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Should You File A Medical Malpractice Case If Your Elderly Loved One Dies After A Procedure At An Outpatient Clinic?
Have you recently lost an elderly relative or loved one during an outpatient procedure that you believe may have gone wrong? More than likely, their doctors warned you or the patient in advance that procedure or the use of anesthesia in the elderly could be dangerous, as they have less physiological reserve to handle the stress of surgery. Even so, if you have a nagging suspicion that your loved one's death was not caused by their age but possibly by negligence on the part of the doctor or the clinic, you should seek legal help.
Outpatient Surgical Clinics Growing in Popularity
The popularity of outpatient surgery centers has grown dramatically in recent years. According to Medpage Today:
- More than two-thirds of the operations performed in the United States are now done in these clinics.
- There were 23 million procedures performed in outpatient clinics in 2011. That number in 2006 was approximately 15 million procedures performed in these clinics.
Why are these clinics so popular? For one thing, they tend to be less expensive than hospitals. In addition, some patients find them to be more patient-friendly. Unfortunately, these clinics may not be as ready as a hospital to deal with a complication that may occur during a procedure. And, sadly, when complications do arise with elderly people, they can quickly turn into much bigger problems than they would in a younger patient, according to Modern Healthcare. Because many outpatient surgery clinics are not able to handle life-and-death emergencies, they often have to call in 911, which could delay much-needed treatment.
The Joan Rivers Case
The death of comedian Joan Rivers, 81, in 2014 brought to light the dangers of elderly patients having their procedures done in outpatient surgery centers. The comedian was in a New York City clinic to have minor throat surgery. During the procedure, her personal doctor decided that she wanted to perform a transnasal laryngoscopy even though Rivers had not signed paperwork authorizing it. Sadly, during this procedure, Rivers went into cardiac and respiratory arrest. While the clinic was able to resuscitate her, she had to be transported to a nearby hospital for further treatment. Rivers' daughter has now filed a medical malpractice and wrongful death suit against the outpatient clinic and the doctors involved in the procedure.
What You Should Do
If you truly believe that your loved one died because of a medical malpractice situation, you will need to:
- Be able to prove that the care the clinic provided to your elderly loved one was not up to the standard of care that another practitioner would have provided. In some cases, this may be difficult to prove, but an experienced medical malpractice attorney will work hard to unearth the necessary evidence.
- Prove that the death of your loved one was a direct result of your doctor's negligence. Your doctor's attorney will try to prove that your elderly loved one's death may have been the result of a pre-existing condition. For example, if your elderly loved one was having a procedure to treat a condition that had already weakened them, the attorney could argue that it was the condition and not the doctor's actions that caused the death.
- File a medical malpractice case within the required time period. According to Nolo, in most states you must file your case within six months to two years after the procedure was performed or after you first noticed the problems that resulted in the death of your loved one. This does vary from state to state, so you should talk to a medical malpractice attorney as soon as you believe you may have a case.
Although winning a medical malpractice case against a negligent healthcare practitioner will not bring back your loved one, it could possibly bring you a little peace of mind and could also prevent another family from having to deal with the same devastating situation in the future.
Click here to learn more, or talk to an experienced medical malpractice attorney.


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On behalf of the International SCOR working group #147, ‘Towards comparability of global oceanic nutrient data’ and the writing team led by Susan Becker (SIO-UCSD, USA), we are happy to inform you that the updated version of the GO-SHIP nutrient manual entitled: “The precise and accurate determination of dissolved inorganic nutrients in seawater; Continuous Flow Analysis methods and laboratory practices” has been published. This GO-SHIP manual is a rewrite of the original version by Hydes et al. (2010), and reviews basic sample collection and storage, aspects of CFA using an Auto-Analyzer, and specific nutrient methods in use by many laboratories doing repeat hydrography. The document also covers laboratory best practices including quality control and quality assurance (QC/QA) procedures to obtain the best results, and suggests protocols for the use of reference materials (RM) and certified reference materials (CRMs).
The document is available from our site HERE as well as from the Ocean Best Practices site: http://dx.doi.org/10.25607/OBP-555. We encourage you to include the correct document citation when referring to its contents.

domain: library


German researchers have developed a new shape-stabilised phase change material with the ability to store up to five times more thermal energy than commercially available phase change materials (PCMs).
Hanwha Q Cells plans to build a 1.4 GW solar panel factory at an undisclosed location in the United States. It has also announced plans to expand its cell capacity to 5.4 GW in South Korea. CEO Justin Lee spoke to reporters at the Smarter E event about the company’s plans and current supply chain issues.
REC’s new heterojunction solar panel series features efficiencies of up to 22.3% and an operating temperature coefficient of -0.26% per degree Celsius.
The largest product of the series is a solar module with an efficiency of up to 22.5% and a power output of up to 700 W. For all the panels of the series, the temperature coefficient is -0.26% per degree Celsius and the manufacturer offers a 12-year product guarantee and a 30-year power output guarantee.
Renac Power’s new plug-and-play battery has a storage capacity of 3.74 kWh, but it can be enhanced in series with up to five batteries to 18.7 kWh. It has a nominal voltage of 96 V and a voltage range of 81 V to 108 V.
The device is described as a heat engine with no moving parts that is able to produce power from a heat source of between 1,900 to 2,400 C. This concept is known as thermal energy grid storage (TEGS) and consists of a low-cost, grid-scale storage technology that uses thermophotovoltaic cells to convert heat to electricity above 2,000 C.
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Ripping Off Robb Walsh
Heard about theplagiarism scandal
in Montgomery County?
Kudos to Alison for the heads up, and shame (!) on The Bulletin for being such copycats. That paper's site is currently crapped out, but if it ever comes back up we'll be on watch. -- Keith Plocek
Get the Food & Drink Newsletter
Our weekly guide to Houston dining includes food news and reviews, as well as dining events and interviews with chefs and restaurant owners.

