On behalf of the 25,000 highly skilled construction workers that make up the Oregon Building and Construction Trades Council, I ask that you vote no on this measure. A no vote will mean more jobs and less traffic congestion.
We agree with both the Westside Economic Alliance and Tigard Chamber of Commerce that this measure would significantly hamper Tigard’s ability to both bring in new industries and retain the businesses we have now. That is why we have come together to ask voters to join us in voting no on this measure. Our elected leaders have spent years working to attract businesses to our community, work that has positioned Washington County as the economic hub of the state, and the work continues. A yes vote on this measure would throw a monkey wrench into an economic plan that, up to this point, has been incredibly successful.
The Pacific Highway/99W is one of the worst traffic bottlenecks in the area, and many of our members routinely sit in traffic for over an hour on their way home. Sitting in traffic is a waste in so many ways. A yes vote will hurt the economy and lead to more traffic congestion. For people who commute to and from work, traffic congestion can make you late to work and late getting home, which means less time with our families and generally having less time to spend doing the things we love.
Even if you never plan to ride light rail, allowing others to do so will get them off our roads, thereby reducing traffic congestion and helping speed up your travels. Many businesses locate near access to light rail so their workers have safe and reliable transportation to and from work.
If reducing traffic congestion and increasing our region’s economic viability is important to you, then I encourage you to join our members in voting no this March.
Submitted on the behalf of John Mohlis, Secretary-Treasurer of the Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council.


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There are a huge variety of Nagpur tourism packages, which might or might not include the transportation costs and even the hotel. This is a possibility and you should make sure that you are clear about what is included in the package before purchasing it. You can also see if you can make some alterations to the package, even if you have to pay a little bit extra.
Nagpur tours are one of the best things about the city because there is so much to learn about the city and only so much time. With a guide they will explain everything to you, whether you are on the way to the location or walking around. This makes it much easier to understand what is going on and what is what.
There are many different locations from which you can find a Nagpur tourism guide, but one of the best places to get it from is the company you are going to purchase the package from. This means that the information they give you will allow you to choose what you want to see and then decide on a package. However, if there is something that you want to see that isn't on the list, you can always ask for a tailored option.
Although known as the orange growing capital of the country, there is more to Nagpur than its orange orchards. While your olfactory senses stand a chance of being assailed by the refreshing fragrance of citrus on Nagpur Tours, Nagpur Holidays will also be filled with a lot of activities and site seeing.
While you are at it, plan your Nagpur Tour with the help of various Nagpur Vacation packages. These Nagpur Travel Packages will help you Travel to this place comfortably. The drive to this scenic locale is one experience you will cherish forever. The long, sinewy, winding roads with the backdrop of lush green forests and meandering rivers make a truly exhilarating image.
While on a Trip to this place, you will be accosted with various wildlife sanctuaries, temples, forts, and a few geological sites. Nagpur is known as the second greenest city in the country. There are quite a few religious sites that will take your attention on Nagpur Holiday Packages. While you are here, you might be able to attend a handicraft exhibition or attend tribal dance and folk art events.

domain: travel


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CTU members have bravely stood up for safety since the pandemic began, including this January, and that effort has reaped benefits. Among those benefits is a major increase in contact tracing, vaccination events and outreach to families about opting in to COVID testing. Prior to our taking action and finally winning a safety agreement, CPS had failed to hire the staff necessary to perform the work needed to bring safe levels of vaccination and testing to our schools. Thanks to the January agreement, CPS educators can choose to work after school and be paid to help fill that gap. It is unfortunate that teachers, clinicians and PSRPs have to step in and put in extra time so that CPS can fulfill the promises they made, but CTU members have always gone above and beyond.
Thanks to these new rules, some 315 schools now have at least one person assigned to their contact tracing team and, of those, more than 230 have more than one contact tracer. This work is sorely needed because more than two-thirds of those schools have vaccinations rates under 50 percent. A similar number have less than half their student population opted in to testing. While this new staffing holds promise for improved safety, it still leaves more than 200 schools with no contact tracers at all. The Union has plans to follow up about what is holding those schools back and what we can do to support greater safety there.
This is only one of the provisions that continues to improve safety for our educators, our students and their families. You will see more information below about masks, testing and vaccination captains and phone banking. Complete COVID safety information continues to be compiled at ctulocal1.org/safety and you can get updates on safety bargaining at ctulocal1.org/chart.
Contact tracer training, positions and payment
As shared above, more than 300 schools have had principals select staff to be on school contact tracing teams and that work should be happening. CPS says more payroll guidance is coming to help School Clerks ensure those team members are paid.
As we informed members previously, CPS is paying members to take the contact tracer training. They will be paid even if they are not ultimately offered the positions or choose to do this after-hours work. At this point, CPS has closed the trainings for contact tracing, which had four parts: HIPAA and FERPA (1 hour, combined), OSHW (1 hour) and Johns Hopkins (6 hours). Those who completed any part of the training will be paid for the hours completed, even if all were not completed, at the non-instructional rate of $44.69 on their paycheck for April 8. The cost will come from the central CPS budget, not school budgets.
CPS says they have plenty of pediatric and adult KN95 masks in the “warehouse” and all that principals have to do is request them. Please report to the district safety committee if your school safety committee is being told there are no more. That is unacceptable.
We have requested a full accounting of how many KN95s remain and how they will be distributed to schools who want them. We’ve also requested that CPS make N95s available to the most vulnerable members.
Schools that don’t have a captain, can still get one.
CPS says that there are nearly 270 Testing/Vaccinatino Captains in 240 schools. Captains received a somewhat thin set of guidance but should do your best to coordinate phone banks and other outreach to families to get them signed up for COVID testing and connect them to vaccination opportunities. Principals can request vaccination events at https://chicagopsprod.service-now.com/sp?id=sc_cat_item&sys_id=3d6824b41bb5859c5b162f82b24bcb44
Clerks should be able to enroll members to be paid to phone bank for testing. We know that more than 100 individuals have been or are being processed for payment. Members who phone banked in January should be enrolled to be paid and phone banks should be ongoing. If clerks need the payroll guidance, they can ask their principal or you can contact your field rep for guidance.

domain: news


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If you have $3.7 million, you might be in the running to purchase Tregiffian Cottage, the Cornwall home of legendary novelist John Le Carré, who died in 2020. If not, you’ll have to settle for looking at the pictures—and if you’re like the typical Lit Hub reader, ogling his dreamy library and even dreamier writing room.
John le Carré and his wife purchased Tregiffan Cottage in the late ’60s; of course, le Carré wrote many of his books there, including Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Constant Gardner. “My earliest memories are of playing in the garden at Tregiffian and adventuring along the coastal path to St Loy or Mousehole,” said le Carré’s son, Nick Cornwell—who writes novels as Nick Harkaway—in a statement. “The whole place is alive with butterflies, rabbits, swallows, foxes, and occasionally badgers. In winter, you bank up a log fire, and listen to the wind around the house, and feel as if you’re in a castle or a lighthouse. The storms are dramatic and beautiful, and when they’re gone, you get that wild horizontal sun. It’s a wonderful place to rest, or work, or just be yourself.”
The 5,000-square-foot house sits on 3.3 acres with obviously gorgeous views. Le Carré’s writing room is in a detached studio building; the library features “bespoke joinery and a feature window at one end, glazed with what is believed to be part of the canopy” from a WWII fighter plane. Of course, there’s also a safe room. You can’t write that many espionage novels without getting just a little bit paranoid. Take a peek here:
[via Mansion Global]

