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Ah, the hype.
There really isn’t anything quite like a Silicon Valley generated hypefest and the introduction of Artificial Intelligence technology – most famously in its ChatGPT and (for images) Lensa AI iterations – is as one Silicon Valley pundit put it “a Netscape moment”.
It is a dramatic departure that points digital communication and information storage, processing and distribution in new directions.
But we don’t know what those directions will be quite yet. Just think, if you’re old enough to remember the first time you saw the Netscape browser, did you honestly believe it would evolve into Facebook?
And, of course, the importance of what Netscape started – the ability for anyone to use the Internet, not just a bunch of folks who understood the ins and outs of Pine and Berkeley Unix – was not understated at the time.
Marc Andreessen, the guy who created Netscape, is now an Silicon Valley legend. Smarter people than the one typing this newsletter hang on his every word. His venture capital investment firm, Andreessen Horowitz (A16Z to insiders – get the little engineer’s joke?) backed Facebook, Airbnb, Lyft and a host of firms you’ve never heard of but which have changed how you conduct business.
In 2011, Andresseen wrote “Why Software is Eating the World” an essay with a lot of smart predictions and observations that have been borne out – many of them by companies his firm has funded. Lately Andreessen’s been writing about AI.
But in a twist that shows just how much things have changed since 1995, Wired magazine editor-in-chief Gideon Lichfield took Andreessen’s essay apart and came up with some smart ideas about how AI hype serves a not-so-obvious purpose for those outside the Silicon Valley insider investment circles. For starters, check out the list of A16z’s investments in that tech.
As a result, Lichfield’s essay, “Mark Andresseen is (Mostly) Wrong This Time” is worth your attention because it does a fantastic job of explaining AI in terms that are understandable to folks who don’t know the ins and outs of Java, C-Sharp and Python.
Here’s Lichfield on how ChatGPT (a Large Language Model) works (emphasis added):
“Large language models (LLMs) are statistical inference algorithms. They predict the next likeliest thing in a sequence of things, such as words in a sentence. They produce what looks very much like human writing because they’ve been trained on vast quantities of human writing to predict what a human would write.”
Which gives you an idea of why political folks have taken to AI a whole lot faster than they did to almost any other digital technology. It’s a machine that apes the behavior it has observed. And AI has observed far, far more than any one person and it can find patterns in those observations that may not be obviously or speedily available to living breathing humans. But it’s horrible at nuance, it’s as creative as your toaster – if your toaster could generate text – and it’s got no sense of irony.
So, let’s get this out of the way. There will be AI-generated campaign ads, AI-generated social media posts, AI-generated music, speech and who knows what else. Some of it will fool people and much of it will be published via automated channels where AI’s fellow machines rule the roost. So, it’s inevitable that there will be a big to-do about political campaign disinformation and platform credibility between now and November 5, 2024. This is likely to raise – again – the questions of how political ads are bought, sold and reviewed in the digital world – a conversation that has been neglected for far too long.
Lichfield points out one overlooked fact: AI machines are built by people. They can be trained and restrained by the people who build them. And that’s worth remembering.
Because AI is going to be used. It will come in real handy for finding stock images – and manipulating them. It’ll make it a lot easier to come up with talking points – and it will pull a few of its own out of thin air. It will build field and media plans and suggest buys and neighborhoods that you didn’t consider – and that might include The Daily Planet and a list of the Fabulous Five‘s home addresses.
So the limitations of what AI can – or should – do will be fairly obvious. But that doesn’t mean it can triumph.
One good tool for political folks worried about “deep fake” AI-generated reels and images is this very nerdy consortium created to authenticate images used in the public domain. You know, like campaign ads. It’s something that the American Association of Political Consultants might find useful as a tool to authenticate the images they are creating.
At Spot-On, we’re spending our time thinking about how those processes can be corrupted, misfire or create havoc and what we think needs to be done to make sure that the ads we deliver aren’t machine-generated nonsense. But we’re going to look – and look long and hard – at other uses because we think its the boring backroom stuff that will, over time, make political AI a technology both a boon and, if it’s not carefully managed, a curse.
Our first step: Walk away from the hype.


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Sixty-two-year-old Žika Todorović from Bijeljina donated more than 100 liters blood in four and a half decades of his humane mission, which has saved dozens of lives in Republic Srpska and beyond.
It all started in 1975 when he accidentally learned that voluntary blood donation was being organized at the hospital in Bijeljina. Driven by the desire to help someone and save a life, he immediately rushed to donate blood, and since then he has proven his humanity numerous times and, according to RS Red Cross records, has become a record holder in Srpska when it comes to voluntary blood donation.
– I have officially given blood 246 times, and I don’t even know for sure with certainty. What I know for sure is that more than 100 liters of blood has leaked from my veins. It is my desire to give blood from both hands at the same time, and I hope to be able to achieve it in the next three years because after 66th birthday I have to say goodbye to this humane mission – says Todorović.
He added that he just to give blood three times a month. Given that the rules in Srpska require that precious fluid can only be given once every three months, Todorović has crossed the borders for this purpose, as evidenced by numerous booklets.
– I donated blood wherever I found myself, including in Germany, Slovenia and Italy, but my blood saved most of the lives in the territory of Serbia. While in the military, I gave blood from vein to vein, which makes me very proud. People offered me everything and everything in return, but I just couldn’t take anything – said Todorović, who gave blood while he was in the hospital.
His big heart saved many people, but he was especially pleased that there was a baby among them.
– On one occasion, when I came to give blood, they told me that it was at that moment that they needed this precious fluid for the baby. I immediately rolled up my sleeve without thinking. I said, “If a liter is required, then remove the liter.” In the end, it turned out that it was my cousin’s daughter – Todorović said.
As he says, a saved life is the biggest reward, and neither skin color nor nationality matters.
– It is a very nice feeling to know that I saved someone’s life, no matter who it is or what it is. In addition, I am also ready to donate an organ to help someone – he said.
In addition to humane reasons, this noble man says, blood should be given at least twice a year for health reasons because it regenerates and rejuvenates in this way. He urged all young people, but also the elderly, to follow in his footsteps.
For his selfless humanity, Todorović received numerous awards, acknowledgments and diplomas. He was awarded, among other things, the “Saint Sava” award given to him by former RS President Rajko Kuzmanović.
A voluntary blood donor can be any healthy person between the ages of 18 and 65.
– Men can donate blood every three months and women every four months. Blood should not be given from people who are currently receiving therapy or who have an acute or chronic illness – it is stated on the website of the RS Institute of Transfusion Medicine, where they point out that the current state of blood supplies is satisfactory.

domain: health


Confident and versatile, the Eurodisc single-lever kitchen faucet complements a variety of kitchens in both look and functionality. At 7-3/16 in. in height, it is ideal for installation under a window, and a generous 9-5/8-in. swivel spout reach ensures easy accessibility. The spout terminates in a pull-out spray head that features locking spray control and a push button that, when pressed, allows users to transition between two spray modesregular flow and spraywith ease. The spray nozzles are protected against lime scale buildup with GROHE SpeedClean technology. The top-mounted lever handle provides precise one-finger control of the water temperature and volume, thanks to a GROHE SilkMove for a lifetime of smooth operation cartridge. Eurodisc is available with a 1.75-GPMwater flow in lustrous GROHE StarLight finish for scratch and tarnish-resistant surfaces for a lifetime of beauty chrome, which will not scratch or tarnish, ensuring a mirror-like shine for years to come.


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LISTEN: Ryan Hemsworth ‘Heavenly’
Producer RYAN HEMSWORTH (not related to Thor) is a Purple Sneakers fave and an underground sensation thanks to internet releases: charming, optimistic productions, “bass-heavy” hip-hop samplings and powerhouse remixes of acts like GRIMES, FRANK OCEAN, LANA DEL REY and CAT POWER.
His latest offering is streaming via Mixmag, and it’s sweet and dirty at the same time, like a POSTAL SERVICE song remixed by XXYYXX, a “naughty schoolgirl” costume, or drinking eight Smirnoff Double Blacks in a row.
‘Perfectly’ has plenty of shimmery, twinkling noises and underwater vocals to satisfy your inner hipster but amongst that there’s substance and meaningful experimentation, and while Mixmag couldn’t put a genre on the track, bloggers have labelled it anything and everything from dreamwave to garage, even going so far as to give it electronic music’s latest buzz-label: trap.
Perfectly will lead on HEMSWORTH’s upcoming EP, Still Awake, due for release next week through his website. May continues shaping up to be a big month for the Canadian: he begins the European leg of his tour, to play venues like Social Club and Brixton Academy, on May 29th in Copenhagen.
Words by Cheryl Billman

domain: artistic


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The Cost of Procrastination
Procrastination can be costly. When you get a late start, it may be difficult to make up for lost time.
Have A Question About This Topic?
Taking regular, periodic withdrawals during retirement can be quite problematic.
The average retirement lasts for 18 years, with many lasting even longer. Will you fill your post-retirement days with purpose?
As our nation ages, many Americans are turning their attention to caring for aging parents.

