymous said...
Oh, yes! We have four games a week!
May 14, 2008 1:34 PM
DJ said...
my son loves soccer, he's only 3 so he cant join in yet. Great shot kicking the ball!
May 14, 2008 1:48 PM
Those are great picture! You did a good job.
May 14, 2008 2:07 PM
Love the action shots...the one of your son kicking is like pro level! So cool!
May 14, 2008 4:31 PM
Deb said...
Those first and last shots are incredible! :)
May 15, 2008 4:28 PM
Anonymous said...
Kids soccer is always fun and exciting. And when girls and guys play together, it sparks the whole game.
May 15, 2008 9:58 PM
Melissa said...
Regional differences: soccer season is already over here in TX. Started in Feb., if you can believe that!
May 18, 2008 4:53 PM
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The latest Ace Neighborhood Finance was ACE’s corporate providing system help organizations that assist people, assistance studies, and you will give financial literacy. As 2004, we have donated over $13 billion in order to charity organizations in the teams i suffice.
† Implementing will not apply to your FICO® get. Ace Bucks Express will get receive advice of a non-old-fashioned consumer reporting department as well as the inquiry can affect your current borrowing from the bank character towards the appropriate company, but it cannot feeling your own FICO get.
1. All the financing susceptible to recognition pursuant to standard underwriting criteria. Cost and you can words are very different dependant on the official the place you live. Never assume all users often be eligible for that loan and the brand new limitation amount borrowed. Fine print use.
Continue reading Manage your profit with the money management resources
Pay day loan Otherwise Pay day loan: How to Destination A fraud
Pay day loan Otherwise Pay day loan: How to Destination A fraud
Both life goes. Between dental costs, veterinary expenses, car repairs or any other diverse issues, to have from a financial pickle, a quick cash advance otherwise an online payday loan could be the respond to. However, there are a lot scams on the market. And some dollars lenders and cash advance organizations victimize anybody during the their really insecure. Just how might you spot the an excellent on crappy and you may the newest ugly? We have found a list of a few of the what to check out to own before you choose the proper financial to suit your situation.
Discover Subscribed Lenders: Creating a webpage try child’s enjoy today. Therefore enterprises have a tendency to practically “pop-up” on the web with a brand new site and declare they are giving on line cash advances otherwise money. However they may not be permits so you can legally take action! During the Canada, a loan provider which provides funds out of $1500 or shorter having a period of 62 weeks or faster, is required, as per the Cash advance Work, discover a licenses. For this reason, the initial important action so you’re able to get rid of this new scammers will be to select this new licenses! An authorized financial commonly display their license amount right on the fresh website on how to request. Each state need a single licenses. You shouldn’t be bashful to help you particularly pose a question to your bank to incorporate your along with their licenses count for you to double-check!
See Lead Lenders also: A number of the on the web payday loan otherwise payday loan websites are not actually lenders whatsoever! They market as such, without a doubt, however their objective is basically to collect your information and you can post they together so you’re able to a third-party financial.
Continue reading Pay day loan Otherwise Pay day loan: How to Destination A fraud
Far more of a lot groups is assisting pros availability payroll developments and cash, showing attention regarding efficiency money issues were certainly handling your own ability vast majority and you will representative maintenance.
Companies like Walmart Inc. find recently given these kind of alternatives. The goal is to obtain bucks-safeguarded boys, of many having broken funds, address unanticipated prices rather than dependent on brand of loans surely higher-costs.
Agencies provides woken provided that the fact many professionals is placed owing to numerous problem simply acquiring because of the, cannot in reality attention getting into, chatted about Sophie Raseman, notice away from prices-effective providers inside Brightside, an industry Comcast Corp.
Group targets Debbie Wasserman Schultz with Television offer more than pay-day credit costs
Group targets Debbie Wasserman Schultz with Television offer more than pay-day credit costs
Terrance Freeman victories choose to https://www.trust-loan.com/installment-loans-tx be Jacksonville Area Council Chairman
An effective liberal classification is actually using $one hundred,000 into the tv ads during the Southern area Fl to mention away embattled Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz to own perhaps not cracking off more difficult about what of several phone call the fresh new predatory techniques of pay-day credit community.
Allied Advances, in its 29-second advertisement, uses the new congresswoman’s previous looks with the a city Weekend social affairs show to slam the woman to own co-supporting an expenses who would impede the fresh government User Financial Coverage Board off regulating the firm.
Pay day lenders have traditionally come a target regarding complaint of the politicians and you can consumer supporters, just who argue the industry costs extremely high-rates of interest so you can customers, that often the worst. The features debated it gives an important financial solution in order to people in necessity of disaster money.
The brand new advertisement has actually Wasserman Schultz claiming “payday financing try sadly …
Continue reading Group targets Debbie Wasserman Schultz with Television offer more than pay-day credit costs
City awaits issues since the cash advance guidelines enter into impact
City awaits issues since the cash advance guidelines enter into impact
Business forecasts specific are forced to check out loan providers within the unregulated portion
A person actually leaves an adept Bucks Show close Crosstim-bers and Fulton towards the Saturday. A worker at the you to financial told you this new impact of the regulation is actually obvious. Cody Responsibility/Professionals
Houston’s strict new legislation to your payday and you will auto title lenders grabbed feeling Monday, revitalizing business grievances that it would drive organizations out of business, or at least from the town, but giving individuals a crisper road regarding debt.
“We’ll come across locations personal, we will come across individuals let go,” said Deprive Norcross, off Consumer Service Alliance away from Colorado, that loan globe group. “You should have particular businesses that will maintain areas at lower cash accounts, and they’re going to probably close other of these. We have just viewed several people close off shop totally during the others higher metropolises. It will be a slow procedure.”
He predicted borrowers whoever requires exceed the fresh city’s the fresh restrictions tend to go to lenders in unregulated parts, get financing on the web or take out several small loans so you’re able to soon add up to the amount they want.
Continue reading City awaits issues since the cash advance guidelines enter into impact
Economic emergencies was a well known fact out of life for most People in the us. Regrettably, the majority of us will deal with an urgent situation at some point in our life. How exactly we function in such a case-and how we obtain the money we want-have effects for years to come. And when you don’t currently have a career, it makes they a whole lot more hard when a crisis comes up. If you find yourself currently trying to find crisis money with no employment, upcoming this particular article was composed to you personally.
We that happen to be in the midst of an urgent situation could possibly get maybe not discover where to change. Emergency medical expense, vehicles or domestic repairs, otherwise unexpected children’s college or university costs can entirely ruin a highly-prepared budget.
When such will set you back occur, of many Us citizens check out unsecured loans and other quick cash alternatives. But is you to a secure solutions?
Not merely have there been high-risk signature loans around, nonetheless they will be the sole option for individuals that are already out of work. Brand new unfortunate simple truth is that many affordable and you can safe loans commonly require the debtor to possess a reliable money. This is how the lending company can reduce the chance and feel confident that the fresh new borrower have a tendency to pay off the quantity punctually.
Precisely what does an unemployed debtor carry out in times away from you need? Well, there are emergency money out there to assist, however you will should do lots of look to ensure that the financing and you will bank is as well as trustworthy.
Payday advances for the Lynchburg, Virginia. Payday loans inside the Lynchburg, Virginia( VA) and exactly why you may need him or her
Payday advances for the Lynchburg, Virginia. Payday loans inside the Lynchburg, Virginia( VA) and exactly why you may need him or her
Finding the first benefits associated with Lynchburg, Virginia payday cash?
You’re getting the latest financial quick. For folks who search a minumum of one assessment, you comprehend that after having fun with dated-fashioned financial institutions, you might have to wait nights before getting entry to new currency. If autotitleloansplus.com/installment-loans-de/ you want bucks today, a knowledgeable loan providers during the Lynchburg, Virginia bring much faster equipment procedure and you can punctual approval, that enables someone to get brand new dollars inside each time if you decide to apply for Lynchburg, Virginia payday cash online.
You are absolve to spend the cash on all you you want. When you be given the income, you might use them to receive any services you may need.
Continue reading Payday advances for the Lynchburg, Virginia. Payday loans inside the Lynchburg, Virginia( VA) and exactly why you may need him or her
See how Wage advance Financing May Hurt Your credit rating
See how Wage advance Financing May Hurt Your credit rating
Content mention: it is possible to using this type of write-upwards depends on the fresh new author’s views and advice alone. It may not happens previewed, qualified or else demanded by the a few of our very own internet sites couples.
We’ve all experienced those times any time payday are unable to are available in the future adequate. Occasionally, you need to do anything about it. Good 2016 condition of Pew Charitable Trusts estimates one to a dozen mil North americans get rid of pay day loan funds a-year, with at most $9 million committed to resource will set you back. Credit cash is appealing once your tips are run lowest, but a quick payday loan render a life threatening affect its credit rating score. Prior to racing to borrow against the fee, make sure you know very well what you may be entering.
An online payday loan are a temporary loans which have good large monthly appeal this is allowed to be completely reimbursed on the second payday (or in case you receive choice earnings particularly a pension otherwise personal shelter). Someone seem to capture-away smaller amount borrowed – $five hundred is typical – yet not top and you will depth less than perfect credit payday loan Iowa of one’s lending vary.
You can find mythology about this could with ease impair your credit score, so let us see how a quick payday loan – together with other home loan providers – commonly or busted we.
three straight ways an online payday loan is also hurt your credit history
The FICO get to – the most effective credit history certainly one of lenders – depends on several elements, some of which is more than others: rates information (35%), sums owed (30per penny), credit rating dimensions (15%), credit combine (10%) and you may latest credit score rating (10 %).
Continue reading See how Wage advance Financing May Hurt Your credit rating
The latest Information regarding Pay day loan in to the Portsmouth, Ohio
The latest Information regarding Pay day loan in to the Portsmouth, Ohio
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Payday loans towards the Portsmouth, OH
When we mature i can plan anything aside thus little actually ever escapes all of our manage. We try to focus on employment, be it given that a great college professor, an officer, a chef, etcetera., and give a wide berth to against difficult financial facts. However, one thing can always turn out once the unanticipated. Circumstances happen, shocks hook up you off-guard although we envision what you try supposed okay as well as in deal with. Like products you prefer me to head to a cash advance payday loans service.
Payday loans Portsmouth, OH
Such as style of financing is basically well-known in america, offering i in numerous points. These types of financial support is largely an assistance designed for members of a good tick so it link right here today monetary procedure. You are probably imagine “okay, they come regarding your continental part of the United states of the usa, exactly what out-of payday loans close myself?”. Most readily useful, great: improves of this type are also available for all those located during the Portsmouth Kansas.
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11 ways to cope with the dark mornings
Looking for how to wake yourself up in the mornings? Even when it's dark and cold outside and all you want to do is hide under the duvet? Here are some ways to cope with the dark winter mornings...
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published 30 December 2019
Looking for how to wake yourself up in the mornings? Even when it's dark and cold outside and all you want to do is hide under the duvet? Here are some ways to cope with the dark winter mornings...
There really isn't much worse than being rudely awoken by your alarm in the morning to a pitch black room. And although there are lots of things to look forward to in the autumn and winter months, waking up on a dark morning certainly isn't one of those.
In fact, it's reported that only 10% of us Brits would class ourselves as a 'lark' - e.g. someone who has no problem jumping out of bed in the early morning and getting on with the day. For the rest of us - especially the night owls among us - it can be a much harder challenge, and that's only made worse in the bleak days of winter, when we get up and return home from work in the darkness.
But if you find yourself looking more like the walking dead than fresh as a daisy on a dark morning, then we're here to help.
We've put together this guide which will help you to get a great quality night's sleep and make waking up on those depressing mornings that little bit more bearable. Plus we've thrown in a few tricks on how to wake yourself up when you're at your groggiest, even before the sun has woken up itself.
Whether it's the getting out of bed that you struggle with the most, or whether you just can't seem to wake up properly until lunchtime, we've got some great tricks for making you feel more awake and alert quicker.
While everyone else is still hiding under the covers, you'll be feeling more awake in no time - even when it still feels like it's night time outside!
How to wake yourself up on cold dark mornings
Take Rosemary oil
(Image credit: Getty Images)
With the dark mornings getting more and more dreary by the day, having a natural alternative to reaching straight for the coffee is a great way feel more awake and ready for the day.
Rosemary oil not only smells lovely, but the natural product is a great way to reinvigorate the senses and perk you up. Try keeping some of it in a little bottle by your bed which you can have a long, deep inhale of in the mornings.
Best not to use this one in a diffuser, if the aroma is in your bedroom at night it could have the effect of keeping you awake! But how about keeping a little tissue soaked in the smell in your handbag to perk you up during the day? Or dabbing a little on the insides of your wrists or on your neck so the fragrance will linger throughout the day?
Its refreshing properties are even said to be good for poor circulation, and the best news? You can buy a bottle of pure oil for just £2.54 from Holland & Barrett (opens in new tab), so give it a go for a serious lift tomorrow morning!
Let some light into your life
(Image credit: Getty Images)
As tempting as it is to stay buried under the covers in a dark little place where no one can find you, the quicker you get the lights on the quicker your body will know it's time to get up. Don't be tempted to just put the lights on dimly, this will only prolong your feelings of sleepiness. Flood the room with light, as painful as it might seem - it will help.
If you really struggle with this, or, of course, on those dark mornings, there are some clever night light products - or light therapy devices - you can buy which work on a timer and gradually get lighter and lighter until it's time to get up. It's also then not your torturous decision to turn the light on - genius!
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects around two million people in the UK every winter, and can leave you dealing with very real problems, such as overeating, depression, and brain fog. But letting the light into your room, either by using a light therapy device or artificial light, can really help tackle the problem, by alerting the brains cortisol awakening response, therefore getting it ready for the day.
Apples are truly amazing for picking you up in the morning. They're high in natural sugars which wake you up, but the real benefits of an apple in the morning is that the energy they give you is slow moving, gradually waking up your whole body. Plus you won't get the tiring crash that you get after having a coffee or eating sweets.
Oh, and they're healthy too!
Drink as much water as possible
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Ahh is there nothing water can't do? There are not one, not two, but three ways this magical fluid could help you here:
1) Drink a glass of cold water as soon as you get up. Water refreshes the system, speeds up metabolism, rehydrates you and helps to make you feel more alert.
2) Now we realise that a cold shower on a dark and dreary morning doesn't exactly sound ideal, but try washing your face with some cool water as soon as you wake up, or place your wrists under a running tap. Not only will the shock of the temperature change perk you up, but bathing in cold water boosts circulation.
3) A pretty handy trick for getting you up in the morning is to drink a glass of water before bed and it should get you up (and out of bed relatively quickly) to go for a wee in the morning!
If you've any hope of waking up refreshed on a dark cold morning there's one thing for sure that's just GOT to go; the snoring partner. OK, we're not suggesting you get rid of him completely, but perhaps addressing his snoring problems would make a good start to getting you some quality shut eye when you most need it. Read our top tips for getting him to stop snoring.
Make sure your kids sleep through the night too
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Anything you can do to keep the kids in bed throughout the night will be a huge bonus. Try and think of ways you can tire them out during the day so that by nightfall, they're ready to hit the hay. It's tricky when the weather's colder and going outdoors is not an option, but anything physical is sure to do the trick. How about holding a dance competition in your living room? Or hide some of their favourite objects around the house and get them to hunt around for them? Be inventive and wear those children out!
Eat a high protein breakfast
What could possibly be better at getting you out of bed than a cooked breakfast? OK, so unfortunately you might be making it yourself but even so, a hearty breakfast is great for perking you up in the morning, even when it's still dark outside.
A good breakfast will replenish your body after the long period of not eating, and improve your mood for the rest of the day.
Protein improves brain function and helps you feel more alert, so get cracking those eggs ladies!
(Image credit: Getty Images)
During the winter months when we see less sunlight, we get a lot less vitamin D. Something as simple as taking a supplement when you wake up in the mornings can help improve your mood and perk you up. Vitamin D deficiency is also associated with sleep disorders, so giving yours a boost should help you get a better quality of sleep at night, too.
goodtoknow tip: Take them in the morning as soon as you wake up, not before bed as this could disturb your sleep pattern.
Don't let your pet disturb your sleep
(Image credit: Getty Images)
It's not just the kids and the snoring partner that may be disturbing your sleep, how many of us that own dogs and cats end up being woken up by the rascals in the night? Make sure you always let little Rex or Felix out to do their business before you head up to bed. Trust us, if you don't you'll regret it when they start scratching on your bedroom door at 3am.
Oh and no matter how cute their puppy dog eyes may be, DON'T have them in the bed with you. Every movement they make will disturb your well-deserved slumber.
In preparation for waking up in the dark, try and get to bed that little bit earlier, so you can sneak in some extra shut eye and feel more refreshed when you wake up. Try going to bed just 10 or 15 minutes earlier than usual each week, so you gradually tune your body into an earlier bedtime routine. Oh and try it with the kids too!
Make sure to maintain your body temperature
(Image credit: Getty Images)
There's nothing worse than drawing your knees up shivering because you're too cold in bed! If this sounds like you, it's time you took control of your body temperature when you're in bed.
Our temperature drops while we sleep, so you'll be more prone to feeling a chill or draft in bed during the winter months. Invest in a winter duvet, which are thicker and warmer than a standard one. Some come in 2 halves, so you can have a lighter one in the summer and thicker one during the colder months.
If you still find the thought of getting into a cold bed too traumatic, how about taking a hot water bottle to bed? Or getting an electric blanket that works on a timer? Or simply having a warming drink before lights out?
And keep those shoulders covered with a T-shirt rather than a strap top. At least then if your cover-hogging partner pulls the covers away you won't be chilly around your neck and shoulders!
It might sound torturous, but it's a great way to make the dark early morning wake up calls that little bit less painful. Recently, there's been proven evidence to suggest that waking up around the same time every single day - yes, that includes the weekends - can help us have better sleep overall, and therefore make it easier to wake up feeling well rested.
The science behind it is that our bodies follow a natural circadian rhythm, and put simply, it works best when we have a set sleep time, rather than waking up at all sorts of different times.
Lifestyle Writer
Gemma Chandler is a lifestyle writer specialising in kids' educational media across a range of topics including nature, history, science and geography across digital, print, social media and video channels. She joined Creature & Co. at 2015, shortly becoming Digital Editor of National Geographic Kids magazine.
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Desert pupfish are tiny, dynamic fish measuring no more than 2 inches in length. They have robust round bodies and males flaunt blue torsos and yellow tails during the spring and summer breeding season. This Arizona native boasts adaptations that only a desert fish could make useful. Desert pupfish can withstand wide temperature ranges, especially high temperatures and with it the higher salinities that usually result. Waters that create this habitat for the fish are small streams, springs, pools, ponds and marshes below 1, 500 feet of elevation. During the chillier winter months, they burrow into the mud and stay dormant until spring warms their waters.
Once spring arrives, desert pupfish courtship begins and continues through summer. It involves a female finding a colorful male and then laying a single egg for him to fertilize and protect as a part of his territory. Each female can lay up to 800 eggs per breeding season! Like most scaly parents, this is where parenthood ends and the real-world begins for their offspring. The young fish are called frye and spend the majority of their time hiding in algae and under cover to avoid predators. The desert pupfish’s diet consists mostly of algae and small invertebrates like snails and aquatic insects.
Listed as Endangered under the US Endangered Species Act, the desert pupfish has lost much of its habitat due to changes people have made to streams and rivers, as well as groundwater pumping and real estate development. The introduction of non-native fish predators and competitors has also driven pupfish declines, along with pesticides that have drifted into pupfish habitat from nearby agricultural areas.
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how we help
Since 2008, the Zoo has maintained a breeding population of desert pupfish – specifically, the species Cyprinodon macularius. Pupfish ponds can be viewed on the Arizona and Africa Trails at the Zoo. Every year, our conservation partners collect pupfish from our ponds and release them to waterways in Arizona.
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People often tell me that you couldn't use cellular small cells to cover a sports stadium – other more expensive cellular systems are required. At the same time, we've seen Wi-Fi successfully deployed in these same stadium environments. ATT carried 1.5TBytes of data over Wi-FI at the SuperBowl, three times that of their cellular traffic. Sami Susiaho explained at BBWF how The Cloud (a UK Wi-Fi network) designed and deployed a Wi-Fi solution at Brighton and Hove Albion stadium during summer 2014.
The starting point is to decide on dimensioning
Industry views differ widely about how many users would concurrently access Wi-Fi in a stadium. Anything from 20% to 200% is mentioned. Usage patterns will vary in different areas, with the press zone being much more demanding that the average stadium seat. This means that different design rules are required for different areas.
For the main stadium bowl, The Cloud designed for 50% concurrent access for the maximum 30,000 crowd, connecting 80 Wi-Fi access points using 1km of fibre and 9km of CAT6 ethernet cable.
Each access point can handle up to 250 concurrent users. Tightly focussed beams were used to segregate seating blocks, splitting these into distinct coverage sectors.
To simplify the design, the older 802.11b standard wasn't used/supported, VoIP was blocked and a maximum of 3 SSIDs assigned. Unlike a cellular system, there's no handoff as you move around the stadium – you'd need to reconnect and create another session. During peak usage, almost everyone is sitting down rather than moving about (if you ignore those jumping up and down on their seats).
Both Wi-Fi spectrum bands at 2.4GHz and 5GHz were used, with devices capable of the higher frequency prioritised to use it. 56% of clients used the 5GHz band, which has much more spectrum and many more channels available. The different propagation characteristics mean there are different coverage footprints, so planners are actually designing two networks rather than one.
The side lobes on the 5GHz coverage footprint were massive, limiting the number of Wi-Fi access points that could be deployed.
Accurate predictions from the radio planning tool
Measurements taken inside the stadium during live operation aligned closely with predicted performance. The physical presence of large numbers of people make a huge difference to how the network performs – bodies absorb some of the low level signals, especially at 2.4GHz more than 5GHz – giving relatively few short windows of real-time operation when active measurements can be made.
It is during these times that different parameters and tweaks are made to improve throughput and performance. This limits the number of measure/analyse/review cycles for parameters changes and performance tweaks. The stadium is only used for a few hours at a time, with some 150 hours in total throughout the year.
The coverage pattern below shows that the centre of the pitch has (as expected) no signal
Average 17Mbps potential downlink throughput for 90% of users
The way performance was quoted didn't state actual throughput, but instead the potential downlink available to users at any time. When the system was first installed, average potential performance was in the low Mbps. With expertise and effort, this has been raised to 17Mbps for the 90th percentile (ie in 90% of the time, a user can expect to request and receive 17Mbps).
Statistics from a recent event:
...Of which 36% had unique Wi-Fi devices "seen" by the Access Points (8,844)
...Of which 35% actively authenticated on their network (3,095)
Over 50% of devices were Apple IOS, less than 20% Android.
Take control of which devices associate to which Wi-Fi Access Point
Design 2.4GHz and 5GHz separately
Carefully design coverage areas to match the use case: moving/stationary, roaming
Simulate the effect of people and how bodies attenuate the low power RF
Expect only a few hours of usage per review cycle and 150 hours of use per year
Design, Deploy, Measure, Evolve
Treat these projects as OPEX not CAPEX. They are an ongoing service and design project rather than a one-off installation.
It's not about the equipment, it's much more about the design.
I suspect many of these points would relate equally to Small Cell and DAS deployments in high profile locations.
TheCloud is UK based Wi-Fi network operator and aggregator owned by BSkyB, serving over 10 million users through 22,000 hotspots.
JComments
Residential
Residential
A significant number of users continue to report poor mobile coverage in their homes. There will always be areas which are uneconomic for mobile operator to reach. They range from rural areas
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The term Enterprise addresses any non-residential in-building including hotels, convention centres, transport hubs, offices, hospitals and retail outlets. It's not just intended for businesses to
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Urban small cells (sometimes also named metrocells) are compact and discrete mobile phone basestations, unobstrusively located in urban areas. They can be mounted on lampposts, positioned on the
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A rural small cell is a low power mobile phone base station designed to bring mobile phone service to small pockets of population in remote rural areas. These could be hamlets, small villages or
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Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrives at Gatwick Airport in London, after travelling on a flight from the Caribbean, following the resignation of Liz Truss…
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrives at Gatwick Airport in London, after travelling on a flight from the Caribbean, following the resignation of Liz Truss as Prime Minister, Saturday Oct. 22, 2022. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP)
Johnson returns to UK amid rumors he will run for leader
Posted: Oct 22, 2022 / 05:56 AM CDT
Updated: Oct 22, 2022 / 07:18 AM CDT
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrives at Gatwick Airport in London, after travelling on a flight from the Caribbean, following the resignation of Liz Truss…
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrives at Gatwick Airport in London, after travelling on a flight from the Caribbean, following the resignation of Liz Truss as Prime Minister, Saturday Oct. 22, 2022. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP)
Posted: Oct 22, 2022 / 05:56 AM CDT
Updated: Oct 22, 2022 / 07:18 AM CDT
LONDON (AP) — The lightning-fast race to replace Liz Truss as British Prime Minister got even wilder Saturday as former leader Boris Johnson jetted back to the U.K amid speculation he will run to reclaim his former job.
Johnson was ousted by a series of ethics scandals just three months ago, but boarded a flight back to London from his vacation in the Dominican Republic, days after the dramatic resignation of his successor, Liz Truss.
He remains a divisive figure among fellow Conservative lawmakers.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, said Saturday morning that it was “difficult to see” how Johnson could become prime minister again when he is “absorbed and distracted” by an ongoing inquiry into alleged parties at Downing Street while the rest of the country was observing COVID-19 lockdown rules, and Johnson’s statements to parliament afterward. The new prime minister is supposed to be in place by Oct. 28.
Even so, Johnson has the public backing of several other former Cabinet colleagues, including former Home Secretary Priti Patel, who tweeted Saturday: “Boris has the mandate to deliver our elected manifesto and a proven track record getting the big decisions right.”
Johnson needs the backing of 100 lawmakers before 2 p.m. Monday to be on the ballot paper.
Johnson’s former Treasury chief, Rishi Sunak, who precipitated Johnson’s ouster by resigning in protest at his former boss in July, is another likely runner. Sunak lost to Truss in a vote of Conservative Party grassroots members just over seven weeks ago, but he was strongly supported by his party’s lawmakers. The BBC estimates he has already reached the required threshold of support to be formally declared a candidate.