domain: food


The carbon footprint of the federal government’s vast technology estate should be measured as a first step toward incentivising agencies to redirect billions in spending to energy-efficient clouds and data centres.
In a new white paper, the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) has called on the government to bolster support for green technology through a range of levers, including its direct and indirect tech spending.
There are 14 recommendations in the paper, to be released on Monday, to help Australia reach its 2050 net zero goal by leveraging technology, while also growing the economy and creating new export opportunities.
The government last year committed Australia to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 43 per cent below 2005 levels by the end of the decade, and net zero emissions by 2050.
As the largest single buyer of technology products and services in the country, the AIIA wants Canberra to use its spending to effect meaningful change, starting by measuring the carbon footprint of its tech environment.
“We know that they spent $8 billion to $10 billion a year on BAU (business as usual) ICT and they probably spend close to that again on ICT projects, so they are a significant purchaser of IT in Australia. They do shift and shape the market,” AIIA chief executive Simon Bush told InnovationAus.com.
“Government needs to be an exemplar and actually record what their emissions are across their IT footprint. When they know that, then they can then track and then if they look to reduce over time, they can then report on that and see that reduction.”
Once an agency can compare their emissions to other agencies, it could decide to ditch inefficient data centres for more efficient data centres or shift to modern cloud-based infrastructure-as-a-platform or software-as-a-service type offerings, Mr Bush said.
Outside of its direct spend, the government can also facilitate change by adding ESG and carbon incentives to existing programs “rather than necessarily throwing new money at or creating completely new schemes”.
Mr Bush said that creating “specific carve outs for these areas, whether it be skills, grants, or research and development” to give renewable and low emissions technology greater certainty for investment.
With R&D spending in Australia well below OECD average, a green R&D tax incentive has been recommended to support the development of new technology that will drive forward the energy transition.
“If you’ve got additional clarity around eligibility, by being specific around what green and carbon technology is going to qualify, then you’re going to drive investment, you’re going to get more reassurance that you can qualify for the scheme,” Mr Bush said.
Startups working on renewable and low emissions technology should also be granted priority access to the $392 million Industry Growth Program, the early-stage commercialisation initiative funded in this year’s Budget, as well as the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund (NRF).
A new critical infrastructure research partnership aligned to the renewables and low emissions priority areas of the NRF has also been recommended to create exportable technology and foster greater collaboration between business and research institutions.
An opportunity also exists for Australia to become an “exporter of green data” using new fibre cables being laid off the coast, particularly as organisations look to train large language models (LLMs), which requires a huge amount of power.
“We’ve got an opportunity to be the processor of data for the region in highly efficient data centres and actually export capability in that area, rather than just exporting just coal and gas,” Mr Bush said.
Australia could also partner with Pacific Islands nations to assist them with the shift from legacy technology and services to energy-efficient cloud platforms and data centres that are delivered out of Australia.
“If government doesn’t think about these things, and think about deeply how technology is embedded across the economy and how it’s an important lever to reduce carbon emissions, we will not meet our 2050 goals,” Mr Bush said.
Do you know more? Contact James Riley via Email.


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Most people go the the movies for nothing more than entertainment. Big blockbusters are designed to maximize profits by being fun without offending in any way. Strong political or social stances are relegated to preachy movies for small audiences with high opinions of themselves, and usually designed to win awards. Movies like Money Monster or 12 Years A Slave are so obvious you can practically hear them coming. This is the social contract we agreed to; no one wants to see the Armenian Genocide shoehorned into their lighthearted musical. That’s why it was so surprising to see Captain America: The Winter Soldier take on such a big and controversial issue.
Marvel Studios made an unexpected choice when they hired the Russo brothers, a directing team who was mostly known for TV comedies at this point. Their fresh blood infused this movie with a type of action unseen in the MCU. Since there are no norse gods or giant monsters here, the action remains closer to the ground and veers towards militaristic, varying between frenetic and brutal hand to hand combat and heart pounding shootouts that impart an energy closer to a Bourne movie than The Avengers. The biggest gamble the Russo’s made was the strong stance Cap takes against the government overreach and pre-emptive killing program SHIELD intends to deploy. It was a bold move that taps into the zeitgeist of 2014, directly addressing the anxiety from recent revelations of the presidential kill list and Edward Snowden’s leak of government mass surveillance and data mining. This tactic might have backfired and alienated large chunks of the audience, but the filmmakers managed to pull it off in a way that was palatable, and solidifies Cap’s unwavering morality that now feels more timeless than a relic of the past.
We catch up with Cap trying to find his place in modern times; he carries a list of things to catch up on that he missed while frozen, his old timey boxing based fighting style has been replaced with a new MMA badassery, even his old duds have been swapped out for a slick new costume. His work for SHIELD leaves him repeatedly upset about being deceived, even by Black Widow who is by his side for the bulk of the movie and becomes one of his closest allies. She is clearly acting different here, perhaps adjusting herself to put Steve at ease, but she is not the duplicitous double agent from Iron Man 2, nor is she the quippy team player from The Avengers. With the flirtatious banter and constant threats to set Cap up with dates, she lands somewhere between sister and love interest. Anthony Mackie also joins the cast as another ally to Cap, a hero called The Falcon who is able to fly with the assistance of a winged jetpack that looks much cooler than it sounds. Mackie brings a lot of character to this movie and I am happy to have him, but given Cap’s increasing paranoia due to the constant betrayals he experiences, it’s a little odd he is so quick to trust Falcon when he knows so little about him.
The movie refreshes our memory of Cap losing his best friend Bucky during WW2 to remind us he is essentially alone. The only person alive he knew from before he was frozen is suffering from dementia and can’t offer any meaningful companionship. This is probably why Cap eschews most social contact and throws himself into his work for SHIELD, which makes SHIELD’s repeated deceptions all the more upsetting. The consequence of those deceptions is the Winter Soldier, a walking force of carnage that destroys anything between him and his mission. The Winter Soldier’s ruthlessness, extreme strength and proficiency outmatch Cap in nearly every way. So when Cap finds out halfway through that the Winter Soldier is Bucky, brainwashed, experimented on, and kept in cryogenic suspension for decades, it devistates him. Cap is not prepared to fight him in any sense, so his focus shifts to saving Bucky, the only friend he has from his own time. After several movies of punching and kicking his way out of every problem, Steve Rogers has finally run into one he can’t beat and is willing to lay down his life to bring his friend back.
The marketing for this movie put the mystery of the Winter Soldier’s identity front and center, so it came as a total shock when they twisted into the story’s major turning point: the silly bad guys from the first Captain America movie, HYDRA, had snuck into SHIELD and been festering for decades. Shifting from a militia to a spy group, HYDRA has been secretly infiltrating institutions of power and sowing chaos around the globe until people became willing to give up their freedom for the sake of security. They intend to use the massive amount of data available to identify potential threats to their rule and kill millions of people that might eventually undermine HYDRA. The fact that Cap is willing to destroy SHIELD to fight HYDRA tells us we should join Cap in his paranoia and break out of our post 9/11 complacency about government overreach, as the deep well of data is a danger too great to accept.
It is not exactly correct to call Captain America: The Winter Soldier a political thriller. With the betrayals and paranoia of institutions of power, it borrows a lot from that sub-genre, but this is unmistakably Marvel ramen, albeit with a political thriller flavor packet. This is a dense movie. It has the most complicated plot in the MCU, contains significant character development, takes on the arduous task of dismantling SHIELD, and even pushes hallmark characters like Nick Fury and Black Widow in new directions. The reveal of HYDRA was so impactful, it will reverberate in both directions through the canon, casting old movies in a new light. The fact that the Russo brothers were able to accomplish all this and still make a movie that is exciting, interesting, and at times touching is truly a marvel. Even the score kicks ass. Iron man 3 and Thor: The Dark World were just keeping pace; this is the first post Avengers movie with a firm identity. It breaks the trap so many post Avengers movies fell into, and it did it effortlessly. This is just a great movie. 4/5
Coming up next: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

domain: entertainment


Over deze norm
|Commissie||Industrieel meten, regelen en automatiseren|
NEN-EN-IEC 61010-2-201 specifies safety requirements and related verification tests for any product performing the function of control equipment and/or their associated peripherals. In addition, these products have as their intended use the command and control of machines, automated manufacturing and industrial processes, e.g. discrete and continuous control. Some equipment examples are: programmable logic controller (PLC); - programmable automation controller (PAC); - distributed control systems (DCS); - remote I/O; - industrial PC (computers) and panel PC; - programming and debugging tools (PADTs); - displays and human-machine interfaces (HMI); - positioners. Components of the above named equipment and in the scope of this standard are: - (auxiliary) stand-alone power supplies; - peripherals such as digital and analogue I/O, remote-I/O; - industrial network equipment. Control equipment and their associated peripherals are intended to be used in an industrial environment and may be provided as OPEN or ENCLOSED EQUIPMENT. Control equipment covered in this standard is intended for use in OVERVOLTAGE CATEGORY II, III and IV (IEC 60664-1) in low-voltage installations, where the RATED equipment supply voltage does not exceed AC. 1000 V r.m.s. (50/60 Hz), or DC 1000 V. The requirements of ISO/IEC Guide 51 and IEC Guide 104, as they relate to this part of IEC 61010, are incorporated herein.
|Nederlandse titel||Veiligheidseisen voor elektrisch materieel voor meet- en regeltechniek en laboratoriumgebruik - Deel 2-201: Bijzondere eisen voor regelapparatuur|
|Engelse titel||Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use - Part 2-201: Particular requirements for control equipment|