domain: sociology


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Personally I love 5E Dungeons & Dragons. It’s a system that certainly has its flaws, but it’s beginner-friendly, easy to create a game for, and introduced me into world of TTRPG. This not only led to great stories and campaigns but also introduced me to multiple people who became incredibly good friends over the years. 5E has a lot going for it.
But it is a flawed system and some of its decisions are…baffling at best.
Fortunately, the books are very clear that 5th Ed is meant to be a malleable system. The rules are guides but at the end of the day what the DM says goes. I mean, there were multiple things we were going to homebrew even if it wasn’t written that way, but there’s no reason to feel guilty about shifting, changing rules, or altering how things work for your campaign.
More than any other DnD edition, 5E is mean to be adaptable. So with that in mind, here are our group’s favorite rule changes, and homebrew adjustments.
Our 7 Best Homebrew Rules/Changes for 5E DnD
These aren’t going to be for everyone, and depending on the type of campaign being run some may apply more than others. That said, these are the seven favorite custom home rules we’ve found from nearly 8 years of playing 5th Edition D&D.
4 Attuned Magic Items Instead of 3
Homebrew Rule: All player characters can have four magically attuned items at any one time, as opposed to the book rule of three.
To my last day on this planet I’ll never understand the logic when releasing 5E as a “low magic” system. I think so many of the complaints, gripes, necessary revisions & addendums have all been as a result of the limitations to magic and magic items that were setup with the 5E system. The official rule is that characters can only have 3 attuned magic items at a time. I’ve never played a single game where we actually enforced this rule.
I understand wanting to prevent an extreme amount of power creep, especially in a system that just wasn’t designed to deal with it, but three? Really?
Three just isn’t enough. It really isn’t. I get scarcity, and honestly with 4 players feel like they can power up at high levels and frequently at the table decisions were still being made between one item and another. If you introduce artifacts in epic level campaigns then the artifact is a no-brainer however that still means a really good magic item has to be unattuned to make room and watching players struggle to make these decisions told me it worked well.
They got to feel like powerful heroes, they still had to make tough decisions.
Trust us, your want to go with 4 attuned magic items instead of 3. It’s a small adjustment that makes an awesome difference and a better game, in our experience.
Zombies Cause Infection
Homebrew Rule: Just like in real life, zombie bites cause infection and if you don’t have that remove curse and those medicine checks fail…
Zombies seem to be cool almost everywhere but 5E. While the chance for them to save throw to 1 HP can make a group of them threatening at low level, it also mechanically can become a grind. Do you know what can make them more terrifying? If they cause infection. The type that requires a remove curse or something similar to avoid the player from turning undead.
You’re away from civilization, you’re low level, thus still dealing with zombies, and a bite occurs. Since zombie bursts don’t happen fortified cities you may have to use that remove curse scroll you found. What if no one is high enough for remove curse?
The race to civilization begins as you are now on a counting clock!
This is fantastic because there are so, SO many ways to play it.
- Medicine checks from members of the party skilled in it buy you time, but can’t cure or stabilize it
- Start playing with levels of exhaustion as the party must rush to a place where a high enough cleric can cure him
- Finding rare plants along the way to buy more time becomes an adventure for the ranger trying to help you
- The afflicted player gets weaker as they continue to move through territories that still have danger
There is tension. There is a race against time. The players have some ability to tilt things in their favor but there is serious tension. Dice (chance) still come into play.
A “simple” zombie infestation in D&D 5E becomes something to be massively feared once again and puts on more of that feeling of dread and terror that the horror genre gets from them but DnD tends not to.
I Know A Guy…
Homebrew Rule: Players can work with the DM to pull the “I know a guy” card, helping explain who their contact is, how he/she was met, and painting some backstory with the DM’s guidance to help paint the world all of them in. This not only gives them direction when floundering and
This is one that I found interesting and it makes perfect sense though outside of a very collaborative system where it’s actually sort of built into the rules, I have never heard this homebrewed into an established system before. But I like it. “I Know A Guy” refers to the party running into an obstacle or needing some help and a player can play the “I know a guy…” card.
They say they know a guy who can help them, and then are responsible for fleshing out an entertaining backstory right then and there. The DM can help, guide, or make suggestions if one part of a story is clashing with another, or if changing a minor detail really plays into the story. This allows players to not only get the help they need during particularly challenging parts of the session but also to contribute to creating this world, introducing NPC characters and backgrounds, and be invested in the story.
You never know when a mission, a story, an NPC created by a player can create an awesome experience that not only adds depth to the world but creates something the DM can really work with to create cool places, backstory, or side quests along the main quest.
Additional Proficiencies for Intelligence Points
Homebrew Rule: Intelligence is an important skill. For each intelligence point bonus (or for every +2 over 10) the player gets to learn another language or pick a tool skill proficiency.
This is a rule borrowed from Pathfinder and it makes a lot of sense. Intelligence is an important trait in real life, and while a couple of really good skills are attached to it in 5E, unless you’re a wizard (and now also an artificer) it just feels weak. Obvious dump stat for more than just the barbarian.
However, this rule states that for every additional bonus point of intelligence (in other words when you have an even number above 10 so you have an Int bonus) for each of those points a player gets to learn another language, or pick up a tool proficiency. These are little things, but they make perfect sense with what Intelligence is while rewarding intelligent players in a way that is useful but not even close to game breaking.
This is a good rule that rewards intelligent players playing the roll of scholar and for the bard or the rogue who have extra stats to spare, getting this little bonus for tools and language can make the plyer more useful in their rolls, give more skills, or allow them to listen into more conversations.
Depending on the table this could be adjusted for non-proficient Int stats or more. There are plenty of options here and regardless of how you go, it makes a lot of sense and makes Intelligence a more important stat without busting the game – which it honestly should be.
Exchanging Athletics and Acrobatics Checks
Homebrew Rule: An athletics check can switch to acrobatics for Dex-based characters if they can describe how to do it, with the same applying to acrobatics checks to athletics for Str-based characters.
This is one that I use all the time. Some athletic characters are strength based and want to use an athletics check. There are other times when a heavy DEX-based character in great shape wants to use acrobatics. Truth be told, I allowed this to be an either/or so often as DM that I often forget this is actually technically a homebrew rule.
Most of the time these can be somewhat interchangeable, and I love letting my players succeed by pitching the case for their skill and describing how to tackle the current obstacle requiring a check in a unique way. When they give a great pitch and then fail it’s just funny for the whole table. No downside to this one.
Every so often I will rule that something is clearly a strength-based check or a dexterity-based check so it has to be one or the other. However, I’ve found that well over 90% of the time that acrobatics and athletics checks can be treated interchangeably.
This lets characters thrive, keeps the game running fast and smooth, and really doesn’t have a downside.
Homebrew Rule: When hitting a situation or scene that could be uncomfortable or unpleasant to describe, just pull out the “and scene” curtain.
There are a few situations where this could come up. So why describe a grisly death? Just say curtain. Especially if you have a combat veteran or EMT at the table trying to get away from that stuff. Village destroyed by goblins? There’s no reason for details about children dying, or the more gruesome aspects of a place being razed. Just black curtain the details.
Different people have different triggers or this can be as simple as avoiding awkwardness when the table just doesn’t need details. “I’m going to the brothel.” “Cool, black curtain, spend X gold if you go cheap, Y gold expensive. Roll for drink cost.” That’s it. World immersion, character independence, no too much details moment.
Another reason for this is out of control players who need to be reigned in. In fairness there are some cases where just one player is ignorant of something that affects how another player views things. There are also just problem players and having the black curtain rule lets you put down your foot while setting expectations.
As much as anything this is more a sign of good conscientious DM’ing than an actual homebrew rule but it’s important enough that this is a good way to let the table know, hey, when I say black curtain or and scene, there’s no more discussion, we’re moving on.
This is also a rule that may come up more with other settings like Vampire the Masquerade or Call of Cthulhu where depending on the campaign there are more adult themes that can cause more instances of discomfort, dark themes, or other similar situations. However, having this rule in place for all campaigns is just good practice.
Rule of Cool
Homebrew Rule: If it’s really really cool, give the player a chance to pull it off even if you need to bend the rules just a little bit.
We can’t have a homebrew rule list without the rule of cool. Explaining this can be hard to do, but if you’ve been around the table long enough you know when something potentially awesome is going to happen and a good DM knows to sometimes bend the rules just a little to allow the player a chance to pull this off.
After all, you’re looking for those memorable moments in game. These need to be done within reason, but if the player can paint a scene and give a reason why, take a look at making it work. Or at least giving them a chance. I’ve even used the line “I’m going to allow you to try because of the rule of cool but if you fail, I am going to totally F with you.”
This is also a good rule for new players coming in. When I ran a one-shot for Phil’s wife during her first D&D session she was a dual wielding ranger and described a move where one axe was to disarm and enemy of his shield and bring the second in. That was NOT the time to ask if she had the dual wielding feat, what the math was, or point out that was two actions.
I wanted a new player, who was bonding with something her husband loved, to enjoy herself. So I ad-libbed using the rule of cool. Dex check to see how cleanly the disarm took place, then one die for the attack.
That went smoothly, gave her a chance to experience something cool, and gave the best experience for a memorable one shot. Mission accomplished!
That’s a great array of homebrew rules that honestly cover quite a variety of situations. Are there ones that your table uses or that we missed that you think would be great? Talk to us on Facebook or join our amazing community on Patreon that includes a Patrons-only Discord and whose feedback helped create this article.
Above all a game should be a fun group story-telling experience and if these home rules create a better experience, then we’re all for adding them to help provide that for everyone involved!
Other DnD Articles You May Love
- My Introduction to Pathfinder: The Charismatic Barbarian
- How Long Should a DnD Session Last
- Keen Mind 5E
- What Is Passive Perception?
Proud to embrace the locally created moniker of “Corrupt Overlord” from one of the all time great Lords of Waterdeep runs, Shane is one member of the Assorted Meeples crew and will be hard at work creating awesome content for the website. He is a long-time player of board games, one time semi-professional poker player, and tends to run to the quirky or RPG side of things when it comes to playing video games. He loves tabletop roleplaying systems like Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, Werewolf, Fate, and others, and not only has been a player but has run games as DM for years. You can find his other work in publications like Level Skip or Hobby Lark.