Sunak’s warning to Truss during the previous leadership race that aggressive tax cuts would devalue the pound and send interest rates soaring was proved right earlier this month, and he is being pitched as a safe pair of hands who can shore up financial markets. The Truss government was later forced to reverse almost all of the unfunded cuts that it announced.
Conservative lawmaker Helen Grant tweeted that she is backing Sunak again because of his “economic and organizational competence”.
House of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt is the only candidate to publicly declare she is running to replace Truss, saying in a tweet Friday that she represents “a fresh start.”
Mordaunt, a straight-talking 49-year-old Royal Navy reservist who briefly served as U.K. defense secretary in 2019, is the bookmakers’ third favorite. Outside of Conservative circles she is perhaps best known for appearing on the 2014 reality TV diving show “Splash!” in which contestants learn to dive.
Johnson has so far won the support of six Cabinet ministers, including respected Defense Secretary Ben Wallace. But he was lagging behind Sunak in publicly declared support, Saturday, as was Mordaunt. Bookmakers make Sunak the most likely next leader.
The leadership uncertainty comes at a time of weak economic growth and as millions struggle with higher borrowing costs and rising prices for groceries, fuel and other basics. A growing wave of strikes by train and postal workers, lawyers and others has revealed mounting discontent as a recession looms.
Truss quit Thursday after a turbulent 45 days, conceding that she could not deliver on her tax-cutting economic package, which she was forced to abandon after it caused turmoil in financial markets.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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For 29 years the Georgia Guidestones in Elberton, Georgia USA have remained a mystery. Nobody knows who erected them, although the Guidestones have a name engraved into them saying: "R.C. Christian (A Pseudonyn)". Which makes people believe that R.C. Christian is a false name. It is not a false name, infact you have to watch the video to understand why is it NOT a false name. This is the greatest discovery in the battle against the "New World Order". Finally I have exposed them, finally humanity can now point the finger on the people that erected these stones of death and destruction.
This is a great website! You have put together valuable information, facts, and quotes in a professional, easily understandable format. I use your site for waking up friends and family. We are all together in this fight against the NWO, and I can't thank you enough for all your hard work. All my best, Troy Rejda.
This is a fantastic website, I am browsing through it litttle by little - have watched some of the videos previously, however there are many new ones on here that I have not seen! Kudos to the job you have done! I hope you allow me to send a hyper-link to my friends and use it in my comments to help awaken amd quicken the population? Best Regard, Terry Black
Danny said...
I have visited your site for many years. I knew lots of the issues before visiting it but not all of them. The way you have put it all together in an organized manner is more than mind blowing. Thank you so much for your service. You are a true Patriot.
Salute to you American Phoenix57. Thank you so much for your time and effort. I will spread this blog to as many as possible. What a great job at compiling all the truth into one page. I have studied this corruption for many years and your work is the icing on the cake fellow patriot. I want to write a book about all this and sure I will use your blog for direction in my research and to keep my bearings. Only hope I can get it published before all hell breaks loose. Peace to you my brother from another mother! –Chris (USA)
I like the nwosurvivalguide.com It's a long read but no stone is left unturned. Best story line, best art, best quotes and the video library is the best I've ever seen. If this site goes viral the banksters are toast.
Great job! As Morpheus said in the "Matrix" - "Welcome to the REAL world" I have added you as a blogroll link in my blog. My awakening was very similar. www.FoundingFather1776.com Keep spreading the truth, Never give up! ~FoundingFather1776
Rob said...
Maah! said...
Sir, Thank you very much for your excellent research and compilation. I expecially appreciate hearing about the 3000 pound elephant. I just could not understand why they would want to kill us off since there is so much land unused and there is no overpopulation. With good management it could be heavenly for all. But It is about energy=money. Strange how they are using more and more of it up building their own underground (yuk) tunnel retreats and increasing military developments. i also appreciated the Protest section, not too many offer practical things to do to keep active and positive and help the people from the viewpoint of attacking the root. Mention of Morgellons syndrom would be a positive addition. I appreciate your take on the royal bloodlines which are in bed with and allowing the mad merchants to damage the Earth and its creaures. A few links to ways to inflluence legislators would be appreciated. Thank you again, take care and God bless.
Right on brother right on! Oh i can all but here the drummer boy now!
Samuel said...
Anonymous said...
Anonymous said...
AP57, I have read every word now and will be back to the videos that I have not seen. I had started last summer and was detoured researching a health problem. Thanks again not only for the blog, but for the bromine toxicity and cherry angioma info. In Liberty, Hayduke
G. Harmer said...
Mr. Phoenix 57, What a fabulous job you have done in compiling several years of data in a nutshell. Keep up the good work and keep spreading the word to wake up the sleeping masses to the truth.
I'm sure you have your reasons. I think you should publish the NWO blog as a book. Thanks for it. Like you said "(use this guide and save four years!)" It is a wonderful work you have done. Dave Hawkins Florida
Dave Lipson said...
Anonymous said...
Hello, I am writing you to let you know that i put a link to your guide on my site www.minuteone.us i hope you are ok with that. If you have any objections please let me know and i will remove it. Thanks -E- p.s. keep up the awesome work!
Great website. i believe i was linked to your site via a quote on infowars. only those awake or waking up would be on infowars , this site must be made easier to reach by the masses. make it into an ebook maybe? get it out there free on ebay , amazon etc ,email signatures , facebook. i dont know how but but everyone must have access to this information somehow. i just spent the last hour skimming through it , ill now save offline and download as many movies as possible and try to awaken as many others as possible , this is an amazing website. thanks V-UK
Ray said...
Excellant my friend.God Bless, don't forget the head banker the pope. It,s in the cia fact book
John said...
The Cancer scare is one of their finest. Cancer is very easy to cure. My brother and I survived the "deadly duo". I had colon cancer and he had lung cancer with 1 lung fully involved and the other 5/8ths involved. We wiped it out via nutrition. John
Anonymous said...
dear Mr. Phoenix, thank you so much for the wonderful job you've been doing here!! I've always considered myself like an educated and informed person, BUT I WAS WRONG! I only woke up for these terrible truths recently, about a year ago, when I started looking for some answers. Sadly I'm not very optimistic on how people will react(if they ever),or oppose, or fight; the human History proves us with facts, that whenever people faced fear, only very few stood up and resisted. Once again, congratulations for your Blog.I've been also warning my family and friends about all this. Deus te abençôe=God bless you.
Anonymous said...
I too chose the red pill, curious as to how deep the rabbit hole goes! Now I know! Thank you for lifting the scales from my eyes. I have already instituted a plan of action, i.e., invested in silver coinage, implemented a long term food storage protocol, bought plenty of ammo, and have a well stocked " to go " bag. I am deeply concerned about our direction as a FREE NATION UNDER GOD. Our Constitution is being erased even as we speak and our freedoms are disappearing at a staggering rate. It won't be long now so it is IMPERATIVE that we the people WAKE UP. Thank you so much for your tireless efforts in that regard. I hope I am able to do the same. Awesome site, thank you.
Eric said...
Great site and a big help to get people informed that are not awake yet. Safes me the time to repeat the things I learned over the past 7 years. Just one website to go to and read all about it with the great, all explaining, illustrations from Dees. I have placed a link on my website and also made it the header in my skype for my friends to click on. With this info they can make the right decisions for the future like I did...... Thanks again for all your time and effort. Regards Eric
Paul Faircloth said...
Sir, I have been an unemployed police officer since 2008 due to the economic downturn. I woke up approx. 4 years ago. This site is unbelieveable in the awesome sense. Please continue to work and will support as finances allow. Thank you so much.
This is the most complete, accurate information available to anyone looking for an education on the real truth. Share it with as many people as you can to wake up America to what is really going on. It's not too late but the curtains are closing fast, the ship is going down, but there is hope if we all get off our butts and take action.
Joan said...
Beautiful website. Great illustrations. Indisputable facts. I would, however, add one name to the list of those brave souls, such as Alex Wood, Mike Adams and others, who have bravely been on the front line exposing the truth. That would be David Icke. Yes, some of his contentions are controversial and even very difficult to believe. But who knows where the path to truth may eventually lead? Not long ago the contentions on your website would have been scoffed at by many who are now seeing their validity. The truth is becoming manifest. We are awakening! Let us not be fearful of looking deeper.
Anonymous said...
Great site! I think this site might help me wake up some of my friends and family! God bless you!
I have to thank you so very deeply from the bottom of my heart for putting together the pieces so perfectly to a puzzle much bigger than my much smaller puzzle that completely destroyed my sanity because I wasn't stable enough to deal with it rationally. But I've found this after just the moments of realization to be ready to know everything I possibly can. And I'm going to try and show everyone. Much love from Canada.
I have spent the last 11yrs of searching for the truth. I have seen just about every movie, read just about every quote, and have learned just about everything that is on your site. It has taken me 11yrs of late nights, lost weekends, endless time spent putting this vast puzzle together. This is the website that I would of built had I had the skill to do so!! I cannot thank you enough for putting something like this together and bringing it to the world for all to see!! I now have ONE resource that I can send people to for the best breakdown of what is REALLY going on!!!
Zak said...
Most comprehensive all encompassing link I have found to describe what we can do to prepare.
Americanphoenix57, I went and checked and overviewed your site... It is breathtaking... Amazing job you done there. I will have to pass more time on it... Could take weeks!!!
Big Congratulations! Your site is the best I have come across. From what I have seen and read so far, it looks absolutely promising. It's great! Kind regards, Reese Archer - Toxic Agenda on Facebook
I just wanted to say my sincere thanks for this guide. I will not bow down to there fear, as a light worker and warrior of the truth, I will do my very best to inform my nearest and dearest and make personal changes in measured and calculated manner.
David said...
I am a 6-time entrepreneur that stumbled on to this a year ago. Everything you wrote in here is exactly what I see. It took about 3000 hours of research to get there. I am writing a book about it. Will probably do more, too. This changed my life as well. You are not alone. Our numbers are growing.
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Aston and Winnie say marriage counselling opened their minds to what marriage is and taught them to deal with diffrent challenges. PHOTO/courtesy
What you need to know:
Pre-marital counselling was a combination of simple and complex lessons that would later help the Muchelas navigate marriage for a decade and still counting
Thank you for reading Nation.Africa
Show plans
On September 22, 2012, Aston Muchela, a corporate lawyer, was all set to walk down the aisle with the love of his life, Winnie. Their wedding coincided with his 30th birthday, a fact that was both exciting and nerve-wracking for him. Aston was not the only one enduring a cocktail of emotions. His bride, Winnie, was happy to be marrying her friend yet a tinge of worry refused to go away when she thought of some horror stories she had heard about marriage.
“Being an advocate, I had come across many stories of women being battered by their husbands. Another nightmare was the issue of cheating. I was so afraid of getting hurt and having my trust betrayed. Looking at the stories I had come across made me worry about the marriage succeeding.”
Although Aston and Winnie had a lot of support and counsel from friends and family, most of their fears simply refused to fade away.
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“I was advised to consider signing up for pre-marital counselling. Winnie agreed to this and settled for the programme offered at our church.”
With great enthusiasm, Winnie and Aston began their counselling sessions hoping to have their fears allayed once and for all. A few sessions in, they realised their expectations barely scratched the surface.
“We covered major topics such as family finances, handling third parties, roles and expectation in marriage, sexual intimacy and honeymoon, parenting and children and health issues. I particularly found the topic on biblical foundations of marriages to be quite enlightening. We were given a spiritual angle of marriage. I discovered that marriage was beyond my decision to marry; there is a higher power that instituted and governs the unit,” says Aston.
For Winnie, the sessions were a game changer that has seen her triumph over marital challenges for the past 10 years.
“My biggest take-away was on how to treat each other regardless of our professional or financial status. I learnt the importance of recognising the husband as the head of the home. I must admit it was quite humbling since we are both lawyers...”
Cultural differences
Lessons on cultural and traditional differences were also surprising to Winnie. Coming from the same tribe as her husband, she thought they would not deal with culture related issues but she learnt that traditions can also be formed at the family level and when two people get married, they have to work through their different approaches to life and form a neutral culture that works for their new family.
The pre-marital counselling was a combination of simple and complex lessons that would later help the Muchelas navigate marriage for a decade and still counting. They however, explain that marriage in itself is a bigger unit and pre-marital counselling is like an orientation that equips couples with a formula to deal with issues that come up. The lessons are theoretical and when it comes to them. The sessions were accompanied by an emphasis on prayer, even over the seemingly small issues.
She gives an example of how they disagreed on naming their first child. Culture demanded that the first son be named after the paternal grandfather. However, Winnie lost her dad shortly after the wedding and felt it would be a good idea to honour his memory by naming the child after him.
“We prayed about it. When my mother in-law came to visit, she informed us that after consulting Aston’s dad, they had agreed the child be named after my father. We had not discussed the issue with her and this came as a surprise,” shares Winnie.
According to the couple, counselling was the missing piece they needed to embark on their journey. Winnie says it gave them a formula for conflict resolution and without it, any marriage would be trial and error. She adds that there is need to emphasise the importance of pre-marital counselling and couples who have had experience should consider empowering those who are just getting started on the marriage journey.
“Things do not go wrong in marriage, things start wrong. Our idea of marriage is what we see on TV or with friends and relatives. Counselling helped me understand my personal marriage,” she says.
On why pre-marital counselling is important to couples, Reverend Edwin Njue, a pastor and a pre-marital counsellor, says people tend to have unrealistic expectations of marriage. They could also be excited or scared of the union.
Others imagine it is a walk in the park and it is important to address these misconceptions first before saying “I do”. Premarital counselling brings couples to the same page by helping them understand each other as well as the institution of marriage.
During the five years he has facilitated pre-marital counselling, Njue has learnt that people form misconceptions based on how they were nurtured or their personal beliefs. Money issues, for instance are the most contentious.
People have different ideas on how financial roles should be assigned in a marriage. With so many sources of information, from family to friends, traditional beliefs, books, social media and celebrity influencers, people are bound to form clashing views of such critical issues. Church-based counselling provides lessons based on scripture, which give couples some context and a strong foundation for their marriage.
Is it enough?
But when asked whether marriage can be taught in a classroom for 10 weeks, both minsters agree that pre-marital counselling can only cover the basics.
“I tend to think we cannot handle everything in pre-marital classes because people are diverse and their contexts are different. But we do not stop at pre-marital counselling, we have other programmes to help couples after they are married and they include frequent marriage seminars, we have also trained pastors who can handle case by case scenarios,” says Njue
Despite the high success rate, pre-marital counselling still presents a number of challenges. For starters, counsellors cannot establish whether couples are fully compatible.
If the couple attend pre-marital training during the honeymoon phase (the first two years of a relationship), it is likely everything will appear blissful but as time goes by reality strikes in and things change.
People can also be pretentious, especially if they are desperate to get married. For instance, Njue says “In church, we believe that couples should not have sex before marriage- but there is no way to tell whether they actually believe or practice the things we teach. Besides, we cannot police couples to ensure they follow the lessons.”
Pre-marital counsellors also have to deal with a changing society as Njue notes. What was acceptable 20 years ago may be perceived as outdated by younger couples.
Then there is the fear of the unknown which makes is difficult for some couples to face their challenges, despite the training.
Conclusively, pre-marital counselling is a great tool to improve the quality of marriages and families. It will, however, work if coupled with a change in the way we approach marriages. We have to be cognisant of the ever-increasing divorce rates.
While many things could lead to high divorce rates, Reverend Edwin Njue, a pastor and a pre-marital counsellor, notes, “There is a lot of casualness in our approach to marriage and we are destroying the idea of what a marriage is about. People get into cohabiting and casual come- we- stay relationships-sometimes at a very young age due to economic struggles. In the end there are regrets, hurt, feelings of betrayal and being used”.
He adds that “children need to be grounded and the right values instilled. You cannot do all manner of things in your youthful days and try to do things the ‘right way’ briefly when you decide to get married. Let us be proactive rather than reactive.”
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“Let It Go,” the most popular song from Disney’s 2013 animated musical Frozen, has been a smashing success. On YouTube the song has reached almost 160,000,000 views, at the 86th Academy Awards it won the award for Best Original Song, and it is the first song from a Disney animated musical to reach the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 since 1995. But Beyond that, nearly everyone that I know has at least most of the song memorized.
The song’s prevalence has made it an important aspect of today’s cultural landscape. Consequently, it is also important for examining today’s culture. Indeed, because it is mostly targeted to young people, children and teens, it is also an important puzzle piece for putting together the puzzle that is our culture’s future. As such, we will endeavor to unlock its significance and meaning by examining the song’s setting, content, and context.
Before we can examine the song, we must examine the events within the story which led up to it. At the very beginning of the film, we learn that there are two sisters, princesses, who share a deep love for each other. However, everything goes wrong when Elsa, the older sister, accidentally freezes her younger sister Anna’s head while using her magical powers to create an indoor winter wonderland. The princess’ parents rush Anna off to be healed by some trolls. Unfortunately, all memory of Elsa’s powers must be swept from Anna’s mind in order for her to be healed, so Anna has no memory of what has occurred. After the event, Elsa is kept away from Anna so that she won’t hurt her again, and in the years of separation that follow, a rift grows between them. Unfortunately, before too long, calamity strikes again and the girls’ parents are lost at sea.
When Elsa comes of age, it is time for her coronation. During the course of the festivities, Anna falls in love with and is engaged to the impressive Prince Hans. Elsa, however, believes the two are acting too hastily, and won’t allow it. In the ensuing fight, Elsa’s powers are accidentally exposed. She then loses her composure and her ability to control her powers, resulting in a massive snow storm and eternal winter that freezes the entire kingdom.
Having lost all self control, hurting many people and their livelihoods, she storms into the mountains and begins singing “Let It Go” as she builds a castle of ice. The song begins by establishing the setting:
Not a footprint to be seen
A kingdom of isolation,
She follows this by acknowledging her inner turmoil and her failure to control herself:
The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside
Couldn’t keep it in, heaven knows I tried
Next she sings about what she had previously been telling herself:
Be the good girl you always have to be
Well, now they know
Somehow, the fact that the people now know about her power completely changes everything, and instead of trying to regain her composure, she decides to revel in her inner turmoil:
Let it go, let it go
Let it go, let it go
What they’re going to say
The cold never bothered me anyway
Until this point in the movie, I had been completely sucked in, experiencing, not thinking. However, I was now at attention, waiting to see what could be concluded about the film’s creators’ worldviews. The idea that, for some reason, one slip up meant that all self control should be thrown out hit me hard on a personal level. It was completely ludicrous, my mind told me, yet I was guilty of living in sin for years because of this idea. I would fight a certain sin for a while, but then when I would slip up, I would just “let it go” and continue in sin for months before being convicted again and fighting to regain self control, and then the process would repeat again and again each time that I slipped up.
Knowing how much frustration, self-hatred, shame, and helplessness this idea had caused me, I couldn’t help but project my feelings upon Elsa. From this point onward, Elsa was no longer Elsa. She had become me, the part of myself that I hated.
Anyway, having chosen to throw out all composure because she lost control once, Elsa continues by singing:
Makes everything seem small
And the fears that once controlled me
Ah! Up until this point, Elsa had been controlled by fear. She had been controlled by fear of what other people would think about her powers. Now she has decided to reject that fear. (I don’t care/What they’re going to say/Let the storm rage on) Interestingly, she had not been controlling her powers for the health and safety of those around her, as an act of love; instead, she had been concealing them because she was afraid that people would think negatively of her if they knew.
She then sings:
It’s time to see what I can do
To test the limits and break through
No right, no wrong, no rules for me
In the context of the movie, she is saying that it is time for her to see what she can do with her powers, to take them to the limit, that her powers are neither right nor wrong, and that she is now free to use them. (This eventually results in her almost killing her own sister.) However, removed from the context of the story, the lyrics advocate rebellion against the established norm and moral relativism. Furthermore, when removed from the context of the movie, the song concludes that rebellion and relativism lead to freedom.
I have no problem with these lines when limited by the setting established in the film, but what about when people adopt this song as their personal “anthem,” as a friend of mine did? And what about all the little girls running around in princess costumes singing at the top of their lungs that there is no right nor wrong, no rules for them? Obviously, they can’t be singing about their magical powers because the don’t have any, so we must ask what norm they are rebelling against, what limits they are going to push, and what actions they think are neither right nor wrong.
Unfortunately, we cannot answer such questions. Outside of the context of the story, the lyrics could be applied to anything, which is extremely dangerous. Historically speaking, rejection of established norms, relativism, and finding liberation in these things were key elements of Nazism, as Dr. Modris Eksteins explains in his book Rites of Spring: The Great War and the Birth of the Modern Age. Indeed, anti-establishment attitudes and belief in relativism were also key to the beliefs of Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin, according to Paul Johnson in his book Modern Times: The World From the Twenties to the Nineties.
This is not to say that the song advocates these beliefs. It does not. However, when removed from the confines of the story, the song can easily become an anthem in favor of these destructive philosophies, though it was not intended to be one.
Next Elsa sings:
Let it go, let it go
I am one with the wind and sky
Let it go, let it go
Being one with nature, or the life force, is also a theme prevalent in the modernistic philosophies which helped to pave the way for both world wars. I find this addition to the lyrics – which already advocate rejection of accepted norms and relativism when taken out of context – to make the song almost a caricature of modernism.
Elsa also seems to be ashamed of crying. She is perfectly fine with flaunting her powers, and she doesn’t care what people think about them, but she still cares about what they’d think if they saw her crying. She has not removed her fears, she has only focused them on something other than her powers.
My power flurries through the air into the ground
My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around
I’m never going back,
The past is in the past
Here she breaks from her history. She says that she won’t go back, even though there is a whole city filled with people whose queen has abandoned and hurt them. They need her to end the eternal winter. They need governance, too. However, she will not go back, or so she claims, because the past is in the past. The future, on the other hand, is in the future, and she should devote herself to it and to making the future better than the past or the present.
Let it go, let it go
Let it go, let it go
That perfect girl is gone
The imagery of empowerment can be found here. Somehow, her break from the past, her throwing off of responsibility, and her refusal to live by anything other than by what she feels are seen as empowering. When we look at the lives of people who live this sort of lifestyle, they do not find empowerment but pain.
In the light of day
The cold never bothered me anyway
With that, the song ends. She is no longer concealing her true identity. She is in the light of day, allowing it to rage on. As I sat thinking in the theater at the conclusion of the song, I could not help but note that as sinners, our true identity is not something that we embrace or seek. Instead, we seek to be sanctified, to be remade, to gain a new identity, through Christ.
We have seen the setting for the song, as well as the song itself, so now we need only to examine the song’s context, how the song fits into the story as a whole. The overarching story is this:
As a child, Elsa and Anna are best friends, then Elsa almost kills Anna, after which the two are separated. Elsa then is queened, Anna gets engaged to Hans, Elsa forbids their marriage, the two sisters fight, Elsa reveals her powers and cannot contain them, and finally she goes up the mountain where the song takes place.
After the song, Anna decides to bring her sister back so that the eternal winter might end, but when she finally makes it to Elsa’s ice-castle, Elsa still fears hurting her. Anna persists in trying to bring Elsa back, Elsa becomes angry, and she ends up freezing Anna’s heart. (Perhaps letting her powers go wasn’t such a wise choice.) This time the trolls cannot heal Anna, as only an act of true love can melt the ice around her heart.
Anna is rushed back to the city so that Hans can perform an act of true love, but it turns out that the snake was only out get the throne. Hans imprisons Elsa, but she escapes. Hans pursues her, and Anna sees that he is about kill her, so she jumps in the way, and freezes when she does so, but she manages to block the blow. Elsa is heartbroken, but as she grieves, Anna begins to melt because her sacrificial act constituted an act of true love, thus breaking the curse.
In the light of the story as a whole, “Let It Go” happens during Elsa’s downfall, which results in her freezing her sister’s heart and creating a snow monster to kill Anna and her friends. In fact, Elsa’s fall closely resembles mankind’s fall. We essentially told God, “no rules for me” and ate the fruit. Elsa, too, said, “no rules for me,” and then used her powers very irresponsibly.
“Let It Go” definitely happens at a turning point in the story, but it is a turn for the worse. This is where the problem is created, the solution to which is the theme of the movie. The high point of the plot occurs when Anna sacrifices herself for Elsa. The plot’s low point is when Elsa freezes Anna’s heart the second time, which correlates with “Let It Go.”
However, “Let It Go” is the artistic high point of the movie, and there is barely any artistic energy surrounding Anna’s sacrificial love. There is an orgiastic amount of musical energy put into this one song, and it is what we will remember about the movie even after we forget the plot, but there is almost no musical energy put into the scene of redemption.
Our culture adores this song. We find it empowering, and it tells us to be authentic, to be our true selves, not to let anyone or anything else, not even morality, determine who we are. The plotline, however, suggests that this song is not empowering or positive in any way. Instead, it correlates with Elsa’s downfall, the pain she causes herself and her sister, and brokenness. Even so, our culture eats it up, saying, “This is good.” The story, however, disagrees.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think people are buying this song because they think that it has a wonderful philosophy. They are buying it because it is artistically excellent, it is catchy, and it is extremely powerful. Still, the philosophy is there, and subconsciously it is extremely easy to connect “No right, no wrong, no rules for me/I’m free” with empowerment and freedom. Additionally, we will remember this song, even after we forget that it corresponds with a negative turn in the plot and after we forget about the sacrificial love.
The song is great within the confines of the film. It fits perfectly. On the other hand, when I hear little girls running around belting out that they are going to test the limits, that there is no right nor wrong, no rules for them, I have to wonder how they will apply this. Art has the ability to profoundly impact people, and the artistic energy of this film points to “Let It Go,” so I have to wonder how it will effect the future.
Time to watch the movie and then talk to my daughter …
When I hear this song and apply morality to truthful language that I have been taught, I must change the lyrics from “let it go” to “just ignore” it’s a song about allowing ignorance to be the answer…..