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8 July 2022
President mourns passing of Former President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos
President Cyril Ramaphosa offers his deepest condolences to the people and Government of the Republic of Angola on the passing of former President José Eduardo dos Santos.
President Ramaphosa’s thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and comrades of the late President Dos Santos, who was an Esteemed Member of the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo – an honour bestowed on him by South Africa on Freedom Day 2010.
President Dos Santos passed away earlier today, Friday 08 July 2022, at the age of 79, following an extended period of illness and hospitalisation in Spain.
President Ramaphosa said: “I offer, on behalf of our Government and nation, our sincerest condolences to the Republic of Angola on the passing of an outstanding revolutionary and leader of a nation.
“President Dos Santos’ humble beginnings, his militancy, his exile from the country of his birth and his education in the then Soviet Union resonate profoundly with the journey many South Africans in our own liberation movement experienced.
“Indeed, José Eduardo dos Santos and the MPLA (Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola) he came to lead extended their revolutionary solidarity and material and military support to our liberation movement.
“This support provoked the apartheid regime and its allies to violate the sovereign Republic of Angola by turning Angola into a battleground for preserving the apartheid regime.
“In the end, through the sacrifices of the Angolan people and the unwavering leadership of President Dos Santos, freedom dawned in a democratic South Africa.
“Today, our two nations are united in mourning as we were in struggle, and South Africa will continue to honour the contribution President Dos Santos made to building the Republic of Angola and bringing peace to our region.”
“May his soul rest in peace.”
Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to President Ramaphosa – 082 835 6315
ISSUED BY: THE PRESIDENCY

domain: news


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"#Lyme literate" quacks often convince their victims that feeling worse on their bizarre drug cocktails is a good thing. They falsely claim feeling worse means the diagnoses/treatments are appropriate. More on the strange "herxing" belief from Quackwatch. https://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/lyme.html
Thank you @RealDoctorMike for discussing the vital importance of primary care providers to patient health, a value which was recently emphasized by infectious disease doctors in a recent study. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FudoiSkcTv8
Errors in diagnostic test use and interpretation contribute to the high number of Lyme disease referrals in a low-incidence state
Abstract. Lyme disease accounted for more than two-thirds (56 of 81, 69.1%) of all tick-borne disease referrals to a large, academic infectious disea...
Former cult members explain that nobody thinks they are in a cult and members are well-educated. Just like the destructive chronic Lyme movement that drains people financially and emotionally and teaches that feeling worse on a treatment is a good thing. https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/a-cult-awareness-educator-helps-survivors-by-sharing-her-own-cautionary-tale/Content?oid=29413454&media=AMP+HTML&oid=29413454&__twitter_impression=true
Dangerous functional, integrative, and “#Lyme literate” quacks often convince their victims that they have fake infections using bogus but sciency-looking test results. Here are some ways they trick people.
Did you know that the CDC documented Medical Child Abuse at the hands of advocates for chronic #Lyme pseudoscience in the early 1990s? Most victims were adolescent girls and a number lost their gallbladders due to harmful antibiotic regimens. https://lymescience.org/medical-child-abuse/
It's very disturbing that some parents abuse their children by treating them for fake infections while simultaneously neglecting them by refusing immunizations. It's an alternate universe.
Excerpt from Medical Child Abuse
Stories of two children who received unnecessary diagnoses and prescriptions.


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As appears from an interview of RT of Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, they have come to see this temple in March to Salisbury. Travelers from Russia already half a year call this English city of Skripalevkoy the Salisbury cathedral. Photo: depositphotos.com the Salisbury cathedral for fun is called now the eighth wonder of the world. His official name — Virgin Mary's cathedral. At the same time Boshirov in an interview calls him "solsberetsky". It is the cleanest sample of the English gothic style: walls from a local light gray stone, air bas-reliefs, a spike the highest that have remained in England — 123 meters. Process of his construction was allegorically sung in the novel by the Nobel laureate William Golding. Next year there will be exactly 800 years as construction of the temple has begun. It was never completed, and built in only 38 years — for those times extremely quickly. One of four copies of the Great charter of liberties is stored in cathedral and there is the oldest tower clockwork in the world, the guide in Salisbury Liudmila Harrison-Jones tells: — Ropes are attached to bells on the cathedral bell tower, and everyone half an hour clang a bell. And they still act. — About a tourist season you can tell? When does the main stream, what weather during this period begin? — Our tourists go all the year round. In the company with which I work, once a week surely a trip to Stonehenge near Salisbury and they all the year round drive such program. — In Salisbury come to look at cathedral or there still something interesting is? — In the beginning we go to look at these old stones, and near, literally in 30 minutes, Salisbury: cathedral and small pedestrian [route] on the city. It is a lot of ancient beautiful pubs. An hour two at least, if with a lunch, then three. The cathedral can be bypassed in 40 minutes. The cathedral in three kilometers to the southeast from the center is located. Skripali lived in a northwest part of the city. Tourists can visit freely cathedral though in it regularly there pass services. Only for rise on a tower it is necessary to reserve tickets. Everyone costs 13,5 pounds sterling - it is more than one thousand rubles. And still the ticket from London to Salisbury and back, one way — an hour and a half. Only for the sake of cathedral through the half-countries nobody will go, the blogger and the guide on London Konstantin Pinayev: — the Cathedral grandiose and beautiful assures, but just for him through the half-countries you won't go. — On how many do tourists come? — For half a day. — Whether it is worth coming in general to Great Britain for three days and one of these days … — I consider that I am not necessary. If they wanted to go there, to them much cheaper, more conveniently, it would be simpler and more logical to remove some hotel just somewhere in Salisbury, but not to pay in London. And tickets in Salisbury there and back on one person will cost, probably, 40-50 pounds, that is is expensive, it didn't make any sense at all. At least I know nobody who would go only to Salisbury. The curious fact, considering the risen talk on Boshirov and Petrov's perhaps nonconventional orientation: bishop Salisbury че
Red caviar can rise in price for a third
Date: 2019-07-22 11:0015 hrs ago
Reported about it in News agency on fishery. But experts note that the fishing season only began and to tell about the significant changes in price early the Photo: depositphotos.com Red caviar this y...
View details »
Rostec decided to borrow in the market
Date: 2019-07-22 14:0012 hrs ago
The state corporation plans to issue bonds up to 100 billion rubles. Money will go to the OAK projects and KamAZ. Whether such papers are interesting to investors and what it is worth filling up the i...
View details »
Who bought up all apartments in June?
Date: 2019-07-22 20:006 hrs ago
Last month more than 11.5 thousand DDU on the residential real estate — 54% more were registered, than in May, and it is twice more, than in June of the 2018th. It is the Photo indicator, record durin...
View details »

domain: travel


BEASTWRECK SEASON 1, EPISODE 4: "BOUNTY HUNTER"
NOW IN STOCK!
What do you get when you cross the galaxy's baddest Bounty Hunter with old-school anime sensation Speed Racer? I guess it would look something like this. Maybe not.
5-color design soft ink over discharge underbase screenprinted (no thick plastisol inks) on Navy Blue, Gildan SoftStyle 4.5 oz 100% ringspun preshrunk cotton.
4X are printed on Navy Gildan UltraCotton 6.1oz 100% cotton.
1-color BeastWreck logo printed on back.
Small - 90% in stock
Medium - 75% in stock
Large - 53% in stock
X-Large - 58% in stock
2XL - 17% in stock
3XL - 80% in stock
4XL - 100% in stock
5XL - 50% in stock


