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The appliance store had a show biz theme. The client , the plaintiff , was a "show stopper", meaning she always got two thumbs up for her job performance. Then something happened. He hesitates, only slightly, to let the jury know the words that are about to come out of his mouth are not his. When Amlong utters the word "pussy" it belongs to the man who supervised his client. It belongs to the company that hired that man and allowed him to repeatedly sexually harass his client until she became suicidal. It belongs to an endless trend that has overcome the workplace. But it does not belong to him. Amlong paces before the jury, one hand clenched behind his back, a microphone in the other. He's got a boxers build that's neatly packed into an expensive suit.
For a moment, it appears as if he's going to try the whole case in the opening argument but he quickly moves to sum things up with a series of barn-size blowups of interoffice complaints ignored by management while his client suffered.
At his side, gracefully lifting the bulky memos like a game show assistant, is his law partner and wife, Karen Coolman Amlong. Cat-eyed and sleek, she looks at William admiringly as he addresses the jury. Her gaze is comparable to that of a mesmerized Deepak Chopra disciple. It's a look the jury soon mirrors.
For the moment, this is her role. William is the grand storyteller so he always does the opening. She is the artist who takes all the frayed ends and ties everything together in the closing arguments.
In between, they will crisscross, she taking on the technical aspects of the case, both of them grilling the defendants on the witness stand. "Some people are easily intimidated by an attractive woman in a red power dress and stiletto heels", William says. "In one case she had the president of a subsidiary of Westinghouse stuttering up there in the box."
Glenn Caddy, a Fort Lauderdale psychologist who has seen the Amlongs in action many times, says there is something entertaining, powerful and persuasive about their presence in a courtroom.
"Their cross-examinations are done with such intellectual precision, it's more like an opera than a courtroom battle," Caddy says.
As the Amlongs confer at the conference table, the jury is attentive to their demeanor. They watch as the couple leans in for tight whispers, but despite their 15 year marriage, the scene comes across as more professional than cozy.
"They see us as more than lawyers," Karen says. "They see us as a team, a family fighting together."
The Fort Lauderdale couples solid relationship bathes them in intrigue, takes them above the pettiness of the law.
"Being a husband and wife team adds a little theater, people are more curious, like we are TV characters," William explains.
Amlong & Amlong, the Hart to Hart of civil trial lawyers.
They are fighting for the little guy and making lots of money doing it. Enough for the Porsche Carrera, the house in Rio Vista, late dinners at San Angel and summer skiing in Chile. They have got the kind of personalities that could easily be inflated to fit the small screen. It is not beneath her to step up at a deposition and blast another attorney for being a short guy with a small dick. It is not above him to drive through a garage door to release a little tension during a big case, or perhaps an argument with his lovely wife.
To play off the hard edges, they have got their soft sides covered with four dogs and three cats waiting for them at home, if and when they ever get there. And there are those cool nuances just below the surface, like their phone number "462-1983" which is in honor of the U.S. Civil Rights Act (482 USC Sect. 1983).
Since the mid-80s, the Amlongs have been at the forefront of high-profile civil rights cases, both together and individually. Many of them you will recall: suing prison officials for allowing the rapes and beatings of inmates by other inmates at Glades Correctional Institution, police violating citizens civil rights in Davie, racial bias within Broward County's Office of Environmental Services and, most recently, June Amers fight against the state law banning homosexuals from adopting children.
But the backbone of their practice are horribly routine employee issues that rarely make the headlines: age and race discrimination, sexual harassment, pension discrepancy battles, wage rip-offs.
Cases like the one starring the "show stopper" saleswoman, who suddenly found herself the victim of debilitating harassment. A case where they can go before the jury and sum it up by saying: A Bottom line: He still works there, she has not been back since.
"And pick up 144 and change," William grins. Yes, he means $144,000, for the client and for the firm.
Perhaps their Yellow Page Ad says it best: "REPRESENTING WORKING MEN AND WOMEN AGAINST MANAGEMENT."
"Corporations see employees as germs," William says matter-of-factly, "and it's hard to argue with a gentleman who holds such beliefs."
The Amlongs ---she's 50, he's 52 --- love to get up in the morning and this is why. "We're leftover 60s kids who get to screw with authority and make money doing it."
It's a love story
It's after 7 P.M., but it looks like the day is beginning at Amlong & Amlong. The lobby of their second floor offices on Northeast Fourth Street is dark (no more appointments) but the work area is lit up like a Kmart. Clerks are shuffling about, phone calls are still being made.
"If a legal question comes up during a trial, we're big on midnight memos," Karen says. "It's not all that uncommon to work through the night and then just change clothes and go to the courthouse."
Piles of paperwork, each representing an individual case, wrap around the curve on Karen's desk like a small chain of mountains.
It's late in the day, but they don't mind talking about themselves into the night because there is no place to get to, no aerobics at the gym, no movie to catch. The only place to go is back to work.
"This is how we do it," Karen says. "When we're in town, we work seven days a week, night and day. When we're not here, we ski."
Not a bad system. But one only two soulmates could probably survive.
How did these two find each other?
Here's the short version: They didn't.
At least not in their first lives. Both grew up in South Miami, but never crossed paths in their early years. "Even if we had, Bill wouldn't have been the type of boy my mother would have let me associate with," Karen says.
She has been married twice previously and has two grown sons. One of whom she breast-fed in the halls of the state House, when at age 27, she was elected Browards first woman legislator in 1974.
William was an investigative reporter for The Miami Herald when he first laid eyes on her. "I was in Tallahassee working on a banking story in 1975 when I spotted all the other reporters sniffing around this freshman legislator," he says.
He waited patiently for them to clear out and then introduced himself. "We clicked right away, Karen says."
Clicked in the way that you were two smart and sophisticated professionals who could relate well to each other?
"No, we really clicked," William says.
But they were both married to other people at the time and just slipped back into the '70s, which wasn't easy for either of them.
Both went through divorces and other serious relationships. William continued to report on high-profile stories all over the world, a passport always tucked in his back pocket. Karen left the Legislature after one term, retired to law school and eventually, a struggling practice.
Then, one afternoon, seven years after their initial meeting, Karen was walking down the boulevard in Coral Gables... "And here come Amlong," she says.
The big bang, but they were still a long way from becoming the two-headed, four-legged, discrimination-fighting skiing juggernauts they are today.
The practice
By the time they met the second time, William was contemplating law school. "It was self-defense. You have to be an attorney to live with one," Karen laughs.
Actually, William had already been accepted and saved enough money for his first year at Novas law school. After they married, they decided he could work in her office until he finished school. They had a plan.
For the first year, that is.
"But business wasn't that great. I was just an itty-bitty baby attorney myself," Karen says.
By the time William's second year of tuition was due, it was no can do.
"But things have had a way of falling in place for us," William says.
In the case of his tuition, it was a horse that fell into place. They were at Hialeah racetrack, meeting with a client who had been banned from another track, when William took a liking to an Irish horse from Argentina in the ninth. "I put $300 across the board, he says. The horse moved like he had jet engines attached to him and we won $3,000 to pay my tuition."
Karen had started in marital law, but the practice was gradually moving toward civil rights issues. After the two of them teamed up, it was a natural progression. Karen had been a member of NOW for more than 20 years and had previously helped operate a crisis center for rape victims in an old house on Sistrunk Boulevard.
"And as a reporter, I was always covering civil rights and union stuff," William says.
At first they didn't think they could make a living fighting for the little guy because the awards generally weren't huge, but, as usual, that also fell into place.
In 1992, Karen won a landmark sexual harassment case representing a Miami woman against a movie company executive. The award was a whopping $1.3 million, which included punitive damages.
"Then, referrals really starting coming in," William says.
Roberta Covey, a Fort Lauderdale attorney who also handles employee issues, remembers it as a monumental case. "It really opened up our area of law," she says. "The Amlongs have become the authorities in the field."
With four associates, they now get about 30 calls a day which are screened by a paralegal. Of those, they take about one out of 100.
They can afford to be choosy.
"Im not sure we could make more money in another type of law," William says. "But we could certainly make easier money."
"Our strong reputation isn't based so much on winning ,we lose a lot of cases as it is on the fact that were always ready to go to trial," William says. "The defense bar knows full well were not afraid to go pick a jury tomorrow morning.
Local defense attorney Mike Burke, who has had a sort of win, lose and draw relationship with the Amlongs, says, "In my experience with them, they are always prepared to go to trial and when they get there... well, let me just say this, they are very worthy adversaries."
Covey says, "In a time when lawyers have a reputation for settling for being money grubbers the Amlongs are a relief."
The Amlongs see corporate defense attorneys as emperors of the dark side. They respect very few.
"Defense attorneys are like an evil priesthood," William says. "Firing old people is a celebration. Harassment is sacred."
William has a reputation for getting in pissing matches in the legal trenches. "He's gotten into physical altercations," Karen says. "I often look like the good guy to his bad guy."
"That's when she's not being seen as some sort of femi-Nazi," William points out.
But their reps are worn with honor. Especially since we're dealing with scum, William says of the corporations that continue to devalue the American worker.
They argue that companies have put safeguards, policies and training in place to combat discrimination and harassment, while at the same time, flagrantly continuing to ignore the seriousness of the issue.
"These things don't happen in companies where there is a culture of respect," William says.
But sexual harassment cases just keep coming and coming and coming across their desks.
"It's absolutely mind-boggling," William says. "And we've had a string of cases where it seems like all the guys are going to the same Hustler school of behavior."
Addys Gonzalez, a Miami saleswoman who was the victim of sexual harassment, says before she contacted the Amlongs she was made to feel guilty herself, like a rape victim.
"Because everybody's afraid of telling the truth. They think they might lose their jobs if they get one of the bosses in trouble," she says. "Even my own brother said, Leave it alone, it happens all the time, there is nothing you can do about it."
She ended up doing plenty about it when the company she worked for wouldn't come up with a fair settlement. They went to trial where she got to see the human resources manager who had ignored her complaints, squirm around in the hot box. Revenge was sweet.
"It's about fighting back. Being vindicated," Karen says.
Age discrimination also has become predominant in their practice. It looks good on the surface ,out with the old in with the new. "But it's cruel and I love those cases because everybody gets old," William says. "Lots of jury sympathy."
Leonard Lowinger, who's now 65, went to the Amlongs when the optical company he worked for decided to "throw him away," as he puts it.
"But they didn't just accept my case," he says. "I had to take a lie detector test and see a psychologist first. They were very compassionate, but very careful."
In a time where lawsuits have become overly frivolous, the Amlongs want to be positive they're taking on legitimate cases before they put their reputations on the line.
"You not only want to weed out the frivolous, but when you're going to make severely damaging accusations and people's reputations are on the line, you want to be as diligent as possible," Karen says.
Not that they haven't had their share of cases that make one go, "Oh, come on," like "Woman Sues NBC, Says Bosses Were Too Lenient."
"We lost that one," William sighs. "But it was interesting."
Aside from the occasional bizarre case, they say there are no new trends in their line of law, only more of the same.
"If anything, we've learned how the abuse spreads," William says. "Early on, I tried a lot of police brutality cases against street cops and now these monsters have moved up the chain of command and are bullying their employees the same way they bullied the citizens on the street."
In the simplest of terms, the Amlongs say they are "anti-bully," that's what they are.
They sue bad behavior.
Work amounts to a hill of gourmet beans.
A homeless person has taken up residence in an alcove outside the Amlongs office and the situation offers up the perfect example of their attitude. They have no problem with a fellow human being taking shelter from the storm, even if its at their inconvenience, but they also have no problem stepping past him into the luxury cars parked in their personalized spots.
The Amlongs will stand on the sunny side of the high road and say it is all about seeing that people are not judged by race, sex, creed or color and that the judicial process can make a difference.
But at the same time they are not ashamed that the process is allowing them to lead the high life.
"We're amazed by the number of sexual harassment cases that keep coming, but we're glad," Karen smiles. It's their business.
They like the game and they play it well. "It's fun," Karen says.
So, they make their money, go to fancy dinners, donate to charity and ski around the world. Canada is the next stop.
"But most of the work you do you can feel good about. You're fighting to get somebody's job back or get them fair compensation. You're helping them make a change in their life," William says. "Even when you lose, you can feel good about yourself."
He recalls a harassment case in which he represented a gay woman who worked on the presses at the Sun-Sentinel. "We lost, but fighting back made her feel better, it empowered her," William says.
To them, the little people are big people, too. "No one is untouchable in corporate America. We still represent our share of waitresses and office workers, but we also have plenty of surgeons, VPs and other lawyers," William says. "With the new medical system, Dr. Welby is now being discriminated against."
These days, 75 percent of the Amlongs caseload is employee related. It's enough to keep them going 27 days straight, starting cases together with one of them dropping out in the middle to start another and then coming back to close.
"We're adrenaline junkies and then we crash," Karen says.
In a profession that even the Amlongs say is full of snakes, they're just happy that they haven't become jerks, or lawyers who walk around thinking they're God almighty.
"I don't know where some attorneys get the attitude that they're above other people," William says. "It's the only profession with a postgraduate program that tolerates. They have standardized dumbed-down testing. To me, a 66 does not equate to canonization."
Its about 8:30 P.M., when Karen's son, Clay Coolman, who is their office manager, pops into her office to say he's going to call it a night. "I can't keep up with them," he says. He's 27.
Tonight, the Amlongs will climb a few of the mountains on their desks and then cruise out in the Porsche and catch a late dinner of expensive gourmet Mexican. Treating themselves for being good employees.
Do they deserve it?
Do they deserve it? Do all corporations see employees as germs?
Reprinted with permission from City Link Magazine, in which this article appeared in the November 5-11, 1997 issue.
1985 - Class action suit on behalf of 10 inmates is filed against officials at Glades Correctional Institution claiming they were negligent in protecting the 10 from inmates known as wolves who raped and beat other prisoners with impunity. What they really need to do with GCI is just bulldoze it, William Amlong says.
1989 - Class action suit filed against Pratt & Whitney for laying off employees who refused to accept early retirement packages, and then hiring younger less costly employees. That's a sure way of cutting down overhead. Fire all its older employees, William says.
1990 - Class action suit filed against Gov. Bob Martinez for violating the constitutional rights of work-release prisoners. The governor has turned the management of Florida's prison system over to his re-election campaign, William says.
1992 - Miami woman is awarded $1.3 million in sexual harassment case against a movie company executive. It was a high-profile case and I think it raised a lot of women's consciousness about this, Karen Coolman Amlong says:
1992 - Woman who worked for NBC's Miami Bureau sues employer for being too lenient. The argument is that had she been disciplined or fired by NBC, she could have improved her performance. The law doesn't say that a woman should be treated better. It says that a woman should not be treated differently. If you put women on a pedestal, you're not doing them any favors, William says.
1992 - Workers for Broward County Office of Environment Services file complaints charging racial discrimination, claiming minorities are being passed up for promotions. It's real white at the top. [At the bottom], it's real black. You don't have a learning curve over there. You have a brick wall, William says.
1992 - Jury finds that Davie police officer violated the civil rights of a 16 year old girl while arresting her for cursing, but declines to order him to pay damages. But the suit wasn't about money, and civil rights don't have to be about money, William says.
1994 - Two former lifeguards are awarded $47,500 in a sexual harassment lawsuit against the city of Boca Raton and two male supervisors. I consider it to be the vindication of the rights of women who work for the city of Boca Raton not to have to put up with guys who think of them as sex objects instead of co-workers, William says.
1997 - Broward County Circuit judge denies a request from a lesbian mother in Weston to declare unconstitutional a state law banning homosexuals from adopting children. The children of the State of Florida are the losers with this decision, Karen says.
1997 - Fort Lauderdale woman goes to trial after filing a lawsuit against the Florida Board of Regents, accusing them of punishing her for complaining about a supervisor's advances. She just wanted him to behave himself, Karen says.
1997 - Female police officer with Hollywood Police Department is awarded $100,000 after filing a lawsuit claiming that she was subjected to sexual harassment on the job and that her co-workers took steps against her when she testified in the harassment trial of a fellow officer in 1994. These were cowardly, anonymous things, Karen says. None of these guys had the guts to go up to this 100 pound woman and say, you're a real SOB for ratting me out.
500 Northeast Fourth Street
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.
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Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas on Aug. 6.
Most elections are, at least in part, reactions to the results of the last election. Usually, that means they function as a referendum on the last election's winners and their performance in office.
It is unusual, if not unprecedented, for the midterm cycle to focus on the conduct of the last election — a kind of referendum on the legitimacy of the system itself.
By that standard, 2022 qualifies as unusual indeed.
Donald Trump and his followers, who now represent the activist core of the Republican Party, have insisted on making 2022 a do-over of 2020. Their essential argument is not that President Biden has failed or been a bad president, but that he was never legitimately elected president in the first place.
Trump has in fact this past week demanded he be "reinstated" as the "rightful winner" of the 2020 election or that the election be re-run "immediately" because Facebook had been advised by the FBI not to trust certain stories about Biden's son, Hunter, during the 2020 campaign.
Trump continues to insist, after 20 months, that he won an election that he lost by more than 7 million in the popular vote and by 306-232 in the Electoral College. Neither he nor his acolytes have produced any evidence to undermine those totals. But they have eroded confidence in the system and its caretakers to the degree that a majority of Republicans tell pollsters they think the election was "stolen."
The rest of the GOP, including prominent leaders such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, would clearly prefer to talk about Biden and about inflation, gas prices, crime and immigration. But they cannot wrest the party's megaphone back from the man who has monopolized it since 2015. And whatever they think of Trump personally, they are as reliant as he is on the support and donations and votes of his followers. So they fall in line, or they fall silent.
The rise of election denial in the GOP
Moreover, a new generation of candidates has emerged and surged in GOP primaries by stressing their embrace of Trump's claims.
Trump has endorsed 159 candidates who are election deniers for state and federal offices this year, and about 80% of them have already won their Republican primaries, according to a survey by The New York Times. A separate survey by The Washington Post found 87 election deniers among candidates for offices that will matter to the vote certification of the next election in six battleground states he narrowly lost in 2020 (Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin). Of that number, 54 have already won their primaries.
"The 2020 election was stolen," say the MAGA candidates who wear Trump's favor, adding, "You know it and I know it." That statement of assurance is usually the only proof offered. And the crowd at the rally roars back its affirmation.
The "you know it and I know it" mantra is also available in a variety of display formats. You can go on Amazon today and order it on a package of 10 waterproof vinyl car decals, or go elsewhere for it on a doormat or on a polyester flag measuring 15 square feet.
From the standpoint of a fact-checker, there is no evidence of fraud sufficient to support that claim. After nearly two years of recounts, ballot reviews, expert examinations and court cases, that remains the bottom line. The 2020 election has been scrubbed and studied as none other in U.S. history, and the consensus conclusion remains that it was run more smoothly and counted more reliably than ever.
So why do Trump's people continue to deny the outcomes, and why do crowds cheer?
Perhaps, because in politics, myth can be as powerful as fact — and at times it may well be more so.
Claims of voter fraud have become integral to Trump's brand. But he did not invent the idea of a stolen election. He exploited it as no one had before, to be sure, but he was mining a lode that had been opened long ago and tapped as a rich source of grievance for generations.
For the "election deniers," and for many Americans who accept the 2020 results but still think voter fraud is a big problem, the roots of these beliefs are deep.
The Heritage Foundation, long an anchor on the right among think tanks in Washington, devotes a page of its website to voter fraud and offers a database of cases. It also offers a disquisition on ballot stuffing and voter intimidation and other forms of malfeasance common in the 1700s and 1800s and early 1900s.
The prime example cited by Heritage is an election stolen by the notorious Democratic machine in New York City known as Tammany Hall. It happened in 1844. More recent examples cited include a mayoral primary in East Chicago, Ind., in 2003.
The figure of 1,182 is cited for the total of criminal prosecutions for voter fraud in recent years, most of them dealing with improper registration or fraudulent use of absentee ballots. They are listed as 2022 cases, but on further inspection they date back over a period of years and arise from primaries as well as general elections. The database does not mention that in 2020 alone there were more than 50 million votes cast in primaries and more than 158 million in the November election.
William Safire was a White House speechwriter for President Richard Nixon who later spent decades writing columns on politics and language for The New York Times. In his popular New Political Dictionary, he wrote extensively on "ballot box stuffing" and "cemetery voting." He, too, went back to Tammany Hall rigging outcomes for the Democrats in New York City in the 1800s, while also allowing that the Republican strongholds in upstate New York were often suspect in their reporting as late as the 1920s.
Safire noted that many had believed the 1960 presidential election was tipped to John F. Kennedy and running mate Lyndon B. Johnson by vote theft in rural Texas counties and the heavily Catholic precincts of Chicago, where the Democratic machine of Mayor Richard J. Daley held sway. One story often repeated among Protestant Republicans in Illinois described school buses shuttling nuns around the city on Election Day, unloading them to vote at every Catholic parish they passed.
Still, in Safire's treatment, these phenomena were historical artifacts of an era before mechanized and later digitized voting became the norm and cheating became more challenging. The Florida vote counting fiasco in 2000, which struggled for weeks to ascertain a reliable result, ended the era of complacency on this score. In the end, the Supreme Court upheld a count by which George W. Bush won the state by just over 500 votes, thus securing Florida's crucial contribution to his minimum-margin win in the Electoral College.
Since then, the administration of U.S. elections has been thoroughly examined and renovated. The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) devoted billions to upgrading the election infrastructure, and many states instituted reforms of their own to facilitate and improve their voting and counting systems.
At the same time, the Bush White House was directing the Department of Justice to investigate thoroughly the possibility that voter fraud in major cities was padding the Democratic vote in swing states. The probe began in 2002 and five years later had little to show for its work. The federal Election Assistance Commission, tasked with finding fraud, reported that while some abuses had occurred, they were far from systematic or pervasive enough to matter much.
Nevertheless, the search went on and some U.S. attorneys around the country felt they were being pressured to prioritize prosecutions for voter fraud. Several resigned, and the allegations became part of the investigation Democrats began into the department after taking the majority in Congress in 2006. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, appointed by Bush in 2005, resigned in 2007.
Trump brings the issue back to the fore
Talk of voter fraud simmered down a bit thereafter. But the issue returned to prominence when Trump, after years of pumping up the "birther" conspiracy about Barack Obama's citizenship, shifted his focus to voter fraud in 2016. The only way he could lose, he said often that year, was if the election were stolen.
When he won that year, Trump still leveled angry allegations of voter fraud, perhaps because he had lost the national popular vote by nearly 3 million. He said between 3 million and 5 million non-citizens had voted in California alone, but he offered no proof whatsoever. He then appointed a bipartisan commission to find the proof, not just in California, but nationwide.
The commission was soon identified with the aggressive tactics of its vice chairman, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who had sent requests around the country for extensive voter data. Many states, both red and blue, resisted or flat out refused. Dissension broke out within the commission, which disbanded after seven months without having found any evidence of voter fraud.
Nonetheless, Trump was back in the 2020 cycle predicting he could only lose if there was fraud, and that stance once again segued into a fury of denial and denunciations when he lost. While he struck out in the courts at the state and federal level (the Supreme Court refused to hear any of the appeals), Trump took his case to the public and has had considerable success in sowing doubt among his sympathizers.
At least one of the other Republicans eyeing the 2024 presidential election cycle, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, has also made voter fraud a signature issue. In August, he held a news conference at which he announced the filing of charges against 20 Floridians who he said had voted illegally in 2020.
With rows of his "election police" posed behind him, DeSantis said he was outing ex-offenders who had no right to vote because of the seriousness of their crimes. It was later reported that at least some of the ex-offenders had believed their rights had been restored by a referendum Florida voters had approved by a big margin in 2018.
Ricky Hatch is a Republican in Weber County, Utah, who has been an election official there since 2012. He is among several local election administrators from around the country who appear in a forthcoming book by CBS News reporter Major Garrett and David Becker, a previous longtime elections lawyer with the Department of Justice who founded the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation and Research. In The Big Truth: Upholding Democracy in the Age of "The Big Lie," Garrett and Becker detail the travails of the ordinary citizens on the front lines of the voting struggle.
Hatch said some of his neighbors cannot be persuaded even when he personally demonstrates to them how all the machinery of the process works right there in their home county. "They say, 'I know your machines have been hacked by China,' " Hatch reports. "I show them there is no means to hack the machines, that nothing is connected. They just say, 'They have been hacked, you just don't know it.' "
Hatch says he has heard objections from skeptics over the years, but nothing like the wall of denialism erected by Trump.
"I hate saying this, but he has the same characteristics as a cult leader," Hatch says. "He pulls people into a belief system. I thought it would die down. ... It's getting stronger."
At a minimum, the issue of voter fraud seems undiminished in its ability to galvanize certain categories of voters and create doubt about the outcome of elections.
Perhaps that should not be surprising. Voter fraud exists, but its prevalence and importance are less a matter of fact than of belief. Relying on that belief to explain away unpalatable election results is an exercise of faith, but one that millions find more acceptable than all the arguments and evidence from experts, courts and academics.
In the end, articles of faith are just that. Whether you consider faith to be higher than reason or simply unreasonable, such beliefs can be largely immune to factual refutation or rational argument. And they can be powerful motivators of human behavior, including at the polls.
Ron Elving
Ron Elving is Senior Editor and Correspondent on the Washington Desk for NPR News, where he is frequently heard as a news analyst and writes regularly for NPR.org.
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The purchase of accounting software is a popular decision among business owners. Having this type of program ensures that you will have the best tools available to manage your finances and other aspects of your company, saving time and money.
There are many benefits to purchasing this type of software, which is why it’s important to research before making a final decision about what you want to buy. This article will help you find the right accounting software for your business needs by exploring several different things that it offers.
Freshbooks
QuickBooks, the best-selling accounting software in North America for more than 20 years, helps more than 5 million small businesses across 190 countries track their finances easily and accurately.
With just one login, you can access everything you need to run and grow your business – from managing inventory, tracking sales tax rates, calculating payroll, invoicing customers (and collecting payments), paying bills online, and much more – so you can focus on what matters most: running your business. In addition, QuickBooks Online is backed by the industry’s best service and support, so you can feel confident doing your accounting on the cloud.
See all your data in one place: payroll, invoices, bills, payments, and more —all in real-time.
Automatically track sales tax for all the states and counties you do business in and get instant access to rate updates.
Get a 360⁰ view of your business with a customer, vendor, employee, and item cards so you can see a complete picture of everything that matters to your bottom line.
Save time with intelligent automation, including automatic notifications about important events or reminders to pay bills on time.
Freshbooks
Many businesses today need to rely on the accounting software to keep their books in order. In recent years, accounting software has become more advanced and easy to use. Freshbooks is one of the leading accounting software companies that offer great features for busy entrepreneurs.
Freshbooks is a cloud-based software that comes with several features to help the user manage his bookkeeping and accounting. The software allows you to track both your business and personal expenses. In addition, it offers advanced features that allow you to generate reports on any aspect of your business quickly.
Easy payments and bank integration. Setting up bank account integration and online credit card payments are just a few clicks away from your account set up in Freshbooks. In addition, the software can integrate with leading bank accounts which makes it easy to keep track of all transactions without having to update spreadsheets or other applications manually. Each of these features is very easy to set up.
Multi-user support. Freshbooks is a website that can be accessed by multiple users simultaneously. As long as you have permission from the user who created the account, it is possible to access the account from a different location to track its transactions, view reports, and other features.
Easy to use accessing. The application is effortless through a computer or mobile device with an internet connection at all times during business hours. You only need to input your login information, and it will automatically open for you, allowing you access on the go as needed. In addition, the system remembers what you have entered in previous sessions, so logging in every time will not be necessary after a few months.
Convenient features. The application also comes with several features that help streamline your business and personal accounts. For example, it offers a trip log, invoice templates, expense tracking, invoicing, and time tracking, among others. All of these features are designed to make it easy for you to keep track of your finances without the hassle of going through manual recordkeeping that can be less organized if not appropriately managed.
Mobile accessibility. Freshbooks is the only accounting software company that offers mobile applications through its website. This feature is very convenient when you need to access your account on the go without calling on a desktop computer or laptop.
Xero is accounting software that's designed to make financial management easier. It helps businesses manage their finances, pay employees and bills, and collect money owed to them by customers. With Xero, you can monitor your business' finances in real-time and generate reports for increased visibility into your business operations.
Xero is available on the web, Android, and iOS platforms, and it also works with Windows. It's free to download and set up, but you'll need a company account to get started. Xero does not offer monthly or quarterly fees; the company only charges for renewals, so once you've signed up, you're good to go.
A cloud-based financial management system that works on any device with an internet connection.
Works with Windows, Mac OS X, Android, and iOS platforms; available as an online app
Free to set up and use; you'll need a company account to get started
Reviewing and approving expenses made easy with expense reports that include all the details you need to verify an expense and approve payment for it. Approved reports can be automatically sent via email from your Xero account.
Shopping cart integration with major online shopping destinations allows you to quickly receive payments through Xero’s merchant network. You can even take orders from mobile devices; simply scan the bar code of the items, and they are added directly to your customer's invoice in Xero.
The Sage 50cloud accounting software is a multi-user accounting package that efficiently manages both your business and personal tax return. You can use the app to submit your tax return by scanning or manually inputting information.
The program automatically calculates and guides you with different calculation options, including withholding, payroll, HRA, and more. You can even import filed returns if you import an excel file or upload bank statements online from your account at Chase Quickpay.
Sage 50cloud easily documents transactions in customizable depreciation schedules for all of your assets. Sage 50cloud also includes built-in Quickbooks integration so that you can easily transfer data into this popular accounting software and any other major software of choice.
A U.S.-based customer support team provides support for Sage 50cloud.
The program supports both Mac and PC users.
Sage 50cloud is compatible with Quickbooks and Quickbooks Enterprise, plus Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook). In addition, the app allows customized reports to be created with different options and reports for each client account.
You can export data from the app to files in an excel file format if you want to transfer the information to your accounting software of choice. This allows you to easily import the data into Quickbooks or other major accounting software platforms for processing and reporting results.
Wave accounting software is easy-to-use and powerful accounting software. Functionality and rich features make this a reliable choice for both small businesses and large companies.
Providing comprehensive financial tracking, consistent reporting tools, streamlined processes, and customizable dashboards manages the entire budget for any size company. Wave is also effortless to install and use.
Its intuitive interface, built-in payroll, integrated customer management features, and powerful reporting tools mean less time managing your finances, so you can focus on taking care of your customers. In addition, with Wave accounting software, you can access your data from anywhere with an Internet connection.
All you need is an internet browser and an Internet connection. You can also connect to other applications that allow you to send emails, manage timesheets, use checklists, and more.
Wave is simple but powerful accounting software. It provides comprehensive financial tracking so you can view your expenses, cut expenses and manage the budget for your entire business.
You can track inventory costs right into your accounting ledger. Categorize sales by customer (enterprise, public sector, educational institutions), product type, and date range, then create customized reports on any part of the process or in any section of your company.
Wave has a timesheet feature, so you don't have to worry about keeping records of different time systems, like labor hours or billable time.
What Is Accounting Software?
Accounting software automates specific invoicing and expenses tracking tasks while maintaining an accurate history of all transactions in an electronic format. The hardcopy version of this program is only necessary when you need to reference an older report. In addition, you can use accounting software to keep track of your revenue and expenses, which derives its name.
The best accounting software programs are user-friendly, so you don’t have to be an expert to use the program. In addition, you can customize these software programs to fit your needs by changing the fonts, colors, and even the look and feel of the program.
There are several different types of accounting software that you can purchase for your business. The most popular type is a complete package that includes a full suite of modules and offices for invoicing, expense tracking, management reporting, and more.
The other three types include budgeting, integrated office suites, and individual modules. Budgeting software is available for small businesses looking to keep track of their income and expenses. Integrated office suites are ideal for larger companies that need to manage multiple modules such as payroll, sales order processing, and inventory tracking in one location.
There are many benefits to purchasing accounting software. The most common benefit is that it is a complete package of modules that can’t be configured or changed once you buy it.
The other benefits of accounting software include the speed at which you can upload reports, the convenience of accessing these reports from any computer, and the fact that you can easily compare different company’s financial records. It also helps you keep track of employees and purchases so your business will run more effectively.
The three most essential benefits are increased efficiency, accuracy, and security. Accounting software helps your business run more efficiently by allowing you to store information electronically instead of having to keep physical copies of documents such as checks and invoices that can become misplaced or damaged.
The accuracy of accounting software is an excellent benefit because it helps you avoid making mistakes in financial reports by using the program’s built-in functions and formulas to perform certain calculations. Ensuring your data is secure when using computing programs is another benefit because you don’t have to worry about anyone gaining access to it on a computer that doesn’t have proper security set up.
Any business owner who needs to keep track of their employees and finances will benefit from accounting software. Both small businesses use accounting software and large corporations to keep track of their daily activity. The types of businesses that use accounting software are manufacturers, wholesalers, banks, retailers, professional service companies, nonprofits, and franchise owners.
There are several standard features that all accounting software has. The first feature is the ability to upload invoices and purchase orders. Uploading documents allows you to use special formatting for these items, such as categories, so that you can keep track of them easily.
The second feature is the ability to calculate income and expenses, allowing you to easily create reports that will show your business’s financial activity for a specific period. The third feature is the ability to organize your data by using tags for each piece of information to manage it effectively and efficiently.
You can also access your accounting data online via a network server. This allows you to update the program remotely. This feature is excellent when you need to update financial records in your business for some reason or another; instead of manually updating your data.
If you are looking for sound accounting software, you should consider the features that the software offers. Take a look at this list before making a final decision:
Online billing features allow you to send invoices and generate reports online. This saves time and helps keep paper costs so your company will be able to take advantage of tax season rather than having to run all over town.
Built-in payroll feature lets your employees submit their time cards directly from their computer through an easy process so your business stays on top of its compliance deadlines and can avoid fines or penalties.
Invoicing will become more efficient with online payment features. For example, you can process credit card payments as well as e-check payments. This saves you the need to print large batches of invoices and hopes that they are paid on time.
Payroll management from your phone is a huge benefit to business owners who might not always be in their office. With payroll management, you can add or edit employee information and enter paystubs even when you are at home or out to dinner with your family.
Online backup features allow you to keep track of important data at all times. For example, most accounting software systems automatically back up your accounting data daily and can restore data to its original location if needed.
Billing automation features are very valuable if you have clients with automatic payment plans. You can log in and see when payments are due, get email notifications about payments and track what invoices have come in or have been paid for the day to ensure that you stay on top of your money.
Workflow automation features help you stay organized even when you have a lot going on in your business. For example, you can see which jobs are assigned to which employees at any time during the day, so there is never any miscommunication about who is doing what.
Expense reports are offered, which show users how much money they have spent during the day. The expense report will allow you to see who is spending how much and for what purpose so there is no confusion over who is responsible for paying for what.
Manufacturing companies that use accounting software will benefit from the ability to streamline inventory control. In accounting software, you can create a database for your products and record how many different items you have in stock. This is beneficial because it allows you to easily track your inventory and see what’s selling the most based on sales history.
The same is true for service companies also benefit from this type of software because they can keep track of their time and expenses by using the expense tracking feature. They can also easily create invoices with our expense reports to track their revenue without manually entering information into the program’s invoice module.
Also, franchise owners benefit from this type of software because they can easily create a database for all of their franchises and track teaching franchise’s growth and losses.
Choosing accounting software that is right for your company can be a difficult decision. First, you want to make sure you select a compatible program with your computer and have the modules you need to run your business.
The first step in choosing a program is to evaluate the requirements of your business. For example, if you only need to keep track of one aspect of your finances, such as inventory, you have more options than if you had to manage all aspects of financial activity at your company.
Choose a program that will easily view your financial activity; a good program will have great graphical features that will help you understand your company’s economic activity. Also, you want to choose a program with an easy-to-use interface that is simple and doesn’t include many functions.
After choosing the software, there are many other factors to consider, such as price, features, and customer support. In addition, some programs allow you to use programs from other sources to be more cost-conscious when using accounting software.
Some software used for accounting is QuickBooks Online, LivePlan, PeopleSoft, and Oracle. This software is an excellent way to keep track of money and transactional data professionally. Some of this software also offers payroll for small companies.
QuickBooks is better than Quicken because it has a simpler user interface and it offers greater flexibility. QuickBooks also has many different features that manage your day-to-day activities, such as inventory management, sales and payroll reviews, and process automation.
However, while QuickBooks is more flexible than Quicken, the latter does have a greater variety of plugins. And for accounting purposes specifically focused on small businesses instead of large corporations, I recommend using Quicken, which can be downloaded for free.
Quickbooks is the all-in-one accounting software you need for your small business. It is used by some of the biggest brands in the world, like Nike and McDonald's. However, many small businesses fail to use it because they could not afford this expensive software. Quickbooks have many features that may be helpful to your business, but they can also be confusing and overwhelming if you do not know how or when to use them.
My name is Alex Iskold and I am a Founder and Managing Partner at 2048 Ventures – a first-check venture firm. I am an investor in over 100 early stage companies. Startup Hacks is a collection of the blog posts that I’ve written over the years for the founders.
This page is organized as a simple index by topic so that you can scroll through. If you are looking for the archive instead, visit Recent Posts.
I hope you find this page, and the topics helpful. Please feel free to drop me a note with feedback at alex @ 2048 dot vc, and let me know what other startup topics you’d like me to write about.
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It’s easy to pick out any mattress you like and call it a day. Yes, you’ll save dollars and perhaps some time from researching but if you spend too many nights on a random mattress, and you’ll start wondering the reason you wake up exhausted and exhausted than the previous night.
Purple Mattress aims to solve that by studying the elements that make a comfortable sleep even better with some proprietary technologies like their Purple Grid Layer, which gives the mattress a certain experience that is distinct than other mattresses on the market. This article will look over the possibility of whether Purple Mattress is the right choice to make your next mattress purchase.
Before you go on, you may want to check out this video by Mac Dingle on YouTube that gives a quick review. After, you will want to read the rest of the article for a more comprehensive review of Purple Mattress.
The Purple Mattress, or simply “The Purple,” is a mattress made of all foam, which means no springs, that uses Purple’s own grid layer which uses a “hyper-elastic polymer.” This layer, referred to as the Purple Grid Layer, is comprised of a comfort layer and a support layer made from polyfoam.
The Purple comes in at a single firmness level-medium-firm and is sold in different sizes delivered straight to your door. This is in line with the growing trend of DTC or direct-to-consumer mattress firms which use less overhead to enhance the product the mattress itself.
Purple is a name that has been thrown around especially twins Terry and Tony Pearce, who are experts in manufacturing and materials, respectively. They used both their expertise to develop modern versions of things they felt required more care in terms of structure and comfort.
The result was the creation of Floam, a high-tech cushioning fluid used in various products including footwear and medical instruments. The problem of Floam has been that the product was only available to institutions since the cost to create the technology was costly.
The brothers set out to design a lower costing Floam and eventually developed their Hyper-elastic Polymer, which they patent. Flexible, soft, and durable, the Hyper-elastic polymer quickly became the primary element that creates a Purple mattress comfortable and supple in the same way.
How is it Different from What is it that makes this mattress different from Usual Mattress?
Purple comes in various sizes, starting from twin size to California King, and offers the famous cushioning their unique fabrics provide. The “Purple Grid” is a fundamental element of what makes Purple a special mattress as it functions like memory foam but gives a more responsive bounce. This layer is manufactured with a grid structure that allows airflow to pass via the spaces between the foams, which regulates temperature without sacrificing your overall cushion.
The mattress’s construction is exemplary. Each mattress comes with 2-inches of Purple proprietary grid on top of an additional 3.5-inch foam layer. This is further supported by four inches of high-density polyfoam. a standard in most foam mattresses, to give the entire cushion shape and shape.
The construction is enhanced by a polyester-viscose blended fabric that helps regulate temperature and gives an excellent cool touch. Expect each mattress to be around 9.25 inches tall which is sufficient for the majority of body shapes, and applicable for all standard sheets.
To put it into the terms of a layman, you can expect a mattress that is semi-firm (called “medium-firm”) at a reasonable price while delivering high-end materials and superior quality. Additionally, Purple comes with several variations, including the Hybrid or the Hybrid Premier. People who are used to coil-support mattresses can opt for these hybrids to get a similar experience, but with the added benefit of Purple’s exclusive technologies.
What Benefits Can I Expect?
But how does this really compare to the normal mattress? And how does this benefit you as the sleeping person? While there are numerous aspects to sleep and the elements that influence it, certain commonly-accepted aspects are to be considered when you buy the mattress.
Stress Relief also known as Pressure Relief or Pressure Relief, as one refer to it, is one of the most vital points of owning the Purple mattress. If you’ve ever had to wake up with a sore back or always stretch out in the morning then you’re likely sleeping in an unsupportive mattress that offers little stress relief and not enough support within the structure.
The Purple Grid is probably one of the main reasons Purple shines when it comes to decreasing pressure and alleviating stress over your body. The grid’s proprietary technology helps shape the body for an incredibly soft and supportive feeling. A lot of lower-end mattresses have the problem of sleeping too far in; with this Purple mattress (the first and all of variants) You will find the right amount of softness and the right amount of support that you can lay down without sinking entirely down.
This is particularly important for those who suffer from pain in certain sleeping positions. A good pressure relieving will mitigate this discomfort-which is all the more essential to certain sleep positions.
One of the most overlooked aspects of mattresses essential in their general quality the way they maintain their shape when weight is distributed around the sides– the mattress quality is often referred to as “structure retention.” This is often where all-foam mattresses falter as they lack structural support explicitly based on their materials.
As for Purple mattresses, the original bed definitely has the same problem that all foam mattresses have with regard to structure retention. Because of their more elastic materials Purple Original Purple Original does tend to retain its shape more. This will definitely help those who need the most surface area as more edge retention will give you the possibility of using the entirety of the bed without having to worry about sinking.
It is further enhanced by the Purple Hybrid and Hybrid Premier versions, as they feature inner coil springs. This old but still useful technology is used in a variety of mattresses available today. These hybrid mattresses combine the elasticity of Purple’s grid layer and the durability of copper coils, giving you more responsive edgesthat keep you in the bed in the times you have to, and off it when you do not.
One aspect of the mattress that affects the quality of your sleep is the way it regulates your body temperature. Although you might not think that mattresses cool by the nature of their materials, many mattresses available are designed specifically to have gaps between the foam in order to allow air to circulate.
The problem with all-foam mattresses is they are prone to hold heat, particularly ones made from memory foam. Unlike coil-mattress, the heat generated from your body’s friction and movement doesn’t have any place to go, so heat can quickly build up.
However, the Purple line of mattresses solves this issue primarily because (again) in part) to its top-most elastic Purple grid layer. Since the Purple grid was created with large spaces, air can move more freely between all the foam layers. This helps avoid the dreaded trapped heat issue that many mattresses face and helps keep you at a comfortable level all night.
One of the mattress aspects that you probably will see frequently on informationmercials is those that show “motion transfer” or the degree to which the mattress is in transferring movement across the surface. It’s usually demonstrated with a glasses of liquid (or wine) situated on one end of the bed and something heavier drop onto the other (usually bowling ball or a person to show the weight). A good motion transfer-resistant bed would ensure that the glass would not tip over in spite of the sudden movements to the opposite side.
Generally speaking, you’ll need mattresses that have minimal motion transfer as this keeps you sleeping when someone comes in or exits the mattress. The most important thing you’ll want is for you and your belongings to suddenly jump up when someone is seated on the mattress. In contrast to the issues that result from temperature regulation foam mattresses actually have a distinct advantage since they naturally transfer little to no movement between sides. This is particularly true of the Purple mattress original. It still uses the same materials for foundation as other foam mattresses. It is however enhanced with a newer top layer of hyper-elastic foam.
However, be aware that Purple Hybrid and Hybrid Premier mattresses may carry over the slightest amount of movement on their surface due to their use of inner-coil mechanisms. In exchange for support you lose in the isolation of movement. While it’s not the same as full-on in-seam mattresses don’t think you’ll be able to be able balance a bowling ball and a glass of wine on the same mattress without it leading to the creation of a mess.
As a result of the concepts of movement isolation and structure retention is the notion that mattresses can be mobile. Whenever a mattress touts its ability to mold to your body, it is reasonable to also expect some aspect of motion inhibition. Naturally, it is difficult to get out of the bed if you feel covered by the mattress.
Although this isn’t a problem for most sleeping people, certain customers would like a bit more flexibility or “bounce in the opposite direction” from the mattress. Purple is able to balance this well, despite being an all-foam mattress. Memory foam generally has the issue of completely sinking the body of the user and making it difficult to get up. The proprietary Purple grid is the reason because it can mimic memory foam contouring but improved on it by adding an extra layer of elasticity.
You can expect this ease of movement to be enhanced even further with their Hybrid and Hybrid Premier variants. Mattresses made of innerspring typically have better performance in terms of movement than memory foam.
Mattress experts often suggest certain types of cushioning for various types of sleepers. If you’re not sure what kind of sleeper you may be, just observe the position you usually find yourself in during the evening. You can generally be characterized as one of three types that include Back, Side as well as Stomach Sleepers. What’s the Purple mattress’s performance for each of these categories?
This is the primary target market for Purple as their mattresses provide pressure relief, with side sleepers in mind. If you’re a side sleeper you should expect to have support for your spinal alignment. You should get the correct amount of support, so you don’t get any painful pressure points over the night. If you’re a heavier-set person You may require more support than the one that Purple offers.
Back sleepers also need the support of your lumbar region and a bit of pressure relief. For heavier sleepers, you may prefer more firm mattresses as Purple could feel too soft, and these sleepers may end up sinking into the mattress too deeply. If you’re between 130-230 points, this should be the best option for you. But, your preferences will differ from person to.
The problem of support is getting more common in stomach sleepers. They’ll certainly require a much firmer support foundation to stop the accumulation of pressure points that could strain necks, shoulders, or lower backs. Being a stomach sleeper who weighs morethat is more than 130 poundscertainly requires more firmer mattress.
How Much is a Purple Mattress?
Original Purple mattress keeps entry costs lower to its twin mattress so that even the most hesitant users are able to enjoy the Purple difference with little hurt in their pocket. For $599, you can enjoy their twin mattress shipped directly to your home. For more standard sizes like Queen and King, expect to spend more than the $1000 mark, which is $1,199 and $1.499, respectively. Purple Mattress Changes Original Mattress Design
If you’re considering purchasing the Purple Hybrid or the Hybrid Premier, expect to pay close to double or even triple the cost of the initial mattress. This keeps the Hybrid mattresses a bit out of range for users with a tight budget, or for those who aren’t sure about purchasing from Purple. Purple Mattress Changes Original Mattress Design
The best thing about Purple the mattress is that they offer an overnight trial of 100 nights that can help you try out the mattress prior to making a decision to purchase. Make sure you’re able to sleep on your mattress for 21 consecutive nights in order to complete its “break-in” period. If you’re unhappy with the mattress, get a full refund for no cost. Contact Purple to have your purchase reversed.
Purple mattress is an excellent alternative for those looking for a plush yet sturdy mattress that keeps its shape better than memory foam, adds flexibility, and retains the contouring feature that foam mattress owners love. It also has some extra options like a reasonable temperature control and motion isolation, making it more durable than your typical mattress. Purple Mattress Changes Original Mattress Design
The cost is fairly easy to get into and is especially so when you’re choosing an oversized twin for your starter room. However, be aware that larger and higher-priced models could easily triple or double the cost you’ll pay. In any case there is the option of using their trial of 100 days– just be sure to use it within 21 days of “break-in” time. Purple Mattress Changes Original Mattress Design
Suppose you’re heavier than average in weight and you’re an average side sleeper. If that’s the case the mattress recommendations are double since it provides sufficient support to the way you sleep. If you’re on the heavier side, and you typically lie on your stomach you might want to go for a mattress with a bit more support.
If you’re looking for a more suitable alternative, it might be good to consider different mattress brands, such as DreamCloud. DreamCloud offers a variety of mattresses with varying firmness, so you can enjoy a more comfortable mattress when you require it, and a soft mattress for times you do not. Additionally, DreamCloud does come up somewhat more affordable, so those worried about spending might be able to benefit from taking a look at DreamCloud a check.
Frequently Asked Questions Purple Mattress Changes Original Mattress Design
Does Purple have Additional Services like Mattress Removal?
Unlike other direct-to-consumer mattresses, Purple does not have what would call an “white-glove” services that will take care of your old bed or services like mattress set-up. If you buy a Purple mattress, then you’ll have to handle the removal of your old mattress and setting up the new mattress. Be sure to allow the Purple mattress a few hours to expand before using it, since it normally comes in compressed in a box.
Do I have a warranty with Purple Mattress? Purple Mattress?
There are two separate warranties available for Purple mattresses, one that handles the outer cover , and one for the inside. For your cover you will get at minimum 2 years of coverage for any defect that the cover may have. As for the interior, you will have at least 10 years of warranty that covers all defects. Be sure to into consideration that body indentations- caused by heavier sleepers or simply frequent useare not covered under warranty if they are less than 1 inch in deep. Customers will also need to cover any relevant shipping costs that will occur with delivery and return.
How does Shipping work with Purple Mattress?
Purple mattress ships via FedEx to all 48 contiguous states in the US however, customers from Hawaii, Alaska, and Canada must pay for shipping. For international customers, Purple has yet to ship to any international address.
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The Monastery was situated at the end of the world. Since the beginning of time it had been sitting high up in that remote valley of the Himalayas. For generations, the monks followed their daily routines as laid out in the scriptures. The common prayers. The fasting. The meditation.
The more profane activities were also defined by routine: When to sweep out one’s cell. When to replace the prayer flags that the cold wind had turned to rags. When to put on winter robes. It was as if the ways of doing the little things of monastic life had been infused by a sense of importance, by a consciousness that, forgotten by the outer world, this monastery was the very source of one of the essential pillars of human existence.
Han had been with the novices for more than a year now. He liked it up here. Everything was calm. Everything was ordered. Even the weather was better than down in the big valley. He realised how this life of routine made him forget bit by bit his youth and childhood down in the bustling villages of the valley.
At the back of the monastery was the factory. Its large halls and the chimney looked quite different from the outside than the huts and temples for the monks. The wafts of noise, though no real disturbance, were also slightly at odds with the authoritative silence of the courtyards and gardens.
Novices were not allowed in the factory. Han’s Lama had told him that only years of spiritual practice and maturity prepared you to grasp the dimensions of the wonders that happened in there. For now, it was enough to be patient.
One day, Han was in the garden tending to a particularly nasty patch of beetroot, when he overheard a conversation between senior monks from the other side of the hedge.
“…we have to make less of them, all there.”
“But what about demand?”
“Well, you can’t have everything. People just have to make do with less.”
“We do have to move with the times. And the word of the day is efficiency! What else would you do?”
“We could go industrial! Produce batches and series, that kind of thing.”
“You mean many identical copies? But that would be boring!”
“More than boring it would be dangerous. Just imagine people found out they have identical copies. It would be a disaster. No, I think we have to go in the other direction. What if we emphasized the value more? Kind of make it more exclusive and appreciated?”
“You mean for special occasions only?”
“Yeah, somehow…” The voice didn’t sound too convinced.
“Listen. If you look at it, it’s a fact that people don’t really grasp what we’re doing anyway.”
“Yeah, people don’t, you’re right. It’s a shame no one has ever thanked us for the invaluable gift we are giving them every day!”
“Now watch your modesty, brother! I wouldn’t want to think you don’t venerate the spirit of this monastery.”
Han was so surprised at this change of tone, that he dropped his hark. It made a loud clank.
Three curious faces appeared above the hedge.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear anything!” Han wailed.
“Oh don’t worry, we’re only discussing some things for the factory,” said one of the monks. “It’s not a secret, you know.”
“But we novices are not allowed to go there.”
“You are not ready to see what’s going on in there, boy. But there’s no harm hearing us talk about it.”
Han grasped the opportunity in the blink of an eye: “So – why is it you want to change something?”
“You see, it is getting more and more difficult to recruit novices like yourself for the monastery. It seems people don’t appreciate this way of life anymore. They have more prosperous things to do. So we need to prepare for the future. Tighten our belts, that sort of thing.”
Han showed that he was quick on the uptake. “You know that down in the valley I worked in production. Maybe it is something I can help?”
“Did you really? Now there’s something!” The speaker looked quickly at his colleagues. “Well – let’s hear you out. What would you suggest?”
“Well, down in the valley the big thing was modularisation. You make one or two standards of the core, and then you just individualise the fringes. It makes a huge difference on the cost side, and people still believe they have their own individual copy.”
Again, the three men exchanged glances.
“Now that’s very interesting indeed. And you have seen how it’s done?”
“I helped the task force that introduced it in our watch factory. I suppose I could offer you my experience.”
“What a wonderful coincidence! And did it always work?”
“Sure!”
“And how long do you think it would take us to change?”
“It took us about half a year.”
“Now that is something! We must speak to the Prior immediately and see what we can do about this novice status of yours. You absolutely must get access to the factory by tomorrow! – I can feel we are joining the industrial world at last! Just the thought that in six months’ time we will be shipping out a new, modularised type of product!”
“I’m sorry but I still don’t know what your product is down there. I’m still a novice.”
“Oh, I’m sure no-one will be bothered if we let you know right away, given that you’ve practically started in your new role. You see, since the dawn of time we’re the one secret place in the world that creates people’s dreams.”
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You may have seen him turning into a sheepdog on “The Shaggy Dog,” tragically killing his dog in “Old Yeller” or as the know-it-all brother in “Swiss Family Robinson.”
Life for fresh-faced, slightly goofy Tommy Kirk seemed sunny in those 1950s movies at Walt Disney Studios. He was one of the studio’s top stars and even was part of the Mickey Mouse Club in the “Hardy Boy” series with Tim Considine. He was wholesome, clean cut and quirky-things that easily won over Disney audiences.
But as Kirk grew out of those kid roles in the early 1960s, life started to drastically change. Like most child stars, the transition from family movies to teen movies can be difficult. Studios and audiences don’t like you because you aren’t as cute and are going through the awkward years of growing up. However, it’s harder for a child star when they are gay.
It was becoming apparent that adult Tommy Kirk was gay and this didn’t fit into Walt Disney’s family-friendly, perfect studio.
“Even more than MGM, Disney [in the early 1960s] was the most conservative studio in town. They were growing aware. They weren’t stupid. They could add two and two, and I think they were beginning to suspect my homosexuality,” Kirk said. “I noticed people in certain quarters were getting less and less friendly. In 1963 Disney didn’t renew my option and let me go. But Walt let me return to do the final Merlin Jones movie, ‘The Monkey’s Uncle,’ because those were moneymakers for the studio.” (Taken from IMDB)
Kirk said his teen years were a very unhappy time for him. He had also been marked as box office poison after movies like “Village of Giants” (1965) and “Mars Needs Women” (1967). Kirk’s career could have been saved by a potential role in “The Sons of Katie Elder” (1965) with John Wayne. Unfortunately, he went to a party where people were smoking marijuana. The party was busted, Kirk was arrested and newspapers printed “Ex- Disney Child Star Arrested for Pot.” He was fired from the film.
Not only was his career floundering, but once he accepted he was gay, he had no way to meet people or express himself.
“I knew I was gay, but I had no outlet for my feelings. It was very hard to meet people and, at that time, there was no place to go to socialize,” Kirk said. “It wasn’t until the early sixties that I began to hear of places where gays congregated. When I was about 17 or 18 years old, I finally admitted to myself that I wasn’t going to change. I didn’t know what the consequences would be, but I had the definite feeling that it was going to wreck my Disney career and maybe my whole acting career.
Eventually, I became involved with somebody and I was fired. Disney was a family film studio and I was supposed to be their young, leading man. After they found out I was involved with someone, that was the end of Disney.” (Taken from IMDB)
Though Kirk’s acting career went into the mid and late 1960s when codes and morals were beginning to loosen, there was no way for him to portray a gay man on screen.
Tommy Kirk and Annette Funicello. The two starred in several films together including “Pajama Party”
Quite on the opposite side, Kirk was in highly heterosexual all-American teenage romance beach films. In “Pajama Party” (1964) with Annette Funicello, Kirk plays a Martian that doesn’t understand romance or how to woo women. Funicello’s character teaches the Martian-named Go Go- how to show affection in order to make her boyfriend jealous. Teaching Kirk how to romance a woman in a film almost makes me wonder if it was a jab at him.
Kirk quit acting by the early 1970s, saying that he got sick of it and stopped. He now runs a carpet and upholstery cleaning business, according to IMDB.
For a child star who struggled so much, Tommy Kirk is really forgotten today. Books like “Screen World Presents: Encyclopedia of Hollywood Film Actors” mentions in the last few sentences about his career, “It was not until years later that Kirk was fired after word got out about his homosexuality.”
Other books like “Queering Teen Culture” by Jeffery Dennis don’t discuss the hurt or ruin that Kirk experienced. The book mainly seems to focus on the silly roles he was in and how overly sexual the males were in beach movies.
For somebody that stared in most of the live-action Disney classics, you don’t hear anything about him. I wonder if it has to do with Disney still trying to keep appearances.
From interviews I’ve seen in recent years, Tommy Kirk seems to be bitter from the experience. I can’t say that I blame him.
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This entry was posted in Star Profile and tagged Annette Funicello, Old Yellar, Swiss Family Robinson, Tommy Kirk by Jnpickens. Bookmark the permalink.
41 thoughts on “The story of Tommy Kirk”
Rachel on June 27, 2011 at 3:09 PM said:
This is heartbreaking. I remember Tommy Kirk from all those old Disney movies. He was always a sweet, gentle presence on film, without being annoyingly wholesome.
Jnpickens on June 27, 2011 at 4:28 PM said:
I know it, it really makes me sad. I’ve always really enjoyed his movies. And you are right, he’s always sweet and funny and played well against Kevin Corcoran (usually played his little brothers in movies) and was so annoying! lol
Caroline on June 27, 2011 at 4:21 PM said:
Great discussion of Tommy Kirk’s conflict with Disney. I love him as an actor and I remember as a kid having a huge crush on him in Swiss Family Robinson. It’s really a shame that Disney was not more loyal to the stars who raked in so much dough for them. Thank you for contributing to the blogathon!
Jnpickens on June 27, 2011 at 4:30 PM said:
Thanks! He was a really good actor and I think I had a crush on him too at one point (of course I always had the major hots for James MacArthur in Swiss Family Robinson haha )
It is a shame about Disney. Annette and Mousketeers had such a wonderful experience there but Tommy Kirk had such a different one.
Alex Piotrowski on October 7, 2011 at 3:30 AM said:
Tommy Kirk’s acting, especialy in “Pl’ Yeller” was great. His homosexuality had nothing to do with his acting ability. Of course back in the late 50’s and early 60’s, being gay was a death sentence for any actor who was outed. I’m not interestyed in his gay lifestyle, I just enjoyed the movies he made for Disney. And as I said, during the period of malimg “Ol’ Yeller:, being gay was a vdeat sentence for the actor AND a studio that hired a gay. I’m hetro, myself, but I liked his acting ability. I still watch re-runs of Disney movies with Tommy Kirk, and it doesn’t bother me that he’s gay. It’s the performance and his acting is what interested me.
Jnpickens on October 7, 2011 at 11:00 AM said:
Tommy Kirk is certainly one of Disney’s best child actors. He did a great job in all of his films and made the studio a great deal of money.
The post isn’t an attack on his acting ability at all, it is bringing attention to how Hollywood (specifically Walt Disney) treated homosexuals and how it could kill your career.
Walt dropped Kirk’s contract when he became a teenager because of his sexual preference. Kirk was burned by Hollywood just because he wanted to be himself-something that people obviously weren’t always as free to do in the 1950s and 1960s like they are now. If someone came out wearing a meat dress like Lady Gaga, it would have ruined your career.
The post was for a blogathon about homosexuality in films-how it is portrayed, how it helped/ruined actors careers, etc.
Thank you for commenting.
Susan Keck on June 27, 2011 at 4:51 PM said:
It is a shame particularly given that TODAY Disney is MORE than understanding about homosexuality. However, that said, today Disney still isn’t that loyal to their big money makers.
Angela on June 29, 2011 at 3:27 PM said:
They really have come a long way since over the years, at least in terms of supporting their gay employees anyway. Once I was thinking for applying for a job with Disney and when I was looking through their employee benefits, I noticed that a lot of their benefits covered both spouses and domestic partners. It’s just too bad Tommy Kirk didn’t get that kind of support from them.
Jnpickens on July 4, 2011 at 4:30 PM said:
Wow, that is definitely interesting. I think alot of places started becoming more open about things in the 1990s. It really is sad about Tommy. I hope Disney Studios and him have buried the hatchet. I guess they have though, since another comment said he was honored in 2006 and has also been on some Disney and TCM interviews.
Rick29 on June 27, 2011 at 8:18 PM said:
Disney did honor Tommy Kirk as one of its “Disney Legends” in 2006. I’m thinking he was interviewed on one of the DVD releases of his Disney films (maybe SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON) and didn’t sound bitter toward Disney now. He was certainly a natural actor as a young teen, especially in OLD YELLER and SHAGGY DOG. I always enjoyed his performances.
Ivan G Shreve Jr on June 28, 2011 at 11:11 AM said:
I had a passing familiarity with Kirk’s homosexuality but I really like how you filled in a great deal of background and details in this piece. Susan’s observation of how the company eventually became more tolerant has me wondering if Kirk ever visits the theme park on the Gay Appreciation Days.
Jnpickens on June 28, 2011 at 11:25 AM said:
Thanks I actually found a good bit of it on IMDB, which was surprising. I was disappointed that I couldn’t find more books about it. However, I was only using Google books so maybe there have been some written about him that weren’t on there.
Hm, good point about him attending Gay Appreciation Days. I honestly have no idea. I think I may sleuth around and see if I can find any old articles about it. If he was there, surely someone covered it.
By the way, I really enjoyed your post on Caged! Such a good movie but so disturbing at parts!
Grand Old Movies on June 28, 2011 at 10:57 PM said:
What an interesting, but sad story. Hollywood seems to have a history of badly treating its popular actors who happen to be gay. William Haines was forced to quit his career at MGM in the 1930s after Louis Mayer made him choose between movies or his lover; Haines chose his lover and left MGM, after making a lot of money for the studio. It must have been doubly hard on Tommy Kirk, since he began acting as a child at Disney; it must have felt like such a betrayal to him. I wonder if things have changed all that much for actors today, though. Thanks for your post!
Jnpickens on July 4, 2011 at 4:32 PM said:
Yes lots of actors had it rough. I do think being a child actor makes it harder too. You are already on your way out because you are getting older but then there is the double whamy of also being gay. Haines had it tough with MGM too, but it is encouraging that he went on and was successful with his interior decorating business. Thanks for reading
Druthers on December 10, 2011 at 6:03 AM said:
The way I understood it, he was not fired so much for being gay, he was fired because he was caught having sex with a 15 year old boy in the restroom of a public swimming pool in Burbank when he was like 23.
Not exactly the wholesome image Disney was going for.
Jnpickens on December 11, 2011 at 5:14 PM said:
I hadn’t heard that part, I only tried to add things that I could back up with sources since it is a touchy subject. Didn’t want to add too much hearsay. Thanks for stopping by!
jay d. on April 24, 2012 at 3:13 PM said:
I too used to watch Tommy, and until recently never knew much about him. I was a little stunned, but not really because its all to normal in this world of ours. I feel sorry for him but others have fared worse. I’m glad he’s still with us and wish him well.
Jnpickens on November 16, 2012 at 4:45 PM said:
Thank you for stopping by! I agree, it is really disappointing that it happened to him, but not entirely surprising for the early 1960s.
Linda garner on May 5, 2012 at 9:58 AM said:
I think it is sad that a person is judged by his sexuality. He was a good actor and I enjoyed his movies. by the grace of god I was not born that way. But through the years I have had some owesom friends that were gay. And I concider them great people. Some of my best friends. I could always count on them. Not like some of my so called straight friends. If you turn your back on someone like him then you are missing out on knowing some really nice people.
Jnpickens on November 16, 2012 at 4:47 PM said:
He was a great child star, and I wonder how his career could have progressed had he not been blacklisted for his sexuality. However, since films were changing so much in the 1960s and the 1970s, I still feel his career would have floundered.
Mike M. on August 11, 2012 at 2:41 PM said:
As a kid growing up in Arleta in the sixty’s, I lived about a block away from Tommy Kirk. We used to go over to his house and Tommy was always really nice to us kids.
We knew he was famous and that was a treat for us. Tommy would climb his big peppercorn tree in the front yard and we would play with his hound dog Sam…real good memories. Sure would like to talk to him now and thank him for being so nice.
Marie Lynnette May on March 28, 2013 at 6:20 PM said:
I would love to reconnect with Andy and Nina Kirk. Nina was one of my closest friends in school. The last time I saw her and Andy was at my 16th Birthday!!!! I now am retired law enforcement, living in Virginia. If you can get word to either of them I would greatly appreciate it. I can be found on Facebook as Marie Lynnette May (We lived right down the street from Tommy Kirk and the Kirk brothers)
Marie Lynnette May on March 28, 2013 at 6:22 PM said:
Is your Dad “Johnny?” He was close friends with my brother Glenn Rohrabacher.
Chuck99 on October 20, 2013 at 8:03 PM said:
Loved your article.
Tommy Kirk was a childhood favorite of mine. It wasn’t until recently that I found out he was gay, which makes all those early teen fantasies of mine a bit ironic. I know how hard it was to be a gay kid in a regular school, and I can’t imagine what he had to go through.
You mentioned reading the IMBd article for some of your information. Did you check his wikipedia page? They used some of the same information, but they had a lot of sources for other info that might be interesting to you.
Thanks
Candyce Goodfellow on January 11, 2014 at 9:52 PM said:
Jackie Rosen? I’m Candy Goodfellow, went to Vena Elementary School, Pacoima Jr. Hi, Poly Hi. In the 5th grade you were my idol, and Andy and I had the beginnings of a romance in early Jr. Hi. My sister had a crush on the youngest brother, John. I’d love to hear from you,
and I hope your life has been spectacular! Candy(Candyce)
Candyce Goodfellow on January 11, 2014 at 9:56 PM said:
I also went to school in Pacoima (Vena Elementary to Poly Hi), had a flirtation with Andy for years, and my sister had one with John (the youngest brother). We did see Tommy often, who seemed nice and also shy. Reading from you Pacoima folks is such a kick & brings back wonderful memories. I’d like to hear what Andy and John’s lives have been like (I assume John is Heather’s father?). I salute the old Pacoima crowd!
Jeff Hickman on January 19, 2015 at 1:45 PM said:
Candyce Goodfellow this is Jeff Hickman. Glad to see you are alive and doing fine. Hope Denise is doing likewise. Tommy Kirk was quite a guy.
Candyce Goodfellow on January 25, 2015 at 12:30 PM said:
Well well! Great to hear from you, Jeff. If you send in your e-mail, I’ll send an e-mail to you & my e-mail address. I wonder how Denny Crum is doing?! Candyce G.
Jeff Hickman on January 26, 2015 at 12:20 AM said:
Here is my email address: great58vette@aol.com. Went to a summer basketball clinic for coaches back in ’98 at which Coach Crum was a guest speaker. Spoke to him before his presentation.
john kirk on August 5, 2015 at 11:09 AM said:
hi candy,im john i mheathers uncle,hope denese is doing well last i knew tom was in redding ca hello glen,allen
john kirk on August 5, 2015 at 11:23 AM said:
hi candy,im john i mheathers uncle,hope denese is doing well last i knew tom was in redding ca hello glen,allen,cool your buns
john kirk on September 28, 2015 at 1:25 PM said:
Candyce,john kirk here,would love to hear from you and denice,hope both of you are well and happy!contact me 606-483-2443
glenn rohrabacher on October 25, 2014 at 1:41 PM said:
Yes I was a close friend of tommy and Jonny kirk and I now live just outside of Wash, DC in spotsylvania via.
glenn rohrabacher on October 25, 2014 at 3:02 PM said:
Glenn here again,hey Andy what ever happened to you and Nina ? I have fond memories of Tommy’s’ old MG and the rices he gave me and johnny, I also live a block from the kirk on Cranford, remembering lucey, there.mother, Louie the Dad and good old frank the house keeper and how johnny and I wold con him into a city, oh And what about that buitiful bottle blond haired Pat, wow johnny and I use to well can’t’ say right here but fond times at the kirks’ took my wife Sue link cookies sister to the kirks with tommy on thanks’ giving, great time…
Heather on December 2, 2014 at 7:55 PM said:
People were asking… My Father is the oldest of the Kirk sons. Joe.
My Dad told me that they were on an audition for a play. My dad didn’t get the job, but, my Uncle Tom got the part. An agent for the Disney studios saw my Uncle and the rest was history. Here is some fun trivia during the making of the Shaggy Dog movie. My Uncle at the time thought that he was a pretty big hot shot and was goofing off.. He got the biggest scolding from Fred M !! To be better behaved. Plus, my Mother had to be at the studio to be Toms guardian one time… And, there was a fight between W. Disney and the guy wearing the dog costume… The guy quit and my other Uncle Andy was visiting the set.. W.Disney had my Uncle Andy ( who was quite young ) put the dog costume and pretend to drive the car in one scene. W. Disney was so nice that he went out and bought my Uncle Andy a brand new bike.
Alan Robbins on December 3, 2014 at 5:53 AM said:
My name is Alan Robbins and Andy Kirk was my best friend in jr high and high school. I went to his wedding to Nina. She had a nickname called “Corky”. They got married very young. Anyway, we were good friends in jr High school. It was Pacoima Jr. High in California. I use to sleep over a lot and remember his parents and housekeeper, Frank. I met Tommy Kirk a few times at the house. In high school, I use to let him copy my homework. Lol. I remember his house growing up, a farm type house near the Dairy Farm across the street. I think his mother worked for a lawyer. Andy was always going to his mothers job to ask for money, I use to go with him. I have been trying to locate Andy for a long time but no luck. I have talked to his niece, Heather via email, a nice beautiful girl but doesn’t know his whereabouts. Her father is not well and doesn’t know much other that he thinks his brother might be living in Kentucky. I am very curious to know where Nina is today. I searched for her also. Don’t know if they divorced or what. Her maiden name was I have been living in Connecticut since 1970. Any info on Andy or Nina would be appreciated.
Sent from my iPad
john kirk on August 5, 2015 at 11:17 AM said:
heather,this is john,correction,i was the dog,walt was great to me,charley barton,the director bought the bike.
heather kirk on December 13, 2015 at 10:09 PM said:
I am so very sorry Uncle John. I’m so sorry i hurt your feelings. I asked my Dad this story a few times and he must have been confused. He told me it was Uncle Andy. I’m so sorry for the mix up.
Martin Faulkner on December 31, 2015 at 4:58 PM said:
I loved reading this. I decided to do some research on Tommy Kirk after seeing Swiss Family Robinson yesterday which along with Old Yeller were amongst the favourite films of my childhood. See Swiss yesterday brought back such warm feelings. Does anyone know if Tommy Kirk can be contacted as I would like to express my appreciation to him?
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The Premier cancelled a desperately needed expansion project — one that he previously committed to, and has been seven years in the making — “because Dawson offers instruction in English.”
I walk by Dawson College often. The downtown Montreal English-language CEGEP on the border with Westmount is housed in a former nunnery built in 1908. It was once the Mother House of the Sisters of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame, a religious community for women founded by Marguerite Bourgeoys in 1653.
It’s an impressive building; simple but elegantly beautiful, the way old buildings designed in the Beaux-Arts architectural style often are. While it no longer serves as a convent, you can still see signs of its past vocation if you look closely. The original chapel now houses the student library.
I love the mix of architectural styles, languages, traditions (religious or otherwise) that shape our city’s historical heritage. Even the questionable parts (think of McGill University and its slave-owning founder) are still part of a collective history we shouldn’t seek to erase but instead acknowledge and atone for. A society’s evolution is marked and shaped by its transitions, what we choose to take with us, what we leave behind, what we opt to give a second life to — what we decide matters.
While Dawson’s exterior has remained mostly unchanged and a testament to its rich past, the interior reflects the present. It’s been renovated extensively to accommodate decades of young student traffic walking through its doors, speaking all kinds of languages. Dawson’s student body is a true reflection of Montreal. It may now also be the victim of a provincial government that decided to score political points at the expense of its vitality.
For the past 20 years, Dawson has been experiencing major space shortages. Its students squeezed into a campus that’s far too small to accommodate them. Compared to other Quebec CEGEPS, students at Dawson have 30% less space for classes, labs, learning activities, sports, student life, studying, socializing and eating.
This is space Dawson students are entitled to. Not because they’re special, not because they’re an English institution, but because this is the space all Quebec students are required to have for optimal teaching, based on the Quebec Ministry of Education’s own established norms. Currently, Dawson has a space deficit of over 11,000 square metres (what the Montreal Gazette’s Katherine Wilton wrote is “more than 10 typical office floors”). That’s a major space crunch. This fact isn’t debatable. It was recognized by the ministry years ago and reaffirmed in December 2021, just a few months ago.
Dawson scapegoated
Knowing all this, Premier Legault’s decision last month to suddenly renege on his promise to fund an expansion was understandably both shocking and frustrating for Dawson’s administration — who spent seven years working on it — and its students.
If you’re reading this and feel the urge to point out underfunded francophone institutions in the rest of Canada as proof of Dawson deserving a similar fate, I urge you not to. The underfunding of francophone institutions across Canada — while a legitimate and very real issue — has absolutely nothing to do with and is certainly not decided upon by Quebec’s English-speaking community and its institutions. This important distinction is something leaders of Quebec’s francophone CEGEPs and many francophone pundits, who’ve publicly voiced their support for Dawson, understand.
French-language institutions, in Quebec (and across Canada) should be protected and better funded. You don’t achieve that, however, by discriminating against English-language Quebec institutions and their students (many of them young francophones who chose to attend CEGEP in English) who deserve equal access to quality education, regardless of which institution and which language they’re being educated in.
When Premier Legault cancelled a project that he committed to by explaining that it’s “because Dawson offers instruction in English,” and he would “rather invest in CEGEPs that offer instruction in French,” he was knowingly depriving the institution and its students of what it was owed for the simple reason that its curriculum is in English. There’s a simple word for that: discrimination.
A very important clarification regarding Dawson’s new pavilion project: Some claim the reason the college needs the funding is because it’s expanding enrolment. This is 100% untrue. The construction of the new pavilion is to better accommodate the current number of students, not to expand its enrolment.
Based on Dawson’s recognized devis of 7,075 students (a target enrolment set by Quebec’s Ministry of Education, which has remained pretty much the same since the late ‘90s), the college is in a serious space deficit. Students are currently sardined into tiny teaching facilities or sitting in rented out lacklustre spaces never intended for classrooms at the nearby former Forum building. The simulation room used by nursing students is in a closet because there’s no space. Do these (anglophone, francophone, allophone) Quebecers attending Dawson not deserve equitable treatment and the quality of services that all Quebec students deserve, or are they simply being relegated to second-class status because they’re being educated in English?
Future healthcare workers compromised
The cancelled pavilion was expected to house seven programs in the health and social service sectors, educating Quebec’s future generation of healthcare workers. The campus would have provided space to students training to be nurses, radiation oncologists, ultrasound technicians, social workers, physiotherapists — all those healthcare skills we need and are now trying to recruit abroad because the pandemic made it abundantly clear that staffing shortages affect the quality of care that Quebecers receive. Dawson graduates work in both francophone and anglophone institutions and serve all Quebecers, not just some of us. A student-run community health clinic, aiming to serve Montreal residents, also had to be cancelled.
Dawson’s expansion cancellation sends a chilling message to English-language Quebecers. Your institutions, your students, your future contributions, your educational needs don’t matter. They are less important. Promises made to you can easily be rescinded. Seven years of planning are unimportant. Public support for the expansion — even by the premier himself — is not a guarantee of anything. The Education Ministry’s own acknowledgment that Dawson is suffering from a space crunch is meaningless. When elections loom, a minority language’s needs can easily be pushed aside and ignored, promises broken, for the sake of votes.
Dawson is fighting back. March 15 is the final day to sign a petition in support of Dawson students. On March 17, a delegation from the CEGEP will head to Quebec City to present it to the National Assembly. “If you support equal rights for students of English-language educational institutions, want Quebec to invest in upgrading the training of our future healthcare workers and would like to see a new community clinic in downtown Montreal, please sign the petition,” says Dawson Student Union President Alexandrah Cardona. “We are also Quebecers.”
Choosing to prioritize francophone students at the expense of English-speaking students is discriminatory. Dawson and students’ access to educational services of equivalent quality have been sacrificed to appease nationalist voters and shield Legault from criticism from language hardliners who wanted to see Bill 101 extended to CEGEPs.
As a compromise, an English-language institution that serves all Quebecers was thrown under the bus and denied what it’s owed based on the Education Ministry’s own requirements.
Quebec students deserve better than a government that plays dodgy political games with their educations and futures.
To sign the Dawson petition, please visit the Quebec National Assembly website.
Read more editorials by Toula Drimonis here.
Posted in :editorial, News
by Toula Drimonis
Freelance writer, editor, and news producer. Award-winning columnist. Former news director. Trilingual Montrealer. National and international bylines. Worked in print, TV, and radio. News junkie, social media addict, over-caffeinated activist. Loves books, memes, feminism and wine.
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Despite only arriving on our radar a few years back, London-based DJ/producer and label owner Charlie Banks already boasts a resume that most of his peers would be incredibly proud of. First coming to prominence off the back of his most-excellent Flight Mode EP (released via Archie Hamilton’s Moscow label), he’s since gone from strength-to-strength, with releases for the likes of Okain’s Talman Records solidifying his reputation as a producer to keep a keen eye out for. A real DJ’s DJ, he’s already being trumped in influential circles, with podcasts for Trommel and LWE enhancing his reputation as a DJ alongside his production skills.
As busy as he’s ever been and with plenty more on the horizon, we checked in recently with Charlie to discuss his year so far, his plans for his excellent label, Disculture, as well as his hopes and dreams for the months ahead…
Great to chat to you, Charlie. Can you please start a bit by telling us a bit about how you got into electronic music in the first place? What parties and DJs influenced you when you were starting out?
Hey guys, thanks a lot for having me. I got into electronic music at the age of 15 through my older brother who introduced me to the likes of Justice, Daft Punk and the Ed Banger Records crew from Paris. I then ended up going to a festival near to where I grew up called Camp Bestival that summer watching a number of different DJs I had been listening to at home. I came back fully inspired and got my first set of decks for my 16th birthday – I was totally hooked from then on.
That same time actually I started sneaking into clubs using my older brother’s ID and would regularly go out in Bournemouth and check out such a wide range of DJs.
Although I grew up just outside of town, Bournemouth was the place i first cut my teeth as a DJ and being a relatively small town I got to know all the local promoters and supported a number of big names in my late teens/early twenties including Jamie Jones, The Martinez Brothers, Dyed Soundorom, Maya Jane Coles which was pretty sick!
You started DJing professionally quite young: I read that you made your debut at Glade at 19. How do you look back on those times? Is there anything you’d change about them?
I wouldn’t say I was a professional back in those days but I was lucky enough to play some amazing shows. Glade was my first proper festival set. I ended up playing for about 3 hours and It’s one of those sets I’ll never forget.
I look back on that period of my life with fond memories as I didn’t have any worries and spent the whole time djing, partying and making music. It was also around the same time I did my first season in Ibiza which helped massively with meeting like minded people and networking with bigger artists.
Were you producing for a long time up until that point? With hindsight, did you feel ready for what was to come? Or could you ever be properly ‘prepared’ for what was ahead of you?
I had been producing for a couple of years previous but I still wasn’t fully where I wanted to be yet. I was still trying to work out my sound and what direction I wanted to take things in. In those years I was listening to so many different styles of electronic music and was inspired by lots of different things so it took a little while to know exactly what route I wanted to go down.
I think my real break didn’t really happen for a number of years later when I released my ‘One Morning in Staines’ EP on Moss Co. (now MicroHertz). After years of honing my production skills that release was the point I was like, yeah I’m happy with my music.
In that sense, did you have a mentor to guide you through it all? In a scene that can obviously be fairly hedonistic, how important do you think it is to have people like this in your corner?
I never really had a mentor as such but there’s a few people in the Bournemouth scene that would give me advice in particular Sam & Alex aka Zoo Look although their sound is slightly different to mine, they were a few years older than me and helped massively in those early years. So a massive shout to those guys.
Leading on from my last question, do you feel it’s important to impart your wisdom to up-and-coming producers and DJs? Is there anyone you think we should look out for who you’d like to put a spotlight on?
100% I am always happy to give advice to younger producers trying to break through, I think it’s really important.
There’s so many producers I’m rating highly at the moment if I had to name a couple; Wilda, Daan Steenman & Rupert Ellis are all smashing it. Also go and check out Ion Pananides. I actually saw him play at Ibiza Underground a few weeks ago, unreal.
Do you ever feel pressure with releasing music for big labels such as PIV, Moscow etc? In terms of getting your music signed, how does the process usually work?
I’ve always been a massive overthinker and am guilty of putting too much pressure on myself. It’s something I’m trying really hard not to do and just going with the flow with a bit more.
In terms of getting signed to labels I think it’s really important to build a relationship with them first. Once you establish this it is so much easier to get your music heard by them once you have stuff to send over.
I also wanted to ask about your own label. What’s the thinking behind the name, Disculture? Is it something to do with the label’s dedication to wax? ie. discs?
I’m running the label with a good friend of mine Fred Parry and it was an idea conceived like most good ideas on the dancefloor – pretty sure it was ADE 2019! When we got back to London we started brainstorming and to be honest the name has no real meaning we just thought it sounded good and it stuck with us.
In terms of creating an identity with the label, can you talk us through the label’s philosophy as well as your plans for it? The artwork is really consistent and awesome, for example…
We always wanted to create a label with a strong identity. I think a sound is slowly starting to build and hopefully you can hear this throughout all the releases so far.
We’ve got an amazing designer on board and we both absolutely love the artwork. We want the label to not only have great music but also an incredible visual element to it as well.
What does it take to get a record signed to the label? Is it important you have a personal relationship with the artists you sign?
First and foremost it is about the music. We have always had a strong belief that it doesn’t matter where in the world you are from, we just want to put out incredible tunes no matter who you are, where you’re from or how big your following is. We always want to stick to this.
Finally can you tell us what you have in store release wise and plans for yourself in the coming year?
I have another release coming on Disculture very soon. I’m sat on loads of music at the moment i’m just trying to work out what to do with them all.
I’ll be out in Ibiza this weekend playing at Octan, so hit me up for a guestlist spot if you fancy it I’ve also got some wicked other dates in the pipeline including some more dates in South America too which will be announced soon.
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InoBat signs declarations of intent with the Republic of Serbia for the construction of a new EV battery gigafactory | Inobat Auto
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InoBat signs declarations of intent with the Republic of Serbia for the construction of a new EV battery gigafactory
Represents the strong intentions of both parties to develop a sustainable EV battery value chain in Serbia
The Serbian government has offered financial and material support for the construction and operation of a battery manufacturing and recycling facility, which will create new jobs and will catalyse new investments in e-mobility in the country
The development of InoBat’s project in Serbia is supported by International Finance Corporation (‘IFC’) as part of IFC’s strategic support for its member countries in Europe to mobilise private sector investments into the green transition of their economies
14 November 2022: InoBat Auto (“InoBat”), the European pioneer of high performing electric vehicle battery R&D, engineering, production and recycling, has signed protocols and declarations of intent with the Government of the Republic of Serbia for the construction of a new gigafactory in Serbia.
InoBat completed a detailed review of several European countries and has selected the Republic of Serbia, alongside other locations with suitable criteria for setting up a gigafactory and the associated value chains for the manufacturing and recycling of battery cells for electric vehicles and stationary energy storage.
This declaration of intent represents the decision and mutual support of both parties to establish a facility in Serbia and if finalised, the relevant Serbian authorities will work with InoBat to secure all of the permits and licenses required for the sustainable construction and operation of the gigafactory. The Serbian government will also provide financial and material support to ensure the successful development of the facility. InoBat has already established its Serbian subsidiary, InoBat Auto Beograd. This initiative is supported by IFC via its early-stage project development engagement with InoBat to establish a new EV battery factory in Central and Southeast Europe, signed in January of this year.
Ana Brnabic, Prime Minister of the Serbian government commented: “This is an important milestone for Serbia in positioning our country as a great contributor to sustainable and green future and among leading European players in this highly innovative and ground-breaking strategic industrial sector. The InoBat investment is more proof of our efforts to ensure that Serbia is developing in line with the newest technological and industrial trends and that our country is a top investment destination. We will continue to work resolutely on further development in order to create an even better conditions for the well-being of both our citizens and everyone who lives and does business in Serbia.”
Ary Naim, Regional Manager for Central and Southeast Europe of the International Finance Corporation added: “Serbia is well positioned to continue attracting manufacturing investment, and become a centrepiece for the E-mobility revolution in Europe, creating new jobs and opportunities in the economy of tomorrow for decades to come. An InoBat gigafactory in Serbia could serve as the anchor that will catalyse much more investment up and down regional manufacturing value chains.”
Marian Bocek, CEO of InoBat said: “The Serbian government have been exceptional partners and I am incredibly grateful for their ongoing support. The agreement reflects our shared ambition for the future of green mobility and the importance of fostering sustainable growth models. This additional step builds on InoBat’s progress over the past three years and is an exciting sign of what’s to come. Our pilot facility in Slovakia is near completion, and we have lined up the development of a new facility in the US and recently signed declarations of intent for the construction of a facility in Spain. I look forward to working alongside the Republic of Serbia as we progress towards a greener more sustainable future.”
This development represents further progress on InoBat’s plan to develop a global network of gigafactories based on its “cradle-to-cradle” circular value chain, which integrates chemistry research, cell development, battery production and material recycling in one location. InoBat is currently developing its main R&D hub in Voderady, Slovakia, which is progressing rapidly with the battery manufacturing line to be completed Q1 2023 and has recently announced that it has secured the necessary regional incentives to progress the development of its first North American facility in Indiana, which will create up to 80 full-time manufacturing jobs. In three years since inception, InoBat has already signed customer agreements with companies in the commercial vehicle and electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft sectors, with the first cells shipped and initial revenues realised, and benefits from an extensive further pipeline.
InoBat specialises in pioneering research, development, manufacture, supply, recycling, and ultimate careful disposal of innovative electric batteries custom-designed to meet the specific requirements of global mainstream and specialist OEMs within the automotive, commercial vehicle, motorsport, and aerospace sectors. InoBat provides innovative solutions across the entire value chain thanks to its “cradle-to-cradle” approach, which showcases the concept of a circular economy. InoBat is backed by a strong consortium of strategic investors and partners such as Rio Tinto, Amara Raja, Ideanomics, IFC, IPM Group, Matador, AEN, CSG and Across.
A European-based battery manufacturer, InoBat already has a battery research and development facility and a pilot line under development in Slovakia. InoBat has also been approved for grant financing under the EU-sponsored programme, Important Projects for Common European Interest, and already received a grant from the Slovak Government.
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Software is core to modern, 21st-century businesses to enable them to perform a variety of tasks. Modern customers expect everything to be at the tips of their fingers and being connected to the Internet and their mobile devices ensure this.
The experience of customers is at the heart of digital transformation and certainly, with COVID-19 and the need for social distancing, businesses are having to respond to the needs of customers with digital transformation to remain competitive.
Change is Imperative if a Business is to Survive
In fact, the sheer competitiveness today means that companies that don’t adapt to digital transformation won’t survive.
Every law firm today faces a key challenge – to assist their clients in a quick, contactless manner, and the answer lies in Legal SEO experts such as Black Fin Marketing who can assist law firms with accelerating their digital transformation.
Digital transformation is a strategy-led change of a company’s processes and that is precisely why the best digital marketing services company gets to know their clients super well so that they can customize their website so that it becomes convincing with its engaging content.
The right digital transformation results in quick processes, higher revenues, and better customer experience.
Certainly, because nearly everyone owns a smartphone, a mobile workforce is imperative for organizations to compete in 2020 and beyond, and no business can rely on systems that were developed before mobile computing.
It is going to be tough to compete if a business allows its systems and applications to fall behind the curve and you want to hire an SEO company with bright, innovative ideas and who are masters in the field of web design, SEO, and content.
Law firms are going to have to digitally transform to be more competitive, and be able to do business with customers wherever they are and over different transaction modes.
Always choose an accredited company that can ensure your law firm has a strong Internet presence. To do this they assess the current website’s existing SEO and conversion performance and to only change it if it can deliver experiences that their customers want and need.
A massive percentage of people, and many of the potential clients, search for legal advice making use of the Internet, and it can be a loss to your law firm if it hasn’t had its website updated in the last year. Every law firm that wants to succeed has to look at their website as a valuable business tool.
As the world changes, every business will need flexible IT solutions to enable applications to be adapted quickly to ensure their business can achieve everything they need to post COVID-19.
Halt.org is a Law Directory that connects people in need with attorneys that can help protect them. Every day hundreds of thousands of people come to Halt.org searching for the top lawyers in the nation looking to find answers to questions, as well as lawyers that might be able to help protect them. Smart lawyers list their law firm's name address and phone number as well as their, awards and credentials, operating hours. To make the Law Office available to thousands of potential clients.
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Royal Trux – White Stuff It felt like a shock wave punching me in the face when Royal Trux announced that after fifteen years they would break an unspoken hiatus. I thought we had left Royal Trux back in the ‘90s covered with disenfranchised rock and roll dust. … Read More ›
Posted on March 12, 2019
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Facebook is one of the easiest places to make money, with more than 1.18 million daily use of it. Therefore, it is not surprising that many people and companies are trying to make money on Facebook. With such a large potential audience, it won’t be difficult to make money. However, making money on Facebook can be tricky. Given the size of Facebook, it’s hard to stand out from the crowd. Can you buy Facebook page likes or short-cut your way to success? Yes, there are many tips and hidden secrets that you can use for Facebook success!
If you want to stand out, you should go through these 15 ways to make money on Facebook and see how you can make money on Facebook. Research shows that whether you are a large company or a small local business, Facebook is still a powerful marketing tool for you. This is a great place to educate customers, grow your brand, and expand your reach.
How to make money on Facebook
Facebook is primarily a social network; an online place where people can spend time, chat and share things of common interest. This is why it is one of the best places to make money online. There are two ways to make money on Facebook:
Invest your time and effort.
Invest your energy and money.
However, don’t expect it to be that simple. It takes your time, effort and energy to make a reasonable amount of money, but it’s still doable. If you can find a model for how to make money with Facebook, this could be the first step to making money from home. Facebook has over a billion users. This means that the platform already has an audience. But the question here is, are you an influencer or just an ordinary person? Because this is the best way to make money on Facebook.
Anyone looking to run a business on Facebook should always keep this in mind. It will always be easier for people to get Likes on Facebook than it will for businesses. And if you have fewer Facebook friends, it will be even more difficult for you to sell your products on Facebook. Unless you can share content so deeply that people share it multiple times and it goes viral.
On the other hand, if a person can attract a significant number of followers and then interact with them regularly, they will find that their posts will appear in many people’s feeds. However, the best way to make sure people listen to what you have to say is to develop your support base as they see you as an influencer. When you get to this point, it’s easy to make money on Facebook. If not, create an audience. The reason influencers are so successful at Facebook is because they’ve already gone through the process of building followers. You need to build your Facebook audience by sharing a range of great articles – interesting links, images, and updates. To truly succeed as an individual, you need to create an area of interest in which you can become a recognized expert.
While companies can use influencers to promote them, they will likely want to create some form of Facebook presence as well. Over time, they can use it to help people recognize them as experts in their niche. Starbucks showed how to do it right, and its page has 37 million subscribers
Apps are a great way to make money. With Facebook apps, you can hope to make a lot of money. As mentioned earlier, the Facebook app can be a powerful source of income if you know how to build a useful app. Facebook apps are programmable and you can even customize the database or retrieve user information according to your needs. Obviously, in order to create Facebook apps and make money from them, you need to be tech-savvy and have some knowledge of Facebook apps, which is not very common.
Ways to make money on Facebook apps
Get your Facebook app approved
Repeat this process
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Unframed prints ship in a sturdy reinforced cardboard "crush-proof" tube that is twice as thick as anyone else in the industry to avoid damage to the art while in shipment. Framed prints ship in a custom box we designed ourselves.
All prints are also available as framed and unframed art prints
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Editor’s Note: Due to local communities recently foisting mask mandates on their free citizens, we have decided to rerun this very pertinent article.
By Raven Clabough
In a recent report in Emerging Infectious Diseases, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests what experts have stated all along: There is no conclusive evidence that cloth masks protects users from coronavirus, especially since most people do not use them correctly and do not keep them clean.
The report states:
More research on cloth masks is needed to inform their use as an alternative to surgical masks/respirators in the event of shortage or high-demand situations. To our knowledge, only 1 randomized controlled trial has been conducted to examine the efficacy of cloth masks in healthcare settings, and the results do not favor use of cloth masks.
More randomized controlled trials should be conducted in community settings to test the efficacy of cloth masks against respiratory infections.
There is increasing evidence that cloth masks not only may be ineffective against stopping coronavirus transmission, but that they may actually increase the spread of the virus, as well as worsening other health conditions.
A September report by the CDC found that more than 70 percent of COVID-positive patients contracted the virus in spite of faithful mask wearing while in public. Moreover, 14 percent of the patients who said they “often” wore masks were also infected. Meanwhile, just four percent of the COVID-positive patients said they “never” wore masks in the 14 days before the onset of their illness.
Likewise, the CDC’s October journal report references a 2015 study on cloth mask efficacy that found that rates of infection were “consistently higher” among those in the cloth mask group versus that of the medical mask and control groups. The authors of the study suggested it was likely that the cloth masks were problematic because they retained moisture and had poor filtration.
The CDC writes of that study, “This finding suggest that risk for infection was higher for those wearing cloth masks.”
The California Globe also observed that extensive randomized control trial (RCT) studies and meta-analysis reviews of those studies have shown that masks and respirators are ineffective against the spread of influenza-like illnesses and respiratory illnesses believed to be spread by droplet and aerosol particles. The Globe cited an analysis of 10 “randomized controlled tests” (RCTs) by the Center for Disease Control found “no significant reduction in influenza transmission with the use of face masks.”
“There is limited evidence for their [masks] effectiveness in preventing influenza virus transmission,” the studies found. This applied to masks “worn by the infected person for source control OR when worn by uninfected persons.” They concluded that there was “no significant effect of face masks on transmission of laboratory-confirmed influenza.”
Yet the CDC continues to recommend cloth masks for public use, even as the organization has flip-flopped on whether the virus is airborne. Their latest assertion is that airborne transmission is “sometimes” possible “under special circumstances.”
However, some experts have been sounding the alarm on the widespread use of masks, asserting they may cause more harm than good.
In fact, a group of doctors in Oklahoma is suing the Tulsa mayor and the Tulsa Health Department over the city’s mask mandate, asserting masks cause healthy people to become sick.
“On the OSHA website it states that employers shouldn’t make employees work in an environment where they have less than a 19.5 percent oxygen level,” said Clayton Clark, one of the plaintiffs. “And the mandated masks cause employees to dip below a 19.5 percent oxygen level within 10 seconds of wearing a mask, so I don’t want to make my healthy employees sick.”
Another plaintiff, Dr. James Meehan, MD, said he has seen an increase in patients with facial rashes, as well as fungal and bacterial infections, and has heard from colleagues around the globe that bacterial pneumonia is on the rise. He asserts this increase stems directly from mask wearing.
“Why might that be? Because untrained members of the public are wearing medical masks, repeatedly … in a non-sterile fashion…. They’re becoming contaminated,” he said at an August press conference. “They’re pulling them off of their car seat, off the rearview mirror, out of their pocket, from their countertop, and they’re reapplying a mask that should be worn fresh and sterile every single time.”
“New research is showing that cloth masks may be increasing the aerosolization of the SARS-COV-2 virus into the environment causing an increased transmission of the disease,” he added.
Dentists have also reported increases in oral hygiene issues, which they have dubbed “mask mouth.”
“We’re seeing inflammation in people’s gums that have been healthy forever, and cavities in people who have never had them before,” says Dr. Rob Ramondi, a dentist and co-founder of One Manhattan Dental. “About 50% of our patients are being impacted by this, [so] we decided to name it ‘mask mouth’ — after ‘meth mouth.’”
On the other hand, Sweden has declared virtual victory over the coronavirus, absent any draconian responses to the pandemic such as mask mandates and lockdowns, opting instead for “herd immunity.”
“Sweden has gone from being the country with the most infections in Europe to the safest one,” Sweden’s senior epidemiologist Dr. Anders Tengell told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
“The findings that have been produced through face masks are astonishingly weak, even though so many people around the world wear them,” Tengell states.
The European Center for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed Sweden’s reduction in infection rates, with just 12 cases per million, Summit News reported.
Reports by the CDC reveal that just six percent of reported COVID-19 deaths came directly from the virus, while a whopping 94 percent of the deaths attributed to the coronavirus were from people who had two to three serious underlying conditions, in addition to COVID-19.
Raven Clabough was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and is the oldest of five children. She acquired both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English at the University of Albany in upstate New York. She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two children and has been a writer for TNA since January 2010.
Published with Permission of thenewamerican.com
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The annual Dermestidarium holiday tradition & fundraiser is back, with a new twist! This year, you choose what to pay, with a minimum of $10 to cover my costs and shipping. Every dollar above that is donated to conservation. And this year's donation recipient is so dang obvious I don't know how I didn't choose them years ago - Quail Forever! Quail Forever is a division of Pheasants Forever, and they're dedicated to the conservation of quail, pheasants and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs. These ornaments are made from the (real!) skulls of our wild quail's domestic kin, the Coturnix quail, which were raised humanely for food on American small farms. The skulls are coated with real silver metal, and hang from a black satin ribbon. Every dollar above $10 (per ornament) goes to conservation. How much do you want to pay?
An ornament version of a red-eared slider turtle skull (Trachemys scripta elegans) coated in bronze metal and finished with a blue-green patina. The patina is burnished with fine steel wool to highlight and polish the metal underneath. Multiple thin coats of metal allow for an amazing amount of detail to be preserved in this real metal finish. Red-eared sliders are invasive in certain parts of the US, and these skulls come from ones that were removed from natural areas. Does not include lower jaw.
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What Is A Self Reflective Essay? As mentioned earlier, a self reflective essay is all about giving a personal opinion on a piece of subject matter, whether it is a book, movie or artwork. As per the description, this kind of writing is mostly used in the creative arts field but can still be used elsewhere. This style of writing is what many of us encounter when reading a movie or book review, particularly . What Is Self Reflection Essay Words | 5 Pages. Self- Reflection Childhood is the best days of human life. We get love from everyone. Our needs and wants are fulfilled at any cost by our loved ones. But as we grow, we remember a very few things that had happened in our childhood. A self reflection essay is a paper that describes experiences that have changed your life and made you grow. Essays on self reflection require students to evaluate their academic development from particular projects. If you like, you can present a specific event in the introduction section and describe the impact it has had on your life.
What Is Self Reflection Essay Words | 5 Pages. Self- Reflection Childhood is the best days of human life. We get love from everyone. Our needs and wants are fulfilled at any cost by our loved ones. But as we grow, we remember a very few things that had happened in our childhood. Self-reflection infers that you have looked at traits and behaviors that you are happy you possess and ones you are less than proud of, an awareness of how some traits have harmed your personal growth, things you can do or have done to change, and what benefit that change made on your appreciation for life, family, friends. Self-reflection means that one no longer relies on events, people, circumstances or fate to succeed. One will no longer be at the mercy of the world instead; you become the captain of your life by steering your life in the direct of your choice.
Reflective writing is a form of creative writing where you examine an experience or situation through self-reflection. Through the course of creating the reflective paper, you describe insights that you gained or express your views on some experience. Reflective essays are typically personal writings about an experience, but they can be made up as well. 20/06/ · Self-esteem is a personal opinion of oneself and is shaped by individuals’ relationships with others, experiences, and accomplishments in life Reflection On Career Planning Words | 4 Pages. A self reflective essay is about offering a individual opinion so it should be reflected in the style of writing. A self-reflective essay is a brief paper where you describe an experience and how it has changed you or helped you to grow. Self-reflective essays often require students to reflect on their academic growth from specific projects or assignments, though others might require you to think about the impact of a specific event in your life.
Reflective writing is a form of creative writing where you examine an experience or situation through self-reflection. Through the course of creating the reflective paper, you describe insights that you gained or express your views on some experience. Reflective essays are typically personal writings about an experience, but they can be made up as well. Self-reflection means that one no longer relies on events, people, circumstances or fate to succeed. One will no longer be at the mercy of the world instead; you become the captain of your life by steering your life in the direct of your choice. What Is Self Reflection Essay Words | 5 Pages. Self- Reflection Childhood is the best days of human life. We get love from everyone. Our needs and wants are fulfilled at any cost by our loved ones. But as we grow, we remember a very few things that had happened in our childhood.
20/06/ · Self-esteem is a personal opinion of oneself and is shaped by individuals’ relationships with others, experiences, and accomplishments in life Reflection On Career Planning Words | 4 Pages. A self reflective essay is about offering a individual opinion so it should be reflected in the style of writing. Self-reflection infers that you have looked at traits and behaviors that you are happy you possess and ones you are less than proud of, an awareness of how some traits have harmed your personal growth, things you can do or have done to change, and what benefit that change made on your appreciation for life, family, friends. Reflective writing is a form of creative writing where you examine an experience or situation through self-reflection. Through the course of creating the reflective paper, you describe insights that you gained or express your views on some experience. Reflective essays are typically personal writings about an experience, but they can be made up as well.
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These college application essay dos and don'ts will help you put together great essays that will help you stand out when applying to college.
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We live in a world based on personal choices. Our society is based on the freedom to choose: we can decide what we want to be when we grow up, and work towards it; we can choose who we want to marry; more than ever before, we can choose where we want to live, as families are spread out across the world; we can choose our leaders at the ballot box; we can choose which church we attend, or not to attend at all. Modern society is founded on the idea of choice. Even when it comes to controversial topics, the virtue we hear spread far and wide is the ‘virtue’ of minding your own business.
Now don’t get me wrong – there’s a lot of benefits that come from our freedom to make decisions. As Kristina and I celebrate 10 years of marriage this week, I’m reminded that even 60 years ago, our marriage would have been practically impossible: she was raised a Roman Catholic, and I’m an Anglican; it’s not that long ago in Newfoundland that the idea of ‘intermarriage’ would have been completely unthinkable. Or, even my freedom to answer God’s call to ministry: it wasn’t that long ago that the son of a fisherman simply couldn’t choose to attend university, let alone find himself kneeling before a bishop to present himself for ordination. There’s a lot of good that comes with the ability to choose.
But there’s a flipside to that, one that we rarely think about.
As “mind your business” has been drilled into us by the world, we’ve learned along the way that my life is my business. We’ve learned that, just as we’re free to make choices, we’re supposed to depend on ourselves to carry them out. And, when things don’t work out, what are we taught to do? Forge ahead, making lemonade out of lemons.
The flipside of the freedom to choose is the lie that life is meant to be every person for themselves.
Building one another up.
One of the most radical – and, sadly, under-emphasized – ideas of Christianity is that it’s not each to his own, come hell or high water. The radical truth that we proclaim is that your efforts won’t secure your success; that it isn’t up to us to pull ourselves up and dust ourselves off; that the most important choice we can make is to surrender our supposed freedom to the Lord and accept the shared life of the Body of Christ.
But it’s a hard lesson, isn’t it? The best choice we can ever make is to stop relying on ourselves alone.
This lie of self-reliance, the flip-side of everyone having to mind their own business, is truly heartbreaking. If our eyes are open, we see the effects even here in our little church.
Every week… no, closer to every day that I walk around town ‘in uniform’, I run into hurting people who come straight out and say “oh, you’re the minister? I can’t come to church until I get my life back together”, or, “you wouldn’t want someone like me in your church”.
It’s gut-wrenching. There’s all sorts of explanations, but a big part of it is the lie that we have to put ourselves back together. It’s the downside of a world that tells us to “mind your own business”.
Maybe you’ve experienced it yourself: what’s the instinct when you’ve had a bad week, when something embarrassing or sensitive has happened, or when word gets out that your marriage is in a rough place, or money is too tight, or you had too much to drink and made a fool of yourself, or it turns out that your child isn’t a model of good character? Our instinct – taught over and over again by a society built on self-sufficiency – is to hide away.
At those very moments when God has provided the Church, the Body of Christ, and instructed us very plainly that we are to carry one another’s burdens, not just to rejoice with those who rejoice, but to weep with those who are hurting and, when someone finds themselves beat up and lying in the ditch of life, to bind them up and nurse them back to health. The twin lies of minding your own business and relying on no one but yourself lead us to reject the fellowship and ministry of the Church… at least, we say, until we straighten ourselves out first.
As we read this morning in Ephesians, the message of the Gospel is the exact opposite, almost uncomfortably so.
“walk… with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.” (It’s as if Paul knows it’s going to be messy!) “… There is one body and one Spirit…” and the work of the ministry that we offer to each other isn’t from a place of ‘having it all together’. No, what does Paul write? He says that on our own, we’re immature, “tossed two and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine” and by craftiness and deceit.[1]
On the one hand: ouch! That’s pretty harsh, especially as those raised to fend for ourselves: Paul says we’re immature and easily tossed around. But if we can get away from that lie of self-reliance, we’ll find that the message of the Gospel, that God’s plan, is for us to be knit together, a family where every person – broken though we may be – has a place and the opportunity to both build one-another up and to be built up by the ministry of God through others.
Just look at that last line from today’s epistle: “when each part is working properly” – joined to Christ, the head – it “makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love”.
Do we build ourselves up? Do we pull ourselves up by our bootstraps? Does the person lying beaten in the ditch have to clean himself up first and take a shower before the Samaritan can bring him to hospital? Does the family carrying the burdens of life need to get their act together before they come to my office? Does the drunk on the bench at the four-way need to get sober before she’s welcome at a recovery meeting? No!
Sure, it’s insulting, but Paul’s pretty clear: you can’t build yourself up, you’ll only be tossed about and blown around by lies. What we need is to come together, all of us as imperfect followers of Jesus, and the result is that we’ll all be built up together, better than we could ever be alone.
It takes that harsh realization that yes, all I once held dear, and everything I’ve tried, everything I’ve built my life upon, at worst it backfired; at best, it’s going to be worthless because I can’t take it with me. It takes the bold move to go against everything the world teaches, and instead of putting on a brave face and listing the things that make you a “good person”, admitting that the greatest thing you can do is make the choice to surrender, to proclaim not yourself – successes and failures – but proclaim the love of Jesus, and to say together with all the Body that Christ alone is the sure foundation, our only strength and stay amid the waves and winds of life.
Just imagine if word got out that the Church was the place to go when life is rough, not the place to hide away from until you get your life together or make yourself “good enough”. Just imagine if word got out that the Church was a hospital for sinners, where our business isn’t “minding your business”, but carrying one another, lifting one another up, working together as apprentices of Jesus our Master, as we are built up together.
As great as it is to live in a world of choices, a world where we can choose to be what we want to be, it means we have to be honest about the shocking message of the Gospel.
More than ever before, we’re told to seek what makes us happy; we’re told to find fulfilment and to find our purpose; to be mindful and seek our well-being, to satisfy that inner hunger. We’re not unlike that crowd in the Gospel, who had their bellies filled with loaves and fishes, so they showed up the next day looking to get their bellies filled again.[2]
But the choice of turning to Jesus, the choice of coming into the embrace of the Church isn’t one of choosing what fills you up or makes you feel good. It’s the stunning act of saying “yes, I’m free to choose; I’m free to go it alone. But, I choose to come as I am – not as I hope to be, I choose to surrender, I choose to give up chasing what fills me up or makes me happy, and instead I offer myself as a servant, to begin the work of being built up by the Body of Christ, as I also let myself be used by Christ to build up others.
That’s the key to growing into maturity as followers of Jesus, of becoming all that God wants us to be to do the work he has given us to do. And, in a world of choices, yes it starts with a choice: the earth-shattering, life-changing choice to stop going it alone, to admit that, yes, as harsh as it sounds, left to my own devices, I will be blown around by the lies of the world, so I choose the sure foundation that is faith in Jesus.
Relying on ourselves and following our bellies will leave us tossed about and empty. But whoever turns to Jesus will never hunger or thirst, and will find themselves built into something greater than we could ever ask or imagine. To God be the glory. Amen.
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What is an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)? | Some men see things as they are and say why – I dream things that never were and say why not.
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It is actually no secret that substance abuse is really a major problem in the United States. Annually, countless people drop their lifestyles to drug overdoses, and countless a lot more struggle with habit. As there is a very difficult strategy to this complex concern, a very important factor which can help is https://welevelup.com/.
Rehab, also referred to as “rehab,” can be a process of treatment for drug abuse. Rehab might take a variety of forms, but typically involves some blend of detoxification, therapy, and help group involvement. The aim of rehab is to help people battling with addiction to accomplish sobriety and stay a good, effective daily life.
There are many advantages of rehab, for both the average person and then for culture as a whole. Let’s take a look at many of the most significant ones.
The Individual Great things about Rehab
1. Sobriety: The obvious benefit of rehab is it may help individuals attain sobriety. This is not merely good for the average person additionally, it has good ripple effects for relatives and buddies who are affected by the person’s habit.
2. Better Well being: Substance abuse requires a toll on health, intellectual overall health, and psychological well-being. Rehab may help folks battling with dependence on boost their general health and wellness.
3. Greater Productivity: Dependency can cause work loss, monetary instability, and romantic relationship issues. Rehab might help men and women receive their lives back in line by growing efficiency and stableness.
4. Total well being: Lastly, rehab can greatly improve the standard of daily life for many who receive treatment. Dependency is really a debilitating issue that will make it difficult to get pleasure from daily life. Rehab can help folks restore their entertainment of daily life and begin living again.
Rehab is an important part in the journey to recuperation from dependency. It may be enormously advantageous for the personal and culture in general. When you or someone you love is dealing with dependency, don’t wait around to get assist. Make contact with a community rehab middle right now to understand more about how therapy can help you achieve sobriety and begin residing a much healthier, happier existence.”
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Americans love to talk about salt. Sometimes chefs will argue a meal needs more of it, other times doctors will recommend waistlines see less of it. And then suddenly a holistic nutritionist blooms out of the ground from their grassroots movement, preaching that one salt trumps another. A nutrition scientist slaving over research studies fires back. Meanwhile I’m just becoming salty and purchasing whichever color is most appealing. If this sounds like you, don’t worry. You aren’t alone. For a while, I was clueless that there were more kinds of salts beyond the basic shaker sitting on my table. Thankfully, it’s not too vast of a language to understand, and I’ve broken down the most buzz worthy of terms. Let’s take our viewing experience of The Cooking Network to the next level – here are five of the most popular salt types discussed in the media today.
This salt’s craggy crystals are perfect for curing meat, which is how it found its name and rightful place in the koshering process. It’s fast dissolving, so chefs love to generously toss this condiment onto anything and everything they’re cooking. Its coarse texture makes it easy to pinch and sprinkle on food in perfect portions. In other words, I highly recommend you use this kind of salt if you’re striking the #SaltBae pose.
Sea salt is created via evaporation of ocean or lake water with little processing involved. Different water sources will leave behind different combinations of trace minerals, creating various kinds of sea salts in different colors and subtle flavors. A popular sea salt would be Flaked Sea Salt, a condiment great for salads and fresh vegetables. Its dry crystals are known for packing a bright, sparkly punch. In comparison to other sea salts, such as fleur de sel or sel gris, they contain much lower traces of minerals.
Essentially, its sea salt again. But this time, the salt is combined with spices, herbs and other flavorings. This topping is a sneaky tool a chef can use to achieve a flavor that may be too expensive or difficult to achieve in her current situation. Popular flavors include chocolate, lemon, vanilla or saffron. A classic example of this salt in action would be lemon infused salt sprinkled on top of plain grilled asparagus. How bougee!
This is the big one – I’m sure you’ve heard about it a lot. Himalayan Pink is a type of rock salt, originating from oceans that dried up millions of years ago. After having transformed within the earth’s crust for so long, this salt is much like sea salt in that it too possesses traces of mineral content. With no moisture, this salt packs an intense punch. It’s the most popular alternative to table salt and is typically dispensed through a salt grinder.