domain: game


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The New Mutants Will Be Released, New Trailer Coming in January After Disney Merger with Fox
The poorly reviewed (but underrated) X-Men: Dark Phoenix was the last film in the 20th Century Fox era of Marvel’s mutant movies. However, it wasn’t supposed to be. Before Disney purchased 20th Century Fox this year, The New Mutants was to be the first in a branch of spin-off films based on Marvel characters. Originally set for release in April of 2018, the film kept being pushed back until fans wondered if the film wouldn’t be released at all. Well, director Josh Boone promised a trailer for The New Mutants is coming in January, meaning the film will be released. (Maybe?)
The whole situations about whether The New Mutants will or will not be released is complicated beyond just date changes. Currently set for a release of April 3, 2020, The New Mutants is the only Disney film about to be released with no marketing campaign to speak of. A pair of trailers were released some time ago, but as the dates shuffled it seemed like the film would never see the light of day. Some speculated that it may end up as a Disney+ original, but Disney insists it will be released to theaters.
What Is The New Mutants and Why Has It Not Been Released Yet?
The New Mutants was to be the first released in a trilogy set in the Marvel mutant universe but leaning more towards horror than a typical superhero action romp. The film reportedly underwent extensive reshoots, causing it to miss its initial release date in 2018. It then ended up rescheduled two more times, because it would have ended up competing with Deadpool 2 or X-Men: Dark Phoenix which were in theaters at the same time. Simon Kinberg, who’s written for Star Wars and directed Dark Phoenix, envisioned the The New Mutants as a horror trilogy or series of films that would use superpowers as a way into different horror styles. However, with the sale of Fox to Disney and the flop of the final X-men film, all those plans disappeared like Nightcrawler.
Still, if Disney wants The New Mutants released in theaters, it seems strange they are not promoting the film at all. Sure, they’ve had a busy couple of months with Frozen 2 and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Still, the dearth of promotion for a film already more than a year past it’s initial release date does not bode well. Nonetheless, Boone revealed that a new trailer for the film drops sometime in January. He responded to a user’s comment on an Instagram photo of Stephen King’s new book. “Soooooon. January,” he wrote in reply to a user’s request for a new trailer.
What do you think? Will The New Mutants be released in theaters or should they just put it on Disney+? Check out the old trailer and let us know what you think in the comments.
Featured image via 20th Century Fox
Joshua M. Patton is a father, veteran, and writer living in Pittsburgh, PA. The first books he read on his own were comics, and he's loved the medium ever since. He is the greatest star-pilot in the galaxy, a cunning warrior, and a good friend. His book of superhero short stories, Tales of Adventure & Fantasy: Book One is available as an ebook or paperback from Amazon.

domain: entertainment


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Sissy Spacek in Badlands, 1973. By permission of Criterion Collection.
Lovers on the run tend to travel light. Generally speaking, in our collective imagination, accoutrements tend to be limited to car (probably stolen), gun (also stolen), clothes on their backs. Yet Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate (captured in 1958 after a violent shooting spree in Nebraska and Wyoming that left eleven dead) become legend in part by leaving behind a physical trail. Of the multiple films inspired by the Starkweather-Fugate killings, Terrence Malick’s 1973 Badlands (newly released by the Criterion Collection), is the one that—even as it takes dramatic liberties—most explicitly focuses on these tangible objects. Kit and Holly (Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek) cart along a birdcage, a copy of Kon-Tiki, and a Maxfield Parrish painting; the film’s art director, Jack Fisk, filled one character’s house with $100 worth of random pieces—a jar of black widows, a giant ball of twine—he’d bought from the relatives of a dead man. Just prior to their capture, Kit buries a few of their belongings, described in deadpan voice-over: “He said no one else would know where we put ’em, and that we’d come back some day, maybe, and they’d still be sitting here just the same, but we’d be different, and if we never got back, well, somebody might dig ’em up a thousand years from now and wouldn’t they wonder.”
Nearly forty years later, Christian Patterson’s 2011 book of photographs, Redheaded Peckerwood, continues down a similar path. Already in its third edition, with a thoughtful introduction by Luc Sante and curator Karen Irvine, Patterson’s is a work that defies the easy definition of photo book, approaching as it does the Starkweather narrative from a number of vantage points: newspaper clippings, interviews, ephemera. The photographs of bits of evidence, or of things belonging to the killers and victim—a hood ornament from the getaway car, the teenage Fugate’s stuffed toy poodle—have the aura of a saint’s relics. Tucked into the binding of the book are more souvenirs, reproductions of documents related to Starkweather (a store receipt with a poem printed on its reverse side; a typed list of dirty aphorisms). Even those things that are not directly related to Starkweather and Fugate take on the air of authenticity; the effect of seeing all these effects, in the context of the photographer’s present-day mapping of their journey, is transcendent and shocking, the objects themselves acting as witnesses.
What struck you most about Badlands when you first saw the film?
I was taken with the film in every way. Visually, it was just so damn beautiful, with its big, painterly skies and endless, romantic landscapes. And thematically, well … it was one hell of a crazy story. Sheen and Spacek were great too. It’s a great film.
What were some of the first pictures you made that appear in the book? And when you arrived in Nebraska, what were some of your early impressions?
House at Night and Ray of Light stand out in my mind. The former is the first of my photographs that appears in Redheaded Peckerwood and the latter is one of the last.
This story is quite well documented, and parts of it are well preserved in these various archives. But after all of my research, I felt that there was still plenty of room for me to step into this story, to attempt to reconstruct, then deconstruct, and ultimately fragment it. A new vision for the work began to form in my head—the idea of presenting this true crime story through a mix of photographs, documents, and objects, challenging the viewer to sift through the information, to decipher the visual clues—to deal with the crime story in a similar way an investigator or researcher would.
House at Night, 2007.
How did those you approached in the course of your research respond?
The Starkweather-Fugate story is one of the biggest news stories in the history of Nebraska. There, the story is one of those events like the Kennedy assassination—anyone who was alive at the time remembers exactly what they were doing when the story first broke, and they remember that week of terror very clearly. Lincoln, Nebraska, is a relatively small city and Nebraska is a sparsely populated state.
For all of these reasons, it’s not hard to find people who have very personal connections to the story—family members of the killers and their victims, people who worked for the newspaper or police department, or who were somehow involved in the eventual trial. There’s still a lot of raw emotion surrounding the story. Some people are very eager to share their stories. Other people just want it all to go away.
I was also able to find people in the possession of various personal objects outside official archives—photo booth portraits of Caril Ann, Charlie’s cowboy boots, and even the car they drove as they fled Lincoln for Washington State, among other things. The people who now own these things were initially cautious about sharing them, but once I was able to explain my intentions, they shared them enthusiastically.
Map of Lincoln (Erased), 2010.
Objects related to killers, whether actual evidence or simply things they touched, weirdly take on the quality of relics, and they certainly do in Badlands, from the things Kit and Holly carry with them on their journey to the comb and lighter that Kit, in his moment of celebrity, gives away like party favors or souvenirs to the officers after his capture. In your book, without pointing out what is “authentic” and what is not, you depict both actual ephemera and places related to Fugate and Starkweather, as well as things that look like they might have been theirs, or touched by them. What was your thinking behind the ephemera you chose to photograph and that which you include, in reproduction form, in the book?
As I said, I researched the story intensely. I read every book I could get my hands on and took note of anything of interest or potential. I began with factual information—dates, times, and places of the crimes, and every other known location involved in the story. But I also included many random ideas—long lists of visual ideas, objects, random words and phrases, anything that painted a picture in my mind.
Two of my favorite scenes in Badlands involve the objects that Kit and Holly carry with them—the scene where they bury a metal bucket containing some of these things and launch a red balloon, and the scene towards the end of the film when Kit is on the run alone, stops at a gas station and opens up a suitcase from the car. We catch a glimpse of clothes, cigarettes, and a magnifying glass.
My friend Luc Sante says murder charges everything it touches, and he’s right. I’m fascinated with the idea of the object as relic or talisman—an object taking on significance as a result of something other than itself.
Redheaded Peckerwood open to I Pledge Allegation, 2010.
But you also handled one of the weapons, and you saw Caril Ann’s photo diaries, as well as walking into and photographing some of the murder sites, correct? What was that like? Did it have a markedly different feel than some of the other places you visited on the trip?
Yes, these experiences were chilling and strangely thrilling. But most importantly they really brought home the fact that I was dealing with something very real, and very serious, not just something that I had seen in a movie or read about in a book.
One of the most resonant images in Redheaded Peckerwood is that of a house aflame, burning down to its foundations. You didn’t set a house on fire, as Malick memorably did in the film—when Kit turns over a gas can on Holly’s piano and they flee her childhood home—but that scene certainly comes to mind. It feels like it may have been one of the perfect “right place, right time” accidents that happen in art—like another famous shot in Badlands, when Malick pulled over the car he was driving Martin Sheen in one day, grabbed the camera, and captured Sheen looking out at the moonrise, a shotgun slung under both arms. What’s the story behind your burning house photograph, say, versus a later image of a fire blazing at the base of a tree?
I allowed my ideas to come from almost anywhere, including my own imagination, so some of the images are very close and true to the story while others are more mythical or atmospheric in effect. Badlands includes the famous fire scene, but the Starkweather story involved no fire at all.
The House on Fire image was one of those dumb luck “right place, right time” moments. I was driving through Nebraska on a very cold, snow-covered day and saw a plume of very black smoke on the horizon. I drove toward the smoke and when I arrived at its source I found a small house burning down, in the middle of nowhere. I arrived before the small local volunteer fire department and was able to get off a few shots before the house was completely gone.
The Tree on Fire image was shot in a different place, and in another year. The Nebraska Land Management Bureau has a prescribed burn program where well-controlled fires are deliberately set to clear brush and debris on the land, mostly in farming areas. I happened to catch a crew of burners finishing a field at the very end of a day. They had piled up some debris at the base of this tree, set it on fire, and driven away. But what I like about the image is that you can’t tell if the fire is just starting or ending.
I included the fire images in my work because they are obviously a fitting metaphor for the destruction Starkweather caused as he traveled through this same landscape.
House on Fire, 2008.
Malick wanted the movie to “set up like a fairy tale, outside time.” Your pictures also have a timeless feel—actual documents are mixed in with contemporary photographs, period objects photographed in present day are shot as if they’re intended to appear dated. I’m interested in your choice to make them consciously anachronistic.
I often try to make photographs that have a classic or timeless feeling. I don’t say this as a value judgment, but a visual one. I often try to avoid time signals in my images—things that give away the time period in which the image is made.
Malick made Badlands in 1973—only fifteen years after the Starkweather spree. I made Redheaded Peckerwood fifty years after the fact, so I had to work carefully and strive for a certain timeless look. I think I was successful, with one exception. There is an image called Telephone, which includes a push-button telephone that didn’t exist in 1958. But I felt the image was so eerie and powerful that it overcame that concern. When I saw that phone, I just imagined that if I picked up the receiver I’d hear the most horrible news.
On the other hand, you did heavy research not only into the news stories surrounding the actual Starkweather story, but also into the vernacular of the period. Some of those examples are incorporated as ephemera bound into the book. And the title, Redheaded Peckerwood, comes from an insult lobbed at Charles Starkweather when he was growing up, right? How did what you discovered in your language research inform the book?
I’ve always been a fan of slang, and I became fascinated with the teenage slang of the time period—words and phrases like cherry, cool as a cucumber, daddy-o, drop dead twice, and kooky, just to name a very few. I made lists of these words and phrases, just like my lists of more obviously visual ideas. For the longest time, I didn’t know what to do with them. But I finally came up with the idea of painting the words and phrases by hand, in a traditional sign maker’s typeface evocative of the time, utilizing colors that directly complemented those contained within my photographs.
One of the most successful things about the book is the way humor pervades the violence. Was that always there, or was there a point when you felt like you were deliberately introducing a sort of macabre into the narrative?
Much of the perceived humor in the book comes directly from the story. I didn’t make it up. “The Election Is Over,” a political poem, and “Confusais Say” [sic], a list of dirty limericks, both came from one of the victim’s wallets. “I pledge allegation” was actually a phrase uttered by Starkweather when he meant to say the Pledge of Allegiance. It’s a beautiful mistake.
I did try to have a little fun with the titles of some of the work—Shit from Shinola, Stairway to Nowhere, Switcheroo, and The Writing on the Wall, to name a few.
I wasn’t so interested in being funny—I was interested in the strange feelings that result from the combination of other feelings, how humor and sadness can combine to be bittersweet, and how humor and death or violence can combine to be macabre.
Shit from Shinola, 2010.
Let’s talk about the way that signs and advertising language work in Redheaded Peckerwood. In the film, Holly’s father, played by Warren Oates, is a stern and forbidding man who kills her dog as punishment, yet paints sunny, bright advertising signs and billboards for a living. When written language appears in your photos in this book, it has that sharp-intake effect of delivering both laughter and shock—the painted words What happens after the SHOT was fired? sequenced just before a photograph of a bullet-riddled car, for instance. The last photograph in the book is of the words Let’s go out and get a STEAK—with painted flames smoke arising from the word STEAK in a way that’s both funny and haunting.
I’m known more as a photographer, so it’s important to point out that the signs were designed and painted by hand, and only photographed for the purposes of the book. There are three signs in my book but I created several more that are sometimes shown in exhibitions.
The “Fruit Cake 98 Cents” and “Ask for Ethyl” signs were inspired by similar signs that appear in a black-and-white police photograph of a gas station that I discovered in an archive. Starkweather robbed the station, stole a stuffed toy poodle for Caril Ann, then kidnapped and executed the attendant.
The end piece, Let’s All Go Out and Get a Steak, was supposedly said by Starkweather’s father moments after his son was sentenced to die in the electric chair. How’s that for macabre?
Stuffed Toy Poodle, 2007.
Redheaded Peckerwood has just come out in its third edition—congratulations! Tell me about the additions and changes in the later editions. Do you think it will keep evolving in future editions?
The second edition has improved reproductions incorporating different inks and varnishes, and the booklet tucked into the back of the book includes a few courtroom sketches of Starkweather. Between the second and third editions, I learned of a man who was working on an old house near Lincoln, Nebraska, and discovered a stash of photographic negatives and prints hidden inside one of the walls of the house. I spent a day tracking him down on the phone, and he very kindly sent the prints to me. Most of the images were gruesome crime scene photos, and I’ve never wanted to include anything to gory or sensational. Surprisingly, this story continues to unfold, now more than fifty years later. The third edition includes one of the photographs found in the wall of the house, along with three new archival images and one new insert—a facsimile of a postcard with a message written on the back.
I made this work to share it, and I see no reason to not share new material as it comes my way—as long as it adds to the work in what I feel is a compelling way. I can’t imagine a fourth edition of the book but if that opportunity presents itself I’ll consider adding any worthy new discoveries to the mix.
Last / Next Article