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Top 5 Mistakes To Avoid In Blockchain Ecosystem
In a public blockchain ecosystem, anyone can participate and receive compensation for their contribution to reaching a consensus. An open blockchain network is a network in which anybody may join and participate. The majority of networks use an incentive scheme to entice new members. Among the most often used public blockchain networks nowadays is Bitcoin.
The enormous amount of processing power needed to keep a distributed ledger functioning at a large scale is one of the drawbacks of a public blockchain. Each node in a network must resolve a complex, resource-intensive cryptographic puzzle known as proof-of-work (PoW) to achieve consensus, guaranteeing that everyone is on the same page. Another issue is a public blockchain’s openness, which implies tiny to no transaction privacy and only supports a basic understanding of security.
The blockchain ecosystem is growing in the tech-driven world because of its smart characteristics, such as faster transaction speeds, reduced transaction fees, transparency, and uttermost cybersecurity. However, a firm knowledge of the distinction between market trends and reality in conjunction with an organization’s business goals is required. Several enterprises must be aware of the following common blockchain ecosystem mistakes to avoid any significant implications shortly.
What distinguishes a private blockchain from a public blockchain?
A blockchain was developed to securely eliminate the middleman in every asset exchange situation. A private blockchain permits the middleman to reenter the picture to some extent.
A public blockchain is more decentralized than a private or centralized blockchain. By validating and adding data to a public blockchain, everyone can take part in it. In private blockchains, the network is controlled by authorized parties only. Bitcoin and Ethereum are two instances of open blockchain technology. Examples of private blockchains include Ripple and Hyperledger.
Public blockchains have fewer transactions per second than private blockchains do. Since fewer authorized users exist, a private blockchain can support hundreds or even thousands of transactions per second.
A public network is safer due to its decentralization and active participation. The increased number of nodes in the network makes it virtually hard for “bad actors” to attack the system and seize control of the consensus network. A private blockchain is more susceptible to hacks, dangers, and data breaches/manipulation than a public blockchain. Malicious users might easily endanger the entire network.
A public blockchain uses more energy than a private blockchain since it needs a lot of electrical resources to function and establish network consensus. Compared to public blockchains, private blockchains consume significantly less electricity and energy.
A private blockchain eliminates the possibility of minor collisions. Each validator is identified and is equipped with the required authorization to connect to the network. In contrast, nobody knows the validators’ identities in a public blockchain, which raises the risk of collusion or a 51 per cent assault.
5 Mistakes To Avoid In the Blockchain Ecosystem
1. Failure to comprehend/apply blockchain technology
One of the biggest blockchain mistakes businesses and CIOs make is disregarding some of the essential blockchain functionalities. Smart contract capabilities, decentralized consensus, and tokenization are just a few features found in current blockchain projects.
2. Assuming that Smart Contract Technology is fully baked
Another common blunder is assuming smart contract technology is mature. While smart contracts, as business automation apps that add dynamic behaviour to transactions, are perhaps the most powerful feature of blockchain. But it has a lot of technical issues that still exist and is far from being fixed.
3. The Blockchain as a Data Storage System
The critical use of blockchain is for secure data sharing, and storing records in blocks has created a breeding ground for blockchain errors. CIOs often misunderstand the distinction between blockchain and distributed database management systems, or DBMSs. As a result, enterprise blockchain projects may lack alignment due to blockchain deployments.
4. Complete Business Solutions with Confusing Protocol
One of the organisations’ most typical blunders is conflating protocol with business solutions. Because the blockchain ecosystem is a foundational technology, it requires applications built on top of it to meet specific business requirements. While blockchain may and is being utilized in various contexts, from supply chain management to data exchange across medical information systems, it must also contain a user interface, business logic, and interoperability.
Also, read – How to avoid the most common mistakes in cryptocurrency trading
5. Issues of Governance
Many new blockchain ecosystem projects do not place a high priority on governance. Issues with blockchain governance are especially prevalent in public blockchains and are considered one of the most typical blockchain blunders.
Before modernizing corporate processes, it is necessary to understand blockchain technology thoroughly. A few costly yet straightforward missteps can cause an organization’s blockchain desire to wane. Before believing what other organizations are doing, a thorough investigation should be undertaken, especially before installing the first blockchain project.

domain: finance


From Bright Star World Dance - 108 High Street, Portland ME - Corner of High & Spring
Try out a free online dance class for adult beginners in a warm and supportive environment.
You don't need to lose or gain weight. You don't need to be flexible or have rhythm. Just bring your sense of fun, and be ready to learn something new!
Yoga or exercise wear is great. Bare feet for belly dance, non-grippy socks (or ballet shoes) for ballet class.
People of all genders and body types are welcomed and affirmed. These classes are open to people ages 18+.Reserve your spot today!
Total beginners of all genders are welcome in both classes, ages 18+. You don't need to have any dance experience at all. Choose one class or both. Come try them out!
If you decide that you'd like to take the upcoming 6-week class, a $10 discount will be available for a limited time. However, there is never any pressure to do so. These classes are meant to help you learn about these different dance styles.
Learn movements, rhythms, and cultural context of Egyptian style belly dance in this free 45-minute online class. You will be introduced to hip movements, shimmies, and circles, with guidance for posture and healthy movement. Yoga or exercise wear and bare feet are perfect.
Ballet is a full body workout that leaves you feeling tall, strong, and graceful. In this class, you'll learn some of the foundation movements with careful guidance to ensure safe movement for everyone. Ballet improves your posture and balance, helps you develop flexibility safely, and strengthens your entire body. For this free 45-minute online class, wear yoga/exercise clothes and non-grippy socks (or ballet slippers).Sign up today!
From Bright Star World Dance, 108 High St, Floor 3 Portland ME
Our bright and sunny studio is located in the Arts District at the corner of High and Spring. Look for the dark green door set back from the street next to the Little Tap House Restaurant.
NOTE: All classes this fall are online, for the safety of everyone in our community.