Time to watch the movie and then talk to my daughter …
Time to watch the movie and then talk to my daughter …
Bob Donohoo · June 26, 2014 on 8:33 am
Time to watch the movie and then talk to my daughter …
Bob Donohoo · June 26, 2014 on 8:33 am
Time to watch the movie and then talk to my daughter …
Time to watch the movie and then talk to my daughter …
Oh boy…makes me think
Oh boy…makes me think
Alex Lehmann · October 29, 2014 on 11:00 pm
Oh boy…makes me think
Alex Lehmann · February 17, 2015 on 7:23 pm
Oh boy…makes me think
Alex Lehmann · February 20, 2015 on 9:02 am
Oh boy…makes me think
Time to watch the movie and then talk to my daughter …
Time to watch the movie and then talk to my daughter …
Time to watch the movie and then talk to my daughter …
It is totally too late, but I would like to give a bit different lecture. What happens when she closes the door of the crystale castle? She is alone with here creation, deep into alienation.
In this sense, “cold doesn’t bother me anyway” is a lie. It is the ultimate defense from desperation: if nobody accepts me, so be it.
Yes, it is the affirmation of who you are, but without the acceptance of others, alone.
well… its a cartoon movie so technically everything in the movie is a lie.
Scott Wooledge · May 28, 2016 on 7:14 pm
Interesting you project your own experience of failing to control sin on “Let it go.” And it summons Ill feelings. There are more than a few gay people who consider it a joyous song, likened to coming out. No longer is she afraid of her freakish true nature. No longer is she afraid to be exposed. She has been exposed. But rather than feeling humiliation she feels relief. She is letting go of her anxiety and fear. She is accepting who she is, as different abd strange and isolating as it is.
And it is a fairly universal story. That at some point everyone has to let it go. Accept they may not have been destined to quarterback or president or the skinny blonde supermodel or a doctor or whatever dreams have evolved into unrealistic expectations that haunt you. Let it go and be who you were met to be.
“It’s just a theory… A SONG THEORY! Thanks for reading” is what you should’ve put at the end. Anyone get the reference? Also, I’ve seen many other theories on this song. I just like to speculate with all of these.
Michael Davis · December 29, 2017 on 4:09 am
I like this article. It answers a lot of my questions. I was going to sing and play it for kids but I decided not to. I am afraid one day the young girls will grow up to be teenagers and be in the car with their boyfriend and he will be pushing the girl into intimacy and she will say in her mind let it go. I am a Christian. This is a bad song even thought it’s catchy. It is a Foolish song and I will never sing it. I suspected it was wrong but your article proved it. Thanks for this. Too bad a good song that can’t be sung. So many people are ignorant of the Bible and don’t realize how this song can influence and damage them. Thanks for this.
the song quite literally says “let it go”.. as a father / mother / lover, the most powerful kind of love is to “let go”. one day, we will have to let go of our children, just like our parents let go of us
intimacy.. christianity.. ignorance.. damage.. good or bad, whatever your daughter faces, it is her path to walk. & we can only try on the sidelines to help them be happier. overprotectiveness, like disapproving every bf, or even more extreme.. chastity belts (ancient times), will only protect what is ‘temporary’ (our body), but greatly hinders soul growth (love)
letting go is the greatest kind of love
JEREAnnA14 · July 4, 2018 on 9:48 pm
fcvhghbkjh JEREAnnA14 · July 23, 2019 on 8:24 pm
J · July 12, 2018 on 5:59 am
Michael Davis… While your intentions are certainly admirable and your care for your children is evident, you need to understand that your approach on this matter is possibly one of the worst ways you could possibly handle exposure to a popular culture icon like this song. I would even note: Especially in the context of this song.
Take it from someone who was often given this approach from a parent in their “well-intentioned” but misguided approach to cultural phenomenons which were considered to be “unbiblical”.
Instead, listen to the song, read this article, point out the inconsistencies and consequences related to the lyrics within the context of the story. If you want to avoid the “let it go” mentality then you need to teach children to think critically, analyze subject matter, and distinguish emotive feelings from real life consequences. Appreciate the artistic form and the high quality of its construction but always teach kids to evaluate what they are listening to…
When you simply remove and stick your head in the sand rather than question and analyze, the result will be children who can not evaluate the correct response in the “boy in a car” situation. When they get older they will encounter a teacher, professor, or friend who will feed them lies with enough truth and emotive resolve to convince them that a biblical position is wrong and they will not have the tools at their disposal to logically sort out for themselves the end result of this “let it go” though process.
I was handed this mentality in the artistic realm from a parent, but fortunately I was instructed to think critically in nearly every other imaginable way. As someone who deeply connects to lyrics in my music choices, I have spent years sorting out these concepts in my own head and know that open discussion with a correct direction is always the better option.
A guy who can’t mind his own business and took your comment far to much into his own heart.
stephane Nerbonne · October 28, 2018 on 1:21 pm
I read the lyrics literally imagining being a little girl and repeating this song 1000’s times over 5 or 10 years… This song basically is saying to leave the parents behind and walk out the door. My main concerns is that children at age 13 will take these words literally and walk out thinking that it will be better there. I do remember myself age 15, I had prepared a bag, I had planned to go to another city by bus 60Km away and I wanted to escape by boat away from home….it was crazy, and fortunately I did not do it, this was 30 years ago. I remember that evening perfectly. I do not know but maybe If I had listened to let it go all my childhood and listened it that night…then re-read the lyrics with that situation in mind.
Bill Gill · February 2, 2019 on 7:34 pm
One of the most researched, relevant & brilliant “sign of our times” pieces I’ve read. The peerlessly creative & hard work/accountability as core values, “Founding Fathers’ disciple” of The Walt Disney Company, Walt, has got to be “rolling over in his grave” re: the evolution of his company (& our country)!
David · July 5, 2019 on 7:03 pm
No right no wrong really, try to tell your creator that. You will meet Him whether or not you believe He exists. Please read and understand He has given each one of us His only Son as the propitiation for our sins. The person who does not believe is condemned already. He who had no sin became sin for us. Take the gift that He provided. Please Please hear what The Holy Spirit is saying turn away from your sin. He will receive you.
J.R.D. · December 21, 2019 on 9:43 pm
This response is exactly what the song seems to have intended. It is a crime to confuse the mind of our youth with lies and sweet lullabies which blurs their true CHARACTER & IDENTITY.
I don’t really agree that it has a bad meaning. I think it means like you are always happier if you show your real self and and know what your limits are so you know how far you can go.
Morgan · February 14, 2020 on 5:40 pm
I think “Let It Go” for the most part applies to both the moment in the song and in real life. There are times when we should test the limits and see what happens.
ofelia claudio · July 31, 2020 on 2:36 pm
I totally totally agree with everything said in the review. I never paid much attention to the lyrics. At first it was about letting go of past hurts, painful memories, etc. Then, after hearing “That perfect girl is gone, etc” it occurred to me that the song may be about identity – being who you are, and who cares what people say. But after closer scrutiny (as provided by the reviewer), I realize that relativism seems to have crept into the context. And this can be scary and dangerous for little/young girls (and boys)!!! I pray this song won’t instill in them total disregard for moral absolutes! for right and wrong, in the eyes of God. I grieve for my grandchildren who simply love this song. Yes, it’s catchy, and has awesome musical excellence. That’s why it’s such a hit. But the poor things have no idea what they’re singing! The current culture deifies freedom! Self-life! All about I, me and myself! Our Creator/God is no longer part of the equation! With the pandemic – the worldwide plague – business shutting down, people dying, no cure /treatment found for the covid-19, the collapse of the economy, joblessness, fear, isolation, uncertainty of the times – may people once again look up to God Who alone holds the answer! Back to God, people! Back to the Bible, His Word! The Bible has the answer! God is waiting for people to return to Him, and He will graciously forgive and embrace them as His children! Judgment Day is coming, people! But God is waiting patiently, holding back His wrath, so that all my be saved from the coming destruction. He holds out His mercy and grace to all right now. He is not willing that any should perish. All He asks is we believe and receive His love for us by receiving His Son Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. John 3:16 says it all! Receive Him!
This article is the best I ever read in my life about Let it Go. Because for me Let it Go has a special meaning for me. it’s the best song I ever heard in my life. I an so interested it’s so awesome. It’s my favourite song.
Tanja Joy · January 29, 2021 on 8:14 pm
It’s art. Interpret it as you may. I’m a Christian adult with two girls. I’ve been through a nasty divorce, abuse, naive and made some bad decisions. Who is anyone to say what it is? Maybe you should see it from the different characters eyes?
Tanja Joy · January 29, 2021 on 8:23 pm
The parents crying, the good guy trying to help, everyone that loves you…please don’t do it trying to help. Or, what God is saying. “I died for you”! No need to hold on to the hurt, he has so much in store for you. Just saying
Sharon K. · October 23, 2021 on 11:48 am
I like your article. I went to youtube to listen and sing along to the song because of something I have had on my mind that I have made up my mind I am gonna let go. However, after following the lyrics, I realized that while some statements were empowering as you put it, some were a bit off. So I thought of searching the meaning and came across your review. It’s very well put and art certainly does have a way of influencing the future of society especially if it is targeted toward children.
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Karen is my “go to girl” for our tie-dye shower parties, and she does a great presentation. I hope some of you will have a chance to check her out tonight. This is the press release for her event, graciously hosted by the Allendale Garden Club.
The Allendale Garden Club meets at
The Brighton Gardens 5 Boroline road in Saddle River, NJ
Wednesday, January 17, 2007 7:30PM
Free Admission
“Creative Entertaining” by Karen Skoglund
Karen will entertain you with a power point presentation on how to give your next party that professional flair that will amaze and delight your guests. You will be inspired to create your own unique party starting with the invitations and ending with the goodie bags. She will show you how to set a beautiful table using ordinary household items. Karen has catered her own theme parties for many years and worked with the artists for their opening receptions at the Paterson Museum. A resource list will be given out.
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News from Headquarters
Staff Announcements
Dr. Petra Wagner, formerly assistant team leader, has left the HEP-team after three years of successful cooperation. She will continue to work for GTZ, but will be in charge of the preparation of the EXPO 2000 World Exhibition in Hanover as of January 1997. Two new staff members will join the HEP-team at headquarters: Birgit Starkenberg will take up responsibility in February 1997 for project control, contracts and household energy in Uganda and Anke Weymann will be in charge of all projects within French speaking countries.
Trudy Konemund has been appointed team leader for the new project 'Biomass Use and Household Energy in Ethiopia' which focuses on the integration of household energy measures into national sector programmes for resource conservation and health. Vivienne Abbott will be engaged as technical advisor in that same project.
The regional HEP bureau, PED-Sahel, with Beatrix Westhoff as regional co-ordinator has been established in Burkina Faso. The contact address is:
Open House at GTZ/HEP Headquarters
HEP acknowledges the importance of public relations, extensions services, and sensation activities in developing as well as developed countries. Thus, an open house event was held at GTZ in Eschborn in June 1996, presenting an exhibition and slide show focusing on household energy and household energy projects.
Integration of a Household Energy Component into the Gambian German Forestry Project (GGFP)
During a two week mission to The Gambia in June 1996, the possibilities for including household energy measures in the community forestry approach of the Gambian German Forestry Project (GGFP) were examined. It was found that favourable conditions for an integrated approach exist. Also, on account of previous stove dissemination efforts, a basic knowledge of stove technology is already widespread in the country. Because established field structures, dissemination strategies and trained extension personnel are available, household energy can be a part of the bigger theme of natural resource management. The effects of working together with community forestry are seen in the support of awareness raising, the facilitation of women's participation in forestry committees, and the strengthening of the self-help approach. The household energy measures will create much-needed immediate or short-term benefits for the population, whereas the beneficial impact of most community forestry activities will occur only at mid-term. It was suggested that household energy sensitisation strategies should be integrated into all steps of the community forestry approach, and the establishment of any parallel structures should be avoided.
Household energy as a school subject
People are aware that their natural environment has changed. Vegetation has become much more sparse. Environmental education stresses the links between environmental degradation and energy use. introducing the topic of household energy to pupils in schools is one way of awareness raising.
The household energy project in Mali, Bamako, 'Projet Foyers Ameliores (PFA)' has taken educational needs seriously. The project's extension workers have been working with school children aged 12 - 14 in Bamako since 1990, disseminating their knowledge of improved stoves. These activities were not integrated into the school curriculum previously, but took place in a more or less spontaneous way, depending on the extension workers' visits. It soon became obvious that to spread the activities in a co-ordinated and permanent way, they would have to be made a fixed item in the curriculum. Teachers, and not the project's extension workers, should teach this subject in school.
Since 1995, in co-operation with the Ministry of Basic Education, the 'Institut Pedagogique National' and several other projects working in the field of basic education, the PFA initiated the process of integrating household energy into the curriculum. Links between the subject and existing courses were established, for example in geography, home economics, and languages. A further activity was the participation by the PFA in a work-group concerned with the development of a broader-based course in environmental education.
The procedure for developing such a curriculum is a long and trying one, so as well as working with the formal education sector, the PFA collaborated with NGOs active in the informal education sector, especially UNICEF. In both sectors, the PFA participated in the ongoing training of teachers. In the formal education sector, the project taught trainers for teachers at the two teacher training institutes.
The material developed by the PFA includes:
· a concept for awareness-raising and training for teachers and teacher trainers,
· a specimin lesson for awareness raising of secondary school pupils, and
· a series of lessons for primary school children.
As long as household energy is not integrated into the official curriculum, PFA team members discuss the possibilities of integrating the subject into existing courses with the teachers. The specimin lesson for secondary school pupils and the concepts are presented to them. Where necessary, teachers are trained in building the improved clay stove 'Nafama'. in this case, the PFA staff emphasises the fact that pupils are not expected to be expert stove-builders.
The course on improved stoves places the subject in the wider frame of environmental protection and measures to prevent desertification. It relates pupils' knowledge of desertification to the theme of improved stoves as pan of a basic secondary school geography lesson,
The two pictures illustrate the link between environmental degradation and energy needs. Pupils are encouraged to see improved stoves as one way among others to provide a solution to this problem (Figures 1 and 2).
The series of lessons for the primary schools is conducted in two ways: by practical excursions And by lessons in the classroom. The pupils not only come into contact with the various types of stoves, but they also team to recognise the effects caused by people satisfying their basic needs in a fragile environment.
The experience in Mali was a positive one on several levels. Policy makers in the education sector were already aware of the problem. Teachers welcomed our input and information and the pupils were interested and understood the broader context.
Of course, the influence which younger school children have on their families is not direct or obvious, but older pupils transferred their new knowledge to their families. It is our hope that they will also transfer their new understanding into the families they will start later.
Although the effects of the activities cannot be measured at present - for example by an increase of stoves sold right now - they are a pioneer investment for the future.
Overall, a close and intense co-operation between household energy ventures and basic education would be desirable and an official integration of household energy ideas into the school curriculum should be envisaged for the future.
The Rational Energy Supply, Conservation, Utilisation, and Education Project. in Dadaad Division. Kenya
The arid and semi-arid lands of Dadaab division in north-eastern Kenya play host to thousands of refugees who entered the country during the early 1990s. Following a decision by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) three refugee camps for roughly 120,000 people, mainly from Somalia, were established.
The area is poor, barely supporting the nomadic people native to the region. As a consequence, environmental degradation in and around the camps has increased, as the additional demand for firewood, poles, and grass has had to be satisfied from nearby natural resources.
The Rational Energy Supply, Conservation, Utilisation, and Education Project, in short RESCUE, commenced operations during 1993 with a view to easing the household energy and environment related problems. During its first year, RESCUE focused on start-off activities, infrastructure development and logistical support, with full scale implementation of planned activities not starting until the second year. These included improving extension strategy and messages, demonstrating ways of restoring the environment, and reforestation measures. Wood fuel saving gooks and user-constructed Rhoda stoves were disseminated in exchange for either work done or tree seedlings planted, with greater importance placed on the latter. Measures to make people aware of the problems covered 80 per cent of the refugee households.
In January 1996, RESCUE entered into its second phase, which is expected to run until December 1998. There has been a significant change in the project's focus of activities, namely an intensification of environmental protection measures and the active involvement and participation of the local host communities and the refugees. Whereas the first phase was aimed at quick results and relief through stove dissemination and propagation of energy saving methods (during the first year malnutrition occurred and the project was in an emergency situation), the second phase adopts a sustainable development approach and centres on the rehabilitation and conservation of the environment.
The main emphasis is placed on the refugee and host communities working together. This is a logical step as these refugee camps are 'consolidation camps' which will continue to exist and will absorb remnants of refugees from other camps scheduled to be closed.
The project has to cope with a number of rather tricky tasks. The most important one is that refugees who view themselves as passers-by must be convinced that investment of labour and effort in environmental protection measures is worthwhile. In addition, mechanisms have to be developed for the host communities and the refugees to work together. Finally, systems need to be developed and promoted for appropriate natural resource management. Ultimately, the participation of the population in natural resource management needs to be assured and incentives for the rehabilitation and conservation of the natural resource base must be provided, especially for the refugees.
RESCUE is facing a number of challenges and it will be interesting to experience its transformation process from a relief/emergency project to a sustainable development project.
Challenges of disseminating stoves in a refugee situation
In most humanitarian relief situations, agencies concentrate on providing the victims with food, shelter, clean water and medical care. Environmental issues in refugees situations were until recently not adequately covered. Often it is assumed that standing fuel stock around the camps is sufficient to meet the need of the displaced. Energy conservation training and dissemination of improved stoves remain the most widely used intervention measures to address refugee impact on the environment. Nevertheless, only small and decreasing budgets are made available to household and institutional energy conservation programmes (Kimani 1995).
Short term concerns frequently take priority over environmental rehabilitation. In the case of refugees, successful stove dissemination is even more challenging, as the planning horizons are short-term and the people are thus less motivated or even reluctant to invest in environmental protection measures.
Stove dissemination:
Stove dissemination projects in conventional development have, over time, learnt that free distribution of stoves and lack of energy conservation training are the major causes for non-sustainability. The fact that refugees are poor and understandably use their meagre budget to supplement items missing in their food baskets necessitates the exploration of refugee resources other than money in stove dissemination. Tree planting and provision of labour for environmental rehabilitation work are some of the exchange commodities tested with positive results.
The lessons learnt through the use of environmental based exchange commodities include (amongst others): the need to introduce a self made stove model, to ensure that acceptability of the stove dissemination strategy is not due to lack of opportunities for refugee labour; to integrate stove dissemination programmes into wider non-seasonally based activities that can ensure continued availability of work, as opposed to environmental rehabilitation work, which is seasonal.
Capacity building:
Linking stove dissemination to energy conservation training
In a refugee setting, where the benefit of any programme is measured by a quantitative approach, the development of energy conservation training is under more strain. The need for training is even higher when the refugee community has experienced little or no fuel shortage in its home country.
Depending on the education level and conservation skills of the community an effective trainer to trainee ratio needs to be decided. The initial ratio needs to be as high as possible to ensure quality information in the beginning and thus avoid possible distortion caused by the healthy refugee rumour machinery.
Simpler energy technologies, that involve participation in design and construction, facilitate the development of the training component. Technologies that involve one to one training as a precondition have higher utilisation patterns.
Achieving sustainability in stove production through commercialisation
Transport costs and damage to stoves during transportation make the supply of prefabricated stoves to remote refugee camps a costly and unsustainable venture. The question of local fabrication soon becomes essential. We again learn from conventional stove programmes that sustainability in stove production is best achieved through commercialisation. The problem lies with the high stove requirements and short delivery period characteristic of refugee situations.
The prospects for local fabrication is determined by the number of artisans available and whether they are effectively motivated. Motivation can best be achieved through training, offering competitive prices for products, and most importantly, facilitating the supply of quality production tools. A non-subsidised approach needs to be employed, since it results in a cost effective and self sustaining process.
Although many professionals argue that exchange commodities (e.g. stove for work, stove for tress) are a reward punishment approach, it remains the most effective channel through which refugees can be motivated to engage in unpopular activities. It is, however, important that training on proper utilisation of stoves and accompanying energy conservation training precede the dissemination of exchange commodity-based energy saving technologies. Local production of improved stoves at a non-individual level needs to take into account post refugee markets and a sustainable handing over process.
Improved institutional stoves for Sudan schools
by Mohammed E. Abdelrazing: Sudan Ireland Development Co-operation Program, Rufaa, Sudan
The total consumption of wood in the Sudan during 1994 was estimated as 16 million cubic metres, 90% of which was by the household sector (14 million cubic metres).
The efficiency of the traditional stove used in Sudan was estimated to be 12% so more efficient stoves could save thousands of feddans (acres) of forests.
The El Nabti Quranic School has an improved stove which cooks for 1000 students. The main dish for the three daily meals is asida, a thick porridge made from sorghum. This dish is similar to the Kenyan I Ugali and Zimbabwean Sasda. The food is cooked in large pans with curved bottoms. This causes high heat losses when a three stone fire is used. The new stove saves two cubic metres of wood per day.
In Rufaa secondary school in North Sudan (300 students), three charcoal stoves were built to replace the traditional stoves which consumed three bags per day (40kg bag) of charcoal. Using the new stoves, the consumption dropped to half a bag daily. The new stoves saved charcoal, reduced overall cooking times by five hours and retained enough stored heat to keep the food warm till supper (see Figure 1).
The stoves can be used inside the kitchen or out of doors, but the chimney should always be outside the kitchen. The site of the stove should be in a safe, clean and convenient place where disturbance by the wind is slight.
There are two main types of cooking pots which are usually used in Sudan; cylindrical pots with capacity from forty to eighty litters which are made of aluminum and imported: and pots with curved bases with capacities from 80 to 250 litres. These pots are manufactured in Sudan by blacksmiths and they use heavy gauge 1.5-3mm sheet.
In prisons the stove is used for making a sort of pancake from sorghum on a flat rectangular heavy gauge plate. In oil factories, the boiler shape is square or rectangular.
The firewood stove is constructed of bricks and mortar and it is not more than 0.8 metres high. It has a chimney to produce draught for combustion and to remove the smoke from the kitchen, assisted with a bottle for blocking flue gas. There are two inlets, the upper one through which the fuel is fed and the bottom one to draw the preheated air into the chamber. The fuel inlet has a door to control the entry of cold air.
The method for constructing the stoves is always the same. The shape of the pot holes in the top of the stove is dictated by the shape of the cooking pot, which is usually round, but in the case of the soap factory shown in Figure 2, rectangular containers are used for the oils used in soap manufacture.
Internal Construction:
The grate is made from steel reinforcing rods, 12 or 16mm in diameter with 12-14mm spacing The gaps allow sufficient air to get in and the ash to fall through. To ensure good combustion and heat transfer, the distance from the fuel bed to the pan bottom is critical.
The pot should be a good fit in the hole in the top of the combustion chamber in order to make a seal and ensure that the hot gases go through the passage to the chimney. The small gap between the vertical wall of the combustion chamber and the pot sides is designed to suit the pot to be used so as to give maximum heat transfer.
The passage to take the hot gases from the combustion chamber to the chimney must be the right size and shape, lead up to the chimney and must be kept clear of ash and debris.
The four main differences between the charcoal stove and the wood stove are:
· The channel between the stove walls and the pot sides must be wide enough to allow the hot gases to escape at the top whilst giving maximum heat transfer to the pot [normally 3-8mm, ed.]
· There are inlets for secondary air.
There have been no laboratory tests carried out to determine the efficiency of the stove, but according to users, the fuel saving is 60-80%.
The stoves have an expected life of more than two years, if they are well constructed and maintained regularly.
Door for In Let of Feeding Fuel
Air In Let
Grate
Brick and Clay
Brick.
Outlet of Flue Gas
· The dimensions of the pot (diameter and depth) must be measured correctly.
· The construction should follow the dimensions in the design.
· Insulate the bottom of the stove with ash mixed with salt and clay.
· The optimum chimney height is about 2.5m but this may need changing when the stove is first tested.
· Pay great attention to the distance between the pot bottom and the grate; for the normal pot (60cm), this should be 18cm for a firewood stove and 13cm for a charcoal stove
· In the firewood stove, the area of the grate can usually he taken as a quarter or a third of the area of the pot bottom Occasionally it will he as little as one fifth.
· The gap between the grate bars should be kept between 12mm and 14mm The bars will need replacing when burnt through.
· Plaster the external stove body with cement after two or three days.
· Ensure smoke passages do not become blocked.
Haiti is a pan of a large Caribbean island about 800 kilometers long, situated close to Cuba and to the Florida coast of the USA. It has a population of about six and a half million people, increasing by 5 per cent per annum in urban areas and by 0.7 per cent in rural areas. The country originally belonged to the French, it was occupied by the USA from 1915 to 1934 leading to a strong American influence in the country. Since 1994 Haiti has had a democratic form of government.
The climate of the island is humid tropical and the Haitan pan is largely mountainous. Agriculture is very poorly developed and holdings are generally too small to be farmed effectively.
Haiti is perhaps the poorest country in the Central American region with a GNP per head of 370 US$ (compared with Tanzania, which is reported to have a GNP per head of 100 US$). There are few natural resources; bauxite is the main one and there are unexploited deposits of low-grade brown coal. Only 3 per cent of its original forest cover remains, so much of the country is severely eroded.
Nearly a third of the population lives in urban areas and the urban population is increasing rapidly, especially in the capital, Port au Prince. The arable areas of the country have a very high population density of 800 per hectare. Nearly 60 per cent of the population is under 25 years old, literacy is 20 per cent, and school enrolment is only 52 per cent.
Figure 1 Comparative costs of charcoal in major charcoal consuming countries
Households consume 92 per cent of all the energy used in Haiti. Nearly all of this (95 per cent) is either firewood or its derivatives. Charcoal accounts for 41 per cent of the fuelwood used, of which nearly three quarters is used in Port au Prince. The movement to urban areas has led to an increased demand for charcoal as the principal fuel.
The remaining household energy is provided by:
The minimum daily wage is US$2.23 (US$606 per annum). For those earning twice the daily minimum, 20 per cent of this will be spent on charcoal. The poorest 70 per cent of the population, mainly in rural areas, will generally collect fuelwood or other biomass rather than buy charcoal.
Households
Household
Household
Port au Prince
Other urban areas
Rural areas
Fuel prices and trends
Despite the forestry resources of Haiti being severely depleted, the price of charcoal is considerably lower than in other major charcoal consuming countries (see Figure 1). This is probably due to the poverty-stricken rural economy which causes farmers to supplement their incomes by producing charcoal.
Fuel prices are very much affected by the quantity purchased. Poor households pay more than twice as much as rich households for cooking energy. This is probably due to an increasingly impoverished population who do not have enough cash to buy large amounts of charcoal at any one time. From Figure 2 it can be seen that:
· poor households could halve their current fuel expenditure if they could afford to buy charcoal by the bag, rather than buying enough to cook one meal.