domain: library


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erimentalThe development of personality has long been an area of extreme interest to psychologists and psychoanalysts alike and many different theories of personality have developed over the years. From Sigmund Freud to B.F.
Skinner, everyone seems to have not only an opinion of what personality is and how it develops but also an idea as to what is the best way to measure and report their findings. In order to test their theories, it was necessary to formulate methods of research that were effective, ethical and would provide a solid foundation for future personality research.Although both the clinical and experimental methods of personality research have lent themselves to our present day understanding of the human psyche and personality, each has done so in vastly different ways. Freud and his colleagues, who pioneered the clinical research method, chose to observe their clients in an up close and personal fashion.Order now
A great deal of their research findings came from interviews with psychologically disturbed patients. Personality psychologists who opt for the clinical method of research regard their work as both a method of gathering information and testing hypothesis as well as an opportunity to provide therapy and encourage healing. Therefore, the clinical method is very person oriented and allows for a more intimate study of the individual personality.Proponents of the experimental method are equally as dedicated to their methods of research.
Not unlike clinical researchers, experimental researchers regard their methods as the best way of gathering information to support hypothesis regarding personality. Although their methods are not as up close and personal as those who study using the clinical method, they are certainly valuable. Experimental research is often regarded as the best form of research, due to its strict adherence to rigid research guidelines. Although neither of these two methods are infallible, each has its own merits and downfalls.
In order to be best able to critique these methods one must have a general knowledge of each method, and an understanding of what has allowed them their staying power in the field of psychological research. The Clinical Research MethodThe clinical method of personality research developed literally at the patient’s bedside. During this time in the life of psychoanalytic research, the subjects were usually afflicted with one type of psychotic disorder or another. This bedside approach to analysis allowed for the psychiatrist or psychologist to observe the patient in their most natural surroundings.
It also allowed the patient the freedom to talk and act without inhibition. With this freedom to speak openly, the therapist and patient were able to establish a professional relationship built on a mutual trust. This trust enabled the patient to open up and begin the psychological healing process while it allowed the therapist the opportunity to study him or her as a unique human being.This respect of individuality is part of what makes the clinical approach successful.
The individual approach allows for an extremely in depth analysis of the individual. Unfortunately, it is also often considered to be the largest downfall of the clinical method. Each person has a unique history, frame of reference, and state of mind and this very personalized study of one individual is not necessarily indicative of the situation of many others. In as much as this individualistic approach allows for a great deal of hypothesis formation, it does not necessarily allow for the opportunity to confirm or refute the initial supposition.
Clinical research is qualitative research. It is more flexible in its style and is more intense and less formal than the experimental method. The objective of qualitative research is to develop theories and refine concepts. Clinical researchers focus on individuals or small groups in a natural and relaxed atmosphere, unlike experimental researchers who focus on larger groups, while controlling certain variables.
The therapist, from his or her own observation may find similarities between individuals experiences, and be able to form a hypothesis regarding the cause of these similarities.Clinical therapists feel that we can only truly understand a personality by studying it through the clinical method. Their reason for claiming this is due to their belief that each individual person is unique. They believe that personality is the sum of one’s life experience.
Therefore, to genuinely understand personality, one must first understand the person, their experiences, values, and beliefs. In order to do so, the patient must be observed in as natural a situation as possible. That is not to say that a clinical setting is a “natural” environment, but that the patient will be able to act more naturally, speak more openly and behave more freely than if subjected to deliberate manipulation of variables on the part of the researcher.Experimental Research MethodThe name Pavlov is synonymous with the experimental method.
Pavlov’s experiments with animals using the conditioned response and unconditioned stimuli system became a cornerstone for laboratory research on animals and humans alike. The experimental method, because of its adherence to strict protocol, is often thought to be the best way with which to gather and measure research data.Experimental research employs the belief that the scientific method of research is the sole source of true knowledge, because of its high level of replicability. For example, their findings may be tested and re-tested with the same outcome due to the inflexibility of the scientific method.
Experimental research is qualitative research. Qualitative research tests theories and hypothesis, looking for measurable data to determine whether or not a specific cause creates a specific effect. Unlike its counterpart, experimental research is structured and formal. It does not leave room, as does clinical research, for evolving investigation.
Rather, it focuses on a specific trait or behaviour, and attempts to find statistical similarities among a larger, more controlled group of people to explain that trait or behaviour.In ContrastExperimental methods of research are better able to provide us with a generalized view of distinct areas of personality. For instance, experimental research performs testing on large cross-section groups of people with diversified backgrounds. The researchers have the ability to control certain variable such as the type or amount of medication that a group receives.
They are then able to decipher whether or not that variable affects the group, to what degree it affects the group and how, if at all, it this information affects the study of personality.Some would argue that experimental research is free of the potential emotional bias, on the part of the researcher, that the clinical method may be subject to. However, one could also argue that the experimental method is not without its own faults, prejudices and biases. An example of this would be the difficulty in manipulating variables such as emotion.
While the clinical method is superior for hypothesis formulation, the experimental method is better able to test them. While the clinical method is superior for analyzing individual cases, the experimental method is better able to generalize these findings and formulate and test theories that apply more universally. The clinical method is preferred for treatment purposes, while the experimental method is superior at obtaining reproducible data.The greatest drawback of the experimental method is that it is virtually impossible to measure the points and issues that are of importance to personality psychologists.
Things such as love, anger and disappointment are difficult to chart and even more difficult, if at all possible, to control. The experimental method lacks the detail offered by the clinical method.The clinical method’s disadvantages include trying to generalize the data from one case to apply it to all cases. Also, because of the lack of the rigid controls, the clinical method is more likely than the experimental method to be influenced by the subjective expectations of the researcher.
In conclusion, it seems evident that these two research methods are both competing and complimentary. There will be times when one of the two methods will be preferred over the other. However, the data gathered by each is also valuable for future research by the other. As it progresses, the study of human personality may one day be able to develop a method that will incorporate both the clinical and the experimental methods, providing us with a research tool that would be both scientifically valid and personal in nature.

domain: psychology


Steve Applebaum and Ryan Hoss are behind the Super Mario Brothers Archive, a website originally founded in 2007 by Ryan to showcase his vast collection of memorabilia related to the film’s production and merchandising efforts. Steve joined later, helping the site with its mission to provide insight into the film’s production and development.
I know no one better to talk about Super Mario Brothers — a film we reviewed last week — than these guys! Steve was good enough to answer some of our questions.
B AND S ABOUT MOVIES: Did you come to the movie first or the video game first?
Steven Applebaum: Although I was too young to experience Super Mario Bros. on the original NES or to see the film in theaters, I still came to the franchise through the games before ever discovering the live-action adaptation. I barely had any idea of the animated shows or their live-action segments, either. My favorites were SMB2 and World: the Black Sheep and Dark Horse titles of the series!
B AND S: On our site, my wife and I review movies and she’d never played the game before she saw the movie as a kid, so her entire experience of SMB is just the film. Isn’t that maybe more pure?
Steven: People have argued that the premise of the film is strong enough to stand as an original work independent from the videogames. I agree so far as the directors themselves intended to deconstruct the formula of the games, so the narrative is more about fairytale archetypes in general. If not for its association with the videogames, the film might instead more naturally be compared to The Wizard of Oz or Alice in Wonderland.
B AND S: Why is it so beloved?
Steven: I’m not sure I can pin it down exactly! I imagine part of it is just having seen the film at such an early age that it became a sort of touchstone from which to compare future creative works. It is by no means a traditional film, let alone a traditional adaptation, so where it diverges from the standard entertainment formula is where you remember it the most!
B AND S: What motivated you to take that love and create the site?
Steven: I first joined the site forums in 2010 before offering to help Ryan with research, writing, and arranging interviews. I had been working on a Pokémon-themed project that unfortunately never fully came together, so the fact that Ryan already had a full site made it easy for me to shift focus.
B AND S: Have you met/spoken to any of the creatives involved?
Steven: I’m actually friends on Facebook with much of the people we’ve interviewed. It makes it easy to reach out with a quick question or event request. Most of the production are also based in California, so I on occasion will drive to the L.A. area for a screening event or other get-together. They’re always inviting me out for a drink!
B AND S: The film is seen by so many as a failure. What qualifies it as a success to you?
Steven: Super Mario Bros.: The Movie wasn’t intended to be a carbon-copy of the games or like any other summer blockbuster: it was very much an experiment in transmedia adaptation. Co-directors Rocky Morton & Annabel Jankel were known at the time for their brilliantly thoughtful and visually exciting commercials. They cared less about a narrative that made sense and more about just making you think. It’s 25 year since and we’re still discussing the film, so that in itself is a success.
B AND S: How did you get the blu-ray release moving?
Steven: I actually went through our archives myself to compile the special features for the release, so I’m proud to assure potential buyers that we included everything of note we had available at the time. The Blu-Ray offers about as much as our site!
B AND S: How many times have you seen the film?
Steven: In my research I’ve probably watched it on the laptop dozens of times, though only seen it in theaters twice. The theater stood out more than any other– It’s how the film was meant to be experienced!
B AND S: Does it still hold surprises?
Steven: The better quality we have the more of Dinohattan we discover! It’s always fun to see the different outfits and makeup effects for the denizens of the other world, though there is also incredible world-building in characters like a street preacher whose sandwich-board proselytizes the virtues of the Fungus King as a savior-figure. Without knowing this background detail you might not otherwise have any idea why Toad so fervently supports the Fungus!
B AND S: Is there a big moment for you?
Steven: The Brooklyn-set first act rarely gets as much love as the later narrative in Dinohattan, so I want to highlight two scenes in particular: the opening death of Daisy’s mother juxtaposed with Daisy’s birth, and the later moment between Daisy and Luigi in the subway system digsite overlooking the fossils of a humanoid dinosaur. Daisy comments that the fossils resemble a “monster trying to be a human being,” and that’s it’s beautiful. Daisy does not realize at this time that she herself is descended from dinosaurs, nor that these particular fossils could very well belong to her own mother. These two scenes perfectly establishes Daisy’s character arc, which unfortunately was not fully explored later in the film due to constant script rewrites. It’s also important to note that we only have evidence for Rocky & Annabel filming these early scenes, so we can confirm their narrative vision was at least partially realized.
B AND S: What other films are favorites?
Steven: I look to escapist entertainment that offers philosophical commentary or genre deconstruction like Donnie Darko, Galaxy Quest, Stardust, or Mad Max: Fury Road. My favorite animated films are The Secret of NIMH, The Great Mouse Detective, The Prince of Egypt, and The Road to El Dorado.
Thanks guys. Please visit their site, as it’s a constantly updated source for everything great about the movie and add them on Twitter at @smbmovie.