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The end is nigh! that’s nigh for 2020 and it’s that time of the years critics and fans pick their favourite films of the year. Sight & Sound Magazine today have revealed that Steve McQueen’s Lovers Rock, part of the director’s 5-film Small Axe anthology, has been chosen as the Best Film of the Year.
An ode to the eponymous romantic reggae genre and to the young people who found freedom and love in its sound, Lovers Rock like Mangrove(opened the festival) which premiered at this year’s BFI London Film Festival, tells a fictional story of young love and music at a house party in 1980. Mangrove came in at number 13 in the list.
Lovers Rock director Steve McQueen said: “The response to LOVERS ROCK has been quite overwhelming; I feel and hope it’s being embraced because it is a reflection of who we are as a people: joy, pain and love.”
This year’s second place film is Garrett Bradley’s poignant documentary Time, which follows Fox Richardson, who has spent over 20 years tirelessly campaigning for the release of her husband, who was sentenced to life without parole for a botched armed robbery.
This year’s top ten reflects an incredible wealth of female directors with seven of the top ten films directed by women, including Kelly Reichardt (First Cow), Rose Glass (Saint Maud), Kirsten Johnson (Dick Johnson Is Dead), Eliza Hittman (Never Rarely Sometimes Always), Chloe Zhao (Nomadland), and Sarah Gavron (Rocks). This is the first time in Sight & Sound’s history that there are more women directors than men in the top ten, an indication that cinema is now starting to look more like the real world.
2020 may have decimated film on the big screen, viewing shifted drastically to the small screen. Today Sight & Sound’s also revealed it’s Best TV Drama Series of 2020, voted for by TV critics, programmers and academics who contribute to the magazine. Like the best film it’s another great poll for the BBC and their extraordinary I May Destroy You from the prodigiously talented Michaela Coel taking the top spot. That’s followed by the adaptation of Sally Rooney novel’s Normal People (BBC) starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal. Rounding out the top three is the recent streaming hit The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix) starring Anya Taylor‑Joy.
Sight & Sound’s top 10 films of 2020 are:
1. LOVERS ROCK (Dir. Steve McQueen)
2. TIME (Dir. Garrett Bradley)
3. FIRST COW (Dir. Kelly Reichardt)
4. I’M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS (Dir. Charlie Kaufman) [review]
5. SAINT MAUD (Dir. Rose Glass) [review]
6. DICK JOHNSON IS DEAD (Dir. Kirsten Johnson)
7. NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES ALWAYS (Dir. Eliza Hittman) [review]
8. NOMADLAND (Dir. Chloe Zhao) [review]
9. ROCKS (Dir. Sarah Gavron) [review]
10. DAYS (RIZI) (Dir. Tsai Ming-liang)
Co-written by Courttia Newland and Steve McQueen, LOVERS ROCK stars Amarah-Jae St Aubyn in her screen debut, opposite the BAFTAs 2020 Rising Star Award recipient Micheal Ward. The film is one of five films from the Small Axe drama anthology (which also includes MANGROVE, 13th in this year’s poll) created by Steve McQueen for BBC One. Set from the late 1960s to the mid-1980s, the films each tell a different story involving London’s West Indian community, whose lives have been shaped by their own force of will despite rampant racism and discrimination. Steve McQueen appears on the cover of Sight & Sound’s December 2020, in which he talks with historian David Olusoga about Small Axe and the Britain it was born from.
Sight & Sound’s top 10 TV Drama Series of 2020 are:
1. I MAY DESTROY YOU (BBC)
2. NORMAL PEOPLE (BBC)
3. THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT (Netflix) [review]
4. DEVS (BBC)
5. I HATE SUZIE (Sky)
6. OZARK Season 3 (Netflix)
7. DES (ITV)
8. THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA (Sky)
9. QUIZ (ITV)
10. UNORTHODOX (Netflix)
I MAY DESTROY YOU was created, executive produced and co-directed by its star Michaela Coel. This fearless, frank and provocative series explores the question of sexual consent in contemporary life and how, in today’s landscape of dating and relationships, people make the distinction between liberation and exploitation. It was the runaway winner of the poll, with almost all voters including it in their shortlists of five titles.
Editor in Chief Mike Williams commented on this year’s best film and TV Show: “This year’s poll reflects an extraordinary year for film and the wider world, where so much of our viewing took place at home, the festival circuit moved mostly online and our sense of who we are and what matters to us was challenged at times and reinforced at others through a series of catastrophes and inspiring movements. Lovers Rock, full of joyful party scenes celebrating closeness and togetherness, is a worthy and apt winner in this year like no other, and with Mangrove also placing in the top 20, it’s clear that Steve McQueen is a filmmaker at the top of his game. These films, which played in primetime Sunday night slots on BBC One having earlier premiered at festivals, also highlight how the line between cinema and TV seems to have become more blurred than ever.”
Sight & Sound’s Best Films of the Year sees over 100 international critics, programmers and academics who contribute to the magazine voting for their top ten films from the year. The full results are available online today at bfi.org.uk/best-films-2020 and the full Top 50 is published in Sight & Sound’s Winter issue, available digitally on Monday 14 December and on newsstands from Thursday 17 December.
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domain: artistic