domain: library


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Monday, May 17, 2010
Finally! We've had it in fits and starts the last two weeks-- a minute here, an hour there... not much more than that. And always at 11 am. Ask me how I know?!
Today, however, we've had sun for a couple of hours. We're all rejoicing, especially Sunburst. For the last two weeks she has been painstakingly monitoring the sun's presence and trying to build a sundial. It's not so easy when the sky has been constantly filled with rain and dark clouds and terrible gusts of wind.
It would have been much easier and more accurate to make one on paper, and we eventually will, but I think this way she's learning so much more than she ever imagined. And she's having loads of fun doing it. She opted to make the numbers in cuneiform, as they might have done in ancient Babylon.
Plus, any excuse to go outside and visit the horses is a good one...

domain: hobby


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The McGill Post-Graduate Student Society voted to leave the Canadian Federation of Students in a referendum last month. It has been a long and litigious road to get to this point: since 2010, it has cost the PGSS upwards of $400,000 in legal fees in trying to disassociate from the organization. Now, the PGSS has taken their cause to court once again in order to ensure a fair referendum process. On January 7, a Quebec Superior Court judge ruled that some of the restrictions imposed by the CFS on the referendum were unconstitutional, including banning campaigning in the student union building or wherever liquor is served.
The PGSS isn't the only Quebec student union that is no longer satisfied with the CFS. Since 2009, nearly all Quebec schools represented by the CFS have tried to leave the organization. The Concordia Undergraduate Student Union, the Concordia Postgraduate Student Union, and Dawson College have all been locked into legal battles in order to force the CFS to recognize the results of their respective defederation referendums.
The complaints against the CFS range from corruption, to electoral fraud, to suppression of free speech. In a scathing commentary published by the McGill Daily, former PGSS president Jonathan Mooney wrote, "CFS will stand up for freedom of expression with regard to its own speech but will seek to limit freedom of expression when its members are seeking to leave. This approach…demonstrates the contradiction between CFS' principles and its practices."
On their end, the PGSS cites ideological differences for their clashes with Quebec student unions. "Historically, the Federation and Québec students' unions have had a very different relationship than with schools in other provinces," says Jessica McCormick, national chairperson of the CFS, via email. "There have been longstanding grievances on both sides."
Currently, the PGSS have no plans to pursue membership with any other union.
Jessica Prupas is rabble.ca's Blogs intern.
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$ 400 USD
We are happy to Announce our litters of tiny Maltese pups boys and girls potty trained playful with kids and other house pets ready for their new homes now
Temperament: Playful, Affectionate, Intelligent, Lively, Fearless, Docile, Responsive, Gentle, Sweet-Tempered, Active, Easygoing
Height: Male: 21–25 cm, Female: 20–23 cm
Weight: Male: 3–4 kg,...