A lot of people praise Himalayan Pink as the superior, boasting over 84 minerals and elements found in the human body. Meanwhile, sea salt is said to becoming increasingly processed and contaminated due to the growing pollution in our waters. Presumably, Himalayan Pink must be the purest salt available given the pristine condition it’s kept in over the years. Unfortunately these claims have recently been blown out of proportion by eager marketing teams. What I mean is, don’t get caught up in the drama. The amount of minerals in Himalayan Pink are so miniscule that if you’re relying on a salt to get the micronutrients you need, and not whole foods, you’ve got bigger problems. There is no evidence published in peer-reviewed journals that prove replacing table salt with Himalayan Pink is going to boost your health or save a life. Plus, scientists have found countless unhealthy minerals in the salt as well: radium, uranium, thallium and polonium. Of course, these are too small in quantity to be harmful, but why don’t marketers mention these elements? Well, because it doesn’t sell. You see where I’m going with this?
And finally, the salt you love to hate. Classic table salt is mined from underground salt deposits. It’s usually refined and processed to remove all minerals and additives may also be used to prevent clumping. However, iodine is typically added back in to promote thyroid health.
So, which one is the healthiest?
No matter the salt you choose, every option is basically the same sodium chloride. The differences come from their varying combinations of trace minerals, which define unique textures, tastes and colors. As I mentioned before with Himalayan Pink, marketers love to utilize consumer confusion to the benefit their bottom line. They may claim a type of salt is superior, but unless there is solid scientific research to back such statements I would remain skeptical. Companies will do what they can to make a profit, so it’s up to us, the consumers, to stay mindful and knowledgeable about our choices. Salt should only be consumed in small amounts anyways; the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends (on average) less than 2,300 mg a day. I wouldn’t strain over picking the right salt. It’s not meant to make our food nutritional – it’s meant to make our food delicious!
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Delancey Prince is a student at the University of Southern California, majoring in Medical PR with a minor in Nutrition & Health Promotion. In the fall of 2017 she'll be continuing her education at the University of Nevada - Las Vegas... READ MORE
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CASA Partners 4NMKIDS matches caring adults with abused and neglected children in the foster care system to represent their best interests, monitor support services, and make recommendations for home placement. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates. Our volunteers provide healthy safe opportunities for building resiliency and lifelong skills throughout Sandoval and Valencia Counties.
CASA Partners 4NMKIDS recruits, educates, and supports volunteers to advocate for the best interest of vulnerable children in both Sandoval and Valencia Counties.
CASA believes the children we serve deserve a safe and loving environment, and should be given the opportunity to thrive.
We respect and value diversity in all forms. We strive to be inclusive and welcoming. We are conscious of different cultural dynamics and are adaptable in our approach.
Quality
We adhere to standards of excellence and best practices to support our volunteers, staff, and board.
We utilize an advocacy approach that includes multiple stakeholders to identify the needs and best interest of the children we serve.
CASA Partners 4NMKIDS is a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) non-profit organization celebrating 25 years of service to the greater Albuquerque area. CASA Partners 4NMKIDS began advocating for foster children and youth in 1997 in Sandoval County. In 2016, at the request of the 13th Judicial Court, we expanded into Valencia County. We advocate to the courts for the best interest of those children who find themselves in the Child Welfare system through no fault of their own.
CASA Partners 4NMKIDS makes the crucial connection—one caring adult to one child in need—that can be the turning point in a life that has been disrupted. Our most significant accomplishments happen every day—when an overlooked opportunity is found, a service is secured or an adult connection is made that will help to keep a child safe and give him or her an opportunity to succeed in life.
The volunteers get to know the children and their circumstances, show them that someone cares, advocate for their best interests (including making recommendations to the Court), encourage them to grow to their fullest potential, and become involved in key issues in their life, especially permanent placement, along with school, health, and mental health issues.
A CASA volunteer is often the sole consistent adult anchor for foster children. Children frequently remark how important it is to them that these tireless advocates are the only people in “the system” who are not paid to assist them. CASA volunteers give a voice to a child who cannot speak up for themselves and are frequently viewed as mentors or guides.
Judges typically assign CASA volunteers their most difficult and complex cases: children with prior maltreatment or contact with child welfare, cases of extreme abuse or neglect, or those where there is a great level of risk of further abuse and neglect. Many children assigned to CASA have learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and significant emotional and mental health problems.
Children in the dependency court system face substantial obstacles in receiving the basic care that all children need: emotional support, parental guidance, and a stable and loving caregiver. More than that, they often lack appropriate education and vocational training, medical care, and the counseling they need to grow into productive adults.
Many children remain in foster care for years, and are moved around to many different placements. Studies have demonstrated that children who have experienced abuse and neglect are at significantly higher risk for academic failure, chronic delinquency, homelessness, adult criminal behavior, antisocial personality, and addictions.
Moreover, as a child’s length of time in and out-of-home care increases, the probability of such negative outcome increases. CASA volunteers are instrumental in shortening the time that the child is in the dependency system (achieving either re-unification or adoption), while simultaneously assuring that the child’s needs are met.
The CASA program is a proven, reliable and economic model of support that has meant the difference between success and failure in thousands of children. Many more children would thrive if they had the intensive intervention of a CASA volunteer.
CASA Partners 4NMKIDS is a member of the National CASA/GAL Association for Children and the New Mexico CASA Association.
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With all the discussion of waterfront transit, many people may forget (or never have seen) a previous visit of streetcars to the water’s edge. Back in 1968, the TTC sold many of the PCC cars retired after the Bloor-Danforth Subway opened, and a batch of these went to Egypt. On July 20, 1968, a much younger version of your faithful scribe was there along with many others to record the event.
All photos here were taken by me and I reserve copyright in them.
Sitting on the dock, here are two ex-Cincinnati PCCs including TTC 4575, a 1939-built demonstration car for Cincinnati. This car had many oddities including windows, marker lights and some interior features as befits a one-of vehicle.
Cars were loaded from both sides of the ship, the Mare Tranquillo.
Here, 4217 joins its mate 4222 on deck. A short turn destination right to the end!
A group of cars begins their sea voyage from a lighter. The railfans have obviously been busy with destination and route combinations that were already obsolete when these photos were taken. Parliament and Harbord vanished with the opening of the BD subway in 1966, and Dupont was a casualty of the University line in 1963.
A quartet of cars sits on deck seen from the dock.
The view from the bridge.
Looking out from the bridge to the Toronto Islands.
4007, one of Toronto’s first PCCs, meets the Island Ferry for the last time.
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Trial Split of 501 Queen Car (Updated) →
John T. Au | October 19, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Justin Bernard | October 20, 2009 at 5:48 am
David Cavlovic | October 20, 2009 at 6:19 am
For some reason, every time I see these (and similar) photos of these air-PCCs, I feel a tad maudlin. I always thought the back profile, with the maroon stripe over the back windows, was way cooler than the all-electric paint scheme. But the thought of losing PCCs … or maybe it’s because I knew some of them would meet a violent death during an Arab-Israeli confilct … Hmmm … Is there a chance we could sell the CLRVs to anyone in the Mid-East?
Richard White | October 20, 2009 at 10:35 am
I am surprised you do not have pictures of the witt cars being destroyed over at the lakefront. I believe they were set ablaze in an attempt to destroy them once they were retired.
Steve: That happened when I was not yet taking photos — mid 50s when I was a wee kiddie. My dad and I (along with many railfans) removed things like roll sign boxes from the cars before they were burned.
Aman Hayer | October 20, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Where the PCC cars longer than the modern CLRVs?
Steve: No. Slightly shorter.
M. Briganti | October 20, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Them was the good ol days. Amazing picture quality, after all these years.
Misha | October 20, 2009 at 6:18 pm
I notice that the streetcar numbers from 4000-4200 such as 4007 in the last photo & 4222 in the quartet of streetcars picture are the same numbers currently in use for the existing CLRV’s & ALRV Streetcars.
Steve: Just like the T1 cars recycle the Gloucester car fleet numbers on the subway.
Pete Coulman | October 20, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Thanks for sharing the photos/memories. Shots like yours continually remind of how much 5 years makes a difference. If I was born five or six years earlier, I too would have been with you guys shooting this. I was just too late to enjoy riding the BLOOR / HARBORD etc cars Pete
Gord Adams | October 20, 2009 at 7:53 pm
To see pictures like these makes me brings back memories of being a child in Toronto and riding on the Queen and Carlton routes from Greenwood Avenue to the downtown core. I often enjoyed heading to the Russell streetcar yards after school to see what different streetcars I could reconize in the yard and on Queen Street.
I’m looking forward to see the next generation of streetcars riding on the streets of Toronto. No matter what people say, the PCC streetcars will always the backbone of the city but were in my fact the muscle of metal in moving people around the City of Tornto
David Cavlovic | October 21, 2009 at 9:59 am
One thing I’ve wondered: how come the TTC never kept an Air-electric PCC on the fleet. After all, they kept Witt 2766, or was THAT just a fluke?
Steve: Two different eras. The Air Electric cars were not the last of the “PCCs”, and they made no distinction between different flavours. Thus we have the two “4500” series cars (although not in their original body numbers) as representatives of the PCC era.
David Cavlovic | October 21, 2009 at 10:35 am
Seeing as this article is titled “Streetcars on the Waterfront”, you should have included a link to the Leonard Bernstein score.
David Cavlovic | October 21, 2009 at 2:26 pm
“Thus we have the two “4500″ series cars (although not in their original body numbers)”
Really?!?! I thought they WERE the original 4500 and 4549. That’s disappointing. Well, at least they didn’t go through with their idea of “rebuilding” a Witt using a PCC truck.
And to really give credit, at least the TTC (as opposed to private tour companies) is not operating a fleet of faux-trolley lookalikes. I understand a couple of cities in North America (small touristy ones) have converted their bus fleet into these tacky toonerville trolley rip-offs. What a way to discredit public transit!
John F Bromley | October 21, 2009 at 4:07 pm
4500 and 4549 are indeed the original cars, same bodies, just rebuilt and reclassified A-15(H), although now that the other A-15s are gone I doubt anyone in TTC gives a toss about the (H) for “historic”. When Ray Corley was alive he referred to the (H) as “hilarious” for the sloppy job of “restoration”.
Steve: I stand corrected. I had thought they just picked the two best cars and restored them with fleet numbers for the start and end of that series.
Barry McDermott | October 21, 2009 at 11:41 pm
The salvation of the 2 PCC cars must largely be credited to Councillor Joe Mihevc’s efforts. This transit enthusiast and advocate was also the quarterback in staging the 75th anniversary of the TTC complete with a wide range of rolling historical vehicles. Mr. Mihevc, despite the lengthy construction period, is the major player in the rebuilding of the St.Clair Avenue streetcar right-of-way.
David Cavlovic | October 22, 2009 at 8:52 am
I believe Joe Mihevc’s father worked for the TTC. It’s too bad, however, the TTC didn’t keep a fleet of historic buses. Ottawa did (though some are from other fleets, including Grey Coach(!), painted in older Ottawa colours). It’s nice to see, and hear, GM Old Looks and New Looks in tourist service. The OTC/OC Transpo old look is the equivalent of the TTC old-looks in the 1540-1550 series (again, similar to the 2100 series, but with single exit doors).
Andrew Wencer | October 23, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Has anyone come across pictures of these vehicles in service in Egypt?
Steve: There are a few if you hunt around on the web.
NCarlson | October 23, 2009 at 4:58 pm
“Has anyone come across pictures of these vehicles in service in Egypt?”
There are a few around, but from my understanding most of the cars didn’t get into service. I’ve also heard the yards got hit pretty heavily during the Yom Kippur War, which left the fleet more or less out of service by the mid 70s.
David Cavlovic | October 23, 2009 at 6:27 pm
There are pictures, both on the web and even in books, of these cars in service in Egypt. It’s not a pretty sight. There also exist pictures of the cars after getting hit during the Yom Kippur War. Again I ask, maybe we can “donate” the CLRV’s to DND for use as target practice.
John F Bromley | October 23, 2009 at 9:34 pm
OK, here’s what is known on Alexandria’s Toronto PCC cars (I’ll not append the car numbers shipped here but that data is available). I’m doing this to stop further speculation, much of which is just that.
The only confirmed renumbering between the TTC fleet and the cars as operated in Alexandria involved demonstrator car 4114 which became Alexandria 901. It was intended, as additional cars were placed in service, to renumber the cars upwards from 902 through 1040, although the highest number ever both seen and reported in the enthusiast press is 1027. Cars were renumbered in a completely random fashion, ignoring ex-TTC class and style.
However, not all cars were used in Alexandria. Some cars suffering bomb damage in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, and there are also confirmed reports of several ex-TTC car bodies dumped on the sand at Alexandria, still with TTC paint and numbers. After an unknown period, track brakes were removed from the majority of the cars. Some PCC trucks and motors were used under older Alexandria cars, including at least one double-deck unit. Known Alexandria car numbers having PCC trucks are 515, 703 and 709, all equipped by 1973. Soon after delivery, some Alexandria 1000-series cars are said to have been de-motored and operated as trailers behind 900 series cars (one report says ‘by 1977’). Others were scrapped for parts, which were then reused on cars of any of the former TTC classes.
Between 1971 and 1975, 28 miscellaneous cars were formed into 14 two-car multiple-unit sets and renumbered 600-627, coupled consecutively with the even-numbered car leading. The conversions included 920, 921, 967 and 968. Some reports have these cars operating as a motored unit hauling a trailer unit. Neither can be confirmed, but it is likely the latter that is correct, probably involving the trailered ex-1000 series cars. That operation was no doubt found to be a strain on the lead motor car, as between 1972-1978, 57 further cars were converted for multiple-unit operation in double-ended 3-car sets, with one car coupled backwards and left-side doors cut into all units. These cars were renumbered 301-357 and were coupled in 3-car groups of sequential numbers, e.g. 301-302-303 (formerly 932, 933 and 973, the only known renumbering). Other known cars modified for use in 3-car trains included 925, 927, 960, 962-964, 971, 974, 981, 982, 990, 994, 996 and 997. Yet another report had the center car de-motored and operated as a trailer. Whether any of the 600-series was used in the 300-series is unknown (confirming trailer status). As far as can be determined, none of the 600 and 300 series sets involved the use of former TTC Class A-10 cars, all of which appear to have operated only as single units, mostly in the 1000 series although at least one was renumbered as a higher-numbered 900-series car.
At various dates in later years, many cars received conventional controllers with hand-operated mechanisms, including 918 (by 1976). In addition, some PCC cars actually received old trucks from non-PCC Alexandria cars. Most PCCs that retaining their own trucks had the track brakes removed. Cars converted for operation on the Ramleh routes had spindly-appearing pantograph towers added on the front ends of the first and third units (confirming trailer status for the center cars). Presumably these were used, although the only films and photos seen by me were of cars using trolley poles with the pantographs locked down. Some of the cars operated mid-train had windshields or rear windows removed and replaced with metal or wood inserts. At least one car had its windshield replaced by the rear-end window assembly from (presumably) a scrapped car.
All ex-TTC cars in Alexandria are said to have been withdrawn by 1984, when new equipment was received for the interurban lines to Ramleh, although one or two may have continued to operate on the city routes beyond that date. One report indicates all cars withdrawn by ‘1981-82’ although that is in error, based on known video and photographic material. The same report shows 950, 952, 957, 959, 964, 972, 973, 975, 978-980, 985, 988, 989, 991, 997 and 1020 withdrawn by 1975. Left unsaid is whether they were withdrawn for scrapping or for conversion into multiple-unit trains. At least 973 was so converted.
One final note to further confuse the topic of car numbers is that apparently there was some renumbering to fill gaps. It is not known if this referred to the original series of 901-up or to later blocks of train-operated cars in the 300 and 600 series
David Cavlovic | October 24, 2009 at 9:06 am
“…to further confuse the topic of car numbers is that apparently there was some renumbering to fill gaps…”
I’m amazed John Bromley could make sense of all this. Well, if it worked for them, then that’s all that matters. I wonder if Alexandria kept a PCC or two for tourist purposes. If they want, I know a fleet of CLRVs they could have.
John F Bromley | October 24, 2009 at 3:52 pm
“I wonder if Alexandria kept a PCC or two for tourist purposes.”
No, they ran them into the ground. Even when running they were scrap on wheels.
Dean McCunn | November 16, 2012 at 1:36 am
Great Pics and enjoyed the comments posted as well.
Comments are closed.
Thanks to the TTC's complete redesign of their website, links in old articles here will not work any more. As I find them, I will fix them, assuming that there is an equivalent page on the new site.
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Sara is a doctor and mother living with her best friend, Jodie, in the Pacific Northwest. Sara is a single mother by choice and her son Sam is now seven months old. She loves her work as a doctor and her new role as a mom, but wants to make sure her finances are as healthy as they can be.
Case Studies address financial and life dilemmas that readers of Frugalwoods send in requesting advice. Then, we (that’d be me and YOU, dear reader) read through their situation and provide advice, encouragement, insight and feedback in the comments section.
For an example, check out the last case study. Case Studies are updated by participants (at the end of the post) several months after the Case is featured. Visit this page for links to all updated Case Studies.
Reader Case Studies intend to highlight a diverse range of financial situations, ages, ethnicities, locations, goals, careers, incomes, family compositions and more!
The Case Study series began in 2016 and, to date, there’ve been 76 Case Studies. I’ve featured folks with annual incomes ranging from $17k to $200k+ and net worths ranging from -$300k to $2.9M+.
I’ve featured single, married, partnered, divorced, child-filled and child-free households. I’ve featured gay, straight, queer, bisexual and polyamorous people. I’ve featured women, non-binary folks and men. I’ve featured transgender and cisgender people. I’ve had cat people and dog people. I’ve featured folks from the US, Australia, Canada, England, South Africa, Spain, Finland, Germany and France. I’ve featured people with PhDs and people with high school diplomas. I’ve featured people in their early 20’s and people in their late 60’s. I’ve featured folks who live on farms and folks who live in New York City.
The goal is diversity and only YOU can help me achieve that by emailing me your story! If you haven’t seen your circumstances reflected in a Case Study, I encourage you to apply to be a Case Study participant by emailing mrs@frugalwoods.com.
I probably don’t need to say the following because you folks are the kindest, most polite commenters on the internet, but please note that Frugalwoods is a judgement-free zone where we endeavor to help one another, not condemn.
There’s no room for rudeness here. The goal is to create a supportive environment where we all acknowledge we’re human, we’re flawed, but we choose to be here together, workshopping our money and our lives with positive, proactive suggestions and ideas.
A disclaimer that I am not a trained financial professional and I encourage people not to make serious financial decisions based solely on what one person on the internet advises.
I encourage everyone to do their own research to determine the best course of action for their finances. I am not a financial advisor and I am not your financial advisor.
With that I’ll let Sara, today’s Case Study subject, take it from here!
Hi Frugalwoods! I’m Sara, a 44-year-old new mom (!) and doctor. I live in the Pacific Northwest with my awesome 7-month-old baby Sam, my senior cat Sasha, and my best friend Jodie.
I grew up mostly on the East coast, where my parents still live, and went to college and medical school close to home. I moved out to the West Coast for residency, and I met Jodie when I was looking for a roommate. We clicked right away. We saw each other through some very difficult times and I loved living with her in California.
I moved back to my hometown after residency in my early 30s. My first job out of residency was challenging but incredibly rewarding and also–really luckily–paid me very well and qualified for public service student loan forgiveness. My parents were able to pay for college and part of medical school for me, so I was really lucky to be student loan debt-free before I was 35! I was able to buy a condo on my own and lived there for about 5 years before deciding to make a big life change.
After several years in my job and some big life changes, I felt pretty burnt out. Work was taking up a huge amount of my time and energy, and I felt like my personal relationships were not getting enough attention. After a vacation to visit Jodie, who had moved back to her hometown in the Pacific NW, I realized it was time for a big change. I loved the mountains plus ocean, the city was great, and I could really see myself building a life in this new area. I decided to take a step back from my super intense career path, landed a part-time job and moved myself and my cat across the country.
It was a little bumpy at first, especially moving away from family, but it has been a really great move overall. It helped me separate my core identity from “doctor” and expand my life in meaningful ways. I bought a house in 2017, have a great community here, and Jodie moved in with me a few months after I moved. She is living with me rent free for now. This has changed a few times over the years of us living together and it’s what works for right now. It won’t be forever, but it’s definitely part of what’s making the budget tighter these days.
In another awesome development, (though not so much for my parents) my sister moved here about a year after I did. She lives less than a mile away with her family and it is super fun to see them regularly.
evening family walk with cousins
After dating a bit after my last serious relationship ended, I decided that my biggest life goal was to become a parent, and that dating in that frame of mind was putting a ridiculous amount of pressure on myself and any potential partner. I decided to prioritize having a baby and, after some pretty intense ups and downs over the last 5 years (fertility treatments, foster parenting, an interrupted adoption), I had a baby this summer!
My life is not at all traditional, but it is pretty darn awesome. Baby Sam is an absolute joy, and living with Jodie during this time has made this experience so much more fun. My sister has also been super supportive, especially as I had some pretty serious postpartum complications and needed a lot of extra help.
My family came to visit and we were all very grateful to have had the Covid vaccines, and I was super grateful that baby Sam was born during a relative lull in the pandemic. I was able to take an extended maternity leave, including some unpaid time, because of my savings cushion. I loved being home with Sam and I was really grateful to be able to afford extra help, which made being a solo parent feel a lot less daunting. I also got a new job that allows me a lot more flexibility (more on that below).
Jodie is going through her own career transition and, after much discussion, we decided she would take some time to work as Sam’s nanny for at least the first year and a half of his life. I’ve been especially grateful for this with the pandemic. Plus, being the sole breadwinner, daycare would be really rough with all the coughs and colds that go along with that coupled with various pandemic closures. Jodie and I did have to address how working for me would impact our relationship, but after 15 years of friendship we were able to keep the lines of communication open and it’s been working incredibly well so far. I think Sam will start going to part-time daycare at around age two.
High tea in Dublin from travels in the before times
As I mentioned above, I just started a new job that I’m really happy with. It’s right down the street from my house (like an 8 minute walk), with lovely people, and I’ve been able to arrange a 4 day/week schedule that works really well for me while still bringing in a solid amount of money. I love being a doctor, despite the big challenges of the last few years, and I plan to keep working for a good chunk of time. I would like to go down to 3 days a week at some point but right now, 4 days a week is very doable. I am grateful to have found a practice that reflects how I want to take care of patients while also working with people who respect my desire to spend time with my little one. Additionally, after I’ve been at this job for more than a year, my salary should go up by about $20k, which is awesome! That will really help me feel more stable.
Knowing that my path to becoming a parent was a little more complicated, I saved a lot of cash to make sure I could cover whatever expenses came up. I am so so grateful that my child has arrived, and now that I am out of the haze of the first few months of parenting, I’m looking at life and realizing whoa, ok, now I have the baby – I don’t need to save up for possible unpaid leave or other unexpected expenses! I am ready to start thinking about life in its new configuration as a solo parent, and to think through how I want to set things up financially to help support our little family.
I needed a lot of help over the last year or so with a challenging pregnancy and postpartum period, so I have been paying for services that I don’t usually have like a house cleaner and grocery delivery. These are some obvious things to tweak, but I’m also really enjoying those luxuries as a new parent.
Since I’m now working right down the street, I think staying put in my current house is likely. Also, housing prices have gone crazy here (everywhere?) in the last few years, which is great if I want to leave this area and move somewhere cheaper, but not so great if I want to trade up. I’m currently in a 3-bedroom, which I purchased in 2017, so everyone has a bedroom. Jodie lives downstairs where there’s also a small TV room, laundry room and garage. That leaves me and Sam on the main floor sharing one bathroom and no space for guests or much else – my office is currently out of a hope chest that also serves as a coffee table, and with a crawling baby the house feels very full. Especially with having a lot of friends and family still on the East Coast and in California, one long term consideration is how to make more space to welcome visitors while also making life a little more spacious as Sam grows up.
What feels most pressing right now? What brings you to submit a Case Study?
A hobby i hope to someday return to
I was really struck during Frugalwoods’ Uber Frugal Month Challenge by the questions about goals, because for so long, my goal was to have a good financial cushion to enable me to have a baby. And now – baby! He’s here, he’s great, and I’m looking forward to whatever’s next. However, with less clarity around a specific goal, I can definitely feel some lifestyle creep. I want to make sure I’m being thoughtful about our future.
I’m in a really great spot in many ways, so it’s less of a ‘what to do now’ and more of a ‘how do I optimize and set myself up to have a great life going forward’ question. I do want to say this exercise has made me so grateful as I take stock of where things are – I know I’m in an incredibly privileged position to have a lot saved, but I also realize I’ve crept into a place where, despite making a lot of money, I’m spending more than I’m taking home (OMG was not expecting that…. THIS EXERCISE IS SO USEFUL).
I know that some of my big expenses are temporary (but like ‘a couple years’ temporary not ‘a couple weeks’ temporary). For example, I know I’m spending a lot on child care right now and that will change at some point, and I have the cash on hand to spend extra while still maximizing my tax-advantaged savings, but wow do I need to come to terms with the fact that I won’t be able to do that forever if I don’t get things in a net positive direction.
What’s the best part of your current lifestyle/routine?
Things are pretty great right now. This whole being a mom thing is pretty amazing. I love working close to home – I have been able to come home and see Sam at lunch, which is just unbelievable and I’m so grateful. I also love having Jodie take care of Sam – I trust her absolutely and she is basically my platonic life partner and live-in auntie to Sam. I also love that my sister is close by and that I have a great group of friends in town.
I also really love my neighborhood and my home, though it has its challenges as noted above.
What’s the worst part of your current lifestyle/routine?
Being far away from the rest of my family. This has been really tough especially as my parents are in their 70s. Although they are currently doing great, I know they will need help as they get older, which will be much harder to coordinate from across the country.
Another major stressor is that I’m still dealing with some mobility challenges and, as I get back to work and am busier, I’ve had less time for self care. I have had some postpartum anxiety as well as physical complications, so there’s been a lot of balancing self care and baby care and now patient care. Some of my expenses reflect that higher level of need for help right now, and I’m so grateful to have the resources to get it.
Totally financially independent, with my mortgage paid-off (or with enough saved that it could easily be paid off if I wanted to)
Working for the fulfillment of my job
Pretty similar to what I’ve got now, with lots of time with Sam, probably still living with Jodie, and the ability to travel to the east coast for long stretches of time to be with family.
I also recently became an Irish citizen though my grandmother and have a fantasy of spending some time in Ireland at some point.
Career:
More flexibility but similar work – either direct patient care or some sort of health-related coaching.
Likely still at this practice since, so far, it feels like a great fit.
Annual total: $103,800
Mortgage Details
Item Outstanding Loan Balance Interest Rate Loan Period and Terms Equity Purchase price and year
Mortgage $487,020 2.5% (refi last year) 30-year fixed-rate mortgage $297,980 $785K in 2017
Debts: $0
Item Amount Notes Interest/type of securities held Name of bank/brokerage Expense Ratio
Retirement account from job 1 $553,423 401K from an old job 2040 target retirement fund Vanguard
Retirement account from job 2 – A $62,250 403B from an old job 2040 target retirement fund Fidelity
Retirement account from job 2 – B $44,423 457b from an old job 2040 target retirement fund Fidelity
Checking account #1 $15,580 I’m slowly getting rid of this account in order to transfer it to a credit union, but I had a bunch of autopay stuff set up that I never got around to transferring, so I left a bunch of money in here to cover those automated payments. Chase
WA state deferred comp count $10,036 Job #2 additional retirement savings 2040 target retirement fund with Vanguard Vanguard
Retirement account from job 3- A (current job) $1,977 401K from current job 2040 target retirement fund Fidelity
Retirement account from job 3 – B (current job I just started) $1,661 457b from current job 2040 target retirement fund Fidelity
Retirement account from job 2 – C $1,595 Pension plan from an old job – not vested so probably only have 25% of this once I roll it over 2040 target retirement fund Fidelity
DCRA $455 new job dependent care account Health Equity
Note: I am maxing out both my 401k and 457b ($20,500 / year into each). The 401k has a 3% match. This has been part of my strategy this year to spend down some of my cash savings while getting as many tax advantaged savings as possible. Part of my question today is if this a good strategy.
Vehicle make, model, year Valued at Mileage Paid off?
2016 Honda CRV $26,000 (this seems crazy high to me but it’s what Kelly Blue Book says) 50,000 Yes
Nanny (aka Jodie) $3,260 Nanny payments including state and federal taxes and admin fee for payroll service. The plan is to continue with Jodie until Sam is at least a year old (and probably more like 18 months), then transition to daycare which should be a lot cheaper.
Mortgage $2,743 Includes escrow for taxes and home insurance
Groceries $650 I have been having groceries delivered while pregnant and now with a baby. I’m not wanting to take him into the store because of Covid.
Cleaning service $560 This is something I started while very pregnant and have continued. It’s on the chopping block already but it’s hard to let it go.
Utilities (water, garbage, sewer) $300 This has been CRAZY HIGH the last couple months and I am not sure why, other than having people at home a lot because now Jodie and the baby are home all day.
Gifts $200 Spread over the year and including holidays
Travel $200 ??? Hard to estimate since I haven’t travelled anywhere since before Covid but I am planning some trips back to the East Coast this summer
Term life insurance $188 I got this policy at the beginning of Covid. I’m trying to decide if I want to keep it or switch to my employer offered plan, which I’d need to make sure is portable.
Car insurance $166 Progressive for my car and Jodie’s
Electricity $153
Baby gear $100 Varies but it’s about this for diapers, Aquaphor, some occasional baby foods like teething biscuits (though we mostly make our own and I breastfeed), child proofing stuff, occasional ridiculous St Patrick’s day PJs… 90% of baby clothes are hand-me-downs as is most of our baby furniture/gear.
Home maintenance $100 Lawn care once a month ($35), gutter cleaning service once a year, exterminator as needed, chimney cleaning, carpet deep clean (thanks to many cats…)
Haircuts $100 I just started going again after a 2-year hiatus and man I like my hair better when it’s well cut and colored
Breast pump rental $100 I plan to have until July
Cat care $80 Litter, food, vet visits
Entertainment $79 This is a clear target for reduction: spotify, HBO, disney plus, WAPO, Kindle unlimited, Amazon prime, and netflix… I am now very embarrassed. Plus some purchased ebooks and movies thrown in, though I’ve gotten much better at using the library!
Meds/doctor visits $75 Averaged out over the year for me and baby
Cell phone $68 Sprint (and yes, I know about MVNOs)
Heat $60 gas heat, average over the year
Therapy $30 Was covered by my old health plan with minimal co pays, not sure how much it will be on my new health plan
Physical therapy $20 Was covered by my old health plan with minimal co pays, not sure how much it will be with my new health plan
Monthly subtotal: $9,691 EEK! This is more than I am taking home!
Annual total: $116,292
Card Name Rewards Type? Bank/card company
Is it reasonable to be saving so much into retirement when my expenses are pretty high right now?
Is this a wake-up call to trim back the many fluffy pieces of my life? (goodbye Spotify – cancelled!).
I am maxing out both my 401k and 457b ($20,500 / year for each). The 401k has a 3% match. This has been part of my strategy this year to spend down some of my cash savings while getting as many tax advantaged savings as possible. Is this the right strategy?
Thoughts on having retirement money in an IRA vs. employer-sponsored 401K?
I have the opportunity to roll over my 401K and 403B from previous jobs and I’m not sure where to put it.
I like the idea of being able to take it out of an IRA at 59 ½ instead of later for a 401K.
Are there other financial planning suggestions for a solo parent or does it look like I’ve got things in an ok spot?
I just found out about DCRA, and as someone who spent several years holding all my retirement accounts in cash because I missed the memo on selecting an investment account, I have a fear that I am missing something about my financial state.
Since I like my job and I foresee wanting to be working for a while, my goal is not to retire early but to have more flexibility in the long run.
Should I pay off my mortgage?
The part of me that’s very anti-debt is tempted to do this, but I have a pretty great interest rate (2.5%) and my monthly payments are not terrible, so I think my money can do more for me elsewhere?
Should I remodel my garage to make my house more comfortable long term?
This is what I’m leaning towards, but I am NOT HANDY and so I’m a little nervous about doing a big project like this and would need to make sure I’m really in a positive cash flow place before tackling it.
How do I make sure I’m saving enough while also keeping a good positive cash flow on a monthly basis, and making sure to optimize what cash I do have on hand without it just sitting in my checking account, which is what I have a tendency to feel most comfortable with?
I like to know I can handle whatever is likely to arise, but I feel like I’m missing out on some opportunities by holding onto too much cash.
I also think having so many accounts all over the place has made it really hard to keep track of how much I’m actually saving or spending each month, so I was truly shocked to realize I’m spending more than I’m making.
Having to write down each of my accounts was ridiculous, and I know I missed one (a small pension from the state after working at a public hospital…). So, consolidation and simplification seem like key next steps!
Escape from the pen
Sara’s in excellent financial shape, but I’m still glad she came to us today for help! I get the sense that she’s been (understandably!) very focused on having her baby and starting her new job and now that the dust has settled, she wants to turn her attention to her financial life. A great idea!
We all go through phases of life where we’re more (or less) in tune with our finances, which is totally fine. The key is to ensure we check-in periodically to test our assumptions and re-evaluate the things we’ve previously put on autopilot, such as:
Savings that are automatically deducted from our paychecks
Automated retirement savings
Services, such as house cleaning or childcare, which are likely to change with time and our phase of life
I’m an ENORMOUS fan of automating all of these things–that’s what I do! But the caveat to all of that automation is that you need to review it every once in awhile (once a year? every six months?) to make sure you’re aware of everything you’re signed up for and everything you’re investing in. This is exactly the exercise Sara embarked on to assemble her Case Study and I’m excited to dig in with her today!
Sara’s Question #1: Is it reasonable to be saving so much into retirement when my expenses are pretty high right now?
I think it probably does make sense for Sara to continue her aggressive retirement investment strategy for several reasons:
At her high income level, the tax savings on her pre-tax contributions to her 401k and 457b are likely pretty substantial. In general, the higher your income, the more important it is for you to take advantage of pre-tax investment opportunities.
Sara doesn’t want to retire early, so there’s no need to optimize non-traditional retirement vehicles. She’s setting herself up for a very well-funded, very nice, traditional retirement.
Her biggest expense–childcare–will only decrease with time. Assuming her son attends public school, it is highly likely his care/schooling will never cost as much as it does now. Hence, her “high expenses” are much lower when you take into consideration the transitory nature of the childcare expense.
Reduce Expenses to Break Even
That being said, I agree with Sara that she should get her expenses to align with her income. It would be fine for her to just break even at this point, in light of the fact that she’s putting $41k/year into retirement and already has a substantial emergency fund. Given those two factors, there’s not a real imperative for her to save above and beyond that. Breaking even would put things on a positive trajectory.
Sara’s top expenses (mortgage $2,743 + nanny $3,260) = $6,003
This leaves $2,647 for the remainder of Sara’s expenses. Currently, she’s spending $3,688 (aside from mortgage and nanny), which means she needs to eliminate $1,041 from her monthly spending in order to break even.
Sara: no one can tell you what to reduce/eliminate from your budget expect for you. You know which items are your priorities and which things you could eliminate without too much disruption. The purpose of this exercise is to get you thinking about the things in your budget that are discretionary, but only you can determine their order of importance in your life.
Groceries $650 I have been having groceries delivered while pregnant and now with baby. I’m not wanting to take him into the store because of Covid. This is reasonable, but if it’s an area Sara feels she could reduce, go for it! Is this just for Sara or does it include Jodie as well? $550
Cleaning service $560 This is something I started while very pregnant and have continued. It’s on the chopping block already but it’s hard to let it go. This is the obvious thing to axe, but I also understand what a lifesaver it is for working parents. I’m going to eliminate it for the purposes of this exercise.
It’s a good time to ask: which is more valuable to you?
2) House cleaning
Do you want to reduce a little bit in every category? Or a lot in just a few categories? Lots of options for how to get there! $0
Utilities (water, garbage, sewer) $300 This has been CRAZY HIGH the last couple months and I am not sure why, other than having people at home a lot because now Jodie and the baby are home all day I’d dig into this if it were me. What’s the breakdown for each utility? Where are you seeing the increase? Seems like A LOT for just water, sewer and garbage, so I’d want to ensure there’s not like a water leak or something going on. $300
Restaurants $200 This is an easy one to eliminate, if Sara wants to. $0
Gifts $200 Spread over the year and including holidays At $2,400 per year, this seems a tad high? But, I’m not sure how many people/family members this includes. Something to take a look at. $100
Travel $200 ??? Hard to estimate since I haven’t travelled anywhere since before Covid but I am planning some trips back to the East Coast this summer I’ll leave this since Sara noted she already has trips planned for this summer. $200
Term life insurance $188 I got this policy at the beginning of Covid, trying to decide if I want to keep it or switch to my employer offered plan, which I’d need to make sure is portable Would be interesting to see what your employer offers and what the cost would be. I agree that, as a single parent, it makes total sense to have term life insurance. $188
Car insurance $166 Progressive for my car and Jodie’s Fixed cost. $166
Electricity $153 Fixed cost, although, have you done an energy audit? Many states offer them for free! They’ll come to your house and offer advice on how you can save $ on utilities. Totally worth it if you haven’t done it yet. This could also help get to the bottom of the high water/sewer bill.
Another great DIY approach is to buy (or borrow, sometimes libraries have them available) an energy use monitor to see if any of your appliances are secret energy hogs (affiliate link). $153
Baby gear $100 Varies but about this for diapers, Aquaphor, some occasional baby foods like teething biscuits tho we mostly make our own and I breastfeed, child proofing stuff, occas ridiculous St Patrick’s day Pjs. 90% of baby clothes are hand me downs as is most of our baby furniture/gear Sara, are you down with the cheap diapers? I have a post ALL ABOUT the cheapest of the cheap diapers and wipes, which might help save a bit in this category:
Home maintenance $100 lawn care once a month ($35), gutter cleaning service once a year, exterminator as needed, chimney cleaning, carpet deep clean (many cats) Seems like a necessary fixed expense, so I’ll leave it. $100
Haircuts $100 I just started going again after a 2 year hiatus and man I like my hair better when it’s well cut and colored Any chance to go any cheaper on this? If not, no worries! Just something to consider as you weigh reducing other items above. $100
Breast pump rental $100 plan to have until July Fixed cost, but only for a few more months, so that’s positive. $100
Cat care $80 litter, food, vet visits Fixed cost. $80
Toiletries $80 Sundries like face cream, tooth paste, etc Any opportunities for reduction here? Are you already buying generic/store brands? $60
Entertainment $79 This is a clear target for reduction: spotify, HBO, disney plus, WAPO, Kindle unlimited, Amazon prime, and netflix I am now very embarrassed. Plus some purchased ebooks and movies thrown in, though I’ve gotten much better at using the library! Don’t be embarrassed! This is why we’re doing this exercise together:)! Ok, what can you eliminate here but still retain what you need? Could you get by with just Amazon Prime since it offers music, TV and free shipping? Prime is $139/year ($11.58 per month), so I’ll put that down for now. $12
Meds/doctor visits $75 Averaged out over the year for me and baby Fixed cost. $75
Cell phone $68 Sprint (and yes I know about MVNOs) Ok lady, time to get an MVNO! This is probably the least painful, easiest change you can make.
Check out this post and pick an MVNO: How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill with an MVNO: I Pay $12 a Month $15
Heat $60 gas heat, average over the year Fixed cost. $60
Therapy $30 Was covered by my old health plan with minimal co pays, not sure how much it will be with new health plan Fixed cost. $30
Physical therapy $20 Was covered by my old health plan with minimal co pays, not sure how much it will be with new health plan Fixed cost. $20
Headspace $8 Yearly subscription How important is this? It’s not expensive, but it is one more thing that’s $96/year. $8
Monthly subtotal (without mortgage and nanny) $3,688 New monthly subtotal (without mortgage and nanny) $2,563
These suggestions would put Sara in the comfortable position of being able to:
Continue maxing out her pre-tax retirement investments
Pay for high quality childcare
Cover her expenses and not dip into her savings each month
But as I said, this is a matter of personal choice and Sara will have to make the determination herself of which items she values and wants to keep. I’ll email her this spreadsheet so she can play around with the “proposed new amount” column.
Sara’s Question #2: Thoughts on having retirement money in an IRA vs. employer-sponsored 401K?
Roll it over. Roll it all over.
Sara rightly identified that one of her issues is her, ahem, impressive number of different accounts and indeed, she might go down in Case Study history as “Most Likely to Open Another Account” :). Consolidation and organization will be a great outcome of this exercise!
Sara, you will likely need to spend some time on the phone with Fidelity and Vanguard to roll all of these babies over, but their customer service is typically excellent. Plus, once it’s done? You won’t have to worry about it again!
I also want to make a clarification here: Sara noted she likes the idea of being able to withdraw from an “IRA at age 59 ½ instead of later for a 401K” but that’s not accurate. You can also withdraw from a 401k at age 59 ½ without any penalties. It’s possible Sara is thinking of RMDs (required minimum distributions), which take effect at age 72. But rest assured, it’s age 59.5 for penalty-free withdrawal from both IRAs and 401ks.
Let’s take a closer look at where Sara’s money is:
Retirement
All together, Sara has $739,332 in retirement investments. According to Fidelity’s (oversimplified, but useful) retirement rule of thumb, you should:
Aim to save at least 1x your salary by 30, 3x by 40, 6x by 50, 8x by 60, and 10x by 67.
Since Sara is 44, let’s go with 4.5x her salary, which would be [$103,800 x 4.5] = $467,100. Given that, Sara’s in excellent shape! Since Sara mentioned she might want to scale back to part-time work in the future, she should be in a great position to do so.
Grammie’s Irish bread on her china
I also noted that all of her retirement accounts are with either Vanguard or Fidelity, which is fantastic as both of those brokerages have a solid reputation for offering low-fee total market index funds. For more on the importance of selecting funds with low fees (aka expense ratios), check out this Case Study.
Sara’s correct that she has an epic amount of money in cash right now: $134,495! A robust emergency fund for Sara–which is three to six months worth of expenses–would be [$9,691 x 3] = $29,073 to [$9,691 x 6] = $58,146. This leaves Sara with $76,349 “extra” in cash.
The downside of having a lot of cash:
Cash offers the least opportunity for financial growth.
Cash just sits there earning low (or no) interest and doesn’t keep up with inflation.
The upside of having a lot of cash:
It’s the most stable form of money, except for the fact that it doesn’t keep up with inflation and so it essentially loses value every day.
The challenge for Sara right now is that she’s in a state of flux:
She’s a new parent, which always causes a reshuffling of priorities, spending and saving
She has a new job and is still acclimating to that schedule and salary
She’s spending more than her take-home pay every month
This is an interesting situation because Sara’s in excellent financial shape, except for the discrepancy between her spending and take-home pay. There are three ways to bring that into alignment:
Reduce her pre-tax retirement contributions
Reduce her spending
Spend down her cash buffer on her expenses until she gets a raise in a few years
These are all valid options, but the most fiscally smart (and the best for the long term) is option #2: reduce spending.
So, what to do with the extra ca$h?
Typically, the hierarchy of financial options for extra cash are:
Pay off all high-interest debt: DONE
Save up a fully-funded emergency fund: DONE
Max out retirement accounts: DONE
Open a taxable investment account: DONE
Potentially open a 529 college savings account: Sara should research this now.
Potentially open a Donor Advised Fund (DAF): this is the tax-advantaged, most efficient way to donate to charity. I have a DAF and I highly recommend them for folks who want to create a lasting philanthropic legacy (in a tax-advantaged manner!). It’s easy to do, your money is invested so it grows over time, and it’s the simplest way to make and keep track of your donations. I find that DAFs are the most overlooked form of tax-advantaged account, despite being a great deal! More here:
Add to your taxable investments: this is something Sara could do. Once items 1-6 are complete, folks can continue to invest extra cash in the market in perpetuity.
Optional: explore other investment options, such as real estate.
All that being said, until Sara’s expenses are at least breaking even with her take-home pay, she’ll need to keep this money in cash so she can continue to cover her expense overages each month.
It is so difficult to find high-quality childcare that works with your schedule and that you trust and…. forget about affordable (that does not exist in our country, at least not for infants!). Given that, I think Sara has an incredible deal/arrangement with her BFF Jodie. It’s basically a parent’s dream come true!
Item Monthly Amount Divided by Two
Nanny salary $3,260 $3,260 (N/A)
Mortgage $2,743 $1,371.50
Cleaning service $560 $280
Utilities (water, garbage, sewer) $300 $150
Car insurance $166 $83
baby feet, because cute
At $5,221 per month, I still think Sara’s getting a good deal! It’s hard to put a price on having what amounts to a stay-at-home parent who can work around your schedule, who you trust implicitly and who is raising your child with love and care. All that being said, Sara noted this isn’t the forever situation and that she anticipates they’ll send Sam to daycare in another year or so.
My main question here is how Jodie will survive financially after that point? I’m sure she and Sara have discussed this timeline, but I bring it up because Sara wouldn’t be able to afford to pay for daycare AND continue paying Jodie a salary.
Sara’s Question #3: Are there other financial planning suggestions for a solo parent or does it look like I’ve got things in an ok spot?
The tenets I think about for parents–and doubly so for solo parents–are:
Term Life insurance: Sara’s all set with this
Healthy retirement savings: you can’t take a loan out for your retirement and you don’t want to saddle your children with the cost of your old age.
Create a will and estate plan: hire a lawyer to create this for you and update it over the years as circumstances change.
That’s the baseline! It’s most important for parents to have themselves in a solid financial place before they turn their attention to kid-specific investment vehicles. Since Sara’s all set with these AND given her high salary, it may make sense for her to open a 529 college savings account for Sam because it’s tax-advantaged. Sara should research what her state offers in terms of tax breaks and consider if opening a 529 makes sense right now. I assume it probably will, but she’ll need to read up on what her state offers. Here’s more information on how 529s operate: How We Use 529 Plans To Save For College
Sara’s Question #4: Should I pay off my mortgage?
Cat approved child proofing
NOPE. Sara locked in a historically low interest rate on her mortgage–2.5%–which should make you just about weep with joy. Sara, you hit the jackpot with that interest rate and there’s no financial or mathematical reason to pay off a mortgage with an interest rate that low. If you did, you’d be locking in a 2.5% rate of return on your money while the stock market (historically and on average) returns 7% annually.
In general, you want to cash flow renovations. In other words, you want to have enough cash on hand to pay for the full renovation without the danger of going into debt. Sara could potentially pay for the renovation with the “extra” $76k she has in cash, but, that assumes she’s able to always keep her monthly expenses below her take-home pay. Since Sara is still settling into the finances of her new job, her new role as a parent, and relatively new home ownership, I encourage her to wait. Wait and see what the housing market does in the next few years. Wait and see what the cost of materials and contractors do in the next few years.
In addition to the expense of renovating, due to global supply chain issues, a lot of building materials aren’t even available right now–for any price. If it were me, I’d wait a few years then reassess. Another advantage of waiting a few years is that Sara will no longer have the exorbitant nanny/daycare costs for Sam, which’ll give her much more room to pay for a renovation.
Before embarking on an expensive renovation, I’d want to know the following:
Does Sara want to stay in this city and this neighborhood for the longterm?
Would it be cheaper/easier to sell this home and buy a larger one in the same area?
Will Jodie be living with Sara and Sam for the longterm?
If Jodie moves out, will the house feel big enough for Sara and Sam?
Sara’s Question #6: How do I make sure I’m saving enough while also keeping a good positive cash flow on a monthly basis, and making sure to optimize what cash I do have on hand without it just sitting in my checking account, which is what I have a tendency to feel most comfortable with?
In many ways, I think this question reflects the fact that Sara is still in a state of transition with her job, home and bebe. And there’s nothing wrong with having extra cash on hand during a transition–in fact, it’s what I recommend!
If and when Sara is able to get her monthly expenses to align with her take-home pay, she can consider deploying her cash as follows:
Sequester $29,073 to $58,146 as an emergency fund.
Research opening a Donor Advised Fund (DAF).
Consider the garage remodel AFTER several years and AFTER determining she’s staying in the area for the longterm and AFTER determining that moving to a larger house isn’t a better option than renovating.
Consider adding more to her taxable investment account.
Roll over all of the old retirement vehicles
Combine the cash accounts into one
Consider moving everything to the same bank/brokerage for ease of transparency. I personally have everything with Fidelity, which enables me to see alllllllll of my accounts on one screen–very, very helpful.
Hire a lawyer to create a will and estate plan (if you haven’t already).
Explore ways to bring your spending into alignment with your post-tax income.
Adding to taxable investments
Roll over all old retirement accounts.
Potentially move everything to the same bank/brokerage for ease of tracking all accounts.
Research 529s in your state.
Don’t pay off the mortgage because the interest rate is historically low.
Ensure that Jodie has a financial/career plan for when she is no longer Sam’s nanny.
Table the garage renovation for now and reconsider in a few years.
Ok Frugalwoods nation, what advice do you have for Sara? We’ll both reply to comments, so please feel free to ask questions!
Would you like your own case study to appear here on Frugalwoods? Email me (mrs@frugalwoods.com) your brief story and we’ll talk.
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Peter says:
April 13, 2022 at 7:00 am
As a MD she should consider keeping her retirement savings in 401k/403b accounts instead of IRAs. They provide more protection in the event that she is sued. In many states those assets are protected in different ways than an IRA. An IRA may provide more investment options, but if she already has good or similar options in her 401k/403b it would be better to keep her investments in a 401k/403b account.
FrugalFan says:
April 13, 2022 at 7:45 am
Oh that’s an interesting point I never would have thought of. In that case, Sara could still consolidate–often you can roll over old 403bs to your current one, and I assume it’s the same with 457s. Sara, you are doing great! Congrats on the baby and setting up such a good life for yourself! I loved this case study
Josh says:
April 13, 2022 at 12:27 pm
With regard to 457 plans, you probably want to keep it in the old 457 for another benefit – the ability to withdraw at any time after separation from service, penalty-free (just pay ordinary income taxes). And since one of those 457 accounts is with an old employer, Sara can already do this from that Job 2 457 account. As soon as it gets rolled into any other account, the funds lose their special 457 status, and are locked up until 59.5 (as I learned the hard way).
Sara says:
April 23, 2022 at 10:38 pm
Thank you!!! I just realized this right before I submitted a roll over request – I’m checking to see if I can roll them over into my new 457 plan just for ease of tracking but this was a nuance that I almost missed!
Sara says:
April 13, 2022 at 1:49 pm
Still making my way through the comments but thank you all for such thoughtful responses! This is so
Helpful!
Lynne says:
April 13, 2022 at 4:11 pm
With that in mind, umbrella insurance might be a good idea too!
K says:
April 13, 2022 at 7:25 am
https://www.aboveboardfinancial.com/ I cannot recommend this company enough to help compare life insurance policies! They helped me find a fabulous plan for my husband, and determined that my employer offerings were best for me (so didn’t try to sell me a product that didn’t work for me). I’m sure you’ll find substantial savings with them!
April 14, 2022 at 12:20 pm
You didn’t note the face value of your term life policy but regardless, your monthly premium seems high unless you’re rated for a health issue. One note re: portability of employer life insurance – you will likely see a HUGE rate jump. And the “portability” might be a conversion to whole life (or <spit? universal life). Term life via employer used to be very inexpensive but that changed in the early 2000s in my area (Midwest). Rate typically increases every year because the employee has the "audacity" to turn a year older.
Of more concern than life insurance, how much disability coverage do you have? Even if qualifying for disability via social security, it isn't going to provide a lot of income.
Do you have a will/trust, POAs, guardian for Sam, and most important to me – a qualified person you trust to manage your estate for Sam until he becomes of age?
Sara says:
April 23, 2022 at 10:40 pm
Yes to disability coverage and I have a solid amount of life insurance set up – with my other assets he should be all set for quite a while. I also did all the power of attorney / estate planning / trust planning before I even got pregnant, and it is all updated now that he’s arrived officially.
I do unfortunately have some pre-existing health stuff so that’s part of why the premium is high.
April 16, 2022 at 8:14 am
My first thought is that a single mom, Sara really needs to be sure she has enough life insurance to cover Sam until he is an adult should the policy be needed. Employer policies typically only cover 2x salary at the most, which is not enough to fund a child’s care over many years. I would increase the term life insurance if it is not adequate, and especially now while Sara is younger. The cost increases with age. There are formulas to determine how much life insurance is needed to replace her income.
April 13, 2022 at 7:27 am
Sara is in good shape retirement savings wise, but it all seems to be pre-tax. I would suggest building some assets that will be tax free income in retirement. Convert some IRA money into Roth. Check to see if the 401k offers a Roth option.
April 13, 2022 at 10:53 am
I don’t think this is a great option. At her income level, it is likely better for her to not convert as she’ll be paying high taxes. The expectation is she’ll withdraw at a MUCH lower income level down the line. I get it.. the tax-free growing is ideal, but she’d need to weigh that heavily against the tax hit now. Given her high expenses compared to salary, this isn’t a good option until she dials that in, but what I do since I can’t contribute *normally* to a Roth either is the backdoor method. Yep, it’s after-tax dollars, but they grow tax-free and you can put in a substantial amount this way. Much better option, in my opinion, than paying the taxes on a conversion now.
Meghan says:
April 17, 2022 at 7:41 pm
How are you able to max out both a 457b and 401k? I thought it was one or the other? Are you splitting the annual max of $20,500 between accounts. Congrats on nursing for 7 months. I’m 3+ years strong and never set out to nurse this long. Am also thankful for the extra immune boosting benefits during COVID. I stopped pumping at 2.
Kate says:
April 18, 2022 at 9:35 am
I’m not sure if Sara’s situation is the same, but I am an academic doctor at a med school. A lot of doctors at our institution are called “Dual Docs” and paid a portion from the clinical system and a portion from the (state) med school for the teaching they do, and those doctors can max out both a 403b and state 457b plan.
Sara says:
April 28, 2022 at 8:48 am
I work at a hospital (not a doctor) and we have access to both 457b and 403b so I can (and do!) contribute 2x the usual limit by utilizing both plans. This is the case for many people employed at private nonprofits/government jobs.
April 13, 2022 at 7:55 am
While I recognize that DIY is a big part of the FIRE movement, I wonder if Sara may wish to consider cutting other “luxuries” before she lets go of her cleaning service. My reasoning on this isn’t entirely financial, but more pragmatic. Sara works in an intense job and she has a child. My take, speaking as a woman in her late 50s, is that Sara is better off outsourcing her cleaning than trying to add a third “job” back in. Feeling that we must do everything ourselves becomes a less viable strategy as we age. Some pre-emptive avoidance of burnout will help Sara maintain and increase her current earning potential, and the cleaning service will also free up time that Sara can spend with her child, and she can potentially add another income stream down the road (writing a book, being a columnist, etc.). She has an engaging writing style, and there are many other female doctors who’ve done something similar.
April 13, 2022 at 8:33 am
And perhaps the cleaning service could be cut down to every other week or 1x monthly (not sure where it currently stands)!
Meira Bear says:
April 13, 2022 at 10:20 am
I think that’s a really valuable point. Frugal living has a bit of a culture; insourcing/DIY is big and can be assigned something of a moral value, but paying someone to clean your house isn’t inherently less frugal than, I don’t know, paying more for organic groceries. Money is money.
Mrs. Frugalwoods says:
April 13, 2022 at 10:34 am
I agree! That’s why I carefully noted the below for Sara with regard to house cleaning. I absolutely do not think it’s a “moral value” to clean your own home! With these expense-reduction exercises in Case Studies, I intentionally create the spreadsheet so that it is manipulatable by the Case Study participant. Only Sara knows what’ll be best for her to reduce/eliminate. I go through the exercise to kick it off for the person, not to tell them what they MUST do. I hope this helps clarify my intention
“This is the obvious thing to axe, but I also understand what a lifesaver it is for working parents. I’m going to eliminate it for the purposes of this exercise.
It’s a good time to ask: which is more valuable to you?
2) House cleaning
Do you want to reduce a little bit in every category? Or a lot in just a few categories? Lots of options for how to get there!”
Tonya says:
April 18, 2022 at 1:48 pm
This is a great exercise, what is most important? It’s good to consider having someone clean the house when you have a baby and a demanding job.
Coud this be something Jodie does? Helps clean during the day? I don’t know, just a thought. When I was a SAHM I was easily able to fit in cleaning and grocery shopping during the daily routine. Something to consider, perhaps.
Meira Bear says:
April 19, 2022 at 10:34 am
Thanks, sorry, I didn’t mean to imply that I think it’s an attitude that you push–just that it’s kind of a cultural thing!
l says:
April 13, 2022 at 8:09 am
RMD age increased to 72
Mrs. Frugalwoods says:
April 13, 2022 at 8:58 am
Thank you for that correction! Per the IRS, “If your 70th birthday is July 1, 2019 or later, you do not have to take withdrawals until you reach age 72.”
April 13, 2022 at 11:15 pm
Congress is considering changing the RMD age to 75.
Laura says:
April 13, 2022 at 8:10 am
What a great position you’ve worked to put yourself in, and congratulations on the little one.
A couple of suggestions to add to Liz’ comments:
– could you reduce the frequency of the cleaner, and keep on top of it yourselves during visits? And/or reduce the scope of work done? We’ve started using a cleaner, because we weren’t coping with a toddler, full time jobs and my studying on top, but she just does the kitchen, 2 bathrooms, toilet and hall floor fortnightly, costs £30 each visit. That way the major stuff is clean and we can keep on top of everything in between cleans.
– check if you need to start looking into day care shortly? Not sure what the situation there is but the good nurseries around me have 1 year + waitlists.
– you could offer to pay for hotel/Airbnb for family/friends that couldn’t afford to visit unless you put them up. Not a money saving option, but it may take away any urgency you feel around garage conversion or moving
– restaurant visits might naturally decline shortly when a toddler makes it more hassle than it’s worth! It’s quite easy to take a baby out, they’ll often settle, toddlers less so!
A says:
April 13, 2022 at 8:28 am
I’ve gotten a breast pump for free or very cheap from my insurance for both of my children at two different jobs, so that might be worth looking into rather than renting. Maybe not an option, but just wanted to suggest in case it’s helpful.
Whit says:
April 15, 2022 at 4:34 pm
True, but the rental ones are usually hospital-grade aka much better than the personal ones. I was so disappointed in how much the quality of even name brands has gone down in the last decade, between my first kid and my last.
April 15, 2022 at 10:29 pm
Yes, I have a hospital grade rental – but my insurance pays for it as I was approved by a lactation consultant at my provider.
I think its probably a bit late in the game to go through insurance for Sara if it’s only a few more months, but I just wish people would know to try through their insurance first!
Cindy says:
April 13, 2022 at 8:31 am
I’m going to have to say great job Sara!! My mom was a physician/single mom and did things a little differently, but it’s a wonderful profession! So what I’d recommend: I’d consolidate all the leftover retirement accounts. Reduce the cleaning service to just once a month(I’m assuming the amount your spending is for weekly cleaning). I would seriously consider using your own breast pump instead of renting (I’m assuming a medical grade pump). I had excellent ones free with insurance and there’s a lot of breast pumps offered for free on buy nothing groups. Once your milk supply is established I think just using your own pump should be fine. And living so close to home should allow you to nurse at lunchtime and breaks.
While I agree you shouldn’t pay off your home, you can recast your mortgage which is a bit different than refinancing. You don’t lose your mortgage rate, and wouldn’t need to pay for an appraisal or points. Check with your mortgage company and make sure you can do this first. Recasting a mortgage just means you put a larger amount of money towards your principal. It allows the bank to reconfigure your payment and has been useful for us to lower our monthly mortgage payment. You could easily throw $30-$50k of your cash towards your home and it can significantly lower your monthly bill. I highly recommend considering this!
I think there’s room to trim your budget here and there otherwise, and I’d also be ok with lowering your retirement contributions to ensure cash flow. We are also “retirement rich”, hence why we did a significant recast of our mortgage so we wouldn’t be so house poor! Good luck and congrats on new motherhood!!
April 13, 2022 at 1:30 pm
Yes I was coming here to suggest a recast as well! We are in the midst of one currently- paid the lump sum and now waiting for them to recalculate. Our current mortgage servicer does not charge a fee for this, we keep the same interest rate and timeline, but it reamortizes the payments for a lower monthly payment.
Julie says:
April 13, 2022 at 8:33 am
If you find a diaper that works for you, keep it and stock up when on sale. As my kid got bigger and heavier, the cheap diapers were awful. I was doing more laundry and using more diapers . Not worth the headache and extra work!
Also, I’d probably keep the cleaner but maybe reduce the frequency if that’s possible. Save your sanity!
Anne says:
April 13, 2022 at 8:51 am
Hi Sara, another SMC here a few kid years ahead of you! I wouldn’t worry about NEEDING to have your income line up with expenses right now. You are in the most expensive 5 years (and likely the most expensive single year) of your sine’s life. You are not overspending by $12k because your monthly expenses are a little more than your take home inform, you are saving $28k while reallocating cash to tax advantages accounts. I am planning that there will be some years when I also spend down cash or brokerage investments to reallocate to retirement funds.
In your situation I don’t think there is any real benefit to opening a 529, and potentially real downside. By the time Sam is going to college you will be 62 and be able to access your retirement funds. Retirement funds (and value of a primary residence) do not count at all against financial aid, and 529s can be counted by some colleges more than a brokerage account. By the time Sam is through high school you might be semi-retired and he would be in a great position for financial aid if your financial allocations are similar to how they are now.
I know you are having mobility issues, so it may be hard for you to do your own house cleaning. Is this something Jodie might be willing to help with? The small house may also feel a little easier if you can differentiate the space a bit. Maybe your desk can go either in your bedroom or in the downstairs sitting room, and Sam’s toys mostly in his bedroom. For me having part of the living room toy-free and my workspace in my bedroom has made it a little more manageable.
Good luck with your amazing journey!
Anne says:
April 13, 2022 at 8:59 am
Forgot to add: look into disability insurance, especially if you can get it through your employer. And make sure you have a will and estate documents. As a single mother it is much more important to get these right since there is not an obvious guardian, so worth going to a lawyer instead of trying to DIY.
Lynn says:
April 13, 2022 at 10:53 am
Fantastic job! As a lawyer single mom of two working f/t and also post partum problems I did everything I could to ask the nanny to do the housecleaning, meal prep etc. in exchange for free room and board. My theory was if anyone was going to ignore my kids it should be her-so when I got home I could devote 100% of my energy to my kids who I hadn’t seen all day. Or ask her to pay for the weekly cleaning lady. She’ll feel great she helped. It’s not such a big expense that it’s a big ask. And both of you will be so happy to come home to a clean house. Or go through the expenses presented and ask which other specific ones she feels comfortable picking up.
Beth says:
April 17, 2022 at 8:48 pm
I agree. It’s a little strange to me that housekeeping isn’t part of the nanny position (especially since it’s a live in position). Man, stay at home moms are underpaid ;). I stay home with four kids and do a lot of the housekeeping. My husband pitches in when he’s home. I think it’s also good for baby to not have one on one attention/entertainment all the time. My oldest was an only child until he was 3 1/2. By 9-12 months (maybe earlier) he started learning to play by himself (in a safe location) for brief periods of time so I could cook, clean, etc. And we don’t use screen time. I think it really helped his self confidence, imagination, and attention span. My other kids are also expected to be able to entertain themselves but they get it a little easier because there’s usually a sibling to play with. All that to say, especially now that you’re getting past the newborn stage I think it’s reasonable to ask for more help with housekeeping. What does she do during nap time? And I’m not trying to harp on your nanny situation. It’s awesome.
Kirsty says:
April 26, 2022 at 12:24 am
This was my thought too. When baby is brand new you are too overwhelmed to do cleaning, but baby is old enough now that the nanny should me well able to do some cleaning, cooking, laundry etc. She’s certainly being paid enough!
I also agree if someone is going to be giving baby less focused attention while concentrating on housework, that person should be the nanny not the mom. You don’t want to overload her, but baby will still be napping quite a bit for quite a while, and is old enough to play solo while nanny makes dinner / cleans up etc. As baby’s needs get less intense the nanny will be able to take on more and more housework.
June 1, 2022 at 9:32 am
She is not being “paid enough” lol. It is incredible how undervalued such essential services are – by women – who should know better. Also she is a personal friend of Sara’s so it would be awkward to add cleaning for essentially minimum wage. Cleaners get $30p/hr where I live in the PNW. And nannying is vastly underpaid in general.
Keep in mind it is highly unlikely Jodie has health care or any safety net on what she’s being paid.
April 14, 2022 at 5:48 pm
I 100% agree with this! There is no need to reduce spending in one of the most busy and sleep-deprived years you will have (perhaps the most!), when you have such gigantic cash cushion that you want to reallocate elsewhere. I like your current plan of maxing out retirement accounts and using cash to make up the difference in spending. That is certainly the easiest and most tax-advantaged way to get some of your extra cash into investment accounts.
If I’m reading this correctly: You are spending $12500 more this year than you are taking home (after 401k contributions, etc), so you are reallocating $12500 of your $134500 cash into your tax-advantaged accounts. That’s a great start, because even after doing that, you will still have $122,000 in cash, which is still much more than you need. Additionally, in a year, you expect to start making $20K more per year, so your take-home salary will most likely cover the additional $12500. So there is only one year of needing to use cash to make up the difference, and honestly after this you will still end up with more cash than you want for an emergency fund.
As an additional suggestion of what to do with all that extra cash: look into doing a yearly backdoor roth IRA contribution to have even more tax-advantaged investment contributions. This will allow you to contribute $6000 to a Roth IRA each year, despite the income limit that would otherwise prevent you from doing that. Since it’s a Roth account, you will pay taxes on the money you contribute, but you won’t pay taxes on your earnings later on.
Also, I would second another person’s comment that you should consider what you want to do about planning for college expenses, but that it’s much better to continue maximizing your 401k/403b contributions than to contribute to a 529. Putting more of your net worth into your retirement accounts will make that money not be considered in financial aid calculations, so your son’s out-of-pocket college costs would be cheaper.
Finally, I did the math on your situation. Starting with your current retirement account balances, if you continue to max out your 2 retirement accounts annually, you will be financially independent at age 57 – as in, you would be able to cover your expenses with only your retirement account investment returns (this assumes your current spending, inflation-adjusted, excluding the nanny. It also assumes a conservative 5% inflation-adjusted annual investment return and a withdrawal rate of 3.5% to cover your spending).
Sara says:
April 23, 2022 at 10:46 pm
Super helpful tip about the 529s – I have read enough case studies that I can hear Mrs. Frugalwoods saying you can’t borrow for retirement but your kid(s) can borrow for college if they need to!
The toy creep into every space is real… and I have been slowly making my bedroom into more of an oasis as he’s graduated to his crib in his own room instead of the bassinet in mine.
April 13, 2022 at 9:03 am
Parents also need to make sure to have a will. Just a quick suggestion!
Mrs. Frugalwoods says:
April 13, 2022 at 9:08 am
Ahh yes, thank you! I’ve added that into the post :)!
April 13, 2022 at 9:04 am
so interesting! If it were me, I’d reduce the cleaning service by about 25% (in whichever permutation works best: maybe shorter visits, maybe more time between visits?) and make a modest reduction in costs there. Then I’d reduce the eating out significantly. I’m not saying ”no restaurants for you ever again”, but just 50% less. I’d move cell phone plan immediately and make a decent saving there, and obviously cut entertainment by at least 70%. Again, I wouldn’t cut it down to nothing: clearly there’s value in enjoying relaxing at home. This is well-deserved and Sara deserves this in her life, but it will be totally doable to greatly reduce her outlay, and still have a solid array of options. Libraries for the win!
The thing I’d keep would be grocery deliveries. I’d definitely try and optimise these, look at who offers the best rates overall, whether you’re missing out on any good deals or bargains generally, but as a working parent, trying to carve out time, energy and then use petrol to go somewhere, nope. This is a valuable service to you. If you passed a huge costco to or from work, fine, bite the bullet and deal with it yourself, but that’s not the case here, so the groceries delivery stays, though you could look at ways to reduce costs / maximise benefit from this.
Ditto for the hair: this is part of self-care. Sure, see if you can reduce the costs a bit, but keep it as a line item. It’s a small thing that makes you look good, feel good and your happiness and wellbeing is paramount. I know no one dies without a hair appointment, but you’re still a girl, dammit!
I’m not in the US, so it’s hard to be specific, but doing all those relatively modest things, should net a saving of a couple of hundred each month, minimum.
That suddenly-high utlities bill: check that out immediately, first in fact. That’s a red flag that something is amiss, and it needs fixing pronto. That would be the route to a decent extra sum left in your account..
I’d leave the reno stuff for now. You have a lot going on already. I realise Jodie will be there for quite a while yet, but as and when she naturally moves on, your space will expand. If family comes, maybe you and your sister could split the cost of an Air B n B if necessary, which might actually be far lower stress for all concerned. It’s nice for people to have somewhere to retreat to during family visits, even if it’s somewhere really small and basic and they spend most of their time with you or your sister.
Keep that mortgage! Keep it till they drag it out of your cold, dead hands!
Best of luck, you’re doing really well
Lisa says:
April 13, 2022 at 9:10 am
How about sister Sundays—instead of going out to a restaurant that weekend, maybe once a month you each host the other for dinner. You could reduce your eating out expense by half if you plan things well on nights you host.
April 13, 2022 at 9:18 am
I agree with not paying off the house. Your interest rate may never be seen again in your lifetime. My kids, age 50 just refinanced to a 15 year at your rate even though they have plenty saved to pay it off. Your money will hopefully over a couple decades grow far more than the the mortgage payoff would benefit you. Once we were down to about 35000 we paid ours off. A great feeling I must admit but I never regretted not doing it earlier because the money saved grew so much in the market. And don’t worry about the market ups and downs, just keep shoveling m9ney in at firesale prices. Couldn’t you pay Jodie a nominal amount like 10 an hour to clean a few hours a month, perhaps throw laundry in and fold it and put away. The baby sleeps for long hours the first couple of years, especially the first year. My daughter watches my great grandchild for free 3 days a week and cleans their kitchen, straightens the toys up and the baby’s room, living room and the main bathroom. The only room she doesn’t touch is the master bedroom and bathroom. She leaves that to my daughter and son in law. She does not charge my granddaughter. She is sitting there with nothing to do while the baby sleeps and is happy to help them out. She lives there, she could easily do these minor chores say 2.5 hours a week and keep things really clean. That would be approx 100 a month saving you 460 a month. I agree with getting rid of all of the extra subscriptions for tv. We have been in that situation and you just cannot watch all that you pay for. One like Netflix would be plenty to watch. I also have a kindle and I simply take the free offerings from book bub. I don’t read classroom stuff just fun stuff like western and Victorian romances and amateur sleuth books. We have never done the Amazon subscription. We find that we can always spend 35 that gets us free ship. Takes a little longer to get your items delivered but worth not paying a monthly subscription. Darrow Kirkpatrick always said be careful of your monthly expenses they will eat you up financially. Do you have a grocery close to you where you could shop for your own food perhaps saving more by purchasing things on sale rather than a delivery service. Even during the pandemic I would not let anyone pick out my meats, veges and eggs but me. I agree with not remodeling. Parents could visit if you put a bed in the baby’s room to accommodate them. Even a Murphy bed that is folded away when not in use, far cheaper than remodeling at this time. Wait until your worth is over 2 million in your accounts before spending to remodel. You will feel much more comfortable at that time. Good luck to you. You have done an amazing job with your finances.
April 13, 2022 at 9:19 am
I would recommend keeping the garage the way it is especially in PNW, it’s much easier than putting the vehicle elsewhere and for safety purposes as well. I would also recommend cutting down on the extras, (services – we usually keep one entertainment service at a time and pause the others) there is a bunch of library options both digital and physical. Cutting down on the grocery bill (we’re a family of 3 eat mostly organic and only spend that much in a month if I’m canning large amounts of food) and eliminating the cleaning service (maybe simply tidy checklists to help with getting certain tasks completed) I would recommend walking to work (and yes I’ve lived in PNW for 7 years) in order to help your physical and emotional being. I would also recommend a 529 or other savings account for the child. After the time for the child to be in daycare the prices might not be cheaper but I’m out of the loop on that one, also would Jodie be contributing to the mortgage at that point with a different job? I would lessen expenses out to eat with maybe once a week or every 2 weeks just to see if that helps as well. If you have a want to learn to cook maybe recipes you like from restaurants you could make at home. Great job on the retirement setup and keep it where it’s at.
April 14, 2022 at 4:40 pm
I don’t think you’re valuing the time of a single doctor mom with a baby highly enough. “Simple checklists” are not going to create time out of nowhere! That’s going to come from time with her son.
April 13, 2022 at 9:19 am
She should have gotten a free breast pump and therefore not need the loan. Contact your insurance and get the free one and return this ASAP.
Mrs. Frugalwoods says:
April 13, 2022 at 9:32 am
I assume she is renting a hospital-grade pump, which isn’t typically (ever?) covered by insurance. Some breast-feeding parents find they need the hospital-grade pump over the free pump offered by insurance.
Sara says:
April 13, 2022 at 1:47 pm
Yep! This is the hospital grade one which is super helpful – I have the one from my insurance at work as well, but find it really helpful to have both!
LP says:
April 14, 2022 at 3:49 pm
Maybe it depends on the state, but my insurance covered both the free breast pump, plus renting a hospital grade one for a year. So it might be looking into if they’d cover the rental. I even accidentally damaged mine and the place I was renting from just swapped it out, no questions asked.
April 15, 2022 at 10:32 pm
Yes, my insurance covered both my free breast pump and a hospital grade rental for a year as well. Both free. So, I think its more common then people think.
April 13, 2022 at 9:47 am
Even though she’s spending more than her income, that will change dramatically once her son is in daycare in 18 months or so which is not long at all. Her child care expenses will drop a lot, expensive baby items (diapers, wipes, etc) will be gone after potty training, and Jody should start paying rent if she stays in the house. The first couple of years as a mom (ESPECIALLY a single mom) are very hard. I would just take some money from one her many accounts to float her by for a year or so until her child is in daycare and Jody is paying rent.
April 13, 2022 at 9:58 am
Congrats on becoming a Mom! Sounds like you are doing really well. I think in the first few years of your child’s life it is about adjusting expectations to adjust to the change and most importantly find joy and ensure everyone is well and happy. You financially planned for that and are doing that which is awesome! I wouldn’t give up your cleaning……..I have a 9 year old and a busy job and knowing that one huge task is off my priority list makes my home much happier and less stressful. It is the last thing in my budget that is going!!! Keep the mortgage………with such a low interest rate and a secure job there is no advantage to paying it off. Childcare and pre-school is a tax deductible expense………are you taking that deduction? It may have to be from an official provider but I wonder if there is some way to accomplish that with your friend? I wouldn’t start renovations now. That would be expensive and stressful. I would wait until your son is at pre-school and not in the house all day and give you time to save up some money to pay for that in cash. I know having space for family living far away is important and wonder if there is an Airbnb close by they could stay in until you have created more space? Your medical insurance is supposed to pay for a breast pump……..can you get that from them? If you are needing a hospital grade pump may not be possible but wanted to mention it as a consideration. Consider joining online moms groups, baby banks to get free, cheap baby gear. I have loved these exchanges. You are close to where you want to be at this moment in time and you have financially planned for this higher cost period of time. Give yourself a little credit for that planning
Walnut says:
April 13, 2022 at 10:05 am
You don’t even have to call Fidelity to kick off the rollover process! Sit down with a cup of coffee and open a chat window on Fidelity’s site. They make it easy.
Mrs. Frugalwoods says:
April 13, 2022 at 10:07 am
Bet says:
April 13, 2022 at 10:09 am
This comment may sound harsh but I’m going to say it anyway. It may not be intentional but the numbers make it look like Jodie is getting too good of a deal out of this. It sounds like she does 4 days of work for over $3k salary, car insurance paid, zero rent, and zero household bills. I also suspect you are doing most of the grocery shopping, looking at your costs. When you first said she was living with you rent free, I thought it would be because she is a full-time student or out of work for some other reason. But you are heavily subsidising her lifestyle and also paying her a decent salary for 4 days/week. It’s great you have someone you trust looking after your son but this is effectively meaning that you are spending more than you earn. Meanwhile Jodie has over $3k disposable each month. You may be very comfortable with this, but I think the balance needs to be tipped a little more in your favour. Even if she paid a nominal amount for rent and bills, this would help to balance your books. It just feels wrong that you are looking at cutting your lifestyle and reducing your spending all the while your best friend is living with you rent free.
Bet says:
April 13, 2022 at 10:12 am
Also think it is slightly crazy that you are paying $560/month for a cleaner when Jodie is home with Sam full time. If this were a traditional partnership, and one parent were home with a baby/small child full-time, they would normally be the one to do the cleaning, fit around baby’s naps etc.
April 13, 2022 at 11:39 am
If I were in this situation and Jodie didn’t do a great job cleaning, then I would seriously start to resent her, which would be bad for the nanny relationship.
April 13, 2022 at 11:58 am
I was thinking this too. I like how Mrs Frugalwoods addressed this topic in the post very sympathetically. It’s a sensitive issue, but I agree that Jodie does have an amazing deal with the equivalent of $62,652 annual income for being a nanny to one baby that doesn’t include cleaning. It’s a tough one since they are good friends and they both love the baby…. I’m surprised that despite already living rent free that they came to an agreement on such a high salary… It’s for a short time though.
Mandy says:
I thought the same thing. When I read the study I assumed Jodie was the nanny because she lived their rent free, I thought she wouldn’t get a salary at all! But it’s probably not worth the quality of life impact it would have to strain their relationship over this at this point. As someone mentioned above, daycare waitlists can be around a year so that might get tricky with timing because Jodie would have to commit in advance to when she will stop nannying and getting her salary. It’s definitely a great setup I would just keep an eye for the future so that Sara doesn’t have a gap or overlap in childcare. Also I would think that renovating the garage would be hard to get a good roi on because buyers typically pay more for a garage so not having one would offset any price increase for an additional room. I also think that houses with little ones almost always feel full. It’s good for Sara to keep in mind that she would like a guest room for family visitors, but that might be solved if Jodie moves out.
Laura says:
April 13, 2022 at 1:25 pm
I had the same thought. I’m sorry, but a total benefits package of over $5,000 a month is a lot for one baby. Yes childcare is expensive but it shouldn’t be that expensive.
Mandy says:
April 13, 2022 at 2:37 pm
I had the same thoughts as all of you regarding Jodie’s involvement. I’m also concerned about the future once Sam is in daycare, Jodie is being paid a significant amount of money, and she will be losing that income unless Sara wants to continue employing Jodie in some way. I feel like Sara has committed to a situation that could potentially end poorly.
Sara says:
April 13, 2022 at 4:24 pm
Hi guys – I wanted to clarify some of the nanny questions. First off I want everyone to know that yes, this situation IS working really well for me. My schedule is not predictable as a doctor and I work some weekends as well, all of which Jodie flexes into her regular schedule. She also covers me for various appointments every week. We have also talked about it as changing over time – the first couple months I was literally not allowed to carry the baby around and could only hold him while sitting down, so Jodie was taking care of both of us and working sometimes a huge number of hours. Now we’re in a way better spot and adjusting as needed.
Jodie also does the baby laundry and keeps his room as well as all of the downstairs clean – the cleaners don’t do downstairs at all. The cleaners do the scrubbing the tub level stuff for our shared kitchen and my bathroom/ bedroom. We are in the process of weaning off that luxury!
And oh I really wish my baby slept for big chunks of the day. We are lucky if we get a 40 minute nap haha which is just enough time to pee, clean up the kitchen and throw in or fold some laundry before he’s up and at it again. It’s certainly possible to clean around that but it’s not been a priority. I too had the dream of a 3 hour afternoon nap…
Last but not least, the amount I pay is not what she takes home – I pay the employer taxes federal and state so it’s definitely looking like way more that her take home pay which is about $2500 cash / month, plus the rent etc. I do think this is worth it and it’s also about average for a nanny salary in my area, where most nannies make between $25-30 an hour especially with the pandemic shift of many families out of daycare.
So yes, it is a lot of cash outflow right now, and also it is amazing and wonderful to have my best friend, who is pretty much family, taking care of my little dude. I appreciate everyone’s thoughts, and definitely it will continue to shift as Sam gets older and we need different levels of help.
Allison says:
April 14, 2022 at 2:14 am
I agree that Jodie sounds like a great asset. People also need to consider that Jodie is likely giving up the opportunity to work at another job where she would be developing increased earnings over time. Just like a stay at home mom who re-enters the work force, those few years of lost career development and earning potential could be substantial. A 5% salary increase at a traditional career that she would potentially build upon for the next 20 years is a sacrifice.
Jess says:
April 19, 2022 at 9:41 am
I agree that Jodie is a fantastic asset. Additionally full time live in Nannies charge well more than that in my area.
KT says:
April 14, 2022 at 7:32 pm
Sara–I think you have a fantastic set up! Of all the things to spend your money on when you have a little one–childcare, childcare, childcare. The cost alone for the peace of mind to be able to go to work is worth it!
I think that maybe the commenters here don’t understand that in many states it is illegal not to pay live-in household employees AT least minimum wage and their are very low caps on what an employer can deduct for housing (think ~$40/wk). This is to protect workers in what could become exploitative situations. Most nannies wouldn’t want to live-in, and people often pay the going hourly rate in addition to room/board for someone willing to take a live-in position. I think its great that you and Jodie have found a mutually-agreeable solution.
Blair says:
April 14, 2022 at 10:55 pm
It sounds like Jodie is a major asset to your and Sam’s lives, and if it works for all of you, then keep doing it! I have to wonder if some of the flak you’re getting is because you’re doing something unconventional that not everyone understands. Female friendships are the greatest joy and strength of most single women’s lives, and they’re versatile in a way that romantic partnerships often aren’t. Jodie doesn’t need to do what a stay-at-home parent would do, as some commenters suggested – that’s not what she is! I think it’s really cool that you and your bestie have made a life together. Ignore the people who question it because they don’t get it.
Erin says:
April 22, 2022 at 1:30 pm
With two little kiddos of my own I agree that the peace of mind and flexibility to have Jodie on call would be priceless. Or whatever you have decided to pay her. It won’t be forever and the fact that you are contributing to highly to retirement funds is why your cash flow is negative. I was not able to contribute so highly to my retirement while I had daycare costs in the budget.
A note on groceries – your little guy is going to ramp that amount up soon! Be prepared to go through about a container of raspberries a day (I wish I kidding!!) Babies get HUNGRY from 15m-well….I’ll let you know when mine stop eating through the entire fridge haha.
A small note, I TOTALLY get the cleaning lady fee and as I type this mine is cleaning the kids room. Worth every penny. I found mine locally, she works for herself and charges 25$ an hour (cash). I can set a limit for her (say $125/$150) or let her go to town and pay for her time however long it takes. She comes every 2 weeks and its amazing. If you currently use a company I would suggest posting in a local FB group asking for recommendations. You might be surprised you could keep the same level of frequency but reduce your prices with an independent cleaner.
KT says:
April 14, 2022 at 7:22 pm
Respectfully, I disagree. Practically speaking I’m not sure exactly where Sara is, but in Seattle infant care (if you can even find a spot) can easily cost 2500-3000/month in a center that will not give her any flexibility in hours, weekends etc. Even if she found a cheaper center, her infant would not get 1:1 attention, and Sara would have to deal with packing up the baby and all its supplies in the morning, rushing for pick up time, emergency care if the baby gets sick etc. Also, philosophically our children are our most precious resource. I’m all for frugality when it comes to shampoo, cell phones etc. But childcare is NOT a place to scrimp. It doesn’t benefit the kid to be warehoused instead of raised with loving, secure relationships with parents and caregivers they can trust. It doesn’t even benefit the parent if they are stressed and worried about their kid all day, dealing with a stressed and upset child every evening.
Dianne says:
April 15, 2022 at 12:01 pm
I agree and well said. In the reality of life, it lasts a very short time. Keep the nanny well fed, meaning, in all aspects of her life.
Emma says:
April 13, 2022 at 10:28 am
Hi! I wanted to add I believe insurance typically covers pump rentals OR buying a pump. At $100/month, it would be worth calling insurance and confirming their benefit. I believe this is required to be covered at 100% due to ACA. Cheers!
Sara says:
April 17, 2022 at 12:20 am
My old insurance wouldn’t cover the hospital grade pump rental but I’ve got new insurance now so I’ll check again! Luckily it’s only a few more months anyway
April 13, 2022 at 10:39 am
Glad others mentioned breast pump insurance coverage. Another suggestion is getting your hair done at beauty schools. I ask for year two students. It is a fraction of the cost and they are wonderfully attentive.
April 13, 2022 at 10:58 am
On the high water bill, check if you have a toilet that runs. You’d be surprised how that can drastically increase your water bill! If no, I’d consider having someone check things out as a small-ish leak now can turn into major issues later. This is assuming most things stayed equal and your gut says the high increase doesn’t really make sense. Be sure to check that the rate you pay didn’t drastically change either. I’ve heard electricity rates, for example, shot up in some areas of the country recently. Not sure about water, but an easy thing to check.
Dave says:
April 13, 2022 at 11:08 am
Well done on your savings rate, Sara! Very impressive and keep that up. I agree that some of those retirement accounts need to be rolled over and consolidated just to simplify it all. I’ll echo other people’s comments on the cleaning service that it should be reduced, not eliminated. Also, Jodie is in the house all day with the little tyke. I know this might not be a popular opinion, but…can she do some of the cleaning around the house? Jodie’s compensation package, as Liz pointed out, is outstanding and it is hard to put a price on such excellent care. We’ve got 4 kiddos and no cleaning service and still manage to keep our house fairly clean. But I completely understand the service is for sanity reasons.
Also, stores like Walmart and Aldi often have curbside pick up of your groceries that don’t cost anything or very little. Instead of having groceries delivered to your doorstep can you order online and pick up at the store? We do this weekly and it is perfect for our busy family! And again – restaurants, utilities and streaming services can all be reduced.
I am also in the corner of shelving the garage remodel for 2 years. I definitely want you to do that if it’s something you really want! I also agree that if Jodie does move out in a few years her space will open things up. In the meantime, I would suggest saving up a little money every month towards that project and in a few years you can cash flow it! Even $50/month for 2 years is 1200 to use towards that renovation.
I am with you Sara. I have a huge desire to pay off my mortgage and not have that payment anymore. So, I am totally with you on wanting to pay that off. Your 2.5% rate is great. I would suggest after a few years of getting your other financial house in order and saving for you child’s higher education that you make extra principal payments on your mortgage. Even though you have a good interest rate, not having a mortgage is a huge financial blessing – especially going into actual retirement.
Liz’s recommendations are spot on and other comments are super helpful. Thank you for sharing your financial situation with us. It is a good learning exercise for everyone. God bless you and your family!
Kate says:
April 13, 2022 at 11:25 am
That water bill could mean you have a leak in your system somewhere. I’d check that out ASAP.
April 13, 2022 at 11:34 am
Definitely agree on checking for leaks! Often an increased water bill is our only sign (though we’ve also found one when we had an unusually lush spot on our lawn).
April 13, 2022 at 11:39 am
Also consider the standards of cleanliness that you need. From what I read, cleanliness standards have gone up from where they were even fifty-seventy years ago. Floors have to be cleaner with a baby and there is a certain amount of cleaning needed to keep food from attracting pests, but cleanliness standards have gotten ridiculous. This is especially true in upper income households with the burden usually falling on women.. I know very few people in the middle-upper/upper class where I live who do not have a housekeeper, And then it’s a vicious cycle because of course a house is spotless when there is a person paid to clean it every week or two. Maybe you just need it every few months to do the big jobs? I don’t judge because some people are really bothered by messes but it may also have an influence on our kids who get the idea that we/they don’t have to do the cleaning. Rant over.
pat says:
April 13, 2022 at 12:10 pm
One small thought re the utility bills: if Sara lives in Seattle, her amounts are about average. I pay nearly that much as a one person household. About 40-42% of the bills are taxes that can’t be avoided. That said, of course it’s a good idea to make sure no water is leaking and to investigate whether anything in the home is an energy vampire. Other than that, congrats on the new son! And congrats on doing such a good job of establishing stability for yourself and your family!
April 13, 2022 at 12:25 pm
Just a note on question #3 – has Sara started her estate plan yet? Important with kiddos!
Sara says:
April 13, 2022 at 4:28 pm
Yes! I have all that established with a will and guardianship plans and trust for little man if necessary. So important and so glad everyone has mentioned it!
Jeff says:
April 13, 2022 at 12:40 pm
Congratulations on your progress so far. I see there are lots of good suggestions already. I just want to address the retirement savings. I’m a mostly retired attorney in my later mid 60s. I saved for retirement regularly over 30+ years, maxing out my 401k the last few years. All my savings was pre-tax as I really wanted the tax savings at the time. In hindsight, I wish I had saved part of my retirement savings in Roth or taxable brokerage account. While the decade of the 2000s gave fairly low returns, my accounts grew rapidly during the decade of the 2010s, ending up with balances I never would have predicted. Between a reasonable withdrawal of my retirement account, expected social security for my wife and I, and rent and a pension, our income in retirement will be more than I ever expected and probably more than we ever made working. It’s a great problem to have but with all pre-tax funds, the tax hit will be higher than I had expected as well. Having a mix of pre-tax, Roth and taxable would certainly be advantageous today. So consider whether some of your retirement savings should be switched over to Roth or taxable investment.
April 13, 2022 at 11:46 pm
I concur about having a mix of pretax, Roth and a taxable accounts. The best age to do an IRA to Roth conversion is when you are in a low tax bracket, theoretically between the age you retire and when RMDs begin. It’s looking like Congress may change the RMD age to 75. This will give you more years to convert an IRA to Roth when you are retired.
Right now consider starting a Roth IRA, or Roth 401k. You can access the money you contribute to a Roth IRA after the account has been open for 5 years. The entire amount of the Roth is accessible at age 59.5. Of course Congress could at a future date make changes to Social Security or the special tax-free status of the Roth.
April 13, 2022 at 12:41 pm
I say keep the cleaning service! Sara has a huge balance in her checking account #2. For a single working mom, save the cleaning energy for baby and herself! Her huge childcare expenses won’t be for too much longer. She’ll never look back at this time and think, “I wish I’d cleaned more.”
April 13, 2022 at 3:01 pm
So well said!!
April 13, 2022 at 1:03 pm
If Sara is in the greater Seattle area (could tell where in PNW), I recommend she google Casa Latina which is a non profit organization that connects people to individuals providing services (ie :house cleaners). Provides workers with direct income and you save because you provided the cleaning products etc.
Also, we lived in Ireland with our kids for a few years and it was amazing. Your son should be able to get Irish citizenship through you as well now (and is expedited if you both are in Ireland when applying for him via foreign birth registration).
Sara says:
April 23, 2022 at 10:53 pm
I’d love to hear more about your Ireland experience – that sounds amazing! It was a big scramble to get my citizenship set up before he was born but I made it under the wire, so he is all set whenever I get my paperwork act together again.
Bailey says:
April 13, 2022 at 1:08 pm
My understanding is that it’s a bad idea to get life insurance through your employer, because you would lose coverage if you changed jobs, and there’s a possibility of becoming uninsurable in the meantime (chronic illness, etc.) Buying independently means that you would be guaranteed to continue the insurance during your term so long as you continue to pay premiums. (Someone please correct me if I’m wrong.)
I still think it could be worth using a good broker to search around for term insurance rates. Best of luck!
J Copley says:
April 13, 2022 at 1:46 pm
Echoing one of the comment regarding restaurants. Is this takeout? Batch cooking means you can have lots of meals prepared to heat and eat. It can be done once a month, so doesn’t take up a heap of time, and I always prepare a few different dishes to have variety. Also in terms of the movement issue, you can sit at a table for a lot of the prep work.
Carolyn says:
April 13, 2022 at 1:56 pm
My one question would be about how much life insurance Sara actually has. As a single mother, she needs a lot if she wants Sam to be able to continue his lifestyle and to go to college (and perhaps medical school!) relatively debt free. There needs to be enough money there so that if Sara’s sister had to take him in, she could expand her house (if necessary) and pay for all his expenses and extra-curriculars throughout his life. I would think that Sara probably needs several million dollars worth of life insurance. And she also needs disability insurance, and she needs to have a will so that she can name a guardian for Sam.
Anne says:
April 13, 2022 at 9:30 pm
I’ve done the math on this exact scenario for my own situation. Kids will get social security survivorship benefits and usually life insurance and other inheritance will be placed in a trust that is invested and paid out over time. Sara already has $1million in assets and her high income will mean a higher SS payment to Sam (you can look up details on your annual SS statement). Life insurance of $1m is probably more than enough, and is something she might be able to decrease or eliminate in the future if her assets keep rising (depending on her risk tolerance). I would be much more concerned about disability insurance given she is in a specialised field and has health issues. But it may be too difficult for her to get coverage with pre-existing conditions.
Pete says:
April 13, 2022 at 2:30 pm
I may have missed it in the article or comments but one thing I like about having money in a 401k/403b with my current employer is, if I leave at age 55, I can access those funds without penalty (rule of 55.) If I move jobs I would move the 401k/403b to my new employer. Despite Sara having no plans to retire early, it’s still nice to have funds available penalty free as life can have unexpected changes.
That’s my only note to add. Looks like lots of great advice from Frugalwoods and others already.
Hannah Gokie says:
April 13, 2022 at 2:49 pm
Doing a curbside pickup of groceries might be an easy way to cut out the delivery fee. I do a curbside pickup from Target about once a month and it’s a lifesaver! Can easily schedule it even for same day and it’s ready in 2 hours. Lots of even local grocery chains offer it now, or free delivery over a certain dollar amount (our local chain is free if it’s over $100 order). Might be an easy way to reduce that expense but not have to take baby into the store!
April 13, 2022 at 5:15 pm
We do this at Walmart and sams club about once a month. Walmart is a 35 minimum, sams has no minimum. No other charges for it. Again, I do not let anyone else pick out my meats, veges or eggs unless it is something like prepackaged sausage. Steaks, I pick out myself. We tried having the young people at Walmart get our eggs but had broken ones. Also I pick out the largest heaviest head of lettuce and same with English cucumbers, cauliflower, green peppers, etc. A real timesaver even if you have to wait 10 min for them to bring it to your car. I sincerely hope the grocers keep this available to shoppers
CJ Rae says:
April 13, 2022 at 4:13 pm
Chiming in from the PNW!
1.) Energy audit as fast as possible. It’s possible that those prices are in line with costs for your specific area, but I think you’d prefer to know that nothing is leaking or wearing out. The last thing you want do is renovate because something broke and you ended up with a cascading problem in your home!
2.) Renovations in general – let them be for now. Unless you think Jodie is going to be living with you long term, then when she finds her own space, you’ll have an additional bedroom you could use as a guest room, if you like. Aside from supply chain issues and labor shortages, you’re in a state of change right now and that’s not the greatest time in the world to make decisions. (Take it from someone who both bought her first house and had her first child in December 2020 and is staring at some godawful carpet in her living room because it’s softer when her son decides that he REALLY wants to go headfirst into the floor!)
3.) Cleaning service. I’m honestly torn. On one hand, I fully understand the need for help, especially with your busy career and I would just like to clap my hands along with Mrs. Frugalwoods when she says that cleaning. is. not. a. virtue. With that said, I thought that nannying usually came with some type of cleaning component – not scrubbing the toilet or making sure you can eat off the baseboards, but some basic housecleaning and cooking tasks. This is further complicated by the fact that Jodie is your friend and I think that the last thing you want to do is upset her by even suggesting that she’s not doing her share, when she’s the one who’s doing the day-in-day-out work of caring for your son. This might be a good chance to sit down with Jodie and see how both of you might feel about scaling the cleaning service back, while you work out a new balance?
4.) Consolidate the retirement accounts. If you’re worried about tax consequences for rolling some of them over (although I think some of the well-meant advice I’ve seen on that score is a bit too generalized for your situation), then hiring a tax accountant for a couple of hours will both give you the most tax-efficient plan as well as peace of mind.
5.) Set your emergency fund and then do SOMETHING with the rest of the cash. Anything. Put it in an investment account of some type, use it to float expenses until your personal situation settles out, split the difference. But do something with it, especially as F.I.R.E is one of your stated goals. You can’t afford the opportunity cost of the cash just sitting there with inflation nibbling at it.
6.) Re: your entertainment budget – $948/year or $79/month is high…but it’s a drop in the bucket compared to other places you’re spending. I am a huge fan of libraries and if you think you will get more joy out of supporting your library system than you spend on some of your entertainment items, then of course go ahead and make cuts. But if you’re already making a bunch of cuts that involve changes, I would argue that it’s okay to leave at least some of this while making the transition and figure out if it begins to add more value to your life as you make other cuts (such as eating out, as a quick example).
All in all, remember that you’re doing just fine. Enjoy your time with your friend and your son – they get so big, so fast!
Julie says:
April 14, 2022 at 8:34 am
Nannying does not include cleaning. They might pick up toys and make kids’ meals, but it is not a job that means cleaning or cooking. I’m in a childcare group run by Nannies and they make this absolutely clear that they are not housekeepers.
monica says:
April 26, 2022 at 3:31 pm
But this particular nanny LIVES in the house, so feels like she should be responsible for some cleaning, at least of the spaces she uses….
JD says:
April 13, 2022 at 4:34 pm
I agree with Mrs. FW’s advice, and I also agree, to some extent with those questioning how much Jodie is making. She’s making more than I make just in salary, and has almost no living expenses. I might be wrong, but I feel like perhaps Jodie had helped Sara out financially in the past? Perhaps that’s part of the reason Jodie is paid so well now?
I understand that it could be very awkward to sit down and go over this with Jodie, and perhaps it isn’t even necessary. But since Sara is spending more than she earns right now, could she perhaps tell Jodie she is spending X dollars too much each month, and ask for ways to help curb the extra expenses? It seemed as though Sara is even paying car insurance for Jodie, unless I misunderstood that line item. Surely Jodie could pitch in on the cleaner, pay her own car insurance and pay for some of the entertainment, since I’m certain she is using it as well. I assume Jodie is cooking for the three of them – could she not shop for them as well and do curbside pickup? Curbside pickup is the way a family member of mine does the shopping and she has an 8 year old, 6 year old, 3.5 year old and a 2 year old, a full-time job and no nanny, so it can surely be done with one child if there are no extenuating circumstances.
Of course, I think following the Mrs. FW suggestions will also do what Sara needs. It just seems the most obvious way, to me, is to lower that nanny compensation a bit, and treat Jodie a little more like a roommate, financially, instead of an employee with an exceedingly generous compensation package.
April 13, 2022 at 4:37 pm
Sara, I am impressed with all that you have done. My only comment is that it’s murky to me how committed Jodie is. Is she saving money for her future? It may be none of your business, but I would simply ponder what might happen if Jodie needs to leave or if Jodie herself has got a retirement plan. Does she have a plan for the future? I hope that she is also saving. I am old and my biggest regret — both financially and emotionally — was that I did not always have the resources to do what might have been optimal for my two children. Clearly Sam will think of her as a parent figure. You have to negotiate the overlapping sets of dependencies and how much they matter psychologically as well as financially.
I love it that you have such a walkable life too. I also encourage you to value the space you have. My single largest financial error was giving in when my husband decided that we needed a biggish house. I had to get a second job because we had somehow ended up with 3 living rooms and 4 bedrooms. One room was a “fling room” which was not about romance but rather about flinging anything one did not know what to do with into. Maintaining that kind of expensive house with soul-crushing.
If you like your therapist, I encourage you to stay in touch with regular or semi-regular visits. I know my contributions are vague here: but sometimes sharing regrets might spur others to remember that prudence is important. I am really impressed with all you have done!
April 13, 2022 at 6:05 pm
A couple things jumped out at me — I’m also became a new mom during COVID and am finding it difficult to think how much expenses have been affected by COVID, affected by parenthood, etc.
First, on the “house seems very full” front — Depending on how large your garage is, you might be able to add some storage in the garage (eg wall mounted shelves, gear loft) while maintaining space to park cars. we’ve found it very helpful to try to organize our storage and also to purposefully remove items that the baby no longer uses from the main living areas (right now, we have a pile of baby gear in our basement that we need to give away). Also, this is probably more relevant as your son gets a little bit older, but rotating toys and books (keep the extras out of sight) both helps with the clutter aspects of baby things and actually can increase the kid’s interest in the toys. More generally, I’ve been trying to remove items that we don’t use often from prime locations so that they don’t get in the way of accessing items we do use often. Shelves in your garage might provide the extra storage that would allow decluttering the main parts of your house.
Second, you didn’t mention an umbrella policy / liability insurance. As you have significant assets, this would protect you from any lawsuit that wasn’t directly covered by malpractice insurance/auto insurance/home owner’s insurance or exceeded the limited of these.
Finally, given your timeline with looking for daycare for your son, you might consider skipping straight to preschools. In my area, many of the smaller, home based preschools accept students at 18 months, and many of the larger, center-based preschools accept students starting at age 2. This is the approach we are taking, and our daughter will start preschool in August (she turns 2 in June). We are hopeful this will allow us to avoid another childcare search / transition prior to kindergarten. I’m guessing Sam turns 1 in July (based on the breast pump expense), in which case he’d be 2 for the start of the 2023 school year. In our area, this would mean you should start contacting school this fall! (Crazy!)
Best of Luck!
April 13, 2022 at 6:17 pm
You’re doing great, Sara. While I understand others’ feedback on Jodie’s salary, this clearly works for you. I think many (most?) folks commenting here haven’t actually employed someone directly in this capacity. Good childcare is hard to find. When I employed a nanny, I paid above market rate and gave excess benefits out of a desire to be a good employer. You also have a significant friendship involved! Per the usual, Ms. FW’s advice on cutting expenses is spot on and totally nonjudgmental. As others have noted, this is an expensive blip. If you can get your expenses close to in line with your spending, I think that’s great. It sounds like you’ve been through A LOT physically and emotionally—good luck on what’s ahead!
Sandy says:
April 13, 2022 at 9:18 pm
Definitely keep the cleaning lady! Definitely consider charging room and board equivalent to a minimum of the cleaning bill. An unusual arrangement, lucky Jodie.
S says:
April 13, 2022 at 11:00 pm
First, your baby is absolutely precious (which you already know, but it must be said anyway!) Second, kudos on paying Jodie a fair wage and making sure she’s set with health insurance, etc. This is such an ideal situation in so many ways and it’s worth every penny! Childcare workers are underpaid more often than not so it’s refreshing to see how you’ve handled this. Yay Jodie! Yay you!
You’re doing so great financially and it sounds like you’ve just come out of a challenging pregnancy and postpartum period. Although it’s always worth assessing your spending to make sure you’re not shelling out cash for things you don’t value, my personal opinion is that this is one time in life when it’s a fantastic idea to treat yourself. Parenting is awesome but it is also mentally, physically, and emotionally draining. Relying on your cash buffer to help make this phase in your life a little easier is perfectly reasonable considering that you have secure housing, childcare, work, and savings.
Sara says:
April 13, 2022 at 11:32 pm
I too live in the PNW and can tell you there is no water leak. We pay more than that for utilities living in a much smaller house. I don’t think it is worth your time to try to get utilities much lower. I echo what others have said about dropping your extra life insurance—the free basic one through work (most places do about 1.5 of your yearly salary for free) is plenty based on what you have already in retirement that baby would get. Just get a good umbrella policy via your car insurance company. I too work in healthcare and I carry additional malpractice insurance so the money you currently spend on the extra life would be better directed to umbrella and malpractice IMO. I wouldn’t cut anything other than entertainment and do curbside pickup for groceries which is a free service. You have plenty of cash to ride this out until the breast pump rental comes off. You are going to have so much in retirement you won’t even be able to spend it all! Nice job being student loan free—puts you so so so far ahead.
L. says:
April 14, 2022 at 8:28 am
Don’t overestimate how much cheaper things will be as the baby gets older. Yes, you will save on child care once he is day care and then public schools, but he’ll also start making a significant dent in the grocery budget. It will become harder to get all your clothes and toys second hand. He’ll start having activities and lessons and sports…
Allison in Ky. says:
April 15, 2022 at 10:24 am
Soooooo true! WHAT you spend your money on as your children get older will change, but I don’t know if it gets any less expensive. Once they’re out of daycare, it seems like you turn around and they’re needing braces, cell phones, and before you know it they’re driving and starting college. And of course there is no appetite on the planet like that of a growing teenaged boy!
Katie says:
April 14, 2022 at 11:16 am
I just wanted to chime in to say great job Sara! You are expecting a potential raise of $20,000 and are expecting your biggest expense, childcare to decrease in the next year or so. You also have an extremely robust emergency fund and are maxing out retirement contributions. I think that it makes sense to take a look at your expenses, but in my opinion you don’t need to be too drastic or worried about spending more than you make right now as long as your expenses aren’t trending up. Especially with the mobility issues you are experiencing, why not give yourself some grace for the next year or two, make some intentional choices to bring your spending in alignment with your takehome pay, and re-evaluate every 3-6 months? Given your past ability to save, I would fully expect you to be able to bring everything into alignment soon.
Also, I have to say that I was appalled by some of the comments above about Jodie’s compensation package being overly generous, and I want to applaud you for being an ethical employer. It seems that you have approached this situation with care and respect for Jodie, your friendship and her role in your son’s life. Care work is incredibly undervalued by many in our economy, and everyone deserves to earn a living wage and have dignified working conditions. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Laura says:
April 15, 2022 at 2:03 pm
Sara’s commitment to being ethical comes through loud and clear. It would have been the easiest thing in the world to pay her friend “off the books” but she isn’t – she is paying the employer taxes required so Jodie is earning her social security credits and is probably covered by her state unemployment insurance and all that. It sounds like a great arrangement for all involved!
CD says:
May 1, 2022 at 2:07 pm
I completely agree!! Carework is extremely demanding and exhausting and deserves fair and even generous compensation. This is essential work that is so undervalued and diminished in our society. Plus, we are still in a pandemic! I have a phd and have worked various demanding professional jobs, but they are nothing compared to the demands of caring for an infant especially in the first year. I was lucky to be able to care for both of my kids full-time during their first year-plus and I feel it was a priceless situation for all of us, but it was tough in many ways that professional jobs are not. The fact that Jodie is paid fairly and legally within the tax/social security system is excellent. I would honestly wonder if she should also have some small employer retirement contribution from Sara. Just a thought! I think Sara could afford it and I was wondering what Jodie’s retirement savings look like. In the grand scheme this is a short-term situation and seems epically ideal for a SMC.
In fact, i think Jodie should do a case study for how to transition out of the nanny situation when the time comes!! Haha
April 14, 2022 at 12:19 pm
Your groceries seem really cheap to me!
This may not be relevant but I wonder if it’s possible to have Jodie as a “domestic partner” for the purposes of health insurance- which it doesn’t look like you’re paying for her, but it might allow her to have cheaper or better health insurance. (Since she’s your platonic life partner!)
As far as converting the garage to guest quarters, I vote no. You would probably miss having a garage in PNW weather, and it might be possible to accommodate guests by adding a bed to the baby’s room, and you and the baby bunk together when you have houseguests. Presumably Jodie might be moving out in a few years and you’ll have that room and bathroom for guests/ your own use.
April 14, 2022 at 3:52 pm
Having a baby in the house is magic! Congratulations on your cutie pie. Since you can afford it, I would back burner house projects and other big endeavors. As long as you’ve got your administrivia taken care of — will, power of attorney, health directive, life insurance — enjoy Sam’s babyhood. If you overspend by $1K a month for the next 10 months, that’s just $10K. As long as you do this intentionally for the short term, you’re fine.
Betsy says:
April 14, 2022 at 5:01 pm
As a college professor with a 6-month old baby (and 4-year-old twins), I too hired a cleaning service when I was pregnant and unwell. Now that I’m feeling better again, I have been seriously considering cutting the cleaning service — thank heavens this got me to reconsider. I appreciate the way Liz put it and the other commenters thoughts re: the intangible value of a cleaning service for moms working demanding jobs. I was feeling guilty that I was spending that money so I didn’t have to do the cleaning myself rather than putting it into our savings or investments, but I’d be so overwhelmed without it. I guess the lesson for me here is that some things are probably worth spending the money on when you have a young family that really needs your time…
Book Escapist says:
April 14, 2022 at 10:08 pm
Great job all round, kids are for many of us the best part of life so worth every sacrifice- my first thought is that why can’t Jodie clean and tidy when at home when your little one naps? Maybe you have not asked her and maybe she would be happy to alleviate some of the pressures on you as a friend and as an employee?
I say this as I managed this as a stay home mom and whilst a deep clean may be an unreasonable expectation, surely she can do an hour a day around the little one? Then cut the cleaner. I don;t buy into this- you can’t do anything but look after a child narrative. Yes have a playpen and let your son have some toys whilst Jodie does some basic housekeeping as millions of caretakers of children the world over do every day.
Cathy says:
April 16, 2022 at 9:30 am
Sara, congratulations on your little boy! And you’re doing very well with your finances and great on seeking advice at this point in life.
My first inclination was to tell you to proceed with the garage reno to accommodate family and other guests who are big priorities in your life. . However, after rethinking it, it would depend on how large your garage is. If you have a double, then converting half to living space would make good sense. But if it’s a single, then probably not. As your son grows up you are going to need that space to park a bike, soccer gear, hiking equipment etc and to allow for some semi-outdoor play with friends on rainy days. I also live in PNW and have raised sons and grandsons and they really value their outdoor time at all ages and sizes, so definitely suggest retaining some garage space.
Best wishes as you make your decisions, and have so much fun being a mom!
Monica says:
April 16, 2022 at 10:11 am
Congrats! It actually seems like you are doing fine financially – given that you already have at least $1M in retirement and savings and you have a very high salary, so you are really financially set at your young age, but as others hav noted can cut spending if you feel the need. I am an SMC with two kids, now 19 and 22. It has been quite a ride – the oldest is about to graduate from college and I just don’t understand where the time went!!!!. I did not have enough space to have a live in nanny, though looking back I sometimes wish I had figured it out. Both my kids went to full time daycare, which was very , very costly, but it did give them the experience of being with different adults and lots of kids from when they were babies, which had its advantages.
It does see to me that Jodi has a very good deal, given that she is only working 4 days a week and no costs for her housing. It seems like you have the funds for this while saving more that adequately, so I suppose there is no harm, but it you are looking for a way to save it seems like she could do a bit more for her free rent – as others said housework and kid care kind of go hand in hand, especially if this is her only job. Also, will Jodie pay rent when Sam starts daycare which will be very soon? Agree that $560 a month for cleaning is hard to understand. How dirty can a place get? I have a 1200 sq ftl place and have vacuumed almost daily for all the time I had kids. It takes 5-10 min. Cleaning the bathroom takes a few min, the kitchen gets cleaned daily as we go. A few times a year I do a deeper cleaning of windows, baseboards etc. Just not sure how a house this size needs this much cleaning! Seems like you could have the cleaners come less and have Jodie be responsible bee for downstairs on her own – it is after all her living space and she should be able to keep it clean.
One of my biggest regrets is not living close enough to my mom for day-to-day interactions when my kids were young (we were 3 hours away). She did end up moving to be near me, when my brothers family ended up in my area as well, when my kids were in late elementary school and it was a great time in our lives (she died a few years ago). I know that you sister is nearby, but I would think long term about whether you want to be closer to more family prior to renovating. Also, a garage will be important for storage as time goes on (see above).
SMBC Supporter says:
April 16, 2022 at 3:21 pm
I’m on board with the intangible value of house cleaning and many things in the budget for Sara’s first years. We speak about self-care and the importance of mental health… and IMO this can fit in that category. Homes with two working parents and a nanny (not unusual) essentially have three people to share responsibilities and two salaries. An emergency fund is for unexpected expenses – and this is in that category! High five – you have many present & future SMBC in your corner.
Jodie The Nanny says:
April 16, 2022 at 8:12 pm
Hi! Jodie the Nanny here.
I wanted to clarify a few things about the nanny situation with Sara and I. I’ve seen a few comments about “only working four days” a week and on paper that looks pretty chill! But those four days do equal over 40 hours of work and I work on my day “off” to cover care when Sara has her weekly scheduled appointments.
There’s also been a lot about the housekeeping! This one kind of took me by surprise. To me, a lot of the comments seem like people are viewing this situation as me being a lodger who cares for Sam and that I don’t do anything else. That’s not the case at all. I live here. This is my home. I buy my groceries and prepare shared meals, I empty the dishwasher, take out the garbage, sweep up, wipe down counters and tables, clear out the fridge, garden, clean and organize the garage, change lightbulbs, stock up on toilet paper, buy more batteries for the remote, etc, etc, etc. because this is my home. Sara told me to mention that I’m actually tidier than she is! She also mentioned this in a reply above, the weekly housekeeping is just for the upstairs. I do clean the downstairs and my room and bathroom. And do baby room/ laundry and diaper pail duty. But both of us agreed that “nanny” doesn’t equal “housekeeper”.