Sophomores James Purpura and John Wettack scored four goals each to lead the host Geneseo men's lacrosse team to their first win of the season, 20-6 over the Oswego Lakers (8-3/1-3 SUNYAC). Junior Tim Burgess scored three goals and one assist, first year Steven Cregan scored one goal with three assists and senior Brendan Kurpis netted two goals and one assist for the Blue Knights. Junior Frank DiSanti won 19 of 24 faceoffs with 13 groundballs and junior Steve Aziz scored twice for Geneseo. Geneseo scored seven straight goals to take an 8-1 lead after one quarter and never looked back as DiSanti won seven of the nine faceoffs in the opening period. Junior Michael Greubel got the win in goal by making six saves and allowing two goals in 37:24 of action. Sophomore Ryan Zaremba allowed two goals and made one save in 12:36 and Adam Perri stopped one shot and allowed two scores in the final 10:00. Geneseo moves to 1-7 overall and 1-1 in SUNYAC and travels to Oneonta on Wednesday.
Sophomore Emily Haggerty scored five goals, first year Katey Hart netted four goals and one assist and junior Lea Paris collected two goals and three helpers to lead the host Geneseo women's lacrosse team past the Oneonta Red Dragons (9-2/3-2 SUNYAC), 15-9. Junior Rachel Petrone added two goals and two assists, sophomore Caroline Buonocore had a goal and an assist and sophomore Kylie Caesar netted one score. Paris and Petrone scored with under two minutes to play in the opening half to give Geneseo an 8-5 lead, but the Red Dragons responded with the opening two goals of the second half to pull within one at 8-7. Hart ripped off three straight goals to begin a seven-goal spurt over 14 minutes and Haggerty scored three times during the run as Geneseo opened a 15-7 lead with 6:19 remaining. Sophomore Bridget McGovern collected five draw controls for Geneseo and junior Julie Bernatzky made 10 saves in posting the win in nets as the Blue Knights advance to 6-4 overall and 2-2 in SUNYAC play. Geneseo travels to Buffalo State on Tuesday.
Junior Katie Gallagher tossed a four-hit shutout with eight strikeouts in the second game as the Geneseo softball team swept the host Potsdam Bears this afternoon, 5-3 in game one and 6-0 in game two. In the opener, Geneseo recovered from a 3-0 deficit by scoring a run in the fifth, one in the sixth and three runs in the top of the seventh to gain the win. Sophomore Sam Trapasso was 2-3 with two runs and an RBI, while Jane LePage and Lexi Williams each went 1-3 with an RBI. Junior Mary Bostwick got the win in game one after allowing six hits and one earned run with four strikeouts. In game two, Geneseo broke open a scoreless tie with five runs in the third inning to support Gallagher. LePage and senior KK Schaus had a pair of hits for Geneseo, while Trapasso, junior Stef Rosenberg and senior Molly Walsh each had one hit and one RBI. Geneseo advances to 11-15 overall and 5-5 in SUNYAC and the Blue Knights travel to Union College on Wednesday.
The Geneseo women's tennis team traveled to the Gotham Tennis Center in New York City today and blanked host New York University, 9-0. Seniors Monica Vieth and Julia Passik got the doubles started with an 8-0 win at first and seniors Katie Gayvert and Reggie Connelly won at second doubles, 8-4. Zakiyyah Abdus-Salaam and junior Katie Talbot won third doubles by default. In singles action, Vieth won 6-0, 6-0 at first, first year Dexuan Yuan won 6-0, 6-1 at second, first year Amanda Rosati won 6-3, 6-1 at third singles and junior Sarah Shields won 6-2, 6-0 at fourth singles. Talbot at fifth singles and Minxuan Yuan at sixth singles won by default. Geneseo is 13-1 on the season and takes on ASA Jr. College at the National Tennis Center in New York City on Sunday.
Outdoor Track & Field
The Geneseo outdoor track and field team traveled to Rochester this afternoon for a scoring meet, where the women finished eighth with 47 points and the men claimed fourth with 68.5 points. On the women's side, junior Diahann Cuevo provided the lone win of the day for the Blue Knights as she posted a 26.70 in the 200 meters after taking sixth place in the 100 meters with a time of 12.87. Geneseo's Jessica Jaroszko was second in the 100 hurdles in 16.47, first year Joanna Castrogivanni finished third in the 5,000 meters with a time of 19:21.49 and sophomore Towi Kuberka ran fourth in the 400 hurdles in 1:09.00. In the field events, first year Elyssa Slawinski took third in the discus with a toss of 33.71 meters. On the men's side, the 4X100 relay team of junior Ian Besso and seniors Josh Shelton, Jesse Cleary-Krell and Matt Hart won in an ECAC-qualifying time of 42.99 to highlight the performances. In the 400 meters, first year Ben Schwartz was fifth in 51.22, Cleary-Krell placed sixth in 51.55 and Hart was seventh in 51.97. In the 100 meters, Besso placed sixth in 11.54, Shelton was seventh in 11.56 and senior Nwana Okafor placed eighth in 11.58. Hart claimed sixth in the 200 meters in 22.95. In the field events for the men, first year Luke Taverne won the high jump with an ECAC-qualifying height of 1.93 meters and senior Colin Keenan was fourth with a height of 1.88 meters. Okafor took second in the long jump with a distance of 6.75 meters and junior Brendan Murphy placed sixth in the hammer throw with a toss of 42.34 meters. The Blue Knights host the Geneseo Open on Saturday, April 21.