You make an excellent point about the pioneer assets, especially in German battalions and regiments. In the article at the following link, it is noted that engineers organic to combat units belonged to the branch of the parent unit (i.e. the men in an infantry regiment's engineer platoon/company would belong to the infantry branch, not the engineer branch). As such, they typically served as assault troops, and had limited "engineering" training (and capability). How this can best be represented in TOAW unit organizations is probably by use of generic Assault Squads.
OTOH, the divisional pioneer battalion had the more traditional engineering mission. This was true at the beginning of WWII; however in 1943, the German divisional pioneer battalion mission began to evolve more toward the infantry pioneer role. At this time, the TOE of the divisional pioneer battalion in panzer and panzer-grenadier divisions became very similar to that of the infantry battalion by addition of a weapons company with heavy mount MG-42's and 81mm mortars.
The following is also from the lonesenty website. It is from a WWII, US Army publication (Military Intelligence Service, Information Bulletin No. 18, June 15, 1942), titled "The German Armored Division". What's not mentioned is that the pioneer battalion had flamethrower teams assigned, almost certainly for assaulting prepared defensive positions.
Section V: ARMORED ENGINEER BATTALION
The armored engineer battalion consists of headquarters, 3 light motorized companies (possibly only 2 in some cases), 1 motorized heavy bridge column, and 1 supply park. The motorized companies have 4 officers and 183 enlisted men each, and are armed with 9 light machine guns, 153 rifles, and 34 pistols. The heavy bridge column comprises all the equipment and personnel necessary for construction of a bridge of 28-ton capacity. It has 6 officers, 184 enlisted men, and is armed with 1 light machine gun, 153 rifles, and 36 pistols. The supply park has 2 officers and 48 enlisted men, and is armed with 1 light machine gun, 36 rifles, and 14 pistols. The personnel and engineer equipment is moved in passenger cars, trucks, tractor trailers, and motorcycles.
45. The armored engineer battalion is able to follow tanks everywhere on the battlefield. In cases where not all the battalion vehicles are armored or capable of moving across country, only the armored engineer company of the battalion can be used in direct support of the tank brigade.
46. The task of the armored engineers is to provide the armored division on the march and in battle with the necessary facilities for movement. These include:
a. Seeking out and removing obstacles in the line of advance;
b. Clearing lanes through mine fields;
c. Marking mined areas;
d. Constructing crossings and bridges with improvised or standard equipment capable of carrying all vehicles of the armored division.
In addition, armored engineers cooperate especially in the attack against permanent defenses.
"A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week."
George S. Patton


Police chase stolen RV
Suspect tried to run, but he was caught
A driver accused of leading police on a short chase in a stolen RV has been caught and arrested.
Houston police said an officer tried to stop the RV on the Southwest Freeway after the license plate came back stolen, but the driver kept going.
About a block down the freeway, the driver stopped, got out and tried to run onto the service road.
The driver was captured a short time later. His name has not been released.


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A bass may or may not be a true bass.
All the common names for these fishes, true bass or not, give the biologists fits.
For instance, there are a couple of related native and stocked species in the Morones family here in the Fishing Capital of the World that are called “basses” but they’re not related to the five species of actual bass found here, including our own legendary Florida-strain largemouth.
Click here for the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission’s top spots for this family of fishes.
These fish get big. Really big. And the biggest fish from all the Morones spp. family came from the Apalachicola/Lake Seminole system. The state record is 42.25 pounds. Most of the state’s best striped bass fishing takes place in the St. Johns River watershed, especially from Deland north to Jacksonville.
White bass look like short stripers. They are silvery-white with five to eight dusky black stripes on the sides. Stripes below the lateral line are faint and may be uneven. Whites are stockier than stripers, with a smaller head, and dorsal fins are set closer together.
Their aggressive nature and schooling tendency make them easy fish to catch. Use light tackle. Look for feeding schools that occur toward evening in shallow areas. This is great fun fishing for kids. One of the best places to catch them is below Lake Seminole, near Tallahassee.
Sunshines are voracious feeders and consume any kind of small fish including threadfin and gizzard shad. They are a hybrid of a female white bass and male striped bass that does not occur naturally. The mouth of the Escambia River near Pensacola has good hybrid fishing. Also, check out Newnan's Lake near Gainesville.

domain: hobby


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Last night's 2-1 loss to Cleveland in extra innings was as gut-wrenching as any I've experienced during the Joe Torre era, which may very well be coming to a close in the near future.
And, let me go on the record as saying, I'm not blaming him for the latest collapse, but I just have a gut feeling there's going to be a change this time around, but that's for another day.
As gutless a performance the offense turned in during last night's game ... and there are numerous candidates for the worst performer, not just A-Rod ... to me, the real goat to last night's game wasn't Joba, wasn't the bugs (although I will say they clearly did have an effect on Chamberlein) and wasn't even Luis Visciano.
It was none other than catcher Jorge Posada.
Hey, listen, I have a soft-spot for him. He works hard, for the most part, and does care about winning (I think, anyway), but I'd like to see him make one, just one key block on a wild pitch when the game is on the line.
In the bug-laden eighth inning, Joba gave up a four-pitch walk to Grady Sizemore (this is not good), who led off the inning. The first wild pitch allowed Sizemore to go to second and, after Sizemore went to third on a sacrifice and an outstanding catch by 1B Doug Meinkiewwicz to make it two outs, Joba, doing his best to not think of the crazy Canadian flying ants, threw another wild pitch that allowed a run to score.
So, there were two wild pitches in the ill-fated eighth inning. If Posada doesn't get lazy and gets down and blocks ONE of them, maybe, just maybe we win the game. It didn't happen though.
Posada, for the record, has been a disaster at the plate over the first two games and added a passed ball to his resume later in yesterday's contest.
If you remember, in Game 2 of last season's division round against the Tigers, the yankees held a 3-1 lead when, you guessed it, Posada failed to block a Mike Mussina wild pitch and allow either the tying or go-ahead run to eventually score.
Posada's pathetic. I know there's no better alternative, but I just feel his inability to come up with a key block certainly cost us.
As for the offense, it's incredible how much they stink. Not one guy stepped up (I guess not including Melky) when we needed it most.
Once again, we wasted a typical Andy Pettitte break-but-don't-bend performance. It happened to him about five times in the regular-season too. He must be sick to his stomach.
He's a horse. It's really incredible how he works his way out of jams time to time.
The bugs? Yankee haters will say it's an excuse, but logically speaking, it had to effect young Jaba. The bugs were hanging on him despite a boat-load of repelent. They were flying on his face and I just feel if things were normal, he probably gets out of the inning.
Mariano pitched a 1-2-3 ninth that could have been the save, but it wasn't meant to be.
Oh well, it's off to the Stadium. Start praying the Rocket is on. Start praying the offense finds itself. Win game 3, then start concentrating on Game 4, etc., etc., etc.
Right now, I don't have much faith. But I know when Sunday roles around, the juices will get flowing again. Hopefully, they give us something cheer about.
Either way, remember, in a perfect world, we'd all be Yankees.