I know people will have their own ideas about what to prioritize and how to get the most bang for their buck, and that’s great! But for me and Sara we think it’s incredible that Sam is here and as friends we get to share in raising him.
When we sat down to hash out this situation, I lowballed my compensation. Sara, as my fiend and a woman, told me I need to be paid what the work was worth. I’m extremely grateful that Sara values the care that I provide and wants to compensate me fairly for that work.
Erin says:
April 18, 2022 at 12:39 pm
I think that your and Sara’s relationship sounds very balanced and fair. Women do a lot of unpaid labor in the name of being a stay at home parent and really suffer because of it. Glad you are getting a fair shake!
Jess says:
April 19, 2022 at 9:50 am
Here to second this comment. I’m a new mom balancing the childcare situation with a demanding job. You are 100% worth it!
April 19, 2022 at 12:50 pm
I am extremely jealous of this set up as I think it would be so ideal to live with a good female friend. In fact, my bestie and I have an unofficial agreement that if both our spouses should pass before us, we will grow old together (absolutely platonic) and think it would be a blast (maybe not…but we hardly see each other so for now it sounds nice).
On the nanny/housekeeping duties: I recall when I was a nanny straight out of college after answering an ad the parents put in the music school I attended. That was strategic on their part as they had hoped i would give their sons free music lessons. That was not part of the job description, and neither was cooking nor cleaning. But after I was hired, the mother wanted me to do it all. I actually tried to do it all…and it didn’t work out. We eventually ended on good terms, but we all realized it was not a sustainable situation for either of us. My days were fully occupied that summer with entertaining the boys constantly, taking them places, playing with them etc.
And now as a SAHM, I do it…for free My job is never done. I’m amazed when people think nannies should also be housekeepers. They can certainly try, but something will give eventually. I see it as a mom now: if I’m spending quality time with my kids, then the laundry sits, or the dirty dishes sit in the sink; if I’m tending to household chores, unfortunately if they’re not playing well together, the TV is on…or they’re getting into shenanigans that I’ll just have to deal with when the tasks are done. It’s a circus!
All of this to say– I think you have a wonderful set up here. Fair AND ideal.
CD says:
May 1, 2022 at 2:35 pm
I commented above before I saw your post! I think the compensation and living situation is more than fair! In fact, I actually think you & Sara should negotiate a modest employer contribution to a retirement account. I’m guessing that you do not have the level of retirement savings that Sara has, but maybe I’m wrong… Anyway, I totally think that you should do a case study soon-ish too. This full-time nanny situation is not long term, so your finances will really change in the next couple years. The first year caring for an infant is so intense, but after a year or so, things really change. You start to see that the now-toddler needs more social interaction, often more than a single caretaker can provide on her/his own. That’s when part-time daycare will really start to seem attractive. By 18 months it’s almost necessary, unless you are really getting out and about a lot. I think the full-time nannying would be useful during the beginning of daycare because Sam will literally be sick and home every other week as he gets exposed to the petri dish of daycare and build his all-important immune system. Lots of changes ahead, but all so exciting. You all have an amazing situation. I hope your personal financial situation is as stable as Sara’s. Good luck!
April 17, 2022 at 11:16 am
The blog “Bitches Get Riches’ had a recent post about rolling over old 401ks into an IRA using a free service called Capitalize. They help guide you through the process (which I understand is a real pain in the neck). There is no charge to you – they make their money from financial institutions who pay a commission for every account that gets opened – but if you already have an IRA account, you can use that. Link to the article: https://www.bitchesgetriches.com/401k-rollover-how-to/
April 18, 2022 at 12:30 pm
It sounds like a lot of work to be you currently and you are doing pretty good. I don’t think you should kill yourself cutting expenses right now. Also it sounds like you have a great friend in Jodie and are treating her very fairly. I think that important because you will want to keep the long term friendship intact. I say keep on keeping on until your life stage changes in a year or so.
April 18, 2022 at 1:16 pm
I think Mrs. FW has done a public service by featuring several case studies lately of families with young children. Nothing like concrete numbers to make you go whoa, having kids in America is tough! I’m writing my comments as a working mom of two boys, ages 3 and 6, so take my thoughts and recommendations for Sara FWIW.
1) In the name of all that is holy, do not change the nanny arrangement with your BFF. Comprehensive childcare that you can trust is priceless. Not to mention, daycare seems great because it’ll be cheaper, but when you’ve run through all your sick days and are trying to furiously type on your laptop while your toddler smears shaving cream on your face because he’s home sick but isn’t sick enough to be docile… it’s not such a great deal. Keep Jodie and keep paying her what she’s worth!!
2) Keep the cleaners as well. You may want to check out the Best of Both Worlds podcast/blog. Laura (who I think is a sometime FW reader) and Sarah (who is a doctor) have a very interesting take that I don’t see many other places, and it is this: In order to keep your high-paying job that you love, pay whatever you need to for childcare and cleaning and don’t look back. This enables you to keep doing a job that you love, keep putting a lot of money into retirement, and, perhaps most importantly, hang onto that job for the future, when you don’t have an infant. The goal is to emerge from the “working parent of young children” phase with your health and sanity intact. Laura and Sarah, with their spouses, clearly make very high salaries, so some of their content isn’t 100% relatable. However, I think their POV will really resonate with you. It has made me rethink a lot of our spending lately, in a positive way!
3) You have many options for consolidating accounts, as already discussed, but if it were me I would put like with like. Put the old 457s into your current 457, the old 401ks into your current 403b, etc. If you need further motivation to do this, look at it this way: It’s part of your estate planning to ensure that your executor knows where everything is!
4) I’ve researched the question of “do kids get cheaper as they get older?” a lot, and the general consensus seems to be that the elementary school years are the leanest. So far I have found this to be true. There are camps and activities, but they are a drop in the bucket compared to daycare.
5) Anyway, here are my recs in terms of your money. I should note that Mrs. FW did a fantastic job, and I’m just adding some color!
–Keep doing what you’re doing, and use your cash to cover the overage.
–Consider putting $10k of your cash into i-bonds. The Treasury Direct website is truly awful, but it’s worth it for the interest rate right now.
–Consider starting a 529 plan with a modest lump sum, like $10-15k. In my research about 529s, they offer the most tax advantages when the money has the longest time to grow, so front-loading them if you’re able to is great. If you get a state tax deduction then use your state’s plan, but if not you can use any plan (which means you can research the highly rated ones with low-cost index funds).
–Once you get that raise and/or childcare costs go down, contribute to your taxable account and 529 plan. This is assuming you’re phased out from a Roth IRA; if you aren’t, contribute to that as well.
–I noticed you’re in target date 2040 funds, which would be when you’re 62. I wonder if some of your accounts should go slightly later, like 2045, if you aren’t planning to retire early? That is super nitpicky, though.
You are doing an amazing job, and I thank you and Mrs. FW for sharing this reader case study!
Mrs. Frugalwoods says:
April 18, 2022 at 2:03 pm
Michele, you nailed it! And, “…he’s home sick but isn’t sick enough to be docile…” is the most relatable thing I’ve read all week. HAH! So so very true.
April 19, 2022 at 7:01 am
I will email you a picture of the incident, Mrs. FW!
Sara says:
April 23, 2022 at 11:09 pm
“The goal is to emerge from the “working parent of young children” phase with your health and sanity intact”
This is now my new goal! which was part of why I submitted a case study in the first place and this really sums it up – I want to enjoy this time in my life, when things have really come together in a beautiful way, not feel resentful of my job or the baby or my home when I’m tired and can’t do the “one more thing” that seems to pile on at the end oft the day.
I will definitely check out the podcast and thank you for offering such a long sighted and helpful perspective! And yes – I see evidence every day at work of the many many sick days that kids in daycare end up taking. Definitely part of the reason for this arrangement. I now need to go look up i-bonds…
Diana says:
April 18, 2022 at 3:17 pm
I think the focus on expense cutting is really misguided. This is your LIFE. You get one or two or three precious years with a tiny baby that are expensive as hell (because of childcare! Don’t get it twisted! Diapers and onesies are cheap!) and then you most likely move on from the full time nanny thing. Preschool will be cheaper than this, public school will be free + a few hundred bucks for after school care, Jodie might be paying Sara some rent again someday, and all will be rainbows and butterflies and a speeding train towards FIRE! The person who said “You are not overspending by $12k because your monthly expenses are a little more than your take home, you are saving $28k while reallocating cash to tax advantages accounts.” completely nailed it. Please, please, please, don’t worry about a $10 grocery delivery fee or listen to ads on Spotify, or not buy delicious pizzas occasionally because of some hand wringing about cash-flow. You have saved for this. Your cash flow situation is temporary and will be back to fabulous in no time, they grow up quick!! If you change nothing about your spending for two years, in two years you will still end up much richer than you were now, thanks to your tax advantaged savings, raises, and home equity appreciation. I fail to see any problem whatsoever. And the arrangement with Jodie sounds like the loveliest blessing for everyone.
love, a financial planner in San Francisco with two kids in childcare
Jess says:
April 19, 2022 at 9:52 am
Diana says:
April 19, 2022 at 6:49 pm
thanks for the encouragement. I think saving up to support a negative cash flow for a few years is just as valid as saving for a vacation or a car or any other thing in your life that is important for you. In ten years looking at her income and net worth I feel very strongly she won’t be concerned about her Spotify habit when she had an infant.
Sara says:
April 23, 2022 at 11:11 pm
This is awesome to hear
Sarah says:
April 20, 2022 at 11:39 am
My one recommendation to Sara is not to rely on a childcare center as her only option to cover her work hours! Even if Covid restrictions are significantly reduced, kids get sick (as I’m sure she knows as a doctor!) and they are frequently out of childcare, and as a parent you are frequently scrambling to rearrange our schedule to cover sick days for our kids. Even for a small fever, your child will likely need to be home for 48 hours. We are a two parent household, with lots of family help nearby, and we find it very stressful scrambling last minute to cover work and childcare when the inevitable colds and random viruses come up (and we have flexible jobs with lots of PTO! so we really have an ideal situation and this is still hard). A part-time nanny/part-time preschool option might be a less expensive but more flexible option than your current arrangement (if the nanny can cover full days when sick days come up)! We are considering pivoting to this model (maybe pursuing an au pair? not sure) because we are so burnt out with the inconsistency of our schedules.
KT says:
April 25, 2022 at 1:27 am
I think it’s important in the FI dialogue to return to values, to acknowledge that some people are ok spending a little more for something they value greater, and that it isn’t always about cutting every dollar and shopping around for the cheapest service. Always a balance between rigidity and chaos. There is great pride in paying a fellow friend, house cleaner, childcare provider, farmer/food provider or business owner what they are worth or more. You are bettering their life and honoring their expertise, education, and the actual life effort they are investing in you. Sure, cut costs to Amazon and Verizon and big corporations, and do your research, but some people prioritize paying their neighbors, friends and fellow citizens well. The people you are paying are also striving for retirements and making sure their children are provided for, just like you. Congrats Sara on your beautiful baby, for honoring your friend, and for having such a wonderful situation for Sam in a loving, close-knit family. As a fellow mom, you have a comfortable cushion, do whatever you need to give YOU the best energy and presence for your family, yourself, and your work. The dividends from that are enormous.
wallies says:
April 25, 2022 at 9:55 am
Liz handled the very expensive “nanny” issue with kid gloves. Her explanation was completely empathetic and sympathetic to Sarah. Liz’s readers feel comfortable sending these situations because of the “judgement-free zone”. For example, Suze Orman probably wouldn’t have gotten Sarah’s question, because Suze would be way more direct than Liz in her response. So I’ll go ahead and say the obvious – ditch the nanny.
Jodi is highly unlikely to start paying her fair share of rent and household expenses again at some point in the future. Once someone gets something for “free”, they’re typically loathe to start paying for it. It’s human nature. You can make the argument that Jodi’s working for it now by taking care of the baby, but I highly doubt she’ll feel like paying to stay in the same domestic situation she had before while working an external job. Jodi will feel like she’s paying for the baby’s daycare, which she used to get paid to provide.
K says:
May 1, 2022 at 3:13 pm
I enjoy the case studies, and of course it’s your blog and you can do what you want, but I feel that increasingly the case studies are about higher earners who are doing very well. Maybe this reflects your readership. I would enjoy seeing more diversity in case study situations.
Mrs. Frugalwoods says:
May 4, 2022 at 9:17 am
I appreciate this note. I can only feature Case Studies that are sent to me and so if you–or someone you know–has a lower income and would like to be a Case Study participant, please email me (mrs@frugalwoods.com). If you comb back through the years of Case Studies, you’ll see quite a range of annual incomes (the lowest being $17k/year). But again, I can only feature what I receive, so please do send in your stories :)!
Hannah says:
May 7, 2022 at 10:33 am
I think it’s super valuable to start taking cost cutting actions sooner than later. Although paying Jodie’s salary is more expensive than daycare, daycare will probably cost just $1200 per month less (most likely), and I am guessing that Sara would love a “backup “ childcare option and will be more than willing to allow Jodie to live rent free in exchange for some drop off or pickup duties or some occasional coverage during a day off of school.
As a higher earner, it can feel like every small luxury is a reasonable expense, which it is. However when added to the very high cost of childcare, some things have to fall out of the budget. Personally, I don’t pay for a cleaner and we don’t have a particularly clean house. Once my childcare costs drop below $20k per year, I hope to pick it up. I also have adopted a relatively simple hair style that only requires cutting twice per year. Obviously, those are my choices but it helps to keep us saving and investing at rates that are in line with our salary.
There’s certainly no need to go bare bones, but the tradeoffs are still real even on a high income. If I were in Sara’s shoes, I would aim to be cash flow neutral or positive by Sam’s first birthday. Then when childcare expenses start to drop, that money can go into conveniences, home remodeling or more travel or additional investments.
Kelly says:
May 11, 2022 at 9:56 am
The one thing I didn’t see was own occupation disability insurance. It’s pricey but for high income, single provider families, I think it’s worth it for the piece of mind. (source: am a high income breadwinner)
Lindsay says:
May 21, 2022 at 11:42 am
Congratulations on your cute baby and balanced lifestyle! We share some similarities in situation, as I am a 45 y/o primary care MD with a now 9 month old baby. I also had a long road to parenthood involving 2 rounds of IVF. I highly recommend Montessori daycare if available in your region. We started our daughter at 6 mos age and have had a great experience so far. Will most likely keep her enrolled until kindergarten.
Also agree with maxing out pre-tax retirement accounts, I’m strongly considering using the Rule of 55 to retire slightly early and access those.
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A CRM system essentially provides a central place where businesses can store customer and prospect data, track customer interactions, and share this information with colleagues. It allows businesses to manage relationships with customers, helping the business to grow.
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It is without doubt that the Great Wall is the greatest of civil engineering project of defense in ancient China. With its gigantic scale and difficulties in its construction, it is regarded as one of the great wonders in the history of mankind. The Great Wall is really the glory of the Chinese nation, which symbolizes the ancient culture and the long-standing history of China. Stretching over the mountain ranges, it proudly shows its magnificence to us. So to speak, the Great Wall has witnessed the rises and falls of innumerable dynasties and changes on the earth. At present, though the Great Wall is no longer served as a work of military defense against harassment and invasion. It still plays an important role in linking the Chinese people with the people of the rest of the world. It is one of the great bridges that build up friendship between different peoples.
The Great Wall is starting from the Old Dragon Head of the Shanhai Pass at the seaside in the east to a distance of 10,000 li (1 kilometer= 2 lis) in the west. Snaking along the north of China, it crosses three provinces, two municipalities and two autonomous regions. It is about 6,300 kilometers long, an equivalent of about 3,915 miles.
The present-day Great Wall originated from the early ancient Chinese history. During the time of Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.), in the purpose of defending themselves and against the infringement from the neighboring states, all the principal states had the walls built in the bordering areas of the territories. For example, the three states of Qin, Zhao and Yan had high walls and fortresses built along their northern frontiers to ward off the harassment by the Huns (an ancient nomadic tribe in China) from the north. In 221 B.C., the whole China was unified by the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty to defeat the six other ducal states. The emperor gave order to link up all the walls built by the former ducal states along the northern frontiers to prevent disturbing and attacking by the Huns. And these walls form the world famous “10,000-li Great Wall”. From generation to generation, the succeeding dynasties kept on the work of maintenance and repairs or having parts reconstructed time and again. Among them, the greatest project on scale in the old days of China was carried out in the Han and Ming dynasties.
Throughout history, the Great Wall is served as the traditional defensive project. It is mainly composed by passes, walls, watchtowers and beacon towers. Builders were forced to rely upon local materials for the wall inched across the Chinese wilderness. For example, some wall was built with tamped-earth, some with stone, some with tamped mixture of reed, red willow, and sands, and some with bricks outside and stuffed earth and sands inside. The walls we see today are mainly Ming walls, primary made of stone and bricks. The key parts of the military construction are Watchtowers. They are very close to each other, among which brick towers could be two or three storeys. There is a small room on the top of the tower, surrounded by battlements. The watchtower was also used to station soldiers or store food and weapons. Thousands of passes stretch along the Great Wall. Some are between the mountains, some between the mountains and rivers, and some between the mountains and sea. During the wars, passes are the strongholds by acting as the gateways of transportation. Beacon towers are used for communicating, which can deliver the emergent military messages in a very short time.
Just like the symbol of China—dragon, the Great Wall snakes from east to west on the Oriental. Nowadays, five sections of the Great Wall are opened to public in Beijing, including Badaling section, Juyong Pass section, Mutianyu section, Jinshanling section and Simatai section.
Badaling section is the outstanding part of the Great Wall. Lying in the Yanqing District, sixty kilometers northwest of Beijing, it gives vital protection for the Juyong Pass, which is one of the key passes of the Great Wall. According to its strategic importance of commanding, Badaling section is known as "giving access to every direction", which gains it the name Badaling.
Badaling was built in an early time in the ancient Chinese history. During Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period, defensive wall was constructed along the Yanshan Range to resist the marauding of the nomadic tribes. Since then the following dynasties continued to fortify the Badaling section. The wall we see today was constructed in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 A.D.) along the ridges of mountains. The construction lasted about a hundred years long from 1505, the 18th year of Emperor Hongzhi, to the reign of Emperor Wanli.
The huge Badaling wall was strongly and firmly built. It was based on the foundation of granite slabs, surrounded by a facing of kiln-fired bricks, and covered with bricks on the top. All stuffed with pulverized lime, the slots could enable the wall to be smooth. The height of the wall is 8.5 meters. It is 6.5 meters wide at the bottom and 5.7 meters wide on the top, making it possible for 5 horses or 10 people march abreast on the top. Watchtowers are 0.5 or 1 kilometer apart from each other, which were full of vigor and grandeur, and orderly spotted the wall. The battlements and embrasures of the watchtower were in good condition in wartime. The wall winds its way along the ridge of the Jundu Mountain, rising abruptly to the peaks of each side of the Badaling. You will be amazed by its seemingly endlessness. It stretches far away into the remoteness. The wall of Badaling is 3, 741 meters long.
Among all the parts of the whole Great Wall, Badaling was the earliest section to be open to the tourists. Badaling has received 130 million tourists home and abroad. Among them, there are 370 foreign leaders and very important persons who have come to climb Badaling successively.
Mutianyu section is 75 kilometers northeast of Beijing. Lies in Huairou District, it links Juyong Pass in the west with Gubeikou Pass in the east. Mutianyu section is called as the Majestic Pass on Precipitous Mountains, commanding its strategic importance.
Because of its relatively gentle terrain, watchtowers of Mutianyu section were built in large numbers to strengthen its defensive functions. The closest watchtowers are less than 50 meters apart from each other. Both arms of the Mutianyu section stretch upwards along the ridges of continuous mountains. On the foundation of the Ming Dynasty wall The Mutianyu section was mainly built on precipitous mountains and 5-7 meters high. It is featured with a thick cluster of watchtowers atop, strategic passed, majestic vigor and unique structure. In this section, the gate tower is the most unique building.
Simatai Section lies in the Miyun County, 120 kilometers away from Beijing. It started from Wangjing Tower in the east and connected with Jinshanling section in the west. Without hordes of other tourists, it is a largely unrestored and more authentic section of the Great Wall.
Simatai section was constructed during the early years of Ming Emperor Hongwu. It is said that there was a renovation applying from 1569 to 1573. It was mainly built along the ridge of the mountains because of its location in the mountainous area. Featuring in uniqueness, ruggedness and trimness, it perfectly coordinates with the undulating terrain, which makes it more majestic and magnificent. Simatai reservoir is situated at the foot of the central part of the Simatai section, which is 600-700 meters long with the storage capacity of 50,000 cubic meters.
Simatai section is considered to be the most wonderful part of the Great Wall. Taking good advantage of the fluctuating terrain, the walls and watchtowers constitute the most essential part of the wall. It is famous for its precipitous cliffs, magnificent towers, suspension walls and rugged stairways. If you are looking from distance, you may find that the Great Wall is just like a flying dragon in the cloud. However, when you stand nearby, the wall stretches its arms along the ridges of mountains. All these make it the most amazing part of the Great Wall.
Jinshanling Section
The Jinshanling Great Wall was initially built from 1368 to 1389 in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and in 1567 and 1570 rebuilding of the Wall was mainly directed by General Qi Jiguang (1528-1588). Poems and tablet writings can be found on the Jinshanling Great Wall left from the time when Qi Jiguang directed the rebuilding of this section of the Great Wall. Continue to read more on the Great Wall history. Jinshanling is connected to the Simatai Great Wall in the east and the Panlongshan Great Wall in the west. Jinshanling has probably the highest frequency of towers per kilometer of any place along the Ming Dynasty Great Wall. It also has one of the greatest varieties of architectural and defensive styles of both wall and towers.
The total length of this section is about 11 kilometers (6.8 miles). The Wall is about 7 meters high and 5 meters wide, and is made of brick and stone. The Jinshanling Great Wall has an elevation of 700 meters. There are more than 100 watch towers along the Jinshanling Great Wall. ‘Watching Beijing Tower’ is on the highest point, from which you can see Beijing. The Jinshanling Great Wall is second only to the Badaling Great Wall in its completeness.
Tian’anmen(Gate of Heavenly Peace), situated at the center of Beijing meaning in English, symbolizes the People's Republic of China. Built in 1417, it was formally called Chengtianmen (Gate of Heavenly Succession). At that time, it was the front gate of the Imperial City. By the end of the Ming Dynasty, the uprising farmers led by Li Zicheng entered the city, but later when the Qing army marched upon Beijing, the Chengtianmen was destroyed under the crossfire. In 1651, it was rebuilt and named "Tian'anmen".
The Tian'anmen Rostrum, as a place to hold ceremonies of great importance, such as promulgating an imperial edict conferring the title of a queen, or announcing a newly enthroned emperor, was made known to the public all over the country. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was popular to hold the Imperial Exam system for choosing high-ranking officials by way of a palace examination, which supervised by the emperor himself. If the examinees ranked the first three, they would be entitled. What’s more, they would have the honor to be granted an audience by the emperor two days after the examination. On that day they would be called in to see the emperor in turn in the Tian'anmen Rostrum.
There is a square running 880 meters from south to north and 500 meters from east to west in front of the Tian'anmen Rostrum. It is the Tian'anmen Square – the very center of Beijing. Tian'anmen Square is the largest city square in the world with an area of 44 hectares.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Tian'anmen Square was a piece of land in front of the Imperial Palace, an open space jetting out towards the south from the Tian'anmen Gate. It had a meaning of embodying the outstanding importance of the Tian'anmen Gate and the Imperial City. In the early days of the Ming Dynasty, a gate of brick and stone was built, which is right on the site of the present Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao Zedong, called Damingmen (Gate of the Great Ming). In the Qing Dynasty it was renamed as Daqingmen (Gate of Great Qing) and after 1911 Zhonghuamen (Gate of China). Later on, another two gates of brick and stone structure were built on each site of the avenue in front the gate. Surrounded by a newly built red wall, the area within the three gates formed a small square of only 11 hectares-- Tian'anmen Square.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, common people were forbidden to enter the Tian'anmen Square. And for the officials, when they entered the gate, they had to get off horses and proceed on foot into the palace. The government offices were lined outside the wall on the east and west. According to the traditional system, the civil service organizations were set in the eastern part of the square, and the military organizations in the west.
Old buildings in the Tian'anmen Square were put down after the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in 1911. In 1957, the square expanded with an area of 44 hectares, which may hold 1 million people at a time. With Chairman Mao's Memorial Hall right behind, the Monument to the People's Heroes towered in the center of the square. To the east of the Square, there is the National Museum of China and to the west the Great Hall of People (National People's Congress building).
The Monument to the People's Heroes is the largest monument in China's history which was built in 1952. On this monument, you can see the words--"The People's Heroes are Immortal", which were written by Chairman Mao. The development of Chinese modern history and those who contributed their lives to the democratic progress are shown by the eight unusually large relief sculptures. The monument is enclosed by two rows of white marble railings. It seems very simple and beautiful.
At the south side of the Square is the Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao Zedong. This Hall is consisted by three halls, among which our dear Chairman Mao's body lies in a crystal coffin in the halls surrounded by fresh bouquets of various famous flowers and grasses.
The Great Hall of the People is in the west of the Square. Constructed in 1959, this building is the site of the China National People's Congress meetings, which also provides an impressive site for other political and diplomatic activities. With twelve marble posts, the Hall includes three parts--the Central Hall, the Great Auditorium and a Banqueting Hall. The ceiling of the Central Hall is decorated with crystal lamps and the floor paved with marble. The Great Auditorium behind the Central Hall can hold 10,000 people, while the huge Banqueting Hall can seat 5,000.
At the east side of the Square stands the China National Museum, which is another important place for you to visit. Built in 2003, it is a mergence of China History Museum and China Revolutionary Museum. This National Museum is on the opposite of the Great Hall of the People. In the China Revolutionary Museum, there are a lot of material objects, pictures, books and models, presenting the development of modern China. A large number of cultural relics are exhibited in the China History Museum, illustrating the long history and glorious culture of China from 1,700,000 years ago to 1925 when the last emperor left the throne.
The Palace Museum, the imperial palace in the Ming and Qing dynasties, is the largest and best-preserved palace complex in the world today. It is also called the Purple Forbidden City in Chinese. Its name, on one side, derives from ancient Chinese astronomers' belief that God's abode or the Purple Palace. The pivot of the celestial world, is situated in the Pole Star (the middle of the Ziwei Star), at the center of the heaven. Therefore, the son of God of Heaven--the emperor, should live in the Purple City. On the other side, without special orders of the emperor eunuchs and guards, ordinary citizens were not allowed entering the Forbidden City, except for palace maids. For this reason, palaces in the Ming and Qing dynasties are called both the Forbidden City and the Purple City.
The Construction of the magnificent palace started in 1406, and ended in 1420. It took 14 years to complete the project. One year after completion, Emperor Yongle moved his capital from Nanjing to Beijing. Since then, 24 emperors have lived at the Forbidden City, 14 during the Ming Dynasty and 10 during the Qing Dynasty.
The Forbidden City covers an area of over 720,000 square meters, 750 meters wide and 960 meters long. And it has four great gates. The fabulous city, which is surrounded by a 52-meter-wide moat, has four delicate and lovely turrets overlooking both the inside and outside.
The Forbidden City has more than 8,700 wooden rooms, most of which have yellow-glazed tiles. It is a color that only emperors were allowed to use on their roof. From the northern Drum Tower and the Bell Tower to the Southern Gate of Everlasting Stability (Yongdingmen), these colorfully painted and embellished rooms are divided symmetrically into northern and southern halves. If you walk into the city, you will see the layers of halls and palaces spreading out on either side of a central axis. As the designations of the wise architectures, the splendid buildings represent the unique features of the traditional Chinese architecture and embody the incredible creativity of the ancient Chinese people. Reconstructed after being destroyed by several fires, this pearl of Chinese cultural heritage still retains its original arrangements of the Ming dynasty. Nowadays, most of the existing buildings open to visitors were reconstructed during the early Qing Dynasty.
In many ways the Forbidden City reveals ancient Confucian ideas, as it is generally designed to the principles of the Front court, Rear Market, Ancestral Sacrifice on the left and Altar on the right. Hence, the court was located in the southern or front section of the Forbidden City, where officials discussed political affairs. A large trading market was situated in the rear part of the city, providing daily necessities for the court. On the left side was the Imperial Ancestral Temple, where the emperor offered sacrifices to his ancestors. Nowadays, it is the Working People's Cultural Palace. On the right side was the Altar to the god of Land and Grain, where the emperor displayed his reverence to the god. This is now Zhongshan Park.
There are two courts in the Forbidden City: the Inner Court and the Outer Court. They are separated across the middle between the south and north ends. The Outer court is mainly composed by the Meridian Gate and the Three Front Halls, flanked by the Hall of Literary Glory (Wenhuadian) and the Hall of Martial Spirit (Wuyingdian), which witnessed various ceremonies and political activities during the Ming and Qing dynasties. While the inner court is mainly consisted by the Three Back Halls, Imperial Garden, Hall of Mental Cultivation and Palace of Abstinence, which are flanked by the Six East Halls and the Six West Halls. This was the place where the emperor was confronted with political affairs and was the residential area for the emperor and his empresses and concubines.
Compared with other contemporary palaces, the Forbidden City stressed more on balance and independence, and embodied more cultural perspectives of the specific ethnic group. Just as what was written in the book of History of Chinese Science by Joseph Needham, each part of the Forbidden City is in well balance and independence, which is just on the contrary to other palaces in the Renaissance Age. For the city, the Palace of Versailles is just acting as an object. The palace is an organic part of the whole city, combining deep deference to nature with lofty significance. As a tin far-reaching and complicated Chinese architecture, Great overall arrangements have reached the highest level, far above any other culture.
After the subversion of the Qing Dynasty by the Revolution of 1911, the last emperor Pu Yi was exiled to palaces at the rear of the Forbidden City. In 1914, the Three Great Halls in the Imperial Palace was opened as exhibition hall of antiquities. Ten years later, Feng Yuxiang staged a coup in Beijing and expelled the last emperor from the palace. Oct. 10, 1925 established The Palace Museum. And in 1961, the Forbidden City was listed as a place to be given special protection by the State Council. UNESCO listed it as World Cultural Heritage site in 1987.
The Forbidden City, as one of the world-famous royal palaces, has played an important role in the world architectural history. Many tourists both from home and abroad have been attracted by the almost 1 million rare treasures and cultural relics on exhibition there.
Covering an area of 290 hectares in total, the Summer Palace spreads out some 15 kilometers away from the city center in the north western suburbs of Beijing. Three fourths of the palace is covered by a pool of water and the rest the land and hills.
The Summer Palace is the summer resort of the Qing royal family. Now it is the most intact, the best-preserved and the largest of its kind of the classical gardens in the country. Since the garden began to be built in 1153, it had undergone many a time reconstruction and renovation in the Yuan and Ming dynasties. In the period of Emperor Qianlong’s reign of the Qing Dynasty, it was still reconstructed in a large-scale. And this time was renamed the "Garden of Crystal Ripples". When it was completed in 1860, it suffered a severe destruction, led by the Anglo-French Allied Army, which brought it down to ashes. In 1886, Empress Dowager Cixi embezzled the funds allocated for the building of the navy to rebuild it and renamed it the "Summer Palace". However, in 1900, it underwent destruction again by the Eight Powers Allied Forces. Later, the1903 saw its second-time rebuild.
On the 12th of October 1911, Empress Dowager Longyu was finally forced to promulgate the abdication of the royal power. However, according to the agreement between the Qing royal family and the republic government, the Summer Palace would still be kept in the hands of the Qing royal family, while yet to be opened to outside as private property by selling admission tickets. 1924 when Puyi was ousted, the Summer Palace was taken over by the republic government and changed to be a public park.
The Qing royal family stayed in the Forbidden City in spring, autumn and winter. And when it came to summer, they went to their summer resort –Summer Palace. Hence, the Summer Palace shares the same functional quarters as that in the Forbidden City. Among these quarters, the office quarter, the living quarter and the entertainment quarter formed the magnificent scenery in Summer Palace.
Through the East Palace Gate, there is the Hall of the Benevolence and Longevity. The emperor used to handle state affairs and listen to reports by ministers and receive foreign envoys in there. It was called the Hallo of Diligent Administration by Emperor Qianlong during his reign. In 1860, it was burnt down by the Anglo-French Army. Reconstructed In 1890, it was then renamed the "Hall of the Benevolence and Longevity". During the reigns of Emperors Tongzhi and Guangxu, Empress Dowager Cixi got the real power to rule the country, and she started to handle state affairs behind the screen.
The Hall of Jade Ripples and the Hall of Happiness and Longevity are the three parts of the living quarter. Guangxu used to live in the Hall of Jade Ripples Emperor in the Summer Palace. After his failure of the Reform Movement of 1898, Emperor Guangxu was put into house arrest here. Thus, it is also regarded as an exquisitely decorated jail.
Consisting of four rooms, the Hall of Happiness and Longevity used to be the residence for Empress Dowager Cixi. The Empress moves to the Summer Palace and stays there in the hall every year on the first day of the fourth month in the lunar calendar. And she won't return until the tenth of the tenth lunar month when she had celebrated her birthday there. In the Summer Palace, there are over 1,000 people dancing attendance on the Dowager. Among them, there are 48 in the Hall of Happiness and Longevity, of whom 20 are maids-in-waiting, 20 eunuchs of importance and another 8 are the "ladies-in-waiting" by her side, normally waiting in the room behind the precious throne to attend on her.
The Long Corridor, the starting point of entertainment quarter, is at the end of the courtyard of the Hall of Happiness and Longevity. It is 728 meters long with more than 14,000 traditional Chinese paintings on the beams and rafters. The four pavilions along the corridor represent the four seasons a year. The Marble Boat can be found at the end of the Long Corridor. The original Chinese style of it was burnt down by the Anglo-French Army in 1860. In 1893, it was rebuilt into one of a western style, imitating a steam ship with two water-wheelers. In 1903 Empress Dowager Cixi built another storey of wooden structure with the decoration of colored pieces of glass. The construction of this immovable boat was to symbolize the stable and consolidated rule of the Qing regime just like a large piece of rock. It would stand still forever in the vast ocean and would, under no circumstances whatsoever be wavered or toppled.
Occupying three fourths of the total area of the Summer Palace, Kunming Lake plays important role in the adjustment of the temperature in the garden. Taking a walk in the Long Corridor and a dragon boat on the lake, you will have a wonderful feeling that you were the emperor and empress in ancient China.
Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven stands in the southern part of Beijing. It was used to be the house ceremonies of emperors of worshipping heaven and praying for harvest in the Ming and Qing dynasties. This altar temple remains to be the largest existing ancient sacrificial structures across the world, more important than other three major temples, i.e. Altar to the Earth, Altar to the Sun and Altar to the Moon.
The Temple of Heaven was built in 1407 and the construction of the project took 14 years. Covering an area of 273 hectares, with two surrounding rings walls, it is four times bigger than the Forbidden City. The wall, stretching from north to south, is as long as 1,657 meters and that from east to west 1,703 meters. The outer wall is 6,553 meters in circumference while the inner wall measures 4,152 meters in perimeter.
To pray for good harvests and fine rain, emperors did regular worshipping and offered sacrifices to heaven. And the Temple of Heaven was used to the place where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties went and worshipped the heaven twice (and sometimes three times) a year. In the past, the tradition went that sacrifices were offered to heaven and earth in one place only. But in 1530 when the Temple of Earth was built in the north of the city, the Temple of Heaven was ever since used specially for offering sacrifices to heaven alone.
The Temple of Heaven is consisted by three sections, named the Circular Mound Altar, the Imperial Vault of Heaven and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, attached with some affiliated buildings like Dressing Platform, Long Corridor and Echo Wall.
The Circular Mound Altar was first constructed in 1530. In ancient China, to some extend, the altar was a place that even more important than the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. The emperor would come to offer sacrifices to heaven on the altar every year on the day of the Winter Solstice. For this reason, the altar was rebuilt into a circular one in 1749. Built in the open air without shelter, the sacrificial ceremony was being held right under heaven. Therefore, it was called "Luji", or the "open air offering of sacrifices".
The Imperial Vault of Heaven was first built in 1530 as a main building in the south of the Temple of Heaven. At first, it was called "Taishendian" or the Hall for Pacifying Gods, but later changed into the present name. In 1752, the building was rebuilt into one of a single eave, which used to have double eaves. Standing 19.5 meters high and of 15.6 meters in diameter, the circular hall used to be an octagonal one in the past. The tablet of the Jade Emperor, the four stone platforms on both sides used to be for the tablets of the emperor’s ancestors of eight generations in succession, is consecrated on the central stone-platform in the Hall of Imperial Vault of Heaven.
Being of 32.72 meters in diameter, built on a three-tired platform, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests towers 38 meters' high with its eaves fanning out on three tiers, of which the upper one has a gold-plated knob on it. You will be amazed to see that such a heavy building was supported only by 28 wooden pillars with no single piece of reinforced concrete at all. The whole building was built by mortise and tenon joints without using a single nail. With each pillar in height of 19.2 meters, the four pillars in the center of the hall are called "Longjingzhu"--the Dragon Well Pillar. Only by joining hands together by two and half persons, can it be embraced. These four pillars indicate the four seasons of a year. You may find it more interesting that all pillars have their special meanings: the outside 12 pillars suggest 12 months in a year and another 12 pillars in the round wall symbolize the 12 two-hour periods of a day. And when you put the two 12 pillars together, the number you get is 24, which represents the 24 solar terms of a year. And when you add the four in the center of the hall to 24, you will get 28, which represents the 28 lunar mansions in the heaven above.
Since its first construction in 1420, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests has gone through several times of changes. At that moment, the hall was called "Dasidian"--the Hall of Grand Sacrifices, which was rectangular in shape. But in 1529, it was reconstructed into a round one with a roof of three tiers. And this time it was named "Daxiangdian"--the Hall of Grand Treatment to Heaven. Three different colors were painted in these roofs of three tiers. From the upper tier to the lower one, the colors are respectively blue, yellow and green. In 1752, these three colors were all changed into glazed tiles of dark blue. However, they were destroyed by lightning in 1889. And later in 1890, it was restored according to the original. In 2006, the whole building was renovated with all its paintings according to the same style as they done last time. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests has become the symbol of Beijing.
At present, the Temple of Heaven is very popular with tourist home and abroad. It is also an entertainment center for local people. If you go to the temple early in the morning, you will find many local people practicing Taiji, playing cards and Chinese chess and singing folk songs there.
Covering an area of 40 square kilometers with 13 Ming emperors buried, the Ming Tombs is situated at the southern foot of the Tianshou Mountain in Changping District in the north western suburban areas of Beijing. The construction of the imperial tombs had been going on ceaselessly from the year 1409 when Emperor Zhu Di started building his tomb to the fall of the Ming Dynasty in 1644, lasting a period over 200 years.
As many people know, there are 16 emperors in the Ming Dynasty. Among the 16 Ming emperors, 13 of them were buried in this tomb area, except for Zhu Yuanzhang, the founder of the Ming Dynasty who was buried in the Xiaoling Mausoleum in Nanjing, Zhu Yunwen, who disappeared and Zhu Qiyu, who was buried at Jinshan Hill in the western suburbs of Beijing, all other. Therefore, this area was called the 13 Ming Tombs.
It was originally built only for Emperor Zhu Di and his empress, named Changling, which is the most magnificent tomb. The succeeding twelve emperors had their tombs built around Changling. At present, the two tombs opened to the public are Changling and Dingling.
Changling is the first Ming tomb built in this area. Hence, the axle line of Changling naturally became the axle line of the whole Ming Tombs. Along with the various tombs, the Stone Tablet House come together overall as a structurally and visually unified architectural accomplishment. Though these tombs were built in different periods, they were strategically planed and built in different stages. Each tomb has its own distinct adornments. However, the entire tomb area has a unified layout and style.
Zhu Di was the third emperor in the Ming Dynasty, who was buried together with his empress in Changling. During his 22-year of reign, he was, relatively speaking, an emperor who had made quite some achievements. For example, he determined to move the capital from Nanjing to Beijing in 1421. To some extend, the move itself was an expression of far-sightedness, for it was very important to strengthen the national defense and guard frontier areas. During the period from 1405 to 1424, Zheng He, also called Eunuch Sanbao, was sent by the emperor to fulfill a diplomatic mission which was on an ever larger and broader scale in Chinese history. He went six times on board across the sea to over 30 countries in Asia and Africa.
Completed in 1416, as the place for worshipping tablets of the emperor and empress and offering sacrifices to ancestors, the Hall of Eminent Favor is situated within the second compound of Changling. The Hall of Eminent Favor in Changling is the best-preserved among the ones of the 13 tombs, which duplicated the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City. It is a very precious relic of ancient China's wooden structures.
Dingling is the tomb for Emperor Zhu Yijun, named the tomb of Stability. It is said that he was buried together with his two empresses—Xiaoduan and Xiaojing. Ascending the throne at the age of 10, Zhu Yijun was died at 58 with a reign span of 48 years. Therefore he became the emperor with the longest time in power for in the Ming Dynasty. The construction of the Dingling tomb started in 1584. It took 6 years to bring the project to finish in 1590, covering an area of 180,000 square meters and costing 8 million taels of silver.
The Dingling began to be excavated in May 1956, which brought to light the mystery of the underground palaces of the Ming Tombs. Constructed with hard stone-slabs, with a total floor space of 1,195 square meters, the underground palace is composed by five beamless vaults, called the front, the middle, the rear and the two annexes on the right and the left. Carved out of white marble and the rear hall with the bier holding three coffins for the emperor and his two queens, three thrones were laid out in the middle vault. There are over 3,000 pieces of archeological findings unearthed from the tomb.
Yonghegong Lamasery is a well-known lama temple of the Yellow Hat Sect of Lamaism, which is located at the northeast part of Beijing. It was originally built in 1694 as the residence of Emperor Yongzheng of Qing (1644-1911 A.D.) before his ascent of the throne. And after his death, it was renamed Yonghegong. His successor Emperor Qianlong then rebuilt Yonghegong into an imperial palace with its turquoise tiles replaced by yellow tiles (yellow was the imperial color in the Qing Dynasty). In 1744, it became a lamasery. From then on, large numbers of monks from Mongolia and Tibet and national center of lama administration live in there.
As an imperial palace, the layout of the temple differentiated from other temples. The main gate faces to the south. There are five main halls and annex connected by courtyards on its 480-meter-long north-south axis, including a glaze-tiled arch, Gate of Peace (Zhaotaimen), Buddha's Warrior Hall (Tianwangdian), which was formerly the entrance to Yongzheng's imperial palace, Hall of Harmony and Peace (Yonghegong), Hall of Everlasting Protection (Yongyoudian), Hall of the Wheel of the Law (Falundian) and Pavilion of Eternal Happiness (Wanfuge).
When you are walking through the grand glaze-tile arch patterned with decorative dragons and flowers in the first court, you will reach a three-arch gate - the Gate of Peace. In ancient times, the central passageway was for emperors. On each side of the second court next to the Gate of Peace stand the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower. Two pavilions stand symmetrically on opposite to the north. If you want to know more about the temple's history, you can have a look at the inscriptions of Chinese, Manchu, Mongolian and Tibetan engraved on steles.
The Buddha's Warrior Hall, also known as the Hall of Heavenly Kings, is the former entrance to Yongzheng's imperial palace. The hall Maitreya (Happy Buddha) was always used to greet visitors, which has a smiling face with a sandalwood pagoda on each side. Many small Buddhist images, symbolizing longevity, stand on the pagoda. Therefore, the pagoda is the Longevity Pagoda. There are four fearsome-looking Heavenly Kings or Celestial Guardians on both sides of Maitreya's shrine.
On the way to the Hall of Harmony and Peace stands a marble-based bronze incense-burner. With decorations of two dragons playing with a pearl on its six opens, it is 4.2 meters in height. Afterwards there is the Mount Sumeru, a bronze sculpture of Ming (1368-1644A.D.), representing the center of the world. On the top of it there lies a legendary paradise where Sakyamuni and men of moral integrity live after death; in the middle the dwellings of humans and below devils abide in hell.
The Hall of Harmony and Peace is formerly a place for the emperor Yongzheng to hold meetings. It was also called Mahavira Hall or Daxiongbaodian in Buddhism. Mahavira here is an honorable title of Sakyamuni in Chinese. Sakyamuni is on the altar, with Buddha of the Present in the middle with Buddha of the Past Yeja and the Buddha of the Future Maitreya on each side. On each side of the hall stand Statues of 18 Arhats. It is said that 18 Arhats were the disciples of Samkyamuni to diffuse Buddhism. The painting that you can find on the western wall is a Bodhisattva.
The Hall of Everlasting Protection (Yongyoudian) and the Hall of the Wheel of the Law (Falundian) are right behind the Hall of the Harmony and Peace, where enshrines a bronze image of Tsong Kapa -- founder of the Yellow Hat Sect. With 5 gold-plating pagodas, the golden-roofed Falundian was the place where lamas assemble to have religious activities. There is a 6-meter-high gilded bronze statue of Tsong Kapa on a lotus seat in the center of the hall.
Now there are nearly 70 lamas living in this temple. If you go there, you will find that regular religious activities are still practiced. More lamas can be seen coming here in the festival for lamas or Lamaism.
The numerous old hutongs are the distinguished features of Beijing. They symbolize the traditional community with small lanes, alleys and Siheyuan (quadrangle). The life of local people in these old hutongs makes this ancient capital look more charming. Wandering along these small lanes, you can see many quadrangles, called Siheyuan in Chinese, which are the residential quarters of natives. No one knows the exact number of these hutongs there are in Beijing.
It is recorded that about 3,000 years ago, there first appeared a small city in the Beijing area. Beijing did not become the capital city for the first time until the Jin dynasty in the 12 century. At that moment, there were just streets and roads but no hutongs in Beijing. According to the historical records, the word "Hutong" originated from the Mongolian language, which meant "water well." In other words, it means a place where people live, because people always gather where there is water. As the traditional residence of Beijingers, hutongs which were composed by rectangular courtyard surrounded by one-storeyed tile-roofed houses are usually one to six meters wide. Since hutongs were first built in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), they are where life was going on for the last 700 year.
The grandson of Genghis Khan--Kublai Khan set up Yuan Dynasty after his occupation of Beijing in 1260. Kublai Khan wanted to set Beijing as the capital city, but it was destroyed during the war. So he ordered to rebuild it. The buildings in the hutong were mainly quadrangles, which were in different size and design according to the social status of the residents. It was the favorite of the high-ranking officials and wealthy merchants to big quadrangles with roof beams and pillars all beautifully carved and painted, each with a front yard and back yard. However, the quadrangles of ordinary people's were simply built with small gates and low houses. Actually, Hutongs are passageways formed by many closely arranged quadrangles of different sizes. For better lighting, the specially built quadrangles all face the south; therefore, a lot of hutongs stretched from east to west. And for convenient passage many small ones between the big hutongs went north and south.
Most of the hutongs today were those built in the Ming and Qing dynasties. But you can still find some from the Yuan Dynasty. For example, the Zhuanta Hutong in Xisi on the west side of the city is a typical one. It was often mentioned in the Yuan dramas.
Throughout the last 7 centuries, as the city grew, more and more hutongs appeared. But this time they were different from the old ones. During the Qing Dynasty in the 17th century, the Manchu people who used to live in North China ruled the country. After they subverted the Ming Dynasty, they divided Manchu people into eight banners.
Each of them was featured by a different color. As the population grew, the city had to expand. So with all the banners, the Manchu people lived in the inner city. In Han dynasty, whether people are in high ranking or low one, they were driven to the outer city. Random houses were built, thus appeared a lot of hutongs.
From then on, there are many hutongs with different shapes, lengths or directions in Beijing. The shortest hutong in Beijing is just 10 meters in length, and the narrowest one is only about 40 centimeters in width. There are more than 20 turns in some hutongs. And due to the terrain, there appeared slanting Hutongs. Most of the hutongs stretch straight from east to west, some from north to south. As a result, it needs the need of houses to face south to take in more sunshine and resist cold wind from the north.
In the past, the transportation in hutongs was inconvenient. Thus street peddlers began to emerge. They wandered from lane to lane selling all kinds of goods or providing various services. People could know what they are selling from their singing or the sounds of their special instruments. The peddlers are among the first to come to sell food at sunset. The foods they sold include Youzhagao, which is deep-fried twisted dough sticks, baked pancakes, seasoned millet mush etc. Later, peddlers who sold vegetables of daily necessities appeared. A barber never shouts, his instrument is a big pair of scissors and an ironing stick. But now such melodious cries of sounds are rarely heard.
Beijing's hutongs are both an appellation for the lanes and a kind of architecture, which are the living environment for the local people. It is the reflection of the vicissitude of society. Most of the hutongs are seemingly the same with grey walls and bricks. Hutongs are a happy place. Usually, there are 4 to 10 families with an average of 20 people sharing the rooms of one courtyard complex. If you live in hutong, you can enjoy a life of friendly and interpersonal communication. Children living in one courtyard can play together. And when growing up, they are just like one family. For the old people, they can enjoy the companion with each other.
Nowadays, hutong tour has become very popular, which is really joyful. If you are interested in this tour, you can try the rickshaw, an old way of conveying passengers, to experience the small, but old alleys. Here, you also have the opportunity to visit one local market with all kinds of fruits and vegetables. Ask your guide to arrange a lunch at the locals' house if possible, and you will have the chance to tasting the local food. Meanwhile, you can chat with the host and hostess and know more about the local people's special life.
The West Lake is like a supermarket of landscapes, in which you can have the favorite scene at your every fingertip, therefore when you are traveling around the West Lake, you will have a feeling of wandering in a picture. No matter what the weather is like or what time is it when you are here, you will be lost at the fascinating sceneries and reluctant to leave.
Inside the picturesque park that covers as area of 60 square kilometer, the blooming flowers in spring, the adorable water lily in summer, the charming moon in autumn and the pure snow in winter will make the top ten sceneries of West Lake more splendid.
There are six ancient stone bridges of various styles over Su Causeway that stretches 3 kilometer long, which will be the most charming scene when spring falls owing to the decoration of the blooming peach blossoms and weeping willows. Come to make it clear why it could be the best part of the West Lake since the South Song Dynasty (1127-1279).
If you tour schedule falls in the summer, you will get the chance to experience how wonderful walking in the water lily is. Walking on the bridge that hides in the water lily pool, you will be intoxicated in the aroma of the Chinese wine flying from the winery nearby and the fragrance of the colorful lily of various species.
Here is a wonderful and peaceful place with the green willow waving with the breeze and birds chirping around. In the spring, when the pleasant breezes feel the willows along the lake, you will see the scene like a band of girls washing their hairs by the lake. In summer, the garden will turn into an “evening garden”. The lanterns exhibition, the traditional folk performance and cinema attract a lot of visitors every night.
Leifeng Pagoda, on the Evening Glow Hill situated on the south shore of the West Lake, was erected in memory of the son his favorite concubine, Huang Fei, gave birth to. The pagoda with seven layers was a pavilion-type structure, built of brick and wood. When the sun is setting, the pagoda bathed in the evening glow looked radiantly beautiful.
Malting Snow at Broken Bridge
When the sun comes out after snowfall, the snow on the sunny side of the bridge melts first, while the snow on the other side still lingers. Seen from a distance, the bridge seems to be broken. It is a favorite stopover for you. Especially on fine winter days after a snow, you may stand on the bridge to feast your eyes on the snow scene far and near. Distant hills, clad in white, grow more enchanting.
Nanping Hill, lying along the south bank of the West Lake, is less than 100 meters high, but extends as long as over 1000 meters. It features the odd-shaped rocks and the flourishing woods, which offers a peaceful resort with various sceneries. The harmonious park will be more harmonious when surrounded by the echo of the bell in the evening.
On the small island stretches out a gorgeous harbor, named Flowering Harbor, from where you can have a wonderful view of the endearing colorful fish swimming in the pure lake. In addition, the peony garden embraced by the flourishing trees is as charming as the other parts.
As the Dawn round the Su Causeway in spring is charming, so is the moon in autumn over the Calm Lake. When the Chinese traditional mid-autumn day falls on, it will be a wonderful experience to admire the moon and the colorful lanterns of various designs while tasting the fragrant tea in the teahouse on the lake, or to have a close touch of the moon reflected on the peaceful lake on the boat.
The three stone pagodas, first built over 800 years ago, 2 meters in height, are the main scenic spot calling ‘Three Pools Mirroring the Moon’. To the west of the isle stand three ball-shaped hollow stone pagodas with five round holes around. At the night of the Mid-Autumn festival, when the moon shines full and bright in the sky, a candle is lit inside each of the pagoda, the light and the moon cast their reflections through the holes on the water, hence the name.
Twin peaks are the Northern Peak and Southern Peak. One locates southwest to the West Lake and the other locates northwest west. Northern Peak is with an elevation of 256.9 meters, Southern Peak is with an elevation of 355 meters. The two peaks face each other at a distance of more than 5 kilometers. On a drizzly day in spring or autumn, visitors may find a spectacular view of the two peaks while they look up from the Hongchun Bridge. It seems as if an enchanting landscape painting was hanging before them with the peaks disappearing and appearing amidst drifting clouds.
Here is a paradise of landscapes for you to pick up the wonderful memories.
Location: Longjing Road, Hangzhou City
Transportation: Tour bus 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 will bring you here.
The Spring Dawn Round the Su Causeway locates West Lake District Nanshan Road, tops the list of the ten best known sights in Hangzhou. The causeway was built during the Northern Song Dynasty by Su Dongpo, a great scholar in ancient time. Stretching around 2.8 kilometers long, it is spanned by six bridges and heavily sheltered by green vegetation. When spring comes, the whole causeway is blanketed by peach blossoms and weeping willows, creating an especially charming scene.
Breeze-ruffled Lotus at Quyuan Garden
In Southern Song Dynasty, Quyuan Courtyard was an official vinery which located on the bank of the West Lake beside the Hongcun Bridge on the Linyin Road where many lotuses were planted. In summer breezes, the air was scented with delicate fragrance of lotus intermingled with the tasteful bouquet of wine. However, the courtyard was very much neglected and the nearby lake silted up. Started from 1983, an extension project has been under way to develop it to a huge park. Currently, the park includes five sections: Yue Lake, Bamboo Garden, Lotus Garden, Winding Garden and Lakeside Forest. Therefore it is very popular attractions for the tourists.
The park is a wonderful leisure place with the green willow leaves and orioles warbling, locates on the Nianshan Road of West Lake District. In the spring, the vernal breezes stroke the willows, their branches sway gently, bending over to kiss the rippling water. Walk in the garden, the orioles singing, the willows dancing, it is very wonderful. Now the park is combined by three gardens: Orioles Singing Garden, Friendship Garden and Collected Scenery Garden.
The eastern south of the Garden is served as a traditional public entertainment site. An open stage is built there. In the Summer and Autumn, the garden is served as an "evening garden". The lanterns exhibition, the traditional folk performance and cinema attract a lot of visitors every night.
Leifeng Pagoda, on the Evening Glow Hill situated on the south shore of the West Lake, was erected in celebration of the son his favorite concubine, Huang Fei, gave birth to. The 7 storied pagoda was a storied – pavilion –type structure, built of brick and wood. When the sun was setting, the pagoda bathed in the evening glow looked radiantly beautiful. It was therefore named as "Leifeng Pagoda in Evening Glow". In Ming Dynasty, the pagoda was fired by the Japanese bandits and collapsed at last on September, 25 1924 by the custom of local people to take a brick from its lower stories as a talisman or souvenir.
Malting Snow at Broken Bridge
It snows almost every winter in Hangzhou, when the sun comes out after snowfall, the snow on the sunny side of the bridge melts first, while the snow on the shady side still lingers. Looked at a distance or from a nearby hill, the bridge appears to be broken. It is a favorite stopover for you. Especially on fine winter days after a snow, you may stand on the bridge to feast your eyes on the snow scene far and near. Distant hills, clad in white, grow more enchanting.
It has long history. In the Northern Song Dynasty, a distinguished artist, Zhang Zeduan, did a painting entitled "Evening Bell Ringing at Nanping Hill". Nanpin Hill lies along the south bank of the West Lake, less than 100 meters high, but extends as long as over 1000 meters. It features the odd-shaped rocks and the green woods. Nanpin Hill offers different views due to the different weather.
In 972 A.D. a famous temple, named as "Xingjiao Temple" was built on the Nanpin Hill. After that, a few more small temples were built around it. Therefore, Nanpin Hill was locally called as "Buddhism Kingdom Hill". Formed of limestone, the Nanping Hill contains lots of caves and cavities. The shape of the hill is just like a painted screen. Therefore, when the bell was rung in the evening, its sonorous sound echoed through the caves and cavities, even reached as far as the other shore of the West Lake. And then the Ge Hill locating there sent back a big echo over the lake.
This spot is located at the southern end of the Su Causeway. A clean stream leads from Huajia Hill to the West Lake through here, so it named as 'Flowery Harbor'. Viewing Fish at Flowery Harbor, now has been made into a 22 hectares park with many varieties of trees and flowers, featuring a peony garden which blooms in April and a goldfish pond which is the famous site for viewing fish.
As the oldest garden among the existing classical gardens of Suzhou, Canglang Pavilion together with 'Lion Grove', 'Humble Administrator's Garden' and 'Garden for Lingering In.', is praised as the four most famous gardens in Suzhou. It was used as the private garden of a Prince of the Five Dynasties (907-960), thus the designs are of royal flavor.
This 11,000 m2 garden is full of breath of simplicity and serenity, with the rockery and pools as decorations. Over 108 patterns of carvings are applied into the decoration of the walls of the meandering corridor, which are all exquisite and elegant as that of in the traditional gardens.
The inscriptions go harmonious with the typical decorations of the entire garden, such as the poetic couplet carved on both sides of the gate. The key style of the decoration of this garden traces back to the Song Dynasty (960-1234), which together with the green bamboo will make your trip full of sceneries and literary flavor.
1.The landscape here have different highlights in different seasons and the best time for traveling here is February and October.
2. Take the medicine for preventing the mosquitoes in case of being bite by the mosquitoes, especially in summer.
15 CNY from October 31 to April 15
20 CNY from April 16 to October 30
Half fare for the people over 60 but less than 70
Free for the disabled, the soldiers, the kids under 1.2 meters and the people over 70
Location: No. 3, Canglang Pavillion Street, Sanyuan Lane, Suzhou
Transportation: Tour Bus No. 2,4 and 5 and Bus No. 1, 5, 27, 30, 39, 101, 102, 103, 218, 261, 308 and 309 will bring you here.
Lingering Garden together with 'Lion Grove', 'Humble Administrator's Garden' and Canglang Pavilion, is praised as the four most famous gardens in Suzhou, for their artistic ways of dealing with the spaces between various kinds of architectural form. The garden is divided into four parts, namely the middle, eastern, northern and western, each of which has command of particular sceneries.
The middle part is featured by the water landscapes, which is the essence of the garden. The eastern part consists of idiomatical corridors and yards with picturesque rockery. The northern is full of the countryside flavor with the potted landscapes as decoration. The western is the top of the whole garden, from where you can overlook the entire view of the Lingering Garden.
There are three unique must-visit landscapes in Lingering Garden-- the Cloud Capped Peak, the Nanmu Palace and the Fish Fossil. Cloud Capped Peak is the one and only bizarre stone derived from Taihu Lake in the Song Dynasty (960-1234). Most of the building materials of Nanmu Palace is Nanmu, which is a precious and rare plant. The Fish Fossil, with a thickness of 15 mm and diameter of 1 meter, is a natural fossil transit from Yunnan to Suzhou, on which there is a natural picture of landscape painting.
30 CNY from October 31 to April 15
40 CNY from April 16 to October 30
Location: No. 302, Liuyuan Road, Jinchang District, Suzhou
Transportation: Tour Bus No. 1, 3 and 5, Bus No. 6, 7, 22, 33, 44, 70, 85, 88, 91, 101 and 103 will bring you here.
Humble Administrator's Garden, the largest garden in Suzhou covering 52000 m2, is 500 years old. It is known for the typical and luxurious designs. Located in the Oriental Venice, Humble Administrator's Garden is featured by the water landscape that occupies three fifths of the entire garden, which is a reflection of special customs and culture in the south area of Yangtze River. Humble Administrator's Garden is representative of Chinese classical gardens in the Ming Dynasty, which is focused on a central pond with pavilions, terraces, chambers, and towers located nearby.
In this magnificent garden, the typical artificial landscapes, the rockery islands, the bamboo castles, the pine hills and meandering streams are so attractive and characterized that it is praised as the Model of the Garden. Elaborately conceived, the designer of the garden used the architecture technique know as 'borrowed view from afar' in the layout of this part, aiming to enlarge eyeshot within a limited space. Seen westward, a pagoda would be seen sitting in western garden, which actually is situated 1 km away from the garden.
Humble Administrator's Garden, the dwelling house of the famous poet Lu Guimeng in Tang Dynasty (618-907), is divided into four parts: the eastern, middle, western parts and the part for dwelling, in which arts of architecture, calligraphy, carving, painting and bonsai are the main decorations.
Note: The best time for traveling here is spring, summer and autumn, but not the Chinese holidays.
50 CNY from October 31 to April 15
70 CNY from April 16 to October 30
Free for the disabled, the soldiers, the kids under 1.2 meters and the people over 70
Location: No. 178, Dongbei Street, Pingjiang District, Suzhou
Transportation: Tour Bus No. 1, 2 and 5, and Bus No. 50, 55, 178, 202, 262, 309, 529, 331, 518 and 923 will bring you here.
Built in 1342 during the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) by Monk Tianru and a group of Zen Buddhist disciples as a memorial of their master-Monk Zhongfeng, Lion Grove Garden has witnessed 650 years’ changes. As one of the four famous Chinese gardens (together with Lingering Garden, Humble Administrator's Garden and Canglang Pavilion), Lion Grove Garden covers 11,000 m2.
Hailed as the Kingdom of the Rockery, Lion Grove Garden is full of lifelike rockeries that are of colorful shapes and complex postures. Plenty of rockeries are actually from North Song Dynasty (960-1127), which has been turned into various delicate patterns under the design of the skillful artisans. In the last reconstruction, some western styles and Chinese folk artistries are introduced into this Buddhist garden to make more charming and natural.
In this maze-like garden, Chinese traditional culture and literary works are one of the features. On the walls of the corridors, the calligraphies of the four eminent calligraphers in Song Dynasty (960-1234) are carved, and around the garden scriptures of the Buddhist classics can be seen, which provides you a chance of learning the Chinese cultures while enjoy the landscapes.
The water and rockeries form a beautiful contrast that is the key tone of the garden, which is the original model of some royal gardens. Rockeries together with water, bamboo grove, pavilions, meandering corridors and green plant formed a refreshing and nature-like resort where you can spend your expedition.
20 CNY from October 31 to April 15
30 CNY from April 16 to October 30
Free for the disabled, the soldiers, the kids under 1.2 meters and the people over 70
Location: No. 23, Yuanlin Road, Jiangping District, Suzhou
Transportation: Tour Bus No. 1, 2 and 5, and Bus No. 2, 3, 40, 55, 313, 301, 529 and 923 will bring you here.
Garden of the Master of the Nets
Built in the Song Dynasty (960-1234), Garden of Master of the Nets is as old as 800 years and is as big as one sixth of the Humble Administrators’ Garden, covering 8800 m2. Small as it is, the landscapes it owns are so impressive that many Chinese celebrities have lived in or near the garden. The master of the Chinese Traditional Paintings, Zhang Daqian, has ever lived in and created many masterpieces.
It is a symbol of the classical gardens of small and medium size, which has the exquisite designs and sophisticated layout. Once entering into the garden, you will impressed by the harmonious decorations and architectures inside, which will create an illusion that the garden is much greater than it is.
Despite of the small size, it possesses lots of highlights, among which the Dian Chun-yi, a cabin made of bamboo that covers less than 600 m2, is the impressive one. Dian Chun-yi has been imitated for more than once in the design of splendid garden all over the world, such as the Yiyuan Garden in Canada in 1986, the Yunxiuyuan Garden in Singapore in 1992 and the Jixingyuan Garden in America in 1998 etc. Therefore, it is safe to say that it is the garden with the delicate designs.
15 CNY from October 31 to April 15
30 CNY from April 16 to October 30
Location: No. 11, North Yinxing Bridge, Canglang District, Suzhou
Transportation: Bus No. 204, 511, 47, 501, 202 and 931 will bring you here.
Hanshan Temple, built in Liang Dynasty (502-557) and reconstructed in Tang Dynasty (618-907), derived the name from the abbot, who named Hanshan. Having come through 1400 years’ changes, Hanshan Temple has appealed to a growing number of people for its features and historic significance.
The architectures inside are of great value in art and of unusual features, among which the Hualan Lou is worthy of a visit. The Hualan Lou is supported by only two backbones, which just like the handle of the flower basket. It is a reflection of the Chinese traditional architecture style and sophisticated skills. Surprisingly, the screwing up stairs is holds with only one single column with exquisite carvings on.
Seen from the Maple Bridge, Hanshan Temple impresses people with the yellow walls, green glazed roof and the towering old pines. On entering the temple, the delicate scriptures and magnificent architectures will catch your eyes. What’s more, the meanderings will lead you to the Buddhist halls, where you can admire the Buddhist classics and true-to-life sculptures.
The most popular activity held here is the Bell-hitting Ceremony on the December 31-- the eve of the New Year, on when people from near and far come here to experience the 108 hits on the bell and do the count down. The bell is a gift from Japan, which was made together with the one in the Guanshan Temple in Japan in the year 1906.
Note: The best time for traveling here is from April to October.
20 CNY for the entrance
Free for the children below 1.2 meters
380 CNY for the Bell-hitting Ceremony on the eve of the New Year
Location: Maple Bridge Town, Suzhou (5 km away from the Suzhou City)
Transportation: Tour Bus No. 3 and Bus 6, 9, 17, 21, 31, 301 and 313 will bring you to Maple Bridge.
Tiger Hill was not the Tiger Hill before the King of the Wu Kingdom buried his father here. It is said that three days after the burial, a tiger appeared before the tomb, so people named it the present name --Tiger Hill. This 36-meter-high hill with 1000,000 m2 of area is one of the most popular resorts in Suzhou, where is praised as the must-visit-place in Suzhou by Su Dongpo, an eminent poet in North Song Dynasty (960-1127).
The architectures are the main cultural relics in Tiger Hill, which goes pretty well with the circumstance around. Most of the architectures here, including tower, palace, bridge, pavilion and tomb, were built in the ancient time, some are in Five Dynasties (907-979), some are in Song Dynasty (960-1234) and Yuan Dynasty (1206-1370), the other are in Ming Dynasty (1364-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). The architecture designs are of great significance in the development of Chinese architecture.
The most attractive scene is the 48-meter-tall Yunyan Tower, which is hailed as the Oriental Leaning Tower of Pisa, while the most mysterious one is the Sword Pool (Jian Chi), where is said hides a secret behind the tomb of the King of Wu State.
Tiger Hill is lively place where many festivals and celebrations are hold. The Flower Festival in spring, the local temple fair in autumn and the Tourism Festival of Suzhou are included. Thus it is a good place to go for you expedition of Chinese culture and customs.
7:30--17:30 (from March 1 to November 15)
7:30--17:00 (from November 16 to February 29)
40 CNY from October 31 to April 15
60 CNY from April 16 to October 30
Free for the disabled, the soldiers, the kids under 1.2 meters and the people over 70
Location: At the end of Tiger Hill Road, Suzhou
Transportation: Toru Bus No. 1 and 2, and Bus No. 32, 146, 816 and 949 will bring you here.
Zhouzhuang, an ancient town with a history more than 900 years, is praised as the Water State for it is surrounded by clear and peaceful water. Most of roads are waterways that link all the buildings up, in which boats shuttle back and forth fluently, on which stone bridges lying there leisurely and along which ancient architectures are shinning with local flavors. It is safe to say that Zhouzhuang is a much pretty place for people to live in and travel around.
As a coastal town, Zhouzhuang has its edges in the exchanges of culture and business. Thus in this peaceful town, you can experience many colorful cultures and customs, among which the most traditional one is “Yao Kuai Chuan” -- a local boat race, and “Da Tian Cai” -- a local blessing activity. Zhouzhuang, a Five-star scenic spot, was reputed as the Famous Historic Cultural Town in China in 2003, and has been enjoying many reputations as follows.
The Model of Environment Improvement Prize of Dubai Awarded by U.N.
40 CNY for boat trip around the town
Half fare for the kids between 1 and 1.4 meter, and the people between 60 and 70 years old.
Location: Kunshan City, Suzhou
Transportation: Tour bus and shuttle bus from Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou and Zhejiang will bring you here.
The Bund got its name from a desolate beach outside the old Shanghai City. If you have never been to the Bund, then you have never been to Shanghai. The Bund symbolizes Shanghai and Bund is an epitome of Shanghai's history.
The east side of the Bund is right next to the Huangpu River. To the west of the Bund, there are group of 52 buildings standing in various styles, Gothic, Baroque, Rome, Renaissance, Classic and the combination of Eastern and Western style. Although these buildings were completed at different time and were in different styles, the main elements of these buildings were fairly unified and the overall outline is well coordinated.
Walking on the Zhongshan East Road, you will experience a kind of vigorous, forceful and solemn momentum. Some say actually that the Bund is like "an exhibition of buildings".
If the building zone on the Bund were a gallery, the rest of the Bund would be a showroom. When the sun rises in the east, the Bund is a place where people do exercises. In daytime, this building complex, blended with the beautiful scenery of the Huangpu River and the Pudong area, this scenic spot is tourists' favorate. When evening comes, city lights coats the Bund with brilliant colors, which makes the Bund particularly beautiful. Old buildings by the river echo with the new scenic spots the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and the Jinmao mansion, that this spectacular scenery often amazes many tourists.
The No. 12 of the Bund is also No. 12 of the Zhongshan Road East. The former famous Huifeng Bank was located here. Constructed in 1923, this square-shaped five-storage building, come with a round roof, in the style of ancient Greek, and a hemisphere-shaped top. The steel-framed building were exquisitely decorated. The building were equipped with the specially decorated reception halls. The British builder took great pride in this marvelous building. They rated this structure as "from east of the Suez Canal to Baling Strait in the west, this is the most exquisite building".
As the most important shipping artery of Shanghai, Huangpu River winds it way like an undulating muddy dragon from the mouth of the Yangtze River in Wusong to the East China Sea. It is 114 kilometers (71 miles) in length, 400 meters in width and 9 meters (30 feet) in depth. The yellow Huangpu River is ice-free. The cruise boat sails eastward along the river to the attractive "three-layer waters" at the Wusong Mouth, confluence of the three and half hours over a distance of 60lilometers, with beautiful view emerging one after another.
Huangpu River connects 29 kilometers (18 miles) north of downtown Shanghai and divides Shanghai into two parts, east and west. Cruising on the Huangpu River, You can appreciate the magnificent skyscrapers, the Monument Tower to the People's Heroes, the well-known Waibaidu Bridge and Huangpu Park on one bank, and the Orient Pearl TV Tower, International Convertion Center, Jin Mao Building and the newly rising Pudong New Area on the other.
With a history of more than 400 years, situated in Anren Jie south of the Bund, Yu Yuan Garden is a famous classical garden, integrating interesting architecture, history, shopping center, and museum. It was built in the period of Emperor Jiajing's rein of Ming dynasty from 1559 and completed in 1577. Yu Yuan Garden had gone through many changes. The five-year restoration of the Yu Yuan Garden began in 1956. It is now the only completely restored classical Chinese garden in Shanghai. It was open to the public in September, 1961.
In the Hualin Charming Valley, you can enjoy many beautiful types of scenery, such as waterside pavilion, winding corridors, Yihang, Floral Tower and other scenic sites. Located at the eastern part is the Most Enchanting Water stone site, which is famous for its ponds and artificial hills. The Treasure in the Universe comprises of ingenuous and exquisite Jade Stone, Accumulated Water Veranda, Jade Hall, Dragon Winding Bridge and other building. When you enter the garden, you will encounter the Great Rockery. 14 meters in height (about 50 feet), it is said to be the largest and the oldest rockery in the southern part of the Yangtze River. Climbing up onto the top of the rockery, you can get a bird's eye view of the whole garden.
Built between 1911 and 1918, situated in the city of Shanghai, Jade Buddha Temple is one of the famous Buddhist temples in the city. It belongs to the Chan sect, with a history of over one hundred years. There are also some impressive images of the Heavenly Kings in the temple. Everyday there are many people coming to worship and burn incense at this very holy and active shrine.
In 1882, Huigen, a monk, brought back two jade Buddha statues from Burma, and built an old temple to keep them. But the temple was destroyed during the revolutionary period of overthrowing the Qing Dynasty. Fortunately, the jade Buddha statues survived from the destruction. And later in 1928, a new temple was constructed on the present site, named the Jade Buddha Temple. Though it is with a short history, the Jade Buddha Temple is unique and inimitable in this modern city because of its old-time and classical architectural style. In the different halls of the temple distribute many other ancient paintings and Buddhist scriptures. 1.9 meters in height and carved out of a single piece of jade stone, the seated jade statue is one of the most precious relics in the Temple. It has the image of a solemn Buddha and is renowned as a gem of Buddhist art works.
Built in 1952 at the West Nanjing Road museum, Shanghai Museum was moved to 16 Henan South Road in 1959. And in 1990, it was finally moved to the present site--the People's Square, where is considered to be the most appropriate location. Shanghai Museum is a large museum of ancient Chinese art. The museum is consists of eleven galleries and three exhibition halls. Among them, the eleven Galleries collect most of the major categories of Chinese art: Ancient Bronze, Ancient Ceramics, Paintings, Calligraphy, Ancient Sculpture, Ancient Jade, Coins, Ming and Qing Furniture, Seals, and Minority Nationalities. There are more than 400 pieces of exquisite bronze wares in the museum, which cover the history of ancient Chinese bronze art. You can understand the ancient civilization by appreciating the bronze ware of the Shang and Zhou dynasties.
Entering the museum, you can find the Hall of Ancient Bronze Ware, Hall of Chinese Ancient Sculpture and a large exhibition hall on the first floor; the Hall of Chinese Ancient Pottery and Porcelain and a large exhibition hall on the second floor; the Hall of Chinese Calligraphy of Different Dynasties, Hall of Chinese Painting of different dynasties and Hall of Chinese Seals of different dynasties on the third floor; the Hall of Chinese Ancient Jade Ware, Hall of Chinese Coins of different dynasties on the fourth floor.
Jin Mao Building
As the first tallest in the country and third tallest in the world, Jin Mao Building is one of the symbols of Shanghai in marching to the 21st century. Designed by US architectural firm Skidmore Owings & Merrill and built by the Shanghai Jian Gong Group, it hosts the tallest hotel ever built. Jin Mao Building is the first Chinese national construction group to conduct with such a large and significant project. The east-meets-west design of the building signifies the emergence of Shanghai as a modern global city. Following the multi-use paradigm, Jin Mao Building offers retail at its base, and offices above. The upper 38 floors of it is occupied by the Grand Hyatt's World's Highest Hotel.
The 420.5-metre-tall building is a great triumph in field of engineering. It requires many technological breakthroughs to erect. Surprisingly and impressively, the builders drove 1,062 steel pipes as far as 83.5 meters down -- the longest steel piles ever used in a land-based building -- and poured a four-meter-thick concrete base 19.6 meters under the ground to support the building.
468 meters (1536 feet) in height, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower is the tallest TV tower in Asia and the third highest in the world, next to the 553, 33-meter-high Toronto Tower Canada and the 533-meter-high TV Tower in Moscow, Russia. Towering in Pudong Park in Lujiazui, it has been the symbol of Shanghai, consisted by 15 spheres of different size at different levels. The tower might bring to your mind an old famous poetic line-- "large and small pearls dropping onto a jade plate". Climbing up on the tower, you can find a revolving teahouse and a sightseeing platform, which can accommodate 1600 people at a time.
The Oriental Pearl TV Tower was started to be built in 1992, and with 50 million Yuan in government funds and a combined 150 million Renminbi Yuan and 10 million US Dollars in bank loans from 44 banks. It finished construction and opened to the public in 1994. In Chinese, the tower refers to "two dragons playing with a pearl". It began to broadcast nine television channels and 10 FM radio channels in 1995. Equipped with tourist service facilities, including eateries, shops, recreational centers and a hotel, it can offer you convenience. Taking an to the tower's observational deck at a height of 263 meters, you can have a bird’s eye view of Shanghai.
Situated in the pedestal of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower is the Shanghai Municipal History Museum. In addition, you can find a futuristic space city and a fabulous sightseeing hall in the large lower sphere, while in the inner tower, there is a recreational palace. You can see all the way to the Yangtze River on a clear day from the sightseeing hall. There is a science fantasy city on base of the tower. If you feel tired after going around the tower, you can stop at the five smaller spheres hotel which contains twenty-five elegant rooms and lounges. At the very top of the tower is a pearl, containing shops, restaurants, (including a rotating restaurant) and a sightseeing floor.
There were 295 overseas presidents and leaders and 25 million tourists coming to this tower in the past ten years, making it the world's most profitable TV tower. The annual incomes of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower have exceeded those of The Eiffel Tower. According to the World Brand Lab, the tower was evaluated 96th on the list of the 500 most valuable Chinese brands with a brand value of 5.148 billion Yuan (US$6.2 billion). It was one of the top 20 influential Chinese brands in the world for the year 2003 and 2004.
Children’s Palace
The Children's Palace is an interesting place for you to visit, where you can enjoy many wonderful performances shown by Chinese children. Situated at No.64 of Yanan Road in Shanghai, it is one of the most famous places for children to study and practice the arts after school. And it is basically aimed at developing children’s interest. Here you can see talented children attend and learn to dance & sing the theater, play folk or Western musical instruments, Wushu, ballet, computer science as well as other art skill.
The building of the Children’s Palace, which is wholly built of marble, is also called the “Marble Hall”. Built in 1918 and completed in 1924, it was the former villa of an English businessman named Alley Kadoorie. In 1953, the China Welfare Society Children’s Palace was founded by Madame Song Ching Ling here. Entering the main building, you can find that it is of a palace style. There are many other halls, such as the Science Hall, the Art and Recreation Hall, a small stage, and an observatory. This Children’s Palace is very popular that over a million children come to take part in different kinds of activities here every year.
There is an old saying, "In heaven, there is paradise; on earth there are Suzhou and Hangzhou". You can experience fairylands Suzhou and Hangzhou by bike, which is the most popular means of transportation in China and means a healthy lifestyle nowadays. Enjoy a fantastic cycling tour to the picturesque West Lake in Hangzhou. Our tour ends in the largest city of China-Shanghai, which will amaze you by its modern atmosphere and traditional culture and art.
Itinerary
Welcome to Hangzhou. Upon your arrival, our representative will meet you at the airport, and transfer you to the hotel. The rest of the day will be on your own. You may have a good relax and prepare for the next day.
Meals included:
Today we will have a [cycling tour to the West Lake]. Noted for the scenic beauty that blends naturally with many famous historical and cultural sites, it is undoubtedly the most renowned feature of Hangzhou. Wandering on the river by a boat, enjoy the beautiful scenery. Solitary Hill, the Mausoleum of General Yue Fei, the Six Harmonies Pagoda and the Ling Yin Temple are probably the most frequently visited attractions in this scenic area. This afternoon we will pay a visit to [Hefang Old Street]. You will be totally attracted by this well-designed old pedestrian street which is the epitome of old Hangzhou. Shops selling art crafts, souvenirs, silk, teahouses, and restaurants line on both sides of the street. Besides, many famous century-old shops including Hu Qing Yu Tang, Wang Xingji Fans can be found along the street. The Street is otherwise known as the Snack Street for the diverse food it serves. You can choose to try some of the local flavors.
Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch
This morning we will drive to Suzhou city (about 2.5hrs). Then let’s visit the [Humble Administrator's Garden], known as the largest private garden in Suzhou, as well as one of the four most famous classic gardens in China. Humble Administrator's Garden is a typical example of the art of horticulture south of Yangtze River as well as a treasure house containing arts of architecture, calligraphy, carving, painting, and bonsai. The rest of day, we can enjoy[ a cycling tour around the ancient part of the city] to experience local people’s daily life.
Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch
This morning we will drive to Shanghai. After a short rest, we will go to our first stop, [Yuyuan Garden], where you find more delicate handicrafts and tasty Chinese snacks. Also include a visit to the [Jade Buddha Temple], an elegant structure famous for its Buddha statue which is carved of solid white jade. Lunch will be arranged at a characteristic Shanghai restaurant. After lunch we will go to the [Outer Bund], where we can have a grand view of Shanghai. Also you may be astonished at how modern this metropolis is while still containing its old traditions. We will take a walk on the [Nanjing Road], the most prosperous commercial street. You can find lots of world famous brands setting along the street and enjoy a good time in shopping.
Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch
This morning we will discover more about Shanghai by visiting the[Shanghai Museum], which is a very large one of ancient Chinese art. After lunch we will drive to the airport for a pm flight to Beijing.
Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch
AU Dollar
First Class Tour $1615 $1012 $864 $688 $360
* Price in every box above is for each person.
* The default currency is in US dollar. Please use the Currency Converter to see the equivalent quote in your currency. Price is for references only, it may vary according to your actual travel itinerary, travel time, hotel price rise or fall, US dollar exchange rate fluctuation, car fuel price change and government tax adjustment, etc..
* The price is only for your reference and it is subject to seasons, high or low.Please send us your inquiry if you are interested.
* The differences between First Class Tour, Comfortable Tour and Standard Tour are mainly reflected in the hotels we use. For First Class Tour, we use mostly 5 star hotels (or hotels corresponded to 5 star ones), 4 star hotels for Comfortable Tour and 3 star hotels for Standard Tour. But there’re exceptions when there come home stay experience, remote destinations and other specified circumstances in the itinerary.
Centrally Located Hotels
Private Cars/Van with Drivers
Internal Flights/Train(s) in China
Luggage Transfers
Airport Taxes and Fuel Fees
How to Pack up for This Tour
We suggest that each person packs up one rollable suitcase with the weight under 20 kg/44lb. You will also need a day pack/bag to carry water, cameras and other electronics like iPods and mobile phones.
We can provide you with bicycles locally in places where we have bike tours. If you are really bicycle enthusiast, for sure you can bring your own bicycle, but better a folding and light one which is easy to carry when not in use. Remember to keep safety in mind while riding bicycle in any place.
The following cycler's checklist will help to plan your bicycle tour. Not all items listed will be needed on this trip. Pack only what you need.
Bicycle (We can provide you with common bicycles in this tour)
Water bottles and carriers
Rear pannier carrier and bags
Front pannier carrier and bags
Front light with spare batteries and bulb
Long underwear
Cycling shoes
Camp / hiking shoes
Miscellaneous
Camera and film
It's only for reference and you may not need all of them. Choose from below according to the tour you pick up:
Passport (with photocopies)
Travel insurance (with photocopies)
Airline tickets (with photocopies)
Water bottle and Plastic mug for train journeys
Small towel and swim wear
Shorts for summer months (June – September)
Shirts/T-shirts
Warm clothes for Nov-April. Fleece, Jacket, hat and gloves
Cover for backpack or plastic bags to keep clothes dry.
Camera, film and memory chip
Local Dress
Generally speaking, the dress standard is more conservative in China than it is in western countries. Things also changes quickly, nowadays the young Chinese share the same hobbies with their western counterparts. When packing try to pick loose, lightweight, long clothing that will keep you cool in the usually hot and humid climate of summers. In predominately Buddhist and Muslim regions we ask that you dress respectfully and avoid very short shorts/skirts and singlets/tanktops when visiting temples or mosques or other holy sites.
Every traveler is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travelers may drink more than others while other travelers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.
As currency exchange rates in Asia fluctuate often we ask that you refer to internet for the recent exchange rates. There are many ATM machines that accept both Visa and MasterCard and other credit cards in most Chinese cities. We also recommend the use of cash and travelers checks in USD currency. Major credit cards are accepted in big shops but they may charge a 2-4% transaction fee. For the small shops and the street venders, they take cash (either Chinese Yuan or US dollar) only.
Eating is a big part of your traveling in China. Travelling with ChinaExpeditionTours you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally breakfasts and lunches are included except dinners to give you the flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. Your group leader or local guide will be able to suggest favorite restaurants during your trip.
Emergency Fund
Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional USD200 (or equivalent) as an "emergency" fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control, necessitate a change to our planned route. This is a rare occurrence!
It is customary to tip service providers in travel industry in Asia, at approximately 10%, depending on the service. Tipping is expected - though not compulsory - and shows an expression of satisfaction with the people who have assisted you on your tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. Recommendations for tipping local guides would range from $6-$10 USD per person per day depending on the quality and length of the service, for driver, it could be half. If necessary, ask your tour leader or call your ChinaExpeditionTours tour advisor for specific recommendations based on the circumstances. If you have a tour leader for the whole tour, at the end of the trip if you felt he/she did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference. However as a guideline $6-10 USD per person, per day can be used.
Local Flights
All local flights are included in the cost of your tour unless otherwise noted. It is important that we have your passport information at the time of booking in order to process these tickets. Internal flight tickets are all e-tickets. They are issued locally and you will be given the information of them prior to the flight departure.
Generally laundry facilities are offered by our hotels for a charge. You also can go to a laundry service center near your hotel to have your clothing washed at a lower cost. There will be times when you may want to or have to do your own laundry so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap.
Safety and Security
We can make bicycling safer for all by observing the following safety tips: first, always wear a helmet, second, obey all traffic controls, third, always use hand signals when turning or stopping, and more, and look out for cars at cross street, driveways, and parking places. You need to be careful when checking traffic and don't swerve when looking over your shoulder.
We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, travelers' checks, cash and other valuable items. Many of the hotels we cooperate with have safety deposit boxes which are the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage.
Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure. When travelling on a trip, please note that your group leader or local guides has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Your leader or local guides will accompany you on all included activities. During your trip you will have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore at your leisure. While your group leader or local guides will assist you with options available in a given location please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your itinerary, and we offer no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgment when selecting an activity in your free time.
A Couple of Rules
Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of China but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is not acceptable for ChinaExpeditionTours travelers. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter, and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. Use of illegal drugs is completely contrary to this philosophy and local law. Our group leader or local guides has the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or used.
Health
If you want to fully enjoy your trip abroad, a good health and confidence in physical strength are important. This trip may contain a fair amount of walking up and down steps in towns or climbing mountains. You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements. Please be aware that sometimes we are in remote areas and away from medical facilities, and for legal reasons our leaders or local guides are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc. In China pharmacies tend to stock the same western drugs as you get at home but they are usually produced locally so please bring the full drug name with you when trying to purchase a prescription drug. When selecting a tour please carefully read the itinerary and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel. Please refer to the Physical and Culture Shock ratings in this dossier for trip specific information. For travelers over 70 years a completed Medical Form is highly suggested to bring forth. ChinaExpeditionTours reserves the right to exclude any traveler from all or part of a trip without refund if in the reasonable opinion of our group leader or local guides they are unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group.
Medical Form
It is very important you are aware that, as a minimum, an "average level of fitness and mobility" is required to undertake our easiest programs. Travelers must be able to walk without the aid of another person, climb 3-4 flights of stairs, step on and off small boats, and carry their own bags at a minimum. Travelers over the age of 70, or travelers with a pre-existing medical condition, are required to complete a short medical questionnaire, which must be signed by their physician. This is to ensure that senior travelers have the necessary fitness and mobility to comfortably complete their chosen trip. While our leaders or local guides work hard to ensure that all our travelers are catered for equally, it is not their responsibility to help individuals who cannot complete the day's activities unaided.
Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. You must have comprehensive travel insurance that covers you for medical costs associated with hospitalization, emergency travel and repatriation back to your home country. Please take your insurance policy with you when you travel. You may take other cover, of course, but we require you to be adequately insured before we can allow you to participate in our programs. Your ChinaExpeditionTours leader or local guides will need to see and record your policy details at the pre-tour briefing at the starting city, so please bring a copy along to the meeting. If you arrive without travel insurance your tour leader or local guide will require you to purchase a policy before you continue your journey with us.
If you are covered by a policy arranged through your credit card company you will be asked to provide evidence of this cover, as well as a 24-hour emergency contact number. Many credit card companies do not provide an insurance policy number. In this instance, the tour leader or local guides will need to record your credit card number, as this is required to activate any request for emergency assistance. You should also bring along the travel insurance information booklet provided by your credit card company. It is your responsibility to ensure that you meet the requirements set out by your credit card company in order to be effectively covered and that the cover offered is of a suitable standard.
Well before travelling, please ensure that you have a current passport, with an accurate photo, that is valid for at least six months after your scheduled return home. Also check that your airline tickets are in exactly the same name as your passport.
Please note that visas for China and Hong Kong are the responsibility of the individual traveler. The visa requirements for your trip vary depending on where you are from and where you are going. Americans, British, Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders do currently require a visa for China. For all other nationalities please reconfirm your visa requirements with your government. For the most up to date information please check your governments' foreign ministry website. It is important that you check for yourself. For most travelers there will probably have an embassy and consulate in the country that you live in. Please note if you are travelling from China, into Hong Kong then back into China, you will need a double entry Chinese visa. Note that on some occasions people transiting through China on way to Hong Kong have been made to go through immigration and had their single entry visa stamped making this invalid. Do not allow your visa to be stamped if you are only going through transit.
Keeping in Touch
If you need to be contacted while travelling we recommend that you set up an email address that can be accessed on the road, rather than relying on postal mail. Email cafes are becoming increasingly commonplace and cheap throughout the country, and have quickly become the preferred way for our leaders and travelers to stay in touch. If someone wishes to contact you in an emergency while you are on one of our trips we recommend that they contact us so we can get into touch with your tour leader or local guide quickly by their cell phone and they can pass their cell phone to you! We recommend that family and friends don't try to contact you through phoning hotels en route, as our hotels are subject to change.
After your travels, we want to hear from you! Your feedback information is so important to us and we'll record you and give you ChinaExpeditionTours travel points so you can use the points to get discount for your next ChinaExpeditionTours trip or your friends' ChinaExpeditionTours tours.
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What customers say about us?
the U.S
Thanks for an extremely well organised tour.It was fantastic to have somebody there to meet us at every airport and to have a seat as planned at every airport.
All our guides were very helpful and spoke good English.
Our favourite was Zoe from xi'an . She was very flexible and knowledgeable.
The best hotel was the new world hotel in Xi'an.
The homestay in Guilin was amazing, we couldn't believe the views. Guilin is a beautiful city and our hotel room provided views of the river. Unfortunately the hostess could not speak English and the host was away on business. Amber stayed with us until quite late to ensure we were comfortable. Amber spoke the best English of all our guides.
We saw an incredible acrobatic show in shanghai and would like to thank Tony for changing us to the Circus World show. We had wonderful seats in the middle of the stage. I think this was the best show we saw. The Yangshou river light show was good but 280yuan per person was a little expensive. It would be good to make you customers aware to the optional tours and how much they cost so that they can plan their time and budget appropriately.
The only disappointment was the Yangtse River Cruise. We paid for a room to accommodate 3 people. On arrival we were taken to the room and told that we could squeeze a bed into the room but we should upgrade. I had to agree, we could not fit into the room if we had another bed in there. A double room was not appropriate for a family of three. So we had no alternative to upgrade to an Executive room with plenty of room to accommodate 3people. This room was extremely comfortable but cost 990yuan extra. We would have preferred to have paid for the correct room first.
As we did not have accommodation vouchers we did not know what was booked so had to believe them that the booked room was inadequate. Lunch was not included on the last day of the cruise as indicated on the itinerary. The food and service on the cruise was not 5 star and they were regularly trying to upsell us. Morning Tea and afternoon tea were not included and coffee was extra except at breakfast. On a 5 star ship you would not have to pay for anything except alcoholic drinks.
Our room in Shanghai was too small to fit our luggage and 3 beds. Once again we could have upgraded for 100yuan a night. This is definitely something you should consider in the future. We would prefer to pay a little extra to be comfortable but would prefer to be offered this in advance, not on the day of arrival.
the U.S
Hi,Dear Carina.We just returned from the Canada after an extended holiday. I am not in the habit of filling in those feedback forms but I feel your company certainly deserves some feedback during our stay in your country.
we definitely have a wonderful time in China.I must compliment you on the organization of our tour both in China. Everything is arragned so perfectly.
The guides and drivers were all polite, punctual and obliging.We enjoyed each dining experience and they are so delicious.We love Chinese food, especially Dumpling Banquet in Xi'an and Peking duck in Beijing.The hotels are comfortable and tidy.
We would highly recommend your company and indeed we have done so to our friends and family both in the US and Canada.
I am happy for you to use these compliments on your website but I do not want my email address given.once again, thank you for a fabulous experience.
Best Regards,
Brazil
I have been in Beijin, Xian, Guilin, Shanghai.
I had a fantastic experience. The chinese culture is very different.
Monica mo (from agency) provided to me a nice itinerary and also answered all e-mail queries immediately.
All guides and drives are very kindly and helpul.
I liked to much all hotel (good service, nice food, location), except hotel in Xian (cold water shower). Some hotel have wifi only at lobby.
We had a wonderful trip down the LiRiver near Guilin with China Expeditions, and had a lot of fun at the rice terraces!
the U.S
We had a great trip (Xian, Guilin, Tibet, Yangtze River Cruise). What a memorable time for me and my two sons. We are in Beijing for the next 2 weeks with my wife and will be doing some site seeing around the city so I have many more photos to take.
Thank you so much for assitance with the planning of the trip. Everything went smoothly and we had a great time!
I recently just discovered the Trip Advisor App for my iPhone. It has been really useful so I will post something on the web site for China Expedition Tours.
Todd A Hall
the U.S
The trip was awesome!Every guide was an excellent ambassador for their city every place except for Guangzhou . Our guide, Louis, didn't take us to the tower there. I thought it was included with our tour...but I didn't question him. Also the hotel was not in a fun location and a bit unsettling.
So overall, we had a great time with Randy, Rock, Ruby, Tiger and Ann. While in Guilin, Tiger thought we were not having fun because of the rain; actually that made it more fun and gives us a fun story to share with friends, but I think that is why we didn't meet you.
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All of our products can either be purchased in bulk at discount rates, with the option of providing you a white label/private label option on any of our natural health product lines. Simply choose the product if choice, and with a minimum order of 100 units per SKU we will offer this service!
what is the turnaround time?
Turn around times depend on the size of the order and whether you want to private label or simply purchase with our existing label in bulk. For example, if you are simply requesting for a bulk/wholesale order of one of our products with our standard stock label, turn around times are typically 7 to 14 days depending on the size of the order. If you are requesting that you would like to white label/ private label any of our products, we would require an extra week or 2 to properly design the label and get the label approved for sale. So with private label addition, the first order on average would take about 3 to 4 weeks. Once your labels are approved and in our system, any future orders are much quicker!
what is the minimum order for white/private label
100 units is the minimum order
How does the process typically work?
Choose a product(s) you would like to build your brand with
Design your label/bottle with our team with several options provided
We ship the product right to your doorstep(or anywhere you prefer)
What is the extra/added cost for white label/private label?
There is only 1 additional optional fee which is based on the cost of the label design. There is a flat $135 design fee if you prefer we create a label design for you. If you provide the design for us, there is no additional fee.
Can we buy samples of any of your products?
We can provide any samples you need on any of our products before placing a standard wholesale/private label order
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Hi, my name's Patrick and i'm 16 years old. I'm from Poland. I'm interested in vt from 2010 year. I love Japanese, German, JDM and all fast cars.
My favourite car is Nissan GT-R.
Check back soon.. (it's too late in the night and I've run out of redbulls I need to finish this area :P)
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I seem to have had this conversation a few times recently, and people seem to have found it useful. The intended audience is just the people for whom I share this link, or who happen to stumble upon it.
What's the goal?
Just to share my own take, such that it is, should anyone find the points useful. Also to receive any useful insights from others who care to offer feedback / comment.
On with the post...
Having done more pitches and presentations in the last 12 months than my previous 12 years, what follows is my personal take and preferences on what makes an effective presentation - or more specifically, interviewing and pitching.
In either case (interviewing for a position or pitching a solution to prospective clients), the end goal is to instil confidence that you recognise and understand your audience's key opportunities, needs and concerns.
There's a tendency I've noticed for people to take a fire-hose approach: say loads of things, show lots of examples, or speak at length on things which may very well be inconsequential to the audience. If the goal is to build confidence in the listeners, then it's key to demonstrate proper care and deference to the value of their time. Don't "run down the clock" in talking about things they're not interested in, or to carry on talking for 5 minutes when they got their answer in the first 20 seconds.
If you're presenting, plan your presentation to take no more than 50% of the time allotted. People shouldn't feel talked to - they want to react and respond to what you say. Listen closely to their questions, and address them as directly as you can. If they have 10 concerns/issues, you want to make sure you're still in the room when all those questions are asked, giving you the time to address them.
Presentations (less so than interviews) should roughly:
summarise/play back the key ask demonstrate that you've heard and understood their problem or need, and set the context for the rest of the conversation.
present your take on their problem "When considering X, that typically has an impact on Y. Do you feel that applies in this case?" or "In undertaking this, I've found it important to consider ..."
Give your recommendation as directly as possible. Everyone can add more complexity by asking more questions or speaking in generalities/being vague. Call out risks and uncertainties as you understand them, but then show a decisive way forward which addresses/mitigates those risks, or fixes some of the open questions in order to tackle areas of higher value or uncertainty (e.g. "let's just assume ...")
Also, do as much due diligence/research ahead of time, and practice active listening during the presentation. It's easy to create a presentation about what you want to say, rather than what your audience needs or wants to hear. You want to cover all the key areas in a breadth-first way, but be able to go into the detail when asked for more depth in a particular area.
Also - keep your integrity and be honest. It's important to show your understanding of your own limitations. If you have 70% mastery of a topic, you should be able to accurately answer 7/10 questions on that topic. Your "meta-contextual" awareness goes a long way in instilling confidence and trust that you know both your limits and your strengths.
One last tip too -- try to phrase as many of your responses as questions, while still providing information/making progress. It's a tough ask, but it allows a way forward for the audience if they still have uncertainties. You don't want them to feel shut-down. For example:
"in situations such as yours, I find that using X technology with Y approach and Z team deliver effective results. Do you feel that would apply in this case?"
That way you've either gained further information OR got your listener/audience to agree a common approach. It should be win/win.
Remember the key goal in presenting is often to instil confidence in the outcomes you want for your audience (to take your recommendation, buy your service, hire you, etc).
To do that, you need to be super-attentive to what the key stakeholders are asking, ensure they feel understood and listened to, and answer succinctly their questions.
You do that by showing a good grasp of the ask up-front in 3 steps, but then leave enough time to respond to your audience. You want to demonstrate you respect their time and concerns, rather than pre-suppose what they actually care about.
The end result is that everyone feels like they've reached the right outcome by collaborating and working together, rather than being sold something or convinced of something.
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TutorOne is a professional provider of quality private Special Needs Tutoring services in Hillsdale that provide students with a complete package of personalized one-on-one instruction and guidance within a collaborative learning environment designed with each student’s unique academic profile in mind. Through our innovative technology, we can design teaching/learning plans that are tailored to each student and that utilize the latest methods to improve student growth in any academic subject. Whether your goal is to improve your GPA, achieve better exam results or prepare for the SAT/ACT, TutorOne provides a comprehensive student support plan that caters to your specific goals.
TutorOne is a professional provider of quality private Special Needs Tutoring services in Hillsdale that provide students with a complete package of personalized one-on-one instruction and guidance within a collaborative learning environment designed with each student’s unique academic profile in mind. Through our innovative technology, we can design teaching/learning plans that are tailored to each student and that utilize the latest methods to improve student growth in any academic subject. Whether your goal is to improve your GPA, achieve better exam results or prepare for the SAT/ACT, TutorOne provides a comprehensive student support plan that caters to your specific goals.
We guarantee that your child will reach his or her full potential by providing individualized Special Needs Tutoring learning plans for each student and ensuring that they receive daily one-on-one professional tutoring sessions that will meet all of their educational needs. No two students are alike and no one has the same learning style. Therefore, every student requires a unique learning approach and approach in order for him /her to gain maximum exposure and learn effectively in a comfortable setting. Each student enjoys a highly interactive environment consisting of small groups with 5 - 10 participants where every student receives the individual attention he or she needs to succeed. During our one-on-one Special Needs Tutoring session, each student has the opportunity to speak directly to their Hillsdale tutor(s). They learn from their peers as well as from their experienced tutors.
TutorOne’s personalized instruction begins with the development of a detailed academic profile that encompasses all of your student’s strengths, weaknesses, learning styles, and learning preferences. Our program includes a learning map that identifies the core skills that your student lacks and the methods used for effective review so that a comprehensive instructional program will be developed that provides the necessary resources and study guides for your student. Your student will receive weekly progress reports that give parents a convenient snapshot of how they’ve improved over the last 7 days.
We guarantee that your child will reach his or her full potential by providing individualized Special Needs Tutoring learning plans for each student and ensuring that they receive daily one-on-one professional tutoring sessions that will meet all of their educational needs. No two students are alike and no one has the same learning style. Therefore, every student requires a unique learning approach and approach in order for him /her to gain maximum exposure and learn effectively in a comfortable setting. Each student enjoys a highly interactive environment consisting of small groups with 5 - 10 participants where every student receives the individual attention he or she needs to succeed. During our one-on-one Special Needs Tutoring session, each student has the opportunity to speak directly to their Hillsdale tutor(s). They learn from their peers as well as from their experienced tutors in Ontario.
Hillsdale Special Needs Tutoring services we offer
At TutorOne, we offer an array of professional Special Needs Tutoring services to meet the needs of child.
Hillsdale Special Needs Tutoring services we offer
At TutorOne, we offer an array of professional Special Needs Tutoring services to meet the needs of child.
A: Are you curious why some children become upset during a lesson? Maybe they get overwhelmed and find themselves unable to concentrate despite all attempts made by teachers and coaches. Sometimes kids just get frustrated because they simply cannot understand instructions given to them. There are several ways of handling these situations. If you wish, try to keep the lessons short, focus mainly on teaching basic concepts and be prepared to answer the question “How does this work?”. Another way is to break down complex problems into smaller ones. For instance, you could say something like -‘If I take this object away, I have no other choice than moving my hand towards that’ instead of saying ‘I move this finger to X position’. Try to explain to them exactly what happens as soon as they ask questions related to the topic being taught. Don’t forget to praise them! When they master a certain skill (e.g.: drawing), encourage them to show off what they learned. A special needs kid usually has the potential to develop their abilities at different rates due to various factors which should be taken carefully under consideration. Some people believe that every single student has the same ability however, in reality everyone learns differently depending on many factors including personality traits. For example, if someone struggles with maths then chances are he/she would benefit from extra support such as math games. On top of that, some kids tend to learn faster when they play a game rather than sitting quietly while having lessons given to them. As always, the key to effective instruction is to listen first to see what exactly it was that the person learned. Once this step is completed - provide feedback to him. Tell him whether his efforts were sufficient or he still needs further practice so that your work together becomes mutually profitable and rewarding. Remember that all children have strengths and weaknesses but most importantly they deserve respect regardless of the fact whether they appear strong physically or weak mentally.
A: This book provides practical tips to assist parents of special needs children find high quality teachers who understand their child’s educational needs. It highlights key principles along with research findings behind effective teaching practices. Learn why every student deserves individualized instruction designed specifically for them. Find ideas for helping your child learn while increasing engagement and motivation. Discover ways for raising academic achievement without focusing solely on behavioral issues. And see strategies families can use to maximize school success.
Get a full Hillsdale Special Education teacher today! We provide services across Canada including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Northwest Territories and Yukon Territory. Visit us online to get started!
TutorOne is your complete source for local, long distance tutoring for Kindergarten through grade 12th Grade Students around the globe! Whether they live next door or halfway across town, we’re confident that we’ll be able to connect you with qualified educators who can meet them wherever they are. All lessons are available instantly in your native language! No waiting days for shipping, no hidden fees! Our service is completely confidential — we won’t ask for personal information from anyone except parents or legal guardians. We only share this information to verify a match between tutor/student and billing address details.. Our network is constantly expanding due to popular demand. We invite you to check back often because we always accept applications on a first come, first served basis. If after reviewing our profile pages and rating system you still feel like TutorOne isn’t for you then simply message us anytime via email for immediate removal from our database.
About Us: Our mission is to become “Your Expert Source” in matching skilled professionals with students needing assistance with their studies. By partnering together, both parties receive excellent value for their investment. As a result, our members enjoy greater peace of mind knowing their time and effort towards building professional networks are well spent.
Q: Autism Tutors in Hillsdale, Ontario
A: Autism is often misunderstood due to lack of awareness surrounding the condition. When autism becomes apparent in children they struggle academically however many kids diagnosed with ASD actually perform extremely well once put under pressure, which makes a huge difference. We understand this because we offer online tutoring services for individuals with special needs including those affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder. Our specialized curriculum focuses on enhancing communication, self regulation, memory retention, problem solving abilities, organization, visual processing and motor planning and coordination. These areas typically present difficulties for people who suffer from ASD.
At Tutor One we aim to provide the highest levels of support through highly trained staff working hand in hand with teachers, parents, doctors and specialists. Each student receives personal attention and care to ensure he/she progresses according to their individual level. For further information feel free to contact us today via email at info@tutor1.ca or call 1 888 933 0222 for immediate assistance with scheduling a free demo lesson.
Q: What are 5 ideas to handle Special Needs students?
A: Are you ready to get started with special needs tutoring? If yes, then this article provides some great tips on the different strategies which would be useful to apply during tuturing sessions. Some of these include having proper planning and preparation, knowing about the characteristics of special education kids, and understanding why they learn differently than other regular children. All these factors play a vital role in improving student’s academic achievement level.
Q: How to tutor a Ontario child with special needs or learning disability?
A: We understand the importance of having a well rounded approach towards teaching children who struggle academically due to various factors including mental illness, ADHD/ADD or other disabilities. Our tutoring services cover subjects such as Reading, Writing, Math, Science & Technology among many others. We provide the highest quality service available and guarantee 100% customer satisfaction.
TutorOne’s unique program provides parents, caregivers, educators with the tools required to assist children with disabilities reach their full potential through personalized instruction.
In order to ensure that all children receive the proper support they deserve, we work closely with schools and families across Canada.
Q: Special Education Tutors in Hillsdale, Ontario
A: Hillsdale has become known across Canada and internationally as having some of the most unique students. They come in many forms including those who have disabilities like ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Dyslexia/Speech & Language Impairment among others, along with gifted kids, children struggling academically due to family issues and other causes. As they say, “a child should be seen but once..”
We understand this sentiment and strive to provide a different approach that is tailored towards these special needs students. We use state of art technology along with highly qualified professionals to ensure that every student receives personalized attention. Our program focuses on developing relationships with parents, teachers, peers and administrators which helps foster positive outcomes and academic growth.
Special education tutoring provides many benefits including: building self-confidence improving concentration levels boosting motivation increasing overall awareness of the subject being taught reducing anxiety increasing study habits enhancing academic knowledge promoting critical thinking ability and encouraging independent problem solving abilities.
Why TutorOne?: We believe that no matter how old or young a child is when diagnosed, he or she deserves the same opportunities to learn, achieve academic excellence and live life without limits. Our philosophy and mission are built upon the idea that everyone can learn anything as long as someone teaches him/her. By joining our community today, students receive support, guidance and encouragement for a lifetime.
Tutor One offers an extensive range of programs that include: 1st Graders, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, Kindergarten, Primary School and Secondary school. We offer both private sessions and afterschool programs. All services come with a dedicated online platform so parents and guardians always stay informed and up to date at all times regarding their child’s progress.
If you would like more information please email info@tutoreneuroscienceinc.[…]
We look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Q: Which is the best method to teach children with Special Needs?
A: Are you planning to move abroad or relocate closer to a place where special needs adults live? Maybe you already relocated and would like to find some quality education centers near your home? Here’s everything you need to know and understand about finding good homeschooling options for kids that need extra attention in Hillsdale. Our unique approach includes personal support for teachers and dedicated staff who care deeply about every child. We offer multiple curricula with individualized support and customized courses to suit specific student needs. Find out why we’re ranked among the top private schools across Canada according to our reviews on MySchoolGuide.
Learn tips for raising well-adjusted kids from experts. Discover ways to get involved locally. Understand where parents’ priorities lie so you can meet those expectations. Learn practical parenting techniques. Take part in afterschool clubs, athletics and other extracurricular pursuits. And take advantage of programs in arts and music. All these things combined provide great opportunities for kids to learn outside the classroom, develop friendships and explore interests through volunteer work, camps and trips. Parents are invited to participate alongside educators and staff members during fieldtrips and excursions to local parks and landmarks. These events serve as ideal settings for bonding, sharing ideas and connecting with others.
At this point, you should be able to locate many reputable institutions who accept and pay tuition fees for kids needing additional assistance, but we recommend visiting several places around town before settling down with anyone in particular.
Get started today to enjoy all the advantages a community school offers families living in Hillsdale. Contact us via phone or email to schedule your first appointment today. If possible, visit our website as we’ll send information to help with your search.
A: Tutor One offers specialized services designed specifically for children with special needs including Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD and other learning differences. We offer individualized instruction through small group settings, online lessons and home visits. All programs include homework support and parent communication tools. Our highly skilled instructors use a combination of strategies tailored to meet the unique needs of each child. We work closely with families in developing personalized educational solutions to ensure that every student receives maximum benefit and achieves his/her full potential.
We provide services in both English and French languages. For parents who speak only French, we will translate and interpret any of our sessions for you.
Q: How do you accommodate lessons for Special Needs students in Hillsdale ON?
A: Hillsdale offers some great opportunities for those who would like children and youth with developmental disabilities to learn together.
We often hear the term inclusive education which refers to the concept that every child should be educated alongside his/her peers without being isolated, segregated or treated differently from other individuals because they lack certain abilities.
Inclusive programs are becoming increasingly popular, especially among parents interested in ensuring that special needs children are integrated effectively with both general education students, and nonhandicapped peers.
For this reason many families struggle when trying to find services which provide special needs teaching methods. Many schools and educational institutions do offer specialized courses, however these are few and far apart, making it quite challenging for students to navigate through available options.
Finding private educators within your community who specialize in educating specific groups of learners is vital for anyone who is involved with raising kids. For example, there are plenty of tutoring options if you’d prefer your child to spend quality time with someone who specializes in math instruction, reading comprehension, writing and grammar techniques or test prep -- but only you’re aware of which classes cater towards different areas of expertise.
Why Is Personalization Important for Students with Special Needs? In addition to offering the same curriculum offered to other children, it is equally crucial to teach students with cognitive differences and disorders in ways that enable them to better understand concepts taught in class and apply newly acquired knowledge to real life situations. Research shows that having multiple teachers working with young people with Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder leads to improved academic achievement overall, particularly for high school aged students.
Why Should We Consider Teachers Who Have Experienced Life As Someone Special Needs? According to recent studies on the subject, children thrive under the tutelage of specially trained professionals who possess firsthand experience living with a disability.
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Every parent knows that the average public school education system has its faults, but few know that there are alternatives. Every year, parents become educated more about the effectiveness of individualizing children’s education. They understand that learning styles and learning strategies vary greatly among students and that students require additional focus and encouragement to excel, especially in subjects such as math, science, and reading. Students learn differently than adults; children absorb knowledge faster and retain it longer than adults can; and they’re less prone to procrastination. TutorOne’s comprehensive approach teaches kids to think positively, and teaches students when they don’t perform up to par.
"My son recently turned 15, and started taking Advanced Placement exams. He was doing quite poorly in Spanish II and English III, having scored only a 2 and 3 respectively. With one week left before he needed to take the AP test, I decided to enroll him in TutorOne Private Tutoring. His teacher had told me that he was a bright kid, but just didn’t put forth the effort required to excel. My son came home every day telling me about the amazing learning experience he was having with TutorOne. He did score a 4 on his Spanish II test, and his overall grade point average went from a 2.9 (D) to a 4.8 (A+) in Spanish, and a 1.7 (F) to a 4.0 (A) in English. Most importantly though, my son learned to love his studies and got a kick out of seeing his grades soaring. It was truly eye opening to see how one lesson per week changed everything." ~ Lisa H.,Parent, California
As you are now finding out, TutorOne offers a wide variety of different levels, age ranges, and subjects to accommodate all individual learning styles. What sets us apart from other programs is our commitment to educating and encouraging each student’s individuality, curiosity, and enthusiasm for learning. TutorOne is committed to the belief that every student thrives best in a positive, fun-loving, nurturing learning environment. We encourage our students to explore new ideas and engage in hands-on learning situations. TutorOne does not believe that children benefit from being confined to a class room in front of a standard curriculum all day long.