· To cook the same quantity of food, the cost of using kerosene is about one third of that paid by the poorest households who buy charcoal in very small quantities.
Kerosene prices have remained very stable and look set to remain low compared to LPG because of the favourable price structure set by the government for imported fuels.
Economic benefits from switching fuels
From Figure 3, the following can be deduced:
· being able to switch to other forms of fuel energy could save the poorest households up to 8 per cent of their income per year
· for households rich enough to purchase bags of charcoal, butane would not provide savings.
Table 2: Summary of kitchen performance tests on improved charcoal stoves
Stove type households
Number of per household surveyed
Ceramic
Traditional
Choice of appliances will depend on cost, convenience and comfort. The best option is probably charcoal for long slow cooking and kerosene or LPG for rapid cooking.
It has been estimated that 11 per cent of urban households own gas appliances. In energy terms, one tonne of LPG is the useful equivalent of 4.7 tonnes of charcoal. On this basis, 60 000 tonnes of LPG would be needed to replace the total Haitan demand for charcoal (a tenfold increase in current consumption).
Prospects for improved stoves
Fuel saving assessments using four types of stoves were carried out for low/middle income families with an average household size of seven persons per household. Table 2 shows the savings compared to a traditional charcoal stove. The Ceramic stove is a KCJ type; the Ronderosa (similar to a Burundi stove) originated as pan of the Rwanda World Bank project; the BME stove is one promoted by the Bureau des Mines et de L'Energie; three types of traditional charcoal stove were used (Entole, Potage, Masonry) and no significant differences in fuel consumption were observed so an overall figure is given.
To assess the impact of these stoves, the payback time before the stoves provided real saving were calculated. Table 3 shows the payback time for a ceramic stove and a traditional Entole stove.
During the period 1990-93, 80000 BiP stoves, known as 'Ti Cheri' stoves were sold. These are gas stoves which were sold at a very attractive price. The increase in gas stove ownership has not been matched by a comparable increase in gas consumption (and subsequent reduction in fuelwood use). The use of LPG represents, in energy terms, only about 11 per cent of the equivalent charcoal consumption. The popularization of the BiP stove has thus been disappointing in terms of the quantity of fuelwood saved. Gas has provided an additional energy source rather than a replacement and it will take favourable gas prices and improved availability before gas significantly replaces charcoal.
Table 3: Payback time for two improved charcoal stoves
Type of stove
Ceramic
Savings H$/household/day
Annual savings (H$)
Gas prices are very competitive with charcoal, but the initial outlay for equipment and the recurring cost of a cylinder will remain a major barrier for low income and poor households because of their cash flow problems. However, gas usage will most likely grow at a steady rate, particularly amongst middle income households as they become more affluent.. Kerosene stoves are cheaper than gas stoves. In addition, kerosene can be purchased in small quantities depending upon a person's cash flow situation. In the short to medium term, kerosene stoves should be targeted at low income households whilst the gas companies should continue to popularise gas amongst the middle income households.
Figure 3: Percentage savings achieved by changing fuel supply or using an improved stove
Household energy in a recently electrified rural settlement in Mpumalanga, South Africa
Wood is still the predominant source of energy for cooking and water heating, but much of it is now purchased, rather than gathered.
South Africa is in the process of rapid electrification. The number of houses newly connected to the grid was approximately 623,000 for the period 1991 to 1993, 436,000 for 1994 and 478,00() for 1995. It is estimated that this programme will increase household access to electricity for the country from 35 per cent in 1990 to 80 per cent in 2010. The households being electrified are mainly those of low income areas. These include - in descending order of income and present access to electricity - the traditionally black, formal townships attached to cities and towns, informal urban communities (shack settlements) and rural settlements.
The effect of electrification on household energy consumption has been studied for several urban and peri-urban communities in South Africa. Very little comparable post electrification information on rural, mainly wood-buning settlements appears to be available. This study looked at such a settlement.
During August and September 1994, an energy consumption survey in a traditionally wood-burning, recently electrified, remote settlement was carried out. The settlement that was studied was Green Valley (24°36'S, 31°01'E), adjacent to Acomhoek in Mpumalanga (previously Eastern Transvaal). Green Valley is an administrative unit of a low income, densely populated, urban like sprawl stretching for kilometers and set in a remote, semi-arid, rural region. Land area per household is of the order of 1000 m2; there is thus no question of subsistence agriculture, though gardening for food is practised, despite frequent water supply difficulties.
The electrification of Green Valley was started in 1990 and essentially completed in 1993. Very few houses were 'wired' in the conventional sense. The majority were fitted with a 'Ready Board', a simplified distribution board into which lights and appliances are plugged directly. The boards are operated by means of a magnetic card with which the customer repurchases electricity at a central pay-point in the settlement.
Data was obtained mainly by means of structured interviews based on a questionnaire. A total of 80 randomly selected households was covered. Interviews were conducted in Pedi and Tsonga, the two local languages. Additionally, numerous informal interviews were held. The method involved determining how many households used each type of energy source. For a sample of this size, measurements to determine the exact quantities of each fuel consumed are problematic as they are both intrusive for the households involved and excessively time-consuming for researchers.
Results
Figure 1 shows the percentage of households using various energy sources. All sample households in Green Valley use electricity and 84 per cent of households use wood. There is a sharp reduction in the use of paraffin when settlements are supplied with mains electricity. In the nearby non-electrified settlement of Cottondale paraffin is used for lighting (96 per cent of households), cooking (53 per cent) and refrigeration (7 per cent); in Green Valley it is used for cooking only - the paraffin lamp has passed completely out of use.
The use of dry cell batteries is considerably lower in Green Valley than in Cottondale. This is largely due to the reduced use of batteries in radios. The reduction would have been larger still had not many radios been of the battery-only type. In Green Valley (where all households use electric lighting) candles serve as backups in the case of power failures, or when the pre-paid card is out of credit. Coal, LPG and dung are not used by the Green Valley sample households; coal is not available and LPG is little known. Some dung possibly may have been used, but this was not admitted.
Table 1 shows the percentage of households which use grid electricity for specific functions The main Uses are: lighting, radio for news and entertainment, ironing, cooking and water heating (for washing and hot beverages). The percentage of households in possession of appliances for the last two activities is as follows: full electric stove (5 per cent); double electric hotplate (34 per cent); electric kettle (33 per cent).
Table 1 Percentage of Green Valley households using grid electricity for particular activities
Percentage of households
Heating house (heater)
Figure 1. Percentage of household using particular energy sources
Of the households using electricity for lighting only, 52 per cent stated that they had too little money to buy other appliances, 30 per cent that they had too little money to run other appliances, or that they had appliances (radios/music systems) but not the AC/DC adapters that permit operation off the mains. Only 8 per cent prefer the use of a non-electrical energy source - wood for cooking.
Of the 84 per cent of households using wood for cooking and water heating, 34 per cent use wood exclusively, 31 per cent use wood supplemented by paraffin, 10 per cent use wood and electricity, and 9 per cent use all three. Wood thus remains a major source of energy.
Table 2 shows how fuelwood is obtained. Purchased wood is obtained mainly from veld clearing operations for agriculture and from vegetation thinning in game reserves suffering from bush encroachment. All purchased wood was veld wood in this study; exotic plantation woods are, however, known to be used at times.
The transition from gathered to purchased wood has also been observed in non-electrified settlements in the area; it reflects the increasing scarcity of free fuelwood from the veld. Table 2 also shows a significant increase in the number of households that do not use wood at all. This is most likely due to the combined effects of wood scarcity and electrification.
Source of wood
Percentage of households
Gathered in veld
Purchased
Free, collected by hired van
Households not Using wood
In a recently electrified rural settlement in Mpumalanga, electricity is extensively used for lighting and media applications, but less so for cooking and water heating. For the latter, energy intensive activities, wood remains the major fuel.
Comparisons can be made with results from earlier studies in urban and peri-urban areas where it was found that for cooking, water heating and space heating (high energy consumption activities), the 'old', pre-electrification fuels, predominantly coal (for settlements near the coal fields), paraffin (kerosene), and to a lesser degree LPG, remained in extensive use.
Rural households using wood for cooking were found (with a single exception) to use the traditional open fire built on the ground. There have been several attempts locally, and numerous programmes elsewhere, aimed at the development of low cost, wood-burning stoves that are more efficient and that pollute less than open fires. Woodstove programmes thus remain relevant in the face of rural electrification. With the increasing scarcity of traditional veld wood there is a major energy transition from gathered to purchased wood.
With its two and a half million inhabitants Tunis is today one of the big cities of the Mediterranean. It has been quickly growing over last decade, but despite that, Tunisia is a rather small country of barely nine million people.
Tunisians have maintained a taste for rural life. 'Bread' in Tunisia means mostly the French 'baguette' produced in large quantities in central bakeries in each town. It is cheap - less than 20 US cents for a pound - as its price is fixed by Government. For most people the Arabic word 'chobbs' is reserved for the 'real' bread which is still made in at least 500,000 tabouna ovens all over the country. It is flat and round; that cake shaped little something owes its aroma and taste and its golden brown crust to whole wheat flour and the fine scent of pine firewood. Baking requires five to six kilos of wood for each firing. Even though LPG has replaced the three stone fire for cooking, a tabouna still remains the heart piece of a Tunisian household, representing traditional values and continuity.
A women's technology
Baking bread in Tunisia is a woman's affair. In each village there is usually one lady who specialises in making the barrel shaped ceramic body of a tabouna oven. The procedure needs several days. After soaking the clay for two days the shaping is done by hand, without a potter's wheel. The barrel needs to dry for three to four days before it can be baked in the fire. The baking is done by covering the inside and outside of the oven core with a heap of dry twigs. These are burned reaching temperatures of between 500°C and 800°C which bake the clay.
After the barrel has been brought to the place outside the house where the tabouna oven will be finally installed, the housewife takes over. She insulates the outer surface with a mixture of straw and loamy soil, leaving two, three or four air holes at the bottom of the stove. In a few tabounas, which are constructed completely underground, there are no air holes at all. There is never a grate at the bottom of the tabouna; the ash is swept out through the holes or is extracted using a flat shovel. The mouth on top of the tabouna remains open to put the fuelwood and later on the bread into the oven. In the traditional way it is not covered while heating the oven.
If firewood is available, the housewife will start baking at once; usually, she will have to go and look for fuel. Groups of three or more ladies go together to collect firewood and shrubs. If the area is sparsely forested, they will leave in the early morning and return in the late afternoon, each carrying a load of about forty kilograms.
Although arduous, collecting fuel does allow women a chance to get away from the constant supervision of the menfolk in the family; this is the only time when womenfolk do get away from the family home. Fuelwood is an increasingly scarce commodity: there remains hardly anything burnable to gather, especially in the vicinity of villages and towns.
Many women use agricultural residues or they collect shrubs, such as rosemary, which are easily uprooted and may still be found after the forest wood has all been taken. However, this leads to erosion as the winter rains wash away the soil which had been held together by the shrubs and the next year the problem is even more severe
Even in already deforested areas 89 per cent of the households meet their energy requirements with approximately four tonnes of biomass per year. About 44 per cent of it is needed for making bread in the tabounas. At least one half of the tabouna-using households have to buy fuelwood in addition to what they collect.
Equipping the tabouna oven with a lid was the most promising solution to reduce the consumption of firewood. The lid is made out of sheet steel and is fixed by a hinge on to the tabouna. When the tabouna is in use, the lid is closed, thus retaining a large proportion of the energy that is normally lost with the traditional tabouna.
The project team sells more than 4000 lids per year and has developed a social marketing strategy to commercialise the lid. One of the field workers relates;
'In the beginning it was very difficult to convince the women... they were arguing that the taste of the bread would change when using a lid over the tabouna. And it was even more difficult to convince the men to pay the price of 9 dinars [about 9US$] for something which would in their view only serve their wives”
Over the two years work the team has developed a social marketing strategy to commercialise the lid.
The first thing we discovered was that the lid needed to be more attractive. The people wanted not only something that would save their time and money, they wanted something nice.
By using standardised moulds, imported sheet steel and a simple press, operated by a lorry jack, local blacksmiths can produce attractive lids that resemble mini flying saucers. The tabouna was converted into a real modem baking oven.
The lid was named 'Salha' a word that means in Arabic, 'useful' or 'good for'; a famous popular song carries the same title.
Demonstrating the usefulness to a target group of 150000 households was a more difficult job. As the field worker explained,
'...soon we realised that we were simply too small a group to go into each and every douar... without the help of other organisations and many other vulgaristrices [field workers] we felt we would need a hundred years to popularise the ".salha".'
Local agricultural advisers, NGOs, blacksmiths and sellers of household appliances were drawn into the scheme. They all needed to be motivated, trained and equipped with demonstration tools. Once the communication between customers, producers and regional agents was installed, radio and TV spots were produced and broadcast. Every possible event like environmental or agricultural fairs and seminars and local markets were used to advertise the lids.
Development from project to enterprise
'Before we discovered the mechanisms of the market the relationship between us and our target group was clearly defined: we were a rich project and they were the beneficiaries.'
This role led to a perception that the lids would be supplied free of charge. In order to supply lids to an increasing market it became essential to convert the project from a charitable project to a small enterprise.
'We do not say any more beneficiaries we talk about customers.'
Beneficiaries became customers; subsidies were ruled out; the lids are now sold at the commercial price. The enterprise makes a small profit as sheet steel and hinge material are free of tax and duty and the prices are fixed for a period of time. Although the project still depends on government finance, it works as an enterprise, depending on profits.
'We work like an enterprise our financial means are scarce so we have learned to employ existing partners.'
Politicians and administrators are used to promote the benefits as they are shown to be caring for the environment and their people. Controlling quality and price is necessary to avoid producers and customers being dissatisfied. External support will still be needed for a long time before all functions are taken over by private entrepreneurs.
Mumu: A traditional method of slow cooking in Papua New Guinea
One of the traditional techniques in Papua New Guinea is cooking with the mumu. The mumu is an earth oven that is formed by heating stones which are subsequently put in with the food or arranged around and on the food. The heat in the stones is transferred to the food to cook it. The earth oven is known by various names amongst the South Pacific islanders:
· in Samoa, Tonga and Cook Islands it is umu
· in Tahiti it is ahimaa
· in Solomon Islands it is motu
· in New Zealand it is hangi
Generally, black river stones are used and hard wood is preferred as fuel. All sons of food are cooked in the mumu at the same time, but usually the more delicate ones are put on top. The time spent cooking depends on the quantity of food being prepared; it can take anything from one hour to overnight. Mumu is often used during ceremonies, but even households with modem ovens will use mumu on occasions.
Types of Mumu
Papua New Guinea is a land of contrasts; from swampy plains to high alpine mountains and broad upland valleys. Mumu appears to be more common in the highlands, where pottery is very limited. The following types of mumu have been identified;
In Rabaul a pit is usually dug in which the stones are heated. The size of the pit and the quantities of stones and firewood are dependent on the quantity of food to be 'mumurised'. While the stones are being heated, food is prepared with coconut cream and wrapped in banana leaves. The banana leaves are conditioned over the fire which is heating the stones. The charcoal is removed from the heated stones, and the wrapped food is placed on some of the hot stones. The remaining stones are place on top of the wrapped food before covering the mumu. With banana leaves and jute bags, neither sand nor earth is used and it is usually left for about four hours. All the foods are cooked together and the food is baked rather than steamed as the moisture in the mumu is limited to that held in the leaves and the food. The temperature of the food can be as high as 250°C.
A similar type of mumu was observed in the Western Province (Daru) but no pit was dug and tree bark was used in covering the mumu instead of banana leaves.
This type of mumu is referred to as dry mumu because, even though the foods are wrapped and cooked together no coconut cream is used in the food preparation. A pit is dug and when the stones are hot. the charcoals are left amongst the stones. The food is wrapped as in the Rabaul mumu and it is put on the hot stones. More hot stones may be put on the food, but more leaves are used to cover the food before the dug earth is used to complete the covering and keep the heat within the mumu. Smoldering firewood is placed on the earth cover to keep the top layer hot.
The additional heat from the top ensures that a high temperature (greater than 200°C) is maintained in the mumu throughout the duration of cooking. The hot charcoals complement this. This relatively constant high temperature is needed to ensure that the food is properly cooked as the absence of coconut cream will reduce heat conduction. As with the Rabaul type. baking is the predominant process.
This type is typical of mumu in the Eastern Highlands Province. The stones are heated in the pit and most of the charcoal is removed afterwards. Banana leaves are put on top of the stones and the food is wrapped in separate segments. Hot stones may be put in or on to the wrapped food and earth is used to complete the covering. Water is then poured on to the hot stones through a special opening. This generates steam within the mumu. More earth is used for the cover to keep the steam inside. The cooking duration in the Goraka mumu is the shortest, possibly because of the steaming effect. The food appears less baked than in the other forms of mumu and the temperature of the food is usually below 100°C.
A different type of mumu is found in the Western Highland Province. A relatively deep pit is dug which is conical in shape. Stones are heated on the ground away from the pit, the bottom and sides of which are lined with banana leaves before some hot stones are put in. Food is transferred separately into the pit and the hot stones are put directly in the food. Coconut cream is not used and neither is water poured on to the hot stones nor are the food segments wrapped in banana leaves. When all the food has been put in, the protruding leaves from the sides of the pot are used in the final food wrapping. Grasses and additional banana leaves are used for the final covering to keep the heat within. Baking is expected to be the predominant form of cooking.
The temperature in the mumu can be as high as 250°C and because of contact between the stones and the food, the food approaches the temperature of the stones. The high food temperature demands that the mumu is uncovered within a short time to prevent over-cooking. It is unusual for this type of mumu to be left overnight. A similar type of mumu has been recorded in Western Samoa, but coconut cream was not used and no pit was dug.
Mumu is pan of the culture in Papua New Guinea and the field study revealed that mumu is cherished by the people. Mumurised foods are reportedly rich in flavour and are preferred to foods from conventional ovens for this reason. In theory, cooking foods in a mumu seems convenient, but in practice it is very labour intensive. Concerns have been raised concerning the fire hazard and environmental implications of the mumu materials. However, the major concerns must be the undercooking and overcooking of food and post cooking contamination, as well as migration of materials from stones to foods. At present laboratory tests are being used to examine temperature distribution in the types of mumu discussed above and associated microbiological issues.
Reducing the risks of poisonous emissions from stoves
To keep warm in cold climates, fires and stoves are needed for space heating as well as for cooking. These fires are often in rooms with little ventilation and they bum for long periods. People are thus exposed to high levels of combustion emissions for a long time - the health impact of these emissions on the users is therefore particularly severe.
The health effects from combustion emissions range from headaches and breathing difficulties to death. These effects may be immediate or occur after being exposed to the pollutants for a long time. Some symptoms may show up only many years after exposure. The effects depend upon the type and quantity of the pollutants, the duration of exposure to them, and on the age and health of the person exposed. There is increasing evidence that chronic exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) constitutes a long-term health risk.
At the University of the Wilwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, the CO and smoke emission patterns have been recorded for a number of cooking devices including the traditional 'three stone' fire, as well as a number of improved stoves. It was found that enclosed stoves all have greater stove efficiencies than the open fire but also had greater emission levels.
In an attempt to improve efficiency, thermal contact between the fire and the base of the pot has been increased in improved stoves by enclosing the fire, but this results in the combustion gases being less completely burnt. In addition, in an enclosed fire, the flames are 'forced' on to the base of the much cooler pot, thus quenching them and causing 'freezing' of the volatiles and their emission in partially burnt states.
Emission rates were recorded for CO and smoke every ten seconds throughout a bum cycle; this involved heating water to boiling point rapidly and then simmering for 30 minutes. Figure 1 shows room concentration of CO for a one-pot metal stove with ceramic insulation which is top fed. Notice the high room concentrations reached for the metal stove. The line shown at 0.1g/m3 (equivalent to 87ppm) is the level of the 15 minute World Health Organisation air quality guideline for Europe. Notice that both the three-stone fire and the metal stove exceed this level for most of the bum cycle. After 40 minutes, room concentrations for the metal stove are twice as high as for the open fire. From the above discussion we offer the following recommendations:
Figure 1: CO concentration in a room with poor ventilation
· For space heating, improved stoves must have chimneys so that combustion gases are removed from the dwelling. The Indian Chulha with a chimney, although its efficiency is low (as can be expected for large mass mud stoves) is a good example. Mud stoves without chimneys are not recommended.
· Do not assume that improved stoves without chimneys are safer than the traditional open fires. Enclosed stoves in general emit higher levels of poisonous gasses than three-stone fires. Stoves which are 'fed' through the same opening as that which supplies air for combustion have the danger of being over-stoked (in an attempt to prolong burning). The more fuel in the combustion chamber, the less space there is for air, and emissions will therefore increase significantly. Stoves providing combustion air principally from beneath the fire through a metal or ceramic grate can clog with ash and gradually cause the fire to smother; again greatly increasing emissions.
· Particularly large quantities of poisonous fumes are emitted during stove lighting and refueling because cold pot sides and stove sides cool the flames and result in less complete combustion. Because of this, portable stoves without chimneys should be lit and operated out of doors for at least ten minutes before being brought indoors. This practice is frequently followed in South African informal settlements with coal-burning braziers, 'Mbaulas', made from 25 litre drums. Refuelling indoors is dangerous (although peak emissions after refuelling are usually lower than after initial ignition owing to reduced quenching on the sides of the stove). No fire (even a glowing one) should, however, be operated in a room with poor ventilation.
· Overall efficiency can easily be improved without reducing combustion efficiency by raising the fire off the ground by means of a grate. This improved three stone fire has an efficiency comparable with enclosed stoves (21 per cent) but with much lower emissions.
Update on biogas in Nepal
With the rapid depletion of forest resources in Nepal, alternative sources of energy must be sought. Biogas is one of these sources, which not only saves firewood but also has the potential to increase soil fertility, improve sanitation and reduce the workload of women.
In November 1992, an agreement entitled the 'Biogas Support Programme (BSP)' was signed between His Majesty's Government of Nepal and the Netherlands Development Organization. The long term objectives of the BSP are:
· to reduce the rate of deforestation and environmental deterioration by providing biogas as a substitute for fuelwood and dung cakes in order to meet the energy demands of the rural population;
· to improve health and sanitation of the rural population, especially women. This was to be achieved: by elimination of smoke produced during cooking on firewood; by reduction of the hardship involved in the collection of firewood; and by stimulation of better methods for dealing with dung and night-soil;
· to increase agricultural production by promoting an optimal use of digested dung as organic fertilizer..
The programme was divided into two phases. The short-term objectives, to be reached by July 1994, were:
· to make biogas more attractive to small farmers, and farmers in the hills;
The second phase, started in July 1994, has the following aims:
· to support the establishment of an apex body to co-ordinate the different actors in the biogas sector.
Dung is the main potential source of biogas. The production of biogas is limited by altitude and access to water. The number of households with cattle and or buffalo in Nepal in 1992 was calculated as about two million. Installation of biogas is technically possible for 65 per cent of these households (about 1.3 million), with average digester size estimated as about seven cubic metres.
Six different sizes of digester have been installed ranging from four to twenty cubic metres total capacity (digester plus dome).
These plants work well for households with cattle but have not proved successful for community biogas plants, mainly because of social factors.
By providing a subsidy whose value was the same for all sizes of plant, small farmers with few cattle were encouraged to take part in the scheme. A larger subsidy was given for those living in the hill districts as the transportation costs of moving the digester on to their farms was perceived to be greater.
At present, twenty-three biogas companies construct and install biogas plants and eight more have been approved to construct them. Recently, the Nepal Biogas Promotion Group has been established. Promotion, training and extension will be taken up by this group in the near future. NGOs have entered into agreements with biogas companies to promote biogas in their regions. Two banks have recently decided to invest in the scheme, and this has helped to finance the programme.
Strong emphasis has been given to the quality of construction, maintenance and operation of the biogas plants.
Impacts and benefits
Several studies have shown indoor air pollution and smoke exposure in rural Nepal, expressed in respirable suspended particulates (RSP), carbon monoxide (CO) and formaldehyde (HCHO) to be among the worst in the world. Smoke is one of the major risk factors for acute respiratory infections in infants and children and is a major cause of child mortality in Nepal. The installation of biogas plants has resulted in significant health benefits. The main positive effect is on the level of indoor air pollution. Eye ailments, commonly associated with smoke-filled rooms have been reduced by the reduction in smoke.
It has been estimated that just over three hours a day can be saved by an average household by installing biogas.
Women who use biogas express great satisfaction with it. They are able to do other activities as the cooker does not require constant attention. In summer, the heat produced is less; however, in winter they miss the extra warmth.
Biogas can only be used by farmers who own cattle. The poorest in society therefore do not benefit directly. Nevertheless, by promoting biogas use, pressure on the more traditional fuelwood sources is reduced and if fuelwood is more plentiful, the poorest people may be indirect beneficiaries.
Research and development
Research into integrating a wood/charcoal stove into building design
An idea for integrating a cooking stove in the kitchen into the design of a building has been investigated for space heating in cold climatic conditions. The exhaust gases from the cooking stove are made to flow through a cavity wall, which acts like a chimney. The wall stores the heat during cooking hours and keeps the inside space at a comfortable temperature provided the heat loss rate from the building does not exceed 0.5 W/m2degK.
In many regions of Nepal and India there is a need for heating round the year. This is usually achieved by using a wood stove which is also used for cooking. The usual three stone fires, have now been replaced by cleaner, more efficient cooking stoves. Although stoves of this type are designed with a chimney, most of them are not integrated into the building design. In this paper, we examine the possibility of integrating an efficient wood stove into a building, which may provide both cooking energy and the energy for space heating.
Stove design
Table 1 gives the amount of fuel needed to cook 1 kg of various foods. It is seen from the table that, theoretically, 18gm of wood per kilogramme of food cooked is required for cooking, but in practice approximately 268gm of wood is used up in the fire. Some stoves have been considered in detail to determine the quantity of energy lost during the process of combustion and cooking.
Stove efficiency
For improving the overall efficiency (PHU) of a stove, a number of factors should be considered:
Combustion efficiency: the maximum amount of energy which can be converted into heat as a percentage of the calorific value of the fuel.