domain: sports


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In the past week (at the time of writing this), we've gotten a more expansive look at plans for the Netflix corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Following the success of Daredevil season 1 on the streaming service, we got a firm confirmation that the second Marvel Netflix series, Jessica Jones is indeed coming in the fourth quarter of 2015.
As interest in Jessica Jones begins to mount, more and more details about the show are coming out. Today we hear from showrunner Melissa Rosenberg about costume plans for the show's heroine, the character arc she'll have, and where we might be seeing crossovers with other parts of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
For those who don't know, Jessica Jones follows the titular Marvel heroine, who used to be a full-fledged costumed superhero until she retired from duty following a disastrous event. The Netflix series follows the Marvel Comics lore of Jones coming out of retirement to work as a private investigator in Hell's Kitchen, while trying to overcome the deep traumas that knocked her out of the game.
According to Melissa Rosenberg (via ET Online), even though the series picks up with Jones starting her private investigation service, we will get to see her as a full-on superhero (in two identities), complete with costumes. However, the typical female superhero look is something Rosenberg is not particularly interested in, saying that the show will "hit on" and "glance off" of Jones' days in costume (likely via flashback), but that won't be a focal point, at all. Rather, Rosenberg hopes that Jessica Jones will move things, “beyond female superheroes as they look good in a unitard.”
While probably not well-known to general audiences, Jones is indeed a prime character for Marvel to build a strong female-led series on. She's charmingly vinegary, has deep and complex backstory and psychology, a strong nemesis (The Purple Man, played in the show by David Tenant), and is a super-powered badass, to boot. Given the ingredients being mixed into the show, it's likely we'll get a streamlined version of Jones' comic book origin, which includes connections to Spider-Man and Daredevil; the tragic death of her family; stumbling attempts at superheroism; a tragic time of being under the Purple Man's mind control; dealing with the trauma of what Purple Man made her do; and deep-seeded fear of what that loss of control could mean for her future.
That's a lot to cover and explore - and for some Marvel fans, having Twilight movie franchise writer Melissa Rosenberg orchestrating the series may not be reassuring. However, Rosenberg has plenty of history dealing with both deep and/or dark drama, as well as female character stories (Party of Five, Birds of Prey, Dexter), and she seems to have a clear comprehension of how to attack this Jessica Jones series:
“She's funny! She's dark! She’s the real deal. She's utterly compelling, both the actress and the character. The first time I saw [Ritter] do drama was 'Breaking Bad.' And she was just a guest star. We pushed her to some really dark, emotional places, and she just keeps going there. She's got incredible range!”
“Our show has plenty of action, but it's not about the action. It's about the character, it's about her emotional arc. And she's not a ninja. She never studies martial arts. She's a brawler. You piss her off and boom! You're down! We're not seeing a whole lot of [mimics praying mantis]... Hiyah!”
"She's not out to save the city. She's out to make rent.”
Ritter (who also showed wittily-biting comedy chops in the short-lived series B*** in Apt. 23 ) is one of those talented character actresses who has been long in need of a proper vehicle. Jessica Jones sounds like about as good a fit as Boardwalk Empire star Charlie Cox turned out to be playing Matt Murdock Daredevil, which would mean another win for Marvel, Netflix, and best of all, the fanbase.
Speaking of Daredevil, Rosenberg revealed that Jessica Jones will be getting some appearances from other MCU characters (like Mike Coulter's Luke Cage, who will thereafter get his own Netflix series) - including a familiar face from Daredevil:
“Smaller characters that populated that world will be popping in... “I think I'm allowed to say: Rosario Dawson will be dropping in."
Given the nature of Jones' work, it wouldn't be surprising if her vigilante, "Hiyah!" brawling put her (or an associate) in need of some healing from Dawson's off-the-books nurse, Claire Temple.
It is funny to hear Dawson's character getting such increased exposure; while based on Marvel Comics' Night Nurse, Dawson's character was purposefully changed from Linda Carter (Night Nurse's alter-ego) to "Claire Temple," so that Marvel can use Night Nurse in future movies. But hey, with so many superheroes roaming the streets of the MCU now, they probably need all the medical help they can get...
Daredevil is currently available on Netflix. Jessica Jones premieres in Fall 2015, followed by Luke Cage and Daredevil season 2 in 2016.
Source: ET Online

domain: entertainment


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‘The Monuments Men’ Super Bowl Trailer Is Here Because Men
Not to be outdone by some of the bigger, more action-packed and commercial films playing trailers during Super Bowl 2014, George Clooney's 'The Monuments Men' has just dropped its trailer for this Sunday's big game online because it's a film about men and war, and these things are very manly -- just like football, you see.
Clooney, who also directed the film, is joined by an ensemble cast including Matt Damon, John Goodman, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett, Jean Dujardin, and Bob Balaban.
The official synopsis:
Based on the true story of the greatest treasure hunt in history, The Monuments Men is an action-thriller focusing on an unlikely World War II platoon, tasked by FDR with going into Germany to rescue artistic masterpieces from Nazi thieves and returning them to their rightful owners. It would be an impossible mission: with the art trapped behind enemy lines, and with the German army under orders to destroy everything as the Reich fell, how could these guys – seven museum directors, curators, and art historians, all more familiar with Michelangelo than the M-1 – possibly hope to succeed? But as the Monuments Men, as they were called, found themselves in a race against time to avoid the destruction of 1000 years of culture, they would risk their lives to protect and defend mankind's greatest achievements.
The film hits theaters on Friday, February 7.