text:
On Sunday, December 18, 2011, Occupy Wall Street will be conducting "ImmigrantsOccupy Global Day of Action". This "Action" will put them on the same side of immigration as the Koch brothers, the US Chamber of Commerce, big banks, big businesses, the Federal Reserve, and virtually the entire establishment.
Over two months ago I speculated that Occupy Wall Street is a fake movement comprised of useful idiots for the elites. Sunday's "Action" confirms this.
Their blurbs about the events are below, but first a challenge: I'd like any OWS member or sympathizer to list anyone who's part of the establishment who actually opposes massive immigration. I've written thousands of posts about immigration since 2002, and I can't think of a single establishment figure who wants to actually stop illegal immigration or reduce massive legal immigration. In fact, supporting at the least massive immigration is a membership requirement to be in the establishment.
And, OWS are on the same side of the immigration issue as the establishment.
Meanwhile, OWS is turning their backs on their own fellow citizens - many of them black - who are negatively impacted by massive immigration. In addition to being wrong policy, this move by OWS is bad politics in that it will further erode their support from the "99%".
Who supports massive and/or illegal immigration? Who are OWS's intellectual fellows? Here's a partial list:
* The Koch family, Dick Armey of FreedomWorks, Grover Norquist, and other top tea parties leaders...
* The Federal Reserve and corrupt major banks: see immigration banks...
* The US Chamber of Commerce...
* Occupy Wall Street's top opponent, Michael Bloomberg...
* Other tycoons like Rupert Murdoch and Bill Gates...
* Business groups like the Western Growers, Essential Worker Immigration Coalition, National Association of Manufacturers...
* The entire MSM: New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and on and on...
* The Mexican government...
* Major businesses such as WalMart, Western Union, Home Depot, and on and on...
* Hacks like Tamar Jacoby and Linda Chavez...
* People like the Rubashkins (see Postville)...
* Libertarian groups like the CATO Institute (part of the "Kochtopus")...
* George W Bush, Barack Obama (see Obama immigration) and a whole host of other corrupt politicians...
* The Rockefeller family and other superrich establishment figures...
If I listed them all, it would be a very long list. OWS is on their side, not yours.
ADDED: I added a few more names to the list above. Also, I realize that most current or prospective OWS members won't be as familiar with this issue as I am. So, if you're still confused, just follow the money. Illegal immigration is a multi-billion dollar "industry", and lots of corrupt people are trying to get their own share of it. For instance, banks (see the link above) want to take a cut of the money that illegal aliens send home. They also want to profit from illegal aliens depositing funds or by giving them loans. The fewer illegal aliens in the U.S., the less money they'll make. So, those corrupt banks (as well as big business) contribute to those politicians who they know will look the other way on illegal immigration. Those banks and businesses aren't going to contribute to those who cut into their profits, they're going to donate to those who help them make money (even if the money was earned illegally by their customer). OWS isn't trying to stop banks from profiting from illegally-earned money, nor are they trying to stop political corruption as politicians look the other way on illegal activity. OWS is on the wrong side: they're enabling those banks to profit and they're enabling those corrupt politicians.
But, some might ask, "what about the blurb directly below?" "OWS doesn't say they're going to do that, now do they?" Of course they don't say they're going to enable corrupt banks. That's just what's going to happen. If OWS were able to block detentions and deportations, those corrupt banks would cheer. Not only would those corrupt banks get to keep their current illegal alien customers, but OWS would help them gain new customers as there was continued illegal immigration. OWS would be furthering the cycle outlined above where banks donate to corrupt politicians.
In the blurb below, OWS complains (with presumably a straight face) about "wage theft", and they don't mean the impact that massive illegal immigration has on American wages. There are reasons why many big businesses favor immigrant labor, and it isn't because they're nice guys. It's because they want to lower their labor costs, and OWS is enabling them in that effort. Big business favors cheaper, more compliant foreign labor so they don't have to spend as much on wages and so that they can have more control over their workers. OWS is on the side of, for instance, Mohawk Industries, meat processors, Swift Foods, Tyson Foods and so on. OWS is not on the side of their American workers.
But, couldn't we not deport anyone, have continued high illegal immigration, and enforce labor laws to make sure all workers get a fair shake? Sure, we could do that, but it wouldn't work as intended. See enforce labor but not immigration laws and immigration wage floor for why that won't work.
Note that, when it comes to corporate profiteering, OWS doesn't highlight anything above. They don't highlight how, for instance, the Federal Reserve wants a cut of the money that illegal aliens send home. They don't highlight how major banks want to profit from giving home loans to illegal aliens. They don't highlight how corrupt growers and food processors donate to corrupt politicians who look the other way on illegal immigration.
Instead, they only highlight the much, much smaller market for private detention. And, when it comes to that, OWS would increase that market. OWS's actions would increase illegal immigration, and the great majority of Americans oppose illegal immigration. If, due to OWS's influence, illegal immigration increased, that would result in a stronger call for detaining illegal aliens from the great majority of Americans. That would result in more laws like SB1070 in Arizona. On the other hand, if illegal immigration decreased, that would result in fewer detentions and less of a call for detention centers.
So, OWS is going in the wrong direction on corporate profiteering. Not only is OWS ignoring the much larger market involving employing and otherwise profiting off illegal aliens' wages, but when it comes to detention they'd enable the very corporate profiteering they complain about.
As for the last paragraph in the first blurb below, OWS is responding to the negative impacts of NAFTA and the like by making things worse for all concerned. Most Americans don't want illegal immigration, yet that's the policy prescription OWS has for NAFTA. At the same time, OWS's policy prescription deprives countries like Mexico of people who'll stay there and press for political reform. For the elites of both countries, OWS policy ideas are great: Mexican elites have fewer people to take care of and worry about, and American elites have plenty of low-wage workers. That's great for the elites of both countries, but not good for everyone else.
Now, I don't know whether OWS is consciously fake or not: the elites could be pulling their strings and making sure they promote policies that help the elites. Or, OWS could just be useful idiots for those elites. In any case, OWS is in effect a fake group: they're helping the elites make billions at the same time as they harm struggling American workers (and the millions of unemployed).
ADDED 2: What if OWS went in the opposite direction and opposed illegal immigration instead of enabling it? Here's what that would mean:
* The elites would drop them like a hot Birther, and that's because - unlike what they're doing now - OWS would be doing something that the elites definitely don't want.
* OWS would be challenging the elites on one of the issues where the elites are weakest.
* OWS would help foreign countries: there would be less braindrain and foreign countries' elites would need to take care of their own people rather than sending them to the U.S.
* OWS would help American workers and the unemployed, many of whom could be doing jobs currently being done by illegal aliens (and with a net benefit to the U.S.)
* OWS would reduce political corruption and corporate profiteering.
Now, compare what OWS could be doing to what they're actually doing.
If OWS was from the start a bogus group designed to assist the elites, would they be doing anything differently from what they're doing now?
From an OWS email announcement:
Immigrants are part of the 99% and on December 18th we will march with the Occupy Wall Street movement to demand immigrant justice including putting an end to wage theft, and stopping detentions and deportations of our beloved community members. As the Occupy Wall Street movement highlights corporate profiteering we would like to shed light on those that profit off our labor, exploit workers and refuse to pay dignified wages. We also march against the corporations who support anti-immigrant legislation so they can make billions of dollars by detaining immigrants in private detention centers and deporting nearly 400,000 people per year.
As the occupy movement goes global we also recognize the destructive role that these corporations play in exploiting resources and labor in our home countries which forces millions to migrate. December 18th is the International Day of Migrants and we stand in solidarity with those world wide who are proclaiming Immigrant Rights as Human Rights.
From Occupy Philadelphia (see the first link):
New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia and Occupy Philadelphia:
On Sunday, December 18th, people from every continent will be standing up and speaking out for the rights of migrants and against racism. Here in Philadelphia, members of a Latino congregation in N. Philly ...came up with the idea of holding a Posada to call for the end of deportations and an end to the separation of families. This will be a prayerful procession through Center City.
Las Posadas (Spanish for "the inn") is a traditional Mexican festival which re-enacts Mary and Joseph's travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem and their search for room at the inn. A processional stops at a previously selected home and asks for lodging for the night. After being turned away twice, the people are then invited in to read scriptures, eat, and sing carols called villancicos.
Join us in this rich tradition to reflect on what hospitality means, call on decision makers to open this nation's doors and hearts, and to imagine the society we want to live in...
On December 18, 1990 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. Ten years later the U.N. declared December 18 as International Migrants Day. The Convention emphasizes that the rights of migrants are not to be violated or attacked regardless of the immigration status in the country of residence
United Nations data indicates that 175 million people worldwide are immigrants. Yet, in spite of the many contributions of immigrants to the countries they decided to adopt as their homes, many times they are mistreated, victimized, discriminated and exploited. In the US, Congress has failed to pass any Comprehensive Reform or the DREAM Act, and yet the Administration continues to escalate enforcement, deporting over 1 million people in the last three years.
Fri, 12/16/2011 - 17:23 · Importance: 4