domain: pet


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In Western society, we seek help from pharmaceuticals at the onset of a problem the way a toddler calls for mommy every time he needs to pee. The toddler will soon realize that he actually does not need a 3rd party to relieve himself. In the same light, you most likely do not need pro-hormones, hormone replacement therapy, testosterone patches and creams, injections, or contraband steroids. There are natural approaches to amplifying your testosterone levels.
If you’re already taking your tongkat ali, your maca, your fenugreek, and your tribulus, good job! Your testicles might be bursting at the seams. However, there is more you can do, another effective natural method. Consider adding foods that increase testosterone levels to your diet. If you are skeptical that it can really make a difference, eating these types of foods can increase testosterone by about 20%-30%. Or, if you’re like me and a huge Tim Ferriss fan, you actually believe his almost preposterous claim to having doubled his testosterone through diet alone. Read my article, Tim Ferriss’s testosterone diet, if you’re curious.
Foods That Can Increase Your Testosterone Level
1. Go Mediterranean. Keeping up with specific types of food that you should or should not eat can be hard, especially if you don’t have a general guide. There are a number of studies that have concluded that the Mediterranean diet can indeed boost the amount of testosterone in the body, and enhance the strength of an erection as well. The Mediterranean diet contains a lot of healthy fat, like polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat. Aside from being pro-testosterone, the Mediterranean diet is also the only diet that is certified to help decrease the chances of developing cancer and heart conditions. Those who are taking erection enhancement supplements can also benefit from the Mediterranean diet. This type of diet originated from the Southern part of Greece, and is composed of food groups such as nuts, whole grains, fruits, extra virgin olive oil, red wine, fats and vegetables.
2. Garlic. According to a research conducted by the Kobe’s Women’s University, an increase in the intake of garlic can actually enhance the testosterone level of the body, given that garlic is also complemented with a high protein diet. A compound called the diallyldisulfide can be found in garlic, and this compound is responsible for producing the testosterone stimulating hormone (TSH). This is an aptly named hormone.
Now you know I prefer studies conducted on human participants instead of rodents, but often there is no choice. A Japanese study on rats that you can read here: http://jn.nutrition.org/content/131/8/2150.short has demonstrated pretty convincingly that garlic supplementation significantly increases testosterone. I wish there were more tests on humans but it turns out garlic isn’t patentable (sorry Monsanto) which means there isn’t enough financial interest to warrant human studies. Maybe I’ll conduct one. Any volunteers?
3. Beans. Beans are an excellent source of fiber, protein and zinc. If you compare beans with other vegetables, you will see that beans have the highest zinc content. This is a good thing if you’re trying to get your testosterone levels up since zinc plays an important role when it comes to testosterone production. Without an adequate amount of zinc in the body, the testosterone produced will be converted into estrogen. Likewise zinc may help convert estrogen back into testosterone. Yet another study on rats confirms this. Sorry for the rat-heavy studies in this post.
Men who are worried about their sperm count may want to increase their intake of zinc, since zinc can also help enhance sperm production. If you’re planning on eating more beans to increase your testosterone, make sure that you’re eating the right type of beans. Lima beans, kidney beans, navy beans and baked beans are safe choices.
Read this tiny abstract that shows convincingly that zinc is essential to healthy testosterone levels…in actual human beings! While scouring the internet I have seen a few site poo-pooing the effectiveness of zinc supplementation. They especially need to read this study.
4. Foods rich in vitamin A. Vitamin A is more commonly known for its association with eyesight improvement, but it is also a vitamin supplements the production of testosterone. The June 2004 issue of the Clinical Endocrinology journal published research conducted by Israel’s Kaplan Medical Center. This study involved Israeli boys that had delays in puberty. These boys were given Vitamin A supplements and foods rich in Vitamin A over the course of 6 months, and most of them showed an improvement with their testosterone levels. If you want to boost the level of testosterone in your body, food types that are rich in Vitamin A are carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, cantaloupe and eggs.
5. Beef. Is there a manlier food than steak? Release your inner carnivore if you want to boost your testosterone level. Lean beef is rich with zinc, saturated fat, iron, protein and magnesium. We’ve already mentioned earlier on how zinc can enhance the production of testosterone. Lean beef can be an excellent food choice, since you can increase your testosterone level and muscle mass at the same.
Don’t overdo it, however. Watch your cholesterol and saturated fat intake. We know that saturated fat isn’t all that healthy, but many people are not aware that saturated fat and cholesterol are required to produce testosterone. Eat beef, be a man, but keep it reasonable.
6. Foods rich in vitamin D. If you’ve been thinking of increasing your testosterone levels, you better stock up on those mushrooms, salmon and milk. Clinical Endocrinology’s August 2010 issue published a study that was conducted by Austria’s Medical University Graz. According to the researchers, mushroom, salmon and dairy products are examples of food that are rich in Vitamin D. These researchers also found a relationship between Vitamin D and testosterone. Their study has shown that individuals with high levels of Vitamin D also had high testosterone levels. The obvious inverse relationship was true as well. Click here for a convincing study on HUMAN BEINGS to back this up.
ADD Version of this post:
- Before doing anything artificial, try taking a natural approach to increasing your testosterone
- You can increase your testosterone by modifying your diet
- Try the Mediterannean Diet
- Eat Garlic
- Eat beans: lima, kidney, navy
- Eat foods rich in vitamin A: carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, cantelope, eggs
- Eat beef
- Eat Foods rich in vitamin D: mushrooms, salmon, drink milk

domain: biology


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Susan R. Marth has a degree in architectural interior design, where she enjoyed space planning and designing for corporate offices in major office tenant buildings in the St. Louis, MO, area until becoming a stay-at-home mom. Soon after leaving her career, Susan’s passion to design and work with color was fulfilled with fabric in the form of quilting.At the request of fellow quilters, in 2003, Susan began putting her original quilt creations into pattern form and started her business, Suzn Quilts patterns. Many of her patterns are seasonal in theme and some of her best-sellers continue to be her own method of quilt-as-you-sew quilts. More recently however, her little Dresden plates have exploded in popularity. Susan’s ability to draft detailed instructions has earned her many accolades, “Your pattern was very easy to follow . . . it was like you were sitting here telling me what to do next!! I like that! Have a blessed day . . . Dana” Susan attends International Quilt Market twice annually, selling to the trade. Her patterns, books & fabric are being sold internationally through quilt shops, catalogs and leading distributors. In addition, Susan’s quilt designs can also be found in leading quilting magazines. Susan enjoys lecturing, teaching workshops and sharing her joy of quilting and design with others.
For information about Susan’s books and patterns, visit her website www.SuznQuilts.com.
Thursday, June 13 3:00 – 6:00 pm
Location: Overland Park Convention Center Courtyard 7
Workshop Cost: $50
Domestic Sewing Machine
Join in the fun making Susan’s adorable Tiny & Mini Dresden Plate blocks. Susan will give you the skills to make each block perfect. It’s not hard with the right tools and techniques.
Other supplies needed for class, not included in kit, but available for purchase:


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Ca. 1900-1905. Oblong Quarto (ca. 23,5x30 cm). 25 card stock leaves. With 42 original gelatin silver, albumen, and salt print photographs (25 mounted in the windows, 16 loosely inserted), including twenty-one large photos ca. 15x20 cm (5 ¾ x 8 in); the rest are from ca. 10x15 cm (3 ¾ x 6 in) to ca. 8x10,5 cm (3 ¼ x 4 ¼ in). Six photos captioned and dated in negative, twelve photos with period pencil captions on the mounts; two loose photos with period pencil captions on versos. Period green half faux-leather album with maroon cloth boards and gilt-lettered title “Reiseerinnerungen” on the front board; decorative endpapers. Several images faded. Address broadside worn and with several large tears on the margins, but overall a very good collection.
Historically significant photograph album compiled by B. Thorpe-Young – an accountant of the Sierra Leone Government Railway during its construction (1896-1907). The album is supplemented with a printed Address to the governor of Sierra Leone Sir Frederic Cardew, commemorating the completion of the Railway’s first section (Wellington to Waterloo) in 1898. The Address contains the names of all senior railway associates, including B. Thorpe-Young who was listed as an “accountant” among the “Colonial staff”.
The album opens with two views of the Waterloo station, elaborately decorated with palm trees and flowers, and the station sign visible – the photos were most likely taken during the opening ceremony. One of the photos features the train with a sign “Sierra Leone Railway” and a crowd of railway officials, colonial administrators and locals.
Eight photos depict the railway bridges. Four photos depict the Taia bridge (two photos captioned in negative “Taia permanent bridge, S.L.G.R. Extn. to Bo. 1.10.02”, two photos feature a train on the bridge, one photo shows the bridge from the distance). There are also views of the piers and abutments of the “Tabe permanent bridge. 2.10.02,” a scene of a smaller wooden bridge construction, and a photo of a train crossing the completed trestle bridge. The photo captioned “The unofficial opening of P[?].B., 7 Jul. 1900” shows a group of white railway associates and black workers posing with a train in the middle of a completed bridge.
The other photos shows Tabe Station (dated “2.10.02”), a railway depot, two British railway associates posing in front of a railway workshop, the environs of Tabe, a scene with several Africans on a riverbank captioned in negative “Malema Ferry (River Moa);” five group portraits of railway staff (all but one mark B. Thorpe-Young in pencil), portraits of “Messrs. Boyle & Andrews, Panguma Rd., Baiima, 26/3/04,” colonial residents, etc. The loose photos include two lively scenes of “A game of cricket on the sand of the River Moa after a swim,” views of a railway trestle bridge, native villages, markets, a portrait of the British associates dining, a portrait of a photographer with his camera (likely, the one who took some of the other photos), etc. The album is supplemented with a souvenir Christmas card, which bears a printed signature “B. Thorpe-Young. S.L. G.Ry Extension to Bo, Rotifunk, Sierra Leone,” and is illustrated with a close-up portrait of Thorpe-Young and a view of his bungalow (featuring him and his friend). Overall an interesting first-hand account of the construction and the early years of the Sierra Leone Government Railway.
The main line of the narrow-gauge Sierra Leone Government Railway was constructed in sections in 1896-1907, reaching Waterloo (1898), Songo (1899), Rotifunk (1900), Bo (1903), Baiima (1905), and Pendembu (1907). With the development of automobile transport in the 20th century, the railway was completely closed in 1974 and is no longer operational. The Sierra Leone National Railway Museum was opened in Freetown in 2005.
Price: $3,250.00 USD
Status: On Hold