The TutorOne Difference is about creating an engaging atmosphere in which kids feel motivated to excel. The majority of TutorOne schools operate as small academies; they offer individual learning environments that allow students to interact within a group or with one-to-one tutors.
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Kate is a healthcare attorney and entrepreneur living in Frisco, Texas. From building her new business, Styled Home Box, to running a successful law practice, she doesn't exactly have the luxury of wasting time wondering what to wear in the morning. Instead, she's outsourced the task entirely to her personal stylist.
Posted at 18:27h in Meet the Stylist by Front Door Fashion 0 Comments
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We simply can't get enough of Erika. She is highly detailed in her styling and treats each client like a life-long friend. Her own personal style spans from classic to boho and a little of everything in between. Request Erika for your next order and you'll quickly have your own stylist BFF.
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Welcome to the England City Transfers service from Runcorn to Immingham. The leading and low-cost Airport and City connecting Transfers for all major UK airports, Cruise Ports and Cities. We specialize in taxi transfers to and from London Airports and UK cruise ports for both individuals and groups, with the accent on a chivalrous and professional service at a reasonably priced.
We provide safe, reliable, stress-free, and affordable England City Transfers service Runcorn to Immingham, seaports and railway stations. Our fixed price 24*7 services include meeting and greeting service for airports and cruise ports pick-ups, flight monitoring to check for early or late arrivals and all vehicles are equipped with the latest satellite navigation systems to add convenience to the journey.
Vehicles offer England City Transfers service from Runcorn to Immingham:
Our well-equipped vehicles are tailored to your needs. Please request on the booking form when you reserve the booking for the following vehicle list
Saloon Cars: up to 4 passengers and 2 pieces of luggage and 2 handbags.
Estate Cars: up to 4 passengers and 4 pieces of luggage and 4 handbags.
MPV5 Passengers: up to 5 passengers and 5 pieces of luggage and 5 handbags.
8 SEATERS: up to 8 passengers and 8 pieces of luggage and 8 handbags.
Mercedes Benz E Class: up to 4 passengers and 2 pieces of luggage and 2 handbags.
Mercedes Benz S Class: up to 4 passengers and 2 pieces of luggage and 2 handbags.
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I have the urge to declare my sanity and justify my actions, but I assume I’ll never be able to convince anyone that this was the right decision. Maybe it’s true that anyone who does this is insane by definition, but I can at least explain my reasoning. I considered not writing any of this because of how personal it is, but I like tying up loose ends and don’t want people to wonder why I did this. Since I’ve never spoken to anyone about what happened to me, people would likely draw the wrong conclusions.
My first memories as a child are of being raped, repeatedly. This has affected every aspect of my life. This darkness, which is the only way I can describe it, has followed me like a fog, but at times intensified and overwhelmed me, usually triggered by a distinct situation. In kindergarten I couldn’t use the bathroom and would stand petrified whenever I needed to, which started a trend of awkward and unexplained social behaviour. The damage that was done to my body still prevents me from using the bathroom normally, but now it’s less of a physical impediment than a daily reminder of what was done to me.
This darkness followed me as I grew up. I remember spending hours playing with legos, having my world consist of me and a box of cold, plastic blocks. Just waiting for everything to end. It’s the same thing I do now, but instead of legos it’s surfing the web or reading or listening to a baseball game. Most of my life has been spent feeling dead inside, waiting for my body to catch up.
At times growing up I would feel inconsolable rage, but I never connected this to what happened until puberty. I was able to keep the darkness at bay for a few hours at a time by doing things that required intense concentration, but it would always come back. Programming appealed to me for this reason. I was never particularly fond of computers or mathematically inclined, but the temporary peace it would provide was like a drug. But the darkness always returned and built up something like a tolerance, because programming has become less and less of a refuge.
The darkness is with me nearly every time I wake up. I feel like a grime is covering me. I feel like I’m trapped in a contimated body that no amount of washing will clean. Whenever I think about what happened I feel manic and itchy and can’t concentrate on anything else. It manifests itself in hours of eating or staying up for days at a time or sleeping for sixteen hours straight or week long programming binges or constantly going to the gym. I’m exhausted from feeling like this every hour of every day.
Three to four nights a week I have nightmares about what happened. It makes me avoid sleep and constantly tired, because sleeping with what feels like hours of nightmares is not restful. I wake up sweaty and furious. I’m reminded every morning of what was done to me and the control it has over my life.
I’ve never been able to stop thinking about what happened to me and this hampered my social interactions. I would be angry and lost in thought and then be interrupted by someone saying “Hi” or making small talk, unable to understand why I seemed cold and distant. I walked around, viewing the outside world from a distant portal behind my eyes, unable to perform normal human niceties. I wondered what it would be like to take to other people without what happened constantly on my mind, and I wondered if other people had similar experiences that they were better able to mask.
Alcohol was also something that let me escape the darkness. It would always find me later, though, and it was always angry that I managed to escape and it made me pay. Many of the irresponsible things I did were the result of the darkness. Obviously I’m responsible for every decision and action, including this one, but there are reasons why things happen the way they do.
Alcohol and other drugs provided a way to ignore the realities of my situation. It was easy to spend the night drinking and forget that I had no future to look forward to. I never liked what alcohol did to me, but it was better than facing my existence honestly. I haven’t touched alcohol or any other drug in over seven months (and no drugs or alcohol will be involved when I do this) and this has forced me to evaluate my life in an honest and clear way. There’s no future here. The darkness will always be with me.
I used to think if I solved some problem or achieved some goal, maybe he would leave. It was comforting to identify tangible issues as the source of my problems instead of something that I’ll never be able to change. I thought that if I got into to a good college, or a good grad school, or lost weight, or went to the gym nearly every day for a year, or created programs that millions of people used, or spent a summer or California or New York or published papers that I was proud of, then maybe I would feel some peace and not be constantly haunted and unhappy. But nothing I did made a dent in how depressed I was on a daily basis and nothing was in any way fulfilling. I’m not sure why I ever thought that would change anything.
I didn’t realise how deep a hold he had on me and my life until my first relationship. I stupidly assumed that no matter how the darkness affected me personally, my romantic relationships would somehow be separated and protected. Growing up I viewed my future relationships as a possible escape from this thing that haunts me every day, but I began to realise how entangled it was with every aspect of my life and how it is never going to release me. Instead of being an escape, relationships and romantic contact with other people only intensified everything about him that I couldn’t stand. I will never be able to have a relationship in which he is not the focus, affecting every aspect of my romantic interactions.
Relationships always started out fine and I’d be able to ignore him for a few weeks. But as we got closer emotionally the darkness would return and every night it’d be me, her and the darkness in a black and gruesome threesome. He would surround me and penetrate me and the more we did the more intense it became. It made me hate being touched, because as long as we were separated I could view her like an outsider viewing something good and kind and untainted. Once we touched, the darkness would envelope her too and take her over and the evil inside me would surround her. I always felt like I was infecting anyone I was with.
Relationships didn’t work. No one I dated was the right match, and I thought that maybe if I found the right person it would overwhelm him. Part of me knew that finding the right person wouldn’t help, so I became interested in girls who obviously had no interest in me. For a while I thought I was gay. I convinced myself that it wasn’t the darkness at all, but rather my orientation, because this would give me control over why things didn’t feel “right”. The fact that the darkness affected sexual matters most intensely made this idea make some sense and I convinced myself of this for a number of years, starting in college after my first relationship ended. I told people I was gay (at Trinity, not at Princeton), even though I wasn’t attracted to men and kept finding myself interested in girls. Because if being gay wasn’t the answer, then what was? People thought I was avoiding my orientation, but I was actually avoiding the truth, which is that while I’m straight, I will never be content with anyone. I know now that the darkness will never leave.
Last spring I met someone who was unlike anyone else I’d ever met. Someone who showed me just how well two people could get along and how much I could care about another human being. Someone I know I could be with and love for the rest of my life, if I weren’t so fucked up. Amazingly, she liked me. She liked the shell of the man the darkness had left behind. But it didn’t matter because I couldn’t be alone with her. It was never just the two of us, it was always the three of us: her, me and the darkness. The closer we got, the more intensely I’d feel the darkness, like some evil mirror of my emotions. All the closeness we had and I loved was complemented by agony that I couldn’t stand, from him. I realised that I would never be able to give her, or anyone, all of me or only me. She could never have me without the darkness and evil inside me. I could never have just her, without the darkness being a part of all of our interactions. I will never be able to be at peace or content or in a healthy relationship. I realised the futility of the romantic part of my life. If I had never met her, I would have realised this as soon as I met someone else who I meshed similarly well with. It’s likely that things wouldn’t have worked out with her and we would have broken up (with our relationship ending, like the majority of relationships do) even if I didn’t have this problem, since we only dated for a short time. But I will face exactly the same problems with the darkness with anyone else. Despite my hopes, love and compatability is not enough. Nothing is enough. There’s no way I can fix this or even push the darkness down far enough to make a relationship or any type of intimacy feasible.
So I watched as things fell apart between us. I had put an explicit time limit on our relationship, since I knew it couldn’t last because of the darkness and didn’t want to hold her back, and this caused a variety of problems. She was put in an unnatural situation that she never should have been a part of. It must have been very hard for her, not knowing what was actually going on with me, but this is not something I’ve ever been able to talk about with anyone. Losing her was very hard for me as well. Not because of her (I got over our relationship relatively quickly), but because of the realisation that I would never have another relationship and because it signified the last true, exclusive personal connection I could ever have. This wasn’t apparent to other people, because I could never talk about the real reasons for my sadness. I was very sad in the summer and autumn, but it was not because of her, it was because I will never escape the darkness with anyone. She was so loving and kind to me and gave me everything I could have asked for under the circumstances. I’ll never forget how much happiness she brought me in those briefs moments when I could ignore the darkness. I had originally planned to kill myself last winter but never got around to it. (Parts of this letter were written over a year ago, other parts days before doing this.) It was wrong of me to involve myself in her life if this were a possibility and I should have just left her alone, even though we only dated for a few months and things ended a long time ago. She’s just one more person in a long list of people I’ve hurt.
I could spend pages talking about the other relationships I’ve had that were ruined because of my problems and my confusion related to the darkness. I’ve hurt so many great people because of who I am and my inability to experience what needs to be experienced. All I can say is that I tried to be honest with people about what I thought was true.
I’ve spent my life hurting people. Today will be the last time.
I’ve told different people a lot of things, but I’ve never told anyone about what happened to me, ever, for obvious reasons. It took me a while to realise that no matter how close you are to someone or how much they claim to love you, people simply cannot keep secrets. I learned this a few years ago when I thought I was gay and told people. The more harmful the secret, the juicier the gossip and the more likely you are to be betrayed. People don’t care about their word or what they’ve promised, they just do whatever the fuck they want and justify it later. It feels incredibly lonely to realise you can never share something with someone and have it be between just the two of you. I don’t blame anyone in particular, I guess it’s just how people are. Even if I felt like this is something I could have shared, I have no interest in being part of a friendship or relationship where the other person views me as the damaged and contaminated person that I am. So even if I were able to trust someone, I probably would not have told them about what happened to me. At this point I simply don’t care who knows.
I feel an evil inside me. An evil that makes me want to end life. I need to stop this. I need to make sure I don’t kill someone, which is not something that can be easily undone. I don’t know if this is related to what happened to me or something different. I recognise the irony of killing myself to prevent myself from killing someone else, but this decision should indicate what I’m capable of.
So I’ve realised I will never escape the darkness or misery associated with it and I have a responsibility to stop myself from physically harming others.
I’m just a broken, miserable shell of a human being. Being molested has defined me as a person and shaped me as a human being and it has made me the monster I am and there’s nothing I can do to escape it. I don’t know any other existence. I don’t know what life feels like where I’m apart from any of this. I actively despise the person I am. I just feel fundamentally broken, almost non-human. I feel like an animal that woke up one day in a human body, trying to make sense of a foreign world, living among creatures it doesn’t understand and can’t connect with.
I have accepted that the darkness will never allow me to be in a relationship. I will never go to sleep with someone in my arms, feeling the comfort of their hands around me. I will never know what uncontimated intimacy is like. I will never have an exclusive bond with someone, someone who can be the recipient of all the love I have to give. I will never have children, and I wanted to be a father so badly. I think I would have made a good dad. And even if I had fought through the darkness and married and had children all while being unable to feel intimacy, I could have never done that if suicide were a possibility. I did try to minimize pain, although I know that this decision will hurt many of you. If this hurts you, I hope that you can at least forget about me quickly.
There’s no point in identifying who molested me, so I’m just going to leave it at that. I doubt the word of a dead guy with no evidence about something that happened over twenty years ago would have much sway.
You may wonder why I didn’t just talk to a professional about this. I’ve seen a number of doctors since I was a teenager to talk about other issues and I’m positive that another doctor would not have helped. I was never given one piece of actionable advice, ever. More than a few spent a large part of the session reading their notes to remember who I was. And I have no interest in talking about being raped as a child, both because I know it wouldn’t help and because I have no confidence it would remain secret. I know the legal and practical limits of doctor/patient confidentiality, growing up in a house where we’d hear stories about the various mental illnesses of famous people, stories that were passed down through generations. All it takes is one doctor who thinks my story is interesting enough to share or a doctor who thinks it’s her right or responsibility to contact the authorities and have me identify the molestor (justifying her decision by telling herself that someone else might be in danger). All it takes is a single doctor who violates my trust, just like the “friends” who I told I was gay did, and everything would be made public and I’d be forced to live in a world where people would know how fucked up I am. And yes, I realise this indicates that I have severe trust issues, but they’re based on a large number of experiences with people who have shown a profound disrepect for their word and the privacy of others.
People say suicide is selfish. I think it’s selfish to ask people to continue living painful and miserable lives, just so you possibly won’t feel sad for a week or two. Suicide may be a permanent solution to a temporary problem, but it’s also a permanent solution to a ~23 year-old problem that grows more intense and overwhelming every day.
Some people are just dealt bad hands in this life. I know many people have it worse than I do, and maybe I’m just not a strong person, but I really did try to deal with this. I’ve tried to deal with this every day for the last 23 years and I just can’t fucking take it anymore.
I often wonder what life must be like for other people. People who can feel the love from others and give it back unadulterated, people who can experience sex as an intimate and joyous experience, people who can experience the colours and happenings of this world without constant misery. I wonder who I’d be if things had been different or if I were a stronger person. It sounds pretty great.
I’m prepared for death. I’m prepared for the pain and I am ready to no longer exist. Thanks to the strictness of New Jersey gun laws this will probably be much more painful than it needs to be, but what can you do. My only fear at this point is messing something up and surviving.
I’d also like to address my family, if you can call them that. I despise everything they stand for and I truly hate them, in a non-emotional, dispassionate and what I believe is a healthy way. The world will be a better place when they’re dead—one with less hatred and intolerance.
If you’re unfamiliar with the situation, my parents are fundamentalist Christians who kicked me out of their house and cut me off financially when I was 19 because I refused to attend seven hours of church a week.
They live in a black and white reality they’ve constructed for themselves. They partition the world into good and evil and survive by hating everything they fear or misunderstand and calling it love. They don’t understand that good and decent people exist all around us, “saved” or not, and that evil and cruel people occupy a large percentage of their church. They take advantage of people looking for hope by teaching them to practice the same hatred they practice.
“I am personally convinced that if a Muslim truly believes and obeys the Koran, he will be a terrorist.” – George Zeller, August 24, 2010.
If you choose to follow a religion where, for example, devout Catholics who are trying to be good people are all going to Hell but child molestors go to Heaven (as long as they were “saved” at some point), that’s your choice, but it’s fucked up. Maybe a God who operates by those rules does exist. If so, fuck Him.
Their church was always more important than the members of their family and they happily sacrificed whatever necessary in order to satisfy their contrived beliefs about who they should be.
I grew up in a house where love was proxied through a God I could never believe in. A house where the love of music with any sort of a beat was literally beaten out of me. A house full of hatred and intolerance, run by two people who were experts at appearing kind and warm when others were around. Parents who tell an eight year old that his grandmother is going to Hell because she’s Catholic. Parents who claim not to be racist but then talk about the horrors of miscegenation. I could list hundreds of other examples, but it’s tiring.
Since being kicked out, I’ve interacted with them in relatively normal ways. I talk to them on the phone like nothing happened. I’m not sure why. Maybe because I like pretending I have a family. Maybe I like having people I can talk to about what’s been going on in my life. Whatever the reason, it’s not real and it feels like a sham. I should have never allowed this reconnection to happen.
I wrote the above a while ago, and I do feel like that much of the time. At other times, though, I feel less hateful. I know my parents honestly believe the crap they believe in. I know that my mum, at least, loved me very much and tried her best. One reason I put this off for so long is because I know how much pain it will cause her. She has been sad since she found out I wasn’t “saved”, since she believes I’m going to Hell, which is not a sadness for which I am responsible. That was never going to change, and presumably she believes the state of my physical body is much less important than the state of my soul. Still, I cannot intellectually justify this decision, knowing how much it will hurt her. Maybe my ability to take my own life, knowing how much pain it will cause, shows that I am a monster who doesn’t deserve to live. All I know is that I can’t deal with this pain any longer and I’m am truly sorry I couldn’t wait until my family and everyone I knew died so this could be done without hurting anyone. For years I’ve wished that I’d be hit by a bus or die while saving a baby from drowning so my death might be more acceptable, but I was never so lucky.
To those of you who have shown me love, thank you for putting up with all my shittiness and moodiness and arbitrariness. I was never the person I wanted to be. Maybe without the darkness I would have been a better person, maybe not. I did try to be a good person, but I realise I never got very far.
I’m sorry for the pain this causes. I really do wish I had another option. I hope this letter explains why I needed to do this. If you can’t understand this decision, I hope you can at least forgive me.
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It turns out that the single most visited post on this blog is, still, from 2011, discussing Ruth Leys’ rather wonderful take-down of affect theory in Critical Inquiry (apart from anything else, this is an important lesson about always giving the things you write a decent title – a lesson I learnt a long time ago). Leys’ CI critique of theories of affect in the humanities and social sciences is one part of her broader genealogy of the human sciences. Her new book, The Ascent of Affect, is, she says, the third in a trilogy alongside Trauma and From Guilt to Shame. The new book is a sustained critical engagement with debates within and over the sciences of emotion that provide the more or less acknowledged background of social theories of affect and non-representationalism (in so far as there is any claim at all in these theories that the grand metaphysical generalisations one can derive from reading Deleuze and others aren’t just made up – to a considerable extent, these theoretical fields inadvertently offer themselves up as exemplars of the ‘autonomy of affect’, to the degree that ontological claims are simply asserted as beyond dispute and thereby effectively immunised from any critical scrutiny). The emphasis in Leys’ account is on disputes and disagreements within this scientific field – the dimension which makes any authoritative appropriation of such fields to settle arguments within the social sciences and humanities so problematic.
The Ascent of Affect came at the end of a year that I had begun by reading Linda Zerilli’s equally wonderful A Democratic Theory of Judgment, a work of political theorising not of genealogy, but one which also engages critically with the turn to affect in recent cultural and especially political theory. In her book, Zerilli takes my characterisation of the layer cake ontology of non-representational theory as pretty much capturing the essence of affect theory more generally, which is very flattering. The combination of an architectural vocabulary of levels with a vocabulary of temporal priority (all those feelings and inclinations kicking in before anyone is even conscious of it…) is the recurrent rhetorical feature of a whole genre of affect theory, and it connects it with a much broader cultural world of psychologised neuro-commentary (Jessica Pykett has recently elaborated on some of the implicit spatial assumptions one finds in popularised versions of neuroscience). It’s a feature that discloses what I would be inclined to call, ripping the phrase off from Gilbert Ryle, the logical geography of action that distinguishes this field – this theme is just now beginning to come clear for me as the focus of next book, now that the flurry of excitement associated with publication of the last one has died down.
Zerilli presents Ruth Leys and myself as providing two distinctive critical perspectives – as ‘affect theory critics’ – which again is flattering (I only ever wrote one paper and a couple of blogposts, whereas you can find the emerging outlines of Leys’ more recent sustained critique not only in her Critical Inquiry piece but also in those earlier books as well). Both Zerilli and Leys present me as accusing affect theorists of ‘cryptnoromativism’ – of not being able to able to defend their normative preferences with reasons because, as Zerilli puts it, for them reasons “always trail after affect-driven preferences”. Leys, on the other hand, sees the problem as an inability or unwillingness on behalf of advocates of the autonomy of affect to take any normative position at all – as she puts it in her new book, for affect theorists “preferring democracy to despotism is life preferring tea to coffee”. The stronger point she is making is that affect theory closes down any sense of disagreement as a dimension of life – it’s a theme developed much more explicitly in Todd Cronan’s critical account of the affective turn in aesthetics in Against Affective Formalism– where the recurring argument is that appeals to the causal power of affect have the effect of closing down any space not just of intentionality but also therefore of interpretation, and that herein lies the political unconscious of those appeals, registered in the erasure of any scope for legitimate disagreement or dispute. Leys uses my argument to specify her own point, suggesting that there is no a contradiction at all between avowing progressive causes and affirming the power of affective priming but a considerable degree of consistency precisely because the former are indeed taken to be mere personal preferences (strictly speaking, I don’t think I did rely on a sense of performative contradiction in my discussion of non-representational ontologies, which is not after all the same thing as cryptonormativism – I happen to think, more generally, that the real problem across these debates is the authoritative appeal to ‘ontology’ (or, ‘the made-up’, let’s call it) in a way that forecloses on the significance of normativity to life, which I think is a rather similar worry to Leys’ worry about the elision of intentionality).
The issue that Leys’ genealogy of disputes over the science of emotions – and especially over the validity of the affect program theory of basic emotions proposed by Sylvan Tomkins, the thinker championed by Eve Kofosky Segwick in the pivotal text in the turn to affect in the humanities – clarified for me is a key contrast, one that cascades through social theory and humanities debates about affect, between two quite distinct images of the social. Noncognitivst and anti-intentional interpretations of the emotions tend to hold to images of isolated monads, housing a brain, buffeted by external stimuli. The social here stands as an external, totalising environment (call it an ‘atmosophere’, perhaps?). It’s a very traditional image. Leys reconstructs a counter-tradition that holds to a view of mindedness as contextual and ecological, and thereby has lots more to say about issues of intentionality. The difference might be captured by the shift in the meaning of ideas about unconscious mental activity which Leys mentions in her book. The unconscious, in psychoanalysis, is a “dynamic-conflictual” concept, and it only makes any sense against a background assumption that subjectivity is intentional, just not wholly so. This idea is contrasted to a view of unconscious activities “as forms of automatic, nonconscious information processing occurring in computer-style subsystems capable of acting independently of the mind’s conscious control”. It is this second sense of ‘unconscious’, with or without the scientific references, that is the operative usage in arguments in GeographyLand and related fields which champion and/or bemoan the extent to which apparently wilful action is in fact influenced, primed and manipulated in all sorts of ways that are beyond the mind’s control.
The noncognitivist strand of scientific research on emotion, with an emphasis on the on the stark separation and hierarchical ordering of systems of knowing and feeling, clear divisions between insides and outsides, the emphasis on information processing and stimulus response, and its attachment to identifying sub-personal mechanisms, informs an imagination of the social reduced to monadic pre-individuals immersed in totalising atmospheres and subjected to triggers and impulses that wholly shape them. With or without the direct reference, the analogy between this reductive, if not necessarily eliminationist, scientific imagination of the social and the imagination found in humanities and social science fields absorbed by affect theory is, well, uncanny. (There is, I think an interesting line of questioning left unexplored by Leys about the degree to which the divisions within the sciences of emotions might be related to a discernible difference amongst advocates of the importance of affect between strongly anti-intentional advocates of the autonomy of affects, which tend to invest heavily in science as the source of insights into the ontology of affect, and versions of affect theory that redistribute the relations between knowing and feeling, reflecting and doing in more creative ways – the concern, for example, with issues of attachment in Lauren Berlant’s version of affect theory suggests a refashioned understanding of the aboutness of affective dynamics, rather than a wholesale rejection of intentionality).
Zerilli’s discussion of affect theory in political thought is actually rather wary of what she quite rightly identifies as the central emphasis of Leys’ critique – the problem of intentionality (recognition of this issue does not even arise in geographical discussions of these matters, beyond simplistic dismissals of ideas of intentionality and rationality as all a bit old-hat – a sign of the philosophical unseriousness of those discussions, one might suppose). I am tempted to locate Leys’ genealogy of research on emotions as part of a wider “nonsite school” of cultural criticism, since her work clearly shares a number of commitments with the broader project associated with that journal of which she is one of the founding editors – whose mission statement asserts a shared interest in “a set of theoretical topics – the ontology of the work of art, the question of intentionality, the ongoing appeal of different and sometimes competing materialisms – and in part out of opposition to the dominant accounts of those topics.” It should be said that the emphasis in much of the work associated with nonsite.org, in Cronan’s book already mentioned for example or in the work of Walter Benn Michaels, is primarily upon redeeming a certain sort of concept of artistic intentionality. I am personally not convinced that artistic practice provides the best paradigm for thinking about intentionality, and one of the important features of Leys’ book is that she locates issues of cognitivism, noncognitivism, and intentionality more squarely in a philosophical debates, centring in no small part on issues rehearsed in the ‘McDowell/Dreyfus debate’ a while ago now. This is rather more interesting, and more ordinary, ground upon which to locate discussions about the relations between embodiment and mindedness, the human and the nonhuman, rationality and intentionality.
Leys’ book raises important questions about the ways in which interdisciplinary work depends on the selective invocation of examples and on claims to speak authoritatively in one field on the basis of privileged grasp of settled knowledge in other fields. One of the central concerns of the nonsite.org ‘school’, if there is such a thing, is a focus on the implications for understandings of intentionality and interpretation of the automatism built into various artistic mediums – painting, photography, film, and so on. In one of those odd coincidences that make reading more than one thing at the same time fun, I was reading Leys’ book at the same time as I came across the cricket writer Christian Ryan’s Feeling is the Thing that Happens in 1000th of a Second, a book all about the photography of Patrick Eagar, and specifically the photos he took in the summer of 1975 (amongst other things, it’s a book that thematises the way in which photography might constitute the conditions for nostalgia – a subtext of Ryan’s story is that much of the cricket in that summer was actually a bit crap, and he presents 1975 as a cricketing year that mattered primarily because of Eagar’s photography, in all sorts of ways – a summer when “the photography of the ballet mattered more than the ballet”). Ryan’s book is all about the relationship between chance, luck, accidents and the skills and habits of the photographer, mediated by the automatisms of cameras and remote controls. Ryan’s book should be read alongside Gideon Haigh‘s Stroke of Genius, a book about Victor Trumper, but more precisely about the making and after-life of the single most famous cricket photo of them all – both tell stories about what we can learn about habitual, embodied skilled action (of the photographer as well as cricketers) from attending the process of its representation (OK, so that’s how I read them, not least ‘coz I was reading Leys’ book at the same time as reading Ryan’s, which reminded me of this dimension of Haigh’s book which was my Christmas book last year – and not least because Ley’s narrative of disagreements over the science of emotions revolves in part around a critique of the rather peculiar way in which photographs of facial expressions secure the authority of Paul Ekman’s influential research on basic emotions). And remembering the centrality of baseball to the McDowell/Dreyfus debate, it struck me that this particular coincidence is slightly less than wholly contingent on my own odd interests – one could do a lot worse than these two recent cricket books if one wants to be provoked to think more about the relationships between embodied skills, rule following, automatism, expertise, luck and the felt sense of what is doable and sayable that are at the centre of the scientific and philosophical debates that Leys dissects – there is, after all, no reason to take cricket any less seriously than the disputed fields of science that remain so attractive to certain strands of cultural and political theory. And these two books aren’t really about cricket anyway (books which are tend to be really boring) – they are about mediation, which might just be the concept that holds the key to moving beyond the dead-ends down which non-representational anti-intentionalism has led critical thought.
Posted on 6 Oct 2017 by Clive
So, finally, the book that I have been writing, on and off, for the last four years, The Priority of Injustice, has been published. It arrived earlier this week – a rather hectic week, which has oddly meant I have been too busy to experience the strange sense of anti-climax that often accompanies the arrival of the finished form of something that you have been making for so long.
This is, in one sense, my Exeter book – the first thing I did in my very first week here, four years ago, was write the proposal and send it off to prospective publishers, It’s also, though, my Swindon book, a book which attempts to articulate an approach to theorising in an ordinary spirit which has been published just a few weeks after moving away from that very ordinary town where I have lived while writing it.
It’s a beautiful object, with a great cover image, by Helen Burgess (I bought one of her pictures once, in one of those open-house art trail events that you get in places like Bishopston in Bristol, so that’s why I knew of her work; it turns out she is part of a geography-friendly network of artists). And I am honoured and humbled to have the book published in University Georgia Press’s very excellent Geographies of Justice and Social Transformation series.
I’m now faced with the challenge of promoting the book. I’m quite fond of the Coetzee-esque principle that books should have to make their own way in the world without the help of the author; on the other hand, I have some sense of responsibility towards the argument made in the book, a responsibility to help project it into the world. I’ve already realised that it’s not the sort of book that lends itself to an easy press release – ‘THEORY COULD BE THEORISED DIFFERENTLY’, SAYS THEORY-BOY doesn’t really work as a headline, does it?.
The book doesn’t even have any empirical case studies in it, upon which to hang a more popular pitch. It doesn’t really have much more than passing references to some real-world examples. In this respect, I might have broken one of the cardinal rules of writing in GeographyLand. But the book is about the different forms of theoreticism that one finds in contemporary political thought, where that refers to the ways in which appeal to preconstructed examples is used to confirm ready-made philosophical perspectives. So, as a matter of principle, I couldn’t very well reproduce that same gesture myself.
I realise that this might sound defensive, although in this respect I’m in good company. Kant, in the Preface to The Critique of Pure Reason, starts by apologising for not having any examples or illustrations, which he knows would have helped the reader along (if you live and work among geographers, his discussion is actually very funny – it indicates that Kant really was a proper geographer, haunted by the same anxieties about ‘real world examples’ that we have drummed into us all the time!). I am going to resist the temptation to lay claim to his defence that “many a book would have been clearer if it had not made such an effort to be clear”. I am inclined instead to appeal to another grand Theory Master, Talcott Parsons (great name) – Parsons, in his 1968 Introduction to a new edition of The Structure of Social Action, also responds to the accusation that his work was all theory and no empirics – his book, he asserted, was “an empirical study in the analysis of social thought”, which treats the writings of various thinkers as “documents” that “present problems of understanding and interpretation”. Had I read that before I finished my own book, I would have used it, but I didn’t, but I am certainly going to use it a lot from now on. It’s pretty much exactly how I conceive what I am doing in The Priority of Injustice. This is not, mind, merely a matter of exegesis – it’s more like something described by Yi-Fu Tuan, in another preface (I do read past the first few pages of some books), to his Dominance and Affection. He describes his book as an essay, a preliminary undertaking that imaginatively lays out ideas, as a first step towards the focus on specific problems and their analysis. I see my book as doing a bit of what both Parsons and Tuan recommend, with only touch of the apologetic anxiety expressed by Kant.
I should have a go, shouldn’t I, at saying out loud what this very long book is actually about, what it actually argues (it does have a fantastic index!). There is a promotional jacket blurb, which does a quite good job of doing that, but let me try to give a little more substance.
The first thing to say is that this an argumentative book – it’s an argument for a certain way of thinking and theorising, and against certain other ways. The ways of thinking that I argue against can be variously characterised, for sure, but I have come to think of them a constituting a fairly coherent discourse, shall we say, that defines being in the true of avowedly ‘poststructuralist’ critical thought. That name might not quite capture the field, exactly, but what I have in mind is an intellectual world defined by two core features: a recurrent fixation on the dynamics of subjectification; and a tendency towards what I have called ontological trumping, expressed most clearly in the convergence of critical spatial theory with assertive ontologies of the political. Take those two features, splice them together, and you have entered into the unreflexive common sense of what it means to perform critique in contemporary TheoryLand.
The Priority of Injustice is, primarily, a book about democratic theory, which isn’t just any old body of theory, but it’s also a book about the vocation of critical theory more broadly. It’s also in part a book in which I try to pay homage to the thinkers who have really influenced my own intellectual trajectory: thinkers including Stanley Cavell and Judith Shklar, Iris Marion Young and Amartya Sen, Linda Zerilli and Stuart Hall, Albert Hirschman and Partha Chatterjee, Nancy Fraser and Hannah Pitkin, Axel Honneth and Bernard Williams, Phillip Pettit and Cora Diamond. As well as old uncle Habermas, of course. Somewhere in that list there is, I think, the outlines of an account of the rapprochement between post-analytical political philosophy and critical theory of a big C and big T, post-Frankfurt School style (that might be the subject of the next book). It’s in the relationship between those two traditions that I situate my own vision of the tasks of doing critical analysis in a democratic spirit.
The book has three parts, and certainly in my head, these three parts hang together perfectly in a narrative sequence (but hey, you can dip and dip out too, I’m sure – nobody actually reads academic books from front to back, do they?).
In the first part (Democracy and Critique) – which I can’t help but think of as the equivalent of the ‘methods’ section – Chapter 1 (An Awareness of Politics) distinguishes between different styles of radical democratic theory, arguing that it is not disputes about the meaning of democracy that are crucial so much as different understandings of the meaning of meaning. I argue that the rise to prominence of ontological trumping in political thought is associated with an attachment to the ‘etymological gesture’ in accounting for the meaning of key terms of democratic dispute (and I also suggest that Roland Barthes has much the most interesting thing to say about democracy as any twentieth-century French thinker). In the next chapter (Criteria for Democratic Inquiry), I try to articulate, for the first time in my own writing, why I love Stanley Cavell, outlining a view of how the meaning of democracy can be best approached as a problem by roving across discussions of exemplary thinking in Arendt and Derrida, ‘the ordinary’ and the projection of new meanings in Cavell and others, ‘essentially contested concepts’, and analogies of lake-formation, and the ideas of ‘the enactment of democracy’ and democracy as an ‘ethnographically emergent’ phenomenon. This is all as a preliminary to the discussion in Part 3 of the book (Phenomenologies of Injustice) about attending to the force of assertive claims against injustice.
Before getting to that bit, though, the book has a big middle section (Rationalities of the Political), consisting of three chapters in which I try to redeem something of value from what has become the deadeningly simple analysis of ‘the political’, the post-political, and (de-)politicization. In draft, this section was very long, 100,000 words or so, and it was largely negative in tone, but then I remembered the reason why I cut a very similar section from a previous book I wrote – because it seemed a waste of an opportunity to write so much about something that you didn’t actually feel was of much value. So I try to reconstruct the kernel of what is interesting about the tradition of predominantly Francophile discussions of the theme of ‘the political’ (a large part of the answer to what is most interesting about that theme is… the American strand of debates about the eclipse of ‘the political’). I argue (in The Ontological Need) that the splitting of politics into 2 parts (politics and the political, etc – a trick that is mind-blowing the first time you come across it, but quickly loses its allure) – needs to be saved from the prevalent ontological reading in which it has now been entombed. Discussions of the political, certainly in GeographyLand and related fields as well as in a great deal of political theory – qualify as metaphysical in the sense used by Cora Diamond: they impose requirements on what and how phenomenon should appear and how they should be apprehended in order for them to qualify as properly political. It is, really, a bizarre style of analysis, but one which is really good for reproducing certain sorts of spatialized romanticism. Along the way, I attempt to parse different vocabularies of antagonism in political thought (in The Scandal of Consent and The Significance of Conflict), suggesting that it a good idea NOT to ontologize conflict, struggle, and contestation.
I proffer instead a view of ‘the political’ theme that recovers the phenomenological inflection of this concept as it shows up in the often rather pessimistic viewpoints of Claude Lefort, Sheldon Wolin and Pierre Rosanvallon, with a backward nod to Merleau-Ponty’s Machiavellian account of political life. Finding the interesting aspect of discussions of ‘the political’ in the emphasis on the experiential (which is emphatically not the same as super-structuralist analyses of ‘distributions of the sensible’) allows me to seamlessly link the three chapters of this section of the book to the discussion in the final part of the book.
In the final three chapters, I follow a hint by Axel Honneth and seek to reconstruct a lineage of radical democratic thought that develops not by reference to ever more refined ontologies of disruption and becoming, but by reference to the analysis of the rationalities of action. The final part of the book, the assertive part, has three steps, chapter by chapter: first, (in Claims of the Affected) I reconstruct how the theme of all affected interests has been revived in the geographical turn of certain strands of political thought, and add my own inflection (with due acknowledgement to Robert Dahl), suggesting that this idea needs to be thought of as a heuristic device rather than a prescriptive rule. That argument is then connected (in Subjects of Domination) to a consideration of how theories of democratic justice have come to pivot on the value of non-domination (partly but not only with reference to Phillip Pettit), and how this in turn implies a particular understanding of the grammar of justice claims, best articulated by the wonderful work of Iris Marion Young, my guiding light in all things democratic. The final chapter (The Sense of Injustice) then works through the implications of the argument about affectedness, non-domination and claims-making more fully, catching sight of and bringing into the open a somewhat under appreciated strand of thought that interrupts debates about how best to theorise justice not by ‘going ontological’ but by reordering the conceptual relationships between the idea of justice and the experience of injustice. That strand of thought is quite thin, it’s very recent, but it includes some heavy hitters – Shklar, Sen, for example, and it meets critical theorists like Honneth coming from another direction, and I seek in this last chapter to express why giving conceptual priority to injustice in the analysis of political life matters to the vocation of critique (the theme of the priority of injustice should not be confused with a more general preference, not least in GeographyLand, for practice over theory – I explain just why it shouldn’t in a new paper in Annals of AAG – and to be clear, that paper is a supplement to the book, it contains a discussion that isn’t in the book at all).
And then the book ends, with a claim – a reminder to me more than anything else – about that earlier point that the whole book is really an essay – a preliminary to further inquiry, a setting of a scene, if not of an agenda. If there is anyone out there who wants to give me loads of money to actually pursue the research programme laid out at the end of the book, do let me know.
Cultural Geography is Dead! Long Live Cultural Geography?
Posted on 5 May 2015 by Clive
I’ve been pondering a new paper in Progress in Human Geography by my former OU colleague, Gillian Rose, which addresses the conceptual and methodological challenges presented to cultural geography by the emergence of digital modes of cultural practice. The paper is entitled ‘Rethinking the geographies of cultural “objects” through digital technologies: interface, network and friction’. Here is the abstract:
“This paper addresses how geographers conceptualize cultural artifacts. Many geographical studies of cultural objects continue to depend heavily on an approach developed as part of the ‘new cultural geography’ in the 1980s. That approach examined the cultural politics of representations of place, space and landscape by undertaking close readings of specific cultural objects. Over three decades on, the cultural field (certainly in the Global North) has changed fundamentally, as digital technologies for the creation and dissemination of meaning have become extraordinarily pervasive and diverse. Yet geographical studies of cultural objects have thus far neglected to consider the conceptual and methodological implications of this shift. This paper argues that such studies must begin to map the complexities of digitally-mediated cultural production, circulation and interpretation. It will argue that, to do this, it is necessary to move away from the attentive gaze on stable cultural objects as formulated by some of the new cultural geography, and instead focus on mapping the dynamics of the production, circulation and modification of meaning at digital interfaces and across frictional networks.”
There is a lot going on in the paper, but two things strike me as important about it: first, it brings into view, that is, it explicitly names the distinctive object of analysis upon which a significant amount of so-called ‘new cultural geography’ depended; and then, secondly, it announces that this object of analysis and associated methodologies of ‘reading’ are more or less redundant. That’s not quite how Gillian puts it, admittedly, but it’s not far off. (It should probably be noted that not all forms of ‘reading’ necessarily presume the specific type of ‘object’ that Gillian defines in her paper – more on that below).
Now, I happen to think that to a large extent both ‘new cultural geography’ and ‘the cultural turn’ really refer to a series of missed opportunities. And it’s in light of this prejudice of mine that I have been provoked by Gillian’s paper. Amongst other things, I have always wondered how this entire field has ever managed to be taken quite so seriously, indeed how it ever managed to take itself quite so seriously, while seeming to be constituted as if radio and television were never invented, or indeed as if The Beatles, Elvis, or The Supremes never happened (interesting work on these worlds had tended to be produced by economic geographers and others, not by cultural geographers). Cultural Geography has always seemed to me to be a bit un-Pop. This is partly, as my colleague Sam Kinsley has suggested, to do with an aversion to considering ‘vulgar’ cultural forms as worthy of attention; but as he further suggests, this has implications for how geographers think about what one might call the ‘ontology of media’.
My second frame for thinking about Gillian’s argument is a broader thought, another prejudice of mine if you will, about the ways in which human geography’s narratives of disciplinary ‘progress’ often tend to invest heavily in the idea that the best way of moving forward is by compounding a series of previously accumulated errors (see: ‘non-representational theory’).
So here, I want to pinpoint one or two aspects of Gillian’s argument about the challenge of digital technologies to cultural geography that might be framed slightly differently: partly these are matters to do with the constitutive elision of ‘the fact of television’, to borrow a phrase from Stanley Cavell, although I would be inclined to extend this into a more encompassing notion of ‘the fact of pop’; and beyond this, to questions of how to avoid mis-attributing to one specific media form a set of relational features around which a broader project of differentiating cultural mediums might be pursued.
1). The work of art before and after the age of digital reproduction
The focus of Gillian’s paper is with “the legacy of those new cultural geographers who were concerned to interpret cultural objects”. She is referring to what one might characterise as the self-consciously ‘arty’ end of the spectrum of approaches to cultural analysis in geography, not so much because of its focus on arty-artefacts per se, but because of a distinctively arty concept of the object of cultural analysis. As she puts it, the focus is on discerning the meanings of “stable cultural objects”, such as maps, buildings, films, novels, and photographs. The paper does not say so clearly, but this is a strand of work that has operated with a quite distinct set of understandings of “meaning” and “reading”, when compared, say to the type of ethnographic work on ordinary food cultures developed by Peter Jackson (which elaborates a clear sense of the notion that ‘meaning is use’), or the work developed by Don Mitchell excavating the hidden injuries of landscape, or indeed Gillian’s own work on the practices of domestic photography. I’ll leave it others to determine how extensive the particular strand of work targeted by Gillian in this piece is representative of the best of the whole field.
Gillian’s argument is that the assumptions about the stable objects of cultural geography have been unsettled by the rise of digital modes of cultural production and distribution. As she puts it, “since the creation of so many cultural objects – though certainly not all, and not everywhere – is digitally mediated now, the stable cultural object is currently the rare exception rather than the rule.” The related claim that “close reading of stable cultural objects is ill-equipped to engage with the defining characteristics of contemporary, digitally-mediated cultural activity” is true enough. But I do wonder why the kind of approach that Gillian focuses on in this discussion was ever considered adequate, 25 years ago and ever since? Or, to put it another way, why is it that it is the fact of digital technology that seems to be the occasion for presenting cultural geography (of one sort at least) with the challenge of grappling with the constitutive role of technologies of dispersal, iteration, recomposition and translation in cultural life? And further, what might be elided by making ‘the digital’ so central to this conceptual and methodological disruption?
In accounting for the predilection for analysing stable cultural objects, Gillian refers to Walter Benjamin’s account of ‘aura’. Her suggestion is that the canonical objects of cultural geography were ‘auratic’ objects: “the new cultural geography emerged at a historical moment when the vast majority of cultural objects could be traced back to an original: an original manuscript, a building, a reel of film, a map.” Gillian’s strong implication is that these forms are, indeed, auratic objects. Now, it seems more plausible that this may have been how cultural geography constructed its objects of analysis. Either way, in so far as it holds true, then it is actually quite extraordinary. Benjamin’s point, in so far as it is a simple one, was that the auratic understanding of cultural artefacts was lost to modernity, and that modern modes of cultural practice opened up wholly new forms of apprehending and experiencing meaning. The argument is an inherently spatial one, in so far as aura is a concept related to the here-and-now presence of a subject before an object as the scene for a certain sort of aesthetic experience. The loss of aura is, in turn, a kind of shattering or dislocation of aesthetic experience, but crucially, of course it is a ‘loss’ that is found to be always already inscribed within the movement of cultural life (I am paraphrasing here, and largely based on half-forgotten readings of Samuel Weber’s rendition of Benjamin’s work on ‘mediauras‘ and on the centrality of the suffix ‘-abilites‘ to Benjamin’s style of conceptual analysis).
To be clear, Gillian’s presentation of how cultural geography addresses a stable cultural object certainly rings true to me. But in so far as it is accurate, we should be clear that this is the result of a motivated theoretical construction, it is not a result of the innate characteristics of cultural practice three decades ago. The significance of Benjamin’s accounts of aura, of ‘the work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction’, of translation, and other themes, all written in the 1920s and 1930s, has always been in providing prescient resources for understanding the spatially dispersed and temporally strung-out forms of culture that already defined his time (print, film, radio) as well as ones soon to come (television, video, digital). Which gives rise to the question of how in the world cultural geography ever got away with holding so strongly to what, from a strictly Benjaminian perspective, looks like a distinctively pre-modern concept of culture?
Gillian’s claim in the paper is that received methods of “close reading” of “cultural texts” need to be reconsidered, indeed supplanted, because of the changes wrought by the rise of digital technologies: “For in the three decades or so since the emergence of the new cultural geography, both cultural objects and the technologies and practices in which they are embedded have altered significantly. Over the past 30 years there have been profound changes in the processes and practices of cultural production, in the circulation and display of cultural objects, and in the processes of audiencing, participation and critique.” Taken in isolation, this reads as an uncontroversial claim. But remember, what Gillian is arguing here is that these new developments challenge a notion of ‘stable cultural objects’ understood as more or less ‘auratic’ forms, containing more or less determinate meanings. My point is that this notion of culture was already redundant way back in the 1980s, when we were all busy learning to love our video machines and wrecking the music industry by taping the Top40 from the radio and listening to mix-tapes on our Walkmans. Cultural meaning did not become dispersed across multiple sites, spread across multiple media platforms, ‘massified’, or split up and recombined across fragile networks only recently, in the last couple of decades. Nor did this start in the 20s or 30s, when Benjamin was writing (his point is that it has always been happening, that it a movement that lies at the source of any and all ‘originals’).
I am trying to make two related points. First, that digital technologies no doubt introduce all sorts of new dimensions into cultural life, but that whatever these might be, they are not best understood by reference to the idea of stable cultural objects that have held cultural geography in thrall. Secondly, the stability of cultural objects presumed by cultural geography, according to Gillian’s account, should not be mistaken as some sort of inherent ‘material’ feature of forms such as the novel, films, or photographs. If this is how cultural geography thought of its objects of analysis from the 1980s onwards, then this is something that needs to be accounted for on other grounds (as a specific response to a certain intuition of loss, perhaps?). Approaching paintings, or photos, or novels as stable cultural objects to be read for meaning is a particular achievement, one that depends on various procedures such as practices of exhibiting, or paratextual networks of reviewing and marketing. Take, for example, the way in which ‘Film’ has become a staple object of analysis not just in cultural geography, but in other fields such as Classics and Political Theory in the last three decades. Before that, the academic analysis of Film, and its most famous theoretical products such as Auteur Theory or Screen Theory, were largely the preserve of specialist film schools. Now, we can all do it. This generalisation of ‘Film’ as a potential stable object of academic analysis is dependent, of course, on the widespread dissemination of video technology from the 1980s onwards, that is, it is dependent on the widespread and cheap distribution of an archive of film history, and the possibility of recording films off the telly, and in turn the possibility for anyone to watch and re-watch, stop and pause and rewind, and to do so not only as ‘research’ but also as a teachable methodology.
This is just one example of how the stable cultural objects that cultural geography focussed on were made available by a series of distributed, networked, mobile technologies that stand as the conditions of possibility of that imputed autonomy and stability. (You could make a similar argument about the degree to which the emergence of a shareable canon of Theory upon which ‘the cultural turn’ depended, that could be learnt and mastered even in an odd discipline like Geography, was dependent on the photocopier). And I invoke this example because it indicates how the attributes that Gillian defines as peculiarly new ones, associated with digital technologies, are not just discernible in other modes of cultural practice, but more precisely, that the erasure of these modes of mediation from ‘new cultural geography’ might well be the condition for the particular framing of the challenge of digital technology as it is now felt in geography and articulated so clearly in Gillian’s paper.
Gillian’s argument is that the artefacts of digital technologies are distinguished by three features, understood by reference to the magical signifier ‘materiality’: they are mutable, multimedial, and mass. I think the categories are really useful, but they clearly do not categorically distinguish digital artefacts from non-digital ones (they only appear to do so because of what we have established to be a bizarrely restrictive construction of the object of cultural-geographic analysis). I think there is a danger here of reserving for one particular mode of cultural practice, the digitally mediated, a set of features that actually should be better understood as relational terms of comparative analysis and judgement, as if they were attributes of a particular mode. The language of ‘materiality’ just reinforces this tendency, which is a kind of category error.
Lots of practices of meaning are mutable (you can forge other people’s handwriting, or fake photographs of Lee Harvey Oswald in the backyard (maybe)); lots of cultural forms are multi-medial (song is a theatrical form, an amplified form, a recorded form, only sometimes all at the same time; films have soundtracks); writing, as Raymond Williams memorably demonstrated, is a form inscribed in all sort of non-literary cultural forms, from public speaking to theatre to television and film (and digital technologies are significant not least, surely, for reviving and inventing a range of practices of literacy); and ‘mass’ culture, defined by what Gillian refers to as ‘the sheer amount of cultural production now’, but which really refers to a difficulty of containing and tracking where meaning flows that is not just about quantity, has been with us for quite some time, at least since the time of Caxton.
I suspect that the difference that digital technologies makes to these practices of translation, movement, and projection is better theorised in terms of the reconfiguration of parameters of speed, expertise, perhaps crucially, cost. Trying to pin down the distinctive features of digital technology by reference to the assumptions made about stable cultural objects, assumptions that we have seen depended on pretending that a whole history of modern media simply did not impinge on cultural-geographic analysis, threatens to misapprehend not so much what is new and different about digital technologies, but rather to misconstrue how to go about conceptualising what is new and different about any media practice. Going back to Benjamin, one thing we might think about is the idea that historically novel forms actually throw into new relief the characteristics of ‘old’ ones – they enable us to acknowledge features of the old ones previously unavailable to perception or sense. Related to this, we might pause and consider the degree to which thinking seriously about culture and media and technology really requires us to engage in some reflection on the nature of a particular sort of reasoning, namely analogical reasoning. ‘New’ media and the cultural forms they make possible are routinely made sense of through a process of selecting and enforcing authoritative analogies: this is the case in legal decision-making about new technologies; it is also evident in the very names given to innovative forms of cultural expression associated with new digital practices – forms such as e-mail, webpages, YouTube. These are not mere lazy affectations, they are small indices of the ways in which ‘new’ media forms emerge through process of learning that draw on formal and informal competencies to draw and act upon appropriate analogies.
Gillian’s analysis of these three features of digital technology culminates in a claim about the distinctive spatiality of digital culture, according to which the analytical challenge is to appreciate that “meaning is performed and materialized at specific sites; it is accessed, made to travel, searched for, modified, patched and laboured over in an uneven, variable and frictional network held together by diverse forms of work which do not always succeed in making meaning move.” This is a great description of how we might conceptualise the geography of meaning; only, it seems to me that it stands as a perfectly good description of modern print cultures, or of how broadcasting emerged as a cultural form in the 1920s, or indeed, a quite good paraphrase of what certain sorts of literary theorists once conceptualised as ‘textuality’. Again, my point is not to suggest that there is nothing new or distinctive or unsettling about digital media, just that the interesting question is to ask how these dimensions are configured by this mode of meaning-making, rather than supposing that they are emphatically characteristics of this mode alone.
There are important questions raised by Gillian’s paper about how one might approach the task of doing ‘media ontology’. I happen to think that thinking in terms of the ‘materialies’ of particular media or forms or technologies is likely to lead us astray, not least by encouraging the mis-atttribution of relational modalities or emergent ‘-abilities’ to singular forms or technologies. I prefer thinking about what Albert Hirschman liked to call ‘structural characteristics’ of practices, by which he meant the different combinations of spatial and temporal wiggle-room or latitude that shaped the pathways of different projects. I also like Cavell’s style of thinking through the ontology of film, as well as television, one which gets at what is distinctive about different mediums by asking, for example, what it is about a new medium that attracts disapproval. But more profoundly, Cavell thinks of the ontology of different mediums as what it is that they allow to be revealed or acknowledged about the human condition (and yes, this requires a certain sort of ‘reading’ of more or less canonical objects, but not of the sort which would be much approved of by cultural geographers I suspect (it would appear too naively characterological); besides, perhaps we should also allow that there is more than one way of ‘reading’ a ‘cultural text’, that Fredric Jameson’s style of addressing a film or novel as a totalising crystallisation of historical epochs is not quite the same as the reading by Robert Pippin of Westerns or Noir as allegories for certain recurrent political dilemmas, and further, that none of these examples looks much like anything undertaken in cultural geography).
Cavell’s discussion of ‘the fact of television‘ revolves around the idea that there might be something about TV that seems to resist acknowledgement, that it seems to be a medium distinguished by it being so taken-for-grantedly there and available (the occasion for Cavell’s discussion was the early 1980s ‘video revolution’). So the absence of TV from cultural geography is not necessarily a failure, it might be part of a broader phenomenon (one related, while I think about it, to the degree to which a great deal of critical academic discourse is shaped by an understanding of pressing political imperatives that derive from the world routinely disclosed to us as ‘News’). One of Cavell’s recurring concerns is with thinking of the distinctive qualities of different mediums in terms of genre. The problem of genre is for him the entry point for acknowledging the ontological qualities of film, or television, or painting. One of the qualities of film that passes over into television, he suggests, is the series; television, in turn, he suggests, is characterised not by particular objects, more by formats (like the sit-com). The point of recalling this sort of analysis is to indicate how the singular, stable objects of cultural analysis are made available to us from within these elusively structured modes of making meaning (and by the forms of forgetting that inhere within them too).
Anyway, all of this work about ‘genres’, ‘structural characteristics’, and ‘-abilities’ has one thing in common that might still meet with resistance from the paradigm of new cultural geography that Gillian’s paper addresses: none of it allows one to suppose that the best way of approaching cultural analysis is by supposing that cultural forms somehow shape or change subjectivities. The idea of subjectivity is the principle of totalization that continues to anchor cultural geography – from the presumption that culture is a medium for the construction or, worse, the production of subjectivity; to the ways in which this same idea remains the primary reference point for asserting the significance of stories about affectively imbued flows and encounters; and now, it seems, an interest in distinctive forms of digital or online subjectivity. It is this idea – that there is a thing called ‘subjectivity’ that it is the task of cultural analysis to comprehend in all its contingency and variety by attending to its modes of production – that is the most enduring feature of the paradigm of analysis that focusses on finding the meaning of stable cultural objects. And for as long as this anchor point remains in place, taken for granted even when disavowed, little progress will have been made in moving beyond the closures of the new cultural geography.
3). The pressure for meaning
I have been assuming throughout my discussion here that Gillian is essentially correct in saying that the new cultural geography rose to prominence through the elevation of a distinctive method of reading for the meanings of stable cultural objects. I have suggested that this should be recognised as a motivated construction, rather than a more or less natural response to the ‘materialities’ of pre-digital media cultures. And I have tried to raise some questions about what we are to make of this closure of questions about the mediums of media cultures, a closure that I think might well continue to frame discussions of the challenge presented by digital technologies to established paradigms of geographical analysis. I have also suggested there is one thing that remains constant across Gillian’s discussion of the new cultural geography and its stable cultural objects, and the new forms associated with the interfaces, frictions and networks of digital cultures: the assumption that the main thing at stake is understanding something called ‘subjectivity’. What remains constant, across more constructivist approaches, self-righteously ‘non-representational’ approaches, and new work on digital culture, is the strong idea that cultural technologies do things to people, and that understanding what they do to people is the key concern that justifies ‘critical’ analysis.
The persistence of this problematic of subjectivity is indicated by Gillian’s refrain about the need to attend to how the “forms of contemporary subjectivity” are being changed by digital technologies. Once upon a time, the idea that subjectivity was constructed through culture depended on the assumption of stable spatial and temporal relations between a singular cultural object and a fixed viewer/reader. These days, the image that recurs is one of mobile bodies immersed within environments saturated with affectively configured meanings, moving from one screen to the next. In both cases, ‘the subject’ is assumed to be totally encompassed within the milieu of its own subjection. It’s the recurring image that once underwrote important arguments about ‘cultural politics’ and assertions of ‘resistance’, and which now underwrites misanthropic arguments about the ability of states to manipulate people’s feelings or about the real subsumption of subjectivity to capital.
In Gillian’s argument, there is an analytical slippage involved in counterposing the idealised model of a viewer/reader in front of a photo, film, or book to a nuanced description of the conditions through which digital technologies enable cultural forms to be produced and circulated. This is not comparing like with like, it should be admitted. I’ve already suggested that the conditions through which those stable cultural objects are made available for analysis are not quite so different from the conditions defined as distinctively ‘digital’. But one might perhaps be a little more charitable towards the analytical constructs of the new cultural geography. One thing that this mode of analysis does at least begin to approximate is the ordinary ways in which cultural forms are apprehended – as novels, as films, and so on. The concepts of ‘reading’ invoked in such work were highly stylised version of more ordinary modes of engaging with cultural forms, to be sure. But they do at least acknowledge that people engage with identifiable cultural forms, and not with technologies. Gillian’s characterisation of the distinctive features of digital culture seems to take for granted the adequacy of the previous formation of stable cultural objects in their own time, but in the wrong way. Reckoning only with the obvious limitations of that paradigm threatens to erase its virtues (an appreciation of the ordinary forms through which culture circulates): a complex, nuanced understanding of the modes of production and distribution of cultural forms is, after all, only ever interesting in relation to a concern with those ordinary formations – it is not a substitute for them, and it is certainly not the secret to understanding how power is exercised through mediated cultural artefacts.
It is best not to think of any type of understanding of the conditions of meaning as somehow throwing ‘critical’ light upon ordinary forms of engagement; as revealing constructions of subjectivity, the exercise of power, or the manipulations of affect. It is better to think of any such understanding as a resource for the better appreciation of what is at stake in those ordinary forms of apprehending cultural forms. Having outlined an account of the networks through which digital culture circulates, Gillian suggests in her conclusion that there is a need for “a richer analytical vocabulary for the power relations performed through this convergent network”. Perhaps what is really needed is a reassessment of the very idea that culture is a medium for exercising power at all; and a reassessment too of the idea which anchors this assumption about power, namely that it is at all respectable to think of people’s subjectivities as primarily formed in a subordinate relationship with their favoured cultural forms. In fundamental respects, the paradigm of cultural analysis that Gillian dissects in this paper might well get things the wrong way around, making a mistake that the diagnosis of digital cultures is only likely to compound for as long as it is not recognised: what William Kentridge calls the ‘pressure for meaning’ is not best thought of as an imperative imposed upon subjects by so many produced, circulated, distributed, dispersed cultural forms; it is, rather, something that we bring to those forms, more or less expertly, more or less successfully, and with more or less serious or hilarious consequences.
Posted on 5 Aug 2014 by Clive
“Ontology is indeed doubly relative. Specifying the universe of a theory makes sense only relative to some background theory, and only relative to some choice of a manual of translation of one theory into the other”.
Deflating political ontology
Posted on 21 Mar 2013 by Clive
Looking for something else, I came across a piece by Martin Saar on the theme of
What is Political Ontology? It’s in the Dutch journal Krisis, and it is a review of the expanded, German-language edition of Oliver Marchart’s book on post-foundational political thought (it appears to have added a discussion of Agamben, amongst other things).
Saar raises three related questions at the end of his review. First, he notes that there might be more than one understanding of ‘ontology’ flying around discussions of political ontology and ontological politics – in addition to the by now rather standard Heideggerian-inflected one that Marchart elaborates, he notes a Deleuzian-materialist-pluralist style, and also a ‘social ontology’ version related to Hegelian-inflected styles (like Honneth I guess). He does not mention, but one might throw into the mix, the sense of ‘ontological politics’ that circulates around STS/ANT-inflected worlds, from Latour, John Law, Anne-Marie Mol and the like. This seems to be a quite distinctive (and preferable) notion of onto-talk, one which is more concerned with tracing the deep commitments that shape practices (as a result, it also seems to find it difficult not to find itself constrained to invent new and more complex ways of saying ‘constructed’), rather than making very grand philosophical claims about the foundationally post-foundational contingency of necessary contingency.
Saar’s second point is one about the practice of philosophy that political ontology represents – this is the theme that animates me, the sense that work of this sort is characterised by certain sorts of rhetorical and argumentative devices and conventions that might, if you look at them carefully, be somewhat at odds with proclamations about a democratic/emancipatory ethos and such things. And it relates to the third point that Saar raises, about the degree to which elaborate political ontologies premised on variants of the politics/political distinction struggle not to reduce ‘real’ politics to so many stylized facts which confirm one or other of the a priori propositions laid out by the theory – they are always cashed-out as ‘applied political ontology’ as Saar puts it. Again, a key difference from the ANT-STS style of ‘onto-pol’ talk, which informs rather more robust, that is, tentative, empirical work than does standard philosophized political ontology, whose great contribution to methodology has been to develop a weird style of semiotized ‘Discourse Theory’ which reduces all politics to a practice of naming (I find the claim made by adherents to the ontological-difference-equals-political-difference style of political theory which Saar is discussing in this piece, to the effect that this work is distinctive because unlike other political theories it puts conflict, contestation and antagonism at the centre of things, rather unconvincing on the face of it – this is an emphasis in all sorts of work, from Michael Walzer to Bernard Crick. What might be distinctive is the insistence on deriving these facets of political life from more or less elaborate philosophical claims about contingency, or lack, or abundance; and it is this move that seems to shape the methodological pay-offs of such work, which point in the direction of looking at what, in another theoretical idiom, one might call processes of framing as the privileged focus of analysis).
Does ‘ontology’ matter?
Posted on 4 Mar 2013 by Clive
At Social Epistemology, Zsuzsa Gille questions whether ontological positions on ‘matter’ have any necessary ‘political valence’ – in response to a piece by Myra Hird on indeterminacy and waste. I find it quite peculiar that people do still make arguments which presume that ontological claims have political significance – mainly, because the significance that they are meant to have always ends up looking a little predictable: things could be different, things are a little bit contingent, things are open to transformation, and by all sorts of influences, things could be more inclusive. Not sure one really needs a strong or even a weak ontology to find those sorts of ideas persuasive – the presumption that one does need ‘ontology’ to open up new political possibilities perhaps tells us more about what people think politics is, rather than what ‘ontology’ is good for.
Varieties of ‘the political’
Posted on 11 Feb 2013 by Clive
I gave a research seminar at Exeter last week, talking through an argument I have been knocking around for a while about how to draw on certain strains of political theory in order to clarify what cities might have to do with democracy. It’s actually quite difficult to set about this task at the moment without bumping into some version of an argument about the post-democratic city and the apparently post-political contemporary condition. But I did my best to do so, and for the most part succeeded.
I remain rather puzzled by just how much airtime the ‘post-political’ story has gotten, even if only as a reference point around which people interested in issues like contestation and democracy feel the need to orient themselves (in that sense, it surely qualifies as having a hegemonic status in more lefty varieties of human geography). There is something patently absurd about a frame of analysis, however wrapped around with citations and quotes from retro-style master philosophers, which predetermines in advance that all sorts of interesting looking political phenomena are not, in fact, properly political at all – because they seem not to conform to a risibly constricted definition of what the properly political should look like. There is more than a touch of Humpty-Dumpty in the way that the ‘post-political’ has come to be conceptualised in geography and urban studies and related fields.
The topic of the post-political did come up after the talk, in the Q&A and over coffee afterwards, and this set me to thinking, on the way home mainly, about the trajectory taken by ideas about ‘the political’ since I can first remember coming across them (I can remember reading Nancy Fraser write about this notion, and its importance to certain strands of French poststructuralism, when I started out as a graduate student, in her collection Unruly Practices; then in Simon Critchley’s book on The Ethics of Deconstruction, via the collections of Lefort’s writing published by Polity around that time). The first time you read about the distinction between ‘politics’ and ‘the political’, I suspect, in whatever form, it is an arresting idea. It can open up new avenues of inquiry. But as versions of this distinction have diffused through Theory-land, so it has become a progressively more simplistic theme.
In its ‘hegemonic’ form, the concept of ‘the political’ has become associated with a relentlessly dualistic style of thinking – one that offsets contestation against consensus, disruption against stability, openness against closure. Guess which side of each pair counts as being ‘properly’ political? Surely it shouldn’t be quite so difficult to imagine politics as involving, ‘properly’, a range of relationships between questioning, challenging, acting, deciding, enmity, friendship, compromise, brokering, deal-making, principle, antagonism, hypocrisy, and the like.
I think you can identify three broad variants of the politics/political distinction circulating in Theory-land, some of which might be more dominant in some fields in some times than the others (the three-fold distinction is a bit rough and ready, but hey, this is a blogpost remember, it’s not a refereed academic journal article).
1). First, most recently, there is the currently very loud variant which takes the form of diagnosing pretty much anything and everything as ‘post-political’ – via selective invocations of Zizek, Badiou, sometimes Ranciere, perhaps Mouffe, and never mind all the conflations involved. Perhaps also via a nod in the direction of some more or less antiquarian philosophical authority, Spinoza perhaps, or Aristotle (Marx has a famous line about Aristotle not being able to quite grasp the secret of the relation between human labour, equality, and value because he lived in a society founded on slavery. It seems to me the same thought might apply equally well to the question of just how far one should extend unquestioned authority to thinkers whose notions of, say, democracy were formulated before, for example, women were enfranchised).
This is the variant of ‘the political’ under which the politics of climate change, or of human rights, or of multiculturalism all turn out to be, yes, you guessed it, not properly political at all. As menacing to the properly political, as really oriented to closing down the properly political – because in some way apparently too concerned with compromise, coalition building, negotiation, bargaining, or other grubby practices very often thought to epitomise politics, for good or ill. Occupy, and notions of the Commons, would also seem to qualify as tending towards the post-political. The analysis of the post-political serves as an adjunct to discourses of ‘hegemonic neoliberalism’, and shares in some of the same problems – not least the tendency to over-estimate the degree to which the success of political programmes must depend on some degree of ideological trickery at the level of ‘subjectivization’.
As I have said, the defining feature of this variant is the claim that there is one, single, dare one say essential, sense of ‘the political’, which is proper (not necessarily real, but certainly proper). There is a common enough conflation of proper politics with proper democracy in this style of work, although the stronger inflection is one which just makes the properly political a smart way of saying ‘revolution’ – a notion which, if you think about, might not be terribly political itself, just a way of wishing for short cuts.
In discussions of the post-political, one finds the culmination of one strong tendency lying behind a range of conceptualisations of ‘the political’ – a more or less explicit reassertion of the primacy of philosophical reason over the impudence of social science, and/or over those more modest concepts of philosophical practice that presume that philosophy stands alongside rather than over and above other fields of inquiry. (In this respect, the latest round of strongly philosophically grounded arguments about the post-political stand in interesting contrast to the drift in other strains of non-‘Continental’ political theory and political philosophy to want to draw closer to empirical fields of political inquiry, in say the recent work of Raymond Geuss or Jeremy Waldron).
Methodologically, the analysis of our post-political condition depends on a weird slippage – when one finds an example of partisan political action making use of consensual rhetoric, or of a political action culminating in a decision being made in the favour of some interests rather than others, or at the expense of others, then what you have found, it turns out, is not politics being done at all, but the end of politics, the closing down of the properly political. One would have thought that it’s not that difficult to recognise that politics is a game that turns on different ways of relating the partisan and the common, the partial and the universal, the specific and the general, at the level of rhetoric and action; dare one say it, even the consensual and the a(nta)gonistic (that’s what compromise, bargaining, deal-making are after all). One might also think that the literature on the politics/the political distinction has some interesting ways of understanding the dynamics of those relations. One would have thought, too, that the fact that some people end up being better at politics than others – that it’s a game of winners and losers – could be understood as an important part of the game, worthy of some analytical attention, and not just interpreted as being an effort to end of the game.
2). The analysis of post-political conditions is a simplistic rendition of one tendency within a broader range of discussions of ‘the political’. In this broader tradition, out of which the post-political is distilled, you can find all sorts of versions of the distinction between politics and the political at work, presented in a variety of relations: ones of ontological depth, ones of constitutive outsides and closures, ones of imaginary constitutions. It would be worth considering just how ‘local’ this range of literature is, across its variety – it is shaped by a distinctively late-twentieth century response to mid-century historical events, mediated by a culturally specific discourse of totalitarianism.
There is no doubt plenty of scope here for the dualistic default which leads to the diagnosis of post-political conditions, but I suspect if read ‘properly’, oops, then what remains of value in work worrying away at the relation between politics and the political in a more or less ontological, more or less phenomenological lineage, is the sense of a non-reductive relationship between the ontic and the ontological, or perhaps the actual and virtual. The ‘retreat of the political’ was never just about the retreat of proper politics, after all. The problem may be the temptations offered by the conceptual spatialisations of constitutive outsides and distributions of the sensible – all to easily lending themselves as they do to an application to stylized social facts in which the aim is to hunt down closures and exclusions and expulsions and repressions, always ready to re-energise the properly political if given half the chance.
In this variant of ‘the political’, it would seem to me that the lesson is that a particular formation of ordinary politics could always be thought of as an expression of some possible variety of ‘the political’; or perhaps as disclosing some hitherto unimagined possibility of ‘the political’. And there is no reason to suppose that these manifestations necessarily close off or exclude potentials. Why should we conceptualise politics or the political according to this economy of scarcity, after all?
The difference in interpretation I am suggesting here is something like the difference between a straightforward notion of something being lost in the translation of a text, and a more ‘Benjaminian’ notion of translation being the medium in which translat-ability is disclosed as the very life of the text. By which I mean, first, that there is nothing proper about the political or politics; and second, that in trying to think about politics and change, it might be better to look ahead rather than constantly look backwards.
3. My sense of there being a third variant of the concept of ‘the political’ is meant to gesture at a less canonical understanding – it might still have some theoretical ummph behind it, with reference to Pierre Rosanvallon for example; or Habermas even, or Latour, or Foucault, or other thinkers who less obviously belong to the canon of thinking that underwrites discussions of the political and the post-political (or sit less easily in it at least). Whether or not one can authorise this third variant of thinking about ‘the political’ by reference to appropriate thinkers, it actually seems to me to be the only interesting thing one can do with the politics/’the political’ distinction once you have read about it for the second, third or fourth time. This variant of ‘the political’ is a more resolutely genealogical understanding, departing more fully from the recurrent tendency to model discussions of the political on some more or less sophisticated understanding of ontological difference. Here, all that the concept of the political does, and all that the implied distinction that it opens up helps with, is to point you in the direction of looking at the hand-in-hand mutations of the forms and contents of politics. Of course, you still need some working notion of what counts as politics and/or political do this, but there is no reason to suppose our working definitions have to pick out a depth of ontological solidity of some sort, however fluid and wobbly those depths might turn out to be, or alight on some ahistorical notion of the properly political act. I’m not sure a genealogy of politics, or of anything faintly political, could possibly get under way if you thought that there was something proper to politics and the political. It would be a kind of contradiction in terms.
So I guess this all leaves me thinking about why the genealogical interpretation of what is, after all, a fairly simple idea (that what shows up as political in one context might not show up in others, that political issues are framed differently in different situations, that new issues and new understandings of politics can emerge, and that these boundaries are where some, not all, political action takes place), why the genealogical interpretation seems not to resonate more strongly. And why, even when it does, it easily falls back onto judgments about closures and exclusions. This might have something to do with the imperative of ‘The politics of …’ in contemporary Theory-land – the demand that each and every analysis have a political point to it. The analysis of post-political trajectories seems to be perfect for this sort of task – it lends itself easily to the challenge of having not only to describe and explain social events, but to pass judgment on them too, by providing a ready-made template for identifying closures and exclusions, naturalisations and orderings, norms enforced or norms evaded (which is, of course, what a norm is, one way or the other).
The judgement of things being or trending to the ‘post-political’ allows you to have your normative cake without having to pay the normative price: by suggesting that it is proper politics per se that is menaced, you don’t really have to go into great detail about whether particular patterns of decision or inaction are justified or not. You just need to invoke a vague, unspecified sense of proper politics as being all about contestation and questioning, perhaps calling this democracy too. This normative duplicity works not least through the persistent spatialisation of political concepts in this strain of work, allied to the ‘scarcity’-based interpretation of concept of ‘the political’. But think about it for just a moment: decisions, to take one favoured example, don’t exclude, or close things off. They are particular types of action that take place in time, and things go on after they are taken, in more or less anticipated directions. In short, diagnoses of the ‘post-political’ this-or-that have no meaningful sense of political time.
Affect theory: the debate continues (sort of)
Posted on 29 Aug 2011 by Clive
William Connolly’s response to Ruth Leys’ critique of affect theory is in the latest issue of Critical Inquiry, and Leys has a follow-up comment. Connolly’s response is rather weak – he basically re-asserts the outlines of his theory of neuro-mediated affective priming of subjects, including the half second delay story, and dodges the primary issue raised by Leys’ original critique – which is to do with the status ascribed to certain sorts of scientific claims, and the forms of reasoning about action and practice that these authority claims are typically used to support.
The evasion of this central issue is revealed not least in the stylistic tic that distinguishes Connolly’s theoretical exegesis – he tends to ‘join’ or ‘endorse’ the position of various theorists – James, Whitehead, Spinoza, the usual suspects – which of course he presents as basically in alignment with his own position. There is a kind of argumentative closure effected in this form of exposition – the views of these thinkers get amalgamated to the current orthodoxy on affect, and the authority of those affectively attuned ontologies get bolstered by this authoritative reference at the same time. (The same issue of Critical Inquiry also has an interesting looking critique of Badiou’s use of set theory as a foundation for ontology, which raises the same issues of external authority-claims in social theory).
There is also an interesting piece on Connolly’s theory of subjectification in the new issue of Theory and Event, more sympathetic on the face of it but also quite critical in terms of the reading of neuroscience (not to say the peculiar fixation on film theory). And a few weeks ago, Benedikt Korf pointed me in the direction of Roger Cooter’s interesting critical work on neuroethics, recommended by Felicity Callard, who is currently working at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin on projects related to ‘critical neuroscience’ and cultural constructions of the brain. This latter type of work takes a genealogical approach to developments in biosciences and neuroscience, rather than extending excessive credulity towards popularised versions of these fields in order to develop new, radical (political) ontologies. The History of Human Sciences had a special issue on these topics last year which is also in this genealogical vein, examining the ways scientific fields are ‘applied’ by providing causal accounts of human behaviour for various fields of practice and policy.
In geography, debates about these issues still seem to be at the level of differences over which theoretical approach is the best one to ‘endorse’. My colleague at the OU, Steve Pile, has had the temerity to endorse a slightly different approach to thinking about affect and emotions to the one currently most in favour in cultural geography (an ever expanding field with ever narrowing intellectual horizons), and to make a few fine distinctions along the way, and has provoked various more or less grumpy responses as a result. A feature of these debates in geography is a continuing hang-up about finding firm grounds for hoping that things could be different – hence the current fascination with various philosophical and scientific accounts of ‘plasticity’ and/or ‘creativity’.
The Leys/Connolly debate (such as it is, given that Connolly’s response is a study in evasion), is then indicative of a broader divide between two styles of cultural theory circulating at the moment – a genealogical style, and a style inclined towards the affirmation of ontological visions. And discussions of affect and neuro-stuff are just one area where this divide shows up these days.
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Do you want to know how to create an app that solves users’ problems, develops a bond between them and a brand, and at the same time increases sales? This is a challenge that requires a proper plan.
Our workshops based on the Product Design Sprint method can help you with that. We rely on the design thinking approach and focus on user experience.
Each design workshop is divided into several stages. During the session, multidisciplinary team does the research on the expectations potential users have. The goal is it find out what are the real market demands.
We also create our solution proposals. As a result, everyone involved in product development process knows what users expect. This way, the team can prepare their own project roadmap.
Effective way to reach your goal
This method is not only exceptionally productive, but also relatively fast. There’s often a long way from the ideation to realization – full of discussions that can last for hours. And their effectiveness is sometimes hard to predict. Workshops optimize this process.
In just a few hours you will be able to determine whether the idea for your product has a chance to succeed and what are the most promising ways of its development. Workshops will also help you estimate the cost of the whole venture and specify what resources do you need. All this knowledge significantly reduces business risk.
Benefits
Deep knowledge of both users and competition allows you to create refined products. It also helps you avoid making expensive errors.
Defining clear goals and main features of the app enables us to choose technological solutions that guarantee the best performance.
Reduced risk
Adjusting the roadmap to company’s technological and financial possibilities minimizes the risk of your venture.
During the workshop, you will find out what are the essential issues that can determine the success of your product.
Get to know what are the users’ problems, needs, and motivations.
Check out what users do to achieve their goals and what do they value the most in apps.
If you already have an existing product, determine why users rarely get back to your app.
Who should take part in the workshop?
Startups with ideas for an app but no clue how to plan a roadmap and what technologies to choose.
Companies that have been operating in the market for many years and want to create a new product that answers real-life problems of their target group.
Brands that think about changing their products and need to know how to improve them.
It doesn’t matter how complex is your idea for a product. Conclusions we come to during the workshops can optimize the development process of both complicated and simple projects.
If you want to know more about this approach visit SprintStories.com where participants of Product Design Sprint workshops from many different companies and industries share their experiences. Take a look and find out if this method is right for your business.
Usually, the Product Design Sprint workshop is a series of meetings that can last a couple of days. What we offer you is a shortened process that takes 6 to 8 hours. During this time we will focus on understanding users’ needs, problems, and motivations. We will also try to answer them and determine what technologies can help us achieve our goals.
What do we focus on?
Defining users’ needs and expectations, checking the competition and estimating our own possibilities.
Preparing a roadmap that takes available resources, time limits and financial restrictions into account.
Designing a basic version of the product that solves users’ problem and distinguishes a product from the competition.
Selecting solutions that will make it possible to ensure users with the best experience.
Mapping out navigation paths that let users intuitively move within the app and take advantage of its key features.
Goals and assumptions
We determine what knowledge about the product we already have and interview the person who came up with the idea for it. It allows us to find out what were the initial assumptions behind the conception. Then we go through the information about the target user persona and the ideas for implementation. We also set business goals that our product should help achieve.
We get to know the users. For this very reason, we fill out User Centered Design Canvas – a tool that lets us understand their motivations. It also helps us define the idea for the product. During this exercise, we determine what problems users deal with when they try to achieve their goals. We need to realize which parts of this process are frustrating and which ones are joyful. At the end, we define how exactly our product helps the target group and what makes it unique compared to the competition. Based on this we formulate a Unique Selling Proposition.
This exercise consists of 6 stages. It makes it easier to design a basic version of a product. First, we analyze the competition and define what is valuable in their solutions, but also what do they lack. The next step is the prioritization of problems. We need to find out what should we focus on while designing our product. Then we look for the solutions and choose the best ones. Last but not least, we create an MVP. It’s a version of the product with a minimal set of features that solve user’s problem and at the same time distinguish the app from the competition.
Our task at this point is to define what interactions allow users to obtain selected goals. This means we have to prepare a user flow diagram. With this tool, it’s easier to understand user’s way of thinking and see if the navigation really is intuitive.
Finally, we prepare a report from the workshops with all the knowledge and insights gathered during the session. The document also features the app development plan. You’ll find there all the materials prepared during each stage along with conclusions.
We determine what knowledge about the product we already have and interview the person who came up with the idea for it. It allows us to find out what were the initial assumptions behind the conception. Then we go through the information about the target user persona and the ideas for implementation. We also set business goals that our product should help achieve.
We get to know the users. For this very reason, we fill out User Centered Design Canvas – a tool that lets us understand their motivations. It also helps us define the idea for the product. During this exercise, we determine what problems users deal with when they try to achieve their goals. We need to realize which parts of this process are frustrating and which ones are joyful. At the end, we define how exactly our product helps the target group and what makes it unique compared to the competition. Based on this we formulate a Unique Selling Proposition.
This exercise consists of 6 stages. It makes it easier to design a basic version of a product. First, we analyze the competition and define what is valuable in their solutions, but also what do they lack. The next step is the prioritization of problems. We need to find out what should we focus on while designing our product. Then we look for the solutions and choose the best ones. Last but not least, we create an MVP. It’s a version of the product with a minimal set of features that solve user’s problem and at the same time distinguish the app from the competition.
Our task at this point is to define what interactions allow users to obtain selected goals. This means we have to prepare a user flow diagram. With this tool, it’s easier to understand user’s way of thinking and see if the navigation really is intuitive.
Finally, we prepare a report from the workshops with all the knowledge and insights gathered during the session. The document also features the app development plan. You’ll find there all the materials prepared during each stage along with conclusions.
Build your new project with us
Let's talk about details
Let us know what goals you want to achieve with this design workshop. We will keep that in mind while preparing for the session. So at the end of the day, the result could meet your expectations and help you create a well-performing app. The one that will satisfy both you and your users.
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If you're a budding entrepreneur, you own a company, or you simply have great ideas and want to make them come to life without breaking the bank, then 'IDEAS MAN' will inspire you, delight you, amuse you and show you how to make your goals happen...
Shed's incredible experiences show you how unleashing the ideas inside you can bring you huge success and take you on the most exciting adventures.
You can buy it by clicking HERE
This is a quote about the book from comedian and author Jimmy Carr: "Shed is a cross between Anthony Robbins and Woody Allen - he's easily as funny as Robbins and inspirational as Allen. Anyone who's ever had an idea and wanted to make it happen should read 'Ideas Man'"
Sheridan ‘Shed’ Simove is a modern-day inspirational guru. He lives and breathes ideas. Every day of his life dozens of new ideas spring from his astonishingly active mind. The ideas can relate to pretty much anything – TV shows, ranges of sweets, executive toys, greeting cards, money-making schemes – the list is endless. And if an idea hasn’t been done before, then Shed is sure to attempt it...
IDEAS MAN is the true story of this visionary maverick’s amazing adventures. At breakneck speed, Shed describes how to create an idea, how they can succeed or sometimes disastrously fail. Some of Shed's ideas include: a range of adult sweets called ‘Clitoris Allsorts’, a groundbreaking documentary that involved him going undercover as a 16-year-old schoolboy (when he was 30) and the launch of his own currency – the ‘EGO’.
IDEAS MAN is a unique book written by a completely extraordinary character. A hilarious and inspirational real-life tale of eccentricity and enthusiasm, it’s perfect for anyone who’s ever had a dream and wondered how to make it come true. Shed is living proof that you really can make it happen...
You can buy it by clicking on this link: Shed Simove's great book - IDEAS MAN
If you've ever had a dream or a wish… be it a promotion at work, a wacky new invention or a dream you felt was far out of reach… get this book. If it gives you nothing else it will give you a chuckle, but who knows, it might just have that missing ingredient in it that makes you get up and go…Inspiring, creative and funny…
You will find this book inspiring, you will laugh out loud and you might even start a fresh way of thinking after dipping in and out of this book…
From opening the book from the wrapper I didn't put it down and within 24 hours I had read it!!!!
Shed's determined and very funny and sets out a blueprint from taking your ideas, however weird and bring them to life and hopefully make some money out of them.
I will re-read this book on holiday after all as its such as good read!
I loved this book. This is a must read for entrepreneurs who will be inspired by Shed's roller coaster journey, but it will also resonate with anyone who has ever had a crazy idea and wondered what might happen if they actually got off the sofa and did something about it.
Really liked this book. From my perspective the difference between this book and many others is that you get a sense of what one individual needs to go through to get an idea off the ground which is often over-looked in business books who tend to focus to much on the back office process and ignore the actually "doing" aspect.
This book is good value for money. Not only do you get a thoroughly readable and fascinating autobiography of a rather unusual individual, but also practical tips on how to capture ideas and turn them into adventures, as Shed himself has done. Taking a trip into Shed's bizarre world, you will discover what it takes to break into the world of television, the novelty (often naughty!) product business, authorship, art...
One of the reasons I choose to live in England is that just occasionally you stumble on an eccentric like Shed and with this book I was able to jump along for the ride, if just for a while.
Interesting… and inspiring too. Shed is telling you how he did things, not necessarily how you should; but I find that there are a lot of good tips in there.
I love this book. The author…is celebrating the kind of ideas all of us - every one of us - can and do have every day.
The difference between him and the rest of us is he doesn't just dream about it, he makes it happen. That's why this is a true inspiration. If this doesn't make you think "I could do that" then nothing will. Buy this book and turn those dreams into reality.
A true tale of sheer ruddy persistence. With a stand out chapter detailing his endeavours as a thirty something masquerading as a midlands schoolboy, baggy trousers and all, the book is an inspirational read, guaranteed to leave you feeling creative. Simove undoubtedly proves "action is the foundational key to all success".
There are two kinds of reader for "Ideas Man": the first will be intrigued to know what goes on in the mind of a powerfully ideas-oriented person. The second will identify themselves in Sheridan Simove and will be utterly unable to put the book down for fear of missing a moment of his tales. I read the book in three sittings because frankly, real life has a way of creeping in and interrupting valuable thought processes. If I was lacking inspiration before, it's back, baby! And all thanks to a clever, driven, creative genius known as Shed. Buy this book to be inspired, entertained and motivated…
G.Lo
Honestly the best book I have ever read.
- my copy of the book arrived this morning
- I woke up at twelve and started reading, instantly hooked
- it's now 3am and I've just finished it
- tomorrow I will wake up at twelve and probably read it again
Shed has an intriguing writing style which will draw you into a story to the point where you are completely hypnotized by the ups and downs, this guy has had an incredible life, and it makes for a very interesting read. If you want an inspiring, funny, clever, and above all thought provoking read, buy this book!! I for one am eagerly awaiting his next release...
Shed Simove is a writer who is that very rare combination of inspiring and funny. As you read 'Ideas Man' you really get caught up in the sense of genuine excitement and 'have a go' spirit that has taken Shed on so many of his adventures. It also inspires you to think that maybe just having a go rather than second guessing every possible consequence is a far more rewarding state of mind.
My lasting memory of reading the book is that it felt like a good friend was excitedly telling me in person about some of the adventures he had been on. When the book came to an end, it was almost like that friend had unfortunately had to leave-I hope he will come back with more stories and adventures very soon.
Nolan Bushnell said "Everyone who's ever taken a shower has an idea. It's the person who gets out of the shower, dries off and does something about it who makes a difference". Shed is one of those rare people who dreams up wild and wacky ideas, and then actually goes out and does whatever it takes to get them implemented. An entrepreneur is likely to face many challenges and obstacles when chasing his or her dreams - and the book provides a highly entertaining account of how one man went about overcoming these obstacles through impressive tenacity and unbridled passion. For anyone who has an idea ruminating at the back of their mind, the book is both inspiring and sobering at the same time - and this is its real value.
Whether you're a creative type, entreprenur, or are simply someone who has had ideas but never "taken action" to get results, this book will give you a firm kick up the backside to go and do something about living your dreams. This book really hits the spot as is written in a way that will make you want to finish it in one sitting.
This book is a great read. It's amusing, informative, thought provoking and inspiring.
It's an eye opener to the possibilities that are out there and gives good ideas about how to go about getting something done!
I will probably buy copies of the book as a Xmas present for my friends. The great thing about the tale is not just its humour but its proof that one man and one idea can make the difference.
This is an honest, enthusiastic and heartfelt book written by a creative genius who knows how to get things done. Shed for PM, anyone?
Shed's adventures are as exciting and interesting as they are varied. The book is a constant reminder that anything is possible if you put your mind to it and whilst not every opportunity will lead to success, far better to have tried and failed than not to have tried at all.
If you have always wondered if your ideas are worth exploring or if they are worth turning into reality then this book will give you the boost you need to go and do something about it. Highly recommended.
Ever had an idea and wondered how to turn it into reality? Then this is your call to arms. Shed carries you along with his infectious enthusiasm and open engaging style of narrative. This is no doubt a very funny book but beyond that lies an intriguing and inspirational journey of one man on his quest to make a success of himself by following his dreams. This time next year Rodney…
I don't get the time to read as often as I would like, so it is with great care that I pick my books. Originality is key - I want it to be a new, exciting and uplifting experience - and this book certainly delivers. I challenge you to read it and not feel invigorated and inspired!!
Mrs Nicola H Williams
While so many books on creativity lean towards the pompous, Shed's book is disarmingly honest. He details his crashing failures with humility and humour, so you are aching for him to succeed. And he does - in so many original ways! What I really loved, though, was Shed's generosity. He offers a practical written and visual breakdown (plenty of pics) of what it takes to market a novelty product, publish a book, etc in the real world. This book should be on every creative's bookshelf as an inspiration, a marketing tool and quite simply, a touching and thought provoking read.
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For one leading pharmaceutical laboratory, success and double-digit sales growth came with a cost: an overburdened supply chain that threatened to reduce market share.
The effort vastly improved the company’s planning and execution functions, they knew that in order to succeed in this era of technology their accounting systems needed to be much more robust than what they are. They turned to WP consulting to improve their accounting systems.
The biggest challenge was that Arguzo was not utilizing technology properly. Too much of the work was still being recorded manually, which meant that the numbers took a long time to note down and then to be analyzed. Live data was also not available and decisions can only be made after all the required data and been received. This was holding Arguzo back; they knew they could corner more of the market if they had the ability to be more mobile. The work addressed three critical issues for Pharm Ltd.:
Improve sales and operations and production planning:
The teams focused their efforts on a few of the highest-value S&OP levers in order to review the current planning process, identify gaps in the planning infrastructure and analytically understand demand and supply variability.
With hundreds of medications in the market, Pharm Ltd. needed a proper method to predict and manage their inventory. Using a mean absolute percentage analysis (MAPE), the teams defined appropriate levels for raw materials and finished products by mapping actual versus forecasted sales on the most important SKUs.
The diagnostic determined the stressors that affected sales and service levels. The teams focused on resolving issues related to higher-than-normal back-orders and lead times, which stressed the entire supply chain and led to delays in medications reaching consumers.
solution
The solution WP consulting came up with combined cutting edge technology with real world practicality. Everyone knew that the systems had to be updated, the real challenge was updating them without disrupting the whole organization in a negative way. The solution was to introduce proper workload management done through computers, while providing mobile platforms to the stakeholders.
This allowed the workers to be involved in the job instead of feeling like they had been made redundant by technology.
results
Arguzo employees are now more empowered; Arguzo also has the benefit of generating reports instantaneously whenever needed. They can now make decisions on the fly based on the latest real time data.
The effort vastly improved the company’s planning and execution functions, created and implemented a new stock policy that accounted for specific SKUs and key variables, streamlined the order preparation process and reduced distribution transport times.
By the numbers, the effort:
Reduced lead time by 43%
Decreased variability by 50%
Lowered the risk of back-order by 95%
Increased stock for finished goods by 10%
how can we help you?
Contact us at the Consulting WP office nearest to you or submit a business inquiry online.
I hired People Solutions Center to assist with the new handbook, as well as job descriptions and a position that I had available. Within two weeks, we had a rough draft of our handbook and with minor changes, our handbook was completed.
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The A18 squirrel trap is one of the most popular types of rat and mouse traps on the market. It works by recreating a gas-powered animal suffocation chamber, allowing you to capture a dead animal without harming it. Unlike other rat and mouse traps, the A18 can still be used after 18 dead animals have been trapped inside. Ideally, you should check the A18 squirrel trap every week or biweekly, to ensure that it is still working properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does A18 trap work?
Will Goodnature A24 work on squirrels?
How does the Goodnature trap work?
Does Goodnature rat trap work?
Is the A24 trap powered by electricity?
The A18 squirrel trap is co2 powered and is designed for a variety of environments, including gardens and backyards. The A18 is very easy to install and features an automatic reset feature that can kill up to 18 animals per co2 canister. The trap comes with a tree mount, a lure pouch, a bait basket, and a success guide. There are also a variety of other accessories that you can use with the trap, including a detachable lure, a bait basket, and a bait-dispensing mechanism.
There are many advantages to the A18 squirrel trap, such as its low maintenance requirements and self-clearing and self-resetting capabilities. Compared to other conventional traps, it requires very little maintenance. The Goodnature A18 requires just a gas cylinder and a lure. These two components are the only items that you need to replace. When you’re done setting up your new squirrel trap, you can simply set it up in the tree, and wait for your animal to fall into the pit.
The A18 squirrel trap is designed to be fastened prominently to a tree at head height. Its features are similar to those of the Kania squirrel trap, such as the ability to self-clearing and self-resetting. It als
o requires less maintenance than conventional traps. The A18 requires only a gas cylinder, a lure, and a bait. You can buy a gas cylinder, lure, and bait separately.
The A18 squirrel trap has a range of advantages. In addition to its multi-catch features, it is also durable and effective. The A18’s lure is long-lasting and is highly attractive to squirrels. It can be painted to camouflage your house and kill the squirrels in your yard. The A18 is also approved for sale in England and Scotland. It’s easy to use and is effective.
This squirrel trap uses a piston that retracts its rat or mouse as soon as it is dead. Once the dead animal has been trapped, the A18 uses a gas-powered reservoir to reset the mechanism. The A18 can kill a squirrel up to 18 times before a new cartridge is needed. Moreover, the A18 contains a lure that can last up to 18 months before it needs to be replaced.
The A18 squirrel trap is a great choice for people who have a problem with squirrels in their yard. It is an effective trap that uses a food lure. Aside from being effective and long-lasting, it is also rust-proof and can withstand all weather conditions. Its trigger is also sensitive, so the animal will not be able to escape the trap. So, if you have a pet squirrel in your yard, you should definitely consider getting this product.
This co2 powered A18 squirrel trap is perfect for residential and commercial use. It is easy to install and uses a gas cylinder. The cylinder can be replaced easily and the entire unit will reset up to eighteen times on a single co2 canister. In addition, the lure is long-lasting and will last for many years. The a18 squirrel trap is an excellent tool for anyone looking to control their backyard’s squirrel population.
Goodnature’s A18 squirrel trap is the co2 powered version of their popular A17 trap. It is easy to set and reset. The A18 has an automatic countdown that resets the trap every 18 times with a single co2 canister. The A18 also includes a tree mount and a 250g lure pouch. It also comes with a success guide. If you have a grey squirrel problem, you’ll have to invest in a Goodnature A18.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does A18 trap work?
The trap is powered by a CO2 cylinder, and it attracts the target species with a dedicated, long-life grey squirrel lure.
Will Goodnature A24 work on squirrels?
Results have shown that if it is deployed in three 80 × 80 m, it reduced the relative abundance ground squirrels on average by 84.8% over a period of nine days
How does the Goodnature trap work?
The trap is powered by compressed gas and uses long-lasting, pest-specific lures. When a pest brushes a sensitive leaf-trigger, a steel-core piston strikes its skull, killing it instantly.
Does Goodnature rat trap work?
Yes, it works and it has proven effective over the years.
Is the A24 trap powered by electricity?
No, it resets after every strike.
Jessica Watson is a PHD holder from the University of Washington. She studied behavior and interaction between squirrels and has presented her research in several wildlife conferences including TWS Annual Conference in Winnipeg.
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Jessica Watson is a PHD holder from the University of Washington. She studied behavior and interaction between squirrels and has presented her research in several wildlife conferences including TWS Annual Conference in Winnipeg.
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This weekend, we got the glorious sight of baseball games that included the St. Louis Cardinals on our television screens. Yes, it was the beginning of spring, meaning that only part of the regulars played in each game and they only got a couple of at bats before turning it over to folks that are on the way up, whether with a real shot or more organizational soldiers. Still, it was Cardinal baseball and that’s got to count for something. The winter is thawing and we’ve got new things to discuss rather than wondering for the 829th time what the deal is with Bryce Harper.
Before the action on Sunday, the Cardinals and Jose Martinez agreed on a two-year, $3.25 million deal. It wasn’t an extension because the Cards had his rights for this year and the three seasons afterwards. It didn’t even buy out much arbitration, leaving him two of those arb seasons after the deal has expired. What it did do is (assuming an even split of the money) about triple his salary for this year and lock him into an amount for next season. Given how up in the air his usage is going to be this year, it won’t hurt him to be a bench bat like it might have had he gone to an arbitration hearing. Then again, the Cards have gone to a hearing once in the last twenty years so most likely they’d have settled with him anyway, but this means a strong season from Martinez (who does have some incentives in this deal) won’t put the club in a weaker negotiating position.
The Cardinals framed this (I’m not casting aspersions, because this probably was a large portion of their thinking) as a chance to do right by Martinez. Apparently there were Japanese teams interested in him, but the Cardinals didn’t want to sell his rights and lose him over there. That meant Martinez was losing out on some money and the club decided to make it up to him by offering this contract. While the amount is chump change for the organization, they also did not have to do this. I’m not saying that it should completely counteract the “club is cheap” narrative, but it is some supporting evidence for those that argue against that premise. They could have kept him on at the minimum and squeezed a little more into the bottom line. It also allowed Martinez the security to do something for his family, who are dealing with the political unrest in Venezuela.
It is interesting that the Cards have been a part of “doing right” for a while. I’m sure other teams have similar issues at times, but you have this contract plus the Stephen Piscotty trade given the situation around his family. (There was another example floating in my head last night, but I’m up too early this morning for it to come to mind.) As Tara pointed out last night while we were doing Gateway to Baseball Heaven, there has been some negative connotations about coming to play in St. Louis. Perhaps this is the front office’s way, in part, of doing a little bit to repair that reputation.
Also, if you want to be cynical, with this move Roster Resource notes that the estimated Opening Day payroll just ticks above the ending 2018 payroll, meaning that they have spent more than they saved this winter. It’s statistically insignificant and a virtual wash, but it does give the front office just one more talking point should they want to go that route.
It’s good to see Martinez get a little stability and hopefully this will let him help his family, but that doesn’t necessarily lock him up into the future of the Cardinals. (You may remember what deals to Allen Craig and Piscotty meant for their future.) Having a year of arbitration out of the way could be an attractive thing for other teams come trade time. While I do think the Cards are probably done shopping him from their end, they well might entertain some calls depending on how the season goes. Again, I know the organization thinks highly of Martinez, as do his teammates, but even here, baseball is a business and we already know how tight those bench roles are going to be.
Speaking of, Jedd Gyorko might be the only real loser in this situation. With Martinez not going anywhere (at least for a while), Gyorko could be the one that gets dealt to free up a spot on the 25-man (as well as the 40-man, which will need at least one person cleared to get Francisco Pena on the roster). There’s not much you can take from this weekend’s games, given that they are the first two of the season, but it is worth noting that Drew Robinson went 2-4 with a double coming off the bench Saturday and then went 2-3 starting on Sunday. Again, that doesn’t mean that Robinson is making the team or anything, but the club has been vocal about wanting a left-handed bat on the bench, which is why they traded for Robinson in the first place. If the Cards go with 12 hitters (which is not guaranteed, but a shorter bullpen presents its own problems), that’s four bench spots. One is Pena, one is Martinez, and if Robinson can lay sufficient claim to a spot for himself, that leaves Gyorko, Tyler O’Neill, and Yairo Munoz vying for that last chair. The other two do have options so that’s the path of least resistance, but you can argue whether it gives you the best squad.
Possibly the topic that got the biggest buzz over the weekend was the spring debut of Ryan Helsley. Trying to follow in Jordan Hicks‘s footsteps (though he’s already done almost as much as Hicks did last spring), Helsley flashed his power arsenal at the Marlins on Saturday, hitting triple digits while striking out three. You’ll remember, of course, that at Winter Warmup last January John Mozeliak discussed three pitchers he thought could make an impact on 2018–Hicks, Dakota Hudson, and Helsley (who has too many Ls in his name for me to regularly spell it right). Two of them did make the club eventually, but injuries held Helsley back. Again, the bullpen is a situation where there are way too many arms for not enough spots, so it’s difficult to see how they could get Helsley on the roster. If he keeps up like this, though, they well may find a way.
Other than that, you don’t really want to draw a lot of conclusions about the results this week–good or bad; even as we mention Robinson above, remember he could easily go 0-for-the-week and be back to a AAA ticket. Yes, Dexter Fowler didn’t get off to the best of starts, going 0-2 with a strikeout. You know who else did that yesterday? Paul Goldschmidt, and I doubt–well, I at least sincerely hope no one is calling for that trade to be reversed. Fowler did also misplay a ball, I hear (I didn’t get a chance to see it yesterday) and it would have been better for everyone’s piece of mind to see that improved Fowler we’ve hoped for all winter rather than something that looked a little like 2018. That said, it’s one game, two at bats. It’s hard to really take that sample and draw reasonable conclusions from it. Let’s see where Fowler is two weeks from now before we really start to get concerned.
Mike Shildt also named Miles Mikolas as the Opening Day starter, which was really not a surprise. They weren’t going to go with Jack Flaherty for that honor just yet and while you could make a case that Carlos Martinez should get it, his injury put that possibility out to pasture. Mikolas also looked good Saturday (which, as the announcement was made before the game, obviously played no role in the decision) and hopefully we’ll see another solid year from the pitcher. Nothing currently seems to be imminent on the extension front but it wouldn’t be a surprise if they got that done maybe by next week.
St. Louis takes on half of the Detroit Tigers today at home with the game on FOX Sports Midwest and, of course, through the MLB At Bat app. You can also get in on the season version of The Cardinal Six until the first pitch in Milwaukee March 28. The link is here, though you may want to wait until closer to the deadline to get your picks in. It’s so good to have some baseball back, isn’t it?
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| 10,149 |
FILE – The phrase “Count Every Vote” is displayed on a large screen, organized by an advocacy group in front of the State Capitol on Nov. 6,…
FILE – The phrase “Count Every Vote” is displayed on a large screen, organized by an advocacy group in front of the State Capitol on Nov. 6, 2020, in Lansing, Mich. As local election offices across the U.S. count millions of votes on election night, Nov. 8, 2022, they share the results with polling firms, which transmit them to viewers watching live on their devices. Along the way, humans reporting these results occasionally make errors, causing false vote counts to temporarily appear in TV news graphics. However, these small mistakes are not a sign of anything nefarious — and fortunately, quality control measures in election offices and polling firms ensure they happen rarely and get fixed quickly. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)
EXPLAINER: Why might live election results fluctuate?
by: ALI SWENSON, Associated Press
Posted: Oct 26, 2022 / 09:04 AM EDT
Updated: Oct 26, 2022 / 09:04 AM EDT
FILE – The phrase “Count Every Vote” is displayed on a large screen, organized by an advocacy group in front of the State Capitol on Nov. 6,…
FILE – The phrase “Count Every Vote” is displayed on a large screen, organized by an advocacy group in front of the State Capitol on Nov. 6, 2020, in Lansing, Mich. As local election offices across the U.S. count millions of votes on election night, Nov. 8, 2022, they share the results with polling firms, which transmit them to viewers watching live on their devices. Along the way, humans reporting these results occasionally make errors, causing false vote counts to temporarily appear in TV news graphics. However, these small mistakes are not a sign of anything nefarious — and fortunately, quality control measures in election offices and polling firms ensure they happen rarely and get fixed quickly. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)
by: ALI SWENSON, Associated Press
Posted: Oct 26, 2022 / 09:04 AM EDT
Updated: Oct 26, 2022 / 09:04 AM EDT
Why might live election results fluctuate?
The short answer: People make typos sometimes.
As local election offices across the U.S. count millions of votes on election night, they share the results with polling firms, which transmit them to viewers watching live on their TV, laptop or phone screens.
Along the way, humans reporting these results occasionally transpose two digits, add an extra zero or swap candidate tallies, causing false vote counts to temporarily appear in news graphics and social media updates.
In recent years, hawk-eyed viewers at home have noticed some of these brief election-night slip-ups and used them to falsely claim they’d caught TV networks or election offices switching or deleting votes to rig the results.
However, these small mistakes are not a sign of anything nefarious — and fortunately, quality control measures in election offices and polling firms ensure they happen rarely and get fixed quickly.
In elections offices, clerks test voting equipment before voting begins to ensure tabulators are functioning properly. On Election Day, poll workers report any issues with results, such as differences between the number of voters who cast a ballot and the number of votes recorded. After voting is complete, officials use canvass and certification processes to continue hunting for discrepancies and verify tallies.
Companies that track down these local election results and share them with media outlets on election night also have safeguards in place to catch errors. These measures include questioning unusual data, using computer software to identify discrepancies and employing quality control analysts to check the numbers.
The Associated Press, one of several companies that does this type of real-time vote reporting, sends thousands of local stringers to county election offices on election night to call in raw vote count totals. The AP employees who take the stringers’ calls ask questions to make sure the information is accurate, including asking whether there are problems in the stringer’s county, and challenging details if the results seem suspect.
Since many states and counties display their election night results on websites, some AP data entry staffers monitor those sites and enter results into the database, too, entries that are also checked and rechecked.
Next, automated checks identify data inconsistencies and refer them to a supervisor. And the AP’s team of full-time election research and quality control analysts further monitor and examine the results for anomalies.
Edison Research, the firm whose data fuels live election night reports from ABC, CBS, CNN and NBC, similarly goes through a quality control process as votes are coming in and afterward, said Executive Vice President Rob Farbman.
In addition, in key states and counties, the company employs two people to look at each vote count before it is reported.
A few errors are inevitable, Farbman said, but “they always get fixed.”
Associated Press writer Meg Kinnard contributed to this report from New York.
Check out https://apnews.com/hub/explaining-the-elections to learn more about the issues and factors at play in the 2022 midterm elections. And follow the AP’s coverage of the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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My days are filled with reminders that I am no longer young. I wake up each morning with stiff and aching joints. I can’t apply make-up without the help of a magnifying mirror, which is annoying because the magnifying mirror also does a terrific job of revealing every single wrinkle on my face. (When I use a regular mirror I only notice my sagging chin and eye bags, but I found out the hard way that it’s not a good idea to apply mascara when you can’t actually see your eyelashes.) I am reminded daily that I have nowhere near the strength or stamina I had even ten years ago. One way or another, it is impossible for me to forget that I am getting old. And while I may not especially like it, I do accept it.
But accepting the fact that I am, shall we say, “a woman of a certain age” doesn’t mean that I enjoy being treated as if the fact that I am old also means I am incompetent and stupid. Which is why I tend to get just a bit crabby when either my computer or my smart phone decides to act up and I am stuck with the daunting task of trying to get it fixed.
I’m not the sort of person who panics the minute something goes wrong. I always try to identify the problem and look up ways to fix it before I finally (and reluctantly) ask for help. And I put off asking for help because I know that as soon as I do, I will be told by someone half my age that the problem must be that I am doing something wrong. Because if someone who looks like me (see above reference to sags, bags and wrinkles) is having a problem with her technology, the problem has to be that she isn’t bright enough to work it properly. It can’t possibly be the fault of the computer, the smart phone, or the I-Pad, etc.
I once spent an hour with an employee at a cell-phone store who kept telling me that the problem I was explaining simply couldn’t exist. Politely but persistently, I assured him it did. (We old people can be stubborn.) And even when, after exhausting all other possible explanations, he finally realized that I was telling the truth, he didn’t actually acknowledge I was right. He just fiddled with my phone some more and handed it back to me, assuring me that it was now working just fine. And then then went to “help” the next customer.
I know I’m not a whiz at technology, and that I was born back in the days when phones were rotary, televisions were black and white, and there was no such thing as a personal computer. None of this comes naturally to me. But I have learned how to operate a smart phone, publish a blog on the internet, and even send a decent text message as long as I remember to put on my reading glasses before I begin typing. So I think I have earned the right to at least be given the benefit of the doubt when I say that something on my computer or phone isn’t working properly.
There’s so much more I could say on this subject, but I don’t have the time. My 87-year old mother is having problems opening her emails, and I have to go over to her house and figure out just what she is doing wrong…..
Related
Acceptance, Age discrimination, cell phones, Computer Problems, coping with change, middle age, Satire
A Change of Season →
107 thoughts on “The Age of Technology”
October 29, 2017 at 5:52 pm
Funny. I understand your problem. It is annoying when someone half your age refuses to acknowledge. Say to self: this too shall pass.
LikeLiked by 3 people
October 29, 2017 at 8:29 pm
That’s a good phrase to remember! The downside of technology is that young people have a definite edge, which makes it hard for them to take our issues with it seriously. Is it bad that I comfort myself with the knowledge that someday they will also be old and struggling to keep up?
LikeLiked by 4 people
October 29, 2017 at 5:54 pm
This could so be a page taken right out of my life,,,had to giggle at the irony at the end. Enjoyed reading 🤗
LikeLiked by 2 people
October 29, 2017 at 8:30 pm
October 29, 2017 at 6:13 pm
LikeLiked by 2 people
October 29, 2017 at 8:30 pm
October 29, 2017 at 6:44 pm
Ann- you made me smile again! I got today a comment of “really you kayak? Good for you! “. I think my grey hair – which I refuse to die gave away my age. I say keep being stubborn at our age. Make people communicate effectively and keep learning new things when everyone thinks we are to old. Wait- I have to answer a question from my father on how to get his file from the computer to a jump drive.
LikeLiked by 4 people
October 29, 2017 at 8:32 pm
I know!! Being in the sandwich generation gives us a good perspective of both sides, doesn’t it? I ended the post this way 1) to be funny and 2) because as I was writing it, I had to admit that I have often jumped to the conclusion that when my mother is having problems with her computer that it’s her fault. And then I thought, isn’t that EXACTLY the same thing that drives me crazy when people do it to me? Ha!
LikeLiked by 3 people
October 29, 2017 at 6:56 pm
That was great and true. I especially enjoyed the end.
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 29, 2017 at 8:33 pm
October 29, 2017 at 7:02 pm
I think it is absolutely amazing that we who had to self -teach today’s technology do as well as we do. It wasn’t fair that we were thrown into today’s digital world with no formal preparation. Mom and dad had it easy. They transitioned from a wall crank phone to a rotary dial, a radio to a TV, a stick shift to an automatic, an iron skillet to an electric fry pan. BIG DEAL.
LikeLiked by 5 people
October 29, 2017 at 8:37 pm
Exactly, Larry! Years from now, students will be taught lessons on the technological revolution and how quickly it impacted society, and they will be talking about the times we are living in. And the people who lived through the industrial revolution thought they had it hard….
LikeLiked by 2 people
October 30, 2017 at 7:06 am
Remember the “good old days” when instructions were in actual text and not some cryptic hieroglyphics – that is, if there are any instructions at all?
(I will conveniently sidestep the issue of printed instructions that on the rare occasion do accompany a purchase, and the fact that they use an itty-bitty font.)
LikeLiked by 3 people
curioussteph
October 30, 2017 at 7:41 am
instructions were annoying me just yesterday! And I had one set that were in coherent english, with well-labeled diagrams. A pleasure.
LikeLiked by 2 people
October 30, 2017 at 2:10 pm
Yes! Now the instructions are always online. Which is no help at all if I can’t get the computer to actually turn on. Whatever happened to a clearly-written instruction book written in a font that is normal size?
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 29, 2017 at 7:07 pm
Totally get it – nothing like a sassy young person to make us feel like we don’t know our devices! But, of course we are older and wiser and know that they will be in our shoes someday. Thanks for the lift!
LikeLiked by 2 people
October 29, 2017 at 8:38 pm
That’s exactly the thought I comfort myself with! We remember what it was like to be young, but they have no idea what it is like to be old….
October 29, 2017 at 7:20 pm
Excellent! I had a similar frustrating “session” with a MicroSoft tech. I was basically told that what I said was happening to my emails wasn’t possible. After that, he pretty much shut me off. By the way, it’s still happening…
Maybe you could come to my house once you’ve fixed your mother’s issue
LikeLiked by 3 people
October 29, 2017 at 8:39 pm
Isn’t that the worst? We tell them, very clearly, what is going on, and their answer is that it isn’t possible. If it doesn’t make sense to them, it doesn’t exist. Which is an easy and comfortable world view, but not exactly an honest or realistic one!
As for your computer, I’ll let you know how it goes at my mom’s house! LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 29, 2017 at 7:32 pm
This made me smile! As you may know, wordpress and I are having relationship issues……I told you….tech is here to humble me….
LikeLiked by 2 people
October 29, 2017 at 8:41 pm
You and me both! I have gotten to the point where I rarely ask for help with my blog issues, because the answer is usually, “Something is wrong with your browser.” I’ve found that if I wait long enough, the problem often resolves itself.