Heat transfer efficiency: the maximum amount of energy which is transferred to the pot. This includes conductive, convective and radiative heat transfer processes.
Control efficiency: the mechanism which allows only as much heat to be generated as is needed to cook the food.
Pot efficiency: the characteristics of the pot which affect the proportion of heat reaching the food through the pot.
Cooking process efficiency: how efficiently the heat which reaches the food converts the raw food into cooked food. Combustion and heat transfer efficiencies are often combined for convenience and these are termed the thermal efficiency of the stove. When these are combined with the control efficiency and the pot efficiency, the efficiencies combined together are called stove efficiency.
Heat transfer processes
Heat conduction: when cooking begins, the walls of the stove are cold. With time, they warm up at a rate which is dependent on both the weight of the walls and their specific heat. Lightweight walls warm up quicker than heavier walls.
Heat transfer to the pot by convection: when a pot is being heated by hot gases leaving the fire, the factors which affect the amount of heat reaching the pot by convection are:
· the area of the pot which is in contact with the hot gases;
· the difference between the gas temperature and the temperature of the pot.
To increase heat transfer to the pot by convection three things can be done:
· the temperature of the hot gas can be increased by the choice of stove and by controlling the amount of air that enters the stove;
· increasing the area of the pot exposed to the hot gas. The pot support should be small and strong, occupying a small area and allowing the hot gas flame to rise up around the pot and contact the surface;
· the maximum heat transfer coefficient should be increased. This can be done by increasing the velocity of the hot gas.
Heat transfer to the pot by radiation: the radiative heat transfer to a pot depends on the temperature of the tire bed, the areas of the pot and the fire bed, and the distance between the two. To heat the pot more effectively by radiation the alternatives are:
· increasing the fuel bed temperature and thereby increasing the heat radiation from it;
· lowering the pot and thus reducing the distance between the pot and the fire bed;
· increasing the area of the pot 'seen' by the tire bed.
Figure 1: Hypocaust system integrated in a building
Figure 1: Hypocaust system integrated in a building
Combustion of biomass is an extremely complex process involving chemical kinetics, heat processes, molecular diffusion and other phenomena. The most important parameters in wood combustion are the moisture content of the wood and its calorific value. Usually the calorific value per kilogram of any type of wood does not vary by any significant amount from any other, though the densities can be very different. The density does not affect the stove efficiency. Moisture content affects both the calorific value and the rate of burning very significantly.
Wood is typically composed of 80 per cent volatile material and 20 per cent fixed carbon and it is these percentages which determine the calorific value. In wood combustion, when the temperature reaches 100°C, the water is boiled out. From about 200°C, the hemicellulose begins to decompose, followed by cellulose decomposition. At about 300°C, decomposition becomes extensive when only 8- 15 per cent of cellulose and hemicellulose remains as fixed carbon and the rest is released as volatile gases. As volatiles escape the wood, they mix with oxygen in the air at about 550°C and ignite to produce a yellow flame. The flame not only radiates energy to the pot but it also maintains the combustion process. Burning of volatiles accounts for two thirds of the energy released by fire and the burning charcoal left behind accounts for the remaining third. A variety of techniques are used to increase the combustion efficiencies:
· use of grates which allow better mixing of air with fuel bed
Heat of exhaust gases and building design
The escaping hot gases from a wood charcoal stove arc at a high temperature, between 300°C and 500°C These flue gases can be made to flow through a hollow wall in a 'hypocaust system', as shown in Figure 1 which is a conceptual drawing of a cooking stove integrated into the building design.
In the hollow wall, a cavity 50mm deep is created. A room of 10m2 floor area and a height of 3m, adjacent to the kitchen, has been considered. A daily variation of room temperature has been simulated and compared to the corresponding outside temperature at the same time of day. The performance of the experimental stove has been studied keeping all these parameters in mind.
To ensure good combustion the amount of air supplied for each kilogram of wood burnt should be at least 7m3. For most stoves used in developing countries, 1 kg of wood is burnt in about an hour, which corresponds to a power output of 5.5kW.
Results and Discussions
The following conclusions have been drawn from this study.
· the largest heat losses occur (1+ 42 per cent) through heat conduction into the walls of the stove
· typically half the energy entering the pot is lost in the form of steam. This is the energy lost at the point of use and mainly depends on the design of the pot.
The results of the hypocaust wall show that to provide adequate heating, it is sufficient to use the stove for 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening. The most important pan is to keep the building's envelope U-value at 0.5 W/m m20K which corresponds to a 5cm thick layer of insulation or an 80 cm thick mud wall
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This article originally appeared in the Summer 2020 issue of E-Scrap News. Subscribe today for access to all print content.
The business of IT asset disposition is now a huge part of the electronics recovery ecosystem.
As corporations, institutions and other organizations outside the residential realm have come to understand the value of the material they generate – and the risks that come with improper handling – ITAD demand has grown quickly. And many electronics processing companies have formed or evolved their business models to serve these potential clients.
But during this period of market expansion, the term ITAD has become fuzzy, meaning different things to different stakeholders. And some operators that have spent considerable time and money creating systems tailored to the needs of commercial clients have seen other hopefuls start calling themselves ITAD providers but without proven asset management protocols in place.
To help push forward the conversation, the 2019 E-Scrap Conference and Trade Show in Orlando included a session called “Defining ITAD,” which was put together by E-Reuse Services (a company that provides consulting and collaboration services to electronics recyclers and refurbishers, and hosts the annual Electronics Reuse Conference). E-Reuse Services and E-Scrap News also developed a survey asking industry members what ITAD means to them.
This article offers key takeaways from this multi-pronged dialogue.
During the E-Scrap Conference session, held last September, industry leaders said a few foundational services can be expected of all ITAD operators.
“When I think ITAD, I think going to businesses, taking products, doing reuse and refurbishment on those, and then certainly any data destruction that needs to be done,” said Karen Pollard, who served many years as electronics management expert at the U.S. EPA before retiring at the start of 2020. “I also understand I am a little old in that definition.”
It’s true that in recent years, the practice of ITAD has become far more nuanced than just picking up and repairing products, but Pollard’s definition does get us going in the effort to put clear boundaries around ITAD: At the most basic level is the fact that companies in this specific sector are targeting commercial material.
It’s also true any ITAD operator will need a clear and reliable system for dealing with a variety of material types, even those that cannot be remarketed.
“I need an ITAD partner with a recycling downstream,” said Theresa DiMarco, Best Buy’s electronics recycling program manager, a role that sees her manage all the electronics collected through Best Buy takeback and customer returns channels. “I’m getting the whole gamut of materials, so the first thing we look at is the complexity of the operation and whether they have a recycling function.”
The panel discussion at the 2019 E-Scrap Conference and Trade Show included (from left) Mike Cheslock of E-Reuse Services, Sarah Kim of E-Reuse Services, Craig Boswell of HOBI International, Karen Pollard of the U.S. EPA, Mike Buckles of Technocycle and Bo Guilbeault of Starbucks.
The fact that Best Buy and other corporations are relying on partners to effectively handle whatever is moved to them brings us to the next stage of what is expected of any ITAD firm: compliance capabilities.
It’s here that expectations have been greatly heightened from enterprises over the past decade or so.
“When we started, [clients] just wanted material out the door and wanted to check a box that they got it out the door,” said Craig Boswell, president of Dallas-based processor HOBI International. “They were also hoping you’d write them a check.”
No longer is the situation quite so simple (though the expectation of a check often remains). Corporate and institutional material generators may now have entire teams focused on management of IT materials, and they understand the risks involved with sending equipment, which often contains huge amounts of sensitive data, outside the organization.
What they are looking for is a partner that handles the material with the same attention to detail they would internally, noted Mike Buckles, who is president of and founder of processor Technocycle in Houston.
“As an ITAD, they’ve entrusted us with equipment to properly take care of the data, to take care of the compliance and asset accountability,” Buckles said. “Every step of the process we need to think about whether we are being proper stewards to our customer. How are we protecting the customer and their best interest and their brand and data?”
And of course enterprises are no longer willing to just take service providers at their word when it comes to compliance.
“Unlike the criminal system where you’re innocent until proven guilty, if you are put in a compliance audit, you’re guilty until proven innocent,” said Bo Guilbeault, asset manager of retail infrastructure technologies at Starbucks. “The only way you prove your innocence is through a reporting mechanism.”
Indeed, the industry now has multiple vendors providing software solutions for enterprise resource planning, or ERP, a testament to the great need among processors to provide detailed inventories of the assets handled and clear tracking of data destruction, chain of custody and more.
It’s all tied to the fact that ITAD companies are expected to be able to identify and communicate details of material streams quickly and clearly. They also must keep increasingly complicated financial pieces in order.
“The client says, ‘We want you to remarket everything that is remarketable and we want you to share revenue with us,'” said Buckles. “And all the time commodity values are changing. It forces you to be incredibly efficient in the way you do all this.”
How certification fits in
Tied to the issue of compliance and record-keeping is the topic of certification.
As most industry professionals are likely aware, the electronics recycling and reuse sector has two standards geared toward ensuring best management practices: e-Stewards and R2. Hundreds of North American processors are now certified to one or the other, or both.
But are we at the point where we should be saying that to be considered a true ITAD, you need to have certification? From the perspective of many enterprises at least, the answer is yes.
“We do require R2 or e-Stewards to be a Best Buy partner,” DiMarco said. “That’s really a gateway for us to make sure people know best practices and are actually following them.”
Added Buckles of Technocycle, “You can’t get any big company contract without certification now.”
Processors note that the cost and time commitment involved in certification is significant, especially when a business is organizing itself to be certified for the first time.
But industry veterans also say the process does bring real ROI – both because certification opens up opportunities for more business and because the requirements of certification inherently make for a more efficient operation.
“As we began to live the certification, we saw our on-site injury number go down,” said Buckles of Technocycle, which is certified to R2. “We have a formal EH&S system that protects employees. We have controls that eliminate or mitigate any risk you, the employee, will be facing. It really created a way to show an investment not only in our employees but in the companies we service.”
Boswell of HOBI International, which is also R2 certified, said that the impacts of certification on the industry over the past decade have become clear. Because of chain-of-custody requirements put on companies handling material, the average operator just knows a lot more about where material is ending up.
“I think we’re seeing the industry as a whole come to grips with the fact there are paths that are acceptable and paths that are unacceptable,” he said.
But Boswell also noted that because certification has become so widespread in the ITAD marketplace, it’s actually leading to relaxed due diligence on the part of some clients.
“It used to be you would get an on-site audit because that’s all we had, and we encouraged that,” he said. “Now we’ll ask, ‘Are you going to audit the five vendors on this RFP?’ and they’ll say, ‘No, we only use R2 certified so we don’t have to worry about that.'”
In recent years, there have been cases where processors that held either e-Stewards or R2 certification have been found to be improperly handling materials. In some of these cases, executives from those processing firms have faced criminal charges.
“A lot of the problem is [clients] have never actually been to a facility to see the difference between an ITAD facility and another one,” Boswell said.
Indeed, it seems the biggest step operators can take to help the marketplace understand what should truly define ITAD is working with enterprises to show them the complexity and value that comes with doing asset disposition right.
And some of that comes down to being realistic with pricing and showing in black and white that proper service costs more.
It is of course a fact of business life that you gain an advantage in trying to win over a piece of business if you can come with the lowest price. But industry leaders say that when operators fail to draw a line in the sand in terms of how low they’ll go, they only end up hurting themselves.
Guilbeault, who was a longtime ITAD consultant before joining Starbucks, said he’s seen plenty of cases of processing companies taking deals that didn’t truly pencil out for them economically just to win a contract.
“In my humble opinion, they have hurt the industry,” he said, “because it’s de-valuing the services right off the spot and saying [ITAD service] is a commodity. It’s not.”
That point that ITAD is so much more than just collecting material for its commodity value is one that comes up again and again in sector conversations.
ITAD is not just materials management, experts say. It is about partnering and problem solving.
“What we really want to do is take a very complex problem and make it very simple for the client so they can focus on their business,” said Buckles. “We can offload all the complexity of end-of-life disposition onto our team. Then we talk with customers, and if they have specific requirements, we engage with them. We end up with something that fits them perfectly.”
And in the years ahead, the market seems primed to continue to become more complex, with remote working, software-as-service, data security and more all expected to rise in importance for corporations and institutions.
“The number of electronics is going to continue to explode,” said Guilbeault. “The question is: How are businesses going to evolve compliance and risk mitigation?”
With a more clearly defined ITAD sector to work with, those questions of evolution will hopefully be easier to answer.
Dan Leif is the managing editor of E-Scrap News and can be contacted at [email protected]
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How three OEMs approach product sustainability
Leaders from Dell, Google and Samsung laid out details this week on how their companies are building strategies around repair, device longevity and more.
Stakeholders give input on draft Oregon e-scrap bill
Oregon regulators are exploring some significant updates to the state’s electronics recycling program, and they recently gave stakeholders a sneak peek at their ideas.
Processor secures closed-loop plastics recycling deal
A British Columbia electronics recycling company has struck a supply deal allowing true closed-loop recycling of polypropylene from lead batteries.
A polishing system that removes the majority of nicks and scratches from Apple Watches can now support all models.
EV battery recycler expands into consumer electronics
Redwood Materials, a company founded on recycling lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles, launched a consumer recycling program in partnership with Audi to capture more batteries.
Blockchain tool for ITAD trading comes closer to fruition
Industry stakeholders have taken the next steps on a blockchain-based project to better track data and reduce the possibility of fraud in ITAD buying and selling.
Processor brings facility on-line near Las Vegas
E-scrap processor evTerra has activated its large-scale shredding and separation system in Nevada, a significant step in the company’s nationwide expansion project.
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Attachments
Quote from: Gerald C on August 11, 2011, 08:49:46 PM
Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, why not take Merciless from the Battlebabe as an advancement?
would I be a horrible person if I said it's easy for reinventing the wheel to become a hobby when one is bored and/or desires to procrastinate
Also, are you sure you mean Merciless, or do you mean Impossible Reflexes? Because one of the things I got out of giving up my FOBG, AP ammo option, and one serious gun was getting Impossible Reflexes added to my in-class list, though I still have to spend an improvement on it. As for Merciless, even I have some concept of "stop before you break this thing entirely." I'm honestly predicting that my MC would be sane enough to tell me that Merciless and Bloodcrazed (I already have Bloodcrazed) don't stack. (I'd expect her to do the same with Rasputin and Daredevil too, for that matter: I could definitely see her letting me take both to increase the situations in which I can get that +1armour, without letting them stack for +2armour, and honestly I'm not going to try to get her to give it to me--I find that my +2 to Diplomacy and Intimidate works better on MCs when they know I don't demand unreasonable things.)
Quote from: Gerald C on August 11, 2011, 08:49:46 PM
Also, I wouldn't call anyone's armour 'embedded'. It's an integral choice, but there's no reason it can't be taken off, damaged beyond repair, or lost. Just because you get if for free from day one doesn't mean you should get attached to it. As an MC I love to take people's (non-embedded) shit away from them.
I think you misread what I was saying. It was about, when does a technique statted as an "embedded" item, like the guillotine chokehold (s-harm hand embedded), cross the line into move territory? I used the example of a "technique item" that happens to be embedded armour as an example of something that's treading upon move territory, which gives me an idea of where that line is (at the very least don't duplicate an existing move), but doesn't tell me exactly where. I'm just trying to whittle it down further.
This is exceedingly awesome, and I submitted this thread to my current Apocalypse World groups. The MCs are digging it, I'm digging it, the other players are digging it, and it's probably getting used in at least one of the games I'm in, quite possibly both.
As long as I'm revisiting the thread, I suppose I have a further question: where does one draw the line between a technique as "embedded" equipment (like the guillotine chokehold) and a move? "Embedded" armour, for instance, is already in as moves--1-armour for the hocus and 1-armour or 2-armour for the battlebabe--but what about, say, increased damage when not wielding a weapon? Like 2-harm hand embedded or 3-harm hand embedded, as opposed to the default 1-harm?
Quote from: Christopher Weeks on July 29, 2011, 01:11:51 PM
Allison, can you explain why the playbook name matters? I'm not getting that. Also, you've called it a class. It might help you to remember that that's 100% dead wrong. You're the only one. You didn't go to Gunlugger Academy.
Belatedly...
Because the character concept does not really revolve around guns, and I didn't really like the idea of her being defined as a gunlugger--it is not, logically, what people would refer to her as. Is she willing to use them? Sure, why not. But the thing I really wanted her to be defined by was that with or without toys, she's willing and able to take you to the mat, whether you're alone or you have your whole army behind you--her ability to fight, period, defines her, not her toys. The fact that she'd be the only gunlugger doesn't make this better; if anything, it makes it worse.
Hence, she's not a gunlugger, or the gunlugger for that matter. People don't speak of her as someone who carries a lot of firepower (frequently, she carries none at all). What people talk about is the fact that one night, in a fight outside the local watering hole, she slipped and accidentally punched ten armed dudes to death (no, really, that happened in the game; I didn't think to voluntarily reduce my harm to avoid carnagefest, whoops). When people talk about her, they call her the muscle.
Also I am one of those people who gets really touchy about concept and didn't want the other players or the MC even thinking of her as "the person with the guns." I actually went ahead and got rid of the FOBG and AP ammo in part to keep them from doing that, because it was driving me bugfuck insane. So you could call renaming her class (yes I know your issues with the term, but they are de facto classes even if not officially classes, even if they only apply to PCs and not NPCs) a means of controlling how she is seen.
Quote from: Shreyas on July 25, 2011, 08:26:04 PM
I think "the muscle" is super awesome, by the way(:
We have a violent accountant in our AW game that we call 'the heavy'.
"The Heavy" is good, and I'll admit that I would have taken it if not for the fact that it kind of reminds me of a certain Russian, well, heavy-guns-lugger. "The Muscle" really was a good suggestion, and it's growing on me. It communicates her role crystal-clearly without the need to use toys as a reference point: with or without them, she's the person you call for blood on the ceiling, shirtless fistfights, bone-crunching power blows, pitched and bloody battles against ten-to-one odds, breaking the thumbs of miscreants, striking fear into the heart of the local Threat--I could go on.
...Wait, did you say violent accountant?
All right. Sorry for bugging you folks about this whole matter, but I talked it over with other players, my MC, and some Game Therapists to help me untangle the hivemind of neuroses who collectively became my consciousness.
We came up with a two-part fix: One, we changed the class name (in this case, to Muscle; many thanks to SoylentWhite for pointing it out to me). Two, I gave up my FOBG and one of my serious guns (and the option for AP ammo) in exchange for getting Impossible Reflexes added to Daryl's class list: she doesn't get it for free and has to pony up an improvement to keep the character-development economy intact, but she can get it as an in-class move rather than cross-class. And if I take it, she'll probably still wear her spiffy custom armour as a fashion choice and modicum of modesty, but holds in her hand of cards the power to do without if necessary. I also volunteered that if any Excellent Munitions were found in-game in the near future, I'd bear that payment in mind and give other PCs first crack. (For the remaining serious gun, I went with a hunting rifle, which is a nice non-defining 1-barter tool that would let her take gigs with the hunting crew.)
So, uh, thanks for letting me bounce this off y'all, and your input, and again the suggestion to rename her class The Muscle. It was pretty tense for a while there, but my heart rate is beginning to normalize.
Quote from: Pigeon on July 25, 2011, 03:58:43 PM
Quote from: Allison on July 25, 2011, 02:21:56 PM
For the former: what vibe, and for the latter, intrinsic qualities, obviously. She's not a Battlebabe because Battlebabes are horrifically misnamed. Battlebabes aren't hardcore fighters. They are rogues.
You're bringing this to the piece. I'm playing a battlebabe right now, and Smith is not a rogue.
Fair enough: I can accept that you don't play your character that way, though the description of the class has kind of stuck in my group ever since I mentioned it. For the record, we use going aggro when making the initial threat of force or attacking someone not immediately prepared to counterattack, and seize by force once the fight is down to brass tacks and the targets are fighting back--we're in the "you don't necessarily need to be seizing a specific thing/we use it when a fight is down to trading blows" camp.
Quote from: Shreyas on July 25, 2011, 01:37:58 PM
run the risk of making powerful items too cheap, because really, how much barter is that junkyard stuff worth?
This is silly. I mean, really, do you think it's an intrinsic property of ripped-off car doors that they're a 3-harm weapon? You really do? Don't read equipment stat lines as inalienable descriptions of objects in the game; the MC chapter goes so far as to say, "Create the illusion that what you say is caused by events in the fiction, but you're actually following the rules and principles instead." I don't see a rule or principle that says equipment stat lines are objective. If a brainer gave your chracter a violation glove, would you know what to do with it? Same thing.
What I'm saying is that you're making a giant horrorshow out of character creation because you're doing it wrong. There are two ways to fix it:
1 - Don't come to character creation with a concept. Flip through the playbooks, choose one, and make the choices it asks you to make, the way the book tells you to do.
2 - If you come with a concept, be comfortable with tweaking the color of things without getting your kidneys in a bunch. There is no fictional causality in Apocalypse World, and PCs are exceptional rather than ordinary, so your PC is explicitly saying nothing about what else exists or happens in the world. Cling to that, it's your lifeline in the storm of your self-doubt.
Well said on the equipment; that's a good way to look at it. (Though the violation glove comparison might be a bit off--what keeps her from using it isn't lack of knowledge per se so much as lack of psychic powers. You could tell her what it is and how it's used and everything; she just doesn't have anything to use it for.) Also, I can't do #1 to save my life, so it's #2 or bust--now I'm working on the meat and potatoes of what to change.
Quote from: DWeird on July 25, 2011, 01:39:18 PM
Some thoughts in no particular order.
Q. A gunlugger has guns but those aren't cheap! That makes no sense, does it?
A. "Six men came to kill me one time. And the best of 'em carried this. It's a Callahan full-bore auto-lock. Customized trigger, double cartridge thorough gauge. It is my very favorite gun. I call it Vera." The wasteland is much more a cage match than an economy, ain't it?
Q. My stuff doesn't match my character concept, what do I do?
A. So don't have the stuff. Negotiate with the MC for something in exchange for the stuff. I once had a car as my operator's "signature weapon", sacrificed barter at chargen to get extra brainer gear, all kinds of things.
Q. The name of the playbook doesn't really fit my concept.
A. It doesn't have to. A playbook is not necessarily the name that everyone calls you in-fiction. You could just be called "the tough guy". The group does probably naturally gravitate towards calling her "your gunlugger", so if you want that to change, express your wishes clearly.
That exact comparison has been made to me several times (and yes, by that standard, it's hard to justify Daryl being poor; I'm not entirely sure why I'm trying to keep it, though again, I did bully the MC into giving her debt trouble); I agree, I'm just working on exactly what to keep, what to charitably give to other players, what to toss onto the near-future treasure table, and what to sacrifice for something else (and what that something else would be); and yes, I'm most definitely trying to communicate "stop calling me gunlugger and stop thinking of me as a gunlugger" to them because "well, you're a gunlugger, so that's why you have guns, right?" has been said more than once and it never gets less upsetting. I'm trying to avoid being defined by guns here.
Quote from: DWeird on July 25, 2011, 01:39:18 PM
Oh, and are you sure you wouldn't rather be playing a Battlebabe? There seems to be a vibe!
Quote from: Pigeon on July 25, 2011, 01:44:21 PM
I have to say, I feel like this is a little overcomplicated. If you want melee weapons instead of guns, take them instead -- just substitute the faceless equipment list, which has lots of nice weapons. Or substitute the battlebabe's custom melee weapons for some of your guns. (I have to say, I have no idea what makes your character a gunlugger, if she doesn't have any guns, has fancy melee weapons, and doesn't run around in extremely heavy armor. That's a battlebabe to me!)
For the former: what vibe, and for the latter, intrinsic qualities, obviously. She's not a Battlebabe because Battlebabes are horrifically misnamed. Battlebabes aren't hardcore fighters. They are rogues. Daryl is not a rogue. Daryl is a hardcore fighter. Daryl doesn't lose her edge when the fight goes from going aggro to seizing by force; no, that's when it's just gettin' good. Daryl is Hard as fuck and can still act under fire like a pro in no small part because she has no Cool to lose in the first place. Daryl burns as hot as a southwestern wildfire instead of freezing like the coldest winter chill. Daryl would tear someone's heart out and eat it if they ever insinuated to her face that she is a Battlebabe.
You'll notice none of the things I listed have anything to do with what toys she gets, but absolutely affect which of the two classes' stat arrays and powers would fit her. I actually tried to shoehorn her into Battlebabe for a while before I gave up and accepted that the intrinsic qualities of the Gunlugger simply fit her better, even if its skin and extrinsic qualities were, well, a questionable fit.
Quote from: Shreyas on July 25, 2011, 11:11:29 AM
Here this is easy. Change all the range tags on the weaponry to 'hand' and refluff them as like, junkyard shit. "Car door 3-harm hand loud" "Tire iron 2-harm hand ap"
Quote from: Gerald C on July 25, 2011, 11:23:50 AM
Shreyas, that's a pretty damn fine solution. I was going to say it sounds like she should be playing a faceless, but I think I I like your idea better.
I did have the thought of picking some alternate, less "fancy" equipment--like, say, a sledgehammer (perhaps 3-harm hand ap messy, since hammers were historically used to ruin the day of people in armour), though your suggestion, and mine, run the risk of making powerful items too cheap, because really, how much barter is that junkyard stuff worth? (I had to shake the details out of my MC, but she ponied up that she'd expect a player to be able to pony up 3 or 4 barter to get an FOBG or AP ammo, and that's with special arrangements, assuming they didn't have to take the knife discount.)
I did consider perhaps asking for some equipment with the "embedded" tag, akin to the guillotine chokehold (which I did take), but that runs into the problem of exactly how much is the "embedded" tag worth and where do you draw the line between "embedded" equipment and moves (i.e., 2-armour embedded vs. Impossible Reflexes)?
As for the Faceless, I'll admit that I considered it. I ended up deciding that it would make an excellent prestige class for her, if you will--it even lends itself to a Dramatic Turn of Events come the class change to support her suddenly suffering from the "grotesque" penalty when the mask comes off. That, and the sex power is awesome and fits her very well.