domain: artistic


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NEW DELHI, August 17, 2016: An extraordinary move by PM Modi’s Office is sure to make thousands of Sikhs happy. The 32-year old Government blacklist that banned Sikh NRIs from 212 families to visit India has been scrapped and in election-bound Punjab, this move was much appreciated by the community, mentioned a leading news portal.
The blacklist affected most of the non-resident Sikhs who were residents in the UK, US and Canada. It was the Congress Government who made the blacklist after the Operation Bluestar in 1984 and the 1985 Kanishka bombings.
As known to all, Operation Bluestar was brought into effect under the order of PM Indira Gandhi. The operation took place between June 3- 8 June in 1984 and it was to remove Sikh militants who were accumulating weapons in the Harmandir Sahib Complex (now Golden Temple) in Amritsar, in order to establish control over the place.
The blacklist was brought into being as Sikh militants were spreading terror back then. As a result, Sikh militant groups were investigated for the bombing and there were several arrests in Canada. Explosives on the board of a Boeing-747 aircraft, Air India’s Kanishka that was flying the Montreal-New Delhi route resulted in destruction. 329 passengers, who were Canadian-Indians in the majority were killed while it was over Irish airspace.
Sources said the decision of the Government to remove the blacklist is likely to be headed by the additional secretary of the home ministry who had examined the blacklist, and 212 cases of a total of 324 were removed, reported ET Bureau.
Apart from that, remaining cases were examined and removed from the blacklist as well bringing relief to many NRI Sikhs. The officials who were in charge of the decision did not want to be identified.
Further, the ET bureau reports mentioned that the Intelligence Bureau have opposed the decision of removing the ban. During PM Modi’s visit to UK and Canada, there were several representations from Sikh NRI groups who urged him for the reconsideration of the India travel ban for Sikhs. Therefore Modi’s office delved deep into the matter. As a result, a committee was set up after which members of Intelligence Bureau was asked to reexamine each case minutely.
When detailed case studies were done, it was found that the names that were jotted down in the blacklist were random and that without investigation entire families were included in the list who had no connection to the incident. Apart from that, the surprising part is that the blacklist was never publicly acknowledged. Therefore for all these years, there were numerous visa denials and Sikh NRI communities were barred from visiting India. This led to the rise of thousand of voices who termed the act as systematic discrimination.
NEW DELHI: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday attacked the Narendra Modi-led central government after the prices of cooking gas was again hiked, asking him to “vacate the ‘Sinhasan’ (post of the Prime Minister)”.
“Mehangi gas, mehanga rashan. Band karo khokala bhashan. Dam bandho kam do. Warna khali karo sinhasan (Expensive gas, expensive ration. Stop making hollow promises. Fix the rates and give employment or else vacate the post),” Rahul Gandhi tweeted attaching a news report of the hike.
Located in a dingy and dirty lane, there’s hardly any scope for the sun’s rays to penetrate into Surjeet Singh’s 50 sq yard home. The two room set is the only shelter for him, his wife, four children and widowed mother, to whom the house was alloted after his father was killed in the anti-Sikh riots of 1984 — when he was just eight at the time.
“You can see how we are surviving. It has been now more than three decades of the 1984 riots, but seems our lives have remained stagnant. Forget justice, our condition of living has rather deteriorated. The riots shut our doors to a better life,” Surjeet, now 40, told IANS.
The Widow’s Colony in West Delhi’s Tilak Vihar was established by the government and alloted to the widows who survived as a part of the compensation to victims of the anti-Sikh riots that broke out on October 31, 1984 on the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. However, the present condition of the colony is extremely miserable; power lines hang low, garbage is littered over the narrow lanes and the drains are left uncovered.
Around 3,000 widows were alloted houses in Tilak Vihar but now only a countable are left. Many went back to Punjab while few have settled in other parts of Delhi.
Sixty-five-year-old Kuldeep Kaur, one a widow who has been residing in the colony since its inception, said that she has now learned to live with the traumatic and harrowing past pain but was worried about the future of her children and grandchildren
“I am old now and have accepted whatever was written in my destiny. The riots not just took away life of my husband but permanently closed the scope of leading a secured and decent life. My three children saw their father being burnt alive in front of their eyes; they didn’t attend school. And now, my son drives an e-rickshaw; what future will he give to his children,” Kuldeep Kaur lamented.
Surjeet Singh, who is a freelance photographer by profession, said he saw his father murdered by angry and violent mobs but was too young to understand what was happening. “Imagine a life without a father, how difficult it must have been for the widows to continue their lives with the sole earning member gone. At that time, women were not so educated to get a job. The situation after the riots was very bad,” he voiced.
The riots had majorly affected the children of the widows living in the colony; they got involved in addictions — started taking drugs and surrendered themselves to alcohol –and left schooling.
“Nobody could afford school, even though some went to school they couldn’t complete their education because the dreadful past was too difficult to forget and difficult to concentrate on studies. The boys of Tilak Vihar are actually useless but you cannot blame them,” Surjeet Singh pointed out.
Kuldeep Kaur recalled how their lives changed in a blink; she and her children had no roof to shelter them and had to spend many days hungery. Being less educated, she couldn’t get a job so took up a stitching work to continue her livelihood.
“And this is not just what I have gone through but tale of all the widows in Tilak Vihar. Kamane ka zariya khatam ho gaya hain (our medium of earning a livelihood is closed). Now they (the survivors of the riots) either run autos or have small shops of their own,” she further added.
The survivors pitched that despite knowing under what circumstances they live, there has been no help from the government.
“Its all gimmick by the political parties, whosoever comes to power. They leaders show their face either before the elections or during this time. They show their sympathy, give us false promises and then vanish, no sign of them for a year,” Surjeet Singh pointed out.
Kuldeep Kaur lamented that even the compensation amount which was offered by the government has not yet been fully given to them. She said: “Kishto mein milta hai (we get in installments). Had we got the money in time, our children could have at least completed their education, got a decent job and settled well.”
Surjeet Singh said that he doesn’t expect any monetary compensation — all that he wants is a better life for his children and doesn’t want them to struggle for a living.
“Only those who have gone through this knows the pain. But now, our hunger for justice have also died. We have lost all hope for the culprits to be punished. Every year many journalistst turn up, they talk to us, express their grief and gratitude, but nothing fruitful comes of it,” he replied.
“An earnest request,” Singh paused before adding: “Please do write something that forces the government to take up our case seriously.”
(Somrita Ghosh can be contacted at email@example.com)–IANS

domain: sociology


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MapTiler Engine supports merging multiple layers into one map. This article contains basic information about the process. Please note that the merging of multiple layers is available only in MapTiler Engine Pro.
With MapTiler Engine, you can merge multiple images together and create one big map overlay. Or you can combine images on different zoom levels, which are going to change as the end-user is zooming up and down through the final map, or merge multiple MBTiles together.
Merge multiple images together to create a mosaic
You can also make a color correction to give all images a unified seamless look.
Map created from four aerial images
Combine images on different zoom levels
You can also combine images on different zoom levels, so the final product will be a map where different layers change as the end-user zooms in and out. The procedure is similar to the example above, but with multiple layers (which mostly consist of images taken by different devices at a different time) is even more important to make a color correction to give the map a unified seamless look.
Merge multiple MBTiles
MapTiler can also merge multiple MBTiles together. If you have an image you want to include in your map, process it first and render it into MBTiles format and then merge with the existing MBTiles file.

domain: design


text:
Teresa Giudice Tabloid Covers
Teresa Giudice: First Photo From Prison Covers Tabloid
Ever since she was locked up back in January, we've heard mixed reports about Teresa Giudice's life behind bars.
Her husband, Joe, has been mostly silent on the subject, but he finally shared his thoughts on his wife's incarceration in an interview for the latest issue of Us Weekly.
Joe Giudice SLAMS Cheating Rumors: Nothing Happened!!!
Joe Giudice may be guilty of committing financial fraud, and he may be staring at many months behind bars as a result, but the reality star is adamant:
He is innocent of all infidelity accusations!
Teresa Giudice Vows: I WILL Be Rich Again!
According to a recent report, Teresa Giudice is getting bulked up behind bars. Hey, she's got nothing else to do and you might as well stay in shape.
For self-defense as well as overall physical health. Just saying.
Teresa Giudice Labels Jail Sentence a “Life Lesson,” Also Destroyed Her Family
Teresa Giudice may be headed to the clink. But first she's making a few deposits in the bank.
The law-breaking reality star reportedly earned six figures for sitting down with Andy Cohen this week and discussing her impeding jail sentence of 15 months.
Teresa Giudice Pregnant Rumor: Shot Way, Way, WAY Down!
Teresa Giudice is a lot of things:
Greedy. Selfish. Law-breaking. Pathetic.
Teresa Giudice: Destroyed by Fame!
Don't hate the player, the latest issue of In Touch Weekly sort of says, hate the game.
The fame game, to be exact, as this tabloid's latest cover story focuses on the legal trouble facing Teresa Giudice: 39 counts of fraud, 50 possible years in jail, the conceivable deportation of her husband.
Joe Giudice Cheated on Wife with Nanny: Tabloid Report
Forget those Atlantic City hoes for a moment.
A new report once again says Joe Giudice has cheated on wife Teresa, but not with just anyone... with the couple's nanny, Nicole Cemelli!

domain: celebrity


Jeep Grand Cherokee Questions Any type
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I need help trying 2 figure out why My 2004 jeep Cherokee dies while driving it with no warning and it won't start back up for hours later after it cools off please any answers or suggestions will...
Checked brakes and they are fine. No fluid leaks anywhere. If you attempt to move after in catches, it then makes a grinding noise. I can then move it forward a little and it again stops and if I...
2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 L6 Runs fine at an idle all day. When I drive down the road I can make it about 5-30 miles before it gets to hot to drive. As soon as I slow down to an idle the temp comes...
I was idling in a parking lot for a little bit and when I wanted to leave I had to give it about 2,000rpms to get it to move. I went down the road and put it in park and back to drive and it was fi...
Ok. Car running. Ac blows hot. Not ingagging ac compressor. No power to windows from any door. No mirror function. But door locks work.
Our Grand Cherokee has never had a problem. Now it won't start after it's just run. It'll start for a few seconds and then it won't fire up. It eventually starts again after 15-20 minuts. it only ha...
Motor blew in my 99 grand Cherokee 4.0 I bought a 2000 GC with a recently rebuilt motor but the transmission was bad but the motor ran really good less than 30,000 on it anyway I swapped motors an...
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Etihad Airways has spent $70 million to acquire three Heathrow slots from Indian airline Jet Airways.
The Abu Dhabi-based carrier announced the deal today (February 27) and said that the slots would immediately be leased back to Jet Airways which will continue to use them for its services to India. Jet currently flies twice daily to Mumbai and once per day to Delhi.
Reports in India suggest that the move is the first step in Etihad taking a formal stake in the Indian airline. Shares in Jet Airways rose by as much as 20 per cent following Etihad’s announcement of the slots deal.
Etihad said in a statement: “The deal further strengthens the existing commercial relationship, which came into effect in July, 2008, making provision for codesharing between the two airlines.
“As previously advised, Etihad Airways continues to progress discussions about further investment in Jet Airways.”
Buying into Jet Airways would continue Etihad’s recent strategy of acquiring minority shareholdings in other carriers. Etihad already has stakes in Air Berlin, Aer Lingus, Virgin Australia and Air Seychelles.