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 6:35 am
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October 29, 2017 at 7:56 pm
Lol. Can relate to it all. And oh that magnifying mirror. How it is our friend and enemy all at once eh??!!
LikeLiked by 3 people
October 29, 2017 at 8:42 pm
Exactly! Yes, I need to see that chin hair so I can remove it. No, I don’t need to see that I grew another five wrinkles over night…. A little filtering would be a great thing, wouldn’t it?
LikeLiked by 2 people
October 30, 2017 at 6:58 am
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 29, 2017 at 7:59 pm
I love that your mom is using email! I had a similar experience where I handed over my phone, I didn’t have to say another word when I heard the tech say, “Hmmm, never have seen this before.”
LikeLiked by 3 people
October 29, 2017 at 8:43 pm
At least he admitted it! That is a huge step, I think. And yes, I’m actually proud of my mom. She does e-mail and even Facebook sometimes. And if I think it’s a foreign concept for me, just imagine how it feels to her!
October 29, 2017 at 9:12 pm
Yup. That is the case in some instances. Then there is my mother. She took a college class on DOS (you remember that first system?) so that she could start using the computer. My father was a programmer and so he HAD to have the first personal computer that came out (along with the first computer game system). Anyway she is completely connected – facebook, twitter, snapchat, several listserv and a multitude of chat rooms. She used to have a xanga account and has been toying with setting up a WP site. She facetimes with her grandchildren, and has netflix, hulu, and a slew of devices (iPhone, iPad, laptop, and desktop not to mention her satellite radio!)…. She is considering an apple watch and told me I could get her a fitbit for Christmas! At 85 she is more technologically savvy than many younger folks.
LikeLiked by 5 people
October 29, 2017 at 9:29 pm
That is impressive!!! Believe me, count yourself lucky that your mom is both familiar with technology and so willing to use it to keep connected to all her family. What a great example of how age doesn’t need to be a barrier to being a trail blazer or to embracing new things. (And what I wouldn’t give to be able to witness the exchange when she enters a phone, Apple, or PC store. I bet they are in awe of her! I know I am.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 29, 2017 at 9:28 pm
I liked the twist at the end, and the humour and irony of the situation.
The support personnel employed by the tech companies are mostly idiots with an attitude. For nearly three decades of my life, I have never allowed one to touch my PC, mobile phone, or even the wifi router at my home. Although that might change as I get greyer and wrinkled —I am running out of both patience and desire to keep myself updated. But I usually forgive the so-called ‘executives’ who are supposed to help you out rather than belittle your intelligence, thinking if they had been even slightly more wise they’d be doing something much better somewhere.
LikeLiked by 3 people
October 29, 2017 at 9:37 pm
That’s a good point. I try to be polite to telemarketers for the same reason: if they had the ability to hold down a better job, they would.
I also try to avoid updates as much as possible, because often they make things worse. And now and then I get a technician (or whatever they call them) who is nice and helpful, but often they are as you describe. I remember once, shortly after my father died and I was having problems with my email. I had no time to deal with it, so I called the support department of my server. The kid who took my call kept telling me that I had no idea how emails actually worked…he was right, but he missed the point that I didn’t care either….and kept me on the phone for twenty minutes that I didn’t have to spare. Finally, he said, “well if you’re truly not interested in understanding, just do *** and your emails will go through.” I was so mad. Why didn’t he tell me that in the first place????
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 12:04 am
Would you believe I sought out your blog as a diversion to my evening frustration (was plucking my chin hairs & struggling to see them with my glasses on)! Thanks for letting me know I’m in good company.
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 2:13 pm
Welcome, fellow chin-hair plucker!! I honestly thing the only way we can truly understand the challenges of aging is to actually age. I remember when I was young and older people told me how hard it was to be old, and I didn’t get it at all. Now, sadly, I do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 1:16 am
Oh Ann, I could relate to so much of this especially the bit about the magnifying mirror. I need one in the kitchen so I can read all the labels!
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 2:14 pm
Oh yeah! I keep two pairs of reading glasses in the kitchen because I can’t really cook without them. And now I have to wear them in the grocery store as well, just so I can read the expiration dates on whatever I happen to be buying. Or sometimes just to see whatever it is I am actually buying!
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 4:10 pm
I had to get stronger lenses for my reading glasses the other day. Ah the joys of aging.
deepasthoughts
October 30, 2017 at 1:51 am
There were so many LOL moments in the blog Ann. But yes, it can get annoying at times. I experience that when my pre-teen fixes a problem on my phone and that too inspite of me being tech savy.. But then I fix the issues on my mom’s phone. My friend who is a decade older than me recently messaged me that he is waiting for me to download an app on his phone and make the necessary changes. lol!
How we wish the magnifying glass would only show the hair on the chin and not wrinkles. And how we wish the store person could actually look into the problem in the phone and not be judgemental based on the assumed age of the customer! Or are we wishing for too much!
LikeLiked by 3 people
October 30, 2017 at 2:17 pm
I don’t think it is too much! I really think that the two biggest downsides of technology are our shortened attention spans and the way that old people are no longer considered even remotely wise. Because we struggle with some of the changes and tech advances, we actually do appear to be less than smart to those who are younger than us. So now we have wrinkles and the task of constantly proving that we aren’t totally incompetent!
LikeLiked by 2 people
October 30, 2017 at 3:45 am
Trust me, I know the feeling well, I don’t speak computer speak but I do understand English!
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 2:18 pm
I vastly prefer English, where if we don’t know the actual meaning of the words, at least we can made an educated guess. Why something that is neither blue nor has any teeth is called “Bluetooth,” don’t ask me. Logic has no place in computer speak!
October 31, 2017 at 2:07 am
I think your last statement summed it up exactly !
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 4:02 am
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October 30, 2017 at 2:19 pm
October 30, 2017 at 4:24 am
So funny, in common with most other commentators I could have written all of this, down to the troubleshooting for my 91 year-old mother. Problem is, it often is something she’s done, often inadvertently, but she absolutely will not accept that, nor that sometimes things are just a blip and there’s no need to panic every time the broadband goes down. Heated conversations might ensue!
Also, having worked in a university library I can attest that not all young people are as tech savvy as you (and they) might think.
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October 30, 2017 at 2:21 pm
Thanks, I’m going to remember that. My son once told me that he often solves my computer issues simply by Googling the answer. And he has a degree in IT.
As for your mother, I sympathize. My mom is almost too quick to think she did something wrong, but she’s not so big on trying to figure out what might have happened. I just get a call informing me that her computer, or email, or whatever isn’t working again. She has many strong points, but patience isn’t one of them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 5:00 am
FUN article. I have taught myself to say a memorized phrase (and feel I’ve earned the right to do so in my years on this earth), “Let’s start over and pretend I have a brain.”
If that doesn’t do the trick, said with a hint of humor in my voice and a big smile on my face, I look the guy right in the eyes (and it usually IS a guy) and say, directly and seriously, “You are patronizing me. I find it offensive. Stop it NOW or get me your boss.” Sometimes it even works – lol – but it ALWAYS makes me feel better.
I’ve also learned to ask for an apology when one is due — “You can apologize any time now.” beat . . . beat, “I’m quite serious. I’d like to hear your apology.” That almost always garners a stammered “sorry” – after which I simply say a pointed “thank you,” and move quickly on. Try it sometime. I have found it amazingly effective.
ADD/EFD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
“It takes a village to transform a world!
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October 30, 2017 at 2:23 pm
Oh Madelyn, I love all those phrases! And I’m going to remember them, too, for the next time someone is being condescending to me, based on my age or anything else. I think you are absolutely right that we need to remind people of their manners from time to time, and those phrases are a very good and positive way to do it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 3:32 pm
Thanks, Ann. Isn’t it bizarre that we have somehow learned that we can’t speak up? Thanks to you, I am going to attempt to change “patronizing” to “condescending” – much closer to what is usually going on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 10:03 pm
Seriously, out of many good comments on this post, your is by far the best and my favorite!
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 31, 2017 at 4:31 am
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curioussteph
October 30, 2017 at 7:46 am
On the tech: sometimes it is me, and just as often, it is not. Thus far, I’ve been relatively fortunate that the techs I deal with in person haven’t been overly condescending. But it is frustrating to have someone assume that my grey hair means lack of intellect.
LikeLiked by 2 people
October 30, 2017 at 2:28 pm
Yes, it is, and I’ve found that to be true more often when dealing with technology than in other areas. But you are right that it isn’t always the case. I have been treated with respect and dignity, and gotten the assistance I needed, from some techs…regarding my phone, my tv, and even my blog. Thanks for the reminder that it’s not always bad!
October 30, 2017 at 8:24 am
Good for you on your determination with the cell phone employee. I know the type and have been known to dig in my heels as well. That’s what it takes sometimes!
LikeLiked by 2 people
October 30, 2017 at 2:28 pm
It does! They try to simply dismiss me when they think I’m clueless, but if they also think I’m stubborn, then they tend to help me just to get me to finally go away.
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 9:25 am
Bet that was so annoying!
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 2:29 pm
It was! And I’m still trying to figure out why I can’t back up my cell phone.
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 10:59 pm
Ugh, I keep getting a warning that I haven’t backed up my cell phone in like 39 weeks… Good luck. It’s frustrating when electronics or vehicles have definite issues, but never repeat themselves when they are getting looked it. Ha.
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 9:52 am
Your last paragraph says it all, dear Ann. Helping your 87 year old mother with her email problem lends an ironic and humorous perspective to your age-related post. Do not worry about the wrinkles, rather rejoice over your ability to deal effectively with arrogant people who trying to tell you that it must be your fault when their devices are not working.
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 2:30 pm
Thanks, Peter! You’re right, dwell on our strengths and be glad we have them. And whenever I’m tempted to be condescending towards my mother and her devices, all I have to do is remember how I feel when I’m treated that way by someone twenty years younger than me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 2:48 pm
Well said, Ann!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Saddles to Shorelines, and Life as it Comes
October 30, 2017 at 10:09 am
I sure can relate to most of what you wrote about in this great post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 2:30 pm
Thank you! I hope you are learning to stick up for yourself, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Saddles to Shorelines, and Life as it Comes
October 30, 2017 at 10:48 pm
Yes, it seems like we have to sometimes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 11:12 am
Yup we grew up with four teenagers, two adults and one phone with no call waiting invented then… technology today still constantly gets the better of me. The best people to turn to are young kids…this stuff is all second nature to them.
Re being invisible as we age, this is only true in Western socities, the U.S. more so than say, France…. and in Asia, older people are highly respected for their wisdom and life experience. You might have to move
LikeLiked by 3 people
October 30, 2017 at 2:32 pm
Gotta say, moving to Asia is sounding pretty darned good right now! Just because we have to ask our kids for help with our gadgets doesn’t mean we don’t have a whole lot of wisdom to share in all other areas.
October 30, 2017 at 1:50 pm
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 2:32 pm
I know! It’s only going to get worse, isn’t it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 2:53 pm
But the good thing is we’ll be too old to care!! 🤤
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 5:49 pm
October 30, 2017 at 2:06 pm
I also not so caught up with the age of technology, however I learned to take advantage of it. Every time I have a problem with my phone or tablet ,I say it right away, that I have no clue with what is going on and I don’t understand. After that, usually the service personnel are really nice to me and help me through all my technology problems. Your last paragraph reminded me when I try to help my mom with my limited knowledge about technology. The thing is, that most of the time I am able to fix her computer problems
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 2:34 pm
That upfront honesty is a good idea! And I’m glad we are able to help our mothers with their computers…it feels good to be the one who is solving the problems for a change, doesn’t it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 2:44 pm
Yes, I am so proud of myself that moment, and often amazed how did I do that!
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 2:36 pm
This reminds me of a conversation with a young man in a call centre, having had difficulties in getting the SIM provider to recognise my smartphone. He first told me my smartphone must be a cheap Chinese model because he couldn’t find it on the internet (actually a relatively expensive, well known Scandinavian model) and then adked me if I had a male relative or kindly neighbour who could put the SIM in properly for me. When he had gone, the problem solved itself!
LikeLiked by 3 people
October 30, 2017 at 5:51 pm
I can’t believe he asked if you had a male relative handy…. That’s a new low! I bet the problem did resolve itself once he was gone, taking his judgemental self and negative vibes somewhere else!
October 30, 2017 at 3:32 pm
Great post Ann, and oh so true.
Technology and I are only on nodding terms.
And a wonderful ending. You made me smile.
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 5:52 pm
Thanks, Alan! And I like the phrase, “nodding terms.” I think that describes my relationship with it, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 4:01 pm
Where I often find a problem is when you call a help desk that has canned scripts for dealing with problems, and if it’s not in the script it must be your fault. As I spent a career doing techy stuff it can be interesting explaining to these “experts” that I actually do have a clue, and I’ve exhausted the usual avenues. Of course the flip side is, my expertise is rapidly becoming obsolete…
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 5:54 pm
Oh, I agree! When they are working off scripts and our problem doesn’t fit one of them, then we are really in trouble. And it is sad how quickly tech expertise becomes obsolete. I think that is one of the reasons why younger people really do have a edge, even with people like yourself that do know what they are talking about. The new stuff is the first thing they learn, so they have no adjustments to make.
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 7:23 pm
I’m impressed that your 87 year old mom is still operating a computer and exchanging emails. Imagine the skills you’ll have at her age..:)
I couldn’t agree more with your words, Ann. I think what annoys me the most is that smug smile that sometimes prefaces my explanation of a technical problem. It’s like they have already made up their mind and now have to endure my question and problem. I m not an expert but I have a general knowledge so I love when the look on their faces change just a bit and their attitude shifts. If only I can say what I really want to say..:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 9:53 pm
Yes, I am impressed with my mom for at least trying to navigate the strange new world of on-line communication. She does emails and even Facebook, and usually keeps up quite well.
As for the looks we get from the “help” at cell phone stores and computer stores, yeah, I can totally relate. Did you see Madelyn’s comments? I love them, and am going to start using them as needed. My favorite is, “Let’s start over, and pretend I have a brain!” Seriously, that’s my new go-to line!!!
October 30, 2017 at 10:00 pm
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 30, 2017 at 9:48 pm
I hear you! Sometimes it seems younger folks assume that the older generation is not competent in general. If they only new that every system has changed on us and what fortitude and wit it takes to adjust over and over. . . also you can ditch make up altogether-you are just lovely!!
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October 30, 2017 at 9:56 pm
I know!! My son came over this evening and fixed several long-term issues I’ve had with the Cloud and my phone. And he was sweet and helpful, but I still wanted to ask him, “Do you realize how hard this is for me to understand? Do you realize what a different world I was born into?” And heck, that’s my son, whom I love dearly, is a wonderful person, and who treats me well. Just think of how we feel when we’re dealing with a young person who doesn’t know us at all!
LikeLiked by 1 person
November 2, 2017 at 5:27 pm
Gosh you are so right! I just got a cell a few yearsago-the cheapest one you could get because I KNEW I would only use it to talk! Seniors have had a dramatic life change-they always have and we ought to respect that- and pay attention too-because while technology has changed life . . the human condition has not changed and old folks know what they are talking about! haha! thank you Ann!
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October 30, 2017 at 10:20 pm
Hey Ann :)) Your lovely post appeared in my reader just next to this gal’s post, and it occurred to me that you would really enjoy her insightful blog. Best to you, your mom, and Happy Muddling :)) :)) Dawn
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October 31, 2017 at 7:59 pm
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 31, 2017 at 3:05 am
I love this. Its so true. I may not be classed as “a certain age” but I find each year brings a new change in either my body or mentality. I have also decided not to care (or at least pretend I dont).
LikeLiked by 2 people
October 31, 2017 at 7:59 pm
It is hard to deal with all the changes, isn’t it? And I think you are right, we just have to accept it and at least try not to care!
LikeLiked by 1 person
November 1, 2017 at 11:56 am
Your post and your readers’ comments are what’s magical here, Coleman. Technology is just a tool. And in fact most of us have grown up with all of them. The post office, the typewriter, the telephone, the radio, television, and the transistor. Text, audio, video, and application minimization. The toggle- this- then- that-truth is, it’s market making using last centuries technologies while making us all feel that we’re living in some enlightened new.
Just look-up how the stock market responds to companies pimping “Blockchain” technology. It’s akin to a tulip bubble. And autonomous car technology, just think how much that will change the centuries old insurance industry. That will remake a market.
The point here is that if one were living seventy years ago, you could still turn on electric lights, make a phone call or send a telegram to your mom, listen to music or the news in the comfort of your home, open the refrigerator, turn on central heat, bath in a tub of instant hot water, and then go to the picture show.
But just seventy years before that, for the most part, your day to day would be void of any of those devices and existence would feel much the same as relatives from the middle ages.
Computer tech is just a reworking of the old stuff to continue necessary economic growth. And those smug little pricks who feel that “woman of a certain age” are just a pain in the ass of this New Brave World of the bit and byte have a rude awakening coming. They are not the cutting edge of anything new. They were born to renovate the existing tech developed by their great to great grand parents. They will live and die centuries away from any era of equal innovation. They think their magic. There just minders.
LikeLiked by 2 people
November 1, 2017 at 5:21 pm
That’s a very good point, Doug. We do need to keep this all in perspective and realize that just because someone is more comfortable with the newest technology doesn’t mean they actually had anything to do with inventing it…. The days when people lived largely the same way their ancestors did are well and truly over, and, as you pointed out, have been for quite a while now. (I remember when my dad was marveling at all the changes his parent’s generation had lived through, and he was right. And now the changes seem to be coming even more quickly!)
Thanks for the perspective, and for sharing it on the blog. Your comments always add a deeper dimension to the discussion!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brenda's Thoughts
November 1, 2017 at 12:10 pm
I look forward to reading your posts. I can relate to so many points in this one, and I LOVE the way you ended it. Your mother looks so sweet! Have a wonderful week. =)
LikeLiked by 2 people
November 1, 2017 at 5:22 pm
Thanks for your kind words! I hope you have a wonderful week, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
November 1, 2017 at 1:27 pm
Oh my gosh, I was getting mad for you and ready to ask for that man’s phone number so I could give him a piece of my mind. I was just with four ‘old’ (um, I mean long-time) college friends for our annual get-together. We live in five different states and find a place on the map to all fly in and meet and then….then, we act like the 18-year-olds we were when we first met. That first night we went to a restaurant and started giggling and goofing off like someone NOT our age. The (25-year-old) waiter was scared at first, I think. We told him to get with the show, and then he relaxed and enjoyed our fun. We people 50 and older need to show off our stuff and NOT TAKE IT ANYMORE!!
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November 1, 2017 at 5:24 pm
I still get together once a year with a couple of good high school friends, and we do the same thing: act as if we are in high school again. It is tremendous fun, and very refreshing! I think you are absolutely right, we 50-plus women do need to reclaim our right to have fun, to be treated as intelligent human beings and to be taken seriously. Because, honestly, none of us want to take it any more! Thanks for the comment!!
November 2, 2017 at 4:13 pm
Don’t fret…some of the millenials today don’t even go to the extent of trying to figure out the problem on their own, even if its as simple as figuring out a device was unplugged, so from that perspective your already ahead of the game. I literally laughed out loud at the ending, that was prettt funny.
LikeLiked by 2 people
November 2, 2017 at 8:35 pm
Thanks!! And you’re right, not everyone who is young is good at figuring out what is truly going on with their devices.
November 3, 2017 at 10:00 pm
It’s also very frustrating trying to explain computer problems to tech people when the issue can’t be replicated.
LikeLiked by 2 people
November 5, 2017 at 2:34 pm
I know! It’s like taking our car to a mechanic because it’s making a funny noise, but the minute we get to their garage, the noise stops.
November 6, 2017 at 9:10 am
LOL! l had to laugh so much reading your last paragraph about helping your mom with her emails
And don’t worry: I might be younger than you but also struggle with technology at times and my only excuse when I have to ask someone else to help me after everything I tried didn’t help is that I am a woman which isn’t much of an excuse either
LikeLiked by 2 people
November 6, 2017 at 1:34 pm
Thanks! And honestly, I think some of us just have more difficulties with technology than others. I’ve never been good at math, although writing and reading comes naturally to me. So perhaps it isn’t entirely age related, but also has something to do with the way we learn and process? Although I do think that my age doesn’t help!
Thanks for the comment!
LikeLiked by 1 person
November 7, 2017 at 3:40 am
It´s the same thing for me – I hated maths! (And I know it´s not well looked upon to simply hate things nowadays, where you´re asked to merely dislike them but that´s just how I feel when it comes to maths.) And like you, I´m still awfully proud of myself for getting to know more of my tech side by blogging
LikeLiked by 1 person
November 7, 2017 at 9:12 am
Sometimes “hate” is exactly the right word! Ha!
LikeLiked by 1 person
November 10, 2017 at 6:04 am
Your story could be mine, minus the mad cleaning that I am definitely not doing but will get to eventually (I hope….I’d rather write….as we know I do nothing in moderation). A while ago I showed a 30ish colleague of mine at work a blog post I had written about which he had expressed an interest. It had some GIFs sprinkled in it. He said with astonishment “How did you get those!” I was surprised. Didn’t he know where to find GIFs? I said “From the internet.”
Then I realized that he was shocked that I knew where and how to add them to a document or blog. I’m not too old to know these things *sigh*
ps. Those magnifying mirrors should be outlawed.
LikeLiked by 2 people
November 10, 2017 at 10:19 pm
Yes, it’s hard to cope when we realize that people are just looking at us and assuming we are totally clueless about everything that has anything to do with technology! I’m pretty sure our grandparents didn’t have to put up with that kind of age discrimination, but it’s just part of our society now.
And I like your idea of outlawing the magnifying mirrors! I’m not a fan of Facetime either, since I get to see my wrinkly face the whole time I’m using it. You’d think they’d put a few filters on the thing…
LikeLiked by 1 person
November 11, 2017 at 5:45 am
That’s a great idea! I won’t use facetime with anyone but my grandchildren. That’s my vanity. They don’t care what I look like, just that I love them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 26, 2017 at 1:14 am
I remember once wondering when I could say that there were more days behind me than there were in front of me. Then one day, because I wasn’t looking, I woke and realized that day had probably passed some time ago. But luckily I stayed current with most everything out there. I must have bought one of the first commercially available computers back in the late 70’s. It had about as much computing power as a basic Timex watch has now and was 10 times larger than any home computer now. But I have had the newest tech since, for whatever that was worth. I do miss the old days for some reason. I even have an app that makes the rotary phone sound when I make a call on my smart phone and a writing program online that make the old typewriter sound. We can all move on, keep up, and even surpass the kids of today in tech and just about anything else. What I find hard today is wanting to do any of the crap a lot of kids do today. Tech can tie you down to it. If it all went down today our kids would freak out to the point of needing professional help. We’d be fine. We’re tough like that. -Robert
LikeLiked by 2 people
December 26, 2017 at 10:41 am
That’s a good point! We can appreciate technology, but we are not nearly so dependent on it as the young people are. Thanks for the comment!
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Health
Sports
On the internet On line casino Bonus deals Appeal associated with On the internet On line casino Video games
November 18, 2022 admin 0 Comments
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The only panel dedicated to immigration at this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference quickly went off the rails Thursday, with audience members drowning out panelists’ presentation of data about the benefits of immigration with boos, laughter, and stories of “obvious illegal immigrants defecating in the woods, fornicating in the woods.” […]
When he noted that the U.S. proportionally takes in very fewimmigrants and refugees compared to other nations, a man interjected, “You’re a dreamer!” and much of the crowd broke out in applause and jeers. […]
— talkingpointsmemo.com/..
And in case you think this nativist, anti-immigrant, xenophobic position is somehow new to the Republican Party,
But having attended CPAC for the last six years, Bier conceded that the Republican base’s attitude toward immigrants has not significantly shifted.
“I don’t think it’s that different [from past years],” he said. “There’s always a very large contingent most passionate about immigration—about opposing it. It certainly seems like the passion is always with the side that wants to restrict it and not with the side that wants it to be more open.” — talkingpointsmemo.com/…
A speaker talking about the beauty of naturalization ceremonies at CPAC was loudly booed by the audience.
Now, CPAC is the premier Conservative/Republican conference of the year. Trump, Pence, several cabinet members and governors spoke there. It’s attended by legislative aides, activists, aspiring politicians, the core of the Republican party.
For anyone who has attended a naturalization ceremony, you know there is rarely a dry eye in the room. I was naturalized (became a citizen) 5 years ago, and I remember the ceremony I attended. I was among 170 odd people who became US citizens that day, at that place. They were old and young and from all across the world.
I had lived in the US 18 years, as a student and a worker, before I was eligible. Many in that courtroom had walked a far harder road than I had to come to that place.
I remember the judge who administered the oath/affirmation spoke about his parents who had been first-generation immigrants. He said perhaps one of our children too would become a Federal judge.
There were a lot of people in that room, some poor, for whom the process had meant an expenditure of thousands of dollars. For whom the very idea that their child might one day become a federal judge had been almost unimaginable. Except it was now a little more imaginable, because they were Americans.
And when we were done he reminded us we were all Americans now, and we had the same rights as every other American. That this was a bedrock principle of the nation which welcomed us.
In my mind, and that of all immigrants, that principle is what the Republicans at CPAC were booing. When they are booing, they are pissing on the promise and possibility that judge, standing in place for the nation and our government, shared with us in that courtroom.
And these people booing, along with the president and many, many members of his party are very, very clear that they are booing all immigrants, including those who have never been undocumented.
The thing is, the judge who spoke to us that day was right about one thing, we do have those rights.
And we will be exercising them. I’d vote for a doormat before I vote for a Republican.
Author subirPosted on February 24, 2018 February 24, 2018 Categories Activism, PoliticsTags cpac, Immigration
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Step 11: Darken in the ovals that make Darth Vader's eyes, and draw a C and a backward C on each side of his eyes. Draw these Cs to follow the shape of Vader's eyes, but have them connect to the bottom of his eyes (instead of following the eye shape all the way around).
Step 12: To finish the shape of Darth Vader's head, darken the original oval shape until you reach slightly below his nose. Then connect the line to the bottom of his mouthpiece. Draw this part so it comes in slightly from the original oval shape. Connect the lines you created earlier from the L shapes to the helmet using slightly curved horizontal lines.
Step 13: Draw a few lines inside Darth Vader's face to indicate the structure of his helmet. First draw a couple of curved vertical lines (make them slightly diagonal) from the top of his helmet to the circles at the bottom of his mouthpiece. Next draw a set of curved horizontal lines from his nose to the slightly diagonal lines you just drew.
Step 14: That's it! You now have a nice sketch of Darth Vader from Star Wars. You can stop at this quick drawing for a rough, sketchy look or complete your Darth Vader drawing by continuing to the next step.
Step 15: For a more finished, inked look, carefully draw over the final sketch lines with a pen or marker. Wait for the ink to dry, and then get rid of every pencil mark with an eraser. You can stop here or go to the final step to complete your Darth Vader drawing.
Final Step: For a completely finished Darth Vader drawing, you have to color it. You can use markers, color pencils or even crayons! Darth Vader is a bit harder to color because of the glare on his helmet. Color the helmet black, but make sure to leave some white portions that represent the glare. Use the picture above for reference. That's it! You now have a completed drawing of Darth Vader from Star Wars.
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EasyDrawingTutorials.com tutorials are for educational purposes only. No copyright infringement is intended.
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April 4, 1968, about 6:01pm. We should always remember that time. It has now been 50+ years since Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. He was moving conceptually and in his actions in a more radical direction combining antiracist, broader anticlass, and antiwar efforts—which efforts likely had much to do with his assassination. (Photo: Wiki-images)
I remember the day vividly, like it was yesterday, and can still remember the time of day when one of my students at the University of California called me to tell of the terrible event, and I can still remember well my and his extraordinarily distressed emotions as we talked about the shooting. (We did not know Dr. King had died at that time.) He was one of the few African American students then at that university and as one would expect was devastated by the event, as I was too.
The events leading up to Dr. King’s assassination need to be taught everywhere. In late March 1968 Dr. King and other civil rights leaders participated in and supported the local Memphis sanitary works employees, black and white, who were striking for better wages and working condition. (They were also building up coalitions across the various groups of Black civil rights and Black power movements, including a few years earlier between Dr. King and Malcolm X and their supporters.)
Conditions in Memphis, as elsewhere, were very oppressive for workers, in both racial and class terms, as this summary makes clear:
In one incident, black street repairmen received pay for two hours when they were sent home because of bad weather, but white employees were paid for the full day.
King gave his last (“I’ve Been to the Mountaintop”) speech at a rally for the workers at the Mason Temple in Memphis.
This is the famous section near the end of his prophetic speech, where he reflects on death threats he had often received:
We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter with me now. Because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. So I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man.
Let us remember him well, and especially his prophetic antiracist, anti-capitalistic, and antiwar messages, on this King holiday, 2019.
April 4, 1968, about 6:01pm. We should always remember that time. It has now been 48 years since Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. He was moving conceptually and in his actions in a more radical direction combining antiracist, broader anticlass, and antiwar efforts—which efforts likely had much to do with his assassination. (Photo: Wiki-images)
I remember the day vividly, like it was yesterday, and can still remember the time of day when one of my students at the University of California called me to tell of the terrible event, and I can still remember well my and his distressed emotions as we talked about the shooting. (We did not know Dr. King had died at that time.) He was one of the few African American students then at that university and as one would expect was devastated by the event, as I was too.
The events leading up to Dr. King’s assassination need to be taught everywhere. In late March 1968 Dr. King and other civil rights leaders participated in and supported the local Memphis sanitary works employees, black and white, who were striking for better wages and working condition. (They were also building up coalitions across the various groups of Black civil rights and Black power movements, including a few years earlier between Dr. King and Malcolm X and their supporters.)
Conditions in Memphis, as elsewhere, were very oppressive for workers, in both racial and class terms, as this wikipedia summary makes clear:
In one incident, black street repairmen received pay for two hours when they were sent home because of bad weather, but white employees were paid for the full day.
King gave his last (“I’ve Been to the Mountaintop”) speech at a rally for the workers at the Mason Temple in Memphis.
This is the famous section near the end of his prophetic speech, where he reflects on death threats he had often received:
We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter with me now. Because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. So I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man.
Let us remember him well, and especially his prophetic antiracist, anti-capitalistic, and antiwar messages, on this spring day, 2016.
Today, on Martin Luther King Day, Ripley’s Believe It or Not comic strip published the sketch of a smiling Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King as newlyweds The caption of the sketch reads “Martin Luther King Junior and Coretta Scott King spent their wedding night in a funeral parlor instead of a hotel.” The sentence is consistent with the strip’s teaser approach. Nonetheless, the reader is left to wonder why the just-married couple opted for a funeral parlor rather than a hotel room. Were they too cheap to get a room? Did they have a fetish for the macabre? Did someone in their immediate families die that day?
Of course, the reason that the newlyweds spent the night at the funeral parlor on the night of their wedding day on June 18, 1953, was that the local hotels in Marion, Alabama, denied them a room. It was through the help of friends including his father, Martin King Sr. who presided over the wedding ceremony in the Scott family’s backyard in nearby Heiberger, that they were allowed to stay in the funeral parlor.
The Ripley entry represents yet another example of the way history is sanitized when it comes to race. For example, we routinely hear about plantation tours that never mention the words “slavery” and “slave” because it is “not part of the official tour.” On the day honoring Dr. King, the Ripley comic strip writer missed an excellent teachable-moment opportunity by failing to tell, as the legendary conservative commentator Paul Harvey would say, “the rest of the story.”
Rogelio Sáenz is Dean of the College of Public Policy and Peter Flawn Professor of Demography at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He is co-author of Latinos in the United States: Diversity and Change and co-editor of The International Handbook of the Demography of Race and Ethnicity.
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Cockroaches can sometimes seem uneasy to kill or get rid of, mainly if one’s house serves as a hive for a colony. You will end up seeing them in every gaze you take under your roof. They could be so annoying to the point of running to seek cover in hidden places like inside floors, walls, window frames, and a few problematic places that even the nails of your smallest finger cannot reach.
There are several methods to embrace; some are easy and cost-free, while others might need the application of chemical substances that are toxic to air taken in by pet or crawling wards. Hence, the need to get in touch with a pest control firm. However, DIY methods are so cheap and effective, such as baking soda, ammonia, etc.
Yes, ammonia kills roaches. It is not pricey, while its effectiveness is well-known. Unlike some products that take a while before getting rid of roaches, ammonia’s solution is as fast as lightning. All you need to do is mix it with a balanced amount of water, make them blend enough before pouring it into a spray bottle.
Afterward, you can apply it directly on roaches or rub it on surfaces like counters, floors, and anywhere you wish. Ideally, you get a 10exed result whenever you directly contact roaches; watch them die within a couple of minutes. Ammonia does not only kill roaches, but their eggs also mercilessly die as well, no matter the deepest corner they reside.
For the roaches down the drain, the best way to get rid of them is by using ammonia. Ammonia becomes effective when blending four cups with eight litres of boiling water. This solution will kill all roaches it gets in contact with along with its eggs.
What makes it efficient and effective can be traced to the chemical content in ammonia itself, along with the heat yielding out from the boiling water, not the water itself. Roaches are down to earth, if not inside it, once they get in contact with a high temperature or any wild thing. It melts the moisture in them, which gives them life.
Ammonia does not kill cockroach eggs; it can only kill adult roaches within the twinkling of an eye. They are filled with moisture, and any contact with anything heaty dissolves their advantages. Ammonia becomes deadlier for roaches, not their eggs, if mixed with hot water.
The only thing that can make ammonia kill cockroach eggs is by soaking them in a clean, pure, and clear ammonia solution for a space of time, while they become dissolved after a few times. Cockroaches’ eggs are not fully naked in their era. They are always clothed with a slippery material, making it impossible to penetrate an insecticide or anything.
Mix an amount of ammonia with water as you apply it on surfaces and areas where you think they ply in your house. You can also feel more intentional by spraying it right on them once your eyeballs are four.
With the use of ammonia, roaches will also disembark from coming near your home if you turn it to an occasional routine. The pungent smell from the product makes them take to their hills.
Yes, ammonia is safe to use for roaches at home. It will help get rid of them in no distant time if you have it mixed well with water. Because it is a dissolved gas, blending it with water lessens the irritating smell it gives. Your risk of being affected is reduced, and its hazard will affect.
Although the smell remains much even as you blend it with water, it is preferable to apply alone. Another thing to ensure safety is cleaning surfaces, racks, and other treaded places with a mixed bucket solution filled with water with just two cups of ammonia.
Are Roaches Attracted To Ammonia?
Ammonia is a solemn solution mixed with water that can only be perceived once roaches have a smell. The only way an attraction can be caused is when ammonia is applied at regular places where roaches are attracted to, such as kitchen cabinets, drains, bathtubs, corners, walls, window frames, as well as humid and warm areas in your house.
By so doing, death’s claws will grasp the entirety of any roach that gets a touch with ammonia. To apply ammonia, you need to mix it well with a bucket of water to lessen its irritancy. Baking soda, borax, cucumber trap, and bay leaf are other fast ways of getting rid of cockroaches.
Either you use bleach or ammonia; both will help kill roaches. Ensure that you do not mix them because it will damage your pipes to pour them down the drain. It could also cause some severe harm to the drainage system.
Be it your pipes or standard surfaces in the house, do not blend these two things. Roaches will be driven away from your home if you use bleach, ammonia, borax, or baking soda. Any of these will fry roaches like a one testing out his culinary skills.
What Does Ammonia Do To Roaches?
Unlike some methods that repel, ammonia will get rid of and kill all the cockroaches in your house within a short period. To apply it on them, you must mix it with a bucket filled with water because it contains a high chemical content that would be weakened to a certain point but not thoroughly.
You can go ahead by filling a spray bottle for easy application on hidden places in your house or directly on them. Ammonia is good at completely boiling out the moisture in roaches which makes them breathe on the surfaces in your home, toilet pipes, kitchen basins, bathtubs, and several other places.
Awesome cleaner kills roaches; it is more powerful when mixing with borax, baking soda, or ammonia. Since awesome cleaner comes from two composite components such as water and liquid dish soap, directly applying on roaches is the ideal way to use, or roaches might not be dead.
The soapy water helps to prevent the circulatory system of the roaches from functioning, leading to a suffocating experience, then death. If you do not use awesome cleaner in this way, roaches might either run away from danger or act dead so that you can leave for them to take to shield.
Yes, ammonia can kill bugs, such as flies, roaches, etc.
Are Flies Attracted To Ammonia?
Although flies run away from toxic substances because they affect their ingestion process, they are attracted to ammonia. Flies would get close to any form of ammonia, be it high or low, although they are more attracted to low-level ammonia. Notwithstanding, attraction is imminent.
Why Are Flies Attracted To The Smell Of Ammonia?
Ammonia is the by-product in liquid form from both animals and human beings. It is broken down to the smallest soluble, and the end is known as ammonia. Meanwhile, flies are known to remain in their hundreds, if not more, wherever there is urine. Hence, the smell from ammonia is what causes the invasion of flies.
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Workers injured on the job in Delaware will likely hear the term “First Report of Occupational Injury” at some point while moving through the workers' compensation claims process. Though injured workers have no direct involvement with the First Report of Occupational Injury, this form plays a vital role in Delaware workers' compensation claims. Read on to learn everything you need to know about this important form.
In Delaware, when a worker sustains an on-the-job injury they may be entitled to workers' compensation benefits such as coverage of related medical expenses, temporary total or partial disability (lost wage) payments and permanent partial impairment benefits. These benefits are generally available to injured workers, regardless of who was responsible for the workplace accident and subsequent injuries.
The workers' compensation claims process begins immediately after the workplace incident—when the worker reports the accident and injuries to their employer, and requests medical services. This is when the First Report of Occupational Injury form comes into the picture.
About the First Report of Occupational Injury Form
After receiving an accident report and request for medical services from an injured employee, the employer is responsible for completing a First Report of Occupational Injury form. Available from the Delaware Office of Workers' Compensation, this single-page form includes the following information:
The injured employee's name, address, age, sex, date of birth, Social Security number, occupation, wage, hours worked, and length of employment
The employer's name, address, phone number, and type of business
The workers' compensation insurance carrier's address, phone number, and the policy or carrier case number
Relevant dates and times, including the date of the injury, the date of the report, the employee's normal starting time, the date the employer knew of the injury, the date disability began, the date of the last full day paid, and a date of death for cases involving a fatal injury
A description of the injury, the department where the incident occurred, and the work process involved
A list of all the materials, chemicals, and equipment the employee was using when the incident occurred
An explanation of what the employee was doing at the time of the injury
A description of how the injury occurred
The name and address of the physician or hospital treating the injured employee
What Happens to the Completed Injury Form?
Employers are required to submit the completed First Report of Occupational Injury form to their workers' compensation insurance carrier within 10 days of the date of the workplace accident and injury. While the employer must file the original form with the workers' compensation insurance carrier, they're also tasked with making three copies—one to submit to the Office of Workers' Compensation, one for their own records, and one for the employee's records.
Delaware state law requires employers to complete and submit a First Report of Occupational Injury form any time a workplace accident leads to an injury, regardless of how minor. Employers who fail to file a First Report of Occupational Injury form after an accident may face fines of up to $250. A skilled personal injury attorney can follow up on this form and other important paperwork to ensure that the workers' compensation claims process goes as smoothly as possible.
Consult an Experienced Wilmington, DE Workers' Compensation Attorney
If you were injured in an on-the-job accident in Delaware, it's important to protect your rights and your ability to collect the workers' compensation benefits you need and deserve. A knowledgeable Wilmington, DE workers' compensation attorney can represent your best interests throughout the workers' compensation claims process.
Do you have questions about a workers' compensation claim? The experienced attorneys and legal staff with the Morris James Personal Injury Group have answers. Our firm offers free, no-obligation initial consultations for prospective clients—contact us today to schedule an appointment for your free consultation.
Related Links:
Common Workers' Compensation Mistakes
Barriers to Obtaining Workers' Comp Benefits
In addition to providing you the expert advice and help you need during your case, we’re also passionate about making sure you have all the information you need to feel confident in your claim. Get our free personal injury book by clicking here.
Each attorney with Morris James is ready to help with your case. All initial consultations are free of charge. Please fill out our contact form by clicking here.
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Did you know that, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there are more than 1,700 fatalities and 840,000 injuries every year due to …
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Astronomers have long been looking into the vast universe in hopes of discovering alien civilisations. But for a planet to have life, liquid water must be present. The chances of that finding scenario have seemed impossible to calculate because it has been the assumption that planets like Earth get their water by chance if a large, ice asteroid hits the planet.
Now, researchers from the GLOBE Institute at the University of Copenhagen have published an eye-opening study, indicating that water may be present during the very formation of a planet. According to the study’s calculations, this is true for both Earth, Venus and Mars.
“All our data suggest that water was part of Earth’s building blocks, right from the beginning. And because the water molecule is frequently occurring, there is a reasonable probability that it applies to all planets in the Milky Way. The decisive point for whether liquid water is present is the distance of the planet from its star,” says Professor Anders Johansen from the Centre for Star and Planet Formation who has led the study that is published in the journal Science Advances.
Using a computer model, Anders Johansen and his team have calculated how quickly planets are formed, and from which building blocks. The study indicates that it was millimetre-sized dust particles of ice and carbon — which are known to orbit around all young stars in the Milky Way — that 4.5 billion years ago accreted in the formation of what would later become Earth.
“Up to the point where Earth had grown to one percent of its current mass, our planet grew by capturing masses of pebbles filled with ice and carbon. Earth then grew faster and faster until, after five million years, it became as large as we know it today. Along the way, the temperature on the surface rose sharply, causing the ice in the pebbles to evaporate on the way down to the surface so that, today, only 0.1 percent of the planet is made up of water, even though 70 percent of Earth’s surface is covered by water,” says Anders Johansen, who together with his research team in Lund ten years ago put forward the theory that the new study now confirms.
The theory, called ‘pebble accretion’, is that planets are formed by pebbles that are clumping together, and that the planets then grow larger and larger.
Anders Johansen explains that the water molecule H2O is found everywhere in our galaxy, and that the theory therefore opens up the possibility that other planets may have been formed in the same way as Earth, Mars and Venus.
“All planets in the Milky Way may be formed by the same building blocks, meaning that planets with the same amount of water and carbon as Earth — and thus potential places where life may be present — occur frequently around other stars in our galaxy, provided the temperature is right,” he says.
If planets in our galaxy had the same building blocks and the same temperature conditions as Earth, there will also be good chances that they may have about the same amount of water and continents as our planet.
Professor Martin Bizzarro, co-author of the study, says: “With our model, all planets get the same amount of water, and this suggests that other planets may have not just the same amount of water and oceans, but also the same amount of continents as here on Earth. It provides good opportunities for the emergence of life.”
If, on the other hand, it was random how much water was present on planets, the planets might look vastly different. Some planets would be too dry to develop life, while others would be completely covered by water.
“A planet covered by water would of course be good for maritime beings, but would offer less than ideal conditions for the formation of civilisations that can observe the universe,” says Anders Johansen.
Anders Johansen and his research team are looking forward to the next generation of space telescopes, which will offer far better opportunities to observe exoplanets orbiting a star other than the Sun.
“The new telescopes are powerful. They use spectroscopy, which means that by observing which type of light is being blocked from the planets’ orbit around their star, you can see how much water vapour there is. It can tell us something about the number of oceans on that planet,” he says.
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The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.
By Saunji D. Fyffe
August 29, 2019
Across the country, government and nonprofit agencies are leading community-based efforts to help address and solve a range of problems. For instance, agencies are engaging communities to address underage drinking, the opioid crises, ways to reduce recidivism in ex-offenders and more. Although it may require the sharing and blending of resources and competencies of multiple organizations to effectively address complex community issues, the success of any community-based effort depends to a large extent on the level of support received by different stakeholders.
When building support for a new or ongoing community-based effort, having a participatory process that involves the stakeholders who may be affected by or have an interest in the initiative or intervention is more likely to lead to successful implementation, and ultimately more positive outcomes. In particular, involving stakeholders from the target population or beneficiaries of the particular effort is not just key to identifying the best strategies to meet their needs, but also enhances understanding of and by those who stand to benefit most. While involving stakeholders from the target population may seem intuitive, it does not always happen in meaningful and informative ways. There are many reasons to involve beneficiaries and stakeholders from the target population at all stages of a community-based effort. However, three key reasons are:
Greater understanding of community context.
Increased support and buy-in.
Enhanced information and insight into factors that may facilitate or derail an initiative.
Greater understanding of community context. Involving a range of stakeholders is more likely to provide greater insight into community contextual issues and factors. Community-based efforts have unique contextual issues and factors (internal and external) that influence their ability to achieve (or contribute to) transformative community change. Moreover, contextual factors can affect the outcomes of the initiative or intervention. For example, political decisions can heavily influence community-based efforts. Engaging stakeholders can help navigate the political landscape and position the initiative or intervention so that it is perceived to be useful, relevant and more likely to achieve what it was intended to do. This is especially important in the event changes in political circumstances require the effort to be adapted or modified.
The beneficiaries of community-based efforts are stakeholders that can provide unique insights into the community context. While public and nonprofit agencies may have expertise and experience dealing with the particular problem on which the effort is focused, stakeholders from the target population have an intimate understanding of cultural and other factors that can make or break an intervention. For example, a job training program that worked well in one community may not achieve the same results, be slower in progressing towards more positive outcomes or fail in another because of certain community dynamics. Proactively involving stakeholders from the target community early in the planning process may help agencies avoid pitfalls and roadblocks that could be detrimental to the effort’s success.
Increased support and buy-in. Involving beneficiaries and stakeholders from the target community can garner greater community support and buy-in. Agencies can potentially avoid misunderstanding by taking steps to gain a better understanding of and sensitivity to community concerns, which can help agencies design efforts that are more likely to meet community needs. In the long run, considering community needs will likely enhance community confidence and support. Increased support and buy-in for a community-based effort tends to be higher when stakeholders believe the initiative or intervention is capable of meeting their needs.
Improved information and insight. The insights gained by eliciting diverse stakeholder perspectives can introduce new and different ideas as well as increase awareness of potential stumbling blocks. These insights can also raise concerns that agencies may not have considered without such input. Engaging stakeholders from the target population with diverse perspectives and interests, especially those with opposing views, can ensure that a variety of issues and concerns are taken into account, and can be informative should the need for compromise arise. This is especially important when designing community-based efforts that target diverse groups to ensure the intervention is culturally, and in many cases linguistically, appropriate.
Agencies leading community-based efforts should first identify and make a list of all potential stakeholders involved in, or affected by, the community initiative or intervention. The list of stakeholders should include those with a direct or even indirect interest in the initiative or intervention. Because it may not be feasible, or wise, to engage all potential stakeholders from the target group or beneficiaries, devising a system to prioritize this list of stakeholders is highly recommended. When prioritizing stakeholders, agencies should think about how different stakeholders can be engaged for different purposes and at different stages. Engaging stakeholders, especially from the target population, is more than a one-time activity and may not be easy; but is sure to pay off in the end.
Author: Saunji D. Fyffe, Ph.D., is a consultant specializing in program monitoring and evaluation. This article is based on her experience working with government and nonprofit agencies to build capacity and implement performance measurement and management. For additional information, email [email protected].
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We’ve been serving Vancouver, WA, and surrounding Clark County areas for more than four decades. Providing high-quality products and services on time and on budget, our spray foam insulation provides a wide array of solutions for your commercial or industrial facilities.
Our durable insulative products will improve the energy efficiency of your building, providing the necessary R-value to meet codes and lessen your energy bills. Our fire-proofing products provide an extra layer of protection for your building and other specialty coatings help with abatement, containment, and reinforcement.
Spray Foam Insulation Services in Vancouver, WA
For insulation, we provide both one and closed cell spray foam. For warehouses, garages, and other outbuildings, our spray foam will help seal structure and provide air and vapor barriers. Not only will this help protect the contents of the facility, but make it more comfortable for employees.
We offer both open and closed cell spray foam insulation. Open-cell foam is much more pliable and expands up to three times as much as closed-cell foam. This is perfect for hard-to-reach areas as well as any nooks and crannies that might be letting conditioned air escape.
Closed-cell spray foam is much denser and much more rugged. Ideal for high-traffic areas, roofing, and overlays, this type of insulation needs no maintenance and can stand up to most weather conditions of the Pacific Northwest. It is often used on flat roofs because it can stand up to foot traffic.
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This is part IV of The Tide Roundtable encounter with Hon Osima Ginah, Commissioner for Urban Development, Rivers State, first published last Monday. Read on, very refreshing. The most important demolition is the Aborigine type, and Okrika people have been saying we are aborigines in this place. What are you going to do there? As I said first, what is the definition of Aborigine? Now, I want one Okrika man who will tell me that he is not part of Kunuji or Tugbunuji, Ibaka, Ogboko. I know Okrika very well and for those who came to tell me I’m from these and that, they have their traditional homes and like I tell you, we are moving on. Nobody can coarse us. Nobody can force government out of its decision to do what it wants to do and once government moves in you cannot intimidate especially this present government. You cannot intimidate us. That we have not reached does not mean that we will not go. As I told you, we are not carrying out indiscriminate demolition of waterfronts, we are carrying out planned demolition and when we demolish it, obviously, government has plans to develop that area. And I want to put it on record that we will demolish all the waterfronts in Port Harcourt. One after the other. But if we reach any water front and where the people can, with facts prove that that area is an aborigine and that the people have no where to go and they can show us as Rivers people, their ancestral artifacts, the things that they worship. Go to Angulama for those who know Angulama, you know that in those days even up till now you don’t need to mention certain things because they are in the criminal code. Those are the things we use to deceive ourselves that once you mention, you will die because those were the things that our forefathers worshipped. It is there, that is our ancestral home. So when we find ancestral home, then we will relocate the people. Take for instance the Finima people, they have ancestral home and when government wanted to take their home, they relocated them. When we reach an ancestral home of the people we will relocate them. But let me also tell you, the Okrika people are not against the demolition of the waterfronts. They are not against the development of the waterfronts. Now because of the word “Demolition”. This is also synonymous with the forceful removal of illegal structures that people are afraid. No what we are doing is development and I want you to put it on record that it is development of waterfronts. What is urban renewal in itself? Urban renewal is the removing of an old thing or what is not supposed to be there and replacing it with new one. Do you like the way the waterfronts are? The answer is no. We want to get the water fronts to modern city status. Do we build in the way it is? No. We want to sandfill the waterfront. Do we pump sands on the people the way it is and upgrade it to the level needed? The answer is no. So what do we do? We have to remove those shanties and the structures there so that we can pump in the sand, construct roads, install water, put on light, build up recreational facilities and then you have a modern state status. That’s what we mean by urban renewal. The Okrika people welcome urban renewal. I put it on record that Okrika people welcome the development of the waterfronts. But what is their fear? Their fear is that the governor is an Ikwerre man. “So maybe if the place is developed, it will be given to Ikwerre people. That is their fear. I want any Okrika man to challenge me. And I say it and the governor has said it several times that it is open to all Rivers people. Now what the government is doing is not an Ikwerre agenda afterall the governor has said it that Ikwerre people who have taken over government land, take for instance, ‘Eagle Island’. We will demolish all the structures there and return to those whose land were not yet built on their own land. The governor has said it that we will move into Elekohia Stadium. Now the land that was acquired by the government and where Ikwerre people have taken and sold to people, we will demolish all the structures there and take over the land. The same way the governor has also stated that the sandfill that were planned and allocated to the people that the Okrika people have taken over. We will demolish all the structures and return it back. Government must be respected. Government is meant for all of us. Government for the people, by the people and of the people. My answer is that it is not Ikwerre agenda. So the fear of Okrika people is whether there is Ikwerre agenda where once the waterfronts are developed, the Ikwerre people will now move over from Diobu to go and live in town. That is their fear. Just make your statistics, how many Ikwerre people do you find that have property in the town? So there should be unity in diversity. Rivers State is a multilingual state. But I want to assure the Okrika people and the Rivers people that there is no hidden agenda. Take for instance, if they say it is Okrika or Ikwerre agenda, I am not from Okrika, I am not from Ikwerre? I’m a Kalabari man and we are talking about the development of Rivers State and Rivers State belongs to all of us. Rivers State is not Ikwerre. Rivers State is not Okrika. Rivers State is Ikwerre, Okrika, Kalabari, Etche, Ogoni and others. So Rivers State belongs to all of us. What gives you the boldness? I have over the time developed that boldness and I believe that anything that is worth doing is worth doing well. I’m one man who believes that anything any human being can do, I can do it. If I want to be a militant I would have been a militant but I choose to be a lawyer. Those who practised with me will tell you I move in to do my practice with boldness. Secondly what also gives me the boldness is that when I took over the responsibility of the Ministry of Urban Development I looked at it, it is a very sensitive job but I said someone must do it someday and so when? Now is the time. Who?, I’m the person. So it is an opportunity for me to contribute my own quota in the development of Rivers State. And I believe that my being in public service is divine because from Action Congress, coming to be a commissioner. If I were in PDP probably, I wouldn’t have been a commissioner. So God moved me out of PDP and pushed me to Action Congress and brought me back to PDP government and said serve. And that give me the boldness. Before I do anything, firstly I commit it to God. I say God, take over me, give me the courage to do my work and direct me well. And God gave me a spirit and I moved ahead and when I move, I move like Suname. You are a product of the Unity Government. Can you reconcile PDP government and AC vision for the government? No, No, No, there is no AC vision in government. Like I said the visioner is the Governor. Who is the governor? Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is the visioner. There can never be two visioners. There cannot be the vision of Amaechi and the vision of Tonye Princewill who is my governorship candidate. But you see in Amaechi vision, is Akin to Tonye’s vision so Tonye will say, Oh, Amaechi this is your vision, I also see the vision. Let me ensure that I put it into your government and we move ahead and it became friends to friends. They say show me your friend and I will tell you who you are. They have similar things. This, will also have done if I am the governor of Rivers State so let us move together and that’s how we came in to it. And when we came into it he said I saw this vision also, Okay His Excellency, you saw this vision”. We can partner with you to achieve that vision and they gave us responsibility and I will tell you that I pray that even after this government Rivers State should have a governor like Amaechi because one, there is no sycophancy. I don’t go to Government House to say His Excellency I come to say good morning to you, no. Amaechi doesn’t even like it. I’m loyal! What is your loyalty? Your loyalty is your service delivery. Now if you are performing your duties, then you are the one that is loyal. He is not the one that is just a PDP person, or the one that is Action Congress or the one that says good morning governor or the one that calls the governor. It may interest you to know that I don’t have the phone number of the governor and I never called him on phone. So there is no reason for that. If the governor wants me then it means that he has seen a vision. If the governor wants to direct me, then he has to call me. When he gave me an assignment, he expected me to go and deliver. He expected me to go and perform a duty. He expected me to sit down in my office and l am in charge. He expected me to go out and perform any duties. I’m incharge of the Ministry of Urban Development, I am the boss. My over lord is the governor who is in charge of all the activities of the state. What I do is when he sees the vision he calls me to go and deliver and I sit down and do my work. I am very comfortable. If I want to do a thing and it costs me one Naira, I say, His Excellency, this is the assignment you give me, it costs one Naira and the governor looks at it and says this one Naira, can you use it to do it and I say yes. He gives me the one Naira, and he monitors me, how I would spend the one Naira and I achieve the result, I give him the report, I have implemented it. He sees another vision and says oh from this vision, you also need to do this or atimes I go back to him and say His Excellency, this we have done, we have not done this, it takes Forty Naira, give it to me and he will give it to me. I go back and I spend the money and do the job. Every money released from the government is for a purpose. If that is not achieved, you loose the confidence of the governor. You don’t need to be the governor’s brother; you don’t need to be the governor’s friend. If you look at it, in our cabinet reshuffle what did the governor do? The governor reshuffled the cabinet and to some of his friends that were in government, he tries to distinguish himself from Amaechi as a Governor and Amaechi as a friend. What do we have? We have the government of Rivers State and I am serving in the government of Rivers State where PDP as a party brought the governor. But AC in Rivers State and people who are AC members in Rivers State are Rivers people. And what did the government do, government of Rivers State. We are also having a new orientation in politics. An orientation where irrespective of your political party or your political inclination what is paramount is your contribution and service delivery to your people, not to your party. It is not party inclination. Any feeling of regret in the course of carrying out your duties? No, there is no regret but not that I don’t have challenges; I have challenges but not regret. I had threats to my life. Even before I became commissioner I had threats to my life. Although, I have received several calls and text messages of threats to my life but I believe that service to humanity is a sacrifice and it is something that must be done. Like I said when I took over the mantle of leadership as the commissioner for Urban Development, the first thing that came to my mind was this job is quite sensitive because you are given the armour to go and destroy. But I quickly remembered in the Bible, God said go, destroy and build and I said God, be with me. That as I am going, I am going to war and you are the head of the war. We are going to destroy and build a new city and so direct me. I have an excess confidence in me. And the confidence is such that when I see the Governor’s house and it is an illegal structure, I will demolish it. I marked Government House personally. But what is holding it? Yes, you know that structure is built by Julius Begger and it’s so strong that we don’t have the equipment to even demolish it. So, the governor had directed the Chief of Staff (COS) Government House to ensure that Julius Begger corrects that place. But you see, we are also expanding the road, the Azikiwe road which also affected the parts that we want to correct and we believe that collectively, we are going to correct it. That shows that we have a governor who is not biased. Before now, no government can albow you even go close to a commissioner’s house talkless of Government House. And I went in, I did it by myself, marked it by myself being supervised and monitored by the security in the Government House. Hon Commissioner Sir, you said the word is development and not demolition. Can we know when to expect structures in the demolished water fronts? Yes, you know like I said in the next two, three years, you will expect it? Now why in the next two, three years? It takes time to pump in the sand; you allow the sand to settle before you build. In the next two, three years, you expect very beautiful sight. Infact I’m even planning to live in the water front. You know I’m a water front product, 11 years as a fisherman. People have the fear that some government officials will hijack the place? No, I will explain to you that some government officials who used their positions as opportunity to hijack lands and build where they are not supposed to build, we demolished them. Not the money, you see the payment of compensation not withstanding. Even if you have the money, it will take your time to build. Now let me also tell you, we are not building alone as a government, we are partnering with private investors and we are also putting in statutory provisions (laws) to guide the development and management of those things. We have what is called the Infrastructural Development Laws before the House of Assembly. The law is put in place in such a way that even Amaechi himself cannot allocate anything to himself. So those of us in government can never use our privilege positions to get what we are not supposed to get. Infact this is one government that as a commissioner, you are not a demi god. We have demystified our offices in such a way that you can just come into my office; you knock at my door and see me. We want the Honourable Commissioner to tell us, where the job of the Ministry of Urban Development ends and where that of the Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority begins? I think this is not what you can just describe with words of description. If you look at the plan, you have about eight local government areas covered by Greater Port Harcourt. It is a conscious determined effort of Amaechi to ensure that we don’t live in one-city state anymore. Because Port Harcourt is already congested. Now parts of Obio/Akpor, the entire Port Harcourt is not part of greater Port Harcourt. Now Greater Port Harcourt will extend the city of Port Harcourt. That is how we came up with the name Greater Port Harcourt. Already Port Harcourt has been extended because Obio/Akpor which ordinary is not Port Harcourt, the main city of Port Harcourt is from UTC down here but development has already moved in. Now parts of Obio/Akpor will be taken by Greater Port Harcourt down to Ikwerre axis, you have part of Etche, Oyigbo, Eleme, Ogu/Bolo, Okrika. These are areas that are covered by the Greater Port Harcourt. But I think very soon, we will decimate the area and publish it for people to know this is the exact area. But you see the Greater Port Harcourt master plan covers the old city and the new city. What do we mean? While we are building a new brand city, we are also upgrading the old city. If we don’t upgrade the old city, by the time we finished the new city; people will run away from the old city. How many illegal structures have you demolished since you started? Over one thousand. It can be much more than that if you consider the Njemanze waterfront? No Njemanze, we don’t call it illegal structure because if they are illegal structures, we wont pay them compensation. We term it development urban renewal agenda. Now they were affected by the urban renewal policy of the state even though there were security issues and that informed government to say let it be. Of a truth, the structures in the waterfronts are all illegal structure except those ones that have approval to build. But even though before now, like I said these were carved approvals, if we had treated it as illegal structures, we would have demolished them. Infact, by now we would had finished between ten to twenty waterfronts. Because I have the capacity to finish the whole waterfronts for five days. Taking one waterfront five days, how many water fronts we would demolish in a month? You see that I may have finished a lot of waterfronts by now. But we said no, this is a government that handles this exercise of renewal with a human face. And human in human face we moved on not only the payment of compensation but payment of replacement value. The replacement value is higher than what the law said should be paid. And that is why we carryout our assignment with human face. Commissioner, as a matter of fact, we know you as an action man. How do you relax? Or do you have time to relax? Very well, I’m a man of the people. You know I practised law and in law you can’t survive if you don’t have good Public Relations. I came from a grassroot. Infact from the downtrodden. You know somebody who lived in the waterfront for eleven years cannot claim to be a big man. Even now I ask people what class, urban class, no middle class, no lower class. My class now is the privileged class. What I do is once I finished my official assignment in the official time, though my work is twenty four hours everyday. You can call me on Sunday, 5 O’clock, 10 O’clock, I will come. I don’t mind if it is a weekend, I will come. I will drive myself to that place. You won’t see the siren of the security and police. No, they are not really part of me. So a times I follow my friends, I attend parties, I sit out with friends and enjoy the things I know best to do. Do you still go fishing? No, what time do I have to go fishing when I am demolishing. There is no time to go fishing. But I visit friends. Not my friends as commissioners but my friends as my classmates and those who lived in waterfronts with me. I do go to visit them in the waterfronts. Before I demolish, I visit them, and I tell them I am coming. END
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November 4, 2022
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Today, Chief Okoma Kio Isokariari clocks 87 years on Earth. The czar of civil engineering and construction, and foremost indigenous contractor, though looking frail with age, had worked tirelessly to the zenith of the industry, with particularly iconic buildings dotted across Kalabari Kingdom, Rivers State, and Nigerian’s indelible legacies of his professionalism, competence and commitment to excellence.
Before he retired from active site works and supervision, O. K. Isokariari was a colossus of brick and tar. He could work and move from one project site to the other without resting. He traversed the length and breadth of the country snapping jobs and executing them with zest, finesse and dexterity. His footprints stand out like a diamond in the sky across many communities, and today, represents part of the positive contributions of Rivers State to the realisation of the Nigerian Project.
Ahead of his birthday, today, barely 123 days after celebrating 50 years of the existence of O.K. Isokariari Nigeria Limited(formerly O. K. Isokariari & Sons) as a corporate entity, on July 4, 2022, the legendary indigenous contractor sat down with The Tide Editorial team led by the Acting Chairman, Editorial Board and Supervising Editor, Nelson Chukwudi; Health & Metro Reporter, Kevin Nengia; and Photographer, Ken Nu-ue, to reminisce on the past and charta course for the younger generation who would want to leave a mark, as he has done.
Below are excerpts of the 35-minute chat with the Rivers State icon in the built industry.
Sir, can you tell us who is Chief O. K. Isokariari?
Oh yes, Chief Okoma Kio Isokariari is from Buguma, headquarters of today’s Asari-Toru Local Government Area. I was born in Buguma on the 4th of November, 1935, and was baptised at St Michael’s Anglican Church, Buguma. I attended St Michael’s School and graduated with distinction. After that, I proceeded to Kalabari National College where I was House Prefect. I graduated five years later with an Advanced Level General Certificate of Education (GCE).
Not long after, I went to Zaria in 1957, and got job with the Nigerian Railway Corporation as Station Staff-In-Training. In July, 1957, I was selected among about 30 others and sent to Nigerian Railway Traffic Training School at Ebute-Metta, Lagos, where we were trained for six months. During the training, I was made Class Prefect, flying the flag of the region. I came out of the training with sharpened skills and expertise in traffic and logistics management.
After the training, I went back to Zaria, and was deployed to Kuchi station between Kaduna and Minna as station staff, a serious position in the corporation. I moved to Kano, a major railway hub, in November, 1959. With comfortable earning and savings as a responsible Kalabari son, I began making moves to marry in 1964, and eventually got married to Grace, the daughter of Amanyanabo of Kalabari, King Abiye Suku Amachree in Buguma.
Following the social upheavals in the North as a result of the 1966 coup, I returned to Buguma in June, 1966. I went back to Kano in August, 1966 after normalcy had been restored. But tension soon rose again in September, 1966. This time, the national crisis was more serious and disrupted my career. God saved me during the crisis as a lot of us from the South were killed in Kaduna in the reprisal mayhem. I went into hiding for many weeks in Kano to avoid being killed. However, I escaped by divine grace by flying to Lagos on October 17, 1966. It was a very difficult journey of life and death. In fact, I walked in the valley of death. That escape has been my happiest moment in life and the driving force of my success. It was a turning point. From Lagos, I returned home to the warm embrace of my mother in Buguma by boat on October 19.When the crisis died down, I went back to Zaria and continued with my job.
Not too long after, the civil war started. During the civil war, I shuttled between Buguma and Port Harcourt, striving to eke out a living amid the unspeakable humanitarian tragedy, and ruins of war. I first worked as supervisor at the Rivers State Ministry of Rehabilitation. I served in the state rehabilitation committee. Before then, I had attended St John’s Ambulance Course, similar to the Red Cross training. With my experience in providing emergency services, I was busy serving war victims. After the war, I actively participated in the resettlement, rehabilitation and reintegration efforts of displaced people in Port Harcourt.
Not letting go of my business instinct, I registered my first company – ISOYE Enterprises to explore opportunities in stockfish distribution business. But seeing the urgency in addressing the housing and rehabilitation needs of Port Harcourt residents, I ventured into engineering and construction with the setting up of O. K. Isokariari & Sons in 1970, and incorporated it on July 4, 1972.
After the war, I returned to Zaria to continue with my work at the Nigerian Railways. My exceptional performance on the job earned me several awards for my dedication and commitment to duty. But with the lessons of history hovering over me, I voluntarily resigned in 1969 after 12 years of meritorious service to Nigeria, and the management of Nigerian Railways paid me all my entitlements.
So, how did you start your construction business considering the fact that you retired as a civil servant?
After my resignation from the Nigerian Railways, I returned to Port Harcourt to join the concerted efforts at rebuilding the war-ravaged city. Having settled down in my state, I added the little savings I had made to my pay-off, and used it to start my business. But let me say this, the war provided me the opportunity to delve into the construction sector because many opportunities existed then.
After the war, I started business with my experience in the Railways by engaging in house painting, renovations and supply of workshop tools to Rivers State Ministry of Works. Many houses were in ruins and people were starting life afresh. With the conditions of the city, it was not difficult for hardworking Rivers sons and daughters to find good paying jobs to feed themselves and their families. So, with the good foundation I had, with high level of discipline, frugality, honesty and integrity, I started getting clients. Not long after, bigger contracts started coming in, including contracts from the Rivers State Government under its First Military Administrator, Commander Alfred Diette-Spiff, and the Federal Government under General Yakubu Gowon.
My first big contract was the Braithwaite Nursing Home (Memorial Hospital) Building renovation and reconstruction in Old GRA, Port Harcourt in 1970. I was one of those who submitted tender for the project and as God would have it, I was awarded the contract in the sum of £14, 700 at the time. We completed the job in 1971. My company also built the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation in 1972. Of course, that became the launch pad for O. K. Isokariari and Sons.
Impressed with what we did at BMH, the military administration at the time led by Commander Diete-Spiff selected me among other contractors to build general hospitals across the 21 divisions in the state. I was fortunate to be one of those awarded the contract to build the 30-bed Buguma General Hospital at the cost of £130,000 in 1972. Each of the general hospitals were awarded at Ahoada, Isiokpo, Bori, Abua, Bodo, Sagbama, Nembe, Yenagoa, and Brass, among others, at the same value. Of all the contactors, we were the first to complete and deliver good quality project at Buguma in March, 1975.That project later became a reference point for other hospitals. I earned a recommendation in March, 1975, for our quality job at Buguma during the commissioning.
Afterwards, we handled the PAN African Bank headquarters building at Azikiwe Road, awarded at N9million. We also got the NNPC zonal headquarters building at Moscow Road – a nine-storey building – and later, the NAFCON Village and staff quarters at Onne. We got that at N26million. The NAFCON building was worth $28million because at that time, the Dollar was little lower than the Naira in 1982.We delivered the project in 1985. We also built the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) staff quarters on Okporo Road at Mgbuesilaru in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area; NNPC awarded us contract to build the Japanese Construction Company’s staff quarters for the construction of Port Harcourt Refinery at Eleme. We built the Abonnema Ring Road and bridges; built the University of Port Harcourt’s arts theatre – The Crab – at Choba; DSS senior staff quarters in Port Harcourt; Nigerian Defence Academy senior officers’ quarters in Kaduna; Nigerian Army Command and Staff College school building in Jaji; NNPC’s 40 houses for new Finima Town; the Port Harcourt Cenotaph at Isaac Boro Park; NCDMB’s NOGAPS capacity training centre and Industrial Park’s internal roads in Bayelsa; Port Harcourt New Layout Market; Okochiri internal roads phase 1; among many others. In fact, I have seen the delivery of over 400 housing projects, school and hospital projects, and 150km asphalted roads that have continued to stand the test of time, in addition to many reclamation, sand-filling, canalisation and water projects, awarded by government at all levels, oil and gas companies, and others.
So, after all these iconic projects and achievements, how has life been?
I have retired long ago, and my children have taken over the business. Life has been good, though today, I am getting frail and weak. However, as a man with passion for adding value to society and impacting lives positively, I still make inputs to push the envelope further in the portfolio of my business.
Looking back at how things used to be, what would be your advice for young contractors of today?
I would advise them to be honest, steadfast, diligent and committed to delivering quality jobs to their clients. They need to have the stamina to overcome challenges as they come. Such problems include delay in payment for contract fees; navigating the financial system and economic policies, including the commercial and lending banks; even in the face of economic downturns. They also need to be patient and trying to meet clients’ demands without compromising job specifications, standards and best practices. That, to me, is very essential in sustaining contracts and winning the confidence of key stakeholders.
They should also remember that devotion is very important. I mean devotion, diligence and commitment. In our days, it was much more difficult to get contracts than what obtains today. Our work spoke for us at that time. Our legacies still speak for us today because our values, business principles and character remain the same. Anyone who has seen what we did before and what we are doing now, knows that our watchword is quality.
Like The Tide building on No 4, Ikwerre Road, which still stands strong even after a devastating fire outbreak in 2012?
Yes! And others like it. We built them with unmistakable commitment to quality, and desire to bequeath to our state enduring landmarks for posterity.
And these landmarks are major signature achievements that leave O. K. Isokariari in the history book of the state?
Our work spoke for us! They are known for their strength and unique structure. Anyone who sees our job could easily identify us. To some extent, we were far better than some foreign contractors. That is why I always emphasise on quality. That is what I am known for!
What is your take on the recurrent issue of collapsed buildings, most of them giving way while still under construction?
It is unfortunate. Most of the people involved in many of those cases are quacks and desperate individuals struggling to cut corners in order to enrich themselves at the detriment of the people. Such people should not get any construction contract, whether from government or any other entity.
So, what would be your advice to governments?
For me, prudence is the word. That might mean accountability, but the key thing is for government officials and decision-makers to be conscientious and determined to use only those contractors who can deliver quality jobs, knowing that they hold their offices in trust for the people, and also that the money expended on those projects belong to the people.
Unfortunately, most of the contractors today fall short of the standard. Most of them are portfolio contactors who are looking for government money to siphon. Yet, they are getting jobs! How can you award a contract to a company that has no wheelbarrow? No paid, competent staff? No reputation and track record of performance? So, government must be careful, meticulous and ensure due diligence so that monies are spent on quality, and for the best.
So, on your 87th Birthday, what do you like to be remembered for?
I want to be remembered as that Rivers man from Buguma who touched and transformed many lives; whose legacies would remain a source of inspiration and motivation to generations yet unborn. I want my footprints in Buguma, Kalabari Kingdom, Rivers State, Niger Delta, Nigeria and the whole world, to inspire greater desire for service to humanity. I want to be remembered as that good father who gave equal opportunities to his children to be what they dare to be. I want to be a reference point for many young entrepreneurs, especially in the state, who want to add value to the overall development of the state. I want the projects I have executed to continue to speak for O. K. Isokariari Nigeria Limited, my children and grandchildren.
Madam, it has not been easy taking care of your husband and children all these while. What is that unique thing that has sustained your marriage? And to the young girls out there, what advice do you have to help them manage their marriages to be as successful as yours?
Well, the most important thing is contentment and love. You have to be satisfied with what you have, and love your husband and children equally. Patience is key to building a peaceful family. So, I will advice young couples to be contented at any level they are. If they are contented and work hard, God will help them grow to be successful.
I am happy that my son who took over from his father is doing well. He is trying his best. Humility pays! Often times, he seeks and gets advice from the Dad, who is the Founder of the company. And that is very important for the growth of the company.
Published
on
July 25, 2022
By
This is the concluding part of the interview carried last Friday, July 22, 2022.
Mr. Chairman, there was recently an incident in Rumuogba where miscrants accosted workers at a property site claiming to be working for the council whereas their claim was not true. How do you handle the issue of touting in revenue generation in your local government?
Let me tell you the candid truth: my problem is not with the people that go about asking for such money. No! My problem is with those people like the property owner you just talked about. We have gone on air, we have announced severally on radio and TV: anything you want to pay that concerns the council; our offices are open from 8am to 5pm, which is when they close that gate, come to the council here, and make your payments and obtain original receipts from the council. Get your approvals and papers from us here. We do not exist in heaven, we are here at Rumuodomaya. Come and pay your tenement rate fees, operational permits and other taxes here.
The truth is that people deliberately fail to do the right things, believing that when those boys come knocking, they will just pay a little token, and they will give them adulterated documents claiming to be issued by us. And by paying them that money, you are encouraging them to do same to another person or come back tomorrow. We are aware of all these. They patronise the touts at the detriment of the council. That is what they do!
For instance, if you want to develop your property, you come to the council to pay the land rate and fencing permit levy. Outside of that, before you start your building, you bring your drawing here for approval. And most of our people do not do that. They don’t! Like I said, my problem is not with the boys who tout around, but the people that are giving them the leverage to continue to exist. Because if you come to the council, and you get the right papers, as a right-thinking Nigerian, you cannot get your papers and somebody will come and tell you to pay again for the same papers. You will not accept it because you know that you made your payment at the right source and place. All you need to do is to come back to the council, and complain, and your grievances will be resolved. If it is not what you are supposed to pay, when you go back, and the people come again, you arrest them with the police. Inform us, and we will come there and tell the police that we did not send these persons. And they will be prosecuted.
But what do we find here, we find people who will stay back, they won’t pay what they are supposed to pay, and then, when the boys come, if they fail to settle as per price, maybe, they will tell you the boys are coming to harass them. But in your conscience, you know you have not paid what you were lawfully meant to pay. That is what we see. And that is the problem we have! The council gates are open to all who have any legitimate business to transact with us. If we said this is the levy you are supposed to pay, first and foremost, if you get the remand notice, and you are too sure, get across to us at the council for clarification. We have designated bank accounts, go and pay what you are due, and come and obtain original receipts and your papers from us. Do they do that? The answer is no! Then, at the end of the day, when they are not able to pay the touts whatever they are asking for, it becomes an issue of complaint: they are coming to harass us. That is the problem we are facing.
Nobody wants to do the right thing, but they sit back and then, they make so much noise only in the guise of wanting to tarnish the image of the local government. That is what they do. Most of them don’t pay. It is only when the boys go to their sites, and seize their material, that is when you see them bring their drawings here for approval. That is when they come here to pay if they are not able to pay those people there. And for the ones that think they are smart, that is when they will give those boys money there, and they go. Then, when we set up our own monitoring teams to go and verify, they now say… they gave this much; meanwhile they did not come to the council to pay and obtain their original receipts and papers. You gave the money to who? When we ask them, they look for one story to tell. So, that is the problem we are having! If the people, out of their own volition know that this is their civic responsibility, and do those things expected of them to do, you can now come back and tell us that we are the richest local government, and we will tell you, yes, we are because we are seeing the money. But we are not!
Don’t you think that is one of the reasons why you are not because a large chunk of what is supposed to be coming to the local government council is not coming?
That is what we are saying. We are saying the same thing. You can’t just assume it to be so. Alright! It is like the misconception about budgeting. You hear that they have budgeted N50trillion. Is the money there? The money is not there! It is a mere projection. Most times, they will not even get up to half of that amount. Most times, they will spend above that amount. It happens because we are all human beings. That is how it is with what you are trying to assess now. So, that is what we are passing through. And the best way to it is to still appeal to those who are doing business in our local government to do the right thing.
Because the only option left for us now is to set up a task force team to go and verify whether you have paid or not, and get our money for us, if you have not paid. And you see those people who patronise the touts are the same people that shout the most. Before you know it, they have gone to social media; they have gone to conventional media, claiming that Obio/Akpor officials are harassing them and breaking into their shops or business premises. But we have given you enough time; we have announced in the media the timeline and deadline for you to pay. Early January to mid-February, we are on air all-through making announcements for people to come to the council and make their payments for the year. What else do you expect us to do? The moment we set up task forces now, they will start shouting to high heavens, they have come again; they are harassing us; they don’t want us to do our business. But you that was supposed to pay your obligations to the council; you have failed to do that, and you are blaming us for taking steps to recover our money. Because if you have come here to pay, we do not have any reason to set up any task forces that sometimes, are confrontational, to recover our money. And then, it becomes the issue of complaint. That is the problem we have! And when you say, let me avoid these complaints, and not set up any task force, they still won’t come on their own to make the payment so that we can have money to work for our people. Or is it my personal money that I am going to use to work for the people? Is it my own money that I am going to use to pay for the Postgraduate grants? Or pay for the skills acquisition training for beneficiaries? Or for the projects we are doing? It is this money from levies, taxes, etc, that we are using to do them! And they make it look like if it comes, you put it in your pockets: it is not for personal aggrandisement! It is for the delivery of democracy dividends to the people. It is only those who do not have initiative that will not utilise the council’s money prudently to deliver quality services to the people. We are focused and resilient, and we know what to do to make our people, who elected us to serve them, happy.
But we are still reaching out to them. We will continue to appeal to business operators to come and do the needful for the good of all in the local government, because without that money, we cannot work. Let them stop patronising touts. They are the ones encouraging them. So, these are part of the major problems we experience in trying to harness our revenue for you to have the foundation to tell us we are the richest or we are the largest. There is no statistics to back that up! That is what it is.
Chairman Sir, you have said a lot concerning your achievements in the past one year. I know it requires a lot of money for you to carry out these development projects in the local government. So, what are you doing to shore up the revenue base of the council by way of diversification of the economy of the local government?
Well, how do we diversify? Unless you are talking of it from the point of view of investments! But like I said, as it stands now, our core investment is in the area of human capacity development. The law allows us to provide support for health; education; build markets; parks; property approval and building permits; and collection of tenement rates and derivable levies. That is all the diversification you can talk about. Except you are talking of venturing into agriculture! We don’t have that capacity.
What we do is to see to what extent we can add value to improve the lives of our people directly. That is what we see as our own diversification or what we can call investment; because we believe that by tomorrow, it will yield positive dividends. The multiplier effects arising therefrom can also count for us.
But out of that, we have the intention of building one or two new markets, or renovate one or two. We also plan to develop one or two more parks, because even if you do so, we have parks and markets already existing. You see those ones in those communities, even if you build more, they won’t allow you to come and collect the rent. By the time you want to press it, they will say you are confrontational. It is something when you come to experience it that you know better. If not, these are the little openings the law allows us to get involved in, in order to raise revenue for the council. Because we cannot on our own get involved in things the law does not permit us to do. What the law provides for us is: you establish markets; you establish parks; you collect daily tolls; and all of that. The diversification you are talking about now can only be in the area of investment. I think we are doing all we can outside our monthly allocation to boost our revenue and add to accelerate quality service delivery. It is what we have in our place here, that God has blessed us with, but the problem is how to harness it to enhance our revenue base because of the bottlenecks I have explained to you. That is what we are exploring.
We have our agents, and we are doing everything possible to tap all available options to increase our revenue base. I must also acknowledge that they are some companies and business operators in the local government that within the period given to them, the moment they receive our demand notice, they come to pay their due. But we still have some big companies that connive with these touts to evade payment of what is due the council.
Are you planning to digitise revenue collection in the council to check corruption and other sundry sharp practices?
We are working towards that. But one thing you must understand is, even at that, like I know how many filling stations that are operating in Obio/Akpor. I know how many hotels. In fact, we have a record of how many companies that are operating in our area. But no matter how you look at it, it takes a willing mind to pay what he or she is statutorily obligated to pay to the government. Anyone not interested in paying will not want to pay voluntarily. Majority of the people always wants to be forced to do the right thing. We do not have difficulty collecting the money. The issue is: are they willing to pay? Because it is a willing mind that will do what you are saying, whether automated or not. I hope you understand me? Those that are paying will be the same ones that will pay whether you automate the process or not, because it is a voluntary thing. What they hear is that one that officials will come and lock up their shops or business premises or carry their goods or wares. That is the problem: lack of people’s willingness to discharge their obligations voluntarily. Even when you spread the annual payment over a period of time within the year, those not ready and willing to pay, won’t pay.
Interjection! Chairman, let me step in here. Let us leave that issue, enough has already been said about it.
Chairman, I know that this is not your problem, but a lot of motorists have been complaining about the bad gullies and craters near the entrance to your council’s gate on the Port Harcourt-Owerri Road. Why don’t you try to do something to rehabilitate those bad spots to ease free flow of traffic around this axis?
Oh! The one in front of the council secretariat? Somebody told me they talked about it on radio the other day. Well, two weeks after I assumed office, we tried to do something around that. But I have listened to some of the commentaries on radio. Some people actually feign ignorance on who has the responsibility to address that challenge.
You know that we have three tiers of government: The federal, state and local government. That responsibility falls squarely under the purview of the Federal Government, because it is a federal road. It is not even the duty of the state government to intervene, except it secures the go-ahead of the Federal Government.
If you are saying it as a suggestion, fine. We can consider it based on available resources to us. But it is not my responsibility as a council. It is not! We have a lot of competing needs that we are obligated to address as leaders at the local government level. Our people elected us to serve them, and we have to judiciously spend the scarce resources available to deliver for our people. It is not just something you wake up one day and throw yourself into. Do we have the money to do it? The answer is no!
And more so, they have given the contract to LCC, a construction company to handle. They are in the process of providing drainages on the road. It is a gradual process. They are doing the work! It is not as if vehicles are not passing the road. It is just that some people are just idle, and do not know what to say or do with their precious time. Some journalists just want people to listen to their stations, so they look for just anything to say to engage idle minds.
Chairman, every job has its own risks and exposures. This job, for the past one year, has also exposed you to certain risks that you may not have anticipated. A case in point was early this year when your task force team on illegal crude oil refineries was accosted at a point around Rumuolumeni, and there was a near combat situation between some armed personnel of a Federal Government security agency and your team. My instinct tells me that you were physically present while the fight was raging. How did you feel about your safety during that confrontation?
Well, let me start it this way. You know that one of the questions you asked was that my local government is the richest. That is part of the risk. You won’t understand.
Well, that is what leadership is about. You can’t come here and just think it is a bed of roses. There are attendant risks associated with the job. That situation on that fateful day is one of such risks. Even in the job you do as a journalist, there are risks you face on a daily basis. It is what comes with the job, and you should be ready to face it. We are here to solve problems; we are here to face challenges first and foremost. This place is not a party hall; it is not a place for luxury. You that made up your mind to become council chairman must have also made up your mind to frontally tackle whatever challenges may arise during the course of your tenure.
So, it is not the team I sent. I was physically present there, and I was the one they were attacking for leading a team to disrupt and dismantle their illegal business activities in my council area. It was the confrontation I had with men of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at Rumuolumeni. I was the one with the guy that had a gun; I was the person in the video that went viral on social media. It is what it is: it is governance! It is leadership! You must confront issues as there arise. Because: what is democracy? It is all about the people! What is governance? It is all about the people! The centrepiece of it is the people.
So, whatever it is that is affecting your people that you have sworn to govern, should be your personal challenge. We knew the effect of the soot pandemic everywhere in the state until the governor intervened and took the proactive step, and ordered the chairmen of the 23 local government councils to ensure that the operators and sponsors of illegal oil bunkering activities in the communities are identified and reported to appropriate authorities for investigation and prosecution while their sites should be closed permanently. He ordered the chairmen to join the fight because there is no way he can do it alone. After all, we relate more closely with the people at the grassroots. It borders on our people. The soot was affecting the health of our people.
So, for you to be a leader, no matter the level, you should be resilient; your mind should be made up to confront most of these challenges head-on. Some people have lost their lives in the course of defending their people. That is leadership! And if you are not ready to sacrifice for your people, then, you do not deserve to be a leader. So, that is the motivating factor that we have to keep pushing because it is in the interest of our people.
Chairman, you talked about what you were doing at Rumuekini: the Fish Farm. I will like to know: what is the state of that farm, today? Is it producing? Are we earning money from the farm already? Secondly, Obio/Akpor has a serious challenge of refuse disposal. We understand the challenges, especially when the issue of refuse disposal was handed over to you by the governor when Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) had problems. What is the situation now? And how are you coping with that to ensure that the local government is free of filth?
Well, we thank God that as it stands now, a task force has been set up by the governor to take over that responsibility. But while it lasted, it was a daunting experience. A big one at that! It was an intervention that we got involved directly. But experience has shownthat refuse collection and disposal is a serious business. Very serious business managed by very serious-minded people!
Of course, refuse is produced in seconds. And you know that it is human beings that produce waste. So, it follows that where you have high concentration of the population, the tendency is that you have more refuse produced by the seconds within that area. Like Obio/Akpor, if you talk about population concentration, it doubles that of Port Harcourt City. That is why we seem to have more waste than any other local government in the state.
It has always been the responsibility of RIWAMA. But through the directive of the governor, we intervened and did what we were able to do to help. The job has reverted to RIWAMA, and the task force is incharge now. We even attended a meeting at the invitation of the task force, yesterday, to ask us on what experience we have garnered and what suggestions we could make to help them do even better. We had very candid conversations around the issues, and we also made suggestions for seamless refuse collection and disposal in the capital city through a strategic synergy that works for the good of all in the communities.
Of course, the local government council must be involved; just as the communities must also be involved, because they are the ones generating the refuse. So, they should also be involved in all-round monitoring and supervision of evacuation at the receptacles and compaction at the dumpsites, because we have the manpower at this level. We know that most of the refuse contractors, if you don’t supervise and monitor them very closely, they won’t do their jobs diligently. So, we need to work with RIWAMA for them to succeed. All the same, we thank God that we were able to do that job, but it was very overwhelming, I must admit.
Now, back to the issue of the Rumuekini fish farm. Yes, as it is today, it is not functioning optimally. We are trying to work out modalities for its efficient and effective operation. But we said, if we finish securing the place first, to be sure, then, we can begin the next process. We want to set up an agro-based business there outside of the fish farm in partnership with interested investors. We are talking with some people already, and we believe that by the time we are done, we would have bequeathed a thriving agro-based business portfolio that will not only employ a lot of our people but also generate income for many families and the council as well.
If we are to continue with the facility, we may have to totally renovate and expand it. Our intention initially was to, because it is in units, just to add extra units, make them modern, and then, in each unit, raise like two or three women, give them money to run it as a business. They will manage it, sell and make returns to the council, no matter how little. We are working that out. Now that we have been able to secure the place, it will now give us that platform to work out something. My supervisor for agriculture is working out the modalities. We are talking with a team from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and two or three other organisations to see how the place can be optimised for the good of the people of Obio/Akpor.
Going forward, what are we expecting from you in Obio/Akpor?
Yes, we have hit the ground running. Like I said, in the area of human capital development, we will continue with our post-graduate grants. We will also continue with our vocational skills acquisition programme. We will do another two sets. The PG programmes, we will do another two sets of 50 for PhD and 50 for Masters. So, at the end of our three-year tenure, we would have produced 150 PhD and 150 Masters degree holders.
We have other very important projects we want to embark upon. First among them is the Secondary School Block we promised to build for Woji community. We are thinking about one or two important link roads in the two constituencies of Obio and Akpor that make up the local government. If it is not something that can go round all the 17 wards, we do it constituency-by-constituency. If it can go beyond the constituency but not up to the ward level, we do it by clans, like what we did with the Charkin Academy admission. We could not carry the burden at the ward level by choosing 17 persons, as to one from each ward. So, what we did was use the nine clans as a basis for the selection of beneficiaries. In Evo, we have three clans – Oro-Evo, Oro-Esara, and Oro-Opotoma, that is in constituency one; in constituency two, we have three clans – Akpor, Apara, and Rumueme; then, the remaining, we gave to non-indigenes of Obio/Akpor. That was how we distributed the slots for the Charkin admission. So, we had a balance in the selection process.
All we can say is that Obio/Akpor people should expect more from us. And above all of these is the programme we want to start for our women petty traders. You know that we do not have farm lands anymore. Our women used to be very industrious and hardworking farmers, but with the lands gone to urbanisation, the only available space they have now, they display pepper, tomatoes, vegetables, and all those foodstuffs. So, we think we can encourage them by giving seed money to improve their trades; maybe, N10,000 to N20,000 revolving facility, so that we can reach as many women as possible in the communities. That way, we will help them boost their small businesses to support their families, and also help the council grow economically. So, that will be our focus too in no distant time.
The moment we are sure that it is workable, and will impact positively on the people, we will kick-start it, maybe, towards the end of the year, and nosedive into next year. We have already told them that it is not going to be business as usual. They have to be judicious and frugal in the management of whatever they are given, because it is not for free; they have to pay back the money. The structures have to be in place to make the scheme sustainable.
We also have a scheme for the youths. We will identify the ones that are ready to be engaged, and want to eke out a living for themselves, if they get any support. Then, with the scheme, we will support them to be useful to themselves and the society. That way, we would have strengthened the economies of our communities; and built a more resilient and peaceful society.
We are going to do all these because we have the interest of our people at heart. We promised to address their challenges when we come on board, and we have to keep our promise. We will not disappoint them.
Published
on
July 23, 2022
By
The Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), one of the newest in Nigeria, has come a long way since it came into being four years ago. The change from a comparatively obscure Braithwaithe Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH) in the country to its present status as a Teaching Hospital has not yet ceased to baffle close watchers. How did this happen? Who made it happen? What is it that has so turned things around in it that has made it the bride of genuine good health seekers within and outside the State? To respond to these and other nagging questions, The Tide’s Business Editor, Soibi Max-Alalibo, and Deputy News Editor, Sogbeba Dokubo, sought the answers from the Chief Medical Director, RSUTH, Dr. Friday E. Aaron, on whose shoulders the responsibility was placed. The interview turned out to be revealing as it was assuring.
Since 2018, when the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital was birthed from the then Braithwaithe Memorial Specialist Hospital, Rivers people, residents of the State, and those from other neighbouring states have never had it so good in terms of accessing medical care for which they hitherto had to travel very far.
Beyond easily accessing the right medical care, patients can now walk in, get necessary medical attention, and walk out with little or no stress as it was in the days of BMSH.
Staff, from the bottom to top, are more dedicated to their responsibilities due to high motivational standards, better equipment to work with, and incentives, which have given them more reason to put in their best in their jobs.
The result is that from being an institution that rendered only health care services, it now renders the same services at a more higher level, trains health care practitioners, and also carries out researches.
The person at the centre of this phenomenal change is the State Governor, His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who, as part of his NEW Vision, extended his midas touch to the hospital by appointing a technocrat in the fold of Dr Friday Aaron as the pioneer Chief Medical Director (CMD), who has turned out to be the engine room or the development of one of the foremost Teaching Hospitals in Nigeria.
As the CMD puts it: “I have not just been in charge, I’m the pioneer CMD of the hospital. So, that places on me a huge assignment of laying the foundation, and then building on it”.
This eventually became his driving force, which is “to be remembered as one that came, laid a foundation that people should build on, sustainably”.
In order to attain this quest, Dr. Aaron acknowledged what he called the “incontestable magnanimity” of the State Governor in according him the privilege of not just appointing him as the pioneer CMD, but also providing the wherewithal in terms of provision of manpower, equipment, and key Infrastructures required to turn the tide of the hospital around to what it is today, preparatory to what it will be years to come.
“One thing that’s outstanding is the overall change in the hospital, the overall repositioning of the hospital that was just mainly rendering health care services, to a Teaching Hospital with capacity to manage very complex cases.
“And that change is obvious for us to see in terms of infrastructure, change in mindset of staff, quality of services, in terms of overall patient experience “, he said.
On assumption of duty in 2018, the first thing he did to set things in motion was to develop a Mission, Vision, and Core Values for the hospital, and also ensure that staff adhere strictly to achieving them as spelt out in their various responsibilities.
“In all our meetings we remind ourselves of these core values and take one of them and remind ourselves of how to go about it”, he explained.
To encourage staff in being at their best in their jobs, various awards have been instituted for outstanding staff in various departments, “and this has changed their mindset for better and quality service delivery”.
The result is that four years down the lane, RSUTH has not only recorded tremendous achievements in areas that fall within its mandate, but has also kept on improving in all key three areas that comprise the mandate: rendering medical services; training of medical personnel; and carrying out researches. These three are what the CMD called the “Trypod Mandate” of a Teaching Hospital.
In service delivery, RSUTH now renders services beyond Rivers State up to the South-South and South East States.
“After we became a Teaching Hospital, we now render services up to the South-South and South East because of the level of equipment we have “, he stated.
Dr Aaron, an orthopedic surgeon, said the result of the upgrade to a Teaching Hospital, among others, is that the environment has turned into a beehive of activities: from the gate through all the various departments, every staff is usually on their toes, and does so with a mindset of responsibility to serve, and in all happiness to do so.
“When you talk about services, you see that anytime you walk into the hospital, you see how busy it is, because of the level of services we render”, he said.
Beyond attending efficiently to all who come to the hospital to seek treatment or service, by ensuring that they get to the right place to get the required attention, the hospital has also improved in clinical care services, where diagnostics stands out tops.
As the CMD captures it, “we have the best radio diagnostic equipment East of the Niger “.
Such diagnostic equipment include: Magnetic Resonance Imagine (MRI) 1.5 Tesla Machine, for general body imaging; Computer Tomography (CT); Mammography Machine, used for breast imaging; Fluoroscopy Machine, for dynamic imaging studies; and Plain Radiography Machine, which is used for static imaging.
These and other essential machines for a Teaching Hospital that are not commonly available in most tertiary health care institutions in the country has turned RSUTH into a Mecca of sort, attracting people from outside the State, most especially from the South-South and South East.
Such States include Enugu, Umuahia, Owerri, and Bayelsa. People Troup into the hospital for one form of diagnostic investigation or the other on a daily basis.
Following the upgrade also, there have been non-stop and all round power supply from 2018 up to March 2022, when it had to be rationed to departments that necessarily require it all through the day, such as the radiology department where equipment has to be on 24/7.
RSUTH also has Dialysis Machine, which has the capacity for Renal Transplant, popularly known as kidney transplant.
Currently, personnels have been trained, and more are still undergoing trainings on how to operate and use the machine.
What this means is that in no time, kidney transplant and other related diseases, for which patients are flown abroad, can be done and treated in RSUTH. Ultimately, this will attract more patronage from far and near.
In training, RSUTH, by its status as a Teaching Hospital, is a training ground for both the Rivers State University, and private owned Pamo Universiy of Medical Sciences.
“It is because we have a functioning Teaching Hospital that the regulatory body approved RSUTH as a training ground.
“The Collage of Medical Sciences accredited RSUTH to train doctors. They come from time-to-time, for every level to check what is on ground. For training, we have supported at the undergraduate level, student nurses from RSU are also being trained here”, he stated.
RSUTH, Dr Aaron continued, “serves Rivers people primarily, and also Pamo Universiy of Medical Sciences who are one year ahead in terms of students. They come for their orientation, medical experience, and have also received accreditation because of their relationship with us.
The implication of this is that RSUTH has not only been carrying out clinical trainings, but also provide manpower for both the public and private sectors, and most of these students are of Rivers origin.
The hospital trains doctors, nurses, cardiographers, medical laboratory scientists, etc. from the public and private sectors.
In order to fulfill its mandate on research, RSUTH is registered with relevant national bodies and is licensed on health ethics and bio-ethics.
“This has helped us because more of our lecturers and staff write to the ethics committee, receive approval and do researches”.
This, the CMD said, has given RSUTH global visibility.
“Now, you can just Google researches and publications done here. You’ll see quite a lot of our publications. We have data, unexplored data, because we have been working for sometime.
“That’s why we started by upgrading our records because it was an issue in the past. Now that we have electronic records, it is easy to get data”.
Though these and many other successes have been recorded in the first four years of RSUTH, Dr. Aaron said the feat was achieved amidst challenges.
He, therefore, called for partnership with well-meaning individuals and organisations to partner the hospital in order to serve the public more, saying hat Government alone “cannot do it all”.
So far, the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) seem to have taken the lead in this wise by building the Infectious & Disease Unit of the hospital, which is under construction.
“The Governor has done a lot. The story of this hospital has changed for good. Patients should utilize the hospital and also be friendly, show loyalty, commitment in the hospital, by using the facility in such a way that they see it as belonging to them, which is taking ownership, in order to sustain it”, he said.
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Yes, each player will choose his size and his number. Click here to go to the sizing page
5 – I am on a british Island, at the top of the Everest, on Mars with Elon M., can I still be delivered ? ?
Yes definitely ! We deliver customized football kits worldwide with our partners DHL or TNT. We will rock everything to make the delivery happen
6 – What are the delivery delay ?
Depends on your location, for destination within EU and UK, around 3 weeks. If you choose the economic delivery (with a discount of 10%) count 6 to 8 weeks in the most remote areas.
Please watch the video on delay and delivery below with the subtitles
7 – I have an event/tournament in 2 weeks, is it possible to get delivered on time ?
Call asap Adrien +33 1 79 75 09 09 ! We will do the impossible to get you delivered on time : catch a plane, a car, a bus or give the products to someone visiting you from our warehouse in France or Peru.
8 – Can I receive a sample to check the sizes ?
The easiest way is to use our size guides (see previous tab). If you really want to receive samples, the shipping feeswill be on your behalf.
9 – Can I come to your warehouse to get my equipment ?
With pleasure, you can visit us in Paris, France or in Lima, Peru. Contact us to organize your coming, the coffee will be waiting for you.
10 – Do your female custom kits have a different cut than the male kits ?
Yes, they do ! Our modelist have created a specific cut for our female football kits.
11 – What are the means of payment ?
– Wire is the easiest way.
– Credit Card with stripe.
Have a look at our video on the payment means.
12 – What material do you use for the manufacturing of the custom football shirt ?
Our customized shirt are made with one of the best material on the market : the drysport. This is a microfiber material, very resistant, light (145gr/m2) : the equivalent of dryfit and climacool. Our training wear are made in polystretch, super comfy and resistant.
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Too many companies are building their marketing programs based on lousy data. While consumer databases are easily overwhelmed with the staggering volume of available information, B2B databases are inherently more complex and once they start to deteriorate- downright ugly.
This is actually a post for smaller businesses about setting up your database to run an append, but the more you look into the subject, the more you’ll tighten up the controls on what goes into your database in the first place so that you’re not overwhelmed with what are actually the first simple steps. You might even want to consider setting aside a small portion of the budget you assign to any marketing program that uses your database in order to improve your database information every time you use it.
Appending your database is simply a process by which the companies in your database are matched up with those in another master database and once matched, some of the empty fields in your data can be filled with the information from the other base. There are of course limitations to what can be filled in with any hope of accuracy and while you can use appends to pull up standard industry information, phone numbers, some web data and executive names, I’m highly dubious of the quality of the contact, title and individual direct line and email information for anyone but the most public figures within an organization. Additionally, you have to consider the limitation contained in the phrase “matched with another master database”, because the match rates might actually be very poor, which means you’ll still have a lot of holes when you’re finished. Oh yes, and its far from free.
What that means is that before you can move ahead there are three things that must be done:
Select Your Files. You need to determine which data in your base is worth spending the money on. Lead data that is very fresh is one thing, but do you really think its a good use of your money to fill in empty data fields for a lead you generated five years ago and never responded to your subsequent efforts to convert? Once you’ve made that decision, your first task will be to isolate that data. How will you do that? If it’s by sorting to a code/date/source that was never entered in the first place, you will have just hit the first of what will probably be many snags.
Identify and Remove Your Duplicates. As with the previous task, this sounds easy but it can be a terrible job, but really, you don’t have much of a choice if you ever want to clean up your data. There are a few obvious places to start. For example if you actually have contacts in your database that are flagged as as duplicates or no longer working with the company and/or you have companies that are flagged as duplicates or out of business, why are they still there. It might seem as if they are already discounted enough to ignore, but that’s just because you’re not the sales rep who is manually working with the data and might just not notice that little field in the corner that identifies the contact file you just entered your notes and next steps into is the duplicate file? Sound stupid? I can assure you it happens a lot and now you have good information in a bad file. The other challenge many companies will face with the simple question of duplicates is to identify which is actually the good record and which is the dupe that can be removed. It’s not at all out the question that at some point you’re going to have to put a real set of eyeballs on your data to make the decisions you can’t trust the software to make. Tedious, expensive and time consuming work it is, too.
Clean and Standardize Your Remaining Records. When you begin the append, you’ll be able to get a half decent match rate if you’re working with data that has been cleansed. That means that at the very least, numbers have to be formatted consistently, address formatting and abbreviations also need to be standardized. There is software that will help you clean up your data and get it into the right format to maximize your match rates.
Right about this point, if not already, you’ve probably at least made a few scratch notes on new database entry policies around data formatting, duplicate checking and key information fields, so that you might not have to go through this again, or at least, not for a while.
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Now that our leaders have completely shut down the country, we need to start thinking about getting ourselves back to some representation of normality, socially and economically. The big risk is a recurrence of the pandemic and/or infections infiltrating the US from foreign countries.
The data being received about the danger of the virus has been incomplete and tardy. The president, governors and mayors are saying they want to restart the economy, but do the experts have what they need to help our leaders make good decision. What does it mean to restart the economy? To a great extent Americans must end their isolation and begin to interact with family, fellow workers, people in stores and restaurants, at sporting events, etc. Exacerbating the situation is that some data that would be useful to the experts and to all Americans has not been showcased. See the other blog I posted today for an example of this unfortunate phenomenon.
This is a risky proposition. We’ve been told that social distancing, isolation and good sanitary habits are the only way to defeat the coronavirus. And now we will be asked to re-congregate with other Americans even though some may be infected with the virus.
The other side of the coin is equally disconcerting. If we delay the process of revving up our economy, which would entail Americans being close to other Americans, people will likely starve, some will lose homes and some will become destitute. The risks affiliated with not being social as we were before all this craziness began is as great as the perils associated with remaining dormant economically in an effort to fight the disease.
To be more specific, unemployment is supposedly going to reach double digit figures. Every day more people are being furloughed, mortgages are not being paid, individuals have less and less money to buy food and so on. The government cannot provide for a hundred million people without sustaining a shortage of funds for other necessary services.
So, as I see it, isolation must end soon, but how will mothers react to sending their children to school? How effective will we respond at work if we are frightened that an officemate might infect us with the virus? Would we even consider going to a restaurant with friends and family like we did a few months ago? And what about baseball games, concerts and ballet? No, Americans are going to tread lightly, and all these events where people congregate will suffer for many more months to come regardless of urgings from our leaders.
Getting back to work will be a colossal undertaking. Employees will be concerned with their safety, while employers won’t want to endanger those that work for them. We must be diligent and patient about getting back to the norm, or it all could spin out of control once again.
Reddit
← Are Americans Receiving An Accurate Perspective Of COVID-19?
April 24, 2020 at 5:39 pm
A tough one for me to even comment on; for anybody that is.
We will see what happens when it does, but yes more funding must be generated for security.
The first wave and the panic that came with, is what flooded the hospitals in my opinion. This battle will be a tough one to beat. We will lose many, but we can also lose all and everything if the cards aren’t played right.
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Bramhall Wilderness Preserve is an exceptional forest nearing old-growth status in Bridgewater, Vermont. The towering hemlocks and hardwoods shelter cool, clear headwater streams of the Ottauquechee River, which provide habitat to native brook trout.
This 359-acre mature forest is located within an intact, forested core of Vermont’s Southern Green Mountains. It offers excellent habitat for moose, bobcat, black bear, songbirds, wildflowers, and brook trout.
What's New
Video Release: Rewilding the Northeast
New Wilderness Preserve Created in Bridgewater
1.74 miles of river/brook frontage, including picturesque Bridgewater Hollow Brook with cascades and waterfalls
The lower half of Bridgewater Hollow, a regionally significant landscape
Mature forest ranging in age from 75-100 years, well on its way to old-growth status
“I believe we can never truly own land, we can live on it. We can be the caretakers and stewards of the land.”
The Bramhall Wilderness Preserve is a mix of upland and riparian forest types that captures a significant portion of Bridgewater Hollow in Bridgewater, Vermont. It is situated in a >50,000-acre forest block that includes the Green Mountain National Forest, the Les Newell Wildlife Management Area of the VT Agency of Natural Resources, Vermont Land Trust easement lands, and the Appalachian Trail corridor of the National Park Service. The land lies within the Ottauquechee River Conservation Focus Area of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge as proposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2016.
There are over 3,000 acres of permanently protected lands within a two mile radius of the Bramhall parcel. Core Forest and Connecting Forest zones intersect on the property, which has above-average rankings in climate resiliency, landscape diversity, and local connectedness.
While the property has a forest of impressive age and complexity, it is the Bramhall Preserve’s water features that rank among its most ecologically important attributes. There are extensive riparian habitats arrayed in a mosaic of ravine, valley bottom, gorge, and river-confluence features, with a total of 1.74 miles of river/brook features between the North Branch of the Ottauquechee River and two smaller tributaries.
There are about 88 acres of riparian buffer zones on the property. This dense and undisturbed forest helps to provide cool, clean water to the ecosystem. These streams also provide habitat for brook trout, a species highly threatened by climate change.
In this place defined by its rugged topography, diverse mosaic of forest types, and clear streams, forever-wild protection is allowing this mature forest to return to old growth, and ensures that the streams and rivers remain clean and clear into the future.
Bramhall Wilderness Preserve is open to quiet, on-foot recreation like hiking, nature study and photography, birdwatching, dipping in the river, fishing, and hunting by permission. If you are interested in hunting permission for Bramhall Wilderness Preserve, please visit our Hunting Program page.
Forest and brook by David Middleton | Winter waterfall by Zack Porter | Newts in vernal pool ©Susan C. Morse | Summer waterfall by Shelby Perry | Mature forest by Daryl Burtnett
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Nadine joined Northeast Wilderness Trust in 2022. As Communications Director she guides NEWT’s strategic outreach and communication work. Nadine has led award-winning communications efforts on air quality, land use, and climate in the Pacific Northwest and Northeast. Since 1998 Nadine has worked with Middlebury College, most recently teaching as a Visiting Scholar and as Outreach Specialist with the New Perennials Project. Her master’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania focused on community engagement to support Wild and Scenic River Conservation. On the Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op Board of Directors for 8 years, she co-founded the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity Committee. From a childhood spent in the forests and shores of New England, to her discovery of the Cascades and lakes of the Adirondacks, to her Daoist studies, forever-wild is simply “the way through this time.” Nadine enjoys practicing Tai Chi Chuan, photography, knitting, paddling, cooking, gardening, and walking.
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Tom Garback (he/him) is currently pursuing an MA in Writing and Publishing at Emerson College, where he’s worked as Publisher of Wilde Press and Staff Writer, Copyeditor, Editor, Designer, and Marketing Associate across eight different literary, lifestyle, and fashion magazines. Most recently was a Marketing Intern at HarperCollins and an Editorial Intern at Aevitas Creative Management. In addition to his role at NEWT, Tom also currently works as a literary assistant for NYT bestselling author Danielle Trussoni and as an intern for the Boston Book Festival. In his spare time, Tom enjoys singing with his a cappella group Achoired Taste and building community with his professional co-ed fraternity Zeta Phi Eta. His fiction, poems, and essays have been featured in numerous horror anthologies and over twenty magazines, including catapult, Collective Realms, Cabinet of Heed, Blind Corner, and Sonder.
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Tom Garback (he/him) is currently pursuing an MA in Writing and Publishing at Emerson College, where he’s worked as Publisher of Wilde Press and Staff Writer, Copyeditor, Editor, Designer, and Marketing Associate across eight different literary, lifestyle, and fashion magazines. Most recently was a Marketing Intern at HarperCollins and an Editorial Intern at Aevitas Creative Management. In addition to his role at NEWT, Tom also currently works as a literary assistant for NYT bestselling author Danielle Trussoni and as an intern for the Boston Book Festival. In his spare time, Tom enjoys singing with his a cappella group Achoired Taste and building community with his professional co-ed fraternity Zeta Phi Eta. His fiction, poems, and essays have been featured in numerous horror anthologies and over twenty magazines, including catapult, Collective Realms, Cabinet of Heed, Blind Corner, and Sonder.
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As the Operations Director, Erin handles all of the administration for the organization. With a history degree from Miami University and an MBA from Northern Kentucky University, she has worked in non-profit management since 2000 when she escorted Peter, Paul and Mary to the concert stage at the Columbus Symphony. In that time, she has helped thousands of artists, educators and reformers by allowing them to ply their craft rather than worrying about whether the lights were going to be on or if there would be snacks. In her spare time, Erin loves to hike, kayak and curl up with her two cats.
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After spending 15 years climbing the ladder of wealth management in Boston, Joe decided to trade in his suit and tie for his true passion, land conservation and stewardship. In the seven years since he has stewarded all over New England while also serving as a Ranger and Naturalist Interpreter with Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. He continues to pursue his mission to help people, institutions, and organizations become more keenly aware and connected to the cultural, social, economic, and environmental benefits land conservation brings to our lives.
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As Land Protection Manager, Caitlin is the person to contact if you have questions about the Wildlands Partnership Program, or if you are interested in exploring forever-wild conservation for your land. She comes to Northeast Wilderness Trust with a background in a wide range of land conservation transactions while working as a Paralegal at the Vermont Land Trust. Outside the office Caitlin can be found in her garden, swimming in the Northeast’s many lakes, cooking up delights in her kitchen and honing her skills as a backyard naturalist.
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Emily Bateson has worked for 40 years in environmental advocacy and land conservation, recently retiring as Director of the Network for Landscape Conservation, a North American leader in advancing collaborative conservation at the necessary landscape scale. Past positions have included: Coordinator of the New England Wildlands and Woodlands Initiative; senior staff at the Conservation Law Foundation; Associate Director of the Wildlands Program at Sweet Water Trust; and founder and first director of Two Countries, One Forest/Deux Pays, Une Foret in the Northern Appalachian/Acadian region of the U.S. and Canada. Emily lives with her family in Vermont.
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In 2001, Merloyd Ludington joined a small, dedicated group of wilderness advocates in Boston to sound the bell for increased wilderness conservation in the Northeast. The group unanimously agreed that there was a strong need for a new land trust to fill this niche, and a year later the Northeast Wilderness Trust was born.
Merloyd served on the board of the Wilderness Trust for 15 years. She led the organization with her deep knowledge of the field, thoughtful insight, tenacious line of inquiry, and strong wilderness ethic for which we are deeply grateful.
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Sophi comes to Northeast Wilderness Trust with a background in land conservation, communications, and outdoor and environmental education. She received her B.S. in Environmental Science from Washington University in St. Louis in 2013. Since then, she has worked at Vermont Land Trust, Yestermorrow Design/Build School, and Earthwalk Vermont. Sophi is committed to helping create a world where all species have the chance to survive, thrive, and evolve. Outside of work, she can be found roaming forests and rivers with her dog, tending an ever-expanding garden, and cultivating community and creative practice.
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Jon has worked in the private land conservation field since graduating from Vermont Law School in 2011. Before joining Northeast Wilderness Trust, he was the Executive Director of Montezuma Land Conservancy in Colorado. Jon serves on the Rewilding Leadership Council, the Steering Committee of Wildlands & Woodlands, and is a co-owner of WildEdge Brewing Collective. He lives in Middlesex, Vermont, where he serves on the Planning Commission. He enjoys wandering the woods behind his house and maintaining a questionable obsession with house plants.
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Vice President
Susie lives in Montville, Maine. She holds Master’s of Science with distinction in Environmental Management from Oxford University, England. She serves as a Research Associate and Visiting Faculty at the College of the Atlantic. Her writing has appeared in Spring: A Journal of Archetype and Culture, the Maine Review, Naropa University’s Phylogeny, and the Spoon River Poetry Review.