Bump and up date.... The Dark Avenger has thoughtfully played secretary, again... He is as dependable as Pavlov's Dog on such yet his logic is so poor that I have decided to follow some sage advice that says don't argue with an idiot because others may not be able to tell the difference.
I will leave by noting that if he could squash his enemies by proving them wrong Obamie would do so in a heart beat!
One of our many West Coast correspondents, the original Dark Avenger (or maybe it's Weeder Gander) has graced us with the following in regards to the lack of information available about The One's proof of US citizenship. (We know he is not fit to be Prez so this is merely a formality.)
The following from the Washington Monthly is DA's learned comment. I am struck by his originality.
The electoral system has failed to satisfy lingering questions about Barack Obama's eligibility to serve as president.
The press has failed to satisfy those questions. The courts have failed to satisfy those questions. The Congress has failed to satisfy those questions.
But the people are still asking.
That's how Joseph Farah, editor and chief executive officer of WND, explains the petition he initiated several months ago that has collected nearly 400,000 names of Americans demanding answers as to Obama's elidibility [sic] as well as the outpouring of financial support for his new campaign to erect billboards around the country asking the simple question: "Where's the birth certificate?"
In just five days, the billboard campaign has been backed by about $45,000 in donations.
Obviously, the Birthers' argument is nuts. But the fact that they're still at it, seven months after the election, is extraordinary.
For Democrats, it's extraordinarily helpful, in large part because it makes the president's detractors appear insane. Former Clinton White House press secretary Jake Siewert said a few months ago, "At some level, they're not that bad to have around because it reminds people that under the mainstream conservative press there's this bubbling up of really irrational hatred for the guy."
But that's just among those who hear about this. As DougJ noted, there's the inconvenient fact that most Americans will see a billboard that reads, "Where's the birth certificate?" and won't have the foggiest idea what that means.
That the right-wing website claims to have raised "about $45,000 in donations" is especially great for Democrats, since that means $45,000 from far-right donors that won't go to something that might actually matter.
For the left in general, it's a win-win: unhinged conservatives waste their time on a silly exercise, devoting time and money to a campaign that only makes the right look even more wacky. The DNC ought to send WND a thank-you note.
I have always regarded the Obamie administration as watching "The Beverly Hillbillies" without the saving grace of Jeb and Granny's calm wisdom and the eye candy of Ellie Mae. The buffoonish antics of Jeffro serve to remind us that we have a President who has given away trillions and then announces sadly that we are "out of money."
As the kids say... "Well, duhhhhhhh."
Yet through all of this a few simple facts shine through.
Obamie is as partisan as any President in the history of the country. He cannot stand criticism, as he just demonstrated time and again. The far Right has pushed the birth certificate issue to the center of the stage and kept it there.
All he has to do to make them look foolish and shut them up is have Hawaii release the original...........That he does not says more than anyone else can say.


A man who had allegedly slapped NCP chief Sharad Pawar at a public function in 2011 and disappeared during the course of trial has been arrested again by the police, officials said on Wednesday.
Arvinder Singh alias Harvinder Singh (36), was first arrested in 2011 but he disappeared during the course of trial following which he was declared a 'proclaimed offender' by the Patiala House Court on March 29, 2014.
Singh, a resident of northwest Delhi's Swaroop Nagar, was arrested again on Monday.
Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, who was then the Agriculture Minister in the Congress-led UPA government, was slapped by Singh at the NDMC Convention Hall in New Delhi on November 24, 2011, police said.
Police teams visited Singh's native village several times to trace him but he quietly shifted to unknown locations. He was arrested after the police got inputs on his location, the police said.
"A case was registered against Singh at Connaught Place police station for assaulting Sharad Pawar. Singh was arrested in connection with the case and was facing trial," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Eish Singhal.
However, he disappeared during the course of trial, the DCP said.
Singh, was produced before a local court and has been sent to judicial custody till November 25, police said.
Singh is also involved in another case of assault and was declared a proclaimed offender in that as well, he added.
A case was registered against Singh in 2012 at Parliament Street police station for assaulting a police constable on duty at Jantar Mantar.
He disappeared during the course of that trial and was declared a proclaimed offender by the Patiala House Court on April 20, 2019, the DCP said.


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#123movies #fmovies #putlocker #gomovies #solarmovie #soap2day Watch Full Movie Online Free – One morning at an isolated mansion in the snowy countryside of 1950s France, a family is gathered for the holiday season. But there will be no celebration at all because their beloved patriarch has been murdered! The killer can only be one of the eight women closest to the man of the house. Was it his powerful wife? His spinster sister-in-law? His miserly mother-in-law? Maybe the insolent chambermaid or the loyal housekeeper? Could it possibly have been one of his two young daughters? A surprise visit from the victim’s chic sister sends the household into a tizzy, encouraging hysterics, exacerbating rivalries, and encompassing musical interludes. Comedic situations arise with the revelations of dark family secrets. Seduction dances with betrayal. The mystery of the female psyche is revealed. There are eight women and each is a suspect. Each has a motive. Each has a secret. Beautiful, tempestuous, intelligent, sensual, and dangerous…one of them is guilty. Which one is it?
Plot: Eight women gather to celebrate Christmas in a snowbound cottage, only to find the family patriarch dead with a knife in his back. Trapped in the house, every woman becomes a suspect, each having her own motive and secret.
Smart Tags: #1950s #maid #adultery #theft #pregnancy #f_rated #reference_to_romy_schneider #unplanned_pregnancy #female_female_kiss #unhappy_marriage #unfaithful_wife #adulterous_wife #cheating_wife #white_panties #panties #upskirt #red_dress #scantily_clad_female #cleavage #mistress #unfaithfulness
|7.1/10 Votes: 29,392|
|7 Votes: 650 Popularity: 5.957|
Vous etes somptueuses, Mesdames!
Yes indeed: these ladies, girls and dames are gorgeous!
Before I saw this film I read about its production history and the basic idea of this great director (Ozon) to realize (another) remake of ‘The Women’ (‘The Opposite Sex’ was a 50s attempt) … Not being able to get the rights for this old favorite of many ‘old Hollywood movies’ fan, he decided to give it a try with his own plot …
Boy did he succeed!
Yes, the story and its twists are delightful … BUT: when has anyone of us seen so many French movie legends in one film? … Being so utterly seductive, entertaining, tragic (yes, this IS a drama mesdames et messieurs movie goers!) and glamorous beyond comparison …
The costumes, make ups and hairstyles are prime examples how to ‘introduce’ the characters through her appearance … The set and the light setting all provide the perfect backdrop for each character’s special, personal story… Not enough that we learn though their words what they suffered through their short or long lives for a little bit of warmth and love — they even sing it to us! …
Of course, these singing acts border the ridicule at times — but not because they are badly interpretated or written, but merely because the average movie goer is more used to TV-‘showbiz’ and ‘action’ flicks from the ‘new’ Hollywood and usually skips anything that appears ‘artsy’ or (beware!) black and white …
Ozon deserves highest praise for his bravery to give us such a lush production that is surprisingly vintage in so many aspects, yet timeless in its main message: love hurts!
What irony that it had to be a French director and an entirely French cast to show jaded Hollywood what quality and style really are! … Then again: doesn’t that have tradition? … Where did all those great directors and authors in the past come from, if not from Europe (Wilder, Lubitsch, von Sternberg etc.)? …
I found it terribly refreshing to see the un-dubbed French version in the U.S. … Though I also saw a very nicely dubbed German version, which perfectly matched voices (and character) by great, reputable German actresses with their French counterparts, it was unsurpassed fun to hear those great Ladies of the French Cinema act out all their charm, seductiveness and humour with their purring, excited and bewitching voices…
An almost private highlight is the little sequence showing that this is actually a movie with 9 women … Remember when Louise (Emanuelle Beart), the smouldering maid, drops a photo from her cleavage the and explains that the lady in the picture was her former employer/mistress? … None else than the legendary Romy Schneider is this very lady! … Romy, who so died in 1983, leaving a tragic life behind her and a legacy of wonderful movies to her fans would have been certainly a top choice for Ozon to put into his masterpiece … What a charming innuendo!
So, for everyone who has not seen this film: rush and behold the beauty! … For all of you who have already seen it: go again, if you can … I sure know that this movie will go straight on the top shelf of my collection as soon as it comes out on video or DVD … Cheers Julia
I saw the future of French cinema and its name is François Ozon!
A movie launched in 2002, “8 femmes” was the establishing movie for François Ozon. Through his movies, from his medium-length film “See the Sea” (1997) to “8 women” (2002) to “the criminal lovers” (1999), he developed his own style based on surprise. In short, his aim is to surprise the spectator. With this movie, we can say that he reached his goal and it is probably his most accomplished movie. It is also a movie that confirms the originality of his cinema.
First of all, “8 women” is a movie that surprises by its tone breaks. It means that Ozon passes from drama to comedy with great ease just like Jaco Van Dormael with “Toto the Hero” (1991). As for the songs, they are totally unexpected. Which other director would have included musical numbers in a detective movie?
As for the influences of the movie, they are numerous. Of course, this film is an adaptation from a play that evokes the Agatha Christie universe but Ozon felt like scattering his movie with all kinds of allusions: Vincente Minelli, Douglas Sirk (the deer in the garden). These allusions are especially linked to French culture: the French TV program “au théâtre ce soir” but also Jacques Demy (the bright colors, the songs) and French cinema before the “new wave”. More than allusions, they are tributes from a director who once said “I don’t care about new-wave”.
François Ozon also plays with the spectator, a bit like Hergé with the Tintin album “the Castafiore Emerald”. He holds him spellbound until the end of the film either by leading him on wrong tracks, either by giving him clues that seem to make the movie progress, and this until the final revelation that turns out to be unexpected and amazing. Besides, given the conclusion, Ozon’s movie can be considered in its whole as a farce with absurd humor. The best example involves Danièle Darrieux. At the beginning of the movie, she seems to be disabled but then she stands up and walks without any difficulty for an important part of the movie!
The movie is also powerful thanks to its dialogs. On this point, beware of the poster where these 8 women have a smiling countenance! These witty and sometimes ironical dialogs reveal these women’s real personality that mainly rests on selfishness. Furthermore, the actresses have a spare time in the shoes of their respective character (Isabelle Huppert is particularly irresistible).
Ozon also left high and dry several details that have, in the long run nothing important (and it is a compliment): we don’t know at what time the movie takes place. Several points of the movie show it: the songs composed at different times. Then, certain elements of scenery and dialogs seem either dated either modern. In another extent, we never see the face of the sole man in the plot.
In the end, “8 women” is an unrealistic, timeless and unique movie and surprise to see this movie meet commercial acclaim in France. François Ozon by imposing his style so peculiar remains more than ever a filmmaker to follow.
Original Language fr
Runtime 1 hr 51 min (111 min)
Genre Comedy, Crime, Musical, Romance
Director François Ozon
Writer François Ozon (screenplay), François Ozon (adaptation), François Ozon (dialogue), Marina de Van (collaboration on screenplay), Robert Thomas (play)
Actors Virginie Ledoyen, Danielle Darrieux, Firmine Richard, Catherine Deneuve
Country France, Italy
Awards 11 wins & 31 nominations.
Production Company B.I.M., Le Studio Canal +, Centre National de la Cinematographie, Fidélité Productions, France 2 Cinema
Sound Mix DTS, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio 1.85 : 1
Camera Cooke S4 Lenses
Laboratory Laboratoires Franay Tirages Cinematographiques (LTC), Paris, France
Film Length 3,035 m (Germany)
Negative Format 35 mm (Kodak Vision 200T 5274)
Cinematographic Process Spherical
Printed Film Format 35 mm (Kodak Vision Premier 2393)