Quote from: Philomorph on July 25, 2011, 11:21:31 AM
Sounds like a good excuse to make a custom playbook. :)
Is there a character in film, TV or literature that you can accurately compare her too? Maybe we could come up with one.
Quote from: Shreyas on July 25, 2011, 11:29:32 AM
Quote from: Philomorph on July 25, 2011, 11:21:31 AM
Sounds like a good excuse to make a custom playbook. :)
Nah. I mean, you're basically sayingthis:
Allison: "I want to play a brainer but I don't want to dress like a dominatrix."
Phil: "You should make a custom playbook that's exactly like a brainer but you wear a sun dress and flip-flops."
Yeah, it's kinda like that. I like the gunlugger's abilities. I even like the description blurb introducing it in the trifold. I can even accept getting stuck with Hot-1 (I maintain she's attractive in a rugged kind of way, but apparently she's used to getting her way through strength rather than manipulation). But the name's gotta go, the equipment I'm presently deciding what the hell to do with, and looks I already stole from the battlebabe (you know, boyish face and muscular/scarred body and all that).
Incidentally, another player in the group, who also MCs another campaign, was working on a variant, less... defined-by-equipment "gunlugger," though it hasn't been going well--not for lack of me urging her on in a last-ditch attempt to save what's left of my sanity. One of the big stumbling blocks at the moment is that it's not clear where techniques-as-"embedded"-equipment (think guillotine chokehold) end and moves begin.
Backtracking a bit: I'll admit that when I first looked at the Faceless, I balked at the whole "mask" idea, but when I turned my thought process upside down and asked myself, "And what if you just tried to play the class straight rather than fighting it?" it grew on me. I even ended up with an idea of how it would come to pass as a second class and everything (that her lover's player happens to have a thing for the Phantom of the Opera didn't hurt in making this decision). I tried the same approach to gunlugger as her first class--I mean, at her core, she's really a Tough Guy, if a financially challenged one, and that doesn't necessarily preclude guns--and I honestly don't know why it's been bugging me, though one rationalization that's come to mind is whether anyone packing that kind of heat could really be considered financially challenged, especially considering she could do her job very well even with her bare hands, let alone even mediocre weapons like a hunting rifle (one solution I've been considering is to give up my FOBG to let the Ruin Runner have AP ammo gunlugger-style, and taking a hunting rifle and perhaps an SMG, which are much less financially intense than the FOBG and AP ammo would logically have been).
Quote from: SoylentWhite on July 25, 2011, 11:46:37 AM
With regards to the name, just throwing in the idea that in the Deadwood hack mentioned elsewhere, the Gunlugger is rebranded the 'Muscle', which, to my reading, would be more suited, since it isn't gun-focused, while still keeping front-and-centre exactly what the class is about.
...Oh shit, I like it. She's the team's muscle. This is sounding dangerously appropriate.
Quote from: kaiserjez on July 25, 2011, 05:25:14 AM
What is stopping you from just saying you don't have the guns?
I don't really see the problem here.
Nothing; now I'm just trying to figure out how to discharge them. Say I never had'em and let another player have them; say I never had'em and let the MC put them on the near-future treasure table to discharge an OOC problem (why do I have these) into an IC problem (who gets these); ask the MC if I can trade the FOBG and AP ammo for Impossible Reflexes or just adding Impossible Reflexes to the list of moves I can get in-class (which again bumps into the cool custom armour issue); or some combination of the above. Another possibility being discharging the OOC problem into an IC problem by going with the "skinner got them for her as a gift" thing, and having her blow up at him and generally resent them as an accusation of weakness, though that would be more fun on-camera than in the background.
So, yeah, I'm basically having a great big fight with myself. This is a pretty daily thing with me.
Quote from: noofy on July 25, 2011, 07:31:21 AM
Um, do you enjoy playing this character? How many sessions are you in? Because you could always 'retire' her and follow the playbook as written without having a 'concept'. Or perhaps go with a Battlebabe? Don't forget that AW is all about fundamental scarcity. That's the point. There is no status quo in AW. Wants, needs and moves to go about getting or threatening them.
So you have a BFOG and plenty of ammo. So what? That sounds like a great yarn in the making to me. The MC will surely find a way of depleting your ammo, and you'll just have to go find / steal / haggle / extort some more. Maybe make a front wondering about the answer to that very question...
Greatly, two or three, hell no, hell no, yeah I know.
Incidentally we've kicked around various alternative names for the class, but none have really "stuck." (Another player likes "Heavy," but that just conjures up images of the heavy-weapons-user in TF2.) Seriously, the abilities have nothing to do with guns, and the description doesn't even have anything to do with guns, and yet somehow it ended up called the gunlugger.
So, I committed the cardinal sin of starting with a concept rather than starting from the game rules as written, and ended up with a conflict. I'm playing a character for whom I chose "gunlugger" on the basis that she's supposed to be, yes, an exceedingly hard-ass human being who excels at getting herself embroiled in battles with the odds stacked against her and then fighting her way out. Also slipping and accidentally punching ten dudes to death, but that was an accident, I swear.
The conflict is, the concept never included really included guns (she has NOT TO BE FUCKED WITH, meaning she can inflict 3-harm, before the bonus from Bloodcrazed, regardless of her armament or lack thereof). They aren't at odds with it, but when her class is named gunlugger, and one of its starting boons is access to munitions that other characters have to bend over backwards in-play for, the toys start feeling less like extra bits and pieces that don't define her and begin to feel more like tumours that have attached themselves uninvited. (Yes, I'm looking a gift horse in the mouth. No, I never claimed to be sane.) It doesn't help that the character concept is supposed to be poor, yet she gets a small fortune in toys. I did bully the MC into giving my character debt problems--I was pretty pissed that she gave them to another character, but never once thought to offer them to mine--but that's still a whole lot of junk for someone who's supposed to have trouble scraping by. Particularly from the start, and particularly when access to some of those items is restricted and not available to other characters short of them making a mission out of it (the fuck-off big guns and the armour-piercing ammo, particularly).
So I'm honestly a little lost here as to what to do about my gunlugger who isn't a gunlugger. Just suck it up, submit to sanity, and staple on a rationalization as to why she has the crazy-expensive-and-hard-to-obtain-toys and is called a gunlugger (the skinner she's in a relationship with offered that they might have been a gift from him when he was doing better financially, but this is a machine gun and AP ammo we're talking about), or ditch them/let other characters have them? In particular, I'll admit just having her called a gunlugger is getting to be a burn at this point, and I would strangle a small army just for a different class name that does not bring the idea right back around to toys. I'm even considering dropping the custom 2-armour I came up with for her in favour of Impossible Reflexes at her next improvement, though that may be my emotions and not my good sense talking.
My apologies for so much rambling about something so insignificant.
NINJA EDIT: Yes, I took the guillotine chokehold as my "backup weapon." Now if only I could take an "embedded move" like that for my FOBG, too.
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Sponsored content disclosure: I'm happy to have had the chance to work with our sponsor Alliance Virtual Offices. They have an awesome list of 42 remote team-building activities I highly recommend checking out!
Team-building games can be great fun - they don't need to be cheesy!
I have collected some great games to keep handy for smaller groups.
(If you have a larger group, you can refer to my previous article about awesome activities for an epic work event.)
Here is my list:
Two Truths and a Lie
This is a great team-building game for smaller groups. You will want to set some rules so people don’t share personal details that are not work appropriate.
In this game, each person prepares three statements about themselves where two items are true and one is a lie. The group tries to guess which item is the lie.
Simple but great fun!
This is a great game to encourage lots of mingling!
Here are the rules from When I Work:
On name tags or similar labels, write down the name of a famous person or people types (e.g. doctor, athlete, nerd, etc.). Place these name tags on a team member’s back so that they cannot see who they are, but so the rest of the group can.
For a set amount of time, the entire group should mingle, ask, and answer questions. They should treat each other according to the stereotypical way based on what kind of person they have been labeled. Each team member can use that treatment as well as the answers to questions to figure out what the label is.
As each team member figures out who they are, they can exit the game and let the rest continue.
This game is similar to "What's My Name?" above, however, assign names, types, or items that are in pairs (ex: salt and pepper, Batman and Robin, happy and sad, etc.). Not only do the participants need to figure out who they are, but they need to find their other half before they can exit.
This game is basically just telephone pictionary.
Pass out stacks of paper to the group. Make sure each person has the same amount of papers as the total number of participants. (I recommend stapling one of the corners of the stack - it keeps everything together better.)
Each person writes down a phrase (ideally something that can be depicted in a drawing) on the top sheet of paper in their stack and passes it to the person on their left.
The person receiving the phrase then has to draw a picture based off the phrase on the next page (basically making sure the paper with the original phrase is hidden and only their picture is showing). They then pass the stack to the person on their left.
Once it’s passed to the left, the next person must write a phrase based off the drawing. The next person will make a drawing based on the phrase. The cycle goes on (phrase, drawing, phrase, drawing, etc.) until you get your stack back.
There isn't a real winner in this game; it's more of a funny activity to see what your original phrase turns into.
Isn't food is always a great way to bond?!
Although this is technically more of an outing than a game, I had to include it.
Assign a small group of people that either don't know each other well or don't get to work with each other a lot. Pick a place for them to meet up for lunch and have the company pay the tab.
It could be a fun regular office activity!
These activities work particularly well with remote teams and they’re a great way to get people in the right mindset before a meeting. They can also help your remote team get to know each other better.
What are some fun team-building games you have played? Please share your experiences in the comments below!
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Let's start with the boring stuff. That's always a good policy, right? We have dates and Diamond codes for both the issue 1 reprint and the issue 2 release. #1 is back out on April 1 and final order cutoff is this coming Monday, March 9. The code for that is JAN158233. #2 is on shelves on June 3 and the code for that is APR150542. Please do encourage your local comic shop proprietor to order lots of #1 reprints so that we don't run out of copies again and then you get #2 and you're all like "I don't remember what happened in #1, and now I have to pay 30 bucks for a copy on Ebay."
Okay, that wasn't so bad. Now for the fun stuff.
It is confirmed that I'll be doing a signing at Third Eye Comics in Annapolis from 11 AM to 1 PM on June 13. For those of you who know Steve, you won't be surprised to hear that he's been just about the coolest guy ever during the planning of this thing. I liked him so much, I agreed to do a variant #1 cover just for his shop. This event is going to be off the hook, and there will probably be like strobe lights and dubstep and people dancing in cages that are hanging from the ceiling. That's how off the hook it will be.
Anyway, here is the variant cover. Does anybody want a poster of this? I really don't know if it's poster-worthy. Comment or Tweet me if you think this should be a thing:
For those of you who are unable to pick up this 'sclusie, you'll be happy to hear that both versions of the reprint also contain three completely astonishing new pinups from game art aces David Ryan Paul, Cory Allemeier, and Mike Bear, which I will tease here:
Man, I love those guys.
I will also be doing a signing at Comics Dungeon in Seattle on the day that issue 2 comes out --Wednesday, June 3 from 4 to 6 PM. I hope to see all my hometown friends there. If you are my friend, you WILL be there. This is how I will know who my real friends are.
Next! I am also confirmed as a guest at HeroesCon in Charlotte, NC from June 19 to June 21. I'll be at Indie Island, which despite sounding remote and forbidding, is actually where all the cool kids will be hanging out. There will probably be dubstep and people dancing in cages.
I'll have as many copies of #1 and #2 that I can carry, and I'll also be selling several new posters, including this 30" x 24" behemoth:
Which in case you can't see it due to the blinding radiance of my visage, looks like this from the front:
And of course all of this stuff will be available for order at nonplayer.storenvy.com just as soon as I get my shipping tubes delivered.
What else, what else? Maybe that's everything for now. Oop. I think Ian is waking up. Okay, I'm off. See you in Charlotte!
Posted by Nate Simpson at 6:58 AM
9 comments:
Unknown March 9, 2015 at 9:18 PM
Hey! I think that would make an awesome poster! sadly i missed the comic order date so get the store up soon!KEEP BEING AWESOME!!
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Nate Simpson March 16, 2015 at 9:48 AM
No worries, Brenden. The store should be going up this week! Thanks for your support!
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Unknown March 16, 2015 at 9:20 AM
I agree. That would make an awesome poster! I really hope I can see you at Dungeon. Will you be selling the "behemoth" at you Dungeon signing or should I buy it from you online? I love it! I would really love to get it signed so I can hang it next to my signed Shoalin Cowboy poster. I think you are one the greatest artist and an all around inspiration in my book. I'm so excited to delve back into this world youve created :) thank you.
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Nate Simpson March 16, 2015 at 9:50 AM
Yes, I will have a bunch of the "behemoth" posters at the Dungeon signing. Looking forward to seeing you there, Tony! (And no, my poster does not deserve to hang next to a Darrow -- you'll see, it'll be like a candle next to the sun). Cheers!
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Jason Smith March 21, 2015 at 8:31 AM
Common Nate get the store up and running so we can buy posters to support you.
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Before you pick up your car rental in Saudi Arabia it's a good idea to familiarise yourself with the rules of the road.
Vehicles are driven on the right-hand side of the road in Saudi Arabia.
Otherwise the rules of the road are similar to other countries - you must obey traffic signs, wear a seat belt, and observe the speed limits.
Usually the speed limit is 27 mph (45 km/h) in urban areas and 49-74 mph (80-120 km/h) on motorways.
What to see with Sixt car rental in Saudi Arabia
With a car rental in Saudi Arabia, you can get around at your own pace without having to rely on public transport. Whether your journey is for business or pleasure, you will be able to get to where you need to go. In Riyadh you can marvel at the city's mixture of traditional mosques and contemporary architecture, or find out about Saudi Arabia's rich cultural heritage in the National Museum of Saudi Arabia. Alternatively you can visit the towns on the Red Sea coast such as Yanbu and Jeddah. The turquoise water and beautiful coral reefs make the Red Sea a popular destination for diving and snorkelling. With Sixt car rental, the choice is yours.
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A new LLC that is being formed in Texas needs to file a Certificate of Formation—Limited Liability Company (Form 205) with the Texas Secretary of State, and pay a $300 filing fee. If you need a certified copy of the Certificate of Formation, there is a $30 fee.
How much does it cost to create an LLC in Texas?
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Texas? The Texas Secretary of State charges a $300 filing fee, plus an additional state-mandated 2.7% convenience fee to file an LLC Certificate of Formation.
How do I file an LLC in Texas myself?
Prepare and File Certificate of Formation.
Receive a Certificate From the State.
Create an Operating Agreement.
File a LLC Franchise Tax and Public Information Report.
Do I need a lawyer to form an LLC in Texas?
Although a business lawyer is not required, setting up an LLC without one may result in complex legal issues that may end up costing your LLC a significant expense. There are many reasons why it's beneficial to hire an experienced small business attorney in forming your LLC in Texas.
How long does it take to get LLC in Texas?
The office normally processes non-expedited documents within 5-7 business days. Expedited service is available for an additional $25 per document and expedited documents are generally processed by close of business the first business day following the date of receipt.
Does an LLC expire in Texas?
In Texas, does an LLC have an expiration date? A limited liability company's articles of organization may allow its members to designate the duration of the company. An LLC's expiration date can be specified but if no expiration date is specified, the LLC might continue indefinitely.
What is the disadvantage of an LLC?
Disadvantages of creating an LLC States charge an initial formation fee. Many states also impose ongoing fees, such as annual report and/or franchise tax fees. Check with your Secretary of State's office. Transferable ownership. Ownership in an LLC is often harder to transfer than with a corporation.
How much tax does an LLC pay in Texas?
Texas Taxes As mentioned above, Texas charges most local businesses the franchise tax, which is usually about 1% of some portion of the income of the company. This tax is leveled against LLCs, C Corporations, and S Corporations. Sole proprietorships and partnerships are immune to the tax.
Can I be my own registered agent?
You can act as your own Registered Agent for a corporation or LLC as long as you have a physical street address in the state where your corporation or LLC is formed. The actual corporation or LLC being formed, however, cannot name itself as its own Registered Agent.
Do you need a registered agent for an LLC in Texas?
How much does it cost to register business in Texas?
Registering a Business In Texas To set up a corporation, there is a fee of $300. For an LLC, it's $200 per partner. DBAs cost $25 to file. SOS Direct is up 24/7 and may charge a credit card fee, or you can file in person at the office in Austin.
Do I need a DBA for my LLC in Texas?
When Do You Need a DBA? In Texas, all corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships (LPs), limited liability partnerships (LLPs), or out of state companies that regularly conduct business in Texas under a name other than its legal name, must file a DBA with the Secretary of State.
What can you do with an LLC in Texas?
The key benefit of forming a limited liability company (LLC) in Texas is limited liability protection. Limited liability can protect your personal assets in the event your business is sued or can't pay its debts. Other Texas LLC benefits include: Pass-through taxation.
How do I register my LLC?
Get a Copy of Your State's LLC Article of Organization Form.
Prepare the LLC Article of Organization Form.
File the Articles of Organization.
Create an Operating Agreement.
Keep Your LLC Active.
Whats the difference between an LLC and DBA?
When considering the difference between DBA and LLC, a limited liability company, or “LLC,†is a legal body that is separate and distinct from its owners. A “DBA,†or “doing business as,†is merely a name owners use to conduct their business and has no legal force.
How do you know when your LLC is approved in Texas?
Texas LLC approval times Approval is sent via email. For mail filing: Texas LLC approval time is 7-10 business days if you file by mail. This does not include mail time, which takes an additional week.
How do I find out if an LLC is available in Texas?
If you wish the secretary of state to provide a preliminary determination on name availability, you may call (512) 463-5555, dial 7-1-1 for relay services, or e-mail your name inquiry to Corporations Section.
Are husband and wife considered single member LLC?
Overview. If your LLC has one owner, you're a single member limited liability company (SMLLC). If you are married, you and your spouse are considered one owner and can elect to be treated as an SMLLC.
Do LLCs pay taxes?
All of the profits and losses of the LLC "pass through" the business to the LLC owners (called members), who report this information on their personal tax returns. The LLC itself does not pay federal income taxes, although some states impose an annual tax on LLCs.
What should I name my LLC?
Make It Legal. The most important thing when you're choosing an LLC name is to make sure it's legal.
Make It Memorable. You want your LLC name to be something people can remember.
Make It Meaningful.
Make It Social Media Friendly.
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Comment by Porfirio Fullbright
do you want to start an llc in texas this year today you will learn about the most common ways to start your business including the correct forms you'll need how to register your llc critical naming requirements and all other vital tips and tricks then as a bonus later on in the video i will reveal to you a trustworthy registered agent who will help set up your llc for free so make sure to stick with me until the end the state of texas like other states has several specific llc requirements there are three main ways you can start an llc in texas first is the diy or do-it-yourself process where you mostly depend on texas state's website the second way is hiring a professional service that practically offers more efficiency and security in the process of creating your llc while the third one is hiring an attorney we will skip the attorney hiring portion because that's expensive and most business owners won't need that service first let's take a look at the steps required for starting an llc on your own step one name your business before anything else you will have to think of the llc's legal business name each llc in texas must have a distinct llc name that is not currently in use you must include the terms limited liability company or an abbreviation such as llc you cannot include phrases such as a corporation which would lead people to believe you are a different business organization knowing if your business name is taken or not is very easy just go to google and type in the words business entity records texas secretary of state and click the first search result i also have the link in the description below for your convenience it will lead you to a landing page of business entity records in texas scroll down a little and you will see some search options which make checking the availability of your business name easier generally you can click the first option entity name and type in your business name for example i am typing a very common business name here laundry mart which will give you a list of existing business names a unique business name will say no matches found just like this random name i typed in keep in mind that the division of revenue doesn't check names for trademark compliance it's ultimately up to you and your business attorney to ensure that your llc's name doesn't infringe on any other company's rights step two texas requires llc to have a registered agent an agent has a physical address a po box is not allowed and is available during business hours this agent will serve as the llc's primary point of contact for receiving key legal papers tax warnings summons subpoenas and so on you can register yourself or someone in your company but i highly recommend getting a professional registered agent as they have more knowledge by protecting your company in cases of possible cracks while i agree that family members or friends are reliable enough to be trusted as your llc's agent you are more comfortable sleeping at night knowing that your agent is professional and trained to manage legal documents to avoid problems concerning court schedules filing reports with the secretary of state etc besides hiring a professional registered agent is not expensive in fact there are companies that offer a free registered agent as part of your package when you form your llc through them inc file is a company i recommend which has this free service inc file offers a free registered agent on your first year of signing up for their service during that free year you can already take advantage of a professional and trained agent to receive legal documents on your behalf a dashboard where you can always access the correspondence that your agent has received as well as email notifications and automatic forwarding whenever your registered agent receives documents step 3 filing the texas llc certificate of formation after that you must file the certificate of formation with the texas secretary of state's business entities division and the office of the judge of probate to officially incorporate a domestic texas limited liability company the texas state filing cost for llcs is two hundred dollars for domestic llcs and 750 dollars for foreign llcs basically a domestic llc means that you are already a resident of texas and you want to build a business in texas foreign llc on the other hand is for people living outside texas but wanting to start a business or a franchise of their business in texas with that said most businesses would be applying for a domestic llc you can file the certificate of formation online or by mailing it to the secretary of state expect the llc certification process to take approximately two weeks this is three to four days for the judge of probate and ten days for the secretary of state step four prepare an operating agreement now an operating agreement is a good idea to have in place with the other members if your llc has more than one member although a limited liability company operating agreement is not necessary for texas your operating agreement should clarify how your company or business will handle big picture issues such as allocating earnings and losses and dissolving the company your operating agreement should also cover the transfer of membership interest profits or losses and distributions initial investments decision making powers voting rights and management and lastly dissolving the business step five of file annual reports unlike most states texas does not require llcs to file annual reports with the secretary of state however llcs must file annual franchise tax reports the details for computing the tax can be complicated for more information check the comptroller of public accounts website and texas llc annual filing requirements step 6 obtain an ein an ein or employer identification number is a federal tax id issued by the irs your ein is used by them to readily identify your firm and tax filings all texas firms pay a business privilege tax and the state requires you to have an ein to file you may also be required to provide your ein when opening a bank account or applying for municipal permits or licenses obtaining an ein is a slightly longer process compared to their previous steps i'm sure you know anything to do with the irs is confusing first you have to have complete knowledge of your llc such as your company information managing member information business address business information company details and even critical information regarding vehicular assets and federal excise taxes this is another reason why getting a professional registered agent is way more convenient as they can do this for you as part of their service now let's talk about the second option to form an llc and that is hiring a professional formation service professional formation services do all the steps you should be doing on your own from filing necessary forms to acting as your registered agent you usually have to allocate a specific budget for this option as i already mentioned earlier inc file is one of the best companies out there to help you form your llc you can click on the link in the description to get access to this
Thanks for your comment Porfirio Fullbright, have a nice day.
- Dannie Rinkel, Staff Member
Comment by invinutuaticav
how to start an llc in texas hi my name is eric and in this video i'm going to show you three methods to start an llc in texas why you might want to choose one method over another but also some things to be aware of when setting up your llc if you're not familiar with the term piercing the corporate veil you'll definitely want to watch this video and towards the end of this video i'll actually talk about ways that you can potentially save on taxes with your business so first method that you can do is going directly through your state website with texas state.tx.us and this is the link right here you can find that in the description of this video and any kind of question you have about setting up an entity in texas is going to be on this page the one downside of going through your state website is a lot of times they're not the easiest tools to navigate you know from a user experience it can be kind of difficult and they'll just throw so much information at you so you're like where do i even go well the first thing you may be interested in is the fee schedule so if you look at this again a lot of information but what we want to look at is this row here this is the cost for you to set up an llc in texas the filing fee is 300 so no matter what route you go you're not going to get around this 300 filing fee with the state of texas just know that up front but now if we go back why don't we take a look and scroll down here it says can i file a certificate of formation online so if you do the diy route you're just using the state website it says sos direct and this is going to take you through where you can enter the site if you do go this route it is one dollar to get set up it's just kind of like to help them with their operations again though some of the difficulty of going these routes is these sites through a state website can be pretty hard to navigate and it's like you need adobe acrobat and winzip and it's just going to throw a lot of information at you that can be kind of complicated now in your situation if you do have a complicated situation you have a business that's making money you're doing sales out of state you're not sure where to get set up and what you're supposed to be doing sometimes with a complicated situation you may want to consult with an attorney one resource i'm not affiliated with them in any way but i just like them they're called avo and what you can do there is you can put an llc in texas so this would be kind of your second method that you can take if you're setting up an llc in texas and what i would recommend is skip past the ads right and then go down to the people that are just organically listed here what you'll find is you'll see reviews and you'll also see their avo rating so you know based on those reviews you get somebody with a good review a good rating and then let's say you click on them you can also see all right llcs represent 12 of his uh total business and he also focuses on business and estate planning so you want somebody that that's what they do they're in the state of texas and they can consult with you some of these people you'll find on here also do offer a free consultation kind of depends from attorney to attorney but if you click around you may find that some of them offer a free consultation now this route though if you go with hiring an attorney to set up your llc you could be looking anywhere from a thousand to three thousand dollars once you actually go through the process but it's highly recommended if you have a complex situation i'm not an attorney or cpa i did consult with several different ones for setting up my own llc and what i can tell you is if you have a complex situation consult with an attorney all right so a third potential method that you can go is through a service like ink file if you're not familiar ink file is very much like legalzoom or zen business or rocket lawyer if you're familiar with all these services the one way the ink file kind of deviates from those services is the fact that they charge you zero dollars in the first year literally if you get set up with the service they will make no money off of you for the first year and they have a very clean interface and it's very easy to follow on how to set up your business so in this particular case let's say you're setting up the llc and your state of formation is texas what you'll see here is in their silver package is that you pay that state fee it's 300 but your package fee is zero that's if you stay with the silver package but what i want to highlight here is the free registered agent service for a year this is really important so going back to the cost of what it is for setting up an llc in texas what i have highlighted here is that 300 state filing fee ongoing llc fees are zero if you're curious this link will take you to a website called nolo that explains that in further detail why you don't have any kind of fees going forward um but uh you'll also see that there is a registered agent fee of 119 now if you go back to the ink file page here you can see that it's a free registered agent service for a year but year two year three it's 119 now you might be wondering like what is a registered agent fee this ink file service tons of great resources in here and they have about registered agents a lot of information you can absorb here if you scroll down to this section right here you'll see that this is where it's 119 after your first year is free but really what a registered agent is doing for your llc is it's making it a legit entity because it is required that you have a registered agent on file and typically that registered agent is a third party that accepts legal documents also lets you know if you need to renew with the state if there's any important updates or anything that you need to do that's very important for your business now in the unfortunate situation if you were sued by an outside party what would happen is that attorney would actually send the document to your registered agent which would then give you that legal document letting you know that you're being sued and what you need to do next and that's why it's very important to have a registered agent set up in fact if you do not have a registered agent for your llc it could be found that your llc is not legit now why is that important at the beginning of this video i talked about piercing the corporate veil now some people get llc's a little bit confused they think they may be setting it up for tax reasons really when you're setting up an llc you're just doing it to limit your liability now what the llc does is it helps create a divide between your personal assets and your business assets so then in the unfortunate situation where you are sued in your business they can't go after your personal assets such as your home your car and your personal bank account now the important thing to understand is that if you're sued the attorney that is doing the suing is going to look for cracks in your llc what they're going to do is try to pierce the corporate veil one way they may do that is to see if you actually have a registered agent on file is
Thanks invinutuaticav your participation is very much appreciated
About the author
I've studied consumer psychology at Appalachian State University in Boone and I am an expert in artificial neural network. I usually feel full. My previous job was pope I held this position for 24 years, I love talking about cheerleading and bass guitar. Huge fan of Bode Miller I practice swimming and collect disneyana.