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Cathleen joined Northeast Wilderness Trust in 2015 with two decades of nonprofit experience. She received her BA from Hawaii Loa College, now part of the Hawaii Pacific University system, and attended the School for International Training’s Master’s Program in Intercultural Management. She worked for almost a decade in Washington, DC on women’s health issues before relocating to Vermont with her family. Prior to that she spent seven years studying and teaching in Hokkaido, Japan. Her experience with public health has connected her to the mission of the Wilderness Trust. In her free time she enjoys living in Montpelier, reading, exploring, and cooking with her family.
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Justin is a member of the Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe of Plymouth and Cape Cod, MA. After high school he took a three-month journey on the Appalachian Trail to try and determine what is “necessary.” He has since spent as much time as he is afforded with Nature, trying to cultivate skills of self-sufficiency and traditional knowledge. He studies and practices tracking animals, trapping, hunting, fishing, foraging, herbal medicine, and gardening among many other disciplines known to his indigenous ancestors. His career goals include natural resources research and management and Native American cultural awareness.
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Eric is a recent graduate of Sterling College with a B.A. in Ecology, with a focus on the intersections between recreation and ecology. He has always had a deep appreciation for outdoor spaces and conservation, and finds interest in studying how human recreation can impact natural spaces and alter their functionality. For his capstone project at Sterling College he assessed impacts of recreation along a stretch of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail in order to understand how paddling is affecting the ecology of the area. In his free time, he enjoys wandering through the woods, swimming, paddling, painting, tending to his garden, singing, and playing his guitar.
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Biodiversity
In wild forests, a cornucopia of species can be found. Old and young trees, standing dead trees (snags), and fallen trees and branches (woody debris) create a mixed canopy and understory. This complex forest structure supports a myriad of niche habitats often absent from young and managed forests.
The sheer amount of life—and death—is the secret to biodiversity in wild forests. Up to 30% of the biomass found in an old forest is made up of snags and trees in various states of decay. Decomposing logs host an abundance of insects, fungi, and slime molds. In some forests, a third of bird species live in cavities of old trees. Wild forests have also been found to have a higher density and diversity of species in studies on salamanders and lichen.
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Vast, interconnected habitats offer the best hope for species to survive and adapt to climate change as weather events become more unpredictable and temperatures rise.
In wild forests where soil is undisturbed, vast mycorrhizal networks help trees, especially older ones, “share” carbon with one another, even between different species. These subterranean networks of fungi become more connected the older and less disturbed a forest is. They help forests react to and survive stresses such as drought or pests.
In addition, complex habitats are resilient habitats. No matter the state of a forest when the Wilderness Trust first protects it, from that day forward, it will grow in age and complexity year after year, becoming more resilient as time goes on.
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Old forests store immense amounts of carbon. Across the Northeast Wilderness Trust’s portfolio of 37,000+ forever-wild acres, there are approximately 3 million metric tons of potential carbon storage.
As a forest’s age increases, so too does the amount of carbon it stores. It was once believed that old-growth forests were sources of carbon (giving off carbon into the atmosphere) but we now know that they are more often carbon sinks, continuing to absorb carbon even when they are centuries-old.
To avoid the worst effects of a changing climate, we must implement “Natural Climate Solutions.” Legally protecting forests as forever-wild—sometimes called proforestation—is among the most cost-effective and efficient tools to combat climate change.
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Reciprocity
Reciprocity is the rekindling of humanity’s affection for the riotous, wondrous wild. At its core, reciprocity is a visceral revelation of our interdependence with all the astounding entities of this planet.
Places where people may witness a kaleidoscope of beings evolving freely are integral to cultivating the will to preserve diverse, resilient ecological communities. When other life forms are honored for their own sake, and granted the freedom to flourish, the wonder of the natural world becomes increasingly palpable. Experiencing this innate awe can transform us, and inspire the wisdom and compassion needed to protect and pass on a vigorous, beautiful world.
Northeast Wilderness Trust is dedicated to the reciprocal act of offering our wild neighbors places where they may rest, recover, and thrive. The Wilderness Trust welcomes careful, responsible experiences of reciprocity with these cherished lands and waterways.
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Annie is a founding board member of the Northeast Wilderness Trust, and served as President, Secretary and Treasurer during her 15-year tenure on the Board of Directors. She is a landowner with conserved properties in New Hampshire and Maine. Annie has worked as an environmental activist and writer, community organizer, and reproductive health researcher, educator and counselor. Annie likes to hike, ski, and camp in remote and/or high elevation terrain. She lives with her husband, Bob King, their two amazing teenagers, and two pets in a nicely converted woodshed in Keene, New Hampshire.
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Paul Torrence was a staff scientist and Section Chief at the National Institutes of Health where he pursued research on antiviral and anti-cancer therapeutics from 1969 until 1999. He then became Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff where he continued his research and teaching until 2007 when he was appointed Emeritus Professor. Paul has wandered in and defended wildlands from Alaska to Arizona and from New Hampshire to the Oregon coast. Since 2008, he has served on the Board of Directors of the Wilderness Land Trust. Paul resides in southwestern New York on the traditional lands of the O-non-dowa-gah (Seneca Nation).
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Brian is an entrepreneur in the hospitality and insurance industries. Previously, he worked for Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse in their fixed income divisions. Prior to that, he was a finance attorney with Latham & Watkins. Brian lives in Underhill, Vermont with his wife and a menagerie of animals, and spends as much time as he can in the wilderness.
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Henry is a conservation consultant and an instructor in the Master’s Program in Sustainability at the Harvard University Extension School. He has a background in land conservation and has played a direct role in the protection of almost one million acres around the world. Henry’s past work experience includes fourteen years at The Nature Conservancy, first as the Director of the New Hampshire Program and then as the Director of the New York State Program. Henry serves on the Board of Directors of Tierra Austral Land Trust in Chile. Henry holds a B.A. from the University of Michigan and an M.A. and Admission to Doctoral Candidacy from Cornell University. He lives with his family in Lincoln, Massachusetts.
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Randy Kritkausky
Randy Kritkausky is the president and co-founder of ECOLOGIA, an international environmental non-profit. ECOLOGIA projects have included: NGO development in “countries in transition” (former Soviet bloc and China), water monitoring, greenhouse gas accounting, corporate responsibility standards, and environmental remediation and restoration. After decades of approaching environmental issues through the lens of science, activism, and policy making, he recognized that spiritual grounding which encourages us to approach the natural world as our kin is a critical part of environmental problem solving. Randy is an enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, author of Without Reservation, and advocate for indigenous affairs.
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Daniel is board chair of Diversified Communications, a family-owned trade media company based in Portland. Diversified produces trade shows and conferences for a variety of industries in North America, Europe, and Australia. Daniel currently serves on the board of Acadia Center, a clean energy policy and advocacy nonprofit, and on the Maine advisory board of the Conservation Law Foundation. In the past, he has also served on the board of Maine Audubon. He and his wife live in Falmouth, Maine.
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Carol is General Manager, Global Accounting Firms, at Thomson Reuters in New York. She received a BA in Political Science from Yale University and an MBA from the Darden School at the University of Virginia. She is also a certified Master Composter. Carol spends much of her free time in the Adirondacks with her partner Phil Brown.
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Brett is a consulting ecologist and botanist specializing in the inventory and mapping of wetland and upland natural communities, and the inventory of rare, threatened and endangered plants, in Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, and Maine. He has worked on many inventory projects in northern New England, especially Vermont and New Hampshire focused on inventorying a wide variety of natural communities, and rare, threatened, and endangered plants for a variety of clients. He also teaches workshops on natural communities and plant identification and was part-time faculty at Lyndon State College for ten years. Brett lives with his family in Vermont.
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Rachel Drakon is an Associate Analyst at Champlain Investment Partners, LLC in Burlington, VT. She holds a BS in Finance from Champlain College and is a CFA Level II Candidate. Originally from Bangor, ME, she has a background in grassroots conservation and rewilding efforts. An avid backpacker, Rachel spends her free time in the Green Mountains with her husband, Bill.
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Jim is the Executive Director for the Indiana Land Protection Alliance, serving the land trusts of Indiana. He has been in the land trust field for 30 years working for organizations including the Trustees of Reservations, the Wildlands Trust of Southeastern Massachusetts, the Northeast Wilderness Trust, and was the Founding Board President for the Ashburnham Conservation Trust. He has taught graduate level courses in nonprofit management, and is currently completing his doctorate at Northeastern University. He holds BS and MS degrees in environmental science, and an MS in nonprofit management. Jim and his wife Vickie are avid hikers and walkers, have two sons, and residences in both Indiana and Massachusetts.
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Kristin is the Executive Director of Kestrel Land Trust, which is dedicated to conserving, caring for, and connecting people to the wildlands, woodlands, and farmland of the Connecticut River Valley in western Massachusetts. Kristin has a BA in economics and environmental science from Bucknell University and an MS in Environmental Studies from Antioch University, and has worked in the environmental field for more than 25 years. Kristin lives with her family in Massachusetts.
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Rick is a CPA and he currently works as the controller of a fast growing tech company in Vermont. Previously he worked for a large public accounting firm performing financial statement audits and other financial reporting services for various organizations. Rick is a wilderness enthusiast who currently lives in Stowe, Vermont with his wife and son.
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President
Mark is Director of Conservation Science for The Nature Conservancy’s eastern U.S. region. Mark provides science leadership, ecological analysis, and landscape assessment tools for conservation efforts across twenty-two states. His current research interests include ecological resilience, disturbance processes, geophysical landscape properties, and seafloor mapping. Mark lives with his family, two goats, three cats, one dog, occasional chickens, a visiting pair of barred owls, and a lot of trees in coastal MA.
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With a BS in Adventure Education Leadership from Maine’s Unity College, Becky has spent much of the last few decades teaching people how to rewild themselves in the remote river canyons of the Southwest, the coral reefs of the Caribbean, along trout streams of the high Sierras, and throughout the mountains and arctic tundra of Alaska. Her return home to Maine provided the opportunity build herself a small home in the woods, live close to family, and realize her dream of stewarding the same forests that give adventure to her soul by working as Northeast Wilderness Trust’s Northern New England Land Steward. When not in the woods, Becky enjoys woodworking, packrafting, gardening, coffee by the woodstove, and ski/mountain bike patrolling at her local hill.
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Nathaniel joined Northeast Wilderness Trust in 2022 after working in nonprofit development for several years. Since graduating with a B.A. from Cornell University in 2018, Nathaniel has worked as a grant writer for a mental healthcare provider and in grants management with GlobalGiving, a large international grantmaking foundation. Outside of work, he is an accomplished artist whose landscape paintings have been recognized for several awards. He enjoys connecting with the natural world through his painting practice, as well as through kayaking, hiking, and trail running.
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Hannah joins Northeast Wilderness Trust with a background in land stewardship and a lifelong connection to the northeastern landscape. After receiving her B.S. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Vermont, she began her career as a land steward with the Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire followed by the Vermont Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. She has also worked growing and planting native trees and plants for restoration projects with the Intervale Conservation Nursery (Vermont) and the National Park Service (Nevada). In her free time, Hannah can usually be found exploring new places with her dog.
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In his youth, Bob formed an early connection with wilderness. At his family’s Lynx Camp for Boys he led summertime wilderness canoe trips in the Adirondacks and Canada. During the school year, he witnessed the Hudson Highlands’ beauty and their environmental degradation. Those experiences led him to earn a B.S. in Biology and Environmental Studies from St. Lawrence University and an M.S. in Water Resources Management from the University of Wisconsin. Bob has worked for four land trusts, including serving as a Regional Director for 19 years at Vermont Land Trust. Devoting himself to expanding the forever-wild landscape represents the opportunity of a lifetime. Bob lives in Hinesburg, VT with his wife Leanne Klyza Linck, who has also devoted her career to wild nature. Their grown sons, Ethan and Garrett, also care deeply about wilderness.
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Before joining the staff, Tom was a founding board member and past board president of Northeast Wilderness Trust. During his years working for the Foundation for Deep Ecology and Tompkins Conservation (where he serves as a board member) he’s had the privilege to learn from some of Earth’s leading wilderness champions. A former editor of Wild Earth journal, Tom is the author or editor of more than a dozen books including Wildlands Philanthropy, Plundering Appalachia, Keeping the Wild, and ENERGY: Overdevelopment and the Delusion of Endless Growth. As Senior Fellow, he serves as the Wilderness Trust’s ambassador for wild values, and while not in front of a laptop he spends as much time as he can exploring in his canoe.
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Sophie coordinates Northeast Wilderness Trust’s Wild Carbon projects. Her desire to be involved with protecting the forests and waters of the Northeast for all the species who reside there, and to play a role addressing the challenges of climate change, made Northeast Wilderness Trust a natural work habitat for her. Sophie has a Bachelor’s degree in Classics from St. John’s College and a Master’s degree in Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School. In her free time Sophie enjoys paddling, walking among trees, and spying on birds. Indoors, she loves food, strategy games, and family.
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Shelby joined the Wilderness Trust in 2016 with a B.S. in Environmental Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a M.S. in Plant Biology – Field Naturalist from the University of Vermont, and a deep love and respect for wild places. She had previously spent two years documenting and advocating for wilderness in Wyoming’s Red Desert, and served terms in both AmeriCorps and the US Peace Corps, caring for conserved lands in the High Sierra in California and as a water sanitation engineer in West Africa, respectively. When she’s not protecting and defending wilderness, Shelby enjoys exploring it on foot or through photography, science, and artwork.
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June 20, 2022 Advice, Third Party Advice, Counsel, better negotiation, Business Risk Taking, consistency, core values; thrift, saving for a rainy day, being yourself, consistency, hard work, being fearless, bold decision-making, cost control, creativity, credibility, curiosity, data, diversification, Drilling, energy industry, Entrepreneurship, environmental scan, Expense Reduction, experience, failure, From Dirt Roads to Black Gold, going solo, Hope, Immigrant, Inspiring business advice, joint ventures, joint ventures, mutually beneficial partnerships, learning by doing, managing oil and gas revenues, market knowledge, market research, mature leadership, Oil and Gas Business, oil price changes, oilfield business, Pakistani Businessman, Rags to Riches, real estate investments, reduction in oilfields, Self-made entrepreneur, Uncategorized, wildcatter, workaholic, work life balance, harmony in work, passion, YBC Foundation, Younas Chaudhary
By Younas Chaudhary The pandemic has worn us out. Now, it is time to focus on self-care. What […]
June 13, 2022 Advice, Third Party Advice, Counsel, core values; thrift, saving for a rainy day, being yourself, consistency, hard work, being fearless, bold decision-making, creativity, credibility, From Dirt Roads to Black Gold, going solo, Hope, Immigrant, Inspiring business advice, mature leadership, Pakistani Businessman, Self-made entrepreneur, YBC Foundation, Younas Chaudhary
By Younas Chaudhary “Vision without action is a daydream. Action with without vision is a nightmare.” Japanese Proverb […]
June 6, 2022 Advice, Third Party Advice, Counsel, Business Risk Taking, consistency, core values; thrift, saving for a rainy day, being yourself, consistency, hard work, being fearless, bold decision-making, creativity, credibility, curiosity, data, data in deals, diversification, Drilling, energy industry, Entrepreneurship, experience, failure, From Dirt Roads to Black Gold, going solo, Hope, Immigrant, Inspiring business advice, learning by doing, market research, mature leadership, Uncategorized, YBC Foundation, Younas Chaudhary
Make every day your best day
By Younas Chaudhary How do you make every day your best day? Here are a few tips: 1. […]
May 30, 2022 Advice, Third Party Advice, Counsel, consistency, core values; thrift, saving for a rainy day, being yourself, consistency, hard work, being fearless, bold decision-making, creativity, experience, failure, From Dirt Roads to Black Gold, Hope, Immigrant, Inspiring business advice, Pakistani Businessman, Self-made entrepreneur, Uncategorized, YBC Foundation, Younas Chaudhary
The joy of turning your life around
By Younas Chaudhary In the mid 1970’s, I worked as a maintenance technician fixing air conditioning units, adjusting […]
May 23, 2022 Advice, Third Party Advice, Counsel, Business Risk Taking, consistency, core values; thrift, saving for a rainy day, being yourself, consistency, hard work, being fearless, bold decision-making, cost control, creativity, credibility, curiosity, energy industry, Entrepreneurship, From Dirt Roads to Black Gold, going solo, Hope, Immigrant, Inspiring business advice, mature leadership, negotiations, Oil and Gas Business, Uncategorized, YBC Foundation, Younas Chaudhary
Your word is your legacy
By Younas Chaudhary I grew up in a society where we had to keep our word, honor our […]
May 16, 2022 Advice, Third Party Advice, Counsel, consistency, core values; thrift, saving for a rainy day, being yourself, consistency, hard work, being fearless, bold decision-making, creativity, credibility, curiosity, Entrepreneurship, Expense Reduction, experience, learning by doing, mature leadership, negotiations, Oil and Gas Business, oil price changes, oilfield business, Pakistani Businessman, Rags to Riches, real estate investments, reduction in oilfields, saving money, Self-made entrepreneur, Uncategorized, vendor negotiations, wills, working with lenders, YBC Foundation, Younas Chaudhary
Overcome self-doubt with self-motivation
By Younas Chaudhary Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will. -Suzy Kassem- I feel most of us […]
May 9, 2022 Advice, Third Party Advice, Counsel, core values; thrift, saving for a rainy day, being yourself, consistency, hard work, being fearless, bold decision-making, credibility, failure, From Dirt Roads to Black Gold, going solo, Hope, Immigrant, Inspiring business advice, mature leadership, Pakistani Businessman, practical experience, Rags to Riches, real estate investments, Self-made entrepreneur, Uncategorized, YBC Foundation, Younas Chaudhary
Working with positive intent
By Younas Chaudhary Whether working in an office or in oilfields across the country, I have worked with […]
May 2, 2022 Advice, Third Party Advice, Counsel, avoid debt, better negotiation, core values; thrift, saving for a rainy day, being yourself, consistency, hard work, being fearless, bold decision-making, empathy, energy industry, Entrepreneurship, From Dirt Roads to Black Gold, Hope, Immigrant, Inspiring business advice, Oil and Gas Business, oil price changes, oilfield business, Self-made entrepreneur, Uncategorized, wildcatter, YBC Foundation, Younas Chaudhary
Always have an emergency fund!
By Younas Chaudhary In rural Pakistan in the 1960’s, villagers and farmers stored a sufficient portion of their […]
April 25, 2022 Advice, Third Party Advice, Counsel, consistency, core values; thrift, saving for a rainy day, being yourself, consistency, hard work, being fearless, bold decision-making, cost control, creativity, Expense Reduction, From Dirt Roads to Black Gold, Immigrant, Inspiring business advice, joint ventures, joint ventures, mutually beneficial partnerships, learning by doing, Oil and Gas Business, oil price changes, oilfield business, on-the-job training, Pakistani Businessman, Self-made entrepreneur, Uncategorized, working with lenders, YBC Foundation, Younas Chaudhary
By Younas Chaudhary In the 1990’s, I purchased ten acres of land around Rankin Road and I-45 in […]
April 18, 2022 Advice, Third Party Advice, Counsel, avoid debt, better negotiation, Business Risk Taking, buyer deals, consistency, core values; thrift, saving for a rainy day, being yourself, consistency, hard work, being fearless, bold decision-making, cost control, creativity, credibility, curiosity, energy industry, Entrepreneurship, environmental scan, Immigrant, joint ventures, mutually beneficial partnerships, Pakistani Businessman, Philanthropy, Rags to Riches, Self-made entrepreneur, Uncategorized, workaholic, work life balance, harmony in work, passion, YBC Foundation, Younas Chaudhary
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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt walks on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y.,…
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt walks on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Steelers confirm T.J. Watt had knee surgery
by: JOHN WAWROW, Associated Press
Posted: Oct 9, 2022 / 12:24 PM CDT
Updated: Oct 9, 2022 / 06:11 PM CDT
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt walks on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y.,…
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt walks on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
by: JOHN WAWROW, Associated Press
Posted: Oct 9, 2022 / 12:24 PM CDT
Updated: Oct 9, 2022 / 06:11 PM CDT
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers’ top pass-rushing threat T.J. Watt had arthroscopic knee surgery, which is expected to further delay his return while being sidelined by a pectoral injury.
Coach Mike Tomlin provided few other details following a 38-3 loss at the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in confirming a report first published by ESPN.com a day earlier.
“I’m not disputing the report. But I’m more concerned about the guys that played today, that were scheduled to play today, and their readiness, and what we did and did not do,” Tomlin said. “T.J. is on IR. When he’s scheduled to come back, if it’s close, we’ll have more details.”
Watt was the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year last season, and has been sidelined since getting hurt during a season-opening 23-20 overtime win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Steelers (1-4) dropped 0-4 without Watt in the lineup this season and 0-8 overall.
Tomlin and the Steelers have more immediate injury concerns after having several more players sidelined against the Bills.
Cornerbacks Cam Sutton (hamstring) and Levi Wallace (concussion), defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (back) and tight end Pat Freiermuth (concussion) were unable to finish the game Sunday. Tomlin did not have any updates on the injured players.
The Steelers were already playing without safety Terrell Edmunds (concussion) and starting cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (hamstring).
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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If that car isn’t becoming of you, then you should be coming to us! We are Cash Cars Buyer, offering fair market value on all makes and models. You can obtain a FREE online offer, as well as “FEE-FREE” services that making selling your old car, quick, fast and convenient! Proudly serving all of the 57501 zip code, we come to you, instead of you having to tow that totaled car to us!
When you’re seeking to sell a junk car, you’re seeking to get rid of it fast and at no cost to you. Some companies can make this happen, while others can’t. While you call around to local junkyards, scrap yards, you are constantly given a list of what these places cannot do for you. For that junk car problem, let Cash Cars Buyer be the solution. Instead of you bringing that car to us, we “bring the office to you”! You don’t even need to leave your home to get an offer on your car! Just click here and allow for an offer to be formulated for you, based upon the information you input!
First, begin by entering your car’s information. Keep in mind that the more information you enter, the better and more precise your offer will be. When you have that offer, you can use it to call us and discuss your car even further!
Call us and accept your offer
After receiving your offer, you can call us. The friendly agent on the other end, will ask you some questions about your car. This will ensure that you get the best guaranteed offer ever! Love what you just heard from Cash Cars Buyer? Great!
Get paid!
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Click here to get started! The longer you wait, the longer you have to endure the pain of that old car. So, let’s turn that clunker into cool cash, FAST!
Who Buys Car with No Title?
Have a damaged car title? We buy cars with no title and we just may purchase that title-less jalopy from you in a jiffy! Just gather your car registration as well as your picture ID. Then, click here to enter your car’s information. And be sure that you include your lack of title. You will receive a FREE online quote that you can still use to sell your car!
We Buy Junk Cars With Problems!
If you have lived long enough and driven long enough, then you have driven a car that has given you issues. And as our cars age, they become increasingly more expensive to maintain. So, what are some of the most common issues with cars?
“Check Engine Lights” and Warning Lights
While these lights illuminate without any kind of warning, they are triggered by some malfunction in the car. This means that you have to take it to your local mechanic, pay for a diagnostic assessment and then pay for the repair. And of course, these repairs never fit into our budgets.
“Coughing” and Sputtering Engines
When your engine is giving you “smokers cough” sounds, then it’s time to see a mechanic ASAP! No engine should sound as if it’s gasping for air. And there is never a convenient time for an engine to sputter and “cough”.
When you own and older car with lots of mileage, chances are, you have replaced that car battery at least once. Did that repair and replacement come at a convenient time for you? Yeah, we didn’t think so.
When your car’s engine is running efficiently, it burns fuel at a rate that is an improvement to your car’s fuel economy. But there are several fuel system car parts- such as the air filters, the fuel filers and O2 sensors that can malfunction. This can make your ride a gas-guzzler. And who needs to put more gas in the tank than needed? Poor fuel economy is a sign that you need a repair and that repair may be an expensive one.
Just Release the Stress and Sell That Car to Cash Cars Buyer!
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What is my Car Worth in Pierre, South Dakota?
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Can I get $500 for my junk car?
It’s certainly possible, but we look at the full condition of junk cars when we formulate an offer. Some of the criteria we evaluate include:
Current price of scrap metal
Your vehicle’s weight and its damage
Whether or not you have your title
The overall condition of the car as well as its location.
OK- so you know that we buy all make and models. And we also told you that we buy cars with a variety of issues. We want to further “break down” what kind of cars we buy. We purchase cars that are:
Totaled from accidents or collisions
Non running and have no intentions of starting-ever.
Experiencing mechanical problems that you just don’t have the funds to get fixed and more!
We specialize in less-than-perfect cars. So, get your FREE online offer on that less-than-stellar car and let’s turn that old car into awesome cash, FAST!
Looking for a great pair of sandals? You can find them online. Time for some cleaning products for the home? There’s a website for that! Looking for a car or looking to sell a car? There’s a place for that online too! With online car selling, comes the pictures you have to add, the description you have to write and the patience that is a must.
But there’s a better way to sell that car online!
Instead of the work of creating a “show-stopping” ad, you can just sell that car to Cash Cars Buyer! Forget paying the fees, and having the patience to wait on that serious buyer. You can obtain a FREE online offer here and allow us to put our junk car buying expertise, knowledge and dedication to help you sell that old car fast!
And there are some great benefits of selling that old car!
Need some extra incentive to sell that car to Cash Cars Buyer? OK- keep reading!
You’ll enjoy more space on your property
What’s a home with clutter? It’s a “stress-pit”! when you get rid of that old car, you will be able to enjoy the space and peace that come with that car being gone.
There’s a better mood and better health that await!
When there is junk and clutter around us, we have a tendency to be “moody” and “edgy”. Forget all of that and reclaim your peace by selling your junk car to us!
You’ll never have to pay anything to sell your car
Paperwork fees? Not here! Processing fee? Nope! “We need your vehicle title” fee? Not on watch! See a pattern here? We charge you nothing to sell your car. All you have to do, is click here and get a FREE online offer and let us buy that car fast!
You Could Receive Same Day Pick Up!
We know that you want to sell your old car fast, and you want to get paid even faster. That’s why we offer same-day pickup and payout to many of our clients. Generally, it takes us between 24 -72 hours to evaluate a car and then pick it up, with immediate payout to you.
Pierre! You have your choices when it comes to selling your junk car. You can sell it to a junkyard, a scrap yard or even a dealership. Why deal with fees, price haggling and scams when you can deal with honest, reputable and dependable junk car buyers? We are Cash Cars Buyer, standing by to turn that totaled car, into terrific cash! Click here now to get started!
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Why does Clark hate Zelle so much? Someone walk me through the risks - Scams and Ripoffs - Clark Howard Community
Why does Clark hate Zelle so much? Someone walk me through the risks
robertpri July 9, 2022, 7:43am #21
You are correct.
I should have expanded to add they don’t recognize this as theft, like they would if a CC was hacked/stolen/etc. But they should.
wmj July 9, 2022, 7:51am #22
I should have expanded to add they don’t recognize this as theft, like they would if a CC was hacked/stolen/etc. But they should.
I disagree. This is not a case of theft or an account being hacked. It is a case of somebody falling for a scam. It is not the bank’s responsibility to protect customers from themselves or to eat the costs when somebody falls for a scam.
Edit: I read your post to quickly. Upon further review I see and acknowledge your point.
robertpri July 9, 2022, 8:13am #23
I was kinda thinking how they would cover this if someone fell for a phishing scam [sp?] That’s also being suckered.
Actually, I’m not positive they would cover a scam, but “think†they do
ochotona July 9, 2022, 4:58pm #24
Scammers also use prepaid Visa cards, which does not imply insecure prepaid Visa cards. It’s the victim being inattentive.
Lavarock July 9, 2022, 5:24pm #25
I am guessing though that the next wave will be when the press starts looking into other banks and then who DOES cover funds lost through Zelle; whether by scam or by someone hacking in. Then I think the public will start waking up a bit. It still won’t solve the problem of [at fault] “It is not us, it is them†(banks vrs Zelle).
quela October 6, 2022, 4:57pm #26
The problem with Zelle is not only scams! My husband attempted to send $2000.00 from our credit union to BoA using Zelle for the first time. He used the routing number and BoA account number and entered one incorrect digit in the account number. The money is “LOST†since August 8, 2022 and we have received virtually no interest/assistance from either the credit union nor BoA to help us to recover our funds. We were told two days ago that recovery of our funds is “unlikelyâ€. I am furious! This is LEGAL THEFT! Nobody should lose money in a banking situation because of a TYPO! THIS SHOULD BE ILLEGAL!
Smartpolitics October 7, 2022, 3:07am #27
It wasn’t $20,000 but this is terrible because there should be a way to reverse the transaction and maybe charge you a return funds fee
My concern is someone would hack into my account pretending to be me and then XYZ bank claims I transferred money to the scamster. How does XYZ know that it was you that initiated the Zelle transfer and not someone pretending to be you?
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#Chat is one of a few social real-time activities that can be added to the course. Peer interactions is one of the most powerful learning tools. Use of #ChatRoom in #Moodle enables such communication. Learners can chat, instructors can monitor and participate. Chats can be used by whole class or by smaller groups. Moodle chat rooms give you control over who can enter and interact inside of them unlike other public chat tools. Moodle can save all chat sessions indefinitely if needed. This means that instructors and learners can review and analyze copies of transcripts and reflect on them.
Chat has an advantage over forums in certain situations as it takes place in real time. Below is examples of how you can use chats in your courses:
role playing and simulations;
collaboration students on problem solving or projects;
studying transcripts, analyzing them;
setting office hours for consulting students;
building learning community
An important factor in productive chat sessions is in limiting the number of participants. Some Human Behaviorism researchers claim that the maximum coherent interactive social group has up to five members at any one time and that more than five members becomes difficult to manage. With Moodle chats it’s easy to create a single chat activity that automatically breaks large classes up into smaller assigned groups, each with their own sub-chatroom. A chat can be entirely separate or learners can be allowed to see but not participate in other groups’ chat. All this can be achieved with group management.
Depending on the task it might be necessary for someone to be responsible for encouraging everyone to participate and draw students into the conversation. This can be the biggest load on instructors and that is why if you plan to participate in chat yourself you must set up specific hours of discussion. If you assess students on certain criteria it will take you less time just to read logs.
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OK. Maybe you aren't planning to spend as much as these people on office furniture, but it could be enough that it causes problems within your business. When making large purchases for your business it's important to come up with a good vetting process.
Let's face it. Things are very expensive these days. I don't see that changing anytime soon. It's more important than ever to have a good process for making the decisions on large purchases. Here are a few tips:
Set a threshold for what is considered a large purchase. Anything over $10k for example. Note: Don't put threshold levels in that stop the day-to-day operations of the business. This is meant for one-time purchases over a certain amount.
Form a team that presents to the final decision maker.
Build, and maintain, a list of large purchases that you plan to make. Many companies aren't proactive with their capital expenditure needs. They only buy when there's an emergency. This leads to down time, potential for injury, less productivity, bad image. Here are a few things for the list:
Describe the purchase and why it's important
List the cost
List the right time to do it
Keep in mind, surprises happen, so don't spend everything
Remember to try and keep enough cash in the bank to cover 1 quarter of expenses. This is a good buffer for when times are tough, or surprises arise. It allows you to make better decisions.
PS. That's a picture of the world's largest chair (for now). It's located in Anniston, Alabama and stands 33 feet tall. On hot days, it's a perfect place to park your car.
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The many benefits of taking a beneficial Rochester, Nyc payday loans with the MayBeLoan | Royal Sharm Property
The many benefits of taking a beneficial Rochester, Nyc payday loans with the MayBeLoan
Oct 25, 2022 | small installment loans
The many benefits of taking a beneficial Rochester, Nyc payday loans with the MayBeLoan
Payday loan rochester nyc
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The interest for the payday loans was at a knowledgeable today. Even with the new good and bad views, quick financial loans are still a handy fix for currency create. A frequent income lack are a great deal tough than simply a great-abrupt, one-time need for more funds. In the event smartest thing regarding the brief-name lending products is they assists you to score 100 % free of a single some other dilemmas too.
Get a hold of an eternal level of reasons why need supplemental money. if the located on the in just one of this form of merchandise, on the web payday ND MayBeLoan was at the retailer.
Loans performedn’t promote that loan. No one is protected from your current deals. However the issue is you to definitely getting a home loan if not a beneficial mortgage modification indeed easy, ergo takes a complete age of this type of who never good-12 months to timely a lender. Delivering a straightforward economic having an initial-name decades to fund its monetary or even rent is basically a a whole lot more quickly.
The not be able to coverage the equipment, book, expenditures, and you may facts. Actually, which is perhaps the primary reason exactly why you erica your desire quicker pay day loan to cope with each and every day aren’t place you back if not personal wishes. Such will set you back is bank card currency, guidance, publication, and you can food that aren’t quicker. Particularly people performing went on currency fill up the fresh their and rehearse income investment pick the commonly ask you for.
You will want to reputation their personal credit card debt. You know how most of the charge card category can add upwards expense ergo commonly money, suitable? They starting calling the five minutes day-after-just go and it is possible to taking fees money Idaho dangerous letters until your fulfill the funds. For folks who is sick of debt collectors bothering your and need to acquire him or her from the straight back, MayBeLoan manage-be happy to help you. There is a risk to restrict their bank card. In such a case, that loan ultimately coverage new overdraft charge. These root causes manage money payday cash helpful.
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Because of the reproducing Jews, women could be assisting to fortify a declining Jewish people and you can assaulting the new rising tide out of assimilation
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Oregon Senators honored for their stand
By In the news
In: Uncategorized
Tuesday July 9, 2019
The July 3rd Oregon Executive Club honored the Republican Senators who protested by leaving the State Capitol over the public being denied the right to vote on the wide-sweeping Carbon Tax, Bill HB, 2020 which would have raised gas prices by 22 cents and utility prices as much as 53%.
Oregon State Senator Chuck Thomsen spoke and picked up his award. State Senator Herman Baertschiger spoke by phone. The award was the “Don McIntire Mucho Cojones Award” (see below for description)
A cake celebrated these “Magnificent 11” Senators.
Also speaking was Loren Hutnick who helped organize and lead the TimberUnity movement and the incredible display of trucks and public support at the State Capitol.
Author Jeff Reynolds and Oregon Executive Club chief Gregg Clapper also spoke.
People signed thank you cards to the GOP Senators.
Here is what the award said….
WHEREAS Governor Kate Brown, Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Tina Kotek conspired to steal $700 million from the good people of Oregon through a fake Carbon Tax.
WHEARS The courageous Eleven Senate Republicans joined the battle and vanquished the tax ultimately handing Kate, Peter and Tina a humiliating defeat.
WHEREAS your protest ignited an uprising among the people and outpouring of support and gratitude that hasn’t been seen for decades.
BE IT RESOLVED, to the Courageous Eleven that the people of Oregon owe to them a debt of gratitude for saving their small businesses, their jobs, their family budget and saving them from $5.00 gas.
| 4,199 |
The one thing in our lives that we have total control over and yet can’t quite seem to ever utilize it fully is time. Its steady measure continues without our input, without our awareness. Awake or asleep, moving or still, sometimes in that hazy world in between.
How will we use it? We decide, with varying degrees of external influence, how we will spend our day. There are many forces that motivate us and drive how we manage our time. Most of us are paid to spend the majority of it laboring on behalf of an employer for forty-plus hours per week. That leaves roughly eight hours a day for us to do as we wish. We might spend part of that time catching up on work, or with family, hobbies, or the mindless slush that passes for network entertainment. One might stay awake a tad longer than the spouse and tap away at the keyboard writing, working on a book or a blog even.
In the beginning, the early years, the passage of time is barely noticeable. A single class in school seems to drag on forever. Then something disturbing happens as we get older: the constant ticking of the clock seems to get faster with each passing year until a whole day disappears like a short nap. Life speeds up as we start to slow down. Family, career, community, faith, and personal interests are just a few of the things that demand our attention and time. How we balance these demands ultimately determines our level of success as defined by personal satisfaction. As our lives evolve we are faced with choices on how we will spend our time. Periodically we must reallocate and substitute one activity for another – prioritize based on value. I’ve gone a week or two without posting, even considered walking away from this activity altogether so it came as no great shock when Cass cut us off last month. Then Cox & Forkum threw in the towel – political satirists that proclaimed they no longer had the stomach for politics. The most recent withdrawal from my limited feed reader was Lex, seems he’s “gone sinker” for a while. Maybe he’ll surface again. The comments on his departure are a tribute to the effort that he put forth for our enjoyment. Writing is not easy, it takes time and effort to offer up quality material especially with the frequency and depth that Lex was serving. Time that could be used doing other things.
Once you reach your mid forties you realize that at best you’re half done and you might be well beyond the half-way mark. No time to waste. Better prioritize and act before the clock stops. For me patience has become somewhat scarce – I have goals that I want to accomplish, both personal and in my work. Which brings me back to the subject of time utilization: if we don’t make changes that allow us to manage our time more efficiently then we are losing ground. To put it another way, if we don’t change but the world continues to accelerate, the net result is a loss. If we become complacent and static, the value of our time shrinks.
One of the most toxic conditions of the human soul is complacency. To simply accept the status quo as finite is tragic. Our spirit thrives on challenge; without it we become stagnant and ineffective. Some people seem content to live out the script of “Groundhog Day” where nothing ever changes. There’s a rather unpleasant stench associated with such a structured, repetitive existence. Without challenge and change we find mold and decay. True, there is comfort in the familiar, essential things like a soul-mate, true friends and one’s faith but these are the foundation from which to explore. Like an old solid house, the foundation remains intact while everything else is subject to change or renewal without which the entire structure eventually crumbles much sooner than it should have.
Time continues to pass regardless of our efforts. It feels no remorse if we could have done better nor does it sense any shame if we cheated ourselves by procrastinating. You can’t get it back but you can improve on how you utilize your most precious resource tomorrow.
Michelle October 28, 2007 at 17:49
You certiainly pegged it, Steve.
I find myself more and more turning to people and asking them if they find that time keeps going faster, the older they get. Most laugh, but a lot also knowingly nod their heads in agreement. And I don’t even consider myself that old yet!
I dearly miss Lex (already!) and so hope that he will find a way that works for him to come back. But its good for me to read posts such as this and be reminded of the legitimacy of what he’s doing, no matter what that final impetus was.
So thanks. Even though I’m feeling kind of blue at the moment.
John November 1, 2007 at 16:02
Great post Steve. I almost missed it but fortunately scanned back through today and it caught my eye. I was too busy letting time get away from me to see it the first time!
True, the increasing speed that time passes can make us wonder how it’s possible and even cause some concern that we’ve let too much slip through our fingers and will never catch up with our lifes dreams. However, as you eloquently point out, it should encourage us to become more aware of this phenomenon and never take our daily opportunities for granted.
I will use this as a reminder to live each day to the fullest and appreciate the little comforts of daily life and most importantly, don’t take myself so seriously.
Thanks
Papa Ray November 6, 2007 at 22:34
Yea..I think you got it.
The other day, my Sweet Sarah and I were out shopping for a present for a birthday party she was going to and she saw the Christmas decorations on sale. She started talking about what she wanted Santa to bring her (she is 6 1/2 y/o) and she finally asked me with a big grin what I wanted for Christmas?
| 5,737 |
Police
Mr. Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to merge police forces according to the bounderies used for regional assemblies; and if he will make a statement. [26404]
Hazel Blears: We have made clear to the police service that the very strong starting presumption is that any new force areas should not cross Government office regional boundaries. It follows that very strong arguments would need to be submitted in support of any merger proposals which went contrary to this presumption.
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has evaluated on the effectiveness of national recruiting guidelines for the police force; and if he will make a statement. [26565]
Hazel Blears: The Home Office and Centrex, the Central Police Recruitment, Training and Development Authority, are responsible for evaluating the results and effectiveness of the recruit assessment centre across all forces in England and Wales. Their research has shown that those selected through the national police recruitment assessment centre go on to perform well at initial police probationer training and also perform effectively in the job as a constable. I will place a copy of the latest Predictive Validity Report in the Library.
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place a copy of the national guidelines on recruitment standards for the police force in the Library. [26566]
Hazel Blears: Potential candidates are assessed in seven competencies; Respect for Race and Diversity, Resilience, Effective Communication, Team Working, Problem Solving, Personal Responsibility and Community and Customer Focus.
The seven different competencies are measured through four interactive exercises, two written exercises, and a competency based structured interview and two ability tests, one testing verbal reasoning the other numerical reasoning. Respect for Race and Diversity competency area is designed into and assessed in each exercise as a 'golden thread'. The other six competencies are measured a minimum of three times across the other exercises and interview. Candidates must pass at the agreed level. Other recruitment standards are set out in Home Office Circulars 6/2003, 25/2003, 54/2003, 43/2004 and 59/2004.
These are available on the Home Office website and I have placed a copy of them in the Library.
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training in management skills is available for police officers. [26567]
Hazel Blears: The Core Leadership Development Programme provides a suite of leadership modules aimed at post probationary constables, sergeants, inspectors and corresponding police staff—providing them with leadership and management skills across a range of areas of expertise. This has been externally accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management.
The Senior Leadership Development Programme, aimed at middle and senior managers, develops the knowledge, skills and behaviours to improve operational professionalism and performance and deliver high quality services. It is a requirement for superintendents and chief superintendents to pass the Strategic Command Course to become a member of the Association of Chief Police Officers.
This course provides police officers with the skills to take on the most demanding roles in the police service.
Mr. Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers are on the force in Gravesham; and if he will take steps to increase this number. [28592]
Hazel Blears: Figures for Gravesham are not collected centrally. However, Gravesham comes within the North Kent Basic Command Unit and as at 31 March 2005 there were 388 (full-time equivalent) police officers within the North Kent BCU. The number of police officers in North Kent has increased by 46 since March 2002. The deployment of police officers to basic command units and other specialist units in Kent police is an operational matter for the Chief Constable.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what boundaries the Government will use for the restructuring of police forces; and what assessment he has made of the merits of using Government office regions as the basis for the reorganisation. [26944]
Hazel Blears: We have made clear to the police service that the very strong starting presumption is that any new force areas should not cross Government office regional boundaries. It follows that very strong arguments would need to be submitted in support of any merger proposals which went contrary to this presumption.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government is taking to improve the quality of local policing in Coventry, South; and if he will make a statement. [27239]
Hazel Blears [holding answer 9 November 2005]: The Government are committed to a major programme of police reform, to help build safer and stronger communities. This will help to drive performance in every force and includes: building a more responsive, citizen-focused police service with neighbourhood policing at its heart—reshaping the national policing landscape to ensure effective policing at district, force and national level—further modernising the police work force.
This is building on the significant progress that has already been made: overall crime is down by 35 per cent. since 1997 and the chance of being a victim of crime is at a 20-year low—police numbers are at an all time high. We now have over 141,000 police officers, 71,000 police staff and 6,300 community support officers—investment in policing has increased by over a quarter since 1997. We have also sought to instil a strong performance culture. This is taking hold delivering real and sustainable improvements. In terms of West Midlands Police's local performance and how this is enhanced, as for any force this is principally a matter for the chief officer team and the police authority. The Home Office
has recently published assessments for every force in the country. West Midlands Police received a Good" and Improved" grading in the local policing domain.
The Government's work with all 43 forces to develop neighbourhood policing, initially within pathfinder areas, will enhance the quality of local policing. In West Midlands, the pathfinder is North Sandwell Operational Command Unit.
The development of neighbourhood policing within the pathfinder will inform the development of neighbourhood policing across the force. Following the report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of the Constabulary on improving protective services, I have also asked police forces and police authorities to develop options for restructuring forces and to submit their final reports, including their final options, to the Home Office by 23 December 2005. Larger, more strategic forces will support neighbourhood policing as they will have the resilience to prevent the abstraction of neighbourhood policing teams to major incidents.
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on individuals employed by the Prison Service who wish to continue working beyond the age of 60. [28916]
Fiona Mactaggart: The public sector Prison Service is currently reviewing its age retirement policies across all grades of staff. It is expected that the Prison Service Management Board will consider the outcome of the review in December 2005 and advise staff of the outcome of the review in early 2006. Prison officers and operational managers are not routinely permitted to work beyond the age of 60.
In exceptional circumstances, prison governors have discretion to allow individuals to work beyond the age of 60 where there is a specific operational need to retain the individual member of staff due to their specialist skills or involvement in a particular project or specific work. Operational support grades and industrial staff may continue to be employed until the age of 65. Under a temporary policy, due to expire on 31 March 2006, administrative staff and non-operational management grades are currently permitted to work on an annual basis beyond the age of 60. The review will determine whether these grades will be allowed to work beyond the age of 60 after this date.
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prisoners are released with (a) no arranged employment and (b) no accommodation. [18611]
Fiona Mactaggart: Prisoners are asked immediately before release about arrangements for accommodation and ETE (Employment Training and Education) after release. Figures provided as follows refer to accommodation, ETE and Freshstart bookings (interviews arranged at the local Jobcentre Plus).
Percentage of prisoners who have not had accommodationor employment arranged prior to release. Year-to-dateSeptember 2005.
(20) Not to be mistaken with unemployed (see following table for details).
The breakdown of those released without employment(21). Year-to-date September 2005.
In education/training 10
Unavailable to work (i.e. long-term carer, sickness, retirement) 9
Unknown (no information recorded) 51
(21) 57 per cent. of those released without employment were booked a FreshStart Interview by Jobcentre Plus.
| 9,845 |
The rhetoric being spewed regarding most things today has reached the point of absurdity. Though people saying one thing and meaning another is nothing new, it seems almost epidemic as events in our world unfold.
The cancel culture that currently exists has certainly fed this situation as people are afraid if the say the wrong thing the wrong way someone will be offended, and they may be judged and unable to remove the offense.
This seems to have exasperated the reality where words truly have very little meaning for many people. This is unfortunate because our words truly do matter.
Saying one thing and meaning another has always been commonplace, but today it has become the norm. We see this play out among our political leaders everyday as they change their words and views based on which way the political winds are blowing.
Here is where we see actions truly speak louder than words.
Yet, even as we see and hear people change their minds over and over somehow, we find a way to base our point of view on what we hear. How is this possible? How can we listen and watch people say one thing and do another? Do we base our opinions on their “actions or words”?
There was a time when it seemed we were more likely to judge a person by what they did, not what they said. Today, this is not the case.
Because of this, it is almost impossible to have an honest dialogue which leads us to a world filled with dishonest people.
The question we should be asking is, am I like this? Are my actions in line with my words? Do I say what I believe, or do I just say what I think others believe? The answer may be more shocking than you think.
You see, we are all affected by culture, and we are prone to accepting and doing what we are told simply because we are told to do so. This has created a crisis of culture, which if not reversed, will make it impossible to distinguish between our “actions or words”.
When the truth can no longer be determined by what we see, we will be forced to move because of what we hear. Here we come face to face with the reality our culture is consumed with saying the right thing the right way instead of doing the right thing for the right reason. Then, it will be our words not our actions that define what we believe.
To be willing to see something and not believe it because we are told not to is where “actions or words” both lose all meaning.
Is this our new normal? I suppose our actions will provide the answer. If our words will allow it.
Proverbs 29:20, "Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him".
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John presents his own storied past, struggles with drug and alcohol abuse, mistakes in business due to lack of role models, family history challenged by divorce, violence and abuse.
| 3,478 |
I’ve written many times about the US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA), and it’s never been in a good light. This week, the group which represents the pilots at US Airways has once again topped itself by taking out a full page ad in USA Today talking about how US Airways is unsafe. Though there are other groups in the running, I think USAPA has demonstrated that it is the most ineffective, poorly run union group out there. For
the misguided representation it provides its pilots, USAPA gets the Cranky Jackass award. This has been a long time coming.
You may already know the story. USAPA was created when the US Airways “East” (pre-merger US Airways) pilots didn’t like the seniority agreement that was decided upon in binding arbitration (yes, “binding” is apparently a loose term) with the US Airways “West” (pre-merger America West) pilots. So they marched off and voted in a new union, casting off the arbitration result. The West pilots didn’t like that (it’s been working its way through the courts), but they didn’t have the numbers to prevent the move. You can read more of the history here. In short, USAPA has done absolutely nothing good for its members, but it wrongly likes to blame US Airways management for its failings.
And that brings us to USAPA’s current strategy . . . try to burn down the company and apparently put all of its members out of a job.
The latest shameful tactic is the taking out of a full page ad in USA Today claiming that US Airways is unsafe. Let’s see. You work for an airline that pays your salary with revenue that comes in the door, and now you’re going to turn around and try to shut off that revenue by falsely claiming your airline is unsafe? Simply pathetic. It’s such a blatant negotiating tactic, but how will the general public react? That’s unclear, though this hasn’t received much press at all considering all the more important “real” news in the aviation world in the last week.
The ad itself used a single pilot incident that happened on June 16 to show the supposed danger of flying the airline. Apparently there was a flight scheduled to cross the Atlantic from Philly that evening and there were a couple of mechanical issues. There are some mechanical issues that aren’t considered crucial to be fixed, and that appears to be the case here, but the captain refused to fly the airplane and then, according to the union, she was escorted out of the airport by corporate security. The next crew refused to fly the airplane as well. Over the next couple hours, some maintenance work was done and the airplane went on its way with a third crew.
This is why the union says US Airways is an unsafe airline. It says the airline is intimidating its pilots and pushing them to fly even if it’s not safe. Then if they refuse, it has security remove them. Sounds bad, right? Too bad it’s a crock.
Now, regarding the mechanical incident itself, I don’t know whether the captain did the right thing by refusing to fly the airplane. I do know that the FAA found US Airways did nothing wrong. Here’s the statement:
The FAA manager assigned to the US Airways certificate reviewed the June 16, 2011 incident. The APU shutdown the aircraft experienced is a failure that pilots are well aware can happen and that they are trained to recognize. The battery apparently was depleted by attempts to restart the APU. Flying an aircraft with an inoperative APU is not an unusual event and normally poses no safety issues when proper limitations are applied. The Captain simply chose to exercise her pilot-in-command authority of not accepting an aircraft. Our information indicates that US Airways followed their approved MEL procedures, and all maintenance procedures were followed in accordance with the operator’s approved maintenance program. We found no violations of Federal Aviation Regulations.
That being said, if a captain doesn’t feel comfortable flying an airplane, then it’s his or her right to deny it. The problem arises when that privilege is abused just to delay or cancel flights without good reason. I’m not saying that happened here. I don’t know, and frankly, it’s not central to my point. I have no problem in theory with her walking away from the flight.
But why would security come escort the captain from the airport? USAPA wants you to believe it’s because she refused to fly the airplane. Not quite. According to US Airways, “the Captain was escorted out of the airport by corporate security (after being released from duty) not for her refusal to fly but for her comments made to customers regarding the safety of the aircraft.” Unfortunately, I don’t know details about what she said to the passengers, but it was apparently highly inappropriate. See more in this a.net discussion. I would have had her carted off the airplane as well.
In reality, there is nothing pointing to US Airways being unsafe but rather more evidence of the airline having good safety practices. It recently passed the IATA Operational Safety Audit, for example. But that won’t stop the union from trying to sully the airline’s reputation. (Get it? Sully? I crack myself up.)
In the end, USAPA simply wants to damage US Airways as if this will somehow convince the airline to throw a ton of money at the union and solve all its problems. Unfortunately, the union needs to solve its own problems regarding seniority before it can even be ready to talk to management, and it doesn’t seem any closer to doing so. I feel really bad for those pilots who never even wanted this union to represent them in the first place. This whole thing is simply pathetic and more than worthy of the Cranky Jackass Award.
Jul 28, 2011 at 7:00 am
Amen! USAPA is a phony union, created only so that the East could get out of the binding arbitration they agreed to. The entitlement culture in the east is what killed USAirways. America West should have just let US die.
The planes are safe, but I don’t know about the (east) pilots. Shame on them for using safety as a cheap stunt.
Dan says:
Jul 28, 2011 at 7:12 am
You’re right for blasting the union for making this a public battle. But I think you’re drawing more attention to the incident than you should. Although you *say* you’re not sure the captain did anything wrong, the way you frame the incident suggests otherwise.
Who (or what) is this corporate security that would escort the pilot off? Are these some sort of special law enforcement officers that have the power to detain the captain?
Oh, BTW, the first thing they teach us in lowly pilot is “just because it’s legal, doesn’t mean it’s safe.” It really doesn’t matter that the FAA says they broke no FARs. (The cynic in me says, “of course they didn’t break any FARs. They fixed the plane before it flew.”)
As far as the PICs are concerned, I will always assume they’re right unless proven wrong, and that’s a pretty high bar. Given what I read on the a.net thread you linked to, there’s not enough evidence to suggest the PIC engineered a situation for political reasons. I’m rather convinced she really had serious concerns about taking that bird over the pond.
Making those announcements (I don’t know what was said, didn’t see it in a.net) or taking this public was stupid.
Jul 28, 2011 at 8:00 am
A request. For those of us who aren’t airline industry employees, what’s a PIC? What’s a FAR? (I do know what the FAA is) Insider comments would be far more insightful to the uninitiated among us if commentators would try to avoid technical or specialized industry-specific terms to the extent it’s possible. I know it’s force of habit, but some of us often don’t know what you’re refering to. Thanks.
Rich says:
Jul 28, 2011 at 8:16 am
Most airlines, including US Airways, have their own security team that operates at the airports. They are not like TSA, but rather people in plain clothes. You wouldn’t know they were security unless they told you
Jul 28, 2011 at 8:29 am
As Rich said, corporate security works for the company and does not detain people. They just can escort someone off company property and that appears to be what they did here.
Now, I’m not trying to call out the captain for refusing the airplane. Yes, the FAA has cleared US Airways of doing anything wrong, but there’s always that natural tension between management policy and pilot’s comfort level. They don’t always match up, and if she truly didn’t feel comfortable taking the airplane, then that should be her right. Would I expect management to put a little pressure in this situation? Probably – there were a planeload of people who need to go. And I’m sure there’s a fine line between nudging and intimidation, so I really don’t want to speculate on exactly what happened. But the pilot never should have said anything to the passengers and USAPA certainly shouldn’t use this as a negotiating tool.
DesertGhost – PIC is Pilot in Command and FAR is a Federal Aviation Regulation – basically the rules that govern flying in the US.
David SF eastbay says:
Jul 28, 2011 at 7:51 am
There are a lot of people in unions who think they work for the union and forget they work for the company that pays them. Airline pilots have always been in that group, they usually are the highest paid in the rank and file and forget their (over inflated egos) effects all the little guys in the company not part of a union working two jobs or more just trying to make ends meet.
Jul 28, 2011 at 7:57 am
Whoa, CF, calm down before your readers give the Cranky Jackass award to you!
Matt says:
Jul 28, 2011 at 10:08 am
+1. This is starting to sound like a personal vendetta against USAPA.
Jul 28, 2011 at 8:05 am
If the USAPA were a person that person would be diagnosed as a sociopath. They are totally divorced from reality, the consequences of their irrational decisions, and empathy for those they hurt, which most often are themselves. It’s really spectacular to watch.
Jul 28, 2011 at 8:24 am
A couple of questions. I read that Gary Kelly worked with the WN and FL pilots to reach their accord. Is there a difference in the law that doesn’t allow the US management team to do the same or am I misinformed? I know the airline has gone to court for guidance in this area and I’ve also read that there was a law (the name escapes me but I think the name Bond is part of it? Bond / McCaskill has come into my brain as I’m writing this, but I’m not sure off the top of my head.) passed after the TWA merger that addressed stapling and other merger related integration issues. Could you shed some light on this for me? Thanks.
By the way, based on what I’ve read here and elsewhere, I completely agree with the “award.” It appears to be well deserved. The USAPA’s behavior in this matter is unprofessional. But my criticism is only with the way they went public with the whole affair and their apparent (note I wrote apparent) misrepresentation of the facts. I can’t really comment any further without more knowledge of the matter.
Jul 28, 2011 at 8:35 am
DesertGhost – Great question. US Airways has found itself in a very sticky situation here. This may be a long comment . . .
In short, ALPA was the union that came into the merger on both sides, and they had merger policy set up that would determine how to go about implementing a seniority integration. That part has nothing to do with the company. So they went through the process and in the end, went to binding arbitration. The East pilots didn’t like the results of binding arbitration, and they had the votes, so they went and kicked ALPA off the property and started USAPA. With the majority of votes, they were easily able to bring them in.
The problem here is that the West pilots have said that USAPA is acting against their interests (which is true) and they’ve taken it to court. The court has said that the claim wasn’t “ripe” yet because no damage had actually been done. That’s what puts US Airways in a pickle.
If US Airways accepts the new seniority integration and negotiates with USAPA, then the claim will become ripe and the West pilots will most likely get relief from the court. If US Airways doesn’t, then it could result in problems on the other side.
So US Airways went to court asking what it should do. It doesn’t want to get itself in trouble and it appears that either way it’s going to be in trouble because of the union’s internal struggles.
Jul 28, 2011 at 10:10 am
Thank you. That clears up a lot. And thanks for the answer to “PIC and “FAR” above. Am I right in thinking that US management could have more easily intervened had ALPA stayed on as the “east” pilot’s union? If that’s the case, it makes USAPA’s whining about the lack of management “leadership” rather hypocritical. One thing is for sure. If this thing drags out a whole lot longer the seniority issue will resolve itself. The combatants will have retired.
By the way, I don’t mind if you write long comments. A few of mine have been a bit protracted, too.
Jul 28, 2011 at 10:54 am
So there isn’t a separate East and West union here. Pre-merger, both airlines had their own ALPA groups. As part of ALPA merger policy they were coming together to form one, but enough of the combined pilot group didn’t like the seniority agreement that they ousted ALPA and brought in USAPA. So USAPA “represents” the entire pilot group even though are there are separate factions.
Had the pilots stuck with ALPA and followed merger policy guidelines, then it would be all between the pilots and management now.
Jul 28, 2011 at 11:07 am
Thanks for the clarification, even if I only needed to clear up my own misunderstanding. I’ve never been in a union. I’m not sure why I thought there were two. I hope the court can help get this resolved before everyone involved retires. The US pilots only seem to be hurting themselves.
Steve Ly says:
Jul 28, 2011 at 8:52 am
I’m an outsider, but I’d have to lay the blame for this on the “east” pilot group. They went to binding arbitration, didn’t abide by the result and created all this mess. It’s been *6* years since the US/HP merger and they still can’t get their act together. I’d almost sympathize with Dougie here if he were not such an asshole.
Jul 28, 2011 at 9:59 am
While on the surface this may seem like union antics in order to get a better contract. This incident is clearly blown out of proportion. What is not blown out of proportion is the number of flight crews taken to hospital due to noxious fumes in the cabin over the last two years. There was yet another incident Yesterday on a flight from ATL to PHL, If I recall it was flight number 1476.
The former America West received the largest fine in aviation history for poor maintenance. Most of the folks running the show are from America West so as a customer it gives me pause when I hear such things.
Jul 28, 2011 at 10:37 am
AWA’s fine is irrelevant in this case. The fine you refer to happened years ago under Bill Franke (and may have contributed to his ouster). The airline’s morale was very low under Franke and that definitely contributed to his ouster. His decisive but rather autocratic style was necessary when AWA was bankrupt; but once the airline was back on its feet, it wore on people. If I remember correctly (when you get old, time compresses a bit), Doug Parker was a V.P. at that time and was elevated to president shortly thereafter. One of the first things he did was to reduce flying, creating more spares, and bring more maintenance back in house. In doing so, AWA turned maintenance into a strength of the company. it’s not unlike the baggage situation in PHL.
I ilken dredging up of twenty year old issues to betting on sports. I laugh when I hear a sports betting prognosticater say that a team hasn’t won at such and such place since 1986. The teams that didn’t win are long gone! There are different players on the field. Most probably have no clue about what happened in 1986 (or even 2006). Heck, US Airways has changed a lot since 1995. It’s not what it was then. Learn from the past? You bet! Live there? Why?
Jul 28, 2011 at 10:55 am
To amplify: I’m not 100% sure of the time lines above. But I do remember the situation under Franke well. I have a lot of acquaintances who work at US (and worked at AWA). Living in PHX, that’s not too difficult. Are airlines perfect? No. Can they be? No. It’s not what happens at one given time that’s important in the long run, it’s what you do about correcting the situation that matters. I believe the smoke situation will be found. It’s easy to criticize from a distance. It’s harder to actually solve the problem.
Armchair CEO’s know more about running an airline than airline executives. When I was in real estate, everyone knew real estate better than I did even though I worked at it full time. Are there knowlegeable observers? Yes. But I’ve found that the most knowledgeable observers know their imitations.
Jul 28, 2011 at 10:51 am
Your right, Robert. The number of flight crews being taken to the hospital due to noxious fumes isn’t being blown out of proportion, because nobody hears about it! Flight 1476 goes from Washington to Orlando so that wasn’t it. Do you have a source for this? How often does this happen (numbers, not speculation)?
So if you think that US Airways is unsafe because of a fine against America West 13 years ago, then you must think American is unsafe as well, right? American had a much larger fine related to safety and that was in the last few years.
Back in the last 1990s, America West’s operation was a mess. (I should know, I worked there at the time and it sucked.) But that fine in 1998 was before the current management team was there and certainly before the current operations group was running the show. Jeff McClelland (RIP) was brought in to fix the operation and made a great number of changes. Robert Isom, current ops boss, has David Seymour running tech ops. Both have America West backgrounds, but David didn’t start until 1999 and then as director of materials. None of these guys created the problems back then, but they certainly are good at fixing them.
Jul 28, 2011 at 11:47 am
Lets not forget everyone’s darling Southwest. They have had their share of mishaps lately and FAA complaints. Cranky is right, the AWA ops were a mess, but they were fixed and policies were put into place to keep them fixed. AWA never had a crash or a loss of life, and, I believe only hull loss (in TUS?). USAPA is a desperate group, they can change their union, but they have to stick to their agreements, binding arbitration means just that, binding. The audacity of them trying to destroy an airline that employs so many good people, just because they can’t live up to their agreements is a terrible and selfish maneuver. Safety is the latest red herring that USAPA is waving, and no one is buying it. (Certainly not the FAA)
Jul 28, 2011 at 12:04 pm
Yes I have ample verification. How’s an internal document complete with tail numbers work for ya?
March 24, 2011
Dear Members,
Oil Fume Events at US Airways
Bulletin prepared by AFA-CWA, 24 March 2011
Engine oil fumes, hydraulic fluid fumes, and other toxins can sometimes contaminate the cabin and flight deck air supply systems on all aircraft types in the current fleet. Below is a list of aircraft numbers with documented fume events at US Airways that AFA-CWA is aware of since January 2009. Some of these aircraft have been implicated in multiple events, others in a single event. We are distributing this list in response to members’ requests, but we urge you to be vigilant on all aircraft. If an aircraft is on this list, it doesn’t mean that the air supply is contaminated, and if an aircraft isn’t on this list, it is still at risk of contamination, like all aircraft at all airlines. Even if your assigned flight is on one of the aircraft listed below, you are not relieved of your duty to work that flight. However, if you detect any unusual odors or smoke/mist, report them immediately to the Captain (see http://ashsd.afacwa.docs/prevent.pdf) and document the conditions with the company by filing a SER. Also, please report to your local AFA office. We are here to help.
That’s a pretty long list that was sent to me along with what AFA is asking their members to do. This further points out that US Airways doesn’t give one wit about it’s employees or customers. US Airways knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. As a former 10 year Chairman’s Preferred I can state with certainty that the new culture within US is one of fear & intimidation. Why do you think AFA sends me stuff? They know I will post it and they can’t due to fear of reprisal. The culture there is one of continual cutting of corners to save a dime and apparently it’s no different when it comes to Maintenance. Also of note is PHL has a new Chief Pilot, IMO this is a direct result of the Advertisement as the individual was a leader in ALPA, the former pilots union. This has the stamp of the Union Buster Lawyer, Jerry Glass who has been hired by US.
Jul 28, 2011 at 1:26 pm
Thanks for including this, Robert. I have inquiries in for comment from the AFA and from US Airways. I’m very curious about this myself.
Jul 29, 2011 at 12:53 pm
What’s curious is that these aircraft encompass all (or close to all) of US aircraft fleets. That alone makes it less likely that this is a maintenance issue. I find it hardly likely that something affecting an E190 is the same problem on an old 767 or brand new A321 or A330.
It sounds more like hypochondria with a single real event spawning many insignificant (or even imagined) events. Not at all indicative of a safety epidemic at this or any airline.
Jul 28, 2011 at 10:05 am
The only jackass is the one who wrote the article, your obviously not concerned about you or anyone elses safety!
Sanjeev M says:
Jul 28, 2011 at 1:24 pm
How about some facts (Robert Johnson above did a good job) rather than just accusing Cranky?
Either way, between the union (which you seem to support/be part of) and the management, its not making a good impression to the public. And that’s what matters if you want to stand out in a commodity business, which is what the airlines have become these days.
Consumer Mike says:
Jul 28, 2011 at 12:45 pm
I believe that the above comments by Dan say it all. Simply as a consumer it appears that after two crews CORRECTLY refused to fly the aircraft due to safety concerns, it appears that the aircraft was fixed for the 3rd crew to finally accept. (Three strikes and you’re out?) Shame on US AIR! Does an airline have to be held with a gun to it’s head to make sure passemgers are safe? I personally do not want to hear of any more news about another mid-Atlantic disaster. I wonder if AF had advance notice of possible pitot problems?
I do not agree with the [East Coast] union biting the hand that feeds it. Passengers remember these things for years to come. Bad negotiation move, in my opinion.
Jul 28, 2011 at 1:57 pm
Why don’t we get both sides of the story before we accuse anyone of wrongdoing?
Jul 28, 2011 at 1:57 pm
…especially at this point.
Jul 28, 2011 at 2:30 pm
Because US Airways Management are documented liars. Not to mention a CEO who spent a night in Prison for his lack of common sense and self control. Who can forget Baghdad Bob aka Scott Kirby tell customers that the Reservations Migration was successful as line snaked around CLT and other cites for Hours. After those types of things you expect me to trust Robert Isom?
Nicholas Barnard says:
Jul 28, 2011 at 3:08 pm
This sort of vitrol can be thrown at a lot of people in many industries.
What someone does in their personal life shouldn’t have bearing on their professional life, unless the personal directly impinges upon the professional.
Jul 28, 2011 at 3:17 pm
When you’re the CEO of a 10+ Billion Dollar Company I’d argure your conduct in the public eye does matter. He has 33,000 employees who look to him for leadership & guidance. What message did his actions send to the workforce?
In this day of the 60 second news cycle a CEO in effect has no personal life. Suppose you found out your CEO was a wife beater? In business and in life, trust, credibility & integrity matter.
Nicholas Barnard says:
Jul 28, 2011 at 3:24 pm
Why don’t we hear this about Herb Keller’s drinking and smoking? Oh, it’s because we all worship Southwest.
Did he fail to pay the fines? Did he run from the police? People mess up in their personal and professional lives, how they address those foul ups defined their integrity.
frank says:
Jul 29, 2011 at 7:33 am
What someone does in their personal life shouldn’t have bearing on their professional life
@ Nick. Ohhh, but it does!!! Just look at any airline that has “issued” booklets that say, you represent the company ON and OFF DUTY.
Jul 30, 2011 at 10:23 am
“What someone does in their personal life”. CEO Parker got his DUI after attending a event where he represented USAirways. He was on duty and DRUNK. No one escorted him “OFF THE PROPERTY”.
As far as the East vs West union thing, Do you think it is right to merge the two pilot groups and put a West pilot who has only been at the company for one month in front of a pilot who has been continously employed as a East pilot for 17 years. That is immoral
The West operation has shut down the Vegas hub so if it weren’t for the East operation the West work force would be downsized again. West is riding the coat tails of the East International operation.
Jul 28, 2011 at 4:23 pm
Oh boy, I see where this is going. When it gets down to name calling, it’s hardly a conversation worth continuing. But I have to ask, Robert Johnson, what is your stake in this? It would seem to me that you work for the company, but I’m curious to know for sure.
If you do work for the company, you should be incredibly happy to have Doug and Scott in charge. You’d probably be without a job without them and their management team, which I absolutely consider to be one of the best in the business.
Jul 28, 2011 at 4:56 pm
Brett, I never meant to start something like this. Sorry.
Jul 28, 2011 at 5:03 pm
No need to be sorry. When I posted this, I knew there would be sharp disagreement. It’s been mostly civil and that’s great.
Jul 28, 2011 at 2:43 pm
“Now, regarding the mechanical incident itself, I don’t know whether the captain did the right thing by refusing to fly the airplane. I do know that the FAA found US Airways did nothing wrong.”
It might be legal, but flying an aircraft over the Atlantic without an APU is unsafe, borderline crazy. There is a good reason three crews denied the plane. The Captain definitely handled this situation in an immature manner, but refusing the aircraft was the right decision. Have you ever heard the expression, “Regulations are written in blood”? That means the only way (especially in aviation) that things change are when someone loses their life. Oceanic flight without an APU is like driving through the Sahara without water, spare tire, or extra gas.
One other point- the separated pilot group definitely benefits Airways management. Their pilots have the lowest wages of all Legacy carriers, and that won’t change until they are one as a bargaining unit. Its not in US Airways management’s best interest to bring the two groups together.
BW says:
Jul 28, 2011 at 3:10 pm
It may or may not have been the correct decision, and we weren’t there so we can’t know for sure. There is a lot of (hearsay) evidence that this particular union actively encourages its members to undermine the company, such as adding extra fuel to burn or using “safety” excuses to disrupt operations. Given that, unfortunately it puts the pilot’s judgement into question when there are other indicators that the plane is ready to go, i.e. the mechanic’s signoff. I see this as a disservice the union is doing to its members. If they were more into compromise and less into obstruction, people would be more inclined to take their members at their word when they say the aircraft is unsafe. If it’s true that the pilot told the passengers that if they want to live they should find another flight, then I can understand why she was removed. In the end, airing this in public doesn’t help anybody. It hurts the pilots, the union, management, and all the rest of the employees.
Nicholas Barnard says:
Jul 28, 2011 at 3:13 pm
Re: Compromise vs. Obstruction. Sadly this seems to be the name of the game lately..
Chuck says:
Operating an aircraft without an APU across the Atlantic isn’t common, but it’s far from “Unsafe, borderline crazy.” I have dispatched probably a dozen flights or more with APU inop on transatlantic flights over the past five years. There are, depending upon the aircraft, more stringent operating rules required (most commonly requiring an extra enroute alternate) but it’s far from “dangerous, borderline crazy” and I don’t recall any of the flight crews involved ever refusing the aircraft.
Bill Hough says:
Jul 28, 2011 at 4:09 pm
“Why don’t we hear this about Herb Keller’s drinking and smoking? Oh, it’s because we all worship Southwest.”
Well, maybe it’s because Herb managed to keep his ass out of jail. He also managed to inspire his employees.
When did drinking and smoking become against the law, anyway?
Jul 28, 2011 at 4:34 pm
A brief comparison of Herb Kelleher and Doug Parker will quickly show the difference between a visionary leader and a wannabe. Herb Kelleher built an airline from 3 planes into an airline that has changed the face of commercial aviation. With over 400 planes in the fleet and 30+ years of consecutive profits he also has the highest paid workforce in US aviation. Now let’s move over to US and Mr Parker. Lowest Customer Satisfaction numbers for years, Lowest paid workforce, 3 Bankruptcy’s and a DUI conviction. ’nuff said
Nicholas Barnard says:
Jul 28, 2011 at 10:28 pm
I’m surprised this has remained uncorrected for so long today. I would’ve corrected it earlier myself, but I’ve been off doing things..
America West was in Bankruptcy from 1991 to 1994. Parker joined America West in 1995. US Airways (pre-merger) was in Bankruptcy from 2002 to 2004 and 2004 to 2005. At the end of the second bankruptcy US Airways and America West merged. Doug Parker never led an airline through bankruptcy, and was at not one, but two airlines as they came out of bankruptcy. (Or one and half, if you want to be picky.)
As for customer satisfaction, yeah, you’re right if you’re looking at JD Power and Associate’s rankings. They’re tied for last it seems with pre-merger United. Although its a fair question if this is a priority. If you can make money with the airline you’re running, the actual customers (not raters) must like something that you’re doing.
As for the lowest paid workforce, you’re half right. A starting pilot would make the least, but US Airways hasn’t hired a new pilot in years. Also, if the pilots unions could get their act together, they could negotiate a higher starting wage.
The DUI? Parker was barely over the limit, and states he made a mistake. Yes, he had two other DUIs but those were in his 20s. He’s made a mistake, he spent his time in jail.
US Airways has been running a better airline. They’ve been profitable, when not every one of their competitors has been able to say that.
Jul 29, 2011 at 12:32 am
Running a better airline? when you have no place to go but up then it’s much easier to show large percentages of improvement and still be mediocre. I pay little or no attention to JD Power, I look at the DOT Stats and until right around the time I gave up on them they were 20 of 20 for years and years. Lowest apid? I’m 100% right. Starting CSR makes less than a new hire at Wendy’s in Muskegon, MI. Ramp starts at $9.59/Hr and most of the new hires can’t pass the background check so that’s the level of talent US attracts?
Barely over the limit eh? Well I suppose then that if by chance he hit a family and then they would only be barely dead? Is that what you’re saying? Let’s see, DUI’s, Doug = Three and 80 year old Herb Kelleher has had how many??? Oh wait he hasn’t and he built an airline from scratch into a game changer. Profitable for more than half as many year as Doug has been alive. Wages highest in the industry.
Compare that to cobbling 2 broken down wrecks of an airline into one dysfunctional mess with poor morale, a bad product, more fees than you can shake a stick at, Eeeking out a profit with the industry’s lowest paid work force. Do you realize without those fees US would barely break even? Throw in 200 million a year for raises and the joint is headed for the toilet and BK 4. Did you know that something like 22% of the workforce is elegible for food stamps?
I can’t justify giving them any significant amout of business unless the fares are so low as I’d be stupid not to. At one point my “Spend” was pretty close to $25,000/yr, so far this year it’s under $1,000.
Jul 29, 2011 at 7:53 am
Your premise still makes no sense. If you think US Airways is unsafe, you would just not fly the airline at all. You’re insane if you truly think the airline is unsafe but you’ll continue to fly it. And if you think you’re punishing US Airways by buying cheap fares, you’re not. They put those cheap fares out there when they expect that flight can’t be filled at higher fares. Most of the operating costs will be incurred if you buy the ticket or not, so you’re helping the airline defray those costs even with a low fare.
It’s not even worth going line by line with your complaints, because you really just seem to have a vendetta against the airline. I’m not interested in getting into a back and forth when clearly nothing will change.
Jason H says:
Jul 28, 2011 at 4:18 pm
I have to agree with Cranky’s basic premise, that USAPA is in the wrong and is deserving of this award. There are a lot of questions and not many answers in this case and yet for the USAPA to try to use the 30-second (someone said 60-second, but as a media industry person.. not so much) news cycle as ammunition to damage the company that pays their members is endangering their members livelihood and that of all other US employees because of a tiff over seniority. That is smacks of dereliction of their duty to their members.
*Could the A330 fly TATL without the APU? It could, but without a modified flight plan it shouldn’t. Additionally, if you are at a base that can make the repair quickly that should be attempted first. Given no other option the modified flight plan would save the passengers the inconvenience of a cancellation or large delay.
*Did the PIC make the right call to refuse the aircraft? I’m sure in her mind she did. That’s enough for me, full-stop.
*Did the PIC make some announcements that painted US in a bad light or in some other way questioned the safety of US? I don’t know and only those involved do, but media spin will prevent the truth from being heard or if heard from being believed. If she did she was in the wrong, full-stop.
*Does US have a safety problem? That’s a bit tougher nut to crack. They haven’t taken a big fine like WN or AA recently and that’s a good thing, but if they have numerous airframes leaking fumes into the cockpit that isn’t good. However, that could also be a design flaw on the part of the airframe or something that was missed at a maintenance shop. The question is are they addressing it or at least trying to understand it. In my job I spend days/weeks/months trying to track down the reason for an issue a user sees. Sometimes there is no obvious solution because all those solutions have already been tried/ruled out. I personally don’t have a problem stepping on a US aircraft.
*Is the USAPA trying to leverage minor events into a firestorm to meet their political goals? Without a doubt and they seem to have no desire to respect the company for which their members work or compromise.
In the end the USAPA needs to get their house in order first and then they can throw stones at US. People in glass houses and all….
Scott says:
Jul 28, 2011 at 4:39 pm
Jim says:
Jul 28, 2011 at 4:44 pm
I thought one of a union’s job was to protect and improve working conditions for their employees. In this case, the airline placed undue pressure on the pilot, which is unacceptable. The union is well within its rights to raise objections to this, in public if necessary. I don’t see any problem. If the union hadn’t publicized this, the airlines would continue doing it. I don’t see what the merger with America West has to do with any of this.
Jul 28, 2011 at 5:10 pm
I DO NOT, have not and will not work for US Airways ever. I am one of the founders of FFOCUS. We are advocates for customers of any airline. Over the last 11 year (9 as a Chairman’s Preferred) period I’ve gained the trust of the rank and file and from time to time I’m privy to information that US doesn’t always want anyone to know. Some of it quite juicy and sadly mostly unverifiable for publication. I publish what I can in order to allow the flying public to be aware of the antics of airlines when they choose who to do business with.
We believe that in order to have true customer satisfaction you first have to have employee satisfaction. Do those 3 and the shareholders will be rewarded. No one group is in conflict. You build shareholder value one happy employee and customer at a time.
What you see with the USAPA ad is the direct result of US Airways doing everything in their power to intimidate their work force. People have been disciplined for posting on forums such as yours. The individual who forwarded me the e-line I published here would have been fired if they had done it. It’s right in the employee handbook which I have a copy of. Now they’ve brought in noted Union Buster Lawyer Jerry Glass to further bludgeon the workforce.
Knowledge is power and US can’t stop me from exercising my freedom of speech. Until US stops bludgeoning its customer and employees I’ll be here, posting the dirty laundry. Hope that clears up any confusion
Jul 28, 2011 at 5:36 pm
Yep, that clears it up. You post under a pseudonym (or at least a username) on other sites, right?
What I don’t get it this. If you hate the airline so much, then why are you Chairman’s Preferred? If I thought an airline was unsafe and people were being pushed to do bad things, then I wouldn’t step foot on it.
Jul 28, 2011 at 6:15 pm
Haven’t been CP since 2009. Flew 6 paid segments this year so far. I stayed with them as I was a fortress hub captive in PHL. I got so fed up with US I took a job that requires very little business travel. As long as US is in Star Alliance I will fly them, but ONLY when the fare is rock bottom dirt cheap and unprofitable. That way I get to us my miles on real airline like Lufthansa etc.
Up until about 2007 I never felt unsafe. Then as the planes got dirtier and dirtier and overheard bins were close and seal with duct tape I began to question. More I found out, less I flew. It’s also nice to see then when one can’t refute the message we see a poster resort to name calling, which is fine by me. Doug Parker’s record compared to Herb Kelleher and Gary Kelly speaks for itself so who am I to interrupt?
Jul 28, 2011 at 8:32 pm
Plenty of other airlines, go there, and take your silly group of wannabe nobodies with you.
Jul 28, 2011 at 5:47 pm
Now we know the agenda. All I can go on is what I’ve seen on the FFOCUS site and my own experiences with US. From my experience, FFOCUS’s views are 180 degrees opposite from mine; and they appear to be a whiny bunch of crybabies. US as they want it run went bankrupt twice. Us as it’s being run now is profitable. The facts speak volumes. But as much as I disagree with their agenda, FFOCUS is entitled to its views. However … in my humble opinion and with all due respect to “Mr. Johnson” personally, I now know I will question the truth and accuracy of anything and everything he posts.
Jul 28, 2011 at 5:53 pm
And I have to echo CF on this: If you hate US Airways as much as you seem to, don’t set foot on the airline. No one is putting a gun to your head to force you to patronize the company.
Paul says:
Jul 28, 2011 at 7:21 pm
They need to bring Ed Colodny out of retirement and fix this outfit up!
JM says:
But there is that issue of the Piedmont-USAir operations merger during the fall of 1989. I survived that nightmare as a customer. Not fun.
Aug 1, 2011 at 3:32 pm
I spoke to Ed Colodny last July and he said CEO Parker “would not even take my call”. That says enough about the class of the leader of LCC. ( LOW CLASS CARRIER )
Jul 28, 2011 at 9:44 pm
I am old-school, married to a medical professional who went through undergraduate, medical school and residency with an understanding of the need for delayed gratification for twelve years. Why does this not translate to pilots? It would be unthinkable for a group of medical residents to leap-frog above attending physicians,possessing more experience and expertise. What is going on with US Airways? Why are the younger and less experienced pilots unhappy that they have to wait their turn? Surely safety for any airline is enhanced by having its most skilled and experienced aviators at the helm.
Jul 29, 2011 at 7:43 am
Not anyone’s problem but the pilots at US Airways. There is set merger policy within ALPA and both sides agreed to go to binding arbitration as part of the process. You can’t do that and then decide you don’t like the outcome so you storm off and do something else. This is completely an internal issue with the pilots and has nothing to do with management at all.
Mark says:
Jul 29, 2011 at 12:54 pm
You assume that the former AWA pilots are “younger and less experienced”. First, AWA never crashed an aircraft (only one hull loss on a runway overrun), nor killed any passengers in it’s 22 year existence. The pre-merger US Airways lost “5 in 5”. Five aircraft disasters in five years. Second, AWA’s pilots come from various and diverse backgrounds. Many old Eastern pilots were hired in the late 80’s, as well as TWA pilots early this century (including former US Airway’s pilots that were furloughed over the years starting in the mid 90’s). Third, the average age between the two pilot groups isn’t that great, just a few years. The old US Airways was famous for hiring the children of senior pilots, most of which were barely FAA qualified when hired, while AWA (and most other major airlines) hired only those pilots that were previous captains at other airlines (as well as a former military). This explains why the “younger” AWA airline has pilots that are close in age to the “older” former US Airways pilots.
But, as CF correctly points out, that is not the problem. USAPA was created solely for the benefit of the east pilots at the expense of the west pilots, and have created a new seniority list placing the vast majority of the west pilots on the bottom of “their” list (including most former AWA captains!), even below former US Airways east furloughed pilots that had been furloughed for years without any hope of returning without this merger. Because the west pilots have been so far successful in court to prevent Usapa from implementing this new seniority list, and because the company won’t touch that new list unless a federal judge tells them that they would not be liable to the west for enabling Usapa in committing an illegal act, the east pilot’s union has become extremely frustrated and is employing illegal, and immoral acts against the company to pressure the company into capitulating to their demands. Because of Usapa’s whisper campaign to disrupt the airline, several east pilots have been fired, and more are to be fired it appears.
Barry says:
Aug 20, 2011 at 10:04 pm
Obviously your a “west” pilot. Your entire post is is rife with inaccuracies and falsities, not to mention outright lies! You just blew any chance of any credibility.
Barry says:
Aug 20, 2011 at 10:09 pm
You are obviously a “west” pilot with an agenda. Your entire post is rife with inaccuracies and falsities, not to mention outright lies. You’ve just blown any chance of any credibility.
Mark says:
Aug 22, 2011 at 2:38 pm
I have no agenda. Everything I posted is a fact. The problem you east usapa supporters have is that you run on emotion and disregard facts. Enjoy the injunction that will be coming out this week.
Jul 29, 2011 at 6:24 am
I can imagine Sully sighing or doing a facepalm at this…
Jul 29, 2011 at 7:44 am
Well, Sully actually testified on behalf of the union in the seniority debate, so it’s unclear to me how he’d react.
Jul 29, 2011 at 9:30 am
Jul 29, 2011 at 9:59 am
I was waiting until I heard back from both sides, but AFA hasn’t responded. US Airways, however, did respond very quickly with the following information:
From time to time, we encounter technical problems with our fleet of highly complex aircraft, just as all airlines do. We track every problem, every part and every fix for every aircraft on a flight-by-flight basis and we take the safe operation of all our flights as our most important priority.
We are confident that the air quality in all of our aircraft satisfies all safety standards. Our maintenance program for systems affecting cabin air quality meet or exceed manufacturer recommendations.
We monitor complaints aggressively through:
*Using a standardized Cabin Air Event Report to provide a clear sequence of steps to bridge information between flight crews and maintenance teams.
*Utilizing a procedure to ensure follow-up and final resolution of reported events is achieved and recorded.
*Encouraging crewmembers to report with the highest degree of specificity possible any future incidents of odor problems.
They also noted that the list of aircraft with “fume events” aren’t really all problems. Some of the aircraft listed on here could have had a single event where there was any smell reported – could even be burnt coffee.
Jul 29, 2011 at 11:04 am
In US Airways defense, these types of incidents take place on virtually every plane manufactured, sold and flown by any airline. Some of the tail numbers were “One Offs” even AFA admitted as much in the e-line. My concern in raising the issue is to me at least the number of air frames involved seemed high. None of us here has the ability to benchmark US’s performance against other fleets of similar size.
For me the source of my anger is the lack of true leadership at the top. If the Executives at US had shown some leadership I’m thinking this thread and USAPA would never exist. Yet it does and it does a disservice to the employees and customers of US Airways. I also have a problem with people who lie. One of my Colleagues at FFOCUS (less hot headed LOL) was invited to visit Tempe around 2008 and met with several executive level people who made all kinds of grandiose promises and to this very day not one has been implemented. Granted other cool things for the customer have been done. However they sat in front of him and lied through their teeth. To the naysayers I will gently remind you that we were the first customer advocacy group to meet with airline executives with the title of Senior VP or higher in the history of commercial aviation in the USA. Additionally US hosted us at round table with nearly 75 elite flyers back in 2004, so we have been an effective on behalf of the consumer.
Sadly with the new crew at the top the only way to grab their attention and raise our issues is to embarrass them in the media, thus my presence here. The more we question them in the media the interested they become in hearing our point of view.
I have no vendetta against anyone. What I do have is a razor sharp tongue and writing style. I happen to feel that US could be a great airline, not the mediocre one it is today. If they real Herb Kelleher, Gary Kelly, Gordon Bethune type leadership they’d have full flights and a revenue premium.
Thanks for putting up with me
Jul 29, 2011 at 11:53 am
How would executive leadership change things? The company agreed to binding arbitration, as did the west. The company is hamstrung, it has a seniority list it agreed to but can’t negotiate. Its not going to accept USAPA’s list because of the jeopardy of implementing something that isn’t ripe which would cause a DFR. The company asked for some assistance from the court, but they can’t do anything. Nor should they, the pilots have to either accept the Nic list or get the court to allow them to not agree to their binding arbitration. The company has remained neutral, this is the pilots internal war.
Jul 29, 2011 at 12:41 pm
True enough. I just benchmark against other carriers. DL-NW had a successful pilot integration as did WN/FL, Ditto for UA/CO (so far). We are now into year 6 with no end in sight. I have a copy of USAPA’s response to Mr Isom if anyone would like to view let me know and I’ll post it.
Jul 29, 2011 at 11:35 am
Sorry to hog up the thread but one of my “Secret Squirrel” contacts sent me me the following verbatim:
“Appx. 1 hour ago,CLT-LAX Crew & pax taken to hospital in LAX for fumes. Unconfirmed but from reliable source.”
This is the third text this week.
Mark says:
It’s no secret that Usapa is using their “safety campaign” as a code word for slowing the airline down. Besides that, pilot’s are notorious for spreading baseless rumors. If you are interested, compare the operating stats of PHX v. CLT, PHL, and DCA. The west based pilots aren’t having any issues out of the ordinary and the stats reflect that. If there was a systemic issue with safety, it would be more uniform among the bases. It’s not.
Mark says:
Jul 29, 2011 at 2:47 pm
UPDATE: US Airways files an Injunction against Usapa for their illegal job action campaign.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Today the Company filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Charlotte seeking an injunction against USAPA, the labor union that represents our pilots. The lawsuit asks the court to stop USAPA’s illegal job action campaign.
This is not a step we take lightly, but we simply can no longer allow the labor union’s illegal and misguided actions to harm US Airways, our employees and our customers. It is important you know that this lawsuit is aimed at USAPA and its leadership, not the thousands of dedicated airmen and women who – despite this political sideshow – operate their flights safely, on time and with the highest level of professionalism.
Today’s filing contains overwhelming evidence of illegal activity by USAPA including a consistent pattern of statements from the labor union’s leadership encouraging its members to slow down the operation and:
– A “safety” campaign that is clearly nothing more than a poorly disguised concerted illegal slowdown campaign
– Anonymous text messages encouraging slow taxis and other delay tactics to arrive at “Block +16” minutes – thereby missing the DOT on-time arrival window and ensuring customer and baggage misconnections
– Encouraging the delayed completion of online training in an effort to force flight cancellations
– Directing write-ups of non flight-critical maintenance items just before departure so that flights are delayed
– Threats to expose, intimidate and retaliate against union members who do not cooperate with the slowdown effort
It is unfortunate USAPA has taken a page from an outdated playbook; namely, using the guise of safety to signal an illegal operational slowdown. We will never compromise safety at US Airways, but we also will not tolerate illegal job actions. We owe that to you – the 32,000 hard-working employees of US Airways – and to our customers, and we take that obligation seriously.
I’ve heard from many of you expressing frustration at what USAPA is doing to harm our airline. I appreciate that concern and am grateful for your continued commitment to our customers. With the initiation of the litigation, we are a step closer to getting back to working together and moving forward as one team to ensure the long-term success of US Airways. Thank you so much for all you do, and please keep up the great work.
Doug
Jul 29, 2011 at 2:52 pm
I have a copy of the court docs and will spend the weekend reviewing them. Needless to say, for the airline to take this action, there is clearly compelling evidence.
Jul 29, 2011 at 3:00 pm
Agreed! Also do some research on one Jerry Glass a noted Union Buster Attorney current in the employ of US Airways. Also you may want to read the book “Confessions of a union buster”
Remember anyone can file a lawsuit. One of the reasons you do it is to bleed the other side of money.
Personally I’m thinking Stevie Wonder could see that USAPA overplayed their hand and it’s about to get bit HARD!
Nicholas Barnard says:
Jul 31, 2011 at 1:16 pm
Also anyone can get some of the court docs for free from Pacer. Register for an account here:
The case is US Airways v. US Airline Pilots Association. Case Number 11-00371 and was filed in U.S. District Court, Western District of North Carolina (Charlotte.)
You get $10 of documents for free from the US Court System every quarter. The initial complaint runs $3.20. I’ven’t gone after the additional documentation but each one is $0.08. So if someone wanted to grab a few of those I’d email them the initial complaint so we’d have them all.. (Email me via my website..)
Nicholas Barnard says:
Jul 31, 2011 at 1:28 pm
Oh, this is too damn much fun to let Cranky have it to himself over the weekend. If you want to read it, I’ve put it here: http://inmff.net/USAirwaysVsUSAPA.pdf
Jul 29, 2011 at 2:49 pm
US Airways filed for a Temporary Injunction against USAPA. I have no details as it hasn’t hit the wires yet. At least not that I could find.
Jul 29, 2011 at 5:09 pm
Maybe US Airway’s management isn’t quite as incompetent as some would have you believe. Maybe there’s been some union sabotage, too. As I wrote before, and was vilified for doing so, maybe we should get the whole story before jumping to conclusions or casting aspersions.
Is US Airways perfect? No. Are its unions? No. Do passengers sometimes act as if they’re entitled to more than what they paid for, or overreact if something isn’t perfect? Yes. Do crew members sometimes overreact to criticism or have bad days? Yup. There are good people on both sides of these issues.
Maybe we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that we are dealing with human beings.
iahphx says:
Jul 29, 2011 at 8:33 pm
Cranky, if you could somehow share those court documents, I’d appreciate it. I used to be a labor lawyer who worked on these injunctions for the airlines, so I’m familiar with the process.
From an investment standpoint, I’ve been following Doug Parker’s career for a decade now, and I agree with you that he is an extremely good airline CEO. And Scott Kirby is equally talented as President. I honestly think they’re the 2 smartest execs in the industry, and the employees at US Airways are unbelievably lucky to have them (I honestly wonder why they bother, given how hard their jobs are, and how they could make much more money with far less hassle elsewhere). If anyone doesn’t believe me, listen to a couple of investor conference calls with them — and listen to a couple from other airlines. And they both strike me as decent human beings who generally care about their employees. Folks might be surprised to learn that Parker is married to a former flight attendant who was a union activist:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9907EFDC1630F93BA25751C1A9639C8B63&pagewanted=all
The behavior of USAPA has always struck me as bizarre, mean and counter-productive. I’ve wondered many times how a group of professional men and women could support their tactics — which seem to have done nothing but caused unnecessary co-worker friction and lower wages for them. Does anyone have an idea of the current scope of the “slowdown”? I hadn’t previously heard about this, so I’m guessing the participation rate is not that high, or the slowdown effort is relatively modest. It certainly seems like the incident in Philly that led to the newspaper ad was part of it.
Mark says:
Jul 29, 2011 at 11:39 pm
The company filed 22 documents in the UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA, CHARLOTTE DIVISION. I read the company complaint, and it’s 43 pages of extremely damaging evidence against Usapa. The company is very data driven, and they have volumes of evidence showing that this slowdown is real and is being perpetrated exclusively by the “east” pilots, in stark contrast to the “west” pilots who are maintaining historical averages. I have the complaint in pdf. file, but there is no way to upload it in this forum.
Jul 30, 2011 at 12:05 am
That’s why we jokingly refer to Senior Managements as the “Spread Sheet Jockey’s”. If I recall “working to rule” or strict adherence to the FAR’s amd the FOM may not be enough to protect USAPA from damages. One is left to ponder what the USAPA’s next move will be.
Jul 30, 2011 at 8:59 pm
iahphx – I’m going to double check to make sure that these are things I can post. They should be, but I just need to make sure. I’m going to be writing about this during the week ahead, so with permission from the source, I will upload and link from those posts.
Jul 30, 2011 at 3:09 am
Keep the comments flowing folks! This Cranky post is a success and on its way for most comments ever. Battling it out East vs West. With a court case just announced its gonna get ugly. US Airways vs USAPA Round one fight!
JD says:
Jul 30, 2011 at 8:44 am
I have flown US Airways for numerous years, and am sure I had been on many of the airplanes on the fumes list. Come to think of it, I remember occasions where I smelt something, not more than a short whiff. It is no worse than the exhaust from a car. I really don’t see how pilots and flight attendants could be disabled for life with any one encounter of “fume”. All of sudden they become experts, spouting complicated medical terms on their health conditions.
Where I am getting to is the USAPA had been feeding all these BS about toxic fumes, complicated medical terms, circulating list of affected airplanes, to their members, making it appear that fume events is a daily affair. That’s taking it too far.
I am quite sure that when, and if, USAPA gets what they want, the fumes will all of a sudden disappear totally.
Jul 30, 2011 at 11:52 am
Actually the Toxic Fumes have been reported mostly by Flight Attendants. It’s actually not an uncommon problem with any of the fleet flown and most airlines have incidents. Are these exaggerated due to union issues? We will never really know. The person who feeds me the info is a F/A, they have yet to be wrong.
Jul 31, 2011 at 1:22 pm
Robert Johnson – Obviously your a US flight attendant. A very disgruntled one at that. I think it’s time you try and find a new career.
Jul 31, 2011 at 1:54 pm
1. Not a F/A, been a Dividend Miles Member since 1996, 9 years as Chairman’s Preferred.
Worst thing ever happened to me is I got a peak inside of US due to my involvement with FFOCUS and the view isn’t pretty. Biggest mistake of my life as now I’m a bit of a Aviation junkie and I garnered a small reputation with the employees as someone who would fearlessly speak out on their behalf.
While I’m on here, I’ve been trying to back into this number of $400 Million and I can’t get there. Fuel and Labor are an airlines biggest cost. The A330 burns 60lbs/min. Using a conservative 30lbs/min for the entire fleet, and 2000 minutes/day, the increased burn would obviously be 60,000 lbs. 60,000lbs=9,000gallons, so at a spot price of $3.xx, you have an increase of $27,000/day or $189,000/week or $810,000/30 day month or $9,855,000/year. This number assumes that EVERY Airframe in the mainline fleet is doing a slower taxi every day by an average of one minute. Just slow enough to alter the DOT stats. So triple this number and throw on another 30 million for labor and that still leaves $340 million in unaccounted for “damages”. Somebody is fiddling with the numbers IMO, just not sure who. In the end a judge will decide. I learned a long time ago not to believe a thing that comes out of DP and SK’s mouth. So let’s bring on the judge.
Mark says:
Jul 31, 2011 at 2:36 pm
First, where are you getting this $400M figure from? The complaint is asking for an injunction, not damages. I have heard of the $400M figure, but it came from an airline forum dominated by US Airways east pilots. What I did read in the complaint is that this illegal job action is costing US Airways about $377,000/day.
Second, while you may be exactly who you say you are, I wonder about your objectivity. You appear to be regurgitating the same, vague, unsubstantiated allegations about Doug Parker/Scott Kirby that Usapa does, yet you have not put Usapa under any scrutiny. I visited your website and it’s the same thing, primarily focused on US Airways operations and there supposed safety problems. The complaint filed by US Airways alleges very specific acts committed by the east pilots, backed up by a mountain of data and various Usapa communications. I would think that might lead you to investigate the other side of the story.
Jul 31, 2011 at 4:30 pm
Don’t break your arm patting yourself on the back Bob. FFOCUS is a joke. Spend a career working for an airline, you’d have credibility. The fact is, the east coast folks are just permanently pissed off, nothing will make them happy and trying to make them happy would just result in bankruptcy. If this were any other industry, they would have to individually perform well to keep their job. They are in a union, so it protects the weak and the lazy. DP and SK saved this airline, the east will never accept that, so its time to get tough and fight back and let them know who is in charge. The east had their chance to work for an airline that makes money with good management, they decided to work against them. Bad move on their part.
Jul 30, 2011 at 12:04 pm
I hope the cause of these fumes can be found. I’ve seen them mentioned in other blogs and news stories. But I also believe it’s quite possible that some pilots are encouraging maintenance crews to improperly use toxic chemicals when they service the aircraft, thereby creating noxious fumes. Deliberate sabotage has been used by some in the past and is not outside the realm of possibility. I hope I’m wrong.
To me, all of this is probably the work of a small number of disgruntled and overly militant pilots who have gone overboard and taken things too far. If the airline can find out who the culprits are and assemble well founded evidence against them, they should be fired and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
To the extent management contributes to a lack of safety, it should be held accountable. Safety should be a top priority; after all, a crash that kills and injures a hundred people is not the kind of positive PR an airline needs. Not to mention it’s not good for encouraging increased patronage.
But safety can’t be an airline’s only priority. It does have to operate efficiently and make enough money to pay its people, give decent service, buy aircraft, pay its creditors and have some left over to provide a reasonable return to its owners. A liquidated airline is 100% safe. But what good is it to anyone?
Jul 31, 2011 at 1:12 pm
F/A’s have been hospitalized for up to two weeks as a result of the fumes. Later today or tomorrow I’m due to speak with a F/A who was hospitalized and hear what they have to say. Anything interesting, I’ll post. Don’t know if you noticed but I never identify anyone even by gender. US Airways has been monitoring the internet looking for employees who violate their Gestapo like rules. The reason people speak to me is they know US can’t touch me and I won’t “Out” them. Trust & Credibility go a long way in business and in life. To bad DP & SK missed that day in Sunday School
Aug 1, 2011 at 3:51 pm
Oh please, cut the baloney with words like “gestapo”. You lose any gravitas when you mouth off like that. You have a clear bias against US, and you let the “crazy” slip out when you post like this. If Parker told you the sun was shining at high noon on a cloudless day, you’d deny it.
Fact is, US management is doing a great job with some lousy people, bad attitudes and operations they inherited from the east. As for “fumes”, it sounds more like Induced Mass Psychogenic Illness (look it up) with a touch of drama queen and pissed off employee in the mix. You hate USAirways, that is obvious, but even worse, you seem to be trying to make a career out of it. Stick to what you know, because you don’t know the airline biz.
Jul 31, 2011 at 3:18 pm
@Mike, You are correct that I haven’t said much about USAPA here and I apologize to you for that. I long ago made up my mind about the leadership of that organization and frankly it isn’t a favorable one. The history of ALPA/USAPA has not IMO been friendly to the rank & file pilots and now they have exposed their members to the potential damage assessments should US prevail in their legal actions. That’s just bad strategy and even worse tactics in what will be a vain attempt to speed up the contract process. IIRC Their own attorney advised them against doing what is alleged.
The Railway Labor Act which regulates airline labor disputes has such an entanglement of rules that it virtually guarantees the employment of multiple attorneys on both sides.
I do fault DP & SK because in the beginning they had a golden opportunity to settle this before it started. WN/FL, NW/DL & CO/UA have gone far smoother in terms of seniority integration and that’s partly due to those carriers learning what not to do from US Airways. So while USAPA can rightfully be blamed, the sad part is there is plenty of blame for all involved parties.
I’ve spoken to several employees and the word is, “It’s Gonna get uglier than it already is” Take it for what it’s worth.
Nicholas Barnard says:
Jul 31, 2011 at 4:06 pm
I can’t see the logic is faulting DP & SK for the ALPA/USAPA’s fracas. When this started both pilot groups were part of ALPA which has a defined process for merging two pilot’s groups from different carriers. One side just decided not to follow that defined process.
If I were in the management position I’d figure that the pilots would logically and rationally apply their union’s process and get on with it.. Getting involved inside a union’s internal processes shouldn’t be management’s problem, although it now is because of the USAPA’s wildcat tactics.
Mark says:
Jul 31, 2011 at 4:21 pm
Doug Parker was warned before the merger was complete, that he shouldn’t assume that saving the east pilots from unemployment would somehow endear him to them. He ignored that advice and is now finally having to face up to it. I agree, that much of what is happening could have been nipped in the bud before ALPA left the property and in regard to the Nicalou award. He should have taken a far stronger stand on the company’s acceptance of the award (absolutely required via the transition agreement between the 3 parties). Instead, I believe he took advantage of having a split pilot group, which has allowed US Airways to have the lowest labor costs of any major airline. That might make immediate business sense (saving’s of $120M/year just for the pilots alone), but it also allowed the east pilots to so far avoid their previous agreements regarding the binding arbitration and created the monster known as Usapa, an organization whose primary purpose was to impose their will upon the west pilots and management. I don’t know if the merger was really a good idea or not, but it did save the old, rotting US Airways (and their employees) from extinction. And despite a series of economic crisis’s, the new airline is a pretty good success.
From a passenger point of view, I would imagine this illegal work action and turmoil it is creating is far worse than the usual passenger complaints about food, paying for coke, surly gate agents, etc. On time performance, baggage handling, ticket prices and a reputation for safety are no doubt the top concerns of passengers. And in that regard, Doug Parker and crew have delivered. Usapa knows this and is trying to ruin LCC’s reputation in an attempt to force the company to relent on changing the seniority list accepted by the company, along with quickly cementing that with a new contract (in a hope of making the west pilot’s denial of fair representation lawsuit that much harder) . LCC has refused to play along, and instead has finally gone to court to clarify their obligations under the transition agreement.
Another problem with Usapa’s illegal work action, is their use of the “safety card” in an attempt to further pressure LCC, in that it makes legitimate safety issues, like toxic fumes on some aircraft, highly suspect.
Jul 31, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Maybe US Airways should emulate Delta and buy out the older pilots and other employees. The best thing for all parties this dispute is to get rid of the disgruntled old fogies and let everyone get on with their lives and business.
The days of regulation and artificially high fares and high wages is long gone. People now vote with their wallets; and ultra low fare carriers like Spirit and Allegiant who offer cattle car service and charge fees for virtually everything are far more profitable then legacy carriers who offer more amenities.
Southwest has also been growing for years and eroding legacy market share. It doesn’t have first class, food or power at every seat, etc. But it’s consistently profitable. Why ? low costs. Why are Southwest’s costs low? Productivity. Costs entail more than wages and benefits. Much of what drives cost are work rules and asset utilization. Southwest is legendary for its asset utilization.
The “old” US Airways went bankrupt twice and was almost liquidated because of its high costs. The “new” US Airways, with its lower costs, is at least marginally profitable on a reasonably consistent basis.
I almost get the sense that some in USAPA wish to drive US Airways into bankruptcy. It doesn’t seem to understand the idea that a profitable company is good for labor, too. Can unions be useful to counterbalance potential management excess? You bet. But until airline unions and their work rules come into the 21st century, airlines will continue to struggle financially.
As I wrote above, a liquidated airline has a 100% safety record. It’s never late. It never loses luggage. It doesn’t charge fees. Eastern, Pan Am and Braniff have perfect safety and on time performance records in the years since they went out of business. Of course they haven’t carried a passenger or paid one dollar in wages either.
Jul 31, 2011 at 8:07 pm
Agree with most of the post. However the current CASM at the “New US Airways” is among the very highest in the industry even when adjusted for stage length and fuel.
Mark says:
Aug 1, 2011 at 8:14 am
True, but the old US Airways had the same problem, maybe even worse (two bankruptcies in just a couple of years). The old AWA had near the lowest CASM’s until the merger, where both sides were averaged. This is why US Airways closed down the LAS base, which was profitable when AWA had their base there, but when they combined the east CASM into the mix, it then became unprofitable. It’s a shame, as the AWA was very competitive against SWA in almost every market, including LAS.
Barry says:
Aug 20, 2011 at 10:27 pm
Your version of reality is something else. US Airways closed down the LAS base because there is no money there. It is an entirely leisure market!
What is your reasoning for all the red ink the casinos are generating? Just because something was great when everyone in the country was spending like drunken sailors doesn’t mean it stays that way forever.
Mark says:
Aug 22, 2011 at 2:34 pm
Typical of a east usapa supporter, just emotion and no facts. US Airways (AAA) had and and has a very high CASM due to it’s NE based routes. That’s just the way it is and was. America West had a low CASM due to not having to operate all it’s flights in the NE (and other reasons). Yes, Las Vegas was hurting in 2008 due to the economy, no one disputes that, but there is also no disputing the very high CASM for the east based operation, and how that effected the overall combined CASM, which made a LAS based unprofitable. You might want to ask yourself why LCC closed LGA and PIT.
Aug 22, 2011 at 4:25 pm
In reality, the Las Vegas hub closed because profitability declined for a couple reasons. A large part of that was plummeting revenues after the housing bubble collapse and subsequent recession. Of course, any CASM creep will also impact profitability. In the end, that’s why it closed, and it had little to do with the merger.
Old US Airways costs had been significantly brought down in bankruptcy – that’s the only reason that America West was willing to take on such a massive gamble. Bankruptcy provided the key to getting a halfway decent cost structure.
Mark says:
Aug 22, 2011 at 4:33 pm
However you want to look at it, LCC’s CASM is higher than AWA’s. When you have aircraft sitting in taxi lines for extended times due to a high concentration of traffic, and/or nasty NE weather, your CASM will just be naturally higher. And that’s just one variable as to why.
Ken says:
Aug 22, 2011 at 4:44 pm
The other big factor was the spike in fuel. The LAS night system was inherently low-yield utilization flying. When fuel went up, those routes went cash-negative fast.
I’m not sure I understand this East v. West CASM debate. Neither carrier would be reporting CASM numbers today if there wasn’t a merger.
Aug 22, 2011 at 4:49 pm
Agreed, Ken. Fuel spikes were the big part of that CASM creep that killed one side of the equation. Combine that with the plunge in demand on the other side of the equation and it was ugly. With the expectation that fuel would stay high on a prolonged basis and uncertainty on the demand side, it probably made a lot of sense to shut down Vegas.
Aug 1, 2011 at 10:41 am
I’ve seen various analyses. Most have US Airway’s costs somewhere in between UA, CO, AA’s and WN’s. A recent analysis by Barclays (on CAPA, I believe) re: Spirit showed that, too. In fact based on that analysis and others I’ve seen, US’s costs are in roughly line with AS and HA’s. So, with all due respect, I believe your information is factually incorrect. But if that’s what you want to believe (and I think you want to believe only the worst about US), be my guest. The information I’ve seen from multiple sources paints a very different picture from yours.
Based on your previous posts, I believe you (and FFOCUS, too) ultimately want to see US Airways liquidated. You appear to hate Parker personally and that has clouded your judgment, in my opinion (and you know what Clint Eastwood said about opinions). I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for a US Airways liquidation, however. I’d give AMR a better (although rather low) chance. By the way, I sincerely hope I’m wrong about your motives.
If you live in PHL, you can always take Amtrak to EWR and connect to United there if you want to avoid US as much as you say you do. EWR is only about 85-90 miles from 30th Street Station in PHL if I remember correctly. UA (more precisely, CO) and Amtrak code share at EWR (as an aside, I wish there were more such air to surface transportation arrangements, but I digress … ). Which carrier(s) you choose to use is your business, of course.
I’ve had nothing but reasonably good service from US Airways. Has US been perfect? No. But I don’t expect perfection either. Has US been as bad as you insinuate? Not even remotely close.
Aug 1, 2011 at 11:52 am
An EXCELLENT Source for information regarding an airline is a website for the Airline Data Project which is funded by MIT. An institution that I think would to be an independent and reliable source. They break the data down so many ways you can easily get a very good snapshot of any US airline you choose. US Airways has the 2nd highest CASM (ex-Transport) of any carrier. Now they’re all pretty close. If you look at CASM (Ex-Fuel) US has the highest cost of any domestic carrier with a 12.70 Cents CASM. Next closest is UA at 11.47 cents.
On the employee productivity side defined as Total ASMs Produced per Employee Equivalent US ranks DEAD LAST of ALL carriers.
The real challenge is when you look at the true LCC’s and their cost advantage over any legacy carrier. Since 2008 US has lowered its CASM nearly 2 cents, however Southwest still has a 4.93 cents LOWER CASM and when they want to they can beat US like a red headed stepchild. Old HP& New US compete by picking and choosing very carefully where to go head to head which is why LAS has de-hubbed. The guy who should get the credit for whatever success US has had is Andrew Nocella who was with both companies prior to the merger and IMO is the reason we’re still here discussing US. He’s very clever when it comes to Revenue Management and I firmly believe there wouldn’t be an HP, US or the merged entity if not for him. You look in any any company and you have the figureheads like DP & SK. Then dig a little deeper and you’ll find who is really doing the heavy lifting.
Aug 1, 2011 at 12:09 pm
I’ve been happy to sit on the sidelines and watch people go back and forth, but I absolutely have to step in here. You are misusing those CASM numbers to get the result you want, and that’s why you see what you see. CASM is highly dependent upon length of haul, and US Airways will always have a much lower length of haul than other major airlines due to its limited international route network. For example, for the full year of 2010, US Airways mainline had an average length of haul of 981 miles while United mainline was 1,789 miles. CASM goes down with longer flights, so adjusting for stage length you will see that US Airways has a much lower CASM.
Mark says:
Aug 1, 2011 at 11:53 am
@DesertGhost. I absolutely do NOT want US Airways to liquidate or suffer through a bankruptcy. And I’m pretty sure no where have I suggested that. In fact, above I stated that Doug Parker has delivered in regards to creating a new airline that is doing a good job, and that it is a pretty good success. And no where do I state my personal feelings about Doug Parker, mainly because it has nothing to do with the discussion.
As far as CASM, I dont’ know how it stacks up today, but I do remember what it was when they compared AWA to AAA. If it is now competitive, I think it’s mainly due to the artificially low labor costs. That will change sometime in the future, depending on how fast Usapa collapses.
Oops! My comment was aimed at “RobertJohnson” not you. I probably pushed the wrong “reply” button.
——————-
I hope all of this can be resolved in an adult manner, but the prospects don’t look too good.
——————–
To reitterate what I wrote to “Robert” I hope I’m wrong.
——————–
To CF, the CASM debate reminds me of Mark Twain’s old bromide, “There are three kinds of lies; lies, dam*ed lies and statistics.” Most of the analyses I’ve seen are stage length adjusted. As is true of many things (sports comes immediately to mind) statistics don’t always tell the whole story. That’s why I’m not a fantasy football fan, but I’m getting way off topic.
John Taylor says:
Aug 1, 2011 at 7:27 am
Speaking from my perspective as a British airline Captain…. It does not matter now if US Airways were right or wrong to remove their Captain from the flight… they wanted to send out a message to the union and they have succeeded. What the FAA says about MEL defects being compliant or not is all so much political BS. US Airways have now ensured that every Captain will remain silent when faced with a critical unservicability and that he will accept the aircraft regardless of the associated peril. Just go away and think about that for a while…..
There are simply some people in life whose judgement you have to put your trust in, as much as you might not like being in control… it is unfortunately true.