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What is education? In basic terms, it is an activity that aims to provide info, abilities, and/or character development. Several of these goals are the development of understanding, rationality, compassion, and/or honesty. But the objective of education and learning is typically more abstract than these, as when it comes to social research studies. Listed below are 4 of the primary types of academic objectives. These classifications are not exhaustive, nonetheless, and also there are many others.
Early people began the technique of education by training the young in basic abilities. Ultimately, this method was accompanied by the advancement of official education. This process was called enculturation. Unlike modern-day societies, primitive peoples maintain a set sense of time as well as culture. As a result, they usually comply with a design of life that varies little bit. As a result, proof from surviving primitive cultures suggests that education and learning prevailed among primitive individuals.
Whether the education procedure is casual or official, it relies on the circumstances. Casual education and learning happens in conversation and frequently takes unpredicted turns. Formal education, on the other hand, takes place in class. As well as both are effective for discovering, so long as the setting and problems are right. Education and learning can take the kind of discussion, transmission, or direct mentor. Despite the type, it’s necessary to consider the conditions as well as function of discovering.
While education and learning may be a legal right, it stays an opportunity for numerous youngsters. The United Nations Convention on the Legal Rights of the Kid mentions that all children are entitled to education. Nevertheless, there is evidence that some children are not getting it, specifically in underdeveloped areas. Actually, a current meta-analysis of researches on very early childhood years education and learning wrapped up that 7-8 out of 10 youngsters that attended preschool executed better than average. Education and learning is a fundamental right for youngsters, and an important aspect in attending to the international education and learning situation.
Second education occurs during a person’s adolescent years. It focuses on giving common knowledge, as well as training for employment occupations. The purpose of additional education and learning varies, however usually is a means to further education. It can additionally prepare trainees for college. Some people choose to seek more education and learning during their adolescent years, while others decide to educate for a certain profession. There are numerous sort of education readily available for various age arrays as well as finding out designs.
As a private, you can create your self-confidence by getting an education. An education and learning opens doors to unlimited understanding possibilities and also info. You might also be able to begin your own small company. A great education gives you self-confidence as well as helps you get over discrimination. A great education and learning enables you to establish well-considered point of views and regard for others. With this, you can make a crucial payment to society. And also education is a vital component of social acceptance in our culture.
To sum it up, education and learning is an activity that is deliberate. It seeks to impart understanding, skills, and character attributes to people. It also promotes empathy and also level of sensitivity. The goal of education is to change the globe. It is one point to create an understanding of a certain experience, yet rather an additional to want change. You should have the wish and commitment to make an effect worldwide. And also it is only by enlightening a person can they create these traits.
What is education? Education is the research of the human mind, and also the best means to gain an extensive understanding of it is by getting a great education. If you have an interest in education, you may wish to have a look at several of the various other forms of education. You can also learn about the background of education in the USA by discovering the various manner ins which education and learning has affected culture. All of these aspects contribute to the growth of culture.
While education is a common good, there are lots of controversial issues that surround it. One of one of the most preferred is standard testing, which aids pupils get the very same fundamental understanding across all instructional systems. This kind of testing is additionally an outcome of legislations, such as the No Youngster Left Behind Act. Some critics of standard testing insurance claim that it threatens kids’s self-confidence. For those that believe that standard examinations undermine education, they should take into consideration the impacts of poverty on youngsters. As well as what about the high quality of teachers?
In numerous nations, poverty has a straight effect on education. Lots of moms and dads focus on temporary income-making over education. Nonetheless, recent researches recommend that bad family members usually return to college after their fundamental needs are met. As well as when they return to institution, their job can boost in worth financially. Nonetheless, education expenses are not the only trouble with hardship. As a matter of fact, the poorest nations deal with the best variety of destitution when it concerns decreasing inequality. It is critical to ensure that all kids are given the possibility to finish a quality education, to make sure that every one of the globe’s populace can gain from it.
The beginnings of education can be traced back to very early civilizations, where adults trained youngsters in different abilities. Transmission of expertise has actually constantly been a central factor in culture’s growth, and also pre-literate societies transmitted understanding orally and by imitation. Later, literacy and also creating systems emerged and the method of education was defined. The method of education and learning proceeds today. UNESCO has approximated that if fundamental reading abilities were universally executed, 171 million individuals would certainly be raised out of destitution.
While the interpretations of education vary from location to place, there is one basic idea that combines them: the growth of sensitivity and admiration of sensations. All education and learning is suggested to transform the globe. As theorist Karl Marx notoriously observed, “All social life is functional.” It is something to find out about an experience, yet another to want to transform it. Just with dedication can one make proper actions. The good news is, this principle has actually been shown real throughout history. here
The goal of education and learning is to aid individuals reach their full potential, establish vital assuming abilities, and have the confidence to add to a better culture. Education and learning helps individuals come to be extra sophisticated people and also to meet standard job certifications. It additionally educates them to value others. The function of education is not to generate income, but to create an extra complicated as well as tolerant culture. Education is an effective tool for social modification. Yet it can be a domino effect. Education requires self-control, determination, as well as dedication.
It is important to buy the education and learning of children almost everywhere, specifically in creating nations. Investments in education and learning are essential for ending extreme destitution, and they should tackle the discovering dilemma. Investing in education should be combined with various other investments to gear up the youth with the required skills to grow in today’s globe. The effects of COVID-19, a virus that influences youngsters in low-income countries, is intimidating to disrupt the education and learning of youngsters as well as their areas.


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HOUSTON, TEXAS, USA - 05/17/2018 (PRESS RELEASE JET)
Wellhub, a new upstream software technology, will play a critical role for oil and gas operators by changing the way they manage, analyze, and extract data to facilitate data-driven decisions based on actual insights. The new platform developed by Wellhub, a Houston-based tech startup, will help oil and gas operators reduce costs and increase productivity by connecting all applications, data, and devices, into a single user-friendly platform, thus removing the inefficiencies of data aggregation so common in the industry.
E&P (exploration and production) companies are currently challenged by the historically cumbersome task of quickly processing field data from multiple sources and applications producing inadequate results. Efficient oilfield productivity is especially important in the current “lower for longer” pricing environment. A key to oilfield productivity is streamlining data aggregation; a task once thought to be nearly impossible on a single platform given the multitude of various data points necessary for standard operations. Wellhub’s new platform promises to solve this.
Wellhub CEO and host of the popular industry podcast, Oil & Gas This Week, Jacob Corley, announced, “We are excited to finally give our customers a complete, comprehensive, and streamlined view of their operations. The enhancements that our platform provides will put the emphasis on decision-making, rather than data management.”
Wellhub is the first company to launch their funding on the new EnergyFunders Marketplace. EnergyFunders is an established online crowdfunding platform dedicated to the energy sector, allowing investors direct access to energy-focused investments.
Wellhub’s crowdfunding raise officially begins on May 16, 2018 and marks a momentous event on the platform as the first project open to both accredited and non-accredited investors alike.
“This is an historic opportunity for investors and marks a continuation of the shift in the energy industry from traditional, slow fundraising and borrowing to quick, online fundraising,” says Casey Minshew, CEO of EnergyFunders.
Investors and other parties interested in Wellhub and the crowdfunding investment opportunity now open on the EnergyFunders Marketplace can learn more at https://www.energyfunders.com/wellhub.
|person_outline||Full Name:||Rod Hunsaker|
|mail_outline||Email: Send Email|