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Police officials in New York said Friday they arrested a suspect who may be the "Subway Brake Bandit." The bandit disrupting trains by pulling emergency brakes without reason.
New York commuters have reason to cheer: the Subway Brake Bandit apparently has been apprehended, authorities announced on Friday.
Brooklyn resident Isaiah Thompson, 23, allegedly spent months furtively yanking emergency brakes on city subway trains at least 40 times, prompting as many as 700 trains, along with their riders, to be delayed.
On Friday, police told reporters Thompson was arrested at his home, and when detectives interviewed him, he confessed to enjoying the "thrill" of bringing New York trains to a screeching halt.
"When you take into [account] the amount of incidents that have happen in recent months, you talk about the delays and the aggravation it caused riders, visitors, daily commuters," said NYPD Inspector Brian McGee at a press conference on Friday. "And think of motive, the motive we've seen is: He likes to do this. He likes to cause havoc."
announcer on this 4 train just said we’re delayed because the emergency brake line was pulled. the bandit could be any one of us..... what a thrill
— Andy Cush (@cushac) May 23, 2019
announcement at 50th st that all trains are delayed because an emergency brake got pulled.
the emergency brake bandit finally foiled my ride home.
McGee said Thompson was arrested for one brake-pulling incident in Manhattan, and one case of "train surfing," or riding on the outside of a train car. Investigators are looking into whether the rash of other sudden, unscheduled stops, which require all commuters to get off the subway, were caused by Thompson.
To transit authorities, he is a known scofflaw, racking up 17 arrests for train surfing, according to McGee.
Transit officials think Thompson followed a pattern, that he would surf on the top of a train, gain access into an operating cabin, which is usually off limits to passengers, and then he would strike: pulling the emergency brake. At that point, officials say, he would dash off into the darkness.
The result was what city officials officials called a "double whammy," where the train has to be stopped and transit workers have to cut the power to the tracks, further delaying trains.
After a spate of rush-hour delays Tuesday night, transit officials for the first time publicly revealed said that they thought a serial offender was at work.
Even though it was the hunch of city officials for months that all the mysterious emergency stops recently could likely be traced back to a single train saboteur, transit and police officials remained mum, fearing that publicizing the theory would trigger copycat acts.
The pattern of causing transit trouble is not merely an inconvenience, McGee said, but passenger safety could have been endangered, especially if a rider happened to have a medical emergency.
"It's dangerous to the ridership and dangerous to this individual who was riding on the back of the train," McGee said. "Once you pull the brake on one train, it has a ramification throughout the line," he said. "That one train can cause a lot of delays."
It is not known, investigators said, exactly how Thompson's suspected mischief went undetected for months, but McGee said he was certain about something else: "Mr. Thompson is the perfect candidate for permanent expulsion from the transit system," he said.
Those who know Thompson told The New York Times he is a bright young man whose behavior had grown unusual recently.
"He's troubled and he needs some help," said his relative, John Thompson. "He's a good kid, he's just troubled."
Bobby Allyn is a business reporter at NPR based in San Francisco. He covers technology and how Silicon Valley's largest companies are transforming how we live and reshaping society.
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And there’s probably no better place to find them than what used to be a sparse, windmill-dotted countryside outside the city limits: Montmartre.
There was a sense of event in the city this weekend as Paris got hit with the most snow it’s seen in 24 years, and not wanting to miss out on the spectacle I abandoned the promise of a cozy peaceful Sunday at home and schlepped a camera and many layers of clothing into the great white tundra. I expected the picturesque streets; what I didn’t expect was to see so many Parisians, who are normally reserved and measured, giving into pure unadulterated playfulness.
The area buzzed with a sense of village community and camaraderie, and the weather only strengthened the feeling of rural and rustic that Montmartre does so well. It made you forget you were in a city at all, and with snow like this being so rare here, around every corner was a reminder that you were witness to a fleeting version of Paris, one to be revered and locked into the memory banks.
And for every charming landscape there were an equal number of quiet details to complete the wintry scene:
One detail I was happy to have at hand were the metal pylons along most streets, which had always seemed to serve a dual purpose – to prevent sidewalk parking and to protect pedestrians – but which now assumed an indispensable third function as an aide to hoist myself up some of the more slippery slants:
The usually bustling Place du Tertre was subdued and still, with only the most dedicated (or broke?) of outdoor painters braving the elements for the occasional commissioned portrait:
And of course you can’t leave the area without acknowledging the big white elephant in the room, which had received an extra shade to its already milky exterior:
The basilica’s gargoyles displayed just how cold it was, regardless of how much hellfire you happen to have been born out of:
And then the winter’s afternoon slipped away from Montmartre, the sun and temperature coasting down the snowy hills into night, and locals and visitors alike admired a view of the city akin to that of a tray of pâtisseries lined up in a bakery window, freshly dusted with powdered sugar for the pleasure of all who pass by.
(A second series of snowy shots from other parts of the city can be seen in my next post)
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285 comments
hmunro January 21, 2013 / Reply
Did I tell you what prompted my most recent decision to come back to Paris? I’d been on the fence, until the night I dreamed I was photographing Paris in the snow. I booked my flight the very next morning. I hope my dream will come true. But if not, your post and your photos are at least a wonderful consolation prize. :)
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 22, 2013 / Reply
I hope the snow sticks around long enough to fulfill your prophecy Heather, this week’s forecast calls for a bit more of it followed by below-freezing temps thru the weekend, so you may get your wish! :)
sanas744 January 24, 2013 / Reply
Well i think your dream will come true and I’m looking forward to visit Paris too although I’ve seen snow in New York and it was like,’AWESOME’! Well i think the pics where great and i feel like joining you!
Tetyana January 21, 2013 / Reply
That seems to be real fun! I hope the snow will stay till this week-end, when I’ll be in Paris to photograph the wedding of my friends.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 22, 2013 / Reply
Thanks for reading Tetyana. Yes, as I mentioned in the comment above it seems you might get your wish, fingers crossed! And bring some warm gloves :)
Dena January 21, 2013 / Reply
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 22, 2013 / Reply
Hey Dena, nice to hear from you again. Yes fantastical is a good word I think: fantastical, festive, and fantastique! Hope you and your fam are doing well, take care.
Fran January 21, 2013 / Reply
I’m glad to see that it’s not just us country bumpkins down in the Pyrenees who enjoy sledging in the streets – if Parisians do it too, then it must be ok!!
Great blog, I look forward to reading more :)
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 22, 2013 / Reply
Thanks a lot Fran, I’ve got your blog open as we speak, looks like you folks definitely took advantage of the wintry weather down there! I appreciate you stopping by, and l look forward to exploring your blog more. Take care.
Fran January 22, 2013
Thanks for stopping by my blog – it’s exciting to know someone other than my parents are reading!!
I’ve really been enjoying exploring your’s too – I love the way blogs can give you an insider/outsider view of a place that you’ve only ever experienced as a tourist! Bonne journée!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 22, 2013
You’re quite welcome. I’m always happy to make contact with others who are in the same boat as myself. And thanks for the kind words.
I’ve just subscribed to your blog as well, not only to keep up with your posts but because I’m about to get Freshly Pressed in the next day or two and your blog will be at the top of my Blogroll, so maybe I can spread the love and send a few new readers your way.
Have a good one and happy blogging. ;)
Fran January 22, 2013
“Freshly pressed”? That sounds painful! tee hee
It’ll make the locals very happy that people from le capital are reading about our provincial ways!!
Bonne journée!
Loni Found Herself January 21, 2013 / Reply
Gorgeous photos. I’ve always wanted to visit Paris in winter.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 22, 2013 / Reply
Thanks Loni, I hope you’re able to one day. I’m glad I pushed myself out into the cold because it was definitely worth it. Glad to have you as a reader, take care.
Betty Londergan January 21, 2013 / Reply
I LOVE this post!! I felt like I was right there with you — and delighted in every moment. Your writing is wonderfully descriptive and the photos — well, you did Paris proud!! Can’t wait for Post Number II!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 22, 2013 / Reply
Thanks Betty, I LOVE that you LOVE it! It’s always nice to get a “felt like I was there with you” comment (I’m sure you’ve gotten plenty on your end as well). :)
Are you still in rest & relaxation mode or is it back to the grind? And what what exactly is the grind, post-Heifer International?
Sherievon January 21, 2013 / Reply
Great photos! I am heading for Paris in the springtime next year, but winter looks so pretty.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 22, 2013 / Reply
Ah, good for you, hope you have a great time here! Yes winter can be fun in Paris, although I admit it’s maybe not ideal for a visitor looking to stroll around and take in the sights. That’s why I was so eager to show this alternate view of the city that folks (including myself) almost never get to see . Thanks for reading Sherievon and take care!
Barbra January 21, 2013 / Reply
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 22, 2013 / Reply
David @ Frenchie and the Yankee January 21, 2013 / Reply
Outstanding! Thanks for sharing.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 22, 2013 / Reply
Thank you David, always nice to hear from you. Hope you’re well (and eating well too)!
Christine January 21, 2013 / Reply
I love this post. The pictures are absolutely gorgeous and it makes me so sad I had to leave Paris! It almost just looks like a dream.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 22, 2013 / Reply
Thanks Christine, I would agree about your dream comment; it did feel like I might be in a movie or a calendar picture or something like that.
I hear you about the sadness of leaving — before I moved here for good I had to say goodbye to Paris quite a few times, and it was never easy! I hope you’re able to make it back here one day. :)
Thanks for reading and take care.
allysonyj January 21, 2013 / Reply
wonderful! I have been in Paris when it drizzles and when it sizzles, but never when it frizzles! the vista of the snow-topped roofs is particularly amazing, as are the photos of smiling French folk.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 22, 2013 / Reply
Ha ha, thanks. I think you point out one of the charms of these scenes, and it’s something I felt while I was out there, which was the playfulness of everyone involved. My mother-in-law commented on how in her neighborhood everyone just seemed nicer and more cordial lately…I guess a winter wonderland can have this effect, especially on people who rarely get to experience it.
Thanks for your comment and hope to see you again in the blogosphere!
pretemoiparis January 21, 2013 / Reply
Great post! I am linking it to my article with Pretty snow pics in Paris t be published on the 24th!!! :)
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 22, 2013 / Reply
Awesome, thanks! Hey I saw on your blog that you also did the skating in the Grand Palais, how cool was that? I enjoyed such a rare experience in a historical building like that; I’m glad I didn’t pass it up. I could’ve done without the ass-soaking wipe-out I took at the end, but c’est la vie. :)
Look forward to checking out your article on the 24th. Take care and happy blogging to you!
Catherine, Riviera January 21, 2013 / Reply
wow what a magical sequence – especially those gargoyles spouting icicles..
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 22, 2013 / Reply
Thanks Catherine. Yes truth be told, the gargoyles were my favorite detail of the day. :) I’m still a sucker for some good Gothic throwback architecture.
Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment!
Life, Laughter and Paris January 22, 2013 / Reply
Does my heart good to see these photos! Thanks for posting!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 22, 2013 / Reply
You’re very welcome, happy to have you as a reader!
Linda January 22, 2013 / Reply
The snow currently falling in New England just doesn’t have the same magic as the snow of Paris. So glad you shared it with us.
And, seeing those ice-spewing gargoyles, I was excited to remember an earlier post of yours that explained their function in a French roof’s drainage system. My downspouts never look that cool!
More, please!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 22, 2013 / Reply
Nice to hear from you Linda. Yeah Paris snow is pretty special. I think if it happened every year it would maybe be less so, but winter in this part of France is mostly a rainy season, thus having snow that actually stays on the ground feels like a meaningful moment somehow. I’m glad I could share it with the fellow Paris lovers of the world!
My next post will feature some more monuments under the snow, stay tuned. :)
Thanks for commenting and take care.
Ms. Boice January 22, 2013 / Reply
Oh how I loved this post and your photos.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 22, 2013 / Reply
Thank you Ms. Boice, that’s very kind. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
andreabadgley January 22, 2013 / Reply
I love the smiling faces, and your description of the “village” camaraderie. Weather events like this are beautiful in their ability to bring a community together. Thank you for capturing the city on film for all of us to see. We usually think of winter being cozy because of the warmth we cling to indoors, with hot cocoa and fireplaces, sweethearts and snuggly blankets. You’ve captured a different sort of coziness here, the comforts of coming together to enjoy the fun and beauty and playfulness that winter has to offer.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 23, 2013 / Reply
Thanks for your comment Andrea, yes I think you’re right about a different sort of coziness; somehow you feel closer to the people around you, maybe because everyone lets their guard down a bit more, and instead of using the streets simply to get from point A to B, everyone’s outside to just enjoy the moment. It was a cool thing to experience, especially in Paris of all places. Thanks for reading!
Little Squires January 22, 2013 / Reply
I am now longing to go to Paris
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 23, 2013 / Reply
I hope you’re able to Little Squires, it’s surely a special place. Thanks for reading and commenting!
vandammetienne January 22, 2013 / Reply
I live in lille, and The same thing is kind of happening, but we don’t have hills like montmartre over here :(
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 23, 2013 / Reply
Great, hope you’re taking advantage and having some fun in it. :) I haven’t visited Lille but hope to one day. Btw I know of an American expat who used to blog about Lille during her stay there, you may be interested in some of her posts: http://laurasviequotidienne.blogspot.fr
Thanks for commenting and take care.
dhutch729 January 22, 2013 / Reply
your photos were good and your dialogue was entertaining and enjoyable. I also would love to have a chance to be there. We had some snow here in the southern USA this week which was pleasant. I took a few pictures but they don’t compare to your old buildings and gargoyles! just trees and stuff sticking out of the snow. good luck with your photography–my favorite hobby
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 23, 2013 / Reply
Thank you, I’m glad you liked it. I think snow adds a bit of magic no matter where you are, so it’s nice to hear you took advantage of photographing it where you live. Trees sticking out of the snow can be quite gorgeous too!
If you’re interested in photography you may enjoy my friend Heather’s post of some wintry shots from Minnesota: https://hmunro.wordpress.com/2012/12/09/a-winters-first-snow
Glad you stopped by, thanks for your comment!
Soul Walker January 22, 2013 / Reply
Great photos! It brings back such fond memories for me. It has been far too long since I have visited. I may have to put that on my list.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 23, 2013 / Reply
Thanks Soul Walker. Like the famous Audrey Hepburn line goes, Paris is always a good idea. :)
I hope you make it back over one day. Until then, feel free to stop by for a Paris fix from time to time. Thanks for commenting, take care.
Soul Walker January 23, 2013
I just might (stop by from time to time for a fix). Cheers.
That's so Em. January 22, 2013 / Reply
I was in Paris 2 weeks ago, and then there was also a very small ice rink almost immediately opposite of the Eiffel Tower (among others I happened across). Of course, I don’t know if it was still there at the time of this snow, but I can imagine that, plus the various marketstalls, would have made for a very nice sight as well :)
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 23, 2013 / Reply
Thanks for your comment. Paris is (obviously) a picturesque place, but adding snow is sort of the icing on the cake. I think most people realized that it was a rare chance to enjoy a version of their city that only comes around every few years. Although I have to say I didn’t expect so much sledding! I’m glad I chose to go to Montmartre that day.
flixpixandedibles January 22, 2013 / Reply
These are such wonderful photographs!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 23, 2013 / Reply
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it and I hope you stop by again. I’m dreaming of munching on those Chocolate Crackles on your blog, yum!
ourjourneytothesea January 22, 2013 / Reply
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 23, 2013 / Reply
For sure! Although from the looks of your blog I’m guessing you don’t see too much of it. :) Thanks for reading, and good luck on your future sea adventure!
ourjourneytothesea January 23, 2013
Thanks a lot :) we are actually escaping the sea and heading to the snow tomorrow :) nice change
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013
Great, enjoy!
Marthafied January 22, 2013 / Reply
Ahh…Montmartre, always been my favourite area of Paris. It’s like being in the French (Parisian) film you always imagine when talking about Paris… such beautiful photos. that cardboard sledge is genius!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 23, 2013 / Reply
Yes I appreciated some of the ingenuity I saw out there! You’re absolutely right about feeling like you’re in a film sometimes in Paris, and I’d even extend further, to feelings of being in an Impressionist painting, or in a postcard, or in a long-lost poem…and all of those wonderful sorts of things. Can you tell I’m a Paris fan? :)
Thanks a lot for reading and commenting. Hope you stop by again sometime!
stylewaffle January 22, 2013 / Reply
Beautiful photos……. I need to go to Paris!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 23, 2013 / Reply
Thanks stylewaffle, I hope you make it here one day, and I hope you have a great time! Thanks for reading.
agusmasri January 23, 2013 / Reply
hmunro January 23, 2013 / Reply
Way to go, Monsieur Frye! Congratulations — and very well-deserved.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 23, 2013 / Reply
Look at that little hamster face popping out from the crowd! Thanks Heather, you were one of the loyal fans from the beginning and I’m grateful for your support and interest.
I’m trying to hold onto this snow until your arrival, but it’s getting tough!
sophiaharcourt January 23, 2013 / Reply
Well I do believe this is your second time being Freshly Pressed. Well done! Thank you for sharing the photos. North Carolina is made fun of all the time from the North when we get snow and don’t quite know how to handle it. These are great photos, I look forward to seeing the rest.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 23, 2013 / Reply
Thanks Sophia! Actually I’m fortunate enough to have this be my third Freshly Pressed, but who’s counting? ;)
It’s great to have photo compliments coming from you, so thanks for that. Interesting you mention the unpreparedness for snow, because there was some of that in Paris too. Because it’s rare to have so much on the streets, I noticed many areas felt like ghost towns as far as cars go.
Thanks for your great comment and take care!
sophiaharcourt January 24, 2013
Who’s counting indeed;). I thought it may have been more than twice. I am following another Parisian blogger who mentioned the lack of preparedness for snow in Paris hence that comment. I am planning a road trip in France for May or June so I will be delving through your archives to find some interesting yet not touristy (read: awesome hidden jems) of things to see. My time in Paris will be short though since we will be heading to Brittany where I have family I have never met and then heading to the Geneva/French border where I spent the first 6 yrs of my life. I am so excited for this trip I am literally jumping out of my skin. I just hope I actually get my American passport in time otherwise I am not going to be able to return to the U.S. ;).
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013
How exciting! It’s cool enough to have some French blood but to meet relatives you’ve never met, followed by a return to your hometown: that sounds like a great adventure.
sofiebergh January 23, 2013 / Reply
Wow, this is a wonderful new side of Paris that I have never had the privilege to see… Thank you for the festive photos :) Let’s hope there are more weekends like this to come. Bises
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 23, 2013 / Reply
Thanks sofie! Thanks for reading and commenting, I’m glad you like it. Yes Paris under the snow is a special sight to see!
I enjoyed the pictures on your blog but unfortunately I can’t read the text! Is that Swedish? Danish?
sofiebergh January 23, 2013
Well, I’m glad they freshly press blog posts like this one, I really enjoyed it! My blog is in Norwegian which is almost the same thing :) My next blog experience will be entirely in English which i hope will be a success. Hope to read (and see) a lot more from you!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013
Oops, forgive my ignorance. :) Good luck with your new blog! I’m happy to have you as a new reader.
sofiebergh January 24, 2013
It’s no problem, we’re not that many to be offended ;) Glad to have discovered your blog! Good luck
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 27, 2013
Thanks Sofie, same to you!
amandaroederwrites January 23, 2013 / Reply
Gorgeous photos of my favorite city. Thanks for sharing these beautiful and spirited images.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 23, 2013 / Reply
Thanks Amanda, it’s my favorite city too! (In case that wasn’t obvious)
I have to say I’m enjoying your blog as well. I’m glad you stopped by and hope to see you again sometime.
Loca Gringa January 23, 2013 / Reply
Suddenly the palm trees in my neighbourhood are leaving me with the desire for snow! It’s crazy, but the extreme Manitoba, Canada cold winters of all my past years have left their mark. I miss the slightly subzero temperatures and the crisp fresh scent. I don’t miss the -15 to -42 temperatures.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 23, 2013 / Reply
Thanks Loca Gringa, yeah I think the cold weather never quite leaves you, and having grown up in a cold climate myself I was bummed when Paris went snow-less last year. So this time around I’m twice as grateful. I even put our old Xmas tree out in the backyard so it could collect snow and add to the festive vibe. :)
Happy to have you as a reader, take care!
Loca Gringa January 23, 2013
anbrooks2013 January 23, 2013 / Reply
Looks very beautiful and fun, can’t wait to come back!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 23, 2013 / Reply
Thanks for commenting, yes it was quite a unique experience. I hope you’re able to come back soon!
NiinaMaria January 23, 2013 / Reply
Since I’m in Finland, snow is the wintery evil that one has to bear. But somehow snow in Paris? Oh so pretty.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Thanks for your comment NiinaMaria. I would love to visit Finland one day. I’m glad you stopped by, and good luck with all of those creative projects I see on your blog! :)
superiorfemale January 23, 2013 / Reply
Reblogged this on superiorfemale and commented:
Created ~ Create.it January 23, 2013 / Reply
I was in Paris last month! I really enjoyed this post. I love that city :)
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Thanks, I also enjoyed your picture of the Eiffel Tower vanishing into the fog. I know someone who’s visiting the Bahamas in few days, so jealous!
Thanks for commenting and take care.
randyhamelin January 23, 2013 / Reply
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
I agree! Thank you for stopping by Randy, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
amelie88 January 23, 2013 / Reply
Paris under snow. :) That’s not something you see every day. You usually see this kind of thing in the Northeastern US (I’m from the New York City suburbs). Luckily we’ve been spared so far this winter–looks like Europe got all our snow this year. :D Enjoy it!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Thanks Amélie for commenting. Yes it seems New York was content to get pummeled with wind and rain but has stayed away from the snow. It’s just as well — I have family in NYC and although snow makes Central Park pretty for a day or two, the rest of the city turns into a pile of brown mush pretty quickly.
I enjoyed visiting your blog, especially all of the French regions you were able to see. Lucky you to have international parents with feet on both continents! I also envy your French/English bilingual-ness. :) Maybe I’ll get there one day!
amelie88 January 25, 2013
It’s mostly been so frigid this week–I’m sure you’ve heard from your family! I’m all for the snow to stay up in the mountains where it belongs. :)
Glad you enjoyed my blog. I am blessed with a bicultural family–it has allowed me a unique perspective of two cultures growing up immersed in two languages and cultures. As for learning French, I recommend you read the book Almost French by Sarah Turnbull. It’s a memoir about an Australian woman who moves to Paris after meeting a French guy while traveling and her experiences in France. My mom thought it was hilarious because so many of the anecdotes were things she could relate to while learning to navigate French culture and the way of life. I think you’ll enjoy it!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 27, 2013
Thanks Amélie. Actually I have read that book and it’s sitting on my bookshelf as we speak. :) An Australian friend gave it to me before I made my big move to France. I’d love to write my own one of these days, but for now I’m just sticking to blogging. :)
Thanks for your great comment and take care!
Compass&Camera January 23, 2013 / Reply
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
You’re welcome, my pleasure. Yes it was a unique kind of afternoon, especially considering that a few days later it’s almost all melted away. I think that’s why the locals realized they had to get out there and take advantage!
Thanks for reading and commenting, hope you stop by again one day!
The Rambling Man (aka The Night Hawk Photographer) January 24, 2013
It’s that impermanence, along with the feeling of “being in the moment” that makes these photos particularly special for me. Just serves to remind me of how I should be living my life, another kick up the ass to get on with stuff!
Patrons of the Pit January 23, 2013 / Reply
Very cool. Yes indeed, snow brings out the kid in you, no matter where you live.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Well said! I was lucky to be able to be part of that phenomenon, Parisian style. Thanks for your comment!
williamw60640 January 23, 2013 / Reply
Beautiful pics. Your shots evoke in the viewer, at least this one, an almost magical sense of the atmosphere of this city.
Congrats on a well-deserved FP!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Thank you very much, I’m glad you enjoyed it. There certainly is something magical about Paris, and it never seems to run out of ways to remind me. I’m happy to share it with my readers. I appreciate your comment!
Madge Madigan January 23, 2013 / Reply
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Thank you! I appreciate it.
trevormorrow January 23, 2013 / Reply
So amazing. Thank you for capturing this and sharing it! I felt like I was there.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
You’re quite welcome! Glad you enjoyed it. The best compliment is having people feel like there were there in the moment, so thanks a lot.
puresketch January 23, 2013 / Reply
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Thank you, glad you liked it!
melanielynngriffin January 23, 2013 / Reply
Fun! I haven’t been to Paris yet, but have always read about Montmarte in old novels. Nice to have a peek at it! Stay warm – and congrats on the FP!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Thanks Melanie, I dare say that everything cool and interesting you’ve heard about Montmartre is probably true! Although it has been spruced up a lot in recent years to accommodate the tourist visitors, you still feel as you’re walking around that Picasso or Renoir could pop out of one of the doorways, or that you could slip into a cabaret and live it up with good wine and dancing and all night long. :) The neighborhood has held onto its charm for the most part, which is why it’s such a special destination.