domain: politics


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text:
Last month, Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte allegedly referred to U.S. President Barack Obama as putang ina mo, an expression in Tagalog that loosely translates into either “son of a bitch” or “son of a whore.” Various news media outlets jumped on the chance to cover the diplomatic faux-pas, and in response, Obama cancelled his official meeting with Duterte, referring to him as a “colorful character.”
This situation forced the rest of the world—those unfamiliar with the crude president—to wonder and ask: Who is Duterte? Who in their right mind would say such a thing to a world leader?
To understand and answer these questions, one must understand the context behind the words, the speaker, and the culture.
Use of profanity in political exchanges is not new. In 1965, former U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson told Greek Ambassador Alexandros Matsas, “Fuck your parliament and your constitution” during a discussion concerning Cyprus. In 2004, then U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney told Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont to “go fuck” himself in response to the senator’s criticisms of Halliburton, a multibillion dollar oil corporation, and its dubious business contracts involving Iraq. Instances of political profanity by U.S. government officials go on for pages. To be sure, U.S. politicians are no strangers to cursing.
Profanity is also common in the international arena, but translation between languages—or rather, mistranslation—can make these exchanges sound more severe than they were intended. During the Cold War, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev was mistakenly interpreted as saying, “We will bury you” to Western ambassadors visiting Moscow. This didn’t help warm already tense relations between the West and the Soviets, as the mistranslation was published widely in Western newspapers. Khrushchev was actually referring to a passage in the Communist Manifesto, which reads, “Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will dig you in.” Context is key.
More recently, and attracting less attention, the former Norwegian Minister of Environmental Affairs Thorbjørn Berntsen referred to John Gummer, the United Kingdom’s secretary of state for the environment, as a drittsekk, which loosely translates into “shitbag,” after a debacle over whaling laws. English readers were appalled at the language, but drittsekk, though vulgar in translation, is actually considered more of a mild insult by the general Norwegian population.
Now, returning to Duterte’s colorful statements toward Obama: the situation comprises elements from the examples above. Like other loose-lipped politicians such as Johnson and Cheney, Duterte is known for his public use of lively language. Like other non-English speaking politicians, his statements have been mistranslated and taken out of the context, resulting in an outcry by English speakers. What differentiates Duterte from the other examples is whether or not the ensuing judgments are warranted or accurate.
PUTANG INA MO
Putang ina mo directly translates into “whore mother.” Though the phrase can be used as a direct insult, it is more generally used as a common expressive interjection or emotive curse. LanguageLog, a blog run by the Linguistic Data Consortium at the University of Pennsylvania, notes that because the phrase did not follow a pronoun, there is no way it could have been misconstrued by native speakers as a direct insult. In other words, Duterte was not targeting Obama.
Like the Norwegian phrase drittsekk, Putang ina mo isn’t as bad as its English translation. In the Philippines, it is used commonly and considered rather mild. In 1969, the Filipino Supreme Court even ruled the phrase was not slanderous due to its general use as an expression rather than a targeted slight.
Former Filipino Chief Justice Querube Makalintal wrote in the ruling: “This is a common enough expression in the dialect that is often employed, not really to slander but rather to express anger or displeasure. It is seldom, if ever, taken in its literal sense by the hearer—that is, as a reflection on the virtues of a mother.” In the same vein, filmmaker Jason Paul Laxamana states that when he writes Tagalog to English subtitles for Filipino movies, he will generally translate the phrase into expressions such as “shit” or “damn it,” rather than the more targeted “son of a bitch.”
With all this in mind, was Duterte’s address as aggressive as many Westerners perceived? Technically, yes. Headlines just focused on the wrong part of the statement.
The bit that followed the frustrated expression was murahin kita diyan sa forum na ‘yan, which translates into, “I’m going to curse you in that forum,” referencing the scheduled meeting between Duterte and Obama. This, unlike putang ina mo, is a clear and direct hit—almost like a warning for the direction of the leaders’ discussion.
Ever since Duterte’s inauguration in June, international human rights groups and world leaders alike have criticized the president’s war on drugs and clear endorsement of extrajudicial killings. Recent counts place the resulting death toll at over 3,600 already, and Duterte’s publicy-stated goal is 10,000 alleged drug users and dealers dead by December. The president celebrates these deaths, viewing himself as a hero cleaning up the streets. Notably, Duterte and his policies have garnered high trust ratings among the Filipino population, evidenced by a survey conducted by Pulse Asia, which placed his record-breaking trust rating at 91 percent. Outside of the Philippines, Duterte is on the defensive and wary of direct confrontation with world leaders such as Obama.
Further analyzing the context of Duterte’s provocative phrases, it is possible that neither of them were directed at Obama. According to witnesses and transcripts, Duterte’s comment was pointed at a journalist who questioned the president’s use of extrajudicial killings. Duterte himself, however, claims to have targeted the statement at the U.S. State Department for raising concerns over his drug war.
“I got really angry about these threats over this human rights issue. This is the fault of the crazy people in the State Department,” Duterte stated.
A COLORFUL CHARACTER
Despite the cancelled meeting, frenzied attention, and headlines declaring “Son of a Bitch,” Obama and Western interpretations of the situation got one thing right: Duterte is a colorful character. He is unapologetic and aggressive in his language, and makes enemies easily with his unhinged comments. Back in May, a CNN op-ed referred to Duterte as the Philippines’ own version of Donald Trump.
Prior to the putang ina mo debacle, Duterte has already publicly and directly cursed out UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon for bringing up his human rights violations as well as Pope Francis for causing an inconvenient traffic jam while visiting the country. If Duterte did directly curse at the U.S. president, Obama would be in good company.
Beyond cursing at world leaders, Duterte is also known in his own country for a rape joke about a female minister murdered during a prison riot, lewd quips about Viagra, and the statement “forget the laws on human rights” in reference to his war on drugs. Unsurprisingly, putang ina mo is a regular phrase in his public addresses—it was used in two out of three of the examples above.
Even more recently, Duterte came under fire again for likening himself to Hitler while discussing his goal of killing millions of drug users.
“Hitler massacred three million Jews. Now there is three million, there’s a three million drug addict. There are. I’d be happy to slaughter them. At least if Germany had Hitler, the Philippines would have…,” Duterte said, pointing to himself as he left his statement hanging.
Duterte’s incendiary language, especially when directed at foreign leaders, has made headlines around the world. But his presidency is not “all bark and no bite”: between the violent war on drugs and taking steps to completely overhaul the Philippines’ relationship with China and the United States, Duterte’s volatile personality clearly influences more than just his words. It is crucial that the rest of the world—and particularly the media—pays attention to the colorful Filipino president’s policy as well.
Images: Left – U.S. President Obama speaks at Cairo University in Cairo, 2009 (The White House/Chuck Kennedy); Right – Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte delivers a speech at Camp Aguinaldo (Philippine Presidential Communications Operations Office)
Casey Mendoza is a multimedia journalist with a specialization in video production and editing. She is a recent graduate of Knox College, where she majored in political science with a double minor in journalism and Chinese language. Mendoza has worked in various newsrooms and production companies as a photographer, videographer, writer, graphic designer, and production assistant.


text:
Good evening… It could be a long one.
As you read this, MPs are in the thick of a series of Air Canada back-to-work legislation debates that could, in theory, see the House sitting well past the witching hour. The government has already invoked closure on a time allocation motion for the bill. After the vote on that motion, expected around 8 p.m., debate on the bill itself would begin. That stage could, should MPs choose, take us into an all-nighter. The Air Canada ground crews, however, weren’t waiting for the late show, their union came out against the back-to-work bill today, saying it wil “poison labour relations in Canada.”
Today on the Hill was a day of opposition showdowns with ministers in committees, the likely highlight being when Julian Fantino hinted that the government’s commitment to buying F-35 fighter jets may not be as water tight as previously indicated. Check iPolitics.ca for more coverage from a busy day in committees.
On the robocall front, interim Liberal leader Bob Rae looked to turn the page on a rough day yesterday. He said he’s offered up Liberal robocall recordings to Elections Canada and challenges the Conservatives to do likewise. That comes a day after the Liberals were hammered over MP Frank Valeriote’s own robocall campaign.
Following on those developments, question period today looked something like a mass tennis game with accusations served and accusations returned in an ongoing cross-floor rally. If there was an opposition common front on the issue, though, it was showing cracks. Frustrated with the Conservatives’ seeming unwillingness to answer the NDP’s question, Alexandre Boulerice offered up this nugget: “the Conservatives answer that the Liberals are as crooked as they are. It’s true. It’s true that Conservative scandals replaced Liberal scandals, but that doesn’t give a real answer to people who want to know what went on”.
Oh and a little egg-on-face for Pat Martin, the fiery NDP front bencher posted an apology to Responsive Marketing Group Inc. on his website today for comments he made last week.
Also. iPolitics convened a panel of experienced diplomats and academics this morning to discuss Canada’s need for a comprehensive national security strategy. The insights offer food for though for anybody interested in Canada’s defence and the full webcast can be viewed here.
Some more top copy at iPolitics this hour:
- Canada-EU trade deal a boon for cities, Fast insist as despite Toronto vote
- Opposition MPs challenge Aglukkaq to pull the levers of government
- Nothing amiss in Libya celebration costs, MacKay insists
- Harper’s interference in bargaining process is bad for competitiveness
- 10 STORIES: Pundits on robocalls, non-Sun media and ethical low grounds
Other news people are are talking about:
- Quebec vows to challenge newest federal crime laws (Canadian Press)
- U.S. Fed offers positive outlook as employment surges (Associated Press)
- Environmental assessment report slammed as ‘fictitious’ (CBC News)
- Decrying Ottawa’s ‘bully tactics,’ B.C. natives vow to block pipeline (Globe and Mail)
- Raising age of eligibility not the cure for retirement benefit funding problems: C.D. Howe Institute (Postmedia News)