domain: economics


The Fizik Vento Argo R1 Adaptive is an advanced 3D-printed bike saddle with a versatile short-nosed design and lightweight carbon rail system to prioritize comfort, responsiveness and stability across a variety of body types and riding positions.
Fizik Adaptive 3D-printed padding is now expanded to the Fizik Argo family, creating the perfect match for those who want exceptional, long-lasting comfort on a versatile platform that provides both stability and balance.
*Adaptive: Carbon® Digital Light Synthesis™ 3D-printing technology, offering seamless engineered zonal cushioning *Argo: versatile short-nosed saddle that encourages stability and relieves pressure on soft tissue *R1: A combination of a ride-compliant, carbon-reinforced nylon shell and a highly stiff carbon rail
SPECIFICATIONS VENTO ARGO R1 140 - ADAPTIVE Length: 265 mm Width: 140 mm Height at 75 mm width: 45.5 mm Length from nose to 75mm width: 114 mm Weight: 190 g Rail: 10x7 mm
SPECIFICATIONS VENTO ARGO R1 150 - ADAPTIVE Length: 265 mm Width: 150 mm Height at 75 mm width: 45.5 mm Length from nose to 75 mm width: 114 mm Weight: 196 g Rail: 10x7 mm


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9 x 12, Watercolor, Ink, Photoshop
A piece I did in October 2010 for an online magazine called World of Myth. Persians are the funniest cats ever- they always look pissed off.
Jan 20th, 2013- Thank you, thank you all! You guys are wonderful. I've been looking through the galleries of those who commented and fav'ed, and I feel so honored! I may not be able to comment back to all of you, but be assured that I've been looking at your galleries!


Foundation requirements for PAS68 high security bollard installations need to be sized and designed according to the impact energy specified for the project.
Heng Jiang Cheng, Leda’s high Risk Sites Manager explains. “A well designed, torsionally-reinforced continuous beam foundation will exhibit minimal displacement and rotation at point of impact. Energy absorbed at point of engagement, especially in high-energy impacts, (which are dynamic in nature) is typically absorbed in part by the foundation”.
Leda’s intimate understanding of foundation requirements is the result of years of actual crash testing, with the formidable research backing by the UK Government’s Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure and support from a peer group from the Hostile Vehicle Mitigation Programme.


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Director, National Technical Compliance – Absence Management, Sedgwick
Director, National Technical Compliance – Statutory, Product Compliance, Sedgwick
It may be a slow shift, but it’s a notable one: Paid family leave policies in the U.S. and across the world are changing to meet the needs of a modern workforce. Domestically, the most noticeable movement is seen at the state level and in the private sector, although changes are happening at the federal level as well — particularly with the heightened attention from the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on workforces everywhere.
Change is coming
On December 20, 2019, the White House signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the Fiscal Year 2020. Traditionally, Congress passes an updated version of the bill every year with the federal law outlining the budget, expenditures and policies for the country’s Department of Defense.
What set this year’s NDAA apart from past years was its provision for paid family leave for federal employees. With it, most federal employees may take up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for the birth, adoption or foster-care placement of a child. It’s a groundbreaking new law, and it leaves one to wonder: Could a larger shift be coming when it comes to paid family leave in the U.S.?
Perhaps the most familiar family leave statute is the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), enacted in 1993. With the FMLA, eligible employees are entitled to up to 12 weeks of job protection — albeit unpaid — for the following reasons:
- The birth, fostering or adoption of a son or daughter
- To care for a spouse, child or parent with a qualifying health condition
- For a serious health condition that renders them unable to perform their essential job functions
- For any qualifying difficulty as a result of a spouse, child or parent being called to active military duty.
While these protections cover 60% of the workforce, evidence suggests that many eligible employees do not take leave when they need it because they cannot afford it. Even with this evidence at hand, surprisingly few updates have been made since the labor law’s initial passing. Reviewing the policy on its 25th anniversary, TLNT explains:
Over the last 25 years, the statute itself has received only relatively minor amendments, although hundreds, if not thousands, of federal court cases have changed how it applies to certain situations. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Labor (which enforces the FMLA) has issued many rules and regulations to further define how the FMLA applies to specific employers and employees.
United States, divided laws
When reviewing the current landscape of paid leave laws, it’s important to point out the varying complexity — and the patchwork — of state paid leave laws. While many states can be applauded for taking their workers’ health and well-being into their own hands, each are enacting their own laws, and each state’s law is different. In fact, as states work to implement paid leaves, they often find themselves competing with one another for the “best” and most comprehensive leave packages. Imagine the confusion that must create for multi-state employers and those administering their own leave programs. An overarching federal paid leave policy could ease the burden — or cause even further complexity.
At a minimum, state and federal laws influence the conversation and present a possibility of change — and state laws most certainly influence one another. As one state implements new protocols, other states are quick to look for lessons learned and opportunities to improve on what they offer their own residents.
Oftentimes, states wishing to enact leave legislation are left to weigh the pros and cons on their own. In the “anything is better than nothing” camp, you have legislators who recognize that any benefit they can provide to workers in their state is a step in the right direction. On the other hand, it’s a tremendously complex issue for companies with locations in multiple states that need to understand multiple regulations rather than one federal law. Employers can determine whether they apply policy to employees across every state based on where paid leave is most generous, or if they’ll adhere to different leave laws in each location. That can be troubling for companies focused on creating a singular employee experience.
Without more comprehensive federal mandates on paid leave, states with a population base demanding the benefit are working hard to find a budget for it. States like Rhode Island, California, New Jersey and New York were among the first to provide disability benefits as well, and are responding in kind to their residents’ desire and demand for a suitable leave policy.
You can see an in-depth comparative chart of paid family and medical leave laws by state here.
Leave in the private sector
On an even more micro level, we can look to U.S.-based companies and how they’re taking on the responsibility of ensuring great paid leave coverage for their employees as a competitive benefit. Many progressive organizations are focused, not simply on following the letter of the law, but on making sure their employees have strong coverage; they’re influencing broader change in the marketplace. As larger companies begin offering more robust paid leave plans, they set the example and the wheels in motion for a larger conversation on the private sector’s role in advancing paid leave policy.
It’s a competitive workforce, and businesses that are clamoring for employees must also be competitive with their reputation for employee support. The country’s most innovative, influential companies are challenging themselves to offer the best employee experience in their respective industries — which, naturally, includes benefits. For that reason, we’re seeing more and more generous leave policies come about, setting the bar for others and influencing companies across all industries and verticals. No one wants to fall short or be viewed unfavorably. One of the most common asks in consulting? Tell me what everyone else is doing.
U.S. vs. the world
Candidly, the U.S. is not providing the same benefits — rate, pay or length of leave — on a federal level as comparative first— (or even second—) world countries. By all accounts, the U.S. lags behind most of the developed world when it comes to paid leave, especially parental leave. America is currently the only country among 41 nations that doesn’t mandate any paid leave for new parents, according to data compiled by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The smallest amount of paid leave required in any of the other 40 nations is about two months; conversely, nations like Norway and Poland have generous parental leave policies offering new parents as much as 26 weeks of leave with 100% of their pay.
There’s great debate about why, exactly, this is true. Culturally, it is thought that Americans are more work-oriented than other countries — that we don’t take time or assign value to more leisurely, self- or family-centered activities. Case in point: Europeans often take two to three weeks of vacation at a time, while most working Americans are hard pressed to take that much time total throughout a year. And, if we’re being honest, a lot of us are working to some degree throughout that “time off” anyway.
Is there any wonder, then, that we see such stark differences between how government and corporations handle paid family leave in the U.S. and those abroad?
PFL and COVID-19
What few people saw coming was how the global COVID-19 pandemic would capsize the standard way of doing business for organizations of every size, function and country of origin.
Current COVID-19 regulations and leave changes — short-term adjustments and quick fixes — may very well play out in future conversations and trends for the global workforce; many see it as a foot in the door for a federal paid leave policy as states scrambled to fill the gaps for employees across the country who fell ill, had to care for a sick family member, or who simply could not transition their role to a work-from-home function for an extended period of time.
As we go to print, COVID-19 is still affecting us all, to varying degrees, in some way or another. Lower-paying jobs, many of which were hourly or part-time to begin with, are being reduced or eliminated. Will this experience, with its myriad associated costs, empower employee advocates to push harder for a continuation of the benefits of which they’ve gotten a taste? Or will it push lobbyists to work harder against future regulation at the federal level? Both could surely happen, depending on how extensive and drawn out the economic impact this pandemic will have on our economy. Either way, COVID-19 is shedding new light on an old issue, which is a necessary first step to spur new regulations or stipulations on additional, future family leave allowances. It remains to be seen whether all of these elements will actually bring forth changes in federal paid family leave law — but clearly the conversation has come to the forefront.

domain: law


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Separate names with a comma.
been a few years but I was averaging around $2500 flights accom car spending everything, for 8 days
Yeah some of it got burnt in August but its mostly south and going in a different direction from last time.
Salt Ash fire flared up again, all roads closed. If/when it jumps Nelson Bay Road there will be no stopping it until it gets to Anna Bay
I was about 15mins late for the road being cut off, only just got home via the beach.

domain: geography