I hope you’re able to come visit one day, and I hope it lives up to your expectations!
yiyime January 23, 2013 / Reply
Reblogged this on vienaqui and commented:
Shantaya January 23, 2013 / Reply
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed. Well-deseved !
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Thanks Shantaya! It’s always nice to noticed. :) Glad you stopped by!
john bram January 23, 2013 / Reply
leftwithlouie January 23, 2013 / Reply
Amazing photos. They take me back to a very happy time.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed them!
katherineannphoto January 23, 2013 / Reply
I love Paris! I hope to someday be there while its snowing!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Thanks Katie, I hope you get to see the city under the snow one day. I’m sure you’ll get some great shots of it! Thanks for commenting and take care.
rishajasmine January 23, 2013 / Reply
will go there.. :)
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
I hope you do! Thanks for reading and commenting.
Kavita Joshi January 23, 2013 / Reply
its true saying that ‘a picture says a million words’…its hot in Sydney at the moment and seeing this pics is quiet nice. Great work and I really loved how your article actually summarized the snow season nicely.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Oh thank you Kavita, I’m glad you liked it. I have a French friend living in Australia and I always forget that you have opposite seasons compared to us. I’d love to visit Sydney one day, I hope I’m able to!
Thanks for your comment and take care.
Carolyn January 23, 2013 / Reply
Lovely post and great photos! You really capture the delight and pure fun we witnessed with all Parisians this weekend :).
Cheers and look forward to the next one.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Thanks Carolyn, I didn’t expect so many folks to be out and enjoying the snow to the fullest. I almost chose to photograph a different neighborhood that day but now I realize that Montmartre, with all its hills, was the perfect place to be.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for commenting and yes, stay tuned for another set of winter pics. :)
Lakshmi Loves To Shop January 23, 2013 / Reply
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
You’re very welcome. Divine indeed! I hope you’re able to revisit one of these days. Thanks for your comment.
Toner Laser January 23, 2013 / Reply
Awesome photo!!! I will keep an on eye on your blog.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Thanks a lot!
susanmaedetera January 23, 2013 / Reply
been to paris on summer time….i hope one day to visit during winter with snow…interesting photos….
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Thank you for commenting. Glad you enjoyed the photos. I hope you’re able to the city with snow one day!
ETrade Supply January 23, 2013 / Reply
Fabulous! I’d like to join in!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Yes, it was fun, and in hindsight maybe I should have hijacked one of those sleds for a minute! :)
Thanks for your comment.
elliotclaire January 23, 2013 / Reply
Reblogged this on Elliot Claire London and commented:
Fun and snow in Paris!
pjcharles January 23, 2013 / Reply
I absolutely love these. I reblogged (not sure if I am doing this right just yet) on pjcharlescolors.com. This month we are featuring the color white and these shots were perfect. Check it out. I love Paris. And my husband’s last name is Frye. Seems like the perfect blog for me. Thank you for sharing. pj
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Thanks a lot for the reblog! I visited your blog and it looks great. Look forward to having you as a reader. :)
prinsesablogs January 23, 2013 / Reply
Love, love, love your photos! I’m so glad I found your blog, following you now. I adore this city and last I visited, I experienced actual, falling snow for the first time, though it wasnt as pretty as what you’ve got now. It was more sludge-y what I saw, but all good just the same time. Cheers :)
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Thanks Charmaine, happy to have you as a new follower! You were lucky nonetheless to see snow falling in Paris, because it’s pretty rare. Last winter it barely happened at all.
I appreciate your kind words, thanks for subscribing and commenting.
When I Blink January 23, 2013 / Reply
Aaand… I’m following now.
I adore Paris — haven’t ever been in the heart of winter, though. Never seen it in the snow. Your photos are lovely and make me want to hop a plane.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Thanks a lot, it’s always an honor to get recognized from the WordPress powers-that-be. :)
So happy you decided to subscribe. I’m glad you enjoyed the photos; I certainly had fun taking them. I look forward to adding you to our Paris-lover’s family! Take care.
Renard Moreau January 23, 2013 / Reply
[ Smiles ] It looks as though you know how to have fun.
I enjoyed your pictures.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Thanks a lot for commenting, I’m glad you liked it!
The Night Hawk Photographer January 23, 2013 / Reply
Beautiful photos of a beautiful city (I used to live there and I never saw it under cover of snow so this really does make me smile, to see the Parisians out making merry like that).
You have a great eye for detail and I also loved the dynamics of the photo of the snowboarders (fourth photo) – I really get amazed by how photos can appear to be moving like that! For an amateur photographer like me it’s an inspiration :)
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Thanks for your kind words. I love finding the details of a scene; they always speak to me a bit more, as if they’re hiding there alone and waiting for someone to notice. :)
It was a great vibe that afternoon and I’m glad my photos could get that across to my readers. It looks like you’re doing a bit of the same thing in London, and I wish you many successful late night photography walks. As a lifelong fan of your city I’ll be interested to see what you post in the future. Take care!
The Night Hawk Photographer January 24, 2013
Yes, the devil is in the detail. Thanks for the positive vibe! It’s not likely to be updated so often but I have just started a second blog, on http://themusingsofman.wordpress.com where I’m going to be spouting on about anything and everything – quite philosophically, likely angrily at times, sometimes uplifting, others depressing, like life itself – if it’s of interest to you? Anyway, I will keep an eye out for your blog, I love Paris and I wish I could visit more often but in the absence of visiting it’s nice to see these lovely photos! Cheers, Mike
home, garden, life January 23, 2013 / Reply
Thank you for these lovely images! One friend travels there this weekend, so this blog will remind her to bundle up and wear cleats! 10 degrees F here in central Virginia- US this morning, yet snow has eluded us. Cannot say that I mind. Stay warm and keep the photos coming! Please stop by my blog when you have a warm moment.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Thanks for your comment. I think a lot of people are happy to avoid the snow at home, but everyone seems to come together on the idea of Paris being doused with a bit of it. :) I guess there’s some kind of fantasy there that makes it seem magical.
I appreciate your kind words. I checked out your blog, and I’ve never seen a whole roasted pumpkin like that! The soup must have been amazing. Hope you stop by again sometime!
home, garden, life January 24, 2013
I made soup from one of the frozen containers of pumpkin with onion, veggie broth, a splash of heavy cream, lots of cayenne and ground ginger to ward off the cold of late here. 2.5 inches of the white powdery stuff in central Virginia today. Pretty. Thanks for stopping by. Love your work.
Jane January 23, 2013 / Reply
Beautiful pictures! I just found your blog and instantly fell in love. Paris is one of my favorite cities and this just takes me back to my time studying abroad!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Thanks Jane, I’m happy to bring back some of those memories for you. I checked out your blog…is it wrong to admit that I want to try a bacon cupcake? :)
Happy to have you as a reader, and I hope you come back again sometime to relive a few more Paris memories. Take care!
michaelstrand91 January 23, 2013 / Reply
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Thanks Michael, glad you liked it.
J.C.V. January 23, 2013 / Reply
I love this! You really capture the joy of the people in pictures.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Thanks J.C.V., I expected to be photographing streets and buildings mostly, but when I saw the fun and playfulness all around I knew I had to try to capture some of it. It was a unique experience and I’m happy I chose Montmartre to visit that day!
Thanks for your comment and take care.
mehakzaidi January 23, 2013 / Reply
beautiful pictures.Paris looks good in winter snow.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Thanks a lot! I do agree about Paris in the snow, glad you liked it!
GalOnTrip January 23, 2013 / Reply
i’ve been to paris several times, including winter in february, but it was just cold and no snow like what you shared. spendid, nice pics! montmartre is one of my favorite district in paris. the dragon statues on top of the church with frozen water coming out of their mouth is something rare to see…love it lots….
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Yes the gargoyle were probably my favorite picture I was able to take. When you’re discovering a new place, always look up. :)
I’m glad you enjoyed the post, thanks for commenting. And good luck with all of your travels!
mrscarmichael January 23, 2013 / Reply
Happier faces than those at Charles de Gaulle airport me thinks :)
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Ha, very true! If they could just pump a few inches of snow into the airport terminals…
mrscarmichael January 24, 2013
Now that IS a good idea.
banjoboy71 January 23, 2013 / Reply
I was living in Paris near Canal St. Martin in the early 80’s when we had fresh, heavy snow fall in Paris. It was stunning as are your photos. Took me back to a magical place. Wonderful shots!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
So you were living in that area before it got all hip and trendy, it must have been fun to see the canal covered in snow like that. Glad I could help bring back a memory or two!
Thanks for your comment and take care.
NomadicHeart January 23, 2013 / Reply
I’ve been tossing around the idea of visiting Paris in the next few weeks. I think your post has served as very convincing fodder! Thanks!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
You’re welcome! Audrey Hepburn said “Paris is always a good idea”, so…. :)
I just checked out your blog — stunning! It gives a real sense of discovery and experience, and the photos are beautiful. If you do ever make it to Paris, feel free to drop me a line if you want to meet for a tea and share blogging philosophies.
Thanks for your comment and take care!
Woo-hoo! Congrats on the Fresh Pressing!! I actually had this post linked in something for tomorrow so now I feel like WP has confirmed my good taste!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 23, 2013 / Reply
Great, thanks so much for the link-up! Yes I’m very fortunate to have been Freshly Pressed again, it opens me up to meeting a lot of interesting people.
Thanks for stopping by again!
primalnights January 23, 2013 / Reply
Wonderful pictures and post. It made Paris look like a destination location for winter sports.
I have visited Paris many times from the States, but I have never seen it in snow. I always seem to end up there in late fall when the leaves are turning and leave before the real winter arrives, Now I NEED to see it in winter.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Thanks! I hope you do make it here during winter one day. But please, bundle up! :)
Anita Mac January 23, 2013 / Reply
Your photos are spectacular….such a fun side of Paris you so rarely get to see! How I wish I could come back!!! I have been loving the fabulous snow here in Canada, but somehow, Montmartre looks so much more exotic, especially with the ice breathing gargoyles! Beautiful.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Thanks Anita, yes the gargoyles were a highlight for me as well! I have a couple more of them lined up for my next snow post, coming in a day or two.
Thanks for commenting and take care.
transplantedtatar January 23, 2013 / Reply
Looks like such great fun! I am glad you forced yourself to go out. It’s not often when such a big city comes together with so much joy and a single, uncomplicated purpose. Wonderful images!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Yes I’m happy I got my butt out there, because to be honest there’s always something in the city worth seeing, I’m never disappointed. I’m especially glad I ended up in Montmartre, where because of the hills people were really taking advantage of the weather.
Thanks for your comment!
aapatawaran January 23, 2013 / Reply
Dream of Paris in the snow… But wIth this post and your pictures, the dream is now so true. I suffer death by envy but everything this post conjures is worth the suffering.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Glad you liked it, thanks for commenting!
carmillaweirdlove January 23, 2013 / Reply
Jason Ministries January 23, 2013 / Reply
These are great pics. Thank you for posting. :)
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
You’re welcome, glad you liked it!
neutralkiseki January 23, 2013 / Reply
These photos are great! I never thought Paris would seem so beautiful with snow!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
I know, since I moved here we’ve had only a few substantial snow storms, but this was the first time I was actually in the heart of the city while it was happening. A special experience indeed! Thanks for commenting.
sarahoneilldesigns January 23, 2013 / Reply
Wonderful! This has really made me smile.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Some beautiful designs on your blog, well done! Thanks for stopping by.
sarahoneilldesigns January 28, 2013
Thanks! And thanks for having a look at my blog too.
Promotewho - Atlanta Music Promoter January 24, 2013 / Reply
Reblogged this on Promotewho and commented:
This look like fun to visit and do – but by no means I want to live where its snow anymore.
hamdiamond2 January 24, 2013 / Reply
there are some big hills in paris
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
Sure are! Montmartre was outside of the city for centuries before it was annexed, and it was mostly farmland and vineyards, so it never got developed (i.e. flattened) like so many parts of major cities. There are a few other areas in Paris with hills too, mostly parks, and I’m sure the Parisians were living it up over there too.
Thanks for your comment!
Jenny January 24, 2013 / Reply
Fantastic photos! I’ve seen Paris in a few different seasons but never under the loveliness of a snowy winter. I’m especially enamored of the gargoyles and their icicles. Many congratulations on getting pressed!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 24, 2013 / Reply
I loved the gargoyles too, and I’m adding a few more of them from another famous church in post that’s coming…tomorrow I think. :)
Thanks for taking the time to comment, and happy blogging to you!
Jenny January 24, 2013
Thank you! I look forward to seeing tomorrows icy monsters :)
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 27, 2013
Ha, “wicked” — that’s something I haven’t heard in a while, but having been born and bred in New England I’m no stranger to the word. :)
Jenny January 27, 2013
Somehow I knew you’d appreciate it!
rkutchjm January 24, 2013 / Reply
So cool. Takes me into Paris. Great pics. Excellent blog. My thanks for letting me experience this.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 25, 2013 / Reply
You’re welcome Rob, glad you liked it. Thank you for commenting.
sarahfied January 24, 2013 / Reply
gorgeous! i would love to be in Paris at this time in the year next. I visited Paris in summer last year. :’) beautiful heart felt pictures.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 25, 2013 / Reply
Thank you, I’m happy you enjoyed the pictures. I hope you do make it to Paris next year. And congratulations on your engagement!
A January 24, 2013 / Reply
So excited to be staying in Montmartre in just over a week! Hope the snow sticks around :) Thanks for sharing these great pictures!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 25, 2013 / Reply
You’re welcome Alex! Hope you have a great time in Paris this time around. I checked out your blog and I can’t believe how much traveling you’ve done!
If you can specify a bit which sorts of things you’d like to see, maybe I can give you some tips on where to go off the beaten path to see some cool stuff while you’re here. Take care!
The Makeup and Beauty Bug January 24, 2013 / Reply
I really enjoyed reading this and I can’t wait to read your next post. Thanks for sharing these photos with us. :)
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 26, 2013 / Reply
You’re very welcome! So happy you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.
shalzmojo January 24, 2013 / Reply
Gorgeous blogpost, great detail captured in the pics – love the snow formations dripping out of the gargoyles mouths. Absolutely divine take on the normally reserved frenchmen – the snow brought out the kids in them. I loved reading and viewing the pics in this post – hope to see more of it soon.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 26, 2013 / Reply
Thank you. I didn’t expect the afternoon to be quite so rich, so it was a surprise for me too, right down to the smiles on the faces and the frozen gargoyles. Just goes to show that it’s always worth it to get out there and be part of something, because you never know what you’ll see. (Especially in Paris!)
Thanks a lot for your comment. :)
sillystyle January 24, 2013 / Reply
I’ve never been to Paris, but will definitely try to visit ASAP ;) Congrats on such nice blog ;)
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 26, 2013 / Reply
Thank you, glad you liked it. I too love guacamole, so naturally I felt instantly connected to your blog too. :) I hope you do get a chance to visit Paris one day!
sam January 24, 2013 / Reply
Oh my goodness! Beautiful! Thank you for sharing.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 27, 2013 / Reply
You’re welcome Sam, glad you enjoyed it!
Yasmin January 24, 2013 / Reply
how beautiful! I loved it! :D
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 27, 2013 / Reply
Thanks!
brain4rent January 24, 2013 / Reply
Coming from a place that usually gets snow (but has been deprived for the last two years), snow doesn’t hold such warm memories. But these photos are wonderful and I love seeing the inventiveness of people who are typically without snow making snow riders and combining clothing to keep warm and dry. Somehow this group has made that into another fashion statement. Love the cardboard box sleds.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 27, 2013 / Reply
Ha, true! You can always count on Parisians to do things with a bit of style. I also appreciated the cardboard sled, and every other manner of makeshift sledding material I saw out there.
Thanks for commenting and take care!
Ashley W. Miller January 24, 2013 / Reply
Absolutely gorgeous!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 27, 2013 / Reply
Thanks Ashley! Glad you liked it.
Filmari Nunti January 24, 2013 / Reply
interesting article, should be done more like this, keep up the good work.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 27, 2013 / Reply
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Dounia January 24, 2013 / Reply
These are beautiful photos. I lived just outside of Paris (near St. Cloud) for 10 years, and although there were certain years we got a lot of snow in our area, it was never that much in Paris itself. My parents and sister are still there though, so they’ve told me how much it snowed! I loved seeing these photos, and I do miss Paris very much, so thanks for sharing!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 26, 2013 / Reply
You’re very welcome Dounia, I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s true that even when the suburbs get snow it’s rare for it to stick to the ground in Paris. I guess we were also lucky that it happened on a weekend which meant fewer cars and people, and allowed the snow to stay around for a couple of days.
Thanks for your comment!
Java Girl January 24, 2013 / Reply
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 26, 2013 / Reply
Me too! Thanks for commenting. :)
It's only P! January 24, 2013 / Reply
What an unusual account of Pictorial Paris! Good story, really made me feel as if I was there – and it’s been so long, decades. I think those painters who braved the cold were just passionate, not broke. ;)
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 27, 2013 / Reply
Thanks I’m glad you liked it. I always love the “felt like I was there” comments, those are the best kind. :)
It's only P! January 24, 2013 / Reply
P.S. Loved, loved, loved that you used the word ‘schlepped.’ I lived in Johannesburg for a long time where it was a common word, but not in N. America. I miss those words.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 27, 2013 / Reply
Ha, not sure where I first learned that word, but things tend to just pop up when I’m writing and I go with it. Interesting that it’s so common in Johannesburg, I would have never guessed!
georginaguthrie January 24, 2013 / Reply
What a delightful post! Thanks for sharing
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 27, 2013 / Reply
You’re quite welcome, thanks for the kind words!
northernmalewhite January 24, 2013 / Reply
Paris could certainly do with a clean so hopefully the snow will oblige.
what?
thanks
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 27, 2013 / Reply
You’re welcome, glad you liked it. After spending 10 years in New York I can assure you that Paris is generally clean as far as major world capitals go. Although, Parisians do still have trouble with this idea of picking up after their dog, which bugs me.
jonoshmono January 24, 2013 / Reply
That was great thanks…
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 27, 2013 / Reply
rmk January 24, 2013 / Reply
Glorious.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 27, 2013 / Reply
Thank you rmk. I thought it was pretty beautiful as well.
carmenserber January 24, 2013 / Reply
Hey! Lovely post. I think 2 years ago there was also a few days of unexpected snow in Paris. But I have not seen anyone going sledding or taking the pleasure of a snowball fight! The parisiens were rather sliding down the streets in there very unappropriate shoes :)
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 27, 2013 / Reply
Ha, yes I’m sure they were! I think I know what you’re talking about because the winter of 2010 in Paris offered up some snow a well, and as it was my first winter here I just assumed it was normal. Boy was I wrong! I realize now that when it snows like that you have to get out and enjoy it while it lasts, hence this post. :)
Thanks for your comment!
Randy Richardson January 25, 2013 / Reply
i’d love to go to paris!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 27, 2013 / Reply
I hope you do one day Randy! Thanks for reading & commenting.
A Renaissance Glow January 25, 2013 / Reply
I’ll be in Paris in April but my-oh-my Paris in snow looks lovely and so much fun. P.S. don’t stand under those gargoyles, those icicles look huge!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 27, 2013 / Reply
Thank you, it was fun. I would recommend coming in the winter for the snow, but at the same time the cold temperatures make strolling through the city harder, and that’s one of the best ways to see Paris. So an April trip isn’t a bad idea at all. :) I hope you have a great time when you get here!
kofoadebiyi January 25, 2013 / Reply
stephsoul January 25, 2013 / Reply
beautiful! :) we don’t often have snow in graz, but this year… take a look:
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 27, 2013 / Reply
Looks like fun! Thanks a lot for commenting.
jamesspencerphoto January 25, 2013 / Reply
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 27, 2013 / Reply
Thanks James, big fan of your blog as well. Great pictures and a great writing style. Well done!
jamesspencerphoto January 27, 2013
Thanks very much really appreciate that. Your blog is a great read too and has plenty of nice pictures to go with the stories
whisksandchopsticks January 25, 2013 / Reply
Niiice. Thanks for capturing all the fun! :)
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 27, 2013 / Reply
You’re very welcome, glad you enjoyed it.
odetolamode January 25, 2013 / Reply
I can just imagine all the little kids running around shouting French to each other! Must’ve been a great scene–the pictures are smashing!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 27, 2013 / Reply
Ha, yes you remind me of that wonderful phenomenon of being surrounded by people speaking French. I’ve maybe gotten a bit too used to the language and I’m afraid the newness and foreign charm is slowly slipping away…but that’s the obvious price to pay for learning it. :)
I remember one of the fun parts of each Paris trip was right at the beginning as I got on the plane and the flight crew would switch from English to French when speaking. The language is really a great way to experience the vibe of France, and any other country for that matter.
Thanks for your comment!
yosephvera January 26, 2013 / Reply
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 27, 2013 / Reply
True! Thanks for commenting. :)
OyiaBrown January 26, 2013 / Reply
Reblogged this on Oyia Brown.
Skipping Stars Productions LLC January 26, 2013 / Reply
Reblogged this on French Heritage Alliance.
kirisyko January 26, 2013 / Reply
Matthew Wright January 26, 2013 / Reply
Wonderful photos, seriously cool! I have not been in Paris in winter; I have distinct and very pleasant memories of the place in springtime. It clearly becomes a different – but equally magical – city in winter. Thank you for sharing.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 27, 2013 / Reply
You’re welcome Matthew, thanks for the kind words and for taking the time to comment!
Interstellar Dog January 26, 2013 / Reply
Great pictures! What’s the weather like in winter? Does it snow often?
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 27, 2013 / Reply
No it doesn’t snow often in Paris, and even if the suburbs get some it’s rare for anything to stick on the ground inside the city. In general winter seems to bring more rain than snow, and I can still remember my disappointment in the lack of wintry precipitation in 2011-12. That was why I was especially determined to get out and experience it this time around, and I’m glad I did!
Thanks a lot for commenting.
happy heuristics January 27, 2013 / Reply
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 27, 2013 / Reply
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks!
Prince Bhatia January 27, 2013 / Reply
Great Pictures! The architecture of Paris looks absolutely stunning and I am having regret that why I am not belong to this incredible city.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 27, 2013 / Reply
parisiangumbo January 27, 2013 / Reply
Reblogged this on Parisian Gumbo and commented:
There are some pictures of my neighborhood! Thanks, French Frye!
alfikusuma January 28, 2013 / Reply
Cathy January 28, 2013 / Reply
Paris is extremely beautiful no matter what the season. :)
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 28, 2013 / Reply
I must say I agree with you Cathy :) There’s always something pretty to see no matter what the season. If you could got back to any part of Paris right now, where would you go?
Cathy January 28, 2013
I’ve never been in Paris and if only I can go there I’m never leaving! Hahaha
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 28, 2013
Jeff | Planet Bell January 29, 2013 / Reply
You have done a superb job of showing a city we’ve seen a million times in photos in a unique, different way. Congrats on being Freshly Pressed.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 30, 2013 / Reply
Thank you Jeff, its true that it’s difficult to get a unique shot of Paris these days! I almost didn’t force myself up to Montmartre but I’m glad I did, it was worth it.
annegoldsmits January 29, 2013 / Reply
It made me think back of the time I used to live there….is it possible I got a little homesick….I do miss Paris….
A French Frye in Paris(Author) January 30, 2013 / Reply
I imagine sometimes what it would be like if I left Paris for good, and how much I’d miss it…those are unhappy thoughts indeed! :) I’ve fallen too deeply in love with it.
Freshi Ice Sticks February 2, 2013 / Reply
congratulations on featured in Freshly pressed.
Georgia February 3, 2013 / Reply
Beautiful pictures! Hopefully I can go to Paris one day…
A French Frye in Paris(Author) February 3, 2013 / Reply
Thanks Georgia! I hope you can too. Thanks for commenting. :)
webandother February 3, 2013 / Reply
The city looks beautiful in white indeed. Wish I was there. Really picturesque.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) February 3, 2013 / Reply
Yes it certainly was beautiful, and fleeting! Everything’s back to normal now, but I’m glad I was able to capture it while it lasted. Thanks for commenting, I’m glad you liked it!
haileyjw February 6, 2013 / Reply
I particularly love the pictures of people playing in the streets! What a fantastic day!
A French Frye in Paris(Author) February 6, 2013 / Reply
Yes it was a special and unexpected afternoon for sure! I’m glad I was able to share it. Thanks for leaving a comment Hailey, hope you’re doing well. :)
karolinemeador February 11, 2013 / Reply
A French Frye in Paris(Author) February 11, 2013 / Reply
Indeed! I really thought I was on a photo trip to find streets and alleyways covered in snow…I never stopped to think that with all the hills in Montmartre the locals would be taking advantage and having so much fun.
ErinLYYC February 12, 2013 / Reply
A French Frye in Paris(Author) February 12, 2013 / Reply
Thanks Erin! Glad you liked it.
Ann Syrowski February 19, 2013 / Reply
Reblogged this on Mixtape and commented:
This blog provides one of the best insider perspectives of life in Paris, France.
A French Frye in Paris(Author) February 19, 2013 / Reply
Thanks a lot for the reblog Ann! Glad you liked it.
devilhunter309 March 6, 2013 / Reply
A French Frye in Paris(Author) March 6, 2013 / Reply
Thanks, glad you liked it.
RSpeaks March 8, 2013 / Reply
Was in Paris for a week in Jan end, though I didn’t get to do the fun sliding bit, I did manage to slide otherwise. My back still hurts :P.. I wish Aix en Provence had as much hills. Great pics! Thanks for sharing
A French Frye in Paris(Author) March 8, 2013 / Reply
Ouch, hope your back gets better. Thanks for your comment, glad you enjoyed the pictures!
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Who is the French Frye?
Corey Frye was living in NYC when in 2006 a serendipitous encounter on a subway platform introduced him to a random French tourist. She had a cute accent and he could play the guitar, so things worked out and after many long Skype chats and even longer transatlantic flights they married and moved to Paris. As soon as he touched down, Corey fell under the city’s spell and has dedicated his time to exploring and unlocking its secrets ever since. He is now a highly sought-after tour guide as well as an editor and writer about all things Paris.
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