Mark says:
Aug 1, 2011 at 8:09 am
Unfortunately, there is much more to the story. She refused the aircraft, which falls under her captain’s authority. But the reason she was removed from the airport was because she made some very inappropriate announcements to the passengers regarding her opinion of how safe the airline was. She made an announcement on the aircraft, then later in the boarding area. She was not removed because she refused to fly. What makes this even worse is that Usapa is engaged in an illegal job action and the company has been watching everyone (east based, since that is the pilot group involved). Since Usapa chose to make safety a political issue in negotiations, they have themselves eroded the captain’s authority.
Aug 1, 2011 at 4:17 pm
The comments “she made to the pax” is simply a lie. My source said that “NEVER HAPPENED”. It was a story made up by the management person that was in charge that night.
Yes the East pilots are fed up. Are you aware the the West pilots are paid 16,000 dollars more per year; receive 10 days more vacation per year; better sick leave benefits and much more.
One senior (30 years plus) Airbus 330 International Captain earns almost 100,000 dollars a year less than their child who has been flying for Southwest for only seven years as a copilot. They have given over 50% of their pay to keep the airline afloat and 6 years is way to long for Parker to keep this disparity. The have’s and the have not’s will always be the source of this discontent. No matter how you see it manifested, that is the root of all of this.
The East pilot learned from the Northwest Pilot from a few summers ago. No over time, no extra anything. Northwest pilots then received a much better working agreement and the airline has awaiting line of pilots looking for overtime. Win Win.. Can “Parker hear the pilots now”.
Its your fault you are on LOA93. Accept the nic and then you can start working on a contract. Nic is not going away. You already forfeited years worth of better pay by trying to get DOH. The east settled for LOA93, not the company’s fault, its your fault. You could have had a contract long ago if you had just lived up to your binding arbitration promise.
Mark says:
Aug 1, 2011 at 6:19 pm
@vailskier: If you really believe she was removed from the airport for only refusing to fly an airplane, you will believe anything.
Aug 1, 2011 at 1:02 pm
According to MIT’s Airline data project US stage length is 1,447 versus 972 for US. Interestingly enough the Industry’s most consistently profitable airlin had and average stage length of 636 miles.
Average Stage Length Flown of Total Large Narrowbody Fleet, US has the second longest stage length losing to CO by 3 miles.
When you look at Stage length adjusted CESM, US leads the pack with the lowest cost for a legacy. They are also #1 in ancillary fees in raw dollar terms beating out significantly larger carriers.
I used this chart, System Total Expense (Excluding Fuel) per Available Seat Mile (CASM ex fuel) as this is the one you normally see published and sadly US doesn’t fare well as I noted. If stage length were so critical then the airlines with the shortest stage length would have the highest CASM which is not always the case. The Arline Data Project has more charts, graphs and information regarding airlines then I have ever seen in one place. It’s mind numbing and right now I know first hand!! LOL
Aug 1, 2011 at 2:28 pm
The numbers I used were directly from the airline SEC filings. They can vary depending upon what time period you use, but the results are effectively the same. On a systemwide mainline basis, US Airways has a significantly lower CASM.
Interestingly enough the Industry’s most consistently profitable airlin had and average stage length of 636 miles.
That’s really irrelevant. Profit is a function of RASM minus CASM, and RASM also tends to be higher for shorter haul flights. The fact that Southwest may have a shorter stage means nothing.
If stage length were so critical then the airlines with the shortest stage length would have the highest CASM which is not always the case.
Oh boy. There’s nothing scarier than a little bit of knowledge being stretched into something completely incorrect. Stage length is not the only input into CASM, but it’s essential that you calculate for its impact. Labor costs, fuel costs, other expenses, etc all make up the basic CASM number, and every airline has different rates for each. So would the airline with the lowest stage length automatically have the highest CASM? Of course not. The point is that you need to adjust for stage length so that you can then see how airlines differ on a level playing field. Even that’s not perfectly level. United uses a less dense configuration on its airplanes so CASM is naturally higher there as well. The point is to make up for it with higher RASM.
In the end, US Airways has a significantly lower CASM than the other airlines and that’s because its hubs aren’t able to produce as high of a RASM as other legacy airline hubs. The profit is there because it doesn’t have the high costs of the other legacies. Do not do this kind of analysis without adjusting for stage length or it will be incredibly inaccurate.
Aug 1, 2011 at 3:55 pm
Not according to Scott Kirby, the carrier’s president suggested add-on “ancillary” fees will account for all of the company’s profit in 2010. This is from USA Today. So based on Mr Kirby it would seem that regardless of Stage length adjusted CASM or standard CASM ex fuel, US Airways can’t run a tight enough ship to make a profit without fees.
So the open question is how much money would be saved/made operationally with an integrated pilot work force?
Aug 1, 2011 at 4:12 pm
US Airways and most other airlines consider fees to be an integral part of their revenue strategies. The thought that any airline could be profitable with a barrel of oil costing near $100 is nothing short of miraculous. Having fees is part of the way that airlines are making up for that cost disadvantage, and it works.
So the open question is how much money would be saved/made operationally with an integrated pilot work force?
It’s probably less than you think. Sure costs can be lowered by having a single pilot group, but wages will go up when that happens. The reality is that the airline is almost entirely integrated with the exception of pilots and flight attendants, so the savings are really in crew scheduling with more efficient routings and minor functional duplication.
But you continue to try to put this on management when in fact the problem lies within the pilot group itself. The group will be one as soon as they agree upon a seniority integration. Not management’s fault.
(Also, I never responded to this earlier, but your assertion that the CO/UA pilot integration is going well is completely wrong. It’s been awful and may get much worse.)
Speaking of MIT, I would love to read William Swelbar’s take on this whole mess.
Aug 1, 2011 at 2:41 pm
All I did was grab stuff off an MIT website. All of the RASM/CASM numbers for US are skewed IMO due to the impasse with the pilots. I’m no airline exec but no one can tell me that a fully integrated airline would not have lower cost and better opportunities to enhance RASM.
Aug 1, 2011 at 5:13 pm
Not necessarily. A few US Airways earnings calls have included management’s opinion on the net effects of a new contract with all of the synergies and pay raises (the ones offered by US) taken into consideration. Labor costs overall will be higher by a few million dollars (I don’t remember the figure off the top of my head) when the raises go into effect and the operational benefits. Parker and Kirby have been very consistent and up front about this. USAPA is harming its members by its actions.
Have we set a record for comments, yet?
Aug 1, 2011 at 5:24 pm
I only addressed costs in the last post. I’m no expert but I guess (and that’s all it is) that higher utilization could help increase RASM. That is part of the equation. But the bottom line is this; it’s way past time to get this whole thing resolved.
Aug 1, 2011 at 6:39 pm
Nope. The record is WAY higher at 306 as of today:
Mark says:
Aug 1, 2011 at 9:25 pm
The so-called “Kirby proposal” was offered sometime around May 2007. It would increase pilot labor costs by $120M. If not for the east pilots leaving joint contract negotiations shortly thereafter, an even more expensive contract would have been obtained.
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Celebrating Female Empowerment on International Women's Day - March 9th - startGBC - Your gateway to entrepreneurship at George Brown College
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Celebrating Female Empowerment on International Women’s Day – March 9th
February 25, 2019 by startGBC
Featured:
Christine Tizzard, Owner and Cookbook Writer
Happy International Women’s Day! George Brown would like to give recognition to three amazing alumni on their achievements as a female entrepreneur. Read more to learn about their business, challenges they’ve encountered, the importance of following their calling and solid advice to budding entrepreneurs!
Owner and Cookbook Writer
What business do you own/service do you offer?
I am food stylist and food writer/recipe developer. I am also presently working on my second cookbook with Appetite at Penguin Random House.
I am self-employed. Working for yourself means that you play many hats and you have to be very versatile. My chef training at George Brown has been an amazing asset. Even though I am not working as a chef in a restaurant, I work with food everyday, in a multitude of capacities. I had the opportunity to host a cooking show for 2 seasons on CBC called Best Recipes Ever. I also am a brand ambassador, host food events, and blog about food. My website/blog/social media are a large component when booking jobs as well. So services range from simple recipe development and making food look pretty/food styling to writing foodie articles/blogs to YouTube cooking videos, and then trying to find time to work on my own cookbook.
Since I wear many hats I have a few different agencies that represent me for certain aspects of my business. One is for food styling, one for TV, and another for writing.
What were some of the challenges you faced?
Working freelance is a hustle and there is a stress involved when you just don’t know where your next paycheck is going to come from. Trying to plan ahead for anything is always difficult since you take the jobs as they come in, and it is hard for me to say no to work. So that being said, organizing my time efficiently is my biggest challenge. One thing I have learned is to always have a few things on the side that you are working towards. For example, my YouTube channel is something I started on my own last year. It’s in my back pocket, lets say for when food styling slows down.
Why do you think it is important for women to follow their calling?
This is a doozy of a question. I am not going to get too deep into all this but I was married, I have 2 kids, and it is hard juggling a family and work. That’s like 3 jobs in one! It is hard to put yourself out there when you feel are pulled in so many directions. However, you have to keep your sense of self, whatever that may be. Never put yourself in a position where you loose yourself and have nothing to fall back on or become so dependent on someone else, you feel you cannot leave. Life doesn’t always work out how you planned it, there will be some huge twists and turns and on top of all that… we only live once. Why not make YOU as good as you can be.
What advice would you like to share with women who want to start their own business?
Know your strengths and weakness and don’t be afraid to ask for help, reach out and make connections. Also have a few good people around you that will make you better, accountable, and dust you off when you fall. Make a list and start checking it off.
Which women do you look up to the most and why?
I know this may sound odd, but I seem to look up to characters rather than people. I like to look up to what they represent in my mind. Like for instance, there are times I tell myself, in certain situations, what would so and so do. This could be from a book I am reading, a talk I just went to, or someone I met while travelling. However, Julia Child kicked butt.
What business do you own/service do you offer?
I own ŪNIKA SWIM which is a custom swimwear line that caters to women of all shapes, ages, and sizes. We work with AAA-J cup, along with tops to accommodate with surgical procedures. We custom fit your suit with over 200+ options to pick from along with 150+ fabric options. We also run an e-commerce line that ships worldwide.
What were some of the challenges you faced?
Running a business is very expensive, you spend a lot of money to make money. Start up capital was my main concern and issue. Approaching many banks as a start up company was extremely frustrating, but I was fortunate to work a job in hospitality that allowed me to focus on my business during the day and use my tips to fund my company, along with having a great support system that had my back when I needed it most. Another challenge was the transition into the entrepreneur life. Being alone and working late days with many early mornings was something that I had to get used to. It’s a lot of sacrifice but its so amazing to watch the fruits of your labour.
Why do you think it is important for women to follow their calling?
I think that when you love what you do it shows in your work. Something I learned to do was to remember not to sacrifice my happiness to satisfy someone else’s needs. People think that I just make swimwear, but its more than that – we make women feel great in the skin their in.
What advice would you like to share with women who want to start their own business?
Do your homework. Go and work for something else, study women that inspire you. Surround yourself with people who are better than you. Work for someone else, make mistakes, take constructive criticism and use it to grow. Continue stimulating your brain, and learning new things. Take courses, never stop learning. Research whats already out there and figure out how to differentiate yourself. Women are so used to doing things on our own that asking for help has become a sign of “weakness” learn to ask for help when you need it most.
Which women do you look up to the most and why?
There aren’t any specific women that inspire me, although I do feel the most inspired by women that have made it from the bottom up. Conna Walker is a great example of that. Another female entrepreneur that started her company at the age of 17 by borrowing £3000 from her dad. She went from selling wholesale pieces on ebay to building an empire with over 50 locations worldwide. Now featured in forbes her company is expected to do over £9million in revenue this year.
Graphic Design, 2018
What business do you own/service do you offer?
I am the founder of female powered creative agency UNSGND. We’re focused on building brands for small businesses, recording artists and community initiatives while providing opportunities for young women of colour to work in design and tech. We work on developing brand strategies, create logos, websites, printed merch and much more.
What were some of the challenges you faced?
As a business owner, I face challenges every day, from equipment falling apart in the middle of a project, to realizing I have to pay payroll taxes, but one of my biggest challenges was making the decision to work on business full time. When starting UNSGND, I decided to quit my job and go to school full time while running the business. I was 19 and had no choice but to make the business operations profitable in order to be sure I could pay for school and my day to day expenses. I had to learn how to manage my time immaculately as the only staff at UNSGND, answering emails in class and juggling client deadlines with school deadlines.
Why do you think it is important for women to follow their calling?
I think it’s extremely important for women to follow their calling because we’re often told not to by society, and even ourselves. There are a lot of industries that are still male dominated, and that can be discouraging for young women to even want to attempt to step into these career path. It’s important for women to push through and follow our calling in industries that traditionally weren’t open to us so that we can set the new norm and inspire other young women to do the same.
What advice would you like to share with women who want to start their own business?
Build a solid support and mentorship system of people that can hold you accountable. Dedicate time to understanding and building a strong business plan, even if you’re not looking into funding, because this will be your blueprint to navigating your business and create systems that will allow your business to grow. And lastly, understand how to balance your emotional and logical sides when making business decisions.
Which women do you look up to the most and why?
I’m grateful that I have a strong support system of strong women in my life like my mother, friends who are making strides in their industries and mentors. One woman I definitely look up to the most is my best friend and mentor Kiana ‘rookz’ Eastmond, who is making impact in Canada’s music and non profit industry as founder of Sandbox Studios and Executive Director of Manifesto. Working alongside her everyday for years and understanding the immense work and dedication she puts into her businesses and impacting other people inspires me to push harder.
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When we think of heroism during the Civil War, we most often think of brave feats on the battlefield. Or perhaps even the work of doctors and nurses in field hospitals dealing with the immediate trauma of war. But what happens to the wounded man when he is sent homeward? Or the soldier suffering illness who is left behind when his regiment marches off? Or what of a thousand men in camp, desperately in need of food and supplies because of some deficiency with the Quartermaster’s Department?
Soldiers temporarily separated or honorably discharged from their units choked Union supply bases and Washington City during the Civil War. They were often destitute, neglected, starving and wholly without the means, physical or financial, to get back to their units or get home. And those officers leading new regiments to the front often found themselves woefully unprepared to handle the task of caring for those under their command. This side of Civil War history, those tribulations unrelated to the battlefield or even to camp life but unique to the wandering soldier, can all too easily fade off to the periphery of our attention.
Frederick Newman Knapp was a key player in the United States Sanitary Commission and a figure who ought to hold a more prominent role in Civil War history. His efforts to relieve the suffering of literally thousands of sick, hungry, and wounded soldiers were indeed heroic but all behind the scenes, involving supply trains and soldiers’ relief stations. As one eulogist wrote after Knapp’s death, “If the good done by Mr. Knapp in this way were known, the news of his death would lead Congress to adjourn and the bells would toll throughout the land.” Another colleague referred to him as a “Minuteman of God.”[1]
Knapp was born in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts in 1821 to Jacob and Louisa Bellows Knapp. His father was a minister in Boston, but the family soon removed to Walpole, New Hampshire where Knapp spent much of his youth. The stunning house that belonged to the family still stands there. Knapp graduated Harvard College in 1843 and then Harvard Divinity School in 1847.
He was seated as the junior pastor at the First Parish Church in Brookline in 1847 and, in 1849, would become the successor to Rev. John Pierce who had held that pulpit for so very long. He was energetic in his post in Brookline, overseeing the construction of the congregation’s third meeting house. His flock held him in high esteem, especially those of a younger generation who were moved by his more liberal and emotional preaching. “His sermons,” wrote a later Brookline pastor, “like his life, were natural outpourings of a fresh, loving, spiritual nature.”[2]
Around 1853, Knapp introduced himself to a new school teacher in Brookline, Lucia Alden Bradford. About 20 years old at the time, 13 years younger than Knapp, she was intelligent and capable. Her father, Rev. Claudius Bradford, was a fiery antislavery activist who, in 1851, had delivered a sermon in Bridgewater, Massachusetts against the Fugitive Slave Law that was so scathing, it cost him his pulpit there. Lucia’s mother was Maria Bradford, daughter of a Duxbury, Massachusetts sea captain who had brought his four daughters up to be well-read, progressive and hardy. (Two of the captain’s daughters, Lucia’s aunts, would become nurses for the Sanitary Commission). Frederick and Lucia were a well-suited pair. They were married in Montague, Massachusetts (where Lucia’s father had found a pulpit) on May 9, 1855.
Sadly, an accident cut short Knapp’s pastorate in Brookline. In July 1854, he severely struck his knee on the door of an omnibus which caused tremendous inflammation and he was restricted to bed. His condition grew worse when he contracted a pulmonary ailment and he was forced to resign. Knapp and his wife moved to his father’s house in Walpole, New Hampshire where Knapp slowly recovered.[3]
Shortly after the Civil War erupted in 1861, Knapp (now fully recovered) was drawn into the service of a new and revolutionary organization: the United States Sanitary Commission. The USSC would take on an unprecedented relief agenda including the distribution of supplies, food and medicine to soldiers, the outfitting of hospital ships, soldiers’ homes and relief lodges, the mounting of tremendous fairs back at the home front to raise funds, among many other undertakings. Rev. Henry Whitney Bellows (a Boston native, pastor of the First Congregational Church in New York…and Frederick Newman Knapp’s first cousin) traveled with others to Washington shortly after the start of the war to argue for the creation of the USSC. They were successful and the organization was established on June 18, 1861.
Bellows became the Sanitary Commission’s president. He recruited Frederick Law Olmsted, the well-known landscape architect who was in the process of building New York’s Central Park, to become Executive Secretary. Olmsted’s impressive administrative skills would be needed to handle the operations of such a far-reaching organization. Bellows also reached out to his cousin, Frederick Newman Knapp, and recruited him to become an agent for the USSC.
Knapp plunged into the work eagerly. He possessed a character uniquely suited to the work. As a minister in Brookline, he had already exhibited, “the kind of goodness that the earth needs…his sympathy with all sorts of sorrow and misfortune was remarkable. No one could suffer within his reach…but he was there with his compassion and whatever help was possible.”[4]
On the whole, the USSC dealt in the business of prevention, to see that suffering was avoided. It was, sadly, inevitable that soldiers would find themselves in deplorable conditions, sick and wounded left to their own devices, and terrible misery resulted. Therefore, the USSC soon realized that relief would necessarily become as important as their preventative measures.
This fact was brought home to Knapp early in his career with the USSC. On August 9, 1861, while in Washington City, he was working to help soldiers at a key point of arrival, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Depot just north of the Capitol. In a set of idle cars, he found 36 men from an Indiana regiment who were too ill to move. Their regiment had arrived in Washington, disembarked and marched off, leaving behind those who were too weak to walk. The men had been in the cars for 24 hours with nothing but a few crackers to eat. The army at that time really had no way to deal with this sort of situation. The regimental surgeon was all but helpless as he tried in vain to convince various officials at army hospitals to come to their aid. But the army surgeons had more urgent problems.[5]
Knapp immediately went into action. He begged from a nearby boarding house two pails of tea and plenty of soft bread and butter. The next day, he found 30 more men from another regiment abandoned at the station. He somehow found a way to get a meal to them.
So began Knapp’s service as head of the Special Relief Service of the USSC. He would also (albeit briefly) serve as Associate Secretary of the USSC, essentially third-in-charge of the organization. Knapp would exhibit a staggering knack for begging, borrowing and probably even stealing food and supplies to help thousands upon thousands of men.
More on this different sort of Civil War hero to come…
[2] William Henry Lyon, Frederick Newman Knapp: Sixth Minister of the First Parish in Brookline, 1847-1855, p. 6-7
[5] Charles J. Stille, History of the United States Sanitary Commission, p. 290
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The state tops the list, with 11.7 athletes per million residents sent to the Summer Games and athletes competing a total of 17 times. Colorado, a landlocked state, comes as a surprising second, sending 11.3 athletes per 1 million persons. Similarly to the general trends explored in the last graph, California lands itself in fourth place, sending 9.five athletes per capita, but nonetheless possessing 337 situations of athletes competing.
In addition, Namibia’s Beatrice Masilingi finished sixth in a new personal best time of 22,28 seconds. Nambia has won 4 silver Olympic medals previously, all won by male sprinter Frankie Fredericks. How substantially pure gold is there in a winner’s medal and how considerably do they expense to make?
Baseball and softball round out the new additions, returning to the worldwide stage for the initially time because 2008. Track and field at the Tokyo Games helped fill the final 10 days of the Olympic schedule, and 5 years — in so numerous methods — was worth the wait. ” the president of the International Olympic Committee stated, to lukewarm applause. A single of the events featured at the Olympics from 1908 to 1924 was the running deer shooting. No live deer was involved in the competition, but the target was a piece of wood in the shape of a deer mounted on a cart on rails. The plan of the 1896 Olympic Games integrated categories of Men’s Army Rifles of 200 and 300 meters.
Skateboarding is 1 of the new sports joining the Olympics in Tokyo. 1 massive adjust for the 2020 Olympics is that the number of gymnasts in the group competitors is decreased from five to 4. Curling is one of these Olympic sports that just about anyone can attempt, but that doesn’t imply it’s straightforward. With speeds of 80 mph and higher, the sliding sports are amongst the quickest and most treacherous at the Winter Olympics. Russia spent upwards of $50 billion to host the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, then concocted the most elaborate doping scheme in history.
Representing Luxembourg, alum Charles Grethen placed 12th in the men’s 1,500. In the field, alum Keturah Orji finished seventh in the triple jump final and alum Morgann Leleux reached the pole vault final, but an injury kept her from clearing the initial height. With 59 medal events, which includes a totally integrated Para Sport programme, athletics will showcase feats of superhuman speed, strength, endurance and agility. With events ranging from ten seconds to two days in duration, there will be no shortage of memorable moments. Marion began Gymnastics at the age of three years old and developed a powerful passion for sports and acrobatics.
Meanwhile, ladies have been allowed to compete in speed skating for the 1st time. These Winter Games had been the very first Olympics held following Globe War II. The United States took the spotlight with its very first figure skating gold as the gravity-defying Dick Button landed the initial double axel in competitive history. Pierre de Coubertin organized the 1st Olympics in modern history at the tailend of the 19th century. Fourteen nations competed for gold, silver, and copper , and American Robert Garrett took initially location in the inaugural discus event. The concept gained reputation, nonetheless, when Russian dissident Andrei Sakharov named for a boycott in early January.
The way that two torches can be aligned to pass the flame is symbolic of a handshake of cooperation. China swelled with pride, and its social media swelled with comments, as Eileen Gu, an America-born freestyle skier who chose to compete for China, her mother’s native nation, became an international superstar. Her three medals — two gold, 1 silver — set a new record for her sport, and adulation for Gu literally broke the Chinese web at 1 point, briefly crashing the servers of Sina Weibo, the enormous Twitter-like network.
Scott had an exceptional career at UNC, top his group to the ACC Championship and two consecutive final 4 appearances. He played on the 1968 Olympic Group, and after graduation had a decade-extended professional profession – first he said with the now defunct ABA, then with a number of NBA teams such as the Celtics and the Lakers. Scott was and is a true pioneer, having paved the way for so numerous other athletes of colour, male and female.
Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee in 1894, leading to the very first modern Games in Athens in 1896. The IOC is the governing body of the Olympic Movement with the Olympic Charter defining its structure and authority. Watch reside action from your favourite sports, find out award-winning Original Films and Series and explore our 24/7 thematic linear channels. Login to interact with events, personalize your calendar, and get suggestions. Goalkeeper Adrianna Franch is the 1st women’s soccer Olympian from Kansas. Nine of the 18 players on the roster for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics have one hundred+ caps and every single outfield player on the roster has at least 24 caps.
The medals at the Tokyo Olympics are also special in the sense that they are comprised of medals collected from modest electronic devices. The city put the contact out to the public and received around 78,985 tons of made use of devices to support create 5,000 medals. The majority of ultra-wealthy men and women currently reside in the United States, but 2021 saw a staggering improve of 30,470 folks bring added to this exclusive ultra-wealthy category in the country.
Finding to Tokyo, Japan, will be as opposed to any other modern Summer season Olympics. The typical four-year cycle in between games was extended to 5 years for the reason that of the COVID-19 global pandemic. That implies a different year of grueling coaching and sacrifice to keep peak condition just for a shot at the qualifying rounds. Leading performers advantage from habits of thoughts that allow them to ‘put the blinders on’ and give laser-like attention to the task at hand. To be certain, competitors can fuel excellence—but star athletes know that anxiously darting their eyes toward their rivals will not assist them attain the finish line. © 2020 Bloomberg Finance LPAfter months of uncertainty, athletes from far more than 200 nations are finally gathering for the 2020 Summer time Olympics in Tokyo.
Simone Biles will be one particular of the biggest stars of the Tokyo Games, and the U.S. women’s gymnastics squad will be a heavy favourite to win gold at the Olympics. The men’s and women’s marathon are amongst the most anticipated events on the Olympic calendar. This was the very first Olympic Games that incorporated girls and the only time prior to 2016 in which women’s golf was featured.
This entry was posted in and tagged armed, article, brings, forces, marksman, medal, olympic, residence, short, states, united on 2022-10-21 by toto.kr.
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On November 8, 1923 Adolph Hitler led a march of hundreds of armed Nazi Party members, right-wing veterans and supporters in the German city of Munich in an attempted insurrection (putsch). They took leaders of the Bavarian state government captive and later took the city council hostage. Gathered in a large beer hall, Hitler convinced some government officials to support the uprising and whipped up a crowd of thousands. On November 9 they led a march of 2,000 through the streets while other Nazi units tried to seize government buildings. Some police and military units confronted the insurgents. In one shootout four police and 16 Nazis were killed. The Munich putsch fell apart. Hitler was captured and sentenced to five years for treason. After 9 months the Nazi chief was released. This wasn’t the end of the fascist threat, however, and only nine years later Hitler and his gang were able to seize power in Germany.
On January 6, 2021 President Donald Trump and his loyalists whipped up a crowd of thousands to march on the U.S. Capitol Building. Many were armed and their aim was to take control of the Capitol where the vote to certify the Electoral College vote affirming Joseph Biden’s victory over Trump in the November 3 election was taking place. This was Donald Trump’s “beer hall putsch.” It also failed, as did Hitler’s first efforts, but it must not be dismissed as an aberration or small thing.
The January 6 insurrectionists included many off duty police, military personnel and veterans and right-wing militia units. They had the secret backing of the Capitol Police leadership who sent under armed and understaffed units, leaving the Capitol easily overrun. Pentagon officials made sure the National Guard was delayed for hours despite desperate phone calls from congressional officials. FBI and Homeland Security higher ups, who monitor right wing groups and their communications made no effort to see that the Capitol was protected. Of course Trump, after announcing publicly that he would march with the crowd to the Capitol, in his typically cowardly fashion, hid out in his White House “Fuhrer Bunker” and sent messages of support to his minions.
It is quite certain that the plan was to seize some Congress members and Senators and murder others. The violent crowd beat police, killing at least one, all the while chanting “Hang [Vice-President] Mike Pence.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was another target whose life might have been taken. It is also certain that many right-wing Republican Senators and Representatives would have willingly joined and given a legal veneer to the insurrection if they hadn’t been rushed out into hiding by armed Capitol police. Later that day, when the insurrectionists had left the building and troops had secured the building, 8 Republican Senators and 139 Republican members of the House of Representatives still voted against certifying Biden’s electoral victory.
Hitler’s following was not just based on his personality and charisma. His movement was fueled by the economic hardships of Germany after its defeat in World War I and the reparations forced on that nation by the victorious allies. He also appealed to nationalism and mixed in a big dose of anti-Semitism to incite his followers. Those elements did not disappear after the Munich putsch, but deepened and festered. Failure of the huge left-wing movement and parties (Social Democrats and Communists) to solve the recurring economic crises allowed Nazism to grow. Also the socialists and communists refused to form a powerful united front to fight fascism and instead fought each other up to the day they were all marched off to concentration camps after January 31, 1933. Most importantly Hitler did not have the support of the broadest elements of the ruling class (bankers and industrialists) in 1924. But by 1933 the capitalist German ruling class had swung decisively behind him ensuring his victory.
Trump’s following is certainly not due to his great personality or charisma. As an individual he is a crude buffoon. But his following is based on the declining standard of living over decades that threatens the middle class and workers. The economic crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened this economic fear and instability. Welding the Trump base is virulent white supremacy. Racism has been the tool of the ruling class in the United States for centuries to keep the working class weak and divided. Trump has also tossed in anti-immigrant xenophobia, anti-Semitism, anti-LGBTQ+ bigotry, hostility to people with disabilities, anti-women prejudice, anti-Muslim sentiment and more. All of these hatreds have been exhibited at Trump rallies for more than four years and were evident at the January 6 uprising.
What was missing from Hitler’s platform was any program for economic salvation for the masses. The Nazis couldn’t advocate and promote what people needed because that would have meant taking on the German capitalist exploiters. It is said that Fascism is capitalism on steroids. The German ruling class needed union busting, low wages, long hours and imperialist war. So the Nazi program simply was designed to divert and confuse the suffering working class and the middle class. Destruction of unions, World War II and the holocaust death camps were the logical outcome of a Nazi victory.
To defeat Trump and his fascist base will require giving no quarter to white supremacy or any of the other prejudices. Defunding the police nationwide means shifting funds to community programs that benefit people instead of murdering and repressing them.
And it can only succeed if poor and working people see a strong economic program that reverses their suffering. It isn’t difficult to elaborate such a program. Even during the continuing COVID-19 crisis steps can be taken, such as a monthly income of perhaps $2,000 for all unemployed or those unable to work. A national free health care system that does away with the complexities that benefit health insurance companies and also includes low cost prescription drugs is essential.
Elimination of the burden of student debt needs to be enacted and vast investment in quality education – free from kindergarten through college. Immediate moratorium on evictions and foreclosures must secure people in their homes with rents pegged to ability to pay. An end to water insecurity – no shut offs and a national water affordability program. Massive investment is needed right now in water and other infrastructure programs. Immediate, serious programs must be implemented in environmental cleanup and attention to climate change.
A productive national jobs program at union wages and benefits that eliminates unemployment can give hope especially to our youth and ween them away from the racist and fascist recruiters.
Paying for this program can come from defunding and dismantling the Pentagon and ending the endless imperialist wars that only have benefited the Wall Street banks, corporations and military contractors.
Such a program cannot be proposed, let alone passed, by the Democratic Party. The majority of Democrats might favor one or another of the proposals but the party, as a whole, is financed and directed by Wall Street and the Pentagon. They will never allow their profits to seriously suffer to alleviate the suffering of the masses.
Only an independent mass progressive and militant movement can address the real needs of the country. Pulling together such a movement will be an enormously difficult but essential task in the coming years. The left must urgently take on the task of building unity. There is no alternative.
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Anti-fascism
trumpism
U.S. elections
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The struggle against Donald Trump
May 17, 2019 fwstaff Domestic News 2
By Chris Fry The president is an unabashed white supremacist. His racist policies are designed to roll back gains hard-won through incredible struggle. He travels the country spouting the vilest bigotry. His political “base” includes […]
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The People’s Forum in New York City attacked by the far-right
June 8, 2022 fwstaff Domestic News 0
By The People’s Forum For Immediate Release: The People’s Forum in New York City attacked by the far-right, enabled by the police Since our founding in 2018, our space, The People’s Forum (TPF) has been […]
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The Left, the Right and the Capitalist State
By David Sole The state, when talking about political entities, might be defined as “the supreme public power within a sovereign political entity” (The Free Dictionary by Farlex). V.I. Lenin, leader of the Russian Revolution […]
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“A few years ago, I found myself in an unthinkable situation. I was sitting on the tarmac on a 100 degree day in Dallas, waiting for my flight to take off.”
“I was sweating like I was in a sauna. My whole body was bloated, painfully bloated. It must have been some bad seafood at the restaurant or maybe it was the second giant mug of beer, I thought.
If only it had been that simple. I’d just had a heart attack at age thirty-five on an airplane with three hours of flying left to go! I’ll never forget coming out of surgery and the doctor looking down at me to tell me, “Young man, you are lucky to be alive.” On the outside I looked young and fit and healthy, but years of chewing tobacco and a diet that revolved around super-sized fast food meals had finally caught up with me. Next thing you know, I’m on 5 prescriptions, instructed to take it easy on the exercise and go vegan.
I followed my doctor’s’ orders religiously, but it wasn’t working. In fact, it was going horribly wrong. In less than a year I had gained 40 pounds. My cholesterol and blood pressure steadily ticked upwards at every checkup too. The doctors started using terms like “metabolic syndrome”, “fatty liver disease,” and scariest of all, “pre-diabetic.” Things really started to get hopeless for me. I stopped weighing myself, stopped looking in the mirror, and started giving up on a lot of things that used to matter to me. Eventually, donuts stopped being an occasional treat and simply became Tuesday night dinner. I just gave up.
That’s where CrossFit found me. At 38 years old, more than fifty pounds overweight, and desperate for something to turn the tide. And that’s when I found in San Jose, Neal Maddox and CrossFit X-treme Athletics. My first month at “the box” was brutal. Every workout was an ordeal to simply survive. I prayed that nobody would notice when I tripped over the jump rope or couldn’t pull my chin over the bar. But something magical happened at the end of every class. People would come over and high-five me for conquering the WOD. I became a part of the community. I was one of the Viking Gladiator Warriors who had just survived the battle.
Before long, I could knock out 30 pushups in a row, get my butt down in a full squat, and run a full mile without stopping. After a few months of hard work and a lot of progress, Neal asked me to take on the Maddox Method 12 Week Zone Diet Challenge. That’s when the real magic happened. I dropped 12 pounds in the first 2 weeks, and got into the zone of weighing my foods and balancing my macros. I relearned how to eat. My plates overflowed with veggies, and I was gaining strength while eating half the meat I was used to. I was no longer bloated and stuffed after eating. My whole digestive system finally became “regular.”
My workouts improved too. The inflammation in my joints just sort of vanished. I got my first pull-up without a band for assistance. And then I got 16 more that same day! I can now run 3 miles without stopping, and I get excited when I see which WOD I get to test myself with each day.
In 6 months at X-treme Athletics, I have lost more than 40 pounds. My cholesterol is down 81 points. I’m off all my medications. My blood pressure is normal, and I am no longer pre-diabetic. I turn 40 at the end of the year, and for the first time in my life, I will have visible abs! Most importantly, I will have my health, and a program and a community in San Jose that I can stick with indefinitely.”
“They do it right at X-treme Athletics. Neal & Tracy are extremely experienced in the art of CrossFit, what it takes to get to the next level and are willing to share their knowledge.”
“Workouts are structured an intense. The level of support and encouragement the coaches provide is priceless.”
Tru M
“Throughout my pregnancy the Maddox Method helped minimize the pregnancy strain on my body.”
“I didn’t experience any common pregnancy symptoms (back ache, swollen feet, exhaustion). I felt amazing, and was able to CrossFit up to the day I gave birth. I was back 6 weeks later to my normal routine!”
“I go to the gym 5 days a week now and really love the results I am getting from the workouts”
“12 weeks changed me. Thank you CrossFit X-treme Athletics. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Thanks to our regular workouts, I’ve noticed my endurance has increased and I’m running faster 5Ks.”
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The study of aging is incredibly important. Although it’s a process we all go through, the amount of research on aging is sorely lacking. Considering that the number of people in the United States over the age of 65 outnumbers the entire population of Canada, it’s obvious that need for research into the aging process is dire. Understanding the biology of aging doesn’t require a lab coat, but it does require knowledge of the jargon around the science. For the convenience of America’s senior population, here’s a helpful breakdown of all the facts and figures on aging seniors need to know.
Caloric restriction is an eating practice seniors might want to consider. However, always remember it’s crucial to discuss any potential diet changes with your doctor before engaging in them. However, knowing the language around caloric restriction can help you ask the right questions. Scientifically speaking, caloric restriction is described as “undernutrition without malnutrition” and is essentially eating 30-40% fewer calories while still maintaining nutrients and vitamins to support a healthy lifestyle. Preliminary results from studies conducted on monkeys demonstrates success in extending lifespans through caloric restriction. This has not been tested in humans yet, but the results in other organisms are promising. Still, it’s important to keep in mind that a calorie restricted diet makes mammals more susceptible to hypothermia and increases healing time for wounds.
Protein p53 is a tumor suppressor—meaning that it acts to combat the cell mutation that causes cancer. It occurs naturally in the body but is disrupted by damage to your DNA. The question of whether aging causes DNA damage or DNA damage causes aging is one that scientists have been arguing for several years. However, regardless of their answer, what seniors need to know is that proper nutrition can help increase DNA repair, making it easier to support protein p53 and the important work it does in protecting our bodies from cancerous cells. Eating lemons, persimmons, strawberries, apples, broccoli, and celery has been shown to aid in DNA repair so keep these around the house and you’ll be taking active steps towards wellness.
ROS, or reactive oxygen species, are oxygen-containing molecules produced naturally when the body turns food into energy. This is a process that we see in many instances of nature; for example, the way an apple browns in the sun or rust occurring on iron. The more we age, the more likely oxidative damage is because our cell’s defenses against it is reduced. Oxidative damage can lead to Alzheimer’s, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and age-related deafness. However, consuming antioxidants helps boost the body’s ability to protect itself. Examples of foods high in antioxidants are: grapes, blueberries, red berries, nuts, leafy greens, sweet potatoes and other orange vegetables like carrots, green tea, and whole grains.
No matter where you are in the aging process, eating right is one strategy you can employ to slow the cell damage and oxidation and help keep our brains and bodies strong even in old age. However, buying fresh vegetables, supplements, and vitamins can become costly especially considering a large portion of seniors rely on social security to make ends meet. Fortunately, there is a way you can increase financial liquidity after retirement. Did you know if you still maintain a life insurance policy, you can sell all or a portion of your policy for an amount greater than the cash surrender value? This is known as a life settlement and can provide the stability you crave. Contact Life Settlement Advisors to learn more.
Patricia’s two children are grown, married with their own children and live more than a seven-hour drive away. Patricia wanted to be closer to her grandchildren. Her oldest son convinced her to move closer to him. Patricia sold her life insurance policy and used the funds to ease the cost of moving and find a comfortable new living arrangement.
← Six Surprising Ways Seniors Can Reduce Risk for Dementia Basic Estate Planning Tips for Senior Clients with Dementia →
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Evusheld is treatment authorized to prevent COVID-19 in people who are seriously immunocompromised or have had serious adverse reactions to the vaccines.
Dr. Vivian Cheung takes steroids to manage a rare genetic disease. The drugs suppress her immune system, which puts her at high risk of getting very sick from COVID-19. It also means that her body didn't really make antibodies in response to two shots she got of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
Cheung is a pediatrician and research scientist. Before the coronavirus pandemic, she flew weekly from her clinic at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland to her lab at the University of Michigan. Now she hasn't been to her lab in two years. "Except for work, I don't go out at all," she says. "I haven't been inside of a grocery store for over a year."
In December, the Food and Drug Administration authorized Evusheld, a monoclonal antibody combination from the drug company AstraZeneca that's designed to give patients like Cheung protection. For those who don't respond well to vaccines, Evusheld shots put COVID-fighting proteins directly into their bodies.
Analysis by AstraZeneca — completed last year — showed that the drug reduced the risk of getting COVID-19 by 77% and that the protection from a single two-shot treatment lasted for at least six months. Early data suggests it may work less well against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, but it is still expected to offer some protection.
That gave Cheung hope, at a time when doctors say they're seeing the omicron wave cause a surge of serious breakthrough infections among immune-suppressed people. "Like many people, I thought: 'Wonderful. Finally, I'll have coverage against COVID-19,' " Cheung says.
But the drug is in short supply. The federal government controls distribution. It has shipped nearly 400,000 doses to health care providers and has ordered 1.2 million doses to date. Around 7 million people in the U.S. could benefit from the drug.
The Department of Health and Human Services, which manages the process, did not respond to questions about supply and distribution.
The scarcity has forced some doctors to run a lottery to decide who gets it.
At Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, the initial deliveries of Evusheld covered fewer than 1% of its immune-suppressed patients — and came with little guidance on how to make fair use of a limited supply, says Dr. Camille Kotton, clinical director of transplant and immunocompromised-host infectious diseases. So the hospital devised a three-tier system to rank patients by medical need — and to give patients in the top tier an equal chance.
"We put everybody's name into a lottery," she explains. "If people literally get their name pulled in the lottery, we bring them in for an injection."
The Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minn., has a similar system — with five tiers and randomized selections within them — says Dr. Raymund Razonable, who runs its monoclonal antibody treatment program. "It's basically by luck," he says. "They happen to be randomly picked by the computer system." Razonable says it will likely take months for the Mayo Clinic to get through the list of several thousand people in its tier for most vulnerable patients.
Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami — one of the largest transplant centers in the southeastern U.S. — waited weeks to get its first Evusheld shipments. Florida initially bypassed large hospitals and sent its first doses to a small private clinic, Stat and the Miami Herald reported.
"Unfortunately, the initial allocations in my state did not go to the largest transplant or cancer center ... despite the fact that Miami-Dade County is the center of a large transplant population," says Michele Morris, an infectious disease physician who cares for organ and stem cell transplant patients at Jackson Memorial Hospital and the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. The hospital received its first Evusheld shipment mid-January. "We do not have nearly enough to protect all of the patients at risk, but we have some," Morris says. The hospital is distributing its limited supply by notifying clinicians with the most immunocompromised patients first.
The government provides Evusheld to states based on their total adult populations. The approach doesn't prioritize where the need is greatest.
"Colorado, Washington, Massachusetts — those places are really struggling with having enough supply," says Dr. Anne Zink, state medical officer for Alaska and president-elect of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. Demand may be high in these areas because populations that require complex medical care often concentrate near specialized care centers that provide it.
Alaska, however, is having "the opposite experience," Zink says. "We have not had the same demand. We have not had to go to a lottery system. In fact, we are trying to reach out to oncologists to say, 'Do you know this is out there?' Because we have supplies and we think more people need to be reached."
Zink says the country's fractured health care system leads to inequities. People who know where to go and what to ask for are most likely to survive.
Back in Maryland, Dr. Vivian Cheung did a lot of sleuthing to get her Evusheld shots. She called the state's health department and got a list of all the places that received doses. She faxed doctor's notes to various hospitals and zeroed in on the University of Maryland hospital, which had the most doses. "I started literally calling colleagues who worked there, having friends to call colleagues who worked there and finally got a dose," she says.
Getting a dose — in the midst of the omicron surge — hasn't changed her daily life. She still doesn't go to the grocery store. It has provided her some peace of mind, along with some guilt: "I know the system. I know people who can pull strings for me — it's just wrong, right? Everything about this is wrong," Cheung says.
Cheung now advocates online for Evusheld doses for others. It's helping her feel like she has earned hers.
Pien Huang is a health reporter on the Science desk. She was NPR's first Reflect America Fellow, working with shows, desks and podcasts to bring more diverse voices to air and online.
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Every day – all day long: every moment, I strife to implement God’s Word in every nook and cranny of my life, to bring hope and inspiration from the Word that was God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:15-17) from which we must implement guidance and A LIFE that was given as an example to follow… may you follow with me!!
Bible
Father
Divisions Among You
August 24, 2021 July 12, 2021 ~ iolaHC
1Corinthians 11:17-22 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that you come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when you come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. When you come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. For in eating every one take before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have you not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise you the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
‘This that I declare unto you I praise you not, that you come together not for the better, but for the worse.’ Seven disorders in the congregation (11:17-34): Divisions (v18); heresies (v19); selfishness (v21); misuse of the congregation (v22); shaming the poor (v22); partaking unworthily of the Lord’s Supper with its benefits (vv. 27-30); failure to judge selves (vv. 31-34).
‘Heresies’ or sect [Greek: hairesis] a choosing, hence, a sect (Acts 5:17; 15:5; 24:5; 26:5; 28:22) and heresy (11:19; Acts 24:14; Gal. 5:20; 2Pet. 2:1). The word itself has no evil meaning. It simply refers to a doctrinal view or belief at variance with the recognized and accepted tenets of a system, congregation, or party. The word heretic is used once in Scripture (Tit. 3:10), and means one who holds a heresy; a dissenter, nonconformist. It only takes on an evil meaning when sound doctrine is rejected and fallacy is accepted and taught in preference to the truth. If the doctrine is unsound and one dissent from the main body who holds the fallacy, then he is a heretic in a good sense. The word signifies a sect or a party, whether good or bad, distinguished from all other sects and parties. It formerly was applied to different sects of heathen philosophers. The church of Rome uses it only in an evil sense to apply to all who cannot go along with their many dogmas and rituals that have been added for many centuries to the pure teachings of the Christian faith. A heretic to them is one who is not a papist, and because of this is outside the Christian religion. Most all denominations use it in this same sense of those who do not see eye to eye with them. True Christians apply it to all false religions that do not accept true Christian doctrines. Jews called Christians a sect (Acts 24:5, 14; 28:22) and Christians called the Pharisees and Sadducees and other groups sects (Acts 5:17; 15:5; 26:5). All deviation from the truth is heresy (11:19; Gal. 5:20; 2Pet. 2:1).
‘Not to eat the Lord’s supper’ – This refers to the social meals of the early congregations, the love feasts (2Pet. 2:13; Jude 1:12), followed by the Lord’s Supper. According to the Greek custom each brought his own provisions. The rich would fare sumptuously while the poor had very little to eat (11:21).
‘Drunken’ [Greek: methuo] to be drunken; intoxicated (11:21; Matt. 24:49; John 2:10; Acts 2:15; 1Thess. 5:7; Rev. 17:2, 6). That it means to be only full of food is not proved by any of these references.
‘Or despise you the church of God, and shame them that have not.’ The Corinthians made the congregation a place to be despised and shame the poor by their conduct. Instead of putting the food on a common table so all could partake as needed, the rich ate by themselves and the poor by themselves. The rich despised the poor and this led to the divisions and strife of 1Corinthians 11:18-19, and to the drunkenness and shame of 1Corinthians 11:21-22. These things disqualified them for the Lord’s Supper and brought on sickness and death (11:27-30).
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Today is quite possibly the most exciting era of Christianity since the book of Acts. The global church is growing at a rapid pace as disciples are going from everywhere to everywhere to preach the gospel and fulfill the great commission. This environment has produced a climate that places an all time premium on collaborative efforts. Consequently, strategic alliances, partnerships, and mergers have come to be the preferred method of strategic growth and achieving targeted results. Another key distinctive of the day is the prominence towards a kingdom mindset among churches and organizational leaders. Bringing leaders together who have historically operated independently has brought about a heightened urgency to finish the task. Thus, this white paper looks to reflect and identify the best possible collective step forward for those who desire a truly global alliance for church multiplication.
GACX emerged out of a group of churches and church planting organizations that desire to see the Kingdom of God filled with disciples from every corner of the globe. Built on the premise that more can be accomplished together than apart, the GACX has the vision (BHAG) to see five million churches planted by the close of 2020. Five million churches would theoretically supply the world with one church for every 1,000 people. As partnering churches and church planting organizations come together for such a task, it is necessary to remember what GACX stands for and what is ultimately at stake.
A truly global perspective, by definition, implies cross-cultural representation. The advancements in technology, connectivity, and innovation have contributed greatly to the flattening of many obstacles in this regard. However, one of the challenges leaders face in today’s globalized context is the multilayered impact culture has on everyday life. In fact, cultural differences are one of the most commonly identified reasons for failure when organizations come together. As a result, a heightened sense of self and situational awareness is necessary. Another factor that adds to the complexities of a flattened world is the varying perspectives and theories of effective leadership. Those in the global north have unofficially stewarded the position of leadership and authority across Christendom for hundreds of years. As a result, there has been a distinctly western feel to the modus operandi in leadership. However, the global south now holds the majority of the world’s Christian population and equally deserves a seat at the table. The result of these developments will create a new normal. A global strategy needs to address how a global perspective and cross-cultural representation can take place. Part of this needs to address how global south led ministries and churches from around the world can comfortably voice ideas, concerns and contribute towards a global strategy. A Spirit-infused, unified global strategy is required to sustain commitment over the long haul. Ultimately, cooperation in the midst of diversity is necessary for the fulfillment of the vision of five million churches. Whoever holds the baton is of little consequence when the finish line is crossed. Leaders from around the globe serve a unified purpose toward Kingdom expansion and must recognize their role in this time of transition. Plueddemann helpfully sets the stage,
“When one part is missing, it is as if part of a great orchestra is silent. In the divine symphony, the West has played a leading part for several hundred years…but now in these days, the Divine Conductor is turning to all parts of his orchestra and bringing it all into one grand finale. As the last score is being played, every part of the orchestra is required to play passionately, at maximum strength.”
ALLIANCE: The state of being joined together in some activity or effort
In the high priestly prayer, Jesus prayed, “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Perhaps such an alliance is exactly what Christ had in mind in this prayer. To see a group of leaders fused in partnership for the sake of the King and His Kingdom is truly a remarkable sight. That being said, holding all things in common to catalyze a movement of churches comes with innate challenges. Every organization that is part of the alliance has its unique way of operating. This involves unique organizational cultures with manifold layers of depth and complexity. Furthermore, the way decisions are made, or problems are regularly solved tends to go without being said. However, that which goes without saying usually involves the most important aspects of both national and organizational culture. As a result, when it comes to strategy making, it is important to consider the role learning plays, as most unwanted behavior and performance comes from ignorance. Global leaders must understand that culture is not the enemy. Culture will always exist at varying levels of complexity, just as there will always be differing perspectives about what followers need and want in their leaders. The fact that leaders are influencers does not detract from the need for ongoing learning, the courage to grow continually, and the audacity to abandon the status quo. For a global alliance to thrive, it will be helpful to avoid linear or sequential goals in favor of interlinking. Interlinking goals helps convey a strategy with built-in flexibility all the while anticipating uncertainty. This is especially imperative for today’s context, as strategy must always focus on continuous adaptation and improvement. Often the most successful strategies are not what was originally intended, but what emerged as part of a pattern in a stream of actions.
CHURCH: The body of Christ
The Lausanne Covenant articulates the way forward effectively: “The whole church is called to take the whole gospel to the whole world, proclaiming Christ until he comes, with all necessary urgency, unity, and sacrifice.” Undoubtedly, the local church is the hope of the world. But what is a church? When it comes to an alliance that seeks to multiply churches a practical starting point is terminology a global community can unify behind. In so doing, when the word ‘church’ is said, perspectives may vary but the meaning remains constant. While making strategy is necessary, pragmatism can lead one astray. Thus, when considering the strategic role of the GACX, we must remember new disciples should be formed within churches, not without. The church, big or small, is fully equipped with all spiritual authority to multiply without reliance or dependence on outside aid or support. While the GACX may assist, serve, or advise, it should never overstep, infringe, or be necessary to the completeness of the church or its power of unlimited expansion. Ultimately, the spontaneous expansion of the body hinges on complete and utter dependence upon the Spirit of God. The church grows by following rather than attracting. No strategy, plan or scheme will ever replace this truth. May we always remember: Paul planted, Apollos watered, but it is God who gives the growth.
MULTIPLICATION: To make many rapidly
One of the foundational aspects of being a disciple is to multiply. In essence, every believer is a disciple, and every disciple is called to be a disciple maker. In fact, the expansion of the Church involves not only the multiplication of Christians but also the multiplication of Churches. This idea builds on the premise that the body of Christ grows as God’s people multiply. Churches unsurprisingly multiply as a result of this growth. It is of the utmost importance that Christian leaders understand how peoples, and not solely individuals become Christian. For, until Christians understand their necessary role in winning other peoples, a multiplying movement will be hindered. As every believer looks to become a disciple maker, we must not make the mistake of seeking to teach merely the experiences of the apostles, but rather seek to experience their teachings. The New Testament shows many effective patterns for effective ministry. However, we must pursue dynamic equivalence powered by the Holy Spirit, as opposed to precise formal replication. The impact of multiplication is realized in the life of every believer today. Without the faithful obedience of disciple makers in the past, how would we have come to know Christ in the present? The leader-follower dynamic here is critical as it necessitates leaders release control by empowering followers. Such DNA is foundational for the transfer of healthy disciple makers. In this paradigm, power-giving leadership is relational, rather than positional, which elevates people over authority and control. In its fruition are quality and sustainable next generation leaders.
A global body of Christ joined together rapidly making disciples who make disciples. As an alliance for church multiplication steps up to the global stage, it is important to remember the foundation for Christian unity begins not with our similarity but our diversity. The world will not be changed by a few of us or in one particular way. For the world to be won for Christ it requires disciples to be disciples: everyone, every day and everywhere. In fact, one of the most exciting things about a global alliance coming together is how it beautifully fits into God’s plan for the world. Technology, connectivity and development are simply the means God established long ago to unite those from every nation, tribe and tongue in the praise of his great name. May we make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” (Rev. 22:17)
Existing & Established Leaders: Significant opportunities should intentionally happen where existing leaders and next generation leaders interact and learn from each other. Multigenerational and multicultural diversity in ministry and the workplace is a key-defining element of the twenty-first century, and strategic cross-generational/cross-cultural fertilization helps to maximize collective synergy and effectiveness in organizations today. Established leaders can do a lot to help those who will soon take their place by:
Allowing next generation leaders to “rub shoulders” with more experienced and senior leaders.
Providing public recognition, empowerment and support.
One-on-one and one-on-few mentoring relationships.
Modeling good practices, both public behaviors and private spiritual disciplines.
Real-world problem-solving opportunities are critical and the best way to do this is by allowing leaders to solve real problems.
Future Leaders: There is something to be said about the benefit of mixing age and experience with youth and creativity. Finely honed leadership skills are learned over a lifetime. As a result, they endure over the long haul. However, as Kouzes and Posner have warned, “you can’t do what you say if you can’t say what you believe. And you can’t do what you say if you don’t believe in what you are saying.” Future leaders must recognize that the most strategic way forward is by learning. Clarifying values by finding one’s voice is the first step towards a lifetime of leadership.
Strategic Learning should include a holistic approach with substantial contributions from varying instructors that address the head, heart, and hands.
Investment in training, personal development plans, accountability that involves feedback and 360-degree assessments.
Reflect on what really defines a Christ follower, a leader, a spouse, parent, etc.
Begin forming a personal leadership philosophy by articulating deeply held beliefs, values, standards, ethics, and ideals that drive one’s actions.
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[Unfortunately, the video of this service, including the sermon, did not get posted to Facebook, so it was not saved. The text of the sermon is below.]
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
This is a well-known account from Luke’s Gospel, about a time that Jesus was at the house of Martha and Mary in Bethany. Jesus seems to often stop here on His way to Jerusalem, and of course you know about the time Jesus raised their brother Lazarus from the dead. This passage is strangely intriguing to people. I thought there was one book using Mary and Martha as examples, but when I looked it up, I found at least ten books written about how Mary and Martha apply to us. Ten—none of which I’ve read, so I can’t tell you if they’re any good. But obviously there’s something that people find interesting about this interaction between Martha and Jesus (since Mary doesn’t say anything here).
But there are at least two misunderstandings about what happens here. The first is that Jesus is comparing Mary and Martha. It would be easy to think that what’s happening here is that Martha is doing bad or wrong things, and Mary is doing a good and right thing. Of course, Mary is doing a good and right thing, but is it true that Martha is doing something bad or wrong? Notice that Jesus does not rebuke Martha for the things she is doing. As far as we can tell, Jesus never goes to wherever Martha is busily working and tells her that she needs to stop and come and sit by Mary. It is not recorded that Mary brags about how much more pious and holy she is because she’s listening to Jesus while Martha is just doing housework, or something.
No, the problem is not that what Martha is doing is wrong. It is not until she comes to Jesus and tells Him that He should tell Mary to help Martha out. Jesus only speaks to her about what she’s doing when she tries to take Mary away from the feet of Jesus. The comparison here is not between Mary and Martha.
The second misunderstanding is that this is about trying to get us to reorganize our priorities. If someone asked you to put in order your priorities, it might go something like this: 1. God; 2. family; 3. friends; congregation, community, other organizations, hobbies. Something along those lines. Putting them in order of where they should be is easy. The difficulty is when we try to figure out how we’re going to measure whether our list is actually our real priorities. How are we going to measure whether we’re really prioritizing the things we know we should be prioritizing?
We could go by how much time, money, and energy we use for a given person or thing. And that’s not bad. But it’s also dangerous. Just off the top of your head, consider how much time you use per week on whatever you use it on. We might not like what we find. And then there’s the fact that we spend the hours of the night sleeping. None of you had sleep on your list of priorities, did you? And how do you put God first? By the number of hours you spend going to church, reading the Bible, praying? How far down the list would God fall if that were the criterion?
Maybe a better way would be, instead of a list of priorities, the question, what’s at the center of your life? What’s at the heart of your existence? Instead of a numbered list, what if we considered the center of things, like a wheel, with spokes extending out from that center? I do think that’s a better way of considering things, but it is still too easy to slip into measuring. And the problem with measuring is that you will never be able to make it come out right. You will never count it up so that you finish off all your works and get all the priorities in order. Measuring will always put you behind.
I said that the comparison here was not between Mary and Martha, between good things and bad things, or correct priorities and wrong priorities. That’s not the comparison; the comparison is between Jesus, with His word and gifts, and everything else. Jesus is not a priority among other priorities. Certainly, we should read the Scriptures and pray and be here. Luther says that the more he has to do in a day, the more time he spends praying. But the things of God, the word of Jesus, are not even in the same category as all our other responsibilities.
There is one thing necessary. Think about that for a second. One thing. And yet, there are a lot of other necessary things in our life. It is not optional whether I care for my family. It’s not optional whether I do my work as a pastor. God commands us to love one another, and the commands of God are not optional. Even in the church, we have “necessary” ways of serving, like boards, committees, meetings, paying the bills. But those things are necessary in a different way, necessary like Martha’s work and serving. We can miss a meeting. But Jesus says there is one thing necessary, because there is one eternal thing. When it comes to necessity, there is Jesus and there is everything else. Because there is no one else who gives eternal life. There is no other word that gives life. There is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved. However necessary are all the things we have and do, they are passing away with this world and this age and this life. Only Jesus, raised from the dead, is alive beyond death.
We have many things about which we are anxious and troubled, as Martha does. The world has no shortage of things about which to be anxious and troubled. Our lists of responsibilities never end. Love never ends. There is no time in this life when we get to the end of our lists and say, okay, I’m done. There’s always more. Someone always needs something from us. But Jesus finished His work. He came to the end of all His serving, and died. He rose from the dead, and He has gathered us here today to give us the full benefit of His work. We all come in here with all sorts of worries, burdens, joys, troubles, anxiety, work, responsibilities, successes, and failures. But we are not here to do any of that, to order it correctly, to show Jesus that we’ve got it all right.
Here is not where we do our serving, our working, our prioritizing. Here is where Jesus does His serving. Here He forgives you, lifts your burden, assures you that you are righteous not because you did all the right things, but because He has done all the right things. He gathers you in His baptismal Name and brings you before the Father and says, Here is My holy and righteous one. This one belongs to us. You’re going to have all those responsibilities when you leave, but here Jesus is doing His work, His serving, His feeding, His giving you rest. Rest at the feet of Jesus, with Mary, with all the holy ones of God. Jesus’ words are the words of eternal life. With everything else, here is the one necessary and eternal thing: Jesus with His word, His forgiveness, His body and blood. And He will not take it from you.
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7, ESV). Amen.
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This Post was posted in Sermons and tagged Jesus, Luke 10:38-42, Martha, Mary, service, vocation, Word, work. Bookmark the permalink.
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"The new Atelier Cph collection ‘Assemble’ is based on the concept of manipulating fabrics that are translated into minimal and abstract fabric collages. Since the first Atelier Cph collection we continued to experiment with textiles and different types of paper, this has influenced our design direction through the years. This piece is a realistic photo of an original artwork which is created by playing with different colour blocks to create a pattern inspired by De Stijl. Here the focus is reduced to the essentials of form and colour. The original piece is made from leftover and recycled fabrics, demonstrating an honest use of materials. Piecing together materials as a form of collage, the constructed geometric pattern reflects a simple modern expression."
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A diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis and simultaneous relationship and a close friendship (for different reasons) breakdown. 5 years and I still have not recovered from the traumatic experiences that rolled out. A whole sense of life and hopes gone at the same time. Life felt too much. I have been trying to recover since. I have been carrying grief. I just wanted my life back, my partner back, my friend back, my hopes back, all that lit my world, that gave rise to a sense of belonging, joy, potential and dreams. I have carried a sense of having lost so much… just gone… just like that, all at once. Gone with it were large parts of who I felt I once was, I felt a great hole in my heart.
I have never asked much from life, I have never expected much but if I’m honest it wasn’t coming from a place of wisdom in a healthy way. It was more on the lines then of ‘I never felt important enough or good enough to have returned any of what I felt I offered in life from a young age’. I had the underlying belief that it just doesn’t work out for me. I wasn’t enough and something else would forever be more important. There is a saying: ‘Be careful what you tell yourself, you are listening’ and it will give rise to your reality from your own mind. It is something I have been working diligently to remedy these last few years. I came to recognise that what I ‘offered’ was actually flawed. I never believed myself good enough or worthy enough to be loved in a reciprocal consistent way (all of the above from a life of learned experience). I believe that this core sense contributed, in part, to a sense of loss and failure at such a pivotal and vulnerable time in life.
It is important to note that I was also at the time honouring internally the deep loss of a person whom I hold dear (no breakdown in relating, rather a deep life shift) whom had been a consistent place of stability to which I could turn to for support. I have deep gratitude as this is where I learned healthy attachment, that there can be stability, that my life experiences didn’t define me, that people are fallible but I can still trust some of them and at any time I can find safety inside no matter what. This person has been a beacon of light and wisdom throughout, even here and now.
2015 much grief but the beginning of what felt like the end was also the beginning of this artistic and reflective path.
Throughout my short life I’ve have found myself in many hard times (mostly not of my own making but occasionally in adulthood of course) looking to the people around me to just pick me up and love me harder for a moment, because that is what I have needed as a human, but life didn’t work out so. Early attachment is important to understand for future connections and overall wellbeing. I learned eventually (after much turmoil and resistance) to pick my self up and hold my own (and have for the majority of the time) we can’t always have the things we wish for and sometimes things are also not what we really need.
I have had some fundamental core beliefs to challenge and transform. We have to challenge our unhelpful core beliefs as they create undercurrents of feeling that drive us and most of the time we are unaware of this. In moments of stress our tendency is to revert to these undercurrents rather than responding from our wiser more grown selves. We benefit most from discovering and acknowledging all that clouds and hides, obscures or keeps our heart hidden in fear of potential hurt. These beliefs and undercurrents may be a way of initially helping to keep us from experiencing hurt but in the long run they can end up keeping us from love, bonding, loving healthily, connecting intimately, communicating effectively and finding comfort with another/ each other. Holding back protecting ourselves out of fear leads to breakdowns in communication, further fear, imagined scenarios or rehashing of the old stories we once told ourselves and stress is mostly the result. All of this can and will likely give rise to strong self attachment (ie attachment to ‘my’ ‘I’ based truth, ‘my’ ‘I’ reality, ‘my’ ‘I’ based habits, ‘my’ ‘I’ based needs and that can end up being valued above all else ie. ‘all that is not me, mine, my or I’. Leaving little room inside for patience or forbearance of anything that challenges all that is the ‘me’ ‘I’ ‘my’ identity). This can result in feelings of loneliness, feeling misunderstood, not fitting in, awkwardness, avoidance and isolation. These feelings then can go on and feed into a cycle of habitual escapism and keep us from opening up our hearts. Armouring instead. If we remain so attached to ‘ourselves’ and ‘my’ ‘I’ based thoughts and beliefs or take them so seriously as if they are solid facts or absolutes then we are likely to find that there is a struggle to truly open our hearts. We may find ourselves remaining close only to what feels safe, risk averse (and may even try hide this from ourselves, very well) and as a consequence we may never grow beyond our walls. We may even shift those walls around to tell ourselves we have changed but it’s just the same walls reordered. The problems will likely show up time and again. If caught in this habit unawares the tendency, most likely, will be to project our ‘self’ based stories and beliefs outward and it may become a struggle to hear anything else but our own thoughts and feelings. It could inhibit our ability to know and grow with trust beyond our ‘safety’ walls, it may inhibit sense of belonging beyond the things we identify with ‘me’ and ‘mine’ and interrupt stable consistent healthy relating. Really seeing, catching, understanding and adapting our habits can help and support change.
Each person has their personal journey in life and that’s ok we each find the light in differing ways and at different stages. Science and heart teachings show us that as we grow we benefit most from opening ourselves up, by de-armouring our hearts, by not holding ‘our sense of truth’ in moments as absolute and fixed. By taking small calculated risks and widening our experience with others embracing the diversity of difference in our interconnectedness, we have an opportunity to grow.
It is helpful for us to learn about the non-solidity of our thoughts and feelings, that there are other truths too. All equally non-solid, transient and subjective but also there.
‘There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.’
“Thoughts lead to images, lead to a story, lead to emotions.
Life is a movie in your head.” ~ Byron Katie
Life is suffering, being so attached to our sense of ‘self’ and the stories we tell ourselves then rejecting what doesn’t fit our narrative is one part of the root of that.
“Seeing how the whole situation is created by ourselves, how things like praise and criticism are just words and yet one can make us happy and the other miserable. It is so silly to allow ourselves to be upset when we don’t get what we want, to be angry when someone criticizes us, or happy when someone praises us. It’s so silly to discriminate, deciding one thing is good and another bad. We see this, and see how all this is the mind projecting and believing its own projections.” ~ Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Love is important, belonging is a human need. Feelings are transient however, as are our thoughts, not based in solid absolute truth like we can tend to believe. I reflect how can someone else find the equanimity of love and care with us if we do not have a sense of love enough to open from our solid belief in the absoluteness of ‘our own’ sense making, and attachment to ‘our’ truth? (no matter the relationship, friend, family, lover). Fear and ‘self’ protection can only keep us from love, connection and belonging.
A Quote by Suzinn Weiss
“When we drop fear, we can draw nearer to people, we can draw nearer to the earth, we can draw nearer to all the heavenly creatures that surround us.”
MS, for me, has brought up feelings of lostness and hopelessness, for example, feelings and wonderings of who would truly wish to spend time with a person or build any kind of reciprocal relating with all the fears that Multiple Sclerosis brings. Who wants to embrace that which to an outsider may appear challenging and restrictive? Facing potential changes in connection, appearance and presence?Not knowing how to be or what to say?
The circumstances can also attract people who want to control or create co-dependancy and that isn’t healthy for anyone either. I feel caution inside, something healthy consistent and balanced is best for wellbeing in life. Something that supports both interdependent relating and has space for independent time, space and growth. For good wellbeing, for health there needs to be stability.
There is much liberation, learnings, change, freedom and lots of creativity involved with MS… but I feel invisible as a human being in this way. People’s projected perceptions of Multiple Sclerosis have and do affect this, among other things, but also so does ‘my’ mindset too. I have held a core belief that I am burden and with or without intention this has been frequently been reflected back in many different forms of relationships. I now understand this reflects more the level of a persons capacity and awareness in those moments rather than any sense of value and worth I may be feeling (or creating). I came to believe through too many life experiences and messages that I wasn’t worth it, not worth the choice, not worth the effort and not worth reciprocal love. That however is not true and this belief needed shifting, it is hard work detaching from our beliefs and the things we tell ourselves in our emotional states. They are strong protective (but eventually harmful) habits. Our beliefs are thoughts and feelings informed by a multitude of sources and clouded by a sense of ‘my’ ‘me’ and ‘I’. If we examine long enough it is likely that we find is no absolute truth to these thoughts or feelings. We may instead find attachment to sense of self, and protection of that sense of self. There just may be a truth deeper than what we think and feel based on our subjective perceptions. Do we look inside often enough? If so how deeply do we really explore our sense of truth? Where are the facts that prove this absoluteness? Could there be a lot of assumption happening? If so why would that be? Then once more, so what is the truth? These stories we tell ourselves can serve to hold together our sense of self and to protect ‘us’ but it’s not necessarily how things are. Life is uncertainty, not knowing is a thing. If we look the likelihood is that we will find that present thoughts and feelings will shift and change because they have no solidity or fixedness.
At this point in my life thing’s that I used to believe were important aren’t important anymore. I’m not bound by my older belief systems or needs. I have new systems but try very much to open up and be flexible as much possible. It is no easy feat at all though and sometimes I fall at the first hurdle.
What hope was there all those years ago of sustaining or retaining any possible union of love in life with the belief systems I held? It takes maturation and time. I’m still learning, we all are. There is much to learn, to be with and not hide from. Much to develop loving kindness towards. All learning, all listening, all holding with kindness the emotions that rise and pass through.
(I do not know the artist nor do I do not retain the rights to this work. Sourced for the quote on Pinterest)
Fellowship, companionship and belonging are basic human needs. We seek this naturally. It is important to be open, flexible and embracing of differences in one another and to be open to all versions of truths because they all coexist. Quantum physics teaches us this as do Eastern philosophies. Not being attached too much to our ‘own version’ of the truth opens us up and allows us to see a wider reality, more like a global view rather than just where we live, if you like. This in turn can allow far more flexibility and forbearance in times of challenge. Not dwelling too much in our own senses and meaning making of things can be helpful. Here we may find a relaxedness and responsiveness rather than a reaction. If we open reflect and examine there can be understanding that this isn’t how things really are but more like a reflection of what we may be feeling and experiencing inside.
If we find ourselves in old thinking or relating patterns the likelihood is that we are either caught in an old belief system, old habit(s) or have some trapped trauma and are projecting this reality outwardly. Essentially not as open or present as we think we are or would like to be. Somewhere perhaps not in our conscious awareness we are likely holding a bit more tightly to some sense of ‘our’ truth, a truth that isn’t truth at all and isn’t serving real growth or opening. It could be beneficial to us if we learn to catch it as it is happening, catch this thinking/ feeling in our mind or interactions and then work to calm it. Not always easy as it can grow legs and run. Calming takes time. It requires attentive and mindful awareness.
When we don’t acknowledge all of who we are, those unacknowledged parts we then project onto others.
Sourced on Pinterest, author unknown. I do not own the rights to this image or quote.
The purpose of this post is to share the root of this art project, sharing the deeper ‘why’, personal reflections and any growth from all those years ago in 2016 when I began with this focus. It also expands further and more deeply on my previous post ‘In Search Of Meaning (ii)’. This is about being human, exploring what this means and how it manifests for each of us in relative terms. Exploring what helps and hinders us. I talk about the stories I have told myself around life experiences and the beliefs I had formed and have had to work hard to shift. Equally with understanding around a need for opening up I have found there also needs to be wisdom. This wisdom is reflecting on my own thoughts, feelings and actions then coming to understanding how they have helped to create the sense of reality that I experience today. At times in my life (and can still find myself doing so now) I have demonstrated little respect or value for my own human needs or personal boundaries (which are equally important to know, they may grow and shift with maturity but need acknowledged and respected in the moment) and the consequence has been tolerating unhelpful behaviours, giving too much allowance and space for things that haven’t been helpful in the longer term. This equally meant that there have been times when I haven’t respected or understood other people’s need for boundaries in moments also. In not recognising our personal boundaries there are many in life whom take advantage of this or of our kindness and patience. Some knowingly and others without awareness from their own needing. I consider this compassionately however as we all have our histories, habits, meanings and conditioning. Ultimately the responsibility lies with us though. Personally I have bought into those introjected messages that I discussed earlier about worth and perceptions of how I should and shouldn’t feel or exist and this has hindered heart growth. Once I recognised this it has been my responsibility to grow from them. I must say though that equally and again with compassion, those introjected messages have come from others whom at the time were struggling with their own hurts, fears, insecurities and introjections from their life stories. From an ancestral cycle of belief systems, behaviours and habits.
There’s the lesson often taught about scrunching a piece of paper, the more the paper is scrunched this cannot be undone, no matter how much you do your best to flatten and remove the marks, it can’t be fully be removed, an impression remains. I wish someone had taught me this as a young child then I may have come to understand this life of cause and effect. Scrunches happen and we all go on and create scrunches on other people’s paper. Once there is a mark for some people it is hard for them to it let go and when trust is questioned it is so very very hard to regain it, the marks remain no matter what one does. It takes willingness, effort and investment to find ways to adapt and grow and learn to rebuild trust but most people don’t know how to, are afraid to or perhaps can’t or they chose not to. We are all different in these circumstances and that is just how it is. No matter how we grow and change and these marks no longer affect us they still exist in time and space between people, whether it be friends, family, partners, strangers. It’s hard to take things back once they have happened. To heal is a journey and sometimes it is just too late and out with our control but we owe it to ourselves to heal our hearts. To learn how to be aware in our actions as each action has it’s consequences. Also sometimes things happen to us and there is nothing required as a response other than just to allow the space for healing. The ebb and flow of this relative human life.
Reflecting on an earlier post from 2016.
In the still moments I find I am still sitting with the same grief, it having never left. Having to hold a sense of abiding (sometimes with a messiness or uncomfortableness) with whatever arises and whatever subsides. Yet in the stillness the grief is still there, it still speaks. Consistently felt. Non shifting.
But what is it that has been lost? I have a fulfilling life and future potential (uncertain of course but potential none the less), surrounded by good people, a sense of purpose, places where I can be of help, support and benefit to others, a support network, inner resourcefulness, resilience, creativity, and so on. All rich in their experience and I’m fortunate this life to know these.
My close friend returned. It both feels and is practically different and there is understanding between us, we are still there for each other, just differently. There is a little bit sense of loss here but not overly there is equally healing.
So what is it that has been lost? Why still in the quietness is there the deep rooted feeling of grief? The question needs asked again and again and again until this part of my heart is heard by me.
Holding the loss inside sitting with it, looking at it, feeling it all these years and still the feeling is so. Unchanged. What is it trying to say? What is the story of this heart? It is all just stories at the end of the day. Just stories. Everything changes (and everything has, lots and well) and nothing is ever as it feels or seems, it is transient, non-solid, impermanent…but somehow there is a static sense of heldness. I feel a thin golden thread connecting my felt sense to something of a deep significance inside. But what? Maybe something has been packed away and got lost. Perhaps part of my heart and identity died that year and I haven’t properly given space to it, perhaps the inner instinct to hold in the pain and shock of it all was a breath in that has never yet been breathed back out. Perhaps there is still a reverberation of shock. Disbelief, unrealness… maybe.
Clearly something is needing honoured in this heart about all of that. Something suppressed in my being that is needing to speak. What is feeling lost?
Two things come to mind:
and
In French, you don’t really say “I miss you.” You say “tu me manques” which means, “you are missing from me”
Perhaps ‘what has been lost?’ isn’t the question at all. Perhaps the question is what do I feel is missing? I think the answer is my freedom to flow with deeply felt love and affection. Expressing and allowing the love that lives in my heart to flow freely and joyfully without constriction, suffocation or holding in fear of loss time and again.
I think there is a sense of suppression and packing it behind daily life to get on, it’s valid and exists, the heart voice needs to be free. There is so much love bursting at the seams within this heart but it doesn’t flow, it can’t flow as it no longer has a place to go. So it sits stagnant or held tight in a small ball. Frozen energy. Perhaps I need to just allow it to be free and open rather than stuffing it down so tightly that it stifles. Open hearted and congruent. Perhaps this part (among a couple of others) is needing watered with tender, loving kindness and care. Having room to live, breathe and express itself. It doesn’t need returned, not at all just freedom to exist, non-silenced, constrained or compartmentalised. It may be about allowing it, abiding with it, being the best friend I can be to it and whatever arises. Maybe that is ok.
Life is hard enough, it is important not to suppress our feelings but instead to create a steadiness around them so that we can tend to these tender places that we find within us. Living congruently and respectfully. It is all okay. It is what it is. It doesn’t need to affect anyone else but I can see it might be far healthier for it to live and breathe in its own way so that again then there can be a sense of balance inside. Congruence, opening, breathing, de-armouring, authenticity. Allowing love to exist just as it is in it’s rawness and honesty. Kindness and care for its existence and it’s story. I am learning that it is ok to exist, to just be with that authenticity and stop adapting . It may not fit with others, but that is ok. Respect. All truths and stories co-exist neither more right than the other, just energy that is.
It is not good for our health or wellbeing to live a life shutting down emotions that we experience, we need the freedom to exist just as we are. If we are shutting down emotions we could benefit from being curious as to why.
May there be a way within this artwork to give this and all other stifled, suppressed, adapted moments in life the room they need to finally breathe, to exist with space and voice. May this heart breathe, may it play it’s music, sing. Perhaps much has been held frozen inside and it’s now time to thaw?
I know I can’t get my life back as it was, all is impermanent and the nature of everything is change. I wouldn’t have wanted it back in the same way that it was either rather something healthier and more mature. As Heraclitus once said:
It is ok to be as we are. I’m just learning this. There is space. Just try not to be so attached to ‘my’ ‘I’ ‘mine’. As this is most likely to keep us with and protecting our ego, our ‘self’ clinging and will continue to repeat all of our unhelpful conditioned habits of mind getting in the way of real growth. There can be other stories and other adventures free from these habits. It is possible. Anything is possible.
It is time to embrace all that is there, befriending it, allowing it and opening this heart up. Speaking up. There is a song to sing, like a bird atop a tree with freedom, allowing each note to gently carry its way in the wind.
If we cut ourselves off from the reality of suffering, whether our own or that of others, we cannot have compassion.”
This applies to each of us. Like the lotus we mature and bloom from our mud. What pains or challenges us and asks us to rise up is the mud. We cause harm by negating it or pushing it away. Let it settle for some clarity yes but try to remember our mind chatter is stories (merely stories) and they are interwoven with others in interconnected lives. We are not separate. Our story is part of a wider story and fabric of existence, it can’t be the only thing that is true. All truths exist, all are subjective and given meaning only by all that we attach from what is inside us moment to moment. All are transient and in essence empty if we break them down. Again I refer back to the learnings of quantum physics.
Truly listening to each other, openly and really hearing could be the key. What a society we could be if we had space for all.
Whilst reflecting on all of this I recognise also that our human tendency can be to want to stay with all that feels like light, easiness and bliss and steer clear of anything that feels difficult or challenging or that challenges our sense of ‘self’ ‘me’ ‘my’ or ‘mine’. However abiding with these hard moments, seeing them through not distancing ourselves from them out of discomfort or unease could with time bring a deep healing, maturation and growth. The suffering we experience can become the seeds of wisdom
I’ve learned a whole lot more about the light. By being open to the darkness, than by only enclosing myself in just light ~ By Jennifer Williamson
Life has taught some level of wisdom, to be more honest and clearer with intention and presence, to say things as upfront as clearly as possible and where possible leave less of a scrunch (this is hard though as people feel and react from their own being and this is out of our control so we can’t always foresee, mistakes happen). I don’t always manage it sadly but diligently give my best, again sometimes in attachment to ‘my own’ pain or discomfort I forget for a moment and revert and need to learn again.
Personally there has been discovery that it is ok to be a strong person and forthright in expression if the motivation and intention is to seek a clarity and for a wider benefit (again people may not like that as they feel and react from their own stories. This is out with our control, personally I just try to have good motivation. We are not responsible for how others react within themselves but we are responsible for our intention and motivation). Time has also taught compassion and forgiveness for things in life that may never be recognised, honoured, understood or for all the apologies that will never be received. This still leaves it’s mark but forgiveness all the same. There has been learning of forbearance, patience, grace and kindness these last years regardless what arose. Owning what behaviour I may have projected and equally not to wear behaviour that has arisen elsewhere. There has been learning that talking is important and more so in person. Online and text or email can feel as if it lacks personal nuance, body language and the general chemical responses we feel in the company of others and as a result mostly stay within the limits of our ‘own’ sense of life again missing the wider opportunities and picture. It is hard to read intent, emotion, humour, personal meaning and can often lead to misreading, not understanding and assumption. Learning has been not to assume, we can wonder and ask questions alternatively trying best never to assume anything because most likely our sense of things are mistaken and based in our subjective reality from which we then go on and make decisions without the clearest understanding. We can’t possibly have wisdom if we don’t enquire or examine further than our initial sense making. Learning has been that it’s ok to disagree with someone or have a different perception yet still respect their view, as mentioned earlier all realities exist. Neither more accurate than the other. Again as mentioned earlier I continue to try and learn to be less attached to ‘my’ ‘me’ ‘I’ truths and to have room. That it is all transient, non-absolute or fixed and all meaning is subjective, a creation from of our own mind tendencies and our senses.
Learning also has been that wherever focus goes energy flows. Where one waters one’s garden counts as this is where the garden of our lives will grow. Whatever we tend to, nourish and water will be what blooms. Whatever we give less attention to, avoid, neglect, or ignore or keep distance from in life will will die and these are active personal choices. Consciously or not we are fully responsible for these choices. We are not at the mercy of something or someone else at this level. Learning has also been that compassion is key and it is not just thoughts, wishes or words it is action beyond intention. Equally there is appreciation that it is not always easy unless coming from a pure intention. A pure intention that is not navigated by ‘un’ or partially subconscious emotional undercurrents and these are very hard to identify. The accumulation of life habits that operate with such stealth in our decision making and interactions are hard to see. It takes deep awareness and time. Even harder in moments when the sense of ‘my’ ‘I’ ‘me’ based truths are being ruffled, giving rise to feelings of uncomfortable irk, internal noise, instinct to reject and a heart call to run to protect dearly this sense of ‘I’.
Learning has been that there are many stories, as previously mentioned, all exist and no-one knows anything really, only where they attach meaning in a moment. That this meaning is transient and it tends to try to connect with our stories of self and find a position that props this up.
Learning has been that meaning is subjective and only serves the ‘me’ ‘my’ ‘I’ ‘mine’ stories that are divisive in our connections… despite being in essence empty. I am continuing to learn as best I can to hold and sense other beings in their own stage of journey and do my best to have empathy and kindness. As I say not easy especially when it clashes with ‘mine’ ‘my’ ‘I’ feelings but we are all doing the best we can. Practicing moment to moment awareness would not go amiss, I speak personally, we are not our past and the future is unknown all we have is here and now (easily forgotten in the mind chatter that manifests).
Learning has been that it is not about seeking or only being with feelings that are all peace and bliss, that it is about being present and abiding what is until we are no longer reacting which will naturally give rise to that equanimity.
That it is about being clear about motivation and intention in our interconnectedness. About learning to react less and doing our best. It’s not easy though as we have a lifetime of conditioning. Particularly in western societies our values are placed in different things like brain ability, thinking and academic intelligence, having a good career, making a family to pass these values on to, having money, status, sense of security or just plain succeeding in life. Being a success, whatever that may mean personally. When reflecting back through life I have recognised that I was not taught to value heart, how to develop compassion, how to relate with wisdom based loving kindness whilst equally questioning, analysing and discerning the validity of my thinking. I wasn’t taught how not to armour my heart to relate well and have an openness that allows for love, real love (not attachment) to exist and grow. I feel that now though. When not relating well we can find ourselves adrift, lost, not where we hoped to be, sometimes having a sense of failure somehow and/ or feeling confused because where we have actually placed value (watered our gardens) means that things get lost. Walls are built, lines are drawn, territory is marked and ideas of ‘self’ are defended. This isn’t congruent with our essential essence and can estrange us from who and where we hoped to be in life. It needn’t be this way. It needn’t be estrangement. Open heartedness. Open hearted doesn’t mean we neglect our boundaries it means we are aware of them and are aware that what we hold as ‘our’ truth may not actually be so and allows for the space to learn beyond the things we tell ourselves so that we can learn trust and to evolve closer to what we hope for with time. Boundaries are a form of protection but they can be flexible upon learning and building trust, they needn’t be fixed.
In this moment I am like an onion layer by layer healing all of the scrunches in my life, scrunches given to me, ones I have caused and all of the scrunches that in turn came back to me in that cyclical way… in many ways with many people. To connect with the authenticity that is within. There is a need to look beyond personal meaning to develop awareness as to how this life has come to be as it is and to relax into it just being as it is, nether this nor that. Perhaps it’s not a bad thing, perhaps it’s a wake up call.
I have learned to find forgiveness for what I did not know when I did not know it and trust I will grow a lot more by learning how to be more thoughtful and open in life. Gently and gracefully becoming aware of inner motivations and their real impact, to think in terms of long term compassion not just moment to moment kindness. To understand and accept a wider picture and not to be driven by feelings or moods in the here and now (not easy in moments when for example we are ill and less resilient though, as I am in this very moment).
I have within these years learned to always respect others (by not and it’s effect and consequence, mistake making) and currently equally learning to demonstrate value and respect my own being, far better than to date. To speak up even though there is a deep fear of loss, sudden disappearing or of cliff edge absenting disappearances without proper understanding and goodbyes. There has been learning that is important that we say goodbye to people because there is no guarantee we will ever have the opportunity speak or meet again, the connection could be the last in this lifetime, that much I have learned in the passing of my dear sister lately. We do not know when it’s our time. Goodbyes are important so as to not feel regret later when it has been too late.
I have learned to honour my heart and feelings always even though they may not be correct or true but just to honour the arising, not to let let past mistakes or perceptions define what comes next because it is just stories at the end of the day, subjective, transient, non-solid stories. Stories change every time we attach meaning to them from whatever perspective or chatter we have in our minds in a given moment and the stories can always be rewritten. If we chose for them to.
Learning has also been to be brave in the face of adversity, impermanence and uncertainty because I do not know. I do not know anything! Nothing at all. Even this blog is just a moment of arising meaning and words. I’m not right either because I don’t know, this is all purely personal subjective learning.
I have learned to continue to hold my own regardless. There is need right now to find permission from within to allow my heart to speak, to sing it’s song and release it’s stories to open up and heal into the life that is in the here and now. To open up to that whilst recognising hidden anxieties or scrunches. To take safe measured chances if there is opportunity and established trust. That there needs to be stability and consistency for this to happen though. I have learned that this is all necessary in building and maintaining respect and trust for each other in the interconnectedness that is life. That we function best when we are relaxed, not assuming and jumping into protective mode (which I certainly could learn more from, I’m fallible). That we need to continue to learn to relax over and over again whilst equally honouring and recognising the stories of our being.
Knowing our stories (but not holding to them as ‘truths’) so that it helps us to shift. Finding and creating an equanimity between heart and life. Creating and holding space inside for acknowledging whatever is there, and not running away but rather abiding with it, growing through it. Even if it’s hard or interfering with a wish for bliss. As mentioned earlier learning has been that there cannot be truly in any level of inner bliss if we are avoiding discomfort, it is just mind trickery and avoidance. Life, experience, thoughts, feelings, stories are all transient and ever changing and nothing is certain except a process of dying. Whatever that means to you.
“There is no coming to consciousness without pain. People will do anything, no matter how absurd, in order to avoid facing their own Soul. One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious” Carl Jung
Currently within at this moment I am feeling a wobble, I’m not as resilient as usual, I am exhausted, strung out and often feel confused as a result of a long period affected by illness (I will address this in a separate post). There’s a sense of bracing myself and the memories of past times of having to do this are flooding. If I listen closely to instinct I am sensing a micro mirror in the here and now of that moment all those years ago when everything changed and disappeared in a moment of vulnerability.
A very wise man once taught me “no big deal, no expectations’. Let go of expectation and try not to be reactive. If only I can remember this fundamentally, rather than just as and when, it would be of greater benefit. I have to create space somehow and trust everything will be ok regardless then let go.
Once this body I live in is well again and there is a feeling of bounce back and resilience I can choose this path of going inward, the inner work, to continue to notice then take the layers off the onion until I understand heart and my motivation more clearly. Understanding more of the undercurrents of emotion that are driving my actions so that I can kindly let them go and make space. From here growth and opening. The hope being that there is an understanding of the humanity in us all so I can be of benefit and in less of a harmful way. Hopefully also it will dissolve further the ‘me’ ‘my’ ‘I’ felt positions in life that are no longer necessary or serving purpose anymore.
One can only offer to others what one is able to give to oneself.
Continuing With This Art Work and Inner Journey
I’m sharing this today as I am starting from where I am at right now. No bells and whistles. Feeling a change in the wind of life once again. I need to find the permission to open up. I don’t know where or how to begin but it is time. This post marks my intention to keep going even when it feels hard, to keep trying even if I am afraid because who actually knows? We are all so clear to state what we think we know but we know little. Who knows where all of this artwork and focus will lead, where life will lead for all of us. We are so certain of our thinking as absolute truth but it isn’t so and if we continue to buy in to beliefs that are not actually true then it gets in the way of our own growth. This art project is about opening up heart to all that is bigger than ‘me’, it is about humanity and what brings each of us to be who we are, our stories. How we make meaning from our circumstances, how meaning is made from sensory and thought experience and how tightly we hold to these as ‘our’ reality.
Here is a link to an inspiring and wonderful artist Christopher Remmers who is pondering the question “Why is authenticity important?” especially for creatives https://www.facebook.com/615659948893720/posts/962839977509047/?vh=e
Everything reverts back to being genuine. Whenever there’s a gap, the only way to be a warrior is to refer back to the genuineness, which is somewhat raw and so tender and painful. That is the saving grace or the safety precaution, so that the warrior never goes astray and never grows a thick skin
‘We know what we are, but know not what we may be.’ ~ Hamlet
Well maybe and also maybe we do not. Maybe we only hear the stories we tell ourselves and maybe there is more to that, more underneath, more on a subtle undetected unconsciously driven level. More on an micro level, physically, emotionally, elementaly, and energetically. This is the journey I wish to take, to look deeper at this entity I call ‘me’ more deeply. Am I a sum of all the stories that I have listened to about myself and have told myself? Or is there another truth about who ‘I’ am?
I hope to understand the entity that I call ‘you’ too with more patience, understanding and acceptance.
I have faith that alongside the artwork, I can unravel from my own life conditioning and habits to give rise to a more open heart. To understand differently beyond the things that I think ‘I know’ to discovering a different truth than ‘my own’. Maybe, just maybe, in sharing this journey it can help another person too.
These senses of ours create a perception that feels absolute yet it is never ever so. We cling to our thoughts and idea of self and what matters to our ego so hard that we can’t see the wider picture. Things are never as we think we know it. So much is unknown, uncertainty is life and through this journey I hope there is an opening up of heart. To allow whatever this openness gives rise to. Nothing is known everything is uncertain and anything is possible. Just as Shakespeare wrote above “we know not what we may be”, can we find opportunity and comfort in that?
“The everyday practice is simply to develop a complete acceptance and openness to all situations and emotions, and to all people, experiencing everything totally without mental reservations and blockages, so that one never withdraws or centralizes into oneself “ ~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
This is not where I am right now in the here and now but I hope and aim, with all of this artwork, enquiry and process to come to abide in this way.
My artwork is produced from much of the reflection that I share here with you in this blog, from a learning and opening process. The Being Human project includes your reflections too and wider. It is about life lessons, or more specifically how we make sense of our lives. I am only one human and there are 7 billion+ of us. How do you make sense of being human? How does it impact you? In what ways do you make sense of this life experience and how tightly do you hold to your sense of that? What are your stories?
I share a poem:
~ by Alison K Smith
I folded in
Which I know really
But I folded
I got caught in the creases
A scrunched piece of self
A relic
Slowly the unfolding begins
Smoothing and coaxing
Each fold and scrunch
Every blemish and tear
At times it is stark
Holy and sacred
To midwife your soul
In the creases and smears
The rips and the tears
Lived
The story of
The story of
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July 26, 2020 at 11:54
Wow Stacie, this is one very pithy and profound piece of work. While reading, I found myself wishing that it were broken up into little pieces so that I could study and imbibe the many gems of wisdom and truth in small bites because I didn’t want to miss anything. It was a great relief to see that I could email it to myself and print it out for later study. You are blessed with great talent and wisdom. Thank you for sharing it with a world in such great need of healing. Blessings!
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 26, 2020 at 11:54
Wow Stacie, this is one very pithy and profound piece of work. While reading, I found myself wishing that it were broken up into little pieces so that I could study and imbibe the many gems of wisdom and truth in small bites because I didn’t want to miss anything. It was a great relief to see that I could email it to myself and print it out for later study. You are blessed with great talent and wisdom. Thank you for sharing it with a world in such great need of healing. Blessings!
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 26, 2020 at 12:28
Oh wow thank you! I’m never sure of impact. My blogs aren’t usually as long, this one is fuller because it is a pamphlet/ very short book (printed and in e-book/ mobi format) just as an introduction to hand out when I exhibit any of my artwork. I was writing it out with that intention partially (slightly adapted). I wasn’t sure whether to leave it up as a post or not, but I just left it up. It introduces the roots, intention and process behind art pieces (not public yet) and the project that I am working on. I hadn’t intended it being a blog post, it just wrote itself really. Other than my Covid-19 post the rest are shorter and I agree this is the best way, I will keep them so going forward. These two had a very specific purpose of awareness raising but for different reasons. I actually didn’t think my post would be of much significance however it seems to have made quite an impact. Through feedback it seems to have touched so many people in helpful and profound ways as you have said. Totally unexpected. So I have just left it how it is in the hope that if anyone reads it they can do what you just did. Thank you for taking the time to offer your feedback! I am very grateful, it helps me to know if I am explaining the heart of my artwork well.
I don’t consider myself to have great writing talent so thank you very much for your kindness that’s encouraging and will help to keep it going. I’m just glad to have been able to be of help somehow to people like yourself and like you I am deeply grateful for your time reading my blog. Its useful to hear that people are finding some benefit from my work. Blessings to you too.
August 2, 2020 at 08:44
Tried splitting it into two but it just doesn’t work or read well so will need to leave it this way and add a PDF for those whom would find it easier to read that way.
July 26, 2020 at 15:04
The other thing that I thought while I was reading (other than wishing it were in smaller bites) was that it should be a book. Or at least part of a book. Maybe one day it will become a chapter in a book. Something to think about. Meanwhile, I’m happy to know that it is now, regardless of size or form. On a practical level regarding WordPress gives me fits! One is the dysfunctional “like” button and another is that the two emails of your blogs thatI sent to myself did not arrive. So—off to the printer it goes for me to read at my leisure. I’m looking forward to it, and to seeing more from you. Cheers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 26, 2020 at 15:55
Yes this was the exact intention for this piece, it was written to re-format into a short book for my art exhibitions. I truly never intended it to be a blog post but once I started hearing how it had touched people I thought just to leave it. Had I intended it as a blog post it would have been written as two pieces like my Searching For Meaning (i) and (ii). Once I started getting such a response I was unsure of how or where to split it so just left it as is for as you say people can print it off. I just never realised or thought it would be such a significant piece.
If anyone is reading this and would prefer the e-book/ kindle format or even PDF please just let me know and I will send it to you. I will see if i can attach that kind of file as an alternative for download, might need some html coding.
Thank you Julia, with time I hope that this blog will transform itself into a book. That is the hope. I’m currently working on a podcast that is about the art project as a whole so perhaps that will be helpful for people too.
Thank you so much for your feedback and encouragement, truly appreciated! Perhaps your blog may become a book itself? Its an interesting read for sure.
October 6, 2020 at 15:14
I fully agree with usual, as usual
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 6, 2020 at 15:14
Sorry, I meant I agree with Julia. Too much enthusiasm…
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 6, 2020 at 15:35
July 26, 2020 at 15:04
The other thing that I thought while I was reading (other than wishing it were in smaller bites) was that it should be a book. Or at least part of a book. Maybe one day it will become a chapter in a book. Something to think about. Meanwhile, I’m happy to know that it is now, regardless of size or form. On a practical level regarding WordPress gives me fits! One is the dysfunctional “like” button and another is that the two emails of your blogs thatI sent to myself did not arrive. So—off to the printer it goes for me to read at my leisure. I’m looking forward to it, and to seeing more from you. Cheers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 26, 2020 at 15:55
Yes this was the exact intention for this piece, it was written to re-format into a short book for my art exhibitions. I truly never intended it to be a blog post but once I started hearing how it had touched people I thought just to leave it. Had I intended it as a blog post it would have been written as two pieces like my Searching For Meaning (i) and (ii). Once I started getting such a response I was unsure of how or where to split it so just left it as is for as you say people can print it off. I just never realised or thought it would be such a significant piece.
If anyone is reading this and would prefer the e-book/ kindle format or even PDF please just let me know and I will send it to you. I will see if i can attach that kind of file as an alternative for download, might need some html coding.
Thank you Julia, with time I hope that this blog will transform itself into a book. That is the hope. I’m currently working on a podcast that is about the art project as a whole so perhaps that will be helpful for people too.
Thank you so much for your feedback and encouragement, truly appreciated! Perhaps your blog may become a book itself? Its an interesting read for sure.
October 6, 2020 at 15:14
I fully agree with usual, as usual
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 6, 2020 at 15:14
Sorry, I meant I agree with Julia. Too much enthusiasm…
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 6, 2020 at 15:35
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Pingback: 1st Exhibition of 2020 | Artist Stacie Amelia
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October 6, 2020 at 15:12
I absolutely loved it. Thank you very much for posting this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 6, 2020 at 15:31
Thank you so much. I never intended this to be a blog post but somehow it worked.
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| 52,915 |
Vinny Appice’s drum carousel rarely stops spinning. Be it with Drums Wars, Last in Line, Screamtaker, or the myriad of other projects he has on tap, Appice’s drumsticks are perpetually twirling. But lately, Appice is promoting Screamtaker and their outstanding new record, Kill the Beautiful.
Not unlike much of his past work, Screamtaker is a roaring blend of Black Sabbath-inspired hard rock and heavy metal, the likes of which any self-respecting Dio fan can’t help but love. And with Appice being bookended by veteran rockers Jim Crean (vocals) and Steph Honde (guitars), metal-hungry fans can be sure that Kill the Beautiful is yet another home run in the veteran drummer’s deep catalog.
When not promoting Screamtaker, it’s a safe bet for Appice to pivot to Last in Line, which currently features former Dio alum Vivian Campbell (guitars), Andrew Freeman (vocals), and Phil Soussan (bass). Paying tribute to days of yesteryear while producing new music is Last in Line’s specialty, so if you’ve dismissed it to date, reconsider.
But when it comes down to it, Appice will always be fondly remembered as a member of Black Sabbath and Dio. To be sure, all of Appice’s work is a meaningful and invigorating listen. Still, for metal fans, transcendent records such as Mob Rules (1981), Holy Diver (1983), Dehumanizer (1992), and The Devil You Know (2009) remain his most essential work.
During a break from his usual drum-related chaos, Vinny Appice took a moment to dig in with me via phone in running through the origins of Screamtaker, what’s on tap for Last in Line, and his memories of Black Sabbath’s Dehumanizer era 30 years on.
Kicking off with Screamtaker, give me the rundown on how the group got started.
Well, I’ve been friends with Jim Crean for a long time. We first worked together when Carmine [Appice] and I were doing Drum Wars, and we needed a singer. So, Jim ended up working with us there, and we’ve been friends ever since. So, Jim became part of me and Carmine’s band, and when he did his two solo records, I came in and played on some of the tracks. It’s just something where Jim and I became good friends and have always kept in touch.
And then Stephen Honde, who is a great guitarist, bassist, and keyboard player, I’ve known him for some time, too. Jim and Steph were talking about doing something together, and eventually, when it came time to make a record, they needed a drummer, and they thought I’d be perfect. But I have to say, Steph is incredible; he did everything on the record. I’d played on his solo record, and I knew that, but hearing what he did with this record reminded me of that.
How did the songs on Kill the Beautiful come together?
So, Jim and Steph started writing some stuff, and they sent it to me as they saw fit, and when they thought it was ready for me to add drums in. And you never know what to expect, but as the songs began to trickle in, I said to myself, “Wow, this stuff is pretty good.” So, from there, it moved quickly, and we started putting our heads together. And as we kept adding songs, it became this cool-sounding album to the point that we felt we really had something here.
So, we decided we needed to get it out there, and Jim was able to secure Screamtaker a deal with Deko Entertainment. They’re friends of ours, and we knew it would be a good fit. We told them*, “We’ve got 11 or 12 songs, and we’re ready to get this album out there,”* so Deko was on board, which was great. From there, the record came together quickly; man, we’re very happy with it. It’s got this very slow, doomy, Dio/Sabbath vibe to it, and as we all know, that’s right up my alley. [*Laughs*].
What did the recording process look like, given that Kill the Beautiful mainly came together during the pandemic?
Oh, this was a total internet record. It’s not like the old days when we were all in a room together, but that’s not to say that was bad; it’s just different. But it was easier for me because I’d played with both Jim and Steph before, so not being in the same room together didn’t hurt us. I knew what to expect and the feel, and like I said, the stuff we were putting together was right up my alley. Jim and Steph know I like to mix in the fast and slow stuff, some dark things that create a vibe, so they called me; I was a fit for their writing.
As far as recording, Jim and Steph would send me the files of what they’d done: guitar, bass, and keyboards. Usually, Jim would lay down a scratch vocal over the top to guide me along, and then I would put the drums on it at my studio that I’ve got at my house. And it was great because I love doing this, and I love recording here because I can be the engineer, the producer, and the drummer. It becomes something where I can do anything I want. If I want to try different things, I can. And if I hate something, I can just cut it out. It’s much faster than sitting in a studio and trying to communicate through the glass to an engineer.
Tell me about the video for “Stone Cold.”
Well, I loved that song when we did it. It was one where I felt like I had a lot of room to breathe, and I think it’s a favorite. Jim and Steph agreed, so we did a video for it that’s about vampires and stuff. And yeah, the video looks like a cheesy old horror movie, and it’s not to be taken seriously. [Laughs]. It’s just like, that’s what it is, we’re having fun, and that’s it. We don’t take ourselves too seriously with that video, but we think it’s hilarious.
As far as the way it was done, I played in my house with a green screen, and in the end, it got us sitting in this haunted house kind of atmosphere. And with the green screen, I could play and then have things projected behind me that matched what Jim and Steph were doing. But it’s crazy, Steph was in France, I was at my house, and Jim was somewhere else. So, we’re all over the place, but it looks like we’re in the same place.
Along with Screamtaker, you’re also active with Last in Line. How does your approach change when bouncing between the two?
With Screamtaker, I had to use a click track because we were sending over the internet with files through email. I wouldn’t say I like using a click, but it’s what you have to do in that setting. But the good part is I was in control and could spend as long as I wanted to get the fills right because no one was there to bother me. [Laughs]. So, it’s pretty simple; I take their file, record my drums, send it back to Jim and Steph, and then wait.
But with Last in Line, it’s a bit different. We’ve got an album coming out next year, and with that record, we wrote the stuff the room together. And then we played together and recorded together old school, no click or anything. So, playing together live in the studio element alters my approach. The drums ultimately sound like me, but the path to getting there is different. And playing together in a room ensures a lot more energy going down. The live-in-the-studio thing puts me in a spot where I need to go for it right then and there because I don’t have time to think about it.
What else does Last in Line have on tap for 2023?
We’ve got some shows coming up for next year. We plan to go to Brazil, but it’s pretty nutty there right now, so we’ll have to see how it pans out. And Vivian will have time limits because of Def Leppard and their European tour, so we will have to work around that. But we need to make time for the Dio and Black Sabbath stuff, so we’ll make it work. So, we’ll wait and see how it pans out and if it makes sense. Because the thing with touring with any band is you’ve got to figure out how much it’s going to cost, can we make any money, and if it’s going to work. But Last in Line is an established band, and we know we can go out and make money.
Unlike new bands, unfortunately, they face the fact that they might lose money every time they go out. We’re in a good spot with record label support and have faith in our bottom line. So, we’re waiting on Viv’s schedule and watching the craziness of the world. And it’s the same thing for Screamtaker. We’re a new band, but we feel that once we get out there, we’ll be able to make some money. We have to wait to see how things develop around schedules and do what makes sense.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Black Sabbath’s Dehumanizer. Initially, Cozy Powell was slated to play drums. How did you become involved?
When it started, they were playing with Cozy Powell because Cozy was playing with a version of Black Sabbath before Ronnie [James Dio] came back. And from what I remember, it was going slow and not well. Ronnie wasn’t getting along with Cozy and vice versa, so there were some issues. And then, at one point, Cozy fell off a horse, broke his pelvis, and he couldn’t play for a while. So, they’re trying to get this album done, and everything stopped because they had no drummer. And it wasn’t just any drummer; it was Cozy Powell. That’s tough shoes to fill. So, somewhere along the line, I guess they said, “Let’s call Vinny and see what he’s up to.”
Given that you had left Ronnie’s band a few years prior, did you have any reservations going in?
Well, yes and no. I had worked with Ronnie for a long time, so I knew I could work with him. I wasn’t concerned about making music together, so we just had to iron stuff out. But once we did, it was fine between Ronnie and me, which is why we continued after our version of Sabbath ended again. But when they called me, I was playing WWIII, which had Tracy G on guitar, and Jimmy Bain on bass. We were backed by Disney also, which was good, so I wasn’t hurting for a project. But Ronnie and the guys in Sabbath called and explained what was happening and just asked me, “Do you want to come out and play with the band again?” I thought about it and ended up going out there, we worked out a deal a couple of days later, and I was back in Black Sabbath with Ronnie.
As things began, were you able to pick up where you left off ten years prior?
That version of Black Sabbath always had chemistry. It was a chemistry that was much different than the Ozzy years and different than versions without Ronnie and me. We were a very different band from those other versions. I think the sessions were great. It was all business from the very start. I flew to England and started working with them on the album. And once I got in there, things went fast because I’m easy to work with. A lot of people wonder if it’s actually Cozy on the album, and it’s not. He recorded his versions of the songs, but his stuff isn’t there. And I didn’t copy what he did either. Once I got in there, I did what I always did, and that chemistry kicked in quickly. One thing about me in the studio – and anyone who has worked with me will tell you this – I’m fast, and once I get going, things happen quickly.
How did the sessions unfold once you settled in?
I got in, I got work, and we made an awesome album. I came in and started working on the songs they had, and then we put together some new songs as well. The vibe in the studio was good, and we jammed just like we used to. We had a house we were working in; Ronnie and I lived in a place out there, and Tony [Iommi] and Geezer [Butler] would drive down to rehearsal every day and jam at the house. We rehearsed in the living room, which was a cool setting; it wasn’t deafening, but it was good enough for the drums, amps, and stuff.
From there, we wrote the rest of the record, demoed the tracks, and then we laid the tracks down. Like I said, we started from scratch when it came to drums and rerecorded anything that the guys had done prior. Contrary to what some believe, we recorded a whole new album. It came out the way it did because we rehearsed it live in that house, so when we got into the studio, we were prepared to start recording the songs. I love the sound of the record, it’s huge, and it shows that we were together on what we wanted to do,
When did the cracks in the façade begin to show?
When I got there, honestly, there were no issues between anybody. I didn’t have any problems with anybody in the band, and they didn’t have any issues with me. But I guess maybe the first sign was when I left during the mix. We were mixing the record, and I said, “Well, I’m not doing anything. I’m going to fly home if that’s okay with everybody.” No one had an issue, so I flew home, and they kept mixing the record. But then they were concerned that the drums might not be loud enough, so Ronnie had to remix them. And when Ronnie came home with the mix, we listened to it, and I went, “Holy shit. The drums are so loud, Ronnie. I love it.” We felt it gave it a lot of punch, and the overall sound was amazing, especially the drums. Kind of like it was in the past in Sabbath; there was a bit of funkiness with the mixing process, but it all worked out, I thought.
What was the nail in the coffin of the Dehumanizer era?
I think it was a lot of things. There are all these stories about infighting and issues with Ronnie and not getting along with the Sabbath guys. And yeah, there was some of that going on, and in some ways, I think it was part of the dynamic—sort of the yin and yang. But what screwed Dehumanizer was that it was released right in the middle of when grunge was rising to the forefront. And here we are in Black Sabbath, trying to reclaim the sound of the early ’80s, and even though we made this monster of a record, we came off looking like dinosaurs.
How did it all come to a head?
So, we released the record in the grunge era, and things were already getting weird in the band. And the result of all that was we had to play smaller places once we got out on tour. But the thing is, we got out there, and at first, it was going well. Everything was fine, and the crowds were small, but the people who did turn out really liked the album. It was a situation where we felt like if we could see it through, eventually, it would turn around because the quality of the music would win. But things started to go bad again, and we ended up breaking up like the first time.
I think what broke us up was Tony and Geezer wanted to play Ozzy’s retirement show out in L.A., and Ronnie didn’t want them to do it. Ronnie was deadest on not having anything to do with it, and he didn’t want any of us to do it either. But Tony and Geezer disagreed, and Ronnie ended up having a blowout with those guys, and he walked out on the whole thing. But we had a tour to finish and wanted to do these last shows, so we got Rob Halford to sing with us.
Was there ever a discussion about Rob potentially joining Black Sabbath?
No, there wasn’t. We called Rob in, asked him to do it, and he said, “Yes.” We finished the last two shows of the Dehumanizer tour with Rob, and that was it. But I gotta say, Rob was incredible; he learned those songs so quickly, and he nailed them live. But it was the end of that version of the band for a while, and there was no thought of asking Rob to come in. I mean, Sabbath continued, and as was the case back in the ’80s, I chose to move forward with Ronnie in Dio. That made the most sense for me then, and I always had a special relationship with Ronnie. I love all the guys in Sabbath, but Ronnie and I were like brothers in many ways.
Do you regret not making it work, given the chemistry you all shared?
Well, yes and no. I would say that it’s a shame that it happened the way that it did. We all know that Mob Rules and Dehumanizer came out great and that they’re well-loved by people who enjoy that version of the band. But we did get to play together when it was all said and done, and so I think we got to make it right in the end as Heaven and Hell. I think that The Devil You Know is as good as the first two we did, and if Ronnie didn’t pass, we would have made more.
Looking back, I think it’s interesting how that version of the band would keep getting together but only last for a couple of years. So, it’s very interesting how many times we reformed over the years. I think it’s a testament to our chemistry, and we all knew it. It’s just that we couldn’t make it work over the long haul or for overly long periods. But no regrets; the music we made stands up, and I think it’ll stand the test of time.
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Yesterday was a happy day in the LGBTQ community with the Supreme Court’s final decision that the Federal Anti-Bias Law protects LGBTQ Workers. Please take a few moments to read the article. Supreme Court Says Federal Anti-Bias Law Protects LGBTQ Workers “An individual’s homosexuality or transgender status is not relevant to employment decisions.” wrote Justice Neil Gorshuch. Focusing on how we do our work and how we “be” on our respective teams needs to be the only focus. When any of us are free to walk through life fully expressed as who we are, our work life is so much more fulfilling and enriching. No one should ever feel unsafe in any workplace or business setting.
From the perspective of an LGBTQ woman, here are some things not to ask. And believe me, I am still asked these questions.
“I don’t have a problem with you being gay.” My answer: Good because I don’t have a problem with you being straight?
“I have gay friends.” My answer and sometimes to myself after I have rolled my eyes: That’s great and I have straight friends!!
“What happened in your childhood to make you gay?” My answer: What happened in your childhood to ask me such a question?
“Who takes out the trash?” My answer: If you ask me again, you can take out our trash.
“You must know _________ (someone they know who is gay)” My answer: “Ah, I don’t keep a roster.”
So, do you see that people mean no harm in their questions, yet they are not thinking through how the question will be received. This is where we all need to stop and think about how a question will impact the other person. Doesn’t that sound like leadership?? I will always bring us back to how we show up the workplace.
If you are curious enough to ask questions of any person who is different from you, my expectation is that you want to be part of the solution for change knowing it begins with you/me. We all have different experiences in life, and we need to truly honor our collective differences and similarities.
Happy Pride to all!
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Often referred to as the Big Island, the island of Hawaii is known for its spectacular natural wonders and biodiversity. Active volcanoes have sculpted the spectacular terrain and created rich, fertile soil that is perfect for growing hemp. At their organically certified farm, the Hawaii Royal Hemp team crafts full-spectrum CBD products from their own premium hemp. But that’s not all: they’re also on a mission to create a bright future for Hawaii’s growing hemp industry.
Hawaiian Royal Hemp was founded by the husband and wife team of Clarence (Cab) Baber and Gail Byrne Baber. Pioneers in agriculture, the duo uses sustainable and regenerative practices, and has been growing hemp and food in Hawaii for over 40 years, working to preserve the island’s precious ecosystem.
Co-founders, Clarence Baber and Gail Byrne Baber, next to the hemp and food field.
“Our foundation is our healthy living soil and regenerative agriculture practices that restore and rebuild the environment, creating pollinator habitat, conserving water and sequestering carbon,” explains Gail. “We strive to do good, and our motivations for growing hemp and making CBD are to raise awareness of the planet.”
Uniquely, Hawaii Royal Hemp is the only farm in Hawaii that grows hemp and food together. They do this for two important reasons. First, it creates various structures for microorganisms. A diverse and healthy soil microbiome is the key to healthy hemp plants and deeply nutritious food. Second, throughout his cultivation journey, Cab has learned which herbs, flowers and food crops complement hemp and enhance terpene profiles.