domain: economics


Newt Gingrich: I'm considering White House run
Calls Obama 'disaster' who'd go down as worst president in modern times
Gingrich says he's considering a presidential run
Jul 12 01:20 PM US/Eastern
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich says he's considering running for president in 2012 and expects to make a decision by early next year.
In an interview Monday with The Associated Press, Gingrich predicted a Republican would defeat Democratic President Barack Obama in 2012.
Gingrich says he'll focus on the midterm elections this fall, then decide whether to seek the Republican nomination by next February or March.
Gingrich was in Des Moines for a fundraiser and workshop for local Republican candidates.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Read and download the complete report here.


text:
When it comes to business mediation in San Francisco and San Jose, California, it is necessary to find the right approach to address the conflict.
San Francisco, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 11/14/2019 --The conflict has always been an inevitable aspect of the business world. At times, misunderstandings can be resolved through negotiation. Sometimes, unfortunate incidents may lead to severe incompatibility issues that can cause harm to the overall relationship among the parties involved, including the business.
In those cases, a more aggressive approach is required, utilizing commercial litigation expert attorney services. Below is an outline of some of the methods that lawyers may use to resolve conflicts among business partners.
To address such issues, a more aggressive approach is required, utilizing commercial litigation expert attorney services. Sugarman Company LLP is a leading consulting and accounting firm that specializes in business mediation in San Francisco and San Jose, California, providing immersive solutions for financially distressed enterprises.
With over five decades of experience, they can solve any problem when offering their service ranging from forensic accounting, court-appointed fiduciary services to workouts, and bankruptcy and expert witness testimony.
In their effort to address any case, they thoroughly study and monitor all critical components related to the business before recommending any solution. Due to their excellent track record and goodwill among customers, Sugarman Company LLP is called up to tackle the complex cases of trouble organizations.
As a full-service company, they utilize their network of professionals that enable them to tackle any reorganization project. When it comes to property liquidation, choosing the right service is necessary since the local real estate market is going to be competitive. Sugarman Company LLP is one such company that displays incredible command over this area, ensuring that the things are put together promptly to the right ship as quickly as possible.
The professionals are highly skilled and knowledgeable, and they know what it requires to dig deep into a case and bring a potential solution for the same.
For more information on corporate disputes in Davis and Santa Rosa, California, visit https://www.sugarman-company.com/financial-disputes-creditor-disputes-corporate-shareholder-disputes-business-mediation-davis-fresno-san-francisco-san-jose-santa-clara/.
About Sugarman & Company
Sugarman & Company provides forensic accounting, expert witness testimony, litigation support, and workout and bankruptcy consulting. It specializes in implementation of cost controls and assumption of management responsibilities, prepares extensive financial analyses, and negotiates with creditors and supervises orderly liquidation of assets.

domain: finance


Create and command robots that do what you want. Unleash the creative powers of LEGO® MINDSTORMS® EV3 to build robots that walk, talk, think and do anything you can imagine. Begin by building one of the five cool robot characters, and control it with your smart device or the included remote control.
There is 1 product.
Copyright © 2021 Wayland Games


Car crash, Lizzie Eidson
MONITEAU COUNTY - The parents of Lizzie Eidson, killed in a crash Wednesday, are remembering her as a "happy child."
Her father, Kerry Eidson, said, "She lit up a room."
Lizzie died in a morning crash on Highway C.
Her mother, Robin Eidson, said Lizzie played volleyball, was a cheerleader and was a member of FAA.
"She showed steers at the county fair. It was her passion," she said.
Several people who spoke to KOMU 8 News on Wednesday used the words "spunky" and "ornery" to describe Lizzie.
Friend Erin Vernon said Lizzie was confident and always spoke her mind.
"She was a true leader," Vernon said.
Kerry Eidson said Lizzie had a very strong set of values and always backed up her friends.
"She was always supportive of the underdog, no matter what their fault might be," he said.
A candlelight vigil will be held at High Point Elementary School on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
Both her father and her sister teach at the school, and she attended from kindergarten through 8th grade.
She was a student at Cole County R-1 in Russellville at the time of the crash. The superintendent said grief counselors are available for students for the rest of the week.
Lizzie died at the scene of the crash. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said she rear-ended a garbage truck that was stopped on the road about a mile east of Highway 87.
The truck driver got moderate injuries.
A memorial fund is set up in Lizzie's name at Phillips funeral home in Eldon, Missouri.
Visitation will be held there from 4-8 p.m. on Sunday and a service will be at 1 p.m. on Monday.


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Kick me in the nuts! I can’t believe how it is possible I forgot all about this great music maker.
I have his excellent Late Night Blues album, which is several years old now, and I never thought about checking up on his new releases. Shame on me.
And guess what: he released a new album! \o/ It’s called Fear Of Flying, released on Sound Trax records, Big Bud’s own label. This is obviously coming on my wishlist, together with his first album, Infinity + Infinity.
Wonderful music (for those of you not hearing any bells: quality drum ‘n’ bass with a high chill-factor).
Fear Of Flying – Big Bud [ sound-trax.co.uk ]


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Adam Alter's Irresistible looks at our obsession with the internet; the science of why we can’t stop checking, scrolling, clicking and watching. But how addicted are you?
Sarah Frier's examination of Instagram was declared 'a compelling saga' by the judges of the FT/McKinsey book prize.
From work and travel, to the way we connect and consume, life has changed a lot this year. Should we return to our old ways? Or is this our chance to do things differently?


Replaces OEM Part No: 1J0501541C. .
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SuperPro’s 20 years of industry leading experience has allowed them to come up with a solution. This bush kit maintains the alignment of the rear axle under the pressures of hard corning giving you a much improved and sharper chassis. This kit includes 4 bushes, 2 tubes and assembly grease.
Also includes SuperPro’s unrivalled 3 Year/36,000 Mile warranty. These bushes are also available in KIT5133K – front and rear suspension bush kit and KIT5133K-RG – running gear kit.


text:
50% of the pollutants in Cyprus come from transport while the percentage in the European Union is at 25%, says the Minister of Transport Giannis Karousos who stated that the goal is to reduce by 55% by 2030 and by 2050 to have zero pollutants.
The Road Transport Department of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, planted trees at the Weighing Station of the department in Kofinou today in the presence of the Minister of Transport, Giannis Karousos.
In his statements to KYPE after the tree planting, the Minister of Transport Giannis Karousos stated that “it is known that in Cyprus, 50% of the pollutants come from transport, while in the European Union, this percentage is around 25 %.
Do you understand, said Mr. Karousos, “what a burden of responsibility we have as a Ministry and I as a Minister, but especially the departments of the Ministry, in the effort we make to achieve our environmental goals, which is to reduce them by 55% by 2030 and to be neutral, ie zero pollutants until 2050 ”.
In this effort, he said, “there is an initiative and a series of actions so that we can change the culture in the Ministry and its Services, which are the ones that will work hard to achieve these goals.”
Mr. Karousos stated that “Within this framework, many actions and initiatives are organized and one of them is the tree planting, where today together with the General Director of the Ministry Stavros Michael, together with the Director of the Road Transport Department Giannis Nikolaidis, and Road Transport Supervisors, we implement this decision which is symbolic and the goal is to send a message throughout the Ministry to the last employee and employee of the Ministry, about what is coming to the Ministry and to promote environmental awareness within the Ministry He said.