CBD products made with passion
Thanks to an unbeatable combination of a passion for the plant and incredible growing experience, Hawaii Royal Hemp produces some of the highest quality CBD products on the market. The Aloha State’s climate allows year-round cultivation, meaning three to four hemp harvests per year. Subsequently, all Hawaii Royal Hemp products are made from only the freshest hemp flower.
“The unique terrain of many of Hawaii’s regions has been well known in the cannabis world for decades,” said Gail. “Hemp plants have their feet in rich volcanic soils and exposure to some of the purest rainfall and cleanest air on the planet. Our CBD products embody the frequency of Hawaii.”
All Hawaii Royal Hemp products are handcrafted on their certified organic family farm in North Kohala, so you can be sure these premium products benefit both you and the planet. Plus, they’re all backed by third-party lab analysis.
The company’s product offering includes an organic full spectrum 500 mg CBD oil that does not contain added artificial colors, sweeteners or flavorings; a ointment containing 550 mg of full-spectrum CBD, organic coconut oil and local beeswax; and a CBD honey containing 250 mg of full-spectrum CBD oil.
One of the many archaeological and cultural sites the Babers were instrumental in helping preserve on the Kohala Coast by raising $12 million for coastal protection.
Cab and Gail are active hemp advocates and are on a mission to improve the lives of hemp farmers and future generations in Hawaii. For decades, they have worked to pass legislation that would allow hemp to be grown as a fiber and food crop.
A former big wave surfer, Cab has been a board champion since the 1970s. He launched the Hawaii Herb Association in the early 1980s and soon found an ally in Jack Herer. In a phone call, the two men revealed their mutual belief that hemp would soon be legalized. Cab would go on to distribute Herer’s book The Emperor Wears No Clothes throughout Hawaii.
In 1990, Cab co-founded the Hawaii Organic Farmers Association to help Hawaii transition to organic farming practices. Two years later, he co-founded the Hawaii Hemp Council to advocate for a sustainable crop to replace sugar cane with the closing of the last two plantations on the island. As a testament to his pioneering work, Cab was the only farmer invited to the University of Hawaii’s Hemp Research Project in 2015.
Between 2013 and 2016, Cab worked closely with local farmers and industry representatives to legalize hemp products and establish the Hawaii Hemp Pilot Program. In 2018, Cab received the first state of Hawaii and USDA hemp license in the state in 2020. Gail worked with farmers and local industry representatives to legalize hemp products during legislative sessions of Hawaii 2019-2022.
“We jumped at the chance to get Hawaii’s first license to grow hemp when the Hawaii Hemp Pilot Program finally opened,” Gail said.
As you might expect, Cab expertise is in high demand. He regularly consults with farmers on how to optimize their hemp operations and transition to organic and regenerative agriculture. Gail currently serves on the state board of directors for the Hawaii Hemp Growers Association and the Hawaii Farmers Union United Foundation.
Polycultured hemp with sorrel, herbs and bananas.
Hawaii’s hemp market is valued up to $54 million and currently, most of that figure comes from CBD being imported into the Aloha State. The founders of Hawaii Royal Hemp believe that an established local CBD market would help keep that money flowing through the local economy and help create more jobs. To that end, they have advocated for a Kona coffee model to be adopted by hemp and CBD farms in Hawaii.
“For decades, small family farms in Kona have been growing some of the highest quality coffee in the world, consistently securing top dollar for our local farms with their small-batch artisanal coffee,” explained Gail. “The growing environments in Kona are part of what makes coffee so unique and beloved.”
Cab and Gail believe that following this Kona model, with an emphasis on unique terroir, high-quality artisanal products, will allow greater margins for local hemp farmers. Adding regenerative and organic agriculture to this model will increase the demand for Hawaii’s CBD products in the global market.
“By owning or accessing a processing infrastructure at cost, Hawaiian farmers participate fully in the value chain,” Gail said. “This will optimize farmers’ margins, which will help offset the cost of food production, moving Hawaii toward greater financial stability for Hawaii’s farm families and more opportunities for young farmers.”
Interested in seeing the difference in Hawaii Royal Hemp’s premium products for yourself? Use promo code HAWAII to receive a 20% discount on CBD products.
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Future Islands, the Baltimore trio with the ballsy, bruised songs, released their new, third album ‘On The Water’ a couple of weeks ago. Before The Bridge blazed a trail ahead of it, a near-perfect slice of synth pop: hungry, desperate, euphoric – all the requisite elements for a close-your-eyes-and-spin-round-in-an-empty-street-at-midnight moment, which is, of course, the bar by which all pop music should be judged. The rest of ‘On The Water’ is just as evocative, from the bittersweet, goth-tinged title track to the melting, hope-shot Give Us The Wind (watch the video below). While Future Islands really need to be seen live for everything to fall fully into focus (we’ve gone on about frontman’s Samuel T. Herring’s on-stage charisma before), with ‘On The Water’ they come closer than ever before to channelling that electricity and frayed emotion into a collection of songs that grow in stature with every listen. The way we fall in love places works in much the same way; it’s the layering of memories that forges the bond. Which is why we asked Future Islands to tell us about the places that mean the most to them back in their home city of Baltimore, Maryland.
Click the map to explore or scroll down to read Future Islands answers.
1. A place that conjures up old memories?
William: We played The Depot many times, and it was at a particularly amazing show here that I first felt the electricity of the Baltimore scene, and wanted to be a part of it.
2. A place you like to go out?
Samuel T. Herring: Club Charles. This is my bar. I know all the bartenders there so it feels real comfortable to me. I think it’s like that for everyone though. Real easy-going place.
3. A place people who have never been to the place before should definitely visit?
William: One of the first times I ever hung out for an extended period in Baltimore, during the 2nd Whartscape, I went to the Visionary Art Museum. It’s a really amazing place, devoted to outsider & folk art, truly unlike any other museum I’ve ever been to.
The exhibits are always changing, but there is a pretty impressive kinetic sculpture of Divine in the permanent collection!
4. A place you live or used to live?
Samuel T. Herring: We recorded ‘In Evening Air’ at this house in the historic Marble Hill district of Baltimore. I loved that neighborhood and that house. I lived there for about two and a half years, with various artists and musicians. Our dirty, little row home saw a lot of fun times, but I had to make a move when the house folded.
Future Islands – Before the Bridge by thrilljockey
5. A place you spend a lot of time in?
Samuel T. Herring: I spend a lot of time and money at True Vine Records. They say time is money, so I guess I spend double time and/or double money here. Great store. Jason Willett is an amazing DJ and record dude so he always points me in the right direction when I’m looking for a certain sound. More on the obscure/jazz/world side of music, but everything comes in the door, just not your average new releases.
6. A place you work/record?
William: We do a lot of writing at our house in Mt. Vernon. We’ve recorded at various warehouses around town, and recorded our last album at our friend Abe’s house down in North Carolina.
Thrill Jockey released Future Islands’ new album ‘On The Water’ on 10th October 2011. Future Islands will play ATP’s Nightmare Before Xmas on December 9th 2011
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As an émigré publisher from Vienna, Paul Steiner became one of the first so-called “book packagers” of illustrated non-fiction books in the United States. From the 1950s on, he exerted significant influence on the development of this book format in the country. Many of the illustrated books, encyclopedias, and guides to culture, art, history, geography, and nature he developed and produced for and in cooperation with notable American publishing houses—including the innovative wildlife identification books created in cooperation with the Audubon Society—set new standards in terms of quality and design. As part of the internationalization of the publishing business after World War II, these lavishly illustrated publications were also distributed in the German-language market. Like his mentor, the Hamburg-born pioneer of paperback publishing Kurt Enoch, Steiner belonged to a generation of German-speaking immigrants who helped to shape the publishing business in the United States.
Paul Steiner’s early career was rooted in the commercial publishing world of interwar Europe. He was born in Vienna, Austria on January 1, 1913 as the younger of two sons of the wealthy Jewish textile merchant Geza Steiner (1872–1923) and his wife Ilona (née Singer, 1885–1943). Raised in a bourgeois, secular, and culturally open-minded environment, Steiner’s childhood was shaped by an interest in art, literature, music, and the latest philosophical trends, including the theories of Sigmund Freud. However, his father’s premature death, financial misfortune, and the economic conditions in Vienna at the time of the Great Depression greatly weakened the family’s situation and eventually caused it to lose most of its wealth.
Steiner, who was deeply impressed by the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche and the music of Richard Wagner and who admired Thomas Mann and Egon Friedell, with whom he was also acquainted, wanted to embark on a career as a journalist or writer. After finishing commercial school, however, he was forced to take a number of other jobs to support his family. Yet he also wrote articles for the daily Neue Freie Presse, for whose owner and editor-in-chief, Ernst Benedikt, Steiner served as a private secretary from July 1934 until August 1935. A childhood friend of Steiner named Wolfgang Foges had meanwhile established, with the financial support of a Jewish heiress, a small magazine publishing house called Moderne Welt Verlag whose main publication was the eponymous magazine, a monthly devoted to fashion, cosmetics, sports and society. Its core business, however, was a number of customer magazines subscribed to by department stores and beauty salons across the German-speaking parts of Europe. From 1935 on, Steiner served as editor and, later, editor-in-chief of the Moderne Welt Verlag and acquired a comprehensive knowledge of the publishing business. Alongside his professional life, he obtained his higher education entrance qualification in 1936 and began to study law. He took the first of three state exams in early 1938, but by March of that year the Anschluss had drastically changed the political situation in Austria; the Moderne Welt Verlag passed into other hands and the staff was “Aryanized.” Steiner was admonished to leave the country. He managed to get his mother to safety by taking her to his brother in Belgium. He then tried to enter the Netherlands as a traveling salesman of the Moderne Welt Verlag, but was deported. Eventually, Steiner received a U.S. visa that allowed him to travel to Brussels in late 1938 and from there to London, where he stayed for a little while with Wolfgang Foges who had already emigrated.
Adprint: Developing Illustrated Non-fiction Books in Exile
The move into exile forced Steiner to rely on his professional network and accumulated expertise as he began to rebuild a career abroad. No longer connected to the Moderne Welt Verlag, Foges had established a publishing company called Adprint in 1937 with the financial support of Lord Glenconner (C. Tennant Sons & Co.). As a “book packager,” he developed non-fiction books for British publishers, contributing his technical knowhow about illustrated material and reproduction techniques to this process. The team with which he worked was made up largely of émigrés, including Walter and Eva Neurath who would go on to establish the publishing company Thames & Hudson. As Paul Steiner described it in his unpublished autobiography:
“Foges had the brilliant idea to establish a publishing house based on the principle of creating books, that is, a publishing house whose sole purpose was to conceive books and book series, to commission the texts from competent authors, but not to worry about distribution (…), instead selling (…) the edition to an established publisher. Since the books in question were invariably non-fiction books that were conceived by an in-house editorial team and because those non-fiction book series lend themselves to illustration, Foges’ book creation house was not just responsible for the text of the individual volumes, but also for the artwork.”
Steiner initially rejected Foges’ offer to join his company in London. In February 1939, Steiner traveled to the United States where he stayed with distant relatives in Akron, Ohio. He eked out a living as a sales representative, roofer, and warehouseman before moving to New York in July 1941 to establish a U.S. subsidiary of Foges’ company under the name Chanticleer Press. In New York, he took up lodgings with the Esbergs, an upper middle-class Jewish family that had fled Germany in 1938 and had since similarly managed to build a new life in New York with the help of friends. Steiner became close to the Esbergs’ daughter, Marianne, who shared his interest in art, culture, and music. In February 1942, the two were married and a year later their son, Thomas, was born. In 1945, Steiner was granted American citizenship.
When the British backers wanted to withdraw their support from Adprint, and thus from its American subsidiary, Steiner bought up the company in 1952 with the aid of his own financiers and with the support of Marianne’s brother, Andreas Esberg, an accountant. In the decades that followed, Steiner turned the company, now called Chanticleer Press, Inc., into an internationally successful producer of non-fiction books. A branch of the business called Chanticleer Company, in which Steiner’s son Thomas also worked from the 1970s on, assumed responsibility for the organization, execution, and quality control of high-quality prints and reproductions. In particular, Chanticleer Company handled modern four-color prints, often on behalf of publishing houses and museums in, among others, New York, Paris, and the Vatican.
In terms of content, Steiner shared Foges’ approach of producing general educational titles for a wide audience on a broad range of topics. As opposed to Foges, however, he also began to produce richly illustrated coffee table books. As a 1996 obituary for Steiner in the New York Timesdescribed his achievements: “[Steiner] helped reshape the publishing business in the United States and made the illustrated coffee table book an industry staple.” In developing illustrated non-fiction books that combined affordability with high-quality content and form, featuring hundreds of color reproductions, Steiner benefited from the expertise he had gained in Europe. At the same time, however, there was a need to develop adequate organizational structures, production methods, and design innovations. By combining these aspects and working with printing companies in Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Japan, Steiner was able—in cooperation with other émigrés such as the non-fiction author Fritz Kahn and the designers Ulrich Ruchti and Massimo Vignelli—to realize novel and lavish book projects. Particularly notable in this regard are the field and pocket guides that Chanticleer Press produced for the National Audubon Society and whose design was revolved around visual aspects. As Massimo Vignelli explained:
“Paul had the brilliant idea of creating bird guides with photographs rather than drawings (which had been used by everyone else until then), and we organized the material visually, streamlining the process of identifying birds. The guides were an instant success. More than thirteen million books in the field guide series have been sold since then, and they are still selling well.” (Paul Steiner: Liber Amicorum 1997, 50)
Jane Friedman, former Vice-President of Random House, similarly cites the Audubon field guides developed by Steiner as one of the most successful book series in the history of the publishing house (Paul Steiner: Liber Amicorum 1997, 17).
Chanticleer Press not only had an impact on the popularization of the illustrated coffee table book in postwar America, it also reached back into the European publishing market. The conception and financing of those successful books was made possible by close communication and cooperation with the American publishers and by Steiner’s knowledge of the U.S. book market. Equally important, however, were international co-productions that became more and more common with the postwar internationalization of the book market; they spread out the high costs of production, so that the books could be offered at attractive prices to the general public. Chanticleer Press produced books for U.S. publishers, yet also retained the international rights to distribute them in, for instance, Germany where a long-term cooperation with the publishing house Droemer Knaur evolved. Steiner’s clients in the United States included Abrams Publishers, Viking Press, Doubleday & Company, A. Knopf, and Random House. As Robert L. Bernstein, former president and CEO of Random House, recalled:
“When I first came to Random House from Simon & Schuster in 1957, one of the wonderful things that happened to me was meeting Paul Steiner. Here was a man full of ideas, particularly for difficult illustrated books that required not only good texts, but a lot of manufacturing know-how. Paul was one of the first to understand that frequently these grand projects required international publishing to reach cost-effective printing levels.” (Paul Steiner: Liber Amicorum1997, 7)
The books produced by Paul Steiner reflect a new understanding of the design and content possibilities of the medium as it competed with other forms of mass media such as magazines, photography, and film. It was an understanding that can be traced back to his early experiences at the Moderne Welt Verlag in Vienna. Several factors shaped the way Steiner conceptualized and created books, including the influence of mentors like Wolfgang Foges and Kurt Enoch, his personal background, his training in the canon of Western art, as well as aspirations that were underpinned by the cultural ideals of an enlightened bourgeoisie—in spite of, or perhaps because of, his experiences with exclusion, persecution, and displacement. When awarded the Golden Decoration of Honor of the City of Vienna in 1986, Paul Steiner thus emphasized how important Viennese culture and his good education had been to his survival and subsequent success in his new home country. This, he noted, was combined with a commitment to social awareness and responsibility, an attitude he re-encountered in FDR’s New Deal America. Over the course of his career, Paul Steiner—like the other Central European immigrants about which Robin Kinross wrote—contributed to the phenomenon of infusing “mass-produced artefacts with an aesthetic and social consciousness.”
In the late 1980s, illness forced Paul Steiner to resign from his position as publisher and chief executive. Andrew Stewart, former CEO at Abrams Publishers, took over the management of Chanticleer Press in 1987 and led the company until it officially ceased operations in 2005.
The following information is provided for citations.
Access Date December 1, 2022
Publisher German Historical Institute
Original Published Date April 11, 2018
Date of Last Update July 31, 2018
Transatlantic Perspectives is a four year research project that explores the role of European migrants in transatlantic exchange processes during the mid-twentieth century.
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One of the most established group practices in Middle TN – Since 1984. Serving Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin and the surrounding Middle Tennessee area.
Saturday + Sunday: CLOSED
Children Relationships Teens October 22, 2022 By Adrienne Thompson 0 Comments
5 Easy Ways to Connect to Your Child
Why is it important to connect?
With the busy schedules we face as families, it is easy to get lost in the day to day grind. Between games, dance recitals, music lessons, and never ending homework, it can be easy to forget to set aside downtime to connect with our children. Why is it so important for us to set aside time to connect with our kiddos? Because connection is at the heart of what we need as humans. We are wired to connect with those we love, to remind us of our support systems in the time of need, and to feel wanted by others. As parents, it is so important to provide this to our children. Just as we meet our child’s physical needs with food, shelter, and extracurricular activities, our children also need to have their emotional needs met.
When we feel connected, secure, and safe, our brains are better able to manage all of the input they receive throughout the day. In a connected state, we are better equipped to handle big emotions and better able to problem solve when things don’t go our way. When children feel safe, loved and secure they are able to take risks because they know that someone will be there if they need them.
Now that we talked briefly about why it is important to connect, you may be thinking, “Gosh, now I have to add another thing to my do-list?” Well, thankfully, finding ways to connect can actually be quite simple. Moments of connection don’t have to be an hour-long process, it can be just a few minutes a day. I have some suggestions below, but find what works best for your family and your schedule. You can easily adapt any of these suggestions to different times of the day, or different frequencies. I typically suggest that you try at least one of these once a week. It doesn’t have to be the same each week, and you don’t have to do all of these at once. You know your child and your family best.
Suggestions for connection:
1. Play a familiar game with your child
Yes, it’s as easy as playing a board or a card game with your child. I encourage you both to put away your phones and play your favorite game together. Whether it’s Uno, Candyland, or Go-Fish, playing a board game can encourage connection and communication between the two of you. I have found that teenagers even benefit from this approach, though they might appreciate a more challenging board or card game. Competition should be off the table with this approach. If you notice your child or teen becoming frustrated, take a break or switch to a new game. Board games are a great way to practice turn-taking, empathy and joy with each other.
2. Eat family dinner or meals together
Family meal time is a perfect way to encourage connection. There’s something natural about sitting around at the dinner table and sharing stories about one’s day over a good meal. Now, I know many of you may not be able to do this every night, and you certainly don’t have to. But try to sit down as a family at least once or twice a week. Again, turn off the TV or phones and simply sit down with one another.
3. Create a ritual on the drive to or from school
If your child is under sixteen, you are probably driving them to school or extracurricular activities which means you are probably in the car together quite often. Creating a ritual or a moment of connection can easily be adapted to your busy driving schedule. For example, on your way to school you can each name something you are excited for, something you are nervous for, and something you are hopeful for the day. One family I know listens to their favorite audio book together. Another idea is to play a familiar car game. Get creative, those long drives and waiting in the carpool lines can be an excellent time for you to connect.
4. Set aside screen-free time at least once a week
This one goes into the other suggestions, but I encourage all families to set aside 1-hour free of screen time at least once a week. This means no phones, no TV, or tablets. Encourage your child to play a game outside with you, or work on a puzzle together. Whatever it is, remove distractions from technology so that you can focus on whatever game or activity you are doing together.
Creating a ritual of connection before bedtime can not only be helpful for your relationship with each other, but also promote healthy sleep. If you have a young child, this can look like reading a bedtime story together or cuddling before bed. An older child or teen, this can be sitting down with them one-on-one and talking about their day.
Whatever method you choose, find one that works for your family. By being intentional about spending time with your child, you are giving them the signal that you are there for them and that you support them when they need you.
If you or your child are still struggling, you don’t have to navigate this alone. Reach out to us to find a therapist that best fits you and your child’s needs.
Suggested Resources:
The path to a meaningful future is through your past
“What do you think of when you consider your past?”
This question was posed to me by a therapist many years ago. I wasn’t sure how to answer the question. The simple truth is that I hadn’t considered my past much at all. So I stammered something about my past being a random collection of experiences, events and relationships. At the time I was too busy to think about my past. To make matters worse, since birth I had been immersed in a culture that was future oriented. In my culture, considering the past was understood to be a waste of time. If it did not contribute to efficiency and productivity it was considered useless.
But what I have learned since then is that I don’t have a ‘past.’
I have a story.
Fast forward a bunch of years. Now I get to pose this important question to clients.
And it is important.
Here’s why: Your past defines everything about how you interpret and filter every relationship, interaction and experience. To quote Faulkner: “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.”
Let’s face it: we all want to “feel better” in some way. But by engaging, learning, and studying our lives as a story, we can begin to do the hard and meaningful work of “getting well.”
Put another way, the first adventure on the path to a meaningful future is through your past.
Becoming an expert at your own story allows you to understand your life:
How you understand yourself and your place in the world?
How and why you interpret experiences the way you do?
Why do you do what you do?
What do you truly love and why?
What are the seats of your great loves and the anchors of your great fears?
So, where do we start?
First, it is helpful to understand that every story shares some common characteristics:
Chapters: Stories are usually divided into chapters or acts and scenes. First, divide your life into developmental chapters. For example, you may consider this framework:
Birth-8 years old
Middle and high school
College/emerging adulthood (18-30)
Later adulthood (65+)
Feel free to use whatever framework makes sense to you and helps you to understand your life as a story.
Relationships: Aside from Tom Hanks hanging out with a volleyball on a deserted island, I can’t recall a single movie or story that did not revolve around relationships. Relationships are what define a story. The first step in understanding your life as a story is to trace the line of meaningful relationships beginning with your earliest caregivers and siblings. You may want to consider friends, teachers, coaches, neighbors and many others who you consider to have had a meaningful effect on your life. (Note: this can be both positive and negative). It is important to note that the earliest relationships and experiences tend to have a more significant effect
Experiences: Begin charting meaningful experiences as they come to mind. Again, these can be both positive and negative. Some experiences you may want to consider:
The birth or death of a family member or a friend
Graduation from high school or college
Illness or injury
A personal loss
Significant accomplishments
Plot twists: These are the events and circumstances that upend our understanding of how the world works. These are times when you experienced significant disorientation and disorder. These experiences almost always have a profound effect on our lives and often serve as initiation points for transition from one chapter of life to the next.
Meaning and themes: Look for themes that show up throughout these dynamics: Relationship patterns, fear, anxiety, hope and joy.
What events or relationships do you celebrate as meaningful and significant?
What do you look back on with regret and/or shame?
What are consistent patterns where fear or anxiety drove decisions?
This work is not for the faint of heart and should not be taken lightly. To venture back into experiences of hurt, betrayal and pain risks retraumatization. Therefore, you may want to consider being guided through this process with a skilled therapist. A therapist can accompany you and provide an empathic container to hold your experiences and partnership in creating new meaning. If you would like to learn more about this approach, this recent article will provide more information.
If you’re interested in learning more about how you can become an expert of your story, contact us at Brentwood Counseling Associates. You can find out more information about me here. You can call our office at 615-377-1153 or our office manager Jane Jenkins at jane@brentwoodcounseling.com.
Grief & Loss Relationships Trauma July 22, 2022 By Richard Gorman 0 Comments
Four things to keep in mind when supporting a friend in grief
My father lost his battle with cancer 15 years ago. He was 59. One of the most confusing dynamics of his death were the varied responses and reactions of my friends. Many responses were wonderful. But many were frustrating. Some were even hurtful.
One of the more challenging aspects of grief is how to support a friend or family member who has experienced intimate loss. The good news is that there are skills and approaches that we can learn in order to be more supportive and helpful for friends in grief. Here are a few things to keep in mind as we try to support a friend who has experienced intimate loss:
1. Be in touch with our own anxieties
One of the most important aspects of supporting a friend in grief is to be aware of the ways that their grief triggers our own fears. Many of us simply don’t know what to do with grief. Which makes sense because we live in a society that goes to great lengths to avoid and deny the reality of death. When someone close to us has experienced intimate loss it brings death really close to home: After all, if tragedy can happen to them then it can happen to us, right? This can be a terrifying revelation that upends our illusions of stability, safety, predictability and control. If we don’t get in touch with our anxieties then our attempts to support can degenerate to frantic attempts to make the bereaved feel better, fix the situation or avoid it altogether.
Following my father’s death, random encounters with friends in grocery stores would often result in them awkwardly dancing around the obvious situation–talking about weather, baseball, church–anything except my recent loss. I get it. We do this because we are afraid of “bringing it up” and “making it worse.” But grief can be isolating. Avoiding the issue reinforces the sense of isolation. The antidote is to be seen and known–to have one’s reality named and honored. When supporting friends in grief we need to be aware of and manage our fears. Realistic appraisal of our own mortality is not a fun process, but it can be very healthy and even liberating.
2. Don’t try to make them ‘feel better’
I attended a funeral several years ago. I overheard someone say “if you’re sad right now, you’re really just selfish and making this more about you– because he’s just fine right now!” This and many other damaging and misguided statements are said under the guise of helping the bereaved ‘feel better.’ Some of the more common phrases that fit this criteria are:
“You can always have another child,”
“They are in a better place now,”
“God must have wanted another angel”
“At least he died doing something he loved”
Unfortunately this list can go on and on.
These ill-advised statements are often an attempt to manage one’s own fears and discomfort (see point #1). The more helpful–and challenging–thing is to simply be present and say little. Statements like “I have no words” or “I love you and I am so so sorry” tend to be much more helpful–primarily because they are true. These statements give space for the person to feel how they are feeling and not feel blamed for ‘doing it wrong.’
When a friend is in pain we naturally want to make it better. The hard truth is that we are forever changed by some of the things that happen to us. When it comes intimate loss there is no “getting over it” or getting “back to normal.”
In her book “It’s ok that you’re not ok: Meeting grief and loss in a culture that doesn’t understand,” grief expert Megan Devine writes: “If we talk about recovery from loss as a process of integration, of living alongside grief instead of overcoming it, then we can begin to talk about what might help you survive.” Eventually we can take steps forward–not in ‘moving past’ the grief, but in moving forward with the grief. The goal, ultimately, is not to ‘get back to normal’ but learning to eventually carry grief as we begin to move forward.
Grief expert, David Kessler, argues that the most important dynamic for grief to be processed well is empathic connection with another person who is willing to accompany the bereaved in their grief. Keller calls these people “credible witnesses” because they are able to be present and bear witness to the searing pain of traumatic loss without trying to fix it or “make it better.” Being with a person in pain is not easy. It forces us to confront our own fears. It is inconvenient. We may feel rejected. The truth is that nothing we do or say will make it better in the short term. A person in grief needs space to feel how they feel and to be seen and known without feeling that they are ‘doing it wrong’ or that they should feel better.
Grief is a complicated process that demands time, patience, understanding and active work for the bereaved as well as supporters. My hope is that more of us will grow in our ability to accompany friends and family through the searing pain of intimate loss. By becoming a ‘credible witness’ our friends will find a softer place to rest and be given the healing gift of empathy and presence.
Additional Resources:
There are many helpful books. Two that I recommend are:
“Finding Meaning: The sixth stage of grief” – By David Kesslers
Additionally, there are many good podcasts and Ted talks. I recommend:
“The messy truth about grief” – Ted Talk by Nora McInerny
The “Grief Out Loud” podcast by the Dougy Center for Grieving Children and Families These interviews include survivors, experts and others who have experienced grief in myriad ways.
Have you been told that your child could benefit from a psychoeducational evaluation? If so, you might be wondering what a psychoeducational evaluation is, why your child might need one, and what’s involved with getting one. If you’re wanting to learn more about this kind of testing, we hope you’ll find this information helpful in deciding whether it’s right for your child.
The assessment team at Brentwood Counseling Associates strives to help parents understand their child’s patterns of strengths and weaknesses, identify barriers to success, and gain an understanding of their child’s unique style of learning. We currently offer comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) evaluations for children, adults, and everyone in between. Psychoeducational evaluations are useful in that they highlight a child’s intellectual abilities (including verbal comprehension, visual-spatial reasoning, fluid reasoning, working memory, and processing speed) and reveal a pattern of how they learn in their own unique ways. They also include assessment of academic achievement to assist the clinician in ruling out learning disabilities such as reading disorders and dyslexia, writing disorders and dysgraphia, and math disorders and dyscalculia. This specific type of evaluation further includes assessment of the child’s social-emotional functioning and behavior to help identify disorders such as ADHD and those related to anxiety and depression.
Perhaps the referral concern includes issues such as difficulty focusing, poor concentration, or irritability. A teacher may report to a parent that they observe their student to be anxious about their school work or that it takes them longer to complete their assignments. A parent may notice that their child struggles with friendships or that they are argumentative. The family may report to their pediatrician that their child has been more withdrawn in school and at home and that they spend more time worrying. A tutor may observe that their student struggles with retaining information and with reading comprehension. It is through careful examination of the child’s presenting symptoms, developmental history, academic performance, and data collected in an assessment (including parent and teacher rating forms and questionnaires) that our clinicians can begin to tease out concerns and make a determination about differential diagnoses (e.g., ADHD versus a learning disorder). Psychoeducational evaluations can provide answers about what specific challenges children experience and can assist clinicians in guiding academic supports such as accommodations and/or modifications if needed.
Our comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations begin with a detailed interview with the clinician in which the family can express their concerns and provide helpful information about their child’s developmental, medical, social-emotional, and academic history. This interview is followed by approximately two hours of testing during the first session and three hours of testing during the second session. During that time, the clinician works with the child to gain an understanding about the issues and to make a determination about what tests are needed. An assessment battery generally consists of individually administered, standardized measures such as an IQ test, an academic achievement test, rating scales, and a child interview. Feedback sessions occur within two to three weeks in which the parents meet with the clinician to review a detailed, comprehensive report together and discuss recommendations and potential adjunct therapy referrals. The parent is able to ask questions, and time is spent with them to make sure they understand their child’s overall pattern of strengths and weaknesses.
Therapy March 2, 2022 By Tara Hammonds 0 Comments
Is Teletherapy right for you? Pros and Cons
Prior to the pandemic, teletherapy was something that was available but not being utilized to the extent it is now. The rise of COVID-19 compelled us all to explore virtual access to meet a number of our needs. Now, many more individuals have had first-hand experience of the benefits and efficacy of teletherapy. In fact, many now prefer it. Below we will explore the pros and cons of teletherapy as well as discussing what to expect in order to help you decide if it is right for you.
Efficacy
Does it work? A very reasonable and common question is whether or not Teletherapy video sessions are as effective as in-person therapy options. According to the American Psychological Association research on teletherapy has been ongoing since 1960. Findings show that video teletherapy is as effective as in-person sessions in treating a wide variety of psychological disorders such as Anxiety, Depression, PTSD and Adjustment Disorders to name a few. Though research is ongoing, it is safe to say that psychologists agree in teletherapy being an effective form of psychotherapy treatment.
Who doesn’t love a convenient option? Many people struggle with finding time to schedule sessions due to busy work days or school conflicts. Teletherapy increases access to many by eliminating commute times. Many people are able to find an hour in their schedule to make time for a session while avoiding the time commitment of travel time.
Limited therapy access in your area? Rural areas sometimes have limited access to therapy services and are forced to undergo long travel times to find accommodations for themselves or their children. This can interfere with work and school responsibilities making the therapy process unnecessarily stressful. Unforeseeable instances of inclement weather or minor sickness can sometimes create barriers for therapy attendance. Teletherapy can provide a solution to these issues through creating access.
Feeling anxious about your first session? While this is completely normal, feeling anxious about your first therapy session can sometimes be enough to cause people to forgo treatment altogether. Being able to curl up on your couch, with your dog and still have a session with a professional can make the process seem less daunting for some. As long as you are able to secure a private location in your home or office for an hour you are able to have a confidential and comfortable teletherapy session.
The Cons:
You are responsible for creating your own therapeutic environment. Sometimes people are distracted during a session by their dog barking in the background, children coming into their room to ask a question, the load of unfolded laundry in the corner, etc. It can be tempting to multitask during sessions and this can unfortunately interfere with therapeutic connection and/or progress. These distractions can usually be problem solved however, for some, this a deal breaker no longer making teletherapy the right choice.
Difficulty finding a private location
Similar to the issue described above, some feel anxious about having a private location to talk with their therapist virtually. Therapists are legally and ethically bound to comply with HIPAA privacy guidelines, which ensures they are the only party present in their location during your sessions. However, sometimes adults and teens feel as though they are unable to ensure their own private location away from listening ears.
One of the expected downfalls of internet communication is that there is always a chance of poor connection or even lost connection all together. This can definitely make it difficult to build rapport or work through therapeutic content when it occurs. Even if your telehealth therapist has a plan in place in case you do get disconnected, such as continuing over the phone or troubleshooting the issue, it can still be a frustrating barrier to treatment if it occurs consistently. Having a strong internet connection in general is a necessity to be able to participate in teletherapy services and should be considered.
May not be appropriate for all presenting issues
A very important item to note is that teletherapy is not appropriate for everyone who is seeking teletherapy services. Some psychiatric illnesses may be too severe or require more thorough monitoring making teletherapy insufficient to meet their needs. This is something that a teletherapist should be able to assess at the initial session in order to determine whether they can continue to see you based on presenting issues. At this point your teletherapist will be able to refer you to someone more appropriate to meet your needs.
What to expect in your first session?
The first step is to reach out to a therapist you’ve identified who offers teletherapy to set up an initial intake appointment.
In that first appointment your therapist will review confidentiality, potential barriers to teletherapy treatment and how to troubleshoot connection issues. The therapist will then begin getting to know you and gathering presenting issues, background information and what you may be looking for from treatment. This will ensure you and the therapist are a good fit.
Follow up appointments will be scheduled at the end of sessions and payment will most likely be collected at the end of the appointment. In some cases, a clinic manager may have already asked to place a card on file for you to aid in the convenience of payment.
If you are interested in beginning teletherapy services Brentwood Counseling Associates would love to assist you. We have a number of therapists offering both in person and teletherapy options. Whether you are seeking services for yourself or for your child it’s likely we have someone who can help. For more information or to schedule your first session please give us a call at 615-377-1153 to talk to our office manager, Jane Jenkins. Jane has been with the practice for more than 20 years and is great at helping you think through your needs and choose an appropriate therapist.
Anxiety Depression Grief & Loss Relationships Stress Therapy December 15, 2020 By Stephanie Insko, Ph. D 0 Comments
Maximizing Wellbeing During the 2020 Holiday Season
You might be wondering if that’s even possible. 2020 has been a challenge, to say the least. There’s no doubt that it’s left a lot of us feeling increased loneliness, isolation, worry, boredom, and frustration. Nothing about this year has felt normal, and most of us have had to make at least some adjustments.
Fortunately, it’s gone relatively well for some. But others have seen their mental health decline due to the lack of social support, fears about health and financial security, and the prolonged loss of our old way of life. And for those who’ve lost loved ones or jobs due to the pandemic, or have worked the front lines non-stop, things might be feeling particularly hopeless. Anxiety and depression are on the uptick, both for those who’ve wrestled with them previously, and for those who never have.
Under normal circumstances, the holidays can serve as a buffer against emotional struggles, offering folks the chance to spend meaningful time with family and friends and renew their hope and optimism for better things to come in the new year. But this time of the year can also be challenging for those who don’t experience joy during this season. For people who’ve suffered a significant loss, for example, or who are grappling with ongoing illness, addiction, or strained family relationships, the holidays only serve as a reminder of the things they don’t have.
Whatever the holidays mean for you under normal circumstances, you’ll likely have to adjust to a different – 2020 – version of them. If the year has already left you feeling stressed, you might be wondering how you’ll get through this season with your wellbeing intact. Here are a few ideas.
Connect with Yourself
When was the last time you checked in with yourself about how you’re doing? We’ve all been burdened with a keen awareness that things aren’t right this year, and the holidays will probably only serve to reinforce that. But how often do you examine and identify exactly what you’re feeling, and more importantly, allow yourself to express it? This kind of emotional catharsis is key to good mental health because it keeps things from building up and boiling over, or showing up in the form of depression or anxiety. It can also prevent unhealthy coping mechanisms such as addiction, which often arise through efforts to numb difficult feelings.
You might choose to deeply connect with your feelings on your own by journaling, or with a trusted friend or family member or a helping professional. Or you might find that you resonate more with an artistic form of emotional expression such as painting, singing, or dancing. However it is that you get in touch with your feelings and move them outside of yourself, try to prioritize doing it. And remember to take good care of yourself afterward. Emotional work is hard work, and you deserve to reward yourself. So make a plan to do something rejuvenating as a follow-up. This will replenish your emotional reserve, and make you more likely to engage in such emotional catharsis again.
It’s important to note that if connecting deeply with your emotions leaves you feeling in immediate crisis, please call the Tennessee Statewide Mental Health Crisis Line at 855-CRISIS-1 (855-274-7471).
Connect with Others
During this time of suggested isolation, it’s more important than ever to prioritize quality connection with others. You might not be able to physically be with family and friends this holiday season, so you’ll need to be extra intentional about making your virtual interactions meaningful. Whereas moments together in “normal” years might have been filled with small talk and shared activities where you’re not really connecting very deeply, consider packing your shorter interactions with more meaningful communication. A stronger emotional closeness such as this could go a long way in making the physical distance more tolerable.
For example, you might ask those you care about to share with you what they’ve truly been through this year; find out about their struggles and where they’ve found unexpected joy. Ask them if they consider this year to be the hardest one they’ve lived through, or if some other circumstance in their past was more challenging. Share with each other your coping mechanisms and explore what you wish you were doing a better job with.
Or tell someone who’s really important to you what you’re grateful for in your relationship with them. You might not often do this, but it can give definition to the more ambiguous good feelings you get when you’re with them. It will give them some insight into the special qualities they bring to the relationship, and help you understand the things you find essential in one. You’ll both likely learn a lot about yourselves and about your relationship, too.
With older relatives, consider finding out more about their childhood or what their lives were like when they’re the same age you are now. Or ask what their younger hopes and dreams were, or how they ended up following a particular career path or hobby. Find out if there’s anything they wish they’d known at your age or done differently. In learning so much about someone else, you might be surprised to find that you also learn something about yourself.
Since there’s not been much normalcy this year, why expect the usual things of yourself? Especially during the holidays, it’s easy for our self-expectations to become perfectionistic in nature. Instead, strive toward making them as realistic as possible. And given that it is 2020, after all, perhaps even expect quite a bit of deviation from the norm. If old holiday traditions are scrapped, try to consider this year as an opportunity to develop new ones – and look forward to future years when you can reflect on this one and be grateful that you made it through.
Practice gratitude around the things you’re thankful are still a part of your life. Remember that this season of our lives is temporary. It’s easier to maintain flexibility when we have faith that at some point, things will return to normal. And break your forward-thinking into manageable chunks – get through one afternoon or day at a time instead of thinking in terms of weeks or months. You’ll feel much more accomplishment and much less overwhelmed.
And if you’re grieving a significant loss this season, allow yourself to feel the sadness around it. Remember to engage in plenty of replenishing self-care, and give yourself permission to do this holiday season differently than usual. Remain flexible, doing only the holiday activities you have the energy and emotional reserve for – not necessarily all the ones you’ve done in the past. And consider honoring the loss as part of your holiday tradition this year. Acknowledging it, as painful as it might feel in the moment, can be a significant part of your grieving process.
If you’ve tried everything you can think of and you’re still feeling burdened with the weight of 2020 this holiday season, don’t hesitate to reach out to someone in the helping profession. Our therapists at Brentwood Counseling Associates are currently offering both in-person and virtual counseling sessions to support you during this time. Sometimes it’s just too hard to do it all on your own, and that’s where we come in. So please reach out and let us know how we can help.
The new normal. Mental health and COVID-19. If you’re wondering how to optimize wellness during the current pandemic, you’re not alone. Over the past few weeks, many of us have shifted to working, learning, grocery shopping, exercising, and hair cutting from home. Instead of spending time in person with friends, family, and co-workers, we talk at our phone and computer screens to stay in touch. The days blend into each other now that we have no places to go or people to see, and we do our best to put some sort of structure to them. And in the time of COVID-19, we consider ourselves lucky if those are our biggest concerns. Some have experienced much more devastating changes due to the loss of jobs, health, and even life. They’ve lost everything, and fear for how much worse it will get before it gets better. This would have all seemed unbelievable just a couple of months ago, and yet, it’s where we find ourselves.
It’s safe to say that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed things for all of us, whether it’s simply the loss of our old way of life, or a much more tragic one. And during these times, it can be helpful to understand what we’re going through in the context of grief. When we think of loss in the traditional sense, we think of the death of a loved one or the end of a significant relationship. But our feelings and reactions to this pandemic are much like what we go through when we grieve. We’re grieving the loss of the way things used to be. And just as some people have a harder time working through the grief process, some folks are finding it harder to adapt to the loss of our old way of life. In this article, we’ll explore some of the normal, common reactions to our new reality, and identify some red flags to watch out for. We’ll also offer a few suggestions about how to grieve the loss of the old normal, and shift into the new one, in a healthy way.
Mental Health and COVID-19
Much like a sudden and unexpected death, the drastic changes we had to make during the month of March seemed to happen overnight. We were caught off guard, and a sense of shock and disbelief set in. We were hopeful that schools and sporting events might start back up at best, in a couple of weeks, and at worst, maybe a month. In those first few days, we just couldn’t fathom that we might be in this for the long haul. The idea that this virus would be so contagious that we’d all need to wall ourselves off from the rest of society seemed like something from a blockbuster science fiction film, not from 21st-century America.
But it wasn’t unlike the denial phase of grief, when we find it hard to believe that a loss is real. Imagine the person, for example, who, soon after a breakup, holds out hope for a reconciliation. When a new way of being is too painful for us to bear, it takes some time to absorb the reality of it. And this denial phase of grief seems to have happened to a lot of us during those early days of quarantine.
But denying that things are different keeps us from doing the things we need to do to stay healthy – in the age of COVID-19, physical distancing, or washing your hands, for example. It can also delay our transition to a new normal, and keep us in a holding pattern of sorts that prevents us from developing new routines. Part of good mental health is having the flexibility to create new versions of our old routines when we’re forced to change our daily lives. For example, just because you can’t go to the gym for six weeks doesn’t mean you have to be a couch potato the whole time. Your new exercise routine might not look much like your old one, but the ability to find ways to approximate it is vital to transitioning into your new normal. Taking a flexible approach when shifting each part of your daily routine is one way to make the overall change seem less overwhelming.
As we made the initial adjustment to our new routines, many of us found the extra time relaxing. No more drive time meant we could stay in bed a little longer and skip ironing our pants. Some of us even scrapped the professional look altogether and went straight to sweatpants and ball caps – relaxation at its finest! Hours upon hours at home also lends itself to binge watching TV shows or movies, often snacking while doing so. Downtime is a critical piece of optimal mental health, and many of us weren’t getting enough of it until now. There’s something to be said for our newfound comfort with presenting our “real” selves to the world – long, graying, messy hair, and all. Letting go of our old pretenses around image is a sign of vulnerability, which allows us to connect more deeply with others. Because we’re getting a glimpse into the real world of our colleagues, friends, and family members, we may end up feeling closer to them, because we can see that they’re much like us.
But what happens when the media binges go on so long that we miss sleep or meals, or fall down on the job? Or when one day blends into another so much so that we lose track of hygiene and stop showering or brushing our teeth? These patterns are easy to slip into, and are very common during the grief process. When we’ve lost a critical part of our old way of life, it’s not unusual to get stuck “waiting” for things to return to normal. But putting everything on hold is a signal that adaptation to the new normal isn’t going so well.
Having balance and structure to the seemingly endless days is crucial to maintaining good mental health during these times. You don’t have to create a down-to-the-minute schedule and stick to it; remember that the point is to be flexible during this time. But having some general expectations for each day isn’t a bad thing. It may be helpful to think about this, for example, in terms of physical health, work, and relaxation. A goal might be to aspire to include some work, some rest/relaxation, some movement, and adequate sleep and nutrition. This is just a starting place, though. Think about what’s important to you (spirituality is one example that comes to mind), and consider how that might fit into your daily plan around balance.
Going into Overdrive
What about when your problem is not doing too little, but doing too much? With calendars cleared of extracurricular and social activities, hours are suddenly opened up to devote to those long-delayed household projects. Backs of cabinets and closets have been cleaned out. Lawns are immediately immaculate. And pantries and desk drawers have been organized. Many of us have even taken up new hobbies or returned to old ones. It’s felt good that we’ve been able to make the most of these strange, scary new times by being productive. And there’s nothing wrong with that. But for some, along with all this new productivity came the expectation that they should be doing something fruitful with the extra time, all the time.
It’s not uncommon for people who are grieving to go to such an extreme after experiencing a significant loss. We see a lot of folks who throw themselves into work as a way to cope during the grief process. Staying busy is a way to distract ourselves from painful feelings about the loss. It’s also a way to feel like we’re taking back some control over our lives when it seems like everything has spun out of control. But that busy-ness itself can also spiral out of control, to the point that our mental health suffers. We can start using activities to push down our true feelings of sadness about the loss. Or we can start basing our self-worth on our productivity, feeling guilt and shame when we’re not getting enough done.
It’s important during these times to examine our motives for checking off to-do list after to-do list, and to check in on what emotions we might be using those activities to avoid. Such check-ins with ourselves and others about how we’re really doing with all these changes are vital to maintaining good mental health in this new normal. Don’t be afraid to identify and express whatever you’re feeling, whether on your own through journaling, for example, or with another person. If there’s not anyone in your life with whom you would feel comfortable doing this, please consider reaching out to a trusted professional. From counselors to clergy members, there are people ready to help.
In addition to the suggestions given already, consider limiting time spent reading about the pandemic. It’s good to have information and be up-to-date on the latest recommendations. But given the tragic nature of much of the news these days, information overload can leave you feeling helpless, hopeless, and scared.
Not only can placing parameters on the time you spend consuming COVID-19 information help, but so can giving back. It can easily feel like our sense of control has been robbed from us these days. But helping others, and feeling like you’re really making a difference, can bring it back. Making masks, taking part in a quarantine birthday parade, joining in on a big round of applause for our health care providers, and donating money or food to a food bank are just some examples of ways people have been volunteering their time or resources.
And if you already struggle with stress management or mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, or addiction, or if you’re going through an additional loss during this time, you’ll need to take extra good care of yourself right now. If you need help finding someone to talk to, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Brentwood Counseling Associates. We’d be happy to help you determine who’d be a good fit for your needs and situation. Whether it’s someone in our practice or somewhere else, we just want to be sure you’re getting the support you need during this time.
Couples Therapy Marriage Relationships February 24, 2020 By Kris Lott 0 Comments
Congratulations on your engagement! Getting engaged is a thrilling first step toward a new life together with your partner. After the proposal, couples can become consumed with planning their perfect wedding. The details often become stressful and create new tension around wedding planning. There is a lot to consider: your dress, the invite list, who will be the best man, what song will be your first dance, what food should you serve, what is the budget, and more. One item, however, that should be on the top of your to-do list is Premarital Counseling.
Premarital Counseling is the first step to starting a new healthy relationship. This type of therapy allows the couple to discuss and work on strengthening communication skills, setting realistic expectations, and understanding what is important to each member of the couple. This is an opportunity to create a vision for the future healthy marriage. Below are 5 reasons why you should consider Premarital Counseling as your first step in your wedding planning.
Premarital Counseling creates space to make sure you are both on the same page. Stress and fears can create a lot of tension for new couples. This stress could develop from wedding planning, tension between what the new in-laws expect, or what type of ceremony you each want to have. Stress could also surround the budget or how the new couple will handle finances or debt. Beyond stress, couples carry fears into any new relationships. The “what ifs” (Is he going to always love me? What if she does not want children? Can I trust him again? How can I deal with her family?) often linger in the back of your mind. Premarital Counseling offers the couple a safe place to voice their fears and stress and help the couple begin to understand how each person copes with stress and what they need from their partner.
Premarital Counseling helps the couple know what each person is bringing into the marriage. Some of the most important work a new couple can do is understand how growing up in their own family creates norms and expectations that will influence the new marriage. Couples need to study each person’s family of origin (How was affection shown growing up? What about discipline? How did your family define success? What are important traditions of your family and how does it compare to your partner’s family traditions?). While you are not tied to live just like your family of origin, the past may influence you in how you view the family or marriage. In Premarital Counseling, a trained therapist can help the new couple navigate these past themes and create discussion on what the new couple values from their past.
Communication and the couple’s “rules of engagement” need to be a part of any Premarital Counseling. In Premarital Counseling, you can grow your communication skills and learn to identify your conflict cycle. Together, you will explore what are the common areas of conflict, and what does each partner need for a positive outcome. The goal is for the new couple to develop their own “rules of engagement” as well as begin to see the conflict cycle before it starts.
Premarital Counseling also explores the relationship for strengths and growth areas. Couples will learn where they currently excel as well as areas where they can improve. This focus will help a couple set and manage expectations and roles in the relationship. It is important to explore how each person in the couple views marital roles. Premarital Counseling also allows time for the couple to name roles they enjoy and roles where they are uncomfortable. This discussion will aid in setting a couple’s expectations about how decision making and responsibilities will be shared.
Creating a new vision. Premarital Counseling is a time for visioning and exploring what the couple is looking forward to and dreaming. Beyond their favorite traditions and expectations from their family of origin, Premarital Counseling offers space to voice shared goals and hopes for the new relationship. Premarital Counseling can be a fun time to dream big, name new traditions you hope to start in the new marriage, and name values your healthy marriage will stand on.
Anxiety Stress December 20, 2019 By Tara Hammonds 0 Comments
Gift Giving: Beat the Stress and Maintain the Joy of the Season
Stressed to find the best gift during the Christmas season?
Christmas is a holiday of joy and cheer. Many of us use it as an opportunity to express how much we care for their family and friends through warm wishes, gatherings, and gift giving.
The holiday season is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but it can easily go from Christmas cheer to Holiday stress. Finding the perfect gifts, attending all of the festive activities, and trying to fit it all in our holiday budget can take a toll.
So how do we prevent our joyous giving from turning into overspending pressures and longing for the season to be behind us?
Why do we enjoy giving?
Let’s look into the psychology behind the pressures to give and why we are so compelled year after year to immerse ourselves into finding the perfect gift, even if it brings on unwanted stress.
According to research we give for many reasons. We give to show gratitude, empathy, and love. We also give to increase relationship connections and because it makes us feel good.
Dave Ramsey says that the act of giving causes our brain to release ‘feel good hormones’. He mentions the phenomenon of the ‘giver’s glow’ which is that feeling of joy we get from showing generosity toward other people. Generosity comes with so many advantages; not only to those on the receiving end, but to those doing the giving too. Generosity has also been shown to reduce stress and help counteract depressive symptoms, says Ramsey.
There is a great sense of satisfaction when seeing the expression on the face of someone you’ve given a gift to. Its a way to express feelings when you can’t find the words. Giving is a way to say, “I’m thinking of you and you matter to me.”
When gift giving gets stressful
Even though giving makes us feel good, there’s definitely a tipping point. What happens when we start to lose the joy in giving and it becomes a stressor?
Gift-giving can be a mood booster and create balance. However, it can get stressful when you’re struggling to find the perfect gift for friends and family. It’s difficult when trying to find a gift that’s an affordable, thoughtful gift and within our holiday budget. I think the pressure is also surrounding the fact that we recognize gifts are symbolic, so we tend to obsess over the meaning we are trying to convey.
How to maintain the joy and pleasure in gift giving
Here are some helpful tips to remain mindful of what’s important about gifting and how to maintain joy this Christmas season.
Not all gifts have to have a huge monetary value. If you enjoy spending extra on someone, go for it. Although, before you make a large purchase ask yourself, “Am I buying this because it’s more expensive or because I feel it’s what they would truly prefer?” The most meaningful gifts are sometimes homemade. In a society obsessed with commercialism, it can be refreshing to offer something more personal. Some example may be handmade cards, homemade essential oils, fresh baked goods, or wooden toys. If DIY-ing isn’t your thing, you can always gift your time such as a car wash or free babysitting.
Create some giving boundaries
For many of us, this is the season to splurge and indulge. However, it can be helpful to create some boundaries as it relates to giving to maintain our sanity and our bank accounts. So, be realistic but stick to your holiday budget as much as possible. Things like setting a budget for individual gifts and tracking your spending can be helpful.
Gift giving is not the only way we can show appreciation to others during the holiday season. Write a gratitude letter. This letter can be written to a significant person who made a positive difference in your life. This can have the same effect as a holiday gift letting them know “I am thinking of you and you matter.” Describe in specific terms what the person did and why you’re grateful.
According to an article by The Society of Happy People, when people are asked what makes them happiest about the holidays, most said connection with family and friends. So, let yourself off the hook a little bit. If you are able to spend some quality time with your loved ones, know that your presence is just as valuable as a gift.
We gain happiness around the holidays from spending time with loved ones by giving gifts, sharing meals and attending holiday festivities. It helps to remember that the holiday season is about being with the people we care about, not about giving gifts, unless giving gifts is what makes us happy.
Teen Anxiety: Why It Can Be Necessary and What Can Be Gained
Every living creature experiences anxiety. Anxiety is necessary for survival and adaptation. Normal teen anxiety is common, and generally short-lived. In today’s fast paced world, however, we live in a culture that suggests any anxiety is bad and a person who struggles with it, including adolescents, is weak or faulty. Society is so eager to diagnose a person with an official disorder.
Teenagers have been taught the need to be perfect. They have received participation trophies for their whole lives. Social media is used as a tool to present an edited/photoshopped sense of perfection. Many students get to retake their test in school to increase their GPA. We have created people who have never experienced failure. When one has been protected and has never struggled to achieve, they are often unequipped to handle the smallest mistakes later in life. These first failures can be crippling and can lead to catastrophic feelings once the safety nest of parental protection is removed.
Yet there are many positives once you learn to embrace your anxiety or face your nervousness. Studies have shown how the power of facing adversity can create resiliency. Resiliency is the ability to overcome challenges of any kind. The mastery of resiliency takes time and training. It is especially important for teenagers to have safe places where they can experiment with failing and facing their fears/anxieties.
3 Proven Ways to Deal with Teen Anxiety
SHARE INTENTIONALLY – Create a space for teenagers to share both successes and failures as well as opportunities to see others (more importantly adults) talk about their ups and downs. This expands a teen’s view of normal anxiety and overcoming failure, and can take place at the dinner table, a small group setting, or during prayer time.
HIGHLIGHT STRENGTHS – Find ways to highlight a teenager’s gifts. Too often, teenagers can overly magnify their smallest perceived flaws. Highlighting strengths over weaknesses, teens learn how to overcome anxiety and stress brought on by a hyper focus on the negative. We all have many different talents that are unique to each of us. Helping a teenager name their gift(s) allows them to see more than the negatives. The second part of this step is to brainstorm with them ways for the teenager to use these gifts in their everyday lives. Be specific. Challenge them to find ways to engage with their gifts daily and celebrate them when they do use them, even if it does not work out as planned.
NORMALIZE & FOSTER MENTAL TOUGHNESS – Remind teenagers that it is okay to have bad days and being mental strong is not about having it together all the time. Help them see past our society’s unhealthy need for perfection to learn that anxiety can be seen as an opportunity to grow rather than a threat or personal flaw. Mental toughness and resiliency are strengthened by learning to embrace anxiety/uncomfortableness and take action anyway. The more often a person steps into their challenges, the stronger and more confident they can become.
Ready to schedule an appointment? Contact Brentwood Counseling Associates and connect with one of our experienced therapists.
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Brentwood Counseling Associates, conveniently located in Maryland Farms in Brentwood, TN, is one of the most established counseling practices in Middle Tennessee. Since 1984, our team of expert therapists have been serving individuals in need of counseling services in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin and the surrounding Middle Tennessee area.
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I hope you are enjoying this holiday weekend celebration of America’s independence 244-years in the making.
As I was thinking about what I’d write this week, I came across this radio item, dateline Fort Wayne, Indiana that said on July 5th in 1929 radio station WOWO returned to the air one day after its transmitter site burned down. Obviously, that wasn’t a very joyous time for the staff and management at that radio station. It was only four years earlier that WOWO signed on the air for the first time in its storied broadcast history, March 25, 1925.
July 5, 1951
It was on this date, 69-years ago that Bell Labs, and primarily William Shockley, announced the invention of the junction transistor during a press conference the company held in Murray Hill, New Jersey.
July 5, 1956
William Shockley and three others were awarded a Nobel Prize in Physics on this date for “their research on semiconductors and their discovery of the transistor effect,” a discovery that allowed radio to be reborn in car dashboards and on portable, hand-held receivers.
It was a joint venture between Texas Instruments and Regency Electronics that would produce the world’s first transistor radio, the TR1, in 1954. However, it wasn’t until three years later when SONY would introduce its smaller and cheaper TR-63 transistor radio that this new communication device would become the 1960s/70s mass market success story.
Steve Wozniak (Apple Computer Co-Founder) said he had a Regency TR1 transistor radio as a kid and was a big fan. “My first transistor radio…I loved what it could do, it brought me music, (and) it opened my world up,” said Woz.
July 5, 1963
The second Beatles song released in America which climbed to number 87 on the Hot 100 was “From Me to You,” and would mark a second “invasion” by the British kingdom.
It was the transistor radio that gave young people the opportunity to easily access “their music” without garnering their parents disapproval, being able to listen to the radio in their bedrooms, cars and anywhere they went.
The transistor radio opened up a world of new artistic expression along with the dissemination of new ideas. These hand-held radios played rock and roll, delivered the news, connected Americans to the Civil Rights Movement and kept citizens abreast of the ongoing Vietnam War.
I’ll come back to the transistor and William Shockley in a moment, but first, let’s look at some of the other things that changed our world on this day.
July 5, 1971
The 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution was certified, reducing the voting age in America to 18.
July 5, 1989
The successful television sitcom “Seinfeld” debuted on the NBC television network. The show “about nothing” ran for nine years and has grossed more than $4 Billion, making it the most profitable half-hour television program in history.
July 5, 1994
Jeff Bezos begins a new venture in Bellevue, Washington. On this date, “Amazon.com” was born. In just 26-years, Amazon is only the fourth tech company to join the “$1 Trillion Club.” Jeff Bezos’ net worth is now estimated at $111 Billion.
July 5, 2003
On this date, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the SARS virus, known technically as SARS-CoV (coronavirus), was “contained” after affecting 26-countries and resulting in 774-deaths.
Getting back to William Shockley and his development of the transistor, he would not only change the way Baby Boomers would grow up, listening to their transistor radios, but he is also credited as being “the man who brought silicon to Silicon Valley.”
For you see, one of the key benefits of the transistor was the ability for electronics manufacturers to create smaller and smaller devices, that eventually gave us the computer in our pocket, better known as the smartphone.
1980s to Today
In time, these little transistor radios would be replaced by the Boom Box. Then along came the SONY Walkman (and headphones), followed by the Discman, iPod and today’s internet powered iPhone.
Each new generation of technological development has moved media consumers away from traditional broadcast radio’s position as the leader for reaching the masses with new music, news and cultural trends.
The broadcast industry has been slow to adapt to the 21st Century. As greatest hockey player of all time, Bobby Orr might put it, to skate from where the puck is to where the puck will be.
“You have to change with the times
the times will change you.”
-Marv Levy, Buffalo Bills Coach
Filed under Education, Mentor, Radio
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We have had a tragedy in our family. For those with pets who are part of the family I know you will understand.
My sons’ puppy dog, Bruce, was accidentally hit by a truck. We had to have him put down. He was a beautiful, energetic, black and white border collie who was only 10 months old. It was sad. It was very sad for every member of the family.
Even though he was “son number 2’s” dog, we all spent time with Bruce. We all, in turn, took him walking, running or bicycling and threw sticks and balls to him. Both my sons taught Bruce to sit, stay and come to them when he was a little puppy. I would see them working together on the back lawn, calling Bruce between them, giving him a big pat and a treat when he listened. Watching him bounce energetically to each of them in turn. It was a joy to see.
He was our sons’ dog, but he belonged to the family too. He came in the ute when we went out in the paddock and loved to sit ‘up front’ with me while we checked the crops. Also I let him ride in my car. This was something I thought I would never, ever do. He loved beach walks and I was happy to take him, when I had time. He wriggled his little puppy nose right into my heart and I will miss him a lot.
As all dogs, Bruce loved people, he loved being around people and he loved balls and sticks of any kind. If you had a stick in your hand, he was your best friend. He also loved the cats, unfortunately for him they declined to join his chasing games and more often than not he would get a scratch on his nose for being too close to them. When you got him out of his yard in the morning he bounced all around you, with the sheer joy and happiness only dogs can show.
Someone said to us after they heard about him dying. “No more dogs for your family” “It is too hard”. I had to disagree. Yes, it is devastating when your pet dies, but also, having a pet is a lesson about life and about love. Bruce taught us to work with each other, he taught us to never say never. He taught my son responsibility and thoughtfulness for another soul.
I am glad we got Bruce in our family, even though his time was short, he will be sorely missed. When the time is right I will be pleased if any of our children get another dog because dogs teach us many things, but most of all they teach us how easy it is to love.
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2 thoughts on “A Mans best friend (or woman)”
Anne says:
17th Sep 2020 at 2:19 pm
What an awful experience. I am glad Bruce had so many happy times with all of you. The demise of a loved dog is like losing a family member. We still mourn ours a year on.
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The white paper described Bitcoin (BTC) as a “peer-to-peer electronic cash system.” But, where does Bitcoin come from? According to the algorithms, new Bitcoin is generated and given to computer users who solve pre-specified mathematical challenges. The mathematical problems refer to a hash, which is a 64-digit hexadecimal number that is less than or equal to the target hash. So, Bitcoin is simply a number, such as 12345.
The white paper described Bitcoin (BTC) as a “peer-to-peer electronic cash system.” But, where does Bitcoin come from?
According to the algorithms, new Bitcoin is generated and given to computer users who solve pre-specified mathematical challenges. The mathematical problems refer to a hash, which is a 64-digit hexadecimal number that is less than or equal to the target hash. So, Bitcoin is simply a number, such as 12345.
To illustrate, let’s assume Ms. Rose pulls a $1 bill from her wallet with the number G6607081974P. No other bill bears the G6607081974P number, considering the Federal Reserve System (in the United States) operates at a minimum degree of competence.
Since this money has a face value of $1, Ms. Rose can use it to purchase a cup of coffee.
Now, let’s say two people agree that bill R7607081974P is actually worth $4,000. The only difference between Bitcoin No.12345 and $1 Bill No. R7607081974P is that the $1 bill has a physical existence and a face value that is worth something. Bitcoin, on the other hand, has no intrinsic value and is simply a number. The number may have a value agreed upon by two persons, but it has no value in and of itself. Hence, Bitcoin is created by a group of individuals playing a number guessing game.
So, what is the point of playing this game in the first place? The game is significant because it is a technique that aids with the verification and security of the Bitcoin network’s transaction history. Anyone who wants to contribute new transactions to the network must first play and win a game, which takes computational power. As a result, an attacker will find it difficult and costly to cause any damage to the network.
What is Bitcoin backed by and how does Bitcoin work?
Unlike traditional currencies, Bitcoin is neither issued by a central bank nor backed by a government. As a result, inflation rates, monetary policy and economic growth indicators that traditionally influence currency value do not apply to Bitcoin.
Bitcoin is based on a blockchain, which is a distributed digital ledger. Blockchain is a linked body of data made up of units called blocks containing information about each transaction, such as the buyer and seller, time and date, total value and a unique identification code for each exchange. Entries are connected in chronological sequence, forming a digital chain of blocks.
When a block is uploaded to the blockchain, it becomes available to anyone looking at it, thereby acting as a public record for cryptocurrency transactions. The blockchain is decentralized, meaning a single entity does not control it. The digital chain of blocks is similar to a Google Doc that anyone can edit. It is not owned by anyone, but anyone with a link can contribute to it. As different individuals make changes to it, your copy is updated as well.
While the idea of everyone being able to edit the blockchain may appear unsafe, it is precisely what makes Bitcoin trustworthy and secure. To be included in the Bitcoin blockchain, a transaction block must be validated by the majority of Bitcoin miners.
The unique codes used to identify users’ wallets and transactions must follow the correct encryption pattern. Since these unique codes are long random numbers, counterfeiting them is extremely difficult. The statistical randomness of the blockchain verification codes required for each transaction dramatically minimizes the likelihood of a fraudulent Bitcoin transaction being made by anyone connected to the network.
Why was Bitcoin created?
During the 19th and 20th centuries, many of the world’s most popular currencies were convertible into fixed amounts of gold or other precious metals. However, most countries abandoned the gold standard between the 1920s and the 1970s, partly due to the strains of funding two world wars and global gold production’s inability to keep up with economic development.
Moreover, physical valuables such as gold and silver were previously traded for commodities and services. Because physical assets were cumbersome to carry and prone to loss and theft, however, banks retained them for users, producing notes confirming users’ bank holdings.
Users rely on banks to maintain the value of their currency and protect their funds. Between 2008 and 2009, nevertheless, several banks and other financial organizations failed worldwide and governments had to bail them out at taxpayers’ expense.
The failure of banks (as guardians of public funds) highlighted how fragile the modern financial system can be and the need to decentralize the financial services to enhance customer experience. As a result, Bitcoin was seen as a response to the Great Financial Crisis and the financial world’s reliance on banks as financial transaction intermediates.
Satoshi Nakamoto had the notion of removing banks from financial transactions and replacing them with a peer-to-peer (P2P) payment system that didn’t require third-party confirmation, eliminating the need for banks to be facilitating every transaction. The blockchain, a network-based ledger, is how Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies develop trust. So, when was Bitcoin created?
When the first block, known as the genesis block, was mined on Jan. 3, 2009, the blockchain was officially launched. A week later, the first test transaction took place. Bitcoin blockchain was only available to miners confirming the Bitcoin transactions for the first few months of its existence.
Bitcoin had no real monetary worth at this point. Miners — the machines that solve complex math problems to discover new Bitcoin and verify that existing Bitcoin transactions are valid and accurate — would exchange Bitcoin for fun.
The first economic transaction took more than a year to complete, when a Florida man agreed to have two $25 Papa John’s pizzas delivered for 10,000 Bitcoin on May 22, 2010. This day has been celebrated as Bitcoin Pizza Day ever since.
The initial real-world price or value of Bitcoin was set at four BTC per penny due to this transaction. Supply chain management, cross-enterprise resource planning, logistics, energy trading, DAOs or decentralized autonomous organizations and many other applications are currently being explored with Bitcoin.
When was Bitcoin created?
Bitcoin was created in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis via a white paper written by a pseudonymous entity or a group of people named Satoshi Nakamoto. The crisis served as a strong motivator for Bitcoin’s development. This guide aims to provide a glimpse of how long has Bitcoin been around, who started Bitcoin and what is Bitcoin used for?
The financial crisis of 2007 and 2008 — often known as the subprime mortgage crisis — was a global event that led to the significant contraction of liquidity in global financial markets (that began in the United States) due to the collapse of the housing market.
As the world was engulfed in a global recession brought on by excessive financial market speculation and banks risking millions of dollars in depositor funds, the white paper laid the groundwork for the first fully functional digital money based on the distributed ledger technology (DLT) called the blockchain. So, what is Bitcoin and how does it work?
The Bitcoin white paper was the first document to lay forth the fundamentals of a cryptographically secure trustless peer-to-peer (P2P) electronic payment system fundamentally designed to be censorship-resistant and transparent, all while reclaiming financial power for individuals.
Bitcoin is digital money, also known as cryptocurrency, that functions independently of any central authority. A cryptocurrency is a digital means of exchange that secures and verifies transactions using encryption. Encryption refers to a method of transforming plain text into a meaningless or random text called ciphertext. The study of secure communication techniques that allow only the sender and intended recipient of a message to read its contents is known as cryptography.
Bitcoin was created as an alternative to existing fiat currencies that could eventually be recognized as a global currency. Today, fiat currencies such as the British pound and the U.S. dollar are the most widely used types of money globally. Fiat currencies are controlled by a national government in terms of supply and creation and are backed by the trust and confidence in that government.
However, Bitcoin utilizes peer-to-peer technology to facilitate transactions between parties who believe that the asset being transferred has intrinsic worth. P2P refers to the direct exchange of an asset, like Bitcoin, between individuals without the interference of a central authority.
What is Bitcoin made of: Public and private keys in Bitcoin
At its most basic, Bitcoin is an autonomous public-key cryptosystem that facilitates the exchange of digital value among peers via a sequence of digitally signed transactions, rather than messages. The basic process flow of a Bitcoin transaction is identical to that of a series of encrypted messages found in a schematic of public-key cryptography and digital signatures.
To safeguard data from unauthorized access or use, public-key cryptography uses a pair of keys to encrypt and decrypt it. A digital signature is an electronic signature that uses a mathematical algorithm to verify the validity and integrity of a digital message. Therefore, Bitcoin is a chain of digital signatures.
Each owner sends Bitcoin to the next by digitally signing a hash of the previous transaction and the next owner’s public key, then appending them to the end of the coin. The chain of ownership can be confirmed by the payee by verifying the signatures.
Users must have access to the associated public and private keys to transfer the required amount of Bitcoin. While referring to someone who owns Bitcoin, it really means that they have access to a key pair that includes public and private keys.
A public key refers to an address to which some Bitcoin has previously been transmitted. The accompanying unique private key (a password) allows Bitcoin to be sent elsewhere once sent to the above public key (address).
Bitcoin addresses, also known as public keys, are randomly generated sequences of letters and numbers that act similarly to an email address or a username on a social media site. They are public, as the name implies, so users can safely share them with others. In reality, if users want anyone to send them Bitcoin, they must provide them with their Bitcoin address.
The private key is made up of a different set of letters and numbers produced at random. Private keys should be kept confidential, just as passwords for email or other services. Never give out your private key to someone you don’t completely trust not to steal from you.
A Bitcoin address can be compared to a transparent safe. Others can see what’s inside, but only the private key owner can open the safe and gain access to the money.
Although handling coins individually is conceivable, making a separate transaction for each penny in a transfer would be inconvenient. Transactions have many inputs and outputs to allow value to be split and merged.
Usually, there will be either a single input from a prior more significant transaction or numerous inputs combining lesser amounts with at most two outputs: one for the payment and one for returning any change to the sender.
Now, imagine that Romeo wishes to send Juliet 1 BTC. He accomplishes this by signing a message containing transaction-specific information with his private key. The following will be included in this message which must be broadcast to the network:
Inputs: Inputs contain details about the Bitcoin delivered to Romeo’s address previously. Consider the case where Romeo got 0.7 BTC from Alice and 0.7 BTC from Bob. Now, to transmit 1 BTC to Juliet, there may be two inputs: one 0.7 BTC input from Alice and one 0.7 BTC input from Bob.
Amount: The amount Romeo wishes to send is 1 BTC.
Outputs: The initial output is 1.4 BTC to Juliet’s public address (0.7 BTC + 0.7 BTC). The second output is 0.4 BTC returned to Romeo as “change.”
Broadcasting and confirmations over the network
Romeo will broadcast his intended transaction to the Bitcoin network via his wallet software in the example above. The inputs (i.e., the address(s) from which Romeo previously obtained the Bitcoin he claims to possess) are verified by a specific group of network members known as “miners.”
Miners also create a block by combining a list of additional transactions broadcast to the network around the same time as Mark’s. Any miner who has completed the proof-of-work, or PoW, can propose a new block to be added to the chain or “connected” to it by referencing the previous block. The network is then informed of the new block.
Other network participants (nodes) will pass it forward if they agree it’s a valid block (i.e., the transactions it contains meet all protocol requirements and adequately reference the previous block). When proposing the next block, another miner will eventually build on top of it by referring to it as the previous block. The next miner will have “verified” any transactions that were added to the last block. The number of confirmations for Romeo’s transaction grows as blocks are added to the chain.
What is Bitcoin mining and how does it work?
The process of adding new transactions to the Bitcoin blockchain is known as Bitcoin mining. It’s a difficult job. Bitcoin miners employ a PoW technique, in which computers compete to solve mathematical problems that validate transactions.
In general, miners attempt to generate a 64-digit hexadecimal number, referred to as a hash, that is less than or equal to the target hash. Bitcoin hash rate indicates the estimated number of hashes created by miners attempting to solve the current Bitcoin block or any given block.
The hash rate of Bitcoin is measured in Hashes per Second, or H/s. Miners need a high hash rate, measured in megahashes per second (MH/s), gigahashes per second (GH/s) and terahashes per second (TH/s), to mine successfully.
The Bitcoin code rewards miners with additional Bitcoin to encourage them to keep racing to solve the riddles and maintain the entire system. This is how new blockchain transactions are added to the system.
It’s vital to note that the Bitcoin hash rate has no bearing on the speed at which each block is solved. The Bitcoin mining difficulty value (adjusted upwards or downwards at each block) ensures blocks are solved at a fixed time frame called the block time.
Bitcoin mining is considerably less profitable than it once was, making it even more challenging to recoup increased costs associated with acquiring computational power and running it by using up electricity.
When the system was first introduced in 2009, miners received a stamp every time they got a higher quantity of Bitcoin than they do now. The block reward is halved in half every 210,000 blocks (roughly every four years).
For instance, one block of Bitcoin was worth 50 BTC when it was initially mined in 2009. This was reduced to 25 BTC in 2012. By 2016, it had been cut in half again at 12.5 BTC. The reward was reduced again on May 11, 2020, to 6.25 BTC.
As the number of transactions increases, the amount miners get paid for each stamp decreases. By 2140, it is expected that all Bitcoin will have been released into circulation, leaving miners with little choice but to rely on transaction fees to turn a profit from validating the network.
What is a Bitcoin wallet and how does it work?
A Bitcoin wallet is a digital wallet that may store Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum (ETH). A Bitcoin wallet (or any crypto wallet) is a digital wallet that stores the encryption key that grants access to a BTC public address and allows transactions. There are five types of Bitcoin wallets: mobile, web, desktop, hardware, and paper.
Bitcoin wallets not only store your digital currency, but they also protect them with a unique private key that only you and anybody else you provide the code to can access. A crypto wallet allows you to store, send and receive various coins and tokens. Some handle basic transactions, while others include built-in access to blockchain-based decentralized applications, or DApps.
When you create a Bitcoin wallet, you will be given a private key and a public key that is linked to your wallet. When you create a Bitcoin wallet, you will be given a private key and a public key that is linked to your wallet.
A public key is comparable to an email address in that it can be shared with anyone. When your wallet is created, a public key is created which you can share with anyone to accept funds.
The private key is a closely guarded secret. It’s similar to your password in that it shouldn’t be hacked and shouldn’t be shared with anybody. Instead, you spend your money using this private key. If someone obtains access to your private key, there is a good chance that your account will be hacked and you will lose all of your cryptocurrency deposits.
What is a Bitcoin exchange, and how to buy and sell Bitcoin?
A Bitcoin exchange is a digital marketplace where traders may buy and sell BTC using various fiat currencies and altcoins. A Bitcoin currency exchange is an online platform that operates as a middleman between BTC buyers and sellers.
Traders can purchase and sell Bitcoin using either a market order or a limit order, much like on a typical stock exchange. For Bitcoin trading on an exchange, a user must first register with the exchange and then go through a number of identity verification processes. After successful authentication, the user’s account is created and they must put funds into it before they can purchase or sell BTC.
However, there are a few things you need to do before digging deeper into how to invest in Bitcoin. These are some of them:
In order to commit your funds for Bitcoin investment, please follow our guide here. Similarly, for cashing out your BTC holdings, please follow our guide here.
How anonymous is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is frequently called “anonymous” since it may be sent and received without revealing any personally identifiable information. However, obtaining reasonable anonymity with BTC can be difficult and complete anonymity may be unattainable.
Sending and receiving Bitcoin is similar to writing anonymously. If an author’s pseudonym is ever linked to their identity, everything they’ve ever written under that name will be linked to them as well.
Your pseudonym is the address to which you receive Bitcoin in Bitcoin. Every transaction that involves the address is recorded in the blockchain at all times. Every transaction will be linked to you if your address is ever matched to your identity. Therefore, Bitcoin is pseudonymous rather than anonymous.
Advantages and disadvantages of Bitcoin
No government controls the Bitcoin network. Each player participating in the Bitcoin network automatically guarantees the protocol’s operation. Bitcoin users have significantly more control over their personal information and financial data than users of fiat currencies and other digital forms of payment such as credit cards, compared with traditional financial infrastructures. They also face fewer risks of identity theft than users of fiat currencies and other digital forms of payment such as credit cards.
When fraudsters gain access to enough information about a person’s identity such as their name, current or previous addresses, or date of birth, they commit identity theft. The risk of identity theft while using crypto is low due to cryptographic private keys, which hide a user’s identity behind a publicly viewable Bitcoin wallet address.
Bitcoin’s network hash rate, which is a measure of the aggregate collective computer power involved in validating transactions on the Bitcoin blockchain at any given time, is continuously breaking records.
Thankfully, greater network security has been established as the Bitcoin blockchain becomes more resilient against the possibility of a 51% attack, guaranteeing that the blockchain ledger’s shared truth is protected, but the threat of a 51% attack is always possible. When one or more miners gain control of more than 50% of a network’s mining power, computational power, or hash rate, a 51% percent attack occurs. If it succeeds, the miners in charge effectively control the network and some transactions on it.
A 51% attack would allow miners to prevent new transactions from being recorded, prohibit transactions from being validated or completed, change transaction ordering, restrict other miners from mining coins or tokens within the network and reverse transactions to double-spend coins.
A double-spend situation, for example, would allow miners to pay for something with cryptocurrency and then reverse the transaction later. It means miners keep anything they bought, as well as the cryptocurrency used in the transaction, thereby bilking the seller. As a blockchain grows in size, however, it becomes more difficult for rogue miners to attack it. On the other side, smaller networks may be more vulnerable to a block attack.
Governments may try to restrict, regulate, or outlaw the use and selling of Bitcoin, as some jurisdictions have previously done. Furthermore, the volatility of Bitcoin is always in the news, which is a crucial reason to avoid accepting Bitcoin as a form of payment for many traders since they are afraid of a price decline. Bitcoin is still being used to pay illegal operations and money laundering, unfortunately. On the other hand, secret agencies around the world are beefing up their cybersecurity and anti-crypto crime capabilities.
The irreversibility of Bitcoin transactions is not always a good thing. In the event of an attack, a botched transaction, or a fraudulent exchange of products, it can quickly become a huge issue.
Anything electronic must be reversible, according to a fundamental principle of modern finance. If Bitcoin is truly the internet applied to money, it should also feature a “back” button. It is only possible to prevent fraud without an undo/back button. However, fraud can be detected and minimized with an undo option upon realizing that something suspicious has happened and correcting it.
On the contrary, in the case of BTC theft, a burglar needs the private key to take a million dollars worth of Bitcoin from a corporation. As BTC balance transfers are irreversible, as there is no way to reclaim it if hackers steal Bitcoin. Also, the Bitcoin wallet’s password is unrecoverable — if a user forgets his password, the money in his wallet will be worthless.
The next ten years could be crucial for Bitcoin’s development. Aside from financial revolutions, there are a few aspects of Bitcoin’s environment to which investors should pay particular attention. At the moment, cryptocurrency is torn between becoming a store of value and a transactional medium.
Even though governments worldwide such as Japan have recognized it as a viable means of payment for goods, institutional investors are keen to join in on the action and profit from the volatility in its pricing.
However, issues with scaling and security have stopped both events from becoming a perfect medium of exchange. Also, concerns about security, custody and capital efficiency remain a challenge that needs to be addressed.
What is NFT Soul?
The history of Bitcoin: When did Bitcoin start?
What is Bitcoin, and how does it work?
What is NFT Soul?
The history of Bitcoin: When did Bitcoin start?
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From Law & Ethics in Nursing – 11479 NUR4826 202101No unread replies.No replies.All initial (primary) posts are due on Wed 11:59. A 10% deduction per day will occur up to 72 hours after which the initial will not be accepted. Responses are due on Sunday 11:59 and will not be accepted late and will receive a zero.
The experience of moral distress can be distinguished from the experience of moral dilemmas. In moral distress, a nurse knows the morally right course of action to take, but institutional structure and conflicts with colleagues create obstacles. A nurse who fails to act in the face of obstacles also may have reactive distress in addition to the initial distress. Both kinds of distress pose dilemmas about individual and collective moral responsibility. Coping with these dilemmas effectively requires taking at least some successful actions to resolve distress.
For this discussion you are to reflect on a morally distressing clinical experience:
Primary Post
1. Describe a distressing clinical experience you have had as a nurse when you either were involved in or witnessed care or behaviors that you would describe as unethical. Ensuring confidentiality in your description of the event, place, and persons, include in your description:
a. the setting in which the conflict occurred (e.g., ICU, hospital inpatient unit, LTC, OR)
b. disease or patient group (e.g., geriatric, cancer, NICU, dementia) or healthcare team (e.g., physician-nurse, nurse-nurse)
c. the type of conflict (e.g., withdrawal of life support, nutrition, hydration; HIPAA violation, pain management)
d. all those involved in the conflict (e.g., nurse, physician, patient, family member)
e. cultural factors identified as influencing the clinical experience (e.g., ethnicity, poverty)
2. How do you think this experience affected you as a nurse?
a. What emotions do you recall having in the aftermath of the situation (e.g., advocacy, anger, career change, guilt, betrayal, and so on)?
b. How do you feel about it now?
3. How do you think these experiences affect the profession of nursing?
4. When confronted with a similar situation what do you imagine doing differently?
5. What resource would you recommend to another nurse coping with a similar circumstance? (cite resource- can be a website, professional source or other source that supports coping with moral distress)
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This is it. One final chance at Europe’s elite competition. It’s been a stressful experience for Saints fans but all that might soon be put behind us as Northampton’s finest look to secure their place against the Challenge Cup winners Stade Francais. The Friday night lights will be sure to draw the numbers to the Garden, but this is going to be a really close encounter.
This will be the first time we’ve seen the two sides meet in the European Champions Cup, and actually will only be the second time the two sides have met; if you can think back to the year of 2002, you might just remember the Garden’s new Church Stand being fully packed out for the pre-season friendly. Names like Matt Dawson and Paul Grayson were present that day, with the scores finishing at 33-33. It was a high scoring classic, but nevertheless it’s 2017, and this is a whole new Saints team.
Having struggled in this years competition, with a record loss to Pro 12 semi finalists Leinster, and defeats against Montpellier and Castres Olympique, their confidence will have taken a knock in this competition. Yet with so much at stake for the Saints after a lack-lustre season in the Premiership, the players will see this as the ultimate redemption to get themselves back on track and back to winning ways. The squad will be bitterly disappointed to have ended up in seventh place, despite their win over Quins back on May 6, so I’d like to see them really show what they’re worth this weekend and put their nightmarish run in Europe to an end with a big win to close the season on a high.
Their game against an out-of-sorts Connacht last weekend was a satisfying victory for the Saints, with Harry Mallinder showing his worth on the field yet again. It was a tough one to watch as Connacht simply wouldn’t go down without a fight but inevitably lost out to Mallinder’s three decisive penalty kicks. The Lions-bound boys George North and Courtney Lawes survived a full 80 minutes, as did England’s captain Dylan Hartley; a good sign for the game against Stade, and for the upcoming international tests over the summer. Dylan will especially be keen to impress after surprisingly being left out of the Lions squad, and North and Lawes will really be looking to prove themselves worthy of a starting place for the first test next month. Add two and two together and you get a Saints side that can inflict a lot of damage on their opponents. Keep your eyes on North however, because I’m really interested to see him up against Vuidarvuwala, two massive defenders with some serious defensive power ready to display on the night; it should be a classic battle of the wingers.
Saints fans will really be breathing a sigh of relief however not because of their line up, but because of the absence of a certain someone from Stade Francais. Sergio Parisse. The loss of the Italian flanker is catastrophic to the team, as his recent performances have been outstanding for the team, with him even proving to have a decent ability at kicking now. His tackling and sheer strength will be sorely missed, as his influence in the forward pack was vital in many fixtures, especially the Challenge Cup final a few weeks ago.
Gloucester entered their final with a good run in recent fixtures. They’d played fantastically to get to the final against La Rochelle, yet they just looked like they were being dominated left right and centre beyond the first try. Jonny May did get a fantastic break for the try but after that, Gloucester seriously struggled to maintain that momentum as soon as Stade overturned the 10-point deficit. Laidlaw’s kicking and Moriarty’s late consolation just weren’t enough on the big day and Stade were able to walk away with the trophy. And it was the missing Parisse that was the mastermind behind this comeback as well. Nonetheless, Saints fans will be praying that Mallinder is wary off their recent European performances because if they can maintain good momentum from the opening quarter, this really could go Northampton’s way on Friday night in my opinion.
There is a significant difference in the squads in terms of key players, with Picamoles, Waller and Burrell all set to start on Friday night. Tom Wood is also coming back to the starting line up to captain the side which is great to see for Tom before he departs for Argentina with the England squad. Yet Stade’s southern hemisphere import of Will Genia and his partnership with Jules Plisson has been deadly in recent fixtures. But in my honest opinion, I think Northampton, if they start well, can really overpower this side in the later stages of the fixture. Stade are coming fresh off the back of a dominating 46-21 win over Cardiff Blues despite being behind at half time. Six tries did the job for them however, and their capability to rack up the points tally in quick succession will be a big worry if Saints crumble under pressure attacking pressure from the TOP14 side. If North can find his scoring form, and Picamoles can keep on shoving men side to side, I really believe that pressure can be lifted, the Saints have the ability to win this game, they’ve just got to avoid getting bogged down under pressure from Stade, especially with the big absence of Parisse.
In a week where the Rugby Players’ Association chairman and none other than Northampton’s own Christian Day called a season extension “upsetting”, he and his men will be eager to get the big win and put what’s been a long season to bed. They’ve been desperate for big results and what other way to do it than to get themselves back into Europe’s elite contest. It’s going to be a colossal encounter for definite.
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The Equal Pay Act of 1963 required that women be paid the same amount as men when performing the same work. This milestone, however, did not go far enough in protecting women from wage discrimination. This 1963 law promoted equal pay for equal work, but beginning in the 1970s, advocates for women’s rights waged a series of legislative and collective bargaining battles to provide equal pay for comparable work as well.
Certain classes of job were predominately held by women, while others were predominantly held by men. Those typically held by men were compensated at a higher rate. Because the work was not the same, in order to press employers to respond to this inequality, advocates first had to determine a way to compare apples to oranges. The internal value of a job was measured by looking at four categories: skills, knowledge, and education required; effort expended in performing the job duties; impact the work contributed to the end product; and working conditions. Each classification was assigned numerical ratings for these categories and quantified. In this way, typically female positions could be compared to typically male positions, even when the duties were different.
One of the major advocates for comparable worth beginning in the early 1970s was the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). At the union’s 1972 convention, a resolution was passed establishing the Interim Committee on Sex Discrimination. This committee conducted a survey of union members to determine what issues they wished the union to address. One of the most pressing issues identified by the Interim Committee was that of sex discrimination on the job, most often expressed in the form of lower pay for women. AFSCME launched a decades-long campaign to press city, county, and state employers to eliminate discriminatory wage schedules for their employees.
This chart from the Washington report plots male- and female-dominated jobs.
In 1973, AFSCME Council 28 in Washington State partnered with then-Governor Daniel Evans to conduct a study of the state’s job classification system and pay scale. The results conclusively showed that jobs typically held by women were compensated at much lower rates than jobs typically held by men, even when the skill and education levels required were comparable. For instance, it was determined that Laundry Worker (typically female) and Toll Collector (typically male) were comparable based on the four factors described above, but Toll Collectors made about $200 more per month than Laundry Workers. Evans did not implement changes before leaving office in 1977. Subsequent governors also failed to do so. In 1981, Council 28 was bolstered by key events in the pay equity battle.
While the Equal Pay Act was somewhat limited, Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act provided an opportunity to challenge for broader protection because it prohibited employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. A court case, originating in 1974 in Oregon (County of Washington, Oregon vs. Gunther) was brought by female prison guards alleging sex discrimination was the only reason their wages were lower than those of male prison guards. In 1981, the United States Supreme Court decided with Gunther that Title VII allowed for challenges based on the comparable worth theory and did not simply protect equal pay for equal work.
Also in 1981, employees of the city of San Jose, California, represented by AFSCME Local 101, went out on strike for eight days in July. They had held a sick-out in 1979 to force San Jose to conduct a wage comparison study. With results in hand, Local 101 tried to negotiate implementing fixes at the bargaining table, but it was going nowhere. Local 101 decided to strike, the first time such a strike had been conducted for the cause of pay equity. Local 101 was successful, and San Jose implemented a $1.4 million package to increase the compensation for female dominated jobs.
The Gunther decision and the success of Local 101’s strike reinvigorated Council 28’s efforts in Washington. In 1981, Council 28 filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). This complaint did nothing to force Washington State to implement changes to its wage schedule, so in 1982, Council 28 filed a federal lawsuit against the state. AFSCME won at the district court level, but lost at the appeals court level. The union filed its own appeal, but ended up settling with Washington out of court in late 1985, over a decade after the initial study was conducted. The settlement awarded millions of dollars in back pay and raised salaries for typically female jobs.
AFSCME saw other pay equity successes both legislatively and at the bargaining table. In 1982, Minnesota became the first state to promote pay equity for public workers by statute. In 1991, police detention aides (mostly female) in New York won a lawsuit that originated in 1982 to bring their compensation in line with jail turnkeys (mostly male). And in 2001, custodians (mostly women) working for the Architects of the Capitol in Washington, DC won a wage increase to equal that of laborers (mostly men).
AFSCME saw numerous other victories over the years that can be explored at the Reuther Library. The AFSCME Program Development Department Records, Part I contain a great deal of material on a variety of women’s issues addressed by the union. The AFSCME Women's Rights Department Records contain consultant reports describing methodologies for conducting wage schedule surveys. The AFSCME Communications Department Records are valuable for researchers of this issue, especially the set of VHS oral history interviews with people involved in the Washington State campaign. AFSCME Office of the President: Jerry Wurf Records, AFSCME Office of the President: Gerald W. McEntee Records, and AFSCME Office of the Secretary-Treasurer: William Lucy Records also hold information that discusses this issue.
AFSCME was not the only organization engaged in pay equity promotion. Researchers should also view the SEIU District 925 Records, the SEIU District 925 Legacy Project, the Coalition of Labor Union Women Records, and the Susan Holleran Papers, among others.
Johanna Russ was the AFSCME Archivist from June 2008 to September 2013.
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Arseny Neskhodimov (1981) born in Samarkand, lives and works in Moscow. In 2003 he graduated from Institute of Culture (Kemerovo) BA in Photography and Cinema. Since 2008 he works as a freelance portrait photographer. Contributes with magazine such as Forbes, Snob, RBK, Esquire and others.
His personal works were awarded and shortlisted by numerous contests such as Silver Camera, IPA, Aesthetica Art Prize, Annual Photography Awards, Kuala Lumpur International Photo Awards, BIFA, International Photography Grant among the others.
In his works author touches upon issues of disillusionment and sense of alienation of the generation born in early 80s.
Moscow
Since I mostly take self-portraits, the main character of my photos is myself and my experiences. The choice to photograph the same character related to the fact that it is easier for me to record changes in my life, the end of one stage and the beginning of the next. Switching from one style to another. This is a kind of diary in which I try to convey a sense of confusion and uncertainty in the modern world where everything has already happened and in my opinion it is only getting worse. In my work, I no longer asking any questions because I don't have any answers to any of them.
Installation views and publications
Even though we created this page for promotional purposes, Attention Hub is a place, where contemporary Russian artists and the global art society meet to communicate.
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TORONTO — Four years ago the Ontario Liberals held a majority government and today they are not-so-affectionately dubbed “the minivan party,” holding so few seats that they could carpool to a caucus meeting.
They have spent the time since their electoral drubbing in 2018 trying to rebuild, though without the benefit of much of their powerhouse machinery of old. Polls suggest they may not be entirely out of the running, but going from seven seats to government is a tall order.
Leader Steven Del Duca was elected by members days before the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 and the Liberals say he has spent the past two years listening to Ontarians, since they identify a failure to do that as a key reason for their 2018 loss.
Del Duca not holding a seat in the legislature has also allowed him to put a lot of energy into candidate recruitment.
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“We started to think about, because we were obviously coming in…from a very behind position, what can we do that can put us in a better position? And we focused in on team,” campaign director Christine McMillan said in an interview.
The candidates themselves had a large hand in platform development, partly because the party was operating on a skeleton staff, but also to take advantage of their experience, McMillan said. Their roster includes a personal support worker, an ER doctor, a hospital CEO, and a well-known mayor.
Rob Gilmour, a strategist and former Progressive Conservative staffer, said the Liberals have put together an impressive team. He noted by way of disclosure that McMillan is a partner at Crestview Strategy, the firm at which he is a vice president _ “I think she’s wonderful. Am I going to vote for her? No, absolutely not.”
“I’ve been impressed with the Liberal party and the efforts they’ve put forward to recruit really interesting, really strong, really diverse candidates from across all parts of Ontario,” Gilmour said.
“It is clear to me that they are serious about rebuilding their party and rebuilding their brand. But it’s also clear to me that they need to be serious about rebuilding their party and rebuilding their brand, because there’s a reason they only won seven seats in 2018.”
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Skyrocketing hydro prices became a flashpoint of anger against the 15-year-old Liberal government, with then-premier Kathleen Wynne admitting she didn’t pay close enough attention to the impacts their attempts to make the electricity system greener had on people’s wallets.
They also angered progressive voters with the partial sale of Hydro One and angered the business community by moving quickly on increasing the minimum wage.
As the Liberals look to overcome any lingering anger from back then, they see their fresh slate of candidates as a key to success. But how does a party starting out so far behind define success?
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Anna Esselment, a political science professor at the University of Waterloo, said she doesn’t believe the Liberals are banking on forming government this time.
“I imagine they are looking two elections out,” she said. “They’ll have goals for this spring that will build to their goals for 2026. So what I would imagine, in the state that they’re in now, is that their first goal would be to achieve official party status.”
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Their seven-seat caucus was just one shy of official party status — a recognition by the legislature that allows them more resources — but the Progressive Conservative government has since boosted the threshold from eight to 12.
A minority government is not impossible, said Andrew Steele, a strategist and former top Liberal staffer, but most Liberals likely have a balanced set of expectations.
“Finishing in a second-place position is a real accomplishment to build on,” said Steele, a vice president at the firm StrategyCorp.
“I think there’s no number that people are going to hold anyone accountable to. It’s more a question of can we recover party status and the resources that go along with that? Did we comport ourselves well and define ourselves as the real opposition to Doug Ford?”
Both the NDP and the Liberals are jockeying for the anti-Ford vote, positioning themselves as the only party that can defeat him. The NDP note the Liberals’ vastly diminished footprint compared to their own 39-seat caucus as evidence they can deliver. The Liberals say that, historically, they are the ones who defeat conservatives.
Ipsos poll: 2022 Ontario election race tightens between PCs and Liberals
Ipsos poll: 2022 Ontario election race tightens between PCs and Liberals
During the last election, polling suggested the NDP was in the lead for a time, before the Progressive Conservatives swept to a large majority, and that was when the Liberals were at their weakest, Steele noted.
“There’s a bit of a ceiling on the NDP support that makes it really hard for them to win an election in Ontario,” he said.
“It has to be a very peculiar set of splits for them to win, whereas the Liberals are a more viable big tent for the not-Doug-Ford vote to coalesce around. So…by winning that progressive primary first, that allows them to be seen as the real opposition to Doug Ford, and then move into a position of being seen not just as the alternative, but as the party that can do a better job of governance.”
McMillan said voters shouldn’t expect to hear the Liberals talk much about NDP Leader Andrea Horwath.
“(It will be) Doug Ford, full stop. It’ll all be conservative,” she said. “Our message to voters is it’s a choice between Conservatives and Liberals.”
Esselment said the Liberals aren’t starting from scratch in that regard.
“They’re not normally a third party, and voters are certainly used to voting Liberal,” she said. “So I think in that sense, there’s going to have to be a bit of that message of: We are rightfully the ones that should be either in government or in the Opposition benches.”
Polling suggests the “progressive primary” is so far going well for the Liberals, with two recent polls putting them ahead of the NDP. But broadly positive polling doesn’t necessarily translate into seats, and with relatively diminished resources the Liberals will have to focus their efforts.
The campaign is likely to spend a lot of time in the Greater Toronto Area, seeking to regain lost ground in the vote-rich and often Liberal-friendly regions.
“The GTA is a target-rich environment for seats and I think election night will come down to _ both by way of a majority or minority and also who does end up being premier _ the story will be told primarily in Brampton, Mississauga and Scarborough,” Gilmour said.
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1910, April 22 - Collision between Kingston and Pembroke train and Kingston, Portsmouth and Cataraqui Electric streetcar, some injuries
From Kingston Daily British Whig 22 April 1910
Struck car
Collision on the Montreal Street crossing,
Engine hit the car
Crushed in the side of the electric van.
There were quite a few passengers on board - a little girl badly cut about the head - a commercial traveler had his back itrained. Ruth Doyle, age 9, seriously injured about head and face.
C. L. O. Lampe age 55, seriously injured about head and back.
James Watson, aged 12, slightly injured about face.
Irene Doyle, age 11, slightly injured on face and legs.
Thelma McDermott, age 10, slightly injured about face.
Lillian McDermott, age 12 slightly injured.
At 12.10 o'clock today the Kingston and Pembroke train number 1, crashed into street car number 15 at the railway crossing, Montreal Street, completely wrecking the car and dealing out serious injuries to some of the passengers, in fact none of the nine people in the car escaped without a few bruises. As shown in the above list, with only one exception all those injured were young tots, on the way home from school for the noonday meal.
Just how the accident occurred could not to be clearly as ascertained. It seems that the Motorman, William Brown, thought he had ample time to cross and the engineer of the train, James Harmer thought he had the same. The nose of the locomotive struck the car just in the center, rear of the stove, making kindling wood of one side, and fairly throwing the twelve-ton car completely across the road. Fortunately the car remained upright and to this fact alone more than one passenger owes his or her life.
The passengers were nearly all seated on the right hand side of the car and little Ruth Doyle, the 9 - year old daughter of John Doyle, 693 Montreal street, was seated just beside the stove, right in line with the locomotive when it struck. Besides her were seated her two sisters, Edith next Irene, and her brother Norman. On the other side of the car Mr. Lampe, and another traveler who was not injured and who left on the train for the west was seated. The motorman was in front and, and the conductor, James Beseau was on the rear platform. James Watson, a young lad, was standing on the step of the car, and just inside the car door and the two little McDermott girls, Thelma and Lillian, were seated. This according to one of the children was the layout of things just before the accident happened.
Miss Doyle's story.
Irene Doyle, aged 11 years, was seen at her home by a Whig representative and she said as they came down towards the track she could see the locomotive coming, and it seemed as if it must strike the car.
"When we came close I ran out of the door, and just got outside when it struck us and I was thrown on the sidewalk on my face." This is all the little girl could say and could not tell how the rest got out or where they went. The little girl was greatly frightened and in severe pain, suffering from a severe bruise on the forehead, and bruises and scratches on her legs, but with it all she told in a clear voice all she knew about the accident.
Ruth Doyle, sister of the absent girl, aged 9, suffered the most severe injuries. She sat, as stated above, just beside the stove, and, when the locomotive struck the car, she was thrown across the car, but managed to keep her feet and get near the door. She was struck by either a piece of the stove on the window glass, and received a very severe cut on the left side of the face, from the eye straight back across the face cutting the ear completely in two and cutting down in the neck. The cut was right into the bone, and whether the skull was injured or not could not to be found out at the time of going to press as the child was still on the operating table at the Hotel Dieu. Injured as she was the little girl, as soon as she got out of the car, ran over a block down Montreal Street to her house, arriving at the door fairly bathed in blood, and just able to stand. She was later removed to the Hotel Dieu.
C. L. C. Lampe, the traveler, was also badly injured, the worst injury being to his back, which was severely strained. He was knocked unconscious and removed to the Randolph hotel and later to the hospital.
All the other injured what able to look after themselves to a certain extent the injuries being only slight ones.
The news of the smash-up spread like wildfire and wild rumors were around the city, that some were killed and some maimed for life, but fortunately both proved wrong. When one stopped and looked at the car as it lay smashed beyond all repair on the road side it could not but say it was indeed a kind Providence that kept the passengers from being killed. The car will be broken up on the spot as it is smashed completely in two, the only thing being of any value being the motors.
All the passengers suffered greatly from fright and especially the children. Motoman Brown and conductor Beseau deserve credit for the way they stuck to their posts, remaining with the car until it came to a standstill. Brown was quite unnerved and when he went down to Mr. Doyle's to see how the little girl was he came nearly losing consciousness.
It was a wild scene for a few moments, with the crowds gathering around, cabs, ambulances, automobiles and locomotives racing hither and thither, and every few moments someone with a bloody face, dusty clothes, or a very serious countenance would be seen pushing through the crowd on the way to the city.
Superintendent Hugh Nickel, President Harry Richardson, Drs. Hanley, Garrett, Gardiner and Sparks was soon on the scene and gave first aid to all those injured.
Corbett's ambulance brought C. L. Lampe, of Frederick, Maryland, a traveler for the Preservaline Manufacturing company, Brooklyn, to the Randolph hotel where Dr. Keyes attended to him. Mr. Lampe was knocked unconscious when the collision occurred and did not remember what transpired. He received a few slight cuts about the head and his back was badly strained. He will be forced to remain in his room for a day or so. He was leaving the city at the time. He was to be removed to the hospital this afternoon for treatment.
The law requires that streetcars should stop at railroad crossings before attempting to cross, and this rule has been pretty faithfully observed by the employees of the local electric line. There is a semaphore on the side of the track nearest the city and this is pulled down by the car conductor, who gets off as the car stops. When the car passes over, the semaphore is put back into its former position, and the conductor returns to the car. Hence accidents are impossible when the rules are carried out by those who operate the car.
One of the Kingston and Pembroke Railway engines was rushed to the scene, as soon as possible with men and equipment necessary to clear the tracks, but it was 1:30 before the line was cleared and the train ready to proceed on its way to Renfrew. As a result of the accident, the Kingston and Pembroke railway missed connections with the fast trains at Sharbot Lake.
F. Conway, Acting Superintendent of the K. & P. Railway, was at dinner when the accident happened, but as soon as word was sent to him, he hurried to the scene in a cab.
A large crowd of citizens gathered at the scene, as the news of the accident spread like fire. All afternoon there was a line of people going out Montreal street to see the wrecked street car.
Semaphore not up.
Later enquiries revealed the fact that the semaphore at the crossing for which the street railway company is responsible, has not been in working order for some time, and it was not put up on this occasion. Engineer Harmer, of the K. & P. train, stated that when his locomotive reached the semaphore, which is 300 yards from the crossing, he saw the streetcar standing still on the city side of the crossing. When the locomotive rounded the curve and came to the straight run for the crossing, he was shocked to see the car loom up right in front of him on the crossing. He was running at the rate of only four miles an hour at the time. As soon as he saw the streetcar on the crossing he reversed and the passengers of the train received quite a shaking, but the engineer by his quick work, saved the lives of several people.
Had the locomotive been running at any kind of speed, there would have been a catastrophe. Things were bad enough, but might have been five times greater.
Engineer Harmer said that there was no semaphore signal. If there had been, his locomotive would have been stopped at once. It seems that the semaphore cannot be worked. Complaints have been made during the past few months about the way the street car crosses the tracks, and it is not long ago that a couple of street railway employees were dismissed by the company for not carrying out orders in regard to crossing the K. & P. tracks on Montreal Street. The company's regulations are strict in that regard. Latterly, the conductor has been getting off the car and looking up and down the railway tracks to see that all was clear. In this case it looks as if the car employee thought there was ample time to get across before the train reached the crossing.
From the Montreal Gazette 23 April 1910
Several Persons Injured in an Accident at Kingston.
Kingston, Ont., April 22. The Street Railway Company will institute an inquiry into a collision today between a Kingston and Pembroke Railway train and a street car at Montreal street crossing. Ruth Doyle, aged 9, had her ear almost cut off. C. L. C. Lampe., commercial traveller, of New York, is in the General Hospital for a few days, his back being badly strained. Nineteen stitches were put into his wounds. The street car was so badly damaged it will be broken up. The railway engineer says no signal was up. The street railway people say the semaphore was out of order, and the conductor says he did not see the train coming when he gave orders to go ahead. Among other passengers, J. R. Wallace, Wm. Buck and R. McGill, all of Toronto, were scratched but were able to catch the westbound train.
From the Ottawa Citizen 23 April 1910
Kingston Street Railway company will institute an inquiry into the collision between a K. and P. railway train and a street car at Montreal street crossing.
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Further to my open letter to The Vegan Society regarding its failure to respond to complaints, trustees have finally started to respond. However, in their response to a complaint by former Vice-Chair, Eshe Kiama Zuri, almost everything that could possibly be wrong is wrong.
Firstly, its worth noting that when a white former-trustee made a complaint about a Black sitting trustee (and a white trustee accused of enabling them), an independent QC was commissioned to investigate those complaints. However, when a Black former-trustee made a complaint about white trustees (and the non-Black trustees of colour accused of enabling them) their colleagues have dismissed those complaints without either:
an investigation, or
the involvement of an impartial adjudicator.
Instead, the complaint was only considered by compromised trustees – four of whom had been co-opted to Council by the accused trustees (effectively appointing their own judge, jury and executioner), while a fifth had been widely celebrated by the very same white former-trustee who made had malicious complaints about the Black former-trustee.
Therefore, they ALL have untenable conflicts of interest and loyalty (i.e. corruption). And the process for handling complaints from Black former-trustees against white trustees is notably different to that for handling complaints from white former-trustees against Black trustees (racism).
Turning to the actual response, trustees consider commissioning "an external investigation into the VS Council due to conflicts of interest and review historical complaints" is "an unreasonably wide accusation, and cannot qualify as a complaint. It is not particularised, and it is not time-bound at all. We believe that it seeks to revisit issues (expressed in vague heading-form only) that are years, even decades, old."
Yet the exact same could be said about the complaints made about Eshe Kiami Zuri. However, unlike the complaints against Eshe Kiami Zuri, the complaints concerns trustees actions within their roles for The Vegan Society; therefore, they are even more important to investigate. And contrary to the claims above, such complaints were time bound – limited by trustees' terms on Council. Nevertheless, the terms of reference for such an investigation into such a complaint could have specified a shorter timeframe if considered necessary; while even the most perfunctory investigation would have allowed complaints to be "particularised" rather than merely dismissed.
The response goes on to deny that "the report has shown this to be a targeted hate campaign". Yet the report concluded that
(1) TB’s complaints against EKZ appear to have been motivated by a profound personal animosity towards EKZ related in part to EKZ’s identity and protected characteristics [young, Black, disabled, queer, non-binary], to their stance on a number of political and ideological issues and to TB’s friendships with individuals who were displaced from leadership positions by the election of EKZ as Vice Chair.
(2) … EKZ was identified as a target for complaints by TB on social media. TB encouraged his followers and other individuals to search for adverse information on EKZ and to provide it to him and to complain to the Vegan Society
Were it not so serious, it would be laughable that trustees could consider that this does not constitute a targeted hate campaign.
Similarly, the claim that Eshe Kiama Zuri was "treated fairly in the handling of the complaints against you" – given both the clear disparity illustrated above, and the comments in the report that:
(3) The Society took a significant period of time to decide how to respond to complaints made against EKZ. During this time Council took no steps to ensure that appropriate support was provided to EKZ or to ensure that the confidentiality of its processes and deliberations were emphasised and maintained. As a result, information which should have remained confidential was placed in the public domain and used to further fuel the campaign against EKZ.
(4) EKZ had previously and appropriately raised concerns about language used by members of Council that raised issues of equality, diversity and inclusion. These have not been adequately addressed in a timely way.
(5) EKZ had previously and appropriately raised concerns about their treatment by members of Council and the Society – those concerns have not been openly or fully addressed.
(6) EKZ had suggested that Council members undertake inclusivity and diversity training in June 2019 - that suggestion was not taken up.
(7) EKZ has been criticised by members of Council for raising their genuine concerns.
(8) The Society does not have an acceptable use social media policy that applies to trustees and provides no guidance to office-holders on social media activities.
(9) The Society does not have an effective mechanism for reflecting on the performance and functioning of Council and identifying and dealing with areas for improvement.
355. I am satisfied in particular that EKZ’s concerns about their treatment by some Council members and in relation to diversity and inclusivity in the Society were raised in good faith.
356. I have received evidence that EKZ was mis-gendered in Council meetings and was on occasions treated in a way which gave rise to legitimate concerns about the fairness and equality of their treatment. I have also received evidence that indicates very clearly that Council is not equipped to have mature and constructive conversations on diversity and inclusion matters; nor is it able to deal effectively with challenges to prevailing orthodoxies.
Not to mention the QC's recommendation that "The Council of The Vegan Society… Adopts a written complaints procedure for dealing with complaints against trustees. That procedure should specify how complaints against the Chair and Vice Chair will be addressed and identify what support will be provided to the subjects of any complaint" – a clear indictment of the processes followed.
Furthermore, the comments about resignation before mediation are entirely disingenuous: while those trustees who resigned voted for mediation, those who remain on Council voted against (with one abstention). Eshe Kiama Zuri's resignation letter also explained:
I am leaving prior to mediation completing as I have said what I needed to say to the mediator about my time on council (in a tear-filled and emotional meeting) and I refuse to go through yet another process where I will be gaslit, abused and our Black service provider will be discredited and torn apart. This will be used to silence myself and others should we try to speak up after mediation, and we will continue to be seen as ‘troublemakers’ for trying to challenge oppressive behaviour and do our jobs as trustees to lead the society in the best way possible.
To suggest that a trustee who has experienced a campaign of sustained abuse (from within Council and without) needs to continue to subject themselves to such abuse so that the organisation might learn from the corresponding investigation (particularly when trustees continue to attempt to undermine its conclusions) is an absolutely disgraceful example of victim-blaming.
The excerpt from the report above that "information which should have remained confidential was placed in the public domain and used to further fuel the campaign against EKZ" also undermines trustees' claim that "there is no specific evidence of breach of confidentiality by the current trustees", while its accusation that Eshe Kiama Zuri promoted access to the leaked report seems to ignore trustees' explicit commitment to " never using confidentiality as an excuse not to disclose matters that should be transparent and open". (Notably, Council had approved publication of this document before that decision was reversed after trustees' resignations.)
When the complaints against Eshe Kiama Zuri were considered to have been "motivated by a profound personal animosity towards EKZ related in part to EKZ’s identity and protected characteristics", etc. (and no evidence was provided to support them) it is clear that they were in bad faith. And the extent of these accusations clearly did bring the society into disrepute. Furthermore, they showed how malicious accusations can easily undermine the society's democracy. Such behaviour must have consequences. To ignore it, is to encourage it.
Sadly, The Vegan Society seems keen to reward racism and bullying, and to punish all who challenge it.
This response is a whitewash – with emphasis on the "white".
See also
Comments
Submitted by Robb on Mon, 20/12/2021 @ 20:58
Two more complainants have had their complaints rejected.
Two more complainants have had their complaints rejected. In each case there has been no investigation, and no impartiality – with accused trustees appointing their own judge and jury.
The board of The Vegan Society is wholly corrupt, and must be removed.
© Copyright 2016 - 2020, Robb Masters.
The views and opinions expressed on this website do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any associated organisations.
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During every Global BC newscast from Monday to Friday of Variety Week, meet children and families that need your help. Only with your support can Variety – the Children’s Charity ensure kids across BC have the tools to reach their potential and thrive. Variety Week will let viewers experience firsthand the difference every dollar can make to a family who need assistance right now. These stories and victories will be updated as part of the 2019 Show of Hearts Telethon in February allowing donors to see their contributions in action.
The goal of Variety Week is wonderfully simple: We want to help as many kids as we possibly can!
Celebrate with us and Global BC on October 26 at our finale at Robson Square. Stay tuned for more details.
Families in every corner of British Columbia are relying on your support to ensure their children are given every opportunity to reach their full potential and thrive. Let’s help these kids be kids. Donate now and see your name on the news during Variety Week.
Ways to Donate:
By texting “KIDS” to 45678 to make an automatic $20 contribution
Don’t forget to tune in to Global BC for every newscast from October 22 to October 26 to see the value of your contribution
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