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Unfortunately, the rest of the year, it just looks shaggy. Crabgrass has snuck into it and I can't for the life of me get it out, so I decided to just dig everything up and start over. I got about halfway done before my energy gave out. As my favorite Scarlett says: tomorrow is another day.
Also crossed off a couple of spray painting projects. I'm trying to lighten up the living room for spring, so painted a bird cage and candleholder. The before picture doesn't do justice to the lovely gold paint job. Now it's gray, which I think I like, but is too glossy. Maybe a glaze to tone it down?
I also started in on a wicker chair I bought last year and plan on using in my office, but my can of Heirloom White clogged up on me and I had to quit.
Here's my inspiration photo from Ballard Design:


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For the first time in our history, women Members of Parliament outnumber men. With one vacancy in Parliament (a by-election is due soon) the swearing in of Soraya Peke-Mason yesterday means that there are currently 60 women MPs (Members of Parliament) and 59 men MPs.
Grant Robertson (an openly gay MP) who is Acting Prime Minister while Jacinda Ardern is in Antarctica, stated that It is a significant moment in the democratic representation of New Zealand. “At a time when we have a female prime minister, Governor General and Chief Justice, it is further evidence of the strides that we’re making in gender equality.” Notice that he said strides we are making – in other words there’s still progress to be made.
Aotearoa New Zealand made history in 1893 by becoming the nation to grant universal suffrage regardless of ethnicity, gender or property ownership. Then we progressed at a snail’s pace, with women not being able to be elected to parliament until 1919, and the first woman being successfully elected fourteen years later in 1933. As Ms Peke-Mason said, “Good things take time. No doubt it’s a special day for me but it’s also a historic occasion for Aotearoa New Zealand.”
What is significant is that it’s the left of centre parties where women are better represented. Of the 64 Labour MPs, 37 are women, while 7 of the 10 Green MPs are women. In contrast, the right of centre National party has only 10 women amongst its 33 MPs, and the ACT party does slightly better with 4 of its 10 MPs being women. It’s interesting to note that in the first 23 years of this century, we’ve had a woman Prime Minister for 14 of those years.
As a footnote Aotearoa New Zealand became the first nation to elect an openly trans woman to Parliament in 2005. Following the 2020 general elections, our Parliament became the “queerest” in the world with 12 openly LGBTQI representatives elected – 10% of all MPs sitting in Parliament.
I have a confession to make. Although I have a rather soft spot for our Prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, I have not voted for the party she represents since the 1970s, and I feel I’m unlikely to so for the foreseeable future. Our Jacinda has just about the right balance of optimism and pragmatism. She has been criticised by some for being too empathetic and kind and that leaders should be powerful and crush the opposition. But I disagree. Shouldn’t the very values we teach our children also be displayed in our leaders? I believe they should.
Earlier today (NZ time), Jacinda delivered the Harvard University Commencement speech for 2022. I have included two Youtube clips of her speech: the first being highlights selected by Guardian News (4:34), and the second being her entire speech (24:29). But first, here are the closing paragraphs of her speech as transcribed by yours truly:
You are, and will always be, surrounded by bias. You will continue to be exposed to disinformation, and over time the noise you are surrounded up by will probably only get worse. And perhaps that is why when your own constitution was adopted, benjamin franklin was asked what had been created and he replied [quote] “A republic if you can keep it”.
If you can keep it. Yes diversity of voice in mainstream media matters. The responsibility of social media matters. Teaching our kids to deal with disinformation; the role we play as leaders, it all matters. But so do you. How you choose to engage with information, deal with conflict; how you confront, debate; how you choose to address being baited or hated; it all matters. And in the overwhelming challenges that lay in front of us, and our constant efforts to reach into the systems, the structures, the power, don’t overlook the simple acts that are right in front of you: the impact that we each have as individuals to make a choice; to treat difference with empathy and with kindness – those values that exist in the space between difference and division, the very things we teach our children but then view as weakness in our leaders.
The issues we navigate as a society, after all, will only intensify. The disinformation will only increase. The pull into the comfort of our tribes will be magnified, but we have it within us to ensure that that doesn’t mean we fracture. We are richer for our difference, and poorer for our division. Through genuine debate and dialogue, through rebuilding trust in information and one another, through empathy, let us reclaim the space in between. After all, there are some things in this life that make the world feel small and connected. Let kindness be one of them.
Jacinda Ardern – Harvard University Commencement speech 2020
Yesterday Aotearoa saw a level of violence between protesters and police we haven’t seen for forty years. That was in 1981 during the South African Springbok rugby tour of this nation. The government of the day refused to ban the tour on the grounds that governments should not interfere in sporting events. Also many at that time had convinced themselves that by continuing sporting contacts with South Africa, that nation would see how a multicultural society can function and so abandon Apartheid. My father was of this opinion and I admit as an idealistic teen in the 1960s I was hopeful that by maintaining sporting and cultural links with South Africa, they would learn from our example. By the mid 1970s I had come to the conclusion that Apartheid ideology had so closed the minds of the South African authorities that reason, persuasion and showing by example would not work.
Riot squads were created for the specific purpose of ensuring the rugby tour went ahead. They were confronted by thousands of anti Apartheid protesters who were determined to prevent matches from being played. There was violence on both sides but the public perceived the police as being brutal and the worst offenders. It shook the public’s confidence in the police to act reasonably, with restraint and with respect. It took decades for that confidence to be restored and I believe within some communities, confidence is still tentative at best.
For the past three weeks there has been an occupation of Parliament grounds. Protests on Parliament ground are an established part of our political system. But this was different. The protesters chose to occupy the grounds instead. Encouraged by the protests in Canada, they blocked the roads in the vicinity of Parliament and the Beehive – the building that houses the executive branch of government.
However it was more than a protest. Elements hurled abuse at passersby wearing face masks. Even children on the way to and from school were verbally abused. Faeces was thrown at police. The original core were mostly those objecting to covid mandates especially those related to some sectors of the workforce where the mandates effectively mean “no jab, no job”. In an interview, one protester described his situation as grim. He had lost his job, and was about to lose his home, and all he wanted to was to return to the work he loved. When asked what that was, he informed the interviewer in all sincerity that he was a caregiver looking after the disabled and elderly, but he didn’t want to be vaccinated. It seemed he genuinely did not understand the harm he could cause to those he cared for.
The original protesters were soon joined by anti vaxxers, covid hoax believers, QAnon believers, 1080 objectors (a topic for another day), 5G protestors and more. Before the end of the first week, there, were up to 3000 people occupying Parliament grounds and some of those present were openly hostile calling for extremes such as the arrest and trial by “people’s courts” of politicians of all persuasions, leading health professionals and advisers, and senior government officials and administrators. Some called for the military to take over – a coup.
For the police the occupation was a case of damned if we do, damned of we don’t. The right to protest is an integral part of our system and had the police moved in early, there would have been public disapproval, even though the occupation was illegal. Confidence and trust in the police is an essential component in their ability to carry out their role. Also, as the police commissioner has noted, if they had moved in to remove the occupation in the first few days, the response from the three thousand occupiers could have been very nasty, and the public would more than likely have been highly critical of the police action. From the perspective of the police, they had to balance the harm that was being caused by the illegal occupation against the harm that could occur if the occupation turned into a crowd of 3000 rioters rampaging within metres of the seat of government. There are no fences or other barriers to prevent or limit access to Parliament building or the Beehive. Had a riot occurred and government buildings breached, we would have been looking at a situation not dissimilar to that in the US on 6 January 2021.
Instead, the police waited while sworn staff from across the country were being deployed to Wellington. There are less than 9000 police officers across the entire country, and there’s certainly not enough within the Wellington region to control an unruly mob of 3000 bent on harm and destruction. The last thing the police wanted was to prod an angry bear while they were unprepared for its response. They were also concerned for the wellbeing of the many children the occupiers had with them.
By yesterday, the occupation had dwindled to a core of several hundred, and that’s when the police moved in. Even so, the response by that hard core sector was quite shocking to most Kiwis as the events streamed live into offices and living rooms. For a few hours, Ukraine was forgotten. We’ve witnessed many riots over the decades, but only from a distance. Not within our own borders. Not for more than forty years.
The Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, acknowledges the pain felt by many during the pandemic is real and many have fallen for misinformation and disinformation to such an extent, that not only is their belief strongly held, many are willing to act on it. As she pointed out, much of the false information comes by the way of social media. People are less trusting of authority world wide and countering it through traditional channels such as main stream media is less than fruitful. The disaffected have come to view such platforms as being complicit in causes they are fighting against.
Perhaps misinformation and disinformation are now the greatest threat to democracy and freedom. As it grows, the willingness of individuals and groups to act on strongly held but false beliefs will increase. Censorship or curbing platforms of expression is draconian, limits our freedom of expression and will ultimately fail. Suppressing protests and demonstrations is undemocratic and undermines our right to publicly disagree with authority. Placing those perceived as troublemakers under close surveillance reeks of a police state and makes us all fearful of possibly being spied upon.
I don’t know what the answer is. Perhaps there’s none. Perhaps the very freedoms enjoyed by liberal democracies will be the instrument of their own destruction. Perhaps, but for now I prefer to believe that social dissatisfaction is caused through an ever widening gap between those with power and those without, the haves and the have nots, the educated and the uneducated. These we mostly have solutions for. What we now need is the willingness to put those solutions into action.
The Youtube video below depicting the ending of the occupation of Parliament grounds may seem tame by international standards, but for many, perhaps most Kiwis, it has been very distressing. On a brighter note, in less than 24 hours, more than 5000 volunteers have signed up to help clean up and restore Parliament grounds to their original condition.
Well, since the 1940s it’s actually aluminium foil (or aluminum if you’re from North America), but it’s still referred to as tinfoil here. And for those who are unfamiliar the our political system, the Beehive refers to the building that houses the executive wing of government. It’s named so because, well, its architecture has a more than passing resemblance of a beehive and there’s a lot of buzzing and scurrying around going on inside.
So what, you may ask, is the connection between the beehive and tinfoil hats? Well, according to some of the protesters camping out on the lawns in front of the Parliament, everything. The protesters, now into their third week of occupying the lawns and blocking surrounding streets with all manner of vehicles are a motley lot consisting of covid deniers, anti vaxxers, anti maskers, anti covid mandates, opponents of 5G technology, 1080 opponents, QAnon theorists, and more. There’s even some who want the military to depose the government and ban all politicians irrespective of political party affiliation from ever being a part of any government in the future.
As you can imagine, after two weeks, with no running water and no proper sanitation, there’s a high risk of diseases such as dysentery breaking out, and indeed it has. Some protesters are suffering from nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, blisters and “flu-like symptoms” which the protesters deny is covid. To quote one protester, “Only a fool would take a covid test”. Instead they put it all down to high powered EMF radiation being beamed at them from the Beehive. They’re “protecting” themselves with tinfoil hats, foil thermal blankets, and “holistic natural remedies”. I kid you not.
While they may have loony ideas, I’m not convinced that they necessarily have mental health issues. Most, but not all, of the protesters appear to be from the lower socioeconomic rungs of society and lacking in the skills necessary to think critically. And while it’s easy to scoff at their beliefs, I think it’s reasonable to to hold the view that there but for fortune go you or I.
More challenging is how we can assist them and even more importantly how to assist their offspring learn the skills necessary to be able to think critically. Education helps, but even in this nation that had been (note the past tense) the most egalitarian of nations for over a hundred years, education benefits the affluent and privileged much more than the poor and disadvantaged. We shouldn’t write them off, but does anyone know what could be done to make a difference?
As much a I prefer not to “interfere” in the politics of other nations, the influence that America has on the world due to its wealth, size and power, persuades me that I cannot in good conscience ignore events in that nation. From time to time I will share posts written by others more skilful than I on the American situation. This post by Padre Steve is one such post. With apologies to the good padre I have given the post a new title that reflects my concern.
I fear that Padre Steve is may well be correct: The great trial facing America has just begun. The violence is not over.
Friends of Padre Steve’s World, I watched the second day of Donald Trump’s second Impeachment trial transfixed by the masterful way in which the House Impeachment Managers presented the documentary evidence and connecting the dots from the election night until 6 January. I struggled to think of a title for the article because the evidence […]
It came as no surprise to me that the Capitol siege occurred. Perhaps what I find more surprising is that it ended more quickly and with less violence than I would have predicted. Perhaps we have Trump to thank for that as he belatedly urged his supporters to disperse peacefully and return to their homes. According to news reports I heard this morning, New Zealand time, it was viewed by many insurrectionists as an order from the Commander in Chief that had to be followed.
Had the mob been larger and Trump remained silent, I shudder to think what the outcome might have been, and the four known deaths (at time of writing) would have paled into significance. My question is why did Trump, given his ongoing claim that the election result was fraudulent, decide to issue the “go home” directive?
Somehow I don’t think it was in the interests of democracy or the welfare of his supporters, so what was it? Did he come to the realisation that his supporters would follow him to hell and back if he so ordered, and that with a better organised command structure he could be the leader of a militia that the constitution clearly allows for in order to protect the people from a tyrannical government?
The irony of course would be that his followers have mistaken which part of the government is being tyrannical. While it may have been lost to his supporters, it’s clear from non-autocratic leaders around the globe that most of the free world views the Capitol siege as an attack on democracy.
I’m somewhat disappointed that our own Prime Minister was rather guarded in her comment avoiding any direct blame on Trump. I would have much preferred her to have spoken in terms similar to German Chancellor Angela Merkel who placed the blame clearly on trump’s shoulders: “I deeply regret that President Trump has not conceded his defeat, since November and again yesterday. Doubts about the election outcome were stoked and created the atmosphere that made the events of last night possible”.
Somehow I doubt that the number of Trump’s supporters who would be prepared to participate in an insurrection are not as small or insignificant as Biden and others are suggesting, and there may be not just tens of thousands but possibly hundreds of thousands who would be prepared to commit to a militia if such a call was made. Regardless of the final outcome over the next few weeks, the myth of a fraudulent election is not going to go away any time soon and suspicion of American authorities and particularly the federal government does not bode well for democracy in America in the short term.
While I have no doubts about Trump’s legacy, I suspect Biden’s will depend on how well he restores faith in America’s system of democracy.
“I hope that people, when they see us together, they realise that what they see about politics on the news isn’t actually the full story,” McAnulty added. “Chris and I are a good example of being on other sides of the House and having differing views, but it doesn’t stop you being people and it doesn’t stop you being mates.”
This thoughtful post by a Christian and fellow Kiwi reflect, I believe, the thinking of most reasonable people, not only in Aotearoa New Zealand but throughout much of the world.
The excruciating four year unfolding circus on the US political scene makes the New Zealand political scene seem very tame in comparison. Unfortunately, for good or ill, we are bound to the leading Western powers by historical ties of trade and defence. The mixed blessing of Vietnam and Iraq should still be relatively fresh in […]
At 2 PM today, local time, the wife sat down in front of her computer, put on her headphones and watched the live streaming of the Trump/Biden debate. Meanwhile I attempted to perform a variety of tasks on my computer – some business, some leisure.
I got little done.
What the wife lacks in stature, she makes up in volume. She may only be 147 cm (4’10”) tall but there’s no crowd on earth that can drown her out – even the roar of 50,000 Rugby fans at Eden Park witnessing the All Blacks scoring a winning try.
Every few seconds, the air would be disturbed (literally) by “AH, SHUT UP!“, “” “STUPID!“, “LIAR!“, “バカ!“, “YEAH YEAH!“, “THAT’S RIGHT!“, “嘘つき!” and quite a few unrepeatable phrases.
My gentle suggestion that she watch the debate on the TV at the other end of the house so that I would be less affected by her outbursts resulted in a few of the aforementioned phrases being directed at myself. I resigned to having an unproductive afternoon.
I suppose I could have mowed the lawns instead, but somehow being outside and knowing that what I hear above the lawnmower can also be heard by the neighbours is more uncomfortable than sharing the same space with her. Perhaps it’s that when I’m inside, whether or not the neighbours can hear her is hypothetical, whereas when I’m outside, it’s bloody obvious.
Four years ago, the wife’s relationship with Trump was one of disinterest. But over the intervening period, it’s grown in intensity. You could almost say she’s obsessed by him. She’ll spend an hour or more every day on Youtube watching clips of Trump or about Trump.
So what does the wife like about Trump? Absolutely nothing. She loathes the guy with passion. As to why, I can only say that having known her for fifty years, she never does anything by halves. It’s 120% effort or nothing. Trump qualifies for the former and then more.
Personally, I hope Trump loses the election and fades into oblivion – for my sanity as much as for the sanity of America. But I have a nagging fear that whether or not Trump loses the election, we will not have seen the last of him.
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